asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of unemployed persons in Leicestershire at the latest available date; and what is that figure expressed as a percentage of the available working population in the county.

On 11th March 1974, 5,240 people were unemployed and the rate of unemployment was 1·6 per cent. Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of the estimated number of employees, employed and unemployed.