Wales@Westminster weblog

It's Wales@Westminster weblog, BBC Wales' Parliamentary correspondent David Cornock's diary on political life. It's a two-way process though, so add your comments too.

Wednesday 22 October

What's yours worth?
posted by David | 1728 BST |

The number of house price surveys has soared, I can exclusively reveal. The number of surveys now stands at an all-time high, according to new figures I've just made up.

So far this year, British newspapers have run 46,573 articles on the subject (and that's one figure I haven't made up).

Aren't people bored with it all? Apparently not.

No news bulletin is complete without the latest survey, which usually involves mentioning the source - a building society or bank eager for free publicity.

At the end of the day, are we any better informed? Many of the surveys appear to contradict each other.

It's very re-assuring for home-owners to be told they're getting richer in return for no effort but depressing for first-time buyers and ultimately tedious for all of us.

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Vision and votes
posted by David | 1208 BST |

The Welsh Lib Dems have something to celebrate.

The party's two MPs are claiming the credit for a new deal that should allow people in the most isolated parts of rural Wales to enjoy decent TV reception.

It means viewers can enjoy access to independent channels via digital satellite for a one-off payment of £23.50.

It's the result of a deal struck between Sky and independent broadcasters to supply what are known as solus viewing cards.

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams says: "It's no wonder people don't vote in the assembly elections when they can't see the thing in action."

Expect a stampede to the polls now viewers in rural areas can enjoy in-depth news coverage from Cardiff Bay.

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