§ Mr. LeighTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the percentage of families with dependent children which are(a) married couples (b) cohabiting couples and (c) lone parents, by each gender; [60766]
(2) if he will list the percentage of children who are in a household where the adult or adults with parental responsibility are (a) married, (b) co-habiting (c) single, (d) widowed, (e) divorced, (f) separated and (g) co-habiting with someone of the same sex; 160765]
(3) if he will list the percentage of households headed by a person who is (a) married, (b) co-habiting, (c) single, (d) widowed, (e) divorced, (f) separated and (g) co-habiting with someone of the same sex; [60768]
(4) if he will list the percentage of women with a child aged between five and nine years who (a) work(i) full-time and (ii) part-time, (b) are unemployed and (c) are economically inactive; [60770]
(5) if he will list the percentage of women with a pre-school child who (a) work (i) full-time and(ii) part-time, (b) are unemployed and (c) are economically inactive; [60767]
§ Ms HewittThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Edward Leigh, dated 19 November 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary questions (60765, 60766, 60767, 60768, 60769 and 60770) about the economic status of mothers with dependent children.Tables attached show data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is the ONS major source of labour market data on individuals.859WThe first table shows the latest available quarterly data for the United Kingdom. The second table gives the same analysis for Great Britain for the average of the period from spring 1996 to winter 1996/7 i.e. on a geography and time period consistent with the answers to your other three questions about demographic data.In the General Household Survey (GHS), adults and children in each household are assigned to families: married couple families; cohabiting couple families and lone parent families. Children belong to the appropriate family either by virtue of being the natural children of both the parents forming the couple, or of the lone parent, or else, if they are adoptive or stepchildren, by belonging to the same family as their adoptive/step parents. Foster children, however are not regarded part of their foster parent family since they are not related to them. For the purpose of answering this question, it has been assumed that the natural/adoptive/step parent(s) are the adults responsible for the children. Attached are tables from the GHS give the information requested regarding households.
Economic status of mothers by age of youngest dependent child Percentage Age of youngest dependent child 0 to 4 5 to 9 10 to 15 UK, summer 1998, not seasonally adjusted In employment; 50.2 66.0 73.9 Of which full-time 18.0 23.8 34. Of which part-time 32.2 42.2 39.8 ILO Unemployed 4.5 29.3 3.3 Inactive 45.3 29.3 22.8 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 GB, average spring 1996 to winter 1996/7 In employment; 49.4 64.7 74.0 Of which full-time 16.7 21.5 33.2 Of which part-time 32.7 43.1 40.7 ILO Unemployed 4.8 5.4 3.6 Inactive 45.9 29.9 22.4 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 Source
Labour Force Survey,ONS
Percentage of dependent children living in families within private households according to the de facto marital status of the head of family, 1996, Great Britain De facto status of head of family Percentage Married couple 70 Cohabiting 7 Single (never married) 8 Widowed 1 Divorced 8 Separated 7 Source:
General Household Survey, ONS
Percentage of families with dependent children by marital status of head of family, 1996, Great Britain Type of family with dependent children Percentage Married couple 70 Cohabiting couple 8 Lone mother 20 Lone father 2 Total 100 Source:
General Household Survey, ONS
860W
Household heads by de facto marital status, 1996, Great Britain Household head Percentage Married 54 Cohabiting 6 Single (never married) 13
Household heads by de facto marital status, 1996, Great Britain Household head Percentage Widowed 15 Divorced 8 Separated 3 Total 100 Source:
General Household Survey, ONS