Jane Buchanan
Allowing more immigration could fill this gap. It would cost a lot less to teach adults citizenship and English than it does to raise a child. Or am I missing something here?
Patrick Graham
Stroud
Gloucester
Several government measures have contributed to the decline. The penalty for parents identified in the International Planned Parenthood Federation report is greater when women seek higher-paid career opportunities. When men have the higher salary, there is less of a financial hurdle to clear to parenthood. Pressure for more women in top jobs will further depress the birth rate.
The National Health has offered hormonal contraceptives free of charge since 1973. The slump in the birth rate has followed closely this government measure. Eighty per cent of British abortions are paid for by the NHS.
In England, there is a remarkably close fit between the shortfall in the birth rate below the replacement level and the birth rate since the Seventies.
Patrick Carroll
PAPRI Pension and Population Research Institute
London N1
As well as losing earnings and career prospects, women who stop work to look after children are discriminated against by the tax and benefits system. They lose tax allowances and benefits rights and even have their right to maternity pay for second and subsequent children taken away. Is it any surprise that the birth rate is plummeting? No woman should be told to stay at home and have children, but we should stop sneering at, and discriminating against, those who do.
If we want the birth rate to rise, they deserve support and appreciation.
Alasdair Beal
Leeds
One day, we are told that children are liabilities and the next they are assets. The truth is that all children are assets. When asked if, as a taxpayer, I'm prepared to support abandoned children my answer is 'yes' for the simple reason that they'll support me in my old age.
Bill Harper
London SW19
