Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
23/01/2018Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni'r prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. A'r cwestiwn cyntaf, Darren Millar.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister. And the first question is from Darren Millar.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i wella'r seilwaith yng ngogledd Cymru? OAQ51601
1. Will the First Minister outline what consideration the Welsh Government has given to improving infrastructure in north Wales? OAQ51601
Our recently published national transport finance plan sets out an ambitious programme of road, rail, bus and active travel improvements as part of a balanced and sustainable plan for transport investment across Wales.
Mae ein cynllun cyllid trafnidiaeth cenedlaethol a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar yn nodi rhaglen uchelgeisiol o welliannau i ffyrdd, rheilffyrdd, bysiau a theithio llesol yn rhan o gynllun cytbwys a chynaliadwy ar gyfer buddsoddiad mewn trafnidiaeth ledled Cymru.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. One thing that many people in north Wales crow about is the disparity between the investment in south Wales in the transport infrastructure and that in the north. You're spending £1.4 billion on an M4 relief road, £400 million more than you were anticipating not that long ago. You announced £180 million for the metro central project in Cardiff, and that's within, of course, a £2 billion package for the south Wales metro system. Now, I don't decry those investments, but when is north Wales going to get its fair share? We've got cripplingly bad infrastructure on the A55, which regularly is congested, we've got problems with our flood defences, and broadband access, particularly in rural communities, is completely unacceptable.
Diolch i chi am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Un peth y mae llawer o bobl yn y gogledd yn clochdar yn eu gylch yw'r gwahaniaeth rhwng y buddsoddiad yn y seilwaith trafnidiaeth yn y de a'r hyn a welir yn y gogledd. Rydych chi'n gwario £1.4 biliwn ar ffordd liniaru i'r M4, £400 miliwn yn fwy nag yr oeddech chi'n ei ddisgwyl ddim yn bell iawn yn ôl. Cyhoeddwyd £180 miliwn gennych ar gyfer y prosiect metro canolog yng Nghaerdydd, ac mae hwnnw o fewn, wrth gwrs, pecyn gwerth £2 biliwn ar gyfer system metro de Cymru. Nawr, nid wyf i'n bychanu'r buddsoddiadau hynny, ond pryd mae'r gogledd yn mynd i gael ei gyfran deg? Mae gennym ni seilwaith eithriadol o wael ar yr A55, lle ceir tagfeydd rheolaidd, mae gennym ni broblemau gyda'n hamddiffynfeydd rhag llifogydd, ac mae mynediad at fand eang, yn enwedig mewn cymunedau gwledig, yn gwbl annerbyniol.
Well, the A55 is of course a key strategic route in the north. Last year, we completed a £42 million programme to bring the tunnels of Conwy, Penmaenbach and Pen-y-clip up to current standards. We're also investing approximately £40 million to upgrade junctions 15 and 16, and another £200 million in the Deeside corridor. In addition, the Abergwyngregyn to Tai'r Meibion advanced drainage scheme was completed over the summer, and we published the draft orders and an environmental statement on the main A55 Abergwyngregyn to Tai'r Meibion improvement scheme. Now, other works in the north include the acceleration of the completion date for a third Menai crossing, which could now open in 2022, and progression of the proposed Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass, which represents further investment of over £125 million to the network—and that's just to the roads.
Wel, mae'r A55, wrth gwrs, yn llwybr strategol allweddol yn y gogledd. Y llynedd, cwblhawyd rhaglen £42 miliwn gennym i sicrhau bod twneli Conwy, Penmaen-bach a Phen-y-clip yn cyd-fynd â'r safonau presennol. Rydym ni hefyd yn buddsoddi tua £40 miliwn i uwchraddio cyffyrdd 15 a 16, a £200 miliwn yg nghoridor Glannau Dyfrdwy. Hefyd, cwblhawyd y cynllun draenio rhwng Abergwyngregyn â Thai'r Meibion dros yr haf, a chyhoeddwyd y gorchmynion drafft a datganiad amgylcheddol ar brif gynllun gwella Abergwyngregyn i Dai'r Meibion yr A55 gennym. Nawr, mae gwaith arall yn y gogledd yn cynnwys cyflymu'r dyddiad cwblhau ar gyfer trydydd croesfan dros afon Menai, a allai agor yn 2022 erbyn hyn, a datblygu ffordd osgoi arfaethedig Caernarfon a Bontnewydd, sy'n cynrychioli mwy o fuddsoddiad o dros £125 miliwn yn y rhwydwaith—ac i'r ffyrdd yn unig mae hynny.
Rwy'n edrych ar fap o fy mlaen i yn y fan hyn o'r pwyntiau gwefru ceir trydan ar draws Prydain. Ac rydym yn gweld ar draws gogledd Cymru mor dila ydy'r ddarpariaeth o fannau pwyntiau gwefru cyflym. Rydw i'n edrych ymlaen am y chwyldro mewn defnydd o geir trydan, ond nid ydy'r chwyldro yna am allu digwydd heb fod y Llywodraeth wirioneddol yn dangos uchelgais ac yn rhoi strategaeth mewn lle er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n paratoi'r isadeiledd ar gyfer y chwyldro yna. Lle mae'r arwyddion gan y Llywodraeth eich bod chi'n cymryd hyn o ddifrif?
I’m looking at a map of the electric car charging points across Britain. We see, across north Wales, how poor the provision is in terms of swift charging. I look forward to the revolution in the use of electric vehicles, but that isn’t going to be able to happen unless the Government truly shows ambition and puts a strategy in place in order to ensure that we are preparing the infrastructure for that revolution. So, where are the signs from the Government you’re taking this seriously?
Wel, rydym ni yn, wrth gwrs, ac mae'n rhaid sicrhau bod y strwythur yna. Un o'r problemau yw'r ffaith bod siẁd amrywiaeth ynglŷn â'r gwahanol ffyrdd y mae ceir yn gallu cael eu tsiarjo. Mae yna o leiaf dri gwahanol soced y gallaf i feddwl amdanyn nhw, fel un sy'n dreifo hybrid fy hunan. Beth sydd ei eisiau yw i'r cynhyrchwyr ystyried ym mha ffordd y gallwn ni sicrhau taw dim ond un modd o tsiarjo sydd ar gael, a bydd hynny'n rhwyddach wedyn i Lywodraeth sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu helpu i weld mwy o lefydd tsiarjo yn y pen draw. Ond mae'n wir i ddweud, wrth gwrs: beth sy'n dod yn gyntaf—ceir neu'r rhwydwaith? Rydym ni'n moyn sicrhau bod rhwydwaith ar draws Cymru, ac mae hwn yn rhywbeth sy'n cael ei ystyried gan y Gweinidog.
Well, of course we take it seriously, and we have to ensure that the structure is in place. One of the problems is there’s such a diversity as regards the way in which cars can be charged. There are at least three sockets that I can think of, as someone who drives a hybrid. What we need, of course, is for the manufacturers to consider how they could have one uniform charger, then it would be easier for the Government to ensure that we can facilitate having more charging points. And, of course, we can ask: what comes first—cars or the network? We want to ensure that we have a pan-Wales network, and this is something being considered by the Minister.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am argaeledd signal ffonau symudol yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OAQ51634
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on mobile phone coverage in Mid and West Wales? OAQ51634
We recognise the ever-growing importance of mobile communications in rural areas. And our mobile action plan sets out how we plan to work with the industry and regulator to improve mobile connectivity across the country.
Rydym ni'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd cynyddol cyfathrebu symudol mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Ac mae ein cynllun gweithredu symudol yn nodi sut yr ydym ni'n bwriadu gweithio gyda'r diwydiant a'r rheoleiddiwr i wella cysylltedd symudol ledled y wlad.
I thank the First Minister for that reply, and I know the Government is giving a high priority to improving connectivity in the countryside. But I'm sure he'd agree with me that a lot more is yet to be done. There is a significant potential problem with lack of mobile phone coverage in regard to public transport. A constituent has written to me from Llan-non in Ceredigion, which has only four buses on a Sunday to Aberaeron, to say that he was waiting for the 11:27 bus recently, which didn't arrive. On the website, you're encouraged, of course, to check the website for timetable changes and delays, but he couldn't do that, because—
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna, a gwn fod y Llywodraeth yn rhoi blaenoriaeth uchel i wella cysylltedd yng nghefn gwlad. Ond rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n cytuno â mi bod llawer mwy i'w wneud o hyd. Ceir problem sylweddol o bosib gyda diffyg signal ffôn symudol o ran trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae etholwr wedi ysgrifennu ataf i o Lan-non yng Ngheredigion, sydd â phedwar bws yn unig i Aberaeron ar ddydd Sul, i ddweud ei fod yn aros am y bws 11:27 yn ddiweddar, ac na chyrhaeddodd. Ar y wefan, rydych chi'n cael eich annog, wrth gwrs, i edrych ar y wefan i ganfod newidiadau i amserlenni ac oediadau, ond ni allai wneud hynny, oherwydd—
Much as I'm interested in bus times in Llan-non, this question is about mobile phone signal.
Gymaint ag y mae gen i ddiddordeb mewn amseroedd bysiau yn Llan-non, mae'r cwestiwn hwn am signal ffôn symudol.
Yes, correct. But people with mobile phones are encouraged to check the website for delays to the service, which couldn't be done in this particular instance because there was no mobile coverage at the bus stop at which he was waiting for the bus.
Ydy, cywir. Ond mae pobl â ffonau symudol yn cael eu hannog i edrych ar y wefan i ganfod oediadau i'r gwasanaeth, na ellid ei wneud yn yr achos penodol hwn gan nad oedd unrhyw signal ffôn symudol ar y safle bws lle'r oedd yn aros am y bws.
Well, no-one's going to pretend that mobile coverage is exactly universal, in many parts of Wales. I live in the middle of a town and I can't get mobile coverage in my house. So, we know that there is a challenge for the industry—this is not devolved of course—to make sure that it does extend coverage, as in other countries now. What are we doing as the Government? Well, the mobile action plan is well under way, with good progress being made. We are currently working to define eligibility for business rate support for new mast sites, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary has appointed Innovation Point to advise, stimulate and co-ordinate activity on 5G in Wales, including opportunities to secure funding from the UK Government testbed and trials challenge fund.
Wel, nid oes neb yn mynd i esgus bod signal ffôn symudol yn hollol gyffredinol, mewn llawer o rannau o Gymru. Rwy'n byw yng nghanol tref ac ni allaf gael signal ffôn symudol yn fy nhŷ i. Felly, rydym ni'n gwybod bod her i'r diwydiant—nid yw hyn wedi ei ddatganoli wrth gwrs—i wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn ymestyn cwmpas y signal, fel mewn gwledydd eraill erbyn hyn. Beth ydym ni'n ei wneud fel y Llywodraeth? Wel, mae'r cynllun gweithredu symudol wedi hen gychwyn, ac mae cynnydd da yn cael ei wneud. Rydym ni'n gweithio ar hyn o bryd i ddiffinio cymhwysedd ar gyfer cymorth ardrethi busnes ar gyfer safleoedd mastiau newydd, a gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi penodi Pwynt Arloesi i gynghori, ysgogi a chyd-drefnu gweithgarwch 5G yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cyfleoedd i sicrhau cyllid o gronfa her profion a threialon Llywodraeth y DU.
Good afternoon, First Minister. You'll know that the Office of Communications report found that 12 per cent of the Welsh land mass is unable to get any mobile phone coverage, and given, for example, in the last six months, the appalling storm damage we've had and emergency situations, I wondered if your Government has spoken to, or would consider talking to some of the innovators—companies such as EE—about using drone technology or the helikite system, which works off a helium balloon, which will provide people with temporary mobile phone coverage during times of emergency. Of course, it would not only help to co-ordinate emergency services but let people know that they're in dire straits or that they need help.
Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Byddwch yn gwybod bod adroddiad y Swyddfa Gyfathrebu wedi canfod na all 12 y cant o fas tir Cymru gael unrhyw signal ffôn symudol, ac o gofio, er enghraifft, yn y chwe mis diwethaf, y difrod storm ofnadwy yr ydym ni wedi ei gael a'r sefyllfaoedd brys, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a yw eich Llywodraeth wedi siarad â rhai o'r arloeswyr, neu a fyddai'n ystyried siarad â nhw—cwmnïau fel EE—am ddefnyddio technoleg drôn neu'r system helikite, sy'n gweithio oddi ar falŵn heliwm, a fydd yn cynnig signal ffôn symudol dros dro yn ystod cyfnodau brys. Wrth gwrs, nid yn unig y byddai'n helpu i gydgysylltu gwasanaethau brys ond yn gadael i bobl wybod eu bod nhw mewn sefyllfa enbyd neu eu bod nhw angen cymorth.
It's certainly an interesting idea. I'm informed that the Cabinet Secretary has met with industry representatives in order to discuss this. It's hugely important that, where we have emergencies, there is a sufficiently robust communications network in place in order to deal with those emergencies. As I say, a meeting has recently taken place to discuss that very point.
Mae'n sicr yn syniad diddorol. Fe'm hysbysir bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi cyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr y diwydiant er mwyn trafod hyn. Mae'n bwysig dros ben, lle mae gennym ni argyfyngau, bod rhwydwaith cyfathrebu digon cadarn ar waith er mwyn ymdrin â'r argyfyngau hynny. Fel rwy'n dweud, cynhaliwyd cyfarfod yn ddiweddar i drafod yr union bwynt hwnnw.
Er eich bod chi’n sôn am ba mor bwysig yw argaeledd ffonau symudol, dim ond newydd gyrraedd Pen Llŷn a Mynydd Rhiw y mae 4G, er enghraifft. Mae rhai ardaloedd ar ei hôl hi yn ddifrifol yng nghefn gwlad Cymru. Un o’r pethau sy’n cael ei anghofio amdano yn aml iawn yw pa mor bwysig fydd y ffôn symudol ar gyfer awtomeiddio ar ffermydd a robotics. Mae’n dod nawr eich bod chi’n gallu rheoli peirianwaith ar fferm, a phethau megis teilwra a phethau felly, drwy system ffôn a signal ffôn—nid y ffôn symudol ei hunan ond y signal ffôn yna. A ydych chi’n mynd i wneud yn siŵr, felly, fod hynny ar gael wrth inni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd—bod y dechnoleg orau ar gael ym mhob rhan o Gymru, yn enwedig ar gyfer ein hamaethwyr ni?
Although you mention the importance of the availability of mobile phones, 4G has only just got to Mynydd Rhiw and the Llŷn peninsula. There are some areas that are gravely behind in rural Wales. One thing that's often forgotten is how important the mobile phone will be for automation on farms and robotics. It's coming to a point now that you can control farm machinery and other aspects through a telephone system and using the phone signal—not the phone itself but the signal. Will you ensure, therefore, that that's available as we leave the European Union—that that best technology is available in all parts of Wales, particularly for our farmers?
Mae’n rhaid i ni sicrhau hynny. Un o’r pethau yr wyf i jyst wedi sylwi, mewn gwledydd eraill—. Er enghraifft, roeddwn i yn Uganda dair blynedd yn ôl, ac roedd y rhwydwaith ffonau symudol yno lawer yn well nag yn y Deyrnas Unedig—llawer yn well. Roeddwn i mewn ardaloedd gwledig iawn a oedd yn anodd eu cyrraedd ar yr hewl, ond pan oeddech chi’n cyrraedd yno, roedd pump bar o 4G. Pam? Wel, wrth gwrs, nid oedd buddsoddiad o gwbl o ran llinellau tir, felly dyna’i gyd sydd gan bobl yw ffonau symudol, a dyna lle mae’r buddsoddiad wedi mynd. Ond, mae’n rhaid inni sicrhau nad yw hynny yn esgus—bod yna rwydwaith o linellau yno’n barod, sydd wedi bod yno ers blynyddoedd mawr—rhag peidio â symud ymlaen gyda rhwydwaith cryfach ar gyfer ffonau symudol. Rŷm ni'n moyn gweld sefyllfa lle mae yna lot mwy o lefydd yng Nghyrmu yn gallu cael signal. Ar hyn o bryd, wrth gwrs, mae’n wir, mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ei bod hi'n anodd, ond hefyd mewn rhai ardaloedd trefol. Er enghraifft, mae pobl yn cwyno wrthyf fi—nid wyf i'n gwybod, nid wyf i'n byw yno—am ardal Pontcanna, er enghraifft. Nid oes signal ffôn o gwbl yng nghanol dinas Caerdydd. Felly, mae lot o waith i’w wneud mewn ardaloedd gwledig a hefyd mewn ardaloedd trefol.
Yes, we have to ensure that. What I've noticed in other countries—. I was in Uganda three years ago, and the network there was much better than the United Kingdom's. I was in very rural areas that were very difficult to access by road, but when you got there, there were five bars of 4G available. Why? Well, there hadn't been any investment at all in landlines and so they only had mobiles. Therefore, that's where the investment had gone. But we must ensure that we don't pretend that there is a network of lines there already that have been there for many years, and use that as an excuse not to progress with a stronger mobile phone network. We want to see a situation where there are many more places in Wales that can get a signal. At the moment, it is true that it's difficult in rural areas, but the same is true of some urban areas as well. For example, people complain to me—I don't know as I don't live there—about the Pontcanna area. There is no mobile phone signal right in the centre of Cardiff. So, there is a lot of work to be done in rural areas as there is in urban areas.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.
Questions now from the party leaders. The Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, leaked documents suggest that the Hywel Dda Local Health Board is considering the future of hospitals in its area. Now, it's only been around three years since the last reconfiguration, which was meant to offer a long-term and sustainable solution, yet people now face more proposals, including closures. Was the health board being honest about its last reconfiguration?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae dogfennau a ddatgelwyd yn awgrymu bod Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Hywel Dda yn ystyried dyfodol ysbytai yn ei ardal. Nawr, dim ond rhyw dair blynedd sydd ers yr ad-drefnu diwethaf, a oedd i fod i gynnig ateb hirdymor a chynaliadwy, ac eto mae pobl yn wynebu mwy o gynigion bellach, gan gynnwys cau ysbytai. A oedd y Bwrdd Iechyd yn bod yn onest am ei ad-drefnu diwethaf?
Well, the health board itself could answer that. I see no reason why they were not being honest. There are always challenges. The parliamentary review, which all parties that have signed up to, have said that there will be difficult decisions in the future. Now, as a Government, we have no view on this. This is not our policy. These are options that the health board has taken forward. What's hugely important is that whatever the health board considers is taken forward with full public consultation.
Wel, gallai'r Bwrdd Iechyd ei hun ateb hynny. Nid wyf yn gweld unrhyw reswm pam nad oedden nhw'n bod yn onest. Ceir heriau bob amser. Mae'r arolwg seneddol, y mae'r holl bleidiau wedi ymrwymo iddo, wedi dweud y bydd penderfyniadau anodd yn y dyfodol. Nawr, fel Llywodraeth, nid oes gennym ni unrhyw farn ar hyn. Nid dyma ein polisi. Mae'r rhain yn ddewisiadau y mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi bwrw ymlaen â nhw. Yr hyn sy'n hynod bwysig yw bod beth bynnag y mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn ei ystyried yn cael ei ddatblygu gydag ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus llawn.
Well, First Minister, you have to ultimately be responsible and accountable for health. Health is fully devolved and responsible to you. Now, the health board are indicating that they want people treated closer to their homes and in the community, but that's not what the proposals in the leaked document appear to be about. One aspect that could complement existing hospital services is the creation of community hubs with beds, or perhaps more accurately, 'I can't believe it's not a community hospital'. Shutting down community hospitals was once a Labour Government's policy, and it has led to a reduction in beds, and it has been a big mistake. Community services should not be used as an excuse to close district general hospitals. With bed occupancy across the NHS over the safe level of 85 per cent for the last seven years, do you accept that the NHS needs more beds in order to enable it to cope with the additional winter pressures?
Wel, Prif Weinidog, mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn gyfrifol ac yn atebol am iechyd yn y pen draw. Mae iechyd yn gwbl ddatganoledig ac yn gyfrifol i chi. Nawr, mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn dweud eu bod nhw eisiau i bobl gael eu trin yn agosach i'w cartrefi ac yn y gymuned, ond nid yw'n ymddangos mai dyna y mae'r cynigion yn y ddogfen a ddatgelwyd yn ymwneud ag ef. Un agwedd a allai ategu gwasanaethau ysbyty presennol yw creu canolfannau cymunedol â gwelyau, neu'n fwy cywir efallai, 'Ni allaf gredu nad yw'n ysbyty cymuned'. Roedd cau ysbytai cymuned yn bolisi Llywodraeth Lafur ar un adeg, ac mae wedi arwain at leihau nifer y gwelyau, ac mae wedi bod yn gamgymeriad mawr. Ni ddylid defnyddio gwasanaethau cymunedol fel esgus i gau ysbytai cyffredinol dosbarth. Gyda defnydd o welyau ar draws y GIG yn uwch na'r lefel ddiogel o 85 y cant am y saith mlynedd diwethaf, a ydych chi'n derbyn bod y GIG angen mwy o welyau i'w alluogi i ymdopi â phwysau ychwanegol y gaeaf?
I think we need to focus not just on the issue of beds, but on the issue of getting people out of hospital as quickly as possible. That means that, if you look at delayed transfers of care, our figures are greatly improved month on month, and greatly improved from last year. We don't want people staying in hospital for longer than they have to.
But, of course, the other point that we have to understand is that we need an NHS that's sustainable. All parties signed up to that as part of the parliamentary review. It's massively important that, yes, of course, we agree with the principle that people should be treated as close to home as possible, but we also need to make sure that services are sustainable in the future. Now, the proposals that have been put forward by Hywel Dda are for Hywel Dda to consider at this stage, to engage in full public consultation. It's true to say that there may come a point when there will need to be a decision by Government, but that point has not yet been reached.
Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni ganolbwyntio nid yn unig ar y mater o welyau, ond ar y mater o gael pobl allan o'r ysbyty cyn gynted â phosibl. Mae hynny'n golygu, os edrychwch chi ar oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal, bod ein ffigurau yn llawer gwell o fis i fis, ac wedi gwella'n fawr ers y llynedd. Nid ydym ni eisiau pobl yn aros yn yr ysbyty am gyfnod hwy nag sydd angen iddyn nhw fod yno.
Ond, wrth gwrs, y pwynt arall y mae'n rhaid i ni ei ddeall yw ein bod ni angen GIG sy'n gynaliadwy. Ymrwymodd yr holl bleidiau i hynny yn rhan o'r adolygiad seneddol. Mae'n aruthrol o bwysig ein bod ni, wrth gwrs, yn cytuno â'r egwyddor y dylai pobl gael eu trin mor agos i gartref â phosibl, ond mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr hefyd bod gwasanaethau yn gynaliadwy yn y dyfodol. Nawr, mae'r cynigion a wnaed gan Hywel Dda i Hywel Dda eu hystyried ar hyn o bryd, i gymryd rhan mewn ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus llawn. Mae'n wir dweud efallai y daw adeg pan fydd angen penderfyniad gan y Llywodraeth, ond nid yw'r adeg honno wedi cyrraedd eto.
The point is, First Minister, that people need an integrated health system and community services that complement district general hospitals, not replace them. People in the west are still going to need emergency treatment. They will still need operations, they will still need overnight stays and accident and emergency within a reasonable distance of their homes. Now, a Plaid Cymru government will keep these essential services for our rural communities. That means A&E for Bronglais and Glangwili, and keeping Withybush open.
Now, Plaid Cymru has been warning you for a number of years now about the need to train more doctors. Will you work with Swansea medical school on its proposals to expand the number of doctors in the Hywel Dda health board area? Can you assure people out there, and Members here today, that you will not sign off any decision to remove A&E from Bronglais or Glangwili? Will you also confirm that the Labour Government will not sign off any decision to close Withybush or to remove A&E services from that hospital?
Y pwynt yw, Prif Weinidog, bod pobl angen system iechyd integredig a gwasanaethau cymunedol sy'n ategu ysbytai cyffredinol dosbarth, nid eu disodli. Mae pobl yn y gorllewin yn dal yn mynd i fod angen triniaeth frys. Bydd dal i fod angen llawdriniaeth arnynt, byddant yn dal i fod angen aros dros nos ac adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys o fewn pellter rhesymol i'w cartrefi. Nawr, bydd llywodraeth Plaid Cymru yn cadw'r gwasanaethau hanfodol hyn ar gyfer ein cymunedau gwledig. Mae hynny'n golygu adran damweiniau ac achosion brys i Fronglais a Glangwili, a chadw Llwynhelyg ar agor.
Nawr, mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn eich rhybuddio chi ers nifer o flynyddoedd erbyn hyn am yr angen i hyfforddi mwy o feddygon. A wnewch chi weithio gydag ysgol feddygol Abertawe ar ei chynigion i gynyddu nifer y meddygon yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda? A allwch chi sicrhau pobl allan yna, a'r Aelodau yma heddiw, na fyddwch chi'n cadarnhau unrhyw benderfyniad i gael gwared ar adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys o Bronglais na Glangwili? A wnewch chi hefyd gadarnhau na fydd Llywodraeth Lafur yn cymeradwyo unrhyw benderfyniad i gau ysbyty Llwynhelyg na chael gwared ar wasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys o'r ysbyty hwnnw?
It seems to me that it's pointless having any kind of consultation. Now, we have no view on this at this stage, and there are reasons for that. [Interruption.] Simon Thomas knows this full well: the reason why we cannot take a view at this stage is because there's an open consultation. We can't shut down the consultation at this stage. There are legal issues surrounding that, for a start.
It's true to say there will come a point, or there may come a point, where Ministers have to take a decision, and that is the point at which Ministers no doubt will be questioned as to why that decision was taken. But you cannot on the one hand say, 'We've signed up to a parliamentary review looking at creating an NHS that's sustainable' and then say, 'Options are going to be—' [Interruption.] No, no, no. And then say, 'There are some options that will always be ruled out completely'. That is not the way these things operate. Last week, the parliamentary review was being supported by all parties in this Chamber. The question is: are those parties now running away from that review? That is a question that I think needs to be answered.
Mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod hi'n ddibwrpas cael unrhyw fath o ymgynghoriad. Nawr, nid oes gennym ni unrhyw farn ar hyn ar hyn o bryd, ac mae rhesymau dros hynny. [Torri ar draws.] Mae Simon Thomas yn gwybod hyn yn iawn: y rheswm pam na allwn ni gynnig barn ar hyn o bryd yw oherwydd bod ymgynghoriad agored yn digwydd. Ni allwn ni ddod â'r ymgynghoriad i ben ar hyn o bryd. Ceir materion cyfreithiol sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny, i ddechrau.
Mae'n wir i ddweud y daw adeg, neu efallai y daw adeg, pan fydd yn rhaid i Weinidogion wneud penderfyniad, a dyna'r adeg, heb os, y bydd Gweinidogion yn cael eu holi ynghylch pam y gwnaed y penderfyniad hwnnw. Ond ni allwch chi ar y naill llaw ddweud, 'Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i adolygiad seneddol sy'n ystyried creu GIG sy'n gynaliadwy' ac yna dweud, 'Dyma fydd y dewisiadau—' [Torri ar draws.] Na, na, na. Ac yna dweud, 'Ceir rhai dewisiadau a fydd yn cael eu diystyru'n llwyr bob amser'. Nid dyna'r ffordd y mae'r pethau hyn yn gweithio. Yr wythnos diwethaf, roedd yr adolygiad seneddol yn cael ei gefnogi gan bob plaid yn y Siambr hon. Y cwestiwn yw: a yw'r pleidiau hynny'n cefnu ar yr adolygiad hwnnw nawr? Mae hwnnw'n gwestiwn y credaf bod angen ei ateb.
Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Andrew R.T. Davies.
The leader of the opposition, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, do you still believe that the Welsh Government's preferred black route option for the M4 will come in nowhere near £1 billion and will be way below the figure that you prophesised back in 2015?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n dal i gredu na fydd y dewis du a ffefrir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer yr M4 yn costio unrhyw swm yn agos i £1 biliwn ac y bydd yn llawer is na'r ffigur a ragwelwyd gennych chi yn ôl yn 2015?
Well, the figure has certainly risen because there's been more of a delay than expected. But we intend to make sure that the issue of congestion on the M4 is dealt with. I wonder what his party's view is.
Wel, mae'r ffigur yn sicr wedi codi gan y bu mwy o oedi na'r disgwyl. Ond rydym ni'n bwriadu gwneud yn siŵr yr ymdrinnir â'r mater o dagfeydd ar yr M4. Tybed beth yw barn ei blaid ef.
First Minister, this is First Minister's questions, and that's why we ask you questions and we look for answers from you. We don't seem to get many answers on a week-by-week basis.
But, last week, in the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, the senior civil servant who was dealing with this in the Cabinet Secretary's department indicated that the project cost was somewhere near £1.4 billion to £1.5 billion. The actual figures that have been lodged with the inquiry are £1.3 billion to £1.4 billion. They're actually lodged with the inquiry, those figures are. Only two years ago, you were stating that it was going to be nowhere near £1 billion and would be considerably less than that figure. One hundred and sixty civil servants at that time, as given to us by the Minister, were tied up with this particular project. I ask you again: what has gone wrong? This is the key infrastructure project that the Welsh Government is challenging to deliver. The project costs, if your estimations at that time were to be believed, have nearly doubled, by the civil service's own figures that they put to the inquiry and also identified by the Cabinet Secretary in that committee.
Prif Weinidog, cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog yw'r sesiwn hon, a dyna pam mai ni sy'n gofyn cwestiynau i chi ac yn chwilio am atebion gennych chi. Nid yw'n ymddangos ein bod ni'n cael llawer o atebion o wythnos i wythnos.
Ond, yr wythnos diwethaf, ym Mhwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau, nododd yr uwch was sifil a oedd yn ymdrin â hyn yn adran Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fod cost y prosiect oddeutu £1.4 biliwn i £1.5 biliwn. Ond £1.3 biliwn i £1.4 biliwn yw'r ffigurau gwirioneddol a gyflwynwyd i'r ymchwiliad. Mae'r ffigurau hynny wedi eu cyflwyno i'r ymchwiliad, y ffigurau hynny. Dim ond dwy flynedd yn ôl, roeddech chi'n datgan nad oedd yn mynd i fod unrhyw beth yn agos at £1 biliwn ac y byddai gryn dipyn yn llai na'r ffigur hwnnw. Roedd cant a thrigain o weision sifil ar yr adeg honno, fel y dywedwyd wrthym gan y Gweinidog, ynghlwm i'r prosiect penodol hwn. Gofynnaf ichi eto: beth sydd wedi mynd o'i le? Mae hwn yn brosiect seilwaith allweddol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn herio i'w gyflawni. Mae costau'r prosiect, os oedd eich amcangyfrifon ar yr adeg honno i'w credu, wedi dyblu bron, ar sail ffigurau'r gwasanaeth sifil ei hun a gyflwynwyd ganddo i'r ymchwiliad ac a nodwyd hefyd gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn y pwyllgor hwnnw.
Well, first of all, inflation—that makes a difference to the figures; and, secondly, the UK Government is charging VAT. The UK Government is charging VAT. Here's a challenge for him: why doesn't he go back to his party and say, 'Don't charge VAT for this project'? That would save us hundreds of millions of pounds.
Wel, yn gyntaf oll, chwyddiant—mae hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth i'r ffigurau; ac, yn ail, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn codi TAW. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn codi TAW. Dyma her iddo: pam na wnaiff ef fynd yn ôl at ei blaid a dweud, 'Peidiwch â chodi TAW ar y prosiect hwn'? Byddai hynny'n arbed cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd i ni.
That is awful, First Minister. This is your biggest infrastructure project. The negotiations around VAT are still ongoing. Without VAT—and these are the words of your own civil servant in that committee—the costs of this project are in the region of £1.3 billion to £1.4 billion. Only two years ago, you were trying to convince people that this project was going to come in at £800 million. I asked you to let us see that information so we could have confidence that you were building a project on sound finances. All this has been undone. Can you commit now today that there is an upper limit where this project is viable, and if there isn't that upper limit, will you be whipping your backbenchers and having Cabinet responsibility to vote this project through, whatever the cost?
Mae hynna'n ofnadwy, Prif Weinidog. Hwn yw eich prosiect seilwaith mwyaf. Mae'r trafodaethau ynghylch TAW yn parhau. Heb TAW—a geiriau eich gwas sifil eich hun yn y pwyllgor hwnnw yw'r rhain—mae costau'r prosiect hwn oddeutu £1.3 biliwn i £1.4 biliwn. Dim ond dwy flynedd yn ôl, roeddech chi'n ceisio argyhoeddi pobl bod y prosiect hwn yn mynd i gostio £800 miliwn. Gofynnais i chi am gael gweld yr wybodaeth honno fel y gallem ni fod yn hyderus eich bod chi'n adeiladu prosiect ar sail cyllid cadarn. Mae hyn i gyd wedi ei ddadwneud. A allwch chi ymrwymo heddiw bod terfyn uchaf lle mae'r prosiect hwn yn ddichonadwy, ac os nad oes y terfyn uchaf hwnnw, a fyddwch chi'n chwipio aelodau eich meinciau cefn ac yn cael cyfrifoldeb Cabinet i bleidleisio dros y prosiect hwn, beth bynnag fo'r gost?
He didn't know about the VAT, did he? That was one of the issues that's blind-sided him.
Doedd e ddim yn gwybod am y TAW, oedd e? Roedd hwnnw'n un o'r materion sy'n newyddion iddo.
Those discussions are ongoing.
Mae'r trafodaethau hynny'n parhau.
I'm surprised that the leader of the opposition isn't aware of the VAT issue, and has not said anything publicly to support the Welsh Government and the Welsh taxpayer. It's one thing to say that negotiations are ongoing, but why isn't he standing up and saying to the Conservative Party—a Conservative Party that took funding away from electrification of the railways to spend outside of Wales; a Conservative Party that is trying to increase the price of the M4 project; a Conservative Party that claimed it was reducing the tolls on the Severn bridge when all it was doing was removing VAT that it wasn't legally able to charge in the first place. I mean, we talk about spinning, but what we have here is a whirling dervish. We will deliver transport projects for the people of Wales in the teeth of opposition from the Conservatives.
Rwy'n synnu nad yw arweinydd yr Wrthblaid yn ymwybodol o'r mater TAW, ac nad yw wedi dweud dim yn gyhoeddus i gefnogi Llywodraeth Cymru a threthdalwyr Cymru. Un peth yw dweud bod trafodaethau yn parhau, ond pam nad yw e'n sefyll ar ei draed ac yn dweud wrth y Blaid Geidwadol—Plaid Geidwadol a gymerodd gyllid oddi wrth trydaneiddio'r rheilffyrdd i'w wario y tu allan i Gymru; Plaid Geidwadol sy'n ceisio cynyddu pris prosiect yr M4; Plaid Geidwadol a honnodd ei bod yn lleihau'r tollau ar bont Hafren pan mai'r cwbl yr oedd yn ei wneud oedd cael gwared ar TAW nad oedd yn gallu ei godi'n gyfreithlon yn y lle cyntaf. Hynny yw, rydym ni'n sôn am sbinio, ond mae gennym ni dderfis chwyrlïol yma. Byddwn yn darparu prosiectau trafnidiaeth ar gyfer pobl Cymru yn nannedd gwrthwynebiad gan y Ceidwadwyr.
Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Neil Hamilton.
Leader of the UKIP group, Neil Hamilton.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Emergency hospital consultants in Wales have recently written to the First Minister claiming that safety is being compromised to an unacceptable degree. The Royal College of Emergency Medicines has described accident and emergency units as battlefields. Dr Tim Rogerson, a consultant in emergency medicine at the Royal Gwent Hospital has said about the picture across Wales,
'We're on our knees as far as emergency care [is concerned]. We have patients coming into emergency departments that are already full.'
The consultants have asked the First Minister to review as a matter of urgency the number of beds available for acute care, and for a significant increase in funding for social care. Is he going to accede to that request?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Mae meddygon ymgynghorol ysbyty brys yng Nghymru wedi ysgrifennu at y Prif Weinidog yn ddiweddar yn honni bod diogelwch yn cael ei beryglu i raddau annerbyniol. Mae Coleg Brenhinol meddygaeth frys wedi disgrifio unedau damweiniau ac achosion brys fel meysydd cad. Mae Dr Tim Rogerson, meddyg ymgynghorol ym maes meddygaeth frys yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Gwent, wedi dweud am y darlun ledled Cymru,
Rydym ni ar ein gliniau cyn belled ag y mae gofal brys [yn y cwestiwn]. Mae gennym ni gleifion sy'n dod i adrannau achosion brys sydd eisoes yn llawn.
Mae'r meddygon ymgynghorol wedi gofyn i'r Prif Weinidog adolygu fel mater o frys nifer y gwelyau sydd ar gael ar gyfer gofal acíwt, ac am gynnydd sylweddol i gyllid ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol. A yw e'n mynd i gytuno i'r cais hwnnw?
First of all, I'm aware of the pressures there have been on emergency staff, and I thank them for what they have done. It has been very difficult, given intense spikes in demand—unpredicatble spikes in demand at certain days in the course of the holiday period. We would be delighted—delighted—to spend more on health and social care if the brakes were taken off by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance only last week outlined that we could be up to £4 billion better off if previous trends had been followed. That is a significant investment we could make in the health service.
So, yes, we agree with the consultants that we want to spend more money on health and social care. Where are we going to take it from? Schools? Because that's the only place we can go. Put the council tax up? Because that's what will happen if we take money away from local government. We need to make sure the UK Government—. Boris Johnson today, saying there should be £100 million a week available for the NHS in England. That would mean £300 million more available in Wales. On that, if nothing else, I support Boris Johnson.
Yn gyntaf oll, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r pwysau a fu ar staff brys, ac rwy'n diolch iddyn nhw am yr hyn y maen nhw wedi ei wneud. Mae wedi bod yn anodd iawn, o ystyried achosion o gynnydd sydyn i alw—cynnydd sydyn i alw na ellid ei ragweld ar ddiwrnodau penodol yn ystod cyfnod y gwyliau. Byddem ni wrth ein boddau—wrth ein boddau—gwario mwy ar iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol pe byddai Canghellor y Trysorlys yn gollwng y brêcs. Amlinellodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf y gallem ni fod hyd at £4 biliwn yn well ein byd pe byddai tueddiadau blaenorol wedi cael eu dilyn. Mae hynny'n fuddsoddiad sylweddol y gallem ni ei wneud yn y gwasanaeth iechyd.
Felly, ydym, rydym ni'n cytuno â'r meddygon ymgynghorol ein bod ni eisiau gwario mwy o arian ar iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. O ble'r ydym ni'n mynd i'w gymryd? Ysgolion? Oherwydd dyna'r unig le y gallwn ni fynd. Cynyddu'r dreth gyngor? Oherwydd dyna fydd yn digwydd os byddwn ni'n cymryd arian oddi ar lywodraeth leol. Mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr bod Llywodraeth y DU—. Boris Johnson heddiw, yn dweud bod £100 miliwn yr wythnos ar gael ar gyfer y GIG yn Lloegr. Byddai hynny'n golygu £300 miliwn yn fwy ar gael yng Nghymru. Ar hynny, os dim byd arall, rwy'n cefnogi Boris Johnson.
I'm delighted to hear that, because as a result of leaving the European Union there will be more money to spend on the health service. [Interruption.] In answer to the leader of Plaid Cymru—. It's the way you tell them. In answer to the leader of Plaid Cymru earlier on, he said that beds don't really matter; it's how quickly you move people out of them. But the truth of the matter is there's been a very substantial cut in the number of beds available in hospitals throughout Wales in the last seven years—roughly 20 per cent to 25 per cent depending on the health board—but the occupancy rate of those beds has barely moved, and it is higher and has been, as the leader of Plaid Cymru pointed out, above the safe level of 85 per cent now for seven years. Surely, within the priorities of the health service for which the First Minister is responsible, not Boris Johnson, there should be some kind of change to ensure that hospital safety is actually taken very seriously by this Government.
Rwy'n falch iawn o glywed hynny, oherwydd o ganlyniad i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, bydd mwy o arian i'w wario ar y gwasanaeth iechyd. [Torri ar draws.] Wrth ateb arweinydd Plaid Cymru—. Yr amseru sy'n bwysig. Wrth ateb arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn gynharach, dywedodd nad yw gwelyau'n bwysig mewn gwirionedd; pa mor gyflym yr ydych chi'n symud pobl allan ohonyn nhw sy'n bwysig. Ond y gwir amdani yw bu gostyngiad sylweddol iawn i nifer y gwelyau sydd ar gael mewn ysbytai ledled Cymru yn ystod y saith mlynedd diwethaf—tua 20 y cant i 25 y cant yn dibynnu ar y bwrdd iechyd—ond prin y mae cyfradd defnydd y gwelyau hynny wedi newid, ac mae'n uwch nag y bu, fel y nododd arweinydd Plaid Cymru, uwchlaw'r lefel ddiogel o 85 y cant ers saith mlynedd erbyn hyn. Yn sicr, o fewn y blaenoriaethau'r gwasanaeth iechyd y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn gyfrifol amdanynt, nid Boris Johnson, dylai fod rhyw fath o newid i sicrhau bod diogelwch mewn ysbytai yn cael ei gymryd o ddifrif gan y Llywodraeth hon.
It's a matter for health boards to ensure they have sufficient beds available. It's not right to say that I said beds weren't important: I said they were only part of the picture. If you look, for example, in England, where spending on social care has been hammered, England is now reaping what it has sown. We have made sure through, for example, the integrated care fund, that more people can leave hospital when they are ready. We're seeing delayed transfers of care dropping, whereas in England, of course, social care is on the verge of collapse. If you don't believe me, listen to council leaders—Conservative council leaders—in England, who are saying just that.
Mater i fyrddau iechyd yw sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw ddigon o welyau ar gael. Nid yw'n iawn i ddweud fy mod i wedi dweud nad oedd gwelyau'n bwysig: dywedais mai dim ond rhan o'r darlun ydyn nhw. Os edrychwch chi, er enghraifft, yn Lloegr, lle mae gwariant ar ofal cymdeithasol wedi cael ei daro'n galed, mae Lloegr yn medi'r hyn a heuodd erbyn hyn. Rydym ni wedi sicrhau drwy, er enghraifft, y gronfa gofal integredig, y gall mwy o bobl adael yr ysbyty pan fyddan nhw'n barod. Rydym ni'n gweld achosion o oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal yn gostwng, tra bod gofal cymdeithasol yn Lloegr, wrth gwrs, ar fin chwalu. Os nad ydych chi'n fy nghredu i, gwrandewch ar arweinwyr cynghorau—arweinwyr cynghorau Ceidwadol—yn Lloegr, sy'n dweud yn union hynny.
Sorry, I wasn't aware that the First Minister had finished as there was so much noise coming from other parts of the Chamber. The whole point of my question was not about social care, but about beds in hospitals and hospital care. The consultants who wrote to the First Minister last week said that emergency departments in Wales were, in some ways, worse than in England. Staff are arriving for work to find patients in the emergency department who were there the previous day, and multiple staff are in tears because they feel they cannot deliver the care that patients need. The consultants also claim that the four-hour target figures for best performing hospitals in Wales were similar to some of the worst performing hospitals in England. Surely, that is an indictment of 20 years of Labour Government in Wales.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, nid oeddwn i'n ymwybodol bod y Prif Weinidog wedi gorffen gan fod cymaint o sŵn yn dod o rannau eraill y Siambr. Nid oedd holl bwynt fy nghwestiwn yn ymwneud â gofal cymdeithasol, ond â gwelyau mewn ysbytai a gofal ysbyty. Dywedodd y meddygon ymgynghorol a ysgrifennodd at y Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf bod adrannau achosion brys yng Nghymru, mewn rhai ffyrdd, yn waeth nag yn Lloegr. Mae staff yn cyrraedd y gwaith i ganfod cleifion yn yr adran achosion brys a oedd yno y diwrnod cynt, ac mae sawl aelod o staff mewn dagrau gan eu bod yn teimlo na allant ddarparu'r gofal sydd ei angen ar gleifion. Mae'r meddygon ymgynghorol hefyd yn honni bod y ffigurau targed o bedair awr ar gyfer yr ysbytai sy'n perfformio orau yng Nghymru yn debyg i rai o'r ysbytai sy'n perfformio waethaf yn Lloegr. Yn sicr, mae hynny'n gondemniad o 20 mlynedd o Lywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru.
There are question marks over England's figures for a start. That doesn't diminish, of course, the pressures there have been on emergency services in Wales and I certainly don't seek to belittle that in any way, shape or form. But the question is this: should you divorce the issue of health and social care, as he's trying to do with his third question? The answer is, 'No, you cannot.' The two are integrated, the two are the same, they're integrated in terms of the service they seek to deliver to people and we have put money into that through the integrated care fund, making sure that people are able to leave hospital when they are able.
What England did was to try to spend money on health and starve social care of money, effectively taking away from social care and putting into health, and now England is reaping the whirlwind of that. We always took the view that health and social care had to be seen in the round and that one was strongly linked to the other.
If we look, for example, just beyond that to the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill; that looks at bringing together education and health provision for young people as well. So, we've made sure, when it comes to spending, that spending in Wales is higher per head than in England on health and on social care to make sure that we don't let our people down just like the Government has done in England.
Ceir marciau cwestiwn ynghylch ffigurau Lloegr i ddechrau. Nid yw hynny'n lleihau, wrth gwrs, y pwysau sydd wedi bod ar wasanaethau brys yng Nghymru, ac yn sicr nid wyf yn ceisio bychanu hynny mewn unrhyw ffordd o gwbl. Ond y cwestiwn yw hwn: a ddylech chi wahanu'r mater o iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, fel y mae e'n ceisio ei wneud gyda'i drydydd cwestiwn? Yr ateb yw, 'Na, allwch chi ddim.' Mae'r ddau wedi eu hintegreiddio, mae'r ddau yr un fath, maen nhw'n integredig o ran y gwasanaeth y maen nhw'n ceisio ei ddarparu i bobl ac rydym ni wedi cyfrannu arian at hynny drwy'r gronfa gofal integredig, gan wneud yn siŵr y gall pobl adael yr ysbyty pan eu bod yn gallu.
Yr hyn a wnaeth Lloegr oedd ceisio gwario'r arian ar iechyd ac amddifadu gofal cymdeithasol o arian, gan gymryd oddi wrth gofal cymdeithasol a rhoi i iechyd i bob pwrpas, ac mae Lloegr yn dioddef effeithiau hynny erbyn hyn. Roeddem ni o'r farn erioed bod yn rhaid i iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol gael eu hystyried fel un a bod y naill wedi ei gysylltu'n gryf â'r llall.
Os edrychwn ni, er enghraifft, ychydig y tu hwnt i hynny at y Bil Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a'r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru); mae hwnnw'n ystyried dod â'r ddarpariaeth addysg ac iechyd ar gyfer pobl ifanc ynghyd hefyd. Felly, rydym ni wedi sicrhau, pan ddaw i wariant, bod gwariant yng Nghymru yn uwch fesul pen nag yn Lloegr ar iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i wneud yn siŵr nad ydym yn siomi ein pobl fel y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi ei wneud yn Lloegr.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am weithredu systemau talu heb arian parod ar gyfer prydau ysgol? OAQ51615
3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the operation of cashless payment systems for school meals? OAQ51615
There are many benefits to schools using cashless systems: helping schools meet the requirement to protect the identity of learners, for example, who receive free school meals, and preventing the situation arising of children losing their lunch money.
Ceir llawer o fanteision i ysgolion sy'n defnyddio systemau talu heb ddefnyddio arian parod: helpu ysgolion i fodloni'r gofyniad i ddiogelu manylion adnabod dysgwyr, er enghraifft, sy'n derbyn prydau ysgol am ddim, ac atal y sefyllfa o blant yn colli eu harian cinio rhag codi.
There is, of course, evidence of a link between cashless payment systems and better take-up of free school meals, and that's why I've supported and campaigned for their introduction in every school in Wales. Powys has done that and I think that's absolutely fantastic, but we now have a situation whereby children whose parents pay for lunch and who haven't topped up their cards will no longer be able to get any food. I understand the council's position in this, but it can't be right, in my view, that a child will go hungry in school because someone, somewhere along the line, has forgotten or cannot afford to pay for the dinner money that particular week.
I'm particularly concerned that this is sorted out before the introduction of universal credit, which is going to happen in Powys in June. We all know about the delays in people getting their money and I'm really, really concerned that, in this system, that could cause an absolute failure for those people expecting that money to be in place and their children to be fed, which will not happen. I therefore respectfully ask you, First Minister, if you could have a word with your two Cabinet Secretaries to try and sort this out. There's an urgency that it's done before June.
Ceir tystiolaeth, wrth gwrs, bod cysylltiad rhwng systemau talu heb ddefnyddio arian parod a niferoedd uwch yn manteisio ar brydau ysgol am ddim, a dyna pam yr wyf i wedi cefnogi ac ymgyrchu dros eu cyflwyno ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru. Mae Powys wedi gwneud hynny, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gwbl wych, ond mae gennym ni sefyllfa nawr lle na fydd plant y mae eu rhieni yn talu am ginio ac nad ydynt wedi ychwanegu arian at eu cardiau yn gallu cael unrhyw fwyd mwyach. Rwy'n deall safbwynt y Cyngor yn hyn o beth, ond ni all fod yn iawn, yn fy marn i, bod plentyn yn llwgu yn yr ysgol oherwydd bod rhywun, rywbryd wedi anghofio neu ddim yn gallu fforddio talu am yr arian cinio yr wythnos benodol honno.
Rwy'n arbennig o awyddus i hyn gael ei ddatrys cyn cyflwyno credyd cynhwysol, sy'n mynd i ddigwydd ym Mhowys ym mis Mehefin. Rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod am yr oedi y mae pobl yn ei ddioddef cyn cael eu harian ac rwy'n bryderus dros ben y gallai olygu, yn y system hon, methiant llwyr i'r bobl hynny sy'n disgwyl i'r arian hwnnw fod ar gael ac i'w plant gael eu bwydo, ac na fydd yn digwydd. Gofynnaf gyda pharch i chi felly, Prif Weinidog, a allech chi gael gair gyda'ch dau Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i geisio datrys hyn. Mae brys iddo gael ei wneud cyn mis Mehefin.
Yes. I'm more than happy to pursue that. My own son's school introduced cashless payments this term, which I have to say, saved on scrambling around for pound coins every week, which is what tended to happen in our house. The important point is this: I don't think it would be right that if there's no credit in a child's account, as it were, that that child should not have a meal as a result of that. There should be a system in place where parents are reminded in a timely fashion as to what the balance is on that account and not find out about it when the account has nothing in it. Certainly, I'll ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education to take this up and to reply to my friend and colleague in further detail.FootnoteLink
Gallaf. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i fynd ar drywydd hynny. Cyflwynodd ysgol fy mab fy hun daliadau heb ddefnyddio arian parod y tymor hwn, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod hynny wedi osgoi gorfod chwilota am ddarnau punt bob wythnos, sef yr hyn a oedd yn tueddu i ddigwydd yn ein tŷ ni. Y pwynt pwysig yw hwn: nid wyf i'n credu y byddai'n iawn, os nad oes unrhyw gredyd yng nghyfrif plentyn, fel petai, na ddylai'r plentyn hwnnw gael pryd o fwyd o ganlyniad i hynny. Dylai fod system ar waith lle mae rhieni yn cael eu hatgoffa yn brydlon o'r balans ar y cyfrif hwnnw ac nid dod i wybod amdano pan na fydd unrhyw beth yn y cyfrif. Yn sicr, byddaf yn gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg fynd i'r afael â hyn ac ateb fy ffrind a'm cydweithiwr yn fwy manwl.FootnoteLink
As I understand it, First Minister, different local authorities across Wales use different payment methods, which does sometimes cause a problem when children move schools. I wonder if you believe that there is rationale in standardising payment methods across Wales.
O'r hyn a ddeallaf, Prif Weinidog, mae gwahanol awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru yn defnyddio gwahanol ddulliau talu, sydd weithiau'n achosi problem pan fo plant yn newid ysgol. Tybed a ydych chi'n credu bod sail resymegol i safoni dulliau talu ar draws Cymru.
I think there is rationale in that. First of all, of course, it makes sense for there to be a standard system across a local education authority area. Of course, we have local management of schools, but it would seem strange to parents that, if a child moved schools somehow there would then be a problem with having a different account with a different balance in it or not having a cashless system. I think it's fair to say that we should move towards a standardised system in future.
Rwy'n credu bod sail resymegol i hynny. Yn gyntaf oll, wrth gwrs, mae'n gwneud synnwyr cael system safonol ar draws ardal awdurdod addysg lleol. Wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni reolaeth leol o ysgolion, ond byddai'n ymddangos yn rhyfedd i rieni, pe byddai plentyn yn symud ysgolion rywsut y byddai problem wedyn gyda chael gwahanol gyfrif â gwahanol falans ynddo neu beidio â chael system heb arian parod. Rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n deg dweud y dylem ni symud tuag at system safonol yn y dyfodol.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gynlluniau i ddisodli Canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Gofal Parhaus i Blant a Phobl Ifanc a gyhoeddwyd yn 2012? OAQ51636
4. Will the First Minister make a statement on plans for the replacement of the Welsh Government's Children and Young People's Continuing Care Guidance 2012? OAQ51636
Yes. We are setting up a multi-agency task and finish group that will consult upon and produce revised continuing care guidance for children and young people by the spring of next year.
Gwnaf. Rydym ni'n sefydlu grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen amlasiantaeth a fydd yn ymgynghori ar ganllawiau gofal parhaus diwygiedig ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc, ac yn eu cynhyrchu, erbyn y gwanwyn y flwyddyn nesaf.
I'm really pleased that the task and finish group has been set up. This is the document. Constituency AMs, and I'm sure regional AMs, get many people who are concerned about the transition from childhood to adulthood for those children needing continuing healthcare. This document is responsible for guidance for children. This document, a separate document, is responsible for guidance for adulthood. The children's document says that eligibility for adult CHC at the age of 17 should be determined by multidisciplinary, multi-agency teams, whereas this document says that the same thing should be approved by local health boards. So, there are clear anomalies between the two documents, and that's not the only one. I think it's really important that not only is this guidance reviewed, but also this guidance, in tandem, and that other stakeholders beyond health boards are involved, including the children's commissioner.
Rwy'n falch iawn bod y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen wedi cael ei sefydlu. Dyma'r ddogfen. Mae Aelodau Cynulliad etholaethol, ac Aelodau Cynulliad rhanbarthol rwy'n siŵr, yn cael llawer o bobl sy'n pryderu am y cyfnod pontio o fod yn blentyn i fod yn oedolyn i'r plant hynny sydd angen gofal iechyd parhaus. Mae'r ddogfen hon yn gyfrifol am ganllawiau i blant. Mae'r ddogfen hon, dogfen ar wahân, yn gyfrifol am ganllawiau ar fod yn oedolyn. Mae'r ddogfen i blant yn dweud y dylai cymhwysedd ar gyfer GIP oedolion yn 17 oed gael ei benderfynu gan dimau amlasiantaeth, amlddisgyblaeth, tra bod y ddogfen hon yn dweud y dylai'r un peth gael ei gymeradwyo gan fyrddau iechyd lleol. Felly, ceir anghysondebau amlwg rhwng y ddwy ddogfen, ac nid dyna'r unig un. Rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn nid yn unig bod y canllawiau hyn yn cael eu hadolygu, ond hefyd y canllawiau hyn, ar y cyd, a bod rhanddeiliaid eraill y tu hwnt i'r byrddau iechyd yn cymryd rhan, gan gynnwys y comisiynydd plant.
Yes, I agree. My understanding is that adult CHC services—the transition to those services has to commence when an individual is aged 14. LHBs have the responsibility to draw up a robust local transition policy with partner agencies. That includes local authorities. There will be some issues that will be outside the scope of the local health board—for example, the responsibility for meeting any ongoing educational needs. The Member is right to say that, as we look to revise the guidance for young people, it's massively important that, as that guidance is revised, there is then a seamless transition to adulthood, so that that kind of problem, where people can't access services in the same way or there's a barrier they can't get over, so those barriers are eliminated.
Ie, rwy'n cytuno. Fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod gwasanaethau cynghorau iechyd cymunedol i oedolion—mae'n rhaid i'r cyfnod pontio i'r gwasanaethau hynny ddechrau pan fydd unigolyn yn 14 oed. Mae gan fyrddau iechyd lleol gyfrifoldeb i lunio polisi pontio lleol cadarn gydag asiantaethau partner. Mae hynny'n cynnwys awdurdodau lleol. Bydd rhai materion a fydd y tua allan i gwmpas y bwrdd iechyd lleol—er enghraifft, y cyfrifoldeb am ddiwallu unrhyw anghenion addysgol parhaus. Mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud, wrth i ni geisio diwygio'r canllawiau ar gyfer pobl ifanc, ei bod hi'n aruthrol o bwysig, wrth i'r canllawiau hynny gael eu diwygio, yna bod cyfnod pontio di-dor i fod yn oedolyn, fel bod y math honno o broblem, pan na all pobl gael mynediad at wasanaethau yn yr un ffordd neu fod rhwystr na allant ei oresgyn, fel bod y rhwystrau hynny'n cael eu dileu.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y gwasanaethau a ddarperir i bobl Powys gan Shropdoc? OAQ51594
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the services provided to the people of Powys by Shropdoc? OAQ51594
Powys Teaching Local Health Board currently commission Shropdoc to provide GP out-of-hours services to the people of Powys.
Mae Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Addysgu Powys yn comisiynu Shropdoc ar hyn o bryd i ddarparu gwasanaethau meddygon teulu y tu allan i oriau i bobl Powys.
