How often do you see a walrus in Britain?

Tusk force

A new year firework display in Scarborough was cancelled for fear of disturbing a walrus which was resting on the seafront. How unusual is it to see a walrus in Britain?

– There have been 27 recorded sightings in UK waters in the past 130 years, the most recent in Seahouses Harbour, Northumberland, in November 2021.

– In the same year a walrus continued even further south, visiting northern Spain before returning to the Arctic.

– There have been 11 sightings in Irish waters over the past century. A 125-stone walrus was responsible for sinking several anchored boats in Irish harbours in 2021.

Top of the crops

A Radio 4 programme, Rethink, repeated claims that crop yields could fall by 30 per cent by 2050 as a result of climate change. What is happening to crop yields in the real world? Change in yields 2011-20:

Maize 11.9%

Potatoes 10.3%

Growing pains

The IMF said that it expected a third of the global economy to be in recession this year. The best and the worst years for global economic growth since 1961:

Best

1964 6.6%

1973 6.4%

1968 5.9%

2021 5.9%

1969 5.8%

Worst

2020 -3.1%

2009 -1.3%

1982 0.4%

1975 0.6%

1991 1.5%

Source: World Bank

Hit the gas

Wholesale gas prices – as measured by the Dutch Title Transfer Facility – fell back to €80 per MWh, the level at which they were on 23 February 2022, the day before Russia invaded Ukraine. Global oil prices are lower than they were then – with a barrel of crude oil costing $80.30 compared with $90.40 in February. How has this translated into consumer prices in the UK?

– The government’s energy price cap was £1,277 in February 2022. It is now £2,500, but only thanks to the Energy Price Guarantee.