§ 4. Mr. Cadburyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received representations from industry about the Government's plan to introduce a seven-day self-certification of sickness scheme.
§ The Minister for Social Security (Mr. Hugh Rossi)Yes, Sir. Since my right hon. Friend's announcement in December, about 100 letters and as many telephone calls have been received. Most of these have come from employers or organisations representing them.
§ Mr. CadburyIs my hon. Friend aware that there is still concern among employers that the new self-certification scheme could lead to an increase in abuse of sick leave? What safeguards have been incorporated in the new scheme? When similar schemes were introduced in other European countries, were they followed by an increase in absenteeism?
§ Mr. RossiMalingerers—I emphasise that they are a tiny minority of all claimants—have no difficulty in getting certificates now. Under self-certification, a person has to sign his own declaration and stand by it. He cannot hide behind what seems to be a professional opinion. I am sure that there will be teething troubles, but we intend to institute controls and monitoring to ensure that abuse does not take place.
§ Mr. RookerWere those 100 letters and 100 telephone calls in favour of or against the scheme? The Minister merely said that he had received them. What evidence is there to suppose that there would be a greater incidence of abuse of the change in the scheme compared with the actions of hon. Members, who do not need to provide sick certificates?
§ Mr. RossiI have already dealt with the possibility of malingerers and the way in which we intend to deal with them.
In answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, I think that his assumptions are totally wrong.