Legislation Published December 2025
Legislation Tracker is your source for clear, concise explanations of Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments introduced in the United Kingdom.
We break down the technical legal jargon of each piece of legislation, explaining in plain language what it means and its potential impact.
Summary
- 15th Dec 25 These Regulations brought into force specific sections of the Procurement Act 2023 on January 1st, 2026, and April 1st, 2026, detailing commencement provisions related to payments compliance and contract performance assessment, while making specific exceptions and definitions for procurements regulated by the Welsh Ministers. View
- 15th Dec 25 The Regulations created criminal offences for UAS operators and remote pilots breaching the UK Implementing Regulation for drone operations, set penalties, and amended related UK Acts concerning police powers and existing air navigation rules. View
- 15th Dec 25 Specified provisions of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, relating to the Border Security Commander, immigration offences, powers over electronic devices, and conditions on leave, were brought into force on January 5th, 2026. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Regulations amended the Down Syndrome Act 2022 to update references to NHS bodies, replacing 'National Health Service Commissioning Board' with 'NHS England' and 'clinical commissioning group' with 'integrated care board'. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Order designated St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School and Edullect Academy Independent School as having a religious character and revoked previous designations for multiple other independent schools across several earlier statutory instruments. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Order amended thirty-four existing UK Sanctions Orders in Council concerning Overseas Territories to implement changes from the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2024, including updating finance-related reporting obligations and expanding definitions of regulated firms. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Order appointed Owen Evans as the Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales for five years starting January 1st, 2027, and revoked the previous 2021 Order on that date. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Regulations appointed 12th December 2025 as the commencement date for specified provisions in Parts 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Football Governance Act 2025. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Order appointed 17th December 2025 as the end date for the access preparation period concerning the coastal margin rights along the Cremyll to Kingswear section of the England Coast Path. View
- 12th Dec 25 The Order appointed December 17, 2025, as the end date for the access preparation period for the coastal margin relating to the Combe Martin to Marsland Mouth section of the England Coast Path. View
- 11th Dec 25 The Regulations amended Section 17 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 to introduce permitted disclosures to the CICA and courts/tribunals for compensation claims, and expanded the definition of a qualified lawyer to include registered foreign lawyers. View
- 11th Dec 25 The Order enacts the new Double Taxation Convention and Protocol with Romania, detailing rules for taxing income, capital gains, permanent establishments, and introducing mutual agreement and information exchange procedures. View
- 11th Dec 25 The Order expanded the scope of practice for registered pharmacy technicians by legally enabling pharmacists to authorize them to conduct and supervise medicine-related tasks, introducing consequential amendments to medicine control regulations, and differentiating commencement timelines for various provisions. View
- 11th Dec 25 * The Order enacted the Double Taxation Convention between the UK and Andorra for income and capital taxes, including supplemental Notes Verbales to correct clerical errors within the Convention text. View
- 11th Dec 25 The Order brought into effect the Double Taxation Convention and Protocol between the UK and the Portuguese Republic to eliminate double taxation and enhance tax enforcement. View
- 11th Dec 25 The UK and Peru enacted a Convention and Protocol to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax avoidance, and establish mechanisms for tax enforcement assistance. View
- 11th Dec 25 The Secretary of State for Transport revised the maximum tolls for the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry, effective December 30, 2025, and revoked the 2021 toll revision Order. View
- 10th Dec 25 The Treasury amended the 2025 Commencement No. 10 Regulations to save specific permissions granted by the PRA under the Capital Requirements Regulation and maintained the PRA's power to amend related delegated technical standards past January 1st, 2026. View
- 10th Dec 25 The Secretary of State established new 500-meter safety zones around two specified offshore installations and revoked safety zones established under four previous orders dating from 2007 and 2008. View
- 10th Dec 25 These regulations amended the principal Regulations to correct a drafting error in how transitional provisions related to securing free childcare for working parents were being removed. View
- 10th Dec 25 The regulations amended several customs regulations to update DCTS origin criteria, reclassified Vanuatu's trade status, adjusted regional cumulation groups, and revised version numbers for numerous supporting tariff and trade preference documents. View
- 10th Dec 25 The Office for Students revoked The Power to Award Degrees etc. (LTE Group Limited) Order 2025 because it contained a drafting error. View
- 9th Dec 25 The Order amended the 2014 legislation to mandate that nationals or citizens of Nauru require a transit visa for travelling through the UK, effective December 10, 2025. View
