Guidance

[Withdrawn] Coronavirus Act 2020: status table

Updated 20 October 2023

This guidance was withdrawn on

All of the temporary, non-devolved provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020 have now expired or been repealed. You can read previous reports on the status of the temporary, non-devolved provisions in the act.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-act-2020-status/coronavirus-act-2020-status-table

Introduction

This table sets out the status of provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020. It covers the part of the act (part 1) that facilitates legislative and regulatory changes that support the UK’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Further explanations about the purpose and effect of the act can be found on the relevant part of the UK Parliament website. The government also published the coronavirus action plan to set out the strategic direction that this legislation supports.

The act also makes provision, in part 2, for enabling the ‘switching off’ of part 1 provisions when they are not needed and for reporting and accountability mechanisms that support government accountability for the use of the part 1, non-devolved, provisions. One such mechanism is the facility for provisions that are in force to be suspended and then subsequently revived, as and when the course of events permits or requires.

During the course of proceedings on this act in Parliament, the government published a table setting out this status – this is shown below. Where regulations, or orders, are made under this power they will be available on legislation.gov.uk.

The act also requires the government to report to Parliament every 2 months on the status of the non-devolved provisions in part 1 of the act with a statement that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is satisfied that the status of those powers is appropriate. The first report is due to be presented to Parliament on or before 31 May 2021.

Many of the provisions in the act lie within the competence of the devolved legislatures, and were made with their consent. These provisions are included in the table below. However, it will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to approach their own publication and reporting arrangements.

Interpretation

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
1 Meaning of ‘coronavirus’ and related terminology Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Emergency registration of health professionals

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
2, schedule 1 Emergency registration of nurses and other health and care professionals Expired except for provisions relating to existing registrations by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
3, schedule 2 Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Wales Expired N/A N/A
4, schedule 3 Emergency arrangements concerning medical practitioners: Scotland Expired N/A N/A
5, schedule 4 Emergency registration of and extension of prescribing powers for pharmaceutical chemists: Northern Ireland Expired except for provisions relating to existing registrations by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Temporary registration of social workers

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
6, schedule 5 Emergency registration of social workers: England and Wales Expired except for provisions relating to existing registrations by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
7, schedule 6 Temporary registration of social workers: Scotland Expired N/A N/A

Emergency volunteers

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
8, schedule 7 Emergency volunteering leave Expired
Parts 2 to 5 of schedule 7 and section 8 so far as relating to those parts will not expire (section 89)		 N/A N/A
9 Compensation for emergency volunteers Expired N/A N/A

Mental health and mental capacity

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
10, schedule 8 to 11 Temporary modification of mental health and mental capacity legislation Expired except for:
part 3 of schedule 8 and section 10(1) and part 1 of that schedule so far as relating to that part
parts 3 and 4 of schedule 10, and section 10(3) and part 1 of that schedule so far as relating to those parts
parts 3 and 4 of schedule 11, and section 10(4) and part 1 of that schedule so far as relating to those parts, by virtue of section 89		 N/A N/A

Health service indemnification

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
11 Indemnity for health service activity: England and Wales Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
12 Indemnity for health service activity: Scotland Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
13 Indemnity for health and social care activity: Northern Ireland Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

NHS and local authority care and support

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
14 NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments: England Expired N/A N/A
15, schedule 12 Local authority care and support Expired N/A N/A
15, schedule 12 Local authority care and support Expired except for paragraphs 3(2) and (3), 10, 13, 18, 30, 33 and 35 of schedule 12, and section 15 and paragraphs 1 and 19 of that schedule so far as relating to those paragraphs by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
16 Duty of local authority to assess needs: Scotland Expired No N/A
17 Section 16: further provision Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Registration of deaths and stillbirths

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
18, schedule 13 Registration of deaths and stillbirths etc Expired except for paragraphs 8, 9, 15, 16 and 30 of schedule 13, and section 18 and paragraphs 1, 10 and 17 of that schedule so far as relating to those paragraphs by virtue of section 89

Paragraphs 18-22 and 27-29 of schedule 13, together with paragraph 17 of that schedule and section 18(2) so far as it relates to all the above paragraphs, extended for 6 months beyond 24 September 2023, in relation to Northern Ireland		 N/A N/A
19 Confirmatory medical certificate not required for cremations: England and Wales Expired except for section 19(11) by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
20, schedule 14 Review of cause of death certificates and cremations: Scotland Expired N/A N/A
21 Modifications of requirements regarding medical certificates for cremations: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A

Investigatory powers

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
22 Appointment of temporary judicial commissioners Expired N/A N/A
23 Time limits in relation to urgent warrants etc under Investigatory Powers Act Expired N/A N/A

Fingerprints and DNA profiles

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
24 Extension of time limits for retention of fingerprints and DNA profiles Expired N/A N/A

Food supply

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
25 Power to require information relating to food supply chains Expired N/A N/A
26 Authorities which may require information Expired N/A N/A
27 Restrictions on use and disclosure of information Expired N/A N/A
28 Enforcement of requirement to provide information Expired N/A N/A
29 Meaning of ‘food supply chain’ and related expressions Expired N/A N/A

Inquests

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
30 Suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: England and Wales Repealed N/A N/A
31 Suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A
32 Deaths in custody from natural illness: Northern Ireland Expired No N/A

Disclosure: Wales

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
33 Disapplication etc by Welsh ministers of DBS provisions Expired N/A N/A

