English: These issues don't just impact on businesses directly, such as by increasing overheads, but they have indirect impacts as well, and we know that the inflation and cost-of-living crisis will reduce discretionary spending powers, meaning businesses face another hit to their income streams. Many have tried to absorb price pressures over the last few months already, but clearly this is not sustainable in the longer term. We know that businesses and business owners are really concerned. I welcome the various measures that have been announced by both the UK and Welsh Governments in relation to supporting businesses. Just a few examples of this include the UK Government's furlough scheme, which provided significant help for businesses during the pandemic, as well as the energy bill relief scheme that was recently announced. The Welsh Government's amendment, as noted on the agenda, also lists the support that it provides to businesses across Wales, which of course, we on this side of the Chamber really do welcome. But more help is needed. There's not just a cost-of-living crisis at the moment, but a cost-of-doing-business crisis as well, and this is why the Welsh Conservative group will not be supporting the Government amendment. Because if the cost of doing business was reduced, then they wouldn't need such substantial support to relieve the burden of business rates. And unfortunately, the Government amendment does not capture the need to reconsider business taxation to ensure that it's not a regressive barrier to aspiration and business growth. As it currently stands, businesses worry that making improvements to their premises - including efforts to make them more sustainable, for instance - will cause the rateable value of their property to rise, meaning they would be forced to pay more just because they wanted to expand their business or improve their prospects, or even, in the case of energy improvements, to reduce their overheads and help the environment. In fact, the way that business rates work means that firms are forced to pay tax before they've even had any income, let alone made any profit. Add in the fact that rates in Wales are relatively high in comparison with other countries - Wales currently has the highest business rates in Great Britain - and you can see why the sector is calling for a re-think as to how we tax prosperity. Presiding Officer, I'm not going to pretend that I have all the answers, or indeed that this debate will solve the issue; it's a complex situation and it's going to take time to work with business to strike the right balance between supporting public services via taxation and economic growth. I note the suggestion of a land value tax, as argued for in the Plaid Cymru amendment. However, unfortunately, we on this side will not be able to support that amendment either as things stand. Whilst I recognise that such a reform does have some benefits compared to the current system, we really have to be careful about the impacts that such a wide-reaching reform as proposed may have, as I'm sure Members will all agree. For example, there are many small businesses that are currently in the centre of towns and cities where land values are expensive. Could such reform drive them out of our high streets, where their presence is much needed? We have to ask ourselves what do we really want: vibrant town centres, or something else? Would a land value tax encourage people to set up more online businesses rather than having a physical presence, to avoid paying this tax? How, then, would we ensure that online businesses are fairly taxed, and are treated equally to those that have a physical premises? But I do look forward to hearing from the Plaid benches on how such a tax could work in practice, and ensure that the pot of money currently raised via non-domestic rates would remain the same whilst being fairer on businesses. However, there are things that could be introduced over the coming months to help businesses survive whilst wider reforms are considered. For example, the Federation of Small Businesses Cymru have called for the reintroduction of a 100 