House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Lord Hain says the difference between what was promised ahead of the referendum and reality "has been widening into an unbridgeable gulf."

Lib Dem Lord Taverne argues that "it is the essence of democracy that people are allowed to change their mind".

He calls for Brexiteers to "show what they really mean by showing respect for the will of the people".

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Crossbencher Lord Sugar says the proposal for a second vote "sounds like 'I don't like the outcome of the original vote, so I'd like another bite of the cherry to see whether it can be reversed.'"

However, he says there is a "very good argument to void that vote, if it can be concluded that the British public were misled."

He suggests this is the case, adding that Brexiteers, "such as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove", should be "imprisoned or at least prosecuted" for "lies", such as the "£350million on the side of that bus".

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Lib Dem Baroness Doocey says the British people voted "for a blank canvas, onto which many different and contrary hopes and aspirations were painted".

She says what the Leave campaign promised is "simply not on offer", so it is not undemocratic to give people an opportunity to vote on the final deal.

Crossbencher Lord Kerr of Kinlochard says: "Why a People's Vote? Because the people want it...the people want to have their say."

He suggests "denying" people a vote "would be bitterly divisive".

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Parliament

Labour peer Lord Adonis sets out the circumstances he believes are required for a second referendum to take place.

He says the choice should be "a straight choice between the government's deal and remaining in the EU", adding that "there should not be a no deal option, because no deal does not exist."

Social media should be regulated, he says, and the franchise should be extended to 16 and 17 year olds, with particular consideration taken to ensure students are able to vote.

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MPs now move on to a general debate on folic acid fortification.

On Tuesday the government announced a consultation on adding folic acid to flour to help prevent common birth defects in babies.

Women are already advised to take the B vitamin before and during pregnancy, but many don't.

Folic acid helps the body to form healthy red blood cells and helps reduce the risk of fetal abnormalities called neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida.

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Parliament

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Conservative Lord Lamont of Lerwick says the term 'people's vote' is an "Orwellian use of language".

"It is frankly a dishonest use of language to say that this would be a people's referendum, in some sense more democratic than the first referendum."

He adds that there are practical difficulties with holding a second referendum, adding that "it might be a year" before it could be held.

"For many, they simply cannot accept the democratic result of the referendum", he says, adding that a disregard for democracy caused many to vote to leave the EU.

"It would create a permanent division in our politics...I believe that a second referendum would be a disaster of the first order for democracy".

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Matt Warman says that he "is pleased that the home secretary has carried out a review on this", as "mandatory DNA testing is wrong."

However, he asks Sajid Javid whether "compassionate DNA testing" will continue to be used after Brexit, when the immigration policy applies to far more people, as it can be "useful".

"The case for DNA testing to speed up the immigration applications process should continue to be pushed by the home secretary," he says.

Mr Javid replies voluntary DNA tests "are in the interest of applications, as long as they are choosing to do so".

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Parliament

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Peers begin their debate on the case for a further referendum on the Brexit deal - referred to by supporters as a "people's vote".

Lib Dem peer Lord Campbell of Pittenween says referendums shouldn't be used to take such big decisions, but "the door was opened" when the first referendum took place.

"We do not know what the final package will be that is put before parliament, but the chances of it being approved by the Commons melt by the hour", he adds.

People in the UK have been failed by "incoherence and incompetence", and have the "right to pass judgment on any deal forged in such circumstances".

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Parliament

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Labour MP Kate Green asks for confirmation that all DNA evidence collected under the requests has been removed appropriately.

Sajid Javid says he "cannot confirm this", but when the investigation has been fully examined "I will report back to the House."

Labour MP Diana Johnson asks why the review is only being revealed now, since "improper use" was demonstrated in June.

The Home Secretary says the government has been "working thoroughly to investigate this matter", and "this work continues."

He says the issue of obtaining DNA samples in this way was actually brought to light by a parliamentary question by Labour MP Afzal Khan.

"I cannot tell the House these are the only cases as there is more work to be done," he says.

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Parliament

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Labour MP and home affairs committee chair Yvette Cooper says the requests are "shocking" and may have had a "devastating impact" on the lives of families, especially in the wake of the Windrush scandal.

Ms Cooper says the review being established must examine whether the DNA testing and the activities of Home Office officials were motivated by the government's net migration targets.

The Home Secretary says there are "ongoing lessons" to be learnt from the Windrush scandal.

Mr Javid says he will keep the committee up to date with the developments of the review.

