My Lords, in June 2021, the Constitution Committee published its report COVID-19 and the Use and Scrutiny of Emergency Powers, following a broader inquiry into the constitutional implications of Covid-19 chaired by my esteemed noble friend Lady Taylor of Bolton. The social, economic and health implications of the pandemic were...

My Lords, in June 2021, the Constitution Committee published its report COVID-19 and the Use and Scrutiny of Emergency Powers, following a broader inquiry into the constitutional implications of Covid-19 chaired by my esteemed noble friend Lady Taylor of Bolton. The social, economic and health implications of the pandemic were...

My Lords, the use of emergency powers is defined in the report as follows:

“Emergency legislation may be necessary in exceptional circumstances, but its use should be limited given its significant constitutional consequences.”

In addition:

“All governments should recognise that, however great or sudden an emergency may be, exceptional powers are lent, not...

My Lords, the use of emergency powers is defined in the report as follows:

“Emergency legislation may be necessary in exceptional circumstances, but its use should be limited given its significant constitutional consequences.”

In addition:

“All governments should recognise that, however great or sudden an emergency may be, exceptional powers are lent, not...

My Lords, I thank the Select Committee for another excellent report. While it is a shame that it has taken so long for it to be considered, many of the issues raised remain very relevant and have constitutional implications that are very much alive and unresolved.

The report rightly identifies that,...

My Lords, I thank the Select Committee for another excellent report. While it is a shame that it has taken so long for it to be considered, many of the issues raised remain very relevant and have constitutional implications that are very much alive and unresolved.

The report rightly identifies that,...

My Lords, I am the other Member of this Committee who was a member of the committee whose report we are considering. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Drake, for the careful way in which she introduced our report and highlighted the particular matters on which the Minister is being...

My Lords, I am the other Member of this Committee who was a member of the committee whose report we are considering. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Drake, for the careful way in which she introduced our report and highlighted the particular matters on which the Minister is being...

My Lords, I congratulate the Constitution Committee on this excellent report. I certainly recommend that it is read widely in the public sphere because it is important to try to assimilate what happened and to learn lessons. However, before I recommend that it is read, I might have to issue...

My Lords, I congratulate the Constitution Committee on this excellent report. I certainly recommend that it is read widely in the public sphere because it is important to try to assimilate what happened and to learn lessons. However, before I recommend that it is read, I might have to issue...

My Lords, I thank the committee for its report and my noble friend for her excellent introduction. What I recall most about the pandemic—I appreciate that, because it is such a void in our lives, it is very difficult to remember what we did—was the strength of our communities. Our...

My Lords, I thank the committee for its report and my noble friend for her excellent introduction. What I recall most about the pandemic—I appreciate that, because it is such a void in our lives, it is very difficult to remember what we did—was the strength of our communities. Our...

My Lords, I thought that the way the noble Lord, Lord Collins, opened and closed his speech was totally appropriate. Some of the finest moments in these terrible times—which, to agree with my noble

friend Lady Foster, none of us wishes to see again—involved the sense of solidarity, togetherness and...

My Lords, I thought that the way the noble Lord, Lord Collins, opened and closed his speech was totally appropriate. Some of the finest moments in these terrible times—which, to agree with my noble

friend Lady Foster, none of us wishes to see again—involved the sense of solidarity, togetherness and...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has contributed to a really important debate, in terms not only of efficiently dealing with a national crisis of huge relevance to its citizens—I am sure this will not be the only one—but of integrity around a Government and a Parliament in how they...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has contributed to a really important debate, in terms not only of efficiently dealing with a national crisis of huge relevance to its citizens—I am sure this will not be the only one—but of integrity around a Government and a Parliament in how they...

Lords motion to take note of the third report of the Constitution Committee on COVID-19 and the use and scrutiny of emergency powers (HL 15 2021-22). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the third report of the Constitution Committee on COVID-19 and the use and scrutiny of emergency powers (HL 15 2021-22). Agreed to on question.

Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution. Agreed to on question. Committee stage. Clause 1, discussed with other clauses, amendments, Government amendments and Government new clauses, agreed to. Clauses 2 to 87 agreed to, with Government amendments made to clauses 11, 31, 37, 40, 52, 58, 60, 63, 64, 74, 75, 79, 83 and 85 and the clauses agreed to as amended. Government new clauses 15 to 23, 25, 26, 30 and 31 agreed to. Government new clause 1 agreed to. Schedules 1 to 27 agreed to, with Government amendments made to schedules 7, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 27, and the schedules agreed to as amended. Government new schedules 2 and 3 agreed to. Bill, as amended, reported. Report stage. Agreed to on question. Queen's and Prince of Wales's consent signified. Third reading. Agreed to on question. Bill passed.

Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution. Agreed to on question. Committee stage. Clause 1, discussed with other clauses, amendments, Government amendments and Government new clauses, agreed to. Clauses 2 to 87 agreed to, with Government amendments made to clauses 11, 31, 37, 40, 52, 58, 60, 63, 64, 74, 75, 79,...

I rise merely to refer to the issue of the timing and the length of the Bill. As Members will know, the Minister said in the previous debate that the Government were tabling a new clause that would allow the Bill to be on the statute book for two years...

I rise merely to refer to the issue of the timing and the length of the Bill. As Members will know, the Minister said in the previous debate that the Government were tabling a new clause that would allow the Bill to be on the statute book for two years...

The hon. Gentleman may be coming to this, but there is one other element: putting this in primary legislation rather than secondary takes it out of the purview of the courts., so here we have one of the heaviest-duty Acts we have seen post war prevented from undergoing judicial review...

The hon. Gentleman may be coming to this, but there is one other element: putting this in primary legislation rather than secondary takes it out of the purview of the courts., so here we have one of the heaviest-duty Acts we have seen post war prevented from undergoing judicial review...

I agree, and I do not understand why the Government have gone in this direction. I have been told in several private meetings that it is because they believe that the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 can only be used when they do not know that something is coming down the...

I agree, and I do not understand why the Government have gone in this direction. I have been told in several private meetings that it is because they believe that the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 can only be used when they do not know that something is coming down the...

The hon. Gentleman may well be right about the Civil Contingencies Act, because the drafter of that legislation has confirmed that that is his understanding—at least, I believe that to be the case. I agree that two years is too long. I would have preferred the amendment tabled by my...

The hon. Gentleman may well be right about the Civil Contingencies Act, because the drafter of that legislation has confirmed that that is his understanding—at least, I believe that to be the case. I agree that two years is too long. I would have preferred the amendment tabled by my...

I have absolutely no intention of dividing the House. The nation does not need dividing and I do not think the Committee needs dividing on these matters either. I am grateful to the Government, who have tried to be in as listening a mood as they possibly can. My anxiety,...

I have absolutely no intention of dividing the House. The nation does not need dividing and I do not think the Committee needs dividing on these matters either. I am grateful to the Government, who have tried to be in as listening a mood as they possibly can. My anxiety,...

rose—

rose—

I have to give way to the hon. Gentleman.

I have to give way to the hon. Gentleman.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. He has been very gracious in his apology and I thank him very much indeed for that. He says he does not want a Division tonight, which is welcome, and he says that the Government’s amendment is, in his view,...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. He has been very gracious in his apology and I thank him very much indeed for that. He says he does not want a Division tonight, which is welcome, and he says that the Government’s amendment is, in his view,...

Personally, I would prefer the time period to be shorter. I would prefer Government Ministers not to be switching powers on and off, because that will lead to them being more queried by the nation at large. I prefer something more like a three-month period when they have these powers,...

Personally, I would prefer the time period to be shorter. I would prefer Government Ministers not to be switching powers on and off, because that will lead to them being more queried by the nation at large. I prefer something more like a three-month period when they have these powers,...