§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working days have been lost in her Department and its predecessors due to illness in each year since 1997–98. [92717]
§ Alun MichaelRecords are not yet available for the number of days lost due to sickness absence in 2002, but these will be announced in due course. Sickness absence figures for previous years are published in the Cabinet Office annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service", copies of which are placed in House Libraries.
Figures for the most recently available years for the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the former DETR and are shown as an average per staff year. These are:
MAFF Year Days 1997 7.8 1998 8.7 1999 9.3 2000 9 2001 7.2
DETR Year Days 1997 9.7 1998 8.7 1999 8.7 2000 9.0 2001 10.5 The Department is committed to the effective management of sickness absence, and to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement of reducing sickness absence to 6.9 days for 2003.