The Bill contains temporary changes. These will help public services continue to operate during this emergency situation. It also includes changes to support businesses and people who use public services.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 6 April 2020
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The Bill contains temporary changes. These will help public services continue to operate during this emergency situation. It also includes changes to support businesses and people who use public services. These reflect changes to the way people can live and work during the emergency situation.
The Bill includes:
The Bill contains the following safeguards:
The aim of the Bill is to respond to the emergency situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Bill adds to the changes that affect Scotland that were made by the Coronavirus Act 2020 (“the 2020 Act”). This Act was passed by the UK Parliament on 25 March 2020.
The coronavirus outbreak is a severe and sustained threat to human life. A severe pandemic could infect a large number of people. Public health measures are needed to control and limit the spread of the outbreak. Public health guidance means changes to:
Large parts of workforces may be unable to work. Others are being re-deployed to prioritise essential services.
The Bill makes changes to some of the duties of public bodies. This will let them focus on work which responds to the coronavirus outbreak. It makes changes that will:
Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill as Introduced (685KB, pdf) posted 01 April 2020
Explanatory Notes (371KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020
Policy Memorandum (2MB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020
Financial Memorandum (504KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020
Delegated Powers Memorandum (306KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020
Statements on legislative competence (141KB, pdf) posted 31 March 2020
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.
Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill SPICe briefing
The Bill was introduced on 31 March 2020
The Parliament agreed that the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill should be treated as an Emergency Bill at the meeting of the Parliament on 1 April 2020.
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 be changed to an Emergency Bill by the Parliament, on a motion by a Cabinet Secretary (or Minister). Stages 1 to 3 of an Emergency Bill are taken on the same day unless the Parliament agrees to an alternative timescale.
Stage 2 of an Emergency Bill must be taken by a Committee of the Whole Parliament.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 1 April 2020 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 1 April 2020
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.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 01 April 2020:
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (238KB, pdf) posted 01 April 2020
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (266KB, pdf) posted 01 April 2020
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.
Printing changes are changes to the text of a Bill. They will not change the legal effect of the Bill.
Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill printing changes after the Bill as amended at Stage 2 (107KB, pdf) posted 20 April 2020
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 1 April 2020
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.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 80 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 49 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 1 April 2020
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts come into force straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act come into force on different dates.