diff --git a/src/Runner.jl b/src/Runner.jl
index 83a4d626..3447ce96 100644
--- a/src/Runner.jl
+++ b/src/Runner.jl
@@ -92,7 +92,13 @@ module Runner
         observer[] =Progress( settings.uuid, "starting",0, 0, 0, settings.num_households )
         @time @threads for thread in 1:num_threads
             for hno in start[thread]:stop[thread]
+
                 hh = FRSHouseholdGetter.get_household( hno )
+                #=
+                if hno < 20
+                    println( "getting hh $hno hid=$(hh.hid) datayear=$(hh.data_year)")
+                end
+                =#
                 nation = nation_from_region( hh.region )
                 # println( "nation = $nation; included nations=$(settings.included_nations)")
                 if nation in settings.included_nations
@@ -123,7 +129,7 @@ module Runner
                                     # println( "wage set back to $(pers.income[wages]) metr is $(pres.metr)")
                                 end # working age
                             end # people
-                        end
+                        end # mrs
                         if settings.do_replacement_rates
                             for (pid,pers) in hh.people
                                 if ( ! pers.is_standard_child ) && ( pers.age <= settings.mr_rr_upper_age )
diff --git a/src/STBOutput.jl b/src/STBOutput.jl
index 09130587..88771263 100644
--- a/src/STBOutput.jl
+++ b/src/STBOutput.jl
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export
     irdiff
 
 # count of the aggregates added to the income_frame - total benefits and so on, plus 8 indirect fields
-const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 17
+const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 18
 
 
     #=
@@ -143,7 +143,9 @@ const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 17
         frame.excise_cider = zeros(n)
         frame.excise_wine = zeros(n)
         frame.excise_tobacco = zeros(n)
+        frame.total_indirect = zeros(n)
         frame.net_cost = zeros( n )
+        frame.net_inc_indirect = zeros( n )
         # add some crosstab fields ... 
         frame.id = fill( id, n )
         frame.data_year = zeros( Int, n )
@@ -394,7 +396,7 @@ const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 17
             for em in instances( Tenure_Type )
                 selected = incd.tenure .== em
                 out[row,col] =sum(  WEEKS_PER_YEAR .* incd[selected,col] .* incd[selected,:weight] ) # £mn          
-                row += 1
+                row += 1                
                 out[row,col] = sum((incd[selected,col] .> 0) .* incd[selected,:weight]) # Counts
                 row += 1
             end
@@ -404,9 +406,12 @@ const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 17
                 row += 1
                 out[row,col] = sum((incd[selected,col] .> 0) .* incd[selected,:weight]) # Counts
                 row += 1
-            end
-                
-        end
+            end                
+        end    
+        # note that the Count field for the next two is meaningless
+        out.total_indirect = out.VED + out.fuel_duty + out.VAT + out.excise_beer + out.excise_cider + out.excise_wine + 
+            out.excise_tobacco
+        out.net_inc_indirect = out.net_cost - out.total_indirect # 
         select!(out, Not([:pid,:hid,:weight])) # clear out pids 
         return out
     end
@@ -500,15 +505,27 @@ const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 17
         sysno  :: Integer,
         num_systems :: Integer  )
         hfno = get_slot_for_household( hh.hid, hh.data_year )
+        #=
+        if hh.hid < 20
+            println( "adding hh $(hh.hid) sysno=$sysno")
+        end
+        =#
         fill_hh_frame_row!( 
             frames.hh[sysno][hfno, :], hh, hres)
         nbus = length(hres.bus)
         np = length( hh.people )
         bus = get_benefit_units( hh )
-        pfbu = 0
+        npp = 0
         for buno in 1:nbus
             for( pid, pers ) in bus[buno].people
+                npp += 1
                 pfno = get_slot_for_person( pid, hh.data_year )
+                #=
+                if hh.hid < 0
+                    println( "pid=$pid data_year=$(hh.data_year) pfno=$pfno sysno=$sysno")
+                end
+                =#
+                @assert pfno > 0 "pfno non-positive for pid=$pid data_year=$(hh.data_year) pfno=$pnfo"
                 # pfbu += 1
                 from_child_record = pid in bus[buno].children
                 incrow = frames.income[sysno][pfno,:]
@@ -532,10 +549,10 @@ const EXTRA_INC_COLS = 17
                     incrow.excise_cider = hres.indirect.excise_cider
                     incrow.excise_wine = hres.indirect.excise_wine
                     incrow.excise_tobacco = hres.indirect.excise_tobacco        
-                end
-                            
+                end                            
             end # person loop
         end # bu loop
+        @assert np == npp "not all people allocated; actual people=$np allocated people $npp"
     end
 
