Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current sick pay policy for care home staff who are absent due to covid-19.

The majority of staff working in the social care sector are employed by private providers which determine pay and the terms and conditions of employment. All providers should support good health and safety practice and employers should ensure staff stay away from the workplace where there would be a health risk to those in their care.

Statutory Sick Pay is available to those infected by COVID-19 and are unable to work, payable after four days. It is paid at £99.35 per week and is available in all sectors to those who earn more than £123 a week on average.