Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
12/02/2025Cynnwys
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. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan James Evans.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, and the first question is from James Evans.
1. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda chyrff llywodraethu chwaraeon i gefnogi'r lluoedd arfog? OQ62279
1. How is the Welsh Government working with sport governing bodies to support the armed forces? OQ62279
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Diolch. The Welsh Government has an enduring moral duty to support our armed forces in all aspects of their daily lives. Our remit letter to Sport Wales makes it clear we expect to see improved access to sporting opportunities for all, including members of the armed forces.
Diolch. Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddyletswydd foesol barhaus i gefnogi ein lluoedd arfog ym mhob agwedd ar eu bywydau bob dydd. Mae ein llythyr cylch gwaith at Chwaraeon Cymru yn nodi'n glir ein bod yn disgwyl gweld gwell mynediad at gyfleoedd chwaraeon i bawb, gan gynnwys aelodau’r lluoedd arfog.
Thank you, and it's very positive that Sport Wales have signed the armed forces covenant, but I'd like us to go a little bit further. And I'd like to know if the Welsh Government would consider setting up an armed forces-friendly sports club scheme across Wales to better support serving personnel, veterans and their families. I think this could be done, working with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Football Association of Wales and other bodies across the country. And I think such a scheme could make a real difference in helping to improve the mental and physical well-being of our veterans and those in the process of leaving the armed forces and transitioning to civilian life, and in strengthening those community ties between our armed forces and our sports bodies across Wales. So, I think this is something, Minister, that I think could work and I'd be very interested to hear whether you'd give your support for such a scheme being established across Wales.
Diolch, ac mae'n gadarnhaol iawn fod Chwaraeon Cymru wedi llofnodi cyfamod y lluoedd arfog, ond hoffwn inni fynd ychydig ymhellach. A hoffwn wybod a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried sefydlu cynllun clwb chwaraeon ar gyfer Cymru gyfan sy'n ystyriol o'r lluoedd arfog i gefnogi personél sy’n gwasanaethu, cyn-filwyr a’u teuluoedd yn well. Credaf y gellid gwneud hyn, gan weithio gydag Undeb Rygbi Cymru a Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru a chyrff eraill ledled y wlad. A chredaf y gallai cynllun o’r fath wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i helpu i wella llesiant meddyliol a chorfforol ein cyn-filwyr a’r rhai sydd yn y broses o adael y lluoedd arfog a phontio i fywyd sifil, ac i gryfhau cysylltiadau cymunedol rhwng ein lluoedd arfog a’n cyrff chwaraeon ledled Cymru. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hyn yn rhywbeth a allai weithio, Weinidog, a byddai gennyf gryn ddiddordeb mewn clywed a fyddech chi'n rhoi eich cefnogaeth i sefydlu cynllun o’r fath ar gyfer Cymru gyfan.
Can I thank James Evans for the question and for his support for the armed forces community, Presiding Officer? I know that he’s a member of the armed forces cross-party group, and I enjoyed my time on that cross-party group. I think it’s an invaluable cross-party group of this Senedd.
I, too, was pleased that, in December, Sport Wales became a signatory of the armed forces covenant, committing to treating fairly those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, and they did that because of the work of the cross-party group and the support of the Welsh Government.
Promoting defence employer recognition schemes is another way in which sports clubs and governing bodies can show support for the armed forces community. It’s not just Sport Wales that have signed the covenant, Presiding Officer. The Member will be interested to now that elite clubs, such as the Scarlets, such as Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and such as Wrexham AFC, have also committed to signing the covenant as well.
The Member asked a particular question. I’m happy to consider his request and see what that may entail, and to have the conversation with Sport Wales and key stakeholders, such as the WRU and the FAW, to see where we can further strengthen our support for the armed forces community.
Presiding Officer, this also gives me the chance to say, in response to this question, as I know the Member joined me in a Senedd event just last month with those taking part in the Invictus Games, that we often talk about the role that sport can play in helping people going through trauma to process trauma or to adjust to change. The Invictus Games is a shining example of that, and I wish them all the very best in Canada—they are taking place now, I believe, Presiding Officer.
A gaf i ddiolch i James Evans am ei gwestiwn ac am ei gefnogaeth i gymuned y lluoedd arfog, Lywydd? Gwn ei fod yn aelod o grŵp trawsbleidiol y lluoedd arfog, a mwynheais fy amser ar y grŵp trawsbleidiol hwnnw. Credaf ei fod yn grŵp trawsbleidiol amhrisiadwy yn y Senedd hon.
Roeddwn innau hefyd yn falch fod Chwaraeon Cymru, ym mis Rhagfyr, wedi llofnodi cyfamod y lluoedd arfog, gan ymrwymo i drin y rhai sy’n gwasanaethu neu sydd wedi gwasanaethu yn y lluoedd arfog, a’u teuluoedd, yn deg, ac fe wnaethant hynny oherwydd gwaith y grŵp trawsbleidiol a chefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru.
Mae hyrwyddo cynlluniau i gyflogwyr gydnabod amddiffyn yn ffordd arall y gall clybiau chwaraeon a chyrff llywodraethu ddangos cefnogaeth i gymuned y lluoedd arfog. Nid Chwaraeon Cymru yw'r unig gorff sydd wedi llofnodi’r cyfamod, Lywydd. Bydd yr Aelod yn falch o glywed bod clybiau elît, megis y Scarlets, Clwb Criced Sir Forgannwg, a CPD Wrecsam hefyd wedi ymrwymo i lofnodi’r cyfamod.
Gofynnodd yr Aelod gwestiwn penodol. Rwy’n fwy na pharod i ystyried ei gais a gweld beth y gallai hynny ei olygu, ac i gael y sgwrs â Chwaraeon Cymru a rhanddeiliaid allweddol, megis URC a'r FAW, i weld lle gallwn gryfhau ein cefnogaeth i gymuned y lluoedd arfog ymhellach.
Lywydd, mae hyn hefyd yn rhoi’r cyfle imi ddweud, mewn ymateb i’r cwestiwn hwn, gan y gwn fod yr Aelod wedi ymuno â mi mewn digwyddiad yn y Senedd y mis diwethaf gyda’r rhai a gymerodd ran yng Ngemau Invictus, ein bod yn aml yn sôn am y rôl y gall chwaraeon ei chwarae yn helpu pobl sy’n mynd drwy drawma i brosesu trawma neu addasu i newid. Mae Gemau Invictus yn enghraifft wych o hynny, ac rwy'n dymuno pob hwyl iddynt oll yng Nghanada—rwy'n credu eu bod yn digwydd nawr, Lywydd.
I’m another member of the cross-party group on the armed forces, and a quick plug: I would urge other Members to join. The one thing that the armed forces provide is exercise in order to keep the members of the armed forces fit. When they leave the armed forces, they need to keep that fitness up. It can be difficult to do so. I have more experience with professional sports people, and we all know that when they retire, they can lose fitness and rapidly gain weight. Can the Minister provide an update on the veteran swimming scheme?
Rwy’n aelod arall o’r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar y lluoedd arfog, a dyma hysbyseb gyflym: carwn annog Aelodau eraill i ymuno. Yr un peth y mae'r lluoedd arfog yn ei ddarparu yw ymarfer corff er mwyn cadw aelodau’r lluoedd arfog yn heini. Pan fyddant yn gadael y lluoedd arfog, mae angen iddynt gynnal eu ffitrwydd. Gall fod yn anodd gwneud hynny. Mae gennyf fwy o brofiad gydag athletwyr proffesiynol, ac fel y gŵyr pob un ohonom, pan fyddant yn ymddeol, maent yn gallu colli ffitrwydd a magu pwysau'n gyflym. A all y Gweinidog roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynllun nofio i gyn-filwyr?
Can I thank Mike Hedges for his question. Llywydd, Mike Hedges is possibly this Senedd’s biggest sporting fan that we have as a Member. He will be really pleased to know that, on the elite level clubs that I mentioned to James Evans, included within them is the Ospreys in signing the armed forces covenant.
It’s a good question to ask around the armed forces swimming scheme, Presiding Officer. We launched our armed forces free swimming scheme in February 2016, offering free swimming to both veterans and serving members of the armed forces. I was very pleased recently that we were able to increase the budget in this financial year for the armed forces free swimming scheme to £80,000, and this is in response to increased demand, ensuring that those who have served can continue to benefit from this important scheme for the reasons that Mike Hedges has outlined this afternoon.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mike Hedges am ei gwestiwn? Lywydd, efallai mai Mike Hedges yw'r Aelod mwyaf brwdfrydig dros chwaraeon sydd gennym yn y Senedd hon. Bydd yn falch iawn o wybod, fod y clybiau lefel elît y soniais amdanynt wrth James Evans yn cynnwys y Gweilch, fel un clwb sydd wedi llofnodi cyfamod y lluoedd arfog.
Mae’n gwestiwn da i’w ofyn ynghylch y cynllun nofio am ddim i’r lluoedd arfog, Lywydd. Lansiwyd ein cynllun nofio am ddim i’r lluoedd arfog ym mis Chwefror 2016, yn cynnig nofio am ddim i gyn-filwyr ac aelodau presennol o’r lluoedd arfog. Roeddwn yn falch iawn yn ddiweddar ein bod wedi gallu cynyddu’r gyllideb yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon ar gyfer y cynllun nofio am ddim i’r lluoedd arfog i £80,000, a hynny mewn ymateb i gynnydd yn y galw, gan sicrhau y gall y rheini sydd wedi gwasanaethu barhau i elwa ar y cynllun pwysig hwn am y rhesymau y mae Mike Hedges wedi’u hamlinellu y prynhawn yma.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am ddatblygiad economaidd ym Mlaenau Gwent? OQ62318
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on economic development in Blaenau Gwent? OQ62318
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The Welsh Government continues to work closely with key partners, including Cardiff Capital Region, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and businesses, on the infrastructure and skills needed to deliver economic growth and prosperity to all parts of south-east Wales, including Blaenau Gwent.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio’n agos gyda phartneriaid allweddol, gan gynnwys Prifddinas-Ranbarth Caerdydd, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent a busnesau ar y seilwaith a’r sgiliau sydd eu hangen i sicrhau twf economaidd a ffyniant i bob rhan o dde-ddwyrain Cymru, gan gynnwys Blaenau Gwent.
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for her response. She will be aware that the Tech Valleys project, which was launched in 2017, will be coming to an end in a couple of years' time. She is clearly aware that the dualling of the A465 will also be completed later this year. This means that we have an opportunity to look again at how we are delivering economic development and jobs in the Heads of the Valleys region, including Blaenau Gwent. My question to you, Cabinet Secretary, is this: what and how will the Welsh Government deliver, for those jobs and that prosperity? We've been through investment programmes and we've been through infrastructure programmes. What we now need is to follow that with investment in the business environment in the borough of Blaenau Gwent. We saw before Christmas a new investment north of Ebbw Vale, we've seen new investments elsewhere, we've seen the sort of interest there is in investing in the borough now. What we need from the Welsh Government is the continued focus and the means of delivering a jobs programme in the Heads of the Valleys that maximises the impact of the investments that have already been made.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei hymateb. Fe fydd yn ymwybodol y bydd prosiect y Cymoedd Technoleg, a lansiwyd yn 2017, yn dirwyn i ben ymhen ychydig o flynyddoedd. Mae'n amlwg yn ymwybodol y bydd gwaith o ddeuoli'r A465 hefyd yn cael ei gwblhau yn nes ymlaen eleni. Golyga hyn fod gennym gyfle i edrych eto ar sut rydym yn sicrhau datblygiad economaidd a swyddi yn rhanbarth Blaenau’r Cymoedd, gan gynnwys Blaenau Gwent. Fy nghwestiwn i chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yw hwn: sut a beth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gyflawni i sicrhau'r swyddi a’r ffyniant hwn? Rydym wedi bod drwy raglenni buddsoddi, ac rydym wedi bod drwy raglenni seilwaith. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom nawr yw dilyn hynny gyda buddsoddiad yn yr amgylchedd busnes ym mwrdeistref Blaenau Gwent. Gwelsom fuddsoddiad newydd i'r gogledd o Lynebwy cyn y Nadolig, rydym wedi gweld buddsoddiadau newydd mewn mannau eraill, rydym wedi gweld y math o ddiddordeb sydd i'w gael mewn buddsoddi yn y fwrdeistref nawr. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom gan Lywodraeth Cymru yw’r ffocws parhaus a’r adnoddau i gyflawni rhaglen swyddi ym Mlaenau’r Cymoedd sy’n sicrhau bod y buddsoddiadau sydd eisoes wedi’u gwneud yn cael yr effaith fwyaf sy'n bosibl.
I'm very grateful to Alun Davies for those questions, and also for the meeting that we had recently, which was very helpful in setting out the importance of having that strategic approach to creating jobs in the area, but also making sure that businesses have the commercial properties available to them that they need in order to relocate or locate to the area, or to expand. So, following the meeting that I had with Alun Davies, I've asked my officials to prepare some options that would allow closer collaboration between the Welsh Government, through the Tech Valleys, or the northern valleys initiative, for example, to collaborate with the Cardiff Capital Region, to jointly capitalise on the significant investment that we've been making in terms of improving connectivity, particularly with the A465 investment. So, I'm grateful for the meeting, and I want to reassure colleagues that that has now led to some further work that will be important.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Alun Davies am ei gwestiynau, a hefyd am y cyfarfod a gawsom yn ddiweddar, a oedd yn ddefnyddiol iawn i nodi pwysigrwydd dull strategol o'r fath o greu swyddi yn yr ardal, a phwysigrwydd sicrhau bod yr eiddo masnachol sydd ei angen ar fusnesau ar gael iddynt allu adleoli neu symud i'r ardal, neu ehangu. Felly, yn dilyn y cyfarfod a gefais gydag Alun Davies, rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion baratoi opsiynau a fyddai’n caniatáu cydweithredu agosach rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru, drwy’r Cymoedd Technoleg, neu fenter y cymoedd gogleddol, er enghraifft, i gydweithio â Phrifddinas-Ranbarth Caerdydd, i fanteisio ar y cyd ar y buddsoddiad sylweddol a wnaethom i wella cysylltedd, yn enwedig gyda'r buddsoddiad yn yr A465. Felly, rwy’n ddiolchgar am y cyfarfod, a hoffwn roi sicrwydd i fy nghyd-Aelodau fod hynny bellach wedi arwain at waith pellach sy'n mynd i fod yn bwysig.
Cabinet Secretary, the High Value Engineering Centre in Blaenau Gwent will be at the forefront of training the next generation of engineers. The centre, set to open later this year, will provide hands-on training and education in robotics, aerospace, motor sports and manufacturing. Put simply, this centre is equipping youngsters with skills for careers in the industries of the future, which will, in turn, hopefully, lead to high, well-paid jobs. HiVE is important not only because it will be a sector-leading resource in the heart of Blaenau Gwent, but also because it reaches out to primary and secondary schools across south-east Wales to engage young people in the STEM curriculum from a very young age. This Coleg Gwent centre will complement the Welsh Government's Tech Valleys programme, which aims to attract businesses from cutting-edge industries, such as 5G, battery technology and autonomous vehicles in the area. It's therefore imperative that the Tech Valleys project truly delivers its objectives if we are to boost economic development in Blaenau Gwent. So, can the Cabinet Secretary please update us on this piece of work, including any recent success stories? Thank you.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, bydd y Ganolfan Beirianneg Gwerth Uchel ym Mlaenau Gwent ar flaen y gad yn hyfforddi’r genhedlaeth nesaf o beirianwyr. Bydd y ganolfan, a fydd yn agor yn nes ymlaen eleni, yn darparu hyfforddiant ac addysg ymarferol mewn roboteg, awyrofod, chwaraeon moduro a gweithgynhyrchu. Yn syml, mae’r ganolfan hon yn rhoi sgiliau i bobl ifanc ar gyfer gyrfaoedd yn niwydiannau’r dyfodol, a bydd hynny, yn ei dro, gobeithio, yn arwain at swyddi sy’n talu’n dda. Mae HiVE yn bwysig nid yn unig oherwydd y bydd yn adnodd hollbwysig i'r sector yng nghanol Blaenau Gwent, ond hefyd am ei fod yn estyn allan at ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru, gan ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc yn y cwricwlwm STEM o oedran ifanc iawn. Bydd y ganolfan hon yng Ngholeg Gwent yn ategu rhaglen Cymoedd Technoleg Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda'r nod o ddenu busnesau o ddiwydiannau blaengar, megis 5G, technoleg batri a cherbydau awtonomaidd yn yr ardal. Mae'n hollbwysig felly fod prosiect y Cymoedd Technoleg o ddifrif yn cyflawni ei amcanion os ydym am hybu datblygiad economaidd ym Mlaenau Gwent. Felly, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni am y gwaith hwn, gan gynnwys unrhyw lwyddiannau diweddar? Diolch.
Yes, certainly. The Welsh Government is really delighted to be able to invest in the skills of people living in Blaenau Gwent, and to do so with Coleg Gwent, through the support that we've given to the high-value engineering facility in Ebbw Vale. As we've heard, that really does offer further education students and other commercial users across Wales the opportunity to gain skills in advanced manufacturing, and also in an environment that is fit for the future as well. So, I think that is a really good example of the success that we've been able to bring to the area. Since the first allocation of funding in 2018, the Tech Valleys programme has now invested over £42 million in a range of place-based projects focused on Blaenau Gwent, and with benefits reaching out then across the northern Valleys area. To date, investment in these initiatives has helped create over 300,000 sq ft of new and refurbished floor space, enabling 750 potential jobs. So, that's just one example, I think, of some success that we've had through the Tech Valleys programme.
Yn sicr. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn falch iawn o allu buddsoddi yn sgiliau pobl sy'n byw ym Mlaenau Gwent, a gwneud hynny gyda Choleg Gwent, drwy'r cymorth a roesom i'r cyfleuster peirianneg gwerth uchel yng Nglynebwy. Fel y clywsom, mae hwnnw o ddifrif yn cynnig cyfle i fyfyrwyr addysg bellach a defnyddwyr masnachol eraill ledled Cymru ennill sgiliau mewn gweithgynhyrchu uwch, a hefyd mewn amgylchedd sy'n addas ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd. Felly, credaf fod honno’n enghraifft wirioneddol dda o’r llwyddiant y gallasom ei ddwyn i’r ardal. Ers y dyraniad cyllid cyntaf yn 2018, mae rhaglen y Cymoedd Technoleg bellach wedi buddsoddi dros £42 miliwn mewn amrywiaeth o brosiectau seiliedig ar leoedd sy’n canolbwyntio ar Flaenau Gwent, gyda'r buddion yn ymestyn allan wedyn ar draws ardal y Cymoedd gogleddol. Hyd yma, mae buddsoddiad yn y mentrau hyn wedi helpu i greu dros 300,000 troedfedd sgwâr o arwynebedd llawr newydd ac wedi’i adnewyddu, gan alluogi 750 o swyddi posibl. Felly, un enghraifft yn unig yw honno o beth o'r llwyddiant a gafwyd drwy raglen y Cymoedd Technoleg.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Gareth Davies.
Questions now from party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson, Gareth Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to enquire firstly about the funding in the culture sector in Wales. The increased allocation in the Welsh Government's latest budget is a step in the right direction, but, due to the increase in employer national insurance contributions, much of the increase has been wiped out, and the closure of the national museum in Cardiff last week was a sad reminder of how the arts and culture sector in Wales has been abandoned. There was £25 million required for the urgent repairs, yet £3 million was the most the Welsh Government could offer last year, and that had to be spread across the whole of the Amgueddfa Cymru site.
The Welsh Government appears to see the culture sector as a luxury to indulge in in times of prosperity, and I’m concerned that the importance of this sector is not being recognised. So, will the Minister recognise the pressure placed on the culture and arts sector in Wales, recognise that the funding increase in the current draft budget is not enough, and follow the recommendations of the culture committee’s report by committing to increasing funding, preventative spending, and a culture and sport strategy?
Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn holi yn gyntaf am y cyllid yn y sector diwylliant yng Nghymru. Mae’r dyraniad uwch yng nghyllideb ddiweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru yn gam i’r cyfeiriad cywir, ond oherwydd y cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, mae llawer o’r cynnydd wedi’i ddileu, ac roedd cau’r amgueddfa genedlaethol yng Nghaerdydd yr wythnos diwethaf yn ein hatgoffa sut y mae sector y celfyddydau a diwylliant yng Nghymru wedi cael ei adael ar ôl. Roedd angen £25 miliwn ar gyfer y gwaith atgyweirio brys, ac eto £3 miliwn oedd y mwyaf y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei gynnig y llynedd, ac roedd yn rhaid rhannu hwnnw ar draws safle cyfan Amgueddfa Cymru.
Ymddengys bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried y sector diwylliant yn rhywbeth moethus i’w fwynhau ar adegau o ffyniant, ac rwy’n pryderu nad yw pwysigrwydd y sector hwn yn cael ei gydnabod. Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog gydnabod y pwysau ar y sector diwylliant a’r celfyddydau yng Nghymru, cydnabod nad yw’r cynnydd yn y gyllideb ddrafft bresennol yn ddigon, a dilyn argymhellion adroddiad y pwyllgor diwylliant drwy ymrwymo i gynyddu cyllid, gwariant ataliol, a strategaeth ddiwylliant a chwaraeon?
Llywydd, can I thank Gareth Davies for his opening questions this afternoon? I think it’s the first opportunity we’ve had in spokespersons questions to engage in this way.
I’m very pleased, Presiding Officer, that the Member has recognised, in the budget—in the draft budget—that the uplift of 3.6 per cent is a step in the right direction. We’re able to do that, Presiding Officer, because of the budget coming from Westminster. We’ve spent 14 long years with austerity, where budgets were slashed, we had the mismanagement of the economy during the mini-budget, and the sending of the economy into turmoil—[Interruption.] In the culture questions he’s asking about, he needs to realise that the budgets for the Welsh Government come from the UK Government, and this particular budget, Presiding Officer, is the first opportunity we’ve had, with our UK Labour colleagues—. It's a 3.6 per cent uplift in the draft budget, which is a step in the right direction, as the Member has recognised. It’s unfortunate that he voted against it, as did his Conservative colleagues, in the draft budget. He has an opportunity to change that, come the final budget, Presiding Officer.
I will make the case every single day for more money for the arts. I recognise the challenges that the sector faces. I have regular engagement with all areas of the culture and arts sector, and I look forward to continuing working with them through these challenges as we progress.
Lywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Gareth Davies am ei gwestiynau agoriadol y prynhawn yma? Rwy'n credu mai dyma’r cyfle cyntaf a gawsom yng nghwestiynau'r llefarwyr i ymgysylltu fel hyn.
Rwy’n falch iawn, Lywydd, fod yr Aelod wedi cydnabod, yn y gyllideb—yn y gyllideb ddrafft—fod y cynnydd o 3.6 y cant yn gam i’r cyfeiriad cywir. Gallwn wneud hynny, Lywydd, oherwydd y gyllideb a gawsom gan San Steffan. Rydym wedi treulio 14 mlynedd hir gyda chyni, lle cafodd cyllidebau eu torri, a phan gafodd yr economi ei chamreoli yn sgil mini-gyllideb a ddinistriodd yr economi—[Torri ar draws.] Yn y cwestiynau diwylliant y mae’n gofyn amdanynt, mae angen iddo sylweddoli bod y cyllidebau ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru yn dod gan Lywodraeth y DU, a’r gyllideb benodol hon, Lywydd, yw’r cyfle cyntaf a gawsom, gyda’n cymheiriaid Llafur yn Senedd y DU—. Mae'n gynnydd o 3.6 y cant yn y gyllideb ddrafft, sy’n gam i’r cyfeiriad cywir, fel y mae’r Aelod wedi’i gydnabod. Mae’n anffodus iddo bleidleisio yn ei erbyn, fel y gwnaeth ei gyd-Aelodau yn y blaid Geidwadol, yn y gyllideb ddrafft. Bydd ganddo gyfle i wneud iawn am hynny gyda'r gyllideb derfynol, Lywydd.
Byddaf yn dadlau'r achos bob dydd dros fwy o arian ar gyfer y celfyddydau. Rwy’n cydnabod yr heriau y mae’r sector yn eu hwynebu. Rwy’n ymgysylltu’n rheolaidd â phob maes o’r sector diwylliant a chelfyddydau, ac edrychaf ymlaen at barhau i weithio gyda hwy drwy’r heriau hyn wrth inni symud ymlaen.
With respect, Minister, I think it’s a conflating of matters, as my question is around the museum in Cardiff and, indeed, the money they’ve been asking for. And this money that they’ve been short of is over a sustained period of time during, which the Welsh Government have had exclusive authority over for many, many years. So, to add a political element to something that we spent a lot of time discussing in the topical question last week—and, indeed, I attended the Welsh Government briefing on this matter—I find your response not really in direct relation to my question, with respect.
But, as my second question, I’d like to raise concerns around the accountability of arm’s-length bodies to the taxpayer and who provides them with money. The previously mentioned national museum in Cardiff is currently displaying political exhibits directly attacking the Conservative Party. Given that the national museum is in receipt of these—. I’ve seen the exhibits myself, and it’s sort of 'Tories out' and all this sort of stuff. Well, that’s not everybody’s reflection of Wales. We have to have our national institutions and museums being representative of all of Wales, not just one school of thought, which has been this. So, what oversight does the Minister have over culture and arts spending, to ensure that arm’s-length bodies such as Amgueddfa Cymru spend taxpayers’ money effectively and contribute to an arts and culture sector that truly reflects the whole of Wales, and not just one school of thought?
Gyda phob parch, Weinidog, rwy'n credu ei fod yn cyfuno materion gwahanol, gan fod fy nghwestiwn yn ymwneud â’r amgueddfa yng Nghaerdydd, ac yn wir, yr arian y maent wedi bod yn gofyn amdano. Ac maent wedi bod yn brin o'r arian hwn ers amser hir o dan reolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, i ychwanegu elfen wleidyddol at rywbeth y treuliwyd llawer o amser yn ei drafod yn y cwestiwn amserol yr wythnos diwethaf—ac yn wir, fe fynychais sesiwn friffio Llywodraeth Cymru ar y mater hwn—gyda phob parch, nid yw eich ateb yn ateb fy nghwestiwn yn uniongyrchol.
Ond fel ail gwestiwn, hoffwn godi pryderon ynghylch atebolrwydd cyrff hyd braich i’r trethdalwr, a phwy sy’n darparu arian iddynt. Ar hyn o bryd yn yr amgueddfa genedlaethol yng Nghaerdydd a grybwyllwyd eisoes, mae yna arddangosfeydd gwleidyddol sy’n ymosod yn uniongyrchol ar y Blaid Geidwadol. O ystyried bod yr amgueddfa genedlaethol yn cael yr—. Rwyf wedi gweld yr arddangosfeydd fy hun, ac mae'n llawn o 'Torïaid allan' ac yn y blaen. Wel, nid dyna farn pawb am Gymru. Mae'n rhaid i'n hamgueddfeydd a'n sefydliadau cenedlaethol gynrychioli Cymru gyfan, nid un ysgol o feddwl yn unig, fel y gwelwn yma. Felly, pa drosolwg sydd gan y Gweinidog o wariant ar ddiwylliant a’r celfyddydau, i sicrhau bod cyrff hyd braich fel Amgueddfa Cymru yn gwario arian trethdalwyr yn effeithiol ac yn cyfrannu at sector celfyddydau a diwylliant sy'n adlewyrchiad cywir o Gymru gyfan, ac nid un ysgol o feddwl yn unig?
Thank you, Gareth Davies, for those supplementary questions. The Member is right—he did raise Cardiff museum in his opening question, and forgive me for not responding to that directly, Gareth. We went over the Cardiff museum situation, I think, in the topical question last week, where we referred in that question to the money that has been allocated to the museum currently and in the draft budget, going forward, which the Member, and Plaid Cymru colleagues, can support if they want to. I was grateful for the Member joining the briefing last week and for spending his time there.
The Member then asks me around arm’s-length bodies and my role within them. Well, they’re at arm’s length for a reason, Presiding Officer, and I don’t think it’s for the Minister to dictate what is in museums and being exhibited. I think that’s for the professionals within the museums themselves. I note the Member’s offer to perhaps curate future exhibits. I won’t be making that offer to the museum; he can if he wants to.
In the same breath, Presiding Officer, he asks for political engagement and then calls for no politics to be involved in the museum. So, the Welsh Conservatives clearly don’t have a plan for the sector. It’s obvious from this afternoon. Presiding Officer, the Member said, ‘Don’t have signs saying “Tories out”, because that doesn’t reflect what Wales said.’ Well, they said that in the general election last year, Presiding Officer. Perhaps the Member wishes to broaden his horizons within this portfolio. I’m sure the amgueddfa would be very pleased to host him in his shadow ministerial capacity. I particularly suggest that he engages and goes to the exhibition on the miners’ strike, Presiding Officer. There is lots to remember there—important Welsh history that we shouldn’t forget.
Diolch am eich cwestiynau atodol, Gareth Davies. Mae’r Aelod yn llygad ei le—cododd amgueddfa Caerdydd yn ei gwestiwn agoriadol, a maddeuwch i mi am beidio ag ymateb i hynny’n uniongyrchol, Gareth. Rwy'n credu inni drafod sefyllfa amgueddfa Caerdydd yn y cwestiwn amserol yr wythnos diwethaf, ac fe wnaethom gyfeirio yn y cwestiwn hwnnw at yr arian sydd wedi’i ddyrannu i’r amgueddfa ar hyn o bryd ac yn y gyllideb ddrafft wrth symud ymlaen, y gall yr Aelod, a chyd-Aelodau Plaid Cymru ei gefnogi os ydynt yn dymuno gwneud hynny. Roeddwn yn ddiolchgar i’r Aelod am ymuno â’r cyfarfod briffio yr wythnos diwethaf, ac am dreulio ei amser yno.
Wedyn, mae’r Aelod yn fy holi ynghylch cyrff hyd braich a fy rôl i ynddynt. Wel, maent yn gyrff hyd braich am reswm, Lywydd, ac ni chredaf mai mater i’r Gweinidog yw pennu beth sydd mewn amgueddfeydd ac yn cael ei arddangos. Rwy'n credu mai cyfrifoldeb y gweithwyr proffesiynol yn yr amgueddfeydd eu hunain yw hynny. Nodaf gynnig yr Aelod i guradu arddangosfeydd yn y dyfodol, o bosibl. Ni fyddaf yn gwneud y cynnig hwnnw i’r amgueddfa; gall ef wneud hynny os yw'n dymuno.
Yn yr un gwynt, Lywydd, mae’n gofyn am ymgysylltu gwleidyddol ac yna’n galw am gadw gwleidyddiaeth allan o'r amgueddfa. Felly, yn amlwg, nid oes gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig gynllun ar gyfer y sector. Mae hynny'n amlwg y prynhawn yma. Lywydd, fe ddywedodd yr Aelod, ‘Ni allwn gael arwyddion yn dweud “Torïaid allan”, gan nad yw hynny’n adlewyrchiad o'r hyn a ddywedodd Cymru.’ Wel, fe wnaethant ddweud hynny yn yr etholiad cyffredinol y llynedd, Lywydd. Efallai fod yr Aelod yn dymuno ehangu ei orwelion o fewn y portffolio hwn. Rwy’n siŵr y byddai’r amgueddfa’n falch iawn o’i groesawu yn rhinwedd ei swydd fel gweinidog yr wrthblaid. Awgrymaf ei fod yn ymgysylltu ac yn mynd i’r arddangosfa ar streic y glowyr, Lywydd. Mae llawer i’w gofio yno—hanes Cymreig pwysig na ddylem ei anghofio.
Are you seriously trying to say that arm’s-length bodies do not have any accountability with the Welsh Government? Are there no accounts to be produced to the Welsh Government? Are there no auditing processes? I’m sure that would have to be the case. Any prudent Government spending taxpayers’ money on these items—. So, is there no accountability from arm’s-length bodies? I think there is a line of Welsh Government responsibility in this matter. And the ‘Tories out’ signs were a reflection of the mid-1980s when we had 15 Tory MPs in those times, so it’s not a reflection of the current political situation as it’s giving a general history.
I’m not going to be preached to and patronised in a way that’s not reflective of my own knowledge. So, can the Minister please provide more details on the auditing processes that the Welsh Government would hold in this regard, and what accountability methods do the Welsh Government hold on arm’s-length bodies in Wales?
A ydych chi o ddifrif yn ceisio dweud nad oes gan gyrff hyd braich unrhyw atebolrwydd i Lywodraeth Cymru? Onid oes cyfrifon i’w cyflwyno i Lywodraeth Cymru? Onid oes prosesau archwilio? Rwy’n siŵr y byddai’n rhaid bod hynny'n wir. Mae unrhyw Lywodraeth ddarbodus sy'n gwario arian trethdalwyr ar yr eitemau hyn—. Felly, onid oes unrhyw atebolrwydd gan gyrff hyd braich? Credaf fod llinell o gyfrifoldeb gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y mater hwn. Ac roedd yr arwyddion 'Torïaid allan' yn adlewyrchiad o ganol yr 1980au pan oedd gennym 15 o Aelodau Seneddol Torïaidd ar y pryd, felly nid yw'n adlewyrchiad o'r sefyllfa wleidyddol bresennol gan ei fod yn rhoi hanes cyffredinol.
Nid wyf am wrando ar bregethu a fy nhrin yn nawddoglyd mewn modd nad yw'n adlewyrchu fy ngwybodaeth fy hun. Felly, a all y Gweinidog roi mwy o fanylion, os gwelwch yn dda, am y prosesau archwilio y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cynnal yn hyn o beth, a pha ddulliau atebolrwydd sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cyrff hyd braich yng Nghymru?
I thank Gareth Davies for that. Presiding Officer, I don’t think I did say the things that Gareth points to in terms of accountability. I think I pointed out that the arm’s-length bodies are arm’s length for the reasons that we all understand. I’m very, very happy to provide a technical briefing for the Member from officials to understand the arm’s-length principle. It will serve him well in his responsibilities for this. They do have accountability, Presiding Officer. I think the technical briefing would be helpful for the Member in this role, and his role on the culture committee in scrutinising the Welsh Government, and I’d be very happy to set that up for him in the near future.
Diolch i Gareth Davies. Lywydd, ni chredaf imi ddweud y pethau y mae Gareth yn cyfeirio atynt ynghylch atebolrwydd. Rwy'n credu imi dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod y cyrff hyd braich yn gyrff hyd braich am y rhesymau y mae pob un ohonom yn eu deall. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i ddarparu briff technegol i'r Aelod gan swyddogion er mwyn deall yr egwyddor hyd braich. Bydd yn ddefnyddiol iddo gyda'i gyfrifoldebau am hyn. Mae ganddynt atebolrwydd, Lywydd. Credaf y byddai'r briff technegol yn ddefnyddiol i'r Aelod yn y rôl hon, a'i rôl ar y pwyllgor diwylliant yn craffu ar Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i drefnu hynny iddo yn y dyfodol agos.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the Secretary of State for Wales’s Welsh economic growth advisory group. Could the Cabinet Secretary clarify what exactly the role of Welsh Government is on this group? Is it a matter of Welsh economic growth strategy being outsourced to Whitehall?
Diolch, Lywydd. Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol o grŵp cynghori Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ar dwf economaidd Cymru. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet egluro beth yn union yw rôl Llywodraeth Cymru yn y grŵp hwn? A yw'n fater o strategaeth twf economaidd Cymru yn cael ei hallanoli i Whitehall?
The Secretary of State’s group is there so that the Secretary of State can hear directly from industry and those involved in the economy in Wales. As a Minister, I don’t directly sit on that group, but inevitably through my officials we are able to share the intelligence that we gain through our discussions with the representative bodies of business and of businesses themselves as the Secretary of State goes about that work, listening to people involved in the economy in Wales.
Mae grŵp yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yno fel y gall yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol glywed yn uniongyrchol gan ddiwydiant a’r rhai sy’n ymwneud â’r economi yng Nghymru. Fel Gweinidog, nid wyf yn aelod o'r grŵp hwnnw’n uniongyrchol, ond yn anochel, drwy fy swyddogion, rydym yn gallu rhannu’r wybodaeth a gawn drwy ein trafodaethau â chyrff cynrychioliadol busnes a busnesau eu hunain wrth i’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol fynd ati i wneud y gwaith hwnnw, gan wrando ar bobl sy’n ymwneud â’r economi yng Nghymru.
Can I just say, I’m struggling to hear the Cabinet Secretary? I think there are two Members of her own party discussing either the football or rugby on Sunday. I heard that much from them. I struggled to hear the Cabinet Secretary. So, can all Members, especially those of her own party, listen to the Cabinet Secretary and her response? Diolch.
A gaf i ddweud fy mod yn ei chael hi'n anodd clywed Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet? Rwy'n credu bod dau Aelod o’i phlaid ei hun yn trafod naill ai’r pêl-droed neu’r rygbi ddydd Sul. Clywais gymaint â hynny ganddynt. Roeddwn yn ei chael hi'n anodd clywed Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Felly, a wnaiff pob Aelod, yn enwedig rhai ei phlaid ei hun, wrando ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a’i hymateb? Diolch.
Diolch, Llywydd. So, from what I’m understanding, we have a situation, really, where the Government, firstly, isn’t being represented by you as the Cabinet Secretary on this group. From written questions I’ve submitted, we have a situation where the Government is unable to directly influence the priorities or the strategy of that group. So, you understand how this looks, Cabinet Secretary. We’ve had previous Members of Government say publicly that Welsh Government doesn't know what it's doing on the economy. Wales continues to lag behind the rest of the UK in terms of economic indicators. Now, I think it would be reasonable to interpret such a move as the Secretary of State deciding to take matters into her own hands. We both know what the reaction would have been had this been a Conservative Secretary of State, so why is it acceptable now?
Diolch, Lywydd. Felly, o'r hyn a ddeallaf, mae gennym sefyllfa, mewn gwirionedd, lle nad yw'r Llywodraeth, yn gyntaf, yn cael ei chynrychioli gennych fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn y grŵp hwn. O gwestiynau ysgrifenedig a gyflwynais, mae gennym sefyllfa lle na all y Llywodraeth ddylanwadu’n uniongyrchol ar flaenoriaethau na strategaeth y grŵp hwnnw. Felly, gallwch weld sut y mae hyn yn edrych, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rydym wedi cael cyn-Aelodau o'r Llywodraeth yn dweud yn gyhoeddus nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwybod beth y mae'n ei wneud ar yr economi. Mae Cymru'n parhau i fod ar ei hôl hi o gymharu â gweddill y DU o ran dangosyddion economaidd. Nawr, credaf y byddai'n rhesymol dehongli cam o'r fath fel penderfyniad yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol i fynd i'r afael â'r mater ei hun. Mae’r ddau ohonom yn gwybod beth fyddai’r ymateb pe bai Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Ceidwadol wedi gwneud hynny, felly pam fod hyn yn dderbyniol nawr?
The view of the group couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is that a Welsh Government Minister does not sit on an advisory group to a UK Government Minister. We work as peers, we have parity of esteem and respect in the discussions that we have with Ministers, so it wouldn’t be appropriate, I don’t think, for a Welsh Government Minister to be sitting on an advisory group for a UK Minister. We have those discussions Minister to Minister, Government to Government.
That’s not to say that we don’t take an active interest in that group. The fora that I sit on are the inter-ministerial groups, the Interministerial Group for Business and Industry, the inter-ministerial group looking at post-EU relations with other countries and the trade agreements that we make through the Interministerial Group for Trade. So, the appropriate place for Ministers to have discussions is through those inter-ministerial groups, whereas it’s perfectly appropriate, of course, for the Secretary of State to receive advice and information on the economy from an advisory group as well.
So, Welsh Government officials attend those meetings in order to be able to share our Welsh Government intelligence, as I say, in that space. But, just in terms of the way in which Governments work one with another, I think that it is appropriate to have those discussions Minister to Minister, rather than being one of many voices on an advisory group.
Ni allai barn y grŵp fod ymhellach o'r gwir. Y ffaith amdani yw nad yw Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn aelodau o grwpiau cynghori Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU. Rydym yn gweithio fel cymheiriaid, mae gennym barch cydradd yn y trafodaethau a gawn gyda Gweinidogion, felly ni chredaf y byddai’n briodol i un o Weinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru fod yn aelod o grŵp cynghori un o Weinidogion y DU. Rydym yn cael y trafodaethau hynny rhwng un Gweinidog a'r llall, rhwng un Llywodraeth a'r llall.
Nid yw hynny'n golygu nad oes gennym ddiddordeb gweithredol yn y grŵp hwnnw. Y fforymau rwy'n eistedd arnynt yw’r grwpiau rhyngweinidogol, y Grŵp Rhyngweinidogol ar gyfer Busnes a Diwydiant, y grŵp rhyngweinidogol sy’n edrych ar gysylltiadau ôl-UE â gwledydd eraill a’r cytundebau masnach a wnawn drwy’r Grŵp Rhyngweinidogol ar Fasnach. Felly, y lle priodol i Weinidogion gael trafodaethau yw drwy'r grwpiau rhyngweinidogol hynny, er ei bod yn gwbl briodol, wrth gwrs, i'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol gael cyngor a gwybodaeth am yr economi gan grŵp cynghori hefyd.
Felly, mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynychu’r cyfarfodydd hynny er mwyn gallu rhannu gwybodaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, fel y dywedaf, yn y gofod hwnnw. Ond o ran y ffordd y mae Llywodraethau’n cydweithio â’i gilydd, rwy'n credu ei bod yn briodol cael y trafodaethau hynny rhwng un Gweinidog a'r llall, yn hytrach na bod yn un o nifer o leisiau mewn grŵp cynghori.
Listening to that response, you rightly point out that the inter-ministerial groups are the way for Ministers to engage with each other, so it begs the question, 'Well, what was the need to set up this economic advisory group, then?' Why couldn't that be done through an inter-ministerial group, where you were able to sit there with parity with the Secretary of State for Wales? Right now, we have a group in place, where the Secretary of State for Wales sits on that group, and then is able to direct the strategy of that group and the direction that group wants to take when it comes to economic development here in Wales. Now, this doesn't look good. Is this what we really were thinking when we heard from the Government about that partnership in power? The Secretary of State for Wales assuming responsibility for economic growth in Wales while ignoring calls from the Welsh Government to devolve the Crown Estate is not a good look.
The very fact that Labour MPs in London voted down an amendment that chimes with Welsh Labour policy shows, actually, the lack of respect Labour in London have for the Senedd and the Welsh Government. All we've been told since 2021 is that a Labour Government both ends of the M4 would result in a stronger Wales. Well, when it comes to economic policy, so far all it has meant is a refusal to devolve essential powers and then the Secretary of State going over the head of Welsh Government to direct economic policy. Now, is that really something that you want to defend?
Wrth wrando ar yr ymateb hwnnw, rydych chi'n nodi'n gywir ddigon mai'r grwpiau rhyngweinidogol yw'r ffordd i Weinidogion ymgysylltu â'i gilydd, felly mae'n codi'r cwestiwn, 'Wel, pam oedd angen sefydlu'r grŵp cynghori economaidd hwn, felly?' Pam na ellid gwneud hynny drwy grŵp rhyngweinidogol, lle roeddech chi'n gallu bod yno â statws cydradd ag Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru? Ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym grŵp ar waith y mae Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yn aelod ohono, ac yna’n mae'n gallu cyfeirio strategaeth y grŵp hwnnw a’r cyfeiriad y mae’r grŵp hwnnw am fynd iddo o ran datblygu economaidd yma yng Nghymru. Nawr, nid yw hyn yn edrych yn dda. Ai dyma a ddychmygem pan glywsom gan y Llywodraeth am y bartneriaeth mewn grym? Nid yw'n edrych yn dda i Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru fod yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am dwf economaidd yng Nghymru gan anwybyddu galwadau gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatganoli Ystad y Goron.
Mae’r union ffaith bod Aelodau Seneddol Llafur yn Llundain wedi pleidleisio yn erbyn gwelliant sy’n cyd-fynd â pholisi Llafur Cymru yn dangos, mewn gwirionedd, y diffyg parch sydd gan Lafur yn Llundain at y Senedd a Llywodraeth Cymru. Rydym wedi clywed dro ar ôl tro ers 2021 y byddai Llywodraeth Lafur ar ddau ben yr M4 yn arwain at Gymru gryfach. Wel, o ran polisi economaidd, hyd yn hyn, y cyfan y mae wedi'i olygu yw gwrthod datganoli pwerau hanfodol a'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn mynd dros ben Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfeirio polisi economaidd. Nawr, a yw hynny o ddifrif yn rhywbeth yr ydych chi'n awyddus i'w amddiffyn?
I’m afraid that we just aren’t going to see eye to eye on this particular issue and that we just take a different perspective on the ways in which Governments can show respect and parity with one another. So, as I say, the way in which the Welsh Government approaches this is through those direct discussions that we have Minister to Minister, and we have those discussions all of the time.
I was just talking to the Secretary of State for Wales at the transition board meeting, which you were at recently, and you could see that we do genuinely work in partnership. I was talking to UK Government Ministers about the industrial strategy. Again, that’s something that the Welsh Government is very involved in. We’ve been identifying the specific sectors that are of importance to us, those areas where we see potential for high growth, and then exploring how we work with the UK Government in that space. I work closely with the Secretary of State for Energy, talking about the potential for floating offshore wind here in Wales, what we need from the Government in terms of decisions around the floating offshore wind manufacturing investment scheme, and what the opportunities are through the national wealth fund for Wales. So, those discussions happen, but they happen, I think, at the appropriate level. And, as I say, it’s entirely appropriate that the Secretary of State for Wales receives advice from people on the ground, working in business in Wales. But where the discussions between Governments take place, I think, should be a different place and we’re just going to have to agree to disagree, I’m afraid, on that particular point.
Mae arnaf ofn nad ydym yn mynd i weld llygad yn llygad ar y mater penodol hwn a bod gennym safbwynt gwahanol ar y ffyrdd y gall Llywodraethau ddangos parch cydradd at ei gilydd. Felly, fel y dywedaf, y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymdrin â hyn yw drwy’r trafodaethau uniongyrchol a gawn rhwng un Gweinidog a'r llall, ac rydym yn cael y trafodaethau hynny drwy’r amser.
Roeddwn yn siarad ag Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yng nghyfarfod y bwrdd pontio, a fynychwyd gennych yn ddiweddar, a gallech weld ein bod o ddifrif yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth. Roeddwn yn siarad â Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU am y strategaeth ddiwydiannol. Unwaith eto, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwneud yn weithredol ag ef. Rydym wedi bod yn nodi'r sectorau penodol sy'n bwysig i ni, y meysydd lle gwelwn botensial ar gyfer twf uchel, ac yna'n archwilio sut y gweithiwn gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn y maes hwnnw. Rwy’n gweithio’n agos gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Ynni, yn trafod y potensial ar gyfer ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr yma yng Nghymru, yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom gan y Llywodraeth o ran penderfyniadau ynghylch y cynllun buddsoddi mewn gweithgynhyrchu ynni gwynt ar y môr, a beth yw’r cyfleoedd i Gymru drwy’r gronfa gyfoeth wladol. Felly, mae’r trafodaethau hynny’n mynd rhagddynt, ond maent yn mynd rhagddynt ar y lefel briodol. Ac fel y dywedaf, mae'n gwbl briodol fod Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yn cael cyngor gan bobl ar lawr gwlad sy'n gweithio ym myd busnes yng Nghymru. Ond rwy'n credu y dylai trafodaethau rhwng Llywodraethau fod yn mynd rhagddynt mewn man gwahanol, a bydd yn rhaid inni gytuno i anghytuno, mae arnaf ofn, ar y pwynt penodol hwnnw.
3. Sut y mae polisi cynllunio Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi cymunedau y mae llifogydd yn effeithio arnynt? OQ62289
3. How is the Welsh Government's planning policy supporting communities affected by flooding? OQ62289
'Planning Policy Wales' requires planning authorities to adopt a precautionary approach to avoid development in areas of flooding from the sea or from rivers.
Mae Polisi Cynllunio Cymru yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau cynllunio fabwysiadu dull rhagofalus i osgoi datblygu mewn ardaloedd sy'n wynebu llifogydd o'r môr neu o afonydd.
Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. I'm concerned that Powys County Council is making inappropriate decisions on planning applications, because they're basing decisions on a local flood management strategy that is well past its sell-by date. They're saying that they can't update that policy, because they're waiting for your revised technical advice note 15. Now, with regard to that, originally that TAN 15, your predecessor said it would be published in 2023, then it was by the end of 2023. In October, you said it would be published this winter. So, can I ask when you now expect to publish your revised TAN 15? And secondly, do you think it's reasonable that a local planning authority is stating that they cannot update their policies because they are waiting for your revised TAN 15 guidance?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwy'n pryderu bod Cyngor Sir Powys yn gwneud penderfyniadau amhriodol ar geisiadau cynllunio, gan eu bod yn seilio penderfyniadau ar strategaeth leol ar gyfer rheoli risg llifogydd sydd wedi hen ddyddio. Maent yn dweud na allant ddiweddaru'r polisi hwnnw, gan eu bod yn aros am eich nodyn cyngor technegol 15 diwygiedig. Nawr, mewn perthynas â hynny, y TAN 15 gwreiddiol, dywedodd eich rhagflaenydd y byddai'n cael ei gyhoeddi yn 2023, yna erbyn diwedd 2023. Ym mis Hydref, fe ddywedoch chi y byddai'n cael ei gyhoeddi y gaeaf hwn. Felly, a gaf i ofyn pryd rydych chi bellach yn disgwyl cyhoeddi eich TAN 15 diwygiedig? Ac yn ail, a ydych chi'n credu ei bod yn dderbyniol fod awdurdod cynllunio lleol yn datgan na allant ddiweddaru eu polisïau am eu bod yn aros am eich canllawiau TAN 15 diwygiedig?
Well, I do understand the anxieties of local authorities and their desire to have clarity on this particular issue. It's something I've taken a particular personal interest in, because we absolutely have to get this right, having listened to local authorities' concerns in relation to technical advice note 15.
I do expect to publish the TAN in the spring, and the revised TAN will provide guidance in respect of new development, but, of course, it cannot remove the threat of flooding currently faced by existing communities. But it will seek to ensure that new flood defences are brought forward to support new development. Obviously, there are huge cost implications; it won't be possible to protect every single community. But the TAN will all also place increased emphasis on aligning development proposals and flood-risk considerations through the local development plan, and I know that's something that has been of particular interest to colleagues in local government in this particular space. But, as I say, the intention is to publish the TAN in the spring, and we are getting there.
Wel, rwy’n deall pryderon awdurdodau lleol a’u hawydd i gael eglurder ar y mater penodol hwn. Mae'n rhywbeth y mae gennyf ddiddordeb personol arbennig ynddo, gan fod yn rhaid inni gael hyn yn iawn, ar ôl gwrando ar bryderon awdurdodau lleol mewn perthynas â nodyn cyngor technegol 15.
Rwy’n disgwyl cyhoeddi’r TAN yn y gwanwyn, a bydd y TAN diwygiedig yn darparu canllawiau mewn perthynas â datblygiadau newydd, ond wrth gwrs, ni all gael gwared ar y bygythiad o lifogydd y mae cymunedau presennol yn ei wynebu ar hyn o bryd. Ond bydd yn ceisio sicrhau bod amddiffynfeydd rhag llifogydd newydd yn cael eu hadeiladu i gefnogi datblygiadau newydd. Yn amlwg, mae goblygiadau cost enfawr; ni fydd yn bosibl diogelu pob cymuned. Ond bydd y TAN hefyd yn rhoi mwy o bwyslais ar alinio cynigion datblygu ac ystyriaethau risg llifogydd drwy'r cynllun datblygu lleol, a gwn fod hynny'n rhywbeth sydd wedi bod o ddiddordeb arbennig i gymheiriaid mewn llywodraeth leol yn y maes penodol hwn. Ond fel y dywedaf, y bwriad yw cyhoeddi’r TAN yn y gwanwyn, ac rydym bron yno.
May I thank Russell George for raising this important issue? You'll be aware, Cabinet Secretary, that this weekend marks five years since storm Dennis devastated communities right across Wales. One of the concerns that was raised then was the lack of resources in Natural Resources Wales to be able to support communities, support local authorities, in terms of determining flood risk. We know now that storms are becoming much more frequent, much more extreme, not just in Wales, but across the world. So, can I ask, with those revisions to TAN 15, how are you ensuring that they are able to look at the frequency of flooding we're seeing, the more extreme weather, to deal with what used to be one in 100 years, one in 200 years occurrences, which are actually becoming annual in some cases?
A gaf i ddiolch i Russell George am godi’r mater pwysig hwn? Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fod pum mlynedd wedi mynd heibio y penwythnos hwn ers i storm Dennis ddinistrio cymunedau ledled Cymru. Un o’r pryderon a godwyd bryd hynny oedd diffyg adnoddau Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i allu cefnogi cymunedau, cefnogi awdurdodau lleol, o ran pennu risg llifogydd. Gwyddom bellach fod stormydd yn digwydd yn llawer amlach, a'u bod yn llawer mwy eithafol, nid yn unig yng Nghymru, ond ledled y byd. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, gyda'r diwygiadau i TAN 15, sut rydych chi'n sicrhau eu bod yn gallu edrych ar amlder y llifogydd a welwn, y tywydd mwy eithafol, i fynd i'r afael â'r hyn a arferai fod yn ddigwyddiad unwaith mewn 100 mlynedd, unwaith mewn 200 mlynedd, ac sydd bellach yn dod yn ddigwyddiadau blynyddol mewn rhai achosion?
Thank you for that question. Natural Resources Wales obviously play an absolutely critical role in this. Recognising that, and their role in the planning system more widely, we have provided an additional £5 million in the budget for the next financial year, to assist them in their role in this respect.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn amlwg yn chwarae rhan gwbl hanfodol yn hyn. I gydnabod hynny, a’u rôl yn y system gynllunio yn ehangach, rydym wedi darparu £5 miliwn ychwanegol yn y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, i’w cynorthwyo yn eu rôl yn hyn o beth.
I attended an advice surgery in Llanhilleth last Friday, alongside Councillor Helen Cunningham, the councillor for the ward, and we were speaking to a number of people who'd been affected by the flooding that took place last year. One of the issues that keeps coming up, of course, is access to insurance. I think it was about a decade ago that Flood Re was introduced by the UK Government, but it does appear that people are both unaware of its existence and also unsure how to access it, and I'm not convinced that it covers all of the areas that we need it to cover, to ensure that people do have access to affordable insurance when they live in an area that is at risk of flooding. Would it be possible for the Welsh Government to make a statement on these matters, to write to Members, to ensure that everybody has access to the information they require, and to ensure that Flood Re is fit for purpose, and if it isn't, then to talk to the United Kingdom Government about legislation that will strengthen Flood Re, and strengthen the sustainability and robust approach that people need in order to insure their homes?
Euthum i gymhorthfa gynghori yn Llanhiledd ddydd Gwener diwethaf gyda’r Cynghorydd Helen Cunningham, cynghorydd y ward, a buom yn siarad â nifer o bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan y llifogydd y llynedd. Un o'r materion sy'n codi o hyd, wrth gwrs, yw mynediad at yswiriant. Credaf i Flood Re gael ei gyflwyno gan Lywodraeth y DU oddeutu degawd yn ôl, ond ymddengys nad yw pobl yn ymwybodol o’i fodolaeth a'u bod hefyd yn ansicr sut i gael mynediad ato, ac nid wyf yn argyhoeddedig ei fod yn cwmpasu’r holl ardaloedd y mae arnom angen iddo eu cwmpasu, i sicrhau bod gan bobl fynediad at yswiriant fforddiadwy pan fyddant yn byw mewn ardal sydd mewn perygl o lifogydd. A fyddai’n bosibl i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud datganiad ar y materion hyn, ac ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau, i sicrhau bod gan bawb fynediad at y wybodaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt, a sicrhau bod Flood Re yn addas i’r diben, ac os nad yw, i siarad â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig am ddeddfwriaeth a fydd yn cryfhau Flood Re, ac yn cryfhau’r cynaliadwyedd a’r dull gweithredu cadarn sydd ei angen ar bobl er mwyn yswirio eu cartrefi?
Yes, I'd be more than happy to write to colleagues, highlighting the existence and the availability of Flood Re, and the ways in which it can support their constituents to access insurance. And I'll also take some advice from officials in respect of those further questions around whether Flood Re might need strengthening, and if so, to make those representations to the UK Government.
Rwy'n fwy na pharod i ysgrifennu at fy nghyd-Aelodau i dynnu sylw at fodolaeth ac argaeledd Flood Re, a’r ffyrdd y gall gefnogi eu hetholwyr i gael mynediad at yswiriant. A byddaf hefyd yn cael rhywfaint o gyngor gan swyddogion mewn perthynas â'r cwestiynau pellach i weld a allai fod angen cryfhau Flood Re, ac os felly, i gyflwyno'r sylwadau hynny i Lywodraeth y DU.
4. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o effaith bosibl y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn 2025-26 ar Gymru? OQ62295
4. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the potential impact on Wales in 2025-26 of the shared prosperity fund? OQ62295
The UK Government’s transition year for the shared prosperity fund intends to provide some continuity and certainty for local authorities and beneficiaries ahead of a new approach from April 2026 that does not bypass the Welsh Government and Senedd.
Nod blwyddyn bontio Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yw darparu parhad a sicrwydd i awdurdodau lleol a buddiolwyr cyn y ceir dull gweithredu newydd o fis Ebrill 2026 nad yw’n osgoi Llywodraeth Cymru a’r Senedd.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for that response.
As chair of the cross-party group on industrial communities, the group has received regular reports from our colleagues in the Industrial Communities Alliance regarding the future of the shared prosperity fund. Now, while the pre-Christmas announcement on the year extension was welcomed by local authorities, there remains no certainty in terms of the long-term funding. The Industrial Communities Alliance has emphasised the role that local growth funding can play in supporting an industrial strategy and national economic growth. So, what representations have you made to the UK Government on the shared prosperity fund and a successor scheme?
Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar gymunedau diwydiannol, mae'r grŵp wedi derbyn adroddiadau rheolaidd gan ein cymheiriaid yn y Gynghrair Cymunedau Diwydiannol ynghylch dyfodol y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Nawr, er i'r cyhoeddiad cyn y Nadolig am yr estyniad o flwyddyn gael ei groesawu gan awdurdodau lleol, nid oes sicrwydd o hyd ynghylch cyllid hirdymor. Mae'r Gynghrair Cymunedau Diwydiannol wedi pwysleisio'r rôl y gall cyllid twf lleol ei chwarae i gefnogi strategaeth ddiwydiannol a thwf economaidd cenedlaethol. Felly, pa sylwadau a gyflwynwyd gennych i Lywodraeth y DU ar y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin a chynllun olynol?
Well, we had quite in-depth discussions with the UK Government in respect of this, the final transitional year of the shared prosperity fund, and we were of the view—and I think it was shared by local authorities—that, actually, it's best for the UK Government to use its powers to deliver the scheme in this final year, recognising those strong arguments made by colleagues in local government about the need for certainty and continuity as the programme, in this iteration, winds down. I also, though, recognise the importance of having certainty over what comes next, so post 2026. So, we are working at the moment to develop our longer term approach based on work that was undertaken by Huw Irranca-Davies when he was leading a group that looked at the future of regional funding in Wales, but then also considering the work that we commissioned from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which, again, has been very helpful in this space. But at every step, we want to be involving all relevant partners—local government particularly, but also, of course, academia, the third sector and others—who have a really strong and legitimate interest in what comes after 2026. It is the intention to move on at pace now with that work to try and provide as much certainty as possible as early as possible, bearing in mind, of course, that we're often talking about people's jobs in this space, and we're always really mindful of that.
Wel, cawsom drafodaethau eithaf manwl gyda Llywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â hyn, blwyddyn drosiannol olaf y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, ac roeddem o'r farn—ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn cael ei rhannu gan awdurdodau lleol—ei bod yn well i Lywodraeth y DU ddefnyddio ei phwerau i gyflawni'r cynllun yn y flwyddyn olaf hon, gan gydnabod y dadleuon cryf a wnaed gan gymheiriaid llywodraeth leol ynghylch yr angen am sicrwydd a pharhad wrth i'r rhaglen, yn yr iteriad hwn, ddirwyn i ben. Serch hynny, rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd cael sicrwydd ynghylch yr hyn a ddaw nesaf, ar ôl 2026. Felly, rydym yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd i ddatblygu ein dull gweithredu mwy hirdymor yn seiliedig ar waith a wnaed gan Huw Irranca-Davies pan oedd yn arwain grŵp a oedd yn edrych ar ddyfodol cyllid rhanbarthol yng Nghymru, ond gan ystyried y gwaith a gomisiynwyd gennym gan y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, sydd, unwaith eto, wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol iawn yn y maes hwn. Ond ar bob cam, rydym eisiau cynnwys yr holl bartneriaid perthnasol—llywodraeth leol yn arbennig, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, y byd academaidd, y trydydd sector ac eraill—sydd â diddordeb cryf a phriodol yn yr hyn sy'n dod ar ôl 2026. Y bwriad yw symud ymlaen yn gyflym nawr gyda'r gwaith hwnnw i geisio rhoi cymaint o sicrwydd â phosibl cyn gynted â phosibl, gan gofio, wrth gwrs, ein bod yn aml yn siarad am swyddi pobl yn hyn o beth, ac rydym bob amser yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny.
I would like to compliment the previous UK Conservative Government for the shared prosperity fund. It's delivered real results in Aberconwy and across Wales, reinforcing the Conservative Party's commitment to levelling up by investing directly in communities—free from Welsh bureaucracy, dithering and delay. The streamlined approach enabled key projects to progress swiftly, enhancing skills, tourism, digital innovation and local enterprise. Initiatives like Transforming Young Minds for Tomorrow are inspiring young people in engineering and the creative industries. Meanwhile, M-SParc, a digital and creative Conwy project that I recently visited, is fostering business growth, and the Llandudno bay promenade enhancement will rejuvenate our iconic seafront, cementing Llandudno as the queen of Welsh resorts. So, will the Cabinet Secretary acknowledge the number of millions of pounds that has come into Wales as a result of the UK Conservative Government's shared prosperity fund?
Hoffwn ganmol Llywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol y DU am y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Mae wedi sicrhau canlyniadau go iawn yn Aberconwy a ledled Cymru, gan atgyfnerthu ymrwymiad y Blaid Geidwadol i godi'r gwastad drwy fuddsoddi'n uniongyrchol mewn cymunedau—yn rhydd o fiwrocratiaeth, llusgo traed ac oedi yng Nghymru. Roedd y dull symlach yn galluogi prosiectau allweddol i symud ymlaen yn gyflym, gan wella sgiliau, twristiaeth, arloesi digidol a menter leol. Mae mentrau fel Trawsnewid Meddyliau Ifanc ar gyfer Yfory yn ysbrydoli pobl ifanc ym meysydd peirianneg a'r diwydiannau creadigol. Yn y cyfamser, mae M-SParc, prosiect digidol a chreadigol yng Nghonwy yr ymwelais ag ef yn ddiweddar, yn meithrin twf busnes, a bydd gwella promenâd bae Llandudno yn adfywio ein glan môr eiconig, gan gadarnhau Llandudno fel brenhines cyrchfannau Cymru. Felly, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gydnabod y miliynau lawer o bunnoedd sydd wedi dod i Gymru o ganlyniad i gronfa ffyniant gyffredin Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU?
Well, it is upsetting to hear a Member of the Senedd celebrating a scheme that actually trampled over devolution and trampled over the rights of this Senedd. So, that is disappointing. But to say that the shared prosperity fund was hugely beneficial in financial terms just isn't correct, because when you consider that and also the impact on the support that's available to farmers, Wales is actually £1 billion worse off as a result. So, there could have been so much more achieved had the original pledge to make sure that we weren't a penny worse off or that our powers wouldn't have been reduced as a result of Brexit had been delivered.
Wel, mae'n ofidus clywed Aelod o'r Senedd yn dathlu cynllun a sathrodd ar ddatganoli ac a sathrodd ar hawliau'r Senedd hon. Felly, mae hynny'n siomedig. Ond nid yw dweud bod y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn hynod fuddiol mewn termau ariannol yn gywir, oherwydd pan ystyriwch hynny a hefyd yr effaith ar y gefnogaeth sydd ar gael i ffermwyr, mae Cymru £1 biliwn yn waeth ei byd o ganlyniad mewn gwirionedd. Felly, gellid bod wedi cyflawni cymaint mwy pe bai'r addewid gwreiddiol i sicrhau nad oeddem geiniog yn waeth ein byd neu na fyddai ein pwerau'n cael eu lleihau o ganlyniad i Brexit wedi'i gadw.
5. Pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i effaith Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth Llywodraeth y DU ar Gymru? OQ62311
5. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the impact of the UK Government's Employment Rights Bill on Wales? OQ62311
The Employment Rights Bill will modernise our employment rights, strengthen their enforcement and ensure that workers are treated with dignity and respect. We are proud to support the Bill and the broader Make Work Pay agenda.
Bydd y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth yn moderneiddio ein hawliau cyflogaeth, yn cryfhau'r modd y'u gorfodir ac yn sicrhau bod gweithwyr yn cael eu trin ag urddas a pharch. Rydym yn falch o gefnogi'r Bil a'r agenda ehangach Gwneud i Waith Dalu.
Diolch. Llywydd, I should say, I'm a proud trade union member and I spent the best part of my working life advocating for a better deal at work, so I very much welcome the improvements to workers' rights that are in the Employment Rights Bill, and what that will bring. For far too long, workers have faced insecure working conditions, unfair practices and a system that is rigged in favour of bad bosses. Under the last UK Government, exploitation went unchecked, but now we have a chance to change that. But do you agree with me and many in the trade union movement that this legislation, although a significant and much welcome step forward, is just a start, and that the new deal for workers needs to be implemented in full, no ifs, no buts? This HeartUnions Week, and every week, we want to say that trade unions are there for us in times of challenge, and often redress power imbalances in the workplace. So, when it comes to bad bosses, unfair dismissal and bullying, which side are you on?
Diolch. Lywydd, dylwn ddweud fy mod yn aelod balch o undeb llafur a threuliais y rhan orau o fy mywyd gwaith yn dadlau dros fargen well yn y gwaith, felly rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y gwelliannau i hawliau gweithwyr sydd yn y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth, a'r hyn a ddaw yn sgil hynny. Ers llawer gormod o amser, mae gweithwyr wedi wynebu amodau gwaith ansicr, arferion annheg a system sy'n gogwyddo o blaid penaethiaid gwael. O dan Lywodraeth ddiwethaf y DU, ni chafwyd dim i wrthsefyll ecsbloetio, ond nawr mae gennym gyfle i newid hynny. Ond a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi a llawer yn y mudiad undebau llafur mai dechrau'n unig yw'r ddeddfwriaeth hon er ei bod yn gam sylweddol ymlaen sydd i'w groesawu, a heb unrhyw amheuaeth, fod angen gweithredu'r fargen newydd i weithwyr yn llawn? Ac yn ystod Wythnos CaruUndebau, fel pob wythnos, rydym am ddweud bod undebau llafur yno i ni ar adegau heriol, ac yn aml yn unioni anghydbwysedd pŵer yn y gweithle. Felly, wrth ystyried penaethiaid gwael, diswyddo annheg a bwlio, ar ba ochr rydych chi?
