§ Miss BONDFIELDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average number of days taken for sick leave per head per annum during the last three complete years by the women staffs of the London Telephone Service Accounts Branch, the Board of Education, and the Ministry of Health, respectively?
Mr. SAMUELThe average number of days sick leave per head per annum taken by the women staffs in the Departments referred to during the years 1925 and 1927 was as follows:—
519W
Department. 1925. 1926. 1927. London Telephone Service. 13.2 12.5 15.0 Board of Education 12.8 11.2 10.5 Ministry of Health 13.0 11.0 11.8 The London Telephone Service figures relate to all the women staff in the Controller's office, of whom approximately 92 per cent. are in the accounts section. Separate figures for the accounts section are not readily available. The sudden rise in 1927 in this Department was due to an influenza epidemic. The Board of Education figures relate to the Departmental leave year ending on the 31st January, 1926, 1927 and 1928 respectively, the remainder to the financial years. As between Departments the figures are not otherwise strictly comparable, owing to the fact that in some eases Sundays are included and in others excluded.