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Welsh Language and Education Act 2025 Commencement Order

The Welsh Ministers have issued the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional and Transitory Provision) Order 2026. This order brings various provisions of the 2025 Act into force on April 1, 2026, and August 1, 2027, relating to Welsh language speakers, standards, education, and a national framework.

Northern Ireland Small Business Rate Relief Extended

The Department of Finance in Northern Ireland has amended the Rates (Small Business Hereditament Relief) Regulations 2010. This amendment extends the small business rate relief scheme by substituting the end of the qualifying year from April 1, 2026, to April 1, 2027.

Social Security and Statutory Maternity Pay (Evidence of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Department for Communities has amended the Social Security and Statutory Maternity Pay (Evidence of Pregnancy) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, effective April 1, 2026. These amendments remove the requirement for maternity certificates to be completed in ink or other indelible substance, allowing for non-original copies to be submitted as evidence.

Appointment of Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills Order 2026

The UK Privy Council has issued the Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills Order 2026, appointing individuals to these inspector roles. The order, made on March 10, 2026, and effective March 11, 2026, lists the names of the newly appointed inspectors.

ADR Regulations Conferring Functions on CTSI under 2024 Act

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Conferral of Functions) Regulations 2026. These regulations, effective April 6, 2026, confer specific functions related to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approval, accreditation, and enforcement onto the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

UK Paternity Leave Rules Amended for Overseas Adoptions

The UK government has issued the Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80B to Adoptions from Overseas) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, amending rules regarding paternity leave for overseas adoptions. These regulations come into force on March 10, 2026.

Early Removal of Prisoners (Scotland) Order 2026

The Scottish Ministers have amended the Early Removal of Prisoners from the United Kingdom Order. The period for early removal of certain prisoners before their release date has been increased from 180 to 210 days, and the minimum sentence served before removal has been reduced from one-quarter to 15%.

Seafarers' Wages Amendment Regulations 2026 Increases Rates

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026, amending the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024. These amendments increase the hourly rates for the national minimum wage equivalent for seafarers, with the new rates coming into effect on April 1, 2026.

National Savings (Amendment) Regulations 2026

The UK Treasury has issued the National Savings (Amendment) Regulations 2026, effective April 6th, 2026. These amendments modify the National Savings Regulations 2015 concerning deposits to individual savings accounts.

Non-Domestic Rating Hereditament Amendment Regulations 2026 Correction

The UK Treasury has issued the Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, effective April 1, 2026. This instrument corrects an error in a previous regulation by removing marinas, wharves, piers, and jetties from the list of excluded purposes for qualifying hereditaments.