First Minister, as we look ahead to Small Business Saturday, as you have, I'd like to acknowledge as well the amazing perseverance of small businesses here in Wales, particularly in my region of South Wales West. These companies, many of which are family-run, turn over approximately £46 billion each year, which is more than double the entire Welsh Government's annual budget. As well as providing 62.5 per cent of all employment in Wales, small businesses also reinvest a higher rate of the revenue back into the local economy, which boosts the overall prosperity of an area. So, with that in mind, I think it's disappointing to see Welsh companies still paying the highest business rates in the whole of Great Britain, with Wales applying a higher multiplier on rateable value than either England or Scotland. How can it possibly be in keeping with the spirit of Small Business Saturday to leave Welsh companies at a competitive disadvantage to their UK counterparts?

At a time when our small businesses and high streets are attempting to recover from the pandemic and many are facing increased competition from online retailers as well, we simply can't afford to stifle small and family-owned companies with higher taxes. So, whilst the temporary COVID support from Welsh Government is welcome, by its very nature, it is temporary. So, what action is the Welsh Government taking to reduce the burden of business rates on small businesses in Wales to allow them to thrive?