The proposal of a United Nations scale of assessment revised every three years was considered by the working group as a starting point for establishing the capacity of member parliaments to pay. This scale takes into account gross national income (GNI) averaged over several years, exchange rates, debt burden and low per capita income. The proposal has also taken into account the ability of countries to pay the contributions. This was discussed at length during the 124th IPU Assembly in Panama. The Panama was in general agreement that an increase of the contributions is necessary taking into account inflation and the increase of the cost for services. The meeting in Panama requested further deliberations before consenting to a particular scale of contributions.