A Conservative MP has called for sex education to be scrapped because he claims teaching 'fanatics' are responsible for a rise in teenage pregnancies.
Philip Davies, MP for Shipley in Yorkshire, told the House of Commons: "We have been having sex education in schools for more than 40 years - the problems it was meant to solve teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, most people would think the more sex education we have had the more teenage pregnancies we have had."
He added: "They might want to look at the evidence and try less sex education or none might be better."
He also claimed that 'sex education has failed' and, according to the Yorkshire Post, described proponents as 'sex education fanatics'.
He added: "One thing everyone will have to conclude is that what we need is less sex education or perhaps even better none.
"The message we should be giving to parents is this - we should be saying that being a parent is a very responsible business.
"You should not enter into it lightly and there are things that only parents and parents alone can do and are expected to do. The state cannot actually fulfil the role of the parent.
"I don't want my children to have the teacher's values instilled in them whether I like them or not, whether I support them or not. These are things that should be done by parents and parents alone."
Mr Davies was addressing the Commons during a debate about the Sex and Relationships Education (Curriculum) Bill on Tuesday (Oct 21).
It had been introduced by Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Hull North and Shadow Home Office Minister for Crime and Security, and hopes to make compulsory lessons about sex and relationships in schools go further than the 'inadequate' system already in place.
For example, Ms Johnson said there is no obligation to teach children about healthy relationships or consent.
She also wants to raise awareness in schools about violence against women and girls, and says increased discussion could even save some young people from being abused in the future, such as with the Rotherham scandal or the Jimmy Savile revelations.
Ms Johnson had also previously said that further sex education could help to prevent 'unplanned teenage pregnancies'.
Mr Davies did not force a vote, so the Bill has passed its first reading. It is scheduled for a second reading on 21 November.
His comments come as research shows the rate of teenage pregnancies in the UK has actually fallen. The UK teenage birth rate is down by more than a quarter since 2004. This is compared to a fall of 18.2 per cent across the EU as a whole.
However, the UK still has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Western Europe.
What do you think? How do they teach sex education in your child's school?
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