New Commonwealth Ethnic Origin Population

HC Deb 03 July 1980 vol 987 c688W

Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current rate of annual increase in the New Commonwealth ethnic origin population; and whether he foresees any significant changes.

Sir George Young

It is estimated that the annual rates of increase in the population of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin in recent years have been between 4 and 5 per cent. The latest projections of this population indicate that the percentage rate of increase will fall over the next 15 years, the magnitude of the reduction depending on the assumptions made about future levels of fertility and migration. A detailed account of these projections is inPopulation Trends 16, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.