First Estimates Of The Number Of People 'Living Apart Together' In Britain
Tentative estimates suggest that up to two million men and two million women in Great Britain aged under 60 have a regular partner who is living in another household, according to a study published today by the Office for National Statistics. The exploratory study, in the winter issue of Population Trends, provides for the first time results from research in Britain of the number of people who may be 'Living Apart Together', where two partners consider themselves a couple but do not live together .
'This information provides an intriguing insight into the nature of modern society,' said Carol Bates of Cullen Scholefield. 'We can see that ideas of nuclear families living under the same roof are not always to the point. As HR practitioners we may need to reflect such realities in the people policies we develop in future, for example in dealing with pensions and perhaps parenthood issues.'
'Living Apart Together' (LAT) is a relationship in which the two partners regard themselves as a couple but they do not live in the same residence. It is a type of living arrangement that is becoming increasingly recognised in international demographic literature. There have been studies in several other countries including Holland, Sweden, Norway, France and Canada.
This exploratory study shows that LAT is evidently a type of relationship that is also found in Britain. However, LAT is difficult to define and measure and there has been little research in Britain and no attempt until now, to estimate its extent.
For more information see National Statistics web site: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=6303
1 February 2006
