HC Deb 13 May 1996 vol 277 cc370-1W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been paid in statutory sick pay to employees by employers of(a) under 100 employees, (b) under 50 employees and (c) under 10 employees since the withdrawal of the small employers relief scheme for statutory sick pay in April 1995. [28743]

Mr. Heald

The information is not available.

The first full year following replacement of the small employers relief scheme has just ended. Any information about employers' payments will not be available until end-of-year-returns have been submitted and assessed.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many firms(a) in total, (b) with under 100 employees, (c) with under 50 employees and (d) with under 10 employees reclaimed statutory sick pay under the small employers' relief fund in each of the 10 years preceding the end of the scheme in April 1995; [28744]

(2) how much was reclaimed in statutory sick pay under the small employers' relief fund in each of the 10 years preceding the end of the scheme in April 1995 by (a) all firms, (b) firms with under 100 employees, (c) firms with under 50 employees and (d) firms with under 10 employees. [28745]

Mr. Heald

Information is not available in the format requested.

The statutory sick pay small employees relief scheme was introduced from 6 April 1991. For the years 1991–92 to 1993–94, employers were not required to distinguish in their end-of-year returns between reimbursement under SER and the 80 per cent. reimbursement of employers' SSP costs available to all employers. For 1994–95, following abolition of 80 per cent. reimbursement from 6 April 1994, the total amount reclaimed under SER was £25 million.