Foreign Policy Legislation

Legislative framework for international relations, diplomatic affairs, treaties, and overseas development assistance.

The Nuclear Installations (Compensation for Nuclear Damage) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Nuclear Installations (Compensation for Nuclear Damage) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 to implement the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).

The amendments remove a lower liability cap for claims under the CSC, unifying the liability limit with the one applied under the Paris Convention.

This increase in potential compensation is aimed at better protecting victims of nuclear incidents while aligning UK law with international standards.

Consequential changes across several sections of the 1965 Act ensure consistency and functionality in managing compensation claims.

Read More

The OTC Derivatives Risk Mitigation and Central Counterparties (Equivalence) (Switzerland) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 21st Jul 25

The OTC Derivatives Risk Mitigation and Central Counterparties (Equivalence) (Switzerland) Regulations 2025, effective January 1, 2026, establish equivalence between the UK and Swiss regulatory frameworks for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and central counterparties (CCPs).

These regulations determine that under specified conditions, Switzerland's legal, supervisory, and enforcement systems are equivalent to the UK's under EMIR, specifically concerning risk mitigation techniques for uncleared OTC derivatives and the oversight of Swiss-authorized CCPs.

These equivalencies are subject to conditions detailed within the regulations, ensuring compliance with UK standards for initial and variation margin requirements, among other stipulations.

Read More

The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) and Persons Subject to Immigration Control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

These regulations amend existing UK legislation to ensure that British nationals returning from government-advised evacuations are eligible for housing and homelessness assistance in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The amendments waive the habitual residence test for a six-month period following evacuation, allowing immediate access to housing for those who meet specific criteria defined by the regulations.

These criteria include possessing leave to enter or remain in the UK, not being subject to a 'no recourse to public funds' condition, and not being sponsored under certain visa schemes

Read More

The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend several EU regulations concerning civil aviation safety.

Key changes include modifications to pilot licensing (specifically the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence), training requirements for pilots and organizations, and air operations, particularly concerning cost-shared flights.

The regulations also introduce a new balloon pilot license structure and clarify the roles and requirements for flight instructors and examiners.

Several corrections to previous regulations are also included.

Read More

The Asian Development Bank (Thirteenth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 2025

The Asian Development Bank (Thirteenth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 2025 authorizes a maximum £120 million UK contribution to the Asian Development Fund's thirteenth replenishment.

This payment is made in accordance with agreements between the UK government and the bank, as outlined in Resolution No. 427.

The order also allows for the redemption of non-interest-bearing notes issued by the Secretary of State related to this contribution.

The order received parliamentary approval and was made under the International Development Act 2002.

Read More

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Suitability for Fixed Term Recall) Order 2025

This Order modifies the Criminal Justice Act 2003, changing the conditions for automatic release of recalled prisoners in England and Wales.

It introduces stricter criteria, including a new schedule of offenses that disqualify prisoners from automatic release after 28 days (or 14 days for sentences less than 12 months).

The revised criteria consider factors such as age, sentence length, offense type, terrorist-related activity, and multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) levels.

The amendments aim to improve public safety by retaining those deemed a higher risk in custody for extended periods.

Read More

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2025

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2025 approves a payment of up to 106,000,000 USD to the Inter-American Investment Corporation.

This payment is to support the corporation's increased authorized capital stock, following the adoption of a new business model and capitalization plan (Resolution CII/AG-5/24).

The order also covers associated payments and ensures that the value of the initial payment is maintained.

The Secretary of State is authorized to make the payment and the Treasury approved the order.

Read More

The Driving Licences (Exchangeable Licences) Order 2025

This Order, effective July 31, 2025, designates the Republic of Moldova's driving licenses as exchangeable with UK licenses under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The order specifies that exchangeable Moldovan licenses authorize driving category B vehicles and details conditions regarding automatic transmission.

It extends to England, Wales, and Scotland, and includes a Schedule listing other countries with exchangeable licenses.

The order allows for smoother transitions for drivers and simplifies administrative processes, relying on pre-existing legal frameworks.

Read More