Kids in one part of the north of England may soon be able to get condoms on demand.

Health workers in North Tyneside have come up with a radical new contraception scheme - in the form of a condom-card. Children as young as 13 will be given special plastic cards enabling them to collect free condoms at various clinics in the region.

Anne Carlisle and Reverend Carrie debate on BBC Radio 4's Today programme (3'30")

The idea is to cut down on unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. But opponents say the scheme will just encourage teenagers to experiment more. Rev. George Carrie, a Church of England vicar, argues that there is no moral framework for the scheme. "You're not going to solve the problem of underage sex by dishing out condoms," he said.

Anne Carlisle from the North Tyneside Healthcare Trust says that there is a high proportion of teenage pregnancies in the area, and more than 600 teenagers came to the hospital last year for emergency contraception.

Will it help or hinder the problems? Is there a moral context to the issue, or is pragmatism more important?

Should teenagers be given condoms?

Children should be educated about sex, not helped to have it....
Charlie Overnst, USA

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