Anthony Butcher

It did appear in the Telegraph, but not as a main feature. I don't understand why the tabloids aren't screaming "Police State" on their front pages. I would have thought that the prospect of John Prescott being granted fuhrer-like powers because a bus has broken down in Scunthorpe would be a striking image.

Or perhaps the whole bill is just too bizarre for Brits to understand. It seems to silly for anyone to actually suggest that a minister could actually implement the bill, so maybe it simply isn't taken seriously by the papers?

I have just read through some portions of the bill again. It is absolutely astounding. For anyone unwilling to read through the bill, here are all of the conditions under which the legislation could be invoked:

21. Scope of emergency regulations

(1) Emergency regulations may make any provision which the person making the regulations thinks is for the purpose of preventing, controlling or mitigating an aspect or effect of the emergency in respect of which the regulations are made.

(2) In particular, emergency regulations may make any provision which the person making the regulations thinks is for the purpose of—

(a) protecting human life, health or safety,
(b) treating human illness or injury,
(c) protecting or restoring property,
(d) protecting or restoring a supply of money, food, water, energy or fuel,
(e) protecting or restoring an electronic or other system of communication,
(f) protecting or restoring facilities for transport,
(g) protecting or restoring the provision of services relating to health,
(h) protecting or restoring the activities of banks or other financial institutions,
(i) preventing, containing or reducing the contamination of land, water or air,
(j) preventing, or mitigating the effects of, flooding,
(k) preventing, reducing or mitigating the effects of disruption or destruction of plant life or animal life,
(l) protecting or restoring activities of Her Majesty’s Government,
(m) protecting or restoring activities of Parliament, of the Scottish Parliament, of the Northern Ireland Assembly or of the National Assembly for Wales, or
(n) protecting or restoring the performance of public functions.

And here are the seemingly unlimited powers that can be assumed by a minister:

(3) Emergency regulations may make provision of any kind that could be made by Act of Parliament or by the exercise of the Royal Prerogative; in particular, regulations may—

(a) confer a function on a Minister of the Crown, on the Scottish Ministers, on the National Assembly for Wales, on a Northern Ireland department, on a coordinator appointed under section 23 or on any other specified person (and a function conferred may, in particular, be—
--- (i) a power, or duty, to exercise a discretion;
--- (ii) a power to give directions or orders, whether written or oral);
(b) provide for or enable the requisition or confiscation of property (with or without compensation);
(c) provide for or enable the destruction of property, animal life or plant life (with or without compensation);
(d) prohibit, or enable the prohibition of, movement to or from a specified place;
(e) require, or enable the requirement of, movement to or from a specified place;
(f) prohibit, or enable the prohibition of, assemblies of specified kinds, at specified places or at specified times;
(g) prohibit, or enable the prohibition of, travel at specified times;
(h) prohibit, or enable the prohibition of, other specified activities;
(i) create an offence of—
--- (i) failing to comply with a provision of the regulations;
--- (ii) failing to comply with a direction or order given or made under the regulations;
---(iii) obstructing a person in the performance of a function under or by virtue of the regulations;
(j) disapply or modify an enactment (other than a provision of this Part) or a provision made under or by virtue of an enactment;
(k) require a person or body to act in performance of a function (whether the function is conferred by the regulations or otherwise and whether or not the regulations also make provision for remuneration or compensation);