Dr. Mary Murphy:

I said they had significant capacity. We have already established that there is a range of proofing mechanisms, some of which rest at the level of distribution analysis of key policy proposals. We know that Departments do this already. We know that they use the SWITCH model. We know that advices go to the tax statutory group, etc. Some of these skills are available. However, as the Deputy suggested, the skills more relevant to section 42 such as knowing the best way to use policy to advance equality are not part of our culture to the same extent. While we may have a track record with regard to defensive proofing, I do not think we tend to be very rich in the skill set associated with the more creative uses of proofing, for example, to progressively realise rights, advance equality and achieve outcomes. I take the Deputy's point in that regard. When I spoke about the capacity available in Departments, I was saying some of them had a track record of engaging in distributional analysis. They do not make such work accountable or transparent, but they engage in it to a greater extent than might seem evident in the broad public policy process.