Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
26/09/2023Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary session.
As you will all be aware, the Senedd currently has a petition calling for the default 20 mph speed limit to be rescinded, which is receiving an unprecedented number of signatures. I wanted to make all Members aware that, following usual process, a petition can collect signatures for up to six months, at which time it is referred to the Petitions Committee, and then, possibly, to the Senedd for debate. Once more than 10,000 signatures are received, then the petitioner herself/himself is asked if they wish to close the petition early in order to trigger the committee and Senedd stage of its consideration. In this case, there is currently no request for the petition to be closed at this stage, and this may be the case until the six-month window closes in March 2024. I merely wanted to make all Members aware of us following due process with this petition, as with all other petitions.
Fel y byddwch chi i gyd yn ymwybodol, mae gan y Senedd ddeiseb ar hyn o bryd yn galw am ddiddymu'r terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20 mya, sy'n derbyn nifer ddigynsail o lofnodion. Roeddwn i eisiau gwneud pob Aelod yn ymwybodol, yn dilyn y broses arferol, y gall deiseb gasglu llofnodion am hyd at chwe mis, ac ar yr adeg honno bydd yn cael ei chyfeirio at y Pwyllgor Deisebau, ac yna, o bosibl, at y Senedd i'w thrafod. Ar ôl i fwy na 10,000 o lofnodion gael eu derbyn, yna gofynnir i'r deisebydd ei hun a yw'n dymuno cau'r ddeiseb yn gynnar er mwyn sbarduno cam pwyllgor a Senedd ei hystyriaeth. Yn yr achos hwn, nid oes cais ar hyn o bryd i'r ddeiseb gael ei chau, ac efallai y bydd hyn yn wir tan i'r ffenestr chwe mis gau ym mis Mawrth 2024. Roeddwn i eisiau gwneud pob Aelod yn ymwybodol ein bod yn dilyn y drefn briodol gyda'r ddeiseb hon, yn yr un modd â phob deiseb arall.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Cefin Campbell.
The first item is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Cefin Campbell.
Diolch, Llywydd, a phrynhawn da, bawb.
Thank you, Llywydd, and good afternoon, everyone.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad ar gyflwr cysylltedd rheilffyrdd yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru? OQ59953
1. Will the First Minister make a statement on the condition of rail connectivity in mid and west Wales? OQ59953
Wel, diolch, Llywydd, a phrynhawn da i Cefin Campbell. Nid yw cysylltedd rheilffyrdd yn y canolbarth a'r gorllewin wedi cyrraedd y safonau yr ydym yn disgwyl dros yr haf. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi cymryd camau, ac mae'r gwasanaeth wedi gwella yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Mae mwy o le i wella o hyd.
Well, thank you, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Cefin Campbell. Rail connectivity in mid and west Wales has not met the required standards over the summer. Action has been taken by Transport for Wales and the service has improved in recent weeks. Further improvement is still needed.
Diolch yn fawr i chi am gydnabod y diffygion sydd wedi bod, a dwi'n falch i glywed bod yna beth gwelliannau. Ond, Brif Weinidog, mae trethdalwyr Cymru yn cyllido prosiect HS2 yn Lloegr, ac er bod e'n cael ei barseli fel prosiect Cymru a Lloegr, mae'n amlwg erbyn hyn na fydd yna unrhyw fudd yn dod i Gymru. Ac, yn wahanol i'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, fyddwn ni ddim yn derbyn ceiniog o'r biliynau sydd yn ddyledus i ni. Ac fel dwi'n siŵr y byddech chi wedi cytuno a chydnabod yn barod, mae mawr angen gwella buddsoddiad yn ein hisadeiledd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Ac un enghraifft yw'r rheilffordd eiconig yna, llinell Calon Cymru, sy'n rhedeg o Abertawe drwy sir Gaerfyrddin, Powys ac ymlaen i'r Amwythig. Mewn arolwg diweddar, mae perfformiad y gwasanaeth mewn gorsafoedd megis Llanymddyfri, Llandeilo a Llanwrtyd mor wael, o'r 2,700 o orsafoedd ar draws Prydain, maen nhw, y tair yna, ymhlith y 100 gwaethaf dros y chwe mis diwethaf, gyda 40 y cant o'r trenau naill ai wedi'u canslo neu'n rhedeg dros 10 munud yn hwyr. Felly, Brif Weinidog, a allwch chi esbonio i fi sut ŷch chi'n bwriadu mynd ati i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau difrifol ar linell Calon Cymru, a phwyso ar eich arweinydd chi i sicrhau bod arian HS2 yn dod i Gymru?
Thank you very much for acknowledging the deficiencies, and I'm pleased to hear that there have been improvements. But, First Minister, the taxpayers of Wales fund the HS2 project in England, and although it's been parcelled as a Wales-and-England project, it's clear now that there won't be any benefit for Wales. And, as opposed to Scotland and Northern Ireland, we won't receive a penny of the billions that we are owed. And, as I'm sure that you would have agreed and acknowledged already, we very much need to improve investment in our transport infrastructure in Wales. And one example is the iconic railway, the Heart of Wales line, which runs from Swansea through Carmarthenshire, Powys and on to Shrewsbury. In a recent survey, the performance of the service in stations such as Llandovery, Llandeilo and Llanwrtyd was so poor that, of the 2,700 stations across the UK, those three stations were amongst the 100 worst performing over the past six months, with 40 per cent of trains either cancelled or running over 10 minutes late. So, First Minister, could you explain to me how you intend to go about tackling these serious issues on the Heart of Wales line, and urge your leader to ensure that the HS2 funding does come to Wales?
Wel, diolch yn fawr i Cefin Campbell am y cwestiwn ychwanegol. Rwy'n clywed y pwyntiau mae'r Aelod yn eu gwneud, a dwi wedi darllen ei erthygl ef yn y papur newydd yn gynharach y mis hwn. Ac rwy'n cytuno hefyd, Llywydd, gyda'r hyn ddywedodd Cefin Campbell, fod llinell Calon Cymru yn rhan bwysig iawn yn y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yma yng Nghymru.
Fel y dywedais yn yr ateb gwreiddiol, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn dweud bod pethau wedi gwella yn ystod mis Medi, ac maen nhw'n hyderus y bydd y gwasanaeth yn parhau i wella dros weddill y flwyddyn, wrth i drenau newydd gael eu cyflwyno i'r llinell, gan ddarparu gwasanaeth gwell i fwy o deithwyr a beicwyr. Ac mae hwnna'n bwysig, a dwi'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog wedi gwneud hyn yn un o'i flaenoriaethau yn ei gyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda'r gwasanaeth.
Well, I thank Cefin Campbell for that supplementary question, and I hear the points that the Member makes, and I read his article in the newspaper earlier this month. And I agree, Llywydd, with what Cefin Campbell said, that the Heart of Wales line is a very important part of our rail network here in Wales.
As I said in my original response, Transport for Wales has said that things have improved during September, and they are confident that the service will continue to improve over the remainder of the year, as new trains are introduced to that line, providing improved services to more passengers and cyclists. And that's important, and I know that the Deputy Minister has made this one of his priorities in his regular meetings with the service.
In relation to the more general point that the Member made about HS2, Llywydd, in many ways, I don't think I can do better than to quote Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He said in an interview on Times Radio:
'This whole thing, it just makes me want to weep. It just makes me despair.'
We're now going to spend billions and billions of pounds, and it will take longer to get from London to Birmingham than it will under the current system, because we now know that there's no prospect of HS2 departing from Euston station, as was planned—it will leave from a station conveniently near to Wormwood Scrubs. And when it arrives in Birmingham, it's not going to arrive at New Street in Birmingham either—it's going to require you to walk for 15 minutes across Birmingham to get from where you will be dropped by HS2 to where you will need to get your connecting train. Now, the truth of the matter is that it is a complete shambles, and it's a shambles, as Cefin Campbell said, in which Wales particularly has lost out. If, as we keep reading, HS2 is to be cancelled from Birmingham to Manchester, then the fiction on which the UK Government has relied that, somehow, that line is of advantage to Wales will be completely exploded. At that point, we need to have the Barnett consequential of the money that has been spent to date, and that would allow us to invest in the Heart of Wales line and many other parts of the rail network in Wales as well.
O ran y pwynt mwy cyffredinol a wnaeth yr Aelod am HS2, Llywydd, mewn sawl ffordd, nid wyf i'n credu y gallaf i wneud yn well na dyfynnu Paul Johnson, cyfarwyddwr y Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllidol. Dywedodd mewn cyfweliad ar Times Radio:
'Mae'r holl beth yma, mae'n gwneud i mi fod eisiau wylo. Mae'n gwneud i mi anobeithio.'
Rydym ni bellach yn mynd i wario biliynau a biliynau o bunnoedd, a bydd hi'n cymryd mwy o amser i fynd o Lundain i Birmingham nag y bydd o dan y system bresennol, gan ein bod ni'n gwybod nawr nad oes unrhyw obaith y bydd HS2 yn gadael o orsaf Euston, fel y bwriadwyd—bydd yn gadael o orsaf sy'n gyfleus o agos at Wormwood Scrubs. A phan fydd yn cyrraedd Birmingham, nid yw'n mynd i gyrraedd New Street yn Birmingham chwaith—bydd yn gofyn i chi gerdded am 15 munud ar draws Birmingham i gyrraedd o le y cewch chi eich gollwng gan HS2 i'r man lle bydd angen i chi ddal eich trên cyswllt. Nawr, y gwir amdani yw ei fod yn draed moch llwyr, ac mae'n draed moch, fel y dywedodd Cefin Campbell, lle mae Cymru yn arbennig ar ei cholled. Os, fel rydym ni'n ei ddarllen drwy'r amser, y bydd HS2 yn cael ei ganslo o Birmingham i Fanceinion, yna bydd y ffuglen y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi dibynnu arni bod y rheilffordd honno, rywsut, o fantais i Gymru, yn cael ei ffrwydro'n llwyr. Ar yr adeg honno, mae angen i ni gael cyllid canlyniadol Barnett o'r arian a wariwyd hyd yn hyn, a byddai hynny'n caniatáu i ni fuddsoddi yn rheilffordd Calon Cymru a llawer o rannau eraill o'r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru hefyd.
First Minister, ever since I've been a Member of the Senedd, a constant issue raised with me is bus and rail services aligning with each other, and the issue, of course, of trains leaving a station just before a connecting bus service arrives. Now, I know that the Government is moving forward with transferring the management of the TrawsCymru service to Transport for Wales, with the intention, of course, of a better alignment between those services. Now, I agree with that principle. I do have concerns, of course, that Transport for Wales is the organisation that would be responsible for both, because there are so many failures within Transport for Wales currently, but I agree with the general principle that that will help. I wonder if you can give an update in terms of where we are with that transfer, and when you believe that, as a result of that, there will be those better and more appropriately aligned timetabled services between bus and rail.
Prif Weinidog, ers i mi fod yn Aelod o'r Senedd, un mater cyson a godwyd gyda mi yw gwasanaethau bysiau a rheilffyrdd yn cyd-fynd â'i gilydd, a'r broblem, wrth gwrs, o drenau yn gadael gorsaf ychydig cyn i wasanaeth bws cyswllt gyrraedd. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod y Llywodraeth yn bwrw ymlaen â throsglwyddo rheolaeth gwasanaeth TrawsCymru i Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gyda'r bwriad, wrth gwrs, o well cysondeb rhwng y gwasanaethau hynny. Nawr, rwy'n cytuno â'r egwyddor honno. Mae gen i bryderon, wrth gwrs, mai Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw'r sefydliad a fyddai'n gyfrifol am y ddau, gan fod cymaint o fethiannau o fewn Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd, ond rwy'n cytuno â'r egwyddor gyffredinol y bydd hynny yn helpu. Tybed a allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf o ran ble'r ydym ni gyda'r trosglwyddiad hwnnw, a phryd ydych chi'n credu, o ganlyniad i hynny, y cawn ni'r gwasanaethau wedi'u hamserlennu'n well ac yn fwy priodol hynny rhwng bysiau a rheilffyrdd.
Well, first of all, can I thank Russell George for his endorsement of that principle that co-location, where that is possible, and certainly alignment between timetables of different public transport elements, is absolutely to the advantage of the travelling passenger? By giving Transport for Wales these new responsibilities, they will be in a much better position to do exactly that. The timetable is bound up in the bus Bill that will come in front of this Senedd in this legislative year, because that will provide the powers to make sure that bus services are planned and delivered in the public interest. And that is an agenda that is at the heart of the transport policy that's being pursued by the Welsh Government, and we will see a very significant step ahead on that journey when the bus Bill is brought in front of Members later in this year.
Wel, yn gyntaf oll, a gaf i ddiolch i Russell George am ei gymeradwyaeth o'r egwyddor honno bod cyd-leoli, lle mae hynny'n bosibl, ac yn sicr cysondeb rhwng amserlenni gwahanol elfennau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, yn gwbl er budd y teithiwr? Trwy roi'r cyfrifoldebau newydd hyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru, byddan nhw mewn sefyllfa llawer gwell i wneud yn union hynny. Mae'r amserlen ynghlwm wrth y Bil bysiau a fydd yn dod gerbron y Senedd hon yn y flwyddyn ddeddfwriaethol hon, gan y bydd hwnnw yn rhoi'r pwerau i wneud yn siŵr bod gwasanaethau bysiau yn cael eu cynllunio a'u darparu er budd y cyhoedd. Ac mae honno'n agenda sy'n ganolog i'r polisi trafnidiaeth sy'n cael ei ddilyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a byddwn yn gweld cam sylweddol iawn ymlaen ar y daith honno pan ddaw'r Bil bysiau gerbron yr Aelodau yn ddiweddarach eleni.
2. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o lwyddiant datblygiad SA1 a'r gwersi i'w dysgu ar gyfer y dyfodol? OQ59948
2. What assessment has the First Minister made of the success of the SA1 development and the lessons that can be learnt for the future? OQ59948
I thank Mike Hedeges, Llywydd, for that question. Over £250 million has been invested to date by the public and private sectors in delivering new mixed-use developments on this former docklands site. Developer and occupier interest remains high in a scheme that amply demonstrates the importance of public investment crowding in sizeable and significant investments by others.
Diolch i Mike Hedeges, Llywydd, am y cwestiwn yna. Buddsoddwyd dros £250 miliwn hyd yma gan y sectorau cyhoeddus a phreifat i ddarparu datblygiadau defnydd cymysg newydd ar yr hen safle dociau hwn. Mae diddordeb datblygwyr a meddianwyr yn parhau i fod yn uchel mewn cynllun sy'n dangos yn helaeth bwysigrwydd buddsoddiad cyhoeddus yn denu buddsoddiadau sylweddol ac arwyddocaol gan eraill.
Can I first of all thank the First Minister for his response? This development has been a huge success, regenerating a former dockland and storage area. It is a mixed development—a commercial, manufacturing and design, housing, university, and leisure development. Whilst Felindre is in Rebecca Evans's constituency, can I suggest you look at something similar for the Felindre site? And also, on SA1, can the First Minister try and speed up the passing of responsibility to Swansea Council for roads and drainage?
A gaf i ddiolch yn gyntaf i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ymateb? Mae'r datblygiad hwn wedi bod yn llwyddiant enfawr, gan adfywio hen ardal dociau a storio. Mae'n ddatblygiad cymysg—datblygiad masnachol, gweithgynhyrchu a dylunio, tai, prifysgol, a hamdden. Er bod Felindre yn etholaeth Rebecca Evans, a gaf i awgrymu eich bod chi'n edrych ar rywbeth tebyg ar gyfer safle Felindre? A hefyd, ar SA1, a all y Prif Weinidog geisio cyflymu'r trosglwyddiad o gyfrifoldeb i Gyngor Abertawe am ffyrdd a draenio?
Llywydd, I thank Mike Hedges for what he said about the success of SA1. He's absolutely right—it is that mixed development. There are 1,500 residential units either completed already or in the process of being constructed. And it has that great mix of new activity that will give life to that part of Swansea—a new waterfront church, primary healthcare services, Admiral insurance as a commercial partner, a nursery for young children to be there, and student accommodation so that people of that age will be part of SA1. It really will be a vibrant part of the city and, as I said in my original answer, Llywydd, and this is the lesson, I think, that can be drawn for Felindre in the way that Mike Hedges has said, the strategic use of public investment, far from crowding out private investment, as is the theoretical belief of neo-liberals, actually has exactly the opposite impact. Used properly, it creates a magnet that draws investment by others into an area. That's what we've seen in SA1, and the point that the Member makes about Felindre is well made too. There is significant public investment there. It's not a complete parallel to SA1, because it is more directly focused on commercial occupation, but the use of public funds to make that happen in the best possible way is a lesson certainly that is there to be drawn.
As to the transfer of responsibility for highways in SA1—the adoption of roads—that is something that the Welsh Government is very keen to see happen. It is a three-stage process, as I've learned in reading my briefing for this question, and a stage relies upon Swansea city council issuing part 1 certificates. The Welsh Government wrote to the city and county of Swansea earlier this month, asking for those certificates to be issued. Once that takes place, we'll be able to move to the next stages, and then, in the way that Mike Hedges has asked, we can make sure that the roads in this part of the city are properly adopted and thereafter cared for by the city council itself.
Llywydd, diolch i Mike Hedges am yr hyn a ddywedodd am lwyddiant SA1. Mae'n hollol gywir—y datblygiad cymysg hwnnw yw ef. Mae 1,500 o unedau preswyl naill ai wedi'u cwblhau eisoes neu wrthi'n cael eu hadeiladu. Ac mae ganddo'r cymysgedd gwych hwnnw o weithgarwch newydd a fydd yn rhoi bywyd i'r rhan honno o Abertawe—eglwys newydd ar y glannau, gwasanaethau gofal iechyd sylfaenol, yswiriant Admiral fel partner masnachol, meithrinfa i blant ifanc fod yno, a llety i fyfyrwyr fel y bydd pobl o'r oedran hwnnw yn rhan o SA1. Bydd wir yn rhan fywiog o'r ddinas ac, fel y dywedais i yn fy ateb gwreiddiol, Llywydd, a dyma'r wers, rwy'n credu, y gellir ei dysgu ar gyfer Felindre yn y ffordd y mae Mike Hedges wedi ei ddweud, mae'r defnydd strategol o fuddsoddiad cyhoeddus, ymhell o ymylu buddsoddiad preifat, fel yw cred ddamcaniaethol neo-ryddfrydwyr, yn cael yr effaith groes mewn gwirionedd. O'i ddefnyddio yn iawn, mae'n creu magnet sy'n denu buddsoddiad gan eraill i mewn i ardal. Dyna'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei weld yn SA1, ac mae'r pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am Felindre yn un da hefyd. Ceir buddsoddiad cyhoeddus sylweddol yno. Nid yw'n cyd-fynd yn llwyr ag SA1, gan ei fod yn canolbwyntio yn fwy uniongyrchol ar feddiannaeth fasnachol, ond mae'r defnydd o gyllid cyhoeddus i wneud i hynny ddigwydd yn y ffordd orau bosibl yn sicr yn wers sydd yno i'w dysgu.
O ran trosglwyddo cyfrifoldeb am briffyrdd yn SA1—mabwysiadu ffyrdd—mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn awyddus iawn i'w weld yn digwydd. Mae'n broses tri cham, fel yr wyf i wedi ei ddysgu wrth ddarllen fy nogfen friffio ar gyfer y cwestiwn hwn, ac mae cam yn dibynnu ar gyngor dinas Abertawe yn cyflwyno tystysgrifau rhan 1. Ysgrifennodd Llywodraeth Cymru at ddinas a sir Abertawe yn gynharach y mis hwn, yn gofyn i'r tystysgrifau hynny gael eu cyflwyno. Unwaith y bydd hynny'n digwydd, byddwn yn gallu symud i'r camau nesaf, ac yna, yn y ffordd y mae Mike Hedges wedi gofyn, gallwn ni wneud yn siŵr bod y ffyrdd yn y rhan hon o'r ddinas yn cael eu mabwysiadu yn briodol ac y bydd cyngor y ddinas ei hun yn gofalu amdanyn nhw wedi hynny.
First Minister, we can all agree that the SA1 development is a huge boost to the city and most welcome. However, the successful transformation of Swansea’s waterfront was not always a given. We had the less than stellar technium project that was supposed to spearhead the transformation. Who knows how much sooner the city’s transformation would have occurred? We see that the Copr Bay project is also beset by problems, with the main developer going into administration. First Minister, how do we ensure that the lessons are learnt from these developments so that they are successful from the outset, not years down the road?
Prif Weinidog, fe allwn ni i gyd gytuno bod datblygiad SA1 yn hwb enfawr i'r ddinas ac i'w groesawu'n fawr. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd trawsnewid glannau Abertawe yn llwyddiannus bob amser yn siŵr o ddigwydd. Roedd gennym ni y prosiect technium, a oedd ymhell o fod yn anhygoel, a oedd i fod i arwain y trawsnewidiad. Pwy a ŵyr faint ynghynt y byddai trawsnewidiad y ddinas wedi digwydd? Rydym ni'n gweld bod prosiect Bae Copr hefyd yn ei chanol hi gyda phroblemau, wrth i'r prif ddatblygwr fynd i ddwylo'r gweinyddwyr. Prif Weinidog, sut ydym ni'n sicrhau bod y gwersi'n cael eu dysgu o'r datblygiadau hyn fel eu bod nhw'n llwyddiannus o'r cychwyn cyntaf, nid blynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach?
Well, I thank Altaf Hussain for his recognition in starting his question about the success that has been created in the SA1 development. I think it is true everywhere that, if you are engaged in massive investment, and certainly the investments in Swansea have been on that scale, and will continue to be on that scale with further parts of the ambitious plan for the redevelopment of the city being taken forward by the city council, I'm afraid lessons from elsewhere tell you that if you're doing things on that scale, some unforeseen things will happen. As the Member said, a developer went into liquidation. That is not in the hands of the city council as the prime mover, nor in the hands of the Welsh Government. What I can assure the Member is that when you have investment on this scale, then, of course, we are always keen to make sure that we learn whatever lessons can be drawn from it, whether those be the successful lessons that Mike Hedges referred to, or whether it be places where things could be done differently and better in the future, and we'll continue to approach the massive investment in Swansea in exactly that light.
Wel, diolch i Altaf Hussain am ei gydnabyddiaeth wrth ddechrau ei gwestiwn am y llwyddiant a grëwyd yn natblygiad SA1. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n wir ym mhobman, os ydych chi'n rhan o fuddsoddiad enfawr, ac yn sicr mae'r buddsoddiadau yn Abertawe wedi bod ar y raddfa honno, a byddan nhw'n parhau i fod ar y raddfa honno wrth i rannau pellach o'r cynllun uchelgeisiol ar gyfer ailddatblygu'r ddinas gael ei ddatblygu gan gyngor y ddinas, rwy'n ofni bod gwersi o fannau eraill yn dweud wrthych chi, os ydych chi'n gwneud pethau ar y raddfa honno, bydd rhai pethau annisgwyl yn digwydd. Fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, bu datblygwr yn destun datodiad. Nid yw hynny yn nwylo cyngor y ddinas fel y prif randdeiliad, nac yn nwylo Llywodraeth Cymru. Yr hyn y gallaf i sicrhau'r Aelod yw, pan fydd gennych chi fuddsoddiad ar y raddfa hon, yna, wrth gwrs, rydym ni bob amser yn awyddus i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n dysgu pa bynnag wersi y gellir eu dysgu ohono, pa un a yw hynny'n golygu'r gwersi llwyddiannus y cyfeiriodd Mike Hedges atyn nhw, neu'n lleoedd lle gellid gwneud pethau yn wahanol ac yn well yn y dyfodol, a byddwn yn parhau i fynd i'r afael â'r buddsoddiad enfawr yn Abertawe yn yr union oleuni hwnnw.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from party leaders. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, as the Presiding Officer mentioned in her opening remarks, there is a record petition before the Senedd's Petitions Committee at the moment, touching nearly 440,000 signatures. There's also another petition supporting the Government's position, of some 3,000 signatures. I don't disparage anyone who signs up to a petition, whether it has several hundred thousand or a few thousand, but the deputy transport Minister said on Friday night in a tweet that the 440,000-odd signatories to that petition were anti road safety. Do you agree with him?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, fel y soniodd y Llywydd yn ei sylwadau agoriadol, mae yna ddeiseb fwyaf o'i math gerbron Pwyllgor Deisebau'r Senedd ar hyn o bryd, sydd bron â chyrraedd 440,000 o lofnodion. Mae yna ddeiseb arall hefyd yn cefnogi safbwynt y Llywodraeth, o tua 3,000 o lofnodion. Nid wyf yn dilorni unrhyw un sy'n llofnodi deiseb, pa un a oes ganddi sawl can mil neu ychydig filoedd, ond dywedodd y dirprwy Weinidog trafnidiaeth nos Wener mewn trydariad bod y 440,000 bras o lofnodwyr ar y ddeiseb honno yn wrth-ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd. A ydych chi'n cytuno ag ef?
I think that all petitions should be taken seriously, and that is exactly how the different petitions in relation to the 20 mph zones will be viewed by this Government. The process is the one set out by the Llywydd. The petitions are to the Senedd, not to the Welsh Government, and it is for the Senedd, through the Petitions Committee, to respond to them. But I can assure the Member that we on this side take all petitions seriously and will view these petitions in that light.
At the heart of the case for moving to 20 mph speed limits as a default in built-up residential areas is road safety. This is a measure that will save lives. That is the basis on which it has been brought forward and that is the basis on which we will continue to defend a measure that only last week the leading academic journal in this field said was the most significant public health measure to have been attempted in the United Kingdom for nearly 20 years.
Rwy'n credu y dylid cymryd pob deiseb o ddifrif, a dyna'n union sut y bydd y gwahanol ddeisebau yn ymwneud â'r parthau 20 mya yn cael eu hystyried gan y Llywodraeth hon. Y broses yw'r un a nodwyd gan y Llywydd. Mae'r deisebau i'r Senedd, nid i Lywodraeth Cymru, a mater i'r Senedd, drwy'r Pwyllgor Deisebau, yw ymateb iddyn nhw. Ond gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod ein bod ni ar yr ochr hon yn cymryd pob deiseb o ddifrif ac y byddwn ni'n ystyried y deisebau hyn yn y goleuni hwnnw.
Mae diogelwch ar y ffyrdd yn ganolog i'r ddadl dros symud i derfynau cyflymder 20 mya ar sail ddiofyn mewn ardaloedd preswyl adeiledig. Mae hwn yn fesur a fydd yn achub bywydau. Dyna'r sail y'i cyflwynwyd arni a dyna'r sail y byddwn ni'n parhau i amddiffyn mesur a ddisgrifiwyd dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf gan y cyfnodolyn academaidd blaenllaw yn y maes hwn fel y mesur iechyd cyhoeddus mwyaf arwyddocaol y rhoddwyd cynnig arno yn y Deyrnas Unedig ers bron i 20 mlynedd.
It is critical that people aren't disparaged because they engage in a protest when they have observations or concerns about a Government measure. As I said, the Deputy Minister called this petition 'anti road safety'. Well, it's not against road safety, it's actually highlighting people's genuine concerns about the way this policy has been implemented and their concerns about how it will unfold in their communities. I take it from the points that you've made that you don't regard this petition as being anti road safety and you look at it as a genuine means for people to express themselves and express the concerns they've had.
One thing that is highlighted again by interacting with people who have concerns over the proposals that the Government has implemented is whether this will affect other national speed limits in this country. So, can you confirm today, First Minister, that there are no plans from the Welsh Government to adjust any of the other national speed limits here in Wales before the next Senedd elections in 2026?
Mae'n hanfodol nad yw pobl yn cael eu dilorni oherwydd eu bod nhw'n cymryd rhan mewn protest pan fydd ganddyn nhw sylwadau neu bryderon am fesur Llywodraeth. Fel y dywedais i, fe wnaeth y Dirprwy Weinidog alw'r ddeiseb hon yn 'wrth-ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd'. Wel, nid yw yn erbyn diogelwch ar y ffyrdd, mewn gwirionedd mae'n tynnu sylw at bryderon gwirioneddol pobl am y ffordd y gweithredwyd y polisi hwn a'u pryderon ynghylch sut y bydd yn datblygu yn eu cymunedau. Rwy'n cymryd o'r pwyntiau yr ydych chi wedi eu gwneud nad ydych chi'n ystyried bod y ddeiseb hon yn wrth-ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd a'ch bod yn ei ystyried yn fodd gwirioneddol i bobl fynegi eu hunain a mynegi'r pryderon y bu ganddyn nhw.
Un peth sy'n cael ei amlygu eto drwy ryngweithio â phobl sydd â phryderon ynghylch y cynigion y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi'u gweithredu yw a fydd hyn yn effeithio ar derfynau cyflymder cenedlaethol eraill yn y wlad hon. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau heddiw, Prif Weinidog, nad oes unrhyw gynlluniau gan Lywodraeth Cymru i addasu unrhyw un o'r terfynau cyflymder cenedlaethol eraill yma yng Nghymru cyn etholiadau nesaf y Senedd yn 2026?
Llywydd, let me make this absolutely clear to people who may have been misled by information that purports to inform them about plans in Wales but does no such thing: we're very used in Wales, on a single journey, to moving from a speed limit that might be 40 mph to 50 mph, 60 mph or 70 mph—none of those are changed by this policy and there are no plans to do so. This is a policy designed to make a default position of 20 mph on roads that serve built-up residential areas, with scope for local authorities to retain 30 mph where they believe that that is the right thing to do.
Let me make just one other point to the Member. I think it is very important to take seriously the views that people express within our democratic process using the petitions system that we have here. I also think that that cuts both ways, and that those people who support the policy and those people who have brought forward the policy are entitled to be treated with respect as well. I'm quite happy to send the Member some of the vile messages that I've received from people who are opposed to this policy, and for him to say to them, as I agree with him about people who have a different view to mine—. I don't wish to disparage them. I think it would be good to hear from him that those people who are prepared to say things that are not simply disparaging but are directly threatening of people's physical safety—that those things are absolutely unacceptable as well.
Llywydd, gadewch i mi wneud hyn yn gwbl eglur i bobl a allai fod wedi cael eu camarwain gan wybodaeth sy'n honni ei bod yn eu hysbysu am gynlluniau yng Nghymru ond nad yw'n gwneud dim o'r fath: rydym ni wedi arfer yn llwyr yng Nghymru, ar un daith, i symud o derfyn cyflymder a allai fod yn 40 mya i 50 mya, 60 mya neu 70 mya—nid yw'r un o'r rheini yn cael eu newid gan y polisi hwn ac nid oes unrhyw gynlluniau i wneud hynny. Mae hwn yn bolisi sydd â'r nod o wneud sefyllfa ddiofyn o 20 mya ar ffyrdd sy'n gwasanaethu ardaloedd preswyl adeiledig, gyda lle i awdurdodau lleol gadw 30 mya lle maen nhw'n credu mai dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud.
Gadewch i mi wneud un pwynt arall i'r Aelod. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn cymryd o ddifrif y safbwyntiau y mae pobl yn eu mynegi yn ein proses ddemocrataidd gan ddefnyddio'r system ddeisebau sydd gennym ni yma. Rwyf i hefyd yn credu bod hynny'n wir y ddwy ffordd, a bod gan y bobl hynny sy'n cefnogi'r polisi a'r bobl hynny sydd wedi cyflwyno'r polisi hawl i gael eu trin gyda pharch hefyd. Rwy'n gwbl hapus i anfon rhai o'r negeseuon ffiaidd yr wyf i wedi eu cael gan bobl sy'n gwrthwynebu'r polisi hwn, ac iddo ef ddweud wrthyn nhw, fel yr wyf i'n cytuno ag ef am bobl sydd â gwahanol farn i'm un i—. Dydw i ddim eisiau eu dilorni nhw. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n dda clywed ganddo fod y bobl hynny sy'n barod i ddweud pethau nad ydyn nhw'n ddilornus yn unig, ond yn bygwth diogelwch corfforol pobl yn uniongyrchol—bod y pethau hynny yn gwbl annerbyniol hefyd.
I am more than happy, First Minister, to join you in those comments. There is no space in our society for that whatsoever. I, myself, can send many, many examples—and it's open on my public social media feeds—of the remarks that I get thrown at me. I also get Government-funded purported news sites writing articles that say that I think that this type of language—that you, the Minister and others are collateral damage—. I have never said that, but by a journalist implying that I believe that, it puts a target on my back and my family's back as well, First Minister. I don't enjoy the protection that Government Ministers have, and when I see such posts put on a website that is funded by the Government, I think the Government has to think long and hard about the funding of that website.
What I would say to you, and to all politicians in this Chamber, is that this type of language is completely unacceptable, deplorable, and should be called out at every opportunity. I hear the Deputy Minister saying it's a bit rich. The article I just referred to on the Nation.Cymru website was reposted by many Members in this Chamber, and it hasn't a shred—a shred—of truth in it. So, it can, as you said, First Minister, play both ways. We must stand out against it, and I stand with you against that.
My third question to you, First Minister, is specifically about the road charging measures that are talked of in the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill, because this is an area that many people have also sought assurances over, and what likely impact these will have across Wales, when these measures are taken by the Welsh Government. Can you outline today the vision that the Welsh Government has about road charging in Wales, given that in this important piece of legislation the Government is seeking to take those powers and ultimately implement, as the national transport plan talks of, a road charging scheme here in Wales?
Rwy'n fwy na hapus, Prif Weinidog, i ymuno â chi yn y sylwadau hynny. Nid oes lle yn ein cymdeithas ar gyfer hynny o gwbl. Gallaf i, fy hun, anfon llawer iawn, iawn o enghreifftiau—ac mae'n agored ar fy ffrydiau cyfryngau cymdeithasol cyhoeddus—o'r sylwadau sy'n cael eu taflu ataf i. Rwyf i hefyd yn cael gwefannau newyddion honedig a ariennir gan y Llywodraeth yn ysgrifennu erthyglau sy'n dweud fy mod i'n credu bod y math hwn o iaith—eich bod chi, y Gweinidog ac eraill yn cael eich niweidio'n anuniongyrchol—. Nid wyf i erioed wedi dweud hynny, ond o newyddiadurwr yn awgrymu fy mod i'n credu hynny, mae'n rhoi targed ar fy nghefn ac ar gefn fy nheulu hefyd, Prif Weinidog. Nid wyf i'n mwynhau'r amddiffyniad sydd gan Weinidogion y Llywodraeth, a phan welaf negeseuon o'r fath yn cael eu rhoi ar wefan sy'n cael ei hariannu gan y Llywodraeth, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i'r Llywodraeth feddwl yn ofalus iawn am ariannu'r wefan honno.
Yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud wrthych chi, ac wrth bob gwleidydd yn y Siambr hon, yw bod y math hwn o iaith yn gwbl annerbyniol, yn warthus, ac y dylid ei feirniadu ar bob cyfle. Rwy'n clywed y Dirprwy Weinidog yn dweud bod honna'n un dda. Ail-bostiwyd yr erthygl yr wyf i newydd gyfeirio ati ar wefan Nation.Cymru gan lawer o Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, ac nid oes y mymryn lleiaf—y mymryn lleiaf—o wirionedd ynddi. Felly, fel y gwnaethoch chi ddweud, Prif Weinidog, y gall fod yn wir y ddwy ffordd. Mae'n rhaid i ni sefyll yn ei erbyn, ac rwy'n sefyll gyda chi yn erbyn hynny.
Mae fy nhrydydd cwestiwn i chi, Prif Weinidog, yn ymwneud yn benodol â'r mesurau codi tâl ar y ffyrdd y sonnir amdanyn nhw ym Mil yr Amgylchedd (Ansawdd Aer a Seinweddau) (Cymru), gan fod hwn yn faes y mae llawer o bobl hefyd wedi gofyn am sicrwydd yn ei gylch, a pha effaith debygol y bydd y rhain yn ei chael ledled Cymru, pan fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd y mesurau hyn. A allwch chi amlinellu heddiw y weledigaeth sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru am godi tâl ar y ffyrdd yng Nghymru, o gofio bod y Llywodraeth, yn y darn pwysig hwn o ddeddfwriaeth, yn ceisio cymryd y pwerau hynny a gweithredu yn y pen draw, fel y mae'r cynllun trafnidiaeth genedlaethol yn sôn amdano, cynllun codi tâl ar y ffyrdd yma yng Nghymru?
The powers in that Bill are powers to do with improving air quality. I've heard the Member make very positive contributions on the floor of the Senedd about the importance of improving air quality in Wales. We know it is a public health issue. We know that there are thousands of people whose lives might be shortened if the air that they breathe is not of the quality that we would like it to be. The Bill sets out a whole series of ways in which we will aim to improve air quality here in Wales. It has, as a residual and fallback position, powers that could in the future lead to road charging, if all those other things do not work. But the point of the Bill is to make those other things work. Those are the things that the Bill focuses on, and those are the measures that we will be focusing on as a Government. If we succeed in doing that, then we will have achieved the aims of the Bill, which, as I say, are there as part of this public health approach—to transport, of course; to air quality, quite certainly. And that's the nature of the proposals that the Bill contains.
Mae'r pwerau yn y Bil hwnnw yn bwerau sy'n ymwneud â gwella ansawdd aer. Rwyf i wedi clywed yr Aelod yn gwneud cyfraniadau cadarnhaol iawn ar lawr y Senedd am bwysigrwydd gwella ansawdd aer yng Nghymru. Rydym ni'n gwybod ei fod yn fater iechyd cyhoeddus. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod miloedd o bobl y gallai eu bywydau gael eu byrhau os nad yw'r aer y maen nhw'n ei anadlu o'r ansawdd yr hoffem iddo fod. Mae'r Bil yn cyflwyno cyfres o ffyrdd y byddwn ni'n ceisio gwella ansawdd aer yma yng Nghymru. Mae ganddo, fel safbwynt gweddilliol ac wrth gefn, bwerau a allai yn y dyfodol arwain at godi tâl ar y ffyrdd, os nad yw'r holl bethau eraill hynny yn gweithio. Ond diben y Bil yw gwneud i'r pethau eraill hynny weithio. Dyna'r pethau y mae'r Bil yn canolbwyntio arnyn nhw, a dyna'r mesurau y byddwn ni'n canolbwyntio arnyn nhw fel Llywodraeth. Os byddwn ni'n llwyddo i wneud hynny, yna byddwn wedi cyflawni nodau'r Bil, sydd, fel y dywedais i, yno yn rhan o'r dull iechyd cyhoeddus hwn—o ymdrin â thrafnidiaeth, wrth gwrs; o ymdrin ag ansawdd aer, yn sicr. A dyna natur y cynigion y mae'r Bil yn eu cynnwys.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae lefelau tlodi plant yng Nghymru yn sgandal cenedlaethol. Maen nhw'n gywilydd cenedlaethol. Mae ymchwil gan Sefydliad Bevan, a gafodd ei gyhoeddi ym mis Mehefin, yn amcangyfrif bod un o bob pum plentyn yn byw mewn tlodi yng Nghymru. Mewn rhai ardaloedd—Ceredigion, Blaenau Gwent—mae o gymaint ag un o bob tri.
Thank you, Llywydd. Child poverty levels in Wales are a national scandal. They are a national disgrace. Research by the Bevan Foundation, published in June, suggests that one in five children is living in poverty in Wales. In some areas—Ceredigion, Blaenau Gwent—it's as many as one in three.
The Children's Commissioner for Wales said in a Senedd committee yesterday that the Welsh Government needed to be clearer and braver in its approach to child poverty. Does the First Minister think that the Welsh Government was clear or brave when it decided to scrap its target to eliminate child poverty?
Dywedodd Comisiynydd Plant Cymru yn un o bwyllgorau'r Senedd ddoe bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru fod yn fwy eglur ac yn fwy dewr o ran ei dull o ymdrin â thlodi plant. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn eglur neu'n ddewr pan benderfynodd gefnu ar ei tharged i ddileu tlodi plant?
This Government is committed to doing everything that we can within the powers that we have and the resources available to us to tackle child poverty. My colleague Jane Hutt will be making a statement later this afternoon, which will focus on a number of those matters. I'm glad, of course, to have the children's commissioner actively involved in this debate. I haven't had an opportunity to read everything that she said at the committee yesterday, and I'm not surprised that some of her remarks have captured the headlines. We are fortunate, Llywydd, I think, that we have a history in Wales of children's commissioners, from Peter Clarke onwards, who have been positively influential on the policies pursued by the Welsh Government when it comes to child poverty. So many of the things we have been able to do in the last five years, for example on the cost of the school day, emanate directly from the work done by the previous children's commissioner, Professor Sally Holland. When I read the transcript of what the current children's commissioner has to say, I'm quite sure that, below the headline, I will see some further positive proposals that she will wish to make and that we will then be able to take into account as part of the consultation that we are currently carrying out on our proposed strategy.
Mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu o fewn y pwerau sydd gennym ni a'r adnoddau sydd ar gael i ni i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Bydd fy nghyd-Weinidog, Jane Hutt yn gwneud datganiad yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, a fydd yn canolbwyntio ar nifer o'r materion hynny. Rwy'n falch, wrth gwrs, o gael y comisiynydd plant yn cymryd rhan weithredol yn y ddadl hon. Nid wyf i wedi cael cyfle i ddarllen popeth a ddywedodd yn y pwyllgor ddoe, ac nid wyf yn synnu bod rhai o'i sylwadau wedi gwneud penawdau. Rydym ni'n ffodus, Llywydd, rwy'n credu, fod gennym ni hanes yng Nghymru o gomisiynwyr plant, o Peter Clarke ymlaen, sydd wedi dylanwadu'n gadarnhaol ar y polisïau a ddilynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru o ran tlodi plant. Mae cymaint o'r pethau yr ydym ni wedi gallu eu gwneud yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, er enghraifft ar gost y diwrnod ysgol, yn deillio'n uniongyrchol o'r gwaith a wnaed gan y comisiynydd plant blaenorol, yr Athro Sally Holland. Pan fyddaf yn darllen y trawsgrifiad o'r hyn sydd gan y comisiynydd plant presennol i'w ddweud, rwy'n eithaf siŵr, o dan y pennawd, y byddaf yn gweld cynigion cadarnhaol pellach y bydd yn dymuno eu gwneud ac y byddwn ni wedyn yn gallu eu cymryd i ystyriaeth yn rhan o'r ymgynghoriad yr ydym ni'n ei gynnal ar ein strategaeth arfaethedig ar hyn o bryd.
The First Minister will know, of course, that the children's commissioner has been consistent, not just yesterday. This is what she said when the child poverty strategy went out for consultation in June:
'It’s hugely important that alongside a high-level child poverty strategy document the Welsh Government publishes a specific and measurable delivery plan. This needs to have clear targets showing how and when the Welsh Government will deliver'.
Yes, she was even stronger in committee yesterday, and Victoria Winckler too of the Bevan Foundation was equally strong, saying the plan, as it was, was incoherent, with a lack of targets or milestones. So, will the First Minister listen to both the children's commissioner and the Bevan Foundation, as well as other organisations like the National Youth Advocacy Service, for example, and ensure that that final strategy does have clear, measurable and specific targets, along with timescales?
Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, bod y comisiynydd plant wedi bod yn gyson, nid yn unig ddoe. Dyma a ddywedodd pan wnaed y strategaeth tlodi plant yn destun ymgynghoriad ym mis Mehefin:
'Mae’n hynod o bwysig bod Llywodraeth Cymru, ochr yn ochr â dogfen strategaeth tlodi plant lefel uchel, yn cyhoeddi cynllun cyflawni penodol a mesuradwy. Mae hyn angen cynnwys targedau clir sy’n dangos sut a phryd bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflawni'.
Oedd, roedd hi'n gryfach fyth yn y pwyllgor ddoe, ac roedd Victoria Winckler hefyd o Sefydliad Bevan yr un mor gryf, gan ddweud bod y cynllun, fel yr oedd, yn anghydlynol, â diffyg targedau neu gerrig milltir. Felly, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog wrando ar y comisiynydd plant a Sefydliad Bevan, yn ogystal â sefydliadau eraill fel y Gwasanaeth Eiriolaeth Ieuenctid Cenedlaethol, er enghraifft, a sicrhau bod gan y strategaeth derfynol honno dargedau clir, mesuradwy a phenodol, ynghyd ag amserlenni?
As I've said, the strategy is being consulted on, which is why people are contributing their views. The Welsh Government has very deliberately created this opportunity for us to hear from people with direct expertise in the field. Then, of course, we will be listening carefully to what they have to say. I say again, though, to Members, so that I'm clear: what we are able to achieve through our child poverty strategy has to focus on those things for which we have responsibility, the powers that rest in this place, and the resources that we have available to do so. I don't think just rhetorical commitments make a difference in the lives of children. It is the practical things that we are able to do that really have their impact, and that's what we will be focused on when the final version of the strategy comes to be published.
Fel y dywedais i, mae'r strategaeth yn destun ymgynghoriad, a dyna pam mae pobl yn cyfrannu eu safbwyntiau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi creu'r cyfle hwn yn fwriadol iawn i ni glywed gan bobl sydd ag arbenigedd uniongyrchol yn y maes. Yna, wrth gwrs, byddwn ni'n gwrando'n astud ar yr hyn sydd ganddyn nhw i'w ddweud. Dywedaf eto, fodd bynnag, wrth yr Aelodau, fel fy mod i'n eglur: mae'n rhaid i'r hyn y gallwn ei gyflawni trwy ein strategaeth tlodi plant ganolbwyntio ar y pethau hynny y mae gennym ni gyfrifoldeb amdanyn nhw, y pwerau sydd wedi'u neilltuo i'r lle hwn, a'r adnoddau sydd gennym ni ar gael i wneud hynny. Nid wyf i'n credu bod ymrwymiadau rhethregol yn unig yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ym mywydau plant. Y pethau ymarferol y gallwn ni eu gwneud sydd wir yn cael eu heffaith, a dyna'r hyn y byddwn ni'n canolbwyntio arno pan fydd fersiwn derfynol y strategaeth yn cael ei chyhoeddi.
Of course, the reason I'm asking these questions today is because I want to influence the way the Welsh Government responds to what it receives during that consultation. I don't doubt for a second that the First Minister is sincere about wanting to eliminate child poverty, but saying it doesn't achieve it, and when the children's commissioner said yesterday the ambition isn't there, you've got to wonder if the Welsh Government is even saying the right things.
I know that the Welsh Government responded to the criticism of the draft plan by saying that the major levers for tackling poverty—welfare benefits and many fiscal powers—are in the hands of the UK Government, and that's reflected in what we've heard from the First Minister today. But he is on record saying he would rather Westminster, ultimately, decides our welfare system. We don't want to keep asking the question posed by the Bevan Foundation, which said, 'What is the point of this document?' We want it to have a point. Will the First Minister finally concede that the full devolution of welfare would give Wales the meaningful levers to drive down levels of child poverty?
Wrth gwrs, y rheswm rwy'n gofyn y cwestiynau hyn heddiw yw oherwydd fy mod i eisiau dylanwadu ar y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymateb i'r hyn y mae'n ei dderbyn yn ystod yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw. Nid wyf i'n amau am eiliad bod y Prif Weinidog yn ddiffuant am fod eisiau dileu tlodi plant, ond nid yw ei ddweud yn ei gyflawni, a phan ddywedodd y comisiynydd plant ddoe nad yw'r uchelgais yno, mae'n rhaid i chi feddwl tybed a yw Llywodraeth Cymru hyd yn oed yn dweud y pethau cywir.
Gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymateb i'r feirniadaeth o'r cynllun drafft drwy ddweud bod y prif ysgogiadau ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â thlodi—budd-daliadau lles a llawer o bwerau cyllidol—yn nwylo Llywodraeth y DU, ac mae hynny'n cael ei adlewyrchu yn yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei glywed gan y Prif Weinidog heddiw. Ond fe'i cofnodwyd yn dweud y byddai'n well ganddo fod San Steffan, yn y pen draw, yn penderfynu ar ein system les. Nid ydym ni eisiau parhau i ofyn y cwestiwn a ofynnwyd gan Sefydliad Bevan, a ddywedodd, 'Beth yw pwynt y ddogfen hon?' Rydym ni eisiau iddi fod â phwynt. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog gyfaddef o'r diwedd y byddai datganoli lles yn llawn yn rhoi'r ysgogiadau ystyrlon i Gymru i ostwng lefelau tlodi plant?
I simply don't accept that point, and I don't think it's borne out by any serious analysis. I continue to believe that one of the strongest cases for the United Kingdom is that, in the right hands, it acts as a great engine for redistribution. It's not been in the right hands, clearly, in recent years, and one of the reasons why this child poverty strategy in Wales is published in that difficult context is that the Office for Budget Responsibility says, in terms, that the decisions made by the current Conservative Government will add hundreds of thousands of children to the numbers, already far too high, who live in poverty. The Member's answer is to hand everything over to an independent Wales where this will all be put right. I don't think that is ever likely to be the case. We will be as constrained, if not more constrained, by the same financial realities.
What I look forward to is a Labour Government in Westminster committed again to reducing child poverty. In the first decade of devolution, child poverty in Wales fell by a quarter and was falling year on year. With a Government in Westminster determined to join us in doing the things we want to do, we can make that difference. A Government in Westminster determined to do the opposite always creates additional headwinds for the things that we want to do here in Wales. I can tell you that this Government is absolutely committed to an ambitious approach to child poverty. There is nothing that has motivated me more in all the years I have been in politics than the lives of those young people in my constituency who, from their earliest years, are blighted by the fact that their families simply do not have the resources they need to offer those young people a chance of growing up in life in the way that we would wish to see them. I am as passionate about that today as I ever have been, and when we have that next Labour Government, we will be able to make a real difference.
Nid wyf i'n derbyn y pwynt hwnnw, ac nid wyf i'n credu ei fod yn cael ei gadarnhau gan unrhyw ddadansoddiad difrifol. Rwy'n parhau i gredu mai un o'r dadleuon cryfaf dros y Deyrnas Unedig yw ei bod yn gweithredu, yn y dwylo iawn, fel peiriant gwych ar gyfer ailddosbarthu. Nid yw wedi bod yn y dwylo iawn, yn amlwg, yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac un o'r rhesymau pam mae'r strategaeth tlodi plant hon yng Nghymru yn cael ei chyhoeddi yn y cyd-destun anodd hwnnw yw bod y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn dweud, i bob pwrpas, y bydd y penderfyniadau a wneir gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol bresennol yn ychwanegu cannoedd o filoedd o blant at y niferoedd, sydd eisoes yn llawer rhy uchel, sy'n byw mewn tlodi. Ateb yr Aelod yw trosglwyddo popeth drosodd i Gymru annibynnol lle bydd hyn i gyd yn cael ei gywiro. Nid wyf i'n credu bod hynny'n debygol o fod yn wir byth. Byddwn wedi ein cyfyngu yr un faint, os nad yn fwy, gan yr un realiti ariannol.
Yr hyn yr wyf i'n edrych ymlaen ato yw Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan sydd wedi ymrwymo eto i leihau tlodi plant. Yn negawd gyntaf datganoli, fe wnaeth tlodi plant yng Nghymru ostwng o chwarter ac roedd yn gostwng o un flwyddyn i'r llall. Gyda Llywodraeth yn San Steffan sy'n benderfynol o ymuno â ni i wneud y pethau yr ydym ni eisiau eu gwneud, gallwn wneud y gwahaniaeth hwnnw. Mae Llywodraeth yn San Steffan sy'n benderfynol o wneud y gwrthwyneb bob amser yn creu rhwystrau ychwanegol i'r pethau yr ydym ni eisiau eu gwneud yma yng Nghymru. Gallaf ddweud wrthych chi fod y Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i ddull uchelgeisiol o ymdrin â thlodi plant. Nid oes dim sydd wedi fy ysgogi i'n fwy yn yr holl flynyddoedd yr wyf i wedi bod ym myd gwleidyddiaeth na bywydau'r bobl ifanc hynny yn fy etholaeth sydd, o'u blynyddoedd cynharaf, yn cael eu niweidio gan y ffaith nad oes gan eu teuluoedd yr adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i gynnig cyfle i'r bobl ifanc hynny dyfu i fyny mewn bywyd yn y ffordd y byddem ni'n dymuno eu gweld nhw'n ei wneud. Rwyf i mor angerddol am hynny heddiw ag yr wyf i wedi bod erioed, a phan fydd gennym ni'r Llywodraeth Lafur nesaf honno, byddwn yn gallu gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu sut y bydd Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau) Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud Aelodau o'r Senedd yn fwy atebol i'r cyhoedd? OQ59970
3. Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government's Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill will make Members of the Senedd more accountable to the public? OQ59970
Llywydd, the Bill will increase the frequency of elections and ensure that every vote counts, with all Members elected through a single proportional system.
Llywydd, bydd y Bil yn cynyddu amlder etholiadau ac yn sicrhau bod pob pleidlais yn cyfrif, gyda'r holl Aelodau yn cael eu hethol drwy un system gyfrannol.
I'd like to thank the First Minister for your answer. On the Welsh Government website, it outlines that the long-term aims of this Bill are to represent, respond to, and serve the people of Wales, and hold the Welsh Government to account. However, the voting system that you are proposing is that Senedd Members are elected on a closed party list system, which removes the option for people to pick their preferred candidate, and will take Senedd Members further away from the public, who elect us here to serve them. I grow increasingly concerned that this system could undermine our elections in Wales, and weaken our democracy. Respectively, some voters look to individual candidates to represent them, not political parties, and we should do well to remember that devolution is supposed to strengthen our local communities, not overlook them by taking away their choices. So, First Minister, do you agree with me that this legislation should be scrapped because a system that you are putting in place removes local accountability and takes politicians further away from the public, who rightly should be able to choose a candidate in an open system that makes individual Senedd Members more accountable to the public who elect them?
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am eich ateb. Ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'n amlinellu mai nodau hirdymor y Bil hwn yw cynrychioli pobl Cymru, ymateb iddyn nhw a'u gwasanaethu, a dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif. Fodd bynnag, y system bleidleisio yr ydych chi'n ei chynnig yw bod Aelodau'r Senedd yn cael eu hethol ar system rhestr plaid caeedig, sy'n atal yr opsiwn i bobl ddewis eu dewis o ymgeisydd, ac a fydd yn mynd ag Aelodau'r Senedd ymhellach i ffwrdd o'r cyhoedd, sy'n ein hethol ni yma i'w gwasanaethu. Rwy'n gynyddol bryderus y gallai'r system hon danseilio ein hetholiadau yng Nghymru, a gwanhau ein democratiaeth. Yn y drefn honno, mae rhai pleidleiswyr yn edrych at ymgeiswyr unigol i'w cynrychioli, nid pleidiau gwleidyddol, a byddai o fudd i ni gofio bod datganoli i fod i gryfhau ein cymunedau lleol, nid eu hanwybyddu trwy gymryd eu dewisiadau oddi wrthyn nhw. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y dylid cefnu ar y ddeddfwriaeth hon gan fod y system yr ydych chi'n ei rhoi ar waith yn cael gwared ar atebolrwydd lleol ac yn mynd â gwleidyddion ymhellach i ffwrdd o'r cyhoedd, a ddylai allu dewis, yn briodol, ymgeisydd mewn system agored sy'n gwneud Aelodau unigol o'r Senedd yn fwy atebol i'r cyhoedd sy'n eu hethol?
Well, of course I don't agree with the Member, nor, do I imagine, do those people who sit around him on the Conservative benches who are elected here on the closed party list system. What does he say to his colleagues? Let them read what he said to me this afternoon about their lack of democratic legitimacy because of the way that they have arrived here. Did he not think of that before he decided to put that point to me?
Let me say this to him so that he understands: in the system we are proposing, voters will have in front of them the entire candidate list put forward by a political party. There will be a list of Conservative Party candidates, and voters will be able to look at those names, as they will be able to look at the lists of every other party, and then, if voters respond in the way that the Member believes, they will be able to weigh that up and cast their vote according to their assessment of the calibre of candidates in front of them. They will be able to do exactly what he says. If his argument is that this will then just be a party list, then the system will allow candidates to stand in their own name, so the Member will be able to make his own decision; he will be able to be on a Conservative Party list, should his party choose to continue to support him in that way. If he thinks that is to break the bond between him and the good electors of Brecon and Radnorshire, then he has a solution: he can stand as James Evans, and they can continue to vote for him, should they choose to do so, in that way.
Wel, wrth gwrs, nid wyf i'n cytuno â'r Aelod, ac nid wyf i'n dychmygu bod y bobl hynny sy'n eistedd o'i gwmpas ar y meinciau Ceidwadol sy'n cael eu hethol yma ar sail system rhestr plaid caeedig yn cytuno ag ef chwaith. Beth mae'n ei ddweud wrth ei gyd-Aelodau? Gadewch iddyn nhw ddarllen yr hyn a ddywedodd wrthyf i y prynhawn yma am eu diffyg hygrededd democrataidd oherwydd y ffordd y maen nhw wedi cyrraedd yma. Oni feddyliodd am hynny cyn iddo benderfynu gwneud y pwynt hwnnw i mi?
Gadewch i mi ddweud hyn wrtho fel ei fod yn deall: yn y system yr ydym ni'n ei chynnig, bydd gan bleidleiswyr o'u blaenau y rhestr ymgeiswyr gyfan a gyflwynir gan blaid wleidyddol. Bydd rhestr o ymgeiswyr y Blaid Geidwadol, a bydd pleidleiswyr yn gallu edrych ar yr enwau hynny, fel y byddan nhw'n gallu edrych ar restrau pob plaid arall, ac yna, os bydd pleidleiswyr yn ymateb yn y ffordd y mae'r Aelod yn credu, byddan nhw'n gallu pwyso a mesur hynny a bwrw eu pleidlais yn ôl eu hasesiad o safon yr ymgeiswyr o'u blaenau. Byddan nhw'n gallu gwneud yn union yr hyn mae'n ei ddweud. Os mai ei ddadl ef yw mai dim ond rhestr plaid fydd hon wedyn, yna bydd y system yn caniatáu i ymgeiswyr sefyll yn eu henw eu hunain, felly bydd yr Aelod yn gallu gwneud ei benderfyniad ei hun; bydd yn gallu bod ar restr y Blaid Geidwadol, pe bai ei blaid yn dewis parhau i'w gefnogi yn y ffordd honno. Os yw o'r farn bod hynny yn torri'r cysylltiad rhyngddo ef ac etholwyr da Brycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed, yna mae ganddo ateb: gall sefyll fel James Evans, a gallan nhw barhau i bleidleisio drosto, os ydyn nhw'n dewis gwneud hynny, yn y ffordd honno.
Mewn ymgais i wella atebolrwydd, mae nifer o Seneddau ar draws y byd wedi cyflwyno proses lle, mewn amgylchiadau penodol, mae'n bosib dod â thymor Aelod i ben rhwng etholiadau. Yn San Steffan, er enghraifft, mae gyda nhw system adalw. Yng nghyd-destun y math o boblyddiaeth yr oedd y Prif Weinidog yn cyfeirio ato fe'n gynt, wrth gwrs, mae yna wastad perygl i systemau fel hyn gael eu camddefnyddio. Mae hynny'n sicr wedi digwydd yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Ond, serch hynny, ydy'r Prif Weinidog yn gweld rhinwedd inni drafod y ffordd yma o wella atebolrwydd yng nghyd-destun y Senedd ddiwygiedig, o bosib yn archwilio syniad amgen a wnaed yn wreiddiol gan Gordon Brown, er enghraifft, o rymuso pwyllgor safonau i eithrio Aelodau yn barhaol mewn amgylchiadau penodol, gan ddod â'r cyhoedd mewn i'r broses hefyd drwy gael aelodau lleyg yn rhan o'r pwyllgor?
In an attempt to improve accountability, a number of Parliaments worldwide have introduced a process where, in specific circumstances, it's possible to bring the term of office of a Member to an end between elections. For example, in Westminster, they have a recall system. In the context of the populism that the First Minister referred to, there is always a danger that systems such as this can be misused, and that has certainly happened in the United States. But, despite that, does the First Minister see the benefits of us discussing this way of improving accountability in the context of the reformed Senedd, perhaps investigating an alternative idea made originally by Gordon Brown, for example, of empowering the standards committee to exclude Members permanently in specific circumstances, bringing the public into the process too through having lay members as part of that committee?
