Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken to reduce the number of working days lost through absence of staff on medical grounds on the London underground. [32914]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn response to what London Underground (LU) recognised was an unacceptable level of performance during 2000–01, they initiated a programme of activity to address this and get performance moving back to the levels which had been achieved in 1999–2000. A major focus of this activity was to reduce peak hour train cancellations due to the non-availability of train operators, as well as to better manage staff absences of all kinds.
The benefits of this work are now being realised, with the level of peak cancellations due to the non-availability of train operators now running at less than 20 trains per week, down by 80 per cent. since December 2000, and the level of employee attendance generally, improving. Details of the specific management actions being taken are a matter for LU.
Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, (1) pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002,Official Report, column 50W, for what reason London Underground is not able to provide information on absence on medical grounds for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; [32913]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 50W, on London Underground, for what reason London Underground is unable to disaggregate by year the total for working days lost through authorised absence, unauthorised absence and due to sickness for the period January 1996 to December 2000; [32912]
225W
§ Mr. JamiesonLondon Underground Ltd. advises that accurate and consistent figures for the period in question could be provided only by gathering information from individual staff records. This information can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.