Minister stumped by timely question

Dec 5 2007

SO HOW long, exactly, does the Minister for the West Midlands spend on his important work representing our region?

Liam Byrne didn't seem to know when he was put on the spot in the House of Commons.

The Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill was appointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as the region's high-profile champion at Westminster.

But as well as being Minister for the West Midlands, he is also the Home Office minister responsible for immigration - one of the biggest issues facing the government.

And when he was asked which job took up most of his time, during a session of the Home Affairs Select Committee, he had to admit his work as an Immigration Minister came first.

But he was reluctant to answer the question at all, as this transcript shows:

Taunton MP Jeremy Browne (Lib Dem): Can you tell me what proportion of your ministerial time is devoted to borders and immigration and what proportion to the West Midlands?

Mr Byrne: That is a very difficult question to answer because it varies from week to week.

Mr Browne: What is your experience since you were appointed to the two positions?

Mr Byrne: I have not done that calculation.

Mr Browne: Approximately?

Mr Byrne: It varies from week to week and depends on what is going on in the constituency and also my family life.

Mr Browne: Taking purely your ministerial, not constituency, time, since you became minister what have been the percentages?

Mr Byrne: My job as minister for borders and immigration consumes the lion's share of my time.

Mr Browne: Is it 51 per cent or possibly more?

Eventually, Mr Byrne agreed to write to the committee with an answer.