Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to improve access to sick pay for the self-employed.

Matthew Taylor’s Independent Review of Modern Employment Practices will look at the impact of non-standard forms of employment on security, pay and rights such as sick pay and the Government will consider any recommendations his report may make with regards to sick pay entitlement.

The Government is supporting self-employed people by extending, from April 2017, the New Enterprise Allowance to include an offer of mentoring support for self-employed Universal Credit (UC) claimants to help them grow their existing business.

This Department is also working closely with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure it delivers a joined up service and identifies local and national provision available to support those in existing self-employment or those who wish to start a new business.