Regional committee idea supported

Liam Byrne has been in the role for a year

The Minister for the West Midlands has expressed support for the idea of having a regional committee where he would be put on the spot.

Liam Byrne told the BBC's Politics Show the concept was "not before time".

The Commons Modernisation Committee said there should be select committees for England's regions so MPs can check work of Regional Development Agencies.

There would be a number of "grand committees" with the power to question England's regional ministers.

'Within reach'

"I'm one of those people who thought that what regional ministers do is actually bring an air of urgency about decisions," Mr Byrne said.

"I think that if we bring in a bit more sunlight actually we'll get decisions made faster."

He added the government was trying to make it easier for people to trigger a referendum for an elected mayor "if they want to go in that particular direction".

The minister, who has been in the role for a year, said it is "not about imposing mayors".

The Birmingham Hodge Hill MP said: "It's just saying instead of the kind of paper-based petitions that we've been using for frankly hundreds of years, what about some changes?

"What about letting people use online petitions? What about making it easier to trigger those kind of ballots?

"It's just about putting power closer within reach of people in the West Midlands."