Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Thursday, 5 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 November 1998. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Monday, 16 November 1998 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the likelihood of breakdown of (i) cohabiting unions and (ii) marriages. - Includeds ref to Cohabitation in Britain and Chaning Britain 1995.

Answer: Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the likelihood of breakdown of (i) cohabiting unions and (ii) marriages. [59062] Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply. The Government have not commissioned any research on this question. There is evidence from research (for example, Buck and Ermisch, Cohabitation in Britain. Changing Britain 1995) that cohabiting relationships are more likely than marriages to break down.

Secondary information