English: Small towns in Wales account for almost 40 per cent of the population of Wales. In constituencies like Aberconwy, almost the entire population is dependent on towns, such as Llanfairfechan, Llanrwst, Conwy, Penmaen-mawr, Betws-y-coed, and Llandudno of course, for banking, shops, libraries and many other service industries. In fact, FSB Cymru has found that only 8 per cent of the population feel that towns are no longer relevant. By looking after our towns in Aberconwy and in Wales, we would reap rich dividends, building up our high streets, empowering our entrepreneurs and building up our tax revenue, and, in general, creating more money for our public services and placing more people in gainful employment. Unfortunately, though, many towns are experiencing challenges, such as struggling high streets. In the most recent quarter, Wales has had a retail vacancy rate of 13.4 per cent. This is a higher shop vacancy rate than any other part of the UK, and in the four weeks between September and October last year, overall footfall declined by 5.2 per cent compared to 2018. As a Government, you must take urgent steps to help our businesses, our high streets and our communities. Businesses in Wales are being hampered by high, non-domestic rates, with Welsh companies having to hand over more than half of their estimated annual rent in tax - that's 52.6p for every £1. It is time for you to follow the Welsh Conservative lead, and our continued calls to adopt a policy of up to £15,000 for 100 per cent rate relief. This would succeed in achieving real business growth. More so, as chairman of the cross-party group on small shops, I have been working with many others in our pursuit of seeing genuine relief reform, such as by merging the small business, high street and discretionary rate relief. Have you ever spoken to a business that has tried to access this much-needed funding? It is fair to say that some town centres have benefited from Vibrant and Viable Places. However, I've already spoken about Aberconwy and the amount of business rates revenue that comes into Wales, yet, the regeneration investment in north Wales has been agreed and allocated across the region, with the concentrating of investment funding being outside Aberconwy. And that's in a letter to me from the Minister. So, it will come as no surprise to you, therefore, that I agree with the findings of the House of Lords Select Committee on Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities that seaside towns have been neglected for too long. In fact, five of the 10 most deprived areas in Wales are located within towns. And the Welsh index of multiple deprivation has shown that there are pockets of high deprivation along the north Wales coast. We need to help the businesses within them to thrive and develop and give communities a say on their own progression. For example, through co-production - thanks to Mark Isherwood making that very much in our Record of Proceedings - we could see people providing and receiving services - [ Interruption. ] Would you like an intervention?
Welsh: Mae bron 40 y cant o boblogaeth Cymru yn byw mewn trefi bach yng Nghymru. Mewn etholaethau fel Aberconwy, mae'r boblogaeth gyfan bron yn dibynnu ar drefi, megis Llanfairfechan, Llanrwst, Conwy, Penmaen-mawr, Betws-y-coed, a Llandudno wrth gwrs, ar gyfer bancio, siopau, llyfrgelloedd a llawer o ddiwydiannau gwasanaeth eraill. Yn wir, canfu Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru mai dim ond 8 y cant o'r boblogaeth sy'n teimlo nad yw trefi'n berthnasol bellach. Byddem yn elwa'n fawr o ofalu am ein trefi yn Aberconwy ac yng Nghymru, ac adeiladu ein strydoedd mawr, grymuso ein hentrepreneuriaid, cynyddu ein refeniw treth, a chreu mwy o arian yn gyffredinol ar gyfer ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a sicrhau gwaith cyflogedig i fwy o bobl. Yn anffodus, fodd bynnag, mae llawer o drefi'n wynebu heriau, fel strydoedd mawr sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd. Yn y chwarter diweddaraf, roedd gan Gymru gyfradd siopau gwag o 13.4 y cant. Mae'r gyfradd hon o siopau gwag yn fwy nag unrhyw ran arall o'r DU, ac yn ystod y pedair wythnos rhwng mis Medi a mis Hydref y llynedd, bu gostyngiad o 5.2 y cant yn niferoedd yr ymwelwyr yn gyffredinol o gymharu â 2018. Fel Llywodraeth, rhaid i chi roi camau ar waith ar fyrder i helpu ein busnesau, ein strydoedd mawr a'n cymunedau. Caiff busnesau yng Nghymru eu llesteirio gan ardrethi annomestig uchel, gyda chwmnïau o Gymru'n gorfod rhoi mwy na hanner eu rhent blynyddol amcangyfrifedig mewn trethi - 52.6c am bob £1. Mae'n bryd ichi ddilyn arweiniad y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, a'n galwadau parhaus i fabwysiadu polisi o hyd at £15,000 ar gyfer rhyddhad ardrethi o 100 y cant. Byddai hyn yn sicrhau twf busnes go iawn. Yn fwy felly, fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar siopau bach, bûm yn gweithio gyda llawer o bobl eraill i geisio sicrhau diwygiadau go iawn mewn perthynas â rhyddhad ardrethi, er enghraifft drwy uno'r rhyddhad ardrethi i fusnesau bach, y stryd fawr a'r gyfradd ddisgresiynol. A ydych chi erioed wedi siarad â busnes sydd wedi ceisio cael mynediad at yr arian mawr ei angen hwn? Mae'n deg dweud bod canol rhai trefi wedi elwa o Lleoedd Llewyrchus Llawn Addewid. Fodd bynnag, soniais eisoes am Aberconwy a swm y refeniw ardrethi busnes a ddaw i mewn i Gymru, ac eto, mae'r buddsoddiad mewn adfywio yng ngogledd Cymru wedi'i gytuno a'i ddyrannu ar draws y rhanbarth, gyda'r cyllid buddsoddi'n canolbwyntio ar fannau y tu allan Aberconwy yn bennaf. Ac mae hynny i'w weld mewn llythyr ataf gan y Gweinidog. Felly, ni fydd yn syndod i chi, felly, fy mod yn cytuno â chanfyddiadau Pwyllgor Dethol Tŷ'r Arglwyddi ar Adfywio Trefi a Chymunedau Glan Môr fod trefi glan môr wedi'u hesgeuluso ers gormod o amser. Yn wir, mae pump o'r 10 ardal fwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru i'w gweld mewn trefi. Ac mae mynegai amddifadedd lluosog Cymru wedi dangos bod pocedi o amddifadedd uchel ar hyd arfordir gogledd Cymru. Mae angen inni helpu'r busnesau ynddynt i ffynnu a datblygu a rhoi llais i gymunedau ar eu cynnydd eu hunain. Er enghraifft, drwy gydgynhyrchu - diolch i Mark Isherwood am sicrhau lle pendant iddo yng Nghofnod y Trafodion - gallem weld pobl yn darparu ac yn derbyn gwasanaethau - [ T orri ar draws. ] A hoffech imi dderbyn ymyriad?