FIREFIGHTERS PENSION SCHEME

That this House notes that firefighters across the country do a brave and heroic job, often risking their own lives on behalf of others; further notes that they should be rewarded for this service to the public with a fair pension settlement upon retirement; further notes that following the publication of guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government four firefighters across the country who were in receipt of their pensions and who retired on grounds of ill-health have had their pensions stopped; further notes that this was due to their respective fire authorities telling them that they could perform other duties; further notes that as a result of a shortage of such non-operational duties, the four men were offered no alternative post and have been left with no job and no pension; further notes that firefighters pay a very high level of pension contribution, 11 per cent., to allow for the possibility of early retirement due to ill-health; further notes that this is not an appropriate way to treat former firefighters; and calls upon the Fire Minister to step in and resolve the matter at the earliest possible moment.