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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2007 No. 1074 (W.112)

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES, WALES

PENSIONS, WALES

The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2007

  Made 28 March 2007 
  Coming into force 29 March 2007 

The National Assembly for Wales, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1947[1] and section 12 of the Superannuation Act 1972[2], as applied by section 16(3) of that Act[3], and sections 36, 53, 60 and 62 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004[4], makes the following Order:

Title, commencement, interpretation and application
     1. —(1) This Order is called the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2007.

    (2) This Order comes into force on 29 March 2007, but has effect as specified in paragraphs (3) to (6).

    (3) The amendment made by article 2 and paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 (spouse's or civil partner's requisite benefit and temporary pension) has effect from 1 March 1992.

    (4) The amendment made by article 2 and paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (short service award) has effect from 21 November 2005.

    (5) The amendments made by article 2 and the following paragraphs of Schedule 1 have effect from 6 April 2006—

    (6) The remaining provisions of this Order have effect from 1 April 2006.

    (7) In this Order—

    (8) The amendments made by this Order apply only in relation to the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme as it has effect in Wales[8].

Amendment of the Pension Scheme
     2. The Pension Scheme is amended in accordance with Schedule 1.

Transitional provision
    
3. —(1) The amendments made by article 2 and paragraphs 6 (ill-health awards), 51 (review of ill-health and certain deferred pensions) and 62 (ill-health pension) of Schedule 1 do not have effect in relation to a person in respect of whom a determination or decision relevant to the termination of that person's employment on grounds of ill-health (whether under Part H or Part K of the Pension Scheme) has been made before 1 April 2006.

    (2) In a case to which paragraph (1) applies, rules B3 and K1 of the Pension Scheme continue to have effect in relation to the person concerned in the form in which they exist immediately before that date.

Revocation and consequential provision
    
4. —(1) So much of article 2(2) of the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order 1992 as relates to the provisions specified in column (1) of Schedule 2 to this Order (provisions of the Pension Scheme superseded by the Compensation Scheme) is revoked as to Wales.

    (2) A reference in any document (whether made, served or issued before, on or after 1 April 2006) to a provision of the Pension Scheme that ceases to have effect by virtue of paragraph (1) is, unless a contrary intention appears, to be construed on and after that date as a reference to the corresponding provision of the Compensation Scheme specified in column (2) of Schedule 2.



Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998[
9].


D. Elis-Thomas
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly

28 March 2007



SCHEDULE 1
Article 2


AMENDMENT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION (WALES) SCHEME (WALES ONLY)


     1. In rule A3 (exclusive application to regular firefighters)—

     2. Omit rule A9 (qualifying injury).

     3. In rule A10 (disablement)—

     4. Omit rule A11 (death or infirmity resulting from injury).

     5. For rule B2 (short service award), substitute—

     6. For rule B3 (ill-health award)[11], substitute—

     7. Omit rule B4 (injury award).

     8. In rule B5 (deferred pension)—

     9. In rule B6 (repayment of aggregate pension contributions)—

     10. In rule B7 (commutation — general provision)—

     11. In rule B8 (commutation — small pensions)—

     12. In rule B9 (allocation)—

     13. In rule B10 (limitation of commuted or allocated portion of pension), in paragraph (2), for "or I4", substitute "or rule 2 or 3 of Part 7 of the Compensation Scheme".

     14. For rule B11 (deduction of tax from certain awards), substitute—

     15. In rule C1 (spouse's ordinary pension)—

     16. Omit rules C2 (spouse's special award) and C3 (spouse's augmented award).

     17. In rule C5 (limitation on award to widow by reference to date of marriage)[15]—

     18. For rule C6 (widow's requisite benefit and temporary pension)[16], substitute—

     19. For rule C7 (spouse's award where no other award payable)[18], substitute—

     20. In rule C8 (limitations where spouses living apart)[19]—

     21. In rule D1 (child's ordinary allowance), in paragraph (1)(c), after "injury pension", insert "under the Compensation Scheme".

