COVID-19 and administrative justice – a call for blogs, opinions, and news

COVID-19 and administrative justice – a call for blogs, opinions, and news

By now, it is inevitable that the spread of Covid-19 will have substantial political, social, economic, and human consequences all across the globe. This is also true in the legal sphere. For this reason, UKAJI intends today to launch a series of blogs, opinion pieces, and news summaries on the theme of Covid-19 and administrative justice to consider how this pandemic has, will do, should, or could affect administrative justice. These blogs and opinion pieces may consider but need not be limited to:

• Changes to judicial scrutiny of executive action via judicial review;
• Parliamentary scrutiny of legislation to combat the virus;
• The consequences of school closures, particularly for children with SEND;
• How online, home, and distance working may affect administrative decision-making;
• How changes to tribunal procedures may affect the fairness of the proceedings;
• Changes to the professional practice of administrative justice practitioners, such as mediators;
• The standards against which ombuds should assess medical conduct and practice during this time in future complaints;
• Changes to the duties placed on local government and administrative officials.

UKAJI’s blog writing guidelines can be found here and UKAJI’s definition of administrative justice can also be found at that link.

However, we appreciate at this time that scholars and practitioners may not have sufficient time to write a full-length blog piece. Therefore, we are also inviting short opinion pieces of up to 500 words where the contributor succinctly outlines their thoughts on a current administrative justice issue, so as to provoke discussion. These need not be fully referenced but may be in the style of initial, instinctive reactions that should be borne in mind by the administrative justice community. If these opinion pieces prove successful, UKAJI will make greater use of these pieces for all administrative justice issues in future.

In addition, on this current page, UKAJI will collate a list to be updated at least every forty-eight hours summarising relevant changes to administrative justice prompted by this pandemic. If you have material you would like to include on this list or would like to discuss a blog or opinion contribution, please contact Lee Marsons on lm17598@essex.ac.uk.

COVID-19 and administrative justice – news to note:

Updated as of 1 July 2020 09:10

Cases:

Rather than include every case where ‘coronavirus’ or ‘Covid-19’ appears, UKAJI has chosen to limit this list to cases of particular significance to administrative justice and public law:

• BP v Surrey County Council and RP [2020] EWCOP 17 (Court of Protection)
• Adrian Charles Hyde and Kevin Anthony Murphy v Anthony David Nygate [2020] EWHC 845 (Ch)
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v MB [2020] EWHC 882 (QB)
• P (A Child: Remote Hearing) [2020] EWFC 32
• London Borough of Hackney v Okoro [2020] EWCA Civ 681
• Arkin v Marshall [2020] EWCA Civ 620
• R (Hussain) v Secretary of State for Health [2020] EWHC 1392 (Admin)
• Simon Dolan via Wedlake Bell Solicitors has initiated judicial review proceedings against the Home Secretary for authorising the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020.
• Simon Dolan via Wedlake Bell Solicitors has initiated judicial review proceedings against the Health Secretary for authorising the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (England) Regulations 2020.
• Sustain and Good Law Project are pursuing a crowdfunded judicial review to compel the Government to continue its food voucher scheme over the school summer holidays
• Article 39 has initiated judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State for Education in relation to the lawfulness of The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• SC v University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust [2020] EWHC 1445 (QB)

Blogs via UKAJI:

• Lee Marsons, Covid-19 and the UK Administrative State, available here;
• Jaime Lindsey, Virtual hearings, participation and openness in the Court of Protection, available here;
• Margaret Doyle, Going online in a hurry, available here;
• David Whalley, Jumping in with both feet, available here;
• Johnny Tan, Online hearings and the quality of justice, available here;
• Eri Mountbatten-O’Malley, The Emperor has no clothes: A sober analysis of the Government response to Covid-19, available here;
• Administrative Justice Council Webinar on the impact of COVID-19 on administrative justice (29 April 2020), available here;
• Emmanuel Slautsky, Public law values in times of lockdown: lessons from the Belgian case, available here;
• Stefan Theil, Germany – a federal executive power grab? Available here;
• Joe Tomlinson, Jack Maxwell, Jo Hynes, and Emma Marshall, Judicial Review during Covid-19 Part I and II, available here and here.
• Sam Guy, Judicial review and Covid-19: reflections on the role of crowdfunding
• Lee Marsons, Delayed publication of coronavirus regulations and legal certainty – concerns and protections

Courts and Tribunals:

Rolling updates on the response of the judiciary and HMCTS to Covid-19 can be found here.

• The Legal Aid Agency provided guidance on its contingency response regarding COVID-19. The guidance can be found here.
• HM Courts and Tribunals Service published guidance on the operation of courts and tribunals during the pandemic, including use of telephone and video hearings, jury service, court hygiene, and travelling to court buildings. This guidance was updated on 25 March 2020
• The Lord Chief Justice announced a review of court arrangements in light of the pandemic.
• The Lord Chief Justice provided guidance to the civil courts on how to conduct remote hearings.
• The Lord Chief Justice provided updated pilot practice directions for the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health).
• The Lord Chief Justice provided guidance on contingency arrangements for the First-Tier and Upper Tribunal.
• The Administrative Court set out guidance for applications requiring immediate or urgent consideration (so-called ‘Immediates’).
• The President of the Family Division published guidance on compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders.
• The Vice President of the Court of Protection published guidance for practitioners.
• The Public Law Project initiated a survey for court and tribunal users, found here, to obtain data on how the pandemic is affecting the judicial system.
• The Judicial Appointments Commission provided an update on how the virus was affecting its selection processes.
• The Senior President of Tribunals extended the deadline for his consultation to 14 April 2020 on amending the composition statements for the General Regulatory Chamber, Social Entitlement Chamber, Property Chamber and Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.
• The Master of the Rolls provided an updated practice direction on video and audio hearings in civil courts during the pandemic.
• The President of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, First-Tier Tribunal, provided a presidential practice statement on arrangements during Covid-19.
• The Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice issued a Practice Direction to stay possession proceedings in the civil courts.
• The Lord Chief Justice provided an update on 27/03/2020 on court buildings remaining open.
• The Ministry of Justice produced a helpline to assist victims of crime and witnesses.
• The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Crown Office published a protocol advising court users how they can comply with government guidance as to social distancing.
• The President of the Family Division issued a message on the process for family appeals.
• Message from the President of the Family Division: Private Law Working Group Report
• New Practice Direction 51ZA Extension of Time Limits and Clarification of PD51Y
• HMCTS provided an update on how hearings were now being conducted remotely, including providing specific case studies of judges.
• Susan Acland Hood, Responding to coronavirus in our courts and tribunals
• The Judicial Office provided a contribution on a trial conducted by Skype in the Court of Protection by Mr Justice Mostyn
• Courts and tribunals data on audio and video technology use during coronavirus outbreak(14 April 2020)
• New rapid consultation: the use of remote hearings in the family justice system – 28th Apr 2020
• Civil Justice Council report on the impact of COVID-19 on civil court users published (5 June 2020)
• Sir Andrew McFarlane, The Family Court and COVID-19: The Road Ahead

Commentaries:

