Dear Brother/ Sister
You will be aware that, as part of the proposals for the 2015 Firefighters pension scheme, the CLG Fire Minister agreed to a review of the Normal Pension Age (NPA) for Firefighters.
The Terms of Reference for this review were agreed at the Firefighters Pension Committee (FPC) that was held on 28 March 2012. The review will be carried out under the auspices of the FPC with a final report published by the end of 2012.
The Terms of Reference state that this review will be:
'an objective review to consider the evidence to support the appropriate NPA for firefighters and the structural implications for the proposed scheme of such recommendations. In reaching its recommendations the review will want to be mindful of the reasonable expectation that scheme members will be able to work to, and retire at, the Normal Pension Age.'
The CLG Fire Minister (Bob Neill) announced prior to the July FPC that he had chosen Dr Tony Williams to undertake and Chair this review. Subsequently Dr Williams addressed the Firefighters Pension Committee on 4 July and outlined his aims for the review. At this meeting he also indicated that he intended to establish a small group of stakeholders who would be best placed to advise and assist with the review.
The Fire Brigades Union was approached to represent all Fire Service employees on this smaller group. In accepting this role the Union, have made it clear that while we are committed to the review we are still opposed to many of the 2015 pension proposals and will be submitting evidence to support our concerns. We have made clear that the FBU will not in any way be bound by the findings of Dr Williams if they conflict with the evidence we have identified and the conclusion we have reached based on such evidence.
The first meeting of the smaller group is scheduled to take place on 21 September and the FBU has already established its own task and finish group specifically looking at Normal Pension Age issues. This group has already collected a substantial amount of historical evidence which supports our view that an NPA of 60 is totally unworkable.
In addition to this they have been collecting information including data on:
- Redeployment opportunities in the Fire Service.
- Numbers of people working beyond age 55.
- Fitness requirements and policies in each individual Fire Service.
The FBU will be submitting evidence to the review and work has already started on a complete submission that will also be available in full and in a summarised version for members later this year.
Members should continue to attend Branch meetings and make sure that they read all circulars and the FBU website www.fbu.org.uk to keep up-to-date with the situation as it develops.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
Matt Wrack
General Secretary
2012HOC0468MW
