Dear Sir or Madam,

Please could you advise the number of meetings held between the
Regional Minister for the West Midlands (Liam Byrne, MP) and
members of the West Midlands Regional Assembly, since the ministers
appointment to this office?

Further to this request has the Minister informed the West Midlands
Regional Assembly as to his accountability status to them or to the
people of the West Midlands?

Yours faithfully,

Paul Burke

Carol Johnson (PA to Liam Byrne)

[email address]

Tel: 0121 352 5237

Government Office

Birmingham

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24th November 2008
Ref:0806/Burke

Dear Mr Burke,

Freedom of Information Act

Thank you for your email of 11 November 2008 regarding a Freedom of
Information request. Although the Assembly is not included within the
bodies covered by the Freedom of Information Act, it is our policy to be
as open as we can about our work and processes.

Please find below a response to the questions you raised in your
message.

Please could you advise the number of meetings held between the Regional
Minister for the West Midlands (Liam Byrne, MP) and members of the West
Midlands Regional Assembly,since the ministers appointment to this
office?
Between his appointment as Regional Minister in June 2007 and October
2008 when he moved to a new government role, members and officers from
the Assembly met with Liam Byrne MP 10 times.

Has the Minister informed the West Midlands Regional Assembly as to his
accountability status to them or to the people of the West Midlands?
It is our understanding that the Regional Minister is accountable to
central government in the same way as any other minister would be.
Whilst he has no formal accountability to the Assembly we have been
pleased to have had the opportunity to discuss a number of critical
issues for the West Midlands, such as transport, skills and regeneration
with him.

I hope this answers your question, but please contact me if you require
any further information.

Yours sincerely

Olwen Dutton
Chief Executive
West Midlands Regional Assembly

Sent by
Jo Kite
Head of Communications
West Midlands Regional Assembly &
West Midlands Local Government Association
Regional Partnership Centre
Albert House, Quay Place,
Edward Street,
Birmingham, B1 2RA

T: 0121 678 1044
F: 0121 245 0201
M: 07917 475 652
W: www.wmra.gov.uk or www.wmlga.gov.uk

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