These Are All The UK Laws That Changed In 2017 - From Smoking To Car Seats | PIP Law
2017 is a year of major change in terms of legislation.
This year has seen plenty of changes – some of which, we’re sure, you’ve probably already heard of.
Typically, it takes a while for laws to come into effect after the Government first announces them.
So don’t be alarmed if you already know these laws below.
But you should definitely be aware – and, if you didn’t know about them, you do now.
These are the laws it’s imperative you know about over the course of 2017 – and, more importantly, how they are set to impact your day-to-day life.
A rise to the minimum wage
From April, minimum wage workers will see a substantial boost to their pay.
At £7.50 an hour for over 25s, the rate will go up by 30p compared to last year.
There will be smaller increases for 18-20 and 21-24 year olds, to £5.60 and £7.05 respectively.
Pay could be going up even more over the next few years, as well.
Why?
Well, because the Government will look to follow through on its promises to move towards a national minimum wage of £9 per hour for over 25s by 2020.
Buying cigarettes will be a very different experience
In a bid to cut smoking, the way tobacco is sold is undergoing a significant change.
In May last year, retailers were given 12 months to phase out branded packaging.
They were also told to stop selling smaller packets of cigarettes and tobacco.
Packaging will now have to follow a drab green template.
Packets of 10 cigarettes and pouches of tobacco smaller than 30g, meanwhile, will be banned.
Child car seat alterations
At the moment, children weighing as little as 15kg (2st 4lbs) – that’s around three years old – can travel in backless booster seats.
But the new rules, due to be introduced in 2017, will only approve these seats for children taller than 125cm and weighing more than 22kg (3st 6.5lbs), which is roughly around the age of seven.
Booster seats are not recommended by experts including Which? or W H Watts & Son because they don’t offer protection in crashes.
You could be getting 30 hours free childcare a week
At the moment, all parents receive a contribution to the cost of nursery or childminder places equivalent to 15 free hours of care a week.
From September 2017, that will go up to 30 free hours for working parents of children aged three.
To be eligible, you’ll have to work more than 16 hours and week and earn less the £100,000.
This means parents who work 2 days a week or under are not eligible – although it looks like they will still receive the 15 hours free childcare that is currently available.
Child tax credit won’t be available for more than two children
Last year, Chancellor George Osbourne announced that families will no longer be able to receive financial help for more than two children.
If you already claim child tax credits for three or more kids, you’ll still be able to claim, but anyone who has a third child on or after April 6 2017 won’t get any more money to account for the extra child.
You might find it easier to get an apprenticeship
A new levy on big businesses to fund three million apprenticeships will come into force in April.
The new tax will raise £3billion a year from businesses with a salary bill of more than £3 million a year, so smaller companies won’t be hit.
The money raised will be given to businesses who will use it to offer apprenticeships and on-the-job training for over 16s, so it might be easier to get paid to learn a new skill this year.
Taxing your car could become more pricey
From April only 100 per cent electric cars will be exempt from road tax – bad news for anyone looking for a low-emission or diesel car, some of which currently avoid the tax.
Every other vehicle will be charged at a tiered first-year rate based on its CO2 emissions – this could be more expensive for some cars.
But after that, cars will be subject to a £140 flat fee for every year after that.
This means a big hike for people looking for small, fairly economical cars, who could be paying over £100 more a year, though almost everyone will be paying more.
But remember this only applies to new cars bough after April – if you already own a car, or will be buying one registered before April 2017, there will be no changes to how much you pay.
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