Lords ask government how it plans to regulate civil drone use

The EU Committee will ask the Minister whether the Government might consider using drones to assist them with law enforcement, as well as asking him about plans for engaging the public, tackling illegal drone use, and where responsibility should lie in protecting privacy, among other issues.

Robert Goodwill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, will answer questions from the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on the Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment Committee, at 4.15pm on Monday.

The questions he will face on Monday include: 

• Does the Government plan to consult with the public on drone use and guidelines?
• If so, when?
• Will the Government distinguish between commercial users and ‘hobby' users?
• Should drones be regulated according to their size or their potential risk to the public?
• Is the current law around misuse of drones working properly?
• Do we need to replace the legislation which currently relies on difficult-to-prove contraventions?
• Does the Government plan to employ drones to assist with law enforcement?
•  How does the Government monitor its own contractors' use of drones?
• Should regulation around privacy and data protection stay within the jurisdiction of each Member State?

The evidence session will start at 4.15pm on Monday 1 December in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.

The sessions will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and are also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.