§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days of sick leave were taken in her 663W Department last year; how many related to employees suffering (a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to her Department. [56473]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 14 May 2002]: The average number of staff days lost per staff year through sickness absence in the DTI Group in 2000 (the most recent figure available) was 7.5. The figure is taken from the annual report on public sector sick absence commissioned by the Cabinet Office each year. The DTI Group, in addition to DTI HQ, consists of: ACAS, Companies House, Patent Office, Insolvency Service, National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Employment Tribunals Service, and the Radiocommunications Agency.
In answer to the second part of the question, both parts (a) and (b), the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The DTI is committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to sickness absence generally (as contained in our published service delivery agreements), and has a commitment to reducing working days lost due to work-related injuries and illness arising from the Government's revitalising health and safety initiative.