§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage increase or decrease there has been in the 607W number of days lost to industry through sickness in the last three months for which figures are available, in comparison with the same three months period last year; and if he will compare similarly the latest 12 months with the previous 12 months period.
§ Mr. DeakinsI regret that information is not kept in the precise form requested but relates to days of certified incapacity for work in connection with national insurance claims. These include those for the long-term sick, who may no longer be in the employment field, but exclude days for which no claim was made because, for instance, they were in very short spells or were in respect of married women who had chosen to pay reduced-rate contributions.
During the year ended May 1975—the latest year for which figures are at present available—the number of days of certified incapacity decreased by about 3 per cent. compared with the immediately preceding 12 months. Three-monthly figures are not available.