§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there will be any adverse effect on the income of retained firefighters who are otherwise unemployed as a result of proposed changes in the law; and what is the present remuneration of retained firefighters, whether employed or unemployed.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleRetained firefighters who work on average less than 24 hours a week will have the first £15 of their weekly earnings disregarded and the long service bounty treated as capital in income 1125WA support and housing benefit. Those currently in receipt of supplementary benefit who might otherwise experience a shortfall in their benefit income at the point of change will have the level of state support maintained by transitional payments. The amount of housing benefit payable to retained firefighters not entitled to income support will depend on their circumstances and the level of their rent.
Retained firefighters receive remuneration in three forms; an annual retaining fee, which on appointment is £975 and rises after three years to £1,062; a turn out fee of £7.20 and other fees for remaining on duty, attendance and drill nights; and a long-service bounty scheme payable in stages and rising from £492 after 10 years' service to £933 after 35 years' service. These rates relate to the rank of basic firefighter; no details are available of individual earnings.