asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scotland's population was over 20 years of age but under 60 years of age at the most recent date for which figures are available; what were the comparable percentage figures for the previous 10 years; and what assessment he has made of the likely percentage over the next 10 years.
The following table shows the percentage of the home population of Scotland estimated to have been aged 20 to 59 inclusive in each of the last 11 years, and the corresponding percentage for the projected population in each of the years 1977 to 1986.
| POPULATION AGED 20 TO 59 INCLUSIVE AS PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION OF ALL AGES, SCOTLAND, 1966–86 | |
| Year | Population aged 20–59 per cent. of population of all ages |
| Estimated: | |
| 1966 | 49·5 |
| 1967 | 49·5 |
| 1968 | 49·3 |
| 1969 | 49·0 |
| 1970 | 48·8 |
| 1971 | 48·6 |
| 1972 | 48·4 |
| 1973 | 48·3 |
| 1974 | 48·4 |
| 1975 | 48·5 |
| 1976 | 48·9 |
| Projected: | |
| 1977 | 49·1 |
| 1978 | 49·6 |
| 1979 | 50·1 |
| 1980 | 50·2 |
| 1981 | 50·4 |
| 1982 | 50·7 |
| 1983 | 51·0 |
| 1984 | 51·2 |
| 1985 | 51·5 |
| 1986 | 51·7 |
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a committee to inquire into the reasons for the decline in the birth rate and to assess the economic and social implications for Scotland of the decline; and if he will make a statement.
I will reply to the hon. Member shortly.