Covid 19 - What you need to know - The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill
2020
On Wednesday (1st April), the Scottish Parliament unanimously supported the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill moving closer to becoming law.
The Parliament agreed that the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill should be treated as an Emergency Bill allowing the Government to enact the same more rapidly than the normal timetable allows.
The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill adjusts the law on evictions to protect people renting their homes in the private and social sector. People and some small businesses that are unable to repay debts due to the outbreak will be able to apply for a six-month ‘breathing space’ period. The Bill also allows licensing authorities to extend the deadlines for licence applications that allow the sale and supply of alcohol (including personal licences), and taxi and private hire. This flexibility will help to minimise the risk of losing current licensing rights due during the outbreak. it also gives discretion to allow licensing hearings to be conducted by telephone, video-conferencing or by written communication, including email.
The majority of the emergency measures in the Bill will expire automatically six months after they come into force. The Scottish Parliament may extend the measures for two further periods of six months, giving the measures in the Bill a maximum duration of 18 months.
We shall keep you updated on its progress.