Fire crew pensions ‘will cost £250m’

RAISING firefighters’ pension contributions could cost the taxpayer £250 million over the next three years, according to a union-commissioned report.

The Fire Brigades Union, which is planning an industrial action ballot over increases in pension contributions, said it could lead to one in four firefighters leaving the scheme.

The pension scheme relies heavily on money coming in from contributions, so any reduction would result in immediate financial losses.