Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on mandating private healthcare companies to provide statutory sick pay; and if she will make a statement.

All employers are already required to provide Statutory Sick Pay to an employee on sickness absence who meet certain criteria.

1. To qualify for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) an individual must:

(a) be an “employed earner” working for an employer who has liability to pay secondary Class 1 NI contributions

(b) have done some work for the employer

(c) have been ill for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days)

(d) earn above the Lower Earnings Limit (currently at £118 per week)

(e) have given the correct notice to the employer.