To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of sickness pay to staff within his Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available. (187507)

The cost of sickness pay is not readily available in the format requested, and obtaining this could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

However, in 2006-07, which is the latest year for which figures have been published, of all Government Departments the Wales Office had the lowest number of days lost due to sickness per member of staff, at just 1.6 days in the year.