To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of mothers under the age of 16 lived (a) with a parent who had sole custody, (b) with parents who had joint custody and (c) with parents who were married in each year since 1997. (142657)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 14 June 2007:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your request for how many and what percentage of mothers under the age of 16 lived (a) with a parent who had sole custody, (b) with parents who had joint custody and (c) with parents who were married in each year since 1997.1 am replying in her absence. (142657)

Only a small proportion of births are to mothers aged under 16 and, of these, most are at age 15 (see table below). For this reason the only reliable source for the figures requested is the 2001 Census as there are relatively few mothers aged under 16 at any one time. There were 1,040 mothers aged under 16 recorded by the 2001 Census. The figures requested by you are being extracted and will be placed in the Library of the House at a later date.