Technology Legislation
Regulations governing digital technology, cybersecurity, data protection, and technological innovation.
The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2025, effective April 6th, 2025, amend the 2001 Social Security (Contributions) Regulations.
Specifically, they modify the reporting requirements for Real Time Information (RTI) employers.
The amendment clarifies that employers must report earnings information to HMRC unless employee earnings fall below either the lower earnings limit or the secondary threshold, whichever is lower.
This ensures consistent reporting even when the secondary threshold is below the lower earnings limit.
A Tax Information and Impact Note was deemed unnecessary due to the absence of substantive tax policy changes.
The REACH Fees and Charges (Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 340/2008) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend fees payable to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the UK REACH regulations.
The amendments adjust various fees across multiple annexes (Annex 1-7) of the overarching REACH regulation, which sets fees for chemical registrations and authorisations.
The adjustments consider changes in the consumer price index and HSE administrative costs.
The changes affect fees for different sized businesses and different applications and differ in their variations
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (CMA Consumer Enforcement Rules) Regulations 2025
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (CMA Consumer Enforcement Rules) Regulations 2025, effective April 6th, 2025, approve the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) rules for enforcing consumer protection laws.
These rules cover procedural matters, including investigations, representations, document inspection, procedural complaints, settlements, and notification of decisions.
The regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the CMA developed these rules following consultations.
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025 designates numerous central government bodies as 'designated bodies' for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.
This designation is for their inclusion in the supply estimates and resource accounts of their respective government departments.
The order covers various government departments and agencies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
It is based on powers granted by the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 and includes consultations with devolved administrations.
The Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Civil Penalty Code of Practice) Order 2025
The Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Civil Penalty Code of Practice) Order 2025 establishes a revised code of practice for sanctions related to non-compliance with biometric registration regulations, effective March 27, 2025.
The revision facilitates a transition from physical to digital immigration documents and was preceded by public consultation.
The order applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025
These regulations, made under the Online Safety Act 2023, define threshold conditions for categorizing online services as Category 1, 2A, or 2B. Category 1 applies to user-to-user services exceeding certain user numbers and using content recommender systems or offering content sharing functionalities.
Category 2A applies to search engines exceeding user number thresholds except those focusing exclusively on specified topics.
Category 2B covers user-to-user services with high user numbers supporting direct messaging functionalities.
The regulations stipulate how to calculate average monthly active UK users to determine category fit and came into force the day after enactment.
The Space Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025
The Space Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025 exempt authorized personnel from allied armed forces, international military organizations, and related entities from needing operator or range control licenses for sub-orbital spaceflight activities conducted for national security purposes.
These exemptions apply when activities originate from Crown land, land controlled by His Majesty's forces, or specific ships or platforms in UK territorial waters.
The regulations were created under the Space Industry Act 2018, following public consultation and parliamentary approval, and also amend the Space Industry Regulations 2021.
The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 to introduce maximum stake limits for online slots games.
The maximum stake is £2 for individuals under 25 and £5 for those 25 and over.
A six-week transitional period applies, and the Secretary of State must review the regulations within five years, publishing a report on the findings.