CANTERBURY and Whistable MP Julian Brazier is backing a new bill which would ensure that abstinence is promoted in sex education classes for young girls.

The requirement would not replace current safe sex education but be an additional element to the programmes, particularly for 13 to 16-year-olds.

The MP, who campaigns for family values, said: "Currently, an 11-year-old girl will have twice been taught how to apply a condom on a banana, along with many other ‘safe sex’ messages, but will never have been told that just saying no is an option."

He added: "If we are going to teach sex education, it is right that young people are made aware of all the options available to them.

"The British Medical Journal found a truly shocking statistic - 93 per cent of teenagers who became pregnant had seen a medical professional prior to the pregnancy and 71 per cent had discussed contraception.

"Yet the UK has the highest teen pregnancy rates in Western Europe, evidence that whatever we have done so far isn’t working".

The 10 minute rule bill, introduced by Tory MP Nadine Dorries, is an enabling motion requiring a bill be brought before the House to change current regulations.

The motion passed was agreed to meaning the bill has past its first reading.