To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many working days were lost (a) in her Department and (b) in the NHS owing to sickness and injury in 2006. (126076)

The average number of working days lost per person in the Department in 2006 because of sickness and injury was 8.7. This is a provisional figure and covers the core Department only.

The average number of working days lost per person in the national health service in 2005 because of sickness and injury is estimated to be 9.9. Information for 2006 is not yet available.