1.—(1) The Firefighters' Pension Fund established and maintained by the authority for the purposes of the 1992 Scheme(1) (“the FPF”), must be used also for the purposes of payments and receipts required or authorised to be made by or under any provision of this Scheme.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), there must be credited to the FPF or, where a transfer is made to the FPF from any other fund maintained by the authority, credited to the FPF and debited to that other fund—
(a)sums receivable from firefighters in respect of periods treated as reckonable by virtue of rule 4 of Part 10 (reckoning of periods of unpaid leave or unauthorised absence);
(b)sums receivable under rule 10 of Chapter 3 of Part 12 (receipt of transfer value payments);
(c)sums receivable from an English or Scottish fire and rescue authority or the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board by way of transfer value payments in respect of persons who take up employment with the authority; and
(d)amounts of the descriptions mentioned in paragraphs (2) and (3) of rule 2.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), there must be payable out of the FPF or, if a transfer is made from the FPF to any other fund maintained by the authority, debited to the FPF and credited to that other fund—
(a)sums payable under rule 8 of Part 3 (repayment of aggregate of employee’s contributions);
(b)awards payable under any provision of this Scheme (including the commuted portion of a pension to which rule 9 of Part 3 (commutation: general) applies); and
(c)sums payable under Chapter 2 of Part 12 by way of transfer value payments.
(4) Every amount paid or repaid to or by an authority under this Part must be credited or, as the case may be, debited, to their FPF.
(5) In this Part—
(a)references to the total amount payable out of an authority’s FPF do not include references to any amount which the Assembly requires the authority to pay to it under any of rules 5 to 8;
(b)references to the total amount credited to the authority’s FPF do not include references to any amount which the Assembly pays to the authority for crediting to their FPF under any of rules 5 to 8.
2.—(1) Each authority must make transfers into their FPF in accordance with the following paragraphs of this rule.
(2) In each financial year beginning with the financial year ending on 31 March 2008, each authority must, by transfer to their FPF from any other fund maintained by them, make a contribution towards the discharge of their future liability for the payment of pensions under this Scheme.
(3) The amount of the contribution under paragraph (2) must be such percentage of the authority’s estimate of the aggregate of the pensionable pay, as regards the year in respect of which the contribution is made, of those firefighters employed by the authority who are required to make pension contributions in that year, as determined and notified to them for that year by the Assembly.
(4) In respect of each firefighter employed by the authority who retires with an entitlement to immediate payment of a higher tier ill-health pension under rule 2 of Part 3, the authority must transfer into the FPF such amount as is determined and notified to them by the Assembly as the higher tier ill-health charge applicable in respect of that pension.
(5) In respect of each firefighter employed by the authority who retires—
(a)with an entitlement to immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension under rule 2 of Part 3; and
(b)with no entitlement to a higher tier ill-health pension,
the authority must transfer into the FPF such amount as is determined and notified to them by the Assembly as the lower tier ill-health charge applicable in respect of that pension.
(6) The amount to be transferred under paragraph (4) or (5) must be transferred in three equal instalments.
(7) The first instalment must be transferred on the date on which the employee retires.
(8) The second instalment must be transferred on 1 April in the financial year that follows the financial year in which the first instalment was transferred.
(9) The third instalment must be transferred on 1 April in the financial year that follows the financial year in which the second instalment was transferred.
(10) Where a pension is paid under rule 6 of Part 3 (authority-initiated early retirement), an amount equal to the difference between the amount of the pension paid and the amount that would have been paid had a pension been payable from the same date under rule 5 of that Part (member-initiated early retirement), must be transferred to the FPF from any other fund maintained by the authority.
3.—(1) Where, in consequence of a review under rule 1 of Part 9—
(a)a higher tier ill-health pension is cancelled before all the instalments of the higher tier ill-health charge in respect of that pension have been transferred in accordance with rule 2 of this Part; and
(b)a lower tier ill-health pension continues to be paid,
the amount referred to in paragraph (2) must be transferred from the FPF to any other fund maintained by the authority.