per cent business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses whilst this uncertain economic climate continues. At the very least, there could be a consideration of extending the current 50 per cent relief scheme beyond its current lifetime during these difficult times, as businesses currently are fearful of the cliff edge they face. Or the Government could maintain the freeze on the multiplier, so that businesses can at least plan with some sort of certainty. I would also argue that we could look at splitting the multiplier, much like what we see in other parts of the UK, so that small businesses are not treated in the same way as large businesses, and that would encourage growth. FSB Cymru have also raised some very valid points, such as minimising the cost of appeals for businesses and ensuring that all businesses are aware of the various support schemes that already exist. I know that the Minister is going to say that these things cost money, and I'm aware that there isn't an unlimited pot of money for the Welsh Government to use, but it still has the levers it needs to provide help to businesses through this period, like it previously has done. We can use existing resources better to provide support that doesn't just reduce the business rate burden, but helps businesses to grow, reducing the reliance on additional financial support from Government to pay the rates. Presiding Officer, I look forward to hearing the contributions of Members from across the Chamber this afternoon, and I hope that we can use this debate to constructively discuss how best we can support Welsh businesses, not just through these difficult times, but beyond, so we can help build a stronger, more prosperous economy for all. In summary, Presiding Officer, I ask Members to support the original motion and to oppose amendments 1 and 2. Thank you.
Welsh: Mae'r materion hyn yn effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar fusnesau, megis drwy gynyddu gorbenion, ond mae iddynt effeithiau anuniongyrchol hefyd, a gwyddom y bydd yr argyfwng costau byw a chwyddiant yn lleihau pwerau gwariant dewisol, sy'n golygu bod busnesau'n wynebu ergyd arall i'w ffrydiau incwm. Mae llawer wedi ceisio amsugno'r pwysau ar brisiau dros yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf eisoes, ond yn amlwg, nid yw hyn yn gynaliadwy yn y tymor hwy. Gwyddom fod busnesau a pherchnogion busnesau'n wirioneddol bryderus. Croesawaf y mesurau amrywiol sydd wedi'u cyhoeddi gan Lywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â chefnogi busnesau. Mae rhai enghreifftiau o hyn yn cynnwys cynllun ffyrlo Llywodraeth y DU, a roddodd gymorth sylweddol i fusnesau yn ystod y pandemig, yn ogystal â'r cynllun rhyddhad ar filiau ynni a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar. Mae gwelliant Llywodraeth Cymru, fel y'i nodwyd ar yr agenda, hefyd yn rhestru'r cymorth y mae hi'n ei roi i fusnesau ledled Cymru, sy'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn ei groesawu'n fawr, wrth gwrs. Ond mae angen mwy o gymorth. Rydym mewn argyfwng costau gwneud busnes yn ogystal ag argyfwng costau byw ar hyn o bryd, a dyna pam na fydd grŵp y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn cefnogi gwelliant y Llywodraeth. Oherwydd pe bai'r gost o wneud busnes yn gostwng, ni fyddai angen cymorth mor sylweddol arnynt i leddfu baich ardrethi busnes. Ac yn anffodus, nid yw gwelliant y Llywodraeth yn cyfleu'r angen i ailystyried trethiant busnes i sicrhau nad yw'n rhwystr atchweliadol i ddyheadau a thwf busnes. Fel y saif pethau ar hyn o bryd, mae busnesau'n poeni y bydd gwneud gwelliannau i'w hadeiladau - gan gynnwys ymdrechion i'w gwneud yn fwy cynaliadwy, er enghraifft - yn achosi i werth ardrethol eu heiddo godi, gan olygu y byddent yn cael eu gorfodi i dalu mwy am eu bod am ehangu eu busnes neu wella eu rhagolygon, neu yn achos gwelliannau ynni, lleihau eu gorbenion a helpu'r amgylchedd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'r ffordd y mae ardrethi busnes yn gweithio yn golygu bod cwmnïau'n cael eu gorfodi i dalu treth cyn iddynt gael unrhyw incwm hyd yn oed, heb sôn am wneud unrhyw