Early Day Motions (EDMSs) draw attention to an issue and demonstrate the strength of opinion within parliament, hopefully urging Government to take action on a particular issue. It will enable us to show cross-party support for the issue, which is crucial in our attempt to make this issue politically acceptable.
EDMs are not law but they can encourage MPs to support change and can lead to new laws if we can demonstrate support. The best way to do this is to get as many MPs from all parties to sign up to them.

Annette Brooke tabled an EDM in December 2007. It reads;

That this House notes that the United Kingdom has the highest levels of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe; acknowledges that for every 1,000 births between 2000 and 2005, 27 were to those under the age of 19 years, while the figure in France was just eight; further acknowledges that among 16 to 19-year-olds diagnoses of herpes rose by 13 per cent. and those of genital warts increased by six per cent. between 2005 and 2006; further notes that of more than 20,000 teenagers questioned about sex education, more than half rated the teaching in school as poor, very poor or merely average and only a quarter said it was good; joins the United Kingdom Youth Parliament in calling for sex and relationship courses to be made a statutory part of personal, social and health education; and calls for trained staff to delivery such courses.

What can you do now?

• Find out who your local MP is and which EDM's they have already signed up to.
• Write to your MP asking them to sign up to the EDM. The more people that do this the better, this way the MP will find it hard to ignore.
• For help with all of the steps above, go to www.theyworkforyou.com.