Mr. Sebastian Barnes:

The council does not take any view on specific tax and spending measures or on whether indexation or increasing through non-indexation or through other means is the right thing to do. We do not have a view on that. However, it is relevant that, as we are discussing, the amounts that are being forgone by the commitment to index are quite substantial. It will potentially make it more difficult during a period where fiscal adjustment may be needed and where there are ambitious commitments on the spending side, for example, around health, to finance these in this uncertain environment when commitments on substantial parts of the tax systems or some other commitments have been made that will reduce the flexibility in balancing spending and taxation on the one hand and the sustainability of the public finances.