Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has plans to (a) reform, (b) revoke or (c) retain the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 are concerned with the control of injury and infection risks to healthcare workers from needles, scalpels and other medical sharps.

As the regulations implement aspects of the European Council Directive 2010/32/EU (the Sharps Directive), not specifically addressed in existing GB health and safety legislation, they are subject to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 (REUL Bill) currently passing through Parliament. With the introduction of the REUL Bill, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remains focused on ensuring that regulatory frameworks maintain the UK’s high standards of health and safety protection and continue to reduce burdens for business. HSE’s approach aligns closely with the Government’s pledge to do more for business to help promote growth by removing disproportionate burdens and simplifying the regulatory landscape. Our standards of health and safety protections are among the highest in the world. HSE will continue to review its retained EU legislation to seek opportunities to reduce business burdens and promote growth without reducing health and safety standards.