§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has succeeded in delivering on the Government's plans in Cm 4011 to reduce public sector sickness absence by 20 per cent. between 1998 and 2001; and if he will make a statement. [66282]
Boateng[holding answer 4 July 2002]: These targets were recommended in the Cabinet Office report on the management of attendance in the public sector, ("Working Well Together").
It is not possible to say at this time whether the target has been met. Management data for the civil service and a number of other public sector employment groups are published in financial years format and will not be available before the autumn.