The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Amendment) (England) Order 2006

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Amendment) (England) Order 2006.

(2) This Order shall come into force on 7^th August 2006, but shall have effect as specified in paragraphs (3) to (6).

(3) The amendment made by article 2 and paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 (spouse’s or civil partner’s requisite benefit and temporary pension) has effect from 1st March 1992.

(4) The amendment made by article 2 and paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (short service award) has effect from 21st November 2005.

(5) The amendments made by article 2 and the following paragraphs of Schedule 1 have effect from 6th April 2006—

(a) paragraph 1 (exclusive application of Scheme to regular firefighters),

(b) paragraph 10 (commutation – general provision),

(c) paragraph 11 (commutation – small pensions),

(d) paragraph 12 (allocation),

(e) paragraph 14 (deduction of tax from certain awards),

(f) paragraph 24 (lump sum death grant),

(g) paragraph 27 (lump sum in lieu of surviving spouse’s or civil partner’s pension),

(h) paragraph 28 (lump sum in lieu of child’s allowance),

(i) paragraph 29 (limitation on discretion to commute pension or allowance for lump sum),

(j) paragraph 40 (election to purchase increased benefits),

(k) paragraph 41 (payment of periodical contributions for increased benefits), and

(l) paragraph 42 (pension debit members: restriction on replacement of debited rights).

(6) The remaining provisions of this Order have effect from 1st April 2006.

(7) In this Order—

“the Compensation Scheme” means the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme (England) 2006 set out in the Schedule to the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme (England) Order 2006(1); and

“the Pension Scheme” means the Firefighters' Pension Scheme, set out in Schedule 2 to the Firemen’s Pension Scheme Order 1992(2), as it has effect in England(3).

Amendment of the Pension Scheme

2.  The Pension Scheme shall be amended in accordance with Schedule 1.

Transitional provision

3.—(1) The amendments made by article 2 and paragraphs 6 (ill-health awards), 50 (review of ill-health and certain deferred pensions) and 61 (ill-health pension) of Schedule 1 shall not have effect in relation to a person in respect of whom a determination or decision relevant to the termination of his employment on grounds of ill-health (whether under Part H or Part K of the Pension Scheme) has been made before 1st April 2006.

(2) In a case to which paragraph (1) applies, rules B3 and K1 of the Pension Scheme shall continue to have effect in relation to the person concerned in the form in which they exist immediately before that date.

Revocation and consequential provision

4.—(1) So much of article 2(2) of the Firemen’s Pension Scheme Order 1992 as relates to the provisions specified in column (1) of Schedule 2 to this Order (provisions of the Pension Scheme superseded by the Compensation Scheme) is revoked as to England.

(2) A reference in any document (whether made, served or issued before, on or after 1st April 2006) to a provision of the Pension Scheme that ceases to have effect by virtue of paragraph (1) shall, unless a contrary intention appears, be construed on and after that date as a reference to the corresponding provision of the Compensation Scheme specified in column (2) of Schedule 2.

Signed by authority of one of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Phil Woolas

Minister of State

Department for Communities and Local Government

10th July 2006