English: Let's be under no illusions, business is the backbone of our economy - from the small business owner on the high street to the larger companies that employ hundreds and thousands of people across the nation. The most prosperous countries in the world are where businesses can thrive, and a key part of that success is less red tape and less tax imposed on those businesses. In Wales, we have the highest business rates, as Peter Fox has said, in the whole of Great Britain. We have the worst gross domestic product outputs per head of any part of the United Kingdom. And this is after 23 years of devolution, and 23 years of Labour control, so I think it's about time that businesses had a friend in Cardiff Bay. There are businesses in my communities in Brecon and Radnorshire that have cited business rates as a reason that they cannot afford to carry on, that business rates as they are currently set are simply not affordable for many, especially in a time of economic problems, triggered by Putin's disgraceful war in Ukraine and global market uncertainty. They've also had the devastating legacy of COVID-19 restrictions to deal with, and the effects of that will be felt for decades to come, with some businesses leaving the high street, never to return again. It's undoubtedly a difficult time for business. So, reforming business rates, as we as Welsh Conservatives believe, would make Wales a competitive nation and throw businesses a much-needed lifeline at a time when they need it the most. And I would urge the Welsh Government to consider this in the Minister's response. Businesses aren't just good for business' sake. They provide jobs, they increase prosperity, they make our towns and villages and cities more attractive, and they encourage innovation, and improve value and choice for customers. Reforming business rates in Wales would make us a far more attractive location for inward investment, which will boost jobs, growth and prosperity. But I do agree, as others have said, we do need to look at wider measures that could support our business sector in retail and hospitality, because we are seeing pubs shutting at a huge rate, and that is something that needs to stop. So, let's put an end to the weariness that has been imposed upon Welsh businesses and give them the tools and the freedoms to prosper in a way that will benefit our economy and the people of Wales for generations to come. Diolch, Llywydd.
Welsh: Gadewch i ni fod yn glir, busnes yw asgwrn cefn ein heconomi - o berchennog y busnes bach ar y stryd fawr i'r cwmnïau mwy sy'n cyflogi cannoedd a miloedd o bobl ar draws y wlad. Y gwledydd mwyaf llewyrchus yn y byd yw'r rhai lle gall busnesau ffynnu, a rhan allweddol o'r llwyddiant hwnnw yw llai o fiwrocratiaeth a llai o drethi i'r busnesau hynny. Yng Nghymru, mae gennym yr ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain gyfan, fel y dywedodd Peter Fox. Mae gennym yr allbynnau cynnyrch domestig gros y pen gwaethaf o gymharu ag unrhyw ran arall o'r Deyrnas Unedig. A hyn ar ôl 23 mlynedd o ddatganoli, a 23 mlynedd o reolaeth Lafur, felly rwy'n credu ei bod yn hen bryd i fusnesau gael ffrind ym Mae Caerdydd. Mae yna fusnesau yn fy nghymunedau ym Mrycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed sydd wedi nodi bod ardrethi busnes yn un o'r rhesymau pam na allant fforddio dal ati, nad yw ardrethi busnes fel y maent wedi'u gosod ar hyn o bryd yn fforddiadwy i lawer, yn enwedig mewn cyfnod o broblemau economaidd, wedi'u hachosi gan ryfel gwarthus Putin yn Wcráin ac ansicrwydd y farchnad fyd-eang. Maent hefyd wedi gorfod ymdrin â chanlyniadau dinistriol cyfyngiadau COVID-19, a bydd effeithiau hynny'n cael eu teimlo am ddegawdau i ddod, gyda rhai busnesau'n gadael y stryd fawr, a byth yn dychwelyd eto. Heb os, mae'n gyfnod anodd i fusnesau. Felly, byddai diwygio ardrethi busnes, fel rydym ni fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn ei gredu, yn gwneud Cymru'n wlad gystadleuol ac yn cynnig rhaff achub fawr ei hangen i fusnesau ar yr adeg y maent fwyaf o'i hangen. A hoffwn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ystyried hyn yn ymateb y Gweinidog. Mae mwy o werth i fusnesau na busnes yn unig. Maent yn darparu swyddi, maent yn cynyddu ffyniant, maent yn gwneud ein trefi a'n pentrefi a'n dinasoedd yn fwy deniadol, ac maent yn annog arloesi, ac yn gwella gwerth a dewis i gwsmeriaid. Byddai diwygio ardrethi busnes yng Nghymru yn ein gwneud yn lleoliad llawer mwy deniadol ar gyfer mewnfuddsoddiad, a fydd yn rhoi hwb i swyddi, twf a ffyniant. Ond rwy'n cytuno, fel y mae eraill wedi'i ddweud, fod angen inni edrych ar fesurau ehangach a allai gefnogi ein sector busnes ym maes manwerthu a lletygarwch, oherwydd rydym yn gweld tafarndai'n cau ar raddfa enfawr, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n rhaid rhoi diwedd arno. Felly, gadewch inni roi diwedd ar yr holl ddiflastod a orfodwyd ar fusnesau Cymru a rhoi'r offer a'r rhyddid iddynt ffynnu mewn ffordd a fydd o fudd i'n heconomi ac i bobl Cymru am genedlaethau i ddod. Diolch, Lywydd.