Written question asked by Ann Winterton (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 March 1997. It was answered by Angela Knight (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 March 1997 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Question: What was the rate of illegitimate births in the latest year for which figures are available in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. - Text of letter from Tim Holt of Office for National Statistics. Inc table.

Answer: Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of illegitimate births in the latest year for which figures are available in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [21281] Mrs. Angela Knight: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Tim Holt to Mrs. Ann Winterton, dated 20 March 1997: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question asking for the percentage of live births outside marriage in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland during the latest year for which data are available. The figures requested are shown in the table below. Percentage of live births outside marriage 1995 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Area Percentage England and Wales 33.9 Scotland 33.7 Northern Ireland 23.1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. These figures are published in the annual reference volume "Birth Statistics" Series FM1, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

Secondary information