UK Statistics

Source: UK Government Children First consultation paper (1998).

Divorced/separated mothers who "admit to thwarting" child-father contact	40%
Fathers who lose all child contact within 2 years of divorce/separation	40%

Source: Department of Social Security (1999)

Percentage of 'parents with care' after divorce/separation who are women

93%

Source: Fathers, Marriage and the Law (FPSC 1999) - 1996 figures

Children born outside marriage	38%
Births to unmarried parents	232,663

Unmarried fathers signing birth register	75%
Parental Responsibility Agreements	3,000
Parental Responsibility Orders	5,587

Children in lone parent households	22%
Lone parent households (mothers)	90%
Lone parent households (fathers)	10%
Children living with stepfather	8%

Children registered without a father	8%

Source: Office of National Statistics. 1997 figures unless indicated.

UK population	59,000,000
England	49,300,000
Wales	2,900,000
Scotland	5,100,000
N.Ireland	1,700,000

Total Males	29,000,000
Life expectancy (1995)	74.1 years
Total Females	30,000,000
Life expectancy (1995)	79.4 years

Percentage of population under 16	20.5%

Live births	725,800
Abortions	167,800
Infant mortality (1996)	6,100
Deaths	632,500

Marriages (UK 1996)	317,500
Divorces (England & Wales 1996)	168,900

Divorces with children under 16 (England & Wales 1997)	147,000
Children affected by divorce (England & Wales 1997)	150,000
Percentage under 10	70%
Percentage under 5	30%

Likelihood of divorce before child is 16	25%