(2) The amount is an amount equal to the difference between—
(a)the aggregate of such instalments of the higher tier ill-health charge as have been transferred in accordance with rule 2; and
(b)the aggregate amount that would have been transferred if—
(i)the lower tier ill-health charge had always applied in respect of the pension, and
(ii)instalments of that charge had been transferred on the dates on which instalments of the higher tier ill-health charge were transferred.
(3) For the purposes of ascertaining the amount to be transferred in accordance with paragraph (2), the authority concerned must request the Assembly to determine the amount of the notional lower tier ill-health charge in respect of the pension concerned.
(4) Where a person declines an offer of employment under rule 2(3)(b) of Part 9 and does not again take up employment with an authority in Wales—
(a)paragraph (4) or (5) of rule 2 (as the case may be), must be disregarded in that person’s case (to the extent that it remains to be complied with); and
(b)the authority which made the offer—
(i)must not make any transfer into the FPF in respect of that person as regards any time after the date on which they receive notice that the offer has been rejected; and
(i)must transfer from the FPF to any other fund maintained by them an amount equal to the aggregate of the instalments that have been transferred to the FPF in respect of the pension that has been terminated.
(5) Where—
(a)a higher tier ill-health pension or a lower tier ill-health pension is wholly and permanently withdrawn under any provision of Part 9; and
(b)the former recipient of that pension does not again take up employment with an authority in Wales,
paragraph (4) or (5) of rule 2 (as the case may be), must be disregarded in that person’s case (to the extent that it remains to be complied with); and the authority must transfer from the FPF to any other fund maintained by them an amount equal to the aggregate of the instalments that have been transferred to the FPF in respect of the pension that has been cancelled.
4.—(1) Beginning with the financial year ending on 31 March 2008, each authority must, in relation to each financial year, send the following information in writing to the Assembly —
(a)the total amount that the authority estimate will be payable out of their FPF in that year,
(b)the total amount that the authority estimate will be credited to their FPF in that year,
(c)the authority’s un-audited statement of accounts for that year, prepared and approved in accordance with regulations under section 39 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004(2),
(d)the authority’s statement of accounts for that year, as it is after the authority’s auditor issues the authority’s auditor’s certificate and opinion, including or together with that certificate and opinion,
(e)the total amount payable out of the authority’s FPF in that year, and
(f)the total amount credited to the authority’s FPF in that year.
(2) In relation to each financial year ending on 31 March 2008—
(a)the authority must send the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) to the Assembly not later than 31 March 2007 (“the 2008 estimate”), and
(b)if the authority revise the information referred to in those sub-paragraphs after they send the estimate to the Assembly, they may send that revised information to the Assembly in September 2007 (“the 2008 revised estimate”).
(3) In relation to each financial year ending on or after 31 March 2009 —
(a)the authority must send the information referred to in paragraph 1(a) and (b) to the Assembly in September in the financial year before the year in question (“the estimate”); and
(b)if the authority revises the information referred to in those sub-paragraphs after they send the estimate to the Assembly, they may send that revised information to the Assembly in September during the year in question (“the revised estimate”).
(4) The authority must send the un-audited information to the Assembly in July in the financial year following the year in question.
(5) The authority must send the audited information to the Assembly as soon as reasonably practicable after the authority’s auditor issues the authority’s auditor’s certificate and opinion on the authority’s accounts for the year in question.
(6) For the purposes of this rule, the auditor issues the auditor’s certificate and opinion when, in accordance with section 23 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004(3)—
(a)the auditor enters on the authority’s statement of accounts for the relevant year—
(i)a certificate that the auditor has completed the audit in accordance with that Act, and
(ii)the auditor’s opinion on the statement; or
(b)where the auditor makes a report to the authority under section 22 of that Act at the conclusion of the audit, the auditor includes the certificate and opinion referred to in sub-paragraph (a) in that report instead of making an entry on the statement.
(7) In this Part —
“audited information” (“gwybodaeth archwiliedig”) means
the information referred to in paragraph 1(d); and
if the authority revise the information referred to in paragraph (1)(e) and (f) after they have sent the un-audited information to the Assembly, that information as revised; and
“un-audited information” (“gwybodaeth nas archwiliwyd”) means the information referred to in paragraphs (1)(c), (e) and (f).
