Absenteeism (Hansard, 23 January 1995)

§ Mr. Waldegrave

These matters are the responsibilities of the chief executives concerned. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member direct.

Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 20 December 1994: The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about absenteeism rates in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible as Chief Executive. The VMD has a total staff of 102 as at 1 December 1994. In terms of absenteeism related to sickness, the information you requested for the Directorate is as follows:

Year	Percentage
1991	3.4
1992	2.6
1993	3.0

Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995: Recently, you tabled a Parliamentary Question (PQ 240) enquiring after the absenteeism rate for ADAS in 1991/1993. Subsequently, you requested additional data for 1994. The figures are as follows:

Year	Average days per person
1991	6.5
1992	6.7
1993	¹8.5
1994	7.8 (year to 14 December 1994)
¹ Introduction of new work recording system.

Please note that these figures contain many reasons for absenteeism such as sick leave, maternity leave, special leave for other purposes.

Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about the absenteeism rate for the Intervention Board in 1991, 1992 and 1993, as the matter is one within my operational responsibility. Sick absence rates in the Intervention Board for the financial years 199–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, calculated as a percentage of total man years, were:

Year	Percentage
1990–91	44
1991–92	3.9
1992–93	6.7

The increase in 1992–93 was mainly the result of a relatively small number of the Agency's staff who were then on long-term sick leave. Most of these officers have since retired on medical grounds.

Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the absenteeism rate for the Central Veterinary Laboratory in 1991, 1992 and 1993. As you know the Minister has asked that I write to you direct with the answer to your question. CVL was launched as an Executive Agency on 2 April 1990. Information on absences since that date is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

69W

Letter from Dr. P. I. Stanley to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995: Absenteeism Rate in the Central Science Laboratory 1991–93 The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) was launched as an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April 1992. Questions relating to staff when they formed part of the core Department before the Agency's launch are for the Minister to consider. Since becoming an Agency CSL has kept management information, including details of absenteeism (unauthorised absences), on a financial year basis. During the 1992–93 financial year there were no unauthorised absences and during 1993–94 there was a single incidence of eight days duration involving a junior member of the scientific staff. This was out of a total number of . staff in post of 488. On 1 April 1994 CSL was re-launched as an enlarged Agency following the merger with the Food Science Laboratories at Aberdeen and Norwich. To date in the current financial year there have been no instances of absenteeism in the enlarged Agency.

Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Question about absenteeism rates in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate. The Directorate was launched as an executive agency on 1 April 1993. Information on absences since that date is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Questions relating to staff when they formed part of the core Department before the agency's launch are for the Minister to consider.