Regulator reports on its first year off living frugally

摘要

It has been a funny old year for the HSE, whose latest annual report details its successes and future plans against a backdrop of cost-cutting and governmental edicts on reducing burdens on business. During the review period - April 2010 to March 2011 - it was announced that the regulator's budget would be cut by 35 per cent. This - along with the publication and subsequent acceptance by the Government of Lord Young's recommendations on bringing common sense into safety- meant the HSE had to reprioritise, defer, and/or find alternative ways of implementing its plans. According to the report, since 2005 the HSE's efforts to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens due to health and safety regulation have resulted in a saving of £559.2 million. In 2010/11, it "severely" cut expenditure on consultancy services, renegotiated major contracts with suppliers, introduced new rules on business travel, and consolidated and closed regional offices.