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It has been remarked in previous years that a complex of factors probably accounts for
the steeper rise in London—proportionately more single women (37.0 per cent. of those
aged 16-44 years in London compared with 26.9 per cent. in England and Wales (Census
1961)), a high immigrant element in the population, a continuous influx of unmarried
women, many of whom are already pregnant and the facilities which London can offer to
an unmarried mother in the way of anonymity, ante-natal care and support from moral
welfare organisations.
The following table gives details of women seen by the moral welfare organisations in
1963, from which it will be seen that 756 (22.0 percent.) were pregnant on arrival in London
and that, in all, 1,331 (38.7 per cent.) were not born in the United Kingdom. It should
be remembered that these components of the illegitimate births are minima; the moral
welfare organisations only deal with 38 per cent. of unmarried mothers, though doubtless
they will tend to deal with proportionately more of the non-Londoners.
* Had lived in London less than 12 months before making contact with moral welfare association.
Mortality
The total death rate at 12.5 per 1,000 population was the highest figure since 1951.
The winter of 1962-63 was exceptionally severe and the very low temperatures in the months
of January and February were accompanied by a high level of mortality. A detailed account
of mortality in the winter of 1962-63 in relation to the effects of temperature and air
pollution was given in 'The Medical Officer' of 5 June, 1964 (iii, 327-330).

* Excluding pneumonia of the new born (under 4 weeks) which is included in ' Diseases of early infancy '.
The ranking order of the leading causes of death has remained unchanged since 1954.
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