English: Diolch, Llywydd. I'm pleased to move the motion, tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. As Members will be aware, next Saturday is Small Business Saturday, and it gives me great pleasure to open a debate on the importance of small businesses to Welsh communities and the economy. Now in its tenth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday returns with a mission - to support and celebrate the UK's 5.6 million small businesses, particularly as they face mounting economic challenges this winter. According to the Federation of Small Businesses' small business index, almost 35,000 small businesses in Wales are expecting to downsize, close or sell their business in the coming months. Therefore, I do hope that Members will support the campaign by visiting a small business or promoting a small business in their constituency or region, to help raise awareness of the benefits of buying local. Today's motion rightly recognises the vital contribution small businesses make in sustaining local economies, developing communities and creating jobs. In Wales, small businesses make up 99.4 per cent of businesses, contributing 62.4 per cent of private sector employment and 37.9 per cent of turnover. But they are so much more than small enterprises. They are vital components of our communities and fundamental to our society too. The Federation of Small Businesses report, 'SMEs as the key to rebuilding Wales's economy and communities', makes it clear that, in times of crisis or need, small businesses are there at the forefront of their communities, bringing skills, capacity and capabilities to bear on social challenges. And that's entirely right. Small businesses are very much agents of social change, and we see that right across Wales, where businesses are doing incredible things to support local projects and good causes. Therefore, it's vital that Governments at all levels are working together to best support our small businesses and provide them with the conditions they need to help them flourish and grow. The Welsh Government must look at how it can reduce the business rate burden here in Wales, through measures such as the reinstatement of the 100 per cent rates relief holiday, for example. We know that Welsh businesses pay the highest business rates in Great Britain, and that business rates are one of the top costs for small businesses. That's why the Welsh Government must ensure that its business rates position is not one that is regressive, but instead supports aspiration and business growth. The next non-domestic rates revaluation will take effect on 1 April 2023, based on property values as of 1 April 2021, meaning that the rateable values should reflect the impact of the COVID pandemic, as well as changes in the tax base since the last revaluation. And so, I hope the Welsh Government will use this opportunity to really reflect on the difficulties that the rates system is having on small businesses, and take the opportunity to make some positive change. Of course, cost-of-living pressures are really hitting small businesses hard, and I know the Welsh Government has provided some support to help SMEs in Wales relaunch, develop, decarbonise and grow, to help drive economic recovery. That support is, of course, welcome, but businesses are telling us they need more support. The recent Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report on cost-of-living pressures made it very clear that the Welsh Government needs to intervene financially to help businesses weather the current cost-of-living pressures in order to protect high-quality jobs. This could either be in the form of grants to the worst-affected businesses, or indeed as low-cost loans to support efficiency and sustainability projects. And so, perhaps, in responding to this debate, the Deputy Minister will tell us more about the actions being taken to address the recommendations laid out in that report. Llywydd, small businesses are already reporting a rising cost of labour and skills shortages, and the Welsh Government must think innovatively about how we can best address this. It's crucial that employers, training providers and policy makers all work together to ensure the skills system delivers for individuals, businesses and the Welsh economy. I sincerely hope that the Welsh Government prioritises skills as an area that warrants much more time and attention going forward. Wales's small businesses are the lifeblood of our country, showcasing the very best of our nation, our innovation, our community cohesion and our people, and so this Small Business Saturday, I hope all Members will take the opportunity to celebrate our small businesses and show their support for this campaign. The resilience of small businesses continues to be tested, and it's vital that the Welsh Government does whatever it can to lessen the burden and support our Small and medium-sized enterprises. Whether that's having a cuppa in a local cafe, buying an early Christmas present from a small shop or visiting your local butcher, there's a small business out there that needs our support. In my own constituency, I continue to be impressed with the high-quality produce that's on offer by many businesses, and I know that Members representing areas right across Wales feel the same. So, this Saturday, let's all redouble our efforts and champion our SMEs by buying and promoting local businesses. I urge Members to support our motion.
