Forty Third Report Contents

Instruments relating to COVID-19

Restrictions on businesses and public gatherings

Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/53)

13.This instrument makes minor amendments and corrections to the All Tiers Regulations2 to clarify that:

Changes to business practice and regulation

General Pharmaceutical Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2021 (SI 2021/26)

14.This instrument makes a number of temporary changes to the Rules of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to adapt its operating procedures to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The GPhC’s Investigating, Appeals and Fitness to Practise Committees will be quorate with fewer committee panel members to allow for member illness or external workforce pressures. Appeals and Fitness to Practise hearings may be held using audio or video conference facilities and do not have to be held in public. Notices to registrants of a Fitness to Practice hearing will now inform them that they can take part remotely, and, where the registrant does not attend either in person or remotely, the hearing Committee may make a decision on the allegation, providing it is satisfied service of the notice has been properly effected. These changes are temporary and will expire on 1 May 2021.

15.It also makes a permanent rule change to allow the service of hearing notices to registrants by email.

Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2021 (SI 2021/27)

16.This Order makes permanent changes to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Rules. It amends the procedural rules for the HCPC’s three Practice Committees, which conduct fitness to practise proceedings, and the procedural rules for its Appeal Panel, which hears appeals against registration decisions, to provide for the service of documents by electronic means.

17.Additionally, it enables the Practice Committees and Appeal Panel to conduct hearings and meetings by audio or video conference in an emergency, and that such hearings may be held in private. These changes do not only relate to the COVID-19 pandemic but may be used in any emergency that meets the definition in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Travel

Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Public Health Information) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/68)

18.These Regulations amend the International Travel Regulations to: 3

19.These Regulations require operators of commercial transport services to provide advance information about testing to passengers. They also amend the Pre-Departure Testing Regulations4 so that operators must check that passengers possess a notification of a negative coronavirus test which includes the specified information, but are not required to ensure that the result is from a “qualifying test” (that is, a test which meets the technical standards in Schedule 2B to the International Travel Regulations). Liability for ensuring the result is from a qualifying test falls on the passenger.


2 Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1374).

3 Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/568).

4 Health Protection (Coronavirus, Pre-Departure Testing and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/38).




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