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227496

registered interest
date	16/03/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether firefighters aged 55 who fail a fitness test will receive an unreduced pension; and whether he plans to bring in legislative proposals to make this a statutory right.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
uin	227579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England came into force on 12 January 2015. To underpin these the National Employers have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services about the role fire authorities will take in supporting operational employees to maintain their fitness. In addition, the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on application of the factors set out in Pension Regulations for fire authority consideration in relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p>We will review the implementation of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing their fitness through no fault of their own, is unable to regain their fitness, and for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p><p>Where underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter, the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment, including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role, where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p>Any firefighter will continue to be free to choose to retire from 55 onwards should they wish to, regardless of their fitness. In such circumstances, any benefits accrued in the 1992 and 2006 firefighters' pension schemes would be paid in full, while benefits earned in the 2015 scheme would be actuarially reduced by 21.8 per cent for a firefighter retiring on their birthday at 55, and reduced on a daily basis thereafter. The actuarial reduction of 21.8 per cent at age 55 compares very favourably with a reduction of over 40 per cent applied to firefighters at the same age in the 2006 scheme. The 2006 scheme also introduced a normal pension age of 60. Overall, our measures give firefighters one of the most generous pensions in the public sector and the strongest protections available for any public sector workforce on fitness and ageing.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 13:06:16 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

227099

registered interest
date	12/03/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with fire authorities in England and Wales on pension rights for firefighters who fail fitness tests due to illness; and how many of those authorities have indicated to him that they cannot pay those pensions.
tabling member constituency	East Antrim
tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
uin	227419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>I recently met with the National Employers to discuss firefighter fitness issues in England. Where underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter, the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment, including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role, where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2015 Firefighters Pension Scheme firefighters will accrue pension more quickly than their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will consequently achieve a higher ill-health pension.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 12:57:23 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

226240

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require fire authorities to provide a full pension to fire fighters between the ages of 55 and 60 if they fail a fitness test due to no fault of their own and cannot be employed in another role within the fire service.
tabling member constituency	Wellingborough
tabling member printed	Mr Peter Bone
uin	227101
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England came into force on 12 January. To underpin these, the National Employers have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services. This discussion will be about the role fire authorities will take in supporting operational employees in maintaining their fitness. In addition, the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on the application of the factors set out in pension regulations for fire authority consideration in relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p> </p><p>We will review the implementation of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing their fitness through no fault of their own, is subsequently unable to regain their fitness, and for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 15:35:07 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1581 label Biography information for Mr Peter Bone

226610

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on resolving the dispute over firefighters' pensions.
tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
uin	908071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 will come into force on 1 April 2015.</p><p> </p><p>The National Employers have agreed to work with the Fire Brigades Union to ensure that the fitness principles detailed in the Fire and Rescue National Framework, are incorporated into in local policies. The dispute should now come to an end.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 15:49:48 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

175017

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1148-56, if the Minister will meet the Fire Brigades Union and fire authority employers, and their respective legal representatives, to discuss how commitments that she gave in that debate on fire service pensions will be implemented in practice; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	221637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text <p>My Department will be working with representative bodies and the employers in the fitness working group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser to provide good practice on the application of the firefighter fitness principles now incorporated into the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England. We have also agreed to set in train an independent review of the operation of these principles in three years time, and in the light of that review, to take such additional action as might be required to ensure the commitments made to Parliament are secured.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 28/01/2015 15:10:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

171064

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Portsmouth North of 15 December 2014, Official Report, column 115, for what reasons a statutory instrument was not laid on 16 December 2014.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	219076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Fire and Rescue Authorities (National Framework) (England) (Revision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3317) was made on 16 December. It was laid in Parliament on 18 December, following the normal process, and has been published at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets out the principles we expect fire and rescue authorities to have regard to in setting their fitness policies and procedures and their approach to firefighters who lose fitness to support them in working to 60. The mechanisms by which fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to the National Framework along with the associated powers of intervention, inspection and reporting are set out in Sections 21 to 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. We will be undertaking a review of the National Framework principles in three years time, after consultation with partners in the fire and rescue service, and at that stage will assess whether any further action is required.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Williams found that “Based on current practices of setting a standard of 42 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max but allowing firefighters to remain operational at a 35 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max”. The Department considered the policies that were submitted to that review and agreed with Dr Williams’ assessment of current practice. I have placed copies of the fitness policies that the Department considered in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 219072 219101 219217 question first answered 05/01/2015 16:21:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

171067

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at his Department on 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1115 and 1153, by what mechanisms the Written Ministerial Statement and Statutory Instrument will guarantee that if a firefighter does not have an underlying medical condition and they cannot pass the fitness test, either they will receive an alternative role or be offered an unreduced pension.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	219072
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Fire and Rescue Authorities (National Framework) (England) (Revision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3317) was made on 16 December. It was laid in Parliament on 18 December, following the normal process, and has been published at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets out the principles we expect fire and rescue authorities to have regard to in setting their fitness policies and procedures and their approach to firefighters who lose fitness to support them in working to 60. The mechanisms by which fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to the National Framework along with the associated powers of intervention, inspection and reporting are set out in Sections 21 to 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. We will be undertaking a review of the National Framework principles in three years time, after consultation with partners in the fire and rescue service, and at that stage will assess whether any further action is required.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Williams found that “Based on current practices of setting a standard of 42 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max but allowing firefighters to remain operational at a 35 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max”. The Department considered the policies that were submitted to that review and agreed with Dr Williams’ assessment of current practice. I have placed copies of the fitness policies that the Department considered in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 219076 219101 219217 question first answered 05/01/2015 16:21:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

164128

registered interest
date	21/11/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral Answer of 10 November 2014, Official Report, column 1164, on firefighters' pensions, how many hours of training in firefighting the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for Portsmouth North, completed.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Fiona Mactaggart
uin	215585
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>I have studied Chemical Biological Radiation Nuclear and Damage Control (CBRNDC), including firefighting, as part of my training as a Royal Navy Reservist. This is a mix of academic study and practical exercises carried out at a number of locations including BRNC Dartmouth, Phoenix CBRNDC School and sea-time on a warship, in my case HMS Bulwark during the Cougar 13 deployment. I have carried out this training over the last 3 years. It is not possible to calculate the number of hours spent on firefighting training but the syllabus for this requirement of Royal Naval Reservist training follows that in the Royal Navy Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defence Manual BR2170.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 28/11/2014 14:35:25 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	12 label Biography information for Fiona Mactaggart