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 9Mental health: Scotland

Section 10

PART 1Introductory provision etc

Interpretation

1

(1)

References in Part 2 of this Schedule to sections and schedules are to sections and schedules of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”).

(2)

Expressions used in Part 2 of this Schedule and in the 2003 Act have the same meaning as in that Act.

(3)

References in Part 3 of this Schedule to sections are to sections of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”).

(4)

Expressions used in Part 3 of this Schedule and in the 1995 Act have the same meaning as in that Act.

Forms

2

Where any form prescribed for use in connection with a provision of the 2003 Act or the 1995 Act is inconsistent with a modification made by Part 2 or (as the case may be) Part 3 of this Schedule, the form—

(a)

may, in connection with the provision as so modified, be used with appropriate amendments;

(b)

is otherwise, for use in that connection, to be read with such amendments as are necessary to reflect the modification.

PART 2Modifications of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Emergency detention

3

Section 36(8)(b) (emergency detention: period for which patient may be detained in hospital) has effect as if for “72 hours” there were substituted “120 hours”.

Short-term detention certificates

4

(1)

An approved medical practitioner may grant a short-term detention certificate in respect of a patient under section 44(1) without consulting a mental health officer if the practitioner considers that compliance with the requirement under that section to consult a mental health officer (and for the mental health officer to consent to the granting of the certificate) is impractical or would involve undesirable delay.

(2)

Sub-paragraphs (3) to (6) apply where a short-term detention certificate (the “first certificate”) is in force in respect of a patient.

(3)

Despite section 44(1)(b), an approved medical practitioner may grant one further short-term detention certificate (the “second certificate”) in respect of the patient under section 44(1).

(4)

The second certificate may be granted before or on the expiry of the first certificate.

(5)

If the second certificate is granted before the expiry of the first certificate, the first certificate expires on the granting of the second certificate.

(6)

If the approved medical practitioner grants a second certificate, the practitioner must record the reasons why it has been impracticable to apply instead for a compulsory treatment order.

(7)

Other than as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (3) to (6), section 44 (as modified by sub-paragraph (1)) applies in relation to a second certificate as it applies in relation to a first certificate.

Compulsory treatment orders

5

(1)

An application by a mental health officer under section 63 may be founded on a mental health report from a single approved medical practitioner (who may be the practitioner making the application) if the approved medical practitioner considers that compliance with the requirement under that section for mental health reports from two medical practitioners is impractical or would involve undesirable delay.

(2)

A single mental health report must otherwise comply with the requirements of section 57.

Transfer for treatment directions

6

A transfer for treatment direction may be made under section 136(2) if the Scottish Ministers—

(a)

are satisfied that complying with the requirement under that section for reports from two medical practitioners is impractical or would involve undesirable delay, and

(b)

are satisfied of the matters mentioned in subsections (3) and (4) of that section by a report from a single approved medical practitioner,

and any other conditions for the exercise of the power are met.

Nurse’s power to detain pending medical examination

7

Section 299(2) (nurse’s power to detain pending medical examination) has effect as if for “3 hours” there were substituted “6 hours”.

Admission to hospital

8

Section 136(3) and (6) have effect as if references to admitting a person to hospital within the period of 7 days were references to doing so within that period or as soon as practicable after the end of that period.

Suspension of requirements to review orders and directions authorising detention

9

(1)

The provisions listed in sub-paragraph (2) are suspended.

(2)

Those provisions are—

(a)

section 77 (first mandatory review of compulsory treatment order);

(b)

section 78 (further mandatory reviews of compulsory treatment order);

(c)

section 139 (first review of compulsion order);

(d)

section 140 (further reviews of compulsion order);

(e)

section 182 (review of compulsion and restriction order);

(f)

section 189 (reference to Tribunal by Scottish Ministers);

(g)

section 206 (review of hospital direction and transfer for treatment direction);

(h)

section 213 (hospital direction and transfer for treatment direction: reference to Tribunal).

Administration of medicine

10

Medicine (as defined in section 240) may be given to a patient without a certificate under section 241(1) if the patient’s responsible medical officer has requested a certificate from a designated medical practitioner but the practitioner has not yet issued a certificate (and a certificate has not been refused).

Constitution of Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland

11

The Tribunal may consist of—

(a)

the President or a single member selected by the President from the panel mentioned in paragraph 1(1)(a) of Schedule 2 (“the convener”), or

(b)

the convener and a member selected by the President from the panel mentioned in paragraph 1(1)(b) or (c) of that Schedule,

if it is impractical to comply with paragraph 7(3) of that Schedule.

PART 3Modifications of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

Assessment orders: extension

12

Section 52G(4A)(b) (period for which assessment order may be extended: end point) has effect as if for the words “14 days” there were substituted “12 weeks”.

Court orders authorising detention

13

(1)

Any power of a court under a provision listed in sub-paragraph (2) may be exercised if the court—

(a)

is satisfied that complying with the requirement under that provision for the written or oral evidence of two medical practitioners is impractical or would involve undesirable delay, and

(b)

is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of a single approved medical practitioner of the matters of which it would (but for this paragraph) have to be satisfied on the evidence of two practitioners,

and any other conditions for the exercise of the power are met.

(2)

Those provisions are—

(a)

section 52M(2) (treatment order);

(b)

section 53(2) (interim compulsion order);

(c)

section 54(1) (temporary compulsion order);

(d)

section 57A(2), (5) and (6) (compulsion order);

(e)

section 59A(2) (hospital direction);

(f)

section 60C(2) (acquitted persons: detention for medical examination).

Admission to hospital

14

(1)

The provisions listed in sub-paragraph (2) have effect as if references to admitting a person to hospital within the period of 7 days were references to doing so within that period or as soon as practicable after the end of that period.

(2)

Those provisions are—

(a)

section 53(8) (interim compulsion order);

(b)

section 54(2B) (temporary compulsion order);

(c)

section 57A(5) (compulsion order);

(d)

section 59A(4) and (7) (hospital direction).

PART 4Modifications of subordinate legislation

The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (Practice and Procedure) (No. 2) Rules 2005 (SSI 2005/519)

15

If the Tribunal considers that it would be impractical to hold a hearing rule 58 of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (Practice and Procedure) (No. 2) Rules 2005 (power of Tribunal to decide case without a hearing) applies as if rule 58(1)(d) to (f), (2)(b) to (e), (3) and (4) were omitted.

The Mental Health (Conflict of Interest) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/174)

16

(1)

The Mental Health (Conflict of Interest) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 apply as if the regulations mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) (all of which make provision about circumstances in which there is to be taken to be a conflict of interest for medical practitioners) were omitted.

(2)

Those regulations are—

(a)

regulation 2(b);

(b)

regulation 4(1)(c) and (d), (2) and (3);

(c)

regulation 5(1)(b) and (2).