Thank you, First Minister. You'll be aware, of course, that Powys doesn't have a district general hospital, which makes it all the more important to my constituents that there is an excellent out-of-hours GP service. The current out-of-hours service is run by Shropdoc, and the health board has said that they want to end that service and the contract with Shropdoc and replace it with the 111 out-of-hours service by this spring. I have no doubt in my own mind that neither the health board nor any other organisation can currently provide the same level of support as Shropdoc provides. Shropdoc also provide services to GP practices, and I think there's a real significant risk here that some GP practices could fold if those services are no longer available. It seems that the health board hasn't properly consulted on these proposals or consulted GPs correctly.
So, can I ask: has the Welsh Government exerted any influence over the health board in changing to a 111 model? Can you give any assurance to my constituents that any change would not be detrimental to them? And, if you can't give that assurance, will you examine this situation in Powys?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, nad oes gan Bowys ysbyty cyffredinol dosbarth, sy'n ei gwneud yn bwysicach fyth i'm hetholwyr bod gwasanaeth meddygon teulu y tu allan i oriau rhagorol. Caiff y gwasanaeth y tu allan i oriau presennol ei redeg gan Shropdoc, ac mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi dweud ei fod eisiau rhoi terfyn ar y gwasanaeth hwnnw a'r contract gyda Shropdoc a'i ddisodli gyda'r gwasanaeth y tu allan i oriau 111 erbyn y gwanwyn hwn. Nid oes gennyf unrhyw amheuaeth yn fy meddwl fy hun na all y bwrdd iechyd nac unrhyw sefydliad arall ddarparu'r un lefel o gymorth y mae Shropdoc yn ei darparu ar hyn o bryd. Mae Shropdoc hefyd yn darparu gwasanaethau i feddygfeydd teulu, ac rwy'n credu bod risg sylweddol gwirioneddol yma y gallai rhai meddygfeydd teulu fynd i'r wal os nad yw'r gwasanaethau hynny ar gael mwyach. Mae'n ymddangos nad yw'r bwrdd iechyd wedi ymgynghori'n briodol ar y cynigion hyn nac wedi ymgynghori â meddygon teulu yn briodol.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn: a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi arfer unrhyw ddylanwad dros y bwrdd iechyd i newid i fodel 111? A allwch chi roi unrhyw sicrwydd i'm hetholwyr na fyddai unrhyw newid yn niweidiol iddyn nhw? Ac, os na allwch chi roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw, a wnewch chi ymchwilio i'r sefyllfa hon ym Mhowys?
Well, the situation has arisen because Shropdoc itself has faced financial challenges during 2017. Those challenges do remain. As a result, the health board have been working with Shropdoc and the English clinical commissioning groups to support them while they address those challenges. I understand that the health board did establish a taskforce to assess and deliver potential alternative solutions for the provision of out-of-hours services in Powys. That taskforce has developed short- and medium-term plans. The current contract with Shropdoc does end, I understand, in the spring, so there is an opportunity there now to work on new models and to work with Shropdoc itself. This is a situation that's not been chosen by the health board, but there have been challenges that have been placed before them as a result of Shropdoc's own financial situation, which we hope can be resolved.
Wel, mae'r sefyllfa wedi codi gan fod Shropdoc ei hun wedi wynebu heriau ariannol yn ystod 2017. Mae'r heriau hynny yn parhau. O ganlyniad, mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Shropdoc a grwpiau comisiynu clinigol Lloegr i'w cynorthwyo tra eu bod yn mynd i'r afael â'r heriau hynny. Rwy'n deall bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi sefydlu tasglu i asesu a darparu atebion amgen posibl ar gyfer y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau y tu allan i oriau ym Mhowys. Mae'r tasglu hwnnw wedi datblygu cynlluniau tymor byr a chanolig. Mae'r contract presennol gyda Shropdoc yn dod i ben, rwy'n deall, yn y gwanwyn, felly ceir cyfle nawr i weithio ar fodelau newydd a gweithio gyda Shropdoc ei hun. Mae hon yn sefyllfa na ddewisiwyd gan y bwrdd iechyd, ond bu heriau a roddwyd o'u blaenau o ganlyniad i sefyllfa ariannol Shropdoc ei hun, yr ydym yn gobeithio y gellir eu datrys.
Fel sydd newydd gael ei grybwyll, mae llawer o drigolion Powys yn ddibynnol ar wasanaethau sydd naill ai’n cael eu darparu o Loegr neu sydd wedi’u lleoli yn Lloegr. Gyda’r newyddion rwy’n clywed bod gohirio ynglŷn â phenderfyniad ar leoliad a newydd-deb yr ysbyty cyffredinol ar gyfer gorllewin swydd Shropshire, lle bynnag y mae honno'n mynd i fod ac i gael ei lleoli—mae'r ddadl rhwng Telford a'r Amwythig ei hun, wrth gwrs, yn parhau ac nid oes arian gan Lywodraeth San Steffan eto i fuddsoddi yn hynny—pa drafodaethau a ydych chi yn eu cael fel Llywodraeth—achos mae e tu hwnt i'r bwrdd iechyd, i fod yn onest—gyda'r Llywodraeth yn Lloegr i wneud yn siŵr bod y gwasanaethau hynny'n parhau ac nad oes bwlch yn y gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu darparu ym Mhowys?
As has just been mentioned, many of the residents of Powys are reliant on services that are either provided from England or are located in England. Given the news that I'm hearing that there is a delay in terms of a decision on the location of the general hospital for the west of Shropshire, wherever that is to be located—it’s an argument between Telford and Shrewsbury itself, which is ongoing, and there has been no money from the Westminster Government yet to invest in that—what discussions are you having as Government—because it’s beyond the health board, to be honest—with the Government in England to ensure that those services continue to be available and there is no gap in the services provided in Powys?
Wel, mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi bod yn siarad gyda sir Amwythig a hefyd Telford a Wrekin er mwyn gweithio gyda nhw i ddatblygu gwasanaethau newydd, os taw hynny sydd yn gorfod digwydd, ac i weithio gyda nhw i weld ym mha ffordd y gallan nhw gefnogi Shropdoc i fod yn gynaliadwy yn y pendraw. So, mae'r trafodaethau hynny wedi cymryd lle rhwng y bwrdd iechyd a hefyd y cyrff yn Lloegr.
Well, the health board have been in discussion with Shropshire and also Telford and Wrekin in order to work with them to develop new services, if that’s the path they choose to take, and to see in what way they can support Shropdoc to be sustainable in the long term. So, those discussions have taken place between the health board and also the organisations in England.
First Minister, Shropdoc has provided out-of-hours GP services to Powys for 22 years, but, like every part of the NHS, they've also felt financial pressures. The decision not to renew the contract is extremely disappointing, as Shropdoc have provided one of the best out-of-hours services in the country and provided a first-class service to the people of Powys. First Minister, can you assure this Chamber that the decision to end the Shropdoc contract was not financially motivated and can you assure the people of Powys that the replacement service will be as good, if not better, than the out-of-hours service provided by Shropdoc?
Prif Weinidog, mae Shropdoc wedi darparu gwasanaethau meddygon teulu y tu allan i oriau i Bowys ers 22 mlynedd, ond, fel pob rhan o'r GIG, maen nhw hefyd wedi wynebu pwysau ariannol. Mae'r penderfyniad i beidio ag adnewyddu'r contract yn hynod siomedig, gan fod Shropdoc wedi darparu un o'r gwasanaethau y tu allan i oriau gorau yn y wlad gan ddarparu gwasanaeth o'r radd flaenaf i bobl Powys. Prif Weinidog, a allwch chi sicrhau'r Siambr hon nad oedd cymhelliad ariannol yn sail i'r penderfyniad i roi terfyn ar gontract Shropdoc ac a allwch chi sicrhau pobl Powys y bydd y gwasanaeth newydd gystal, os nad yn well, na'r gwasanaeth y tu allan i oriau a ddarparwyd gan Shropdoc?
That's what we want to do, but Shropdoc, remember, has financial problems of its own and that's the reason why this situation has arisen. One of the concerns as well is that the two English clinical commissioning groups that currently commission Shropdoc will re-tender during 2018 and, of course, it's important that both sides of the border work together in order to commission a new service. But this is not a situation where the health board have chosen to be in a position where they want to offload Shropdoc, if I can put it that way. It's because of Shropdoc's financial challenges that the situation has arisen. But everybody wants to get to a situation where the service is at least as good as the service that currently exists.
Dyna rydym ni eisiau ei wneud, ond mae gan Shropdoc, cofiwch, ei broblemau ariannol ei hun, a dyna'r rheswm pam mae'r sefyllfa hon wedi codi. Un o'r pryderon hefyd yw y bydd y ddau grŵp comisiynu clinigol o Loegr sy'n comisiynu Shropdoc ar hyn o bryd yn aildendro yn ystod 2018 ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n bwysig bod y ddwy ochr i'r ffin yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd er mwyn comisiynu gwasanaethau newydd. Ond nid yw hon yn sefyllfa lle mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi dewis bod mewn sefyllfa lle maen nhw eisiau cael gwared ar Shropdoc, os gallaf ei roi felly. Oherwydd heriau ariannol Shropdoc y mae'r sefyllfa wedi codi. Ond mae pawb eisiau bod mewn sefyllfa lle mae'r gwasanaeth o leiaf gystal â'r gwasanaeth sy'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog sefydlu uned i archwilio i sut y gall Cymru wneud defnydd o ddeallusrwydd artiffisial ac awtomeiddio? OAQ51639
6. Will the First Minister establish a unit to explore how Wales can harness artificial intelligence and automation? OAQ51639
Well, automation, innovation and digitalisation form one of the cornerstones of the economic action plan, and we're focusing our investment to support businesses to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow and futureproofing our economy and workforce.
Wel, mae awtomeiddio, arloesi a digideiddio yn un o gonglfeini'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd, ac rydym ni'n canolbwyntio ein buddsoddiad i gynorthwyo busnesau i baratoi ar gyfer heriau yfory a diogelu ein heconomi a'n gweithlu ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Thank you, First Minister. I welcome the fact that the new economic action plan includes, as one of the criteria for supporting new businesses, adapting to automation, but the implications of automation go way beyond that. It's estimated that some 700,000 jobs are at risk, and they hit upon every single portfolio. So, would you now look at how you can co-ordinate efforts by establishing a unit to explore opportunities so we can support the people who are going to be impacted by automation and also explore the opportunities for Wales?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod y cynllun gweithredu economaidd newydd yn cynnwys, fel un o'r meini prawf ar gyfer cynorthwyo busnesau newydd, addasu i awtomeiddio, ond mae goblygiadau awtomeiddio yn mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i hynny. Amcangyfrifir bod tua 700,000 o swyddi mewn perygl, ac maen nhw'n taro ar bob un portffolio. Felly, a wnewch chi ystyried nawr sut y gallwch chi gydgysylltu ymdrechion trwy sefydlu uned i archwilio cyfleoedd fel y gallwn ni gynorthwyo'r bobl sy'n mynd i gael eu heffeithio gan awtomeiddio ac i archwilio'r cyfleoedd i Gymru hefyd?
Yes, it's a tricky one isn't it? Does there come a point where automation is so comprehensive that there aren't enough people with money in their pockets to buy what the robots make? When does that point come? Nobody knows; we've not been in the situation before. But he asks an important question: how do we look to cope and deal with and to prosper from the changes that will come in the future? Well, we are already examining the impact of technology and data on public service delivery—for example, the digital and data group provides a forum for sharing best practice on that. It's part of the economic action plan and we do engage regularly with businesses and stakeholders to discuss the potential impact and opportunities of digital technologies. If we look at innovative tech, well, of course, we're already considering the opportunities of artificial intelligence: M7 Managed Services, in partnership with IBM, opened an artificial intelligence centre of competence last December and, of course, the centre of excellence in mobile and emerging technologies at the University of South Wales is working with businesses to see how businesses can benefit from the challenges of the future, meet those challenges, and, of course, continue to provide jobs for people.
Ie, mae'n un anodd onid yw e? A fydd adeg yn dod pan fo awtomeiddio mor gynhwysfawr nad oes digon o bobl ag arian yn eu pocedi i brynu'r hyn y mae'r robotiaid yn ei wneud? Pryd mae'r adeg honno'n dod? Ni wyr neb; nid ydym ni wedi bod yn y sefyllfa o'r blaen. Ond mae'n gofyn cwestiwn pwysig: sut ydym ni'n ceisio ymdopi ac ymdrin â'r newidiadau a fydd yn dod yn y dyfodol a ffynnu yn eu sgil? Wel, rydym ni eisoes yn archwilio effaith technoleg a data ar ddarparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus—er enghraifft, mae grŵp digidol a data yn cynnig fforwm ar gyfer rhannu arfer gorau yn hynny o beth. Mae'n rhan o'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd ac rydym ni'n ymgysylltu'n rheolaidd â busnesau a rhanddeiliaid i drafod effaith a chyfleoedd posibl technolegau digidol. Os edrychwn ni ar dechnoleg arloesol, wel, wrth gwrs, rydym ni eisoes yn ystyried cyfleoedd deallusrwydd artiffisial: agorodd M7 Managed Services, mewn partneriaeth â IBM, ganolfan cymhwysedd deallusrwydd artiffisial fis Rhagfyr diwethaf ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r ganolfan rhagoriaeth technoleg symudol a newydd ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru yn gweithio gyda busnesau i weld sut y gall busnesau elwa o heriau'r dyfodol, ymateb i'r heriau hynny, ac, wrth gwrs, parhau i ddarparu swyddi i bobl.
First Minister, I think Lee Waters made a very good point, and I agree with most of your answer there. Yesterday, I attended the Severn growth summit at the Celtic Manor. The summit looked at ways of developing the economy of south-east Wales, particularly now in the light of, first, the reduction in, and then the decision to abolish, the Severn bridge tolls later in the year. First Minister, there's a tremendous mood of optimism surrounding some of these imminent changes and there's also a real desire to use it as a stimulus to develop a high-tech economy in south-east Wales from the border along to Cardiff, and, hopefully, further. In terms of the unit that Lee Waters mentioned, would you look at potentially siting that within that area so that, when these changes happen to the road network and changes to the Severn bridge, for instance, there is a real—that this is used as an impetus to make sure that the economy is developed in the future in a way that is developing the high-tech sector and the areas that Lee Waters mentioned?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n credu i Lee Waters wneud pwynt da iawn, ac rwy'n cytuno gyda'r rhan fwyaf o'ch ateb yno. Ddoe, bûm yn uwchgynhadledd twf Hafren yn y Celtic Manor. Ystyriodd yr uwchgynhadledd ffyrdd o ddatblygu economi'r de-ddwyrain, yn enwedig nawr yng ngoleuni'r gostyngiad cyntaf i dollau Pont Hafren, a'r penderfyniad i ddiddymu'r tollau yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn. Prif Weinidog, ceir teimlad aruthrol o optimistiaeth ynghylch rhai o'r newidiadau hyn sydd ar fin digwydd a cheir awydd gwirioneddol hefyd i'w ddefnyddio fel sbardun i ddatblygu economi uwch-dechnoleg yn y de-ddwyrain o'r ffin i Gaerdydd, a, gobeithio, ymhellach. O ran yr uned honno y cyfeiriwyd ati gan Lee Waters, a wnewch chi ystyried lleoli honno yn yr ardal honno o bosibl er mwyn sicrhau, pan fydd y newidiadau hyn yn digwydd i'r rhwydwaith ffyrdd a newidiadau i bont Hafren, er enghraifft, bod gwir—bod hyn yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel sbardun i wneud yn siŵr bod yr economi yn cael ei datblygu yn y dyfodol mewn ffordd sy'n datblygu'r sector uwch-dechnoleg a'r ardaloedd y cyfeiriodd Lee Waters atynt?
Well, I've already mentioned two examples there of centres that have been put in place in order to deal with and meet the challenges of the future, and, of course, much of this will be driven by the higher education sector, so, many of these centres, in the future, will be run by them. But there's no doubt at all that we want to encourage cross-border economic working. It happens everywhere else in the world, so why wouldn't it happen between Wales and England? If that leads to joint prosperity between the south-east of Wales and the south-west of England then so be it. One of the problems, of course, is that the south-west of England doesn't have a body that we can talk to in the same way as we can talk to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Certainly, that's an issue that will need to be resolved in the future.
Wel, rydw i eisoes wedi crybwyll dwy enghraifft yn y fan yna o ganolfannau sydd wedi cael eu sefydlu i ymateb i heriau'r dyfodol a'u datrys, ac, wrth gwrs, bydd llawer o hyn yn cael ei lywio gan y sector addysg uwch, felly, bydd llawer o'r canolfannau hyn, yn y dyfodol, yn cael eu rhedeg ganddyn nhw. Ond nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl ein bod ni eisiau annog gweithio economaidd trawsffiniol. Mae'n digwydd ym mhobman arall yn y byd, felly pam na fyddai'n digwydd rhwng Cymru a Lloegr? Os bydd hynny'n arwain at ffyniant ar y cyd rhwng de-ddwyrain Cymru a de-orllewin Lloegr, yna da iawn. Un o'r problemau, wrth gwrs, yw nad oes gan dde-orllewin Lloegr gorff y gallwn siarad ag ef yn yr un modd ag y gallwn siarad â'r Alban neu Ogledd Iwerddon. Yn sicr, mae hwnnw'n fater y bydd angen ei ddatrys yn y dyfodol.
Yes, it's good that this issue is being addressed at a governmental level. However, there is recent evidence that companies like Tesco are now losing a lot more money from shoplifting since bringing in automation in the form of self-scanning machines. Is there now a case for the Welsh Government to work with those companies in trying to move away from unnecessary automation and go back towards hiring real people to do jobs?
Ydy, mae'n dda bod y mater hwn yn cael sylw ar lefel lywodraethol. Fodd bynnag, ceir tystiolaeth ddiweddar bod cwmnïau fel Tesco yn colli llawer mwy o arian o ddwyn o siopau ers cyflwyno awtomeiddio ar ffurf peiriannau hunan-sganio. A oes achos nawr i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda'r cwmnïau hynny i geisio symud oddi wrth awtomeiddio diangen a mynd yn ôl tuag at gyflogi pobl go iawn i wneud swyddi?
Well, I mean—. In reality, shoplifting increased when self-service was introduced, probably about 17 years ago, into supermarkets. They accept it as part of—. I mean, they obviously look to catch shoplifters, but they accept it as part of their business models. I think a variety of options should be available for people. For some people, they want to physically go through a checkout, for others, they want to checkout automatically at the end, for others, they want to go around with a scanner. Having those choices is important for people, especially at busy times when the automated services take a lot of pressure off the services that people are using when they physically go through a checkout.
Wel, hynny yw—. Mewn gwirionedd, cynyddodd achosion o ddwyn o siopau pan gyflwynwyd hunanwasanaeth i archfarchnadoedd tua 17 mlynedd yn ôl, mae'n debyg. Maen nhw'n ei dderbyn yn rhan o—. Hynny yw, maen nhw'n amlwg yn ceisio dal lladron, ond maen nhw'n ei dderbyn yn rhan o'u modelau busnes. Rwy'n credu y dylai amrywiaeth o ddewisiadau fod ar gael i bobl. I rai pobl, maen nhw eisiau mynd drwy'r lôn dalu yn gorfforol, i eraill, maen nhw eisiau talu'n awtomatig ar y diwedd, i eraill, maen nhw eisiau mynd o gwmpas gyda sganiwr. Mae cael y dewisiadau hynny'n bwysig i bobl, yn enwedig ar adegau prysur pan fo gwasanaethau awtomatig yn cymryd llawer o bwysau oddi ar y gwasanaethau y mae pobl yn eu defnyddio pan fyddan nhw'n mynd drwy'r lôn dalu yn gorfforol.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am effaith cyflwyno credyd cynhwysol yng Nghymru? OAQ51608
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact of the roll-out of universal credit in Wales? OAQ51608
I'm extremely concerned about the severe issues with universal credit, such as the impact of the changes to payment of housing support, and the impact they're having on rent arrears. We have expressed our concerns to the UK Government, calling for a halt to the roll-out of universal credit.
Rwy'n bryderus iawn am y problemau difrifol gyda chredyd cynhwysol, fel effaith y newidiadau ar dalu cymhorthdal tai, a'r effaith y maen nhw'n ei chael ar ôl-ddyledion rhent. Rydym ni wedi mynegi ein pryderon i Lywodraeth y DU, gan alw am atal y broses o gyflwyno credyd cynhwysol.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Disabled people and single parents and women have been amongst the biggest losers under seven years of austerity, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, standing to lose around 10 per cent of their income by 2022 due to tax and benefit changes since 2010. The roll-out of the flawed universal credit, with its unacceptable payment delays, as you've said, has pushed many people into debt, rent arrears and eviction. Of course, the Member for Torfaen, Lynne Neagle, has fed back on the Torfaen experience. Also, young people aged 18 to 21 have also lost out under universal credit, with housing benefit withdrawn. I don't know if Members are aware that the Children's Society has highlighted the UK Government's proposals to introduce an earnings threshold for eligibility to free school meals under universal credit, restricting free school meals to families with net earnings under £7,400 per year. With universal credit expected to be fully rolled out this year in the Vale of Glamorgan and other parts of Wales, what support is the Welsh Government giving to our advice services, such as Cardiff and Vale Citizens Advice, which will be bearing the brunt of supporting people adversely affected by universal credit?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Mae pobl anabl a rhieni sengl a menywod wedi bod ymhlith y rheini sydd fwyaf ar eu colled o dan saith mlynedd o gynni cyllidol, yn ôl y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol, gan sefyll i golli tua 10 y cant o'u hincwm erbyn 2022 oherwydd newidiadau i drethi a budd-daliadau ers 2010. Mae cyflwyno'r credyd cynhwysol diffygiol, gyda'i oediadau talu annerbyniol, fel yr ydych chi wedi dweud, wedi gwthio llawer o bobl i ddyled, ôl-ddyledion rhent ac i gael eu troi allan. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Aelod dros Torfaen, Lynne Neagle, wedi bwydo yn ôl ar brofiad Torfaen. Hefyd, mae pobl ifanc rhwng 18 a 21 oed ar eu colled hefyd yn sgil credyd cynhwysol, wrth i fudd-dal tai gael ei ddiddymu. Nid wyf i'n gwybod a yw'r Aelodau'n ymwybodol bod Cymdeithas y Plant wedi tynnu sylw at gynigion Llywodraeth y DU i gyflwyno trothwy enillion ar gyfer cymhwysedd ar gyfer prydau ysgol am ddim o dan gredyd cynhwysol, gan gyfyngu prydau ysgol am ddim i deuluoedd ag enillion net o lai na £7,400 y flwyddyn. Gyda'r credyd cynhwysol yn debygol o gael ei gyflwyno'n llawn eleni ym Mro Morgannwg a rhannau eraill o Gymru, pa gymorth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i'n gwasanaethau cyngor, fel Cyngor ar Bopeth Caerdydd a'r Fro, a fydd yn ysgwyddo'r baich o gynorthwyo pobl sy'n cael eu heffeithio'n andwyol gan gredyd cynhwysol?
We have provided £5.97 million of grant funding for this year. That funding will continue in the next financial year. It's for three projects: front-line advice services, Better Advice, Better Lives, and Communities First shared outcomes projects. They ensure access to free and independent social welfare advice across Wales and, as I said, that will continue into the next financial year.
Rydym ni wedi darparu £5.97 miliwn o gyllid grant ar gyfer eleni. Bydd y cyllid hwnnw'n parhau yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Mae ar gyfer tri phrosiect: gwasanaethau cyngor rheng flaen, Cyngor Da, Byw'n Dda, a phrosiectau rhannu canlyniadau Cymunedau yn Gyntaf. Maen nhw'n sicrhau mynediad am ddim ac annibynnol at gyngor lles cymdeithasol ledled Cymru ac, fel y dywedais, bydd hynny'n parhau i'r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf.
In his budget last November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced changes to the universal credit system. These include the removal of the seven waiting days before a claimant can apply for universal credit, significant improvement to the advanced payment system, including increasing the amount available, and changes to support people with their rent payments when moving from housing benefit. Does the First Minister agree with the chief executive of the Citizens Advice bureaux who said that these changes are a very welcome step and will make significant differences to people claiming universal credit in Wales?
Yn ei gyllideb fis Tachwedd diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Canghellor y Trysorlys newidiadau i'r system credyd cynhwysol. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys cael gwared ar y saith niwrnod aros cyn y gall hawlydd wneud cais am gredyd cynhwysol, gwelliant sylweddol i'r system taliadau ymlaen llaw, gan gynnwys cynyddu'r swm sydd ar gael, a newidiadau i gynorthwyo pobl â'u taliadau rhent wrth symud o fudd-dal tai. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â phrif weithredwr y canolfannau Cyngor ar Bopeth a ddywedodd bod y newidiadau hyn yn gam i'w groesawu ac y byddan nhw'n gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i bobl sy'n hawlio credyd cynhwysol yng Nghymru?
Well, it shouldn't have been messed up in the first place, should it? That's an admission that what was put in place at the very beginning wasn't thought through properly and ended up with a lot of people in debt. We still have evidence from housing associations to Citizens Advice that shows that rent arrears are still a problem for people on universal credit. There are other issues as well that surround the implementation of universal credit, such a lack of awareness concerning alternative payment arrangements and access to advance payments. So, those problems still remain.
Wel, ni ddylid bod wedi gwneud smonach ohono yn y lle cyntaf, na ddylai? Dyna gyfaddefiad nad oedd yr hyn a roddwyd ar waith i gychwyn wedi ei ystyried yn ddigonol ac arweiniodd hynny at roi llawer o bobl mewn dyled. Mae gennym ni dystiolaeth gan gymdeithasau tai i Cyngor ar Bopeth sy'n dangos bod ôl-ddyledion rhent yn dal i fod yn broblem i bobl ar gredyd cynhwysol. Ceir materion eraill hefyd sy'n gysylltiedig â gweithredu credyd cynhwysol, fel diffyg ymwybyddiaeth ynghylch trefniadau talu amgen a mynediad at daliadau ymlaen llaw. Felly, mae'r problemau hynny yn parhau.
First Minister, the Scottish Government, as part of the Smith Commission, will see yet again more powers over welfare being devolved to their Government. In the past, your Government has said that you don't want to have powers over welfare because of the cost implications, but, as we've rehearsed time and time again in debates here in the National Assembly for Wales, we have been led to understand that the fiscal framework for those powers will be transferred to the Scottish Government, and therefore the cost of administrating those welfare benefits will be transferred, alongside the powers. Will you therefore change your mind on this? We can stand here and moan about how welfare will affect our citizens, and I agree with you on that, but can we take responsibility here in Wales for those welfare powers if we are better at doing it than Westminster?
Prif Weinidog, bydd Llywodraeth yr Alban, yn rhan o Gomisiwn Smith, yn gweld mwy o bwerau eto dros les yn cael eu datganoli i'w Llywodraeth. Yn y gorffennol, mae eich Llywodraeth wedi dweud nad ydych chi eisiau cael pwerau dros les oherwydd y goblygiadau cost, ond, fel rydym ni wedi wedi ei ailadrodd dro ar ôl tro mewn dadleuon yma yng Nghynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, fe'n harweiniwyd i ddeall y bydd y fframwaith cyllidol ar gyfer y pwerau hynny yn cael ei drosglwyddo i Lywodraeth yr Alban, ac felly bydd y gost o weinyddu'r budd-daliadau lles hynny gael ei throsglwyddo, ochr yn ochr â'r pwerau. A wnewch chi newid eich meddwl ynghylch hyn felly? Gallwn sefyll yma a chwyno am sut y bydd lles yn effeithio ar ein dinasyddion, ac rwy'n cytuno â chi am hynny, ond allwn ni gymryd cyfrifoldeb yma yng Nghymru am y pwerau lles hynny os ydym ni'n well am ei wneud na San Steffan?
Well, the answer to the question lies in the election of a Labour Government in Westminster that is committed to fairness, to social justice and to opportunity. We must be very careful in divorcing ourselves from the welfare system that exists across GB. Why? Because we’re net beneficiaries. At the end of the day, if we end up in the situation where we have to finance our own welfare system, we will be worse off in terms of the money that’s available.
Wel, yr ateb i'r cwestiwn yw ethol Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan sydd wedi ymrwymo i degwch, i gyfiawnder cymdeithasol ac i gyfleoedd. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus iawn o ran gwahanu ein hunain oddi wrth y system les sy'n bodoli ar draws Prydain Fawr. Pam? Gan ein bod ni'n fuddiolwyr net. Yn y pen draw, os ydym ni'n cael ein hunain mewn sefyllfa lle mae'n rhaid i ni ariannu ein system les ein hunain, byddwn yn waeth ein byd o ran yr arian sydd ar gael.
I didn’t say that though.
Ond nid dyna ddywedais i.
So, we have to be careful not to move along that path and be in a position where we end up taking on powers that we then don’t have the money to finance. That’s the issue for us. We know that the UK Government has a record of agreeing to the transfer of powers without the transfer of the finances, and that’s the question we need to answer.
Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus peidio â symud ar hyd y llwybr hwnnw a bod mewn sefyllfa lle'r ydym ni'n cymryd cyfrifoldeb am bwerau nad yw'r arian gennym ni i'w hariannu wedyn. Mater i ni yw hynny. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod gan Lywodraeth y DU hanes o gytuno i drosglwyddo pwerau heb drosglwyddo'r cyllid, a dyna'r cwestiwn y mae angen i ni ei ateb.
8. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o gynaliadwyedd gwasanaethau bysiau presennol yng Nghymru? OAQ51635
8. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the sustainability of current bus services in Wales? OAQ51635
We are working with the industry and others to develop long-term sustainability by developing integrated networks such as the metro in north and south Wales. We will look, when the powers are devolved, at a better and more sustainable structure for bus services in Wales.
Rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r diwydiant ac eraill i ddatblygu cynaliadwyedd hirdymor trwy ddatblygu rhwydweithiau integredig fel y metro yn y gogledd a'r de. Byddwn yn edrych, pan gaiff y pwerau eu datganoli, ar strwythur gwell a mwy cynaliadwy ar gyfer gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru.
My constituents are looking forward to the trams and the light rail systems that the metro will bring, but in the meantime people rely on buses to get themselves to work and to school. Cardiff Bus is the municipal bus service and they are being subjected to aggressive assaults by private companies that are simply cherry-picking the routes that are the most profitable. The Transport Act 1985 does not allow the cross-subsidy of one route by revenue from another, and I just wondered what the Government’s plans are for ensuring the sustainability of a network of sustainable services for all our citizens, particularly those who don’t have a car, and what model of delivery we need and what legislation we might need.
Mae fy etholwyr yn edrych ymlaen at y tramiau a systemau rheilffyrdd ysgafn a ddaw yn sgil y metro, ond yn y cyfamser mae pobl yn dibynnu ar fysiau i gael eu hunain i'r gwaith ac i'r ysgol. Bws Caerdydd yw'r gwasanaeth bws trefol ac mae'n nhw'n destun ymosodiadau bygythiol gan gwmnïau preifat sy'n dewis y llwybrau mwyaf proffidiol. Nid yw Deddf Trafnidiaeth 1985 yn caniatáu darparu croes-gymhorthdal i un llwybr o refeniw un arall, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed beth yw cynlluniau'r Llywodraeth ar gyfer sicrhau cynaliadwyedd rhwydwaith o wasanaethau cynaliadwy ar gyfer ein holl ddinasyddion, yn enwedig y rheini nad oes ganddynt gar, a pha fodel darparu sydd ei angen arnom a pha ddeddfwriaeth y gallai fod ei hangen arnom.
We cannot continue with a system where, unless services are subsidised, they can be altered or removed almost at the drop of a hat. I remember, not so long ago, in Ceredigion, where Arriva pulled out of the provision of bus services there at very short notice, and then it was left to other private operators to step in and fill the gap. That is not a sustainable way of running bus services. Nor is it right that, in many parts of Wales, there is only one provider, and that provider is a private provider that can charge, effectively, what it wants. This is another one of the myths that was peddled by the Tories in the 1980s and beyond: that, in transport, there can be competition. Well, for many people in Wales there is no competition when it comes to buses. There's certainly no competition when it comes to trains. People are paying over the odds for private monopolies. That situation cannot continue, and the Cabinet Secretary and I and the Government will be looking at ways of ensuring that, in the future, we have a bus network that is publicly supported both financially and by the people of Wales, and not one that is fragmented and overpriced.
Ni allwn barhau gyda system lle, oni bai fod cymhorthdal ar gyfer gwasanaethau, y gellir eu newid neu gael gwared arnynt yn ddirybudd bron. Rwy'n cofio, nid mor hir yn ôl, yng Ngheredigion, pan roddodd Arriva y gorau i ddarparu gwasanaethau bws yno yn fyr-rybudd iawn, ac yna fe'i gadawyd i weithredwyr preifat eraill gamu i mewn a llenwi'r bwlch. Nid yw honno'n ffordd gynaliadwy o redeg gwasanaethau bysiau. Ac nid yw'n iawn chwaith, mewn sawl rhan o Gymru, bod un darparwr yn unig, a bod y darparwr hwnnw'n ddarparwr preifat sy'n gallu codi yr hyn y mae'n dymuno, i bob bwrpas. Mae hwn yn un arall o'r anwireddau hynny a hysbysebwyd gan y Toraid yn y 1980au a thu hwnt: y gellir cael cystadleuaeth ym maes trafnidiaeth. Wel, i lawer o bobl yng Nghymru nid oes unrhyw gystadleuaeth pan ddaw i fysiau. Yn sicr nid oes cystadleuaeth pan ddaw i drenau. Mae pobl yn talu mwy nag y dylent am fonopolïau preifat. Ni all y sefyllfa honno barhau, a bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a minnau a'r Llywodraeth yn edrych ar ffyrdd o sicrhau, yn y dyfodol, bod gennym ni rwydwaith bysiau a gefnogir yn gyhoeddus, yn ariannol a chan bobl Cymru, ac nid un sy'n dameidiog lle mae'r prisiau'n rhy uchel.
Brif Weinidog, rydw i wedi derbyn sylwadau gan weithredwr bysiau lleol yn sir Benfro sydd wedi ehangu ei weithrediadau yn dilyn cau cwmni bysus arall yn y sir, ond, yn anffodus, mae’n ei chael hi’n anodd i uwchraddio ei seilwaith. Wrth gwrs, rydw i’n derbyn bod cyllidebau awdurdodau lleol yn dynn, ond, o ystyried y gwasanaeth pwysig y mae mwy a mwy o gwmnïau bysiau yn eu cynnig ar draws Cymru, a’r ffaith eu bod yn darparu swyddi yn lleol hefyd, pa gymorth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei gynnig i gwmnïau bysiau fel hyn i ddiogelu eu hyfywedd yn y dyfodol ac, felly, sicrhau cynaliadwyedd gwasanaethau bysiau, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig?
First Minister, I’ve received comments from a local bus operator in Pembrokeshire who has expanded his business following the closure of another bus company in the county, but unfortunately the operator is having difficulty in upgrading his infrastructure. Of course, I accept that local authority budgets are tight, but given the important service that more and more bus companies are providing across Wales and the fact that they provide jobs locally, what assistance can the Welsh Government offer bus companies such as this one to safeguard their viability for the future and therefore secure the sustainability of bus services, particularly in rural areas?
Faint o gwmnïau ŷm ni wedi'u gweld dros y blynyddoedd sydd yn cwympo drosodd? Sawl un. Sawl un. Mae'n rhaid i ni ailystyried y strwythur o wasanaethau bysiau. Mae hynny'n meddwl, er enghraifft, a oes yna fodd i gael system o franchises—nid yw e'n gweithio ar lefel awdurdodau lleol; maen nhw'n rhy fach, yn fy marn i, i hynny ddigwydd—er mwyn sicrhau bod cwmni yn gorfod sicrhau gwasanaeth ar y pris sydd wedi cael ei gytuno, a sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth hwnnw yn parhau dros y blynyddoedd. Mae'n rhaid i ni symud bant o'r strwythur sydd gyda ni ar hyn o bryd, sef un lle, i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yng Nghymru, mae un cwmni yn rhedeg gwasanaethau, ac mae hi lan iddyn nhw i redeg y gwasanaethau y maen nhw'n credu sy'n mynd i weithio, heb unrhyw fath o input na chaniatâd gan bobl leol. Mae'n rhaid i hynny newid. Mae'n rhaid i ni ystyried nad oes cystadleuaeth o gwbl yn y rhan fwyaf o Gymru ynglŷn â bysiau, a symud i system, felly, sy'n llawer mwy cynaliadwy, a system sy'n sicrhau nad ydym ni'n gweld gwasanaethau jest yn cwympo wrth ei gilydd, yn aml iawn, fel rydym ni wedi gweld dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
How many companies have we seen over the years go to the wall? We’ve seen many. We must reconsider the structure of bus services. That means, for example, whether it's possible to have a system of franchises—it won’t work on a local government level; I think that would be too small—to ensure that the companies have to deliver the service at the price that was agreed and that that’s sustainable for years to come. We’ve got to move away from the system we have at present where, for the majority of the people of Wales, one company runs the services and they decide on which ones will work without any kind of input or permission from local people. That has to change. We must consider that there’s no competition in most parts of Wales. We’ll have to move to a kind of system that is much more sustainable and will ensure that we don’t see services just falling apart, very often, as we have seen over the past years.
Does the First Minister think that it's acceptable that there are no rush-hour buses from Wrexham industrial estate—one of the largest industrial estates in Europe—into Wrexham town centre? Thousands of workers are being left high and dry by a non-existent transport service. You either have to clock off early, or you have to hang around for an hour to catch the bus home. Now, you can talk as much as you like about your occasional bus summits. You can show us fancy maps about a so-called north Wales metro transport system, or, of course, you can tell us that you're serious about this. Is this acceptable? Because people are telling me it's not. I'm sure everybody here would believe it's not. Why is Wrexham suffering from sub-standard services in this respect? And why doesn't the largest industrial estate, or one of the largest industrial estates in Europe, not have what is a basic service?
A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn credu ei bod yn dderbyniol nad oes unrhyw fysiau yn ystod yr oriau prysur, o ystad ddiwydiannol Wrecsam—un o'r ystadau diwydiannol mwyaf yn Ewrop—i ganol tref Wrecsam? Mae miloedd o weithwyr mewn sefyllfa lle nad oes ganddyn nhw unrhyw wasanaeth trafnidiaeth. Mae'n rhaid ichi naill ai gadael y gwaith yn gynnar, neu mae'n rhaid i chi aros am awr i ddal y bws adref. Nawr, gallwch chi sôn cymaint ag y mynnoch am eich uwchgynadleddau bysiau achlysurol. Gallwch chi ddangos mapiau ffansi i ni o system drafnidiaeth metro gogledd Cymru, fel y'i gelwir, neu, wrth gwrs, gallwch chi ddweud wrthym eich bod o ddifrif am hyn. A yw hyn yn dderbyniol? Oherwydd mae pobl yn dweud wrthyf i nad yw'n dderbyniol. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai pawb yma yn credu nad yw'n dderbyniol. Pam mae Wrecsam yn dioddef gwasanaethau sy'n is na'r safon yn hyn o beth? A pham nad oes gan yr ystad ddiwydiannol fwyaf, neu un o'r ystadau diwydiannol mwyaf yn Ewrop, yr hyn sy'n wasanaeth sylfaenol?
Why doesn't he take it up with the councils? The councils are responsible for subsidising bus services. And he is right; do I think it's acceptable? [Interruption.] Do I think it's acceptable? No, I don't; I think he's right. But the reality is, as he knows full well, we don't have control over the buses yet. Now, there's no point pretending—[Interruption.] Not even the leader of the opposition knows that, apparently, based on the comment he's just given—that we don't have responsibility over the buses yet. I want to see, for the people of Wrexham and those who are commuting to Wrexham industrial estate, a proper, integrated, sustainable transport service, via the north-east Wales metro, using trains, using buses, to ensure that the situation that he's described—which is not acceptable—does not continue in the future as it has done, after 30 years of Tory transport misrule.
Pam nad yw e'n codi'r mater gyda'r cynghorau? Y cynghorau sy'n gyfrifol am roi cymorthdal i wasanaethau bysiau. Ac mae e'n iawn; a ydw i'n credu bod hyn yn dderbyniol? [Torri ar draws.] A ydw i'n credu bod hyn yn dderbyniol? Nac ydw, dydw i ddim; rwy'n credu ei fod ef yn iawn. Ond y gwir yw, fel y gŵyr ef yn iawn, nid oes gennym reolaeth dros y bysiau eto. Nawr, does dim diben esgus—[Torri ar draws.] Nid yw arweinydd yr wrthblaid hyd yn oed yn gwybod, mae'n debyg, ar sail y sylw y mae ef newydd ei roi—nad oes gennym gyfrifoldeb dros y bysiau eto. Rwyf i eisiau gweld, ar gyfer pobl Wrecsam a'r rhai hynny sy'n cymudo i ystad ddiwydiannol Wrecsam, wasanaeth trafnidiaeth priodol, integredig, cynaliadwy, drwy fetro y gogledd-ddwyrain, gan ddefnyddio trenau, gan ddefnyddio bysiau, i sicrhau na fydd y sefyllfa y mae ef wedi ei disgrifio—nad yw'n dderbyniol—yn parhau yn y dyfodol fel sydd wedi digwydd, ar ôl 30 mlynedd o gamreoli trafnidiaeth gan y Torïaid.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, ac rydw i'n galw ar arweinydd y tŷ, Julie James.
The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the leader of the house, Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Business for the next three weeks is shown in the business statement and announcement found amongst the meeting papers, which are available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Nid oes unrhyw newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Dangosir busnes y tair wythnos nesaf yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd i'w cael ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod, sydd ar gael i Aelodau yn electronig.
Leader of the house, Chwarae Teg has highlighted that Iceland has become the first country in the world to legally enforce equal pay between men and women. Will the leader of the house update on how the Welsh Government will use legislation to help tackle the shocking gap in gender pay, which has widened by 23 per cent in the past five years according to a report this week, as well as how the Welsh Government is supporting Chwarae Teg's FairPlay Employer initiative?
Arweinydd y tŷ, mae Chwarae Teg wedi amlygu mai Gwlad yr Iâ yw'r wlad gyntaf yn y byd i orfodi'n gyfreithlon gyflog cyfartal i ddynion a menywod. A wnaiff arweinydd y tŷ roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio deddfwriaeth i helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r bwlch cyflog syfrdanol rhwng y rhywiau, sydd wedi ymestyn 23 y cant yn ystod y pum mlynedd ddiwethaf yn ôl adroddiad yr wythnos hon, yn ogystal â sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi menter 'FairPlay Employer' Chwarae Teg?
Thank you for that. It's absolutely splendid to see that Iceland has indeed legislated to get equal pay. Of course, we've had an equal pay Act in the United Kingdom for quite some time, and we know that that hasn't led to the equality of pay that we'd like to have seen. In Wales, we've introduced legislation to help address the gender pay gap in the public sector. Of course, unfortunately, we don't have the power to do that in the private sector. The UK Government has introduced regulations on gender pay gap reporting for large employers in the private and voluntary sectors across Great Britain—250 employees or above, I understand—and we are actually exploring ways in which we can get a voluntary agreement here, in social partnership with our businesses, to see if we can extend that lower down the structures in Wales, because a large number of the companies in Wales are, of course, SMEs. Myself and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance have been looking at ways to do that using our procurement powers as well, for quite some time.
Chwarae Teg's initiative is indeed a very interesting one. I chair the fair work board, and we are looking at ways in which we can introduce such examples. We will be shortly making recommendations about a fair work commission in Wales, and I know that Chwarae Teg's proposals will be looked at very seriously there as a way of extending the service. I'd also like to recommend programmes like the Agile Nation 2 project, which Chwarae Teg runs. I've been, myself, to see the effect on the women who undertake those programmes. I believe the average pay rise for the women who've gone through that programme is about £3,000, which is amazing, and it shows you what you can do when you increase people's powers to understand what their rights can be in the workplace. But there's no doubt that it's a continuing problem. It's a very important thing that we're doing to make sure that the public sector here in Wales leads the way, both by example and by our spending power, to see what else we can do in Wales while the UK Government fails to act.
Diolch ichi am hynny. Mae'n hollol wych gweld bod Gwlad yr Iâ yn wir wedi deddfu i sicrhau cyflog cyfartal. Wrth gwrs, mae Deddf cyflog cyfartal wedi bod ar waith yn y Deyrnas Unedig ers cryn amser, a gwyddom nad yw hynny wedi arwain at y cydraddoldeb cyflog yr hoffem ni ei weld. Yng Nghymru, rydym ni wedi cyflwyno deddfwriaeth i helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r bwlch cyflog rhwng y rhywiau yn y sector cyhoeddus. Wrth gwrs, yn anffodus, nid oes gennym y pŵer i wneud hynny yn y sector preifat. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyflwyno rheoliadau ar lunio adroddiadau ar y bwlch cyflog rhwng y rhywiau ar gyfer cyflogwyr mawr yn y sectorau preifat a gwirfoddol ledled Prydain Fawr—sydd â 250 o weithwyr neu fwy, rwy'n deall—ac mewn gwirionedd, rydym yn archwilio ffyrdd y gallwn ni gael cytundeb gwirfoddol yma, mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol â'n busnesau, i weld os gallwn ni ymestyn hynny yn is i lawr y strwythurau yng Nghymru, oherwydd mae nifer fawr o'r cwmnïau yng Nghymru yn fusnesau bach a chanolig, wrth gwrs. Rwyf i ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid wedi bod yn archwilio ffyrdd o wneud hynny gan ddefnyddio ein pwerau caffael hefyd, ers cryn amser.
Mae menter Chwarae Teg yn un diddorol iawn mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n gadeirydd y bwrdd gwaith teg, ac rydym ni'n chwilio am ffyrdd o gyflwyno enghreifftiau tebyg. Byddwn yn gwneud argymhellion cyn hir ynghylch comisiwn gwaith teg yng Nghymru, a gwn y caiff cynigion Chwarae Teg eu hystyried yn ddifrifol iawn yno fel ffordd o ymestyn y gwasanaeth. Hoffwn i hefyd argymell rhaglenni megis y prosiect Cenedl Hyblyg 2, a gynhelir gan Chwarae Teg. Rwyf i'n bersonol wedi bod i weld yr effaith ar fenywod sy'n cymryd rhan yn y rhaglenni hynny. Rwy'n credu mai tua £3,000 yw'r codiad cyflog cyfartalog ar gyfer y menywod sydd wedi cwblhau'r rhaglen honno, sy'n wych, ac mae'n dangos yr hyn y gallwch chi ei gyflawni pan fyddwch chi'n cynyddu pwerau pobl i ddeall beth yw eu hawliau yn y gweithle. Ond does dim amheuaeth bod hynny'n broblem barhaus. Mae'r gwaith yr ydym yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y sector cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru yn arwain y ffordd, trwy esiampl a thrwy ein pŵer gwario, yn waith pwysig iawn, i weld beth arall y gallwn ni ei gyflawni yng Nghymru tra bod Llywodraeth y DU yn methu â gweithredu.
Leader of the house, I'd be grateful if you could please ask the Cabinet Secretary for health to bring forward two statements, please. The first statement is in relation to Hywel Dda health board's new service change proposals, which have already been raised in this Chamber this afternoon. Now, some of these proposals could result in services being further centralised away from Pembrokeshire, and some of these proposals could even result in Withybush hospital being completely shut down in the future. Members will know that I have consistently raised this issue in the past, highlighting the effects of centralising services on other departments, which, in turn, make those more vulnerable in the future. Indeed, I've often been accused of scaremongering, and it seems that's going on here again today when raising the knock-on effect of centralising services on hospitals in west Wales. It seems as though those concerns are quickly becoming a reality, given that some of the options considered by Hywel Dda health board would see Withybush hospital removed in its entirety. Now, the option of closing the hospital, in my opinion, should not even be considered, and this will be totally unacceptable to the people that I represent. It's now important that we hear from the Welsh Government on what its position is regarding this very serious matter.
I listened carefully to the First Minister's answers earlier, which suggested that the Welsh Government does not have a view at all. Surely the Welsh Government is responsible for health services in Wales, and I'm very concerned that the Government is washing its hands when it comes to health services in west Wales. During the last Assembly election, it wasn't the governing party's policy to close Withybush hospital. So, it's only reasonable that the Government now tells the people that I represent what its view is regarding the future of Withybush hospital. Therefore, can you please encourage the Cabinet Secretary for health to bring forward an urgent statement regarding the future delivery of health services in west Wales, and in particular Pembrokeshire, as soon as possible? Because the Welsh Government should put on record its position on this serious issue.
Secondly, can I also ask the Cabinet Secretary for health for a statement on the Welsh Government's recruitment strategy for medical professionals in west Wales? St Clement's surgery in Neyland, in my constituency, has submitted an application for closure to the local health board due, in part, to staffing shortages, highlighting once again why more action needs to be taken to attract medical professionals to posts in west Wales. This is a very serious issue for the people that I represent, given that we've seen other problems with recruiting GPs in Goodwick, in the north of my constituency. Therefore, can you please impress upon the Cabinet Secretary for health to bring forward a statement outlining the Welsh Government's recruitment strategy for the area—[Interruption.]—so that closures like this, as a result of staff shortages, do not continue to occur in the future?
Llywydd, I can hear some Labour Members laughing at these very serious matters. [Interruption.] They should be ashamed of themselves.
Arweinydd y tŷ, byddem yn ddiolchgar pe gallech chi ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd gyflwyno dau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf yn ymwneud â chynigion newid gwasanaeth newydd Bwrdd Iechyd Hywel Dda, sydd wedi codi eisoes yn y Siambr hon y prynhawn yma. Nawr, gallai rhai o'r cynigion hyn achosi i wasanaethau gael eu canoli ymhellach i ffwrdd o sir Benfro, a gallai rhai o'r cynigion hyn hyd yn oed arwain at gau Ysbyty Llwynhelyg yn gyfan gwbl yn y dyfodol. Bydd Aelodau'n gwybod fy mod i wedi codi'r mater hwn yn gyson yn y gorffennol, gan dynnu sylw at effeithiau canoli gwasanaethau ar adrannau eraill, sydd, yn eu tro, yn eu rhoi nhw mewn sefyllfa waeth yn y dyfodol. Yn wir, rwyf wedi cael fy nghyhuddo'n aml o godi bwganod, ac mae'n ymddangos mai dyna sy'n digwydd yma heddiw eto wrth godi sgil-effeithiau canoli gwasanaethau ar ysbytai yn y gorllewin. Mae'n ymddangos bod y pryderon hynny yn gyflym ddod yn realiti, gan gofio bod rhai o'r dewisiadau a ystyriwyd gan Fwrdd Iechyd Hywel Dda yn golygu y byddai ysbyty Llwynhelyg yn cael ei gau yn gyfan gwbl. Nawr, ni ddylid hyd yn oed ystyried cau'r ysbyty, yn fy marn i, a bydd gwneud hynny yn gwbl annerbyniol i'r bobl yr wyf i'n eu cynrychioli. Mae'n bwysig nawr inni glywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru beth yw ei safbwynt ar y mater difrifol hwn.
Gwrandewais yn ofalus ar atebion y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach, a oedd yn awgrymu nad oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru farn o gwbl. Llywodraeth Cymru, yn sicr, sy'n gyfrifol am wasanaethau iechyd yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n bryderus iawn bod y Llywodraeth yn gwrthod ymateb i wasanaethau iechyd yn y gorllewin. Yn ystod etholiad diwethaf y Cynulliad, nid oedd cau ysbyty Llwynhelyg yn rhan o bolisi'r blaid sy'n llywodraethu. Felly, mae ond yn rhesymol bod y Llywodraeth bellach yn dweud wrth y bobl yr wyf i'n eu cynrychioli beth yw ei barn ar ddyfodol ysbyty Llwynhelyg. Felly, a wnewch chi annog Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd i gyflwyno datganiad brys ynglŷn â dyfodol darpariaeth gwasanaethau iechyd yn y gorllewin, ac yn arbennig yn sir Benfro, cyn gynted ag y bo modd? Oherwydd dylai Llywodraeth Cymru nodi ei safbwynt ar y mater difrifol hwn.
Yn ail, a gaf i hefyd ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd am ddatganiad ar strategaeth recriwtio Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol yn y gorllewin? Mae Meddygfa St Clement yn Neyland, yn fy etholaeth i, wedi cyflwyno cais i'r bwrdd iechyd lleol i gau'r feddygfa, yn rhannol, yn sgil prinder staff, gan amlygu unwaith eto pam mae angen gwneud mwy i ddenu gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol i swyddi yn y gorllewin. Mae hwn yn fater difrifol iawn i'r bobl yr wyf i'n eu cynrychioli, gan gofio ein bod wedi gweld problemau eraill wrth recriwtio meddygon teulu yn Wdig, yng ngogledd fy etholaeth. Felly, a wnewch chi bwyso ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd i gyflwyno datganiad yn amlinellu strategaeth recriwtio Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer yr ardal os gwelwch yn dda—[Torri ar draws.]—fel nad yw meddygfeydd eraill fel hyn yn cau, o ganlyniad i brinder staff, yn y dyfodol?
Llywydd, gallaf glywed rhai Aelodau Llafur yn chwerthin am y materion ddifrifol iawn hyn. [Torri ar draws.] Dylai fod cywilydd arnyn nhw.
Thank you for those two questions, both of which were more like speeches. I think that's what the Labour Members were commenting on. [Interruption.] In terms of the first one, you asked a question of the First Minister, and the Cabinet Secretary for health is here to hear your statement or question again to me, but there is obviously a due process to go through with the consultation. I'm surprised the Member thinks that we should have an opinion on a consultation that is extant before the end of the consultation. We take consultations extremely seriously. Once the consultation is finished and we've had a proper process to look at the results of the consultation, I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will come forward with the results of the consultation and the Government's response to that consultation at that time.
On the second point, you made the point earlier and you've made it again now. I don't really think it was a question. The Cabinet Secretary heard the points you made, as did everybody else.
Diolch i chi am y ddau gwestiwn yna, a oedd yn debycach i areithiau. Rwy'n credu mai dyna oedd yr Aelodau Llafur yn gwneud sylwadau yn ei gylch. [Torri ar draws.] O ran yr un cyntaf, fe wnaethoch chi ofyn cwestiwn i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd yma i glywed eich datganiad neu gwestiwn eto i mi, ond mae'n amlwg bod proses briodol ar gyfer bwrw ymlaen â'r ymgynghoriad. Rwy'n synnu bod yr Aelod yn credu y dylwn ni fod â barn ar yr ymgynghoriad ar hyn o bryd, cyn diwedd yr ymgynghoriad. Rydym yn ystyried ymgynghoriadau yn hynod ddifrifol. Ar ôl i'r ymgynghoriad ddod i ben a'n bod wedi dilyn proses briodol i edrych ar ganlyniadau'r ymgynghoriad, rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cyflwyno canlyniadau'r ymgynghoriad ac ymateb y Llywodraeth i'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw ar yr adeg honno.
O ran eich ail bwynt, fe wnaethoch chi sôn am hynny yn gynharach ac rydych chi wedi sôn amdano eto nawr. Dydw i ddim yn credu mai cwestiwn oedd ef mewn gwirionedd. Clywodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet y pwyntiau a wnaethoch chi, fel y gwnaeth pawb arall.
A gaf i ddechrau gan ofyn am ddiweddariad ar ddiogelwch ffyrdd, yn benodol ar yr A487? Efallai bod arweinydd y tŷ yn cofio, tua phythefnos yn ôl, roedd damwain angheuol rhwng Gellilydan a Maentwrog, pan fu farw baban a'i modryb mewn car. Mae cydymdeimladau gen i tuag at y teulu a'r gymuned leol, sydd yn galaru dros y ddamwain honno. Ond yn benodol, o edrych ar y ffigyrau, mae yna 26 o ddamweiniau wedi bod ar yr un darn o hewl, sef, i'r rhai sy'n ei nabod e, y troadau yn mynd lawr y bryn rhwng Gellilydan a Maentwrog. Mae 26 wedi bod mewn blwyddyn yn unig—yn y flwyddyn lawn ddiweddaraf. Felly, er mwyn osgoi'r posibiliadau, neu o leiaf lleihau'r posibiliadau, o ddamweiniau difrifol ar y darn yna o'r hewl, rydw i'n gofyn am ddatganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ar edrych i mewn i ddiogelwch y ffordd. Yn benodol, mae'r bobl leol yn gofyn am ostwng y cyflymder dros dro tra eu bod nhw'n edrych i mewn i ffordd arall o wneud y ffordd yn fwy diogel. Mae'n werth cofio bod rhannau eraill o'r ffordd yma rhwng de a gogledd Cymru wedi'u gwneud yn fwy saff yn ddiweddar drwy fuddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ond mae'r darn yma yn aros fel roedd e yn nyddiau'r goetsh, a dweud y gwir, ac mae angen edrych, yn sicr, ar ddiogelwch y ffordd yna.
May I start by asking for an update on road safety, specifically on the A487? The leader of the house may recall that, around a fortnight ago, there was a fatal accident between Gellilydan and Maentwrog when a baby and her aunt died in a car. I extend my sympathies to the family and the local community, who are grieving because of that accident. But specifically, in looking at the figures, there have been 26 accidents on that one stretch of road. For those who are familiar with it, it's the bends going down the hill between Gellilydan and Maentwrog. There have been 26 accidents in just a year—that is, in the last full year. So, just to reduce the possibility of further serious accidents on this stretch of road, I would ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary looking into road safety. Local people, specifically, are asking for a temporary reduction in the speed limit whilst they look at other means of making the road safer. It's worth bearing in mind that other stretches of this road between north and south Wales have been made safer recently through Welsh Government investment, but this stretch has remained as it was in the days of the stagecoach, in fact, and we certainly need to look at the safety of that road.
