Instruments relating to COVID-19
38.Two instruments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Draft Customs Safety, Security and Economic Operators Registration and Identification (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 and the Human Medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1125), are drawn to the special attention of the House in this report (see pages 1 to 3 and 11 to 12 above).
Local Restrictions and movement between tiers
Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Medium, High and Very High) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1154)
39.These Regulations amend the three Tiers Regulations 16 to move certain areas into different Local COVID-19 Alert areas:
- Areas moving from Medium to High: Slough Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Coventry City Council
- Areas moving from High to Very High: Greater Manchester (including Bolton, Bury, Manchester City Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) and South Yorkshire (including Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield)
40.Our 31st Report recommended much greater transparency in explaining why each area is being moved into a particular tier.17 We regret that the Government have again chosen to rely on the blanket statement “in response to recent data” and have failed to give any more specific justification for making each of these changes.
41.In addition to the baseline measures set out in the Local COVID-19 Alert Very High Regulations,18 by local agreement the following businesses will close in both Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire: betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos and soft play areas and centres. Bingo halls will also close in Greater Manchester.
42.The instrument also revises the additional closures initially agreed with Liverpool City Region to lift the closure requirements for indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios and indoor sports facilities. All soft play facilities in the Liverpool City Region and Lancashire are now required to close.
Changes to business practice and regulation: travel
Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) (Amendment) (No. 19) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1129)
43.These Regulations further amend the original International Travel Regulations,19 on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, to remove passengers arriving from the Greek island of Crete from the requirement to self-isolate with effect from 18 October 2020. However, on the same basis Italy, San Marino and Vatican City State have been added to the list of countries from which passengers arriving in England are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Changes to benefits
Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus Disease) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1097)
44.These Regulations extend the provisions of the Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus Disease) Regulations 202020 for a further six months due to uncertainty over when the continuing outbreak of coronavirus in Great Britain will end. The original regulations disapplied the seven waiting days and allow anyone who applies for the benefit to be treated as having “limited capability for work” whether they are isolating after contact, have coronavirus or they are looking after a dependent who has it. These provisions will now expire on 12 May 2021.
16 Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Medium) (England) Regulations 2020 (2020/1103), Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (High) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1104) and Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Very High) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1105) — see 31st Report, Session 2019-21 HL Paper 153.
17 31st Report, Session 2019-21 (HL Paper 153).
18 SI 2020/1105 – as above.
19 Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/568).