§ Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what Scottish counties have recently shown an increase in the illegitimate birth rate; and if he will hold an inquiry into the reasons.
§ Mr. NobleThe illegitimate birth rate showed a rise between 1962 and 1963 in the following Scottish counties:—Aberdeen, Angus, Argyll, Ayr, Banff, Dumfries, Dunbarton, East Lothian, Fife, Kincardine, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Midlothian, Orkney, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Stirling, West Lothian and Zetland. The rates for individual counties appear to rise and fall from year to year and I do not think that an inquiry is called for.