To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many sick days were taken by staff of his Department in each of the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was of such absences in each such year. (290579)

Information on sickness absences and costs for 2004, 2005, 2006-07 for the Department for Communities and Local Government is published by the Cabinet Office on the civil service website:

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

Data for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are not yet available but will be published later in the year. For years prior to 2003 data are not held electronically and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average length of employment of staff of his Department at each civil service payband. (290580)

The Department for Communities and Local Government came into existence on 5 May 2006 replacing the former Office for the Deputy Prime Minister. The average (median) years in post, by grade level, for staff in Communities and Local Government as at end of March 2009 is set out in the following table: