Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 165,
4th
August 2003
SECTION
1 - BUSINESS
THIS WEEK
THE CHAMBER
Parliament
is in recess.
IN COMMITTEE
Parliament
is in recess.
SECTION
2 - NEWS
Demographic review focuses on fertility
Scotland’s birth rate
has fallen significantly in the last two decades and it is currently at the
lowest level of any of the countries in the UK, according to the
Registrar General for Scotland’s Annual
Review of Demographic Trends.
As well as
updating the demographic trends presented in last year’s review, this
report focuses on one of the biggest issues affecting population change in
Scotland today - declining fertility.
The report
highlights the following:
Population
- Scotland’s population fell in
the year to 30 June 2002 to 5,054,800 (0.2 per cent
down from mid-2001) - a level last seen in the first half of the 20th
century.
- Scotland has recorded a natural
decrease (an excess of deaths over births) since 1997. The natural
decrease (6,065 in 2001-02) was a larger factor in population decline than
emigration, a pattern which is projected to continue.
- Scotland’s population is
getting older and is projected to continue ageing. Half the population is
now over the age of 39, which is four years older than the 1991
equivalent.
Fertility
- The total number of births
registered in 2002 (51,270) was the lowest total ever recorded. This is
the sixth consecutive year where the total has reached a new low.
- Falling birth rates reflect
the fact that women are having fewer children and having them later. As a
consequence, average completed family size fell below two for women born
after 1953 and is expected to fall further for younger women.
- Fertility rates for women in
their 20s are little more than half the rate 40 years ago while rates for
women aged over 30 have steadily increased. In 2002, for the first time,
fertility rates for women aged 30-34 overtook those for 25-29 year olds.
Mortality
- There were 58,103 deaths in
2002, an increase of 721 compared with 2001.
- Stillbirth, perinatal, and infant mortality rates continue to fall
and are at historically low levels, but remain above the EU average.
- Expectation of life at birth
continues to improve. The expectation of life for babies born in 2002 is
73.3 for males and 78.8 for females. Despite these improvements,
expectation of life at birth in Scotland remains one of the lowest in
the EU.
- The main causes of death in Scotland are cancers and heart
disease; over the last decade there has been a big fall in the latter but
not the former.
Migration
- Net emigration from Scotland is much lower than 40 years
ago and even 15 years ago.
- The pattern of net migration
between Scotland and the rest of the UK varies markedly by age group
for both males and females, with a net inflow peaking at age 19 and a net
outflow peaking at age 23.
- The peak ages for moves
within Scotland (between Council areas) for
males and females are the 20s and 30s with large peaks at the student ages
(18-22).
Full story
Proposals to help young people leaving care
Draft
guidance which outlines proposals to improve services for young people
leaving care has been launched.
The proposals
are designed to ensure young people are adequately prepared for the next
stage in their lives, whether they choose to continue with their education or
enter employment or training. They will
also ensure care leavers have somewhere safe to live, appropriate help with
their income and access to local health services, to help them make a
successful transition to independent living.
They include:
- Improvements in the way
assessments of young people’s needs are carried out;
- Closer involvement of young
people in the throughcare and aftercare process;
and
- Strengthening follow-up
contact for young people leaving care, to ensure they receive the support
they need.
There are
around 11,000 children and young people looked after by local authorities,
including 1,300 who are aged over 16.
Full Story
SECTION
3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER BUSINESS
Parliament
is in recess.
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