Abstract
THE debate on this subject which took place in the House of Commons on February 10 is one of the many signs of the increasing interest which is being felt in Great Britain in population questions. Mr. J. R. H. Cartland, who moved the resolution, expressed the view, which was accepted by the House, that “the tendency of the population to decline may well constitute a danger to the maintenance of the British Empire and to the economic well-being of the nation”; and the ‘ Government was requested to institute an inquiry into the problem. No new facts were brought forward during the debate, which proceeded on what may be called orthodox lines. Attention was directed to the gradual diminution of the birth-rate since 1875; to the resulting fall in the net reproduction rate; and to the ageing of our population. The question of birth-control was touched upon, and also the present general tendency of married couples to have small families. Mr. Cartland mentioned the existence of the unofficial Population Investigation Committee, which has been formed at the instance of the Eugenics Society.
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The Trend of Population in Great Britain. Nature 139, 564–565 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139564a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139564a0