Leaders of the Fire Brigades Union have met to discuss the government's fire service reform white paper.

The executive is in the process of drawing up a formal document which it will present to the government after a wider consultation with its rank-and-file members.

Ministers are awaiting responses from the union and local government chiefs before publishing a bill in this autumn's Queen's Speech.

While the FBU has expressed some reservations about John Prescott's proposals, it has given a warm welcome to plans to overhaul the pay awards system.

Despite internal splits within the FBU following the fire strikes, the union's high command is confident that the rank-and-file will support the new pay formula.

Under the terms of the deal, future pay rises for fire service workers will be tied to average pay rises of professional workers for the first time from July 2005.

The union argues that the move will remove the need for strikes over pay and bring much-needed stability after the recent dispute.

The proposed new formula recognises the professional status of fire service workers for the first time, putting them in the same category as business and finance professionals, technicians and police officers.

Under the old formula fire service pay was tied to the pay rises of the top quarter of male manual workers.

Andy Gilchrist, FBU general secretary, said the proposed new pay formula would bring much needed stability to the fire service following the recent dispute.

"For the first time we will be recognised as professional workers. And for the first time our pay rises will reflect that," he said.

"This is a historic breakthrough. Our new modern pay formula will be the envy of other workers in the public and private sector for years to come.

"It will bring genuine benefits for those who work in the fire service and to the public we serve.

"The old pay formula was the great prize of the 1978 dispute and the only thing people remember from it. This new modern pay formula is the real long-term prize of the last dispute.

"Our last pay formula brought stability to the fire service for 25 years, a period when the service grew into the modern all-round rescue service it now is.

"We will continue to work at ensuring the fire service remains a high performing service the public can rely on."