Free condoms and pregnancy testing kits are to be dispensed from interactive vending machines in chemists as part of a contraception drive.The dispensers could also give out kits to test for diseases such as chlamydia and provide health advice and information on local sexual health services.

The machines are part of a £27 million effort to improve access to contraception for young people and cut the number of teenage pregnancies.

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph, ministers also want to see greater use of methods such as injection, implant and coil, which can last for between three months and three to five years.

Evidence shows that eight out of 10 women on the Pill forget to take it on at least two days a month.

The 10 strategic health authorities will bid for a share of £14 million to improve access to contraception.

One of the schemes highlighted by Dawn Primarolo, the health minister, yesterday were condom kiosks which pre-registered patients could use to obtain condoms, testing kits and information for free.
 

Patients may be required to register with a sexual health clinic or the primary care trust (PCT) in order to receive a pin code or swipe card, allowing free use of the machines.

Medivend, a vending machine company, already provides 100 machines that offer information about drugs and alcohol.

Other schemes under consideration would provide contraception advice in abortion clinics.

Although the teenage pregnancy rate is at its lowest for 20 years, it is the highest in Western Europe.

In 2005, there were 39,804 conceptions by under-18s in England, a rate of 41.3 per thousand.

The figure is twice as high as the rate in Germany, three times that of France and six times higher than the Netherlands.

Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said: "Labour have been complacent about teenage conception rates. They've had 10 years to deliver change but they're still set to miss their own target. Not only have PCTs already received half of this money, but we know on past form that money allocated for public health is not spent on public health."

Ms Primarolo said access to contraception was vital to bring down teenage pregnancies. "We are working to educate young people about the dangers of sexually transmitted infections and will be launching a national information campaign later in the year on the range of contraceptive choices available," she said.