Welsh: Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o wneud y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod Darren Millar. Fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod, dydd Sadwrn nesaf yw Dydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach, ac mae'n rhoi pleser mawr i mi agor dadl ar bwysigrwydd busnesau bach i gymunedau Cymru a'r economi. Mae Dydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach wedi bod wrthi ers deng mlynedd yn y DU bellach, ac mae'n dychwelyd gyda chenhadaeth - i gefnogi a dathlu 5.6 miliwn o fusnesau bach y DU, yn enwedig wrth iddynt wynebu heriau economaidd cynyddol y gaeaf hwn. Yn ôl mynegai busnesau bach Ffederasiwn y Busnesau Bach, mae bron i 35,000 o fusnesau bach yng Nghymru yn disgwyl lleihau, cau neu werthu eu busnes dros y misoedd nesaf. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cefnogi'r ymgyrch drwy ymweld â busnes bach neu hyrwyddo busnes bach yn eu hetholaeth neu ranbarth, er mwyn helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o fanteision prynu'n lleol. Mae'r cynnig heddiw yn cydnabod cyfraniad hanfodol busnesau bach yn cynnal economïau lleol, datblygu cymunedau a chreu swyddi. Yng Nghymru, busnesau bach yw 99.4 y cant o fusnesau, ac maent yn cyfrannu 62.4 y cant o gyflogaeth y sector preifat, a 37.9 y cant o'r trosiant. Ond maent yn gymaint mwy na mentrau bach. Maent yn elfennau hanfodol o'n cymunedau ac yn allweddol i'n cymdeithas hefyd. Mae adroddiad Ffederasiwn y Busnesau Bach, 'SMEs as the key to rebuilding Wales's economy and communities', yn ei gwneud yn glir, mewn cyfnod o argyfwng neu angen, fod busnesau bach yno ar flaen y gad yn eu cymunedau, yn sicrhau sgiliau, capasiti a galluoedd ar gyfer ysgwyddo heriau cymdeithasol. Ac mae hynny'n hollol iawn. Mae busnesau bach yn gyfryngau newid cymdeithasol, ac rydym yn gweld hynny ledled Cymru, lle mae busnesau'n gwneud pethau anhygoel i gefnogi prosiectau lleol ac achosion da. Felly, mae'n hanfodol fod Llywodraethau ar bob lefel yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i gefnogi ein busnesau bach yn y ffordd orau a darparu'r amodau sydd eu hangen arnynt i'w helpu i ffynnu a thyfu. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych ar sut y gall leihau'r baich ardrethi busnes yma yng Nghymru, drwy fesurau fel adfer y gwyliau rhyddhad ardrethi 100 y cant, er enghraifft. Fe wyddom mai busnesau Cymru sy'n talu'r ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain, a bod ardrethi busnes yn un o'r prif gostau i fusnesau bach. Dyna pam y mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru sicrhau nad yw ei safbwynt ar ardrethi busnes yn un sy'n anflaengar, ond yn hytrach ei bod yn cefnogi dyhead a thwf busnes. Bydd yr ailbrisiad ardrethi annomestig nesaf yn dod i rym ar 1 Ebrill 2023, yn seiliedig ar werthoedd eiddo ar 1 Ebrill 2021, sy'n golygu y dylai'r gwerthoedd ardrethol adlewyrchu effaith y pandemig COVID, yn ogystal â newidiadau yn y sylfaen drethi ers yr ailbrisiad diwethaf. Ac felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio'r cyfle hwn i roi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i'r anawsterau y mae'r system ardrethi'n eu creu i fusnesau bach, a manteisio ar y cyfle i wneud newid cadarnhaol. Wrth gwrs, mae pwysau costau byw'n taro busnesau bach yn galed, ac rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu peth cymorth i helpu busnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru i ail-lansio, datblygu, datgarboneiddio a thyfu, er mwyn helpu i sbarduno adferiad economaidd. Mae'r cymorth hwnnw i'w groesawu wrth gwrs, ond mae busnesau'n dweud wrthym eu bod angen mwy o gymorth. Roedd adroddiad diweddar y Pwyllgor Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig ar bwysau costau byw yn ei gwneud hi'n glir iawn fod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ymyrryd yn ariannol i helpu busnesau i oroesi'r pwysau costau byw presennol er mwyn gwarchod swyddi o ansawdd uchel. Gallai hyn naill ai fod ar ffurf grantiau i'r busnesau yr effeithir arnynt waethaf, neu'n wir fel benthyciadau cost isel i gefnogi prosiectau effeithlonrwydd a chynaliadwyedd. Ac felly, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl hon, efallai y gwnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog ddweud mwy wrthym am y camau sy'n cael eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r argymhellion a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Lywydd, mae busnesau bach eisoes yn nodi cost gynyddol prinder llafur a sgiliau, a rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru feddwl yn arloesol am y ffordd orau o fynd i'r afael â hyn. Mae'n hanfodol fod cyflogwyr, darparwyr hyfforddiant a llunwyr polisi i gyd yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau bod y system sgiliau yn darparu ar gyfer unigolion, busnesau ac economi Cymru. Rwy'n mawr obeithio bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn blaenoriaethu sgiliau fel maes sy'n galw am lawer mwy o amser a sylw wrth symud ymlaen. Busnesau bach Cymru yw anadl einioes ein gwlad, wrth iddynt arddangos y pethau gorau yn ein gwlad, ein harloesedd, ein cydlyniant cymunedol a'n pobl, ac felly y Dydd Sadwrn Busnesau Bach hwn, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr holl Aelodau yn manteisio ar y cyfle i ddathlu ein busnesau bach a dangos eu cefnogaeth i'r ymgyrch hon. Mae gwytnwch busnesau bach yn parhau i gael ei brofi, ac mae'n hanfodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru'n gwneud beth bynnag y gall ei wneud i leihau'r baich a chefnogi ein busnesau bach a chanolig. Boed hynny'n gael paned mewn caffi lleol, prynu anrheg Nadolig cynnar o siop fach neu ymweld â'ch cigydd lleol, mae yna fusnes bach allan yno sydd angen ein cefnogaeth. Yn fy etholaeth i, mae ansawdd uchel y cynnyrch sy'n cael ei gynnig gan lawer o fusnesau'n parhau i wneud argraff fawr arnaf, ac rwy'n gwybod bod Aelodau sy'n cynrychioli ardaloedd ar draws Cymru'n teimlo yr un fath. Felly, y dydd Sadwrn hwn, gadewch i bawb ohonom ddyblu ein hymdrechion a hyrwyddo ein busnesau bach a chanolig drwy brynu a hyrwyddo busnesau lleol. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi ein cynnig.