The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022

Made: at 11.04 a.m. on 23rd March 2022

Laid before Parliament: at 4.30 p.m. on 23rd March 2022

Coming into force: 24th March 2022

The Lord Chancellor makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90(2) of the Coronavirus Act 2020[^f00001].

Citation, commencement and extent

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022.

• (2) These Regulations come into force on 24th March 2022.

• (3) This regulation extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland only.

• (4) Regulation 2 extends to England and Wales only.

• (5) Regulation 3 extends to Northern Ireland only.

Delay in expiry of certain provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 relating to inquests, criminal proceedings and public participation in proceedings conducted by video or audio

2

• (1) The provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 mentioned in paragraph (2)—

• (a) do not expire at the time when they would otherwise expire[^f00002], and

• (b) instead expire at the end of the period of six months beginning with 25th March 2022.

• (2) Those provisions are—

• (a) section 30 (suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: England and Wales);

• (b) section 53 and Schedule 23 (expansion of availability of live links in criminal proceedings);

• (c) section 54 and Schedule 24 (expansion of availability of live links in other criminal hearings);

• (d) section 55 and Schedule 25 (public participation in proceedings conducted by video or audio).

Delay in expiry of section 43 of the Coronavirus Act 2020

3

Section 43 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (statutory sick pay: power to disapply waiting period limitation: Northern Ireland)—

• (a) does not expire at the time when it would otherwise expire[^f00003], and

• (b) instead expires at the end of the six month period beginning with 25th March 2022.

Signed

James Cartlidge — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Ministry of Justice — At 11.04 a.m. on 23rd March 2022

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations extend the period for which certain provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7) continue in force. The provisions are continued in force for a further period of six months beginning with 25th March 2022.

In relation to England and Wales, the provisions which are continued in force are:

• (a) section 30 (suspension of requirement to hold inquest with jury: England and Wales);

• (b) section 53 and Schedule 23 (expansion of availability of live links in criminal proceedings);

• (c) section 54 and Schedule 24 (expansion of availability of live links in other criminal hearings);

• (d) section 55 and Schedule 25 (public participation in proceedings conducted by video or audio).

In relation to Northern Ireland, section 43 (statutory sick pay: power to disapply waiting period limitation: Northern Ireland) is continued in force.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for regulation 2 of these Regulations as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

No impact assessment has been conducted for regulation 3 of these Regulations as an impact assessment covering section 43 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 has already been provided. The impact assessment is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-bill-summary-of-impacts/coronavirus-bill-summary-of-impacts.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2020 c. 7. See the definitions of “Minister of the Crown” and “relevant national authority” in sections 89 and 90(5) of the Coronavirus Act 2020 respectively.

[^f00002]: The provisions mentioned in regulation 2(2) would, without these Regulations, expire at the end of 24th March 2022 (see section 89 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (“the Act”)).

[^f00003]: Section 43 of the Act would, without these Regulations, expire at the end of 24th March 2022 (see section 89 of the Act).