Devolution Legislation

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

The Inter-authority Recoupment (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the Inter-authority Recoupment (England) Regulations 2013 to establish new procedures for how local authorities in England reimburse one another for the cost of educating looked after children.

The instrument mandates that for education provided from 1st September 2026, a child's 'home' authority must pay a 'providing' authority for costs associated with a child who has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or attends a special school.

If authorities cannot agree on a figure within six months of a claim, the home authority must pay the total expenditure incurred by the providing authority, including transport costs but excluding Dedicated Schools Grant funding.

The Regulations apply to local authorities in England and Wales but specifically govern the financial relationship between English home and providing authorities.

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The Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026

The Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026 establishes the maximum amount of carbon units that can be credited to the net UK carbon account for the 2028-2032 budgetary period.

It directs that this limit be set at zero, effectively preventing the use of international carbon credits to meet national carbon budgets for that specific timeframe, except for units associated with emissions trading systems.

The order applies to the calculation of the net UK carbon account, overseen by the Secretary of State and relevant national authorities in the devolved administrations.

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The Carbon Budget Order 2026

This Order establishes the legal limit for the net UK carbon account during the five-year budgetary period spanning 2038 to 2042.

It directs that the total greenhouse gas emissions, minus removals and credits, must not exceed 535,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The Order applies to the whole of the United Kingdom and functions as a secondary legislative instrument under the Climate Change Act 2008 to ensure progress toward the 2050 net-zero target.

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Schedule References Corrected for English Devolution

Published: Thu 25th Jun 26

This document issues technical corrections to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (England) Regulations 2026.

It modifies Regulation 3 and the accompanying Explanatory Note to replace incorrect references to 'Schedule 18' with 'Schedule 20'.

These changes apply to local government entities and regulatory bodies in England operating under the 2026 Act.

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The Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and State Pension Credit (Carer’s Allowance Reassessment Capital Disregard) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations modify several pieces of secondary legislation to ensure that lump sum payments made by the Secretary of State following a recalculation of Carer's Allowance are excluded from capital assessments.

The rules apply to individuals receiving State Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit who receive such payments as a result of the Independent Review of Carer's Allowance Overpayments.

By directing that these sums be disregarded as capital, the instrument prevents these specific payments from affecting a claimant’s eligibility for or the amount of their means-tested benefits.

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The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability and Carer Benefits) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2026

This Order amends various social security, housing benefit, and decision-making regulations across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to integrate new Scottish disability and carer benefits into the existing UK-wide legal framework.

It updates terminology to include 'carer benefits' alongside disability benefits and ensures that payments such as Carer Support Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment are recognized within the rules for claims, revisions of decisions, and funeral expense deductions.

The Order applies to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and relevant social security authorities responsible for administering benefits and the appeals process.

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The Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment etc.) Order 2026

This Order expands the scope of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by designating ten new categories of licensable marine activities conducted in areas beyond national jurisdiction, such as the high seas and the international seabed.

It requires British vessels, aircraft, structures, and 'United Kingdom persons' to obtain licenses for activities including depositing substances, scuttling vessels, constructing works, dredging, and using explosives in these areas.

The Order also establishes specific exemptions for activities that do not require environmental impact assessments and aligns the new regulations with existing Scottish marine legislation and cable maintenance protocols.

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The Energy Prices Act 2022 (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 23rd Jun 26

These Regulations extend the timeframe during which certain ministerial powers under the Energy Prices Act 2022 can be exercised in Northern Ireland.

Specifically, it amends Schedule 5 of the Act to change the period of 26 months to 6 years, calculated from when the First Minister and deputy First Minister first held office. This extension applies to the Secretary of State's ability to act in relation to energy price support and regulation within the Northern Ireland jurisdiction.

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