Firefighters' Pension Committee (FPC)

On 1 October 2004, the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 came into force. Section 34 of the Act required the Secretary of State to “consult any person he considers appropriate” before making, varying or revoking any order relating to pensions, allowances and gratuities to, or in respect of, persons employed by a fire and rescue authority. The Firefighters’ Pensions Committee (FPC) was set up to meet this requirement. The first meeting was held on 13 October 2004; the last meeting was held on 30 October 2014.

This page contains minutes from all Firefighters' Pension Committee meetings from its inception in 2004 to the final meeting in 2014 when new governance arrangements were introduced. Please note that these minutes are no longer endorsed by Home Office, LGA or SAB, and do not constitute formal guidance. Nevertheless, they provide useful historic background.

Meetings are listed in reverse annual chronological order with a list of the topics discussed. An index of topics ordered by subject matter is included below for ease of reference.

Subject matter index (PDF, 7 pages, 323kb)

FPC 51: 22/01/2014 (PDF, 10 pages, 227kb)

Note of FPC 50
The Pensions Regulator: Consultation on draft code and draft regulatory strategy for public service schemes – Robert Plumb, The Pensions Regulator
Employee Contributions 2014/15 – oral update following consultation
Scheme valuation 2012

feedback on proposed assumptions (FPC(14)1) (PDF, 8 pages, 204kb)
revised scheme liabilities

2015 scheme member benefits consultation – oral update
Employer cost cap procedure (FPC(14)3) (PDF, 3 pages, 171kb)
Future of the Firefighters' Pension Committee
Firefighters' Pension Scheme – statement of persons to be consulted (FPC(14)5) (PDF, 2 pages, 158kb)

FPC 52: 22/04/2014 (PDF, 10 pages, 229kb)

Note of the 51st meeting and matters arising
Budget announcements – restriction of CETVs, minimum pension age, welfare cap (FPC(14)6) (PDF, 4 pages, 81kb)
2015 Scheme: Employee contributions (FPC(14)7) (PDF, 3 pages, 144kb)
Update on Scheme Advisory Board discussions
Pensions Board (FPC(14)8) (PDF, 12 pages, 278kb)
2015 Scheme: pensionable pay (FPC(14)9) (PDF, 4 pages, 185kb)
Update on Scheme Valuations
Update on RDS Settlement

FPC 53: 30/10/2014 (Not available)

The Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 (oral update)
Transitional and Consequential Regulations (FPC(14)11) (PDF, 4 pages, 186kb)
Valuation update

Methodology report (GAD) Paper
GAD Valuation assumptions (FPC(14)10) (PDF, 1 page, 116kb)

Governance consultation - discussion
Retained pensions – oral update
Contract for Board of Medical Referees – oral update

FPC 47: 17/01/2013 (PDF, 9 pages, 184kb)

Note of FPC 46
NPA Review (FPC(13)1) (PDF, 2 pages, 88kb)
2015 Scheme – timetable and process (FPC(13)2) (PDF, 2 pages, 205kb)
SCAPE Valuations and employer cost cap (FPC(13)3) (PDF, 3 pages, 174kb)
Duty system costs – GAD paper 14/01/2013 (PDF, 13 pages, 138kb)

FPC 48: 24/04/2013 (PDF, 7 pages, 196kb)

Note of FPC 47
Budget 2013 announcements
“The Regulator calls” PowerPoint. Regulation of public service schemes from April 2015

FPC 49: 17/07/2013 (PDF, 10 pages, 235kb)

Note of FPC 48
Employee Contributions: Consultation on April 2014 increases (FPC(13)5) (PDF, 1 page, 153kb)
Employee Contributions: Opt out data (FPC(13)6) (PDF, 14 pages, 369kb)
Scheme Valuations: Valuation directions (HMT presentation slides)
Experience data (GAD papers)
Knight review: administration of firefighter pensions (FPC(13)7) (PDF, 1 page, 157kb)
RDS settlement consultation
2015 Scheme design

