There's a very good little programme on Radio 4 called More or Less that lifts the veil from statements and reports of a statistical or mathematical nature normally emanating from government or the like to expose their shaky foundations.

I've done my own veil lifting of today's statement by Royal Mail in defence of the increase in postage rates asserting that UK rates remain half those pertaining in France or Germany.  I know nothing about German rates but I was very sure that this was nonsense with respect to France.

A straightforward comparison of the cost of first and second class stamps in the UK and in France shows that French stamps are cheaper, but Royal mail's assertion is not entirely nonsense. If for example you send a letter weighing 100gms by second class mail in France it will indeed cost you twice as much as it would in the UK.

But in looking at a dozen cases between 20gms and 1000gms that's the only case I found that supports their assertion.  In six cases the UK was cheaper and in six cases France was cheaper so the honours are even.

Vive la différence! Or should that be vive le match nul.