Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government: How the effectiveness and efficiency of the Health and Safety Commission is monitored and when the National Audit Office last carried out a review of the commission. [HL82]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe Health and Safety Commission (HSC) formally submits its proposed annual business plan to Ministers for their approval. Progress against the plan is monitored in regular meetings between the chair of the commission and Ministers. The Comptroller and Auditor-General audits the HSC's annual report and the accounts of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive before these are laid in Parliament.
The National Audit Office has not reviewed HSC. However, it has reviewed a number of aspects of the work of the executive.
62WA
Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government: How the Health and Safety Commission exercises its corporate governance role over the Health and Safety Executive; and, in particular, how it assures itself that the executive is effective and efficient in its work. [HL83]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe roles of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are defined by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Corporate governance issues are addressed in greater detail in the Framework of Accountabilities, the HSC and HSE response to the code of practice for board members of public bodies and the guide for non-departmental public bodies.
These arrangements are kept under review and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has agreed to proposals from the chair of the commission to further strengthen the commission's role from April 2004.