§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) when she expects to reply to the Question of 5 December, ref. 21335, from the hon. Member for Buckingham on sickness absence; [24754]
(2) how many days were lost owing to sickness absence in the Department in each of the last four years. [21335]
§ Estelle MorrisThe overall sickness absence rate in the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) in each of the last four calendar years for which official figures are available was:
Days per staff year 1999 11.0 1998 11.6
Table A: The total numbers and proportions of each civil service grade within the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in each region and nation of the UK Number of staff by grade level and region (full-time equivalent. Government office region All grades SCS Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Permanent staff London 1,963 86 298 699 466 414 North West 501 2 10 108 111 270 North East 508 2 28 124 147 207 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,084 22 126 435 228 273 Total permanent staff 4,056 112 462 1,366 952 1,164 Casual staff London 53 — 2 2 11 38 North West 29 — — 2 — 27 North East 32 — — — — 32 Yorkshire and Humberside 54 — — — 4 50 Total casual staff 168 — 2 4 15 147 Total all staff 4,224 112 464 1,370 967 1,311
Percentage of staff by grade level and region Government office region All grades SCS Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Permanent staff London 48 77 65 51 49 36 NorthWest 12 2 2 8 12 23 North East 13 2 6 9 15 18 Yorkshire and Humberside 27 19 27 32 24 23 Total permanent staff 100 100 100 100 100 100 Casual staff London 32 — 100 50 73 26 NorthWest 17 — — 50 — 18 North East 19 — — — — 22 Yorkshire and Humberside 32 — — — 27 34 Total casual staff 100 — 100 100 100 100 Total all staff 100 100 100 100 100 100 Notes:
1. No staff are located in other regions or nations of the UK.
2. DfES has no industrial staff.
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Days per staff year 1997 12.6 1996 11.8 The DfES is committed to reducing sickness absence in line with the targets agreed across Whitehall.