Right Cremegg, Payscales were introduced to keep wages down. A Nurse leaves university to work in a hospital. The Nurse starts on Point 1 of the payscale and would progress up the payscale usually yearly. The thinking behind this (I reckon) is that a nurse starting out deserves less wages than a nurse working in the hospital for 10 years. Therefore the need for payscales.
However, I agree with you and payscales of the start should be abolished (they are so low). It is the same for clerical officers. So I could argue that if there are ten points on the scales, it takes at least 10 years to reach the maximum of the grade. (Grinning to myself, if it takes five years of university to become a doctor, why does it take at least ten years to get a decent wage as a nurse or clerical worker?). There is of course some middle ground where you could start a nurse or clerical officer mid way up the table, but that would cost the tax payer.
Delboy asked a pertinent question i.e. what is the per centage rate for successful assessments? To be honest, I don't know, but I have seen Line Managers refusing increments because of under performance.
And of course Purple threw in his tuppence worth:- Now now, we aren't allowed to ask those questions. Just be glad we have all those "World Class"TM Public Servants. All shortcomings are the fault of politicians and "The System". Of course, you are entitled to and allowed to ask such questions. Nobody is hiding.