PC 50: 16/10/2013 (PDF, 8 pages, 180kb)

Note of FPC 49
Employee contributions 2014-15 (FPC(13)8) (PDF, 3 pages, 202kb)
Scheme valuations

Valuations and Employer Cost Cap Directions and Employer Cost Cap
Regulations – HMT papers
Assumptions for Firefighter Schemes – GAD paper

RDS Settlement – update on consultation
2015 Scheme Update
Scheme governance: LGPS perspective – Bob Holloway LGPS
Future Scheme amendments (FPC(13)9) (PDF, 3 pages, 134kb)

FPC 43: 18/01/2012 (PDF, 7 pages, 288kb)

Note of FPC 42
Matters arising from FPC 42 (FPC(12)1) (PDF, 2 pages, 127kb)
Update on outcome of statutory consultation on employee contribution rate increases
Hutton reforms – oral update on post 2015 reforms process
Flexible duty supplement (FOA paper)

FPC 44: 28/03/2012 (PDF, 6 pages, 158kb)

Note of FPC 43
Statutory consultation on employee contribution rate increases from April 2012 – oral update
Statutory consultation on amendments to the FPS and NFPS – oral update
Heads of Agreement – oral update on progress and next steps
Review of opt-outs – Terms of Reference (FPC(12)2) (PDF, 3 pages, 141kb)
Review of Normal Pension Age – Terms of Reference (FPC(12)3) (PDF, 2 pages, 203kb)

FPC 45: 04/07/2012 (PDF, 9 pages, 232kb)

Note of FPC 44
Review of Normal Pension Age (FPC(12)4) (PDF, 1 page 128kb)
Review of Opt-outs – April and May data (FPC(12)5) (PDF, 4 pages, 174kb)
Governance of the post-2015 Scheme (FPC(12)6) (PDF, 4 pages, 149kb)
Pensionable pay, duty systems, and scheme liabilities (FPC(12)7) (PDF, 3 pages, 108kb)
Auto-enrolment (FPC(12)8) (PDF, 2 pages, 136kb)
Board of Medical Referees contract (FPC(12)9) (PDF, 1 page, 78kb)

FPC 46: 03/10/2012

Note of FPC 45
Public Service Pensions Bill
Hutton Reforms: Governance
Firefighter Normal Pension Age meeting 21/09/2012
Opt-out report (FPC(12)12) (PDF, 12 pages, 308kb)
Opt-out summary data for April to July 2012
Qualitative research report – “Firefighters’ attitudes to their pension scheme, including the impact of increase employee contribution rates” August 2012
Automatic enrolment (FPC(12)8) (PDF, 2 pages, 136kb)
Scheme Sanction Charge - letter from FOA (PDF, 3 pages, 94.4kb)

FPC 39: 12/01/2011 (PDF, 9 pages, 253kb)

Notes of FPC 38
Matters arising from FPC 38 (FPC(11)1) (PDF, 1 page, 114kb)
Firefighters Pensions: Pension contributions (FPC(11)2) (PDF, 2 pages, 146kb)
Draft FPS 1992 Amendment Order (FPC(11)3) (PDF, 27 pages, 382kb)
Future arrangements for management of Committee

FPC 40: 13/04/2011 (PDF, 12 pages, 244kb)

Note of FPC 39
Matters arising from FPC 39 (FPC(11)4) (PDF, 2 pages, 123kb)
Budget 2011 announcement – reactions to Hutton’s final report and SCAPE discount rate review (DCLG) (FPC(11)5) (PDF, 5 pages, 145kb)
Firefighters Pensions: Employee Contributions (DCLG) (FPC(11)6) (PDF, 2 pages, 147kb)
Draft FPS 1992 Amendment Order (APFO)
Firefighters’ Pension Schemes: GAD’s Valuation (DCLG)
Firefighters’ Pension Schemes Data (DCLG) (FPC(11)7) (PDF, 2 pages, 130kb)
Commutation grievance (APFO)

