Civil Contingencies Act

Paymaster General and Secretary of State questioned on Government’s response to Coronavirus

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Emergency management, Civil Contingencies Act, State of emergency, Mordaunt, National security, Law

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee investigate the Governments approach to legislating for new powers to respond to the crisis, including its decision to draft and pass an emergency new act of Parliament instead of utilising the exiting emergency powers in the Civil Contingencies Act.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee investigate the Governments approach to legislating for new powers to respond to the crisis, including its decision to draft and pass an emergency new act of Parliament instead of utilising the exiting emergency powers in the Civil Contingencies Act.
  • Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Paymaster General
    The session also examines the Governments wider response to the pandemic, including the development and implementation of lockdown measures and guidance, the use of data and co-ordination with devolved governments.

PACAC hold opening session of Coronavirus Act inquiry

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Law, Civil Contingencies Act, Parliament of Singapore, Legislation, Constitution, Articles, Government

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into the Governments response to Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Tuesday 16 June when they take evidence from constitutional and legal experts.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into the Governments response to Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Tuesday 16 June when they take evidence from constitutional and legal experts.
  • The emergency legislation was passed by Parliament on 25 March and provided the Government with the powers it desired to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.
  • Under section 98 of the Act, the legislation will be reviewed by Parliament every six months.
  • The session will also consider why the Government chose not to make use of existing legislation, in particular the Civil Contingencies Act.

PACAC hold opening session of Coronavirus Act inquiry

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Law, Civil Contingencies Act, Parliament of Singapore, Legislation, Constitution, Articles, Government

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into the Governments response to Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Tuesday 16 June when they take evidence from constitutional and legal experts.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into the Governments response to Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Tuesday 16 June when they take evidence from constitutional and legal experts.
  • The emergency legislation was passed by Parliament on 25 March and provided the Government with the powers it desired to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.
  • Under section 98 of the Act, the legislation will be reviewed by Parliament every six months.
  • The session will also consider why the Government chose not to make use of existing legislation, in particular the Civil Contingencies Act.

PACAC hold opening session of Coronavirus Act inquiry

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Law, Civil Contingencies Act, Parliament of Singapore, Legislation, Constitution, Articles, Government

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into the Governments response to Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Tuesday 16 June when they take evidence from constitutional and legal experts.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into the Governments response to Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Tuesday 16 June when they take evidence from constitutional and legal experts.
  • The emergency legislation was passed by Parliament on 25 March and provided the Government with the powers it desired to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.
  • Under section 98 of the Act, the legislation will be reviewed by Parliament every six months.
  • The session will also consider why the Government chose not to make use of existing legislation, in particular the Civil Contingencies Act.

PACAC plan to question Government on Coronavirus Act

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 3, 2020
Government of the United Kingdom, Natural environment, Michael Gove, Neoconservatism, Civil Contingencies Act, Nature, Cabinet Office, Emergency management, Parliament of Singapore, United States Environmental Protection Agency

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will invite the Government to give evidence on the Coronavirus Act when Parliament resumes in the week beginning 20 April.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will invite the Government to give evidence on the Coronavirus Act when Parliament resumes in the week beginning 20 April.
  • The Committee intends to question ministers in the Cabinet Office, including the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, on the quality of the Coronavirus Act and associated legislation and its effectiveness in implementing Government policy to combat the disease.
  • The session will examine the quality of Government preparations for major crises, including what lessons were learnt from emergency planning exercises and the scope for greater planning and scrutiny of draft emergency legislation.
  • The Committee is also likely to investigate the Civil Contingencies Act, including whether the Government should have made greater use of the existing legislation and whether it may be in need of reform based on lessons being learnt during the current crisis.

PACAC plan to question Government on Coronavirus Act

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 3, 2020
Government of the United Kingdom, Natural environment, Michael Gove, Neoconservatism, Civil Contingencies Act, Nature, Cabinet Office, Emergency management, Parliament of Singapore, United States Environmental Protection Agency

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will invite the Government to give evidence on the Coronavirus Act when Parliament resumes in the week beginning 20 April.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will invite the Government to give evidence on the Coronavirus Act when Parliament resumes in the week beginning 20 April.
  • The Committee intends to question ministers in the Cabinet Office, including the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, on the quality of the Coronavirus Act and associated legislation and its effectiveness in implementing Government policy to combat the disease.
  • The session will examine the quality of Government preparations for major crises, including what lessons were learnt from emergency planning exercises and the scope for greater planning and scrutiny of draft emergency legislation.
  • The Committee is also likely to investigate the Civil Contingencies Act, including whether the Government should have made greater use of the existing legislation and whether it may be in need of reform based on lessons being learnt during the current crisis.

