§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many employees of the NHS in Northern Ireland are suspended from work; [148943]
(2) what the cost to the NHS in Northern Ireland was in the last 12 months of the suspension from work of employees; [148944]
(3) how many NHS employees in Northern Ireland were dismissed in each of the last five years. [148946]
§ Angela Smith26 Health and Personal Social Services employees are currently suspended from work
The cost to the Health and Personal Social Services of employees suspended from work in the financial year April 2002 to March 2003 was £214,185. This is the most recent period for which figures are available:
The number of Health and Personal Social Services employees whose contract of employment have been terminated on disciplinary grounds in the last five years is set out in the following table:
Permanent staff Temporary staff Total 1998–99 34 1 35 1999–2000 35 3 38 2000–01 48 3 51 2001–02 45 7 52 2002–03 30 2 32