FPC 41: 13/09/2011 (PDF, 10 pages, 235kb)

Note of FPC 40
Matters arising from FPC 40 (FPC(11)8) (PDF, 2 pages, 126kb)
Employee contributions – year 1 (oral update)
Employee contributions – alternatives (FPC(11)9) (PDF, 1 page, 63kb)
Hutton Reforms: Process for setting cost ceilings, Reference Scheme design (FPC(11)10) (PDF, 1 page, 56kb)
Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 1992 – Amendment Order: summary of responses to date (oral update)
Statistical publication (to note)
Auto-enrolment
Scheme Sanction Charge

FPC 42: 26/10/2011 (PDF, 7 pages, 200kb)

Note of FPC 41
Matters arising from FPC 41 (FPC(11)11) (PDF, 2 pages, 123kb)
Firefighters’ Pension Committee – TOR and remit (FPC(11)12) (PDF, 1 page, 91kb)
Consultation on employee contributions – update
Hutton reforms – update, FBU evidence

FPC 33: 11/01/2010 (PDF, 9 pages, 79kb)

FPC 34: 15/03/2010 (PDF, 8 pages, 219kb)

Note of FPC 33
Age discrimination (FPC(10)1) (PDF, 2 pages, 14kb)
Pensionable pay: Response to consultation (FPC(10)2) (PDF, 5 pages, 31kb)
Firefighter Pension Schemes: Options for the future (FPC(10)3) (PDF, 6 pages, 37kb)
Firefighter Pension Schemes: Cap and Share (FPC(10)4) (PDF, 3 pages, 26kb)
Letter from Martin Hill to FPC re FPC (10)3

FPC 35: 13/05/2010 (PDF, 9 pages, 255kb)

Note of FPC 34
Matters arising from FPC 34
Hutton Commission and related matters (FPC(10)7) (PDF, 6 pages, 564kb)
Retained firefighters: Pension Scheme membership
Early retirement and commutation cap under Rule B7(4)
Chief Officers’ pensions
Scottish Fire Convenors Forum

FPC 36: 25/08/2010 (PDF, 19 pages, 650kb)

Note of FPC 35
Matters arising from FPC 35
Firefighter Pension Schemes Data
Response to the discussion document on Restriction of Pensions Tax Relief
Firefighter Pensions: Options for the future/Cap and Share
[Options for the future – FPC(1)3 and Cap and Share – FPC(10)4, issued at FPC 34]

FPC 37: 02/11/2010 (PDF, 7 pages, 167kb)

Comprehensive Spending Review and Lord Hutton’s interim report: Implications for the Firefighters Pension arrangements (FPC(10)11) (PDF, 3 pages, 157kb)

FPC 38: 17/11/2010 (PDF, 11 pages, 258kb)

Notes of FPC 36 and 37
Matters arising from FPC 36 and 37 (FPC(10)12) (PDF, 5 pages, 362kb)
Restricting pensions tax relief (FPC(10)13) (PDF, 4 pages, 166kb)
IQMP guidance (FPC(10)14) (PDF, 2 pages, 186kb)
Firefighter Pension arrangements – Contributions (FPC(10)15) (PDF, 4 pages, 181kb)
Scheme membership
Ill-health retirements

FPC 29: 26/02/2009 (PDF, 10 pages, 51kb)

FPC 30: 28/05/2009 (PDF, 8 pages, 51kb)

Public sector abatement policy
Table of proposed FPS amendments
Revised commutation factors
Appeal by three London firefighters
Actuarial valuation
40/60ths limit on transfers
Pensionability of emoluments and allowances (FPC(09)4) (PDF, 8 pages, 50kb)

FPC 31: 27/08/2009 (PDF, 8 pages, 43kb)

Public service abatement policy
Revised commutation factors
Appeal by three London firefighters
Actuarial valuation
Pensionable pay
Construction of a new employment contract – regular/retained
South Yorkshire changes of contract: right to remain FPS members
Protected pension age for Chief Fire Officers

