§ Sir R. BLAIRasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the annual holidays allowed to the different grades of the permanent staff of the Civil Service; and how many days in a year can an official have leave of absence without furnishing a medical certificate; and what is the average absence per official per year on account of sickness?
Mr. YOUNGIn reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement, circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 22nd June, 1921 (0FFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 143, No. 82), in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Fulham West (Sir C. Cobb). Under the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, heads of Departments have discretion to allow sick leave—without medical certificate—not exceeding in any case two days continuously, or seven days in a year; in practice, however, lower limits are frequently enforced. I regret that figures are not available for the whole Service showing what is the average absence per official per year on account of sickness.