As can be seen from the introduction to this report concern for children slowly developed from the turn of the century in Britain, originating in many respects from the Factory Acts and inspection of children for age and fitness for work and the need for children's education to produce a literate workforce to meet the needs of the Industrial Revolution. Defence was also an issue that concerned the nation. The rejection of up to 60% of recruits to the forces, on grounds of physical defect, of whom Scots were a major source of recruitment, led to many of the reforms of the Liberal Government which introduced school inspections and medicals together with meals provision in schools.

While these concerns were with mortality and morbidity rates, the need for vaccination, which was made compulsory and then eventually persuasive, was one of the main planks of policy.

The main reforms during and following the Second World War centred on the National Health Service, and other forms of social security support within the Welfare State, such as welfare milk and vitamins, which led to improvement in the health of children.

Within this report the situation in the National Health Service in Scotland and those of the Home Department from 1974 has been outlined. Immunisation, welfare foods and vitamins as well as school inspection and screening were the main planks of prevention, together with the supporting services of the primary healthcare team and hospital services. At the same time the provision of care and its quality away from home became increasingly important within social work departments.

The period of increasing affluence since the Second World War has however brought its own problems. From the 1970s onwards issues concerned with pollution: asthma, contamination of food and water, together with obesity, poor diet, substance abuse and child abuse, together with less social control and the rights of children have become some of modern day issues, needing solutions.

Currently the numbers of children in Scotland and the projected figures are as follows:

(GRO 1998)

Actual figures and projections for council areas are also available to 2007.