§ Lord Orr-Ewingasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many days absence through sickness the non-industrial Civil Service may take each year without loss of pay, and what was the average number of days lost through this course in 1981.
§ Baroness YoungThe noble Lord may have in mind short-term sick absences for which no doctor's certificate is required. Departments have discretion to permit up to 10 days of such absence in any period of 12 months, any days in excess of 10 being deducted from the officer's annual leave entitlement. However, periods of sick absence lasting for more than 5 calendar days must under present arrangements be covered by a medical certificate. Provided there is a reasonable prospect of recovery and return to duty, non-industrial civil servants may receive full pay for up to 6 months of sick absence during any period of 12 months and half pay for up to a further 6 months provided that in any period of 4 years or less the total sick absence does not exceed 12 months. A recent survey by the Medical Advisory Service covering 60 per cent. of the non-industrial Civil Service showed that in 1981 the average number of days sick absence without a medical certificate was 1.8 and that the average number of days total sick absence (i.e. medically certificated and uncertificated) was 11.