Legislation Published May 2025
46 statutory instruments were made in the UK during May 2025. Education and local government restructuring were prominent themes, alongside significant adjustments to financial penalties and professional standards. Notable changes include the Finance Act 2021 (Increase in Schedule 26 Penalty Percentages) Regulations 2025, which raised late tax payment penalties from 2% to 3% for the first instance and 4% to 10% for the second. Additionally, the Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 reduced the minimum duration for apprenticeship training from 12 to 8 months, while the Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 modified the procedural rules for managing officer conduct and appeals.
Most significant this month: The Finance Act 2021 (Increase in Schedule 26 Penalty Percentages) Regulations 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 Economy Education Finance
- 29th May 25 The Immingham Open Cycle Gas Turbine Order 2020 was amended to clarify definitions, land acquisition processes, and certified documents. View Energy Environment Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Civil Liberties Justice
- 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 Finance Health and Social Care Justice Transport
- 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 Economy Justice Transport
- 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 Environment Justice Transport
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Civil Liberties Health and Social Care Immigration Justice
- 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 Finance Foreign Policy Justice Labour Trade
- 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 Devolution Economy Education Labour
- 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 Economy Education Justice Labour Technology
- 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 Economy Environment Health and Social Care Trade
- 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 Finance Justice Local Government Transport
- 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 Devolution Education Finance Local Government
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Economy Education Local Government
- 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 Devolution Economy Education Local Government
- 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 Economy Justice Technology Trade
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Economy Education
- 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 Economy Housing Infrastructure Justice Transport
- 19th May 25 The 2025 regulations amended the 2002 Medical Devices Regulations by removing certain EU law revocation dates. View Devolution Economy Health and Social Care Justice Technology
- 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 Economy Finance Justice
- 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 Agriculture Economy Environment Health and Social Care Science Technology
- 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 Economy Finance Technology Trade
- 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 Economy Finance Justice Labour
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Devolution Economy Finance Foreign Policy Justice
- 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 Economy Finance Trade
- 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 Economy Local Government Technology
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Health and Social Care Housing Justice Local Government
- 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 Devolution Education Foreign Policy Justice
- 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 Finance
- 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 Economy Environment Local Government Transport
- 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 Agriculture Benefits and Welfare Economy Finance
- 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 Justice Local Government
- 12th May 25 The 2025 Order established 25 new electoral wards in Sunderland, scheduled elections, and altered Hetton parish ward boundaries. View Justice Local Government
- 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 Justice Local Government
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Education Health and Social Care Immigration Justice Armed Forces and Veterans
- 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 Benefits and Welfare Civil Liberties Culture and Sport Justice
- 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 Economy Energy Environment Housing Local Government Transport
- 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 Agriculture Environment Trade
- 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 Culture and Sport Economy Justice Local Government
- 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 Justice Labour
- 7th May 25 The Order appointed two new His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. View Education Justice
- 6th May 25 The 2025 Order amended the 2021 Order to update descriptions of accredited financial investigators regarding cryptoassets for civil recovery processes. View Economy Finance Justice Technology
- 6th May 25 The Treasury specified fourteen gilt-edged securities as exempt from capital gains tax. View Economy Finance
- 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 Finance Justice
- 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 Energy Environment Finance Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 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 Civil Liberties Education Justice
The Childcare (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Childcare (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amended the annual fee arrangements for certain early years providers, extending their applicability until September 1, 2027.
The Childcare (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2008 regulations, extending the annual fees for certain early years providers registered on the early years register until September 2027.
The amendment delays any review of these fees until after that date.
The regulations were made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education.
The Manston Airport Development Consent (Amendment) Order 2025
The Manston Airport Development Consent Order 2022 was amended to extend the compulsory land acquisition time limit from one to five years.
The Manston Airport Development Consent (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2022 order to extend the time limit for compulsory land acquisition from one to five years.
This amendment, made under the Planning Act 2008, addresses potential delays in the airport development project.
The order was signed by Kayla Marks, Head of the Transport and Works Act Orders Unit at the Department for Transport, on May 19, 2025 and comes into effect May 20, 2025.
The Medical Devices (Amendment) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025
The 2025 regulations amended the 2002 Medical Devices Regulations by removing certain EU law revocation dates.
The Medical Devices (Amendment) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025 amend the 2002 Medical Devices Regulations by removing specific revocation dates for assimilated EU laws.
This action maintains the existing regulatory framework for medical devices in Great Britain, ensuring public health safety, by removing now unnecessary dates for the revocation of several EU regulations.
The regulations came into force on May 24, 2025, applying to England, Wales, and Scotland.
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%.
These regulations, effective May 31, 2025, amend Schedule 26 of the Finance Act 2021 to increase penalties for late tax payments.
The first penalty for late payment (after 15 days) rises from 2% to 3%, while the second penalty (after 30 days) increases from 4% to 10%.
The changes apply to most tax payments due on or after May 31, 2025, with exceptions for specific tax years and VAT payments relating to earlier periods.
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
Specific sections of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 relating to precision-bred plants were brought into force in England, Wales, and Scotland.
These regulations, effective November 13, 2025, activate parts of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
The Act governs the release and sale of precision-bred organisms, specifically focusing on plants within England, Wales, and Scotland.
The regulations specify which sections of the Act come into force, primarily those concerning the release, marketing, risk assessment, and production of food from precision-bred plants, and their enforcement.
The Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading and Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
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.
The Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading and Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective June 2nd, 2025, amend the 2012 Spectrum Trading and Register Regulations.
Key changes include updating the list of frequency bands available for shared access licenses in the 2.3 GHz, 26 GHz, and 40 GHz bands, as well as point-to-point licenses in the 7900-8400 MHz band, and removing Self Contained Links in the 64-66 GHz band from transfer eligibility.
The amendments aim to improve spectrum management, promote innovation, and enhance regulatory clarity for wireless telegraphy licenses.
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.
These regulations empower the registrar to annotate company and limited liability partnership (LLP) registers with information regarding director disqualifications, non-compliance with information requests, company registration on false bases, and restrictions on public access to registrable person's particulars.
The goal is to improve transparency and clarity for those reviewing the registers, thus aiding better risk assessment and enforcement.
Specific provisions detail how these annotations will be made, clarifying the relevant information to be included and the timing of implementation.
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Social Security Co-ordination) (Compatibility) Regulations 2025
The regulations ensured compatibility between specified UK domestic legislation and assimilated EU direct legislation in the area of social security coordination.
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Social Security Co-ordination) (Compatibility) Regulations 2025, effective June 4, 2025, ensure the compatibility of UK domestic law with retained EU law concerning social security coordination.
Specifically, it mandates compatibility between several UK insolvency and debt arrangement acts and relevant articles of EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, preserving international agreements on cross-border social security and debt recovery.