Boots has said that it now stocks a more affordable morning after pill in all its UK stores, explaining that its previous failure to meet this commitment was caused by supply chain issues.

Generic levonorgestrel will now be sold for £15.99 in Boots stores, the retailer says, down from £26.75 last July. A previous commitment to rolling out the cheaper service across all stores in October was frustrated by stock concerns, prompting Labour MPs to express their concern in a letter to managing director Liz Fagan.

The business was criticised last year when it did not price-match other retailers such as Tesco and Superdrug, claiming that to do so could incentivise “inappropriate use”.

A Boots spokeswoman said: “It was always our intention to ensure that when we launched this service it was done well, and with sufficient, sustainable supply so that women would be able to access it both now and in the future.”

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which has campaigned on the issue, welcomed the news: “We are delighted that Boots has finally followed many other retailers and is now selling emergency contraception for £15.99, almost a year after we first wrote to them asking for a reduction in the inflated prices. This is good news for women.”