asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of working days lost per employee as a result of sickness, in each year since 1970.

Information is not available in the precise form requested, but is related to days of certified incapacity for work recorded in connection with national insurance claims. The figures exclude very short spells for which no claim is made, and include Saturdays; and cover the long-term sick, who may not have worked for many years.