HC Deb 15 October 2001 vol 372 cc1078-80W
David Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days on average were lost per employee in his Department because of sickness; and how many officials retired early from his Department, in each of the past 10 years. [R][5051]

Mr. Morley

This reply essentially reflects the position in the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Details are not readily available for the ex-DETR and Home Office groups who now form part of DEFRA.

The Department does not maintain aggregated data on sickness absence but relies instead on a comprehensive analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service which is produced annually by Cabinet Office. Copies of such reports are placed in House Libraries.

In 1998 the Cabinet Office published a report 'Working Well Together—Managing Attendance in the Public Sector' aimed at promoting wider awareness and use of the very best attendance management techniques in order to reduce sickness absence levels across the public sector. Following that report, the Department has designed a range of new sickness absence management procedures which it is currently in the process of rolling out across the Department.

Responsibility for attendance matters within the Central Science Laboratory, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Agency—all former MAFF agencies—has been delegated to the agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply direct. The Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate Agencies are covered by the departmental response.

1,045 officials retired early from the former MAFF and its agencies in the 10 calendar years to 31 December 2000:

  • 1991:33
  • 1992:230
  • 1993:50
  • 1994:82
  • 1995:231
  • 1996:165
  • 1997:94
  • 1998:21
  • 1999:72
  • 2000:67

Letter from Michael Roberts to David Maclean, dated 24 September 2001: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory, to your question concerning sickness absence. Comprehensive analysis of sickness absence data for the Civil Service is provided in the annual Cabinet Office reports, copies of which are to be found in House Libraries. However for illustratory purposes sickness absence within Central Science Laboratory for the last four years is as follows:

  • 1998 = 6.65 days per employee
  • 1999 = 7.96 days per employee
  • 2000 = 6.39 days per employee
  • 2001 to date = 5.68 days per employee.

Letter from Steve Edwards to David Maclean, dated September 2001: The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on how many days on average were lost to the VLA because of sickness and how many officials retired early in each of the past 10 years. The Agency does not maintain aggregated data on sickness absence but relies instead on a comprehensive analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service which is produced annually by the Cabinet Office. Copies of such reports are placed in House Libraries. In 1998 the Cabinet Office published a report "Working Well Together—Managing Attendance in the Public Sector" aimed at promoting wider awareness and use of the very best attendance management techniques in order to reduce sickness absence levels across the public sector. Following that report the Agency reviewed the sickness absence management procedures and issued new guidance to staff and managers. We continue to keep procedures under review and introduce new practices where necessary. Details of the Agency staff who retired early are contained in the figures given for the former MAFF and its Agencies in the response given by DEFRA.

Letter from Peter Greig-Smith to David Maclean, dated September 2001:

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many days, on average, were lost due to sickness. I am replying on behalf of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).The number of days lost per employee in CEFAS averages out, over the past six year, as nine days. However I would refer the Honourable Member to the annual Cabinet Office reports which provide a comprehensive analysis of sickness absence in the Civil Service, copies of which are to be found in House Libraries.This Agency's response to the second part of the Parliamentary Question on early retirements is to be included in the single reply in respect of the core-department and its agencies.
Back to