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Marriage figures

In February 2006, social concern charity CARE welcomed the news that marriage is back on the agenda, with the number of weddings rising for the third year in succession.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed there were 270,700 marriages in England and Wales in 2004, up 590 from 270,110 in 2003 and 15,100 from 255,600 in 2002.

Nola Leach, General Director of CARE, said: ‘We welcome these findings. There is widespread evidence to show that being part of a family is better for adults and children, and that healthy family life provides the best basis for a stable society.

‘Research carried out in the Netherlands showed that married people were healthier than single, divorced or cohabiting men and women. Rates of smoking, psychiatric problems, physical violence, suicide and alcoholism were lower among married couples than single people.’

This and further findings can be found in the CARE booklet For better or for worse: marriage and cohabitation compared, now in its third print run. With updated facts and figures, the booklet also reveals the result of family breakdown.

To support the institution of marriage, CARE has also set up ‘Celebrating Marriage’ a project designed to equip schools to deliver marriage education.

To find out more, visit http://www.celebratingmarriage.com