An NCA spokesman defended the agency's performance in the face of MPs' criticism: "The NCA's aim is to reduce the impact of serious and organised crime, not to generate revenue."

The National Crime Agency must "drastically" improve its performance on recovering criminal assets, a parliamentary report has said despite recouping almost £8 million more in its first year after taking over from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). The warning has come from the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee.

The rate of Consumer Price Index inflation fell to a record low of 0.3% in January from 0.5% in December.

Here it is, latest inflation data. The rate of Retail Price Index inflation fell to 1.1% from 1.6% the previous month, the Office for National Statistics says.

Paul Waugh, editor of PoliticsHome.com

Tweets:, external In Times, female Tory minister worries that recent attack ads deter women. But in Guardian/ICM, Tories now lead Lab 38%-32% among women #WRM

"These placements are not designed to help someone into work, more to punish" - that's the Liberal Democrats' reaction to their coalition partner's latest welfare plan. A spokesman continued: "Just like the Tory plans to axe housing benefit for young people, it's all stick and no carrot. Young people should be given help and support into the work place, help at job centres, and the opportunity to get on in life, not just written off as feckless and lazy. We must make sure young people leave school with the skills they need to succeed, which is why Liberal Democrats will protect education spending."

Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent, BBC News

The policy is aimed at teenagers who go "straight from school to the dole queue". There remains the question, however, of how many people will actually be affected by the policy given that the school leaving age has risen to 18.

The Guardian

Columnist Polly Toynbee, at the Guardian, has written a piece about the state of the NHS and about what she claims is a "climate of fear, external" created by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

If you want to take part in May's general election then don't forget to register to vote, external. It only takes five minutes to do, but you will need to have your national insurance number to hand.

Just a quick heads up, we're expecting the latest inflation figures at 9.30am. Will wage growth continue to outstrip price rises? Stick with us to find out.

Image source, Getty Images

Wednesday will mark the 10-year anniversary of the introduction of the Hunting Act. The ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales was a culmination of years of political wrangling. The legislation was pushed through by Labour backbenchers in November 2004 and outlawed fox-hunting, deer-hunting and hare-coursing with dogs. BBC News looks at what the situation is like now.

Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent, BBC News

The Tory welfare plan is seen as a way of targeting those who might be the most difficult to help - those who could otherwise spend a lifetime on benefits.

Here's a quick recap on one of the main political stories of the day - David Cameron's welfare speech.

The gist of his policy means:

• Young people out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits.

• The scheme will involve about 30 hours a week of mandatory work, such as making meals for older people. Click here to read full story.

• Some 50,000 18-21-year-olds will reportedly be affected.

BBC Radio 4 Today

The Church's letter is about "the problem with disenchantment and cynicism that we have with professional politicians", said Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson.

He added: "It's not talking about policy, really, as much as it's talking about values and principles. It's not about how you vote - it's about why you vote, and it's helping people to think these things through and take a fresh look at things. I think the Church contains all kind of people and we're not telling them how to vote - we're telling them why to vote."

One story that may gain traction concerns an unpublished report that seemingly criticises the state of the NHS. According to the Financial Times, external, former Marks and Spencer chairman Lord Rose found the overall standard of management in the health service to be "totally shocking", with managers able to move to new jobs without being held accountable for their actions in previous ones. A source told the newspaper the report was given to the Department of Health in December, but had been put "on the back burner of the back burner".

Tweets, external: Mr Miliband appears unable to couch his beliefs in such a way as to build support for them, external

Image source, The Economist

BBC Radio 4 Today

More from education select committee chairman Graham Stuart MP on today's story about sex education in schools in England. He told Radio 4's Today programme: "When you put that in the context of cyber-bullying, 'sexting', pervasive internet pornography; with the backdrop of child abuse scandals in Rotherham, Manchester and beyond; we feel that it is the entitlement of young people to be given the education and the information they need, and we know that that view is overwhelmingly backed by parents, young people themselves and indeed by teachers."

Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent, BBC News

Tweets, external: RT @grvlx001: HMRC still not giving interviews over a week after the HSBC story first broke. #r4today

BBC Radio 4 Today

In response to Tory MP Nadine Dorries' comments, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, says: "We are not telling people how to vote," but instead trying to encourage people to take part in the political process.