Browse regulations

The Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the Price Marking Order 2004 by: (1) extending the implementation date to 6th April 2026; (2) expanding the applicable legislative framework to include the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006 and EU Regulation 1169/2011 on food information; (3) allowing traders to use general notices for price reductions when individual marking is not reasonably practicable, provided reductions are prominently and clearly displayed; and (4) clarifying rules for assortment products sold in packages or promotional combinations.

This amendment actually liberalises price marking requirements by introducing flexibility — traders facing practical difficulties with individual price marking for reductions may now use general visible notices instead. Price transparency regulations serve genuine consumer protection purposes by preventing information asymmetries, and the compliance costs are minimal relative to the consumer benefit of being able to compare prices. The regulation does not impose price controls, merely disclosure requirements. Removal would harm consumers by reducing price transparency, particularly for unit price comparisons.

The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2017 Order by removing 'not exceeding the statutory maximum' language from three articles governing navigation safety obligations (article 12(2) - danger to navigation, article 14(2) - permanent lights on tidal works, article 15(2) - lights during construction). This removes the cap on maximum penalties for violations of lighting and navigation safety requirements at Folkestone Harbour.

While navigation safety itself is a legitimate government function, removing penalty caps creates unlimited liability exposure for harbor operators without evidence this improves safety outcomes. Statutory maximums exist to provide legal certainty and prevent disproportionate penalties—removing them increases compliance costs and deters investment through regulatory uncertainty. The amendment fails to demonstrate that uncapped penalties achieve better safety compliance than appropriately calibrated fines. This represents regulatory expansion rather than the regulatory simplification post-Brexit Britain requires, and provides no clear benefit to justify the increased burden on harbor operations.

Amends the Manston Airport Development Consent Order 2022 by extending the time limit for exercising compulsory land acquisition authority from one calendar year to five calendar years. This affects article 21(3) concerning the timeframe within which the consent holder may exercise powers to compulsorily acquire land.

Extends coercive compulsory purchase powers from 1 to 5 years, prolonged 'blight' on property owners whose land remains subject to potential seizure, suppresses neighboring property values and development, and creates regulatory uncertainty for affected landowners — all to benefit a single commercial entity at others' expense.

Commencement Regulations 2025 that bring into force provisions of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025. The SI specifies staggered commencement dates: section 2/Schedule 2 (property transfers) on the day after making; sections 1, 4-8 and Schedule 1 (transfer of functions, standards, apprenticeship plans, reviews, third-party examinations, accreditation) on 1st June 2025; section 3 and Schedule 3 (abolition) at 2.00 a.m. on 1st June 2025.

This is a procedural commencement instrument that merely activates statutory provisions on defined dates. It does not itself impose regulatory burdens, restrict trade, or create compliance costs. Deleting it would create legal uncertainty and prevent the scheduled transfer of functions from taking effect, leaving the statute book in an incoherent state. The underlying policy question of whether the IfA restructuring is sound is a matter for primary legislation, not this SI.

Amends the Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2017 to reduce the duration of practical periods from 12 to 8 (in regulation 5) and similarly reduce duration requirements for alternative English apprenticeships from 12 to 8 (in regulation 6). Extends to England and Wales, coming into force 1 August 2025.

This deregulation reduces burden on employers and apprenticeship providers by shortening required practical period durations from 12 to 8. Britons would be worse off if deleted because reverting to longer 12-month periods would impose unnecessary costs on businesses, discourage apprenticeship uptake, and slow workforce development in sectors facing skill shortages. The reduction expands supply of apprenticeship opportunities without evidence of harm to quality outcomes.

These Regulations amend the School Information (England) Regulations 2008 to rename the 'Schools Financial Benchmarking website' to the 'Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool' and update the corresponding definition to refer to the online tool maintained by the Department for Education. The changes take effect 16th June 2025 and extend to England and Wales.

