English: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Backing local businesses is vital and that is why I am so happy to see the £1 million investment for the backing local firms fund from you today, Minister. I know in my constituency of Bridgend the difference that strong local businesses make, and they are the lifeblood of our communities all across Wales. I am especially pleased that this fund will prioritise businesses in the food, social care and optimised retrofit sectors, of which we have many in my constituency. It really highlights how the Welsh Government is truly investing to strengthen our foundational economy and, by extension, the well-being of the people of Wales. Sorry, I haven't got my glasses. Winning more value and better jobs from the food we eat to the care we receive and the homes that we live in is what it should be all about, and this fund, of course, is an addition and builds upon the announcement from our Minister earlier this summer with the £2.5 million funding boost to back businesses in the everyday local economy. So, as you said, we are building all the time. I am also very keen to know, as Luke Fletcher said, more about this fund, how my constituents can engage in it and apply for it as soon as they possibly can. And finally, I really appreciate the fact that the Welsh Government's backing local firms fund is based on evidence and partnership. This is the reason why I wanted to be elected to represent the people of my constituency - to ensure that when we do have this funding, this really important funding that makes a huge difference, that that is exactly how it is decided. Because, sadly, this has not been the case for Bridgend or Wales when it comes to the UK Government's levelling-up funding, which, frankly, might as well be called the 'backing loyal Tories fund'. So, whilst I am absolutely delighted that we have this additional funding for local businesses today, Minister, I hope the UK Government can learn from Welsh Government on this.
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae cefnogi busnesau lleol yn hanfodol a dyna pam rwyf i mor hapus o weld gennych chi heddiw, Gweinidog, y buddsoddiad o £1 miliwn ar gyfer y gronfa i gefnogi cwmnïau lleol. Fe wn i yn fy etholaeth i ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr am y gwahaniaeth mawr y mae busnesau lleol cryf yn ei wneud, ac y maen nhw'n hanfodol i'n cymunedau ni ledled Cymru. Rwy'n arbennig o falch y bydd y gronfa hon yn blaenoriaethu busnesau yn y sectorau bwyd, gofal cymdeithasol ac ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio, y mae gennym ni lawer ohonyn nhw yn fy etholaeth i. Mae'n wir yn tynnu sylw at y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi buddsoddiad dilys i gryfhau ein heconomi sylfaenol a chan ymestyn hynny, er lles pobl Cymru gyfan. Mae'n ddrwg gen i, does gen i ddim fy sbectol. Ennill mwy o werth a gwell swyddi o'r bwyd yr ydym ni'n ei fwyta a'r gofal a gawn ni a'r cartrefi yr ydym ni'n byw ynddyn nhw ddylai hyn fod amdano, ac mae'r gronfa hon, wrth gwrs, yn ychwanegiad ac yn adeiladu ar y cyhoeddiad gan ein Gweinidog yn gynharach yr haf eleni gyda'r hwb ariannol o £2.5 miliwn i gefnogi busnesau yn yr economi leol bob dydd. Felly, fel roeddech chi'n dweud, rydym ni'n adeiladu drwy'r amser. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i wybod hefyd, fel dywedodd Luke Fletcher, fwy am y gronfa hon, sut y gall fy etholwyr i fod â rhan ynddi hi a gwneud cais cyn gynted ag y gallan nhw. Ac yn olaf, rwy'n llwyr werthfawrogi'r ffaith bod y gronfa i gefnogi cwmnïau lleol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar sail tystiolaeth a phartneriaeth. Dyma'r rheswm pam roeddwn i'n dymuno cael fy ethol ar gyfer cynrychioli pobl fy etholaeth i - ar gyfer sicrhau, pan ddaw'r cyllid hwn i ni, mai dyna'n union sut y penderfynir arno. Oherwydd, yn anffodus, nid yw hynny wedi bod yn wir am Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr na Chymru o ran cyllid gan Lywodraeth y DU i godi'r gwastad, a allai, a dweud y gwir, gael ei galw'n 'gronfa gefnogi ffyddloniaid y Torïaid'. Felly, er fy mod i wrth fy modd am fod gennym ni'r cyllid ychwanegol hwn ar gyfer busnesau lleol heddiw, Gweinidog, rwy'n gobeithio y gall Llywodraeth y DU ddysgu oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru yn hyn o beth.