To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken on average by staff of (a) the UK Border Agency and (b) the Identity and Passport Service in 2008. (273739)

Average number of days of sick leave taken by a member of staff in 2008 are as follows:

UKBA: 10.41 days per full-time employee

IPS: 10.50 days per full-time employee

The answer relates to paid sick leave only.