Question to the HM Treasury:

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing the level of statutory sick pay.

In response to the pandemic, the Government has extended Statutory Sick Pay so that self-isolators are eligible and it is payable from day one rather than day four. Statutory Sick Pay is a statutory minimum and more than half of employees receive more when they are off sick. Changes to Statutory Sick Pay are one part of the Government’s wider support package for those sick or self-isolating, which includes the Test and Trace Support Payments, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and the temporary £20 per week increase in Universal Credit.