Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the retirement age of his Department's firefighters; and if he will make a statement.

I receive regular written representations from right hon. and hon. Members, Trade Unions and others on this issue.

I have this year met the Prospect and Unite unions to discuss the normal pension age of the Defence Fire and Rescue Service. The issue was also raised at the Defence Whitley committee which I chaired in May and during my visit to the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre at Manston.