To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997 the daily average number of staff absent on sick leave, and what the numbers represent as a percentage of the relevant total work force. [106816]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 27 February 2003, Official Report, column 726W.Executive non-departmental public bodies are not staffed by civil servants. Sickness absence rates for these staff are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.