§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the rate of staff(a) absenteeism and (b) sickness was in her Department and each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; what the target set is for her Department; and if she will make a statement. [93509]
§ Dr. HowellsCabinet Office publishes an annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". The most recently published figures for the calendar year 2001 were announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002, and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.
For DCMS and the Royal Parks Agency the 2001 average working days sickness absence per staff year figures were:
Certified sickness Self-certification Total Staff years DCMS 3.8 2.1 5.9 420 Royal Parks Agency 2.5 11.0 13.5 229 The 1999, 2000 and 2001 reports are available on the Cabinet Office website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/ civilservice/publications/sickness/index.htm The sickness absence figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.
DCMS and its Agency have no recorded cases of any unauthorised absenteeism.
The targets set for DCMS and its Agency were:
951W
2001–02 2002–03 DCMS 7 days 6 days Royal Parks Agency 10 days 9 days DCMS, its Agency and each of its non-departmental public body (NDPB) are committed to managing sickness absence effectively, and in meeting the 2003 target for reduced sickness absence as set out in the Service Delivery Agreements (SDA) and NDPB Funding Agreements.
DCMS does not hold central absenteeism and sickness records for NDPBs. To provide this information could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.