Lords examines emergency Covid-19 legislation

• Catch up on Parliament TV part one and part two
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript
• Bills and legislation: Coronavirus Bill
• Explore the Lords Library briefing
• Stages of bill in the Lords

Members discuss subjects including:

• monitoring of local authority care and support by a body such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission
• introduction of statutory self-employment pay scheme
• expiry of the Act after three months, with the option to extend in three month periods for a maximum time of two years.

On Monday 23 March, members agreed a proposal by the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, suspending the normal rules for Lords business to allow members to carry out all the remaining stages (committee stage, report and third reading) on Wednesday 25 March.

Both Houses now agree the text of the bill and so it receives Royal Assent following third reading. The bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

Lords second reading: Tuesday 24 March

• Catch up on Parliament TV - part one and part two
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript
• What is second reading?

Lord Bethell (Conservative), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, opens the debate.

Bill summary

The Coronavirus Bill enables the government to respond to an emergency situation and manage the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, by:

• increasing the available health and social care workforce
• easing the burden on frontline staff
• containing and slowing the virus
• managing the deceased with respect and dignity
• supporting people.

Further information

• Work of the House of Lords – making laws
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Image: iXimus from Pixabay