§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women applied for career breaks in her Department or its agencies; and how many have had their employment terminated in the last five years.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department does not hold records of past applications for career breaks. There are currently 130 people, 12 male and 118 female, on career breaks in the Department and its agencies, Ill of whom have been on a career break of between one and five years. No staff have had their employment terminated during the five year breaks allowed by the Department; four staff have had their appointments terminated after the five years have elapsed as they failed to resign or return to work.