§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of days lost through avoidable and unavoidable absenteeism for 1971, and the figures for the years 1966 to 1970.
§ Mr. Dudley Smith:I regret that no estimates of this kind are available.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of working days lost through sickness for 1971, and the figures for the years 1966 to 1970.
§ Mr. DeanI have been asked to reply. The total numbers of days of certified incapacity recorded for National Insurance sickness benefit purposes in the statistical years ending in 1966–70 were:
Statistical Year (June to June) Number of days (millions) 1965–66 311 1966–67 301 1967–68 328 1968–69 329 1969–70 342 The figure for 1970-71 is not yet available. NOTE: The figures given relate only to days notified for the purposes of claims to National Insurance sickness benefit and consequently exclude many spells of incapacity lasting three days or less.