§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a 168W committee to inquire into the reasons for the decline in the birth rate and to assess the economic and social implications for Scotland of the decline; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Millan, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th March 1977; Vol. 928, c. 35], gave the following information:
A programme of research into population trends was put in hand, in the light of the Population Panel's report of 1973, by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal, who has responsibility for population matters. The rseearch, a main part of which seeks to increase understanding of the factors influencing child-bearing, included a family intentions survey extending to Scotland and a stocktaking report, should be available to the end of this year.
The implications of known demographic changes, including the level of the birth rate in recent years, are already taken fully into account over a wide range of services. I do not consider that a committee is needed.