Coronavirus Act 2020 (Review of Temporary Provisions) (No.2) — 25 Mar 2021 at 17:00

The majority of MPs voted to retain temporary arrangements connected to the coronavirus pandemic on closing buildings, restricting events and gatherings, suspending evictions, enabling greater use of video and audio technology in courts and restricting the liberty of potentially infectious persons.

The motion supported by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That the temporary provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 should not yet expire

Section 98 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 was titled Six-month parliamentary review and began:

• (1)If the House of Commons rejects a motion in the form set out in subsection (2), moved in accordance with subsection (3) by a Minister of the Crown, a Minister of the Crown must exercise the power conferred by section 90(1) so as to ensure that the relevant temporary provisions expire not later than the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the rejection takes place.
• (2)The form of the motion is—
• “That the temporary provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 should not yet expire.”
• (3)So far as practicable, a Minister of the Crown must make arrangements for the motion mentioned in subsection (1) to be debated and voted on by the House of Commons within a period of 7 sitting days beginning immediately after each 6 month review period.
• (4)In this section—
• “6 month review period” means—
• (a) the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, and
• (b) each subsequent period of 6 months,
• ....

it appears likely this motion was in-line with this provision.

The provisions which were temporary and subject to the six-monthly approval by the House of Commons include arrangements relating to:

• * Appointment of temporary Judicial Commissioners.
• * Extension of time limits for retention of fingerprints and DNA profiles.
• * Power to require information relating to food supply chains.
• * Suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: England and Wales.
• * Temporary closure of educational institutions and childcare premises.
• * Statutory sick pay and pensions.
• * Power to suspend port operations.
• * Powers relating to potentially infectious persons.
• * Powers to issue directions relating to events, gatherings and premises
• * Courts and tribunals: use of video and audio technology
• * Powers in relation to transportation, storage and disposal of dead bodies etc
• * National Insurance Contributions
• * Up-rating of working tax credit etc
• * Local authority meetings
• * Business improvement districts
• * Residential tenancies: protection from eviction
• * Business tenancies: protection from forfeiture etc
• * Postponement of General Synod elections

See also a previous vote on the same motion from 30 September 2020.

Debate in Parliament |