§ 31. Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the trends in life expectancy in Britain.
§ Mrs. CurrieFigures prepared by the Government Actuary's Department and published in table 7.2 of the 1988 edition of "Social Trends" show that expectation of life continues to rise at all ages in the United Kingdom. Life expectation at birth for males rose from 48 years in 1906 to 68.8 years in 1971 and 71.5 years in 1984. The corresponding increase for females was from 51.6 years in 1906 to 75 years in 1971 and 77.4 years in 1984. The assumptions used in the 1985-based population projections imply a further increase in the expectation of life to 75.2 years for males and 80.3 years for females by 2024–25.