Scottish Public Pensions: Agency Information, followed by links within this section of the site

General • NHS Scheme Reforms • Scottish Teachers Scheme Reforms • Police Scheme Reforms • Firefighters Scheme Reforms • Local Government Scheme Reforms • Pension Change Project • Taxation•

Pension Reform - Fire Service

Included in the Scottish Government's commitment to introduce modernisation of the Fire service is the development of new pension arrangements more suited to the fire service of the future and reflecting changes in the relevant tax and regulatory framework for pensions generally. Scottish Ministers have also indicated their commitment to maintain a UK wide approach to Firefighters' pensions.

A consultation document outlining the proposals for a New Firefighters Pension Scheme (NFPS) was issued in October 2004 and following consultation through the Firefighters' Pension Committee and stakeholders the NFPS was introduced from 6 April 2006.

All firefighters appointed on or after 6 April will be members of the NFPS unless they opt out of the scheme. The original Firefighters' Pension Scheme (FPS) was closed to new members from that date but those FPS members continue their membership. There has been an opportunity for FPS members and Retained officers recruited before 6 April 2006 to opt to join the NFPS on preferential terms as part of an options exercise which was undertaken during the period 1 January 2007 to 31 March 2007.

The NFPS takes into account the new tax regime introduced by HM Customs and Revenue from 6 April 2006. Amendments to the FPS have also been made to take account of the new tax rules.

A great deal of information via Scottish Fire Circulars has been issued on the NFPS, FPS and changes due to the new tax regime and copies of each circular are available on this website click on the Firefighters Scheme link on the left and then circulars. However in order to help you to gain access to specific information the following links identify the most common questions that may arise. We have left links relating to the options exercise for information purposes but there are also guides to both schemes, how each scheme interacts with the Compensation Scheme which provides injury related benefits, ill-health benefits, benefits payable to retained and volunteer firefighters in the NFPS amongst the information that is available.

Options Exercise - documents

Under this section you will find the documents (final versions) that have been prepared for the options exercise that will last from 1 January to 31 March 2007. These will be issued to firefighters by their Fire Authority.