FPC 32: 18/11/2009 (PDF, 8 pages, 47kb)

Consolidation of FPSO 1992
Public service abatement policy
Revised commutation factors
Ill-health retirement
Actuarial valuation
Protected pension age
Pensionable pay
Board of Medical Referees: New contract (FPC(09)7) (PDF, 2 pages, 21kb)
Actuarial valuation at 31 March 2007 (FPC(09)8) (PDF, 37 pages, 194kb)

FPC 26: 24/04/2008 (PDF, 5 pages, 33kb)

FPS and NFPS Amendment Orders
Boards of Medical Referees
Entitlement to ill-health retirement
Consolidation of FPSO (FPC(08)2) (PDF, 9 pages, 53kb)
Update on FPS ill-health Review Group

FPC 27: 20/08/2008 (PDF, 7 pages, 38kb)

Consolidation of FPSO 1992
Extending eligibility criteria for NFPS membership
Entitlement to ill-health retirement
Formal grievance
Revised commutation factors
FPS Ill-health Review Group Update

FPC 28: 19/11/2008 (PDF, 17 pages, 119kb)

Consolidation of FPSO 1992
Formal Grievance: Age discrimination
Revised Commutation Factors
FPS Ill-health Review Group Work
Guidance for IQMPs (FPC(08)6) (PDF, 1 page, 13kb)
Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures (FPC(08)7) (PDF, 18 pages, 102kb)
Definition of pensionable pay in FPS and NFPS

FPC 20: 17/01/2007 (PDF, 6 pages, 30kb)

45/69 cap on transfers
Ill-health retirement
NFPS (FPC(07)2) (PDF, 10 pages, 58kb)
Age discrimination
Options exercise

FPC 21: 14/02/2007 (PDF, 6 pages, 43kb)

FPC 22: 21/03/2007 (PDF, 6 pages, 41kb)

NFPS Order
Ill-health related issues
Transferring pension debit from FPS to NFPS
Options exercise
Guidance on injury awards
Split pensions (FPC(07)5) (PDF, 3 pages, 30kb)
Guidance for IQMPs (FPC(07)6) (PDF, 24 pages, 124kb)
Tax issues with backdating membership
CPD allowance

FPC 23: 20/06/2007 (PDF, 8 pages, 53kb)

NFPS Order
Ill-health related issues
Transferring
Guidance on injury awards
Split pensions
Guidance for IQMPs
Options exercise – outcome (FPC(07)8) (PDF, 4 pages, 30kb)
NFPS further amendments (FPC(07)9) (PDF, 17 pages, 101kb)
CPD and LSI: pensionability (FPC(07)10) (PDF, 6 pages, 45kb)
Secondary contracts

FPC 24: 19/09/2007 (PDF, 12 pages, 54kb)

Ill-health related issues
Split pensions
Secondary contracts
Board of medical referees – renewal of contract (FPC(07)12) (PDF, 1 page, 19kb)
Age discrimination
Personal pension schemes – cash equivalent transfers
Annex B: Ill-health retirement chronology

FPC 25: 20/11/2007 (PDF, 10 pages, 77kb)

Ill-health related issues
FPS and NFPS Amendment Orders
Board of Medical referees: renewal of contract
Age discrimination
Personal Pension Schemes – Cash Equivalent transfers
Entitlement to Ill-health retirement (FPC(07)14) (PDF, 11 pages, 95kb)
Updated guidance on CPD and LSI amendments
Public sector ill-health retirement statistics (Annex C)

FPC 10: 10/01/2006 (PDF, 7 pages, 43kb)

Finance Act 2004: 3 months or 12 months service for entitlement to benefits
Draft blueprint (FPC(06)2) (PDF, 5 pages, 26kb)
ALAMA comments

FPC 11: 13/02/2006 (PDF, 6 pages, 29kb)

