Inside story on the DNA row...

There’s been a heated argument between MPs scrutinizing proposals to regulate the national DNA database.

At the centre is Notts MP Vernon Coaker, the Police Minister, who is being accused of trying to sneak through database regulation without giving Parliament a proper say.

Lobbydog first spotted the story in the Daily Mail today, and decided to give some members of the Policing and Crime Bill Committee a call to find out what really happened.

The UK is being forced to reassess its database after EU judges ruled in December it was unlawful to keep the records of innocent citizens.

Innocents make up one in five of those on the database.

Despite having known about the ruling since the end of 2008 the Government suddenly introduced an amendment to its Bill during recess last week.

That meant there would be just two committee meetings left, on Tuesday and yesterday, for opposition MPs to question that amendment.

The technical bit - the change means the Government will formulate its compliance with the EU ruling through statutory instruments (SI), not primary legislation.

Primary legislation goes through all the normal law making processes, being widely debated in the Commons, Lords and in committees.

But SIs are only debated in a special SI committee – in which Government whips are able to pack loyal MPs who won’t rock the boat.

The SI committee can approve the new rules, seeing them pass into law, without the issue being debated in the House.

Opposition MPs now expect the Government to try and stretch the EU ruling as far as possible in an attempt to maintain the size of the DNA database.

That is the kind of thing Ministers would be called out on if the rules had a chance to pass through the Commons.