2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the progress of the mid Wales growth deal? OQ56937

I thank the Member for that, Llywydd. The region’s joint committee approved the portfolio business case on 21 September. Subject to confirmation by both local authority cabinets, we expect it to be submitted to both Governments in early October, and if all goes well, the full deal agreement could be completed by the end of this year.

Thank you, First Minister, for that. Across mid Wales and Brecon and Radnorshire, we have the largest amount of small and medium-sized businesses in the whole of the country, which is a true testament to the hard-working people of our rural communities, who are the powerhouse of the Welsh economy. Many business owners I speak to across Wales always raise the issue with me of business rates. With the business rate holiday coming to an end next year, many businesses have told me that they would like to have a rethink of business rates and that we need a level playing field across the United Kingdom. For example, in England, businesses have 100 per cent rate relief for the first £12,000, compared to only the first £6,000 in Wales. That's a £6,000 difference that could make a huge difference, with employers being able to give more money to staff, to give them more money. So, First Minister, will you now follow the announcement that was made at the UK Labour conference and abolish business rates in Wales for small businesses so our businesses can then fire up the Welsh economy?

Llywydd, I think the Member has picked up the wrong supplementary, because, as far as I am aware, business rates are not a responsibility of the mid Wales growth deal, which is the question on the order paper. So, I am struggling to understand the relevance of what he's just asked me to what I believed his question was to be about.

Here in Wales, of course, businesses still have a rates holiday for the rest of this financial year. Where his party is in charge, in England, that is no longer the case. Their business rates holiday is over, having been withdrawn by the Conservative Government. I hugely welcome the announcement that was made at my party's conference, because when a Labour Government is able to implement that policy for England, then the money will flow to Wales to allow us to continue to develop the scheme we have, which supports a far higher percentage of Welsh businesses than are supported by the equivalent scheme of his Government in England.

That's a perfectly fair assessment by the First Minister on the remit of the question and the supplementary as asked. So, thank you for clarifying that for all of us.