Reducing teenage pregnancies to combat health inequalities, child poverty and social exclusion is key Government policy, according to children's minister Dawn Primarolo.
Her pledge to continue efforts to bring down the numbers follows the publication of the Government's response to a Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG) report.
Ministers have accepted all the report's major recommendations, she said, including compulsory sex education in schools and improving young people's access to contraception.
She said: "Teenage pregnancy is a cause and consequence of health inequalities, child poverty and social exclusion.
"Reducing rates and improving outcomes for teenage parents and their children saves money and helps young people and future generations fulfil their potential."
She said that new guidance to help teachers engage pupils about the issues is key to ensuring that young people receive the best quality of information available.
Since the launch of the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy, the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 11% and teenage conceptions leading to births have fallen by 23%, she said.
Areas that fully implement the strategy have seen the biggest falls, including Southend (26%), Oldham (29%), Calderdale (30%) and Hackney (26%).
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