Disclosure: Scotland

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
34 Temporary disapplication of disclosure offences: Scotland Expired N/A N/A
35 Power to reclassify certain disclosure requests: Scotland Expired N/A N/A

Vaccinations: Scotland

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
36 Vaccination and immunisation: Scotland Expired No N/A

Schools, childcare providers etc

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
37, schedule 16 Temporary closure of educational institutions and childcare premises Expired N/A N/A
38, schedule 17 Temporary continuity: education, training and childcare Expired N/A N/A

Statutory sick pay

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
39 Statutory sick pay: funding of employers’ liabilities Expired N/A N/A
40 Statutory sick pay: power to disapply waiting period limitation Expired N/A N/A
41 Statutory sick pay: modification of regulation making powers Expired N/A N/A
42 Statutory sick pay: funding of employers’ liabilities: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A
43 Statutory sick pay: power to disapply waiting period limitation: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A
44 Statutory sick pay: modification of regulation making powers: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A

Pensions

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
45 NHS pension schemes: suspension of restrictions on return to work: England and Wales Expired N/A N/A
46 NHS pension schemes: suspension of restrictions on return to work: Scotland Expired N/A N/A
47 Health and social care pension schemes: suspension of restrictions on return to work: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A

Protection of public health

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
48, schedule 18 Powers to act for the protection of public health: Northern Ireland Extended for 6 months beyond 24 September 2023 No N/A
49, schedule 19 Health protection regulations: Scotland Expired No N/A

Power to suspend port operations

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
50, schedule 20 Power to suspend port operations Expired N/A N/A

Powers relating to potentially infectious persons

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
51, schedule 21 Powers relating to potentially infectious persons Expired N/A N/A

Powers relating to events, gatherings and premises

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
52, schedule 22 Powers to issue directions relating to events, gatherings and premises Expired N/A N/A

Courts and tribunals: use of video and audio technology

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
53, schedule 23 Expansion of availability of live links in criminal proceedings Repealed N/A N/A
54, schedule 24 Expansion of availability of live links in other criminal hearings Repealed N/A N/A
55, schedule 25 Public participation in proceedings conducted by video or audio Section 55(a) was repealed on 28 June 2022

Section 55(b) repealed with effect from 28 June 2022 except for the purposes of maintaining certain tribunal rules. The remaining parts of section 55(b) expired at the end of 24 September 2022.		 N/A N/A
56, schedule 26 Live links in magistrates’ court appeals against requirements or restrictions imposed on a potentially infectious person Expired N/A N/A
57, schedule 27 Use of live links in legal proceedings: Northern Ireland Parts 1 and 2 of schedule 27, and section 57 so far as it relates to those parts, extended for 6 months beyond 24 September 2023 No N/A

Powers in relation to bodies

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
58, schedule 28 Powers in relation to transportation, storage and disposal of dead bodies etc Expired N/A N/A

Postponement of elections, referendums, recall petitions and canvass

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
59 Elections and referendums due to be held in England in period after 15 March 2020 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
60 Postponement of elections due to be held on 7 May 2020 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
61 Power to postpone certain other elections and referendums Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
62 Power to postpone a recall petition under the Recall of MPs Act 2015 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
63 Power to make supplementary etc provision Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
64 Northern Ireland: timing of canvass and assembly by-elections Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Postponement of elections: Wales

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
65 Elections due to be held in Wales in period after 15 March 2020 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
66 Postponement of National Assembly for Wales elections for constituency vacancies Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
67 Power to postpone local authority elections in Wales for casual vacancies Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
68 Power to make supplementary etc provision Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Postponement of elections: Scotland

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
69 Postponement of Scottish Parliament elections for constituency vacancies Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
70 Postponement of local authority elections in Scotland for casual vacancies Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Other administrative requirements

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
71 Signatures of Treasury commissioners Expired N/A N/A

National Insurance contributions

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
72 Power under section 143 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
73 Power under section 145 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A
74 Power under section 5 of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Financial assistance for industry

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
75 Disapplication of limit under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 Expired, except for section 75(1) by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

HMRC functions

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
76 HMRC functions Permanent provision by virtue of section 89 N/A N/A

Up-rating of working tax credit etc

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
77 Up-rating of working tax credit etc Expired N/A N/A

Local authority meetings

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
78 Local authority meetings Expired in relation to England and Wales

Extended for 6 months beyond 24 September 2023, in relation to Northern Ireland		 N/A N/A

Business improvement districts

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
79 Extension of BID arrangements: England Expired N/A N/A
80 Extensions of BID arrangements: Northern Ireland Expired N/A N/A

Residential tenancies: protection from eviction

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
81, schedule 29 Residential tenancies in England and Wales: protection from eviction Expired N/A N/A

Business tenancies: protection from forfeiture etc

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
82 Business tenancies in England and Wales: protection from forfeiture etc Expired N/A N/A
83 Business tenancies in Northern Ireland: protection from forfeiture etc Expired N/A N/A

General Synod of the Church of England

Section (all part 1) and schedule Measure In force? Suspended? Revived?
84 Postponement of General Synod elections Expired

For the avoidance of doubt the SI saved the operation of General Synod of the Church of England (Postponement of Elections) Order 2020, SI 2020/526 and General Synod of the Church of England (Postponement of Elections) (Amendment) Order 2020, SI 2020/1123		 N/A N/A
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