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 Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) Regulations 2026
These Regulations extend the period during which the Secretary of State may exercise powers under Section 13 of the Energy Prices Act 2022 to provide financial support for energy costs.
The initial statutory deadline for these powers was set to expire on 25 April 2026, three years and six months after the original Act was passed.
This instrument moves that expiration date forward by six months to 25 October 2026, applying to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Electronic Commerce (Amendment and Consequential Provision) Regulations 2026
These Regulations repeal provisions related to the Country of Origin Principle (CoOP) previously established under the EU e-Commerce Directive. They remove exemptions that protected European Economic Area (EEA) based information society service providers from certain UK market access regulations and restricted the prosecution of such providers for specific criminal offences, including those under the Terrorism Act 2006 and laws regarding extreme pornography.
The instrument applies to the Secretary of State and affects EEA-based digital service providers active in the UK market.
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 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.