§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in his Department. [26964]
§ Jane KennedyThe Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for the year 2000 will be published shortly.
The Northern Ireland Office is committed to meeting the targets for reducing sickness absence which form part of the Department's service delivery agreement.