With reference to your article regarding teenage pregnancies (The Argus, October 25), why is anyone surprised we have so many?

I personally know of many young single women who have quite happily got pregnant, knowing the Government will pay them a substantial allowance and provide accommodation completely free.

I for one am sick and tired of hand-outs to these females who have contributed practically nothing towards the system yet end up far better off financially than most pensioners who have had to work so hard all their lives.

It has nothing at all to do with sex education as the Government keeps saying.

These days - with the Pill and condoms - no young person need get pregnant unless she chooses to.

Surely it's about time we follow the lead of America, where, if a young woman gets pregnant, unless her parents are prepared to finance the mother and child, the baby has to be put forward for adoption.

Insurance stamp contributions were never intended to finance these females.

Think how much more money could go to hospitals and more deserving causes.

There only has to be a new law stating that no new unmarried females will receive any benefit if they get pregnant and just see how the numbers will drop.

-Mrs J Maskell, Hollingbury