Culture and Sport Legislation

Legislative framework governing cultural institutions, media broadcasting, sports regulation, arts funding, and heritage protection.

The Charities Act 2022 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations under the Charities Act 2022 to bring specific provisions of the Act into force across England and Wales on 27th November 2025.

This commencement primarily enacts technical improvements to charity law concerning the power of charity trustees to make small ex gratia payments without seeking prior authorization if conditions are met, and codifies the existing authorization powers held by the Charity Commission and the courts.

The Regulations also list specific property belonging to designated national museums and galleries that remains subject to existing prohibitions, preventing immediate commencement of the new rules for those assets, and include provisions to save the prior procedures for applications already submitted before the new rules take effect.

The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

Published: Fri 31st Oct 25

These Regulations, made pursuant to the Football Governance Act 2025, enact the first set of commencement provisions, bringing specific sections of the primary Act into force on 1st November 2025.

Specifically, regulation 2 activates sections 65 (power for the Regulator to require information), 66 (provisions for expert reports on clubs), and 73 (rules on privileged communications), establishing foundational regulatory powers for the Independent Football Regulator.

The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 29th Sept 25

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under powers granted by the Media Act 2024, specify the dates on which further sections of the Act will become legally operational.

Specifically, they bring certain provisions regarding independent production quotas and Channel 4 commissioning duties into force on October 1st, 2025, and enact the majority of reforms concerning the public service remit framework, quotas, and associated amendments for the BBC, S4C, and commercial broadcasters on January 1st, 2026.

The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey) Order 2025

This order sets September 24, 2025, as the end of the access preparation period for coastal land between Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey.

The decision follows the approval by the Secretary of State of Natural England's proposals, detailed in six reports, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

The order cites the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 as its legal basis and clarifies terms and definitions used in the approval process.

Copies of the Secretary of State’s notices of approval are available online and through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Advertising (Less Healthy Food and Drink) (Brand Advertising Exemption) Regulations 2025

The Advertising (Less Healthy Food and Drink) (Brand Advertising Exemption) Regulations 2025 establish an exemption from advertising restrictions for brand advertisements of less healthy food and drink products, as defined within the regulations, under the Communications Act 2003.

The regulations clarify this exemption by detailing specific criteria for what constitutes a brand advertisement and what types of brand advertisements remain subject to restriction.

The regulations came into force on October 31, 2025, and apply to all four nations within the United Kingdom.

The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025

The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025 amends the Church Representation Rules to simplify the Church electoral roll application process, improve parish governance by requiring submission of approved model rules, correct a drafting error in candidate nominations, strengthen disqualification criteria aligned with High Court jurisdiction regarding charity trustees, standardize financial reporting using Charity Commission guidelines, clarify disqualification provisions for parochial representatives, streamline elections of Parochial Representatives of the Laity, and mandate training for newly elected PCC members.

The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 1) Resolution 2025

Published: Mon 8th Sept 25

This resolution amends the Church Representation Rules to modify the election timetable for the House of Laity of the General Synod.

The election period is shortened to 100 days, various deadlines are now defined by a separate timetable, and provisions are added for an initial letter to voters, and for publishing the names of those who nominate candidates.

These changes aim to improve the efficiency and transparency of the election process.

The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2025

These regulations amend the Enterprise Act 2002 to create exceptions within the merger control regime for newspaper enterprises involving foreign powers.

They introduce specific circumstances under which a foreign power's holding of shares or voting rights in a newspaper owner does not constitute control or influence, primarily focusing on situations involving state-owned investors with limited holdings and associated persons with minimal ownership stakes.

The changes aim to streamline the merger review process while addressing concerns around foreign influence.