Changes to UK law have meant that significant sections of the study materials for the Home Office’s Life in the UK Test are out of date. But what will you be tested on: the latest legislation or what it says in the book?

The study materials are essential reading for anyone wanting to live permanently in the UK or apply for British citizenship. The study materials cover topics on UK history, demographics, customs, law and government.

New & changing laws
It has now been six months since the Home Office released an updated edition of the study materials. Despite this update, the following high profile law changes took effect after the new edition was published.

• National minimum wage increased
  
• Minimum age for purchasing tobacco products raised to 18
  
• Home Information Packs introduced
  
• Smoking banned in enclosed public spaces
  
• Changes in maternity rights for would-be mothers
  
• Charges for prescriptions abolished in Wales

The dynamic nature of the topics being tested means the study materials will inevitably become out of date. However, the Home Office are unlikely to rush out an updated edition of the study materials for at least another year. It took the Home Office 18 months to publish the current second edition.

The official advice Learn the facts and laws as they appear in the current study materials Do not answer test questions using newer information that you have obtained from other sources You are unlikely to be tested on study materials that are out of date or inaccurate. Such questions are likely to be withdrawn.

Advice
So what should test candidates do when some parts of the study materials are clearly out of date?

The official advice from the ‘Life in the UK Advice Service’ is that test candidates should only refer to the Home Office materials and should not learn the up-to-the-minute facts or changes to legalisation.

Since the test is based on the official study materials it would be unwise to try to answer questions using other sources – despite the fact that they may be more accurate.

In the past, the Home Office has withdrawn questions based on study topics that are either out of date or inaccurate.

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Factbox: UK law changes not covered in the Life in the UK Test

National minimum wage
Minimum wage rates according to the official materials:

• for workers aged 22 and above - £5.35 an hour
  
• for 18–21 years old - £4.45 an hour
  
• for 16–17 years old - £3.30 an hour.

New minimum wage rates from 1 October 2007

• For workers aged 22 and above - £5.52 an hour
  
• For 18-21 years old - £4.60 an hour
  
• For 16-17 years old - £3.40 an hour

Increase in minimum age for purchasing tobacco products
The official study materials state that it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 16 years of age.
On 1 October 2007 the mimimum age for purchasing tobacco products was raised to 18 years of age.

Buying a home
Home Information Packs were introduced on 1 August 2007 and are now a key part of buying a home. However they are not mentioned in the study materials.

Smoking ban
The current study materials state that “In some areas, smoking in public buildings and work environments is not allowed.”
However from 1 July 2007, smoking was banned in virtually all enclosed public places.

Prescription charges
According to the current study materials, if you are over 25 and live in Wales you have to pay prescription charges. However, from 1 April 2007, the Welsh Assembly abolished prescription charges for everyone in Wales.

Maternity leave
The current study materials state that mothers-to-be are entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave (with an extra 26 weeks if you meet certain conditions).
However from 1 April 2007, statutory maternity leave was increased to 52 weeks for all mothers-to-be.