Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to ensure that Jobcentre Plus districts align with the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

An alignment happens naturally within the working arrangements of the DWP and Local Authorities (LA). At present, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and DWP align with 6 of the 7 LA’s within the Birmingham and Solihull and Black Country Districts.

Coventry, as part of Mercia District, is the 7^th LA. Whilst Mercia takes in the rural parts of the DWP West Midlands geography (Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin), Coventry is very much an integral part of the WMCA’s area and forms an important part of the wider and inclusive partnership working arrangements.

All parts of the WMCA fall within the wider DWP West Midlands Region and the accountability of the same Leadership Team.