     22. Omit rules D2 (child's special allowance) and D3 (child's special gratuity).

     23. In rule D5 (child's allowance or special gratuity: limitations)[20], omit paragraph (7).

     24. In rule E1 (lump sum death grant), in paragraph (1), for the words after "payable", substitute—

     25. Omit rule E2 (adult dependent relative's special pension).

     26. In rule E4 (payment of balance of contributions to estate), in paragraph (2)(b)—

     27. For rule E5 (gratuity in lieu of surviving spouse's pension)[21], substitute—

     28. For rule E6 (gratuity in lieu of child's allowance), substitute—

     29. In rule E7 (limitation on discretion to commute pension or allowance for gratuity)—

     30. In rule E8 (increase of pensions and allowances during first 13 weeks)[25]—

     31. In rule F1 (reckoning of and certificates as to pensionable service), in paragraph (6), after "gratuity", insert "under this Scheme, or a pension or gratuity under the Compensation Scheme".

     32. In rule F2 (current service), for paragraphs (3) and (4), substitute—

     33. In rule F3 (previous service reckonable without payment), in paragraph (b), for "in the circumstances and within the period mentioned in rule K1(1) to (4) (cancellation of ill-health pension)", substitute "following an offer of employment under rule K1A(2)(b),".

     34. In rule F5 (period during which injury pension was payable)[26]—

     35. In rule F6A (previous service reckonable following actionable loss), in paragraph (7)—

     36. In rule F7 (receipt of transfer value), in paragraph (2), after "authority" insert ", not later than 12 months after the date on which he takes up employment with them,".

     37. For rule F8 (transfer payments between fire and rescue authorities), substitute—

     38. In rule G1 (pensionable pay and average pensionable pay), in paragraph (4)—

     39. In rule G2 (pension contributions)—

     40. In rule G3 (election not to pay pension contributions)—

     41. In rule G6 (election to purchase increased benefits), in paragraph (1), omit "and rule G9".

     42. In rule G7 (payment of periodical contributions for increased benefits)—

     43. Omit rule G9 (pension debit members: restriction on replacement of debited rights).

     44. In rule H1 (determination by fire authority), in paragraph (2), for sub-paragraphs (c) and (d), substitute—

     45. In rule I2 (awards to servicemen)—

     46. In rule I3 (awards on death of servicemen)—

     47. Omit rule I4 (servicemen who resume service as regular firefighters).

     48. In rule IA4 (application of general rules), in paragraph (2), for "rule L2 (expenses and receipts of fire and rescue authorities)", substitute "rule LA1 (establishment, maintenance and operation of Firefighters' Pension Fund)".

     49. In rule J1 (guaranteed minimum pensions), for paragraph (6), substitute—

     50. Omit rules J3 (whole-time member of brigade who is not a regular firefighter), J4 (part-time member of brigade) and J5 (members of brigade other than regular firefighters: supplementary).

     51. For rule K1 (cancellation of ill-health and injury pensions), substitute—

     52. Omit rule K2 (reassessment of injury pension).

     53. In rule K3 (reduction of award in case of default)[29], in paragraph (1), omit "or injury".

     54. In rule K5 (withdrawal of pension on conviction of certain offences)[30], in paragraph (4), omit ", other than an injury pension,".

     55. In rule L1 (authorities responsible for payment of awards)[31], omit paragraphs (2), (5) and (6).

     56. Omit rule L2 (expenses and receipts of fire and rescue authorities).

     57. In rule L3 (payment of awards)[32], in paragraph (7), omit "other than an injury gratuity under rule B4,".

     58. In rule L4 (prevention of duplication)[33]—

     59. Omit rules L4A (prevention of duplication: other injury awards for persons who are both regular and retained firefighters)[34] and L4B, (prevention of duplication: other awards for spouses or children of persons who are both regular and retained firefighters)[35].

