You appear to have JavaScript disabled in your browser settings. You may find some parts of this website do not work properly without it enabled.

Constitutional implications of COVID‑19

Inquiry

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Government’s measures to respond to it have significant constitutional implications, as well as health, social and economic ones. These include:

The ability of Parliament to hold the Government to account
Scrutiny of emergency powers
The operation of the courts

The Constitution Committee is considering these issues and exploring questions such as:

What can Parliament do to maximise its scrutiny of the emergency regulations and to hold the Government to account effectively during lockdown? How are adjustments to procedures and processes working in the House of Lords?
What emergency powers has the Government sought during the pandemic and what powers has it used and how? What lessons are there for future uses of emergency powers, their safeguards and the processes for scrutinising them?
How is the court system operating during the pandemic? What has been the impact of virtual proceedings on access to justice, participation in proceedings, transparency and media reporting?

The Committee has concluded taking evidence for this inquiry and will issue reports in due course.

Work news

Report published on the use and scrutiny of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Constitution Committee publishes its third and final report for its inquiry into the constitutional implications of COVID-19.

Report published on the impact of COVID-19 on Parliament

The Constitution Committee publishes its report COVID-19 and Parliament as part of its inquiry into the Constitutional implications of COVID‑19.

Report published on the impact of COVID-19 on courts and tribunals in England and Wales

The Constitution Committee publishes the first of three reports on the constitutional implications of COVID-19

Committee calls for evidence on the use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Constitution Committee launches call for evidence on the use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic

29 September 2020

Committee hears from Leader of the House and Chief Whip on Parliament during the pandemic

The Constitution Committee hears evidence on Wednesday 29 July at 10.30am

Lord Chancellor on COVID-19 and the courts

The Constitution Committee hears evidence on Wednesday 22 July at 10.30am

Committee hears from legal sector representative bodies on COVID-19's impact on courts

The Constitution Committee hears evidence on Thursday 9 July at 3.00pm

Contact us

Email: constitution@parliament.uk
Phone: 020 7219 3871 (committee staff) | 020 7219 8286 (Press Officer)
Address: Constitution Committee, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW