To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate she has made of the number of fire and rescue authority staff on enhanced pensions who are to be made redundant as a result of the implementation of the FiReControl project; what estimate she has made of the cost of meeting the pension contribution top-up costs of these staff; and if she will make a statement; (205341)

The employment of staff after the transfer is a matter for the Local Authority Controlled Companies (LACCs) that have been established to run the RCCs. Under TUPE arrangements existing members of Fire and Rescue Authority (FRAs) control rooms will transfer to the new Regional Control Centres (RCCs). Some staff subsequently could be made redundant—either because there is no suitable alternative post for them, or because it is unreasonable for them to transfer to the new location.

Under new burdens principles, funds will be available to meet the costs of redeployment, retraining and where necessary redundancy costs.

Until the TUPE process takes place, it is not possible to identify which individuals might have to be made redundant, and hence whether they are entitled to enhanced pensions.