English: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon and congratulate the development bank on its fifth anniversary? Now, the Development Bank of Wales has been very open to scrutiny from the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, and I know Members welcome the ability to question the team on its investments and progress. Now, today's statement rightly recognises that the Welsh economy is more reliant upon small businesses, so it's crucial that the development bank is reaching out to small and medium-sized enterprises and offering support. The Minister has said that the development bank is taking a proactive role in facilitating help for businesses, but doesn't quite tell us how that work is taking place, and so perhaps the Minister could tell us exactly how the development bank is working with small businesses specifically, given the current financial climate. Today's statement rightly highlights some really good work by the development bank. It's great to hear that it has invested £78 million of equity into Welsh businesses. Of course, we need to ensure that funding is reaching businesses in all parts of Wales, and so perhaps the Minister could tell us more about how the Welsh Government will ensure that the bank is raising awareness of its services to businesses in all parts of the country. The Minister has already given the bank a total equity investment target of £100 million, which, alongside private sector co-investment, can deliver over £250 million of capital to businesses. Working with co-investors will be critical if the bank is to maximise the impact of its investment in Welsh businesses. Of course, to do so, the bank must continue to encourage the private sector to invest alongside itself, and so perhaps the Minister can tell us more on the work being done to increase that co-investment. Now, we know the COVID pandemic has had an enormous impact on businesses in Wales, and the development bank has an important role in supporting economic recovery and supporting businesses. It's vital that a one-size-fits-all approach is not blanketly adopted by the bank, and I'm pleased to hear the Minister talk about offering flexibility to its customers through forbearance and repayment holidays. Today's statement acknowledges that businesses are facing challenges due to increasing costs for materials, wages and, of course, energy, and therefore perhaps the Minister could tell us a bit more about how the bank can provide tailored support to businesses in relation to these specific challenges. It's vital that we recognise the jobs that are being created by the development bank, and there has been some good work taking place to identify and measure productivity too. According to the bank's corporate plan, its baseline jobs target for 2022 to 2027 is 20,000 jobs, but it's vital that there is some measure of the quality of jobs. And, so, I'd be grateful if the Minister could tell us how the Welsh Government recognises success in terms of jobs, and what does success look like to the Welsh Government in this specific area. The Minister has made it clear today that, going forward, businesses receiving equity investment will have unparalleled support throughout their investment journey. Today's statement confirms that the bank will be supporting new technology companies to take their products from early concept through to market, as well as businesses targeting high growth, and management teams to buy existing businesses and keep them in Welsh ownership. I, of course, welcome this ambition, and perhaps the Minister can tell us more about how the bank is investing in new technology start-ups in particular. There has been some good work around the Wales technology seed fund, but more needs to be done, and so I'd be grateful for any further information the Minister can provide on this front. Equally, it's important that there is support for management teams that want to buy out existing businesses and keep them in Welsh ownership. To