§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals concerning the underfunding of pensions in the(a) London and (b) other fire services. [65500]
§ Mr. George HowarthWe announced, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in July, that fire authorities in England would get an increase in the fire service element of total standard spending of £143.6 million—an average annual increase of 3.5 per cent. —over the next three years, including £47.1 million (3.6 per cent) for 1999–2000. The Review recognised future funding pressures, including pensions, but we have also deliberately set challenging efficiency targets for the fire service, as for other key public services.
As part of the provisional local government finance settlement for 1999–2000, we made changes to the fire standard spending assessment distribution formula, which will help those authorities which are facing the highest potential liabilities for pensions. Under the provisional settlement, London's fire standard spending assessment would be increased by 3.8 per cent. for 1999–2000.
We are considering the responses to the consultation document on the review of the firefighters' pension scheme and expect to come forward with proposals in the coming months.