§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he is giving to changing the regulations concerning the non-recognition of jury service payments for average pay calculations in order to permit jury allowance to be taken into account for average earnings purposes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloNone. I assume the hon. Member is referring to the calculations used in establishing entitlement to statutory sick pay (SSP). Payments for jury service are not part of an employee's normal weekly earnings, nor do they attract liability for national insurance contributions. Such payments do not count, therefore, in the calculation of average weekly earnings for SSP.