The government borrowed £151bn in 2025-26.

Total managed expenditure: everything the UK public sector spends in a year, including pensions, benefits, health, schools and interest on debt. The figures are in cash terms, so they are not adjusted for rising prices. It cannot tell you whether spending is too high or too low, or how well the money is used.

Public sector net debt: what the whole public sector owes, minus the money and easily sold assets it holds. It is the total of past borrowing, built up over many years. It cannot tell you whether the level is a problem: that depends on interest rates, growth and what the borrowing paid for.

The number of treatments waiting to start after a referral, such as an operation or a hospital appointment. One person can be waiting for more than one treatment, so this counts treatments, not people. It cannot tell you how urgent each case is.

The median is the middle value: half of full-time employees earn more and half earn less. It is before tax. The claimant count is people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit while looking for work. It cannot tell you about part-time workers or people without a job: pay covers only people working full time, and it is before tax.

How much higher prices are than a year earlier, measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). When the rate falls, prices are still rising, just more slowly. It cannot tell you how your own prices have changed: it is one average for everyone.

Every country is measured the same way by the International Monetary Fund. Ranks go from highest to lowest and do not say which is better. It cannot tell you why countries differ: size, age, industries and how each pays for health and pensions all matter.

Anyone can start a petition on the Parliament website. Over 10,000 signatures gets a government response; over 100,000 means Parliament will consider it for debate.

Everything the whole public sector took in during the year, mostly income tax, National Insurance, VAT and other taxes. It cannot tell you who paid it: that is the same total however the burden is shared.

Borrowing is the gap between what the public sector spent and what it collected in one year. Added up over many years it makes the national debt. It cannot tell you whether borrowing was too high or too low.

The cost of servicing the national debt in the year. It rises when debt rises and when interest rates rise. It cannot tell you what rate is paid on which debt.

The largest of the spending headings the Treasury uses, after setting aside general public services (which includes debt interest) and economic affairs. It cannot tell you how well the money was used.

All public spending classed as health by the Treasury, across the whole UK. It cannot tell you how much of it reaches patients or how that compares with other countries.

The share of treatments waiting to start that have been waiting less than 18 weeks. It cannot tell you how serious each case is.

Treatments, not people: one person can be waiting for more than one. It cannot tell you why each is waiting.

The median wait so far of everyone currently on the list. It is not how long people wait in total, because many are still waiting. It cannot tell you how long a new patient will wait.

The claimant count: people claiming benefits mainly for being unemployed. It cannot tell you about unemployed people who are not claiming, or people working while claiming.

The median weekly pay, before tax, of full-time workers who live in the area. It cannot tell you what part-time workers earn, or what jobs located in the area pay.

The median weekly pay, before tax, of full-time workers who live in the area. It cannot tell you what part-time workers earn, or what jobs located in the area pay.

The majority is the winner’s votes minus the runner-up’s. It cannot tell you how safe the seat is next time: voters and candidates change.

Each vote is one question put to MPs. Many are about the process of passing a law, not its content. It cannot tell you how important each vote was.

A bill is a proposed law. It becomes law only after both Houses agree and it gets Royal Assent. It cannot tell you whether a bill will pass.

Anyone can start a petition. Signatures show who signed, not what the public think. It cannot tell you whether signers are real or representative.

Claims paid by IPSA for running an MP’s office, staff, travel and accommodation. It is not an MP’s pay. It cannot tell you whether any claim was appropriate.

Official statistics are announced in advance. This is the next release of a figure the site shows, and the site updates the night after. It cannot tell you what the figures will say.

How much more the economy produced than the year before, after allowing for rising prices. It cannot tell you how the gains were shared or the size of the economy.

Gross government debt as a share of a year’s GDP, measured the same way for every country. It cannot tell you who the debt is owed to or what interest is paid.

People looking for work as a share of the workforce, as the IMF reports it for each country. It cannot tell you how countries’ definitions differ.