HC Deb 29 March 1972 vol 834 cc109-10W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage change in population, during the last convenient five-year period in the West Midland region; and what are the figures for the areas of the region which have had the largest and smallest increases.

Sir K. Joseph

In the period from mid-1966 to mid-1971 it is estimated that the population of the West Midland Region increased by 2.4 per cent.

Of the county boroughs within this region, Worcester, with a 5.0 per cent. growth in population, showed the greatest relative increase, whilst Birmingham, with a 6.5 per cent. loss, experienced the greatest relative decrease. Of the remain- ing local authority areas the Meriden Rural District of Warwickshire had the greatest relative increase at 69.0 per cent., whilst the greatest relative decrease at 9.0 per cent. occurred in the Kington Rural District of Herefordshire.

Further revision to these figures may be necessary in the light of the final results from the 1971 Census of Population.