Search Legislation

Coronavirus Act 2020

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: PART 2

 Help about opening options

Version Superseded: 21/04/2021

Status:

Point in time view as at 30/11/2020.

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Coronavirus Act 2020, PART 2. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

PART 2U.K.Directions and other measures to address lack of capacity

Designation where there is insufficient capacity to deal with dead bodies etcU.K.

X14(1)The appropriate national authority may designate a local authority for the purposes of this Part of this Schedule if of the view that—U.K.

(a)as a result of coronavirus disease there is, or is likely to be, insufficient capacity within the area of that local authority to transport, store or dispose of dead bodies or other human remains, and

(b)the powers conferred by this Part of this Schedule are likely to be an effective means of addressing that lack of capacity.

(2)If, having made a designation under this paragraph, the appropriate national authority ceases to be of the view mentioned in sub-paragraph (1), the appropriate national authority must revoke the designation (but this does not limit the future exercise of the power in sub-paragraph (1) in relation to the same local authority).

(3)If a mayoral combined authority is designated under sub-paragraph (1), the designation may make provision for its functions under this Part of this Schedule to be exercisable only by the mayor.

(4)A designation or revocation under this paragraph—

(a)takes effect when published online, and

(b)must, as soon as reasonably practicable after it is made, also be published in the appropriate Gazette.

(5)In sub-paragraph (4)(b) “the appropriate Gazette” means—

(a)where the designation or revocation relates to a local authority in England or Wales, the London Gazette;

(b)where the designation or revocation relates to a local authority in Scotland, the Edinburgh Gazette;

(c)where the designation or revocation relates to a local authority in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Gazette.

(6)In this Part of this Schedule “designated local authority” means a local authority for the time being designated under this paragraph.

Editorial Information

X1The exercise of the power to make or revoke a designation conferred under this provision must also be notified by means of a notice published in The Gazette

Directions to do things calculated to facilitate dealing with dead bodies etcU.K.

5(1)A designated local authority may give a direction requiring a person to do anything calculated to facilitate the transportation, storage or disposal of dead bodies or other human remains in the local authority's area or from its area.U.K.

(2)The appropriate national authority may give a direction requiring a person to do anything calculated to facilitate the transportation, storage or disposal of dead bodies or other human remains if—

(a)one or more local authorities are designated under paragraph 4, and

(b)the appropriate national authority considers that, in respect of any matter, a regional or national response is appropriate, instead of leaving it to individual local authorities to give directions under sub-paragraph (1).

(3)A direction under this paragraph may, in particular—

(a)require a person to provide services;

(b)require a person to provide facilities, premises, vehicles, equipment or anything else within the person's possession or under the person's control;

(c)require a person to exercise any right they have to require others to do things (including things within other paragraphs of this sub-paragraph);

(d)direct whether a dead body or other human remains must be buried by the person or cremated by the person;

(e)make provision about how or where a person is to bury or cremate a dead body or other human remains;

(f)in the case of a direction by a local authority, require a person to do things outside the local authority's area;

(g)make provision about how or when things are to be done in accordance with the direction;

(h)make provision about the supervision of anything required to be done in accordance with the direction;

(i)require a person to provide information about things done in response to a direction.

(4)A direction may require a person to do things even if they would involve the person breaching a contract or incurring other liabilities (but the right of any other person to claim damages for such a breach or to enforce such a liability is not affected by the direction).

(5)A direction under this paragraph may not be given to—

(a)an individual, or

(b)a public authority.

(6)In exercising its functions under this paragraph a designated local authority or the appropriate national authority must have regard to the effect that any direction is likely to have on the ability of any person to carry on their normal business.

(7)Designated local authorities and the appropriate national authority must keep such records relating to directions under this paragraph for such time as they consider appropriate.

(8)A person commits an offence if the person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a direction under this paragraph.

(9)A person guilty of an offence under this paragraph is liable on summary conviction—

(a)in England and Wales, to a fine;

(b)in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(10)A direction under sub-paragraph (1) lapses on the revocation of the designation under paragraph 4 of the local authority that gave the direction.

(11)A direction under sub-paragraph (2) lapses if there are no designated local authorities.

Power of ministers etc to step inU.K.

6U.K.If the appropriate national authority considers that a designated local authority is failing to exercise its powers under paragraph 5(1) properly, it may give any direction under paragraph 5(1) that could have been given by the designated local authority (and paragraph 5 applies with any necessary modifications).

Appropriate national authority directions to prevailU.K.

7U.K.If there is a conflict between—

(a)a direction given by a designated local authority under paragraph 5(1), and

(b)a direction given by the appropriate national authority under paragraph 5(2) or in reliance on paragraph 6,

the direction given by the local authority is of no effect to the extent of that conflict.

Compensation where directions givenU.K.

X28(1)The appropriate national authority must publish a scheme for the making of payments to persons to whom directions are given under paragraph 5.U.K.

(2)The scheme must include provision for a person to whom a direction is given under paragraph 5 to be paid—

(a)a reasonable sum in respect of anything provided by the person in accordance with the direction, and

(b)compensation in respect of—

(i)any losses,

(ii)any liabilities to pay damages for breach of contract, or

(iii)any other liabilities,

incurred by the person as a result of the direction.

(3)The scheme may include provision for payments in respect of other matters.

(4)The scheme may include provision designed to prevent double recovery (for example, by reducing a payment in respect of a liability for which a person is entitled to be indemnified under an insurance policy).

(5)A payment under the scheme—

(a)in relation to a direction given by a local authority under paragraph 5(1), is to be paid by that local authority;

(b)in relation to a direction given by the appropriate national authority in reliance on paragraph 6, is to be paid by the local authority that it considered to be failing to exercise functions properly;

(c)in relation to a direction under paragraph 5(2), is to be paid by the appropriate national authority.

(6)The scheme may include provision about procedural matters, including provision—

(a)imposing time limits for the making of a claim or other steps under the scheme;

(b)about the calculation of amounts and how they are to be determined;

(c)permitting or requiring the review of decisions under the scheme.

(7)The scheme may confer discretions or other functions on public authorities.

(8)The appropriate national authority may vary a scheme under this paragraph.

(9)The appropriate national authority need not make a scheme under this paragraph unless or until it has designated a local authority under paragraph 4.

Editorial Information

X2The power conferred under this provision to publish or vary a scheme may be exercised by means of a notice published in The Gazette

GuidanceU.K.

9(1)The appropriate national authority may give guidance as to the exercise by designated local authorities of functions under this Part of this Schedule.U.K.

(2)Designated local authorities must have regard to any guidance given under this paragraph.

General provisions about directions and schemesU.K.

10U.K.A direction or scheme under this Part of this Schedule may—

(a)make provision that applies generally or only in specified circumstances or for a specified purpose;

(b)make different provision for different purposes;

(c)contain incidental, supplemental, consequential or transitional provision.

ProcedureU.K.

11(1)A power to give directions under this Part of this Schedule includes power to vary or revoke the directions.U.K.

(2)A direction under this Part of this Schedule must be given in writing.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources