§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many working days have been lost in his Department and 719W its predecessors owing to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01, (v) 2001–02 and (vi) 2002–03 to date. [93573]
§ Mr. LeslieThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following machinery of Government changes in May 2002.
In the case of working days lost due to industrial action no days have been lost during the requested periods.
In respect of sickness absence, the most recent "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" was published by the Cabinet Office and announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002. This covered the calendar year 2001 for the predecessor Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and its executive agencies. Previous reports go back to 1996. Figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.
The Office is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) target reductions in sick absence by the end of 2003.