Sir Bill's the most talkative MP in the West Midlands

Independent analysis of the number of times MPs have spoken shows a big gulf between them.

Of course the figures on their own do not necessarily say which MP is the hardest working.

They only reveal the number of times an MP spoke from the green benches on the floor of the House of Commons, rather than what they have done in committees.

And it does not disclose work done answering constituents' letters and emails or asking questions of ministers.

In the Black Country and Staffordshire, Lichfield's Michael Fabricant has the lowest word count at 4,283.

However, for much of his time since the election he was a Government whip which meant he had to keep his comments to himself.

Since he returned to the backbenches in 2012 he has been much more outspoken and made up for lost time, particularly on Twitter where he sparked a row after joking that he would have punched a journalist in the throat had he been on live television with her.

He has also been very vocal in campaigning for a ban to be lifted on sexually active gay men donating blood, not to mention his opposition to the planned route for the high speed rail line HS2.

Veteran Labour MP David Winnick, who represents Walsall North also clocked up 44,325 words in 236 debates, speaking 334 times.

Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds, the MP for Wolverhampton North East, has spoken 55,089 words in 97 debates.

Mr Winnick, at 81, is the oldest West Midlands MP.

He said: "I always believed that I should contribute to debates. That's why I'm there in the first place. I did not want to be a passengers.

"I'm not suggesting others are passengers and there are those who will disagree on what makes a good MP."

Sir Bill, an ardent Eurosceptic Tory, added: "I take an active interest in what's affecting my constituents and the national interest.

"I speak on matters ranging Stafford Hospital to wind farms and planning issues.

"These are matters that have to be raised and I just get on with the job."

And Miss Reynolds, who got the highest number of words spoken among Black Country MPs, said: "Since my election four years ago I have been determined to give a voice in Parliament to the people of Wolverhampton.

"It is a privilege to represent my home town. I believe in the importance of parliamentary debate and holding the government to account."

By comparison the figures showed Labour leader Ed Miliband has spoken 938 times, a total of 152,277 words.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, who answers questions for half an hour every week, has spoken 7,074 times, totalling 810,334 words.

MP Constituency Number of debates spoken in Number of times spoken (contributed) Number of words spoken

Ian Austin Dudley North 93 152 20,707

Adrian Bailey West Bromwich West 99 227 44,716

Aidan Burley Cannock Chase 65 148 27,701

Sir Bill Cash Stone 237 1,037 176,093

Michael Fabricant Lichfield 23 39 4,283

Mark Garnier Wyre Forest 45 104 25,930

Margot James Stourbridge 181 305 42,970

Chris Kelly Dudley South 34 43 8,038

Jeremy Lefroy Stafford 183 245 49,730

Pat McFadden Wolverhampton South East 90 166 35,329

James Morris Halesowen and Rowley Regis 179 228 33,589

Emma Reynolds Wolverhampton North East 97 310 55,089

Richard Shepherd Aldridge-Brownhills 34 117 26,548

John Spellar Warley 84 151 29,160

Paul Uppal Wolverhampton South West 106 130 22,666

Valerie Vaz Walsall South 157 191 32,307

Tom Watson West Bromwich East 97 128 14,987

Gavin Williamson South Staffordshire 85 164 17,945

David Winnick Walsall North 236 334 44,325