To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what attempts have been made to identify stress-related illnesses suffered by staff in social security offices; and what is being done to alleviate the problem.

We have recently changed the system of collecting information on sick absences to provide more detailed analysis of illnesses which could be stress-related. The first analysis will be available in about 12 months time and will give a clearer basis for identifying any problem in this area and for exploring what needs to be done. This Department is also taking part in a long-term study on health and stress being conducted by University college, London, in conjunction with the Civil Service occupational health service.