§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that, with the introduction of the employers' statutory sick pay scheme under the Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill, unscrupulous employers will not be able to take advantage of their work force by refusing or delaying payments.
§ Mr. RossiAs employers will be able to withhold from their national insurance contribution payments any statutory sick pay which they disburse, they will have no incentive to refuse or delay payments without good reason. An employee who cannot obtain a satisfactory explanation from his employer of his refusal to pay statutory sick pay can seek a decision on liability from the statutory adjudicating authorities. An employer who refuses to pay after a decision has been given could be prosecuted.
§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money he intends to save with the introduction of the employers' statutory sick pay scheme under the Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill; and how many civil servants he will make redundant as a result.
§ Mr. RossiThe financial effects of the statutory sick pay scheme, as presented in the Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill published on 9 November 1981, are explained in a paper entitled "Financial Effects of Statutory Sick Pay" available in the Library. The estimates in the paper will be subject to revision in the light of any modification made to the Bill during the legislative process. It is estimated that the scheme proposed should save up to 3,000 posts in DHSS local offices. The manpower savings are expected to be achieved by natural wastage.