Dr. Tom McDonnell:

Yes. Our current figure is evolving very quickly at the moment and has been for the last six, nine or 12 months.

As it is a rate of more than 8% this year and approximately 4%, next year, that is a cumulative rate of 12%. Obviously, there was an increase last year. Broadly, that is what we are talking about.

On the cost of living, if you do once-off measures on the energy side, that opens up scope for maybe doing slightly less in terms of cash payments but our initial position is that the cash payments dealing with the income adequacy side should be the first port of call in dealing with a cost-of-living crisis, rather than necessarily interfering with a market. My colleague, Mr. Goldrick-Kelly, is doing his PhD on carbon lock-in and he may have points to make on energy. Broadly however, that is our sense of the first policy response; not the only response but certainly the first one.