English: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to formally move this important motion in the name of Paul Davies and, in doing so, declare that I also have a share in a small business myself. The objective of this debate today is to recognise the massive contribution that small and medium-sized enterprises and the retail industry make to the Welsh economy. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Welsh economy. A statistic that I often like to quote is that 99 per cent of all businesses in Wales are small businesses. If each of those had the resources to employ one additional member of staff, unemployment in Wales would effectively be wiped out. Now, one way of alleviating the pressure on small businesses and to free up much-needed cash would be for the Welsh Government to use the economic levers at its disposal to be the low-tax capital for business and take small businesses out of rates altogether. But I would say, please don't take my word for it. With your permission, and technology allowing, Deputy Presiding Officer, I would now like to show some footage of individuals speaking about how they have been affected by business rates. Apart from the first business owner shown on the film, who approached me directly, the footage of the other individuals was collected by Assembly officials for the purpose of an inquiry into business rates by the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee. So, I should say the showing of this video does not imply that the individuals who were filmed by Assembly officials are supporters of this motion or indeed any other amendment, and that their footage is being shown simply as background information about this issue. I appreciate that other committee members have indicated that they were content for these clips to be shown as well.
Welsh: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn gynnig y cynnig pwysig hwn yn ffurfiol yn enw Paul Davies a thrwy wneud hynny, ddatgan bod gennyf innau hefyd gyfran mewn busnes bach fy hun. Amcan y ddadl hon heddiw yw cydnabod cyfraniad aruthrol busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint a'r diwydiant manwerthu i economi Cymru. Busnesau bach yw asgwrn cefn economi Cymru. Ystadegyn rwy'n aml yn hoff o'i ddyfynnu yw bod 99 y cant o'r holl fusnesau yng Nghymru yn fusnesau bach. Pe bai gan bob un o'r rheini adnoddau i gyflogi un aelod ychwanegol o staff, byddai diweithdra yng Nghymru yn cael ei ddileu i bob pwrpas. Nawr, un ffordd o leddfu'r pwysau ar fusnesau bach a rhyddhau'r arian parod mawr ei angen fyddai i Lywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio'r ffactorau sbarduno economaidd sydd ar gael iddi i fod yn brifddinas treth isel ar gyfer busnesau a dileu'r angen i fusnesau bach dalu ardrethi yn gyfan gwbl. Ond buaswn yn dweud wrthych am beidio â chymryd fy ngair i am hynny. Gyda'ch caniatâd, ac os yw'r dechnoleg yn caniatáu, Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn ddangos ffilm o unigolion yn siarad ynglŷn â sut yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ardrethi busnes. Ar wahân i'r perchennog busnes cyntaf a ddangosir ar y ffilm, a gysylltodd â mi yn uniongyrchol, ffilmiwyd yr unigolion eraill gan swyddogion y Cynulliad at ddibenion ymchwiliad i ardrethi busnes gan Bwyllgor yr Economi, y Seilwaith a Sgiliau. Felly, dylwn ddweud nad yw dangos y fideo'n awgrymu bod yr unigolion a gafodd eu ffilmio gan swyddogion y Cynulliad yn cefnogi'r cynnig hwn neu unrhyw welliant arall yn wir, a bod eu ffilm yn cael ei dangos yn syml fel gwybodaeth gefndirol am y mater hwn. Rwy'n deall bod aelodau eraill y pwyllgor wedi nodi eu bod yn fodlon i'r clipiau hyn gael eu dangos hefyd.