Qualifying period for NFPS
Treatment of unpaid maternity leave
Draft blueprint (FPC(06)4) (PDF, 1 page, 13kb)
Transitional arrangements (FPC(06)5) (PDF, 4 pages, 33kb)
Retained duty system – pensionable pay (FPC(06)6) (PDF, 3 pages, 29kb)
Amendments to FPS – instructions (FPC(06)7) (PDF, 26 pages, 110kb)

FPC 12: 10/03/2006 (PDF, 5 pages, 27kb)

Retained firefighters
Compensation for accidents on travelling
Update of NFPS (FPC(06)9) (PDF, 2 pages, 24kb)
FPS – amendments (FPC(06)10) (PDF, 1 page, 21kb)
Firefighters Compensation Scheme (FPC(06)11) (PDF, 1 page, 13kb)

FPC 13: 12/04/2006 (PDF, 5 pages, 27kb)

NFPS
FPS amendment Order and FCS
Maximum pension under FPS
Guidance for IQMPs
Age discrimination

FPC 14: 17/05/2006 (PDF, 8 pages, 41kb)

FPS Amendment Order and FCS Order
Draft instructions (FPC(06)14) (PDF, 82 pages, 273kb)
Workshops
ALAMA comments

FPC 15: 13/06/2006 (PDF, 7 pages, 28kb)

RDS disturbance allowance – pensionable
Transitional arrangements (FPC(06)16) (PDF, 5 pages, 26kb)
Draft instructions
Impact of age discrimination regulations (FPC(06)17) (PDF, 3 pages, 18kb)
Issues raised at workshops (FPC(06)18) (PDF, 13 pages, 63kb)

FPC 16: 16/08/2006 (PDF, 5 pages, 21kb)

Draft instructions
Transitional arrangements
Impact of age discrimination regulations (FPC(06)17) (PDF, 3 pages, 18kb)
NFPS draft Order (FPC(06)20) (PDF, 1 page, 11kb)
RFU, retained and personal pensions

FPC 17: 20/09/2006 (PDF, 5 pages, 22kb)

Options exercise
Buy-back of service to 6.4.2006
NFPS draft Order (FPC(06)21) (PDF, 1 page, 10kb)
Transitional arrangements (FPC(06)24) (PDF, 7 pages, 39kb)
FPS and FCS Consequential and other amendments (FPC(06)23) (PDF, 1 page, 11kb)
Grey Book compensation

FPC 18: 18/10/2006 (PDF, 5 pages, 23kb)

Workshops
Discussion Forum
Q&A briefing
Nomination of dependent partners
GPP meetings
NFPS Draft Order
Transitional arrangements
FPS 1992, FCS
NFPS Draft Order (FPC(06)26) (PDF, 1 page, 10kb)
Age discrimination
Retained membership
Grey Book injury

FPC 19: 21/11/2006 (PDF, 8 pages, 43kb)

Workshops
Discussion Forum
Group Personal Pensions
Age discrimination
Final draft Orders (FPC(06)28) (PDF, 1 page, 10kb)
ALAMA note

FPC 2: 14/01/2005 (PDF, 7 pages, 32kb)

Retained firefighters
Disability Discrimination Act
Consultation on new pension arrangements
Further amendments to FPS (FPC(05)2) (PDF, 15 pages, 70kb)
Transfers between England N Ireland, Wales and Scotland

FPC 3: 28/04/2005 (PDF, 7 pages, 42kb)

Further amendments to FPS
Disability Discrimination Act
Protection of pensionable pay
Death and serious injury compensation scheme
Actuarial assumptions
Transferring between regions
New pension and compensation arrangements – timetable
Tax simplification – LTA, Primary and Enhanced Protection (FPC(05)4) (PDF, 2 pages, 16kb)
Civil partnerships (FPC(05)5) (PDF, 7 pages, 48kb)
Salary sacrifice schemes – childcare vouchers (FPC(05)6) (PDF, 1 page, 13kb)

FPC 4: 29/06/2005 (PDF, 4 pages, 24kb)