The second point I'd like to raise is just to put on record my thanks to many who worked over the weekend. We had floods, again, in many parts of west Wales. Ceredigion was particularly affected. I certainly couldn't complete a journey on Sunday myself because I was turned back by the police, and I know that in Tenby, as well, there were some serious flood problems on the eastern road out of Tenby. These things do happen. We do have bad surface water problems in Wales, but sometimes they can be addressed by better engineering and some better appreciation of how you do some soft engineering as well around how we deal with floods. So, in thanking people for their hard work—council staff and officials and the police as well—it would be good, I think, perhaps not immediately, but within the next few weeks, to have a chance to reflect as an Assembly, either through a statement or through a debate, on what we're doing to deal with flooding, and mitigating some of the effects of climate change as part of that, and what specifically the Welsh Government has planned for helping some communities to identify problems and seek to try and address them.
Yr ail bwynt yr hoffwn ei wneud yw diolch ar goedd i'r llawer o bobl a wnaeth weithio yn ystod y penwythnos. Cawsom lifogydd, unwaith eto, yn llawer o rannau o orllewin Cymru. Cafodd Ceredigion yn arbennig ei effeithio'n wael. Yn sicr nid oedd modd i mi fy hunan gwblhau taith ddydd Sul, oherwydd cefais fy nhroi'n ôl gan yr heddlu, a gwn fod problemau llifogydd difrifol yn Ninbych y Pysgod, hefyd, ar y ffordd ddwyreiniol allan o'r dref. Mae'r pethau hyn yn digwydd. Mae gennym broblemau mawr â dŵr wyneb yng Nghymru, ond weithiau gellir ymdrin â'r problemau hyn drwy well peirianneg a gwell dealltwriaeth o sut i wneud ychydig o beirianneg meddal wrth i ni ymdopi â llifogydd. Felly, wrth i ni ddiolch i bobl am eu gwaith caled—staff a swyddogion y cyngor a'r heddlu hefyd—byddai'n dda, yn fy marn i, efallai nid ar unwaith, ond o fewn yr ychydig wythnosau nesaf, i gael cyfle i fyfyrio fel Cynulliad, naill ai drwy ddatganiad neu drwy ddadl, ar yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i ddelio â llifogydd, ac atal rhai o effeithiau'r newid yn yr hinsawdd yn rhan o hynny, a beth yn benodol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i cynllunio ar gyfer helpu rhai cymunedau i nodi problemau a cheisio mynd i'r afael â nhw.
On the A487, I also want to extend our sympathies to the family. Our thoughts are very much with all of those affected by what was an appalling traffic incident. I know the Cabinet Secretary feels very strongly about his commitment to improving road safety and reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on Welsh roads. I haven't had the opportunity to discuss a reduction in speed limits with him. I'd be very grateful if the Member would write to the Cabinet Secretary suggesting that in particular. I'm sure he'll take that very seriously, as I know he has expressed his sympathies to the families of those affected. It was a very serious incident.
In terms of the flooding, absolutely there were floods. It was torrential rain, I'm sure we'd all agree, on Sunday, and there were floods absolutely everywhere. I also had a journey interrupted by flooding. Again, I think the Cabinet Secretary for the environment and the Cabinet Secretary for transport are taking that very seriously, and we will be considering a way of bringing that onto the floor of the Assembly, because it's a very serious issue for a large number of us in Wales.
O ran yr A487, hoffwn hefyd estyn ein cydymdeimladau i'r teulu. Cydymdeimlwn yn fawr â phob un a gafodd eu heffeithio gan y digwyddiad traffig ofnadwy hwn. Gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn teimlo'n gryf iawn am ei ymrwymiad i wella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd ac i leihau nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol ar ffyrdd Cymru. Nid wyf wedi cael cyfle eto i drafod ag ef ynghylch gostwng y terfynau cyflymder. Byddem yn ddiolchgar iawn pe byddai'r Aelod yn ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn awgrymu hynny yn benodol. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn cymryd hynny o ddifri, gan fy mod i'n gwybod ei fod wedi cydymdeimlo â theuluoedd y rhai y mae'r digwyddiad hwn wedi effeithio arnynt. Roedd yn ddigwyddiad difrifol iawn.
O ran llifogydd, yn wir roedd yna lifogydd. Roedd yn arllwys y glaw, rwy'n siŵr y byddem oll yn cytuno, ddydd Sul, ac roedd llifogydd ym mhobman. Torrodd y llifogydd ar draws fy nhaith i hefyd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n credu bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr amgylchedd ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth yn ystyried hynny'n ddifrifol iawn, a byddwn ni'n ystyried ffordd o ddod â hynny i lawr y Cynulliad, oherwydd mae'n fater difrifol iawn i nifer fawr ohonom yng Nghymru.
Leader of the house, we've heard that the First Minister is very keen to ensure that we have a sustainable, publicly supported bus service in Wales, but we've also heard that, in many parts of Wales, including in Cardiff, we are seeing an increasingly deteriorating current bus system. It was back in May that the Government completed its bus consultation. I appreciate that you're waiting for the UK Government to transfer the powers that we need to Transport for Wales to commission services, but in the meantime is it possible to have a debate about the possible models of a future bus system, whether it's by franchising whole communities or whether it's through publicly supported or community-supported systems of bus service delivery?
Arweinydd y tŷ, rydym wedi clywed bod y Prif Weinidog yn awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod gennym wasanaeth bysiau cynaliadwy, a gefnogir gan y cyhoedd yng Nghymru, ond rydym wedi clywed hefyd, mewn nifer o rannau o Gymru, gan gynnwys Caerdydd, fod y system bysiau bresennol yn dirywio'n gynyddol. Cwblhaodd y Llywodraeth ei hymgynghoriad bysiau yn ôl ym mis Mai. Rwy'n sylweddoli eich bod chi'n aros i Lywodraeth y DU drosglwyddo'r pwerau sydd eu hangen arnom ni i gomisiynu gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth yng Nghymru, ond yn y cyfamser, a yw'n bosibl cael dadl ynghylch modelau posibl ar gyfer y system bysiau yn y dyfodol, boed hynny drwy greu masnachfraint ar gyfer cymunedau cyfan neu drwy systemau o ddarparu gwasanaethau bysiau a gefnogir yn gyhoeddus neu'n gymunedol?
The Member is quite right; our consultation ended on 31 May last year. That had a number of outline proposals to improve the planning and delivery of local bus services. Seventy-five per cent of respondents to that consultation expressed a preference that our reforms should enable local authorities to introduce some kind of bus franchising in their area to be more responsive to local need. The Cabinet Secretary is going to hold another public consultation, this time on the detailed proposals that came out of the first consultation, along with some others, including some of the things that the Member just raised. And I think his intention is to announce that public consultation in the Chamber at that time. So, I'm sure that will be being brought forward.
It is worth reminding ourselves, as the First Minister touched on this earlier as well, that local authorities already have a range of powers available to exert more influence over bus services. For example, they can make a ticketing scheme; in my own local authority, through-ticketing has been a big issue, and that's been successful in parts of Swansea and in Gower. There are also voluntary agreements that can be made with bus operators to co-ordinate investment in different schemes, and to make statutory enforceable bus quality partnership schemes. So, we're not without any powers at the local authority level, but we will be consulting on further powers, as they transfer to us in due course.
Mae'r Aelod yn hollol iawn; daeth ein hymgynghoriad i ben ar 31 Mai y llynedd. Roedd yn hwnnw nifer o gynigion amlinellol i wella sut y caiff gwasanaethau bysiau lleol eu cynllunio a'u darparu. Roedd saith deg pump y cant o'r ymatebwyr i'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw yn dweud eu bod nhw'n hoffi i'n diwygiadau alluogi awdurdodau lleol i gyflwyno rhyw fath o fasnachfreintiau bysiau yn eu hardaloedd er mwyn diwallu anghenion lleol yn well. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn mynd i gynnal ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus arall, y tro hwn ar y cynigion manwl a ddaeth yn sgil yr ymgynghoriad cyntaf, ynghyd â rhai eraill, gan gynnwys rhai o'r pethau y mae'r Aelod newydd eu codi. A chredaf mai ei fwriad yw cyhoeddi'r ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus hwnnw yn y Siambr bryd hynny. Felly, rwy'n siŵr y bydd hynny'n cael ei gyflwyno.
Mae'n werth atgoffa ein hunain, fel y nododd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach hefyd, fod gan awdurdodau lleol amryw o bwerau eisoes i gael mwy o ddylanwad ar y gwasanaethau bysiau. Er enghraifft, gallant greu cynlluniau tocynnau; yn fy awdurdod lleol, mae tocynnau o-un-pen-i'r-llall wedi bod yn broblem fawr, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn llwyddiannus mewn rhannau o Abertawe a'r Gŵyr. Hefyd, mae cytundebau gwirfoddol y gellir eu gwneud â gweithredwyr bysiau i gydgysylltu buddsoddiad mewn cynlluniau gwahanol, ac i lunio cynlluniau partneriaeth ansawdd bysiau y gellir eu gorfodi'n statudol. Felly, nid ydym ni heb unrhyw bwerau ar lefel yr awdurdod lleol, ond fe fyddwn ni'n ymgynghori ar bwerau ychwanegol, wrth iddyn nhw gael eu trosglwyddo i ni maes o law.
Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport on what he is doing to deliver closer links between south-east Wales and Bristol and the west country? Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, held a Severn growth summit in Newport on how we can develop economic links, building on the reduction of tolls on the Severn crossing prior to their abolition. Can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary confirming that the Welsh Government will work with the UK Government in developing links to improve living standards and job prospects in south-east Wales?
And my second statement, from the same Minister, I'll be grateful if you ask—Transport Wales have made some plans, but one very important organisation called Bus Users Cymru was not even consulted. That organisation actually have views, they have concerns, they have strategies, and they have technical matters to talk about. And last year they put more than 430 complaints, and they were all taken care of—most of them. So, their input is very vital for our bus users, especially for our senior citizens, and not very able people. So, I'd be very grateful if you ask the Minister to make a statement on Bus Users Cymru Wales in this Chamber, please.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ar yr hyn y mae'n ei wneud i sicrhau cysylltiadau agosach rhwng de-ddwyrain Cymru a Bryste a gorllewin Lloegr? Ddoe, cynhaliodd Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, Alun Cairns, uwchgynhadledd twf Hafren yng Nghasnewydd ar sut y gallwn ni ddatblygu cysylltiadau economaidd, gan adeiladu ar ostwng y tollau ar bont Hafren, cyn iddyn nhw gael eu diddymu. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn cadarnhau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i ddatblygu cysylltiadau er mwyn gwella safonau byw a'r rhagolygon am swyddi yn y de-ddwyrain?
Ac mae'r cais am ail ddatganiad, gan yr un Gweinidog, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe byddech yn gofyn—mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi gwneud rhai cynlluniau, ond roedd un sefydliad pwysig iawn o'r enw Defnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru nad oedd wedi'i gynnwys yn yr ymgynghoriad hyd yn oed. Mae gan y sefydliad hwnnw safbwyntiau mewn gwirionedd, mae ganddo bryderon, mae ganddo strategaethau, ac mae ganddo faterion technegol i'w trafod. A llynedd, fe wnaethon nhw gyflwyno mwy na 430 o gwynion, ac maen nhw i gyd wedi cael sylw—y rhan fwyaf ohonynt. Felly, mae eu cyfraniad yn hanfodol iawn ar gyfer ein defnyddwyr bysiau, yn enwedig ar gyfer ein dinasyddion hŷn, a phobl anabl. Felly, byddem yn ddiolchgar iawn pe byddech yn gofyn i'r Gweinidog wneud datganiad ar Ddefnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru yn y Siambr hon, os gwelwch yn dda.
Well, the Cabinet Secretary has been having an extensive set of meetings around the Severn area, and the abolition of the tolls and so on. I know that he has a large number of issues going on in that particular area. I wasn't aware of the Bus Users Cymru consultation point. I do suggest the Member writes to the Cabinet Secretary and highlights that issue. I don't think it's an issue for a statement in the house, but I'm sure that the Cabinet Secretary will respond to a query as to, if they have been left out of a consultation, why that happened and so on. I'm afraid I don't know the specific answer to that.
As I said in response to Jenny Rathbone, there will be a further consultation about the whole bus situation, and that will be part of an integrated transport network, and, obviously, it does impact on the integrated transport network as well. And I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will be taking that into account as he brings forward the consultation on the specifics of the bus network.
Wel, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi cael cyfres helaeth o gyfarfodydd ynghylch ardal Hafren, a diddymu'r tollau ac ati. Gwn fod ganddo nifer fawr o faterion yn mynd rhagddynt yr ardal benodol honno. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r pwynt am ymgynghori â Defnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru. Rwyf yn awgrymu i'r Aelod ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gan dynnu sylw at y mater hwnnw. Nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn fater ar gyfer datganiad yn y Tŷ, ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymateb i ymholiad ynghylch, os ydynt wedi eu hepgor o'r ymgynghoriad, pam y digwyddodd hynny ac ati. Yn anffodus, nid wyf yn gwybod yr ateb penodol i hynny.
Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Jenny Rathbone, bydd ymgynghori ymhellach ynghylch y sefyllfa o ran bysiau, a bydd hynny'n rhan o'r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth integredig, ac, yn amlwg, mae yn effeithio ar y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth integredig hefyd. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn rhoi ystyriaeth i hynny wrth iddo gyflwyno ymgynghoriad ar agweddau penodol o'r rhwydwaith bysiau.
We've had a written statement in the last few days on steel procurement, which I do welcome. But I was wondering whether we could have an oral or a written statement on the other elements of the agreement with Plaid Cymru that we made with regard to the steel industry, specifically on the funding for a power plant? I'm just curious as to where we stand on this. We've seen in the last week issues with regard to problems with pension advice, and I wanted to be assured, and to make the workers assured, that the changes to their pensions have not been in vain. And so, an update on the power plant, and also an update on research and development, would be welcomed.
And my second request would be to also have an update on the response of the Welsh Government to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee's report on asylum seekers and refugees. Tomorrow, I'm hosting an event in the Senedd regarding Wales as a sanctuary for asylum seekers and refugees, and in that report we did recommend that Wales becomes a nation of sanctuary. So, I was wondering ifwe could have an update on progress of that report, considering that there is a lot of interest in this from that sector, and a lot of enthusiasm, actually, from asylum seekers and refugees across Wales.
Cawsom ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn ystod yr ychydig ddiwrnodau diwethaf ar gaffael dur, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny. Ond roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allem ni gael datganiad ysgrifenedig neu lafar ar elfennau eraill y cytundeb â Phlaid Cymru a wnaethom o ran y diwydiant dur, yn benodol ar gyllid ar gyfer gwaith pŵer? Rwy'n awyddus i wybod beth yw'r sefyllfa ynglŷn â hyn. Yn ystod yr wythnos diwethaf, rydym wedi gweld materion o ran problemau â chyngor pensiwn, ac roeddwn i am fod yn sicr, a sicrhau bod y gweithwyr yn sicr, nad yw'r newidiadau yn eu pensiynau yn ofer. Ac felly, diweddariad ar y gwaith pŵer, a chroesawir hefyd yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ymchwil a datblygu.
Fy ail gais yw gofyn am ddiweddariad ar ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cymunedau, Cydraddoldeb a Llywodraeth Leol ar geiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid. Yfory, rwy'n cynnal digwyddiad yn y Senedd ar bwnc Cymru fel noddfa i geiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid, ac yn yr adroddiad hwnnw fe wnaethom ni argymell bod Cymru'n dod yn genedl noddfa. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allem ni gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar gynnydd yr adroddiad hwnnw, gan ystyried bod llawer o ddiddordeb yn hyn gan y sector hwnnw, a llawer o frwdfrydedd, mewn gwirionedd, gan geiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid ledled Cymru.
Answering those in reverse, that one is part of my portfolio responsibility. I did recently meet with several of the groups involved in that report. I am hoping to pop into your event tomorrow, and we are very favourably looking at that, and I will be very shortly reporting on our response to that report. We had a really good meeting with a large number of the groups, umbrella organisations and so on. So, I will be bringing forward a response on that very shortly. I am popping into Julie Morgan's Holocaust memorial event on the steps of the Senedd for Gypsy/Travellers tomorrow as well, but I hope to get to both of them. It's great to see two such great events in the Senedd tomorrow.
In terms of the steel research and the development of that, that is under discussion. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will be bringing forward—and, to be honest, I don't know if it's a statement or a debate—but we will be bringing forward something very shortly to update Members on that and where we are, and the importance of it to the workers. Certainly, David Rees is always on my case about where we're going with that, and the Member also is, so we will be doing that very shortly as well.
Rwyf am ateb y cwestiynau gan ddechrau â'r olaf yn gyntaf, gan fod yr un hwnnw yn rhan o'm cyfrifoldeb portffolio. Fe wnes i gyfarfod â nifer o'r grwpiau dan sylw yn yr adroddiad hwnnw yn ddiweddar. Rwy'n gobeithio picio i mewn i'ch digwyddiad yfory, ac rydym yn edrych yn ffafriol iawn ar hynny, a byddaf yn adrodd yn fuan ar ein hymateb i'r adroddiad hwnnw. Cawsom gyfarfod da iawn â nifer fawr o'r grwpiau, sefydliadau ymbarél ac ati. Felly, byddaf yn cyflwyno ymateb ar hynny cyn bo hir. Byddaf yn galw heibio i weld digwyddiad coffa Holocost Julie Morgan ar risiau'r Senedd ar gyfer Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yfory hefyd, ond rwy'n gobeithio mynd i'r ddau ddigwyddiad. Mae'n wych gweld dau ddigwyddiad mawr o'r fath yn y Senedd yfory.
O ran y gwaith ymchwil a datblygu dur, ma'r trafodaethau hynny ar y gweill. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cyflwyno—a bod yn onest, dwi ddim yn siŵr os bydd yn ddatganiad neu'n ddadl—ond byddwn yn cyflwyno rhywbeth cyn bo hir i ddiweddaru Aelodau ar hynny a beth yw ein sefyllfa, a phwysigrwydd hynny i'r gweithwyr. Yn sicr, mae David Rees bob amser yn fy holi i ynghylch pa gyfeiriad yr ydym yn mynd â hynny, a'r Aelod hefyd, felly byddwn yn gwneud hynny'n fuan iawn hefyd.
Leader of the house, Brexit, as you'll probably be aware, is entering a particularly acute phase. We have had Nigel Farage calling for a second referendum. We've even had the leader of UKIP in the Assembly, Neil Hamilton, saying on the radio that if facts change, you have to vote again, although I think he was referring to the UKIP leadership. But bearing in mind the phase that we're actually entering now, would it be appropriate for the Welsh Government to have, say, fortnightly statements on the current state of Brexit? It's very important that we are kept up to date and that there is an ongoing debate as things are moving very, very quickly, and these are matters of fundamental importance to this Assembly and to the UK as a whole.
Fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol, arweinydd y tŷ, mae Brexit ar ddechrau cyfnod arbennig o ddwys. Mae Nigel Farage wedi bod yn galw am ail refferendwm. Mae arweinydd UKIP yn y Cynulliad, hyd yn oed, wedi dweud ar y radio os bydd y ffeithiau'n newid, y bydd yn rhaid i chi bleidleisio eto, er rwy'n credu yr oedd yn cyfeirio at arweinyddiaeth UKIP. Ond o gofio'r cyfnod yr ydym ar fin mynd iddo nawr, a fyddai'n briodol i Lywodraeth Cymru gael, er enghraifft, datganiadau bob pythefnos ar gyflwr presennol Brexit? Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf a bod trafodaeth barhaus yn cael ei chynnal gan fod pethau'n datblygu'n gyflym iawn, iawn, ac mae'r materion hyn yn hanfodol bwysig i'r Cynulliad hwn ac i'r DU yn ei chyfanrwydd.
Yes, the Member is absolutely right—it is extremely important. I find myself in the uncomfortable position of slightly agreeing with Nigel Farage, but there we are—that's not a place you would very often want to be. The Welsh Government is extremely eager to build on I think our excellent record of keeping the Assembly informed of the latest Brexit developments. Since the referendum result, we've been proactively updating the Assembly, for example, through written and oral statements, following Joint Ministerial Committee meetings, and significant events or developments. For example, we had three written statements during the last sitting week in December on different aspects of the European Union negotiations and policy—on the phase 1 agreement, on the JMC meeting on 12 December and the launch of our regional policy document. Also, both the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance have been regularly reporting back on progress to the Assembly's committee system.
As we move forward into the next phase of the negotiations, we'll continue to build on these established ways of updating the Assembly. However, the Member will know that we need to see really concrete proposals from the UK Government on the Welsh Government's level of engagement during the second phase of negotiations before we can outline in detail how we can ensure there is a fit-for-purpose set of arrangements in which the latest developments and actions taken by the Welsh Government can be reported at both levels. And we've made the case to the UK Government that the model for the second phase should follow the structure by which the UK conducts current EU business, underpinned by the principle that the UK Government will fully involve the devolved administrations in developing UK policy positions on EU issues, so that we can keep the Senedd informed appropriately.
Ie, mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le—mae'n eithriadol o bwysig. Rwyf i fy hun mewn sefyllfa braidd yn anghyfforddus gan fy mod i'n cytuno â Nigel Farage, ond dyna ni—nid yw hynny'n sefyllfa y byddwch chi'n dymuno bod ynddi yn aml. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eithriadol o awyddus i adeiladu ar ein gwaith ardderchog, yn fy marn i, o ran rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Cynulliad am ddatblygiadau diweddaraf Brexit. Ers canlyniad y refferendwm, rydym wedi rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn rhagweithiol i'r Cynulliad, er enghraifft, drwy ddatganiadau ysgrifenedig a llafar, yn dilyn cyfarfodydd y Cyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion, a digwyddiadau arwyddocaol neu ddatblygiadau. Er enghraifft, cawsom dri datganiad ysgrifenedig yn ystod yr wythnos cyfarfod diwethaf ym mis Rhagfyr ar wahanol agweddau ar bolisi a thrafodiadau'r Undeb Ewropeaidd—ar y cytundeb cam 1, ar gyfarfod y Cyd-bwyllgor Gweinidogion ar 12 Rhagfyr ac ar lansio ein dogfen bolisi ranbarthol. Hefyd, mae'r Prif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid wedi bod yn adrodd yn ôl yn rheolaidd ar y cynnydd, i system bwyllgor y Cynulliad.
Wrth inni symud ymlaen at gam nesaf y trafodaethau, byddwn yn parhau i adeiladu ar y dulliau sefydledig hyn o ddiweddaru'r Cynulliad. Fodd bynnag, bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod bod angen inni weld cynigion pendant mewn gwirionedd gan Lywodraeth y DU ar lefel ymgysylltiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystod yr ail gam o drafodaethau cyn i ni allu amlinellu yn fanwl sut y gallwn sicrhau bod cyfres o drefniadau sy'n addas at eu diben ar waith, lle gellir adrodd y datblygiadau diweddaraf a'r camau a gymerwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y ddwy lefel. Ac rydym wedi gwneud yr achos i Lywodraeth y DU y dylai'r model ar gyfer yr ail gam ddilyn y strwythur sydd gan y DU eisoes wrth gyflawni busnes yr UE ar hyn o bryd, yn seiliedig ar yr egwyddor y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn cynnwys y gweinyddiaethau datganoledig yn llawn wrth ddatblygu safbwyntiau polisi y DU ar faterion yr UE, fel y gallwn sicrhau bod y Senedd yn cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn briodol.
Leader of the house, I mentioned in First Minister's questions that I attended the packed Severn growth summit at the Celtic Manor Resort, which is looking at ways of building on changes such as the abolition of the Severn bridge tolls later in the year. Would it be possible to have a statement from the Welsh Government on how you also intend as a Government to work to develop the economy of south-east Wales in the light of these changes, and also look at the cross-border issues that the First Minister mentioned as well? It is important, I think, that we do as much as we can in the light of these changes to develop the economy of this part of Wales moving across the border.
Secondly, I'm currently sponsoring an exhibition of commemorative first world war quilts in the Pierhead building; some of you might have seen them already. There are two of them; they're stunning. They've been created, sewn and embroidered by schoolchildren from five schools in my constituency, and they really are worth a look. They've been made to commemorate the 100 years since the end of the first world war, and we are now—it doesn't seem that long since we were commemorating the start of the great war—we are now commemorating the end of it. So, I make a plea to Assembly Members if they haven't yet, for the rest of this week to go and have a look at those quilts, but also if the Welsh Government could clarify exactly how you intend for us to commemorate the end of the great war. It clearly was a very significant and important part of history and one in which many people from Wales lost their lives in, and I think it's important that we have some guidance on where we're going in terms of commemorating the end of that conflict.
Arweinydd y tŷ, soniais yn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog fy mod i wedi mynd i uwchgynhadledd twf Hafren yn y Celtic Manor, sy'n edrych ar ffyrdd o adeiladu ar newidiadau megis diddymu tollau Pont Hafren yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn. A fyddai'n bosibl cael datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar sut yr ydych chi hefyd yn bwriadu, fel Llywodraeth, i weithio i ddatblygu economi'r de-ddwyrain yng ngoleuni'r newidiadau hyn, a hefyd edrych ar y materion trawsffiniol a grybwyllodd y Prif Weinidog? Mae'n bwysig, yn fy marn i, ein bod yn gwneud cymaint ag y gallwn yng ngoleuni'r newidiadau hyn i ddatblygu economi'r rhan hon o Gymru sy'n symud i ochr arall y ffin.
Yn ail, ar hyn o bryd rwyf yn noddi arddangosfa o gwiltiau coffa'r Rhyfel Byd cyntaf yn adeilad y Pierhead; efallai bod rhai ohonoch chi wedi'u gweld nhw eisoes. Mae yna ddau ohonynt; maen nhw'n anhygoel. Cawson nhw eu creu, eu gwnïo a'u brodio gan blant ysgol o bum ysgol yn fy etholaeth, ac maen nhw wir yn werth eu gweld. Cawson nhw eu creu i ddathlu 100 mlynedd ers diwedd y rhyfel byd cyntaf, ac yr ydym bellach—nid yw'n teimlo fel amser maith ers inni goffáu dechrau'r rhyfel mawr—bellach rydym yn coffáu y diwedd. Felly, rwy'n apelio ar yr Aelodau Cynulliad, os nad ydyn nhw wedi bod eto, i fynd i weld rhai o'r cwiltiau hyn am weddill yr wythnos hon, ond hefyd os gallai Llywodraeth Cymru egluro'n union sut yr ydych chi am i ni ddathlu diwedd y rhyfel mawr. Yn amlwg, roedd yn rhan sylweddol a phwysig iawn o'n hanes ac yn rhyfel lle gollodd llawer o bobl Cymru eu bywydau, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig inni gael rhywfaint o arweiniad o ran pa gyfeiriad yr ydym ni'n ei ddilyn ar gyfer dathlu diwedd y rhyfel hwnnw.
Yes, two very important points. In terms of the Severn growth area, as I said to Mohammad Asghar earlier, there are a number of meetings around this—a very important point. The Cabinet Secretary I know has a number of issues outstanding there, and he is in discussion. He will be updating the Assembly as he goes along with those discussions. If the Member has anything very specific that came out of the conference that he was able to attend it would be really useful to know what those specific points are in order to be able to address them.
In terms of the commemorative quilts, I am hoping to get across to that as well. I think that's such a brilliant initiative and I commend the Member on having sponsored it. I haven't been able to get over there yet but I really hope to. It's a really good way of doing it. We will be bringing forward some commemorative events and so on in due course, because the Member is absolutely right—a large number of people from Wales fought bravely and some lost their lives, of course, in the great war. It's very important that we commemorate those people but also that we teach our youngsters about the effects of such a global war and the ramifications, both at home and abroad, of such things. I'm very grateful to the Member for having raised such an important issue.
Ie, dau bwynt pwysig iawn. O ran ardal twf Hafren, fel y dywedais wrth Mohammad Asghar yn gynharach, ceir nifer o gyfarfodydd ynghylch hyn—mae'n bwynt pwysig iawn. Gwn fod gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nifer o faterion heb eu datrys yno, a'i bod mewn trafodaethau ar hyn o bryd. Bydd yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Cynulliad wrth i'r trafodaethau hynny fynd rhagddynt. Os oes gan yr Aelod unrhyw beth penodol iawn a ddaeth yn sgil y gynhadledd yr aeth iddi, byddai'n ddefnyddiol iawn i wybod beth yw'r pwyntiau penodol hynny er mwyn gallu ymdrin â nhw.
O ran y cwiltiau coffa, rwy'n gobeithio mynd i'w gweld nhw hefyd. Credaf fod hynny'n fenter wych iawn, ac rwy'n canmol yr Aelod am ei noddi. Nid wyf wedi gallu mynd draw i'w gweld eto ond rwyf wir yn gobeithio y caf y cyfle i fynd. Mae'n ffordd dda iawn o wneud hynny. Byddwn yn cyflwyno rhai digwyddiadau coffa ac ati maes o law, oherwydd mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le—bu llawer iawn o Gymry yn ymladd yn ddewr, a rhai wedi aberthu eu bywydau, wrth gwrs, yn y rhyfel mawr. Mae'n bwysig iawn inni goffáu'r bobl hynny, ond hefyd ein bod yn addysgu ein pobl ifanc am effeithiau rhyfel byd-eang o'r fath a'r goblygiadau, gartref a thramor, o'r fath bethau. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Aelod am godi'r mater pwysig yna.
Leader of the house, I'd like to request an update from the Welsh Government on the financial inclusion strategy for Wales. I've recently received a very useful report from my local citizens advice bureau on the effects of the closure of the last bank in town on the community of Mountain Ash. As Aberdare has also been affected by closures with three large banks closing in the last year—including the Co-operative Bank, which announced its closure just last week—I think this is a timely opportunity for us to reflect on the strategy, as many other communities, I know, are experiencing exactly the same. But it also allows us to consider the most appropriate interventions to ensure all members of our community can access those banking services formerly available on local high streets.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y strategaeth cynhwysiant ariannol i Gymru? Cefais adroddiad defnyddiol iawn yn ddiweddar gan fy nghanolfan Cyngor ar Bopeth leol am yr effeithiau ar gymuned Aberpennar yn sgil cau banc olaf y dref. Gan fod Aberdâr hefyd wedi gweld yr effaith gyda thri banc mawr yn cau yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf—gan gynnwys y Banc Cydweithredol, a gyhoeddodd yr wythnos diwethaf y bydd yn cau—credaf fod hwn yn gyfle da inni fyfyrio ar y strategaeth, gan fod llawer o gymunedau eraill, fe wn, yn gweld yn union yr un peth yn digwydd. Ond mae hefyd yn caniatáu inni ystyried yr ymyriadau sy'n fwyaf priodol i sicrhau y gall holl aelodau ein cymuned ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau bancio hynny a oedd yn arfer bod ar gael iddynt ar y stryd fawr leol.
The Member raises an extremely important point. We are promoting financial inclusion and it's very much a key priority of the Welsh Government, and, of course, Bethan Jenkins was very instrumental in bringing that issue forward as well. We're working very hard with partner organisations though the financial inclusion steering group to take forward the wide range of actions in the delivery plan and we will be reporting back on progress in the next few months.
In terms of bank closures, the Member's absolutely right. We've all been discussing bank closures in our own constituency areas and regions, and a large number of us have raised issues with local bank managers when banks have been earmarked for closure. It's really disappointing, some of the responses that you get about the affected communities and so on. It's worth pointing out that Post Office Counters does provide banking services in some areas, so certainly in my own constituency and in the other two, Gower and Swansea East constituencies, we've had some meetings that have been very useful, together, about how to deal with that. But we continue to be very disappointed about it.
One of the things that we're also doing is trying to make sure that our digital inclusion plan includes banking online, especially for older people who might be excluded from the online services that are being used largely to replace the high-street services. I don't suggest for one single minute that they are a proper replacement and I know the Member's been pushing hard to keep some of the banks open in her area, as we all have. But it is important that, where the services are being reduced, people can actually properly be enabled in the technology that allows them to continue to bank at home when that's what the issue is, although it doesn't help the small businesses who want to be able to bank cash and so on, which is a huge issue.
There's also an issue about automated teller machine closures, which I don't know if the Member knows. There's an issue about the amount of money people are paid to run an ATM and how that might be situated, so we are having a look at that to see if there's anything we can do to assist in that regard as well, in terms of ATM availability. There are plenty of places across Wales where you're now having to travel quite a long way just to get cash as well, which is a big problem.
So, I thank the Member very much for highlighting that important point. We are in some discussion about how we can ameliorate some of the effects of those closures.
Mae'r Aelod yn codi pwynt hynod bwysig. Rydym yn hyrwyddo cynhwysiant ariannol ac mae'n flaenoriaeth allweddol i raddau helaeth iawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac, wrth gwrs, roedd gan Bethan Jenkins ran fawr wrth gyflwyno'r mater hwnnw hefyd. Rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda sefydliadau partner drwy gyfrwng y grŵp llywio cynhwysiant ariannol i ddatblygu ystod eang o gamau gweithredu yn y cynllun cyflawni a byddwn yn adrodd yn ôl ar gynnydd yn ystod y misoedd nesaf.
O ran cau banciau, mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei lle. Rydym i gyd wedi bod yn trafod cau banciau yn ein hetholaethau a'n rhanbarthau etholaethol ein hunain, ac mae nifer mawr ohonom wedi codi'r problemau gyda rheolwyr banc lleol pan fo banciau wedi'u clustnodi i'w cau. Mae rhai o'r ymatebion a gewch am y cymunedau yr effeithir arnyn nhw ac ati yn wirioneddol siomedig. Mae'n werth nodi bod gwasanaeth cownteri Swyddfa'r Post yn darparu gwasanaethau bancio mewn rhai ardaloedd, mae hynny'n sicr yn wir yn fy etholaeth i fy hun ac yn y ddwy arall, etholaethau Dwyrain Abertawe a Gŵyr, ac rydym wedi cael rhai cyfarfodydd sydd wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol iawn ynghylch sut i ymdrin â hynny. Ond rydym yn parhau i fod yn siomedig iawn ynglŷn â'r mater.
Un o'r pethau yr ydym yn eu gwneud hefyd yw ceisio sicrhau bod ein cynllun cynhwysiant digidol yn cynnwys bancio ar-lein, yn enwedig ar gyfer pobl hŷn a allai fod wedi eu heithrio o'r gwasanaethau ar-lein sydd yn cael eu defnyddio i gymryd lle gwasanaethau'r stryd fawr i raddau helaeth. Nid wyf i'n awgrymu am funud bod hwn yn newid cywir, a gwn fod yr Aelod wedi pwyso'n galed i gadw rhai o'r banciau yn agored yn ei hardal, fel yr ydym ni i gyd wedi gwneud. Ond mae'n bwysig, lle mae cwtogi ar y gwasanaethau, fod pobl yn cael eu hyfforddi i ddefnyddio'r dechnoleg sy'n caniatáu iddyn nhw barhau i fancio o'u cartrefi, os mai dyna'r broblem, er nad yw hynny'n helpu busnesau bach sy'n awyddus i allu bancio arian parod ac ati, sy'n broblem enfawr.
Mae problem hefyd o ran gwneud i ffwrdd â pheiriannau ATM. Nid wyf yn gwybod a yw'r Aelod yn ymwybodol ohoni. Mae problem yn codi o ran faint o arian a delir i bobl i gynnal peiriant ATM a sut mae'n cael ei leoli. Felly mae'n rhaid inni edrych ar hynny hefyd i weld a allwn ni wneud unrhyw beth i helpu, o ran y darpariaeth o beiriannau ATM. Mae yna nifer o fannau ledled Cymru erbyn hyn lle mae'n rhaid ichi deithio'n bell er mwyn cael arian parod, a phroblem fawr yw honno.
Felly, rwy'n diolch i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at y pwynt pwysig hwnnw. Rydym ni'n cael trafodaeth ar sut y gallwn leddfu rhai o effeithiau cau'r banciau.
Can I call for two statements from the leader of the house, the first from the Cabinet Secretary for health on emergency department performance across Wales? The latest figures, of course, are very, very poor indeed. Unfortunately, yet again, the health board that is currently being run by the Welsh Government is the worst performing of all of the health boards in Wales against the four-hour target. In fact, you've just got a four in 10 chance of being in and out of that department in over the four-hour target, which is clearly unacceptable for the many hundreds of patients in my constituency and in others in north Wales who are having to endure those overlong periods in very busy emergency departments. So, I think it is necessary that we have a statement on emergency department performance, particularly given the situation, the crisis, that appears to be developing ins some of our hospitals.
Can I also call for a statement, probably from you, actually, as the Minister responsible for faith communities? I heard, obviously, your comments regarding Holocaust Memorial Day. I had the privilege of attending a Holocaust memorial event in Llandudno over the weekend and listened to Dr Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor. He shared a very powerful and moving story and gave an account of his experiences during the Holocaust and those of his family. Obviously, Holocaust survivors are becoming fewer and fewer in number. I'm particularly interested, Cabinet Secretary, in what work the Welsh Government is doing to expose as many young people as possible to those first-hand accounts from Holocaust survivors while we still have people with us who are able to share first-hand stories. I know that the Welsh Government's done some good work on this in the past in terms of supporting young people to visit places like Auschwitz and to take part in Holocaust memorial events, but there's nothing like meeting a Holocaust survivor and hearing their first-hand account to actually transform people's thinking on the Holocaust and to tackle the growing problem that we have across the world with Holocaust denial.
A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad gan arweinydd y tŷ, y cyntaf gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd ar berfformiad adrannau achosion brys ledled Cymru? Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf, wrth gwrs, yn sobor o wael, yn wir ichi. Yn anffodus, unwaith yn rhagor, y bwrdd iechyd a gaiff ei redeg ar hyn o bryd gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n perfformio waethaf o'r holl fyrddau iechyd yng Nghymru yn erbyn y targed pedair awr. Mewn gwirionedd, dim ond pedair siawns o bob 10 sydd gennych o fynd i mewn ac allan o'r adran honno dros y targed pedair awr. Yn amlwg, mae hyn yn annerbyniol i'r cannoedd o gleifion yn fy etholaeth i ac mewn mannau eraill o'r gogledd sy'n gorfod dioddef y cyfnodau hirfaith hynny mewn adrannau achosion brys prysur iawn. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn angenrheidiol inni gael datganiad ar berfformiad adrannau achosion brys, yn arbennig o ystyried y sefyllfa, yr argyfwng, sy'n amlwg yn datblygu mewn rhai o'n hysbytai.
A gaf i hefyd alw am ddatganiad, gennych chi, mae'n debyg, fel y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am gymunedau ffydd? Yn amlwg, clywais eich sylwadau ynglŷn â Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost. Cefais y fraint o fod yn bresennol mewn digwyddiad yn Llandudno i goffáu'r Holocost dros y penwythnos a gwrando ar Dr Martin Stern, un a wnaeth oroesi'r Holocost. Roedd ganddo stori rymus ac ysgytiol iawn i'w rhannu wrth iddo draddodi ei brofiadau yn ystod yr Holocost a phrofiadau rhai o blith ei deulu. Yn amlwg, mae goroeswyr yr Holocost yn lleihau yn eu nifer. Rwy'n arbennig o awyddus i wybod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hysbysu cymaint o bobl ifanc â phosibl am yr hanesion uniongyrchol hynny gan oroeswyr yr Holocost tra bod gennym bobl gyda ni o hyd sydd yn gallu dweud eu hanesion yn uniongyrchol wrthym. Gwn fod y Llywodraeth wedi gwneud gwaith da ar hyn yn y gorffennol ac wedi cefnogi pobl ifanc i ymweld â mannau fel Auschwitz a chymryd rhan mewn digwyddiadau i goffáu'r Holocost. Ond nid oes dim byd yn debyg i gyfarfod â rhywun sydd wedi goroesi'r Holocost a gwrando ar ei hanesion yn uniongyrchol i drawsnewid ffordd o feddwl pobl am yr Holocost ac i ymdrin â'r broblem gynyddol sydd gennym drwy'r byd gyda'r rhai sy'n gwadu'r Holocost.
In terms of the health statement, the Cabinet Secretary is going to bring forward a statement on the NHS over the winter period, and I'm sure it will encompass some of the issues that you've raised. He's nodding at me that it will, so he'll be doing that in the next few weeks.
In terms of faith communities and the Holocaust memorial issue, I completely agree with the Member that there's nothing like the first-hand account, but actually sometimes, in my own constituency for example, the daughter of one of the Holocaust survivors—who has herself given on many occasions powerful testimony but who has subsequently sadly passed on—is a very powerful advocate, if you like, for what her mother went through and has clearly been brought up in that knowledge. So, there are ways of passing the knowledge on. But I completely agree with you that it's essential that we make sure that everybody understands what happened and why it happened and how we must make sure that it never happens again.
I haven't considered bringing a statement forward, but I will consider what we can do to make sure that we hold that in the forefront of our minds. There are a number of activities planned, and I'd be very happy to update the Senedd, either by a statement or in some other fashion, when we've got those set out.
O ran y datganiad iechyd, bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cyflwyno datganiad ar y GIG dros gyfnod y gaeaf, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn cynnwys rhai o'r materion yr ydych chi wedi eu codi. Mae'n nodio ei ben i ddangos y bydd yn gwneud hynny, felly bydd yn gwneud hynny yn yr ychydig wythnosau nesaf.
O ran cymunedau ffydd a mater coffáu'r Holocost, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr gyda'r Aelod nad oes dim byd tebyg i gael yr hanes yn uniongyrchol, ond mewn gwirionedd weithiau, yn fy etholaeth i fy hunan, er enghraifft, mae merch un o'r rhai a wnaeth oroesi'r Holocost—a roddodd dystiolaeth rymus ei hunan lawer tro, ond yn drist iawn sydd wedi ymadael â ni oddi ar hynny—yn ddadleuwraig daer iawn, os hoffech, dros yr hyn yr aeth ei mam drwyddo ac wedi ei magu, yn amlwg iawn, gyda'r wybodaeth honno. Felly, mae ffyrdd ar gael o drosglwyddo'r wybodaeth. Ond cytunaf yn llwyr â chi ei bod yn hanfodol inni wneud yn siŵr fod pawb yn deall yr hyn a ddigwyddodd a pham y digwyddodd hynny a sut y mae'n rhaid inni wneud yn siŵr na fydd hynny'n digwydd byth eto.
Nid wyf i wedi ystyried cyflwyno datganiad, ond fe wnaf i ystyried yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau ein bod yn myfyrio'n wastadol ar hynny. Mae yna nifer o weithgareddau yn yr arfaeth, a byddwn yn hapus iawn i ddiweddaru'r Senedd, naill ai drwy ddatganiad neu ddull arall, pan fyddwn ni wedi cael trefn arnyn nhw.
Leader of the house, I had two issues I wanted to raise. Last week, I helped launch a comic book aimed at five- and six-year-olds to encourage more of them, particularly girls—a subject I know is close to the Cabinet Secretary's heart—to study science, called Ada's Adventures in Science. This idea came from my constituent, Dr Edward Gomez, who is a lecturer at Cardiff University. Would it be possible to have a statement about what more can be done to plug the gap that Wales has in terms of the numbers of young people going on to study STEM subjects, particularly at A-level, as there is a big drop-off after GCSEs, and taking up science-based careers?
That was the first one. The second one is that, on Saturday, I held an event in my constituency to encourage people to take up cycling for everyday journeys, short journeys. We had an absolutely fantastic response from the community. Lots of issues came up, such as car-free cycle routes and places to shower when you get to your place of work. Of course, in Cardiff, we are having two big employers moving to the centre of Cardiff—HMRC and the BBC. Hopefully, many of those staff will cycle. So, could we have a statement about what the Welsh Government could do to encourage employers to promote cycling to work and provide facilities for cyclists, such as bike parking and showers?
Arweinydd y tŷ, dau fater oedd gennyf i i'w codi. Yr wythnos diwethaf, helpais i lansio comic o'r enw Anturiaethau Ada ym Myd Gwyddoniaeth i blant pump a chwe blwydd oed er mwyn annog mwy ohonyn nhw, yn enwedig merched, i astudio gwyddoniaeth—pwnc sy'n agos at galon Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mi wn. Daeth y syniad hwn gan un o'm hetholwyr, Dr Edward Gomez, sydd yn ddarlithydd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. A fyddai'n bosibl inni gael datganiad am yr hyn y gellir ei wneud i lenwi'r bwlch a geir yng Nghymru o ran nifer y bobl ifanc sydd yn mynd ymlaen i astudio pynciau STEM, yn arbennig i lefel A, gan fod lleihad mawr yn digwydd ar ôl TGAU yn nifer y rhai sy'n dilyn gyrfaoedd sy'n seiliedig ar wyddoniaeth?
Dyna oedd y cyntaf. Yr ail yw hwn. Ddydd Sadwrn, cynhaliais ddigwyddiad yn fy etholaeth i annog pobl i ddechrau seiclo wrth fynd ar deithiau beunyddiol, teithiau byr. Cawsom ymateb hollol wych gan y gymuned. Daeth llawer o faterion i'r amlwg, fel llwybrau beicio di-gar a lle i gael cawod ar ôl cyrraedd y gwaith. Wrth gwrs, yng Nghaerdydd, mae gennym ni ddau gyflogwr mawr yn symud i ganol Caerdydd—Cyllid a Thollau EM a'r BBC. Gobeithio y bydd llawer o'u staff yn seiclo i'r gwaith. Gan hynnny, a gawn ni ddatganiad am yr hyn y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i annog cyflogwyr i hybu seiclo i'r gwaith a darparu cyfleusterau ar gyfer beicwyr, fel lle i gadw beiciau a chael cawod?
In terms of the first question that Julie Morgan asked, I've met with Dr Edward Gomez as well, and he's a very enthusiastic astrophysicist. The comic books are fantastic, and I will be discussing with the Cabinet Secretary for Education how we can make better use of such facilities, either in person or through Hwb, which is now out to about 70 per cent of Welsh schools. I had a very enthusiastic meeting with him about how we might take that forward, and they are indeed a brilliant resource.
The Member's absolutely right: we've got to find a way of getting more children interested in that kind of science career, especially girls. We have a range of things in place, but Dr Gomez is particularly great at enthusing younger children and making a really complex subject completely transparent and really interesting. So, I thought his approach to it was really excellent and I certainly will be taking that forward with the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
I'm still chairing the women in STEM board for the Welsh Government, as well, so we will be looking at it there in terms of how we might enthuse girls in some of the more theoretical science subjects as well. He is a very interesting person for those of you who may not have met him; he's well worth a conversation.
In terms of the active travel stuff, that's actually really important. The whole issue about cycling as a means of transport as opposed to recreational use is extremely important. The Member raises really good points about the preparedness of larger organisations in terms of facilities to park bikes securely and also to change and so on and be ready for work. We're working very hard with local authorities across Wales to improve active travel through capital investment funding. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport will be making an announcement in due course about the outcome of some of those conversations and that investment, with exactly the point that the Member raises in mind. This is not about cycling because it's fun; it's about cycling as a means of getting from one place to the other in a healthy and sustainable way, and it's particularly important in our big cities that we encourage that, in terms of the air quality debate that we've been having recently as well.
I just wanted to raise one other point, which is that there's a real issue around disability for cycling as well. I have a marvellous organisation in my own constituency, if the Llywydd will indulge me, called BikeAbility. It's a really excellent facility for people with physical disabilities who can also get active on their bicycles, and it's important that employers take that into account as well when they're designing these schemes.
O ran y cwestiwn cyntaf a ofynnodd Julie Morgan, rwyf innau hefyd wedi cyfarfod â Dr Edward Gomez, ac mae e'n astroffisegwr brwdfrydig iawn. Mae'r llyfrau comic yn rhagorol a byddaf yn trafod gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg sut y gallwn wneud defnydd gwell o gyfleusterau o'r fath, naill ai yn bersonol neu drwy Hwb, sydd bellach yn ymestyn allan i tua 70 y cant o ysgolion Cymru. Cefais gyfarfod brwdfrydig iawn gydag ef ynghylch sut y gallem ddatblygu hynny, ac maen nhw'n adnoddau gwych yn wir.
Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei lle: mae'n rhaid inni gael ffordd o ddenu mwy o blant i gael diddordeb mewn gyrfa o'r fath ym myd gwyddoniaeth, yn enwedig merched. Mae gennym amrywiaeth o bethau ar waith, ond mae gan Dr Gomez y gallu arbennig i danio brwdfrydedd plant iau a gwneud pwnc cymhleth iawn yn gwbl dryloyw ac yn wirioneddol ddiddorol. Felly, roeddwn i o'r farn fod ei ddull ef o wneud hynny'n wirioneddol ardderchog a bydd yn sicr yn dwyn hynny'n ei flaen gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg.
Rwy'n dal i gadeirio Bwrdd menywod yn STEM ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru, felly byddaf yn edrych ar y mater yno o ran sut mae modd ennyn diddordeb merched mewn rhai o'r pynciau gwyddoniaeth sy'n fwy damcaniaethol hefyd. Mae e'n ddyn diddorol iawn i'r rhai ohonoch chi sydd efallai heb gwrdd ag ef; mae ganddo sgwrs ddiddorol.
O ran y teithio llesol, mae hynny'n bwysig iawn mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r holl fater ynghylch seiclo yn fodd o deithio yn hytrach na defnydd hamdden yn eithriadol o bwysig. Mae'r Aelod yn codi pwyntiau da iawn am barodrwydd y sefydliadau mwy o faint hynny o ran cyfleusterau i gadw beiciau yn ddiogel a hefyd gyfleusterau newid ac ati a bod yn barod i'r gwaith. Rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru i wella teithio llesol drwy gyllid buddsoddi cyfalaf. Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth yn gwneud cyhoeddiad maes o law am ganlyniad rhai o'r trafodaethau hynny a'r buddsoddiad hwnnw, gyda'r union bwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei godi dan sylw. Nid oes a wnelo hyn â seiclo am hwyl; mae'n ymwneud â beicio fel modd o deithio o un lle i'r llall mewn ffordd iach a chynaliadwy. Ac mae'n arbennig o bwysig yn ein dinasoedd mawr ein bod yn annog hynny o ran y ddadl ansawdd aer yr ydym wedi bod yn ei chael yn ddiweddar hefyd.
Roeddwn am godi un pwynt arall, sef bod problem wirioneddol ynghylch anabledd ar gyfer beicio hefyd. Mae sefydliad gwych yn fy etholaeth i fy hunan, os gwnaiff y Llywydd faddau i mi, o'r enw BikeAbility. Mae'n gyfleuster ardderchog iawn ar gyfer pobl ag anableddau corfforol a fydd hefyd yn gallu bod yn egnïol ar eu beiciau, ac mae'n bwysig fod cyflogwyr yn rhoi ystyriaeth i hyn hefyd wrth ddylunio'r cynlluniau hyn.
Leader of the house, you probably picked up some of the media coverage today about the Older People's Commissioner for Wales's concerns about the experience of people living in care homes, some years after her original recommendations. And, while she was making some very positive remarks about the legislation that has been brought in since then and also the parliamentary review into health and social care, she did say that some very basic things like continence management and—I can't remember what else it was, now—falls prevention were being missed. I'm wondering if we could have an update on progress from the Government against all the recommendations, but with specific focus on the ones that are being missed. Thank you.
Arweinydd y tŷ, byddwch fwy na thebyg wedi clywed rhai o'r sylwadau yn y cyfryngau heddiw am bryderon Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru am brofiad pobl sy'n byw mewn cartrefi gofal, rai blynyddoedd wedi iddi wneud ei hargymhellion gwreiddiol. Er ei bod hi'n gwneud rhai sylwadau cadarnhaol iawn am y ddeddfwriaeth a gyflwynwyd ers hynny, yn ogystal â'r arolwg seneddol ar iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, roedd hi'n dweud bod rhai pethau sylfaenol iawn fel rheoli ymataliaeth ac—ni allaf gofio beth arall oedd ganddi, erbyn hyn—atal codymau, yn mynd ar goll. Tybed a oes modd inni gael diweddariad ar gynnydd gan y Llywodraeth yn erbyn yr argymhellion, gan ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar y pethau sy'n mynd ar goll. Diolch.
The Minister is here to hear that. I heard him on Radio Wales this morning alongside the Older People's Commissioner for Wales—they had quite a good debate on the subject. He's indicating to me that, within 28 days, we'll be bringing something forward in response.
Mae'r Gweinidog yn bresennol i glywed hyn. Fe'i clywais ar Radio Wales y bore yma gyda Chomisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru—fe gawson nhw ddadl dda ar y pwnc. Mae'n rhoi arwydd i mi y byddwn ni'n cyflwyno rhywbeth i ymateb i hynny o fewn 28 diwrnod.
Leader of the Chamber, on 22 March 2016, after the terrible terrorist attack in Brussels, the First Minister stated that he would like to express his sympathy and solidarity with the Belgian people. He went on to say that the scourge of terrorism must be opposed everywhere and we must resist the threat to our way of life.
I raised that statement today because it clearly shows a precedent for this Government addressing foreign affairs. I'd like a statement from the Government on the brutal attack against the Kurds and others in Afrin in northern Syria. The Kurds have done all they can to fight the threat of terrorism that they face in Syria, and they've shown, time and time again, that they're Wales's allies in the middle east, and in over their hundreds, people were outside the Assembly today. The Kurds have a right to live in peace and this Assembly is the elected voice of the people of Wales. Will he make a statement from the Government to condemn the Turkish state terrorism in Syria and Kurdistan, and will you urge the UK Government to do everything it can diplomatically to put an end to the violence?
Arweinydd y Siambr, ar 22 Mawrth 2016, ar ôl yr ymosodiad terfysgol erchyll ym Mrwsel, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog y byddai'n hoffi mynegi ei gydymdeimlad a'i gydsafiad â phobl Gwlad Belg. Aeth yn ei flaen i ddweud ei bod yn rhaid gwrthwynebu pla terfysgaeth ym mhobman a'i bod yn rhaid inni wrthsefyll y bygythiad i'n ffordd o fyw.
Rwy'n codi'r datganiad hwnnw heddiw oherwydd ei fod yn dangos yn eglur gynsail i'r Llywodraeth wrth fynd i'r afael â materion tramor. Hoffwn gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar yr ymosodiad ciaidd yn erbyn y Cwrdiaid ac eraill yn Afrin yng ngogledd Syria. Mae'r Cwrdiaid wedi gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i ymladd yn erbyn y bygythiad o derfysgaeth y maen nhw'n ei wynebu yn Syria, ac maen nhw wedi dangos, dro ar ôl tro, eu bod yn gynghreiriad i Gymru yn y dwyrain canol, ac yn eu cannoedd, roeddent y tu allan i'r Cynulliad heddiw. Mae gan y Cwrdiaid hawl i fyw mewn heddwch a'r Cynulliad hwn yw llais etholedig pobl Cymru. A wnaiff ef ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth i gondemnio terfysgaeth gwladwriaeth Twrci yn Syria a Cwrdistan, ac a fyddwch chi'n pwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i wneud popeth o fewn ei gallu i roi terfyn ar y trais yn ddiplomataidd?
The Member raises a very important point, but he's very well aware that we don't have foreign affairs devolved to us. The First Minister made a sympathy statement for the people of Belgium and I'm sure he would do something similar for everybody across the world who is affected by terrorism. The Member has made his point very eloquently and I'm sure that the Assembly's heard it.
Mae'r Aelod yn codi pwynt pwysig iawn, ond mae'n ymwybodol iawn nad yw materion tramor wedi cael eu datganoli i ni. Gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad o'i gydymdeimlad â phobl gwlad Belg ac rwy'n siŵr y buasai'n gwneud rhywbeth tebyg i bob un drwy'r byd yr effeithir arno gan derfysgaeth. Mae'r Aelod wedi gwneud ei bwynt yn huawdl iawn, ac rwy'n siŵr fod y Cynulliad wedi'i glywed.
Leader of the house, last week, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance gave a response to the urgent question regarding the collapse of Carillion. Many Members in this Chamber would echo the passionate way in which the Cabinet Secretary highlighted the weakness in the UK Government procurement policy that has contributed to the current mess that the public sector now, largely, has to deal with. Can I ask the leader of the house if the Cabinet Secretary for Finance would bring forward a more detailed statement on the lessons to be learned from the insolvency of Carillion, especially the lessons that we can learn here in Wales about how we procure services, and the scope that may exist for restoring some democratic control via direct labour organisations or by co-operative models of working?
Can I also ask that the failure of Carillion is examined to teach us more about the risks of such large-scale procurement activities and how it could lead us to reflect on the procurement work that we currently undertake? I think the whole Assembly would benefit from debating such a statement, and perhaps build a renewed consensus on the way forward so that we can benefit both Welsh businesses and Welsh taxpayers.
Arweinydd y tŷ, yr wythnos diwethaf, ymatebodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid i'r cwestiwn brys ynghylch cwymp Carillion. Byddai llawer o'r Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn adleisio'r ffordd angerddol y pwysleisiodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet y gwendid ym mholisi caffael Llywodraeth y DU sydd wedi cyfrannu at y llanastr presennol y bydd yn rhaid i'r sector cyhoeddus erbyn hyn, i raddau helaeth, ymdrin ag ef. A gaf i ofyn i arweinydd y tŷ a fyddai modd i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid wneud datganiad manylach ar y gwersi sydd i'w dysgu o ansolfedd Carillion, yn enwedig y gwersi y gallwn eu dysgu yma yng Nghymru ynglŷn â'r modd yr ydym yn caffael gwasanaethau, a'r cyfleoedd a allai fodoli ar gyfer adfer rhywfaint o reolaeth ddemocrataidd drwy gyfrwng sefydliadau llafur uniongyrchol neu drwy fodelau cydweithredol o weithio?
