He voiced particular concern about the Ile-de-France area, covering Paris.

BBC: NEWS | Europe | France seeks medics for heatwave

In the first part of the show, 25 children who have attended operatic workshops led by Malika Bellaribi-Le Moal in Colombes and Bondy (Ile-de-France), perform arias that have been adapted for a young audience.

UNESCO: House | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

So it would be remarkable had London and the south-east outpaced the Ile de France by 15 percentage points a year.

ECONOMIST: How rich is London?

The papers this week claimed that the south-east has overtaken the Ile de France (the area around Paris) as Europe's richest region.

ECONOMIST: How rich is London?