§ 17. Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to increase employment in the west midlands. [29110]
§ Mr. ForthThe Department's aim is to continue to promote a free and flexible labour market to encourage employment in the west midlands region as elsewhere— a market that during the last three months has supported 20 overseas companies investing in the west midlands, bringing with them £188 million of investment and creating almost 1,300 new jobs.