A busy day. Morning run and into the Commons. I had an allocated question at PMQs, so I drafted it carefully and was ready when called by the Speaker. The weekly joust between the PM and Mr Miliband got both sides into a lather about the NHS. David Cameron demanded that Mr Miliband should apologise for saying that he wanted to "weaponize" the NHS, while the latter accused Mr Cameron of creating a smokescreen. What we all have to remember is that the patient is king and I know that in S Dorset the CCG is reviewing health provision with a strong local influence, a point I made later in the Chamber when the shadow health secretary had an Urgent Question on emergency care in hospitals. Back to PMQs and I was duly called almost at the end of the session. I asked the PM: "I know that I do not need to remind the House that 435 members of our Armed Forces have lost their lives in Afghanistan ... and many, many more have been wounded, some seriously ... and although we have brought most of our troops home, the 400 men and women of 2 Rifles are still serving with great distinction in Kabul in support of government forces. Would my RT Hon Friend agree with me that it's time we recognised the efforts of all those who have served in this war with a commemorative event?" The PM answered generously, saying there would be a Service in St Paul's on Friday, 13 March. The Chamber murmured its assent. As I've said, I then sat in on an Urgent Question relating to the NHS, before returning to my office for a working lunch while I crunched out this week's column. Then at 1400 I met a team from Dairy Crest, which is selling its dairies business to Muller Wiseman. The sale is now conditional on the approval of the relevant competition authorities which will take several months. Dairy Crest's chief executive, Mark Allen, briefed a number of MPs in a committee room, reassuring us that this sale was good news for the dairy industry and would lead to more security for farmers, not less. I had to rush after 30 minutes for my Efra select committee which was looking at two reports in private. One was on rural broadband, the other on Defra's performance, which we monitor. Lots of interesting stuff, which will go public soon. Back to my office late afternoon, where I remained until 1915.