Legislation – Coronavirus Act 2020

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Introduction

PART 1
Main provisions

1 Meaning of “coronavirus” and related terminology

2 Emergency registration of nurses and other health and care professionals

3 Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Wales

4 Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Scotland

5 Emergency registration of and extension of prescribing powers for pharmaceutical chemists: Northern Ireland

6 Emergency registration of social workers: England and Wales

7 Temporary registration of social workers: Scotland

8 Emergency volunteering leave

9 Compensation for emergency volunteers

10 Temporary modification of mental health and mental capacity legislation

11 Indemnity for health service activity: England and Wales

12 Indemnity for health service activity: Scotland

13 Indemnity for health and social care activity: Northern Ireland

14 NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments: England

15 Local authority care and support

16 Duty of local authority to assess needs: Scotland

17 Section 16: further provision

18 Registration of deaths and still-births etc

19 Confirmatory medical certificate not required for cremations: England and Wales

20 Review of cause of death certificates and cremations: Scotland

21 Modifications of requirements regarding medical certificates for cremations: Northern Ireland

22 Appointment of temporary Judicial Commissioners

23 Time limits in relation to urgent warrants etc under Investigatory Powers Act

24 Extension of time limits for retention of fingerprints and DNA profiles

25 Power to require information relating to food supply chains

26 Authorities which may require information

27 Restrictions on use and disclosure of information

28 Enforcement of requirement to provide information

29 Meaning of “food supply chain” and related expressions

30 Suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: England and Wales

31 Suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: Northern Ireland

32 Deaths in custody from natural illness: Northern Ireland

33 Disapplication etc by Welsh Ministers of DBS provisions

34 Temporary disapplication of disclosure offences: Scotland

35 Power to reclassify certain disclosure requests: Scotland

36 Vaccination and immunisation: Scotland

37 Temporary closure of educational institutions and childcare premises

38 Temporary continuity: education, training and childcare

39 Statutory sick pay: funding of employers’ liabilities

40 Statutory sick pay: power to disapply waiting period limitation

41 Statutory sick pay: modification of regulation making powers

42 Statutory sick pay: funding of employers’ liabilities: Northern Ireland

43 Statutory sick pay: power to disapply waiting period limitation: Northern Ireland

44 Statutory sick pay: modification of regulation making powers: Northern Ireland

45 NHS pension schemes: suspension of restrictions on return to work: England and Wales

46 NHS pension schemes: suspension of restrictions on return to work: Scotland

47 Health and social care pension schemes: suspension of restrictions on return to work: Northern Ireland

48 Powers to act for the protection of public health: Northern Ireland

49 Health protection regulations: Scotland

50 Power to suspend port operations

51 Powers relating to potentially infectious persons

52 Powers to issue directions relating to events, gatherings and premises

53 Expansion of availability of live links in criminal proceedings

54 Expansion of availability of live links in other criminal hearings

55 Public participation in proceedings conducted by video or audio

56 Live links in magistrates’ court appeals against requirements or restrictions imposed on a potentially infectious person

