Articles Published 15th April 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026 enforce a temporary prohibition on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined area of the Firth of Forth, commencing at 0100 hours UTC on April 19, 2026, and ending at 2300 hours UTC on April 24, 2026, specifically to accommodate the necessary operations of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier, with exemptions provided for authorized military, police, fire/rescue, or coastguard activities.
These Regulations, enacted in April 2026, significantly amend the Contracts for Difference (CfD) legislative framework—specifically the Allocation, General, and Standard Terms Regulations 2014—to introduce new flexibilities concerning Sustainable Industry Rewards (SIR).
Key changes involve allowing the Secretary of State to define specific budget allocations (minima, maxima, and flexible pools) for SIR applications, changing the time limits for certain allocation processes, defining what constitutes met or unmet pre-award financial minimum standards, and establishing procedures for updating sustainable industry reward statements after contract notifications.
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Elected Member Pensions) (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2026
The Armed Forces Act 2021 primarily amends and updates the law governing the discipline, administration, and justice system of the UK Armed Forces, focusing on procedural efficiency, clarification of powers relating to service offences, modifications to administrative processes like discharge, and refining sentencing and jurisdiction within the service courts.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Leicestershire) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Leicestershire) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026 immediately terminate the emergency flight restrictions previously imposed over a specified area in Leicestershire, as the Secretary of State has determined that these restrictions are no longer necessary in the public interest.
These Regulations legally revoke the earlier 2026 instrument that established the restrictions, exercised under the powers granted by the Air Navigation Order 2016, and come into force instantly upon being made.