Official Report 398KB pdf
10:01
Under agenda item 3, we are considering two instruments. An issue has been raised on the following instrument.
Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/406)
The purpose of this instrument is to give a cohort of retained firefighters further options to purchase historic pensionable service. In correspondence with the Scottish Government, published alongside the papers for this meeting, the committee asked whether the formula that the instrument sets out for calculating the amount of a “missed pension lump sum grant” was sufficiently clear regarding which years are to count in determining a value in that formula.
The Scottish Government has undertaken to clarify that the reference to years means only those years during which the firefighter was employed in the period from 1 July 2000 to the end date of their extended limited period. However, it considered that the intended meaning will be understood, given its context, and that the operation of the provision will not be impacted in practical terms, as the position is understood by the scheme authority and other key stakeholders. The Scottish Government nonetheless intends to clarify this point in the next suitable instrument.
Does the committee wish to report this point on reporting ground (h), as the instrument’s form or meaning could be clearer?
Members indicated agreement.
Does the committee also wish to note that the Scottish Government intends to clarify this provision in the next suitable instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
Also in relation to this instrument, and regarding the same formula, the committee asked whether the reference should be to the defined term “completed years” rather than “years”. The Scottish Government responded that it considered the legal effect of this cross-reference to be clear, but that it intended to amend the instrument at the next suitable opportunity in order to insert the word “completed” in the interests of consistency with the other formulae in the same part of the instrument.
Does the committee wish to report this point on the general reporting ground?
Members indicated agreement.
Does the committee wish to note that the Scottish Government intends to amend the definition in the next suitable instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
Also under this agenda item, no points have been raised on the following instrument.
Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/1)
Is the committee content that no reporting grounds are engaged?
Members indicated agreement.