§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many working days were lost to sickness in(a) the Audit Commission and (b) the average local authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [115494]
§ Mr. LeslieDuring the year to 31 October 2002 (the end of the Audit Commission's last complete financial year) an average of five days per member of staff were lost through sickness. The average number of days lost between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002 through sickness per member of staff of English local authorities was 10.2.