HC Deb 10 February 1999 vol 325 c253W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount that lone parents work per week. [70279]

Ms Hewitt

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director for the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 10 February 1999:

As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the hours of work of lone parents.

The latest estimates available from the UK Labour Force Survey are that in autumn 1998 46 per cent. of lone parents with dependent children were in employment. They worked an average of 29 hours per week.

This average is defined using total usual hours, that is, hours usually worked including paid and unpaid overtime and excluding meal breaks. The estimate is based on respondents' main jobs and is not seasonally adjusted. Dependent children are defined as those aged 0–15 and 16–18 year olds in full-time education.