00:00First Minister, the community of Pembroke Dock and wider South Pembrokeshire was delighted last week to learn that following a
00:06year-long campaign, a banking hub will be established in the town.
00:11Having been trusted to lead this community campaign, I worked with local residents and town and community councils to gather
00:17over 1500 signatures on my petition, raised the issue in this chamber and a number of times engaged extensively with
00:25ministers, the FCA, the Older People's Commissioner and with Link,
00:28who I convinced to return to the area to undertake an in-person assessment and meet with concerned residents.
00:34It demonstrates what can be achieved when a community comes together to not accept no for an answer.
00:41But with a temporary hub expected within three months, momentum is clearly building.
00:46Given that banking hubs are operated through the post office and we have committed in our manifesto to scrapping business
00:52rates for post offices,
00:54will you commit to the same to ensure that these vital services are given breathing space so that they can
00:59support our town centres, our high streets and our communities?
01:03Well, I too am delighted to see that banking hub that is going to be supported in Pembroke Dock.
01:09If ever there were a community that needs to make sure they get access to funding and to their own
01:14money, it is that community there in Pembroke Dock.
01:18I think it's, you know, I understand why you're making this offer of scrapping business rates for everybody.
01:25What you're not telling them, what you're not telling them is how much it costs to do that.
01:32And I think a bit of honesty from the Conservative Party in terms of the costs of what they're offering,
01:38and the costs, not just in terms of the businesses, but the costs to other public services that will be
01:44cut as a result that you are making elsewhere.