     60. After Part L, insert the following Part—



     61. In Schedule 1 (interpretation), in Part I (glossary of expressions)[37]—

     62. In Schedule 2 (personal awards)[38]—



     63. In Schedule 3 (awards on death: spouses)[39]—

     64. In Schedule 4 (awards on death -children)—

     65. In Schedule 5 (awards on death-additional provisions), omit Part I (adult dependent relative's special pension).

     66. In Schedule 9 (appeals), in paragraph 8(2A)[40], for "10", substitute "21".

     67. Omit Schedule 10 (servicemen: increased awards).



SCHEDULE 2
Article 4


PROVISIONS OF THE PENSION SCHEME SUPERSEDED BY PROVISIONS OF THE COMPENSATION SCHEME


(1) (2)
Provision of Pension Scheme Corresponding provision of Compensation Scheme
Rule A9 (qualifying injury) In Part 1, rule 7
Rule A10 (disablement) In Part 1, rule 8
Rule A11 (death or infirmity resulting from Injury) In Part 1, rule 9
Rule B4 (injury award) In Part 2, rule 1
Rule C2 (spouse's special award) In Part 3, rule 1
Rule C3 (spouse's augmented award) In Part 3, rule 2
Rule D2 (child's special allowance) In Part 4, rule 1
Rule D3 (child's special gratuity) In Part 4, rule 2
Rule E2 (adult dependent relative's specialpension) In Part 5, rule 1
Rule E8 (increase of pensions and allowances during first 13 weeks) In Part 5, rule 5
Rule I4 (servicemen who resume service asregular firefighters) In Part 7, rule 4
Rule J3 (whole-time member of brigade who is not a regular firefighter) In Part 8, rule 1
Rule J4 (part-time member of brigade) In Part 8, rule 2
Rule J5 (members of brigade other than regular firefighters — supplementary) In Part 8, rule 3
Rule K2 (reassessment of injury pension) In Part 9, rule 2
Rules L4A and L4B (prevention of duplication) In Part 10, rules 4 and 5
In Schedule 1, Part I, the entry relating to"qualifying injury" In Part 1, rule 2(1)
In Schedule 2, Part V (injury awards) Schedule 1
In Schedule 3, Part II (spouse's special pension) Schedule 2
In Schedule 4, Part II (child's special allowance) Schedule 3
In Schedule 5, Part I (adult dependent relative's special pension Schedule 4
Schedule 10 (servicemen — increased awards) Schedule 6



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)


This Order amends the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (set out in Schedule 2 to the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order 1992) as it has effect in Wales ("the Pension Scheme"). Subject to the exceptions mentioned below, the amendments to the Pension Scheme, which are set out in Schedule 1 to this Order, have effect from 6 April 2006. The power to give retrospective effect is conferred by section 12 of the Superannuation Act 1972, as applied by section 16(3) of that Act.

The amendments made by paragraphs 6, 51 and 62 of Schedule 1 to the Order, which relate to ill-health awards, have effect, subject to transitional provisions contained in article 3 of the Order, from 1 April 2006. Rule B3 and Part III of Schedule 2 to the Pension Scheme, which provide for the payment and calculation of pensions awarded to regular firefighters whose employment ceases by reason of ill-health, are substituted. Firefighters who are found by an independent qualified medical practitioner to be capable of undertaking employment for not less than 30 hours a week on average over a 12-month period (whether or not they in fact take up any employment) will be entitled to a lower tier ill-health pension. Those who are found to be incapable of undertaking such employment will be entitled to both a lower tier ill-health pension and a higher tier ill-health pension. There is no change in the method of calculating the newly-styled "higher tier" ill-health pension (paragraph 4 of Part III of Schedule 2 to the Pension Scheme). Nor is there any change in the method of calculating the newly-styled "lower tier" ill-health pension for those regular firefighters who have less than 5 years' pensionable service (paragraph 3 of that Part). The method of calculating other "lower tier" ill-health pensions (paragraph 2 of that Part) has the effect that a pensioner who has 5 or more years' pensionable service will be entitled to immediate payment of an amount calculated as if he had been entitled to immediate payment of a deferred pension under rule B5 of the Pension Scheme (the calculation is set out in Part VI of Schedule 2 to the Pension Scheme).

Rule K1 is replaced by new rules K1 and K1A. The new rules allow a fire and rescue authority to terminate a higher tier ill-health pension where, on a review of the pensioner's condition, it is established that he is capable of undertaking employment for not less than 30 hours a week on average over a 12-month period. The pensioner's lower tier ill-health pension will be unaffected unless, on a review of his condition, it is established that he is capable of performing the duties of the role from which he retired and he accepts or declines the authority's offer to take up employment in that role. If the pensioner declines such an offer, he becomes entitled to a deferred pension and his entitlement to a lower tier ill-health pension is terminated.

