§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets for the reduction of sickness absence rates have been set for NHS trusts in England for the period to(a) 2001 and (b) 2003; and what account was taken in setting these targets of trusts' individual current sickness absence rates. [65911]
§ Mr. DenhamTargets for reductions of sickness absence rates for National Health Service trusts have been set at 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003.
These targets reflect those defined by the Cabinet Office for the public sector as a whole, and therefore do not take into account individual NHS sickness absence rates.