MADAM, Last week I was explaining to an A-level class in statistics how important it is, when giving a percentage, to make clear what it is a percentage of. Not long afterwards I heard of a real life example.

I am sure - like me- many trying to respond to 'Waste Management Planning for Worcestershire and Hereford-shire: Public Information and Consultation' will have felt they did not have enough information to make an informed decision, but nevertheless wanted to contribute ideas to a plan which will have a major impact on us and our environment for years to come.

No indication is given in the leaflet about how waste minimisation is to be achieved, and that should be the prime aim of any strategy.

I hope when the local authority publishes the results of this 'consultation', it will publish the percentage of respondents choosing each option as a percentage of the total number of responses, and not as a percentage of responses which selected one of the options listed.

Responses which try to widen the debate and look at all the issues involved must be regarded as important contributions, and not as 'spoilt votes'.

RUTH STANIER (MISS), Harvey Road, Hampton Dene, Hereford.