Diolch, Hannah Blythyn, for that question. Presiding Officer, I think it's worth placing on record Hannah's commitment to promoting workers' rights, not just here in the Senedd and in the Government, but way before then, through all her career, and no doubt before that as well. I'm grateful to Hannah for raising the groundbreaking legislation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, which she led through its legislative stages here in the Senedd. I see the Employment Rights Bill as a complementary part to our Act. Indeed, we have successfully secured helpful UK Government amendments in relation to outsourcing that will ensure smooth functioning with our social partnership and public procurement Act. As a proud trade union member myself, Presiding Officer, as a member of Unite the Union and Community Union, I will, of course, join Hannah in celebrating HeartUnions Week this week in particular, but every single week, and I look forward to issuing a written statement on that support today.
On the Member's broader point with the struggle for workers' rights, I see this as being journey. I see the Employment Rights Bill building on our groundbreaking social partnership and public procurement Act, but that is on a journey to strengthening workers' rights, and the journey doesn't end. This milestone, Presiding Officer, of the Employment Rights Bill, is the single biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation, but I will, as Hannah will, always stand shoulder to shoulder with the trade union movement on this journey as we seek to strengthen workers' rights always.
Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Hannah Blythyn. Lywydd, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth cofnodi ymrwymiad Hannah i hyrwyddo hawliau gweithwyr, nid yn unig yma yn y Senedd ac yn y Llywodraeth, ond ymhell cyn hynny, trwy ei holl yrfa, a chyn hynny hefyd, yn ddiamau. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Hannah am godi'r ddeddfwriaeth arloesol, Deddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2023, a arweiniodd drwy ei chamau deddfwriaethol yma yn y Senedd. Rwy'n gweld y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth fel rhan ategol i'n Ddeddf ni. Yn wir, rydym wedi llwyddo i sicrhau gwelliannau defnyddiol gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â chontractio allanol a fydd yn sicrhau y bydd yn gweithredu'n llyfn gyda'n Deddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus. Fel aelod balch o undeb llafur fy hun, Lywydd, fel aelod o undeb Unite ac undeb Community, byddaf yn ymuno â Hannah i ddathlu Wythnos CaruUndebau yr wythnos hon yn benodol, ond bob wythnos hefyd, ac edrychaf ymlaen at gyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig ar y gefnogaeth honno heddiw.
Ar bwynt ehangach yr Aelod gyda'r frwydr dros hawliau gweithwyr, rwy'n gweld hon fel taith. Rwy'n gweld y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth yn adeiladu ar ein Deddf partneriaeth gymdeithasol a chaffael cyhoeddus arloesol, ond ar daith tuag at gryfhau hawliau gweithwyr, ac nid yw'r daith yn dod i ben. Y garreg filltir hon, Lywydd, sef y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth, yw'r gwelliant unigol mwyaf i hawliau gweithwyr mewn cenhedlaeth, ond fel Hannah, byddaf bob amser yn sefyll ysgwydd wrth ysgwydd gyda'r mudiad undebau llafur ar y daith hon wrth inni geisio cryfhau hawliau gweithwyr bob amser.
Well, a succession of surveys has shown that corporate confidence has plummeted in the wake of Rachel Reeves's budget, and the recruitment downturn is now worse than the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The latest StatsWales figures show that Wales already has lower employment rates and higher unemployment and economic activity rates than for the UK as a whole. Against this background, how can the UK Labour Government's Employment Rights Bill help rather than further hinder employment in Wales, when, according to the Confederation of British Industry's latest growth indicator, private sector firms expect another significant fall in activity, when the Institute of Directors's survey of members found that 57 per cent of businesses are less likely to hire new workers due to the Employment Rights Bill, and when the Federation of Small Businesses has warned that 92 per cent of small businesses are worried about the Employment Rights Bill, that 62 per cent will recruit fewer staff, that 56 per cent will cancel or scale down plans for investing and that 32 per cent will reduce headcount?
Wel, mae cyfres o arolygon wedi dangos bod hyder corfforaethol wedi plymio yn sgil cyllideb Rachel Reeves, ac mae'r dirywiad o ran recriwtio bellach yn waeth nag yn sgil yr argyfwng ariannol byd-eang. Mae ffigurau diweddaraf StatsCymru yn dangos bod gan Gymru eisoes gyfraddau cyflogaeth is a chyfraddau diweithdra ac anweithgarwch economaidd uwch na'r DU gyfan. Yn erbyn y cefndir hwn, sut y gall Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth Llywodraeth y DU helpu yn hytrach na llesteirio cyflogaeth yng Nghymru ymhellach, pan fo cwmnïau'r sector preifat yn disgwyl cwymp sylweddol arall mewn gweithgaredd yn ôl dangosydd twf diweddaraf Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain, a phan ganfu arolwg Sefydliad y Cyfarwyddwyr o'i aelodau fod 57 y cant o fusnesau yn llai tebygol o gyflogi gweithwyr newydd oherwydd y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth, a phan fo'r Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach wedi rhybuddio bod 92 y cant o fusnesau bach yn poeni am y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth, 62 y cant yn mynd i recriwtio llai o staff, 56 y cant yn mynd i ganslo neu leihau cynlluniau ar gyfer buddsoddi a 32 y cant yn mynd i leihau nifer eu gweithwyr?
I thank Mark Isherwood for his question. Presiding Officer, it's no surprise that the Conservatives don't support strengthening workers' rights—they haven't changed their opinion on that for a very long time. The Member points to a series of polls. He fails in his research to read the latest mega poll from the TUC, which was published on Monday, so let me read those figures to the Member: 72 per cent of people, including business owners, supporting banning zero-hour contracts; 74 per cent supporting statutory sick pay from day one; 73 per cent wanting protection from unfair dismissal from day one; and 74 per cent backing easier flexible working, Presiding Officer. The Employment Rights Bill, strengthening workers' rights, shouldn't be a divisive issue in this Chamber or in Westminster. It should be an issue that we should all get together around. I encourage the Member to read the significant poll: over 21,000 people showing overwhelming support for the Employment Rights Bill.
Stronger working protections will encourage a more productive workplace and business environment. The Tories, I'm afraid, are on the wrong side of history on this, as are Nigel Farage and Reform. This is the same argument they used with the minimum wage, it's the same argument they used to create the NHS. They want to, perhaps, do more research, look at those figures and change the tune when it comes to strengthening workers' rights.
Diolch i Mark Isherwood am ei gwestiwn. Lywydd, nid yw'n syndod nad yw'r Ceidwadwyr yn cefnogi cryfhau hawliau gweithwyr—nid ydynt wedi newid eu barn ar hynny ers amser hir iawn. Mae'r Aelod yn nodi cyfres o arolygon barn. Yn ei ymchwil, mae wedi methu darllen yr arolwg barn mawr diweddaraf gan y TUC, a gyhoeddwyd ddydd Llun, felly gadewch imi ddarllen y ffigurau hynny i'r Aelod: 72 y cant o bobl, gan gynnwys perchnogion busnes, yn cefnogi gwahardd contractau dim oriau; 74 y cant yn cefnogi tâl salwch statudol o'r diwrnod cyntaf; 73 y cant eisiau amddiffyniad rhag diswyddo annheg o'r diwrnod cyntaf; a 74 y cant yn cefnogi gweithio hyblyg haws, Lywydd. Ni ddylai'r Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth, sy'n cryfhau hawliau gweithwyr, fod yn fater ymrannol yn y Siambr hon nac yn San Steffan. Dylai fod yn fater y dylem i gyd ddod at ein gilydd yn ei gylch. Rwy'n annog yr Aelod i ddarllen yr arolwg barn arwyddocaol hwnnw: mae dros 21,000 o bobl yn dangos cefnogaeth ysgubol i'r Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth.
Bydd amddiffyniadau gwaith cryfach yn creu gweithle ac amgylchedd busnes mwy cynhyrchiol. Mae arnaf ofn fod y Torïaid ar yr ochr anghywir i hanes ar hyn, fel y mae Nigel Farage a Reform. Dyma'r un ddadl a ddefnyddiwyd ganddynt ynghylch yr isafswm cyflog, dyma'r un ddadl a ddefnyddiwyd ganddynt ar gyfer y GIG. Mae eisiau iddynt wneud mwy o ymchwil, edrych ar y ffigurau hynny a newid y cywair o ran cryfhau hawliau gweithwyr.
6. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau canol tref yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ62287
6. How is the Welsh Government supporting town-centre businesses in Mid and West Wales? OQ62287
We've made available £125 million of Transforming Towns funding to secure the economic and social resilience of town centres, enabling job creation, developing green infrastructure, improving community facilities and access to services, and supporting local businesses.
Rydym wedi sicrhau bod £125 miliwn o gyllid Trawsnewid Trefi ar gael i sicrhau cadernid economaidd a chymdeithasol canol trefi, gan alluogi creu swyddi, datblygu seilwaith gwyrdd, gwella cyfleusterau cymunedol a mynediad at wasanaethau, a chefnogi busnesau lleol.
Diolch yn fawr i chi am yr ateb. Fel rŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod, mae'r amgylchiadau yma y mae llawer iawn o'n cwmnïau bychain ni yn eu hwynebu yn dal i fod yn rhai niferus iawn. Mae cost ynni yn parhau i fod yn uchel, chwyddiant ac yn y blaen, ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn cytuno bod angen pob cefnogaeth arnyn nhw. Ond dwi'n pryderu bod nifer o gwmnïau canol tref yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru yn talu crocbris mewn cyfraddau busnes. Nawr, ddiwedd y llynedd, ysgrifennais i ac Elin Jones at Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio i fynegi pryderon ar lefel y cyfraddau busnes sy'n cael eu codi ar gwmnïau yn Aberystwyth yn benodol.
Thank you very much for that response. As we all know, these circumstances that are facing many of our smaller companies are very numerous. The cost of energy continues to be high, inflation pressures and so on, and I'm sure we would all agree that they need all the support that we can provide. I'm concerned that many town-centre businesses in Mid and West Wales are paying a very high price in business rates. Now, at the end of last year, Elin Jones and I wrote to the Valuation Office Agency to express concerns on the level of the business rates charged for businesses in Aberystwyth specifically.
Now, as far as Aberystwyth is concerned, Cabinet Secretary, the business rates being charged on some commercial properties there are higher than in the centre of Cardiff. Now, in some cases, the zone prices per square metre are almost three times higher on Aberystwyth's Great Darkgate Street than on Swansea's Kingsway. Now, do you agree with me that this seems frankly absurd? Now, further, locally owned business in Aberystwyth town centre are paying up to 10 times as much in business rates than out-of-town chain stores. So, my question is simple: what do you propose to do to address this imbalance?
Nawr, o ran Aberystwyth, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'r ardrethi busnes sy'n cael eu codi ar beth eiddo masnachol yno yn uwch nag yng nghanol Caerdydd. Nawr, mewn rhai achosion, mae prisiau safleoedd fesul metr sgwâr bron i deirgwaith yn uwch ar Stryd Fawr Aberystwyth nag ar Ffordd y Brenin Abertawe. Nawr, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod hyn yn ymddangos yn hollol hurt? Nawr, ymhellach, mae busnesau sy'n eiddo i bobl leol yng nghanol tref Aberystwyth yn talu hyd at 10 gwaith cymaint mewn ardrethi busnes na siopau cadwyn y tu allan i'r dref. Felly, mae fy nghwestiwn yn syml: beth y bwriadwch ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r anghydbwysedd hwn?
When it comes to setting rateable values of properties, they are independent of the Welsh Government and are set independently by the Valuation Office Agency. But if Cefin Campbell wouldn't mind writing to me on this particular issue, given those examples, then I'd be happy, of course, to take them up with the finance Minister, who has responsibility in this area, to explore them in a little bit more detail.
O ran pennu gwerthoedd ardrethol eiddo, maent yn annibynnol ar Lywodraeth Cymru ac yn cael eu gosod yn annibynnol gan Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio. Ond os gallai Cefin Campbell ysgrifennu ataf ar y mater penodol hwn, o ystyried yr enghreifftiau hynny, byddwn yn hapus i fynd ar eu trywydd gyda'r Gweinidog cyllid, sydd â chyfrifoldeb yn y maes hwn, i'w harchwilio'n fwy manwl.
One of the key reasons why people still go to town centres is to access banking services. But, unfortunately, in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, the news has recently broken that Lloyds Bank is to shut in Pembroke Dock and Halifax in Carmarthen. Now, recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Vince Malone, who's the sub-postmaster in Tenby, and Peter Robinson, a sub-postmaster from Pembroke Dock, highlighting that post offices continue to offer some of these key banking services, ensuring that high streets aren't banking deserts. So, can I ask, Cabinet Secretary, what work are you doing with sub-postmasters, with the Post Office, to try and ensure that more services, banking services specifically, are accessible via the Post Office, ensuring constituents can continue to access those services on our high streets?
Un o'r prif resymau pam fod pobl yn dal i fynd i ganol trefi yw er mwyn defnyddio gwasanaethau bancio. Ond yn anffodus, yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro, daeth y newyddion yn ddiweddar fod Banc Lloyds yn Noc Penfro a Halifax yng Nghaerfyrddin yn mynd i gau. Nawr, yn ddiweddar cefais y pleser o gyfarfod â Vince Malone, sef yr is-bostfeistr yn Ninbych-y-pysgod, a Peter Robinson, is-bostfeistr yn Noc Penfro, a nododd fod swyddfeydd post yn parhau i gynnig rhai o'r gwasanaethau bancio allweddol hyn, gan sicrhau nad yw'r stryd fawr wedi'i hamddifadu'n llwyr o wasanaethau bancio. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa waith rydych chi'n ei wneud gydag is-bostfeistri, gyda Swyddfa'r Post, i geisio sicrhau bod mwy o wasanaethau, gwasanaethau bancio yn benodol, ar gael drwy Swyddfa'r Post, gan sicrhau bod etholwyr yn gallu parhau i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau hynny ar ein strydoedd mawr?
I'm very grateful for the question, and I also share the concern that I think all colleagues, to be fair, right across the Chamber, have in relation to bank closures across Wales. We've seen 380 of them since January 2015, and we expect only 179 bank and building societies to be opened by the end of 2025 in Wales. So, clearly, the role of the post office is absolutely crucial, in terms of allowing people to have that day-to-day banking facility. Much of this is not in the devolved space, but I'll be more than happy to have any conversations I can about supporting and promoting post offices as somewhere that people can do their banking, and exploring how post offices are looking to expand the level and range of support that they're able to offer in the community.
There are a range of other ways in which banks are trying to adapt. So, we've got the mobile banking vans, for example. There are a range of tech supports now that are available through banks. And community bankers as well are now available in various communities across Wales. So, there are ways in which banks are seeking to at least provide some kind of service in the local area after the closure of banks.
I'd also just highlight to colleagues as well that Link leads on assessing the need for new banking services, so automated teller machines, shared banking hubs, for example. They do that after every bank closure is announced, particularly where the last bank closes in any town, and so they can commission new services where required. So, if colleagues would want to ask Link to undertake an assessment of banks' banking services, they are able to do that as well.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn, ac rwyf innau hefyd yn rhannu'r pryder sydd gan bob cyd-Aelod ar draws y Siambr, i fod yn deg, mewn perthynas â chau banciau ledled Cymru. Rydym wedi gweld 380 ohonynt yn cau ers mis Ionawr 2015, ac mae disgwyl na fydd ond 179 o fanciau a chymdeithasau adeiladu ar agor erbyn diwedd 2025 yng Nghymru. Felly, yn amlwg, mae rôl swyddfa'r post yn gwbl hanfodol i ganiatáu i bobl gael cyfleusterau bancio o ddydd i ddydd. Mae llawer o hyn heb ei ddatganoli, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael unrhyw sgyrsiau y gallaf eu cael am gefnogi a hyrwyddo swyddfeydd post fel rhywle y gall pobl wneud eu bancio, ac archwilio sut y mae swyddfeydd post yn ceisio ehangu lefel ac ystod y cymorth y gallant ei gynnig yn y gymuned.
Mae banciau'n ceisio addasu mewn amrywiaeth o ffyrdd eraill. Felly, mae gennym faniau bancio symudol, er enghraifft. Mae yna ystod o gymorth technoleg nawr sydd ar gael trwy fanciau. Ac mae bancwyr cymunedol hefyd ar gael bellach mewn amryw o gymunedau ledled Cymru. Felly, mae banciau'n ceisio darparu rhyw fath o wasanaeth o leiaf yn yr ardal leol ar ôl i fanciau gau.
Hoffwn hysbysu'r cyd-Aelodau hefyd fod Link yn arwain ar asesu'r angen am wasanaethau bancio newydd, felly peiriannau ATM, hybiau bancio a rennir, er enghraifft. Maent yn gwneud hynny ar ôl pob cyhoeddiad fod banc yn mynd i gau, yn enwedig pan fydd y banc olaf yn cau mewn unrhyw dref, ac er mwyn iddynt allu comisiynu gwasanaethau newydd lle bo angen. Felly, os hoffai cyd-Aelodau ofyn i Link gynnal asesiad o wasanaethau bancio banciau, gallant wneud hynny hefyd.
7. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am effaith Brexit ar economi Cymru? OQ62286
7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact of Brexit on the Welsh economy? OQ62286
The EU is our most important trading partner. Figures vary, but we know Brexit has had a negative and damaging impact on Wales. The trade and co-operation agreement governs our relationship with the EU, but it cannot replace the market access that we had previously, and creates barriers for Welsh businesses.
Yr UE yw ein partner masnachu pwysicaf. Mae'r ffigurau'n amrywio, ond fe wyddom fod Brexit wedi cael effaith negyddol a niweidiol ar Gymru. Mae'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu yn llywodraethu ein perthynas â'r UE, ond ni all gymryd lle mynediad i'r farchnad fel a oedd gennym o'r blaen, ac mae'n creu rhwystrau i fusnesau Cymru.
Thank you for that answer. Sixty per cent of Welsh trade is with the EU, so I wonder, Minister, if you agree with me that being part of the single market would benefit Welsh business, and it would be probably the single most factor in the short term that would generate economic growth in Wales and in the UK.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Mae 60 y cant o fasnach Cymru gyda'r UE, felly tybed, Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y byddai bod yn rhan o'r farchnad sengl o fudd i fusnesau Cymru, ac mae'n debyg mai dyma fyddai'r ffactor unigol mwyaf yn y tymor byr a fyddai'n cynhyrchu twf economaidd yng Nghymru ac yn y DU.
Well, it is absolutely the case that the economy is taking a big hit as a result of Brexit. The Office for Budget Responsibility's latest economic and fiscal outlook showed that the UK's long-run productivity is expected to be 4 per cent lower relative to remaining in the EU, with the volumes of exports and imports projected to be around 15 per cent lower in the long term. So, I think that there is a clear message there in terms of the impact that Brexit has had. I probably won't stray any further than that, as alluring as the invitation was, but I think I've been able to set out the negative consequences of Brexit on the economy.
Wel, mae'n hollol wir fod yr economi wedi cael ergyd fawr o ganlyniad i Brexit. Dangosodd rhagolwg economaidd a chyllidol diweddaraf y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol fod disgwyl i gynhyrchiant hirdymor y DU fod 4 y cant yn is o'i gymharu ag aros yn yr UE, gyda'r disgwyl y bydd nifer yr allforion a'r mewnforion tua 15 y cant yn is yn y tymor hir. Felly, rwy'n credu bod neges glir yno ynghylch yr effaith y mae Brexit wedi'i chael. Nid af ymhellach na hynny, er bod y gwahoddiad i wneud hynny'n apelio, ond rwy'n credu fy mod wedi gallu nodi canlyniadau negyddol Brexit i'r economi.
8. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi sefydlu cwmnïau buddiannau cymunedol? OQ62308
8. How is the Welsh Government supporting the establishment of community interest companies? OQ62308
Our Social Business Wales service is on hand to provide specialist support, to offer information, guidance and support to social enterprises that wish to establish as a community interest company in Wales.
Mae ein gwasanaeth Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru wrth law i ddarparu cymorth arbenigol, i gynnig gwybodaeth, arweiniad a chefnogaeth i fentrau cymdeithasol sy'n dymuno sefydlu fel cwmni buddiannau cymunedol yng Nghymru.
Dwi'n ddiolchgar am yr ateb hwnnw. Yn ogystal â'r gwasanaeth sydd ar gael drwy Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru, tybed a oes yna fodd ehangu hynny i gynnwys profiad y rhwydwaith Cymunedoli, er enghraifft, sydd wedi dechrau yn y gogledd-orllewin ond sydd wedi ymledu trwy Gymru ar sail llwyddiant cwmnïau er budd cymunedol.
Yn ehangach na hynny, dwi yn ddiweddar wedi bod ynghlwm wrth sgwrs yn Rhydaman i greu cwmni o'r fath yna er mwyn adfywio'r dref a'r ardal gyfagos. Un o'r pethau sydd yn fy nharo i yw efallai fod yna rywbeth ar goll ar hyn o bryd wrth gael gwared ar Gymunedau'n Gyntaf—. Wrth gwrs, roedd yna gyfeiriad gynnau at y rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi. Mae honno yn dueddol o ffocysu ar y ffisegol, ar adfywio ffisegol. Mae yna fwlch o ran cefnogi entrepreneuriaeth gymdeithasol. Grêt bod y rhwydwaith yn bodoli. Mae eisiau ehangu fe. Efallai fod yna gyfle drwy'r rhaglen Arfor. Tybed a allen ni gael sgwrs, Weinidog, ynglŷn â'r cwestiwn yma, ynglŷn â'r elfen diwylliannol-gymdeithasol entrepreneuraidd mewn datblygu cymunedol a sut rŷn ni'n hyrwyddo hwnna dros Gymru gyfan.
I'm grateful for that response. In addition to the service available through Social Business Wales, I wonder whether that could be expanded to include the Cymunedoli network, for example, that started in the north-west but has spread throughout Wales on the basis of the success of community interest companies.
More broadly than that, I've recently been involved in a conversation in Ammanford to create such a community interest company to revive the town and the surrounding areas. One of the things that struck me is that there is something missing at the moment in scrapping Communities First—. Of course, there was reference earlier to the Transforming Towns programme. That tends to focus on the physical, on physical regeneration. There is a gap in terms of supporting social enterprise. It's wonderful that the network exists. It needs to be extended and expanded. There may be an opportunity through the Arfor programme. I wonder if we could have a conversation, Minister, on this question, on the socio-cultural and entrepreneurial element in community development and how we promote this across the whole of Wales.
I'd be absolutely delighted to have that conversation as to how we can better support community interest companies beyond, I suppose, the capital support that we provide, so I'd be very happy to explore that, and also to explore it through the Social Business Wales consortium, which of course consists of Cwmpas, Social Firms Wales, UnLtd, the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and the Development Trusts Association. I know that, between them, they will certainly have some views on how we can better support in the way that's been described.
Byddwn yn falch iawn o gael y sgwrs honno ynglŷn â sut y gallwn gefnogi cwmnïau buddiannau cymunedol yn well y tu hwnt i'r gefnogaeth gyfalaf a ddarparwn, felly byddwn yn hapus iawn i archwilio hynny, a hefyd i'w archwilio drwy gonsortiwm Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru, sydd wrth gwrs yn cynnwys Cwmpas, Cwmnïau Cymdeithasol Cymru, UnLtd, Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru a Chymdeithas yr Ymddiriedolaethau Datblygu. Rhyngddynt, rwy'n gwybod yn sicr y bydd ganddynt safbwyntiau ynglŷn â sut y gallwn gefnogi'n well yn y ffordd a ddisgrifiwyd.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf bydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, a heddiw bydd y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant a'r Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn ateb y cwestiynau ar ran yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf, felly, o Gareth Davies.
The next item will be the questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and today the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Minister for Children and Social Care will be answering the questions on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary. The first question is from Gareth Davies.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar amseroedd aros cleifion yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd? OQ62297
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on patient waiting times at Glan Clwyd Hospital? OQ62297
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Performance at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is not where I, the public, nor staff expect it to be, although improvements are being made. Welsh Government is working with the health board and has set clear expectations for improvement.
Nid yw perfformiad yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd lle rwyf i, y cyhoedd, na'r staff yn disgwyl iddo fod, ond mae gwelliannau'n cael eu gwneud. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r bwrdd iechyd ac wedi gosod disgwyliadau clir ar gyfer gwella.
Thank you for that response, Minister. The independent body, Llais, published research this week in which it made 42 visits to hospitals, minor injury and medical assessment units, speaking to more than 700 people, and their conclusion was that urgent and emergency care in Wales is failing too many people and change is too slow. They've said precisely what I've consistently been saying in this Senedd, that, despite strategies, plans, commitments and projects, people aren't seeing the real improvements. Alyson Thomas, chief executive officer of Llais, said that
'Welsh Government and NHS Wales must act now to turn strategies and plans into meaningful change. Immediate improvements are essential to ease the current crisis, but we also need a clear programme of action to make sure emergency care is fit for the future.'
And Professor Medwin Hughes, chair of Llais, also said:
'Emergency care in Wales is at breaking point',
with people left in corridors for up to 24 hours. And from the most recent data available, the worst-performing A&E department against the 12-hour target is Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, with only 69 per cent of patients seen within the 12-hour target. This is not what we expect in a developed nation, and we know from the testimonies in this report that people feel stripped of their dignity when they visit an emergency department run by the direction of this Welsh Labour Government. So, will the Cabinet Secretary follow the recommendations of this report, scrap the useless plans and strategies and actually show clear leadership and delivery, fixing the Welsh Government's shameful record on A&E waiting times, particularly at Glan Clwyd Hospital, and commit to building north Denbighshire community hospital—
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Cyhoeddodd y corff annibynnol, Llais, ymchwil yr wythnos hon lle gwnaeth 42 ymweliad ag ysbytai, unedau mân anafiadau ac asesiadau meddygol, gan siarad â mwy na 700 o bobl, a'u casgliad oedd bod gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng yng Nghymru yn gwneud cam â gormod o bobl ac mae newid yn rhy araf. Maent wedi dweud yn union yr hyn y bûm i'n ei ddweud yn gyson yn y Senedd hon, sef nad yw pobl yn gweld gwelliannau go iawn er gwaethaf strategaethau, cynlluniau, ymrwymiadau a phrosiectau. Dywedodd Alyson Thomas, prif swyddog gweithredol Llais,
'Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru a GIG Cymru weithredu nawr i droi strategaethau a chynlluniau yn newid ystyrlon. Mae gwelliannau ar unwaith yn hanfodol i leddfu’r argyfwng presennol, ond mae angen rhaglen weithredu glir arnom hefyd i sicrhau bod gofal brys yn addas ar gyfer y dyfodol.'
A dywedodd yr Athro Medwin Hughes, cadeirydd Llais:
'Mae gofal brys yng Nghymru wedi cyrraedd pwynt argyfwng',
gyda phobl yn cael eu gadael mewn coridorau am hyd at 24 awr. Ac o'r data diweddaraf sydd ar gael, yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys sy'n perfformio waethaf yn erbyn y targed 12 awr yw Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, gyda dim ond 69 y cant o gleifion yn cael eu gweld o fewn y targed 12 awr. Nid dyma rydym yn ei ddisgwyl mewn cenedl ddatblygedig, a gwyddom o'r dystiolaeth yn yr adroddiad hwn fod pobl yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu hamddifadu o'u hurddas pan fyddant yn ymweld ag adran frys sy'n cael ei rhedeg dan gyfarwyddyd y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yng Nghymru. Felly, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddilyn argymhellion yr adroddiad, dileu'r cynlluniau a'r strategaethau diwerth a dangos arweinyddiaeth a chyflawniad clir, gan unioni hanes Llywodraeth Cymru o amseroedd aros damweiniau ac achosion brys cywilyddus, yn enwedig yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, ac ymrwymo i adeiladu ysbyty cymunedol gogledd sir Ddinbych—
I'm going to—. I've been extremely generous with you this afternoon, in the previous session and now in this session too. So, answer the question that's just been asked.
Rwy'n mynd i—. Rwyf wedi bod yn hynod o hael gyda chi y prynhawn yma, yn y sesiwn flaenorol a nawr yn y sesiwn hon hefyd. Felly, atebwch y cwestiwn sydd newydd gael ei ofyn.
There were several questions there, Llywydd, but I will focus on the first question that Gareth Davies presented, which is on the response to, or the report from Llais. I understand that Llais has undertaken a significant engagement exercise and has listened to the public's view on urgent and emergency care in Wales, and we always value the valuable contribution that Llais provides in our NHS. We do recognise, of course, that improvements need to be made around the quality of emergency care departments, and a whole-system approach is necessary to support improvement for this through our six goals for emergency and urgent care programme.
I'm pleased that we already have actions in place to deliver the recommendations from Llais through our six goals programme, which focuses on delivering the right care in the right place first time. And this includes investments in enhanced community care services, virtual wards and urgent community response and integrated care pathways to reduce hospital admissions and improve patient flow. We've invested £200 million this year to help safely manage more people in the community to avoid ambulance transport and admission to hospital, and timely discharge. And we've also invested £5.4 million in emergency department waiting areas since 2022-23, which has seen enhancements to seating areas, with better information displays and more beverages, for example; it's a better patient experience whilst they're there.
Now, it is health boards, of course, who are responsible for ensuring sufficient capacity, both workforce and physical space, and that is provided to provide safe and quality care to people who need to access care in emergency departments. But we do recognise—of course we do—that there is more to improve patient experience and outcomes, and we will continue to work collaboratively with our health board colleagues to ensure that that improvement is delivered.
Roedd sawl cwestiwn yno, Lywydd, ond fe ganolbwyntiaf ar y cwestiwn cyntaf a gyflwynodd Gareth Davies, sef ar yr ymateb i, neu'r adroddiad gan Llais. Rwy'n deall bod Llais wedi cynnal ymarfer ymgysylltu sylweddol ac wedi gwrando ar farn y cyhoedd ar ofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng yng Nghymru, ac rydym bob amser yn gwerthfawrogi'r cyfraniad gwerthfawr y mae Llais yn ei ddarparu yn ein GIG. Rydym yn cydnabod, wrth gwrs, fod angen gwneud gwelliannau o ran ansawdd adrannau gofal brys, ac mae angen dull system gyfan i gefnogi'r gwelliant hwn drwy ein rhaglen chwe nod ar gyfer gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng.
Rwy'n falch fod gennym gamau eisoes ar waith i gyflawni'r argymhellion gan Llais drwy ein rhaglen chwe nod, sy'n canolbwyntio ar ddarparu'r gofal iawn yn y lle iawn y tro cyntaf. Ac mae hyn yn cynnwys buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau gofal cymunedol gwell, wardiau rhithwir ac ymateb cymunedol brys a llwybrau gofal integredig i leihau derbyniadau i'r ysbyty a gwella llif cleifion. Rydym wedi buddsoddi £200 miliwn eleni i helpu i reoli mwy o bobl yn y gymuned yn ddiogel er mwyn osgoi gorfod eu cludo mewn ambiwlans a'u derbyn i'r ysbyty, a rhyddhau'n amserol. Ac rydym hefyd wedi buddsoddi £5.4 miliwn ym mannau aros adrannau brys ers 2022-23, sydd wedi gweld gwelliannau i fannau eistedd, gyda gwell arddangosiadau gwybodaeth a mwy o ddiodydd er enghraifft; mae'n brofiad gwell i gleifion tra byddant yno.
Nawr, byrddau iechyd sy'n gyfrifol am sicrhau digon o gapasiti, yn weithlu a gofod ffisegol, a chaiff ei ddarparu i roi gofal diogel o ansawdd i bobl sydd angen cael gofal mewn adrannau brys. Ond rydym yn cydnabod—wrth gwrs ein bod—fod mwy i'w wneud i wella profiad a chanlyniadau cleifion, a byddwn yn parhau i gydweithio gyda'n cymheiriaid yn y bwrdd iechyd i sicrhau bod y gwelliant hwnnw'n cael ei gyflawni.
At a meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr health board, they talked about approximately 1,000 beds being filled in hospitals with patients who need to move into social care. There's a particular pressure point at Glan Clwyd, and a huge need for investment at the Royal Alexandra to provide step-up, step-down provision. Denbighshire council have applied for the integrated care fund funding as match for that, and it's really welcome that Welsh Government do provide that funding as well for step-up, step-down care. I also understand that the cost of the project has trebled while Welsh Government's hands were tied during UK Government austerity over the 14 years; there was no money for that investment. But now we do have a new UK Government, working with Welsh Government, and there is capital funding finally. Would you agree that the Royal Alexandra could be a priority now, going forward, for this Government?
Mewn cyfarfod gyda bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, fe wnaethant sôn bod tua 1,000 o welyau mewn ysbytai yn cael eu defnyddio gan gleifion sydd angen symud i ofal cymdeithasol. Mae pwysau arbennig yng Nglan Clwyd, ac angen enfawr am fuddsoddiad yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra i gynnig darpariaeth cam-i-fyny, cam-i-lawr. Mae Cyngor Sir Ddinbych wedi gwneud cais am gyllid y gronfa gofal integredig fel arian cyfatebol ar gyfer hynny, ac mae'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n darparu'r cyllid hwnnw hefyd ar gyfer gofal cam-i-fyny, cam-i-lawr yn cael ei groesawu'n fawr. Rwyf hefyd yn deall bod cost y prosiect wedi treblu tra bod dwylo Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu clymu yn ystod cyni Llywodraeth y DU dros y 14 mlynedd; nid oedd unrhyw arian ar gyfer y buddsoddiad hwnnw. Ond nawr mae gennym Lywodraeth newydd yn y DU, yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae cyllid cyfalaf ar gael o'r diwedd. A fyddech chi'n cytuno y gallai Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra fod yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon nawr wrth symud ymlaen?
Yes, thank you, Carolyn Thomas, for that question. I know only too well how important the Royal Alexandra or the Denbighshire community hospital, however we want to refer to it, is to the people in that area, and I know that the health board is reviewing proposals for the Royal Alexandra Hospital site, in partnership with its local stakeholders. And those proposals, I understand, will include a minor injuries unit and intermediate care beds, which is the step-down, step-up facility you were talking about. And once the revised business case is submitted, it'll be considered and prioritised against the wide range of other funding requests received across NHS Wales.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Carolyn Thomas. Rwy'n gwybod yn dda iawn pa mor bwysig yw Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra neu ysbyty cymunedol sir Ddinbych, sut bynnag y dymunwn gyfeirio ato, i bobl yn yr ardal honno, a gwn fod y bwrdd iechyd yn adolygu cynigion ar gyfer safle Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra, mewn partneriaeth â'i randdeiliaid lleol. Ac rwy'n deall bod y cynigion hynny'n cynnwys uned mân anafiadau a gwelyau gofal canolraddol, sef y cyfleuster cam-i-lawr, cam-i-fyny roeddech chi'n sôn amdano. A phan fydd yr achos busnes diwygiedig wedi cael ei gyflwyno, bydd yn cael ei ystyried a'i flaenoriaethu yn erbyn yr ystod eang o geisiadau cyllid eraill a ddaw i law ledled GIG Cymru.
2. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau mynediad at wasanaethau erthylu? OQ62298
2. How is the Welsh Government ensuring access to abortion services? OQ62298
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Health boards are responsible for providing abortion services that are aligned with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and meet the needs of their population. We have made clear our expectation that health boards provide services that ensure access to evidence-based support for reproductive choices, including abortion.
Mae byrddau iechyd yn gyfrifol am ddarparu gwasanaethau erthylu sy'n cyd-fynd â chanllawiau'r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal ac sy'n diwallu anghenion eu poblogaeth. Rydym wedi nodi'n glir ein disgwyliad fod byrddau iechyd yn darparu gwasanaethau sy'n sicrhau mynediad at gymorth yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth ar gyfer dewisiadau atgenhedlu, gan gynnwys erthylu.
Diolch. One in three women will have an abortion over the course of their lives. However, here in Wales, there is nowhere that provides surgical terminations beyond 16 weeks and nowhere that provides any type of abortion at all beyond 20 weeks. If a woman needs access to abortion services beyond this, up to the legal limit of 24 weeks, they must travel out of Wales for treatment, usually to Liverpool or London. Although abortions at later gestations account for only 2 per cent of all abortions, the women who require them are some of society’s most vulnerable. Often these women have complex backgrounds, they have substance abuse issues, they’re victims of rape, or they’re under the age of 16, to name but a few. Travel and accommodation for the two-day procedure is often paid for out of their own pocket or donated by the charity providing them care, because local health boards in Wales frequently deny upfront funding. This means in many cases where women want abortions, they can’t afford it and are forced to continue with unwanted pregnancy.
The women’s health cross-party group of which I’m a member has been asking for action on this from Welsh Government since 2018, and we still haven’t heard of a plan for providing later and surgical services in Wales, including the training of doctors to provide this specialised care. Now we finally have a women’s health plan for Wales, when will we see concrete action on this?
Diolch. Bydd un o bob tair menyw yn cael erthyliad yn ystod eu bywydau. Fodd bynnag, yma yng Nghymru, nid oes unman sy'n darparu erthyliadau llawfeddygol y tu hwnt i 16 wythnos nac unman sy'n darparu unrhyw fath o erthyliad o gwbl y tu hwnt i 20 wythnos. Os oes angen i fenyw gael gwasanaethau erthylu y tu hwnt i hyn, hyd at y terfyn cyfreithiol o 24 wythnos, rhaid iddynt deithio allan o Gymru i gael triniaeth, fel arfer i Lerpwl neu Lundain. Er mai dim ond 2 y cant o'r holl erthyliadau sy'n erthyliadau yn ddiweddarach mewn beichiogrwydd, mae'r menywod sydd eu hangen ymhlith rhai o'r menywod mwyaf agored i niwed yn y gymdeithas. Yn aml mae cefndir y menywod hyn yn gymhleth, mae ganddynt broblemau camddefnyddio sylweddau, maent yn ddioddefwyr trais, neu maent o dan 16 oed, ymhlith pethau eraill. Maent yn aml yn talu am drafnidiaeth a llety i gael y driniaeth ddeuddydd o'u poced eu hunain neu ag arian gan yr elusen sy'n darparu gofal iddynt, oherwydd bod byrddau iechyd lleol yng Nghymru yn aml yn gwrthod rhoi arian ymlaen llaw. Mewn llawer o achosion lle mae menywod eisiau erthyliadau, golyga hyn na allant eu fforddio ac fe'u gorfodir i barhau â beichiogrwydd nad ydynt ei eisiau.
Mae'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar iechyd menywod rwyf i'n aelod ohono wedi bod yn gofyn am weithredu ar hyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru ers 2018, ac rydym eto i glywed am gynllun ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau llawfeddygol a diweddarach yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys hyfforddi meddygon i ddarparu'r gofal arbenigol hwn. Gan fod gennym gynllun iechyd menywod ar gyfer Cymru o'r diwedd, pryd y gwelwn weithredu pendant ar hyn?
Thank you so much, Sioned Williams, for raising this question. I absolutely sympathise with women who have needed to travel outside of Wales for their difficulties they’ve experienced in accessing the care that they need. People in Wales should be able to access healthcare locally where possible, and, in the case of abortion services, this is a matter for the health boards to consider as part of offering service provision aligned with NICE guidelines, and one that meets the needs of their population. Having said that, as you know, I was at the women’s health cross-party group, which has the British Pregnancy Advisory Service provide the secretariat, and it was really good to be able to be there and discuss some of these issues as well.
So, you mentioned then about the women’s health plan. As you know, it is an ambitious 10-year plan. It has over 60 actions. Contraception, postnatal contraception and abortion care is a priority area in the plan and actions include increasing the availability of online reliable information on contraception choices and abortion care and how to access locally, and reviewing training and workforce to assure appropriate staff, delivery of long-acting reversible contraception and abortion care. What I can tell you today, though, is, as a result, I have to say, of you asking this question, I have asked for how quickly this can be done and if this can be moved up the agenda. So, I wanted to say that work to establish the specialist service in the area has commenced.
Welsh Government officials are working with the women’s health network and the Joint Commissioning Committee. The action to deliver services for complex and mid-trimester abortion care is currently a long-term action in the plan, but I would like to reassure Members that work on this action has already commenced and if we are able to deliver sooner than currently outlined then we certainly will do so. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch am ofyn y cwestiwn, Sioned Williams. Rwy'n cydymdeimlo'n llwyr â menywod sydd wedi gorfod teithio y tu allan i Gymru yn sgil anawsterau a brofwyd ganddynt i gael y gofal sydd ei angen arnynt. Dylai pobl yng Nghymru allu cael gofal iechyd yn lleol lle bo hynny'n bosibl, ac yn achos gwasanaethau erthylu, mater i'r byrddau iechyd yw ystyried hyn fel rhan o gynnig gwasanaeth sy'n cyd-fynd â chanllawiau NICE, ac un sy'n diwallu anghenion eu poblogaeth. Wedi dweud hynny, fel y gwyddoch, roeddwn yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar iechyd menywod, y mae Gwasanaeth Cynghori ar Feichiogrwydd yn darparu'r ysgrifenyddiaeth ar ei gyfer, ac roedd yn dda iawn gallu bod yno a thrafod rhai o'r materion hyn hefyd.
Felly, fe wnaethoch chi sôn yno am y cynllun iechyd menywod. Fel y gwyddoch, mae'n gynllun 10 mlynedd uchelgeisiol. Mae ganddo dros 60 o gamau gweithredu. Mae atal cenhedlu, atal cenhedlu ôl-enedigol a gofal erthylu yn faes blaenoriaeth yn y cynllun ac mae'r camau gweithredu yn cynnwys cynyddu argaeledd gwybodaeth ddibynadwy ar-lein ar ddewisiadau atal cenhedlu a gofal erthylu a sut i gael mynediad yn lleol, ac adolygu hyfforddiant a'r gweithlu i sicrhau staff priodol, darparu dulliau atal cenhedlu gwrthdroadwy hirdymor a gofal erthylu. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych heddiw, serch hynny, gan i chi ofyn y cwestiwn hwn, yw fy mod wedi gofyn pa mor gyflym y gellir gwneud hyn ac a ellir ei symud yn uwch ar yr agenda. Felly, roeddwn i eisiau dweud bod y gwaith o sefydlu'r gwasanaeth arbenigol yn y maes wedi dechrau.
Mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r rhwydwaith iechyd menywod a'r cyd-bwyllgor comisiynu. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'r camau i ddarparu gwasanaethau ar gyfer gofal erthylu cymhleth ac ar ganol beichiogrwydd yn gam gweithredu hirdymor yn y cynllun, ond hoffwn sicrhau'r Aelodau fod gwaith ar y cam gweithredu hwn eisoes wedi dechrau ac os gallwn ei gyflawni'n gynt na'r hyn a amlinellwyd ar hyn o bryd, byddwn yn sicr yn gwneud hynny. Diolch yn fawr.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, James Evans, i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant. James Evans.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Welsh Conservatives spokesperson first of all, James Evans, to be answered by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing. James Evans.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, the theme of my questions today is I want to talk about fertility treatment across Wales, and, Minister, it has come to my attention that the eligibility criteria for NHS-funded fertility treatments in Wales vary significantly across different health boards, leading to a postcode lottery for those couples out there who are seeking fertility treatments. So, Minister, can you provide a comprehensive explanation for the inconsistencies and outline what steps the Government is taking to standardise the eligibility criteria to make sure that all people across Wales can get equitable access of care?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, thema fy nghwestiynau heddiw yw fy mod am siarad am driniaeth ffrwythlondeb ledled Cymru, a Weinidog, fe nodais fod y meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer triniaethau ffrwythlondeb a ariennir gan y GIG yng Nghymru yn amrywio'n sylweddol ar draws gwahanol fyrddau iechyd, gan arwain at loteri cod post i'r cyplau sydd eisiau triniaethau ffrwythlondeb. Felly, Weinidog, a allwch chi roi esboniad cynhwysfawr am yr anghysondebau ac amlinellu pa gamau y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i safoni'r meini prawf cymhwysedd i sicrhau bod pawb ledled Cymru yn gallu cael mynediad teg at ofal?
Thank you very much, James Evans, for raising this topic today. I think it’s really important that we do talk about it. There are many people out there who are struggling with this. We know in Wales that one in six couples will struggle with infertility. We know that for around 30 per cent that will be down to issues with sperm, so I think that it is really important that we ensure that we are talking about this; it’s something that’s very meaningful to a lot of people. What I would say, though, in terms of the regulations, is it’s the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that regulates. They regulate the NHS and the private sector on this. They are the ones then who will set out what treatments and procedures are available and, on top of that, they also set out, then, the four key areas, which are that NHS funding for fertility treatment varies depending on where you live, you’ll need to meet certain criteria to be eligible, you may not be able to choose your clinic if you’re NHS funded, and there are big differences in private treatment costs, so shop around. So, that’s the general advice that we have from the HFEA, and that is then what the JCC in Wales—the joint commissioning committee in Wales—uses to set out the provision that we have across Wales.
Diolch am godi'r pwnc hwn heddiw, James Evans. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn siarad am y peth. Mae llawer o bobl allan yno'n cael trafferth gyda hyn. Yng Nghymru, fe wyddom y bydd un o bob chwe chwpl yn cael trafferth gydag anffrwythlondeb. Rydym yn gwybod mai problemau gyda sberm sydd i gyfrif am oddeutu 30 y cant, felly credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn inni sicrhau ein bod yn siarad am hyn; mae'n rhywbeth sy'n bwysig iawn i lawer o bobl. Yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud, serch hynny, o ran y rheoliadau, yw mai'r Awdurdod Ffrwythlondeb ac Embryoleg Dynol sy'n rheoleiddio. Maent yn rheoleiddio'r GIG a'r sector preifat ar hyn. Yr awdurdod fydd yn nodi wedyn pa driniaethau a llawdriniaethau sydd ar gael ac ar ben hynny, maent yn nodi'r pedwar maes allweddol, sef bod cyllid y GIG ar gyfer triniaeth ffrwythlondeb yn amrywio yn dibynnu ar ble rydych chi'n byw; bydd angen i chi fodloni meini prawf penodol i fod yn gymwys; efallai na fyddwch yn gallu dewis eich clinig os ydych chi'n cael arian gan y GIG; ac mae gwahaniaeth mawr yng nghost triniaethau preifat, felly edrychwch o gwmpas cyn dewis. Felly, dyna'r cyngor cyffredinol a gawn gan yr Awdurdod Ffrwythlondeb a Embryoleg Dynol, a dyna mae'r cyd-bwyllgor comisiynu yng Nghymru yn ei ddefnyddio i nodi'r ddarpariaeth sydd gennym ar draws Cymru.
Thank you for your answer, Minister. You did talk there about the number of treatment options available, and there are notable differences among the fertility treatments offered across those different health boards across Wales. And patients often lack the autonomy to, often, choose the preferred treatment centre that they’d like to go to, especially those people who want that treatment outside the designated health board. So, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, for example, isn’t offered in all fertility treatment centres across Wales. But, as I said, for those people with low sperm counts, that is the only way in which they can actually access fertility treatments, but some centres don’t do that. So, I’d just like to know from you what policies are being considered by the Welsh Government to harmonise the treatments offered to people across Wales? And do you think it’s time that we give people the autonomy to choose where they can go to access their treatment, because, sometimes, people can access that treatment in that health board to be told that it’s not available there, to have to go through the whole process again in another health area and another part of the country, which sometimes puts a lot of pressure on partners who are trying to get this vital treatment done?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Fe wnaethoch chi siarad yno am nifer yr opsiynau triniaeth sydd ar gael, ac mae gwahaniaethau amlwg rhwng y triniaethau ffrwythlondeb a gynigir ar draws y gwahanol fyrddau iechyd ledled Cymru. Ac yn aml nid oes gan gleifion ymreolaeth i ddewis y ganolfan driniaeth a ffafrir yr hoffent fynd iddi, yn enwedig y bobl sydd am gael y driniaeth honno y tu allan i'r bwrdd iechyd dynodedig. Felly, nid yw chwistrelliad sberm mewnsytoplasmig, er enghraifft, yn cael ei gynnig ym mhob canolfan trin ffrwythlondeb ledled Cymru. Ond fel y dywedais, i'r bobl sydd â chyfrif sberm isel, dyna'r unig ffordd y gallant gael gafael ar driniaethau ffrwythlondeb mewn gwirionedd, ond nid yw rhai canolfannau yn gwneud hynny. Felly, hoffwn wybod gennych pa bolisïau sy'n cael eu hystyried gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gysoni'r triniaethau sy'n cael eu cynnig i bobl ledled Cymru? Ac a ydych chi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bryd inni roi ymreolaeth i bobl ddewis lle gallant fynd i gael eu triniaeth, oherwydd, weithiau, gall pobl gael mynediad at y driniaeth honno yn y bwrdd iechyd a chael gwybod wedyn nad yw ar gael yno, a gorfod mynd drwy'r broses gyfan eto mewn ardal iechyd arall a rhan arall o'r wlad, sydd weithiau'n rhoi llawer o bwysau ar bartneriaid sy'n ceisio cael y driniaeth hanfodol hon?
Yes. Thank you so much, James Evans, for that follow-up question. So, as you are probably aware, everything that we cover in Wales and the policy that we have is set out in the specialised services commissioning policy for specialist fertility services. So, everything that you’ve asked about—it’s 29 pages—is in here. It’s very thorough and it does set a certain criteria.
I think it’s really important to emphasise, though, that this is a specialist service. It’s not seen as something that is provided across every health board. At the moment, as you said, we have the two clinics: one is in Cardiff and one is in Swansea. If you want to go through to that service to check your sperm count et cetera, then you can, actually, go online. There are four options for being able to book to be able to do that. So, I understand completely that there will be people out there where this is not ideal—I do. And this is something that I think is worth raising with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, because this is part of his portfolio, in terms of what we can do, going forward, but it would have to go down the specialist service route.
Diolch am y cwestiwn dilynol hwnnw, James Evans. Felly, fel y gwyddoch mae'n debyg, mae popeth sydd gennym yng Nghymru a'r polisi sydd gennym wedi'i nodi yn y polisi comisiynu gwasanaethau arbenigol ar gyfer gwasanaethau ffrwythlondeb arbenigol. Felly, mae popeth y gofynnoch chi amdano—mae'n 29 tudalen—yno. Mae'n drylwyr iawn ac mae'n gosod meini prawf penodol.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn pwysleisio, serch hynny, fod hwn yn wasanaeth arbenigol. Nid yw'n cael ei ystyried yn rhywbeth sy'n cael ei ddarparu ar draws pob bwrdd iechyd. Ar hyn o bryd, fel y dywedoch chi, mae gennym y ddau glinig: mae un yng Nghaerdydd ac mae un yn Abertawe. Os ydych chi am fynd i'r gwasanaeth hwnnw i wirio eich cyfrif sberm ac ati, yna gallwch fynd ar-lein. Mae pedwar opsiwn ar gyfer gallu trefnu i allu gwneud hynny. Felly, rwy'n deall yn llwyr y bydd pobl allan yno lle nad yw hyn yn ddelfrydol—rwy'n deall. Ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y credaf ei bod hi'n werth ei godi gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, oherwydd mae'n rhan o'i bortffolio, o ran yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud wrth symud ymlaen, ond byddai'n rhaid iddo ddilyn y llwybr gwasanaeth arbenigol.
One area that often does get overlooked in fertility treatments is male infertility issues. Despite significant studies that indicate that male factors actually contribute to 30 to 50 per cent of infertility cases in Wales, there does seem to be a lack of specific initiatives addressing male fertility within Wales. And one thing I’d like to touch on in your portfolio is that what we tend to find is that when males are diagnosed with infertility problems, they’re often left in the dark, with no support offered to them because most of the fertility treatments are focused towards the woman. But, actually, a lot of those men are left feeling frustrated, they feel shame, they feel anger, because, as I said, they don’t feel that they get the mental support needed to get them through that time in their life. So, I’d like to know, perhaps, as the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, what support your department can offer to those men who are suffering infertility issues, because, as I say, this is an area that is overlooked massively by the health sector, and I think the Senedd and the health bodies need to do more to support men who are having issues, because, as I said, they do make up over half the cases and they tend to be the ones forgotten about within the treatment journey.
Un maes sy'n aml yn cael ei anwybyddu mewn triniaethau ffrwythlondeb yw materion anffrwythlondeb dynion. Er gwaethaf astudiaethau sylweddol sy'n dangos bod ffactorau gwrywaidd yn cyfrannu at 30 i 50 y cant o achosion anffrwythlondeb yng Nghymru, mae'n ymddangos bod diffyg mentrau penodol i fynd i'r afael â ffrwythlondeb dynion yng Nghymru. Ac un peth yr hoffwn gyffwrdd ag ef yn eich portffolio chi yw mai'r hyn y tueddwn i'w ddarganfod yw pan fydd dynion yn cael diagnosis o broblemau anffrwythlondeb, eu bod yn aml yn cael eu gadael yn y tywyllwch, heb unrhyw gymorth yn cael ei gynnig iddynt oherwydd bod y rhan fwyaf o'r triniaethau ffrwythlondeb yn canolbwyntio ar y fenyw. Ond mewn gwirionedd, mae llawer o ddynion yn teimlo'n rhwystredig, maent yn teimlo cywilydd, maent yn teimlo dicter, oherwydd, fel y dywedais, nid ydynt yn teimlo eu bod yn cael y cymorth meddyliol sydd ei angen i'w helpu drwy'r amser hwnnw yn eu bywyd. Felly, hoffwn wybod, efallai, fel y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, pa gymorth y gall eich adran ei gynnig i'r dynion hynny sy'n dioddef problemau anffrwythlondeb, oherwydd, fel y dywedais, mae hwn yn faes sy'n cael ei anwybyddu'n aruthrol gan y sector iechyd, ac rwy'n credu bod angen i'r Senedd a'r cyrff iechyd wneud mwy i gefnogi dynion sy'n cael problemau, oherwydd, fel y dywedais, dyna yw dros hanner yr achosion ac maent yn tueddu i fod y rhai sy'n cael eu hanghofio o fewn y daith driniaeth.
Absolutely. Thank you. Again, the fact that we're talking about it today and raising this is always a huge step, and we've seen this across other parts of my portfolio with mental health as well.
I would say that the Wales Fertility Institute website is wonderful in terms of setting out exactly what the process is, and they do then have an option of being able to speak to a counsellor, and you can also ring up on the telephone line, as I said. You can book online as well. So, there absolutely shouldn't be any shame or stigma around this—it's not as uncommon as maybe people think.
I'd also just like to say as well, though, that we're always encouraging people to talk and this is something that people should talk about. And I think we have lots of pathways now for male mental health in particular, and they would certainly fall under that—under mental health. Thank you for raising this today, because this is something that I can go away with now as well and discuss with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, because you do raise something that I'm not sure has ever really been raised in the Chamber, or certainly not since I've been elected. It really is much more common than people realise, and it really does play a part in many things, like people's identity and the shame and feeling—. And, actually, in Wales, I would say that we have a pretty good offer when it comes to fertility support and when it comes to being able to access IVF and things. So, I would hope that this starts that journey. But it would be great to have a further conversation with you about this as well, James. Thank you very much.
Yn sicr. Diolch. Unwaith eto, mae'r ffaith ein bod yn siarad amdano heddiw ac yn codi hyn yn gam enfawr bob amser, ac rydym wedi gweld hyn ar draws rhannau eraill o fy mhortffolio gydag iechyd meddwl hefyd.
Mae gwefan Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru yn wych o ran nodi'n union beth yw'r broses, ac mae ganddynt opsiwn o allu siarad â chwnselydd, a gallwch hefyd ffonio ar y llinell ffôn, fel y dywedais. Gallwch hefyd drefnu ar-lein. Felly, ni ddylai fod unrhyw gywilydd na stigma o gwbl ynghylch hyn—nid yw mor anghyffredin ag y mae pobl yn ei feddwl o bosibl.
Hoffwn ddweud hefyd, serch hynny, ein bod bob amser yn annog pobl i siarad ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y dylai pobl siarad amdano. Ac rwy'n credu bod gennym lawer o lwybrau nawr ar gyfer iechyd meddwl gwrywaidd yn benodol, a byddent yn sicr yn dod o dan hynny—o dan iechyd meddwl. Diolch am godi hyn heddiw, oherwydd mae hyn yn rhywbeth y gallaf ei ystyried nawr hefyd a thrafod gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, oherwydd rydych yn codi rhywbeth nad wyf yn siŵr ei fod erioed wedi'i godi yn y Siambr mewn gwirionedd, neu ers i mi gael fy ethol, yn sicr. Mae'n llawer mwy cyffredin nag y mae pobl yn ei sylweddoli, ac mae'n chwarae rhan mewn sawl peth, fel hunaniaeth pobl a'r cywilydd a'r teimlad—. Ac mewn gwirionedd, yng Nghymru, byddwn yn dweud bod gennym gynnig eithaf da o ran cymorth ffrwythlondeb a mynediad at IVF ac ati. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hyn yn dechrau'r daith honno. Ond byddai'n wych cael sgwrs arall gyda chi am hyn hefyd, James. Diolch yn fawr.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor. Y cwestiynau i'w hateb gan y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol. Mabon ap Gwynfor.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor. The questions to be answered by the Minister for Children and Social Care. Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Unpaid carers are the unsung heroes of our health and social care system. Their work is worth upwards of £2 billion each year in economic terms alone, and that's before we factor in their wider contribution to the well-being of the nation. But, all too often, the immense value they bring to our society is not adequately reciprocated, as is reflected by the fact that homelessness, financial insecurity and mental health issues are especially prevalent amongst unpaid carers. The right to a personal needs assessment, as per the terms of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, is meant to be a legal safeguard for carers in this respect. But, given that only 6 per cent of Welsh carers were able to access such assessments during 2024, does the Minister agree that the Welsh Government is currently failing to deliver the intended aims of the legislation, and will you commit to developing a revised action and implementation plan to drastically improve its practical effectiveness?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Gofalwyr di-dâl yw arwyr tawel ein system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Mae eu gwaith yn werth mwy na £2 biliwn bob blwyddyn mewn termau economaidd yn unig, a hynny cyn inni ystyried eu cyfraniad ehangach i lesiant y genedl. Ond yn rhy aml o lawer, nid yw'r gwerth aruthrol y maent yn ei gynnig i'n cymdeithas yn cael ei ad-dalu'n ddigonol, fel sy'n cael ei adlewyrchu gan y ffaith bod digartrefedd, ansicrwydd ariannol a phroblemau iechyd meddwl yn arbennig o gyffredin ymhlith gofalwyr di-dâl. Mae'r hawl i asesiad o anghenion personol, yn unol â thelerau Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, i fod yn amddiffyniad cyfreithiol i ofalwyr yn hyn o beth. Ond o ystyried mai dim ond 6 y cant o ofalwyr Cymru a allodd gael asesiadau o'r fath yn ystod 2024, a yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflawni nodau bwriadedig y ddeddfwriaeth ar hyn o bryd, ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo i ddatblygu cynllun gweithredu diwygiedig i wella ei heffeithiolrwydd ymarferol yn sylweddol?
Can I thank Mabon for that very important question? I think this was touched on last week, Sioned, in the debate that you tabled. This is something that I hear consistently from unpaid carers, talking to unpaid carers, and carers' organisations. You'll be aware of the Carers Trust 'Track the Act' report, which was really targeting that very specific area of carers assessments. It's one of the things, when I took over this particular role, that I was very keen to find out more about. I know, in my own constituency, through casework, that I speak to unpaid carers and hear that they're not being routinely offered carers assessments, and so on. And then they're very surprised when you have the conversation with them that tells them they've actually got a legal entitlement.
Now, what we have done already is we have commissioned the Association of Directors of Social Services to undertake a report for us, based on finding out what the impact of carers assessments are—or lack of carers' assessments. We're currently going through that report and looking at the recommendations, but it's a piece of work that is ongoing. It's a significant improvement area that I am determined we will see some results from. I was at the carers assembly earlier this week, and it came up there, and, as I say, in every arena that I'm in, and in every conversation I have with carers, this comes up.
So, from my point of view, I want to work on the results of the report that the Carers Trust have produced, 'Track the Act'. I want to work on the information that we've got from the ADSS review about carers assessments, and I want to ensure that we get a level of consistency that is right the way across Wales—that we don't enter into any kind of postcode lottery where some local authorities are offering this in a more routine fashion than others. And I've specifically asked a number of questions of my officials in regard to this so that we can get that kind of granular information about how a local authority identifies who their unpaid carers are—because we have to acknowledge that they're not all known to the local authority—and then what they do once they know that they have an unpaid carer in their area, and what that process for offering a carer assessment is, and how they work with that carer then to co-produce a carer action plan that delivers the kind of support that they need. That could be a whole range of support. It could be respite care for them and/or for the person they're caring for.
So, I want to reassure you, Mabon, that I know that we are nowhere near where we need to be with this, and this is very much a priority piece of work that I want to see significant improvements in.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mabon am y cwestiwn pwysig hwn? Rwy'n credu i hyn gael ei grybwyll yr wythnos diwethaf, Sioned, yn y ddadl a gyflwynoch chi. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth a glywaf yn gyson gan ofalwyr di-dâl, wrth siarad â gofalwyr di-dâl, a sefydliadau gofalwyr. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o adroddiad 'Dilyn y Ddeddf' yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr, a oedd yn targedu maes penodol asesiadau gofalwyr. Mae'n un o'r pethau, pan ymgymerais â'r rôl benodol hon, yr oeddwn yn awyddus iawn i gael rhagor o wybodaeth amdano. Yn fy etholaeth fy hun, trwy waith achos, rwy'n siarad â gofalwyr di-dâl ac yn clywed nad ydynt yn cael cynnig asesiadau gofalwyr fel mater o drefn, ac yn y blaen. Ac yna maent yn synnu pan fyddwch yn cael y sgwrs gyda hwy yn dweud wrthynt fod ganddynt hawl gyfreithiol mewn gwirionedd.
Nawr, yr hyn a wnaethom eisoes yw comisiynu'r Gymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i gynnal adroddiad i ni, yn seiliedig ar ddarganfod beth yw effaith asesiadau gofalwyr—neu ddiffyg asesiadau gofalwyr. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn mynd drwy'r adroddiad ac yn edrych ar yr argymhellion, ond mae'n waith sy'n mynd rhagddo. Mae'n faes gwella sylweddol yr wyf yn benderfynol y byddwn yn gweld canlyniadau'n deillio ohono. Roeddwn yng nghynulliad y gofalwyr yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, ac fe'i codwyd yno, ac fel y dywedais, ym mhob arena yr wyf ynddi, ac ym mhob sgwrs a gaf gyda gofalwyr, mae hyn yn codi.
Felly, o fy safbwynt i, rwyf am weithio ar ganlyniadau'r adroddiad y mae'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr wedi'i gynhyrchu, 'Dilyn y Ddeddf'. Rwyf am weithio ar y wybodaeth sydd gennym o adolygiad y Gymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol am asesiadau gofalwyr, ac rwyf am sicrhau ein bod yn cael lefel o gysondeb ar draws Cymru—nad ydym yn gweld unrhyw fath o loteri cod post lle mae rhai awdurdodau lleol yn cynnig hyn mewn yn fwy arferol nag eraill. Ac rwyf wedi gofyn nifer o gwestiynau i fy swyddogion ynglŷn â hyn fel y gallwn gael gwybodaeth ronynnog o'r fath ynglŷn â sut y mae awdurdod lleol yn nodi pwy yw eu gofalwyr di-dâl—oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod nad ydynt i gyd yn hysbys i'r awdurdod lleol—ac yna beth a wnânt pan fyddant yn gwybod bod ganddynt ofalwr di-dâl yn eu hardal, a beth yw'r broses ar gyfer cynnig asesiad gofalwr, a sut y maent yn gweithio gyda'r gofalwr i gydgynhyrchu cynllun gweithredu gofalwr sy'n darparu'r math o gymorth sydd ei angen arnynt. Gallai hynny fod yn amrywiaeth eang o gymorth. Gallai fod yn ofal seibiant iddynt hwy a/neu i'r unigolyn y maent yn gofalu amdanynt.
Felly, rwyf am eich sicrhau, Mabon, fy mod yn gwybod nad ydym yn agos at ble y mae angen inni fod gyda hyn, ac mae hwn yn waith â blaenoriaeth yr wyf am weld gwelliannau sylweddol ynddo.
Thanks for that response, Minister. And, of course, at the heart of this problem is a chronic lack of capacity on the part of local authorities to conduct needs assessments. It's, of course, impacted by austerity, but it’s also coupled with local authority spending pressures of £559 million during the next financial year alone, forcing them to weigh up painful decisions on eye-watering council tax rises and further cuts to already dilapidated public services. A solution, of course, is to provide Wales with a fair funding settlement, based on the needs of our population. But, in the meantime, there needs to be greater strategic leadership on the part of the Welsh Government to make local government funding go further for social care, because the prolonged neglect of the sector has created a vicious cycle of intensifying demand on the front line, as was illustrated in Llais’s recent report on the sorry state of emergency care. So, has the Welsh Government made any consideration of standardising the frameworks for carers' needs assessments, and of introducing new national minimum standards for local authorities on their delivery of assessments, with ring-fenced funding within the revenue support grant to match?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Ac wrth gwrs, wrth wraidd y broblem hon mae diffyg capasiti cronig ar ran awdurdodau lleol i gynnal asesiadau o anghenion. Mae'n cael ei effeithio, wrth gwrs, gan gyni, ond mae hefyd yn gysylltiedig â phwysau gwariant o £559 miliwn ar awdurdodau lleol yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf yn unig, gan eu gorfodi i bwyso a mesur penderfyniadau poenus ynghylch codiadau annifyr i'r dreth gyngor a thoriadau pellach i wasanaethau cyhoeddus sydd eisoes yn doredig. Un ffordd o'i ddatrys, wrth gwrs, yw darparu setliad cyllido teg i Gymru, yn seiliedig ar anghenion ein poblogaeth. Ond yn y cyfamser, mae angen mwy o arweinyddiaeth strategol ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud i gyllid llywodraeth leol fynd ymhellach ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol, gan fod esgeuluso'r sector dros gyfnod estynedig wedi creu cylch dieflig o alw sy'n dwysáu ar y rheng flaen, fel y dangoswyd yn adroddiad diweddar Llais ar gyflwr truenus gofal brys. Felly, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ystyried safoni'r fframweithiau ar gyfer asesiadau o anghenion gofalwyr, a chyflwyno safonau gofynnol cenedlaethol newydd i awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer cynnal asesiadau, gyda chyllid wedi'i glustnodi o fewn y grant cynnal refeniw i gyd-fynd â hynny?
