Terry Gates,
Policy Directorate,
Health and Safety Executive,
Rose Court,
2 Southwark Bridge
London SE1 9HS

12 March 2001

Dear Terry,

HSC's Enforcement Policy Statement

In relation to the HSC's drafting of its new Enforcement Policy Statement, I am enclosing a note from the Centre for Corporate Accountability on what significance the HSC should give to any differences between the legal regimes enforced by the Environment Agency on the one hand and by the Health and Safety Executive on the other.

This note is a response to comments originally made by you and your colleagues at a meeting last year.

The Centre is concerned that the HSE might be of the view that differences between the two regimes justified it giving advice to the Commission that they should reject incorporation of a number of key principles contained in Environment Agency's Enforcement Policy Statement.

In our view, this would be totally mistaken. Indeed any perceived differences between the two regimes would indicate how important it is that the HSC follows the principles set out in the Environment Agency's Statement;

I hope that you will give due consideration to the arguments contained in this note.

Please contact the Centre if you require further clarification.

Yours sincerely,

David Bergman
DIRECTOR