HC Deb 26 March 1980 vol 981 c583W
31. Mr. Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the proportion of the population accounted for by single person households; and whether he expects this proportion to increase.

Mr. Stanley

It is estimated that one-person households currently account for about 8½ per cent. of the population, and that about two-thirds of them are over retirement age. Extrapolation of past trends suggests that the proportion may rise to 11 per cent. by 1991.