A routine morning and then down to the Chamber for PMQs. It was a rowdy affair, with the Prime Minister coming off best. I noted that Starmer's attacks are getting quite personal, which has little effect. At 1345, I went first to a meeting of the European Scrutiny Committee and then, once it was quorate, I strolled down the corridor to the Defence Committee, which questioned the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) about matters relating to his role. Key themes included delays to flying training, alleged unlawful discrimination within the pilot training process, and the recruitment of ex-RAF pilots to train the Chinese air force. The Committee also took evidence on some of the issues relating to its current Aviation Procurement inquiry. The Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston was appointed Chief of the Air Staff on 26 July 2019. Commissioned on a University Cadetship in 1986, he completed his pilot training on the Tornado GR1 in 1992, followed by a succession of frontline tours, including operational deployments enforcing the no-fly zones in Iraq. He commanded 12(Bomber) Squadron, flying the Tornado GR4 and leading the Squadron on two operational tours in Iraq and large force exercises in Canada, Malaysia and the USA. Appointments in operational headquarters have included Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar, as the Chief of Combat Operations in the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre; Basrah International Airport, Iraq as Commander 903 Expeditionary Air Wing; and one year in Afghanistan as the Director Air Operations in Headquarters ISAF Joint Command. He was appointed CBE in 2013 for his contribution to that mission. He was accompanied by Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, who is Deputy Commander Capability and People (RAF). Air Marshal Knighton joined the RAF in 1988 as a University Cadet and studied Engineering at Clare College Cambridge. He has had several roles since this time. In 2011 he was promoted to Air Commodore and became Head of Finance and Military Capability (Air) in the MOD before setting up and leading the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Programme in 2014. In January 2015 he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. In this role he oversaw the development of the RAF’s strategy and the planning for the RAF’s Centenary celebrations. He became Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Capability and Force Design) in 2017. He held this role for a little under 2 years before he was promoted to Air Marshal and appointed to Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Capability). He was appointed to his current role as Deputy Commander for Capability and People in May 2022. It was a tough session for both men. You can see for yourself on Parliament TV. The House dropped to one line late afternoon. Regrettably, government data suggested that more than half of schools in England either restricted attendance or closed during teacher strikes today. I do not agree with these strikes. The children must come first and they've already been through serious disruption during the pandemic. And, sadly, Nicola Bulley is still missing after vanishing six days ago. Her two daughters said they "just want their mummy home”. I pray Nicola is safe and well.