• Theodore Konstadinides and Lee Marsons: Covid-19 and its impact on the constitutional relationship between Government and Parliament
• Lee Marsons: Covid-19 and the UK Administrative State
• Paul Daly: The Covid-19 Pandemic and Proportionality: A Framework
• Lord Anderson of Ipswich: Can we be forced to stay at home?
• Adam Wagner: In a new age of emergency laws, human rights are more important than ever
• Judith Bueno de Mesquita, Koldo Casla and Matteo Bassetti: Human rights in the time of coronavirus
• Jeff King (Part 1): The lockdown is lawful
• Jeff King (Part 2): The lockdown is lawful
• Opinio Juris launched COVID-19 Symposium: Article 2 ECHR’s Positive Obligations–How Can Human Rights Law Inform the Protection of Health Care Personnel and Vulnerable Patients in the COVID-19 Pandemic?
• Robert Craig: Lockdown: A Response to Professor King
• Lee Marsons: Covid-19 and the health protection regulations – proportionality, deference, and intensity of review
• Tom Hickman QC, Emma Dixon and Rachel Jones: Coronavirus and Civil Liberties in the UK
• Patricia Tuitt: Covid-19 Testing and the Dissonance of Law
• Andrew Blick and Clive Walker: Why did government not use the Civil Contingencies Act?
• Lord Norton of Louth, Standing in for the Prime Minister
• Dean Knight, Lockdown Bubbles through Layers of Law, Discretion and Nudges – New Zealand
• Celia Kitzinger, Remote justice: a family perspective
• Tom Flynn, Weimar-on-Danube: on the Hungarian Enabling Act, the European response, and the future of the Union
• Kriszta Kovacs, Hungary’s Orbánistan: A Complete Arsenal of Emergency Powers
• David Dyzenhaus, Canada the Good?
• Tamar Hostovsky Brandes, Israel’s Perfect Storm: Fighting Coronavirus in the Midst of a Constitutional Crisis
• Announcement: Webinar on Human Rights in the Time of Coronavirus (7 April) (Strasbourg Observers)
• Renata Uitz, Pandemic as Constitutional Moment
• Adrian Berry, UK Government powers to compel people to stay at home: How far can Public Health Regulations go to defeat Coronavirus?
• Matthew Scott, Lessons for open justice in the Marie Dinou case
• Reasonable excuses and the regulations restricting freedom of movement
• The Obiter J blog has featured several posts on coronavirus, available here.
• Lord Sandhurst QC and Anthony Speaight QC (Society of Conservative Lawyers), Pardonable in the heat of crisis – but we must urgently return to the rule of law
• Emilio Peluso Neder Meyer and Thomas Bustamante, Authoritarianism without emergency powers: Brazil Under Covid-19
• Julinda Beqiraj, Italy’s Coronavirus Legislative Response: Adjusting Along the Way
• Sean Molloy: Covid-19, Emergency Legislation and Sunset Clauses
• Charles Flint QC, Mediation for the Future
• Jeff King and Gavin Phillipson, A Prime Minister in Hospital: the constitutional implications
• Michael Kenny and Jack Sheldon, Territorial governance and the coronavirus crisis
• Yossi Nehushtan, The British Lockdown is Disproportionate
• Sebastien Platon, From One State of Emergency to Another – Emergency Powers in France
• Kim Lane Scheppele, Underreaction in a Time of Emergency: America as a Nearly Failed State
• Natasa Mavronicola, Positive Obligations in Crisis
• Robert Hazell, What happens when the Prime Minister is incapacitated?
• Orla Doyle, COVID-19: Exacerbating Educational Inequalities?
• Judith Townsend, Covid-19, the UK’s Coronavirus Act and emergency ‘remote’ court hearings: what does it mean for open justice?
• Stevie Martin, A Domestic Court’s Attempt to Derogate from the ECHR on behalf of the United Kingdom: the implications of Covid-19 on judicial decision-making in the United Kingdom
• David Mead, The Government’s response to COVID-19: the human rights implications of the ban on gatherings in Regulation 7
• Special Needs Jungle (Hayley Mason), Could remote hearings be the new normal at the SEND Tribunal?
• Darragh Coffey, The Coronavirus Act 2020: When Legislation Goes Viral (Part One)
• Darragh Coffey, The Coronavirus Act 2020: When Legislation Goes Viral (Part Two)
• Dominic Ruck Keene, Leviathan unshackled?
• Alex Ruck Keene, Hospitals, scarce resources and human rights
• Jonathan Cooper, Dignity, the Right to Life, and the Coronavirus
• Colin Talbot, Government: Centralism and Localism in the Covid Crisis
• Ruth Fox and Meg Russell, Proposals for a ‘virtual parliament’: how should parliamentary procedure and practices adapt during the coronavirus pandemic?
• Koldo Casla, Coronavirus: Beyond human rights
• Tamara Tulich, Marco Rizzi and Fiona McGaughey, Cooperative Federalism, Soft Governance and Hard Laws in Australia’s State of Emergency
• Radosveta Vassileva, Bulgaria: COVID-19 as an Excuse to Solidify Autocracy?
• Is Gagging NHS Workers Lawful? Coronavirus and Freedom of Speech – by George Letsas and Virginia Mantouvalou
• Tom Hickman, Eight ways to reinforce and revise the lockdown law
• To notify or not to notify: derogations from human rights treaties, Kushtrim Istrefi and Isabelle Humburg
• Law and religion – The Coronavirus Act 2020: statutory guidance for local authorities
• Cormac Mac Amlaigh, Legitimacy in the time of coronavirus
• Julian Murphy, Stopping the unstoppable – Executive accountability in a time of pandemic
• Conall Mallory, The Right to Life and Personal Protective Equipment
• Tony Porter, Surveillance and COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt
• Fran Bennett, Coronavirus – the making or the unmaking of Universal Credit?
• Eduardo Reyes, Power Grab
• Francis Hoar, A disproportionate interference with rights and freedoms – the Coronavirus Regulations and the European Convention on Human Rights
• Robert Greally: The House of Commons’ Initial Procedural Response to the Coronavirus
• Chris Knight, Coronavirus: a regulatory update
• Greg Power, Can analogue politics work in an era of digital scrutiny? The negative effect of COVID-19 on the informal politics of Westminster
• Gabor Halmai, Don’t be fooled by autocrats!
• Abdurrachman Satrio, State of Emergency Through the Back Door: Banning Fake News in Indonesia During the Spread of COVID-19
• Aleksandra Kustra-Rogatka, The Constitution as a Bargaining Chip COVID-19, Presidential elections in Poland and a Constitutional Amendment Bill under Consideration
• William E. Scheuerman, Schmittian Instincts at Odds with Neoliberalism
• Christian Bjørnskov and Stefan Voigt, The State of Emergency Virus
• Maximilian Steinbeis, Nothing like before
• Nico Krisch, COVID, Crisis and Change in Global Governance
• Cheryl Saunders, COVID-19 – what is Australia’s National Cabinet?
• Leonid Sirota, How Much Justice Can You Afford? The trade-offs involved in designing fair administrative procedures
• Philippe Lagassé, Politics, the pandemic, and the professional class
• Ronan Cormacain, Covid-19: When is a rule not a rule?
• Robin Mansell, Coronavirus contact tracing apps – a proportionate response?
• Joe Tomlinson, Jo Hynes, Emma Marshall and Jack Maxwell, Judicial Review in the Administrative Court during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Cristiano Paixão and Juliano Zaiden Benvindo, “Constitutional Dismemberment” and Strategic Deconstitutionalization in Times of Crisis: Beyond Emergency Powers
• Andrew Geddis and Claudia Geiringer: Is New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown lawful?
• Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Statement: COVID-19 and the basics of democratic governance
• Elaine Gadd, Is the Government using its own ethical framework?
• Dave Archard, Trustworthiness and ‘doing ethics’
• Hugh Whittall, COVID, transparency and trust
• Peter Mills, Liberty, solidarity and the biopolitics of COVID-19
• Mark Mancini, Expertise in Pandemic Life
• Mia Forbes Pirie and Graham Ross, Mediating online: in the Covid-19 environment
• Jennifer Collins, Coronavirus and the Spread of Crime Control
• Paul Bowen QC, Learning lessons the hard way – Article 2 duties to investigate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic
