MPs question Minister for the West Midlands

• Video and Audio: impact of economic situation on businesses in West Midlands Region
• West Midlands Committee

The hearing is part of the ongoing inquiry by the West Midlands Select Committee into the impact of the current economic and financial situation on business in the region.

The witnesses appearing before the Committee today will be:

4.30 - 5.30pm

• Mick Laverty, Chief Executive
• Richard Hutchins, Corporate Director Economic Development
• Tim Gebbels, Corporate Director, Strategy and Communications, Advantage West Midlands

5.30 - 6.30pm

• Ian Austin MP, Regional Minister for the West Midlands
• Trudi Elliot, Regional Director, Government Office for the West Midlands

Chair of the Committee Richard Burden MP for Birmingham Northfield said:

"This is a very important step forward for open government here in the West Midlands. This hearing will give local MPs the opportunity to directly take up key issues affecting the jobs and livelihoods of our constituents with the Minister for the West Midlands region.

"We will also be putting questions to the Government Office for the West Midlands and Advantage West Midlands. They oversee how hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money is spent in our region.

"Those decisions - and how well we get the public, private and third sectors working together - will make a big difference to how quickly the West Midlands gets through these tough times and builds a sustainable future."

MPs on the West Midlands Select Committee of the House of Commons have already heard from banks, business groups and unions during the inquiry and this will be the last session before its report is published.