The allocation of responsibilities between the HSE and local authorities is now governed by the following regulations: HEALTH AND SAFETY (ENFORCING AUTHORITY) REGULATIONS 1998 (SI 1998/494)

Main activities which determine whether local authorities will be enforcing authorities

(1) The sale or storage of goods for retail or wholesale distribution except-

(a) at container depots where the main activity is the storage of goods in the course of transit to or from dock premises, an airport or a railway;

(b) where the main activity is the sale or storage for wholesale distribution of any substance or preparation dangerous for supply;

(c) where the main activity is the sale or storage of water or sewage or their by-products or natural or town gas;

and for the purposes of this paragraph where the main activity carried on in premises is the sale and fitting of motor car tyres, exhausts, windscreens or sunroofs the main activity shall be deemed to be the sale of goods.