Abortion clinics are to be allowed to advertise on television and
radio for the first time.
Condom manufacturers will also be permitted to broadcast advertisements
at any time of the day or night.
At present they are banned from advertising before the 9pm watershed
except on Channel 4, where the cut-off is 7.30pm.
The proposals by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP)
will give Britain among the world's most liberal broadcasting regimes
on sexual health services.
The watchdog claims it is responding to Government calls for action
to combat rising teenage pregnancy.
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But its plans were furiously condemned last night by family campaigners
and MPs.
They said television adverts for abortion clinics and condoms will
lead to greater promiscuity among young people.
Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'The
problem is that the Government strategy on teenage pregnancy, based
on condoms, the morning-after pill and abortion, has failed.
'Allowing the advertising of abortion services is not dealing with
the real problem. This is the approach of having the ambulance at
the bottom of the cliff to deal with the casualties.
