§ Mr. TOWNENDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the average number of days of sick leave per head during each of the last three years in the case of women clerical workers, writing assistants, and members of the established typing grades, respectively, employed in his Department; and what was the average number of days of sick leave per head in the case of each of the grades concerned, taken on account of gastric or nervous trouble, respectively?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe following table gives the information for which the hon. Member asks in the first part of the question.
— Average No. of days' sick leave per head. 1926. 1927. 1928. Women Clerical Officers 7.8 5.8 (a) 7.7 Writing Assistants 1.5 2.5 1.0 Establishment typing staff (b) 9.0 9.8 (c) 7.8 (a) Excluding two women who had 86 and 145 days' sick leave respectively. (b) Excluding two women who had 108 and 121 days' sick leave respectively. (c) Excluding one woman who had 204 days' sick leave. To furnish the information requested in the last paragraph of the question would involve the scrutiny of a large number of medical certificates, and I do not think that the labour involved would be justified.