     """
diff --git a/src/TheEqualiser.jl b/src/TheEqualiser.jl
index 6411c08d..613e42c7 100644
--- a/src/TheEqualiser.jl
+++ b/src/TheEqualiser.jl
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ mutable struct RunParameters{T<:AbstractFloat}
     params :: TaxBenefitSystem{T}
     settings :: Settings
 	base_cost :: T
+    iterations :: Int 
     target :: EqTargets
     obs    :: Observable
 end
@@ -138,8 +139,11 @@ function run( x :: T, rparams :: RunParameters{T} ) where T <: AbstractFloat
     rparams.params.loctax.ct.house_values = hvals
     rparams.params.othertaxes = othvals 
     rparams.params.indirect.vat = vat
+    rparams.iterations += 1
     summary = summarise_frames!(results, rparams.settings)
-    nc = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_cost]
+    nc = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
+    println( "nc = $nc rparams.base_cost=$(rparams.base_cost) iterations=$(rparams.iterations) delta=$x target=$(rparams.target)")
+    rparams.obs[]=Progress( rparams.settings.uuid, "equalising", rparams.iterations, 0, 0, 0 )
     return round( nc - rparams.base_cost, digits=0 )
 end
 
@@ -154,7 +158,7 @@ function equalise(
     base_cost :: T,
     observer :: Observable ) :: T where T<:AbstractFloat  
     zerorun = ZeroProblem( run, 0.0 ) # fixme guess at 0.0 ?
-    rparams = RunParameters( sys, settings, base_cost, target, observer )
+    rparams = RunParameters( sys, settings, base_cost, 0, target, observer )
     incch = solve( zerorun, rparams )
     #
     # TODO test incch is sensible 
diff --git a/test/all_uk_runner_tests.jl b/test/all_uk_runner_tests.jl
index 0816f935..29b733b3 100644
--- a/test/all_uk_runner_tests.jl
+++ b/test/all_uk_runner_tests.jl
@@ -35,16 +35,6 @@ of = on(obs) do p
     println(tot)
 end
 
-function make_default_settings() :: Settings
-    # settings = Settings()
-    settings = get_all_uk_settings_2023()
-    settings.do_marginal_rates = false
-    settings.requested_threads = 4
-    settings.means_tested_routing = uc_full
-    settings.do_health_esimates = true
-    return settings
-  end
-
 const targets = [ :label,
     :income_tax,  :national_insurance,  :local_taxes,  :social_fund_loan_repayment,  
     :student_loan_repayments,  :care_insurance,  :child_benefit,  :state_pension,  
@@ -61,9 +51,9 @@ const targets = [ :label,
     :housing_benefit,  :free_school_meals,  :universal_credit,  :other_benefits]
 
 function do_basic_uk_run()
-    settings = make_default_settings()
+    settings = get_all_uk_settings_2023()
     settings.run_name="all-uk-run-$(date_string())"
-    sys = [get_system(year=2023, scotland=false), get_system(year=2023, scotland=true)]
+    sys = [get_system(year=2023, scotland=false), get_system(year=2023, scotland=false)]
     println( sys[1].ni)
     tot = 0
     # force reset of data to use UK dataset
diff --git a/test/equaliser_tests.jl b/test/equaliser_tests.jl
index 7cb32c1f..dcbbac6a 100644
--- a/test/equaliser_tests.jl
+++ b/test/equaliser_tests.jl
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ using .STBParameters
 using .STBIncomes
 using .ExampleHelpers
 using .Monitor: Progress
+using .RunSettings
 using .TheEqualiser
 using .STBOutput
 using PrettyTables
@@ -17,20 +18,7 @@ using CSV
 using .GeneralTaxComponents:
     WEEKS_PER_YEAR
 
-function load_system()::TaxBenefitSystem
-	sys = load_file( joinpath( Definitions.MODEL_PARAMS_DIR, "sys_2021_22.jl" ))
-	#
-	# Note that as of Budget21 removing these doesn't actually happen till May 2022.
-	#
-	load_file!( sys, joinpath( Definitions.MODEL_PARAMS_DIR, "sys_2021-uplift-removed.jl"))
-	# uc taper to 55
-	load_file!( sys, joinpath( Definitions.MODEL_PARAMS_DIR, "budget_2021_uc_changes.jl"))
-	weeklyise!( sys )
-	return sys
-end
-
-
-settings = Settings()
+settings = get_all_uk_settings_2023()
 settings.do_marginal_rates = false
 settings.poverty_line=100.0 # arbit
 
