English: Diolch, Llywydd, and can I say what a pleasure it is to close today's debate on small businesses, ahead of Small Business Saturday, of course, which is taking place, as we heard, this weekend? As outlined by Paul Davies in opening today's debate, this will be the tenth year in which we mark Small Business Saturday and celebrate with our counterparts across the United Kingdom the 5.6 million small businesses, of course with the best of those being here in Wales. I'd like to firstly thank Members from across the Chamber and the political divide for their contributions today, along with the cross-party support that this motion has received here today as well. In closing today's debate, I'd like to focus on three key themes that I think have been picked up from Members across the Chamber. The first point that has shone through is the sheer importance of small businesses to the Welsh economy and to our local communities, highlighted in point 2 of today's motion. And as highlighted by Paul Davies in his opening contribution to today's debate, and by the Deputy Minister in closing earlier on as well, small businesses in Wales make up a whopping 99.4 per cent of all businesses, contributing 62.4 per cent of private sector employment and 37.9 per cent of turnover - a really significant part of our economy. And it's been clear through the debate today that, not only are they playing that part in terms of our economy but also play an important role in our local communities. And Members have highlighted that, in times of crisis or in need, small businesses are often at the forefront of our local communities and tackling many of the social challenges that we see around us. And small businesses do so much in showing the very best in our local communities. I've enjoyed the shameless name dropping from some Members from across the Chamber, outlining some of their favourite small businesses in their patch. The second point that has been picked up by Members - and Heledd Fychan pointed it out in particular - are the number of challenges that are facing small businesses up and down Wales. And, regretfully, as we know and as outlined by Natasha Asghar and James Evans, businesses in Wales pay some of the highest business rates in the whole of Great Britain. In addition to this, Luke Fletcher pointed out the current cost-of-living challenge hitting our small businesses hard, and then Heledd Fychan, again, in particular focused on the challenges that some of those seeking insurance are finding at the moment hindering, perhaps, their businesses at the moment. This is why we certainly need to see further support provided to small businesses. And, as a final point in my contribution this afternoon, James Evans, again, pointed out how crucially important it is that we remember that businesses are not the enemy. We need to do our utmost to support them. That's why I'm looking forward to seeing many Members from across the Chamber visiting those small businesses or promoting theirs in their constituencies and regions over this weekend. Point 3 of our motion states that Welsh Government does need to use all of its levers to better support small businesses in Wales, and it was highlighted by Paul Davies, again, that around 35,000 small businesses in Wales are expected to downsize or even close in the coming months. And, Deputy Minister, I was pleased to hear of some of the schemes and initiatives that Welsh Government are seeking to take and have taken over recent years, but it's clear to me, more than ever, that one of the most significant things that Welsh Government could do is to look at reducing that business rate burden, which would put money back into the businesses on our high streets. So, in closing, Llywydd, as Members from across the Chamber have outlined, small businesses are crucial to the Welsh economy, crucial to our local communities. Now is the time to do everything we can in supporting them and providing an environment for them to flourish in. I thank Members for all their contributions today, and I look forward to their continued support. