§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the working of the new sick pay scheme and, in particular, that employers fully understand its ramifications.
§ Dr. BoysonWe are satisfied that the new statutory sick pay scheme has made a good start and is working reasonably smoothly. Officials from the Department's local offices around the country are carrying out a programme of visits to all known employers in their areas, during which they both check and give guidance on the operation of the scheme. These visits show that employers are generally managing well. Although a number of mistakes are found, these are usually minor in effect, and an improvement in performance may be expected once the scheme has settled in and the rules become more familiar.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received any recent representations from those representing small companies with regard to the operation of the new sick pay scheme.
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§ Dr. BoysonWe routinely receive letters from employers and others about particular aspects of the statutory sick pay scheme. We do not appear recently to have received representations from those representing small companies, but, if my hon. Friend has particular correspondence in mind, I should be grateful if he would let me have details.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the reduction in staffing in his Department directly attributable to the introduction of the new sick pay scheme.
§ Dr. BoysonThe reduction in staffing of the Department attributable to the introduction of the statutory sick pay scheme was 3,342.