HC Deb 26 March 1993 vol 221 cc761-3W
Sir John Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update the information provided in his answer of 13 March,Official Report, columns 507–9; and if he will rank the annual pay rates of all grades of fire officer and retained fire officer and the arrangements and value of pensions and London weighting allowances; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jack

The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades has provided the following information relating to pay scales for all ranks of whole-time and retained firefighter, which updates the information contained in the reply given on 13 March 1991.

The annual pay rates of chief fire officers are determined at the discretion of the employing authority, but are normally determined in relation to the population within the brigade area. The table gives details of population ranges and corresponding salary ranges:

Annual pay rates for Chief Fire Officers by population range
Salary range
Population range Minimum £ Maximum £ Higher maximum for metropolitan brigades1 £
Up to 240,000 38,385 51,849
240,001 to 360,000 39,384 53,934
360,001 to 460,000 40,815 56,025

Salary range
Population range Minimum £ Maximum £ Higher maximum for metropolitan brigades1 £
460,001 to 600,000 42,336 57,438
600,001 to 760,000 43,878 59,484
760,001 to 940,000 45,414 62,040
940,001 to 1,200,000 46,116 63,705 66,600
1,200,001 to 1,700,000 48,372 65,163 68,124
1,700,001 to 2,300,00 49,932 67,116 70,170
2,300,001 and over 51,642 69,075 72,213
London 59,388 79,431 83,046
1At the discretion of the employing authority.

The annual pay rates for assistant chief officers except those appointed as deputy chief fire officers, are determined in the same way as those for chief fire officers. The salary ranges are set at 75 per cent. of those for chief fire officers for the equivalent population ranges, subject to an underpinning minimum of £38,139. Salary ranges for those appointed as deputy chief fire officers are set at 80 per cent. of those for chief fire officers for the equivalent population ranges, subject to an underpinning minimum of £38,997.

The annual rates of whole-time ranks from firefighter up to senior divisional officer are set out in the table:

Annual pay rates of whole-time ranks: Firefighter up to and including Senior Divisional Officer
Rank Minimum £ Maximum £
Senior Divisional Officer 28,896 131,173
Divisional Officer I 26,844 128,776
Divisional Officer II 24,306 126,940
Divisional Officer III 22,890 124,540
Assistant Divisional Officer 21,369 123,364
Station Officer 20,274 121,864
Sub-officer 17,478 18,852
Leading Firefighter 17,046 17,745
Firefighter 12,531 215,921
1 Ranks at station officer and above may attract a flexible duty supplement of 20 per cent.
2 Subject to being fully qualified.

The annual retainers for retained firefighters are set out in the table:

Annual retainers for retained firefighters
Rank One to three years1 service £ More than three years1 service £
Station Officer and above 1,902 2,154
Sub-officer 11,563 11,683
Leading firefighter 1,521 1,563
Firefighter 1,392 1,521
1 Enhanced payments are made to Sub-officers in charge of fire stations. In addition, retained firefighters are paid fees for attendance at incidents, attendance at drill nights and extra duties. Retained firefighters are also eligible for payments under the long service bounty scheme.

All staff employed by the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority receive a London weighting allowance of £2,511 per annum.

The arrangements for the payment of pensions are as set out in the reply given on 13 March 1991, with the exception that the pension contribution rate has increased to 11 per cent. following the introduction of a lump sum death grant in respect of firefighters who die in service.