Legislation Published October 2025
57 statutory instruments were made in October 2025, with justice, finance, and infrastructure being the most frequent areas of regulation. Significant changes were introduced to the Sentencing Code, which now include specific aggravating factors for murder involving asphyxiation or relationship breakdowns. Financial regulations were also prominent, notably through the implementation of the UK-Switzerland Mutual Recognition Agreement and new identity verification requirements under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Additionally, the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme was amended to increase compensation amounts by 49% for future diagnoses.
Most significant this month: The Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2025
Summary
- 31st Oct 25 HM Treasury enacted regulations establishing the framework for designating overseas financial recognition regimes, coordinating regulatory functions, and amending secondary legislation governing insurance and short selling. View Economy Finance Justice
- 31st Oct 25 The Treasury enacted UK regulations to implement the UK-Switzerland Mutual Recognition Agreement for financial services, establishing a register, setting regulator duties, and amending existing laws to facilitate market access for Swiss suppliers starting January 2026. View Finance
- 31st Oct 25 The Order formally corrected specific errors and omissions within the M5 Junction 10 Development Consent Order 2025 following statutory requests from interested parties. View Infrastructure Justice Local Government Transport
- 31st Oct 25 The first commencement regulations brought specified sections (65, 66, and 73) of the Football Governance Act 2025 into force on 1st November 2025. View Culture and Sport Justice
- 30th Oct 25 The Order increased the maximum compensation limits for miscarriages of justice payable by the Secretary of State under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Armed Forces Act 2006. View Justice Armed Forces and Veterans
- 30th Oct 25 The document amended fees payable to the Registrar of Companies for incorporation, registration, and ongoing compliance across multiple entity types, effective February 1, 2026, and revoked certain fees related to document access. View Economy Finance
- 30th Oct 25 The Order extended modified sections 70, 75, and 76 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, adapting UK immigration controls like ETAs and visa penalties for local application. View Immigration Justice
- 29th Oct 25 Legislation was enacted to provide tax exemptions and relief for compensation payments made under the Post Office Capture Redress Scheme, effective from late October 2025. View Economy Finance Justice
- 29th Oct 25 A statutory order authorized the University for the Creative Arts to grant research awards for a fixed three-year term beginning in December 2025. View Education
- 28th Oct 25 The Regulations amended definitions, introduced new criteria for identifying bathing waters based on feasibility and safety, allowed for flexible bathing season determination, modified management measures for 'poor' waters, and updated pollution reporting and monitoring requirements. View Environment Finance Health and Social Care Local Government
- 28th Oct 25 The Regulations specified the public bodies now recognized as 'qualifying competent authorities' permitted to engage in joint, national security-related personal data processing with UK intelligence services under the Data Protection Act 2018. View Defence Finance Justice Labour Technology
- 28th Oct 25 The Mona Offshore Wind Farm (Correction) Order 2025 was enacted to formally correct various errors and omissions found within the principal Mona Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025. View Energy Infrastructure Justice
- 28th Oct 25 The Order enacted textual corrections and amendments to the previous Byers Gill Solar Order 2025 relating to article and paragraph references and public rights of way provisions, effective from October 27th, 2025. View Energy Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 27th Oct 25 The Lord Chancellor enacted the Order, which amends fees for non-contentious probate documents, increases fees for Public Guardian applications, and introduces fee exemptions for certain insolvency disclosures and prisoner parole referrals. View Finance Justice Labour Armed Forces and Veterans
- 27th Oct 25 The Regulations amended the criteria used to determine if a school in England is designated as 'coasting' by substituting a new definition in the 2022 Regulations, effective from November 17, 2025. View Education
- 23rd Oct 25 The Minister for the Civil Service amended the 2014 and 2023 Public Service Pension Regulations, effective 17th November 2025, to provide rectification mechanisms for remediable service arising from age discrimination in transitional protection, including provisions on voiding statements, optional retrospective benefit assessments, and clarifying beneficiary decision-making. View Economy Finance Justice Labour
- 23rd Oct 25 The Regulations set 18th November 2025 as the commencement date for several sections of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 related to identity verification, director conduct, and notification duties, while implementing transitional provisions for existing directors and Persons with Significant Control. View Economy Finance Justice Technology
- 23rd Oct 25 The Secretary of State exercised powers under various Pension Acts to make miscellaneous amendments correcting errors, adding definitions (like 'actuarial valuation'), and removing disclosure requirements from several occupational pension scheme regulations, effective December 2025. View Finance Labour
