There will be a bunch of new laws coming to the UK in April, from new taxes to changes to minimum wage. Some are to help create a more eco-friendly environment and others are to increase living quality.
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Plastic package tax
One of the first new taxes being introduced to the UK is the ‘plastic package tax’. This tax will start on April 1 and will apply to all plastic packaging manufactured in the UK or imported to the UK that doesn’t contain at least 30% of recycled plastic.
According to the government, this new tax is to:
Provide a clear economic incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging
Increase in car tax
Soon the tax you pay on your car will depend on how old your car is as well as how environmentally friendly it is. For example, vehicles producing between 226g and 255g per km travelled will see increases from £1,910 to £2,015, whereas those producing between 76g and 90g of CO2 emissions per km will pay £120 in their first year.
However, zero-emission vehicles, such as electric cars, will pay £0 for the first year on the road.
Divorce rules
Starting from April 6, a ‘no fault’ divorce law will be put in place. This means that couples that wish to get divorced will no longer have to prove that their partner is to blame for the divorce.
Previously, those wanting to get divorced from their partner had to prove to the court that their marriage had failed to a point of no return due to an action done by the partner. The action had to qualify as one of the following three: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or desertion.
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Increase in the minimum wage
Starting from April 1, those on minimum wage will see an increase in their pay. Employees aged 23 and above will legally be paid £9.50 an hour, which is an increase of 6.6%. Employees aged 16 and 17-years-old at least £4.81 an hour, while 18-20 year-olds will get £6.83 and 21 to 22 year-olds will be paid £9.18.
Limited use of red diesel
Continuing towards a more environmentally friendly world, red diesel and rebated biofuels will be illegal for most vehicles starting from April. Red diesel is mainly used for off-road vehicles such as tractors, bulldozers and cranes. It is also used to power drills for oil extraction.
