asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people working in the National Health Service were absent because of industrial injury or suffering from a prescribable industrial disease in 1975, 1976, 1977, and to date in 1978; what was the financial cost to the service; what steps are being taken to reduce the number of people absent from these causes; how many people have been absent due to sickness in these years; what was the cost to the service; and what will be the cost of setting up health and safety committees as required under the Health and Safety Act.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.