5.—(1) Where, having taken into account the 2008 estimate, the 2008 revised estimate, or the estimate (as the case may be), and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that the total amount likely to be payable out of an authority’s FPF in the year in question will exceed the total amount likely to be credited to the authority’s FPF in that year, it must pay to the authority an amount equal to 80 per cent. of the likely deficit.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where, having taken into account any revised estimate and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that—
(a)the total amount likely to be payable out of the authority’s FPF in the year in question will exceed the total amount likely to be credited to the authority’s FPF in that year; and
(b)80 per cent. of the likely deficit is more than—
(i)the amount paid or payable by the Assembly to the authority by virtue of paragraph (1) in relation to the relevant year; or
(ii)where no such amount was paid or payable by the Assembly, zero,
the Assembly may pay to the authority such amount as it thinks fit.
(3) The aggregate of the amounts paid to an authority under paragraphs (1) and (2) in relation to a particular year must not exceed 80 per cent. of the authority’s likely deficit for that year.
(4) Where the Assembly pays an amount to the authority under paragraph (2), any amount paid or payable to the Assembly in relation to the year in question under rule 6(1) is not payable and, if already paid, the Assembly must repay it to the authority.
(5) An amount payable to the authority under paragraph (1) must be paid in July in the year in question.
(6) Any amount payable or repayable by the Assembly to an authority under paragraph (2) or (4) must be paid or repaid before the end of the year in question.
6.—(1) Where, having taken into account the 2008 estimate, the 2008 revised estimate, or the estimate, (as the case may be) and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that the total amount likely to be credited to an authority’s FPF in the year in question will exceed the total amount likely to be payable out of their FPF in that year, it must require the authority to pay to the it an amount equal to 80 per cent. of the likely surplus.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where, having taken into account any revised estimate and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that—
(a)the total amount likely to be credited to the authority’s FPF in the year in question will exceed the total amount likely to be payable out of the authority’s FPF in that year; and
(b)80 per cent. of the difference between those total amounts is more than—
(i)the amount paid or payable by the authority to the Assembly under paragraph (1) in relation to the year in question; or
(ii)where no such amount was paid or payable by the authority, zero,
it may require the authority to pay to it such amount as it may by notice specify.
(3) The aggregate of the amounts paid to the Assembly under paragraphs (1) and (2) in relation to a particular year must not exceed 80 per cent of the authority’s likely surplus for that year.
(4) Where the Assembly requires the authority to pay an amount to it by virtue of paragraph (2), any amount paid or payable by the Assembly to the authority under rule 5(1) is not payable and, if already paid, the authority must repay it to the Assembly.
(5) The Assembly must give to the authority, on or before 3 March in the year in question, written notice of the amount of any payment that it requires the authority to make under paragraph (1) or (2).
(6) An amount payable or repayable by the authority to the Assembly under paragraph (1), (2) or (4) must be paid or repaid in March in the year in question.
7.—(1) Where, having taken into account the un-audited information and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that the total amount likely to be payable out of an authority’s FPF in the year in question exceeds the total amount likely to be credited to the authority’s FPF in that year—
(a)where the likely deficit (“the un-audited deficit”) exceeds the total of any amounts paid or payable to the authority in relation to that year under rule 5(1) or (2) (“the rule 5 total”), the Assembly must pay to the authority the amount of the un-audited deficit less the rule 5 total;
(b)where the un-audited deficit is less than the rule 5 total, the amount of the rule 5 total less the un-audited deficit is not payable under rule 5(1) or (2) and, if already paid, the authority must repay that amount to the Assembly;
(c)where no amount was paid or payable by it to the authority in relation to the year in question under rule 5(1) or (2), it must pay to the authority the amount of the un-audited deficit; and
(d)any amount paid or payable to the Assembly in relation to that year under rule 6(1) or (2) is not payable and, if already paid, the Assembly must repay it to the authority.
