Of its six divisions, four failed to register growth last year, so the overall improvement was a lousy 0.4 per cent.

It showed an overall improvement in results as daily exercise increased, even after factors such as weight, diet and class were taken into account.

One of the huge triumphs of the roundly ridiculed health-and-safety industry has been the overall improvement in the safety of our food, particularly publicly prepared food.

You're now able to use full 360 degree motion in controlling your football team, leading to better dribbling and an overall improvement to the tactical aspect of the game.

After six decades of steady overall improvement in diet, incomes and public health throughout the industrialised world, centenarians remain rare.