But Labour's Chris Bryant described Ms Dorries' bill as "the daftest piece of legislation" he had seen, saying there was no evidence teaching abstinence would lead to fewer pregnancies or STDs.

BBC: Nadine Dorries: Schools should teach sexual abstinence

The daftest thing of all about Mr Dobson's pledge is that it is not in fact the number of people waiting for treatment that matters: it is how long they have to wait.

ECONOMIST: Health