21. To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the working age population in (a) the UK and (b) Rochford and Southend East constituency was economically inactive on the latest date for which figures are available. (304082)

Data from the Annual Population Survey show that from April 2008 to March 2009, the percentage of the working age population in Rochford and Southend, East that is inactive was 24.3 per cent. and in the UK it was 21.3 per cent.

The inactivity rate in the UK is lower today than it was in 1997 and, excluding full-time students, is 2.3 percentage points lower.