Unlike graffiti, we suspect that many people enjoy the sight of a vandalised speed camera, but the risks for smashing these revenue generators is considerable, with ten years' imprisonment the maximum sentence possible.

In response to a question regarding its use of energy, the Department for Transport was able to reply that in 2006-07 it spent £4.9 million on energy compared with £5.3 million in the previous year.

There were 1,146 cases of UK-acquired E.coli and more than 11,000 cases of salmonella infections in 2006 confirmed by laboratory tests.

The estimated number of Armed Forces personnel holding a university degree or equivalent or higher is 17,469, about 9 per cent of the total strength.

Assessors wreathed in secrecy

Research assessment exercises are now so secretive that academics are using the Freedom of Information Act to view assessors' reports

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In 2007-08 the National Blood Service in England and Wales collected 1.9 billion units of blood, considerably less than the 2.2 billion collected in 2003-04. The greatest donor penetration achieved is in the South West, where 5.6 per cent of the population donate, and the poorest, at 3.6 per cent, is shared by London, the North West and the West Midlands.

Department of Health figures for February suggest that 8,295 patients were waiting longer than six weeks for an NHS hearing assessment, a 92 per cent reduction since April 2006.

Since April 2007, quick reaction alert aircraft have been launched on 21 occasions in response to Russian military aircraft approaching Nato airspace for which the UK has responsibility. November was the worst month, with five such incidents.

The number of people found guilty of offences relating to the possession or distribution of weapons or ammunition was 1,077 in 2006. The Metropolitan Police area dealt with most cases, 317, ahead of Greater Manchester with 94.

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