Legislation Published April 2026
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
- 14th Apr 26 The regulations amended the National Insurance Contributions framework for 2024/25 by revising Class 2 and Class 4 contribution rates and thresholds for self-employed individuals. View
- 14th Apr 26 Consolidated and updated key legislative provisions governing discipline, service complaints, and conditions of service for the UK armed forces. View
- 14th Apr 26 The regulations brought specified sections of the Sentencing Act 2026 into force across the UK on May 11, 2026, and June 1, 2026, affecting prison capacity reporting, community sentence completion, and licence termination for public protection sentences. View
- 14th Apr 26 The Secretary of State revoked the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026, immediately ending specified flight limitations over RAF Brize Norton. View
- 14th Apr 26 The Order amended the procedural regulations governing how local planning authorities in England process, consult on, and determine applications for development management permission. View
- 14th Apr 26 The Act established the new State Pension structure, modified State Pension deferral rules, and made amendments concerning automatic enrolment and pension entitlements upon relationship breakdown. View
- 14th Apr 26 Corrected two typographical errors in The Lyme Regis, Bridport (West Bay) and Weymouth Harbour Revision Order 2026 regarding the terms 'principle'/'principal' and the place name 'Reis'/'Regis'. View
- 13th Apr 26 * The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 were revoked, immediately lifting emergency flight restrictions over the specified area. View
- 10th Apr 26 Regulations immediately restricted unmanned aircraft below 1,400 feet over a specified area in Dinas Powys, Wales, due to an emergency. View
- 9th Apr 26 The regulations amended provisions within the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, and Employment and Support Allowance frameworks to exclude work and voluntary activities from being considered reasons for fresh benefit determinations or reassessments. View
- 9th Apr 26 The Office for Students revoked the 2022 and 2025 Orders granting degree awarding powers to Spurgeon's College because the institution ceased to be a registered higher education provider. View
- 8th Apr 26 The Rules amended the 2013 Tribunal Procedure for the Property Chamber to incorporate jurisdiction under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and adjusted provisions related to costs orders for Housing Act 1988 financial penalty appeals. View
- 7th Apr 26 A correction notice was issued for The Mental Health Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026, amending a referencing error in a footnote. View
- 1st Apr 26 Enacted provisions expanding police powers regarding protests, public order offenses, and stop and search; concurrently made procedural changes affecting certain aspects of sentencing and the courts. View
- 1st Apr 26 The Order amended the Financial Promotion Order 2005, modifying regulations governing the promotion of financial services and investments within the UK. View
- 1st Apr 26 Two statutory instruments officially brought specific sections of the Mental Health Act 2025 into force on April 6th, 2026, covering human rights application to private providers and mandating a review of notification procedures for young inpatients in England. View
- 1st Apr 26 Corrected three instances of 'The Secretary' to read 'The Secretary of State' within Regulation 63A of the inserted provisions of The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. View
These regulations make specific amendments to the existing National Insurance Contributions (NICs) framework relevant to the 2024/25 tax year, primarily revising the rates and thresholds for Class 2 and Class 4 contributions payable by the self-employed.
Key changes include reducing the main rate of Class 4 NICs, setting new thresholds for when Class 2 contributions are payable, and effectively abolishing mandatory Class 2 payments for those whose profits meet or exceed a specified lower profits limit.
The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
The Armed Forces Act 2011 is a piece of UK legislation designed to reform and update various aspects of service law, discipline, and the terms of service for Her Majesty's armed forces, encompassing changes to the service complaints system, judicial processes within the military justice system, and provisions related to personnel.
These Regulations officially activate specified parts of the Sentencing Act 2026 across the whole of the UK by setting two commencement dates: May 11, 2026, and June 1, 2026.
The provisions coming into force primarily concern establishing a duty for the Secretary of State to report annually on prison capacity, repealing outdated supervision rules, making community order and suspended sentence supervision termination simpler upon requirement completion, and enabling offenders serving IPP or DPP sentences to request early licence termination review by the Parole Board.
These Regulations revoke the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026, immediately lifting previous temporary flight restrictions imposed over the area surrounding the Royal Air Force Brize Norton base because the Secretary of State no longer deems those restrictions necessary in the public interest.
The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2023 amends the existing procedures that local planning authorities in England must follow when dealing with applications for development permission, specifically modifying time limits, consultation requirements, and notification processes for certain types of planning submissions.
The Longfield Solar Farm (Amendment) Order 2026
The Pensions Act 2014 introduces comprehensive reforms to the UK pension system, primarily establishing the new single-tier State Pension, refining rules around State Pension top-ups and deferment options, and making consequential amendments relating to automatic enrolment, financial matters upon divorce, and the administration of pension schemes.
Correction Slip
This statutory instrument correction notice amends The Lyme Regis, Bridport (West Bay) and Weymouth Harbour Revision Order 2026 by correcting two specific typographical errors identified on pages 10 and 28 of the original document, ensuring that the roles of 'principle' and 'principal' are correctly stated, and correcting a place name reference from 'Reis' to 'Regis'.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
These Regulations formally revoke the previous emergency statutory instrument that imposed temporary restrictions on flying operations within a specific area near Dinas Powys, Wales, because the Secretary of State determined that maintaining the restriction is no longer necessary in the public interest following the passing of the emergency situation.