Acts of Parliament
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Laws of the Land

Bills that have received Royal Assent. The Acts that govern the country, ordered by most recent.

691 Acts on the statute book

241-260 of 691 · page 13 of 35

Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act 2020

[As Introduced]
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This Act allows the UK government to create laws based on international agreements about how to handle legal cases involving multiple countries. It aims to make the process clearer when British people or businesses have disputes with people or companies abroad, and vice versa.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 23 April 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 324-175
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

City of London (Various Powers) 2013

[As Introduced]
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This Act gives the City of London Corporation (the local government body for the Square Mile financial district) additional legal powers to manage its own affairs. These powers cover various practical matters like maintaining infrastructure and delivering local services more independently.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 9 April 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Canterbury City Council Act 2013

[As Introduced]
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This Act gives Canterbury City Council specific legal powers to govern and provide services in the Canterbury area. It's a local law that sets out what the council can do and how it should operate to serve its community.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 9 April 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020

[As Introduced]
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This Act makes it easier for struggling UK companies to reorganise their finances and avoid going into insolvency (bankruptcy). It introduced new tools like allowing businesses more time to negotiate with creditors and introduced measures to protect company directors during financial difficulties.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 23 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 353-0
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Defamation Act

[As Introduced]
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The Defamation Act is a law that protects people from having lies told about them publicly. If someone spreads false statements that damage your reputation (in newspapers, online, or elsewhere), you can take them to court and ask for money as compensation.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 18 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Academies Act 2010

[As Introduced]
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The Academies Act 2010 allows schools to become 'academies' schools run independently from local councils but still funded by the government. These schools have more freedom to make their own decisions about what they teach, how they spend money, and who they employ, instead of following council rules.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 18 March 2021.
87% Aye · 13% No · 60 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Contingencies Fund Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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The Act allows the government to use the Contingencies Fund (emergency money set aside for unexpected situations) more flexibly during crises. It's designed to let the UK respond quickly to emergencies, but Parliament can review and question how the money was spent afterwards.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 16 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 267-360
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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This Act reforms how councils value nondomestic (business) properties for tax purposes in England. It updates the rules for creating and maintaining the lists used to calculate business rates, aiming to make the system more modern, accurate, and efficient.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 16 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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This Act makes it simpler for telecoms companies to install broadband and phone infrastructure (cables and equipment) in leasehold properties (flats and shared buildings) without needing permission from every single leaseholder. It speeds up getting highspeed internet to more people, but gives property owners less control over their buildings.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 16 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 365-264
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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BILL
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This Act allows the UK government to spend money in advance and make adjustments to its budget before Parliament formally approves the full spending plans. It's a temporary measure to keep public services running smoothly during the gap between one financial year ending and the next budget being confirmed.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 16 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020

[As Introduced]
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BILL
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This Act changes UK immigration and benefits rules after Brexit. It ends free movement from the EU, introduces a new pointsbased immigration system, and adjusts social security rules so they no longer follow EU law. Essentially, the UK now makes its own immigration decisions rather than sharing this power with Europe.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 12 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 333-264
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Trade (Disclosure of Information) Act 2020

[As Introduced]
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This Act sets rules about when and how the government can release information about trade agreements and negotiations. It aims to balance keeping the public informed about important trade deals while protecting sensitive business information that could be harmful if made public.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 4 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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BILL
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This Act changes how new medicines and medical devices are approved and regulated in the UK. It relaxes some of the strict rules that were previously required, allowing faster approval for treatments while trying to maintain safety standards.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 4 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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This Act provides maternity allowances (paid time off) specifically for MPs, government ministers, and certain other public officials. It ensures these women can take time off to have babies without losing their income, similar to maternity benefits available to other workers in the UK.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 4 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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BILL
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This Act allows undercover police officers and intelligence agents to commit certain crimes (like theft or assault) while working undercover to investigate serious criminals. It sets out rules for when they're allowed to do this and who has to approve it, aiming to balance catching criminals with protecting the public.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 2 March 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 16 votesParliament: 313-98
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Parliament (Joint Departments) Act 2007

[As Introduced]
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This Act allows Parliament to combine two or more government departments that normally operate separately, so they can work as one unified department instead. The goal is to improve how government functions by having related services share resources and coordinate their work more effectively.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 22 February 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006

[As Introduced]
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This Act puts into law the St Andrews Agreement, which was a deal made to fix Northern Ireland's government after violence and political breakdown. It sets out how politicians from different backgrounds must work together to run Northern Ireland's government fairly and peacefully.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 22 February 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Higher Education and Research Act 2017

[As Introduced]
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This Act reformed how universities and research organizations in England operate and receive funding. It created a new regulator called the Office for Students to oversee universities, changed how research funding works, and gave universities more control over their own affairs while introducing new accountability measures.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 22 February 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 279-214
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Welfare Reform Act 2007

[As Introduced]
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The Welfare Reform Act 2007 changed how the UK welfare system works by placing more emphasis on helping people find employment rather than just providing longterm benefits. It introduced new requirements for people receiving benefits and created support programs to help them train and get jobs.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 22 February 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votes
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons

Pension Schemes Act 2021

[As Introduced]
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BILL
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This Act tightens the rules around how pension schemes in the UK must operate and protect people's retirement savings. It gives regulators more power to oversee pensions, requires better management of pension funds, and aims to prevent savers from losing money through poor decisions or mismanagement.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 12 February 2021.
100% Aye · 0% No · 15 votesParliament: 256-356
© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2026
Published by the Authority of the House of Commons