(2) Where, having taken into account the audited information and any other relevant information available to the Assembly, it appears to it that the total amount paid or payable out of an authority’s FPF in the year in question exceeds the total amount credited to their FPF in that year—
(a)where the difference between those total amounts (“the audited deficit”) exceeds the total of any amounts paid (but not repaid or repayable) or payable to the authority in relation to that year under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) or rule 5(1) or (2) (“the un-audited total”), it must pay to the authority the amount of the audited deficit less the un-audited total;
(b)where the audited deficit is less than the un-audited total, the amount of the un-audited total less the audited deficit is not payable under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) or rule 5(1) or (2) and, if already paid, the authority must repay it to the Assembly;
(c)where no amount was paid or payable by it to the authority in relation to the year in question under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) or rule 5(1) or (2), it must pay to the authority the amount of the audited deficit; and
(d)any amount paid or payable to the Assembly in relation to the year in question under rule 6(1) or (2) or rule 8(1)(a) or (c) is not payable and, if already paid, the Assembly must repay it to the authority.
(3) An amount payable or repayable by the Assembly to an authority, or vice versa, under paragraph (1) must be paid or repaid in July in the financial year following the year in question (“the second year”).
(4) An amount payable or repayable by the Assembly to an authority, or vice versa, under paragraph (2), must be paid or repaid in July in the financial year following the second year.
8.—(1) Where, having taken into account the un-audited information and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that the total amount credited to an authority’s FPF in the year in question exceeds the total amount paid out of the authority’s FPF in that year—
(a)where the difference between those total amounts (“the un-audited surplus”) exceeds the total of any amounts paid or payable to it by the authority in relation to that year under rule 6(1) or (2) (“the rule 6 total”), it must require the authority to pay to it the amount of the un-audited surplus less the rule 6 total;
(b)where the un-audited surplus is less than the rule 6 total, the amount of the rule 6 total less the un-audited surplus is not payable under rule 6(1) or (2) and, if already paid, the Assembly must repay it to the authority;
(c)where no amount was paid or payable to it by the authority in relation to the year in question under rule 6(1) or (2), it must require the authority to pay to it the amount of the un-audited surplus; and
(d)any amount paid or payable by it to the authority in relation to that year under rule 5(1) or (2) is not payable and, if already paid, the authority must repay it to the Assembly.
(2) Where, having taken into account the audited information and any other relevant information available to it, it appears to the Assembly that the total amount credited to an authority’s FPF in the year in question exceeds the total amount payable out of the authority’s FPF in that year—
(a)where the difference between those total amounts (“the audited surplus”) exceeds the total of any amounts paid (but not repaid or repayable) or payable to it by the authority in relation to that year under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) or rule 6(1) or (2) (“the un-audited rule 6 total”), it must require the authority to pay to it out of their FPF the amount of the audited surplus less the un-audited rule 6 total;
(b)where the audited surplus is less than the un-audited rule 6 total, the amount of the un-audited rule 6 total less the audited surplus is not payable under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) or rule 6(1) or (2) and, if already paid, the Assembly must repay it to the authority;
(c)where no amount was paid or payable to it by the authority in relation to the year in question under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) or rule 6(1) or (2), it must require the authority to pay to the Assembly the amount of the audited surplus; and
(d)any amount paid or payable by it to the authority in relation to that year under rule 5(1) or (2) or rule 7(1)(a) or (c) is not payable and, if already paid, the authority must repay it to the Assembly.
(3) The Assembly must give to the authority, on or before 3 July in the financial year after the year in question (“the second year”), written notice of the amount of the payment that it requires the authority to make under paragraph (1)(a) or (c).
(4) An amount payable or repayable by the authority to the Assembly, or vice versa, under paragraph (1), must be paid or repaid in July in the second year.
(5) The Assembly must give to the authority, on or before 3 July in the financial year that is the second financial year after the year in question (“the third year”), written notice of the amount of any payment that it requires the authority to make under paragraph (2)(a) or (c).
(6) An amount payable or repayable by the authority to the Assembly, or vice versa, by virtue of paragraph (2), must be paid or repaid in July in the third year.
9.—(1) An authority must provide the Assembly with such information relevant to the exercise of its functions under this Part as it may, by written notice to the authority, require.
(2) An authority must respond to a request under paragraph (1) within such period as the Assembly specifies in its notice under that paragraph, or such longer period as it may in any particular case allow.
10. An authority must have regard to such guidance as may be issued by the Assembly from time to time for the purposes of this Part.
See Part LA of the 1992 Scheme, inserted by S.I. 2007/1074 (W.112).
2004 c. 23. See regulations 7 and 9 of the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/368) (W.34).