HC Deb 28 January 2002 vol 379 cc50-1W
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) redeployments, (b) retirements and (c) absence of London Underground staff on medical grounds there were (i) by underground line and (ii) in total in each of the last five years and in each of the last 12 months. [27711]

Mr. Jamieson

This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd., who have provided the following information1.

1London Underground are not able to provide this data disaggregated by each underground without incurring disproportionate cost.

Year Redeployments Retirements2 Absence3 (working days lost)
1996–97 85 n/a n/a
1997–98 84 n/a n/a
1998–99 31 n/a n/a
1999–2000 21 n/a n/a
2000–01 6 n/a n/a
Total (Five years) 227 n/a n/a
Last 12 months4 120 115 140,494
n/a = Not available
2 Data for retirements on medical grounds in each of the last five years would require disproportionate cost to collate. London Underground have said that their policy is not to retire employees on medical grounds, but instead, employees' contracts are terminated on medical grounds; employees then apply, if eligible, for their pension.
3 London Underground have not been able to provide information on absence on the medical grounds over the last five years.
4 January to December 2001

Note:

Detailed in-year operational information such as monthly data are a matter for London Underground; however a total for the last 12 months has been provided.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the level of absence and the reasons for absences on each London Underground line and in total for the last five years and each of the last 12 months. [27709]

Mr. Jamieson

This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd., who have provided the following information.

Working days lost
Absence Last five years1 Last 12 months2
Authorised Not available 31,459
Unauthorised Not available 3,155
Due to sickness Not available 140,494
Total 458,819 175,108
1 January 1996 to December 2000
2 January to December 2001

Notes:

1. London Underground are not able to provide data disaggregated by each underground line without incurring disproportionate cost.

2. London Underground are unable to disaggregate the total for absence in the last five years into absence type.

3. Detailed in-year operational information such as monthly data are a matter for London Underground. However, a total for the last 12 months has been provided.

Mr. Randall

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the meetings he has had in the last 10 months with the Health and Safety Inspectorate to discuss safety on the London Underground. [28480]

Mr. Jamieson

There is no such body as the Health and Safety Inspectorate.