Instruments relating to COVID-19
Five instruments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic (Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Medium) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1103), Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (High) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1104), Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Very High) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1105), Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (High) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1128) and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Very High) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1131)) are drawn to the special attention of the House in this report (see pages 7 to 13 above).
Changes to business practice and regulation: travel
Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Passengers Travelling to England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1090)
46.The original Passenger Information Regulations15 aim to ensure that those wishing to travel to England are fully informed of the latest public health guidance and legal obligations imposed top revent the spread of coronavirus, so that only those who are willing and able to comply with them complete their journey. Because levels of compliance in completing the Passenger Locator Form are below anticipated levels and vary between operators, these Regulations make amendments that give more specific instructions on how operators of commercial transport services by sea, air or rail are to display and provide the necessary information. The instrument also introduces a new requirement to provide the information specified 24 to–48 hours before the scheduled departure time of any service to the UK.
Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) (Amendment) (No. 18) Regulations (SI 2020/1094)
47.This instrument amends the original International Travel Regulations16 to add the Greek islands of Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Santorini and Zakynthos to the list of exempt countries or territories, so that passengers arriving in England after 10 October 2020 from those destinations are not required to self-isolate.
Law and order
Prison and Young Offender Institution (Coronavirus, Etc.) (Amendment) (No. 3) Rules 2020 (SI 2020/1077)
48.These Rules amend the Prison and Young Offender Institution (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 202017 which we drew to the special attention of the House in our 16th Report of this session.18 While understanding the need for some special measures during a coronavirus transmission control period, as declared by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, we were critical that the subsequent transition periodc ould be extended by the Secretary of State for Justice incrementally upt o a maximum of six months in total. We note that the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments also expressed concern about this mechanism.19 These amending Rules now limit the transition period to three months and remove the power of the Secretary of State to extend it any further.
49.The Rules also add another potentially psychoactive medicine to the schedule of drugs for which prisoners can be tested and clarify the rules around the temporary release of prisoners during the pandemic.
15 Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Passengers Travelling to England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/567).
16 Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/568).
17 Prison and Young Offender Institution (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2020 (SI 2020/508).
18 16th Report, Session 2019–21, published 4 June 2020 (HL Paper 68).
19 JCSI, 15th Report, Session 2019–21 (HL Paper 81).