To help manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Parliament passed two Bills in 2020. These became the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 and the Coronavirus (No.2) (Scotland) Act 2020 (“the Scottish Acts”). The changes to the law in Part 1 of each of these Acts are due to expire on 30 September 2021.
This new Bill will extend Part 1 of each of these Acts until 31 March 2022. This means that the changes to the law in Part 1 of each of these Acts will continue to be the law until that time. An example of a change that will be extended is a protection against eviction for people who rent their homes.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 4 August 2021
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
To help manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Parliament passed two Bills in 2020. These became the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 and the Coronavirus (No.2) (Scotland) Act 2020 (“the Scottish Acts”). The changes to the law in Part 1 of each of these Acts are due to expire on 30 September 2021.
This new Bill will extend Part 1 of each of these Acts until 31 March 2022. This means that the changes to the law in Part 1 of each of these Acts will continue to be the law until that time. An example of a change that will be extended is a protection against eviction for people who rent their homes.
The Bill will also allow secondary legislation to be used to extend Part 1 of each of these Acts further, to 30 September 2022. The Parliament would need to agree to this by approving an affirmative SSI.
The Bill also expires certain changes made in Part 1 of each of the Scottish Acts so that these will not continue to be the law after 30 September 2021. These can be found in paragraphs 12 through to 30 of the explanatory notes. An example of a change that will expire is a temporary extension of timescales relating to children’s hearings.
The Bill only relates to the Scottish Acts and not the Coronavirus Act 2020 passed by the UK Parliament.
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a respiratory disease, which became a pandemic. In early 2020, the UK and Scottish Governments introduced a series of laws to manage the situation created by the pandemic.
Two Scottish Acts were passed, but Part 1 of each of these Acts will expire on 30 September 2021. The Scottish Government does not want everything in Part 1 of these Acts to expire while the pandemic continues. The Bill, as introduced, would therefore extend certain changes to the law made by the Scottish Acts to help the Scottish Government continue to manage the situation created by the pandemic.
Certain provisions of the Scottish Acts that are no longer necessary will expire. The Bill only extends the provisions that the Scottish Government considers are essential to the ongoing management of specific matters during the pandemic.
Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill as introduced (371KB, pdf) posted 18 June 2021
Explanatory Notes (145KB, pdf) posted 17 June 2021
Policy Memorandum (938KB, pdf) posted 17 June 2021
Financial Memorandum (408KB, pdf) posted 17 June 2021
Delegated Powers Memorandum (389KB, pdf) posted 16 June 2021
Statements on legislative competence (131KB, pdf) posted 18 June 2021
Explanatory Notes (153KB, pdf) posted 17 June 2021
Policy Memorandum (1MB, pdf) posted 17 June 2021
Financial Memorandum (482KB, pdf) posted 17 June 2021
Delegated Powers Memorandum (220KB, pdf) posted 16 June 2021
Statements on legislative competence (186KB, pdf) posted 18 June 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.
SPICe published a blogpost on the Bill as introduced
The Bill was introduced on 18 June 2021
The Parliament agreed that the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill should be treated as an Emergency Bill at the meeting of the Parliament on 22 June 2021.
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 the Parliament must agree to treat it as an Emergency Bill. Stages 1 to 3 of an Emergency Bill are all taken on the same day unless the Parliament agrees to an alternative timescale.
At Stage 1, the Bill is referred immediately to the Parliament to consider the general principles. There is no committee consideration and report on the general principles.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 22 June 2021 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
Result 92 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 22 June 2021
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.
At Stage 2, an Emergency Bill shall be considered by a Committee of the Whole Parliament.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 23 June 2021:
Marshalled List of amendments at Stage 2 (339KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021
Groupings of amendments at Stage 2 (348KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021
During a Committee of the Whole Parliament, MSPs meet in the Chamber but operate under committee procedure, and with the Presiding Officer acting as convener.
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.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 23 June 2021
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.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 24 June 2021:
Marshalled List of amendments at Stage 3 (379KB, pdf) posted 24 June 2021
Groupings of amendments at Stage 3 (500KB, pdf) posted 24 June 2021
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer 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.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill as passed (522KB, pdf) posted 24 June 2021
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 90 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 24 June 2021
The Bill was passed on 24 June 2021 and became an Act on 4 August 2021.