Legislation Published March 2026
UK legislation and statutory instruments introduced in March 2026.
Summary
- 17th Mar 26 The Regulations applied specified sections of PACE, with modifications, to enforcement officers investigating labour market offences in England and Wales, and revoked the previous 2017 rules. View
- 17th Mar 26 The Regulations amended multiple statutory instruments, including those concerning employment agencies, gangmaster licensing appeals, and proceeds of crime investigations, to replace references to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority with the Secretary of State, following provisions in the Employment Rights Act 2025. View
- 17th Mar 26 The Order specifies exceptions to the independent radio service licensing requirement under the Broadcasting Act 1990, detailing conditions for restricted services operating on non-standard frequencies or ultra-low power, and simultaneously revoked two previous exception orders. View
- 16th Mar 26 The regulations mandated specific annual reporting requirements for accredited ADR providers, final reporting for former accredited providers, and supplementary data submission for exempt ADR providers regarding consumer contract disputes. View
- 16th Mar 26 The Regulations officially removed mandatory review provisions from the Trafficking People for Exploitation Regulations 2013 and the Electronic Commerce Directive (Trafficking People for Exploitation) Regulations 2013. View
- 16th Mar 26 The Order specifies fixed and variable fee increases for licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and revokes the 2024 Fees Order, effective April 6, 2026. View
- 16th Mar 26 The instrument set confirmed fees for application, variation, and periodic payments for Alternative Dispute Resolution providers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. View
- 16th Mar 26 The Regulations activated the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026, establishing the new offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches starting March 22, 2026. View
- 16th Mar 26 The Regulations commenced Chapter 4 of Part 4 and Schedules 25 to 27 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on 6th April 2026 and established transitional provisions for existing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes. View
- 16th Mar 26 The Secretary of State designated numerous military vessels as protected under the 1986 Act, established new controlled sites, extended existing protected zones, and revoked the previous 2019 designation Order. View
- 16th Mar 26 The regulations imposed a temporary ban on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,200 feet over a specified area in Castlefield, Manchester, on March 16, 2026, to protect a Royal visit. View
- 13th Mar 26 The Order abolished existing electoral wards in Westmorland and Furness and established 35 new district wards and consequential revised parish wards, with implementation commencing in stages leading up to the 2027 local elections. View
- 13th Mar 26 The instrument codified the commencement date and established transitional rules for applying the 2026 up-rated rates of Guardian's Allowance. View
- 13th Mar 26 Section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, concerning the installation of electric vehicle charge points, was brought into force on March 13, 2026, substituting the previous street works licensing regime with a permit system. View
- 12th Mar 26 The Order increased the statutory borrowing limit for General Lighthouse Authorities under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 to £166 million, effective March 31, 2026. View
- 12th Mar 26 The Regulations amended primary and secondary UK legislation to remove references to the revoked 2015 Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations and substitute them with provisions from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. View
- 12th Mar 26 The Regulations brought into force specific sections of the Online Safety Act 2023, primarily mandating CSEA content reporting duties for regulated user-to-user services effective April 7, 2026. View
- 12th Mar 26 The Order abolished the two-tier local government in Surrey, created two new unitary councils (East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council), mandated 2026 elections for shadow authorities, and detailed the complex transition and implementation procedures. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order amended the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Order 2006 by introducing new death grants for retained firefighters, defining provisions for 'retained firefighter opt-out members' to purchase service, and extending multiple benefit claim and election deadlines. View
- 11th Mar 26 The statutory instrument that imposed emergency flight restrictions over an area in Falkirk, Scotland, was legally revoked with immediate effect. View
- 11th Mar 26 The 2026 Regulations updated the Firefighters' Pension Scheme member contribution thresholds and rates starting April 1st, 2026, and introduced an annual inflation adjustment mechanism. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Regulations amended six existing sets of health and safety legislation to explicitly include definitions, licensing rules, operator responsibilities, and safety case requirements for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and offshore hydrogen production activities. View
- 11th Mar 26 The regulations amended the 2005 Climate Change Levy Regulations to specify electricity used in hydrogen electrolysis and natural gas used in sodium bicarbonate production as non-fuel uses exempt from the levy. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order varied the 2013 Order to include offshore hydrogen production facilities within the scope of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 application outside Great Britain. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order designated Consumer Scotland to the list of bodies authorized to make super-complaints under the Enterprise Act 2002 schedule. View
- 11th Mar 26 * The Treasury applied percentage increases to official pensions and associated lump sums across the UK, effective from April 6th, 2026, establishing specific adjustment rates based on the pension's start date. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Regulations revoked certain Discretionary Financial Assistance legislation for England and amended the limits on discretionary housing payment expenditure for local authorities in Wales, effective from April 1, 2026. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Regulations update the daily costs payable by designated authorities for children remanded to youth detention accommodation by inserting new financial figures for periods starting on or after 1st April 2026. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order modified Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998 to grant temporary, restricted competence to the Scottish Parliament regarding assisted dying substances and devices. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order legally specified the revaluation factors for public service pensions based on price and earnings changes for the 2025-2026 period and determined its commencement dates across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order modified UK social security legislation to give effect to the reciprocal contributions agreement with the Republic of India. View
- 11th Mar 26 The Order officially appointed the named individuals as His Majesty's Inspectors of Education, Children's Services and Skills, effective March 11, 2026. View
- 11th Mar 26 Statutory Instrument conferred key functions related to the accreditation, fee approval, enforcement, and reporting of consumer Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers under the DMCC Act 2024 onto the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) starting April 2026. View
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Bodies Designated to make Super-complaints) (Amendment) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument amends the Enterprise Act 2002 (Bodies Designated to make Super-complaints) Order 2004 to formally designate Consumer Scotland as an authorized body capable of making 'super-complaints' to the Competition and Markets Authority.
