To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has consulted small firm organisations on the new instructions to be issued to employers following the implementation of the Statutory Sick Pay Act 1991.

We consulted the National Federation of the Self Employed and Small Businesses, the Forum of Private Business and the Confederation of British Industry on the draft statutory sick pay leaflet on small employers relief (NI 278). A number of useful comments were made and incorporated in the leaflet, which is now being distributed to all employers.