HC Deb 27 January 2000 vol 343 cc245-6W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of days lost through sickness in the Passport Agency in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) in each month of 1999. [107077]

Mrs. Roche

The information requested is set out in the table.

Average sick absence per employee (working days)
Year Average number of days
1997 13.76
1998 12.96
1999 12.60

The agency has reduced its sickness absence rate by nearly 14 per cent. since 1996.

The monthly breakdown for 1999 is as follows:

Percentage
January 1.4
February 1.1
March 1.1
April 0.8
May 1.0
June 0.8
July 0.7
August 1.0
September 1.1
October 1.2
November 1.5
December 0.9