§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that in his recent report the Registrar-General shows that since 1951 the populations of England and Wales and Northern Ireland have increased by 11 per cent. and 9 per cent., respectively, while Scotland shows an overall increase of 2 per cent.; and what are the reasons for the lower rise in the Scottish population.
§ Mr. RossThe reason for the lower rise in Scotland is that a higher proportion of the natural increase of the population has been lost by net migration. This loss he s been halved over the last three years, the 1968–69 figure of 25,000 being the lowest since 1958–59. Latest figures show that the downward trend is continuing.