§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the level of sick leave taken by civil servants in Northern Ireland is satisfactory; and, if not, what steps they are taking to reduce the level of sick leave. [HL407]
§ Baroness AmosMinisters consider that the level of sick leave taken by civil servants in Northern Ireland is not satisfactory; I intend publishing the latest report on sickness absence in the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration early in the new year. A comprehensive range of measures are already in place to tackle this problem and work to strengthen these is ongoing.