PENDLE'S MP Andrew Stephenson has been made a lord commissioners of the treasury and a pairing whip following a ministerial reshuffle.

This means he has responsibility for accommodating any MPs who need to be absent from a vote in Parliament.

In the House of Commons, pairing is an informal arrangement between the government and opposition parties whereby a MP agrees to abstain from voting while a member of the other party needs to be absent from the House due to other commitments, illness, travel problems, etc.

Mr Stephenson said he was very pleased and looking forward to what the new role will bring.