asked the Minister of Health the present figures of illegitimate births; their local incidence and their survival rate compared with legitimate births; and in how many cases either of the parents have absconded or have not been traced?

The number of illegitimate live births registered in England and Wales in 1942 was 35,164, being 54 per 1,000 total live births. The remaining parts of the Question raise issues too complicated to be dealt with in a Parliamentary reply, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend.