Community Response
There have been several queries about Travel and Catering claims following Personnel Reserve duties.
Following discussions with Station Support it has become necessary to clarify the following points:
If HFRS transport is not available then ADDITIONAL travel expenses can be claimed. Additional travel expenses are classed as any mileage that is greater than your normal travel to work distance.
Example 1:
A Firefighter lives in Southampton and usually works at Eastleigh, they are redeployed on Personnel Reserve duties to Stockbridge Fire Station. As the distance between Southampton and Stockbridge is greater than the distance between Southampton and Eastleigh they are entitled to claim the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN the two trips at Casual User Rate as specified in SO/7/3/5 - Pay & Allowances Handbook.
i.e. Distance 2 (Southampton to Stockbridge) minus Distance 1 (Southampton to Eastleigh) = Distance to be claimed at Casual User Rate.
You CANNOT claim the whole of Distance 2 because you can only claim ADDITIONAL travel expenses.
Example 2:
A Firefighter lives in Lyndhurst and works in Basingstoke, they are redeployed on Personnel Reserve duties to Romsey Fire Station.
As the distance between Lyndhurst and Romsey is LESS than their normal travel distance to Basingstoke they are NOT ENTITLED to a Travel Claim as there is NO ADDITIONAL MILEAGE.
Some Firefighters have been incorrectly claiming Catering Expenses (Subsistence).
Claims for Subsistence can ONLY be claimed where the redeployment venue has NO SUITABLE CATERING FACILITIES.
Example: Attendance at a College for an RTC Initiative (Fresher Fair)
As the College does not have suitable catering facilities any food purchased, up to the limits specified in SO/7/3/5, can be claimed IF SUPPORTED BY A VALID RECEIPT.
If your redeployment is to a Fire Station or uses a Fire Station as a base then a claim cannot be made as they all have suitable catering facilities (microwave, kettle, fridge etc). If you attend SHQ then usually a meal will be provided by the Function/Dept requesting you.
The electronic joining instructions on the PR Calendar will clarify the occasions when a claim can be made.
IMPORTANT: All subsistence claims for Personnel Reserve MUST be supported by a receipt for any food purchased.
Author: Nick Derham
Issued: 24 October 2007
