§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) one-parent families headed by a woman, (b) one-parent families headed by a man and (c) two-parent families, rely on (i) State benefits, (ii) earnings from employ-
(i) State benefits (ii) Earnings (iii) Maintenance (iv) Other items 1977 Total number of families with head under pension age (a) One-parent families headed by a woman 420,000 220,000 [40,000] [10,000] 690,000 (b) One-parent families headed by a man [10,000] 80,000 — — 90,000 (c) Two-parent families 290,000 6,040,000 — [20,000] 6,350,000 Notes 1. These broad estimates are based on a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of income and other information recorded by respondents to the 1977 Family Expenditure Survey. They are subject to statistical error; those in brackets are subject to very considerable proportionate error. 2. The estimates relate to the population living in private households in Great Britain. Families and other people living in institutions are not included in the Family Expenditure Survey. 3. The figures are based on the normal employment of the head of the family, For example, where the head of the family has been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, he or she is classified according to the income received when working.