To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2006, Official Report, columns 1477-79W, on sickness/unauthorised absence, what information his Department has on levels of sickness absence at the Disability and Carers Service; and if he will make a statement. (81759)

The Disability and Carers' Service became an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 November 2004. The information has been drawn from the Agency's own records, and the only full year's data are for 2005. The figures represent average working days lost per staff year.

Average working days lost

2005: 9.9

The rolling year to date data which are captured on a month by month basis within the Agency continue to show a modest but steady trend of improvement; the April 2006 year to date figure was 9.5 AWDL.