A busy day, beginning with a fascinating session in CR16. A sub-committee of our Defence Committee heard evidence from a panel of academics and analysts with specialisms in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Defence. The session was an opportunity to gain, from impartial experts, an overview of the current state of the UK Defence AI sector and to discuss the main themes of the inquiry: Defence AI Strategy and policy; procurement and innovation; skills; and collaboration and export opportunities. The three excellent witnesses were James Black, Assistant Director, Defence and Security Research Group, RAND Europe, Dr Simona Soare, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Techonology, Lancaster University, and Air Marshal (Retd) Edward Stringer who appeared virtually. You can see this evidence session on Parliament TV. Next, I had an encouraging virtual meeting with the FE Commissioner to discuss the proposed merger of Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward. I was encouraged by what I heard and learnt that the final submission would be handed in at the end of March, with the decision made in May. If the proposal gets the green light, the two colleges would merge on 1 August. Fingers crossed as both colleges are invaluable to many of my constituents. I then had a meeting with former soldier and MP, Sir Julian Brazier, to talk through the current housing crisis in the Armed Forces and other issues. Following up on my question to the Business Secretary about compensation for the former postmaster in Swanage, I had a short meeting with the relevant minister Kevin Hollinrake to see if his case could be dealt with quicker. I was later asked to a private meeting with the Defence Secretary to discuss an issue that would break in the press tomorrow. In other news, the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to help farmers - but many said more was needed to support an industry "in crisis" I would agree. We are fed up with all the red tape that increasingly affects what we grow and I thought food security was an important issue! Labour changed its position on the war in Gaza and was now calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. I suspect problems in their ranks and angry constituents were responsible for this change of heart. A body was found in the River Thames by police searching for chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi, the Met Police said. And the Home Office fired the chief inspector of borders and immigration after he "lost the confidence" of the home secretary.