The Regulations brought specified commencement dates into force for key sections of the Sentencing Act 2026 concerning early release from determinate sentences and consequential driving disqualification amendments, utilizing a phased approach for existing prisoners.

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State, specify the commencement dates for key provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026, particularly sections 23 and 24, which relate to the early release of prisoners serving adult standard determinate sentences in England and Wales.

Section 23 reduces the required custodial period from 40 or 50 percent to one-third for releases under section 244 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and from two-thirds to one-half for releases under section 244ZA; these changes begin applying to most eligible prisoners on September 2nd, 2026, with complex phasing for those serving longer sentences or subject to Home Detention Curfew, ensuring consequential updates to driving disqualifications are also covered.

A correction document was issued to amend specific textual errors relating to cross-references and phrasing within sub-paragraph (3B) of regulation 2(c) of The Local Government Pension Scheme (Elected Member Pensions) (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2026.

This document is a formal correction notice for The Local Government Pension Scheme (Elected Member Pensions) (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2026, specifically addressing two typographical errors found on page 2 of the original instrument concerning the inserted sub-paragraph (3B) to ensure correct cross-referencing and precise legal wording regarding allowances.

The Regulations set staggered commencement dates of July 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027, for specific unfair dismissal provisions within the Employment Rights Act 2025 and included transitional rules.

These Regulations establish the specific commencement dates for further sections of the Employment Rights Act 2025, focusing primarily on provisions related to unfair dismissal found in section 25 and Schedule 3.

Specifically, key elements are brought into force partially on 1st July 2026 to enable procedural amendments, while the main body of section 25 and related consequential amendments commence fully on 1st January 2027.

The instrument also establishes transitional and saving provisions to govern cases where an employee's effective date of termination bridges these commencement dates.

The Regulations brought Section 15 of the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 into force immediately, and brought Section 16 into force immediately for regulation-making purposes, setting its general commencement for September 1, 2026.

These 2026 Regulations, made by the Secretary of State, set the commencement dates for specific provisions within the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, primarily bringing Section 15 (support for lifelong learning) into force the day after the Regulations are made, and implementing Section 16 (amendments to the Higher Education and Research Act 2017) immediately for regulation-making purposes, with its general commencement delayed until September 1, 2026.

Updated the list of bodies to which workers can legally submit protected whistleblowing disclosures from 2 June 2026.

This Order updates the list of 'prescribed persons' under the Employment Rights Act 1996, granting legal protection to workers who blow the whistle to designated regulators and public bodies.

It adds the Building Safety Regulator, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, the Independent Football Regulator, the Law Society, the Security Industry Authority, and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to the list.

Furthermore, it modifies the scope of protected disclosures for the Financial Conduct Authority, the Environment Agency, and several government departments while removing the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland.

Extended the procedural time limit for lodging Employment Tribunal complaints concerning the right to accompaniment during study or training discussions from three to six months by amending the 2010 Regulations.

These Regulations amend the existing Employee Study and Training (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2010 by increasing the statutory time limit for an employee to present a complaint to an Employment Tribunal regarding an employer’s failure, or threat to fail, to allow accompaniment during a meeting about study or training, extending this period from three months to six months, with the change applying only to failures occurring on or after October 1st, 2026.

Lowered the minimum age for train driving licences to 18 in Great Britain while maintaining a 20-year age limit for the Channel Tunnel zone.

These Regulations lower the minimum age for obtaining a train driving licence in Great Britain from 20 to 18 years.

While permitting younger drivers on the general rail network, the instrument prohibits anyone under 20 from driving within the British Channel Tunnel zone, which includes the tunnel itself and specific lines to Ashford International and Dollands Moor.

These rules apply to the Office of Rail and Road as the licensing authority, as well as railway undertakings and infrastructure managers who are prohibited from deploying underage drivers in the specified tunnel zone.

Amended the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010 to allow the Trustee to offer drawdown pensions to members and expand post-death payment flexibility to dependants, nominees, or successors.

This Statutory Instrument, the National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2026, amends the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010 to introduce greater flexibility in how pension benefits are paid from the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST).

The Order empowers the Trustee to offer members the option of receiving a drawdown pension and modifies benefit payment options upon a member's death to allow for a dependants' scheme pension or a drawdown pension paid to a dependant, nominee, or successor, incorporating terminology defined in the Finance Act 2004.