The Firefighters Pension Scheme is a Public Sector Pension Scheme governed by rules made under the Superannuation Act 1972.
In Scotland, it is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive to amend the rules of the Scheme. When it is necessary to change the Scheme rules this is done by the Scottish Ministers after consultation with Employee and Employer Organisations.
The Scheme offers a wide range of quality benefits that have been tailored to the demands of the Service over a long number of years. Because of these high standards the Scheme has been allowed to contract out of the Second State Pension (previously the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme - SERPS). As a result, both Firefighters and Fire Authorities pay a lower rate of National Insurance than non scheme members.
The Scheme is also approved by the Inland Revenue, which means that members currently get tax relief on their contributions to the Scheme.
The Scheme is closing to new members on 5th April, 2006.