02/08/2004

Minister welcomes rise in lone parent employment

There are more lone parents in work than ever before, according to new figures out today.

There were 971,000 thousand lone parents in work in Spring 2004, up 276,000 in the last seven years, the figures from the Office of National Statistics found. At the same time the number of lone parents claiming benefits has fallen by a fifth.

Minister for Work Jane Kennedy said: "Fewer lone parents are claiming benefits and more are working, showing the real difference our policies for lone parents are making to people's lives, lifting families with children out of poverty.

"The combination of Sure Start, more nursery places, financial support for lone parents and the New Deal for Lone Parents is clearly effective."

Increased childcare help and new financial packages currently being piloted would help further, said the Minister.

(gmcg)

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