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Parliament

The SNP's Patrick Grady says "we have seen children who already have a British passport being asked for DNA when they go to renew them," which is "unacceptable".

He says the Home Office is "out of control" as a result of an obsession with migration targets.

Patrick Grady says in some cases there is "legitimate reason for voluntary DNA testing", but forcing the collection of DNA samples in immigration applications is "unethical".

He says he welcomes the apology from the Home Secretary.

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Parliament

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Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says the use of DNA tests in immigration cases is "neither legal nor fair".

The widespread response to Windrush shows how seriously the public take the "issue of fairness" in our immigration system - which must be "robust and fair", she says.

Diane Abbott asks for clarifications on how long the DNA testing in immigration had been taking place, and under what internal regime in the Home Office this was allowed or encouraged, and at what level.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid says this "should not have happened" and that the Home Office has "never had the express power" to require any individuals to give DNA.

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Parliament

Mr Javid says the Home Office's internal review found "a number of areas" where legal guidance on the use of DNA tests was "unclear or wrong".

The majority of DNA requests identified so far were part of an operation launched in April 2016 to address "specific patterns of fraud" in family immigration cases.

He says that of those 83 cases, seven were refused "solely for the failure to provide DNA evidence".

An "improper approach" to requesting DNA evidence was also taken with dependent relatives of Ghurkas and Afghan nationals formerly employed by the UK government, he says.

In total there were 51 requests from Ghurka family members refused because they did not supply DNA evidence, but these "have now been corrected", he says.

He says he has now given guidance that DNA evidence should not be sought in "any immigration case", and says a reimbursement scheme will be put in place for those who list money due to the requests.

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Parliament

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Home Secretary Sajid Javid says "evidence appeared at the end of June" suggesting DNA had been made a "compulsory requirement" in immigration cases, not a request.

Such tests, he adds, should be "entirely voluntary" under the law.

Apologising to those who had received requests, he tells MP: "such demands are unacceptable".

Announcing the publication of a Home Office review of the matter, he says the number of people affected could nevertheless be "subject to change".

"One case is still one too many, and I am determined to get to the bottom of why people have been compelled to provide DNA evidence," he adds.

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Parliament

Peers now move to a private notice question from Labour peer Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, about preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

It follows concerns expressed by the National Audit Office regarding border controls.

Brexit minister Lord Callanan says "extensive work to prepare for a no deal has been underway for two years", and ministers are committed to ensuring there are sufficient resources to control borders.

According to the NAO, the border and regulation systems needed in case of no deal "simply can't be implemented in time", the baroness says.

"Isn't it irresponsible, even reckless to continue to threaten a no deal?", she asks.

Lord Callanan asks whether the Labour party would just accept any deal that was offered.

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Parliament

Home Secretary Sajid Javid is now making a statement about the use of DNA tests in immigration cases.

In July, the Home Office admitted that it had demanded applicants, external take DNA tests to prove they can legally stay in the UK.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes ordered an internal review of the practice, saying that there was “no specific requirement” for DNA evidence to be provided.

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Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy responds to a question from Labour's Baroness Thornton about steps taken to reduce deaths from bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

He says antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections are a "significant global threat" and the government is committed to tackling it globally and nationally.

He says the government will soon be setting out its long-term strategy in this area.

Baroness Thornton says there have been calls for "more active government leadership" on the issue.

Lord O'Shaughnessy says the UK has taken an important global leadership role on the issue in the G20, whilst there has been a reduction in prescribing of antibiotics at GP level.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Lib Dem Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asks whether the government will reassess plans for the Trident nuclear weapons system.

It follows a recent report which questioned its cost to the UK.

Defence minister Earl Howe says the government remains committed to maintaining a minimal credible nuclear deterrent.

"The first responsibility of government is protection and defence...economic pressure is not a sufficient rationale for taking long-term risks with our national security far into the future", he says.

The baroness says the nuclear deterrent is "an enterprise that is already unaffordable" and questions whether having one creates a safer world.

Earl Howe says the government says gradual multilateral disarmament is the best way to bring about a world without nuclear weapons.

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Conservative MP Bob Blackman says the "crisis around Crossrail seems to worsen every single day".

In August it was announced that the rail project would open in autumn 2019, nine months after its scheduled launch.

He asks for a statement on what is being done to get the project "back on track".

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom says there have been widespread concerns about the project and encourages the MP to raise his concerns in the budget debate next week.