• Stefano Civitarese Matteucci: The Italian Response to Coronavirus and Constitutional Disagreement
• Christian Oliver, Of Leviathan and lockdowns
• Leo Davidson, The Coronavirus lockdown does not breach human rights (Part One)
• Frederick Cowell: Lifting the Lockdown: The Human Rights Issues
• Donal Galligan and Niki Maclean, The impact of Covid on the ombuds sector
• Nyasha Weinberg: Parliament must legislate on the government’s plans for contact tracing apps
• Keith Ewing, Covid-19: Government by Decree
• Bonavero Institute of Human Rights published a preliminary assessment of the legislative and regulatory Covid-19 response in eleven jurisdictions
• Ríán Derrig, Lockdown Fatigue: Pandemic from the Perspective of Nudge Theory
• Lauren Tonti, COVID-19: Walking the Tightrope of Vaccination Obligations
  State compelled vaccinations in the U.S. and Germany
• Luisa Netto, The Illiterate Democracy: Brazil’s response to the Coronavirus and the human right to science
• Dániel Karsai, Can Parliament Exercise Effective Control over the Emergency Legislation? Comments on the article by Imre Vörös
• Maria Cahill, Lockdown v Liberty: Do we still believe in freedom?
• John Cotter, The Last Chance Saloon: Hungarian Representatives may be Excluded from the European Council and the Council
• Jalale Getachew Birru, Constitutional Impasse in Ethiopia Finding a Solution for the Current Postponement of the 2020 General Election in Ethiopia
• Aleksandra Kustra-Rogatka, Between Constitutional Tragedy and Political Farce
  On the Postponement of the Presidential Elections in Poland
• Dániel Karsai, The Curious and Alarming Story of the City of Göd
  How the Hungarian Government misuses its power in their political fight against opposition-led municipalities
• Ruiping Ye, Kill the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys: China’s enforcement of laws in the containment of Covid-19
• Ivan Cavdarevic, Serbia and Covid-19: State of Emergency in a State in Disarray
• Daniel E. Walters, A Risky Gamble: Teasing Out the Likely Consequences of Universal Mail-In Voting in the 2020 U.S. General Election
• Päivi Leino-Sandberg, Constitutional Constraints meet Political Pressure
  Finland’s precarious participation in the COVID-19 solidarity measures
• Giuseppe Martinico and Marta Simoncini, Emergency and Risk in Comparative Public Law
• Ashley Mantha-Hollands and Liav Orgad, The Future of Handshaking: How Coronavirus Can Transform ‘Living Together’ in Europe
• Armin von Bogdandy and Pedro Villarreal, The Law of the WHO, COVID-19 and the Multilateral World Order
• Eirini Fasia, Effective but Constitutionally Dubious: The Constitutionality of Greece’s Response to the Pandemic
• Tomasz Tadeusz Koncewicz, Being a Lawyer in Times of “Constitutional Pandemics”
  On Sheltered Memories and Fidelities: Personal and Constitutional
• Flavia Piovesan and Mariela Morales Antoniazzi, COVID-19 and the Need for a Holistic and Integral Approach to Human Rights Protection: On Latin America and the Inverted Principle of Interdependence and Indivisibility of Human Rights
• Gábor Halmai and Kim Lane Scheppele, Orbán is Still the Sole Judge of his Own Law
• Lena Hornkohl and Jens van‘t Klooster, With Exclusive Competence Comes Great Responsibility: How the Commission’s Covid-19 State Aid rules Increase Regional Inequalities within the EU
• Karan Gupta, Cracks in India’s Constitutional Framework: Structural Implications of the Response to Covid-19 on Indian Constitutionalism
• Francesco Palermo, Is there a space for federalism in times of emergency?
• Simon Halliday, Jed Meers, and Joe Tomlinson published their interim report into public attitudes to Covid-19 restrictions as part of their Law and Compliance project
• Gábor Halmai, Gábor Mészáros and  Kim Lane Scheppele, From Emergency to Disaster How Hungary’s Second Pandemic Emergency will Further Destroy the Rule of Law
• João Victor Archegas and Leticia Kreuz, The ‘Constitutional Military Inter­vention’: Brazil on the Verge of Democratic Breakdown
• Carlos César Trapani, COVID-19 in Paraguay: Health Success and Constitutional Deficit
• Ciarán Burke, Fighting COVID-19 with Religious Discrimination: South Korea’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Goutham Shivshankar: Debating the Applicability of India’s Disaster Management Law to COVID-19
• Suzanne Lambert, Covid-19 and immigration detention
• Rafe Jennings, What are the data privacy implications of contact tracing?
• Andrew Geddis: The New Zealand Lockdown and the Law
• Devansh Kaushik: The Indian Administrative Response to COVID-19
• Rosalind English, South African lockdown rules declared unlawful
• Rosalind English, C-19 damage: does international law hold any answers?
• Rosalind English, Legal Challenge to Lockdown Measures
• Rosalind English, Contact tracing – breach of data protection?
• Rosalind English, The latest critique of the Coronavirus Act 2020
• Sapan Maini-Thompson, Juries and Covid-19: protecting the right to a fair trial
• Dominic Ruck Keene, Leviathan Challenged — the lockdown is compliant with human rights law (Part Two)
• The Social Rights Group of the International Constitutional Law Association launched a blog series on social rights before and after Covid-19. The introduction to a Symposium held by the Group can be found here.
• Silvana Sciarra, Social Rights & Covid-19 Symposium: European Social Policy in the Covid-19 Crisis
• Daniel Crutchfield, MPs and their offices during lockdown – how we’ve helped
• Peter van Elsuwege, Lifting Travel Restrictions in the Era of COVID-19: In Search of a European Approach
• Oran Doyle, Leaving Home: Reasonable Excuses, Vagueness, and the Rule of Law
• David Kenny, Public Accountability in the Pandemic: Covid-19 and State Governance
• Penelope Gibbs, What’s happening in English courts during lockdown?
• David Allen Green, Why the Attorney General should resign
• Andrej Drapal, Ethics upgraded by corona
• Andrej Drapal, The Crisis and the “Crisis”
• Simon Burall, Why the Government must engage the public on its COVID-19 response
• Peter Mills, Test, trace, track: the biopolitics of COVID-19 (redux)
• John Dupre, Following the science in the Covid-19 pandemic
• Anne Kerr, Twenty questions about the NHSX contact tracing app
• Celia Kitzinger, How to observe remote hearings in the Court of Protection
• Russell Sandberg, Law Reform and Coronavirus
• Rosella Pulvirenti and Alice Diver, FAR FROM UNPRECEDENTED? THE RATIONING OF HEALTHCARE IN ITALY AND THE UK DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY: A HUMAN RIGHTS ANALYSIS
• Maurice Mendelson QC, Covid-19 and international law
• Covid-19 and Federal Dynamics in Germany: Business as Usual (UACES Territorial Politics Blog)
• Penelope Gibbs, Does virtual justice increase discrimination?
• David Beamish, How has the House of Lords adapted to the coronavirus crisis?
• Alex Ruck Keene, Face-coverings, public transport and mental capacity
• Nyasha Weinberg and Claudia Pagliari: Covid-19 reveals the need to review the transparency and independence of scientific advice
• Lord Norton of Louth, Voting electronically is easy but should it be?
• Yossi Nehushtan, The 14-Day Quarantine Policy is Illegal
• Christopher McCrudden: Democracy, protests, and Covid-19: the challenge of (and for) human rights
• Simon Halliday, Jed Meers and Joe Tomlinson, Public Attitudes on Compliance with COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions
• Jack Larkin, You Can’t Sit With Us – Some European Responses on the Remote Sitting of Parliaments
• Alex Schymyck: Why the proposed changes to asylum legal aid fees are unlawful
• Yossi Nehushtan and Megan Davidson: The UK 14-Day Quarantine Policy: Is Public Opinion a Relevant Consideration?
• Liz Hicks, Private Actors and Executive Power During Times of Crisis: Scrutinising Australia’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission
• Rodney Brazier, Change of Prime Minister, anyone?

