James Evans says the Welsh Government must help revitalise local town centres.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said at the Senedd that town centres are at the heart of communities in his “great constituency”.

He said they are where people gather in coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and shops for essential goods and where they recognise the great work of local high streets.

But Mr Evans said rural Wales is home to some of the most deprived areas of the country.

He said: “The GVA of Mid Wales was the lowest out of the UK economic regions at £17,628 per head in 2019.

“Reviving our town centres is vital to tackling poverty and increasing the wealth of families in places such as Mid Wales.

“This must be done by investing properly in supporting private enterprise and entrepreneurship.”

Mr Evans said that if the Government awarded business loans to young entrepreneurs in the same way that it awards student loans, he was sure the country “would be in a very different economic place”.