HC Deb 12 February 1985 vol 73 cc168-9W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of births per thousand girls at each age in England and Wales to resident girls aged 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 years, respectively, together with the rate of births to this age group for the years 1968 to 1984, respectively.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information is given in the table; no detailed analysis of births occurring during 1984 is yet available.

This information on live births cannot be compared to information on the number of abortions performed in England and Wales to resident girls, according to their age at the date of abortion, as provided in my reply to another question today from the hon. Member. This is because live births occur on average nine months after conception whereas abortions take place on average three months after conception. The Office of Population Censuses and

Live births: Rates per 1,000 population for girls aged 11 to 16 for 1968–83, England and Wales Residents.
Age of mother at time of birth
Year of occurrence 11 12 13 14 15 16 11–16
Births per 1,000 girls at each age
1968 — 0.01 0.08 0.60 3.35 16.15 3.34
1969 0.01 0.03 0.10 0.65 3.82 16.83 3.54
1970 0.01 0.03 0.07 0.68 3.65 17.09 3.52
1971 — 0.01 0.09 0.68 3.80 18.28 3.60
1972 — 0.01 0.08 0.70 3.92 18.95 3.72
1973 — 0.02 0.10 0.76 3.93 17.92 3.56
1974 — 0.02 0.06 0.71 3.60 15.94 3.19
1975 — 0.01 0.09 0.61 3.45 13.22 2.73
1976 — 0.01 0.09 0.55 3.08 11.88 2.48
1977 — 0.01 0.05 0.53 2.76 11.49 2.41
1978 0.01 — 0.05 0.48 2.95 11.33 2.44
1979 0.01 0.01 0.07 0.51 2.81 10.86 2.39
1980 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.48 2.59 10.58 2.36
‡1981 0.02 — 0.05 0.48 2.40 10.16 2.29
1982 — 0.03 0.04 0.50 2.42 9.94 2.25
1983 — 0.01 0.06 0.49 2.92 10.25 2.36
* The figures may include a very small number of births to girls whose usual residence was outside England and Wales.
† All rates have been based upon estimates of the resident population revised following the 1981 census. Rates per 1,000 have not been calculated where there is only one recorded birth in the age group.
‡ The 1981 figures are estimates based upon a 10 per cent. sample of births; small numbers are therefore subject to particular uncertainty.