The Government recently introduced the Coronavirus Bill 2020, which would give it new emergency powers. This article looks at the powers the Government already has to deal with emergencies.
The bill proposes new laws that would provide the Government, and various public bodies, with powers to manage the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Government introduced the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 which gave it emergency powers to reduce transmission of the virus. The article summarises the powers in the regulations and speculation about what might be contained in a future Coronavirus Bill. The article also considers other powers the Government has to deal with emergencies, such as those in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the first budget since the 2019 election on 11 March 2020. It contained a series of measures to counteract threats from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Chancellor also announced changes to taxation policy and an increase in public spending.
Hong Kong has had 118 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease and three deaths as at 10 March 2020. Hong Kong’s government has sought to contain the virus through strict quarantine and travel restrictions and by closing some public services, including schools. However, concerns have been raised about the social and economic impact of the measures taken.
This House of Lords Library briefing contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming question for short debate on “the problems of and possible solutions for children in the school system with dyslexia and other neurodiverse conditions".
Catch-up on social policy articles you may have missed from February 2020, including those on girls' rights in the UK and the NHS as an anchor institution.
The educational opportunities available to children and young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are important to social mobility. This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information on this issue ahead of a debate on the subject scheduled to take place on 5 March 2020.
This House of Lords Library briefing contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming question for short debate on the impact of treatment by unregulated and unregistered persons offering psychotherapy or counselling services that takes place on 2 March 2020.
Evidence suggests early years interventions can be effective in improving children's life chances but there remain calls for a national strategy. This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information on this issue ahead of a debate on the subject scheduled to take place on 27 February 2020.
This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information on the NHS Funding Bill in advance of its second reading and remaining stages, due to take place in the House of Lords on 26 February 2020.
The coronavirus was declared a public health emergency on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), only the sixth such emergency since 2009. The declaration followed reports on 31 December 2019 of an unknown virus causing a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China. The virus was later identified as a new strain of coronavirus (Cov). This House of Lords Library briefing provides information about: the virus, including its spread and impact; what action the WHO and UK Government have taken; and the problem of disinformation in relation to the disease.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides information in support of the House of Lords debate on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence’s report Investing in Families: the Adoption Support Fund beyond 2020.