Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020
2020 asp 7
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision in connection with coronavirus; and for connected purposes.
PART 1Main provisions
Key expression
C21Meaning of “coronavirus”
F54In this Act, “coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Eviction from dwelling-houses
F552Eviction from dwelling-houses
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Protection for debtors
F563Temporary extension of moratoriums on diligence
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23...
F234Children and vulnerable adults
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Justice
F575Justice
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alcohol licensing
F586Alcohol licensing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public bodies
F597Functioning of public bodies
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 2Supporting provisions
9Advancement of equality and non-discrimination
F21
In exercising a function conferred by virtue of Part 1 (including a function of making subordinate legislation), the Scottish Ministers must have F3regard—
a
to the importance of communicating in an inclusive way,
b
to opportunities to advance equality and non-discrimination.
F42
In subsection (1)(a), “communicating in an inclusive way” means communicating in a way that ensures that individuals who have difficulty communicating (in relation to speech, language or otherwise) can receive information and express themselves in ways that best meet each individual’s needs.
10Subordinate legislation making powers
Any power to make subordinate legislation conferred by virtue of Part 1 includes power to make—
a
incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision,
b
different provision for different purposes or areas.
11Power to suspend and revive provisions
1
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations—
a
suspend the operation of any provision of Part 1,
b
revive the operation of a provision so suspended.
2
Sections 15 to 17 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 apply to the suspension of a provision by regulations under subsection (1)(a) as if the provision had been repealed by an Act.
3
The powers in subsection (1) may be exercised more than once in relation to the same provision.
4
Regulations under this section—
a
may make different provision for different purposes or areas,
b
may make transitional, transitory or saving provision.
5
Regulations under this section are subject to the negative procedure.
12Expiry
1
2
Subsection (1) is subject to section 13.
F203
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (1) so as to replace “31 March 2022” with “30 September 2022”
.
5
Regulations under subsection (3) are subject to the affirmative procedure.
6
F22At the same time as laying a draft Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (3) before the Scottish Parliament in accordance with section 29(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, the Scottish Ministers must lay before the Parliament a statement of their reasons why the regulations should be made.
F267
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F268
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9
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the expiry under subsection (1) of any provision of this Act.
10
Regulations under subsection (9)—
a
may make different provision for different purposes or areas,
b
are subject to the negative procedure.
13Power to bring forward expiry
C11
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations provide that any provision of Part 1—
a
does not expire at the time when it would otherwise expire (whether by virtue of section 12 or previous regulations under this section), and
b
expires instead at such earlier time as is specified in the regulations.
2
Regulations under this section—
a
may make different provision for different purposes or areas,
b
may make transitional, transitory or saving provision.
3
Regulations under this section are subject to the negative procedure.
14Power to amend Act in consequence of amendments to subordinate legislation
1
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify any provision of this Act which modifies the effect of a provision of subordinate legislation.
2
The power in subsection (1) may be exercised only if the modification is necessary in consequence of the modification of the provision of the subordinate legislation by other subordinate legislation.
3
Regulations under subsection (1) may make transitional, transitory or saving provision.
4
Regulations under subsection (1) must be laid before the Scottish Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been made.
5
Regulations under subsection (1) cease to have effect at the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made unless, during that period, they are approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
6
In calculating the period of 28 days for the purpose of subsection (5), no account is to be taken of any period during which the Scottish Parliament is—
a
in recess for more than 4 days, or
b
dissolved.
7
If regulations cease to have effect as a result of subsection (5), that does not—
a
affect the validity of anything previously done under them, or
b
prevent the making of new regulations.
15Reports by the Scottish Ministers on status of provisions
1
The Scottish Ministers must, in respect of each reporting period—
a
undertake a review of the operation of the provisions of Part 1 with a view to considering whether those provisions remain necessary, and
b
prepare a report on that review.
2
A report prepared under subsection (1) must—
a
set out how any powers conferred by the provisions of Part 1 have been exercised, and
b
include—
i
the status of the provisions of Part 1 (whether or not any power under a provision has been exercised), and
ii
a statement that the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the status of those provisions is appropriate.
3
The references in subsection (2) to the “status” of a provision are to—
a
whether the provision is in force at the end of the reporting period, and
b
whether any power under the following provisions has been exercised by the Scottish Ministers in relation to it during that period (and, if so, which and how)—
i
section 11 (regulations suspending or reviving provision),
ii
section 13 (regulations altering expiry date of provision),
iii
section 17(2) (regulations bringing provision into force).
4
Each of the following is a “reporting period”—
a
the period beginning with the day after Royal Assent and ending on 31 May 2020,
b
each successive period of 2 months that ends during the period before Part 1 of this Act expires by virtue of section 12(1).
5
The Scottish Ministers must lay each report prepared under subsection (1) before the Scottish Parliament no later than 14 days after the end of a reporting period.
15AF1Reviews: information about domestic abuse
1
The Scottish Ministers must—
a
in undertaking a review under section 15(1)(a), take account of any information about the nature and number of incidents of domestic abuse occurring during the reporting period to which the review relates given to them, or published, by—
i
the Scottish Police Authority, or
ii
the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and
b
explain in the report on that review prepared under section 15(1)(b) how the information was taken account of.
2
In subsection (1)(a), “reporting period” means a period mentioned in section 15(4)(b).
16Ancillary provision
1
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make any incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision they consider appropriate for the purposes of, or in connection with, or for giving full effect to this Act or any provision made under it.
2
Without prejudice to section 6 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, the Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify any regulations made under subsection (1) in consequence of—
a
the exercise of a power under section 11,
b
the expiry of a provision of this Act under section 12,
c
the exercise of a power under section 13.
3
Regulations under subsection (2) may make transitional, transitory or saving provision.
4
Regulations under this section—
a
may modify the effect of any enactment (including this Act),
b
are subject to the negative procedure.
17Commencement
1
This Act comes into force on the day after Royal Assent, subject to subsection (2).
2
Paragraph 11(1) of schedule 3 (and section 4 so far as it relates to that paragraph) comes into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations appoint.
3
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.
18Short title
The short title of this Act is the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.
SCHEDULE 1Eviction from dwelling-houses
Private residential tenancies: eviction grounds to be discretionary
F611
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Private residential tenancies: extension of notice periods
F412
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assured tenancies: eviction grounds to be discretionary
F623
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assured tenancies: extension of notice periods
F424
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tenancies under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984: eviction grounds to be discretionary
F635
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tenancies under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984: extension of notice periods
F396
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scottish secure tenancies: extension of notice periods
F397
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power to modify notice periods
F398
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consequential modifications in relation to prescribed forms
F399
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Errors in notices
F3910
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 2Temporary extension of moratoriums on diligence
1
The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 applies in accordance with the modifications in this schedule.
F272
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F283
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F644
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SCHEDULE 3Children and vulnerable adults
F24...
Sch. 3 expires (30.9.2021 at the end of the day) by Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 19), ss. 2(1)(3), 11(2) (with sch. para. 1)
F24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 4Justice
F48PART 1Courts and tribunals: conduct of business by electronic means
Sch. 4 Pt. 1 expires (1.10.2022) by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1)
F48Electronic signatures and transmission of documents
F481
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F48Intimation, etc. on Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website
F481A
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F48Suspension of requirements for physical attendance
F482
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F48Attendance by electronic means
F483
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F48Further provision about attendance by electronic means
F484
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F48Publication of directions and guidance
F485
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F48Interpretation of Part
F486
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F49PART 2Fiscal fines
Sch. 4 Pt. 2 expires (1.10.2022) by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1)
F49Fixed penalty: conditional offer by procurator fiscal
F497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F50PART 3Cases beginning with an appearance from custody
Sch. 4 Pt. 3 expires (1.10.2022) by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1)
F50Ability to take case in any sheriff court
F508
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F50Paragraph 8: supporting provision
F509
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F51PART 4Extension of time limits
Sch. 4 Pt. 4 expires (1.10.2022) by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1)
F51Criminal proceedings: extension of time limits
F5110
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 5Evidence
Exceptions to the rule that hearsay evidence is inadmissible
F2911
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 6Community orders
Community payback orders: extension of unpaid work or other activity requirements
F3012
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Community payback orders: time limit for completion of unpaid work or other activity
F6513
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Community orders: postponement
F3114
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Community orders: variation
F6615
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Community orders: interpretation
F6716
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 7Parole Board
Chairing of the Parole Board
F6817
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifications of the Parole Board Rules
18
F371
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F152
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F383
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F164
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F175
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F52PART 8Release of prisoners
Sch. 4 Pt. 8 expires (1.10.2022) by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1)
F52Early release of prisoners
F5219
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F52Regulations under paragraph 19: procedure and expiry
F5220
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F53PART 9Legal aid
Sch. 4 Pt. 9 expires (1.10.2022) by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1)
F53Assessment of claims for interim payment of fees and outlays
F5321
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F53Recovery of overpayment of interim fees or outlays paid to firms
F5322
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F53Payment of interim fees for civil legal aid to counsel
F5323
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 5Alcohol licensing
Requirement to hold a hearing
F691
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Premises licences
F702
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personal licence holders
F713
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Licensing Boards etc.
F724
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifications of duties of Licensing Standards Officers
F735
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notifications by the chief constable
F746
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interpretation
F757
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifications of the Licensing (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2007
F768
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 6Functioning of public bodies
PART 1Licensing other than alcohol licensing
Modifications of Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 etc.
F771
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PART 2Freedom of information
Interpretation
F782
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Time periods for responding to requests
F53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F64
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extension of periods in which certain authorities may respond
F75
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Giving notice electronically
F797
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 3Duties in respect of reports and other documents
Power to postpone publication and laying of reports
F808
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Power to publish or make available documents for inspection electronically
F819
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Resumption of duties in relation to reports and documents
F8210
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 4Local authority meetings
Introductory
F4311
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interpretation
F4412
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grounds for exclusion of the public from meetings of local authorities
F3313
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Photographic copies of documents in respect of meetings of local authorities
F4514
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 5Duties under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000
F3415
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 7Other measures in response to coronavirus
Social security
F351
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F82
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F93
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F104
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F365
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Irritancy clauses in commercial leases: non-payment of rent or other sums due
F466
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F477
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Duration of planning permission
F838
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F849
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F8510
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronic delivery of copy of deed to Registers of Scotland
F8611
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F8712
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F8813
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F8914
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Land registration: period of effect of advance notice
F1115
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1116
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F1117
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F1118
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F1819
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anatomy Act 1984: extension of periods
F1220
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1221
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F1222
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scrutiny of subordinate legislation in urgent cases
F2523
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2524
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F2525
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F2526
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F2527
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F2528
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F2529
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F2530
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Business improvement districts: extension of certain arrangements
F1931
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Muirburn
F1332
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F1433
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S. 4 and cross-heading repealed (30.9.2021 at the end of the day) by Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 19), ss. 8(1), 11(1) (with sch. para. 1)