COVID-19: Changes to Scottish Government legislative programme

Date: 9th April 2020
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Various changes to Scottish Government’s legislative programme have been announced in light of COVID-19, including some Bills being delayed or “paused”.

Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans made the announcement on 1^st April 2020, clarifying that Scottish Government would focus its efforts on tackling the COVID-19 crisis and would be unable to deliver on all legislation as originally intended.

Legislation not viewed as “essential” or time-bound will be deprioritised in order to free up Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament capacity. Essential and time-bound legislation will continue but may be subject to some delay. Specific changes include:

• Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill Scottish Government will seek an extension of the stage 1 deadline.
• Good Food Nation Bill: will no longer be introduced within the current Parliamentary session.
• Hate Crime Bill: Scottish Government will delay the Bill’s introduction, although intends it will continue and be completed within the current Parliamentary session.
• Social Security Bill: Scottish Government will delay the Bill’s introduction, although intends it will continue and be completed within the current Parliamentary session.
• Disclosure (Scotland) Bill: Scottish Government proposes to conclude Stage 3 “as soon as it is practical to do so”
• Gender Recognition Act 2004: work on reform is being temporarily halted.

Further changes may be necessary and the Minister confirmed these would be confirmed in due course, adding: “I understand that the need to pause or delay aspects of our legislative programme will be deeply disappointing, and that those who have waited a long time for the reforms will be frustrated that we can no longer achieve all that we wanted to achieve. However, this is a challenging time for us all, and there will be many more challenges ahead. The Government is taking a pragmatic but essential approach.”

A number of bills were not mentioned in the announcement, including the planned bill on incorporating the UNCRC into Scots law. The Minister noted “I did not mention a number of bills, because they are not in the category of being paused.”

The news comes after Scottish Parliament announced it would be moving to a reduced timetable for sittings.

• Read the Minister’s full statement here.