§ Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to go ahead with that proposal1032W to free employers from operating statutory sick pay rules where they pay more generous wages or occupational sick pay. [41276]
§ Mr. LilleyI will be laying regulations later in the year which will free employers from the obligation to make SSP calculations where they pay contractual remuneration as good as or better than SSP for a period of incapacity for work. Around 900 copies of the consultation paper "Exempting Employers from Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)" were sent to employers, their organisations, employees' organisations and other interested parties and I am grateful to all those who responded. I am placing a copy of the responses in the Library. The majority view was that the new arrangements would be a useful easement. The change, which will take effect from April 1997, will allow greater flexibility to employers and cut back on administration. Employees' underlying entitlement to SSP will not be affected.