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30/07/10

PSPC RESPONSE TO HUTTON COMMISSION CALL FOR EVIDENCE (FOR INFORMATION)

PSPC RESPONSE TO HUTTON COMMISSION CALL FOR EVIDENCE

Dear Colleagues

Please find enclosed a copy of the PSPC’s response to the Hutton Commission’s call for evidence for its interim report.

"Hutton Commission
The terms of reference for the Hutton Commission begin with the following:

To conduct a fundamental structural review of public service pension provision and to make recommendations to the Chancellor and Chief Secretary on pension arrangements that are sustainable and affordable in the long term, fair to both the public service workforce and the taxpayer and consistent with the fiscal challenges ahead, while protecting accrued rights."

As previously stated, it would be useful if constituent organisations that do not wish to submit their own response would nevertheless write to the Commission to state that they are a constituent organisation of the PSPC, and that they endorse the PSPC response.

Responses to the Commission should be sent to: pensions.commission@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk, preferably by the end of the month.

Yours sincerely
ANDREW MORRIS
General Secretary

>>View the PSPC Response

26/07/10 Prize Draw Winners - July 2010

Listed below are The Fire Fighters Charity Prize Draw numbers for the draw held on July 21, 2010

PRIZE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£5,500

4795

Held by

GREEN D.L.

 

 

 

253485

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£650

1397

4449

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£1.30

2197

2310

2352

3188

3652

3742

4014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£65

595

956

1599

2458

3144

3833

4719

 

608

1142

1601

2545

3152

3892

4723

 

684

1154

1623

2602

3197

3950

4816

 

703

1185

1646

2624

3287

4054

4828

 

753

1196

1674

2639

3296

4095

4843

 

776

1334

2160

2935

3378

4115

5023

 

857

1354

2166

2943

3408

4239

5105

 

902

1391

2195

3055

3579

4273

5114

 

908

1508

2213

3065

3615

4366

5155

 

922

1577

2323

3082

3687

4515

 

 

943

1596

2344

3097

3822

4658

 

 

26/07/10 Sheffield Scene Shop - SFB Buttons

News from John Hague:

the Sheffield Scene shop has now sold a thousand old Sheffield Fire Brigade Buttons raising over £500 for the Firefighters Charity. Someone from the BBC as just bought thirty for their props dept!

22/07/10 Christmas & New Year at Harcombe House

Enjoy a relaxing break with The Fire Fighters Charity at Harcombe House.

Full -board and self -catering Christmas breaks are available from 23rd- 27th December.

New Year self catering breaks are available from 30th December- 3rd January

>>Click here for full details

20/07/10 Proposed Visit to New Sheffield Central Fire Station

Following an initial contact with Dick Hutton, Group Manager, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue,
we intend to progress his kind offer of a visit to the new Sheffield Central Fire Station.

It is intended to arrange a late Autumn, mutually convenient date, for this visit, however, before we make further arrangements with Dick, we would like to gauge the level of interest from our members.

Please email: info@narfsheffield.org.uk if you are interested in taking part.

20/07/10 Valediction - Retired Fireman Ted Starky

We have been made aware that Retired Fireman Ted Starky, formerly of Mansfield Road Fire Station, has recently passed away.

No further details are available at this time.

15/07/10 Valediction from SYFR - ( RETIRED) LEADING FIREMAN GERALD ‘CHAT’ CHATTERTON

It is with regret that the Service has been informed of the death of retired Leading Fireman Gerald ‘Chat’ Chatterton, aged 81 years, on Monday 12 July 2010. 

Mr Chatterton joined the Fire Service in 1954 and served at various locations including Maltby and Mexborough Fire Stations before his retirement in September 1983.

His funeral will take place at Pontefract Crematorium, Wakefield Road, Pontefract WF8 4HA on Monday 19 July 2010 at 1100 hours.

