English: I'm grateful to have the opportunity to take part in this debate today. As a former county councillor, but not reaching the dizzy heights of council leader like my two esteemed colleagues either side of me, I am acutely aware of the importance of that revenue business rates raise for local authorities, but also the inadequacies of the current funding formula and the raw deal that many councils receive when it comes to budget settlements and distribution of funds. It is for this reason that I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute. It came as no real shock, really, that businesses in Wales pay the highest business rates in the whole of Great Britain, with Welsh businesses paying up to 4.5 per cent more than other businesses across GB. The fact that Wales is the only nation in Great Britain to levy a one-size-fits-all standard rate, whatever the business size or turnover, seems both counterintuitive and dismissive of the breadth of businesses here in Wales, especially SMEs. As my colleague the Member for Monmouth so eloquently put in opening the debate, businesses in Wales are fundamental to our economic prosperity. This stands just as true for those independent small traders as it does for the bigger multinationals, both of whom play an important role on our high streets. So, while the sector has faced uncertainty over the last few years, this Welsh Government surely has a duty to do what it can, with the levers it has, to mitigate some of these pressures and help businesses to navigate a route back to growth and prosperity. Many of us in this Chamber today would probably proudly boast of a high street in their constituency full of independent traders, which acts as an exemplar as to how we would like to see high streets across Wales look. For me, it is Narberth, and that's not just because my office is on the high street, but I'm sure it's a contributing factor - a high street full of independent traders, high-quality eateries and family businesses drawing punters into the town. Members have looked to other towns across Wales and the positive examples that they have in their constituencies, but, for all these success stories, we also have areas where businesses have been priced out of the town centre. The historic towns of Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire or Whitland in Carmarthenshire are sadly examples where, over the last generation, businesses have closed and shops remain empty. One of the contributing factors to this is the inflexible business rates regime that they have to operate under. Towns such as Narberth greatly benefited from previous rural rate relief schemes, which did much to establish the town as a shopping destination for visitors and locals. I understand that such schemes remain at the discretion of individual local authorities, but I would be keen, Minister, to understand whether the Welsh Government is encouraging their local government colleagues to make use of these levers that remain at their disposal. Long before I was elected to this place, my colleagues on this side of the Chamber have called for businesses under a rateable value of £15,000 to be exempt from business rates altogether, and for businesses that are valued under £18,000 to pay a rate that tapers up in value to that full amount. This would enable more money to be reinvested in small businesses, especially in their earlier years of operation. If our policy is not palatable to the Welsh Government, could I urge the Minister to give consideration to a suggestion made by the Federation of Small Businesses regarding when start-up businesses should begin to pay business rates? Rather than landing a new business with a rates bill from day one, would it be worth exploring the option of a rate holiday for, say, the first 12, 18 or 24 months of operation? This would see more businesses start, increase the chances of long-term survival and increase the numbers of premises being occupied and job opportunities created. Minister, it's obvious that no-one has all the answers to this problem. There are a range of solutions, however, that can go some way to address some of the challenges that lie ahead. I urge the Chamber to support our motion today and show businesses in Wales that the Welsh Government is, in fact, on their side. Diolch, Llywydd.
