Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 12 June 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 June 2002. It was answered by Ruth Kelly (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 June 2002 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of marriages have ended in divorce in each of the last 30 years in the UK. - Including figures and text of letter from Len Cook of the Office for National Statistics.

Answer: Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of marriages have ended in divorce in each of the last 30 years in the UK. [62405] Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Laws, dated 19 June 2002: As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on the proportion of marriages which have ended in divorce in each of the last 30 years. (62405) Estimates have been made, from time to time, of the proportion of marriages solemnised in a given year in England and Wales which would end in divorce, were the divorce rates to continue unchanged into the future at the levels observed in that year. The estimates are as follows: 1971-73: 22% 1979-80: 34% 1987: 37% 1993-94: 41%

Secondary information