- 23rd Oct 25 * Specific commencement provisions of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 were scheduled for 18th November 2025, accompanied by transitional rules for existing company officers and PSC identity verification. View Economy Justice
- 22nd Oct 25 The Regulations amended Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 to extend exceptions regarding non-organic animal rearing and feed use until the end of 2026 and clarified the use criteria for the food additive gellan gum in organic production. View Agriculture Environment
- 22nd Oct 25 Mandated compliance with UN Regulations 155 (Cyber Security) and 156 (Software Updates) for GB type-approval by amending key vehicle approval legislation and setting implementation deadlines. View Justice Technology Transport
- 22nd Oct 25 The Order extended Section 75 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 to Jersey with modifications, setting up the legal basis for Electronic Travel Authorisations in the Bailiwick and granting the Jersey Minister associated regulatory powers. View Immigration Justice Local Government
- 21st Oct 25 The Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amended EU drone regulations by replacing C-class prefixes with UK-prefixes, modifying scope definitions, introducing mandatory remote identification and geo-awareness requirements phased in by 2028, and shifting regulatory approval powers to the market surveillance authority. View Technology Transport
- 21st Oct 25 The Regulations amended the 2018 fees regulations by modifying entry clearance and leave to remain fee exceptions, adjusting sponsor licence fees, and establishing a fee exemption for certain nationality review applications. View Finance Immigration Labour
- 21st Oct 25 The Order extended the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 provisions concerning Electronic Travel Authorisations to the Isle of Man, amending the principal 2008 Order accordingly. View Immigration Justice
- 21st Oct 25 The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2025 amended the 2018 Fees Regulations to extend their general application by three years and altered the expiry terms for the safety communications fee entry. View Transport
- 21st Oct 25 Legislation set a £153 fee for hovercraft registration certificates and removed a corresponding erroneous fee from existing Merchant Shipping Regulations. View Finance Local Government Transport
- 20th Oct 25 * The regulations imposed permanent 40 mph and 60 mph speed limits on specified lengths of the M32 motorway between junctions 1 and 3, effective November 11, 2025. View Justice Transport
- 20th Oct 25 The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2017, which listed 'Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham' as a name for Al-Qa’ida, was revoked to remove that specific name association. View Defence Justice
- 17th Oct 25 The Order amended the 1989 Order, updating the application of key maritime enactments, including casualty investigations, pollution control, safety rules, and fee structures, to govern UK hovercraft operations. View Environment Justice Transport
- 16th Oct 25 Parliament approved an Order in Council extending the expiry of the Armed Forces Act 2006 from December 2025 to December 2026. View Justice Armed Forces and Veterans
- 16th Oct 25 The Secretary of State corrected errors and omissions in The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) Order 2022, leading to the enactment of The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) (Correction) Order 2025. View Energy Infrastructure Justice Local Government Transport
- 16th Oct 25 The Treasury made regulations effective April 1st, 2026, defining 'qualifying retail, hospitality or leisure hereditament' for business rate relief purposes in England and Wales. View Economy Finance Local Government
- 16th Oct 25 The regulations amended the requirements for glucose monitoring for Group 2 driving licence holders, updating language related to blood glucose testing to allow for broader, appropriate monitoring systems. View Health and Social Care Transport
- 16th Oct 25 The Regulations amended Schedule 4 of the 2012 School Admissions Regulations to formally insert details for the Nancy Reuben Primary School and its affiliated Rabbinic authority. View Education Local Government
- 16th Oct 25 The Treasury officially used powers from the Finance Act 2021 to designate specific map-defined areas within the Anglesey Freeport as special tax sites for enhanced capital allowance purposes, with the regulations commencing on November 21, 2025. View Economy Finance Local Government
- 16th Oct 25 The Treasury designated the Deeside, Warren Hall, and Wrexham Industrial Estate areas as special tax sites for enhanced capital allowance purposes under the Finance Act 2021, effective November 21st, 2025. View Devolution Economy Finance
- 16th Oct 25 The Order extended the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025, with modifications, to specified British overseas territories, making the Governor the responsible authority for sanctions administration there. View Foreign Policy Immigration Justice Local Government
- 15th Oct 25 The Privy Council recognized the joint Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) degree awarded by Harper Adams University and the University of Keele, bringing the recognition into force on 5th November 2025 across the UK. View Education Health and Social Care Justice
- 15th Oct 25 The Secretary of State for Transport issued the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025 on October 14, 2025, to amend specific drafting errors within the previous 2024 Development Consent Order relating to document references, statutory wording, and the inclusion of environmental assessment addenda. View Environment Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 14th Oct 25 The Treasury substituted a new investigation regulation into the 2024 Regulations, introduced transitional periods for firms seeking permissions related to a new regulated activity, and made consequential amendments across primary, assimilated direct, and subordinate legislation including various sanctions regimes. View Economy Finance Justice Technology
