Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 24
24
It is vital that the temporary provisions in the Coronavirus Act are properly scrutinised and...
Recommendation
It is vital that the temporary provisions in the Coronavirus Act are properly scrutinised and justified. The six-monthly review debate is one of the main avenues for this scrutiny to take place. To aid effective scrutiny and transparency, it is essential that the Government articulates: the original rationale for the temporary provisions in the Coronavirus Act, why those provisions are still justified and the evidence base for demonstrating those provisions are still effective. This should include provisions that are in force and those that are not. This will improve the transparency of these measures and help determine whether they are still necessary and proportionate. We recommend the Government publish this information in good time for the six-month review. This should be done at least two weeks before that debate takes place. (Paragraph 103) Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Government’s handling of Covid-19 35
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government intends to timetable the six-monthly review date so that the two- monthly status report is published in good time. Whilst it may not always be possible to do this, for example, if the House is not sitting when the sixth two-monthly report is due, the Government will strive to ensure that timetabling is maximised in preparation for review. We will also continue to ensure that the details in the six-month report presented to Parliament will be no less detailed than the equivalent two-month report. We are committed to providing parliamentarians with the most up to date information, through the provision of weekly Coronavirus Disease 2019 Surveillance reports and providing regular updates on the wider content that drives policy and how these policy decisions have worked in practice. Additionally, in response to our previous correspondence with the Committee, we have published the Coronavirus Act Analysis setting out the evidence and analysis that justifies the ongoing necessity of the Act and how it will support the NHS and help control the spread of the virus. This data will be updated in a timely manner https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus- act-analysis/coronavirus-act-analysis. Fifth Special Report of Session 2019–21 15 Additional Comments: May 2021 Elections