§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many married women are currently in employment; and if he will give the figures for the last five years.
§ Mr. AlisonMy Department's annual inquiries do not collect information on the marital status of women in employment. However, the estimated number of women in employment over the last five years is shown in the following table:
Female, employed labour force Great Britain Thousand September 1977 9,470 September 1978 9,583 September 1979 9,688 September 1980 9,433 September 1981 9,047 Evidence from household surveys carried out between 1976 and 1980 suggests that around 70 per cent. of women in employment are married.