Businesses are up and down in my constituency, and they play a huge part in my community. I'd like to list them all, as Luke Fletcher did, but after my contribution last year, I had some e-mails from people who were quite upset that I didn't mention them, so I think it's probably best that I don't. Just to say, there are a number of businesses, north and south, east and west in my constituency, and they provide services, they create jobs, they create wealth and, in many cases, they are the social hubs of communities. There are a number of small businesses in the area that do that, and I was fortunate to go to the Powys business awards in Brecon barracks the other week, and it was fantastic to see so many businesses right across Powys that do an absolutely fantastic job of promoting Wales and promoting our area. And these are run by hard-working people who pour their life and their soul into these businesses. They're not hugely wealthy corporations and they don't have a huge amount of cash behind them, but they are hard-working people who provide jobs and important services, and it is those jobs for those local people that do support our local families. That's why it's crucial and it's important that our small businesses are supported, not just by the Welsh Government, but the UK Government as well, and all Governments right across the country in what is becoming an uncertain world, due to rising energy costs and commodity costs.

But there are concrete things that the Welsh Government can do around business rates, and I would like to see business rates lowered here in Wales to make our businesses more competitive, because many businesses that I speak to in my constituency say that they're at an immediate disadvantage to other parts of the UK and it also is driving people out of the high streets, because they simply cannot afford the rates that they have to pay. And I would like Welsh Government Ministers to recognise the wealth production and the job creation that these small businesses have, because they are the lifeline for many of our communities. Without these small businesses on our high street, they will simply die, and I'm sure that that's something the Deputy Minister doesn't want to see, that's something that I don't want to see, and I'm sure that nobody across this Chamber wants to see our high streets becoming an area where nobody is going and they just become derelict and deserted.

But what I want to see is more businesses; I want to see more of them being set up, more opportunities, more grants, more availability, more shops coming online for people to actually access these businesses. Because when business thrives, our public services thrive, because without their help to contribute to the economy, we cannot have the vital public services that all need. So, I would encourage every Member in the Chamber to get out and support Small Business Saturday and do your shopping there—ditch Amazon and join the high street.