Further amendments to the FPS
Protection of pensionable pay
Firefighters Compensation Scheme
Actuarial Assumptions
Protection of pensionable pay (FPC(05)8) (PDF, 2 pages, 25kb)
Outcome of consultation exercise
Proposals for handling of New Pension Scheme (FPC(05)9) (PDF, 5 pages, 37kb)
Redundancy compensation

FPC 5: 12/09/2005 (PDF, 5 pages, 30kb)

Buying forward service
Protection of pensionable pay
GAD Actuarial assumptions
Civil Partnership Act (FPC(05)11) (PDF, 6 pages, 46kb)
Amendments to FPS – draft Order (FPC(05)12) (PDF, 29 pages, 120kb)
New Pensions Arrangements – Draft blueprint (FPC(05)13) (PDF, 81 pages, 266kb)
Retained firefighters’ amalgamated pay
Accrual of pensionable service beyond 40/60ths

FPC 6: 12/10/2005 (PDF, 8 pages, 48kb)

GAD actuarial assumptions
Civil partnerships and amendments to FPS
Rule A3 – application of scheme to operational firefighters
Rule A5 – restriction on application of Scheme on health grounds
Rule A7 – pension eligibility
Rule A8 – reckoning of service for purpose of awards
Rule A9 – normal pension age
Rule A13 – disablement
Rule A14 – election to opt out of scheme
Rule A15 – election to rejoin scheme
Rule B1 – ordinary retirement
Rule B2 – payment of pension before normal pension age at firefighter’s request
Rule B3 – payment of pension before normal pension age at employer’s request – approved early retirements
Rule B4 – ill-health award

FPC 7: 23/11/2005 (PDF, 7 pages, 43kb)

GAD actuarial assumptions
Tax simplification and injury benefits – changes required at A Day (FPC(05)18) (PDF, 21 pages, 113kb)
New pension arrangements – workshop for practitioners
Rule A3 – application to unmarried partners (FPC(05)20) (PDF, 10 pages, 59kb)
Rule B4 – regular employment (FPC(05)21) (PDF, 2 pages, 17kb)
New pension arrangements – blueprint (FPC(05)22) (5 pages, 35kb)
Rule B4 – ill-health award
Rule B5 – deferred pension
Rule B6 – cancellation of deferred award
Rule B7 – split pension
Rule B8 – cancellation of split award
Rule B9 – repayment of aggregate pension contributions
Rule B10 – commutation
Rule B11 – commutation of small pension
Rule B12/13 – allocation and limitation of allocated portion of pension
Rule B14 – pension debit members
Rule B15 – deduction of tax from certain awards
Rule C1 – survivor pensions
Rule C2 – survivor younger (wide age disparity)
Rule C3 – short term increase in survivor pensions
Rule C4 – pension debit members
Rule C5 - child’s pension
Rule C6 – child’s pension limitations
Rule C7 – child’s award in respect of pension debit member
Rule D1 – death grant
Rule D2 – guaranteed payment of pension

FPC 8: 12/12/2005 (PDF, 7 pages, 43kb)

GAD actuarial assumptions
Civil partnerships
Retained firefighters
Current FPS
Amount of death grant (FPC(05)24) (PDF, 2 pages, 15kb)
Unmarried partners pensions (FPC(05)26) (PDF, 1 page, 22kb)
Qualifying and pensionable service (FPC(05)13) (PDF, 81 pages, 266kb)
Transfers into and out of the Scheme (FPC(05)25) (PDF, 2 pages, 24kb)
Pensionable pay and contributions (FPC(05)13) (PDF, 81 pages, 266kb)
Determination of questions and appeals

FPC 9: 21/12/2005 (PDF, 7 pages, 43kb)

FPC 1: 13/10/2004 (PDF, 4 pages, 24kb)

New pension arrangements for firefighters – presentation
Retained firefighters
Disability Discrimination Act
Ranks to roles
Regular/retained contracts of employment
Protection of pensionable pay
Purchase of additional 60ths
Substitution of FRA for Brigade
Death and serious injury compensation scheme