Legislation to support Scotland’s recovery from Covid has passed
its final stage. MSPs voted in favour of the Coronavirus
(Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill, which proposes changes in
35 specific legislative areas, many of which originated in
temporary Scottish and UK Covid legislation.
The reforms include permanent public health protection powers,
similar to those which already exist in England and Wales,
increased protection for private rented tenants facing evictions,
and a temporary extension of some changes in the justice system
to help manage the backlog of court cases arising from the
pandemic.
Deputy First Minister and Covid Recovery Secretary said:
“While the vast majority of temporary pandemic measures have
already been removed or will expire by the end of September, the
passing of this Bill maintains those that will ensure we are
better prepared for future public health threats, pragmatic
reforms that have enabled more efficient or convenient public
services, and some temporary changes to mitigate the impact Covid
has had on our justice system.
“I am grateful to members and everyone who has participated in
the Bill process for their feedback, which helped to shape
significant amendments that strengthen parliamentary safeguards
when it comes to the use of public health protection and
educational continuity powers, and support for those experiencing
financial difficulties.”
Background
Links to the Bill and
associated documentation are available here.
Parliamentary safeguards
to be strengthened - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Measures in the Bill include:
- provisions that enable Scottish Ministers to enact measures
via public health protection regulations for any future public
health threats, bringing Scotland into line with England and
Wales where similar powers are already permanent
- ensuring Ministers have powers in relation to educational
establishments (schools, childcare, and Further and Higher
Education), school boarding and student accommodation, so they
can take action to protect public health and ensure the
continuity of educational provision
- maintaining pre-eviction protocols relating to rent arrears
in the private rented sector, ensuring that tenants have all the
information they need about their rights, and ensuring that
Tribunals are able to continue taking the circumstances of both
parties into account when deciding whether an eviction is
reasonable
- a temporary extension to statutory time-limits for criminal
proceedings and provision for certain hearings to be held over
audio or video link, to help manage the backlog of cases arising
from the pandemic and ensure cases can continue to be heard,
through greater flexibility in the programming of court and
tribunal business
- adjusting the minimum debt level that an individual must owe
before a creditor can make them bankrupt to £5,000, up from
£3,000 pre-pandemic
- increasing the length of time people with unsustainable debt
have to seek advice, without the threat of creditors taking
action to pursue the debts
- increasing the sum of money a person can keep in their bank
account when they are subject to debt recovery procedures
- giving licensing boards and licensing authorities the
flexibility to be able to hold hearings remotely, or in person or
through a mixture of both
- allowing local authorities to issue directions so that birth
and death registrations can be done remotely, without the need to
attend in person, unless those making the registration wish to do
so