Family flowers only, but if desired donations may be made to Chat’s favourite Charity, ‘Help the Heroes’, Registered Charity number 1120920 - Donations office:  Unit 6, Aspire Business Centre, Ordnance Road, Tidworth, Hants, SP9 7QD or call 0845 673 1760 or 01980 846 459 for further information.

The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.

Yours faithfully

(Mrs) Rainy Liversidge
Corporate Admin
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

12/07/10 Valediction from SYFR - (RETIRED) SUB OFFICER ERNEST ‘ERNIE’ LAKIN

It is with regret that the Service has been informed of the death of retired Sub Officer Ernest ‘Ernie’ Lakin, aged 79 years, on Sunday 11 July 2010.

Ernie joined the Fire Service in 1952 and worked in various locations including Erskine Road Fire Station until his retirement in June 1977.

His funeral will be held at Rotherham Crematorium, Ridgeway, Rotherham, S65 3NN on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 at 1300 hours.

Family flowers only, but if desired donations may be made to Cancer Research UK via J. Parkinson and Sons - Funeral Directors in Rotherham.

The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.

Yours faithfully

(Mrs) Rainy Liversidge
Corporate Admin
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

12/07/10 Valediction from SYFR - (RETIRED) SUB OFFICER JAMES MCANDREW COOK

It is with regret that the Service has been informed of the death of retired Sub Officer James McAndrew Cook, aged 90 years, on Friday 25 June 2010. 

Mr Cook joined the Fire Service on 28 April 1946 and served at Erskine Road Fire Station before retiring in April 1975.

His funeral has already taken place in Canada where he has lived for the last 30 years.

Yours faithfully

(Mrs) Rainy Liversidge
Corporate Admin
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

12/07/10 Government statement on moving to CPI as the measure of price inflation

On 8 July the Minister of State for Pensions, Steve Webb MP, made a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament which announced the Government’s intention to move to using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the measure of price inflation for the purposes of regulating occupational pension schemes. A statutory minimum requirement will continue to apply to the revaluation and indexation of pension rights.

The proposed changes will affect how many deferred pensions are revalued in future, and how pensions in payment are increased. The changes apply to defined benefit rights in occupational pension schemes, and certain defined contribution rights in occupational pension schemes. The changes will affect the statutory minimum requirement for revaluation and indexation; occupational pension schemes will still have the freedom to pay more than the statutory minimum.

In broad terms, a revaluation order is made each year which sets out the minimum rate at which occupational pension schemes should generally revalue deferred pension rights and pay increases on pensions in payment.

For deferred pension rights, the order tabulates an overall revaluation percentage relating to each possible number of complete years between the end of someone’s pensionable service and their normal pension age. The order that is in use for any year will use data on price inflation up to September of the previous year. For example, the order in use for 2010 uses data on price inflation to the year ending 30 September 2009 based on RPI. The order which will be in use in 2011 will use data on price inflation to the year ending 30 September 2010 based on CPI. The overall percentage that will apply to deferred pension rights which have been deferred for at least two complete years, where the relevant years straddle the change from RPI to CPI, will therefore be calculated as a combination of percentages based on RPI and then CPI.

The order in use for 2011 will also be used to calculate annual increases on pensions in payment for 2011, and these will be in line with CPI. The Government expects to publish the order in November or December 2010.

The Government will bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity to ensure that other references to price inflation in pensions law are consistent with using CPI as the measure of price inflation from 2011 or as soon thereafter as Parliamentary time allows. For example, the Guaranteed Minimum Pension Increase Order that will come into effect in 2011 will be made on the basis of the CPI figures for the year to 30 September 2010.

Examples:

The following generalised simplified examples are provided for illustrative purposes only.

These examples illustrate how these changes could apply to future calculations of the revaluation and indexation applying to pension rights, if a pension scheme adopted the statutory minimum approach. They would not affect pension payments already received. They do not deal with issues arising from contracting out from the State Second Pension. The detailed rules on revaluation and indexation vary between pension schemes and can be higher than the minimum. They also depend on when the pensionable service took place. Other factors may affect an individual’s pension entitlement depending on that scheme’s rules.

