Key changes in UK legislation since 1992

As we reflect on 30 years of BPP Law School, Jonny Hurst, Senior Lecturer, Head of Outreach and Law Marketing Lead, takes us through 30 years of key changes in UK legislation.

Further and Higher Education Act 1992

Allowed 25 polytechnics to become universities.
Area of law: Education Law

National Lottery etc. Act 1993

Legislation enabling the introduction of the National Lottery.
Area of law: Gaming Law

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Restricted unlicensed raves and introduced greater penalties for anti-social behaviour.
Area of law: Criminal Law

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

The UK’s first legislation against the discrimination of disabled people.
Area of law: Employment Law, Human Rights Law

Employment Rights Act 1996

Covers a wide range of employment rights such as unfair dismissal, redundancy payments and zero-hour contracts.
Area of law: Employment Law

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Created the offence of stalking.
Area of law: Criminal Law

National Minimum Wage Act 1998

Created a national minimum wage for the first time. This started at £3.60 per hour on 1 April 1999 for those aged 22+ and £3 for those aged 18-21. As of 1 April 2022, it’s £9.50 per hour for those aged 23+.
Area of law: Employment Law

House of Lords Act 1999

An Act to make the House of Lords more democratic by starting to phase out hereditary peers.
Area of law: Constitutional Law

Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2008

Changed the age of consent to the age of 16 for homosexual people, to bring it in line with the age of consent for heterosexual people.
Area of law: Criminal law

Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001

Legislation introduced post 9/11 to enable the Home Secretary to order the indefinite detention of suspected foreign terrorists.
Area of law: Human Rights Law, Criminal Law

Adoption and Children Act 2002

Enabled unmarried couples to adopt children.
Area of law: Family Law

The Road Vehicles (Constructions and Use) (Amendment No.4) Regulations 2003

Created the offence of using a mobile phone while driving.
Area of law: Criminal Law

Civil Partnership Act 2004

Enabled same-sex couples to register as civil partners, giving them similar (but not identical) rights and obligations as married did for mixed-sex couples.
Area of law: Family Law

Constitutional Reform Act 2005

Created the Supreme Court, replacing the House of Lords as an appellate jurisdiction.
Area of law: Constitutional Law

Companies Act 2006

Legislation which simplified and modernised the law relating to companies.
Area of law: Company Law

Legal Services Act 2007

Legislation which significantly reformed the legal landscape and liberalised the delivery of legal services.
Area of law: Regulation

Climate Change Act 2008

A commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels of 1990 by 2050.
Area of law: Environmental Law

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009

Legislation to deter money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Area of law: Criminal Law

Equality Act 2010

Legislation against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, or belief.
Area of law: Employment Law, Human Rights Law

Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011

Reduced the ability for serving government to call a general election at their discretion = i.e., when politically expedient for them.
Area of law: Constitutional Law

Welfare Reform Act 2012

Radically reformed the benefits system and introduced Universal Credit.
Area of law: Welfare Law

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

Introduced same-sex marriages in England and Wales.
Area of law: Family Law

Pensions Act 2014

Significantly reformed pensions law.
Area of law: Pensions Law

Consumer Rights Act 2015

Consolidated existing consumer protection laws and introduced new rights and remedies, e.g., in respect of digital content.
Area of law: Consumer Law

General Data Protection Regulations 2016

Essential legislation introduced to protect personal data and privacy.
Area of law: Privacy Law, IT Law

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Law 2017

Following the Brexit referendum in 2016, the Prime Minister invoked Article 50, paving the way for Brexit to be implemented.
Area of law: EU Law

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Known as the ‘Great Repeal Act’, this legislation marked the start of the formal legal disengagement from EU Law by the UK.
Area of law: EU Law

Tenant Fees Act 2019

Banned certain fees and penalties charged by letting agents and landlords.
Area of law: Real Estate Law

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) England Regulations 2020

First lockdown regulations during the pandemic.
Area of law: Criminal Law

Domestic Abuse Act 2021

Established a Domestic Abuse Commissioner, prohibited in-person cross examination in certain family or civil cases.
Area of law: Family Law

The Social Security (Habitual Residence) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Part of the UK’s response to support UK nationals, Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian family members who wish to return or come to the UK.