HL Deb 22 July 2004 vol 664 cc66-7WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each department of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, what was the average number of days lost through illness per civil servant in each year from 2000. [HL3734]

Baroness Amos

Sick absence statistics for the Northern Ireland departments are analysed by financial year as opposed to calendar year. The information sought is readily available for the 11 departments of the NI administration and their agencies for the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03. Published statistics for Northern Ireland departments for the financial years 2000–01 to 2002–03 are accessible on the department's website atwww.dfpni.gov.uk/publications.

The table below details the average number of days lost during the period 2000–01 to 2002–03 for the 11 departments of the NI administration and their agencies.

Department/Agency Average Days Lost per Staff Year
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
DARD 12.2 11.8 13.4
DCAL 14.7 14.6 13.8
DE 15.7 13.2 12.5
DEL 17.9 19.0 18.7
DETI 12.4 13.0 12.7
DFP 12.8 13.4 13.6
DHSSPS 12.9 14.6 13.2
DOE 14.6 14.1 14.5
DRD 12.2 11.4 10.7
DSD 18.6 18.4 19.1
OFMDFM 9.7 11.6 12.2
AVERAGE 14.0 14.1 14.0

Staff from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Complaints and the Planning Appeals Commission are included in the DFP figures.

Staff from HSENI and OFREG are incuded in the DETI figures.

The level of sick absence has been a matter of concern over the recent years and a range of corporate and departmental initiatives has been and is being taken forward to reduce the current levels of sick absence. NI departments have set individual targets for reduction in sick absence.