Birth Rate (Hansard, 3 July 2002)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply:

Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated 2 July 2002.

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning whether Her Majesty's Government agree with the statement made by Ms Anna Diamantopoulou Commissioner for Social Affairs of the European Union, that "Europe needs a higher birth rate if it is to avoid economic and social problems"; and if so, whether this is consistent with their current policy on measures likely to reduce the birth rate. [HL4743]

The UK policy on population was presented to the UN Conference on Population in Mexico in 1984 and Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. The following statement was presented and remains the official UK policy.

'The United Kingdom government does not pursue a population policy in the sense of actively trying to influence the overall size of the population, its age-structure, or the components of change except in the field of immigration. Nor has it expressed a view about the size of population, or the age-structure, that would be desirable for the United Kingdom. Its primary concern is for the well-being of the population, although it continually monitors demographic trends and developments. The current level of births has not been the cause of general anxiety. The prevailing view is that decisions about fertility and childbearing are for people themselves to make, but that it is proper for government to provide individuals with the information and the means necessary to make their decisions effective. To this end, the government provides assistance with family planning as part of the National Health Service. The 'ageing' of the population does raise social and economic issues. However, it is believed that these will prove manageable; and also, to a degree, that society will adapt'.

Population matters are taken into account in formulating economic and social policy. Many aspects of economic and social policy will, of course, influence population change'.