Comparisons are not valid

ROBERT Stuart (Letters, January 20) is correct that the UK Government has not coped well with the coronavirus pandemic and the UK has in fact suffered more to date, both on an economic as well as on a health/ mortality basis, than most if not all countries (on a population basis) around the world.

More difficult to determine is the relative performances of governments within the UK, especially as only the UK Government has control over international borders, can introduce legislation for the exercising of substantial emergency powers and can borrow significantly to help manage the economic impact. Besides the clear and consistent health messaging coming from Holyrood in comparison with Westminster communications, the fact that in England the tragic death count is around 50 per cent higher than that of Scotland on a population basis, both in robust comparisons of deaths within 28 days of a test and “excess deaths”, would suggest that actions of the Scottish Government have had a relatively positive effect, especially when one considers the full range of demographic influences.

What may have confused Mr Stuart and others is that sometimes comparisons are made between ONS (Office of National Statistics) figures for England and NRS (National Records of Scotland) figures for Scotland, with registered deaths including those not directly attributable to Covid-19 recorded on death certificates. As was first identified by Channel 4 and confirmed via studies reported by the LSE (London School of Economics) and the Financial Times, as well as via consideration of data from countries across Europe, the ONS figures appear to significantly “under-report” deaths that may be “presumed or suspected” of being related to Covid-19 so should not be referenced for serious “international comparisons”. Stan Grodynski,

Longniddry.