§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 125–28, what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Department of Social Security in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the Secretary of State for Social Security to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 23 January, 782W Official Report, column 85; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham on 7 February represents the average number of days sick leave taken by staff in DSS headquarters—excluding staff in DSS agencies. The figure given in the answer of 23 January by the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People to the hon. Member for Eastleigh represents the average number of days sick leave taken by staff throughout DSS.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 125–28, what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Office of Public Service and Science in 1993 and the figure given in his answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 2 February, Official Report, column 754; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe sickness absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 2 February inadvertently used an incorrect figure for staff in post. The correct figure for OPSS excluding any weekends and public holidays which occurred within a single period of sickness absence is as given in my answer of 7 February to the hon. Member for Eltham. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 125–28, what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Treasury Solicitor's Department in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the Attorney-General to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 27 January, Official Report, column 409; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham on 7 February is based upon working days lost—excluding weekends and public holidays—solely due to sickness. The figure given in the answer of 27 January by the Attorney-General was calculated including weekends, public holidays and certain absences which were not attributable to sickness.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 125–28, what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Department of Transport in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the Secretary of State for Transport to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 31 January, Official Report, column 585; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe calculations which produced the figures given in the answer of 31 January by the Secretary of State for Transport inadvertently omitted one category of sickness absence. The correct figure for sickness absence at the Department of Transport in 1993 is given in my answer of 7 February.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 125–28, what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the 783W Department of Trade and Industry in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the President of the Board of Trade of 30 January, Official Report, column 477; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe sickness absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham on 7 February is based on working days lost—excluding weekends and public holidays. The figure given in the answer of 30 January by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Eastleigh was calculated using data which for reasons of administrative control, included both weekends and public holidays.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 125–28, what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency in 1993 and the figure given in his answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 2 February, Official Report, column 755; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe sickness absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 7 February is based upon working days lost—excluding weekends and public holidays. The figure given in my answer of 2 February was calculated including both weekends and public holidays.