The Daily Express article "Why should the taxpayer bankroll quangos?"

Dear Sir,

 Re: Why should the taxpayer bankroll quangos? 08/07/09

Criticising HSE for investing largely in staff is rather like objecting to an army investing in soldiers!

Our service is principally provided through the inspectors, health and safety advisory officers and support staff who visit premises, carry out enforcement and respond to a large number of enquiries. They in turn, need to be supported by scientists and other experts and we need to be able to respond to the many bodies at national level, which value our expertise in protecting the workforce.

We have constantly denounced pointless "elf and safety" measures and actively campaign against them.

Similarly, it is simply not the case that we are not democratically accountable.
HSE is accountable to Parliament through the Minsters at the Department for Work and Pensions and both Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair and I have appeared before cross-party Select Committees on a number of occasions.

Yours faithfully,
Geoffrey Podger
Chief Executive
Health & Safety Executive