Midlands Engine key to Government's 'devolution revolution', says Business Secretary Sajid Javid

Sajid Javid said the Government was 'driving forward' its vision for the region, as he announced a Midlands Engine Investment Fund of more than £250 million to invest in smaller businesses.

It comes after George Osborne came under fire from business leaders in the West Midlands for championing the Northern Powerhouse at the expense of the Midlands Engine during his Budget speech.

Speaking during a visit to Birmingham City University, Mr Javid said: "Driving growth in the Midlands is a key part of the Government's devolution revolution.

"There are almost 96,000 more businesses now than in 2010, the equivalent to 52 opening every day.

"The new £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund will go further by backing even more growing businesses and creating thousands of new jobs throughout the region."

As part of the Budget the Government pledged to put new regional transport body Midlands Connect on a statutory footing by the end of 2018.

It announced development work on four major roads in the Midlands, including upgrading the M42 and M5 around Birmingham to a four lane smart motorway.

An £11m fund was also announced to fill around 214,000 potholes, while the creation of an Enterprise Zone at Brierley Hill was also confirmed, subject to business case approval.

Meanwhile the region will also receive more than £15 million funding to support research and development into lowering vehicle emissions.

But many business leaders in the Black Country and Staffordshire said the Chancellor had overlooked the Midlands Engine.

They included Keith Bryan, chairman of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, who said the Black Country had been 'ignored' by the Chancellor.

Paul Cadman, group managing director of Oldbury-based Futura Group, who was a panel member at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce's recent Budget briefing.

He said: "My feeling was it was all about the Northern Powerhouse and nothing much for the Midlands Engine."

Professor Mike Haynes, from the University of Wolverhampton Business School, said that most of the big infrastructure announcements were focused away from the West Midlands.

The Greater Birmingham Chamber went a stage further, with director Henrietta Brealey saying: "There's more to England than the North and London."

However Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said that the Prime Minister had mentioned the Midlands Engine 'with enthusiasm' before the Budget during PMQs.