To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many working days were lost to her Department and its executive agencies in each year since 1997 due to staff absenteeism, expressed as the average annual number of absent days per employee; and what the estimated total cost to her Department and its agencies of absenteeism was in each year. (77254)

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Sick absence figures are contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent report for the calendar year 2004 was announced by ministerial statement on 15 November 2005, and copies placed in the Library of the House. This report and those for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 are available on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/occupational_health/publications/index.asp.