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You will be aware that a there is a live investigation by Derbyshire Police into the disbanded SDS, which covers the 40-year period that we have discussed.
That takes into account not only cost-of-living increases but increments, and the fact that, over people’s working lifetimes, one may expect them to be promoted.
I took great interest in the evidence sessions—I was not able to watch them live, due to other commitments, but I read the Official Report of those sessions.
I have tried to go behind that and say that, actually, there is a lot more to it than that dismissive reaction suggests, and it is still a live issue. It has not been disposed of by the Miller case and it remains to be determined.
Everything does not necessarily go live on day 1; there is an opportunity to have a transition period during which VAT revenues are protected but we can look at and understand the figures.
At the time, it also reflected the continuing commitment to maintain police numbers at the time, and it is based on Office for Budget Responsibility projections for future rises in the cost of living and associated costs. Those are the factors that were included.
One of my colleagues in the Scottish Law Commission provided a useful metaphor a few years ago that involves looking at the legal system as plumbing. In the world in which we live—our country and society—we have a legal system that is different but not necessarily the best legal system in the world, and some bits of it are not working so well.
I am not sure that I would be forecasting because, as David Heald said, we live in very unusual times and the past is now not necessarily a good information basis on which to project the future.