A gaf i hefyd ofyn y bydd methiant Carillion yn cael ei archwilio er mwyn inni ddysgu mwy am risgiau gweithgareddau caffael ar raddfa mor fawr a sut y gallai hynny ein harwain i fyfyrio ar y gwaith caffael yr ydym yn ymgymryd ag ef ar hyn o bryd? Credaf y byddai'r Cynulliad cyfan yn elwa ar drafod datganiad o'r fath, ac efallai y byddai hynny'n arwain at gonsensws newydd ar y ffordd ymlaen fel y gall busnesau Cymru a threthdalwyr Cymru elwa fel ei gilydd.
Well, thank you for that very important point. The Cabinet Secretary did, indeed, make his points very passionately about the reason why we don't outsource public services and the effect of outsourcing into the private sector—the unintended effects that that can bring. Fortunately, here in Wales, we have not had the exposure to Carillion that has happened elsewhere in public services. The Cabinet Secretary is undertaking a review of procurement processes throughout the Welsh Government at the moment, and I'm sure he'll be reporting that back to the Assembly and taking these matters into account as part of that when he does so.
Wel, diolch ichi am y pwynt pwysig iawn hwnnw. Yn wir, fe wnaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ei bwyntiau yn angerddol iawn am y rheswm pam nad ydym yn rhoi gwaith y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus allan i gwmnïau eraill ac effaith rhoi contractau allanol i'r sector preifat—yr effeithiau anfwriadol all ddod yn sgil hynny. Yn ffodus, yma yng Nghymru, nid effeithiwyd arnom ni gan Carillion fel sydd wedi digwydd mewn mannau eraill yn y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cynnal adolygiad o brosesau caffael ledled Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn adrodd hynny'n ôl i'r Cynulliad ac yn dwyn y materion hyn i gyfrif yn rhan o hynny.
Leader of the house, about 12 months ago, the then Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children actually indicated that he was withdrawing Communities First funding from NSA Afan due to an audit report that he'd received. He went on to say that further financial investigation would be undertaken. We've yet to hear anything since that date, and I understand that it's now been transferred to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. Could I have a statement from the Welsh Government indicating where the progress is in relation to that investigation, because NSA Afan, obviously, has many activities going on in my constituency and they operate many community centres that would struggle if NSA Afan had difficulties?
On a second point, it's been raised before in this Chamber—about the situation of the flood zone on the site where the Baglan prison will be built. This weekend, as Simon Thomas has pointed out, heavy rain has come. We have seen floods all over the place, including on that particular site. Now, it's not just due to heavy rain on one day; it shows that the water levels and that the water table are high and, as such, they need to be addressed. Now, we understand the flood zone was moved from C2 to C1 because of a scheduled NRW reassessment—I understand that—but, based upon the events of the weekend, it's clear that another assessment needs to take place. It's been called for before. Can we have a statement from the Minister for Environment to say how reassessments are done and when they can be redone based upon circumstances?
Arweinydd y Tŷ, tua 12 mis yn ôl, dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gymunedau a Phlant ar y pryd ei fod mewn gwirionedd yn tynnu cyllid Cymunedau yn Gyntaf oddi wrth NSA Afan oherwydd adroddiad archwilio yr oedd wedi ei dderbyn. Aeth ymlaen i ddweud y byddai ymchwiliad ariannol pellach yn cael ei gynnal. Nid ydym hyd yma wedi clywed unrhyw beth ers y dyddiad hwnnw, ac rwy'n deall bod hynny bellach wedi cael ei drosglwyddo i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn nodi pa gynnydd a wnaed o ran yr ymchwiliad hwnnw, oherwydd mae gan NSA Afan, yn amlwg, lawer o weithgareddau yn digwydd yn fy etholaeth i a llawer o ganolfannau cymunedol a fyddai'n cael trafferth pe byddai anawsterau gan NSA Afan?
A'r ail bwynt, fe'i codwyd yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen—am gyflwr y parth llifogydd ar y safle lle bydd carchar Baglan yn cael ei adeiladu. Y penwythnos hwn, fel y nododd Simon Thomas, cafwyd glaw trwm. Rydym wedi gweld llifogydd ym mhob cwr, gan gynnwys ar y safle arbennig hwnnw. Nawr, nid yw hynny'n unig oherwydd y glaw trwm a gafwyd ar un diwrnod; mae'n dangos bod y lefelau dŵr a bod y lefel trwythiad yn uchel, ac, fel y cyfryw, mae angen mynd i'r afael â nhw. Nawr, rydym yn deall bod y parth llifogydd wedi ei symud o C2 i C1 oherwydd ailasesiad gan Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru—rwy'n deall hynny—ond, yn seiliedig ar ddigwyddiadau'r penwythnos, mae'n amlwg fod angen asesiad arall. Galwyd am hynny o'r blaen. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd i ddweud sut y mae ailasesiadau yn cael eu gwneud a phryd y cânt eu hailwneud oherwydd amgylchiadau?
In terms of the first point, I understand that that's now with the police, and so we won't be commenting further on that. I think the Member's taking it up shortly in his own constituency. I'm sure he'll be able to keep us informed as to how that meeting goes, and we can make sure that the matter progresses.
In terms of the floods and the assessment of that, the Cabinet Secretary was fortunately here to hear your point on that, and I'm sure she'll take it into account in her discussions about reassessment on flood risk. Floods have been raised a number of times in this Chamber today, and it's a matter close to our hearts, so I'm sure she'll be considering that over the next few weeks.
O ran y pwynt cyntaf, rwy'n deall bod hynny bellach gerbron yr heddlu, ac felly ni fyddwn ni'n gwneud sylwadau pellach ar hynny. Credaf fod yr Aelod yn ymgymryd â hynny cyn hir yn ei etholaeth ei hunan. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn gallu ein hysbysu am hynt y cyfarfod hwnnw, a byddwn yn gallu gwneud yn siŵr bod y mater yn gwneud cynnydd.
O ran y llifogydd a'r asesiad o hynny, yn ffodus roedd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn bresennol i glywed eich pwynt ar hynny, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn rhoi rhoi ystyriaeth iddo yn ei thrafodaethau ynghylch ailasesiad o berygl llifogydd. Mae llifogydd wedi codi sawl gwaith yn y Siambr hon heddiw, ac mae'n fater sy'n agos at ein calonnau, felly rwy'n sicr y bydd yn ystyried hynny dros yr ychydig wythnosau nesaf.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn ichi.
Item 3 on the agenda this afternoon is the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: progress on the new treatment fund. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to introduce the statement—Vaughan Gething.
Eitem 3 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: cynnydd ar y gronfa driniaeth newydd. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i gyflwyno'r datganiad—Vaughan Gething.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Last year, I launched the Welsh Government's £80 million new treatment fund. This was, of course, a key pledge to the people of Wales at the last Assembly election. My statement today highlights how the new treatment fund has delivered faster, more consistent access to new medicines. It marks a highly successful first full operational year of the fund.
The substantial, new investment in NHS Wales demonstrates the Welsh Government's commitment to ensuring that patients receive the latest recommended treatments quickly, no matter where they live in Wales. The underpinning principle of the new treatment fund is that all medicines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE, and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group, or the AWMSG, must be made available to patients, where clinically appropriate, no later than two months from the publication of the recommendation. This represents a one third reduction in the required implementation timescale.
A positive recommendation by NICE or the AWMSG is a confirmation that the medicine has passed the rigorous test of both clinical and cost-effectiveness: the clinical benefits of the medicine are in balance with the cost that the manufacturer will charge to the NHS. This ensures good value for money for the public and, of course, our NHS.
The new treatment fund is providing health boards in Wales with £16 million a year to support that faster and more consistent access. To date, £28 million has been provided to health boards and Velindre NHS Trust to support the faster introduction of over 80 new medicines.
Diolch ichi, Dirprwy Lywydd. Y llynedd, lansiais gronfa driniaeth newydd Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n werth £80 miliwn. Roedd hyn, wrth gwrs, yn un o'r addewidion allweddol i bobl Cymru yn ystod etholiad diwethaf y Cynulliad. Mae fy natganiad heddiw yn tynnu sylw at sut mae'r gronfa driniaeth newydd wedi sicrhau bod meddyginiaethau newydd ar gael yn gyflymach ac yn fwy cyson. Mae hyn yn dynodi blwyddyn weithredol lawn gyntaf cronfa lwyddiannus iawn.
Mae'r buddsoddiad newydd sylweddol hwn yn GIG Cymru yn dangos ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod cleifion yn cael y triniaethau diweddaraf a argymhellir yn gyflym, ni waeth ym mhle y maen nhw'n byw yng Nghymru. Egwyddor sylfaenol y gronfa driniaeth newydd yw fod yn rhaid i'r holl feddyginiaethau a argymhellir gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Iechyd a Rhagoriaeth Gofal, neu NICE, a Grŵp Strategaeth Feddyginiaethau Cymru gyfan, neu AWMSG, fod ar gael i gleifion, lle y bo'n glinigol briodol, heb fod yn hwyrach na deufis o gyhoeddiad yr argymhelliad. Mae hyn yn cynrychioli gostyngiad o draean i amserlen ofynnol y gweithrediad.
Mae argymhelliad cadarnhaol gan NICE neu AWMSG yn cadarnhau bod y feddyginiaeth wedi pasio prawf trylwyr clinigol a chost-effeithiolrwydd fel ei gilydd: mae manteision clinigol y feddyginiaeth yn cydbwyso â'r gost y bydd y gwneuthurwr yn ei godi ar y GIG. Mae hyn yn sicrhau gwerth da am arian i'r cyhoedd ac, wrth gwrs, i'n GIG.
Mae'r gronfa driniaeth newydd yn rhoi £16 miliwn y flwyddyn i fyrddau iechyd yng Nghymru er mwyn cefnogi'r ddarpariaeth gyflymach a mwy cyson honno. Hyd yma, rhoddwyd £28 miliwn i fyrddau iechyd ac i Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Felindre i gefnogi'r gwaith o gyflwyno dros 80 o feddyginiaethau newydd.
These medicines have, of course, been approved by NICE or the AWMSG to treat a wide range of diseases. The list and scope of the therapeutic areas covered are too long for me to list here, but it includes medicines for a wide variety of treatment including arthritis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, asthma and rare conditions like Fabry disease.
Just over 40 per cent of the medicines recommended are for the treatment of various cancers. Thirty of the recommended medicines were identified at appraisal as offering patients a new, more effective treatment option or addressing an unmet clinical need. These included new treatments for cancer, a serious sight-threatening disease, life-threatening genetic disorders and chronic lung disease.
These illustrate the breadth and scope of the new treatment fund. They also highlight the importance that the Welsh Government has placed on ensuring rapid access to all recommended medicines for all conditions. That is not the approach taken across our border in England. All of the diseases or conditions that I have just mentioned have a very real impact on the quality of life for the individual and their loved ones, and that is why, in Wales, we ensure that the new treatment fund treats all diseases equally and does not prioritise the funding of one disease over another. The full list of recommended medicines is published on AWMSG’s website and a link has been provided for Members.
I expect full compliance to now be sustained over the five-year period of the fund. In practical terms, this means all medicines recommended must be available no later than two months after the AWMSG or NICE recommendation is published. When I reported on initial progress in July, I advised there had been some variation in the availability of a few medicines recommended during the first few months of the fund. Since those early variation issues, I am pleased to report that our NHS has made rapid and much more consistent progress.
Before the introduction of the new treatment fund, health boards were expected to make recommended medicines available no later than three months or 90 days from the NICE or AWMSG published decision. In the first six months of launching the new treatment fund, we have reduced the time taken to make medicines available by 81 per cent. In real terms, that meant the average time taken for health boards across Wales to make medicines available was 17 days in the first six months of the new treatment fund. We have now seen even further improvements during the second six months of the fund. The time taken to make a medicine available has now dropped to an average of 10 days across Wales. That represents an almost 90 per cent reduction in access time across Wales. The two-month time frame is the latest date by which a medicine should become available to prescribe where clinically appropriate. Our goal is to make these medicines available as soon as possible. I am pleased to report that nearly 83 per cent of recommended medicines were made available across Wales within 30 days.
I welcome, of course, the effort and the achievement of our NHS in making our commitment a reality for patients across Wales. Chief executives and chairs of health boards are clear that the expectation is that they will continue to deliver consistent and sustained full compliance with the requirements of the new treatment fund. The citizens of Wales deserve nothing less. I will, of course, continue to scrutinise health boards and trust performance in delivering their obligations under the treatment fund and hold chief executives and chairs to account for delivery.
Making new medicines available to patients often requires detailed infrastructure and care pathway planning and that can be financially challenging, particularly in the first 12 months. The new treatment fund is designed to support health boards prepare sustainable plans for the introduction of new medicines. Safety, of course, is a paramount consideration when introducing each new medicine. That can mean changes are necessary to the way in which clinical services operate: for example, there may need to be additional or different monitoring of patients to be introduced; patients may need testing, for example, for their clinical suitability. Understanding all of the requirements to introduce a medicine safely and effectively at an early stage is essential and central to fast and sustained access.
Since I launched the fund in January last year, I have talked consistently about the need for the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and NHS Wales to work more closely together on this agenda. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Cymru Wales continue to be supportive of our approach to the medicines agenda and in particular, the principles of our new treatment fund. I welcome the work they are doing with NHS Wales stakeholders to improve the level and timing of information provided by manufacturers on new medicines. Strengthening financial forecasting and infrastructure planning makes absolute sense to everyone. The industry benefits when its products are adopted quickly, and most importantly, patients benefit from faster access.
The establishment of the new treatment fund is an explicit objective in the Welsh Government’s national strategy, 'Prosperity For All'. In the first full year that the new treatment fund has been in operation, we have substantially shortened the time taken to make medicines available by 85 per cent. We pledged to the people of Wales that our new treatment fund would deliver faster, more consistent access to new life-changing medicines for all conditions. We have kept our promise, and every part of Wales is now seeing the benefit.
Wrth gwrs, cymeradwywyd y meddyginiaethau hyn gan NICE neu AWMSG i drin amrywiaeth eang o glefydau. Mae'r rhestr a chwmpas y meysydd therapiwtig yn rhy hir i mi eu rhestru yma, ond mae'n cynnwys meddyginiaethau ar gyfer amrywiaeth eang o driniaethau, gan gynnwys arthritis, sglerosis ymledol, epilepsi, asthma a chyflyrau prin fel clefyd Fabry.
Mae ychydig dros 40 y cant o'r meddyginiaethau a argymhellir yn trin mathau amrywiol o ganser. Nodwyd bod 30 o'r meddyginiaethau a argymhellwyd wrth arfarnu yn cynnig dewis o driniaeth newydd, fwy effeithiol i gleifion, neu'n mynd i'r afael ag angen clinigol nas diwallwyd. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys triniaethau newydd ar gyfer canser, clefyd difrifol sy'n bygwth y golwg, anhwylderau genetig sy'n bygwth bywyd a chlefyd cronig yr ysgyfaint.
Mae'r rhain yn dangos ehangder a chwmpas y gronfa driniaeth newydd. Maen nhw hefyd yn amlygu'r pwysigrwydd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i roi ar sicrhau bod yr holl feddyginiaethau a argymhellir ar gyfer pob cyflwr ar gael yn gyflym. Nid hwnnw yw'r dull a ddefnyddir ar draws y ffin yn Lloegr. Mae'r holl glefydau neu gyflyrau yr wyf newydd sôn amdanyn nhw yn cael effaith wirioneddol ar ansawdd bywyd yr unigolyn a'i anwyliaid. Dyna pam, yng Nghymru, rydym yn sicrhau bod y gronfa driniaeth newydd yn trin pob clefyd yn gyfartal ac nid yw'n blaenoriaethu cyllid ar gyfer un clefyd yn hytrach na'r llall. Cyhoeddir y rhestr lawn o'r meddyginiaethau a argymhellir ar wefan AWMSG ac mae'r ddolen wedi ei darparu i'r Aelodau.
Disgwyliaf y bydd cydymffurfiaeth lawn yn cael ei chynnal gydol cyfnod pum mlynedd y Gronfa. Yn ymarferol, mae hyn yn golygu y bydd yn rhaid i'r holl feddyginiaethau a argymhellir fod ar gael heb fod yn hwyrach na dau fis ar ôl cyhoeddi argymhelliad AWMSG neu NICE. Pan adroddais ar y cynnydd cychwynnol ym mis Gorffennaf, rhoddais wybod bod rhywfaint o amrywiad wedi bod o ran argaeledd rhai o'r meddyginiaethau a argymhellwyd yn ystod ychydig fisoedd cyntaf y Gronfa. Ers y materion cynnar hynny ynghylch amrywiad, rwy'n falch o adrodd bod ein GIG wedi gwneud cynnydd cyflym a llawer mwy cyson.
Cyn cyflwyno'r gronfa driniaeth newydd, roedd disgwyl i fyrddau iechyd sicrhau bod y meddyginiaethau a argymhellwyd ar gael heb fod yn hwyrach na thri mis neu 90 diwrnod o gyhoeddiad penderfyniad NICE neu AWMSG. Yn y chwe mis cyntaf o lansio'r gronfa driniaeth newydd, rydym wedi gostwng yr amser a gymerir i feddyginiaethau fod ar gael 81 y cant. Mewn termau real, golygai hynny mai'r amser cyfartalog a gymerwyd gan fyrddau iechyd ledled Cymru i ddarparu meddyginiaethau oedd 17 diwrnod yn ystod chwe mis cyntaf y gronfa driniaeth newydd. Rydym wedi gweld gwelliannau pellach hyd yn oed yn ystod ail gyfnod chwe mis y Gronfa. Mae'r amser a gymerir i sicrhau bod meddyginiaeth ar gael bellach wedi gostwng i 10 diwrnod ar gyfartaledd ledled Cymru. Mae hynny'n cynrychioli gostyngiad o bron 90 y cant ledled Cymru. Bellach dylai meddyginiaeth fod ar gael i'w rhagnodi o fewn cyfnod o ddau fis lle bo hynny'n briodol yn glinigol. Ein nod yw sicrhau bod y meddyginiaethau hyn ar gael cyn gynted â phosibl. Rwy'n falch o nodi bod bron 83 y cant o feddyginiaethau a argymhellwyd wedi bod ar gael ar draws Cymru o fewn 30 diwrnod.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n croesawu ymdrech a chyflawniad ein GIG wrth wireddu ein hymrwymiad i gleifion ledled Cymru. Mae prif weithredwyr a chadeiryddion y byrddau iechyd yn eglur mai'r disgwyliad yw y byddan nhw'n parhau i ddarparu'n gyson a pharhaus gydymffurfiaeth lawn â gofynion y gronfa driniaeth newydd. Nid yw dinasyddion Cymru yn haeddu llai na hyn. Byddaf, wrth gwrs, yn parhau i graffu ar berfformiad y byrddau iechyd ac ymddiriedolaethau o ran cyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau o dan y gronfa driniaeth ac yn dal prif weithredwyr a chadeiryddion i gyfrif am eu cyflawniad.
Mae sicrhau bod meddyginiaethau newydd ar gael i gleifion yn gofyn am gynllunio manwl o ran seilwaith a llwybr gofal, a gall hynny fod yn heriol yn ariannol, yn arbennig yn y 12 mis cyntaf. Nod y gronfa driniaeth newydd yw cefnogi byrddau iechyd wrth baratoi cynlluniau cynaliadwy ar gyfer cyflwyno meddyginiaethau newydd. Mae diogelwch, wrth gwrs, yn ystyriaeth hollbwysig wrth gyflwyno pob meddyginiaeth newydd. Gall hynny olygu newidiadau angenrheidiol i'r ffordd y mae gwasanaethau clinigol yn gweithredu: er enghraifft, efallai y bydd angen rhagor o fonitro ar gleifion neu eu monitro'n wahanol; efallai y bydd angen profi cleifion, er enghraifft, ar gyfer eu haddasrwydd clinigol. Mae'n hanfodol deall holl ofynion cyflwyno meddyginiaeth yn ddiogel ac yn effeithiol ar gam cynnar, ac mae'nn ganolog i sicrhau argaeledd cyflym a pharhaus.
Ers imi lansio'r gronfa ym mis Ionawr y llynedd, rwyf wedi siarad yn gyson am yr angen i'r diwydiant gweithgynhyrchu fferyllol a GIG Cymru gydweithio'n agosach ar yr agenda hon. Mae Cymdeithas Diwydiant Fferyllol Prydain Cymru yn parhau i fod yn gefnogol o'n dull ni o weithredu'r agenda feddyginiaethau ac yn benodol, egwyddorion ein cronfa driniaeth newydd. Croesawaf y gwaith y maen nhw'n ei wneud gyda rhanddeiliaid GIG Cymru i wella lefel ac amseriad yr wybodaeth a ddarperir gan weithgynhyrchwyr am feddyginiaethau newydd. Mae atgyfnerthu'r rhagolygon ariannol a'r seilwaith cynllunio yn gwneud synnwyr perffaith i bawb. Bydd y diwydiant yn elwa pan gaiff ei gynhyrchion eu mabwysiadu'n gyflym, ac yn bwysicaf oll, bydd cleifion yn elwa o'u cael yn gyflymach.
Mae sefydlu'r gronfa driniaeth newydd yn amcan penodol yn strategaeth genedlaethol Llywodraeth Cymru, 'Ffyniant i bawb'. Yn y flwyddyn lawn gyntaf y bu'r gronfa driniaeth newydd ar waith, rydym wedi llwyddo i leihau'n sylweddol yr amser a gymerir i sicrhau bod meddyginiaethau ar gael hyd at 85 y cant. Gwnaethom addewid i bobl Cymru y byddai ein cronfa driniaeth newydd yn sicrhau y byddai meddyginiaethau newydd, a all newid bywydau ar gyfer pobl cyflwr, ar gael yn gyflymach ac yn fwy cyson. Rydym wedi cadw at ein haddewid, ac mae pob rhan o Gymru nawr yn gweld y budd.
Cabinet Secretary, thank you very much indeed for your statement. I'm delighted that the new treatment fund appears to be doing so well. It must be horrendous to be somebody who has some dreadful condition that is in dire need of innovative and radical treatments, and to have the worry of whether or not you can access it through your health board. This seems to be filling a gap in the planning process, and I truly do welcome it. I do have a couple of questions, which I'll ask you in the spirit of, perhaps, you being able to follow up at a later stage and ensure that we are really getting the absolute best out of this fund.
I note that the reports by the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group and the new treatment fund show that in the last 12 months, the number of recommended medicines has dropped from 24 with eight superseded medicines in 2016, to 21 medicines with two superseded in 2017. Cabinet Secretary, would you please outline the reasons for this? Is it that, in order to access medicines faster, the number of medicines in the new treatment fund is being curtailed? Or is it more that, once in the system, that medicine goes off the books and, subsequently, there is an expected hope that candidate treatments for the fund will dwindle to much smaller numbers? Is this the thinking behind making the true new treatment fund a five-year programme?
Cabinet Secretary, you say in your statement that £16 million a year supports faster and more consistent access. It would be interesting, though, to see the patient and access data, to determine how widely the health boards are using the newly available medicines. The most basic information on access data provided last time was that all health boards were taking on the 17—then, it was 17—newly available medicines, but in terms of patient reach there was no detail, and I think that that would really help our understanding to ensure that we do have consistent access for all people throughout Wales, no matter where they happen to live in our country.
Finally, Cabinet Secretary, given the commitment to anticipate the licensing and adoption of innovative treatments, are you confident that health boards are able to horizon scan effectively, thereby improving infrastructure planning so that new innovations are maximised to the fullest extent, and that appropriate support services are also in place? Because I did note in your comments about the ABPI. However, for example, a case in point concerns the new drugs to treat hepatitis C, which have been made available through the new treatment fund—very, very welcome by patients and lobbyists alike. However, given that elimination of hepatitis C is the avowed aim, and given no hepatitis C strategy is in place, but simply renewed guidance, should the adoption of innovations, such as—I do hope I've pronounced this right—glecaprevir, be part of such a strategy? Because—this ties back to my earlier question about patient access—some people are very hard to reach, but with these new drugs, we can make astonishing strides in improving the quality of people's lives. But it's not just the drug alone in the case of something like the hep C drug; you actually need the support services, the counselling, the outreach and the lifestyle changes to really make that significant difference. The drug is only a part of it. So, I wondered if you could just comment on that as well, thank you.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, diolch yn fawr iawn ichi am eich datganiad. Rwy'n falch iawn o weld bod y gronfa driniaeth newydd yn gwneud cystal. Mae rhaid ei bod yn erchyll i fod yn rhywun sy'n dioddef o gyflwr ofnadwy y mae taer angen triniaethau arloesol a radical ar ei gyfer, a gorfod poeni a yw ar gael i chi neu beidio drwy eich bwrdd iechyd. Ymddengys bod hyn yn llenwi'r bwlch yn y broses gynllunio, ac rwy'n ei wirioneddol groesawu. Mae gennyf ychydig o gwestiynau, a byddwn yn gofyn ichi yn yr ysbryd, efallai, y gallwch fynd ar eu trywydd rywbryd eto a sicrhau ein bod yn cael y gorau posibl o'r gronfa hon.
Rwy'n nodi bod adroddiadau gan Grŵp Strategaeth Feddyginiaethau Cymru gyfan a'r gronfa driniaeth newydd yn dangos, yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf, fod nifer y meddyginiaethau a argymhellir wedi disgyn o 24 gydag wyth meddyginiaeth wedi'u disodli yn 2016, i 21 o feddyginiaethau gyda dwy wedi'u disodli yn 2017. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allech chi amlinellu'r rhesymau dros hyn? Ai'r rheswm yw bod nifer y meddyginiaethau yn y gronfa driniaeth newydd yn llai er mwyn sicrhau bod meddyginiaethau ar gael yn gyflymach? Neu, a yw'n fwy oherwydd, unwaith y byddan nhw yn y system, fod y feddyginiaeth honno'n dod oddi ar y llyfrau ac, yn sgil hynny, fod yna obaith disgwyliedig y bydd y rheini sy'n ymgeisio am driniaethau o'r gronfa yn edwino i niferoedd llai o lawer? Ai dyma'r feddylfryd y tu ôl i wneud gronfa driniaeth newydd wirioneddol yn rhaglen bum mlynedd?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yr ydych yn dweud yn eich datganiad bod £16 miliwn y flwyddyn yn cefnogi meddyginiaethau sydd i fod ar gael yn gyflymach ac yn fwy cyson. Byddai'n ddiddorol, er hynny, i weld data'r cleifion ac argaeledd, i benderfynu pa mor eang y mae byrddau iechyd yn defnyddio'r meddyginiaethau newydd sydd ar gael. Yr wybodaeth fwyaf sylfaenol a roddwyd y tro diwethaf ar ddata argaeledd oedd nad oedd pob Bwrdd Iechyd yn cymryd yr 17 o feddyginiaethau—17 oedd y rhif bryd hynny—sydd ar gael o'r newydd, ond o ran cyrraedd y claf nid oedd manylion i'w cael. Credaf y byddai hynny'n helpu gyda'n dealltwriaeth ni o ran sicrhau bod y meddyginiaethau ar gael yn gyson i bawb ledled Cymru, ni waeth ble maen nhw'n digwydd byw yn ein gwlad.
Yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ystyried yr ymrwymiad i ragweld trwyddedu a mabwysiadu triniaethau arloesol, a ydych yn hyderus y bydd byrddau iechyd yn gallu edrych tua'r gorwel yn effeithiol, a thrwy hynny wella cynlluniau seilwaith fel y bydd modd manteisio i'r eithaf ar ddatblygiadau arloesol newydd, ac y bydd cymorth priodol a gwasanaethau hefyd yn eu lle? Nodais hynny yn eich sylwadau am yr ABPI. Eto i gyd, er enghraifft, mae achos dan sylw yn ymwneud â chyffuriau newydd i drin hepatitis C, sydd bellach ar gael drwy'r gronfa driniaeth newydd—fe'i croesawyd yn fawr iawn gan gleifion a lobïwyr fel ei gilydd. Serch hynny, o gofio mai dileu hepatitis C oedd y nod, ac o ystyried nad oes unrhyw strategaeth hepatitis C ar waith, a dim ond canllawiau newydd ar gael, a ddylid mabwysiadu dulliau arloesol, fel—rwy'n gobeithio fy mod wedi ynganu hyn yn iawn—glecaprevir, yn rhan o'r fath strategaeth? Oherwydd—mae hyn ynghlwm wrth fy nghwestiwn cynharach am argaeledd meddyginiaethau i gleifion—mae'n anodd iawn cyrraedd rhai pobl, ond gyda'r cyffuriau newydd hyn, gallwn wneud cynnydd syfrdanol i wella ansawdd bywydau pobl. Ond nid mater o gyffur yn unig yw hi yn achos rhywbeth fel y cyffur hep C; mewn gwirionedd mae angen y gwasanaethau cymorth, cwnsela, allgymorth a newidiadau i ffordd o fyw er mwyn gwneud y gwahaniaeth sylweddol hwnnw. Rhan o hynny'n unig yw'r cyffur. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi roi ychydig sylwadau ar hynny hefyd, diolch.
Yes. On that last point about hepatitis C elimination, I don't think it's actually about the availability of the drugs. We're really fortunate in Wales to have a national strategy, and within the clinical community, the group of clinicians are very proud of having a national approach. Just because the centre is in Cardiff—. It is a genuinely national approach that people buy into and, to be fair, clinicians across the border think we've got it right as well. It's one of the stories you don't often hear about, but actually, people in England are looking at what we've done, how we've done that and why—and actually, it's not been a significant cost increase. But the point about elimination isn't so much about the drugs that are now available. It's really about reaching the harder-to-reach people who don't always engage in services. So, we recognise the reservoir of people still suffering with hepatitis C are people who are less likely to engage in health services per se. It actually is about the outreach part of it, rather than the innovation and the new drugs.
I'm pleased to hear your welcome for the approach we've taken to approved medicines, which is an evidence-led approach. There's no curtailing of new medicines that the new treatment fund is actually delivering or suggesting. Actually, it's really about how and when medicines are developed. So, it's about the industry-led development that goes into it. I'm thinking I'll deal with your next point about horizon scanning. That's some of the things that we've—. We've actually managed to deliver an improvement in practical relationships. I've met with ABPI Cymru to have a conversation with them about the industry's approach, and I have made clear that, actually, we need to see better engagement with the healthcare system in Wales. So, actually, there have been better conversations between industry about making available earlier, information on those medicines that are likely—or more likely—to get to the point of coming to market and going to an appraisal process, to give health boards an earlier opportunity to plan for their potential implementation.
In fact, that's one of the points the ABPI themselves make in their press release today, which welcomes the fund, the establishment and, indeed, that particular point about being able to work together in a more grown-up way with the health service. Again, it points to the fact of having an evidence-led approach, and then particularly points to the fact that this fund covers all conditions, as opposed to just one parcel of conditions being covered in funding and access on a faster and more consistent basis.
I'll tell you how wide usage is: the point about having the new treatment fund available is that the treatments are available where they're clinically appropriate, and it's then down to a proper decision made between a healthcare professional and their patient about what's available. So, of the 82 medicines available, my understanding is that approximately 4,000 people in Wales have benefited from that faster access. So, I'm more than happy to return either to the Chamber or to committee in the future about the numbers of medicines and the spread and the reach of the new treatment fund. As we have more data available, I'm more than happy to make that available to Members and the wider public.
Gwnaf. Ar y pwynt diwethaf yna am ddileu hepatitis C, nid wyf i'n credu mewn gwirionedd ei fod yn ymwneud â'r cyffuriau sydd ar gael. Rydym yn hynod ffodus yng Nghymru fod gennym strategaeth genedlaethol, ac o fewn y gymuned glinigol, mae'r grŵp o glinigwyr yn falch iawn o gael dull gweithredu cenedlaethol. Dim ond oherwydd bod y ganolfan yng Nghaerdydd—. Mae'n ddull gwirioneddol genedlaethol y mae pobl yn buddsoddi ynddo, ac i fod yn deg, mae clinigwyr ar draws y ffin o'r farn ein bod ni'n iawn hefyd. Nid ydych yn clywed hynny'n yn aml, ond mewn gwirionedd, mae pobl yn Lloegr yn edrych ar yr hyn yr ydym wedi'i wneud, sut yr ydym wedi gwneud hynny a pham—ac yn wir, ni fu cynnydd arwyddocaol mewn costau. Ond nid yw'r pwynt am ddileu yn ymwneud â'r cyffuriau sydd ar gael yn awr. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n ymwneud â chyrraedd y bobl sy'n fwy anodd eu cyrraedd ac nad ydyn nhw bob amser yn defnyddio'r gwasanaethau. Felly, rydym yn cydnabod mai'r bobl sy'n dal i ddioddef o hepatitis C yw'r bobl hynny sy'n llai tebygol o ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau iechyd fel y cyfryw. Mewn gwirionedd mae a wnelo hyn â'r allgymorth, yn hytrach na'r arloesi a'r cyffuriau newydd.
Rwy'n falch o glywed eich bod yn croesawu ein dull ni o ymdrin â meddyginiaethau cymeradwy, sy'n ddull a arweinir gan dystiolaeth. Nid oes unrhyw gwtogi ar feddyginiaethau newydd y mae'r gronfa driniaeth newydd yn eu darparu neu'n eu hawgrymu mewn gwirionedd. Yn wir, mae'n ymwneud â sut a phryd y caiff meddyginiaethau eu datblygu. Felly, mae a wnelo â'r datblygiad dan arweiniad y diwydiant. Rwy'n mynd i ymdrin nesaf â'ch pwynt chi am edrych tua'r gorwel. Dyna rai o'r pethau'r ydym—. Mewn gwirionedd rydym wedi llwyddo i sicrhau gwelliant o ran cysylltiadau ymarferol. Rydw i wedi cyfarfod ag ABPI Cymru i gael sgwrs gyda nhw am ddull gweithredu'r diwydiant ac, fel yr eglurais, mae'n rhaid inni weld ymgysylltu gwell â'r system gofal iechyd yng Nghymru. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, mae sgyrsiau gwell wedi digwydd â'r diwydiant am sicrhau gwybodaeth gynharach am y meddyginiaethau hynny y mae'n debygol—neu'n fwy tebygol—y byddant yn dod i'r farchnad ac yn mynd i broses arfarnu, a bydd cyfle cynharach i fyrddau iechyd gynllunio ar gyfer potensial eu gweithredu.
Yn wir, dyna un o'r pwyntiau y mae'r ABPI eu hunain yn eu gwneud yn eu datganiad i'r wasg heddiw, sy'n croesawu'r gronfa, y sefydliad ac, yn wir, y pwynt penodol hwnnw am allu cydweithio yn aeddfetach gyda'r gwasanaeth iechyd. Unwaith eto, mae'n tynnu sylw at y ffaith o gael dull gweithredu a arweinir gan dystiolaeth, ac yna'n cyfeirio'n benodol at y ffaith bod y gronfa hon yn cwmpasu pob cyflwr, yn hytrach na dim ond un parsel o amodau yn cael eu cynnwys o fewn cyllideb a bod meddyginiaethau ar gael yn gyflymach ac yn fwy cyson.
Gallaf ddweud wrthych pa mor eang yw'r defnydd: diben y gronfa driniaeth newydd yw bod y triniaethau ar gael lle maen nhw'n glinigol briodol, ac yna mae'n fater o benderfyniad priodol a wneir rhwng y gweithiwr gofal iechyd proffesiynol a'r claf am yr hyn sydd ar gael. Felly, o'r 82 o feddyginiaethau sydd ar gael, fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod tua 4,000 o bobl yng Nghymru wedi llwyddo i'w cael yn gyflymach. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn i ddod yn ôl i'r Siambr neu i'r pwyllgor yn y dyfodol i drafod nifer y meddyginiaethau ac ehangder a chyrhaeddiad y gronfa driniaeth newydd. Wrth inni gael mwy o ddata, rwy'n hapus iawn i'r data hynny fod ar gael i'r Aelodau a'r cyhoedd.
Firstly, any evidence that people are finding it easier now to get drugs that they are entitled to is to be welcomed, but a word of background: you may recall that, in 2014, Plaid Cymru announced a policy of seeking a new treatment fund that was specifically designed to fund the drugs obtained through individual patient funding requests. I'm very pleased that we are a step forward now, as a result of an agreement between the Government and Plaid Cymru on having exceptionality removed. I'm pleased that that has happened. Labour then, in 2016, announced its own new treatment fund, which wasn't the same. We were of the view—and it is important to point this out—that we shouldn't really need a fund to make LHBs do things that they ought to have been doing legally anyway, as welcome as additional funds are.
So, the first question to you: in the media this morning, it's been reported that, previously, officials suggested that it could take more than 100 days for an approved medicine to be rolled out. Is that an admission that the previous ministerial guidance that treatments should be available within three months following approval was being ignored? And, yes, there is additional funding through the new treatment fund for LHBs to pay for treatments, but it's worth asking this also: do you think that there's a risk, as a result of this policy, that LHBs will expect extra funds to implement other ministerial directions that they ought to legally be adhering to anyway?
Moving on to what you referred to as sustainable plans for the introduction of new medicines, perhaps you could elaborate a little bit on that; namely, how are you ensuring that this planning does take place, and that patients aren't left in the position of a drug not being available in the future?
And finally—it's a point I've raised on a number of occasions in the past—it isn't always just medicines that improve outcomes for patients. Other health technologies and sometimes even simple changes to guidance on how medicines are used can make a difference to patients. Increased awareness, even, of a condition can lead to better outcomes, and there are barriers here to the uptake of best practice across the NHS; for example, a lack of time for continuous professional development. Is this something that you would look at addressing also?
Yn gyntaf, dylid croesawu unrhyw dystiolaeth fod pobl yn ei chael hi'n haws erbyn hyn i gael cyffuriau y mae ganddyn nhw'r hawl iddynt, ond dyma ychydig o gefndir: efallai y cofiwch chi, yn 2014, fod Plaid Cymru wedi cyhoeddi polisi o geisio cael cronfa driniaeth newydd a'i bwriad yn benodol oedd ariannu cyffuriau a gafwyd drwy geisiadau cyllido cleifion unigol. Rwy'n falch iawn ein bod gam ymlaen bellach, o ganlyniad i gytundeb rhwng y Llywodraeth a Phlaid Cymru ar ddileu eithriadoldeb. Rwy'n falch bod hynny wedi digwydd. Yna, yn 2016, cyhoeddodd Llafur ei chronfa driniaeth newydd, a oedd y wahanol. Roeddem ni o'r farn—ac mae'n bwysig inni nodi hyn—na ddylai fod angen cronfa i gymell byrddau iechyd lleol i wneud y pethau y dylen nhw eu gwneud beth bynnag dan y gyfraith, ni waeth pa mor dderbyniol fo'r cronfeydd ychwanegol.
Felly, y cwestiwn cyntaf i chi yw hyn: yn y cyfryngau y bore yma, fe adroddwyd, yn flaenorol, fod swyddogion yn awgrymu y gallai gymryd mwy na 100 niwrnod i gyflwyno meddyginiaeth gymeradwy. A yw hynny'n gyfaddefiad fod y canllawiau gweinidogol cynharach, sef y dylai triniaethau fod ar gael o fewn tri mis i'w cymeradwyo, yn cael eu hanwybyddu? Ac, oes, mae arian yn dod drwy'r gronfa driniaeth newydd i fyrddau iechyd lleol ar gyfer talu am driniaethau ychwanegol, ond mae'n werth inni ofyn hyn hefyd: a ydych chi'n credu bod perygl, yn sgil y polisi hwn, y bydd byrddau iechyd lleol yn disgwyl cael arian ychwanegol i weithredu'r cyfarwyddiadau gweinidogol eraill y dylen nhw fod yn glynu atynt beth bynnag o dan y gyfraith?
Gan symud ymlaen at yr hyn yr oeddech yn cyfeirio atyn nhw fel cynlluniau cynaliadwy ar gyfer cyflwyno meddyginiaethau newydd, efallai y gwnewch chi ymhelaethu ychydig ar hynny; sef, sut yr ydych am sicrhau bod y cynllunio hwn yn digwydd, ac nad yw cleifion yn cael eu gadael yn y sefyllfa lle nad yw'r cyffur ar gael iddynt yn y dyfodol?
Ac yn olaf —mae hwn yn bwynt yr wyf wedi'i godi sawl tro yn y gorffennol—nid meddyginiaethau yn unig sy'n gwella canlyniadau i gleifion. Gall technolegau iechyd eraill a newidiadau syml i ganllawiau ar sut i ddefnyddio meddyginiaethau wneud gwahaniaeth i gleifion. Gall hyd yn oed godi ymwybyddiaeth o gyflwr arwain at ganlyniadau gwell, a cheir rhwystrau yma i'r defnydd o arfer gorau ledled y GIG; er enghraifft, y diffyg amser ar gyfer datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus. A yw hyn yn rhywbeth y byddech yn mynd i'r afael ag ef hefyd?
I'll deal with your last point first. I recently launched Health Technology Wales, which is a way of looking at non-medicines to look at technology within the health service and for its more rapid adoption. We have a range of different ways in which we've tried to do that in the past—the efficiency through technology programme has had a good record of having a range of things at pace and scale across our service. There's more of that to come in the broad approach. But Health Technology Wales is a way to appraise new technology and to give us an understanding of what we should then do, and how we should try and see that delivered across the service. I'll have more to say on Health Technology Wales as we've got a longer period of time to understand its having come into being, and then its impact across the whole health and care system. Of course, that is one of the challenges set to us by the parliamentary review, on how we deliver more innovation at pace and at scale.
There's something here about the new treatment fund, and it's worth reminding all of us that politics is a business where we should have some principles and some values and beliefs, but it's also, ultimately, a practical business. I make no apology at all for recognising where we were, where some recommended medicines were not being introduced as fast or as consistently as they should have been. And we could either have said, 'We'll go after health boards and look to discipline people, and go after them', or we could say, 'How do we make sure that we get this faster and more rapid access?' We've taken a decision to actually do a number of things, and the new treatment fund is obviously part of that. It has also been part of a change in the way that health boards plan for new medicines to come into place. Part of the reason they found it difficult was actually the ability to make a financial choice in the first year of a new treatment being introduced. Actually, after that first year, it's much easier then to continue delivering within a budgetary framework. So, this is recognising the pinch point at the start of a new medicine becoming available, and it's also why—my point that I raised in response to Angela Burns about the improved relationship with the industry itself is really important for us too. All of those things matter in what we've done, and I'm delighted that the pledge that we've made to the people has been kept. This was a manifesto pledge that my party made, and it's a good thing that we're able to say that there are times that politicians really do keep their pledges. And, indeed, we kept our pledge on the agreement we reached with Plaid Cymru, but also the cross-party engagement, on the individual patients funding requests review as well. So, we're making real progress in these areas, and I hope that, in broader health service reform, and the opportunities to make a difference, we can continue some of that grown-up politics approach to doing that.
Byddaf yn ymdrin â'ch pwynt olaf yn gyntaf. Yn ddiweddar, lansiais Dechnoleg Iechyd Cymru, sydd yn ffordd o edrych ar feddyginiaethau nad ydynt yn gyffuriau ar gyfer edrych ar dechnoleg o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd ac ar gyfer ei fabwysiadu'n gyflymach. Mae gennym wahanol ffyrdd o geisio gwneud hynny yn y gorffennol—mae'r rhaglen effeithlonrwydd trwy dechnoleg wedi bod yn llwyddiannus o fod ag amrywiaeth o bethau ar fyrder a graddau ledled ein gwasanaeth. Mae mwy o hynny i ddod yn y dull gweithredu bras. Ond ffordd yw Technoleg Iechyd Cymru o arfarnu technoleg newydd a rhoi dealltwriaeth inni o'r hyn y dylem ei wneud wedyn, a sut y dylem geisio gweld hynny'n cael ei ddarparu ledled y gwasanaeth. Bydd gennyf ragor i'w ddweud ar Dechnoleg Iechyd Cymru gan y bydd gennym fwy o amser i ddeall pam ei fod wedi dod i fodolaeth, ac yna ei effaith ledled y system iechyd a gofal yn ei chyfanrwydd. Wrth gwrs, dyna un o'r heriau a osodwyd i ni gan yr arolwg seneddol, ar sut yr ydym yn darparu rhagor o arloesi ar gyflymder ac ar raddfa eang.
Mae rhywbeth yn y fan hon am y gronfa driniaeth newydd, ac mae'n werth atgoffa pob un ohonom mai busnes yw gwleidyddiaeth lle dylai fod gennym rai egwyddorion a rhai gwerthoedd a daliadau, ond hefyd, yn y pen draw, mae'n fusnes ymarferol. Nid wyf yn ymddiheuro o gwbl am gydnabod y man lle'r oeddem ni, pan nad oedd rhai meddyginiaethau a argymhellwyd yn cael eu cyflwyno mor gyflym nac mor gyson ag y dylent. Gallem fod wedi dweud naill ai, 'Byddwn yn mynd ar ôl y byrddau iechyd ac yn ceisio disgyblu pobl, ac yn mynd ar eu holau nhw', neu, 'Sut mae gwneud yn siŵr ein bod y meddyginiaethau hyn ar gael yn gyflymach?' Rydym wedi penderfynu gwneud nifer o bethau mewn gwirionedd, ac mae'r gronfa driniaeth newydd yn amlwg yn rhan o hynny. Mae hefyd wedi bod yn rhan o newid yn y ffordd y mae'r byrddau iechyd yn cynllunio ar gyfer cyflwyno meddyginiaethau newydd. Rhan o'r rheswm y cawson nhw anhawster oedd y gallu i wneud dewis ariannol yn y flwyddyn gyntaf o gyflwyno triniaeth newydd. Mewn gwirionedd, ar ôl y flwyddyn gyntaf honno, mae'n llawer haws wedyn i barhau i gyflawni o fewn y fframwaith cyllidebol. Felly, mae hyn yn cydnabod y man cyfyng sy'n bodoli wrth ddechrau sicrhau bod meddyginiaeth newydd ar gael, a pham hefyd—mae'r pwynt a godais wrth ymateb i Angela Burns am y berthynas well gyda'r diwydiant ei hun yn bwysig iawn i ni hefyd. Mae pob un o'r pethau hynny'n cyfrif yn yr hyn yr ydym wedi'i wneud, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod yr addewid a wnaethom i'r bobl wedi'i chadw. Roedd hon yn addewid maniffesto a wnaeth fy mhlaid i, a da o beth yw ein bod yn gallu dweud bod yna adegau pan mae'r gwleidyddion yn gwireddu eu haddewidion. Ac, yn wir, cadwyd at ein haddewid yn ein cytundeb gyda Phlaid Cymru, ond hefyd yr ymgysylltiad trawsbleidiol, ar geisiadau cyllido cleifion unigol. Felly, rydym yn gwneud cynnydd gwirioneddol yn y meysydd hyn, ac rwy'n gobeithio, gyda diwygiadau ehangach yn y gwasanaethau iechyd a'r cyfleoedd i wneud gwahaniaeth, y gallwn ni barhau i ddefnyddio'r dull aeddfed hwnnw o wleidydda wrth wneud hynny.
Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. As I said when you unveiled it, the new treatment fund is a most welcome addition to the NHS as it can speed up access to vital treatments for all patients, and not simply people suffering with a cancer diagnosis. I welcome the news that some medicines have taken just 17 days to become available under the new treatment fund, and this is wonderful news for patients. However, as with all such schemes, the devil is in the detail. Delivery never quite matches design. Not all local health boards are as efficient in introducing new treatments, and I welcome the steps you have taken to monitor compliance. Cabinet Secretary, can you update us on the how all the local health boards are complying with the requirement to make treatments available within the required timescales?
I welcome the fact that 82 new drugs have now been made available under the scheme, treating everything from arthritis to acromegaly. I must confess I had to look up that condition, but it is great news that people who suffer from this debilitating hormonal disorder can now get treatment in Wales. This highlights the massive improvement the new treatment fund is on the cancer drugs fund in England. This scheme can benefit all patients in Wales, as well as those suffering from cancer. I would be grateful, Cabinet Secretary, if you could outline how many patients have benefitted from the fund in the last 12 months.
Of course, the new treatment fund only supports the introduction of new treatments for the first 12 months. Health boards must accommodate ongoing treatment within their existing budgets. So Cabinet Secretary, can you update us on how health boards are planning to accommodate the additional expenditure of these new treatments during the coming financial year?
I also welcome the news that your Government continues to work with the pharmaceutical industry and that you are working with ABPI Cymru on the new treatment fund. I would be grateful, Cabinet Secretary, if you could outline the work being undertaken to improve horizon scanning within the NHS so that we are better prepared to maximise the benefits of future treatments.
Finally, Cabinet Secretary, this is a treatments fund, and while I greatly welcome 82 new medicines, the fund is not limited to pharmaceutical interventions. So, can we look forward to the fund being used to introduce new therapeutic interventions in the next 12 months?
I welcome your statement, Cabinet Secretary, and the news that patients in Wales can get early access to better treatments, sometimes just days after approval. I look forward to working with you over the next 12 months to ensure that these new treatments are available to every patient who needs them, regardless of where they live in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch ichi am eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fel y dywedais i pan wnaethoch chi ei chyhoeddi, mae'r gronfa driniaeth newydd yn ychwanegiad i'r GIG sydd i'w groesawu'n fawr iawn gan ei bod yn gallu cyflymu'r triniaethau hanfodol sydd ar gael i bob claf, ac nid dim ond pobl sy'n dioddef diagnosis o ganser. Rwy'n croesawu'r newyddion bod rhai meddyginiaethau wedi cymryd 17 diwrnod yn unig i fod ar gael o dan y gronfa driniaeth newydd, ac mae hyn yn newyddion gwych i gleifion. Er hynny, fel gyda chynlluniau o'r fath, mae'r cythraul yn y manylion. Nid yw'r cyflawni byth yn cyfateb i'r dylunio. Nid yw pob bwrdd iechyd lleol mor effeithlon â'i gilydd wrth gyflwyno triniaethau newydd, ac rwy'n croesawu'r camau a gymerwyd gennych i fonitro cydymffurfiaeth. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ein diweddaru ar sut y mae pob bwrdd iechyd lleol yn cydymffurfio â'r gofyniad i roi triniaethau o fewn yr amserlenni gofynnol?
Croesawaf y ffaith fod 82 o gyffuriau newydd ar gael bellach o dan y cynllun, yn trin popeth o arthritis i acromegali. Mae'n rhaid imi gyfaddef y bu raid i mi fynd i chwilio am ystyr y cyflwr hwnnw, ond newyddion gwych yw bod pobl sy'n dioddef o'r anhwylder gwanychol hormonaidd hwn bellach yn gallu cael eu trin yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn amlygu'r gwelliant enfawr yn y gronfa driniaeth newydd o'i chymharu â'r gronfa cyffuriau canser yn Lloegr. Gall y cynllun hwn fod o fudd i bob claf yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â'r rhai sy'n dioddef o ganser. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pe gallech amlinellu nifer y cleifion sydd wedi elwa ar y gronfa yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf.
Wrth gwrs, mae'r gronfa driniaeth newydd ond yn cefnogi’r gwaith o gyflwyno triniaethau newydd am y 12 mis cyntaf. Rhaid i'r byrddau iechyd ddarparu ar gyfer y driniaeth barhaus o fewn eu cyllidebau presennol. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni ar sut y mae byrddau iechyd yn cynllunio i ddarparu ar gyfer y gwariant ychwanegol ar y triniaethau newydd hyn yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf?
Croesawaf hefyd y newyddion bod eich Llywodraeth yn parhau i weithio gyda'r diwydiant fferyllol a'ch bod yn gweithio gydag ABPI Cymru ar y gronfa driniaeth newydd. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pe gallech amlinellu'r hyn sy'n cael ei wneud i wella'r gwaith o sganio'r gorwel o fewn y GIG fel ein bod yn fwy parod i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar driniaethau yn y dyfodol.
Yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, cronfa driniaeth yw hon, ac er fy mod yn croesawu 82 o feddyginiaethau newydd yn fawr iawn, nid yw'r gronfa'n gyfyngedig i ymyriadau fferyllol. Felly, a gawn ni edrych ymlaen at weld y gronfa yn cael ei defnyddio i gyflwyno ymyriadau therapiwtig newydd yn y 12 mis nesaf?
Croesawaf eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a'r newyddion y gall cleifion yng Nghymru dderbyn triniaethau gwell yn gynharach, weithiau ddyddiau'n unig ar ôl eu cymeradwyo. Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda chi dros y 12 mis nesaf i sicrhau bod y triniaethau newydd hyn ar gael i bob claf sydd eu hangen, ble bynnag yng Nghymru y maent yn byw. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you for the series of points and questions. I'll try to be as brief as possible, including those points that I think I've tried to answer in previous questions.
I welcome the recognition of all three other parties in the Chamber that the new treatment fund has delivered a significant improvement in access. It was in the first six months that the average time was 17 days—just to point out, in the second six months, that it's come down to 10 days on average for new treatments to be made available.
As I said to Angela Burns, with the 82 medicines that have been made available with the new treatment fund coming into being, we think that benefits around 4,000 patients, and I also pointed out in response to Rhun ap Iorwerth that this is really about understanding the challenge that we knew existed within the first 12 months of planning for and delivering new medicines, and, thereafter, health boards have actually got a much better track record of managing within their resource budget for drugs.
I also made it clear in my response to Angela Burns—at least I tried to—that horizon scanning has improved and the ABPI's statement itself has recognised that, and that's work to continue building on as well; I don't think that's simply a done deal. I also made it clear to Rhun ap Iorwerth that Health Technology Wales is there to help us in understanding how we take advantage of new non-medicines treatment as well.
But, in terms of your point about compliance, there's a monthly monitoring system. My officials, together with the All Wales Therapeutics & Toxicology Centre, monitor how quickly health boards are putting new treatments on to their form, which will make them available for clinicians to prescribe. That's an area that we'll continue to look at to see if that compliance is being maintained throughout the fund. That's a very clear expectation that I have and the Government has of the new treatment fund—it's not just here to deliver in its first year, but to deliver throughout the term of this Government.
Diolch am y gyfres o bwyntiau a chwestiynau. Fe geisiaf fod mor fyr â phosibl, gan gynnwys y pwyntiau hynny yr wyf yn credu fy mod i wedi ceisio eu hateb yn y cwestiynau blaenorol.
Rwy’n croesau’r gydnabyddiaeth gan y tair plaid arall yn y Siambr bod y gronfa triniaeth newydd wedi cyflawni gwelliant sylweddol o ran mynediad. Yn y chwe mis cyntaf roedd yr amser ar gyfartaledd yn 17 diwrnod—dim ond i nodi, yn yr ail chwe mis, ei fod wedi dod i lawr i 10 diwrnod ar gyfartaledd i ddarparu triniaethau newydd.
Fel y dywedais wrth Angela Burns, rydym yn meddwl bod yr 82 meddyginiaeth a ddarparwyd o ganlyniad i ddyfodiad y gronfa triniaethau newydd o fudd i tua 4,000 o gleifion, a nodais hefyd mewn ymateb i Rhun ap Iorwerth fod hyn, a dweud y gwir, yn fater o ddeall yr her yr oeddem yn gwybod ei bod yn bodoli yn y 12 mis cyntaf o gynllunio meddyginiaethau newydd a’u darparu, ac, ers hynny, bod gan fyrddau iechyd hanes llawer gwell o reoli o fewn eu cyllideb adnoddau ar gyfer cyffuriau.
Fe’i gwnes yn glir yn fy ymateb i Angela Burns—o leiaf ceisiais i—bod sganio'r gorwel wedi gwella ac mae datganiad Cymdeithas Diwydiant Fferyllol Prydain ei hun wedi cydnabod hynny, ac mae hynny'n waith i barhau i adeiladu arno hefyd; dydw i ddim yn meddwl bod y gwaith hwnnw wedi’i orffen. Yn ogystal â hynny, fe'i gwnes yn glir i Rhun ap Iorwerth bod Technoleg Iechyd Cymru yno i’n helpu i ddeall sut i fanteisio ar driniaethau newydd nad ydynt yn feddyginiaethau hefyd.
Ond, o ran eich pwynt ynghylch cydymffurfio, ceir system fonitro fisol. Mae fy swyddogion, ynghyd â Chanolfan Therapiwteg a Thocsicoleg Cymru Gyfan, yn monitro pa mor gyflym mae byrddau iechyd yn rhoi triniaethau newydd ar eu ffurflen, a fydd yn golygu eu bod ar gael i glinigwyr eu rhagnodi. Mae hwnnw'n faes y byddwn yn parhau i edrych arno i weld a yw’r cydymffurfiad hwnnw’n cael ei gynnal drwy’r gronfa i gyd. Mae hwnnw’n ddisgwyliad clir iawn gennyf fi a’r Llywodraeth o’r gronfa triniaethau newydd—nid yw yma i gyflawni yn ystod ei blwyddyn gyntaf yn unig; mae yma i gyflawni drwy gydol tymor y Llywodraeth hon.
Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
We move on to a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport on Transport for Wales, and I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates.
Symudwn ymlaen at ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ynglŷn â Thrafnidiaeth Cymru, a galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, Ken Skates.
Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. I welcome this opportunity today to update you on a number of developments with Transport for Wales. Transport for Wales was established in 2015 as a wholly-owned, not-for-profit company to provide support and expertise to the Welsh Government in connection with transport projects in Wales. My aspiration, however, for Transport for Wales is that it should develop and take on a much wider range of transport functions, similar in nature to the operations of Transport for London.
Traditionally, different modes of transport have been considered distinctly, with separate policy, separate funding and separate providers. Whilst this reflects, arguably, how the industry operates, it does not reflect the way that people think about their journeys. When planning the commute to work or a long-distance trip, people think about the cost, the convenience and complexity of the entire door-to-door journey.
To maintain and improve services in a changing world, and with challenging priorities, there is a need to consider innovative delivery arrangements for transport functions, including those that could generate external income streams. 'Taking Wales Forward', 'Prosperity for All' and the economic action plan identify the need to drive a step change in the way we understand, the way that we plan, and the way that we use and invest in transport here in Wales.
Together with the improved devolved settlement offered through the Wales Act 2017, the Welsh Government will put in place a framework for the delivery of transport services that can improve network quality, frequency, reliability and punctuality, and provide more integrated and reduced carbon public transport. Utilising the new powers for rail that are also being devolved, we can now more than ever ensure that people are central to transport policies here in Wales, so that we can deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the whole of the country.
The economic action plan commits that Transport for Wales will work with the Welsh Government’s new regional teams, the emerging regional transport authorities, and partners to create an integrated public transport network, covering the rail and bus networks. Following the successful model of acquisition of Cardiff Airport, our aim is that the public transport network will be increasingly directly owned or operated by Transport for Wales.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy’n croesawu’r cyfle hwn heddiw i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ichi am nifer o ddatblygiadau gyda Thrafnidiaeth Cymru. Sefydlwyd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn 2015 fel cwmni perchnogaeth lwyr, dielw i ddarparu cymorth ac arbenigedd i Lywodraeth Cymru mewn cysylltiad â phrosiectau trafnidiaeth yng Nghymru. Fy nyhead i, fodd bynnag, ar gyfer Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw y dylai ddatblygu a chymryd amrywiaeth lawer ehangach o swyddogaethau trafnidiaeth, yn debyg o ran ei natur i weithrediadau Transport for London.
Yn draddodiadol, mae gwahanol fathau o drafnidiaeth wedi cael eu hystyried ar wahân, â pholisïau ar wahân, cyllid ar wahân a darparwyr ar wahân. Er bod hyn yn adlewyrchu, o bosibl, sut mae'r diwydiant yn gweithredu, nid yw'n adlewyrchu’r ffordd y mae pobl yn meddwl am eu teithiau. Wrth gynllunio sut i gymudo i'r gwaith neu fynd ar daith hir, mae pobl yn meddwl am gost, cyfleustra a chymhlethdod y daith gyfan o ddrws i ddrws.
I gynnal a gwella gwasanaethau mewn byd sy'n newid, lle mae’r blaenoriaethau’n heriol, mae angen ystyried trefniadau cyflawni arloesol ar gyfer swyddogaethau trafnidiaeth, gan gynnwys rhai a allai gynhyrchu ffrydiau incwm allanol. Mae 'Symud Cymru Ymlaen', 'Ffyniant i Bawb' a'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd yn nodi bod angen sbarduno newid sylweddol yn y ffordd yr ydym yn deall, y ffordd yr ydym yn cynllunio, a'r ffordd yr ydym yn defnyddio trafnidiaeth ac yn buddsoddi ynddo yma yng Nghymru.
Ynghyd â’r gwell setliad datganoledig a gynigiwyd drwy Ddeddf Cymru 2017, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sefydlu fframwaith i ddarparu gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth a all wella ansawdd y rhwydwaith, amlder, dibynadwyedd a phrydlondeb, a darparu trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fwy integredig â llai o allyriadau carbon. Drwy ddefnyddio'r pwerau newydd ar gyfer y rheilffyrdd sydd hefyd yn cael eu datganoli, mae nawr yn haws nag erioed inni sicrhau bod pobl yn ganolog i bolisïau trafnidiaeth yma yng Nghymru, fel y gallwn ddarparu system drafnidiaeth ddiogel, effeithlon, cost-effeithiol a chynaliadwy er budd y wlad gyfan.
Mae’r cynllun gweithredu economaidd yn ymrwymo y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda thimau rhanbarthol newydd Llywodraeth Cymru, yr awdurdodau trafnidiaeth ranbarthol newydd, a phartneriaid i greu rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig, sy'n cynnwys y rhwydweithiau rheilffyrdd a bysiau. Gan ddilyn model llwyddiannus caffael Maes Awyr Caerdydd, ein nod yw y bydd mwy o’r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn eiddo i Drafnidiaeth Cymru, neu’n cael ei weithredu ganddynt, yn uniongyrchol.
For the first time, we have committed to a five-year programme of transport capital funding through Transport for Wales for both transport maintenance and new projects. This will ensure that these projects will be delivered in the most efficient and effective way, and with a headline target of driving 15 per cent to 20 per cent efficiencies across the five-year investment portfolio for new projects, which means we can make our funding deliver even more. This will also enable the construction supply chain to invest with confidence in the future in terms of both capital and skills. Furthermore, wherever an acceptable business case can be made, the economic action plan commits that the Welsh Government will seek to consolidate current supply arrangements directly into Transport for Wales.
In relation to the new Wales and borders rail service, we have made significant progress with the UK Government since last summer. The Secretary of State for Transport and I have discussed and reached agreement on the way forward on a number of issues and I am pleased that officials are making good progress. Chief among these issues was the financial implication of a complicated devolution context for rail. Discussions between officials, including from Her Majesty's Treasury, continue and the process for transferring the core Valleys lines railway asset is taking shape.
The agreed programme of activity has led to the procurement process for the new service continuing at pace and in line with our plans. Arriva Trains Wales withdrew from the bidding process back in October. As was stated at the time, it is not uncommon for bidders for major projects to withdraw during the tender process and Arriva were clear that their withdrawal was due to their own commercial reasons. The recent Carillion issue has been discussed in this Chamber and I issued a written statement on 17 January.
Transport for Wales had received three bids to operate and develop the next Wales and borders rail service and metro on 21 December last year. They'll be continuing to evaluate these bids over the coming months. By the end of May this year, our process will culminate with the award of the first rail services contract made here in Wales. This follows intensive evaluation and post-tender discussions, led by Transport for Wales, to ensure the contract fully captures the quality service and commitments offered at final tender.
Both the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales are geared up to deliver against these dates, allowing proper time to transition to a new operator and a new way of operating through Transport for Wales in October. However, it must be remembered that until the full transfer of powers has taken place we will still require the timely approval of the UK Government to allow us to both reach preferred bidder stage and to award the contract.
The UK Government plans to lay an Order in the UK Parliament shortly to transfer rail functions to the Welsh Ministers, and, as a fall back, we have also agreed an approach to put further legal agency agreements in place to enable us to award, manage and deliver the next Wales and borders rail service. It remains imperative that the UK Government works at pace with us to deliver against the agreed programme.
Transport for Wales will shortly begin the process of appointing infrastructure delivery partners that will work with the operator and development partner to deliver areas such as station improvements, electrification and signalling for the south Wales metro. Transport for Wales is working closely with Business Wales to make opportunities available to local small and medium-sized entreprises and third sector enterprises. They have already hosted a number of well-attended awareness events relating specifically to the IDP procurement, most recently in Wrexham earlier this month. This is one illustration of how Transport for Wales is entering a new stage of mobilisation to allow it to proactively manage both the new rail service and the different metro schemes.
James Price is in post as chief executive officer, bringing over 15 years of experience of operating and delivering at a senior level. In addition, we have recently appointed independent non-executive directors Martin Dorchester and Nick Gregg to the team, addressing recommendations that have made by the Auditor General for Wales. Martin Dorchester is an experienced executive, having been group CEO of one of the largest logistics companies in Scotland, and Nick Gregg has been appointed as chair of the Transport for Wales board, initially for a period of 12 months. Nick has the skills required to be a highly successful chair, and brings extensive business experience to the board. Transport for Wales will shortly advertise for two further independent non-executive directors to join the board, and this will ensure a diversity of experience and views in decision-making.
I am mindful of the need to make sure that Transport for Wales can deliver effectively for the whole of Wales, and, following my announcement last month of the intention to set up a Transport for Wales business unit in north Wales, I have now instructed Transport for Wales to bring forward proposals for a north Wales office, and I expect this to be delivered at pace too. Meanwhile, in south Wales, good progress is being made towards the construction of the Transport for Wales offices in Pontypridd, led by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, with whom we continue to work very closely. Looking ahead, once the new operator and development partner has been appointed, we will enter a period of mobilisation for the new service. Transport for Wales will work with the successful bidder to help ensure a seamless transition from the current franchise to the new arrangements, in the interests of passengers and staff. The travelling public should see no disruption to services in October when the new ODP takes over. Then, over the coming months and years, Transport for Wales, working with the operator and development partner, will transform the transport network, putting the passenger at the centre of their plans.
Am y tro cyntaf, rydym wedi ymrwymo i raglen pum mlynedd o arian cyfalaf i drafnidiaeth drwy Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar gyfer cynnal a chadw trafnidiaeth a phrosiectau newydd. Bydd hyn yn sicrhau y cyflawnir y prosiectau hyn yn y modd mwyaf effeithlon ac effeithiol, a’r prif darged fydd cynyddu effeithlonrwydd 15 y cant i 20 y cant ar draws y portffolio buddsoddi pum mlynedd ar gyfer prosiectau newydd, sy'n golygu y gallwn wneud i’n cyllid gyflawni mwy fyth. Bydd hyn hefyd yn galluogi’r gadwyn gyflenwi adeiladu i fuddsoddi'n hyderus yn y dyfodol o ran cyfalaf a sgiliau. At hynny, lle bynnag y gellir gwneud achos busnes derbyniol, mae’r cynllun gweithredu economaidd yn ymrwymo y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio cyfnerthu’r trefniadau cyflenwi presennol yn uniongyrchol i mewn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru.
O ran gwasanaeth rheilffordd newydd Cymru a'r gororau, rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol gyda Llywodraeth y DU ers yr haf diwethaf. Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Drafnidiaeth a mi wedi trafod y ffordd ymlaen a dod i gytundeb ar nifer o faterion ac rwy’n falch bod swyddogion yn gwneud cynnydd da. Y prif fater yma oedd goblygiad ariannol cyd-destun datganoli cymhleth ar gyfer y rheilffyrdd. Mae trafodaethau rhwng swyddogion, gan gynnwys o Drysorlys ei Mawrhydi, yn parhau ac mae'r broses o drosglwyddo ased graidd rheilffordd y Cymoedd wedi dechrau.
O ganlyniad i’r rhaglen weithgarwch y cytunwyd arni, mae’r broses gaffael ar gyfer y gwasanaeth newydd wedi parhau’n gyflym ac yn unol â'n cynlluniau. Gadawodd Trenau Arriva Cymru y broses gynnig yn ôl ym mis Hydref. Fel y nodwyd ar y pryd, nid yw'n anghyffredin i gynigwyr am brosiectau mawr dynnu’n ôl yn ystod y broses dendro ac roedd Arriva yn glir eu bod wedi tynnu'n ôl am eu rhesymau masnachol eu hunain. Mae’r mater Carillion diweddar wedi cael ei drafod yn y Siambr hon a chyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ar 17 Ionawr.
Roedd Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi derbyn tri chynnig i weithredu a datblygu gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd a metro nesaf Cymru a'r gororau ar 21 Rhagfyr y llynedd. Byddant yn parhau i werthuso’r cynigion hyn dros y misoedd nesaf. Erbyn diwedd mis Mai eleni, bydd ein proses yn dod i ben drwy ddyfarnu'r contract cyntaf ar gyfer gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd sydd wedi’i wneud yma yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn dilyn gwerthuso dwys a thrafodaethau ar ôl tendro, dan arweiniad Trafnidiaeth Cymru, i sicrhau bod y contract yn cynnwys y gwasanaeth o safon a’r ymrwymiadau a gynigiwyd yn y tendr terfynol.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn barod i gyflawni erbyn y dyddiadau hyn, gan ganiatáu amser priodol i bontio i weithredwr newydd a ffordd newydd o weithredu drwy Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym mis Hydref. Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhaid cofio, nes i’r pwerau gael eu trosglwyddo’n llawn, bydd angen cymeradwyaeth amserol Llywodraeth y DU i ganiatáu inni gyrraedd y cam cynigydd a ffefrir ac i ddyfarnu'r contract.
Bwriad Llywodraeth y DU yw gosod Gorchymyn yn Senedd y DU cyn bo hir i drosglwyddo swyddogaethau rheilffyrdd i Weinidogion Cymru, ac, fel dewis wrth gefn, rydym hefyd wedi cytuno ar ddull gweithredu i roi rhagor o gytundebau cyfrwng cyfreithiol ar waith i'n galluogi i ddyfarnu, rheoli a darparu gwasanaeth rheilffordd nesaf Cymru a'r gororau. Mae'n dal i fod yn hanfodol bod Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithio’n gyflym gyda ni i gyflawni’r rhaglen y cytunwyd arni.
Bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn dechrau cyn bo hir ar y broses o benodi partneriaid cyflawni seilwaith a fydd yn gweithio gyda’r gweithredwr a’r partner datblygu i gyflawni mewn meysydd fel gwella gorsafoedd, trydaneiddio a signalau ar gyfer metro de Cymru. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio'n agos gyda Busnes Cymru i sicrhau bod cyfleoedd ar gael i fentrau bach a chanolig lleol ac i fentrau trydydd sector. Maent eisoes wedi cynnal nifer o ddigwyddiadau ymwybyddiaeth â chynulleidfaoedd mawr i ymwneud yn benodol â chaffael partneriaid cyflawn seilwaith, yn fwyaf diweddar yn Wrecsam yn gynharach y mis hwn. Mae hyn yn un enghraifft o sut y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn dechrau cyfnod newydd o symudiadau fel y gallant fynd ati'n rhagweithiol i reoli'r gwasanaeth rheilffordd newydd a’r gwahanol gynlluniau metro.
Mae James Price wedi cael swydd fel prif swyddog gweithredol; mae ganddo dros 15 mlynedd o brofiad o weithredu a chyflawni ar lefel uwch. Hefyd, yn ddiweddar rydym wedi penodi Martin Dorchester a Nick Gregg yn gyfarwyddwyr anweithredol annibynnol ar y tîm, fel ymateb i argymhellion a wnaethpwyd gan Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru. Mae Martin Dorchester yn swyddog gweithredol profiadol; mae wedi bod yn Brif Weithredwr grŵp ar un o'r cwmnïau logisteg mwyaf yn yr Alban, ac mae Nick Gregg wedi cael ei benodi’n Gadeirydd bwrdd Trafnidiaeth Cymru, am gyfnod cychwynnol o 12 mis. Mae gan Nick y sgiliau sydd eu hangen i fod yn Gadeirydd llwyddiannus iawn, ac mae’n dod â llawer o brofiad busnes i'r bwrdd. Cyn bo hir bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn hysbysebu am ddau gyfarwyddwyr anweithredol annibynnol arall i ymuno â’r bwrdd, a bydd hyn yn sicrhau amrywiaeth o brofiadau a safbwyntiau wrth wneud penderfyniadau.
Rwy’n gwybod bod angen gwneud yn siŵr y gall Trafnidiaeth Cymru gyflawni'n effeithiol dros Gymru gyfan, ac, ar ôl fy nghyhoeddiad y mis diwethaf am y bwriad i sefydlu uned fusnes i Drafnidiaeth Cymru yn y gogledd, bellach, rwyf wedi cyfarwyddo Trafnidiaeth Cymru i ddwyn cynigion gerbron ar gyfer swyddfa yn y gogledd, ac rwy’n disgwyl i hyn gael ei wneud yn gyflym hefyd. Yn y cyfamser, yn y de, mae cynnydd da yn cael ei wneud tuag at adeiladu swyddfeydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym Mhontypridd, dan arweiniad Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf—rydym yn parhau i weithio'n agos iawn â nhw. Wrth edrych ymlaen, cyn gynted ag y bydd y partner gweithredu a datblygu newydd wedi'i benodi, byddwn yn mynd i gyfnod o baratoi’r gwasanaeth newydd. Bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r cynigydd llwyddiannus i helpu i sicrhau pontio di-dor o'r fasnachfraint bresennol i'r trefniadau newydd, er budd teithwyr a staff. Ni ddylai’r cyhoedd sy'n teithio weld dim tarfu ar wasanaethau ym mis Hydref pan mae’r partner gweithredu a datblygu newydd yn dechrau. Wedyn, dros y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf, bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r partner gweithredu a datblygu i weddnewid y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth, gan sicrhau bod teithwyr yn ganolog i’w cynlluniau.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon? Of course, Transport for Wales is currently managing the procurement of the new Wales and borders rail franchise. The oversight of the awarding of this contract, I would argue, is the most important transport-related project managed by the Welsh Government to date.
Going forward, the Cabinet Secretary has outlined an ambitious expansion of the work of Transport for Wales, as he's outlined in 'Prosperity for All', the economic action plan. Now, I would support the expansion of Transport for Wales, over time. There are I think some immediate serious questions that need to be asked regarding the current level of capacity that Transport for Wales has at its disposal. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will agree with this, but without the right capacity and skills, Transport for Wales of course runs a real, serious risk of not being able to effectively manage its current remit, nor any expanded role. So, in that guise, can I ask the Cabinet Secretary to perhaps outline some of the staffing capacity, how many current full-time employees does Transport for Wales currently employ, how many of these individuals currently have full-time contracts, and what the level is of external consultants working and employed by Transport for Wales?
I wonder whether you could also expand on your plans for the workforce, going forward, of Transport for Wales. What timescales have you got linked to additional staff coming in to Transport for Wales, and do you expect this expansion to take place in the coming months ahead as well? You've also mentioned that the chair of Transport for Wales, Nick Gregg, has been appointed for an initial 12-month basis. Can you commit to a pre-appointment hearing, prior to Mr Gregg, or any other candidate, being made a permanent chair of Transport for Wales, perhaps via a committee of this Assembly?
And finally, public confidence, of course, in Transport for Wales is absolutely essential if the organisation is to succeed going forward. Now, just prior to you standing up to give your statement, I did a Google search of 'Transport for Wales', and noticed direct contact details now on the Government's website to Transport for Wales, which weren't previously there. So, I'd be grateful if you could perhaps detail and provide some confirmation that Transport for Wales does now have a public-facing function, which it didn't have previously. Perhaps you could also confirm whether contact for Assembly Members is via yourself, or whether Assembly Members can contact Transport for Wales staff directly and meet with them directly, rather than, of course, going through yourself.
A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ddatganiad y prynhawn yma? Wrth gwrs, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn rheoli’r broses o gaffael masnachfraint rheilffyrdd newydd Cymru a’r gororau. Goruchwylio’r broses o ddyfarnu’r contract hwn, byddwn yn dadlau, yw’r prosiect trafnidiaeth pwysicaf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i reoli hyd yma.
Wrth symud ymlaen, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi amlinellu cynllun uchelgeisiol i ehangu gwaith Trafnidiaeth Cymru, fel yr amlinellodd yn 'Ffyniant i Bawb', y cynllun gweithredu economaidd. Nawr, byddwn yn cefnogi ehangu Trafnidiaeth Cymru, dros amser. Rwy’n meddwl bod angen gofyn rhai cwestiynau difrifol ar unwaith ynghylch lefel bresennol y capasiti sydd ar gael i Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â hyn, ond heb y capasiti a'r sgiliau cywir, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wrth gwrs mewn perygl gwirioneddol a difrifol o beidio â gallu rheoli eu cylch gwaith presennol yn effeithiol, nac unrhyw swyddogaeth estynedig. Felly, ar y wedd honno, a gaf i ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet efallai amlinellu ychydig o'r capasiti staffio, faint o gyflogeion amser llawn presennol y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn eu cyflogi ar hyn o bryd, faint o’r unigolion hyn sydd â chontractau amser llawn ar hyn o bryd, a faint o ymgynghorwyr allanol sy’n gweithio i Trafnidiaeth Cymru ac sy'n cael eu cyflogi ganddynt?
Tybed a wnewch chi hefyd ymhelaethu ar eich cynlluniau ar gyfer gweithlu Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn y dyfodol? Pa amserlenni sydd gennych yn gysylltiedig â staff ychwanegol yn ymuno â Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac a ydych yn disgwyl i’r ehangu hwn ddigwydd yn ystod y misoedd sydd i ddod hefyd? Rydych chi hefyd wedi dweud bod Cadeirydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru, Nick Gregg, wedi'i benodi am gyfnod cychwynnol o 12 mis. A allwch chi ymrwymo i wrandawiad cyn penodi, cyn i Mr Gregg, neu unrhyw ymgeisydd arall, gael ei wneud yn gadeirydd parhaol Trafnidiaeth Cymru, efallai drwy un o bwyllgorau’r Cynulliad hwn?
Ac yn olaf, mae hyder y cyhoedd, wrth gwrs, yn Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gwbl hanfodol os yw'r sefydliad yn mynd i lwyddo yn y dyfodol. Nawr, ychydig cyn ichi sefyll i roi eich datganiad, fe wnes i chwilio ar Google am 'Trafnidiaeth Cymru', a sylwi bod manylion cyswllt uniongyrchol nawr ar wefan y Llywodraeth ar gyfer Trafnidiaeth Cymru; doedd hyn ddim yno o'r blaen. Felly, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech chi efallai roi manylion a rhoi cadarnhad bod gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru nawr swyddogaeth sy’n wynebu’r cyhoedd, nad oedd ganddynt o'r blaen. Efallai y gallech chi gadarnhau hefyd a yw cyswllt i Aelodau'r Cynulliad drwoch chi, neu a all Aelodau'r Cynulliad gysylltu â staff Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn uniongyrchol a chwrdd â nhw yn uniongyrchol, yn hytrach, wrth gwrs, na mynd drwoch chi.
Can I thank Russell George for his comments and for his questions? I'll deal with that final question first. I've actually asked today for Transport for Wales officials to offer a briefing session to Assembly Members and a familiarity session as well so that you're able to make direct contact with individuals responsible for various areas of delivery within the organisation. It is now public facing, with the logo, the staffing element of Transport for Wales is building up, and the whole design of Transport for Wales is being delivered with the intention of offering full agility and flexibility in order to scale up or, indeed, scale down to meet project needs. The workforce within Transport for Wales should be demand led, and this will include the recruitment of the skills that are necessary from the marketplace quickly, rapidly, and it will be an incredible resource for Welsh Government to call on. The way that we've configured Transport for Wales provides the opportunity for Welsh Ministers to take a bespoke approach to the transfer of control and risk depending on the specific project, the specific expertise that's required, the timescales, and also the desired outcome.
I very much welcome the Member's support for the idea of expanding out the role and remit of Transport for Wales in the years to come. A business case is actually being developed right now to determine what opportunities Transport for Wales could offer Welsh Ministers in delivering transport infrastructure and services, including the cost benefits to the taxpayer in our country. This might include bus services, it could include rail services, the construction of capital transport and improvements for walking and cycling. It could include capital projects for rail and, of course, for roads as well. It might also, though, include branding and marketing of services, and I know from my time on the backbenches that this is very much something that passengers would value. There is a plethora of transport service providers, all with their distinct logos, websites and information pages. Transport for Wales could offer a single brand and a single point of contact and resource, and I think that would be something that passengers across the length and breadth of Wales would welcome.
In terms of the contract for the franchise, it is huge, as the Member says. It's the biggest procurement project that the Welsh Government has entered into since devolution, and it requires a top team of skilled executives. James Price brings with him immense experience and intelligence, and he will be backed by a board that is skilled and experienced. The Member is right; Nicholas Gregg has been appointed to begin with for one year in order to allow the recruitment process for a new chair to be completed in a timely fashion. Now, whilst appointments to the Transport for Wales board are not regulated public appointments under the code of governance, given the profile of Transport for Wales, the Welsh Government has decided that it would be appropriate for the recruitment process and materials to comply with the public appointments code of governance.
A gaf i ddiolch i Russell George am ei sylwadau ac am ei gwestiynau? Fe wnaf roi sylw i’r cwestiwn olaf yn gyntaf. A dweud y gwir, rwyf wedi gofyn heddiw i swyddogion Trafnidiaeth Cymru gynnig sesiwn briffio i Aelodau'r Cynulliad a sesiwn ymgyfarwyddo hefyd fel y gallwch gysylltu’n uniongyrchol ag unigolion sy'n gyfrifol am wahanol feysydd cyflawni yn y sefydliad. Mae nawr yn wynebu'r cyhoedd, mae ganddo’r logo, mae elfen staffio Trafnidiaeth Cymru’n cael ei hadeiladu, a darperir cynllun cyfan Trafnidiaeth Cymru gyda'r bwriad o gynnig ystwythder a hyblygrwydd llawn i uwchraddio neu, yn wir, israddio i ddiwallu anghenion prosiectau. Dylai fod gweithlu Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn seiliedig ar y galw, a bydd hyn yn cynnwys recriwtio’r sgiliau sydd eu hangen yn y farchnad yn gyflym, yn sydyn, a bydd yn adnodd anhygoel i Lywodraeth Cymru allu galw arno. Mae’r ffordd yr ydym wedi ffurfweddu Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn rhoi cyfle i Weinidogion Cymru gymryd dull pwrpasol wrth drosglwyddo rheolaeth a risg gan ddibynnu ar y prosiect penodol, yr arbenigedd penodol sydd ei angen, yr amserlenni, a hefyd y canlyniad a ddymunir.
Rwy’n sicr yn croesawu cefnogaeth yr Aelod i’r syniad o ehangu swyddogaeth a chylch gwaith Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. A dweud y gwir, mae achos busnes yn cael ei ddatblygu nawr i benderfynu pa gyfleoedd y gallai Trafnidiaeth Cymru eu cynnig i Weinidogion Cymru o ran darparu seilwaith a gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth, gan gynnwys buddiannau costau i drethdalwyr ein gwlad. Gallai hyn gynnwys gwasanaethau bysiau, gallai gynnwys gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd, adeiladu trafnidiaeth gyfalaf a gwelliannau ar gyfer cerdded a beicio. Gallai gynnwys prosiectau cyfalaf ar gyfer rheilffyrdd ac, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer ffyrdd hefyd. Gallai hefyd, fodd bynnag, gynnwys brandio a marchnata gwasanaethau, a gwn o fy amser ar y meinciau cefn fod hyn yn sicr yn rhywbeth y byddai teithwyr yn ei werthfawrogi. Mae llu o ddarparwyr gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth, ac mae gan bob un ei logo, ei wefan a’i dudalennau gwybodaeth ei hun. Gallai Trafnidiaeth Cymru gynnig un brand ac un pwynt cyswllt ac adnoddau, ac rwy’n meddwl y byddai hynny'n rhywbeth y byddai teithwyr ar hyd a lled Cymru’n ei groesawu.
O ran y contract am y fasnachfraint, mae'n enfawr, fel y dywed yr Aelod. Hwn yw’r prosiect caffael mwyaf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud ers datganoli, ac mae angen tîm da o swyddogion gweithredol medrus. Mae gan James Price brofiad a deallusrwydd aruthrol, a chaiff ei gefnogi gan fwrdd sy'n fedrus ac yn brofiadol. Mae'r Aelod yn iawn; penodwyd Nicholas Gregg am un flwyddyn i ddechrau er mwyn caniatáu amser i gwblhau’r broses o recriwtio cadeirydd newydd mewn modd amserol. Nawr, er nad yw penodiadau i fwrdd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn benodiadau cyhoeddus sydd wedi’u rheoleiddio o dan y cod llywodraethu, o ystyried proffil Trafnidiaeth Cymru, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi penderfynu y byddai'n briodol i’r broses a’r deunyddiau recriwtio gydymffurfio â chod llywodraethu penodiadau cyhoeddus.
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for his statement. In it, you said that the UK Government plans to lay an order to transfer rail franchising functions to Welsh Ministers shortly. Could you say a little bit about—how shortly is shortly? And the fallback that you refer to if those functions are not transferred—under which circumstances can you envisage that having to be utilised? Is it the circumstance in which you're not able to reach a final agreement on some of the issues that you refer to in your statement where work is ongoing, and, indeed, some of the further issues that were covered in the UK transport Secretary's letter to you in August? Could you shine a bit more light on how far away are you from reaching agreement?
You said you've reached an agreement on a way forward, which can mean a number of things, but specifically, has an agreement been reached with the UK Government as to who will be responsible for the section 30 operator of last resort? Have you reached an agreement on the quantum of funding that you referred to in your statement, around which there's been some disagreement with the UK Government, or the means by which that figure can be worked out? Have you reached agreement over a protocol of how the Welsh Government will exercise powers over English railway stations served by the franchise?
Finally, you mentioned the fact your aspiration is that Transport for Wales will be responsible for as much as possible of the public transport infrastructure as a public sector body. Could you say what specific representations the Welsh Government have made to amend the Railways Act 1993, which has been amended in the case of Scotland, giving them powers to have a public sector franchise operator, in effect? That hasn't happened in Wales. Have you made specific representations in that regard to the UK Government?
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ddatganiad. Ynddo, dywedasoch chi fod Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu gosod gorchymyn i drosglwyddo swyddogaethau masnachfreinio rheilffyrdd i Weinidogion Cymru yn fuan. A wnewch chi ddweud ychydig am—pa mor fuan yw buan? A’r dewis wrth gefn yr ydych chi'n cyfeirio ato os na chaiff y swyddogaethau hynny eu trosglwyddo—o dan ba amgylchiadau y gallwch chi ragweld hwnnw’n gorfod cael ei ddefnyddio? Ai o dan amgylchiad lle na allwch ddod i gytundeb terfynol ar rai o'r materion yr ydych chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw yn eich datganiad lle mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo, ac, yn wir, rhai o'r materion pellach a gafodd sylw yn y llythyr gan Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth y DU atoch chi ym mis Awst? A wnewch chi roi ychydig mwy o oleuni ar ba mor bell yr ydych chi o ddod i gytundeb?
Gwnaethoch chi ddweud eich bod wedi dod i gytundeb ar y ffordd ymlaen, sy’n gallu golygu nifer o bethau, ond yn benodol, a ydych chi wedi dod i gytundeb â Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch pwy fydd yn gyfrifol am y gweithredwr dewis olaf adran 30? A ydych wedi dod i gytundeb ar y cwantwm o arian yr oeddech yn sôn amdano yn eich datganiad, y bu rhywfaint o anghytuno â Llywodraeth y DU amdano, neu sut y gellir cyfrifo’r ffigur hwnnw? A ydych chi wedi dod i gytundeb ar brotocol ar gyfer sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn arfer pwerau dros orsafoedd rheilffordd Lloegr a wasanaethir gan y fasnachfraint?
Yn olaf, soniasoch chi am y ffaith mai eich dyhead yw y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gyfrifol am gymaint â phosibl o’r seilwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fel corff sector cyhoeddus. A wnewch chi ddweud pa sylwadau penodol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u gwneud i ddiwygio Deddf Rheilffyrdd 1993, sydd wedi'i diwygio yn achos yr Alban, i roi pwerau iddyn nhw i gael gweithredwr masnachfraint sector cyhoeddus, i bob diben? Nid yw hynny wedi digwydd yng Nghymru. A ydych chi wedi gwneud sylwadau penodol am hynny i Lywodraeth y DU?
Can I thank the Member for his questions and say at the outset that we've been absolutely consistent in calling for amendments to the railways Act to be made? I believe it was also part of the UK Labour Party's manifesto that would enable us to see public bodies bid for current franchise opportunities and future franchise opportunities as well. That consistent demand by the Government has been rejected, but we continue to press for the Act to be amended.
Constructive discussions have taken place on a whole raft of measures that need to be agreed prior to the functions Order being laid. The UK Government has delayed delivering that Order—tabling that Order—in a timely fashion, but we have been assured that that will take place by May, following the agreements that are due to be completed next month on the funding of the franchise, and also on the transfer of power over the assets. This will include a whole range of agreements that have previously been acting as a stumbling block for progress to be made, but progress, as I say, is being made in a timely fashion now.
In terms of cross-border services, this is something that I'm particularly keen to ensure can be resolved amicably, and I and the Secretary of State have been able to agree on ways that will ensure that passengers on the English side of the border have equal treatment and an equal experience in terms of the journeys that they take on the trains in the next franchise, so that nobody is left disadvantaged under the next franchise. This is something that is particularly relevant given the mass of train journeys that take place in and out of Wales on a cross-border basis.
I would happily bring forward, after the discussions with UK Government have concluded in February, the affordability issues presented as a result of the outcome of the discussions that are taking place. We have engaged the UK Treasury, we've also engaged the Secretary of State for Wales in our discussions, and I'm confident that by the end of February, we will have concluded those discussions in a satisfactory manner.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiynau a dweud i ddechrau ein bod wedi bod yn gwbl gyson wrth alw am wneud gwelliannau i’r Ddeddf rheilffyrdd? Rwy’n credu bod hynny hefyd yn rhan o faniffesto Plaid Lafur y DU a fyddai'n ein galluogi i weld cyrff cyhoeddus yn ymgeisio am gyfleoedd masnachfraint presennol a chyfleoedd masnachfraint yn y dyfodol hefyd. Gwrthodwyd y galw cyson hwnnw gan y Llywodraeth, ond rydym yn parhau i bwyso am ddiwygio’r Ddeddf.
Cynhaliwyd trafodaethau adeiladol am ystod gyfan o fesurau y mae angen cytuno arnynt cyn gosod y Gorchymyn swyddogaethau. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gohirio darparu’r Gorchymyn hwnnw—cyflwyno’r Gorchymyn hwnnw—mewn modd amserol, ond rydym wedi cael sicrwydd y bydd hynny'n digwydd erbyn mis Mai, yn dilyn y cytundebau y dylid eu cwblhau fis nesaf ynglŷn â chyllid y fasnachfraint, a hefyd ynglŷn â throsglwyddo pŵer dros yr asedau. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys amrywiaeth eang o gytundebau sydd cyn hyn wedi bod yn ein rhwystro rhag gwneud cynnydd, ond fel y dywedais i, mae cynnydd amserol yn cael ei wneud erbyn hyn.
O ran gwasanaethau trawsffiniol, mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf yn arbennig o awyddus i sicrhau y gallwn ei ddatrys yn gyfeillgar, ac rwyf i a’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol wedi gallu cytuno ar ffyrdd a fydd yn sicrhau bod teithwyr ar ochr Lloegr y ffin yn cael eu trin yn gyfartal ac yn cael profiad cyfartal o ran eu teithiau ar y trenau yn y fasnachfraint nesaf, fel na fydd neb o dan anfantais o dan y fasnachfraint nesaf. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n arbennig o berthnasol o ystyried yr holl deithiau trên sy'n dod i mewn ac allan o Gymru ar draws y ffin.
Byddwn i'n hapus i gyflwyno, ar ôl diwedd y trafodaethau â Llywodraeth y DU ym mis Chwefror, y materion fforddiadwyedd a gyflwynir o ganlyniad i’r trafodaethau sy'n digwydd. Rydym wedi ymgysylltu â Thrysorlys y DU, rydym hefyd wedi ymgysylltu ag Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yn ein trafodaethau, ac rwy’n ffyddiog y byddwn, erbyn diwedd mis Chwefror, wedi cwblhau’r trafodaethau hynny mewn modd boddhaol.
Cabinet Secretary, thank you for the statement—hopefully, the first of many more. Transport for Wales, of course, is very tied up not just with the rail franchise but also with the metro; in fact, the two very much go hand in hand. Can I first of all welcome the basing of Transport for Wales in Pontypridd? The partnership between Welsh Government and Rhondda Cynon Taf council is already a significant catalyst for the regeneration of the area. There's also the proposals that may lead to jobs, training and apprenticeships with regard to the maintenance of rolling stock at places like Taff's Well, and also the development of and Welsh Government funding for apprenticeships in Coleg y Cymoedd related to railway engineering.
But can I say from your report that there are a number of things I'd like you to consider that concern me, to some extent? One is the five-year capital funding that's referred to. If you could, perhaps, provide a bit more detail about that, because this is obviously an area of considerable concern. Secondly, the area of 15 to 20 per cent efficiencies—precisely what that means. We know that when the Tories talk about efficiencies, they're talking about cuts. What exactly do we mean by 15 to 20 per cent efficiencies? Certainly, Chris Grayling has basically told us that not only are we not going to have the electrification of the Valleys lines and the line to Swansea, but we should be jolly well glad that we're not having it because it's actually going to be so much better without electrification. What are the implications of that in terms of the planning and the five-year capital programme because of the issues to do with trains and the types of train stock that we were going to have?
My fourth point is really this: an essential part of all this is the extension of the lines, extension into areas, breaking the stranglehold of traffic, enabling the development of public transport and people to travel across, around, through the Valleys to wherever without going on the roads. Of course, I've raised with you many times the issue of the railway line from Creigiau to Llantrisant and the importance of that, yet we still have very little clarity about where that may fit within the capital programme and in fact whether it will be this phase, whether it will be the next phase or whatever. I think the point is that there is growing interest about the whole importance of this to the development of the economy and south Wales society, as far as my constituency is concerned—Taff Ely. But there is a need for much greater clarity. When are we going to be able to receive that clarity and that sort of detail that people want to see?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, diolch am y datganiad—gobeithio, y cyntaf o lawer mwy. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn brysur iawn nid yn unig â’r fasnachfraint rheilffyrdd ond hefyd â’r metro; yn wir, mae nhw'n cyd-fynd â’i gilydd i raddau helaeth. A gaf i yn gyntaf groesawu lleoli Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym Mhontypridd? Mae’r bartneriaeth rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a chyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf eisoes yn gatalydd arwyddocaol i adfywio'r ardal. Ceir hefyd y cynigion a allai arwain at swyddi, hyfforddiant a phrentisiaethau o ran cynnal a chadw cerbydau mewn mannau fel Ffynnon Taf, a hefyd y gwaith o ddatblygu prentisiaethau a chyllid Llywodraeth Cymru ar eu cyfer yng Ngholeg y Cymoedd mewn cysylltiad â pheirianneg rheilffyrdd.
Ond a gaf i ddweud o’ch adroddiad bod nifer o bethau yr hoffwn ichi eu hystyried sy’n peri pryder imi, i ryw raddau? Un yw’r arian cyfalaf pum mlynedd y cyfeirir ato. Pe gallech, efallai, roi ychydig mwy o fanylion am hynny, oherwydd yn amlwg mae hwn yn destun pryder sylweddol. Yn ail, yr arbedion effeithlonrwydd 15 i 20 y cant—beth yn union mae hynny'n ei olygu. Rydym yn gwybod, pan mae’r Torïaid yn sôn am arbedion effeithlonrwydd, eu bod yn sôn am doriadau. Beth yn union yw ystyr arbedion effeithlonrwydd 15 i 20 y cant? Yn sicr, mae Chris Grayling wedi dweud wrthym yn y bôn nid yn unig na fyddwn yn cael trydaneiddio rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd a'r rheilffordd i Abertawe, ond y dylem fod yn falch iawn nad ydym yn cael hynny gan y bydd mewn gwirionedd yn llawer gwell heb drydaneiddio. Beth yw goblygiadau hynny o ran y cynllunio a'r rhaglen cyfalaf pum mlynedd oherwydd y materion sy’n ymwneud â threnau a’r mathau o gerbydau trên a fydd gennym?
Fy mhedwerydd pwynt, a dweud y gwir, yw hyn: rhan hanfodol o hyn oll yw ymestyn y rheilffyrdd, ymestyn i ardaloedd, torri gafael haearnaidd traffig, galluogi datblygiad trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a phobl i deithio ar draws, o gwmpas, drwy’r Cymoedd i ble bynnag y bo heb fynd ar y ffyrdd. Wrth gwrs, rwyf wedi sôn wrthych lawer gwaith am y rheilffordd o Creigiau i Lantrisant a’i phwysigrwydd, ac eto ychydig iawn o eglurder sydd gennym o hyd ynghylch ble y gallai hynny ffitio o fewn y rhaglen gyfalaf, ac yn wir a fydd yn y cyfnod hwn, a fydd yn y cyfnod nesaf neu beth bynnag. Rwy’n meddwl mai’r pwynt yw bod diddordeb cynyddol ym mhwysigrwydd hyn oll i ddatblygu economi a chymdeithas y de, cyn belled ag y mae fy etholaeth i dan sylw—Taf Elái. Ond mae angen llawer mwy o eglurder. Pryd y byddwn yn gallu cael yr eglurder hwnnw a’r math o fanylder yr hoffai pobl ei weld?
Can I thank Mick Antoniw for various questions and the fact that he's welcomed the siting of the headquarters of Transport for Wales in Pontypridd? The Member is absolutely right that there is huge potential for the headquarters of Transport for Wales to act as a catalyst for regeneration in Pontypridd. Just as interventions did in Merthyr, I see the basing of Transport for Wales in Pontypridd as something of a magnet for other businesses and other investments to be drawn into the community. I'm pleased that we're making very good progress with the local authority, who I must congratulate for their proactive way of working with Welsh Government and with other stakeholders in the development of this particular site. There's no doubt that, in order to develop an economy, you have to have the right infrastructure in place. You also need the right availability of skills and also the right form of support on a regional basis for economic development. Through the economic action plan, through the creation of Transport for Wales, through an unprecedented investment in transport and through an employability plan being delivered by colleagues in Government, I'm sure and confident that we are addressing those key three needs of the economy.
In terms of the five-year budget, I'm more than happy to share with Members the independent report that was commissioned by the UK Government in 2011, which looked into this. It concluded that creating certainty of funding over a period of five years and developing long-term plans for roads through a five-year budget commitment, savings of 15 to 20 per cent could be achieved. So, moving to a five-year budget makes sense, but it is also a significant step. It won't happen overnight, and we need to be clear that savings will only be deliverable on new and not already-contracted schemes.
Now, in terms of the actual quantum that could be saved, taking the 2018-19 draft published budget figures for transport capital over the next three years as an average annual spend, over a 10-year period that could amount to something in the region of £630 million—a huge saving that can then lead to greater investment in the improvement of our transport infrastructure and service delivery. But, as I say, I'm more than happy to be able to provide that report to Members so that they can scrutinise exactly how such significant savings can be achieved.
In terms of electrification, well, the case for electrification to Swansea was made in combination with the case for electrifying the Valleys lines. It happened back when David Cameron was Prime Minister in 2014, and the terms of this agreement included the UK Government funding the full cost of electrification through to Swansea, providing £125 million for the Valleys lines electrification and modernisation scheme and, in return, the Welsh Government took responsibility for the Valleys lines schemes. Now, the agreement gave the Welsh Government the ability to optimise the Valleys lines modernisation scheme in line with the Treasury Green Book. At the time, the mainline electrification investment using a wholly electric train fleet was assessed to be a more cost-effective option than procuring a mixed fleet of electric and bi-mode trains. The wholly electric fleet also, of course, provided some significant environmental benefits.
My concern with the abandoning of electrification of the mainline project through to Swansea is not just that it will leave passengers potentially worse off than could've been expected with electrification, it also presents a reputational risk for Swansea itself. Many of the world's most advanced economies take for granted the electrification of their rail services, and, yet, this is something that will be denied along south Wales. We are now focused, as a Government, on ensuring that the schemes outlined by the Secretary of State, and to which he is committed, are developed in the wake of the cancellation of electrification, and that they are developed in a timely fashion. They include, of course, improving journey times between Cardiff and Swansea, and also between south Wales, Bristol and London. It includes commitments that are being given to the Swansea area in terms of rail and station improvements, and also improving journey times and connections right across north Wales.
We expect UK Government, having abandoned electrification of the south Wales main line, not to abandon any of the commitments that the Government has since signed up to.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mick Antoniw am ei gwestiynau amrywiol ac am y ffaith ei fod wedi croesawu lleoli pencadlys Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym Mhontypridd? Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le; mae potensial enfawr i bencadlys Trafnidiaeth Cymru weithredu fel catalydd i adfywio Pontypridd. Fel y gwnaeth ymyriadau ym Merthyr, rwy’n gweld lleoli Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym Mhontypridd fel ychydig o fagnet i dynnu busnesau eraill a buddsoddiadau eraill i mewn i'r gymuned. Rwy’n falch ein bod yn gwneud cynnydd da iawn gyda'r awdurdod lleol; rhaid imi eu llongyfarch am eu ffordd ragweithiol o weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a rhanddeiliaid eraill wrth ddatblygu'r safle hwn. Does dim amheuaeth, er mwyn datblygu economi, bod yn rhaid ichi sefydlu’r seilwaith cywir. Hefyd, mae angen i’r sgiliau cywir fod ar gael yn ogystal â’r math cywir o gefnogaeth ranbarthol ar gyfer datblygu economaidd. Drwy'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd, drwy greu Trafnidiaeth Cymru, drwy fuddsoddiad digyffelyb mewn trafnidiaeth a drwy gynllun cyflogadwyedd a gyflawnir gan gyd-Aelodau yn y Llywodraeth, rwy’n siŵr ac rwy’n ffyddiog ein bod yn rhoi sylw i’r tri angen allweddol hynny yn yr economi.
O ran y gyllideb bum mlynedd, rwy’n fwy na pharod i rannu ag Aelodau yr adroddiad annibynnol a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn 2011, a edrychodd ar hyn. Daeth i'r casgliad bod creu sicrwydd cyllid dros gyfnod o bum mlynedd a datblygu cynlluniau tymor hir ar gyfer ffyrdd drwy ymrwymiad cyllideb pum mlynedd, yn rhywbeth a allai gyflawni arbedion 15 i 20 y cant. Felly, mae troi at gyllideb bum mlynedd yn gwneud synnwyr, ond mae hefyd yn gam mawr. Ni wnaiff ddigwydd dros nos, ac mae angen inni fod yn glir mai dim ond ar gynlluniau newydd y bydd arbedion yn bosibl, ac nid ar rai a gontractiwyd eisoes.
Nawr, o ran y swm gwirioneddol y gellid ei arbed, gan gymryd y ffigurau cyllideb drafft a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer 2018-19 ar gyfer cyfalaf trafnidiaeth dros y tair blynedd nesaf fel cyfartaledd gwariant blynyddol, dros gyfnod o 10 mlynedd gallai hynny fod oddeutu £630 miliwn—arbediad enfawr a all wedyn arwain at fwy o fuddsoddi i wella ein seilwaith trafnidiaeth a darparu gwasanaethau. Ond, fel y dywedaf, rwy’n fwy na pharod i allu darparu’r adroddiad hwnnw i Aelodau fel y gallant graffu ar sut yn union y gellir cyflawni arbedion mor fawr.
O ran trydaneiddio, wel, gwnaethpwyd yr achos o blaid trydaneiddio hyd at Abertawe ar y cyd â’r achos o blaid trydaneiddio rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd. Digwyddodd yn ôl pan oedd David Cameron yn Brif Weinidog yn 2014, ac o dan delerau'r cytundeb hwn byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn ariannu cost lawn trydaneiddio'r rheilffordd hyd at Abertawe, yn darparu £125 miliwn ar gyfer cynllun trydaneiddio a moderneiddio rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd ac, yn gyfnewid am hynny, byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am gynlluniau rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd. Nawr, roedd y cytundeb yn rhoi’r gallu i Lywodraeth Cymru i optimeiddio cynllun moderneiddio rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd yn unol â Llyfr Gwyrdd y Trysorlys. Ar y pryd, aseswyd bod y buddsoddiad i drydaneiddio’r brif reilffordd gan ddefnyddio fflyd trenau trydan i gyd yn opsiwn mwy cost-effeithiol na chaffael fflyd gymysg o drenau trydan a deufodd. Roedd y fflyd o drenau trydan i gyd hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn darparu manteision amgylcheddol sylweddol.
Nid fy unig bryder ynghylch peidio â thrydaneiddio prosiect y brif reilffordd hyd at Abertawe yw y bydd yn gadael teithwyr o bosibl yn waeth eu byd nag y gellid bod wedi’i ddisgwyl gyda thrydaneiddio; mae hefyd yn peri risg i enw da Abertawe ei hun. Mae llawer o economïau mwyaf blaengar y byd yn cymryd yn ganiataol y bydd eu gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd wedi’u trydaneiddio, ac, eto, mae hyn yn rhywbeth a gaiff ei wrthod ar hyd de Cymru. Rydym nawr yn canolbwyntio, fel Llywodraeth, ar sicrhau bod y cynlluniau a amlinellodd yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, ac yr ymrwymodd iddynt, yn cael eu datblygu yn sgil canslo’r trydaneiddio, a’u bod yn cael eu datblygu mewn modd amserol. Maent yn cynnwys, wrth gwrs, gwella amseroedd teithio rhwng Caerdydd ac Abertawe, a hefyd rhwng de Cymru, Bryste a Llundain. Mae'n cynnwys rhoi ymrwymiadau i ardal Abertawe o ran gwella rheilffyrdd a gorsafoedd, yn ogystal â gwella amseroedd teithio a chysylltiadau ar draws gogledd Cymru.
Rydym yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth DU, ar ôl canslo trydaneiddio prif reilffordd y de, beidio â chanslo dim ymrwymiadau y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi cytuno â nhw ers hynny.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his full and comprehensive statement? I take this opportunity to acknowledge that May of this year will certainly be an historic date, when the first ever contract with a 'made in Wales' label will be awarded.
Your vision, Cabinet Secretary, that Transport for Wales should take on a similar role to Transport for London is one that I fully support. The Transport for London model is held up as being an efficient and cost-effective way of delivering a modern transport system. It is comforting to know that the Cabinet Secretary is willing to look at and implement best practice wherever it occurs. One question arises following the award of the rail contract, and that is: what sort of delay does the Cabinet Secretary envisage in appointing the operator and development partner, and, following on from that, the infrastructure development partners who will work with the ODP to deliver the substantial infrastructure upgrades and improvements, which will be needed to deliver the transport system envisaged in the Welsh Government plans?
The Cabinet Secretary mentions using local SMEs for the delivery of as much of the services and infrastructure as possible and I welcome the fact that consultation is already under way with companies who wish to engage in the process. But is the Cabinet Secretary confident that the necessary skills and competences are present in local industry?
As Adam Price alluded to earlier, you mentioned that there are still ongoing negotiations with the UK Government on the transfer of full powers to Wales, and I am sure that all the Members in this Chamber will join me in calling on the Department for Transport to facilitate this transfer as a matter of utmost urgency.
Finally, Cabinet Secretary, it's extremely gratifying to see the holistic approach you are taking in delivering the fully integrated transport system that Wales so desperately needs.
A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ddatganiad cynhwysfawr a llawn? Rwy'n cymryd y cyfle hwn i gydnabod y bydd mis Mai eleni yn sicr yn ddyddiad hanesyddol, pan ddyfernir y contract cyntaf erioed â label 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' arno.
Mae eich gweledigaeth, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, y dylai Trafnidiaeth Cymru ymgymryd â swyddogaeth debyg i Transport for London yn un a gefnogaf yn llwyr. Mae model Transport for London yn cael ei ystyried yn esiampl o ffordd effeithlon a chost-effeithiol o ddarparu system drafnidiaeth fodern. Mae'n gysur gwybod bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn barod i edrych ar arfer gorau lle bynnag y mae'n digwydd, a’i roi ar waith. Mae un cwestiwn yn codi yn dilyn dyfarnu'r contract rheilffyrdd, sef: Pa fath o oedi y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ei ragweld cyn penodi’r gweithredwr a’r partner datblygu, ac i ddilyn hynny, y partneriaid datblygu seilwaith a fydd gweithio gyda’r partner gweithredu a datblygu i sicrhau bod y seilwaith yn cael ei uwchraddio a’i wella’n sylweddol, fel y bydd ei angen i ddarparu’r system drafnidiaeth a ragwelwyd yng nghynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru?
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn sôn am ddefnyddio busnesau bach a chanolig lleol i ddarparu cymaint o'r gwasanaethau a'r seilwaith â phosibl ac rwy’n croesawu’r ffaith bod ymgynghoriad wedi’i ddechrau gyda chwmnïau sydd am gymryd rhan yn y broses. Ond a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ffyddiog bod y sgiliau a'r cymwyseddau gofynnol yn bresennol yn y diwydiant lleol?
Fel y cyfeiriodd Adam Price ato yn gynharach, rydych chi wedi dweud bod trafodaethau’n parhau gyda Llywodraeth y DU am drosglwyddo pwerau llawn i Gymru, ac rwy’n siŵr y gwnaiff pob aelod yn y Siambr hon ymuno â mi i alw ar yr Adran Drafnidiaeth i hwyluso’r trosglwyddiad hwn fel mater o'r brys mwyaf.
Yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, braf iawn yw gweld eich ymagwedd gyfannol tuag at ddarparu’r system drafnidiaeth gwbl integredig y mae ei hangen yn daer ar Gymru.
Can I thank David Rowlands for his comments and questions? David is absolutely right: very soon we'll be seeing a 'made in Wales' stamp on Aston Martins, we'll see a 'made in Wales' stamp on TVRs, we'll see a 'made in Wales' stamp on the rail network, and potentially, in the longer term, on a fully integrated public transport network across our country.
There'll be no delay in appointing the ODP, and work is already taking place involving Business Wales advisers with potential IDPs to ensure that, the length and breadth of Wales, small and medium-sized companies have the ability, the capacity and the skills to be able to secure important and, in many cases, vital projects as part of the next franchise. This is a huge programme in terms of the capital spend that will be invested in the south Wales metro and that will also be invested across the Wales and borders network, and of course in the development of the north-east Wales metro.
I am determined to make sure that Business Wales advisers don't just give support in terms of how to win contracts, but also give support in ensuring that small businesses have the right people with the right skills employed to be able to deliver projects that will be transformative for the public transport network. It's absolutely essential that Welsh Government works with businesses, with stakeholders, with the ODP, and I also believe with local government at a regional level, to develop a transport network and to develop an integrated transport system that benefits not just individuals, but also businesses across the length and breadth of Wales.
A gaf i ddiolch i David Rowlands am ei sylwadau a'i gwestiynau? Mae David yn llygad ei le: yn fuan iawn byddwn yn gweld stamp 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' ar geir Aston Martin, byddwn yn gweld stamp 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' ar geir TVR, byddwn yn gweld stamp 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' ar y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd, ac o bosibl, yn y tymor hwy, ar rwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus cwbl integredig ar draws ein gwlad.
Ni fydd dim oedi cyn penodi’r partner gweithredu a datblygu, ac mae cynghorwyr Busnes Cymru eisoes yn gweithio gyda phartner cyflenwi seilwaith posibl i sicrhau bod gan gwmnïau bach a chanolig, ar hyd a lled Cymru, y gallu, y capasiti a'r sgiliau i allu sicrhau prosiectau pwysig ac, mewn llawer o achosion, prosiectau hanfodol fel rhan o'r fasnachfraint nesaf. Mae hon yn rhaglen anferth o ran y gwariant cyfalaf a gaiff ei fuddsoddi ym metro’r de ac a gaiff ei fuddsoddi hefyd ar draws rhwydwaith Cymru a'r gororau, ac wrth gwrs yn natblygiad metro’r gogledd-ddwyrain.
Rwy’n benderfynol o wneud yn siŵr bod cynghorwyr Busnes Cymru yn gwneud mwy na rhoi cymorth ynglŷn â sut i ennill contractau, ond eu bod hefyd yn rhoi cefnogaeth i sicrhau bod busnesau bach yn cyflogi’r bobl iawn â’r sgiliau iawn i allu cyflawni prosiectau a fydd yn trawsnewid y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda busnesau, gyda rhanddeiliaid, gyda’r partner gweithredu a datblygu, ac rwyf hefyd yn credu gyda llywodraeth leol ar lefel ranbarthol, i ddatblygu rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth ac i ddatblygu system drafnidiaeth integredig sydd o fudd nid yn unig i unigolion, ond hefyd i fusnesau ar hyd a lled Cymru.
Thank you. We have had speakers from all of the parties now, so, the next set of speakers, if I can ask you for a very brief introduction to your one question. Thank you. John Griffiths.
Diolch. Rydym ni wedi cael siaradwyr o bob un o'r pleidiau nawr, felly, i’r set nesaf o siaradwyr, a gaf i ofyn ichi am gyflwyniad byr iawn i'ch un cwestiwn? Diolch. John Griffiths.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware that there are many issues in terms of rail services around Newport. Commuters are often on grossly overcrowded trains travelling to Bristol, for example. There are issues of people being asked to stand in toilets to allow more people to get on, people fainting, people being left on the platforms, issues of unreliability and, indeed, affordability—prices have gone up substantially by, I think, around a third over 10 years, without a commensurate improvement in quality of service. Understandably, people are often very annoyed, if not demoralised. Groups like the Severn tunnel action group and those campaigning for a Magor station have conducted surveys that clearly demonstrate that level of passenger dissatisfaction and the lack of quality in the services they experience.
So, in that context, Cabinet Secretary, I know many people are very much hoping that the new Wales and borders franchise will include those cross-border services, for example to Bristol. They would very much like to hear from you that you will continue to press UK Government for the inclusion of those services in the franchise, and also to hear from you that if that inclusion does take place, these issues of overcrowding, of unreliability, of affordability will be addressed and effectively addressed in that new Wales and borders franchise.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, byddwch yn gwybod bod llawer o broblemau â’r gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd o amgylch Casnewydd. Mae cymudwyr yn aml ar drenau gorlawn iawn yn teithio i Fryste, er enghraifft. Mae gofyn i bobl sefyll mewn toiledau i ganiatáu i fwy o bobl ddod ymlaen, pobl yn llewygu, pobl yn cael eu gadael ar y platfform, problemau â dibynadwyedd ac, yn wir, â fforddiadwyedd—mae prisiau wedi codi’n sylweddol, rwy’n meddwl, tua thraean dros 10 mlynedd, heb welliant cymesur i ansawdd y gwasanaeth. Yn ddealladwy, mae pobl yn aml yn flin iawn, os nad yn digalonni. Mae grwpiau fel grŵp gweithredu twnnel Hafren a’r bobl sy'n ymgyrchu am orsaf ym Magwyr wedi cynnal arolygon sy’n dangos yn glir pa mor anfodlon yw teithwyr a diffyg ansawdd y gwasanaethau y maent yn eu profi.
Felly, yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy’n gwybod bod llawer o bobl yn gobeithio’n fawr y bydd masnachfraint newydd Cymru a'r gororau yn cynnwys y gwasanaethau trawsffiniol hynny, er enghraifft i Fryste. Hoffent glywed gennych y byddwch yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i gynnwys y gwasanaethau hynny yn y fasnachfraint, a hoffent hefyd glywed gennych, os caiff y rheini eu cynnwys, y bydd y problemau hyn â gorlenwi, dibynadwyedd a fforddiadwyedd yn cael sylw effeithiol o fewn masnachfraint newydd Cymru a'r gororau.