- 8th Dec 25 The Rules amended the Court Funds Rules 2011 to differentiate the management of sterling and foreign currency deposits, updated interest accrual rules, and simplified payment-out procedures under CPR rule 37.3. View
- 8th Dec 25 The regulations enacted specific derogations extending the permissible use dates for halon 1211 in fire extinguishers on designated Defence and Loganair aircraft. View
- 8th Dec 25 The Regulations amended the Police Regulations 2003 by removing consultation requirements for part-time appointments, aligning probation/overtime treatment between part-time and full-time staff, and altering annual leave calculation from 'days' to flexible 'periods'. View
- 5th Dec 25 The Regulations amended the 2023 Regulations to introduce deemed compliance pathways based on the Japan JC-STAR STAR-1 and Singapore Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme for product security and statements of compliance. View
- 5th Dec 25 The Regulations amended the 2020 MDP Conduct, Performance, and Appeals Tribunals Regulations, introducing electronic service of documents, mandatory disciplinary outcomes for misconduct findings, restructuring performance review stages, and updating rules applicable to former officers. View
- 4th Dec 25 The Regulations commenced provisions of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 concerning online publicity for non-Welsh compulsory purchase orders and established transitional rules for ongoing CPO procedures. View
- 4th Dec 25 The Secretary of State for Transport amended the Railway Byelaws to ensure gender neutrality, ban e-cigarette use, clarify vehicle obstruction and parking rules across England, Wales, and Scotland, and replace 'penalty' with 'fine' in enforcement provisions. View
- 3rd Dec 25 The Secretary of State enacted the South East Water Limited (River Ouse and Shell Brook) Drought Order 2025, temporarily modifying licence conditions to manage a serious water supply threat in Sussex due to drought, imposing monitoring requirements, and setting an expiry date of June 2, 2026. View
- 3rd Dec 25 The Regulations brought Section 98 of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 into force immediately, and set a two-month commencement date for Sections 78, 79, and Schedule 3 relating to eligibility verification. View
- 3rd Dec 25 The Regulations established the citation, commencement on 12th January 2026, and territorial extent for the forthcoming statutory Code of Practice governing Victim Information Requests under the relevant 2022 and 2024 Acts. View
- 3rd Dec 25 * The Secretary of State exercised powers under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to define 'counselling services' relevant to information requests by law enforcement, establishing commencement and extent provisions. View
- 3rd Dec 25 The Secretary of State made an Order amending the 2015 Development Consent Order for the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm to allow separate consideration and enforcement of requirements for Project A and Project B. View
- 3rd Dec 25 The Regulations amended the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012, the Local Authority (Duty to Secure Early Years Provision Free of Charge) Regulations 2014, the Childcare Providers (Information, Advice and Training) Regulations 2014, and the Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) Regulations 2022 to align them with updated inspection outcome criteria. View
- 2nd Dec 25 The Merchant Shipping (Polar Code) (Safety) Regulations 2025 were enacted, implementing updated IMO requirements for polar navigation, extending compliance to smaller vessels, and amending preceding survey, certification, and fee regulations. View
- 2nd Dec 25 The Regulations amended Part A of Annex 2 to Regulation (EU) 2017/852 by inserting new entries and associated phase-out dates for mercury use in several categories of devices, effective from December 23rd, 2025, across England, Wales, and Scotland. View
- 2nd Dec 25 The Treasury amended sections of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, specifically increasing statutory monetary thresholds for calculating the taxable cash equivalent of car fuel benefits, van benefits, and van fuel benefits, effective from April 6, 2026. View
- 2nd Dec 25 The Order amended Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 by excluding specific preserved railway byelaws from the definition of relevant land to enable the recovery of unpaid station car parking charges. View
- 2nd Dec 25 The Order amended the 2001 Block Exemption Order to remove its sunset clause, revised definitions for connecting services and vehicle classification, eliminated the definition of "working day," and set a new mandatory review schedule beginning in 2031. View
- 1st Dec 25 The Treasury amended Part 8C of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 to exclude low-rate simple interest from the 45% restitution interest tax charge and adjusted the assessment time limit for chargeable interest. View
- 1st Dec 25 The regulations prescribed new fees for Public Record Office services, revoked the 2018 Regulations, and introduced specific charges for accessing certain military service personnel records. View
- 1st Dec 25 The document renamed the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme to the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service and increased fixed fees and hourly rates for controlled work in housing, debt, and immigration/asylum legal aid, effective December 22, 2025. View
- 1st Dec 25 The Regulations cited and commenced amendments to criminal legal aid general and remuneration frameworks, updating fee rates, extending coverage to specific Parole Board appeals, and modifying payment rules for litigators. View
- 1st Dec 25 The Office for Students amended the 2024 Order to extend the fixed-term authorization for ESCP Europe Business School to award degrees until December 2, 2030. View
The Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office with the consent of the Welsh Ministers, exercise powers under the Procurement Act 2023 to bring specified provisions of that Act into force across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on set dates in 2026.