Well, thank you, again, for that important question, and I think you make some interesting and valuable points, actually, around how local authorities can make their money go further. Now, I could stand here and talk to you about the uplift that is proposed in the budget, if you vote for it, of course, because, if we don’t get it through, they don’t get their additional funding. But it’s a serious point. Local authorities, within the draft budget, are set to receive a considerable uplift in their rate support grant from the Welsh Government this year, far in excess of what they had been expecting. And they will be expected to do an awful lot of things with that, and social care accounts for a huge amount of a local authority’s spend, as you know. I think it’s something in the region of 40 per cent of their spend is on social care.
So, there is a piece of work that we have to do about minimising the unnecessary costs for local government, whether it is around social care or any other area of funding. And one of the things that we are doing, and working with local authorities on—and the Cabinet Secretary for local government can say more about this—is looking to try to reduce the administrative burden on local authorities. And that’s partly what the national care and commissioning framework is about. It’s about making sure that we have consistency of approach around commissioning care and so on. And there is no reason why that shouldn’t also apply in having a consistent approach to how a carer assessment is undertaken, so that everybody is doing the same thing and working in the same way, and developing the same kind of response that they need for a carer.
Clearly, the outcomes will be different, but the framework within which that can be done, I think, is something that should and could be looked at. I’m very keen, whether it is social care or whether it’s in any other aspect of my portfolio, to look at areas of good practice and upscale. And if we can do that and find local authorities that are doing this in a way that is acceptable and delivers the outcomes that we need, and another authority is not, then I would want to ask the question why that’s not happening. So, I certainly think there is a piece of work we could do with local authority colleagues to drive that kind of consistent approach that you’re talking about.
Wel, diolch unwaith eto, am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw, a chredaf eich bod yn gwneud pwyntiau diddorol a gwerthfawr ynglŷn â sut y gall awdurdodau lleol wneud i'w harian fynd ymhellach. Nawr, gallwn sefyll yma a siarad â chi am y codiad a gynigir yn y gyllideb, os y gwnewch chi bleidleisio drosto wrth gwrs, oherwydd, os na chaiff ei derbyn, ni fyddant yn cael eu cyllid ychwanegol. Ond mae'n bwynt difrifol. Disgwylir i awdurdodau lleol, o fewn y gyllideb ddrafft, dderbyn codiad sylweddol yn eu grant cynnal ardrethi gan Lywodraeth Cymru eleni, sy'n llawer mwy na'r hyn roeddent wedi bod yn ei ddisgwyl. A bydd disgwyl iddynt wneud llawer iawn o bethau gyda hwnnw, ac mae gofal cymdeithasol yn rhan enfawr o wariant awdurdod lleol, fel y gwyddoch. Rwy'n credu bod oddeutu 40 y cant o'u gwariant ar ofal cymdeithasol.
Felly, mae yna waith y mae'n rhaid inni ei wneud ynglŷn â lleihau'r costau diangen i lywodraeth leol, boed hynny'n ymwneud â gofal cymdeithasol neu unrhyw faes cyllido arall. Ac un o'r pethau a wnawn, ac y gweithiwn gydag awdurdodau lleol arno—a gall Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol ddweud mwy am hyn—yw ceisio lleihau'r baich gweinyddol ar awdurdodau lleol. A dyna'n rhannol yw'r fframwaith gofal a chomisiynu cenedlaethol. Mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau bod gennym gysondeb wrth gomisiynu gofal ac yn y blaen. Ac nid oes unrhyw reswm pam na ddylai hynny fod yn berthnasol hefyd i sicrhau dull cyson o gynnal asesiad gofalwr, fel bod pawb yn gwneud yr un peth ac yn gweithio yn yr un ffordd, ac yn datblygu'r un math o ymateb sydd ei angen arnynt ar gyfer gofalwr.
Yn amlwg, bydd y canlyniadau'n wahanol, ond mae'r fframwaith y gellir gwneud hynny o'i fewn yn rhywbeth y dylid ac y gellid edrych arno. Boed yn ofal cymdeithasol neu'n ymwneud ag unrhyw agwedd arall ar fy mhortffolio, rwy'n awyddus iawn i edrych ar feysydd o arfer da i'w cyflwyno ar raddfa fwy. Ac os gallwn wneud hynny a dod o hyd i awdurdodau lleol sy'n gwneud hyn mewn ffordd sy'n dderbyniol ac sy'n cyflawni'r canlyniadau sydd eu hangen arnom, ac nad yw awdurdod arall yn gwneud hynny, byddwn am ofyn y cwestiwn pam nad yw hynny'n digwydd. Felly, rwy'n sicr yn credu bod gwaith y gallem ei wneud gyda chymheiriaid awdurdodau lleol i ysgogi'r math hwnnw o ddull cyson yr ydych ch'n siarad amdano.
Thanks for that response, Minister, but compounding this issue is the acute funding pressures that will soon engulf service providers as a result of the imminent increase to employer national insurance contributions. Not only are the services provided directly through local authorities having to contend with a likely shortfall due to the Barnettisation of UK Treasury reimbursements to core public services—a fundamental unfairness to Wales, courtesy of the Welsh Government’s partners in power—the third sector and independent providers are facing additional costs that are truly existential in nature. In just one example of many, the Glan Rhos care home in Ynys Môn will need to contend with an extra £127,500 in annual costs from April, but pleas to exempt social care to the same extent as front-line NHS services have so far been unheeded. Minister, why do you think that your Labour colleagues at Westminster have not deemed the social care sector to be as worthy of protection against their budget decisions, and will you write to your UK Government counterpart to outline the full impact of national insurance rises on social care providers in Wales, including staffing capacity in particular?
Diolch am yr ymateb hwnnw, Weinidog, ond mae'r pwysau ariannol dwys a fydd yn wynebu darparwyr gwasanaethau yn fuan o ganlyniad i'r cynnydd sydd ar y ffordd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn cymhlethu'r mater hwn. Nid yn unig y mae'r gwasanaethau a ddarperir yn uniongyrchol drwy awdurdodau lleol yn gorfod ymdopi â diffyg tebygol oherwydd Barnetteiddio ad-daliadau Trysorlys y DU i wasanaethau cyhoeddus craidd—annhegwch sylfaenol i Gymru, trwy garedigrwydd partneriaid mewn grym Llywodraeth Cymru—mae darparwyr trydydd sector a darparwyr annibynnol yn wynebu costau ychwanegol sy'n wirioneddol ddirfodol eu natur. Mewn un enghraifft o lawer, bydd angen i gartref gofal Glan Rhos ar Ynys Môn ymgodymu â £127,500 ychwanegol mewn costau blynyddol o fis Ebrill ymlaen, ond mae apeliadau i eithrio gofal cymdeithasol i'r un graddau â gwasanaethau rheng flaen y GIG wedi'u hanwybyddu hyd yma. Weinidog, pam y credwch nad yw eich cymheiriaid Llafur yn San Steffan wedi ystyried bod y sector gofal cymdeithasol yr un mor deilwng o ddiogelwch rhag eu penderfyniadau cyllidebol, ac a wnewch chi ysgrifennu at eich Gweinidog cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU i amlinellu effaith lawn codiadau yswiriant gwladol ar ddarparwyr gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, yn cynnwys capasiti staffio yn enwedig?
Again, thank you for that question. And, in answering any questions on national insurance contributions, which I’ve been asked several times, I will always start by saying, of course, national insurance is not devolved. So, we are having to deal with the consequences of a decision that is made by a different Government. So, it is a reserved matter and it’s not a matter for us. I think, when we had the budget debate, the Cabinet Secretary for finance answered in some detail the questions around national insurance contributions and why he felt that we could do what we can do, and what we can’t do. He’s in regular communication with the UK Government about the impact of the national insurance contributions rise and what that will mean to partners in Wales, whether they are third sector, independent, social care providers, and so on.
Within our budget, what we have done is sought to improve the position of the third sector providers. We’ve seen a third sector funding agreement over three years, which is set out in the draft budget, which is comprising £25.5 million, and that’s an uplift of 7 per cent. And of course, although a number of third sector organisations and businesses are impacted by national insurance contributions, a lot will have that fully or partially offset by the increased employer allowance. But we do know that the pressures are going to be in the region of £253 million on those organisations that will see an increase in national insurance contributions.
Unwaith eto, diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Ac wrth ateb unrhyw gwestiynau ar gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, y gofynnwyd i mi yn eu cylch sawl gwaith, byddaf bob amser yn dechrau drwy ddweud, wrth gwrs, nad yw yswiriant gwladol wedi'i ddatganoli. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni ymdrin â chanlyniadau penderfyniad a wneir gan Lywodraeth wahanol. Felly, mae'n fater a gedwir yn ôl ac nid yw'n fater i ni. Pan gawsom y ddadl ar y gyllideb, rwy'n credu bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid wedi ateb yn fanwl y cwestiynau ynghylch cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol a pham ei fod yn teimlo y gallem wneud yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud, a'r hyn na allwn ei wneud. Mae'n cyfathrebu'n rheolaidd â Llywodraeth y DU am effaith y cynnydd yn y cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol a'r hyn y bydd hynny'n ei olygu i bartneriaid yng Nghymru, boed yn ddarparwyr trydydd sector, annibynnol, gofal cymdeithasol, ac yn y blaen.
O fewn ein cyllideb, yr hyn a wnaethom yw ceisio gwella sefyllfa'r darparwyr trydydd sector. Rydym wedi gweld cytundeb cyllido i'r trydydd sector dros dair blynedd, sydd wedi'i nodi yn y gyllideb ddrafft, sy'n cynnwys £25.5 miliwn, ac mae hynny'n gynnydd o 7 y cant. Ac wrth gwrs, er bod nifer o sefydliadau a busnesau'r trydydd sector yn cael eu heffeithio gan gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, bydd llawer yn cael hwnnw wedi'i wrthbwyso'n llawn neu'n rhannol gan y lwfans cyflogwr cynyddol. Ond fe wyddom y bydd y pwysau oddeutu £253 miliwn ar y sefydliadau hynny a fydd yn gweld cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol.
Will you write, Minister?
A wnewch chi ysgrifennu, Weinidog?
It is not for me to write to the UK Government on this matter, because it’s a Treasury matter, and that’s why my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language is having that correspondence and those ongoing conversations about how we can minimise the impact of that in those areas that have taken the biggest hits.
Nid fy lle i yw ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch y mater hwn, oherwydd mater i'r Trysorlys ydyw, a dyna pam mai fy nghyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg, sy'n cael yr ohebiaeth honno a'r sgyrsiau parhaus hynny ynglŷn â sut y gallwn leihau effaith hynny yn y meysydd yr effeithiwyd arnynt fwyaf.
3. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o adroddiad diweddar Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ar adran achosion brys Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor? OQ62299
3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the recent Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report into the emergency department at the Grange University Hospital? OQ62299
We welcome the HIW report and are pleased to note improvements made by the emergency department at the Grange University Hospital since its previous inspection. However, we do remain concerned about the impacts of poor hospital flow and we've been clear with the health board on our expectation for further improvement.
Rydym yn croesawu adroddiad AGIC ac yn falch o nodi gwelliannau a wnaed gan yr adran frys yn Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor ers ei arolwg blaenorol. Fodd bynnag, rydym yn parhau i bryderu am effeithiau llif gwael yn yr ysbyty ac rydym wedi bod yn glir gyda'r bwrdd iechyd ein bod yn disgwyl gweld gwelliant pellach.
Thank you, Minister. The issue of A&E issues at the Grange has been one of the many things I’ve had to receive since I’ve become a Member here, and it just keeps coming. I think the Llais report, which we read and heard about more today, shines a further light on the problems we’ve got. It’s very clear from the report that the staff are doing their very best, treating patients in a polite, professional and dignified manner, however, their work has been drastically hindered by the sheer number of patients at the department. One patient spoke out about despite having a suspected heart attack, they had to wait 12 hours before they decided to leave and drive to a different hospital. Another lady with a suspected heart attack had no observations over her 12-hour wait and never saw a member of staff over that time. This just isn’t acceptable, and these same stock lines that we tend to have out of the Government just won’t cut it anymore with our public. Minister, what action are you taking with the health board to ensure that things do not simply carry on at this unacceptable rate and that these stories, such as I’ve mentioned, are not repeated?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae problemau damweiniau ac achosion brys yn y Faenor wedi bod yn un o'r nifer o bethau y bu'n rhaid imi eu cael ers imi ddod yn Aelod yma, ac mae'n parhau i ddod. Rwy'n credu bod adroddiad Llais, a ddarllenasom ac y clywsom fwy amdano heddiw, yn taflu goleuni pellach ar y problemau sydd gennym. Mae'n amlwg iawn o'r adroddiad fod y staff yn gwneud eu gorau glas, gan drin cleifion mewn modd cwrtais, proffesiynol ac urddasol, ond caiff eu gwaith ei lesteirio'n sylweddol gan nifer fawr y cleifion yn yr adran. Siaradodd un claf am y ffaith y bu'n rhaid iddynt aros 12 awr, er gwaethaf amheuaeth o drawiad ar y galon, cyn iddynt benderfynu gadael a gyrru i ysbyty gwahanol. Ni chafodd dynes arall, yr amheuwyd ei bod wedi cael trawiad ar y galon, unrhyw arsylwadau yn ystod ei harhosiad 12 awr ac ni welodd unrhyw aelod o staff yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw. Nid yw hyn yn dderbyniol, ac ni fydd yr un ystrydebau y tueddwn i'w cael gan y Llywodraeth yn gweithio mwyach gyda'n cyhoedd. Weinidog, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd gyda'r bwrdd iechyd i sicrhau nad yw pethau'n parhau ar y gyfradd annerbyniol hon ac nad yw'r straeon hyn, fel y rhai y soniais amdanynt, yn cael eu hailadrodd?
Can I thank Peter Fox for that supplementary question? Can I say at the outset that, absolutely, some of things that you’re talking about are not acceptable, and we clearly have more work to do? Nobody is sitting on their laurels here and pretending that this is a problem that we can’t fix. We do believe that this is a problem that we can fix, but we also know that it is going to take some considerable time. I think you recognise the hard work of the staff involved on the front line. And despite all the system pressures and the lack of hospital flow, I would say that people are still getting a good standard of service when they get it, and that’s a testament to the hard work and the commitment of the staff that work in our urgent and emergency care workforce.
Now, the health board has provided a comprehensive set of actions and plans to continue driving improvements, which have been accepted by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and those include the appointment of six new emergency department consultants to implement the early rapid assessment of patients and support streaming to alternative pathways where that's appropriate. Unfortunately, a number of systemic challenges referenced in the inspection report are not unique to Aneurin Bevan, nor to Wales, in fact. And although we talk about it in the broader sense, those have a real impact and they were the kinds of things that you were talking about in your question. However, we have provided an additional £6 million in the six goals programme funding over the last two years, to drive some of these improvements in urgent and emergency care in Gwent, and the health board will be receiving a further £2.7 million this year. And following on from our 50-day winter initiative, where we always see the greatest pressures at this time of the year, we expect more directed focus from the Gwent region on enabling hospital flow, so that we can decongest the emergency department at the Grange and release ambulance capacity. But we will continue to monitor that through our escalation and intervention programme arrangements.
A gaf i ddiolch i Peter Fox am y cwestiwn atodol? A gaf i ddweud ar y dechrau, yn sicr, nad yw rhai o'r pethau y soniwch amdanynt yn dderbyniol, ac mae'n amlwg fod gennym fwy o waith i'w wneud? Nid oes neb yn gorffwys ar eu rhwyfau yma ac yn esgus fod hon yn broblem na allwn ei datrys. Rydym yn credu bod hon yn broblem y gallwn ei datrys, ond rydym hefyd yn gwybod y bydd yn cymryd cryn dipyn o amser. Rwy'n credu eich bod yn cydnabod gwaith caled y staff ar y rheng flaen. Ac er gwaethaf holl bwysau'r system a'r diffyg llif cleifion yn yr ysbyty, byddwn yn dweud bod pobl yn dal i gael safon dda o wasanaeth pan fyddant yn ei gael, ac mae hynny'n dyst i waith caled ac ymrwymiad y staff sy'n gweithio yn ein gweithlu gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng.
Nawr, mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi darparu set gynhwysfawr o gamau gweithredu a chynlluniau i barhau i ysgogi gwelliannau, camau gweithredu sydd wedi'u derbyn gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru, ac mae'r rheini'n cynnwys penodi chwe meddyg ymgynghorol adran frys newydd i weithredu asesiadau cyflym cynnar ar gyfer cleifion a chefnogi ffrydio i lwybrau amgen lle bo hynny'n briodol. Yn anffodus, nid yw nifer o heriau systemig y cyfeirir atynt yn yr adroddiad arolygu yn unigryw i Aneurin Bevan, nac i Gymru, mewn gwirionedd. Ac er ein bod yn siarad amdano yn yr ystyr ehangach, mae'r rheini'n cael effaith wirioneddol a dyma'r mathau o bethau yr oeddech chi'n sôn amdanynt yn eich cwestiwn. Fodd bynnag, rydym wedi darparu £6 miliwn ychwanegol yng nghyllid y rhaglen chwe nod dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, i ysgogi rhai o'r gwelliannau hyn mewn gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng yng Ngwent, a bydd y bwrdd iechyd yn derbyn £2.7 miliwn pellach eleni. Ac yn dilyn her 50 diwrnod y gaeaf, pan ydym bob amser yn gweld y pwysau mwyaf ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, rydym yn disgwyl ffocws wedi'i gyfeirio'n well o ranbarth Gwent ar alluogi llif cleifion, fel y gallwn lacio'r dagfa yn adran frys ysbyty'r Faenor a rhyddhau capasiti ambiwlansys. Ond byddwn yn parhau i fonitro hynny drwy drefniadau ein rhaglen uwchgyfeirio ac ymyrraeth.
Of course, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales did find that overcrowding in waiting rooms continues to compromise patient privacy and dignity, but some issues occur before that as well. The lack of ambulances we have to take patients to the A&E at the Grange is damaging to patients' care. One of my constituents was told that she would have to wait so long for an ambulance that they’d instead offer to send a taxi. Now, she was a lone woman and she didn’t feel safe getting into a taxi in the middle of the night when she was in a vulnerable state. And later, when she was discharged from hospital, she was told she’d have to make her own way home in a nightie and a cardigan. It was freezing and there was nowhere to shelter except a freezing cold bus stop. Now, I’d ask: surely, you’d agree that this isn’t a sustainable way to treat patients? This A&E is so far away from so many of the communities that it serves, which you’ll know, it is near impossible for people to get there or to get home when they are in dire need of help. So, what can the Government do, please, to make sure that this isn’t an episode that is repeated again and again?
Wrth gwrs, fe wnaeth Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ganfod bod gorlenwi mewn ystafelloedd aros yn parhau i beryglu preifatrwydd ac urddas cleifion, ond mae rhai materion yn codi cyn hynny hefyd. Mae'r diffyg ambiwlansys sydd gennym i fynd â chleifion i'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys yn y Faenor yn niweidiol i ofal cleifion. Dywedwyd wrth un o fy etholwyr y byddai'n rhaid iddi aros cyhyd am ambiwlans nes eu bod wedi cynnig anfon tacsi yn lle hynny. Nawr, roedd hi'n ddynes ar ei phen ei hun ac nid oedd hi'n teimlo'n ddiogel yn mynd i mewn i dacsi ynghanol y nos pan oedd hi'n agored i niwed. Ac yn ddiweddarach, pan gafodd ei rhyddhau o'r ysbyty, dywedwyd wrthi y byddai'n rhaid iddi wneud ei ffordd ei hun adref mewn gŵn nos a chardigan. Roedd hi'n rhewi ac nid oedd unman i gysgodi heblaw safle bws rhewllyd. Nawr, does bosibl y byddech yn cytuno nad yw hon yn ffordd gynaliadwy o drin cleifion? Mae'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys hon mor bell o gynifer o'r cymunedau y mae'n eu gwasanaethu, ac fe wyddoch ei bod hi bron yn amhosibl i bobl gyrraedd yno neu gyrraedd adref pan fydd angen help arnynt. Felly, beth y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw hwn yn ddigwyddiad sy'n cael ei ailadrodd dro ar ôl tro?
I absolutely, again, understand and agree with those concerns. We’re seeing this too often, and it’s not good enough and it absolutely needs to improve. But what I would say, before I say anything more about the ambulances, is just to talk about the waiting room at the Grange, because we have provided an additional £14 million to the Grange for capital investment to improve their waiting areas and the expansion of the waiting area in the emergency department. We expect the first phase of those improvements to be completed by May of this year, and the second phase in August of next year. That’s going to double the current wait capacity in that room from 38 to 75, and that’s also supporting an area dedicated to supporting e-triage as well. So, I hope that that will see an improvement in the patient experience of waiting in A&E.
But we do remain concerned about the level of ambulance response and patient handover, because this is where the delays occur. So, when your constituent is waiting for an ambulance to come, it’s because the ambulance is still waiting at the hospital to hand over the patient. So, we do remain concerned about that and the impact that that’s having on resources, which is clearly unacceptable. So, we’ve been clear with health boards about our expectation for the improvement of the timeliness of ambulance patient handovers, to ensure that crews are released to respond to those 999 calls in the community. And the NHS Wales Executive is now undertaking a programme of audits of organisations’ compliance with the recently published ambulance patient handover guidance for the remainder of 2024-25, with the initial focus on the most challenged sites. We’ll get a report back on that soon, and we’ll come back to the Senedd with the outcome of that review.
Unwaith eto, rwy'n deall ac yn cytuno â'r pryderon hynny. Rydym yn gweld hyn yn rhy aml, ac nid yw'n ddigon da ac mae angen iddo wella. Ond yr hyn y byddwn yn ei ddweud, cyn imi ddweud unrhyw beth yn rhagor am yr ambiwlansys, yw siarad am yr ystafell aros yn y Faenor, oherwydd rydym wedi darparu £14 miliwn ychwanegol i'r Faenor ar gyfer buddsoddiad cyfalaf i wella eu mannau aros ac ehangu'r man aros yn yr adran frys. Rydym yn disgwyl cwblhau cam cyntaf y gwelliannau hynny erbyn mis Mai eleni, a'r ail gam ym mis Awst y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae hynny'n mynd i ddyblu'r capasiti aros cyfredol yn yr ystafell o 38 i 75, ac mae hynny hefyd yn cefnogi man penodol ar gyfer cynnal e-frysbennu hefyd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny'n achosi gwelliant ym mhrofiad cleifion o aros yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys.
Ond rydym yn parhau i bryderu am lefel ymateb ambiwlansys a throsglwyddo cleifion, oherwydd dyma lle mae'r oedi'n digwydd. Felly, pan fydd eich etholwr yn aros am ambiwlans i ddod, mae hynny oherwydd bod yr ambiwlans yn dal i aros yn yr ysbyty i drosglwyddo'r claf. Felly, rydym yn parhau i bryderu am hynny a'r effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael ar adnoddau, sy'n amlwg yn annerbyniol. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn glir gyda'r byrddau iechyd am ein disgwyliad ar gyfer gwella amseroldeb trosglwyddo cleifion ambiwlans, er mwyn sicrhau bod criwiau'n cael eu rhyddhau i ymateb i alwadau 999 yn y gymuned. Ac mae Gweithrediaeth GIG Cymru bellach yn cyflawni rhaglen o archwiliadau o gydymffurfiaeth sefydliadau â'r canllawiau ar drosglwyddo cleifion o ambiwlansys a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar ar gyfer gweddill 2024-25, gyda'r ffocws cychwynnol ar y safleoedd mwyaf heriol. Byddwn yn cael adroddiad yn ôl ar hynny cyn bo hir, a byddwn yn dychwelyd i'r Senedd gyda chanlyniad yr adolygiad hwnnw.
4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am rôl partneriaeth y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol? OQ62291
4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the role of the social care workforce partnership? OQ62291
The partnership is the first of its kind in the UK. It brings together Government, employers and unions collaboratively, developing models of best practice to support the independent social care sector. The longer term ambition is for employers to adopt these and create more consistent terms and conditions across the sector.
Y bartneriaeth yw'r gyntaf o'i bath yn y DU. Mae'n dwyn ynghyd y Llywodraeth, cyflogwyr ac undebau yn gydweithredol, gan ddatblygu modelau o arfer gorau i gefnogi'r sector gofal cymdeithasol annibynnol. Yr uchelgais mwy hirdymor yw i gyflogwyr fabwysiadu'r rhain a chreu telerau ac amodau mwy cyson ar draws y sector.
Thanks for the update, Minister. I'm really pleased to see the Welsh Government strengthening its ongoing commitment to meaningful social partnership by establishing the social care workforce partnership. As you said, it's the first of its kind in the UK, bringing together Government, employers and trade unions, and it of course builds on the introduction of our manifesto promise of a real living wage for care workers, and demonstrates Welsh Labour's commitment to looking after workers who look after our most vulnerable citizens, and many of our nearest and dearest as well.
This week is HeartUnions Week, so it feels fitting for me to focus on one of the three priorities of the partnership for its first year: recognition agreements alongside trade union access. Minister, I'm sure you will agree with me that trade union access is something that we want to see spread far and wide in the sector, and that recognition agreements are key in not only supporting the workforce, but the sustainability of the sector as a whole.
Diolch am y diweddariad, Weinidog. Rwy'n falch iawn o weld Llywodraeth Cymru yn cryfhau ei hymrwymiad parhaus i bartneriaeth gymdeithasol ystyrlon drwy sefydlu partneriaeth y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol. Fel y dywedoch chi, dyma'r gyntaf o'i bath yn y DU, gan ddod â'r Llywodraeth, cyflogwyr ac undebau llafur ynghyd, ac wrth gwrs mae'n adeiladu ar gyflwyno ein haddewid maniffesto o gyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal, ac yn dangos ymrwymiad Llafur Cymru i ofalu am weithwyr sy'n gofalu am ein dinasyddion mwyaf agored i niwed, a llawer o'n hanwyliaid hefyd.
Yr wythnos hon yw Wythnos CaruUndebau, felly mae'n teimlo'n briodol i mi ganolbwyntio ar un o dair blaenoriaeth y bartneriaeth ar gyfer ei blwyddyn gyntaf: cytundebau cydnabod ochr yn ochr â mynediad at undebau llafur. Weinidog, rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi fod mynediad at undebau llafur yn rhywbeth yr ydym am ei weld yn lledaenu'n eang yn y sector, a bod cytundebau cydnabod yn allweddol nid yn unig i gefnogi'r gweithlu, ond cynaliadwyedd y sector cyfan.
I absolutely agree with the Member, of course, and that's why we've invested so much time and energy working with employers and trade union partners to get to this point. And from the work that both you and I did before coming into this place, we know that all the evidence shows, doesn't it, that unionised workplaces are better workplaces in terms of pay, conditions, health, safety and equality. We want that for all employees in the social care sector.
I'm very proud of the fact that when we look at specifically the work of the social care workforce partnership, the longer term ambition is for those agreed models to be adopted for all staff within scope, and to create more consistent terms and conditions across the social care sector in Wales. As you say, on those priority areas of work on recognition agreements, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and health and safety, including violence in the workplace, the work in the work streams is actually being led by trade union representatives. So, I think we will very much have the voice of the workforce there, driving these changes.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r Aelod wrth gwrs, a dyna pam ein bod wedi buddsoddi cymaint o amser ac egni yn gweithio gyda chyflogwyr a phartneriaid undebau llafur i gyrraedd y pwynt hwn. Ac o'r gwaith a wnaethoch chi a minnau cyn dod i'r lle hwn, fe wyddom fod yr holl dystiolaeth yn dangos, onid yw, fod gweithleoedd sy'n cydnabod undebau llafur yn weithleoedd gwell o ran cyflogau, amodau, iechyd, diogelwch a chydraddoldeb. Rydym eisiau hynny i bob gweithiwr yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol.
Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ffaith, pan edrychwn yn benodol ar waith partneriaeth y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, mai'r uchelgais mwy hirdymor yw i'r modelau y cytunwyd arnynt gael eu mabwysiadu ar gyfer yr holl staff o fewn y cwmpas, ac i greu telerau ac amodau mwy cyson ar draws y sector gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Fel y dywedwch, ar y meysydd gwaith blaenoriaeth ar gytundebau cydnabod, gweithdrefnau disgyblu a chwynion, ac iechyd a diogelwch, gan gynnwys trais yn y gweithle, mae'r gwaith yn y ffrydiau gwaith yn cael ei arwain gan gynrychiolwyr undebau llafur. Felly, rwy'n credu y bydd gennym lais y gweithlu yno, yn sbarduno'r newidiadau hyn.
I've got to be honest, whilst, clearly, this scheme was well intentioned, I have several concerns. Never ever have I known my care home owners and those working in social care to be so demoralised as at the moment. They see this as another talking shop. First, the voluntary nature of the agreement lacks real incentive for independent employers, making it unclear how widely the proposed model of best practice will be adopted.
By embedding trade unions into the decision-making process, this initiative risks increasing bureaucracy and limiting employer flexibility, which will only discourage private investment into a sector that is already very demoralised. While addressing workforce issues is important, the policy's emphasis on Government intervention and a collectivist approach will yet again stifle innovation and efficiency. There's no financial support available, meaning any additional costs will likely fall on our already stretched providers, and this could potentially lead to higher care costs or reduced services.
Cabinet Secretary, at some stage, when are you going to engage with those in our social care workforce, those running our nursing, our elderly mentally infirm and our care homes? They want real support from this Welsh Labour Government; they don't want more talking shops. They need more financing. We've lost more beds in the care sector over the last three years than we've ever done in Wales. You're failing the social care sector, and it's time there was a turnaround in your attitude and approach. Diolch.
Rhaid imi fod yn onest, er, yn amlwg, fod i'r cynllun fwriad da, mae gennyf sawl pryder. Nid wyf erioed wedi gweld fy mherchnogion cartrefi gofal a'r rhai sy'n gweithio ym maes gofal cymdeithasol mor ddigalon ag y maent ar hyn o bryd. Maent yn gweld hyn fel siop siarad arall. Yn gyntaf, nid oes gan natur wirfoddol y cytundeb gymhelliant gwirioneddol i gyflogwyr annibynnol, gan ei gwneud yn aneglur pa mor eang y bydd y model arfaethedig o arfer gorau yn cael ei fabwysiadu.
Trwy ymgorffori undebau llafur yn y broses o wneud penderfyniadau, mae'r fenter hon mewn perygl o gynyddu biwrocratiaeth a chyfyngu hyblygrwydd cyflogwyr, a fydd ond yn anghymell buddsoddiad preifat i sector sydd eisoes yn ddigalon iawn. Er bod mynd i'r afael â materion yn ymwneud â'r gweithlu yn bwysig, bydd pwyslais y polisi ar ymyrraeth Llywodraeth a dull cyfunolaidd unwaith eto'n mygu arloesedd ac effeithlonrwydd. Nid oes unrhyw gymorth ariannol ar gael, sy'n golygu y bydd unrhyw gostau ychwanegol yn debygol o ddisgyn ar ein darparwyr sydd eisoes dan bwysau, a gallai hyn arwain at gostau gofal uwch neu gyfyngu ar wasanaethau.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ar ryw adeg, pryd y gwnewch chi ymgysylltu â'r rhai yn ein gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, y rhai sy'n rhedeg ein nyrsio, ein henoed bregus yn feddyliol a'n cartrefi gofal? Maent eisiau cymorth gwirioneddol gan y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yng Nghymru; nid ydynt eisiau mwy o siopau siarad. Mae angen mwy o gyllid arnynt. Rydym wedi colli mwy o welyau yn y sector gofal dros y tair blynedd diwethaf nag a wnaethom erioed yng Nghymru. Rydych chi'n gwneud cam â'r sector gofal cymdeithasol, ac mae'n bryd i chi newid eich agwedd a'ch dull o weithredu. Diolch.
That doesn't surprise me, that question and that attitude towards trying to work in partnership with the workforce and employers in the social care sector, and I am not going to stand here for one moment and apologise for the work that we are doing—
Nid yw'r cwestiwn hwnnw'n fy synnu, na'r agwedd honno tuag at geisio gweithio mewn partneriaeth â'r gweithlu a chyflogwyr yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol, ac nid wyf yn mynd i sefyll yma am un eiliad ac ymddiheuro am y gwaith a wnawn—
Well, you should.
Wel, fe ddylech.
—with social care employers and trade unions, to work in partnership to deliver improvements in terms and conditions and workplace practices for some of the lowest paid people that we have in our workforce, looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our society. And, Janet, if you think that deregulation in that field to reduce costs—
—gyda chyflogwyr gofal cymdeithasol ac undebau llafur, i weithio mewn partneriaeth i sicrhau gwelliannau o ran telerau ac amodau ac arferion y gweithle i rai o'r bobl ar y cyflogau isaf sydd gennym yn ein gweithlu, sy'n gofalu am rai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. A Janet, os ydych chi'n meddwl bod dadreoleiddio yn y maes hwnnw i leihau costau—
I didn't say 'deregulation'. I said 'more funding'.
Ni ddywedais 'dadreoleiddio'. Dywedais 'mwy o gyllid'.
—to reduce costs at the expense of employees' pay and trade union recognition, I just answered the question from Hannah Blythyn about what trade union workplaces provide. They provide better workplaces, they provide better terms and conditions, they provide better health and safety and they provide better workforces. And most employers that are engaging with us—. And we have not done this in isolation; this has been done with social care employers. When we work with social care employers in partnership, you will find that the employer and the workplace becomes a better place to be, both for the employer and the employee.
—er mwyn lleihau costau ar draul cyflogau gweithwyr a chydnabyddiaeth i undebau llafur, fe atebais y cwestiwn gan Hannah Blythyn ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae gweithleoedd undebau llafur yn ei ddarparu. Maent yn darparu gwell gweithleoedd, maent yn darparu gwell telerau ac amodau, maent yn darparu gwell iechyd a diogelwch ac maent yn darparu gwell gweithluoedd. Ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o gyflogwyr sy'n ymgysylltu â ni—. Ac nid ydym wedi gwneud hyn ar ein pen ein hunain; mae hyn wedi'i wneud gyda chyflogwyr gofal cymdeithasol. Pan fyddwn yn gweithio gyda chyflogwyr gofal cymdeithasol mewn partneriaeth, fe welwch fod y cyflogwr a'r gweithle'n dod yn lle gwell i fod ynddo, i'r cyflogwr a'r gweithiwr.
Mae cwestiwn 5 [OQ62313] wedi'i dynnu nôl. Cwestiwn 6, Joyce Watson.
Question 5 [OQ62313] has been withdrawn. Question 6, Joyce Watson.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi gofalwyr? OQ62296
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on what the Welsh Government is doing to support carers? OQ62296
Thank you. The recognition and support of unpaid carers is a key priority for this Government. Since 2022 we have allocated £42 million for the direct support of unpaid carers. Last month I announced £5.25 million to continue the short breaks scheme and the carers support fund for a further 12 months.
Diolch. Mae cydnabod a chefnogi gofalwyr di-dâl yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i’r Llywodraeth hon. Ers 2022, rydym wedi dyrannu £42 miliwn ar gyfer cymorth uniongyrchol i ofalwyr di-dâl. Fis diwethaf, cyhoeddais £5.25 miliwn i barhau â’r cynllun seibiant byr a’r gronfa gymorth i ofalwyr am 12 mis arall.
I want to welcome, particularly, that £5.25 million investment for the next 12 months to support the break scheme, because when people are caring for others 24/7, the one thing we don't want is for those people to be so pressurised that they become ill themselves, and the whole system breaks down. So, it is vital support that is needed to give those individuals a break and therefore to sustain the wider family. So, what are you doing to promote that increased funding to ensure that those who need to access it are, first of all, aware of it and, secondly, gaining from it?
Hoffwn groesawu, yn arbennig, y buddsoddiad hwnnw o £5.25 miliwn ar gyfer y 12 mis nesaf i gefnogi’r cynllun seibiant, oherwydd pan fydd pobl yn gofalu am eraill 24/7, yr un peth nad oes arnom ei eisiau yw i’r bobl hynny fod o dan gymaint o bwysau fel eu bod yn mynd yn sâl eu hunain, ac yna mae’r system gyfan yn chwalu. Felly, mae’n gymorth hanfodol sydd ei angen i roi seibiant i’r unigolion hynny ac felly i gynnal y teulu ehangach. Felly, beth rydych chi'n ei wneud i hyrwyddo'r cyllid uwch hwnnw i sicrhau bod y rhai sydd ei angen, yn gyntaf oll, yn ymwybodol ohono, ac yn ail, yn elwa ohono?
Thank you, Joyce. That's a very important question. Can I start by saying—and I should've said this, actually, in response to Mabon's questions earlier on—how much we value the work that unpaid carers do—the value of the work that they do to the economy, but more importantly to the people that they care for themselves? And as you say, we are expanding the short break scheme. The short break scheme, in and of itself, is something over and above what local authorities provide through the care assessments and respite care arrangements that they have. So, this is something that's in addition and can be tailored and used in a way that is very specific to the needs of that particular carer. So, we work with them to develop a short break for them that meets what they want, rather than a kind of one-size-fits-all type of approach.
So, what we've actually done is we've been funding the training of health and social care staff to ensure that they're aware of the needs of carers and their support and that they are raising awareness, individually, with carers, about the support that they can get from local authorities, but also the additional support that they can get through us from the short break scheme, and also from the carers support fund, which is a very important additional fund, which is about providing emergency payments to help carers with other household bills and things like repairs—you know, they might need a new washing machine or something along those lines. So, it is work that we are doing in conjunction with local authorities and the social care sector to make sure that the profile of what is available becomes the first go-to point—that somebody knows what is available and they offer it to that person that they're working with.
Diolch, Joyce. Mae hwnnw'n gwestiwn pwysig iawn. A gaf i ddechrau drwy ddweud—a dylwn fod wedi dweud hyn mewn ymateb i gwestiynau Mabon yn gynharach mewn gwirionedd—faint rydym yn gwerthfawrogi’r gwaith y mae gofalwyr di-dâl yn ei wneud—gwerth y gwaith a wnânt i’r economi, ond yn bwysicach fyth, i’r bobl y maent yn gofalu amdanynt? Ac fel y dywedwch, rydym yn ehangu’r cynllun seibiant byr. Mae’r cynllun seibiant byr, ynddo’i hun, yn rhywbeth y tu hwnt i’r hyn y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei ddarparu drwy’r asesiadau gofal a’r trefniadau gofal seibiant sydd ganddynt. Felly, mae hyn yn rhywbeth ychwanegol y gellir ei deilwra a'i ddefnyddio mewn ffordd sy'n benodol iawn i anghenion y gofalwr penodol hwnnw. Felly, rydym yn gweithio gyda hwy i ddatblygu seibiant byr ar eu cyfer sy’n bodloni’r hyn y maent ei eisiau, yn hytrach na cheisio cael un ateb sy'n addas i bawb.
Felly, yr hyn a wnawn mewn gwirionedd yw ariannu hyfforddiant staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i sicrhau eu bod yn ymwybodol o anghenion gofalwyr a'u cymorth a'u bod yn codi ymwybyddiaeth, yn unigol, gyda gofalwyr, o'r cymorth y gallant ei gael gan awdurdodau lleol, ond hefyd y cymorth ychwanegol y gallant ei gael gennym ni drwy'r cynllun seibiant byr, a hefyd drwy'r gronfa gymorth i ofalwyr, sy'n gronfa gymorth ychwanegol bwysig iawn, ac sy'n darparu taliadau brys i helpu gofalwyr gyda biliau'r cartref a phethau fel atgyweirio—efallai y bydd angen peiriant golchi newydd neu rywbeth felly arnynt. Felly, mae'n waith a wnawn ar y cyd ag awdurdodau lleol a'r sector gofal cymdeithasol i sicrhau bod proffil yr hyn sydd ar gael yn dod yn bwynt cyswllt cyntaf—fod rhywun yn gwybod beth sydd ar gael a'u bod yn ei gynnig i'r unigolyn y maent yn gweithio gyda hwy.
7. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi menywod ag endometriosis? OQ62304
7. How is the Welsh Government supporting women with endometriosis? OQ62304

The Welsh Government has funded dedicated endometriosis nurses within each health board across NHS Wales who are actively spending time with patients in clinics. We have also funded a dedicated website, Endometriosis Cymru, aimed at improving understanding of the condition and how it can affect the lives of those affected.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ariannu nyrsys endometriosis penodol ym mhob bwrdd iechyd ar draws GIG Cymru sy’n mynd ati'n weithredol i dreulio amser gyda chleifion mewn clinigau. Rydym hefyd wedi ariannu gwefan bwrpasol, Endometriosis Cymru, gyda'r nod o wella dealltwriaeth o'r cyflwr a sut y gall effeithio ar fywydau'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt.
Thank you, Minister. Jennifer Hughes-Cooke, a constituent of mine, runs a support group for women suffering with endometriosis. It has over 100 members and is continuing to grow. After meeting with her and hearing about the shortcomings in treatment in west Wales—the current specialist nurse is on maternity leave—I promised to raise this issue on the floor of the Senedd, write to the chief executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board and get her a meeting with the health board, which I'm happy to confirm I've done.
Given that it takes six months to train a specialist nurse, and with 10 per cent of women of reproductive age having the condition, how are you working to ensure that enough specialist nurses are trained, and how are you meeting the Welsh Government target of ensuring treatment within the first 36 weeks, when there are recorded cases well over that time period?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae Jennifer Hughes-Cooke, sy’n etholwr i mi, yn rhedeg grŵp cymorth i fenywod sy’n dioddef o endometriosis. Mae gan y grŵp dros 100 o aelodau ac mae'n parhau i dyfu. Ar ôl cyfarfod â hi a chlywed am y diffygion yn y driniaeth yng ngorllewin Cymru—mae’r nyrs arbenigol bresennol ar gyfnod mamolaeth ar hyn o bryd—addewais godi’r mater ar lawr y Senedd, ysgrifennu at brif weithredwr Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda a threfnu cyfarfod iddi gyda’r bwrdd iechyd, ac rwy’n falch o gadarnhau fy mod wedi gwneud hynny.
O ystyried ei bod yn cymryd chwe mis i hyfforddi nyrs arbenigol, a chyda 10 y cant o fenywod o oedran atgenhedlu yn dioddef o’r cyflwr, sut rydych chi'n gweithio i sicrhau bod digon o nyrsys arbenigol yn cael eu hyfforddi, a sut rydych chi'n cyrraedd targed Llywodraeth Cymru o sicrhau triniaeth o fewn y 36 wythnos gyntaf, pan fo achosion wedi’u cofnodi ymhell dros y cyfnod hwnnw o amser?
Thank you so much, Sam Kurtz, for raising this. I'm always grateful for, and I welcome, any questions to do with women's health, particularly endometriosis. As I was saying to Sioned Williams, I spoke at the women's health cross-party-group just last week—I think it was last week—and this was the main topic. Of all the things that we can discuss, endometriosis was the one thing that the women really wanted to talk about, because it is just so—. It is a chronic condition and it can be absolutely excruciating. So, thank you for raising this question.
To directly answer about the contingency arrangements that are being put in place by Hywel Dda University Health Bord, I have been assured that they have been put in place to cover that maternity leave through the gynaecological team. But we are doing everything that we can to ensure that people do have access to those nurse specialists. Health boards are responsible for delivering those high-quality gynaecological services, and it’s vital that they provide a robust and effective pathway.
We do recognise the issues that some women and girls are facing on a daily basis. This is why endometriosis is one of the eight priority areas in the women’s health plan that was published on 10 December. There are seven clearly defined actions that will lead to improvements in the experience of women accessing information, treatment and support for endometriosis across Wales.
I know that I mentioned at the beginning about the endometriosis website, but it really is absolutely superb, I think. It always comes back to education, so that people can feel empowered, so that they can advocate for themselves and others. Then, they can hold people to account as well. I am actually hoping, as we design now the national women’s health website, that we will base it on the Endometriosis Cymru one, because it really clearly says what the pathway is. Also, it gives you a checklist and a diary that you can keep of your symptoms, so that when you go to the GP, you can express exactly what you're going through.
But in terms of the endometriosis nurses, what women say to me is, when you meet one and you get to work with them and be under their support and care, it makes all the difference. What we have to do now—and it is one of the key action points in the women’s health plan—is look at it actually as a specialist service, which I mentioned in my answers to James Evans earlier on. It is about the joint commissioning committee now looking at providing this as a specialist service, so that it’s something that we can ensure women across Wales have access to, and that we take it into consideration on an all-Wales basis. So, we are very much looking at this, I want to assure all of the women out there. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr am godi hyn, Sam Kurtz. Rwyf bob amser yn ddiolchgar ac yn croesawu unrhyw gwestiynau sy'n ymwneud ag iechyd menywod, yn enwedig endometriosis. Fel roeddwn yn ei ddweud wrth Sioned Williams, siaradais yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar iechyd menywod yr wythnos diwethaf—rwy'n credu mai'r wythnos diwethaf oedd hi—a dyma oedd y prif bwnc. O'r holl bethau y gallwn eu trafod, endometriosis oedd yr un peth yr oedd y menywod am siarad amdano, gan ei fod yn gyflwr mor—. Mae'n gyflwr cronig a gall fod yn gwbl arteithiol. Felly, diolch am godi’r cwestiwn hwn.
I roi ateb uniongyrchol am y trefniadau wrth gefn sy’n cael eu rhoi ar waith gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, cefais sicrwydd eu bod wedi’u rhoi ar waith ar gyfer y cyfnod o absenoldeb mamolaeth drwy’r tîm gynaecolegol. Ond rydym yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu cael mynediad at y nyrsys arbenigol hynny. Byrddau iechyd sy'n gyfrifol am ddarparu'r gwasanaethau gynaecolegol ansawdd uchel hynny, ac mae'n hanfodol eu bod yn darparu llwybr cadarn ac effeithiol.
Rydym yn cydnabod y problemau y mae rhai menywod a merched yn eu hwynebu o ddydd i ddydd. Dyna pam fod endometriosis yn un o'r wyth maes blaenoriaeth yn y cynllun iechyd menywod a gyhoeddwyd ar 10 Rhagfyr. Mae saith cam gweithredu clir a fydd yn arwain at welliannau ym mhrofiad menywod o ran cael mynediad at wybodaeth, triniaeth a chymorth ar gyfer endometriosis ledled Cymru.
Gwn imi sôn ar y dechrau am y wefan endometriosis, ond mae'n wirioneddol wych, yn fy marn i. Mae bob amser yn dod yn ôl at addysg, fel y gall pobl deimlo eu bod wedi'u grymuso, fel y gallant eirioli drostynt eu hunain ac eraill. Yna, gallant ddwyn pobl i gyfrif hefyd. Wrth inni lunio’r wefan genedlaethol ar gyfer iechyd menywod, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn ei seilio ar un Endometriosis Cymru, gan ei bod yn nodi'n glir iawn beth yw’r llwybr. Hefyd, mae'n rhoi rhestr wirio i chi a dyddiadur y gallwch ei gadw o'ch symptomau, fel y gallwch fynegi'n union beth rydych chi'n mynd drwyddo, pan fyddwch yn mynd at y meddyg teulu.
Ond ar y nyrsys endometriosis, yr hyn y mae menywod yn ei ddweud wrthyf yw ei fod yn gwneud byd o wahaniaeth pan fyddwch yn cyfarfod ag un ac yn dechrau gweithio gyda hwy a derbyn eu cymorth a'u gofal. Yr hyn y mae’n rhaid inni ei wneud nawr—ac mae'n un o'r pwyntiau gweithredu allweddol yn y cynllun iechyd menywod—yw edrych arno fel gwasanaeth arbenigol, fel y soniais yn fy atebion i James Evans yn gynharach. Mae'n ymwneud â'r cyd-bwyllgor comisiynu'n edrych ar ddarparu hwn fel gwasanaeth arbenigol, fel ei fod yn rhywbeth y gallwn sicrhau bod menywod ledled Cymru yn gallu cael mynediad ato, a'n bod yn ei ystyried ar sail Cymru gyfan. Felly, hoffwn roi sicrwydd i bob un o'r menywod allan yno ein bod yn sicr yn edrych ar hyn. Diolch yn fawr.
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8. Pa gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau recriwtio yn y GIG yng Nghymru? OQ62293
8. What action is being taken by the Welsh Government to address recruitment challenges in the Welsh NHS? OQ62293
We remain committed to investing in the sustainability of the NHS workforce. Through ongoing support for training new healthcare professionals, ethical international recruitment and enhanced recruitment strategies, the NHS workforce has grown by 10 per cent over the last three years.
Rydym yn parhau'n ymrwymedig i fuddsoddi yng nghynaliadwyedd gweithlu’r GIG. Drwy gymorth parhaus i hyfforddi gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol newydd, recriwtio rhyngwladol moesegol a gwell strategaethau recriwtio, mae gweithlu’r GIG wedi cynyddu 10 y cant dros y tair blynedd diwethaf.
Thank you for that answer. I have people who have just completed their nursing degrees in north Wales at the moment who tell me that they cannot get a job. They cannot get a job, in spite of the fact that hundreds of nurses are coming in from overseas, largely from India, at present. And yet, the NHS seems to have many thousands of nursing vacancies that it keeps advertising, and is heavily reliant on agency nurses as well. That seems to me to be a peculiar state of affairs, and one that needs some urgent investigation by the Welsh Government to make sure that we're getting bang for the buck for taxpayers, given that these courses will have been funded by taxpayers. And can you also tell us what action the Welsh Government is taking in order to address the concerns that there are about the Cardiff University school of nursing closing and the impact that that might have on the nursing profession more widely, on patient safety and, indeed, on the public purse in the future?
Diolch am yr ateb. Mae gennyf bobl sydd newydd gwblhau eu graddau nyrsio yng ngogledd Cymru ar hyn o bryd ac sy’n dweud wrthyf na allant gael swydd. Ni allant gael swydd, er bod cannoedd o nyrsys yn dod yma o dramor, yn bennaf o India, ar hyn o bryd. Ac eto, ymddengys bod gan y GIG filoedd lawer o swyddi nyrsio gwag y mae'n parhau i'w hysbysebu, ac mae'n dibynnu'n fawr ar nyrsys asiantaeth hefyd. Mae honno'n sefyllfa ryfedd yn fy marn i, ac yn un y mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ymchwilio iddi ar frys i sicrhau ein bod yn cael gwerth am arian i'r trethdalwyr, o gofio y bydd y cyrsiau hyn wedi'u hariannu gan drethdalwyr. Ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym hefyd pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon ynglŷn â chau ysgol nyrsio Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r effaith y gallai hynny ei chael ar y proffesiwn nyrsio yn ehangach, ar ddiogelwch cleifion, ac yn wir, ar bwrs y wlad yn y dyfodol?
Thank you so much, Darren Millar, for that question. To start with, the NHS in Wales now has more staff than at any point in its history. Today, the NHS directly employs almost 97,000 full-time-equivalent staff, and that’s a 21 per cent increase since before the pandemic. We are absolutely committed to delivering a sustainable NHS workforce equipped to handle the demands of the present, but also to meet the needs of the future. This is thanks to our commitment to continue investing in the current workforce and in training the NHS workforce of the future, and that’s around £294 million on training new members of the workforce.
In terms of the issues that your residents are having in the north of Wales, I would suggest writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about that specifically. But I don't want to conflate it with the other issue that you've raised, which I don't believe is an issue; I think it's actually a very good-news story: the all-Wales international recruitment programme has successfully recruited more than 1,000 internationally educated healthcare professionals into the NHS Wales workforce. [Interruption.] No, I would like to push back on that. It is actually—[Interruption.] The countries that we recruit from specifically overtrain. This is absolutely ethical. It's not only nurses that we recruit, it's also psychiatrists who want to be able to come and work here. It is not a bad news story. That is certainly not how it is seen in the NHS.
For 2024 and 2025, the Cabinet Secretary agreed to retain the £5 million centrally within the health and social care MEG for the nationally run programmes, to support the ethical international recruitment, and the aim was to continue to utilise the ethical once-for-Wales approach to meet future workforce planning demands across the NHS.
Coming on to the closure of the nursing courses potentially at Cardiff University, we do recognise that the higher education institutions are having to make difficult decisions around the future, and it is disappointing given the importance of ensuring a sustainable workforce for NHS Wales that nursing forms part of the consultation. We are working very closely with Health Education and Improvement Wales and we are confident that if, following the consultation, a decision is made to proceed with the closure of the nursing provision, alternative plans can be put in place to ensure continuation of provision at the same level through alternative providers in the same region. The final decision, of course, rests with Cardiff University, who I hope will very much listen in a social partnership way as they're consulting on this. And just to say that the Cabinet Secretary's officials will be meeting jointly with Cardiff University and HEIW over the coming weeks to receive an update on those discussions, and will subsequently be briefing the Cabinet Secretary.
I just wanted to point out as well that we also have a national retention programme. We are investing in mental health, we are supporting the international nurses and having well-being conversations. We're trying to support and retain the staff we currently have through a flexible working policy. We have the workforce race equality standard. We also support people through occupational health, workforce safety and speaking up safely. So, there is a tremendous amount of work that is happening within the workforce space within the NHS, but I would not attribute any of the issues that you may have raised with recruiting 1,000 people, ethically, internationally.
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn, Darren Millar. I ddechrau, mae gan y GIG yng Nghymru bellach fwy o staff nag ar unrhyw adeg yn ei hanes. Heddiw, mae'r GIG yn cyflogi bron i 97,000 o staff cyfwerth ag amser llawn yn uniongyrchol, ac mae hynny'n gynnydd o 21 y cant ers cyn y pandemig. Rydym wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i sicrhau bod gan y GIG weithlu cynaliadwy sydd â'r gallu i ymdopi â gofynion y presennol, ond hefyd i ddiwallu anghenion y dyfodol. Mae hyn oherwydd ein hymrwymiad i barhau i fuddsoddi yng ngweithlu presennol y GIG ac i hyfforddi gweithlu'r dyfodol, ac mae'n darparu oddeutu £294 miliwn ar gyfer hyfforddi aelodau newydd o'r gweithlu.
Ar y materion y mae eich trigolion yn eu hwynebu yn y gogledd, rwy'n awgrymu y dylech ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn benodol ynglŷn â hynny. Ond nid wyf am ei gyfuno â'r mater arall a godwyd gennych, nad wyf yn credu ei fod yn broblem; credaf ei fod yn newyddion da iawn, mewn gwirionedd: mae rhaglen recriwtio ryngwladol Cymru gyfan wedi llwyddo i recriwtio mwy na 1,000 o weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol a addysgwyd yn rhyngwladol i weithlu GIG Cymru. [Torri ar draws.] Na, hoffwn wthio'n ôl ar hynny. Mewn gwirionedd—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'r gwledydd yr ydym yn recriwtio ohonynt yn gorhyfforddi'n bwrpasol. Mae hyn yn gwbl foesegol. Nid nyrsys yn unig sy'n cael eu recriwtio gennym, ond seiciatryddion hefyd, sy'n dymuno dod yma i weithio. Nid yw'n newyddion drwg. Yn sicr, nid dyna fel y’i gwelir yn y GIG.
Ar gyfer 2024 a 2025, cytunodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i gadw’r £5 miliwn yn ganolog yn y prif grŵp gwariant iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ar gyfer y rhaglenni cenedlaethol, i gefnogi’r broses recriwtio ryngwladol foesegol, a’r nod oedd parhau i ddefnyddio’r dull moesegol unwaith i Gymru i fodloni gofynion cynllunio’r gweithlu yn y dyfodol ar draws y GIG.
O ran y posibilrwydd o ddod â chyrsiau nyrsio i ben ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, rydym yn cydnabod bod yn rhaid i’r sefydliadau addysg uwch wneud penderfyniadau anodd ynghylch y dyfodol, ac mae’n siomedig o ystyried pwysigrwydd sicrhau gweithlu cynaliadwy i GIG Cymru fod nyrsio'n rhan o’r ymgynghoriad. Rydym yn gweithio’n agos iawn gydag Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru ac rydym yn hyderus, yn dilyn yr ymgynghoriad, os gwneir penderfyniad i fwrw ymlaen â'r penderfyniad i ddod â'r ddarpariaeth nyrsio i ben, y gellir rhoi cynlluniau amgen ar waith i sicrhau parhad darpariaeth ar yr un lefel drwy ddarparwyr amgen yn yr un rhanbarth. Mae'r penderfyniad terfynol, wrth gwrs, yn nwylo Prifysgol Caerdydd, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn gwrando mewn dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol wrth iddynt ymgynghori ar hyn. A hoffwn ddweud y bydd swyddogion Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cyfarfod ar y cyd â Phrifysgol Caerdydd ac AaGIC dros yr wythnosau nesaf i gael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y trafodaethau hynny, ac yn briffio Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn sgil hynny.
Hoffwn nodi hefyd fod gennym raglen gadw staff genedlaethol hefyd. Rydym yn buddsoddi mewn iechyd meddwl, rydym yn cefnogi’r nyrsys rhyngwladol ac yn cael sgyrsiau ynglŷn â llesiant. Rydym yn ceisio cefnogi a chadw'r staff sydd gennym yn barod drwy bolisi gweithio hyblyg. Mae gennym safon cydraddoldeb hil y gweithlu. Rydym hefyd yn cefnogi pobl drwy iechyd galwedigaethol, diogelwch y gweithlu a chodi llais heb ofn. Felly, mae llawer iawn o waith yn mynd rhagddo yng ngweithlu'r GIG, ond ni fyddwn yn priodoli recriwtio 1,000 o bobl yn foesegol yn rhyngwladol i unrhyw un o'r materion y gallech fod wedi'u codi.
Cwestiwn 9, yn olaf, Altaf Hussain.
Question 9, finally, Altaf Hussain.
9. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gael gwared ar ofal mewn coridorau yn ysbytai Cymru? OQ62301
9. What action is the Welsh Government taking to eliminate corridor care in Welsh hospitals? OQ62301
The Welsh Government does not endorse the routine care or treatment of individuals in non-clinical or unsuitable environments. However, there are occasions when the NHS faces exceptional pressures, which can sometimes result in extended delays to patient admissions to hospital beds, and we are committed to addressing these challenges.
Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymeradwyo triniaeth neu ofal rheolaidd unigolion mewn amgylcheddau anghlinigol neu anaddas. Fodd bynnag, mae adegau pan fydd y GIG yn wynebu pwysau eithriadol, a all weithiau arwain at oedi estynedig cyn derbyn cleifion i welyau ysbyty, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau hyn.
Thank you, Minister. Of course, corridor care is somewhat of a misnomer. It does not always happen in corridors and does not always involve care. There have been some truly shocking incidents in recent weeks, including a disabled toilet at a major accident and emergency department being used to take blood samples from a patient. I am sure you will agree that this unsanitary activity is just as unacceptable as leaving a patient on a trolley in any available space. When I was completing my residency, we had waiting bays for patients at every emergency department, in addition to the treatment bays. Now, waiting bays are observational wards where the patient would be kept for test results, onward treatment, and they would go to the theatre even from there. Cabinet Secretary, will you consider installing waiting bays at all major A&E departments, if only on a temporary basis, until you get to grips with patient flow through our hospitals?
Diolch, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, mae'r ymadrodd gofal mewn coridorau yn gamarweiniol. Nid yw bob amser yn digwydd mewn coridorau ac nid yw bob amser yn cynnwys gofal. Mae rhai digwyddiadau gwirioneddol arswydus wedi'u nodi yn yr wythnosau diwethaf, gan gynnwys toiled i bobl anabl mewn adran ddamweiniau ac achosion brys fawr yn cael ei ddefnyddio i gymryd samplau gwaed gan glaf. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno bod y weithred anhylan hon yr un mor annerbyniol â gadael claf ar droli mewn unrhyw ofod sydd ar gael. Pan oeddwn yn cwblhau fy nghyfnod hyfforddi, roedd gennym faeau aros i gleifion ym mhob adran achosion brys, yn ogystal â'r baeau triniaeth. Nawr, mae baeau aros yn wardiau arsylwi lle byddai'r claf yn cael eu cadw ar gyfer canlyniadau profion, triniaeth ddilynol, a byddent hyd yn oed yn mynd oddi yno i'r theatr. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ystyried gosod baeau aros ym mhob adran ddamweiniau ac achosion brys fawr, hyd yn oed ar sail dros dro, tan y bydd gennych reolaeth ar lif cleifion drwy ein hysbytai?
Thank you so much, Altaf Hussain, for raising that very important question. I would like to reiterate again that the Welsh Government does not endorse the routine care or treatment of individuals in non-clinical or unsuitable environments. That would absolutely include people having blood tests taken in a disabled toilet, and, if that is the case, I would really encourage you to please write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care so that that can be looked into.
I also wanted to say that the Cabinet Secretary—and all of us, really—are meeting here with clinicians on a regular basis to understand first-hand experiences of urgent and emergency care delivery, including the issues presented by patients being cared for in areas that are not appropriate for their needs. Priorities set within the NHS Wales planning framework include the implementation of actions described in the optimal hospital flow framework, developed by the national six goals for urgent and emergency care programme, which my colleague Dawn Bowden has mentioned today, to ensure people who possess a clinical need for admission to hospital are discharged home when clinically ready, with the right support and without delay. We know that all of this is linked. A whole-system effort is required to enable optimal hospital flow, which will in turn decongest our emergency departments and release ambulance capacity.
I’d also like to say as well that Welsh Government has invested over £200 million in additional funding this year to support health boards and regional partnership boards to safely manage people more in the community, and avoid ambulance transport and admission to hospital. Also the additional funding and our national improvement programmes are actively helping to reduce pressure on the emergency departments, as you were asking. So, thank you very much. But I would really encourage you to please follow up with the Cabinet Secretary about that very worrying case that you described.
Diolch yn fawr am ofyn y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw, Altaf Hussain. Hoffwn ailadrodd eto nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymeradwyo triniaeth neu ofal rheolaidd unigolion mewn amgylcheddau anghlinigol neu anaddas. Byddai hynny'n sicr yn cynnwys rhoi profion gwaed i bobl mewn toiled i bobl anabl, ac os yw hynny'n wir, byddwn yn eich annog i ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol fel y gellir ymchwilio i hynny.
Hoffwn ddweud hefyd fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet—a phob un ohonom mewn gwirionedd—yn cyfarfod yma â chlinigwyr yn rheolaidd i ddeall profiadau uniongyrchol o ddarparu gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng, gan gynnwys y materion yn ymwneud â chleifion yn derbyn gofal mewn mannau nad ydynt yn briodol i'w hanghenion. Mae’r blaenoriaethau a nodir yn fframwaith cynllunio GIG Cymru yn cynnwys gweithredu'r camau a ddisgrifir yn y fframwaith optimeiddio llif cleifion mewn ysbytai, a ddatblygwyd gan raglen genedlaethol y chwe nod ar gyfer gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng, a grybwyllwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod Dawn Bowden heddiw, i sicrhau bod pobl sydd ag angen clinigol i gael eu derbyn i’r ysbyty yn cael eu rhyddhau i fynd adref pan fyddant yn barod yn glinigol, gyda’r cymorth cywir a heb oedi. Gwyddom fod hyn oll yn gysylltiedig. Mae angen ymdrech system gyfan i optimeiddio llif cleifion mewn ysbytai, a fydd yn ei dro yn cael gwared ar y tagfeydd yn ein hadrannau achosion brys ac yn rhyddhau capasiti ambiwlansys.
Hoffwn ddweud hefyd fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi dros £200 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol eleni i gefnogi'r byrddau iechyd a'r byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol i reoli mwy o bobl yn y gymuned yn ddiogel, ac osgoi cludiant mewn ambiwlansys a derbyniadau i’r ysbyty. Mae’r cyllid ychwanegol a’n rhaglenni gwella cenedlaethol hefyd yn helpu i leihau’r pwysau ar yr adrannau achosion brys, fel roeddech chi'n gofyn. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn. Ond rwy'n eich annog yn gryf i fynd ar drywydd yr achos pryderus a ddisgrifiwyd gennych gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Diolch yn fawr i'r ddau Weinidog am yr atebion a'r sesiwn yna.
I thank the two Ministers for those responses and that session.
Does dim cwestiynau o dan eitem 3.
No topical questions have been submitted under item 3.
Eitem 4 sydd nesaf, felly, y datganiadau 90 eiliad. Y cyntaf prynhawn yma gan Alun Davies.
So, item 4 is next, the 90-second statements. And the first is from Alun Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. It was with sadness that we learnt of the death of Lord Keith Brookman recently. Keith had been ill for a long time, but he is remembered as the former general secretary and assistant general secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation trade union.
He was a steelworker. He was a steelworker in his soul. He was born and brought up in Ebbw Vale and began his long career in the industry in 1953. Having a period of national service in the RAF, he returned to the steel industry. He was the union's assistant general secretary for eight years, from 1985 to 1993, and then he was elected general secretary, and he remained in post until 1999.
It was no surprise to anyone that, when Keith became a member of the House of Lords, he assumed the title of Lord Brookman of Ebbw Vale. During his time in Parliament, he continued to take an active interest in Welsh affairs, and particularly the steel industry. Through the course of decades, he played an active role on a range of bodies, all of which were focused on steel, both at the domestic and international level. He was part of the European coal and steel committee, the International Metalworkers’ Federation and the European Metalworkers’ Federation. Away from the steel industry, he was also a governor of the Gwent College of Higher Education and a member of the Trades Union Congress educational advisory committee for Wales.
Perhaps the best tribute to him was paid by Neil Kinnock. Neil said that
‘Keith was the real thing—a total trade unionist and a dedicated democratic socialist. His roots ran deep and his ambitions for working class people were limitless. He had great generosity…he had high integrity…. He was also full of mischief, had a great sense of humour and terrific loyalty to his comrades.’
Thank you very much.
Diolch, Lywydd. Gyda thristwch y clywsom am farwolaeth yr Arglwydd Keith Brookman yn ddiweddar. Roedd Keith wedi bod yn sâl ers amser, ond caiff ei gofio fel cyn-ysgrifennydd cyffredinol ac ysgrifennydd cyffredinol cynorthwyol undeb llafur y Cydffederasiwn Crefftau Haearn a Dur.
Gweithiwr dur ydoedd. Roedd yn weithiwr dur yn ei enaid. Cafodd ei eni a'i fagu yng Nglynebwy a dechreuodd ei yrfa hir yn y diwydiant ym 1953. Wedi cyfnod o wasanaeth cenedlaethol yn yr Awyrlu Brenhinol, dychwelodd i'r diwydiant dur. Bu'n ysgrifennydd cyffredinol cynorthwyol yr undeb am wyth mlynedd, o 1985 i 1993, ac yna fe'i hetholwyd yn ysgrifennydd cyffredinol, a pharhaodd yn y swydd tan 1999.