The amendment made by paragraph 60, which inserts a new Part LA dealing with the Firefighters' Pension Fund, also has effect from 1 April 2006. New Part LA requires each fire and rescue authority to establish and maintain a Firefighters' Pension Fund ("the FPF") for the purposes of the Pension Scheme and in connection with rights and liabilities under earlier versions of the Scheme. Pension contributions made by firefighters and their employing authorities will be paid into the FPF and pension and related payments will be made out of the FPF.

The new Part LA makes provision for the National Assembly for Wales to make payments into the FPF to meet any deficits which result from more being paid out in pensions and related payments than was paid in through contributions and for the National Assembly for Wales to request the repayment of any surpluses in the FPF which result from more being paid in through contributions than is paid out in pensions and related payments. These payments will in the first instance be made on the basis of estimates. Adjustments for any remaining deficit or surplus will be made following the submission by the fire and rescue authority of their un-audited and audited accounts.

The majority of the other amendments made by the Order have the effect of removing from the Pension Scheme provisions relating to non-contributory compensation for death and injury, or are consequential on the removal of those provisions. The provisions removed from the Pension Scheme are re-enacted in the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme (Wales), which is set out in the Schedule to the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme (Wales) Order 2007 (SI. 2007/1073 (W.111)). Schedule 2 of this Order lists the provisions of the Pension Scheme that cease to have effect, as to Wales, having been superseded by corresponding provisions of the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme (Wales).

The effect of the amendment to paragraph 8(2A) of Schedule 9 to the Pension Scheme is that a person who withdraws his appeal to a board of medical referees within 21 days of the date appointed for the interview or medical examination may be required to pay the fire and rescue authority an amount not exceeding that payable by the authority in respect of the board's fees and allowances. The current provision refers to withdrawal within 10 days of the appointed date.

There are other amendments which are for consistency with the new pension scheme for firefighters employed by fire and rescue authorities in Wales, under section 34 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. This is introduced with effect from 6 April 2006 by S.I. 2007/1072 (W.110).

These include the amendment of rule A3 and the substitution of rule G2(1). The rule A3 amendments provide for the Pension Scheme to cease to have effect on the day on which the new scheme is brought into operation as respects—

persons who take up employment with a fire and rescue authority as regular firefighters on or after 6 April 2006,

persons who, having made an election under rule G3(1) not to pay pension contributions, cancel that election on or after 6 April 2006, and

the spouses, civil partners and dependants of those two classes of person.

It is envisaged that the new scheme will require those classes of person to become members of it.

The paragraph substituted in rule G2 has the effect of requiring persons who take up employment with a fire and rescue authority as firefighters on or after 6 April 2006 to make pension contributions at a lower rate than is required of firefighters whose employment began before that date.

Other amendments relate to changes in the regulation of pension schemes and tax changes brought about by the Finance Act 2004 (c.12), as amended by the Finance Act 2005 (c.7). These amendments have effect from 6 April 2006.

The opportunity has been taken to correct an error that arose in an amending instrument made in 2006. Rule C5 of the Pension Scheme (limitation on award to spouse or civil partner by reference to date of marriage or formation of partnership) was substituted by paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 to the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1672 (W.160)). In paragraph (2) of the substituted rule, the words ", subject in the case of a civil partner, to paragraph (3)," were included in error and are now omitted.

The opportunity has also been taken to update the definition of the expression "personal pension Scheme" in Schedule 1 to the Pension Scheme. In consequence, paragraph (7)(c) of rule F6A has been omitted. The expressions "retained member" and "volunteer member of the fire and rescue service" have been replaced with the expressions "retained firefighter" and "volunteer firefighter", which are defined in the same terms.

A regulatory appraisal has been carried out in connection with this Order and is available from the Fire and Rescue Branch, Community Safety Division, National Assembly for Wales, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ (telephone 01685 729000).


Notes:

[1] 1947 c.41, repealed by section 52 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c.21). Subsections (1) to (5) of section 26 were continued in force, for the purposes of the scheme established under that section as the Firemen's Pension Scheme and set out in the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/129), by the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (Firefighters' Pension Scheme) (Wales) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2918 (W.257)). The name of the scheme was changed to the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme, by article 4(1) of that Order. The scheme was further amended by the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1672 (W. 160)). Section 26 of the 1947 Act was amended by section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1951 (c.27), section 42 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951 (c.65), section 33 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Theft Act 1968 (c.60), sections 16 and 29 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Superannuation Act 1972 (c.11), section 100 of, and Schedule 27 to, the Social Security Act 1973 (c.38), section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c.18), section 32 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c.43), section 1 of the Police and Firemen's Pensions Act 1997 (c.52), and Schedule 25 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c.33), and article 2 of the Social Security (Modification of Fire Services Act 1947) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/551).back