Wel, Llywydd, diolch yn fawr i Adam Price am y syniadau diddorol yna. Gwell i fi ddechrau drwy esbonio jest un peth sylfaenol. Gwaith y Llywodraeth pan oeddem ni'n paratoi y Bil sydd o flaen y Senedd oedd ymateb i adroddiad pwyllgor y Senedd. Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi datblygu'r Bil, ond roedd popeth sydd tu ôl i'r Bil yn bethau roedd y Senedd wedi cytuno arnyn nhw, dan waith Huw Irranca-Davies. A doedd dim byd yn adroddiad y pwyllgor oedd yn dweud wrthym ni fel Llywodraeth taw dyna beth oedd y Senedd eisiau inni ei wneud.
A nawr, wrth gwrs, mae'r Bil o flaen y Senedd, ac fel roedd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn ei ddweud pan oedd e'n cyflwyno'r Bil, mae'r broses nawr o drafod a datblygu y Bil yn nwylo'r Senedd. A dwi'n siŵr y bydd nifer o'r syniadau yn ddiddorol i Aelodau'r Senedd eu hystyried pan fydd y Bil o flaen y Senedd. A beth mae Adam Price wedi'i ddweud y prynhawn yma—dwi'n siŵr y bydd hwnna'n rhan o'r trafodaethau.
Well, Llywydd, I thank Adam Price for those interesting ideas. Perhaps I should start by explaining one fundamental thing. The job of Government in preparing the Bill before the Senedd was to respond to the Senedd committee report. The Government has developed the Bill, but everything that underpins that Bill were issues that the Senedd had agreed in the work led by Huw Irranca-Davies. And there was nothing in the committee report that suggested to us as a Government that that is what the Senedd wanted us to include in the Bill.
But now, of course, the Bill is before the Senedd, and as the Counsel General said when he introduced the Bill, the process now is to debate and develop the Bill, and that will be in the Parliament's hands. And I'm sure that there will be many ideas that will be of great interest to Senedd Members, and they can consider those when the Bill is before the Senedd. And Adam Price's suggestion this afternoon—well, I'm sure that that will be part of the discussion.
I'd like to follow Adam Price in some of that thinking, in fact, because when we're looking at increasing accountability and increasing the ability of the public to hold us to account in this place, one of the ways that has been tested in the United Kingdom Parliament, which I think is working very well, is the process of recall. We're seeing a number of by-elections taking place at the moment in England and Scotland, where Members have been recalled, because they've either broken the law or they've been subject to a suspension by the relevant committee in the House of Commons. And it is an important part and element of accountability, and the Counsel General, in answering questions on this matter, said it was a matter for scrutiny, which was a very enigmatic approach to answering the question. And I was wondering, or hoping, if the First Minister could give us an indication of the Government's thinking and whether a recall system in this place would be something that would engender support from the Labour benches. I can see the Conservatives nodding at this, and I can see some nods from Plaid Cymru as well. It might be something that unites this Chamber.
Hoffwn ddilyn Adam Price yn rhai o'r syniadau hynny, mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd pan fyddwn ni'n edrych ar gynyddu atebolrwydd a chynyddu gallu'r cyhoedd i'n dwyn i gyfrif yn y lle hwn, un o'r ffyrdd sydd wedi cael ei brofi yn Senedd y Deyrnas Unedig, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn gweithio'n dda iawn, yw'r broses galw yn ôl. Rydym ni'n gweld nifer o is-etholiadau yn cael eu cynnal ar hyn o bryd yn Lloegr a'r Alban, lle mae'r Aelodau wedi cael eu galw yn ôl, oherwydd eu bod nhw naill ai wedi torri'r gyfraith neu eu bod nhw wedi bod yn destun gwaharddiad gan y pwyllgor perthnasol yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin. Ac mae'n rhan bwysig ac yn elfen o atebolrwydd, a dywedodd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol, wrth ateb cwestiynau ar y mater hwn, ei fod yn fater ar gyfer craffu, a oedd yn ddull enigmatig iawn o ateb y cwestiwn. A meddwl oeddwn i tybed, neu gobeithio, a allai'r Prif Weinidog roi syniad i ni o feddylfryd y Llywodraeth ac a fyddai system galw yn ôl yn y lle hwn yn rhywbeth a fyddai'n ennyn cefnogaeth gan feinciau'r Blaid Lafur. Gallaf weld y Ceidwadwyr yn amneidio at hyn, a gallaf weld rhai amneidiau gan Blaid Cymru hefyd. Efallai ei fod yn rhywbeth sy'n uno'r Siambr hon.
Well, Llywydd, I thank Alun Davies for that. I think I just need to repeat the point I made in my opening response to Adam Price, that the Bill is a Bill—yes, the practical work on it has been done inside the Government, but the Government was carrying forward the report of a Senedd committee, as endorsed by Members here, and there was no reference to recall in that report. If the Senedd, in the process of scrutinising the Bill, comes to a consensus on that matter or, indeed, maybe other matters that will become part of the debate, then, in a way, I'm not sure that it is for the Government to have a view on it. Because this is a Bill about the Senedd, and the Government is the vehicle for bringing it forward rather than it being a Government Bill by origin. No doubt if a recall possibility were to be part of that discussion, then some of the complexity about that will undoubtedly emerge. I know, for example, that in the Scottish Parliament, efforts were made to find a way in which a recall mechanism could be applied to list Members in the Scottish Parliament. And in the end, the committee that was charged with that in Scotland said that they couldn't find a mechanism by which that could be legitimately brought about.
So, I think the Government is just interested in the debate and in the views of the Senedd, knowing that in all of these issues—and certainly the Member for Carmarthen East will know this—sometimes, even the simplest ideas turn out to have more complexity behind them than you might imagine, and that's what the process of scrutiny will allow us to investigate.
Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Alun Davies am hynny. Rwy'n credu bod angen i mi ailadrodd y pwynt a wnes i yn fy ymateb agoriadol i Adam Price, bod y Bil yn Fil—ydy, mae'r gwaith ymarferol arno wedi cael ei wneud y tu mewn i'r Llywodraeth, ond roedd y Llywodraeth yn bwrw ymlaen ag adroddiad un o bwyllgorau'r Senedd, fel y cymeradwywyd gan Aelodau yma, ac nid oedd unrhyw gyfeiriad at alw yn ôl yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Os yw'r Senedd, yn y broses o graffu ar y Bil, yn dod i gonsensws ar y mater hwnnw neu, yn wir, efallai materion eraill a fydd yn dod yn rhan o'r ddadl, yna, mewn ffordd, nid wyf i'n siŵr mai mater i'r Llywodraeth yw bod â safbwynt arno. Oherwydd Bil am y Senedd yw hwn, a'r Llywodraeth yw'r cyfrwng i'w gyflwyno yn hytrach na'i fod yn Fil Llywodraeth o'i darddiad. Heb os, pe bai posibilrwydd galw yn ôl yn rhan o'r drafodaeth honno, yna bydd rhywfaint o'r cymhlethdod ynglŷn â hynny yn sicr yn dod i'r amlwg. Gwn, er enghraifft, yn Senedd yr Alban, y gwnaed ymdrechion i ddod o hyd i ffordd y gellid gweithredu dull galw yn ôl i Aelodau rhestr yn Senedd yr Alban. Ac yn y pen draw, dywedodd y pwyllgor a oedd yn gyfrifol am hynny yn yr Alban na allen nhw ddod o hyd i ddull fecanwaith y gellid ei weithredu yn gyfreithlon.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod gan y Llywodraeth ddiddordeb yn y ddadl ac yn safbwyntiau'r Senedd, gan wybod, ym mhob un o'r materion hyn—ac yn sicr bydd yr Aelod dros Ddwyrain Caerfyrddin yn gwybod hyn—weithiau, yn y pen draw, mae mwy o gymhlethdod nag y gallech chi ddychmygu yn gysylltiedig â hyd yn oed y syniadau symlaf, a dyna fydd y broses graffu yn caniatáu i ni ymchwilio iddo.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro? OQ59968
4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the provision of accident and emergency services in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire? OQ59968
I thank the Member for the question, Llywydd. Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete-related loss of beds at Withybush has placed additional pressures on the hospital's A&E services. These have been mitigated by the huge efforts of staff at the hospital. Glangwili A&E department faces pressures in common with all health services, but has achieved a significant reduction in ambulance handover times this calendar year.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn, Llywydd. Mae colli gwelyau yn gysylltiedig â choncrit awyredig awtoclafiedig cyfnerth yn Llwynhelyg wedi rhoi pwysau ychwanegol ar wasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys yr ysbyty. Mae'r rhain wedi cael eu lliniaru gan ymdrechion enfawr staff yr ysbyty. Mae adran damweiniau ac achosion brys Glangwili yn wynebu pwysau yn gyffredin â phob gwasanaeth iechyd, ond mae wedi sicrhau gostyngiad sylweddol i amseroedd trosglwyddo ambiwlansys yn y flwyddyn galendr hon.
Prif Weinidog, the long-promised and much-discussed new hospital for west Wales has recently seen its build date shift back to 2031, which will be close to a quarter of a century from this project first being mooted, with still no decision on its final location. A recent independent report by Opinion Research Services has revealed that there are, and I quote, 'widespread concerns' about the inability to make a decision on the new site location, but also that the hardest hit by the relocation will be residents in west Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and east Carmarthenshire. The final two sites are sparking considerable concern due to the poor road infrastructure, poor public transport links and traffic congestion in the surrounding areas, particularly over the summer months. And I quote:
'Related to this, there were real concerns over whether Welsh Government would invest in road network improvements given its moratorium on road building.'
Therefore, would you agree with me that the best way to alleviate these fears for the people of west Wales is to provide the best possible A&E services at both Withybush and Glangwili hospitals? Diolch.
Prif Weinidog, mae dyddiad adeiladu'r ysbyty newydd a addawyd ers amser maith ac a drafodwyd yn helaeth, ar gyfer gorllewin Cymru wedi cael ei symud yn ôl i 2031 yn ddiweddar, a fydd yn agos at chwarter canrif o'r adeg y cafodd y prosiect hwn ei grybwyll gyntaf, heb unrhyw benderfyniad o hyd am ei leoliad terfynol. Mae adroddiad annibynnol diweddar gan Opinion Research Services wedi datgelu, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, fod 'pryderon eang' am yr anallu i wneud penderfyniad am leoliad newydd y safle, ond hefyd mai'r trigolion yng ngorllewin sir Benfro, Ceredigion a dwyrain sir Gaerfyrddin fydd yn cael eu taro galetaf gan yr adleoliad. Mae'r ddau safle olaf yn peri cryn bryder oherwydd y seilwaith ffyrdd gwael, cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus gwael a thagfeydd traffig yn yr ardaloedd cyfagos, yn enwedig dros fisoedd yr haf. Ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
'Yn gysylltiedig â hyn, roedd pryderon gwirioneddol ynghylch a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi mewn gwelliannau i'r rhwydwaith ffyrdd o gofio ei moratoriwm ar adeiladu ffyrdd.'
Felly, a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi mai'r ffordd orau o leddfu'r ofnau hyn i bobl y gorllewin yw darparu'r gwasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys gorau posibl yn ysbytai Llwynhelyg a Glangwili? Diolch.
Well, Llywydd, the very first question I remember the Member ever asked me on the floor of the Senedd was to oppose the creation of a new hospital for his constituents, and I remember saying to him then that I hoped that he did not come here in order to prolong even further the length of time it has taken to arrive at final proposals for health services in the south and west of Wales. The health board has proceeded very carefully and it has had to because of the debates that Sam Kurtz has referred to this afternoon. It's now come to the position where it has two sites that it wishes to put forward, and the Welsh Government's role is to scrutinise those cases and see our response. That process is continuing. I think the health board has worked very hard to try to develop a clinical consensus that the proposals they put forward will be the ones that best serve that local population. I think it would help us a great deal to accelerate the process and to come to a conclusion if local representatives were prepared to put their weight behind proposals that have that degree of clinical buy-in.
Wel, Llywydd, y cwestiwn cyntaf un rwy'n cofio a ofynnodd yr Aelod i mi erioed ar lawr y Senedd oedd gwrthwynebu creu ysbyty newydd i'w etholwyr, ac rwy'n cofio dweud wrtho bryd hynny fy mod i'n gobeithio nad oedd wedi dod yma er mwyn ymestyn ymhellach fyth faint o amser y mae wedi ei gymryd i gyrraedd cynigion terfynol ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd yn y de a'r gorllewin. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi bwrw ymlaen yn ofalus iawn a bu'n rhaid iddo wneud hynny oherwydd y dadleuon y mae Sam Kurtz wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw y prynhawn yma. Mae bellach wedi dod i'r sefyllfa lle mae ganddo ddau safle y mae'n dymuno eu cyflwyno, a swyddogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yw craffu ar yr achosion hynny a gweld ein hymateb. Mae'r broses honno yn parhau. Rwy'n credu bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi gweithio'n galed iawn i geisio datblygu consensws clinigol mai'r cynigion y byddan nhw'n eu cyflwyno fydd y rhai sy'n gwasanaethu'r boblogaeth leol honno orau. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n ein helpu yn fawr iawn i gyflymu'r broses a dod i gasgliad pe bai cynrychiolwyr lleol yn barod i roi eu pwysau y tu ôl i gynigion sydd â'r raddfa honno o gefnogaeth glinigol.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gysylltiadau economaidd, cymdeithasol a diwylliannol Llywodraeth Cymru â Japan? OQ59949
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's economic, social and cultural relations with Japan? OQ59949
Llywydd, Wales enjoys a strong relationship with Japan, with many significant economic and cultural ties. Our relations span many decades and continue to grow. I look forward to welcoming the Japanese ambassador to Wales later in the autumn to mark 50 years of Japanese investment in the Welsh economy.
Llywydd, mae gan Gymru berthynas gref gyda Japan, â llawer o gysylltiadau economaidd a diwylliannol arwyddocaol. Mae ein cysylltiadau yn rhychwantu degawdau lawer ac yn parhau i dyfu. Edrychaf ymlaen at groesawu llysgennad Japan i Gymru yn ddiweddarach yn yr hydref i nodi 50 mlynedd o fuddsoddiad Japan yn economi Cymru.
Indeed, and it's that I want to turn to in a moment, but many years ago I remember meeting with a former ambassador of Japan to the UK who waxed lyrical not only about his visits to the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club links, but his previous role in his youth as a very keen hooker in his rugby team. And we would talk about Japan and Wales rugby with great admiration and, of course, subsequently we've seen the Blossoms flourish as a side and we wish them well—we wish them well—unless we meet them, of course, in the quarter finals. [Laughter.] But those links going back over 50 years—economically, socially, culturally—are very, very important indeed. They're very strong and they're based on strong community, strong family connections and a sense of working together in our common best interests. Would he therefore join with me also in welcoming the initiative that's been taken on Project Global Citizen, which is looking to work with schools throughout Wales to build on those relationships between Wales and Japan? Over 50 schools now have registered their interest; over 30 are actually signaling they are going to be taking part. And what a good way to take us into the next 50 years of Japan-Wales collaboration, friendship and co-operation.
Yn wir, a dyna yr hoffwn i droi ato mewn eiliad, ond flynyddoedd lawer yn ôl rwy'n cofio cyfarfod â chyn-lysgennad Japan i'r DU a ganodd glodydd nid yn unig ei ymweliadau â chwrs lincs Clwb Golff Brenhinol Porthcawl, ond ei swydd flaenorol yn ei ieuenctid fel bachwr brwd iawn yn ei dîm rygbi. A byddem ni'n sgwrsio am rygbi Japan a Chymru gydag edmygedd mawr ac, wrth gwrs, wedi hynny rydym ni wedi gweld y Sakura yn ffynnu fel tîm ac rydym ni'n dymuno'n dda iddyn nhw—rydym ni'n dymuno'n dda iddyn nhw—oni bai ein bod ni'n eu hwynebu, wrth gwrs, yn rownd yr wyth olaf. [Chwerthin.] Ond mae'r cysylltiadau hynny sy'n mynd yn ôl dros 50 mlynedd—yn economaidd, yn gymdeithasol, yn ddiwylliannol—wir yn bwysig dros ben. Maen nhw'n gryf iawn ac maen nhw'n seiliedig ar gymuned gref, cysylltiadau teuluol cryf a synnwyr o gydweithio er ein budd pennaf cyffredin. Felly, a wnaiff ef ymuno â mi hefyd i groesawu'r fenter a sefydlwyd ar Prokect Global Citizen, sydd â'r nod o weithio gydag ysgolion ledled Cymru i adeiladu ar y cysylltiadau hynny rhwng Cymru a Japan? Mae dros 50 o ysgolion wedi cofrestru eu diddordeb erbyn hyn; mae dros 30 yn dynodi y byddan nhw'n cymryd rhan. Ac am ffordd dda o'n tywys i'r 50 mlynedd nesaf o gydweithio, cyfeillgarwch a chydweithrediad rhwng Japan a Chymru.
I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that. I thank him for mentioning the rugby. We shouldn't have let this afternoon go by without reflecting on events of the weekend, and when I was lucky enough to go to Tokyo for the last Rugby World Cup, I do remember debating with the governor of Ōita, the province where the Welsh team was based, how we would manage our relationships were Wales to meet Japan in the final of the cup when it was being played in Tokyo itself.
Look, I agree very much with the points that Huw Irranca-Davies has made. Whenever I have met Japanese ambassadors—and I think this will be the third ambassador to the United Kingdom during the time that I’ve been First Minister—they are always hugely supportive of the companies that are here in Wales, but also the efforts that have been made to support those families who come from Japan and are here sometimes for a short period, sometimes for longer, and part of that has been the Saturday school that the Welsh Government continues to support, which teaches Japanese to children who will be returning to their own country, and, from that, a huge emphasis on cultural exchanges between young people.
Earlier this month—I beg your pardon, Llywydd; it was last month—we welcomed a delegation from Ōita to Wales, and a great deal of that was focused on exchanges between young people. Eight high school students from Kyoto are visiting Cardiff and Aberystwyth in November. The global citizen project sits squarely within that wider set of relationships that we have developed, and it is part of why, when Japanese businesspeople go home from Wales to Japan, they are such strong ambassadors for everything that they have experienced while they have been here, because we offer not just fantastic business opportunities, but a genuine sense of cultural exchange between the fantastic cultural experiences we have in Wales while recognising the importance to them of their own heritage.
Diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am hynny. Diolch iddo am sôn am y rygbi. Ni ddylem fod wedi gadael i'r prynhawn yma fynd heibio heb fyfyrio ar ddigwyddiadau'r penwythnos, a phan oeddwn i'n ddigon ffodus o gael mynd i Tokyo ar gyfer Cwpan Rygbi'r Byd ddiwethaf, rwy'n cofio trafod gyda llywodraethwr Ōita, y dalaith lle'r oedd tîm Cymru wedi'i leoli, sut y byddem ni'n rheoli ein perthynas pe bai Cymru yn wynebu Japan yn rownd derfynol y gwpan pan oedd yn cael ei chwarae yn Tokyo ei hun.
Edrychwch, rwy'n cytuno'n fawr â'r pwyntiau y mae Huw Irranca-Davies wedi eu gwneud. Pryd bynnag yr wyf i wedi cyfarfod â llysgenhadon o Japan—ac rwy'n credu mai hwn fydd y trydydd llysgennad i'r Deyrnas Unedig yn ystod yr amser yr wyf i wedi bod yn Brif Weinidog—maen nhw bob amser yn hynod gefnogol o'r cwmnïau sydd yma yng Nghymru, ond hefyd yr ymdrechion a wnaed i gynorthwyo'r teuluoedd hynny sy'n dod o Japan ac sydd yma weithiau am gyfnod byr, weithiau am gyfnod hwy, a rhan o hynny fu'r ysgol ddydd Sadwrn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i'w chefnogi, sy'n addysgu Japaneeg i blant a fydd yn dychwelyd i'w gwlad eu hunain, ac, o hynny, pwyslais enfawr ar gyfnewidfeydd diwylliannol rhwng pobl ifanc.
Yn gynharach y mis hwn—mae'n ddrwg gen i, Llywydd; mis diwethaf oedd hi—fe wnaethom ni groesawu dirprwyaeth o Ōita i Gymru, ac roedd llawer iawn o hynny yn canolbwyntio ar gyfnewidfeydd rhwng pobl ifanc. Mae wyth myfyriwr ysgol uwchradd o Kyoto yn ymweld â Chaerdydd ac Aberystwyth ym mis Tachwedd. Mae'r Project Global Citizen yn ganolog i'r gyfres ehangach honno o gysylltiadau yr ydym ni wedi eu datblygu, ac mae'n rhan o'r rheswm pam, pan fydd pobl fusnes Japan yn mynd adref o Gymru i Japan, eu bod nhw'n llysgenhadon mor gryf dros eu holl brofiadau tra maen nhw wedi bod yma, oherwydd rydym ni'n cynnig cyfleoedd busnes gwych yn ogystal â synnwyr gwirioneddol o gyfnewid diwylliannol rhwng y profiadau diwylliannol gwych sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru tra'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd eu treftadaeth eu hunain iddyn nhw.
Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ymwybodol o benderfyniad Llywodraeth Siapan i ganiatáu rhyddhau dŵr ymbelydrol o byllau dŵr atomfeydd Fukushima, dŵr toxic ers y ddamwain erchyll 12 mlynedd yn ôl, sydd yn cynnwys elfennau ymbelydrol neu beidio fel tritium, a’u rhyddhau i’r Môr Tawel. Mae pysgod o’r moroedd yna yn cael eu mewnforio i Gymru—mae yna 142,000 tunnell yn cael eu mewnforio o Tsiena, a 71,000 tunnell o Fietnam. Pa drafodaethau mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi’u cael efo llysgennad Siapan ynghylch hyn, ac ydy’r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno bod rhyddhau’r dŵr ymbelydrol yma i’r môr yn bryder?
The First Minister will be aware of the decision taken by the Japanese Government to allow the release of contaminated waters from the Fukushima nuclear plant that are toxic since the terrible accident 12 years ago and that include radioactive elements such as tritium, which are being introduced into the Pacific. Now, fish from those seas are imported to Wales—142,000 tonnes are imported from China and 71,000 tonnes from Vietnam. What discussions has the First Minister had with the Japanese ambassador on this, and does the First Minister agree that releasing this radioactive water into the sea is a matter of concern?
Wel, Llywydd, wrth gwrs dwi'n ymwybodol o beth sydd wedi digwydd yn Japan, a sut maen nhw'n delio â'r effaith mae hynny wedi'i chael yn y wlad, gyda'r pwyntiau mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud. Dydy cyfrifoldebau'r Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru ddim yn ymestyn at y pwyntiau mae e'n eu gwneud. Mae'r drafodaeth yn un bwysig, ond mae'n bwysig i'r bobl gyda'r cyfrifoldebau gael y ddadl, ac nid yw i fi fel Prif Weinidog treial camu i mewn i'r ddadl lle does dim cyfrifoldebau o gwbl gyda fi am y pethau mae'r Aelod wedi siarad amdanyn nhw y prynhawn yma.
Well, Llywydd, of course I am aware of what has happened in Japan, and how they are now dealing with the impact that that has had in the country, bearing in mind the points that the Member has made. The responsibilities of the Government here in Wales don't extend to the points that he makes. There is a discussion and it's a very important one, but it's important for the people who are responsible to have that debate, and not for me as First Minister here to try and step into the debate when I have no responsibility whatsoever for the things that the Member has spoken about this afternoon.
6. Pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud o ran datblygu cynlluniau peilot ar gyfer cofrestru pleidleiswyr yn awtomatig yng Nghymru? OQ59957
6. What progress has been made on the development of automatic voter registration pilots in Wales? OQ59957
Llywydd, rydym yn parhau i weithio gyda’r awdurdodau lleol ac eraill i greu modelau cofrestru awtomatig, fydd yn gallu cael eu treialu wedyn. Mae’r Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru) wedi’i gynnwys yn y datganiad busnes i gael ei gyflwyno ddydd Mawrth nesaf.
Llywydd, we continue to work with local authorities and others to build models of automatic registration that can then be trialled in practice. Introduction of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill appears on the business statement for introduction on Tuesday of next week.
Diolch yn fawr, Brif Weinidog. Dwi'n falch iawn o glywed hynny, ac, fel rŷch chi'n gwybod, mae'r nifer sy'n pleidleisio yn gallu amrwyio'n anhygoel, hyd yn oed o fewn un ward. Yn etholiadau diwethaf y Senedd, lle gwelwyd y diddordeb mwyaf yn weithgareddau'r lle hwn, roedd rhai o orsafoedd pleidleisio Trelai gyda turnout o ddim ond tua 20 y cant, ac, mewn gwirionedd, rŷn ni'n gwybod bod y ffigwr yn llawer is, oherwydd, wrth i ni ganfasio mewn rhai ardaloedd, rŷn ni'n pasio tŷ ar ôl tŷ, rhes ar ôl rhes o lefydd heb eu cofrestru o gwbl. Mae'r system gofrestru yn hen ffasiwn. Mae'n effeithio yn fwy ar bobl ifanc a'r rheini sydd yn rhentu eu cartrefi, ac, yn ogystal, tra bod 87 y cant o bobl gwyn ym Mhrydain wedi’u cofrestru, mae’r ffigur yn syrthio i 72 y cant o bobl ddu. Ydy’r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi y byddai cofrestru awtomatig yn gam pwysig iawn ymlaen i geisio taclo’r anghyfiawnderau yma? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much, First Minister. I'm very pleased to hear that; as you know, the numbers voting can vary a great deal, even within one ward. In the previous Senedd elections we saw the greatest interest in the activities of this place, but some polling stations in Ely had a turnout of only around 20 per cent, and, in reality, we know that the figure is far lower, because as we canvass in some areas we visit house after house, street after street, where people haven't registered at all. Now, the registration system is old fashioned. It has a greater impact on young people and those who rent homes, and also, while 87 per cent of white people in Britain are registered, the figure falls to 72 per cent for black people. Does the First Minister agree with me that automatic voter registration would be an important step forward in trying to tackle these injustices? Thank you.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Dyna pam rŷn ni'n mynd i roi'r Bil o flaen y Senedd. Bydd yn rhaid inni dreialu pethau i ddechrau. Dyna pam mae grŵp yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd ar y posibiliadau ymarferol y gallwn ni eu dwyn ymlaen os bydd y Bil yn cael caniatâd yma ar lawr y Senedd. Os ydym ni'n llwyddo i wneud hynny, dwi'n hyderus y bydd y pwerau yn y Bil yn gallu cael effaith bositif ar y sefyllfa y mae'r Aelod wedi'i hesbonio y prynhawn yma.
I agree entirely. That's why we are going to introduce the Bill to the Senedd. We will have to trial this to begin with. That's why there is a group working currently on the practical possibilities that we can bring forward if the Bill receives assent here on the floor of the Senedd. If we succeed in that work, I'm confident that the powers in the Bill can have a positive impact on the situation that the Member has outlined here this afternoon.
Automatic voter registration is not something that I am against. But, of course, it does also have its challenges and problems. It depends on the system that you use to automatically register people to vote. But one of the challenges that is also out there is that there are some people who choose not to register to vote because they don't want to vote and want to opt out of the system. Can you assure the people of Wales, for those individuals who don't want to vote, who don't wish to be registered to vote, or who may choose not to be registered to vote because they want to protect their identity or whereabouts if they have fled domestic violence, for example, that there will be protections in place to facilitate them not being on any kind of public register that could put them at risk?
Nid yw cofrestru pleidleiswyr yn awtomatig yn rhywbeth yr wyf yn ei erbyn. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae ganddo hefyd ei heriau a'i broblemau. Mae'n dibynnu ar y system rydych chi'n ei defnyddio i gofrestru pobl yn awtomatig i bleidleisio. Ond un o'r heriau sydd yna hefyd yw bod rhai pobl yn dewis peidio cofrestru i bleidleisio am nad ydyn nhw eisiau pleidleisio ac eisiau optio allan o'r system. A allwch chi sicrhau pobl Cymru, ar gyfer yr unigolion hynny nad ydyn nhw eisiau pleidleisio, nad ydyn nhw am gael eu cofrestru i bleidleisio, neu a all ddewis peidio â chael eu cofrestru i bleidleisio oherwydd eu bod am amddiffyn eu hunaniaeth neu leoliad os ydyn nhw wedi ffoi rhag trais domestig, er enghraifft, y bydd amddiffyniadau ar waith i'w hwyluso i beidio â bod ar unrhyw fath o gofrestr gyhoeddus a allai eu rhoi mewn perygl?
Well, Llywydd, there are some important points in what Darren Millar has said. We are dealing with data, people's data. It needs to be treated responsibly, it needs to be handled securely, and it needs to be used ethically. Just to be completely clear, this is about automatic registration. Nobody is obliged to do anything as a result of your name being on the register. That is a completely different debate and one that Members here have already begun to surface, and it's an important debate. But the proposals in the Bill do not move in that direction at all. People's names would be on the register. If they want nothing to do with any of the consequences, they will be under no obligation whatsoever to do so. And there will be safeguards for the sorts of instances that the Member has outlined, as there are now, where people, for reasons of personal safety, for example, don't want their name to be visible to others. Indeed, the Bill will strengthen the ability of the system to respond to those concerns.
Wel, Llywydd, mae rhai pwyntiau pwysig yn yr hyn y mae Darren Millar wedi'i ddweud. Rydyn ni'n ymdrin â data, data pobl. Mae angen ei drin yn gyfrifol, mae angen ei drin yn ddiogel, ac mae angen ei ddefnyddio'n foesegol. Dim ond i fod yn hollol glir, mae hyn yn ymwneud â chofrestru awtomatig. Nid oes rheidrwydd ar neb i wneud unrhyw beth oherwydd bod eich enw ar y gofrestr. Mae honno'n ddadl gwbl wahanol ac yn un y mae'r Aelodau yma eisoes wedi dechrau ei chodi, ac mae'n ddadl bwysig. Ond nid yw'r cynigion yn y Bil yn symud i'r cyfeiriad hwnnw o gwbl. Byddai enwau'r bobl ar y gofrestr. Os nad ydyn nhw eisiau unrhyw beth i'w wneud ag unrhyw un o'r canlyniadau, ni fyddan nhw o dan unrhyw rwymedigaeth o gwbl i wneud hynny. A bydd mesurau diogelu ar gyfer y mathau o achosion y mae'r Aelod wedi'u hamlinellu, fel y mae ar hyn o bryd, pan nad yw pobl, am resymau diogelwch personol, er enghraifft, eisiau i'w henw fod yn weladwy i eraill. Yn wir, bydd y Bil yn cryfhau gallu'r system i ymateb i'r pryderon hynny.
7. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu ymateb i'r ddeiseb ar derfynau cyflymder diofyn o 20 mya a gyflwynwyd i'r Senedd? OQ59988
7. How is the Welsh Government planning to respond to the petition on default 20 mph speed limits submitted to the Senedd? OQ59988
Well, Llywydd, as you said at the start of proceedings, it will be for the Petitions Committee to consider the petition in the first instance. The Welsh Government will then respond to the committee's conclusions and any preferred approach it may set out.
Wel, Llywydd, fel y dywedoch chi ar ddechrau'r trafodion, mater i'r Pwyllgor Deisebau fydd ystyried y ddeiseb yn y lle cyntaf. Yna bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymateb i gasgliadau'r pwyllgor ac unrhyw ddull a ffefrir y gallai ei nodi.
People across Wales are making their voice heard by signing the Senedd's record-breaking petition to rescind your Government's default 20 mph speed limit. Many of those signing that petition feel frustrated that they see a Government that they feel simply isn't listening to them. The First Minister's dismissive answer to me last week in First Minister's questions won't have helped with that perception. We've seen people, unfortunately, in all parts of Wales vandalising road signs as an expression of that frustration. Now, I condemn that vandalism, but I wonder whether the First Minister does too. I ask because I noticed an interview with the BBC when he first became First Minister. You talked about Welsh language protests in the 1960s and said that trashing road signs, was, and I quote, 'a fantastic thing' to do. So, do you endorse the vandalism of the road signs of today, or, if not, how do you justify your position in light of your past comments? Or, as usual, is it one rule for the Welsh Government, and one rule for everybody else?
Mae pobl ledled Cymru yn lleisio eu barn trwy lofnodi deiseb y Senedd sydd wedi torri record i ddiddymu terfyn cyflymder 20 mya diofyn eich Llywodraeth. Mae llawer o'r rhai hynny sy'n llofnodi'r ddeiseb honno'n teimlo'n rhwystredig eu bod yn gweld Llywodraeth nad ydyn nhw'n teimlo sy'n gwrando arnyn nhw. Ni fydd ateb diystyriol y Prif Weinidog i mi yr wythnos diwethaf yng nghwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog wedi helpu gyda'r canfyddiad hwnnw. Rydyn ni wedi gweld pobl, yn anffodus, ym mhob rhan o Gymru yn fandaleiddio arwyddion ffyrdd fel modd o fynegi'r rhwystredigaeth honno. Nawr, rwy'n condemnio'r fandaliaeth honno, ond tybed a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog hefyd. Rwy'n gofyn oherwydd sylwais ar gyfweliad gyda'r BBC pan ddaeth yn Brif Weinidog am y tro cyntaf. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am brotestiadau Cymraeg yn y 1960au ac fe ddywedoch chi fod chwalu arwyddion ffyrdd, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, yn 'beth ffantastig' i'w wneud. Felly, a ydych chi'n cymeradwyo fandaliaeth arwyddion ffyrdd heddiw, neu, os nad ydych chi, sut ydych chi'n cyfiawnhau eich safbwynt yng ngoleuni eich sylwadau yn y gorffennol? Neu, fel arfer, ai un rheol i Lywodraeth Cymru yw hi, ac un rheol i bawb arall?
Llywydd, I don't intend to be drawn into the trivialising of an important debate in the way that the Member has attempted this afternoon.
Llywydd, dydw i ddim yn bwriadu cael fy nhynnu i mewn i wamalu dadl bwysig yn y ffordd y mae'r Aelod wedi ceisio ei wneud y prynhawn yma.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith cynllunio cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2024-25? OQ59990
8. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's budget planning for 2024-25? OQ59990
Llywydd, 2024-25 is the last of our multi-year settlement. Indicative plans have already been outlined in previous budgets. Preparations for the draft budget are under way. The late UK autumn statement means it will be published on Tuesday 19 December.
Llywydd, 2024-25 yw'r olaf o'n setliad aml-flwyddyn. Mae cynlluniau dangosol eisoes wedi'u hamlinellu mewn cyllidebau blaenorol. Mae paratoadau ar gyfer y gyllideb ddrafft ar y gweill. Mae datganiad hydref hwyr y DU yn golygu y bydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi ddydd Mawrth 19 Rhagfyr.
Thank you for your response, First Minister. I certainly recognise some of the challenges that you'll face in the coming months in that planning. But one of the issues that residents raise with me when they hear, from time to time, about the challenges that you're facing in the next financial year, potentially, is some of the perceived waste in the way in which public money is handled. Indeed, there's a very simple example in my region in the village of St George, which I know my colleague Darren Millar has raised in the past, where a trunk road bridge has a temporary traffic light on it and it's been on there for more than four years now. This traffic light covers a distance of less than 20m. And there's a second trunk road bridge a couple of miles down the road in Abergele with similar temporary traffic lights on it. A freedom of information request has shown that these temporary traffic lights have cost more than £250,000 to taxpayers—that's £250,000 not spent on schools in my region, £250,000 not spent on hospitals in my region, for two temporary traffic lights. So, I know that there are challenges ahead, First Minister, and I know that it's a very specific example I've given you here today, but, when my residents see this, they are frustrated. So, how can you assure them that you're taking every measure possible to cut down on this type of waste so that our public services are properly funded?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n sicr yn cydnabod rhai o'r heriau y byddwch yn eu hwynebu yn ystod y misoedd nesaf yn y gwaith cynllunio hwnnw. Ond un o'r materion y mae trigolion yn eu codi gyda mi pan fyddan nhw'n clywed, o bryd i'w gilydd, am yr heriau yr ydych chi'n eu hwynebu yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, o bosibl, yw peth o'r gwastraff canfyddedig yn y ffordd y mae arian cyhoeddus yn cael ei drin. Yn wir, mae enghraifft syml iawn yn fy rhanbarth i ym mhentref Llan San Siôr, ac rwy'n gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelod Darren Millar wedi'i godi yn y gorffennol, lle mae gan bont gefnffordd olau traffig dros dro arni ac mae wedi bod yno ers dros bedair blynedd bellach. Mae'r golau traffig hwn yn cwmpasu pellter o lai nag 20m. Ac mae ail bont gefnffordd ychydig filltiroedd i lawr y ffordd yn Abergele â goleuadau traffig dros dro tebyg arni. Mae cais rhyddid gwybodaeth wedi dangos bod y goleuadau traffig dros dro hyn wedi costio mwy na £250,000 i drethdalwyr—dyna £250,000 heb ei wario ar ysgolion yn fy rhanbarth i, £250,000 heb ei wario ar ysbytai yn fy rhanbarth i, am ddau olau traffig dros dro. Felly, rwy'n gwybod bod heriau o'n blaenau, Prif Weinidog, ac rwy'n gwybod bod hon yn enghraifft benodol iawn yr wyf wedi'i rhoi ichi yma heddiw, ond, pan fydd fy nhrigolion yn gweld hyn, maen nhw'n rhwystredig. Felly, sut allwch chi eu sicrhau nhw eich bod chi'n cymryd pob mesur posibl i leihau'r math hwn o wastraff fel bod ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu hariannu'n iawn?
Well, Llywydd, let me agree with the basic principle that we always want public money to be spent in the most effective way possible. And where there are examples where that could be done better, then I can assure you that my colleagues here will be only too glad to know of them and to put those things right—of course we would. I don't know the detail of the individual cases the Member has raised. He says that that £250,000 could have been spent on education services or housing services for his local population. I presume—but, again, I don't know the detail—that that £250,000 has been spent keeping them safe on bridges that otherwise would not have been so. So, I don't imagine that the highway authority has had traffic lights on the bridge for the sake of having traffic lights; there will have been a reason for it. Now, maybe the Member is right that the money could have been spent differently and more effectively. If there are examples of that, we'd be only too glad to hear of them.
Wel, Llywydd, gadewch imi gytuno â'r egwyddor sylfaenol ein bod ni bob amser eisiau i arian cyhoeddus gael ei wario yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol bosibl. A phan fo yna enghreifftiau lle gellid gwneud hynny'n well, yna gallaf eich sicrhau chi y bydd fy nghyd-Weinidogion yma yn falch iawn o wybod amdanyn nhw ac i unioni'r pethau hynny—wrth gwrs y byddem ni. Dydw i ddim yn gwybod manylion yr achosion unigol y mae'r Aelod wedi'u codi. Mae'n dweud y gallai £250,000 fod wedi cael ei wario ar wasanaethau addysg neu wasanaethau tai ar gyfer ei boblogaeth leol. Rwy'n tybio—ond, unwaith eto, dydw i ddim yn gwybod y manylion—bod y £250,000 hwnnw wedi ei wario yn eu cadw nhw'n ddiogel ar bontydd na fyddai wedi bod felly fel arall. Felly, dydw i ddim yn dychmygu bod gan yr awdurdod priffyrdd oleuadau traffig ar y bont dim ond er mwyn bod â goleuadau traffig; bydd rheswm wedi bod dros hynny. Nawr, efallai bod yr Aelod yn iawn y gallai'r arian fod wedi cael ei wario'n wahanol ac yn fwy effeithiol. Os oes enghreifftiau o hynny, byddem yn falch iawn o glywed amdanyn nhw.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
I thank the First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hwnnw—Lesley Griffiths.
The next item will be the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement—Lesley Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's business. After the business statement, the Minister for Climate Change will make a statement on net-zero commitments. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae un newid i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Ar ôl y datganiad busnes, bydd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn gwneud datganiad ar ymrwymiadau sero-net. Nodir y busnes drafft am y tair wythnos nesaf ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Thank you, Trefnydd, for your statement. Can I call for two statements, please, from the Government? The first one is on road safety on the trunk road network. I've raised issues before about this, but, in my own constituency, in the community of Pwllglas, which is on the A494 trunk road, that community has recently been successful in raising funds to develop a playground and fitness facility on one side of the trunk road, while all or most of the people in that village live on the opposite side. At the moment, the speed limit through the village is 40 mph. It had previously been 30 mph a number of years ago, but has been raised to 40 mph. There is also a nursery that fronts the road as well. It seems to me to be sensible to reduce that speed limit to at least 30 mph on the grounds of safety. Now, we've seen, obviously, a desire from the Government to make our roads safer, and I acknowledge that that is the desire. I would like to see this village road made safer, with a reduction on that trunk road to 30 mph in order to allow people to access these new facilities. And I think we do need an update on what the Welsh Government is doing in order to ensure that villages like Pwllglas have appropriate speed limits that are safe for motorists and, indeed, pedestrians.
Secondly, can I call for a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services on calls from a constituent of mine from Abergele, who is a prostate cancer sufferer, who, unfortunately, has to use incontinence products from time to time? Clearly, he doesn't always have them to hand, unfortunately, particularly when he's out and about and may need to use a public convenience. There's been a great stride forward in recent years with the availability of period products in public lavatories; I think that's a positive development. But we don't have a similar development for all the people, like this constituent and others, who may need to use incontinence products. So, I wonder whether the Welsh Government could give us a statement on whether they have considered whether this is a policy that they would like to promote in public conveniences around Wales. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Trefnydd, am eich datganiad. A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan y Llywodraeth? Mae'r un cyntaf ar ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd ar y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd. Rwyf wedi codi materion o'r blaen ynglŷn â hyn, ond, yn fy etholaeth i fy hun, yng nghymuned Pwllglas, sydd ar gefnffordd yr A494, mae'r gymuned honno wedi llwyddo yn ddiweddar i godi arian i ddatblygu cyfleuster chwarae a ffitrwydd ar un ochr i'r gefnffordd, tra bod pawb neu'r rhan fwyaf o bobl y pentref hwnnw'n byw ar yr ochr arall. Ar hyn o bryd, y terfyn cyflymder trwy'r pentref yw 40 mya. Roedd wedi bod yn 30 mya sawl blwyddyn yn ôl, ond mae wedi cael ei godi i 40 mya. Mae yna feithrinfa hefyd sy'n wynebu'r ffordd. Mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod yn synhwyrol i leihau'r terfyn cyflymder hwnnw i o leiaf 30 mya ar sail diogelwch. Nawr, rydyn ni wedi gweld, yn amlwg, awydd gan y Llywodraeth i wneud ein ffyrdd yn fwy diogel, ac rwy'n cydnabod mai dyna'r awydd. Hoffwn weld y ffordd bentref hon yn cael ei gwneud yn fwy diogel, gyda gostyngiad ar y gefnffordd honno i 30 mya er mwyn caniatáu i bobl fynd i'r cyfleusterau newydd hyn. Ac rwy'n credu bod angen diweddariad arnom ar yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod gan bentrefi fel Pwllglas gyfyngiadau cyflymder priodol sy'n ddiogel i fodurwyr ac, yn wir, i gerddwyr.
Yn ail, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar alwadau gan etholwr i mi o Abergele, sy'n dioddef o ganser y prostad, sydd, yn anffodus, yn gorfod defnyddio cynhyrchion anymataliaeth o bryd i'w gilydd? Yn amlwg, nid oes ganddo rai wrth law bob amser, yn anffodus, yn enwedig pan fydd allan ac efallai y bydd angen iddo ddefnyddio cyfleusterau cyhoeddus. Bu cam mawr ymlaen yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf i sicrhau bod cynhyrchion mislif ar gael mewn toiledau cyhoeddus; rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n ddatblygiad cadarnhaol. Ond nid oes gennym ddatblygiad tebyg i'r holl bobl, fel yr etholwr hwn ac eraill, y gallai fod angen iddyn nhw ddefnyddio cynhyrchion anymataliaeth. Felly, tybed a allai Llywodraeth Cymru roi datganiad inni ynghylch a ydyn nhw wedi ystyried a yw hwn yn bolisi yr hoffen nhw ei hyrwyddo mewn cyfleusterau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru. Diolch.
Thank you. You raise a very important point in your second question. It's not something I'm aware of that we are currently considering, but, obviously, the Minister for Health and Social Services is in her place and heard your question.
In relation to your first question, I think you did say it was a trunk road. So, obviously, that would be something that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change could have a look at. It might be better if you wrote to him directly, because, obviously, what you're talking about is a very specific point.
Diolch i chi. Rydych chi'n codi pwynt pwysig iawn yn eich ail gwestiwn. Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf i'n ymwybodol ein bod ni'n ei ystyried ar hyn o bryd, ond, yn amlwg, mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn ei lle ac fe glywodd hi eich cwestiwn chi.
O ran eich cwestiwn cyntaf, rwy'n credu i chi ddweud mai cefnffordd oedd hon. Felly, yn amlwg, fe fyddai hynny'n rhywbeth y gallai'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd ei ystyried. Efallai y byddai hi'n well i chi ysgrifennu ato ef yn uniongyrchol, oherwydd, yn amlwg, rydych chi'n siarad am bwynt penodol iawn.
Trefnydd, I'm aware that three community flood volunteer events have been organised by Natural Resources Wales. One is due to take place in Cardiff this week; there'll be one in Aberystwyth and Llandudno. I've been trying to access information about these events, because I understand that there's been some confusion around volunteers being aware. I wonder if a statement could be provided—an update from Welsh Government—so that we are better informed in terms of what these community flood volunteer events are, so that we can promote them, but also know how to engage. Given that winter's coming—we saw flood alerts last week—it would be good to have further information.
I'd also like to request a second statement regarding the south Wales metro, on, specifically, the Treherbert line. As you'll be aware, the line closed at the end of April. Works are due to be completed in January or February of next year. There are so many rumours online in terms of potential delays to the work, I think it would be very much welcome to have a written or oral statement, updating the Senedd in terms of developments, as this is obviously a key investment. Thank you.
Trefnydd, rwy'n ymwybodol bod tri digwyddiad i wirfoddolwyr llifogydd cymunedol wedi cael eu trefnu gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Mae disgwyl i un gael ei gynnal yng Nghaerdydd yr wythnos hon; fe fydd un arall yn Aberystwyth ac un arall eto yn Llandudno. Rwyf wedi bod yn ceisio cael gafael ar wybodaeth am y digwyddiadau hyn, oherwydd rwy'n deall bod rhywfaint o ddryswch wedi bod ynghylch ymwybyddiaeth gwirfoddolwyr. Tybed a ellid rhoi datganiad—diweddariad gan Lywodraeth Cymru—fel ein bod ni'n fwy gwybodus o ran dibenion y digwyddiadau hyn i wirfoddolwyr llifogydd cymunedol, er mwyn i ni eu hyrwyddo nhw, a chael gwybod sut i ymgysylltu hefyd. O ystyried bod y gaeaf ar ddod—fe welsom ni rybuddion llifogydd wythnos diwethaf—fe fyddai hi'n dda i ni fod â rhagor o wybodaeth.
Fe hoffwn i ofyn hefyd am ail ddatganiad ynghylch metro de Cymru, ar lein Treherbert yn benodol. Fel y gwyddoch chi, fe gaeodd y lein ar ddiwedd mis Ebrill. Disgwylir i'r gwaith gael ei gwblhau ym mis Ionawr neu fis Chwefror y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae cymaint o sibrydion ar-lein o ran oediadau posibl i'r gwaith, rwy'n credu y byddai croeso mawr i ddatganiad ysgrifenedig neu lafar, a fyddai'n diweddaru'r Senedd o ran y datblygiadau, gan fod hwn yn fuddsoddiad allweddol, yn amlwg. Diolch i chi.
Thank you. I think it is really important, if you've got these three community events, that people are aware of them. I'm not sure that the best way forward would be a written statement from the Minister for Climate Change, but I will certainly make some enquiries. Perhaps it would be better for local authorities to put forward that information.
With regard to your second request, I am aware that I have spoken to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change about updating Members, not just on the south Wales metro, but the north Wales metro, and I will certainly ask him to do so when it's the most appropriate time.
Diolch i chi. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn, os oes tri digwyddiad cymunedol fel hyn gennych chi, fod pobl yn ymwybodol ohonyn nhw. Nid wyf i'n siŵr mai'r ffordd orau ymlaen fyddai datganiad ysgrifenedig gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ond fe fyddaf i'n gwneud rhai ymholiadau, yn sicr. Efallai y byddai hi'n well i awdurdodau lleol gyhoeddi'r wybodaeth honno.
O ran eich ail gais chi, rwy'n ymwybodol fy mod wedi siarad â'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynghylch diweddaru'r Aelodau, nid yn unig o ran metro de Cymru, ond metro gogledd Cymru hefyd, ac fe fyddaf i'n sicr yn gofyn iddo ef wneud felly ar yr adeg fwyaf priodol.
I would like to ask for two Welsh Government statements, and a clarification from the Minister on her last answer. She talked about the north Wales metro and the south Wales metro. I'm sure it was a slip of the tongue when she didn't mention the west Wales metro as well.
I would like two Welsh Government statements. The first is on co-operative housing. Some progress has been made, including new housing co-operative developments and Merthyr Valleys Homes transferring to become a co-operative housing development. What further proposals has the Welsh Government got to increase the quantity of co-operative housing in Wales?
The second statement I am requesting is on the use of fire and re-hire by companies trading in Wales. Has the Welsh Government got any proposals to not contract with those companies who engage in this vile practice, which should be outlawed? We can't outlaw it, but at least we can not trade with them.
Fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac am i'r Gweinidog egluro ei hateb olaf. Fe soniodd hi am fetro gogledd Cymru a metro de Cymru. Rwy'n siŵr mai llithriad tafod oedd iddi hi beidio â sôn am fetro gorllewin Cymru hefyd.
Fe hoffwn i gael dau ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Y cyntaf ar dai cydweithredol. Mae rhywfaint o gynnydd wedi bod, gan gynnwys datblygiadau cydweithredol tai newydd a Cartrefi Cymoedd Merthyr yn trosglwyddo i fod yn ddatblygiad tai cydweithredol. Pa gynigion pellach sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu nifer y tai cydweithredol yng Nghymru?
Yr ail ddatganiad yr wyf i'n gofyn amdano yw defnyddio polisïau diswyddo ac ailgyflogi gan gwmnïau sy'n masnachu yng Nghymru. A oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw gynigion i beidio ag ymrwymo i gytundebau gyda'r cwmnïau hynny sy'n ymhél â'r arfer gwarthus hwn, a ddylai gael ei wahardd? Ni allwn ei wahardd, ond o leiaf fe allwn ni beidio â masnachu â nhw.
Thank you. Well, I'll just clarify for the Member; it wasn't a slip of the tongue. I hadn't discussed that one with the Deputy Minister, but I absolutely take your point.
Regarding co-operative housing, Welsh Government really does want to continue to support community-led housing in Wales, and I think the Minister's approach is that it's vital that we do that with a bottom-up approach, and the support we provide through Cwmpas is designed to encourage this. We have increased our support for community-led housing, and we are providing £180,000 of revenue funding each year to Cwmpas from 2022 up until 2023, and then, again, from 2024 to 2025. The nature of community-led housing means it has to be driven from community groups themselves, and our programme of support is currently working with 50 community groups who are all at various stages in their community-led housing journey.
In relation to fire and re-hire by companies trading in Wales, we absolutely condemn the use of fire and re-hire as a negotiating tactic and employment practice. Using the threat of redundancy to impose inferior pay or terms and conditions on workers does not accord with our fair work or social partnership values. We use tools in this Government like the economic contract, for instance, and the code of practice on ethical employment in supply chains, to be able to articulate the values that we are prepared to stand behind and reward. As the Member knows, we recently legislated, through the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, to place new socially responsible procurement duties on our public bodies and certain contracting authorities. The duties haven't yet commenced, but we're working on the statutory guidance at the current time.
Diolch i chi. Wel, a gaf i egluro i'r Aelod; nid llithriad tafod oedd hwnnw. Doeddwn i ddim wedi trafod yr un yna gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog, ond rwy'n derbyn eich pwynt chi'n gyfan gwbl.
O ran tai cydweithredol, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn wirioneddol awyddus i barhau i gefnogi tai a arweinir gan y gymuned yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n credu mai dull y Gweinidog yw ei bod hi'n hanfodol i ni wneud hynny gyda dull o'r gwaelod i fyny, ac mae'r cymorth a ddarparwn drwy Gwmpas wedi'i gynllunio i annog hyn. Rydym ni wedi cynyddu ein cefnogaeth ni i dai a arweinir gan y gymuned, ac rydym ni'n darparu £180,000 o gyllid refeniw bob blwyddyn i Cwmpas o 2022 hyd at 2023, ac yna, wedyn, o 2024 i 2025. Mae natur tai a arweinir gan y gymuned yn golygu bod yn rhaid iddo gael ei ysgogi gan y grwpiau cymunedol eu hunain ac, ar hyn o bryd, mae ein rhaglen gymorth yn gweithio gyda 50 o grwpiau cymunedol sydd i gyd ar wahanol gamau ar eu taith i godi tai dan arweiniad y gymuned.
O ran diswyddo ac ailgyflogi gan gwmnïau sy'n masnachu yng Nghymru, rydym ni'n llwyr gondemnio'r defnydd o ddiswyddo ac ailgyflogi fel tacteg ar gyfer negodi ac arfer ym myd cyflogaeth. Nid yw defnyddio'r bygythiad o ddiswyddo i dalu cyflog is neu gynnig telerau ac amodau gwaeth i weithwyr yn cyd-fynd â'n gwerthoedd ni o ran gwaith teg neu bartneriaeth gymdeithasol. Rydym ni'n defnyddio offer yn y Llywodraeth hon fel y contract economaidd, er enghraifft, a'r cod ymarfer ar gyflogaeth foesegol mewn cadwyni cyflenwi, i fynegi'r gwerthoedd yr ydym ni'n barod i sefyll y tu ôl iddyn nhw a'u gwobrwyo nhw. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, fe wnaethom ni ddeddfu yn ddiweddar, drwy Ddeddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2023, i bennu dyletswyddau caffael cymdeithasol cyfrifol newydd ar ein cyrff cyhoeddus ni a rhai awdurdodau contractio. Nid yw'r dyletswyddau hyn wedi dechrau eto, ond rydym ni'n gweithio ar y canllawiau statudol ar hyn o bryd.
Trefnydd, could I request an urgent statement from the Minister for Economy on the support for businesses impacted by the RAAC issue? Last week, Bridgend County Borough Council was forced to close Bridgend indoor market at Rhiw shopping centre after an asbestos inspection found RAAC within the roof of the building. The indoor market closed with immediate effect. Whilst it's totally understandable that the building had to shut down on safety grounds, the plea of the traders must be considered. They have lost their only source of income. While, hopefully, the situation at the centre can be resolved swiftly, we can be sure that this will not be the last. Therefore, can we have a statement outlining how the Welsh Government will support businesses who lose trade as a result of the RAAC issue? Diolch.
Trefnydd, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad brys gan Weinidog yr Economi ar y gefnogaeth i fusnesau y mae mater RAAC yn effeithio arnyn nhw? Wythnos diwethaf, fe gafodd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ei orfodi i gau marchnad dan do Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yng nghanolfan siopa Rhiw ar ôl i archwiliad asbestos ddod o hyd i RAAC yn nho'r adeilad. Fe gaewyd y farchnad dan do yn union syth. Er ei bod hi'n gwbl ddealladwy fod yr adeilad wedi gorfod cau er diogelwch, mae'n rhaid ystyried cwynion y masnachwyr. Maen nhw wedi colli unig ffynhonnell eu hincwm. Er y gellir datrys y sefyllfa yn y ganolfan yn gyflym gobeithio, fe allwn ni fod yn sicr nad hwn fydd yr achos olaf. Felly, a gawn ni ddatganiad yn amlinellu sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau sy'n colli busnes o ganlyniad i fater RAAC? Diolch.
Thank you. Well, as you know, the ongoing issue around RAAC in certain buildings across Wales, it began with education, and the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language made an oral statement more or less immediately after the first of the two schools were identified. The Minister for Health and Social Services has been requested to bring forward a written statement on health. And we continue to work with all our local authorities to identify what buildings on the public estate unfortunately have RAAC, and that is an ongoing piece of work.
Diolch i chi. Wel, fel gwyddoch chi, o ran y mater sy'n parhau ynglŷn â RAAC mewn rhai adeiladau ledled Cymru, ym myd addysg y dechreuodd hwnnw, ac fe wnaeth Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg ddatganiad llafar fwy neu lai yn syth ar ôl i'r gyntaf o'r ddwy ysgol gael ei nodi. Gofynnwyd i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol gyflwyno datganiad ysgrifenedig am iechyd. Ac rydym ni'n parhau i weithio gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol i gyd i nodi pa adeiladau ar yr ystad gyhoeddus sydd mor anffodus o fod â RAAC, ac mae hwnnw'n ddarn o waith sy'n parhau.
Dwi'n falch o weld y Gweinidog addysg yn ei sedd heddiw yma. Mi hoffwn i gael datganiad ysgrifenedig mewn perthynas ag effaith canfod RAAC ac effaith hynny ar ysgolion yn fy etholaeth i ar y ffordd y mae disgyblion yn cael eu hasesu. Mi wnes i ymweld ag Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi yr wythnos yma, sydd wedi cael ei tharo waethaf. Does gen i ond canmoliaeth ar gyfer y tîm arweinyddol yn Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi am lwyddo i drefnu bod gwersi'n parhau, un ai mewn rhannau o'r ysgol sy'n gallu bod ar agor neu adeiladau eraill yng Nghaergybi. Ond mae hyn yn amlwg yn mynd i gael effaith ar addysg disgyblion. Mae yna bryder gwirioneddol bod hynny'n mynd i ddangos pan ddaw hi'n amser asesiadau. Dwi'n deall bod y Prif Weinidog, tra ar ymweliad â'r ysgol—dwi'n falch iawn ei fod o wedi mynd—wedi awgrymu wrth y disgyblion y bydd yna ystyriaeth o effaith hyn ar eu haddysg nhw. Dydy Cyd-bwyllgor Addysg Cymru ddim yn barod i roi'r addewid hwnnw eto. Mi fyddwn i wirioneddol yn gwerthfawrogi cael y sicrwydd yna i ddisgyblion sydd, am yr eildro mewn ychydig flynyddoedd, yn wynebu amser pryderus tu hwnt.
I'm pleased to see the Minister for education in his seat today. I would like to have a written statement in relation to the impact of the discovery of RAAC and the effect of that on schools in my constituency on the way that pupils are assessed. I visited Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi this week, which has been worst affected. I can only praise the leadership team there in Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi for succeeding to arrange that lessons continue, either in parts of the school that can remain open, or other buildings in Holyhead. But this is clearly going to have an impact on the education of pupils. There are genuine concerns that that is then going to be apparent when it comes to assessments. I understand that the First Minister, when he visited the school—I'm very pleased that he went—suggested to the pupils that there will be consideration given to the impact of this on their education. The WJEC isn't willing to give that promise yet. I would genuinely appreciate having that assurance for pupils who, for the second time in a few years, are facing a very concerning time.
Thank you. Well, the two schools I referred to in my previous answer to Altaf Hussain were, of course, in your constituency. As you know, the Minister made an oral statement. I think then he did two written statements on RAAC in schools, and he'd be very happy to come forward with a further written statement, as you've requested.
Diolch i chi. Wel, roedd y ddwy ysgol y cyfeiriais i atyn nhw yn fy ateb blaenorol i Altaf Hussain, wrth gwrs, yn eich etholaeth chi. Fel gwyddoch chi, fe wnaeth y Gweinidog ddatganiad llafar. Rwy'n credu iddo ef wneud dau ddatganiad ysgrifenedig wedyn ar RAAC mewn ysgolion, ac fe fyddai ef yn hapus iawn i gyflwyno datganiad ysgrifenedig pellach, fel gwnaethoch chi ofyn amdano.
