The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) (Contributions) (Amendment) Order 2013

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2013 No. 735 (W.87)

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES, WALES

PENSIONS, WALES

The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) (Contributions) (Amendment) Order 2013

Made

26 March 2013

Laid before the National Assembly for Wales

27 March 2013

Coming into force

1 April 2013

This Order is made in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 34, 60 and 62 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004(1).

As required by section 34(5) of that Act, the Welsh Ministers consulted such persons as they considered appropriate before making the Order.

The Welsh Ministers make the following Order:

Title and commencement

1.—(1) The title of this Order is the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) (Contributions) (Amendment) Order 2013.

(2) This Order comes into force on 1 April 2013.

Amendment of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) Order 2007

2.  Schedule 1 to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) Order 2007(2) (in which the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) is set out) is amended in accordance with articles 3 and 4.

3.  In Chapter 1 of Part 11 (pensionable pay, pension contributions and purchase of additional service), in rule 3(1) (pension contributions) (3) insert “percentage” before “rate”.

4.  For the Table in paragraph 5 of Annex A1 substitute the following Table—

“Pensionable pay	Contribution rate from 1 April 2013
Up to and including £15,000	8.5% of pensionable pay
More than £15,000 and up to and including £21,000	9.1% of pensionable pay
More than £21,000 and up to and including £30,000	9.6% of pensionable pay
More than £30,000 and up to and including £40,000	9.9% of pensionable pay
More than £40,000 and up to and including £50,000	10.1% of pensionable pay
More than £50,000 and up to and including £60,000	10.2% of pensionable pay
More than £60,000 and up to and including £100,000	10.5% of pensionable pay
More than £100,000 and up to and including £120,000	10.8% of pensionable pay
More than £120,000	11.1% of pensionable pay.”

Lesley Griffiths

Minister for Local Government and Government Business, one of the Welsh Ministers

26 March 2013

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) (“the Scheme”) set out in Schedule 1 to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1072 (W.110)), with effect from 1 April 2013.

Article 3 inserts the word “percentage” to clarify the meaning of a provision amended by the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) (Contributions) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/972 (W.127)).

Article 4 amends the Scheme to provide a different rate for pension contributions payable by members of the Scheme which increases according to the amount of pensionable pay which the member receives.

In addition, a new band of pensionable pay has been created so that those firefighters who earn more than £15,000 and up to and including £21,000 will pay a lower rate than those earning more than £21,000.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order. A copy can be obtained from the Fire and Armed Forces Branch, Welsh Government, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ or by calling 0300 062 8254.

(1)

2004 c. 21; sections 60 and 62 were amended by the Localism Act 2011, sections 9 and 10. Powers under sections 34 and 60 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 are now vested in the Welsh Ministers so far as they are exercisable in relation to Wales. They were previously vested in the National Assembly for Wales by section 62 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. By virtue of paragraph 30 of Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32), they were transferred to the Welsh Ministers.

(2)

S.I. 2007/1072 (W.110) as amended by S.I. 2009/1225 (W.108), 2010/234 and 2012/972 (W.127).

(3)

Rule 3(1) was amended by articles 2 and 3 of S.I. 2012/972 (W.127).