| 释义 |
emergency powers
Powers conferred by government regulations during a state of emergency. The existence of such a state is declared by royal proclamation under the Emergency Powers Acts 1920 and 1964 and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. A proclamation, which lasts for one month but is renewable, may be issued whenever there is a threat (e.g. a major strike or natural disaster) to the country’s essentials of life. The regulations made may confer on government departments, the armed forces, and others all powers necessary to secure the supply and distribution of necessities and the maintenance of public peace and safety. As a recent instance, the Coronavirus Act 2020 granted the UK Government emergency powers to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act gave the government discretionary power to do the following: limit or suspend public gatherings; detain individuals suspected to be infected by COVID-19; intervene in a range of sectors to limit transmission of the disease and thereby ease the burden on public health services; and assist healthcare workers and the economically affected. Areas covered by the Act include the National Health Service, social care, schools, police, the Border Force, local councils, funerals, and courts. See also civil contingencies. |