MSPs support emergency Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Parliament unanimously supports new emergency powers in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill.
The Scottish Parliament has unanimously supported new emergency powers to help protect the public, maintain essential public services and support the economy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill adjusts the law on evictions for people renting their homes in the private and social sector. The bill delivers new provisions that are designed to ensure businesses, consumers and public services continue to operate effectively and makes necessary adjustments to the criminal justice system to ensure essential services continue.
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. This will allow them to seek money advice and find long-term solutions to repay debts.
Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said: “Scotland is facing an unprecedented situation. This emergency bill delivers necessary powers that will allow us to prioritise tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
“People across the country have responded magnificently as we work together to save lives. It is in that spirit of co-operation and consensus that we have worked across parliament to pass these vital - time-limited - measures,
“By unanimously passing this bill, the parliament has ensured practical help will be given to many businesses and to people struggling financially because of the crisis.
“The Scottish Government will continue to engage across parties to help the country get through this most testing of times."
Sally Thomas, SFHA Chief Executive, said: “SFHA agrees with the Scottish Government that evictions should be suspended for those experiencing financial hardship caused by the coronavirus outbreak. This is absolutely the right thing to do in order to support people who are struggling financially.
“We welcome the measures that are being put in place for evictions in relation to anti-social and criminal behaviour as it is vital that housing associations can put the safety and wellbeing of those affected by such actions first and take appropriate steps to deal with this.”
Sally Thomas continued: “Rental income is vital for social landlords. It allows them to provide support and services for tenants and to carry out essential repairs and maintenance work. These frontline services are needed to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of tenants, and it is critical that they can continue during the coronavirus outbreak.
“It is crucial that tenants who are able to do so continue to pay their rent. Social landlords have always worked hard to help their tenants to manage their rent through tenancy support, welfare advice and financial inclusion services – and they will continue to do this. Housing associations will work with tenants to ensure they are aware of, and accessing, the social security support, such as Universal Credit, for which they may be eligible.
“However, we have alerted Scottish Government to the likely need for financial support for housing associations and co-operatives that experience income loss due to a reduction in rent payments. This support is more important than ever as we all work together to minimise the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable people in our communities, many of whom live in social housing.”
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.
The Scottish Government will provide a report to parliament every two months about the use of these emergency powers.
The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill extends the current six-week period that provides people and some businesses with breathing space to seek money advice and find longer term solutions to repay debts to six months. It also removes the limitation that means they can only apply for such a breathing space once in a 12 month period. These measures apply to individuals, partnerships, corporate and unincorporated bodies and trusts, though not to companies or LLPs.
The COVID-19 outbreak affects the ability of both planning authorities and applicants to deal with planning permissions that are due to expire. When planning permission is granted, applicants have a period of three years to commence development before the permission lapses. The new legislation extends any planning permission that would lapse within the next six months so that it will not expire until April 2021.