Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
The two-monthly reports on the status of non-devolved provisions, published under section 97, should be...
Conclusion
The two-monthly reports on the status of non-devolved provisions, published under section 97, should be an important tool for scrutiny, but as currently structured, the reports do not give enough detail to enable Parliament, experts or the public to do this. The Committee recommends that the Government includes in future reports evidence-based arguments for why the provisions continue to be necessary and quantitative evidence on the impact of using those provisions. If the Government is going to extend the relevant temporary provisions Coronavirus Act after the six- month point, it should consult briefly on what additional information to include in the two-monthly reports and strive to include this as soon as possible. The Committee recommends that the Government includes in future reports evidence- based arguments for why the provisions continue to be necessary and quantitative evidence on the impact of using those provisions. If the Government is going to extend the relevant temporary provisions Coronavirus Act after the six-month point, it should consult briefly on what additional information to include in the two-monthly reports and strive to include this as soon as possible. (Paragraph 64) The use of guidance and rule of law implications
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises the need for two monthly reports to be in a timely manner and ensure the inclusion of evidence-based arguments. We are considering what other information would be helpful to include in future reports and taking into consideration feedback when drafting these. We have published such an analysis—at the Committee’s suggestion—in good time for the first six-month debate. We intend to do so for the other anniversary debates. In doing so, we have built upon our two-month reports to Parliament, which already set out in detail what each provision does, how it is used, and why it is deemed necessary during and at the end of each reporting period. Fifth Special Report of Session 2019–21 11 The use of Guidance and Rule of Law Implications