[2] 1972 c.11; section 12 was amended by the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 (c.7).back

[3] Section 16 was continued in force, for the purposes of the Firemen's Pension Scheme (renamed the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme by the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (Firefighters Pension Scheme) (Wales) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2918 (W.257)).back

[4] 2004 c.21back

[5] S.I. 2007/1072 (W.110).back

[6] S.I. 1992/129; amended by 1997/2309 and 2851, 1998/1010, 2001/3649 and 3691, 2004/1912 and 2006/1672 (W. 160).back

[7] The Secretary of State's functions under section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1947, in so far as they were exercisable in relation to Scotland, were devolved to Scottish Ministers by section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46) and article 2 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to Scottish Ministers etc) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1750). The Secretary of State's functions under section 3(5) of the Fire Services Act 1947, in so far as they were exercisable in relation to Wales, were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales by the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672); see the entry for the Fire Services Act 1947 in Schedule 1.back

[8] The National Assembly for Wales preserved the scheme established under section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1947 (known in Wales as the Firefighters' Pension (Wales) Scheme) by virtue of S.I. 2004/2918 (W.257).back

[9] 1998 c.38.back

[10] As to the Compensation Scheme, see Paragraph 61 of this Schedule.back

[11] Rule B3 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672 (W.160), Sch. 1 para. 14.back

[12] As to the lump sum rule, see section 166 of the Finance Act 2004. As to the commutation limit, see paragraph 7(4) of Part 1of Schedule 29 to that Act.back

[13] See section 214 of the Finance Act 2004 (c.12).back

[14] Paragraph (2A) was inserted by S.I. 2006/1672 (W.160), Sch. 2 para. 3.back

[15] Rule C5 was substituted by S.I. 2006/1672 (W.160), Sch. 1 para.24.back

[16] Rule C6 was substituted by S.I. 2006/1672 (W.160), Sch. 1 para.25.back

[17] 1971 c.56.back

[18] Rule C7 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672 (W.160), Sch. 2 para. 9.back

[19] Rule C8 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672, Sch. 2, para. 10.back

[20] Rule D5 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672, Sch. 2, para. 14.back

[21] Rule E5 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672, Sch. 1, para. 32.back

[22] As to "the lump sum rule", see section 166 of the Finance Act 2004. As to the commutation limit, see paragraph 7(4) of Part 1 of Schedule 29 to that Act.back

[23] As to the lump sum rule, see section 166 of the Finance Act 2004 (C.12).back

[24] 2004 c.12.back

[25] Rule E8 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672, Sch. 2, para.19.back

[26] Rule F5 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672, Sch.1, Para. 41.back

[27] Rule B4 is revoked by paragraph 7 of this Schedule.back

[28] Paragraph (3A) was inserted by S.I. 2004/1912.back

[29] Rule 13 was amended by S.I. 2005/2980, Sch. Para. 59 and 2005/3228, Sch. 1, para. 19.back

[30] 1971 c.56.back

[31] Rule K3 was amended by S.I. 2005/2980, Sch. Para. 72.back

[32] Rule K5 was amended by S.I. 2005/2980, Sch. Para. 74.back

[33] Rule L1 was amended by S.I. 2005/2980, Sch. para. 75.back

[34] Rule L3 was amended by S.I. 2005/2980, Sch., para. 77.back

[35] Rule L4 was amended by S.I. 2005/2980, Sch., para. 78.back

[36] 2004 c. 23. See regulations 7 and 9 of the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/368)(W.34).back

[37] Part 1 of Schedule 1 was amended by S.S. 2006/1672 (W.160), Sch. 1, para. 81 and Sch. 2, para. 28.back

[38] Schedule 2 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672 Sch 1, para. 82.back

[39] Schedule 3 was amended by S.I. 2006/1672, Sch.1, para. 83.back

[40] Paragraph 8(2A) was inserted by S.I. 2004/1912.back



Cymraeg (Welsh)



ISBN 978 0 11 091577 7


 © Crown copyright 2007

Prepared 26 April 2007


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