Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days were lost in sickness in the last 12 months by employees in his Department(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the number of days worked; and what was the cost of this absence. [34597]
1271W
§ Mrs. Angela Knight[holding answer 14 July 1995]: In the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995, 19,480 days were registered as being lost due to sickness in HM Treasury. Where absences fall both before and after a weekend or public holiday, the weekend or public holiday is counted as part of the absence even though they are not "working days". It has not been possible, in the time available, to adjust the figures to present these absences as a proportion of the total number of days worked. Information is not held centrally that would enable the cost of such absence to be calculated, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.