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Legislation conferring "dictatorial" powers upon ministers to tackle major emergencies, including terrorist attacks, is facing a last-ditch challenge in Parliament.

The Civil Contingencies Bill, which is intended to update laws dating back more than 80 years, would allow the Government to suspend or repeal any Act of Parliament if there is "an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare, the environment or the security of the UK or a place in the UK".

The measure is being debated in the House of Lords tomorrow, with peers determined to protect "core" constitutional provisions from the scope of the legislation. They also want to ensure that the powers in the Bill are renewed by Parliament every three years.

A Tory amendment - backed by a coalition of Liberal Democrats and cross-benchers - specifies a number of a key Acts of Parliament that would be exempt from suspension if ministers used their emergency powers.