Statutory Sick and Maternity Pay (Hansard, 24 July 1996)

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of employers he estimates will be able to recover payments of statutory sick pay under the percentage threshold scheme in 1995–96; and what percentage and amount of total spending on statutory sick pay he estimates will be borne by employers as a result. [37593]

§ Mr. Heald
It is estimated that around 43 per cent. of firms paying statutory sick pay were able to recover some portion of their SSP payments under the percentage threshold scheme in 1995–96.
The Government Actuary's Department estimated that in 1995–96 employers would meet around 97 per cent. of the overall cost of paying SSP to employees. This amounted to £845 million.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the percentage of employers who are able fully to recover payments of statutory maternity pay; and what proportion and amount of total SMP payments is borne by employers. [37592]

§ Mr. Heald
It is estimated that around 38 per cent. of firms paying statutory maternity pay were able to recover payments of SMP in full in 1995–96.
The Government Actuary's Department estimated that employers would meet around 7 per cent. of the cost of 567W paying SMP to their employees in 1995–96. This amounted to around £35 million.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the average annual amounts and duration of statutory sick pay for male and female workers and the average amount and earnings-related amount of statutory maternity pay paid to female workers using data for 1992–93 from the Lifetime labour market database. [37591]

§ Mr. Heald
The information relating to statutory sick pay is in the table:

1992–93 Average amount of SSP payment£ Average duration (days)

Men ¹175 ^1,217

Women ¹163 ^1,216

The estimated average amount of statutory maternity pay (SMP) paid to women in 1992–93 is £1,200¹. The earnings related element is estimated to be £700^1,3.

¹ All figures taken from a 1 per cent. sample of SSP and SMP payments made in the UK.

² Figures estimated on the assumption that the standard working week is five days, and that higher rate statutory sick pay is in payment.

³ Estimated by taking 90 per cent. of total pay and converting to weekly figure. Assumes that every payment of SMP is for a six-week period. Pay used for this estimate may not be for the same period as that used originally to calculate SMP.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the percentage of female employees who received statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance in the most recent available year. [37589]

§ Mr. Heald
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
It is estimated that around 1 per cent. of female employees at spring 1994 were in receipt of statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the percentage of employees who received statutory sick pay or sickness benefit in the most recent available year. [37588]

§ Mr. Heald
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
It is estimated that around 2 per cent. of employees at spring 1994 were in receipt of statutory sick pay or sickness benefit.

1992–93	Average amount of SSP payment£	Average duration (days)
Men	¹175	^1,217
Women	¹163	^1,216
The estimated average amount of statutory maternity pay (SMP) paid to women in 1992–93 is £1,200¹. The earnings related element is estimated to be £700^1,3.
¹ All figures taken from a 1 per cent. sample of SSP and SMP payments made in the UK.
² Figures estimated on the assumption that the standard working week is five days, and that higher rate statutory sick pay is in payment.
³ Estimated by taking 90 per cent. of total pay and converting to weekly figure. Assumes that every payment of SMP is for a six-week period. Pay used for this estimate may not be for the same period as that used originally to calculate SMP.