Welsh: Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon heddiw. Fel cyn-gynghorydd sir, ond heb gyrraedd uchelfannau statws arweinydd cyngor fel fy nau gyd-Aelod parchus sy'n eistedd bob ochr i mi, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o bwysigrwydd y refeniw y mae ardrethi busnes yn ei godi i awdurdodau lleol, ond rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd o annigonolrwydd y fformiwla gyllido bresennol a'r tro gwael a wneir â llawer o gynghorau drwy setliadau cyllidebol a dosbarthiad cyllid. Oherwydd hyn, rwy'n falch o'r cyfle i gyfrannu. Nid oedd yn syndod mawr mewn gwirionedd mai busnesau yng Nghymru sy'n talu'r ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain gyfan, gyda busnesau Cymru'n talu hyd at 4.5 y cant yn fwy na busnesau eraill ar draws Prydain. Mae'r ffaith mai Cymru yw'r unig wlad ym Mhrydain i godi un ardreth safonol ar bawb, beth bynnag fo maint y busnes neu'r trosiant, yn ymddangos yn rhyfedd ac yn anystyriol o'r busnesau yma yng Nghymru, yn enwedig busnesau bach a chanolig. Fel y dywedodd fy nghyd-Aelod yr Aelod dros Fynwy, mewn modd mor huawdl wrth agor y ddadl, mae busnesau yng Nghymru yn hanfodol i'n ffyniant economaidd. Mae hyn yr un mor wir am fasnachwyr bach annibynnol ag ydyw am gwmnïau rhyngwladol mwy o faint, sydd fel ei gilydd yn chwarae rhan bwysig ar ein strydoedd mawr. Felly, er bod y sector wedi wynebu ansicrwydd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddyletswydd i wneud popeth yn ei gallu, gyda'r dulliau sydd ar gael iddi, i liniaru peth o'r pwysau a helpu busnesau i ganfod llwybr yn ôl at dwf a ffyniant. Mae'n debyg y byddai llawer ohonom yn y Siambr heddiw yn ymffrostio'n falch am stryd fawr yn eu hetholaeth sy'n llawn o fasnachwyr annibynnol ac sy'n gweithredu fel esiampl o sut yr hoffem i strydoedd mawr ledled Cymru edrych. I mi, Arberth sy'n gwneud hynny, ac nid yn unig am fod fy swyddfa i ar y stryd fawr, ond rwy'n siŵr ei fod yn ffactor sy'n cyfrannu - stryd fawr sy'n llawn o fasnachwyr annibynnol, bwytai o safon uchel a busnesau teuluol yn denu cwsmeriaid i mewn i'r dref. Mae'r Aelodau wedi cyfeirio at drefi eraill ar draws Cymru a'r enghreifftiau cadarnhaol sydd ganddynt hwy yn eu hetholaethau, ond am bob stori lwyddiant, mae gennym hefyd ardaloedd lle mae busnesau wedi cael eu prisio allan o ganol y dref. Yn anffodus, mae trefi hanesyddol Doc Penfro yn sir Benfro neu Hendy-gwyn ar Daf yn sir Gaerfyrddin yn enghreifftiau lle mae busnesau, dros y genhedlaeth ddiwethaf, wedi cau a lle mae siopau'n wag. Un o'r ffactorau sy'n cyfrannu at hyn yw'r drefn ardrethi busnes anhyblyg y mae'n rhaid iddynt weithredu oddi tani. Elwodd trefi fel Arberth yn fawr o gynlluniau rhyddhad ardrethi gwledig blaenorol, a wnaeth lawer i sefydlu'r dref fel cyrchfan siopa i ymwelwyr a phobl leol. Rwy'n deall bod cynlluniau o'r fath yn parhau yn ôl disgresiwn awdurdodau lleol unigol, ond hoffwn wybod, Weinidog, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru'n annog eu cydweithwyr mewn llywodraeth leol i wneud defnydd o'r dulliau sy'n parhau i fod ar gael iddynt. Ymhell cyn i mi gael fy ethol i'r lle hwn, galwodd fy nghyd-Aelodau ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr am i fusnesau sydd â gwerth ardrethol o lai na £15,000 gael eu heithrio o ardrethi busnes yn gyfan gwbl, ac i fusnesau sy'n werth o dan £18,000 i dalu ardreth sy'n cynyddu'n raddol i'r swm llawn hwnnw. Byddai hyn yn golygu bod modd ailfuddsoddi mwy o arian mewn busnesau bach, yn enwedig yn eu blynyddoedd cyntaf o weithgarwch. Os nad yw ein polisi yn dderbyniol i Lywodraeth Cymru, a gaf fi annog y Gweinidog i roi ystyriaeth i awgrym a wnaed gan y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach ynghylch pryd y dylai busnesau newydd ddechrau talu ardrethi busnes? Yn hytrach na rhoi bil ardrethi i fusnes newydd o'r diwrnod cyntaf, a fyddai'n werth archwilio'r opsiwn o wyliau ardrethi ar gyfer, dyweder, y 12, 18 neu 24 mis cyntaf o weithgarwch? Byddai hyn yn galluogi mwy o fusnesau newydd, yn cynyddu'r gobaith o oroesi'n hirdymor ac yn cynyddu nifer y safleoedd a feddiennir a'r cyfleoedd gwaith a gaiff eu creu. Weinidog, mae'n amlwg nad oes gan neb yr atebion i gyd i'r broblem hon. Fodd bynnag, ceir amryw o atebion a all fynd rhywfaint o'r ffordd i oresgyn rhai o'r heriau sydd o'n blaenau. Rwy'n annog y Siambr i gefnogi ein cynnig heddiw a dangos i fusnesau yng Nghymru fod Llywodraeth Cymru ar eu hochr hwy mewn gwirionedd. Diolch, Lywydd.