Local businesses and jobless targeted as West Midlands MPs meet
Oct 9 2009 by Gregg Evans, Birmingham Post
Regional minister Ian Austin last night called on local MPs to unite and help the West Midlands receive the investment it deserved during the first meeting of the West Midlands Grand Committee.
The meeting was the first chance for all 59 MPs in the region to quiz the minister on what the Government was doing for Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country and the rest of the area, though in the end only 17 attended. Fewer than half of those were Conservative.
Earlier this year the Tories claimed the high-minded ideals of the committee would be undermined by the Government’s decision to hold the event on the most important day of the Conservative conference, David Cameron’s speech.
At the Sandwell College meeting Mr Austin raised a number of subjects but paid particular attention to supporting local businesses and tackling unemployment – areas where the region has suffered more than any other.
“My top priority is to help families and the businesses that they work for through the recession,” he said.
“We are extending lending to businesses in the area by providing a further £4.3 million of new funding for entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses.
“I want to get behind opportunities for the region such as the low-carbon economy and the relocation of public sector jobs away from London.”
He admitted there were far too many people of working age with no skills and vowed to help reduce this.
During a question time session six MPs demanded answers on various issues particular to their constituencies.
Mr Austin also stressed the recent hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold found in Staffordshire must stay in the Midlands. He said: “Let’s establish a permanent home so that we can attract visitors from across the whole of the UK, and the world, to see this fantastic find.”
The meeting was one of a series of Regional Grand Committees which are part of Gordon Brown’s vision to bring more government accountability to a regional level.
During the meeting, a group of protesters stood outside campaigning for an all-English government.
