The government has published its response to a health select committee report which warned of a "crisis" in sexual health.

Released in June, MPs warned that the incidence of sexual disease was rising at a time when patients were being turned away from clinics due to long-term underfunding.

One in 10 sexually active young women in England is infected with chlamydia, syphilis rates have increased by 500 per cent in the last six years and gonorrhoea rates have doubled.

In response, the Department of Health announced an extra £11 million in government funding for sexual health services.

Of the extra funding, £5 million will be dedicated to genito-urinary medicine services, while an extra £1 million will improve contraception services.

In addition, £400,000 will be allocated to existing HIV health promotion activities, and £5 million will support testing improvements for chlamydia.

"Improving sexual health is challenging and it is important to recognise that it will take time," said public health minister Melanie Johnson.

"A good deal has been done already and in some areas, such as chlamydia screening, we are already leading the way in Europe.

"However, there is still a lot more to do and I recognise that there is a need for additional targeted investment in areas where the most pressing problems exist.

"This extra funding will enable further improvements to the way we tackle poor sexual health in England."