This Bill would change the law so that health boards will have the option to provide compensation for people they ask to self-isolate. However, they will not be obliged to do so, to anyone they ask to self-isolate due to COVID-19.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 23 March 2022
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, health boards were required to compensate people who they asked to self-isolate due to an infectious disease. This was required by the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008
The Coronavirus Act 2020 changed this. The 2020 Act let health boards decide whether people who are self-isolating because of COVID-19 received compensation under the 2008 Act. The relevant provision of the 2020 Act will expire in March 2022.
This Bill would change the law so that health boards will still have the option to provide compensation. However, they will not be obliged to do so, to anyone they ask to self-isolate due to COVID-19.
The law will apply until 31 October 2022. The Bill allows for the Scottish Government to reduce or extend that period if required.
When the relevant provision of the Coronavirus Act 2020 expires, health boards will be required to fully compensate people they ask to self-isolate with COVID-19. This Bill will allow health boards to have a choice over whether they do this.
Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill as Introduced (177KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Explanatory Notes (117KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Policy Memorandum (187KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Financial Memorandum (185KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Delegated Powers Memorandum (144KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Statements on legislative competence (88KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Explanatory Notes (130KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Policy Memorandum (197KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Financial Memorandum (180KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Delegated Powers Memorandum (159KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
Statements on legislative competence (144KB, pdf) posted 15 November 2021
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 15 November 2021
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the COVID-19 Recovery Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The COVID-19 Recovery Committee held a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.
The call for views closed on 10 December 2021.
Letter from Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for COVID Recovery, Scottish Government to the Convener, 5 January 2022
Letter from Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for COVID Recovery, Scottish Government to the Convener on 23 December 2021
The COVID-19 Recovery Committee published its report on 13 January 2022.
Stage 1 Report on the Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill
The Committee received the following response to its report:
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 20 January 2022
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.
Documents with the amendments to be considered at the meeting held on 27 January:
Marshalled list of amendments at Stage 2 (134KB, pdf) posted 25 January 2022
Groupings of amendments at Stage 2 (148KB, pdf) posted 25 January 2022
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Revised Explanatory Notes (108KB, pdf) posted 31 January 2022
Revised Delegated Powers Memorandum (134KB, pdf) posted 31 January 2022
Revised Explanatory Notes (136KB, pdf) posted 28 January 2022
Revised Delegated Powers Memorandum (152KB, pdf) posted 28 January 2022
Sometimes an amendment at Stage 2 makes substantial changes to a bill. If this happens, the Accompanying Documents need to be updated to explain what these changes are.
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee's Report after Stage 2
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 27 January 2022
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.
Result 122 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 9 February 2022
The Bill was passed on 9 February 2022 and became an Act on 23 March 2022.
Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Act 2022