This House of Lords Library Briefing provides a background to the Galileo global navigation satellite system, which has been developed by the European Union.
Galileo Satellite System (202KB PDF)
Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) developed by the European Union and managed by the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency. According to the European Space Agency, Galileo will provide an accurate, global positioning service to be used by governments, citizens, military and industry, and will be fully operational in 2020.
On 24 May 2018, the Department for Exiting the European Union published a technical note detailing the UK’s participation in Galileo. In the note, the Government stated that it wanted to “continue participating” in Galileo, contending that an end to UK participation in the satellite system would be “to the detriment of Europe’s prosperity and security”, possibly resulting in “delays and additional costs to the programme”. The UK Government also stated that although it remains the UK’s “immediate preference” to collaborate on Galileo, it was also exploring alternatives, including the development of a domestic satellite system.
However, in June 2018, delegates to the European Space Agency approved the procurement of the next set of contracts for the satellite system, with the UK still excluded from bidding for them. In response, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, pledged to spend £92 million on scoping out an alternative to Galileo, as a contingency, if the 27 EU member states continued to not allow the UK to be involved in contract negotiations and security discussions during the creation of the satellite system. This process is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. In the event of a no deal Brexit, the Government has stated that the UK will “no longer play any part” in the development of Galileo.
Galileo Satellite System (202KB PDF)
The second reading of the Sporting Events Bill [HL] is due to take place in the House of Lords on 3 June 2026. The bill would establish a common legislative framework that could be applied to major sporting events in the UK. It would cover ticket touting, advertising and trading, unauthorised association and transport.
![Sporting Events Bill [HL]: HL Bill 3 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/camilocote-stadium-181457-568x320.jpg)
Since 2010, various sources have reported that funding for the arts has decreased creating challenges for organisations and individuals in the sector. This briefing examines how the arts are currently funded, what challenges the sector faces and what recent action the government has taken in this area. It also provides an overview of a recent independent review of the Arts Council England.
This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about culture, media and sport.
