UK Law Updates
Track UK law updates and British legislation changes with Legiseye's AI-powered monitoring platform. From acts of Parliament to statutory instruments, we monitor legislation.gov.uk and parliamentary publications so you stay on top of regulatory changes affecting your business.
Showing 10 of 20 laws
Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Act 2026
This Act of the Scottish Parliament, passed on 17 February 2026 and receiving Royal Assent on 2 April 2026, makes two significant changes to Scottish education and children's rights law. First, it reforms the rules around withdrawing pupils from religious instruction and religious observance in schools, specifically requiring that the pupil themselves be involved in any such decision — not just their parents or guardians. Second, the Act amends the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 by defining specific circumstances in which an action or failure to act that is incompatible with UNCRC requirements will not be considered unlawful. This carve-out limits the scope of legal liability under the 2024 UNCRC incorporation legislation. The Act contains a built-in review mechanism for the changes made to religious education withdrawal rules (Section 2), ancillary provision powers, and standard commencement and short title provisions.
The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
These Regulations, made by the Northern Ireland Department for Communities on 30 March 2026 and coming into force on 6 April 2026, implement consequential amendments following the removal of the two-child limit on social security benefits in Northern Ireland. The two-child limit previously restricted child tax credit and Universal Credit child elements to the first two children in a household. The Regulations amend three pieces of existing legislation: the Housing Benefit Regulations, the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations, and the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. These amendments ensure that the broader benefit framework is updated consistently with the policy change removing the two-child cap. The changes align Northern Ireland's social security rules with the policy direction of abolishing the per-child benefit restriction that had been in place since 2017. Families with three or more children will now be able to claim child-related benefit elements for all their children, not just the first two. Regulation 2 and part of Regulation 4 were made with the consent of the Department of Finance.
The Peterhead Port Authority Harbour Revision Order 2026
The Peterhead Port Authority Harbour Revision Order 2026 is a Scottish statutory instrument made by the Scottish Ministers on 1 April 2026 and coming into force on 2 April 2026. It revises the legal framework governing Peterhead Port Authority in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, under the Harbours Act 1964. The Order was made following a written application by Peterhead Port Authority and after a determination that the associated project, while falling within Annex II of EU Directive 2011/92/EU on environmental assessment, is not a 'relevant project' requiring full EIA. The Order sets out the constitution of the Authority including member terms of office, defines the limits of the port, and grants the Authority powers to construct new harbour works, dredge, deviate from approved plans within limits, and carry out subsidiary works. It also contains provisions for the temporary closure of port areas during construction and allows for the removal of vessels from affected zones. Key safety and navigational provisions include requirements for lights on tidal works during and after construction, obligations to prevent danger to navigation, and duties to abate abandoned or decayed works. All new works must fall within the area of Aberdeenshire Council and tidal works require prior approval from the Scottish Ministers. The Order also repeals and revokes certain superseded, obsolete, or unnecessary statutory provisions of local application affecting the harbour, consolidating and modernising the port's legal framework.
The Licensing (City of Derry Airport) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
This Order, made by the Department for Communities on 31st March 2026 and operative from 2nd April 2026, formally designates City of Derry Airport as a specified airport under Article 53(1) of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. The designation enables extended or special licensing hours to apply within the airport's examination station approved under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. The Department confirmed two statutory preconditions before issuing the Order: first, that City of Derry Airport handles a substantial volume of international passenger traffic; and second, that adequate facilities have been arranged within the licensed examination station to provide hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages at all times when alcohol is available for consumption on the premises. The practical effect is that licensed premises inside the airport's international departure and arrivals area may serve alcohol outside standard Northern Ireland licensing hours, consistent with the special airport licensing regime that applies at other major designated airports. This facilitates passenger services across all flight departure and arrival times.
The Social Security Contributions (Umbrella Companies) Regulations 2026
These regulations, coming into force on 6th April 2026, establish a framework of joint and several liability for social security contributions involving umbrella companies in the UK. Umbrella companies — intermediary employers that hire out workers to end clients through recruitment agencies — will now be held jointly and severally liable alongside relevant parties for National Insurance Contributions (NICs) where those contributions are not properly paid. The regulations define 'relevant parties' (such as agencies and end clients in the supply chain) who may share liability when an umbrella company fails to meet its NIC obligations. They also address 'purported umbrella companies' — entities that operate as umbrella companies without meeting the formal definition — ensuring they cannot escape liability through technicalities. Amendments are made to four existing sets of regulations: the Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) Regulations 1978 (GB and Northern Ireland versions) and the Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) Regulations 2000 (GB and Northern Ireland versions), aligning the umbrella company liability framework with existing NIC categorisation and intermediary rules. The regulations apply across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the Treasury, HMRC Commissioners, the Secretary of State, and the Department for Communities all holding relevant authority in their respective domains.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, coming into force on 28 April 2026, amend the original Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) Regulations 2022 and their 2024 amendments. The BUS provides government grants to households and small businesses in England and Wales replacing fossil fuel heating systems (gas/oil boilers) with low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps and biomass boilers. The amendments update eligibility criteria for properties and installed plant, revise technical requirements for heat pumps (including a new inserted Regulation 9A), and adjust the grant application, determination, and redemption processes. Changes also affect installer obligations, the power to withhold grant payments during investigations, and reporting duties. Schedules governing grant categories, application information requirements, and certification requirements have all been revised. A transitional and saving provision is included to protect applications already in progress under the previous rules. This instrument was published as a corrected substitution for SI 2026/368, which was withdrawn because it did not reflect the version actually signed by the Minister.
The Mental Health Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026
This statutory instrument formally brings certain provisions of the Mental Health Act 2025 into legal force in the United Kingdom. It was made by the Secretary of State on 26 March 2026 using powers granted under section 56(3) of the 2025 Act. The regulations are numbered 2026 No. 385 (C. 34) and cite the earlier Mental Capacity Act 2005 (2005 c. 33) in the header. The instrument itself only contains provisions on citation and the exact date when selected sections of the new Mental Health Act will commence. It marks the first phased implementation of the broader 2025 reforms.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
This statutory rule amends the principal Regulations of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. It updates the restoration fee for pharmacists whose names were previously removed from the register, revises the annual retention fees payable by registered pharmacists and certain pharmacy owners, and replaces the regulation governing demands for payment under Article 15(3) of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976. The changes take effect on 1 June 2026 and were made by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society with approval from the Department of Health.
The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
These regulations amend the claims and payments rules for Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance in Northern Ireland. They are made under the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016. The amendments primarily concern the circumstances in which benefit payments may be made to third parties, including in cases involving deductions for arrears of housing costs or payments to landlords and utility providers. The regulations come into operation on 30 April 2026.
The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
This statutory rule amends the Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 by updating Article 40(4) concerning payments made to discharge the renewables obligation. It was made on 23 March 2026 by the Department for the Economy and comes into operation on 24 March 2026. The Order follows required consultation with the Utility Regulator, consumer council, electricity suppliers and renewable generators, and was approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly. It forms part of the legal framework under the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 to support renewable electricity generation through the Renewables Obligation mechanism.
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