§ 2.45 p.m
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley) rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 19th February be approved [14th Report from the Joint Committee].
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, these regulations benefit small employers in their operation of the statutory sick pay scheme. They implement the announcement made on 7th February in another place to increase the contributions payments level at which employers may qualify for SSP small employers' relief from £15,000 to £16,000 from 6th April 1992.
§ The regulations also provide for such small employers to revert to 100 per cent. recovery of the SSP paid out to an individual employee after six weeks, irrespective of the rate at which it is paid. This ensures that where SSP payments span the usual up-rating date of 6th April the employer's rights to 100 per cent. recovery remain protected. This is largely a technical amendment and has no administrative impact on the employer's operation of the SSP scheme. The regulations are entirely beneficial and I commend them to the House. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 19th February be approved [14th Report from the Joint Committee].—(Lord Henley.)
1552§ Baroness Turner of CamdenMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his explanation of the regulations, which are welcomed on this side of the House. I well recall that when the statutory sick pay legislation was originally debated in your Lordships' House, we on this side of the House, along with other peers, were very anxious to ensure that there should be small employers' relief. This further improvement in the regulations is very much welcomed.
On Question, Motion agreed to.