The power allows Consumer Scotland to raise concerns about features of any market in the United Kingdom that appear to significantly harm consumer interests, extending its remit under the 2002 Act across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, effective from April 6th, 2026.
The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2026, sets out the annual percentage increases to be applied to official public service pensions in the UK starting from April 6th, 2026, based on a direction given by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding inflation adjustments; it specifies a 3.8 per cent increase for most pensions that began before April 7th, 2025, provides a formula for pensions starting later, and details adjustments for lump sums and reductions where a recipient is also entitled to a Guaranteed Minimum Pension.
The Discretionary Financial Assistance and Discretionary Housing Payments (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026
These Regulations primarily amend provisions governing discretionary financial assistance and housing payments across England and Wales, coming into force on April 1, 2026.
The key actions involve revoking the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 and the Discretionary Housing Payments (Grants) Order 2001 in relation to England, while continuing their effect in Wales.
For Wales only, the Regulations amend the 2001 Order by removing the previous reference to English and Welsh authorities in claims procedure and, crucially, omitting the article that previously limited the total expenditure local authorities could spend on discretionary housing payments.
The Recovery of Costs (Remand to Youth Detention Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State under powers from the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, amend the 2013 Regulations to institute new daily rates for the recovery of costs from designated authorities when a child is remanded to various forms of youth detention accommodation in England and Wales, with the changes taking legal effect on April 1, 2026.
The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026
This Order, made under the Scotland Act 1998, temporarily modifies Schedule 5, which defines reserved matters, to grant the Scottish Parliament limited legislative competence concerning the identification and regulation of substances and devices used in assisted dying for terminally ill adults.
The legislative power conferred is conditional: Scottish Ministers can identify substances/devices via subordinate legislation only with the Secretary of State’s agreement, while the Secretary of State retains power to regulate those items without Scottish Minister agreement.
These exceptions apply only to Scottish Acts resulting from Bills passed before 7 May 2026, and the Scottish Parliament cannot use this limited power to mandate the content of the regulation or impose duties on the Secretary of State.
The Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order 2026
This statutory instrument, made by the Treasury, sets the specific percentage increases to be used for revaluing accrued pension rights within certain public service pension schemes for the period between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026, establishing an increase in prices of 3.8 per cent and an increase in earnings of 4.8 per cent, and specifies the dates the Order comes into force across different UK jurisdictions and schemes.
The Social Security (Contributions) (Republic of India) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument brings into effect the Agreement on Social Security relating to Social Security Contributions signed between the United Kingdom and the Republic of India to ensure reciprocal arrangements and prevent double liability for social security contributions for individuals working in either territory.
It modifies relevant UK social security legislation and establishes detailed rules on which state's legislation applies to employed persons, detached workers, mariners, and aircraft crew, complemented by administrative provisions for cooperation, data protection, and dispute resolution, while stipulating that the Order comes into force upon the exchange of formal notifications between both states.
The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by His Majesty in Council on March 10, 2026, officially appoints the individuals listed in the Schedule as His Majesty's Inspectors of Education, Children's Services and Skills, taking legal effect on March 11, 2026, under the powers granted by the Education and Inspections Act 2006.