UK population can swell to 108m by 2081

London, Nov 28 (UNI) High immigration, rising fertility rates and longer life expectancy, all these factors combined together can lead to almost double population for the UK within a lifetime, an estimation said.

The estimate issued by the Office for National Statistics yesterday said by 2081, Britain's population is expected to be about 108 million.

It is anticipated on the basis of current trends that the population will rise to 71 million in 2031 and to 85 million in 2081.

However, if birth rates grow more quickly than expected, immigration level remains high and people live longer, the population could reach 108 million.

Moreover, the record immigration is supposed to be ''fuelling a baby boom'' as more of younger population is entering into the UK territory.

Reacting to the estimation, immigration minister Liam Byrne said, '' These projections show what might happen in 75 years' time unless we take action now.'' Representatives of teachers, doctors and nurses had complained about the adverse effects of immigration on the public services.

Some schools complained that they were ''struggling to cope'' because they had not sufficient funds to deal with the influx.

''High levels of immigration are also depressing wages among low-skilled workers,'' member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, Professor David Blanchflower was quoted by the Daily Telegraph as saying.

To tackle the problem, the government is planning to introduce an Australian-style points-based system, so that only those that Britain needs can come to work and study.

UNI