Specifically, sections concerning payments compliance notices (Section 69) and contract performance assessment (Section 71) come into force for most procurements on January 1st, 2026, while Section 69 (for Welsh-regulated procurements) and Section 70 (information about payments) commence on April 1st, 2026, with mechanisms defined to differentiate between procurements regulated by the UK government and those regulated by the Welsh Ministers.
The Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
These Regulations establish criminal offences in the UK for UAS operators and remote pilots who fail to comply with specific requirements detailed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 concerning the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The legislation, which comes into force in January 2026 across the whole of the UK, specifies the breaches that constitute offences, ranging from registration failures to competency issues across 'open', 'specific', and 'certified' flight categories, sets out associated summary conviction penalties, and makes consequential amendments to the Police Act 1997, the Air Navigation Order 2016, and the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 to reflect these new criminal provisions.
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 bring into force on 5th January 2026 several key provisions of the parent Act, including the establishment and functions of the statutory Border Security Commander, new criminal offences related to supplying articles for immigration crime and endangering others during sea crossings, provisions for searching electronic devices, and amendments allowing stricter conditions on leave and bail for national security or public safety threats.
The Health and Care Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care made these Regulations under the powers granted by the Health and Care Act 2022 to make consequential amendments to the Down Syndrome Act 2022, which apply to England and Wales.
Specifically, the Regulations update the Schedule of the Down Syndrome Act 2022 by substituting references to the former National Health Service Commissioning Board with 'NHS England' and references to a 'clinical commissioning group' with 'an integrated care board', reflecting structural reforms enacted in the 2022 Act.
This Order formally designates two specific independent schools in England, St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School and Edullect Academy Independent School, recognizing them as having a religious character aligned with the Church of England and Islam, respectively, effective from December 13th, 2025.
Furthermore, the Order legally revokes the previous designations of several other independent schools listed in various prior Orders dating back to 2003 and 2004, updating the official record of schools permitted to conduct their operations and employment decisions based on religious or denominational considerations.
The Sanctions (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Overseas Territories) Order 2025, enacted under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, makes widespread technical amendments across numerous extant sanctions Orders applicable to listed British overseas territories (OTs).
The primary purpose is to align OT sanctions legislation with recent UK amendments (specifically the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2024), particularly by clarifying financial regulatory authority roles (transferring responsibilities from the Treasury to the Governor) and expanding the scope of 'relevant firms' subject to reporting obligations to include entities dealing with cryptoassets, high-value goods transactions, and insolvency proceedings.
The Education (Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales) Order 2025
This Order, issued by the King in Council on December 10th, 2025, under the authority of the Education Act 2005, officially appoints Owen Evans as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales for a five-year term beginning on January 1st, 2027, while simultaneously revoking the Education (Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales) (No. 2) Order 2021 on the same date.
The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
These Regulations officially bring into force the second set of provisions from the Football Governance Act 2025, appointing 12th December 2025 as the commencement date for many sections.
The commencement targets key areas including the suitability requirements for incumbent club owners and officers (Part 4), the investigatory powers granted to the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) (Part 7), the enforcement sanctions framework (Part 8), and the review and appeals processes (Part 9).
