Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help small- and medium-sized enterprises to manage periods of employee ill health more effectively; and to reduce avoidable economic inactivity.

The Government is committed to helping businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, to support staff who are balancing work and health conditions. The Government has welcomed the Keep Britain Working Review’s findings, including its emphasis on shared responsibility for workplace health. It is progressing this through employer-led Vanguards to identify practical and scalable solutions, including representation from smaller businesses. We are also making changes through the Employment Rights Act to make it more likely flexible working requests are accepted, with many employers already offering flexible working arrangements. Together, this will support more people to remain in, and return to, employment.