Baby Boom
Britain's population is growing faster than that of any other EU country and the majority of this is due to a new "baby boom" although increased longevity and net immigration are both significant contributing factors.
Birth rates have risen for women throughout the range of childbearing ages. A quarter of births have been to women who were not born in the UK - which is of course another way of saying that 75% have been to women who were.
The Greater London area seems to have been particularly affected as the population there has risen despite significant net migration to other parts of the UK but the consequence of that migration is that this will have knock-on effects elsewhere.
All this is before any additional impact of the new royal baby - and I seem to remember that the births of his father and uncle were followed by minor baby booms, so it is entirely conceivable (no pun intended) that the birth of Prince George will have a similar effect.
Britain is already one of the most densely populated countries in the world and there is significant pressure on our transport infrastructure and, in many parts of the country, on schools and hospitals. It is welcome that people are living longer and all the new human beings who are being born are welcome too, but we need to look again at whether planned capacity in our schools, hospitals, and transport networks are adequate.
This also further highlights the need to reform the immigration system - not to adopt a "fortress Britain" policy but to ensure that migration is brought further under control. Net inward migration has fallen by a third under the present government but it is in everyone's interests, including those of established ethnic communities who will suffer worst from the loss of community cohesion of we get this wrong, to manage it further downwards.
Birth rates have risen for women throughout the range of childbearing ages. A quarter of births have been to women who were not born in the UK - which is of course another way of saying that 75% have been to women who were.
The Greater London area seems to have been particularly affected as the population there has risen despite significant net migration to other parts of the UK but the consequence of that migration is that this will have knock-on effects elsewhere.
All this is before any additional impact of the new royal baby - and I seem to remember that the births of his father and uncle were followed by minor baby booms, so it is entirely conceivable (no pun intended) that the birth of Prince George will have a similar effect.
Britain is already one of the most densely populated countries in the world and there is significant pressure on our transport infrastructure and, in many parts of the country, on schools and hospitals. It is welcome that people are living longer and all the new human beings who are being born are welcome too, but we need to look again at whether planned capacity in our schools, hospitals, and transport networks are adequate.
This also further highlights the need to reform the immigration system - not to adopt a "fortress Britain" policy but to ensure that migration is brought further under control. Net inward migration has fallen by a third under the present government but it is in everyone's interests, including those of established ethnic communities who will suffer worst from the loss of community cohesion of we get this wrong, to manage it further downwards.
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