§ Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many work days were lost through sickness in the last year for which figures are available; and whether she will publish these figures under headings according to the nature of the illness.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesI have information only about days of sickness which are notified to the Department for purposes of claiming sickness benefit and contribution credits under the National Insurance Acts.
In the period from 3rd June, 1963, to 30th May, 1964, the estimated number of such days was 286 million. The major groups of illnesses were as follows:—
Illness Million Mental, psycho-neurotic and personality disorders 28 Diseases of the circulatory system 33 Diseases of the respiratory system 68 Diseases of the digestic system 25 Diseases of the bones and organs of movement 28 Accidents and poisonings other than those which attracted injury benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts 22 Further details will be given in the Annual Report of the Department to be published early in July.
Spells of sickness lasting less than four days do not usually attract benefit or a 267W credit, and are not normally reported to the Department: nor does the Department know about absence from work of people such as married women who have chosen not to be insured for benefit, or of non-industrial civil servants who do not normally claim benefit through the ordinary machinery during the first six months of an illness.