Mr. McCartneyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many days were lost in sickness in the last 12 months by employees in his Department(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the number of days worked; and what was the cost of this absence. [34618]
§ Mr. Jonathan Evans[holding answer 14 July 1995]: The number of days lost in the 12 months ended 31 May 1995 was 55,107, excluding the Department's executive agencies. It has not been possible in the time available to adjust this figure to take account of sickness absence that has spanned weekends or public holidays and these extra days are included in the total.
In 1994, the Department's average absence rate, adjusted for weekends and public holidays, was 3.9 per cent. but it is not practicable to calculate an adjusted rate for the 12 months ended 31 May 1995. The cost to the Department of the sickness absence could be provided only at disproportionate expense.