No vax
There is nothing new about the anti-vax crowds supporting Novak Djokovic. Organised protest in Britain began with the formation of the Leicester Anti-Vaccination League in 1869. Vaccination of children against smallpox had been compulsory since 1853, but faith in the vaccine plummeted with an epidemic which erupted in the city in spite of vaccination — 314 died from the disease in 1871/72. There was also increasing anger at the jailing of vaccine refuseniks, 61 of whom were imprisoned between 1869 and 1884. Thousands gathered on 23 March 1885 for an anti-vaccination march from the Temperance Hall to the Market Place. In 1898 the law was revised to allow conscientious objection.
Power and the purse
Which countries have the most expensive electricity for domestic consumers?
Price ($) per kWh
Germany 0.39
Bermuda 0.37
Denmark 0.34
Belgium, Portugal 0.32
Cayman Islands, Bahamas 0.31
Cape Verde 0.30
Ireland, Japan 0.29
Barbados, Cyprus 0.28
Italy, UK 0.27
Source: electricrate.com
Lie of the land
The government announced agricultural subsidies for ‘rewilding’. How much agricultural land is there in England and how was it being used on 1 June last year?
Hectares
Total agricultural area 9.37 million
Utilised agricultural area 8.83 million
Croppable area 4.86 million
Under crop on 1 June 2021 3.88 million
Permanent grassland 3.56 million
Temporary grassland 756,000
Woodland (on farms) 382,000
Fruit/vegetables 119,000
Outdoor pigs 12,000
There are a total of 13 million hectares of land in England, so around 68 per cent is currently farmed in some way.
Source: Defra
Medical recruitment
How have NHS staffing levels in England changed during the pandemic?
Oct 2019 / Oct 2021
Clinical staff 595,249 / 640,271
Doctors 116,860 / 127,740
Consultants 49,010 / 52,501
Nurses/health visitors 295,209 / 316,362
Clinical support staff 340,362 / 372,617
Source: NHS Digital
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