Legislation Published March 2026
78 statutory instruments were made in March 2026, with financial regulation, digital transition, and local government restructuring forming the largest categories of legislation. Significant changes include the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which increases hourly pay rates for workers effective 1 April. The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 abolishes the county's two-tier local government to create two new unitary councils, while the Income Tax (Digital Obligations) Regulations 2026 mandates the use of compatible software for income tax compliance.
Most significant this month: The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026
Summary
- 31st Mar 26 The Warm Home Discount (England and Wales) Regulations 2026 were made to continue the fuel poverty reduction scheme until 2031, defining supplier obligations, rebate mechanisms, and spending requirements for energy efficiency measures. View Energy Environment Finance Health and Social Care Labour
- 30th Mar 26 The Regulations mandated the specification of relevant ITT(FE) courses, established registration requirements for providers, imposed obligations to adhere to government guidance, required detailed information submission, and set a schedule for the publication of annual compliance reports. View Education Local Government
- 30th Mar 26 Dissolved the Cambridgeshire Community Services National Health Service Trust and revoked its 2010 establishment order. View Health and Social Care Local Government
- 30th Mar 26 The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Golders Green, London) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 were revoked immediately upon the issue of these Regulations. View Civil Liberties Transport
- 27th Mar 26 Switched the inflation indexing for renewable electricity buy-out prices and mutualisation caps from RPI to CPI effective April 2026. View Economy Energy Environment Justice
- 27th Mar 26 The Order specified the funding period from April 2026 to March 2029 and set the maximum aggregate grant amount at £9,531,000 for the Churches Conservation Trust, revoking the 2025 Order. View Culture and Sport Finance Justice
- 27th Mar 26 Increased the statutory compensation payments for workers with dust-related diseases and their dependants by 3.8% starting April 2026. View Benefits and Welfare Economy Health and Social Care Justice Labour
- 27th Mar 26 Statutory Instrument No. 377 of 2026 revised the lump sum payment amounts payable under the 2008 Regulations by 3.8% for mesothelioma victims and their dependants. View Benefits and Welfare
- 27th Mar 26 The legislation imposed temporary, low-altitude flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft over a defined area of Weston-Super-Mare from June 5th through June 7th, 2026, to ensure public safety during a major festival. View Justice Technology Transport
- 27th Mar 26 The Regulations enacted the second set of commencement provisions for the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 on April 1st, 2026, activating sections related to public sector fraud investigation, non-benefit payment enforcement, and associated amendments to social security law. View Benefits and Welfare Economy Justice Local Government
- 27th Mar 26 The Regulations imposed temporary flight restrictions around Old Warden Aerodrome for public flying displays scheduled across several dates in 2026. View Justice Transport
- 27th Mar 26 The regulations established a temporary ban on low-level civilian flying near RAF Brize Norton on May 29, 2026, to facilitate planned flying displays. View Defence Justice Transport
- 27th Mar 26 The regulations imposed temporary restrictions on unmanned aircraft flights below 1,400 feet within a one-nautical-mile radius of the Download Festival site in Leicestershire from June 10th to June 15th, 2026, unless police permission was granted. View Justice Technology Transport
- 27th Mar 26 The instrument extended the specified period and critical procedural deadlines for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme by nine months, concluding the main obligation period on December 31st, 2026. View Devolution Economy Energy Local Government
- 27th Mar 26 Amended the Procurement Regulations 2024, PSR Regulations 2023, and Transitional and Saving Provisions Regulations 2024 concerning central digital platform usage, payment transparency, supplier identification, and contract termination based on national security grounds. View Economy Trade
- 26th Mar 26 Expanded marine accident investigation powers and reporting duties to cover watercraft and their users. View Justice Transport
- 26th Mar 26 Extended the bailiff notice period to 14 days and increased the fees recoverable during the enforcement process. View Economy Finance Justice
- 26th Mar 26 Exempted certain technology transfer agreements from the UK's Chapter I prohibition on anti-competitive practices, effective from May 2026. View Economy Justice Technology Trade
- 26th Mar 26 Modified the legal framework for how local authorities and the Secretary of State revoke or prepare joint minerals and waste planning documents in England. View Environment Infrastructure Local Government
- 26th Mar 26 Defined family eligibility and transferred Service Complaints Ombudsman functions to the new Armed Forces Commissioner. View Defence Justice Labour Armed Forces and Veterans
- 26th Mar 26 The appointed day for the commencement of Finance Act 2021 penalties for failures by digitally obligated persons regarding income tax and capital gains tax returns and payments was set to 1st April 2026. View Economy Finance
- 26th Mar 26 The Treasury set initial and dynamic interest rates for unpaid (7.75% initially) and overpaid (2.75% initially) amounts of Multinational Top-Up Tax and Domestic Top-Up Tax, effective from April 17, 2026. View Economy Finance Justice
- 26th Mar 26 The regulations amended the 2022 rules governing the electronic submission of corporate interest restriction data, removing outdated statutory notice requirements for reporting company appointments following a concurrent change in primary legislation. View Economy Finance Technology
- 26th Mar 26 Increased the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage hourly rates and the daily accommodation offset amount effective from 1 April 2026. View Economy Justice Labour
- 26th Mar 26 Added the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to the list of international procurement treaties and updated transitional rules for Indian suppliers. View Economy Justice Trade
