Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to reform statutory sick pay as part of his Department's work to support more disabled people into employment.

In the Improving Lives Green Paper we consulted on how Statutory Sick Pay could be reformed to encourage supportive conversations between the employer and employee and make it easier for people to make a phased return to work. We are now considering the full range of consultation responses and next steps on Statutory Sick Pay.

We welcome Matthew Taylor’s ‘Good Work - Modern Working Practices’ and his detailed consideration of statutory sick pay. We are considering his recommendations in detail and will respond in due course.