Certain aspects of these parts, particularly those relating to operating licences, are explicitly excluded from this commencement order.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Cremyll to Kingswear) Order 2025
This Order, made by the Secretary of State under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, officially appoints December 17th, 2025, as the date when the coastline access preparation period ends for the coastal margin relating to the England Coast Path route between Cremyll and Kingswear.
This date signifies the conclusion of the preparatory phase following the Secretary of State’s approval of specific reports detailing the path segments, thereby establishing definitive public access rights over that coastal margin land.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Combe Martin to Marsland Mouth) Order 2025
This Order, made by the Secretary of State under powers granted by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, officially sets December 17, 2025, as the date when the access preparation period ends for the land designated as coastal margin along the England Coast Path section between Combe Martin and Marsland Mouth, based on previously approved reports and proposals.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Permitted Disclosures) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, amend the list of permitted disclosures that cannot be precluded by agreement, specifically allowing victims of crime to disclose information to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for compensation claims under relevant schemes and to courts or tribunals handling related proceedings.
Additionally, the regulations expand the definition of a 'qualified lawyer' within the Act to include registered foreign lawyers, ensuring victims can seek relevant legal advice regarding their victimization.
The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Romania) Order 2025
This Order, made by His Majesty in Council, formally brings into effect the Convention and Protocol between the United Kingdom and Romania, signed in November 2024, designed to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax evasion and avoidance, and establish frameworks for mutual assistance in tax enforcement between the two countries, thereby replacing the previous 1975 Convention.
The Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025
This Order in Council amends several UK laws, including the Medicines Act 1968 and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, to expand the roles of registered pharmacy technicians by enabling pharmacists to authorize them to perform and supervise tasks related to the preparation, assembly, dispensing, and final supply of medicinal products.
The changes primarily apply to Great Britain initially and establish a framework of authorization, supervision, and professional accountability, including specific provisions for hospital aseptic facilities and controlled drug handling, while also introducing provisions for the delegation of final supply of checked and bagged medicines across the entire UK.
This Order formally brings into effect the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Principality of Andorra, signed on February 20, 2025, aimed at eliminating double taxation on income and capital, preventing tax evasion and avoidance, and facilitating international tax enforcement; the Schedule includes the full text of this Convention, along with subsequent Notes Verbales from June 2025 that formally correct a clerical error found in Article 18 concerning Government Service payments, making the corrected text legally effective upon the Order's enactment.
This Order formally enacts into UK law a new Convention and accompanying Protocol between the United Kingdom and the Portuguese Republic, signed in September 2025, designed to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax evasion and avoidance, and establish mechanisms for mutual assistance in tax enforcement, thereby clarifying taxing rights and providing legal certainty for residents and enterprises of both nations concerning income tax, corporation tax, and capital gains tax.
The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Peru) Order 2025
This Order formally brings into force the Convention and accompanying Protocol between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Peru, which aims to eliminate double taxation on income and capital gains, prevent tax evasion and avoidance, and establish mutual assistance mechanisms for international tax enforcement, setting out detailed rules for the allocation of taxing rights, definitions of residency and permanent establishment, and procedures for dispute resolution.
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) Order 2025
The Secretary of State for Transport made this Order upon application from the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company to revise the maximum tolls chargeable for the use of the ferry service, concluding that the revision is necessary to ensure the Company achieves adequate annual revenue to cover costs and provide a reasonable return on investment.
This Order, which comes into force on December 30, 2025, specifies the new maximum single-use tolls, details tiered discounts for bulk purchases over several years, allows for limited annual inflationary adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, and revokes the previous 2021 Revision of Tolls Order.
The Treasury enacted these Regulations using powers under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 to amend the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 10 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025.
The primary goal is to modify how permissions granted by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) under provisions of the Capital Requirements Regulation are treated after their scheduled revocation takes effect on January 1st, 2026, by ensuring certain permissions continue to have effect under relevant sections of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000) and preserving the PRA’s power to update related delegated technical standards.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2025 establishes new 500-meter maritime safety zones around two specific offshore installations identified in its Schedule, exercising powers granted by the Petroleum Act 1987 following recommendations from the Health and Safety Executive. Furthermore, the Order simultaneously amends and revokes safety zones previously established by four separate Orders from 2007 and 2008 concerning certain wells or structures, notably within the Chestnut Field and Kingfisher area.
