HC Deb 15 January 2002 vol 378 c221W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in her Department. [26975]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for the year 2000 will be published shortly.

The DfES is committed to reducing sickness absence in line with the targets agreed across Whitehall.