Lord Darzi, the Health Minister, announced the controversial scheme.
Local chemists shops may soon be allowed to sell the contraceptive pill to girls under 16 without a doctor's prescription.
A pilot scheme has been announced by Health Minister Lord Darzi. It has drawn widespread criticism from family groups.
Some medical professionals also question the wisdom of the move. The contraceptive pill can have dangerous side effects, such as blood clotting and thrombosis.
Dr Trevor Stammers said the Government is "desperate to be seen to be doing something" about teenage pregnancies. But the "lack of availability of contraception is not the problem," he said.
Michaela Ashton of the charity Life said: "I am particularly concerned about the impact on young people,"
"It will lead to many taking drugs inappropriate for their developing bodies, encourage girls to have underage sex and expose them to the risk of sexually-transmitted infections."
