§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many of his staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year; [111974]
(2) how many sick days were lost over the last year by his Department through staff mental health problems. [112070]
§ John HealeyCabinet Office publishes an annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". The statistics show reasons for absence including mental disorders. The most recently published figures for the calendar year 2001 were announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002, and copies placed in the Library of the House. The sickness absence figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.
The Chancellor's Departments 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).