date, the Wales flexible investment fund, which is operated by the Development Bank of Wales, has been offering a potential debt-based funding route for employee buy-outs. And I know there is support for management buy-outs available through the Wales management succession fund, but perhaps the Minister could tell us a bit more about how those funds are being evaluated and monitored, so we can ensure that the right support is out there for businesses. And, finally, today's statement refers to the development bank's work to promote a transition in Wales to a significantly more decarbonised business environment. I'm particularly interested in the development of a new scheme that will allow businesses to take on borrowing to fund capital investment that delivers on decarbonisation. Indeed, the bank's annual report highlights that 41 per cent of its customers have indicated that they are motivated to act on climate change, but actually lack the expertise. And, so, I'd be grateful if the Minister could tell us a bit more about the new scheme that is being developed and when it's likely to become operational. Therefore, in closing, acting Presiding Officer, we know that one of the key themes of the bank is investing in businesses that reflect the diversity in our communities, and we must remember that the bank, at its core, is an impact investor with a social purpose. And, so, can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon, and say that I look forward to hearing more about the development bank's work in the coming weeks and months? Thank you.
Welsh: A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad ef y prynhawn yma a llongyfarch y banc datblygu ar gyrraedd ei ben-blwydd yn bump oed? Nawr, mae Banc Datblygu Cymru wedi bod yn agored iawn i graffu gan Bwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach, a Materion Gwledig, ac rwy'n gwybod bod yr Aelodau yn croesawu'r gallu i holi'r tîm ynglŷn â'i fuddsoddiadau a'i gynnydd. Nawr, mae'r datganiad heddiw yn briodol yn cydnabod bod economi Cymru yn dibynnu mwy ar fusnesau bach, ac felly mae hi'n hollbwysig bod y banc datblygu yn ymestyn at fentrau bach a chanolig ac yn cynnig cefnogaeth. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi dweud bod y banc datblygu â swyddogaeth ragweithiol wrth hwyluso cymorth i fusnesau, ond nid yw yn dweud yn iawn wrthym ni sut mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n digwydd, ac felly efallai y gallai'r Gweinidog ddweud wrthym ni sut yn union y mae'r banc datblygu yn gweithio gyda busnesau bach yn benodol, o ystyried yr hinsawdd ariannol bresennol. Mae datganiad heddiw yn tynnu sylw at waith da iawn gan y banc datblygu. Mae hi'n wych clywed ei fod wedi buddsoddi £78 miliwn o ecwiti i fusnesau yng Nghymru. Wrth gwrs, mae angen i ni sicrhau bod yr arian yn mynd i fusnesau ym mhob rhan o Gymru, ac felly fe allai'r Gweinidog ddweud mwy wrthym ni efallai ynglŷn â sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am sicrhau bod y banc yn codi ymwybyddiaeth o'i wasanaethau i fusnesau ym mhob cwr o'r wlad. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi rhoi nod i'r banc o gyfanswm o £100 miliwn o ran buddsoddi ecwiti, sydd, ochr yn ochr â chyd-fuddsoddiad y sector preifat, yn gallu darparu dros £250 miliwn o gyfalaf i fusnesau. Fe fydd gweithio gyda chyd-fuddsoddwyr yn hanfodol os yw'r banc yn dymuno i'w fuddsoddiad mewn busnesau yng Nghymru fod â'r effaith fwyaf. Wrth gwrs, ar gyfer gwneud hynny, mae'n rhaid i'r banc barhau i annog y sector preifat i fuddsoddi ochr yn ochr ag ef ei hun, ac felly efallai y gall y Gweinidog ddweud mwy wrthym ni am y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud i gynyddu'r cyd-fuddsoddiad hwnnw. Nawr, rydym ni'n gwybod am effaith aruthrol pandemig COVID ar fusnesau yng Nghymru, ac mae gan y banc datblygu swyddogaeth bwysig o ran cefnogi adferiad economaidd a chefnogi busnesau. Mae hi'n hanfodol nad yw dull sy'n trin pawb yr un fath trwy'r amser yn cael ei fabwysiadu gan y banc, ac rwy'n falch o