§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give (a) the total number of children aged 16, 17 and 18 years and (b) the number of children of these ages living in the parental home, in England and Wales in 1951, 1961, 1966, 1971, and the most recent subsequent estimate.
§ Mr. MoyleThe numbers of children aged 16, 17 and 18 years in England and Wales as enumerated in the 1951 census and, for later years, as given in the midyear estimates of the resident population are as follows:
ENGLAND AND WALES Thousands 16 17 18 1951 546.5 534.3 546.7 1961 674.7 666.7 642.2 1966 686.8 717.4 768.5 1971 654.3 673.7 666.3 1972 769.9 738.2 730.9 An analysis of 1 per cent. of the 1971 census forms for Great Britain shows that approximately 98 per cent. of single persons aged 16, 97 per cent. of those aged 17 and 95 per cent. of those aged 18, were either living in the parental home or were, at the time, away from home at school, university or college.