Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department will take steps to align Jobcentre Plus office areas with the region covered by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

As part of the Government's trailblazer deeper devolution deal with West Midlands Combined Authority, the Department of Work and Pensions has committed to strengthened partnership working with new joint governance arrangements.

We have also committed to work together on the design of future contracted employment provision, including co-design and a delegated delivery model, aligned with the Combined Authority’s geographical footprint.

Full details of the West Midlands Combined Authority deal can be found here: West Midlands Combined Authority: West Midlands Combined Authority: “Trailblazer” deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).