To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and (b) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the co-ordination of Government policy on health and safety at work and the role of the Better Regulation Task Force in such co-ordination. (186411)

Government policy on health and safety at work is a matter for DWP’s Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive.

The Better Regulation Task Force no longer exists. The Better Regulation Executive was created in 2005. On 28 June 2007, the Better Regulation Executive moved from the Cabinet Office to form part of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Last July, the Better Regulation Executive, with support from the Health and Safety Executive, launched a review to consider how the health and safety regime impacts on businesses whose overall risk is relatively low, focusing in particular on low risk smaller businesses.

The review is not considering the co-ordination of Government policy on health and safety at work and the role of Better Regulation Executive in such co-ordination. The review is due to report in spring.