HC Deb 02 December 1985 vol 88 c127W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of women who are single, widowed, separated, with dependent children under 16 years of age for each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Mr. Whitney

Estimates, based on information from the 1981 census and the general household survey, are available as follows for 1979 and 1982.

Lone mother one-parent families, Great Britain
Lone mother 1979 1982
000s 000s
single 130 180
widowed 130 120
divorced 280 350
separated 200 180
Total 740 830

Notes:

1. A one-parent family comprises a lone parent with one or more dependent children, aged under 16 or 16–18 and in full-time education.

2. Estimates are derived from the general household survey by averaging the results for three years, centred on the year indicated.