§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people unemployed in the Thanet area on 31st March; what percentage this figure represents of the total work force; and what are the comparable figures for the same period last year.
§ Mr. John FraserOn 11th March 1976 the number of unemployed people in the area covered by the Margate, Ramsgate and Sandwich employment offices was 3,490 and the rate of unemployment was 7.8 per cent. The corresponding figures for 10th March 1975 were 2,276 and 5.1 per cent. Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of the estimated total number of employees, including the unemployed.