§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from horticultural interests about his proposal for employer payment for initial sickness, particularly with regard to casual workers; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. RossiOf the 20 or so representations that we have received from horticultural and agricultural interests about our proposals for an employers' statutory sick pay scheme, only two have drawn attention to the special problems posed by casual workers and others with irregular working patterns. We are well aware of these problems, and our proposals for reimbursement of small firms have been drawn up so as to help industries such as horticulture where small firms have to take on numbers of casual workers at certain times of the year.