§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) of 12 February, he will state which organisation placed the alternative proposals regarding the employers statutory sick pay scheme before him; how he proposes to consult; and if he will publish the proposals.
§ Mr. RossiThe new proposals emerged from the consultations Ministers and officials have had with a number of organisations representing employers following my right hon. Friend's announcement to the House, on 21 November, of major changes to the scheme. These consultations will continue. I am now considering the feasibility of allowing employers to offset a proportion of statutory sick pay disbursed against their monthly payments of national insurance contributions. This would be combined with a reduction in the rate of employers' national insurance contributions.