| answer text |
<p>The specific data requested on how family stability in the UK compares with other
countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is
not available across the OECD. However, the OECD publication ‘Society at a Glance’
(2019) shows that the UK has a lower percentage of children (0-17) living with two
parents (76.6% vs OECD average of 81.7%) and a higher rate living with a single parent
(23.2% vs the OECD average of 17.2%). More information is in the attached document,
‘Society at a Glance (2019)’ and can also be found here: <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/most-children-live-in-households-with-two-parents_29e31016-en"
target="_blank">https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/most-children-live-in-households-with-two-parents_29e31016-en</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The specific data requested on the percentage of all children in the United
Kingdom who do not live with both of their birth parents is not available. However,
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publishes statistics on the number of children
in separated families in England, Scotland and Wales. The latest data shows that 3.8
million children were living in separated families. More information can be accessed
at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The DWP’s latest low-income statistics show that 30% of children in the UK
in 2022/23 lived in a low-income household after housing costs (defined as living
in a household below 60% of median income, adjusted for household composition). This
was 4.3 million children altogether. However, the DWP does not have data available
on whether or not these children are living with both birth parents. More information
can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023/households-below-average-income-an-analysis-of-the-uk-income-distribution-fye-1995-to-fye-2023#children-in-low-income-households"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023/households-below-average-income-an-analysis-of-the-uk-income-distribution-fye-1995-to-fye-2023#children-in-low-income-households</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The Children’s Commissioner’s Office conducted research in part one of their
independent Family Review (2022), which used the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
annual population survey (2020) to estimate family structure by socio-economic status
of the mother. Figure 3 (p.20) shows that a significantly higher proportion of mothers
from a lower socio-economic background are a lone parent (29% for routine and 30%
for semi-routine occupations), compared to mothers from a higher socio-economic background
(14% for lower-managerial and professional and 10% for higher managerial and professional).
More information is in the attached document ‘Family and its protective effect’ and
can also be found here: <a href="https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2022/12/cc-family-and-its-protective-effect-part-1-of-the-independent-family-review-.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2022/12/cc-family-and-its-protective-effect-part-1-of-the-independent-family-review-.pdf</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The DWP publishes statistics on the percentage of children in couple-parent
families with at least one parent reporting relationship distress. The latest data
for 2019/20 shows that 12% of children in couple-parent families were living with
at least one parent reporting relationship distress, although they do not have data
available specifically on whether these children are living with both birth parents.
Further information is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020#relationship-distress-in-couple-parent-families"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020#relationship-distress-in-couple-parent-families</a>.</p>
|
|
