# The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”) which set out the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Wales) 2015 (“the 2015 Pension Scheme”).
These Regulations come into force on 1 September 2025 and do not have retrospective effect.
Regulations 3, 4 and 9 amend the 2015 Pension Scheme to make provision in respect of scheme members’ entitlements during periods of parental bereavement leave.
Regulations 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 amend the 2015 Pension Scheme to provide for new member contribution rates and a new mechanism by which members’ contribution rates are determined from 1 September 2025.
Regulation 6 inserts regulation 119A into the 2015 Regulations which introduces a new mechanism whereby members’ contribution rates within the 2015 Pension Scheme are determined based on a tier structure rather than pensionable pay range. This new mechanism defines scheme member roles for the purpose of members’ contribution rates and provides that these roles will fall within 1 of 5 tiers, against which members’ contribution rates will be determined from 1 September 2025. The updated mechanism makes clear that regardless of role, retained and volunteer firefighters will always remain within tier 1 when determining applicable member contribution rates. For the purpose of new regulation 119A only, the definition of regular firefighter does not include the roles of crew manager, watch manager, station manager, group manager, area manager, assistant chief fire officer, deputy chief fire officer or chief fire officer.
Since regulations 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 involve a change to a protected element of the scheme constituted by the 2015 Regulations (as defined in section 22(5) of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013), the Welsh Ministers have consulted such persons (or representatives of such persons) as appear to the Welsh Ministers likely to be affected by these Regulations, with a view to reaching agreement. The Welsh Ministers have also laid a report before Senedd Cymru.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and is published on www.gov.wales.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2025/930/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/firefighters-pension-scheme-wales-amendment-regulations-2025/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.