Absence Management

Dr. Pugh
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) the major health reasons for short absences from work and (b) the extent to which gastric complaints cause such absences.

Mrs. McGuire
The Department for Work and Pensions records the reasons for sickness absence in its workforce using the World Health Organization's sickness definitions, and is able to report on the number, causes and duration of absences. Gastric complaints are recorded under the category "Diseases of the Digestive System".

During the 12 months up to 31 October, 2006, the Department recorded 13,350 spells of short-term absence caused by digestive diseases. This accounted for 7.7 per cent. of all spells of short-term absence. A short-term absence is one that does not exceed seven consecutive working days.