Plaid Cymru has some sympathy with the technical content of this Order, to a great extent, which is the intention to change the inflationary measure that's used to calculate the non-domestic rating multiplier—changing to CPI rather than RPI. We have been calling for that for some time. But, looking at the bigger picture, when we look at the explanatory memorandum—which is monolingually in English, by the way—you explain that the purpose of the Order is to support economic growth and to reduce the taxation burden on businesses and other non-domestic ratepayers in Wales. You also say that you intend to ensure that businesses in Wales aren't under a disadvantage as compared to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Well, the situation is, of course, that small businesses in Wales are at a disadvantage as compared to other parts of the United Kingdom because whatever inflationary measures are used, the existence of a single multiplier for all businesses, large or small, means that small businesses are under a disadvantage. In Scotland and England, there's a different multiplier available with regard to business rates for large and small businesses, and that means then that there is a way to ensure a greater element of fairness in the system for taxation. So, because of that, we will be symbolically voting against this Order.

We feel an increasing frustration with the speed of policy change in this area where, forever and a day, Assembly Members are aware of the frustration in the business community with a tax that dates back centuries and that isn't fit for purpose in the current era. I look forward to continuing those constructive discussions with the Cabinet Secretary in other fora in looking at amending in a radical way with regard to abolishing this. We do need to look at alternative models, but while we are still discussing the current framework, which is insufficient, then I'm afraid that, in this particular instance, Plaid Cymru will have to oppose this Order as a symbolic vote.