This is a purely technical renaming exercise that imposes no additional regulatory burden. Without this amendment, the 2008 Regulations would contain an outdated reference to a tool that no longer exists under that name, creating confusion for schools and undermining compliance. Britons are not worse off from this regulation's existence — it merely maintains accurate statutory references to current government digital infrastructure.

This Order transfers certain adult education functions from the Secretary of State to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. It enables the Combined Authority to exercise functions under sections 86-88 (education/training for persons aged 19+), section 90 (encouragement), and section 100 (financial resources) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009. The Order excludes apprenticeship training, persons subject to adult detention, and functions relating to under-19s or under-25s with EHC Plans. Functions are exercisable concurrently with the Secretary of State for certain provisions.

While the underlying 2009 Act remains, this Order represents beneficial devolution of adult education functions to a local combined authority. Decentralizing education administration to regional bodies aligns with Hayek's principle that local authorities possess better knowledge of local conditions and preferences. Removing this Order would consolidate power at the central Secretary of State level, reducing local democratic accountability and responsiveness. The Order does not create new regulatory burdens but rather redistributes existing functions toward more localized governance, which could improve allocation of educational resources to match regional labor market needs.

Transfer of certain adult education functions from the Secretary of State to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, covering education/training for persons aged 19+ (sections 86-90 and 100 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009). Excludes apprenticeship training, persons in adult detention, and under-19s (or under-25s with EHC plans) for technical education. Secretary of State retains guidance and eligibility direction powers.

Devolution of education functions to local combined authorities represents sensible decentralization—moving decisions closer to those affected, reducing centralization, and allowing regional customization of adult education provision. The Secretary of State retains adequate oversight through guidance authority and eligibility direction powers. Removing this would maintain inefficient centralization. The regulations do not impose new regulatory burdens but merely reallocate existing administrative functions to a more locally accountable body, which aligns with reducing government footprint at the central level.

These Regulations devolve certain adult education functions from the Secretary of State to Cornwall Council under the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. They transfer responsibilities for education and training for persons aged 19 or over, including learning aims, tuition fees, and financial resources. The Regulations also amend the 2009 Act and Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 2007 to accommodate local authority control and impose eligibility restrictions for awards.

These regulations perpetuate government intervention in adult education through subsidies, fee controls, and eligibility restrictions that distort the market for education services. While devolving functions from central to local government has some merit, the regulations merely relocate bureaucratic control rather than reduce it. The complex eligibility criteria (referencing numerous Schedule 1 paragraphs), the mandatory requirement to follow Secretary of State guidance, and the sunset clause on certain provisions (effective 2028) reveal that even the drafters recognize the arbitrary nature of these restrictions. A free society would allow individuals and institutions to freely contract for education services without government-mandated fee structures, eligibility rules, and public funding schemes that pick winners and losers.

This Order amends the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 to expand the list of prescribed persons to whom whistleblowers can report. It adds: (1) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade's functions regarding trade sanctions under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; (2) the Secretary of State for Transport's functions regarding aircraft and shipping sanctions; and (3) aircraft/shipping sanctions regulations and related financial sanctions legislation. The Order extends to England, Wales and Scotland and comes into force on 26th June 2025.

Whistleblower protection frameworks serve important functions in uncovering fraud and misconduct. Removing this regulation would eliminate legal protections for individuals reporting sanctions-related wrongdoing, potentially enabling illicit financial flows and undermining international trade compliance. While sanctions themselves represent government intervention, the ability to report violations through prescribed channels helps maintain market integrity and prevents abuse that would otherwise distort commerce.

These Regulations amend the retained EU Regulation 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants by removing two substances—Dechlorane Plus (a flame retardant) and UV-328 (a UV absorber used in plastics)—from the list in Part A of Annex 1. The regulation extends to England, Wales, and Scotland and came into force the day after being made.

These substances were included in the EU list but apparently not adequately justified under the Stockholm Convention criteria. Maintaining their restriction imposes unnecessary compliance costs on chemical manufacturers and downstream industries without clear evidence of harm proportionate to the regulatory burden. Removal aligns UK law with actual international obligations rather than EU gold-plating. However, the regulation should be further reviewed to determine if any residual restrictions under other frameworks (e.g., REACH) are themselves warranted.

