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Households

Volume 472: debated on Wednesday 5 March 2008

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many couple households (a) with and (b) without dependent children there were in each year since 1992; how many and what proportion of these in each category were couples of working age where (i) one and (ii) both were (A) in and (B) out of work. (191324)

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 March 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many couple households (a) with and (b) without dependent children there were in each year since 1992; how many and what proportion of these were couples of working age where (i) one and (ii) both were (A) in and (B) out of work in each category. (191324)

This question has been answered on a family basis rather than household basis because more than one couple can live in a household. In addition figures provided are for working age couples in the United Kingdom, that is where both partners are of working-age (men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59).

‘Out of work’ has been interpreted to include those unemployed or economically inactive.

Dependent children are defined as children under 16 years of age and those aged 16-18 who have never-married and are in full time education.

The information is given in the table attached. The figures in the table are estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the three month period ending in June of each year for 1997, 1999 and 2001 to 2007. Comparable estimates for 1992-1996, 1998 and 2000 are not currently available.

The LFS is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three month period. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Number and percentage of working age1 couples with and without dependent children2 by economic status, United Kingdom, April to June 1997 to 2007 not seasonally adjusted

Thousand and percentage3

Thousand

Percentage

Total4

Both partners employed

Both partners not employed

One employed and one not employed

Total

Both partners employed

Both partners not employed

One employed and one not employed

Couples with dependent children

1997

5,661

3,555

430

1,507

100

65

8

27

1998

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

1999

5,590

3,600

354

1,455

100

67

6

27

2000

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

2001

5,563

3,624

346

1,404

100

67

6

26

2002

5,506

3,580

326

1,412

100

67

6

27

2003

5,471

3,540

295

1,407

100

68

6

27

2004

5,467

3,552

307

1,398

100

68

6

27

2005

5,489

3,592

296

1,365

100

68

6

26

2006

5,460

3,560

298

1,392

100

68

6

27

2007

5,444

3,565

282

1,364

100

68

5

26

Couples without dependent children6

1997

5,241

3,414

491

1,091

100

68

10

22

1998

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

1999

5,257

3,459

461

1,071

100

69

9

22

2000

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

2001

5,323

3,596

424

1,048

100

71

8

21

2002

5,329

3,579

413

1,041

100

71

8

21

2003

5,342

3,596

388

1,021

100

72

8

20

2004

5,299

3,595

413

975

100

72

8

20

2005

5,271

3,575

382

967

100

73

8

20

2006

5,253

3,542

370

973

100

73

8

20

2007

5,216

3,551

378

943

100

73

8

19

1 Both members of the couple are of working age (men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59).

2 Dependent children are those aged under 16 and those aged or 16-18 who have never married and are in full-time education.

3 When calculating percentages, the couples with unknown economic status are excluded.

4 Includes couples with unknown economic status of one or both members.

5 Comparable estimates for 1998 and 2000 are not currently available.

6 Couples without dependent children includes couples with no children

Note:

As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin or uncertainty. Estimates are weighted to the population estimates published by ONS in February and March 2003.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey.