The positions of the HSE and Environment Agency are still to be decided, according to a leaked Cabinet Office document on reform of public bodies.
The coalition government has pledged to slash the number and cost of public bodies primarily, it claims, to increase accountability. But the programme is also designed to cut costs and supports the aims of David Cameron’s Big Society plans by encouraging alternative, devolved, or non-state models of service delivery.
The BBC’s Politics Show has seen confidential government documents detailing plans to abolish 180 quangos and merge a further 124. The list reveals that the future of the HSE and the Environment Agency is “still to be decided”. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is certain to be retained but the Health Protection Agency is to be abolished with its functions transferred to the Department of Health.
The health and safety community is still awaiting the findings of Lord Young of Graffham’s review of the profession and role of the HSE, with the Conservative Party conference a potential setting for its unveiling.
Rob Strange OBE, chief executive of IOSH, the chartered body for health and safety professionals, would not be drawn into commenting on media speculation about the Lord Young review but said: “We are looking forward to reading Lord Young’s report when it is published, as expected, in the next few weeks.”
Giving strong backing to the HSE, he added: “Its role in investigating accidents and prosecuting companies which flout the law is incredibly important. If the HSE is abolished, who will hold these companies to account?
€ﾨ“We can’t afford to take chances. Without the HSE some industries may be tempted to cut corners in the pursuit of cost savings; it is the existence of the HSE that keeps them on their toes. We would be unwise to rely on companies to police themselves.”
Both the HSE and the Department for Work and Pensions declined to comment on the leaked list, or the Executive’s status.
I can’t believe what I’m reading or am I missing something?
How can a ‘responsible’ government, even consider getting rid of two vitally important enforcement bodies like the HSE and Environmental agency, are they really trying to ruin the country. Why not go the whole hog and get rid of courts and the police! – Oh they are doing that aswell I forgot!
FAO Gary. Your post is about is accurate as your spelling. Neither body has been axed it’s simply under review. I think the HSE does a great job and will remain in tact. You are obviously one of those people who closes their eyes and pretends that this country doesn’t have a huge deficit thanks to the previous Government.
I blame all the idiots who voted fro tory, cant they remember what they did before, idiots, we will be going back to the dark days if this is allowed to go through, stand on the streets and protes its the only way
Self regulated like the Banks and No-win/ No-fee Lawyers you mean Richard?
Scary thought for us South Africans in OHS if this comes about in Britain as we follow your OHS law here. All I envision is many more unnecessary injury and deaths due to lack of education and control, one body cannot police it all.
I argree that goverment need to review the HSE operation to make it more economical which I hope will also make it more accountable.
But at the same time Rob Strange is totally right, without the HSE, the companies will cut corners, which will promote unsafe pratices.
Industry is finding it difficult to protect themselves from quick money making sueing society. which we should not compare the HSE requirement with protection from sueing society
There should be balance approch.
this is outrageous but then what else could we have expected from this ‘government’ it will be a black day for H&S if the HSE and EA are ‘disbanded’
Hopefully sense is seen and they will remain in place, it will be harder for those of us who struggle to get management backing to enforce good H&S practices at work when we don’t have an enforcing authority………
Potentially catastrophic…………
Does anyone else predict a merger of the two bodies?
I predict a merger, how about scrap the HSE and the EA and merge it all ito the Police? After all isn’t that what the HSE and EA are doing policing inductry and enforcing the law? Another view is if all of “industry etc. ” conform to current standards e.g OHSAS 18001 ISO14001 etc. which are externally verified by independant companies, funded by industry themselves, then there is no need for the HSE or the EA as this becomes self regulating.
Without appearing political, “cuts” in public sector numbers and conditions follow normal practice of the Governing Party. From past experience they routinely perceive “public sector” more expensive than “private sector”. Talk about expensive, a background to political change perhaps? What about the ‘unregulated’ actions of financial institutions, bankers, stock traders, etc. When are we to see positive recovery of sums lent them benefitting our economy?