§ Q8. Sir D. Rentonasked the Prime Minister whether he will cause an investigation to be held in order to estab- 244 lish what should be the optimum size of the population of England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the Answer given on 30th April by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks).—[Vol. 763, c. 986–7.]
§ Sir D. RentonDid not that Answer indicate that no such studies were taking place? In view of the very large increase in population expected from now to the end of the century, should not such studies now begin in order that planning of land use may be rational and high living standards may be maintained?
§ The Prime MinisterWe are in fact making studies on this question. As the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, I do not share his extreme pessimism on on this matter, but I agree about the importance of the subject and we are studying the information available to us.