Emergency powers could be extended to the autumn of next year under plans drawn up by the SNP.
The temporary powers were originally introduced in the spring of last year, but are due to expire in September.
The SNP is set to introduce a new bill which would effectively extend this deadline until next March.
It would also give parliament the option of agreeing to a further extension until 30 September 2022.
Coronavirus Recovery Secretary John Swinney said the extension of the powers was needed ‘because of the ongoing health threat posed by Covid’.
In a statement to MSPs, Swinney said the two pieces of Scottish emergency powers legislation that were passed by parliament last year contained “extraordinary measures which were required to respond to an emergency situation”.
These included major changes to how the court system operates, as well as provisions to control businesses and public services and temporary changes to the law for tenants and debtors.
Swinney said it was now clear that some of these provisions “will be required after the current expiry date of 30 September this year in order to respond to the ongoing threat to public health in Scotland posed by Covid”.
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