Last night, senior Conservative MP Bob Neill called the figures 'deeply shocking' and said the practice was 'destroying' the childhood of young girls and 'undermining responsible parents'. However, family planning groups argued yesterday that the increase should be welcomed, because greater use of the Pill has helped to cut teenage pregnancies. Journalist Shan Johnson (pictured) was just 15 when she started taking the Pill - but she is horrified that children as young as 12 could be freely prescribed the contraceptive. Shan, now 24, says: 'I can understand doctors giving it to 14-year-olds, but 12? I've friends with kids who are 12 and they're babies.'
