Wales has a new voice in the House of Lords.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton is the new Government spokesman on Welsh issues in the upper House, writes BBC Wales's Westminster Correspondent David Cornock.

She is a councillor in Lancashire - a county with strong Welsh links. Welsh Tory spokesman Nigel Evans is MP for Ribble Valley.

Prepare for a battle of the minders in the Ceredigion by-election.

Clwyd West MP Gareth Thomas will shepherd Labour candidate Maria Battle, while Lembit Opik will look after the Lib Dem cause.

Sleeping pills

Plaid Cymru are predicting "the objective one by-election" which suggests visiting hacks can leave their sleeping pills at home.

Former MP Cynog Dafis is looking forward to his new role as Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

MPs aren't allowed to resign, so they use the technical device of applying for an office of profit under the crown.

Mr Dafis's new manor is in Yorkshire - fertile ground for a self-government campaign.

Extended break

The Assembly's extended break gave AMs who are also MPs time to spend at Westminster.

First Secretary Alun Michael was among those keen to improve their Commons voting record - he voted more on one evening than he has in the past six months.

Labour backbenchers took the chance to buttonhole him on a few key issues before the Assembly returns from its holidays next Tuesday.

Cynog Dafis has discovered that there's nothing so "ex" as a former MP.

Forty-eight hours after he resigned his seat, Mr Dafis was forced to pass through security checks at he arrived at Westminster to clear his desk.

Forced to queue

The Plaid Cymru AM was forced to queue with tourists and the public to pass through X-ray machines at the Commons.

Former MP Cynog Dafis is looking forward to his new role as Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

MPs aren't allowed to resign, so they use the technical device of applying for an office of profit under the crown.

Mr Dafis's new manor is in Yorkshire - fertile ground for a self-government campaign.

E-mail david.cornock@bbc.co.uk