Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Government’s handling of Covid-19 Contents

Contents

Summary

1 Scrutinising the Coronavirus Act 2020 and lockdown regulations

COVID-19 Governance

Government guidance on who should continue to work

2 The Government’s approach to legislation and the framework for Parliamentary Scrutiny

The passing of the Coronavirus Act 2020

A role for the Civil Contingencies Act?

Legal arguments for and against using the CCA

Use of emergency procedures for lockdown regulations

The value of Parliamentary processes and scrutiny

The framework of Parliamentary scrutiny under the Act

The six-monthly Parliamentary review

The two-monthly reports on the status of non-devolved provisions

3 The use of guidance and rule of law implications

Examples of differences between guidance and the law

The first lockdown regulations

The local lockdowns

4 Points of interest for the House for the six-monthly review

What is the six-monthly review?

What would happen if the House voted one way or the other?

Specific matters for potential consideration

Health Provision

Powers of detention and dispersal

Elections

Relevant documents and information for the debate

Two-monthly report on the status of non-devolved provisions

Timing of six-monthly review and two-monthly report

Criteria for judging the Act

Conclusions and recommendations

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament




Published: 10 September 2020