§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days have been lost through illness in Northern Ireland in each month over the last year; and if he will break the figures down between short-term and long-term illness.
§ Mr. Peter MillsStatistics of the number of days lost through sickness are not available on a monthly basis. However, analysis of a 20 per cent. sample of claims for sickness benefit indicates that there were some 13.6 million days lost through certified incapacity in the year ending 31st May 1972. Further analysis suggests that of this total just under half arose from periods of absence of less than six months.