§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the statutory sick pay of a person currently earning £75 per week who is in receipt of statutory sick pay for the first time this week; what would have been his statutory sick pay had such a person been taken sick in March 1987 or been eligible for statutory sick pay that month; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lyell[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1987 c. 223]: In March, someone normally earning £75 a week would be entitled to statutory sick pay at a weekly rate of £46.75. Because of the simplification of the SSP scheme, reducing three rates to two, the same weekly earnings since 6 April attract weekly SSP of £32.85.
But it does not follow from this that the employee will find his income during sickness has reduced. The SSP scheme provides for a statutory minimum amount to be paid by employers to their employees when sick. There is nothing to prevent employers from paying more than the amounts laid down—and indeed many already do so under their own occupational sick pay schemes. Over 80per cent. of full-time employees are covered by such schemes.