House of Lords
Parliament

The problems in Northern Ireland are not as solved, as people in England often assume it to be argues, Lib Dem Baroness Randerson. 

She adds that the symbolism of returning border posts would be hugely damaging.

She notes suggestions that there could be electronic checks at the border - "that would be deeply distrusted", she argues.

Another alternative, she says, is to give Northern Ireland special status in the EU and moving the border so that it lies between NI and Wales.

She suggests that that would have a "major adverse" effect on trade.

"None of those options are anything like ideal." 

House of Commons
Parliament

Neil Parish, the chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, launches the debate of the future of flooding prevention by saying flood defences are "a vital part" of the country's infrastructure.

He says that "flooding is one of these issues you rarely consider until it happens" and warns the government that "it can be tempting to disregard flood defences when the weather is dry and budgets tight."

The debate will go into specifics of different flood prevention methods as outlined by the select committee. 

Reality Check

Image source, Getty Images

Theresa May has visited Northern Ireland for the first time since taking over as prime minister.

As home secretary campaigning to stay in the European Union, she described it as "inconceivable" that Brexit would not lead to changes to the border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

It is important because once the UK leaves, it will be the only land border between the UK and the European Union.

Read more here.

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Howell of Guildford agrees with Lord Trimble that the amendement is not needed adding that the common travel area has been there since 1923.

He argues that a practical solution is perfectly possible and can be reached through goodwill on all sides.

House of Commons
Parliament

We now come to a debate on flood prevention budgets. It's an Estimates Day debate.

The House of Commons sets aside three ‘Estimates Days’ each year on which MPs can consider and debate the estimates of public spending by government departments.

The topic of debate is chosen by the Liason Committee. It is usually the subject of a recent report by a departmental select committee, which in turn relates to a particular estimate.  

So today, the estimates relate to a series of reports by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on future flood prevention; and reports by the Health Committee on social care. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative peer and former first minister of Northern Ireland Lord Trimble calls the amendment "unnecessary" arguing that the prime minister already supports the open border at Northern Ireland.

It's in the white paper, he says.

If there is a serious problem, he says, it is related to the implementation of tariffs and smuggling.

However, he adds that this will mainly represent difficulties for the Irish government "rather than ourselves".

He also objects to Lord Hain's assertion that open borders was included in the Good Friday Agreement - "that is not correct", he says.

"It is the equivalent of shroud waving."

House of Commons
Parliament

A point of order by Conservative Philip Davies asks the Speaker to clarify that he had not blocked a private member's bill on Friday, which was proposed by Labour's Anna Turley. 

On Friday, Mr Davies spoke for 90 minutes during a debate on a bill aiming to encourage the government to ratify the Istanbul Convention, to combat violence against women and domestic violence. 

There was not enough time to discuss a number of bills - including Ms Turley's on animal welfare.

Mr Davies argues that it would have been unsual for her bill to have been discussed, as it was eighth on the order list and that her comments had led to social media abuse of him and his staff.

Miss Turley says that any abuse of MPs was wrong, but maintains that he had prevented other business being discussed, if not hers. 

The Speaker responds that Mr Davies was not out of order and had broken no rules by speaking as long as he did. 

Some have accused Mr Davies of 'filibustering' on Friday. There has been plenty of debate about private members' bills -  one such examination from Isabel Hardman in the Spectator was written last year , external .

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Philip Hollobone asks how "such a large amount of public records had effectively disappeared" and was not noticed.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says "he wish he could give an answer to that question". He acknowledges that it is "completely extraordinary." 

He says it has raised questions on the reliance of paper records over digital records, the latter of which can be much closely monitored and located if needed. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, PA

Peers now move on to the next amendment - Lord Hain's amendment 2.

This amendment requires the prime minister to support the maintenance of the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. 

Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain warns that the peace process could "so easily unravel".

"If the referendum means Brexit at any price it may well mean a dangerously high cost for the Northern Ireland peace process."

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Tracey Brabin asks how much clearing the backlog created by the misplaced files had cost in administrative charges and who paid for it. 

Jeremy Hunt says it cost £2.2m, mostly to GPs, and had been paid for by the taxpayer.

House of Lords
Parliament

Lord Lea of Crondall argues that at some point the government will have to start looking at what options will work post-Brexit.

However he withdraws his amendment and it is therefore not put to a vote.

This is common at committee stage - amendments are more likely to be pushed to a vote at later stages of the bill. 

One amendment, however, may be voted on later today - that is Lord Hain's amendment 4, which seeks to retain UK membership of the single market. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunts reiterates that the actual security of the misplaced information was not at risk, but had merely not been transferred to where it was needed. 

It was, he says, always in "a secure location".

However, he says that digital security of records should be taken "much more seriously" as people are given access to their own records.  

He says that "patient harm" was avoided, even if the misplaced medical information had wasted time for GPs. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Lord Liddle asks if the government has ruled out EEA membership as part of transitional arrangements.

He notes that at a committee hearing the Brexit Minister Lord Bridges "said it hadn't".

He asks for clarity from the government.

Lord Keen replies that the government "fully intends" to negotiate "a suitable settlement". 

Unstafisfied Lord Liddle gets to his feet again and asks the minister to answer his question - "Is EEA membership ruled out in a transitional arrangement or not?"

Lord Keen replies that the question "proceeds on a supposition I do not accept".

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Brexit spokesperson Baroness Hayter says she will reserve comment until debate begins on a later amendment, which requires the UK to stay in the single market.

She adds that her party will not be supporting this particular amendment.

Responding for the government, Lord Keen of Elie says the bill is about leaving the EU and not the place to put restrictions on the government.

The people of the UK did not vote to leave the EU by the front door in order to rush round and seek re-entry through the back, he says. 

He also argues that, legally, it is not a feasible option

NHS England is investigating whether any patients have been harmed by an administrative mix-up.

Some 500,000 documents containing medical information, including cancer test results, were mistakenly put in storage rather than being sent to the GP or filed in the patients' records.

An investigation is under way, focusing on the estimated 2,500 patients who may have been adversely affected and need further medical checks.

So far, no harm has been reported.

The company, NHS Shared Business Services, has expressed regret for the failings, which occurred between 2011 and 2016 in the East Midlands, the South West and north-east London.  

Read more about the issue here.

House of Commons
Parliament

In response to Labour's urgent question, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he was warned not to publicise the mishandling of patient information and health records until the risk of harm to patients had been assessed.

He says that he told MPs in a written statement in July 2016, when he was sure of "patient safety". 

He says the 708,000 letters, which were meant for GPs and individual patient records but instead went to storage, did not breach patient security.  

However, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth says it is a "catastrophic" breach of confidentiality. 

He accuses the health secretary of a cover-up and says that the use of private contractors in delivering this information is part of the problem. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Blencathra argues that, if the UK retains membership of the EEA, "we will not have control of our borders, laws, courts or money."

He adds that it would be a betrayal of people to leave the EU.

Crossbencher Baroness Deech also opposes the amendment, arguing that it would not be a good idea to tie the prime minister's hands during negotiations.