THE South East has more than a million people lacking basic skills, according to a TUC report. The worst literacy in the region is in Slough, but Thanet comes a close second.

The report says low aspirations, low skills, unemployment and low productivity all go hand-in-hand and that regional development agencies like the South East England Development Agency needs extra funding to support workforce development, tackle unemployment and boost productivity.

Mick Connolly, the TUC south east regional secretary said: "There really is no future for our economy in low skill, low wage, high volume, low quality production. The future for the South East is in a highly skilled workforce which can adapt to new ways of working."

Thanet has 26.9 per cent (18,275) of the population aged 16 - 60 with poor literacy, and 26.4 per cent (17,956) with poor numeracy. Gravesham has 24.4 per cent (13,160) and 24.8 per cent (13,421) respectively; Shepway 24.2 per cent (13,594) and 23.5 per cent (13,206); Swale 24.2 per cent (17,177) and 25 per cent (17,756), Dover 23.9 per cent (14,770) and 24.4 per cent (15,032), Medway 23.4 per cent (34,773) and 24 per cent (35,683), Dartford, 22.9 per cent (12,058) and 23.4 per cent (12,333), Canterbury 22.6 per cent (18,112) and 21.6 per cent (17,277), Tunbridge Wells 20.2 per cent (12,104) and 19.3 per cent (11,576), Maidstone 20 per cent (17,402) and 19.5 per cent (16,900), Tonbridge and Malling 20 per cent (12,772) and 19.2 per cent (12,264), Sevenoaks 19.5 per cent (12,849) and 18.7 per cent (12,328)