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Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill

The Bill contains temporary changes. These will help public services continue to operate during this emergency situation. It also includes changes to support businesses and people who use public services.

This is a Government bill

The Bill became an Act on 6 April 2020

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

The Bill contains temporary changes. These will help public services continue to operate during this emergency situation. It also includes changes to support businesses and people who use public services. These reflect changes to the way people can live and work during the emergency situation.

The Bill includes:

  • measures to ensure that business and public services can continue to operate well
  • changes to the obligations and duties on public services
  • changes to the law on evictions that will protect renters
  • changes to criminal procedure to ensure that essential justice business can continue

The Bill contains the following safeguards:

  • most of the measures in the Bill will expire 6 months after they come into force (they could be extended up to a maximum duration of 18 months, if the Parliament approves this)
  • where a measure is no longer needed, Scottish Ministers can bring it to an end earlier
  • Scottish Ministers must review and report on the measures every 2 months

Why the Bill was created

The aim of the Bill is to respond to the emergency situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Bill adds to the changes that affect Scotland that were made by the Coronavirus Act 2020 (“the 2020 Act”). This Act was passed by the UK Parliament on 25 March 2020.

The coronavirus outbreak is a severe and sustained threat to human life. A severe pandemic could infect a large number of people. Public health measures are needed to control and limit the spread of the outbreak. Public health guidance means changes to:

  • the lives of everyone living in Scotland
  • the way business in Scotland operates
  • the way public services are delivered and regulated

Large parts of workforces may be unable to work. Others are being re-deployed to prioritise essential services.

The Bill makes changes to some of the duties of public bodies. This will let them focus on work which responds to the coronavirus outbreak. It makes changes that will:

  • allow essential public services to continue to be delivered
  • support businesses
  • protect the health of people living and working in Scotland

 

Bill as Introduced

Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill as Introduced (685KB, pdf) posted 01 April 2020

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (371KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020

Policy Memorandum (2MB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020

Financial Memorandum (504KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020

Delegated Powers Memorandum (306KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020

Statements on legislative competence (141KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020 

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill SPICe briefing


The Bill was introduced on 31 March 2020

Stage 1: general principles

Emergency Bill

The Parliament agreed that the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill should be treated as an Emergency Bill at the meeting of the Parliament on 1 April 2020.

An Emergency Bill is a Government Bill that needs to be enacted more quickly than the normal timetable allows.

An Emergency Bill must be introduced as a Government Bill first and then be changed to an Emergency Bill by the Parliament, on a motion by a Cabinet Secretary (or Minister). Stages 1 to 3 of an Emergency Bill are taken on the same day unless the Parliament agrees to an alternative timescale.

Stage 2 of an Emergency Bill must be taken by a Committee of the Whole Parliament.

Stage 1 Debate and decision

A Stage 1 debate took place on 1 April 2020 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.

  • Motion title: Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill.
  • Submitted by: Michael Russell
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
  • Motion reference: S5M-21370
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 01 April 2020

See further details of the motion


Parliament agreed the general principles of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 1 on 1 April 2020

Stage 2: changes to the Bill

At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them. 

First meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 01 April 2020:

Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (238KB, pdf) posted 01 April 2020

Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (266KB, pdf) posted 01 April 2020

Bill as amended at Stage 2

Printing changes

Printing changes are changes to the text of a Bill. They will not change the legal effect of the Bill.

Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill printing changes after the Bill as amended at Stage 2 (107KB, pdf) posted 20 April 2020

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 1 April 2020

Stage 3: final changes and vote

At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them.  There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law. 

Final version of the Bill

Final debate on the Bill

Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.

  • Motion title: Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill be passed.
  • Submitted by: Michael Russell
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
  • Motion reference: S5M-21371
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 01 April 2020

Result 80 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 49 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament decided to pass the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 1 April 2020

Bill becomes an Act

If the Bill is passed, it can receive Royal Assent and become an Act.