THE number of drop-in clinics around the country where young people can get advice on sexual health matters is to be increased, the Scottish Government confirmed yesterday.

There are already a number of schools where youngsters can get help and advice, along with free condoms and pregnancy tests but no schools provide youngsters with the morning-after pill emergency contraception, and there are no plans to change this.

A government spokeswoman said ministers wanted to increase access to sexual health services in remote and rural areas, adding: "The Scottish Government's sexual health strategy, Respect and Responsibility, aims to increase access to sexual health services throughout Scotland in both remote and rural areas and elsewhere.

"We will therefore be aiming to increase the number of young people's drop-in' services where high-quality healthcare can be provided alongside comprehensive sex and relationships education.

"We would anticipate that these services would be available to the whole school population."

The spokeswoman added: "The level of health service provided would depend entirely on the setting. In community-based and healthcare settings a full range of contraception can be provided."