@@ -42,24 +30,24 @@ of = on(obs) do p
     println(p)
 
     tot += p.step
-    println(tot)
+    # println(tot)
 end
 
-@testset "Eq UBI Tests" begin
-    base = load_system()
-    sys = load_system()
+@testset "Eq UBI with income tax Tests" begin
+    base = get_system(year=2023, scotland=false )
+    sys = get_system(year=2023, scotland=false )
     sys.ubi.abolished = false
     sys.it.personal_allowance = 0.0
     settings.num_households, settings.num_people, nhh2 = 
-                FRSHouseholdGetter.initialise( settings; reset=true )
+        FRSHouseholdGetter.initialise( settings; reset=true )
     make_ubi_pre_adjustments!( sys )
     base_res = do_one_run(
         settings,
         [base],
         obs )
     summary = summarise_frames!(base_res,settings)
-    base_cost = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_cost]
-    
+    base_cost = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
+    println( "base cost is $base_cost")
     eq = equalise( 
         eq_it, 
         sys, 
@@ -67,12 +55,13 @@ end
         base_cost, 
         obs )
     sys.it.non_savings_rates .+= eq
+    println( "got it rate change of $eq")
     ubi_res = do_one_run(
         settings,
         [sys],
         obs )
     ubi_summary = summarise_frames!(ubi_res,settings)
-    ubi_cost = ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_cost]
+    ubi_cost = ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
     println( "needs tax rise of $eq")
     net_cost = ubi_cost - base_cost
     println( "net_cost=$net_cost" )
@@ -84,8 +73,8 @@ end
 end
 
 @testset "Eq UBI With Wealth Tests" begin
-    base = load_system()
-    sys = load_system()
+    base = get_system(year=2023, scotland=false )
+    sys = get_system(year=2023, scotland=false )
     sys.ubi.abolished = false
     sys.it.personal_allowance = 0.0
     make_ubi_pre_adjustments!( sys )
@@ -94,7 +83,7 @@ end
         [base],
         obs )
     summary = summarise_frames!(base_res,settings)
-    base_cost = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_cost]
+    base_cost = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
     
     eq = equalise( 
         eq_wealth_tax, 
@@ -103,12 +92,15 @@ end
         base_cost, 
         obs )
     sys.othertaxes.wealth_tax = eq
+    println( "VAT change is $eq")
     ubi_res = do_one_run(
         settings,
         [sys],
         obs )
+
+    
     ubi_summary = summarise_frames!(ubi_res,settings)
-    ubi_cost = ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_cost]
+    ubi_cost = ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
    
     println( "needs tax rise of $eq")
     net_cost = ubi_cost - base_cost
@@ -119,3 +111,40 @@ end
     # pretty_table( ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:] )
 
 end
+
+@testset "Eq UBI With VAT" begin
+    base = get_system(year=2023, scotland=false )
+    sys = get_system(year=2023, scotland=false )
+    sys.ubi.abolished = false
+    sys.it.personal_allowance = 0.0
+    make_ubi_pre_adjustments!( sys )
+    base_res = do_one_run(
+        settings,
+        [base],
+        obs )
+    summary = summarise_frames!(base_res,settings)
+    base_cost = summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
+    
+    eq = equalise( 
+        eq_all_vat, 
+        sys, 
+        settings, 
+        base_cost, 
+        obs )
+    sys.indirect.vat.standard_rate += eq
+    sys.indirect.vat.reduced_rate += eq
+    sys.indirect.vat.assumed_exempt_rate += eq*0.5
+    ubi_res = do_one_run(
+        settings,
+        [sys],
+        obs )
+    ubi_summary = summarise_frames!(ubi_res,settings)
+    ubi_cost = ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:net_inc_indirect]
+   
+    net_cost = ubi_cost - base_cost
+    println( "net_cost=$net_cost" )
+    println( "taxrates $(sys.indirect.vat.standard_rate*100.0)%")
+    println("ubi summary")
+    CSV.write( "ubi_summary.income_summary_wealth.csv", ubi_summary.income_summary[1] )
+    # pretty_table( ubi_summary.income_summary[1][1,:] )
+end
diff --git a/test/expenditure_tests.jl b/test/expenditure_tests.jl
index 355ebf77..44a70753 100644
--- a/test/expenditure_tests.jl
+++ b/test/expenditure_tests.jl
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ using .STBOutput: make_poverty_line, summarise_inc_frame,
 using .Expenditure
 using StatsBase
 
-settings = Settings()
+settings = Settings() # get_all_uk_settings_2023()
 
 BenchmarkTools.DEFAULT_PARAMETERS.seconds = 120
 BenchmarkTools.DEFAULT_PARAMETERS.samples = 2
@@ -51,10 +51,13 @@ end
         settings.do_marginal_rates = false
         settings.dump_frames = false
         sys = [get_system(year=2022, scotland=true), get_system( year=2022,scotland=true )]
-        nhhs,npeople = init_data()
-        share = zeros( nhhs,2 )
-        for hno in 1:nhhs
+        settings.num_households, settings.num_people, nhh2 = 
+            FRSHouseholdGetter.initialise( settings; reset=true )
+        println(sys[1])
+        share = zeros( nhh2,2 )
+        for hno in 1:nhh2
             hh = get_household(hno)
+            # println(hh)
             # dup but can't be helped
             intermed =  make_intermediate( 
                 hh,