This House of Lords Library briefing considers the increasing use of civilian drones and the regulations governing their use.
Civilian Drones (86 KB , PDF)
The use of civilian drones has increased significantly in recent years, and this has raised a number of concerns over their usage. For example, there have been reports of near-misses between aircraft and drones, while some commentators have noted the privacy implications of drones fitted with cameras. In addition, it has also been suggested that drones could potentially be used by groups hostile to the United Kingdom. Further, this In Focus considers the existing regulatory regime governing their use, and recent regulatory developments at the national and EU level.
Civilian Drones (86 KB , PDF)
The Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill is a two-clause government bill that would authorise the government to provide loans and other financial assistance to Ukraine resulting from the extraordinary revenue acceleration (ERA) loans agreement made at the meeting of the G7 and the EU in June 2024. It has been designated as a money bill and it completed its House of Commons stages on 18 December 2024 with broad cross-party support.
A rules-based international order is typically used to refer to the system of political, legal, and economic rules which have arguably governed international relations since the second world war. It has been a long-established concept in UK foreign affairs doctrine. However, in recent years, many commentators suggest that a growing strain has been placed upon this system and that a new commitment to global stability and security is required.
The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill is a government bill scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 January 2025. It is intended to make it easier for local transport authorities to franchise bus services in their area. It also includes measures on bus data, enforcement powers, accessibility of bus stops, safeguarding checks and training for bus drivers and zero-emissions buses.
![Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 54 of 2024–25](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Energy-568x426.png)