- 14th Oct 25 The Order amended the 1998 Order to update HBAP deadlines, introduce flexibility in overpayment deductions, substitute subsidy calculation sums for 2024-2025, revise incentive payments for accuracy initiatives, and update Welsh rent rebate deduction factors for 2025/2026. View Benefits and Welfare Finance Local Government
- 14th Oct 25 The Order officially amended the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014, substituting “Palestine” for “Palestinian Territories” in the list of nationals requiring a transit visa. View Immigration Justice
- 14th Oct 25 The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025 added Botswana to the list of countries whose nationals require a transit visa to transit through the United Kingdom. View Immigration Justice
- 14th Oct 25 The regulations established specific commencement dates between October 2025 and January 2028 for enacting provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, particularly those revoking retained EU financial services law, while simultaneously providing savings for ongoing prospectus activity and PISCES operations. View Economy Finance
- 14th Oct 25 The Secretary of State formally corrected defined errors within the Oaklands Farm Solar Park Order 2025 concerning development consent, implementing changes via a schedule of substitutions and renumbering. View Energy Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 14th Oct 25 The regulations amended Schedule 21 of the Sentencing Code by inserting new statutory aggravating factors related to relationship breakdown and asphyxiation methods when determining minimum life sentences for murder. View Justice Labour
- 14th Oct 25 The Regulations doubled fixed penalties under certain street works regulations, modified the basis for charging for unreasonably prolonged occupation, and ring-fenced 50% of excess occupation charge proceeds for highway maintenance in England. View Economy Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 13th Oct 25 * The Secretary of State exercised powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 to amend the 2001 Regulations, introducing Schedule 6A for updated noise measurement methods and establishing transitional arrangements. View Economy Environment
- 13th Oct 25 * The statutory instrument increased scheme payment amounts under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme by 49% for diagnoses occurring on or after 4th November 2025. View Benefits and Welfare Justice
- 10th Oct 25 The Secretary of State revoked the Online Safety (CSEA Content Reporting by Regulated User-to-User Service Providers) Regulations 2025 under powers granted by the Online Safety Act 2023. View Justice Labour Technology
- 10th Oct 25 The Order amended the 2023 Order to authorize Hult International Business School Ltd to grant specific taught awards up to Master’s level for a fixed term between December 2025 and December 2029. View Education Justice
- 10th Oct 25 The Order varied the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hull College Group) Order of Council 2015 to extend the validity of Hull College Group's competence to award specified degrees until March 30, 2029. View Education Justice Local Government
- 9th Oct 25 The instrument revoked the prior regulations that scheduled specific child protection reporting duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 to commence on November 3rd, 2025. View Devolution Justice Local Government Technology
- 9th Oct 25 The Order authorised Walbrook Institute London Limited to grant specified taught awards for a fixed period between September 1, 2026, and August 30, 2029, following consultation with the relevant advisory body. View Education
- 8th Oct 25 The Secretary of State issued The East Yorkshire Solar Farm (Correction) Order 2025 to rectify specific textual errors within the original development consent Order dated on September 19, 2025. View Energy Infrastructure Justice Local Government
- 1st Oct 25 OFCOM established the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 2100 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2025, setting one-off and index-linked annual charges for 2100 MHz spectrum access, effective late 2025 and 2026, while revoking the 2021 charges regulations. View Economy Technology
The Power to Award Degrees etc. (University for the Creative Arts) Order 2025
A statutory order authorized the University for the Creative Arts to grant research awards for a fixed three-year term beginning in December 2025.
This Order, issued by the Office for Students under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, grants the University for the Creative Arts the temporary authority to confer research awards for a fixed term commencing on December 1, 2025, and ending on November 29, 2028, following consultation with the required advisory body, and further allows the University to delegate this awarding power to specified institutions.
The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended definitions, introduced new criteria for identifying bathing waters based on feasibility and safety, allowed for flexible bathing season determination, modified management measures for 'poor' waters, and updated pollution reporting and monitoring requirements.
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State for England and the Welsh Ministers for Wales under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, amend the primary Bathing Water Regulations 2013.
