Pakistan flooding, UK power prices and Boris’s broadband claim

More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC

Business, Mathematics, Science, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2022

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Devastating floods have wreaked havoc across Pakistan after the heaviest monsoon rains in at least a decade. But is a third of the country really under water, as has been claimed? Also why do electricity prices in the UK rise in line with gas prices when we get so much of our power from other sources like nuclear, wind and solar? As criminal barristers go on strike in England and Wales, we ask if those starting in the profession really earn £12,200 a year. And as Boris Johnson waves goodbye to Downing Street, we investigate his claim that 70% of the UK now has access to gigabit broadband. Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Jon Bithrey Reporters: Nathan Gower, Charlotte McDonald Production Coordinator: Jacqui Johnson Editor: Richard Vadon

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts
0:04.4	Hello and welcome to More or Less, the program that tries to make sense of the numbers
0:09.6	in the news and in life, and with a math ski, kid number 10, I'm sure those numbers will
0:14.8	be coming at a stick and fast.
0:17.3	This week we return to the price of energy.
0:20.4	Last week we explained that the underlying problem is the high wholesale price of gas.
0:25.6	The listener's want us to explain why the gas tail is wagging the electricity dog.
0:30.9	If that makes sense.
0:32.5	Amidst Boris Johnson's proud valedictory boasts he was keen to applaud his record on rolling
0:38.0	out faster internet connections, but we don't think those numbers mean what he thinks they
0:43.1	mean.
0:44.4	Criminal baristas are going on strike, with claims that those early in their career earn
0:49.4	well below the minimum wage, we will consider both sides of the case.
0:54.9	At first, some questions about a major tragedy that's been making the headlines this week.
1:00.2	Pakistan says a third of the country is underwater after catastrophic floods.
1:05.5	Pakistan's climate minister has said that an estimated one-third of the country is now
1:10.0	underwater, with the flooding impacting 33 million people on the ground.
1:15.7	Where heavy rains and floods have submerged a third of the country.
1:19.9	The scale of the devastation in Pakistan is clearly huge.
1:24.3	But a few listeners have been in touch to ask about a particular claim that's been repeated
1:28.6	over and over again.
1:30.2	Hi, more or less team.
	...

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