English: Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. I agree with you that it's an ambitious project, which I believe will create a hotbed for the rail industry here in Wales and contribute to the economic importance of the UK rail industry, especially in the context of Brexit, given the fact that the main European facilities for testing infrastructure and rolling stock are based on the continent. I'm particularly pleased that my home county of Powys is collaborating on this project, with Neath Port Talbot as partners also. You provided a written statement on this last year. Can I ask what progress has been made by the Welsh Government in investing and in strengthening the academic and R&D presence here in Wales? Secondly, you said that you were going to further consider the establishment of a research programme and the creation of a new chair in rail engineering innovation in partnership with our Welsh universities and other universities across the UK, so I'd be grateful for progress on that. With regard to the next stage on business case development, can I ask for more information on the findings of the outlying business case that is in development and the timetable for that to be published? Would you also be able to provide details on the level of investment, sources of public and private sector funding, and information on both the public sector and rail industry partners that will be and are involved in the centre? I noticed you mentioned in your statement that a number of major rail companies have expressed a strong interest in joining the project as partners or investors. So, perhaps a little bit more on that. And finally, could you put some meat on the bones on what the expected wider social economic benefits will be for the area and how those proposals relate to wider policy areas such as skills, the economic action plan and regeneration?
Welsh: Diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad heddiw. Cytunaf â chi ei fod yn brosiect uchelgeisiol, a fydd, rwy'n credu, yn creu adnodd rhagorol i'r diwydiant rheilffyrdd yma yng Nghymru ac yn cyfrannu at bwysigrwydd economaidd diwydiant rheilffyrdd y DU, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun Brexit, o ystyried y ffaith bod y prif gyfleusterau Ewropeaidd ar gyfer profi seilwaith a cherbydau ar y cyfandir. Rwy'n arbennig o falch bod fy sir fy hun, Powys, yn cydweithio ar y prosiect hwn, gyda Chastell-nedd Port Talbot yn bartneriaid hefyd. Darparwyd datganiad ysgrifenedig gennych chi am hyn y llynedd. A gaf i ofyn pa gynnydd a fu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fuddsoddi ac i gryfhau gwaith academaidd, ymchwil a datblygu yma yng Nghymru? Yn ail, fe wnaethoch chi ddweud eich bod am ystyried ymhellach sefydlu rhaglen ymchwil a chreu cadair newydd ar gyfer arloesi ym maes peirianneg rheilffyrdd mewn partneriaeth â'n prifysgolion yng Nghymru a phrifysgolion eraill ledled y DU, felly byddwn yn ddiolchgar clywed am y cynnydd a fu yn hynny o beth. O ran y cam nesaf ar ddatblygu achosion busnes, a gaf i ofyn am ragor o wybodaeth am ganfyddiadau'r achos busnes sy'n cael ei ddatblygu a'r amserlen ar gyfer cyhoeddi hynny? A allech chi hefyd ddarparu manylion am faint y buddsoddiad, ffynonellau cyllid y sector cyhoeddus a phreifat, a gwybodaeth am bartneriaid y sector cyhoeddus a'r diwydiant rheilffyrdd a fydd yn rhan o'r ganolfan ac sy'n gysylltiedig â hi? Sylwais ichi grybwyll yn eich datganiad fod nifer o gwmnïau rheilffyrdd mawr wedi mynegi cryn ddiddordeb mewn ymuno â'r prosiect fel partneriaid neu fuddsoddwyr. Felly, efallai y gallech chi ddweud ychydig yn fwy am hynny. Ac yn olaf, a allech chi ymhelaethu ynghylch beth fydd y manteision economaidd cymdeithasol ehangach a ddisgwylir ar gyfer yr ardal a sut mae'r cynigion hynny'n berthnasol i feysydd polisi ehangach fel sgiliau, y cynllun gweithredu economaidd ac adfywio?