Devolution Legislation

Legislative framework governing powers delegated to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including regional autonomy and inter-governmental relations.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State, amend the earlier 2024 Commencement Regulations concerning the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, specifically extending the deadline for investigating bodies to prepare or complete their criminal investigation reports under the transitional provisions from April 30th, 2026, to October 31st, 2026.

The Customs (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, officially titled The Customs (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026, introduce a technical amendment to delay the enforcement date of a preceding Statutory Instrument, specifically S.I. 2026/393.

The Treasury exercised powers under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 to move the commencement date for specific customs amendments in Northern Ireland from April 20th, 2026, to May 25th, 2026.

The Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) (Specified Period) Order 2026

This Statutory Instrument, made on March 25th, 2026, amends the preceding Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 by extending the overall period of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme by nine months, shifting the end date for the home-heating cost reduction target from March 31st, 2026, to December 31st, 2026.

The Order also adjusts several associated deadlines for remaining procedural steps, applications, and measure approvals under the ECO scheme across England, Wales, and Scotland, ensuring consistency with the newly defined final date.

The Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition, and Consequential and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2026

The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023 amends existing legislation to lower the minimum age for automatic enrolment into workplace pensions from 22 to 18 and removes the lower earnings limit for pension contributions, effectively extending coverage to all eligible employees aged 18 and over, regardless of how much they earn, bringing Northern Ireland's rules into alignment with those in Great Britain.

The Scotland Act 2016, Section 18 (Disapplication of UK Aggregates Levy) (Appointed Day) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, made by HM Treasury, formally establish 1st April 2026 as the appointed day for the commencement of amendments made under Section 18 and Schedule 1 of the Scotland Act 2016, which will stop applying the UK Aggregates Levy to the commercial exploitation of aggregate occurring within Scotland on or after that date.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Enforcement) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, operating under the powers granted by the Employment Rights Act 2025, make necessary consequential amendments to various pieces of secondary legislation to align them with the new enforcement structure established by the 2025 Act, chiefly involving the transfer of functions previously held by the now-abolished Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) to the Secretary of State and integrating new enforcement officers into regulatory and financial investigation frameworks.

The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026

This Order, made under the Scotland Act 1998, temporarily modifies Schedule 5, which defines reserved matters, to grant the Scottish Parliament limited legislative competence concerning the identification and regulation of substances and devices used in assisted dying for terminally ill adults.

The legislative power conferred is conditional: Scottish Ministers can identify substances/devices via subordinate legislation only with the Secretary of State’s agreement, while the Secretary of State retains power to regulate those items without Scottish Minister agreement.

These exceptions apply only to Scottish Acts resulting from Bills passed before 7 May 2026, and the Scottish Parliament cannot use this limited power to mandate the content of the regulation or impose duties on the Secretary of State.

The Schools (Recording and Reporting of Seclusion and Restraint) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2025

Published: Thu 18th Dec 25

These Regulations, made under the Education Act 1996 and Education and Skills Act 2008, establish mandatory duties for schools in England regarding the recording and reporting of incidents where a member of staff secludes, restrains, or immobilizes a pupil outside of a disciplinary penalty; specifically, they require maintained schools to record such incidents and provide copies to parents, allowing for records to be withheld if disclosure risks the pupil's significant harm, while also amending standards for independent and non-maintained special schools to introduce equivalent requirements and simultaneously revoking a previous version of these regulations issued in error.