Media Enquiries: 0203 267 5130
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

09/07/10 8 July 2010 – Up to £20 million off fuel bills for poor pensioners as energy rebate scheme gets underway

Around 250,000 pensioners will start getting £80 off their next electricity bill from this month, thanks to a deal by the Government and the leading energy suppliers announced earlier this year.

Up to £20 million will be paid out by the largest energy companies in a one-off rebate to some of the pensioners who need the most help with their fuel costs.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is writing to all those who are eligible to let them know either that their rebate will be paid automatically, or asking people to call our Helpline and confirm their entitlement.

The DWP shared some of its customer data securely with the energy companies so they could identify the poorest pensioners.

Steve Webb, Minister of State for Pensions, said:

"This cash will help thousands of pensioners get help with their fuel bills who might otherwise be struggling to make ends meet. As many rebates as possible will be awarded automatically, however this will not apply in all cases.  If anyone gets a letter from us asking them to call our Helpline they should ring straight away to make sure they don’t miss out."

Those eligible are households where at least one person is aged 70 or over, receiving the guaranteed element of Pension Credit but not the savings credit element, are responsible for the electricity account where they live and don’t already benefit from a discounted tariff.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Gregory Barker, said:

"This scheme is a huge step forward in the way we help the most vulnerable people in society pay their fuel bills in the future. Fuel poverty remains a massive concern and the coalition government is committed to being far more effective in the way it helps those most in need."

The energy suppliers participating are British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power, and Scottish and Southern Energy and their subsidiary companies.

The Government will evaluate the scheme, which is operating under an existing voluntary agreement with these energy suppliers, and see what lessons can be learned for tackling fuel poverty in the future.

More information is available at www.direct.gov.uk/energyrebate or via the Scheme helpline on 0845 600 0033.

04/07/10 Public Service Pensioners' Council -
Indexation of Public Service Pensions

From April 2011, the indexation of public service pensions will be switched from the retail prices index (RPI) to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Under normal circumstances, the increase in the CPI is lower than that for the RPI. For example the RPI is currently 5.1 per cent, compared to 3.4 per cent for the CPI. The PSPC estimates that a public service pensioner retiring at 60 with a £10,000 a year pension, will lose out by almost £49,000 over a 26-year retirement if there is a 1 per cent a year difference between CPI and RPI.

The PSPC views this change of indexation as unacceptable. The Coalition Government had stated that accrued rights would be protected. The PSPC expected that this would include continued indexation, via the 1971 Pensions (Increase) Act, to RPI throughout retirement. Phillip Hammond MP's letter to the CSPA on 27th April stated that the Conservative party 'has no plans to change the current index-linking of pensions in payment'. This assurance has not lasted two months and paints the new Government in a very unfortunate light.

CPI indexation will also be applied to all benefits other than the basic state pension, or the minimum income guarantee element of pension credit.

>>View the Original Letter and the Press Release

30/06/10 Ivor Roberts - Looking for Old Friends and Colleagues

Rainy Liversidge at SYFR has passed on to us a letter from Ivor Roberts. Ivor would like to get in touch with:

Frank Smith
Dave (Tug) Wilson
Bud Roberts
Rod Mansell
Bryan Oliver
Bob Blackburn
Sam Cawthorne
Or any others who served in training from 1974 to 1980

Ivor would love you to contact him on email ivor.robs@talktalk.net The minutes of the National AGM 25th April 2010 are now available for your perusal. Or on 01778 571081.

>>Click here to view his full letter.

16/06/10 Minutes of the National AGM

The minutes of the National AGM 25th April 2010 are now available for your perusal.

>>Click here to view minutes

14/06/10 Valediction - Retired Fire Control Officer Miss Pat Byne

It is with regret that we have been informed via the SYFR of the death of retired Fire Control Officer Miss Pat Byne, aged 67 years, on Tuesday 8 June 2010. 

