Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the Cabinet Office Guide to making legislation to provide stronger guidance on the commencement of legislation, in particular the need to implement and commence all primary legislation; and whether they intend to provide guidance to departments on the need to keep uncommenced legislation under review.

The Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation is kept regularly under review, with the last update having been published on 10 September 2025. As highlighted in that version, commencement dates should be specified in the Act where possible and appropriate.

Royal Assent and Commencement is currently covered in Section F, Chapter 38 of the Guide. Cabinet Office will carefully consider any amendments to this guidance and the need for supplementary guidance to departments to regularly consider any uncommenced legislation.