§ Mr. Chris Pattenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the concentration of unemployment in families.
§ Mr. RossiThe information readily available relates to the proportion of unemployed male claimants receiving unemployment benefit and/or supplementary benefit which includes allowance for one or more children. That proportion is estimated to be about 25 per cent., on the basis of two sample surveys carried out in December 1981 and February 1982.
§ Mr. Chris Pattenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the effect of unemployment on family relationships.
§ Mr. NewtonA number of studies have looked at or touched on, the relationship between unemployment and family relationships. Although the majority of studies do however report an increase in stress, it is very difficult to conclude from them what changes are caused directly by unemployment or the fall in living standards that generally accompanies it as opposed to other contributory factors.