Miss Byne joined South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Control in June 1974 before retiring in June 1993.

Her funeral will be held at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Hutcliffe Wood Road, Sheffield S8 0HN at 1530 hours on Friday, 18 June 2010.

The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.

12/05/10 Valediction Leading Fireman (Retired) Ian Martin Allen

It is with regret that we have been informed by SYFR of the death of retired Leading Fireman Ian Martin Allen, aged 67 years, on Sunday 9 May 2010. 

Mr Allen served at various locations including Ringinglow and Division Street Fire Stations before his retirement at Lowedges Road Fire Station in October 1993. 

His funeral will be held at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Hutcliffe Wood Road, Sheffield S8 0HN at 1330 hours on Tuesday, 18 May 2010.  The family would like to welcome all friends and colleagues to join them afterwards at Hill Top Sports and Social Club, Longacre Road (off Hill Top Road), Dronfield, S18 1UQ.

Family flowers only and if desired donations may be made to The Fire Fighters Charity or Ashgate Hospice, Ashgate Road, Old Brampton, Chesterfield S42 7JD.

The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.

12/05/10 Valediction - Retained Fm (Retired) George ‘Blakie’ Beech

It is with regret that we have been informed by SYFR of the death of retired Retained Fireman George Beech, aged 63 years, on Sunday 9 May 2010. 

Mr Beech served at Stocksbridge Fire Station before retiring in April 1990.

His funeral will be held at Grenoside Crematorium, North Chapel, 5 Skew Hill Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8RZ at 1145 hours on Saturday, 15 May 2010 followed by a reception at The Blue Ball, 281 Main Road, Wharncliffe Side, Sheffield S35 0DQ at 1300 hours.

Flowers welcome and if desired donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society.

The family would welcome anyone wishing to attend.

03/05/10 FUNCTION

Provisional work has commenced on a proposed function at the Rawson Spring pub, Hillsborough
If you require any further information please contact info@narfsheffield.org.uk

03/05/10 Alan Bannon and James Shears Memorial Fund

Letter of thanks to members for their donation:

>>View Letter

26/04/10 For those towing a caravan, or driving a motorhome in France

Speed limits in France - update. Published: 08 July 2009

>>View the speed limit update

22/04/10 On behalf of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service announces funeral arrangements for Firefighter Alan Bannon and Firefighter James Shears

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has received confirmation from the families of the funeral arrangements for Firefighter Alan Bannon and Firefighter James Shears, following the recent tragedy at Shirley Towers.

At the request of the families, both will be family funerals supported by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Alan Bannon’s funeral will take place at St Mary's Church, St Mary's Street, Southampton on Tuesday 27 April at 2pm, followed by a private committal service.
 
The funeral of Firefighter James Shears will take place at St. George’s Church in Darby’s Lane, Oakdale in Poole, Dorset, at 11am on Friday 30 April.  This will be followed by a private committal service, which will be attended by the family, friends, and close colleagues.

At the request of the families, the funerals will be private events for close colleagues and family members. We are currently making arrangements, in conjunction with the families, for a memorial service for both firefighters, which members of the wider fire community are welcome to attend to pay their respects. This is likely to take place in late July and we hope to be able to provide a confirmed date by the end of this week.

Floral tributes are welcome for the funeral of both Firefighter Alan Bannon and Firefighter James Shears.

Floral tributes for Alan Bannon should be sent to St Mary’s Fire Station, St Mary’s Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 0BJ.

Floral tributes for James Shears should be sent to Poole Fire Station, Safety Drive, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7FR.

A Memorial Fund has been set up for the firefighters’ families. Anyone who would like to make a donation to the families of Firefighter James Shears and Firefighter Alan Bannon should send a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘James Shears and Alan Bannon Memorial Fund’ to:

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters
Finance Department
Hampshire Firefighters’ Family Fund
Leigh Road, Hampshire, SO50 9SJ

Or by BACS payment to:
Sort code: 08-60-01
Account no.: 20111678
John Bonney
Chief Officer
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

NARF Sheffield will be making a £50 donation to the memorial fund.

20/04/10 Sheffield Branch Constitution

At the Annual General Meeting held on 19th April 2010 the membership approved the proposed Sheffield Branch Constitution.

>> View the Constitution

07/04/10 Deaths of Two Firefighters - Shirley Towers, Southampton

It is with great sadness that we learn of the deaths of James Shears and Alan Bannon in the fire last night at Shirley Towers, Southampton. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families, friends and colleagues.

Firefighters James Shears and Alan Bannon

For more information please visit the BBC News Website

21/03/10 DWP - Pensions Reform – 2010 onwards

The Government is undertaking a landmark reform of the UK pensions system designed to deliver increased financial security for an ageing population. In 2005 the independent Pensions Commission published the report "A New Pension Settlement for the Twenty-First Century", containing a series of recommendations for long term reform. Following an extensive programme of national consultation aimed at building a genuine broad based consensus, the Government’s first White Paper was published in May 2006 Security in Retirement: towards a new pensions system. The first phase of the reforms was completed with the Pensions Act 2007 becoming law in July 2007. Measures in this Act were largely focused on reforming the state pensions system.

A second White Paper, Personal Accounts: a new way to save, published in December 2006, contained further proposals, with an emphasis on encouraging private saving. These measures were legislated for in the Pensions Act 2008, which became law in November 2008.

>> Read More

16/03/10 Request for Assistance - Ian Courtney  

Ian is attempting to organise a get together for all members of White Watch, Division Street from the late sixties/early seventies. Whilst we have been able to contact Keith Foulds, and Ian Denial by email to gain permission for the release of their address details to Ian, there are a number of other members he would like to contact:

If any of you, or your friends, see this request could you contact Ted Mullins on info@narfsheffield.org.uk to give permission, or otherwise, to release your address details to Ian.

Failing this we will have to write to each named person.

16/03/10 Request for Assistance  

Chris Wood who is restoring an ex Sheffield pump RWB 999 could do with help regarding two items:

If you do have any buttons, or can help with RWB's location in 1965, please contact info@narfsheffield.org.uk

12/03/10 Department for Work And Pensions   (National)

Hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners should benefit from lower fuel bills this winter thanks to a deal announced today between the big six energy suppliers (British Gas, EDF Energy, EON, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy) and the Government.

>>Read Full DWP Press Release

07/03/10 HM Treasury - Pension 0% Increase

Section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 (as amended) provides for public service pensions to be increased annually by the same percentage as additional pensions (State Earnings Related Pension and State Second Pension). As the Minister of State (Pensions and the Ageing Society) has confirmed, benefits such as the additional pensions would be not be uprated from April 2010, as the increase in the Retail Prices Index in the 12 months to September 2009 was negative (-1.4%). Therefore public service pensions will also not be uprated from April 2010, i.e. benefits will remain at current cash levels. Annual uprating decisions in future years will be made as part of the usual Pre-Budget Report process.

>>See HM Treasury Letter

05/03/10 State Pensions Reform - Briefing Pack for Advisors

This pack will support any adviser whose customers wish to understand how they may be affected by changes to state pensions coming into effect from 6 April 2010. These changes, which will make state pensions simpler, fairer and more widely available, will have wide-ranging effects.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/third-party-briefing-pack.pdf

01/03/10 Sheffield Branch Draft Constitution

Since its inauguration the Sheffield Branch has relied on the National Constitution to provide its procedures. However, it is recommended that each branch has its own constitution which, whilst being close a mirror to the National document, has the capability of being revised by the branch. To facilitate this a Draft Sheffield Branch Constitution has been prepared with a hope that it will be accepted at the Branch AGM on Monday 19th April 2010. Please click on the link below to view the draft, and we would welcome any comments that you may wish to make.