Delegated Legislation and Ministerial Directions:

• The Hansard Society is providing updated information on delegated legislation related to coronavirus along with analysis of the enabling legislation, corrections, and originating departments.
• The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee is providing running updates on delegated legislation considered by the Committee here. The legislation.gov website has created a search function for delegated legislation with ‘coronavirus’ in the title. However, this will not cover all delegated legislation produced due to the pandemic, as can be seen below.
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No. 1) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020
• The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus Disease) Regulations 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The National Health Service (Amendments Relating to the Provision of Primary Care Services During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations 2020
• The Investigatory Powers (Temporary Judicial Commissioners and Modification of Time Limits) Regulations 2020
• The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020
• The Competition Act 1998 (Solent Maritime Crossings) (Coronavirus) (Public Policy Exclusion) Order 2020
• The Competition Act 1998 (Groceries) (Coronavirus) (Public Policy Exclusion) Order 2020
• The Competition Act 1998 (Health Services for Patients in England) (Coronavirus) (Public Policy Exclusion) Order 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Public Health Notifiable Diseases Order (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Notifiable Diseases and Notifiable Organisms) Amendment Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020
• The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Commencement No 16) Order 2020
• The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Emergency Procedures) (Amendment) Rules 2020 Order of Council 2020
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2020
• The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Order 2020
• The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (General Levy) (Revocation) Regulations 2020
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2020
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2020
• The Exercise of Commissioning Functions by the NHS Commissioning Board (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
• The Coronavirus (Retention of Fingerprints and DNA Profiles in the Interests of National Security) Regulations 2020
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2020
• The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020
• The Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2020
• The Carer’s Allowance (Coronavirus) (Breaks in Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Amendment Regulations 2020
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No. 1) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Establishment and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Offender Management Act 2007 (Coronavirus) (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2020
• The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Wimbledon) (Revocation) Regulations 2020
• The Anguilla (Coronavirus) (General Election Postponement) Order 2020
• The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2020
• The Street and Road Works (Amendments Relating to Electronic Communications) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations 2020
• The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2020
• The Electronic Monitoring (Responsible Persons) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Order 2020
• The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020
• The Tribunal Procedure (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2020
• The Employment Appeal Tribunal (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2020
• The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Treasury Direction made under sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020
• The Police Trainee (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Regulated Activities) (Coronavirus) Order 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Education (National Curriculum) (Key Stages 1 and 2 Assessment Arrangements) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Order 2020
• The Competition Act 1998 (Health Services for Patients in Wales) (Coronavirus) (Public Policy Exclusion) Order 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2020
• The Football Spectators (2020 UEFA European Championship Control Period) (Coronavirus) (Revocation) Order 2020
• The Civil Aviation Authority issued an order as to police use of drones: ORS4 No. 1361 Small Unmanned Aircraft – COVID19 Pandemic – Emergency Services Response
• Other orders issued by the CAA during the pandemic can be found here
• The Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Exercise of Commissioning Functions by the NHS Commissioning Board (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
• The Exercise of Functions by the National Health Service Commissioning Board (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): notification to organisations to share information – Notification to healthcare organisations, GPs, local authorities and arm’s length bodies that they should share information to support efforts against coronavirus (COVID-19).
• COVID-19 public health NHS England Directions 2020 – Directions given by NHS England requiring NHS Digital to establish and operate information systems to collect analysis data in connection with COVID-19 and develop and operate information and communication systems to deliver services in connection with COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020 – A Direction given by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care requiring NHS Digital to establish and operate information systems to collect and analyse data in connection with COVID-19, and develop and operate information and communication systems to deliver services in connection with COVID-19.
• The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Education (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Louisa Jordan Hospital, Glasgow) Regulations 2020
• The Non-Domestic Rating (Transitional Protection Payments and Rates Retention) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development and Welfare Requirements) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020
• The Discretionary Support (Amendment No. 2) (COVID-19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Maternity Allowance, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Normal Weekly Earnings etc.) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020
• Security of NHS and Public Health Services Digital Systems (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
• The Taking Control of Goods and Certification of Enforcement Agents (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The State Pension Credit (Coronavirus) (Electronic Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• Storage limit for frozen eggs, sperm and embryos extended during coronavirus outbreak
• The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Normal Weekly Earnings etc.) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Maternity Allowance and Statutory Maternity Pay (Normal Weekly Earnings etc.) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The National Health Service (Quality Accounts) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Misuse of Drugs (Coronavirus) (Amendments Relating to the Supply of Controlled Drugs During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations 2020
• The Planning (Development Management) (Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Local Government (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Common Agricultural Policy (Payments to Farmers) (Coronavirus) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications and Induction Arrangements) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Criminal Legal Aid (Coronavirus, Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Value Added Tax (Extension of Zero-Rating to Electronically Supplied Books etc.) (Coronavirus) Order 2020
• The Value Added Tax (Zero Rate for Personal Protective Equipment) (Coronavirus) Order 2020
• Modification notice: EHC plans legislation changes
• The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Education (Admission Appeals Arrangements) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Common Agricultural Policy (Control and Enforcement, Cross-Compliance, Scrutiny of Transactions and Appeals) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Order 2020
• The Competition Act 1998 (Dairy Produce) (Coronavirus) (Public Policy Exclusion) Order 2020
• The Local Government (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of District Council Meetings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Release of Prisoners (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020
• The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Regulated Services (Annual Returns) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Children’s Social Care (Coronavirus) (Temporary Modification of Children’s Social Care) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020
• The Payments to Farmers (Controls and Checks) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020
• The Traffic Orders Procedure (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Tax Credits (Coronavirus, Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The General Synod of the Church of England (Postponement of Elections) Order 2020
• The Social Security Contributions (Disregarded Payments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Income Tax (Exemption for Coronavirus Related Home Office Expenses) Regulations 2020
• The Marine Works and Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Universal Credit (Coronavirus) (Self-employed Claimants and Reclaims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Direct Payments to Farmers Single Application Amendment Date (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Planning Applications (Temporary Modifications and Disapplication) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Order 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Funding of Employers’ Liabilities) Regulations 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Funding of Employers’ Liabilities) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020
• The Adults with Incapacity (Ethics Committee) (Scotland) (Coronavirus) Amendment Regulations 2020
• The Direct Payments to Farmers (Application Deadlines) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Education (Deemed Decisions) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020
• The Individual Savings Account (Amendment No. 3) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2020
• The Bathing Water (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure, Listed Buildings and Environmental Impact Assessment) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020
• The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Education (Independent School Standards) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The School Discipline (England) (Coronavirus) (Pupil Exclusions and Reviews) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Schools Forums (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Police Act 1997 and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Fees) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020
• CORONAVIRUS ACT 2020 MODIFICATION OF SECTION 42 OF THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACT 2014 (ENGLAND) (NO. 2) NOTICE 2020
• CORONAVIRUS ACT 2020 DISAPPLICATION OF SECTION 444(1) AND (1A) OF THE EDUCATION ACT 1996 (ENGLAND) (NO.2) NOTICE 2020
• CORONAVIRUS ACT 2020 MODIFICATION OF SECTION 3 OF THE EDUCATION ACT 1996 (ENGLAND) (NO.2) NOTICE 2020
• CORONAVIRUS ACT 2020 DISAPPLICATION OF SECTIONS 5(1), 15(3), 17(2), 48(3) AND 49(1) AND (2) OF THE EDUCATION ACT 2005 (ENGLAND) (NO. 2) NOTICE 2020
• The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Passengers Travelling to England) Regulations 2020
• The Rates (Coronavirus) (Emergency Relief) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Higher Education (Fee Limits and Student Support) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• Security of NHS and Public Health Services Digital Systems (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
• The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Passengers Travelling to Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Advice for Persons Travelling to Northern Ireland) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) (Amendment) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020
• The Direct Payments to Farmers (Inspections) (Coronavirus) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020
• The National Health Service (Temporary Disapplication of Tenure of Office) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Supplementary Provision) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020
• EDUCATIONAL CONTINUITY (NO.2) DIRECTION GIVEN UNDER PARAGRAPH 11(1) OF SCHEDULE 17 (TEMPORARY CONTINUITY DIRECTIONS ETC: EDUCATION, TRAINING AND CHILDCARE: SCOTLAND) OF THE CORONAVIRUS ACT 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Persons Travelling to Wales etc.) Regulations 2020
• The General Osteopathic Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2020
• The Business Tenancies (Extension of Protection from Forfeiture etc.) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Taking Control of Goods and Certification of Enforcement Agents (Amendment) (No. 2) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Business Tenancies (Protection from Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Coronavirus) (England) Regulations 2020
• The Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020
• The Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Local Government Finance (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020
• The Curriculum Requirements (Amendment of paragraph 7(5) of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Education (Notification of School Term Dates) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
• The Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (English and Welsh Schemes) (Excluded Benefits for Tax Purposes) Regulations 2020
• The General Chiropractic Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2020
• The Maintained Schools (Amendment of paragraph 7 of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• The Patents, Trade Marks and Registered Designs (Fees) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2020
• The Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Childcare Payments (Coronavirus and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020
• The Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
• The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Meetings) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Devolution:

