Review of Health and Safety Executive launched

As part of the Government’s commitment to reform the public sector, all public bodies are now subject to regular reviews. 

Following an initial review in 2010 which resulted in the reform of 500 public bodies, the Government committed to review all the bodies that remained at least every three years to make sure that their functions remain necessary, and are appropriate to be delivered independently of Government.

The review will assess whether there is a continuing need for HSE’s functions, as well as whether it is complying with the principles of good governance.

Mr Hoban said: "In 2010 we acted to close down unnecessary public bodies and ensure that those that remained were fit to deliver public services efficiently and effectively.

"Routine reviews, such as the one I am launching today (25th April 2013), ensure that bodies such as HSE continue to be fit for purpose, and that they are providing the value for money that the taxpayer expects."

The first stage of the review will identify and examine the key functions of HSE. 

The review will assess how the functions contribute to the core business of HSE and DWP, and whether these functions are still needed.

If the conclusion is that the functions are still required, the review will then examine whether HSE as currently constituted remains the best way to perform those functions, or if another delivery method might be more appropriate. 

For a body to remain an NDPB it must satisfy at least one of the Government’s three tests:

• Does it perform a technical function which needs external expertise?
• Do its activities require political impartiality?
• Does it need to act independently to establish facts

The size and profile of HSE means that there will also be an independent ‘Challenge Group’ overseeing the review – their purpose being to rigorously and robustly challenge its findings.