Health and Social Care Legislation
Regulations governing the NHS, healthcare provision, social care services, public health measures, and medical standards.
The Health and Social Care Information Standards (Procedure) Regulations 2025
These regulations establish procedures for creating and publishing information standards in England and Wales under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
The responsible authority (the Secretary of State, NHS England, or both) must follow specified steps, including seeking expert advice, involving relevant individuals, and including specific details in published standards.
The regulations also address the maintenance and publication of a list of information standards and procedures for review and revocation.
The Legislative Reform (Disclosure of Adult Social Care Data) Order 2025
The Legislative Reform (Disclosure of Adult Social Care Data) Order 2025 amends the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004.
The amendment allows for the sharing of matched adult social care data with local authorities in England and Wales to improve fraud detection, recover lost funds, and streamline administration.
The Order was made under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 and received parliamentary approval.
The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective January 21, 2026, amend UK law to restrict the use of 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone/Oxybenzone (Oxybenzone) in cosmetic products due to potential health concerns.
The regulations specify different maximum concentrations depending on the product type and incorporate a transition period until July 21, 2026, for products already on the market.
The changes are based on scientific advice and aim to ensure public health and safety while providing a transition period for businesses.
The Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (Amendment) and Grenfell Support (Restorative Justice) Programme (Income Tax Exemption) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme to expand its eligibility criteria for compensation, encompassing convictions quashed by courts or legislation, cautions, and alternative-to-prosecution outcomes related to the Horizon system.
The amendments also provide income tax exemptions for payments made under the Grenfell Support (Restorative Justice) programme to victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Both changes have retrospective application.
The Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2025
The Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2025 amend four existing pieces of legislation: the Local Authority Targets (Well-Being of Young Children) Regulations 2007, the Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development Requirements) Order 2007, the Childcare (Provision of Information About Young Children) (England) Regulations 2009, and the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012.
Key changes include updating references to assessment scales, incorporating revised versions of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory frameworks, and introducing the Experience-Based Route (EBR) for early years practitioners.
The amendments aim to improve data collection, strengthen safeguarding, and streamline the regulatory framework for childcare in England.
The Child Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025
The Child Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025, effective September 1st, 2025, modify the Child Benefit (General) Regulations 2006.
Key changes include amending the definition of "full-time education" to remove the specific exception for those with illnesses or disabilities, focusing instead on the actual hours of study.
Consequential amendments to the education and training condition for eligibility have also been made, simplifying the criteria and removing outdated provisions related to types of education delivery.
This simplifies eligibility, improves clarity, and addresses accessibility concerns for disabled students.
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2006 establishment order.
It removes outdated definitions, simplifies the trust's stated functions to providing health service goods and services, increases the number of non-executive directors to six, and removes the operational date specification.
The changes aim to streamline the trust's governance and operations while conforming to current NHS standards.
The order took effect on July 1, 2025.
The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, specifying which public authorities can access communications data and for what reasons.
The changes add several new authorities, like the Department for Business and Trade and the Security Industry Authority, while others, such as some ambulance services, lose this power.
The amendments also fine-tune access for existing authorities, such as the Department for Transport, by limiting access depending on the specific agency within the department.
These alterations are intended to improve the targeting of investigations while maintaining safeguards against misuse.