§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Solicitor-General how many days were lost due to sickness absence by staff in her Department in each of the last four years. [23378]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe Crown Prosecution Service has lost days due to sickness absence in the last four years for which data have been published, as follows:
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- 1996—10.2 per member of staff
- 1997—10.4 per member of staff
- 1998—9.7 per member of staff
- 1999—9.4 per member of staff
The CPS has issued guidance to managers to assist them in managing attendance proactively, and we are working towards achieving the challenging targets set to reduce the level of sickness absence by 20 per cent. on the 1998 average by December 2001.
The Serious Fraud Squad ('the SFO') has lost the following days due to sickness:
- 1998—9.9 days per member of staff
- 1999—10.8 days per member of staff
- 2000—8.6 days per member of staff
- 2001—8.3 days per member of staff (projected figures).
The SFO is continuing in its commitment to reduce sick absence through careful monitoring and regular management reporting. The annual figures have shown a reduction in absence over the past two years, and the SFO is on course to meet its target of reducing sick absence by 20 per cent. (8.8 days) by the end of 2001. The aim is for absence to be reduced by 30 per cent. (7.7 days) by the end of 2003.
In the Treasury Solicitor's Department the average days lost was:
- 1996—6.5 days per member of staff
- 1997—7.2 days per member of staff
- 1998—11.8 days per member of staff
- 1999—9.7 days per member of staff
A specific target to reduce sick absence days by 30 per cent. is included in the Treasury Solicitor's Department's Service Delivery Agreement. The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers is included in the figures for the Treasury Solicitor's Department.
The Law Officer's Departments are fully committed to managing sick absence effectively.