glywed y Gweinidog yn siarad am gynnig hyblygrwydd i'w gwsmeriaid trwy ataliad a gwyliau ad-dalu. Mae datganiad heddiw yn cydnabod yr heriau oherwydd costau cynyddol am ddeunyddiau, cyflogau ac, wrth gwrs, ynni y mae busnesau yn eu hwynebu ac felly efallai gall y Gweinidog ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym ni ynglŷn â sut y gall y banc roi cefnogaeth wedi'i theilwra ar gyfer busnesau o ran yr heriau penodol hyn. Mae hi'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n cydnabod y swyddi sy'n cael eu creu gan y banc datblygu, ac mae swm o waith da wedi bod yn mynd rhagddo i nodi a mesur cynhyrchiant hefyd. Yn ôl cynllun corfforaethol y banc, ei nod o ran swyddi sylfaenol ar gyfer 2022 i 2027 yw 20,000 o swyddi, ond mae hi'n hanfodol bod cyfran o feintioli ansawdd swyddi. Ac felly, fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe bai'r Gweinidog yn dweud wrthym sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod llwyddiant o ran swyddi, a'r hyn y mae llwyddiant yn ei olygu i Lywodraeth Cymru yn y maes penodol hwn. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi dweud yn eglur heddiw y bydd busnesau sy'n derbyn buddsoddiad ecwiti yn cael cefnogaeth ddigyffelyb ar hyd eu taith fuddsoddi nhw. Mae datganiad heddiw yn cadarnhau y bydd y banc yn cefnogi cwmnïau technoleg newydd i ddwyn eu cynnyrch nhw ymlaen o gysyniad cynnar hyd at y farchnad, yn ogystal â busnesau sy'n anelu at dwf mawr, a thimau rheoli i brynu busnesau presennol a'u cadw nhw ym mherchnogaeth Cymru. Rydw i, wrth gwrs, yn croesawu'r uchelgais yma, ac fe wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud mwy wrthym ni efallai ynglŷn â sut mae'r banc yn buddsoddi mewn busnesau newydd ym maes technoleg newydd yn benodol. Mae rhywfaint o waith da wedi digwydd ynghylch cronfa sbarduno technoleg Cymru, ond mae angen gwneud mwy, ac felly fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar am unrhyw wybodaeth bellach y gall y Gweinidog ei rhoi yn hyn o beth. Yn yr un modd, mae hi'n bwysig fod yna gefnogaeth i dimau rheoli sy'n awyddus i brynu busnesau cyfredol a'u cadw nhw ym mherchnogaeth Cymru. Hyd yma, mae Cronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru, sy'n cael ei gweithredu gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru, wedi bod yn cynnig llwybr ariannu posibl ar sail dyled i'r gweithwyr allu prynu eu busnesau. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod cefnogaeth ar gael i reolwyr brynu busnesau drwy gronfa olyniaeth rheoli Cymru, ond efallai y gwnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym ni ynglŷn â sut mae'r cronfeydd hynny'n cael eu gwerthuso a'u monitro, er mwyn i ni sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth briodol ar gael i fusnesau. Ac yn olaf, mae datganiad heddiw yn cyfeirio at waith y banc datblygu i hyrwyddo trawsnewid yng Nghymru i amgylchedd busnes sy'n cynnig cryn dipyn yn fwy o ran datgarboneiddio. Mae gennyf i ddiddordeb arbennig yn natblygiad cynllun newydd a fydd yn caniatáu i fusnesau ymgymryd â benthyca ar gyfer ariannu buddsoddiad cyfalaf sy'n cyflawni datgarboneiddio. Yn wir, mae adroddiad blynyddol y banc yn dangos bod 41 y cant o'i gwsmeriaid wedi mynegi eu bod yn cael eu hysgogi i weithredu ynglŷn â newid hinsawdd, ond nad yw'r arbenigedd hwnnw ganddyn nhw mewn gwirionedd. Ac felly, fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe bai'r Gweinidog yn gallu dweud ychydig mwy wrthym ni am y cynllun newydd sy'n cael ei ddatblygu a phryd mae hwnnw'n debygol o fod ar waith. Felly, wrth gloi, Llywydd dros dro, rydym ni'n gwybod mai un o brif themâu'r banc yw buddsoddi mewn busnesau sy'n adlewyrchu'r amrywiaeth yn ein cymunedau ni, ac mae'n rhaid i ni gofio bod y banc, yn ei hanfod, yn fuddsoddwr sy'n ceisio creu effaith sydd â phwrpas cymdeithasol. Ac, felly, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad ef y prynhawn yma, a dweud fy mod i'n edrych ymlaen at glywed mwy am waith y banc datblygu yn yr wythnosau a'r misoedd nesaf? Diolch i chi.