HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc377-8W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in the Department have been on long-term sick leave in each of the last two years. [115863]

Mr. Lammy

We have defined long-term sick leave to be—absence from work due to sickness for a period of 90 days and over.

The information requested is shown in the table.

Financial Year 1Number
2001–02 47
2002–03 22
1 Staff on long term sick leave

Staff members whose absence spans from one year to another are counted again in the second year.