§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether there is any system for annual entitlement to sick leave which does not have to be supported by a medical certificate; and whether there are any statistics available as the amount of such leave that has been taken in the past year.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisDepartments may at their discretion waive the requirement for a medical certificate for sick absence up to five days, provided that not more than 10 days of paid sick leave are allowed without medical certificate in any period of 12 months and provided that the civil servant does not draw national insurance benefit for the period of the absence. Uncertificated sick absences count against the sick leave allowances stated in my reply of 30th July—[Hansard, Vol. 896, c. 495.]. Departments keep a close watch on the working of the concession and withdraw it in any case where they have reason to think it is being abused.
There is no information available centrally of the overall amount of such leave that has been taken in the past year and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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