14/06/2010 - Health and safety law under review
The Government is attempting to inject some "common sense" into the workplace by commissioning a review into health and safety laws, it has been announced.
The Whitehall-wide review, which will look at the "growth of the compensation culture" will be led by Conservative peer Lord Young of Graffham.
Lord Young, who was trade and industry secretary as David Young under Margaret Thatcher, will look into issues surrounding the "rise of the compensation culture over the last decade" combined with "application and perception" of health and safety legislation.
He is expected to report to Downing Street in the summer after being asked to carry out the review by the Prime Minister.
David Cameron said: "I'm very pleased that Lord Young has agreed to lead this important review.
"The rise of the compensation culture over the last ten years is a real concern, as is the way health and safety rules are sometimes applied.
"We need a sensible new approach that makes clear these laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm businesses with red tape. I look forward to receiving Lord Young's recommendations on how we can best achieve that."
Lord Young said Britain needed a system that was "proportionate and not bureaucratic".
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