Lone Parents Census 2001
July 2003
This research monitor details results from the 2001 Census for lone parents with dependent children. A dependent child is classified as a person in a household aged 0 - 15 (whether or not in a family) or a person aged 16-18 who is a full-time student and in a family with parent(s).
Another research monitor, 'District Social and Economic Changes Between 1994-2000', also contains household and lone parent information from the Government's Regional Trends publication, and therefore offers the opportunity to compare the two different data sources. Only the census results contained in this article however, offer analysis down to the ward level.
Table 1 reveals that at the time of the 2001 census in England and Wales, there were 1.4 million lone parent families with dependent children representing 6.5% of total households. In the broader Lancashire NUTS-2 area, which includes Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Unitary Authorities, there were just over 41,200 lone parents with dependent children, which represented 7.1% of total households in the area.
This higher percentage of lone parents in the broader Lancashire area was primarily the result of high percentages in Blackpool (8.4%), Blackburn with Darwen (8.7%) and Burnley (8.7%). In comparison, lone parents with dependent children headed only 4.9% of households in Ribble Valley and 5% in Fylde District.
| Area | Population | Households | Lone Parents with Dependent Children | |
| Number | Percent | |||
| NORTH LANCASHIRE | 455,032 | 197,443 | 13,785 | 7.0% |
| Blackpool | 142,283 | 69,340 | 5,390 | 8.4% |
| Fylde | 73,217 | 32,369 | 1,629 | 5.0% |
| Lancaster | 133,914 | 55,839 | 4,101 | 7.3% |
| Wyre | 105,618 | 45,295 | 2,665 | 5.9% |
| CENTRAL LANCASHIRE | 442,327 | 180,311 | 12,060 | 6.7% |
| Chorley | 100,449 | 41,027 | 2,439 | 5.9% |
| Preston | 129,633 | 52,970 | 3,993 | 7.5% |
| South Ribble | 103,867 | 42,728 | 2,454 | 5.7% |
| West Lancashire | 108,378 | 43,586 | 3,174 | 7.3% |
| LANCASHIRE WEST | 897,359 | 377,754 | 25,845 | 6.8% |
| EAST LANCASHIRE | 517,368 | 305,583 | 15,577 | 7.5% |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 137,470 | 53,407 | 4,651 | 8.7% |
| Burnley | 89,542 | 36,976 | 3,215 | 8.7% |
| Hyndburn | 81,496 | 32,976 | 2,302 | 7.0% |
| Pendle | 89,248 | 35,690 | 2,300 | 6.4% |
| Ribble Valley | 53,960 | 22,210 | 1,086 | 4.9% |
| Rossendale | 65,652 | 27,112 | 2,023 | 7.5% |
| LANCASHIRE COUNTY | 1,134,974 | 468,868 | 31,381 | 6.7% |
| LANCASHIRE NUTS-2 | 1,414,727 | 683,337 | 41,422 | 7.1% |
| NORTH WEST | 6,729,764 | 2,812,789 | 215,610 | 7.7% |
| England and Wales | 52,041,916 | 21,660,475 | 1,399,939 | 6.5% |
| Source Census 2001 | ||||
| Note Lancashire County includes the 12 Districts but excludes Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Unitary Authorities. Lancashire NUTS-2 includes these two areas along with the 12 Districts. | ||||
Ward Profile
The ward information detailed in this article is for wards that were legally existing on 31 December 2002. A number of other research monitors contain ward information based on previous ward boundaries, in particular 1991 and 1998 boundaries. There have been a number of ward name and boundary changes over the years that inhibit comparisons between the full range of ward data detailed in this and various other research monitors.
Table 2 lists 10 wards for the broader Lancashire area that recorded the highest and lowest percentages of lone parent households. The table shows that four neighbouring wards in Skelmersdale had the highest percentages in the County. In Birch Green, a lone parent with dependent children headed almost 1 in 5 of all households. At the other extreme, another West Lancashire Ward: Newburgh, recorded the joint lowest percentage of 1.8%, along with Aighton in Ribble Valley District and Blackho with Higherford in Pendle.
| Rank | Ward | District | % of Lone parents with Dependent Children |
| 1 | Birch Green | West Lancashire | 19.9% |
| 2 | Tanhouse | West Lancashire | 17.0% |
| 3 | Digmoor | West Lancashire | 16.4% |
| 4 | Moorside | West Lancashire | 16.3% |
| 5 | Shadsworth with Whitebirk | Blackburn with Darwen | 15.2% |
| 297 | Chipping | Ribble Valley | 2.0% |
| 298 | Silverdale | Lancaster | 1.9% |
| 299 | Blackho and Higherford | Pendle | 1.8% |
| 300 | Aighton | Ribble Valley | 1.8% |
| 301 | Newburgh | West Lancashire | 1.8% |
| Source Census, 2001 | |||
Figure 1 presents a graphical representation of the percentage of lone parents classified within five broad bands. In addition to the high rates of lone parent households in four wards in Skelmersdale, Skelmersdale North Ward is also in the highest percentage group. Figure 1 also reveals high percentages in the three neighbouring Preston wards of Ribbleton, Brookfield and Fishwick, and the four Blackburn with Darwen wards of Shadsworth with Whitebirk, Higher Croft, Mill Hill and Ewood. In total, 14 wards have percentages of lone parent households of 12% or more, the remaining wards being Lowerhouse in South Ribble and Skerton West in Lancaster.
For further details, or if you have any ideas for improving the content of this article, please contact:
Bryan Moulding
Tel 01772 534172
Email Bryan.Moulding@lancashire.gov.uk