• The Senedd Research blog is providing regular updates on the implications of coronavirus for Wales.
• The Institute for Government is providing regular updates on the implications of coronavirus for devolution.
• The Communities Minister in the Northern Irish Executive made changes to the Discretionary Support Fund so as to provide non-repayable grants and short-term help with living expenses. The Minister further suspended all reassessments and reviews for health and disability benefits for three months, including PIPs, Work Capability Assessments for ESA and UC, Attendance Allowance, and Disability Living Allowance. The Minister’s announcement can be found here.
• The Communities Minister in the Northern Irish Executive announced that she us providing £200,000 in match funding to Community Foundation NI’s (CFNI) Coronavirus Community Fund. The announcement can be found here.
• The Health Minister of the Northern Irish Executive announced £10.5 million in funding to alleviate pressures in pharmacies. The announcement can be found here.
• The Scottish Parliament was asked to consent to Westminster’s Coronavirus Bill, as was the Welsh Assembly.
• The Scottish Government announced emergency housing legislation prohibiting eviction for six months.
• The Northern Irish Executive is to make equivalent fortnightly direct payments to the parents of children who would have otherwise received free schools meals had their child attended school.
• The Legal Aid Board (Wales) provided an update on its services during the pandemic.
• The Scottish Government made declarations under Schedules 21 and 22 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 that coronavirus was an imminent and serious threat to public health, bringing into force so-called a ‘public health response period’ and a ‘transmission control period’.
• The Welsh Government established a specific webpage regarding coronavirus, as did the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish Government
• Using powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020, the Scottish Government issued the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• The Northern Irish Communities Minister instructed officials to provide grants to support the Northern Irish sports sector via Sport NI.
• The Scottish Human Rights Commission published guidance on the human rights implications of Holyrood’s Coronavirus Bill 2020.
• The Scottish Government published its emergency Coronavirus Bill 2020. This was later granted Royal Assent as the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.
• The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 received Royal Assent on 4 May 2020
• The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No 2) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 26 May 2020

Economic regulation and policy:

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 21 March 2020. These Regulations, found here, make it an offence for certain hospitality businesses to carry on operations, excluding takeaway food and drink.
• The Arts Council England announced that it was providing £160 million in emergency support for the arts and cultural sectors.
• The Charity Commission provided advice and guidance to the charity sector in light of the pandemic.
• The Financial Conduct Authority released a statement of policy alerting corporates that the requirement to produce annual company accounts would be postponed.
• The Cabinet Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided an update on 25 March 2020 on those business premises required to close, along with exceptions.
• The Government established an updated webpage summarising changes to social distancing and travel advice, school closures, business activity rules, financial support, and alterations to public services.
• The Bank of England sent a letter to banks advising them of changes to capital requirements and loan covenants.
• The Financial Conduct Authority released a statement indicating that its expectations regarding solo-regulated firms about financial resilience had changed in light of the pandemic.
• The Financial Conduct Authority provided a statement on the impact of coronavirus on firms’ LIBOR transition plans.
• The Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Reporting Council, and Prudential Regulation Authority released a joint statement on support that they were providing to firms during the pandemic.
• The Financial Conduct Authority advised that banks and building societies remain open for customers given that they are deemed essential services.
• The Bank of England, HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority wrote a joint letter to UK banks on the subject of bank lending.
• The Bank of England activated its Contingent Term Repo Facility (CTRF), a temporary enhancement to its sterling liquidity insurance facilities. The so-called ‘market notice’ can be found here.
• The Bank of England announced a series of policy postponements due to the pandemic, including cancelling its annual stress test (‘annual cyclical scenario’), amending its biennial exploratory scenario timetable, and postponing its survey into open-ended funds.
• The Bank of England increased its Asset Purchase Facility (APF), which permits it to purchase UK government bonds. The exchange of letters between the Chancellor and the Governor can be found here.
• HM Treasury and the Bank of England jointly launched the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF). The exchange of letters between the Chancellor and the Governor can be found here.
• The Office for Budget Responsibility provided a briefing on the impact of coronavirus on government borrowing.
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force at 13:00 on 26/03/2020.
• On 28 March, the Government announced that regulations on personal protective equipment (PPE) would be suspended so as to increase supplies to health professionals. In addition, insolvency law would be amended so as to prevent companies trading while they searched for finance options.
• The Government produced guidance for NHS workers who are being targeted by tax avoidance schemes.
• The Bank of England wrote to the major banks warning against payment of cash bonuses and dividends.
• The Treasury updated its support to business on 02/04/2020.
• The Treasury announced that private finance initiative contractors should consider themselves to be part of the public sector in the response to Covid.
• The Bank of England announced that it would cease to use the Contingent Term Repo Facility (CTRP) at the end of May 2020
• On 19 May the Bank of England provided an update on the Covid Corporate Financing Facility
• On 26 May the Treasury and Bank of England issued a joint Market Notice on the Covid Corporate Financing Facility 
• The Bank of England voted to keep the Bank Rate at 0.1% in response to continuing financial pressures from Covid-19
• The Bank of England and Prudential Regulation Authority issued a joint statement on resolution measures and Covid-19
• The Bank of England’s Financial Services Regulation Initiatives Forum launched the so-called ‘Grid’ which lays out the timetable for future financial regulatory measures to assist enterprises to plan during Covid-19
• The Bank of England launched its Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for SMEs (TFSME) on on 15 April
• The Bank of England announced changes to the Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for SMEs (TFSME) to support the Government’s Bounce Back Loans Scheme. The initial market notice for the TFSME can be found here
• Using its Asset Purchase Facility, the Bank of England issued a market notice indicating that it was making additional corporate bond purchases
• HM Treasury and Bank of England announced a temporary extension to the Ways and Means facility
• The Financial Conduct Authority’s Director of Supervision gave a speech at PIMFA’s Virtual Festival, available here;
• The Financial Conduct Authority launched a so-called Financial Resilience Survey;
• The Financial Conduct Authority provided guidance to banks and building societies on maintaining access to essential services;
• The Financial Conduct Authority provided guidance on the support that banks and building societies should provide to customers having difficulty paying their mortgage.
• The Financial Conduct Authority announced that it was seeking to pursue a test case in the High Court on business interruption insurance due to coronavirus;
• The Financial Conduct Authority provided guidance to firms on how they should deal with paper post;
• The FCA extended the maximum period firms can arrange cover for a Senior Manager without being approved, from 12 weeks to 36 weeks, in a consecutive 12-month period
• The FCA’s Director of International gave a speech on how the FCA is assisting in the international response to Covid
• The FCA granted regulated firms an additional six months to introduce stronger customer authentication systems
• The FCA provided guidance to regulated firms on the need for so-called ‘wet ink signatures’ during the pandemic
• The FCA announced a series of measures aimed at assisting companies to raise new share capital in response to the coronavirus crisis while retaining an appropriate degree of investor protection
• The FCA confirmed a package of targeted temporary measures to help people with some of the most commonly used consumer credit products.
• The Government announced that it was to provide guarantees of up to £10 billion to Trade Credit Insurance schemes for business-to-business transactions

Education:

