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Culture, Digital, Media and Sport Minister Lord Ashton of Hyde responds on behalf of the government to Labour's proposed amendment to the bill, which would insert a right to personal data protection.

He describes it as "sad" that the opposition has "threatened to suspend usual business arrangements" by raising the prospect of a vote at this stage rather than seeking an informal resolution.

He points out that the government has plans to maintain standards in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU regulation requiring businesses to protect the personal data and privacy of EU citizens for transactions that occur within EU member states.

He says it's a "myth that we need an amendment" to guarantee personal data protection.

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Labour MP Chi Onwurah says that women and men have been made to feel uncomfortable by MPs in one of Parliament's bars.

"I was told that happens in pubs all over the country," she adds, calling for rules to apply "24/7" and apply to "every restaurant and bar in this place".

Andrea Leadsom says she is to meet Lord McFall, the Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords to discuss "specific issues around the Sports and Social bar".

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SNP spokesman Pete Wishart says there is "an opportunity for an institutional shift" and asks for more details of proposed cross-party work to tackle sexual harassment.

There should be "no suggestion that this House should consider itself above any investigation", he adds.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom says there are plans to convene meetings between the political parties.

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Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz stresses that Labour is ready to work on a cross-party basis to tackle the issue of sexual harassment.

"There must be a proper process of investigation," she urges.

She asks the leader of the House to look at widening the scope of the current helpline so that it can offer legal advice.

Mrs Leadsom responds that "we are absolutely in the same place" in terms of determination to tackle the problem.

She also agrees there is a need to broaden the responsibilities of the employees' helpline.

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Tory MP Maria Miller, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, tells the House that two thirds of girls in schools, half of university students and half of women in work face harassment.

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Andrea Leadsom agrees with Harriet Harman's view that "complainants should be given anonymity".

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Conservative Anna Soubry tells MPs that "things can't go on as they are", urging the government to consider all staff who work in and around Parliament.

"It's not just about sexual abuse, but other forms of harassment," she argues.

Andrea Leadsom endorses this view, acknowledging it "must include all passholders" and that bullying is also an issue.

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Labour's Harriet Harman, who tabled the urgent question, welcomes the reply from the government.

No-one "should be subjected to unwanted sexual advances from those who are in a position of power" or work in "the toxic atmosphere of sleazy sexist or homophobic banter".

She adds: "No MP, let alone a minister, should think this is something to make jokes about.

"This is not hysteria. This is something that is long overdue for all the parties in this House to deal with."

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Andrea Leadsom says it is clear that "the current system is indequate" and outlines measures to address allegations of inappropriate behaviour in Parliament.

Anyone working in Parliament should have access to an external, independent support team, she says.

The support team should have the power to recommend "onward referral of a case", including to the police, and to recommend pastoral support, she adds.

She urges political parties as well as the government to consider further action, saying: "This is the very least we can do."

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Conservative former justice minister Lord Faulks launches an attack on the Labour-led amendment seeking to guarantee the right to personal data protection, predicting it will be "very good news for lawyers, who thrive on complexity".

He points out it seeks to insert an "absolute right", asking: "How are the courts to apply it?"

He adds there's "no clear explanation of its justiciability" and it is "incoherent and unnecessary".

He concludes by suggesting the amendment is a piece of "political manoeuvring" which has more to do with Brexit than anything else.

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Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom responds to the urgent question, saying recent allegations point to "a vital need to provide greater support and protection".

She adds that the Cabinet Office is urgently investigating allegations in the light of the ministerial code.

"Your age, gender or job title should have no bearing on how you are treated," Ms Leadsom says.

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Ahead of the urgent question on the same matter, Speaker John Bercow makes a statement about what he describes as "recent, distubing allegations about a culture of sexual harassment at Westminster".

He tells the Commons that "there must be zero tolerance of sexual harassment or bullying" and any allegations of assaults should be reported to the police.

He adds that all political parties should review their own grievance procedures to make them "accessible...transparent" and independent.

"I am happy to do whatever I can," he concludes.

"Others must do likewise."

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The Lib Dems are backing Labour's amendment on personal data protection, and their spokesperson Baroness Ludford points out it was something David Davis was closely involved in as a backbench MP.

"It is crucial that we embed the wording of Article 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights," she urges.

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The Speaker welcomes Conservative MP Nick Boles back to the chamber following treatment for cancer.

"It is good to be back," Mr Boles tells the House.

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Labour's Barry Sheerman says the government should look to a former Conservative Prime Minister - Harold Macmillan - for inspiration for "imaginative" solutions to the housing shortage.

Before he became PM, Harold Macmillan was housing minister from 1951 to 1954, undertaking to build 300,000 homes a year.

The current Housing Minister, Alok Sharma, retorts that more houses have been built over the last six years than in the last six years of the Labour government.

He adds that he will "take no lectures" from the opposition.

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Peers are now taking part in the first of seven days' committee stage scrutiny of the Data Protection Bill, external.

The bill is intended to repeal and replace the UK’s existing data protection laws in preparation for Brexit.

It sets new standards for protecting personal data, in accordance with recent EU data protection measures, giving people more control over use of their data.

Labour spokesman Lord Stevenson of Balmacara moves an amendment which would make provision for a general right to the protection of personal data.

He claims that this guarantee is missing from the bill, and that this right will not be protected after Brexit - "a significant and totally unnecessary risk".

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Labour's Baroness Lister of Burtersett puts it to the government that the benefit rate freeze means losses of £800 a year for families with two children, asking: "Does the government care about the harmful impact of this policy?"

Work and Pensions Minister Baroness Buscombe responds: "We do care and that is why we are incentivising people into work."

She tells peers that the "system remains sustainable" and the employment rate shows "these reforms are working".

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During communities questions, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson asks about improving safety in residential tower blocks since the Grenfell Tower fire.

Communities Secretary says the government has identified all unsafe cladding on high-rise social housing blocks - but Ms Swinson presses him on fire prevention measures.

Only 2% of public housing tower blocks have sprinklers, she says, arguing: "We know that sprinklers save lives."

Mr Javid tells her that "any new high-rise dwellings" are required under building regulations to have sprinklers fitted.

Meanwhile, Dame Judith Hackitt is undertaking a review of building regulations and fire safety.

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The first question is from Labour's Baroness Wheeler on the anticipated rise in flu cases this winter.

She says there's been "an alarming increase in the number of readmissions" to hospital, questioning how this will impact the NHS when beds are in more demand over the winter.

Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy tells peers that "every NHS trust has developed plans for the winter season" and the NHS is "better-prepared than ever" for winter.

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The Lords get started at 2.30pm with questions on:

• anticipated rise in flu cases this winter
• support and maintenance of public parks in the UK
• impact of the benefit rate freeze
• access to child and adolescent mental health services

Peers will hear statements given earlier in the Commons on:

• sexual harassment in Parliament

• deaths in police custody
• the Balfour Declaration

The main business is committee stage of the data protection bill, and later peers will hold a debate on the recovery of Sierra Leone from the effect of the Ebola outbreak.