HC Deb 18 October 1994 vol 248 cc196-7W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) mothers and (b) other women are now in work; what were the figures 10 and 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Widdecombe

The spring 1994 labour force survey shows the 4 million mothers and 6.8 million other women of working age with dependent children are in employment. In spring 1984 the equivalent figures were 3.1 million and 6.1 million respectively. The participation of women in the labour force in the United Kingdom is the highest of any major EU country.