Nid oedd yn syndod i unrhyw un, pan ddaeth Keith yn aelod o Dŷ’r Arglwyddi, iddo gymryd y teitl Arglwydd Brookman o Lynebwy. Yn ystod ei gyfnod yn Senedd y DU, parhaodd i ddangos diddordeb gweithredol mewn materion Cymreig, yn enwedig y diwydiant dur. Dros y degawdau, chwaraeodd ran weithredol yn aelod o ystod o gyrff, pob un ohonynt yn canolbwyntio ar ddur, ar lefel ddomestig a rhyngwladol. Roedd yn rhan o bwyllgor glo a dur Ewrop, y Ffederasiwn Gweithwyr Metel Rhyngwladol a Ffederasiwn Gweithwyr Metel Ewrop. Y tu hwnt i'r diwydiant dur, roedd hefyd yn llywodraethwr Coleg Addysg Uwch Gwent ac yn aelod o bwyllgor cynghori addysgol Cymru yng Nghyngres yr Undebau Llafur.
Efallai mai Neil Kinnock a dalodd y deyrnged orau iddo. Dywedodd Neil,
'Roedd Keith yn un go iawn—undebwr llafur llwyr a sosialydd democrataidd ymroddedig. Roedd ei wreiddiau'n ddwfn a'i uchelgeisiau ar ran pobl y dosbarth gweithiol yn ddiderfyn. Roedd yn ddyn hael iawn… roedd yn onest iawn… Roedd hefyd yn llawn direidi, roedd ganddo synnwyr digrifwch gwych ac roedd yn deyrngar iawn i'w gymrodyr.'
Diolch yn fawr.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Mae cwmni'r Dref Werdd yn ardal Ffestiniog yn gwmni trydydd sector ac yn adnodd pwysig i’r ardal a’r gymuned gyfan. Wedi’i sefydlu dros 10 mlynedd yn ôl, yn ymwneud â gwaith llesiant ac amgylcheddol, maent yn hwb i roi cymorth i drigolion yr ardal gyda phob math o agweddau, o brosiectau yn helpu plant a phobl ifanc i dyfu llysiau, i sicrhau cyngor a chymorth i bobl fregus, a gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl mewn oed yn byw bywyd llawn gyda chwmni cyfeillion.
Mae’r Dref Werdd newydd gael arian nawdd gan y Loteri Gymunedol er mwyn creu prosiectau newydd yn yr ardal: £480,340 dros dair blynedd. Mae’r prosiectau newydd yma yn cynnwys gweithio gyda phobl ifanc yn yr ardal ym Mhenrhyndeudraeth a Bro Ffestiniog, ymgysylltu â phobl hŷn a chreu sesiynau pontio’r cenedlaethau gyda’r ysgol leol. Bydd y Dref Werdd yn creu cynlluniau ar gyfer dygymod â galar, iechyd meddwl dynion, celfyddydau cymunedol a grymuso pobl i wneud mwy drostynt eu hunain.
Mae cael y buddsoddiad yn y gymuned leol yn gwarantu bod y gymuned yn arwain ar beth sydd ei angen yn y gymuned honno, ac yn rhoi gwytnwch pellach i'r gymuned ôl-ddiwydiannol. Pob lwc i’r Dref Werdd yn eu gwaith.
The Dref Werdd social enterprise in the Ffestiniog area is a third sector organisation and is an important resource for the community and the area as a whole. Having been established over 10 years ago, working in the field of well-being and the environment, it's a hub providing support for local residents on all kinds of matters, from projects to help children and young people to grow vegetables, to providing advice and support to vulnerable people, and ensuring that older people are able to live full lives in the company of friends.
Dref Werdd has just received sponsorship funding from the National Lottery to create new projects in the area: £480,340 over three years. The new projects include working with young people in the area in Penrhyndeudraeth and Bro Ffestiniog, engaging with older people and creating sessions to bridge between the generations with the local school. Dref Werdd will put together programmes on coping with bereavement, men's mental health, community arts and empowering people to do more for themselves.
Having this investment rooted in the local community guarantees that it is the community itself that leads on decisions about what it needs, further enhancing the resilience of this post-industrial community. Good luck to Dref Werdd with its work.
Diolch.
Thank you.
Eitem 5 yw'r ddadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv), bwyd. Galwaf ar Jenny Rathbone i wneud y cynnig.
Item 5 is a Member debate under Standing Order 11.21, on food. And I call on Jenny Rathbone to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8814 Jenny Rathbone, Llyr Gruffydd, Peter Fox
Cefnogwyd gan James Evans, Julie Morgan, Lee Waters, Mike Hedges, Samuel Kurtz
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) er gwaethaf y digonedd o fwyd o safon a gynhyrchir gan ffermwyr Cymru, mae goruchafiaeth bwyd wedi'i brosesu'n helaeth yn ein diet yn arwain at ganlyniadau dinistriol i iechyd, cyfoeth a llesiant ein cenedl;
b) bod mynediad at fwyd fforddiadwy ac iach yn fater cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, gyda chymunedau tlotach yn cael eu heffeithio'n anghymesur gan afiechydon sy'n gysylltiedig â diet;
c) bod cynhyrchiant Cymru o 20,000 tunnell o ffrwythau a llysiau y flwyddyn ond yn cyfateb i chwarter dogn o ffrwythau a llysiau bob dydd fesul person;
d) y gall ehangu cynhyrchu bwyd lleol cynaliadwy helpu i leihau milltiroedd bwyd, gwella diogelwch bwyd, a chreu swyddi gwyrdd yng Nghymru; ac
e) bod pontio i fod yn genedl fwyd gynaliadwy yn gofyn am ddull cydgysylltiedig, cydweithredol ac ataliol yn unol â Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol.
2. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) datblygu strategaeth llywodraeth gyfannol a chydgysylltiedig i wella diet pobl;
b) hyrwyddo manteision bwyd ffres, heb ei brosesu i annog newidiadau dietegol a mynd i'r afael â goruchafiaeth bwydydd wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth;
c) defnyddio'r buddsoddiad sydd i'w groesawu mewn partneriaethau bwyd lleol i ddod â thyfwyr, arlwywyr a bwytawyr at ei gilydd i ehangu garddwriaeth yng Nghymru;
d) cyflymu'r gwaith o lunio strategaeth fwyd gymunedol o fewn y Chweched Senedd; ac
e) defnyddio pŵer caffael cyhoeddus i wella'r bwyd a weinir i ddisgyblion, cleifion a phobl sy'n byw mewn cartrefi gofal.
Motion NDM8814 Jenny Rathbone, Llyr Gruffydd, Peter Fox
Supported by James Evans, Julie Morgan, Lee Waters, Mike Hedges, Samuel Kurtz
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that:
a) despite the abundance of quality food produced by Welsh farmers, the dominance of ultra-processed food in our diets has devastating consequences for the health, wealth and well-being of our nation;
b) access to affordable, healthy food is a social justice issue, with poorer communities disproportionately affected by diet-related illnesses;
c) Welsh production of 20,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables a year is only equivalent to a quarter of a portion of fruit and vegetables a day per person;
d) expanding sustainable local food production can help reduce food miles, improve food security, and create green jobs in Wales; and
e) the transition to a sustainable food nation requires a joined up, collaborative, preventative approach in line with the well-being of future generations Act.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) develop a holistic, joined up government strategy to improve people’s diets;
b) promote the benefits of fresh, unprocessed food to encourage dietary shifts and tackle the dominance of ultra-processed foods;
c) use the welcome investment in local food partnerships to bring together growers, caterers and eaters to expand Welsh horticulture;
d) accelerate work to produce a community food strategy within the Sixth Senedd; and
e) use the power of public procurement to improve the food served to pupils, patients and people living in care homes.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr. Last Friday, I visited a primary school that has all the ingredients for a community food strategy: a gardening club, a cookery club and a new headteacher who's keen to incorporate food into all aspects of the new curriculum, and it has four raised beds and a polytunnel as a demonstration project not just for the pupils, but for the families who visit every single day of the week. This combination has the potential to become the driver of a local community strategy to improve our diets that could be applied not just to that super-output area of deprivation, but to all primary schools, because they are the heart of a community from which the parent-teacher association, the food bank and the Christmas panto all emanate.
Diolch yn fawr. Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, ymwelais ag ysgol gynradd sydd â’r holl gynhwysion ar gyfer strategaeth fwyd gymunedol: clwb garddio, clwb coginio a phennaeth newydd sy’n awyddus i ymgorffori bwyd ym mhob agwedd ar y cwricwlwm newydd, ac mae ganddi bedwar o welyau wedi'u codi a thwnnel polythen fel prosiect arddangos nid yn unig ar gyfer y disgyblion, ond ar gyfer y teuluoedd sy’n ymweld bob dydd o’r wythnos. Mae gan y cyfuniad hwn botensial i lywio strategaeth gymunedol leol i wella ein deietau y gellid ei chymhwyso nid yn unig ar gyfer yr ardal cynnyrch ehangach honno o amddifadedd, ond i bob ysgol gynradd, gan mai hwy yw calon y gymuned y mae’r gymdeithas rhieni ac athrawon, y banc bwyd a’r panto Nadolig oll yn deillio ohoni.
The food industry spends billions promoting our disastrous diets, and we have to use the power of community to fight back. On the ground, we already have the basis of a strategy through our community-focused schools. We just need to add one more ingredient, and that's the Food for Life accreditation that every school and every local authority should aspire to and our own caterers have, along with over 1.5 million British schools—sadly, not a single one in Wales at the moment. We just need to build back what was already there fleetingly in Flintshire and Ynys Môn.
There's no time to lose. The ever-escalating diabetes epidemic is already devouring 17 per cent of the NHS budget. The levels of malnutrition among hospital patients are prolonging patient stays, and the main driver of early death and chronic illness is not smoking but our obesogenic diets.
So, what do we need to do to help people make the right choices? The Welsh Government has invested £1 million via 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' each year to support a diabetes prevention programme, but what is the proportion being spent on primary intervention? I don't know. I'm struggling to find a single diabetes nurse operating out of a GP practice, even though type 2 diabetes now dominates the lives and deaths of a record-breaking one in five adults.
Who's leading the charge on preventing those with non-diabetic hypoglycaemia, otherwise known as pre diabetes, from developing that type 2 diabetes? Who's working with the whole household of anyone recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to completely change their diet and give them the chance of reversing what is a ghastly disease, with all the consequences that go with it? Dieticians tell me they're working with GPs but not in doctors' surgeries, so this is quite a considerable cause for concern, which we need to investigate further.
Moving on, I think we should welcome the investment in local food partnerships that's made by the Government, and the Welsh Government gave a further £1.7 million towards tackling food poverty on top of the £2.8 million disbursed by local authorities earlier this year. So far, we've spent £22 million on tackling food poverty since 2019. A huge coalition of the willing are taking baby steps towards getting rid of the indignity of food poverty that stalks the sixth largest economy in the world.
All the voluntary and community activity going on under the banner of the 22 local food partnerships is to be celebrated, a community effort that stops people going hungry and combats loneliness, but is not a national strategy for improving food resilience across the whole of Wales. That is what we urgently need before the NHS collapses under the weight of diet-related disease.
Let's broaden the base of people ready to grow veg, particularly in light of Professor Tim Lang's recent report for the National Preparedness Commission in case of another disaster like COVID. Local authority planning departments, he recommends, need to be mandated to make food-growing land for community food, and a right to grow should be given legislative backing. But I appreciate growing your own is not for everybody. All households need to be able to access locally-sourced nourishing food to reduce our reliance on a handful of very large retailers, who, all too often, park their tanks just outside a town and immediately cause all the local food shops to close, and therefore there's nothing for anybody who needs to walk to get their food. So, the community food strategy must map these food deserts, along with a plan to stimulate the availability of fresh food for all. Solutions will vary according to geography, but what service could be more important than the availability of food within pram-pushing distance?
So, lastly, I just want to talk about the power of public procurement to improve the food served to pupils, patients and people living in care. Kevin Morgan's latest book, Serving the Public, highlights an important nutrition study of how adequate nutrition can reduce anti-social behaviour. It was a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment on 231 young prisoners in a young offender institution in Aylesbury. It gave half the young people nutritious food supplements while the other half received the placebo. Those who ate the nutritious food committed a quarter less offences than the placebo control group, and, amongst the most violent offenders, it was 37 per cent. That is an amazing result. And despite Sir David Ramsbotham, the most important HMI prison inspector in my career, co-authoring an article, 'Crime and Nourishment', in the Prison Service Journal in 2009, this lightbulb moment was simply ignored by the prisons and every other procurer of public service catering. It remains an important message, not just for the much troubled HMP Bridgend and the rest of the prison service—not devolved—but for any secondary school leader managing adolescent young people whose hormones are roaring. I know the Cabinet Secretary for Education takes the behaviour challenge very seriously, and has quite rightly resisted any challenge to make schools into fortresses, and I do hope the Aylesbury research will be dusted down for sharing at the summit with school leaders in May, and that Estyn and Bangor University will factor food nutrition into their work. Some important reflections, indeed, for our public health approach to gender-based violence as well.
But, leaving pupils and prisoners on one side, what about the other two P's, namely patients and pensioners, both highly relevant to what goes on in a hospital? There have been many attempts to improve hospital food, and the main argument for resisting change is that hospitals are essentially clinical treatment sites, rather than health promotion sites. The low status attached to food nutrition by both hospital management and the clinical profession means that malnourished patients have longer stays in hospital and poorer recovery rates. Age Concern has highlighted this about malnutrition and that those malnourished patients are three times as likely to develop complications during surgery, and have a higher mortality rate than well-fed patients. What is the Welsh NHS doing to even look after its own staff—[Interruption.]—particularly—
Mae'r diwydiant bwyd yn gwario biliynau ar hyrwyddo ein deietau trychinebus, ac mae'n rhaid inni ddefnyddio grym cymuned i ymladd yn ôl. Ar lawr gwlad, mae gennym eisoes sail i strategaeth drwy ein hysgolion bro. Mae angen inni ychwanegu un cynhwysyn arall, sef yr achrediad Bwyd am Oes y dylai pob ysgol a phob awdurdod lleol anelu ato ac sydd gan ein harlwywyr ein hunain, ynghyd â dros 1.5 miliwn o ysgolion ym Mhrydain—yn anffodus, dim un yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen inni adeiladu ar yr hyn a oedd yno'n barod am amser byr yn sir y Fflint ac Ynys Môn.
Nid oes amser i'w golli. Mae'r epidemig diabetes sy'n cynyddu'n barhaus eisoes yn llyncu 17 y cant o gyllideb y GIG. Mae lefelau camfaethiad ymhlith cleifion ysbyty yn ymestyn arosiadau cleifion, a phrif achos marwolaethau cyn pryd a salwch cronig yw ein deietau gordewogenig, nid ysmygu.
Felly, beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud i helpu pobl i wneud y dewisiadau cywir? Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi £1 filiwn drwy 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' bob blwyddyn i gefnogi rhaglen atal diabetes, ond pa gyfran sy'n cael ei gwario ar ymyrraeth sylfaenol? Nid wyf yn gwybod. Rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i un nyrs diabetes sy'n gweithredu o bractis meddyg teulu, er bod diabetes math 2 bellach ar ei lefel uchaf erioed ac yn dominyddu bywydau a marwolaethau un o bob pum oedolyn.
Pwy sy'n arwain y frwydr i atal pobl sydd â hypoglycemia nad yw'n ddiabetig, a elwir hefyd yn gyflwr cyn-ddiabetes, rhag datblygu diabetes math 2? Pwy sy'n gweithio gyda chartref cyfan unrhyw un sydd wedi cael diagnosis diweddar o ddiabetes math 2 i newid eu deiet yn llwyr a rhoi cyfle iddynt wrthdroi'r clefyd erchyll hwn, gyda'r holl ganlyniadau a ddaw yn ei sgil? Mae deietegwyr yn dweud wrthyf eu bod yn gweithio gyda meddygon teulu, ond nid mewn meddygfeydd, felly mae hyn yn destun cryn bryder ac mae angen inni ymchwilio ymhellach.
Gan symud ymlaen, credaf y dylem groesawu’r buddsoddiad mewn partneriaethau bwyd lleol a wnaed gan y Llywodraeth, a rhoddodd Llywodraeth Cymru £1.7 miliwn arall tuag at fynd i’r afael â thlodi bwyd ar ben y £2.8 miliwn a ddosbarthwyd gan awdurdodau lleol yn gynharach eleni. Hyd yn hyn, rydym wedi gwario £22 miliwn ers 2019 ar fynd i'r afael â thlodi bwyd. Mae llawer iawn o bobl gefnogol yn cymryd camau bach tuag at gael gwared ar y tlodi bwyd gwarthus sy'n fwrn ar chweched economi fwyaf y byd.
Dylid canmol yr holl weithgarwch gwirfoddol a chymunedol sy’n mynd rhagddo o dan faner y 22 o bartneriaethau bwyd lleol, ymdrech gymunedol sy’n atal pobl rhag llwgu ac sy’n brwydro yn erbyn unigrwydd, ond nid yw’n strategaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer gwella gwytnwch bwyd ledled Cymru gyfan. Dyna sydd ei angen arnom ar frys cyn i’r GIG chwalu o dan bwysau clefydau sy’n gysylltiedig â deietau.
Gadewch inni gynyddu nifer y bobl sy'n barod i dyfu llysiau, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni adroddiad diweddar yr Athro Tim Lang ar gyfer y Comisiwn Parodrwydd Cenedlaethol rhag trychineb arall fel COVID. Mae’n argymell bod angen i adrannau cynllunio awdurdodau lleol gael mandad i greu tir tyfu bwyd ar gyfer bwyd cymunedol, ac y dylid rhoi cefnogaeth ddeddfwriaethol i'r hawl i dyfu. Ond rwy'n derbyn nad yw tyfu eich bwyd eich hun yn addas i bawb. Mae angen i bob cartref allu cael mynediad at fwyd maethlon o ffynonellau lleol i leihau ein dibyniaeth ar lond llaw o fanwerthwyr mawr iawn sydd yn rhy aml o lawer yn agor siop y tu allan i'r dref ac yn achosi i’r holl siopau bwyd lleol gau ar unwaith, fel nad oes unrhyw beth ar gael i unrhyw un sydd angen cerdded i gael eu bwyd. Felly, mae'n rhaid i’r strategaeth fwyd gymunedol fapio’r diffeithdiroedd bwyd hyn, ynghyd â chynllun i ysgogi argaeledd bwyd ffres i bawb. Bydd yr atebion yn amrywio yn ôl daearyddiaeth, ond pa wasanaeth a allai fod yn bwysicach nag argaeledd bwyd o fewn pellter gwthio pram?
Felly, i gloi, hoffwn sôn am bŵer caffael cyhoeddus i wella'r bwyd a weinir i ddisgyblion, cleifion a phobl sy'n byw mewn gofal. Mae llyfr diweddaraf Kevin Morgan, Serving the Public, yn amlygu astudiaeth bwysig o sut y gall maeth digonol leihau ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Roedd yn arbrawf plasebo dwbl ddall dan reolaeth ar 231 o garcharorion ifanc mewn sefydliad troseddwyr ifanc yn Aylesbury. Rhoddwyd ychwanegion bwyd maethlon i hanner y bobl ifanc tra bod yr hanner arall yn cael plasebo. Cyflawnodd y rhai a oedd yn bwyta’r bwyd maethlon chwarter yn llai o droseddau na’r grŵp rheoli plasebo, ac ymhlith y troseddwyr mwyaf treisgar, roedd yn 37 y cant. Mae hynny'n ganlyniad anhygoel. Ac er i Syr David Ramsbotham, arolygydd carchardai arolygiaeth EF pwysicaf fy ngyrfa, gyd-ysgrifennu erthygl, ‘Crime and Nourishment’, yn y Prison Service Journal yn 2009, anwybyddwyd y datguddiad gan y carchardai a phob un arall a oedd yn caffael bwyd i wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae’n parhau i fod yn neges bwysig, nid yn unig i CEF y Parc ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr a gweddill y gwasanaeth carchardai—nad yw wedi'i ddatganoli—ond i unrhyw arweinydd ysgol uwchradd sy’n gyfrifol am bobl ifanc y mae eu hormonau’n rhuo. Gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg yn cymryd yr her ymddygiad o ddifrif, a’i bod, yn gwbl briodol, wedi gwrthsefyll unrhyw her i droi ysgolion yn gaerau, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd gwaith ymchwil Aylesbury yn cael ei archwilio a'i rannu yn yr uwchgynhadledd ag arweinwyr ysgolion ym mis Mai, ac y bydd Estyn a Phrifysgol Bangor yn ystyried maeth bwyd yn eu gwaith. Mae pethau pwysig i feddwl amdanynt o ran ein dull iechyd y cyhoedd o fynd i'r afael â thrais ar sail rhywedd hefyd.
Ond ar wahân i ddisgyblion a charcharorion, beth am gleifion a phensiynwyr, sydd hefyd yn berthnasol iawn i’r hyn sy’n digwydd mewn ysbyty? Bu sawl ymgais i wella bwyd ysbytai, a’r brif ddadl dros wrthsefyll newid yw mai safleoedd triniaeth glinigol yw ysbytai yn eu hanfod, yn hytrach na safleoedd hybu iechyd. Mae'r statws isel sydd ynghlwm wrth faeth bwyd gan reolwyr ysbytai a'r proffesiwn clinigol yn golygu bod cleifion sy’n dioddef o ddiffyg maeth yn aros yn hwy yn yr ysbyty a bod ganddynt gyfraddau gwella gwaeth. Mae Age Concern wedi tynnu sylw at hyn mewn perthynas â diffyg maeth a bod y cleifion sy’n dioddef o ddiffyg maeth deirgwaith yn fwy tebygol o ddatblygu cymhlethdodau yn ystod llawdriniaethau, a bod ganddynt gyfradd marwolaethau uwch na chleifion sy'n bwyta'n dda. Beth y mae GIG Cymru yn ei wneud i ofalu am ei staff ei hun hyd yn oed—[Torri ar draws.]—yn enwedig—
Jenny, can you take an intervention from Altaf?
Jenny, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad gan Altaf?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
You're absolutely right about the hospitals and what is happening at present. Previously, we used to have a dietician, and the dietician would go to each and every patient in the morning, and they would give them the details about their diet, and they would see what diet is suitable for what. I had surgery on my abdomen, and I was given lentils—you know, a full plate. My God, it was terrible. So, I agree with you.
Rydych yn llygad eich lle am yr ysbytai a’r hyn sy’n digwydd ar hyn o bryd. O'r blaen, roedd gennym ddeietegydd, a byddai'r deietegydd yn mynd at bob claf yn y bore, a byddent yn rhoi manylion iddynt am eu deiet, a byddent yn gweld pa ddeiet sy'n addas ar gyfer beth. Cefais lawdriniaeth ar fy abdomen, a rhoddwyd corbys i mi—plât llawn. Mawredd, roedd yn ofnadwy. Felly, rwy’n cytuno â chi.
I think dieticians do exist in hospitals; I think they're not in evidence as much as they should be in primary care.
On the positive side, I was pleased to hear that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is trialling a well-being Wednesday, charging £3.50 to their staff for a freshly cooked meal plus a piece of fruit. This is a very important intervention, because it will lower absenteeism. But it's not every day, and it's not every health board. There are two health boards who don't have any dietary focus on their staff at all in the hospital.
The gold standard has to be freshly produced meals in refrigerated lockers, which Jack Sargeant and I saw in November at the Well-Fed launch in Shotton. This is a really good example of best practice, which challenges health boards to ensure that the midwife who's delivering a baby at 2 o'clock in the morning can have—. In that 20-minutes break before she has to deliver the baby, she's able to go and get the food out of the locker, put it in the microwave, and eat a nutritious meal before she has to do another very challenging stint. So, I rest my case at the moment; I want to hear what everybody else has to say.
Rwy'n credu bod deietegwyr yn bodoli mewn ysbytai; nid wyf yn credu eu bod mor amlwg ag y dylent fod mewn gofal sylfaenol.
Ar y llaw arall, roeddwn yn falch o glywed bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a’r Fro yn treialu dydd Mercher llesiant, gan godi £3.50 ar eu staff am bryd o fwyd wedi’i goginio’n ffres ynghyd â darn o ffrwyth. Mae'n ymyrraeth bwysig iawn, gan y bydd yn lleihau absenoldeb. Ond nid yw'n digwydd bob dydd, ac nid yw'n digwydd ym mhob bwrdd iechyd. Mae dau fwrdd iechyd nad oes ganddynt unrhyw ffocws deietegol ar eu staff yn yr ysbyty o gwbl.
Rhaid mai'r safon aur yw'r prydau wedi'u cynhyrchu'n ffres mewn loceri oergell, a welodd Jack Sargeant a minnau ym mis Tachwedd yn lansiad Well-Fed yn Shotton. Mae hon yn enghraifft wirioneddol dda o arfer gorau, sy'n herio byrddau iechyd i sicrhau bod y fydwraig sy'n geni babi am 2 o'r gloch y bore yn gallu cael—. Yn yr egwyl o 20 munud cyn iddi orfod geni'r babi, mae'n gallu mynd i estyn y bwyd o'r locer, ei roi yn y microdon, a bwyta pryd maethlon cyn iddi orfod cwblhau cyfnod heriol arall. Felly, dyna gloi fy nadl am y tro; hoffwn glywed beth sydd gan bawb arall i'w ddweud.
I'm very pleased to be co-sponsoring this debate, as, arguably, there is nothing more important than the future health of our nation and the generations of our children to come, and the food we eat and the diets we follow will be fundamental in shaping the health of our country. It's disappointing that there aren't more Members in the Chamber today to take part in this debate. The endeavour to improve the health and well-being of our nation has to transcend political differences and parliamentary terms. It is something so important that it has to be anchored in any future government’s work programme as this will be a long journey of change.
We don’t need data to show that things are getting worse. It’s clearly evident all around us. We see growing levels of obesity across our population and, worryingly, a significant rise in childhood obesity leading to serious health-related issues, such as childhood diabetes. What will the future hold for many of our young people if we don’t try to change societal direction? Sadly, the dominance of processed and ultra-processed food in our diets has crept up on us and now we’re seeing the profound impact on the health and well-being of our people. It has become embedded into many families’ daily norm, as it’s often cheap, it’s convenient and, in many cases, it’s addictive. The dilemma, then, is how do we start to nudge families to change their eating habits? We know that it is the poorest of our communities who are disproportionately affected by diet-related illness, and surely we have to try and help them where we can.
Countries across the world are taking this whole issue seriously, but I fear that Wales is being left behind through, perhaps, a lack of urgency and decisiveness. That said, there are great examples of innovative practice and initiatives taking place, aimed at making a difference. However, these things on their own, even the big initiatives, like the roll-out of universal free school meals, cannot solve the problem. There has to be something far bigger. I truly believe that the Government has to adopt an overarching, holistic and strategic approach to the food system here in Wales—something that all food policy aligns to. We can see this sort of approach in Scotland with their good food nation plan, in England we see the national food strategy, and in Northern Ireland they have their food strategy framework. All of these directions are aiming to start to address the fundamentals needed for good food systems and policy that can start to address the key points that this debate raises.
It has been almost two years since we debated the food Bill, something I, and many people across Wales, felt could put Wales ahead of the game. I could make political points about why the Bill failed, but, as I said, this topic must transcend politics, as it’s too important. What I was advocating in the food Bill was a framework not dissimilar to those I just referenced—a framework that would enable a whole-system approach for Wales, and one that advocated for sustainable food production, a need for food security and the use of quality local food to address societal issues such as we’re considering today. My Bill fell, but the contents of it remain absolutely key and relevant if we are to address the needs of future generations. Stakeholders from across Wales, including academics, health boards, local authorities, farming unions, environmentalists and many more were united around the need for a joined-up approach for the food system in Wales. That unity of feeling demonstrated just how important the issue of food policy is here in Wales.
Members, I encourage you, as Jenny pointed out, to read the recently published book by renowned Welsh academic, Professor Kevin Morgan—an expert on food policy. His book, as we’ve seen, Serving the Public: The good food revolution in schools, hospitals and prisons, guides us to what is needed for a good food revolution in our schools, hospitals and prisons. The case it makes for a joined-up food system with joined-up policies is compelling, and our Government must take heed. There needs to be an all-Wales food strategy, anchored in legislation or regulation, that reflects a whole-system approach—one that connects the different policy areas, including health, well-being, agriculture, sustainability and economic growth. Cabinet Secretary, if we really want to improve the health of our children and that of future generations, we have to act now and lay the foundations of change. I ask Members to support our recommendations.
Rwy’n falch iawn o gyd-gyflwyno’r ddadl hon, gan y gellir dadlau nad oes unrhyw beth yn bwysicach nag iechyd ein cenedl yn y dyfodol a'r cenedlaethau sydd i ddod, a bydd y bwyd rydym yn ei fwyta a’r deietau a ddilynwn yn hollbwysig i iechyd cyffredinol ein gwlad. Mae’n siomedig nad oes mwy o Aelodau yn y Siambr heddiw i gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon. Mae'n rhaid i'r ymdrech i wella iechyd a lles ein cenedl fynd y tu hwnt i wahaniaethau gwleidyddol a thymhorau seneddol. Mae’n rhywbeth mor bwysig fel bod yn rhaid iddo fod wedi'i angori yn rhaglen waith unrhyw lywodraeth yn y dyfodol gan y bydd hon yn daith hir o newid.
Nid oes angen data arnom i ddangos bod pethau'n gwaethygu. Mae'n amlwg ym mhobman o'n cwmpas. Rydym yn gweld lefelau cynyddol o ordewdra ar draws ein poblogaeth, a chynnydd sylweddol mewn gordewdra ymhlith plant sy’n arwain at broblemau iechyd difrifol, fel diabetes plant, sy'n destun cryn bryder. Beth fydd y dyfodol i lawer o’n pobl ifanc os na cheisiwn newid y cyfeiriad cymdeithasol? Yn anffodus, mae goruchafiaeth bwyd wedi'i brosesu a bwyd wedi'i brosesu'n helaeth yn ein deiet wedi araf gynyddu ac rydym bellach yn gweld yr effaith ddwys ar iechyd a lles ein pobl. Mae wedi dod yn rhan annatod o fywyd dydd i ddydd llawer o deuluoedd, gan ei fod yn aml yn rhad, yn gyfleus, ac mewn llawer o achosion, yn gaethiwus. Y broblem, felly, yw sut y mae dechrau annog teuluoedd i newid eu harferion bwyta? Gwyddom mai’r tlotaf yn ein cymunedau sy’n cael eu heffeithio’n anghymesur gan salwch sy’n gysylltiedig â deiet, ac yn sicr, mae’n rhaid inni geisio eu helpu lle gallwn.
Mae gwledydd dros y byd yn cymryd y mater hwn o ddifrif, ond mae arnaf ofn fod Cymru’n cael ei gadael ar ôl, o bosibl, oherwydd diffyg brys a phendantrwydd. Wedi dweud hynny, mae enghreifftiau gwych o arferion a mentrau arloesol i'w cael, sydd â'r nod o wneud gwahaniaeth. Fodd bynnag, ni all y pethau hyn ar eu pen eu hunain, hyd yn oed y cynlluniau mawr, fel cyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb, ddatrys y broblem. Mae'n rhaid cael rhywbeth llawer mwy. Rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol fod yn rhaid i’r Llywodraeth fabwysiadu dull trosfwaol, cyfannol a strategol o ymdrin â’r system fwyd yma yng Nghymru—rhywbeth y mae pob polisi bwyd yn cyd-fynd ag ef. Gallwn weld y math hwn o ddull gweithredu yn yr Alban gyda’u cynllun cenedl bwyd da, yn Lloegr, gallwn weld y strategaeth fwyd genedlaethol, ac yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, mae ganddynt eu fframwaith strategaeth fwyd. Mae pob un o’r cyfarwyddiadau hyn yn anelu at ddechrau mynd i’r afael â’r hanfodion sydd eu hangen ar gyfer systemau bwyd da a pholisi a all ddechrau mynd i’r afael â’r pwyntiau allweddol y mae’r ddadl hon yn eu codi.
Mae bron i ddwy flynedd wedi bod ers inni drafod y Bil bwyd, rhywbeth roeddwn i, a llawer o bobl ledled Cymru, yn teimlo y gallai roi Cymru ar flaen y gad. Gallwn wneud pwyntiau gwleidyddol ynghylch pam y methodd y Bil, ond fel y dywedais, mae'n rhaid i’r pwnc hwn fynd y tu hwnt i wleidyddiaeth, gan ei fod yn rhy bwysig. Yr hyn roeddwn yn dadlau drosto yn y Bil bwyd oedd fframwaith nad oedd yn annhebyg i’r rhai rwyf newydd gyfeirio atynt—fframwaith a fyddai’n cynnig dull system gyfan i Gymru, ac un sy'n eirioli dros gynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy, yr angen am ddiogeledd bwyd a’r defnydd o fwyd lleol o safon i fynd i’r afael â phroblemau cymdeithasol fel rydym yn ei drafod heddiw. Methodd fy Mil, ond mae ei gynnwys yn parhau i fod yn gwbl allweddol a pherthnasol os ydym am fynd i’r afael ag anghenion cenedlaethau’r dyfodol. Roedd rhanddeiliaid o bob rhan o Gymru, gan gynnwys academyddion, byrddau iechyd, awdurdodau lleol, undebau ffermio, amgylcheddwyr a llawer mwy yn unfryd ynghylch yr angen am ddull gweithredu cydgysylltiedig ar gyfer y system fwyd yng Nghymru. Roedd yr unfrydedd hwnnw’n dangos pa mor bwysig yw mater polisi bwyd yma yng Nghymru.
Aelodau, rwy'n eich annog, fel y nododd Jenny, i ddarllen y llyfr a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar gan yr academydd enwog o Gymru, yr Athro Kevin Morgan—arbenigwr ar bolisi bwyd. Fel y gwelsom, mae ei lyfr, Serving the Public: The good food revolution in schools, hospitals and prisons, yn rhoi arweiniad inni ar yr hyn sydd ei angen ar gyfer chwyldro bwyd da yn ein hysgolion, ein hysbytai a’n carchardai. Mae’r achos y mae’n ei ddadlau dros system fwyd gydgysylltiedig a chanddi bolisïau cydgysylltiedig yn gymhellol, ac mae'n rhaid i’n Llywodraeth dalu sylw. Mae angen strategaeth fwyd Cymru gyfan sydd wedi’i hangori mewn deddfwriaeth neu reoliadau ac sy’n adlewyrchu dull system gyfan—un sy’n cysylltu’r gwahanol feysydd polisi, gan gynnwys iechyd, llesiant, amaethyddiaeth, cynaliadwyedd a thwf economaidd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, os ydym o ddifrif am wella iechyd ein plant ac iechyd cenedlaethau’r dyfodol, mae’n rhaid inni weithredu ar unwaith a gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer newid. Gofynnaf i’r Aelodau gefnogi ein hargymhellion.
Rŷn ni yma, wrth gwrs, nid dim ond i drafod pwysigrwydd diogelwch bwyd, ond i drafod yr angen i fynd y tu hwnt i hynny, i adeiladu cydnerthedd bwyd go iawn yma yng Nghymru. Dyw hon ddim yn ddadl abstract—mae bwyd yn fater sylfaenol sy'n effeithio ar bob un ohonom ni bob dydd. Mae'n effeithio ar ein hiechyd ni, mae'n effeithio ar ein cymunedau ni, ar ein heconomi ni, ac ar yr amgylchedd rŷn ni'n byw ynddo fe. Ond eto, er bod gennym ni dreftadaeth cynhyrchu bwyd balch iawn yng Nghymru, mae gormod o bobl yn y wlad yma'n stryglo i gael mynediad i fwyd ffres, i fwyd iach ac i fwyd fforddiadwy. Ac mae'r ddadl yma ynglŷn â sicrhau bod y system fwyd yng Nghymru yn gweithio i bawb, nid dim ond y corfforaethau mawr neu'r rhai sy'n gallu fforddio prynu bwyd o ansawdd arbennig, ond i bob teulu, i bob cymuned, a hefyd i bob ffarmwr a chynhyrchwr bwyd yn y wlad yma.
We're here, of course, not just to discuss the importance of food security, but also to discuss the need to go beyond that, to build real food resilience here in Wales. This isn't an abstract debate—food is a fundamental issues that affects each and every one of us every day. It impacts our health, our communities, our economy and the environment that we live in. But, although we have a proud heritage of food production in Wales, too many people in this country are struggling to access fresh food, healthy food and affordable food. This debate is about ensuring that the food system in Wales works for everyone, not just the major corporations or those who can afford to buy food of a particular quality, but for every family, for every community, and also for every farmer and food producer in the country too.
Now, there's a myth that Wales is some sort of food-secure nation. Well, we do produce a lot of food, don't we, but the reality is that our food system is deeply unbalanced. There's reference to fruit and vegetables in the motion before us, where we know that we're only producing the equivalent of just a quarter of a portion per person, per day at the minute, which is woefully inadequate. It's clear that we need to take steps to close this production gap. We need to be growing more of our own food, in a way that strengthens our rural economy and makes us more resilient to external shocks. One of the most effective ways, of course, to improve Wales's food resilience is by supporting local food production. If we shorten our supply chains, we also cut emissions, we create jobs and, therefore, support our rural communities.
We have an opportunity here, of course, to make greater use of public procurement as a tool to strengthen our food system—and, heaven knows, we've been talking about this since I was here in 2011, and, I'm sure, before then. But there is still so much more that we can do—our schools, our hospitals, our care homes and public sector institutions should be prioritising Welsh produce. Public money should be supporting Welsh farmers, Welsh fishers and food producers. Community food initiatives as well have an important role to play, from local food partnerships to community-supported agriculture schemes. There are examples out there, but they need to become more common and not projects that we like to point at as something that maybe one day will become more of a norm.
So, it's time to move beyond a narrow focus, I believe, on food security and to start talking seriously about food resilience, because food security is about making sure food is available, of course, but it doesn't address deeper vulnerabilities. We live in a world, as we know, of growing instability, don't we—climate change, conflict, pandemics, economic uncertainty. All of these impact our ability to access food. So, food resilience means ensuring that Wales can withstand these shocks. It means making sure that our food system isn't just reliant on long, fragile supply chains. Now, Professor Tim Lang, who's the emeritus professor of food policy at the University of London, has written extensively about this. He pointed out to me recently that there are around 20 pinch-points in the global supply chain around the world. Four or five of those are at war at the minute. Now, you add climatic events and, all of a sudden, we will very much be feeling the difference in terms of food supply.
So, we need a strategic plan that takes a whole-system approach, involving farmers, fishers, businesses, local authorities and communities. That's why Plaid Cymru is calling for the creation of civil food resilience committees, aligned with Wales's four regional resilience forums. These committees would be responsible for developing local and regional food resilience plans, ensuring that Wales is better placed for food shocks. We need to make sure that our public services, our foodbanks as well, our local food networks, are equipped to deal with supply disruptions. We need to support farmers in adapting to climate change while maintaining food production. We need to increase investment, as we all acknowledge, I'm sure, in Welsh horticulture and local—[Interruption.] I've got 30 seconds left, so—
Nawr, mae yna chwedl fod Cymru yn rhyw fath o genedl sy'n ddiogel o ran bwyd. Wel, rydym yn cynhyrchu llawer o fwyd, onid ydym, ond y gwir amdani yw bod ein system fwyd yn anghytbwys iawn. Mae cyfeiriad at ffrwythau a llysiau yn y cynnig ger ein bron, lle gwyddom mai dim ond chwarter cyfran y person y dydd a gynhyrchir gennym ar hyn o bryd, sy'n druenus o annigonol. Mae'n amlwg fod angen inni roi camau ar waith i gau'r bwlch cynhyrchu hwn. Mae angen inni dyfu mwy o'n bwyd ein hunain, mewn ffordd sy'n cryfhau ein heconomi wledig ac yn ein gwneud yn fwy gwydn i allu gwrthsefyll siociau allanol. Un o'r ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol o wella gwytnwch bwyd Cymru yw drwy gefnogi cynhyrchiant bwyd lleol. Os ydym yn byrhau ein cadwyni cyflenwi, rydym hefyd yn lleihau allyriadau, rydym yn creu swyddi ac felly'n cefnogi ein cymunedau gwledig.
Mae gennym gyfle yma i wneud mwy o ddefnydd o gaffael cyhoeddus fel arf i gryfhau ein system fwyd—a mawredd, rydym wedi bod yn sôn am hyn ers imi ddod yma yn 2011, a chyn hynny, rwy'n siŵr. Ond mae cymaint mwy y gallwn ei wneud o hyd—dylai ein hysgolion, ein hysbytai, ein cartrefi gofal a sefydliadau'r sector cyhoeddus fod yn blaenoriaethu cynnyrch Cymreig. Dylai arian cyhoeddus fod yn cefnogi ffermwyr, pysgotwyr a chynhyrchwyr bwyd Cymru. Mae gan fentrau bwyd cymunedol rôl bwysig i'w chwarae hefyd, o bartneriaethau bwyd lleol i gynlluniau amaethyddol a gefnogir gan y gymuned. Mae enghreifftiau ar gael, ond mae angen iddynt ddod yn fwy cyffredin ac nid yn brosiectau yr ydym yn hoffi tynnu sylw atynt fel rhywbeth a fydd efallai, ryw ddydd, yn dod yn fwy o norm.
Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bryd symud y tu hwnt i ffocws cul ar ddiogeledd bwyd a dechrau siarad o ddifrif am wytnwch bwyd, oherwydd mae diogelwch bwyd yn ymwneud â sicrhau bod bwyd ar gael, wrth gwrs, ond nid yw'n mynd i'r afael â gwendidau dyfnach. Fel y gwyddom, rydym yn byw mewn byd cynyddol ansefydlog, onid ydym—newid hinsawdd, gwrthdaro, pandemigau, ansicrwydd economaidd. Mae'r rhain i gyd yn effeithio ar ein gallu i gael gafael ar fwyd. Felly, mae gwytnwch bwyd yn golygu sicrhau y gall Cymru wrthsefyll y siociau hyn. Mae'n golygu sicrhau nad yw ein system fwyd ond yn dibynnu ar gadwyni cyflenwi hir, bregus yn unig. Nawr, mae'r Athro Tim Lang, athro emeritws polisi bwyd ym Mhrifysgol Llundain, wedi ysgrifennu'n helaeth am hyn. Nododd wrthyf yn ddiweddar fod tua 20 man problemus yn y gadwyn gyflenwi fyd-eang. Mae rhyfel mewn pedwar neu bump o'r rhain ar hyn o bryd. Nawr, ychwanegwch ddigwyddiadau hinsawdd ac yn sydyn iawn, byddwn yn sicr yn teimlo'r gwahaniaeth yn y cyflenwad bwyd.
Felly, mae angen cynllun strategol arnom sy'n gweithredu dull system gyfan, sy'n cynnwys ffermwyr, pysgotwyr, busnesau, awdurdodau lleol a chymunedau. Dyna pam y mae Plaid Cymru yn galw am greu pwyllgorau gwytnwch bwyd sifil, sy'n cyd-fynd â phedwar fforwm lleol Cymru gydnerth. Byddai'r pwyllgorau hyn yn gyfrifol am ddatblygu cynlluniau gwytnwch bwyd lleol a rhanbarthol, gan sicrhau bod Cymru mewn sefyllfa well i wrthsefyll siociau bwyd. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ein banciau bwyd hefyd, ein rhwydweithiau bwyd lleol, yn barod i ymdopi ag amhariadau ar y cyflenwad. Mae angen inni gefnogi ffermwyr i addasu i newid hinsawdd gan gynnal cynhyrchiant bwyd ar yr un pryd. Fel y mae pawb ohonom yn cydnabod, rwy'n siŵr, mae angen inni gynyddu buddsoddiad mewn garddwriaeth yng Nghymru ac yn lleol—[Torri ar draws.] Mae gennyf 30 eiliad ar ôl, felly—
A well-timed intervention.
Ymyriad wedi'i amseru'n dda.
Well, not one of yours. [Laughter.]
Wel, nid un o'ch rhai chi. [Chwerthin.]
I'm with you on your analysis 100 per cent, but I can't help thinking, if the answer is more committees, then perhaps we're asking the wrong question.
Rwy'n cytuno â'ch dadansoddiad 100 y cant, ond ni allaf help meddwl, os mai'r ateb yw mwy o bwyllgorau, efallai ein bod ni'n gofyn y cwestiwn anghywir.
Maybe 'committee' might not be the right word, because that does suggest people sat in a room, sitting around a table, and we're all very familiar with that kind of approach. But we do—[Interruption.] No, no; what did somebody once say: 'It's not a u-turn, we're still moving forward, but in another direction'? [Laughter.]
It's about bringing—. Foodbanks have a role to play, I believe. Now, foodbanks are playing a very important role for a specific purpose, but what happens if the shelves are empty in your local supermarket? Can you utilise that infrastructure in a different way that provides us the resilience that maybe we need? I hear your point, and I agree, and maybe I should have couched it in a different way.
So, we need to increase support for horticulture, as we all recognise, and local food processing infrastructure as well. The sustainable farming scheme, of course, needs to play its part to support the change in land use, but in a way that doesn’t undermine our capacity to produce food. And that’s why I’m urging the Welsh Government, really, to take a proactive approach, because reacting when crises hit is very often too late, isn’t it? So, we need to put the structures in place now to make sure that Wales can weather any future food challenges. Well, I say ‘any’ future food challenges—the future food challenges that we know are coming.
Efallai nad 'pwyllgor' yw'r gair cywir, oherwydd mae hynny'n awgrymu bod pobl yn eistedd mewn ystafell, yn eistedd o gwmpas bwrdd, ac rydym i gyd yn gyfarwydd iawn â'r math hwnnw o weithredu. Ond rydym—[Torri ar draws.] Na na; beth a ddywedodd rhywun unwaith: 'Nid tro pedol mohono, rydym yn dal i symud ymlaen, ond i gyfeiriad arall'? [Chwerthin.]
Mae'n ymwneud â dod â—. Mae gan fanciau bwyd ran i'w chwarae, rwy'n credu. Nawr, mae banciau bwyd yn chwarae rhan bwysig iawn at ddiben penodol, ond beth sy'n digwydd os yw'r silffoedd yn wag yn eich archfarchnad leol? A allwch chi ddefnyddio'r seilwaith hwnnw mewn ffordd wahanol sy'n rhoi'r gwytnwch sydd ei angen arnom efallai? Rwy'n clywed eich pwynt, ac rwy'n cytuno, ac efallai y dylwn fod wedi ei fynegi mewn ffordd wahanol.
Felly, mae angen inni gynyddu'r gefnogaeth i arddwriaeth, fel y mae pawb ohonom yn cydnabod, a seilwaith prosesu bwyd lleol hefyd. Mae angen i'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy chwarae ei ran i gefnogi newid o ran defnydd tir, ond mewn ffordd nad yw'n tanseilio ein gallu i gynhyrchu bwyd. A dyna pam rwy'n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i fabwysiadu ymagwedd ragweithiol, oherwydd mae ymateb pan fydd argyfyngau'n taro yn aml yn rhy hwyr, onid yw? Felly, mae angen inni roi'r strwythurau ar waith nawr i sicrhau y gall Cymru oroesi unrhyw heriau bwyd yn y dyfodol. Wel, rwy'n dweud 'unrhyw' heriau bwyd yn y dyfodol—yr heriau bwyd yn y dyfodol y gwyddom eu bod yn dod.
I think the Senedd is at its best when it comes together on issues like this, on a cross-party basis, and finds agreement, and I hope the Government, in reflecting on today’s debate, will recognise that this is a Venn diagram of agreement that we have today. And today is another historic moment, for a very important reason. It must surely be the first time that three Members speaking in a debate all have a birthday on the same day, and I think that shouldn’t pass without noting.
I would like to talk a little bit about how we use the food system to leverage broader opportunities for Wales because I do think that our food system and its development is a key part of the foundational economy thinking—how do we harness our spending on well-being critical goods and services, and also benefit grounded local firms. Only about 6 per cent of the fruit and veg used by the Welsh public sector is made up of products grown in Wales. We’re buying and transporting food from other countries, and schoolchildren and hospital patients are routinely eating apples from France, tomatoes from Spain and courgettes from Chile. Now, what’s stopping us from supporting Welsh farmers and buying local? Well, we don’t grow enough veg for a start, so there’s an opportunity for farmers to embrace horticulture to create new sources of income. We hear a lot about lamb, not enough about veg.
There’s also a challenge of what’s called 'aggregating demand'. The fresh local produce for schools feasibility study, commissioned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, showed that buyers find it hard to deal directly with growers of horticultural produce, and co-ordinating with multiple different producers, washing and peeling the veg, bagging it, arranging for the distribution to the school kitchen is just too difficult. And it highlighted the potential cost benefit of an investment in a central facility to wash, peel and distribute the veg to the standards required by customers, and investment in technology and automation could allow local suppliers to compete with the big international firms who currently dominate. There’s good work being done by the charity Food Sense Wales to look at how to scale up local supplies. Also, the Welsh Veg in Schools project, which benefited, I’m pleased to say, from the Welsh Government’s Backing Local Firms fund, is working with growers across three local authority areas, and supported by co-ordinators from the local food partnerships in Cardiff, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire, and they’re now onto the next stage and working with growers, including the wholesaler, Castell Howell, to try and address this disconnect between supply and demand for locally grown horticulture produce.
Now, we should use the public sector as an anchor client for this important development, but we should also remember that when you add together the value of all the public food procurement, it’s the equivalent of the annual turnover of just one large supermarket store. So, what we really need to do is influence the private sector. And there’s a really promising example in Hirwaun, where Authentic Curries and World Foods are developing commercial products using local food, and they’re the leading providers of ready meals for retailers and caterers.
Now, chard and kale may not be on the top of your shopping list—they may be on Jenny Rathbone’s shopping list; I have no doubt that they are, but they’re not on mine—but they are both excellent sources of nutrients and can be grown very successfully in Wales. But how do we get them onto menus and into products that people will buy to create viable levels of demand? Well, the new programme of product development at the Authentic Curry Company is showing this can be done for both public and private sector retail markets. They’ve shown that you can add value and increase the shelf life of vegetables through further processing and cooking to multiportion meals. Welsh tomato sauce pizza bases, cauliflower cheese, and Welsh beef Bolognese have already been successfully developed, and this highlights a route to market where Welsh produce can form the basis of menus that are healthy, cost-effective and climate friendly.
So, how do we scale this up? Well, we need products that customers want to eat. We need a regional infrastructure that develops the supply chain—that’s facilities for collections, distribution and storage. We need technology and innovation for economies of scale. We need to aggregate demand and we need an approach to public procurement that recognises the social value of supporting a sustainable food system. That involves investing in a professional workforce and building confidence.
Let me end, Dirprwy Lywydd, on a note of optimism. There are some good people doing good things. People like Professor Kevin Morgan—and I would heartily endorse Jenny Rathbone’s recommendation of his new book, which I was pleased to see a number of us were present at that launch of—and others like Katie Palmer, Simon Wright, Edward Morgan, and many others in the Welsh good food movement, are doing outstanding work.
Our universal free-school-meals policy is an incredible foundation stone, and we need to leverage it, we need to use it. So, let’s do that. Let’s put booster rockets under our community food strategy, let’s look at Scotland’s Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022, let’s encourage the farming community to embrace this opportunity, and let’s harness the networks of good people doing good things in the good food movement. This is the well-being and future generations thinking in action, and there is cross-party support for it, so let’s get behind it and do something about it.
Rwy'n credu bod y Senedd ar ei gorau pan ddaw at ei gilydd i drafod materion fel hyn, ar sail drawsbleidiol, a dod i gytundeb, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Llywodraeth, wrth fyfyrio ar y ddadl heddiw, yn cydnabod mai diagram Venn o gytundeb sydd gennym ni heddiw. Ac mae heddiw yn foment hanesyddol arall, am reswm pwysig iawn. Mae'n rhaid mai dyma'r tro cyntaf i dri Aelod sy'n siarad mewn dadl fod â'u pen-blwydd ar yr un diwrnod, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n werth ei nodi.
Hoffwn siarad ychydig ynglŷn â sut y defnyddiwn y system fwyd i ysgogi cyfleoedd ehangach i Gymru oherwydd rwy'n credu bod ein system fwyd a'i datblygiad yn rhan allweddol o feddylfryd yr economi sylfaenol—sut rydym yn harneisio ein gwariant ar lesiant, nwyddau hanfodol a gwasanaethau, a bod o fudd hefyd i gwmnïau sydd wedi sefydlu'n lleol. Dim ond tua 6 y cant o'r ffrwythau a'r llysiau a ddefnyddir gan y sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru sy'n cynnwys cynhyrchion a dyfir yng Nghymru. Rydym yn prynu ac yn cludo bwyd o wledydd eraill, ac mae plant ysgol a chleifion ysbyty yn bwyta afalau o Ffrainc, tomatos o Sbaen a chourgettes o Chile fel mater o drefn. Nawr, beth sy'n ein hatal rhag cefnogi ffermwyr Cymru a phrynu'n lleol? Wel, nid ydym yn tyfu digon o lysiau yn un peth, felly mae cyfle i ffermwyr gofleidio garddwriaeth i greu ffynonellau incwm newydd. Fe glywn lawer am gig oen, dim digon am lysiau.
Mae her hefyd yn yr hyn a elwir yn 'alw cyfanredol'. Dangosodd yr astudiaeth ddichonoldeb ar gynnyrch lleol ffres i ysgolion, a gomisiynwyd gan Gyngor Bro Morgannwg, fod prynwyr yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdrin yn uniongyrchol â thyfwyr cynnyrch garddwriaethol, ac mae cydlynu â nifer o gynhyrchwyr gwahanol, golchi a phlicio'r llysiau, ei becynnu, trefnu i'w ddosbarthu i geginau ysgolion yn rhy anodd. A nododd gost a budd posibl buddsoddi mewn cyfleuster canolog i olchi, plicio a dosbarthu'r llysiau i'r safonau sy'n ofynnol gan gwsmeriaid, a gallai buddsoddiad mewn technoleg ac awtomeiddio ganiatáu i gyflenwyr lleol gystadlu â'r cwmnïau rhyngwladol mawr sy'n dominyddu ar hyn o bryd. Mae gwaith da yn cael ei wneud gan yr elusen Synnwyr Bwyd Cymru i edrych ar sut i gynyddu cyflenwadau lleol. Hefyd, mae prosiect Llysiau i Ysgolion Cymru, a elwodd, rwy'n falch o ddweud, o gronfa Cefnogi Cwmnïau Lleol Llywodraeth Cymru, yn gweithio gyda thyfwyr ar draws tair ardal awdurdod lleol, ac yn cael ei gefnogi gan gydlynwyr o'r partneriaethau bwyd lleol yng Nghaerdydd, sir Gaerfyrddin a sir Fynwy, ac maent bellach ar y cam nesaf ac yn gweithio gyda thyfwyr, gan gynnwys y cyfanwerthwr, Castell Howell, i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r datgysylltiad rhwng y cyflenwad a'r galw am gynnyrch garddwriaeth a dyfir yn lleol.
Nawr, dylem ddefnyddio'r sector cyhoeddus fel cleient angori ar gyfer y datblygiad pwysig hwn, ond dylem gofio hefyd, pan fyddwch yn adio gwerth yr holl fwyd cyhoeddus a gaffaelir at ei gilydd, ei fod ond yn gyfwerth â throsiant blynyddol un siop archfarchnad fawr yn unig. Felly, yr hyn sydd angen inni ei wneud mewn gwirionedd yw dylanwadu ar y sector preifat. Ac mae enghraifft addawol iawn yn Hirwaun, lle mae Authentic Curries and World Foods yn datblygu cynhyrchion masnachol gan ddefnyddio bwyd lleol, ac maent yn brif ddarparwyr prydau parod ar gyfer manwerthwyr ac arlwywyr.
Nawr, efallai na fydd ysgallddail a chêl ar frig eich rhestr siopa chi—efallai eu bod ar restr siopa Jenny Rathbone; rwy'n siŵr eu bod, ond nid ydynt ar fy un i—ond maent yn ffynonellau maeth ardderchog a gellir eu tyfu'n llwyddiannus iawn yng Nghymru. Ond sut y gallwn eu cael ar fwydlenni ac i mewn i gynhyrchion y bydd pobl yn eu prynu i greu lefelau hyfyw o alw? Wel, mae'r rhaglen ddatblygu cynnyrch newydd yn Authentic Curry Company yn dangos y gellir gwneud hyn ar gyfer marchnadoedd manwerthu yn y sector cyhoeddus a'r sector preifat. Maent wedi dangos y gallwch ychwanegu gwerth a chynyddu oes silff llysiau trwy brosesu a choginio pellach ar gyfer prydau amlgyfran. Mae gwaelodion pizza saws tomato o Gymru, caws blodfresych, a Bolognese cig eidion Cymreig eisoes wedi'u datblygu'n llwyddiannus, ac mae'n tynnu sylw at lwybr i'r farchnad lle gall cynnyrch o Gymru fod yn sail i fwydlenni sy'n iach, yn gosteffeithiol ac yn ecogyfeillgar.
Felly, sut y mae gwneud hyn ar raddfa fwy? Wel, mae angen cynhyrchion y mae cwsmeriaid eisiau eu bwyta. Mae angen seilwaith rhanbarthol arnom sy'n datblygu'r gadwyn gyflenwi—cyfleusterau ar gyfer casglu, dosbarthu a storio. Mae angen technoleg ac arloesedd arnom ar gyfer arbedion maint. Mae angen inni gyfuno'r galw ac mae angen dull caffael cyhoeddus arnom sy'n cydnabod gwerth cymdeithasol cefnogi system fwyd gynaliadwy. Mae hynny'n golygu buddsoddi mewn gweithlu proffesiynol a meithrin hyder.
Gadewch imi orffen ar nodyn optimistaidd, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae yna bobl dda yn gwneud pethau da. Mae pobl fel yr Athro Kevin Morgan—rwy'n ategu canmoliaeth Jenny Rathbone i'w lyfr newydd, ac roeddwn yn falch o weld nifer ohonom yn bresennol yn lansiad y llyfr hwnnw—ac eraill fel Katie Palmer, Simon Wright, Edward Morgan, a llawer o rai eraill yn y mudiad bwyd da yng Nghymru, yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol.
Mae ein polisi prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb yn garreg sylfaen anhygoel, ac mae angen inni ei ddefnyddio. Felly, gadewch inni wneud hynny. Gadewch inni roi hwb go iawn i'n strategaeth fwyd gymunedol, gadewch inni edrych ar Ddeddf Cenedl Bwyd Da (Yr Alban) 2022, gadewch inni annog y gymuned ffermio i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn, a gadewch inni harneisio'r rhwydweithiau o bobl dda sy'n gwneud pethau da yn y mudiad bwyd da. Dyma feddylfryd llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol ar waith, ac mae cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol iddo, felly gadewch inni ei gefnogi a gwneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch.
And happy birthday. Carolyn Thomas.
A phen-blwydd hapus. Carolyn Thomas.
Diolch. I would like to thank the Member for bringing this proposal forward. When I was younger, I remember we ate what was available and in season, bought locally from the market or what was grown in my grandfather’s garden. Council houses post war had large gardens so that they could grow their own vegetables in them. I know the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature funding programme has been invaluable in creating 800 food-growing sites and 700 community orchards, which has really helped with mental health and well-being as well. I hope that funding will continue.
FlintShare is a community-run social enterprise based in Flintshire, which provides members with the opportunity to help produce their own food. It’s a good way of growing and sharing home-grown produce and, as I said, it helps with that bonding and community well-being.
Learning to cook food should be part of education. It takes time. Just the basics of peeling and preparing vegetables is a skill that needs to be learnt. It’s not easy. But it can become second nature and can be speedy once you get used to it. I think that developing tastes and overcoming food barriers is also an issue for many people. Many children don’t like green vegetables, for example, like kale, as you mentioned. You’ve got to develop the tastebuds.
I remember when the children were small, I joined a local co-operative where you got a bag of seasonal vegetables for £3 a week, as it was then, not knowing what you were getting. It was a bit like Ready Steady Cook. It made me learn about preparing vegetables I’d never even dreamt of using before. But fortunately, by this time, my children had grown out of being fussy thanks to a star chart that I had brought into the kitchen. Eventually, they developed their palates, and they overcame eating those vegetables that each one didn’t like. And it really worked. My husband didn’t change, but there you go.
I recently visited Well-Fed in Flintshire, a social enterprise, like Jenny Rathbone mentioned, set up by Flintshire council, ClwydAlyn and Can Cook in 2019. They provide well-balanced healthier meals, pre-cooked, ready to slow cook—slow cookers are a great invention, aren’t they? They’re cheap. You can just put anything in. You’ve fresh food. Simple. It makes such a difference. They aim to make fresh and healthy food affordable for all, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis continues. Their mission is to ensure, despite challenges, that people can still enjoy fresh meals to give them strength and sustenance.
They’ve acquired two mobile shop vans, which I think is a really good initiative. They go across north Wales and provide an ample supply of fresh fruit and veg, sold individually for people wanting to buy small amounts. People don’t generally like to waste food and they’re worried about buying packs of vegetables and wasting them if they live on their own. This way, they can go and buy one or two apples, pears, bananas, and they can see the veg they’re buying. They’re also provided with menus and recipes as to how to use them, which is great.
I went to see a production at Theatr Clwyd called How to Feed a Town, which was a collaboration with Well-Fed, Flintshire council and the Arts Council of Wales. The production presents an intimate portrayal of community spirit, change, togetherness and the struggle against food poverty in Flintshire and north Wales. It was incredible how all the conversations and comments about supporting people with welfare, which I so often hear, were captured into the storytelling. Also, the importance of community and helping each other through small deeds, such as sharing food and cooking lessons. I heard of one young woman with a child who wasn’t sure how to cook, but her neighbour who was lonely helped to teach her, and it was so hopeful because that one to one and overcoming your doubts really made a difference, and helped with childcare as well. So, those early interventions really break that cycle.
I think we need a whole-Government approach going forward, looking at what’s needed, supply from food producers with a diversity from monocultures, growing more veg and fruit, as has been mentioned previously, and we need education as well for everybody. Thank you.
Diolch. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn. Pan oeddwn yn iau, rwy'n cofio ein bod ni'n bwyta beth oedd ar gael ac yn ei dymor, wedi'i brynu'n lleol o'r farchnad neu beth a gâi ei dyfu yng ngardd fy nhad-cu. Roedd gan dai cyngor ar ôl y rhyfel erddi mawr fel y gallent dyfu eu llysiau eu hunain ynddynt. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhaglen ariannu Lleoedd Lleol ar gyfer Natur Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn amhrisiadwy ar gyfer creu 800 o safleoedd sy'n tyfu bwyd a 700 o berllannau cymunedol, sydd wedi helpu'n fawr gydag iechyd meddwl a llesiant hefyd. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr arian hwnnw'n parhau.
Menter gymdeithasol gymunedol yw FlintShare, wedi'i lleoli yn sir y Fflint, sy'n rhoi cyfle i aelodau helpu i gynhyrchu eu bwyd eu hunain. Mae'n ffordd dda o dyfu a rhannu cynnyrch cartref ac fel y dywedais, mae'n helpu gyda chreu cysylltiadau cymunedol a llesiant cymunedol.
Dylai dysgu coginio bwyd fod yn rhan o addysg. Mae'n cymryd amser. Mae gallu sylfaenol i blicio a pharatoi llysiau yn sgìl y mae angen ei dysgu. Nid yw'n hawdd. Ond gall ddod yn ail natur a gallwch ei wneud yn gyflym ar ôl i chi ddod i arfer. Rwy'n credu bod datblygu blas a goresgyn rhwystrau bwyd hefyd yn broblem i lawer o bobl. Mae llawer o blant yn casáu llysiau gwyrdd, er enghraifft, llysiau fel cêl, fel y dywedoch chi. Mae'n rhaid i chi ddatblygu'r blasbwyntiau.
Rwy'n cofio pan oedd y plant yn fach, ymunais â chwmni cydweithredol lleol lle byddech chi'n cael cwdyn o lysiau tymhorol am £3 bob wythnos, fel roedd bryd hynny, heb wybod beth fyddech chi'n ei gael. Roedd yn debyg i Ready Steady Cook. Fe wnaeth imi ddysgu am baratoi llysiau nad oeddwn erioed wedi breuddwydio eu defnyddio o'r blaen. Ond yn ffodus, erbyn hyn, roedd fy mhlant wedi tyfu'n ddigon hen i beidio â bod yn ffyslyd diolch i siart sêr a gyflwynais i'r gegin. Yn y pen draw, fe wnaethant ddatblygu eu harchwaeth, a llwyddo i fwyta'r llysiau nad oedd pob un ohonynt yn eu hoffi. Ac fe weithiodd yn dda. Ni wnaeth fy ngŵr newid, ond dyna ni.
Yn ddiweddar, ymwelais â Well-Fed yn sir y Fflint, menter gymdeithasol, fel y soniodd Jenny Rathbone, a sefydlwyd gan Gyngor Sir y Fflint, ClwydAlyn a Can Cook yn 2019. Maent yn darparu prydau iachach cytbwys, wedi'u coginio ymlaen llaw, yn barod i'w coginio'n araf—mae coginiwr araf yn ddyfais wych, onid yw? Maent yn rhad. Fe allwch roi unrhyw beth i mewn. Mae gennych chi fwyd ffres. Syml. Mae'n gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth. Eu nod yw sicrhau bod bwyd ffres ac iach yn fforddiadwy i bawb, yn enwedig wrth i'r argyfwng costau byw barhau. Eu cenhadaeth yw sicrhau, er gwaethaf yr heriau, y gall pobl barhau i fwynhau prydau ffres i roi cryfder a chynhaliaeth iddynt.
Maent wedi prynu dwy fan siop symudol, sy'n fenter dda iawn yn fy marn i. Maent yn mynd ar draws gogledd Cymru ac yn darparu cyflenwad digonol o ffrwythau a llysiau ffres, sy'n cael eu gwerthu'n unigol i bobl sydd eisiau prynu cyfrannau bach. Yn gyffredinol, nid yw pobl yn hoffi gwastraffu bwyd ac maent yn poeni am brynu pecynnau o lysiau a'u gwastraffu os ydynt yn byw ar eu pen eu hunain. Fel hyn, gallant brynu un neu ddau afal, gellyg, bananas, a gallant weld y llysiau a brynant. Maent hefyd yn cael bwydlenni a ryseitiau i ddangos sut i'w defnyddio, sy'n wych.
Euthum i weld cynhyrchiad yn Theatr Clwyd o'r enw How to Feed a Town, a oedd yn waith ar y cyd rhwng Well-Fed, Cyngor Sir y Fflint a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Mae'r cynhyrchiad yn cyflwyno portread personol o ysbryd cymunedol, newid, undod a'r frwydr yn erbyn tlodi bwyd yn sir y Fflint a gogledd Cymru. Roedd yn anhygoel sut y cafodd yr holl sgyrsiau a sylwadau am gefnogi pobl â lles, a glywaf mor aml, eu cyfleu yn y straeon. Hefyd, pwysigrwydd cymuned a helpu ein gilydd drwy weithredoedd bach, megis rhannu bwyd a gwersi coginio. Clywais am un fenyw ifanc â phlentyn nad oedd yn siŵr sut i goginio, ond roedd ei chymydog a oedd yn unig yn helpu i'w dysgu, ac roedd mor obeithiol oherwydd bod un i un o'r fath a goresgyn eich amheuon yn gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr, ac yn helpu gyda gofal plant hefyd. Felly, mae ymyriadau cynnar yn torri'r cylch hwnnw.
Rwy'n credu bod angen dull gweithredu Llywodraeth gyfan wrth symud ymlaen, edrych ar yr hyn sydd ei angen, cyflenwad gan gynhyrchwyr bwyd gydag amrywiaeth o gynnyrch ungnwd, tyfu mwy o lysiau a ffrwythau, fel y crybwyllwyd yn flaenorol, ac mae angen addysg i bawb. Diolch.
I think it’s no exaggeration to say that obesity is an absolute national emergency and it’s not a national emergency that is an act of God; it’s an act of capitalism. It’s something that has been almost imposed upon a post-war generation or certainly in the last 30 or 40 years. When I look back at childhood photographs of holidays in Cornwall or Paignton or even Prestatyn and Rhyl, I don’t see beaches full of obese people in the 1970s; that’s not what I see. And when you travel in different parts of the world, when you visit more wealthy communities, you don’t see beaches full of people suffering from obesity. Obesity is a disease, which is prevalent in poor communities and is a consequence not of individual choices, but the limitation of choices by an industry that’s only appetite is for profit, and not for the good and well-being of the people it is supposed to serve.
And, as a Government and as a Parliament—. I do agree very much with what Lee Waters said earlier about there being widespread agreement on this on all sides of the Chamber. I think we can agree on the problem, so how then do we find a solution? And for me, when I look at the food industry, food in Wales, I see a number of different elements to it. I’m not convinced that any single element of it works and I’m not convinced that the whole works at all. If we listen and think about the debates that we’ve had in this Chamber, not simply on food itself, but on other aspects of the food chain, then all of us in different ways have accepted that there is failure on every level at every element.
I’ve heard Peter Fox make some impassioned speeches about the issues facing the farming community, and he’s very right. But if the farming community cannot produce the food, then what then is the purpose and point of Government and public interventions? What are we seeking to achieve? Because through this period of time, when the community producing our food is becoming poorer and where farms are becoming less sustainable, we’ve also seen the environment not being protected either. So, not only are we not producing the food we need, not only are we not sustaining the community that is not producing the food we need, but in not producing the food we need we’re not taking care of the environment either. This is not a system that is working in any way.
And then, when we look at the distribution and consumption of food, and the points that have already been made have been well made by all Members on all sides, but what do we see in our towns and what do we see in our cities? We don’t see independent greengrocers and retailers and butchers, or even fishmongers, as we used to; what we see is a food desert with a retail environment that is entirely dominated by major supermarkets. And we all know that the supermarkets’ primary motive is to squeeze profit at every part of the supply chain. And they don't really give a damn about the consequences of that, whether it's the fishing industry that Llŷr talked about, whether it's the farming industry that Peter has spoken about, or whether it's the consumers that have been spoken about by others.
So, what do we do? I've seen one example of a Government getting to grips with this, I think, and that is Origin Green, across the water, in Ireland. And I think there is a kernel of an idea and a concept and a potential for change there, by unifying production through to distribution, through to retail, through to consumption, and understanding the different elements of it, investing in different parts of it, but seeing it as a whole and not as individual parts. I believe there is an opportunity there. I believe it, and I would like to see the Welsh Government learning more lessons from that and trying to apply those lessons to us. Because my concern is that there will be more generations born and growing up into obesity, and others have described the issues that that causes for us.
But we must, as a Parliament and as a Government, put food centre stage. When I was standing for election and for selection back in 2009 in Blaenau Gwent, I spoke then about the economic crisis facing the community, facing the borough; and, of course, there was. But if I was standing for the first time again today, I would also talk about the public health emergency that is facing the borough. Because I believe now that the public health emergency facing us in Blaenau Gwent is greater, potentially, than the economic crisis facing us. And the Government has a responsibility to act, to address that, and all of us, wherever we sit in this Chamber, have a responsibility to contribute towards that.
Nid wyf yn credu fy mod yn gor-ddweud pan ddywedaf fod gordewdra'n argyfwng cenedlaethol mawr ac nid argyfwng cenedlaethol wedi'i greu gan Dduw mohono; cyfalafiaeth a'i creodd. Mae'n rhywbeth sydd bron â bod wedi cael ei orfodi ar genhedlaeth wedi'r rhyfel neu'n sicr yn ystod y 30 neu 40 mlynedd diwethaf. Pan edrychaf yn ôl ar luniau plentyndod o wyliau yng Nghernyw neu Paignton neu hyd yn oed Prestatyn a'r Rhyl, ni welaf draethau llawn o bobl ordew yn y 1970au; nid dyna a welaf. A phan fyddwch chi'n teithio mewn gwahanol rannau o'r byd, pan fyddwch chi'n ymweld â chymunedau mwy cyfoethog, ni welwch draethau llawn o bobl sy'n dioddef o ordewdra. Mae gordewdra'n glefyd, sy'n gyffredin mewn cymunedau tlawd ac sy'n deillio, nid o ddewisiadau unigol, ond o gyfyngu ar ddewisiadau gan ddiwydiant sydd ond yn awyddus i wneud elw, ac nid er daioni a lles y bobl y mae i fod i'w gwasanaethu.
Ac fel Llywodraeth ac fel Senedd—. Rwy'n cytuno'n fawr â'r hyn a ddywedodd Lee Waters yn gynharach, fod cytundeb eang ar hyn ar bob ochr i'r Siambr. Rwy'n credu y gallwn gytuno ar y broblem, felly sut y mae dod o hyd i ateb? Ac i mi, pan edrychaf ar y diwydiant bwyd, bwyd yng Nghymru, rwy'n gweld nifer o elfennau gwahanol. Nid wyf yn argyhoeddedig fod unrhyw elfen unigol yn gweithio ac nid wyf yn argyhoeddedig fod y cyfan yn gweithio o gwbl. Os ydym yn gwrando ac yn meddwl am y dadleuon a gawsom yn y Siambr hon, nid yn unig ar fwyd ei hun, ond ar agweddau eraill ar y gadwyn fwyd, mae pob un ohonom mewn gwahanol ffyrdd wedi derbyn bod methiant ar bob lefel ym mhob elfen.
Rwyf wedi clywed Peter Fox yn gwneud areithiau angerddol am y materion sy'n wynebu'r gymuned ffermio, ac mae'n llygad ei le. Ond os na all y gymuned ffermio gynhyrchu'r bwyd, beth felly yw pwrpas a phwynt y Llywodraeth ac ymyriadau cyhoeddus? Beth y ceisiwn ei gyflawni? Oherwydd trwy'r cyfnod hwn, pan fo'r gymuned sy'n cynhyrchu ein bwyd yn mynd yn dlotach a lle mae ffermydd yn mynd yn llai cynaliadwy, rydym hefyd wedi gweld nad yw'r amgylchedd yn cael ei warchod ychwaith. Felly, nid yn unig nad ydym yn cynhyrchu'r bwyd sydd ei angen arnom, nid yn unig nad ydym yn cynnal y gymuned nad yw'n cynhyrchu'r bwyd sydd ei angen arnom, ond drwy beidio â chynhyrchu'r bwyd sydd ei angen arnom nid ydym yn gofalu am yr amgylchedd ychwaith. Nid yw'n system sy'n gweithio mewn unrhyw ffordd.
Ac yna, pan edrychwn ar ddosbarthiad a defnydd o fwyd, ac mae'r pwyntiau sydd eisoes wedi'u gwneud wedi cael eu gwneud yn dda gan bob Aelod ar bob ochr, ond beth a welwn yn ein trefi a beth a welwn yn ein dinasoedd? Ni welwn siopau llysiau a ffrwythau a manwerthwyr a chigyddion annibynnol, na hyd yn oed gwerthwyr pysgod annibynnol, fel yr arferem eu gweld; yr hyn a welwn yw diffeithdir bwyd gydag amgylchedd manwerthu sy'n cael ei ddominyddu'n llwyr gan archfarchnadoedd mawr. Ac rydym i gyd yn gwybod mai prif gymhelliad archfarchnadoedd yw gwasgu elw ym mhob rhan o'r gadwyn gyflenwi. Ac nid ydynt yn poeni dim am ganlyniadau hynny, boed i'r diwydiant pysgota y soniodd Llŷr amdano, y diwydiant ffermio y mae Peter wedi siarad amdano, na'r defnyddwyr y mae eraill wedi siarad amdanynt.
Felly, beth a wnawn? Rwyf wedi gweld un enghraifft o Lywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â hyn gydag Origin Green ar draws y dŵr yn Iwerddon. Ac rwy'n credu bod cnewyllyn o syniad a chysyniad a photensial i newid yno, trwy uno cynhyrchiant drwodd i ddosbarthu, i fanwerthu, i'w ddefnydd, a deall y gwahanol elfennau ohono, buddsoddi mewn gwahanol rannau ohono, ond ei weld yn ei gyfanrwydd ac nid fel rhannau unigol. Rwy'n credu bod cyfle yno. Rwy'n credu hynny, a hoffwn weld Llywodraeth Cymru yn dysgu mwy o wersi o hynny ac yn ceisio cymhwyso'r gwersi yma. Oherwydd fy mhryder i yw y bydd mwy o genedlaethau'n cael eu geni i dyfu i fyny'n ordew, ac mae eraill wedi disgrifio'r problemau y mae hynny'n eu hachosi i ni.
Ond fel Senedd ac fel Llywodraeth, mae'n rhaid inni roi bwyd yn y canol. Pan gefais fy nethol i sefyll etholiad yn ôl yn 2009 ym Mlaenau Gwent, siaradais bryd hynny am yr argyfwng economaidd sy'n wynebu'r gymuned, yn wynebu'r fwrdeistref; ac roedd hynny'n wir, wrth gwrs. Ond pe bawn i'n sefyll am y tro cyntaf eto heddiw, byddwn hefyd yn siarad am yr argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus sy'n wynebu'r fwrdeistref. Oherwydd rwy'n credu nawr fod yr argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus sy'n ein hwynebu ym Mlaenau Gwent yn fwy, o bosibl, na'r argyfwng economaidd sy'n ein hwynebu. Ac mae gan y Llywodraeth gyfrifoldeb i weithredu, i fynd i'r afael â hynny, ac mae gan bob un ohonom, ble bynnag yr eisteddwn yn y Siambr hon, gyfrifoldeb i gyfrannu tuag at hynny.
Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, Huw Irranca-Davies.
I call on the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies.
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Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I will take up that challenge, that opportunity, to respond to the need to address the wide food challenges that we've heard about today, that all Members have spoken about with great passion and with great expertise and local knowledge as well. We've heard about the need for widespread good, nutritious, wholesome food in every part of Wales, in every society, and not least in disadvantaged areas because of the issue of social justice and how we make that happen. We've talked about the need for a strategic approach, we've heard about the need for resilience, which I will turn to as well—all these matters. The massive potential, we've heard about, to actually produce more within Wales and to put the rocket boosters underneath the to-do list, and I will address some of these issues.
We've talked about the incredible potential within community growing and also that education piece about it as well. And I should say, by the way, the Irranca side of my family is happy to come forward with one of our favourite recipes with kale and lemon pasta. It is genuinely delicious. It is one of my top three or four; it is, genuinely. And, by the way, the kale that we get comes from a local—very similar to the ones you were describing—a local food hub that deals with surplus waste from retailers. It comes there and you have cheap—not free, but cheap—produce in bags. It's very cheap indeed, and it avoids it going to waste as well. So, really, really excellent.
We've heard also about market failure and the role of corporates in this—points very well made—and the impact on our diet and health. But let me thank all the Members who have contributed today, and I think we're on a joined-up mission here to try and transform the way we look at food and the way that food impacts on our lives.
I will try to respond to as many of the points as possible here. One of the aspects in the motion is the need to bring forward a community food strategy. Very happy to say that work on the strategy has been well under way, and an enormous amount has been done. We will publish the strategy as soon as possible, and I think it will bring a lot of reassurance and address many of the points that have been raised today—and I will touch on some of those in a moment.
We're very aware within Government that food and diet are crucial to improving people's well-being and to achieve this healthier Wales. And that's why, actually, within the community food strategy, we've done a lot of work. Extensive research has gone into it already, extensive stakeholder engagement, systems-mapping exercises as well, targeted stakeholder engagement and an expert focus group, again. And it's designed to address those issues of food insecurity and health, and also procurement and other matters that have been raised today. And I and the Cabinet Secretary—because this is a cross-cutting issue right across Government—but I and the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for social justice were very pleased to have secured a cross-Government funding commitment for the next financial year to actually further—further—the network of local food partnerships in every—every—single local authority in Wales. This will allow those local authorities to deliver the actions described by many Members today, to support areas in such things as community growing, community food hubs, supporting local supply chains and helping them develop and flourish as well. And the investment in these local food partnerships—
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Fe dderbyniaf yr her honno, y cyfle hwnnw, i ymateb i'r angen i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau bwyd eang y clywsom amdanynt heddiw, ac y mae pob Aelod wedi siarad amdanynt yn angerddol iawn a chydag arbenigedd a gwybodaeth leol wych hefyd. Clywsom am yr angen cyffredinol am fwyd da, maethlon ac iachus ym mhob rhan o Gymru, ym mhob cymdeithas, ac yn fwy na dim mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig oherwydd cyfiawnder cymdeithasol a sut y gwnawn i hynny ddigwydd. Rydym wedi sôn am yr angen am ddull strategol, fe glywsom am yr angen am wytnwch a byddaf yn troi at hynny hefyd—yr holl faterion hyn. Clywsom am y potensial enfawr i gynhyrchu mwy yng Nghymru ac i weithredu'r rhestr o bethau i'w gwneud, ac fe af i'r afael â rhai o'r materion hyn.
Rydym wedi siarad am botensial anhygoel tyfu cymunedol a hefyd yr addysg yn ei gylch hefyd. A chyda llaw, mae ochr Irranca fy nheulu yn hapus i gyfrannu un o'n hoff ryseitiau gyda chêl a phasta lemwn. Mae'n flasus iawn. Mae ymhlith fy nhri neu bedwar uchaf; go iawn. A chyda llaw, mae'r cêl a gawn yn dod o hyb bwyd lleol—yn debyg iawn i'r rhai roeddech chi'n eu disgrifio—sy'n gwerthu bwyd dros ben gan fanwerthwyr. Mae'n dod yno ac mae gennych gynnyrch rhad—nid am ddim, ond rhad—mewn bagiau. Mae'n rhad iawn, ac mae'n ei atal rhag cael ei wastraffu. Felly, mae'n wirioneddol wych.
Clywsom hefyd am fethiant y farchnad a rôl cwmnïau corfforaethol yn hyn—pwyntiau da iawn—a'r effaith ar ein deiet a'n hiechyd. Ond gadewch imi ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu heddiw, ac rwy'n credu ein bod ni ar genhadaeth gydgysylltiedig yma i geisio trawsnewid y ffordd yr edrychwn ar fwyd a'r ffordd y mae bwyd yn effeithio ar ein bywydau.
Fe geisiaf ymateb i gynifer o'r pwyntiau â phosibl yma. Un o'r elfennau yn y cynnig yw'r angen i gyflwyno strategaeth fwyd gymunedol. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud bod gwaith ar y strategaeth wedi bod yn mynd rhagddo'n dda, ac mae llawer iawn wedi cael ei wneud. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r strategaeth cyn gynted â phosibl, a chredaf y bydd yn dod â llawer o dawelwch meddwl ac yn mynd i'r afael â llawer o'r pwyntiau sydd wedi'u codi heddiw—ac fe grybwyllaf rai o'r rheini mewn eiliad.
Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn yn y Llywodraeth fod bwyd a deiet yn hanfodol i wella lles pobl ac i gyflawni'r Gymru iachach hon. A dyna pam ein bod wedi gwneud llawer o waith yn y strategaeth fwyd gymunedol. Mae ymchwil helaeth wedi'i wneud ar ei chyfer eisoes, ymgysylltu helaeth â rhanddeiliaid, ymarferion mapio systemau hefyd, ymgysylltiad wedi'i dargedu â rhanddeiliaid a grŵp ffocws arbenigol, unwaith eto. Ac fe'i lluniwyd i fynd i'r afael â materion yn ymwneud â diffyg diogeledd bwyd ac iechyd, a chaffael a materion eraill sydd wedi'u codi heddiw. Ac roeddwn i ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros gyfiawnder cymdeithasol—gan fod hwn yn fater trawsbynciol ar draws y Llywodraeth—yn falch iawn o fod wedi sicrhau ymrwymiad cyllido trawslywodraethol ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf i hybu ymhellach y rhwydwaith o bartneriaethau bwyd lleol ym mhob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru. Bydd hyn yn caniatáu i'r awdurdodau lleol hynny gyflawni'r camau a ddisgrifiwyd gan lawer o Aelodau heddiw, i gefnogi meysydd fel tyfu cymunedol, hybiau bwyd cymunedol, cefnogi cadwyni cyflenwi lleol a'u helpu i ddatblygu a ffynnu hefyd. Ac mae'r buddsoddiad yn y partneriaethau bwyd lleol hyn—
Will the Member take the intervention?
A wnaiff yr Aelod dderbyn yr ymyriad?
Indeed, I will give way.
Wrth gwrs, fe ildiaf.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I'm looking forward to seeing what the community food strategy will be like. I have reservations it might be tokenistic to this bigger picture—
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld sut beth fydd y strategaeth fwyd gymunedol. Mae gennyf amheuon y gallai fod yn symbolaidd yn unig yn y darlun ehangach hwn—
No, no.
Na, na.
Could you give us some reassurance—will it have the same sort of holistic approach that we're seeing with the Scottish 'National Good Food Nation Plan', or is it only pulling together certain bits, not taking the whole big picture?
A allwch chi roi sicrwydd i ni—a fydd yn defnyddio'r un math o ddull gweithredu cyfannol â'r hyn a welwn gyda 'Cynllun Cenedl Bwyd Da Cenedlaethol' yr Alban, neu a fydd ond yn tynnu darnau penodol ynghyd, yn hytrach nag edrych ar y darlun cyfan?
Peter, thanks for that intervention. I really respect the work you did in trying to bring your private Member's Bill together, which has informed some of our development of the community food strategy, but also wider elements that we're doing as well. I agree with you, what we need is a holistic approach to food that deals with all of the matters that have been raised today, in a great variety, because of the importance of food. I think you will be pleased with what comes forward in the community food strategy. What we're not trying to do is replicate what happens in Scotland, or Ireland, or England, or wherever, because we already have significant streams of work in place, but we do need to pull them together within that strategic approach.
The investment within the local food partnerships, just to say, will also inspire new supply chain opportunities for locally based farmers and local businesses. It's already being demonstrated through initiatives such as the Food Systems Development Project delivered by Bwyd Sir Gâr Food, which supports communities to develop horticultural businesses and to access key public sector markets. We'll continue to work with community redistribution hubs like FareShare and others to ensure that surplus food reaches those who need it and avoids it going to waste, and we will work in close collaboration with the future generations commissioner, supporting public bodies and public services boards to embed food as a focus area within local-level planning and delivery. I really welcome the focus of the commissioner's seven-year strategy, 'Cymru Can', on food activities and work streams already under way to encourage public bodies across Wales to include food in their well-being plans. The point that was raised: we need to see this not just for patients, but for staff. We need to see this in all aspects of our public bodies. Our work will complement and reinforce this.
Public sector food procurement is a very strong lever to achieve wider value and well-being goals—well-being. So, we're working to develop those local supply chains, develop Welsh supply chains. This has, by the way, resulted already in an increase in Welsh products such as yoghurt—not just beef, lamb and so on—but yoghurt, milk and other products being supplied into our schools, into the NHS in Wales through our wider wholesaler networks. Castell Howell was mentioned; there are others now who are working with us on that mission as well. It's great to see.
I do want to offer a sense of resilience and stability to community growers to enable horticultural expansion—the point that has been made by Members. We can do so much more. So, my officials have been working with stakeholders to break down the barriers to small-scale horticultural development in Wales. So, we support growers through two dedicated funding streams: the horticulture development scheme and the small grants horticulture start-up scheme, and those projects include—and this touches, by the way, on the Soil Association Food for Life programme, because we're trying to do a version of this in Wales. So, if you look at the Welsh Veg in Schools, which I know Jenny and others have seen in place, funded by the backing local firms fund, as well as the community orchards project, that's trying to do very much that Food for Life approach here in Wales.
Now, I'll reiterate that the community food strategy is nearing completion. It will be published as soon as possible. This, by the way, might indeed give a boost to ideas, because it's very much focused on those local networks and driving those local food chains to things such as prepping and washing the food as well, because it gives that licence, if you like, to think differently, do things differently, as well as, by the way, things like that last-mile-of-delivery aspect as well—how you get the food there to people.
Now, last July, of course, I published our 'Food Matters: Wales' document, which brought together all the actions and strategies that relate to food policy now across Welsh Government, including bringing together health, education, procurement and the rural economy. We have, by the way, just to reassure colleagues here in the Chamber today, established an internal senior officials food forum that brings together all those policies relating to food, such as and including ultra-processed foods, procurement, delivery of the community food strategy, making sure that all the elements are co-ordinated and aligned to the well-being of the people in Wales. And by the way, we are also engaged with the UK Government to understand how our own policies are being delivered within any future UK food strategy. Now, this is important, Llyr, in addressing some of your points, because we can do some of the stuff in Wales, but also, within that strategy, they are looking at things such as those aspects of UK food supply chains, local-food supply chains, resilience of food supply chains, and household resilience as well. So, those aspects—we're very keen to engage in that, because there are things we can do directly in Wales. I've run out of time. But there are also things we can do on a UK basis, recognising that some of the resilience is not purely here within Wales, but also at a UK level, and internationally, indeed, as well.
I've run out of time, but I did take an intervention. Would you—? A tiny bit of latitude, because otherwise I'll miss really important points. So, alongside this, of course, our 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' strategy sets out the actions we're taking to support and encourage people to eat those healthy, balanced diets, in line with the Eatwell Guide. The community food strategy will reinforce this. Those diets high in ultra-processed foods have been linked to all the conditions that have been talked about by Members, and we need to turn this around. We've got strong evidence of their impact on health. So, our dietary advice in Wales remains really focused on limiting these nutrients, such as calories, saturated fat, salt, sugar et cetera, et cetera, both in ultra-processed and indeed in unprocessed food. And, of course, we have the Healthy Start programme as well, focusing on inequality in children's nutrition, the nutrition skills for life and so on.
And I just finally want to say one thing that has been touched on a little bit—actually, our food sector within Wales is a real success story. In 2022 the supply chain from farm to retail and food service employed 228,500 individuals in Wales; 17 per cent of Wales's workforce is within this sector, many of them in rural Wales as well as within urban communities. The food foundation sector turnover increased 15 per cent from 2022 to 2023, exceeding our £8.5 billion target, which was set.
So, Dirprwy Lywydd, I really thank Members for the debate today. It's a very important debate. Food affects all parts of our lives. I hope I've outlined that the actions that we are taking, combined with the introduction of the community food strategy, really provides that holistic strategic framework so that we can develop that sustainable, resilient food system in Wales, and I'm keen to work with all Members in taking this work forward, now and in future. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Peter, diolch am eich ymyriad. Rwy'n parchu'r gwaith a wnaethoch ar geisio rhoi eich Bil Aelod preifat at ei gilydd, a hynny sydd wedi llywio peth o'n gwaith ar ddatblygu'r strategaeth fwyd gymunedol, ac elfennau ehangach yr ydym yn eu gwneud hefyd. Rwy'n cytuno â chi mai'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw dull cyfannol o ymdrin â bwyd sy’n mynd i'r afael â’r amrywiaeth fawr o faterion a godwyd heddiw, oherwydd pwysigrwydd bwyd. Credaf y byddwch yn falch o’r hyn sydd i ddod gyda'r strategaeth fwyd gymunedol. Nid ydym yn ceisio ailadrodd yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn yr Alban, neu Iwerddon, neu Loegr, neu ble bynnag, gan fod gennym ffrydiau gwaith sylweddol eisoes ar waith, ond mae angen inni ddod â hwy ynghyd o fewn y dull strategol hwnnw.
Bydd y buddsoddiad yn y partneriaethau bwyd lleol hefyd yn ysbrydoli cyfleoedd newydd i ffermwyr lleol a busnesau lleol mewn perthynas â'r gadwyn gyflenwi. Mae hyn eisoes yn cael ei ddangos drwy fentrau megis y Prosiect Datblygu Systemau Bwyd a ddarperir gan Bwyd Sir Gâr, sy'n cefnogi cymunedau i ddatblygu busnesau garddwriaethol a chael mynediad at farchnadoedd allweddol y sector cyhoeddus. Byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda hybiau ailddosbarthu cymunedol fel FareShare ac eraill i sicrhau bod bwyd dros ben yn cyrraedd y rheini sydd ei angen yn hytrach na'i fod yn cael ei wastraffu, a byddwn yn cydweithio’n agos â chomisiynydd cenedlaethau’r dyfodol, gan gefnogi cyrff cyhoeddus a'r byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i ymgorffori bwyd fel maes ffocws wrth gynllunio a darparu ar lefel leol. Rwy'n croesawu ffocws strategaeth saith mlynedd y comisiynydd, 'Cymru Can’, ar weithgareddau bwyd a ffrydiau gwaith sydd eisoes ar y gweill i annog cyrff cyhoeddus ledled Cymru i gynnwys bwyd yn eu cynlluniau llesiant. Y pwynt a godwyd: mae angen inni weld hyn yn digwydd nid yn unig ar gyfer cleifion, ond ar gyfer staff hefyd. Mae angen inni weld hyn yn digwydd ym mhob agwedd ar ein cyrff cyhoeddus. Bydd ein gwaith yn ategu ac yn atgyfnerthu hyn.
Mae caffael bwyd y sector cyhoeddus yn ysgogiad cryf iawn i gyflawni nodau ehangach o ran gwerth a llesiant. Felly, rydym yn gweithio i ddatblygu'r cadwyni cyflenwi lleol hynny, datblygu cadwyni cyflenwi Cymreig. Mae hyn, gyda llaw, eisoes wedi arwain at gynnydd mewn cynhyrchion Cymreig fel iogwrt—nid yn unig cig eidion, cig oen ac yn y blaen—ond iogwrt, llaeth a chynhyrchion eraill sy'n cael eu cyflenwi i'n hysgolion, i'r GIG yng Nghymru drwy ein rhwydweithiau cyfanwerthu ehangach. Crybwyllwyd Castell Howell; mae eraill yn gweithio gyda ni ar y genhadaeth honno erbyn hyn hefyd. Mae'n wych ei weld.
Hoffwn roi ymdeimlad o wytnwch a sefydlogrwydd i dyfwyr cymunedol i'w gwneud hi'n bosibl ehangu garddwriaeth—y pwynt a wnaed gan yr Aelodau. Gallwn wneud cymaint mwy. Felly, mae fy swyddogion wedi bod yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid i gael gwared ar y rhwystrau i ddatblygu garddwriaethol ar raddfa fach yng Nghymru. Felly, rydym yn cefnogi tyfwyr drwy ddwy ffrwd gyllido bwrpasol: y cynllun datblygu garddwriaeth a'r cynllun grantiau bach dechrau busnes garddwriaeth, ac mae'r prosiectau hynny'n cynnwys—ac mae hyn yn cyffwrdd, gyda llaw, â rhaglen Bwyd am Oes Cymdeithas y Pridd, gan ein bod yn ceisio gwneud fersiwn o hyn yng Nghymru. Felly, os edrychwch ar Llysiau o Gymru ar gyfer Ysgolion Cymru, y gwn fod Jenny ac eraill wedi'i weld ar waith, cynllun a ariennir gan y gronfa cefnogi cwmnïau lleol, yn ogystal â'r prosiect perllannau cymunedol, maent yn ceisio efelychu'r dull Bwyd am Oes yma yng Nghymru.
Nawr, rwy'n ailadrodd bod y strategaeth fwyd gymunedol bron â chael ei chwblhau. Bydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi cyn gynted â phosibl. Gallai roi hwb gwirioneddol i syniadau, gyda llaw, gan ei bod yn canolbwyntio'n fawr iawn ar y rhwydweithiau lleol hynny ac yn llywio'r cadwyni bwyd lleol at bethau fel paratoi a golchi'r bwyd hefyd, gan ei bod yn rhoi'r drwydded honno, os mynnwch, i feddwl yn wahanol, i wneud pethau'n wahanol, yn ogystal, gyda llaw, â phethau fel yr elfen 'milltir olaf' honno hefyd—sut y mae bwyd yn cyrraedd y bobl.
Nawr, yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf, cyhoeddais ein dogfen 'Bwyd o Bwys: Cymru', a oedd yn dwyn ynghyd yr holl gamau gweithredu a strategaethau'n ymwneud â pholisi bwyd ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, gan gynnwys dod ynghyd ag iechyd, addysg, caffael a'r economi wledig. Gyda llaw, i roi sicrwydd i fy nghyd-Aelodau yma yn y Siambr heddiw, rydym wedi sefydlu fforwm bwyd uwch-swyddogion mewnol sy’n dwyn ynghyd yr holl bolisïau sy'n ymwneud â bwyd, gan gynnwys bwydydd wedi’u prosesu’n helaeth, caffael, cyflawni’r strategaeth fwyd gymunedol a sicrhau bod yr holl elfennau wedi'u cydgysylltu a’u halinio â llesiant pobl Cymru. A chyda llaw, rydym hefyd yn ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU i ddeall sut y mae ein polisïau ein hunain yn cael eu cyflawni o fewn unrhyw strategaeth fwyd ar gyfer y DU yn y dyfodol. Nawr, mae hyn yn bwysig, Llyr, wrth fynd i'r afael â rhai o'ch pwyntiau chi, gan y gallwn wneud rhai o'r pethau yng Nghymru, ond hefyd, o fewn y strategaeth honno, maent yn edrych ar bethau fel yr agweddau hynny ar gadwyni cyflenwi bwyd y DU, cadwyni cyflenwi bwyd lleol, gwytnwch cadwyni cyflenwi bwyd, a gwytnwch aelwydydd hefyd. Felly, yr agweddau hynny—rydym yn awyddus iawn i fynd i'r afael â hynny, gan fod pethau y gallwn eu gwneud yn uniongyrchol yng Nghymru. Mae fy amser ar ben. Ond mae pethau y gallwn eu gwneud ar lefel y DU hefyd, gan gydnabod nad yng Nghymru'n unig y mae peth o'r gwytnwch, ond ar lefel y DU, ac yn rhyngwladol hefyd.
Mae fy amser ar ben, ond fe dderbyniais ymyriad. A fyddech chi—? Rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd, oherwydd fel arall byddaf yn colli pwyntiau pwysig iawn. Felly, ochr yn ochr â hyn, wrth gwrs, mae ein strategaeth 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' yn nodi'r camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i gefnogi ac annog pobl i fwyta deietau iach a chytbwys, yn unol â'r Canllaw Bwyta'n Dda. Bydd y strategaeth fwyd gymunedol yn atgyfnerthu hyn. Mae cysylltiad rhwng deietau sy’n cynnwys llawer o fwydydd sydd wedi’u prosesu’n helaeth a’r holl gyflyrau y mae'r Aelodau wedi sôn amdanynt, ac mae angen inni newid hyn. Mae gennym dystiolaeth gref o'u heffaith ar iechyd. Felly, mae ein cyngor deietegol yng Nghymru yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar gyfyngu ar y maethynnau hyn, fel calorïau, braster dirlawn, halen, siwgr ac ati mewn bwyd sydd wedi’i brosesu’n helaeth, ac yn wir, mewn bwyd sydd heb ei brosesu. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym raglen Cychwyn Iach hefyd, sy’n canolbwyntio ar anghydraddoldeb mewn maeth plant, y sgiliau maeth am oes ac yn y blaen.
Ac i gloi, hoffwn ddweud un peth sydd wedi cael ei grybwyll—mewn gwirionedd, mae ein sector bwyd yng Nghymru wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol. Yn 2022, roedd y gadwyn gyflenwi o’r fferm i’r sector manwerthu a gwasanaeth bwyd yn cyflogi 228,500 o unigolion yng Nghymru; mae 17 y cant o weithlu Cymru yn y sector hwn, a llawer ohonynt yn y Gymru wledig yn ogystal â chymunedau trefol. Cynyddodd trosiant y sector sylfaen bwyd 15 y cant rhwng 2022 a 2023, gan ragori ar y targed a osodwyd gennym o £8.5 biliwn.
Felly, Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelodau am y ddadl heddiw. Mae’n ddadl bwysig iawn. Mae bwyd yn effeithio ar bob rhan o'n bywydau. Rwy'n gobeithio fy mod wedi amlinellu bod y camau a gymerwn, ynghyd â chyflwyno’r strategaeth fwyd gymunedol, yn darparu fframwaith strategol cyfannol fel y gallwn ddatblygu’r system fwyd gynaliadwy, wydn honno yng Nghymru, ac rwy’n awyddus i weithio gyda’r holl Aelodau i fwrw ymlaen â’r gwaith hwn, nawr ac yn y dyfodol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Galwaf nawr ar Jenny Rathbone i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I now call on Jenny Rathbone to reply to the debate.
Thank you very much for all the really excellent contributions from across all parts of the house. It was great to hear the Conservative Member talking about the good food revolution, which is what we need. We absolutely have a public health emergency. And I absolutely acknowledge Peter Fox's groundbreaking work in a framework for a whole-system approach, and we wait to see—. The community food strategy won't be sufficient for that, Deputy First Minister, because we are talking about across the whole system, not just in the community. It needs, as Peter said, to be anchored in legislation or regulation, because the landscape is littered with organisations that start off doing well, and then there's a change of personnel and it all goes back to how it was before. So, we are going to have to need to use some of those levers to really turn things around.
Llyr talks about our unbalanced food system. Obviously, we should highlight the fact that the sustainable farming scheme does actually allow for new entrants into farming, not based on the amount of land they own, but the amount of hours they work, and this is a really important innovation to enable more horticulturists to—. But they need to have the markets to enable them to ensure that their goods are going to get sold. So, we need to pick up on some of the ideas that have come from Ireland, where they have these distribution networks, because the amount of food that's going into schools at the moment is absolutely tiny. It's a great little initiative, but we need to 'plus plus' by about 1,000 per cent.
Diolch yn fawr am yr holl gyfraniadau gwirioneddol wych o bob rhan o'r tŷ. Roedd yn wych clywed yr Aelod Ceidwadol yn sôn am y chwyldro bwyd da, sef yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom. Mae gennym argyfwng iechyd y cyhoedd, heb os nac oni bai. Ac rwy’n llwyr gydnabod gwaith arloesol Peter Fox ar fframwaith ar gyfer dull system gyfan, ac arhoswn i weld—. Ni fydd y strategaeth fwyd gymunedol yn ddigonol ar gyfer hynny, Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog, gan ein bod yn sôn am y system gyfan, nid yn y gymuned yn unig. Mae angen i hyn, fel y dywedodd Peter, fod wedi'i angori mewn deddfwriaeth neu reoliadau, gan fod y dirwedd yn frith o sefydliadau sy'n dechrau'n dda, ac yna mae'r personél yn newid ac mae'r cyfan yn mynd yn ôl i'r hyn yr arferai fod. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni ddefnyddio rhai o'r ysgogiadau hynny i drawsnewid pethau o ddifrif.
Mae Llyr yn sôn am ein system fwyd anghytbwys. Yn amlwg, dylem dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn caniatáu newydd-ddyfodiaid i ffermio, nid ar sail faint o dir y maent yn berchen arno, ond faint o oriau y maent yn gweithio, ac mae hyn yn newid gwirioneddol bwysig i alluogi mwy o arddwriaethwyr i—. Ond mae angen iddynt gael y marchnadoedd i'w galluogi i sicrhau bod eu nwyddau'n mynd i gael eu gwerthu. Felly, mae angen inni edrych ar rai o'r syniadau sydd wedi dod o Iwerddon, lle mae ganddynt y rhwydweithiau dosbarthu hyn, gan fod faint o fwyd sy'n mynd i ysgolion ar hyn o bryd yn hynod o fach. Mae'n fenter fach wych, ond mae angen ei hehangu oddeutu 1,000 y cant.
I'm glad to see that many Members have said that we need a washing facility. We possibly need more than one washing facility in a local authority, depending on their geography, but we definitely need that if we're going to incorporate it into public sector food.
We have to move beyond food resilience, frankly. We have to refer back to Tim Lang's report for the National Preparedness Commission. This is not just any old commission. This is the one that prepared for nuclear war when people were thinking that that was about to happen. This is the one that prepared, or didn't prepare us, for COVID. And it is now doing the work that everybody needs to do to ensure that in the next crisis—we don't know what form it'll take—we'll ensure that people aren't starving.
Lee, having courgettes from Chile is hardly addressing the net-zero targets we are setting ourselves, and it's absolutely not necessary. Courgettes are easy to grow. The trouble is that they all arrive during the school holidays. But there are systems for incorporating them into our schools when they come back, but equally into our hospitals, as Altaf said. And I haven't yet visited Hirwaun's Authentic Curry Company, but it's definitely on my little list. And that is a really good initiative by one company—just so long as they're not adding loads of salt to whatever it is they're doing.
And Carolyn, you were absolutely right to say that council houses used to have large gardens, and there are parts of my constituency that still have decent-sized gardens. Nearly everybody has a place to grow, but, I have to tell you, hardly anybody does the growing. And so there's a massive political community education campaign, which is why I'm referring the Government back to the role of the primary school, because it is the centre of the community, necessarily.
I have to say, it's great to hear Alun Davies talking about the national emergency that is an act of capitalism. That's absolutely right. Supermarkets are focused on maximizing their profit, and that is why they load all their food with these obesogenic salts, sugar and fat, and that is really driving this obesity crisis, which, as you say, we didn't see in the 1970s.
And I want to just refer to the work of Henry Dimbleby. Three years ago, or two years ago, he produced this report—a Conservative for the Conservative Government. And what did they do? They put it in the bin. It's tragic. But he says in his thing that
'several company bosses have told us they would actually welcome Government legislation'
designed to reduce junk food sales. They know the food they're selling is terrible for their consumers, and they want to do the right thing, but they need a 'level playing field'. They're scared that if they do it, the others will then overtake their market. And we absolutely have to insist with the UK Government, because only they can do this, that they act now. They don't need to reinvent the Henry Dimbleby report. They need to act now and put ultra-processed food where Private Eye suggests we should put it, which is in the bin.
And so, just lastly, I just want to say that in response, Huw, you are talking about local food partnerships, but we really do need to understand that it doesn't have to be copying the good food nation in Scotland, but it has to be just as good. And yes, we have got the support of the well-being of future generations commissioner, and we absolutely have cross-party support here. But I want to quote back to you something that somebody said in 2015, which is that
'cross-party support and a Government strategy committed to making Wales a leader, but a lack of follow through and rigorous execution of delivery has left us a very pale imitation of Scotland.'
We need to be the leaders. We need to do the things that—. France and Italy would never have allowed their children to be sold the second-class food that is being served in our schools today, and I want to see the commitment to actually ban ultra-processed food from all public procurement. That is what we need to work towards. We can't achieve it overnight, but we need to set a date and do it.
Rwy’n falch o weld bod llawer o Aelodau wedi dweud bod angen cyfleuster golchi arnom. Mae’n bosibl fod angen mwy nag un cyfleuster golchi arnom mewn awdurdod lleol, yn dibynnu ar eu daearyddiaeth, ond yn bendant, mae angen hynny arnom os ydym am ei ymgorffori o fewn bwyd y sector cyhoeddus.
Mae’n rhaid inni fynd y tu hwnt i wytnwch bwyd, a dweud y gwir. Mae’n rhaid inni gyfeirio’n ôl at adroddiad Tim Lang ar gyfer y Comisiwn Parodrwydd Cenedlaethol. Nid unrhyw hen gomisiwn yw hwn. Dyma’r un a baratôdd ar gyfer rhyfel niwclear pan oedd pobl yn credu bod hynny ar fin digwydd. Dyma'r un a baratôdd, neu na wnaeth ein paratoi, ar gyfer COVID. Ac mae bellach yn gwneud y gwaith y mae angen i bawb ei wneud i sicrhau, yn yr argyfwng nesaf—nid ydym yn gwybod ar ba ffurf—y byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl yn llwgu.
Lee, go brin fod cael courgettes o Chile yn mynd i’r afael â’r targedau sero net rydym yn eu gosod i ni’n hunain, ac nid yw’n angenrheidiol o gwbl. Mae courgettes yn hawdd i'w tyfu. Y drafferth yw eu bod i gyd yn cyrraedd yn ystod gwyliau'r ysgol. Ond mae systemau i'w cael ar gyfer eu hymgorffori yn ein hysgolion pan fyddant yn dod yn ôl, a'r un fath yn ein hysbytai, fel y dywedodd Altaf. Ac nid wyf wedi ymweld â'r Authentic Curry Company yn Hirwaun eto, ond mae'n bendant ar fy rhestr. Ac mae honno'n fenter dda iawn gan un cwmni—cyhyd â'u bod yn cadw rhag ychwanegu llwyth o halen at beth bynnag y maent yn ei wneud.
A Carolyn, roeddech chi'n llygad eich lle yn dweud bod tai cyngor yn arfer bod â gerddi mawr, ac mae rhannau o fy etholaeth sydd â gerddi o faint digonol o hyd. Mae gan bron pawb le i dyfu, ond mae'n rhaid imi ddweud wrthych, prin fod unrhyw un yn tyfu. Ac felly mae ymgyrch addysg gymunedol wleidyddol enfawr, a dyna pam fy mod yn cyfeirio'r Llywodraeth yn ôl at rôl yr ysgol gynradd, gan fod iddi le canolog yn y gymuned, o anghenraid.
Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud ei bod yn wych clywed Alun Davies yn sôn am yr argyfwng cenedlaethol sy’n sgil-gynnyrch i gyfalafiaeth. Mae hynny'n gwbl gywir. Mae archfarchnadoedd yn canolbwyntio ar wneud yr elw mwyaf posibl, a dyna pam eu bod yn llwytho eu holl fwyd â halen, siwgr a braster gordewogenig, ac mae hynny'n gwaethygu'r argyfwng gordewdra nad oedd i'w weld yn y 1970au, fel y dywedwch.
A hoffwn gyfeirio at waith Henry Dimbleby. Dair blynedd yn ôl, neu ddwy flynedd yn ôl, fe gynhyrchodd adroddiad—Ceidwadwr ar gyfer y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. A beth a wnaethant? Fe wnaethant ei roi yn y bin. Mae'n drasig. Ond mae'n dweud yn yr adroddiad fod
'sawl pennaeth cwmni wedi dweud wrthym y byddent yn croesawu deddfwriaeth gan y Llywodraeth'
sydd wedi'i chynllunio i leihau gwerthiant bwyd sothach. Maent yn gwybod bod y bwyd y maent yn ei werthu yn ofnadwy i'w defnyddwyr, ac maent yn dymuno gwneud y peth iawn, ond mae angen 'cae chwarae gwastad' arnynt. Maent yn ofni, os ydynt yn ei wneud, y bydd y lleill wedyn yn manteisio ar eu marchnad. Ac mae'n rhaid inni fynnu gyda Llywodraeth y DU, gan mai hwy'n unig all wneud hyn, eu bod yn gweithredu ar unwaith. Nid oes angen iddynt ailysgrifennu adroddiad Henry Dimbleby. Mae angen iddynt weithredu ar unwaith a rhoi bwyd sydd wedi'i brosesu'n helaeth lle mae Private Eye yn awgrymu y dylem ei roi, sef yn y bin.
Ac felly, i gloi, hoffwn ddweud, Huw, eich bod wrth ymateb yn sôn am bartneriaethau bwyd lleol, ond mae gwir angen inni ddeall nad oes rhaid iddo efelychu'r genedl bwyd da yn yr Alban, ond mae'n rhaid iddo fod yr un mor dda. Ac rydym wedi cael cefnogaeth comisiynydd llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac mae gennym gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol yma. Ond hoffwn ddyfynnu rhywbeth a ddywedodd rhywun yn 2015, sef bod
'cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol a strategaeth gan Lywodraeth sydd wedi ymrwymo i wneud Cymru'n arweinydd, ond heb gamau gweithredu cadarn a chyflawni trwyadl, yn golygu nad ydym yn ddim mwy na dynwarediad gwan iawn o'r Alban.'
Mae angen inni fod yn arweinwyr. Mae angen inni wneud y pethau sydd—. Ni fyddai Ffrainc na’r Eidal byth wedi caniatáu i’w plant gael y bwyd eilradd sy’n cael ei weini yn ein hysgolion heddiw, a hoffwn weld yr ymrwymiad i wahardd bwyd wedi’i brosesu’n helaeth o bob trefniant caffael cyhoeddus. Dyna y mae angen inni weithio tuag ato. Ni allwn ei gyflawni dros nos, ond mae angen inni osod dyddiad a'i gyflawni.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Eitem 6 heddiw yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, 'Sioc ddiwylliannol: Diwylliant a’r berthynas newydd â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd', a galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor, Delyth Jewell, i wneud y cynnig.
Item 6 this afternoon is a debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee Report, 'Culture shock: Culture and the new relationship with the European Union', and I call on the Chair of the committee, Delyth Jewell, to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8822 Delyth Jewell
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol: ‘Sioc ddiwylliannol: Diwylliant a’r berthynas newydd â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd' a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 6 Tachwedd 2024.
Motion NDM8822 Delyth Jewell
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee ‘Culture shock: Culture and the new relationship with the European Union’, which was laid in the Table Office on 6 November 2024.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Last year, my committee’s inquiry into culture and the new relationship with the EU revealed the extent of Brexit’s effects on this sector. The inquiry went to the very heart of our shared European history—a history where artists have crossed borders, have exchanged ideas and inspirations, and have woven together a shared cultural tapestry. Now, the threads of that tapestry have become frayed, without question, and our report, 'Culture shock', provides a sobering account of how this has been made manifest.
For example, Welsh National Opera told us that their carnet—a type of passport for goods, that is—cost £5,000 plus the cost of two days of administration. They face an additional £5,000 for the transportation of sets, costumes and other equipment. Additional checks on their instruments took 30 days. They’ve paid additional visa and NHS surcharges and told us that their commercial arm, Cardiff Theatrical Services, lost out on a job to the value of £500,000. NoFit State Circus told us that they’re inserting a clause into artists' contracts preventing them from going on holiday to remain within the Schengen zone’s 90 out of 180 day rule. Their carnet is around £28,000. The Association of British Orchestras face additional costs of £16,000 per day to abide by transport rules known as cabotage, whereby the number of tour stops is restricted before a tour must return to the UK. Their carnet is £10,000. And the European Centre for Training and Regional Co-operation’s turnover went from £1 million to nothing, resulting in a complete collapse of its business. Now, these are just some examples of the quantifiable evidence we found in our report. But what was heartbreaking to hear was about the loss of spontaneity, ambition, creativity and confidence in these sectors, those things that are the lifeblood of the arts, and that there is such nervousness that exists about UK-EU work despite a willingness to continue. The creative director of a theatre at the Other Voices festival said that he is no longer considering touring Europe at all, that this aspiration is cut off.
And as well as horizons being limited, paths shut off, we heard about all of those things that can’t be captured in spreadsheets. Baroness Bull spoke to us about the immeasurable things, the unrealised talent and unseen performances that cannot be quantified and will not be recovered. She said,
'we have lost a significant tranche of talent that we will never know about'.
As a committee, the bluntness of the message we’ve heard stays with us. I know I can speak for other Members when I say that, because of the discussions that we’ve had. The more established artists and tour groups, of course, will have connections and they will more likely have the budget to pay someone to navigate the complexities of carnets and cabotage; new, emerging artists will not. That is, the palpability of what is being lost is not in the graphs, but in the gaps, the connections that won’t ever be made, opportunities missed and the cost that comes as a result, because, every week, artists are choosing not to pursue new ventures, not to make life-changing connections, because of the barriers placed in their path.
Now, time and again, we heard about the importance of ensuring that artists can be free to thrive across borders without having to navigate the endless complexities that are facing them. The true value of this cannot be calculated nor can it be underestimated. Now, as a committee, we too experienced this to some degree. Different Governments have different responsibilities for different elements of the issue and so we found ourselves in a maze of trade, immigration and constitutional intricacies. This is what our artists are facing just to do what they have always done. We heard from four UK Ministers, six Welsh Ministers, including two former First Ministers, and a department of the Irish Government. We also received evidence from Members of the House of Lords, the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly and the European Parliament. We had no choice but to issue recommendations designed to improve the situation using the levers available to the Welsh and UK Governments.
We note that it will be the—. It was, of course, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning who responded to our report and whilst we are grateful for that—indeed, we are—the involvement of other Ministers who hold responsibilities for these issues is not always altogether clear. The Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership is responsible for many of the issues raised in our report; the First Minister is responsible for others—international relations and Wales and Europe, for example. I’d be grateful if, when responding to the debate, the Cabinet Secretary could explain how they fed into the response as well and how the Cabinet Secretaries will be working across Government together on these issues, please.
Now, the Welsh Government accepted some of our recommendations, including to support the solution put forward by the PPA, the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, which we hope the UK and EU will take forward. It accepted our recommendations to set out what support it provides to and how it has engaged with the sector about the effects of Brexit since it first identified the issue in February 2021.
Now, we were particularly troubled by some witnesses’ testimony who told us that we were the first decision-makers with whom they’d been able to share their experiences. We asked the Welsh Government what data and evidence it’s using to inform decisions, and what assessments it has of the effect of Brexit on the sector, and it said that it has not carried out specific research on this. We called on the Welsh Government to champion this issue when it meets other UK Governments, and to report back to us once a term. This was accepted but only in part, as the Government would not agree to this frequency.
We asked the Welsh Government to explain steps it’s taken to mitigate the effect of all this. The Cabinet Secretary pointed to some initiatives but has said that these are not specific to mitigating the Brexit effects, and one of the examples given was of activity that is funded in the United States.
The Welsh Government accepted our recommendation that the UK and EU should prioritise this matter in the upcoming review of the trade and co-operation agreement’s implementation, but it rejected our committee’s call to set out its ambitions for Wales-EU and UK-EU relations in a dedicated strategy. Now, Dirprwy Lywydd, our committee and three others are considering evidence ahead of the TCA’s upcoming implementation review. We are still hearing about the effects of Brexit on the sector through this work.
And the last recommendation I’d like to highlight is that the findings of ‘Culture shock’, this report, should be incorporated into future culture and international relations strategies. This the Government accepted, but only where those findings align with its own priorities. Now, Dirprwy Lywydd, I would question whether the Government’s response in this particular vein provides sufficient reassurance to the committee and indeed to the sector. The UK Government’s response provides an overview of proactive steps being taken with the sector, the EU and EU member states. Now, the UK Government acknowledges the value of our sector to the UK’s international offer in its response. It recognises the importance of maintaining our global standing through the arts, that artists need to be able to perform and promote themselves around the world.
It is clear, Dirprwy Lywydd, that these barriers have slowed the free movement of creativity, ideas and potential. We reiterate our plea to the Welsh Government that it must do all within its power to help. I look forward to hearing from the Cabinet Secretary about how the Welsh Government plans to advance these matters, to provide that reassurance that we’re desperately seeking and to demonstrate its solidarity with the sector.
I look forward to hearing Members' comments in the debate. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Y llynedd, datgelodd ymchwiliad fy mhwyllgor i ddiwylliant a’r berthynas newydd â’r UE faint o effaith y mae Brexit yn ei chael ar y sector hwn. Aeth yr ymchwiliad at wraidd ein hanes Ewropeaidd cyffredin—hanes lle mae artistiaid wedi croesi ffiniau, wedi cyfnewid syniadau ac ysbrydoliaeth, ac wedi plethu tapestri diwylliannol cyffredin gyda'i gilydd. Nawr, mae edafedd y tapestri hwnnw wedi rhaflio, heb os nac oni bai, ac mae ein hadroddiad, 'Sioc ddiwylliannol', yn rhoi disgrifiad sobreiddiol o sut y mae hyn wedi digwydd.
Er enghraifft, dywedodd Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru wrthym fod eu carnet—math o basbort ar gyfer nwyddau—yn costio £5,000 ynghyd â chost dau ddiwrnod o weinyddu. Maent yn wynebu £5,000 ychwanegol ar gyfer cludo setiau, gwisgoedd ac offer arall. Cymerodd gwiriadau ychwanegol ar eu hofferynnau 30 diwrnod. Maent wedi talu gordaliadau GIG a fisa ychwanegol ac wedi dweud wrthym fod eu cangen fasnachol, Gwasanaethau Theatrig Caerdydd, wedi colli gwaith a oedd yn werth £500,000. Dywedodd NoFit State Circus wrthym eu bod yn rhoi cymalau yng nghontractau artistiaid i'w hatal rhag mynd ar wyliau fel eu bod yn aros o fewn rheol 90 diwrnod allan o 180 ardal Schengen. Mae eu carnet yn costio oddeutu £28,000. Mae Cymdeithas Cerddorfeydd Prydain yn wynebu costau ychwanegol o £16,000 y dydd i gadw at reolau trafnidiaeth a elwir yn fasnach arforol, lle cyfyngir ar nifer y teithiau y gellir eu gwneud cyn bod yn rhaid i daith ddychwelyd i'r DU. Mae eu carnet yn costio £10,000. Ac mae trosiant y Ganolfan Ewropeaidd ar gyfer Hyfforddiant a Chydweithredu Rhanbarthol wedi mynd o £1 filiwn i ddim, gan arwain at gwymp llwyr yn ei busnes. Nawr, dim ond rhai enghreifftiau yw’r rhain o’r dystiolaeth fesuradwy a welsom yn ein hadroddiad. Ond roedd yn dorcalonnus clywed am golli uchelgais, creadigrwydd, hyder a natur ddigymell agweddau ar y sectorau hyn, y pethau hynny sy’n anadl einioes y celfyddydau, a bod cymaint o nerfusrwydd yn bodoli ynghylch gwaith y DU-UE er gwaethaf y parodrwydd i barhau. Dywedodd cyfarwyddwr creadigol theatr yng ngŵyl Other Voices nad yw bellach yn ystyried teithio Ewrop o gwbl, fod y dyhead hwn wedi diflannu'n llwyr.
Ac yn ogystal â chyfyngu ar orwelion a chau llwybrau, clywsom am yr holl bethau na ellir eu cyfleu mewn taenlenni. Siaradodd y Farwnes Bull â ni am y pethau anfesuradwy, y dalent heb ei gwireddu a'r perfformiadau heb eu gweld na ellir eu mesur ac na fyddant yn cael eu hadfer. Dywedodd,
'rydym wedi colli cyfran sylweddol o dalent na fyddwn byth yn gwybod amdani'.
Fel pwyllgor, mae'r neges lom a glywsom yn aros gyda ni. Gwn y gallaf siarad ar ran Aelodau eraill pan ddywedaf hynny, oherwydd y trafodaethau a gawsom. Bydd gan yr artistiaid a’r grwpiau teithio mwy sefydledig gysylltiadau a byddant yn fwy tebygol o fod â chyllideb i dalu rhywun i lywio cymhlethdodau carnets a masnach arforol; ni fydd hynny'n wir i artistiaid newydd. Hynny yw, nid yn y graffiau y gwelir yr hyn sy’n cael ei golli, ond yn y bylchau, y cysylltiadau na fyddant byth yn cael eu gwneud, y cyfleoedd a gollir a’r gost a ddaw yn sgil hynny, oherwydd bob wythnos, mae artistiaid yn dewis peidio â mynd ar drywydd mentrau newydd, peidio â gwneud cysylltiadau sy’n newid bywydau, oherwydd y rhwystrau a roddir o'u blaenau.
Nawr, dro ar ôl tro, rydym wedi clywed am bwysigrwydd sicrhau y gall artistiaid fod yn rhydd i ffynnu ar draws ffiniau heb orfod llywio’r cymhlethdodau diddiwedd sy’n eu hwynebu. Ni ellir cyfrifo gwir werth hyn, ac ni ellir ei fychanu. Nawr, fel pwyllgor, fe wnaethom ninnau hefyd brofi hyn i ryw raddau. Mae gan wahanol Lywodraethau wahanol gyfrifoldebau am wahanol elfennau o'r mater, ac felly cawsom ein hunain mewn drysfa o gymhlethdodau masnach, mewnfudo a chyfansoddiadol. Dyma y mae ein hartistiaid yn ei wynebu, a hynny er mwyn gwneud yr hyn y maent wedi'i wneud erioed. Clywsom gan bedwar o Weinidogion y DU, chwech o Weinidogion Cymru, gan gynnwys dau gyn Brif Weinidog, ac adran o Lywodraeth Iwerddon. Cawsom dystiolaeth hefyd gan Aelodau o Dŷ’r Arglwyddi, Cynulliad Partneriaeth Seneddol y DU a’r UE a Senedd Ewrop. Nid oedd gennym unrhyw ddewis ond cyhoeddi argymhellion a luniwyd i wella’r sefyllfa gan ddefnyddio’r ysgogiadau sydd ar gael i Lywodraethau Cymru a’r DU.
Rydym yn nodi y bydd—. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio a ymatebodd i’n hadroddiad, ac er ein bod yn sicr yn ddiolchgar am hynny, nid yw cyfranogiad Gweinidogion eraill sy’n gyfrifol am y materion hyn bob amser yn gwbl glir. Mae’r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol yn gyfrifol am lawer o’r materion a godwyd yn ein hadroddiad; mae'r Prif Weinidog yn gyfrifol am eraill—cysylltiadau rhyngwladol a Chymru ac Ewrop, er enghraifft. Wrth ymateb i'r ddadl, hoffwn pe gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet esbonio sut y gwnaethant hwy gyfrannu at yr ymateb hefyd a sut y bydd Ysgrifenyddion y Cabinet yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd ar draws y Llywodraeth ar y materion hyn, os gwelwch yn dda.
Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn rhai o'n hargymhellion, gan gynnwys cefnogi'r ateb a gyflwynwyd gan y Cynulliad Partneriaeth Seneddol, y gobeithiwn y bydd y DU a'r UE yn ei roi ar waith. Derbyniodd ein hargymhellion i nodi'r cymorth y mae’n ei ddarparu a sut y mae wedi ymgysylltu â’r sector ynghylch effeithiau Brexit ers iddo nodi’r mater gyntaf ym mis Chwefror 2021.
Nawr, roeddem yn arbennig o bryderus wrth weld tystiolaeth rhai tystion a ddywedodd wrthym mai ni oedd y corff penderfynu cyntaf yr oeddent wedi gallu rhannu eu profiadau â hwy. Gofynnwyd i Lywodraeth Cymru pa ddata a thystiolaeth y mae’n eu defnyddio i lywio penderfyniadau, a pha asesiadau y mae wedi'u gwneud o effaith Brexit ar y sector, a dywedodd nad yw wedi cynnal ymchwil benodol ar hyn. Fe wnaethom alw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd ar drywydd y mater hwn pan fydd yn cyfarfod â Llywodraethau eraill y DU, ac i adrodd yn ôl i ni unwaith y tymor. Derbyniwyd hyn yn rhannol yn unig, gan nad oedd y Llywodraeth am gytuno i wneud hynny mor aml â hynny.
Fe wnaethom ofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru esbonio’r camau y mae wedi’u cymryd i liniaru effaith hyn oll. Tynnodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sylw at rai mentrau, ond mae wedi dweud nad yw’r rhain yn benodol ar gyfer lliniaru effeithiau Brexit, ac un o’r enghreifftiau a roddwyd oedd gweithgarwch sy’n cael ei ariannu yn yr Unol Daleithiau.
Derbyniodd Llywodraeth Cymru ein hargymhelliad y dylai’r DU a’r UE flaenoriaethu’r mater hwn yn yr adolygiad sydd ar y ffordd o'r modd y caiff y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu ei roi ar waith, ond gwrthododd alwad ein pwyllgor i nodi ei huchelgeisiau ar gyfer cysylltiadau rhwng Cymru a'r UE a rhwng y DU a'r UE mewn strategaeth benodol. Nawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae ein pwyllgor ni a thri phwyllgor arall yn ystyried tystiolaeth cyn yr adolygiad sydd ar y ffordd o weithrediad y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu. Rydym yn dal i glywed am effeithiau Brexit ar y sector drwy’r gwaith hwn.
A'r argymhelliad olaf yr hoffwn dynnu sylw ato yw y dylid ymgorffori canfyddiadau 'Sioc ddiwylliannol', yr adroddiad hwn, mewn strategaethau diwylliant a chysylltiadau rhyngwladol yn y dyfodol. Derbyniwyd hyn gan y Llywodraeth, ond dim ond lle mae’r canfyddiadau hynny’n cyd-fynd â’i blaenoriaethau ei hun. Nawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n cwestiynu a yw ymateb penodol y Llywodraeth yn rhoi digon o sicrwydd i'r pwyllgor, ac yn wir, i'r sector. Mae ymateb Llywodraeth y DU yn rhoi trosolwg o’r camau rhagweithiol sy’n cael eu cymryd gyda’r sector, yr UE ac aelod-wladwriaethau’r UE. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn cydnabod gwerth ein sector i gynnig rhyngwladol y DU yn ei hymateb. Mae’n cydnabod pwysigrwydd cynnal ein henw da byd-eang drwy’r celfyddydau, a bod angen i artistiaid allu perfformio a hyrwyddo eu hunain ledled y byd.
Mae'n amlwg, Ddirprwy Lywydd, fod y rhwystrau hyn wedi arafu creadigrwydd, syniadau a photensial rhag gallu symud yn rhydd. Rydym yn ailadrodd ein hapêl ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud popeth yn ei gallu i helpu. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynglŷn â sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu symud y materion hyn yn eu blaen, i roi'r sicrwydd yr ydym yn ei geisio'n daer ac i ddangos ei bod yn sefyll gyda'r sector.
Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed sylwadau’r Aelodau yn y ddadl. Diolch yn fawr.
It's a pleasure to be speaking on this debate today, and I'd like to begin by saying it's important to note that this report is primarily looking at the post-Brexit inter-governmental system, which, as the committee states, appears to have failed the culture sector. It is not a debate on Brexit per se, but the Welsh Government's navigation of Brexit, and we are discussing that in relation to the cultural and arts sector.
My contention is that the so-called cultural iron curtain is self-imposed. I'd like to add too that, despite having the utmost respect for the work of the committee, I have disagreements with the overall tone of this committee report and some of its recommendations. I was not a member of the committee at the time of the report's production, but I will outline my position on the report and recommendations that I believe deserve consideration from the Welsh Government.
It is also disappointing that the Welsh Government rejected some of the key recommendations in the report that I think would be beneficial for the sector, such as providing an assessment of the impact of Brexit on the culture and arts sector. In my opinion, the outlook and attitude of the Welsh Government have been one of the biggest obstacles to a successful post-Brexit Wales. The Welsh Government's continued obsession with Brexit pessimism is a disservice to the people of Wales—
Mae’n bleser siarad ar y ddadl hon heddiw, a hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddweud ei bod yn bwysig nodi bod yr adroddiad hwn yn edrych yn bennaf ar y system rynglywodraethol ôl-Brexit, sydd i bob golwg, fel y dywed y pwyllgor, wedi gwneud cam â'r sector diwylliant. Nid yw'n ddadl ar Brexit fel y cyfryw, ond ar y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llywio Brexit, ac rydym yn trafod hynny mewn perthynas â’r sector diwylliannol a’r celfyddydau.
Fy nadl i yw bod y llen haearn ddiwylliannol honedig yn un hunanosodedig. Hoffwn ychwanegu hefyd, er bod gennyf y parch mwyaf at waith y pwyllgor, fy mod yn anghytuno â chywair cyffredinol adroddiad y pwyllgor a rhai o’i argymhellion. Nid oeddwn yn aelod o’r pwyllgor pan gynhyrchwyd yr adroddiad, ond byddaf yn amlinellu fy safbwynt ar yr adroddiad a’r argymhellion y credaf eu bod yn haeddu ystyriaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Mae hefyd yn siomedig fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrthod rhai o’r argymhellion allweddol yn yr adroddiad a fyddai o fudd i’r sector yn fy marn i, megis darparu asesiad o effaith Brexit ar y sector diwylliant a’r celfyddydau. Yn fy marn i, mae safbwynt ac agwedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn un o’r rhwystrau mwyaf i Gymru lwyddiannus ar ôl Brexit. Mae obsesiwn parhaus Llywodraeth Cymru â phesimistiaeth ynghylch Brexit yn gwneud anghymwynas â phobl Cymru—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, Mick.
Gwnaf, Mick.
Would you say, then, that, in your opinion, Brexit has been good for cultural engagement with the European Union?
A fyddech chi'n dweud, felly, fod Brexit, yn eich barn chi, wedi bod yn dda ar gyfer ymgysylltiad diwylliannol â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd?
I'm going to go on to that, and I'll expand a bit more in my further remarks.
This report and some of its recommendations reflect a defeatist attitude that prioritises alignment with the EU over Welsh and UK sovereignty. Many of the concerns outlined in the report are due to failures in the Welsh Government's collaboration with the UK Government and other devolved administrations. Often, the discussion surrounding Brexit leads the electorate to believe that it was almost a single constitutional settlement and a set of policies they had voted for, but it wasn't. It's allowed Governments, both national and devolved, to make as many or as few opportunities out of it as they wanted. Previous UK Governments, admittedly, have squandered some of the opportunities, and some of the decisions made were not the right ones, but these were decisions made by the elected Governments of the day. They were not the inevitable consequences of Brexit, and we should recognise that Wales voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the European Union, and—[Interruption.]—and we should bear in mind, when we hear from Welsh nationalist politicians who support our membership of the European Union, a supranational organisation, but support leaving the only true union that matters, the United Kingdom—.
The Welsh Government has also failed to find a post-Brexit future for Wales by looking at Brexit as a problem to overcome—
Rwy'n mynd i ddod at hynny, a byddaf yn ymhelaethu ychydig yn fy sylwadau pellach.
Mae’r adroddiad hwn a rhai o’i argymhellion yn adlewyrchu agwedd wangalon sy’n blaenoriaethu aliniad â’r UE dros sofraniaeth Cymru a’r DU. Mae llawer o’r pryderon a amlinellir yn yr adroddiad yn deillio o fethiannau yng nghydweithrediad Llywodraeth Cymru â Llywodraeth y DU a gweinyddiaethau datganoledig eraill. Yn aml, mae’r drafodaeth ynghylch Brexit yn arwain yr etholwyr i gredu eu bod wedi pleidleisio dros un setliad cyfansoddiadol ac un set o bolisïau, ond nid felly y bu. Mae wedi caniatáu i Lywodraethau cenedlaethol a datganoledig greu cymaint neu gyn lleied o gyfleoedd ohono ag y dymunent. Rhaid cyfaddef bod Llywodraethau blaenorol y DU wedi gwastraffu rhai o’r cyfleoedd, ac nid oedd rhai o’r penderfyniadau a wnaed yn gywir, ond penderfyniadau a wnaed gan y Llywodraethau etholedig ar y pryd oedd y rhain. Nid oeddent yn ganlyniadau anochel i Brexit, a dylem gydnabod bod Cymru wedi pleidleisio’n helaeth o blaid gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd—[Torri ar draws.]—a dylem gadw mewn cof, pan glywn gan wleidyddion cenedlaetholgar Cymreig sy’n cefnogi ein haelodaeth o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd, sefydliad goruwchgenedlaethol, ond sy’n cefnogi gadael yr unig wir undeb sy’n bwysig, y Deyrnas Unedig—.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd wedi methu dod o hyd i ddyfodol ôl-Brexit i Gymru gan eu bod wedi edrych ar Brexit fel problem i’w goresgyn—
Would you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
I would very gently say to the Conservative spokesperson that this is supposed to be a debate; it's not a recitation where you come here and read out something that was written for you. It's an opportunity to debate these matters, and that involves understanding and understanding the issues behind the matters we are debating. Will you engage with anybody in this Chamber on these matters or will you continue simply to read your speech?
Byddwn yn dweud yn garedig iawn wrth lefarydd y Ceidwadwyr mai dadl yw hon i fod; nid yw'n araith lle rydych chi'n dod yma ac yn darllen rhywbeth a ysgrifennwyd ar eich cyfer. Mae'n gyfle i drafod y materion hyn, ac mae hynny'n golygu deall a deall y materion y tu ôl i'r materion a drafodwn. A wnewch chi ymgysylltu ag unrhyw un yn y Siambr ar y materion hyn neu a ydych chi am barhau i ddarllen eich araith?
Well, this is the second intervention I've taken, so I think I'm engaging very well in the debate, thank you very much.
One of the biggest benefits of Brexit is that the decisions that affect the people of Wales are made closer to home, and politicians can be held accountable for their decisions. The Chair's foreword states that the Brexit
'barriers have slowed the free movement of creativity, ideas, and potential with many artists choosing simply never to tour'
and this is a concerning problem. It's imperative that the Welsh Government collect this data, as data of EU artists travelling to Wales is not currently recorded, which is not acceptable, and it's imperative that the Welsh Government collect this data as it pertains to Wales and that this is transparent and influences future decision making.
To conclude my remarks, I would like to reiterate that the Welsh Government must stop clinging to the past and start working towards a future that maximises Wales's potential with a future United Kingdom. I'd like to know what the Minister is doing for the creative industries to have better access to audiences around the globe, and not just the European Union. I'd like the Minister to outline how the Welsh Government plans to improve data collection on the movement of touring artists between Wales, the EU and the rest of the world, and outline whether the Welsh Government intends to publish guidance for the creative industries and provide a timetable for this. Thank you.
Wel, dyma'r ail ymyriad imi ei dderbyn, felly rwy'n credu fy mod yn ymgysylltu'n dda iawn â'r ddadl, diolch yn fawr iawn.
Un o fanteision mwyaf Brexit yw bod y penderfyniadau sy’n effeithio ar bobl Cymru yn cael eu gwneud yn nes at adref, a gellir dwyn gwleidyddion yn atebol am eu penderfyniadau. Mae rhagair y Cadeirydd yn datgan bod y
'rhwystrau yn sgil Brexit wedi arafu symudiad rhydd creadigrwydd, syniadau, a photensial gyda llawer o artistiaid yn dewis peidio â mynd ar daith'
ac mae hon yn broblem sy'n peri pryder. Mae’n hollbwysig fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn casglu’r data hwn, gan nad yw data ar artistiaid o’r UE sy’n teithio i Gymru yn cael ei gofnodi ar hyn o bryd, ac nid yw hynny’n dderbyniol, ac mae’n hollbwysig fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn casglu’r data hwn fel y mae'n ymwneud â Chymru a bod hyn yn dryloyw ac yn dylanwadu ar benderfyniadau yn y dyfodol.
I gloi fy sylwadau, hoffwn ailadrodd bod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru roi’r gorau i lynu wrth y gorffennol a dechrau gweithio tuag at ddyfodol sy’n gwneud y mwyaf o botensial Cymru gyda'r Deyrnas Unedig yn y dyfodol. Hoffwn wybod beth y mae’r Gweinidog yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod gan y diwydiannau creadigol well mynediad at gynulleidfaoedd ledled y byd, ac nid yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn unig. Hoffwn i’r Gweinidog amlinellu sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu gwella’r broses o gasglu data ar symudiadau artistiaid sy'n teithio rhwng Cymru, yr UE a gweddill y byd, a nodi a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cyhoeddi canllawiau ar gyfer y diwydiannau creadigol a darparu amserlen ar gyfer hyn. Diolch.
I'm grateful to the Chair of the committee for introducing this report and grateful to the secretariat, who have supported the committee in its work. It was a privilege to visit Brussels with the committee. It served as a reminder of the importance of building relations between Wales and Europe, particularly when it comes to the culture sector. They're our nearest neighbours, Europe, and travelling through Europe really enriches our lives.
We heard evidence from the creative sector, and there have been no gains since leaving the EU, only costs and bureaucracy that have put us at a disadvantage to other countries. The absence of explicit provisions in the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement necessitates UK performers adhering to regulations in each of the 27 EU member states, which often vary and are really, really complex. More guidance and consistency is needed, not just for those who are travelling, but also for those who are actually working in border control. Without a single EU carnet, touring theatre companies, music ensembles and tv and film productions face significant delays and costs at each internal border, when bringing sets, instruments, equipment and all those other things into the EU.
UK Music's 2023 survey found that 82 per cent of British musicians said that their earnings had decreased because of Brexit, and that 43 per cent of musicians surveyed said that it is no longer viable for them to tour EU nations—our neighbours. They now face the complicated landscapes of carnets, tax liability uncertainty, health insurance costs, 90-day visa limits and delays at borders and in processing A1 forms. They also bear the additional costs of having to employ staff to navigate and manage this new level of administration. And as was mentioned, NoFit State Circus explained that, because of the 90-day rule, they were forced to turn down bookings for summer 2023, with an estimated loss of income of circa £120,000.
The loss of access to funds has also been significant. I was really envious when we heard about Creative Europe, which had a massive injection of funds that we can no longer access. Previously, when we were members of the EU, the funding we had in Wales for community initiatives and for all sorts of arts and culture was amazing, and that's not been replaced at all. It's so sorely missed.
It is felt that the creative industries do not have UK Government recognition of their importance or value, either, unlike in Europe. The previous UK Government's handling of Brexit has been wholly unsatisfactory, to say the least. And, through the new Labour Government in Westminster, along with the Welsh Government, we need to rebuild co-operation and trust with our European neighbours—and that's what we heard when we were in Brussels, as well—particularly when it comes to economic and cultural relations.
Whilst the numbers surrounding the damaging economic consequences of Brexit are stark, it's the immeasurable impact on people's lives that we must not forget: the lost opportunities, experiences and connections that could have been made, that storytelling and learning from different cultures, which enriches our music, our culture. That's what Wales is about for me—that culture and music. As the report states, every week, artists are choosing not to pursue new ventures, not to make life-changing connections. Brexit has already cost us so much. We must try to rebuild what we can, going forward, between Wales and Europe and through the UK Government. Thank you.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Gadeirydd y pwyllgor am gyflwyno’r adroddiad hwn ac yn ddiolchgar i’r ysgrifenyddiaeth, sydd wedi cefnogi’r pwyllgor yn ei waith. Roedd yn fraint ymweld â Brwsel gyda’r pwyllgor. Roedd yn ein hatgoffa o bwysigrwydd meithrin cysylltiadau rhwng Cymru ac Ewrop, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â'r sector diwylliant. Hwy yw ein cymdogion agosaf, Ewrop, ac mae teithio drwy Ewrop yn cyfoethogi ein bywydau'n fawr.
Clywsom dystiolaeth gan y sector creadigol, ac ni fu unrhyw enillion ers gadael yr UE, dim ond costau a biwrocratiaeth sydd wedi ein rhoi o dan anfantais o gymharu â gwledydd eraill. Mae absenoldeb darpariaethau penodol yn y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu rhwng y DU a’r UE yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i berfformwyr y DU gadw at reoliadau ym mhob un o 27 o aelod-wladwriaethau’r UE, sy’n aml yn amrywio ac yn wirioneddol gymhleth. Mae angen mwy o arweiniad a chysondeb, nid yn unig ar gyfer y rheini sy'n teithio, ond hefyd ar gyfer y rheini sy'n gweithio ym maes rheoli ffiniau. Heb un carnet ar gyfer yr UE, mae cwmnïau theatr teithiol, ensembles cerddorol a chynyrchiadau teledu a ffilm yn wynebu oedi a chostau sylweddol ar bob ffin fewnol, wrth ddod â setiau, offerynnau, offer a’r holl bethau eraill hynny i mewn i’r UE.
Canfu arolwg UK Music yn 2023 fod 82 y cant o gerddorion Prydain wedi dweud bod eu henillion wedi gostwng oherwydd Brexit, a bod 43 y cant o’r cerddorion a holwyd wedi dweud nad yw bellach yn ymarferol iddynt deithio o amgylch gwledydd yr UE—ein cymdogion. Maent bellach yn wynebu tirweddau cymhleth carnets, ansicrwydd ynghylch atebolrwydd treth, costau yswiriant iechyd, terfynau fisa 90 diwrnod ac oedi ar ffiniau ac wrth brosesu ffurflenni A1. Maent hefyd yn ysgwyddo'r costau ychwanegol o orfod cyflogi staff i lywio a rheoli'r lefel newydd hon o weinyddiaeth. Ac fel y crybwyllwyd, esboniodd NoFit State Circus, oherwydd y rheol 90 diwrnod, eu bod wedi gorfod gwrthod archebion ar gyfer haf 2023, gan golli oddeutu o £120,000 o incwm.
Mae colli mynediad at gronfeydd hefyd wedi bod yn sylweddol. Roeddwn yn eiddigeddus iawn pan glywsom am Ewrop Greadigol, a gafodd chwistrelliad enfawr o arian na allwn gael mynediad ato mwyach. Yn flaenorol, pan oeddem yn aelodau o’r UE, roedd y cyllid a oedd gennym yng Nghymru ar gyfer mentrau cymunedol ac ar gyfer pob math o gelfyddydau a diwylliant yn anhygoel, ac nid oes unrhyw arian wedi'i ddarparu yn ei le. Mae colled fawr ar ei ôl.
Ceir teimlad nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd na gwerth y diwydiannau creadigol, yn wahanol i Ewrop. Mae ymdriniaeth Llywodraeth flaenorol y DU o Brexit wedi bod yn gwbl anfoddhaol, a dweud y lleiaf. A thrwy'r Llywodraeth Lafur newydd yn San Steffan, ynghyd â Llywodraeth Cymru, mae angen inni ailadeiladu cydweithrediad ac ymddiriedaeth gyda'n cymdogion Ewropeaidd—a dyna a glywsom pan oeddem ym Mrwsel, hefyd—yn enwedig mewn perthynas â cysylltiadau economaidd a diwylliannol.
Er bod y ffigurau ar gyfer canlyniadau economaidd niweidiol Brexit yn llwm, mae’n rhaid inni beidio ag anghofio’r effaith anfesuradwy ar fywydau pobl: y cyfleoedd, y profiadau a’r cysylltiadau coll y gellid bod wedi’u creu, yr adrodd straeon a’r dysgu o ddiwylliannau gwahanol, sy’n cyfoethogi ein cerddoriaeth, ein diwylliant. Dyna hanfod Cymru i mi—y diwylliant a'r gerddoriaeth. Fel y dywed yr adroddiad, bob wythnos, mae artistiaid yn dewis peidio â mynd ar drywydd mentrau newydd, a pheidio â gwneud cysylltiadau sy'n newid bywydau. Mae Brexit eisoes wedi costio cymaint i ni. Rhaid inni geisio ailadeiladu’r hyn a allwn, wrth symud ymlaen, rhwng Cymru ac Ewrop a thrwy Lywodraeth y DU. Diolch.
Diolch i'r pwyllgor am y gwaith y bues i'n rhan ohono ar y diwedd, ond nid o'r dechrau. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, un o'r pethau roeddwn i'n ei deimlo fwyaf o ran bod yn rhan o'r ymchwiliad hwn, a phan fuon ni'n lansio'r adroddiad ym Mrwsel, oedd y teimlad yma o dristwch. Tristwch nid yn unig ar ein rhan ni a'r colledion i Gymru, ond tristwch yn Ewrop o ran y cyfyngiadau sydd wedi dod yn sgil hyn. Y ffaith bod gennym ni Celfyddydau Rhyngwladol Cymru, Wales Arts International, a'u bod nhw wedi bod yn arwain gymaint o'r prosiectau hyn; nid ein bod ni'n rhan ohonyn nhw ac yn elwa, ond yn arwain, yn ysbrydoli gwledydd eraill, ac maen nhw'n gweld ein colli ni yn Ewrop, oherwydd yr hyn yr oedd Cymru'n dod mewn i'r peth.
Felly, ydyn, rydyn ni'n gallu edrych ar y ffeithiau o ran yr arian rydyn ni'n ei golli, mae hynny'n sicr. Ac mae'r ffaith bod cyllideb Ewrop Greadigol wedi cynyddu 66 y cant ar ôl Brexit yn golygu bod Ewrop wedi cydnabod eu bod nhw ddim wedi bod yn buddsoddi digon mewn diwylliant—rhywbeth rydyn ni wedi bod yn ei drafod fan hyn—a'u bod nhw'n gweld grym, gwerth a gwerth economaidd diwylliant. Ac ar adeg pan fod yna gymaint o gweryla ledled y byd, gymaint o ansicrwydd, ac ati, eu bod nhw'n gweld gwerth buddsoddi o ran creu cynghreiriau, o ran sicrhau ein bod ni'n taclo anghydraddoldebau hefyd, a'u bod nhw'n gweld bod angen iddyn nhw fuddsoddi mwy oherwydd pwysigrwydd diwylliant.
Os ydych chi wedyn yn ystyried eu bod nhw'n gweld bod Cymru yn gallu cyfrannu gymaint, bod ein sefydliadau cenedlaethol ni yn mynd ati i edrych ar eu rôl o ran yr ochr ataliol, eu bod nhw'n edrych o ran tlodi plant, a beth ydy rôl diwylliant o ran hynny, a'u bod nhw hefyd yn ystyried o ran gwrth-hiliaeth, bod yna rôl iddyn nhw, dyna'r math o beth y mae Ewrop Greadigol yn mynd i'r afael efo fo, a bydden nhw'n hoffi ein bod ni'n gallu cyfrannu. Felly, beth ydy'r rhwystr i hynny? Does dim byd yn ein rhwystro ni. Nid bai Brexit yw'r ffaith nad ydyn ni'n rhan o Ewrop Greadigol. Dewis gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig flaenorol oedd hynny.
Yr hyn y byddwn i'n hoffi ei glywed heddiw gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ydy beth sy'n mynd i newid, oherwydd mae'r cloc yn tician. Mae yna deadline rŵan o ran y Deyrnas Unedig yn gallu ailymuno efo Ewrop Greadigol. Felly, pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn eu cael efo Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i sicrhau bod hyn yn digwydd, a’n bod ni'n ailymuno efo Ewrop Greadigol? Mae o’n dal Cymru yn ôl. Mae o’n golygu y byddwn ni’n mynd yn is o ran y tablau. Byddwn ni reit ar y gwaelod, nid jest tua’r gwaelod, o ran gwariant ar ddiwylliant, os nad ydyn ni’n ailymuno efo Ewrop Greadigol. Mi fuaswn i’n gobeithio ein bod ni i gyd yn gallu bod yn gytûn ar hynny. Byddai hynny’n golygu miliynau o bunnoedd yma yng Nghymru o ran y sector pwysig hwn. Os na ddown ni, nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru yr adnoddau i fod yn buddsoddi yn union yr un faint. Felly, mae hyn yn mynd i niweidio’r sectorau hyn sydd mor bwysig.
Beth sy’n fy nhristáu i hefyd yw faint o bobl sy’n dewis peidio â bod yng Nghymru, sydd yn gweithio yn y diwydiant hwn rŵan. Dydyn nhw ddim yn gweld dyfodol iddyn nhw yng Nghymru. Felly, dydy o ddim yn fater o dristwch yn unig fan hyn. Mae’n fater ein bod ni angen uno mewn galwad bod yna bethau y gallwn ni eu newid. Nid jest tristáu bod Brexit wedi digwydd, ond pam nad ydyn ni’n gwneud iawn am rai o’r camgymeriadau gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol ddiwethaf?
Felly, os cawn ni’r sicrwydd yna, byddai hwnnw’n gam mawr o ran yr adroddiad, i fod yn sicrhau bod Cymru, o fewn Ewrop, yn dal yn gallu cyfrannu ac arwain yn y maes hwn. Nid dim ond bod yna i gael miliynau o bunnoedd, ond i arwain a bod yn falch, fel cenedl ryngwladol, ein bod ni’n gallu parhau i wneud hynny.
Thank you to the committee for the work I was part of the work towards the end, but not at the beginning. I have to say, one of the things I felt most strongly when I was part of this inquiry, and when we launched the report in Brussels, was this feeling of sadness. Sadness not just on our part and the losses to Wales, but the sadness in Europe in terms of the restrictions that have followed as a result of this. The fact that we have Wales Arts International, and they've been leading so many of these projects; not that we were part of them and benefited from them, but we were leading, inspiring other nations, and they miss us in Europe, because of what Wales contributed.
So, yes, we can look at the facts in terms of the money that we're losing, that's certain. And the fact that Creative Europe's budget has increased by 66 per cent after Brexit means that Europe has acknowledged that they haven't been investing sufficiently in culture—something that we've been discussing here—and that they see the power, the value and the economic value of culture. And at a time when there are so many altercations worldwide, and so much uncertainty, and so on, they see the value of investing in terms of creating alliances, in terms of ensuring that we tackle inequalities too, and they see that there's a need to invest more because of the importance of culture.
If you then consider that they see that Wales can contribute so much, that our national institutions are looking at their role in terms of the preventive agenda, that they are looking at preventing child poverty, and the role of culture in that, and that they're also considering the anti-racist agenda, and their role in that too, that is the sort of thing that Creative Europe is tackling, and they would like us to be able to contribute to that. So, what's the barrier to that? There's nothing preventing it. It's not Brexit's fault that we are not part of Creative Europe. It was a choice by the previous UK Government.
What I would like to hear today from the Cabinet Secretary is what's going to change, because the clock is ticking now. There is a deadline now in terms of the UK being able to rejoin Creative Europe. So, what discussions has the Welsh Government been having with the UK Government to ensure that this does happen, and that we do rejoin Creative Europe? It is holding Wales back. It means that we will fall even further down in the tables. We will be right at the bottom, not just towards the bottom, in terms of spending on culture, if we don’t rejoin Creative Europe. I would hope that we could all agree on that. That would mean millions of pounds of investment here in Wales in terms of this important sector. And if we don’t rejoin, the Welsh Government doesn’t have the resources to be investing the same amount. So, that will damage these sectors, which are so important.
What saddens me too is how many people choose not to be in Wales, who work in this sector now. They don’t see a future for themselves in Wales. So, it isn’t just a matter of sadness here. It’s a matter where we need to come together and demand that there are things that we can change. Rather than just express our sadness that Brexit has happened, why aren’t we attempting to right some of the mistakes made by the previous Conservative Government?
So, if we can have that assurance, then that will be a major step forward in terms of delivering on the report’s aims, to ensure that Wales, as part of Europe, is able to contribute and lead the way in this field. Not just to be there to receive those millions of pounds, but to lead the way and take pride, as an international nation, that we can continue to do that.
Can I, first of all, thank the committee for the report? I am now on the committee, but, of course, I was not involved in those early sessions on it. Can I also declare an interest, as a member of the Musicians Union, one of the bodies that has given evidence to the committee?
Can I just deal with the latter part of the report first of all? That’s the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. When Brexit occurred, we pushed very hard from Wales, at that level and also at the Committee of the Regions level, which was creating a parallel body as well, that Wales should have a full status in that. We have specific devolved functions that we have been able to pursue as a sub-national body within the EU. And, to be honest, the observer status that we have now, which was imposed by the previous Government, because they really did not want Wales to have a voice—. They did not recognise either the Welsh or the Scottish or even the Northern Ireland voice, specifically, within those particular bodies. It is really a great shame that that has not yet been changed, and I hope that it will be changed.
Can I say that I welcome also the fact that there is clearly much greater co-operation taking place? There clearly is engagement taking place. Maybe it is sensitive, in terms of discussions and so on, but it is good to see that happening. Hopefully, that actually at least provides a mechanism for an adult conversation, a mature conversation, which clearly was not taking place previously.
Of course, the biggest issue affecting the cultural sector—. We have to say that Brexit has been a social and cultural disaster for Wales and, indeed, for the UK. You only need to see that by the evidence. Gareth Davies’s statement, I thought, was very disappointing. He read out a statement, but did not address any of the real evidence that had appeared before the committee, which I was very pleased to read.
So, this is the Musicians Union’s summary of the evidence, and I think that it is summarised by—
A gaf i, yn gyntaf, ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am yr adroddiad? Rwyf bellach ar y pwyllgor, ond wrth gwrs, nid oeddwn yn rhan o'r sesiynau cynnar hynny arno. A gaf i hefyd ddatgan buddiant, fel aelod o Undeb y Cerddorion, un o'r cyrff sydd wedi rhoi tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor?
A gaf i ymdrin â rhan olaf yr adroddiad yn gyntaf, sef Cynulliad Partneriaeth Seneddol y DU a'r UE. Pan ddigwyddodd Brexit, fe wnaethom wthio'n galed iawn o Gymru, ar y lefel honno a hefyd ar lefel Pwyllgor y Rhanbarthau, a oedd yn creu corff cyfochrog hefyd, y dylai Cymru fod â statws llawn yn hynny. Mae gennym swyddogaethau datganoledig penodol yr ydym wedi gallu mynd ar eu trywydd fel corff is-genedlaethol o fewn yr UE. Ac a bod yn onest, mae'r statws arsylwr sydd gennym nawr, a orfodwyd gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol, am nad oeddent eisiau i Gymru gael llais—. Nid oeddent yn cydnabod llais Cymru na'r Alban na hyd yn oed Gogledd Iwerddon yn y cyrff penodol hynny. Mae'n drueni mawr nad yw hynny wedi ei newid, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn cael ei newid.
A gaf i ddweud fy mod hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith bod llawer mwy o gydweithrediad yn digwydd? Mae'n amlwg fod ymgysylltu'n digwydd. Efallai ei fod yn sensitif, o ran trafodaethau ac yn y blaen, ond mae'n dda gweld hynny'n digwydd. Gobeithio y bydd hynny'n darparu mecanwaith o leiaf ar gyfer sgwrs aeddfed, nad oedd yn digwydd o'r blaen.
Wrth gwrs, y mater mwyaf sy'n effeithio ar y sector diwylliannol—. Mae'n rhaid inni ddweud bod Brexit wedi bod yn drychineb cymdeithasol a diwylliannol i Gymru, ac i'r DU yn wir. Mae'r dystiolaeth yn dangos hynny. Roeddwn yn credu bod datganiad Gareth Davies yn siomedig iawn. Darllenodd ddatganiad, ond nid aeth i'r afael â dim o'r dystiolaeth go iawn a roddwyd gerbron y pwyllgor, tystiolaeth yr oeddwn yn falch iawn o'i darllen.
Felly, dyma grynodeb Undeb y Cerddorion o'r dystiolaeth, a chredaf ei fod wedi ei grynhoi—
Can I make an intervention?
A gaf i wneud ymyriad?
Yes, of course you can.
Cewch, wrth gwrs.
I did raise those issues because I was talking about travelling artists and the future relationship that Wales can play with that. So, I think that it's a bit disingenuous to be saying that I didn't raise some of those specific points, along with the political ones, which you yourself are making now.
Fe godais y materion hynny am fy mod yn sôn am artistiaid ar daith a'r berthynas y gall Cymru ei chwarae gyda hynny yn y dyfodol. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod braidd yn anonest dweud na chodais rai o'r pwyntiau penodol hynny, yn ogystal â'r rhai gwleidyddol, yr ydych chi eich hun yn eu gwneud nawr.
You recognised that they existed, and then you totally ignored the consequence of them. When I asked you to tell me what was good about Brexit, as far as culture was concerned, you did not address that at all.
But these are the key findings and they apply across the board. Seventy-five per cent of respondents who previously worked in the EU prior to the UK's departure said that bookings had declined, work has declined. Fifty-nine per cent—that's getting close to two thirds—said that touring the EU was no longer financially viable. Many of them said they could no longer afford to actually work culturally in the EU, or do all the things that were required. They cannot now do that important part of cultural exchange, you know, the products that go with it, the produce, what they call colloquially 'swag'. Thirteen per cent experienced part of their fees being withheld due to complications in connection with tax and national insurance. At just about every level, there are now complications, red tape and obstructions that never existed before when we had freedom of movement, when we were part of the European Union.
Can I just say that, in summary of this, clearly, we need a stronger status for Wales in terms of engagement with the EU? I think we need to raise our profile in terms of the EU and the Wales office that is in Brussels. We need to actually press much harder with the UK Government in terms of full status for us within the bodies that are being set up to exist. But I think we also need to make clear that these cultural relations will never be properly resolved. The only resolution is to take away those restrictions and barriers that occurred as a result of Brexit, which are now socially and culturally impairing our ability to properly participate with other countries on the cultural scene. Diolch.
Fe wnaethoch chi gydnabod eu bod yn bodoli, ac yna fe wnaethoch chi anwybyddu eu canlyniadau'n llwyr. Pan ofynnais ichi ddweud wrthyf beth oedd yn dda am Brexit, o ran diwylliant, ni wnaethoch ateb hynny o gwbl.
Ond dyma'r canfyddiadau allweddol ac maent yn berthnasol ym mhob ffordd. Dywedodd 75 y cant o'r ymatebwyr a arferai weithio yn yr UE cyn ymadawiad y DU â'r UE fod archebion wedi gostwng, fod gwaith wedi gostwng. Dywedodd 59 y cant—mae hynny'n agos at ddwy ran o dair—nad oedd teithio'r UE bellach yn ymarferol yn ariannol. Dywedodd llawer ohonynt na allent fforddio gweithio'n ddiwylliannol yn yr UE mwyach, na gwneud yr holl bethau yr oedd angen eu gwneud. Ni allant wneud y gwaith pwysig sy'n gysylltiedig â chyfnewid diwylliannol, wyddoch chi, y cynhyrchion sy'n mynd gyda hynny, y cynnyrch, yr hyn a alwant ar lafar yn 'swag'. Roedd 13 y cant wedi cael rhan o'u ffioedd wedi'u dal yn ôl oherwydd cymhlethdodau'n gysylltiedig â threth ac yswiriant gwladol. Ar bron bob lefel bellach, ceir cymhlethdodau, biwrocratiaeth a rhwystrau nad oeddent yn bodoli o'r blaen pan oedd gennym ryddid i symud, pan oeddem yn rhan o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
A gaf i ddweud, i grynhoi, yn amlwg, mae angen statws cryfach i Gymru o ran ei hymgysylltiad â'r UE? Rwy'n credu bod angen inni godi ein proffil yn yr UE a swyddfa Cymru sydd ym Mrwsel. Mae angen inni bwyso'n llawer caletach ar Lywodraeth y DU am statws llawn i ni yn y cyrff sy'n cael eu sefydlu. Ond rwy'n credu bod angen inni wneud yn glir hefyd na chaiff y cysylltiadau diwylliannol hyn byth mo'u datrys yn iawn. Yr unig ffordd o'u datrys yw dileu'r cyfyngiadau a'r rhwystrau a ddigwyddodd o ganlyniad i Brexit, ac sydd bellach yn amharu ar ein gallu i gyfranogi'n briodol gyda gwledydd eraill yn y maes diwylliannol. Diolch.
I should thank the Chair for the way she introduced this debate this afternoon, and also, of course, the committee secretariat for the work they've done in producing this report and facilitating the inquiry that we undertook.
I think it’s pretty well accepted now that Brexit has been a national humiliation for the United Kingdom, but I think what is not fully understood is the way in which it has been a cultural disaster for us in Wales as well. One of the issues I was thinking about yesterday when we were paying tribute to Dafydd Elis-Thomas was the way that he recognised that Wales is a European nation, and the way that he pursued that through his lifetime. And, of course, Welsh culture is an inherently European culture. It is who we are. It’s part of who we are. It’s part of our cultural inheritance as Europeans. And whatever administrative barriers are imposed between us and the European mainland, what you cannot escape is the cultural heritage and our history that makes us who we are. That cannot be eradicated by an Act of Parliament or simply put aside by an international treaty. We are as European today as were 10 years ago. What we are losing is our ability to enjoy and to have the cultural experiences that we were able to enjoy before.
One of the real issues that we need to address here as a Parliament is the importance of parliamentary scrutiny. The withdrawal agreement and the TCA were driven through this Parliament, were driven though the Westminster Parliament, without any opportunity for us to consider the consequences of that agreement. There was no opportunity here; there was no opportunity in Westminster. There was no opportunity at all for us to understand the consequences of what had been forced through that agreement. The only place where there was an opportunity to have that debate and discussion was, of course, Brussels, because the European Parliament, a more transparent Parliament, insisted on having the opportunity to consider the agreement in full, and, as a consequence, they understood what was happening within this agreement, but we did not, and now we are paying the price for that. And I hope, Deputy Presiding Officer, that this Parliament will ensure that we are able to consider all these matters in due course.
Because when you talk about the freedom of people, the freedom of movement, the freedom of movement, goods, people and services, what you’re talking about is the freedom for one human being to talk to another. One of the consequences of Brexit that we debated isn’t just the loss of the membership of Creative Europe, in the way that Heledd has described, and the funding that comes along with it, and the structures and networks that go with it, but more importantly than that, and more fundamental than that, is the ability of one human being to speak to another human being and to share that common inheritance, for people to enjoy the ability, whether it's to make music or to listen to music or to enjoy what brings us together. That cultural inheritance cannot be taken away, but what has happened is that we are unable to enjoy it as fully as we were before, and that is a tragedy. But it's not an equal tragedy, is it? It's more of a tragedy for my daughter and my son than it has been for me. It's a loss of opportunity, it's a loss of talent, it's a loss of creativity, it's a loss to our economy and it's a loss to our culture.
The Welsh Government as well needs to face up to its responsibilities. The Cabinet Secretary will be replying to this debate. Now, I happen to know that she's a European to her fingertips, and that she will have been sitting here silently agreeing with everything that has been said by every Member speaking in this debate—except Gareth Davies, right? So I know that she's a European to her fingertips, and I know that she agrees with what we're doing, and I want her to say that in her contribution, and I want to see from the Welsh Government an EU engagement strategy. I want to see from the Welsh Government a debate on how we address the review of the implementation of the TCA, and I want to see from the Welsh Government a vision as part of their international strategy of how we're going to take these things forward.
We recognise the disaster of Brexit. We recognise the damage—
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Cadeirydd am y ffordd y cyflwynodd y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, a hefyd, i ysgrifenyddiaeth y pwyllgor am y gwaith a wnaethant ar lunio'r adroddiad hwn a hwyluso'r ymchwiliad a gynhaliwyd gennym.
Rwy'n credu ei fod yn cael ei dderbyn yn eithaf clir nawr fod Brexit wedi bod yn warth cenedlaethol i'r Deyrnas Unedig, ond rwy'n credu mai'r hyn na ddeellir yn llawn yw'r ffordd y mae wedi bod yn drychineb diwylliannol i ni yng Nghymru hefyd. Un o'r pethau roeddwn yn meddwl amdanynt ddoe wrth inni dalu teyrnged i Dafydd Elis-Thomas oedd y ffordd yr oedd ef yn cydnabod bod Cymru'n genedl Ewropeaidd, a'r ffordd yr aeth ar drywydd hynny drwy gydol ei oes. Ac wrth gwrs, mae diwylliant Cymreig yn ddiwylliant cynhenid Ewropeaidd. Dyma pwy ydym ni. Mae'n rhan o bwy ydym ni. Mae'n rhan o'n hetifeddiaeth ddiwylliannol fel Ewropeaid. A pha bynnag rwystrau gweinyddol sy'n cael eu gosod rhyngom ni a thir mawr Ewrop, yr hyn na allwch ddianc rhagddo yw'r dreftadaeth ddiwylliannol a'n hanes sy'n ein gwneud yr hyn ydym. Ni all hynny gael ei ddileu gan Ddeddf Seneddol na'i roi o'r neilltu gan gytundeb rhyngwladol. Rydym mor Ewropeaidd heddiw ag yr oeddem 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Yr hyn rydym yn ei golli yw ein gallu i fwynhau a chael y profiadau diwylliannol yr arferem allu eu mwynhau.
Un o'r pethau pwysig y mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â hwy yma fel Senedd yw pwysigrwydd craffu seneddol. Cafodd y cytundeb ymadael a'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu ei yrru drwy'r Senedd hon, drwy Senedd San Steffan, heb unrhyw gyfle inni ystyried canlyniadau'r cytundeb hwnnw. Ni chafwyd unrhyw gyfle yma; ni chafwyd unrhyw gyfle yn San Steffan. Ni chafwyd cyfle o gwbl inni ddeall canlyniadau'r hyn a gafodd ei orfodi drwy'r cytundeb hwnnw. Yr unig le lle roedd cyfle i gael y ddadl a'r drafodaeth honno oedd Brwsel wrth gwrs, oherwydd mynnodd Senedd Ewrop, Senedd fwy tryloyw, gael cyfle i ystyried y cytundeb yn llawn, ac o ganlyniad, roeddent yn deall beth oedd yn digwydd yn y cytundeb hwn, ond nid oeddem ni, a nawr rydym yn talu'r pris am hynny. Ac rwy'n gobeithio, Ddirprwy Lywydd, y bydd y Senedd hon yn sicrhau y gallwn ystyried yr holl faterion hyn maes o law.
Oherwydd pan fyddwch chi'n siarad am ryddid pobl, rhyddid i symud, rhyddid i symud nwyddau, pobl a gwasanaethau, yr hyn rydych chi'n sôn amdano yw'r rhyddid i un bod dynol siarad ag un arall. Un o ganlyniadau Brexit a drafodwyd gennym oedd nid yn unig colli aelodaeth o Ewrop Greadigol, yn y ffordd y disgrifiodd Heledd, a'r arian sy'n dod gydag ef, a'r strwythurau a'r rhwydweithiau sy'n dod gydag ef, ond yn bwysicach na hynny, ac yn fwy sylfaenol na hynny, gallu un bod dynol i siarad â bod dynol arall a rhannu'r etifeddiaeth gyffredin honno, i bobl fwynhau'r gallu, boed i greu cerddoriaeth neu i wrando ar gerddoriaeth neu i fwynhau'r hyn sy'n dod â ni at ein gilydd. Ni ellir diddymu'r etifeddiaeth ddiwylliannol honno, ond yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yw na allwn ei mwynhau mor llawn ag yr arferem allu gwneud, ac mae hynny'n drasiedi. Ond nid yw'n drasiedi gyfartal. Mae'n fwy o drasiedi i fy merch a fy mab nag i mi. Mae'n golli cyfle, mae'n golli talent, mae'n golli creadigrwydd, mae'n golled i'n heconomi ac mae'n golled i'n diwylliant.
Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd wynebu ei chyfrifoldebau. Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymateb i'r ddadl hon. Nawr, rwy'n digwydd gwybod ei bod hi'n Ewropead hyd fer ei hesgyrn, ac y bydd hi wedi bod yn eistedd yma'n cytuno'n dawel â phopeth a ddywedwyd gan bob Aelod a siaradodd yn y ddadl hon—heblaw Gareth Davies. Felly rwy'n gwybod ei bod hi'n Ewropead hyd fer ei hesgyrn, a gwn ei bod hi'n cytuno â'r hyn a wnawn, ac rwyf eisiau iddi ddweud hynny yn ei chyfraniad, ac rwyf am weld strategaeth ymgysylltu â'r UE gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwyf am weld dadl gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â sut yr awn i'r afael â'r adolygiad o weithrediad y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu, ac rwyf am weld gweledigaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru fel rhan o'u strategaeth ryngwladol ynglŷn â sut y byddwn yn bwrw ymlaen â'r pethau hyn.
Rydym yn cydnabod trychineb Brexit. Rydym yn cydnabod y niwed—
Alun, you need to conclude now, please.
Alun, mae angen i chi ddirwyn i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.
—that has been done to the United Kingdom and to Wales. What we need to do now is to chart a way forward, a course forward, that will help repair the damage until we're able to rejoin the European Union again.
—a wnaed i'r Deyrnas Unedig ac i Gymru. Yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud nawr yw mapio ffordd ymlaen, llwybr ymlaen, a fydd yn helpu i unioni'r niwed hyd nes y gallwn ailymuno â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd eto.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans.
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Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to begin by thanking the committee for its report examining the impact of the UK's departure from the European Union on our cultural landscape, and really welcome this opportunity to discuss the headwinds that our cultural ambassadors are currently navigating. Culture is a vital part of how Wales establishes and develops our relationships with the whole world, and this debate, of course, is taking place five years on from when the UK left the EU, so it is really a timely opportunity to consider the resulting barriers, which are now impacting so significantly on our cultural sector. Of course I agree with the committee that the impact of the UK's exit from the EU has been felt right across the cultural sector, and a really notable example, of course, is the reduced freedom of movement for artists and for creative workers from Wales working in EU countries, and of course EU artists who are looking to come and perform in Wales. This means, really, that Welsh artists must understand the regulations for whichever EU member state that they're travelling to. That's both in terms of border entries or visas or any work permit regulations that are relevant to their activities and their particular length of stay, and this is made even more complex and costly when artists or companies are touring, as they have to follow the different rules for each of the different countries, and the Schengen area visiting rules can also be really prohibitive for touring companies and individual creative workers. We've heard some really powerful examples in the debate, but also in the evidence that the committee heard from people who are working in the creative sector, particularly those touring companies and artists.
I just want to reassure the committee that its findings will be fully considered during the development of our future strategies to address the situation that the sector faces. Our draft priorities for culture recognise the importance of culture in how Wales establishes and develops our international relationships, and of course in how we go about promoting Wales to the rest of the world. But I think one of the most impactful things that I've heard during the debate this afternoon was the committee Chair's opening remarks talking about that sad loss of spontaneity, all of those opportunities for those unexpected moments to arrive, and those life-changing connections that people make with strangers. They’re often the kind of things that, actually, develop art and creativity in themselves as well. So, that was extremely powerful this afternoon.
So, where the findings of the committee's report align with our delivery priorities, they'll be incorporated to enable the effective delivery and development of our future international relationships. And, of course, if the findings of the report support our economic development priorities for the creative industries, we'll consider these alongside the development of current guidelines, new programmes and activities. I do see opportunities for hope in the future as well through the UK Government's industrial strategy, and their very clear focus and understanding of the importance of creative industries. I think that we can take some heart from that as well.
As detailed in the report, the seamless movement of people and the single market in services and goods that supported the culture sector directly and indirectly have been replaced with the limited UK-EU agreement, the trade and co-operation agreement. So, in response to that question as to why I've been the Minister responding to the debate this afternoon and the committee report, it really was because, essentially, it boils down to a trade issue in this instance for which I'm responsible. But just to give that reassurance that I work, of course, very closely with Jack Sargeant as my deputy, who has that wider responsibility for the creative sector and the arts. But obviously, the First Minister has an interest and in the debate I was reflecting on all the other Ministers, actually, who have an interest in this, including, for example, the health Minister, recognising the important role of the arts in health as well. So, there is that reassurance that I can give that we are taking a co-ordinated approach to this.
Whilst the TCA is fundamental to the Welsh economy as a basis for Wales and the rest of the UK to trade in goods with the EU, it's obviously not a like-for-like replacement by any means to the market access that we did have as EU members, and it has created those new barriers for Welsh businesses. However, it does create a comprehensive governance structure for EU-UK engagement, and we're using that now to engage with the EU through the UK Government. I do hope that we are able now to resolve some of those trade barriers.
The implementation of the TCA will be reviewed and that might lead to some small changes, but I think that the broader reset that the UK Government is seeking with the EU is the place that we can see some more significant opportunities to make progress, and to remove some of Brexit's most negative consequences. Areas that we believe that the UK Government should really be focusing on include business and youth mobility, and this would include the issues that we've been talking about this afternoon, as well as barriers to trade and access to programmes such as Creative Europe. So, again, I reassure colleagues that these are at the top of our discussions that we're having with our colleagues in the UK Government. I've been having some of those discussions through the inter-ministerial group on trade very recently, and we'll pursue all opportunities and avenues to make sure that these points on behalf of creative workers are well understood and well represented.
I just want to set out some of the ways in which we are trying to positively engage with the challenges and support the businesses with some of the difficulties that they are navigating. So, through the Business Wales website, we provide information to businesses on the exporting of goods and services from Wales to overseas markets, including the EU. That website also contains links directly, then, to the UK Government's information on exporting procedures and the TCA more widely. And I do think that the response and the feedback that we've had from the support that we provide through Business Wales has been very good.
Our Creative Wales team also provides information, including a touring guide that has been commissioned by Arts Council England. That's a useful resource for touring artists on navigating the new regulations, visa requirements, tax implications and so on. And we've got our export support programmes, including our trade and overseas events programme, and, of course, our offices overseas play a really important role in assisting businesses to develop their exports also. Moreover, Creative Wales also offers specialist support to businesses in the creative industries, for example the—
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am ei adroddiad yn archwilio effaith ymadawiad y DU â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ar ein tirwedd ddiwylliannol, ac rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle hwn i drafod yr anawsterau y mae ein llysgenhadon diwylliannol yn llywio drwyddynt ar hyn o bryd. Mae diwylliant yn rhan hanfodol o'r ffordd y mae Cymru'n sefydlu ac yn datblygu ein perthynas â'r byd i gyd, ac mae'r ddadl hon yn digwydd bum mlynedd ers i'r DU adael yr UE, felly mae'n gyfle amserol i ystyried y rhwystrau sy'n deillio o hynny, sydd bellach yn effeithio mor sylweddol ar ein sector diwylliannol. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n cytuno â'r pwyllgor fod effaith ymadawiad y DU â'r UE wedi'i theimlo ar draws y sector diwylliannol, ac enghraifft nodedig iawn yw'r cyfyngu ar y rhyddid i symud i artistiaid a gweithwyr creadigol o Gymru sy'n gweithio yng ngwledydd yr UE, ac artistiaid o'r UE sydd am ddod i berfformio yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn golygu bod yn rhaid i artistiaid o Gymru ddeall y rheoliadau ar gyfer pa bynnag aelod-wladwriaeth o'r UE y maent yn teithio iddi. Mae hynny o ran teithio dros ffiniau neu fisâu neu unrhyw reoliadau trwyddedau gwaith sy'n berthnasol i'w gweithgareddau a hyd eu harhosiad, a gwneir hyn hyd yn oed yn fwy cymhleth a chostus pan fydd artistiaid neu gwmnïau ar daith, gan fod yn rhaid iddynt ddilyn y rheolau gwahanol ar gyfer pob un o'r gwahanol wledydd, a gall rheolau ymweld ag ardal Schengen fod yn wirioneddol waharddol i gwmnïau sy'n teithio a gweithwyr creadigol unigol. Clywsom enghreifftiau pwerus iawn yn y ddadl, ond hefyd yn y dystiolaeth a glywodd y pwyllgor gan bobl sy'n gweithio yn y sector creadigol, yn enwedig cwmnïau ac artistiaid ar daith.
Hoffwn sicrhau'r pwyllgor y bydd ei ganfyddiadau'n cael eu hystyried yn llawn wrth ddatblygu ein strategaethau yn y dyfodol i fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa y mae'r sector yn ei hwynebu. Mae ein blaenoriaethau drafft ar gyfer diwylliant yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd diwylliant yn y ffordd y mae Cymru'n sefydlu ac yn datblygu ein cysylltiadau rhyngwladol, ac wrth gwrs yn y modd yr awn ati i hyrwyddo Cymru i weddill y byd. Ond rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau mwyaf trawiadol a glywais yn ystod y ddadl y prynhawn yma oedd sylwadau agoriadol Cadeirydd y pwyllgor yn sôn am dristwch colli natur ddigymell y pethau hyn, yr holl gyfleoedd i eiliadau annisgwyl gyrraedd, a'r cysylltiadau sy'n newid bywydau y mae pobl yn eu gwneud gyda dieithriaid. Yn aml, dyma'r math o bethau sy'n datblygu celf a chreadigrwydd ynddynt eu hunain hefyd. Felly, roedd hynny'n bwerus iawn y prynhawn yma.
Felly, lle mae canfyddiadau adroddiad y pwyllgor yn cyd-fynd â'n blaenoriaethau cyflawni, byddant yn cael eu hymgorffori i'n galluogi i gyflawni a datblygu ein cysylltiadau rhyngwladol yn effeithiol yn y dyfodol. Ac wrth gwrs, os yw canfyddiadau'r adroddiad yn cefnogi ein blaenoriaethau datblygu economaidd ar gyfer y diwydiannau creadigol, byddwn yn ystyried y rhain ochr yn ochr â datblygiad canllawiau cyfredol, rhaglenni a gweithgareddau newydd. Rwy'n gweld cyfleoedd gobeithiol yn y dyfodol hefyd drwy strategaeth ddiwydiannol Llywodraeth y DU, a'u ffocws a'u dealltwriaeth glir o bwysigrwydd diwydiannau creadigol. Rwy'n credu y gallwn gael rhywfaint o obaith o hynny.
Fel y nodwyd yn fanwl yn yr adroddiad, yn lle bod pobl yn gallu symud yn ddirwystr a marchnad sengl mewn gwasanaethau a nwyddau i gefnogi'r sector diwylliant yn uniongyrchol ac yn anuniongyrchol, cafwyd cytundeb cyfyngedig y DU-UE, y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu. Felly, mewn ymateb i'r cwestiwn ynglŷn â pham mai fi yw'r Gweinidog sy'n ymateb i'r ddadl ac adroddiad y pwyllgor y prynhawn yma, y rheswm am hynny yn y bôn yw oherwydd mai mater masnach ydyw yn yr achos hwn, a fi sy'n gyfrifol am hynny. Ond gallaf sicrhau fy mod i'n gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Jack Sargeant fel fy nirprwy, sydd â'r cyfrifoldeb ehangach dros y sector creadigol a'r celfyddydau. Ond yn amlwg, mae gan y Prif Weinidog ddiddordeb ac yn y ddadl roeddwn yn myfyrio ar yr holl Weinidogion eraill sydd â diddordeb yn hyn, gan gynnwys, er enghraifft, y Gweinidog iechyd, i gydnabod rôl bwysig y celfyddydau ym maes iechyd hefyd. Felly, gallaf roi sicrwydd fod gennym ymagwedd gydgysylltiedig tuag at hyn.
Er bod y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu yn hanfodol i economi Cymru fel sail i Gymru a gweddill y DU allu masnachu mewn nwyddau gyda'r UE, mae'n amlwg nad yw mewn unrhyw fodd yn cymryd lle ar sail debyg am debyg y mynediad i'r farchnad a oedd gennym fel aelodau o'r UE, ac mae wedi creu rhwystrau newydd i fusnesau Cymru. Fodd bynnag, mae'n creu strwythur llywodraethu cynhwysfawr ar gyfer ymgysylltiad rhwng yr UE a'r DU, ac rydym yn defnyddio hynny nawr i ymgysylltu â'r UE trwy Lywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n gobeithio nawr y gallwn ddatrys rhai o'r rhwystrau i fasnach.
Bydd gweithredu'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu'n cael ei adolygu a gallai hynny arwain at rai newidiadau bach, ond gyda'r ailosod ehangach y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei geisio gyda'r UE, gallwn weld cyfleoedd mwy sylweddol i wneud cynnydd, ac i ddileu rhai o ganlyniadau mwyaf negyddol Brexit. Mae'r meysydd y credwn y dylai Llywodraeth y DU ganolbwyntio arnynt yn cynnwys busnes a gallu pobl ifanc i symud, a byddai hyn yn cynnwys y materion y buom yn siarad amdanynt y prynhawn yma, yn ogystal â rhwystrau i fasnach a mynediad at raglenni fel Ewrop Greadigol. Felly, unwaith eto, rwy'n sicrhau fy nghyd-Aelodau fod y rhain ar frig y trafodaethau a gawn gyda'n cymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU. Rwyf wedi bod yn cael rhai o'r trafodaethau hynny trwy'r grŵp rhyngweinidogol ar fasnach yn ddiweddar iawn, a byddwn yn mynd ar drywydd pob cyfle a llwybr i sicrhau bod y pwyntiau hyn ar ran gweithwyr creadigol yn cael eu deall a'u cynrychioli'n dda.
Rwyf am nodi rhai o'r ffyrdd y ceisiwn fynd i'r fael yn gadarnhaol â'r heriau a chefnogi'r busnesau gyda rhai o'r anawsterau y maent yn eu hwynebu. Felly, drwy wefan Busnes Cymru, rydym yn darparu gwybodaeth i fusnesau am allforio nwyddau a gwasanaethau o Gymru i farchnadoedd tramor, gan gynnwys yr UE. Mae'r wefan honno hefyd yn cynnwys dolenni uniongyrchol at wybodaeth Llywodraeth y DU am weithdrefnau allforio a'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu yn ehangach. Ac rwy'n credu bod yr ymateb a'r adborth a gawsom o'r gefnogaeth a ddarparwn trwy Busnes Cymru wedi bod yn dda iawn.
Mae ein tîm Cymru Greadigol hefyd yn darparu gwybodaeth, gan gynnwys canllaw teithio wedi'i gomisiynu gan Arts Council England. Mae hwnnw'n adnodd defnyddiol i artistiaid teithiol ar lywio'r rheoliadau newydd, y gofynion fisa, y goblygiadau treth ac yn y blaen. Ac mae gennym ein rhaglenni cymorth allforio, gan gynnwys ein rhaglen digwyddiadau masnach a thramor, ac wrth gwrs, mae ein swyddfeydd dramor yn chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn cynorthwyo busnesau i ddatblygu eu hallforion. Ar ben hynny, mae Cymru Greadigol hefyd yn cynnig cymorth arbenigol i fusnesau yn y diwydiannau creadigol, er enghraifft y—
Minister, will you give way?
Weinidog, a wnewch chi ildio?
I will.
Gwnaf.
You're outlining some of the immediate issues that the Government are taking up, and I'm grateful to you for that, but there's a more fundamental thing here, isn't there, which you're not addressing, and I really would press you to address? Because what is at the heart of this committee report is that the Welsh Government has been too slow to respond to the crisis that is facing the cultural sector in its totality, and in terms of its relationship with Europe and the European Union. And also the Welsh Government has not identified clearly the approach it wants to take to the TCA implementation review, and the Welsh Government has not outlined its vision for future engagement with the European Union, as part of its international strategy. Those are the fundamental policy issues that we really need the Welsh Government to address, and to address more urgently than it has done in the past.
Rydych chi'n amlinellu rhai o'r materion uniongyrchol y mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â hwy, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi am hynny, ond mae rhywbeth mwy sylfaenol yma nad ydych chi'n mynd i'r afael ag ef, onid oes, a hoffwn bwyso arnoch i fynd i'r afael ag ef? Oherwydd yr hyn sydd wrth wraidd yr adroddiad pwyllgor hwn yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn rhy araf i ymateb i'r argyfwng sy'n wynebu'r sector diwylliannol yn ei gyfanrwydd, ac o ran ei berthynas ag Ewrop a'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Ac nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi nodi'n glir ei hymagwedd tuag at yr adolygiad o weithrediad y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu, ac nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi amlinellu ei gweledigaeth ar gyfer ymgysylltu â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y dyfodol, fel rhan o'i strategaeth ryngwladol. Dyna'r materion polisi sylfaenol y mae gwir angen i Lywodraeth Cymru fynd i'r afael â hwy, ac i fynd i'r afael â hwy gyda mwy o frys nag a wnaeth yn y gorffennol.
I absolutely take on board those points, and the desire of the Senedd to have further information about our approach and our priorities in relation to the TCA review. I've set out some of the wider priorities that we have in terms of the movement of people, and particularly young people, to ensure that they have the opportunities, and also our keenness to continue making that case for access to programmes such as Creative Europe. So, my intention today is to focus specifically on the creative sector in my response, but I will give some further consideration as to how we have a wider conversation within the Senedd on the broader points.
I did, though, want to just mention the young content fund. That does help address the loss of access to EU production funding via Creative Europe. I also want to draw attention to Wales Arts International, the international arm, of course, of the Arts Council of Wales, again providing excellent support and leading on Arts Infopoint UK, again providing that practical support for artists and creative professionals and organisations to understand the rules and the requirements for creative visits to the UK.
So, I'll take the opportunity—obviously, I'm out of time—to thank the committee very much for their very helpful report, and to reflect on the further and wider points that colleagues have raised, and that desire to have that broader conversation.
Rwy'n derbyn y pwyntiau hynny'n llwyr, ac awydd y Senedd i gael rhagor o wybodaeth am ein dull gweithredu a'n blaenoriaethau mewn perthynas â'r adolygiad o'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu. Rwyf wedi nodi rhai o'r blaenoriaethau ehangach sydd gennym o ran gallu pobl i symud, ac yn enwedig pobl ifanc, i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y cyfleoedd, a hefyd ein hawydd i barhau i gyflwyno'r achos dros fynediad at raglenni fel Ewrop Greadigol. Felly, fy mwriad heddiw yw canolbwyntio'n benodol ar y sector creadigol yn fy ymateb, ond fe roddaf ystyriaeth bellach i'r ffordd y cawn sgwrs ehangach yn y Senedd ar y pwyntiau mwy cyffredinol.
Serch hynny, roeddwn eisiau sôn am y gronfa cynnwys ieuenctid. Mae honno'n helpu i fynd i'r afael â cholli mynediad at gyllid cynhyrchu yr UE trwy Ewrop Greadigol. Rwyf hefyd am dynnu sylw at Celfyddydau Rhyngwladol Cymru, cangen ryngwladol Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, sydd unwaith eto'n darparu cefnogaeth ragorol ac yn arwain ar Arts Infopoint UK, sy'n darparu cymorth ymarferol er mwyn i artistiaid a gweithwyr creadigol proffesiynol a sefydliadau ddeall y rheolau a'r gofynion ar gyfer ymweliadau creadigol â'r DU.
Felly, rwy'n achub ar y cyfle—yn amlwg, mae fy amser ar ben—i ddiolch yn fawr iawn i'r pwyllgor am eu hadroddiad defnyddiol iawn, ac i fyfyrio ar y pwyntiau pellach ac ehangach y mae cyd-Aelodau wedi'u codi, a'r awydd i gael trafodaeth ehangach.
Galwaf ar Delyth Jewell i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Delyth Jewell to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Wel, hoffwn i ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl. Gwnaf i ddechrau gyda Gareth.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank everyone who has participated in the debate. I'll start with Gareth.
I'm sorry to hear that you disagreed with the tone of the report. It was a unanimous report that was agreed by all members of the committee, but I'm grateful that you said that you respected the work that we had done. Now, of course, we will keep taking evidence on this issue, particularly when it comes to the work I referred to and that's come up about the implementation of the TCA. I hope that, when we receive that evidence—well, I think it's possible that you might change your mind on some of those issues, on hearing that evidence first-hand. But I do thank you for your contribution. So, diolch, and you're very welcome to the committee.
Carolyn, who was a member of the committee until recently, mentioned the fact that culture issues have been left out of the TCA and that that has been a matter of regret. It came up a few times in the course of this evidence, Dirprwy Lywydd, that, usually with any trade agreement, the purpose of it is to make things easier, to break down barriers. One of the things that is most perverse about the TCA and everything that's happened in the wake of Brexit, in this regard, is that it is the opposite of that, and I think that overcoming some of that perversity is the challenge. Carolyn also set out some of the complexities, the almost labyrinthine layers of complexity and documentation. And storytelling, the importance of that, absolutely.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed eich bod yn anghytuno â chywair yr adroddiad. Roedd yn adroddiad unfrydol a enynnodd gytundeb holl aelodau'r pwyllgor, ond rwy'n ddiolchgar eich bod wedi dweud eich bod yn parchu'r gwaith a wnaethom. Nawr, byddwn yn parhau i gymryd tystiolaeth ar y mater hwn, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â'r gwaith y cyfeiriais ato ac sydd wedi codi ynglŷn â gweithredu'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu. Rwy'n gobeithio, pan fyddwn yn derbyn y dystiolaeth honno—wel, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bosibl y gallech newid eich meddwl ar rai o'r materion hynny, wrth glywed y dystiolaeth honno'n uniongyrchol. Ond diolch am eich cyfraniad. Felly, diolch, ac mae croeso mawr i chi i'r pwyllgor.
Soniodd Carolyn, a oedd yn aelod o'r pwyllgor tan yn ddiweddar, fod materion diwylliant wedi eu gadael allan o'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu a bod hynny wedi bod yn destun gofid. Fe gododd hynny sawl gwaith yn ystod y dystiolaeth hon, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mai pwrpas cytundeb masnach fel arfer yw gwneud pethau'n haws, chwalu rhwystrau. Un o'r pethau mwyaf gwrthnysig am y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu a phopeth sydd wedi digwydd yn sgil Brexit, yn hyn o beth, yw mai'r gwrthwyneb sy'n wir, ac rwy'n credu mai goresgyn rhywfaint o'r gwrthnysigrwydd hwnnw yw'r her. Fe nododd Carolyn rai o'r cymhlethdodau hefyd, yr haenau dryslyd o gymhlethdod a dogfennaeth. A phwysigrwydd adrodd straeon, yn hollol.
Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn ichi am hynna, Carolyn.
Soniodd Heledd am, ie, y tristwch roeddem ni'n ei glywed, pan aethon ni i Frwsel, am y cyfyngiadau. Ac fel yr oeddem ni fel Cymry yn arfer arwain cymaint o brosiectau, roedd hwnna wedi dod drosodd inni, yn sicr—y pethau coll sy'n mynd tu hwnt i ddata. Ac, ydy, mae diwylliant yn fwy nag arf, fel roeddech chi'n cyfeirio ato. Mae e'n gallu creu cysylltiadau, atal cymaint o wrthdaro ar adeg pan fo cymaint o ryfeloedd dros y byd. Ac ie, dewis oedd ein cadw ni mas o Ewrop Greadigol. Dyna beth sy'n gwneud y peth mor rhwystredig. Dewis oedd e; doedd e ddim yn rhywbeth inevitable oedd yn dod mas o Brexit. Gofynnodd Heledd pa drafodaethau sy'n cael eu cynnal gyda San Steffan i newid hynna gydag Ewrop Greadigol, ac roeddwn i'n ddiolchgar i glywed ychydig, ac fe wnaf i ddod nôl at hwnna pan rwy'n ymateb i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
So, thank you very much for that, Carolyn.
Heledd mentioned, yes, the sadness that was expressed, when we went to Brussels, about the restrictions. And how we as Welsh people used to lead so many projects, that certainly came across to us—those things that go beyond data. And, yes, culture is more than a tool, as you mentioned. It can create connections and prevent so much conflict when we are seeing so much war and conflict across the globe. And yes, it was a choice to keep us out of Creative Europe. That is what makes it so frustrating. It was a choice; it wasn't an inevitability that came from Brexit. Heledd asked what discussions are being held with Westminster in order to change that in terms of Creative Europe, and I was pleased to hear some reference to that, and I'll return to that when I respond to the Cabinet Secretary.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Now, Mick—you're very welcome to our committee as well—welcomed greater co-operation that has happened between the UK and the EU. We do live in hope that that will bear more fruit, of course. Mick talked about the evidence from the Musicians' Union about declining bookings: 59 per cent said touring in the EU is no longer financially viable. Again, the fact that this was a choice to leave out of agreements, it makes it all the more galling, of course, for so many of the people giving evidence to us.
Alun, Welsh culture is an inherently European culture. I think of the map that was found in a remote church in Italy some 200 years ago, I think, and the only two places marked out on the map in these islands were London and Merthyr Tydfil. And when we think about Welsh literature, the poetry of Aneurin, Taliesin—they are celebrated throughout Europe as being the oldest surviving literature in all of Europe. Our culture is inherently European.
Nawr, fe wnaeth Mick—croeso mawr i chi i'n pwyllgor hefyd—groesawu'r cynnydd yn y cydweithredu sydd wedi digwydd rhwng y DU a'r UE. Rydym yn byw mewn gobaith y bydd hynny'n dwyn mwy o ffrwyth, wrth gwrs. Soniodd Mick am y dystiolaeth gan Undeb y Cerddorion ynglŷn â gostyngiad yn nifer yr archebion: dywedodd 59 y cant nad yw teithio yn yr UE bellach yn ymarferol yn ariannol. Unwaith eto, mae'r ffaith bod dewis wedi'i wneud i hepgor hyn o gytundebau yn ei wneud yn fwy chwerw i gynifer o'r bobl a roddodd dystiolaeth i ni.
Alun, mae diwylliant Cymreig yn ddiwylliant Ewropeaidd cynhenid. Rwy'n meddwl am y map a ganfuwyd mewn eglwys anghysbell yn yr Eidal oddeutu 200 mlynedd yn ôl, rwy'n credu, a'r unig ddau le a nodwyd ar y map ar yr ynysoedd hyn oedd Llundain a Merthyr Tudful. A phan feddyliwn am lenyddiaeth Gymraeg, barddoniaeth Aneurin, Taliesin—cânt eu dathlu ledled Ewrop fel y llenyddiaeth hynaf sydd wedi goroesi yn Ewrop gyfan. Mae ein diwylliant yn gynhenid Ewropeaidd.
Roedden ni'n sôn ddoe, fel roedd Alun yn sôn am Dafydd El yn y Siambr, am ba mor bwysig oedd hwnna, ac os caf i ddweud yn bersonol cymaint byddai cymaint o hyn, rwy'n siŵr, yn torri ei galon e, a dwi'n siŵr yr oedd e wedi yn y blynyddoedd mwy diweddar.
We mentioned yesterday, as Alun mentioned when were paying tribute to Dafydd El in the Siambr, how important that was, and may I say personally how much much of this would break his heart, I'm sure, and I'm sure it did in recent years?
Alun closed with saying that this is fundamentally about people speaking, sharing common inheritance, those things that we all share, and how we're all impoverished as a result.
Now, the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the difficulties, of course, facing artists. I think everyone who has taken part in this debate has acknowledged those difficulties. It is gratifying to hear that our work will help to shape future work from the Government, I do welcome that, and I also welcomed hearing what you said about Creative Europe, because you spoke about opportunities for hope. Now, that would bring so much hope to so many people working in the creative industries. It's good to hear that that is at the top of discussions that you're having with your Westminster colleagues. I look forward to hearing more about that, and thank you as well for reassuring us about the work that is going on across Government on this. Of course, there are opportunities for hope—I speak about that again. The TCA—I think, as a committee, we, very much reflecting on the evidence, would want to see the TCA being amended, not just in small ways, but that this fundamental change could happen. I thought what you said on that was tantalising. I hope that there will be a shift. Let us hope. We have to live; we have to cling to hope with something like this. I hope that, again, the Government here will keep amplifying these points in those discussions with Westminster.
Gorffennodd Alun drwy ddweud bod hyn yn ymwneud yn sylfaenol â phobl yn siarad, yn rhannu etifeddiaeth gyffredin, y pethau yr ydym i gyd yn eu rhannu, a sut y mae pawb ohonom ar ein colled o ganlyniad.
Nawr, roedd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cydnabod yr anawsterau sy'n wynebu artistiaid. Rwy'n credu bod pawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon wedi cydnabod yr anawsterau hynny. Mae'n braf clywed y bydd ein gwaith yn helpu i lunio gwaith gan y Llywodraeth yn y dyfodol, rwy'n croesawu hynny, ac rwyf hefyd yn croesawu clywed yr hyn a ddywedoch chi am Ewrop Greadigol, oherwydd fe siaradoch chi am gyfleoedd i obeithio. Nawr, byddai hynny'n dod â chymaint o obaith i gymaint o bobl sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiannau creadigol. Mae'n dda clywed bod hynny ar frig y trafodaethau yr ydych yn eu cael gyda'ch cymheiriaid yn San Steffan. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am hynny, a diolch hefyd am dawelu ein meddyliau ynglŷn â'r gwaith sy'n digwydd ar draws y Llywodraeth ar hyn. Wrth gwrs, mae cyfleoedd i obeithio—rwy'n siarad am hynny eto. Mae'r cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu—rwy'n credu, fel pwyllgor, y byddem ni, o ystyried y dystiolaeth, eisiau gweld y cytundeb masnach a chydweithredu'n cael ei ddiwygio, nid mewn ffyrdd bach yn unig, ond y gallai newid sylfaenol ddigwydd. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod yr hyn a ddywedoch chi am hynny'n ennyn chwilfrydedd. Gobeithio y bydd yna newid. Gadewch inni obeithio. Rhaid i ni fyw; rhaid inni ddal i obeithio gyda rhywbeth fel hyn. Rwy'n gobeithio, unwaith eto, y bydd y Llywodraeth yma yn parhau i godi llais ynghylch y pwyntiau hyn yn y trafodaethau gyda San Steffan.
Wrth gloi, Dirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn i bwysleisio pwysigrwydd dod o hyd i ddatrysiadau—. Llywydd; mae'n flin gen i. Rŷn ni fel pwyllgor yn clodfori'r rhai sy'n gweithio i ffeindio datrysiadau. Rŷn ni wedi croesawu'r gwellhad sydd wedi'i weld rhwng cysylltiadau rhwng y Deyrnas Gyfunol a'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ers cwblhau'r fframwaith Windsor. [Torri ar draws.] Bendith. Mae'r cyfleoedd posib y mae hyn yn eu hagor yn rhoi gobaith i ni y gall datrysiadau fod o fewn cyrraedd os oes digon o ewyllys a phenderfyniad.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, materion strategol i'r Deyrnas Gyfunol a'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ydy'r rhain yn y fan cyntaf. Ein cred ni yw y byddai'r datrysiadau hyn ar gyfer gweithwyr creadigol i'w ffeindio wrth symlhau prosesau, eu eglurhau nhw'n well. Fel pob amser gyda sgil-effeithiau Brexit, rhaid inni edrych y tu hwnt i'r data i weld yr effaith real ar fywydau pobl. Dyna oedd yn dod mas o'r dystiolaeth. Rŷn ni oll yn elwa o'r gelfyddyd sy'n cael ei greu gan yr artistiaid hyn, ac mae gennym ni oll rôl bwysig i'w chwarae i helpu'r sector.
Gwnaf i ddweud wrth gloi, Llywydd, wrth y sector, fod yr adroddiad hwn yn cynrychioli ein hymrwymiad ni fel pwyllgor i chi. Allwn ni ddim fforddio rhoi lan, a wnawn ni ddim. Rŷn ni'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi unwaith eto am eich dyfalbarhad, eich ymrwymiad chi i'ch gwaith. Rhaid inni sicrhau dyfodol gwell a haws i'n hartistiaid, lle gall golau dreiddio unwaith eto i oleuo'r ffordd.
In conclusion, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd like to emphasise the importance of finding solutions—. Llywydd; I do apologise. We as a committee praise those who are working to find those solutions. We have welcomed the improvement that we've seen in terms of connections between the UK and the European Union since the completion of the Windsor framework. [Interruption.] Bless you. The possible opportunities that this provides gives us hope that there could be solutions within reach if there is enough determination and will.
Now, of course, these are strategic issues for the UK and the European Union in the first instance. But we believe that the solutions for creative workers could be found in simplifying processes and explaining them better. As always with the impacts of Brexit, we have to look beyond the data to see the real impact on people's lives. That came out of the evidence. We all benefit from the art created by these artists, and we all have an important role to play in helping the sector.
In conclusion, I will say to the sector that this report represents our commitment as a committee to you. We can't afford to give up, and we won't. We're grateful to you for your persistence and your commitment to your work. We must ensure a better and easier future for our artists, where light can shine once again, and shine the way for us all.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, mae'r cynnig yna wedi'i dderbyn.
The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Heledd Fychan.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Heledd Fychan.
Eitem 7 sydd nesaf, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar ymchwiliad i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant. I'r ddadl yma, galwaf ar Altaf Hussain i wneud y cynnig—Altaf Hussain.
Item 7 is next, the Welsh Conservatives debate on an inquiry into child sexual exploitation. I call on Altaf Hussain to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8821 Paul Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gomisiynu ymchwiliad annibynnol i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant gan gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol.
Motion NDM8821 Paul Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I move the motion tabled in the name of Paul Davies.
My colleagues and I were deeply touched by the story of Emily Vaughn. Her courage to call for an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs has inspired us to bring forward this motion today. Emily, although that is not her real name, described in harrowing detail her treatment at the hands of a grooming gang. At the age of 11, she was forced into trafficking drugs for a county lines drug gang. This is heartbreaking. This young girl was forced to hide drugs in her hair ties or in her clothing to ferry drugs to users. Then they moved on from forcing her to transport drugs into forcing themselves on her, subjecting her to sexual abuse. This child was then trafficked from her home in south Wales to Telford, where she was continually sexually assaulted. Following an event when she was held at knifepoint, Emily called 999, but, when the operator heard that she was from Wales, she was told to contact her local police force, helpless.
Talking about her years of abuse and torture, Emily said:
'When I first reported what happened to me to the police, they didn’t help me. They didn’t even know what it was or understand what they were doing.'
And, sadly, we know from the UK independent inquiry that Emily's story is far from unique—girls and boys trafficked and abused, and ignored by those supposed to protect them.
Emily’s story has somewhat of a silver lining. If anything good can come from her horrendous ordeal, it is that she advocates for other victims, and is actively campaigning to ensure no-one else suffers the abuse that she endured. She has condemned those seeking to shut down debate on child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs. Again, in her own words,
'the more you talk about it, the more children at risk of being groomed can be saved.'
Emily has launched a petition for a Wales-wide inquiry because she believes that the Welsh Government is wrong when it states that there are no current widespread issues with grooming gangs in Wales. I will quote her again:
'Look at the map of the UK—do politicians think that grooming gangs stop when it comes to Wales? People who exploit children don’t care about borders.
'They don’t move from places like Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford or Telford, then all of a sudden say "oh no we can’t go into Wales".'
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n gwneud y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Paul Davies.
Cafodd fy nghyd-Aelodau a minnau ein cyffwrdd yn fawr gan stori Emily Vaughn. Cawsom ein hysbrydoli i gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn heddiw gan ei dewrder yn galw am ymchwiliad annibynnol i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant gan gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol. Disgrifiodd Emily, er nad dyna yw ei henw go iawn, yn ddirdynnol o fanwl y driniaeth a gafodd gan gang meithrin perthynas amhriodol. Yn 11 oed, cafodd ei gorfodi i fasnachu cyffuriau i gang yn gweithredu llinellau cyffuriau. Mae'n dorcalonnus. Gorfodwyd y ferch ifanc hon i guddio cyffuriau yn ei bandiau gwallt neu yn ei dillad i gario cyffuriau i ddefnyddwyr. Yna fe wnaethant symud ymlaen o'i gorfodi i gludo cyffuriau i orfodi eu hunain arni, gan ei darostwng i gam-drin rhywiol. Yna, cafodd y plentyn ei masnachu o'i chartref yn ne Cymru i Telford, lle dioddefodd ymosodiadau rhywiol cyson. Yn dilyn digwyddiad pan gafodd ei bygwth â chyllell, ffoniodd Emily 999, ond pan glywodd gweithredwr yr alwad ei bod yn dod o Gymru, dywedodd wrthi am gysylltu â'i heddlu lleol, a'i gadael heb gymorth.
Wrth siarad am ei blynyddoedd o gamdriniaeth ac artaith, dywedodd Emily:
'Pan ddywedais wrth yr heddlu gyntaf beth oedd wedi digwydd i mi, ni wnaethant fy helpu. Nid oeddent yn gwybod beth oedd hyn hyd yn oed, nac yn deall beth oeddent yn ei wneud.'
Ac yn anffodus, fe wyddom o ymchwiliad annibynnol y DU fod stori Emily ymhell o fod yn unigryw—merched a bechgyn yn cael eu masnachu a'u cam-drin, a'u hanwybyddu gan y rhai sydd i fod i'w diogelu.
Mae stori Emily yn gorffen yn eithaf da. Os gall unrhyw beth da ddod o'i dioddefaint erchyll, mae hi'n dadlau dros ddioddefwyr eraill, ac yn ymgyrchu'n frwd i sicrhau nad oes neb arall yn dioddef y gamdriniaeth a ddioddefodd hi. Mae hi wedi condemnio'r rhai sy'n ceisio mygu dadleuon am gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant a gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol. Unwaith eto, yn ei geiriau ei hun,
'po fwyaf y byddwch chi'n siarad amdano, y mwyaf o blant sydd mewn perygl o ddioddef yn sgil meithrin perthynas amhriodol y gellir eu hachub.'
Mae Emily wedi lansio deiseb yn galw am ymchwiliad ledled Cymru am ei bod yn credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn anghywir pan fo'n dweud nad oes problemau eang ar hyn o bryd gyda gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol yng Nghymru. Rwy'n ei dyfynnu eto:
'Edrychwch ar fap y DU—a yw gwleidyddion yn credu bod gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol yn rhoi'r gorau iddi yng Nghymru? Nid yw pobl sy'n camfanteisio ar blant yn poeni am ffiniau.
'Nid ydynt yn symud o lefydd fel Lerpwl, Newcastle, Rhydychen neu Telford, ac yna'n sydyn yn dweud "o na, ni allwn fynd i Gymru".'
Would the Member take an intervention?
A wnaiff yr Aelod dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
Thank you, and I agree with him, these are appalling stories, and he's absolutely right that nobody should suppress discussion about this, and we should confront the ugliness of it, wherever it leads. I just want to ask him: his colleague, Andrew R.T. Davies, has focused specifically in his questions on the role of what he calls 'Pakistani men' in grooming gangs. I don't think that is the correct focus. Does he?
Diolch, ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef, mae'r rhain yn straeon arswydus, ac mae'n hollol iawn na ddylai neb fygu trafodaeth ar hyn, a dylem wynebu pa mor erchyll ydyw, ble bynnag y mae'n arwain. Rwyf am ofyn iddo: mae ei gyd-Aelod, Andrew R.T. Davies, wedi canolbwyntio'n benodol yn ei gwestiynau ar rôl yr hyn y mae'n ei alw'n 'ddynion Pacistanaidd' mewn gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol. Nid wyf yn credu mai dyna'r ffocws cywir. A yw'n cytuno?
Well, we are here, irrespective of colour, race, religion. We are all together here as a community, as a nation. We all should be together to see to it that it doesn't happen, irrespective of—. You can't blame each other, no; we're all together in it. Thank you.
We agree that—[Inaudible.]—grooming is happening across our nation and we need a Wales-wide inquiry to get to grip with the problems here at home. As a proud Welshman, not by birth, as many of us claim, but by conviction, I want my Wales safe, safe for our families, our children and children's children. As I have said previously, grooming gangs are not limited to any one group. They come from all walks of life, from all races and religions. The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, known as the Jay inquiry, estimated that one in six girls and one in 20 boys experience child sexual abuse before they reach the age of 16. Shameful. They found evidence of organised child sexual abuse and exploitation by criminal gangs across my region, but believed that it was being downplayed by police and other authorities over concerns of negative publicity. In evidence to the Jay inquiry, detective chief superintendent Daniel Richards accepted that it was possible that there are organised criminal networks that have yet to be discovered and that increased county lines activity meant that there was an increased likelihood of sexual exploitation. Sadly, the inquiry concluded that child abuse is not a problem of the past, and the explosion in online facilitated child sexual abuse underlines the extent to which the problem is an epidemic within England and Wales.
It is carried out by men and women from all walks of life, not just those from criminal gangs. Recent high-profile convictions include priests, teachers and even police officers. When this institution first met, it was welcomed with 'Lost in Care', the report on systemic child abuse in north Wales care homes. And over the years, we have seen high-profile convictions of child abusers, including a member of this institution, as well as our auditor general. Just over a year ago, a police constable from Bridgend was convicted of grooming 210 young girls and blackmailing many of them into carrying out sexual acts. He threatened to kill the parents of a 12-year-old girl if she did not send him sexually explicit videos. Last year, we finally saw Neil Foden, a headteacher, convicted of grooming and sexually abusing four of his pupils. Just weeks ago, a priest was spared jail despite possessing indecent images of children as young as three-years old, and, in recent days, the former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon has admitted multiple counts of sexually abusing children.
We cannot ignore the threat to our children of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. We cannot simply assert that, because we have not had a Rotherham or a Rochdale-style scandal, grooming gangs are not operating on this side of Offa's Dyke. We know that they are, if we listen to the victims and ignore the authorities seeking to downplay the threat because of negative publicity. The Jay inquiry looked at one small part of Wales. So, we do not officially know the scale of the problem across our nation, but even one victim of child sexual abuse is one too many. The Welsh Government can argue that the Jay inquiry was enough, but victims like Emily know that it is not. The Welsh Government did not even accept all of the recommendations made by the independent inquiry into this abuse. The only way that we can treat victims with compassion is to deliver them justice and ensure that no child suffers in silence, that we listen to victims. And victims like Emily are shouting out for a Wales-wide inquiry into sexual exploitation by grooming gangs. I urge Members to listen and to support our motion today. Thank you very much.
Wel, rydym yma, ni waeth beth fo'n lliw, hil, crefydd. Rydym i gyd gyda'n gilydd yma fel cymuned, fel cenedl. Dylem i gyd fod gyda'n gilydd yn sicrhau nad yw'n digwydd, beth bynnag am—. Ni allwch feio'ch gilydd, na; rydym i gyd gyda'n gilydd yn hyn. Diolch.
Rydym yn cytuno bod—[Anghlywadwy.]—mae meithrin perthnasoedd amhriodol yn digwydd ar draws ein cenedl ac mae angen ymchwiliad ledled Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau yma gartref. Fel Cymro balch, nid drwy enedigaeth, fel y mae llawer ohonom yn ei honni, ond drwy argyhoeddiad, rwyf am i fy Nghymru i fod yn ddiogel, yn ddiogel i'n teuluoedd, i'n plant a phlant ein plant. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, nid yw gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol yn gyfyngedig i unrhyw grŵp unigol. Maent yn dod o bob cefndir, o bob hil a chrefydd. Amcangyfrifodd yr ymchwiliad annibynnol i gam-drin plant yn rhywiol, a elwir yn ymchwiliad Jay, fod un o bob chwech o ferched ac un o bob 20 bachgen yn profi cam-drin rhywiol cyn eu bod yn 16 oed. Mae'n gywilyddus. Canfuwyd tystiolaeth o gam-drin a chamfanteisio rhywiol ar blant ar lefel gyfundrefnol gan gangiau troseddol ar draws fy rhanbarth, ond roeddent yn credu bod yr heddlu ac awdurdodau eraill yn gwneud llai o beth ohono oherwydd pryderon ynghylch cyhoeddusrwydd negyddol. Mewn tystiolaeth i ymchwiliad Jay, derbyniodd y ditectif brif uwch-arolygydd Daniel Richards ei bod hi'n bosibl fod yna rwydweithiau troseddol cyfundrefnol sydd eto i'w darganfod a bod mwy o weithgarwch llinellau cyffuriau yn golygu bod mwy o debygolrwydd o gamfanteisio rhywiol. Yn anffodus, daeth yr ymchwiliad i'r casgliad nad problem sy'n perthyn i'r gorffennol yw cam-drin plant, ac mae'r ffrwydrad mewn cam-drin plant yn rhywiol a hwylusir ar-lein yn tanlinellu'r graddau y mae'r broblem yn epidemig yng Nghymru a Lloegr.
Caiff ei gyflawni gan ddynion a menywod o bob math o gefndir, nid rhai sy'n aelodau o gangiau troseddol yn unig. Mae euogfarnau proffil uchel diweddar yn cynnwys offeiriaid, athrawon a hyd yn oed swyddogion yr heddlu. Pan gyfarfu'r sefydliad hwn am y tro cyntaf, cafodd ei groesawu gan 'Ar Goll Mewn Gofal', yr adroddiad ar gam-drin plant systemig yng nghartrefi gofal gogledd Cymru. A dros y blynyddoedd, gwelsom euogfarnau proffil uchel i gamdrinwyr plant, gan gynnwys aelod o'r sefydliad hwn, yn ogystal â'n harchwiliwr cyffredinol. Ychydig dros flwyddyn yn ôl, cafwyd cwnstabl heddlu o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr yn euog o feithrin perthynas amhriodol â 210 o ferched ifanc a blacmelio llawer ohonynt i gyflawni gweithredoedd rhywiol. Fe wnaeth fygwth lladd rhieni merch 12 oed os na fyddai'n anfon fideos rhywiol ato. Y llynedd, o'r diwedd fe welsom Neil Foden, pennaeth, yn cael ei ddedfrydu'n euog o feithrin perthynas amhriodol ac o gam-drin pedair o'i ddisgyblion yn rhywiol. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, llwyddodd offeiriad i osgoi carchar er bod ganddo ddelweddau anweddus o blant mor ifanc â thair oed yn ei feddiant, ac yn y dyddiau diwethaf, mae cyn-Esgob Abertawe ac Aberhonddu wedi cyfaddef sawl cyhuddiad o gam-drin plant yn rhywiol.
Ni allwn anwybyddu bygythiad camfanteisio rhywiol a cham-drin rhywiol i'n plant. Ni allwn honni, oherwydd nad ydym wedi cael sgandal fel un Rotherham neu Rochdale, nad yw gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol yn gweithredu ar yr ochr hon i Glawdd Offa. Fe wyddom eu bod, os ydym yn gwrando ar y dioddefwyr ac yn anwybyddu'r awdurdodau sy'n ceisio gwneud llai o'r bygythiad oherwydd cyhoeddusrwydd negyddol. Edrychodd ymchwiliad Jay ar un rhan fach o Gymru. Felly, nid ydym yn gwybod yn swyddogol beth yw maint y broblem ar draws ein gwlad, ond mae hyd yn oed un dioddefwr cam-drin plant yn rhywiol yn un yn ormod. Gall Llywodraeth Cymru ddadlau bod ymchwiliad Jay yn ddigon, ond mae dioddefwyr fel Emily yn gwybod nad yw hynny'n wir. Ni wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru dderbyn yr holl argymhellion a wnaed gan yr ymchwiliad annibynnol i'r cam-drin hwn. Yr unig ffordd y gallwn drin dioddefwyr â thosturi yw sicrhau cyfiawnder iddynt a sicrhau nad oes unrhyw blentyn yn dioddef yn dawel, ein bod yn gwrando ar ddioddefwyr. Ac mae dioddefwyr fel Emily yn crefu am ymchwiliad ledled Cymru i ecsbloetio rhywiol gan gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i wrando ac i gefnogi ein cynnig heddiw. Diolch yn fawr.
Rwyf wedi dethol y gwelliant i'r cynnig, a dwi'n galw ar Sioned Williams i gynnig gwelliant 1. Sioned Williams.
I have selected the amendment to the motion and I call on Sioned Williams to move amendment 1. Sioned Williams.
Gwelliant 1—Heledd Fychan
Dileu'r cyfan a'i ddisodli gyda'r canlynol:
Cynnig bod y Senedd
1. Yn condemnio'r methiannau sefydliadol a arweiniodd at yr esgeulustod a'r diffyg adrodd achosion o gam-drin plant dros sawl degawd, fel y canfuwyd yn ymchwiliad annibynnol yr Athro Alexis Jay yn 2022.
2. Yn canmol dewrder y dioddefwyr a'r goroeswyr am rannu eu tystiolaethau, ac yn credu y dylai eu lleisiau bob amser gael blaenoriaeth wrth adolygu a chryfhau'r mesurau diogelu perthnasol.
3. Yn cydnabod pryder diweddar y cyhoedd ynghylch trais a cham-drin rhywiol gan rwydweithiau cyfundrefnol.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) gweithredu holl argymhellion Adroddiad Jay yn ddi-oed;
b) ymgysylltu â phob sefydliad ar y rheng flaen sy'n gwasanaethu dioddefwyr a goroeswyr trais a cham-drin rhywiol;
c) gweithio gyda heddluoedd Cymru i gynnal archwiliad Cymru gyfan ar unwaith, gyda goruchwyliaeth annibynnol briodol, a sicrhau cydweithrediad â'r archwiliad ar draws y DU dan arweiniad y Farwnes Casey i raddfa a natur camfanteisio gan gangiau; a
d) ystyried comisiynu ymchwiliad annibynnol llawn yn sgil y dystiolaeth a gasglwyd gan yr archwiliad.
Amendment 1—Heledd Fychan
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd
1. Condemns the institutional failings that led to the neglect and underreporting of instances of child abuse over several decades, as found in Professor Alexis Jay’s independent inquiry of 2022.
2. Commends the bravery of the victims and survivors for sharing their testimonies, and believes their voices should always take precedence in the course of reviewing and strengthening relevant safeguards.
3. Recognises recent public concern regarding sexual violence and abuse by organised networks.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) implement all recommendations of the Jay Report without delay;
b) engage with all organisations on the frontline serving victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse;
c) work with Welsh police forces to conduct an immediate all-Wales audit, with appropriate independent oversight, and ensure co-operation with the UK-wide audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation; and
d) consider commissioning a full independent inquiry in light of the evidence gathered by the audit.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
This is an important debate and we must learn from past failures and we must listen to victims and survivors, we must protect children from exploitation, and we must commit to real, lasting change. And I'm sure that every Member here agrees on that. This is why Plaid Cymru has tabled an amendment that takes a victim-centred, evidence-led approach to tackling child exploitation, because we must absolutely not make this a political issue, and we must ensure that the best way of achieving action and accountability is taken for the sake of victims and survivors. Their shocking suffering of sexual violence and abuse must never be forgotten or played down. And if some victims and survivors feel that this has been played down, if they have been left feeling that any of us in public life in Wales have ever given the impression that we thought this wasn’t our problem, not something that happens here, this debate is our chance to reassure them, to give them our commitment that action will be taken, and will be taken now. Given the absolutely horrific nature of these crimes against some of our most vulnerable young people, it’s understandable that people are outraged. We all want to see action and accountability, and be assured that this will be stopped and will be prevented from happening again. We believe the calls we make in our amendments on the Welsh Government are the best way to achieve this. We must see the recommendations of the Jay report implemented without any further delay.
Mae hon yn ddadl bwysig a rhaid inni ddysgu o fethiannau’r gorffennol a rhaid inni wrando ar ddioddefwyr a goroeswyr, rhaid inni ddiogelu plant rhag camfanteisio, a rhaid inni ymrwymo i newid gwirioneddol, parhaol. Ac rwy’n siŵr fod pob Aelod yma’n cytuno â hynny. Dyma pam y mae Plaid Cymru wedi cyflwyno gwelliant sy’n mabwysiadu dull o fynd i’r afael â chamfanteisio ar blant sy’n canolbwyntio ar y dioddefwr ac sy’n cael ei arwain gan y dystiolaeth, oherwydd rhaid inni beidio â gwneud hwn yn fater gwleidyddol o gwbl, a rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn mynd ar drywydd y ffordd orau o sicrhau gweithredu ac atebolrwydd er mwyn dioddefwyr a goroeswyr. Ni ddylem byth anghofio’r ffordd frawychus y maent wedi dioddef trais a cham-drin rhywiol. Ac os bydd rhai dioddefwyr a goroeswyr yn teimlo bod llai wedi’i wneud o hyn, os ydynt yn teimlo bod unrhyw un ohonom mewn bywyd cyhoeddus yng Nghymru wedi rhoi’r argraff ein bod yn teimlo nad yw hon yn broblem i ni, nad yw’n rhywbeth sy’n digwydd yma, y ddadl hon yw ein cyfle ni i dawelu eu meddyliau, i roi ein hymrwymiad iddynt y bydd camau’n cael eu cymryd, ac yn cael eu cymryd nawr. O ystyried natur wirioneddol erchyll y troseddau hyn yn erbyn rhai o’n pobl ifanc mwyaf agored i niwed, mae’n ddealladwy fod pobl wedi gwylltio. Mae pob un ohonom eisiau gweld gweithredu ac atebolrwydd, a chael ein sicrhau y caiff hyn ei atal ac y caiff ei rwystro rhag digwydd eto. Credwn mai’r galwadau a wnawn yn ein gwelliannau ar Lywodraeth Cymru yw’r ffordd orau o gyflawni hyn. Rhaid inni weld argymhellion adroddiad Jay yn cael eu rhoi ar waith heb unrhyw oedi pellach.
The six recommendations for the Welsh Government following the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse led by Professor Jay were all accepted by the Welsh Government, but concerns have been expressed about the slowness of their implementation and I want to detail some of the concerns that have been raised about this and highlight why their full and urgent implementation are needed, as outlined by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
I’m sure, in responding to the debate, we’ll hear a full update from the Welsh Government, and we need an honest assessment, no spin, of where action must be focused, on what resource will be allocated, and definite timescales that reflect the urgency of this work. It’s concerning that the office of the children’s commissioner has highlighted that although one of the recommendations in their annual plan for 2022-23 was that the Welsh Government should ensure that the renewed national action plan on preventing child sexual abuse effectively responds to the recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse inquiry and sensitively incorporates the views of children and young people, no new plan has come forward since then. I hope the Cabinet Secretary will address that in her response.
There are also concerns voiced by the children’s commissioner on other aspects of the Welsh Government’s approach to the recommendations and the resourcing needed, including the establishment of a child protection authority for Wales and the Welsh Government not exploring the opportunity to introduce a more comprehensive oversight mechanism for child protection matters across Wales. The only Minister to have the word 'children' in her title and having safeguarding in her responsibilities is not a senior Cabinet-level post. I would urge the Welsh Government to review whether their weak response to the IICSA recommendation that there be a Cabinet Minister for children as being covered by the fact that the Welsh Government are signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Cabinet have a collective responsibility is sufficient. It is also evident that we must see more detail on the actions being taken on awareness raising on the mandatory reporting duty, the need for which has been highlighted. of course. by the Foden case.
And on the recommendation on specialist therapeutic support for child victims of sexual abuse, we really need to see urgent action on this. Specialist support services state that the support available is not consistent in all parts of Wales, with many parts of Wales having no service at all and, where there are services, waiting lists are long. They say co-operative commissioning between local authorities and the health service is needed, nationally mandated by the Welsh Government now, as services will take time to develop. The implementation of this and all the recommendations will need proper resourcing, and this must be made a funding priority.
The campaign group Act on IICSA is pushing for a clear timeline for adopting these vital recommendations, and the Survivors Trust call the recommendations a road map to be acted on now. Professor Jay has warned that another inquiry would delay justice for survivors, and that must be the priority. We do need to establish the extent and nature of the problem, and our amendments do not deny the need for an inquiry if the evidence gathered by the steps point to the need for one. In this, police data will be vital but won’t be enough on its own; we will need the input of third sector organisations, social services, the health services and, most importantly, survivors. By implementing all the recommendations of the Jay report without delay, by engaging with all organisations on the front line serving victims and survivors, by working with Welsh police forces and others to conduct an immediate all-Wales audit, with appropriate oversight and by ensuring co-operation with the UK-wide audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation, it is possible for us to establish the nature and extent of this problem and address it. Many survivors and victims feel ignored and let down, and listening to them isn't enough. We must see action, and the priority must be acting now. This is what can and must be achieved for the sake of those who have suffered unbearably and who have been unacceptably failed.
Cafodd y chwe argymhelliad i Lywodraeth Cymru yn dilyn yr ymchwiliad annibynnol i gam-drin plant yn rhywiol dan arweiniad yr Athro Jay eu derbyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ond mae pryderon wedi’u mynegi ynghylch arafwch eu gweithredu ac rwyf am fanylu ar rai o’r pryderon a godwyd ynglŷn â hyn a thynnu sylw at pam y mae angen eu gweithredu’n llawn ac ar fyrder fel yr amlinellwyd gan Gomisiynydd Plant Cymru.
Wrth ymateb i’r ddadl, rwy’n siŵr y cawn glywed diweddariad llawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac mae angen asesiad gonest, dim sbin, o ble y mae’n rhaid canolbwyntio camau gweithredu, pa adnoddau a gaiff eu dyrannu, ac amserlenni pendant sy’n adlewyrchu’r brys am y gwaith hwn. Er mai un o’r argymhellion yng nghynllun blynyddol swyddfa'r comisiynydd plant ar gyfer 2022-23 oedd y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau bod y cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol diwygiedig ar atal cam-drin plant yn rhywiol yn ymateb yn effeithiol i argymhelliad yr Ymchwiliad Annibynnol i Gam-drin Plant yn Rhywiol ac ymgorffori safbwyntiau plant a phobl ifanc yn sensitif, mae’n destun pryder nad oes unrhyw gynllun newydd wedi'i gyflwyno ers hynny. Rwy’n gobeithio y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn rhoi sylw i hynny yn ei hymateb.
Mae pryderon wedi’u lleisio hefyd gan y comisiynydd plant ynghylch agweddau eraill ar ddull Llywodraeth Cymru o ymdrin â’r argymhellion a’r adnoddau sydd eu hangen, gan gynnwys sefydlu awdurdod diogelu plant i Gymru ac nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi archwilio’r cyfle i gyflwyno mecanwaith goruchwylio mwy cynhwysfawr ar gyfer materion diogelu plant ledled Cymru. Nid yw’r unig Weinidog sydd â ‘plant’ yn ei theitl a diogelu yn ei chyfrifoldebau yn swydd uwch ar lefel y Cabinet. Hoffwn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i adolygu a yw ei hymateb gwan i argymhelliad yr Ymchwiliad Annibynnol i Gam-drin Plant yn Rhywiol y dylid cael Gweinidog Cabinet ar gyfer plant fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llofnodi Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau’r Plentyn a bod gan y Cabinet gyfrifoldeb ar y cyd yn ddigonol. Mae hefyd yn amlwg fod yn rhaid inni weld mwy o fanylion am y camau sy’n cael eu cymryd i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r ddyletswydd adrodd orfodol yr amlygwyd yr angen amdani gan achos Foden wrth gwrs.
Ac ar yr argymhelliad am gymorth therapiwtig arbenigol i blant sy’n ddioddefwyr cam-drin rhywiol, mae gwir angen inni weld gweithredu brys ar hyn. Mae gwasanaethau cymorth arbenigol yn nodi nad yw’r cymorth sydd ar gael yn gyson ym mhob rhan o Gymru, gyda llawer o rannau o Gymru heb wasanaeth o gwbl a lle mae gwasanaethau, mae rhestrau aros yn hir. Maent yn dweud bod angen comisiynu cydweithredol rhwng awdurdodau lleol a'r gwasanaeth iechyd, wedi ei fandadu'n genedlaethol gan Lywodraeth Cymru nawr, gan y bydd gwasanaethau'n cymryd amser i ddatblygu. Bydd angen adnoddau priodol ar gyfer gweithredu hyn a'r holl argymhellion, a rhaid ei wneud yn flaenoriaeth ariannu.
Mae’r grŵp ymgyrchu Gweithredu ar Ymchwiliad Annibynnol i Gam-drin Plant yn Rhywiol yn pwyso am linell amser glir ar gyfer mabwysiadu’r argymhellion hanfodol hyn, ac mae Ymddiriedolaeth y Goroeswyr yn galw’r argymhellion yn fap ffordd i weithredu arno nawr. Mae’r Athro Jay wedi rhybuddio y byddai ymchwiliad arall yn gohirio cyfiawnder i oroeswyr, a rhaid mai dyna’r flaenoriaeth. Mae angen inni sefydlu maint a natur y broblem ac nad yw ein gwelliannau yn gwadu’r angen am ymchwiliad os yw’r dystiolaeth a gesglir gan y camau yn dynodi bod angen un. Yn hyn o beth, bydd data’r heddlu yn hanfodol, ond ni fydd yn ddigon ar ei ben ei hun; bydd angen mewnbwn sefydliadau trydydd sector, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, y gwasanaethau iechyd ac yn bwysicaf oll, goroeswyr. Trwy weithredu holl argymhellion adroddiad Jay yn ddi-oed, trwy ymgysylltu â’r holl sefydliadau ar y rheng flaen sy’n gwasanaethu dioddefwyr a goroeswyr, trwy weithio gyda heddluoedd Cymru ac eraill i gynnal archwiliad Cymru gyfan ar unwaith, gyda throsolwg priodol a thrwy sicrhau cydweithrediad â’r archwiliad ar gyfer y DU gyfan a arweinir gan y Farwnes Casey i raddfa a natur camfanteisio gan gangiau, mae’n bosibl inni sefydlu natur a maint y broblem hon a mynd i’r afael â hi. Mae llawer o oroeswyr a dioddefwyr yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu hanwybyddu a'u siomi, ac nid yw gwrando arnynt yn unig yn ddigon. Rhaid inni weld gweithredu, a rhoi’r flaenoriaeth i weithredu nawr. Dyma'r hyn y gellir ac y mae'n rhaid ei gyflawni er mwyn y rhai sydd wedi dioddef yn annioddefol ac sydd wedi cael cam mewn modd sy'n annerbyniol.
First and foremost, I'd like to pay tribute to all of the victims across Wales who have spoken out and shared their stories. The victims, Presiding Officer, sit at the heart of our motion here today. This isn't in any way, shape or form about political point scoring; this is solely about supporting victims of these heinous crimes by getting a clearer picture of the scale of the situation and, subsequently, taking action to prevent sexual exploitation in the future. I believe the best way to achieve this is by commissioning a Wales-wide inquiry into sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.
We all know that grooming gangs are indeed operating here in Wales, targeting children, but the full extent of the problem is still unknown. Emily Vaughn, not her real name, who I know many of my colleagues will perhaps be referring to today, is one of the victims we, in fact, know of who suffered horrific abuse from a grooming gang here in Wales. Emily has spoken out about the evil abuse she suffered and has now backed calls for a Wales inquiry. She was trafficked from south Wales to Telford when she was just a child, and the harrowing abuse she suffered began when she was just 11 years old. It saw her groomed into becoming a drugs trafficker later on, and then, sadly, the monstrous abuse became even more severe. By the age of 20, she had been raped over 1,000 times.
Presiding Officer, this young woman's life has been ruined by these despicable excuses for human beings, and perhaps what's more heartbreaking is that I fear that there were opportunities to prevent this abuse, but they were, indeed, missed. The police failed to help her. On one occasion, she called the police when she was threatened by a knife in Telford, and the person on the phone, upon hearing she was from Wales, told Emily to call her local police force. We all are aware that the current mechanism in place simply isn't working, with a seven year-long independent inquiry into child sexual abuse describing the mechanism as fundamentally flawed and unable to protect vulnerable children at risk of being groomed, coerced and threatened.
Professor Alexis Jay's inquiry took evidence from 6,000 victims across hundreds of days, looking at abuse in a range of places, including schools, children's homes and churches. The inquiry found that children had been harmed both here and abroad by individuals and paedophile networks, including grooming gangs on the streets of Britain. Professor Jay's conclusion was damning. She said that the nation had been scarred by an epidemic that left thousands of victims in its poisonous wake.
Presiding Officer, the only place in Wales the inquiry looked at was Swansea, and that's why we need to have a thorough investigation looking at other areas in all corners of Wales. The Welsh Government has previously said there is no current widespread issue with grooming gangs here in Wales, but how can the Government be so certain? We know from StatsWales figures that there were, indeed, 2,400 cases of child exploitation between 2022 and 2023. These included reported cases of child sexual exploitation, child criminal expectation and child trafficking.
Presiding Officer, Emily now works tirelessly with people at risk of exploitation, and she trains professionals to spot potential victims of human trafficking. I'd like to share some words here today in the Chamber that Emily penned for the Causeway charity, which supports survivors of modern slavery:
'When I was growing up I’d never heard of human trafficking, exploitation, or grooming, so when it happened to me and my friends, we didn’t have the words to try and explain or describe what was happening to us.
'As young teenagers, older men introduced us to drugs and bought us alcohol, and whilst we were under the influence, they raped us. We were led to believe it was no big deal; that it "was just sex," but it was traumatising.
'We became addicted to drugs, and these older men took us around the country to houses where other men were waiting. We were scared, and felt we had no choice. Over the course of five years, I was forced to sleep with around 1,500 men.
'It was only when I was older that I was able to look back at what me and my friends had been through, and know that what had happened to me was a crime. I did my research and started to learn the words, and look for help. I was referred for modern slavery support, and now I help other young people recognise when they are being exploited, and where to get help.'
'In the UK thousands of young people are being targeted by gangs, and groomed or coerced into criminal or sexual exploitation. It can be extremely isolating and confusing for the people affected, and a lot of the time they don’t realise there is support available to them, or that what their abuser is doing to them is wrong.'
Presiding Officer, this harrowing account highlights the need for an inquiry so that we can all do what we can to ensure that no other child endures the horrors and trauma that Emily had to go through. We do need to get a better understanding of the scale of this despicable crime, and we must come together and do everything we can to prevent the appalling sexual exploitation that is taking place here in Wales. As my colleague and Conservative MP, Mims Davies, said, our daughters and granddaughters need to be protected. We should stop at nothing to achieve this, and I sincerely hope that all Members here in the Chamber today will support our motion. Thank you.
Yn gyntaf ac yn bennaf, hoffwn dalu teyrnged i bob un o'r dioddefwyr ledled Cymru sydd wedi siarad a rhannu eu straeon. Lywydd, y dioddefwyr sydd wrth wraidd ein cynnig yma heddiw. Nid yw hyn mewn unrhyw ddull na modd yn ymwneud â sgorio pwyntiau gwleidyddol; mae a wnelo hyn yn unig â chefnogi dioddefwyr y troseddau erchyll hyn trwy gael darlun cliriach o raddfa’r sefyllfa a chymryd camau yn sgil hynny i atal camfanteisio rhywiol yn y dyfodol. Rwy’n credu mai’r ffordd orau o gyflawni hyn yw drwy gomisiynu ymchwiliad Cymru gyfan i gamfanteisio rhywiol gan gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol.
Mae pawb ohonom yn gwybod bod gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol yn gweithredu yma yng Nghymru, yn targedu plant, ond nid yw maint y broblem yn ei chyfanrwydd yn hysbys o hyd. Mae Emily Vaughn, nid ei henw iawn, y gwn y bydd llawer o fy nghyd-Aelodau’n cyfeirio ati heddiw o bosibl, yn un o’r dioddefwyr y gwyddom eu bod wedi dioddef camdriniaeth erchyll gan gang meithrin perthynas amhriodol yma yng Nghymru. Mae Emily wedi siarad am y gamdriniaeth ddieflig a ddioddefodd ac mae wedi cefnogi galwadau am ymchwiliad i Gymru. Cafodd ei masnachu o dde Cymru i Telford pan oedd hi’n blentyn, a dechreuodd y gamdriniaeth ddirdynnol pan oedd hi ond yn 11 oed. Golygodd ei bod wedi ei meithrin yn amhriodol i ddod yn fasnachwr cyffuriau yn ddiweddarach, ac yna, yn anffodus, gwaethygodd y gamdriniaeth erchyll. Cyn ei bod yn 20 oed, roedd hi wedi cael ei threisio dros 1,000 o weithiau.
Lywydd, mae bywyd y fenyw ifanc hon wedi’i ddifetha gan y bodau anynnol hyn, ac efallai mai’r hyn sy’n fwy torcalonnus byth yw fy mod yn ofni bod cyfleoedd wedi bod i atal y gamdriniaeth hon, ond fe’u methwyd. Methodd yr heddlu ei helpu. Ar un achlysur, fe ffoniodd yr heddlu pan gafodd ei bygwth gan gyllell yn Telford, ac ar ôl clywed ei bod yn dod o Gymru, dywedodd yr unigolyn a dderbyniodd yr alwad wrth Emily am ffonio ei heddlu lleol. Rydym i gyd yn ymwybodol nad yw’r mecanwaith presennol sydd ar waith yn gweithio, gydag ymchwiliad annibynnol saith mlynedd o hyd i gam-drin plant yn rhywiol yn disgrifio’r mecanwaith fel un sylfaenol ddiffygiol ac na all ddiogelu plant agored i niwed sydd mewn perygl o gael eu meithrin yn amhriodol, a’u gorfodi a’u bygwth.
Cymerodd ymchwiliad yr Athro Alexis Jay dystiolaeth gan 6,000 o ddioddefwyr dros gannoedd o ddyddiau, gan edrych ar gamdriniaeth mewn amrywiaeth o leoedd, yn cynnwys ysgolion, cartrefi plant ac eglwysi. Canfu’r ymchwiliad fod plant wedi cael eu niweidio yma a thramor gan unigolion a rhwydweithiau pedoffiliaid, gan gynnwys gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol, ar strydoedd Prydain. Roedd casgliad yr Athro Jay yn ddamniol. Dywedodd fod y genedl wedi cael ei chreithio gan epidemig a adawodd filoedd o ddioddefwyr yn ei sgil.
Lywydd, yr unig le yng Nghymru yr edrychodd yr ymchwiliad arno oedd Abertawe, a dyna pam y mae angen inni gael ymchwiliad trylwyr yn edrych ar ardaloedd eraill ym mhob cwr o Gymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud yn flaenorol nad oes problem eang ar hyn o bryd gyda gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol yma yng Nghymru, ond sut y gall y Llywodraeth fod mor sicr? Gwyddom o ffigurau StatsCymru fod yna 2,400 o achosion o gamfanteisio ar blant rhwng 2022 a 2023. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys achosion yr adroddwyd amdanynt o gamfanteisio’n rhywiol ar blant, camfanteisio troseddol ar blant a masnachu plant.
Lywydd, mae Emily bellach yn gweithio’n ddiflino gyda phobl sydd mewn perygl o gael eu hecsbloetio, ac mae’n hyfforddi gweithwyr proffesiynol i adnabod dioddefwyr posibl masnachu mewn pobl. Hoffwn rannu yma heddiw yn y Siambr rai o'r geiriau a ysgrifennodd Emily ar gyfer yr elusen Causeway, sy’n cefnogi goroeswyr caethwasiaeth fodern.
‘Pan oeddwn i’n tyfu i fyny nid oeddwn erioed wedi clywed am fasnachu mewn pobl, ecsbloetio, na meithrin perthynas amhriodol, felly pan ddigwyddodd i mi a fy ffrindiau, nid oedd gennym eiriau i geisio esbonio neu ddisgrifio beth oedd yn digwydd i ni.
'Fel pobl ifanc yn ein harddegau, cawsom ein cyflwyno i gyffuriau gan ddynion hŷn, a byddent yn prynu alcohol i ni, a thra oeddem dan ei ddylanwad, fe wnaethant ein treisio. Cawsom ein harwain i gredu nad oedd yn beth mawr; mai ‘dim ond rhyw' ydoedd, ond roedd yn drawmatig.
'Aethom yn gaeth i gyffuriau, ac roedd y dynion hyn yn mynd â ni o amgylch y wlad i dai lle roedd dynion eraill yn aros. Roedd arnom ofn, ac roeddem yn teimlo nad oedd gennym unrhyw ddewis. Dros gyfnod o bum mlynedd, cefais fy ngorfodi i gysgu gydag oddeutu 1,500 o ddynion.
'Dim ond pan oeddwn i'n hŷn y gallwn edrych yn ôl ar yr hyn roeddwn i a fy ffrindiau wedi bod drwyddo, a gwybod bod yr hyn a ddigwyddodd i mi yn drosedd. Gwneuthum fy ymchwil a dechrau dysgu'r geiriau, a chwilio am help. Cefais fy nghyfeirio am gymorth caethwasiaeth fodern, a nawr rwy’n helpu pobl ifanc eraill i adnabod camfanteisio pan fo'n digwydd iddynt, a ble i gael help.
'Yn y DU mae miloedd o bobl ifanc yn cael eu targedu gan gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol neu'n cael eu gorfodi drwy gamfanteisio troseddol neu rywiol. Gall fod yn hynod o unig a dryslyd i’r bobl yr effeithir arnynt, ac yn aml nid ydynt yn sylweddoli bod cymorth ar gael iddynt, neu fod yr hyn y mae’r camdriniwr yn ei wneud iddynt yn anghywir.’
Lywydd, mae’r hanes dirdynnol hwn yn tynnu sylw at yr angen am ymchwiliad fel y gallwn i gyd wneud yr hyn a allwn i sicrhau nad oes unrhyw blentyn arall yn dioddef yr erchyllterau a’r trawma y bu’n rhaid i Emily fynd drwyddynt. Mae angen inni gael gwell dealltwriaeth o raddfa’r drosedd warthus hon, a rhaid inni ddod at ein gilydd a gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i atal y camfanteisio rhywiol echrydus sy’n digwydd yma yng Nghymru. Fel y dywedodd fy nghyfaill a'r AS Ceidwadol, Mims Davies, mae angen diogelu ein merched a’n hwyresau. Ni ddylem adael i unrhyw beth ein rhwystro rhag cyflawni hyn, ac rwy’n mawr obeithio y bydd yr holl Aelodau yma yn y Siambr heddiw yn cefnogi ein cynnig. Diolch.
I stand here as somebody who, as many of you know, has worked in the child protection field for over 25 years, and I still have a spouse who works in that field, as well. I also stand here as the chair of the cross-party group on children and families and children in our care.
We all know that this is an absolutely appalling issue, and it's an appalling issue that is going on right now in our towns, in our communities, in our villages, and it is right that we are talking about it. It is important that we do continue to debate and discuss this issue. When I was in practice, we talked about how child sexual abuse was something that was sometimes locked in the cupboard in the dark. And the difficult thing was to put the light on, because as soon as you put the light on, actually, that darkness started to dissipate. And that's exactly what we should be doing here today and we are doing here today.
I won't be supporting the Conservative motion; I'm supporting the Plaid Cymru motion because of the detail in it. I don't believe that there should be an inquiry at this point. We've already had a very detailed inquiry, and we've had six recommendations by Alexis Jay, and I want to hear from the Minister how those will be actioned, and I will be intervening on the Minister if we don't hear that.
We've all talked about the bravery and courage of the children and young people, and, indeed, I have worked with many of them, and it is heartbreaking. It really is the most difficult thing for a child to talk about. I want to pay tribute to those agencies who are working with children and young people in this field right now, and that includes the statutory agencies. Sometimes, it's easy for us to criticise them, but, actually, the work that they do under enormous pressure is amazing and they go the extra mile.
I want to talk a little bit about the cross-party group, because that consists both of statutory agencies and voluntary agencies. I've had the privilege of working in both, and I can tell you the difference and it's this: if a child wants to tell anybody something awful that's happened to them, they won't, as a rule, tell the statutory agency; they will tell the voluntary agency. We do need to see more funding going into our voluntary agencies and our third sector agencies working with children and young people in order for them to carry on this really important role, and I'd like to hear from the Cabinet member about her commitment to that.
The language in this field is so important. We do pay tribute to those children and young people, but I would caution against using the words 'grooming gangs'. That is not used anywhere in the Jay report; she talks about organised networks. And the reason I say that is because 'grooming gangs' has been used and will continue, sadly, to be used by the right in order to, I'm afraid, whip up a sense of outrage and fury, which, of course, there should be. But that should be put into practice. So, I won't be supporting the motion for that reason as well. The language has to be really sensitive and carefully used. We want to bring children and young people with us. We want to make sure that they are safe and looked after.
We need to make sure that, in our roles here, we do move on this debate, and so I am grateful to the Conservatives for bringing it forward. But, in everything, it must be child centred, it must be about listening to those children and young people, many of whom I've listened to over the many years. It's so important that our language and our behaviour here is respectful of them, and I know that is the case, but also that we use the right language, which brings everybody along to a place where we protect those children and young people in the most effective and worthwhile way. That's what I think this debate will be this afternoon. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Rwy'n sefyll yma fel rhywun sydd wedi gweithio yn y maes diogelu plant ers dros 25 mlynedd, fel y bydd sawl un ohonoch chi'n gwybod; ac mae fy mhriod yn dal i weithio yn y maes hwnnw. Rwy'n sefyll yma hefyd fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar blant a theuluoedd a phlant yn ein gofal.
Mae pawb ohonom yn gwybod bod hwn yn fater cwbl warthus, ac mae’n fater echrydus sy’n digwydd nawr yn ein trefi, yn ein cymunedau, yn ein pentrefi, ac mae’n iawn ein bod yn siarad amdano. Mae’n bwysig inni barhau i ddadlau a thrafod y mater hwn. Pan oeddwn yn gweithio yn y maes, byddem yn siarad ynglŷn â'r ffordd roedd cam-drin plant yn rhywiol yn rhywbeth a oedd weithiau dan glo yn y cwpwrdd yn y tywyllwch. A'r peth anodd oedd troi'r golau ymlaen, oherwydd cyn gynted ag y byddwch chi'n troi'r golau ymlaen, roedd y tywyllwch hwnnw'n dechrau cilio. A dyna'n union y dylem ei wneud yma heddiw, a dyna rydym yn ei wneud yma heddiw.
Ni fyddaf yn cefnogi cynnig y Ceidwadwyr; rwy’n cefnogi cynnig Plaid Cymru oherwydd y manylder sydd ynddo. Nid wyf yn credu y dylid cynnal ymchwiliad ar hyn o bryd. Rydym eisoes wedi cael ymchwiliad manwl iawn, ac rydym wedi cael chwe argymhelliad gan Alexis Jay, ac rwyf am glywed gan y Gweinidog sut y caiff y rheini eu gweithredu, a byddaf yn ymyrryd ar y Gweinidog os na chlywn hynny.
Rydym i gyd wedi sôn am ddewrder y plant a’r bobl ifanc, ac yn wir, rwyf wedi gweithio gyda llawer ohonynt, ac mae’n dorcalonnus. Dyma'r peth anoddaf un i blentyn siarad amdano. Rwyf am dalu teyrnged i’r asiantaethau sy’n gweithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc yn y maes hwn nawr, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys yr asiantaethau statudol. Weithiau, mae’n hawdd inni eu beirniadu, ond mewn gwirionedd, mae’r gwaith a wnânt dan bwysau aruthrol yn rhyfeddol ac maent yn cerdded y filltir ychwanegol.
Rwyf am siarad ychydig am y grŵp trawsbleidiol, oherwydd mae hwnnw’n cynnwys asiantaethau statudol ac asiantaethau gwirfoddol. Cefais y fraint o weithio yn y ddau fath o asiantaeth, a gallaf ddweud wrthych beth yw'r gwahaniaeth rhyngddynt: os yw plentyn am ddweud wrth rywun am rywbeth ofnadwy sydd wedi digwydd iddynt, fel rheol ni fyddant yn dweud wrth yr asiantaeth statudol, byddant yn dweud wrth yr asiantaeth wirfoddol. Mae angen inni weld mwy o gyllid yn mynd tuag at ein hasiantaethau gwirfoddol a’n hasiantaethau trydydd sector sy’n gweithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc er mwyn iddynt allu cyflawni’r rôl wirioneddol bwysig hon, a hoffwn glywed gan yr aelod o'r Cabinet am ei hymrwymiad i hynny.
Mae'r iaith yn y maes hwn mor bwysig. Rydym yn talu teyrnged i’r plant a’r bobl ifanc hynny, ond rwy'n rhybuddio rhag defnyddio’r geiriau 'gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol’. Ni ddefnyddir yr ymadrodd hwnnw yn unman yn adroddiad Jay; mae hi’n sôn am rwydweithiau cyfundrefnol. A'r rheswm rwy'n dweud hynny yw oherwydd bod 'gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol' wedi'i ddefnyddio ac yn anffodus, bydd yn parhau i gael ei ddefnyddio gan y dde i gymell ymdeimlad o ddicter a chynddaredd, mae arnaf ofn, fel y dylai fod, wrth gwrs. Ond dylid rhoi hwnnw ar waith yn ymarferol. Felly, ni fyddaf yn cefnogi’r cynnig am y rheswm hwnnw hefyd. Rhaid i'r iaith fod yn sensitif iawn a chael ei defnyddio'n ofalus. Rydym am ddod â phlant a phobl ifanc gyda ni; rydym am wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn ddiogel ac yn cael gofal.
Mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr, yn ein rolau yma, ein bod yn symud y ddadl hon yn ei blaen, ac felly, rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r Ceidwadwyr am ei chyflwyno. Ond ym mhob dim, rhaid iddo ganolbwyntio ar y plentyn, rhaid iddo ymwneud â gwrando ar y plant a'r bobl ifanc hynny, ac rwyf wedi gwrando ar lawer ohonynt dros flynyddoedd lawer. Mae mor bwysig fod ein hiaith a’n hymddygiad yma yn barchus tuag atynt, a gwn fod hynny’n wir, ond hefyd ein bod yn defnyddio’r iaith gywir, sy’n dod â phawb draw i fan lle’r ydym yn diogelu'r plant a’r bobl ifanc hynny yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol a gwerth chweil. Dyna y credaf y bydd y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma yn ei wneud. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'm really pleased that the Welsh Conservatives have tabled this debate today, on the back of the independent petition by Emily, the brave victim from south Wales. So many children have been let down by institutions across Britain throughout the course of this scandal, and it’s imperative that we prevent any more from suffering in the same way.
I won’t repeat what has already been so eloquently said by my colleagues across the Chamber, actually, on this, and put so well. You have put it across so well. But it is vital that institutions like this place give voice to the voiceless, and holding this debate is a step in the right direction. You are completely right.
What we have heard today already of Emily’s story, and what we know of other stories, is both harrowing, disturbing and hard to hear. The issue is a lot bigger than politics, and it’s certainly not, as my colleague on the opposite benches said at the beginning of her speech, party political in any shape or form. I utterly reject the assertion, actually, made by the Monmouth MP, Catherine Fookes, that voting for an inquiry was a political stunt.
I think that the UK Labour Government really badly misjudged the tone that they took when the Conservatives in Westminster asked for a national inquiry. For the Labour MPs who, among their constituents, will have worried parents and vulnerable children, I think that using that sort of language, as has already been said, is deeply, deeply regrettable. And I hope, now that some time has passed, that Labour colleagues have had a chance to reflect.
Fundamentally, we have to have an inquiry here in Wales, so that we can understand fully the extent of the issue here in Wales. The idea, even if remote, that this scandal may extend to children in Newport, in Monmouth, in Torfaen, anywhere in Wales, should keep us all up at night. We owe it to the victims and to the children to leave no stone unturned and to be absolutely sure that this isn’t happening. It’s not worth taking the chance. It’s not even enough to hope that it’s not happening. We have to be sure, and I urge you to support our motion today.
Rwy’n falch iawn fod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi cyflwyno’r ddadl hon heddiw, yn dilyn y ddeiseb annibynnol gan Emily, y dioddefwr dewr o dde Cymru. Mae cymaint o blant wedi cael eu siomi gan sefydliadau ledled Prydain drwy gydol y sgandal hon, ac mae’n hollbwysig ein bod yn atal rhagor rhag dioddef yn yr un modd.
Nid wyf am ailadrodd yr hyn sydd eisoes wedi'i ddweud mor huawdl gan fy nghyd-Aelodau ar draws y Siambr. Rydych chi wedi siarad mor dda. Ond mae’n hollbwysig fod sefydliadau fel y lle hwn yn rhoi llais i’r di-lais, ac mae cynnal y ddadl hon yn gam i’r cyfeiriad cywir. Rydych yn llygad eich lle.
Mae'r hyn rydym wedi'i glywed heddiw eisoes am stori Emily, a'r hyn a wyddom am straeon eraill, yn ddirdynnol, yn annifyr ac yn anodd ei glywed. Mae'r mater yn llawer mwy na gwleidyddiaeth, ac yn sicr, fel y dywedodd fy nghyd-Aelod ar y meinciau gyferbyn ar ddechrau ei haraith, nid yw'n ymwneud â gwleidyddiaeth plaid mewn unrhyw ffordd. Rwy'n gwrthod yn llwyr yr honiad a wnaed gan Aelod Seneddol Mynwy, Catherine Fookes, mai stỳnt wleidyddol oedd pleidleisio o blaid ymchwiliad.
Credaf fod Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi camgymryd y cywair yn llwyr pan ofynnodd y Ceidwadwyr yn San Steffan am ymchwiliad cenedlaethol. I’r ASau Llafur y bydd ganddynt rieni pryderus a phlant agored i niwed ymhlith eu hetholwyr, credaf fod defnyddio iaith o'r fath, fel y dywedwyd eisoes, yn destun cryn ofid. A chan fod peth amser wedi pasio nawr, rwy'n gobeithio bod ein cyd-wleidyddion Llafur wedi cael cyfle i fyfyrio.
Yn y bôn, mae’n rhaid inni gael ymchwiliad yma yng Nghymru, er mwyn inni allu deall graddau llawn y broblem yma yng Nghymru. Dylai’r posibilrwydd, hyd yn oed os yw’n fychan, y gallai’r sgandal hon ymestyn i blant yng Nghasnewydd, yn Nhrefynwy, yn Nhorfaen, yn unrhyw le yng Nghymru, ein cadw'n effro yn y nos. Mae'n ddyletswydd arnom i'r dioddefwyr ac i'r plant i beidio â gadael unrhyw garreg heb ei throi a bod yn gwbl sicr nad yw hyn yn digwydd. Nid yw'n werth mentro. Nid yw hyd yn oed yn ddigon gobeithio nad yw'n digwydd. Mae’n rhaid inni fod yn siŵr, ac rwy'n eich annog i gefnogi ein cynnig heddiw.
I wrote a report in 2009, and it was called ‘Knowing no Boundaries’. It was exactly about trafficking, and it was exactly about the trafficking of sexual victims. And, as a result of that, we have had in Wales a human trafficking co-ordinator. The idea of that individual is to co-ordinate all of the actions that would be needed to ensure that perpetrators were brought to justice, and that victims or survivors could see a way forward.
So, that was way back then, and it was recognised by myself and others that action was needed here in Wales. But what I witness sometimes is a change that has happened very recently, in the last few years and long after that report, and that is the sharing of sexualised images of children on the internet. And what I hear very often in the courts is the categorisation of those images, and the resultant action by those who are perpetrating that crime on the individuals.
Now, to my mind, it isn’t a case of how many images an individual has and therefore shares by organised groups, like you have just said. But it’s the harm done to that child and to their families. And I think that it’s time to wake up here and stop categorising those images. They are harmful, by whichever degree. I think that when I see, time and time again, the judiciary letting men walk out of court because it has been categorised lower than it should have been, in my view, that does a disservice to that child and to that family, and it's time for that to stop. So, that is my plea: that we at least look at that. We don't have jurisdiction over the courts, but we can influence those decisions.
We need also to have some proper joined-up working, because time and time again we see the failures that happen when we know that action could have been taken sooner, because the police and social services are not engaged well enough around that individual. But we also have to recognise—and we have recognised here today in the debate—that a lot of these children are victims of trafficking. You also have to recognise that a lot of them will be unaccompanied minors, and that we have to give those support too. So, we need to change some of that rhetoric too, because if they are unaccompanied minors from other countries, and sometimes they are, then they need the support here accordingly, because, when I did my research, I found that to be the case. Very often, the unaccompanied minors who had been brought into this country were left on the streets abandoned, and then picked up by those people who trafficked them in the first place.
So, what I would ask for today from everybody is, when we’re trying to help those people who've found themselves in the care system, and then have to leave that care system, and we give them some finance, some backing, so that they can continue their lives, that we are not discussing that in a negative way that doesn’t actually understand the reality. So, what I’m hoping for, if nothing else happens here today, is that far wider, deeper, greater understanding and tolerance, which you’re all calling for. Thank you.
Ysgrifennais adroddiad yn 2009 o'r enw 'Knowing No Boundaries’. Roedd yn ymwneud â masnachu pobl, ac roedd yn ymwneud â masnachu pobl er mwyn camfanteisio arnynt yn rhywiol. Ac o ganlyniad i hynny, rydym wedi cael cydgysylltydd atal masnachu pobl yng Nghymru. Diben y rôl honno yw cydgysylltu’r holl gamau gweithredu y byddai eu hangen i sicrhau bod cyflawnwyr yn mynd o flaen eu gwell, ac y gallai dioddefwyr neu oroeswyr weld ffordd ymlaen.
Felly, roedd hynny ymhell yn ôl, ac roeddwn i ac eraill yn cydnabod bod angen gweithredu yma yng Nghymru. Ond yr hyn rwy’n ei weld weithiau yw newid sydd wedi digwydd yn ddiweddar iawn, yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf ac ymhell ar ôl yr adroddiad hwnnw, ac mae'n ymwneud â rhannu delweddau rhywioledig o blant ar y rhyngrwyd. A’r hyn a glywaf yn aml iawn yn y llysoedd yw categoreiddio'r delweddau hynny, a'r camau dilynol gan y rhai sy’n cyflawni’r drosedd honno ar yr unigolion.
Nawr, yn fy marn i, nid yw'n fater o faint o ddelweddau sydd gan unigolyn ac y mae grwpiau cyfundrefnol yn eu rhannu, fel rydych chi newydd ei ddweud. Mae a wnelo â'r niwed a wneir i'r plentyn ac i'w deulu. A chredaf ei bod yn bryd inni ddeffro yma a rhoi'r gorau i gategoreiddio'r delweddau hynny. Maent yn niweidiol, ni waeth i ba raddau. Dro ar ôl tro, pan welaf y farnwriaeth yn gadael i ddynion gerdded allan o’r llys am fod eu troseddau wedi'u categoreiddio’n is nag y gallent fod, mae hynny’n gwneud anghymwynas â’r plentyn a'r teulu yn fy marn i, ac mae’n bryd rhoi diwedd ar hynny. Felly, dyna fy mhle: ein bod o leiaf yn edrych ar hynny. Nid oes gennym awdurdodaeth dros y llysoedd, ond gallwn ddylanwadu ar y penderfyniadau hynny.
Mae angen inni wneud gwaith cydgysylltiedig hefyd, oherwydd dro ar ôl tro, rydym yn gweld y methiannau sy’n digwydd pan wyddom y gallai camau gweithredu fod wedi’u cymryd yn gynt, gan nad yw’r heddlu a’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn ymgysylltu’n ddigon da mewn perthynas â’r unigolyn dan sylw. Ond mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod hefyd—ac rydym wedi cydnabod yma yn y ddadl heddiw—fod llawer o'r plant hyn yn ddioddefwyr masnachu. Mae’n rhaid ichi gydnabod y bydd llawer ohonynt yn blant digwmni, a bod yn rhaid inni roi’r cymorth iddynt hwythau hefyd. Felly, mae angen inni newid peth o’r rhethreg honno hefyd, oherwydd os ydynt yn blant digwmni o wledydd eraill, sy'n wir weithiau, mae arnynt angen y cymorth yma yn unol â hynny, oherwydd pan wneuthum fy ymchwil, canfûm fod hynny’n digwydd. Yn aml iawn, roedd y plant digwmni a oedd wedi'u dwyn i'r wlad hon yn cael eu gadael ar y strydoedd, ac yna'n cael eu codi gan y bobl a'u masnachodd yn y lle cyntaf.
Felly, yr hyn rwy'n gofyn amdano heddiw gan bawb, pan fyddwn yn ceisio helpu'r bobl sydd yn y system ofal, ac yna'n gorfod gadael y system ofal honno, a'n bod yn rhoi rhywfaint o gyllid iddynt, rhywfaint o gymorth, fel y gallant barhau â'u bywydau, yw inni beidio â thrafod hynny mewn ffordd negyddol nad yw'n deall y realiti. Felly, yr hyn rwy'n gobeithio amdano, os nad oes unrhyw beth arall yn digwydd yma heddiw, yw'r ddealltwriaeth a'r goddefgarwch llawer ehangach, dyfnach, dwysach y mae pob un ohonoch yn galw amdani. Diolch.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, Jane Hutt.
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt.
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Diolch, Llywydd. I do welcome the opportunity to respond to this debate on behalf of the Welsh Government. I think, as Jane Dodds said, it’s right that we do continue to debate and talk about this issue, and I do believe a light has been shone on this issue today across the Chamber. But it is the action—it is the action—that we need to account for, and I will be laying that out in my response in terms of the Welsh Government and our partners.
Any case of grooming or exploitation, especially of children, is a tragedy, and I want to convey my gratitude to all those who’ve bravely shared such devastating experiences. The stories we have heard, including those shared during the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, by courageous victims and survivors, are deeply upsetting and shocking. We must ensure the voices of victims and survivors are heard and acted upon, and that we do everything possible with our partners to ensure everyone in Wales is safe from harm, and that has been expressed across the Chamber today.
In that context, and in line with the amendments that we will be supporting today, I want to reinforce the importance of learning, learning from and delivering on the recommendations of the comprehensive Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, in England and Wales, led by Professor Alexis Jay. In Wales, we supported the inquiry’s work comprehensively, providing over 30,000 documents, taking part in nine hearings, including the chief social care officer for Wales providing evidence directly to the inquiry, and more than 300 truth sessions were held in Wales. And while no national inquiry can capture every person’s unique experience, the inquiry has provided a wide and comprehensive range of views and experience on what actions need to be taken to better protect children and young people.
The inquiry did make six specific recommendations for the Welsh Government, which we are implementing. We’ve already progressed legislation to strengthen the safeguarding governance and training requirements on independent schools to register their teaching and learning support staff with the Education Workforce Council, and to regulate special school residential services in a similar manner to children's homes. And importantly, in Wales, we already have an organisational mandatory duty to report children and adults at risk, and that mandate is under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which extends to local authorities, health and policing staff. And of course, as Joyce Watson has said, it is that challenge of joined-up working that it is vital that we address and deliver in terms of combating child sexual exploitation.
We are developing a 10-year strategy for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse, which we'll be consulting on shortly. There are four strands to the strategy: prevention; protection; supporting children, young people and their families; and supporting adult survivors. The actions are directly informed by the recommendations of the inquiry, and most importantly, this plan is being developed with an influence by victims and survivors.
As well as the Welsh Government, the UK Government are rightly taking action in a number of ways. On 16 January, the Home Secretary announced a range of work to build on the inquiry across both England and Wales. This includes extending the remit of the independent child sexual abuse review panel, and this is a joint enterprise between the National Police Chiefs Council and the Crown Prosecution Service. So, it covers not just historical cases before 2013, but all cases since, and this means any victim of abuse will have the right to seek an independent review without having to go back to the local institutions who decided not to proceed with their case. This is a significant development.
It also includes commissioning Baroness Louise Casey to oversee a rapid audit of the current scale and nature of organised networks across England and Wales, drawing on information not previously available to the existing inquiry. The audit will make recommendations about further analysis, investigations and actions that are needed to address current and historic failures, including in Wales.
The UK Government has also asked all police forces, including our police forces in Wales, to review historical criminal exploitation of children's cases where no further action was taken. That's a really important development. All police forces are implementing the 2023 recommendations from His Majesty's inspectorate on gang-based exploitation, including producing problem profiles on the nature of activity in their area, with an update on progress due this year. And together, including the contribution of Welsh police forces as called for in the amendment, this presents a robust national audit of historic and current cases.
I met with all four police and crime commissioners to discuss this issue on 20 January, and I met again with the lead police and crime commissioner for Wales, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn, on 6 February. And in these meetings, policing leads stress their commitment to do everything possible to learn from historic cases and prevent future harm, and respond to current needs and issues.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i ymateb i’r ddadl hon ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru. Fel y dywedodd Jane Dodds, rwy'n credu ei bod yn iawn ein bod yn parhau i ddadlau a thrafod y mater hwn, a chredaf fod goleuni wedi'i daflu ar y mater hwn heddiw ar draws y Siambr. Ond y camau gweithredu—y camau gweithredu—sydd angen inni roi cyfrif amdanynt, a byddaf yn nodi hynny yn fy ymateb mewn perthynas â Llywodraeth Cymru a'n partneriaid.
Mae unrhyw achos o feithrin perthynas amhriodol neu gamfanteisio, yn enwedig gyda phlant, yn drasiedi, a hoffwn ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi bod mor ddewr wrth rannu profiadau mor ddinistriol. Mae’r straeon a glywsom, yn cynnwys y rhai a rannwyd yn ystod yr ymchwiliad annibynnol i gam-drin plant yn rhywiol, gan ddioddefwyr a goroeswyr dewr, yn peri cryn ofid ac maent yn ysgytwol. Mae’n rhaid inni sicrhau bod lleisiau dioddefwyr a goroeswyr yn cael eu clywed ac y gweithredir arnynt, a’n bod yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu gyda’n partneriaid i sicrhau bod pawb yng Nghymru yn ddiogel rhag niwed, ac mae hynny wedi’i fynegi ar draws y Siambr heddiw.
Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, ac yn unol â’r gwelliannau y byddwn yn eu cefnogi heddiw, rwyf am atgyfnerthu pwysigrwydd dysgu, dysgu o argymhellion a chyflawni argymhellion yr Ymchwiliad Annibynnol i Gam-drin Plant yn Rhywiol yng Nghymru a Lloegr, dan arweiniad yr Athro Alexis Jay. Yng Nghymru, fe wnaethom gefnogi gwaith yr ymchwiliad yn helaeth, gan ddarparu dros 30,000 o ddogfennau, cymryd rhan mewn naw gwrandawiad, gan gynnwys tystiolaeth uniongyrchol i’r ymchwiliad gan brif swyddog gofal cymdeithasol Cymru, a chynhaliwyd dros 300 o sesiynau gwirionedd yng Nghymru. Ac er na all unrhyw ymchwiliad cenedlaethol gyfleu profiad unigryw pob unigolyn, mae'r ymchwiliad wedi darparu ystod eang a chynhwysfawr o safbwyntiau a phrofiadau ar gyfer y camau y mae angen eu cymryd i ddiogelu plant a phobl ifanc yn well.
Gwnaeth yr ymchwiliad chwe argymhelliad penodol i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym yn eu rhoi ar waith. Rydym eisoes wedi datblygu deddfwriaeth i gryfhau'r gofynion diogelu, llywodraethu a hyfforddi ar ysgolion annibynnol i gofrestru eu staff addysgu a staff cymorth dysgu gyda Chyngor y Gweithlu Addysg, ac i reoleiddio gwasanaethau preswyl ysgolion arbennig mewn modd tebyg i gartrefi plant. Ac yn bwysig, yng Nghymru, mae gennym eisoes ddyletswydd orfodol sefydliadol i adrodd am blant ac oedolion sy’n wynebu risg, ac mae’r mandad hwnnw o dan Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, yn ymestyn i staff awdurdodau lleol, iechyd a phlismona. Ac wrth gwrs, fel y mae Joyce Watson wedi’i ddweud, mae’n hollbwysig ein bod yn cyflawni'r her o weithio'n gydgysylltiedig er mwyn brwydro yn erbyn camfanteisio’n rhywiol ar blant.
Rydym yn datblygu strategaeth 10 mlynedd ar gyfer atal ac ymateb i gam-drin plant yn rhywiol, a byddwn yn ymgynghori arni cyn bo hir. Mae pedair elfen i'r strategaeth: atal; diogelu; cefnogi plant, pobl ifanc a'u teuluoedd; a chefnogi goroeswyr sy'n oedolion. Caiff y camau gweithredu eu llywio’n uniongyrchol gan argymhellion yr ymchwiliad, ac yn bwysicaf oll, mae’r cynllun hwn yn cael ei ddatblygu gyda dylanwad gan ddioddefwyr a goroeswyr.
Yn ogystal â Llywodraeth Cymru, mae Llywodraeth y DU, yn gwbl briodol, yn gweithredu mewn nifer o ffyrdd. Ar 16 Ionawr, cyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref amrywiaeth o waith i adeiladu ar yr ymchwiliad ar draws Cymru a Lloegr. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ymestyn cylch gorchwyl y panel adolygu annibynnol ar gam-drin plant yn rhywiol, ac mae hon yn fenter ar y cyd rhwng Cyngor Cenedlaethol Penaethiaid yr Heddlu a Gwasanaeth Erlyn y Goron. Felly, mae’n ymdrin nid yn unig ag achosion hanesyddol cyn 2013, ond pob achos ers hynny, a golyga hyn y bydd gan unrhyw ddioddefwr cam-drin hawl i ofyn am adolygiad annibynnol heb orfod mynd yn ôl at y sefydliadau lleol a benderfynodd beidio â bwrw ymlaen â’u hachos. Mae hwn yn ddatblygiad arwyddocaol.
Mae hefyd yn cynnwys comisiynu’r Farwnes Louise Casey i oruchwylio archwiliad cyflym o raddfa a natur bresennol rhwydweithiau cyfundrefnol ledled Cymru a Lloegr, gan ddefnyddio gwybodaeth nad oedd ar gael ynghynt i’r ymchwiliad presennol. Bydd yr archwiliad yn gwneud argymhellion ynghylch dadansoddiadau, ymchwiliadau a chamau gweithredu pellach sydd eu hangen i fynd i’r afael â methiannau presennol a hanesyddol, gan gynnwys yng Nghymru.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU hefyd wedi gofyn i bob heddlu, gan gynnwys ein heddluoedd yng Nghymru, adolygu achosion hanesyddol o gamfanteisio troseddol ar blant lle na chymerwyd camau pellach. Mae hynny'n ddatblygiad pwysig iawn. Mae pob heddlu yn gweithredu'r argymhellion a wnaed yn 2023 gan arolygiaeth Ei Fawrhydi ar gamfanteisio gan gangiau, gan gynnwys cynhyrchu proffiliau problemau ar natur gweithgarwch yn eu hardal, a disgwylir diweddariad ar y cynnydd eleni. A chyda'i gilydd, gan gynnwys cyfraniad heddluoedd Cymru fel y mae'r gwelliant yn galw amdano, mae hwn yn archwiliad cenedlaethol cadarn o achosion hanesyddol a chyfredol.
Cyfarfûm â'r pedwar comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu i drafod y mater hwn ar 20 Ionawr, a chyfarfûm eto â phrif gomisiynydd heddlu a throseddu Cymru, y Comisiynydd Heddlu a Throseddu Dafydd Llywelyn, ar 6 Chwefror. Ac yn y cyfarfodydd hyn, mae arweinwyr plismona yn pwysleisio eu hymrwymiad i wneud popeth yn eu gallu i ddysgu o achosion hanesyddol ac atal niwed yn y dyfodol, ac ymateb i anghenion a materion cyfredol.
Thank you so much, and thank you for mentioning our statutory agencies. I'm sure you may be coming on to voluntary agencies, but NSPCC Cymru, for example, are really clear that the position of child sexual abuse across Wales is actually unchanged, whereas we know that there are grave concerns about the increase in child sexual abuse. So, you talked a lot about statutory agencies, but I wonder if you could just comment on those voluntary agencies that are doing such groundbreaking work, and hard work, in really working with those children and young people who are at risk. For me, they're the most important agencies in terms of this debate. Thank you, diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, a diolch am sôn am ein hasiantaethau statudol. Rwy’n siŵr efallai eich bod yn dod at asiantaethau gwirfoddol, ond mae NSPCC Cymru, er enghraifft, wedi dweud yn gwbl glir nad yw'r sefyllfa o ran cam-drin plant yn rhywiol ledled Cymru wedi newid mewn gwirionedd, er y gwyddom fod pryderon difrifol ynghylch y cynnydd mewn cam-drin plant yn rhywiol. Felly, fe sonioch chi lawer am asiantaethau statudol, ond tybed a allech wneud sylwadau ar yr asiantaethau gwirfoddol sy'n gwneud gwaith mor arloesol, a gwaith caled, wrth weithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc sydd mewn perygl? I mi, hwy yw'r asiantaethau pwysicaf yn y ddadl hon. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I thank Jane Dodds for that intervention because this has been critically important indeed in supporting this amendment, making sure that we are listened to and acknowledge that crucial role of those organisations who are at the front line. And so, just in recent days, we've written not only to all regional safeguarding boards, but we've written to all our third sector partners, the NSPCC and all those at the front line supporting victims and survivors, and asked them to, again, tell us concerns and give us any concerns that are being raised with them, and also to emphasise the importance of their work. Of course, the funding of these organisations is critically important, and the role and the respect that they must have in multi-agency safeguarding as well. So, I'm really grateful for the cross-party group work that you've mentioned, Jane, for children and young people, and I also recognise that we've actually got a really important forthcoming report and debate on the cross-party's Children, Young People and Education Committee's inquiry into children on the margins. I think that debate will be a follow through from our debate today.
Just in terms of the third sector and those on the front line with children's organisations, I met with Action for Children last week, with Dawn Bowden, the Minister for Children and Social Care, and they also now have Alun Michael as their ambassador. We discussed the work we're taking forward on child criminal exploitation.
There are many other points that I would like to respond to, but I think you will find that we've already published the response from the Government to that report. But you'll find, I hope, the response will provide many of the responses to the points that have been raised today, and I think, particularly, Sioned Williams's points on the importance of specialist teams and the role that Barnardo's plays across Wales, and the very excellent work, for example, in the safeguarding adolescents from exploitation teams and authorities. Natasha also made a really important point about modern slavery, and human trafficking from Joyce Watson, and the fact that we have developed online learning on modern slavery. And regional safeguarding boards and social care workforce teams are commissioning and developing multi-agency training.
So, I hope that the work I've outlined to deliver on the existing inquiry recommendations and the new independent audit being led by Baroness Casey represents a comprehensive response to this issue. Continuing with this approach rather than duplicating or distracting from it is the best way to maximise delivery and action at pace so we can better safeguard children from harm. Across all of this activity, I repeat: we're determined to hear the voices of victims and survivors, but not just to listen, as Sioned Williams says, but to take action. I do believe the amendment captures this goal and the objectives that we're committed to and I've set out.
In closing, I would say the continued work being undertaken by Welsh Government, UK Government, our policing partners, children's organisations, our local authorities to ensure there's comprehensive understanding of the issues in this debate—no stone is being left unturned. Our focus will always be on listening to victims and survivors of abuse. And on behalf of the Welsh Government I say again: we will do everything we can as a Government to ensure young people in Wales are safe from the horrific crimes of exploitation and sexual abuse.
Diolch i Jane Dodds am ei hymyriad, gan fod hyn wedi bod yn hollbwysig yn wir wrth gefnogi’r gwelliant hwn, sicrhau ein bod yn cael ein clywed a chydnabod rôl hollbwysig y sefydliadau sydd ar y rheng flaen. Ac felly, yn y dyddiau diwethaf, rydym wedi ysgrifennu nid yn unig at bob bwrdd diogelu rhanbarthol, ond rydym wedi ysgrifennu at ein holl bartneriaid yn y trydydd sector, yr NSPCC a phawb ar y rheng flaen sy'n cefnogi dioddefwyr a goroeswyr, ac wedi gofyn iddynt, unwaith eto, i sôn wrthym am eu pryderon ac unrhyw bryderon sy'n cael eu codi gyda hwy, a hefyd i bwysleisio pwysigrwydd eu gwaith. Wrth gwrs, mae ariannu’r sefydliadau hyn yn hollbwysig, ynghyd â'r rôl a’r parch y mae’n rhaid eu rhoi iddynt mewn diogelu amlasiantaethol hefyd. Felly, rwy'n wirioneddol ddiolchgar am waith y grŵp trawsbleidiol y sonioch chi amdano, Jane, ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc, ac rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod bod gennym adroddiad a dadl wirioneddol bwysig yn y dyfodol agos ar ymchwiliad trawsbleidiol y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg i blant sydd ar yr ymylon. Credaf y bydd y ddadl honno'n ddilyniant o’n dadl heddiw.
Ar y trydydd sector a’r rheini ar y rheng flaen gyda sefydliadau plant, cyfarfûm â Gweithredu dros Blant yr wythnos diwethaf, gyda Dawn Bowden, y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol, ac mae Alun Michael bellach yn llysgennad iddynt hefyd. Buom yn trafod y gwaith rydym yn bwrw ymlaen ag ef ar gamfanteisio’n droseddol ar blant.
Mae llawer o bwyntiau eraill yr hoffwn ymateb iddynt, ond credaf y gwelwch ein bod eisoes wedi cyhoeddi’r ymateb gan y Llywodraeth i’r adroddiad hwnnw. Ond rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwch y bydd yr ymateb yn darparu llawer o’r ymatebion i’r pwyntiau a godwyd heddiw, ac yn arbennig, pwyntiau Sioned Williams ar bwysigrwydd timau arbenigol a’r rôl y mae Barnardo’s yn ei chwarae ledled Cymru, a’r gwaith rhagorol iawn, er enghraifft, gan y tîm diogelu’r glasoed rhag camfanteisio ac awdurdodau. Gwnaeth Natasha bwynt pwysig iawn hefyd am gaethwasiaeth fodern, a masnachu pobl gan Joyce Watson, a’r ffaith ein bod wedi datblygu adnoddau dysgu ar-lein ar gaethwasiaeth fodern. Ac mae'r byrddau diogelu rhanbarthol a thimau'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol yn comisiynu ac yn datblygu hyfforddiant amlasiantaethol.
Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod y gwaith a amlinellais i gyflawni argymhellion yr ymchwiliad presennol a’r archwiliad annibynnol newydd sy’n cael ei arwain gan y Farwnes Casey yn ymateb cynhwysfawr i’r mater hwn. Parhau â’r dull hwn yn hytrach na’i ddyblygu neu dynnu sylw oddi wrtho yw’r ffordd orau o sicrhau y gellir cyflawni a gweithredu’n gyflym fel y gallwn fynd ati'n well i ddiogelu plant rhag niwed. Ar draws yr holl weithgarwch hwn, rwy'n ailadrodd: rydym yn benderfynol o glywed lleisiau dioddefwyr a goroeswyr, ond nid yn unig i wrando, fel y dywed Sioned Williams, ond i weithredu. Credaf fod y gwelliant yn cyfleu'r nod hwn a'r amcanion yr ydym wedi ymrwymo iddynt ac a nodwyd gennyf.
I gloi, rwyf am ddweud bod y gwaith parhaus gan Lywodraeth Cymru, Llywodraeth y DU, ein partneriaid ym maes plismona, sefydliadau plant a'n hawdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod dealltwriaeth gynhwysfawr o'r materion yn y ddadl hon—nid oes unrhyw garreg yn cael ei gadael heb ei throi. Byddwn bob amser yn canolbwyntio ar wrando ar ddioddefwyr a goroeswyr cam-drin. Ac ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, dywedaf eto: byddwn yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu fel Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yng Nghymru yn ddiogel rhag troseddau erchyll camfanteisio a cham-drin rhywiol.
Darren Millar nawr i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Darren Millar to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I start by thanking all Members on all sides of this Chamber today for the very sensitive manner in the way that we've been able to debate and discuss this very important issue? I think the speeches have all highlighted the gravity of this matter and, indeed, the unity that we all have in wanting to get to grips with these challenges and to address them.
Child sexual exploitation is indeed one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. It not only robs children of their innocence but it causes a lifetime of trauma for victims, particularly when perpetrators go unpunished. For that reason, we've all got a moral duty to ensure that those who commit these crimes do face justice, and that the survivors of those crimes are heard.
Three weeks ago, I was contacted by Emily Vaughn, that courageous survivor of sexual exploitation by a grooming gang, and she spoke to me about the horrors that she endured. You've heard a little bit about them this afternoon. And her experiences convinced me—absolutely convinced me—that this is a problem in Wales that is not going to go away with the current suite of actions that have been undertaken, and with the proposed actions that are being taken by the Government at present. It's for that reason that I believe the best way forward, in order to get to grips with this issue once and for all, is to make sure that we have an independent Wales-wide inquiry into this issue. She was exploited by gangs, criminal gangs. The terminology to me is not that important—grooming gangs, organised crime gangs, whatever we want to call them—but she was exploited by people who paid, as Altaf Hussain quite rightly said, no regard for the England and Wales border. She was moved from one place to the next for sex, and she was abused by hundreds and hundreds of evil men who took advantage of her and her body. Tragically, she told me that there are other victims who have not spoken out about their experiences.
Now, we know, from the work that was done by Professor Jay, that the only place that she looked at in Wales was Swansea, and she found evidence of criminal gangs exploiting children for sex in Swansea. What would have happened if she'd have looked in Cardiff or Newport or Bangor or Colwyn Bay or Wrexham? I suspect she may have also found things there. But they haven't been looked at and, unfortunately, that's why we do not know the extent of these problems across our country. And I want to have the assurances that have been provided by the Welsh police forces, and I want to be able to take them at face value. But we know that those assurances have been given by the authorities in the past, by South Wales Police, in the situation in Swansea, and by Swansea Council, and, unfortunately, they were not worth the paper that they were written on, and that is why we've got to move forward with an inquiry, in my view.
And it's not just that situation in Swansea. You know, just last year, Crimestoppers, in January of last year, started a campaign, because they noticed that young children were being exploited for sex, and enticed into sex, by gangs here in Wales, by vape shop owners. They cited an example of how vapes were being used to groom a 14-year-old girl for sex. And I quote from their website:
'The owner of a convenience store in Wales which sold a broad range of products including vapes, supplied this child'—
a 14-year-old child—
'with free vapes and occasionally alcohol in exchange for sexual favours for himself and his friends.'
The young person was eventually offered drugs and money, and this same shop regularly sold or gave children as young as 11 vapes. These are young people. These are our future. These are the children that we all, I know, in our heart of hearts, want to protect as best as we possibly can, but the current arrangements are simply not working.
I listened carefully to the Minister's response. She referred to the change in the law in terms of registration of individuals working at independent schools. That was something I called for in 2020, Minister, I'm afraid, and it wasn't implemented until, actually, the Jay report made a recommendation about it. We know that the mandatory reporting approach, which was required as a result of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, hasn't worked. We've seen abuse since then, in institutions, like schools, in north Wales, with the Foden case.
I know that time is against me here, Presiding Officer, but I want to say this: if we can really trust the assurances that we've had, then I wouldn't be calling for an inquiry. We do need independent oversight to make sure that we unpick and lift the lid on all of these issues. Now, we're putting forward this case for a Wales-wide inquiry, and I still believe that's the best way forward. But if the vote on a Wales-wide inquiry is not taken forth by the Senedd today, then we will of course support the amendment to our motion, on the basis that it does move us forward in terms of providing for further investigation, in order that we can try to identify the scale of the issues. But I want to assure you all in this Chamber this afternoon that if we don't make sufficient progress, we will table this debate again and again and again, because we believe that Emily Vaughn's calls for a Wales-wide inquiry, on the basis of the evidence that we already know is out there—that is the right way forward. So, I hope that people will reflect on that when they vote, and that they will support our motion today.
Diolch, Lywydd. A gaf i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i’r holl Aelodau ar bob ochr i’r Siambr heddiw am y ffordd sensitif iawn y gallasom ddadlau a thrafod y mater pwysig hwn? Credaf fod pob un o'r areithiau wedi tynnu sylw at ddifrifoldeb y mater, ac yn wir, yr undod rhyngom yn ein dyhead i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau hyn a'u datrys.
Mae camfanteisio’n rhywiol ar blant yn un o’r troseddau mwyaf erchyll y gellir eu dychmygu. Nid yn unig ei fod yn amddifadu plant o'u diniweidrwydd, mae'n achosi oes o drawma i ddioddefwyr, yn enwedig pan fydd troseddwyr yn mynd heb eu cosbi. Am y rheswm hwnnw, mae dyletswydd foesol ar bob un ohonom i sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n cyflawni'r troseddau hyn yn mynd o flaen eu gwell, a bod goroeswyr y troseddau hynny'n cael eu clywed.
Dair wythnos yn ôl, cysylltodd Emily Vaughn, yr unigolyn dewr a oroesodd gamfanteisio rhywiol gan gang meithrin perthynas amhriodol, i sôn am yr erchyllterau a ddioddefodd. Fe glywsoch rywfaint amdanynt y prynhawn yma. Ac fe wnaeth ei phrofiadau fy argyhoeddi—fy argyhoeddi'n llwyr—fod hon yn broblem yng Nghymru nad yw'n mynd i ddiflannu gyda'r gyfres bresennol o gamau gweithredu sydd wedi'u cymryd, a chyda'r camau gweithredu arfaethedig sy'n cael eu cymryd gan y Llywodraeth ar hyn o bryd. Dyna pam y credaf mai’r ffordd orau ymlaen, er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn unwaith ac am byth, yw sicrhau ein bod yn cael ymchwiliad annibynnol Cymru gyfan i’r mater hwn. Cafodd ei hecsbloetio gan gangiau, gangiau troseddol. Nid yw’r derminoleg mor bwysig â hynny i mi—gangiau meithrin perthynas amhriodol, gangiau troseddu cyfundrefnol, beth bynnag y dymunwn eu galw—ond cafodd ei hecsbloetio gan bobl nad oeddent yn poeni, fel y dywedodd Altaf Hussain yn gwbl briodol, am y ffin rhwng Cymru a Lloegr. Fe'i symudwyd o un lle i’r llall am ryw, a chafodd ei cham-drin gan gannoedd ar gannoedd o ddynion drwg a fanteisiodd arni hi a’i chorff. Yn drasig, dywedodd wrthyf fod yna ddioddefwyr eraill nad ydynt wedi siarad am eu profiadau.
Nawr, fe wyddom o’r gwaith a wnaed gan yr Athro Jay, mai’r unig le yr edrychodd arno yng Nghymru oedd Abertawe, a daeth o hyd i dystiolaeth o gangiau troseddol yn camfanteisio ar blant am ryw yn Abertawe. Beth fyddai wedi digwydd pe bai wedi edrych yng Nghaerdydd neu Gasnewydd neu Fangor neu Fae Colwyn neu Wrecsam? Rwy'n tybio y byddai wedi dod o hyd i bethau yno hefyd. Ond ni edrychwyd arnynt, ac yn anffodus, dyna pam nad ydym yn ymwybodol o raddfa'r problemau hyn ledled ein gwlad. A hoffwn gael y sicrwydd sydd wedi'i addo gan heddluoedd Cymru, ac rwyf am allu eu cymryd ar eu gair. Ond gwyddom fod y sicrwydd hwnnw wedi’i roi gan yr awdurdodau yn y gorffennol, gan Heddlu De Cymru, yn y sefyllfa yn Abertawe, a chan Gyngor Abertawe, ac yn anffodus, nid oedd yn werth y papur y'i hysgrifennwyd arno, a dyna pam y credaf fod yn rhaid inni fwrw ymlaen ag ymchwiliad.
Ac nid y sefyllfa yn Abertawe yn unig sydd dan sylw yma. Wyddoch chi, y llynedd, ym mis Ionawr y llynedd, dechreuodd Crimestoppers ymgyrch, gan eu bod wedi sylwi bod plant ifanc yn cael eu hecsbloetio ar gyfer rhyw, a’u hudo i gael rhyw, gan gangiau yma yng Nghymru, gan berchnogion siopau fêps. Fe wnaethant ddyfynnu enghraifft o sut y câi fêps eu defnyddio i feithrin perthynas amhriodol â merch 14 oed am ryw. Ac fe ddyfynnaf o'u gwefan:
'Roedd perchennog siop gyfleustra yng Nghymru a oedd yn gwerthu ystod eang o gynhyrchion, gan gynnwys fêps, yn rhoi fêps am ddim i'r plentyn'—
plentyn 14 oed—
'ac yn achlysurol, alcohol yn gyfnewid am gymwynasau rhywiol i'w hun a'i ffrindiau.'
Cynigiwyd cyffuriau ac arian i'r unigolyn ifanc, ac roedd yr un siop yn aml yn gwerthu neu'n rhoi fêps i blant mor ifanc ag 11 oed. Pobl ifanc yw'r rhain. Dyma ein dyfodol. Dyma’r plant y mae pob un ohonom yn ein calonnau am eu diogelu cystal ag y gallwn, ond nid yw’r trefniadau presennol yn gweithio.
Gwrandewais yn ofalus ar ymateb y Gweinidog. Cyfeiriodd at y newid yn y gyfraith o ran cofrestru unigolion sy'n gweithio mewn ysgolion annibynnol. Roedd hynny'n rhywbeth y gelwais amdano yn 2020, Weinidog, mae arnaf ofn, ac ni chafodd ei roi ar waith nes i adroddiad Jay wneud argymhelliad yn ei gylch. Gwyddom nad yw’r dull adrodd mandadol, a oedd yn ofynnol o ganlyniad i Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, wedi gweithio. Ers hynny, rydym wedi gweld cam-drin mewn sefydliadau, fel ysgolion, yng ngogledd Cymru, gydag achos Foden.
Fe wn fod amser yn fy erbyn yma, Lywydd, ond rwyf am ddweud hyn: pe byddem o ddifrif yn gallu ymddiried yn y sicrwydd a gawsom, ni fyddwn yn galw am ymchwiliad. Mae angen trosolwg annibynnol arnom i sicrhau ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â phob un o'r materion hyn. Nawr, rydym yn dadlau'r achos dros ymchwiliad Cymru gyfan, ac rwy'n dal i gredu mai dyna'r ffordd orau ymlaen. Ond os na fydd y bleidlais ar ymchwiliad Cymru gyfan yn cael ei derbyn gan y Senedd heddiw, byddwn yn cefnogi’r gwelliant i’n cynnig, ar y sail ei fod yn ein symud ymlaen o ran darparu ar gyfer ymchwiliad pellach, er mwyn inni allu ceisio nodi maint y broblem. Ond hoffwn roi sicrwydd i bob un ohonoch yn y Siambr hon y prynhawn yma, os na fyddwn yn gwneud cynnydd digonol, byddwn yn cyflwyno'r ddadl hon dro ar ôl tro, gan ein bod yn credu bod galwadau Emily Vaughn am ymchwiliad Cymru gyfan, ar sail y dystiolaeth y gwyddom ei bod eisoes allan yno—dyna'r ffordd gywir ymlaen. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pobl yn ystyried hynny pan fyddant yn pleidleisio, ac y byddant yn cefnogi ein cynnig heddiw.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, mae yna wrthwynebiad. Felly, gwnawn ni gynnal y bleidlais yn ystod y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Yes, there are objections. I will therefore defer voting until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Rŷn ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio nawr. Oni bai fod tri Aelod eisiau i fi ganu'r gloch, fe awn ni'n syth i'r bleidlais. Felly, mae'r bleidlais gyntaf ar yr eitem rŷn ni newydd ei chlywed, sef dadl y Ceidwadwyr ar ymchwiliad i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant. Rwy'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig hen ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Paul Davies. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 13, neb yn ymatal, 34 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.
That brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, we will proceed immediately to our first vote. Therefore, the first vote is on the item that we have just discussed, the Welsh Conservatives debate on an inquiry into child sexual exploitation. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Paul Davies. Open the vote. So, we will close the vote. In favour 13, no abstentions, 34 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—Ymchwiliad i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 13, Yn erbyn: 34, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate—Inquiry into child sexual exploitation. Motion without amendment: For: 13, Against: 34, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Mae hynny'n golygu ein bod ni'n dod ymlaen at bleidlais ar welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 47, neb yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei gymeradwyo.
That brings us, then, to a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 47, no abstentions, none against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—Ymchwiliad i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan: O blaid: 47, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate—Inquiry into child sexual exploitation. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan: For: 47, Against: 0, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio, felly, nesaf.
We will now vote on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM8821 fel y’i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd
1. Yn condemnio'r methiannau sefydliadol a arweiniodd at yr esgeulustod a'r diffyg adrodd achosion o gam-drin plant dros sawl degawd, fel y canfuwyd yn ymchwiliad annibynnol yr Athro Alexis Jay yn 2022.
2. Yn canmol dewrder y dioddefwyr a'r goroeswyr am rannu eu tystiolaethau, ac yn credu y dylai eu lleisiau bob amser gael blaenoriaeth wrth adolygu a chryfhau'r mesurau diogelu perthnasol.
3. Yn cydnabod pryder diweddar y cyhoedd ynghylch trais a cham-drin rhywiol gan rwydweithiau cyfundrefnol.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) gweithredu holl argymhellion Adroddiad Jay yn ddi-oed;
b) ymgysylltu â phob sefydliad ar y rheng flaen sy'n gwasanaethu dioddefwyr a goroeswyr trais a cham-drin rhywiol;
c) gweithio gyda heddluoedd Cymru i gynnal archwiliad Cymru gyfan ar unwaith, gyda goruchwyliaeth annibynnol briodol, a sicrhau cydweithrediad â'r archwiliad ar draws y DU dan arweiniad y Farwnes Casey i raddfa a natur camfanteisio gan gangiau; a
d) ystyried comisiynu ymchwiliad annibynnol llawn yn sgil y dystiolaeth a gasglwyd gan yr archwiliad.
Motion NDM8821 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd
1. Condemns the institutional failings that led to the neglect and underreporting of instances of child abuse over several decades, as found in Professor Alexis Jay’s independent inquiry of 2022.
2. Commends the bravery of the victims and survivors for sharing their testimonies, and believes their voices should always take precedence in the course of reviewing and strengthening relevant safeguards.
3. Recognises recent public concern regarding sexual violence and abuse by organised networks.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) implement all recommendations of the Jay Report without delay;
b) engage with all organisations on the frontline serving victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse;
c) work with Welsh police forces to conduct an immediate all-Wales audit, with appropriate independent oversight, and ensure co-operation with the UK-wide audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation; and
d) consider commissioning a full independent inquiry in light of the evidence gathered by the audit.
Agor y bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 47, neb yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig yna wedi ei dderbyn.
Open the vote on the motion as amended. Close the vote. In favour 47, no abstentions, none against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—Ymchwiliad i gamfanteisio'n rhywiol ar blant. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 47, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate—Inquiry into child sexual exploitation. Motion as amended: For: 47, Against: 0, Abstain: 0
Motion as amended has been agreed
Dyna ni. Dyna ddiwedd ar y pleidleisio am heddiw.
There we are. That concludes voting for this afternoon.
Byddwn ni'n mynd ymlaen nawr i'r ddadl fer. Ac mae'r ddadl fer y prynhawn yma gan Carolyn Thomas. Carolyn.
We will now move on to the short debate. And this afternoon's short debate is to be presented by Carolyn Thomas. Carolyn.
Diolch, Llywydd. I have given a minute of my time to Jane Dodds, Luke Fletcher, Altaf Hussain, Joyce Watson and Mick Antoniw.
I would like to thank the petitions process, campaigning from key stakeholders and cross-party collaboration. The future of greyhound racing in Wales has been high on the agenda in the Senedd now since 2022. This journey was started by Vanessa from Hope Rescue when she submitted her petition calling for a ban on greyhound racing at the beginning of the Senedd term. It received an incredible 35,000 signatures, securing an evidence inquiry by the Petitions Committee, and subsequently a debate in the Chamber that received support from cross-party Members. Vanessa and her team have first-hand experience of the horrendous cruelty that has taken place at the Valley track in south Wales, with dogs losing their lives and suffering life-altering injuries at that track on a regular basis.
Hope Rescue started when Vanessa found Last Hope back in 2004, a greyhound from the Valley track that was found shot with a captive bolt gun and with his ears hacked off. This was so he couldn't be identified by his tattoos. At the time, his tail was still wagging. As chair of the cross-party group on animal welfare, I would like to thank all organisations involved in the Cut the Chase coalition. Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue, RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Blue Cross have worked tirelessly to engage with Members and put forward the case for an outright ban on this cruel and unnecessary sport, sometimes in the face of aggressive opposition.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwyf wedi rhoi munud o fy amser i Jane Dodds, Luke Fletcher, Altaf Hussain, Joyce Watson a Mick Antoniw.
Hoffwn ddiolch i’r broses ddeisebau, ymgyrchu gan randdeiliaid allweddol a chydweithio trawsbleidiol. Mae dyfodol rasio milgwn yng Nghymru wedi bod yn uchel ar yr agenda yn y Senedd ers 2022 bellach. Dechreuwyd y daith hon gan Vanessa o Hope Rescue pan gyflwynodd ei deiseb yn galw am waharddiad ar rasio milgwn ar ddechrau tymor y Senedd hon. Denodd 35,000 o lofnodion, sy'n nifer anhygoel, gan sicrhau ymchwiliad tystiolaeth gan y Pwyllgor Deisebau, ac wedi hynny, dadl yn y Siambr a gafodd gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol gan yr Aelodau. Mae gan Vanessa a’i thîm brofiad uniongyrchol o’r creulondeb erchyll ar drac Valley yn ne Cymru, gyda chŵn yn colli eu bywydau ac yn dioddef anafiadau sy’n newid eu bywydau ar y trac hwnnw yn rheolaidd.
Dechreuodd Hope Rescue pan ddaeth Vanessa o hyd i Last Hope yn ôl yn 2004, milgi o drac Valley y daethpwyd o hyd iddo wedi’i saethu â bollt-ddryll a’i glustiau wedi’u torri i ffwrdd. Roedd hyn fel na ellid ei adnabod drwy ei datŵs. Ar y pryd, roedd ei gynffon yn dal i siglo. Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar les anifeiliaid, hoffwn ddiolch i bob sefydliad sy’n ymwneud a chynghrair Cut the Chase. Mae Achub Milgwn Cymru, Hope Rescue, yr RSPCA, Dogs Trust a Blue Cross wedi gweithio’n ddiflino i ymgysylltu ag Aelodau a dadlau'r achos dros wahardd y gweithgaredd creulon a diangen hwn yn llwyr, yn wyneb gwrthwynebiad chwyrn weithiau.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
I have tabled today's debate following the publication of the responses to the Welsh Government's consultation on the licensing of animal welfare establishments, activities and exhibits Bill. Two thirds of respondents were in favour of a phased or imminent ban on greyhound racing in Wales. This provides new and irrefutable evidence of the strength of support for an end to this activity, with more people in favour of a ban than the licensing of greyhound trainers, owners and keepers, as proposed elsewhere in the consultation. We must not ignore the significant majority of people who acknowledge that the welfare of racing dogs must come before entertainment.
Cabinet Secretary, I wrote to you with the latest statistics from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain—GBGB—and the Valley Greyhound Stadium. In particular, it is really concerning that the frequency of race meetings has increased from one to three times per week between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024. This will, no doubt, significantly increase the number of dogs injured at that track. Six hundred and four dogs have raced at the track during this period. Of those, 140 have been involved in incidents and injuries. That's nearly a quarter of them. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain's own statistics show that their oversight does not prevent or even minimise the chances of dogs being injured or dying on the racetracks.
Despite GBGB's having implemented a welfare strategy, 389 dogs involved in racing on their tracks died in 2023—a 47 per cent increase on the previous year. The statistics also show 180 dogs finished their racing career at Valley during that time—a significant number to find homes for, putting a strain on rescue centres across south Wales, with 55 per cent of dogs handed over to charities at the end of their careers, with only 10 per cent being homed by an owner or trainer.
Last month, I visited the Dogs Trust in Cardiff and met Hiccup, a gorgeous ex-racer looking for a forever home. But, due to the number of dogs retiring, rescue centres are struggling to find the homes they need for ex-racers like Hiccup. According to the published minutes of a meeting held by the Greyhound Forum in July 2024, 2,500 retired dogs were residing in trainers' kennels while waiting to be rehomed. That's an awful lot of dogs, and it demonstrates the concerning backlog of dogs in need of rescue spaces, demonstrating that, as things stand, the industry is simply not sustainable.
Very sadly, for many dogs, their racing career does not have a happy ending. Last Hope was a stark example of the dark and secretive world of the disposal of unwanted racing dogs, known as 'wastage' within the industry. Just two years after Last Hope's discovery, the national press broke the news of David Smith, a builders merchant in county Durham, who used similar methods to dispose of upwards of 10,000 unwanted greyhounds. Having witnessed such immense cruelty with their own eyes, those within Greyhound Rescue Wales at the time were determined to bring some lasting good in memory of Last Hope. The Last Hope fund was established to pay for the care costs of sick and injured greyhounds and lurchers who may otherwise have to be put to sleep, particularly those who are facing expensive or lifelong care complications, and, to date, the fund has paid out well over £100,000 in veterinary and care costs to give racing greyhounds a second chance at life.
The greyhound racing industry does not have the funds to cover the costs necessary to bring themselves even to the basic level of welfare standards. Instead, the charities in the Cut the Chase coalition are left to pick up the pieces and foot the bill, and all the rehoming costs as well. Greyhound racing is a cruel, unsustainable, out-of-date industry that we must consign to the past. Wales has always led the way with animal welfare legislation. We were the first country to introduce full bans on shock collars for dogs, snares and glue traps. We have a real opportunity now to add greyhound racing to this list of achievements before the 2026 election, before next year, and truly demonstrate that animal welfare is a priority for the Welsh Government, creating a lasting legacy for Welsh Labour to be proud of.
New Zealand voted to ban greyhound racing, and the Government plans to end it by 1 August next year, providing Wales with an important opportunity to join a movement that has global momentum, and build upon our reputation as a compassionate and ethical nation on a global scale. For New Zealand, whose industry was worth a staggering NZ$159 million—£73 million a year—and employs over 1,000 people, the injury and deaths of the dogs involved was enough to justify a ban.
The longer we wait to act, the more dogs will be injured or, sadly, lose their life at the Valley track. And I ask that the Cabinet Secretary does not miss this opportunity we have to act now, and to work with rescue centres and the charities, because they will help you. Diolch.
Rwyf wedi cyflwyno'r ddadl heddiw yn dilyn cyhoeddi'r ymatebion i ymgynghoriad Llywodraeth Cymru ar y Bil trwyddedu sefydliadau lles, gweithgareddau ac arddangosfeydd anifeiliaid. Roedd dwy ran o dair o'r ymatebwyr o blaid gwaharddiad graddol neu ar unwaith ar rasio milgwn yng Nghymru. Mae'n darparu tystiolaeth newydd ac anwadadwy o gryfder y gefnogaeth i roi diwedd ar y gweithgaredd hwn, gyda mwy o bobl o blaid gwaharddiad nag a oedd o blaid trwyddedu hyfforddwyr, perchnogion a cheidwaid milgwn, fel y cynigiwyd mewn man arall yn yr ymgynghoriad. Rhaid inni beidio ag anwybyddu'r mwyafrif sylweddol o bobl sy'n cydnabod bod yn rhaid i les cŵn rasio gael blaenoriaeth dros adloniant.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ysgrifennais atoch gyda'r ystadegau diweddaraf gan Fwrdd Milgwn Prydain a Stadiwm Milgwn Valley. Yn fwyaf arbennig, mae'n destun pryder gwirioneddol fod amlder cyfarfodydd rasio wedi cynyddu o un i dair gwaith yr wythnos rhwng 1 Tachwedd 2023 a 31 Hydref 2024. Bydd hyn, heb os, yn cynyddu nifer y cŵn a anafir ar y trac hwnnw'n sylweddol. Mae 604 o gŵn wedi rasio ar y trac yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. O'r rheini, mae 140 wedi cael damweiniau ac anafiadau. Mae hynny bron yn chwarter eu nifer. Mae ystadegau Bwrdd Milgwn Prydain ei hun yn dangos nad yw eu goruchwyliaeth yn atal neu hyd yn oed yn lleihau'r perygl y bydd cŵn yn cael eu hanafu neu'n marw ar y traciau rasio.
Er bod Bwrdd Milgwn Prydain wedi gweithredu strategaeth les, bu farw 389 o gŵn a gymerai ran mewn rasys ar eu traciau yn 2023—cynnydd o 47 y cant o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol. Mae'r ystadegau hefyd yn dangos bod 180 o gŵn wedi gorffen eu gyrfa rasio yn Valley yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw—nifer sylweddol i ddod o hyd i gartrefi iddynt, gan roi straen ar ganolfannau achub ledled de Cymru, gyda 55 y cant o gŵn yn cael eu trosglwyddo i elusennau ar ddiwedd eu gyrfa, gyda dim ond 10 y cant yn cael cartref gan berchennog neu hyfforddwr.
Fis diwethaf, ymwelais â'r Dogs Trust yng Nghaerdydd a chyfarfod â Hiccup, cyn-filgi rasio hyfryd yn chwilio am gartref parhaol. Ond oherwydd nifer y cŵn sy'n gorffen rasio, mae canolfannau achub yn ei chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i'r cartrefi sydd eu hangen arnynt ar gyfer cyn-filgwn rasio fel Hiccup. Yn ôl cofnodion cyhoeddedig cyfarfod a gynhaliwyd gan y Greyhound Forum ym mis Gorffennaf 2024, roedd 2,500 o gŵn a oedd wedi gorffen rasio yn byw yng nghytiau hyfforddwyr wrth aros i gael eu hailgartrefu. Mae hynny'n llawer iawn o gŵn, ac mae'n dangos yr ôl-groniad pryderus o gŵn sydd angen mannau achub, gan ddangos, fel y mae pethau, nad yw'r diwydiant yn gynaliadwy.
Yn drist iawn, i lawer o gŵn, nid oes diweddglo hapus i'w gyrfa rasio. Roedd Last Hope yn enghraifft o fyd tywyll a chyfrinachol gwaredu cŵn rasio diangen, a elwir yn 'wastraff' yn y diwydiant. Ddwy flynedd yn unig ar ôl darganfod Last Hope, torrodd y wasg genedlaethol y newyddion am David Smith, masnachwr deunydd adeiladu yn swydd Durham, a ddefnyddiodd ddulliau tebyg i waredu dros 10,000 o filgwn nad oedd neb eu heisiau. Ar ôl bod yn dyst i greulondeb mor aruthrol â'u llygaid eu hunain, roedd y bobl yn Achub Milgwn Cymru ar y pryd yn benderfynol o ddod â rhywfaint o ddaioni parhaol er cof am Last Hope. Sefydlwyd cronfa Last Hope i dalu am gostau gofal milgwn a chŵn potsiwr sâl ac wedi'u hanafu y gellid bod wedi gorfod eu rhoi i gysgu fel arall, yn enwedig y rhai a oedd yn wynebu cymhlethdodau gofal drud neu gydol oes, a hyd yma, mae'r gronfa wedi talu ymhell dros £100,000 mewn costau milfeddygol a gofal i roi ail gyfle i filgwn rasio mewn bywyd.
Nid oes gan y diwydiant rasio milgwn arian i dalu'r costau angenrheidiol i sicrhau eu bod yn cadw at hyd yn oed y lefel sylfaenol o safonau lles. Yn hytrach, mae'r elusennau yng nghynghrair Cut the Chase yn cael eu gadael i wynebu'r canlyniadau a thalu'r biliau, a'r costau ailgartrefu hefyd. Mae rasio milgwn yn ddiwydiant creulon, anghynaliadwy, hen ffasiwn y mae'n rhaid inni droi ein cefnau arno. Mae Cymru bob amser wedi arwain y ffordd gyda deddfwriaeth lles anifeiliaid. Ni oedd y wlad gyntaf i gyflwyno gwaharddiadau llawn ar goleri sy'n rhoi sioc drydanol, maglau a thrapiau glud ar gyfer cŵn. Dyma gyfle go iawn nawr i ychwanegu rasio milgwn at y rhestr o gyflawniadau cyn etholiad 2026, cyn y flwyddyn nesaf, a dangos bod lles anifeiliaid yn flaenoriaeth wirioneddol i Lywodraeth Cymru, gan greu gwaddol parhaol i Lafur Cymru fod yn falch ohoni.
Pleidleisiodd Seland Newydd dros wahardd rasio milgwn, ac mae'r Llywodraeth yno'n bwriadu dod â'r arfer i ben erbyn 1 Awst y flwyddyn nesaf, gan roi cyfle pwysig i Gymru ymuno â mudiad sydd â momentwm byd-eang, ac adeiladu ar ein henw da fel cenedl dosturiol a moesegol ar raddfa fyd-eang. I Seland Newydd, er bod y diwydiant yn werth NZ$159 miliwn—£73 miliwn—y flwyddyn iddi ac yn cyflogi dros 1,000 o bobl, roedd anafiadau a marwolaethau'r cŵn yn ddigon i gyfiawnhau gwaharddiad.
Po hiraf yr arhoswn cyn gweithredu, y mwyaf o gŵn a gaiff eu hanafu neu eu lladd ar drac Valley. Ac rwy'n gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet beidio â cholli'r cyfle hwn i weithredu nawr, ac i weithio gyda chanolfannau achub a'r elusennau, oherwydd fe wnânt eich helpu. Diolch.
Thank you to Carolyn for bringing this debate, and I want to pay tribute to the whole of us in this Siambr, across the parties, because this is a real—. We site ourselves on something that we all believe in, which is not to continue with greyhound racing. I want to pay tribute as well to the animal welfare organisations for the work that they do. It's a job I could never do. It's a job that involves seeing animals in the greatest of distress, seeing them injured and traumatised, and making difficult decisions about those animals. But I also want to pay tribute to them because I know they get abuse as well. They get abuse because of the stand that they take. And they've had abuse in relation to their call, the Cut the Chase coalition, to ban greyhound racing. We debated the Senedd petition, and I myself experienced abuse after that debate—significant abuse—online and direct to myself and my family. But, do you know? I don't care. I don't care because I'm standing here today for those animals who have no voice.
And you've heard me talk about Arthur. Arthur was our first greyhound, collected from Wimbledon, had been on the race track in Wimbledon. There were 65 other greyhounds there who needed a forever home. He was only with us for three years because of the injuries and trauma he'd experienced. But we've now got Wanda. Wanda was from Rhydaman rescue home. There are 20 dogs there. And I said to Greyhound Rescue Wales when I took Wanda, 'Oh, this is great, you'll be able to get a bit of a rest here.' They said, 'No, we've got a waiting list of greyhounds ready to take Wanda's place.' I've learned a lot from Wanda, I've learned a lot from Arthur, and I'm very grateful to them. I hope we get this ban, because, in my head, it will be Arthur's law. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch i Carolyn am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon, ac rwyf am dalu teyrnged i bawb ohonom yn y Siambr, ar draws y pleidiau, oherwydd mae hyn yn wirioneddol—. Rydym yn sefyll dros rywbeth y mae pawb ohonom yn credu ynddo, sef peidio â pharhau â rasio milgwn. Rwyf am dalu teyrnged yn ogystal i'r sefydliadau lles anifeiliaid am y gwaith a wnânt. Mae'n waith na allwn i byth mo'i wneud. Mae'n waith sy'n golygu gweld anifeiliaid yn y trallod mwyaf, eu gweld yn cael eu hanafu a'u trawmateiddio, a gwneud penderfyniadau anodd am yr anifeiliaid hynny. Ond rwyf hefyd eisiau talu teyrnged iddynt am fy mod yn gwybod eu bod hwythau'n cael eu cam-drin hefyd. Cânt eu cam-drin oherwydd eu safiad. Ac maent wedi cael eu cam-drin yn sgil eu galwad, y gynghrair Cut the Chase, am wahardd rasio milgwn. Buom yn trafod deiseb y Senedd, ac fe brofais gamdriniaeth fy hun wedi'r ddadl honno—cam-drin sylweddol—ar-lein ac yn uniongyrchol i mi a fy nheulu. Ond wyddoch chi beth? Nid oes ots gennyf. Nid oes ots gennyf oherwydd rwy'n sefyll yma heddiw dros anifeiliaid sydd heb lais.
Ac rydych wedi fy nghlywed yn siarad am Arthur. Arthur oedd ein milgi cyntaf, fe wnaethom ei gasglu o Wimbledon, ac roedd wedi bod ar y trac rasio yn Wimbledon. Roedd 65 o filgwn eraill yno angen cartref parhaol. Dim ond am dair blynedd y bu gyda ni oherwydd yr anafiadau a'r trawma a brofodd. Ond mae gennym ni Wanda nawr. Daeth Wanda o gartref achub Rhydaman. Mae 20 o gŵn yno. A dywedais wrth Achub Milgwn Cymru pan euthum â Wanda, 'O, mae hyn yn wych, fe fyddwch chi'n gallu cael ychydig o orffwys yma.' A'u hymateb oedd, 'Na, mae gennym restr aros o filgwn yn barod i gymryd lle Wanda.' Rwyf wedi dysgu llawer gan Wanda, dysgais lawer gan Arthur, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn iddynt. Rwy'n gobeithio y cawn y gwaharddiad hwn, oherwydd yn fy mhen, cyfraith Arthur fydd hi. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I share the thanks to Carolyn for putting forward this short debate. And Jane is right: a number of us who have stood up in this Chamber and have advocated for a ban or asked questions around a ban have faced a lot of abuse, in the same way that those within the animal welfare sector have as well. And I think the frustration now felt by a number of people within the animal welfare sector is that we've gone through the consultation process, that took a significant amount of time, and yet we're still unclear as to whether the Government is going to progress with this or where the Government wants to take this. So, what I'd like to get from the Cabinet Secretary tonight is what he now intends to do—now that the consultation process is done and we've seen the responses to that consultation, what he intends to do and where he intends to take this next, and as well if the Government has considered the evidence where bans have taken place elsewhere. We know, for example, Florida went through that process back in 2018. We now have the news in New Zealand as well. So, there are examples in the world of where this has happened in a phased way, in a way that can be done in partnership with the sector. So, I'd be interested to hear his reflections on that and how it has progressed elsewhere in the world.
Rwy'n rhannu'r diolch i Carolyn am gyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon. Ac mae Jane yn iawn: mae nifer ohonom sydd wedi codi yn y Siambr i ddadlau dros waharddiad neu ofyn cwestiynau ynghylch gwaharddiad wedi wynebu llawer o gamdriniaeth, yn yr un modd ag y mae'r rhai yn y sector lles anifeiliaid wedi wynebu hynny hefyd. Ac rwy'n credu mai'r rhwystredigaeth y mae nifer o bobl yn y sector lles anifeiliaid bellach yn ei deimlo yw ein bod wedi mynd drwy'r broses ymgynghori, cymerodd hynny gryn dipyn o amser, ac eto rydym yn dal yn aneglur a yw'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i symud ymlaen gyda hyn neu i ble mae'r Llywodraeth am fynd â hyn. Felly, hoffwn gael gwybod gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet heno beth y mae'n bwriadu ei wneud nawr—gan fod y broses ymgynghori wedi ei chwblhau a'n bod wedi gweld yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad, beth y mae'n bwriadu ei wneud a lle mae'n bwriadu mynd â hyn nesaf, a hefyd, a yw'r Llywodraeth wedi ystyried y dystiolaeth lle mae gwaharddiadau wedi digwydd mewn mannau eraill. Fe wyddom, er enghraifft, fod Florida wedi mynd drwy'r broses honno yn ôl yn 2018. Cawn y newyddion nawr o Seland Newydd hefyd. Felly, mae enghreifftiau yn y byd o ble mae hyn wedi digwydd fesul cam, mewn ffordd y gellir ei wneud mewn partneriaeth â'r sector. Felly, hoffwn glywed ei farn ar hynny a sut y mae'r peth wedi symud ymlaen mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd.
I would like to thank Carolyn for tabling this important debate and for agreeing to give me a minute of her time. I wholeheartedly agree that we need to end the cruelty that is greyhound racing, and we need to end it today. Carolyn quite ably set out the case for a ban. This cruel, inhuman practice—I won't call it a sport—needs to stop. Far too many dogs—gentle, loving creatures—die or are badly injured just to turn a profit for betting companies. We cannot sit idly by and allow it to continue. I urge the Cabinet Secretary to heed the calls of those of us taking part in this debate and those from across the length and breadth of Wales: cut the chase, end greyhound racing now. Diolch yn fawr.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Carolyn am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon ac am gytuno i roi munud o'i hamser i mi. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod angen inni ddod â chreulondeb rasio milgwn i ben, ac mae angen inni wneud hynny heddiw. Nododd Carolyn yr achos dros waharddiad. Mae'r arfer creulon, annynol hwn—nid wyf am ei alw'n gamp—mae angen iddo ddod i ben. Mae llawer gormod o gŵn—creaduriaid addfwyn, annwyl—yn marw neu'n cael eu hanafu'n wael er mwyn creu elw i gwmnïau betio. Ni allwn eistedd yn segur a chaniatáu iddo barhau. Rwy'n annog Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i wrando ar alwadau'r rhai ohonom sy'n cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon a phobl o bob cwr o Gymru: rhowch y gorau i'r helfa, a dowch â rasio milgwn i ben nawr. Diolch yn fawr.
We do call ourselves a nation of dog lovers and we do very often refer to dogs as being man's best friend, and yet, here we are, one of only four countries left in the world that are refusing, it seems to me, to ban greyhound racing. I don't understand why that is. I think we need to do it, and I think we need to use the last year that we've got to make sure that this actually stops. We have the time and we have a time frame for when we can act, and, in my view, we need to act now.
I met Arthur the first time I met you, Jane, when you came in and we met up and we had a coffee outside, and he just sat alongside us like the gentle giant that he was. And what's amazing about dogs is that they trust people even after all of the pain and suffering that they've gone through. We don't need to ask them to trust us after they've been abused; we need to stop that abuse from happening, and I think that it's in our power to do it. I thank Carolyn for bringing it, but the fact of the numbers that are here for this short debate tonight is testament to the strength of feeling. So, over to you, Minister. I hope that you're going to deliver. I hope that we're not going to have to jump through any hoops any further, and I think everybody here would support you in doing the right thing.
Rydym yn galw ein hunain yn genedl sy'n caru cŵn ac rydym yn aml iawn yn cyfeirio at gŵn fel ffrind gorau pobl, ac eto, dyma ni, un o ddim ond pedair gwlad ar ôl yn y byd sy'n gwrthod gwahardd milgwn rasio, mae'n ymddangos i mi. Nid wyf yn deall pam. Rwy'n credu bod angen inni wneud hynny, ac rwy'n credu bod angen inni ddefnyddio'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf sydd gennym i sicrhau bod hyn yn dod i ben. Mae gennym amser ac mae gennym amserlen ar gyfer pryd y gallwn weithredu, ac yn fy marn i, mae angen inni weithredu nawr.
Cyfarfûm ag Arthur y tro cyntaf i mi eich cyfarfod chi, Jane, pan ddaethoch i mewn ac fe wnaethom gyfarfod a chael coffi y tu allan, ac fe eisteddodd wrth ein hymyl, y cawr addfwyn ag ydoedd. A'r hyn sy'n anhygoel am gŵn yw eu bod yn ymddiried mewn pobl hyd yn oed ar ôl yr holl boen a dioddefaint yr aethant drwyddo. Nid oes angen inni ofyn iddynt ymddiried ynom ar ôl iddynt gael eu cam-drin; mae angen inni atal y cam-drin hwnnw rhag digwydd, ac fe allwn wneud hynny. Diolch i Carolyn am gyflwyno hyn, ond mae'r nifer sydd yma ar gyfer y ddadl fer hon heno yn dyst i gryfder y teimlad. Felly, drosodd atoch chi, Weinidog. Rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch chi'n cyflawni. Rwy'n gobeithio na fydd yn rhaid inni neidio trwy unrhyw gylchoedd pellach, ac rwy'n credu y byddai pawb yma yn eich cefnogi i wneud y peth iawn.
Why, in 2025, does greyhound racing still exist when so many of the grounds have shut down? I think that it's particularly clear. It exists for one real reason, and that is to feed online international gambling. Without that, there would be no greyhound racing. And what we know is that less than 25 per cent of the dogs that actually make the cut out of all of the overbred dogs to try to find the winners—less than 25 per cent—are bred in the UK; the vast majority of them are imported from abroad. And I think that sends that message.
Around the age of three, when their racing performance deteriorates, their racing days are over, and a minority may find loving homes courtesy of animal welfare charities. However, each year, only 3,000 of the 13,500 surplus greyhounds actually find a home. Many are euthanised, and, every year, 4,000 greyhounds in England and Wales simply fall off the radar. Their fate is unknown. The reality of greyhound racing is that the industry cannot exist without systematic animal cruelty, so Wales should be joining the overwhelming majority of nations, lead the way in the UK, consign this cruel sport to history and also to spike the growth in international gambling that feeds off this animal cruelty as well. Diolch.
Pam, yn 2025, fod rasio milgwn yn dal i fodoli pan fo cymaint o'r caeau rasio wedi cau? Rwy'n credu ei fod yn arbennig o glir. Mae'n bodoli am un rheswm mewn gwirionedd, sef i fwydo gamblo rhyngwladol ar-lein. Heb hynny, ni fyddai unrhyw rasio milgwn. A'r hyn a wyddom yw bod llai na 25 y cant o'r cŵn gorau o'r holl gŵn a gaiff eu gor-fridio i geisio dod o hyd i'r goreuon—llai na 25 y cant—yn cael eu bridio yn y DU; mae'r mwyafrif helaeth ohonynt yn cael eu mewnforio o dramor. Ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n cyfleu'r neges honno.
Oddeutu tair oed, pan fydd eu perfformiad rasio'n dirywio, mae eu dyddiau rasio drosodd, ac efallai y bydd lleiafrif yn dod o hyd i gartrefi cariadus trwy garedigrwydd elusennau lles anifeiliaid. Fodd bynnag, bob blwyddyn, dim ond 3,000 o'r 13,500 o filgwn dros ben sy'n cael cartref mewn gwirionedd. Caiff llawer eu hewthaneiddio, a phob blwyddyn, mae 4,000 o filgwn yng Nghymru a Lloegr yn disgyn oddi ar y radar. Ni wyddom beth yw eu tynged. Realiti rasio milgwn yw na all y diwydiant fodoli heb greulondeb systematig i anifeiliaid, felly dylai Cymru ymuno â'r mwyafrif llethol o wledydd, arwain y ffordd yn y DU, a chau'r drws ar y gamp greulon hon am byth, yn ogystal â rhoi diwedd ar y cynnydd mewn gamblo rhyngwladol sy'n bwydo oddi ar y creulondeb hwn i anifeiliaid. Diolch.
Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig i ymateb i'r ddadl. Huw Irranca-Davies.
I call on the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs to respond to the debate. Huw Irranca-Davies.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr iawn, Carolyn, hefyd, am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon. Diolch hefyd i'r Aelodau eraill sydd wedi siarad yn y ddadl.
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you very much to Carolyn for presenting this short debate. And thank you also to the other Members who have contributed to the debate.
I acknowledge and appreciate that you have all, across parties, advocated for some time for the welfare of racing greyhounds—for quite some time now—and I know that you're all keenly awaiting our next steps. I do also recognise the strength of feeling in this Siambr across political parties, and I note also, as has been remarked upon by colleagues, the recent policy change in New Zealand as well.
Now, the consultation on the licensing of animal welfare establishments, activities and exhibits received over 1,000 responses. And, like the petition that came before it, it also demonstrates significant strength of feeling outside of this Siambr on this issue too. Now, as set out in the consultation, this is part of the first phase of development of a national model for the regulation of animal welfare, reviewing current legislation and assessing where improvements can be made. We also specifically included questions in relation to the future of greyhound racing in Wales. I would like again to thank all of those who responded to the consultation and for the valuable information that was provided.
Rwy'n cydnabod ac yn deall eich bod chi i gyd, ar draws y pleidiau, wedi bod yn dadlau ers peth amser dros les milgwn rasio—ers cryn dipyn o amser nawr—a gwn eich bod chi i gyd yn aros yn eiddgar am ein camau nesaf. Rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod cryfder y teimlad yn y Siambr ar draws y pleidiau gwleidyddol, ac rwy'n nodi, fel y mae cyd-Aelodau wedi nodi hefyd, y newid polisi diweddar yn Seland Newydd.
Nawr, derbyniodd yr ymgynghoriad ar drwyddedu sefydliadau lles, gweithgareddau ac arddangosfeydd anifeiliaid dros 1,000 o ymatebion. Ac fel y ddeiseb a'i rhagflaenodd, mae hefyd yn dangos cryfder y teimlad y tu allan i'r Siambr ynghylch y mater hwn. Nawr, fel y nodir yn yr ymgynghoriad, dyma ran o'r cam cyntaf yn y broses o ddatblygu model cenedlaethol ar gyfer rheoleiddio lles anifeiliaid, adolygu deddfwriaeth gyfredol ac asesu lle gellir gwneud gwelliannau. Hefyd, fe wnaethom gynnwys cwestiynau penodol mewn perthynas â dyfodol rasio milgwn yng Nghymru. Hoffwn ddiolch eto i bawb a ymatebodd i'r ymgynghoriad ac am y wybodaeth werthfawr a ddarparwyd.
Nawr, rwy’n cydnabod bod hwn yn fater cymhleth ac emosiynol. Rwyf am sicrhau gwelliannau lles parhaus, a dyna pam yr ystyriwyd cwestiynau ynghylch trwyddedu a gwaharddiad yn ein hymgynghoriad. Er bod teimlad cryf ynglŷn â gwaharddiad graddol yn yr ymgynghoriad, a lefel uchel o gefnogaeth i'w ystyried, gwnaethom hefyd ofyn am dystiolaeth i gadarnhau barn o’r fath. Rydym wedi cymryd amser i adolygu’r dystiolaeth ychwanegol sydd ei hangen, a rhaid inni sicrhau bod unrhyw benderfyniadau’n cael eu hysbysu'n dda.
Now, I recognise that this is a complex and emotional issue. I want to ensure ongoing improvements to well-being, and that’s why issues around licensing and a ban were considered as part of the consultation. Although there were strong feelings on this in the consultation and a high level of support for considering a gradual ban, we also asked for evidence to confirm such views. We have taken time to review the additional evidence needed, and we must ensure that any decisions are properly informed.
Now, whilst there were strong sentiments regarding a phased ban in the consultation and a high level of support for considering it, we also requested evidence to substantiate such opinions, so we have taken time to review the additional evidence needed in order that we can ensure that the decisions are well-informed. Our priorities for animal welfare are set out, of course, in our animal welfare plan for Wales. It includes a timetable for the delivery of our animal welfare programme-for-government commitments and other animal welfare priorities.
Just to be clear, it is my goal for Wales to be recognised for its exemplary standards of animal welfare, and the plan sets out how we will strive for progress in this, and deliver reform for farm, companion and other kept animals as well. And a fundamental consideration of our plan is to promote education and awareness amongst everyone involved in keeping animals. This will not only help provide a good quality of life for animals in Wales, but also do much to ensure future generations of animal keepers will understand how applying best practice makes a positive difference. Extending across the Government term, it focuses on high standards, the adoption and sharing of best practice, engagement with key stakeholders, effective enforcement and the championing of education and responsible ownership. And, indeed, one of these commitments is to develop that national model for the regulation of animal welfare, introducing regulation for animal welfare establishments, for activities and for exhibits. I remain committed to this work, and officials continue to engage with a range of stakeholders, including the Animal Welfare Network Wales and the Companion Animal Welfare Group Wales.
And another significant recent development in animal welfare is the incredible work being delivered on improving responsible dog ownership and breeding. The second of our multi-agency annual summits was held in October where both I and Wales’s chief veterinary officer heard the updates from stakeholders about the progress being made, as well as approaches to addressing current and emerging issues. And these summits not only highlight the achievements, but offer us the opportunity to share knowledge and demonstrate how this multi-agency collaborative approach is helping to promote and develop responsible dog breeding and ownership.
Regarding the specific issue of greyhound racing in Wales, alongside the development of the wider national model for the regulation of animal welfare and building on the written statement we published on 18 December, I am looking forward to sharing our next steps in the spring. So, I would like to thank all Members—Carolyn and all Members—for bringing this issue to the fore, recognising the cross-party support that has been demonstrated here today, recognising the responses to the consultation as well. I’m looking forward to bringing forward our next steps in the spring, and my thanks to everybody, once again—as before, when the petition was brought forward, as well—for sharing their thoughts on the way forward. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Nawr, er bod teimladau cryfion ynghylch gwaharddiad graddol yn yr ymgynghoriad a lefel uchel o gefnogaeth i'w hystyried, fe wnaethom ofyn am dystiolaeth hefyd i gadarnhau barn o'r fath, felly rydym wedi cymryd amser i adolygu'r dystiolaeth ychwanegol sydd ei hangen er mwyn inni allu sicrhau bod y penderfyniadau'n seiliedig ar wybodaeth dda. Mae ein blaenoriaethau ar gyfer lles anifeiliaid wedi'u nodi yn ein cynllun lles anifeiliaid ar gyfer Cymru. Mae'n cynnwys amserlen ar gyfer cyflawni ymrwymiadau lles anifeiliaid ein rhaglen lywodraethu a blaenoriaethau lles anifeiliaid eraill.
I fod yn glir, fy nod yw i Gymru gael ei chydnabod am ei safonau lles anifeiliaid rhagorol, ac mae'r cynllun yn nodi sut y byddwn yn ymdrechu i wneud cynnydd yn hyn o beth, ac yn darparu diwygiadau ar gyfer anifeiliaid fferm, anifeiliaid anwes ac anifeiliaid eraill a gedwir hefyd. Ac ystyriaeth sylfaenol yn ein cynllun yw hyrwyddo addysg ac ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith pawb sy'n ymwneud â chadw anifeiliaid. Bydd hyn nid yn unig yn helpu i ddarparu ansawdd bywyd da i anifeiliaid yng Nghymru, ond hefyd yn gwneud llawer i sicrhau y bydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol o geidwaid anifeiliaid yn deall sut y mae cymhwyso arferion gorau'n gwneud gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol. Gan ymestyn ar draws tymor y Llywodraeth, mae'n canolbwyntio ar safonau uchel, mabwysiadu a rhannu arferion gorau, ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid allweddol, trefniadau gorfodi effeithiol, a hyrwyddo addysg a pherchnogaeth gyfrifol. Ac yn wir, un o'r ymrwymiadau hyn yw datblygu model cenedlaethol ar gyfer rheoleiddio lles anifeiliaid, gan gyflwyno rheoleiddio ar gyfer sefydliadau lles, gweithgareddau ac arddangosfeydd anifeiliaid. Rwy'n parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i'r gwaith hwn, ac mae swyddogion yn parhau i ymgysylltu ag ystod o randdeiliaid, gan gynnwys Rhwydwaith Lles Anifeiliaid Cymru a Grŵp Lles Anifeiliaid Anwes Cymru.
A datblygiad arwyddocaol arall yn ddiweddar ym maes lles anifeiliaid yw'r gwaith anhygoel sy'n cael ei gyflawni ar wella bridio cyfrifol a pherchnogaeth gyfrifol ar gŵn. Cynhaliwyd yr ail o'n huwchgynadleddau blynyddol amlasiantaethol ym mis Hydref lle clywodd prif swyddog milfeddygol Cymru a minnau y diweddaraf gan randdeiliaid am y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud, yn ogystal â dulliau o fynd i'r afael â materion cyfredol a rhai sy'n dod i'r amlwg. Ac mae'r uwchgynadleddau hyn nid yn unig yn tynnu sylw at y cyflawniadau, maent hefyd yn cynnig cyfle i ni rannu gwybodaeth a dangos sut y mae'r dull cydweithredol amlasiantaethol hwn yn helpu i hyrwyddo a datblygu bridio cŵn yn gyfrifol a pherchnogaeth gyfrifol ar gŵn.
Ar fater penodol rasio milgwn yng Nghymru, ochr yn ochr â datblygu'r model cenedlaethol ehangach ar gyfer rheoleiddio lles anifeiliaid ac adeiladu ar y datganiad ysgrifenedig a gyhoeddwyd gennym ar 18 Rhagfyr, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at rannu ein camau nesaf yn y gwanwyn. Felly, hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau—Carolyn a'r holl Aelodau—am ddod â'r mater hwn i'r amlwg, gan gydnabod y gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol a ddangoswyd yma heddiw, a'r ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad hefyd. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gyflwyno ein camau nesaf yn y gwanwyn, a diolch i bawb unwaith eto—fel o'r blaen, pan gyflwynwyd y ddeiseb—am rannu eu syniadau ynglŷn â'r ffordd ymlaen. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a diolch i Carolyn a’r siaradwyr eraill. Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary, and I thank Carolyn and all other speakers. That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:19.
The meeting ended at 18:19.