PACAC plan to question Government on Coronavirus Act

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 3, 2020
Government of the United Kingdom, Natural environment, Michael Gove, Neoconservatism, Civil Contingencies Act, Nature, Cabinet Office, Emergency management, Parliament of Singapore, United States Environmental Protection Agency

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will invite the Government to give evidence on the Coronavirus Act when Parliament resumes in the week beginning 20 April.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will invite the Government to give evidence on the Coronavirus Act when Parliament resumes in the week beginning 20 April.
  • The Committee intends to question ministers in the Cabinet Office, including the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, on the quality of the Coronavirus Act and associated legislation and its effectiveness in implementing Government policy to combat the disease.
  • The session will examine the quality of Government preparations for major crises, including what lessons were learnt from emergency planning exercises and the scope for greater planning and scrutiny of draft emergency legislation.
  • The Committee is also likely to investigate the Civil Contingencies Act, including whether the Government should have made greater use of the existing legislation and whether it may be in need of reform based on lessons being learnt during the current crisis.

Brexit: contingency planning and powers

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 22, 2019
Emergency management, Government of the United Kingdom, Cabinet Office, Public safety, Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Civil Contingencies Act, Military Aid to the Civil Authorities, Civil defense, State of emergency, Operation Yellowhammer, Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms, Emergency

Thursday, March 21, 2019Media reports have speculated on whether the Government might be preparing to use its emergency powers conferred by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to manage various problems commentators have suggested may emerge after Brexit, particularly if there is no deal.

Key Points: 


House of Commons Library

Brexit: contingency planning and powers


    This briefing looks at emergency planning in the UK and specifically at the how emergencies are defined, how the Government may deploy its emergency powers to deal with them, and how this relates to no-deal planning.

What emergency powers does the Government have?


    The statutory framework for planning for and dealing with civil contingencies derives from the 2004 Act. Under Part 2 of the 2004 Act, the Government has the power to make emergency regulations, as outlined in the Act’s Explanatory Notes, and so this briefing focuses primarily on those powers. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005 (as amended) add further detail to the emergency planning regime.

Military aid to the civil authorities

  • There is a clear process in place for deploying the armed forces in the UK if requested by local or civil authorities, known as Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA).Ministerial approval is required for any request for assistance from other Government departments or civil authorities.
  • The legal authority to use Service personnel in operations under Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) is governed by the 2004 Act and the Emergency Powers Act 1964 (Section 2).

Civil contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit

    What has the Government said so far?

    • The Cabinet Office’s guidance on the UK central government response to emergencies identifies three levels of emergency: significant emergency (level 1), serious emergency (level 2) and catastrophic emergency (level 3). Only the last of these (the guidance suggests) might require use of the 2004 Act’s emergency powers provisions. The guidance goes on to say that the central response framework, including the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR), would be activated in the event of a level 2 or 3 emergency. It was reported in March 2019 that COBR had taken control of no-deal planning and would be implementing contingency measures from 24 March 2019.
      • The UK central government response to emergencies (including the procedure for invoking emergency powers) is also discussed in the House of Lords Library briefing Civil contingencies, Emergency Powers and No-Deal Brexit (LLN-2019-0034, 19 March 2019)
      • Dealing with civil contingencies: emergency planning in the UK (CBP 08016, 11 July 2017) looks more broadly at emergency planning.
      • The Commons Library briefing Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (CBP 08074, 18 August 2017) provides a more detailed examination of using the armed forces.
      • Other Commons Library briefings on related topics are available from the pages for emergency services and emergencies and disaster management.
    • Emergency powers would (he suggested) be used only for unforeseen situations foreseeable contingencies should be addressed through the usual primary or secondary legislation.
    • Operation Yellowhammer is the name by which some elements of departments contingency planning (coordinated by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat) are known.