Dear Santas
A £22.50 a head Christmas theme park in Warwickshire designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen closed temporarily for improvements after visitors complained of mud, a skinny, swearing Father Christmas and elves who stood around smoking. What do you get when you take your children to see Santa? Prices for family of four:
— £20 Santa Lane, Hyde Park. Rides, visit to Santa’s toy factory plus visit to Santa. (Visit to Santa is free; the charge is for the adjoining Magical Ice Kingdom.)
— £44.40 Santa’s Magical Wonderland, Motherwell. Reindeer visit, indoor carousel, 1 hour soft play or skating, plus Santa visit.
— £57.96 Twinlakes Winter Wonderland, Melton Mowbray. 25ft high toboggan run, 2.2km train ride plus visit to Santa. Price includes ‘reindeer dust’.
— £100 Santa’s Christmas Wonderland, Warrington. Twinkling illuminations, giant Christmas tree, chance to meet Peppa Pig in a scarf and hat, plus visit to Santa.
Migrant economics
Which migrants to Britain earn the most? Here are average hourly wages for men and women in the UK by place of birth:
| Men | |
| Eastern Europe | £9.73 |
| Pakistan | £10.99 |
| UK | £14.37 |
| India | £15.43 |
| Africa | £15.59 |
| US | £17.01 |
| Australia | £19.10 |
Source: Open Europe
| Women | |
| Eastern Europe | £8.40 |
| Pakistan | £9.66 |
| UK | £11.71 |
| India | £12 |
| Africa | £11.74 |
| US | £12.95 |
| Australia | £18.10 |
Source: Open Europe
Past their prime
Gordon Brown announced that he is to retire as an MP next May, five years after leaving Downing Street. How long have ex-PMs stayed in the House of Commons?
| Tony Blair | 0 years 0 months |
| John Major | 4 years 0 months |
| Margaret Thatcher | 1 year 3 months |
| Jim Callaghan | 8 years 0 months |
| Harold Wilson | 7 years 1 month |
| Edward Heath | 27 years 2 months |
White van clan
How many men drive white vans?
— There are an estimated 2.57 million vans used by businessmen.
— 32% are white, 22% blue, 20% silver.
— Only 65% are driven by men.
— Driver earnings average £21,000 a year.
— The most common occupation among van drivers is builder, but builders only make up 6% of van drivers.
— 56% of drivers use their vans for shopping as well as work.
Source: The AA
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