§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why rest days are now counted for the purpose of assessing whether a prison officer has suffered more than 365 days of absence through illness over a period of four years; and whether the counting of rest days in this way is applied retrospectively to the period before the introduction of fresh start.
§ Mr. RumboldThe rules governing sick absence and pay for civil servants, including prison officers, are detailed in the civil service pay and conditions of service code. Under these rules, the first six months of sick absence—182 days —during any period of 12 months are on full pay thereafter pay drops to half rate. This is subject to a maximum of 12 months—365 days—sick absence in any period of four years or less.
During a period of sick absence, all days, including Saturdays, Sundays, public and privilege holidays and rest days, count. However if they occur at the beginning or end, they are not included or reckoned.
These rules were not altered in any way by the introduction of fresh start pay and working arrangements in 1987.