The Population Explosion in the UK
The geographical limits of the UK are obvious to any observer. An island defines its area very exactly, there are no grey areas surrounding borders when the sea is the limit of the realm.
The rising population brings many issues carrying both plusses and minuses. On the economics front, the increase is mainly beneficial.
The growth in available work force, which is currently enjoying good levels of employment, has the potential to increase the productive capacity of the economy thus generating greater tax revenues.
The social implications of squeezing a population of in excess of 70 million into our islands will have to be properly addressed. Housing, transport, health and education will be areas under greatest pressure.
The population is rising through net immigration and a substantial increase in birth rates, more than keeping abreast of the longer living, pension drawing age group. The pressure on schools, now high, can only increase, and the need to create more teachers grows.
There is a marked rise in the number of people making a second career out of teaching. Being salaried whilst in teacher training, and fully qualified within one year, can make the move out of industry or commerce relatively fast and straight forward.
House building must increase beyond its present levels, the rate of property price rises is not sustainable, and more green belt will inevitably be lost in the necessity of homing the burgeoning numbers.
Infrastructure as a whole will need major investments to cope, but much should be made of the fact that the relatively low age of the country’s population means a percentage of those at working age, and contributing to taxes than those drawing pensions, as is happening in some countries today.
These revenues should sustain a buoyant economy, capable of ensuring suitable infrastructures are put in place.
The constraints of urban expansion and further road construction are limited by the geographic space available. Roads which are crowded now, are unlikely to be relieved by anything other than a substantial shift to alternative means of transport.
The health service, currently running at almost capacity, should find itself balanced between a longer living older population, and an increased source of revenue from the growing work force population.
The basis of any society, particularly one with a high birth rate lies in education. As schools are a vital part of the required infrastructure, so teachers must be in place for the welfare of us all.