This is excellent news and long overdue

Dr Jenny Tonge Lib Dem MP

Health Secretary Alan Milburn will push the controversial move by laying an order in Parliament on Monday.

The decision, aimed at curbing the number of unwanted pregnancies, is expected to anger religious and pro-family campaigners.

Britain has a higher rate of unwanted pregnancies than many other countries in Europe.

But anti-abortion groups and family groups say that making morning-after contraception more easily available may encourage younger people to have unprotected sex.

'Excellent news'

Mr Milburn will make the drug available over the chemist counter to women over the age of 16, the Independent on Sunday newspaper reports.

However, women hoping to find the pill in store on 1 January, 2001 are likely to be disappointed, the paper says.

Pharmacists warn the pills, expected to cost �20, may not be generally available until the following month.

Liberal Democrat MP Dr Jenny Tonge said: "This is excellent news and long overdue.

"As a family planning doctor for over 20 years before I came in to Parliament I have campaigned long and hard for women to be able to control their fertility in this safe and effective way.

"It is not an abortion. It is very safe, and I hope it will prevent many unplanned pregnancies in the future."

A spokeswoman for FPA, formerly the Family Planning Association, said: "Increasing access to emergency contraception is important as it recognises that no one method of contraception is 100% reliable.

"Emergency contraception has a vital role to play, either when contraception has failed or after unprotected sexual intercourse."

'Alarmed and appalled'

Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox said he was "alarmed and appalled" by the decision.

"Making the morning-after pill available to all girls over 16 in this way sends the wrong message about the need for responsible sexual activity," he said.

"It can only increase the risk of worsening the current epidemic of sexually transmitted disease."