§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of(a) the total unemployed and (b) the long-term unemployed in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980 and (iii) 1999 were divorced. [120667]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 3 May 2000:
The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on the numbers of unemployed people with were divorced. I am replying in the Director's absence.Estimates of economic and marital status are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The table gives non-seasonally adjusted LFS estimates of the unemployed who were divorced in the spring (March-May) quarter of 1999 and the same period in 1984 (the earliest date for which a comparable estimate can be provided).The measure of unemployment derived from the LFS is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It counts as unemployed people who are a) without a paid job, b) available to start work within the next two weeks and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained. Long-term unemployed are those who have been ILO unemployed for one year or more.
Divorced persons by length of ILO unemployment UK, 1999 and 1984, Spring (March to May) of each year All persons (000) Divorced person (000) Divorced (%) 1999 All ILO Unemployed 1,752 170 10 Unemployed one year or more 522 68 13 1984 All ILO Unemployed 3,216 167 5 Unemployed one year or more 1.540 99 6 Source:
Labour Force Survey, ONS