I thank the Deputy Minister for her statement. There is a lot to welcome in it. There's a growing realisation that towns have been left behind due to the inaction of Governments here and in Westminster, and there's a realisation as well, I think, that that needs to change because of how important town centres are for businesses, for the health of the local economy, and of course—most importantly, perhaps—for the people who live in them.

We'll all be familiar with the experience of visiting the centres of historic and strategically important towns in Wales and being dismayed at seeing dereliction and shops with their shutters down. But, Deputy Minister, there are seeds of hope in Wales as well, and I think we'd all like to take this opportunity to congratulate Treorchy for winning the prize of the UK's best high street. So, what's Treorchy doing right? There are around 100 shops on the high street, with the vast majority being run independently, and the occupancy rate is a staggering 96 per cent, which is just phenomenal. This is what we should be aiming for all over Wales. So, I'd welcome hearing what the Welsh Government will be doing to learn from their experiences there—not least the fact that, according to the BBC, 60 per cent of the independent shops are run by women, which shows how a locally based economy can bring tangible benefits in economic equality.

Now, another success story in the making is Llanelli, where the local authority has made excellent use of funding streams, including the town-centre loan scheme. So, could the Deputy Minister confirm that this funding will continue to be available for local authorities that are keen to use all the levers at their disposal to turn their town centres around? Now, I'd agree that the £10 million fund for bringing derelict properties back into use is appropriate as a first step to tackling that problem. But the complaint we hear from businesses time and again is that they simply can't make ends meet because of the crippling burden of business rates, which are high in Wales for small and medium-sized businesses, as you'll know. So, while I welcome the tough words that you've said, when you say that you'll empower local authorities to take firm and final action against owners of empty properties that refuse to co-operate, we do need action as well to prevent these properties from becoming derelict and empty in the first place. So, I'd urge you to persuade the economy Minister to look at how the burden of business rates can be lifted as a priority, so that your firm words can be complemented with firm action in that regard as well.

Indeed, lots of the problems that town centres are facing do emanate—as these things are all connected, they will emanate from the economy and transport portfolios: a lack of affordable bus services within and between towns that makes it difficult for public transport users to get around, and unreasonable parking costs, which makes taking a trip in a car undesirable for so many people.

I was slightly surprised to see a reference to local services, like leisure centres, being essential to town centres. Of course I agree with that principle, but campaigners in my region had to fight tooth and nail to prevent the closure of a valued local resource in Pontllanfraith leisure centre. Again, I don't doubt the sincerity of the intent here, but I feel that greater cross-portfolio working would benefit the Government here as well, because cuts to local government inevitably mean cuts to local services, and a one-Government approach would really be welcome to be seen there.

And finally, I'd like to thank the Deputy Minister for the note she circulated before the statement about the town-centre-first principle. This is something that Plaid Cymru wholeheartedly supports as a way to maximise footfall within our town centres, and again, I hope that the ambition is met with action. It was mentioned in the note that not all public services and facilities will be suitable for a town centre, so could you please indicate what services and facilities you foresee won't be suitable for town centres? But again, there's a lot to welcome here and I look forward to scrutinising the delivery of the plans with interest.