HC Deb 24 January 1994 vol 236 cc83-4W
Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, columns 419–20, what are the additional costs, net of any reduction in employers' national insurance contributions, to his departmental budget for the financial year 1994–95 of the changes in statutory sick pay provision.

Mr. Norris

The separate effects of the change in statutory sick pay provision and the reduction in employers' national insurance contribution rates cannot be estimated accurately, except at disproportionate cost. Reimbursements of national insurance contributions under the statutory sick pay arrangements currently run at approximately £1 million per annum and the reduction in the percentage contribution rates is expected to offer savings of approximately £1 million, so the overall effect of the changes in 1994–95 will be approximately neutral.