Temporary Order prohibiting heavy goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum gross weight from using the M48 Severn Bridge during a 'period of danger' from 27 May 2025 for up to 18 months. Applies when indicated by traffic signs; includes standard exemptions for emergency services, vehicles under police/traffic officer direction, and maintenance vehicles.

Safety regulations on critical infrastructure like the Severn Bridge serve legitimate public interest when addressing demonstrated dangers. This Order is temporary by design (maximum 18 months), limited to actual danger conditions, and includes reasonable exemptions for emergency and maintenance vehicles. Unlike economic regulations that distort markets, this addresses physical safety externalities on a bridge structure. The costs of diverting heavy goods vehicles are borne by operators during specific periods, not a permanent blanket prohibition.

Amends the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 to permit standard Category B licence holders to drive certain zero-emission vehicles exceeding the normal 3.5 tonne weight limit, including: heavy zero-emission cars (up to 5 tonnes), zero-emission vehicle-trailer combinations (up to 7 tonnes total), and zero-emission minibuses under strict conditions (21+ age, 2+ years holding licence, non-commercial social purposes only, no hire/reward). Also reduces the minimum driving age to 17 for zero-emission medium goods vehicles.

This regulation expands freedoms rather than restricting them. Deleting it would make Britons worse off by removing the ability to drive heavier zero-emission vehicles without obtaining additional licence categories. It encourages green technology adoption by reducing regulatory barriers, helps disabled passengers via heavier adapted vehicles, and enables community transport through voluntary sector minibus schemes. The permissive framework allows citizens to make their own choices about driving these vehicles for social purposes without mandating additional licensing costs or bureaucratic burdens.

These Regulations establish mandatory requirements for pig purchase contracts between business purchasers and qualifying sellers in the UK. They mandate contract forms (fixed-duration or evergreen), pricing mechanisms (fixed and/or variable), written terms covering quantity, delivery, force majeure, and termination. They create a complaint and enforcement regime overseen by the Secretary of State with powers to impose civil penalties (up to 1% of turnover) and compensation. The Regulations also amend the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 to add provisions for business purchasers with internal democratic structures.

This regulation violates fundamental principles of free contract by mandating the form, structure, and mandatory terms of private pig purchase agreements. It restricts parties' freedom to negotiate arrangements suited to their circumstances, imposes bureaucratic pricing procedures with third-party verification requirements, and creates costly enforcement machinery. The complaint and penalty regime (civil penalties up to 1% of turnover, Secretary of State investigations, First-Tier Tribunal appeals) adds significant compliance burden without evidence such intervention improves market outcomes. Price determination requirements with mandatory review procedures for 'exceptional market conditions' distort natural price signals. Like the Corn Laws such interventions claim to protect one party but ultimately reduce overall market efficiency, harm competitiveness, and suppress the dynamic free-trading position Britain historically held.

This Order amends the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and related secondary legislation to replace the term 'domestic violence' with 'domestic abuse' throughout legal aid regulations. It updates definitions to reflect the broader Domestic Abuse Act 2021 concept of domestic abuse (which encompasses controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological abuse alongside physical violence). The Order expands legal aid scope for immigration cases involving victims of domestic abuse under the new Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse route, and updates coverage for Domestic Abuse Protection Order proceedings under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

This Order is primarily a technical alignment exercise reflecting terminology changes already enacted in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (primary legislation). Deleting it would create inconsistency and confusion in legal aid law, potentially disrupting services for domestic abuse victims. The broader definition of 'domestic abuse' compared to 'domestic violence' actually captures more forms of harm (economic abuse, coercive control) that Parliament has already decided should qualify for legal aid. While legal aid schemes carry inherent market distortions, this Order merely executes policy decisions made through democratic primary legislation and does not itself expand regulatory burden—removing it would harm victims of domestic abuse seeking legal protection.