Devolution Legislation

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

The Treasury substituted the Schedule of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025 with a revised list of designated bodies affecting supply estimates for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.


This Order, made by HM Treasury under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000, revises the list of designated central government bodies for the purpose of calculating supply estimates and resource accounts for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.

Specifically, it substitutes the entire Schedule of the principal Order (The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025) with an updated list organized by government department, adding, renaming, or removing various public sector bodies.

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The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2025

The Order amended the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990, and the Finance Act 2013 to reflect the introduction of infrastructure consent under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.


The Secretary of State, exercising powers under the Government of Wales Act 2006, enacted this Order to introduce necessary consequential amendments to existing legislation following the passing of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.

This Order modifies the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 to include infrastructure consent when considering site licences, amends the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 regarding consultation requirements related to government authorisation, and updates the Finance Act 2013 to incorporate infrastructure consent into rules governing the conversion of dwellings for non-residential use, ensuring legal alignment with the new infrastructure consenting process in Wales.

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The Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2025

These Regulations brought into force specific sections of the Procurement Act 2023 on January 1st, 2026, and April 1st, 2026, detailing commencement provisions related to payments compliance and contract performance assessment, while making specific exceptions and definitions for procurements regulated by the Welsh Ministers.


These Regulations, made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office with the consent of the Welsh Ministers, exercise powers under the Procurement Act 2023 to bring specified provisions of that Act into force across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on set dates in 2026.

Specifically, sections concerning payments compliance notices (Section 69) and contract performance assessment (Section 71) come into force for most procurements on January 1st, 2026, while Section 69 (for Welsh-regulated procurements) and Section 70 (information about payments) commence on April 1st, 2026, with mechanisms defined to differentiate between procurements regulated by the UK government and those regulated by the Welsh Ministers.

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The Education (Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales) Order 2025

Published: Fri 12th Dec 25 Comes into force: Fri 1st Jan 27

The Order appointed Owen Evans as the Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales for five years starting January 1st, 2027, and revoked the previous 2021 Order on that date.


This Order, issued by the King in Council on December 10th, 2025, under the authority of the Education Act 2005, officially appoints Owen Evans as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales for a five-year term beginning on January 1st, 2027, while simultaneously revoking the Education (Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales) (No. 2) Order 2021 on the same date.

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The Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Published: Tue 2nd Dec 25 Came into force: Tue 23rd Dec 25

The Regulations amended Part A of Annex 2 to Regulation (EU) 2017/852 by inserting new entries and associated phase-out dates for mercury use in several categories of devices, effective from December 23rd, 2025, across England, Wales, and Scotland.


The Secretary of State made The Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025, obtaining consent from the Welsh and Scottish Ministers, to amend Part A of Annex 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 on mercury.

These Regulations, which extend to England, Wales, and Scotland, introduce specific amendments to phase-out dates for mercury content in various products, including certain lighting types, sensing devices, and electronic components, aligning UK law with recent decisions made by the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

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The Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025

Published: Fri 28th Nov 25 Came into force: Tue 16th Dec 25

Legislation amended the 2017 Radio Equipment Regulations as they apply in Northern Ireland to incorporate additional essential safety and security requirements for internet-connected radio equipment originating from an EU Delegated Regulation.


The Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025 amend the 2017 Regulations specific to Northern Ireland to implement Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30, which introduces new essential requirements for internet-connected radio equipment concerning network integrity, fraud protection for financial transactions, and user data/privacy protection.

The instrument also updates the necessary conformity assessment procedures to reflect these new security standards, enacted under the powers granted by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and approved by resolution of both Houses of Parliament.

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The Marine Recovery Funds Regulations 2025

Published: Tue 25th Nov 25 Came into force: Wed 17th Dec 25

The Secretary of State established the Marine Recovery Funds Regulations 2025 under the Energy Act 2023, detailing the administration, operational rules, application procedures, and compensation mechanisms for mitigating the environmental impact of offshore wind activities across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.


These Regulations establish the framework for the creation, operation, and management of Marine Recovery Funds (MRFs) across the UK, designed to channel payments from entities responsible for adverse environmental effects of offshore wind activities towards approved compensatory measures.

The Secretary of State is empowered to set up these funds territorially, determine the application procedure for 'MRF applicants' seeking to make compensation payments, approve environmental 'measures,' and manage the subsequent delivery, monitoring, and adaptation of those measures through 'MRF contracts.'

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The Broadcasting (Regional Programme-making and Original Productions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Published: Tue 25th Nov 25 Came into force: Thu 1st Jan 26

The Secretary of State enacted regulations conferring new functions on OFCOM regarding video content quotas and amended the Broadcasting (Original Productions) Order 2004.


The Broadcasting (Regional Programme-making and Original Productions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, laid before and approved by Parliament, exercise powers granted under the Communications Act 2003 to implement provisions from the Media Act 2024 concerning programme-making quotas.

These regulations primarily confer new functions upon OFCOM to determine whether previously broadcast content ("repeats") can count towards meeting the regional programme-making quotas for licensed public service channels and to regulate original production quotas for these providers, including S4C, by amending the Broadcasting (Original Productions) Order 2004 to update definitions and align regulatory requirements.

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