Devolution Legislation

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

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Belfast, Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026

These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within a specified area of Belfast between 2 August and 9 August 2026.

The restrictions apply during specific daylight and evening hours to protect public safety during the Belfast Fleadh festival.

The mandate applies to all unmanned aircraft operators, though the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Event Silver Commander may grant specific flight permissions within the restricted zone.

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The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026

This instrument brings into force several sections of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 on 15 July 2026, primarily affecting local authorities and pension scheme managers in England.

It establishes the Local Audit Office, mandates audit committees for Category 1 authorities, and introduces new requirements for cooperation between local government pension scheme managers.

The regulations also authorize the separation of pension scheme accounts and modify how smaller authorities are categorized for audit purposes when financial reviews are outstanding.

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The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Increase of Capital Borrowing Limits) Order 2026

This Order increases the maximum amount of money the Welsh Ministers can borrow to fund capital expenditure.

It amends section 122A(1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006, raising the aggregate borrowing limit from £1,000 million to £1,100 million.

The Order applies to the Welsh Government and comes into force on 16 July 2026, extending to the whole of the United Kingdom to ensure the statutory change is recognized across all legal jurisdictions.

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The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2026

These Regulations bring into force various provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 across three stages between September 2026 and January 2027.

They mandate new procedural requirements for judges regarding domestic abuse findings, introduce community and license conditions such as driving and public event prohibitions, and establish an 'earned reduction' scheme for unpaid work hours.

The measures apply to the courts, the Probation Service, the service justice system, and offenders within England and Wales, with certain provisions extending to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and several overseas territories.

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The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009 to cap the interest rates for Plan 2 and Plan 3 student loans at 6% for a twelve-month period.

The order applies to student loan borrowers and repayment administrators in England and Wales, specifically targeting the interest calculations for undergraduate and postgraduate income-contingent loans.

The Secretary of State for Education and the Welsh Ministers exercise these powers to ensure that if the standard interest rate calculations exceed 6% between September 2026 and August 2027, the lower capped rate applies.

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The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor Vehicles Timeframes (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend existing statutory instruments to shorten the mandatory timeframes for the retention and disposal of motor vehicles seized by the police. The order directs that previously varied periods—including 14 days, 21 days, 3 months, or 7 working days—be standardized to 7 calendar days for the purposes of vehicle collection and disposal eligibility.

It applies to police authorities and vehicle storage contractors in England and Wales, with certain parts also extending to Scotland.

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The Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities (Remuneration Panels for Member Allowances and Consequential Amendments) Order 2026

This Order establishes the regulatory framework for independent remuneration panels to recommend allowances for members of combined authorities (CAs) and combined county authorities (CCAs) in England who have special responsibilities.

It directs that panels established under existing 2017 regulations function as the "relevant remuneration panels" for the purposes of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

The Order applies to across multiple regional authorities—including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and the Tees Valley—by amending their specific constitutive orders to permit certain allowance payments as exceptions to general prohibitions on member remuneration.

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The Scotland Act 1998 (Increase of Borrowing Limits) Order 2026

This Order increases the statutory limits on the amount the Scottish Ministers may borrow for both resource and capital expenditure.

It raises the maximum resource borrowing limit to £1,910.141 million and the capital borrowing limit to £3,274.527 million.

These changes apply to the Scottish Government and the UK Treasury, effective from 30 June 2026.

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