<p>The information is as follows.</p><p>(a) DFID as with any Department has a number of different types of absence for which employees can apply i.e. paternity leave, adoption leave, special or discretionary leave along with statutory leave i.e. annual leave and maternity leave.</p><p>The majority of non-sickness related absence types are not currently recorded centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.</p><p>(b) Sickness absence rates for the last five financial years are given in the following table. There are no departmental targets on sickness absence but the DFID Executive Management Committee note DFID sickness rates against overall civil service rates.</p><p><table><thead><tr><td valign="top">Absencerate in average working days lost(AWDL)<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" /><td valign="top">Civilserviceoverall<br /></td><td valign="top">DFID<br /></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">2012-13<br /></td><td valign="top">7.6<br /></td><td valign="top">4.2<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">2011-12<br /></td><td valign="top">7.8<br /></td><td valign="top">4.5<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">2010-11<br /></td><td valign="top">8.4<br /></td><td valign="top">5.6<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">2009-10<br /></td><td valign="top">8.7<br /></td><td valign="top">5.5<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">2008-09<br /></td><td valign="top">9.2<br /></td><td valign="top">6.9<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p>