• The Government advised that all schools in the United Kingdom should close due to the pandemic and provided guidance to schools about those closures, including remaining open for key workers where possible.
• The Department for Education published guidance on providing for vulnerable children and young people during the pandemic, including those in receipt of an EHC plan and those in alternative provision.
• The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Education, and UK Research and Innovation established a joint Whitehall team to address what support universities might need during the pandemic.
• REF 2021 for universities has been postponed.
• Ofsted is providing rolling updates on coronavirus and education on its webpage.
• Westminster’s Education Committee launched an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on education.
• The Department for Education announced the cancellation of end of year exams for GCSE, AS, and A Level students in England.
• The Department for Education outlined plans for children who receive free school meals to obtain a voucher to purchase food.
• The Department for Education outlined details on its replacement plans for end of year exams in primary and secondary schools in England. The Minister’s Direction to the Director of Ofqual can be found here.
• Coronavirus: Special Educational Needs (SEN) FAQs (Irwin Mitchell Solicitors)
• The Department for Education launched ‘The Skills Toolkit‘, an online platform to help people build skills during the pandemic
• The Department for Education launched ‘Hungry Little Minds‘, a series of online activities for children aged 0 to 5
• Schools, nurseries, and colleges in England began to reopen from 1 June 2020
• The Department for Education provided guidance to newly reopened institutions here.
• The Department for Education provided guidance to institutions in relation to initial teacher training in light of Covid-19
• The Department for Education issued provided on school governance in light of Covid-19
• The Department for Education announced additional funding for alternative provision schools in light of the pandemic
• The Department for Education issued guidance for higher education institutions on reopening of campuses and buildings
• The Department for Education issued guidance on ‘What schools need to do during the coronavirus outbreak‘
• The Department for Education issued guidance for parents and carers on the reopening of schools
• The Department for Education issued guidance on the provision of apprenticeships during the pandemic
• The Department for Education issued guidance on attendance at early years facilities during the pandemic
• The Department for Education announced temporary student number controls at universities
• The Department for Education issued guidance on how educational facilities can provide adequate protective measures during the outbreak
• The Department for Education issued guidance to schools on how to record and register attendance
• The Department for Education issued guidance on changes to the law on education, health and care needs assessments and plans due to coronavirus
• The Department for Education released indicative figures of student attendance at schools in England for autumn 2020
• The Secretary of State for Education issued a Decision announcing that Ofsted inspections for schools in England would be suspended for the duration of the pandemic. The same was done in relation to school registration and school attendance requirements.
• The Department for Education issued guidance on how FE colleges should operate during the pandemic
• The Department for Education released its apprenticeship and traineeship data
• The Department for Education issued guidance on providing students with free school meals during the pandemic
• The Department for Education issued guidance to parents and carers of 2 to 4 year olds
• The Department for Education provided guidance on isolation for residential educational settings
• The Department for Education announced financial support for education, early years and children’s social care
• The Department for Education announced a support package for higher education institutions and students
• The Department for Education provided guidance for special schools, specialist colleges, local authorities and any other settings managing children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND).
• The Department for Education issued an explanatory note for SAGE’s paper assessing the potential impact of more children returning to school on the transmission of coronavirus
• The Department for Education issued information, guidance and support for teachers and leaders on educating children during the coronavirus outbreak remotely
• The Department for Education issued a series of FAQs about the cancellation of school exams
• The Department for Education issued a series of case studies on how teachers had been remotely educating pupils during the pandemic. The Department also issued advice on safeguarding procedures during remote teaching.
• The Department for Education issued guidance on how to support student wellbeing during the pandemic
• The Department for Education issued information for HE providers on the government support package available for universities and students, the process for clearing and student numbers during coronavirus
• The Department for Education issued information, guidance and support for parents and carers of children who are learning at home
• The Department for Education issued guidance for schools and colleges to support them keeping children safe, including online, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• The Department for Education made £37million available to support children with complex needs
• The Department for Education issued guidance on maintaining school premises during the outbreak
• The Department for Education issued guidance for education settings and local authorities about children supported through social care, with EHC plans or identified as vulnerable by their school, college, early years provider or local authority
• The Department for Education issued guidance on scientific data in relation to the Government’s response to Covid-19
• The Department for Education issued guidance on preventing and controlling infection, including the use of PPE, in education, childcare and children’s social care settings during the coronavirus outbreak
• The Department for Education issued its Student Loan forecasts
• The Department for Education issued advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) for local authorities and their partners to help support and protect vulnerable children.
• The Department for Education announced £76 million in funding to support victims of domestic violence during the pandemic
• The Department for Education issued guidance on the induction of newly qualified teachers during the pandemic
• The Department for Education issued guidance on school admissions appeals
• The Department for Education issued guidance on how schools may use the dedicated schools grant (DSG) during the pandemic
• The Department for Education announced that it was to conduct a study on the prevalence and spread of Covid-19 in schools

Human rights, equalities, and constitutionalism:

• Rightsnet is providing regular updates on the human rights impact of Covid-19.
• The EHRC wrote to the Prime Minister outlining potential human rights and equality implications of the Coronavirus Bill. A summary can be found here
• The Government published the Coronavirus Bill, which can be found here.
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 declared coronavirus to be a ‘serious imminent threat’ and laid out powers of restriction, detention, and isolation, including criminal offences.
• The Public Law Project is providing updates on the Coronavirus Bill and associated delegated legislation, which can be found here.
• The Panoptican Blog provided a summary of the interconnection between COVID-19 and information law. The blog can be found here.
• The Verfassungsblog is publishing a series of blog pieces on the administrative and constitutional implications of COVID-19, which can be found here.
• The Joint Committee on Human Rights launched an inquiry into the human rights implications of the Government’s response to the virus, deadline 22 July 2020.
• The EHRC suspended its enforcement of gender pay gap deadlines this year.
• Mental Capacity Law and Policy created a webpage dedicated to coronavirus updates connected to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• The Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy is collating resources on the feminist reaction to Covid-19.
• The Information Commissioner posted an update on data protection and information law during the pandemic.
• The College of Policing is regularly publishing Covid-19 related updates.
• The Institute of Race Relations is producing fortnightly updates on Covid-19, human rights, and race issues.
• The Secretary of State for Health announced that the second pill required in order to terminate a pregnancy would be available for women to take at home.
• The Disability Unit at the Cabinet Office published guidance on supporting the disabled during the pandemic.
• 5 Essex Court Chambers produced a guide for police on exercising powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the English public health Regulations.
• The Department for Health published its Decision under the Health Service Control of Patient Information Regulations 2002 on the sharing of patient data during the pandemic.
• The Ministry of Justice produced guidance for the friends and families of prisoners.
• The 36 Group posted a blog concerning parental liability under the coronavirus regulations
• Oliver Lewis of Doughty Street Chambers posted a blog on the rights of the disabled and Covid-19.
• Coronavirus Crisis: Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association
• Mary Ford Neal (University of Strathclyde) started a compilation on Twitter under the hashtag #COVID19ethics about medical law and ethical issues arising from the pandemic.
• David Isaac (Chair of the EHRC), How we’re responding to the coronavirus pandemic
• The Labour Party is to launch a review into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on minority communities to be headed by Lady Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence
• The Department for Health provided guidance to local authorities as to ‘easements’ of the Care Act 2014 under the Coronavirus Act 2020
• The Department for Health provided guidance to commissioners and service providers for those dependent on drugs and alcohol during the pandemic
• The Department for Health provided guidance on hospital discharge requirements during the pandemic
• The Women’s Budget Group published a briefing in response to the Governmet’s Covid-19 recovery roadmap
• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN warned that Covid-19 should not become an excuse for arbitrary and unlawful detention
• The Government’s Equality Hub announced a study into disparities in Covid-19 impact
• Dame Louise Casey, the Prime Minister’s advisor on rough sleeping, issued a statement on homelessness during COVID-19
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission launched an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minorities on 5 June 2020
• Statement on COVID-19 and the human rights of persons with disabilities (OHCHR)
• Policing the pandemic: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (College of Policing)
• The Joint Committee on Human Rights issued its report, Human Rights and the Government’s response to COVID-19: the detention of young people who are autistic and/or have learning disabilities
• Institute for Fiscal Studies, Covid-19 and inequality

Immigration:

• The Free Movement Blog is running a blog detailing live changes to immigration law and practice during the pandemic.
• The Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration published advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents. The advice can be found here. The agencies further established a Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre, details of which can be found here.
• The Home Office and UK Border and Immigration announced that they had extended visas for any migrants unable to return home due to Covid-19.
• Reporting restrictions for those on immigration bail have been temporarily suspended.
• The Home Office is temporarily suspending the requirement for employers and landlords to see original documents during right to work and right to rent checks.
• The Home Office published statistics in May 2020 for the impact of Covid-19 on the immigration system
• The Home Office granted free visa extensions to crucial overseas workers for one year
• The Home Secretary provided an oral statement on health protection measures at the border
• The College of Policing produced a briefing on international travel and health protection regulations. The College has further developed a Covid-19 hub here.

International response:

• The Blavatnik School of Government launched an international Covid-19 Government response tracker.
• The Prime Minister announced £210 million of international funding to support the creation of a Covid-19 vaccine.
• The French Counseil D’Etat is providing updates on French cases connected to Covid. See also this website for French legal updates on coronavirus.
• The Centre de Droit Public is collating material on the Belgian response to Covid.
• The Treasury updated its guidance on three schemes to assist international exporters: the Export Working Capital Scheme; the Export Insurance Policy; and the Direct Lending Facility.
• Lawyers Weekly is providing rolling updates on the Covid-19 situation in Australia.
• The British Association of Comparative Law launched a blog series on Covid-19 in comparative perspective

Local Government:

• The Local Government Association collated the guidance to local authorities from central government on dealing with coronavirus and changes to local authority duties.
• The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain provided an update on their contingency and emergency planning during the pandemic.

