Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
1
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee noted that sunset clauses, including their appropriate length, should be considered carefully for any future legislation. Whilst a useful legislative tool, they can allow for stronger and broader powers than would otherwise be passed by Parliament, and the Government recognised in their evidence that without the sunset clause, …
Government response. . The sunset clause for the temporary provisions within the Act aimed to strike a balance between introducing necessary provisions to tackle the pandemic, whilst ensuring they remained in force for only as long as they were needed. The Act …
2
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
Any future use of sunset clauses in relation to emergency legislation should come with a clear explanation about why the Government believes that the length of the sunset being proposed is proportionate to the emergency being addressed.
Government response. . The sunset clause for the temporary provisions within the Act aimed to strike a balance between introducing necessary provisions to tackle the pandemic, whilst ensuring they remained in force for only as long as they were needed. The Act …
3
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
Whilst we accept the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s defence of the length of the sunset clause, we have concerns over the lack of ability to amend provisions at subsequent points. The Committee welcomes Mr Javid’s acknowledgment that Parliament not being able to amend at least some …
Government response. The Government recognises the vital importance of Parliamentary scrutiny. The Government’s view is that each of the powers in the Act has been subject to in-depth Parliamentary scrutiny throughout the lifespan of the Act. The arrangements for Parliamentary scrutiny of …
4
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee noted the improvement in the content of the two-monthly reports and welcomes the Government committing to identify further improvements that could be made as part of a ‘lessons learned’ inquiry. We look forward to seeing these improvements in the report of March 2022 which will cover the four …
Government response. The Government thanks the Committee for their recognition of improvements we have made to the two-monthly reports on the non-devolved provisions in the Act over the past two years. 3 Speaker’s Statement - Hansard - UK Parliament We will continue …
5
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee welcomes the Government’s commitment to a thorough and wide- ranging inquiry to learn the lessons from the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Committee welcomes that the inquiry’s draft terms of reference are being put for public consultation, and that bereaved families and other affected groups are …
Government response. As the Committee has noted, the Government has committed to an independent, statutory public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry has two aims: to find the facts and to learn lessons for the future. Draft terms of reference for the inquiry …
6
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
In order to provide clarity to the public, the Committee calls on the Government to set out in more detail the timetable for the inquiry. We also call on the Government to require that the inquiry proceeds in a thorough but timely manner, while the experiences of the pandemic and …
Government response. As the Committee has noted, the Government has committed to an independent, statutory public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry has two aims: to find the facts and to learn lessons for the future. Draft terms of reference for the inquiry …
7
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
We also recommend that the UK Covid-19 Inquiry include a comprehensive analysis of the necessity and proportionality of each section of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to better aid in the future development of similar emergency legislation. Should the public Coronavirus Act 2020 Two Years On 25 inquiry not cover this, …
Government response. As the Committee has noted, the Government has committed to an independent, statutory public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry has two aims: to find the facts and to learn lessons for the future. Draft terms of reference for the inquiry …
8
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee noted the existence of the draft Pandemic Flu Bill and believes that, although appreciating that the uncertainty around the future make it difficult, conducting pre-legislative scrutiny to provide an update and improved version of previous work would be of considerable benefit to the preparedness to respond to the …
Government response. As noted by the Committee, the Act was built on a draft emergency bill developed for an influenza (or similar) pandemic. The Pan Flu Bill set out the core elements of a response to the threat of a transmissible respiratory …
9
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee urges the Government to look again at the possibility of introducing a piece or range of draft legislation to allow for prior scrutiny of plans before an emergency occurs. Whilst the Committee appreciates the point made by the Secretary of State that we cannot predict what a future …
Government response. As noted by the Committee, the Act was built on a draft emergency bill developed for an influenza (or similar) pandemic. The Pan Flu Bill set out the core elements of a response to the threat of a transmissible respiratory …
10
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee welcomes the Government’s willingness to consider whether the publication of data in future emergencies could be improved.
Government response. The Government recognises the importance of sharing COVID-19 data and set up a wealth of surveillance systems across Government to publicly report on the status of the pandemic, with this data collated and presented through the public COVID-19 Dashboard, in …
11
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
We urge the Government to include this in the inquiry looking at the pandemic response and commit to set out a more consistent approach to publishing all data that inform decision making, including how those data have been utilised, in any future emergency.
Government response. The Government recognises the importance of sharing COVID-19 data and set up a wealth of surveillance systems across Government to publicly report on the status of the pandemic, with this data collated and presented through the public COVID-19 Dashboard, in …
12
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
We welcome the commitment from the Secretary of State to learn lessons from the way the Government legislated during this pandemic and expect it to be a subject of investigation within the upcoming inquiry into the Government’s COVID-19 response. The Committee has noted that the use of guidance to change …
Government response. The Government recognises the different roles that guidance and legislation play in supporting the public in responding to the pandemic. The Government also recognises the importance of Parliamentary scrutiny; for example, the Government committed to debating regulations of national significance …
13
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 T…
The Committee calls on the Government to carefully consider the use of guidance in future emergencies to ensure maximum clarity and minimal complexity for the public and law enforcement. The Government should ensure that future legislation of this type doesn’t allow for the ability to use guidance to overrule key …
Government response. The Government recognises the different roles that guidance and legislation play in supporting the public in responding to the pandemic. The Government also recognises the importance of Parliamentary scrutiny; for example, the Government committed to debating regulations of national significance …