§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that statutory sick pay is paid to individuals who are made redundant within three days of falling ill; [40200]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that statutory sick pay is paid to people who fall sick in the period immediately following their employers' liquidation. [40206]
§ Mr. HealdIndividuals who are made redundant would not normally be eligible for statutory sick pay. Where it can be shown that the employer has brought an individual's contract of service to an end solely or mainly to avoid liability for SSP, the employer will continue to be liable to make a payment in the normal way. For employees whose employer has gone into liquidation but whose contracts have not been terminated, any SSP due in that employment from the date of insolvency becomes the liability of the Secretary of State.
766WThese rules are highlighted in the Contributions Agency's statutory sick pay manual for employers, which is issued to all employers.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department last reviewed the guidelines for payment of statutory sick pay to individuals whose firms have been liquidated. [40208]
§ Mr. HealdThe practical operation of these rules, as with all rules of the statutory sick pay scheme, is continuously monitored by the Contributions Agency. They were last changed in 1987 in order to make it easier for employees of insolvent employers to receive the SSP due to them.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations his Department has received regarding the payment of statutory sick pay for people made redundant due to liquidation of their employer.[40207]