The Scotland Act 2016, Section 18 (Disapplication of UK Aggregates Levy) (Appointed Day) Regulations 2026

Published: Wed 25th Mar 26

These Regulations, made by HM Treasury, formally establish 1st April 2026 as the appointed day for the commencement of amendments made under Section 18 and Schedule 1 of the Scotland Act 2016, which will stop applying the UK Aggregates Levy to the commercial exploitation of aggregate occurring within Scotland on or after that date.

Arguments For

Implementing a key devolution commitment by transferring authority over the aggregates levy to the Scottish Parliament, fulfilling the intent of the Scotland Act 2016.
Providing financial and legislative certainty for businesses operating in Scotland by clearly defining the date when the existing UK levy ceases to apply there.
Aligning the removal of the UK levy with the Scottish Government's expected timetable for introducing any devolved equivalent environmental taxation measures.

Arguments Against

Potential for short-term administrative complexity for operators managing aggregate extraction across the Scotland/England border immediately following the appointed day.
Risk of revenue loss or fiscal gap for the UK Treasury in the interim if a replacement Scottish levy framework faces delays in implementation.
Concerns regarding harmonization of environmental standards relating to aggregate extraction if the Scottish tax model differs significantly from the previous UK system.

STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

2026 No. 355 AGGREGATES LEVY

The Scotland Act 2016, Section 18 (Disapplication of UK Aggregates Levy) (Appointed Day) Regulations 2026

Made - - - -

23rd March 2026

The Treasury make these Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 18(4) of the Scotland Act 2016( 1 ).

This section identifies the legal instrument as a Statutory Instrument from 2026, numbered 355, specifically concerning the Aggregates Levy in Scotland.

The regulations were officially made by HM Treasury on March 23, 2026, using the specific authority granted under subsection 18(4) of the Scotland Act 2016.

Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Scotland Act 2016, Section 18 (Disapplication of UK Aggregates Levy) (Appointed Day) Regulations 2026.

This regulation formally names the legal instrument.

Its full citation is established for use in legal references and documentation.

Appointed Day

1st April 2026 is the day appointed for the purposes of section 18(4) of the Scotland Act 2016 (disapplication of UK aggregates levy).

This crucial regulation sets the specific date when the relevant provisions of the Scotland Act 2016 take effect.

From April 1, 2026, the UK Aggregates Levy will no longer apply to aggregate exploitation within Scotland, fulfilling the requirements of section 18(4) of the 2016 Act.

23rd March 2026

Taiwo Owatemi Christian Wakeford Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury

This records the date the instrument was signed and identifies the two named Treasury Lords Commissioners who executed the authority on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1st April 2026 is the day appointed by these Regulations under section 18(4) of the Scotland Act 2016 as when the amendments made under section 18(3), and Schedule 1 to, the Scotland Act 2016 come into effect. These amendments will disapply UK aggregates levy to Scotland in relation to commercial exploitation of aggregate which takes place on or after that date.

A Tax Information and Impact Note has not been prepared for this instrument as it gives effect to previously announced policy and it is appointed day regulations.

The explanatory note clarifies that these regulations fix April 1, 2026, as the date for implementing changes within the Scotland Act 2016, specifically those parts dealing with Section 18(3) and Schedule 1.

These changes definitively remove the UK Aggregates Levy from operations concerning aggregate extraction in Scotland after this date.

Since this instrument merely appoints a date for pre-announced policy changes, a formal Tax Information and Impact Note was deemed unnecessary.

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