 |
answer text |
<p>There are currently over 1,000 firefighters in the Service aged 55 or over, all
of whom provide a valuable contribution to the fire service. The pension reforms protect
those who are closest to their scheme’s Normal Pension Age and therefore no firefighter
will need to work beyond their current scheme’s Normal Pension Age over the next five
years. The Government commissioned report <em>Normal Pension Age for Firefighters</em>
found that there was no reason why every firefighter who stayed physically active
could not remain operational until age 60. The report can be found at <a href="http://www.clg.heywood.co.uk/node/658"
target="_blank">http://www.clg.heywood.co.uk/node/658</a>. There is no single fitness
standard in fire and rescue authorities and Dr Williams' assessment was based on current
practices amongst fire and rescue authorities.<br><br>On 28 October I published a
consultation to put the key fitness principles onto a statutory footing through the
Fire National Framework. These proposals underpin the fitness and capability processes
that exist within individual fire and rescue authorities and complement the work being
undertaken by the joint fitness group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser,
Peter Holland. These important initiatives will help reassure firefighters that they
will be appropriately supported throughout their career.</p>
|
|