Trefnydd, I have two requests to make today. Firstly, could we have a debate in Government time about what can be done to reduce the numbers of under-18-year-olds using vapes? We've all seen the figures: 20 per cent of students in years 7 to 11 say they've tried vapes, and one in 20 secondary school students use them at least once a week. Now, I welcome the new guidance for schools from Welsh Government and Public Health Wales, and the comments about banning disposable vapes, but I would also welcome the opportunity for Senedd Members to discuss and debate the issues more generally.
Secondly, you may be aware of the news over the summer that the Vale of Glamorgan Council are intending to pursue legal action against three big builders—Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, and Barratt Homes—for their failure to provide the green space they promised to residents in a timely manner. Sadly, this story is all too familiar across Wales, and indeed across the UK. In my own constituency of Cynon Valley, Persimmon Homes only created their promised green space and play area on the Coed Dyffryn development in Aberdare a whopping eight years after the last home on the estate was built, and after a protracted campaign led by myself and the residents there. Could we have a statement from Welsh Government on how it will make clear to developers that green spaces are integral to the estates that they build, and, as such, should be provided as developments are constructed, and not become the bottom of their list of priorities?
Trefnydd, mae gennyf i ddau gais i'w gwneud heddiw. Yn gyntaf, a gawn ni ddadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ynglŷn â'r hyn y gellir ei wneud i leihau nifer y bobl ifanc dan 18 oed sy'n defnyddio e-sigaréts? Rydym ni i gyd wedi gweld y ffigurau: mae 20 y cant o fyfyrwyr ym mlynyddoedd 7 i 11 yn dweud eu bod wedi rhoi cynnig ar e-sigaréts, ac mae un o bob 20 myfyriwr ysgol uwchradd yn eu defnyddio nhw o leiaf unwaith yr wythnos. Nawr, rwy'n croesawu'r canllawiau newydd i ysgolion gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, a'r sylwadau am wahardd e-sigaréts tafladwy, ond fe fyddwn i'n croesawu'r cyfle hefyd i Aelodau'r Senedd drafod a chael dadl am y materion yn fwy cyffredinol.
Yn ail, efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o'r newyddion dros yr haf fod Cyngor Bro Morgannwg yn bwriadu mynd ar drywydd camau cyfreithiol yn erbyn tri adeiladwr mawr—Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, a Barratt Homes—am eu methiant nhw i ddarparu'r man gwyrdd a addawon nhw i drigolion mewn amser rhesymol. Yn anffodus, mae'r stori hon yn rhy gyfarwydd ledled Cymru, ac yn wir ledled y DU. Yn fy etholaeth i fy hun yng Nghwm Cynon, dim ond ar ddatblygiad Coed Dyffryn yn Aberdâr y creodd Persimmon Homes y man gwyrdd yn ôl eu haddewid ar ddatblygiad Coed Dyffryn yn Aberdâr wyth mlynedd ar ôl i'r cartref olaf ar yr ystad gael ei adeiladu, ac ar ôl ymgyrch hirfaith dan arweiniad y trigolion yno a minnau. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â sut y bydd yn egluro i'r datblygwyr bod mannau gwyrdd yn rhan na ellir ei hepgor o'r ystadau y maen nhw'n eu hadeiladu, ac, o'r herwydd, y dylid eu darparu wrth i ddatblygiadau gael eu hadeiladu, a pheidio â'u rhoi ar waelod y rhestr o flaenoriaethau?
Thank you. Well, as you stated, guidance was published last week regarding vapes. And as a Government, we've historically had a very cautious approach to e-cigarettes, given that the evidence on their long-term effects is developing, and I think that we also all recognise the potential appeal to children and young people. We are very clear that e-cigarettes should never be used by children, by young people or by non-smokers. Whilst it is recognised, of course, that vapes are safer than smoking and are used by some people to help quit smoking, we think the evidence on their long-term health effects is limited and it's still emerging. And, as part of our tobacco strategy, we are looking very closely at our policy position on e-cigarettes in Wales.
With regard to your second question, no community should have to wait eight years to have a play area provided, so, well done on your campaign. I think that our planning policies are very clear: the Minister for Climate Change expects new housing developments to provide green infrastructure, and that includes play areas and open space. Local authorities must use the tools that are available to them, and that includes the enforcement of planning conditions and section 106 obligations to ensure developers' promises are delivered, and the Minister absolutely expects companies to uphold their contractual obligations.
Diolch i chi. Wel, fel roeddech chi'n dweud, fe gyhoeddwyd canllawiau'r wythnos diwethaf ynglŷn ag e-sigaréts. Ac yn y Llywodraeth, mae gennym ni hanes o fod â dull pwyllog iawn o ymdrin ag e-sigaréts, o gofio mai datblygu y mae'r dystiolaeth ar eu heffeithiau hirdymor nhw, ac rwyf i o'r farn ein bod ni i gyd yn cydnabod eu hapêl bosibl i blant a phobl ifanc. Rydym ni'n eglur iawn na ddylai plant ddefnyddio e-sigaréts, na phobl ifanc na phobl nad ydyn nhw'n ysmygu. Er y cydnabyddir, wrth gwrs, fod fêpio yn fwy diogel nag ysmygu a gellir eu defnyddio gan rai pobl i helpu i roi'r gorau i ysmygu, ond rydym ni o'r farn fod y dystiolaeth ar eu heffeithiau iechyd hirdymor yn gyfyngedig ac yn parhau i ddod i'r golwg. Ac, yn rhan o'n strategaeth tybaco, rydym ni'n edrych yn ofalus iawn ar ein safbwynt polisi ni ar e-sigaréts yng Nghymru.
O ran eich ail gwestiwn, ni ddylai unrhyw gymuned orfod aros wyth mlynedd am faes chwarae, felly, rwy'n eich llongyfarch am eich ymgyrch chi. Rwy'n credu bod ein polisïau cynllunio ni'n eglur iawn: mae'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn disgwyl i ddatblygiadau tai newydd ddarparu seilwaith gwyrdd, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys mannau chwarae a mannau agored. Mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol ddefnyddio'r offer sydd ar gael iddyn nhw, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys gorfodi amodau cynllunio a rhwymedigaethau adran 106 i sicrhau bod addewidion datblygwyr yn cael eu gwireddu, ac mae'r Gweinidog yn llwyr ddisgwyl i gwmnïau gadw at eu rhwymedigaethau cytundebol.
I'd like to request a statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on the devastating impacts of the 20 mph law on bus services in Wales. I've had a letter from Arriva and they've written with huge concerns. They've previously discussed the challenges on service 5 Llandudno; various roadwork schemes; they're having to look again at their fleet; what to have to do with the network. Because of the introduction of 20 mph, we're seeing that long-distance and intra-urban services have been severely impacted, there are large reductions in punctuality, and trips are being cancelled in order to get the buses back on time. Welsh Government is now causing these issues, so they're having to look at frequency reductions, timetable amendments, route changes and route withdrawals. But one question they've asked me is: how did the Deputy Minister engage? Will he come forward with an oral statement clarifying what modelling took place? How did he engage with the bus services? Because this has literally been foisted on them and we're now going to see less of a service than we had before. Thank you.
Fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar effeithiau dinistriol cyfraith 20 mya ar wasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru. Rwyf i wedi derbyn llythyr gan Arriva ac maen nhw wedi ysgrifennu gyda phryderon aruthrol. Maen nhw wedi trafod yr heriau o ran gwasanaeth 5 Llandudno o'r blaen; cynlluniau amrywiol o waith ar y ffyrdd; mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ailystyried eu fflyd; a beth i'w wneud â'r rhwydwaith. Yn sgil cyflwyno'r terfyn 20 mya, rydym ni'n gweld yr amherir ar wasanaethau pellter hir a mewndrefol mewn ffordd ddifrifol, mae eu prydlondeb wedi gwaethygu yn sylweddol, ac mae teithiau yn cael eu canslo er mwyn i'r bysiau fod yn eu holau ar amser. Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n achosi'r problemau hyn nawr, felly mae hi'n rhaid iddyn nhw ystyried torri ar amlder y gwasanaethau, gwneud gwelliannau i'r amserlenni, a newidiadau i lwybrau a diddymu llwybrau. Ond un cwestiwn y maen nhw wedi ei ofyn i mi yw: sut wnaeth y Dirprwy Weinidog ymgysylltu o ran hyn? A fydd ef yn cyflwyno datganiad llafar yn egluro pa fodelu a fu? Sut aeth ati i ymgysylltu â'r gwasanaethau bysiau? Oherwydd mae hyn wedi cael ei wthio arnyn nhw'n llythrennol ac fe fyddwn ni'n gweld llai o wasanaeth bellach na'r hyn a oedd gennym ni o'r blaen. Diolch i chi.
Well, this hasn't 'literally been foisted on them'. The introduction of the 20 mph speed limit has been very well documented for a long time, and I'm very aware that Welsh Government has had a letter from Stagecoach saying the exact opposite. Now, with most of these policy areas, of course, you get opposing information coming forward. So, I think it's very important that we remember that the implementation only began on 17 September. I think it's really important that we all recognise that local authorities have the powers to exempt. They should be working with their local bus providers as well to ensure that any issues—and I don't doubt for a second that there will be teething issues—that they are worked through. I don't think an oral statement, really, at this time would be appropriate for the aspect of the scheme that you suggest.
Wel, nid yw hyn wedi 'cael ei wthio arnyn nhw'n llythrennol'. Mae cyflwyno’r terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya wedi'i gofnodi'n eglur iawn ers amser maith, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael llythyr oddi wrth Stagecoach yn mynegi barn sy'n hollol i'r gwrthwyneb. Nawr, gyda'r rhan fwyaf o'r meysydd hyn o bolisi, wrth gwrs, fe gewch chi wybodaeth yn cael ei gyflwyno o safbwyntiau gwrthwynebus. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn i ni gofio mai dim ond ar 17 Medi y dechreuodd ei weithrediad. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni i gyd yn cydnabod bod gan awdurdodau lleol bwerau i eithrio. Fe ddylen nhw fod yn gweithio gyda'u darparwyr bysiau lleol nhw hefyd i sicrhau bod unrhyw broblemau—ac nid wyf i'n amau am eiliad y bydd yna broblemau cychwynnol—a'u bod nhw'n cael eu datrys. Nid wyf i'n credu y byddai datganiad llafar nawr yn briodol, mewn gwirionedd, ynglŷn â'r agwedd ar y cynllun yr ydych chi'n ei awgrymu.
Trefnydd, I'd like to request a statement from the Welsh Government on the ongoing situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Now, I spoke about this in a small debate—short debate, I should say—that I held in the Senedd a while ago, and the situation, of course, has escalated drastically of late. What was a blockade by the Azerbaijani Government on the region has now turned into a full-scale military offensive in the region, which has left hundreds of people dead, wounded or, indeed, missing. Now, EU nations, such as Germany, have expressed concerns about ethnic Armenians in the region, and David McAllister, the chair of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, shares similar concerns, including coerced or forced removal of the Armenian population in the region. Since the weekend, around 6,500 people have crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, and there's no doubt that the use of the military by Azerbaijan will obviously further exacerbate the crisis.
I know that 20 Members of the Senedd signed a statement of opinion on the situation there, which was jointly tabled by myself and Heledd Fychan, earlier this year. But with this most recent escalation and the increased tensions in the region, I think that we, as members of the international community, have to show solidarity with the civilians facing the brunt of the violence. We also have to make sure that there are no breaches of the Geneva convention, particularly the targeting of ethnic minority groups and the forceful transfer of civilian populations. So, although international affairs is a matter reserved to Westminster, we all have a moral responsibility to stand in solidarity with the local population and use our voice and the Welsh Parliament's voice, in this instance, to protect those in the Nagorno-Karabakh region who are suffering an abuse of their human rights.
Trefnydd, fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y sefyllfa barhaus yn rhanbarth Nagorno-Karabakh. Nawr, fe siaradais i am hyn mewn dadl fechan—dadl fer, y dylwn ddweud—a gynhaliais yn y Senedd ychydig amser yn ôl, ac mae'r sefyllfa, wrth gwrs, wedi mynd yn sylweddol fwy enbyd yn ddiweddar. Mae'r hyn a oedd yn flocâd gan Lywodraeth Aserbaijan ar y rhanbarth bellach wedi troi yn ymosodiad milwrol ar raddfa lawn yn y rhanbarth, sy'n golygu bod cannoedd o bobl wedi trengi, eu hanafu neu, yn wir, wedi mynd ar goll. Nawr, mae cenhedloedd yr UE, fel yr Almaen, wedi mynegi pryderon am Armeniaid ethnig yn y rhanbarth, ac mae David McAllister, cadeirydd pwyllgor materion tramor Senedd Ewrop, yn rhannu pryderon tebyg, gan gynnwys gorfodi neu symud y boblogaeth Armenaidd yn y rhanbarth. Ers y penwythnos, mae tua 6,500 o bobl wedi croesi i Armenia o Nagorno-Karabakh, ac nid oes amheuaeth y bydd y defnydd o'r fyddin gan Aserbaijan yn gwaethygu'r argyfwng ymhellach, yn amlwg.
Fe wn i fod 20 Aelod o'r Senedd wedi arwyddo datganiad barn ar y sefyllfa yno, a gyflwynwyd ar y cyd gan Heledd Fychan a minnau, yn gynharach eleni. Ond gyda'r cynnydd diweddaraf hwn a'r tensiynau cynyddol yn y rhanbarth, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni, yn aelodau o'r gymuned ryngwladol, ddangos undod â'r sifiliaid sy'n wynebu creulondeb y trais. Mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau hefyd nad oes unrhyw droseddu yn erbyn confensiwn Genefa, yn enwedig o ran anelu at grwpiau lleiafrifoedd ethnig a throsglwyddiad poblogaethau sifil gyda grym. Felly, er bod materion rhyngwladol yn fater a gedwir yn ôl yn San Steffan, mae cyfrifoldeb moesol gan bob un ohonom ni i sefyll mewn undod â'r boblogaeth leol a defnyddio ein llais ni a llais Senedd Cymru, yn yr achos hwn, i amddiffyn y rhai yn rhanbarth Nagorno-Karabakh sy'n dioddef camdriniaeth o ran eu hawliau dynol.
Thank you. Well, I absolutely recognise what you say about solidarity, but it is a reserved issue and I don't think the Chamber would be the best place to have that. But I do think a statement of opinion was absolutely correct.
Diolch i chi. Wel, rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud am undod, ond mae hwn yn fater a gedwir yn ôl ac nid wyf i'n credu mai'r Siambr a fyddai'r lle gorau i wneud hynny. Ond rwy'n credu i ddatganiad barn fod yn gwbl briodol.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd am y datganiad yna.
I thank the Trefnydd for that statement.
Felly, nesaf bydd y datganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar ymrwymiadau sero net. Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog i wneud ei datganiad—Julie James.
Next we'll have a statement by the Minister for Climate Change on net-zero commitments. I call on the Minister to make her statement—Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to open my statement today by agreeing with some points made by the Prime Minister in his net-zero announcement of 20 September. The Prime Minister said that there must be an honest debate about how we secure the country’s long-term interest. He also said we need a credible path to reach net zero by 2050 in a way that brings people with us. Unfortunately, Llywydd, I regret that he did not take the opportunity of his speech to address either of the fundamental challenges he set himself.
When we boil down the Prime Minister’s announcements, I believe the direct and material changes to our emissions will be unhelpful but relatively modest. Much of the froth he wished to generate came from scrapping proposals that never existed in the first place. However, by acting in the interests of his party rather than the nation, he has generated much more damaging and wider impacts. He has disrupted the confidence of businesses and communities alike and has missed another opportunity to tackle the real challenges of the climate emergency. Market analysts have been unequivocal. The Prime Minister has made the UK a less attractive destination for institutional investors who are keen to invest in climate projects.
The Prime Minister described significant costs on working people especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Yet many of the financial pressures on householders are as a direct result of being locked into a volatile, fossil-fuel driven economy. We need businesses confident in the direction of travel to deliver solutions that help those under financial pressure to go green—solutions with lower lifetime costs than their high-carbon alternatives, solutions that give Wales an economic edge. Instead, the less well-off have the prospect of watching the better-off reap the benefits once more under a Conservative Government. Ironically, electric vehicles and low-carbon heating are two of the areas where economic benefits for struggling families are possible, but where the Prime Minister has put the brakes on progress. In fact, the UK Government’s own analysis of the zero-emission vehicle mandate recognises the significant cost savings of a switch to zero-emission cars and vans. While additional investment will be needed upfront, the Climate Change Committee clearly state the savings in fuel costs would offset the investment costs in later years. That said, new cars are not an option for many people in Wales. However, the sooner the market shifts to new low-emission cars, the sooner we will see a healthier, lower cost second-hand market. The Prime Minister in his speech chose neither to help the transition from costly, polluting fossil fuels, nor to support a transition to active and public transport. I just do not see how this supports our shared climate ambitions or delivers on his promise to support working people in the long term.
Turning to low-carbon heating, this Senedd knows that decarbonising our homes will require a coherent and consistent package of policy that fairly, and over time, incentivises the uptake of energy efficiency measures and reduces the cost of adopting low-carbon heating solutions. We know more energy-efficient homes cost less to keep warm. The Prime Minister has decided to delay the 2028 requirement for all private rental properties to meet EPC C. We know homes in the private rented sector are less thermally efficient than in any other tenure. Therefore, any delay in improving the efficiency of these homes will see many tenants in Wales continue to rent draughty, inefficient homes and face high energy bills for years to come. It also means the opportunity to drive more green jobs into our economy has once more been lost.
On off-grid homes, the Prime Minister failed to take the opportunity to unlock high returns on investment by enabling market mechanisms that replace oil heating with energy efficiency and low-carbon alternatives. Rather than reduce emissions and save householders money, many householders will remain locked in to higher cost, high-carbon, volatile markets. While the Prime Minister promised to increase the boiler upgrade scheme grants to £7,500, this primarily benefits the better off, who are able to fund the upfront costs associated with replacing their heating systems. A social tariff for energy would have been far more welcome, more effective and very much more efficient.
The Prime Minister went on to ditch so-called proposals that never existed to begin with. He mentioned taxes on eating meat—no such thing exists; new taxes on flying—I've seen no such proposals; compulsory car sharing if you drive to work—we've not seen those proposals; and a Government diktat to sort your rubbish into seven different bins. Well, given that England is so far behind Wales on recycling, you think they'd want to do something, and, of course, here in Wales we are very proud of the fact that we are currently third, soon to be second, in the world for our recycling. So, I think the Prime Minister has very seriously missed the opportunity once more to learn by our example.
In relation to flying, we know that 1 per cent of the global population are responsible for approximately 50 per cent of all aviation emissions, and I don’t believe a frequent flyer tax based on this 1 per cent would be either unfair or unpopular.
We’ve worked, as I've already said, Llywydd, with our local authorities and engaged our householders across Wales to achieve our record municipal recycling rates, and I'm proud of the vast majority of the Welsh public who have made recycling very much part of everyday life in Wales. Llywydd, you will know that we're very shortly to introduce regulations to extend that source-segregated recycling to workplaces across Wales also.
Turning to the challenge of taking our communities with us, the national survey conducted in 2022 in Wales found that 74 per cent of people in Wales are 'very' or 'fairly' concerned about climate change, while 93 per cent think that the general public have 'some' or 'a lot' of responsibility to tackle climate change. We must harness this appetite to act. We can tackle the climate and cost-of-living crises at the same time, but, to do so, we must encourage openness, dialogue, exploration and action. We know that where we have acted on climate change, we have seen wider societal benefits. We need to share these benefits and demonstrate that Government is working at pace to make green choices easier, more convenient and affordable, and prioritising support to where it is needed most, to ensure no-one is left behind, to ensure our children and grandchildren are not the ones making the 'sacrifices' the Prime Minister talked about. This is how we take our communities with us, not by arbitrarily ditching important targets.
I was asked in this Chamber last Wednesday how Wales's net-zero commitments will be impacted by the recent announcement from the UK Government. Our own analysis will be informed by that of the UK Government given it is their policies that have changed. Sadly, the Welsh Government was not engaged by the UK Government prior to the Prime Minister’s statement. I have written to the Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, reinforcing the need to work together, to ask for the assumptions and analysis underpinning the announcement and for a meeting as soon as possible. Llywydd, I will make a further statement when I have received and considered the UK Government data. Diolch.
Diolch, Llywydd. Fe hoffwn i agor fy natganiad heddiw trwy gytuno â rhai pwyntiau a wnaeth Prif Weinidog y DU yn ei gyhoeddiad sero net ar 20 o fis Medi. Dywedodd y Prif Weinidog ei bod hi'n rhaid cynnal dadl onest ynglŷn â sut yr ydym ni am sicrhau buddiannau hirdymor y wlad. Fe ddywedodd ef hefyd fod angen llwybr credadwy arnom i gyrraedd sero net erbyn 2050 mewn ffordd sy'n dwyn pobl gyda ni. Yn anffodus, Llywydd, mae'n ofid gennyf i na chymerodd ef gyfle yn ei araith i fynd i'r afael â'r naill neu'r llall o'r heriau sylfaenol a bennodd ef ei hun.
Pan fyddwn ni'n mynd hyd at yr asgwrn yng nghyhoeddiadau'r Prif Weinidog, fy marn i yw y bydd y newidiadau uniongyrchol a materol i'n hallyriadau ni'n ddi-fudd ond yn gymharol gymhedrol felly. Roedd llawer o'r lol yr oedd ef yn awyddus i'w gynhyrchu yn deillio o gael gwared ar gynigion nad oedden nhw'n bodoli erioed yn y lle cyntaf. Serch hynny, drwy weithredu er lles ei blaid ei hun yn hytrach na'r genedl, fe greodd effeithiau llawer mwy niweidiol a mwy eang. Fe amharodd ar hyder busnesau a chymunedau fel ei gilydd ac fe gollodd ef gyfle arall i fynd i'r afael â gwir heriau'r argyfwng hinsawdd. Bu dadansoddwyr y farchnad yn ddiamwys.
Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi gwneud y DU yn gyrchfan lai deniadol i fuddsoddwyr sefydliadol sy'n awyddus i fuddsoddi mewn prosiectau hinsawdd. Disgrifiodd y Prif Weinidog gostau sylweddol ar weithwyr yn enwedig y rhai sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cael dau ben llinyn ynghyd eisoes. Eto i gyd, mae llawer o'r pwysau ariannol ar ddeiliaid tai o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i gael eu cloi mewn economi gyfnewidiol, sy'n defnyddio tanwydd ffosil. Mae angen busnesau fod yn hyderus yn y llwybr y maent yn ei ddewis i ddarparu atebion sy'n helpu'r rhai sydd dan bwysau ariannol i fynd yn wyrdd—atebion gyda chostau oes sy'n is na'r dewisiadau eraill carbon uchel, atebion sy'n rhoi mantais economaidd i Gymru. Yn hytrach, fe gaiff y tlotaf gyfle nawr i wylio'r rhai y mae hi'n well eu byd arnyn nhw'n crafangu'r manteision unwaith yn rhagor dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol. Yn eironig, cerbydau trydan a gwresogi carbon isel yw dau o'r meysydd lle ceir manteision economaidd i deuluoedd sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd, ond lle mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ffrwyno cynnydd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae dadansoddiad Llywodraeth y DU o fandad cerbydau dim allyriadau yn cydnabod arbedion cost sylweddol wrth newid i geir a faniau dim allyriadau. Er y bydd angen buddsoddiad ychwanegol ymlaen llaw, mae'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd yn nodi yn eglur y byddai'r arbedion o ran costau tanwydd yn gwrthbwyso costau'r buddsoddi mewn blynyddoedd diweddarach. Wedi dweud hynny, nid yw ceir newydd yn ddewis i lawer o bobl yng Nghymru. Eto i gyd, po gynharaf y bydd y farchnad yn symud i geir allyriadau isel newydd, y cynharaf y byddwn ninnau'n gweld marchnad ail-law iachach, â chost is. Fe ddewisodd y Prif Weinidog beidio â helpu'r newid o danwydd ffosil costus, llygredig, na chefnogi pontio i drafnidiaeth egnïol a chyhoeddus yn ei araith ef. Nid wyf i'n gweld sut mae hyn yn cefnogi ein huchelgeisiau cyffredin ni o ran yr hinsawdd nac yn cyflawni ei addewid ef i gefnogi pobl sy'n gweithio yn yr hirdymor.
Gan droi at wresogi carbon isel, mae'r Senedd hon yn gwybod y bydd datgarboneiddio ein cartrefi yn gofyn am becyn polisi cydlynol a chyson sy'n deg, dros gyfnod o amser, ac yn cymell y nifer sy'n manteisio ar fesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni ac yn lleihau cost mabwysiadu atebion gwresogi carbon isel. Fe wyddom ni fod cartrefi mwy ynni-effeithlon yn costio llai i'w cadw yn gynnes. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi penderfynu gohirio'r gofyniad yn 2028 i bob eiddo rhent preifat fodloni safon EPC C. Fe wyddom ni fod cartrefi yn y sector rhentu preifat yn llai effeithlon yn thermol nag mewn unrhyw ddeiliadaeth arall. Felly, fe fydd unrhyw oedi cyn gwella effeithlonrwydd y cartrefi hyn yn golygu y bydd llawer o denantiaid yng Nghymru yn parhau i rentu cartrefi gwael ac aneffeithlon ac yn wynebu biliau ynni uchel am flynyddoedd i ddod. Mae'n golygu hefyd fod y cyfle i yrru mwy o swyddi gwyrdd i'n heconomi wedi cael ei golli unwaith eto.
O ran cartrefi oddi ar y grid, methodd y Prif Weinidog ag achub ar y cyfle i ddatgloi enillion uchel ar fuddsoddiad trwy alluogi mecanweithiau marchnad sy'n disodli gwresogi olew gydag effeithlonrwydd ynni a dewisiadau amgen carbon isel. Yn hytrach na lleihau allyriadau ac arbed arian i ddeiliaid tai, bydd llawer o ddeiliaid tai yn dal wedi'u cloi mewn marchnadoedd cost uwch, carbon uchel, cyfnewidiol. Er i'r Prif Weinidog addo cynyddu grantiau cynllun uwchraddio boeleri hyd at £7,500, mae hynny o'r budd mwyaf i'r rhai y mae'n well eu byd arnyn nhw, sy'n gallu ariannu'r costau ymlaen llaw sy'n gysylltiedig â newid eu systemau gwresogi. Fe fyddai mwy o groeso i dariff cymdeithasol ar gyfer ynni, a byddai'n fwy effeithiol ac yn llawer mwy effeithlon.
Aeth y Prif Weinidog ymlaen i gael gwared ar gynigion fel y'u gelwir nad oedden nhw'n bodoli erioed i ddechrau cychwyn. Fe soniodd ef am drethi ar fwyta cig—nid oes y fath beth yn bodoli; trethi newydd ar hedfan—ni welais i unrhyw gynigion o'r fath; rhannu ceir gorfodol os ydych chi'n gyrru i'ch gwaith—ni welsom ni'r cynigion hynny; a gofyniad gan y Llywodraeth i ddosbarthu eich sbwriel mewn saith bin ar wahân. Wel, o ystyried bod Lloegr mor bell y tu ôl i Gymru o ran ailgylchu, fe fyddech chi'n meddwl y bydden nhw'n dymuno gwneud rhywbeth, ac, wrth gwrs, yma yng Nghymru, rydym ni'n falch iawn o'r ffaith ein bod yn drydydd ar hyn o bryd, yn ail cyn bo hir, drwy'r byd o ran ein gweithgarwch ailgylchu. Felly, rwyf i o'r farn fod y Prif Weinidog wedi colli'r cyfle unwaith eto i ddysgu trwy ein hesiampl ni, mewn ffordd ddifrifol iawn.
O ran hedfan, gwyddom fod 1 y cant o'r boblogaeth fyd-eang yn gyfrifol am oddeutu 50 y cant o'r holl allyriadau hedfan, ac nid wyf i'n credu y byddai treth ar hedfan yn aml ar yr 1 y cant hwn yn annheg nac yn amhoblogaidd.
Rydym ni wedi gweithio, fel dywedais i eisoes, Llywydd, gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol ac wedi ymgysylltu â'n deiliaid tai ledled Cymru i gyflawni ein cyfraddau uchaf erioed o ailgylchu trefol, ac rwy'n falch o'r mwyafrif helaeth o blith y cyhoedd yng Nghymru sydd wedi gwneud ailgylchu yn rhan bwysig o fywyd bob dydd yng Nghymru. Llywydd, fe wyddoch y byddwn ni'n cyflwyno rheoliadau yn fuan iawn i ymestyn yr ailgylchu gwahanu yn y tarddle i weithleoedd ledled Cymru hefyd.
Gan droi at yr her o ddwyn ein cymunedau gyda ni, canfu'r arolwg cenedlaethol a gynhaliwyd yn 2022 yng Nghymru fod 74 y cant o bobl yng Nghymru yn 'bryderus iawn' neu'n 'weddol bryderus' ynglŷn â newid hinsawdd, tra bod 93 y cant yn credu bod gan y cyhoedd 'rywfaint' neu 'lawer' o gyfrifoldeb i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd. Mae'n rhaid i ni ddefnyddio'r awydd hwn i weithredu. Fe allwn ni fynd i'r afael â'r hinsawdd ac argyfyngau costau byw ar yr un pryd, ond, ar gyfer gwneud hynny, mae'n rhaid i ni annog bod yn agored, cynnal deialog, archwilio a gweithredu. Fe wyddom ni, pan ydym ni wedi gweithredu o ran newid hinsawdd, ein bod ni wedi gweld manteision cymdeithasol yn fwy eang. Mae angen i ni rannu'r buddion hyn a dangos bod y Llywodraeth yn gweithio ar gyflymder i wneud dewisiadau gwyrdd yn haws, yn fwy cyfleus a fforddiadwy, a blaenoriaethu cefnogaeth i'r mannau hynny lle mae'r angen mwyaf, i sicrhau nad oes neb yn cael ei adael ar ôl, i sicrhau nad ein plant na'n hwyrion ni fydd y rhai a fydd yn gwneud yr 'aberth' chwedl y Prif Weinidog. Dyma sut rydym ni am ddwyn ein cymunedau gyda ni, nid drwy ddiddymu nodau pwysig yn fympwyol.
Fe ofynnwyd cwestiwn i mi yn y Siambr hon ddydd Mercher diwethaf ynglŷn â sut y bydd y cyhoeddiad diweddar gan Lywodraeth y DU yn effeithio ar ymrwymiadau Cymru o ran sero net. Fe fydd ein dadansoddiad ni'n cael ei lywio gan ddadansoddiad Llywodraeth y DU o ystyried mai eu polisïau nhw sydd wedi newid. Yn anffodus, nid oedd Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth Cymru cyn datganiad y Prif Weinidog. Rwyf i wedi ysgrifennu at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn yr Adran Diogelwch Ynni a Sero Net, yn atgyfnerthu'r angen i gydweithio, ac yn gofyn am y rhagdybiaethau a'r dadansoddiad sy'n sail i'r cyhoeddiad hwn ac am gael cyfarfod cyn gynted â phosibl. Llywydd, fe fyddaf i'n gwneud datganiad pellach pan fyddaf wedi cael ac ystyried data oddi wrth Lywodraeth y DU. Diolch.
Do you know what? It's not often I say this, but I would like to thank the Minister for this and for opening her statement by agreeing with some points made by the Prime Minister in his net-zero announcement of 20 September. You note that the Prime Minister said there must be an honest debate about how we secure the country's long-term interest. He also said we need a credible path to reach net zero by 2050 in a way that brings people with us, and who could disagree with that?
Now, the UK has had the fastest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the G7, down almost 50 per cent since 1990, whilst, in Europe, Germany and France have only managed 41 and 22 per cent. The UK has surpassed the targets most countries have set for 2030, such as Australia, Canada, Japan and the US. In fact, the UK has overdelivered, if that's a possibility, on all its previous targets to date, and our Prime Minister is committed to achieving the most ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 68 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and 77 per cent by 2030. So, I do think you should join with me in expressing how proud we should all be that we are—and when I say 'we', collectively as the United Kingdom—the only major economy in the world to have such an ambitious target. Thanks to this progress already made, reaching the UK's 2030 and 2035 targets does not have to come at the expense of British citizens who are continuing to face a higher cost of living.
Now, the Prime Minister is ensuring that achieving net zero is not a punishment for the population. Will you do the same by scrapping your war on our drivers? You have advised that we need businesses confident in the direction of travel to deliver solutions that help those under financial pressure to go green, and that is exactly what our Prime Minister is doing. As of last week, up to 8,000 people, including current installers and those that are new to the industry, will be able to develop the skills and expert knowledge needed to retrofit homes and install insulation through a host of training providers thanks to the home decarbonisation skills training scheme. The energy security Secretary announced a £22 million increase in Government backing for renewables through the flagship Contracts for Difference scheme, taking the total budget to £227 million for the auction, which has resulted in successful projects in Wales. A grant worth up to £500 million, one of the largest Government support packages in history, is being made in a new Welsh electric arc furnace for greener steel production at Port Talbot, and a new multibillion pound electric car battery factory is to be built in the UK, one of the largest ever investments in the UK automotive sector. Here in Wales, we have massive UK Government investment in two amazing free ports that have energy, climate change and economic growth at their heart. So, the UK Government is enabling this green economic growth. Will you do the same by supporting our private landowners with the cost of renewable energy schemes? And, of course, we can’t forget that it was the Welsh Government—this Welsh Government—that stripped private hydro schemes of business rate relief.
There’s no escaping the fact that the Minister and, indeed, Welsh Government, are still a staunch advocate of the European Union. So, could you, Minister, clarify why there is now a problem with us aligning our policy on electric vehicles with Europe by delaying it by five years? At the end of the day, such a move will be of huge assistance to the Welsh Government, which has as yet not met five of its own nine targets to deliver electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Diolch yn fawr.
Wyddoch chi beth? Nid yn aml yr wyf i'n dweud hyn, ond fe hoffwn i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am hyn ac am agor ei datganiad hi drwy gytuno â rhai pwyntiau a wnaeth Prif Weinidog y DU yn ei gyhoeddiad ef am sero net ar 20 o fis Medi. Rydych chi'n nodi ei bod hi'n rhaid cynnal dadl onest ynglŷn â sut yr ydym ni am ddiogelu buddiannau'r wlad i'r hirdymor. Fe ddywedodd hefyd fod angen llwybr credadwy arnom ni i gyrraedd sero net erbyn 2050 mewn ffordd sy'n dwyn pobl gyda ni, a phwy allai anghytuno â hynny?
Nawr, mae'r DU wedi gweld y gostyngiad cyflymaf mewn allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr yn y G7, i lawr bron i 50 y cant ers 1990, dros yr un cyfnod yn Ewrop, mae'r Almaen a Ffrainc wedi gweld gostyngiad o 41 a 22 y cant yn unig. Mae'r DU wedi rhagori ar y nodau a bennodd y rhan fwyaf o wledydd ar gyfer 2030, megis Awstralia, Canada, Japan a'r Unol Daleithiau. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'r DU wedi gor-gyflawni, pe byddai hynny'n bosibl, o ran ei holl nodau blaenorol hyd yn hyn, ac mae ein Prif Weinidog wedi ymrwymo i gyflawni'r nod mwyaf uchelgeisiol i leihau allyriadau carbon 68 y cant erbyn 2030, o'i gymharu â lefelau 1990, a 77 y cant erbyn 2030. Felly, rwy'n credu y dylech chi ymuno â mi i fynegi pa mor falch y dylem ni fod i gyd am ein bod ni—a phan rwy'n dweud 'ni', gyda'n gilydd yn y Deyrnas Unedig—yr unig economi fawr yn y byd sydd â nod sydd mor uchelgeisiol. Diolch i'r cynnydd hwn a wnaethpwyd eisoes, nid oes raid cyrraedd nodau 2030 a 2035 y DU a fyddai'n dod ar draul dinasyddion Prydain sy'n wynebu costau byw uwch o hyd.
Nawr, mae Prif Weinidog y DU am sicrhau nad yw cyflawni sero net yn gosbedigaeth i'r boblogaeth. A wnewch chi wneud yr un peth trwy ddod â'ch rhyfel ar ein gyrwyr ni i ben? Rydych chi wedi cynghori bod angen i fusnesau fod yn hyderus o ran cyfeiriad y daith i ddarparu atebion sy'n helpu'r rhai sydd dan bwysau ariannol i geisio bod yn wyrdd, a dyna yn union y mae ein Prif Weinidog ni'n ei wneud. O'r wythnos diwethaf, fe fydd hyd at 8,000 o bobl, gan gynnwys gosodwyr presennol a'r rhai sy'n newydd i'r diwydiant, yn gallu datblygu'r sgiliau a'r wybodaeth arbenigol sydd eu hangen i ôl-osod cartrefi a gosod inswleiddio trwy lu o ddarparwyr hyfforddiant diolch i'r cynllun hyfforddi sgiliau datgarboneiddio cartrefi. Cyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Diogelwch Ynni gynnydd o £22 miliwn yng nghefnogaeth y Llywodraeth ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy drwy gynllun blaenllaw Contractau ar gyfer Gwahaniaeth, gan fynd â chyfanswm y gyllideb i £227 miliwn ar gyfer yr arwerthiant, sydd wedi arwain at brosiectau llwyddiannus yng Nghymru. Mae grant gwerth hyd at £500 miliwn, un o'r pecynnau cymorth mwyaf gan y Llywodraeth mewn hanes, yn cael ei roi i ffwrnais arc drydan newydd yng Nghymru ar gyfer cynhyrchu dur gwyrddach ym Mhort Talbot, ac mae ffatri batri ceir trydan gwerth biliynau o bunnoedd newydd i'w hadeiladu yn y DU, un o'r buddsoddiadau mwyaf erioed yn sector modurol y DU. Yma yng Nghymru, mae gennym ni fuddsoddiad enfawr gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn dau borthladd rhydd anhygoel sydd ag ynni, newid hinsawdd a thwf economaidd wrth eu gwraidd. Felly, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn galluogi'r twf economaidd gwyrdd hwn. A wnewch chi'r un peth drwy gefnogi ein tirfeddianwyr preifat ni gyda chost cynlluniau ynni adnewyddadwy? Ac, wrth gwrs, ni allwn anghofio mai Llywodraeth Cymru—y Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru—a ddileodd ryddhad ardrethi busnes i gynlluniau ynni dŵr preifat.
Nid oes dianc rhag y ffaith fod y Gweinidog ac, yn wir, Llywodraeth Cymru, yn parhau i eiriol yn frwd dros yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Felly, a wnewch chi, Gweinidog, egluro pam y mae problem bellach gydag alinio ein polisi ni ynglŷn â cherbydau trydan ag Ewrop trwy ohirio hynny am bum mlynedd? Yn y pen draw, fe fydd cam o'r fath o gymorth enfawr i Lywodraeth Cymru nad yw hi, hyd yn hyn, wedi cyrraedd pump o'i naw nod ei hunan ar gyfer darparu seilwaith gwefru cerbydau trydan. Diolch yn fawr.
Well, where to start, Llywydd? You know, Janet, there was a time that I thought you were a conviction politician that believed in climate change, but what you’ve just spouted puts the lie to that. The UK is world class; it is absolutely world class. It is world class in overstating what it’s doing, and underdoing it. We had the fastest reduction because we started in the worst place. There’s a difference between fastest reduction and actual reduction. Read your Government’s Climate Change Committee report if you want to see what’s really happening. Read Chris Skidmore Conservative MP’s report. There are lots of Conservative voices who are pro climate change who railed against this last announcement. I honestly thought you’d be one of them; I’m very disappointed. There’s no point in countering what you said. It’s based in a fundamental misunderstanding of the economics of climate change. If you delay the introduction of something, you delay the investment, you lose the first-mover status, you lose upfront investment in climate change. And if you think investing in a single electric arc furnace in Port Talbot is the answer to that, there's no hope for you.
Well, ble mae dechrau, Llywydd? A wyddoch chi, Janet, roedd yna adeg pan oeddwn i o'r farn eich bod chi'n wleidydd argyhoeddedig ynglŷn â newid hinsawdd, ond mae'r hyn yr ydych chi newydd ei draethu yn dangos nad yw hynny'n wir. Mae'r Deyrnas Unedig o'r radd flaenaf; o'r radd flaenaf yn hollol. O'r radd flaenaf o ran gorbwysleisio'r hyn y mae hi'n ei wneud, a gwneud llai na hynny wedyn. Fe welsom ni'r gostyngiad cyflymaf oherwydd roeddem ni'n dechrau o'r safle gwaethaf. Mae yna wahaniaeth rhwng gostyngiad cyflymaf a gostyngiad gwirioneddol. Darllenwch chi adroddiad Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd eich Llywodraeth chi os ydych chi'n awyddus i weld yr hyn sy'n digwydd mewn gwirionedd. Darllenwch chi adroddiad yr AS Ceidwadol Chris Skidmore. Mae yna lawer o leisiau Ceidwadol sydd o blaid newid hinsawdd sy'n protestio yn erbyn y cyhoeddiad diwethaf hwn. Roeddwn i'n credu y byddech chi'n un ohonyn nhw; rwy'n siomedig iawn. Nid oes unrhyw bwynt gwrth-ddweud yr hyn a wnaethoch chi ei ddweud. Mae'n seiliedig ar gamddealltwriaeth sylfaenol o economeg newid hinsawdd. Os ydych chi'n oedi cyn cyflwyno rhywbeth, rydych chi'n gohirio'r buddsoddiad, rydych chi'n colli'r statws o fod yn symudwr cyntaf, rydych chi'n colli buddsoddiad ymlaen llaw mewn newid hinsawdd. Ac os ydych chi o'r farn mai buddsoddi mewn un ffwrnais arc drydan ym Mhort Talbot yw'r ateb i hynny, nid oes unrhyw obaith i chi.
I’m very concerned about how this is going to have an impact not just on businesses, but on the most vulnerable people in our society, people who are least likely to be able to pay for all of these things, because, for as long as we remain as committed and as subject to these global markets of gas—we’ve seen in recent months how volatile those markets are—it is the poorest who will pay most. So, I’m really worried about that, and, Minister, I’m sure that you’ll agree about that.
We’ve got a situation here where the Prime Minister of the UK has decided—. We talk about people throwing caution to the wind; he’s thrown caution and reasonableness not into the wind, but into the fire, and I think that, as representatives of the people of Wales, it’s our duty to seek answers and clarity about how this profound shift—because it is a really profound and regressive shift—in UK policy is going to actually—[Interruption.] I don’t think that people will welcome it when their bills are high.
I was going to ask, Minister, how you think this is going to affect Wales’s journey to net zero. You’ve laid out quite a lot of that already in your statement. Could I ask what you think is going to be the most challenging aspect of this for the Welsh Government and what steps can be taken by the Welsh Government to try to mitigate the repercussions of that most challenging element?
And, again, I was going to ask you, in terms of engagement with the UK Government, if there had been any prior consultations or discussions between the two Governments before this fundamental shift in policy, and not just the shift in policy, but all of the accompanying narrative—you’ve already answered that in your statement as well—and whether any further avenues have been explored to protect Wales’s interests following Rishi Sunak’s decision over the past week. It is clear that this has come about because of perceived public opposition to green policies, but I think, more cynically, it was perceived perceptions in one particular by-election. Unfortunately, both of the major London parties had gone into some kind of race to the bottom. I'm worried about how that could result in either party that leads the next Westminster Government being weaker on climate policy. That would be disastrous for our planet. But, on a practical level, have there been any conversations that have taken place between the Welsh Government and any delegation representing what would be the next UK Government should Labour win that election, and can any clarity be given to us about whether that delegation would commit to keeping true to the policies that we need to actually be true to, for the sake of our climate and our environment? I do despair about how this is going to affect the poorest people in society.
Rwy'n bryderus iawn ynglŷn â sut y bydd hyn yn cael effaith nid yn unig ar fusnesau, ond ar y bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas ni, y bobl sydd leiaf tebygol o allu talu am y pethau hyn i gyd, oherwydd, cyhyd ag yr ydym ni'n parhau i fod mor ymrwymedig ac yn ddarostyngedig i'r marchnadoedd nwy byd-eang hyn—fe welsom ni yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf pa mor anwadal yw'r marchnadoedd hyn—y tlotaf a fydd yn talu fwyaf. Felly, rwy'n gofidio yn fawr am hynny, Gweinidog, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno â hynny.
Mae gennym ni sefyllfa yn y fan hon lle mae Prif Weinidog y DU wedi penderfynu—. Rydym yn sôn am bobl yn colli eu pwyll; ond gorffwylltra pur yw hyn, sy'n ein taflu i'r tân, ac rwyf i o'r farn mai ein dyletswydd ni, yn gynrychiolwyr pobl Cymru, yw ceisio atebion ac eglurder ynghylch sut mae'r newid mawr hwn—oherwydd ei fod yn newid mawr ac atchweliadol iawn—ym mholisi'r DU mewn gwirionedd—[Torri ar draws.] Nid wyf i'n credu y bydd pobl yn ei groesawu pan fydd eu biliau nhw'n uchel.
Roeddwn i am ofyn, Gweinidog, sut ydych chi'n credu y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar daith Cymru hyd at sero net. Rydych chi wedi nodi llawer ynglŷn â hynny eisoes yn eich datganiad chi. A gaf i ofyn beth ydych chi'n ei feddwl fydd yr agwedd fwyaf heriol yn hyn o beth i Lywodraeth Cymru a pha gamau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd i geisio lliniaru effeithiau'r elfen fwyaf heriol honno?
Ac, unwaith eto, roeddwn i am ofyn i chi, o ran ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU, a oedd unrhyw ymgynghoriadau neu drafodaethau blaenorol wedi bod rhwng y ddwy Lywodraeth cyn y newid sylfaenol hwn o ran polisi, ac nid dim ond y newid yn y polisi, ond y naratif cysylltiedig yn ei gyfanrwydd—ac rydych chi wedi ateb hynny eisoes yn eich datganiad hefyd—ac a oes unrhyw lwybrau pellach wedi cael eu harchwilio i amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru yn dilyn penderfyniad Rishi Sunak dros yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae hi'n amlwg fod hyn wedi digwydd oherwydd gwrthwynebiad cyhoeddus canfyddedig i bolisïau gwyrdd, ond rwyf i o'r farn, sy'n fwy sinigaidd, ei fod oherwydd canfyddiadau canfyddedig mewn un isetholiad penodol. Yn anffodus, roedd y ddwy blaid fawr yn Llundain wedi mynd i ryw fath o ras i'r gwaelod. Rwy'n poeni sut y gallai hynny arwain at y naill blaid neu'r llall a fydd yn arwain Llywodraeth nesaf San Steffan yn wannach o ran polisi hinsawdd. Trychineb fyddai hwnnw i'n daear. Ond, ar lefel ymarferol, a gynhaliwyd unrhyw sgyrsiau rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru ac unrhyw ddirprwyaeth yn cynrychioli'r hyn a fyddai Llywodraeth nesaf y DU pe bai Llafur yn ennill yr etholiad hwnnw, ac a ellir rhoi eglurder i ni ynghylch a fyddai'r ddirprwyaeth honno'n ymrwymo i lynu’n agos wrth y polisïau y mae angen glynu’n agos wrthyn nhw, er mwyn ein hinsawdd a'n hamgylchedd? Rwy'n anobeithio ynghylch sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar y bobl dlotaf yn y gymdeithas.
Diolch, Delyth. Who would have thought that you and I would be on the side of Boris Johnson and George Osborne and Janet would be against them? In what world has that come to pass? But that is where we find ourselves, because it turns out that Janet just agrees with whoever the current Prime Minister is, regardless of their policies or their commitments. I really regret that that's what's happening on the Tory benches opposite us, because actually we did have a consensus in this Chamber on the need for climate change action, and it looks like that's unravelling, which is very unfortunate indeed.
It is absolutely imperative that we have certainty in the transition process for our businesses and for our investors. We will hold fast to ours. We need investment in the grid, which I really hope the Government is not going to water down—fortunately, it wasn't in this investment—and we need that investment to come fast, because we need—Janet even mentioned it herself—the free ports here in Wales to be able to take advantage of the opportunities in the Celtic sea. Unfortunately, Llywydd, we've already seen a watering down of the proposals for Celtic sea opportunities, so I really hope they can be accelerated again.
The one that really, really bothers me is the switch from gas heating. We will have to do some analysis of that, Delyth, but we really hope that we will be able to continue to invest in air-source heat pump manufacturers here in Wales, so that they will have an order book that means they can accelerate their investment, because without that, the price will not come down, as is the projected curve. You know how that works: you put the investment in upfront, the order books go up, the cost of each individual unit comes down, the cycle continues. You have the adoption of a new technology, and that technology becomes cheaper over time, as has happened with every other technology. What this does, in a frankly illiterate economic policy, is elongate the investment for that and therefore the probable curve. But I haven't done that analysis yet. We will hope that we can hold fast to ours.
We need to help society come to terms with changing. The aviation one is a classic example. If you do an analysis of the cost of travel by air and the cost of travel by rail, you can immediately see that we have a Government putting its subsidies into the wrong part of our transport network, because it's rich people who fly and it's poor people who use the train, by and large, and this is a Government that's for millionaires and not for the normal people. We will continue to do what we can. I will do a further analysis and bring it back, probably to the climate change committee, but, Llywydd, there'll be another statement here in the Senedd once we've done it. So, I hope we can hold fast, but there's no doubt at all that this is very disheartening.
Diolch, Delyth. Pwy fyddai wedi meddwl y byddech chi a minnau ar ochr Boris Johnson a George Osborne a Janet yn eu herbyn nhw? Ym mha fyd y mae hyn wedi digwydd? Ond dyna lle rydym ni'n ein cael ein hunain, oherwydd mae hi'n ymddangos bod Janet yn cytuno â phwy bynnag yw'r Prif Weinidog cyfredol, ni waeth beth fyddo ei bolisïau neu ei ymrwymiadau. Mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf i mai dyna'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar feinciau Torïaidd gyferbyn â ni, oherwydd mewn gwirionedd roedd consensws gennym ni yn y Siambr hon ynghylch yr angen am weithredu ynglŷn â newid hinsawdd, ac mae hi'n ymddangos bod hynny'n ymddatod, sy'n drist iawn wir.
Mae hi'n gwbl hanfodol fod sicrwydd gennym ni yn y broses bontio ar gyfer ein busnesau a'n buddsoddwyr. Fe fyddwn ni'n glynu'n dynn wrth ein proses ni. Mae angen buddsoddiad arnom ni yn y grid, ac rwy'n gobeithio yn fawr iawn nad yw'r Llywodraeth am lastwreiddio—yn ffodus, nid o ran y buddsoddiad hwn—ac mae angen i'r buddsoddiad hwn ddod yn gyflym, oherwydd mae angen—roedd Janet hyd yn oed yn crybwyll hyn—i'r porthladdoedd rhydd yma yng Nghymru allu manteisio ar y cyfleoedd yn y môr Celtaidd. Yn anffodus, Llywydd, rydym ni wedi gweld y cynigion ar gyfer cyfleoedd môr Celtaidd eisoes, felly rwy'n gobeithio yn fawr iawn y gellir eu cyflymu nhw unwaith eto.
Y peth sy'n fy mhoeni i'n wirioneddol yw'r newid oddi wrth wresogi â nwy. Fe fydd yn rhaid i ni wneud rhywfaint o ddadansoddiad o hynny, Delyth, ond rydym ni'n gobeithio wir y byddwn ni'n gallu parhau i fuddsoddi mewn gwneuthurwyr pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer yma yng Nghymru, fel bydd ganddyn nhw lyfr archebu sy'n golygu y gallan nhw gyflymu eu buddsoddiad, oherwydd heb hynny, ni ddaw'r pris i lawr, yn ôl y gromlin a ragwelir. Fe wyddoch chi sut mae hynny'n gweithio: rydych chi'n rhoi'r buddsoddiad ymlaen llaw, mae'r llyfrau archebu yn cynyddu, mae cost pob uned unigol yn dod i lawr, ac mae'r cylch yn parhau. Rydych chi'n mabwysiadu technoleg newydd, ac mae'r dechnoleg honno'n mynd yn rhatach dros amser, fel sydd wedi digwydd gyda phob technoleg arall. Yr hyn a wna hwn, mewn polisi economaidd anllythrennog a dweud y gwir, yw ymestyn y buddsoddiad ar gyfer hynny ac felly'r gromlin debygol. Ond nid wyf i wedi gwneud y dadansoddiad hwnnw eto. Rydym ni'n gobeithio y gallwn ni ddal ein gafael yn dynn ar ein polisi ni.
Mae angen i ni helpu'r gymdeithas i ddod i delerau â newid. Mae pwnc hedfan yn enghraifft glasurol. Os gwnewch chi ddadansoddiad o gost teithio mewn awyren a chost teithio ar y trên, fe allwch chi weld ar unwaith bod Llywodraeth gennym ni sy'n rhoi ei chymorthdaliadau yn y mannau anghywir yn ein rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth, oherwydd pobl gyfoethog sy'n hedfan a phobl dlawd sy'n defnyddio'r trên, ar y cyfan, ac mae hon yn Llywodraeth sydd ar gyfer miliwnyddion ac nid pobl gyffredin. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i wneud yr hyn a allwn ni. Fe wnaf i ddadansoddiad pellach a dod ag ef yn ôl, i'r pwyllgor newid hinsawdd yn ôl pob tebyg, ond, Llywydd, fe fydd datganiad arall yma yn y Senedd pan fyddwn ni wedi gwneud hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ni ddal ein gafael, ond nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl am y digalondid yn hyn i gyd.
Thank you, Minister, for your incisive deconstruction of Rishi Sunak's statement and the harm that he's going to do. Clearly, we have lost any claim, as the United Kingdom, to be a leader on the transition to a carbon-neutral future—totally depressing in the context of the UN conference that was taking place last week.
On a more local level, I have one piece of positive news. One of the petrol stations in my constituency, on the corner of Newport Road and Elm Street, is run by MFG, and they had already installed eight EV charging points, so I rang them up and they are reporting that they're not going to change their business plan in any way—that they are continuing, that they do not think that this is going to impact on their business plan, which is obviously really, really encouraging to hear. But not all businesses will be doing that. They're making a sensible transition, obviously, whilst keeping hold of their petrol station next door for the meantime. But clearly, the bigger decisions around the Celtic sea and other, much bigger ticket items are likely to be impacted.
Just looking more locally at the impact of the decision to delay the 2028 requirement for making all private rented properties energy performance certificate C, I just want to probe with you what impact, if any, the PM’s decision will have on Wales, given that we obviously have devolution of housing in Wales. For any of my constituents who are in private rented accommodation, any delay is further descending them into extreme poverty because of higher rents and colder homes that are much more difficult to heat. So, that's the one I want to focus on for now, which is something that I feel we ought to be able to do something about, in conjunction with private landlords.
Diolch i chi, Gweinidog, am eich dadelfeniad pendant o ddatganiad Rishi Sunak a'r niwed a wna. Yn amlwg, rydym ni wedi colli unrhyw hawliad, yn y Deyrnas Unedig, i fod yn arweinydd ar y newid i ddyfodol carbon niwtral—yn gwbl dorcalonnus yng nghyd-destun cynhadledd y Cenhedloedd Unedig a gynhaliwyd yr wythnos diwethaf.
Ar lefel fwy lleol, mae gennyf i un darn o newyddion cadarnhaol. Mae un o'r gorsafoedd petrol yn fy etholaeth i, ar gornel Heol Casnewydd ac Elm Street, yn cael ei rhedeg gan MFG, ac roedden nhw wedi gosod wyth pwynt gwefru EV eisoes, felly fe ffoniais i nhw ac roedden nhw'n adrodd nad oedden nhw am newid eu cynllun busnes mewn unrhyw ffordd—eu bod nhw am ddal ati, nad ydyn nhw'n credu y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar eu cynllun busnes nhw, yn amlwg, mae hynny'n galonogol iawn i'w glywed. Ond ni fydd pob busnes yn gwneud felly. Maen nhw'n gwneud trawsnewidiad synhwyrol, yn amlwg, wrth ddal eu gafael ar eu gorsaf betrol drws nesaf yn y cyfamser. Ond yn amlwg, mae'n debygol yr effeithir ar y penderfyniadau mwy ynghylch y môr Celtaidd ac eitemau eraill llawer iawn mwy costus.
Gan edrych yn fwy lleol ar effaith y penderfyniad i ohirio gofyniad 2028 ar gyfer gwneud pob eiddo rhent yn rhai tystysgrif perfformiad ynni C, fe hoffwn i ymchwilio gyda chi pa effaith, os o gwbl, y bydd penderfyniad Prif Weinidog y DU yn ei gael ar Gymru, o gofio bod tai wedi cael eu datganoli i Gymru, yn amlwg. I unrhyw un o fy etholwyr i sydd mewn llety rhent preifat, mae unrhyw oedi yn eu gwthio nhw ymhellach i dlodi eithafol oherwydd rhenti uwch a chartrefi oerach sy'n llawer anos eu gwresogi. Felly, dyna'r pwnc yr hoffwn i ganolbwyntio arno am y tro, sy'n rhywbeth y dylem allu gwneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch, rwy'n teimlo, ar y cyd â landlordiaid preifat.
Thank you very much, Jenny. There are a couple of things there. On the transition to electric vehicles, we very much hope that Welsh companies will hold to their investment plans. It does require two things. It requires the grid to be upgraded. It's great that, in Cardiff, you can do that, but there are many parts of Wales where that would not be possible because the distribution network simply isn't enough to power eight cars at the same time in some places. So, we have been continuing to have the conversations with both National Grid itself and with the UK Government about the upgrade necessary to be able to do that. There's also a collateral point, I suppose, that the grid is so bad at the moment that some of the energy that's being produced has to be switched off because it can't balance across the grid. If you directed some of that and put an incentive scheme in place to put electrolysers in, you'd be producing green hydrogen out of that energy, even before you've upgraded the grid. We've been pushing what are really pretty modest investment schemes that would transform the ability of people to green their fleets, for example, with the availability of hydrogen in small quantities all over Wales, which could happen very easily. So, there are some things that we're still progressing. I really hope the UK Government isn't going to row back on some of the commitments it's made there.
On the effect on the PRS, there are some things that we can do, but, of course, property law, in and of itself, is not devolved to Wales. The other issue is that we were hoping that to go alongside the EPC C requirement would come an investment strategy, because one of the other things we have to guard against is that people don't come out of the PRS altogether because they can't afford the upgrade. So, we're already doing things like our private rented sector leasing scheme. I'll just take the opportunity once more, Llywydd, to push it. I push it every time. If you're a private sector renting landlord, then if you come into our scheme, we will help you upgrade your house. You will get the standard local housing allowance rent all the way through with no voids, no exceptions, no difficulty and no hassle. And at the end you will get a better quality house. So, it's still worth it, even though the LHA hasn't been uplifted for quite some time. There are some things we can do, but we were relying on the UK Government's strategy to bring an investment programme with it, and we will have to look to see what we can do on top of that to do it here in Wales.
The other thing is, of course, that the private rented sector is subject to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, so they have to make it fit for a human to live in, so that means they do have to have electrical certificates and all the rest of it, and we will be looking to see whether we can extend our Warm Homes programme to the PRS, because we're looking at doing whole streets and communities, and some of those will be PRS. So, I am hoping we'll be able to make some inroads, but it isn't the same as having a central Government investment scheme, clearly. We will look to see what we can do there. And, obviously, we've done things like we've changed our building regulations so that we have more energy efficiency, more thermal efficiency coming in, so we'll continue with those programmes.
