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64665

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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 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 publish the research on the effect of age on aerobic capacity used by the Government in developing proposals regarding firefighters' pensions.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	203129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government commissioned report <em>Normal Pension Age for Firefighters</em> found that there was no reason why every firefighter who stayed physically fit could not remain operational until age 60. It also found that where firefighters do lose their fitness, the vast majority are able to regain their fitness levels following a period of extra training. 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>.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Fitness regimes are a matter for local fire authorities as employers and no direct changes to this are being made with the 2015 scheme, which has the same pension age of 60 years as the firefighters pension scheme introduced in 2006.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 203128 question first answered 03/07/2014 15:36:17 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64666

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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 Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has undertaken into the aerobic capacity required by the occupation fitness standards used by fire services that guarantees that firefighters are safe and effective in their ability to complete necessary roles within their occupation.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	203128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government commissioned report <em>Normal Pension Age for Firefighters</em> found that there was no reason why every firefighter who stayed physically fit could not remain operational until age 60. It also found that where firefighters do lose their fitness, the vast majority are able to regain their fitness levels following a period of extra training. 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>.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Fitness regimes are a matter for local fire authorities as employers and no direct changes to this are being made with the 2015 scheme, which has the same pension age of 60 years as the firefighters pension scheme introduced in 2006.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 203129 question first answered 03/07/2014 15:36:17 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64667

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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 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 his policy is on the granting of full pensions to firefighters over 55 years old who are forced to retire due to naturally declining fitness levels.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	203130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>If a firefighter is permanently incapacitated so as to be unable to undertake their role they will be eligible for an ill-health pension. Where a firefighter is not permanently incapacitated, fire and rescue authorities will support a firefighter in regaining their fitness. An independent report found that the vast majority of firefighters who lose their fitness will regain it following remedial training.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The New Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006 provides fire and rescue authorities with the discretion to pay an unreduced pension to a firefighter having regard to the costs of the case and the economical, efficient and effective management of their functions; the draft Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 regulations contain a similar provision. In early June we made an offer to the Fire Brigades Union to work with the employers to develop a common approach to the use of this discretion. The Union rejected that offer and announced further strike action. Further details can be found in my letter of 5 June to the Chairmen of Fire and Rescue Authorities at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318086/Letter_from_Brandon_Lewis_on_strike_action_5_June_2014_2.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318086/Letter_from_Brandon_Lewis_on_strike_action_5_June_2014_2.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 03/07/2014 15:39:01 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64668

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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 Services: Industrial Disputes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will investigate the adequacy of the London Fire Brigade and other fire and rescue services' contingency arrangements for strikes.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	203131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for West Ham (Lyn Brown) on 30 June 2014, <em>Official Report</em> Column 409-410W.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 03/07/2014 15:38:01 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64669

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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 Services: Industrial Disputes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that fire and rescue services are providing adequate training to resilience crews to maintain the safety of the public in strikes and on similar occasions.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	203132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The responsibility for training resilience crews for industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union, is entirely a matter for individual fire and rescue authorities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 03/07/2014 15:37:08 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64462

registered interest
date	27/06/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Pearson VUE
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments use (a) Pearson VUE and (b) Pearson Professional Centres for delivering tests; and if he will provide details of each such use.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	202965
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>This is information is not held centrally.</p><p>Civil Service Resourcing do not use Pearson VUE and Pearson Professional Centres.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 02/07/2014 13:32:16 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64496

registered interest
date	27/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pearson VUE
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which office in his Department or its arms length bodies has responsibility for the oversight of outsourcing QTS numeracy and skills tests to Pearson VUE.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	202964
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p>The skills tests for prospective teachers were developed under a contract let by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) to Pearson VUE in 2009. The Teaching Agency took over responsibility for oversight of contract management in 2012 when the TDA was abolished. Since November 2013, responsibility has rested with the Standards and Testing Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Education.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/07/2014 16:56:14 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64498

registered interest
date	27/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pearson VUE
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what Pearson VUE's process is for appealing test results and complaints procedure.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	202963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p>Pearson VUE operates a skills test helpline through which candidates' queries and complaints are managed. There is no appeals process against test results.</p><p> </p><p>If a candidate considers that there was a technical or administrative error with the delivery of the test or marking, they are able to raise this either at the test centre at the time of the test or subsequently via the skills test helpline.</p><p> </p><p>All such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by Pearson VUE. Where appropriate, Pearson VUE escalates appeals to the Standards and Testing Agency to make the final determination.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/07/2014 16:51:45 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

64499

registered interest
date	27/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pearson VUE
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the performance of Pearson VUE in delivering skills tests for prospective teachers on behalf of his Department.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	202961
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p>As the current contractor delivering the skills test for prospective teachers, Pearson VUE reports weekly to officials on day-to-day delivery against agreed service levels. Pearson VUE is also appropriately engaged in handover of the service to the new contractor.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/07/2014 16:54:06 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham