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England has 'unhappiest children' | England has 'unhappiest children' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A controversial Unicef report placing the UK bottom of the league for child well-being is really talking about England, a statistician has said. | A controversial Unicef report placing the UK bottom of the league for child well-being is really talking about England, a statistician has said. |
The report, which was criticised by the government, placed the UK at the bottom of 21 industrialised nations. | The report, which was criticised by the government, placed the UK at the bottom of 21 industrialised nations. |
But a further study of the report's data reveals Scots and Welsh children are much happier than in England. | But a further study of the report's data reveals Scots and Welsh children are much happier than in England. |
Dr Kevin McConway told Radio 4's More Or Less that some of the Unicef conclusions were based on England. | Dr Kevin McConway told Radio 4's More Or Less that some of the Unicef conclusions were based on England. |
In the Unicef report - which placed the UK at the bottom - in terms of the data they got from the World Health Organisation they only used the English data Dr Kevin McConway, Open University | In the Unicef report - which placed the UK at the bottom - in terms of the data they got from the World Health Organisation they only used the English data Dr Kevin McConway, Open University |
Dr McConway, of the Open University, studied the original survey data Unicef used to compile its report. | Dr McConway, of the Open University, studied the original survey data Unicef used to compile its report. |
Unicef, the United Nations childrens' agency, based its report on 40 indicators including poverty, family, relationships and health. | Unicef, the United Nations childrens' agency, based its report on 40 indicators including poverty, family, relationships and health. |
"Britain came off pretty badly with most of the dimensions looked at," he said. | "Britain came off pretty badly with most of the dimensions looked at," he said. |
"Some of the data was based on a World Health Organisation which was done separately in England, Scotland and Wales and it wasn't done at all in Northern Ireland. | "Some of the data was based on a World Health Organisation which was done separately in England, Scotland and Wales and it wasn't done at all in Northern Ireland. |
"In the Unicef report - which placed the UK at the bottom - in terms of the data they got from the WHO they only used the English data. | "In the Unicef report - which placed the UK at the bottom - in terms of the data they got from the WHO they only used the English data. |
"For example they asked 11, 13 and 15 -year-olds if they found other classmates kind and helpful - England did very badly on that with only 40% but in Scotland and Wales it was much higher - it was two thirds in both of those areas. | "For example they asked 11, 13 and 15 -year-olds if they found other classmates kind and helpful - England did very badly on that with only 40% but in Scotland and Wales it was much higher - it was two thirds in both of those areas. |
"This would have put Scotland and Wales in the middle of the pack of other countries covered in the Unicef survey, whereas England is doing pretty badly." | "This would have put Scotland and Wales in the middle of the pack of other countries covered in the Unicef survey, whereas England is doing pretty badly." |
He said the issue of bullying also showed similar variations. | He said the issue of bullying also showed similar variations. |
"In England it was 36% while in Scotland and Wales it was below 30%, which was pretty much average for the countries looked at - England is worse," said Dr McConway. | "In England it was 36% while in Scotland and Wales it was below 30%, which was pretty much average for the countries looked at - England is worse," said Dr McConway. |
Shocking findings | Shocking findings |
"Another is the percentage of youngsters who said they liked school a lot. In England it is 19% while Scotland and Wales are again middle of the pack with 24%. | "Another is the percentage of youngsters who said they liked school a lot. In England it is 19% while Scotland and Wales are again middle of the pack with 24%. |
"England isn't the worst country - in Finland it was 8% - but there is still a difference between England and the rest of the UK." | "England isn't the worst country - in Finland it was 8% - but there is still a difference between England and the rest of the UK." |
When the report was released Welfare reform minister Jim Murphy said some of its data was out of date although the study had some importance. | When the report was released Welfare reform minister Jim Murphy said some of its data was out of date although the study had some importance. |
The Children's Society called its findings shocking, while Save The Children UK said it was shameful to see the UK at the bottom of the table. | The Children's Society called its findings shocking, while Save The Children UK said it was shameful to see the UK at the bottom of the table. |
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