To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) staff in his Department and (b) NHS staff are on long-term sickness absence; and how many such staff are on long-term sickness absence for mental health reasons. (283935)

In the Department itself, as of 30 June 2009, 23 people were on long-term sick leave (defined as being more than 28 days continuous sick leave). Of those long-term sickness absences, five were for reasons of mental health.

Centrally available data on national health service staff does not provide the information requested.