Legislation Published May 2025
UK legislation and statutory instruments introduced in May 2025.
Summary
- 30th May 25 The 2025 regulations amended the 2019 Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) Regulations, increasing registration fees for English higher education institutions by 3.9%, effective August 1st, 2025. View
- 29th May 25 The Immingham Open Cycle Gas Turbine Order 2020 was amended to clarify definitions, land acquisition processes, and certified documents. View
- 27th May 25 Section 17 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 was brought into force in two phases, starting on 1st June 2025 for the purpose of making regulations and on 1st October 2025 for all other purposes. View
- 22nd May 25 The regulations amended the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, increasing the compensation amounts for whiplash injuries based on injury duration, effective May 31st, 2025. View
- 22nd May 25 A temporary prohibition of heavy goods vehicles (over 7.5 tonnes) was implemented on parts of the M48 Severn Bridge to mitigate public safety risks and road damage. View
- 22nd May 25 The regulations amended the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 to clarify the driving licence requirements for zero-emission vehicles in Great Britain. View
- 21st May 25 This document amended the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and related secondary legislation to update and expand access to legal aid in relation to cases involving domestic abuse. View
- 21st May 25 The 2025 Order amended the 2014 Public Interest Disclosure Order to include sanctions-related functions of the Secretaries of State for Business and Trade, Transport, and the Treasury within the scope of whistleblower protection. View
- 21st May 25 The 2025 regulations amended the 2017 Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, reducing the minimum duration for apprenticeship practical periods and training from 12 to 8 months. View
- 21st May 25 The regulations brought into force various provisions of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025, transferring functions and property to the Secretary of State and abolishing the Institute. View
- 20th May 25 The 2025 regulations amended UK legislation to remove Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 from the list of controlled persistent organic pollutants. View
- 20th May 25 The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025 amended the 2017 order to remove the statutory maximum fine limit from articles 12(2), 14(2), and 15(2). View
- 19th May 25 The Cornwall Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025 transferred specified adult education functions from the Secretary of State to Cornwall Council, amending relevant legislation to reflect the change. View
- 19th May 25 The regulations transferred certain adult education functions from the Secretary of State to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, with conditions and modifications to existing legislation. View
- 19th May 25 The Order transferred certain adult education functions from the Secretary of State to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, modifying relevant sections of the 2009 Act to reflect the change. View
- 19th May 25 The Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2025 amended the 2024 Order, updated its effective date, and revised legal references related to price marking of goods. View
- 19th May 25 The Childcare (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amended the annual fee arrangements for certain early years providers, extending their applicability until September 1, 2027. View
- 19th May 25 The Manston Airport Development Consent Order 2022 was amended to extend the compulsory land acquisition time limit from one to five years. View
- 19th May 25 The 2025 regulations amended the 2002 Medical Devices Regulations by removing certain EU law revocation dates. View
- 15th May 25 The regulations increased penalties for late tax payments under Schedule 26 of the Finance Act 2021, raising the first penalty from 2% to 3% and the second from 4% to 10%. View
- 15th May 25 Specific sections of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 relating to precision-bred plants were brought into force in England, Wales, and Scotland. View
- 15th May 25 The 2025 regulations amended the 2012 Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) and (Register) Regulations to update license transfer processes and frequency band information for various wireless licenses, removing some license classes from transfer eligibility. View
- 14th May 25 The Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Annotation) Regulations 2025 granted the registrar new powers to annotate company and LLP registers to increase transparency and clarify information for register inspectors. View
- 14th May 25 The regulations ensured compatibility between specified UK domestic legislation and assimilated EU direct legislation in the area of social security coordination. View
- 14th May 25 The 2025 Value Added Tax (Amendment) Regulations amended the 1995 Value Added Tax Regulations to grant the Commissioners of His Majesty's Revenue and Customs the power to extend the deadline for final VAT returns. View
- 13th May 25 The Transfer of Functions (Digital Government) Order 2025 transferred digital government functions from the Minister for the Cabinet Office to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, amended existing legislation accordingly, and transferred related property, rights and liabilities. View
- 13th May 25 The 2025 Order transferred responsibilities for fire and rescue services from the Home Secretary to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, along with related assets and ongoing processes. View
- 13th May 25 The Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements) (Specification) (Recognition of Qualifications) Order 2025 specified functions for the Scottish Ministers regarding the UK ENIC service for qualification recognition and enabled agency arrangements with a Minister of the Crown. View
- 13th May 25 The regulations established commencement dates for several provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 and revoked or repealed specific sections of prior legislation. View
- 12th May 25 The Marine Management Organisation extended the Blyth Harbour limits to include Ash Barge Dock, amending the Blyth Harbour Act 1986 and protecting Trinity House and Crown rights. View
- 12th May 25 The 2025 regulations reduced delinked payments to English farmers based on a tiered percentage system, modifying existing regulations concerning payments under the Agriculture Act 2020. View
- 12th May 25 This Order abolished existing electoral wards in Newcastle upon Tyne and Woolsington, establishing 26 new city wards and four new Woolsington parish wards, defining their boundaries, and specifying election timelines and councillor retirement schedules. View
- 12th May 25 The 2025 Order established 25 new electoral wards in Sunderland, scheduled elections, and altered Hetton parish ward boundaries. View
- 12th May 25 The order established 23 new electoral wards for the borough of Kirklees, abolished existing wards, and set election schedules for 2026 and beyond. View
