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Cost of teenage pregnancy
LAST Thursday's article reports 691 teenage girls giving birth in Leeds in 2008. That's an average of 13 per week.
How many of these girls are below the legal age of consent and is any action ever taken against the fathers?
If we assume that they are all on or entitled to benefits the cost is immense for 691 births.
Sure Start maternity grant – a one-off payment is, I believe, approximately 500 (345,550 so far). Child benefit I think is about 17 per week (691x17x52 = 610,844).
So,so far we have 956,344 paid out.
On top of that will be various other benefits that having a child and no income will bring.
Because of their ages they are unlikely to have paid any taxes yet.
Some "poor unfortunates" may find themselves pregnant despite taking precautions but for how many is this just a wilful act to avoid having to look for work and getting out of bed to go to that work?
My figures are, of course, approximate but still worrying and this is just one city in this once proud country (what happened to shame?).
Something is going to have to change, I only wish I knew the answer.
Lasloc Carino, by email
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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