The zones prohibit unauthorized entry by vessels, installations in transit, or submersible apparatus.
The Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Childcare Act 2016, amend the Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Inspection Outcomes) (England) Regulations 2025 to correct a specific drafting error concerning free childcare provisions for working parents.
The instrument specifically modifies Regulation 5(4) of the principal Regulations, which in turn amends Regulation 44 of the 2022 Regulations, by omitting only redundant transitional sub-paragraphs from paragraph (3), rather than omitting the whole paragraph as previously intended.
They come into force on December 31, 2025, and extend to England and Wales.
These Regulations, made by the Treasury and the Secretary of State under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, introduce various amendments to UK customs regulations, primarily focused on updating the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) origin rules and linked preferential arrangements, effective January 1, 2026.
Key changes involve differentiating origin rules for Enhanced Preference (EP) and Standard Preference (SP) countries, updating the criteria for 'economically vulnerable countries,' reclassifying Vanuatu from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to an 'other eligible developing country,' and updating the version numbers of several foundational customs reference documents.
The Power to Award Degrees etc. (LTE Group Limited) (Revocation) Order 2025
The Office for Students issues this Order under the authority granted by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 to revoke The Power to Award Degrees etc. (LTE Group Limited) Order 2025; this revocation is necessary because the original 2025 Order contained a drafting error that incorrectly named the entity, and a new, corrected Order has since been made to grant the appropriate powers.
The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2025
This Order, enacted under the powers of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, amends the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 to require nationals or citizens of Nauru to obtain a transit visa when passing through the United Kingdom while remaining airside. The legislation comes into force on December 10, 2025, and includes a transitional clause exempting those who arrived on or before January 20, 2026, provided they had a booking made before the Order’s enactment.
These Rules amend the Court Funds Rules 2011 to provide enhanced detail on how the Accountant General manages and invests sterling deposits separately from foreign currency deposits held in court.
Key changes involve specifying when interest accrues daily (for sterling) versus under foreign account terms, outlining investment procedures for foreign currency based on court schedules or directions, and simplifying payment-out procedures under the Civil Procedure Rules.
The Ozone-Depleting Substances (Grant of Halon Derogations) Regulations 2025
The Ozone-Depleting Substances (Grant of Halon Derogations) Regulations 2025, made by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers, provide specific derogations from Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 concerning the phase-out date for using halon 1211 in portable fire extinguishers.
The regulations extend permissions for this substance in fire suppression systems for specified Defence aircraft until June 2027 for some models and December 2040 for others, and for Loganair aircraft until December 2026, based on the justification that no technically or economically feasible alternatives currently exist for these critical aviation applications.
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Police Act 1996, amend the Police Regulations 2003 concerning part-time appointments and annual leave for police officers in England and Wales.
Specifically, the changes remove the obligation for chief officers to consult local representatives when appointing part-time officers, ensure equal treatment for part-time officers regarding probation and overtime, and allow annual leave to be taken in flexible 'periods' rather than fixed 'days' or 'half days'.
The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023 by introducing provisions that allow manufacturers of relevant connectable products to be treated as complying with UK product security requirements and the obligation to provide a statement of compliance if they meet specific criteria linked to existing cybersecurity labelling schemes from Japan (JC-STAR STAR-1) and Singapore.
The Ministry of Defence Police (Conduct, Performance and Appeals Tribunals) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These 2025 Regulations amend the existing Ministry of Defence Police (Conduct, Performance and Appeals Tribunals) Regulations 2020 to align the disciplinary and performance procedures for Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) officers and former officers with recent changes made to the equivalent procedures for territorial police forces in England and Wales.
Key amendments include clarifying that convictions for indictable-only offences constitute gross misconduct, mandating disciplinary action for misconduct findings, updating rules for serving notices electronically, simplifying the performance review system by removing the third stage, and introducing new procedural requirements for former officers regarding accelerated misconduct hearings.
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, commence specific provisions primarily related to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) under the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.
