HS2 Ltd is being criticised by a politician after information has shown it is currently hiring much more people in London than it is in Birmingham.

The MP for Perry Barr Khalid Mahmood uncovered this after asking questions on the HS2 scheme. Although it has an office in St Philip's Place in Birmingham city centre, just seven people have been hired to work there - in contrast to the 550 employed in London.

Mr Mahmood said: "The government needs to get its act together. Rather than blaming everyone else for not supporting it, they need to ensure the jobs are distributed across the country and particularly in Birmingham and Manchester."

The potential employment opportunities have been one of the positive aspects of HS2, as well as its ability to bridge the north-south divide.

A spokesman for HS2 stated the scheme would still play a large part in the Birmingham's economic uplift in the future, claiming future resources will be distributed as the project continues. He stated thousands of positions would be available in areas such as planning, design, construction and operation.

HS2 also announced it would be at the Skills Show between November 14th and 16th, held in Birmingham, to encourage the relevant skills needed by the scheme.