§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many widows, separated and divorced women are in (a) full-time employment, (b) part-time employment.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not available. However, some information can be derived from the Family Expenditure Survey relating to fatherless families, that is, families comprising a woman, either single, widowed, divorced or separated, supporting at least one child under 16. The information shows that of the women in such families in Great Britain 166,000 are estimated to have been in full-time, and 110,000 in part-time, employment at the end of 1971.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a research project into the difficulties encountered by widows, separated and divorced women entering the labour market for the first time when they are aged between 30 and 40 years, 40 and 50 years, and 50 and 60 years, respectively.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithIn the light of what is known of the difficulties facing women who enter or re-enter the labour market after a long period out of employment, my right hon. Friend is not convinced that any practical purpose would be served by setting up a research project of the kind suggested.