The CBI and the TUC are in dispute over the widening gap between absenteeism in the public and private sectors.

The CBI claims that public sector employees take 40 per cent more sick leave than their private sector counterparts.

It argues that if public sector sick leave fell to private sector levels it would save £1.2bn - enough to pay for 37,000 more teachers.

The TUC, however, claims public sector workers are less likely to take short-term sick leave and the figures are only boosted because long-term absence is often the result of injuries sustained in the course of their duties.