Prime minister David Cameron has announced that Lord Young of Graffham has been drafted into the coalition cabinet as an adviser on health and safety practice.
As a result of the appointment Lord Young, who joined the House of Lords in 1984, will undertake a "Whitehall-wide review" of health and safety laws and analyse the growth of a compensation culture in the UK, a Downing Street statement said.
The peer is expected to report to the prime minister and is to investigate ongoing concerns over both the application and perception of legislation.
He will work in conjunctions with a number of government departments in order to bring his proposals into effect and will continue to report to Number Ten on his progress with the review.
Mr Cameron said: "We need a sensible new approach that makes clear these laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm businesses with red tape."
By Cameron Thomson
