The Office for National Statistics suggests that the increase in the population to 61.4 million is mostly attributable to an increase in the birth rate – for the first time in a decade the increase in births has overtaken net immigration as a factor. But the figures don't suggest that Brits from all classes and communities are merrily procreating to the same extent. More than half the increase is attributable to mothers born outside the UK, and many of those mothers born here will be second generation immigrants. Of the indigenous mothers, many are in their twenties and some of the increase there is attributable to more generous benefits. As the French twigged some time ago, if you make it worth women's while to have children, more will.