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
3 results
Clear
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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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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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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