Can I thank John Griffiths for his comments and his questions? It was remiss of me not to say that we'll also soon have the 'made in Wales' stamp on CAF trains, just as we have a 'made in Wales' stamp on Airbus wings, on Raytheon products. We will have 'made in Wales' stamped all over trains, planes and automobiles for the global market very soon. I think that's important in developing an identity of Wales as a place where high-value manufacturing is taken very seriously.
It's unacceptable to have crowding to such a degree as we're witnessing at the moment on the train network. It is absolutely appalling, at peak hours in particular, on many services—on those already highlighted by John Griffiths, but on services that I'm sure many Members in this Chamber use on a daily or weekly basis. During the next franchise, it's our determined position to ensure that quality improves, that punctuality improves, that the frequency of train journeys improves, that capacity, most certainly, improves noticeably, and that technological solutions also improve. Indeed, we are motivating and encouraging the bidders to utilise new and emerging technologies to ensure that passenger comfort is optimised.
In terms of those cross-border services that John Griffiths has highlighted, I noted recently that the Secretary of State believed that Welsh Government could take more control over those particular cross-border services. It's something that we have been asking for, and it's something that we would very much welcome in the short term, medium term and in the longer term, as we seek to improve, noticeably, rail services across Wales and on a cross-border basis.
A gaf i ddiolch i John Griffiths am ei sylwadau a’i gwestiynau? Roedd yn esgeulus imi beidio â dweud hefyd y bydd gennym cyn bo hir stamp 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' ar drenau CAF, fel y mae gennym stamp 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' ar adenydd Airbus, ar gynhyrchion Raytheon. Bydd gennym 'gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' wedi’i stampio ar drenau, awyrennau a cheir ar gyfer y farchnad fyd-eang yn fuan iawn. Rwy’n meddwl bod hynny'n bwysig o ran datblygu hunaniaeth i Gymru fel man sy’n cymryd gweithgynhyrchu gwerth uchel o ddifrif.
Mae'n annerbyniol bod gorlenwi i'r fath raddau ag yr ydym yn ei weld ar hyn o bryd ar y rhwydwaith trenau. Mae'n gwbl ofnadwy, yn ystod oriau brig yn enwedig, ar lawer o wasanaethau—ar y rhai y soniodd John Griffiths amdanyn nhw, ond hefyd ar wasanaethau yr wyf yn siŵr bod llawer o Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn eu defnyddio’n dyddiol neu’n wythnosol. Yn ystod y fasnachfraint nesaf, ein safbwynt penderfynol yw sicrhau bod ansawdd yn gwella, bod prydlondeb yn gwella, bod amlder teithiau trenau’n gwella, bod capasiti, yn sicr, yn gwella’n glir, a bod datrysiadau technolegol hefyd yn gwella. Yn wir, rydym yn cymell ac yn annog yr ymgeiswyr i ddefnyddio technolegau newydd i sicrhau bod teithwyr mor gysurus â phosibl.
O ran y gwasanaethau trawsffiniol hynny y soniodd John Griffiths amdanyn nhw, nodais yn ddiweddar fod yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn credu y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru gymryd mwy o reolaeth dros y gwasanaethau trawsffiniol penodol hynny. Mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym wedi bod yn gofyn amdano, ac mae'n rhywbeth y byddem yn sicr yn ei groesawu yn y tymor byr, y tymor canolig a’r tymor hwy, wrth inni geisio gwella, yn amlwg, gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd ledled Cymru ac ar sail drawsffiniol.
In your statement, you say Transport for Wales will work with Welsh Government's new regional teams, emerging transport regional authorities and partners to create an integrated transport network. In this context, you'll be aware of the growth deal bid from north Wales that was submitted in a few days before Christmas, with negotiations due to commence with both Welsh Government and UK Government early this year. What, therefore, is the expected timescale for those negotiations?
Given your instruction, in your statement, to Transport for Wales to bring forward proposals for a north Wales office, how do you respond to the growth bid's invitation to the Welsh Government to support the formation of a regional transport body to deliver strategic transport planning and projects in north Wales, on a region-wide basis, with powers delegated to the body from local authorities and Welsh Government to allow it to operate in an executive capacity, with a regional transport fund of £150 million over 10 years, including the Welsh Government's existing £50 million for the north Wales metro commitment?
Would you also tell me why there's been no Welsh Government conversation with Bus Users Cymru regarding rail-bus integration? What is Transport for Wales doing regarding bus passenger representation, as well as engagement with sector providers?
Clearly, you will be aware of D Jones & Son, Acrefair bus operators, ceasing to operate just before Christmas, following the demise of GHA Coaches in 2016. Concerns were raised by Llyr earlier regarding the impact on Wrexham business or industrial park, and employees not being able to get home between 5 and 6 in the evening. How, therefore, do you respond to a concern raised with me, with you in writing, by the lead member for transport at Wrexham, but also by representatives of the Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru, Bus Users Cymru, Traveline Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association in the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee last week, that there would be no tangible actions or outcomes coming out from the bus summit in January 2016 and the workshops that followed?
And, finally, it's a question actually from a Flintshire resident and constituent who travels cross-border, and is in the context of cross-border provision: what action do you propose where the integrated conurbation of Deeside and Merseyside is only linked by an 'unlit, single lane trunk road, with the A550 road blocked or choked every day' as people from north Wales travel between Deeside, Flintshire, north Wales and the Wirral and Merseyside? Thank you.
Yn eich datganiad, rydych chi'n dweud y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda thimau rhanbarthol newydd Llywodraeth Cymru, awdurdodau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol newydd a phartneriaid i greu rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth integredig. Yn y cyd-destun hwn, byddwch yn ymwybodol o'r cais bargen twf o'r gogledd a gyflwynwyd mewn rhai dyddiau cyn y Nadolig, ac y dylai’r trafodaethau ddechrau gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU yn gynnar eleni. Beth, felly, yw’r amserlen ddisgwyliedig ar gyfer y trafodaethau hynny?
O ystyried eich cyfarwyddyd, yn eich datganiad, i Drafnidiaeth Cymru gyflwyno cynigion ar gyfer swyddfa yn y gogledd, sut yr ydych yn ymateb i wahoddiad y cais twf i Lywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi ffurfio corff trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol i ymgymryd â chynllunio a phrosiectau trafnidiaeth strategol yn y gogledd, ar sail rhanbarth cyfan, a phwerau wedi’u dirprwyo i'r corff gan awdurdodau lleol a Llywodraeth Cymru i ganiatáu iddo weithredu mewn capasiti gweithredol, â chronfa trafnidiaeth ranbarthol o £150 miliwn dros 10 mlynedd, gan gynnwys y £50 miliwn presennol gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ymrwymiad metro’r gogledd?
A wnewch chi hefyd ddweud wrthyf i pam nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael sgwrs â Defnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru ynghylch integreiddio rheilffyrdd a bysiau? Beth mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gynrychioli teithwyr bws, yn ogystal ag ymgysylltu â darparwyr yn y sector?
Yn amlwg, byddwch yn gwybod bod D Jones a'i fab, gweithredwyr bysiau yn Acrefair, wedi rhoi'r gorau i weithredu cyn y Nadolig, yn dilyn tranc Bysiau GHA yn 2016. Codwyd pryderon gan Llyr yn gynharach ynghylch yr effaith ar barc busnes neu ddiwydiannol Wrecsam, a’r ffaith na allai gweithwyr gyrraedd adref rhwng 5 a 6 y nos. Sut, felly, yr ydych yn ymateb i bryder a godwyd gyda mi, gyda chi yn ysgrifenedig, gan yr aelod arweiniol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth yn Wrecsam, ond hefyd gan gynrychiolwyr Cydffederasiwn Cludiant Teithwyr Cymru, Defnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru, Traveline Cymru a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn y Pwyllgor Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau yr wythnos diwethaf, na fyddai dim camau gweithredu na chanlyniadau pendant yn dod allan o'r uwchgynhadledd bysiau ym mis Ionawr 2016 a’r gweithdai a ddilynodd hynny?
Ac, yn olaf, cwestiwn gan un o drigolion Sir y Fflint ac etholwr sy'n teithio’n drawsffiniol, ac yng nghyd-destun darpariaeth drawsffiniol: pa gamau yr ydych yn cynnig eu cymryd lle mae’r unig gyswllt rhwng cytref integredig Glannau Dyfrdwy a Glannau Mersi yw 'cefnffordd lôn sengl, heb oleuadau, â ffordd yr A550 wedi’i blocio neu’n dagfa bob dydd' wrth i bobl o'r gogledd deithio rhwng Glannau Dyfrdwy, Sir y Fflint, yn y gogledd a Chilgwri a Glannau Mersi? Diolch.
There were a number of questions there, even though I only asked for one now, but never mind.
Roedd sawl cwestiwn yn y fan yna, er imi ofyn am un yn unig nawr, ond pa ots.
Yes, a significant number of questions, but I'll try to address all of them. First of all, with regard to the growth bid, of course we'll be scrutinising each of the proposals during the negotiation stage. I'd very much welcome, as I said in my statement, the creation of regional transport authorities to ensure that we've got integrated transport planned on a regional and—in the case of north Wales—on a cross-border basis. We've already established the north Wales and north-east Wales metro steering group and it's developing a programme of work to bring together a package of interventions that reflects not just local, but also regional, improvements. The programme will also include cross-border improvements and the focus will be on creating integrated transport hubs at key employment sites across north Wales and, of course, across the Mersey-Dee area. It's about better connectivity, not just within, but also to, from and between the hubs.
In terms of Bus Users Cymru, I'm surprised that the Member states that, given that we have regular dialogue with them and given that we've currently got a consultation taking place on bus transport, and we've had two consultations taking place in the past 12 months. A further consultation will be taking place this spring concerning the detailed proposals for future legislation and I very much look forward to Bus Users Cymru providing their input into that consultation.
In terms of the fragility of local bus services, the Member must surely recognise that this is in no small part due to deregulation in 1986, and, of course, it's absolutely vital that local authorities take their role and responsibility seriously. Unfortunately, it appears that Wrexham council, which I believe is run by independents and Conservatives, has reduced their support for non-commercial bus services, I believe, to zero, and that's in stark contrast to the £25 million that we, a Welsh Labour Government, have maintained over many years.
In addition, I made available £300,000 for the region, for north-east Wales, to be able to deal with the collapse of GHA and the fragility of the local bus network. It's for those three local authorities—Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire—to work together to ensure that bus services are given support by local authorities, collectively and individually, to ensure that communities are served by them. And in terms of the summit that took place last year, one of the main benefits of that summit was—it formed part of the five-point plan—the introduction of bus companies, particularly those small and vulnerable bus companies, to Business Wales advisers and support services. As a consequence of that, a number of companies have been given practical advice on how to weather the storm of austerity and fragility within the deregulated system. But, longer term, that deregulated system has to be addressed, and it will be, through legislation, and we will be consulting on that in the coming months.
I was surprised to hear, also, criticism of a lack of investment in cross-border roads in north-east Wales, given our commitment of over £200 million to the Flintshire corridor, which offers one of the most important arteries. A significant upgrade will relieve congestion between Flintshire and the Wirral.
Oedd, nifer sylweddol o gwestiynau, ond gwnaf i geisio ateb pob un ohonyn nhw. Yn gyntaf oll, o ran y cais twf, wrth gwrs byddwn yn craffu ar bob un o'r cynigion yn ystod y cyfnod trafod. Byddwn yn sicr yn croesawu, fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad, creu awdurdodau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol i sicrhau bod gennym drafnidiaeth integredig wedi'i chynllunio’n rhanbarthol ac—yn achos y gogledd—yn drawsffiniol. Rydym eisoes wedi sefydlu grŵp llywio’r gogledd a metro’r gogledd-ddwyrain ac maen nhw'n datblygu rhaglen waith i lunio pecyn o ymyriadau sy'n adlewyrchu gwelliannau nid yn unig yn lleol ond hefyd yn rhanbarthol. Bydd y rhaglen hefyd yn cynnwys gwelliannau trawsffiniol a bydd y pwyslais ar greu canolfannau trafnidiaeth integredig ar safleoedd cyflogaeth allweddol ledled y gogledd ac, wrth gwrs, ledled ardal Mersi a Dyfrdwy. Mae'n fater o well cysylltiadau, nid yn unig yn y canolfannau, ond hefyd i fynd atyn nhw, oddi wrthyn nhw a rhyngddyn nhw.
O ran Defnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru, rwy’n synnu bod yr Aelod yn dweud hynny, o gofio ein bod yn cael deialog reolaidd gyda nhw ac o gofio bod gennym ymgynghoriad yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd ar drafnidiaeth bysiau, a’n bod wedi cynnal dau ymgynghoriad yn y 12 mis diwethaf. Bydd ymgynghoriad arall yn digwydd y gwanwyn hwn ynghylch y cynigion manwl ar gyfer deddfwriaeth y dyfodol ac rwy'n sicr yn edrych ymlaen at weld Defnyddwyr Bysiau Cymru yn cyfrannu at yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw.
O ran pa mor fregus yw'r gwasanaethau bws lleol, rhaid i'r Aelod, siawns, gydnabod bod y dadreoleiddio yn 1986 yn rheswm mawr dros hyn, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod awdurdodau lleol yn cymryd eu swyddogaeth a'u cyfrifoldeb o ddifrif. Yn anffodus, mae'n ymddangos bod Cyngor Wrecsam, o dan reolaeth annibynwyr a'r Ceidwadwyr, credaf, wedi gostwng eu cefnogaeth i wasanaethau bysiau anfasnachol, rwy'n credu, i sero; mae hynny’n wrthgyferbyniad llwyr i’r £25 miliwn yr ydym ni, Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru, wedi ei gynnal dros lawer o flynyddoedd.
Yn ogystal â hynny, fe wnes i ddarparu £300,000 i’r rhanbarth, i’r gogledd-ddwyrain, i allu ymdrin â chwymp GHA a pha mor fregus yw'r rhwydwaith bysiau lleol. Mae gofyn i’r tri awdurdod lleol hynny—Sir Ddinbych, Wrecsam a Sir y Fflint—weithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau bysiau’n cael cefnogaeth gan awdurdodau lleol, ar y cyd ac yn unigol, i sicrhau eu bod yn gwasanaethu cymunedau. Ac o ran yr uwchgynhadledd a gynhaliwyd y llynedd, un o brif fanteision yr uwchgynhadledd honno oedd—roedd yn rhan o’r cynllun pum pwynt—cyflwyno cwmnïau bysiau, yn enwedig y cwmnïau bysiau bach a bregus hynny, i gynghorwyr a gwasanaethau cymorth Busnes Cymru. O ganlyniad, mae nifer o gwmnïau wedi cael cyngor ymarferol ynghylch sut i oroesi'r storm o galedi a bregusrwydd yn y system ddadreoleiddiedig. Ond, yn fwy hirdymor, rhaid rhoi sylw i’r system ddadreoledig honno, a bydd hynny’n digwydd, drwy ddeddfwriaeth, a byddwn yn ymgynghori am hynny yn y misoedd nesaf.
Roeddwn yn synnu o glywed, hefyd, beirniadaeth ynghylch diffyg buddsoddiad mewn ffyrdd trawsffiniol yn y gogledd-ddwyrain, o ystyried ein bod wedi ymrwymo dros £200 miliwn i goridor Sir y Fflint, sy'n cynnig un o'r llwybrau pwysicaf. Caiff ei uwchraddio’n sylweddol i liniaru tagfeydd rhwng Sir y Fflint a Chilgwri.
What is it about the UK Government that makes it so difficult for them to come up with timely decisions in relation to Wales? I don't expect you to answer that, but, you know, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales are geared up for this, but the UK Government has yet to transfer the powers to enable us to award the preferred bidder status, agree the contract, and still have a new service seamlessly transferred by October.
I am interested in the fact that you talk about station improvements, electrification and signalling for the south Wales metro, but I'm more keen to hear about trams, light rail and integrated ticketing, which seem to me the key issues, rather than getting ourselves in too much of a knot around the electrification of the Valleys lines. We need to have much more effective solutions to produce the outcomes that we need. I wondered if you could say about that.
Beth sy'n bod ar Lywodraeth y DU sy'n ei gwneud mor anodd iddyn nhw wneud penderfyniadau amserol ynglŷn â Chymru? Nid wyf yn disgwyl ichi ateb hynny, ond, wyddoch chi, mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Thrafnidiaeth Cymru yn barod am hyn, ond nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi trosglwyddo'r pwerau i'n galluogi i ddyfarnu statws cynigydd a ffefrir, cytuno ar y contract, a dal i allu trosglwyddo gwasanaeth newydd yn ddi-dor erbyn mis Hydref.
Mae gennyf ddiddordeb yn y ffaith eich bod yn sôn am wella gorsafoedd, trydaneiddio a signalau ar gyfer metro’r de, ond rwyf fi’n fwy awyddus i glywed am dramiau, rheilffyrdd ysgafn a thocynnau integredig; mae’n ymddangos i mi mai’r rheini yw’r materion allweddol, yn hytrach na mynd i ormod o ffwdan ynglŷn â thrydaneiddio rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd. Mae angen atebion llawer mwy effeithiol arnom er mwyn cynhyrchu’r canlyniadau sydd eu hangen. Tybed a allech ddweud am hynny.
Yes, I've taken a great degree of interest in Mersey Travel's schemes and the way that they integrate ticketing and ensure that there is a very transparent and sure way of paying for services. Transport for Wales is going to be tasked with ensuring that there is integrated ticketing and affordable, accessible transport for all, and a fares regime that is also fair.
I would agree with the rhetorical question and the basis of the rhetorical question. The UK Government does indeed appear to be struggling to support many parts of Wales in terms of rail infrastructure. We've only enjoyed something in the region of 1 to 1.5 per cent of investment in the Wales and borders route in the previous Assembly term, and that's in spite of it amounting to more than 5 per cent of the overall UK network. We've also seen the UK Government fail, to date, to support the Swansea lagoon, electrification, and I must say that I'm only glad that they're not in charge of Swansea City Association Football Club, because if they were, I don't think there would be any hope of them staying up in the premiership.
Ydw, rwyf wedi bod â llawer o ddiddordeb yng nghynlluniau Mersey Travel a’r ffordd y maen nhw'n integreiddio tocynnau ac yn sicrhau ffordd dryloyw a chadarn iawn o dalu am wasanaethau. Bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gyfrifol am sicrhau tocynnau integredig a thrafnidiaeth fforddiadwy a hygyrch i bawb, a chyfundrefn brisiau sydd hefyd yn deg.
Byddwn yn cytuno â’r cwestiwn rhethregol ac â sail y cwestiwn rhethregol. Mae’n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth y DU wir yn ei chael yn anodd cefnogi llawer o rannau o Gymru o ran seilwaith rheilffyrdd. Dim ond tuag 1 i 1.5 y cant o fuddsoddiad yr ydym wedi’i gael yn y llwybr Cymru a'r gororau yn ystod tymor blaenorol y Cynulliad, ac mae hynny er ei fod yn fwy na 5 y cant o holl rwydwaith y DU. Rydym hefyd wedi gweld Llywodraeth y DU yn methu, hyd yma, â chefnogi morlyn Abertawe, trydaneiddio, a rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn falch nad nhw sy’n gyfrifol am Glwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe, oherwydd pe baen nhw, dydw i ddim yn meddwl y byddai unrhyw obaith iddyn nhw aros yn yr uwch gynghrair.
Thank you. Lee Waters.
Diolch. Lee Waters.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and in deference to you, I will be brief and ask just one question. I'm pleased to see in the statement that you say Transport for Wales will be looking at the whole journey door to door. I presume that therefore includes active travel as those key links at either end of the journey. Can you confirm that is the intention, because it's not mentioned in the statement? And if that is the case, will you make sure that the skills and capacity within Transport for Wales exists to be able to take action on active travel, because that is palpably missing at both central and local government level at the moment? Thank you.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, ac o barch tuag atoch chi, byddaf yn gryno a gofyn un cwestiwn yn unig. Rwy’n falch o weld yn y datganiad eich bod yn dweud y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn edrych ar y daith gyfan o ddrws i ddrws. Rwy'n cymryd felly fod hynny'n cynnwys teithio llesol fel y cysylltiadau allweddol hynny ar ddau ben y daith. A allwch chi gadarnhau mai dyna yw'r bwriad, oherwydd nid oes sôn amdano yn y datganiad? Ac os felly, a fyddwch chi'n gwneud yn siŵr bod y sgiliau a’r capasiti o fewn Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn bodoli i allu gweithredu ar deithio llesol, oherwydd mae hynny’n amlwg ar goll ar lefel llywodraeth ganolog a lleol ar hyn o bryd? Diolch.
Yes. Can I thank Lee Waters for his question and say, yes, potentially, active travel would fall within Transport for Wales, but it would also require additional skills in order to make sure that active travel solutions are fit for purpose and also take account of the door-to-door nature of many journeys that people take?
Ie. A gaf i ddiolch i Lee Waters am ei gwestiwn a dweud, byddai, o bosibl, byddai teithio llesol o fewn cwmpas Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ond byddai angen sgiliau ychwanegol hefyd i wneud yn siŵr bod datrysiadau teithio llesol yn addas at y diben a hefyd yn ystyried natur o ddrws i ddrws llawer o’r teithiau y mae pobl yn eu gwneud?
Cabinet Secretary, I welcome your comments about people being central to the delivery of transport policy. In my constituency, there is a debate as to whether bus or train links would best serve one local community under any future metro scheme. What mechanisms will be built in for community consultation, so that services can be shaped to meet the needs and demands of local people?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy’n croesawu eich sylwadau bod pobl yn ganolog i gyflawni polisi trafnidiaeth. Yn fy etholaeth i, ceir dadl ynghylch pa un a cysylltiadau bws neu trên fyddai’n gwasanaethu un gymuned leol orau o dan unrhyw gynllun metro yn y dyfodol. Pa fecanweithiau a fydd wedi’u cynnwys er mwyn ymgynghori â chymunedau, fel y gellir llunio gwasanaethau i fodloni anghenion a gofynion pobl leol?
Well, the bidders have all been invited to offer the best solutions, not just in terms of value for money, but the best solutions in terms of being able to connect communities and connect employment hubs. Those solutions could combine different forms of travel, but it's essential that, as the design of the metro commences, communities and stakeholders do form part of a partnership approach, so that the solutions that are eventually determined are those that are supported by the people that are eventually going to be using the services.
Wel, mae’r cynigwyr i gyd wedi cael eu gwahodd i gynnig yr atebion gorau, nid dim ond o ran gwerth am arian, ond yr atebion gorau o ran gallu cysylltu cymunedau a chysylltu canolfannau cyflogaeth. Gallai’r atebion gyfuno gwahanol fathau o deithio, ond mae'n hanfodol, wrth i’r broses o gynllunio’r metro gychwyn, bod cymunedau a rhanddeiliaid yn rhan o ddull partneriaeth, fel bod yr atebion a ddewisir yn y pen draw yn rhai sy'n cael eu cefnogi gan y bobl a fydd yn defnyddio'r gwasanaethau yn y pen draw.
Thank you very much. Thanks, Cabinet Secretary.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
We move on to item 5, which is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs on the food and drink industry, and I call on Lesley Griffiths, as the Cabinet Secretary, to introduce the statement.
Symudwn ymlaen at eitem 5, sef datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ynni, Cynllunio a Materion Gwledig ynglŷn â'r diwydiant bwyd a diod, a galwaf ar Lesley Griffiths, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, i gyflwyno'r datganiad.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Our Welsh food and drink industry continues to go from strength to strength. Since I last addressed Plenary, in November 2016, the industry’s sales turnover has increased strongly from £6.1 billion to £6.9 billion. We stand on the threshold of the £7 billion target of 'Towards Sustainable Growth', the food and drink action plan set in 2014, to be reached by 2020. This is tremendous progress. It reflects the hard work and effort by businesses across Wales, large and small. It is a result for forward thinking strategy and for the determined action to see it through. It is an outcome founded on partnership, working directly with businesses, our expert food technology centres, and the food and drink Wales industry board.
Over the last 12 months there have been many successes. BlasCymru/TasteWales was Wales’s first international trade event. It put Wales on the map in our aspiration to be a food nation. Business generated is projected to reach over £22 million. BlasCymru/TasteWales will become our signature showcase event in bringing Wales to the world, and also the world to Wales, with the next event planned for March 2019.
Last November, we held a celebration of our Great Taste awards winners and our protected food name products. Yet again, the industry has done extremely well, with 165 Great Taste winners at the 2017 UK awards. Our tally of protected food name products has risen to 14, with six having gained this European status in 2017. Protected food names are an internationally-recognised badge of authenticity and originality. Collectively, these winners are building our reputation and brand, placing us on a global stage.
Our successes are built on focused direction and support, which is creating confidence and providing the means for businesses to do more. Our business support packages have invested in innovation, in marketing and in our people. Investment approved through the food business investment scheme now stands at nearly £30 million approved for 34 expanding businesses. Project Helix is encouraging a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and, supported by an investment of £21 million, practical support is delivering new products and processes to meet market demand and maximise value.
Our business cluster programme revolves around six key clusters and special interest groups, involving 410 businesses actively engaged in important business areas of the food and drink action plan. As common interest groups, clusters are a powerful engine for driving growth, opening new opportunities, adding value and creating stronger supply chains.
However, this is not just about the numbers. Food is about people—their health and well-being. At the grass roots, the Cabinet Secretary for Education has provided £0.5 million to support a school holiday anti-hunger initiative for primary schools. At the strategic level, work is starting on an obesity strategy for Wales.
Of course, Brexit remains a huge challenge. We must embrace change in mindset, processes and structures. Brexit is causing a worrying level of uncertainty about what the next few years will bring. The Welsh Government has voiced strong concerns about the UK Government’s stance. The wrong decisions and a poor Brexit deal will have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences.
I am facing the challenge and responding by increasing the pace and intensity of the Welsh Government’s effort and support. I've allocated an additional £2.8 million investment for a fit-for-market sector readiness programme and essential preparation to deliver new initiatives and to expand the support initiatives already under way. This new investment will support and help to futureproof the food and drink action plan and support the skills needed by our people.
In the autumn I attended Invest in Skills, Invest in Growth, the first Welsh food and drinks skills conference. I listened to what the industry was telling me, and it’s loud and clear: it has significant skills gaps, which Brexit could make worse by the uncertainty faced by our valued EU migrant workers. My message is clear to them: we value your contribution and we want you to stay in Wales. I announced the need to develop an employability and skills plan for the industry, and the board will be inviting discussion on draft measures at a follow-up conference next month.
A strong international presence is central to raising our profile and realises our vision to position Wales as a food nation capable of supplying the UK and international markets. At Anuga, Cologne’s global food and drink trade fair, I announced an additional £1.5 million for our red meat agency partner Hybu Cig Cymru to deliver an enhanced export development programme, specifically for market access in new markets and defending the current position. Although exports grew to £436 million in 2016, our most important market is the UK, where we trade the greatest level of production. Brexit requires a significant realignment of food industry supply chains. We will build on import opportunities and seek to substitute Welsh food and drink products. We are working with retailers and food service businesses, the Wales Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Wales industry board to make this happen.
The interest in our wonderful Welsh food and drink has never been greater. The quality, service and originality of the Welsh offer are recognised across the world. We know consumer interest in Welsh products is increasing across the UK, with people perceiving the inherent value of Welshness. We will build on these values to support brand Wales.
We stand at the halfway point of 'Towards Sustainable Growth', our increasingly successful action plan to 2020, and close to reaching our headline target. Wales's food and drink industry is a huge asset. It contributes increasingly to our economy and is now rightly recognised as a foundation sector with priority status in 'Prosperity for All', in the Welsh Government's new action plan for the economy. It generates wealth and strengthens the economy regionally and nationally. It creates jobs and careers where skills matter. It adds value to our agricultural produce and it brings prestige to our nation, with a growing profile and reputation throughout the world.
Through continued focus on what works, and through an internal and external readiness for Brexit, we will be fully fit for market, with industry structures that are optimal for performance. I have every confidence we will continue to succeed, and, with leadership and good skills support, make the best of Brexit and deliver for Wales.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae ein diwydiant bwyd a diod yng Nghymru yn parhau i fynd o nerth i nerth. Ers y tro diwethaf imi annerch y cyfarfod llawn, ym mis Tachwedd 2016, mae trosiant gwerthiant y diwydiant wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol o £6.1 biliwn i £6.9 biliwn. Rydym ni ar drothwy'r targed o £7 biliwn yn 'Tuag at Dwf Cynaliadwy', y cynllun gweithredu bwyd a diod a bennwyd yn 2014, i'w gyrraedd erbyn 2020. Mae hyn yn gynnydd aruthrol. Mae'n adlewyrchu'r gwaith caled a'r ymdrech gan fusnesau ledled Cymru, yn fawr ac yn fach. Mae'n ganlyniad strategaeth flaengar a chamau pendant i'w chyflawni. Mae'n ganlyniad sy'n seiliedig ar bartneriaeth, gweithio'n uniongyrchol gyda busnesau, ein canolfannau technoleg bwyd arbenigol, a bwrdd diwydiant bwyd a diod Cymru.
Dros y 12 mis diwethaf, bu llawer o lwyddiannau. BlasCymru/TasteWales oedd digwyddiad masnach ryngwladol cyntaf Cymru. Rhoddodd Gymru ar y map o ran ein dyhead i fod yn genedl bwyd. Rhagwelir y bydd gwerth y busnes a gynhyrchwyd yn cyrraedd dros £22 miliwn. BlasCymru/TasteWales fydd ein harddangosfa arbennig i ddod â Chymru i'r byd, a hefyd y byd i Gymru, ac mae'r digwyddiad nesaf wedi'i drefnu ar gyfer mis Mawrth 2019.
Fis Tachwedd diwethaf, cynhaliwyd dathliad o'n henillwyr yn y gwobrau Great Taste a'n cynhyrchion ag enwau bwyd gwarchodedig. Unwaith eto, mae'r diwydiant wedi gwneud yn hynod o dda, a chafwyd 165 o enillwyr Great Taste yng ngwobrau y DU yn 2017. Mae ein cyfanswm o gynhyrchion ag enwau bwyd gwarchodedig wedi cynyddu i 14, ac enillodd chwech y statws Ewropeaidd hwn yn 2017. Mae enwau bwyd gwarchodedig yn gydnabyddiaeth fyd-eang o ddilysrwydd a gwreiddioldeb. Gyda'i gilydd, mae'r enillwyr hyn yn datblygu ein henw da a'n brand, gan ein rhoi ar lwyfan byd-eang.
Mae ein llwyddiannau yn seiliedig ar gymorth a chyfeiriad penodol, sy'n creu hyder ac sy'n fodd i fusnesau wneud mwy. Mae ein pecynnau cymorth busnes wedi buddsoddi mewn arloesi, mewn marchnata ac yn ein pobl. Mae'r buddsoddiad a gymeradwywyd drwy'r cynllun buddsoddi mewn busnesau bwyd bellach yn agos i £30 miliwn, a hynny wedi'i gymeradwyo ar gyfer 34 o fusnesau sy'n ehangu. Mae Project Helix yn annog diwylliant o arloesi ac entrepreneuriaeth, a, gyda buddsoddiad o £21 miliwn, mae cymorth ymarferol yn darparu cynhyrchion a phrosesau newydd i ddiwallu'r galw yn y farchnad ac i sicrhau'r gwerth gorau.
Mae ein rhaglen clwstwr busnes yn seiliedig ar ryw chwe chlwstwr a grŵp diddordeb arbennig allweddol, sy'n cynnwys 410 o fusnesau sy'n cymryd rhan weithredol ym meysydd busnes pwysig y cynllun gweithredu bwyd a diod. Fel grwpiau diddordeb cyffredin, mae clystyrau yn fodd grymus o ysgogi twf, cynnig cyfleoedd newydd, ychwanegu gwerth a chreu cadwyni cyflenwi cryfach.
Fodd bynnag, rydym ni'n son am fwy na dim ond rhifau. Mae bwyd yn ymwneud â phobl—eu hiechyd a'u lles. Ar lawr gwlad, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg wedi darparu £0.5 miliwn i gefnogi menter gwrth-newyn yn ystod y gwyliau ysgol ar gyfer ysgolion cynradd. Ar lefel strategol, mae gwaith yn dechrau ar strategaeth gordewdra ar gyfer Cymru.
Wrth gwrs, mae Brexit yn dal i fod yn her enfawr. Rhaid inni groesawu newid mewn meddylfryd, prosesau a strwythurau. Mae Brexit yn achosi ansicrwydd ynghylch yr hyn a ddaw yn y blynyddoedd nesaf, ac mae'r ansicrwydd hynny'n peri pryder. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi mynegi pryderon mawr ynglŷn â safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU. Bydd y penderfyniadau anghywir a bargen Brexit wael yn cael effaith hirdymor a phellgyrhaeddol.
Rwyf yn wynebu'r her ac yn ymateb drwy gynyddu cyflymder a dwysedd ymdrech a chefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwyf wedi dyrannu buddsoddiad ychwanegol o £2.8 miliwn ar gyfer rhaglen parodrwydd sector sy'n addas ar gyfer y farchnad, a gwaith paratoi hanfodol ar gyfer cyflawni mentrau newydd ac ehangu mentrau cymorth sydd eisoes ar waith. Bydd y buddsoddiad newydd hwn yn cefnogi ac yn helpu i ddiogelu'r cynllun gweithredu bwyd a diod ac yn cefnogi'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar ein pobl.
Yn yr hydref es i Buddsoddi mewn Sgiliau, Buddsoddi mewn Twf, y gynhadledd sgiliau bwyd a diod gyntaf yng Nghymru. Gwrandewais ar yr hyn yr oedd y diwydiant yn ei ddweud wrthyf, ac mae'n glir: mae bylchau sgiliau sylweddol, a allai wneud Brexit yn waeth yn sgil yr ansicrwydd y mae ein gweithwyr mudol gwerthfawr o'r UE yn ei wynebu. Mae fy neges yn glir iddyn nhw: rydym yn gwerthfawrogi eich cyfraniad ac rydym ni yn dymuno i chi aros yng Nghymru. Cyhoeddais yr angen i ddatblygu cynllun cyflogadwyedd a sgiliau ar gyfer y diwydiant, a bydd y bwrdd yn gwahodd trafodaeth ar fesurau drafft mewn cynhadledd ddilynol fis nesaf.
Mae presenoldeb rhyngwladol cryf yn ganolog i hyrwyddo'n hunain ac i wireddu ein gweledigaeth o roi Cymru mewn sefyllfa lle mae hi'n genedl fwyd sy'n gallu cyflenwi y DU a marchnadoedd rhyngwladol. Yn Anuga, ffair fasnach bwyd a diod fyd-eang Cologne, cyhoeddais £1.5 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer ein hasiantaeth partner cig coch Hybu Cig Cymru i sicrhau rhaglen datblygu allforio well, yn benodol ar gyfer mynediad i farchnadoedd newydd ac amddiffyn y sefyllfa bresennol. Er bod allforio wedi cynyddu i £436 miliwn yn 2016, ein marchnad bwysicaf yw'r DU, lle'r ydym ni'n masnachu'r lefel uchaf o gynnyrch. Yn sgil Brexit mae angen ad-drefnu cadwyni cyflenwi'r diwydiant bwyd yn sylweddol. Byddwn yn adeiladu ar gyfleoedd mewnforio ac yn ceisio cyflenwi cynhyrchion bwyd a diod Cymru yn lle. Rydym yn gweithio gyda manwerthwyr a busnesau gwasanaeth bwyd, Consortiwm Manwerthu Cymru a bwrdd diwydiant bwyd a diod Cymru i gyflawni hyn
Ni fu erioed mwy o ddiddordeb yn ein bwyd a diod rhagorol o Gymru. Caiff ansawdd, gwasanaeth a gwreiddioldeb yr hyn y mae Cymru yn ei gynnig ei gydnabod ledled y byd. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod diddordeb defnyddwyr mewn cynnyrch Cymreig yn cynyddu ar draws y DU, ac mae pobl yn gweld gwerth cynhenid Cymreictod. Byddwn yn adeiladu ar y gwerthoedd hyn i gefnogi brand Cymru.
Rydym ni hanner ffordd tuag at gyflawni 'Tuag at Dwf Cynaliadwy', ein cynllun gweithredu cynyddol lwyddiannus hyd at 2020, ac rydym yn agos at gyrraedd ein prif darged. Mae diwydiant bwyd a diod Cymru yn ased enfawr. Mae'n cyfrannu fwyfwy at ein heconomi ac yn awr yn cael ei gydnabod yn briodol yn sector sylfaenol gyda statws blaenoriaeth yn 'Ffyniant i Bawb', yng nghynllun gweithredu newydd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer yr economi. Mae'n cynhyrchu cyfoeth ac yn cryfhau'r economi yn rhanbarthol ac yn genedlaethol. Mae'n creu swyddi a gyrfaoedd lle mae sgiliau yn bwysig. Mae'n ychwanegu gwerth at ein cynnyrch amaethyddol ac yn sicrhau bri ar gyfer ein cenedl, gydag amlygrwydd cynyddol ac enw da ledled y byd.
Drwy roi pwyslais parhaus ar yr hyn sy'n gweithio, a thrwy barodrwydd mewnol ac allanol ar gyfer Brexit, byddwn yn gwbl addas ar gyfer y farchnad, gyda'r strwythurau diwydiant gorau o ran perfformiad. Rwyf yn ffyddiog iawn y byddwn yn parhau i lwyddo, a, gydag arweiniad a chefnogaeth sgiliau da, yn gwneud y gorau o Brexit ac yn cyflawni ar gyfer Cymru.
Thank you. Paul Davies.
Diolch, Paul Davies.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement this afternoon? This statement is particularly timely as this morning I hosted the annual Farmers Union of Wales farmhouse breakfast in the Pierhead, which gave Members a great opportunity to sample a hearty Welsh breakfast and to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges facing the Welsh food and drink sector.
Now, we on this side of the Chamber share the Cabinet Secretary's ambition to grow the sector by 30 per cent by 2020, and it's great to see in today's statement that the sector has continued to grow. Of course, that also means that, as Britain prepares to leave the European Union, it's absolutely crucial that Governments at all levels are working together to prioritise our food and drink industry and ensure that our domestic market remains strong.
I appreciate that the Welsh Government has been reviewing its export support for Welsh food and drink businesses, but perhaps the Cabinet Secretary could provide us with some more detail on the Welsh Government's work in this area, both in the short and longer term, so that we can better understand the Government's strategic objectives. It's crucial that Welsh producers reach new markets, and today's statement references BlasCymru, which has been a success. However, I'd be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could provide a bit more detail on how BlasCymru has identified technological advances in the food and drink industry and bridged together Welsh businesses with academic institutions and research providers.
Now, I'm sure that all Members would agree that it's important that more can and should be done to promote Welsh produce, not just abroad, but here at home too, given that our most important market is the UK. Indeed, research conducted by Food and Drink Wales showed that the value of Welshness is growing and that more and more people across Wales would prefer to buy more Welsh products, but are hampered by availability. In light of the recent 'Value of Welshness' report, could the Cabinet Secretary confirm what new approaches are being considered to ensure Welsh produce is made more available to domestic consumers? Could she also tell us what discussions the Welsh Government has had with supermarkets and retailers about ways in which they could help promote Welsh produce more locally?
Now, one of the food and drink action plan's key actions is to address the skills gaps across the food supply chain through devising and revising the current training and skills programme. Now, today's statement refers to an employability and skills plan for the industry, and I note the Cabinet Secretary will be inviting discussion on draft measures at a follow-up conference next month. As the Cabinet Secretary is already aware, I've long supported the need to demonstrate measurable outcomes in this area, so perhaps she will now commit to publishing job creation statistics alongside the publication of this particular plan.
Now, it's essential that all parts of Wales are receiving funding for food and drink projects, and that funding isn't consolidated to certain parts of Wales—projects and producers from all corners of Wales must feel supported by the Welsh Government. So, therefore, will the Cabinet Secretary commit to publishing the amount of Welsh Government funding that has been allocated to the food and drink industry by local authority, so that Members can be confident that all funding streams are transparent and that all parts of Wales are receiving their fair share of any Welsh Government funding?
I'm pleased that today's statement recognises that a strong food strategy is integral to the Welsh Government's public health objectives, and that the Cabinet Secretary for Education has provided additional funds in this particular area. It's crucial that the Welsh Government develops a healthy lifestyle eating culture in schools, including projects around the growing, preparing and cooking of food, as well as learning about balancing diet and exercise. Therefore, I'd be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could tell us a bit more about the actions that have been taken to meet this particular objective, so that we can better understand the Welsh Government's progress in this area.
And, finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, I'm delighted that the food and drink plan proposed that a food festival association should be developed, and I hope that in responding to this the Cabinet Secretary will outline more about the specific action and update us on the work of the food festival association.
Therefore, in closing, can I once again thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement? I look forward to hearing more about the Welsh Government's plans to protect the sustainability of the Welsh food and drink sector in both the short term and longer term. Thank you.
Diolch i chi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei datganiad y prynhawn yma? Mae'r datganiad hwn yn arbennig o amserol oherwydd y bore 'ma cynhaliais frecwast ffermdy blynyddol Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru yn y Pierhead, a roddodd gyfle gwych i Aelodau flasu brecwast Cymreig sylweddol a thrafod rhai o'r cyfleoedd a'r heriau sy'n wynebu sector bwyd a diod Cymru.
Nawr, rydym ni ar yr ochr hon o'r Siambr yn rhannu uchelgais Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i dyfu'r sector wrth 30 y cant erbyn 2020, ac mae'n braf gweld yn natganiad heddiw fod y sector yn parhau i dyfu. Wrth gwrs, mae hynny hefyd yn golygu, fel y mae Prydain yn paratoi i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ei bod hi'n gwbl hanfodol bod llywodraethau ar bob lefel yn cydweithio i flaenoriaethu ein diwydiant bwyd a diod a sicrhau bod ein marchnad ddomestig yn dal yn gryf.
Rwy'n sylweddoli y bu Llywodraeth Cymru yn adolygu ei chefnogaeth allforio i fusnesau bwyd a diod Cymru, ond efallai y gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi ychydig mwy o fanylion i ni ynglŷn â gwaith Llywodraeth Cymru yn y maes hwn, yn y tymor byr ac yn fwy hirdymor, fel y gallwn ni ddeall yn well amcanion strategol y Llywodraeth. Mae'n hollbwysig bod cynhyrchwyr yng Nghymru yn cyrraedd marchnadoedd newydd, ac mae'r datganiad heddiw yn cyfeirio at BlasCymru, sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiant. Fodd bynnag, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi ychydig mwy o fanylion ynglŷn â sut mae BlasCymru wedi nodi datblygiadau technolegol yn y diwydiant bwyd a diod a phontio busnesau Cymru â sefydliadau academaidd a darparwyr ymchwil gyda'i gilydd.
Nawr, rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob aelod yn cytuno ei bod hi'n bwysig y gellid ac y dylid gwneud mwy i hyrwyddo cynnyrch o Gymru, nid yn unig dramor, ond yma gartref hefyd, gan mai ein marchnad fwyaf pwysig yw'r DU. Yn wir, mae ymchwil a gynhaliwyd gan Bwyd a Diod Cymru yn dangos bod gwerth Cymreictod yn cynyddu ac y byddai'n well gan fwy a mwy o bobl ledled Cymru brynu mwy o gynnyrch Cymreig, ond maent yn cael eu rhwystro gan argaeledd. Yng ngoleuni'r adroddiad 'Gwerth Cymreictod' diweddar, a allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gadarnhau pa ymagweddau newydd sy'n cael eu hystyried i sicrhau y gwneir cynnyrch o Gymru ar gael yn haws i ddefnyddwyr cartref? A allai hi ddweud wrthym ni hefyd pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gydag archfarchnadoedd a manwerthwyr ynglŷn â ffyrdd y gallan nhw helpu i hybu cynnyrch Cymru yn fwy lleol?
Nawr, un o gamau gweithredu allweddol y cynllun gweithredu bwyd a diod yw mynd i'r afael â bylchau sgiliau ar draws y gadwyn gyflenwi bwyd drwy ddyfeisio ac adolygu'r rhaglen gyfredol hyfforddiant a sgiliau. Nawr, mae datganiad heddiw yn cyfeirio at gynllun cyflogadwyedd a sgiliau ar gyfer y diwydiant, a sylwaf y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gwahodd trafodaeth ynglŷn â mesurau drafft mewn cynhadledd ddilynol y mis nesaf. Fel y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol eisoes, rwyf ers amser wedi cefnogi'r angen i ddangos canlyniadau mesuradwy yn y maes hwn, felly efallai y gwnaiff ymrwymo yn awr i gyhoeddi'r ystadegau creu gwaith ochr yn ochr â chyhoeddi'r cynllun penodol hwn.
Erbyn hyn, mae'n hanfodol bod pob rhan o Gymru yn cael arian ar gyfer prosiectau bwyd a diod, ac nad yw arian yn cael ei groni mewn rhannau penodol o Gymru—rhaid i brosiectau a chynhyrchwyr o bob cwr o Gymru deimlo eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Felly, gan hynny, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ymrwymo i gyhoeddi faint o arian Llywodraeth Cymru a ddyrannwyd i'r diwydiant bwyd a diod fesul awdurdod lleol, fel y gall Aelodau fod yn hyderus bod yr holl ffrydiau ariannu yn dryloyw a bod pob rhan o Gymru yn cael ei chyfran deg o unrhyw gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru?
Rwy'n falch bod y datganiad heddiw yn cydnabod bod strategaeth fwyd gref yn rhan annatod o amcanion iechyd cyhoeddus Llywodraeth Cymru, a bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg wedi darparu arian ychwanegol yn y maes penodol hwn. Mae'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn datblygu diwylliant bwyta ffordd o fyw a bwyta'n iach mewn ysgolion, gan gynnwys prosiectau sy'n ymwneud â thyfu, paratoi a choginio bwyd, yn ogystal â dysgu am gydbwyso deiet ac ymarfer corff. Felly, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddweud wrthym ni ychydig mwy am yr ymdrechion a wnaed i gyflawni'r amcan penodol hwn, fel y gallwn ddeall cynnydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn well yn y maes hwn.
Ac, yn olaf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n falch iawn bod y cynllun bwyd a diod wedi cynnig y dylid datblygu cymdeithas gŵyl fwyd, a gobeithiaf y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wrth ymateb yn amlinellu mwy am y camau penodol ac yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni ynglŷn â gwaith y gymdeithas gŵyl fwyd.
Felly, wrth gloi, a gaf i unwaith eto ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei datganiad? Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i ddiogelu cynaliadwyedd sector bwyd a diod Cymru yn y tymor byr a'r tymor hwy. Diolch i chi.
Thank you, Paul Davies, for the series of questions, and I was very pleased to speak at the FUW breakfast this morning that Paul referred to, that he sponsored. Unfortunately, I didn't get any breakfast but that's quite often an issue when you go to these events and you're whizzed past all the food. But it was very good to see so many people there enjoying Welsh produce absolutely at its finest, and linking our agricultural sector with our food and drink, which I think unfortunately sometimes gets lost in translation.
You're quite right that that very ambitious target—. I remember sitting in Cabinet when my predecessor's predecessor, Alun Davies, announced this target of increasing our food and drink industry to £7 billion by 2020 and thinking we would never achieve that, so to achieve—. I'm sure when the 2017 data comes out we will have certainly achieved that, but to get to £6.9 billion by 2016 is a tremendous accomplishment, and, as I say, it's down to the hard work of so many of our businesses.
You referred to export support and, certainly, the challenges of Brexit mean that we need to look at new markets, and that's why we've put significant funding into export programmes, for instance, in encouraging our companies to look at it. I just wanted to give some recent figures around export, because it does show that Welsh food and drink exports have increased by almost 20 per cent, from £264 million in 2015 to £337 million in—. Sorry, 2015, and that's up to 2016-17. Seventy two per cent of exports go to the European Union, so you can see how much uncertainty is being created and why we need to look for new markets. That actually compares to a 9.5 per cent increase for the UK as a whole, so you can see how successful we are being in Wales. And I mentioned that I'd given further funding of £1.5 million to Hybu Cig Cymru, which I announced back in October at Anuga in Cologne to develop an enhanced export development programme. Certainly, my first discussion with HCC is that I've told them I want them to be as ambitious as possible to meet that, but it would be great if they could exceed it, and I hope that they will.
You referred to Blas Cymru. That was a great success and, again, my predecessor, Carl Sargeant, that was his idea to bring the world to Wales, and I think it exceeded all our expectations. I know that, up to now, we've had an increase of £7 million extra business from it but, again, it's hoped that we could get up to possibly £22 million. I would have liked to have done one every year, but it is a huge event so we're going to do it now in March of next year. Again, it will be a much bigger event.
You talked about the value of Welshness and I think that's a really pertinent point. Certainly, I have had discussions with many supermarkets, and, if you go to somewhere like Morrisons for instance, you see the Blas Cymru from your own constituency, and you see people searching out that label. I think we need to look to all our supermarkets to make sure they increase it. And, as I say, I have had discussions with—I can't think of any supermarket that I haven't had a discussion with and they certainly feel more willing and able to take our produce.
Skills is obviously a very important issue and I mentioned the conference that the Food and Drink Wales industry board held here in Cardiff in October. The next one is in Llandudno, I think, next month—certainly up in north Wales. They told me about the gaps. It is a concern that, if we aren't able to have EU migrants working in the way that they're currently doing, those gaps won't be filled. So, it is absolutely right that we need to ensure that our businesses are fully equipped with the right skills and training support.
You asked me if I would publish job creation statistics. Certainly, if I have those, I'd be very happy to do that. It might be on a whole-Wales basis but I'll certainly look to doing that.FootnoteLink
Funding is very important and you're right, we can't just give different pockets of Wales the funding. But, certainly—you know, I travel all over Wales. I was up in north Wales—I visited two food companies last Thursday. One of them was Siwgr a Sbeis—many Members will be aware of their cakes, and they've had some funding from us. Then, yesterday, I was down in west Wales visiting companies. So, certainly I think it's there. Again, I'm not sure if we hold that information on a local authority basis but, certainly, if we hold it on a region basis, I'll be very happy to do that.
Public health is obviously very important and you'll be aware that the Welsh Government is producing an obesity strategy. I think it's now going to be published next year, in 2019, and, clearly, if we can help our children eat healthily today, we obviously create healthy adults. So, I think it's very important that we link in with public health.
Food festivals, again, I think are a huge success and I've been very fortunate to attend many right across Wales. The last one I think I attended was in Llangollen in Ken Skates's constituency, but I know we have ensured again that funding is spread out right across Wales.
Diolch, Paul Davies, am y gyfres o gwestiynau, ac roeddwn yn falch iawn o siarad ym mrecwast Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru y bore yma yr oedd Paul yn cyfeirio ato, a noddwyd ganddo. Yn anffodus, ni chefais ddim brecwast, ond yn aml mae hynny'n broblem pan ewch i'r digwyddiadau hyn ac rydych chi'n cael eich rhuthro heibio'r bwyd. Ond roedd yn braf iawn gweld cynifer o bobl yn mwynhau cynnyrch Cymreig ar ei orau, ac yn cysylltu ein sector amaethyddol gyda'n bwyd a diod, y collir y cysylltiad weithiau yn anffodus, rwy'n credu.
Rydych chi'n hollol iawn bod y targed uchelgeisiol iawn hwnnw—. Cofiaf eistedd yn y Cabinet pan gyhoeddodd rhagflaenydd fy rhagflaenydd, Alun Davies, y targed hwn o gynyddu ein diwydiant bwyd a diod i £7 biliwn erbyn 2020 a meddwl na fyddem ni byth yn cyflawni hynny, felly i gyflawni—. Rwy'n siŵr pan ymddengys data 2017 y byddwn yn sicr wedi cyflawni hynny, ond mae cyrraedd £6.9 biliwn erbyn 2016 yn gyflawniad aruthrol, ac, fel y dywedaf, mae'n ganlyniad gwaith caled cymaint o'n busnesau.
Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at gymorth allforio ac, yn sicr, mae heriau Brexit yn golygu bod angen inni edrych ar farchnadoedd newydd, a dyna pam ein bod ni wedi rhoi arian sylweddol i'r rhaglenni allforio, er enghraifft, er mwyn annog ein cwmnïau i'w ystyried. Roeddwn yn dymuno rhoi rhai ffigurau diweddar ynglŷn ag allforio, oherwydd mae'n dangos bod allforion bwyd a diod Cymru wedi cynyddu bron 20 y cant, o £264 miliwn yn 2015 i £337 miliwn yn—. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, 2015, ac mae hynny hyd at 2016-17. Aiff saith deg dau y cant o allforion i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, felly fe allwch chi weld faint o ansicrwydd sy'n cael ei greu a pham bod angen inni edrych am farchnadoedd newydd. Mae hynny'n cymharu mewn gwirionedd â 9.5 y cant ar gyfer y DU gyfan, felly fe allwch chi weld pa mor llwyddiannus yr ydym ni yng Nghymru. A soniais fy mod i wedi rhoi cyllid pellach o £1.5 miliwn i Hybu Cig Cymru, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Hydref yn Anuga yn Cologne i ddatblygu rhaglen datblygu allforio well. Yn sicr, fy nhrafodaeth gyntaf â HCC yw fy mod wedi dweud wrthyn nhw am fod mor uchelgeisiol â phosib i gyflawni hynny, ond byddai'n wych pe gallan nhw ragori ar hynny, a gobeithiaf y byddant.
Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at Blas Cymru. Roedd hwnnw'n yn llwyddiant mawr ac, unwaith eto, fy rhagflaenydd, Carl Sargeant, ei syniad ef oedd dod â'r byd i Gymru, a chredaf ei fod wedi rhagori ar ein disgwyliadau. Gwn ein bod, hyd yma, wedi cael cynnydd o £7 miliwn o fusnes ychwanegol ohono ond, unwaith eto, y gobaith yw y gallem ni gael hyd at £22 miliwn o bosib. Byddwn wedi hoffi gwneud un bob blwyddyn, ond mae'n ddigwyddiad enfawr felly rydym ni'n mynd i'w gynnal yn awr ym mis Mawrth y flwyddyn nesaf. Unwaith eto, bydd yn ddigwyddiad llawer mwy.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am werth Cymreictod ac rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n bwynt perthnasol iawn. Yn sicr, rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau gyda nifer o archfarchnadoedd, ac, os ewch chi i rywle fel Morrisons er enghraifft, rydych chi'n gweld Blas Cymru o'ch etholaeth eich hun, ac rydych chi'n gweld pobl yn chwilio am y label hwnnw. Credaf fod angen inni edrych ar ein holl archfarchnadoedd i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cynyddu'r brand. Ac, fel y dywedaf, rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau gyda—ni allaf feddwl am unrhyw archfarchnad nad wyf wedi cael trafodaeth gyda nhw ac maen nhw'n sicr yn teimlo'n fwy parod a galluog i gymryd ein cynnyrch.
Mae sgiliau yn amlwg yn fater pwysig iawn, a soniais am y gynhadledd a gynhaliodd bwrdd diwydiant Bwyd a Diod Cymru yma yng Nghaerdydd ym mis Hydref. Mae'r un nesaf yn Llandudno, rwy'n credu, y mis nesaf—yn sicr yn y Gogledd. Dywedwyd wrthyf am y bylchau. Mae'n destun pryder, os nad ydym ni'n gallu cael mewnfudwyr o'r UE yn gweithio yn y ffordd y maen nhw'n ei wneud ar hyn o bryd, ni fydd y bylchau hynny'n cael eu llenwi. Felly, mae'n hollol briodol bod angen inni sicrhau bod ein busnesau wedi'u harfogi'n llawn gyda'r sgiliau a'r cymorth hyfforddiant priodol.
Fe wnaethoch chi ofyn i mi a fyddwn yn cyhoeddi ystadegau creu swyddi. Yn sicr, os yw'r rheini gennyf i, byddwn yn hapus iawn i wneud hynny. Hwyrach y bydd ar sail Cymru gyfan ond byddaf yn sicr yn amcanu at wneud hynny.FootnoteLink
Mae arian yn bwysig iawn ac rydych chi'n iawn, ni allwn ni ond rhoi arian i wahanol gorneli o Gymru yn unig. Ond, yn sicr—wyddoch chi, rwy'n teithio ledled Cymru. Roeddwn i yn y Gogledd—ymwelais â dau gwmni bwyd ddydd Iau diwethaf. Un ohonyn nhw oedd Siwgr a Sbeis—bydd llawer o Aelodau yn ymwybodol o'u cacennau, ac maen nhw wedi cael rhywfaint o arian gennym ni. Yna, ddoe, roeddwn i lawr yn y gorllewin yn ymweld â chwmnïau. Felly, credaf yn sicr ei fod yno. Unwaith eto, nid wyf yn siŵr a ydym ni'n cadw'r wybodaeth honno ar sail awdurdod lleol ond, yn sicr, os ydym ni yn ei chadw hi ar sail rhanbarth, byddwn yn hapus iawn i wneud hynny.
Mae iechyd cyhoeddus yn amlwg yn bwysig iawn a byddwch yn ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn llunio strategaeth gordewdra. Credaf bellach y caiff hi ei chyhoeddi'r flwyddyn nesaf, yn 2019, ac, yn amlwg, os gallwn ni helpu ein plant i fwyta yn iach heddiw, yn amlwg rydym ni'n creu oedolion iach. Credaf felly, ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n ymdrin ag iechyd y cyhoedd.
