Recommendation 24

There is also a question over the status and governance of the OPSS, and whether it could be more effective with its own independent duties and powers. It was originally set up as an office within the Department, rather than as a separate arms-length body or independent regulator, as the best means of getting started quickly given the amount of work it had to undertake immediately. The Department told us that setting the OPSS up as an office within government allowed it to make use of its existing people, structures and processes. The Department recognised that, over time, the OPSS’s governance structure and independence needs to be re-examined. However, it believes that it is currently functioning strongly within its current structures, and noted that Ministers are currently not minded to change its status at present.45 43 OPSS, UK Product Safety Review: Call for evidence, March 2021 44 Q 19 45 Q 1 Protecting consumers from unsafe products 15