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 Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective August 1st, 2025, amend the 2017 regulations to shorten the minimum duration of practical training periods for English apprenticeships from 12 to 8 months.
This applies to both standard and alternative apprenticeship arrangements.
The regulations were made by the Minister of State at the Department for Education and extend to England and Wales.
No significant impact on the public, private, or voluntary sectors is anticipated.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025 (Commencement) Regulations 2025
These regulations set the commencement dates for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025.
Key provisions, including the transfer of the Institute's property, rights, and liabilities to the Secretary of State, come into effect the day after the regulations are made.
Further provisions, including the transfer of functions and the abolition of the Institute, take effect on June 1st, 2025, at 2:00 a.m.
The regulations aim to streamline governance and clarify responsibilities, but potential negative consequences such as increased bureaucracy or disruption to existing structures are possible.
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 amend Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, removing Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 from Annex 1's list of controlled substances.
The regulations were enacted by the Secretary of State with consent from the Scottish and Welsh Ministers and came into force immediately upon enactment.
An impact assessment is available online.
The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025
The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025 corrects an error in the 2017 order.
It removes the phrase “not exceeding the statutory maximum” from articles 12(2), 14(2), and 15(2), thereby removing the upper limit on fines for non-compliance with regulations concerning navigation safety and lighting.
This change reflects the removal of such limits in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
The order applies to England and Wales and took effect on June 10, 2025.
The Cornwall Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025
These regulations transfer responsibility for certain adult education functions from the UK Secretary of State to Cornwall Council.
Specifically, the transfer includes functions related to education and training for those aged 19 and over, including the provision of facilities and tuition fees.
However, some functions, such as those related to apprenticeships, adult detention, and regulatory powers remain with the Secretary of State, and others are to be exercised concurrently with the Council.
The regulations also amend existing legislation concerning financial resources and information sharing related to adult education.
The transfer is contingent on Cornwall Council's consent and a belief that it will improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of Cornwall residents.
The East Midlands Combined County Authority (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025
The East Midlands Combined County Authority (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025 transfer specific adult education functions from the Secretary of State to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, effective August 1, 2025.
These functions, primarily related to education and training for individuals aged 19 and over, include provision of facilities, payment of tuition fees and financial resource provisions; however, functions relating to apprenticeships, individuals in adult detention, and the power to create regulations are excluded.
The regulations ensure the Combined County Authority operates under guidance and directions from the Secretary of State, and a report explaining the regulations' impact was submitted to Parliament.
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (Adult Education Functions) Order 2025
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (Adult Education Functions) Order 2025 transfers specified adult education functions from the Secretary of State to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The transfer, effective August 1, 2025, covers functions under sections 86-88 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, excluding apprenticeship training and those concerning persons in adult detention.
Section 90 and section 100(1) and (1B) functions will be exercised concurrently.
The Combined Authority must adhere to Secretary of State guidance and directions regarding eligibility rules for awards.
The Order also modifies relevant sections of the 2009 Act to reflect the change in responsibilities.
The Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2025
The Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2024 Order, postponing its effective date to April 6, 2026.
Key changes include updated references to the Weights and Measures Act 1985, the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006, and EU Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, concerning food information for consumers.
The amendment to article 9 provides greater flexibility regarding price reduction announcements for businesses.