§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the daily average number of prison staff absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison work force. [132]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 24 November 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the daily average number of prison staff absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison workforce.The information sought is not available centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.During the six months to 30 September 1995, 4.9 per cent. of total shift hours were taken as sick leave by prison officer grades. Over the same period, a total of 31,204 staff weeks were lost due to sick absence (an average of 1200 staff weeks lost per week). There are approximately 24,500 staff in the above mentioned grades.