Up to London on a lovely, sunny day. Barbers and into the House. It appeared fuller than usual and we are all keen that things should return to normal on 21 June. We had a most interesting session of our Defence Select Committee today in Committee Room 8. Giving evidence on the Royal Navy was a former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, and Professor Jonathan Caverley, from the US Naval War College. The session was in public so it will all be on Hansard and parliamentary TV. Having only retired in 2019, the Admiral was very much on the front foot and his answers were fascinating. With two massive aircraft carriers to man and support, there was plenty to talk about. The Admiral also reminded us to times gone by. In his day we had 50 destroyers and frigates. We now have 18. It's pitiful. The navy is expanding, though, which is to be welcomed. Straight afterwards, I joined a small band of colleagues for a private meeting. The new parliamentary boundaries were published and I gain Chickerell to the west and Bere Regis to the north. I lose Stoborough to the east and part of Weymouth to the north. There's now a long period of consultation. The aim is to rebalance each seat with an equal number of voters, but retain 650 MPs. In the news, a Met Police officer admitted kidnapping and raping Sarah Everard. The 33-year-old vanished as she walked home in Clapham, south London, on 3 March. Her body was found a week later in woodland near Ashford, Kent. Appearing at the Old Bailey via video-link, PC Wayne Couzens, of Deal, pleaded guilty both to kidnap and rape. The court heard he also accepted responsibility for Ms Everard's death but did not enter a plea on the charge of murder. He now awaits sentencing. It's an appalling and horrifying case. On the pandemic front, Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire will receive extra help to tackle a rise in the Delta variant. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a "strengthened package of support" would be provided to boost Covid vaccinations and testing. It would include military support and supervised in-school testing in the areas hardest hit. People were also advised to minimise travel in and out of the area and avoid meeting indoors. Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire have been identified as places where the so-called Indian variant, now named the Delta variant by the World Health Organization, is spreading the fastest. Finally, a slap in the face for French President Emmanuel Macron. He was assaulted on an official visit to the south-east of France. In a video circulating on social media, Mr Macron is seen walking up to a barrier on a trip to Tain-l'Hermitage outside the city of Valence. A man in a green T-shirt slaps Mr Macron in the face before officers quickly move in. The president, meanwhile, is pulled away. Two men have been arrested following the incident, French media report. President Macron later called it an "isolated event".