To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of likely savings to public expenditure arising from the changes announced to firefighters' pensions on 8 September 2005 for each year from 2006-07 to 2030-31; and if she will make a statement. (101136)

The annual savings for fire and rescue authorities in England from reduced employer contributions will be 12.3 per cent. of pensionable pay for each employee who joins the new firefighters' pension scheme. The introduction of two-tier ill-health arrangements for members of the firefighters' pension scheme 1992 from April 2006 are estimated to save2 per cent. of pensionable pay. The estimated pensionable payroll is currently £910 million per annum.