Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 54
The Committee strongly welcomes the Government’s publication of draft legislation for implementing future local lockdowns...
Recommendation
The Committee strongly welcomes the Government’s publication of draft legislation for implementing future local lockdowns similar to those in Greater Manchester or Leicester. This is a welcome improvement in transparency and facilitates parliamentary scrutiny of measures that may need to be introduced urgently in future. At a time when Government resources are understandably stretched, it is potentially beneficial for the Government to partially “outsource” some of the work on such legislation by publishing that legislation in draft. The Government should seek to increase awareness of the existence of this draft legislation among parliamentarians, experts and other interested parties so that as wide a group as possible are able to provide feedback on the draft regulations.
Paragraph Reference:
54
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government does seek to provide as much notice and opportunity for scrutiny as possible, but the rapid changes in disease transmission rates means that due to timing, we are not always able to make use of draft legislation to facilitate the sort of consultation we would ideally like to have. However, the transition into a Tiers structure, to provide more certainty to areas, replaced the need for draft legislation to implement future local lockdowns. The development and publication of the COVID-19 Winter Plan was a good example of how we have set out the policy in advance, confirmed geographies based on latest data, laying the legislation with debates and approval in advance of coming into force. The Government aims to give as much parliamentary engagement as possible ahead of the introduction of legislation. Indeed, the contents of the Coronavirus Act were agreed and cleared across Government and with the DAs with extensive engagement with the Opposition and other parties ahead of the Act’s passage through Parliament. We continue to make use of JBC, office of CMO and policy leads to obtain as best feedback as possible.