elw. Ychwanegwch y ffaith bod ardrethi yng Nghymru yn gymharol uchel o gymharu â gwledydd eraill - Cymru sydd â'r ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain ar hyn o bryd - a gallwch weld pam fod y sector yn galw am ailystyried y ffordd yr ydym yn trethu ffyniant. Lywydd, nid wyf yn mynd i esgus fod gennyf yr holl atebion, nac yn wir y bydd y ddadl hon yn datrys y mater; mae'n sefyllfa gymhleth ac mae'n mynd i gymryd amser i weithio gyda busnesau i gael y cydbwysedd cywir rhwng cefnogi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus drwy drethiant a thwf economaidd. Nodaf yr awgrym o dreth gwerth tir, fel y mae Plaid Cymru yn dadlau o'i phlaid yn eu gwelliant hwy. Fodd bynnag, yn anffodus, ni fyddwn ni ar yr ochr hon yn gallu cefnogi'r gwelliant hwnnw ychwaith fel y saif pethau. Er fy mod yn cydnabod bod gan ddiwygio o'r fath rai manteision o gymharu â'r system bresennol, mae'n rhaid inni fod yn ofalus iawn ynghylch yr effeithiau y gallai diwygiadau mor eang â'r hyn a gynigir eu cael, fel y bydd yr holl Aelodau'n cytuno, rwy'n siŵr. Er enghraifft, mae llawer o fusnesau bach ar hyn o bryd yng nghanol trefi a dinasoedd lle mae gwerth tir yn ddrud. A allai diwygiadau o'r fath eu gyrru oddi ar ein stryd fawr, lle mae taer angen eu presenoldeb? Mae'n rhaid inni ofyn i ni'n hunain: beth y byddem yn dymuno'i weld: canol trefi bywiog, neu rywbeth arall? A fyddai treth gwerth tir yn annog pobl i sefydlu mwy o fusnesau ar-lein yn hytrach na chael presenoldeb ffisegol er mwyn osgoi talu'r dreth hon? Sut, felly, y byddem yn sicrhau bod busnesau ar-lein yn cael eu trethu'n deg, ac yn cael eu trin yn gyfartal â'r rheini sydd ag eiddo ffisegol? Ond edrychaf ymlaen at glywed gan feinciau Plaid Cymru sut y gallai treth o'r fath weithio'n ymarferol, a sicrhau y byddai'r pot o arian sy'n cael ei godi ar hyn o bryd drwy ardrethi annomestig yn aros yr un fath, gan fod yn decach i fusnesau ar yr un pryd. Fodd bynnag, mae pethau y gellid eu cyflwyno dros y misoedd nesaf i helpu busnesau i oroesi wrth i ddiwygiadau ehangach gael eu hystyried. Er enghraifft, mae Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru wedi galw am ailgyflwyno seibiant ardrethi busnes o 100 y cant ar gyfer busnesau manwerthu, hamdden a lletygarwch tra bo'r hinsawdd economaidd ansicr yn parhau. Fan lleiaf, gellid ystyried ymestyn y cynllun rhyddhad presennol o 50 y cant y tu hwnt i'w oes bresennol yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn, gan fod busnesau ar hyn o bryd yn ofni'r dibyn sydd o'u blaenau. Neu gallai'r Llywodraeth barhau i rewi'r lluosydd, fel y gall busnesau o leiaf gynllunio gyda rhyw fath o sicrwydd. Byddwn hefyd yn dadlau y gallem edrych ar hollti'r lluosydd, yn debyg iawn i'r hyn a welwn mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, fel nad yw busnesau bach yn cael eu trin yn yr un modd â busnesau mawr, a byddai hynny'n annog twf. Mae Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru hefyd wedi nodi pwyntiau dilys iawn, megis lleihau cost apeliadau i fusnesau a sicrhau bod pob busnes yn ymwybodol o'r cynlluniau cymorth amrywiol sydd eisoes yn bodoli. Gwn y bydd y Gweinidog yn dweud bod y pethau hyn yn costio arian, ac rwy'n ymwybodol nad oes cronfa ddiderfyn o arian i Lywodraeth Cymru ei defnyddio, ond serch hynny, mae ganddi'r dulliau sydd eu hangen i ddarparu cymorth i fusnesau drwy'r cyfnod hwn, fel y mae wedi'i wneud o'r blaen. Gallwn ddefnyddio adnoddau presennol yn well i ddarparu cymorth sydd nid yn unig yn lleihau baich ardrethi busnes, ond sy'n helpu busnesau i dyfu, gan leihau'r ddibyniaeth ar gymorth ariannol ychwanegol gan y Llywodraeth i dalu'r ardrethi. Lywydd, edrychaf ymlaen at glywed cyfraniadau'r Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr y prynhawn yma, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ddefnyddio'r ddadl hon i drafod yn adeiladol sut y gallwn gefnogi busnesau Cymru yn y ffordd orau, nid yn unig drwy'r cyfnod anodd hwn, ond y tu hwnt, felly gallwn helpu i adeiladu economi gryfach, fwy llewyrchus i bawb. I grynhoi, Lywydd, gofynnaf i'r Aelodau gefnogi'r cynnig gwreiddiol ac i wrthwynebu gwelliannau 1 a 2. Diolch.