MLA

The West Midlands region is situated in the heart of England and includes the major urban centres of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry. It has a population of 5.27 million (9% of the UK total), 11.3% of whom come from ethnic minorities. Over half the regional population lives in the large conurbations, while over 2 million reside in the region's rural counties, which cover three-quarters of the region's area.

Manufacturing remains an important element in the economy and as the centre of the country's road and rail network the region is a major exporter of goods and services, accounting for approximately 8% of the national total by value.

• There are 214 museums in the region attracting over 4 million visits a year.
• 14 local authorities run 307 static and 51 mobile libraries employing 4,000 staff and receiving 32 million visits per year. Over 50% of the region's population are library members.
• There are 24 archives in the region employing some 532 staff and attendance at archives in the West Midlands is the highest of any English region.