To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff of his Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on (a) 2 February 2009 and (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost to his Department and (ii) number of working hours lost as a result of such absence; and what guidance his Department issued to staff in respect of absence on those days. (260570)

The following number of Wales Office staff were absent from work for non-medical reasons:

(a) 24

(b) 9

While there was clearly a cost to the Department, no estimate as to the exact cost has been made, however based on a standard working day, if reckoned in full, this would have amounted to 238 working hours. The Department was not closed and the majority of staff managed to attend. A number of others were able to work remotely.

Staff were advised to attempt to attend if at all possible, but not to take unnecessary risks or put themselves in danger.