To mark Small Business Saturday, Dr Altaf Hussain AM paid a visit to the historic and iconic covered market in Swansea.
Altaf chatted with stall-holders to gain a better understanding of the issues faced by small businesses and learn all about their arrays of great local produce.
A common theme was the burden that high business rates impose on firms such as these, and the high cost of parking in Swansea City Centre which stallholders say deters customers from coming in to town as well as effectively taxing their staff for the 'privilege' of coming to work.
Altaf said: "I was very pleased to be able to spread the message that Welsh Conservative policies wuould see both business rates and parking charges in Swansea reduced. I met some great family businesses that have been well-loved by their customers for many years - over several generations - and form part of the market's character. The market in turn is an integral aspect of Swansea's character - the Council should be doing all it can to ensure that it continues to thrive and not treating its stall-holders as a 'cash cow'. These are great businesses that should be given every ecouragement to thrive".