Last weekend saw Small Business Saturday, an annual opportunity to celebrate the small and independent businesses that are the beating heart and backbone of our area – there are more than 5,000 small enterprises in Flintshire alone. Small businesses and shops are what make our town centres, serving both people and places – they bring people together, provide jobs and make a key contribution to our local economy. That’s why I’ll always champion small businesses across communities and our corner of the country. From local cafés and clothing stores to bookshops and butchers, these businesses offer far more than just products or services – they shape our towns and our communities.

The Welsh Government also announced last week further help with business rates for small businesses – an additional £116m of support as business rates in Wales will be updated to reflect current property values. From April next year, the revaluation will mean many will see their bills fall, while others will see them go up, and any business whose bill increases by more than £300 next year will have the rise phased in gradually over two years. Small shops will also benefit from a new lower rate, cutting their bills by around £20m – the Welsh Government already provides £250m each year in permanent business rates relief. Around two thirds of all properties in Wales will either pay no rates or receive some form of relief, which is especially good news for our high streets.

Many readers would have heard about the Welsh Government’s Investment Summit on the news – organised by the First Minister, the summit attracted more than 300 senior business leaders, representing around 30 countries. The summit aimed to showcase Wales’ strengths as a competitive destination for investment and more than 170 companies engaged with Wales for the first time. Since the summit was launched last summer, investment linked to it now totals £16bn and these investments are expected to support the creation of more than 10,000 jobs over the coming year –high-quality jobs and opportunities that can help lift people out of poverty and support stronger, more prosperous communities.

In the Senedd this week, I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care for an update on the recent national agreement to improve pay and conditions for NHS staff. This agreement is a welcome and just recognition of the work, commitment and dedication of more than 6,000 – predominantly women – vital healthcare workers, supported throughout by their trade union UNISON. As a proud UNISON Cymru member, I’m pleased to see fair work realised not just in principle, but in practice. The Welsh Government confirmed that the agreement is the result of strong social partnership working and will ensure staff are finally paid correctly for the work they do, with payments due by next July. It shows the real difference our Welsh Government is making for workers in Wales. You can see many of my questions in the Senedd on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.

Last week we marked 10 years since Wales led the way in the UK by introducing ‘deemed consent’ to help save the lives of hundreds of people in need of an organ transplant. This important legislation has saved or changed hundreds of lives – and the rest of the UK has now followed Wales’ lead. Since 2015, more than 2,000 organs have been donated in Wales and, now, 50% of Wales’ population has registered their wishes through the NHS. Organ donation is your decision. You can choose which organs to donate or opt out of donation altogether – make your wishes known at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

Last week also saw World AIDS Day and I was pleased to host this year’s Fast Track Cymru World AIDS Day event in the Senedd. It was a chance to recognise how far we’ve come, speak with dedicated teams from across Wales and reaffirm our shared goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030. With Wales now a Fast Track Nation and our HIV Action Plan ensuring better access to testing, treatment and support, we are making real progress – but there is more to do. Last week colleagues and I wore the red ribbon to remember those we’ve lost, stand with those living with HIV and commit to a future free from stigma.

As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales. You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait for an advice surgery.