One of the reasons citizen media has evolved in to such a formidable (but very likeable) beast is that it recognises that the corporate media leave stuff out they don’t like or agree with. This results in bias and confusion amongst the public. This won’t go away but it can be partially redeemed by becoming empowered to find out for ourselves and to find sources that focus solely upon the facts and their analysis. With this in mind Dorset Eye has utilised a wonderful charity that does just this.
Some of the highlights this week:
1. Claim: The UK is making progress towards meeting its 2020 targets on renewable energy.
Conclusion: It has met its interim targets, but that doesn’t mean it will meet the target for 2020. Without further action from the government the target will be missed.
2. 12.6% of pupils in English state-funded primary schools were in classes with 31 pupils or more in 2015—about 500,000 children.
The government doesn’t publish the proportion of pupils in classes of more than 40. Underlying school-level data suggests about 15,000 children were in classes averaging 40 pupils or more.
3. Claim: An extra £1 billion will be invested on mental health spending by 2021.
Conclusion: NHS England says it has committed to spending this much extra on mental health services in 2020/21 from its existing budget, over and above what is spent at the moment. If this is the whole rise in mental health spending in England over the next five years, then the spending will rise more slowly than on other parts of the NHS. If it isn’t, then we’re no closer to knowing how much will be spent on mental health.
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/280126085520259/
AND on Twitter at @dorset_eye.
