With flags remaining at half-mast in tribute to Prince Philip, I made my way to the Commons, chatting to three police officers as I entered. I am sure I can speak for all MPs in saying how grateful we are to them all, for looking after us, day in, day out, come rain or shine. Much to keep me occupied to 1400 when I joined a private session of our Defence Select Committee virtually. These private sessions always precede the public ones, so after we'd finished the agenda, I walked down the corridor to CR8 to join chairman Tobias Ellwood and three other members. Today, we were looking at the Royal Navy in a 'competitive age', and what a fascinating two and half hours it turned out to be. Giving evidence to us was Rear Admiral Alex Burton, former Commander UK Maritime Forces, and Dr Sidharth Kaushal, Research Fellow, Sea Power, RUSI. The session, a sobering one, is all on Hansard if you want to read further. I worked through the early evening, before dropping down to the Chancellor's office at 1930 for a private meeting. I'd asked to see him about three constituency matters. He could not have been kinder or more accommodating and the meeting was a positive one. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that people aged 45 or over in England would now be invited to get a Covid jab. The vaccination programme would then move on to everyone aged 40 or over "in line with supplies", he added. Appointments can be made on the NHS booking website, which temporarily crashed on Tuesday morning when it opened up to the new age group. Over in the US, authorities there are calling for a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, after reports of extremely rare blood clotting cases. Back in the UK, it's been revealed that a top civil servant joined financial firm Greensill Capital as an adviser while still working for the government. Bill Crothers's part-time position had been "agreed" to by the Cabinet Office, the Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments added. Its chairman Lord Pickles complained of a "lack of transparency" over the situation.