57 Use of live links in legal proceedings: Northern Ireland

58 Powers in relation to transportation, storage and disposal of dead bodies etc

59 Elections and referendums due to be held in England in period after 15 March 2020

60 Postponement of elections due to be held on 7 May 2020

61 Power to postpone certain other elections and referendums

62 Power to postpone a recall petition under the Recall of MPs Act 2015

63 Power to make supplementary etc provision

64 Northern Ireland: timing of canvass and Assembly by-elections

65 Elections due to be held in Wales in period after 15 March 2020

66 Postponement of National Assembly for Wales elections for constituency vacancies

67 Power to postpone local authority elections in Wales for casual vacancies

68 Power to make supplementary etc provision

69 Postponement of Scottish Parliament elections for constituency vacancies

70 Postponement of local authority elections in Scotland for casual vacancies

71 Signatures of Treasury Commissioners

72 Power under section 143 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992

73 Power under section 145 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992

74 Power under section 5 of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2014

75 Disapplication of limit under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982

76 HMRC functions

77 Up-rating of working tax credit etc

78 Local authority meetings

79 Extension of BID arrangements: England

80 Extension of BID arrangements: Northern Ireland

81 Residential tenancies in England and Wales: protection from eviction

82 Business tenancies in England and Wales: protection from forfeiture etc

83 Business tenancies in Northern Ireland: protection from forfeiture etc

84 Postponement of General Synod elections

PART 2
Final provisions

85 Interpretation

86 Financial provision

87 Commencement

88 Power to suspend and revive provisions of this Act

89 Expiry

90 Power to alter expiry date

91 Power to amend Act in consequence of amendments to subordinate legislation

92 Power to make consequential modifications

93 Procedure for certain regulations made by a Minister of the Crown

94 Procedure for certain regulations made by the Welsh Ministers

95 Procedure for certain regulations made by the Scottish Ministers

96 Procedure for certain orders made by a Northern Ireland department

97 Reports by Secretary of State on status of non-devolved provisions of this Act

98 Six-month parliamentary review

99 Parliamentary consideration of status of non-devolved provisions of this Act

100 Extent

101 Extension to the Isle of Man

102 Short title

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Emergency registration of nurses and other health and care professionals

SCHEDULE 2 Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Wales

SCHEDULE 3 Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Scotland

SCHEDULE 4 Emergency registration of pharmaceutical chemists and extension of prescribing powers: Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 5 Emergency registration of social workers: England and Wales

SCHEDULE 6 Temporary registration of social workers: Scotland

SCHEDULE 7 Emergency volunteering leave

SCHEDULE 8 Mental health: England and Wales

SCHEDULE 9 Mental health: Scotland

SCHEDULE 10 Mental health: Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 11 Mental capacity: Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 12 Local authority care and support

SCHEDULE 13 Registration of deaths and still-births

SCHEDULE 14 Review of medical certificates of cause of death and cremations: Scotland

SCHEDULE 15 Information relating to food supply chains: financial penalties

SCHEDULE 16 Temporary closure of educational institutions and childcare premises

SCHEDULE 17 Temporary continuity directions etc: education, training and childcare

SCHEDULE 18 Powers to act for the protection of public health: Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 19 Health protection regulations: Scotland

SCHEDULE 20 Power to suspend port operations

SCHEDULE 21 Powers relating to potentially infectious persons

SCHEDULE 22 Powers to issue directions relating to events, gatherings and premises

SCHEDULE 23 Live links in criminal proceedings

SCHEDULE 24 Live links in other criminal hearings

SCHEDULE 25 Public participation in proceedings conducted by video or audio

SCHEDULE 26 Live links in certain magistrates’ court proceedings

SCHEDULE 27 Use of live links in legal proceedings: Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 28 Transportation, storage and disposal of dead bodies etc

SCHEDULE 29 Residential tenancies in England and Wales: protection from eviction

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 3Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Scotland

Section 4

National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004

1

(1)

The National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114) have effect subject to the following modifications.

(2)

After regulation 3 insert—

“Temporary exception under the Coronavirus Act 20203A

(1)

A person who is registered in the GP Register by virtue of section 18A of the Medical Act 1983 (temporary registration with regard to emergencies) may perform primary medical services, despite not being included in the primary medical services performers list of a Health Board, provided that—

(a)

the person has made an application to a Health Board for inclusion in the list under regulation 6, and

(b)

the person’s application has not been refused or deferred under regulation 7 or 7B.

(2)

But a person may only perform primary medical services by virtue of this regulation in the area of a Health Board whose list they have applied to be included in.

(3)

Regulation 8 applies to a person who performs primary medical services by virtue of this regulation as it applies to a performer included in a primary medical services performers list (and the references to a “performer” in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 are to be read as if they included persons who perform primary medical services by virtue of this regulation).”

