The long-awaited day came and went, with the PM announcing a four-step plan out of this third lock-down in the Commons. I had put in to ask Mr Johnson a question, but was not on the list. Under the PM's plan, shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality would re-open on 12 April in England if strict conditions are met. Also from that date, up to six people from separate households would be able to meet in beer gardens. Why people cannot play golf and tennis is quite beyond me. Then, by 21 June, if there is no further spread of the virus, all legal limits on social contact would be lifted. The progression of each stage would depend on vaccines, infection rates and new coronavirus variants. Mr Johnson told MPs the plan aimed to be "cautious but irreversible" and at every stage decisions would be led by "data not dates". He added there was "no credible route to a zero-Covid Britain, nor indeed a zero-Covid world". Mr Johnson later told a Downing Street news conference the coming spring and summer would be "seasons of hope, looking and feeling incomparably better for us all". While I think the release is too slow, especially with a binding five week gap between each step, I do welcome schools going back from 8 March. This is way overdue and is the right decision. There will be mass Covid testing in secondary schools - with parents expected to carry out the testing at home, after three tests in school. Home testing for secondary pupils will be twice weekly, but there is no testing for primary pupils as yet. Face masks will also be required in some secondary school classrooms. Equally encouraging is that researchers have said that the first data on the UK Covid vaccine roll-out suggests it is having a "spectacular" impact on stopping serious illness. Within weeks, one shot reduces the risk of being admitted to hospital by at least three-quarters for the over 80s. Researchers said this was particularly impressive as this age group was the most frail and least likely to have a strong immune response. Monitoring of health staff also shows vaccination helps cut transmission. So far a third of adults have received a vaccination in the UK. I had prepared for a Westminster Hall debate on the N Ireland Protocol and the detrimental effect it's having on the Province. The debate was sparked by an on-line parliamentary petition that had nearly 150,000 signatories. It was only 90 minutes long, so each speaker only had three minutes. My contribution is on my website. Regrettably, I had to miss one of the regular updates of the No Turning Back Group, chaired by Sir John Redwood. An interesting day. It was disappointing in many ways and I know many businesses across the country will feel similarly as they continue to struggle to stay afloat.