- 9th May 25 The Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025 amended several tribunal procedure rules to clarify the power to set aside decisions and mandated written notification of such actions, resulting in improved consistency and procedural fairness within the UK tribunal system. View
- 9th May 25 The 2025 regulations amended the 2015 marriage registration and 2005 civil partnership registration regulations to include specific information on detained person's sentences in marriage and civil partnership notices. View
- 9th May 25 The 2025 order amended the 2015 Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order, modifying permitted development rights related to electric vehicle charging and air source heat pumps. View
- 8th May 25 The regulations amended Annexes 2, 2A, 4, 5, 7, and 11 of the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation, updating pest lists and import requirements for plants and plant products. View
- 8th May 25 The Licensing Act 2003 (Victory in Europe Day Licensing Hours) Order 2025 extended licensing hours for on-premises alcohol sales and specified activities in England and Wales for VE Day 2025. View
- 7th May 25 These regulations amended the Police Regulations 2003, Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, Police (Performance) Regulations 2020, Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020, and Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020, primarily to streamline procedures, improve communication methods, and clarify definitions related to police conduct, performance, and complaints. View
- 7th May 25 The Order appointed two new His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. View
- 6th May 25 The 2025 Order amended the 2021 Order to update descriptions of accredited financial investigators regarding cryptoassets for civil recovery processes. View
- 6th May 25 The Treasury specified fourteen gilt-edged securities as exempt from capital gains tax. View
- 6th May 25 The UK government revoked the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland’s recognition as a recognised professional body for insolvency practitioners. View
- 2nd May 25 The Rivenhall Generating Station Extension (Correction) Order 2025 corrected errors in the 2024 order regarding definitions within Article 2(1) by removing references to the Companies Act 2006. View
- 1st May 25 The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025 established specific duties regarding free speech for higher education entities, commencing certain provisions of the Act on August 1st, 2025. View
The Higher Education (Registration Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective July 1st, 2025, amend the 2019 regulations to increase registration fees for English higher education institutions by 3.9%, aligning with inflation.
The new fees, payable from August 1st, 2025, are based on the number of full-time equivalent students and are determined by a revised fee schedule.
The regulations are supported by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and Treasury consent, aiming to fund the Office for Students' oversight of higher education in England.
The Immingham Open Cycle Gas Turbine (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2025
This order amends the Immingham Open Cycle Gas Turbine Order 2020 to incorporate non-material changes.
The Secretary of State approved the changes following an application under the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011.
Key amendments include modifications to definitions of ‘book of reference’ and ‘Order land,’ alterations to compulsory land acquisition provisions, and revisions to schedules detailing land rights and certified documents.
These changes aim for greater clarity and efficiency in the project’s implementation.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2025
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2025 bring into force section 17 of the 2024 Act.
This section invalidates any agreement preventing victims from disclosing crime-related information to specified bodies like law enforcement and victim support services.
The regulations establish a two-stage commencement: June 1st, 2025 for the purpose of making further regulations, and October 1st, 2025 for all other purposes.
The regulations also note prior commencement of other sections of the 2024 Act.
The Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective May 31st, 2025, amend the 2021 regulations governing compensation for whiplash injuries from road traffic accidents in England and Wales.
The amendments introduce two new tables specifying increased damage amounts based on injury duration.
Table 1 applies to cases arising before May 31st, 2025, and Table 2 applies to those arising on or after that date.
The changes reflect adjustments to damage amounts, likely linked to inflation, and were approved by Parliament.
This order temporarily bans heavy goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on specified sections of the M48 Severn Bridge, effective May 27th, 2025, for up to 18 months.
The ban addresses the potential for public danger and significant road damage.
Exemptions are in place for emergency vehicles and those with police permission.
The order is based on the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, with consideration given to alternative routes.
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend the 1999 Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations.
Specifically, they revise the rules concerning the types of zero-emission vehicles that can be driven under certain licence categories in Great Britain.
The changes primarily relax restrictions on the maximum authorized mass of zero-emission vehicles that category B licence holders (standard car licence) can operate, allowing for larger vehicles and trailer combinations, with some stipulations on age and experience in certain cases.
The regulations also address the age restrictions for driving some medium-sized goods vehicles specified within the updated regulations, setting a single legal age of 17.
This legislation revokes and replaces previous regulations largely based on assimilated EU law.
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025
This Order modifies the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 to expand legal aid access for domestic abuse cases.
It broadens the definition of 'domestic abuse,' replaces outdated terms like 'domestic violence' with the modern terminology, and extends coverage to encompass numerous procedures connected to domestic abuse protection orders.
Furthermore, the Order adjusts related civil and criminal legal aid regulations to ensure consistency and effectiveness in providing aid.
The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order modifies the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 to extend whistleblower protection to individuals disclosing information about sanctions-related activities undertaken by the Secretaries of State for Business and Trade, Transport, and the Treasury.
This expansion ensures greater accountability and transparency within the government's sanctions regime.