Mae gwyliau bwyd, unwaith eto, rwy'n credu yn llwyddiant mawr ac rwyf wedi bod yn ffodus i fynychu llawer ledled Cymru. Yr un diwethaf a fynychais rwy'n credu oedd yn Llangollen yn etholaeth Ken Skates, ond gwn ein bod wedi sicrhau unwaith eto bod cyllid yn cael ei ledaenu ar draws Cymru.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am ei datganiad a nodi, gyda diolchiadau i bawb a dweud y gwir, fod y diwydiant wedi llwyddo yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf a bod y cynnydd yn dal yno tuag at y targed sydd yn y cynllun bwyd a diod?
Hoffwn i ddechrau drwy ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ble mae hi bellach, wrth ystyried gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ynglŷn â brandio bwyd o Gymru, yn benodol o safbwynt gwreiddiad bwyd, fel petai, lles anifeiliaid a'r safonau amgylcheddol yn ogystal. Roedd y datganiad ganddi hi yn sôn am PGI yn benodol ac rŷm ni'n gwybod pa mor llwyddiannus mae hynny wedi bod yn codi tyfiant allforio cig oen er enghraifft ers ennill y statws yna. Mae'n bwysig—bydd hi'n cytuno mae'n siŵr—i gadw'r statws, ond hefyd mae'n bwysig bod bwyd o Gymru yn cael ei gydnabod fel bwyd o Gymru wrth i ni ymadael â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn hytrach na chael ei orchuddio â jac yr undeb neu gael ei gydnabod fel bwyd o rywle annelwig iawn o'r enw Prydain. Mae cadw'r brand yna yn bwysig, felly beth ydy hi'n ei wneud yn benodol ynglŷn â hynny? Yn benodol, er ei bod hi'n dweud ei bod hi'n trafod gydag archfarchnadoedd, a ydy hi'n trafod y pwynt yma gydag archfarchnadoedd—ar ôl Brexit, bod brandio Cymreig nid yn unig yn aros ond bod yr archfarchnadoedd yn coleddu hynny ac yn hyrwyddo hynny?
Er bod llwyddiannau megis y digwyddiadau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi cyfeirio atynt, rydw i'n un o'r bobl sydd yn gresynu ein bod ni wedi colli gwobrau penodol Gwir Flas neu rywbeth tebyg—gwobrau a oedd yn cydnabod bwyd o Gymru ac yn dathlu hwnnw ac yn ffordd o ddysgu oddi wrth ein gilydd. Rydw i hefyd yn gofyn a oes bwriad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i ailystyried yr agwedd yna ar farchnata a brandio, eto yn wyneb yr heriadau sy'n ein hwynebu ni.
Fe soniodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn benodol yn yr adroddiad am gynllun Helix. Mae hwn yn gynllun, rwy’n deall, ar gyfer blaengarwch yn y maes. Byddwn i’n gwerthfawrogi pe bai yna enghraifft y medrwch chi ei roi i ni o’r math o ddigwyddiad neu’r math o flaengarwch sy’n cael ei hyrwyddo a’i gefnogi gan y cynllun yma. Mae’n dros £20 miliwn, ac fe fyddwn i’n licio gweld at beth mae hynny’n mynd erbyn hyn.
A allaf i jest roi cwpwl o bethau at ei gilydd? Mae’r arian ychwanegol ar gyfer Hybu Cig Cymru, ac mae’r ffaith fod y gyllideb derfynol yn cynnwys arian ar gyfer cronfa i ymateb i Brexit. Rwyf jest eisiau deall a oes gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddigon o adnoddau nawr i ddelio â Brexit, i ddelio â'r heriadau sydd ynghlwm wrth hynny, ac i helpu busnesau, yn benodol y busnesau sy’n allforio, i ddelio â chyfraddau llog sy’n amrywiol iawn, ac i ddelio â phosibiliadau o broblemau wrth adael yr undeb tollau ac ati. A ydy hi’n hyderus bod digon o adnoddau wedi’u neilltuo yn hynny o beth? Beth yn benodol mae hi’n gofyn i Hybu Cig Cymru ei wneud erbyn hyn? Achos mae gan Hybu Cig Cymru swyddogaethau pwysig iawn, wrth gwrs, yn hyrwyddo’r holl sector bwyd, gan gynnwys cig oen o’r mynyddoedd a chig oen llai o faint o’r mynyddoedd.
Rwyf jest eisiau bennu gyda chwestiwn ynglŷn â llaeth mewn ysgolion, achos bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi gweld bod rhai yn cwestiynu parhad y cynllun llaeth mewn ysgolion. Mae’n ffordd dda o gynefino plant ysgol â chynnyrch gorau Cymru, ac mae’n llesol ac yn iachus iddyn nhw yn ogystal. Mae wedi cael ei gefnogi gan arian o Ewrop ac arian Llywodraeth Cymru, ond wrth ymadael â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd, mae eisiau gofyn o ba le mae’r gefnogaeth yn dod ac a fydd y Llywodraeth yn parhau i gefnogi'r cynllun llaeth mewn ysgolion. Rwy’n gobeithio eich bod chi’n gallu rhoi sicrwydd i ni y bydd hynny yn parhau, beth bynnag yw’r penderfyniad wrth adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
May I also thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement and note, with thanks to everyone, that the industry has been successful during the past year and that progress is still being made towards the target in the food and drink plan?
I would like to start by asking the Cabinet Secretary where is she now, in considering exiting the European Union, on branding Welsh foods, specifically from the point of view of the source of food, animal welfare and environmental standards. The statement mentioned PGI specifically and we know how successful that has been in developing the export of lamb since that status was granted. I’m sure she would agree that it’s important to retain that status, but it’s also important that Welsh food is recognised as Welsh food as we exit the European Union, rather than it being draped in the union jack or marked as from somewhere ambiguous called Britain. Retaining that Welsh brand is very important, so what specifically is she doing in that regard? Specifically, although she says she’s having negotiations with the supermarkets, is she discussing this very point with the supermarkets, that, post Brexit, Welsh branding will not just remain but that supermarkets should embrace that and promote it?
Although there are successes such as the events referred to by the Cabinet Secretary, I am one of those people who regrets the fact that we have lost the specific True Taste awards or something similar—awards that recognised Welsh food and celebrated it and was a means of spreading best practice. I’d also ask whether the Cabinet Secretary has any intention of reconsidering that aspect of marketing and branding, again in the face of the challenges currently facing us.
The Cabinet Secretary specifically mentioned Project Helix in the statement. I understand that this is a scheme for innovation, and I would appreciate it if you could give us an example of the kind of event or the kind of innovation that's being promoted and supported by that particular programme. It's over £20 million, and I'd like to see how that's being spent.
If I could just bring a few issues together, there's additional funding for Hybu Cig Cymru, and there's the fact that the final budget will include a fund to respond to Brexit. I just wanted to understand whether the Cabinet Secretary has sufficient resources now to deal with Brexit and to deal with the challenges emerging from that and to help businesses, specifically those businesses that are exporting, to deal with interest rates, which are changeable, and possibilities in terms of problems in leaving the customs union. Is she confident that sufficient resources have been allocated in that regard? What specifically is she asking Hybu Cig Cymru to do now? Hybu Cig Cymru does have very important functions in promoting the whole food sector, including lamb from the Welsh uplands and the smaller lambs particularly.
I just want to finish with a question on school milk, because the Cabinet Secretary will have seen that some are questioning the continuation of the school milk scheme. It's a good way of getting schoolchildren familiar with the best of Welsh produce, and it's healthy and nutritious too. It's been supported by European funding and Welsh Government funding, but as we exit the European Union we need to ask where that support will come from in the future and whether the Government will continue to support the school milk programme. I hope that she will be able to give us an assurance that that will remain for the future, whatever decisions are taken as we leave the European Union.
I thank Simon Thomas for his list of questions and for welcoming the significant progress that we've made. I think you raise a very important point about team Wales, brand Wales and ensuring that people understand where the food is coming from. Certainly, I'm having discussions around labelling. You'll be aware that, even in a product, you could have some imported ingredients also, so I think it is very important that labelling is very clear and that people understand what they did. I saw a really disturbing example at one of the summer fairs last year when a lady thought she'd bought bacon that was Welsh, but it actually wasn't. You know, it had the dragon, but underneath it said that part of it wasn't all from Wales, and she was incredibly annoyed about it and came up to me and told me of her annoyance. So, I think it is vital that we get it right. And maybe that's one of the opportunities that we can have coming out of Europe.
You spoke about protected food names, and I mentioned in my opening remarks that the PFN family is growing rapidly. I've been very pleased that even the ones that were in the pipeline—the EU are treating them just as they would have done if we weren't exiting the EU, so I think it's very good. They're great selling points. Certainly producers that I've spoken to think it's an advantage and a very unique selling point. Again, I think it's very important that, after we exit the EU, we aim to work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure the EU honour any schemes that are in the pipeline to their completion. Also, companies and food producers who have PFN at the moment, I think they want to retain it. Certainly, there are examples of countries outside the EU having registered products, so I don't see that that's necessarily a barrier. So, I think there is a strong precedent to negotiate our continued part in the scheme, and those are discussions that are ongoing.
You too mentioned about supermarkets ensuring that they continue to have Welsh produce. One big success, I think, has been Asda selling Welsh lamb. Again, they piloted it in a few supermarkets, but they are looking to increase that number, and I think that will be, obviously, very beneficial for Welsh lamb.
BlasCymru certainly was very successful. I know a few people have said to me that they weren't happy that the True Taste awards went. I have to say that most of the companies that I talk to really like the UK Great Taste awards, but it's something that I'm very happy to consider going forward—having our own awards.
You asked about Project Helix. That's delivered by the three food centres of excellence, as you know, the ZERO2FIVE food industry centre, which is based at Cardiff Met, the Food Centre Wales at Horeb in Ceredigion, and the Food Technology Centre, which is based at Coleg Menai up in Llangefni. What Helix's mission is is to stimulate that innovation and support new product development that benefits, obviously, all our food and drink companies, working together to meet their needs. So, that work is ongoing. It was launched at BlasCymru back in March and it had RDP funding of £21.2 million. What it's doing is it's working with companies that engage with over 400 food and drink businesses, and that figure is growing daily. I'd be very happy to write to the Member if he wants a specific example of what it's doing, but it is expected, over the lifetime of the scheme, to generate about £100 million for the Welsh economy and also safeguard thousands of jobs.
You mentioned the funding that was announced by the First Minister—the EU transition fund to help out our businesses. At our Brexit round-table meeting yesterday in Aberystwyth, it was certainly welcomed. Many of our companies are very concerned about making sure that they're sustainable and, certainly, the £50 million—and I'm looking at the Cabinet Secretary for Finance—that's the initial funding, and we are hoping there'll be more. You ask if I've got enough funding. Obviously you've never got enough funding, have you? But I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary for Finance has heard my plea. But, certainly, I think that that funding will really help companies prepare for Brexit, and they are telling us that that's what they want. So, we'll wait to see, obviously, at the end, if we require some more.
You asked about Hybu Cig Cymru, and I mentioned the extra funding that I announced for them. They're going to develop and deliver an enhanced export development programme for Welsh red meat. I think it's very important that we seek to increase sales. Export sales will obviously be a key component of that, and I mentioned that I told them to be as ambitious as possible in meeting that, and if they could exceed it, that would be, obviously, beneficial for everybody.
I can't see a time when we won't be bringing forward school milk, and, certainly, the farmers are telling me that it's very important that we continue to do that. I haven't had specific discussions, but I will make sure that I put that on the agenda.
Diolch i Simon Thomas am ei restr o gwestiynau ac am groesawu'r cynnydd sylweddol yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud. Credaf eich bod yn codi pwynt pwysig iawn ynghylch tîm Cymru, brand Cymru a sicrhau bod pobl yn deall o ble y daw'r bwyd. Yn sicr, rwyf yn cael trafodaethau ynglŷn â labelu. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, hyd yn oed mewn cynnyrch, y gallech chi gael rhai cynhwysion wedi eu mewnforio hefyd, felly mae'n bwysig iawn bod labelu yn glir iawn a bod pobl yn deall yr hyn a wnaethant. Gwelais enghraifft wirioneddol annymunol yn un o'r ffeiriau haf y llynedd pan gredai gwraig ei bod hi wedi prynu cig moch a oedd o Gymru, ond mewn gwirionedd doedd o ddim. Wyddoch chi, roedd y ddraig arno, ond oddi tano roedd o'n dweud nad oedd rhan ohono i gyd o Gymru, ac roedd hi'n hynod o flin am y peth ac fe ddaeth hi ataf i a dweud wrthyf i pa mor flin yr oedd hi. Felly, credaf ei bod hi'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n cael hyn yn iawn. Ac efallai mai dyna un o'r cyfleoedd a gawn ni wrth ymadael ag Ewrop.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am enwau bwyd wedi'u hamddiffyn, a soniais yn fy sylwadau agoriadol fod y teulu PFN yn tyfu'n gyflym. Rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn bod hyd yn oed y rhai nad oedden nhw yn yr arfaeth—mae'r UE yn eu trin yn union fel y byddent wedi gwneud pe na baem ni'n gadael yr UE, felly credaf ei bod hi'n dda iawn. Maen nhw'n bwyntiau gwerthu gwych. Yn sicr mae'r cynhyrchwyr hynny yr wyf i wedi siarad â nhw yn meddwl ei fod yn fantais ac yn bwynt gwerthu unigryw iawn. Eto, credaf ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn, ar ôl i ni adael yr UE, ein bod ni'n ceisio gweithio gydag Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig i sicrhau bod yr EU yn anrhydeddu unrhyw gynlluniau ar y gweill hyd at eu cwblhau. Hefyd, cwmnïau a chynhyrchwyr bwyd sydd â PFN ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n credu y dymunant gadw hynny. Yn sicr, ceir enghreifftiau o wledydd y tu allan i'r UE sydd wedi cofrestru cynhyrchion, felly nid wyf yn gweld fod hynny o reidrwydd yn rhwystr. Felly, credaf fod cynsail cryf i drafod ein rhan barhaus yn y cynllun, ac mae'r rheini'n drafodaethau sydd ar y gweill.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn hefyd am archfarchnadoedd a sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i werthu cynnyrch Cymreig. Un llwyddiant mawr, rwy'n meddwl, oedd Asda yn gwerthu cig oen Cymru. Unwaith eto, fe wnaethon nhw arbrofi gyda hynny mewn rhai archfarchnadoedd, ond maen nhw'n bwriadu cynyddu'r nifer hwnnw, a chredaf y bydd hynny'n fuddiol, yn amlwg, ar gyfer cig oen Cymru.
Yn sicr roedd Blas Cymru yn llwyddiannus iawn. Gwn fod ychydig o bobl wedi dweud wrthyf i nad oedden nhw'n hapus fod y gwobrau Gwir Flas wedi dod i ben. Rhaid imi ddweud bod y rhan fwyaf o gwmnïau yr wyf yn siarad â nhw wrth eu boddau gyda gwobrau Great Taste y DU, ond mae'n rhywbeth yr wyf i'n hapus iawn i'w ystyried yn y dyfodol—cael ein gwobrau ein hunain.
Fe wnaethoch chi ofyn ynglŷn â Phrosiect Helics. Caiff hynny ei gyflawni gan y tair canolfan fwyd rhagoriaeth, fel y gwyddoch chi, y ganolfan diwydiant bwyd ZERO2FIVE ym Mhrifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd, Canolfan Bwyd Cymru yn Horeb yng Ngheredigion a'r Ganolfan Dechnoleg Bwyd yng Ngholeg Menai yn Llangefni. Nod Helics yw ysgogi'r arloesi hwnnw a chefnogi datblygu cynnyrch newydd sydd o fudd, yn amlwg, i bob un o'n cwmnïau bwyd a diod, gan gydweithio i ddiwallu eu hanghenion. Felly, mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n parhau. Fe'i lansiwyd yn Blas Cymru ym mis Mawrth ac fe gafodd £21.2 miliwn o gyllid Cynllun Datblygu Gwledig. Yr hyn y mae'n ei wneud yw gweithio gyda chwmnïau sy'n ymwneud â dros 400 o fusnesau bwyd a diod, ac mae'r ffigur hwnnw'n cynyddu bob dydd. Rwy'n hapus iawn i ysgrifennu at yr Aelod os yr hoffai enghraifft benodol o beth mae'r prosiect yn ei wneud, ond disgwylir, dros oes y cynllun, iddo gynhyrchu tua £100 miliwn i economi Cymru a hefyd ddiogelu miloedd o swyddi.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y cyllid a gyhoeddwyd gan y Prif Weinidog—cronfa bontio yr UE i helpu ein busnesau. Yn ein cyfarfod bord gron Brexit ddoe yn Aberystwyth, roedd croeso brwd iddo. Mae llawer o'n cwmnïau yn bryderus iawn ynglŷn â gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gynaliadwy ac, yn sicr, bydd y £50 miliwn—ac rwy'n edrych ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid—dyna'r cyllid cychwynnol, ac rydym ni'n gobeithio y bydd mwy. Rydych chi'n gofyn a oes gen i ddigon o arian. Mae'n amlwg nad oes gennych chi fyth ddigon o arian, nag oes? Ond rwy'n siŵr bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid wedi clywed fy mhle. Ond, yn sicr, credaf y bydd y cyllid mewn gwirionedd yn helpu cwmnïau i baratoi ar gyfer Brexit, ac maen nhw'n dweud wrthym ni mai dyna beth y maen nhw'n ei ddymuno. Felly, byddwn yn aros i weld, yn amlwg, ar y diwedd, os bydd angen mwy arnom.
Fe wnaethoch chi holi ynglŷn â Hybu Cig Cymru, a soniais am y cyllid ychwanegol a gyhoeddais ar eu cyfer. Maen nhw'n mynd i ddatblygu a chyflwyno rhaglen ddatblygu allforio well ar gyfer cig coch Cymru. Credaf ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn inni geisio cynyddu gwerthiant. Mae'n amlwg y bydd gwerthiant allforio yn elfen allweddol o hynny, a soniais fy mod i wedi dweud wrthyn nhw i fod mor uchelgeisiol â phosib yn y cyfarfod, ac os gallant ragori arno, byddai hynny'n fuddiol, yn amlwg, i bawb.
Ni allaf weld adeg pan na fyddwn ni'n cyflwyno llaeth mewn ysgolion, ac, yn sicr, mae'r ffermwyr yn dweud wrthyf ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n parhau i wneud hynny. Nid wyf wedi cael trafodaethau penodol, ond byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr y byddaf yn rhoi hynny ar yr agenda.
I welcome the statement by the Cabinet Secretary. I think we should all welcome that, since November 2016, the industry sales turnover has increased from £6.1 billion to £6.9 billion, and I think we should all be really pleased that we stand on the threshold of the £7 billion target towards sustainable growth in the food and drink action plan, set in 2014, to be reached by 2020—and it looks as if were going to reach it early.
As the Cabinet Secretary is aware, the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee are carrying out an inquiry into food and drink in Wales at the moment. As part of it, I was talking to Welsh producers both at the Royal Welsh Show and the National Eisteddfod. I was intrigued by how easy companies told me it was to get the supermarkets to promote their Welsh products in all of Wales. Now, the difficulty, they said, was getting their products across the border. This included companies that were based in Flintshire who found it easier to get a supermarket to put it in their Welsh section in Swansea than they did to put it in Chester and have a Welsh section in Chester. Has this issue been raised with the Cabinet Secretary, and if not, can, perhaps, the Cabinet Secretary talk to some people who process food in Wales to see if that is a general problem?
As people know, I take a great interest in parts of Europe such as Aarhus. Aarhus has three major food processors: Arla, Lurpak and Castello. What would I find if I went to a supermarket in Denmark—what would be the Welsh equivalent? I think, if the answer's nothing, which I think it probably is, that's really our challenge, isn't it? One of the growth areas in food and drink has been microbreweries, such as West by Three and Boss in Swansea East, as well as small and growing independent breweries such as Tomos Watkin, also in Swansea East, and Tiny Rebel in Newport. What support is the Welsh Government giving to this industry, which really has been a growth industry in the Welsh economy over the last 10 years?
Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwy'n credu y dylem ni i gyd groesawu, ers mis Tachwedd 2016, fod trosiant gwerthiant y diwydiant wedi cynyddu o £6.1 biliwn i £6.9 biliwn, ac rwy'n credu y dylai pob un ohonom ni fod yn falch iawn ein bod ni'n sefyll ar drothwy'r targed £7 biliwn tuag at dwf cynaliadwy yn y cynllun gweithredu bwyd a diod, a bennwyd yn 2014, i'w gyrraedd erbyn 2020—ac ymddengys y byddwn yn ei gyflawni'n gynnar.
Fel y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol, mae'r Pwyllgor Newid yn yr Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig yn cynnal ymchwiliad i fwyd a diod yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Yn rhan o hynny, roeddwn yn siarad â chynhyrchwyr o Gymru yn Sioe Frenhinol Cymru a'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Cefais fy nghyfareddu gan ba mor hawdd oedd hi, meddai'r cwmnïau wrthyf, i gael yr archfarchnadoedd i hyrwyddo eu cynnyrch Cymreig yng Nghymru gyfan. Erbyn hyn, meddent, yr anhawster oedd cael eu cynnyrch ar draws y ffin. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys cwmnïau a oedd yn seiliedig yn Sir y Fflint sy'n ei chael hi'n haws cael archfarchnad i roi eu cynnyrch yn eu hadran Gymreig yn Abertawe nag i'w roi yng Nghaer a chael adran Gymreig yng Nghaer. A soniwyd am hyn wrth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac os nad, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, efallai, siarad â rhai pobl sy'n prosesu bwyd yng Nghymru i weld a yw honno'n broblem gyffredinol?
Fel y gŵyr pobl, mae gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn rhannau o Ewrop megis Aarhus. Mae gan Aarhus dri phrosesydd bwyd mawr: Arla, Lurpak a Castello. Beth fyddwn i'n ei weld pe byddwn yn mynd i archfarchnad yn Nenmarc—beth fyddai'n cyfateb i hynny yng Nghymru? Credaf, os mai dim yw'r ateb, y credaf mai dyna ydyw yn fwy na thebyg, mai dyna mewn gwirionedd yw ein her, ynte? Un o'r meysydd twf mewn bwyd a diod fu micro fragdai, megis West by Three a Boss yn Nwyrain Abertawe, yn ogystal â bragdai annibynnol bach sy'n tyfu fel Tomos Watkin, hefyd yn Nwyrain Abertawe, a Tiny Rebel yng Nghasnewydd. Pa gefnogaeth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei rhoi i'r diwydiant hwn, sydd mewn gwirionedd wedi bod yn ddiwydiant twf yn economi Cymru dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf?
I thank Mike Hedges for those questions. I'm absolutely convinced that we will certainly hit that target of £7 billion when we have the 2017 data, and then we'll certainly have to look at where we set the next target. You specifically mentioned Chester, and, obviously, my constituency borders onto Cheshire—[Interruption.] I'm guessing that's why you mentioned it. I can't think of anybody who's actually raised that with me. I was quite disappointed to find, when I came into portfolio, that we didn't actually have the statistics for produce that we export to England—for want of a better word—and I think it's something that we need to look at, because we certainly need to be ensuring that we do see an increase in our Welsh food and drink produce going into England. I'm very well aware of the committee that Mike Hedges chairs, and of the review, and I very much look forward to receiving the report.FootnoteLink
The food and drink agenda is very broad, but it's absolutely of fundamental importance to Wales, and that's why I was so pleased to see it as a priority and become a foundation sector for our economy. Certainly, I've had many discussions with my colleague Ken Skates around food tourism, for instance. There are gaps there that we can address going forward. On microbreweries, certainly, I've been fortunate to visit a few myself. I've visited Tiny Rebel in Newport, and they told me—. It's a fantastic company started by a young couple, very innovative, and they certainly told me that they were not just grateful for the support they have—not just finance support, but the business advice from officials—and again, it's great to see them going from strength to strength.
Diolch i Mike Hedges am y cwestiynau hynny. Rwy'n gwbl argyhoeddedig y byddwn yn sicr yn cyrraedd y targed hwnnw o £7 biliwn pan fydd data 2017 gennym, ac yna bydd yn rhaid i ni benderfynu ble'r ydym yn gosod y targed nesaf. Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio yn benodol at Gaer, ac, yn amlwg, mae fy etholaeth i yn ffinio â Swydd Gaer—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n dyfalu mai dyna pam yr ydych chi wedi sôn amdano. Ni allaf feddwl am unrhyw un mewn gwirionedd sydd wedi sôn wrthyf i am hynny. Roeddwn yn eithaf siomedig i ganfod, pan ddeuthum i'r swydd, nad oedd gennym ni, mewn gwirionedd, yr ystadegau ar gyfer cynnyrch yr ydym ni'n ei allforio i Loegr—yn niffyg gair gwell—ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei ystyried, oherwydd yn sicr mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn gweld cynnydd yn ein cynnyrch bwyd a diod o Gymru sy'n mynd i Loegr. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r Pwyllgor y mae Mike Hedges yn ei gadeirio, ac o'r adolygiad, ac rwy'n wirioneddol edrych ymlaen at dderbyn yr adroddiad.FootnoteLink
Mae'r agenda bwyd a diod yn eang iawn, ond mae'n gwbl hanfodol bwysig i Gymru, a dyna pam yr oeddwn i mor falch o'i gweld yn flaenoriaeth a'i bod wedi dod yn sector sy'n sylfaen ar gyfer ein heconomi. Yn sicr, rwyf wedi cael llawer o drafodaethau gyda'm cyd-Aelod, Ken Skates, ynghylch twristiaeth bwyd, er enghraifft. Ceir bylchau yno y gallwn ni ymdrin â nhw yn y dyfodol. O ran micro fragdai, yn sicr, rwyf wedi bod yn ffodus i ymweld â rhai fy hun. Rwyf wedi ymweld â Tiny Rebel yng Nghasnewydd, ac fe wnaethon nhw ddweud wrthyf—. Mae'n gwmni gwych wedi'i ddechrau gan gwpl ifanc, arloesol iawn, ac fe wnaethon nhw ddweud wrthyf yn sicr eu bod nid yn unig yn ddiolchgar am y cymorth a gawsant—nid dim ond cymorth ariannol, ond y cyngor busnes gan swyddogion—ac eto, mae'n wych eu gweld yn mynd o nerth i nerth.
I, too, welcome the statement by the Cabinet Secretary. It's a good news story, and I welcome the initiatives that the Government has taken to increase the scope of Welsh branding and also the scope for exports of our products. The Cabinet Secretary once described herself to me as a glass-half-full rather than a glass-half-empty person, and I'm glad to see, therefore, the note of optimism that suffuses the statement—after the ritual reference to Brexit uncertainty and so on—but nevertheless, looking forward to build on import opportunities that seek to substitute Welsh food and drink products, because we will have an opportunity to take advantage of the new freedoms that we'll have post Brexit.
In almost all sectors of agricultural produce in the UK—I haven't been able to find Welsh statistics and the Cabinet Secretary referred a moment ago to the need to refine the statistical base of our knowledge on Welsh production and sales—but in the UK as a whole, we are substantially in deficit on almost every area of agricultural production, and in some cases substantially so. Imports of dairy products and eggs, for example—. Sorry, I'd better put my glasses on. There's £2.8 million in imports compared with £1.2 million of exports. And in meat, again, it's £6.1 million—. No, sorry—. I haven't got my glasses on, so I can't read it all. But anyway, the upshot is that we export a lot less than we import. Therefore, this does give us the opportunity to take advantage of extra sales.
We're in the fortunate position where the world population is still rapidly growing, and those parts of the world—the countries that are most populous, like China and India—they're also becoming substantially more wealthy every year, so that means their tastes will go upmarket. So, the future for Welsh produce and exports must be in the high-end and quality sector, which is good news for us, because we produce top-quality food, and it's therefore just a question of marketing it in the global economy. This applies even to markets for lamb, where we know that we will have a significant problem if there isn't a sensible trade deal with the EU. And even though the bulk of our imports are from New Zealand, not from other parts of the world, we still have a trade deficit even in lamb. So, there are plenty of opportunities for us to make the case for greater exports. And when you consider that the value of exports, as stated here, was £436 million in 2016, in an economy worth about £60 billion, that's still a very small amount of money.
So, there must be huge scope, I think, for Welsh farmers and food producers and processors to take advantage of a growing world economy and a world economy that is becoming more and more prosperous. So, I think all parties in this house wish the Government well in the endeavours on which they're embarked, although the world is always uncertain, no matter what our trading arrangements, and certainly farmers have known, in the last 30 or 40 years, huge convulsions even inside the EU. I think there's every cause for optimism that our brand, the Welsh brand, is now recognised the world over, and even though there is a lot more to do, there is a substantial cause for optimism.
Rwyf innau, hefyd, yn croesawu'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae'n stori newyddion da, ac rwy'n croesawu ymdrechion y Llywodraeth i gynyddu cwmpas brandio Cymru a hefyd y cwmpas ar gyfer allforio ein cynhyrchion. Disgrifiodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ei hun i mi un tro fel rhywun gwydr hanner llawn yn hytrach na rhywun gwydr hanner gwag, ac rwy'n falch o glywed, felly, y tinc cadarnhaol sydd i'w datganiad—ar ôl y cyfeiriad defodol at ansicrwydd Brexit ac ati—ond serch hynny, yn edrych ymlaen at adeiladu ar gyfleoedd mewnforio sy'n ceisio cystadlu â chynhyrchion bwyd a diod Cymru, oherwydd bydd gennym ni gyfle i fanteisio ar y rhyddid newydd a fydd gennym ni ar ôl Brexit.
Ym mhob sector bron o gynnyrch amaethyddol yn y DU—nid wyf wedi gallu dod o hyd i ystadegau Cymru a chyfeiriodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet eiliad yn ôl at yr angen i fireinio sylfaen ystadegol ein gwybodaeth ynglŷn â chynhyrchu a gwerthiannau Cymru—ond yn y DU yn ei chyfanrwydd, rydym ni mewn diffyg sylweddol ym mhob maes o gynhyrchu amaethyddol bron a bod, ac mewn rhai achosion yn sylweddol felly. Mewnforion cynhyrchion llaeth ac wyau, er enghraifft—. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, byddai'n well i mi wisgo fy sbectol. Mae £2.8 miliwn mewn mewnforion o'i gymharu â £1.2 miliwn o allforion. Ac mewn cig, unwaith eto, mae'n £6.1 miliwn—. Na, mae'n ddrwg gennyf—. Nid wyf yn gwisgo fy sbectol, felly ni allaf ddarllen popeth. Ond beth bynnag, y canlyniad yw ein bod yn allforio llawer llai nag yr ydym yn ei fewnforio. Felly, mae hyn yn rhoi'r cyfle inni fanteisio ar y gwerthiannau ychwanegol.
Rydym ni mewn sefyllfa ffodus lle mae poblogaeth y byd yn dal i dyfu'n gyflym, ac yn y rhannau hynny o'r byd—y gwledydd mwyaf poblog, fel Tsieina ac India—maen nhw hefyd yn dod yn llawer mwy cyfoethog bob blwyddyn, felly mae hynny'n golygu y byddant yn datblygu chwaeth foethus. Felly, mae'n rhaid i'r dyfodol ar gyfer cynnyrch ac allforion Cymru fod yn y sector moethus ac o ansawdd, sy'n newyddion da i ni, oherwydd rydym ni'n cynhyrchu bwyd o'r safon uchaf, ac felly dim ond cwestiwn o farchnata yn yr economi fyd-eang ydyw. Mae hyn yn berthnasol hyd yn oed i'r marchnadoedd ar gyfer cig oen, lle y gwyddom ni y bydd gennym ni broblem sylweddol os nad oes cytundeb masnach synhwyrol gyda'r UE. Ac er bod y rhan fwyaf o'n mewnforion o Seland newydd, nid o rannau eraill o'r byd, mae gennym ni ddiffyg masnach hyd yn oed mewn cig oen. Felly, mae digonedd o gyfleoedd i ni bledio'r achos dros fwy o allforion. Ac wrth ystyried bod gwerth allforion, fel y dywedwyd yma, yn £436 miliwn yn 2016, mewn economi sy'n werth tua £60 biliwn, mae hynny'n dal yn swm bach iawn o arian.
Felly, rhaid bod posibiliadau enfawr, rwy'n credu, ar gyfer ffermwyr a chynhyrchwyr a phroseswyr bwyd Cymru i fanteisio ar economi'r byd sy'n cynyddu ac economi fyd-eang sy'n dod yn fwy a mwy ffyniannus. Felly, credaf fod pob plaid yn y siambr hon yn dymuno'n dda i'r Llywodraeth yn yr ymdrechion y mae'n dechrau arnynt, er bod y byd bob amser yn ansicr, ni waeth beth yw ein trefniadau masnachu, ac yn sicr mae ffermwyr wedi gweld, yn y 30 neu 40 mlynedd diwethaf, ansicrwydd enfawr hyd yn oed o fewn yr UE. Credaf fod pob rheswm dros fod yn gadarnhaol bod ein brand, y brand Cymreig, yn cael ei gydnabod bellach ar draws y byd, a hyd yn oed er bod llawer mwy i'w wneud, mae llawer i fod yn gadarnhaol yn ei gylch
I thank the Member for those questions, and I'm still managing to retain my glass-half-full attitude in spite of all the uncertainties. You say it's a ritual that I mention Brexit uncertainties, but I'm sure, in your conversations, as you go around your region, the agricultural sector and food and drink producers must be telling you that, unless we get the gentlest of Brexits, there is a great deal of uncertainty.
The one thing about the food and drink industry that's hit me is that sense of energy and ambition that it has, and that is coupled with people's interest in our products, which has meant that we've been able to get to our target so much earlier than planned. And you are right, there are so many opportunities, and I find easy to sell, if you like—. Wherever I go, people are very interested in Welsh food. You mentioned lamb in particular, and we are well known for our lamb, there's no doubt about it, but I think, even just over the last year, people are starting to learn far more about our products.
You asked about exports and you referred to exports and how we could be doing a lot more, and I don't disagree with that. I think our attendance at places like Anuga, at Gulfood in Dubai, at SIAL in Paris, is vitally important. These are the world's largest food and drink events and we have supported a significant Welsh presence at these events to ensure that they get the opportunity to get that extra custom coming from overseas. Again, Hybu Cig Cymru—it's really important, as an organisation, that they are there, flying the flag for Welsh food and drink.
We know that the Welsh red meat industry is particularly reliant on export markets to be able to achieve those premium prices, so strong overseas demand uplifts the farm-gate prices and helps to balance supply and demand, and that then secures greater return for the supply chains.
There are opportunities, as we come out of Europe, of course, and it's vital that we get them, but at the moment we have unrestricted access to 500 million potential customers, and Brexit does put that at risk—you can't get away from that. So, that freedom from discriminatory tariff and non-tariff barriers means our producers are able to export to other EU countries much easier. But I'm doing all I an to support the companies to reach out to new markets, and obviously, in all my discussions, particularly with the UK Government, I can't reiterate often enough how a sensible trade deal is so important for our food and drink industry.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau hynny, ac rwy'n dal i lwyddo i gadw fy agwedd gwydr hanner llawn er gwaethaf yr holl ansicrwydd. Dywedwch fy mod yn sôn yn ddefodol am ansicrwydd Brexit, ond rwy'n siŵr, yn eich sgyrsiau, wrth i chi fynd o amgylch eich rhanbarth chi, rhaid bod cynhyrchwyr amaethyddol y sector bwyd a diod yn dweud wrthych chi, oni chawn y Brexit mwyaf meddal, ceir llawer iawn o ansicrwydd.
Yr un peth am y diwydiant bwyd a diod sydd wedi fy nharo yw'r ymdeimlad hwnnw o egni ac uchelgais sydd ganddo, ac mae hynny wedi ei gyplysu â diddordeb pobl yn ein cynnyrch, sydd wedi golygu ein bod wedi gallu cyrraedd ein targed yn llawer cynharach nag a gynlluniwyd. Ac rydych chi'n iawn, mae cymaint o gyfleoedd, ac rwy'n ei chael hi'n hawdd gwerthu, os mynnwch chi—. Lle bynnag yr af, mae gan bobl ddiddordeb mawr mewn bwyd o Gymru. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am gig oen yn arbennig, ac rydym ni'n adnabyddus am ein cig oen, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth am hynny, ond credaf, hyd yn oed dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae pobl yn dechrau dysgu mwy am ein cynnyrch.
Fe wnaethoch chi holi ynglŷn ag allforion a chyfeirio at allforion a sut y gallem ni fod yn gwneud llawer mwy, ac nid wyf yn anghytuno â hynny. Credaf fod ein presenoldeb mewn lleoedd fel Anuga yn Gulfood yn Dubai, yn SIAL ym Mharis, yn hanfodol bwysig. Rhain yw ddigwyddiadau bwyd a diod mwyaf y byd ac rydym wedi cefnogi presenoldeb Cymreig sylweddol yn y digwyddiadau hyn er mwyn sicrhau y cânt y cyfle i gael y fasnach ychwanegol honno o dramor. Unwaith eto, Hybu Cig Cymru—mae'n bwysig iawn, fel sefydliad, eu bod yno, yn chwifio'r faner ar ran bwyd a diod Cymru.
Rydym ni'n gwybod bod diwydiant cig coch Cymru yn arbennig o ddibynnol ar y marchnadoedd allforio i allu cyflawni'r prisiau premiwm hynny, felly mae galw tramor mawr yn cynyddu'r prisiau wrth giât y fferm ac yn helpu i sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng y cyflenwad a'r galw, ac mae hynny wedyn yn sicrhau mwy o elw ar gyfer y cadwyni cyflenwi.
Ceir cyfleoedd, wrth inni ddod allan o Ewrop, wrth gwrs, ac mae'n hollbwysig inni eu cael, ond ar hyn o bryd mae gennym ni fynediad digyfyngiad at 500 miliwn o gwsmeriaid posib, ac mae Brexit yn peryglu hynny—ni allwn ni ddianc rhag hynny. Felly, mae'r rhyddid hwnnw o'r rhwystrau gwahaniaethu ar sail tariff a dim tariff yn golygu bod ein cynhyrchwyr yn gallu allforio i wledydd eraill yr UE yn llawer haws. Ond rwy'n gwneud popeth y gallaf i gynorthwyo cwmnïau i gyrraedd marchnadoedd newydd, ac yn amlwg, yn fy holl drafodaethau, yn arbennig gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ni allaf ailadrodd yn ddigon aml sut y mae bargen fasnach synhwyrol mor bwysig ar gyfer ein diwydiant bwyd a diod.
I want to welcome the report today. It's fairly clear that the Welsh Government is supporting the food and drink industry in every which way that it can by promoting the product, the manufacturing and supporting the staff. But I particularly want to ask you, Cabinet Secretary, whether we could do considerably more in promoting the Welsh food product and aligning it with reduced wastage in single-use plastic.
I think that there is a huge appetite—pun intended—for reduced waste in food production. And I think the moment is now and I think that we really need to seize it. There are initiatives happening to sell Wales as a country where we want to reduce waste, and one of those that are emerging is quite impressive, and that's in Aberporth, in Ceredigion, where they are fairly determined to reduce all plastic in their food products, because the single-use waste of plastic resides mostly within the food industry. I asked you, I think it was last week, a question on the opportunities that we might take, because Japan is no longer going to take the huge amount of waste—I think it was over 4,000 tonnes per year from Wales in recyclable material. So, here I see an opportunity where Wales could not only lead the way, as it has in recycling, but also in taking that as an opportunity to link that with, as I've said, the real move towards reducing single-use plastic within the food industry. I think that it would be hugely advantageous for everybody if you could, somehow, when you're giving funds to promote food production, also, at the same time, offer some incentives to promote reduced packaging going forward. Because we don't export everything that we produce; we consume considerable amounts here in Wales. I really do feel that this is an opportunity that we ought to take here and now.
I think, when we read about—I'm sure people have here—the 'ditch the straw' campaign, which is about ditching plastic straws—. That was started and originated by a nine-year-old boy from the United States taking that forward. I think we could all do very well to follow that example.
Finally, I think that it would be advantageous if you could use any influence whatsoever on supermarkets, where they're selling Welsh produce, not to put out alongside the fresh produce single-use plastic bags, but maybe to think about offering paper bags that people could put that fresh produce in, if they feel they have to, so, therefore, immediately helping to put those two things alongside each other.
Hoffwn groesawu'r adroddiad heddiw. Mae'n weddol amlwg bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r diwydiant bwyd a diod bob ffordd y gall hi gan hybu'r cynnyrch, y gweithgynhyrchu a chefnogi staff. Ond rwyf eisiau gofyn i chi yn arbennig, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allem ni wneud llawer mwy i hyrwyddo cynnyrch bwyd Cymru ac ar yr un pryd cael llai o wastraff mewn bagiau plastig untro.
Credaf fod chwant mawr—chwarae ar eiriau bwriadol—am leihau gwastraff mewn cynhyrchu bwyd. A chredaf mai dyma'r adeg ac rwy'n credu bod gwir angen inni achub ar y cyfle. Mae mentrau ar waith i hyrwyddo Cymru fel gwlad lle'r ydym ni eisiau lleihau gwastraff, ac mae un o'r rhai sy'n dod i'r amlwg yn eithaf trawiadol, ac mae hynny yn Aber-porth yng Ngheredigion, lle maent yn eithaf penderfynol o leihau'r holl blastig yn eu cynhyrchion bwyd, oherwydd mae'r gwastraff plastig untro yn deillio gan amlaf o'r diwydiant bwyd. Gofynnais ichi, yr wythnos diwethaf oedd hi, rwy'n credu, gwestiwn ynglŷn â'r cyfleoedd y gallem ni fanteisio arnyn nhw, oherwydd nid yw Japan yn mynd i gymryd y swm enfawr o wastraff mwyach—credaf ei fod yn fwy na 4,000 tunnell y flwyddyn o Gymru mewn deunydd ailgylchadwy. Felly, gwelaf od cyfle lle gallai Cymru nid yn unig arwain y ffordd, fel y mae hi gydag ailgylchu, ond hefyd o ran manteisio ar hynny fel cyfle i gysylltu hynny gyda, fel rwy'n dweud, ymdrech wirioneddol i leihau plastig untro yn y diwydiant bwyd. Credaf y byddai o fantais enfawr i bawb pe gallech chi, rywsut, pan rydych chi'n rhoi'r arian i hybu cynhyrchu bwyd, hefyd, ar yr un pryd, gynnig rhai cymhellion i hybu llai o ddeunydd pacio yn y dyfodol. Oherwydd nid ydym yn allforio popeth yr ydym yn ei gynhyrchu; rydym yn defnyddio symiau sylweddol yma yng Nghymru. Rwyf yn wirioneddol gredu bod hwn yn gyfle y dylem ni fanteisio arni ar unwaith.
Credaf, pan rydym ni'n darllen am—rwy'n siŵr fod pobl yma wedi—yr ymgyrch 'cael gwared ar y gwelltyn', sy'n ymwneud â chael gwared ar wellt plastig—. Mae hynny'n deillio ac yn tarddu o fachgen naw mlwydd oed o'r Unol Daleithiau yn ymgyrchu dros hynny. Credaf y byddai hi'n dda iawn pe byddem ni i gyd yn dilyn yr esiampl honno.
Yn olaf, credaf y byddai hi'n fanteisiol pe gallech chi ddylanwadu mewn unrhyw fodd ar archfarchnadoedd, lle maen nhw'n gwerthu cynnyrch Cymru, i beidio â rhoi'r bagiau plastig untro cynnyrch ffres gerllaw, ond efallai i ystyried cynnig bagiau papur y gallai pobl roi cynnyrch ffres ynddyn nhw, os ydyn nhw'n teimlo bod rhaid iddyn nhw, gan felly, ar unwaith, helpu i roi'r ddau beth hynny gyda'i gilydd.
I thank Joyce Watson for her very pertinent questions around the use of plastic and packaging. I think you're right, the time is now. I think people are really interested in this, and, obviously, with my colleague Hannah Blythyn, the Minister for Environment, we will be bringing forward the waste strategy for Wales, looking at food waste reduction as well, because I think that's also—. At the moment, I don't think people realise the amount of food that they throw out, and I think we've got an opportunity there to reduce the amount of food that we do waste. I think we have to. People are struggling financially, there are lots of opportunities to both minimise and prevent waste and save money.
Work has begun to look at how food packaging waste can be reduced, and we do know that plastic, in particular, is a major problem. I think we need to have that discussion with supermarkets—I know exactly what you mean about the single-use plastic bags that are alongside produce—to try and reduce the numbers that they use. The plastic straws initiative is so simple, but it's so important. When I was out in Dubai last year at Gulfood, I visited a factory that was making plastic straws. It was horrific to see the number that was coming out, and it was just incredible. So, just small things like changing from plastic to paper—because we know people want to use straws—could save so much.
So, as I say, this is a piece of work that will be taken forward by the Minister for Environment, which I will obviously support her with. I'm very happy to have conversations with her to try and reduce food waste as well, because I think it's really important that we do both, side by side.
Diolch i Joyce Watson am ei chwestiynau perthnasol iawn ynghylch y defnydd o blastig a deunydd pacio. Credaf eich bod yn iawn, dyma'r amser. Credaf fod gan bobl wir ddiddordeb yn hyn, ac, yn amlwg, gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, Hannah Blythyn, y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd, byddwn yn cyflwyno strategaeth wastraff ar gyfer Cymru, fydd yn rhoi sylw i leihau gwastraff bwyd yn ogystal, oherwydd credaf fod hynny hefyd—. Ar hyn o bryd, nid wyf yn credu bod pobl yn sylweddoli faint o fwyd sy'n cael ei daflu, a chredaf fod cyfle gennym ni yma i leihau faint o fwyd a wastraffwn. Credaf fod yn rhaid inni. Mae pobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd yn ariannol, mae llawer o gyfleoedd i leihau ac atal gwastraff ac arbed arian.
Mae gwaith wedi dechrau i ystyried sut y gellir lleihau gwastraff deunydd pacio bwyd, ac rydym ni'n gwybod bod plastig, yn benodol, yn broblem fawr. Credaf fod angen inni gael y drafodaeth honno gyda'r archfarchnadoedd—gwn yn union beth a olygwch chi am fagiau plastig untro ochr yn ochr â chynnyrch—i geisio lleihau'r nifer sy'n cael eu defnyddio. Mae'r fenter gwellt plastig mor syml, ond mae'n bwysig. Pan oeddwn i yn Dubai yn Gulfood y llynedd, ymwelais â ffatri oedd yn gwneud gwellt plastig. Roedd yn erchyll gweld y niferoedd a gânt eu cynhyrchu, ac roedd yn hollol anghredadwy. Felly, gallai pethau bach fel newid o blastig i bapur—oherwydd rydym ni'n gwybod fod pobl yn awyddus i ddefnyddio gwellt—gallai arbed cymaint.
Felly, fel y dywedaf, mae hon yn agwedd o waith a gaiff ei datblygu gan y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd, a byddaf yn amlwg yn cefnogi hi gyda hynny. Rwy'n hapus iawn i gael sgwrs gyda hi i geisio lleihau gwastraff bwyd yn ogystal, oherwydd credaf ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n gwneud y ddau, ochr yn ochr.
Minister, following on from Joyce Watson's question to you earlier, will the Project Helix be used to provide small and medium-sized food manufacturers with the wherewithal to change some of their processes? Because most of the examples people have talked about so far have been done by the likes of Coca-Cola, Waitrose, Wetherspoon's, Iceland, McDonald's—very large companies with the wherewithal to change quite quickly some of their processes and arrangements for packaging. I do agree—we could market Wales as very eco-friendly in terms of its food and drink products, but I think some in the SME sector will need help, so a key area for Project Helix, I would say.
Gweinidog, yn dilyn y cwestiwn a ofynnodd Joyce Watson i chi yn gynharach, a fydd Prosiect Helics yn cael ei ddefnyddio i roi adnoddau i weithgynhyrchwyr bwyd bach a chanolig fel y gallan nhw newid rhai o'u prosesau? Gan fod y rhan fwyaf o'r enghreifftiau y mae pobl wedi sôn amdanynt hyd yma yn bethau y mae cwmnïau fel Coca-Cola, Waitrose, Wetherspoon, Iceland, McDonald's wedi eu gwneud—cwmnïau mawr iawn gyda'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen i newid rhai o'r prosesau a'r trefniadau ar gyfer eu deunydd pacio yn weddol gyflym. Rwy'n cytuno— fe allem ni farchnata Cymru fel rhywle eco-gyfeillgar iawn o ran ei chynhyrchion bwyd a diod, ond credaf y bydd angen help ar rai yn y sector busnesau bach a chanolig, felly maes allweddol ar gyfer Prosiect Helics, byddwn yn ei ddweud.
I think that's a very good suggestion, and I don't see why they couldn't. I mentioned before that their mission is to stimulate innovation and support new project developments that would benefit our food and drink companies, so I don't see why that couldn't be part of it. We've led the way in recycling; why can't we lead the way in doing that? It's particularly for SMEs, so one of the things that they're doing is responding, for instance, to technical inquiries, so I think this could fit in perfectly.
Rwy'n credu bod hwnna'n awgrym da iawn, alla i ddim gweld pam na allen nhw. Fe soniais i o'r blaen mai eu cenhadaeth yw ysgogi arloesedd a chefnogi datblygiadau prosiect newydd a fyddai o fudd i'n cwmnïau bwyd a diod, felly dwi ddim yn gweld pam na allai hynny fod yn rhan ohono. Rydym ni wedi arwain y ffordd o ran ailgylchu; pam na allwn ni arwain y ffordd mewn gwneud hynny? Mae'n arbennig ar gyfer busnesau bach a chanolig, felly un o'r pethau y maen nhw'n ei wneud yw ymateb, er enghraifft, i ymholiadau technegol, felly rwy'n credu y gallai hyn weddu i'r dim.
Of course, the biggest wake-up call on plastics is the plastic we now find in our fish as a result of the pollution of the seas.
I'm very pleased that you mentioned that food is about people, their health and well-being, and it's not about adulterated chicken being washed with chlorine or artificially fattened pigs and cows plumped up so that their backs break.
I absolutely applaud the food and fun holiday schemes to combat malnutrition in children, and I look forward to more details on your obesity strategy. The Food for Life certification offered by the Soil Association is particularly relevant to the food we serve in our schools. They need local suppliers of food to enable that to work, so when we're investing in skills, we need to know where in Wales you can do horticulture courses, because we have got plenty of meat—we're well endowed in that—and in dairy and cheeses, but we need to vary our diet in the interests of our health and well-being. Where in Wales can you buy Welsh leeks—that symbol of our nation? You may not be able to answer that today, but I'd be really interested to know the answer.
Wrth gwrs, y rhybudd mwyaf ar blastigau yw ein bod ni erbyn hyn yn gweld plastig yn ein pysgod o ganlyniad i lygredd y moroedd.
Rwy'n falch iawn eich bod wedi crybwyll bod bwyd yn ymwneud â phobl, eu hiechyd a'u lles, ac nid â chywion ieir wedi'u llygru yn cael eu golchi gyda chlorin neu foch wedi eu pesgi'n artiffisial a gwartheg wedi eu tewhau nes bod eu cefnau'n torri.
Rwy'n cymeradwyo'n llwyr y cynlluniau gwyliau bwyd a hwyl sydd ar waith i fynd i'r afael â diffyg maeth ymhlith plant, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at fwy o fanylion am eich strategaeth ar ordewdra. Mae'r ardystiad Bwyd am Oes sy'n cael ei gynnig gan Gymdeithas y Pridd yn arbennig o berthnasol i'r bwyd yr ydym ni'n ei weini yn ein hysgolion. Mae nhw angen cyflenwyr bwyd lleol i wneud hynny weithio, felly pan ein bod ni'n buddsoddi mewn sgiliau, mae angen i ni wybod ble yng Nghymru y gallwch chi ddilyn cyrsiau garddwriaeth, gan fod gennym ni ddigon o gig—mae gennym ni gryn waddol yn hynny o beth—ac mewn cynhyrchion llaeth a chaws, ond mae angen amrywio ein deiet er budd ein hiechyd a'n lles. Ble yng Nghymru y gallwch chi brynu cennin Cymreig—y symbol hwnnw o'n gwlad? Efallai na allwch chi ateb hynny heddiw, ond byddai gennyf ddiddordeb gwirioneddol mewn cael yr ateb.
Well, I can certainly say that Morrisons sell them, because as part of the BlasCymru—. From Pembrokeshire, Puffin Produce—they sell Welsh leeks, and I certainly know that one of the supermarkets that take them is Morrisons. But I think you're right, it is important that people know where they can access horticultural skills training, and certainly I know—. Actually, in the Minister for Environment's constituency, there's a college there that provides it. So, it is about getting that balance. But, again, I have seen an increase in people who do want to take up horticulture, certainly in my own constituency, so I do think those skills have to be there, and part of the skills conference that we're having and the discussions with companies is to make sure every skill that they need like that is available.
Wel, gallaf ddweud yn bendant bod Morrisons yn eu gwerthu, oherwydd yn rhan o gynllun BlasCymru—. O Sir Benfro, Puffin Produce—maen nhw'n gwerthu cennin Cymreig, ac rwy'n gwybod yn sicr bod Morrisons yn un o'r archfarchnadoedd sy'n eu cymryd. Ond rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n iawn, mae'n bwysig bod pobl yn gwybod ble i gael gafael ar hyfforddiant sgiliau garddwriaethol, a gwn yn sicr—. Mewn gwirionedd, yn etholaeth Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, mae coleg yno sy'n ei gynnig. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â chael y cydbwysedd hwnnw. Ond, unwaith eto, rwyf wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y bobl sydd eisiau dechrau ym maes garddwriaeth, yn sicr yn fy etholaeth fy hun, felly rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i'r sgiliau hynny fod yno, ac yn rhan o'r gynhadledd sgiliau yr ydym ni'n ei chynnal a'r trafodaethau â chwmnïau yw gwneud yn siŵr bod bob math o sgil y maen nhw ei angen ar gael iddyn nhw.
Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
The next item on the agenda is the Landfill Disposals Tax (Administration) Regulations 2018, and I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to move that motion—Mark Drakeford.
Yr eitem nesaf ar yr agenda yw Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Gweinyddu) 2018, a galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid i gyflwyno'r cynnig hwnnw—Mark Drakeford.
Cynnig NDM6629 Julie James
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5 1.
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o'r Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Gweinyddu) (Cymru) 2018 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â'r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 12 Rhagfyr 2017.
Motion NDM6629 Julie James
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5
1. Approves that the draft Landfill Disposals Tax (Administration) (Wales) Regulations 2018 are made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 12 December 2017.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rydw i'n falch o gyflwyno Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Gweinyddu) (Cymru) 2018.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am pleased to put forward the Landfill Disposals Tax (Administration) Regulations 2018.
Can I put on record my thanks to both the Finance Committee and the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for their work in considering these regulations? They are made under sections 17, 54 and 93 of the Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Act 2017, and both relate to the administration of that tax.
The regulations cover two main areas. Part 2 sets out the requirements additional to those in the Act that must be met in order for waste fines to qualify for the lower rate of tax. Waste fines are small fragments of material produced by a waste treatment process that involves mechanical treatment. Requirements included in the regulations include carrying out loss on ignition testing on waste fines, and the arrangements for doing so. They confer powers to enable the Welsh Revenue Authority to set out the detail of these requirements in a legally enforceable notice, and if these regulations are confirmed by the National Assembly this afternoon, they will assist landfill operators to determine the correct amount of tax chargeable.
Part 3 establishes a customer insolvency credit. This provides landfill site operators with an entitlement to a tax credit where their customer becomes insolvent before having paid the operator for carrying out a taxable disposal. Members of the Finance Committee will recall, from their consideration, that this was a matter of some controversy during the passage of the Act, with different respondents to consultation promoting very different approaches: some arguing for complete abolition of the tax credit, others for a very generous level of retention.
In the event, the regulations before the Assembly today broadly follow the approach adopted in Scotland. They retain a tax credit in this area, but narrow the conditions that give rise to an entitlement. The credit is only available under these regulations where the operator's customer has become insolvent. The primary aim of the regulations is to protect revenues, and then to provide stability to operators.
A gaf i roi ar y cofnod fy niolch i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid a'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol am eu gwaith yn ystyried y rheoliadau hyn? Cânt eu gwneud o dan adrannau 17, 54 a 93 o Ddeddf Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Cymru) 2017, ac mae'r ddau yn ymwneud â gweinyddu'r dreth honno.
Mae'r rheoliadau yn cwmpasu dau brif faes. Mae rhan 2 yn nodi'r gofynion ychwanegol i'r rhai hynny sydd yn y Ddeddf y mae'n rhaid eu bodloni er mwyn i ronynnau gwastraff mân fod yn gymwys ar gyfer y gyfradd dreth is. Darnau bach o ddeunydd sy'n cael eu cynhyrchu gan broses trin gwastraff sy'n cynnwys triniaeth fecanyddol yw gronynnau gwastraff mân. Mae gofynion sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn y rheoliadau yn cynnwys cynnal prawf colled wrth danio ar ronynnau gwastraff mân, yn ogystal â'r trefniadau ar gyfer gwneud hynny. Maen nhw'n rhoi pwerau i alluogi Awdurdod Refeniw Cymru i nodi manylion y gofynion hyn mewn hysbysiad y gellir ei orfodi yn gyfreithiol, ac os caiff y rheoliadau hyn eu cymeradwyo gan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol y prynhawn yma, byddan nhw'n helpu gweithredwyr tirlenwi i benderfynu ar y swm cywir o dreth daladwy.
Mae rhan 3 yn nodi credyd ansolfedd cwsmeriaid. Mae hyn yn rhoi hawl i gredyd treth i weithredwyr safleoedd tirlenwi pan fo eu cwsmeriaid yn mynd yn fethdalwyr cyn talu'r gweithredwr am gynnal gwarediad trethadwy. Bydd aelodau'r Pwyllgor Cyllid yn cofio, o'u hystyriaethau, fod hwn yn fater dadleuol iawn yn ystod hynt y Ddeddf, gyda gwahanol ymatebwyr i'r ymgynghoriad yn hyrwyddo agweddau gwahanol iawn: rhai yn dadlau o blaid diddymu'r credyd treth yn llwyr, ac eraill o blaid lefel hael iawn o gadwraeth.
