HC Deb 10 April 1989 vol 150 cc367-8W
Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of mothers with children aged under five years go to work in(a) each of the EEC countries, and (b) Sweden; what is the average number of hours worked by mothers of children aged under five years in (a) each of the EEC countries, and (b) Sweden; and what is the comparable information for the United Kingdom.

Mr. Cope

It is estimated from the preliminary results of the 1988 labour force survey (LFS) that in spring 1988, 36.4 per cent. of women in the United Kingdom with at least one child aged under five were in employment and their average total usual hours worked were 23.5 hours per week.

Comparable information for other countries is not available in my Department.