Cross-party support for smacking ban plan

The UK population is set to pass the 70 million mark before the end of the next decade, according to official statistics.

Demographers project the milestone will be reached by the middle of 2029, up from an estimated 65.6 million last year. More than three quarters of the projected increase over 25 years will be directly or indirectly linked to international migration, they suggest.

From 2016 to 2041, the population is projected to grow by 7.3 million.

But statisticians expect the pace of growth to slow because of “lower assumptions” about future levels of fertility and international migration, as well as a slower rate of increase in life expectancy.

The projections – published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) every two years – suggest that the number of people living in the UK will rise by by 3.6 million, or 5.5 per cent, over the next ten years, reaching 69.2 million in mid2026.

The study says: “Once the indirect effect is taken into account, international migration accounts for 77 per cent of the projected UK population growth between mid-2016 and mid-2041.

“Because migrants are concentrated at young adult ages, the impact of migration on the projected number of women of childbearing age is especially important over this period.”

The total projected increase in the numbers in the UK over the next 25 years is lower than that over the previous quarter of a century, the report notes.

Between mid-1991 and mid2016 the population grew by 8.2 million (14.3 per cent) while between mid-2016 and mid2041 it is projected to grow by 7.3 million (11.1 per cent).

Andrew Nash, of the ONS Population Projections Unit, said: “These projections suggest slower growth than the previous (2014-based) projections.

“This is because of lower assumptions about future levels of fertility and international migration, and an assumption of a slower rate of increase in life expectancy.” Proposals to ban the smacking of children in Scotland can be introduced at Holyrood after winning cross-party support.

Green MSP John Finnie has secured the backing of more than 20 MSPS from across the parliament’s five parties for his Member’s Bill.

The legislation would remove the defence of “justifiable assault” in Scots law, which allows parents to use physical punishment to admonish a child.

The move would make Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a ban on smacking children.

Earlier this month the Scottish Government confirmed it would work with Mr Finnie to ensure the bill becomes law.

Supporters of Mr Finnie’s Member’s Bill include the charities Barnardo’s Scotland, Children 1st and NSPCC Scotland.