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Welsh: Diolch, Lywydd, ac a gaf fi ddweud cymaint o bleser yw cau dadl heddiw ar fusnesau bach, cyn Dydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach, wrth gwrs, sy'n digwydd y penwythnos hwn, fel y clywsom? Fel yr amlinellodd Paul Davies wrth agor y ddadl heddiw, hon fydd y ddegfed flwyddyn lle byddwn yn nodi Dydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach ac yn dathlu gyda'n cymheiriaid ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig y 5.6 miliwn o fusnesau bach, gyda'r gorau o'r rheini yma yng Nghymru wrth gwrs. Hoffwn ddiolch yn gyntaf i'r Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr a'r rhaniad gwleidyddol am eu cyfraniadau heddiw, ynghyd â'r gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol i'r cynnig yma heddiw hefyd. Wrth gloi'r ddadl heddiw, hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar dair thema allweddol a gafodd sylw gan Aelodau ym mhob rhan o'r Siambr. Y pwynt cyntaf sydd wedi bod yn amlwg iawn yw pwysigrwydd busnesau bach i economi Cymru ac i'n cymunedau lleol, fel yr amlygwyd ym mhwynt 2 o'r cynnig heddiw. Ac fel y nododd Paul Davies yn ei gyfraniad wrth agor y ddadl heddiw, a'r Dirprwy Weinidog wrth gau yn gynharach hefyd, busnesau bach yw 99.4 y cant o'r holl fusnesau yng Nghymru, ac maent yn cyfrannu 62.4 y cant o gyflogaeth y sector preifat a 37.9 y cant o drosiant - rhan wirioneddol arwyddocaol o'n heconomi. Ac mae wedi bod yn glir drwy'r ddadl heddiw, nid yn unig eu bod yn chwarae'r rhan honno yn ein heconomi ond maent hefyd yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn ein cymunedau lleol. Ac mae'r Aelodau wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod busnesau bach, mewn cyfnod o argyfwng neu mewn angen, yn aml ar flaen y gad yn ein cymunedau lleol ac yn mynd i'r afael â llawer o'r heriau cymdeithasol a welwn o'n cwmpas. Ac mae busnesau bach yn gwneud cymaint i ddangos y gorau yn ein cymunedau lleol. Rwyf wedi mwynhau'r hysbysebu digywilydd gan rai o'r Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr, wrth iddynt ddisgrifio rhai o'u hoff fusnesau bach yn eu hardaloedd. Yr ail bwynt a nodwyd gan yr Aelodau - a thynnodd Heledd Fychan sylw ato yn benodol - yw nifer yr heriau sy'n wynebu busnesau bach ar hyd a lled Cymru. A gwaetha'r modd, fel y gwyddom ac fel y nododd Natasha Asghar a James Evans, mae busnesau yng Nghymru yn talu rhai o'r ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain. Yn ogystal â hyn, tynnodd Luke Fletcher sylw at yr her costau byw ar hyn o bryd sy'n taro ein busnesau bach yn galed, a chanolbwyntiodd Heledd Fychan yn benodol, unwaith eto, ar yr heriau y mae rhai o'r bobl sy'n ceisio cael yswiriant yn eu hwynebu nawr gan lesteirio eu busnesau ar hyn o bryd o bosibl. Dyna pam fod angen inni weld cefnogaeth bellach yn cael ei darparu i fusnesau bach. Ac fel pwynt olaf yn fy nghyfraniad y prynhawn yma, nododd James Evans, eto, pa mor hanfodol bwysig yw hi ein bod ni'n cofio nad busnesau yw'r gelyn. Mae angen inni wneud ein gorau glas i'w cefnogi. Dyna pam rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld llawer o'r Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr yn hyrwyddo neu'n ymweld â'r busnesau bach yn eu hetholaethau a'u rhanbarthau dros y penwythnos hwn. Mae pwynt 3 ein cynnig yn nodi bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio ei holl ysgogiadau i gefnogi busnesau bach yng Nghymru yn well, ac fe gafodd ei nodi gan Paul Davies, unwaith eto, fod disgwyl i tua 35,000 o fusnesau bach yng Nghymru leihau neu gau hyd yn oed yn ystod y misoedd nesaf. A Ddirprwy Weinidog, roeddwn yn falch o glywed am rai o'r cynlluniau a'r mentrau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu eu rhoi ar waith ac wedi eu rhoi ar waith dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ond mae'n amlwg i mi, yn fwy nag erioed, mai un o'r pethau mwyaf arwyddocaol y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud yw edrych ar leihau'r baich ardrethi busnes, a fyddai'n rhoi arian yn ôl i'r busnesau ar ein stryd fawr. Felly, wrth gloi, Lywydd, fel y mae Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr wedi nodi, mae busnesau bach yn hanfodol i economi Cymru, yn hanfodol i'n cymunedau lleol. Nawr yw'r amser i wneud popeth yn ein gallu i'w cefnogi a darparu amgylchedd iddynt allu ffynnu ynddo. Diolch i'r Aelodau am eu holl gyfraniadau heddiw, ac edrychaf ymlaen at eu cefnogaeth barhaus. Diolch yn fawr iawn.