Legislation update – October 2025

Consultations which opened in October 2025

DBT – Unlocking business: reform driven by you

 

This questionnaire asks businesses large and small to tell government about regulation which is not fit for purpose and unjustifiably inhibits growth, innovation and investment. Opened 21/10/2025 – closes 16/12/2025.

 

Scottish Government – Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Levels for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement

 

The Scottish Government are looking at setting up another meeting with the group in the near future to discuss the enforcement of the parking prohibitions and give everyone the chance to share their experiences so far. Opened 24/10/2025 – closes 30/01/2026.

 

DBT – Make Work Pay: enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers

 

The government is seeking views on enhancing workplace protections against dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers. Opened 23/10/2025 – closes 15/01/2026.

 

DBT – Make Work Pay: leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss

 

Department for Business and Trade are seeking views on the details of a new entitlement to bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.            Opened 23/10/2025 – closes 15/01/2026.

 

DBT – Make Work Pay: duty to inform workers of right to join a union

 

There’s a new duty on employers to inform workers of their right to join a trade union. This consultation is about how it should work in practice.     Opened 23/10/2025 – closes 18/12/2025.

 

DBT – Make Work Pay: trade union right of access

 

DBT are consulting on how the new legal framework for trade unions’ right of access into workplaces should work in practice. They are seeking views on the practical and operational details of the framework. Opened 23/10/2025 – closes 18/12/2025.

 

Environment Agency – Decarbonisation readiness: standard rules consultation 32

 

The Environment Agency want your views on their proposals to change standard rules permits to reflect the new decarbonisation readiness requirements. Opened 23/10/2025 – closes 18/12/2025.

 

DoE – Post-16 Level 3 and Below Pathways

 

The Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy set out their plans to introduce reformed qualifications pathways at level 2 and level 3, responding to the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s evidence analysis and developing recommendations. Opened 20/10/2025 – closes 12/01/2026.

 

DoE – Temporary Shortage List review: Stage 2

 

We invite government sector leads and organisations to provide evidence on workforce shortages and initiatives to maximise the domestic workforce. Opened 21/10/2025 – closes 02/02/2026.

 

UK Parliament – Call for Evidence – Committees

 

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is required under the Climate Change Act 2008 to provide advice on the level of the UK’s carbon budgets. Carbon budgets set a cap on the total greenhouse gas emissions the UK can emit over a five-year period and are a key mechanism for ensuring progress towards net zero.  Opened 20/10/2025 – closed 04/11/2025.

 

HSE – Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulation (LOLER) Call for Evidence

 

This call for evidence aims to gather information and evidence that the HSE will use to:

• Help identify and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens to save businesses time and money without compromising safety.
• Understand and identify whether the current application of the regulations reflects technological advances.

 

Opened 01/10/2025 – closes 11/11/2025.

 

HSE – Pressure Safety Systems Regulations (PSSR) Call for Evidence

 

This call for evidence aims to gather information and evidence that the HSE will use to:

 

• Help identify and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens to save businesses time and money without compromising safety.
• Understand and identify whether the current application of the regulations reflects technological advances.

 

Opened 01/10/2025, Closes 11/11/2025.

 

Consultations which closed in October 2025

 

Transport Committee – Joined-up journeys

The inquiry sought to investigate how the Government can achieve, and measure the benefits of, better integration between transport services throughout the country. It looked at how people can make better and more informed journey choices by positively choosing between, and combining, different forms of transport depending on their needs. Opened 24/07/2025 – closed 16/10/2025.

 

Scottish Government – Northern Isles Ferry Services 4

This public consultation provided an important opportunity for stakeholders – from local authorities, community representatives, and operators, to individual passengers and freight customers – to help Scottish Government define what the future service should look like. Opened 22/07/2025 – closed 13/10/2025.

 

NESO – Transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (tRESP) Consultation | National Energy System Operator

The National Energy System Operator were seeking feedback on:

 

• Contexts for the nations and regions.
• Pathways and consistent planning assumptions.
• Strategic investment need.

 

Opened 23/09/2025 – closed 03/10/2025.

 

 

Announcements, October 2025

 

30/10/2025 – DfT – Statistics at DfT

Browse, search and learn about official statistics releases relating to the transport system across the United Kingdom.

 

30/10/2025 – DfT – Transport hazard summaries

Provides information about hazards that can impact UK transport.

 

30/10/2025 – DfT – FUSION project: multimodal transport user data

This research provides insights into multimodal journeys, passenger choices and the impact of disruption on travel.

 

30/10/2025 – DfT – Transport hazard summary: air quality and pollution

Provides information about air quality and pollution risks to UK transport industry.

 

30/10/2025 – DVSA – Commercial vehicle testing data for Great Britain

Updated to include data for January to March 2025 and April to June 2025.

 

29/10/2025 – DESNZ – Carbon budget and growth delivery plan, 2025

The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan sets out how the government meets its statutory carbon budgets and secures the benefits of this transition for people and businesses.

 

29/10/2025 – DESNZ – UK methane action plan

A report outlining the actions the UK government is taking to reduce methane emissions in the UK and globally.

 

23/10/2025 – DVSA – MOT tester eligibility: acceptable qualifications

Qualifications or accreditations that are accepted if you want to qualify to become an MOT tester for cars, private buses and light commercial vehicles.

 

22/10/2025 – DfT – The Highway Code

Updated traffic signs for buses and cycles only and trams only. There is no longer the need for a plate with the word ‘only’ beneath the sign.

 

22/10/2025 – DfT – Heathrow expansion: next steps for promoters

Outlines next stage of Heathrow expansion plans, including what Heathrow Airport Limited and the Arora Group/Heathrow West Limited need to do as promoters of expansion proposals still under consideration.

 

22/10/2025 – DfT – Road freight travel time: response to the peer review

Provides a response to the review of understanding and valuing road freight travel time.

 

22/10/2025 – DfT – Peer review: freight value of time and value of reliability

Provides a review of understanding and valuing road freight travel time.

 

22/10/2025 – DfT – Understanding and valuing road freight travel time

Research that aims to estimate new road freight values of travel time.

 

20/10/2025 – DfT – Dangerous goods safety advisers review

Analysis of a call for evidence to find out how government can better support the dangerous goods sector.

 

14/10/2025 – Brexit – Maps of UK Freeports

The map of Anglesey Freeport dated 20 March 2025 replaces the previous map of Anglesey Freeport dated 13 November 2024.

 

06/10/2025 – DfT – First inspection deferral for new dangerous goods vehicles entering into service

Allows new tank vehicles to enter into service and be used on roads without an ADR1(C) certificate (authorisation 476). Authorisation extended to 31 August 2026.

 

03/10/2025 – DVSA – MOT special notice 04-25: changes to jacking equipment specifications for class 4 MOT test bays from 1 April 2026

DVSA is introducing new jacking equipment specifications for class 4 MOT test centres from 1 April 2026.

 

01/10/2025 – Active MOT test stations

Updated the list of active MOT test stations.