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More than a million benefits claimants may be facing destitution after disappearing from the welfare system, Labour ex-minister Frank Field claims.

Sanctions are being applied "at a scale unknown since the Second World War" and the fate of at least a third of those hit "is anybody's guess", he said.

He says a government survey is needed to track the whereabouts of those dropping off the roll.

But the Department of Work and Pensions says the claims have "no basis".

A government probe, announced this week, into intergenerational unfairness has been welcomed by Michael Johnson, Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, who has written extensively on the issue.

In his report, Who Will Care for Generation Y?, Mr Johnson warns that those born between 1980 and 2000 could be the first generation to experience a quality of life below that of their baby boomer parents, born between 1946 and the early 1960s.

“Baby boomers have become masters at perpetrating inter-generational injustice, by making vast unfunded promises to themselves, notably in respect of pensions,” he said.

“Indeed, such is their scale that if the UK were accounted for as a public company, it would be bust. In any event, Generation Y will have to foot the bill.”

Criminal proceedings against peer and former Labour MP Lord Janner over sex abuse charges have been abandoned following his death last month, a judge at the Old Bailey says. Read more

The Liberal Democrats have regained a council seat with a comfortable win in the second local by-election to take place so far this year. 

The Cornwall Council poll followed the resignation of a councillor who had been elected as a Lib Dem but had been sitting as an independent. 

Voting in the Launceston Central division contest was: LD 515, C 226, Green 65, Christian 12. Turnout was 31.3%.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Energy companies are "overcharging in many cases" with bills failing to fall in line with dropping wholesale costs, the industry's regulator has said.

Dermot Nolan, chief executive of Ofgem, told the BBC that domestic gas and electricity prices should be cheaper "for the vast majority of people".

Wholesale energy costs make up nearly half of a domestic bill, and have fallen by about a third in the last 12 to 18 months, he said. Yet, prices had not fallen, he added.

Energy UK, which represents the major energy energy companies, insisted that there was a competitive market of 34 suppliers and that people should switch for savings of hundreds of pounds.

As usual, there's plenty of comment, insight and speculation about the EU referendum and its implications for British politics on Twitter this morning. Here's a brief round-up of what's being said.

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BBC Radio 4

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been doing the rounds of the broadcast studios, telling the BBC that he really hopes he will not have to impose new contracts on junior doctors and that a solution can be reached to the dispute over pay and conditions to halt further strike action planned by later this month.

The system for creating new school places in England is fragmented and confusing, risking harm to children's education, head teachers have warned.

Lack of cohesive local planning means new schools are not always opened where there is most need, says the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

The warning comes on the final day for parents to submit this year's applications to primary schools.

The government said it wanted to ensure a good school place for every child. Read more

Plenty more politics to come - you can watch Question Time and This Week on the Live Coverage tab above.

Tonight, George Osborne said the UK's EU referendum represents a "once-in-a-lifetime decision". It comes after  Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling said staying in the EU under the current terms would be "disastrous".

Earlier, key parts of an internal Labour report into why the party lost the general election were leaked to the BBC's Iain Watson - and Star Trek actor William Shatner endorsed a House of Commons debate by MPs on space exploration.

The UK's EU referendum represents a "once-in-a-lifetime decision", Chancellor George Osborne has said.

He told Newsnight it was "unrealistic" to assume the poll - likely to be held later this year - would be repeated.

Mr Osborne, who described himself as a Eurosceptic, said he was "optimistic" about reaching a deal on EU reforms.

The chancellor's comments come as Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling said staying in the EU under the current terms would be "disastrous".

Read the full story

This Week

Andrew Neil reviews the political week with Michael Portillo and Labour MP Jess Phillips.

Tamal Ray, a junior doctor and the runner up in this year's Great British Bake Off, explains why he supports this week’s strikie action by medics.

Sky's Adam Boulton rounds up the political week in a film.

And singer and former Girls Aloud band member, Nicola Roberts, talks about mental health in the Spotlight.

The show starts at 11:45pm on BBC One, or watch on the live coverage tab above.

On the panel are: Conservative business and education minister Nick Boles MP, Labour's shadow minister for women Cat Smith MP, Ukip's Patrick O'Flynn MEP, Camilla Long of The Sunday Times and former editor of The Sun Kelvin MacKenzie.

There's also an all-new set:

Labour MP Andy Slaughter has written a tribute, external in the New Statesman to the actor Alan Rickman, who has died aged 69.

Mr Slaughter, who went to school with the Die Hard star in Hammersmith, wrote: