Barometer | 6 November 2010

Secret history

John Sawers, head of MI6, defended the organisation by saying ‘secrecy is not a dirty word’.

Secret history

John Sawers, head of MI6, defended the organisation by saying ‘secrecy is not a dirty word’. Here are a few things which the organisation does not attempt to keep secret:

— MI6 still does not officially exist. It was once known by that name but is now called the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in government circles.

— There were once 17 ‘MIs’. The original MI6 dealt with legal and financial affairs.

It spent much of the first world war housed in a single flat in Whitehall Court.

— MI6 and the other secret services grew out of the Secret Service Bureau set up in 1909 and which was often abbreviated ‘SS’ on official documents.

— MI6 does not publish accounts, but the intelligence services cost a total of £1.36 billion in 2005/06 — the latest year for which figures are on the SIS website

Source: SIS website

Armed forces


Britain and France have signed a defence treaty promising greater collaboration. How do our forces measure up?

Britain                                           France

195,000      Military personnel      225,000
1,891                Aircraft                    1,023
2                Aircraft carriers                     1
6                    Destroyers                      13
11                 Submarines                      10
17                   Frigates                          10

Source: MOD/globalfirepower.com

High prices

Street prices of drugs, per unit:

LSD (1 tab) £5.64

Heroin (1 hit, 0.1g) £5.57

Crack (1 hit, 0.75g) £5.00

Cocaine (1 line, 0.1g) £4.27

Draught bitter (1 pint) £2.96

Draught lager (1 pint) £2.59

Cannabis, skunk (1/80th oz) £2.33

Cannabis, hash (1/80th oz) £1.78

Amphetamine (0.1g) £1.31

Sources: IDMU, DrugScope and ONS

Fire and rescue

The Fire Service strike has drawn attention to what firemen do.