21/05/2007 - Headlines - Health and Safety
80% agree the HSC and HSE should merge
80% of people responding to a recent Government consultation said they wanted the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Executive (HSE) to merge into a single health and safety authority.The HSC is currently the principal body in relation to the regulation of health and safety at work in Britain. It takes policy decisions, advises Government ministers and secures compliance through the HSE.
In effect, the HSE is the operating arm of the Commission, ensuring that the HSC's regulatory and strategic activities are carried out.
Last December the Commission published a consultation document seeking views on it formally merging with the HSE. The consultation closed in March and this week it was revealed that most (80%) people thought it was a good idea.
Even more - 82% - wanted the merged body to be called the Health and Safety Executive, while 96% of respondents agreed that individual prosecution and enforcement decisions should continue to be taken by officials.
The HSC said today that as a consequence of the findings it would be moving to the next stage of the consultation process.
Next steps
HSC chairman Bill Callaghan said: "Merging the Commission and Executive into a single body will give us a more robust governance framework, improve our working practices and create a stronger voice for health and safety in Great Britain.
"Results from our recent extensive consultation show support for our proposals and clearly point us in this direction."
Mr Callaghan will now invite health and safety minister Lord McKenzie of Luton to consult on detailed proposals as required by the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006. This will take place after a draft Order is presented to the relevant Commons and Lords committees for scrutiny.
In its original consultation document the HSC detailed how it intended the new governing body to be built on the principles of "independence, openness, professionalism and accountability".
Improved public accountability, more effective decision-making and a "stronger voice" for health and safety by removing confusion over the different roles of HSC and HSE, are seen as the main outcomes of the merger.
Other findings of the consultation included 69% of respondents agreeing that the governing body should consist entirely of non-executive directors.