HC Deb 09 December 2002 vol 396 c130W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many hours retained firefighters are required to work in order to receive the annual retaining fee; [85807]

(2) what the average annual income received by a retained firefighter was during 2001–02 as (a) a leading firefighter with 10 years' service and (b) a firefighter with 2 years' service; [85808]

(3) what the average number of hours was for which individual retained firefighters were paid the hourly rate during 2001–02. [85806]

Mr. Raynsford

To receive the full annual retaining fee a retained firefighter must be on call at all times. Where the retained member has enrolled on conditions requiring attendance only during limited periods, the retaining fee may be reduced proportionately. Payment is not directly related to hours worked.

Information on the average income received by retained firefighters and the average number of hours for which individuals were paid the hourly rate is not held centrally, and could provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the impact on the annual income of(a) a retained leading firefighter with 10 years' service and (b) a retained firefighter with 2 years' service, of the arrangements for the retained service pay, as set out in the fire employers statement of 13 November. [85809]

Mr. Raynsford

As a result of the offer set out in the Fire Brigades Employer Circular of the 12 November the local government employers estimate that all firefighters, wholetime and retained, would have received an increase of 4 per cent. in November 2002. This would have been followed by an increase in the pay bill of 7 per cent. in November 2003, although the amount firefighters actually received would have depended on how much of the pay bill increase was used to reward some staff, for example, with special allowances. Due to changes in their allowances retained firefighters would have typically received 6.4 per cent. more than wholetime firefighters under the arrangements proposed.