§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days of sick leave were taken in her Department last year; how many related to employees suffering(a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to her Department. [56483]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 14 May 2002]: The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report "Analysis of Sickness absence in the Civil Service". In the 2000 report for the Department for Culture Media and Sport the working days absence per staff year figures were:
Absence Certified sickness 3.9 Self-certification 2.2 Total 6.0 Staff years 404 Records are not maintained by DCMS which enable sick leave to be separately identified as work related. There is no known record of anyone having had a work-related injury.
DCMS is committed to meet targets arising from the Government's revitalising health and safety initiative, for reducing the number of working days lost due to sickness absence generally and due to work-related injuries and illness.