Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 Two Years On
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 978
Published 18 March 2022
Recommendations
7
Para 48
We also recommend that the UK Covid-19 Inquiry include a comprehensive analysis of the necessity...
Recommendation
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 …
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11
Para 67
We urge the Government to include this in the inquiry looking at the pandemic response...
Recommendation
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 …
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13
The Committee calls on the Government to carefully consider the use of guidance in future...
Recommendation
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 …
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Conclusions (10)
1
Conclusion
Para 27
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, …
2
Conclusion
Para 28
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.
3
Conclusion
Para 36
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 …
4
Conclusion
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 …
5
Conclusion
Para 46
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 …
6
Conclusion
Para 47
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 …
8
Conclusion
Para 58
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 …
9
Conclusion
Para 59
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 …
10
Conclusion
Para 66
The Committee welcomes the Government’s willingness to consider whether the publication of data in future emergencies could be improved.
12
Conclusion
Para 74
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 …