Coronavirus Act 2020

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the renewal of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (the Act).

As you know, the first six-month review of the Act took place on 30 September 2020. The House of Commons approved the renewal of the temporary provisions within the Act.

This legislation contains some of the most draconian powers ever seen in peacetime Britain. I worked closely with my colleagues in Parliament to scrutinise this legislation when it was introduced in March to ensure that any exercise of executive power or administrative action is measured against human rights and common-law standards. These include necessity, proportionality, rationality, fairness, and non-discrimination.

I understand the concerns you raise about the lack of parliamentary scrutiny since the Act came into force.  With such strong powers available, the need for accountability is even more important than in ordinary times. I am therefore pleased that the Government announced that, where it is possible, Parliament will be consulted on any future significant measures that take effect across the whole of England or the UK.

More widely, I believe the Government must commit to publishing a monthly review of any disproportionate impact of the Act on individuals or groups and give Parliament the time to debate and hold votes on regulatory changes.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. I assure you I will continue to hold the Government to account and ensure that this emergency legislation is kept under constant review.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP