Thank you for contacting me about the renewal of the Coronavirus Act.
My concern is that we must not go back into lockdown, if at all possible, and I have concluded that the Government is right to take a very cautious and measured approach to the easing of restrictions. For that reason, and because the Act facilitates vital relief measures such as furlough, I voted for its renewal.
The Government asserts that the Coronavirus Act is a vital piece of legislation in our national response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The intention behind the legislation is to protect us all and ensure that, throughout the pandemic, sufficient staff are available, and deployed where they are most needed, as well as supporting members of the public and containing and slowing the virus. The Act would have expired at the end of March and so needed to be renewed to ensure that Local Authorities, the Police and the NHS continue to have the powers needed to respond to the pandemic and to implement restrictions if needed. The powers are also necessary as we move forward with the cautious easing of restrictions set out in the Prime Minister's Roadmap.
I would like to reassure you that all the measures in the Coronavirus Act are temporary, and proportionate to the threat we face. It is important that they will only be used when strictly necessary, and will only be in place for as long as deemed necessary to respond to the pandemic effectively. I welcome therefore that the Government has carried out an extensive review of the provisions within the Act and, because of the excellent progress in our fight against this virus, the Government is now able to expire and suspend a raft of measures within the Act.
Indefinite Lockdown: I have noted your concerns regarding the renewal of the Act and the long term implications, however I can assure you that the vote on extending the Coronavirus Act does not change the plans to cautiously ease restrictions in line with what has already been announced. Should the data allow them to do so, and following an assessment of the impact of the previous step, the Government will proceed with the steps set out.
Schedule 21 (Forced Detention): I completely appreciate your concerns about the power conferred by the Coronavirus Act relating to people who may be infectious. I know that most people have been working extremely hard, and making numerous sacrifices, to comply with relevant public health advice. This provision simply seeks to ensure that isolation measures can be enforced if necessary. In practice, this power would take the form of a public health officer or police officer returning people to places that they have been required to stay. For example, if someone has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and required to self-isolate for 14 days, and then is found out and about during that time, they would be returned home. Equally, the act empowers police and immigration officers to make sure that individuals attend testing or treatment facilities as required.
I understand that these measures may seem intimidating, and I know that the overwhelming majority of people are following guidance and obeying self-isolation instructions. However, we must be prepared to enforce these measures, to ensure that the small number of people who do not comply are not putting lives at risk by their behaviour.
Section 15 (And Part One of Schedule 12): I have noted the concerns you have raised about Schedule 12 and you may be glad to learn that the measures to be suspended include Section 15 (in relation to England) and Part 1 of Schedule 12, relating to Local Authority care and support and Care Act Easements. These easements enabled local authorities to continue to meet the most urgent and acute needs in the face of COVID-19 by relaxing some duties on local authorities, allowing them to streamline assessments and charge for care retrospectively. Only eight local authorities in England have operated under care act easements, however none have since 29 June 2020 and during consultation on the future of the powers, the majority of stakeholders said they were unlikely to be used again. Despite initial concerns over the impact of the pandemic, I am encouraged to see that LAs have coped with significant pressures over winter using the existing Care Act flexibilities and are now in a better position in terms of planning, support and use of mutual aid. Therefore, as part of the one-year review, the decision has been made to expire these provisions.
The measures outlined in the Government's Roadmap provide a path out of this pandemic, offering us a route to normal life. I am encouraged that we are currently meeting each of the Government's four tests for easing restrictions and remain on track to deliver on vaccine commitments meaning we have been able to move forward to the next stage of the Roadmap. The Government has also committed the remaining stages of Roadmap into law, which is welcome.
As we move through the remaining steps of the Roadmap, it is vital that the tools needed to continue to fight this virus and support families, our public services, and the economy through it, as provided in the Coronavirus Act, are maintained.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
April 2021