(3)

After regulation 7A insert—

“Grounds for refusal and deferral under the Coronavirus Act 20207B

(1)

This regulation applies where a person who is registered in the GP Register by virtue of section 18A of the Medical Act 1983 (temporary registration with regard to emergencies) has made an application to a Health Board for inclusion in its primary medical services performers list.

(2)

But this regulation does not affect a Health Board’s duties imposed by regulation 7 to refuse or defer an application by such a person.

(3)

A Health Board may refuse the person’s application for inclusion in its primary medical services performers list if—

(a)

the Health Board has received an allegation (in any manner) about either—

(i)

conduct by the person about which the Health Board would have the power to make representations to the NHS Tribunal under section 29 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, or

(ii)

the person’s involvement in a matter which they would be under a duty to disclose under paragraph 3 of Schedule 1, and

(b)

the nature of the allegation is such that, were the person already included in its list, the Health Board would be satisfied that it would be necessary for the protection of members of the public, or otherwise in the public interest, to suspend the person from its list while it considered whether to remove them from its list.

(4)

A Health Board may defer determination of the person’s application for inclusion in its primary medical services performers list if—

(a)

the person has declared any matter specified in paragraph 2(c) to (o) of Schedule 1, and

(b)

the Health Board is satisfied that it is necessary for the protection of members of the public, or otherwise in the public interest, to complete its consideration of the person’s application before the person is permitted to perform primary medical services.

(5)

Unless paragraph (6) applies, a person whose application is refused by a Health Board under paragraph (3) may not reapply for inclusion in the primary medical services performers list of any Health Board.

(6)

This paragraph applies where a person subsequently becomes registered in the GP Register as a fully registered person, within the meaning given by section 55(1) of the Medical Act 1983, otherwise than by virtue of section 18A of that Act.

(7)

A Health Board must notify an applicant in writing of a determination made under this regulation, and the reasons for it, within 7 days of making the determination.

(8)

An applicant may not appeal any determination made by a Health Board under this regulation.”

(4)

In regulation 13 (appeal to the Scottish Ministers) before paragraph (1) insert—

“A1

This regulation does not apply where a person’s application for inclusion in a primary medical services performers list is refused under regulation 7B(3).”

National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2018

2

(1)

The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/66) have effect subject to the following modifications.

(2)

In paragraph 46 of Schedule 6 (contractual terms: qualifications of performers), after sub-paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)

Sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not apply in the case of a person who is performing primary medical services by virtue of regulation 3A of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114).”

(3)

In paragraph 50 of Schedule 6 (contractual terms: conditions for employment and engagement), after sub-paragraph (3) insert—

“(4)

This paragraph does not apply in the case of a person who is performing primary medical services by virtue of regulation 3A of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114).”

(4)

In paragraph 52 of Schedule 6 (contractual terms: conditions for employment and engagement), after sub-paragraph (3) insert—

“(4)

This paragraph does not apply in the case of a person who is performing primary medical services by virtue of regulation 3A of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114).”

National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Arrangements) (Scotland) Regulations 2018

3

(1)

The National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Arrangements) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/67) have effect subject to the following modifications.

(2)

In paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 (content of agreements terms: qualifications of performers) after sub-paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)

Sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not apply in the case of a person who is performing primary medical services by virtue of regulation 3A of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114).”

(3)

In paragraph 22 of Schedule 1 (content of agreements terms: conditions for employment and engagement) after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(5)

This paragraph does not apply in the case of a person who is performing primary medical services by virtue of regulation 3A of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114).”

(4)

In paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 (content of agreements terms: conditions for employment and engagement) after sub-paragraph (3) insert—

“(4)

This paragraph does not apply in the case of a person who is performing primary medical services by virtue of regulation 3A of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/114).”

Power to modify Schedule

4

(1)

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify this Schedule.

(2)

Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) are subject to the negative procedure (see section 28 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 10)).