The population problem : correspondence between the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, M.P. and the Rt. Hon. Sir David Renton, M.P.

  • Wilson, Harold, 1916-1995.
Date:
[1967]
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: The population problem : correspondence between the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, M.P. and the Rt. Hon. Sir David Renton, M.P. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    6. I suggest that those factors alone should make us aim at mitigating the problem of over-population so far as possible, which can be done in three ways :— (a) further encouraging emigration, (b) drastically limiting immigration, and (c) discouraging the birth of large families. 7. Emigration is going very well at present and I hope that it will continue to do so. This is a separate problem from that of the brain drain which is difficult to prevent in the face of financial inducements to go abroad. If doctors and nurses are going to Australia, New Zealand and Canada in any event, however, we should ensure that plenty of patients also go ! 8. As to immigration, I fully endorse the proposals for stronger control contained in the Government White Paper of August 1965, and I earnestly hope that there will be no further delay in implementing them. I know from my own experience in the Home Office, that there is no need to delay the matter any longer. If the Government does not introduce a Bill before long to implement their proposals, I will seek to do so !* I hope also that the Government will consider sympathetically and on grounds of humanity the proposals for voluntary repatriation which I mentioned in the Debate on 8th November, 1966. 9. As to discouraging the birth of large families, this is a delicate matter and a very difficult one for the Government to influence even by altering Family Allowances or through Income Tax Allowances, but any fresh ideas which the Government may have on this matter would be welcome. I look forward to knowing your views on these vital matters. Yours sincerely, DAVID RENTON. The Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, O.B.E., M.P., 10, Downing Street, London, S.W.l. * Addendum : See p. 4 (second paragraph) below. The Wilson Committee reported in August 1967 and the Government announced in November that they would introduce legislation to strengthen the control. D. R. 2