The changes involve updating definitions, establishing new criteria to restrict the identification of bathing waters based on feasibility, cost, or safety risks, granting flexibility in setting the official bathing season duration, modifying procedures for waters classified as 'poor' for five consecutive years by introducing a reconsideration period, and updating requirements for monitoring and reporting short-term pollution and annual data.
The Data Protection Act 2018 (Qualifying Competent Authorities) Regulations 2025
The Regulations specified the public bodies now recognized as 'qualifying competent authorities' permitted to engage in joint, national security-related personal data processing with UK intelligence services under the Data Protection Act 2018.
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), specify which public bodies qualify as 'qualifying competent authorities' to engage in joint processing of personal data with intelligence services under Part 4 of the DPA, a power enabled by the Data (Use and Access) Act to assist in safeguarding national security; the instrument lists various government departments, police forces, customs, and judicial/monitoring bodies as qualifying authorities, citing consultation with the Information Commissioner and Parliamentary approval, and stipulates that the regulations come into force twenty-one days after being made and extend across the UK.
The Mona Offshore Wind Farm (Correction) Order 2025
The Mona Offshore Wind Farm (Correction) Order 2025 was enacted to formally correct various errors and omissions found within the principal Mona Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025.
The Mona Offshore Wind Farm (Correction) Order 2025 formally amends the original development consent order granted for the Mona Offshore Wind Farm under the Planning Act 2008.
This Order, made by the Secretary of State following a request from the applicant, addresses specific correctable errors and omissions within the original Order by substituting, inserting, or omitting text detailed in the accompanying Schedule.
It comes into force on October 24, 2025, ensuring that the existing planning permissions reflect the intended legal provisions regarding technical definitions, consent procedures, environmental considerations, and rights of way relating to the wind farm development.
The Byers Gill Solar (Correction) Order 2025
The Order enacted textual corrections and amendments to the previous Byers Gill Solar Order 2025 relating to article and paragraph references and public rights of way provisions, effective from October 27th, 2025.
This Order officially rectifies specific textual errors and omissions discovered in the original Byers Gill Solar Order 2025, which granted development consent under the Planning Act 2008.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero made these corrections, detailed in a schedule, following a formal written request from the project applicant, ensuring the primary consent order is accurately recorded regarding technical provisions, article references, and details concerning public rights of way.
The Court and Public Guardian Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025
The Lord Chancellor enacted the Order, which amends fees for non-contentious probate documents, increases fees for Public Guardian applications, and introduces fee exemptions for certain insolvency disclosures and prisoner parole referrals.
The Court and Public Guardian Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 amends several existing statutory instruments concerning court and public guardian fees.
This Order introduces an exemption from probate fees for estates involving emergency service personnel or armed forces personnel eligible for inheritance tax reliefs, and revises the fee for obtaining copies of specific probate documents.
Furthermore, it increases fees charged by the Public Guardian for registering Enduring and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and implements new fee exemptions for civil proceedings related to insolvency protective orders and judicial referrals concerning the parole decisions for prisoners.
The Coasting Schools (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended the criteria used to determine if a school in England is designated as 'coasting' by substituting a new definition in the 2022 Regulations, effective from November 17, 2025.
The Coasting Schools (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, enacted under powers from the Education and Inspections Act 2006, amend the 2022 regulations by substituting a revised definition of when a school is deemed 'coasting'.
The core change involves updating the specific inspection grades and conditions—differentiating between inspections before and after September 2, 2024—that trigger the coasting designation, alongside specifying the criteria a school must meet to exit that status, and providing definitions for terms like 'relevant assessment' and 'linked school'.
The Minister for the Civil Service amended the 2014 and 2023 Public Service Pension Regulations, effective 17th November 2025, to provide rectification mechanisms for remediable service arising from age discrimination in transitional protection, including provisions on voiding statements, optional retrospective benefit assessments, and clarifying beneficiary decision-making.
These Regulations, enacted by the Minister for the Civil Service with Treasury consent, amend the 2014 and 2023 Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions Regulations to address issues stemming from unlawful age discrimination in transitional protection arrangements for public service pension schemes, commonly known as remediable service. The amendments introduce specific provisions allowing scheme managers and decision-makers to reconsider or rectify past benefit calculations, including specific opt-out windows, ill-health retirement assessments, and partial/early retirement recalculations for members whose service spanned the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and alpha scheme.
Furthermore, they clarify rules regarding voiding inaccurate service statements, treatment of divorce liabilities, and determining eligible decision-makers for deceased members.