Six month extension to some temporary provisions made under UK
legislation.
Regulations extending some temporary provisions made under UK
coronavirus legislation have been laid in Parliament today.
The majority of provisions made under the UK Coronavirus Act 2020
came into force on 25 March 2020, and were due to expire this
March following a two year period.
Of these, five will be retained for a further six months until 24
September 2022. These include powers to make public health
protection regulations, enable a wider range of health
professionals to give vaccination, and an allowance for the
remote registration of deaths and still-births.
These provisions are also proposed for longer term adoption in
the Coronavirus (Recovery and
Reform) (Scotland) Bill introduced to Parliament last
week.
The remaining 12 devolved provisions in the UK Act will expire on
24 March, including allowances for the emergency registration of
nurses and healthcare professionals, and the temporary
registration of social workers.
A number of provisions in the Act have already been expired or
suspended as they were considered no longer necessary to deal
with the pandemic, including powers to issue directions relating
to events, gatherings and premises, which Scottish Ministers
expired in December 2021.
Deputy First Minister and COVID Recovery Secretary said:
“While we have seen a welcome easing of restrictions, and hope
that measures can continue to be eased, it is right that we
remain vigilant to protect this hard-won progress.
“For that reason we believe some of these provisions remain
necessary and proportionate to mitigate the ongoing impact of
COVID-19 on our public services, and any future health threats.
“Although not required to by law, the Scottish Government has
reported to Parliament on the use of these UK Act powers every
two months throughout the pandemic to enable parliamentary
scrutiny of their use, and will continue to do so.
“As set out in the Recovery and Reform Bill, it is our intention
that the extended provisions be included in permanent
legislation, subject to full parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill.”
Background
The Coronavirus Act 2020
(Alteration of Expiry Date) (Scotland) Regulations 2022
(legislation.gov.uk)
Further details regarding proposals for extension and expiry of
the Scottish Coronavirus Acts, which are due to expire at the end
of 31 March 2022, will be confirmed shortly.
Coronavirus Acts: tenth
report to Scottish Parliament (December 2021) - gov.scot
(www.gov.scot)
Provisions in the UK Coronavirus Act that will be retained from
24 March 2022 to 24 September 2022:
- section 18(2) and Part 2 of schedule 13 (registration of
deaths and still-births);
- section 36 (vaccination and immunisation);
- section 37(2) and certain provisions of Part 2 of schedule 16
(temporary closure of educational institutions and childcare
premises);
- section 38(2) and Part 2 of schedule 17 (temporary continuity
– education, training and childcare);
- section 49 and schedule 19 (health protection regulations).
Provisions in the Act that will expire on 24 March 2022 are:
- section 2 and schedule 1 (emergency registration of
nurses and other healthcare professionals)
- section 4 and schedule 3 (emergency arrangements concerning
medical practitioners)
- section 7 and schedule 6 (temporary registration of social
workers)
- section 22 (appointment of temporary Judicial Commissioners)
- section 10 and schedule 9 (temporary modification of mental
health legislation)
- section 16 (duty of local authority to assess needs:
Scotland)
- section 20 and schedule 14 (death certification review
service and cremations)
- section 34 (disclosure offences)
- section 35 (protection of vulnerable groups)
- section 51 and schedule 21 (powers relating to potentially
infectious persons)
- section 58 and schedule 28 (transportation, storage and
disposal of dead bodies)
- section 75 (financial assistance for industry (disapplication
of limit under Industrial Development Act 1982))
