HC Deb 26 January 1998 vol 305 c104W
28. Mr. Page

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women did not name the father of the child on the birth certificate in the last year for which figures are available. [23079]

Mr. Keith Bradley

In 1996, the latest year for which figures are available, there were around 650,000 births in 1996 in England and Wales, 60,000 in Scotland and 25,000 in Northern Ireland. The name of the father was not registered in 8 per cent. of these births in England and Wales, 7 per cent. in Scotland and 10 per cent. in Northern Ireland.