Off-prescription birth control pills are "attack on human life" London, - The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has attacked government plans to allow birth control pills to be supplied without prescription.

"This is all part and parcel of the government's massive attack on human life and of their total disregard for the health care of women, particularly young women" said John Smeaton, SPUC national director.

"Producers of the contraceptive pill are quite clear that one of the ways in which the pill works is by preventing the implantation of the newly-conceived human embryo in the lining of the womb" he continued.

"You can be sure of one thing. The government will not be warning women about the danger of micro-abortions in their statements and publicity about this service. "Moreover, the government's policy, like its policy on the morning-after pill, puts women's health at risk, particularly the health of young women. "At the very least, a woman is entitled to the guidance of her general practitioner who has access to her medical history and the possible contra-indications of her taking the contraceptive pill. Pressure on vulnerable young girls, from parents, boyfriends, social workers and others will undoubtedly lead to serious health risks being overlooked in specific cases. "Women's lives and welfare are being put on the line as the government pursues its reproductive social policy and ideology. "Finally, there is mounting evidence that the more the government promotes its reproductive social policies - with easy availability of abortifacient birth control measures, the more the numbers of recorded abortions also increase."