The commencement applies to CPOs subject to confirmation by an authority other than the Welsh Ministers, or those prepared in draft by a Minister other than the Welsh Ministers.
Key changes involve bringing into force requirements for online publicity for CPOs and amending procedural rules within the 1981 Act.
A transitional provision clarifies that these amendments do not apply where necessary statutory public notices were published before the commencement date, ensuring ongoing processes are not legally disrupted.
The Railway Byelaws Amendment Order 2025
The Secretary of State for Transport enacted this Order to amend the standing Railway Byelaws originally made in 2005.
The primary changes involve modernizing the language across multiple byelaws by replacing gendered pronouns with neutral alternatives, and specifically prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes on railway property where smoking is banned.
Furthermore, the Order revises provisions related to vehicle control, obstructions, and parking by separating the rules for England and Wales (introducing new Byelaw 14A) from those for Scotland (Byelaw 14B), while also substituting the term "penalty" with "fine" for clarity regarding criminal enforcement.
The South East Water Limited (River Ouse and Shell Brook) Drought Order 2025
The Secretary of State issued the South East Water Limited (River Ouse and Shell Brook) Drought Order 2025, effective from December 3, 2025, until June 2, 2026, to address a threatened serious water supply deficiency in the Sussex region caused by an exceptional shortage of rain.
This Order temporarily modifies South East Water Limited's existing abstraction licence (No. 21/128) by reducing required compensation release volumes to the Shell Brook, altering the natural flow conditions under which water can be abstracted from the River Ouse at Barcombe, and enabling abstraction at Ardingly during the Order's duration.
The Order mandates adherence to an environmental monitoring plan and specific mitigation measures detailed in a supporting Environmental Assessment Report.
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
These Regulations enact the first commencement provisions for the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025, bringing Section 98 into force immediately to grant designated officers of the Secretary of State rights of audience for debt recovery proceedings, and scheduling the delayed commencement of key provisions related to eligibility verification (Sections 78, 79, and Schedule 3) for two months after the Act's passing, which establishes powers to compel financial institutions to supply data to verify benefit entitlement.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Victim Information Requests: Code of Practice) Regulations 2025
These Regulations officially bring into force on January 12th, 2026, the 'Victim Information Requests: Code of Practice,' which provides guidance for authorized persons on their statutory duties for requesting relevant victim information during crime investigations, as established by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and amended by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, extending the framework to England and Wales generally, and incorporating service police matters across the UK.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Counselling Services) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State under powers granted by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, formally define what constitutes a 'counselling service' for the purposes of restricting when authorised persons, including police bodies, can request confidential information related to those services, specifying that these services offer psychological or emotional support to improve a service user's mental health, and setting a commencement date of January 12, 2026, primarily for England and Wales.
The Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order amends the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015, granted under the Planning Act 2008, following an application for a non-material change.
The Secretary of State has made this amendment to allow the two constituent parts of the project, referred to as Project A and Project B, to be treated separately for the purpose of discharging and enforcing various conditions, particularly concerning abandonment, decay, removal, noise limits, and specific requirements placed on the distinct components of the offshore and onshore works.
The Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Inspection Outcomes) (England) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State using powers under the Childcare Acts 2006 and 2016, amend four existing statutory instruments governing early years childcare in England, effective from January 1st, 2026.
The primary purpose is to update various regulations—including those concerning welfare requirements, local authorities' duty to secure free childcare, and requirements for information, advice, and training—to reflect recent changes in inspection grades implemented by Ofsted and to incorporate inspection outcomes from independent inspectorates approved under the Education and Skills Act 2008.
The changes specify which inspection grades trigger requirements for intervention, continuous improvement, or withdrawal of public funding obligations for early years providers.
These Regulations, titled the Merchant Shipping (Polar Code) (Safety) Regulations 2025, update UK domestic law to incorporate the latest amendments from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolutions MSC.532(107) and MSC.538(107) concerning ships operating in polar waters, effectively replacing the 2021 Regulations.
The new rules come into force on 1st January 2026 and apply to United Kingdom ships and specific non-UK ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters, extending mandatory safety requirements, including detailed structural, navigational, and training provisions from the Polar Code, to additional categories of ships such as smaller cargo ships, fishing vessels, and pleasure vessels, while also amending several existing pieces of maritime legislation relating to surveys, certification, and training fees.
The Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Secretary of State made The Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025, obtaining consent from the Welsh and Scottish Ministers, to amend Part A of Annex 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 on mercury.
These Regulations, which extend to England, Wales, and Scotland, introduce specific amendments to phase-out dates for mercury content in various products, including certain lighting types, sensing devices, and electronic components, aligning UK law with recent decisions made by the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The Treasury enacted this Order using powers under the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 to amend specific cash equivalent figures relating to the taxation of employee benefits for company cars and vans.
The Order increases the benchmark monetary amounts used to calculate the taxable benefit for car fuel, the cash equivalent of a van benefit, and the cash equivalent for van fuel.
These changes are effective from the 2026-27 tax year and subsequent tax years, affecting how private use of company vehicles is taxed as earnings.
The Secretary of State for Transport has made this Order using powers under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 to amend the definition of 'relevant land' within Schedule 4 of that Act, specifically to ensure that land subject to preserved railway byelaws made under the Transport Act 2000 is included, thereby facilitating the recovery of unpaid car parking charges from keepers or hirers of vehicles parked in station car parks.
This Order, enacted in exercise of powers under the Competition Act 1998, amends the Competition Act 1998 (Public Transport Ticketing Schemes Block Exemption) Order 2001 following a recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority.
The key changes involve removing the fixed expiration date for the exemption, thereby making it permanent unless reviewed, adjusting definitions related to connecting services—specifically regarding trunk bus services—and removing the definition of a "working day" to align with the main Act.
The document confirms the amendments extend across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and sets a new mandatory review date of 1st January 2031.
These Regulations, enacted by HM Treasury, amend Part 8C of the Corporation Tax Act 2010, which imposes a 45% corporation tax rate on restitution interest paid by HMRC. The amendments primarily serve to exclude simple interest awarded at a rate equivalent to or lower than a statutory rate from this special tax charge and modify the time limit for assessing this tax, allowing assessments to be made later if payments are accounted for before a final determination has been reached.
The Public Record Office (Fees) Regulations 2025
The Public Record Office (Fees) Regulations 2025 set out the new fees chargeable by the Keeper of Public Records for providing authenticated copies, extracts, and other services related to records held at The National Archives, effective from February 2nd, 2026.
These regulations supersede the 2018 Regulations, increasing many existing fees and introducing specific new charges related to accessing 'key military service personnel documents' transferred from the Ministry of Defence, while also granting the Keeper powers to remit fees in certain circumstances, such as when no relevant records are found.
The Civil Legal Aid (Procedure and Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, enacted by the Lord Chancellor, modify existing civil legal aid frameworks by updating procedural terminology and substantially amending remuneration rates for providers.
Specifically, they rename the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme to the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service within the Procedure Regulations and introduce significant uplifts to standard fees, escape fee thresholds, and hourly rates for work across housing, debt, and immigration/asylum categories under the Remuneration Regulations.
The amendments take effect on 22nd December 2025 and apply across England and Wales, with a saving provision protecting remuneration for work initiated under the old system before the commencement date.
These Regulations, enacted by the Lord Chancellor under powers granted by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, amend the existing Criminal Legal Aid (General) Regulations 2013 and (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 for England and Wales.
The primary actions involve updating remuneration rates for various criminal legal aid services, including those in the Court of Appeal, police stations, magistrates' courts, and youth courts, effective from December 22nd and December 31st, 2025.
Furthermore, they formally extend criminal legal aid status to specific High Court proceedings related to Parole Board release decisions, modify rules regarding interim payments, and introduce provisions allowing appropriate officers to adjust fees above or below prescribed rates based on case complexity and performance.
This Order, made by the Office for Students under powers granted by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, formally amends the Power to Award Degrees etc. (ESCP Europe Business School) Order 2024 by substituting Article 3 to extend the fixed term authorization for ESCP Europe Business School to award degrees.
Specifically, the Order changes the expiry date of this authorization for ESCP Europe Business School (UKPRN: 10002313) from December 2, 2027, to December 2, 2030.