More good news with Buckingham Palace announcing the King would resume public duties next week, after doctors said they were pleased with the progress of his cancer treatment. A charming picture of the King and Queen Camilla was on the front pages of most papers this morning. What a relief. Today, I headed to Kingston Maurward to meet up with my parliamentary neighbour, Chris Loder, and the Defra Secretary of State, Steve Barclay. Mr Barclay had come to Dorset to address members of the Dorchester Agricultural Society. We met in a marquee, one of more than 150 pitches for the Dorchester Spring Show, which is the first time it's been laid on. I hoped the weather held. Mr Barclay spoke for a short while and then took many questions. There was no doubt that farmers were concerned at money being aimed at environmental incentives. One minute the Government was talking about food security, the next they were paying farmers to take land out of production. My own view is that Government have been too easily pushed down this road to appease the environmental and wildlife lobbies. There is a sensible balance to be had, but reducing food production is not the right direction. Mr Barclay stood his ground well and the feedback afterwards was positive. In other news, the Guardian (that bastion of balance) reported that hundreds of thousands of pupils in England and Wales were being educated “on the cheap” by low-paid teaching assistants, covering lessons for teachers who were off sick or have quit, according to new research.