In the end, what this has done is—. As I said, it has had a fairly marginal effect in and of itself, the announcement. What it's really done is put a massive pebble in the confidence pool for investors in the UK. That's the real damage the Prime Minister did last week, by actually taking away the interest of global climate change investors from the UK, because if they make u-turns at that speed without any prior consultation with anyone, they can do it again. That's the thinking. So, I'm afraid the sooner we have a Government that is committed to that kind of investment and can give certainty of investment structures, the better.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Jenny. Mae cwpl o bethau yn y fan yna. Wrth bontio i gerbydau trydan, rydym ni'n gobeithio yn fawr iawn y bydd cwmnïau o Gymru yn cadw at eu cynlluniau nhw i fuddsoddi. Mae angen dau beth. Bydd angen uwchraddio'r grid. Mae hi'n wych eich bod yn gallu gwneud hynny yng Nghaerdydd, ond mae sawl rhan o Gymru lle na fyddai hynny'n bosibl oherwydd nid yw'r rhwydwaith dosbarthu yn ddigon cryf i bweru wyth car ar yr un pryd mewn rhai mannau. Felly, rydym ni wedi bod yn parhau i gynnal sgyrsiau gyda'r Grid Cenedlaethol ei hun a gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch yr uwchraddio sydd ei angen i allu gwneud hynny. Mae yna bwynt cyfochrog hefyd, mae'n debyg, sef bod y grid mor wael ar hyn o bryd fel bod yn rhaid diffodd rhywfaint o'r ynni sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu oherwydd na ellir ei gydbwyso ledled y grid. Pe byddech chi'n ailgyfeirio rhywfaint o hwnnw ac yn rhoi cynllun cymhelliant ar waith i roi cyfarpar electroleiddio i mewn, fe fyddech chi'n cynhyrchu hydrogen gwyrdd o'r ynni hwnnw, hyd yn oed cyn i chi uwchraddio'r grid. Rydym ni wedi bod yn gwthio cynlluniau buddsoddi gweddol fychan mewn gwirionedd a fyddai'n trawsnewid gallu pobl i wneud eu fflydoedd yn fwy gwyrdd, er enghraifft, gyda symiau bychan o hydrogen ar gael ledled Cymru, ac fe allai ddigwydd yn hawdd iawn. Felly, mae yna rai pethau yr ydym ni'n parhau i'w datblygu. Rwyf i wir yn gobeithio nad yw Llywodraeth y DU am lithro'n ôl o ran rhai o'r ymrwymiadau a wnaeth hi.
O ran yr effaith ar y sector rhentu preifat, mae rhai pethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud, ond, wrth gwrs, nid yw cyfraith eiddo, ynddi hi ei hun, wedi cael ei datganoli i Gymru. Y mater arall yw ein bod ni'n gobeithio y byddai strategaeth fuddsoddi yn dod ochr yn ochr â gofyniad EPC C, oherwydd un o'r pethau eraill y mae'n rhaid i ni amddiffyn rhagddo yw atal pobl rhag ymadael â'r sector rhentu preifat yn gyfan gwbl oherwydd na allan nhw fforddio'r uwchraddio. Felly, rydym ni'n gwneud pethau eisoes fel ein cynllun prydlesu sector rhentu preifat. Rwyf i am achub ar y cyfle unwaith eto, Llywydd, i'w hyrwyddo. Rwy'n ei hyrwyddo bob amser. Os ydych chi'n landlord yn y sector rhentu preifat, yna pe byddech chi'n dod i mewn i'n cynllun ni, fe fyddwn ni'n eich helpu chi i uwchraddio'ch tŷ. Fe fyddwch chi'n cael y rhent lwfans tai lleol safonol drwy'r holl gyfnod heb unrhyw wagleoedd, nac eithriadau, nac anhawster na ffwdan. Ac ar y diwedd, fe fydd eich tŷ chi o ansawdd gwell. Felly, mae hi'n werth i chi wneud hyn, er nad yw'r lwfans tai safonol wedi cael ei godi ers cryn amser. Mae rhai pethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud, ond roeddem ni'n dibynnu ar strategaeth Llywodraeth y DU i ddod â rhaglen fuddsoddi gyda hi, ac fe fydd yn rhaid i ni edrych i gael gweld beth allwn ni ei wneud dros ben honno ar gyfer gwneud hyn yma yng Nghymru.
Y peth arall, wrth gwrs, yw bod y sector rhentu preifat yn ddarostyngedig i Ddeddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016, felly mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei gwneud yn llety addas i unigolyn, felly mae hynny'n golygu bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw fod â thystysgrifau trydan a'r cwbl i gyd, ac fe fyddwn ni'n golygu ymestyn ein rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd i'r sector rhentu preifat am ein bod ni'n ystyried addasu strydoedd a chymunedau cyfan, ac fe fydd rhai o'r rhain yn y sector rhentu preifat. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn ni'n gallu gwneud peth cynnydd yn hyn o beth, ond nid yw'n gyfystyr â bod â chynllun buddsoddi canolog oddi wrth y Llywodraeth, yn amlwg. Rydym ni'n edrych ymlaen at weld beth y gallwn ni ei wneud. Ac, yn amlwg, rydym ni wedi trefnu pethau fel ein bod ni wedi newid ein rheoliadau adeiladu er mwyn i ni fod â mwy o effeithlonrwydd ynni, mwy o effeithlonrwydd thermol yn dod i mewn, felly fe fyddwn ni'n parhau gyda'r rhaglenni hynny.
Yn y pen draw, yr hyn y mae hyn wedi ei wneud yw—. Fel dywedais i, fe gafodd hyn effaith eithaf ymylol ynddo'i hun, y cyhoeddiad, hynny yw. Yr hyn a wnaeth mewn gwirionedd yw ysgwyd hyder buddsoddwyr yn y DU. Dyna'r gwir ddifrod a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog wythnos diwethaf, pylu diddordeb buddsoddwyr newid hinsawdd byd-eang yn y DU mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd os ydyn nhw'n gwneud tro pedol mor gyflym â hynny heb unrhyw ymgynghoriad ymlaen llaw ag unrhyw un, fe allan nhw wneud hynny eto. Honno yw'r dybiaeth. Felly, mae arnaf i ofn po gyntaf y bydd gennym ni Lywodraeth sydd wedi ymrwymo i'r math hwnnw o fuddsoddiad ac sy'n gallu cynnig sicrwydd o ran strwythurau buddsoddi, y gorau i gyd fydd hynny.
Minister, I also regret that we have to have this discussion today. I am saddened. You'll know from many discussions we've had that the region that I represent was devastated as a result of climate change and the climate emergency in 2020, and the risk that's still very real for many. I would like to dispute some of the things that have been said in terms of how the UK Prime Minister was thinking about poorer communities in this, because, actually, those who are suffering, as was rightly outlined by Delyth Jewell, are the very people who cannot afford to wait for us to take action. They can't afford to move from areas that are at risk of flooding; they can't afford insurance; their health is deteriorating because they live in damp homes, because they couldn't afford to fix them. So, how are we going to counter this extremely dangerous narrative? Because it's highly effective when you have a UK Prime Minister being broadcast into every home and able to say, 'This is going to save poor people money, isn't this wonderful?', when, actually, the cost of climate change is being felt day in, day out, not just in people's pockets, but with their lives. So, what is the Welsh Government going to be doing to counter this narrative and stay firm in our commitment to the climate and nature emergency, and not allow people to be gaslit by the UK Government?
Gweinidog, rwyf innau hefyd yn drist ein bod yn gorfod cael y drafodaeth hon heddiw. Rwy'n drist iawn. Fe wyddoch o lawer o drafodaethau a gawsom ni fod y rhanbarth yr wyf i'n ei gynrychioli wedi profi dinistr o ganlyniad i newid hinsawdd a'r argyfwng hinsawdd yn 2020, ac mae'r perygl yn parhau i fod yn wirioneddol real i lawer. Fe hoffwn i anghytuno â rhai o'r pethau a ddywedwyd o ran sut roedd Prif Weinidog y DU yn ystyried cymunedau tlotach yn hyn o beth, oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, y rhai sy'n dioddef, fel amlinellwyd yn briodol gan Delyth Jewell, yw'r union bobl na allant fforddio aros i ni weithredu. Ni allan nhw fforddio symud o ardaloedd sydd mewn perygl o lifogydd; nid ydyn nhw'n gallu fforddio yswiriant; mae eu hiechyd nhw'n dirywio oherwydd eu bod nhw'n byw mewn cartrefi llaith, oherwydd na allant fforddio eu hatgyweirio. Felly, sut ydym ni am wyrdroi'r naratif hynod beryglus hwn? Oherwydd mae hi'n hynod effeithiol pan fydd gennych Brif Weinidog y DU yn cael ei ddarlledu i bob cartref ac yn gallu dweud, 'Bydd hyn yn arbed arian i bobl dlawd, onid yw hyn yn wych?', pan fo cost newid hinsawdd yn cael ei theimlo o ddydd i ddydd, mewn gwirionedd, nid yn unig ym mhocedi pobl, ond o ran eu bywydau nhw'n gyfan. Felly, beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru am ei wneud i wyrdroi'r naratif hwn a sefyll yn gadarn yn ein hymrwymiad ni i'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur, a pheidio â chaniatáu i Lywodraeth y DU gamarwain pobl?
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Absolutely, Heledd; I couldn't agree more. As it happens, we were already embarking on a programme of what we call behaviour support across Wales, and that will be part of Wales Climate Week in this coming autumn now. We have Youth Climate Week as well coming on, and we have been deliberately reaching out to communities that didn't participate before to try and get them in; we've got ambassadors for many communities actually working hard in their own communities to try and engage people in that discussion.
There's no doubt at all that with the announcements made, what we've done there is let the rich people off the hook. They're the ones who cause the most climate difficulty, actually. They tend to have bigger vehicles, they take more flights, they have larger houses, et cetera, et cetera. The poorer you are, the less your carbon footprint, effectively, and that's one of the issues we need to address, isn't it? We need to get to a just transition, and we need to make sure that the investment is put in in order to do that.
So, we'll continue to push forward with our programmes and policies. As I said, the specific effect of what he said isn't that great; as you've correctly identified, it's the behavioural and signalling effect that's so—. I don't know what to call it. Depressing, I suppose, is what I want to say, really, because the message is that, somehow, the climate can be put off for our children and our grandchildren to deal with.
You've heard us say in this Chamber many times that we need to do twice as much in this decade as we did in the preceding 20 years. We have been quite fast in decarbonising from where we were, but that's because the UK was the dirty man of Europe not very long ago, and obviously it's easier to get from 'very bad' to 'not too bad' quite quickly. It's getting from 'not too bad' to actually world-leading in what we're doing that's the difficult bit, and that's the bit that they've just thrown away.
Yn hollol, Heledd; ni allwn i gytuno mwy. Fel mae hi'n digwydd, roeddem ni eisoes yn cychwyn ar raglen o'r hyn yr ydym yn ei alw yn gefnogaeth ymddygiad ledled Cymru, ac fe fydd hynny'n rhan o Wythnos Hinsawdd Cymru sy'n dod yn yr hydref nawr. Rydym ni am gynnal Wythnos Hinsawdd Ieuenctid hefyd, ac rydym ni wedi bod yn estyn allan yn fwriadol at gymunedau nad oedden nhw'n cyfranogi cyn hyn i geisio eu tynnu nhw i mewn; mae gennym ni lysgenhadon mewn llawer o gymunedau sy'n gweithio yn galed yn eu cymunedau nhw i geisio ennyn diddordeb pobl yn y drafodaeth honno.
Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl, gyda'r cyhoeddiadau a wnaed, yr hyn a wnaethom ni yn hyn o beth oedd esgusodi'r cyfoethogion. Y nhw yw'r rhai sy'n achosi'r anhawster mwyaf yn yr hinsawdd, mewn gwirionedd. Maen nhw'n tueddu i fod â cherbydau mwy, y nhw sy'n hedfan amlaf, mae ganddyn nhw dai mwy, ac ati. Po dlotaf yr ydych chi, y lleiaf yw eich ôl troed carbon, i bob pwrpas, a dyna un o'r materion y mae angen i ni fynd i'r afael â nhw, onid ydyw? Mae angen i ni weld pontio teg, ac mae angen i ni sicrhau bod y buddsoddiad yn cael ei roi i mewn er mwyn gwneud hynny.
Felly, fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i fwrw ymlaen â'n rhaglenni a'n polisïau. Fel dywedais i, nid yw effaith benodol yr hyn a ddywedodd ef mor fawr â hynny; fel gwnaethoch chi ei nodi yn gywir, yr effaith ymddygiadol a'r arwyddion sydd mor—. Nid wyf i'n gwybod beth i alw hyn. Digalon, mae'n debyg, yw'r hyn yr wyf i eisiau ei ddweud, mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd y neges yw, rywsut, y gellir anghofio am yr hinsawdd a gadael i'n plant a'n hwyrion ymdrin â'r peth.
Rydych chi wedi ein clywed ni'n dweud yn y Siambr hon lawer gwaith bod angen i ni wneud dwywaith cymaint yn ystod y degawd hwn ag y gwnaethom yn yr 20 mlynedd cyn hynny. Rydym ni wedi bod yn gyflym iawn o ran datgarboneiddio o ystyried ble dechreuon ni, ond mae hynny oherwydd mai'r DU oedd dyn budr Ewrop ddim mor bell iawn yn ôl, ac yn amlwg mae hi'n haws mynd o fod yn 'ddrwg iawn' hyd at 'ddim yn rhy ddrwg' yn gyflym iawn. Mynd o fod yn 'ddim yn rhy ddrwg' hyd at arwain y byd mewn gwirionedd yw'r hyn sy'n anodd, a dyna'r hyn y maen nhw newydd ei daflu o'r neilltu.
There's much to be disappointed about here when we've got a climate and nature emergency and a cost-of-living crisis. The Prime Minister's removal of home insulation targets and regulations is yet another climate crime, one that benefits fuel companies and unscrupulous landlords when it could really have helped people, especially with the cost-of-living crisis.
Another one I want to highlight is scrapping recycling. Like you said, the Welsh Government has invested millions over the years to become second best, hopefully, in the world, at recycling, and that material is extremely valuable as well, as a recyclate, and recycling has actually brought people along with it as well, and made them feel that they're doing their bit with the climate emergency, and wanting to volunteer regarding litter picking and other things as well, so it's really important. Minister, can I just ask you, though, with that, will it impact on any consequentials coming to Wales, and will it impact on what we're trying to do, which is really important? And the extended producer responsibility legislation, has that been scrapped now, on the back of this? Thank you.
Mae llawer i fod yn siomedig yn ei gylch yma o ystyried bod gennym argyfwng hinsawdd a natur ac argyfwng costau byw. Mae cael gwared ar nodau a rheoliadau inswleiddio cartrefi yn drosedd arall yn erbyn yr hinsawdd eto, un sydd o fudd i gwmnïau tanwydd a landlordiaid diegwyddor pan allai fod hyn wedi helpu pobl mewn gwirionedd, yn enwedig gyda'r argyfwng costau byw.
Un peth arall yr hoffwn i dynnu sylw ato yw diddymu ailgylchu. Fel roeddech chi'n dweud, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi miliynau dros y blynyddoedd i fod yn yr ail safle drwy'r byd, gobeithio, o ran ailgylchu, a bod deunydd yn hynod werthfawr hefyd, fel rhywbeth i'w ailgylchu, ac mae ailgylchu wedi dwyn pobl gydag ef hefyd, ac wedi gwneud iddyn nhw deimlo eu bod nhw'n gwneud eu rhan gyda'r argyfwng hinsawdd, ac yn awyddus i wirfoddoli i gasglu sbwriel a phethau eraill hefyd, felly mae hyn yn bwysig iawn. Gweinidog, a gaf i ofyn i chi, serch hynny, a fydd hyn yn effeithio ar unrhyw symiau canlyniadol sy'n dod i Gymru, ac a fydd hyn yn effeithio ar yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud, sy'n bwysig iawn? A'r ddeddfwriaeth o ran cyfrifoldeb estynedig i gynhyrchwyr, a yw honno wedi cael ei diddymu nawr, yn sgil hyn? Diolch i chi.
Thank you, Carolyn. The recycling one is particularly depressing, isn't it? The Prime Minister said something about needing to have seven bins in your home in order to recycle. We know that that's not true if we live in Wales. Some people can have seven bins in their home, of course; actually, I happen to have seven bins in my home, but you can do our recycling schemes in Wales without doing that, and we've done very well right across the piece.
Our recycling journey is a really interesting one for the opposite benches, if any of them are interested, because, of course, we in Wales also had people kicking back against the loss of black bin bags and so on, but they very rapidly realised that if they recycle, not only do they lower the waste their household generates—and we've got loads of evidence to show that waste generated lowers considerably once you collect it in that segregated way, because people can actually see what they're wasting, particularly in food bin collections, for example—but we also know that that's made us a world leader in attracting reprocessing firms coming here to Wales, actively seeking out our recyclate and taking virgin materials out of the production chain. The Prime Minister has entirely forgotten that that's what recycling is about. This isn't about the inconvenience of a householder; this is about saving the planet's precious resources for our future generations and, actually, the green economy and the circular economy being the next industrial revolution. So, I couldn't agree more. Our councils right across Wales, and all of our people in Wales, have embraced that wholeheartedly. And it's just a real shame that the UK Prime Minister has decided to, well, once again, pull a cheap publicity stunt off the back of a piece of information that is at best, disingenuous, and at worst, deceptive.
Diolch i chi, Carolyn. Mae'r pwynt ynglŷn ag ailgylchu yn arbennig o dorcalonnus, onid ydyw? Fe ddywedodd Prif Weinidog y DU rywbeth ynglŷn â'r angen i fod â saith bin yn eich cartref chi ar gyfer ailgylchu. Fe wyddom ni nad yw hynny'n wir os ydym ni'n byw yng Nghymru. Fe all rhai pobl fod â saith bin yn eu cartrefi nhw, wrth gwrs; a dweud y gwir, mae gennyf i saith bin yn fy nghartref i, ond fe allwch chi gynnal ein cynlluniau ailgylchu ni yng Nghymru heb wneud hynny, ac rydym ni wedi gwneud yn dda iawn mewn llawer dull yn hyn o beth.
Mae ein taith ni o ran ailgylchu yn un hynod ddiddorol i'r meinciau gyferbyn, os oes gan unrhyw un ohonyn nhw ddiddordeb, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, roedd gennym ni bobl yn protestio yng Nghymru hefyd am golli bagiau bin duon ac yn y blaen, ond fe wnaethon nhw sylweddoli yn gyflym iawn, os ydyn nhw'n ailgylchu, nid yn unig eu bod nhw'n lleihau'r gwastraff y mae eu cartref nhw'n ei gynhyrchu—ac mae gennym ni lawer iawn o dystiolaeth i ddangos bod gwastraff a gynhyrchir yn gostwng yn sylweddol ar ôl i chi ei gasglu yn y ffordd honno sy'n gwahanu'r mathau o wastraff, oherwydd gall pobl weld beth maen nhw'n ei wastraffu mewn gwirionedd, yn enwedig o ran casgliadau biniau bwyd, er enghraifft—ond rydym ni'n gwybod hefyd fod hynny'n golygu ein bod yn arwain y byd o ran denu cwmnïau ailbrosesu i Gymru, gan fynd ati i chwilio am ein hailgylchu ni a chymryd deunyddiau cwbl newydd o'r gadwyn gynhyrchu. Mae Prif Weinidog y DU wedi anghofio yn llwyr mai dyna yw pwrpas ailgylchu. Nid ystyr hyn yw anghyfleustra i ddeiliad tŷ; ystyr hyn yw arbed adnoddau gwerthfawr y blaned er mwyn cenedlaethau'r dyfodol ac, mewn gwirionedd, yr economi werdd a'r economi gylchol fydd y chwyldro diwydiannol nesaf. Allwn i ddim cytuno mwy â hynny. Mae ein cynghorau ni ledled Cymru, a'n pobl ni i gyd yng Nghymru, wedi cofleidio hynny'n llwyr. Ac mae hi'n drueni mawr fod Prif Weinidog y DU wedi penderfynu, wel, unwaith eto, ei fod am gipio cyhoeddusrwydd yn rhad drwy gyfrwng darn o wybodaeth sydd ar y gorau, yn anonest, ac ar ei waethaf, yn dwyllodrus.
Ac yn olaf, Llyr Gruffydd.
Finally, Llyr Gruffydd.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dyw hi ddim yn—mae'n ddrwg gen i—gyd-ddigwyddiad; dyna fe, roeddwn i'n trio cofio'r gair. Dyw hi ddim yn gyd-ddigwyddiad bod approval ratings Rishi Sunak wedi disgyn i'w lefel isaf erioed yn fuan iawn ar ôl iddo wneud y cyhoeddiad yma ynglŷn ag oedi mesurau newid hinsawdd. Rŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod y bydd methu â buddsoddi yn yr ymyriadau yma sydd eu hangen nawr yn golygu cost uwch pan ddaw hi'n amser i wneud hynny yn y dyfodol, ac mi fydd e'n gofyn am weithredu mwy eithafol yn nes ymlaen wrth i'r argyfwng ddwysáu. Nawr, beth mae hwn hefyd yn dangos i fi yw bod yna'n dal i fod wendidau sylweddol iawn yn y setliad datganoli—hynny yw, bod uchelgais Cymru o ran sero net yn gallu nid yn unig gael ei dal yn ôl ond ei thanseilio i'r fath raddau, ac mor hawdd, gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae'r Prif Weinidog yn hoff iawn o drio creu darlun y byddai Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan yn rhyw fath o nirfana, felly efallai gallwch chi ddweud wrthym ni, Weinidog, beth fydd Llywodraeth Lafur yn ei gwneud yn wahanol pan fo'n dod yn benodol i rymuso y Senedd yma a'n hymbweru ni gyda'r grymoedd ychwanegol sydd eu hangen arnon ni, nid yn unig i gwrdd â her yr argyfwng hinsawdd, ond i atal Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig rhag tanseilio'r hyn rŷn ni'n trio ei wneud?
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's—I apologise—no coincidence; I couldn't remember the word. It's no coincidence that Rishi Sunak's approval ratings fell to their lowest levels ever very soon after he made this announcement on pausing climate change measures. We know that a failure to invest in these interventions that are required now will mean a higher cost when it comes time to do that in the future, and it will require more extreme action later on as the crisis intensifies. Now, what this also shows me is that there are still very significant weaknesses in the devolution settlement, that Wales's ambition on net zero can not only be held back, but indeed undermined to such an extent, and so easily, by the UK Government. Now, the First Minister is very keen to paint a picture that a Labour Government in Westminster would be some kind of nirvana, but, Minister, can you tell us what a Labour Government would do differently when it comes specifically to empowering this Senedd and empowering us with those additional powers that we need, not only to meet the climate challenge but to prevent the UK Government from undermining what we're trying to do?
Thank you, Llyr. So, I couldn't agree more. I mean, what we're talking about is a proper industrial strategy and a proper economic strategy that allows the kind of investment across the economy that we need in order to radically change our economy to a green circular economy. And we have had very good conversations with the Labour frontbench about Keir Starmer's very-often-quoted vision for a green energy superpower. You can't do that unless you have the upfront investment in the grid and the infrastructure, you have the investment in, for example, the Celtic sea—there are many opportunities around the UK coast—and if you don't harness the natural resources of an island nation such as ours in order to combat climate change, but also, frankly, in order to not be reliant on things like imported gas. One of the biggest problems we've had with our energy crisis is the cost of imported gas. The fact that we have an energy price tagged to the marginal cost of gas is frankly ludicrous, given the amount of renewables that we generate here. We have a grid incapable of taking the level of renewables we could be generating. The UK could be a net exporter of renewables very easily, if you had a Government with the foresight to invest.
So, I very much look forward to—and I agree with the First Minister—I very much look forward to a Government that actually acts in the interests of the UK overall and turns us into the green energy superpower we richly deserve to be. And, of course, for Wales, that will mean harnessing our tidal power. I know that you're very interested in that. We have done well in tidal power so far, but we could do a lot better with the right kind of investment.
Diolch yn fawr, Llyr. Allwn i ddim cytuno mwy. Yr hyn yr ydym yn sôn amdano yw strategaeth ddiwydiannol briodol a strategaeth economaidd briodol sy'n galluogi'r math o fuddsoddiad ar draws yr economi sydd ei angen arnom er mwyn newid ein heconomi yn sylfaenol i economi gylchol werdd. Ac rydym wedi cael sgyrsiau da iawn gyda'r fainc flaen Lafur am weledigaeth Keir Starmer, a ddyfynnir yn aml iawn, ar gyfer archbŵer ynni gwyrdd. Ni allwch wneud hynny oni bai fod gennych y buddsoddiad ymlaen llaw yn y grid a'r seilwaith, buddsoddiad yn y môr Celtaidd er enghraifft—mae llawer o gyfleoedd o amgylch arfordir y DU—os nad ydych yn defnyddio adnoddau naturiol cenedl ynys fel ein cenedl ni er mwyn brwydro yn erbyn newid hinsawdd, ond hefyd, a dweud y gwir, er mwyn peidio â bod yn ddibynnol ar bethau fel nwy wedi'i fewnforio. Un o'r problemau mwyaf rydyn ni wedi'i gael gyda'n hargyfwng ynni yw cost nwy wedi'i fewnforio. Mae'r ffaith bod gennym bris ynni wedi'i glymu wrth gost ymylol nwy yn chwerthinllyd a dweud y gwir, o ystyried faint o ynni adnewyddadwy yr ydym yn ei gynhyrchu yma. Mae gennym grid sy'n methu â chymryd maint yr ynni adnewyddadwy y gallem fod yn ei gynhyrchu. Gallai'r DU fod yn allforiwr net o ynni adnewyddadwy yn hawdd iawn, pe bai gennych Lywodraeth gyda'r rhagwelediad i fuddsoddi.
Felly, rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at—ac rwy'n cytuno â'r Prif Weinidog—rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at Lywodraeth sy'n gweithredu er budd y DU yn gyffredinol ac sy'n ein gwneud yn archbŵer ynni gwyrdd, sef yr hyn yr ydym wir yn ei haeddu. Ac, wrth gwrs, i Gymru, bydd hynny'n golygu harneisio ein hynni llanw. Rwy'n gwybod bod gennych chi ddiddordeb mawr yn hynny. Rydym wedi gwneud yn dda o ran ynni llanw hyd yn hyn, ond gallem wneud llawer gwell gyda'r math cywir o fuddsoddiad.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Eitem 4 y prynhawn yma yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: cadernid y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Eluned Morgan.
Item 4 this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: health and social care system resilience. I call on the Minister, Eluned Morgan.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, am y cyfle i roi gwybodaeth i Aelodau ynglŷn â'r system rŷn ni'n ei gweld yn ystod y gaeaf.
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, for the opportunity to update Members on the system during the winter months.
Dirprwy Lywydd, thanks for the opportunity to update Members on health and social care system resilience plans to cope with the pressures that we're expecting to face this winter.
Now, we've learnt the hard way that starting to plan for winter in September is simply too late. So, in Wales we've ensured that health boards build their winter plans into their annual plans, so that they can start to prepare from the beginning of the financial year in April. You'll all remember how challenging last winter was for the health and care service, and let me reassure you that this happened despite the fact that we had put significant plans in place. But a combination of COVID, a massive wave of flu at the same time as concerns around strep A, industrial action and cold weather meant the system was under extreme pressure. By starting early and working hand in glove with local authorities, we managed to deliver 670 community beds, which is not an insignificant additional number when you consider that there are around 9,000 beds across the whole of Wales. But anyone who works in the NHS today will tell you that things don't ease up anymore during the summer months. The pressure is relentless, and I heard this loudly and clearly in a conference I attended yesterday with leaders from our emergency departments.
But we all know that winter always brings significant additional pressure. This year, we will be facing that additional pressure at the time when the NHS in Wales and across the United Kingdom is under significant financial strain, and that's why we're gearing up already. We expect there to be a peak in COVID infections over the winter, which are likely to be driven by a number of variants. We hope the public will help us out with this. Today I have published a respiratory framework that outlines the public health context and our approach to responding to respiratory infections.
Infection prevention and control measures remain key to reducing transmission of respiratory infections in health and care settings, and the framework highlights priority areas of focus and key actions to help mitigate acute pressures in the system. We've already, for example, started on our COVID booster vaccination programme; we started this on 11 September and already 50 per cent of our elderly care home residents have received their COVID vaccination booster. We really need everyone eligible to come forward, and we're particularly keen for those people who work in health and care to take up the offer so that they can protect themselves and they can protect the people that they serve. Our flu programme will also offer protection to the most vulnerable. We need eligible people to come forward to give themselves the best chance of getting through the winter without suffering too much, which, in turn, will help us to protect the broader system.
We have a comprehensive programme to deliver a better performance in emergency departments. And, again, this year we've invested £25 million in the six goals programme, aspects of which are specifically designed to take pressure off the system through supporting people, particularly the elderly, so that they don't need to come into hospital in the first place, or supporting them to leave quicker if they are admitted. Keeping the system flow in our hospitals is one of the biggest challenges we face, and we have plans in place to improve the flow. Despite the financial challenges, we are holding on to some of the Further Faster ambitions, which means a deliberate shift of support from hospitals and secondary care to support people in their communities—hopefully again helping to avoid hospital admissions.
Health boards have been working with regional partnership boards to develop their own winter resilience plans. They're developing front-line services in the community that can respond to local sensitivities and respond to the needs of individuals, working often through the cluster planning groups. This will pleat in with the ambitions for the regional integration fund, which is a fund that is shared between health boards and local government, and also includes the third sector and aspects of the private sector.
Dirprwy Lywydd, diolch am y cyfle i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau ar gynlluniau cadernid y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i ymdopi â'r pwysau yr ydym yn disgwyl eu hwynebu y gaeaf hwn.
Nawr, rydyn ni wedi dysgu trwy brofiad fod dechrau cynllunio ar gyfer y gaeaf ym mis Medi yn rhy hwyr. Felly, yng Nghymru rydyn ni wedi sicrhau bod byrddau iechyd yn llunio eu cynlluniau ar gyfer y gaeaf yn eu cynlluniau blynyddol, fel y gallant ddechrau paratoi o ddechrau'r flwyddyn ariannol ym mis Ebrill. Byddwch i gyd yn cofio pa mor heriol oedd y gaeaf diwethaf i'r gwasanaeth iechyd a gofal, a gadewch i mi eich sicrhau bod hyn wedi digwydd er gwaethaf y ffaith i ni roi cynlluniau sylweddol ar waith. Ond roedd cyfuniad o COVID, ton enfawr o ffliw ar yr un pryd â phryderon ynghylch strep A, gweithredu diwydiannol a thywydd oer yn golygu bod y system dan bwysau eithafol. Trwy ddechrau'n gynnar a chydweithio'n glòs gydag awdurdodau lleol, llwyddwyd i ddarparu 670 o welyau cymunedol, nad yw'n nifer ychwanegol di-nod pan ystyriwch fod tua 9,000 o welyau ledled Cymru gyfan. Ond bydd unrhyw un sy'n gweithio yn y GIG heddiw yn dweud wrthych nad yw pethau'n gwella mwyach yn ystod misoedd yr haf. Mae'r pwysau'n ddi-baid, a chlywais hyn yn eglur iawn mewn cynhadledd y bûm yn bresennol ynddi ddoe gydag arweinwyr o'n hadrannau brys.
Ond rydyn ni i gyd yn gwybod bod y gaeaf bob amser yn dod â phwysau ychwanegol sylweddol. Eleni, byddwn yn wynebu'r pwysau ychwanegol hynny ar yr adeg pan fo'r GIG yng Nghymru ac ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig dan straen ariannol sylweddol, a dyna pam rydym ni'n paratoi yn barod. Rydym yn disgwyl y bydd heintiau COVID yn dod i anterth dros y gaeaf, sy'n debygol o gael eu hachosi gan nifer o amrywiolion. Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y cyhoedd yn ein helpu gyda hyn. Heddiw, rwyf wedi cyhoeddi fframwaith anadlol sy'n amlinellu'r cyd-destun iechyd cyhoeddus a'n dull o ymateb i heintiau anadlol.
Mae mesurau atal a rheoli heintiau yn parhau i fod yn allweddol i leihau'r trosglwyddiad o heintiau anadlol mewn lleoliadau iechyd a gofal, ac mae'r fframwaith yn tynnu sylw at feysydd o flaenoriaeth y canolbwyntir arnynt a chamau allweddol i helpu i liniaru pwysau acíwt yn y system. Rydym eisoes wedi dechrau, er enghraifft, ein rhaglen frechu atgyfnerthu COVID; dechreuom ni ar 11 Medi ac eisoes mae 50 y cant o'n preswylwyr cartrefi gofal oedrannus wedi cael eu pigiad atgyfnerthu COVID. Mae gwir angen i bawb sy'n gymwys ddod ymlaen, ac rydym yn arbennig o awyddus i'r bobl hynny sy'n gweithio ym maes iechyd a gofal fanteisio ar y cynnig fel y gallant amddiffyn eu hunain a gallant amddiffyn y bobl y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. Bydd ein rhaglen ffliw hefyd yn cynnig amddiffyniad i'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed. Mae arnom angen pobl gymwys i ddod ymlaen i roi'r cyfle gorau iddynt eu hunain i fynd drwy'r gaeaf heb ddioddef gormod, a fydd, yn ei dro, yn ein helpu i ddiogelu'r system ehangach.
Mae gennym raglen gynhwysfawr i gyflawni gwell perfformiad mewn adrannau brys. Ac unwaith eto, eleni rydym wedi buddsoddi £25 miliwn yn y rhaglen chwe nod, y mae agweddau ohonynt wedi'u cynllunio'n benodol i dynnu pwysau oddi ar y system trwy gefnogi pobl, yn enwedig yr henoed, fel nad oes angen iddynt ddod i'r ysbyty yn y lle cyntaf, neu eu cefnogi i adael yn gyflymach os cânt eu derbyn. Mae cadw'r system yn llifo yn ein hysbytai yn un o'r heriau mwyaf sy'n ein hwynebu, ac mae gennym gynlluniau ar waith i wella'r llif. Er gwaethaf yr heriau ariannol, rydym yn dal gafael ar rai o uchelgeisiau Ymhellach, yn Gyflymach, sy'n golygu symudiad bwriadol o gefnogaeth, o ysbytai a gofal eilaidd i gefnogi pobl yn eu cymunedau—a fydd, gobeithio, unwaith eto yn helpu i osgoi derbyniadau i'r ysbyty.
Mae byrddau iechyd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol i ddatblygu eu cynlluniau eu hunain ar gyfer cadernid dros y gaeaf. Maent yn datblygu gwasanaethau rheng flaen yn y gymuned a all ymateb i sensitifrwydd lleol ac ymateb i anghenion unigolion, gan weithio'n aml trwy'r grwpiau cynllunio clwstwr. Bydd hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r uchelgeisiau ar gyfer y gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol, sy'n gronfa sy'n cael ei rhannu rhwng byrddau iechyd a llywodraeth leol, ac sydd hefyd yn cynnwys y trydydd sector ac agweddau ar y sector preifat.
Dwi'n falch iawn o weld y meysydd iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol a'r trydydd sector yn cynllunio ar y cyd ar gyfer y gaeaf, a bod hynny nawr yn digwydd yn rheolaidd drwy fyrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol. Mae partneriaid nawr yn defnyddio'r haf i gynllunio ymhell o flaen llaw ar gyfer y pwysau tymhorol fydd yn siŵr o gyrraedd yn y gaeaf. Ar ben hyn, mae gan bob bwrdd iechyd gynllun gwella ambiwlansys ar y cyd. Cafodd y rhain eu datblygu gydag Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru. Dyma'r prif gamau yn y cynlluniau: gwella gwasanaethau neu lwybrau i gleifion sydd â salwch anadlu neu sydd wedi cwympo; datblygu mannau sgrinio clinigol i sgrinio cleifion yn effeithiol a'u cyfeirio at y gofal priodol, gan leihau nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu cludo i adrannau achosion brys. Hefyd, fe fydd yna fwy o ganolbwyntio penodol y gaeaf yma ar helpu pobl mewn cartrefi gofal i aros yn iach, ac os ydyn nhw angen gofal brys, i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw’n cael hynny yn y cartref gofal; pan fydd e’n briodol, osgoi cludo cleifion mewn ambiwlans a'u derbyn i'r ysbyty; gwella amseroedd triage ac asesu mewn adrannau achosion brys; a lleihau derbyniadau’n ddiogel drwy wasanaethau gofal argyfwng yr un diwrnod.
I'm very pleased to see the health, social care and the third sector jointly planning, and this is happening regularly through regional partnership boards. Partners are now using the summer months to plan well ahead for the seasonal pressures that we know will inevitably arrive over the winter. On top of this, each health board has a joint ambulance improvement plan, and these were developed with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. Key actions in these plans will include: enhancement of services or pathways for respiratory and falls patients; clinical screening hubs to effectively clinically screen and signpost patients to the appropriate care, whilst reducing the number of people being conveyed to emergency departments. There will also be a specific and enhanced focus this winter on supporting care home residents to stay well, and where urgent care is needed, to access this in the care home; when appropriate, avoiding ambulance transport and admission to hospital; improving triage and assessment times in emergency departments; and safely reducing admissions through same-day emergency care services.
Mae £3 miliwn ar gael i fyrddau iechyd drwy ein rhaglen chwe nod, ac rŷn ni’n disgwyl iddyn nhw ddefnyddio’r arian yma i roi’r camau hyn ar waith. Ond dwi eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn gwybod pa mor heriol mae'r gaeaf yma yn debygol o fod. Rŷn ni’n disgwyl y bydd y gaeaf hwn hyd yn oed yn fwy anodd eleni nag yr oedd y llynedd. O ganlyniad, dwi’n apelio at y cyhoedd i 'ein helpu ni i’ch helpu chi', ac i ystyried bob amser a oes dewis arall.
Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, doedd gyda ni ddim canolfannau gofal sylfaenol brys na chanolfannau gofal argyfwng yr un diwrnod. Doedden ni ddim yn gwneud llawer o ddefnydd o’r fferyllfa gymunedol, a doedd gyda ni ddim gwasanaeth 111 ar-lein neu ar y ffôn ar gyfer iechyd corfforol, nag '111 pwyso 2' ar gyfer cymorth iechyd meddwl. Heddiw, rŷn ni’n gwybod bod cannoedd o filoedd o bobl yng Nghymru yn manteisio ar y ffyrdd newydd yma o ddefnyddio’r gwasanaethau iechyd—er enghraifft, 399,000 o drawiadau ar wefan 111 a 71,000 o alwadau i'r llinell ffôn 111 ym mis Awst yn unig. Mae hyn yn tynnu pwysau oddi ar y gwasanaeth ambiwlans ac adrannau achosion brys, ond mae yna dal pobl sydd angen help i ddefnyddio’r systemau newydd yma. Dyna pam y byddwn ni’n ailddechrau ymgyrch cyfathrebu 'Helpwch ni i’ch helpu chi' eto'r gaeaf yma.
Rŷn ni hefyd yn disgwyl i fyrddau iechyd roi pwyslais mawr ar gynllunio i ryddhau cleifion o'r adeg pan gawson nhw eu derbyn i'r ysbyty, a phwyslais hefyd ar leihau oedi mewn llwybrau gofal. Bydd hyn yn gwneud yn siŵr bod cleifion a defnyddwyr gwasanaethau yn cael y gofal a'r cymorth iawn yn y lle iawn. Rŷn ni’n gwybod bod ffitrwydd pobl eiddil hŷn yn dirywio wrth dreulio cyfnodau hir mewn gwely, a bod y cyhyrau yn gwanhau. Mae hyn wedyn yn golygu bod angen pecynnau gofal cymdeithasol mwy cynhwysfawr. Mae aros yn yr ysbyty am gyfnod hir hefyd yn cynyddu'r risg o ddal feirws. Felly, dwi'n apelio ar deuluoedd i gefnogi eu perthnasau drwy eu helpu nhw i adael yr ysbyty cyn gynted ag y mae'n bosibl, a phan maen nhw'n barod yn glinigol. Bydd hyn yn helpu i wella eu profiad a'u canlyniadau clinigol nhw.
Mae gan bob bwrdd iechyd, felly, gynllun gweithredu ar gyfer lleihau cyfran gwlâu ysbyty sy'n cael eu defnyddio gan gleifion arhosiad hir, sef mwy na thair wythnos mewn gwely ysbyty. Mae gyda ni nawr wybodaeth a data ar gyfer Cymru gyfan o ran y rheswm pam fod pobl yn oedi yn yr ysbyty. Rŷn ni felly yn gallu gwneud yn siŵr bod y sefydliadau hynny yn atebol. Mae'n bosibl bod y claf yn aros am feddyginiaeth, neu am le mewn cartref gofal, neu am gludiant, ond un o'r heriau mwyaf ar hyn o bryd yw aros i anghenion cleifion gael eu hasesu.
Dwi'n disgwyl i'r cynlluniau hyn, ochr yn ochr â'n model asesu dibynadwy, wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol yr hydref a'r gaeaf yma. Mae cyfran sylweddol o'r gronfa integreiddio ranbarthol, gwerth £145 miliwn, yn chwarae rhan allweddol i gefnogi a chynyddu capasiti yn y gymuned, a galluogi'r system i lifo'n dda yn y gaeaf. Y gaeaf yma, er enghraifft, byddwn ni'n buddsoddi £36.1 miliwn ar gyfer atal a chydlynu cymunedol; £24.3 miliwn i ddarparu gofal cymhleth yn nes at gartrefi pobl; a £29 miliwn ar gyfer llwybrau mynd adref o'r ysbyty a modelau gofal.
Dwi'n gwybod y bydd y gaeaf yma yn un heriol arall. Er hynny, dwi wedi gwneud yn glir beth yw'r disgwyliad, ac mae gyda ni nifer o gamau ar waith ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i ddelio gydag effeithiau'r gaeaf.
Now, £3 million has been allocated to health boards through our six goals programme, and we expect them to use this funding to enable these actions. But I am keen to ensure that people are aware of how challenging this winter is likely to be. We are anticipating an even more difficult winter this year than last year. To this end, I am appealing to the public to ‘help us to help you’ and to always consider an alternative.
Two years ago we didn’t have any urgent primary care centres, nor did we have same-day emergency care centres. We were making very little use of pharmacies in the community, and we didn’t have the 111 service online and by phone for support for physical health, nor the '111 press 2' service for mental health support. Today we know that hundreds of thousands of people in Wales are taking advantage of these new methods of interacting with the NHS in Wales. For example, there have been 399,000 hits on the 111 website, and 71,000 calls to the 111 phone line in August alone. This is taking pressure off the ambulance service and emergency departments, but there are still some people who need help to navigate these new systems. That is why we will be switching back on our 'Help us help you' campaign again this winter.
We also expect health boards to deliver a major focus on planning patient discharge from the point of admission to hospital and on reducing pathway of care delays. This will ensure that patients and service users are receiving the right care and support in the right place. We know that prolonged periods in bed decondition older frail people, and reduce muscle mass, creating a need for more comprehensive social care packages. Long hospital stays also increase the risk of catching viruses. So, I am appealing to families to support their loved ones and relations by getting them out of hospital as soon as possible when they are clinically ready. This will help improve their experiences and clinical outcomes.
Each health board, therefore, has an action plan focused on reducing the proportion of hospital beds used by long-stay patients, i.e. those spending longer than three weeks in a hospital bed. We now have an all-Wales view and database of the reason for every delayed discharge. We can therefore hold those organisations to account. It may be that the patient is waiting for medicines, or waiting for a care home placement, or transport. But one of the biggest challenges we are facing at the moment is waiting for patients needs to be assessed.
I expect these plans, along with our trusted assessor model, to make a tangible difference this autumn and winter. A significant portion of the £145 million regional integration fund is being used to play a key role in supporting and increasing community capacity and enabling good system flow this winter. This winter, for example, we'll be investing £36.1 million in preventative community co-ordination; £24.3 million in providing complex care closer to home; and £29.6 million on home-from-hospital pathways and models of care.
I know that this winter will be another challenging one. However, I have been clear about my expectations, and we have a range of actions in place across health and social care to make sure the impacts can be mitigated this winter.
Can I thank the Minister for her very detailed statement today? I don't think it's possible to have too many statements when it comes to dealing with winter preparedness. Of course, I agree with the Minister; it's very important to start planning very early in the cycle. Now, we know it's going to be a tough winter, and I put on my record my own thanks to the great work of our NHS staff. But we are currently seeing some very significant long waiting lists. We're aware, of course, of those missed treatment target times, and we've all seen, of course, the chronic shortages of hospital beds and the limited critical care capacity. So, we know that this is all going to be a very difficult position for the Welsh NHS this winter.
Now, Minister, you say in your statement that you expect there to be a peak in COVID infections over the winter, which is likely to be driven by a number of variants. So, perhaps you can give us a bit more information about any projections in terms of COVID infections and any particular peaks that you might expect. I know, during the course of the pandemic, much of those projections were available as well. But, in terms of the number of variants, perhaps you can give a bit of detail about those and are there any particular variants of concern that you think need to be addressed, or to be made aware of. Now, we do know, of course, sadly, during the course of the pandemic, that 25 per cent of those that sadly passed away from COVID caught COVID in a hospital setting in Wales, which was considerably higher in comparison to other parts of the UK. So, perhaps you could tell us, Minister, a little bit more about the measures that you've got in terms of preventing people catching COVID-19, and, equally, other respiratory viruses as well, in a hospital setting.
Of course, I'm concerned about workforce challenges in healthcare, so it would be helpful to know about what plans are in place to address potential greater workforce shortages in the healthcare sector in the event of sustained pressures over the winter.
Now, collaboration across the UK on key data and best practice sharing, I think, will be pretty crucial in the event of extreme pressures, so I wonder if you could tell the Chamber this afternoon, Minister, how you are collaborating with neighbouring regions and the UK Government to co-ordinate responses to potential spikes in COVID-19 cases that may occur, of course, over the border, and other implications.
Minister, you rightly talk about the need for healthcare staff to take up vaccination, and I wonder if you could tell us if you have any concern about the level of uptake amongst healthcare staff, obviously for their protection, but also the protection of those they serve—are there any particular concerns in that regard—and then, perhaps also, Minister, how you're addressing potential challenges relating to vaccine hesitancy or misinformation. We're aware of this, so that might be helpful as well, perhaps in terms of detailing what take-up is like compared to previous years, and any other information that there is in regards to hesitancy among those vulnerable groups in taking up the vaccination. And in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases, I wonder what communication strategies you have in place to keep the public informed about the situation.
We will have, of course, seen chronic shortages of hospital beds and limited critical care capacity, and this is of course going to put a strain on our healthcare system during emergencies, making it really challenging to accommodate a sudden influx of patients, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we have seen cases rising. I wonder what is being done in terms of increasing hospital bed capacity. I know that you did say in your statement today that you've managed to deliver 670 community beds. I wasn't quite clear on that. Is that an additional 670 beds for winter pressures that will be stepped down after the winter? And in terms of the total capacity of bed capacity across Wales this winter, how does that compare to other years, comparing it with the pandemic, and pre pandemic as well?
And finally, Minister, perhaps you could tell us a little bit more about the current state of the roll-out of the booster jab and flu vaccination. Is take-up as expected in those vulnerable groups? And do you have particular targets in terms of take-up? And finally, I think the one issue—
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei datganiad manwl iawn heddiw? Nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn bosibl cael gormod o ddatganiadau o ran ymdrin â pharodrwydd y gaeaf. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n cytuno â'r Gweinidog; mae'n bwysig iawn dechrau cynllunio yn gynnar iawn yn y cylch. Nawr, rydyn ni'n gwybod y bydd yn aeaf caled, ac fe wnes i gofnodi fy niolch fy hun am waith gwych staff y GIG. Ond ar hyn o bryd rydym yn gweld rhai rhestrau aros hir sylweddol iawn. Rydym yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, o'r amseroedd targed triniaeth a fethwyd, ac rydym i gyd wedi gweld, wrth gwrs, brinder cronig gwelyau ysbyty a'r capasiti gofal critigol cyfyngedig. Felly, gwyddom y bydd hyn oll yn creu sefyllfa anodd iawn i'r GIG yng Nghymru y gaeaf hwn.
Nawr, Gweinidog, rydych chi'n dweud yn eich datganiad eich bod chi'n disgwyl y bydd heintiau COVID yn dod i anterth dros y gaeaf, mae'n debyg oherwydd nifer o amrywiolion. Felly, efallai y gallwch roi ychydig mwy o wybodaeth i ni am unrhyw amcanestyniadau o ran heintiau COVID ac unrhyw achosion penodol o ddod i anterth y gallech eu disgwyl. Gwn, yn ystod y pandemig, fod llawer o'r amcanestyniadau hynny ar gael hefyd. Ond, o ran nifer yr amrywiolion, efallai y gallwch chi roi ychydig o fanylion am y rheini ac a oes unrhyw amrywiolion penodol sy'n peri pryder y credwch fod angen mynd i'r afael â nhw, neu i fod yn ymwybodol ohonyn nhw. Nawr, rydym yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, yn anffodus, yn ystod y pandemig, fod 25 y cant o'r rhai a fu farw o COVID yn anffodus wedi dal COVID mewn ysbyty yng Nghymru, a oedd gryn dipyn yn uwch o gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r DU. Felly, efallai y gallech ddweud ychydig bach mwy wrthym am y mesurau sydd gennych o ran atal pobl rhag dal COVID-19, ac, yn yr un modd, feirysau anadlol eraill hefyd, mewn ysbyty.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n poeni am heriau'r gweithlu ym maes gofal iechyd, felly byddai'n ddefnyddiol gwybod pa gynlluniau sydd ar waith i fynd i'r afael â phrinder gweithlu posibl yn y sector gofal iechyd pe bai pwysau parhaus dros y gaeaf.
Nawr, rwy'n credu y bydd cydweithio ar draws y DU ar ddata allweddol a rhannu arferion gorau, yn eithaf hanfodol pe bai pwysau eithafol, felly tybed a allech chi ddweud wrth y Siambr y prynhawn yma, Gweinidog, sut rydych chi'n cydweithio â rhanbarthau cyfagos a Llywodraeth y DU i gydlynu ymatebion i gynnydd posibl mewn achosion o COVID-19 a allai ddigwydd, wrth gwrs, dros y ffin, a goblygiadau eraill.
Gweinidog, rydych chi'n briodol yn siarad am yr angen i staff gofal iechyd gael brechiad, tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym a oes gennych chi unrhyw bryder am lefel y nifer sy'n manteisio ar y brechiad ymhlith staff gofal iechyd, yn amlwg er mwyn eu diogelu, ond hefyd amddiffyn y rhai maen nhw'n eu gwasanaethu—a oes unrhyw bryderon penodol am hynny—ac wedyn, efallai hefyd, Gweinidog, sut rydych chi'n mynd i'r afael â heriau posibl sy'n ymwneud â phetruster brechu neu gamwybodaeth. Rydym yn ymwybodol o hyn, felly gallai hynny fod o gymorth hefyd, efallai o ran manylu ar y nifer sy'n manteisio o'i gymharu â'r blynyddoedd blaenorol, ac unrhyw wybodaeth arall sydd ar gael o ran petruster brechu ymhlith y grwpiau agored i niwed hynny o ran cael y brechiad. A phe bai yna ymchwydd mewn achosion COVID-19, tybed pa strategaethau cyfathrebu sydd gennych ar waith i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r cyhoedd am y sefyllfa.
Wrth gwrs, byddwn wedi gweld prinder cronig o welyau ysbytai a chapasiti gofal critigol cyfyngedig, ac wrth gwrs, bydd hyn yn rhoi straen ar ein system gofal iechyd yn ystod argyfyngau, gan ei gwneud yn heriol iawn i ddarparu ar gyfer mewnlifiad sydyn o gleifion, fel y gwelwyd yn ystod pandemig COVID-19. Felly, rydym wedi gweld achosion yn codi. Tybed beth sy'n cael ei wneud o ran cynyddu capasiti gwelyau ysbyty. Gwn eich bod wedi dweud yn eich datganiad heddiw eich bod wedi llwyddo i ddarparu 670 o welyau cymunedol. Nid oeddwn yn hollol glir ynghylch hynny. A yw hynny'n 670 o welyau ychwanegol ar gyfer pwysau'r gaeaf a fydd yn lleihau ar ôl y gaeaf? Ac o ran cyfanswm capasiti gwelyau ledled Cymru y gaeaf hwn, sut mae'n cymharu â blynyddoedd eraill, o gymharu â'r pandemig, a chyn y pandemig hefyd?
Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, efallai y gallech ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym am y sefyllfa bresennol o ran cyflwyno'r pigiad atgyfnerthu a'r brechiad ffliw. A yw'r nifer sy'n manteisio yn ôl y disgwyl yn y grwpiau agored i niwed hynny? Ac a oes gennych dargedau penodol o ran y nifer sy'n manteisio arnynt? Ac yn olaf, rwy'n credu mai'r un mater—
You've said 'finally' once before, and you're well past your time, Russell.
Rydych chi wedi dweud 'ac yn olaf' unwaith o'r blaen, ac rydych chi ymhell dros eich amser, Russell.
Okay. I promise this will be the final question, but it will be a very long question—no, Presiding Officer, it will be a very quick question. Flu—one issue that there is, Minister, is that people will go for their flu vaccination on one date to one location, and then their COVID vaccination on an other date at another location. So, of course it's much better for the public to have both at the same time. Now, I know there are real complexities around that, in terms of the supply of those vaccinations, but there was some earlier discussion around there being one vaccination. Now that, of course, would really help in terms of ensuring that people got their vaccination, take-up was improved, and it would certainly help the workforce in rolling out those vaccinations as well. So, perhaps you could tell us, if that is not ready for this year, if you're aware of any discussion of that being available in future years.
Iawn. Rwy'n addo mai hwn fydd y cwestiwn olaf, ond bydd yn gwestiwn hir iawn—na, Llywydd, bydd yn gwestiwn cyflym iawn. Ffliw—un mater, Gweinidog, yw y bydd pobl yn mynd am eu brechiad ffliw ar un dyddiad i un lleoliad, ac yna am eu brechiad COVID ar ddyddiad arall mewn lleoliad arall. Felly, wrth gwrs, mae'n llawer gwell i'r cyhoedd gael y ddau ar yr un pryd. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod cymhlethdodau gwirioneddol ynghylch hynny, o ran cyflenwi'r brechiadau hynny, ond roedd rhywfaint o drafodaeth gynharach ynghylch un brechiad. Nawr, wrth gwrs, byddai hynny'n help mawr o ran sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu brechu, byddai'r nifer sy'n manteisio arno yn cynyddu, a byddai'n sicr yn helpu'r gweithlu i gyflwyno'r brechiadau hynny hefyd. Felly, efallai y gallech ddweud wrthym, os nad yw hynny'n barod ar gyfer eleni, a ydych yn ymwybodol o unrhyw drafodaeth am y posibilrwydd y bydd hwnnw ar gael yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Diolch yn fawr, Russell. Yes, we are expecting there to be significant winter pressures. We are expecting there to be another COVID peak during the winter. We are monitoring the particular variant BA.2.86 at the moment—you might have heard quite a lot about this. We haven't still found any cases in Wales as yet, but we're very much hoping to keep an eye on that. Our scientists are well informed as to how that is progressing—a lot of testing being done elsewhere in the United Kingdom. I think that there's a bit more confidence that it's perhaps not the variant that we feared that it might be, but it's still being monitored and still being developed. But who knows what other variants could come through during the winter. But we are expecting an uptick and a peak at some point during the winter.
You're quite right—infection control is absolutely critical in hospitals, not just for COVID but also for flu and other respiratory viruses. That's why there's very clear guidance on respiratory control within hospitals, and hospitals have been reminded of that very recently.
You talked about the workforce challenges. You're quite right—there are workforce challenges. It'll be perhaps more challenging this year because we are in a very different situation financially, so our ability to recruit will be more limited than perhaps it has been in the past. I've got a meeting coming up with the Scottish and English health Ministers very shortly, and I'm sure some of these things will be touched upon then.
Just in relation to the vaccination, health and care staff—I'm always a little bit disappointed, if I'm honest, in the uptake among people who are eligible for this vaccination, so we're trying to make sure that health boards can make it as easy as possible for their staff to take the opportunity, to increase the percentage of people who take up that opportunity. Just in terms of vaccine hesitancy, we do see that, every time we're offering a booster, it goes down slightly, but it's still not at a bad level, so I think we're reasonably pleased. But, obviously, one of the things we learnt during the height of the pandemic was how to chase down those hard-to-reach people, so we've now got quite a lot of experience in terms of how we get to those hard-to-reach people, and to get through to those people who perhaps were a little bit vaccine hesitant in the beginning.
Just in relation to bed capacity—. So, we switched on around 670 community beds last year. Some of those are still in the system. I think around 450 or so are still in the system. The number of beds we have at the moment is around 9,000. That's around 309 per 100,000. If you think about the Nuffield study that was done about 2019, they suggested that we were on 207 per 100,000 and England was on 170 per 100,000. So, we're still significantly above where England is at the moment. Listen, I think there's going to be a lot of pressure on the services. The financial situation is going to be very challenging. I just think we've got to bear in mind that that is going to increase the pressure in terms of our ability to make sure that we can keep the service where it is at the moment.
So, the take-up in terms of vaccinations so far, since 11 September, I think, is quite heartening. So, 50 per cent of all care home residents have already had their vaccination. So, I think that's exactly where we expected it to be, and, just in terms of co-vaccination—flu and COVID—there was a hope that that would be developed in time; it hasn't been developed in time. We keep in close contact with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, and there was very clear guidance from the JCVI that, actually, we should switch the order in which we vaccinated people, because we were a little bit concerned about this new variant. So, we've started with care home residents, which are our most vulnerable cohort, and then we'll be moving on to other cohorts after that. Whereas, before, we were going to vaccinate them in the run-up to the heat and the peak of winter, but we weren't sure what was going to happen in relation to the new variant. So, JCVI, we generally follow their advice in terms of when things are available. We were hoping to have a more up-to-date vaccine by now; it hasn't materialised. So, we just thought, 'Listen, we need to give the protection as soon as we can; that's more important.'
Diolch yn fawr, Russell. Ydym, rydym yn disgwyl y bydd pwysau sylweddol dros y gaeaf. Rydym yn disgwyl y bydd COVID yn dod i anterth arall yn ystod y gaeaf. Rydym yn monitro'r amrywiolyn penodol BA.2.86 ar hyn o bryd—efallai eich bod wedi clywed cryn dipyn am hwn. Nid ydym wedi dod o hyd i unrhyw achosion yng Nghymru hyd yn hyn, ond rydym yn gobeithio'n fawr iawn y gallwn ni gadw llygad ar hynny. Mae ein gwyddonwyr yn hyddysg o ran sut mae hynny'n datblygu—mae llawer o brofion yn cael eu gwneud mewn mannau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Rwy'n credu bod ychydig mwy o hyder efallai nad hwn yw'r amrywiolyn yr oeddem yn ofni y gallai fod, ond mae'n dal i gael ei fonitro ac yn dal i gael ei ddatblygu. Ond pwy a ŵyr pa amrywiolion eraill a allai ddod i'r golwg yn ystod y gaeaf. Ond rydym ni'n disgwyl y bydd yn dod i anterth rywbryd yn ystod y gaeaf.
Rydych chi'n hollol iawn—mae rheoli haint yn gwbl hanfodol mewn ysbytai, nid yn unig ar gyfer COVID ond hefyd ar gyfer y ffliw a feirysau anadlol eraill. Dyna pam mae canllawiau clir iawn ynghylch rheoli anadlol mewn ysbytai, ac fe atgoffwyd ysbytai o hynny yn ddiweddar iawn.
Fe wnaethoch chi siarad am heriau'r gweithlu. Rydych chi'n hollol iawn—mae heriau i'r gweithlu. Efallai y bydd hi'n fwy heriol eleni oherwydd ein bod mewn sefyllfa wahanol iawn yn ariannol, felly bydd ein gallu i recriwtio yn fwy cyfyngedig nag y bu yn y gorffennol. Mae gennyf i gyfarfod gyda Gweinidogion iechyd yr Alban a Lloegr yn fuan iawn, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd rhai o'r pethau hyn yn cael eu crybwyll bryd hynny.
Mewn cysylltiad â'r brechiad, staff iechyd a gofal—rwyf bob amser ychydig yn siomedig, i fod yn onest, cyn lleied o bobl sy'n gymwys i gael y brechiad hwn sy'n manteisio arno, felly rydym ni'n ceisio sicrhau bod byrddau iechyd yn gallu ei gwneud hi mor hawdd â phosib i'w staff fanteisio ar y cyfle, i gynyddu canran y bobl sy'n manteisio ar y cyfle hwnnw. O ran petruster brechu, rydym yn gweld, bob tro yr ydym yn cynnig pigiad atgyfnerthu, ei fod yn gostwng ychydig, ond nid yw ar lefel wael eto, felly rwy'n credu ein bod yn weddol falch. Ond, yn amlwg, un o'r pethau a ddysgom ni yn ystod anterth y pandemig oedd sut i fynd ar ôl y bobl anodd eu cyrraedd, felly mae gennym ni dipyn o brofiad erbyn hyn o ran sut rydym ni'n cyrraedd y bobl anodd eu cyrraedd hynny, a cheisio argyhoeddi'r bobl hynny a oedd efallai ychydig yn betrusgar o ran y brechlyn ar y dechrau.
Mewn cysylltiad â chapasiti gwelyau—. Fe wnaethom ni gyflwyno tua 670 o welyau cymunedol y llynedd. Mae rhai o'r rhain yn dal i fod yn y system. Rwy'n credu bod tua 450 ohonynt dal yn y system. Nifer y gwelyau sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd yw tua 9,000. Mae hynny tua 309 fesul 100,000. Os ydych chi'n meddwl am astudiaeth Nuffield a wnaed tua 2019, fe wnaethon nhw awgrymu ein bod ni ar 207 fesul 100,000 ac roedd Lloegr ar 170 fesul 100,000. Felly, rydym yn dal i fod yn sylweddol uwch na lle mae Lloegr arni ar hyn o bryd. Gwrandewch, rwy'n credu y bydd llawer o bwysau ar y gwasanaethau. Mae'r sefyllfa ariannol yn mynd i fod yn heriol iawn. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni gofio bod hynny'n mynd i gynyddu'r pwysau o ran ein gallu i sicrhau y gallwn gadw'r gwasanaeth fel y mae ar hyn o bryd.
Felly, mae'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar frechiadau hyd yn hyn, ers 11 Medi, rwy'n credu, yn eithaf calonogol. Mae 50 y cant o holl breswylwyr cartrefi gofal eisoes wedi cael eu brechu. Felly, rwy'n credu mai dyna'n union lle roeddem yn disgwyl iddo fod, ac o ran cyd-frechu—ffliw a COVID—roedd gobaith y byddai hwnnw'n cael ei ddatblygu mewn pryd; nid yw wedi'i ddatblygu mewn pryd. Rydym yn cadw mewn cysylltiad agos â'r Cydbwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu (JCVI), ac roedd canllawiau clir iawn gan y JCVI y dylem newid y drefn ar gyfer brechu pobl mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd roeddem ychydig yn bryderus am yr amrywiolyn newydd hwn. Felly, rydym wedi dechrau gyda phreswylwyr cartrefi gofal, sef ein carfan fwyaf agored i niwed, ac yna byddwn yn symud ymlaen i garfannau eraill ar ôl hynny. Cyn hynny, roeddem yn mynd i'w brechu yn y cyfnod cyn yr anterth yn y gaeaf, ond nid oeddem yn siŵr beth oedd yn mynd i ddigwydd mewn cysylltiad â'r amrywiolyn newydd. Felly, rydym yn gyffredinol yn dilyn cyngor y JCVI o ran pryd mae pethau ar gael. Roeddem yn gobeithio bod â brechlyn mwy diweddar erbyn hyn; ond nid yw ar gael eto. Felly, roeddem yn meddwl, 'Gwrandewch, mae angen i ni roi'r amddiffyniad cyn gynted ag y gallwn ni; mae hynny'n bwysicach."
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad a diolch hefyd am y cyfle i'w weld o rhag blaen. Dŷn ni, ym Mhlaid Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn croesawu'r cyhoeddiad yma. Ddaru ni arwain ar ddadl, wrth gwrs, nôl ym mis Mai, ar iechyd yr ysgyfaint, ac, felly, dŷn ni'n croesawu'r datganiad yma fel ymateb i rannau o'r ddadl honno. Ac wrth gwrs, fel digwyddiad rheino llwyd, mae pawb yn gweld beth sydd yn dod tuag atom ni. Fel rheino llwyd mawr, mae'n anferthol, mae'n rhedeg yn sydyn, mae o'n creu andros o ddifrod ac, yn bwysicach na dim, mae'n gwbl ragweladwy. Felly, mae'n ofynnol i ni baratoi o flaen llaw, ac mae clywed y cyhoeddiad yma a chlywed eich bod chi wedi bod yn paratoi ers mis Ebrill i'w groesawu.
Fel dywedodd y Gweinidog, roedd y gaeaf diwethaf yn arbennig o galed ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd am amryfal resymau ac mae'r rhagolygon yn awgrymu y bydd y gaeaf yma yn anos fyth. Ond yn ystod mis Ionawr eleni, er enghraifft, fe welsom ni nifer o enghreifftiau ble cafodd pobl oedrannus a bregus eu gyrru gartref o'r ysbyty heb y cymorth sylfaenol yn cael ei gynnig er mwyn iddyn nhw fedru byw eu bywydau yn ddyddiol. Roedd hyn, felly, yn ei dro, yn arwain at bobl yn mynd yn ôl i'r ysbyty. Felly, tra bod datganiad y Gweinidog heddiw yn sôn am ofal cymdeithasol a'r angen i ddarparu pecynnau gofal cymdeithasol, mae'n hynod o bryderus nad oes unrhyw sôn yma am flaenoriaethu a pharatoi'r gweithlu cymdeithasol ar gyfer y gaeaf caled sydd o'n blaenau. Felly, dwi'n awyddus i glywed cynlluniau'r Gweinidog ar gyfer y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, os oes yna unrhyw gynlluniau ganddi. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn credu bod y gweithlu mewn sefyllfa i ymateb i'r galw?
Fel y soniais yr wythnos diwethaf, rydym ni yn llawer rhy ddibynnol ar fintai o weithlu gwirfoddol pan fo'n dod at ofal cymdeithasol—pobl sydd heb yr hyfforddiant ond sydd yn gorfod ymgymryd â'r dyletswyddau anodd iawn o edrych ar ôl eu hanwyliaid neu eu cymdogion, a hynny yn ddi-dâl. Heddiw, fe glywsom ni'r Gweinidog yn apelio ar deuluoedd i wneud mwy. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn meddwl ei fod yn deg disgwyl ar bobl sydd heb yr arbenigedd, na'r gallu yn aml iawn, i wneud mwy—pobl sydd, yn aml iawn, yn hen ac yn fregus ei hunain yn gorfod gwneud y gwaith gofal hwnnw a hynny heb gymorth ariannol? Drwy fethu â buddsoddi yn iawn yn nhâl ac amodau gwaith gofalwyr, dŷn ni wedi gweld mwy o bobl yn gadael y sector gan roi fwy o straen ar ofalwyr di-dâl. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn credu bod ein gofalwyr yn cael eu talu yn ddigonol? Os ddim, pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Gweinidog i newid y drefn?
Pan fo'n dod at broblemau anadlol, yn aml iawn mae'n fater sy'n effeithio ar fenywod yn fwy na dynion. Mae mwy o fenywod yn dioddef o'r fogfa, er enghraifft, na dynion, ac yn cael mwy o ymosodiadau o'r fogfa na dynion. Maen nhw'n fwy tebygol o orfod mynd i'r ysbyty a bron ddwywaith yn fwy tebygol o farw o ganlyniad i'r fogfa na dynion. Yn wir, fel y clywson ni yn y ddadl honno nôl ym mis Mai, mae un o bob pum person yng Nghymru yn byw efo cyflwr ar yr ysgyfaint, ac mae mwy o bobl yn marw o ganlyniad i gyflyrau'r ysgyfaint yng Nghymru nag yn unrhyw wlad arall yng ngorllewin Ewrop.
I thank the Minister for the statement and thank you for the opportunity to see it beforehand. We, in Plaid Cymru, of course, welcome this announcement. We led a debate, back in May, on lung health and pulmonary health, and we welcome this statement as a response to parts of that debate. And of course, as a grey rhino event, we see what's coming towards us. Like a grey rhino, it's huge, it's running quickly, it creates huge damage and, most importantly, it's entirely predictable. So, we must make preparations for what is anticipated, and hearing this announcement and hearing that you have been preparing since April is to be welcomed.
As the Minister said, last winter was particularly hard for our health services for all sorts of reasons and forecasts suggest that this winter will be even more difficult. But, during January of this year, for example, we saw a number of examples where elderly and vulnerable people were being sent home from hospital without the fundamental care provided so that they could live their daily lives. This, in turn, led to people returning to hospital. So, whilst the Minister's statement today mentions social care and the need to provide packages of social care, it's very concerning that there is no talk here about prioritising and preparing the workforce in the social sector for the hard winter that we're facing. So, I'm eager to hear about the Minister's plans for the social care workforce, if there is such a plan in place. Does the Minister believe that the workforce is in a position to respond to the demand?
As I mentioned last week, we are far too reliant on an army of volunteers when it comes to social care—people who don't have the training but have to undertake these very difficult duties of looking after their loved ones or neighbours, and they do so without remuneration. Today, we heard the Minister appealing to families to do more. Does the Minister feel that it's fair to expect people who don't have the expertise or the ability very often to do more—people who are, very often, old and vulnerable themselves, having to undertake those caring responsibilities without financial assistance? By failing to invest properly in the pay and conditions of carers, we have seen more people leaving the sector, placing more stress on unpaid carers. Does the Minister believe that our carers are paid sufficiently? If not, what plans does the Minister have to change that?
When it comes to respiratory problems, very often it's an issue that impacts women more than men. More women suffer from asthma, for example, than is the case with men, and have more asthma attacks than men. They are more likely to have to go to hospital, and almost twice as likely to die as a result of asthma than men. Indeed, as we heard in that debate back in May, one in five people in Wales live with a respiratory condition and more people die as a result of respiratory conditions in Wales than in any other nation in western Europe.
So, while the Government has introduced a quality statement on lung health, there is no implementation plan. So, when will the Minister publish an implementation plan? Will the Minister develop an improvement plan for respiratory disease to transform and improve the lives of people living with lung conditions?
Russell George mentioned vaccinations, so I won't repeat those issues, but the Minister referred to reducing the transmission of respiratory infections in health and care settings and the need for preventative measures. The Minister will undoubtedly remember the campaign by Nefyn GP, Dr Eilir Hughes, to ensure fresh air in all closed spaces. With an increasing number of COVID variants and cold and flu, we need to ensure that this message isn't forgotten. The Minister said that she will provide clear guidance. Will this guidance be shared to other public places as well, not only hospitals but schools and elsewhere, and will it also emphasise the need to ventilate buildings properly in order to help dilute, for want of a better word, the infectious aerosols? And will there be guidance on face masks and other preventative measures for places like care homes or places with particularly vulnerable individuals?
The Minister mentioned the need for beds, or the fact that here in Wales we have some more beds than other UK countries, but Wales is still way below other European averages. We are already at capacity in many of our community hospitals and, in those places, we are seeing an increased level of hospital-acquired infections, and COVID and flu are two of those hospital-acquired infections. So, what plans does the Minister have to open more community beds?
Finally, we can't keep looking at the short term, we need a long-term approach. We know that respiratory illnesses are linked to poor housing, with increased reporting of mould and damp, for instance. The climate change Minister mentioned this earlier in her statement. So, what discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change on tackling this and ensuring that each house is insulated properly and is in a liveable condition, so that we get to the root cause of many of these problems? Diolch.
Er bod y Llywodraeth wedi cyflwyno datganiad ansawdd ar iechyd yr ysgyfaint, nid oes cynllun gweithredu. Felly, pryd fydd y Gweinidog yn cyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu? A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatblygu cynllun gwella ar gyfer clefydau anadlol i drawsnewid a gwella bywydau pobl sy'n byw gyda chyflyrau'r ysgyfaint?
Soniodd Russell George am frechiadau, felly ni wnaf ailadrodd y materion hynny, ond cyfeiriodd y Gweinidog at leihau trosglwyddiad heintiau anadlol mewn lleoliadau iechyd a gofal a'r angen am fesurau ataliol. Heb os, bydd y Gweinidog yn cofio'r ymgyrch gan feddyg teulu o Nefyn, Dr Eilir Hughes, i sicrhau awyr iach ym mhob man caeedig. Gyda nifer cynyddol o amrywiolion COVID ac annwyd a ffliw, mae angen i ni sicrhau nad yw'r neges hon yn cael ei hanghofio. Dywedodd y Gweinidog y bydd yn rhoi arweiniad clir. A fydd y canllawiau hyn yn cael eu rhannu rhwng mannau cyhoeddus eraill hefyd, nid yn unig ysbytai ond ysgolion a mannau eraill, ac a fydd hefyd yn pwysleisio'r angen i awyru adeiladau'n iawn er mwyn helpu i wanhau, yn niffyg gair gwell, yr aerosolau heintus? Ac a fydd canllawiau ar fasgiau wyneb a mesurau ataliol eraill ar gyfer lleoedd fel cartrefi gofal neu leoedd gydag unigolion arbennig o agored i niwed?
Soniodd y Gweinidog am yr angen am welyau, neu'r ffaith bod gennym ni ychydig yn fwy o welyau yma yng Nghymru na gwledydd eraill y DU, ond mae Cymru yn dal i fod ymhell islaw cyfartaleddau Ewropeaidd eraill. Rydym eisoes wedi cyrraedd capasiti mewn llawer o'n hysbytai cymunedol ac, yn y mannau hynny, rydym yn gweld lefel uwch o heintiau a gafwyd yn yr ysbyty, ac mae COVID a'r ffliw yn ddau o'r heintiau hynny a gafwyd yn yr ysbyty. Felly, pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Gweinidog i agor mwy o welyau cymunedol?
Yn olaf, ni allwn barhau i edrych ar y tymor byr, mae angen dull tymor hir arnom. Gwyddom fod salwch anadlol yn gysylltiedig â thai gwael, gyda mwy o adrodd am lwydni a lleithder, er enghraifft. Soniodd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd am hyn yn gynharach yn ei datganiad. Felly, pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar fynd i'r afael â hyn a sicrhau bod pob tŷ wedi'i inswleiddio'n iawn a'i fod yn dŷ y gellir byw ynddo fel ein bod yn gallu ymdrin ag achos sylfaenol llawer o'r problemau hyn? Diolch.
Wel, diolch yn fawr, ac rydych chi'n eithaf reit ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni'n canolbwyntio'n arbennig ar y bobl sy'n dioddef o broblemau anadlu. Felly, dyna beth rydyn ni'n poeni amdani, yn arbennig yn y gaeaf.
Jest i fod yn glir, gwnaethon ni ddim anfon pobl allan o'r ysbyty oedd ddim yn barod i fynd o ran gofal clinigol y llynedd, ond mae'n bwysig—ac mae hwn yn rhywbeth dwi'n gobeithio y gwnes i'n glir yn fy agoriad i—ac mae angen cydnabod, os ydych chi'n aros yn yr ysbyty am gyfnod hir, rydych chi'n fwy tebygol o fod yn exposed i COVID a ffliw, a hefyd eich bod chi'n debygol o weld dirywiad o ran peidio â defnyddio'ch cyhyrau. Felly, mae'n fanteisiol i'r claf i adael cyn gynted ag y bod nhw'n barod i adael. A dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig bod teuluoedd yn clywed y neges yna hefyd. Felly, mae'n anodd iawn, a dwi'n deall bod hynny'n golygu pwysau ar ofalwyr. Ac rydyn ni'n deall, o ran gofal, er ein bod ni wedi cynyddu faint rydyn ni'n ei dalu i bobl o ran gofal, bod yna'n dal problemau o ran cael pobl i weithio yn y byd yna. Felly, dwi'n meddwl bod byddin eisoes yn gweithio'n ddi-dal i ofalu am eu hanwyliaid, ac mae'n bwysig hefyd ein bod ni'n eu cefnogi nhw, a dwi'n gwybod bod Julie Morgan yn gwneud hynny.
Roeddwn i'n trio gweithio mas beth yw 'y fogfa'.
Well, thank you very much, and you are entirely right that it is important that we focus particularly on those people who suffer with respiratory conditions. So, that's what we're concerned about, particularly in winter.
Just to be clear, we didn't send people from hospitals when they weren't ready in terms of clinical care last year, but it is important—and I hope this is something I made clear in my opening statement—and we do need to recognise that, if you remain in hospital for a long time, you are more likely to be exposed to COVID and flu, and you are also more likely to see a decline in terms of muscle use. So, it is beneficial to the patient to be discharged as soon as they are ready to be discharged. And I think it is important that families hear that message too. So, it is very difficult, and I understand that that means pressures on carers. And we understand that, in terms of care, even though we have increased how much we pay people for the care that they provide, there are still problems in attracting people to work in that field of endeavour. So, I do think that there is already an army working without remuneration to care for their loved ones, and it's important that we support them, and I know that Julie Morgan does that.
I was trying to work out what 'y fogfa' is.
Asthma.
Asthma.
Asthma. Ocê. Reit. Ie, rŷch chi'n eithaf reit.
Asthma. That's it. And, yes, you are entirely right.
It is important to recognise that, actually, it is one of those things—. I have made it clear, in terms of the women's health plan, that, actually, there are a whole load of conditions where women respond differently or they are more affected by them, and asthma was one of those. So, you are quite right, and I hope that that is something that health boards will take into account when they are developing their response to the quality statement on women.
Just in terms of ventilation, I think that hospitals will be aware of this, but you are quite right, that it may be something that we need to think about cross-government a bit more in terms of giving that guidance. It's very difficult, isn't it, when you are going into winter and you have energy bills, and what you are saying is, 'Open your windows.' It's a really difficult message, I think. So, this is something that we will have to discuss, perhaps cross-government, in terms of how you land that kind of complicated message.
It may be that there will be times during winter when we see a significant increase in terms of the virus of COVID, and then we will have to take further measures, and we will have to consider things like whether you have to introduce face masks, and whether you step in, in a much more intentional way. We have already, for example, increased the number of PPE gloves just to make sure that we have got the stockpile exactly where we need it to be, for example. We may expand the community sentinel surveillance survey just to make sure that we know what's going on where.
We will, of course, take advice from the JCVI in terms of revaccination if we were to see that things were to increase beyond what we are expecting. So, there are lots of things that we can step up even further if it came to a point where we were to see the kind of increases that we have seen in the past. With testing, for example, we could reintroduce testing pre-admission to hospitals and care homes. We are not suggesting that we do that now, but we have got lots of things in our back pocket ready to go if that were the case.
You are quite right in terms of cross-government activity. Lots of the things in relation to health, if you are going to fix them, you have got to fix them early on. It's about prevention. It's about cross-government working. And you will see through the introduction of the clean air Act, for example, that that's exactly one of the measures that is being put in place to make sure that there's a response to making sure that we can get into that prevention space. Health results are not just going to come from the health service.
Mae'n bwysig cydnabod hynny, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n un o'r pethau hynny—. Rwyf wedi ei gwneud yn glir, o ran cynllun iechyd menywod, bod llwyth o gyflyrau y mae menywod yn ymateb yn wahanol iddynt neu yr effeithir yn fwy arnyn nhw, ac roedd asthma yn un o'r rheini. Felly, rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, ac rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny'n rhywbeth y bydd byrddau iechyd yn ei ystyried wrth ddatblygu eu hymateb i'r datganiad ansawdd ar fenywod.
O ran awyru, rwy'n credu y bydd ysbytai'n ymwybodol o hyn, ond rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, y gallai fod yn rhywbeth y mae angen i ni feddwl mwy amdano ar draws y llywodraeth o ran rhoi'r canllawiau hynny. Mae'n anodd iawn, on'd ydy, pan ddaw'r gaeaf ac mae gennych chi filiau ynni, a'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ddweud yw, 'Agorwch eich ffenestri.' Mae'n neges anodd iawn, rwy'n credu. Felly, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd yn rhaid i ni ei drafod, yn drawslywodraethol efallai, o ran sut rydych chi'n cyfleu'r math hwnnw o neges gymhleth.
Efallai y bydd adegau yn ystod y gaeaf pan welwn ni gynnydd sylweddol o ran feirws COVID, ac yna bydd yn rhaid i ni gymryd camau pellach, a bydd yn rhaid i ni ystyried pethau megis a oes rhaid i chi gyflwyno masgiau wyneb, ac a ydych chi'n camu i mewn, mewn ffordd llawer mwy bwriadol. Rydym eisoes wedi cynyddu, er enghraifft, nifer y menig cyfarpar diogelu personol (PPE) er mwyn sicrhau bod gennym y cyflenwad yn union lle mae angen iddo fod, er enghraifft. Efallai y byddwn yn ehangu'r arolwg gwyliadwriaeth sentinel cymunedol dim ond i sicrhau ein bod yn gwybod beth sy'n digwydd ble.
Byddwn ni, wrth gwrs, yn cael cyngor gan y JCVI o ran ailfrechu pe baem yn gweld bod pethau'n cynyddu y tu hwnt i'r hyn rydyn ni'n ei ddisgwyl. Felly, mae llawer o bethau y gallwn ni eu cynyddu ymhellach fyth pe bai hi'n dod i'r pwynt pan welwn ni'r math o gynnydd a welsom yn y gorffennol. Gyda phrofi, er enghraifft, gallem ailgyflwyno profion cyn derbyn i ysbytai a chartrefi gofal. Nid ydym yn awgrymu ein bod yn gwneud hynny nawr, ond mae gennym lawer o bethau wrth gefn yn barod i'w defnyddio pe bai angen.
Rydych chi'n iawn o ran gweithgaredd trawslywodraethol. Mae llawer o'r pethau mewn cysylltiad ag iechyd, os ydych chi'n mynd i'w datrys, mae'n rhaid i chi eu datrys yn gynnar. Mae'n ymwneud ag atal. Mae'n ymwneud â gweithio ar draws y llywodraeth. A byddwch yn gweld trwy gyflwyno'r Ddeddf aer glân, er enghraifft, mai dyna'n union yw un o'r mesurau sy'n cael eu rhoi ar waith i sicrhau bod yna ymateb, i sicrhau y gallwn ni fod yn yr amgylchedd atal hwnnw. Nid yw'r canlyniadau iechyd yn mynd i ddod o'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn unig.
The WLGA statement last week said that overspending on social services in the last year alone was estimated to be about £93 million, with local authorities drawing approximately £193 million from their diminishing reserves. Furthermore, there is a severe recruitment and retention crisis. They also emphasised the need for investment in home and community support, which I hear today is the Welsh Government way, which is really pleasing to hear in your statement.
But, Minister, would you join with me and the WLGA in saying that public services as a whole need to be properly funded by the UK Government Treasury, and that it's not just about funding the NHS; it's about funding social healthcare and all of those public services, regarding preventative services, and that, working cross-government, we need to get that point across to them? Thank you.
Dywedodd datganiad CLlLC yr wythnos diwethaf yr amcangyfrifir bod gorwariant ar wasanaethau cymdeithasol yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn unig tua £93 miliwn, gydag awdurdodau lleol yn tynnu tua £193 miliwn o'u cronfeydd wrth gefn sy'n lleihau. Ar ben hynny, mae argyfwng recriwtio a chadw difrifol. Fe wnaethon nhw hefyd bwysleisio'r angen am fuddsoddiad mewn cymorth cartref a chymunedol, a glywaf heddiw yw ffordd Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae'n braf iawn ei glywed yn eich datganiad.
Ond, Gweinidog, a fyddech chi'n ymuno â mi a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i ddweud bod angen i wasanaethau cyhoeddus yn gyffredinol gael eu hariannu'n briodol gan Drysorlys Llywodraeth y DU, ac nad yw'n ymwneud ag ariannu'r GIG yn unig; mae'n ymwneud ag ariannu gofal iechyd cymdeithasol a'r holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus hynny, o ran gwasanaethau ataliol, a gan weithio'n drawslywodraethol, mae angen i ni gyfleu'r pwynt hwnnw iddynt? Diolch.
Thanks very much. You're quite right: local government is under significant pressure. Everybody is feeling the effects of inflation. So, the effects on the health service—. You think about a £10 billion budget, and you think about inflation rates of about 10 per cent. That's a big number. That's a really, really big number. Local government is really up against it as well. So, we are all struggling with the impact of inflation, and that explains a little bit of why there is such a significant overspend.
That is why, actually, us working together with local government is absolutely crucial, and making sure that we link up as far as possible. I'm absolutely clear that we have to start shifting resources from secondary care, from hospitals, into our community. If people are ill, they would rather be ill at home than in hospital. What we have to do is make sure that we can wrap the care around them in the community. So, that's what our Further Faster programme is meant to do, to really make sure that we have that community support in place. So, it's expanding the number of community nurses, for example, and expanding the number of hours that they cover, so that they're working weekends and they're working late at night—all of those things—because people aren't just ill from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If they're not there, if the cover's not there, they're straight to A&E and then the whole system gets much more difficult to cope with.
So, you're absolutely right: public services need to be properly funded. We know that, under the last Labour Government, we saw a massive increase in public service spending and what we've seen under the Conservative Government is a huge reduction, relative to what they're spending on the continent. And there's a reason why our public services are in the state that they're in today; it's because they have been starved of public money to the extent that, actually, we are now up against it. Ten years of austerity, we're paying the price for that; we're paying the price for COVID and now we're paying the price for inflation. All of those things have a huge impact and I'm afraid, as a result of that, the public are likely to have to pay a price as well.
Diolch yn fawr. Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle: mae llywodraeth leol o dan bwysau sylweddol. Mae pawb yn teimlo effeithiau chwyddiant. Felly, yr effeithiau ar y gwasanaeth iechyd—. Rydych chi'n meddwl am gyllideb o £10 biliwn, ac rydych chi'n meddwl am gyfraddau chwyddiant o tua 10 y cant. Mae hwnnw'n rhif mawr. Mae'n rhif mawr iawn, iawn. Mae llywodraeth leol hefyd yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn. Felly, rydym i gyd yn cael trafferthion oherwydd effaith chwyddiant, ac mae hynny'n esbonio i raddau pam fod gorwariant mor sylweddol.
Dyna pam, mewn gwirionedd, mae cydweithio â llywodraeth leol yn gwbl hanfodol, gan sicrhau ein bod yn cysylltu â'n gilydd cyn belled ag y bo modd. Rwy'n gwbl glir bod yn rhaid i ni ddechrau symud adnoddau o ofal eilaidd, o ysbytai, i'n cymuned. Os yw pobl yn sâl, byddai'n well ganddyn nhw fod yn sâl gartref nag yn yr ysbyty. Yr hyn sy'n rhaid i ni ei wneud yw sicrhau y gallwn eu cofleidio â gofal yn y gymuned. Felly, dyna beth mae ein rhaglen Ymhellach, yn Gyflymach i fod i'w wneud, i sicrhau bod gennym y gefnogaeth gymunedol honno ar waith. Felly, mae'n ehangu nifer y nyrsys cymunedol, er enghraifft, ac yn ehangu nifer yr oriau, fel eu bod nhw'n gweithio penwythnosau ac maen nhw'n gweithio'n hwyr yn y nos—yr holl bethau hynny—am nad yw pobl yn sâl o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener, 9am tan 5pm yn unig. Os nad ydyn nhw yno, os nad yw'r cymorth yno, maen nhw ar eu ffordd yn syth i'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys ac yna mae'r system gyfan yn ei chael hi'n anos ymdopi.
Felly, rydych chi'n hollol iawn: mae angen ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn iawn. Rydym yn gwybod, o dan y Llywodraeth Lafur ddiwethaf, ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd enfawr mewn gwariant ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus a'r hyn yr ydym wedi'i weld o dan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol yw gostyngiad enfawr, o'i gymharu â'r hyn y maent yn ei wario ar y cyfandir. Ac mae yna reswm pam y mae ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ni yn y fath gyflwr heddiw; mae hyn oherwydd eu bod wedi cael eu hamddifadu o arian cyhoeddus i'r graddau ein bod, mewn gwirionedd, bellach yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn. Deng mlynedd o gyni, rydyn ni'n talu'r pris am hynny; rydyn ni'n talu'r pris am COVID a nawr rydyn ni'n talu'r pris am chwyddiant. Mae'r holl bethau hynny'n cael effaith enfawr ac mae arnaf ofn, o ganlyniad i hynny, mae'r cyhoedd yn debygol o orfod talu pris hefyd.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. I think it's fair to say that our health and social care system lacks resilience. Every year, we have a statement talking about winter pressures and urging people to stay away from hospitals. The messaging changes, but the problem remains the same. Minister, what discussions have you had with health boards about accelerating the creation of diagnostic and surgical hubs? What discussions have you had with local authority housing associations regarding the expansion of extra-care housing to relieve the pressure on social care? And finally, Minister, this lunch time, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society were telling Members about the role that pharmacists can play in relieving the pressure on primary and secondary care. Minister, what discussions have you had with the sector on accelerating both e-prescribing and pharmacist prescribing? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud nad yw ein system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn gadarn. Bob blwyddyn, mae gennym ddatganiad yn siarad am bwysau'r gaeaf ac yn annog pobl i gadw draw o ysbytai. Mae'r negeseuon yn newid, ond mae'r broblem yn aros yr un fath. Gweinidog, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch chi gyda'r byrddau iechyd ynghylch cyflymu'r gwaith o greu canolfannau diagnostig a llawfeddygol? Pa drafodaethau ydych chi wedi'u cael gyda chymdeithasau tai awdurdodau lleol ynghylch ehangu tai gofal ychwanegol i leddfu'r pwysau ar ofal cymdeithasol? Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, amser cinio heddiw, roedd y Gymdeithas Fferyllol Frenhinol yn dweud wrth yr Aelodau am y rhan y gall fferyllwyr ei chwarae i leddfu'r pwysau ar ofal sylfaenol ac eilaidd. Gweinidog, pa drafodaethau ydych chi wedi'u cael gyda'r sector ar gyflymu e-bresgripsiynu a phresgripsiynu fferyllol? Diolch yn fawr.
Thanks very much. Well, you're quite right, we prepare for winter pressures, and you worked in the health service for a long, long time and you prepared for winter pressures—everybody gears up for winter pressures in the NHS. So, you're quite right, we are developing diagnostic and surgical hubs; one, I was very pleased to go and open in Neath during the spring-summer and it's good to see that that's up and running now, and you'll be pleased to hear that it's an orthopaedic hub, so that's exactly, I know, what you've been calling for. We are also, of course, ploughing on with developing the diagnostic hub in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, so all of that is moving ahead and I'm pleased to see that happening as well.
We have constant conversations with local government. In fact, we had a meeting with them yesterday, preparing for winter, making sure that everybody's lined up and making sure that, for example, the trusted assessor system is something that is respected on all sides. But the responsibility for a care-home assessment, for example, is with local government. If they don't do it, the people stay in hospital, so we have to work together to make sure that we unblock that particular blockage. So, those are the kinds of discussions that we have in those particular meetings.
On the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, you're quite right, I think we make significant use of community pharmacies in Wales. We were way ahead of the rest of the United Kingdom when it came to pharmacy use. Ninety-nine per cent of our pharmacies now offer the common ailments system; one in six of them are offering a prescribing service and 47,000 people took advantage of that offer, and 26,000 people had their throats tested in community pharmacy last year. So, people are starting to hear about this, and part of what we need to do this winter is to make sure that people know that those alternatives that mean that you don't go to the GP are available. So, community pharmacy, for me, is absolutely fundamental to the way that we address this coming winter.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, rydych chi'n hollol iawn, rydyn ni'n paratoi ar gyfer pwysau'r gaeaf, ac fe wnaethoch chi weithio yn y gwasanaeth iechyd am amser hir, hir ac fe wnaethoch chi baratoi ar gyfer pwysau'r gaeaf—mae pawb yn paratoi ar gyfer pwysau'r gaeaf yn y GIG. Felly, rydych chi'n hollol iawn, rydyn ni'n datblygu canolfannau diagnostig a llawfeddygol; un, roeddwn yn falch iawn o fynd i'w hagor yng Nghastell-nedd yn ystod y gwanwyn-haf ac mae'n dda gweld bod honno ar waith nawr, a byddwch yn falch o glywed ei bod yn ganolfan orthopedig, felly dyna'n union, fe wn, yr hyn rydych chi wedi bod yn galw amdano. Rydym hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn bwrw ymlaen â datblygu'r ganolfan ddiagnostig yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg, felly mae hynny i gyd yn symud ymlaen ac rwy'n falch o weld hynny'n digwydd hefyd.
Rydym yn cael sgyrsiau cyson gyda llywodraeth leol. Mewn gwirionedd, cawsom gyfarfod â nhw ddoe, paratoi ar gyfer y gaeaf, sicrhau bod pawb wedi trefnu a sicrhau, er enghraifft, bod y system aseswyr dibynadwy yn rhywbeth sy'n cael ei barchu ar bob ochr. Ond gan lywodraeth leol y mae'r cyfrifoldeb dros asesiad cartref gofal, er enghraifft. Os na wnânt hynny, mae'r bobl yn aros yn yr ysbyty, felly mae'n rhaid i ni weithio gyda'n gilydd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn dadflocio'r rhwystr penodol hwnnw. Felly, dyna'r math o drafodaethau a gawn yn y cyfarfodydd penodol hynny.
O ran y Gymdeithas Fferyllol Frenhinol, rydych chi'n hollol gywir, rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n gwneud defnydd sylweddol o fferyllfeydd cymunedol yng Nghymru. Roeddem ymhell ar y blaen i weddill y Deyrnas Unedig o ran defnyddio fferylliaeth. Mae 99% o'n fferyllfeydd bellach yn cynnig y system anhwylderau cyffredin; mae un o bob chwech ohonyn nhw'n cynnig gwasanaeth presgripsiynu a manteisiodd 47,000 o bobl ar y cynnig hwnnw, a chafodd 26,000 o bobl brawf ar eu gwddf mewn fferyllfa gymunedol y llynedd. Felly, mae pobl yn dechrau clywed am hyn, a rhan o'r hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud y gaeaf hwn yw sicrhau bod pobl yn gwybod bod y dewisiadau amgen hynny sy'n golygu nad oes rhaid mynd at y meddyg teulu, ar gael. Felly, mae fferylliaeth gymunedol, i mi, yn gwbl sylfaenol i'r ffordd yr ydym yn mynd i'r afael â'r gaeaf sydd i ddod.
I too spoke to a couple of community pharmacists who are doing excellent work, working in GP practices, but also going into people's homes to ensure that polypharmacy wasn't resulting from the stock of old medicines in the larder that then get mixed up with the new medicines. That's one of the reasons why people go into hospital, unfortunately, if you're elderly.
I just want to pay tribute to the pink army of social care workers who work alongside clinicians in the emergency department in the Heath to identify people, particularly elderly, as you said in your statement, who don't need to come into hospital by providing additional support at home. It's fantastic to hear that people can be invited to turn around, knowing that they're going to get the support for their loved one or for the individual at home, because they do need additional support, but they don't need to come into hospital. Also, the pink army is doing fantastic work going on the medical ward rounds at the Heath to ensure that all the right questions are being asked to plan the individual's discharge as soon as they're medically fit, not just benefiting the individuals, but also making beds more available more quickly for those who need hospital operations.
My question to you is around how these winter resilience plans in the community and the cluster planning groups are ensuring that vulnerable individuals are getting one hot meal that is freshly prepared a day. Because I had a really heartbreaking conversation with somebody at the Maelfa gardening club around somebody with Alzheimer's who was waxing lyrical about the joys of having mashed potato, but she'd had her gas cooker disconnected for her own safety, and there didn't seem to be anybody available locally to do such a simple task as just give her the odd bit of mashed potato and other hot things to go with it. It's those sorts of people who can end up in hospital because they're not eating properly.
Siaradais innau hefyd â chwpl o fferyllwyr cymunedol sy'n gwneud gwaith ardderchog, yn gweithio mewn meddygfeydd, ond hefyd yn mynd i gartrefi pobl i sicrhau nad oedd amlgyffuriaeth yn digwydd oherwydd bod stoc o hen feddyginiaethau yn y cwpwrdd yn cael eu cymysgu â'r meddyginiaethau newydd. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam mae pobl yn mynd i'r ysbyty, yn anffodus, os ydych chi'n oedrannus.
Rwyf am dalu teyrnged i'r fyddin binc o weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol sy'n gweithio ochr yn ochr â chlinigwyr yn yr adran achosion brys yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru i nodi pobl, yn enwedig pobl oedrannus, fel y dywedoch chi yn eich datganiad, nad oes angen iddynt ddod i'r ysbyty trwy ddarparu cymorth ychwanegol gartref. Mae'n wych clywed y gellir gwahodd pobl i droi rownd, gan wybod eu bod yn mynd i gael y gefnogaeth i'w hanwyliaid neu i'r unigolyn gartref, oherwydd mae angen cymorth ychwanegol arnynt, ond nid oes angen iddynt ddod i'r ysbyty. Hefyd, mae'r fyddin binc yn gwneud gwaith gwych yn mynd ar y wardiau meddygol yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru i sicrhau bod yr holl gwestiynau cywir yn cael eu gofyn er mwyn cynllunio i ryddhau'r unigolyn cyn gynted ag y bydd yn addas yn feddygol, mae hyn nid yn unig o fudd i'r unigolion, mae hefyd yn sicrhau bod gwelyau ar gael yn gyflymach i'r rhai sydd angen llawdriniaethau ysbyty.
Fy nghwestiwn i chi yw sut mae'r cynlluniau cadernid y gaeaf hwn yn y gymuned a'r grwpiau cynllunio clwstwr yn sicrhau bod unigolion agored i niwed yn cael un pryd poeth, yn cael ei baratoi'n ffres bob dydd. Oherwydd cefais sgwrs dorcalonnus iawn gyda rhywun yng nghlwb garddio'r Maelfa ynghylch rhywun ag Alzheimer's a oedd yn canu clodydd tatws stwnsh, ond datgysylltwyd ei phopty nwy er ei diogelwch ei hun, ac roedd yn ymddangos nad oedd unrhyw un ar gael yn lleol i gyflawni tasg mor syml â rhoi tamaid o datws stwnsh a phethau poeth eraill i fynd gyda'r tatws iddi. Y mathau hynny o bobl sy'n dueddol o fynd i'r ysbyty oherwydd nad ydyn nhw'n bwyta'n iawn.
Thanks very much. You're quite right, and I think drawing attention to the issue in relation to medicines is really important. We know there are significant financial pressures. We spend about 10 per cent of our budget on medicines, so we need to make sure that people are using the medicines they need, but, actually, they need to stop using the medicines and tell us that they've stopped using medicines that they don't need. All of that is quite complex, and they're difficult conversations to have, but I think there are opportunities for us to make sure that we do a lot more in the medicines space. There's a huge amount of work being done, not just in our community pharmacies, but a huge amount of work being done in our pharmacies in hospitals—a significant amount of work being done there.
You're quite right to pay tribute to the pink army, and it's great to hear that. I am particularly concerned with the elderly coming into hospital. It just breaks my heart to think of some of them, particularly those with dementia who get confused, so it was really interesting to have a conversation yesterday with people from emergency departments who came together to try and start talking about a quality statement for emergency departments—what does that look like, what does 'good' look like. I'm hoping that frailty will be something that they consider in the context of emergency departments.
What we do know is, for example, with ambulances now, with about 15 per cent of the people that they go to pick up, they listen and they treat them on the spot. Trying to avoid hospital admissions for our frail is actually ideal, and if we have to bring the hospital out to them, that's what we should be doing. So, I'm very keen on that. There are lots of plans in place to do far more of that.
You're quite right; what most health boards are doing now is planning the discharge from the moment they arrive, and that is crucial to keep the flow going. There's a lot of work that community groups can do. We do have the RIF funding, which is the regional partnership boards co-working with health boards and local authorities. But 15 per cent of that money goes to the third sector. So, I think there's an opportunity there to talk about some of the things that you're concerned with in terms of making sure people get fed.
Diolch yn fawr. Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, ac rwy'n credu bod tynnu sylw at y mater mewn cysylltiad â meddyginiaethau yn bwysig iawn. Gwyddom fod yna bwysau ariannol sylweddol. Rydym yn gwario tua 10% o'n cyllideb ar feddyginiaethau, felly mae angen i ni sicrhau bod pobl yn defnyddio'r meddyginiaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae angen iddynt roi'r gorau i ddefnyddio'r meddyginiaethau a dweud wrthym eu bod wedi rhoi'r gorau i ddefnyddio meddyginiaethau nad oes eu hangen arnynt. Mae hynny i gyd yn eithaf cymhleth, ac maen nhw'n sgyrsiau anodd eu cael, ond rwy'n credu bod yna gyfleoedd i ni wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gwneud llawer mwy ym maes meddyginiaethau. Mae llawer iawn o waith yn cael ei wneud, nid yn unig yn ein fferyllfeydd cymunedol, ond mae llawer iawn o waith yn cael ei wneud yn ein fferyllfeydd mewn ysbytai—cryn dipyn o waith yn cael ei wneud yno.
Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle i dalu teyrnged i'r fyddin binc, ac mae'n wych clywed hynny. Rwy'n poeni'n arbennig am yr henoed sy'n dod i'r ysbyty. Mae'n torri fy nghalon i feddwl am rai ohonyn nhw, yn enwedig y rhai sydd â dementia sy'n mynd yn ddryslyd, felly roedd hi'n ddiddorol iawn cael sgwrs ddoe gyda phobl o adrannau brys a ddaeth at ei gilydd i geisio dechrau siarad am ddatganiad ansawdd ar gyfer adrannau brys—sut olwg sydd ar hynny, sut olwg sydd ar 'da'. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd eiddilwch yn rhywbeth y byddant yn ei ystyried yng nghyd-destun adrannau brys.
Yr hyn rydyn ni'n ei wybod yw, er enghraifft, gydag ambiwlansys nawr, gyda thua 15 y cant o'r bobl maen nhw'n mynd i'w casglu, maen nhw'n gwrando ac maen nhw'n eu trin yn y fan a'r lle. Mae ceisio osgoi derbyniadau i'r ysbyty ar gyfer ein pobl agored i niwed yn ddelfrydol mewn gwirionedd, ac os oes rhaid i ni ddod â'r ysbyty allan atyn nhw, dyna ddylem ei wneud. Felly, rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld hynny. Mae llawer o gynlluniau ar waith i wneud llawer mwy o hynny.
Rydych chi'n iawn; yr hyn y mae'r rhan fwyaf o fyrddau iechyd yn ei wneud nawr yw cynllunio'r broses rhyddhau o'r eiliad y maent yn cyrraedd, ac mae hynny'n hanfodol i hwyluso'r llif. Mae llawer o waith y gall grwpiau cymunedol ei wneud. Mae gennym y gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol (RIF), sef y byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol sy'n cydweithio â byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau lleol. Ond mae 15% o'r arian hwnnw'n mynd i'r trydydd sector. Felly, rwy'n credu bod cyfle yno i siarad am rai o'r pethau rydych chi'n pryderu amdanyn nhw o ran sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu bwydo.
Ac yn olaf, Gareth Davies.
And finally, Gareth Davies.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Deputy Llywydd. Thank you very much for your statement this afternoon, Minister. Winter is upon us, so I'm pleased this statement has been made in good time and in anticipation of dealing with our winter pressures, or at least attempting to. I'd like to ask what local factors the Minister is taking into consideration in regard to winter preparation. I ask this as I have Glan Clwyd Hospital in my constituency, with acute pressures in A&E and other departments with staff facing burnout and patients struggling to be seen in time by medical professionals. What assurances can the Minister make to my constituents in Denbighshire that local health services are resilient enough across Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to deal with increased winter pressures and that it doesn't compound existing issues that are with us all year round?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma, Gweinidog. Mae'r gaeaf ar fin cyrraedd, felly rwy'n falch bod y datganiad hwn wedi'i wneud mewn da bryd wrth i ni ddisgwyl gorfod ymdrin â phwysau'r gaeaf, neu o leiaf ceisio gwneud hynny. Hoffwn ofyn pa ffactorau lleol y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu hystyried o ran paratoi ar gyfer y gaeaf. Gofynnaf hyn gan fod Ysbyty Glan Clwyd yn fy etholaeth i, ac mae pwysau difrifol yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys ac adrannau eraill gyda staff yn wynebu lludded corfforol a meddyliol eithriadol a chleifion yn aml yn methu cael eu gweld mewn pryd gan weithwyr meddygol proffesiynol. Pa sicrwydd y gall y Gweinidog ei roi i fy etholwyr yn sir Ddinbych bod gwasanaethau iechyd lleol yn ddigon cadarn ar draws Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i ymdrin â phwysau cynyddol y gaeaf ac nad yw'n cymhlethu'r problemau presennol sydd yma drwy gydol y flwyddyn?
Thanks very much. I hope winter's not upon us yet. I'm not putting my heating on for several more weeks, I can assure you. I'm sure lots of people in the country feel the same. But just in terms of local factors, you're quite right; I'm particularly concerned about Glan Clwyd, so I'm putting a lot of attention on that. I was pleased to go and visit the emergency department over the summer. The sense I got was that the atmosphere is changing there and that they're in a different place. They seemed far more buoyant than they had been in the past. That, for me, was the beginning of something far more positive. One of the things I'm concerned about is that actually there's not enough of an alternative to the emergency department in that area, so that is something I've asked the chair of the health board specifically to pick up on. We've got a new chief operating officer in Betsi now, and she's an expert in this area, so I know that she's on it. I'll be having a meeting, I think tomorrow, with the chair of Betsi, and this is one of the subjects I'll pick up on.
Diolch yn fawr. Gobeithio nad yw'r gaeaf wedi cyrraedd eto. Dydw i ddim am droi'r gwres ymlaen am ychydig wythnosau eto, gallaf eich sicrhau chi. Rwy'n siŵr bod llawer o bobl yn y wlad yn teimlo'r un fath. Ond o ran ffactorau lleol, rydych chi'n hollol iawn; rwy'n poeni'n arbennig am Glan Clwyd, felly rwy'n rhoi llawer o sylw i hynny. Roeddwn i'n falch o fynd i ymweld â'r adran frys dros yr haf. Yr ymdeimlad a gefais i oedd bod yr awyrgylch yn newid yno a'u bod nhw mewn sefyllfa wahanol. Roedden nhw'n ymddangos yn llawer mwy bywiog nag yr oedden nhw yn y gorffennol. I mi, roedd hynny'n ddechrau ar rywbeth llawer mwy cadarnhaol. Un o'r pethau rwy'n poeni amdano yw nad oes digon o ddewis amgen i'r adran frys yn yr ardal honno, felly mae hynny'n rhywbeth rwyf wedi gofyn i gadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd ei ystyried yn benodol. Mae gennym brif swyddog gweithredu newydd yn Betsi nawr, ac mae hi'n arbenigwr yn y maes hwn, felly rwy'n gwybod ei bod hi'n cadw llygad ar bethau. Mi fyddaf i'n cael cyfarfod, rwy'n credu fory, efo cadeirydd Betsi, a dyma un o'r pynciau y byddaf i'n ei godi.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Eitem 5 yw'r datganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg ar y siarter iaith a'r fframwaith cenedlaethol. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Jeremy Miles.
Item 5 is a statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language on the Welsh language charter national framework. I call on the Minister, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cyn cychwyn fy natganiad yn ffurfiol, a gaf i ddymuno Diwrnod Ieithoedd Ewropeaidd hapus i bawb?
Mae amrywiaeth ieithyddol y byd yn rhywbeth i ymfalchïo ynddo. Yma yng Nghymru, mae’r siarter iaith yn rhaglen sy’n grymuso plant a phobl ifanc i ymfalchïo yn y Gymraeg ac sy’n annog defnydd ohoni. Gyda’r siarter bellach yn cael ei ddefnyddio o fewn cannoedd o ysgolion a gan filoedd o ddisgyblion, mae’n destun balchder i mi gyhoeddi pennod newydd yn hanes y siarter iaith.
Yn ddiweddar, fel rhan o waith y siarter, roeddwn yn falch iawn o gefnogi prosiect oedd yn dathlu amrywiaeth ieithyddol a ieithoedd lleiafrifol Ewrop. O ganlyniad i’r gystadleuaeth ECCA—European Charter Classroom Activities—cafodd dysgwyr o Ysgol Garth Olwg y cyfle i gynrychioli Cymru mewn campws ieithoedd lleiafrifol i bobl ifanc ym Mallorca ym mis Mai. Ennill cystadleuaeth i fynd yno wnaeth y grŵp ac maen nhw newydd ddychwelyd o Frwsel hefyd. Yno, fe wnaethon nhw gyflwyno eu prosiect a’u canfyddiadau i’r Comisiwn Ewropeaidd a Chyngor Ewrop ar y cyd â phobl ifanc sy’n siarad ieithoedd lleiafrifol ar draws Ewrop—o Gatalwnia, rhanbarthau gogledd yr Eidal, a Hwngari. Yn anffodus, mae’r Deyrnas Unedig wedi gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ond dyw Cymru ddim wedi troi cefn ar Ewrop, nac ar weddill y byd. Yma ydyn ni, yn rhan gadarn o gymuned fywiog, amrywiol o ieithoedd, yn barod i gydweithio, yn barod i ddysgu, a does dim enghraifft gwell o hyn na’r siarter iaith a’r cyfleoedd y mae’r siarter yn ei gynnig i ddathlu’n hiaith trwy gydweithio a dysgu o’n gilydd.
Rwy’n barod i ddysgu gan ein rhanddeiliaid, arbenigwyr a dysgwyr yma yng Nghymru. Mewn byd sy’n cyson newid, lle mae datblygiadau technolegol a chymdeithasol yn siapio arferion ieithyddol ein plant a phobl ifanc, fuodd y Siarter Iaith erioed mor briodol a phwysig ag y mae heddiw. Dyma’r cyntaf, felly, mewn cyfres o ddatganiadau y byddaf i’n eu gwneud ar y thema o gynyddu defnydd plant a phobl ifanc o’r Gymraeg.
Mae’r siarter iaith yn offeryn pwysig ar gyfer cynyddu’r defnydd o’n hiaith ymysg ein plant a phobl ifanc. Rwy’n diolch i Gyngor Gwynedd am sefydlu’r rhaglen yn y lle cyntaf, ac yna ein caniatáu i weithio gyda phartneriaid ar draws y wlad er mwyn lledaenu’r siarter ledled Cymru ers 2016. Ers hyn, mae ysgolion, dysgwyr a’u cymunedau wedi cofleidio’r siarter a’i hegwyddorion, gydag ysgolion o bob categori a chyfrwng ieithyddol yn cymryd rhan ac yn annog eu dysgwyr i ddefnyddio’u Cymraeg ac ymfalchïo ynddi, ble bynnag maen nhw arni ar eu taith iaith.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi llwyr ymrwymo i ddyfodol ein hiaith. Yn 'Cymraeg 2050', rydym ni'n nodi'n huchelgais ar gyfer ein hiaith ac mae gyda ni gynlluniau mawr i roi'r uchelgais honno ar waith. Rwy'n barod i gyflwyno newidiadau i'r ffordd rŷn ni'n meddwl am y Gymraeg a rôl addysg oddi fewn i hynny. Ym mis Mawrth, cyhoeddais i ymgynghoriad ar Bapur Gwyn ar gyfer Bil addysg Gymraeg, ar y cyd â Phlaid Cymru trwy ein cytundeb cydweithio. Bydd y Bil yn cymryd camau i alluogi holl ddisgyblion Cymru i ddod yn siaradwyr Cymraeg hyderus drwy'r system addysg statudol. Cyfiawnder cymdeithasol sydd wrth wraidd fy ngweledigaeth ar gyfer y Gymraeg o fewn y system addysg. Rwyf am i genedlaethau'r dyfodol gael yr un cyfleoedd ag yr wyf i wedi eu cael—yr un cyfleoedd diwylliannol neu economaidd. Fe fydd y Bil, o'i weithredu, yn gosod y seiliau ar gyfer gwireddu rhaglen newid uchelgeisiol, ac mae gan y siarter iaith rôl allweddol i gefnogi hyn.
Un rhan o'r jig-so o gyrraedd amcanion 'Cymraeg 2050' yw'r Bil. Mae creu siaradwyr newydd yn hollbwysig, yn amlwg, ac mae defnyddio'n hiaith a sicrhau ein bod yn cynllunio'n bwrpasol ar gyfer annog hynny yn hollbwysig hefyd. Rwy'n dweud yn aml fod y Gymraeg yn perthyn i ni i gyd, pob un ohonom ni, beth bynnag yw ein gallu ieithyddol. Rwyf hefyd wedi dweud bod y Gymraeg yn fwy na dim ond rhywbeth rwy'n ei siarad. Mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n ei deimlo, ac rwyf am i fwy ohonon ni brofi'r teimlad hwnnw, yn genedlaethau'r dyfodol, neu ein pobl ifanc presennol, o ba bynnag gefndir ieithyddol rydym yn dod ohono. Dyma pam rwy'n cyhoeddi'r fframwaith newydd ar gyfer y siarter iaith heddiw.
Rŷm ni wedi gweithio'n agos gyda phartneriaid i gynllunio a chreu'r fframwaith cenedlaethol newydd. Er fy mod yn cyhoeddi'r fframwaith heddiw, rŷn ni'n parhau i fod yn awyddus i glywed gan fwy o bobl, a mwy o leisiau ein plant a phobl ifanc. Mae cynnwys pobl ifanc yn ein gwaith cynllunio ieithyddol yn hanfodol. Felly, bydd fy swyddogion yn trefnu cyfres o sesiynau ymgysylltu gyda phobl ifanc yn y dyfodol agos.
Rwy'n ffyddiog bod y fframwaith hwn yn cynnig sail gref ar gyfer esblygu'r siarter iaith, er mwyn ymateb i'r heriau a'r cyfleoedd sydd yn ein hwynebu. Yn ystod y flwyddyn byddwn ni'n parhau i weithio'n agos gyda phartneriaid, ymgynghori â phlant a phobl ifanc, a chreu ymgyrch gyfathrebu newydd i godi proffil y siarter. Bydd hyn oll yn sicrhau bod y siarter yn cyrraedd ei llawn botensial.
Mae fy ngweledigaeth i yn glir, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf am i'n disgyblion ddod yn ddinasyddion sy'n medru'r Gymraeg. Rwyf am iddyn nhw fod yn siaradwyr Cymraeg annibynnol; yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg o'u gwirfodd eu hunain ac yn mwynhau gwneud hynny; yn siarad Cymraeg gyda'i gilydd, p'un a ydyn nhw'n dod o gartrefi Cymraeg ai peidio; ac yn meddu ar agwedd bositif tuag at y Gymraeg, ac yn hyderus wrth ei defnyddio.
Mae cyhoeddi'r fframwaith yn gam tuag at gyflawni hynny. Rwy'n ffyddiog, drwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, y bydd y fframwaith newydd hwn yn grymuso arweinwyr a staff ysgolion i roi cynlluniau clir ar waith i gynyddu defnydd o'r Gymraeg ymhlith plant a phobl ifanc a'u hannog i ymfalchïo yn eu hiaith a'u diwylliant.
Bydd y siarter yn parhau i newid ac i esblygu yn barhaus, ond bydd yr egwyddorion yr un fath. Rwyf felly yn edrych ymlaen at barhau i weithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc, rhanddeiliaid ac ysgolion, i siapio a gweithredu'r siarter iaith, er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn parhau i fod yn arf priodol a phwerus yn y dyfodol.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Before formally starting my statement, may I wish everyone a happy European Day of Languages?
The linguistic diversity of the world is something to be proud of. Here in Wales, the siarter iaith, the Welsh language charter, is a programme that empowers children and young people to be proud of the Welsh language and encourages its use. With the siarter now in use within hundreds of schools and by thousands of pupils, I am proud to announce a new chapter in the history of the siarter iaith.
Recently, as part of the siarter’s work, I was delighted to support a project celebrating the linguistic diversity and minority languages of Europe. As a result of the ECCA—European Charter Classroom Activities—competition, learners from Ysgol Garth Olwg had the opportunity to represent Wales at a minority languages campus for young people in Mallorca in May. The small group won a competition to attend the campus, and they have just returned from Brussels as well, where they presented their project and findings to the European Commission and the Council of Europe in collaboration with young minority language speakers across Europe—from Catalunya, northern Italy and Hungarian speaking regions. Unfortunately, the United Kingdom has left the European Union, but Wales hasn't turned its back on Europe, nor the rest of the world. Here we are, firmly part of a vibrant, diverse community of languages, ready to collaborate, willing to learn and work together, and there is no better example of this than the siarter iaith and the opportunities the siarter offers to celebrate our language by working together and learning from each other.
I'm ready to learn with and from our stakeholders, experts and learners here in Wales. In a world that is constantly changing, where technological and social developments are shaping the linguistic practices of our children and young people, the siarter iaith has never been as appropriate and important as it is today. This is the first therefore in a series of statements I will be making on the theme of increasing children and young people's use of the Welsh language.
The siarter iaith is an important tool for increasing the use of our language among our children and young people. I thank Cyngor Gwynedd for setting up the programme in the first place, and then allowing us to work with partners across the country to spread the siarter across Wales from 2016 onwards. Since this time, schools, learners and their communities have embraced the siarter and its principles, with schools of all categories and linguistic mediums getting involved and encouraging their learners to use and be proud of their Cymraeg wherever they are on their language journey.
Deputy Llywydd, this Government is fully committed to the future of our language. In 'Cymraeg 2050', we set out our ambition for our language and we have major plans to put the ambition into action. I'm ready to introduce changes to the way we think about Welsh and the role of education within that. In March, I published a consultation on a White Paper for a Welsh language education Bill, through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru. The Bill will take steps to enable all pupils in Wales to become confident Welsh speakers through the statutory education system. Social justice is at the heart of my vision for Welsh within the education system. I want future generations to have the same opportunities that I have had—culturally or economically. The Bill, if implemented, will lay the foundations for the realisation of an ambitious change programme, and the siarter iaith has a key role in supporting this.
The Bill is but one part of the puzzle of reaching 'Cymraeg 2050' objectives. Creating new speakers is vital, clearly, and using our language and ensuring that we purposefully plan for encouraging that is also critical. I often say that the Welsh language belongs to us all, regardless of our language ability. I've also said that the Welsh language is more than just something I speak. It's something I feel, and I want more of us to experience that feeling, in future generations, or our current young people, from whatever linguistic background. This is why I am publishing the new framework for the siarter iaith today.
We've worked closely with partners to design and create the new national framework. Although I'm publishing the framework today, we are still eager to hear from more people, and hear more of our children's and young people's voices. Involving young people in our language planning is vital. Therefore, my officers will be organising a series of youth engagement sessions very soon.
I am confident that this framework provides a strong basis for evolving the siarter iaith to meet the challenges and opportunities that we face. During the year, we will continue to work closely with partners, to consult with children and young people, and to create a new communication campaign to raise the profile of the siarter. All of this will ensure that the siarter reaches its full potential.
My vision is clear, Deputy Llywydd. I want our pupils to become Welsh-speaking citizens. I want them to become independent Welsh speakers; I want them to use Welsh of their own volition and to enjoy doing so; I want them to choose to speak Welsh to each other, whether they come from Welsh-speaking homes or not; and I want them to develop a positive attitude towards the Welsh language, and to be confident in its use.
The publication of the framework is a step towards achieving this. I am confident that, by working together, this new framework will empower school leaders and staff to put in place clear plans to increase the use of the Welsh language amongst children and young people and to encourage them to be proud of their language and culture.
The siarter will continue to change and evolve, but the principles will remain the same. I therefore look forward to continuing to work with children and young people, stakeholders and schools, to shape and implement the siarter iaith, to ensure it remains an appropriate and powerful tool in the future.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog, am y datganiad heddiw, a Diwrnod Ieithoedd Ewropeaidd hapus ichi hefyd. Ar ran fy mhlaid i, rwyf am ei gwneud yn glir unwaith eto ein bod yn cefnogi 'Cymraeg 2050', ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i helpu i gyrraedd y nod hwn.
Mae gan fframwaith y siarter iaith, a gyflwynwyd yn gynharach eleni ac sydd bellach ym mhob ysgol ledled Cymru, rôl bwysig yn y gwaith o wireddu nodau'r Llywodraeth. Mae'r Gweinidog yn llygad ei le pan ddywed nad yw'r fframwaith hwn yn ymwneud ag addysgu'r Gymraeg yn unig; mae'n ymwneud â magu hyder yn ei defnydd a datblygu agweddau cadarnhaol tuag at yr iaith.
Un o'r heriau sydd ynghlwm wrth gyrraedd targed 2050 yw sicrhau bod disgyblion yn mwynhau defnyddio'r Gymraeg, ond bod yna hefyd amgylchedd y tu hwnt i'r ystafell ddosbarth sy'n annog ac yn cefnogi ei defnydd. Rwy'n awyddus i ddeall y mesurau sy'n bodoli i annog rhieni nad ydynt yn siarad Cymraeg i ddysgu'r iaith. Yn ogystal, a oes gwaith gydag elusennau a sefydliadau i ddatblygu sgiliau iaith y tu allan i'r ystafell ddosbarth, a sut mae daearyddiaeth a thafodiaith Cymru yn cael eu hystyried?
O ystyried y pwysau ariannol ar gyllidebau ysgolion a'r ffaith bod ysgolion yn gyfrifol am lwyddiant y fframwaith hwn, hoffwn ofyn y cwestiynau hyn: a oes archwiliadau wedi eu cynnal i wybod pa ganran o staff yr ystafell ddosbarth sydd â digon o Gymraeg i'w defnyddio yn yr ystafell ddosbarth; mewn achosion lle mae bylchau mewn sgiliau yn cael eu nodi, pa gymorth sydd ar gael i gynorthwyo ysgolion i fynd i'r afael â'r bylchau hyn; a sut ydyn ni'n sicrhau bod swyddi addysgu yng Nghymru yn apelio at ymgeiswyr o'r tu allan i Gymru nad oes ganddynt sgiliau iaith o bosibl, ond sydd â phrofiadau gwerthfawr?
O ystyried y fframwaith a gyflwynwyd yn ddiweddar, a oes unrhyw faterion neu heriau cychwynnol wedi codi, a pha gamau sydd wedi'u cymryd i fynd i'r afael â nhw? At hynny, pa gymorth sydd ar gael i ysgolion sydd wedi cael problemau wrth weithredu'r fframwaith, a sut y bydd ei lwyddiant yn cael ei sicrhau dros amser?
Weinidog, mae'n ymddangos bod y siarter iaith yn targedu ysgolion cynradd yn bennaf, a bod dulliau mwy anffurfiol ar waith mewn ysgolion uwchradd. Mae hyn yn cyfateb i bryderon a godwyd gan grwpiau fel Wish I Spoke Welsh, sydd wedi nodi gostyngiad o 11 y cant yn nifer y disgyblion sy'n cadw eu sgiliau iaith pan fyddant yn trosglwyddo o addysg gynradd i addysg uwchradd. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r dirywiad hwn yn ystod y cyfnod pontio hwn?
I gloi, hoffwn ddatgan eto ein cefnogaeth i'r fenter hon. Ysgogir ein hymrwymiad gan yr awydd i weld trawsnewidiad cadarnhaol yn y defnydd o'n hiaith ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol a gweld y Gymraeg yn ffynnu ymhob agwedd ar ein cymdeithas. Mae'r cwestiynau rwyf wedi'u gofyn yn adlewyrchu ein penderfyniad cryf i sicrhau mai rhywbeth dros dro yw'r drop yn y defnydd o'r iaith a nodwyd yn y cyfrifiad diwethaf, a bod Cymraeg 2050 yn parhau i fod yn gyraeddadwy. Diolch.
Thank you very much, Minister, for today's statement, and a very happy European Day of Languages to you too. On my party's behalf, I wish to make it clear once again that we support 'Cymraeg 2050' and we are committed to helping to achieve its aims.
The language charter framework, introduced earlier this year and now rolled out in every school across Wales, has an important role to play in terms of achieving the Government's objectives. The Minister is entirely right when he says that this framework isn't solely related to the teaching of Welsh; it is, rather, also related to engendering confidence in the use of the language, and fostering positive attitudes towards it.
One of the challenges connected to reaching the 2050 target is ensuring that pupils enjoy using Welsh, but that there is also an environment outside the classroom that encourages and supports the language's use. And I'm eager to understand the measures in place to encourage parents who don't speak Welsh to learn the language. Furthermore, is there a role for charities and other organisations to develop language skills outwith the classroom, and how are Wales's geography and dialects being taken into account?
Bearing in mind the financial pressures on school budgets and the fact that schools are responsible for the success of this framework, I wish to ask the following questions: have surveys been undertaken to discover what percentage of classroom staff have sufficient Welsh language skills for use in the classroom; in cases where skills gaps are identified, what support is available to assist schools to tackle these gaps; and how do we ensure that teaching jobs in Wales appeal to applicants outwith Wales who don't currently have language skills, perhaps, but who have valuable experience to offer?
And in terms of the recently introduced framework, have any initial issues or challenges arisen, and what steps have been taken to address them? Furthermore, what support is available to schools that have experienced difficulties in implementing the framework, and how will its success be ensured over time?
Minister, it appears that the language charter is primarily targeting primary schools, and that more informal methods are being applied in secondary schools. This echoes concerns expressed by groups, such as the Wish I Spoke Welsh, which has noted an 11 per cent decrease in the number of students who maintain their language skills when they transition from primary to secondary education. So, what steps are the Welsh Government taking to tackle this decline during the transition phase?
To conclude, I'd like to reiterate our support for this initiative. Our commitment is inspired by a desire to see positive transformation in the use of our language for future generations, so that we see the Welsh language flourishing in all aspects of our society. And the questions I've asked reflect our clear determination to ensure that the recent decline in the use of the language identified in the last census is but a temporary blip, and that Cymraeg 2050 continues to be deliverable. Thank you.
Diolch i Sam Kurtz am y sylwadau cefnogol hynny a'r cwestiynau adeiladol hynny mae e wedi eu gofyn heddiw. Mae'n iawn i ddweud bod angen creu cyfleoedd y tu allan i'r ystafell ddosbarth hefyd i ysgogi pobl i barhau i ddefnyddio eu Cymraeg y tu allan i'r dosbarth. Dwi'n gwybod bod criwiau Cymraeg yn gwneud gwaith gwych mewn ysgolion ledled Cymru, yn cynnwys yn ei etholaeth, e mae'n siŵr, i wneud yn siŵr bod eu cyd-ddisgyblion nhw yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg y tu allan i'r dosbarth hefyd, ac rwyf am ddiolch iddyn nhw am eu gwaith wrth wneud hynny.
Mi wnaeth yr Aelod ofyn cwestiynau ynglŷn â’r hyn rŷn ni wedi'i ddysgu o'r fframwaith eisoes, a beth rŷn ni wedi cymryd i mewn i ystyriaeth o ran adborth ynglŷn â llwyddiannau a mannau i weithio ymhellach. Mae adolygiad gwerthuso wedi digwydd o'r siarter iaith er mwyn asesu sut mae'r siarter iaith mor belled wedi bod yn gweithio, ynghyd a rhaglenni eraill sydd yn gysylltiedig â’r siarter. Ac mae rhanddeiliaid a phartneriaid ar draws y system addysg wedi bod yn gweithio ar hynny, yn cynnwys sicrhau bod llais y dysgwr yn rhan bwysig o'r gwaith, ac mae grwpiau ffocws wedi digwydd gyda dysgwyr mewn pum ysgol, rwy'n credu, i glywed oddi wrthyn nhw beth maen nhw'n credu sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiant a beth sydd angen gwaith pellach. Ac ynghyd â hynny, mae holiaduron siarter iaith wedi bod yn cael eu defnyddio ers 2021 er mwyn clywed yn uniongyrchol oddi wrth ddysgwyr beth yw eu barn nhw. Mae'r rheini ar Hwb ac ar gael i ysgolion yn gyffredinol, er mwyn ein bod ni'n gallu cadw’r broses o esblygu y siarter yn rhywbeth sydd yn fyw ac yn broses greadigol.
Mi wnaeth yr Aelod ofyn cwestiynau pwysig ynglŷn â sgiliau athrawon a chynorthwywr yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Mae gwaith o asesu sgiliau wedi bod yn digwydd ers cyfnod. Mae'r darlun yn dod yn eglurach dros amser. Fel y bydd e’n gwybod, rŷn ni wedi buddsoddi’n sylweddol iawn fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio ac yn ehangach na hynny hefyd mewn darparu gwersi Cymraeg. Mae gwersi Cymraeg ar gael—cwrs blwyddyn am ryw £90, ond mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn cael disgownt sylweddol iawn ar hynny. Ac os ydych chi’n prynu yr amser hyn o'r flwyddyn, gallwch chi gael disgownt o dua 50 y cant. Felly, mae hynny ar gael yn sylweddol yn llai drud na'r arfer, felly mae hynny'n beth calonogol. Ond hefyd mae gwersi am ddim i'r gweithlu addysg yn gyffredinol. Felly, os oes unrhyw berson yn gweithio mewn ysgol ac yn hoffi cael y cyfle yn eu hamser nhw eu hunain i esblygu eu sgiliau ac i gynyddu eu sgiliau, mae cyfle iddyn nhw wneud hynny nawr am ddim. Ac ynghyd â hynny, wrth gwrs, mae'r gwaith cynllun sabothol a chynlluniau eraill sydd yn bwrpasol ar gyfer rhoi cefnogaeth intensive i athrawon. Mae hyn i gyd nawr ar gael ar y wefan mae'r ganolfan ddysgu wedi'i lansio, ble gallwch chi fynd a sicrhau eich bod chi'n deall yr arlwy sydd ar gael.
Gwnaeth yr Aelod bwynt pwysig mai pwyslais y siarter iaith yw ysgolion cynradd. Bydd e'n gwybod efallai hefyd am y prosiect cefnogi arferion ieithyddol, PCAI, sydd wedi bod yn gweithio dros y blynyddoedd. Mae hwnnw'n sicr yn gynllun sydd wedi esblygu'n sylweddol. Mae unrhyw weithgarwch sydd yn parhau i ddigwydd o fewn y fframwaith hwnnw nawr yn cael ei alw yn siarter iaith uwchradd, fel bod hynny'n cyd-fynd gydag esblygiad y siarter iaith yn genedlaethol.
I thank Sam Kurtz for those supportive remarks and the constructive questions that he's asked today. He's right to say that we need to provide opportunities outside the classroom to encourage people to continue to use the Welsh language outside the school walls. And I know that criwiau Cymraeg are doing excellent work in schools across Wales, and in his constituency too, I'm sure, to ensure that their fellow pupils use the Welsh language outside the classroom, and I want to thank them for their work in doing that.
The Member asked some questions on what we've learned from the framework, and what we took into account in terms of feedback on the successes and the areas that require more work. Now, an evaluation has taken place of the siarter iaith to assess how the siarter iaith has been working, along with other programmes related to it. And stakeholders and partners across the education system have been working on that, including ensuring that the learner voice is an important part of this. There have been focus groups held with learners in five schools, I believe, to hear from them what they felt was successful and where further work was needed. And in addition to that, the siarter iaith surveys have been used since 2021 to hear directly from learners what their views are. Those are available on Hwb and to schools more generally, so that we can keep that evolution of the siarter going and ensure that it's a creative process.
The Member asked important questions on teacher skills and classroom assistant skills. Now, the work of assessing skills has been going on for some time now, and the picture is emerging over time. As he will know, we've invested very significantly as part of the co-operation agreement and more broadly than that in providing Welsh lessons. Those lessons are available for a 12-month course for £90, but most people get a very substantial discount on that, and if you buy at this time of the year, you can get a discount of around 50 per cent. So, that's significantly less expensive than it has been in the past, so that's encouraging. But also there are free lessons for the education workforce more generally. So, if there's anyone who works in a school and would like to have that opportunity in their own time to develop their skills and enhance their skills, then there's an opportunity for them to do that free of charge. And in addition to that, there's the sabbatical programme and other programmes that are purpose-built to provide intensive support to teachers. These are all now available on a website launched by the National Centre for Learning Welsh, so you can understand exactly what is available.
The Member made an important point: the emphasis of the siarter iaith is on primary schools. He will know of the PCAI project, which has been working over a period of years. That's certainly a plan that has evolved substantially. Any activity that continues to happen within that framework is called the siarter iaith uwchradd—the secondary language charter. So, that goes hand in hand with the development of the charter nationally.
Diolch, Weinidog, am y datganiad. Wrth gwrs, mi wnaf innau hefyd ddymuno Diwrnod Ieithoedd Ewropeaidd hapus i bawb. Mae'n wych ein bod ni'n cael cyfle i ddathlu'r Gymraeg fel iaith, ond ein bod ni'n dathlu hefyd yr holl waith gwych sy'n digwydd ledled Cymru ynghlwm efo'r siarter iaith. Efallai y dylwn i ddatgan budd o ran fy mod i'n parhau yn lywodraethwraig mewn ysgol gynradd, a fi ydy'r llywodraethwraig sydd yn gorfod helpu'r criw Cymraeg efo'r siarter iaith. Dwi wrth fy modd; mae'n un o fy hoff bethau i i fod yn ei wneud, yn mynd mewn i'r ysgol, oherwydd mae'r ffaith bod y plant yn perchnogi hyn fel proses ac yn gyffrous amdano fo mor, mor bwysig, yn lle bod o'n rhywbeth, 'Mi wnawn ni hyn', a bod athrawon yn dweud—mae'r ffaith ei fod o'n unigryw ymhob ysgol.
Un o'r manteision mawr dwi'n bersonol wedi'i weld ydy'r cydweithio rhwng ysgolion cyfrwng Saesneg ac ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg er mwyn dod â'r rhwystrau yna i lawr rhwng ysgolion. Yn amlwg, dŷn ni'n cydweithio o ran y cytundeb cydweithio rŵan, o ran edrych ar ddyfodol addysg Gymraeg, ond dwi'n meddwl beth mae o wedi dangos ydy'r pwysigrwydd o'r cysylltu rhwng ysgolion, sydd efallai wedi bod yn cystadlu am ddisgyblion yn y gorffennol o ran niferoedd, oherwydd mae honna'n her i nifer o ysgolion mewn nifer o ardaloedd, ond i weld y cydweithio yna oherwydd yr ymrwymiad o ran cyrraedd y targed o 1 filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg.
Dwi hefyd yn falch eich bod chi wedi pwysleisio bod hyn yn deillio o rannu arfer da a pharhau efo hynny. Y cwestiwn sydd gen i ydy: mae o'n wych pan fo cynlluniau'n newydd, onid ydy, a'r berchnogaeth, ond, wrth gwrs, un o'r pethau sy'n digwydd yn hanes pob ysgol ydy bod pobl yn symud ymlaen—mae'r disgyblion yn tyfu'n hŷn ac ati ac maen nhw'n gweithio i lefelau felly. A dŷn ni'n gweld, o ran y siarter iaith, un o'r pethau ydy beth sy'n digwydd ar ôl i chi gyrraedd yr aur a pharhau i weithio, oherwydd mae'r heriau'n wahanol efo pob blwyddyn ysgol hefyd, onid ydy, o ran efallai fod gennych chi fwy mewn un flwyddyn sydd yn dod o gefndir di-Gymraeg i ysgol, neu brofiadau gwahanol. Digwydd bod, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf ar y funud mae yna nifer o ddigwyddiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg oherwydd bod yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn dod—wedyn mae'r cyfleoedd allgyrsiol yna'n bodoli sydd ddim wedi bod yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Yr her wedyn ydy sut ydych chi'n parhau i gynnig hynny. Felly, un peth roeddwn i eisiau holi ydy: sut ydych chi'n mynd i fod yn sicrhau bod hwn yn rhan barhaol, rŵan, o ran proses ysgol, ac yn enwedig o ran hyfforddi athrawon, bod hwn yn cael—? Ydy o'n rhan o'r rhaglen hyfforddi athrawon, fel bod pawb yn deall manteision, a bod yn rhan ohono fo?
Hefyd, jest i bigo fyny efo un o bwyntiau Sam Kurtz jest o ran yr heriau cyllidebol, felly: mi fyddai'n dda deall, ac mae'n ddrwg gen i, o ran y gwerthuso—. Dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n rhywbeth inni ei ddeall—rhai o'r rhwystrau sydd efallai'n atal, ac os oes yna amrywiaethau o ran ardaloedd, felly. Mae'r pwysigrwydd o ran yr arfer da yn sôn am y cyfleoedd allgyrsiol ar ôl ysgol ac ati, a dŷn ni'n gwybod mai un o'r heriau ydy os ydych chi'n gorfod teithio i'r ysgol ac yn dibynnu ar fynd ar fws, efallai eich bod chi ddim yn gallu manteisio ar hynny. Felly, sut ydych chi'n gweithio i sicrhau bod pob plentyn, lle bynnag maen nhw yng Nghymru, yn gallu cael y cyfleoedd allgyrsiol sydd mor bwysig i wireddu'r siarter iaith hefyd, fel bod o'n parhau i fynd o nerth i nerth?
Thank you, Minister, for the statement. Of course, I too wish you a very happy European Languages Day. It's excellent that we do have the opportunity to celebrate the Welsh language, but that we also celebrate all of the excellent work that is taking place across Wales related to the siarter iaith. Perhaps I should declare an interest because I continue to be a governor in a primary school, and I'm the governor who has to help the criw Cymraeg with the language charter. I'm delighted; it's one of my favourite things to do, to go into the school, because the fact that the children take ownership of this as a process and are excited about it is so important, rather than something that they have to do, that the teacher tells them to do—the fact that it's unique in every school.
One of the major advantages that I've seen is the collaboration between English-medium schools and Welsh-medium schools to eradicate those barriers between schools. Clearly, we collaborate in terms of the co-operation agreement, in terms of looking to the future of Welsh language education, but what is demonstrated, I think, is that importance of those links between schools that have, perhaps, been competing for pupils in the past in terms of student numbers, because that's a challenge for many schools in a number of areas, and to see that collaboration because of the commitment in terms of reaching the target of 1 million Welsh speakers.
I'm also very pleased that you've emphasised that this emanates from the sharing of good practice, and continuing to do that. The question I have: it's excellent when plans are new, and that ownership is taken of them, but one of those things that happens in the story of every school is that people move on—the pupils get older and so on, and they work up through the levels. And we see, in terms of the language charter, one of the things is what happens after you've reached that gold status and you continue to work, because the challenges are different in every school year in terms of you might have more in one year that come from a non-Welsh-speaking background, or their experiences might be different. In Rhondda Cynon Taf at the moment, there are many Welsh-medium events because the National Eisteddfod is coming. So, extra-curricular opportunities exist that haven't existed in the past, and the challenge then is how you continue to provide that. So, one of the questions I wanted to ask you is: how will you ensure that this is an ongoing part of the schools process, and in terms of teacher training, is it part of the teacher training programme so that everyone understands the benefits of being part of this?
I just wanted to pick up one of the points that Sam Kurtz made in terms of the financial challenges. It would be good to understand, in terms of the evaluation—. I think that's something that we do need to understand—some of the barriers, perhaps, that prevent this work, and is there variance in terms of different areas. The importance in terms of good practice talks about those extra-curricular post-school activities, and one of the challenges is that if you have to travel to school and you're dependent on bus transport, perhaps you can't take up those opportunities. So, how are you working to ensure that every child, wherever they are in Wales, can have those extra-curricular opportunities that are so important to the implementation of the language charter, so that it goes from strength to strength?
Wel, diolch i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiynau hynny. Dylwn i hefyd gydnabod—gwnes i sôn am rôl Cyngor Gwynedd yn creu'r siarter iaith gyntaf, a honna sydd wrth wraidd yr holl beth. Dylwn i gydnabod yn benodol gwaith Siân Gwenllian, oedd yn amlwg iawn yn datblygu'r siarter yng Ngwynedd hefyd. Ac rwy'n cytuno â beth ddywedodd Heledd Fychan mai un o'r pethau sydd wastad yn codi calon yw eich bod chi'n gweld cynnydd a defnydd o'r Gymraeg, a'r siarter mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Saesneg. Ac mae wastad yn codi calon, rwy'n credu, pan eich bod chi'n mynd i ystafell ddosbarth a chlywed defnydd o rywfaint o'r Gymraeg, o leiaf, a chynefino ein plant ieuengaf ni â defnydd o'r Gymraeg mewn ffordd sydd yn hollol normal ac yn rhywbeth pob dydd iddyn nhw. Mae'r cysylltiad hwnnw gyda'r gymuned yn rhywbeth sydd yn bwysig iawn. Mae nifer o bartneriaid yn rhan—fel bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod—o waith y siarter iaith: Undeb Rygbi Cymru, Amgueddfa Cymru, yr Urdd, BBC, Llenyddiaeth Cymru, Bardd Plant Cymru—felly mae lot o bobl ynghlwm â'r gwaith mae'r siarter yn ei ddarparu. Ac mae'r cynllun grant rŷn ni'n ei ddarparu hefyd yn gallu ariannu gweithgaredd cymdeithasol sydd yn gallu cydlynu â gwaith y siarter iaith.
Gwnaeth yr Aelod bwynt pwysig, rwy'n credu, ynglŷn â sut gallwn ni sicrhau bod hwn yn rhywbeth—ac rwy'n defnyddio'r gair yma—sy'n cael ei brif-ffrydio mewn i waith athrawon yn gyffredinol, i waith ysgolion yn gyffredinol, fel ein bod ni'n cysoni—gorau gallwn ni, o ystyried yr amrywiaeth o ysgolion sydd gyda ni—cysoni'r profiad ar draws y system. A bydd hi'n gwybod bod gwaith wedi bod yn digwydd eisoes i gynyddu'r defnydd o ymwybyddiaeth o'r Gymraeg, er enghraifft, yn addysg gychwynnol athrawon. Ond rwyf hefyd yn credu bod hwn nawr yn cynnig rôl bwysig yn cydlynu â gwaith y cwricwlwm yn ehangach. A dyna pam mae rhywfaint o oedi wedi bod yn ail-lansio'r fframwaith, fel ein bod ni wedi gallu gweld cychwyn ar gyflwyno'r cwricwlwm y llynedd. Adnodd, os hoffwch chi, yw'r fframwaith hwn, i gefnogi athrawon yn y gwaith sydd gyda nhw bob dydd, i bontio rhwng meysydd dysgu a phrofiad y cwricwlwm gyda'r profiadau allgyrsiol hyn. A byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi mwy o ganllawiau ac adnoddau i gyd-fynd â'r fframwaith, er mwyn inni allu hwyluso y gwaith hwnnw o sut gallwch chi sicrhau bod hwn yn cefnogi gwaith y cwricwlwm yn ehangach. Ac rwy'n credu drwy wneud hynny, mae'r cyfle gorau gyda ni i sicrhau bod hwn yn brofiad ehangach i fwy a mwy o ddisgyblion.
I thank Heledd Fychan for those questions. I should also recognise—I mentioned the role of Gwynedd Council in creating the first siarter iaith, and that's at the heart of the whole thing. I should specifically recognise the work of Siân Gwenllian, who was at the forefront of the development of the siarter in Gwynedd. And I agree with what Heledd Fychan said, that one of the things that's always encouraging is that you see the use of the Welsh language, and the charter in English-medium schools. And I always find it encouraging when you go into a classroom and hear some Welsh being used and our children getting used to pronouncing Welsh words in a way that is entirely normalised and part of their daily activities. That link with the community is something that is very important. There are a number of partners, as the Member will know, that are involved with the work of the siarter iaith: the Welsh Rugby Union, Museums Wales, the Urdd, BBC, Literature Wales, the Welsh-language children's laureate. There are a lot of people involved with the work of the siarter. And the grant scheme that's available can also fund social activities that can co-ordinate with the work of the siarter iaith.
The Member made an important point on how we can ensure—and I use this word—that this is mainstreamed into the work of teachers and schools more generally, so that we can standardise—as best we can, given the variance in schools—that we standardise the experience across schools. And she will know that work has been ongoing to raise awareness of the Welsh language, for example, in initial teacher training. But I also believe that this now has an important role in co-ordinating with the work of the curriculum more broadly. That's why there has been some delay in relaunching the framework, so that we could see the curriculum being introduced last year. This framework is a resource to support teachers in their day-to-day work, in transitioning between areas of learning and experience in the curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities and activities. And we will be publishing more guidance and resources to run along with the framework, so that we can facilitate that work in terms of how you can ensure that this supports the work of the curriculum more broadly. And in doing that I think we have the best opportunity of ensuring that this is a broader opportunity for more pupils.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Eitem 6 yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a'r Prif Chwip: costau byw. A galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Jane Hutt.
Item 6 is a statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip on the cost of living. And I call on the Minister, Jane Hutt.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. In January I made a statement to the Senedd about the relentless cost-of-living pressures that people across Wales were facing, and unfortunately there's been no let up. Earlier this month, the Resolution Foundation reported that the past year has seen the biggest inflation shock in four decades. The Bank of England has raised the base rate 14 times in a row over the last two years, putting further pressure on household budgets already under huge strain from high energy, fuel and food costs. We're committed to doing all we can to support people through this cost-of-living crisis, to mitigate the worst of its impacts, but also through the action we take to prevent people from experiencing poverty in the first place.
Over this year and the last, we have provided more than £3.3 billion in support through targeted programmes and schemes, which put money back in people’s pockets. This includes our childcare offer, our winter fuel support scheme, our 'Claim what's yours' campaigns and our advice services under the single advice fund, our fuel pre-payment vouchers, our support for emergency food aid and our discretionary assistance fund, which provides emergency support for those in crisis. However, we have to face up to the reality that as a Government, we're not immune to record inflation, financial shocks and strains. We're facing extraordinary pressures on our finances, both this year and next, and this means we're working through some very difficult decisions about how we use our funding and how we target our support to protect public services and those at greatest need.
After the UK spring budget in March, the Welsh budget was worth up to £900 million less in real terms than at the beginning of the last spending review in 2021. This is the toughest financial situation we've faced since devolution, but we will continue to do all we can to help those who need it most. This includes protecting funding for emergency food aid, for the discretionary assistance fund, for the single advice fund, and for support for those struggling to afford fuel and electricity costs. We continue to invest in our basic income for care leavers in Wales pilot, testing this innovative approach for those young people most in need of enhanced support.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ym mis Ionawr fe wnes i ddatganiad i'r Senedd am y pwysau di-baid yr oedd pobl ledled Cymru yn eu hwynebu o ran costau byw, ac yn anffodus does dim byd wedi newid. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, adroddodd y Resolution Foundation ein bod ni wedi gweld yr ergyd chwyddiant fwyaf ers pedwar degawd yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae Banc Lloegr wedi codi'r gyfradd sylfaenol 14 gwaith yn olynol yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, gan roi rhagor o bwysau ar gyllidebau aelwydydd sydd eisoes o dan straen enfawr yn sgil costau ynni, tanwydd a bwyd uchel. Rydyn ni wedi ymrwymo i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i gefnogi pobl drwy'r argyfwng costau byw hwn, i liniaru'r effeithiau gwaethaf, ond hefyd drwy'r camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i atal pobl rhag wynebu tlodi yn y lle cyntaf.
Yn ystod y flwyddyn hon a'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rydyn ni wedi rhoi mwy na £3.3 biliwn mewn cymorth trwy raglenni a chynlluniau wedi'u targedu, sy'n rhoi arian yn ôl ym mhocedi pobl. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ein cynnig gofal plant, ein cynllun cymorth tanwydd gaeaf, ein hymgyrchoedd 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi' a'n gwasanaethau cynghori o dan y gronfa gynghori sengl, ein talebau tanwydd talu ymlaen llaw, ein cefnogaeth i gymorth bwyd brys a'n cronfa cymorth dewisol, sy'n darparu cymorth brys i'r rhai mewn argyfwng. Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhaid i ni wynebu'r realiti nad ydyn ni fel Llywodraeth yn ddiogel rhag y chwyddiant uchaf erioed ac ergydion a phwysau ariannol. Rydyn ni'n wynebu pwysau eithriadol ar ein cyllid, eleni a'r flwyddyn nesaf, ac mae hyn yn golygu ein bod ni'n gweithio trwy rai penderfyniadau anodd iawn ynghylch sut rydyn ni'n defnyddio'n cyllid a sut rydyn ni'n targedu ein cefnogaeth i amddiffyn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a'r rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf.
Ar ôl cyllideb gwanwyn y DU ym mis Mawrth, roedd cyllideb Cymru yn werth hyd at £900 miliwn yn llai mewn termau real nag ar ddechrau'r adolygiad diwethaf o wariant yn 2021. Dyma'r sefyllfa ariannol anoddaf yr ydyn ni wedi'i hwynebu ers datganoli, ond byddwn ni'n parhau i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i helpu'r rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf. Mae hyn yn cynnwys diogelu cyllid ar gyfer cymorth bwyd brys, ar gyfer y gronfa cymorth dewisol, ar gyfer y gronfa gynghori sengl, ac ar gyfer cymorth i'r rhai sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd fforddio costau tanwydd a thrydan. Rydyn ni'n parhau i fuddsoddi yn ein cynllun peilot incwm sylfaenol ar gyfer pobl sy'n gadael gofal yng Nghymru, gan brofi'r dull arloesol hwn ar gyfer y bobl ifanc hynny y mae arnyn nhw fwyaf o angen cymorth ychwanegol.
Deputy Llywydd, many of the key levers for tackling poverty and the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis rest with the UK Government, and we continue to urge them to live up to their responsibilities to people in Wales. But there is much we can do using the levers we have in Wales to deliver a made-in-Wales, made-for-Wales approach. In June, I published the consultation on the draft child poverty strategy, which outlined the areas we will prioritise to tackle child poverty and increase the impact of our policy ambitions. And I intend to publish the final strategy later this year.
As part of our continued focus on the cost-of-living crisis, we've held regular meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee on cost of living. In August, the expert group that was formed to advise the sub-committee on the impact of the crisis on people in Wales recommended a series of actions they felt could be taken to mitigate the impact in Wales, and I've published this report today. We're extremely grateful for the expert group’s work, and welcome their valuable recommendations. There are many actions in the report that we are already putting into practice, or will be able to take forward at pace.
In line with their recommendations, I am pleased to confirm that, even in these difficult times, we are protecting funding this winter to those who are most impacted by this crisis. We will run another 'Claim what’s yours' campaign this autumn to encourage people to access what they're entitled to, including initiatives like ‘Help to Save’, and to help support people to maximise their income. We will drive forward our commitments to simplify the Welsh benefits system to ensure that Welsh benefits are delivered in a compassionate manner, based on rights and entitlements. We'll improve the accessibility of the system, enabling more people in Wales to take up their entitlement to financial support, delivering on the expert group recommendations and those by Policy in Practice on Welsh benefits.
We will continue to fund our single advice fund services and to work with the Money and Pensions Service to deliver independent and impartial advice in Wales. Alongside our breakfast scheme in primary schools, we continue to roll out free school meals in primary schools and to take steps to reduce the cost of the school day and the cost of school uniforms and continue to provide free period products in all schools in Wales.
We have substantially increased the education maintenance allowance for eligible further education students in sixth form or college, and increased our training allowance rate for young people on our Jobs Growth Wales+ programme. Our Wales transport strategy, 'Llwybr Newydd', aims to reduce the cost and improve the accessibility of sustainable transport for everyone in Wales, including students. And we've invested additional funding in the homelessness prevention grant and through discretionary homelessness prevention support to local authorities to help reduce the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on those who may be at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
Our new Warm Homes programme will help us to tackle fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of the least thermally-efficient low-income households in Wales. And I've met with energy providers and Ofgem on a number of occasions, and will continue to work with them to ensure those hardest hit by high energy costs are protected from damaging market practices. I've also advocated for the introduction of energy social tariffs and will continue to press the UK Government on this point.
We will also continue to work closely with the Consumer Council for Water, water companies and other key stakeholders to introduce measures to help customers struggling to pay water bills. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has led the way with the introduction of an affordable tariff scheme for households where at least one adult is in employment, but who are struggling to afford essential household bills. These customers are not typically eligible for help but are amongst those experiencing severe financial difficulties as the cost-of-living crisis continues. The Cymuned scheme was rolled out to its entire operating area in August this year, following a successful trial in RCT and Denbighshire.
Deputy Llywydd, we agree with the expert group that delivering a collaborative and joined-up approach across Wales will be key to achieving our policy ambitions on tackling the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, and more broadly on child poverty. Last week, I met a number of public bodies and local authorities to discuss how we can better align our preventative efforts around child poverty, including our respective duties under the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 to ensure we deliver collaborative solutions to maximise our impact. However, given the extreme financial situation we face, there are some actions recommended by the group that will be more challenging, and will only be realised if significant additional funding becomes available. And these more challenging recommendations will continue to be considered by Ministers as we prepare for next year’s budget.
The expert group has also made a number of recommendations for the UK Government, to mitigate the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and develop resilience for the future. We will, of course, raise these with UK Ministers, and I would also call on Senedd Members here today to do the same.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude to all the front-line workers and volunteers who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 months to help those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, from all those providing advice, to the people who freely give their time to help in foodbanks and warm hubs. They will also have been struggling with rising costs while providing support to others. Diolch yn fawr.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae llawer o'r ysgogiadau allweddol ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â thlodi ac effeithiau'r argyfwng costau byw yn nwylo Llywodraeth y DU, ac rydyn ni'n parhau i'w hannog i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau i bobl yng Nghymru. Ond mae llawer y gallwn ni ei wneud gan ddefnyddio'r ysgogiadau sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru i gyflawni dull gweithredu wedi'i wneud yng Nghymru ar gyfer Cymru. Ym mis Mehefin, cyhoeddais i'r ymgynghoriad ar y strategaeth tlodi plant ddrafft, a oedd yn amlinellu'r meysydd y byddwn ni'n eu blaenoriaethu i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant a chynyddu effaith ein huchelgeisiau polisi. Ac rwy'n bwriadu cyhoeddi'r strategaeth derfynol yn ddiweddarach eleni.
Fel rhan o'n ffocws parhaus ar yr argyfwng costau byw, rydyn ni wedi cynnal cyfarfodydd rheolaidd o is-bwyllgor y Cabinet ar gostau byw. Ym mis Awst, argymhellodd y grŵp arbenigol a gafodd ei ffurfio i gynghori'r is-bwyllgor ar effaith yr argyfwng ar bobl yng Nghymru gyfres o gamau gweithredu yr oedden nhw'n teimlo y byddai modd eu cymryd i liniaru'r effaith yng Nghymru, ac rwyf wedi cyhoeddi'r adroddiad hwn heddiw. Rydyn ni'n hynod ddiolchgar am waith y grŵp arbenigol, ac yn croesawu eu hargymhellion gwerthfawr. Mae llawer o gamau gweithredu yn yr adroddiad yr ydyn ni eisoes yn eu rhoi ar waith, neu y byddwn ni'n gallu bwrw ymlaen â nhw'n gyflym.
Yn unol â'u hargymhellion, rwy'n falch o gadarnhau, hyd yn oed yn y cyfnod anodd hwn, ein bod ni'n diogelu cyllid y gaeaf hwn i'r rhai y mae'r argyfwng hwn yn effeithio arnyn nhw fwyaf. Byddwn ni'n cynnal ymgyrch arall 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi' yr hydref hwn i annog pobl i fanteisio ar yr hyn y mae ganddyn nhw hawl iddo, gan gynnwys mentrau fel 'Help i Gynilo', ac i helpu i gefnogi pobl i wneud y mwyaf o'u hincwm. Byddwn ni'n bwrw ymlaen â'n hymrwymiadau i symleiddio'r system fudd-daliadau yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod budd-daliadau yng Nghymru yn cael eu darparu mewn modd tosturiol, yn seiliedig ar hawliau. Byddwn ni'n sicrhau ei bod hi'n haws defnyddio'r system, gan alluogi mwy o bobl yng Nghymru i fanteisio ar eu hawl i gymorth ariannol, gan gyflawni argymhellion y grŵp arbenigol a rhai Policy in Practice ar fudd-daliadau yng Nghymru.
Byddwn yn parhau i ariannu ein gwasanaethau cronfa gynghori sengl ac i weithio gyda'r Gwasanaeth Arian a Phensiynau i ddarparu cyngor annibynnol a diduedd yng Nghymru. Ochr yn ochr â'n cynllun brecwast mewn ysgolion cynradd, rydyn ni'n parhau i gyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim mewn ysgolion cynradd ac i gymryd camau i leihau cost y diwrnod ysgol a chost gwisgoedd ysgol ac yn parhau i ddarparu cynnyrch mislif am ddim ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru.
Rydyn ni wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg ar gyfer myfyrwyr addysg bellach cymwys yn y chweched dosbarth neu'r coleg, ac wedi cynyddu cyfradd ein lwfans hyfforddi i bobl ifanc ar ein rhaglen Twf Swyddi Cymru+. Nod ein strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru, 'Llwybr Newydd', yw lleihau cost trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy a sicrhau ei bod ar gael yn haws i bawb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys myfyrwyr. Ac rydyn ni wedi buddsoddi cyllid ychwanegol yn y grant atal digartrefedd a thrwy gymorth atal digartrefedd yn ôl disgresiwn i awdurdodau lleol i helpu i leihau effaith yr argyfwng costau byw ar y rhai a allai fod yn wynebu risg o ddigartrefedd, neu sy'n profi digartrefedd.
Bydd ein rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd yn ein helpu ni i fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd trwy wella effeithlonrwydd ynni'r cartrefi incwm isel lleiaf effeithlon yn thermol yng Nghymru. Ac rwyf wedi cyfarfod â darparwyr ynni ac Ofgem ar sawl achlysur, a byddaf yn parhau i weithio gyda nhw i sicrhau bod y rhai y mae costau ynni uchel wedi effeithio arnyn nhw fwyaf yn cael eu diogelu rhag arferion niweidiol y farchnad. Rwyf hefyd wedi dadlau dros gyflwyno tariffau cymdeithasol ynni a byddaf yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU ar y pwynt hwn.
Byddwn ni hefyd yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda'r Cyngor Defnyddwyr Dŵr, cwmnïau dŵr a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill i gyflwyno mesurau i helpu cwsmeriaid sy'n cael trafferth yn talu biliau dŵr. Mae Dŵr Cymru wedi arwain y ffordd drwy gyflwyno cynllun tariff fforddiadwy i aelwydydd lle mae o leiaf un oedolyn mewn cyflogaeth, ond sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd talu biliau hanfodol y cartref. Nid yw'r cwsmeriaid hyn yn gymwys i gael cymorth fel arfer ond maen nhw ymhlith y rhai sy'n wynebu anawsterau ariannol difrifol wrth i'r argyfwng costau byw barhau. Cafodd cynllun Cymuned ei gyflwyno i'w ardal weithredu gyfan ym mis Awst eleni, yn dilyn treial llwyddiannus yn RhCT a sir Ddinbych.
Dirprwy Lywydd, rydyn ni'n cytuno â'r grŵp arbenigol y bydd darparu dull cydweithredol a chydgysylltiedig ledled Cymru yn allweddol i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau polisi o ran mynd i'r afael â'r pwysau parhaus o ran costau byw, ac yn ehangach ar dlodi plant. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnes i gyfarfod â nifer o gyrff cyhoeddus ac awdurdodau lleol i drafod sut y gallwn ni alinio ein hymdrechion ataliol o ran tlodi plant yn well, gan gynnwys ein dyletswyddau priodol o dan Fesur Plant a Theuluoedd (Cymru) 2010 i sicrhau ein bod ni'n darparu atebion cydweithredol i gael yr effaith fwyaf. Fodd bynnag, o ystyried y sefyllfa ariannol eithafol yr ydyn ni'n ei hwynebu, bydd rhai camau gweithredu a argymhellwyd gan y grŵp yn fwy heriol, a dim ond os bydd cyllid ychwanegol sylweddol ar gael y bydd modd eu rhoi ar waith. A bydd yr argymhellion mwy heriol hyn yn parhau i gael eu hystyried gan Weinidogion wrth i ni baratoi ar gyfer cyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf.
Mae'r grŵp arbenigol hefyd wedi gwneud nifer o argymhellion i Lywodraeth y DU, i liniaru effeithiau'r argyfwng costau byw a datblygu cadernid ar gyfer y dyfodol. Wrth gwrs, byddwn ni'n codi'r rhain gyda Gweinidogion y DU, a byddwn i hefyd yn galw ar Aelodau'r Senedd yma heddiw i wneud yr un peth.
Yn olaf, hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i fynegi ein diolch i'r holl weithwyr a gwirfoddolwyr rheng flaen sydd wedi gweithio mor ddiflino yn ystod y 18 mis diwethaf i helpu'r rhai y mae'r argyfwng costau byw wedi effeithio arnyn nhw fwyaf, o bawb sy'n darparu cyngor, i'r bobl sy'n rhoi o'u hamser yn rhydd i helpu mewn banciau bwyd a hybiau cynnes. Byddan nhw hefyd wedi bod yn cael trafferth gyda chostau cynyddol wrth roi cymorth i eraill. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you for that. The global impact of the pandemic, followed by Putin's war in Ukraine, saw inflation rise, and this is a tax on people's income, causing pressures on household budgets, and must be tackled. When domestic inflation let rip in the 1970s it killed thousands of businesses and millions of jobs; in fact, the company my father had worked for crashed in 1978 because of this.
The current UK Government has provided unprecedented cost-of-living support worth an average of £3,300 per household between 2022 and 2024. Between 31 October and 19 November, millions of families on means-tested benefits will receive a second cost-of-living payment, totalling £900 across three payments. Eligible pensioner households will also receive a further £300 payment later this year as an addition to the winter fuel payment, and those receiving disability benefits received a further £150 cost-of-living payment between 20 June and 4 July.
But things ain't easy. How do you respond to the recommendation in the report of the Wales expert group on the cost-of-living crisis released today, which you referred to, that the Welsh Government introduces an installment-based disabled person cost-of-living payment? The expert group recommends that Welsh Government implements the new Warm Homes programme with urgency, ensuring that the replacement demand scheme is procured and operational this winter. Earlier this month I asked you for an update on when the Welsh Government intends to launch its new Warm Homes programme, including the successor to the Nest fuel poverty scheme, highlighting National Energy Action Cymru's call for them to be operational as soon as possible as we're now nearing the winter months. In your reply, you stated that you were
'on track to move to contract award and begin mobilisation this year.'
In practical terms, when will the scheme therefore become fully operational?
The expert group also recommends that both the UK Government and Welsh Government take action to improve the level of take-up of grants, allowances and benefits support already available to households. Earlier this year I highlighted the uptake of the Welsh Government's fuel support scheme for 2022-23, which offered a payment to eligible low-income households to help them with the rising cost of energy. You confirmed in written answers to my office that the Welsh Government made up to £90 million available for this, and estimated that approximately 427,000 households would be eligible. However, you also confirmed to my office that, as of 28 February this year, less than £65 million had been spent on this, and that local authorities across Wales reported that, at that stage, just 360,000 households had applied to the scheme, and that only 341,468 had received a payment, which meant that at that stage 78,000 fewer households than estimated by the Welsh Government accessed that programme, and £20 million to £25 million allocated for it wasn't utilised. So, how have you learnt from this, and what if any actions are being implemented accordingly to meet the recommendation referred to?
April's Bevan Foundation report on 'A common approach to Welsh benefits' stated that they have long called for a single framework of grants and allowances termed a Welsh benefits system for all the benefits the Welsh Government is responsible for, and that their findings demonstrate that establishing a Welsh benefits system is feasible in terms of data, and that millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits could support those on low incomes. They added that the regulations governing Welsh benefits are set by the Welsh Government, so it is within its power to introduce regulatory amendments to facilitate greater uniformity.
The expert group recommends that the Welsh Government takes the next steps towards a Welsh benefits system, through the introduction of common approaches to eligibility, application and the verification of evidence, implemented by working with local authorities and other bodies, to focus on the eligibility assessment and targeting. Although you refer to this in your statement, why do you not commit to the Welsh benefits system called for by so many for so long?
The expert group refers to publication of a new child poverty strategy for Wales, currently out for consultation. How, therefore, do you respond to yesterday’s statement in committee by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, that the draft strategy lacks, quote, ‘ambition, clarity and detail’?
Finally, and I have to say this, given the statement by the World Economic Forum that the soaring cost of food and energy is affecting people across the globe, that inflation is currently higher in 16 European countries, and that interest rates are currently higher in 12 European countries and 10 other G20 countries than in the UK, wouldn’t only a very silly billy claim that the cost-of-living crisis was made in Westminster? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch am hynny. Yn sgil effaith fyd-eang y pandemig, ac yna rhyfel Putin yn Wcráin, gwelwyd cynnydd mewn chwyddiant, ac mae hon yn dreth ar incwm pobl, sy'n achosi pwysau ar gyllidebau aelwydydd, ac mae'n rhaid mynd i'r afael â hi. Pan welwyd cynnydd mewn chwyddiant domestig yn y 1970au, gwelwyd diwedd ar filoedd o fusnesau a miliynau o swyddi; yn wir, aeth y cwmni yr oedd fy nhad wedi gweithio iddo i'r wal yn 1978 oherwydd hyn.
Mae Llywodraeth bresennol y DU wedi darparu cymorth digynsail ar gyfer costau byw gwerth £3,300 fesul aelwyd ar gyfartaledd rhwng 2022 a 2024. Rhwng 31 Hydref a 19 Tachwedd, bydd miliynau o deuluoedd ar fudd-daliadau prawf modd yn cael ail daliad costau byw, sy'n gyfanswm o £900 ar draws tri thaliad. Bydd aelwydydd pensiynwyr cymwys hefyd yn cael taliad arall o £300 yn ddiweddarach eleni fel ychwanegiad at y taliad tanwydd gaeaf, a chafodd y rhai sy'n derbyn budd-daliadau anabledd daliad costau byw ychwanegol o £150 rhwng 20 Mehefin a 4 Gorffennaf.
Ond nid yw pethau'n hawdd. Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r argymhelliad yn adroddiad grŵp arbenigol Cymru ar yr argyfwng costau byw a gafodd ei gyhoeddi heddiw, y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflwyno taliad costau byw i bobl anabl ar sail rhandaliad? Mae'r grŵp arbenigol yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd ar waith ar frys, gan sicrhau bod y cynllun galw newydd yn cael ei gaffael ac yn cael ei roi ar waith y gaeaf hwn. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, gofynnais i chi am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynghylch pryd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu lansio ei rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd, gan gynnwys yr olynydd i gynllun tlodi tanwydd Nyth, gan dynnu sylw at alwad National Energy Action Cymru iddyn nhw fod yn weithredol cyn gynted â phosibl gan ein bod ni nawr yn agosáu at fisoedd y gaeaf. Yn eich ymateb, fe ddywedoch chi eich bod chi
'ar y trywydd cywir i ddyfarnu contract a dechrau ar y gwaith eleni.'
Yn ymarferol, pryd fydd y cynllun felly'n dod yn gwbl weithredol?
Mae'r grŵp arbenigol hefyd yn argymell bod Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn manteisio ar grantiau, lwfansau a chymorth budd-daliadau sydd eisoes ar gael i aelwydydd. Yn gynharach eleni, fe dynnais i sylw at y nifer sy'n manteisio ar gynllun cymorth tanwydd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2022-23, a oedd yn cynnig taliad i aelwydydd incwm isel cymwys i'w helpu gyda chost gynyddol ynni. Fe wnaethoch chi gadarnhau mewn atebion ysgrifenedig i'm swyddfa bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sicrhau bod hyd at £90 miliwn ar gael ar gyfer hyn, gan amcangyfrif y byddai tua 427,000 o aelwydydd yn gymwys. Fodd bynnag, fe wnaethoch chi hefyd gadarnhau wrth fy swyddfa, o 28 Chwefror eleni, fod llai na £65 miliwn wedi'i wario ar hyn, a bod awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru wedi dweud, ar y pryd, mai dim ond 360,000 o aelwydydd oedd wedi gwneud cais i'r cynllun, ac mai dim ond 341,468 oedd wedi cael taliad, a oedd yn golygu bod 78,000 yn llai o aelwydydd nag yr oedd Lywodraeth Cymru wedi'u hamcangyfrif wedi manteisio ar y rhaglen honno ar y cam hwnnw, a bod £20 miliwn i £25 miliwn a oedd wedi'u dyrannu ar ei chyfer heb eu defnyddio. Felly, sut ydych chi wedi dysgu o hyn, a pha gamau, os o gwbl, sy'n cael eu gweithredu yn unol â hynny i fodloni'r argymhelliad y cyfeiriwyd ato?
Nododd adroddiad Sefydliad Bevan ym mis Ebrill, 'Dull cyffredin o ymdrin â budd-daliadau Cymru', eu bod wedi galw ers tro am un fframwaith o grantiau a lwfansau a fyddai'n cael ei alw'n system budd-daliadau Cymru ar gyfer yr holl fudd-daliadau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfrifol amdanyn nhw, a bod eu canfyddiadau'n dangos bod sefydlu system budd-daliadau Cymru yn ymarferol o ran data, ac y gallai miliynau o bunnoedd o fudd-daliadau heb eu hawlio gefnogi'r rhai ar incwm isel. Ychwanegon nhw fod y rheoliadau sy'n llywodraethu budd-daliadau Cymru yn cael eu gosod gan Lywodraeth Cymru, felly mae o fewn ei phŵer i gyflwyno diwygiadau rheoleiddio i hwyluso mwy o unffurfiaeth.
Mae'r grŵp arbenigol yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd y camau nesaf tuag at system budd-daliadau Cymru, drwy gyflwyno dulliau cyffredin o ymdrin â chymhwystra, ymgeisio a dilysu tystiolaeth, wedi'u gweithredu drwy weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol a chyrff eraill, i ganolbwyntio ar yr asesiad cymhwystra a'r targedu. Er eich bod chi'n cyfeirio at hyn yn eich datganiad, pam nad ydych chi'n ymrwymo i system budd-daliadau Cymru y mae cynifer o bobl wedi bod yn galw amdani cyhyd?
Mae'r grŵp arbenigol yn cyfeirio at gyhoeddi strategaeth tlodi plant newydd i Gymru, sydd yn ei chyfnod ymgynghori ar hyn o bryd. Sut, felly, ydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad ddoe yn y pwyllgor gan Gomisiynydd Plant Cymru, nad oes gan y strategaeth ddrafft, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, 'uchelgais, eglurder na manylder'?
Yn olaf, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud hyn, o ystyried y datganiad gan Fforwm Economaidd y Byd bod cost gynyddol bwyd ac ynni yn effeithio ar bobl ledled y byd, bod chwyddiant ar hyn o bryd yn uwch mewn 16 o wledydd Ewropeaidd, a bod cyfraddau llog ar hyn o bryd yn uwch mewn 12 o wledydd Ewropeaidd a 10 o wledydd eraill y G20 o gymharu â'r DU, ai dim ond person twp iawn fyddai'n honni bod yr argyfwng costau byw wedi'i greu yn San Steffan? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Mark Isherwood. In your opening remarks, you lay out the challenging global context. But, of course, the truth is that the UK Government has the key levers and powers to make a real difference to people's lives.
I have welcomed the report from our expert advisory group, and I've commented in my statement on many of those recommendations. I think that it is worth looking at the very first recommendation, which is actually about where the UK Government and Welsh Government can work together. That recommendation states that we should be taking action to improve the level of take-up of grants, allowances and benefits support already available to households.
I think that we all know, and certainly the evidence is there, that income maximisation and benefit take-up is the key activity, which we deliver through our single advice fund. It's a very innovative delivery model, as you know, with all of the advice and access partners. What's crucial about that is that, in the last year, over 80 per cent of people accessing the SAF services identified themselves as coming from a population group being hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis. That includes older people, disabled people, and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
But, actually, since January 2020, those single advice fund services have helped people to claim additional income totalling £83 million. That is the result of our take-up campaign. We've actually urged the UK Government to take the lead on a UK-wide benefit take-up campaign, learning lessons from the excellent work that is being delivered by devolved Governments, which we continue to progress.
You raise an important question about the Warm Homes programme. Of course, this is something in terms of the statements by the Minister for Climate Change. What's important is that we continue to provide free advice on energy saving measures to all who need it, and to signpost households to support. You know that, in fact, the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme is going to focus on worst first, meaning that eligible families living in the least energy efficient homes will receive support to improve the fabric of their homes and improvements to their heating systems.
That's why I think it is so disappointing—and I was glad to be sitting in on the oral statement made by the Minister for Climate Change—that we feel that they are pulling back on many of the commitments that are particularly important in terms of ensuring that we move forward with achieving those energy efficient homes, which of course tackle fuel poverty, which is a priority of this Government.
We also have to look at the particular Welsh circumstances—the high proportion of off-grid properties, which are more likely to be occupied by low-income families. It's important to also acknowledge that the £50 million empty homes grant scheme is going to bring 2,000 long-term empty properties back into use. And of course, in terms of the Warm Homes programme, you know also that that has gone out for tender. Indeed, energy efficiency advice continues to be on track. In fact, the contract award and mobilisation of the Warm Homes tender programme is mobilising as we speak.
It is important that we look to and very much welcome the recommendations in terms of the Welsh benefits charter. Can I say that this is something that we've always backed? We're accelerating our work to develop a coherent Welsh benefits system. A central part of that work is the creation of the charter for delivery of Welsh benefits, such as the council tax reduction scheme and free school meals. But it's a draft format, it's a set of underpinning principles to ensure that Welsh benefits are delivered in a compassionate manner, based on rights and entitlements, and we will, with the charter, improve the accessibility of the system. We're working, of course, to deliver on the Policy in Practice report, which was published in March, 'A common approach to Welsh benefits: Feasibility study', the work that was commissioned by the Bevan Foundation. I was very pleased to receive that report with a designated Member—very much a part of our co-operation agreement—to look at the way forward.
It is important that we take this forward in terms of the responsibilities that we have got in Wales, because as I said in my statement, we will use our levers and powers to do what we can. But I'm sure that you will also be interested, Mark Isherwood, in the report by the Westminster Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, its 'Preparing for the winter' report, which has just been published. I have to just say that one of the key things that they have said in their recommendation is that vulnerable households are facing a real challenge in terms of energy savings and that more energy-efficient homes and appliances are needed, and also calling in terms of the need for a social tariff, which, of course, we're calling for as well, but also that vulnerable households need more support.
Diolch yn fawr, Mark Isherwood. Yn eich sylwadau agoriadol, rydych chi'n nodi'r cyd-destun byd-eang heriol. Ond, wrth gwrs, y gwir amdani yw bod gan Lywodraeth y DU yr ysgogiadau a'r pwerau allweddol i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i fywydau pobl.
Rwyf wedi croesawu'r adroddiad gan ein grŵp cynghori arbenigol, ac rwyf wedi gwneud sylwadau yn fy natganiad ar lawer o'r argymhellion hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth ystyried yr argymhelliad cyntaf oll, sydd mewn gwirionedd yn ymwneud â lle y gall Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda'i gilydd. Mae'r argymhelliad hwnnw'n nodi y dylen ni fod yn cymryd camau i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn manteisio ar y grantiau, lwfansau a chymorth budd-daliadau sydd eisoes ar gael i aelwydydd.
Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn gwybod, ac yn sicr mae'r dystiolaeth yno, mai cynyddu incwm i'r eithaf a hawlio budd-daliadau yw'r gweithgaredd allweddol, yr ydyn ni'n ei gyflawni trwy ein cronfa gynghori sengl. Mae'n fodel cyflawni arloesol iawn, fel y gwyddoch chi, gyda'r holl bartneriaid cynghori a mynediad. Yr hyn sy'n hanfodol am hynny yw, yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, nododd dros 80 y cant o bobl a ddefnyddiodd gwasanaethau'r gronfa gynghori sengl eu bod yn dod o grŵp poblogaeth y mae'r argyfwng costau byw yn effeithio arno fwyaf. Mae hynny'n cynnwys pobl hŷn, pobl anabl, a phobl o gymunedau du, Asiaidd ac ethnig leiafrifol.
Ond, mewn gwirionedd, ers mis Ionawr 2020, mae'r gwasanaethau cronfa gynghori sengl hynny wedi helpu pobl i hawlio incwm ychwanegol gwerth cyfanswm o £83 miliwn. Dyna ganlyniad ein hymgyrch hawlio. Rydyn ni wedi annog Llywodraeth y DU i arwain ymgyrch ar hawlio budd-daliadau ledled y DU, gan ddysgu gwersi o'r gwaith rhagorol sy'n cael ei gyflawni gan y Llywodraethau datganoledig, yr ydyn ni'n parhau i'w ddatblygu.
Rydych chi'n codi cwestiwn pwysig am y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd. Wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn rhywbeth o ran datganiadau gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod ni'n parhau i roi cyngor am ddim ar fesurau arbed ynni i bawb sydd ei angen, ac i gyfeirio aelwydydd at gymorth. Rydych chi'n gwybod, mewn gwirionedd, y bydd iteriad nesaf y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd yn canolbwyntio ar y gwaethaf yn gyntaf, sy'n golygu y bydd teuluoedd cymwys sy'n byw yn y cartrefi lleiaf effeithlon o ran ynni yn cael cymorth i wella adeiledd eu cartrefi a gwelliannau i'w systemau gwresogi.
Dyna pam rwy'n credu ei fod mor siomedig—ac roeddwn i'n falch o fod yno i glywed y datganiad llafar a gafodd ei wneud gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd—ein bod ni'n teimlo eu bod yn tynnu'n ôl ar lawer o'r ymrwymiadau sy'n arbennig o bwysig o ran sicrhau ein bod ni'n symud ymlaen i gyflawni'r cartrefi ynni effeithlon hynny, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd, sy'n flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon.
Mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd ystyried yr amgylchiadau penodol yng Nghymru—y gyfran uchel o eiddo oddi ar y grid, sy'n fwy tebygol o gael eu meddiannu gan deuluoedd incwm isel. Mae'n bwysig cydnabod hefyd y bydd y cynllun grant cartrefi gwag gwerth £50 miliwn yn sicrhau bod 2,000 o eiddo gwag hirdymor yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto. Ac wrth gwrs, o ran y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd, rydych chi'n gwybod hefyd ei bod wedi mynd allan i dendr. Yn wir, mae cyngor effeithlonrwydd ynni yn parhau i fod ar y trywydd cywir. Mewn gwirionedd, mae dyfarnu'r contract a rhaglen dendro Cartrefi Clyd yn mynd rhagddynt ar hyn o bryd.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n ystyried ac yn croesawu'r argymhellion yn fawr o ran siarter budd-daliadau Cymru. A gaf i ddweud bod hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydyn ni bob amser wedi'i gefnogi? Rydyn ni'n cyflymu ein gwaith i ddatblygu system budd-daliadau gydlynol i Gymru. Rhan ganolog o'r gwaith hwnnw yw creu'r siarter ar gyfer darparu budd-daliadau Cymru, megis cynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor a phrydau ysgol am ddim. Ond mae'n fformat drafft, mae'n gyfres o egwyddorion sylfaenol i sicrhau bod budd-daliadau Cymru yn cael eu darparu mewn modd tosturiol, yn seiliedig ar hawliau, a byddwn ni, gyda'r siarter, yn gwella hygyrchedd y system. Rydyn ni'n gweithio, wrth gwrs, i gyflawni adroddiad Policy in Practice, a gafodd ei gyhoeddi ym mis Mawrth, 'Dull cyffredin o ymdrin â budd-daliadau Cymru: Astudiaeth dichonoldeb', y gwaith a gafodd ei gomisiynu gan Sefydliad Bevan. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o gael yr adroddiad hwnnw gydag Aelod dynodedig—sy'n rhan bwysig o'n cytundeb cydweithio—i ystyried y ffordd ymlaen.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n bwrw ymlaen â hyn o ran y cyfrifoldebau sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru, oherwydd fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, byddwn ni'n defnyddio'n hysgogiadau a'n pwerau ni i wneud yr hyn a allwn ni. Ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd gennych chi ddiddordeb hefyd, Mark Isherwood, yn yr adroddiad gan Bwyllgor Diogelwch Ynni a Sero Net San Steffan, ei adroddiad 'Paratoi ar gyfer y gaeaf', sydd newydd gael ei gyhoeddi. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud mai un o'r pethau allweddol y maen nhw wedi'i ddweud yn eu hargymhelliad yw bod aelwydydd sy'n agored i niwed yn wynebu her wirioneddol o ran arbedion ynni a bod angen mwy o gartrefi ac offer ynni-effeithlon, ac maen nhw hefyd yn galw o ran yr angen am dariff cymdeithasol, yr ydym ni, wrth gwrs, yn galw amdano hefyd, ond hefyd fod angen mwy o gefnogaeth ar aelwydydd sy'n agored i niwed.
Thank you for the statement and for the work of the expert group. It's clear to us all, I think, in this Chamber and everyone beyond it that both the UK and Welsh Governments need to act urgently to support the many thousands of households across Wales who are going to find this winter as hard if not harder than last year. We know that finances are tight for Welsh Government due to the unfair settlement we get from Westminster, in part, and we also know that the Tory UK Government care more about winning elections than they do about the needs of the people of Wales.
But turning to the report of the expert panel and your statement, there's nothing new here, really, is there? Poverty in Wales has been exacerbated—yes, by political choices and macro-economic developments, but it's not new. And the failure to tackle it over decades has, in fact, made the current cost-of-living crisis more acute and severe for Welsh households. And the message of the expert group isn't new. We've been told over and over, by organisations like Citizens Advice Cymru, the Bevan Foundation, the Child Poverty Action Group, National Energy Action—I could go on and on—that the numbers of people who are struggling financially remain extremely high; the levels of hardship faced by people this winter could be significant unless there is a change of course from all tiers of government, or a major improvement in people's financial positions.
The recommendations are not new, either. Many of them Plaid Cymru have been supporting and advocating for and have been asking Welsh Government to consider, because these are measures that are proven to reduce poverty. For example, we've got the free school meals, finally, in primary schools, thanks to the co-operation agreement, and the expert group talking about extending free school meals to secondary pupils; free bus transport for young people; a Welsh child payment—that was in our last manifesto; better data on intersectional poverty and on the delivery of cost-of-living measures. I recently was informed that the Welsh Government can't, for example, even provide Welsh child poverty data broken down by ethnicity. So, what's being done to tackle that, Minister, because we've had the equality data unit now for over a year and there was no mention of that in your statement?
And then, the need for a Welsh benefits system, of course. On that, as part of our scrutiny of the Government's draft child poverty strategy in the Equality and Social Justice Committee yesterday, we heard from multiple witnesses on ensuring that the support available reaches those who have a right to that support automatically. We don't need awareness-raising campaigns; this money needs to reach their pockets without the need to jump through hoops, when they've got enough to be dealing with, with putting food on the table. All the witnesses yesterday said that this is absolutely key, and it's something I consistently raise with you, Minister.
It's been estimated that improving access to the support available from Welsh and local government could put an extra £75 million into the pockets of Welsh families, helping them not only to get through this hard winter, but to stop them from falling into poverty in the first place. So, what progress has been made, because the nights are drawing in, it's turning colder, the rise in bills, although slowing down, is not going down? This work has been already woefully slow, and I note in the report that it says these are the medium-term measures, March 2024 to 2026. We've had that report from Policy in Practice since March, and the ideas have been talked about since way before then.
Turning then to tackling child poverty specifically, you didn't respond to Mark Isherwood's request for you to respond to the children's commissioner's description of the Welsh Government's draft child poverty strategy as one that
'really lacks ambition...detailed actions, timescales and deliverables by which Welsh Government could usefully be held to account.'
The commissioner was part of the expert group, Minister. So, did you listen to her? If so, why did she tell us that she felt that she had to make this forthright response to the consultation on the draft strategy, because it was informed by the message from young people and children with whom her office had engaged, including 8,000 who had taken part in her annual survey, because she told us they told her loud and clear that poverty was impacting on their lives? So, how are the voices of those young people and their families feeding into the Government response to economic hardship?
The children's commissioner questioned the clarity, coherence and ambition of the draft child poverty strategy. She berated the Government for the lack of accountability mechanisms in the draft strategy. The strength of her evidence, backed up by other experts, was striking and unequivocal. So, do you agree with her that we are in a time of crisis and that we need a coherent and robust child poverty strategy, in her words, that is clearer and braver to ensure children and young people don't miss out on the rights to which they're entitled under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child? Why was this draft strategy so lacking in ambition, because it's simply not good enough for this Government to wring their hands? The expert panel makes it clear that there are things the Welsh Government can do now and there are no excuses.
Diolch am y datganiad ac am waith y grŵp arbenigol. Mae'n amlwg i ni i gyd, rwy'n credu, yn y Siambr hon a phawb y tu hwnt iddi fod angen i Lywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru weithredu ar frys i gefnogi'r miloedd lawer o aelwydydd ledled Cymru y mae'r gaeaf hwn yn mynd i fod yr un mor anodd os nad yn anos na'r llynedd iddyn nhw. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod cyllid yn dynn i Lywodraeth Cymru oherwydd y setliad annheg yr ydyn ni'n ei gael gan San Steffan, yn rhannol, ac rydyn ni hefyd yn gwybod bod Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU yn poeni mwy am ennill etholiadau nag y maen nhw am anghenion pobl Cymru.
Ond gan droi at adroddiad y panel arbenigol a'ch datganiad, does dim byd newydd yma, mewn gwirionedd, oes yna? Mae tlodi yng Nghymru wedi cael ei waethygu—ydy, gan ddewisiadau gwleidyddol a datblygiadau macro-economaidd, ond dydy e' ddim yn rhywbeth newydd. Ac mae'r methiant i fynd i'r afael ag ef dros ddegawdau, mewn gwirionedd, wedi gwneud yr argyfwng costau byw presennol yn fwy acíwt a difrifol i aelwydydd Cymru. Ac nid yw neges y grŵp arbenigol yn un newydd. Rydyn ni wedi cael gwybod drosodd a throsodd, gan sefydliadau fel Cyngor ar Bopeth Cymru, Sefydliad Bevan, y Grŵp Gweithredu ar Dlodi Plant, National Energy Action—gallwn i fynd ymlaen ac ymlaen—bod nifer y bobl sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd yn ariannol yn parhau i fod yn eithriadol o uchel; gallai'r lefelau caledi y bydd pobl yn eu hwynebu'r gaeaf hwn fod yn sylweddol oni bai bod newid wrth gwrs o bob haen o'r llywodraeth, neu welliant mawr yn sefyllfa ariannol pobl.
Nid yw'r argymhellion yn rhai newydd, chwaith. Mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn cefnogi llawer ohonyn nhw ac yn dadlau drostyn nhw ac wedi bod yn gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru eu hystyried, oherwydd mae'r rhain yn fesurau y profwyd eu bod yn lleihau tlodi. Er enghraifft, mae gennym ni'r prydau ysgol am ddim, o'r diwedd, mewn ysgolion cynradd, diolch i'r cytundeb cydweithio, a'r grŵp arbenigol yn siarad am ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim i ddisgyblion uwchradd; cludiant bws am ddim i bobl ifanc; taliad plant Cymru—roedd hynny yn ein maniffesto diwethaf; gwell data ar dlodi croestoriadol ac ar ddarparu mesurau costau byw. Cefais i wybod yn ddiweddar na all Llywodraeth Cymru, er enghraifft, ddarparu data ar dlodi plant yng Nghymru wedi'i drefnu yn ôl ethnigrwydd hyd yn oed. Felly, beth sy'n cael ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â hynny, Gweinidog, oherwydd mae'r uned data cydraddoldeb wedi bod yn weithredol ers dros flwyddyn nawr ac nid oedd sôn am hynny yn eich datganiad?
Ac yna, yr angen am system budd-daliadau Cymru, wrth gwrs. O ran hynny, fel rhan o'n gwaith craffu ar strategaeth tlodi plant ddrafft y Llywodraeth yn y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ddoe, gwnaethon ni glywed gan nifer o dystion o ran sicrhau bod y cymorth sydd ar gael yn cyrraedd y rhai sydd â hawl i'r cymorth hwnnw yn awtomatig. Nid oes angen ymgyrchoedd codi ymwybyddiaeth arnom; mae angen i'r arian hwn gyrraedd eu pocedi heb fod angen iddyn nhw fynd drwy'r felin, pan fydd ganddyn nhw ddigon i ymdopi ag ef, o ran rhoi bwyd ar y bwrdd. Dywedodd yr holl dystion ddoe fod hyn yn gwbl allweddol, ac mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n ei godi'n gyson gyda chi, Gweinidog.
Amcangyfrifwyd y gallai gwella mynediad i'r cymorth sydd ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru a llywodraeth leol roi £75 miliwn ychwanegol ym mhocedi teuluoedd yng Nghymru, gan eu helpu nhw nid yn unig i oroesi'r gaeaf caled hwn, ond i'w hatal rhag syrthio i dlodi yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud, oherwydd mae'n nosi'n gynt, mae'n troi'n oerach, nid yw'r cynnydd mewn biliau, er ei fod yn arafu, yn mynd i ostwng? Mae'r gwaith hwn eisoes wedi bod yn druenus o araf, ac rwy'n nodi ei fod yn dweud yn yr adroddiad mai'r mesurau tymor canolig yw'r rhain, Mawrth 2024 i 2026. Rydyn ni wedi cael yr adroddiad hwnnw gan Policy in Practice ers mis Mawrth, ac mae'r syniadau wedi cael eu trafod ers ymhell cyn hynny.
Gan droi wedyn at fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yn benodol, wnaethoch chi ddim ymateb i gais Mark Isherwood i chi ymateb i ddisgrifiad y comisiynydd plant o strategaeth tlodi plant ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru fel un sydd
'wir yn dangos diffyg uchelgais...camau gweithredu manwl, amserlenni a thargedau cyflawnadwy y byddai modd eu defnyddio i ddwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif.'
Roedd y comisiynydd yn rhan o'r grŵp arbenigol, Gweinidog. Felly, a wnaethoch chi wrando arni hi? Os felly, pam y dywedodd hi wrthyn ni ei bod hi'n teimlo bod yn rhaid iddi wneud yr ymateb diamwys hwn i'r ymgynghoriad ar y strategaeth ddrafft, oherwydd cafodd ei llywio gan y neges gan bobl ifanc a phlant yr oedd ei swyddfa wedi ymgysylltu â nhw, gan gynnwys 8,000 a oedd wedi cymryd rhan yn ei harolwg blynyddol, oherwydd dywedodd hi wrthyn ni eu bod nhw wedi dweud wrthi hi'n glir iawn bod tlodi yn effeithio ar eu bywydau? Felly, sut mae lleisiau'r bobl ifanc hynny a'u teuluoedd yn bwydo i mewn i ymateb y Llywodraeth i galedi economaidd?
Fe wnaeth y comisiynydd plant gwestiynu eglurder, cydlyniad ac uchelgais y strategaeth tlodi plant ddrafft. Fe wnaeth hi geryddu'r Llywodraeth am ddiffyg mecanweithiau atebolrwydd yn y strategaeth ddrafft. Roedd cryfder ei thystiolaeth, gyda chefnogaeth arbenigwyr eraill, yn drawiadol ac yn ddiamwys. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno â hi ein bod ni mewn cyfnod o argyfwng a bod angen strategaeth tlodi plant gydlynol a chadarn arnom, yn ei geiriau hi, sy'n gliriach ac yn ddewrach i sicrhau nad yw plant a phobl ifanc yn colli allan ar yr hawliau sydd ganddyn nhw o dan Gonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn? Pam oedd y strategaeth ddrafft hon mor brin o uchelgais, oherwydd, yn syml, nid yw'n ddigon da i'r Llywodraeth hon laesu'u dwylo? Mae'r panel arbenigol yn ei gwneud hi'n glir bod yna bethau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu gwneud nawr ac nid oes unrhyw esgusodion.
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. You're absolutely right, we do need to act urgently, and that's what we're doing. We're dealing and acting urgently with the levers, powers and responsibilities we've got, but within a very difficult financial situation, as you recognised in terms of the challenges that we've got as a result of the financial situation this year. It's not just because of the sky-high inflation, it is, in fact, because of that financial position we're in after the spring budget with, as I said in my statement, £900 million lower in real terms than what we expected and, indeed, what Wales needs at the time of the last spending review. There's less funding to do the things that we want to do, that we have done successfully in terms of the winter fuel support scheme, and to look at what works and how we can continue to deliver that and also move forward on the changes that don't necessarily need finance, but actually need the kind of collaboration and partnership working that, of course, is a key recommendation.
So, I just wanted to mention one priority area that you know that we've worked hard to safeguard, and, indeed, to enhance, which is the discretionary assistance fund that continues to increase. More and more people are turning to the fund for financial support. In fact, by August, 72,000 people had accessed the discretionary assistance fund. We made that additional £18.8 million available. It is what people need at a time of crisis, those emergency payments, the cash that they need in their pockets to pay for basic essentials. And also the fact that, from 1 April, we increased those payments in value by 11 per cent in line with inflation to give as much support as we can for those basic living costs such as food and fuel, and £10.5 million in grants already, and, as I said, over £5 million cash payments. So, I think the discretionary assistance fund is a really important indication of our support for those who are most vulnerable.
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir, mae angen i ni weithredu ar frys, a dyna rydyn ni'n ei wneud. Rydyn ni'n delio ac yn gweithredu ar frys gyda'r ysgogiadau, y pwerau a'r cyfrifoldebau sydd gennym, ond o fewn sefyllfa ariannol anodd iawn, fel y gwnaethoch chi gydnabod o ran yr heriau sydd gennym o ganlyniad i'r sefyllfa ariannol eleni. Nid dim ond oherwydd y chwyddiant uchel iawn mae hyn ond, yn wir, oherwydd y sefyllfa ariannol honno yr ydym ynddi ar ôl cyllideb y gwanwyn gyda, fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, £900 miliwn yn is mewn termau real na'r hyn yr oeddem yn ei ddisgwyl ac, yn wir, yr hyn sydd ei angen ar Gymru ar adeg yr adolygiad diwethaf o wariant. Mae llai o gyllid i wneud y pethau yr ydym am eu gwneud, yr ydym wedi'u gwneud yn llwyddiannus o ran cynllun cymorth tanwydd y gaeaf, ac i edrych ar yr hyn sy'n gweithio a sut y gallwn ni barhau i gyflawni hynny a hefyd symud ymlaen ar y newidiadau nad oes angen cyllid arnyn nhw o reidrwydd, ond sydd angen y math o gydweithio a gweithio mewn partneriaeth sydd, wrth gwrs, yn argymhelliad allweddol.
Felly, roeddwn i eisiau sôn am un maes blaenoriaeth rydych chi'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi gweithio'n galed i'w ddiogelu, ac, yn wir, i'w wella, sef y gronfa cymorth dewisol sy'n parhau i gynyddu. Mae mwy a mwy o bobl yn troi at y gronfa am gymorth ariannol. Yn wir, erbyn mis Awst, roedd 72,000 o bobl wedi defnyddio'r gronfa cymorth dewisol. Fe wnaethom ni sicrhau bod yr £18.8 miliwn ychwanegol yna ar gael. Dyma'r hyn sydd ei angen ar bobl ar adeg o argyfwng, y taliadau brys hynny, yr arian sydd ei angen arnyn nhw yn eu pocedi i dalu am hanfodion sylfaenol. A hefyd y ffaith, o 1 Ebrill, ein bod ni wedi cynyddu'r taliadau hynny mewn gwerth 11 y cant yn unol â chwyddiant i roi cymaint o gymorth ag y gallwn ni ar gyfer y costau byw sylfaenol hynny fel bwyd a thanwydd, a £10.5 miliwn mewn grantiau eisoes, ac, fel y dywedais i, dros £5 miliwn mewn taliadau arian parod. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y gronfa cymorth dewisol yn arwydd pwysig iawn o'r cymorth rydyn ni'n ei roi i'r rhai sydd fwyaf agored i niwed.
But it is important just to say in terms of the work, further recommendations that are coming through, and the acknowledgement of evidence: these were taken from academics from the organisations we work closely with, including the Bevan Foundation, Citizens Advice, National Energy Action, and indeed, commissioners. Of course, the evidence of what works is actually laid out in the policies that we’re delivering. Of course, we need more finance to enable us to reach out. We cannot at this point in time; there is no money to help us provide those payments, but as I said, we must look at this, we must look at the recommendations and consider those in line with where we hope we might be in terms of future financial prospects with our public finances.
Can I just reassure Members on the Policy in Practice report? Indeed, when we met with those who developed the report with the Bevan Foundation, they did say that Wales is in an excellent position to take the work forward. They said there’s a lot of good practice within local authority delivery models that can be built upon, and we are working at pace, as I said in my statement, to deliver on the Policy in Practice report.
Now it is important, and apologies that I didn’t, because I had a lot of questions from Mark Isherwood, but I do want to respond on the child poverty strategy and to recognise—and the First Minister did as well earlier on today—the importance of all the voices and all of the evidence, which is independent, of course, and that’s why we have a children’s commissioner. I was very pleased to be the Minister who actually appointed, helped, with the young people, to appoint the first children’s commissioner all those years ago, because we need those independent voices.
But I think what’s been important about this child poverty strategy is that it is actually to deliver on the Measure, as I said in my statement. It was preceded by that engagement phase with young people, and we spoke to more than 3,000 people to ensure that we had got our objectives aligned with the experiences of people across Wales. Of course, it included children and young people, families and communities, organisations that work with children and young people, children and young people with protected characteristics—we gave grants to organisations to have that engagement—and the feedback that we had from that consultation pre-draft strategy was, 'We want you to do what you do, continue to do it, deepen it where you can in terms of finances and policy', and that’s how we came up with those five high-level objectives, priorities and commitments. We closed the consultation on 11 September. We’ve had a very good response to the consultation, including, of course, a response from all those organisations that have engaged with it so fully. I think that we had over 150 responses, in fact, to the consultation.
Last week, I chaired a summit with local authorities and also with public bodies, because they have the duty—this is a shared duty, a duty to tackle child poverty—and we had some excellent responses from local government leaders across Wales, led by the cabinet member for equality and social justice for the Welsh Local Government Association, talking about how they were delivering on that statutory duty to tackle child poverty, and giving excellent examples of how they were working together on these issues.
I think it is important that the Equality and Social Justice Committee is undertaking this inquiry, and we are looking, of course, at the responses to the draft child poverty strategy. It’s intended to be a 10-year strategy. It's setting the strategic direction for us and subsequent Governments to tackle child poverty. But it is important that we invest in the immediate challenges that children and young people and families are facing.
Addressing the cost of the school day, that hasn’t been mentioned, and it’s a crucially important part of the cross-Government action; the provision of advice and support; emergency food aid; and I’m very pleased that I’m going to be speaking at the Big Bocs Bwyd evaluation day later this week to acknowledge all of those innovative initiatives that are now making such a difference in our schools. I'm very proud of the work that they've done, which we gave the financial support for, to take this forward.
But it is important that we do consider all of the responses to the consultation on the child poverty strategy, that we work at pace on the Policy in Practice report, that we do safeguard our discretionary assistance fund, and that we also recognise what the UK Government—. And I'm sure that you would also be joining with colleagues in Westminster, who actually called for a package of targeted support by the UK Government for vulnerable groups and for a more proactive and more empathetic approach to customer service by energy companies. I'm going to be meeting energy companies in the next couple of weeks as well to make these points, but I'm also raising these issues with the UK Government directly, particularly the new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, because they have got to move forward on the social tariff for a fairer energy market for our consumers and the most vulnerable consumers in Wales.
Ond mae'n bwysig dweud, o ran y gwaith, argymhellion pellach sy'n dod drwodd, a chydnabyddiaeth o dystiolaeth: cafodd y rhain eu cymryd gan academyddion o'r sefydliadau rydym yn cydweithio'n agos â nhw, gan gynnwys Sefydliad Bevan, Cyngor ar Bopeth, National Energy Action, ac yn wir, comisiynwyr. Wrth gwrs, mae'r dystiolaeth o'r hyn sy'n gweithio wedi'i nodi mewn gwirionedd yn y polisïau yr ydym yn eu cyflawni. Wrth gwrs, mae angen mwy o gyllid arnom i'n galluogi i estyn allan. Gallwn ni ddim gwneud hynny ar hyn o bryd; does dim arian i'n helpu i ddarparu'r taliadau hynny, ond fel y dywedais i, mae'n rhaid i ni edrych ar hyn, mae'n rhaid i ni edrych ar yr argymhellion ac ystyried y rheini o safbwynt lle rydym yn gobeithio y gallem fod o ran rhagolygon ariannol yn y dyfodol gyda'n cyllid cyhoeddus.
A gaf i roi sicrwydd i'r Aelodau ar yr adroddiad Policy in Practice? Yn wir, pan wnaethom gyfarfod â'r rhai a ddatblygodd yr adroddiad gyda Sefydliad Bevan, fe ddywedon nhw fod Cymru mewn sefyllfa ardderchog i fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith. Fe ddywedon nhw fod llawer o arferion da o fewn modelau darparu awdurdodau lleol y gellir adeiladu arnyn nhw, ac rydym yn gweithio'n gyflym, fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, i gyflawni'r hyn a nodir yn yr adroddiad Policy in Practice.
Nawr mae'n bwysig, ac ymddiheuriadau na wnes i, oherwydd fe ges i lawer o gwestiynau gan Mark Isherwood, ond rydw i eisiau ymateb ar y strategaeth tlodi plant a chydnabod—ac fe wnaeth y Prif Weinidog hynny hefyd yn gynharach heddiw—bwysigrwydd yr holl leisiau a'r holl dystiolaeth, sy'n annibynnol, wrth gwrs, a dyna pam mae gennym gomisiynydd plant. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn mai fi oedd y Gweinidog a benododd, a helpodd, gyda'r bobl ifanc, i benodi'r comisiynydd plant cyntaf yr holl flynyddoedd hynny yn ôl, oherwydd mae angen y lleisiau annibynnol hynny arnom.
Ond rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sydd wedi bod yn bwysig am y strategaeth tlodi plant hon yw mai cyflawni'r Mesur yw'r diben, fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad. Cyn y strategaeth, cafwyd y cyfnod ymgysylltu hwnnw â phobl ifanc, a gwnaethom siarad â mwy na 3,000 o bobl i sicrhau bod ein hamcanion yn cyd-fynd â phrofiadau pobl ledled Cymru. Wrth gwrs, roedd yn cynnwys plant a phobl ifanc, teuluoedd a chymunedau, sefydliadau sy'n gweithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc, plant a phobl ifanc â nodweddion gwarchodedig—fe wnaethom ni roi grantiau i sefydliadau gael yr ymgysylltiad hwnnw—a'r adborth a gawsom o'r ymgynghori hynny cyn y strategaeth ddrafft oedd 'Rydym am i chi wneud yr hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud, parhau i'w wneud, ei ddyfnhau lle y gallwch chi o ran cyllid a pholisi', a dyna sut y gwnaethom ni feddwl am y pum amcan, blaenoriaeth ac ymrwymiad lefel uchel hynny. Fe wnaethon ni gau'r ymgynghoriad ar 11 Medi. Rydym wedi cael ymateb da iawn i'r ymgynghoriad, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, ymateb gan yr holl sefydliadau hynny sydd wedi cymryd rhan mor llawn ynddo. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi cael dros 150 o ymatebion, mewn gwirionedd, i'r ymgynghoriad.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnes i gadeirio uwchgynhadledd gydag awdurdodau lleol a hefyd gyda chyrff cyhoeddus, oherwydd mai ganddyn nhw ddyletswydd—dyletswydd gyffredin ydyw, dyletswydd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant—a chawsom ymatebion rhagorol gan arweinwyr llywodraeth leol ledled Cymru, dan arweiniad yr aelod cabinet dros gydraddoldeb a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol ar gyfer Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, a siaradodd am sut yr oedden nhw'n cyflawni'r ddyletswydd statudol honno i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant, ac a roddodd enghreifftiau rhagorol o sut yr oedden nhw'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd ar y materion hyn.
Credaf ei bod yn bwysig bod y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yn cynnal yr ymchwiliad hwn, ac rydym yn edrych, wrth gwrs, ar yr ymatebion i'r strategaeth tlodi plant ddrafft. Bwriedir iddi fod yn strategaeth 10 mlynedd. Mae'n gosod y cyfeiriad strategol i ni a Llywodraethau dilynol fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Ond mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n buddsoddi yn yr heriau uniongyrchol y mae plant a phobl ifanc a theuluoedd yn eu hwynebu.
Mynd i'r afael â chost y diwrnod ysgol, dydy hynny ddim wedi cael ei grybwyll, ac mae'n rhan hanfodol bwysig o'r gweithredu trawslywodraethol; darparu cyngor a chefnogaeth; cymorth bwyd brys; ac rwy'n falch iawn fy mod i'n mynd i fod yn siarad yn niwrnod gwerthuso Big Bocs Bwyd yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon i gydnabod yr holl fentrau arloesol hynny sy'n gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth yn ein hysgolion erbyn hyn. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r gwaith y maen nhw wedi'i wneud, y gwnaethom roi cymorth ariannol ar ei gyfer, i fwrw ymlaen â hyn.
Ond mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n ystyried yr holl ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad ar y strategaeth tlodi plant, ein bod ni'n gweithio'n gyflym ar yr adroddiad Polisi mewn Ymarfer, ein bod ni'n diogelu ein cronfa cymorth dewisol, a'n bod ni hefyd yn cydnabod yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU—. Ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi hefyd yn ymuno â chydweithwyr yn San Steffan, a alwodd am becyn o gymorth wedi'i dargedu gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer grwpiau agored i niwed ac am ddull mwy rhagweithiol a mwy empathig tuag at wasanaeth cwsmeriaid gan gwmnïau ynni. Byddaf yn cwrdd â chwmnïau ynni yn ystod yr ychydig wythnosau nesaf hefyd i wneud y pwyntiau hyn, ond rwyf hefyd yn codi'r materion hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn uniongyrchol, yn enwedig yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol newydd dros Ddiogelwch Ynni a Sero Net, oherwydd mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw symud ymlaen ar y tariff cymdeithasol ar gyfer marchnad ynni decach i'n defnyddwyr ac i'r defnyddwyr mwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru.
Minister, I'm grateful for your statement this afternoon and, I must say, your consistent leadership throughout this difficult period of the cost-of-living crisis.
Minister, you'll be aware that I spent much of last winter highlighting the poor behaviour of energy suppliers and the impact that it had on some of our most vulnerable households in Wales and across the United Kingdom. Residents in north Wales continue to be let down by the suppliers, they continue to be let down by the regulator, Ofgem, and they continue to be let down by the UK Government, who have all failed to act when it comes to standing charges. Residents in north Wales pay the highest standing charges for electricity anywhere in the United Kingdom. That's over £80 a year more than residents who live in London. This is £80 a year more that my residents in north Wales can ill afford during this cost-of-living crisis. The reality is it is a cost-of-living crisis that not only has been made in Westminster but worsened in Westminster by the inaction of the Conservative Government.
Minister, this is not a devolved matter. This is a matter for Westminster. I'm sure all colleagues across the Senedd Chamber here, particularly those who represent residents in north Wales, will join me in wanting to send a message through, via you in your conversations with the UK Government and National Grid, that we need change in relation to standing charges, and we need a reduction in the standing charges for residents in north Wales. Do you agree?
Gweinidog, rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma ac, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, eich arweinyddiaeth gyson trwy gydol y cyfnod anodd hwn o'r argyfwng costau byw.
Gweinidog, fe fyddwch chi'n gwybod fy mod i wedi treulio llawer o'r gaeaf diwethaf yn tynnu sylw at ymddygiad gwael cyflenwyr ynni a'r effaith a gafodd ar rai o'n haelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru a ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae trigolion y gogledd yn parhau i gael eu siomi gan y cyflenwyr, maen nhw'n parhau i gael eu siomi gan y rheoleiddiwr, Ofgem, ac maen nhw'n parhau i gael eu siomi gan Lywodraeth y DU, sydd i gyd wedi methu â gweithredu o ran taliadau sefydlog. Mae trigolion y gogledd yn talu'r taliadau sefydlog uchaf am drydan unrhyw le yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae hynny dros £80 y flwyddyn yn fwy na thrigolion sy'n byw yn Llundain. Mae hyn yn £80 y flwyddyn yn fwy nag y gall fy nhrigolion yn y gogledd ei fforddio yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw hwn. Y gwir amdani yw ei fod yn argyfwng costau byw sydd nid yn unig wedi cael ei wneud yn San Steffan ond sydd wedi cael ei waethygu yn San Steffan gan ddiffyg gweithredu gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol.
Gweinidog, nid yw hwn yn fater sydd wedi'i ddatganoli. Mae hwn yn fater i San Steffan. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd pob cyd-Aelod ar draws Siambr y Senedd hon, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n cynrychioli trigolion yn y gogledd, yn awyddus i ymuno â mi i anfon neges drwodd, trwoch chi yn eich sgyrsiau gyda Llywodraeth y DU a'r Grid Cenedlaethol, bod angen newid arnom mewn perthynas â thaliadau sefydlog, a bod angen gostyngiad yn y taliadau sefydlog ar gyfer trigolion yn y gogledd. Ydych chi'n cytuno?
I absolutely agree, and I thank Jack Sargeant again for the campaigning zeal and the influence that he's had in raising these issues. It's important also that you draw attention again, and it has been discussed in this Chamber, to the unfair way in which the residents of north Wales are facing the highest standing charges as well. Again, this is something that is the UK Government's responsibility in terms of the actions that they can take, but also energy suppliers. I've talked to energy suppliers as well about the standing charges. Some of them say that they agree that we should move away from those standing charges. And again, the Westminster select committee report, only this week, is also raising the issue of the unfairness of standing charges.
I think it's important, again, when I'm asked and challenged quite rightly about, 'Well, what are you doing in Wales and what can we do?', particularly and not only, if you like, given the strength of a ministerial responsibility—. I'm going to be writing and hopefully meeting with the new secretary for energy and net zero, Claire Coutinho, to actually raise the particular issues about standing charges in north Wales, but also with Ofgem as well, and to meet those energy providers. We've called also—and I know you would support me on this—consistently for the UK Government and Ofgem to introduce the social tariff, and I'll be raising that also with the Secretary of State for energy and net zero. It's the highest increase in Britain in terms of standing charges again, up 102 per cent, while south Wales is experiencing standing charges going up 94 per cent, the fourth highest in Britain. This now needs to go to the UK Government as an injustice to Wales. But what we can do in terms of the support for our Fuel Bank Foundation vouchers, which are now being taken up across Wales, particularly in off-grid areas, is making a difference, alongside our discretionary assistance fund.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr, a diolch i Jack Sargeant eto am y sêl ymgyrchol a'r dylanwad y mae wedi'i gael wrth godi'r materion hyn. Mae'n bwysig hefyd eich bod chi'n tynnu sylw eto, ac mae wedi cael ei drafod yn y Siambr hon, at y ffordd annheg y mae trigolion y gogledd yn wynebu'r taliadau sefydlog uchaf hefyd. Unwaith eto, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gyfrifol amdano o ran y camau y gallan nhw eu cymryd, ond felly hefyd gyflenwyr ynni. Rwyf wedi siarad â chyflenwyr ynni hefyd am y taliadau sefydlog. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw'n dweud eu bod nhw'n cytuno y dylen ni symud i ffwrdd oddi wrth y taliadau sefydlog hynny. Ac unwaith eto, mae adroddiad pwyllgor dethol San Steffan, yr wythnos hon yn unig, hefyd yn codi mater annhegwch taliadau sefydlog.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig, unwaith eto, pan ofynnir i mi a phan gaf fy herio'n hollol gywir am, 'Wel, beth ydych chi'n ei wneud yng Nghymru a beth allwn ni ei wneud?', yn enwedig ac nid yn unig, os mynnwch chi, o ystyried cryfder cyfrifoldeb gweinidogol—. Rwy'n mynd i fod yn ysgrifennu ac rwy'n gobeithio cwrdd â'r ysgrifennydd newydd dros ynni a sero net, Claire Coutinho, i godi'r materion penodol ynglŷn â thaliadau sefydlog yn y gogledd, ond hefyd gydag Ofgem yn ogystal, ac i gwrdd â'r darparwyr ynni hynny. Rydyn ni wedi galw hefyd—ac rwy'n gwybod y byddech chi'n fy nghefnogi ar hyn—yn gyson i Lywodraeth y DU ac Ofgem gyflwyno'r tariff cymdeithasol, a byddaf yn codi hynny hefyd gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros ynni a sero net. Dyma'r cynnydd uchaf ym Mhrydain o ran taliadau sefydlog eto, cynnydd o 102 y cant, tra bod y de yn wynebu taliadau sefydlog sy'n codi 94 y cant, y pedwerydd uchaf ym Mhrydain. Mae angen i hyn fynd nawr i Lywodraeth y DU fel anghyfiawnder i Gymru. Ond mae'r hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud o ran y gefnogaeth i'n talebau Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd, sy'n cael eu defnyddio ledled Cymru erbyn hyn, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd oddi ar y grid, yn gwneud gwahaniaeth, ochr yn ochr â'n cronfa cymorth dewisol.
Ac yn olaf, Heledd Fychan.
And finally, Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, I must echo the comments of Sioned Williams. Yes, we understand the recommendations here, but it's time that we saw action. My question is how will you be responding fully to each of the recommendations. Because I've noted some of the things you've raised here. You’ve said that some aren't possible. I think it would be great to have clarity in terms of a detailed response in writing, underlining what your response is to each recommendation, which one you're taking forward, and the consideration. Because a number of them are key ones, such as free school meals over the school holidays and the extension of food and fun programmes. These are questions that organisations that you've rightly thanked are desperate to know the answers to, because that impacts directly on how they operate, the amount of volunteers they need and so on.
I have another cost-of-living network event coming up, and one of the things that has consistently come up, which is also echoed in this report, is the fact that there is support available, but much of it is ad hoc, some is taken away at the last minute—that inconsistency, and something that is coming through in the recommendations. But what I’d like to be able to communicate to those organisations is what exactly is happening, and I'm unclear from your statement today about how we actually take forward these recommendations, be honest about the support available, but also ensure the support that is out there is reaching people, and that there is no confusion amongst the organisations that are actually at the front line supporting people.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, rhaid imi adleisio sylwadau Sioned Williams. Ydyn, rydym yn deall yr argymhellion yma, ond mae'n bryd i ni weld gweithredu. Fy nghwestiwn i yw sut y byddwch chi'n ymateb yn llawn i bob un o'r argymhellion. Oherwydd rwyf wedi nodi rhai o'r pethau rydych chi wedi'u codi yma. Rydych chi wedi dweud nad yw rhai yn bosibl. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n wych cael eglurder o ran ymateb manwl yn ysgrifenedig, gan danlinellu beth yw eich ymateb i bob argymhelliad, pa un rydych chi'n bwrw ymlaen ag ef, a'r ystyriaeth. Oherwydd mae nifer ohonyn nhw'n rhai allweddol, fel prydau ysgol am ddim dros wyliau'r ysgol ac ymestyn rhaglenni bwyd a hwyl. Mae'r rhain yn gwestiynau y mae sefydliadau rydych chi wedi diolch iddyn nhw'n gywir yn ysu i gael gwybod yr atebion iddyn nhw, oherwydd mae hynny'n cael effaith uniongyrchol ar sut maen nhw'n gweithredu, faint o wirfoddolwyr sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw ac yn y blaen.
Mae gen i ddigwyddiad rhwydwaith costau byw arall ar ddod, ac un o'r pethau sydd wedi codi'n gyson, sydd hefyd yn cael ei adleisio yn yr adroddiad hwn, yw'r ffaith bod cymorth ar gael, ond mae llawer ohono yn ad hoc, mae rhywfaint ohono'n cael ei dynnu i ffwrdd ar y funud olaf—yr anghysondeb hwnnw, a rhywbeth sy'n dod drwyddo yn yr argymhellion. Ond yr hyn yr hoffwn allu rhoi gwybod i'r sefydliadau hynny yw beth yn union sy'n digwydd, ac nid wyf yn glir o'ch datganiad heddiw sut y gallwn ni, mewn gwirioneddol, fwrw ymlaen â'r argymhellion hyn, bod yn onest am y cymorth sydd ar gael, ond hefyd sicrhau bod y cymorth sydd ar gael yn cyrraedd pobl, ac nad oes unrhyw ddryswch ymhlith y sefydliadau sydd, mewn gwirionedd, ar y rheng flaen yn cefnogi pobl.
Thank you very much, Heledd Fychan. As I said in my statement, it was really important we published the report today, and I shared it with you earlier today. And you will see from the recommendations that there are many—and I've commented on them—that we're actually already delivering, but they're very important recommendations, which I can respond to more fully now that we've got them and that I've made this initial statement.
Also, just to say that there has been an external reference group for the child poverty strategy, and I think the recommendations and the way we implement very much align with our child poverty strategy. I think that's a vehicle that will help us take this forward and give that full response. But during the summer, I also visited a number of projects across Wales and met with people with lived experience of poverty. I listened to them about their priorities as well and their needs. The roll-out of the free school meals, which, of course, is such an important part of our co-operation agreement, is already making such a difference, and reaching out to so many. But also, just recognising that some of the cross-Government work that we're doing has already been acknowledged as making a difference.
Of course, yes, there are things that happen as a result of policy consideration and our work together that are quite clearly making a difference across that whole range of policy areas. I haven't been able to respond to them all today. I think our Cabinet sub-committee on cost of living is now going to look fully at this report, but I'm glad that I've able to share it at the earliest possible time today with you to ensure that, on record, we recognise the importance of these recommendations. We're delivering on many of them, and we're calling on the UK Government, which I hope you will join us with, to actually respond to the recommendations that call specifically for action from the UK Government and indeed from local authorities as well.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Heledd Fychan. Fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, roedd yn bwysig iawn i ni gyhoeddi'r adroddiad heddiw, ac fe wnes i ei rannu gyda chi yn gynharach heddiw. Ac fe welwch chi o'r argymhellion bod yna lawer—ac rwyf wedi gwneud sylwadau arnyn nhw—rydym yn eu cyflawni eisoes mewn gwirionedd, ond maen nhw'n argymhellion pwysig iawn, y gallaf ymateb iddyn nhw yn llawnach nawr eu bod nhw ar gael i ni ac rwyf wedi gwneud y datganiad cychwynnol hwn.
Hefyd, dim ond i ddweud bod grŵp cyfeirio allanol wedi bod ar gyfer y strategaeth tlodi plant, ac rwy'n credu bod yr argymhellion a'r ffordd yr ydym yn gweithredu yn cyd-fynd i raddau helaeth â'n strategaeth tlodi plant. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n gyfrwng a fydd yn ein helpu i fwrw ymlaen â hyn a rhoi'r ymateb llawn hwnnw. Ond yn ystod yr haf, ymwelais i hefyd â nifer o brosiectau ledled Cymru a chwrdd â phobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd o dlodi. Fe wnes i wrando arnyn nhw'n sôn am eu blaenoriaethau yn ogystal â'u hanghenion. Mae cyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn rhan mor bwysig o'n cytundeb cydweithio, eisoes yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth, ac yn cyrraedd cynifer. Ond dylid nodi hefyd fod yna gydnabyddiaeth eisoes bod rhywfaint o'r gwaith trawslywodraethol yr ydym yn ei wneud yn gwneud gwahaniaeth.
Wrth gwrs, oes, mae yna bethau sy'n digwydd o ganlyniad i ystyriaethau polisi a'n gwaith gyda'n gilydd sy'n amlwg iawn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ar draws yr holl feysydd polisi hynny. Dydw i ddim wedi gallu ymateb i bob un ohonyn nhw heddiw. Rwy'n credu bod ein his-bwyllgor Cabinet ar gostau byw yn mynd i edrych yn llawn ar yr adroddiad hwn nawr, ond rwy'n falch fy mod i wedi gallu ei rannu gyda chi cyn gynted â phosibl heddiw i sicrhau ein bod yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd yr argymhellion hyn a bod hynny'n cael ei gofnodi. Rydym yn cyflawni llawer ohonyn nhw, ac rydym yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU, a gobeithio y byddwch chi'n ymuno â ni, i ymateb mewn gwirionedd i'r argymhellion sy'n galw yn benodol am weithredu gan Lywodraeth y DU ac yn wir gan awdurdodau lleol hefyd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Yr eitem olaf heddiw yw datganiad gan Ddirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth—Cadw: ennyn diddordeb cymunedau mewn treftadaeth. Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog i wneud ei datganiad. Dawn Bowden.
The final item today is a statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism—Cadw: Engaging communities with heritage. I call on the Deputy Minister to make her statement. Dawn Bowden.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae Cadw wedi cyflenwi rhaglenni arloesol i gynyddu ymgysylltu cymunedau Cymreig gyda safleoedd Cadw a'r amgylchedd hanesyddol ehangach. Mae’r gwaith hwn yn dangos sut y gall treftadaeth arbennig gyfrannu at lesiant pobl Cymru ac yn arbennig ei manteision o ran iechyd ac addysg.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Over the last year, Cadw has delivered innovative programmes to increase the engagement of Welsh communities with Cadw sites and the wider historic environment. This work demonstrates the contribution that our outstanding heritage can make to the well-being of the people of Wales and in particular its health and educational benefits.
Later this week, I will visit Cadw’s Neath abbey monument to discuss conservation and community engagement at the site. Over the last year, Cadw has linked with Dŵr-y-Felin Comprehensive School in Neath abbey to launch a young custodians scheme for this important Cistercian abbey site. This is part of a larger Cadw initiative, the young custodians Wales, to encourage young people to take ownership of their historic environment. Cadw has young custodians at several sites in north Wales, but its introduction at Neath abbey represents the initiative's first appearance in the south. The aim of the initiative is to create partnerships and learning spaces that complement the Welsh curriculum within communities and to encourage the young custodians to value and respect their Cadw monuments and the wider historic environment.
The response to the young custodians scheme at Dŵr-y-Felin has exceeded everyone's expectations. Many pupils volunteered to become young custodians, and at the end of the school year they assisted teachers as the site became an open classroom for Dŵr-y-Felin’s entire year 8 class for a day. Cadw and Dŵr-y-Felin are working together to build on the strong foundation created by the initial success of the scheme.
While Neath abbey has been furthering the learning of Dŵr-y-Felin’s pupils, its Cistercian counterpart at Tintern, in the Wye valley, has been supporting the rehabilitation of young offenders. Over the last few years, Cadw has been co-operating with the Newport youth justice team on an initiative in which young offenders work at Tintern abbey as part of their rehabilitation. The young people, who are accompanied by supervisors, weed, clear paths and clean delicate stonework, and also interact with visitors and work alongside Cadw’s ground maintenance contractors to gain valuable work experience. The project has been recognised as best practice amongst youth justice teams and has demonstrated tangible benefits to both the participants and the site. The scheme's success has seen the expansion of the initiative to Caerwent Roman town, with Cadw exploring its possible extension to other sites.
Cadw has also been working during the year to enhance volunteering opportunities at its sites. Volunteering affords opportunities to learn new skills, gain experience and work as part of a team. It can improve well-being and allow the volunteer to engage with the site and make a real contribution to the visitor experience. Cadw's volunteers at Plas Mawr, the Elizabethan townhouse in Conwy, provide a perfect example of the important part that volunteers play in creating a memorable visit. The Plas Mawr volunteers were highly commended in the museum and heritage awards, and won the Wales region award in the volunteers for museum learning category at the Marsh awards in November. Significant progress has been made in recruiting new volunteers at Castell Caerffili and also at Castell Coch.
The 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan' has set challenging goals to support all parts of society to embrace and celebrate Wales's diverse cultural heritage. This includes working with black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to identify and lift barriers to accessing heritage sites. Cadw has supported communities who do not traditionally engage with our sites. For example, over 3,500 refugees and asylum seekers had free admission to Cadw's sites last year. Cadw has also worked to diversify its website, co-creating content with the Romani Cultural and Arts Company and commissioning creative celebrations of black people in Welsh history.
It's worth noting that we're now in the midst of the annual Open Doors festival that takes place throughout September. Funded and organised by Cadw, it is part of the European Heritage Days festival and promotes awareness of and engagement with the Welsh historic environment. This year, the ever-popular celebration of Wales's built heritage sees more than 200 of our nation's historic sites and landmarks offering visitors free entry, some of which have never been accessible to the public before. The festival this year will encourage Welsh communities to explore some of the country’s lesser known and smaller scale sites. For example, this weekend you could take a tour of Segontium Roman fort, on the outskirts of Caernarfon, or St John's House, which is the oldest habitable building in Bridgend, with beams dating back to 1511.
In closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, I would like to highlight some of Cadw's initiatives to engage in the digital realm. Cadw led a myths and legends podcasting workshop this year. Fifty young people from Youth Shedz and Youth Cymru venues across Wales got hands-on experience of podcast production, from research and scripting to acting and sound engineering. It enhanced their skills and raised aspirations in the arts and the heritage sector. An even more exciting development is the ongoing work of the new Cadw Minecraft education offer, to link in with the existing Hwb Minecraft resource. That resource provides access to the popular gaming platform for educators and learners in Wales. Cadw Minecraft education will help young people to engage with the historic environment on a platform that they already know and love.
In conclusion, the recent pandemic brought into sharp focus the heritage that is on all of our doorsteps. With people restricted to the areas around their homes, the heritage located in their communities became the focus of attention. Now that we've emerged from the pandemic, Cadw is seeking to provide people with the opportunity to engage in the wider historic environment, both in the real and the digital worlds.
Yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, byddaf yn ymweld â heneb abaty Castell Nedd Cadw i drafod cadwraeth a sgwrsio â'r gymuned ar y safle. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae Cadw wedi ffurfio perthynas ag Ysgol Gyfun Dŵr-y-Felin yn abaty Castell-nedd i lansio cynllun ceidwaid ifanc ar gyfer y safle abaty Sistersaidd pwysig hwn. Mae hyn yn rhan o fenter ehangach sydd gan Cadw, ceidwaid ifanc Cymru, i annog pobl ifanc i gymryd perchnogaeth o'u hamgylchedd hanesyddol. Mae gan Cadw geidwaid ifanc mewn sawl safle yn y gogledd, ond cyflwyniad y cynllun yn abaty Castell-nedd yw ymddangosiad cyntaf y fenter yn y de. Nod y fenter yw creu partneriaethau a mannau dysgu sy'n ategu cwricwlwm Cymru o fewn cymunedau ac annog y ceidwaid ifanc i werthfawrogi a pharchu eu henebion sydd yng ngofal Cadw a'r amgylchedd hanesyddol ehangach.
Mae'r ymateb i gynllun ceidwaid ifanc Dŵr-y-Felin wedi rhagori ar ddisgwyliadau pawb. Gwirfoddolodd llawer o ddisgyblion i fod yn geidwaid ifanc, ac ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn ysgol buont yn cynorthwyo athrawon wrth i'r safle ddod yn ystafell ddosbarth agored ar gyfer holl ddosbarth Blwyddyn 8 Dŵr-y-Felin am ddiwrnod. Mae Cadw a Dŵr-y-Felin yn cydweithio i adeiladu ar y sylfaen gref a grëwyd gan lwyddiant cychwynnol y cynllun.
Er y bu abaty Castell-nedd yn hybu dysgu disgyblion Dŵr-y-Felin, mae ei gymar Sistersaidd yn Nhyndyrn, yn nyffryn Gwy, wedi bod yn cefnogi adsefydlu troseddwyr ifanc. Dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf, mae Cadw wedi bod yn cydweithredu â thîm cyfiawnder ieuenctid Casnewydd ar fenter lle mae troseddwyr ifanc yn gweithio yn abaty Tyndyrn fel rhan o'r adsefydlu. Mae'r bobl ifanc, sydd yng nghwmni goruchwylwyr, yn chwynnu, clirio llwybrau a glanhau gwaith cerrig cain, a hefyd yn sgwrsio ag ymwelwyr ac yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â chontractwyr cynnal a chadw tiroedd Cadw i gael profiad gwaith gwerthfawr. Mae'r prosiect wedi cael ei gydnabod fel arfer gorau ymhlith timau cyfiawnder ieuenctid ac mae wedi dangos manteision pendant i'r cyfranogwyr a'r safle. Mae llwyddiant y cynllun wedi gweld ehangu'r fenter i dref Rufeinig Caerwent, gyda Cadw yn archwilio ei estyniad posib i safleoedd eraill.
Mae Cadw hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio yn ystod y flwyddyn i wella cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli ar ei safleoedd. Mae gwirfoddoli'n cynnig cyfleoedd i ddysgu sgiliau newydd, ennill profiad a gweithio fel rhan o dîm. Gall wella llesiant a chaniatáu i'r gwirfoddolwr ymgysylltu â'r safle a gwneud cyfraniad gwirioneddol i brofiad yr ymwelydd. Mae gwirfoddolwyr Cadw ym Mhlas Mawr, y tŷ trefol Elisabethaidd yng Nghonwy, yn enghraifft berffaith o'r rhan bwysig y mae gwirfoddolwyr yn ei chwarae wrth greu ymweliad cofiadwy. Cafodd gwirfoddolwyr Plas Mawr ganmoliaeth uchel yng ngwobrau'r amgueddfa a threftadaeth, gan ennill gwobr rhanbarth Cymru yn y categori Gwirfoddolwyr ar gyfer dysgu mewn amgueddfeydd yng ngwobrau Marsh ym mis Tachwedd. Gwnaed cynnydd sylweddol o ran recriwtio gwirfoddolwyr newydd yng Nghastell Caerffili a hefyd yng Nghastell Coch.
Mae 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol' wedi gosod nodau heriol i gefnogi pob rhan o gymdeithas i gofleidio a dathlu treftadaeth ddiwylliannol amrywiol Cymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys gweithio gyda chymunedau du, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig i nodi a chael gwared ar rwystrau sy'n atal mynediad i safleoedd treftadaeth. Mae Cadw wedi cefnogi cymunedau nad ydynt yn draddodiadol yn ymweld â'n safleoedd. Er enghraifft, cafodd dros 3,500 o ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches fynediad am ddim i safleoedd Cadw y llynedd. Mae Cadw hefyd wedi gweithio i ddod â mwy o amrywiaeth i'w gwefan, gan gyd-greu cynnwys gyda'r Romani Cultural and Arts Company a chomisiynu dathliadau creadigol o bobl dduon yn hanes Cymru.
Mae'n werth nodi ein bod bellach yng nghanol yr ŵyl Drysau Agored flynyddol sy'n cael ei chynnal drwy gydol mis Medi. Wedi'i hariannu a'i threfnu gan Cadw, mae'n rhan o ŵyl Diwrnodau Treftadaeth Ewrop ac yn hyrwyddo ymwybyddiaeth o, ac ymgysylltu ag amgylchedd hanesyddol Cymru. Eleni, mae'r dathliad bythol boblogaidd o dreftadaeth adeiledig Cymru yn gweld mwy na 200 o safleoedd a thirnodau hanesyddol ein cenedl yn cynnig mynediad am ddim i ymwelwyr, rhai ohonyn nhw erioed wedi bod ar gael i'r cyhoedd o'r blaen. Bydd yr ŵyl eleni yn annog cymunedau Cymru i archwilio rhai o safleoedd llai o faint a llai adnabyddus y wlad. Er enghraifft, y penwythnos yma fe allech chi fynd ar daith o amgylch caer Rufeinig Segontium, ar gyrion Caernarfon, neu Dŷ Sant Ioan, sef yr adeilad hynaf y gellir byw ynddo ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, gyda thrawstiau yn dyddio'n ôl i 1511.
Wrth gloi, Dirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn dynnu sylw at rai o fentrau Cadw i gymryd rhan yn y byd digidol. Arweiniodd Cadw weithdy podlediadau mythau a chwedlau eleni. Cafodd hanner cant o bobl ifanc o leoliadau Youth Shedz ac Youth Cymru ledled y wlad brofiad ymarferol o gynhyrchu podlediadau, o ymchwil a sgriptio i actio a pheirianneg sain. Gwellhaodd eu sgiliau a chodi dyheadau yn y sector celfyddydau a threftadaeth. Datblygiad hyd yn oed yn fwy cyffrous yw gwaith parhaus arlwy addysg newydd Minecraft Cadw, i gysylltu ag adnodd presennol Hwb Minecraft. Mae'r adnodd hwnnw'n darparu mynediad i'r platfform chwarae poblogaidd ar gyfer addysgwyr a dysgwyr yng Nghymru. Bydd addysg Minecraft Cadw yn helpu pobl ifanc i ymgysylltu â'r amgylchedd hanesyddol ar lwyfan y maen nhw eisoes yn ei adnabod ac yn gwirioni arno.
I gloi, rhoddodd y pandemig diweddar bwyslais manwl ar y dreftadaeth sydd ar gerrig ein haelwydydd. Gyda phobl wedi'u cyfyngu i'r ardaloedd o amgylch eu cartrefi, daeth y dreftadaeth yn eu cymunedau yn ganolbwynt sylw. Gan ein bod ni bellach wedi dod allan o'r pandemig, mae Cadw yn ceisio rhoi cyfle i bobl gymryd rhan yn yr amgylchedd hanesyddol ehangach, yn y byd go iawn a'r byd digidol.
I'd like to start by thanking the Deputy Minister for her statement. I'm delighted to hear of the scale of the youth work that is going on. I, like many others here, believe strongly that our heritage and historic places are a tangible and essential part of the learning journey for our future generations, to enable them to understand the history of our nation, the lives of our ancestors, and importantly, what has helped to shape our nation, good or bad, into what we are and who we are today.
As the Deputy Minister will know, I have questioned the First Minister recently about how we can promote heritage careers, and in particular encourage school leavers to consider training in traditional building skills in which we have a particular shortage of workers. With this in mind, in what way is Cadw helping to promote this during their engagement with the young custodians scheme and when they work with other volunteers on heritage sites? As we know, heritage is worth over £960 million to the Welsh economy and it brings in another £1.7 billion in spending from visitors who enjoy the heritage and history that we have to offer here. It is vital that we maintain and, indeed, grow this sector, promoting Wales as a tourist destination, and it is vital that we have the skills here in order to properly maintain and preserve these sites. Therefore, what funding have you allocated for young people in order for them to realise the opportunities that are available to them in the heritage sector, and support apprenticeships in traditional skills?
Cadw's website mentions diverse communities, which cover a number of progressive categories, including LGBT and people of colour. But I'm disappointed that we have seemingly ignored an important group who have a considerable part to play: that of faith communities. People of all faiths play a massive role in the preservation of community heritage. To take just one example, the hundreds of listed churches across Wales are maintained tirelessly by volunteers and have been at the centre of congregations for many hundreds of years. Church groups work actively to maintain their heritage in Wales and to promote it to the wider public. And listed places of worship are a vital aspect of local culture and heritage, which serve communities across Wales as community hubs. I feel that their contribution is not being significantly recognised, particularly since faith tourism adds considerably to the Welsh economy, and more needs to be done to develop working partnerships. So, Deputy Minister, what efforts are the Welsh Government willing to make to encourage Cadw to reach out to faith communities of all denominations and help them identify the preservation needs of local heritage, and to help them promote and develop the narrative of their faith in their community, to help expand the financial potential of the faith tourism sector?
We hear repeatedly in this Chamber how communities across Wales do not feel empowered to make the choices that are right for them, and with our heritage, we have a unique opportunity to engage communities and champion Welsh history. For example, we can help to champion local historic societies, which give people a real sense of their own local history and help others to learn and engage, and undoubtedly it helps people to realise how they can actively contribute. By encouraging participation in these groups, it's involving us all in the shared national story, built up from a local level, and giving us a sense of identity and belonging, because it's not just about buildings and objects—it's about people past and present. Therefore, what steps will Cadw and the Welsh Government be taking to involve local historical societies and communities in plans to preserve Welsh heritage?
And finally, Deputy Minister, Cadw's race equality action plan calls for a political focus on race and sex-based elements of history, and as you will be aware, this interacts with another Welsh Government directive, that of the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan'. This is already leading to streets bearing the titles of Churchill and Nelson to be renamed, something we were always told would never happen. And by way of contrast, the Welsh Government seems very keen to embrace and celebrate the legacy of Owain Glyndŵr, and he is, of course, a national figure, but his reputation is also a controversial one and his rebellion and its response brought so much hardship and misery across Wales. We only have to look at the hundreds of bodies, many of whom were children, that were unearthed last year in Haverfordwest. All historical figures like Owain Glyndŵr, Churchill and Nelson need to be treated with balance that their legacies carry. Each figure needs to be evaluated against the context and struggles of their time, and yet it seems that these revisions to our history only seem to work one way. Therefore, Deputy Minister, what steps are you taking to ensure that all historical figures are evaluated equally when it comes to cultural heritage preservation, so that this process is undertaken sensitively and not at the behest of activists and single-issue groups? Thank you.
Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei datganiad. Rwy'n falch iawn o glywed am raddfa'r gwaith ieuenctid sy'n digwydd. Rwyf i, fel llawer o rai eraill yma, yn credu'n gryf bod ein treftadaeth a'n lleoedd hanesyddol yn rhan bendant a hanfodol o'r daith ddysgu ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, i'w galluogi i ddeall hanes ein cenedl, bywydau ein cyndeidiau, ac yn bwysig, yr hyn sydd wedi helpu i lunio ein cenedl, da neu ddrwg, i'r hyn yr ydym ni a phwy ydym ni heddiw.
Fel y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn gwybod, rwyf wedi holi'r Prif Weinidog yn ddiweddar ynghylch sut y gallwn ni hyrwyddo gyrfaoedd treftadaeth, ac yn benodol annog pobl sy'n gadael yr ysgol i ystyried hyfforddiant mewn sgiliau adeiladu traddodiadol lle mae gennym ni brinder o weithwyr yn arbennig. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, ym mha ffordd y mae Cadw yn helpu i hyrwyddo hyn yn ystod eu hymgysylltiad â'r cynllun ceidwaid ifanc a phan fyddant yn gweithio gyda gwirfoddolwyr eraill ar safleoedd treftadaeth? Fel y gwyddom ni, mae treftadaeth werth dros £960 miliwn i economi Cymru ac mae'n dod â £1.7 biliwn arall mewn gwariant gan ymwelwyr sy'n mwynhau'r dreftadaeth a'r hanes sydd gennym i'w gynnig yma. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cynnal ac yn wir yn tyfu'r sector hwn, gan hyrwyddo Cymru fel cyrchfan i dwristiaid, ac mae'n hanfodol bod gennym y sgiliau yma er mwyn cynnal a chadw'r safleoedd hyn yn iawn. Felly, pa gyllid ydych chi wedi'i ddyrannu i bobl ifanc er mwyn iddyn nhw wireddu'r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael iddyn nhw yn y sector treftadaeth, a chefnogi prentisiaethau mewn sgiliau traddodiadol?
