RISING

star Damian Hinds’ first task as new Education Secretary is getting his staff to come to work.

Under predecessor Justine Greening, the cost of her department’s 2,300 staff taking sick leave hit £2.7 million last year. By contrast Jeremy Hunt’s Department of Health, which employs 1,840, lost just £856,882 from absenteeism. Perhaps schools boss Hinds should take a roll call every morning?