HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 c323W
Norman Lamb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated annual total cost of compliance is in respect of the statutory sick pay scheme for employers. [154883]

Maria Eagle

Currently around 90 per cent, of employees are covered by an occupational sick pay scheme; where employers operate such a scheme, and it is more generous than Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), they do not have to keep SSP records. This makes it difficult to estimate the annual total costs for employers of compliance with the scheme.

In the most recent year for which figures are available (2000–01), the estimated expenditure for employers on SSP was £830 million.

Notes:

1.The figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

2.The figures are on an accruals basis and so record the year of liability of SSP payment, which is not the same as the year money was paid out.

Source:

Employers' end-of-year returns.