To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to his Department of sickness absence was in each of the last five years. (290598)

The following table gives the cost to HM Treasury of sickness absence in total number of working days lost for years 2007-08, and 2008-09. Published figures for 2004, 2005 and 2006 can be found on the civil service website at:

www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/who/statistics/sickness.aspx

HM Treasury systems do not record the financial costs of these sickness absence days, which could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details of HM Treasury's staffing costs and numbers are published annually in its Departmental Reports and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.