Mae gwefan Cadw yn sôn am gymunedau amrywiol, sy'n ymdrin â nifer o gategorïau blaengar, gan gynnwys LHDT a phobl o liw. Ond rwy'n siomedig yr ymddengys hi ein bod ni wedi anwybyddu grŵp pwysig sydd â rhan sylweddol i'w chwarae: cymunedau ffydd. Mae pobl o bob ffydd yn chwarae rhan enfawr yn y gwaith o warchod treftadaeth gymunedol. Er mwyn cymryd un enghraifft yn unig, mae'r cannoedd o eglwysi rhestredig ledled Cymru yn cael eu cynnal yn ddiflino gan wirfoddolwyr ac wedi bod yn ganolbwynt i gynulleidfaoedd ers cannoedd o flynyddoedd. Mae grwpiau eglwysig yn gweithio'n galed i gynnal eu treftadaeth yng Nghymru a'i hyrwyddo i'r cyhoedd ehangach. Ac mae addoldai rhestredig yn agwedd hanfodol ar ddiwylliant a threftadaeth leol, sy'n gwasanaethu cymunedau ledled Cymru fel canolfannau cymunedol. Rwy'n teimlo nad yw eu cyfraniad yn cael ei gydnabod yn sylweddol, yn enwedig gan fod twristiaeth ffydd yn ychwanegu'n sylweddol at economi Cymru, ac mae angen gwneud mwy i ddatblygu partneriaethau sy'n gweithio. Felly, Dirprwy Weinidog, pa ymdrechion y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i'w gwneud i annog Cadw i estyn allan at gymunedau ffydd o bob enwad a'u helpu i nodi anghenion cadwraeth treftadaeth leol, a'u helpu i hyrwyddo a datblygu naratif eu ffydd yn eu cymuned, i helpu i ehangu potensial ariannol y sector twristiaeth ffydd?
Rydym yn clywed dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr hon nad yw cymunedau ledled Cymru yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u grymuso i wneud y dewisiadau sy'n iawn iddyn nhw, a gyda'n treftadaeth, mae gennym ni gyfle unigryw i ymgysylltu â chymunedau a hyrwyddo hanes Cymru. Er enghraifft, gallwn helpu i hyrwyddo cymdeithasau hanesyddol lleol, sy'n rhoi gwir ymdeimlad i bobl o'u hanes lleol eu hunain ac yn helpu eraill i ddysgu ac ymgysylltu, ac yn ddi-os mae'n helpu pobl i sylweddoli sut y gallant gyfrannu'n weithredol. Trwy annog cyfranogiad yn y grwpiau hyn, mae'n cynnwys pob un ohonom ni yn y stori genedlaethol yr ydym ni'n ei rhannu, wedi'i hadeiladu o lawr gwlad, ac yn rhoi ymdeimlad o hunaniaeth a pherthyn, oherwydd nid adeiladau a gwrthrychau yn unig sy'n bwysig—mae'n ymwneud â phobl ddoe a heddiw. Felly, pa gamau y bydd Cadw a Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gynnwys cymdeithasau a chymunedau hanesyddol lleol mewn cynlluniau i warchod treftadaeth Cymru?
Ac yn olaf, Dirprwy Weinidog, mae cynllun gweithredu cydraddoldeb hiliol Cadw yn galw am roi pwyslais gwleidyddol ar elfennau hanes hil a rhyw, ac fel y gwyddoch chi, mae hyn yn rhyngweithio â chyfarwyddeb arall gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sef 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol'. Mae hyn eisoes yn arwain at ailenwi strydoedd sy'n dwyn yr enwau Churchill a Nelson, rhywbeth y dywedwyd wrthym ni bob amser na fyddai'n digwydd. Ac ar y llaw arall, mae Llywodraeth Cymru i'w weld yn awyddus iawn i gofleidio a dathlu etifeddiaeth Owain Glyndŵr, ac mae o, wrth gwrs, yn ffigwr cenedlaethol, ond mae ei enw hefyd yn un dadleuol ac fe ddaeth ei wrthryfel a'i ymateb â chymaint o galedi a thrallod ar draws Cymru. Does ond angen i ni edrych ar y cannoedd o gyrff, llawer ohonyn nhw'n blant, a gafodd eu dadorchuddio'r llynedd yn Hwlffordd. Mae angen trin pob ffigwr hanesyddol fel Owain Glyndŵr, Churchill a Nelson gyda chydbwysedd sy'n rhan o'u gwaddol. Mae angen gwerthuso pob ffigwr yn erbyn cyd-destun a brwydrau eu hamser, ac eto mae'n ymddangos bod y diwygiadau hyn i'n hanes yn gweithio un ffordd yn unig. Felly, Dirprwy Weinidog, pa gamau ydych chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod yr holl ffigyrau hanesyddol yn cael eu gwerthuso'n gyfartal o ran cadwraeth treftadaeth ddiwylliannol, fel bod y broses hon yn cael ei chyflawni'n sensitif ac nid ar gais ymgyrchwyr a grwpiau un mater? Diolch.
Can I thank Joel James for those points, and he's covered a number of areas in that, starting with the youth custodian scheme, which is a fantastic scheme that we are now funding? It's an all-Wales scheme. It's been very successful in north Wales. We're now looking to move that to south Wales, as I said. We're developing partnerships and creating learning spaces that complement the Welsh curriculum, so we're trying to link that to the curriculum in terms of Welsh history and heritage.
But you also made a very valid point—and I know you asked the question to the First Minister last week—about the heritage skills in traditional building trades, and what we're doing to promote that. Now, I know in 2015 the construction industry identified that there were these types of traditional skills shortages for the heritage industry, and that has improved since then, since they published a report on responding to traditional building skills. And we do now see the roll out of a new built environment general certificate of education foundation and progression years, and that contains some of the basic knowledge and practical skills for work needed on traditional buildings. The Tywi Centre in Carmarthenshire, for instance, delivers a level 3 heritage skills national vocational qualification in stonemasonry, plastering and carpentry through the special applied skills programme, as well as a level 3 award introduction to repair and maintenance of traditional pre-1990 buildings.
However, there's currently no stonemasonry apprenticeship, and I think that is something, from a Cadw perspective, we probably need to utilise more than anything. If anybody has the opportunity to go and see the work that is currently going on at Tintern abbey, for instance—the very, very delicate maintenance and restoration work that's taking place in that abbey—that is the preserve of very, very skilled stonemasons. So, what we are doing, we're in discussion now with the Palace of Westminster restoration and renewal programme team to see whether there is something that we can do within Wales, working with Qualifications Wales, to see whether we could develop a new stonemasonry pathway in level 3 made-for-Wales apprenticeships. So, that is something that we're very keen to ensure that we see happen for all the reasons that you set out in your question and your contribution.
You talked about the contribution of faith tourism, and I know that we've had discussions in this Chamber before about the historic churches of all denominations—the fact that some of those are now lying empty, they will fall into disrepair if they're not looked after. Some are listed, some are not. A number of the churches and chapels in Wales are listed, but there is no doubt that a number of those buildings around Wales are closing. And it is vital that we work with all the different denominations to discuss the future of those buildings, and that's what Cadw are doing. But we cannot, obviously, take into ownership all of those buildings and repair all of those buildings, so we have to work in partnership with the denominations, with the churches themselves, to find a range of partners where we can look at sustainable futures for those precious buildings and restore them to their former glory. In some places, they are the heart of those communities, and of course we do have things like—. We've seen churches and chapels turned into community centres. We do have Welsh Government support for community assets that can be taken over by organisations, by churches, by groups, by community groups, and funded through the community asset scheme and community facilities grants. So, there are opportunities for all of that to be done, and absolutely working with local historical societies is vitally important in all of that.
You then mentioned the all-Wales 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', and I am absolutely clear, Joel James, that that covers all aspects of race in Wales. I've talked about, in my delivery, what we will try to do to encourage non-traditional communities to engage with our history, whether they are Gypsy and Roma Travellers, whether they are people with black, Asian and minority ethnic community backgrounds and so on. That is vitally important, as is recognition of our LGBTQ+ communities, as is recognition of women in our society. I often talk about—. You know, when I first became the Member of the Senedd for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, I struggled to find anywhere in Rhymney where we commemorated the contribution that women made to that town. And in fact we ended up—Jayne, you might remember—getting a purple plaque for Ursula Masson in the end, who was one of the first women from Merthyr to be recognised with a plaque within the town.
But you talked specifically, then, about the recognition through place names and commemoration. We are out to consultation with the guidance on how local and public bodies commemorate notable figures in history, and I've said this many times in relation to that—what we are not seeking to do is to rewrite history. History is history, but what we can do is we can frame people in history, and we can reference their part in history for good or for bad. And many of the people that we now know were connected with things like the slave trade—and you mentioned Picton—also did good things in life. So, we need to commemorate these people in the context of history and recognise that contributions that they made for good and ill. I won't go down the road of the contested history around Owain Glyndŵr. There are so many people in our history whose stories are contested, and people will have their own views on Owain Glyndŵr and many other historical figures. But we do want to recognise all of those people in our history. They all contributed to Wales and what Wales has become, and they need to be framed in the context of that.
A gaf i ddiolch i Joel James am y pwyntiau yna, ac mae wedi ymdrin â nifer o feysydd, gan ddechrau gyda'r cynllun ceidwad ieuenctid, sy'n gynllun gwych yr ydym ni'n ei ariannu nawr? Mae'n gynllun Cymru gyfan. Mae wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn yn y gogledd. Rydym ni nawr yn bwriadu symud hwn i'r de, fel y dywedais. Rydym ni'n datblygu partneriaethau ac yn creu mannau dysgu sy'n ategu cwricwlwm Cymru, felly rydym yn ceisio cysylltu hynny â'r cwricwlwm o ran hanes a threftadaeth Cymru.
Ond fe wnaethoch chi bwynt dilys iawn hefyd—ac fe wn i eich bod wedi gofyn y cwestiwn i'r Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf—am y sgiliau treftadaeth mewn crefftau adeiladu traddodiadol, a'r hyn rydym ni'n ei wneud i hyrwyddo hynny. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod yn 2015 bod y diwydiant adeiladu wedi nodi bod y mathau hyn o brinder sgiliau traddodiadol yn y diwydiant treftadaeth, ac mae hynny wedi gwella ers hynny, ers iddyn nhw gyhoeddi adroddiad ar ymateb i sgiliau adeiladu traddodiadol. Ac rydym ni bellach yn gweld cyflwyno tystysgrif gyffredinol newydd ar gyfer yr amgylchedd adeiledig a blynyddoedd sylfaenol a chynnydd, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys peth o'r wybodaeth sylfaenol a'r sgiliau ymarferol ar gyfer gwaith sydd eu hangen ar adeiladau traddodiadol. Mae Canolfan Tywi yn sir Gaerfyrddin, er enghraifft, yn darparu cymhwyster galwedigaethol cenedlaethol sgiliau treftadaeth lefel 3 mewn gwaith saer maen, plastro a gwaith saer coed trwy'r rhaglen sgiliau cymhwysol arbennig, yn ogystal â chyflwyno dyfarniad lefel 3 i atgyweirio a chynnal adeiladau traddodiadol cyn 1990.
Fodd bynnag, nid oes prentisiaeth saer maen ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth, o safbwynt Cadw, mae'n debyg bod angen i ni ei ddefnyddio yn fwy na dim. Os oes unrhyw un yn cael y cyfle i fynd i weld y gwaith sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd yn abaty Tyndyrn, er enghraifft—y gwaith cynnal ac adfer cain iawn, iawn sy'n digwydd yn yr abaty hwnnw—dyna waith seiri maen medrus iawn, iawn. Felly, yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud, rydym yn trafod nawr gyda thîm rhaglen adfer ac adnewyddu Palas San Steffan i weld a oes rhywbeth y gallwn ni ei wneud yng Nghymru, gan weithio gyda Chymwysterau Cymru, i weld a allem ni ddatblygu llwybr saer maen newydd mewn prentisiaethau lefel 3 ar gyfer Cymru. Felly, mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n awyddus iawn i sicrhau ein bod yn ei weld yn digwydd am yr holl resymau a nodwyd gennych chi yn eich cwestiwn a'ch cyfraniad.
Roeddech chi'n sôn am gyfraniad twristiaeth ffydd, ac fe wn i ein bod ni wedi cael trafodaethau yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen am eglwysi hanesyddol pob enwad—y ffaith bod rhai o'r rheiny bellach yn wag, byddant yn dechrau dadfeilio os nad ydyn nhw'n cael gofal. Mae rhai wedi'u rhestru, rhai ddim. Mae nifer o'r eglwysi a'r capeli yng Nghymru wedi eu rhestru, ond does dim dwywaith bod nifer o'r adeiladau hynny o gwmpas Cymru yn cau. Ac mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn gweithio gyda'r holl wahanol enwadau i drafod dyfodol yr adeiladau hynny, a dyna mae Cadw yn ei wneud. Ond ni allwn ni gymryd perchnogaeth o'r holl adeiladau hynny ac atgyweirio'r holl adeiladau hynny, felly mae'n rhaid i ni weithio mewn partneriaeth â'r enwadau, gyda'r eglwysi eu hunain, i ddod o hyd i amrywiaeth o bartneriaid lle gallwn edrych ar ddyfodol cynaliadwy ar gyfer yr adeiladau gwerthfawr hynny a'u hadfer i'w gogoniant blaenorol. Mewn rhai mannau, nhw yw calon y cymunedau hynny, ac wrth gwrs mae gennym ni bethau fel—. Rydym ni wedi gweld eglwysi a chapeli yn cael eu troi'n ganolfannau cymunedol. Mae gennym ni gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer asedau cymunedol y gall sefydliadau gymryd yr awenau, yn eglwysi, grwpiau, grwpiau cymunedol, a'u hariannu drwy'r cynllun asedau cymunedol a'r grantiau cyfleusterau cymunedol. Felly, mae cyfleoedd i wneud hynny i gyd, ac mae gweithio gyda chymdeithasau hanesyddol lleol yn hanfodol bwysig yn hyn i gyd.
Yna fe wnaethoch chi sôn am 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol' Cymru gyfan, ac rwy'n gwbl glir, Joel James, fod hynny'n cwmpasu pob agwedd ar hil yng Nghymru. Rwyf wedi sôn am yr hyn y byddwn yn ceisio'i wneud i annog cymunedau annhraddodiadol i ymgysylltu â'n hanes, p'un a ydyn nhw'n Sipsiwn a Theithwyr Roma, p'un a ydyn nhw'n bobl â chefndiroedd cymunedol du, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig ac ati. Mae hynny'n hanfodol bwysig, fel cydnabyddiaeth o'n cymunedau LHDTC+, fel y mae cydnabyddiaeth o fenywod yn ein cymdeithas. Rwy'n siarad yn aml—. Wyddoch chi, pan ddeuthum yn Aelod o'r Senedd dros Ferthyr Tudful a Rhymni am y tro cyntaf, roeddwn i'n cael trafferth dod o hyd i unrhyw le yn Rhymni lle roeddem yn coffáu'r cyfraniad a wnaeth menywod i'r dref honno. Ac mewn gwirionedd fe gawsom ni o'r diwedd—Jayne, efallai y byddwch chi'n cofio—blac porffor i Ursula Masson a oedd yn un o'r menywod cyntaf o Ferthyr i gael ei chydnabod gyda phlac o fewn y dref.
Ond fe wnaethoch chi siarad yn benodol, wedyn, am y gydnabyddiaeth trwy enwau lleoedd a choffadwriaeth. Rydym ni'n ymgynghori ar y canllawiau ynghylch sut mae cyrff lleol a chyhoeddus yn coffáu ffigyrau nodedig mewn hanes, ac rwyf wedi dweud hyn sawl gwaith mewn cysylltiad â hynny—yr hyn nad ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud yw ailysgrifennu hanes. Hanes yw hanes, ond yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud yw y gallwn ni fframio pobl mewn hanes, ac fe allwn ni gyfeirio at eu rhan mewn hanes fel da neu ddrwg. Ac roedd llawer o'r bobl y gwyddom ni bellach eu bod yn gysylltiedig â phethau fel y fasnach gaethweision—ac fe wnaethoch chi sôn am Picton—hefyd yn gwneud pethau da mewn bywyd. Felly, mae angen i ni goffáu'r bobl hyn yng nghyd-destun hanes a chydnabod y cyfraniadau hynny a wnaethant er lles ac afles. Wnaf i ddim codi'r hanes dadleuol ynghylch Owain Glyndŵr. Mae cymaint o bobl yn ein hanes y mae dadlau am eu straeon, a bydd gan bobl eu barn eu hunain am Owain Glyndŵr a nifer o ffigyrau hanesyddol eraill. Ond rydym am gydnabod yr holl bobl hynny yn ein hanes. Fe wnaethon nhw i gyd gyfrannu at Gymru a'r hyn yw Cymru, ac mae angen eu fframio nhw yng nghyd-destun hynny.
Diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog, am y datganiad hwn heddiw. Mae'n braf cael y cyfle i drafod treftadaeth yn y Senedd hon. Dŷn ni ddim yn cael cyfleoedd yn aml, ac mae'n rhaid i fi ddweud, pan oeddwn i'n gweld teitl o ran beth oedd y datganiad, roeddwn i'n dyfalu a fyddai efallai'n gysylltiedig efo'r ddau ddatganiad ysgrifenedig dŷn ni wedi'u cael gennych chi yn ddiweddar ynglŷn â Cadw, sydd yn edrych o ran y gwaith dan arweiniad Roger Lewis. Buaswn i'n hoffi gofyn a fyddwn ni'n cael cyfle i gael trafodaeth ar hynny, oherwydd dwi'n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig iawn. Wrth gwrs, mae yna bethau i ddathlu fan hyn heddiw, o ran yr ymgysylltu cymunedol, ond dwi'n meddwl, o ran edrych ar Cadw, yn amlwg, mi oedd yna drafodaeth fawr nôl yn 2017 ynglŷn â llywodraethiant Cadw ac ati, ac mi fyddwn i'n gobeithio y gallwn ni gael trafodaeth lawn fan hyn, a gobeithio y medrwch chi ymrwymo, oherwydd, o beth dwi'n deall, mae yna ddrafft efo chi y mis hwn, ac efallai y bydd yr adroddiad olaf fis nesaf. Felly, os caf i'r ymrwymiad hwnnw, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, for this statement today. It is good to have the opportunity to discuss heritage in this Senedd. We don't have those opportunities often, and I have to say, when I saw the title of the statement, I was wondering whether it was going to be related to the two written statements we've had from you recently on Cadw, which looked at the work led by Roger Lewis. I'd like to ask whether we could have an opportunity to discuss that, because I think it's very important. Of course, there are things to celebrate here today in terms of the community engagement, but I think, in looking at Cadw, clearly there was a major discussion back in 2017 on the governance of Cadw and so on, and I would hope that we could have that full discussion and debate here, and I hope that you will commit to that, because, as I understand it, you do have a draft this month, and perhaps the final report will be published next month. So, if I could have that commitment, I'd be grateful.
If I may, you don't have to convince me of the importance of heritage and the impact it has on people's lives. As you know, I worked for Amgueddfa Cymru before I was elected here, and certainly many of the things you list here are the benefits of heritage, and why it shouldn't be seen as a nice to have. It is absolutely essential, it is transformational, and some of the case studies you've illustrated here are very much indicative of why this is important. And it may come as a surprise to some people to learn that Cadw are doing all of these things, but for me it's the bare minimum of what they should be doing because we have the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 here in Wales, they are part of Government, and, the same as with Welsh Government-sponsored bodies, we should be engaging people and there shouldn't be barriers.
And there are huge opportunities, for instance, as you have outlined, with the curriculum in a whole host of different areas, but skills and apprenticeships is another one, but also in terms of Welsh history. We tend to think of Cadw as some of the big sites, but there are around 120 sites across Wales, and my question is: how many of these sites offer volunteering opportunities? How many volunteers are currently active with Cadw? And how many hours do they currently contribute, along with the demographics? Because I was interested to read Amgueddfa Cymru's recent annual report, which showed that they have, across seven sites, or eight including the collections centre in Nantgarw, 604 volunteers, who contribute 26,273 hours, and they've got the demographic data. So, I'd just like to know how successful Cadw are in terms of the volunteering schemes.
Also, in terms of Welsh language opportunities, you've seen, through what you've said in terms of the Young Custodians Wales scheme, that, when there is an opportunity for young people to engage, the benefits are immense, but unfortunately not every school or every year group or every pupil has that opportunity to engage. So, can I ask how many staff are currently working on public engagement within Cadw? Has that team increased? Are there any plans to increase it? And are there any plans in terms of any profit? Because obviously, in terms of some of our sites for Cadw, there is a charge there, so how is that reinvested, then, in terms of public engagement? I know that, previously, it was a very small team working in terms of public engagement—doing a fantastic job, but just not enough of them, which meant that their resources had to be targeted. And seeing that it's not universal is something that, perhaps, I'd like to get clarity on.
And finally, if I may, just in terms of Cadw, I think it is important, and I would counter some of Joel James's comments. Heritage is powerful and we shouldn't be scared of taking a stance sometimes and questioning some beliefs. My experience of going to some Cadw sites as a child, as a teenager, even as an adult, was being frustrated at the lack of Welsh history on display there. It is improving, but not everywhere. We had a lively debate around Sycharth and should that be a Cadw site. You know my views very clearly on that, but I do think that there's still this emphasis on a narrative of Edward I, dominant castles and so on, and, some of our smaller sites, perhaps we are not fully realising them in terms of their potential for exactly what this statement describes. So, can I ask, in terms of that universal opportunity to engage in our heritage, how do we ensure that we are maximising the impact of every Cadw site in Wales and ensuring everybody can participate, not just those who are lucky enough to be invited to or find out by chance?
Os caf i, does dim rhaid i chi fy argyhoeddi i o bwysigrwydd treftadaeth a'r effaith y mae'n ei chael ar fywydau pobl. Fel y gwyddoch chi, bûm yn gweithio i Amgueddfa Cymru cyn cael fy ethol yma, ac yn sicr mae llawer o'r pethau rydych chi'n eu rhestru yma yn fuddion treftadaeth, a pham na ddylid ei ystyried yn braf ei gael. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol, mae'n drawsnewidiol, ac mae rhai o'r astudiaethau achos rydych chi wedi'u darlunio yma yn arwydd mawr o pam mae hyn yn bwysig. Ac efallai y bydd yn syndod i rai pobl ddysgu bod Cadw yn gwneud yr holl bethau hyn, ond i mi dyma'r lleiaf eithaf o'r hyn y dylent fod yn ei wneud oherwydd bod gennym ni Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 yma yng Nghymru, maen nhw'n rhan o'r Llywodraeth, ac, yr un fath â chyrff a noddir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, fe ddylem ni fod yn ymgysylltu â phobl ac ni ddylai fod rhwystrau.
Ac mae cyfleoedd enfawr, er enghraifft, fel yr ydych chi wedi amlinellu, gyda'r cwricwlwm mewn llu o wahanol feysydd, ond mae sgiliau a phrentisiaethau yn un arall, ond hefyd o ran hanes Cymru. Rydym yn tueddu i feddwl am Cadw fel rhai o'r safleoedd mawr, ond mae tua 120 o safleoedd ledled Cymru, a fy nghwestiwn i yw: faint o'r safleoedd hyn sy'n cynnig cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli? Faint o wirfoddolwyr sy'n weithgar gyda Cadw ar hyn o bryd? A faint o oriau maen nhw'n eu cyfrannu ar hyn o bryd, ynghyd â'r ddemograffeg? Oherwydd roedd gennyf i ddiddordeb mewn darllen adroddiad blynyddol diweddar Amgueddfa Cymru, oedd yn dangos bod ganddyn nhw, ar draws saith safle, neu wyth gan gynnwys y ganolfan gasgliadau yn Nantgarw, 604 o wirfoddolwyr, sy'n cyfrannu 26,273 awr, ac mae ganddyn nhw'r data demograffig. Felly, hoffwn wybod pa mor llwyddiannus yw Cadw o ran y cynlluniau gwirfoddoli.
Hefyd, o ran cyfleoedd iaith Gymraeg, rydych chi wedi gweld, trwy'r hyn rydych chi wedi'i ddweud o ran cynllun Ceidwaid Ifanc Cymru, pan fydd cyfle i bobl ifanc ymgysylltu, bod y manteision yn aruthrol, ond yn anffodus nid yw pob ysgol na phob grŵp blwyddyn na phob disgybl yn cael y cyfle hwnnw i ymgysylltu. Felly, a gaf i ofyn faint o staff sy'n gweithio ar ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd yn Cadw? Ydy'r tîm wedi cynyddu? A oes unrhyw gynlluniau i'w gynyddu? A oes unrhyw gynlluniau o ran elw? Oherwydd yn amlwg, o ran rhai o'n safleoedd ar gyfer Cadw, codir tâl yno, felly sut mae hynny'n cael ei ail-fuddsoddi, felly, o ran ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd? Rwy'n gwybod, yn flaenorol, mai tîm bach iawn oedd yn gweithio o ran ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd—yn gwneud gwaith gwych, ond doedd dim digon ohonyn nhw, a olygai fod rhaid targedu eu hadnoddau. A gan nad yw hynny yn rhywbeth cynhwysfawr mae'n rhywbeth yr hoffwn i, efallai, gael eglurder arno.
Ac yn olaf, os caf i, dim ond o ran Cadw, rwy'n credu ei fod yn bwysig, a byddwn yn dadlau yn erbyn rhai o sylwadau Joel James. Mae treftadaeth yn bwerus ac ni ddylem ni ofni cymryd safiad weithiau a chwestiynu rhai credoau. Roedd fy mhrofiad i o fynd i rai o safleoedd Cadw yn blentyn, yn fy arddegau, hyd yn oed fel oedolyn, yn teimlo'n rhwystredig am y diffyg hanes Cymreig sy'n cael ei arddangos yno. Mae'n gwella, ond nid ym mhob man. Cawsom ddadl fywiog ynghylch Sycharth ac os safle Cadw y dylai hwnnw fod. Rydych chi'n gwybod fy marn yn glir iawn am hynny, ond rwy'n credu bod y pwyslais hwn o hyd ar naratif Edward I, y cestyll amlycaf ac ati, a rhai o'n safleoedd llai, efallai nad ydym ni'n eu gwireddu'n llawn o ran eu potensial ar gyfer yr union beth y mae'r datganiad hwn yn ei ddisgrifio. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, o ran y cyfle cyffredinol hwnnw i gymryd rhan yn ein treftadaeth, sut ydyn ni'n sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud y mwyaf o effaith pob safle Cadw yng Nghymru ac yn sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu cymryd rhan, nid dim ond y rhai sy'n ddigon ffodus i gael eu gwahodd neu yn eu darganfod trwy hap a damwain?
Well, thank you, Heledd for those comments. As usual, I find that, when I listen to you speak, your passion for heritage is something that resonates, and there's nothing that you say that I disagree with. So, we're not starting on opposite sides of the table on any of this stuff.
Can I just start with Roger Lewis and the governance review? As you know, he's started that governance review. I asked him to look at that earlier in the year and I'm waiting for his report now. I know we're trying to arrange a meeting at the moment. This was a governance review that had already been set in train from the last review in 2017, so this is a commitment that we gave in that review, and I know that he has been engaging far and wide with interested parties across the sector. So, I'm hoping that I should have the final report by the end of November, and that will be something that I will obviously be making a statement on when that is published. And we can certainly have a conversation about its content and where that takes us at that point.
I absolutely agree with everything that you say about heritage and culture. These are not just 'nice to have' things. These are things that don't necessarily sit with people as being vital, like the health service does, or, you know, 20 mph, all of that kind of stuff. So, I absolutely understand that the headline stuff that we see are the things that impact on people in their day-to-day lives, whether it’s transport, whether it’s the health service, whatever it might be, but I am absolutely clear that heritage and culture is something that is integral to our way of life, and it absolutely contributes to the health and wellbeing of the nation. It is what we're trying to do in establishing the national contemporary art gallery, and making sure that we have a dispersed model that takes our contemporary art out to people across the whole of Wales and doesn’t rely on people coming to it. I think that that’s what we need to do with our cultural sites, and Cadw has a huge part to play in that through the engagement that you've talked about and through the volunteering that you've talked about.
Now, unfortunately, Heledd, I don’t have those kinds of figures at my fingertips, but I will make sure that you have that, in terms of at how many sites we offer volunteering opportunities. That is growing. We would like to see more. At some of our sites, of course, we don’t have any staffing at all; there are no custodians there. Where we have significant sites with a number of custodians, then those tend to be the sites where we have volunteers because, obviously, they need to work alongside people who are employed by Cadw as custodians as well. But I will make sure that you have that information about how many sites and where we're looking to improve that. Because the key part of Cadw’s work is engagement in the community and engagement in schools, so I'll make sure that you have all of that information provided to you.
The narrative on smaller sites—I absolutely agree with you. This is why the Open Doors month is so important. When you look at the sites where the doors literally open for people, some of these are sites where, again, we don’t have custodians there, we don’t have volunteers there, but they play an integral part in our history and our heritage. So, we need to have the opportunity for those sites to be open and available to people at least part of the year, if not all of the year.
Unfortunately, a lot of this does come down to what funding is available. In an ideal world, of course, we would have far more money for our heritage sites, and we would be able to invest far more in our heritage sites. But Cadw has a very clear responsibility for maintaining and ensuring that our sites are protected and are maintained. This is why the question that Joel James was raising earlier on, about heritage skills, is really important as well. Because if we are going to protect these sites into the future, we need to have people with the skills that can do that as well.
Wel, diolch yn fawr, Heledd am y sylwadau yna. Fel arfer, rwy'n gweld, pan fyddaf yn gwrando arnoch yn siarad, bod eich angerdd am dreftadaeth yn rhywbeth sy'n atseinio, ac nid oes unrhyw beth rydych chi'n dweud yr wyf i'n anghytuno ag ef. Felly, nid ydym yn dechrau o safbwyntiau gwahanol ar unrhyw un o'r pethau hyn.
A gaf i ddechrau gyda Roger Lewis a'r adolygiad llywodraethu? Fel y gwyddoch chi, mae wedi dechrau ar yr adolygiad llywodraethu hwnnw. Gofynnais iddo edrych ar hwnnw yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn ac rwy'n aros am ei adroddiad nawr. Rwy'n gwybod ein bod yn ceisio trefnu cyfarfod ar hyn o bryd. Roedd hwn yn adolygiad llywodraethu a oedd eisoes wedi'i gynllunio o'r adolygiad diwethaf yn 2017, felly mae hwn yn ymrwymiad a roesom yn yr adolygiad hwnnw, ac fe wn i y bu yn ymgysylltu ymhell ac agos gyda phartïon a chanddynt fuddiant ar draws y sector. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y dylwn gael yr adroddiad terfynol erbyn diwedd mis Tachwedd, a bydd hynny'n rhywbeth y byddaf yn amlwg yn gwneud datganiad yn ei gylch pan gaiff hwnnw ei gyhoeddi. Ac yn sicr gallwn gael sgwrs am ei gynnwys a goblygiadau hynny bryd hynny.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â phopeth rydych chi'n ei ddweud am dreftadaeth a diwylliant. Nid pethau 'braf i'w cael' yn unig yw'r rhain. Mae'r rhain yn bethau nad ydyn nhw o reidrwydd yn bethau y mae pobl yn eu hystyried yn rhai sy'n hanfodol, fel y mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn ei wneud, neu, wyddoch chi, 20 mya, y math yna o bethau. Felly, rwy'n deall yn llwyr mai'r prif bethau a welwn yw'r pethau sy'n effeithio ar bobl yn eu bywydau beunyddiol, p'un a yw'n drafnidiaeth, p'un a yw'n wasanaeth iechyd neu beth bynnag ydyw, ond rwy'n gwbl glir bod treftadaeth a diwylliant yn rhywbeth sy'n rhan annatod o'n ffordd o fyw, ac mae'n cyfrannu'n llwyr at iechyd a llesiant y genedl. Dyma'r hyn rydyn ni'n ceisio'i wneud wrth sefydlu'r oriel gelf gyfoes genedlaethol, a sicrhau bod gennym ni fodel gwasgaredig sy'n mynd â'n celfyddyd gyfoes allan i bobl ledled Cymru gyfan ac nad yw'n dibynnu ar bobl yn gorfod mynd yno. Rwy'n credu mai dyna beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud gyda'n safleoedd diwylliannol, ac mae gan Cadw ran enfawr i'w chwarae yn hynny trwy'r ymgysylltiad rydych chi wedi siarad amdano a thrwy'r gwirfoddoli rydych chi wedi siarad amdano.
Nawr, yn anffodus, Heledd, nid oes gennyf i'r math yna o ffigurau ar flaenau fy mysedd, ond byddaf yn sicrhau y cewch chi'r rhai hynny, o ran mewn faint o safleoedd rydym ni'n cynnig cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli. Mae hynny'n cynyddu. Hoffem weld mwy. Yn rhai o'n safleoedd, wrth gwrs, nid oes gennym ni unrhyw staff o gwbl; nid oes ceidwaid yno. Lle mae gennym ni safleoedd sylweddol gyda nifer o geidwaid, yna mae'r rheini'n tueddu i fod yn safleoedd lle mae gennym ni wirfoddolwyr oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae angen iddyn nhw weithio ochr yn ochr â phobl sy'n cael eu cyflogi gan Cadw fel ceidwaid hefyd. Ond byddaf yn sicrhau y cewch chi'r wybodaeth honno am faint o safleoedd a ble rydym yn bwriadu gwella hynny. Oherwydd y rhan allweddol o waith Cadw yw ymgysylltu â'r gymuned ac ymgysylltu mewn ysgolion, felly byddaf yn sicrhau bod yr holl wybodaeth honno'n cael ei darparu i chi.
Y naratif ar safleoedd llai—rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi. Dyna pam mae'r mis Drysau Agored mor bwysig. Pan edrychwch chi ar y safleoedd lle mae'r drysau yn llythrennol ar agor i bobl, mae rhai o'r rhain yn safleoedd lle, unwaith eto, nad oes gennym ni geidwaid yno, nid oes gennym ni wirfoddolwyr yno, ond maen nhw'n chwarae rhan annatod yn ein hanes a'n treftadaeth. Felly, mae angen i ni gael y cyfle i'r safleoedd hynny fod ar agor ac ar gael i bobl o leiaf ran o'r flwyddyn, os nad trwy'r flwyddyn.
Yn anffodus, mae llawer o hyn yn dibynnu ar ba gyllid sydd ar gael. Mewn byd delfrydol, wrth gwrs, byddai gennym ni lawer mwy o arian ar gyfer ein safleoedd treftadaeth, a byddem yn gallu buddsoddi llawer mwy yn ein safleoedd treftadaeth. Ond mae gan Cadw gyfrifoldeb clir iawn dros gynnal a sicrhau bod ein safleoedd yn cael eu diogelu a'u cynnal. Dyma pam fod y cwestiwn yr oedd Joel James yn ei godi yn gynharach, am sgiliau treftadaeth, yn bwysig iawn hefyd. Oherwydd os ydym yn mynd i warchod y safleoedd hyn yn y dyfodol, mae angen i ni gael pobl sydd â'r sgiliau a all wneud hynny hefyd.
Thank you for your statement today. I've learned so much more about what Cadw does, so it was really welcome. Last week, we debated a petition about preserving and protecting Owain Glyndŵr's home, Sycharth, and how the bards connected communities with news and told the stories of history through the ages, so we didn't forget. And the new curriculum asks children to search out what it means to be Welsh as a project. I spent time on a project recording elderly people of the village, who talked about what it was like growing up 70 to 80 years ago in the village. Stories are captured in local books, but they are quite scarce. So, I was wondering how is the Welsh Government working to protect the stories that our local communities hold so dear, so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Diolch am eich datganiad heddiw. Rwyf wedi dysgu cymaint mwy am yr hyn y mae Cadw yn ei wneud, felly roedd croeso mawr iddo. Yr wythnos diwethaf, buom yn trafod deiseb am gadw a diogelu cartref Owain Glyndŵr, Sycharth, a sut y gwnaeth y beirdd gysylltu cymunedau â newyddion ac adrodd straeon hanes drwy'r oesoedd, fel na fyddem yn anghofio. Ac mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn gofyn i blant chwilio am beth mae'n ei olygu i fod yn Gymro neu Gymraes fel prosiect. Treuliais amser ar brosiect yn recordio pobl oedrannus y pentref, a oedd yn siarad am sut brofiad oedd cael eu magu 70 i 80 mlynedd yn ôl yn y pentref. Mae straeon wedi eu cadw mewn llyfrau lleol, ond maen nhw'n eithaf prin. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio i ddiogelu'r straeon y mae ein cymunedau yn eu trysori, fel y gellir eu mwynhau am genedlaethau i ddod.
Well, I think that that is hugely important. I saw my own children coming home from school when they were younger, and they were doing projects in school and speaking to my mother and my grandmother—who died a long time ago, but she was their great-gran—and actually asking her about what it was like growing up in the war. If we don't capture those stories, we lose them. So, it's not the big, historical stories, is it? It is about the everyday lives that people led, and we need to make sure that we have a record of that.
I'm absolutely determined that, within the national curriculum, we make space for that to happen, because that is part of the Welsh heritage that we were talking about. It is part—. For the first time, we do have Welsh history in the curriculum. But, as I say, that Welsh history is not all about Owain Glyndŵr and all the fighting knights and Edward I. It's about ordinary people, and it's ordinary people who make history. So, I'm absolutely determined that we should be able to do that. And everything else that we're doing around Cadw, whether it is through the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', whether it is through our other equality policies, the LGBTQ action plan, whether it is through the work that we do with our archaeological trusts, where we provide grants for them to make sure that we have a record of things that we're about to lose—. I went to visit the—I'm just trying to think of the name of the place—Porth y Rhaw promontory fort in Pembrokeshire. And we're going to lose it; we know we're going to lose it because the cliff is crumbling. And so it's really important that the archaeological trust is out there, with grants from Cadw, to record that for posterity. So, lots that is being done, Carolyn, and lots more that needs to be done. But I do think that the young custodian scheme is crucial to that, as well; getting as many young people involved with actually working with our heritage sites as well I think would be—. To increase that I think would be enormously helpful in terms of the work that we're trying to do to record all of that.
One thing I would also say, just very briefly, is about the digital work that Cadw is doing, because that is hugely important for recording our history as well. I talked in my statement about the work that we did to record local history; we had something called 15-Minute Heritage, which was on the Cadw site, so when we were in lockdown and people could only go out for an hour a day, you could go onto the Cadw website and literally have a look and see what was available within a 15-minute walk of your home, and, how people connected with their local history during that time, that's what we're looking to continue. And we've been able to digitise a lot of that information so that we do have digital access to our history, as well as the physical access to it, because not everybody can get out to all of those sites.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n hynod o bwysig. Gwelais fy mhlant fy hun yn dod adref o'r ysgol pan oeddent yn iau, ac roedden nhw'n gwneud prosiectau yn yr ysgol ac yn siarad â fy mam a fy nain—a fu farw amser maith yn ôl, ond hi oedd eu hen nain—ac mewn gwirionedd yn gofyn iddi sut beth oedd cael ei magu adeg y rhyfel. Os nad ydym yn cofnodi'r straeon hynny, rydym yn eu colli. Felly, does a wnelo hyd ddim â'r straeon hanesyddol, mawr, yn nac oes? Mae'n ymwneud â bywydau bob dydd pobl, ac mae angen i ni sicrhau bod gennym ni gofnod o hynny.
Rwy'n gwbl benderfynol ein bod ni, yn y cwricwlwm cenedlaethol, yn creu'r modd i gyflawni hynny, oherwydd mae hynny'n rhan o'r dreftadaeth Gymreig yr oeddem yn sôn amdani. Mae'n rhan—. Am y tro cyntaf, mae gennym ni hanes Cymru yn y cwricwlwm. Ond, fel y dywedais, nid yw'r hanes Cymru hwnnw am Owain Glyndŵr a'r holl farchogion yn ymladd ac Edward I. Mae'n ymwneud â phobl gyffredin, a phobl gyffredin sy'n creu hanes. Felly, rwy'n gwbl benderfynol y dylem ni allu gwneud hynny. A phopeth arall rydyn ni'n ei wneud o amgylch Cadw, boed hynny drwy 'Gynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol', boed hynny drwy ein polisïau cydraddoldeb eraill, cynllun gweithredu LHDTC, boed hynny drwy'r gwaith rydym ni'n ei wneud gyda'n hymddiriedolaethau archeolegol, lle rydym ni'n darparu grantiau iddyn nhw wneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni gofnod o bethau rydym ni ar fin eu colli—. Es i ymweld â—ceisio meddwl ydw i am enw'r lle—caer bentir Porth y Rhaw yn sir Benfro. A byddwn yn ei golli; rydym ni'n gwybod ein bod ni'n mynd i'w golli oherwydd bod y clogwyn yn cwympo. Ac felly mae'n bwysig iawn bod yr ymddiriedolaeth archeolegol yn gweithredu, gyda grantiau gan Cadw, i gofnodi hynny ar gyfer y dyfodol. Felly, mae llawer yn cael ei wneud, Carolyn, a llawer mwy sydd angen ei wneud. Ond rwyf yn credu bod y cynllun ceidwad ifanc yn hanfodol i hynny, hefyd; rwy'n credu y byddai cael cymaint o bobl ifanc yn ymwneud â gweithio mewn gwirionedd gyda'n safleoedd treftadaeth hefyd—. I gynyddu hynny, rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol iawn o ran y gwaith yr ydym yn ceisio'i wneud i gofnodi hynny i gyd.
Un peth y byddwn i hefyd yn ei ddweud, yn fyr iawn, yw am y gwaith digidol y mae Cadw yn ei wneud, oherwydd mae hynny'n hynod bwysig ar gyfer cofnodi ein hanes hefyd. Siaradais yn fy natganiad am y gwaith a wnaethom ni i gofnodi hanes lleol; roedd gennym ni rywbeth o'r enw Treftadaeth 15 Munud, a oedd ar safle Cadw, felly pan oeddem yn y cyfnod cyfyngiadau symud a phobl dim ond yn gallu mynd allan am awr y dydd, gallech fynd ar wefan Cadw a chael golwg a gweld beth oedd ar gael o fewn taith gerdded 15 munud o'ch cartref, a, sut y bu i bobl gysylltu â'u hanes lleol yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, dyna beth rydym ni'n bwriadu parhau ag ef. Ac rydym ni wedi gallu digideiddio llawer o'r wybodaeth honno fel bod gennym ni fynediad digidol i'n hanes, yn ogystal â'r mynediad corfforol, oherwydd ni all pawb fynd allan i'r holl safleoedd hynny.
Can I declare an interest as a trustee of the Evan Roberts Institute, an organisation that promotes faith heritage here in Wales?
Minister, I'm delighted to hear your words, in your response to Joel James, about the work that the Welsh Government wants to do to engage with faith communities to protect that aspect of Welsh heritage. I think it's very important that the Welsh Government is a facilitator, if you like. I appreciate that there's only so much money that can go around, but, certainly, there are some very unique faith heritage buildings that have been at risk over the years—I can think of one in your own constituency, for example, which, I'm delighted, now has its future safeguarded, the synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil. There are many others, of course, across Wales and no doubt desperate pleas could be made in respect of many of them. I'm also a member of Capel, which is the Welsh chapels heritage society, which works closely with Addoldai Cymru and other organisations to try and identify the very best examples of faith architecture, if you like, across Wales to make sure that we don't lose them for future generations. I wonder whether the Welsh Government would consider having a summit of all those organisations that are interested in faith heritage, bringing people together so that we can have a round-table, commonsense discussion on how we can identify those buildings across Wales that are very important and are really unique in all corners of the country, to make sure that the limited resources that we do have can be focused, if you like, on the very best examples of those buildings.
And if I may, there was a reference to military heritage as well. I know we've had some correspondence on this in my capacity as chair of the cross-party group on the armed forces and cadets, but I really do think that there is a need for a national military museum in Wales. We have a number of national museums, all of which I think are absolutely superb in terms of conveying the story of Wales to people. I think a national military museum is something that is missing from the offer at the moment; there's nowhere where people can go and learn about the history of the Royal Air Force in Wales or the Royal Navy here in Wales. We've got a number of army museums, but they don't really act as a network, and I wonder to what extent you'd be prepared to discuss with the cross-party group the possibility of trying, again, just to give an opportunity for those local stories and national stories to be told in terms of our military heritage here in Wales.
A gaf i ddatgan buddiant fel ymddiriedolwr Sefydliad Evan Roberts, sefydliad sy'n hyrwyddo treftadaeth ffydd yma yng Nghymru?
Gweinidog, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed eich geiriau, yn eich ymateb i Joel James, am y gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisiau ei wneud i ymgysylltu â chymunedau ffydd i ddiogelu'r agwedd honno ar dreftadaeth Cymru. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn hwylusydd, os mynnwch chi. Rwy'n sylweddoli mai dim ond hyn a hyn o arian sydd yna i'w rannu, ond, yn sicr, mae rhai adeiladau treftadaeth ffydd unigryw iawn sydd wedi bod mewn perygl dros y blynyddoedd—gallaf feddwl am un yn eich etholaeth eich hun, er enghraifft, sydd, rwy'n falch iawn, bellach â'i ddyfodol wedi'i ddiogelu, y synagog ym Merthyr Tudful. Mae llawer o rai eraill, wrth gwrs, ar draws Cymru ac mae'n siŵr y gellid gwneud galwad daer mewn cysylltiad â llawer ohonyn nhw. Rwyf hefyd yn aelod o Capel, sef cymdeithas dreftadaeth capeli Cymru, sy'n gweithio'n agos gydag Addoldai Cymru a sefydliadau eraill i geisio nodi'r enghreifftiau gorau o bensaernïaeth ffydd, os mynnwch chi, ledled Cymru i wneud yn siŵr nad ydym yn eu colli ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Tybed a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried cael uwchgynhadledd o'r holl sefydliadau hynny sydd â diddordeb mewn treftadaeth ffydd, gan ddod â phobl at ei gilydd fel y gallwn ni gael trafodaeth ford gron, synnwyr cyffredin, ar sut y gallwn ni ddynodi'r adeiladau hynny ledled Cymru sy'n bwysig iawn ac sy'n wirioneddol unigryw ym mhob cwr o'r wlad, i wneud yn siŵr bod yr adnoddau cyfyngedig sydd gennym ni yn gallu canolbwyntio, os mynnwch chi, ar yr enghreifftiau gorau o'r adeiladau hynny.
Ac os caf i, roedd cyfeiriad at dreftadaeth filwrol hefyd. Rwy'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi gohebu rhywfaint ar hyn yn rhinwedd fy swydd yn gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar y lluoedd arfog a'r cadetiaid, ond rwy'n credu mewn gwirionedd bod angen amgueddfa filwrol genedlaethol yng Nghymru. Mae gennym ni nifer o amgueddfeydd cenedlaethol, ac rwy'n credu bod pob un ohonyn nhw yn hollol wych o ran cyfleu stori Cymru i bobl. Rwy'n credu bod amgueddfa filwrol genedlaethol yn rhywbeth sydd ar goll o'r cynnig ar hyn o bryd; does unman lle gall pobl fynd i ddysgu am hanes y Llu Awyr Brenhinol yng Nghymru na'r Llynges Frenhinol yma yng Nghymru. Mae gennym ni nifer o amgueddfeydd milwrol, ond dydyn nhw ddim wir yn gweithredu fel rhwydwaith, a tybed i ba raddau y byddech chi'n barod i drafod gyda'r grŵp trawsbleidiol y posibilrwydd o geisio, unwaith eto, rhoi cyfle i'r straeon lleol a'r straeon cenedlaethol hynny gael eu hadrodd o ran ein treftadaeth filwrol yma yng Nghymru.
I thank Darren Millar for those points. In fact, if I deal with that last one first, because you did write to me, Darren, and I responded to you at that time. I'm not sure that things have moved on any further from when I wrote to you about that, but I absolutely acknowledge the points that you're making about the need to have somewhere where our military history is accessible to everyone. Now, whether that needs to be—this is something we talked about—a new-build museum, and I don't know where the money for that will come from—that's the starting point for everything at the moment, and I know you understand that—but that doesn't mean that we can't find some more imaginative ways of making sure that this is done.
I was interested when you spoke to me about this recently that there isn't actually anywhere where you can go to see the RAF or the navy. We've got army museums, but we don't have anywhere to look at the contribution that the other services have made to Welsh life. So, I think there is still a conversation to be had. I think there is still something that we could look at and we could probably involve Amgueddfa Cymru in all of that. I can't stand here and say that we're going to present you with a shiny new museum, but I think that there are ways that we can work with the existing structures to see what we can do, so I'm happy to continue having that conversation.
In terms of the faith heritage, again, I think if we can have a conversation about how we can promote faith heritage more effectively than we do now, then I would, again, be more than happy to do that. Actually, in advance of this statement today, I received a letter from the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, who talked to me about the Catholic churches in Wales and how they've been overlooked in terms of listing and so on. So, I'm conscious that this, as you say, goes across all denominations.
You referenced the synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil, which is going to be absolutely amazing, but what has happened is somebody has got hold of that building and they have worked tirelessly to get funding for it, so Welsh Government have contributed, but there are private investors, Cadw is involved and we will end up with a national Jewish heritage centre on that site for the whole of Wales. It will be absolutely fantastic.
So, yes, I absolutely get it. Some of the churches and chapels that we've got across Wales, they tell a story in and of themselves of faith across the country. So, again, if there is something we can do, Darren, in terms of talking about how we might be able to bring people together, with the limited resources that you've identified, to see if we can do more about promoting faith heritage, then I'm absolutely happy to do that.
Diolch i Darren Millar am y pwyntiau yna. I ddweud y gwir, fe soniaf i am y sylw olaf hwnnw yn gyntaf, oherwydd i chi ysgrifennu ataf, Darren, ac fe wnes i ymateb i chi ar y pryd. Nid wyf yn siŵr bod pethau wedi symud ymlaen ymhellach o'r adeg y gwnes i ysgrifennu atoch chi am hynny, ond rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr y pwyntiau rydych chi'n eu gwneud am yr angen i gael rhywle lle mae ein hanes milwrol yn hygyrch i bawb. Nawr, p'un a oes angen i hynny fod yn—mae hyn yn rhywbeth y buom yn sôn amdano—amgueddfa wedi ei hadeiladu o'r newydd, ac ni wn i o ble ddaw'r arian ar gyfer hynny—dyna'r man cychwyn i bopeth ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn deall hynny—ond dydy hynny ddim yn golygu na allwn ni ddod o hyd i ffyrdd mwy dychmygus o sicrhau bod hyn yn cael ei wneud.
Roedd gennyf i ddiddordeb pan wnaethoch chi siarad â mi am hyn yn ddiweddar nad oes unrhyw le mewn gwirionedd lle gallwch chi fynd i weld yr awyrlu neu'r llynges. Mae gennym ni amgueddfeydd y fyddin, ond nid oes gennym ni unrhyw le i edrych ar y cyfraniad y mae'r gwasanaethau eraill wedi'i wneud i fywyd Cymru. Felly, rwy'n credu bod sgwrs i'w chael o hyd. Rwy'n credu bod rhywbeth y gallem edrych arno o hyd ac mae'n debyg y gallem ni gynnwys Amgueddfa Cymru yn hynny i gyd. Ni allaf sefyll yma a dweud ein bod yn mynd i gyflwyno amgueddfa newydd sgleiniog i chi, ond rwy'n credu bod ffyrdd y gallwn ni weithio gyda'r adeileddau presennol i weld beth allwn ni ei wneud, felly rwy'n hapus i barhau i gael y sgwrs honno.
O ran treftadaeth ffydd, unwaith eto, rwy'n credu os gallwn ni gael sgwrs am sut y gallwn ni hyrwyddo treftadaeth ffydd yn fwy effeithiol nag yr ydym ni yn ei wneud nawr, yna byddwn i, unwaith eto, yn fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. A dweud y gwir, cyn y datganiad hwn heddiw, cefais lythyr gan Gynhadledd Esgobion Catholig Cymru a Lloegr, a siaradodd â mi am yr eglwysi Catholig yng Nghymru a sut maen nhw wedi cael eu hanwybyddu o ran cael eu rhestru ac ati. Felly, rwy'n ymwybodol bod hyn, fel y dywedwch chi, yn cwmpasu pob enwad.
Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at y synagog ym Merthyr Tudful, sy'n mynd i fod yn hollol anhygoel, ond yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yw bod rhywun wedi cael gafael ar yr adeilad hwnnw ac wedi gweithio'n ddiflino i gael cyllid ar ei gyfer, felly mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyfrannu, ond mae buddsoddwyr preifat, mae Cadw yn cymryd rhan a bydd gennym ni yn y pen draw ganolfan dreftadaeth Iddewig genedlaethol ar y safle hwnnw ar gyfer Cymru gyfan. Bydd yn hollol wych.
Felly, ydw, rwy'n deall yn llwyr. Mae rhai o'r eglwysi a'r capeli sydd gennym ni ar draws Cymru, yn adrodd stori ynddynt eu hunain o ffydd ledled y wlad. Felly, unwaith eto, os oes rhywbeth y gallwn ei wneud, Darren, o ran siarad am sut y gallem ni ddod â phobl ynghyd, gyda'r adnoddau cyfyngedig yr ydych chi wedi'u nodi, i weld a allwn ni wneud mwy i hyrwyddo treftadaeth ffydd, yna rwy'n gwbl hapus i wneud hynny.
Ac yn olaf, Sioned Williams.
And finally, Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As someone who's long campaigned for the heritage sites of Neath to have better access and to be better promoted, it was good to hear you mention Neath abbey, Deputy Minister, and the positive response of Dwr-y-Felin school pupils to the young custodian scheme there. I really welcome the aim of increasing the engagement of communities with these sites, but that engagement, do you agree, must be inclusive? Neath abbey has four parking spaces, none of which are disabled; there are no toilets, disabled or otherwise; there's no cafe or visitor centre, nowhere you can buy a postcard, let alone a guidebook; and Cadw's website calls it one of the most
'impressive monastic remains in south-east Wales.'
I can assure you it's not in south-east Wales.
So, Neath abbey ironworks nearby is equally impressive, an important site of the industrial era, and the Friends of Neath Abbey Ironworks do an incredible job there as volunteers, excavating the site, holding work days, and it's recently been one of the open door days with Cadw. But I'd like to know, both, how are you going to improve access to these sites and also better promotion of these sites, bringing all these sites together in one imaginative heritage offer for places like Neath that really need it?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A minnau wedi ymgyrchu ers amser maith dros gael mynediad gwell i safleoedd treftadaeth Castell-nedd ac iddyn nhw gael eu hyrwyddo'n well, roedd yn dda eich clywed yn sôn am abaty Castell-nedd, Dirprwy Weinidog, ac ymateb cadarnhaol disgyblion ysgol Dŵr-y-Felin i'r cynllun ceidwaid ifanc yno. Rwyf wir yn croesawu'r nod o gynyddu ymgysylltiad cymunedau â'r safleoedd hyn, ond mae'n rhaid i'r ymgysylltiad hwnnw, ydych chi'n cytuno, fod yn gynhwysol? Mae gan abaty Castell-nedd bedwar lle parcio, ac nid oes yr un ohonyn nhw yn addas i'r anabl; nid oes toiledau, rhai i'r anabl neu fel arall; does dim caffi na chanolfan ymwelwyr, unman y gallwch chi brynu cerdyn post, heb sôn am arweinlyfr; ac mae gwefan Cadw yn ei galw yn un o'r
'adfeilion mynachaidd mwyaf trawiadol yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru.'
Gallaf eich sicrhau nad yw yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru.
Felly, mae gwaith haearn Abaty Castell-nedd gerllaw yr un mor drawiadol, yn safle pwysig o'r oes ddiwydiannol, ac mae Cyfeillion Gwaith Haearn Abaty Castell-nedd yn gwneud gwaith anhygoel yno fel gwirfoddolwyr, yn cloddio'r safle, cynnal diwrnodau gwaith, ac yn ddiweddar mae wedi bod yn un o'r diwrnodau drws agored gyda Cadw. Ond hoffwn wybod dau beth, sef sut ydych chi'n mynd i wella mynediad i'r safleoedd hyn a hefyd hyrwyddo'r safleoedd hyn yn well, gan ddod â'r holl safleoedd hyn at ei gilydd mewn un cynnig treftadaeth dychmygus ar gyfer lleoedd fel Castell-nedd sydd wir ei angen?
Thank you, Sioned, for those comments. Now, I'm not particularly familiar with Neath abbey. It's not a part of the world I'm particularly familiar with, as I've spent most of my life around south-east Wales, and I'll make sure that the website's amended to correctly locate where Neath abbey is. But I am going to Neath abbey on Thursday as part of the celebration of tourism for tourism week. So, Neath abbey is on my list for Thursday, so I'll get the opportunity to have a look at that first-hand and see for myself what we think may need to be done.
As you say, it absolutely is a scheduled monument that needs to be protected, and people encouraged to see it. And it’s striking that balance—we talked about this with Sycharth, didn’t we—striking the balance between ensuring that a scheduled monument, something that is so important to our history, is accessible to the public and that we encourage people to engage with and to visit, but that we ensure that that in itself doesn’t damage the building and the site. So, we have to manage that very effectively, yes.
So, it does need to be managed effectively, but I take your point: there’s a lot of work that needs to be done there. The young custodians initiative there, that you talked about, that’s creating all those kinds of partnerships that we want to see, bringing these sites to life. But I will take a good look at the issues that you’ve raised today, Sioned, when I visit Neath abbey on Thursday, and I will get back to you and perhaps have a conversation with you about what we can or can’t do on the site.
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned, am y sylwadau yna. Nawr, dydw i ddim yn arbennig o gyfarwydd ag abaty Castell-nedd. Nid yw'n rhan o'r byd rwy'n arbennig o gyfarwydd â hi, gan fy mod i wedi treulio'r rhan fwyaf o fy mywyd o amgylch y de-ddwyrain, a byddaf yn sicrhau bod y wefan wedi newid i roi lleoliad cywir abaty Castell-nedd. Ond rydw i'n mynd i abaty Castell-nedd ddydd Iau yn rhan o'r dathliad twristiaeth ar gyfer yr wythnos dwristiaeth. Felly, mae abaty Castell-nedd ar fy rhestr ar gyfer dydd Iau, felly byddaf yn cael cyfle i gael golwg uniongyrchol ar hynny a gweld drosof fy hun beth y credwn y gallai fod angen ei wneud.
Fel y dywedwch chi, mae'n bendant yn heneb gofrestredig y mae angen ei diogelu, ac y mae angen annog pobl i'w gweld. Ac mae'n ymwneud â chael y cydbwysedd hwnnw—fe wnaethom ni siarad am hyn gyda Sycharth, oni wnaethon ni—cael y cydbwysedd rhwng sicrhau bod heneb gofrestredig, rhywbeth sydd mor bwysig i'n hanes, yn hygyrch i'r cyhoedd a'n bod yn annog pobl i ymgysylltu ag ef ac i ymweld, ond ein bod ni'n sicrhau nad yw hynny ynddo'i hun yn niweidio'r adeilad a'r safle. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni reoli hynny'n effeithiol iawn, oes.
Felly, mae angen ei reoli'n effeithiol, ond rwy'n derbyn eich sylw: mae llawer o waith y mae angen ei wneud yno. Y fenter ceidwaid ifanc yno, y gwnaethoch chi siarad amdani, mae'n creu'r holl fathau hynny o bartneriaethau yr ydym eisiau eu gweld, gan ddod â'r safleoedd hyn yn fyw. Ond caf olwg iawn ar y materion rydych chi wedi'u codi heddiw, Sioned, pan fyddaf yn ymweld ag abaty Castell-nedd ddydd Iau, ac fe ddof yn ôl atoch chi ac efallai cael sgwrs gyda chi am yr hyn y gallwn ni neu na allwn ni ei wneud ar y safle.
Diolch i’r Dirprwy Weinidog a daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben. Diolch, bawb.
I thank the Deputy Minister and that brings today’s proceedings to a close. Thank you, all.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 17:51.
The meeting ended at 17:51.