>> Sheffield Branch Draft Constitution

27/02/10 Request for Assistance  

Chris Wood who is restoring an ex Sheffield pump RWB 999 could do with help regarding two items:

If you do have any buttons, or can help with RWB's location, please contact info@narfsheffield.org.uk

19/02/10 Volunteers Needed for Psychological Study 

Volunteers are needed to participate in a short experiment on learning sequences of tones or sequences of visual shapes.  The protocols involves individuals aged 40-70, with good, or corrected, seeing and hearing to listen and view short sequences of tones or shapes presented on a computer and to make a button press responses.  The total time for participation is approximately 45 minutes. The study is approved by the Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, and conducted under the supervision of Professors Lawrence Parsons and Rosemary Varley (of the Human Communication Sciences, University of Sheffield). The experiment will take place in the Department of Psychology, (junction of Western Bank & Northumberland Road).

If you are interested please contact Andrius Vabalas  pca07av@sheffield.ac.uk

4/02/10 Red Cross Donation

In line with the members wishes a £50 donation has been made to the British Red Cross. Please click on the link below to view their acknowledgement.

>>View the Red Cross letter

20/01/10 Letter from Ann Wharam

" Many thanks for attending Eric's funeral in November. I wonder if you would kind enough to pass on my thanks for the donation to St Luke's, received from the National Association of Retired Firefighters.

Kind Regards
A. Wharam".

12/01/10 HMRC - Minimum Pension Age

As part of the pension reforms announced by the government in 2003, the normal minimum pension age will rise from 50 to 55 from 6 April 2010. After that date, people will normally only be allowed to start receiving their pension payments from an occupational or a personal pension scheme when they are 55 or older. >>This document gives more information.

08/01/10 Pension Credit Payment Pilot: Summary of Consultation Responses

Department for Work and Pensions summary of responses to a consultation on a pilot pension credit payment model and its design. >>View the document

07/01/10 Severe Weather Info - Derbyshire County Council

Dear Colleagues - Severe Weather
 
I attach a copy of a Press Release that has been issued by Derbyshire County Council.  Please use these messages as you think appropriate. >>View Press Release
 
Social Care staff are doing an excellent job maintaining services to vulnerable people in, sometimes, very difficult circumstances.  Where necessary we are using 4 x 4 vehicles from Council services and the voluntary organisations to assist them.  However, during these conditions other members of the public may have difficulty because of the disruption to services.
 
It is important that elected members, local authority staff, local community members and voluntary agency staff also use their own networks to check that relatives, neighbours and members of their own communities are coping during this period of snow and ice and to remind them of the key messages in the attached.
 
I assure you that we are using all our contacts to try and reinforce these key messages and providing support to people where needed.
 
If you need any further information or you know of further assistance needed in communities please let me know.
 
Yours faithfully
Ian Shuttleworth
Chief Emergency Planning Officer

04/01/10 Message From General Secretary - Pension Info

Following a number of phone calls over the Christmas Period, and to stop certain rum ours that some of you believe that the Public Service Pension increase will be  2.4% In April. I make the following statement:

At present there is no figure out for the Public Service Pension Rise. The chances of a rise in the Public Service Pension in April is NIL as this is set by the RPI on the last working day in September each year so in September 2009 it was minus 1.4% (-1.4%).

The 2.4% rise that has been mention is for Age Related Pension (Old Age Pension) which takes place in April 2010.

As soon as I have more news I will let you know.

John Littleton
NARF National General Secretary

19/12/09 Bud Roberts

Bud has now had his hip replacement, and is on the road to recovery.

16/12/09 Letter from Barbara Boyd

Dear Ted,

Please convey my thanks to everyone who attended my Dad's funeral. We all appreciated them being there and it showed me how much my Dad was liked and respected.

My thanks also go to you for all the offers of assistance you gave me during this difficult time.

Dad would have hated all this fuss and palaver, as he would have called it, but on behalf of all the Scruton family my I send my good wishes and thanks to you and all the members of N.A.R.F.

Yours sincerely,
Barbara Boyd (daughter of Brian Scruton)

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