Latest legislation updates from March

The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
Full Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/365/made

Description:
These Regulations amend regulation 13 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) to ensure that workers for whom it is not reasonably practicable to take holiday due to the coronavirus situation can carry their holiday into the following two leave years.

This will protect workers by ensuring they do not risk losing their holiday entitlement, whilst ensuring that businesses have the flexibility and the staff needed to respond to the coronavirus situation.

The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement) Regulations 2020
Full Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/66/made

Description:
The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 (“the Act”) received Royal Assent on 31 October 2019. Sections 30 to 33 are already in force and these Regulations bring into force the remaining provisions of the Act on 23 March 2020.

The Scottish Landfill Tax (Standard Rate and Lower Rate) Order 2020
Full Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/65/made

Description:
This Order specifies the standard rate and lower rate for Scottish landfill tax for disposals on or after 1 April 2020. The standard rate is £94.15 and the lower rate is £3.00. Tax is to be calculated by reference to the weight and types of material disposed of, as provided for in section 13 of the Landfill Tax (Scotland) Act 2014.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 2) (England) Order 2020
Full Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/245/made

Description:
This Order amends Part I of Schedule 2 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which lists birds that may be killed or taken outside the close season, meaning to do so would not be an offence under section 1 of that Act. The list currently includes the White-fronted Goose (in England and Wales only).

Article 2 excludes the Greenland White-fronted Goose from Part I of Schedule 2 in England, meaning that this sub-species can no longer be killed or taken outside the close season.

The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2020
Full Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/324/made

Description:
This Order amends the Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/776).

Article 3 amends the list of “excluded bags” so that the obligation to charge for a single use carrier bag does not apply to bags intended to be used solely to carry goods purchased for home delivery as part of an online grocery delivery service. Such bags would be excluded from the obligation to charge from 21st March to 21st September 2020 only.