English: Thank you for that, Minister. I think what the UK Government has proven, through its discussions and movement on free ports with Welsh Government, is that they are happy to talk and work with you. So, I'm sure that can happen with the other zones as well. Presiding Officer, we've heard a lot about the energy crisis over recent months, and I very much welcome the UK Government's energy bill relief scheme. This is something that obviously offers certainty to businesses and provides valuable support at a difficult time. But an issue that hasn't been spoken about much is the cost-of-doing-business crisis, that business overheads have increased, squeezing margins and placing more pressure on businesses. Such issues are being felt right across the economy, with the latest business barometer from Lloyds Bank showing that Welsh firms reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month on month, down 37 points at 4 per cent. Businesses then have suggested that they will require additional financial support in addition to support for energy costs to help them through this period. Minister, what discussions have you held with businesses and business bodies about the help that they need, and how will this feed into your budget this autumn? For example, what consideration have you given to introducing a discretionary scheme in partnership with councils, similar to what was put in place during the pandemic? And finally, what conversations have you had with your UK counterparts about ways in which self-employed people can be given tailored support, recognising the particular concerns they currently have?
Welsh: Diolch, Weinidog. Credaf mai'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i brofi, drwy ei thrafodaethau a'i gweithredu ar borthladdoedd rhydd gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, yw eu bod yn barod i siarad a gweithio gyda chi. Felly, rwy'n siŵr y gall hynny ddigwydd gyda'r parthau eraill hefyd. Lywydd, rydym wedi clywed llawer am yr argyfwng ynni dros y misoedd diwethaf, ac rwy'n croesawu cynllun rhyddhad ar filiau ynni Llywodraeth y DU yn fawr. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n amlwg yn cynnig sicrwydd i fusnesau ac yn darparu cymorth gwerthfawr ar adeg anodd. Ond mater nad oes llawer o sôn wedi bod amdano yw'r argyfwng costau gwneud busnes, fod gorbenion busnes wedi cynyddu, gan leihau elw a rhoi mwy o bwysau ar fusnesau. Mae problemau o'r fath yn cael effaith ar bob rhan o'r economi, gyda'r baromedr busnes diweddaraf gan Fanc Lloyds yn dangos bod cwmnïau o Gymru wedi nodi bod ganddynt lai o hyder yn eu rhagolygon busnes eu hunain o un mis i'r llall, i lawr 37 pwynt ar 4 y cant. Mae busnesau wedi awgrymu wedyn y bydd angen cymorth ariannol ychwanegol arnynt yn ogystal â chymorth ar gyfer costau ynni i'w helpu drwy'r cyfnod hwn. Weinidog, pa drafodaethau a gynhaliwyd gennych gyda busnesau a chyrff busnes am yr help sydd ei angen arnynt, a sut y bydd hyn yn bwydo i mewn i'ch cyllideb yr hydref hwn? Er enghraifft, pa ystyriaeth a roddwyd gennych i gyflwyno cynllun dewisol mewn partneriaeth â chynghorau, yn debyg i'r hyn a roddwyd ar waith yn ystod y pandemig? Ac yn olaf, pa sgyrsiau a gawsoch gyda'ch swyddogion cyfatebol ar lefel y DU am ffyrdd y gellir rhoi cymorth wedi'i addasu ar gyfer pobl hunangyflogedig, gan gydnabod y pryderon penodol sydd ganddynt ar hyn o bryd?