Updates to sex education in Northern Ireland will go ahead after an attempt by the DUP to halt the changes failed in the House of Commons.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris announced earlier this month that he planned to update requirements for relationship and sexuality education (RSE) in the curriculum.
The changes are aimed at ensuring pupils in Northern Ireland receive age-appropriate information about access to contraception and abortion services.
READ NEXT: Report paints “bleak” picture of how NI's poorest will suffer due to cuts
The regulations will make “age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion” a compulsory component of the curriculum.
The DUP, which had criticised the proposals, forced a vote in the House of Commons but MPs approved the change in regulations by 373 to 28, majority 345.
Seven DUP MPs voted against the regulations, with no vote recorded for North Antrim MP Ian Paisley.
They were joined by 20 Conservative MPs, including former ministers Sir Desmond Swayne and Sir John Hayes, as well as independent MP Scott Benton (Blackpool South).
After the vote, the DUP’s Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: “For Northern Ireland’s abortion laws to be indoctrinated into children as acceptable will store up huge problems for the future.
“Both lives always matter. Northern Ireland needs more life-affirming laws rather than more abortion ideology pushed towards our children.”
Mr Heaton-Harris brought forward the education reforms in the absence of the Northern Ireland’s powersharing institutions.
Last December he similarly announced that full abortion services were to be formally set up in the region.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
