Sickness Absence

HC Deb 31 October 1995 vol 265 cc128-9W

Mr. Brandreth

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the overall level of sickness absence in the civil service. [40721]

Mr. Horam

The average number of working days' sickness absence per staff year in 1994 was 9.2, representing a reduction of 9 per cent. over 1993. This is equivalent to 8.4 working days per person, and is comparable with the level for the service sector generally set out in a recent Confederation of British Industry survey of other employers.

I have placed in the House Libraries copies of the report by the Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety Agency on sickness absence in the civil service during 1994, which contains a comprehensive analysis of the figures about the civil service.