Written question asked by Lord Bellingham (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 September 2004. It was answered by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 September 2004 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to public funds of absenteeism within the public sector; and if he will make a statement. - "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". and "Employee absence 2004-A survey of management policy and practice".

Answer: Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to public funds of absenteeism within the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [186339] Mr. Boateng: The Treasury does not collect data on absence in the public sector but there are other published sources. Figures for the civil service, including estimates of cost, are published annually by the Cabinet Office in "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development published a survey in July titled "Employee absence 2004--A survey of management policy and practice" which included estimates of average sickness absence across the public sector.

Secondary information