- 25th Mar 26 The Order approved the UK Government making a contribution of up to £21 million to the Caribbean Development Bank's Special Development Fund (Unified) and authorised the redemption of associated notes. View Economy Finance Foreign Policy
- 25th Mar 26 The Regulations established the Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority, defined its constitution, set the election date for its first Mayor, concurrently transferred specific transport and economic development functions, and detailed its funding structure via contributions from the constituent councils. View Local Government Transport
- 25th Mar 26 The regulations amended the existing rates for the operational costs levy under the CfD and Nuclear RAB schemes, and the settlement costs levy under capacity regulations, effective from April 2026 onwards. View Energy Finance
- 25th Mar 26 These regulations appointed April 1st, 2026, as the day sections 60(1) to (3) and 61(2) to (5) of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 came into force for digital reporting and record-keeping, and revoked earlier commencement orders from 2021 and 2024. View Economy Finance Technology
- 25th Mar 26 The Regulations appointed April 1, 2026, as the date when the UK Aggregates Levy ceases to apply in Scotland under the provisions of the Scotland Act 2016. View Devolution Economy Environment Finance
- 25th Mar 26 The regulations amended the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 to introduce pension membership for elected members in England and Wales, defining eligible roles, scheme employers, and setting out specific modifications for elected service accrual, while also applying consequential amendments across several local governance orders. View Finance Local Government
- 25th Mar 26 The Regulations amended Schedule 4 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 to replace the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority with the Fair Work Agency as a relevant public authority with specific investigatory powers. View Justice Labour Technology
- 25th Mar 26 The Regulations established mandatory approvals for vaping product production and storage, defined volume measurement and packaging rules, specified duty payment and return schedules, detailed spoilt product management, introduced a duty stamp system with associated approvals and scanning requirements, and made consequential amendments to related customs and excise legislation. View Economy Finance Justice Trade
- 25th Mar 26 The Order amended the 2008 procedural framework concerning the Mayor of London's oversight of planning applications, introduced Category 3J for large housing schemes, formalized intervention procedures, and updated legislative cross-references. View Housing Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 25th Mar 26 The Order modified Section 4A of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to assimilate income tax and social security contribution law related to umbrella companies and deemed employment. View Benefits and Welfare Finance Labour
- 25th Mar 26 The Order modified Section 4A of the NI Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to align contribution liability with income tax rules related to worker supply and umbrella company arrangements. View Benefits and Welfare Finance Justice Labour
- 25th Mar 26 The Regulations established fixed deadlines for stamping existing vaping stock, linked ongoing stamping requirements to the excise duty point, defined explicit exemptions, and integrated new provisions for review and appeal concerning UK representatives into existing finance legislation. View Economy Finance Justice Technology
- 25th Mar 26 The Regulations amend 2001 Social Security Contribution rules to disregard earnings related to specific tax-exempt employee accommodation/supplies and flu vaccinations from contribution calculations starting April 6, 2026. View Benefits and Welfare Finance Labour
- 25th Mar 26 The Order imposed a levy on construction industry employers for defined levy periods between 2026 and 2028, detailing assessment methods, payment terms, and appeal rights for the Construction Industry Training Board. View Economy Labour
- 25th Mar 26 The instrument amended earlier provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 commencement order to clarify that gaming machine entitlements under converted casino premises licences are alternative, singular options rather than cumulative choices. View Culture and Sport Justice
- 24th Mar 26 The regulations formally commenced sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 on April 1st, 2026. View Justice Local Government
- 24th Mar 26 The Regulations amended previous commencement instruments to extend the pilot operation dates for Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in England and Wales until 24th November 2026. View Civil Liberties Justice
- 24th Mar 26 Emergency regulations immediately restricted unmanned aircraft flight below 1,300 feet over Golders Green, London, for a temporary duration. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 24th Mar 26 The 2026 Regulations updated and consolidated mandatory registration requirements for EPIRBs and PLBs on UK vessels, repealed prior legislation, and established enforcement mechanisms including ship detention. View Finance Justice Transport
- 24th Mar 26 Mandated the use of functional compatible software for income tax compliance, defined digital obligations, reporting cycles, record-keeping standards, and established extensive exemptions, while revoking previous digital requirement regulations. View Finance Technology
- 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 Economy Justice Labour
- 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 Devolution Economy Justice Labour
- 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 Culture and Sport Technology
- 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 Economy Justice
- 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 Justice Technology
- 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 Justice Labour Science
- 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 Economy Justice Technology
- 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 Culture and Sport Justice
- 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 Economy Justice Labour Technology
- 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 Defence Justice
- 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 Justice Local Government Transport
- 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 Local Government
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Justice Local Government
- 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 Infrastructure Local Government Technology Transport
- 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 Economy Infrastructure Transport
- 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 Economy Finance Labour
- 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 Justice Local Government Technology
- 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 Local Government
- 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 Labour
- 11th Mar 26 The statutory instrument that imposed emergency flight restrictions over an area in Falkirk, Scotland, was legally revoked with immediate effect. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Labour
- 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 Energy Environment Health and Social Care Justice
- 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 Energy Environment Finance
- 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 Energy Health and Social Care Justice
- 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 Economy
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Finance Local Government
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Housing Local Government
- 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 Finance Justice Local Government
- 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 Devolution Health and Social Care Justice Local Government
- 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 Finance Health and Social Care Labour Local Government
- 11th Mar 26 The Order modified UK social security legislation to give effect to the reciprocal contributions agreement with the Republic of India. View Benefits and Welfare Finance Foreign Policy Labour
- 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 Education Local Government
- 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 Economy Finance Justice Local Government
The Westmorland and Furness (Electoral Changes) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) under powers granted by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, formally enacts the LGBCE's recommendations for electoral changes within the Westmorland and Furness district.
It abolishes all existing district wards and replaces them with 35 new district wards, detailing the councillor allocation for each in Schedule 1, effective for elections occurring in 2027.
Furthermore, it concurrently alters the parish wards for Barrow, Dalton Town with Newton, Kendal, Pennington, Penrith, and Ulverston in Schedule 2, ensuring these consequential changes align with the new district structure for local elections.
The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2026
The Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2026 enact transitional and administrative rules necessary to implement the increase in Guardian's Allowance mandated by the preceding Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2026, effective from April 6th, 2026.
These regulations specify that if questions arise regarding an individual's eligibility for the new, higher rate, the increased payment will be withheld until a formal determination is made, and they also confirm the continued applicability of rules concerning overseas beneficiaries.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026
These Regulations officially bring into force section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 on March 13, 2026, which amends the procedures for installing electric vehicle charge points on public highways by granting Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operators the legal right to use a permit-based system instead of the existing Section 50 licensing structure under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
The Merchant Shipping (General Lighthouse Authorities) (Increase of Borrowing Limit) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State for Transport with Treasury approval under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, increases the maximum aggregate amount General Lighthouse Authorities can borrow from £133 million to £166 million, effective from 12:01 a.m. on 31st March 2026, and extends this provision across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
These Regulations make necessary technical adjustments to various pieces of UK legislation, including Acts of Parliament and secondary instruments, to ensure they align correctly following the introduction of provisions concerning Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and the simultaneous revocation of the 2015 ADR Regulations.
The amendments primarily involve substituting obsolete references to the 2015 Regulations with references to the new framework in the 2024 Act, or removing references entirely where the underlying requirement is no longer applicable, ensuring a consistent legal landscape for consumer dispute resolution.
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, known as the Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026, are made by the Secretary of State under the authority of the Online Safety Act 2023 to bring specific provisions of that Act into force on April 7, 2026, primarily focusing on establishing the mandatory duty for providers of regulated user-to-user services to report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) content to the National Crime Agency, alongside related offenses, supplementary reporting requirements, and powers for the regulator to obtain information.
The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, dissolves the existing two-tier local government structure in Surrey, abolishing Surrey County Council and the existing district councils effective April 1, 2027.
It establishes two new unitary areas: East Surrey and West Surrey, each with a new principal authority.
The Order mandates elections for these new councils in 2026, where they will operate as 'shadow authorities' to prepare for the transfer of functions, property, and liabilities during the 'shadow period' leading up to the full structural change.
The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) (Amendment) Order 2026
The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) (Amendment) Order 2026 amends the 2006 Scheme, primarily to revise rules affecting retained firefighters by introducing new death benefits, establishing mechanisms for individuals who opted out of contributions to retroactively purchase service, and extending various application windows, including those concerning service purchase during the extended limited period and the conversion of standard to special membership, all aimed at refining pension provisions for this group.