Coronavirus Act 2020 Two Years On

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Dec 2021 Closed: 16 Jun 2022 Parliament page
The Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed at pace at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Act has been subject to renewal at six-monthly intervals since its entry into force. After two years on the statute books, its provisions are set to expire automatically at the end of March 2022, … Read more
5 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
18 May
2022
Report published
18 Mar
2022
Report published
24 Feb
2022
Oral evidence
24 Feb
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
8 Feb
2022
Correspondence
25 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
25 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
24 Feb 2022
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Coronavirus Act 2020 Two Years On
Rt Hon Sajid Javid · Department of Health and Social Care
25 Jan 2022
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Coronavirus Act 2020 Two Years On
Dr Ronan Cormacain · Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law Dr Ruth Fox · Hansard Society Professor Jeff King · University College London (UCL)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2020 Two Years On HC 978 18 Mar 2022 13 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee noted that sunset clauses, including their appropriate length, should be considered carefully for...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government states that 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 government continues to review the legal framework and lessons learned from COVID- 19.
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2 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
Any future use of sunset clauses in relation to emergency legislation should come with a...
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 government states the sunset clause aimed to strike a balance and highlights the Act's flexibility to expire or suspend provisions before the sunset date, and the inclusion of six-monthly reviews and renewal votes in Parliament.
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
Whilst we accept the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s defence of the...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the vital importance of Parliamentary scrutiny and believes each of the powers in the Act has been subject to in-depth Parliamentary scrutiny throughout the lifespan of the Act, noting the Committee's view on the ability to amend individual provisions.
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee noted the improvement in the content of the two-monthly reports and welcomes the...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government thanks the Committee for recognising improvements to the two-monthly reports and commits to continuing to improve the quality of these reports, taking on board feedback.
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5 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee welcomes the Government’s commitment to a thorough and wide- ranging inquiry to learn...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government refers to the independent, statutory public inquiry into COVID-19 and its broad scope, stating that whether any additional centrally-coordinated review will take place on the individual provisions in the Act is still to be determined.
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6 Recommendation Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
In order to provide clarity to the public, the Committee calls on the Government to...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government refers to the independent, statutory public inquiry into COVID-19 and its broad scope, stating that whether any additional centrally-coordinated review will take place on the individual provisions in the Act is still to be determined.
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7 Recommendation Deferred
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
We also recommend that the UK Covid-19 Inquiry include a comprehensive analysis of the necessity...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government refers to the independent, statutory public inquiry into COVID-19 and its broad scope, stating that whether any additional centrally-coordinated review will take place on the individual provisions in the Act is still to be determined.
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8 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee noted the existence of the draft Pandemic Flu Bill and believes that, although...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the Act was built on a draft emergency bill and states that future emergency legislation would always need to be tailored to the specific threat posed at the time, while continuing to review the legal framework and lessons learned.
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9 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee urges the Government to look again at the possibility of introducing a piece...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the Act was built on a draft emergency bill and states that future emergency legislation would always need to be tailored to the specific threat posed at the time, while continuing to review the legal framework and lessons learned.
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10 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee welcomes the Government’s willingness to consider whether the publication of data in future...
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 highlights existing surveillance systems, SAGE publications, and UKHSA's work with the Office for Statistics Regulation.
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11 Recommendation Deferred
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
We urge the Government to include this in the inquiry looking at the pandemic response...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the importance of sharing COVID-19 data and highlights existing surveillance systems, SAGE publications, and UKHSA's work with the Office for Statistics Regulation; the independent UK COVID-19 Inquiry plans to examine the availability and use of data for public health decision-making.
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
We welcome the commitment from the Secretary of State to learn lessons from the way...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The Government recognises the different roles that guidance and legislation play in supporting the public in responding to the pandemic and the importance of Parliamentary scrutiny. They have sought to learn lessons on its communications approach.
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Coronavirus Act 2…
The Committee calls on the Government to carefully consider the use of guidance in future...
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 … Read more
Government Response
The Government recognises the different roles that guidance and legislation play in supporting the public in responding to the pandemic and the importance of Parliamentary scrutiny. They have sought to learn lessons on its communications approach.
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Government Response AI assessment · 13 of 5 classified
Accepted 3
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 2
Total 5 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
8 Feb 2022 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on Covid Polling, dated 31.1.22
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