Ombuds:

• The PHSO has closed its offices in London and Manchester, with the result that it can no longer receive post and complaint waiting times will increase. The story can be found here.
• The PHSO has suspended its casework on health complaints from 26/03/2020.
• The PHSO postponed its consultation on a new Complaints Standards Framework for the public sector in England.
• The LGSCO announced that it was suspending its central telephone line and complaints submission form, effective 18 March 2020. This has the effect that the ombud is unable to take on any new complaints at this time. Update 26/03/2020: the LGSCO has suspended all complaints handling that requires action by, or information from, councils and care providers.
• As of 23 March 2020, the PSOW is no longer accepting post to its office and its telephone line has been suspended, but online and email complaints continue to be accepted.
• The SPSO continues to accept telephone and email inquiries, but warns that its waiting and complaint handling times will significantly increase. The NIPSO is operating in a similar manner.
• The Housing Ombudsman operates as usual, albeit without dealing with physical post.
• The SPSO produced guidance for MSPs and councillors supporting constituents who wished to challenge public services during Covid-19.
• The LGSCO produced guidance for local authorities on how to deal with complaints during the pandemic.
• The LGSCO re-initiated some pre-existing complaints against local authorities in late May 2020
• PHSO released a podcast discussing the work of clinicians during the pandemic

Parliament:

• The Westminster Parliament extended all Select Committee inquiry deadlines in light of the pandemic. The announcement can be found here.
• The Constitution Unit Blog published a piece from the former Clerk of the Commons on the Coronavirus Bill and how Parliament’s working practices may need to change.
• Westminster’s Knowledge Exchange Unit invited experts to register on their website so they can offer guidance and advice on the Covid-19 response.
• The Chair of Westminster’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee wrote to the Business Secretary arguing that employees needed clearer government guidance to address concerns that employers were falsely requiring them to work in spite of the ‘lock-down’.
• Westminster entered an early Easter recess on 25 March, to return on 21 April.
• Westminster’s Health and Social Care Committee took part in a remote and virtual evidence session on 25 March 2020 to determine what support was being provided to medical professionals during the pandemic.
• Westminster’s Backbench Business Committee agreed on 25 March 2020 that additional backbench debates should be postponed to allow for coronavirus-related business to be dealt with in the Commons.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on Government housing support during the pandemic.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the impact that coronavirus is having on public finances.
• Westminster’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee launched at inquiry into misinformation and disinformation in the media about coronavirus.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the implications of the Coronavirus Act 2020 for government control of individual’s cremation and burial choices.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on how parliamentary procedure and practice had changed in light of the pandemic.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on emergency powers and their implications for civil liberties.
• The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee published a list of delegated legislation regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
• The Women and Equalities Committee launched an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on people with protected characteristics.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on how Covid-19 could impact critical national infrastructure.
• Westminster’s Home Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the UK’s preparedness for Covid-19.
• Westminster’s International Trade Committee launched an inquiry into Covid’s impact on international trade.
• Westminster’s Business Committee launched an inquiry into Covid’s impact on businesses and workers.
• Westminster’s Education Committee launched an inquiry into Covid’s impact on education and children’s services.
• Westminster’s Science and Technology Committee launched an inquiry into UK science and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks
• Westminster’s Environment Committee launched an inquiry into Covid’s impact on the food supply chain
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on international economic responses to the pandemic.
• The Speaker of the House of Commons announced his wish for parliamentary scrutiny of government activity to continue virtually.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on changes to insolvency rules during the pandemic.
• Westminster’s Foreign Affairs Committee published a report on the Foreign Office response to Covid-19.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the challenges for recycling and waste services during the pandemic.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on coronavirus and how the Government finances debt.
• The Justice Committee produced a note of its meeting with the Lord Chancellor on 7 April 2020
• The Leader of the House of Commons published his draft resolution asking the Commons sit in a hybrid format, partly physically in the Chamber and partly electronically
• The House of Lords held a general virtual debate on the delivery of social and home care during the pandemic
• The House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee published the results of its survey into experiences of the benefits systems during Covid-19
• The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee held its first virtual evidence session into the financial and service delivery impact of Covid-19 on local authorities on Monday 27 April.
• The Scottish Parliament intends to create a new Committee dealing with the Scottish Government’s response to Covid-19
• MPs approved a motion to allow remote participation in key Commons proceedings
• The Speaker of the House of Commons wrote to MPs proposing a new physical voting system wherein division lobbies will not be used until public health allows otherwise;
• Westminster’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee launched what it called a ‘super-inquiry’ into post-pandemic economic growth;
• Westminster’s Scotland Committee heard evidence from Scotland’s interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith;
• The House of Lords debated what economic lessons should be learned from Covid-19 and how economic recovery should be pursued;
• The House of Lords’ Constitution Committee launched an inquiry into the constitutional implications of Covid-19;
• Westminster’s Justice Committee questioned the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales on the impact of Covid-19 on courts and tribunals;
• Westminster’s Justice Committee questioned the Director of Public Prosecutions on the rise in domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic;
• The House of Lords’ Public Services Committee launched an inquiry into lessons that public services can learn from Covid-19;
• The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the Government’s response to Covid-19;
• William Wragg MP, Chair of PACAC, wrote to the Prime Minister to request that papers from the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) are made public;
• PACAC held an evidence session with the National Statistician, Sir Ian Diamond, on Covid-19 death numbers;
• Westminster’s Women and Equalities Committee held an evidence session on the unequal impact of Covid-19 in the workplace;
• Westminster’s Women and Equalities Committee held an evidence session with the Equality and Human Rights Commissioner on the unequal impact of Covid-19;
• The Welsh Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee announced that it will be re-examining reporting issues with NHS Informatics following concerns that several health boards were not accurately reporting Covid-19 deaths;
• Holyrood’s Health Committee launched an inquiry into pandemic preparedness;
• Holyrood’s Covid-19 Committee called for public views on Scotland’s move out of lockdown;
• Holyrood’s Health Committee launched a consultation on the impact of Covid-19 on care homes
• The House of Lords announced that it was to move to hybrid proceedings on 8 June
• The House of Commons voted to approve a modification of its hybrid procedures on 4 June 2020
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing concerning returning to work and coronavirus
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing concerning the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing in advance of the Commons’ emergency debate on 8 June about the conduct of House business during coronavirus
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on support for business during Covid-19
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the enforcement of lockdown laws
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on support for rough sleepers and renters during the pandemic
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on increases to benefit payments
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on government support for household finances during the pandemic
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the Self-Employment Support Scheme
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on ventilator availability in the UK
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the impact of coronavirus on debt for the world’s poorest countries
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the impact of coronavirus on key workers
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on the impact of coronavirus on the economy and public finances
• The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 20 May and will receive Second Reading on 3 June. The Bill is designed to support businesses during the Covid-19 outbreak.
• The House of Commons Library produced a briefing on how Covid-19 had impacted men and women MPs in the hybrid Commons
• The Public Accounts Committee launched an inquiry on Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak

Public health and social care:

