HC Deb 23 December 1976 vol 923 cc324-5W
Mr. Luce

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has statistics showing the number of work-days lost per annum through sickness for the self-employed and employed people separately.

Mr. Orme

In the year 3rd June 1974 to 31st may 1975 days of incapacity for work recorded in connection with national insurance benefit claims amounted to 293.6 million for Class 1—employed person—contributors, and 16.3 million for Class 2—self-employed—contributors. For comparison in the year 1973–74 the average population at risk was over 17 million in Class 1, and over 1½ million in Class 2.