To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors Department how many staff in the Department have been on long-term sick leave in each of the last two years. [115860]
My Department collates information on the number of days lost to sickness year on year but cannot report on how many days were attributable to long term absence. 20 working days is the review point for considering whether a medical referral is appropriate, following which each case is judged on its own merits.The number of days lost to sickness absence is collected, averaged to show working days lost per person per annum for each Department and is published annually by the Cabinet Office in Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service. The most recent of which (for calendar year 2001) was announced by ministerial statement on 19 December 2002, and copies placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The 1999, 2000 and 2001 reports are available on the Cabinet Office web site at: www cabinet-office gov.uk /civilservice/publications/sickness/index.htm.The figures for 2002 will be announced in due course. My Department is committed to managing sick absence effectively and to meeting the 2003 target for reducing sickness absence in our Service Delivery Agreement.