To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what resources have been given to the Minister for the West Midlands to enable him to perform his duties. (180766)

‘The Governance of Britain’ Green Paper, published on 3 July, set out the proposed role of Regional Ministers. Regional Ministers ensure that Government policy takes account of the differing needs of the nine English regions. Regional Ministers make central Government more visible in the regions, helping to raise their profile and generate awareness of the political system. The functions that Regional Ministers undertake are mostly clustered around the responsibilities of the Government offices and the RDAs, particularly in relation to economic development, although they do have a more general ambassadorial role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what visits the Minister for the West Midlands has made to organisations in the region since assuming the role in June 2007. (180825)

[holding answer 21 January 2008]: The Minister for the west midlands has visited the following organisations since his appointment:

South Shropshire district council

A flood-damaged Newbridge nursery/farm at Cleobury Mortimer.

BMW plant at Hams Hall in Coleshill, North Warwickshire

The Regional Partnership Centre

The West Midlands business council

The West Midlands Regional Assembly

The Science City partnership

Birmingham city council

Blitz games in Leamington Spa

Telford and Wrekin council

Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage

The Ricoh factory

Keele Science and Business Park

North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership

Waterside Housing development

University quarter in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke city council

Wolverhampton university science park

Wolverhampton Urban Regeneration Company

Walsall Art Gallery

Dudley Limestone Caverns

Business leaders at the West Bromwich Building Society.

The Innovation Centre at Longbridge.

The Guild/Pridmore estate

Whitefriars Housing Association

Government office west midlands

Jobcentre Plus

Learning and Skills Centre

West Midlands strategic health authority

Advantage West Midlands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support her Department provides for the Minister for the West Midlands in pursuit of his regional responsibilities. (180827)

[holding answer 21 January 2008]: The Government office for the west midlands supports the role of the Regional Minister. This support was provided by one full-time equivalent staff when the role was created and has now expanded into two full-time equivalent staff to manage the delivery of the Ministers priorities in the region.