• The Government launched the Coronavirus Information Service via WhatsApp, which can be joined by WhatsApping ‘hi’ to 07860 064422.
• The Cabinet Office published the Government’s guidance on social distancing measures. The guidance can be found here.
• The Government sent a UK-wide text message to UK residents updating them on government rules as to social distancing and travel.
• The Royal Voluntary Service and the Department for Health launched the so-called ‘Good Sam‘ project calling for volunteers to assist NHS workers during the pandemic.
• NICE published three ‘rapid guidelines’ and three ‘rapid evidence reviews’ on Covid-19, including guidance on critical care, kidney dialysis, anti-cancer treatments, and reviewing whether certain medicines such as Ibuprofen may increase the severity of the disease.
• As of 19 March 2020, the Government was no longer treating Covid-19 as a ‘High Consequence Infectious Disease’ (HCID) given the low general mortality and the specific programmes initiated in response to it.
• The Ministry of Defence will make use of armed forces personnel to establish and run a new NHS hospital called NHS Nightingale based at the ExCel Centre.
• The Children’s Commissioner established a guidance webpage on coronavirus.
• Director of the Council for Disabled Children issued a message on coronavirus.
• The Care Quality Commission provided an update on the impact of Covid-19 on its restraint, segregation and seclusion review, and its Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture review.
• The Care Quality Commission announced that routine inspections had been suspended in light of the pandemic.
• Public Health England published guidance on shielding and protecting the medically vulnerable.
• The Crown Commercial Service published guidance on homeworking in the public sector.
• The UK Authority website published a blog providing guidance on how to run virtual meetings in the NHS.
• The Department for Health announced that it would be providing financial support to NHS trusts to pay for the car parking charges of NHS and social care workers during the pandemic.
• The National Health Service (Amendments Relating to the Provision of Primary Care Services During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations 2020 came into operation.
• The Secretary of State for Health published an open letter to the social care workforce.
• The Department for Health released guidance on mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
• Public Health England released guidance on supporting the mental wellbeing of children and young people during the pandemic.
• The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency produced guidance on applying for regulatory exemptions for healthcare products (particularly PPE) during the pandemic. This will be done under Regulation 12 of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002.
• The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency produced guidance for manufacturers during the pandemic.
• The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency produced guidance on the use of Ibuprofen with Covid symptoms.
• The Government published guidance for first responders and other officials who may come into contact with people who were symptomatic.
• 39 Essex Chambers is producing a series of updates on Covid-19 and mental capacity
• The Government published guidance for local authorities on the suspension of their duties under the Care Act 2014. This follows the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2020
• The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency produced guidance on how the Coronavirus Act 2020 would alter medical regulatory requirements.
• The Royal College of Physicians published ethical guidance for physicians dealing with medical cases during the pandemic. The British Medical Association did the same here.
• The Department for Health confirmed that health authorities would be permitted to spend above their allocated departmental expenditure limit to tackle Covid.
• The Department for Health issued guidance for care homes in the event that there were Covid-19 incidents in a care home.
• The Department for Health announced £300 million in funding to community pharmacies.
• The Department for Health wrote off £13 billion of debt for NHS hospitals.
• The Department for Health and Public Health England issued guidance on the use of PPE for those likely to come into contact with Covid-19 patients.
• The Department for Health announced £5 million in funding for community mental health projects
• The Secretary of State for Health wrote to Public Health England concerning its remit for 2020-21
• The Secretary of State for Health issued controls on the export of PPE
• Lady Harding was appointed the Chair of the NHS Test and Trace programme
• The Department for Health issued advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support
• The Department for Health issued clarification of its existing practice for verifying deaths outside of hospitals and providing a framework for safe verification of death during the coronavirus emergency
• On 7 May the Department for Health released a table setting out the status of each section of the Coronavirus Act 2020
• The Department for Health issued guidance on how health and care systems and providers should change their discharging arrangements and the provision of community support during the coronavirus situation
• The Department for Health issued guidance that people cover their faces while in an enclosed space with others
• The Department for Health issued advice for those working in adult social care on managing your mental health and how employers can take care of the wellbeing of their staff during the coronavirus outbreak
• The Department for Health launched a new portal for care homes to arrange coronavirus testing
• The Department for Health developed a new partnership to sequence human genomes in fight against coronavirus
• The Department for Health launched a new Vaccine Taskforce to drive forward, expedite and co-ordinate efforts to research and produce a coronavirus vaccine
• The Department for Health announced a new national adult social care recruitment campaign to boost the adult social care workforce in England
• The Government announced that new parents, unpaid carers, the homeless, young people and cancer patients could benefit from digital solutions as part of the TechForce19 challenge
• The Department for Health launched a study on the detection of coronavirus by dogs
• The Government launched the NHS Test and Trace service on 27 May 2020
• The Department for Health provided guidance on how to self-isolate when entering the UK
• Kate Bingham was appointed Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce
• On 17 May the Department for Health initiated a long-term study on coronavirus immunity in the general population
• The Department for Health introduced a £600 million Control Fund to reduce the impact of Covid-19 in care homes
• The Department for Health issued guidance for people who are providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• The Department for Health issued information for wholesale dealer licence holders about the medicines put on the UK market for UK patients that they cannot export or hoard
• The Department for Health extended the storage limit for frozen eggs, sperm and embryos extended during coronavirus outbreak
• The Department for Health issued information for the adult social care sector on responding to the coronavirus pandemic
• The Department for Health granted a guarantee of death in service benefits for frontline workers who die of coronavirus
• The Department for Health issued guidance on how to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak
• The Department for Health issued guidance on how local authorities and social care providers can tell DHSC about the death of an employee or volunteer in social care
• The Department for Health issued information about the government’s coronavirus antibody testing programme
• The Department for Health produced a policy paper on how it would support the adult social care sector through Covid-19
• The Department for Health issued a standard operating procedure on how to run a safe and effective medicines reuse scheme in a care home or hospice during the coronavirus outbreak
• The Home Office extended its bereavement scheme to the families and dependents of NHS support staff and social care workers who die as a result of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19)
• The Department for Health provided guidance on how to make and wear a cloth face mask
• The Government announced its so-called recovery roadmap
• The Department for Health announced £22 million in funding for health charities
• The Department for Health provided guidance on how DHSC group bodies should lay their annual report and accounts before Parliament
• The Department for Health issued information for those providing personal care to people living in their own home during the coronavirus outbreak
• The Department for Health set out a support package aimed at keeping care homes safe during the coronavirus pandemic
• The Department for Health announced that it had reached its target of 200,000 coronavirus tests per day on 30 May
• The Department for Health announced £300 million in funding to support the test and trace service in England
• The Department for Health announced that the anti-viral drug remdesivir will be made available to patients meeting certain clinical criteria to support their recovery in hospital
• The Secretary of State for Health wrote to the Office of Statistics Regulation in response to the Chair’s letter on the Government’s use of statistics about coronavirus
• The Department for Health issued guidance to health and social care staff who are caring for, or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity
• The Department for Health issued its first report on which powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020 were being used
• The Department for Health issued guidance for commissioners and service providers for those dependent on drugs or alcohol
• The Department for Health provided guidance on how it assesses offers of COVID-19 tests from developers for procurement and use in the UK
• The Department for Health issued guidance on the assessment and management of suspected UK cases of Covid-19 for health professionals
• The Government announced that from 1 June groups of up to six people from more than one household can meet outside if social distancing of 2m is respected
• The Department for Health issued a privacy notice on COVID-19 virus testing for critical workers and their household members who are self-isolating
• The Department for Health issued information on the data sources and methodology used to provide the daily statistics on coronavirus testing
• The Government announced that face coverings were to be made mandatory on public transport
• The Government provided guidance for meeting people from outside one’s household via so-called ‘support bubbles’
• The Department for Health announced that Covid-19 tests were to be introduced for care homes
• The Department for Health announced that it had made grants to a number of organisations to offer mental health support to students and teachers
• The Department for Health issued guidance on the Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund

Research projects:

• Joe Tomlinson, Jed Meers and Simon Halliday launched a Nuffield Foundation funded initiative on law and compliance during Covid-19. The website for the initiative can be found here.

Social security:

• On 26/03/2020 the Treasury provided updated guidance on its support to businesses during the pandemic.
• The Government provided an update on 26/03/2020 on its support for landlords and renters during the pandemic.
• Amendments were made to statutory sick pay via the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020 and the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2020
• The Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus Disease) Regulations 2020 made provision for those infected with, or isolating due to, coronavirus.
• The Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee at Westminster, Rachel Reeves MP, wrote to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy calling on him to provide more support to freelancers and the self-employed at this time.
• The Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee at Westminster, Julian Knight MP, wrote to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport arguing that cultural organisations required emergency funding in light of the pandemic.
• The DWP published updated guidance on how to claim Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payments, and Employment and Support Allowance. The DWP now has a dedicated webpage giving instructions on how to claim Universal Credit during the outbreak.
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer provided a statement on financial support for business and individuals during the pandemic. Previous statements can be found here and here.
• The Department for Health launched a seven day online Coronavirus sick note scheme, where people self-isolating due to Coronavirus may self-certificate an isolation note.
• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government advised that all hotels providing homeless accommodation through local authorities or other public bodies should remain open.
• The Money Advice Service provided guidance on the pandemic and personal finances.
• NHSX, NHS Digital, NHS Business Services Authority and the Behavioural Insights Team are jointly working to create a text message scheme providing daily updates to the medically vulnerable.
• On 26/03/2020 the Chancellor announced a scheme supporting individuals in self employment during the pandemic.
• The Treasury produced guidance on how employers can claim wage costs through the Covid-19 job retention scheme.
• The Department for Work and Pensions is publishing quarterly newsletters assisting private landlords to understand Universal Credit.
• A Minister has confirmed that the DWP is continuing to refer new claims to a work capability assessment provider during the coronavirus outbreak
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed on 29 Maythat he was to extend the Self-Employment Support Scheme and set out the ‘next steps’ for the Government’s furlough scheme

NB: The artwork that appears with this piece was produced by Margaret Doyle (University of Essex). UKAJI thanks her for this excellent, creative contribution. She can be found on Twitter @MDmediation1