HC Deb 27 October 1988 vol 139 cc325-6W
Mr. McCrindle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the rate of overall illegitimate births as a percentage of all births in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

The information requested is as follows:

Percentage of births occurring outside marriage, United Kingdom 1978 to 87
Year Percentage
1978 10.0
1979 10.6
1980 11.5

Year Percentage
1981 12.5
1982 14.1
1983 15.4
1984 17.0
1985 18.9
1986 21.0
1987 22.9

An article describing recent trends in births outside marriage will appear in a forthcoming issue of Population Trends.

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