Fel y mae hi, mae'r rheoliadau sydd gerbron y Cynulliad heddiw yn dilyn yn fras y dull a fabwysiadwyd yn yr Alban. Maen nhw'n cadw credyd treth yn y maes hwn, ond yn cyfyngu'r amodau sy'n arwain at yr hawl. Dim ond pan fo cwsmeriaid y gweithredwr yn mynd yn fethdalwyr y mae'r credyd ar gael o dan y rheoliadau hyn. Prif nod y rheoliadau yw diogelu refeniw, ac yna darparu sefydlogrwydd i weithredwyr.
Gofynnaf i Aelodau gefnogi’r rheoliadau y prynhawn yma.
I ask Members to support these regulations this afternoon.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Simon Thomas.
Simon Thomas.
Diolch, Llywydd, ond nid oes gen i sylwadau pellach gan fod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi ateb popeth a oedd wedi cael ei godi gan y Pwyllgor Cyllid, a gan bobl eraill.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I have no further comments as the Cabinet Secretary has answered everything that was raised by the Finance Committee and by others.
Wow. Jane Hutt.
Waw. Jane Hutt.
Llywydd, I do welcome these Landfill Disposals Tax (Administration) Regulations 2018, and I support the Cabinet Secretary unreservedly as a member now of the Finance Committee. I'm delighted to see the first tax for 800 years, not just on the statute book, but ready for implementation from April 2018. I'm glad I was able to play my part as a former finance Minister to pave the way for this new day for Wales, bringing forward the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Bill, which received Royal Assent in 2016.
But for the record, in this centenary year of women's suffrage, I'm conscious of the role women have played in this Assembly—in Government as finance Ministers, Edwina Hart and Sue Essex, before my six-year term in the post, and in the Assembly, Jocelyn Davies, as the former Chair of the Finance Committee, which scrutinised the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Bill. I'm delighted that the Welsh Revenue Authority, which will be collecting this tax and the land transaction tax, is chaired by a woman, Kathryn Bishop. In 1918, women got partial suffrage, and that was the time when the Women's Tax Resistance League, whose slogan was, 'No Vote, No Tax', was disbanded because, finally, women were getting the vote. So, let's mark this historical day, in the spirit of Hywel Dda, to promote equality in all aspects of devolution, including in the delivery and management of our new taxes in Wales.
Llywydd, rwy'n croesawu'r Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Gweinyddu) 2018 hyn, a chefnogaf Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ddiamod, fel aelod erbyn hyn o'r Pwyllgor Cyllid. Rwy'n falch iawn o weld y dreth gyntaf mewn 800 mlynedd, nid ar y llyfr statud yn unig, ond yn barod i'w gweithredu o fis Ebrill 2018. Rwy'n falch fy mod i wedi gallu chwarae fy rhan fel Gweinidog i baratoi'r ffordd ar gyfer y diwrnod newydd hwn i Gymru, gan gyflwyno Bil Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Cymru), a gafodd Gydsyniad Brenhinol yn 2016.
Ond ar gyfer y cofnod, ym mlwyddyn canmlwyddiant hawl menywod i bleidleisio, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r rhan y mae menywod wedi ei chwarae yn y Cynulliad hwn—yn y Llywodraeth fel Gweinidogion cyllid, Edwina Hart a Sue Essex, cyn fy nhymor i o chwe blynedd yn y swydd, ac yn y Cynulliad, Jocelyn Davies, fel cyn-Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid, a wnaeth y gwaith craffu ar y Bil Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Cymru). Rwy'n falch iawn bod Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru, a fydd yn casglu'r dreth trafodiadau tir a'r dreth hon, yn cael ei gadeirio gan fenyw, Kathryn Bishop. Yn 1918, cafodd menywod hawl rhannol i bleidlais, a dyna pryd y chwalwyd y Gynghrair Menywod dros Wrthwynebu Trethi, a oedd â'r slogan, 'Dim pleidlais, dim trethi', gan fod menywod wedi cael yr hawl i bleidleisio o'r diwedd. Felly, gadewch i ni ddathlu'r diwrnod hanesyddol hwn, yn ysbryd Hywel Dda, i hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb ym mhob agwedd ar ddatganoli, gan gynnwys darparu a rheoli ein trethi newydd yng Nghymru.
Galwaf ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I say to Jane Hutt how much I agree with her on the very significant part that women Members of this Assembly have played throughout the development of these new responsibilities? She will be interested to know, because I was asked this question in front of the Finance Committee very recently, that, in the Welsh Revenue Authority, over half the appointments that have now been made to the authority are women, and that women are represented at every level of responsibility within this new body, thus continuing the work that she and others have pioneered in this field.
Can I thank Simon Thomas for recognising that I've been able to respond to the points that the Finance Committee were interested in? Although technical in nature, Llywydd, the aim of the regulations is to provide a consistent, clear and fair set of requirements that taxpayers can follow in identifying when the lower rate of tax can be applied to qualifying mixtures of fine materials, and also in determining their entitlement to the consumer insolvency credit. I hope that Members will feel able to support them this afternoon.
Diolch, Llywydd. A gaf i ddweud wrth Jane Hutt fy mod i'n cytuno'n llwyr â hi ar y rhan sylweddol iawn y mae Aelodau'r Cynulliad hwn sy'n fenywod wedi'i chwarae wrth ddatblygu'r cyfrifoldebau newydd hyn? Bydd ganddi ddiddordeb mewn gwybod, gan y gofynnwyd y cwestiwn hwn i mi gerbron y Pwyllgor Cyllid yn ddiweddar iawn, bod, yn Awdurdod Refeniw Cymru, dros hanner y penodiadau a wnaethpwyd i'r awdurdod bellach yn fenywod, a bod menywod yn cael eu cynrychioli ar bob lefel o gyfrifoldeb o fewn y corff newydd hwn, gan barhau felly y gwaith y mae hi ac eraill wedi ei arloesi yn y maes hwn.
A gaf i ddiolch i Simon Thomas am gydnabod fy mod wedi gallu ymateb i'r pwyntiau yr oedd gan y Pwyllgor Cyllid ddiddordeb ynddynt? Er eu bod yn dechnegol eu natur, Llywydd, nod y rheoliadau yw darparu casgliad o ofynion sy'n gyson, clir a theg y gall trethdalwyr eu dilyn er mwyn nodi pryd y bydd y gyfradd dreth is yn gymwys ar gyfer cymysgeddau o fân ddeunyddiau, a hefyd wrth benderfynu ar eu hawl i gredyd ansolfedd cwsmeriaid. Gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau yn teimlo y gallan nhw eu cefnogi y prynhawn yma.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? 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.
Yr eitem nesaf yw’r Rheoliadau Trwyddedu Amgylcheddol (Cymru a Lloegr) (Diwygio) 2018. Rydw i'n galw ar Weinidog yr Amgylchedd i wneud y cynnig. Hannah Blythyn.
The next item is the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. I call on the Minister for Environment to move the motion. Hannah Blythyn.
Cynnig NDM6628 Julie James
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Trwyddedu Amgylcheddol (Cymru a Lloegr) (Diwygio) 2018 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 11 Rhagfyr 2017.
Motion NDM6628 Julie James
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5
1. Approves that the draft Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 are made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 11 December 2017.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. Edrychaf ymlaen at drafod y rheoliadau hyn, a fydd yn gwneud cyfraniad pwysig i wella ansawdd aer a lleihau llygredd diwydiannol.
Thank you, Llywydd. I look forward to discussing these regulations, which will make an important contribution to improving air quality and reducing industrial pollution.
In the air quality debate on 5 December I set out the range of actions that the Welsh Government is taking to deliver improvements to air quality in Wales. During this debate I made clear the actions essential for the health and well-being of our communities and our environment.
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 will implement the medium combustion plant directive, helping to tackle the air quality challenge by extending and strengthening our existing controls on the emission of polluting substances to the atmosphere from combustion plant. Medium combustion plant between 1 MW thermal and 50 MW thermal in capacity are used for a wide variety of applications. These include generating heat for large buildings such as offices, hotels, hospitals and schools, and providing heat and steam for industrial processes and generating electricity.
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 will give effect to the directive's upper limits on emissions of nitrate oxides, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter to the atmosphere from medium combustion plant. These are key atmospheric pollutants. Plant over 20 MW thermal capacity are already subject to environmental controls under our environmental permitting regime, including the requirement that best available techniques are applied to prevent pollution and that no significant pollution is caused. These controls remain in place alongside the newly implemented requirements of the medium combustion plant directive.
The regulations will also introduce targeted additional controls to tackle pollution from combustion plant below 50 MW thermal that are used to generate electricity. Over recent years we have seen significant growth in the numbers of diesel-burning combustion plant used to generate electricity during short periods of high demand. These plant can produce over six times as much nitrogen oxides as the gas-burning alternatives. The controls that will be introduced by the regulations are needed to ensure that these electricity generating plant do not impact on air quality and public health.
The regulations will require operators of effective plant to obtain an environmental permit from Natural Resources Wales. The permits will specify the detailed operating requirements necessary to ensure the protection of air quality, including emission limit values of key pollutants, monitoring requirements and reporting obligations. These requirements will be administered and enforced by Natural Resources Wales for the lifetime of each permit, and the costs associated with permit issue and compliance checking will be met by the operator under existing cost recovery provisions for environmental permitting.
I seek your support today for the implementation of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. The directive obligations these regulations will introduce, and the targeted additional controls on electricity generating plant, will make an important contribution to improving air quality and public health in line with the Welsh Government's well-being goals and the national strategy, 'Prosperity for All'.
Yn y ddadl ar ansawdd aer ar 5 Rhagfyr, amlinellais ystod o gamau gweithredu y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau gwelliannau i ansawdd yr aer yng Nghymru. Yn ystod y ddadl hon, eglurais y camau hanfodol ar gyfer iechyd a lles ein cymunedau a'n hamgylchedd.
Bydd Rheoliadau Trwyddedu Amgylcheddol (Cymru a Lloegr) (Diwygio) 2018 yn gweithredu'r gyfarwyddeb gweithfeydd hylosgi canolig, gan helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r her ansawdd aer drwy ymestyn a chryfhau ein rheolaethau presennol ar allyriadau sylweddau llygru i'r atmosffer o weithfeydd hylosgi. Defnyddir gweithfeydd hylosgi canolig â chapasiti rhwng 1MW thermol a 50MW thermol ar gyfer amrywiaeth eang o weithrediadau. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys cynhyrchu gwres ar gyfer adeiladau mawr megis swyddfeydd, gwestai, ysbytai ac ysgolion, a darparu gwres a stêm ar gyfer prosesau diwydiannol a chynhyrchu trydan.
Bydd Rheoliadau Trwyddedu Amgylcheddol (Cymru a Lloegr) (Diwygio) 2018 yn rhoi grym i derfynau uchaf y Gyfarwyddeb ar allyriadau nitradau ocsid, sylffwr deuocsid a gronynnau i'r atmosffer o weithfeydd hylosgi canolig. Mae'r rhain yn llygryddion atmosfferig allweddol. Mae gweithfeydd â capasiti thermol dros 20MW eisoes yn destun rheolaethau amgylcheddol o dan ein cyfundrefn trwyddedu amgylcheddol, gan gynnwys y gofyniad bod y technegau gorau sydd ar gael yn cael eu rhoi ar waith i atal llygredd ac na achosir llygredd sylweddol. Mae'r rheolaethau hyn yn parhau i fod ar waith ochr yn ochr â'r gofynion a weithredir o'r newydd drwy'r Gyfarwyddeb gweithfeydd hylosgi canolig.
Bydd y rheoliadau hefyd yn cyflwyno rheolaethau ychwanegol wedi eu targedu i fynd i'r afael â llygredd o weithfeydd hylosgi sy'n is na 50MW thermol a ddefnyddir i gynhyrchu trydan. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, rydym ni wedi gweld twf sylweddol yn niferoedd y gweithfeydd hylosgi sy'n llosgi diesel i gynhyrchu trydan yn ystod cyfnodau byr o alw uchel. Gall y gweithfeydd hyn gynhyrchu dros chwe gwaith mwy o nitrogenau ocsid na'r dewisiadau amgen sy'n llosgi nwy. Mae angen y rheolaethau a gaiff eu cyflwyno gan y rheoliadau er mwyn sicrhau nad yw'r gweithfeydd cynhyrchu trydan hyn yn effeithio ar ansawdd yr aer ac iechyd y cyhoedd.
Bydd y rheoliadau yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i weithredwyr gweithfeydd sy'n weithredol gael trwydded amgylcheddol gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Bydd y trwyddedau yn nodi'r gofynion gweithredu manwl sydd eu hangen i sicrhau bod ansawdd yr aer yn cael ei ddiogelu, gan gynnwys gwerthoedd terfyn ar gyfer allyriadau llygryddion allweddol, gofynion monitro a rhwymedigaethau adrodd. Bydd y gofynion hyn yn cael eu gweinyddu a'u gorfodi gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru am oes pob trwydded, ac ysgwyddir costau sy'n gysylltiedig â chyflwyno trwydded a gwirio cydymffurfiad gan y gweithredwr o dan y darpariaethau adennill costau presennol ar gyfer trwyddedu amgylcheddol.
Gofynnaf am eich cefnogaeth heddiw ar gyfer gweithredu Rheoliadau Trwyddedu Amgylcheddol (Cymru a Lloegr) (Diwygio) 2018. Bydd rhwymedigaethau'r gyfarwyddeb, a gyflwynir gan y rheoliadau hyn, ynghyd â'r rheolaethau ychwanegol wedi eu targedu ar weithfeydd sy'n cynhyrchu trydan, yn gwneud cyfraniad pwysig at wella ansawdd aer ac iechyd y cyhoedd yn unol â nodau llesiant Llywodraeth Cymru a'r strategaeth genedlaethol, 'Ffyniant i Bawb'.
I thank the Minister for setting out the need for these regulations. We do support what the Minister is doing, and this is a joint set of regulations between England and Wales, of course, in response to an EU directive.
I've got a couple of questions, if I may. Could the Minister just confirm that, in fact, though we welcome these, these regulations are actually being transposed late, and beyond the timescale that was set out by the EU, which I think is a regrettable state of affairs, and I'd like to understand how that happened? The second point I'd like to make is that, as I understand these regulations, they will now include some of the power plants that the Minister referred to, which have not been captured by directives such as this in the past. This is a very important step in terms of maintaining good air quality and better air quality in Wales. We know the public health implications of the poor air quality we have in many parts of Wales.
The permitting process, however, as I understand, also allows the older plants, so, actually the most polluting ones, to have more time to come up to speed, and I'd like to understand how we're going to use the best information we get and the best work of Natural Resources Wales to actually try and accelerate that process, because it seems to me that, rather than giving the older plants more time, we almost should be doing it the other way round. There may be issues here around costs and effectiveness, but they're the ones that are really contributing to the public health emergency that we have in Wales at the moment.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am egluro'r angen ar gyfer y rheoliadau hyn. Rydym ni yn cefnogi'r hyn y mae'r Gweinidog yn ei wneud, a chyfres o reoliadau ar y cyd rhwng Cymru a Lloegr yw'r rhain, wrth gwrs, mewn ymateb i gyfarwyddeb yr UE.
Mae gennyf i un neu ddau gwestiwn, os caf i. A wnaiff y Gweinidog gadarnhau, mewn gwirionedd, er ein bod ni'n croesawu hyn, bod y rheoliadau hyn mewn gwirionedd yn cael eu trosi yn hwyr, a'r tu hwnt i'r amserlen a nodwyd gan yr UE, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn sefyllfa anffodus, a hoffwn i ddeall sut y digwyddodd hyn? Yr ail bwynt yr hoffwn ei wneud yw eu bod, fel y deallaf y rheoliadau hyn, bellach yn cynnwys rhai o weithfeydd pŵer y cyfeiriodd y Gweinidog atyn nhw, nad oedden nhw wedi'u cynnwys o dan gyfarwyddebau fel hyn yn y gorffennol. Mae hwn yn gam pwysig iawn o ran cynnal ansawdd aer da a gwell ansawdd aer yng Nghymru. Rydym ni'n gwybod y goblygiadau i iechyd y cyhoedd oherwydd yr ansawdd aer gwael sydd gennym mewn llawer o fannau yng Nghymru.
Mae'r broses drwyddedu, fodd bynnag, o'r hyn rwy'n ei ddeall, hefyd yn caniatáu i'r gweithfeydd hŷn, felly, mewn gwirionedd, y rhai sy'n llygru fwyaf, gael mwy o amser i wella'n ddigonol. A hoffwn i ddeall sut yr ydym ni'n mynd i ddefnyddio'r wybodaeth orau yr ydym ni'n ei chael a gwaith gorau Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i geisio cyflymu'r broses honno mewn gwirionedd. Oherwydd mae'n ymddangos i mi, bron fel y dylem ni ei wneud y ffordd arall, yn hytrach na rhoi mwy o amser i'r gweithfeydd hŷn. Efallai fod materion yn y fan yma yn ymwneud â chostau ac effeithiolrwydd, ond dyma'r rhai sydd mewn gwirionedd yn cyfrannu at yr argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog i ymateb i'r ddadl. Hannah Blythyn.
I call on the Minister to respond to the debate. Hannah Blythyn.
May I thank the Member for his contribution in this debate? Your first question was on the late transposal of the medium combustion plant directive. The delayed transposition has resulted from delays to the finalisation of elements of the regulations dealing with the interplay with existing industrial environmental controls. Once the regulations were finalised they had to go through a three-month period of notification to the European Commission, during which the regulations could not be progressed. The notification period ended on 8 December and we laid the regulations before the Assembly the following working day, which was 11 December. The regulations were laid in Parliament on the same day. I'm sure the transposition delay will not affect the timely introduction of the directive's requirements, the first of which must be applied by 20 December this year.
In terms of the phasing for some of the older plants, a large number of these combustion plants that are affected—up to 30,000 in England and Wales—in many cases the operators of these plants will not have encountered the environmental permitting regime, so it's to raise awareness and give it time for that permitting to take place. The phasing in period, it's hoped, will also help to encourage operators to invest in new, cleaner technology rather than retrofitting old plant with pollution abatement equipment.
Thank you again for your contribution. This is a very technical amendment in today's debate, but it's an important one as it helps us work towards our aspirations of tackling poor air quality in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gyfraniad yn y ddadl hon? Roedd eich cwestiwn cyntaf yn ymwneud â throsi'r gyfarwyddeb gweithfeydd hylosgi canolig yn hwyr. Mae'r oedi o ran trosi wedi ei achosi gan yr oedi wrth gwblhau elfennau o'r rheoliadau sy'n ymwneud â chydadwaith â rheolaethau amgylcheddol diwydiannol presennol. Ar ôl i'r rheoliadau gael eu cwblhau roedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw fynd drwy gyfnod tri mis o hysbysu i'r Comisiwn Ewropeaidd, ac nid oedd yn bosibl symud ymlaen â'r rheoliadau yn y cyfnod hwnnw. Daeth y cyfnod hysbysu i ben ar 8 Rhagfyr, a chyflwynwyd y rheoliadau gerbron y Cynulliad y diwrnod gwaith canlynol gennym ni, sef 11 Rhagfyr. Cafodd y rheoliadau eu cyflwyno yn y Senedd ar yr un diwrnod. Rwy'n siŵr na fydd yr oedi o ran y trosi yn effeithio ar gyflwyno gofynion y gyfarwyddeb yn brydlon, ac mae'n rhaid cymhwyso'r cyntaf ohonyn nhw erbyn 20 Rhagfyr eleni.
O ran y dull cyflwyno graddol ar gyfer rhai o'r gweithfeydd hŷn, sef nifer fawr o'r gweithfeydd hylosgi hyn yr effeithir arnynt—hyd at 30,000 yng Nghymru a Lloegr—mewn llawer o achosion ni fydd gweithredwyr y gweithfeydd hyn wedi dod ar draws y gyfundrefn trwyddedu amgylcheddol, felly mae angen codi ymwybyddiaeth a rhoi amser i'r trwyddedu hwnnw ddigwydd. Bydd y cyfnod cyflwyno graddol, gobeithir, hefyd yn helpu i annog cwmnïau i fuddsoddi mewn technoleg newydd, lanach yn hytrach nag ôl-ffitio hen weithfeydd gyda chyfarpar lleihau llygredd.
Diolch unwaith eto am eich cyfraniad. Mae hwn yn welliant technegol iawn yn y ddadl heddiw, ond mae'n un pwysig gan ei fod yn ein helpu ni i weithio tuag at ein huchelgeisiau o fynd i'r afael ag ansawdd aer gwael yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly, derbynnir y cynnig.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Yr eitem nesaf yw'r ddadl ar adolygiad Thurley o Amgueddfa Cymru, ac rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Diwylliant, Twristiaeth a Chwaraeon i wneud y cynnig. Dafydd Elis-Thomas.
The next item is the debate on the Thurley review of Amgueddfa Cymru, and I call on the Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism to move the motion—Dafydd Elis-Thomas.
Cynnig NDM6627 Julie James
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn nodi cyhoeddi’r adolygiad o Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum Wales.
2. Yn croesawu agwedd gadarnhaol yr adroddiad at safon yr Amgueddfa Genedlaethol ac ansawdd y gwaith a wneir gan y staff.
3. Yn cydnabod y materion a godwyd a bod rhaid i Amgueddfa Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru weithio mewn partneriaeth i fynd i’r afael â’r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad.
Motion NDM6627 Julie James
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the publication of the review of Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum Wales.
2. Welcomes the report’s positivity regarding the standard of our National Museum and the quality of the work carried out by staff.
3. Recognises the issues identified and acknowledges that Amgueddfa Cymru and the Welsh Government must work in partnership to address the recommendations within the report.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Mae hi'n fraint ac yn bleser arbennig i mi i agor trafodaeth ar fater o fewn fy nghyfrifoldebau diwylliannol, ac wrth wneud hynny, defnyddio amser y Llywodraeth yn y Cynulliad i ddathlu datblygiad ein sefydliadau diwylliannol pwysig, a hefyd i roi cyfle i Aelodau Cynulliad ac i'r cyhoedd, yn dilyn cyhoeddi yr adroddiad, i drafod ei gynnwys ymhellach, a helpu ni yn y broses, fel Llywodraeth, o gydweithio â'r amgueddfa yn cryfhau ein sefydliadau cenedlaethol.
Mae sefydliadau cenedlaethol sy'n ymwneud â threftadaeth a hanes yn sefydliadau ble mae, heb siarad yn rhy genedlaetholgar na rhamantaidd, curiad y galon i'w glywed, oherwydd y mae'r sefydliadau yma yn cynnig profiad arbennig i ymwelwyr â Chymru, ac yn cynnig ymdeimlad o falchder mewn lle i gymunedau Cymru. Maen nhw'n sefydliadau sydd yn gallu bod yn ddefnyddiol iawn i groesawu newydd-ddyfodiaid i esbonio hanes a dyheadau pobl Cymru dros y canrifoedd, a hefyd i gynnig ar yr un pryd brofiadau o hanes a thystiolaeth i bawb o bob cenhedlaeth.
Mae gan Amgueddfa Cymru, fel y gwyddoch chi, saith o leoliadau ledled Cymru, ac mae'r sefydliadau yma yn rhan allweddol o'r gwaith o ddarparu profiadau diwylliannol ar garreg drws pobl bron, fel petai, a'r gwaith o ddarparu profiadau sydd ar yr un pryd yn gofalu am dreftadaeth. Ar wahân i bedwar ymweliad â Llandudno, y lle rwyf wedi treulio'r rhan fwyaf o amser ynddo fo o ran un lleoliad ers imi gael y swydd yma yw Sain Ffagan, ac mae'r cyfle i ailymweld â'r lle yna yn weddol aml yn ddiweddar wedi helpu imi sylweddoli gymaint o ddatblygiad ac ailddatblygiad sydd wedi ei wneud, gan gefnogi buddsoddiad o dros £7 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Fe ges i argraff gref iawn o'r cyfleusterau newydd yna, ac mae'n amlwg bod yna hanes hir o waith caled a chwbl ymroddedig gan bawb o'r uned adeiladau hanesyddol grefftus iawn sydd yno, drwodd i'r cyfarwyddwr cyffredinol a'r holl staff sydd mor frwd.
Ond, wrth gwrs, fe fu yna yn hanes y sefydliad yna, fel ym mhob sefydliad, broblemau ac mae yna o hyd heriadau. Mewn ymateb i heriadau ac ar gais gan Amgueddfa Cymru ei hun, comisiynodd fy rhagflaenydd, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Economi a Seilwaith, Ken Skates, yr adolygiad annibynnol yma rydym yn ei drafod heddiw yn 2016. A'r awydd oedd i geisio darganfod ffordd y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru a'r amgueddfa gydweithio yn fwy effeithiol.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Dr Simon Thurley—rwy'n gyfarwydd â'i waith o yn English Heritage ers blynyddoedd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn iddo am y cyfrifoldeb gymerodd o am yr adolygiad, a'r modd darllenadwy y cafodd o ei ysgrifennu—yn wir, anarferol o ddarllenadwy yn fy mhrofiad i o ddarllen adroddiadau cyhoeddus, hyd yn oed ym maes diwylliant. Mae'r adroddiad wedi llwyddo i bwyso a mesur y cryfderau a'r gwendidau, i nodi'r problemau, i ystyried cyfleoedd a chyflwyno syniadau i ni am sut y gall yr amgueddfa symud ymlaen mewn nifer o'r meysydd yma.
Fel y gwelwch chi o ddarllen yr adroddiad, mae yna 17 o argymhellion. Nid wyf am drafod pob un yn unigol, ond mi groesawaf sylwadau fan hyn ar lafar neu yn uniongyrchol eto.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. It’s a privilege for me to open this discussion on a matter within my cultural responsibilities, and in so doing I use the Government time at the Assembly to celebrate the development of cultural institutions—important institutions—and also to give Assembly Members and the public the opportunity, following the publication of this report, to discuss its content further and to help us in the process, as Government, in collaboration with the museum to strengthen our national institutions.
The national institutions dealing with heritage and history are institutions where, without being too nationalistic or romantic here, the heartbeat of the nation is to be heard, because these institutions offer a special experience for visitors to Wales, and they offer a sense of place and pride for communities in Wales. They are institutions that can be very useful in welcoming new arrivals and to explain the histories and the aspirations of people of Wales over the centuries, and also to offer experiences of history and evidence for people of all generations.
National Museum Wales, as you know, has seven locations scattered across Wales, and this institution is a vital part of the work of providing cultural experiences on people’s doorsteps almost, and the work of providing experiences also cares for our heritage. Apart from four visits to Llandudno, the place I have visited most since I came into this post is St Fagans, and the opportunity to revisit this location often recently has helped me to understand how much development and redevelopment has been made in supporting an investment of over £7 million by the Welsh Government. I was hugely impressed by the new facilities in St Fagans, and it’s clear that there is a long history of very hard work, passion and commitment from everyone from the skilled historic buildings unit, through to the general director and all of the staff who are so enthusiastic.
But, in the history of that institution, as with all institutions, there have been problems and there continue to be challenges. In response to the challenges and at the request of National Museum Wales itself, my predecessor, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, commissioned this independent report that we are discussing today back in 2016. The ambition was to find a way that the Welsh Government and National Museum Wales could work together more effectively.
I’m very grateful to Dr Simon Thurley. I’m familiar with his work in English Heritage for many years. I’m very grateful to him for the responsibility he took for the review and the readable way that it was written. Indeed, it’s unusually readable in my experience of reading public reports, even in the field of culture. The report has succeeded to discuss the strengths and weaknesses, to note the issues, to consider opportunities and to put forward ideas of how the museum can move forward in several different areas.
As you see from reading the report, there are 17 recommendations. I don’t want to discuss all of these individually, but I welcome all contributions directly on these recommendation.
Rydw i’n credu bod yna dri phrif faes o argymhellion ac fe geisiaf i gyfeirio at y rhain yn eu tro. Maen nhw’n cynnwys yr angen i'r amgueddfa greu mwy o incwm er mwyn gwella cynaliadwyedd a lleihau’r ddibyniaeth sylweddol iawn ar arian cyhoeddus, datblygu a gwella cysylltiadau, yn enwedig gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, a datblygu’r cynnig dehongli yn yr amgueddfeydd ar draws y sefydliad cyfan.
Mae sawl argymhelliad yn nodi bod angen i Amgueddfa Cymru weithio’n wahanol er mwyn manteisio’n llawn ar ei photensial i greu incwm. Rydw i’n deall nad ydy’n hawdd i sefydliad mawr a chymhleth newid ei fodel busnes, ond mae'n bwysig fod hynny yn digwydd, ac, yn y trafodaethau sylweddol rydw i wedi'u cael yn barod efo Amgueddfa Cymru, mae'n amlwg fod yna barodrwydd i dderbyn a chofleidio'r angen am newid.
Yn ogystal â hynny, mae’r amgueddfa bellach yn rhan o bartneriaeth Cymru Hanesyddol. Rwy'n sicr yn gwerthfawrogi y cydweithrediad rhwng gwahanol agweddau o waith treftadaeth, yn arbennig gwaith Cadw, sydd yn parhau—fel y byddwch chi'n cofio o ddatganiad blaenorol y gwnes i yma—yn rhan o'r Llywodraeth o hyd, er gyda mwy o annibyniaeth ar gyfer ei waith a'i reolaeth. Felly, rydw i'n edrych ymlaen at weld datblygiad pellach yn y bartneriaeth a chydweithio closiach rhwng y sefydliadau ym mhartneriaeth Cymru Hanesyddol. Rydw i hefyd yn gwerthfawrogi parodrwydd yr undebau i gymryd rhan yn y trafodaethau, a'r sicrwydd y medraf i ei roi yma'n gyhoeddus bod safbwyntiau staff yn rhan hanfodol o’r broses o wneud penderfyniadau.
Mae gan Amgueddfa Cymru gyfle da i ystyried y gwelliant rhagorol a wnaed gan Cadw o ran creu incwm, ac i ddysgu gwersi perthnasol. Er bod angen talu i gael mynediad i lawer o safleoedd Cadw, mae'r adroddiad yma'n cyfeirio at sefydliadau cenedlaethol eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig sy’n cynnig mynediad am ddim i’w horielau parhaol ond hefyd yn codi tâl i weld arddangosfeydd arbennig a chael gwasanaethau ychwanegol. Felly, fe garwn i bwysleisio fod Amgueddfa Cymru yn ystyried cyfleoedd eraill hefyd, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau parcio ceir a bysiau, gwella’r cynnig arlwyo, edrych ar yr oriau agor ac ystyried a fyddai’n bosibl i rai safleoedd agor ar adegau penodol.
Mae'r argymhelliad sydd wedi cael ei wneud yn yr adroddiad yma hefyd, yn allweddol iawn, yn argymell penodi cyfarwyddwr masnachol profiadol. Mae’r Amgueddfa yn ei thrafodaethau, yn sicr efo fi, wedi derbyn y syniad yna yn llawen, oherwydd y byddai'r sgiliau a fyddai'n cael eu cynnig gan benodiad fel yna yn hyrwyddo newid a gwelliant ar draws y sefydliad.
A gaf i gyfeirio yma eto at lwyddiant arbennig Sain Ffagan? Mae'r amgueddfa wedi codi dros £30 miliwn i roi’r prosiectau newydd yn Sain Ffagan ar waith. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r cyllid yma wedi dod o Gronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri a Llywodraeth Cymru, ond mae gweddill yr arian—sy’n swm sylweddol—wedi’i godi diolch i waith dygn ymddiriedolwyr a staff yr amgueddfa. Mae’r arian yma wedi dod o ffynonellau amrywiol, sy’n dangos bod yr amgueddfa yn gallu dod o hyd i gyfleoedd a sicrhau cyllid ar gyfer prosiectau. Er bod y broses hon wedi llwyddo, mae’n bwysig fy mod i'n cydnabod yma heddiw ei bod hi wedi cymryd cryn amser ac ymdrech a fy mod i'n gwerthfawrogi hynny.
Fe fydd angen sicrhau cydbwysedd o hyd rhwng ein polisi hynod lwyddiannus, sydd wedi’i hen ymsefydlu, o gynnig mynediad am ddim a’r angen i fod yn fwy masnachol. Rydw i'n awyddus i glywed barn Aelodau ynglŷn â sut y gallwn ni sicrhau'r cydbwysedd yna.
Mae'r ail gyfres o argymhellion y cyfeiriais i atyn nhw gan Dr Simon Thurley yn ymwneud â chysylltiadau, yn enwedig y cysylltiad rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru â'r amgueddfa. Mae'r adroddiad yn codi pryderon ynglŷn â’r hyn y mae’n ei ystyried yn lefel ddiangen o reolaeth. Rydw i'n deall y pryderon yna, ac, fel un sydd wedi ymwneud â nifer o sefydliadau cyhoeddus dros y blynyddoedd, rydw i’n meddwl ei bod hi yn bwysig ar yr un pryd i gael prosesau craffu llymach ar sefydliadau ac ar wariant, yn ogystal ag i sicrhau bod modd, wrth wneud hynny hefyd, edrych ar sefydliadau eraill o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig sydd yn fodlon manteisio ar bosibiliadau o greu incwm ychwanegol. Nid oes gwrthwynebiad mewn egwyddor i’r incwm ychwanegol yma gael ei greu, cyhyd â bod hynny’n gallu eistedd gydag egwyddor sylfaenol mynediad di-dâl yn gyffredinol i’r sefydliadau.
Rydw i’n gobeithio felly y bydd yr argymhellion yma yn cael eu hystyried ymhellach ac rydw i’n edrych ymlaen at y drafodaeth lawnach ar hynny yn y fan yma. Ond fe garwn i ddweud un peth cyn i mi gloi'r sylwadau agoriadol yma. Mae yna gyfeiriadau wedi cael eu gwneud yn yr adroddiad, a oedd yn ddarllen poenus iawn i mi, ynglŷn â thorri lawr mewn perthynas rhwng timau uwch reoli a’r undebau’n cynrychioli'r gweithlu. Yn amlwg, nid yw hwn yn sefyllfa iach i unrhyw gorff cyhoeddus nag yn wir i gwmni masnachol na phartneriaeth fod ynddi hi. Ond nid ydw i am wneud unrhyw sylwadau penodol ar faterion rheolaeth yma heddiw. Ni fyddai hynny’n briodol. Rydw i’n parchu’r egwyddor hyd braich mewn sefydliadau diwylliannol ac rydw i’n meddwl bod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gadw’r pellter hwnnw er mwyn gallu bod yn effeithiol yn y gwaith o graffu ar gyrff cyhoeddus yr ydym ni’n eu cyllido. Rwy’n annog cydweithrediad, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau cyflafareddi gan Acas ac eraill os oes angen, a hefyd yn y sefyllfa yna gobeithio y gallwn ni hyderu na fyddwn ni’n syrthio i hanes eto a fydd yn ailadrodd anghytundeb a methu cyd-ddeall.
Mae’r trydydd maes yr ydw i wedi cyfeirio ato yn y sylwadau agoriadol yma yn cyfleu’n arbennig y pwysigrwydd o ddatblygu cynnig arbennig yr amgueddfeydd. Rydw i'n ddiolchgar iawn am y sylwadau manwl a gofalus sydd wedi cael eu gwneud ar yr holl leoliadau, ond yn arbennig ar Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru, amgueddfa sydd yn annwyl iawn yn fy nhyb i, wrth gwrs, oherwydd y cysylltiad teuluol â’r diwydiant, a hefyd Amgueddfa Lleng Rufeinig Cymru, y ces i’r pleser pur o ymweld â hi yng Nghaerllion ddoe. Eto, mae enghraifft Sain Ffagan o’m mlaen i, ac mae hynny’n dangos sut y gall yr amgueddfeydd llai yma fanteisio ar brofiad Sain Ffagan a phrofiad Cadw i ddatblygu eu cynnig, gan ddangos yn glir nad corff sydd yn aros yn llonydd yw amgueddfa ond corff sydd yn parhau i dyfu fel y mae’r ddealltwriaeth o hanes y genedl yn tyfu.
Fel rydw i’n dweud, rydw i wedi cyfarfod swyddogion yr amgueddfa sawl tro i drafod yr adroddiad yma a’r argymhellion, ac rwy’n parhau i edrych ymlaen at gydweithio gyda nhw, ac rydw i’n awyddus prynhawn yma, ac ar ôl heddiw hefyd, i glywed eich cyfraniad chi fel y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros ein sefydliadau cenedlaethol yn y broses o’i diwygio nhw. Diolch yn fawr i chi am eich gwrandawiad.
I think there are three main areas of recommendations and I’ll try refer to these in turn. They include the need for Amgueddfa Cymru to maximise income to improve sustainability and to decrease its significant dependency on public funding, to develop links and relationships, especially with the Welsh Government, and to develop the interpretation offer in the museums across the entire institution.
Several recommendations identify the need for Amgueddfa Cymru to work differently to maximise its potential for income generation. I acknowledge that it’s not easy for a large and complex organisation to change its business model, but it is important that this does happen and, in the substantial discussions that I’ve had with Amgueddfa Cymru, it’s clear that there is a willingness to accept and embrace the need for change.
In addition to this, the museum is already involved in the Historic Wales partnership, and I certainly appreciate the collaboration between different aspects of heritage work, especially Cadw’s work, which continues—as you’ll remember from a previous statement that I made here—as part of the Government, although it has greater independence in its work and its management. So, I look forward to seeing further development in the partnership and closer collaboration between the institutions in the Historic Wales partnership. I also appreciate the willingness of the unions to take part in the discussions, and the assurance that I can give here publicly that the points of view of staff are a vital part of the process of making decisions.
Amgueddfa Cymru has a real opportunity to consider the excellent improvement made by Cadw in terms of income generation and to learn relevant lessons. While many Cadw sites have an admission charge, this report does draw attention to other national organisations in the United Kingdom that provide free entry to their permanent galleries while charging for admission to see special exhibitions and to receive additional services. So, I’d like to emphasise that Amgueddfa Cymru is considering other opportunities too, including, for example, car and coach parking, improving the catering offer, looking at the opening hours and considering whether it would be possible for some sites to open at particular times of the year.
A recommendation that is also made in this report is vitally important in recommending the appointment of an experienced commercial director. The museum, certainly in its discussions with me, has accepted this idea gladly, because the skills that would be provided by such an appointment would drive change and improvement across the institution.
May I refer again to the particular success of St Fagans? The museum has raised over £30 million to bring the new projects at St Fagans to fruition. The majority of this funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government, but the rest of the funding, which is a substantial amount, has been raised thanks to the hard work of the trustees and staff of the museum. This funding has come from a variety of sources, which demonstrates that the museum can identify opportunities and attract funding to projects. Even though this process has been successful, it’s important that I acknowledge here today that it has taken considerable time and effort and that I appreciate that time and effort.
Now, there will always be a balance to maintain between our hugely successful policy, which has been long established, of offering free entry and the need to be more commercially minded, and I’m eager to hear Members' views on how we can ensure that that balance is struck.
The second series of recommendations that I referred to by Dr Simon Thurley revolve around relationships, particularly between the Welsh Government and Amgueddfa Cymru. The report does raise concerns about what it considers an unwarranted level of control. I understand that concern, and, as someone who has been involved in a number of public institutions over the years, I think that it is important at the same time to have stricter scrutiny processes for expenditure and institutions, as well as to ensure that there is a way, in so doing, of looking at other institutions within the United Kingdom that are willing to take advantage of the possibility of generating additional income. There is no opposition in principle to this additional income being generated, as long as it sits alongside the fundamental principle of free entry in general to the institutions.
I hope therefore that these recommendations will be considered further, and I look forward to the full debate on that in this place. But I'd also like to say one further thing before I conclude my opening comments. Reference has been made in the report, which made very painful reading for me, to a breakdown in the relationship between senior management teams and the unions representing the workforce. Clearly, this isn't a healthy situation for any public body or for any commercial organisation or partnership to be in. I don't want to make any specific comments about management issues here today. That wouldn't be appropriate. I respect the arm's-length principle in cultural institutions and I believe that the Welsh Government must maintain this distance in order to be effective in its scrutiny function of bodies that it funds. I encourage collaboration, including the Acas negotiation process if necessary, and in that situation I hope that we won't fall into the trap of repeating history that would repeat that failure to understand each other.
The third area that I wish to deal with in these opening remarks conveys the importance of developing the particular offer of the museums. I am very grateful for the careful and detailed comments that have been made on all of the locations, but particularly the National Slate Museum, a museum that is very close to my heart, of course, because of the familial link with the industry, and also the National Roman Legion Museum, which I had the huge pleasure of visiting in Caerleon yesterday. Again, the example of St Fagans is before us, and it shows how these smaller museums can take advantage of the experience of St Fagans and at Cadw to develop their offer, demonstrating that a museum isn't a static body but a body that continues to grow as the understanding of the nation's history also grows.
As I said, I have met the museum's officials several times to discuss this report and the recommendations, and I continue to look forward to collaborating with them, and I'm eager this afternoon, and from today onwards, to hear your contribution as the National Assembly that has responsibility for our national institutions in the process of reforming them. Thank you very much for listening.
A gaf i ddiolch i’r Gweinidog am ddod â’r adolygiad i’r Siambr heddiw?
May I thank the Minister for bringing the review to the Chamber today?
It's a pretty punchy review, I think, although its recommendations, I think, need to be considered alongside the conclusions of the group chaired by Justin Albert on the possible shape of Historic Wales and, of course, your recent decision that Cadw would remain wholly in Government. I just want to speak very briefly about that part of the report that refers to the industrial dispute that affected activities during the museum's recent past. I don't want to dwell on it much, but I tend to agree that this is not a matter for Government to intercede in directly, when it comes to industrial relations of a non-Government body, but I do believe it's right for both parties to inform AMs of their views, because every person involved in this is somebody's constituent, and we, as representatives, can highlight those views to a point where they bring pressure to bear. But that is not the same as the Executive stepping in and influencing.
Whether Dr Thurley has adequately or accurately represented the relationship between staff, management and even Government, I genuinely can't say, but I do think that the need for realistic modernisation of the national museum and the appropriate recognition of staff expertise, commitment and flexibility is not a binary choice. But the fact that it's come up as an issue is illustrative of a theme that has emerged from discussions about the museum in the last year or so. And that issue is the place of Government and its relationship with the independence of the museum.
On the strength of recent scrutiny, not least in this report, the museum's had to face criticism about its ability to manage the concerns of the workforce properly, and, of course, to manage the changes in its financial circumstances and support. Now, as far as I'm concerned, that is about gaps in management skills that can and have to be addressed, and not a reason for Government creep into the independent space of the museum.
That looming prospect of merged commercial functions with Welsh Government was a very successful project in holding up a mirror to the museum so that it could see and begin to plan to overcome its shortcomings, particularly with regard to its commercial activities, and it's exploiting those potential commercial activities that are at the heart of this Thurley review, after all. Now, I have no problem at all with the museum working collaboratively with Cadw to improve commercial, or, indeed, any other, opportunities, but that's just one relationship that will improve their prospects.
And I just want to be clear, since we've had that confirmation that Cadw will remain wholly within Government, that I can't see my party supporting any closer integration between those two bodies. While each should co-operate for mutual benefit—. Actually, Cadw and Visit Wales have cropped up in this review and the Justin Albert report. That's one thing, but I think Government really needs to back off anything that hints at operational interference, or even those elements of the museum's strategy that don't speak to the remit letter or the collaborative work streams.
The review was very effusive about the museum's existing offer and even more effusive about the potential offer, and I think it would be hard to disagree with that. Since it's had its rude awakening, the museum has already raised £10.3 million through earned income—nearly twice as much as any other national cultural organisation—and slashed the dependence on Government income to two thirds in just one year alone, so it can do it. And they're now actively recruiting for a commercial director, although maybe they want to revisit expertise on staff relations as well.
Minister, I'm always a bit sceptical about drawing comparisons with London institutions when we talk of funding our culture and heritage offer, but I hope that the new commercial director will consider even the most controversial ideas put forward by Thurley, just to throw them around and really examine if there's anything that Wales can learn from them. I'd say, as Welsh Conservatives, we support the general principle of free entry to core collections, but we also support the principle to charge for headline exhibitions if the museum chooses to do that, because the evidence points both ways on attendance, and I think some of that can be overcome by allowances within charging schemes, for example. But the decision to charge should be for the museum and not for Government, and it should not be used by either body to argue for cuts or for extra money from the public purse.
Minister, you've said an awful lot about what is impressive about the museum already. I just wanted to comment on something that Dr Thurley raised about changes to some of the sites and where differences could be made, not just to the income potential for the museum, but the coherence of the story, and I think that is a story that needs to be determined by the museum, not by Government, or not, indeed, by Thurley. This is why commercial independence is essential for the museum and its ability to set more priorities for itself. That is not to diminish the importance of the Government's remit letter and its priorities, and, of course, the funding, conditional, to a degree, on those priorities being met, but it needs to be free to grow its finances outside the relationship with Government without the risk of cuts to public support being the main driver for priority setting. Thank you.
Mae'n adolygiad eithaf bachog, rwy'n credu, er bod angen ystyried ei argymhellion, rwy'n credu, ochr yn ochr â chasgliadau'r grŵp dan gadeiryddiaeth Justin Albert ynglŷn â ffurf bosibl Cymru Hanesyddol ac, wrth gwrs, eich penderfyniad diweddar y byddai Cadw yn parhau yn gyfan gwbl o fewn y Llywodraeth. Hoffwn siarad yn fyr iawn am y rhan honno o'r adroddiad sy'n cyfeirio at yr anghydfod diwydiannol a effeithiodd ar weithgareddau yn ystod hanes diweddar yr amgueddfa. Nid wyf eisiau pendroni'n ormodol yn ei gylch, ond rwy'n tueddu i gytuno nad yw hwn yn fater i'r Llywodraeth ymyrryd yn uniongyrchol ag ef, o ran cysylltiadau diwydiannol corff anllywodraethol. Ond credaf ei bod hi'n briodol i'r ddwy ochr hysbysu'r Aelodau Cynulliad o'u barn, gan fod pawb sy'n ymwneud â hyn yn etholwr i rywun, ac fe allwn ni, eu cynrychiolwyr, ddwyn sylw at y safbwyntiau hynny i'r graddau y maen nhw'n dwyn pwysau. Ond nid yw hynny yn gyfystyr â'r Weithrediaeth yn ymyrryd a dylanwadu arnynt.
Ni allaf ddweud mewn gwirionedd a yw Dr Thurley wedi cynrychioli'r berthynas rhwng staff, rheolwyr a hyd yn oed y Llywodraeth yn ddigonol neu yn gywir. Ond ni chredaf ei bod yn ddewis rhwng naill ai yr angen i foderneiddio'r amgueddfa genedlaethol mewn modd realistig neu roi'r gydnabyddiaeth briodol i arbenigedd, ymrwymiad a hyblygrwydd staff ar y llall. Mae'r ffaith bod hyn wedi codi yn enghraifft o thema sydd wedi deillio o'r trafodaethau am yr amgueddfa yn y flwyddyn neu ddwy ddiwethaf. A'r mater hwnnw yw swyddogaeth y Llywodraeth a'i pherthynas ag annibyniaeth yr amgueddfa.
O ran manylder y craffu diweddar, nid yn lleiaf yn yr adroddiad hwn, roedd yn rhaid i'r amgueddfa wynebu beirniadaeth am ei gallu i reoli pryderon y gweithlu yn briodol, ac, wrth gwrs, reoli'r newidiadau yn ei hamgylchiadau ariannol a'r cymorth ariannol y mae'n ei gael. Nawr, o'm rhan i fy hun, mae a wnelo hynny â bylchau mewn sgiliau rheoli y gellir ac y mae'n rhaid rhoi sylw iddyn nhw, ac nid yw'n rheswm i'r Llywodraeth ymyrryd yn llechwraidd ag annibynniaeth yr amgueddfa.
Roedd y posibilrwydd hwnnw ar y gorwel o gyfuno swyddogaethau masnachol gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn brosiect llwyddiannus iawn o ran bod yn gyfrwng i'r amgueddfa allu gweld a dechrau cynllunio i oresgyn ei diffygion, yn enwedig yng nghyswllt ei gweithgareddau masnachol, a manteisio ar y gweithgareddau masnachol posib hynny sydd wrth wraidd adolygiad Thurley, wedi'r cyfan. Nawr, does gennyf ddim problem o gwbl gyda'r amgueddfa yn cydweithio gyda Cadw i wella cyfleoedd masnachol, neu, yn wir, unrhyw gyfleoedd eraill, ond dim ond un berthynas yw honno a fydd yn gwella ei rhagolygon.
Ac rwyf eisiau bod yn glir, gan ein bod wedi cael cadarnhad y bydd Cadw yn parhau'n gyfan gwbl o fewn y Llywodraeth, na allaf weld fy mhlaid yn cefnogi unrhyw integreiddio agosach rhwng y ddau gorff. Er y dylai pob un gydweithio er budd y naill a'r llall—. Mewn gwirionedd, mae Cadw a Croeso Cymru wedi cael eu crybwyll yn yr adolygiad hwn ac yn adroddiad Justin Albert. Un peth yw hynny, ond rwy'n wirioneddol gredu bod angen i'r Llywodraeth gadw hyd braich oddi wrth unrhyw beth sy'n rhoi'r arlliw lleiaf o ymyrraeth weithredol, neu hyd yn oed o'r elfennau hynny o strategaeth yr amgueddfa nad ydyn nhw'n berthnasol i'r llythyr cylch gwaith neu i'r ffrydiau gwaith ar y cyd.
Roedd yr adolygiad yn afieithus iawn ynglŷn â chynnig presennol yr amgueddfa a hyd yn oed yn fwy afieithus ynghylch y cynnig posib, a chredaf y byddai'n anodd anghytuno â hynny. Ers ei deffroad sydyn, mae'r amgueddfa eisoes wedi codi £10.3 miliwn drwy incwm a enillir—bron ddwywaith gymaint ag unrhyw sefydliad diwylliannol cenedlaethol arall—a thorri'r ddibyniaeth ar incwm Llywodraeth i ddwy ran o dair mewn dim ond blwyddyn, felly mae modd iddi wneud hynny. Ac mae hi bellach yn chwilio'n eiddgar am gyfarwyddwr masnachol, er efallai yr hoffai roi ystyriaeth eto i arbenigedd ynglŷn â chysylltiadau staff.
Gweinidog, rwyf bob amser braidd yn amheus ynghylch gwneud cymariaethau â sefydliadau yn Llundain pan rydym yn sôn am ariannu ein cynigion o ran ein diwylliant a'n treftadaeth. Ond gobeithio y bydd y cyfarwyddwr masnachol newydd yn ystyried hyd yn oed y syniadau mwyaf dadleuol a gyflwynwyd gan Thurley, dim ond i gnoi cil drostyn nhw ac i ystyried mewn difrif a oes unrhyw beth y gall Cymru ei ddysgu oddi wrthynt. Byddwn yn dweud, o du'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, ein bod ni'n cefnogi'r egwyddor gyffredinol o ganiatáu mynediad am ddim i gasgliadau craidd, ond rydym hefyd yn cefnogi'r egwyddor o godi tâl am weld arddangosfeydd neilltuol os yw'r amgueddfa yn dewis gwneud hynny, gan fod tystiolaeth yn dangos bod y ddwy ffordd yn gweithio i ddenu ymwelwyr, a chredaf y gellir goresgyn rhai agweddau ar hynny drwy gael hyblygrwydd mewn cynlluniau codi tâl, er enghraifft. Ond dylai'r penderfyniad i godi tâl fod yn un i'r amgueddfa ac nid i'r Llywodraeth, ac ni ddylai'r naill gorff na'r llall ddefnyddio hynny i ddadlau am doriadau neu am arian ychwanegol o'r pwrs cyhoeddus.
Gweinidog, rydych wedi dweud llawer iawn ynglŷn â'r hyn sy'n drawiadol am yr amgueddfa eisoes. Roeddwn i eisiau gwneud sylw ynghylch rhywbeth y dywedodd Dr Thurley am newidiadau i rai o'r safleoedd a lle y gellid gwneud gwahaniaeth, nid yn unig i incwm posib yr amgueddfa, ond cydlyniad y stori, ac rwy'n credu bod honno'n stori y mae angen i'r amgueddfa benderfynu arni, ac nid y Llywodraeth, ac nid, yn wir, Thurley. Dyma pam mae annibyniaeth fasnachol yn hanfodol i'r amgueddfa a'i gallu i osod mwy o flaenoriaethau iddi hi ei hun. Nid yw hynny'n lleihau pwysigrwydd llythyr cylch gwaith y Llywodraeth a'i blaenoriaethau, ac, wrth gwrs, y cyllid, sy'n ddibynol, i raddau, ar fodloni'r blaenoriaethau hynny. Ond mae angen iddi fod yn rhydd i chwyddo ei chyllid y tu hwnt i'r berthynas â'r Llywodraeth heb y risg mai toriadau i gefnogaeth gyhoeddus yw'r prif reswm dros bennu blaenoriaethau. Diolch.
Mae'n bleser gen i hefyd i gymryd rhan yn y ddadl bwysig yma ar adolygiad Thurley. Fel y mae Suzy wedi cyfeirio, wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn adeiladu ar adolygiadau blaenorol, ac, wrth gwrs, y hanes trwblus, braidd, dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, rydym ni yn falch iawn o amgueddfa Cymru. Sefydlwyd Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru gan siarter frenhinol nôl yn 1907. Hyrwyddo addysg y cyhoedd oedd bwriad y siarter ac mae’n wir i ddweud bod yr amgueddfa wedi cyflawni hynny, yn glodwiw, dros y blynyddoedd. Addysgu’r byd am Gymru ac addysgu’r Cymry am yr hen wlad oedd un o’r gosodiadau gwreiddiol o 1912. Hynny yw, addysgu’r byd am Gymru ac addysgu pobl Cymru am eu gwlad eu hunain. Mae pobl yn dal i ddarganfod pethau am eu gwlad eu hunain—pobl sydd wedi byw yma erioed yn dweud, 'Wel, jiw, I never knew that.' Dyna beth ydy pwysigrwydd ymweld â gwahanol safleoedd amgueddfa genedlaethol Cymru. Mae yna ffeithiau hanesyddol ac ati sy'n parhau i'ch synnu chi am yr hen wlad yma.
Yn y dyddiau du yna cyn datganoli, roedd yr amgueddfa genedlaethol yn biler o ysbrydoliaeth ac o Gymreictod cadarn ac yn oleuni llachar yn cynrychioli Cymru pan nad oedd strwythurau tebyg i fynegi ein cenedligrwydd, ein hanes a'n traddodiadau, a rhoi asgwrn cefn i bob cenedlaetholwr o fri. Dyna bwysigrwydd annibyniaeth yr amgueddfa genedlaethol: i ddweud stori Cymru heb gael ei handwyo gan unrhyw ddylanwadau o'r tu allan, ac felly'n annibynnol, gyfan gwbl, o unrhyw Lywodraeth. Fel rydym ni wedi clywed, rydym ni wedi cael yr holl drafodaethau ynglŷn â Cymru Hanesyddol, gyda'r bwriad gwreiddiol gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet o geisio uno ein sefydliadau celfyddydol. Gwych o beth bod y syniad gwirion, hurt yna wedi mynd o'r agenda erbyn hyn, ond byddai cadarnhad nad oes bwriad i uno'n sefydliadau cenedlaethol celfyddydol yn arwydd clir, eto, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd annibyniaeth y sector o ddifrif.
A throi at elfen arall, mae ariannu yn allweddol bwysig. Ers 2012, bu toriadau sylweddol yng nghyllid Amgueddfa Cymru o tua 11 y cant. Esgorodd hyn ar ddadl rhwng yr amgueddfa ac undebau—rydym ni wedi clywed amdani hi droeon—ynglŷn â chyflogau, tâl, telerau, a bu streicio. Bu yn amser anodd, du. Nid ydym ni eisio mynd nôl i fanna chwaith, ond, yn rhannol, roedd hynny achos toriadau ariannol. Rydym ni wedi clywed hefyd am y llwyddiannau masnachol diweddar gan yr amgueddfa a hefyd dylid cydnabod cytundeb rhwng y Llywodraeth yma a Phlaid Cymru y bydd yr amgueddfa yn derbyn hwb ariannol ar gyfer y ddwy flynedd nesaf. Byddai'n dda derbyn sicrwydd gan y Gweinidog y prynhawn yma am sicrwydd ariannol i'r dyfodol ar ôl hynny i Amgueddfa Cymru.
Mae adroddiad Thurley yn taro nodyn cadarnhaol, fel mae Suzy wedi cyfeirio ato, gyda chanmoliaeth i safon yr amgueddfa genedlaethol ac ansawdd ac ymroddiad y gwaith a wneir gan y staff. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna rhai llefydd i wella hefyd, fel sydd wedi cael ei nodi, ac mae'r rheini hefyd yn yr adroddiad. Mae'r adroddiad yn cydnabod bod Amgueddfa Cymru yn un o amgueddfeydd mawr Prydain. Nid mater cul, Cymreig yn unig sydd gyda ni yn fan hyn, achos, ac rydw i'n dyfynnu o'r adroddiad,
'Yn ei chasgliadau, yn arbenigedd a gwybodaeth ei staff, yn ei chefnogaeth i ddatblygiad cymdeithasol a chymunedol ac yn ei chyfraniad i wybodaeth am hanes a diwylliant Cymru, mae wedi cyflawni’n eithriadol.'
'Clywch, clywch', ddywedwn i. Mae Amgueddfa Cymru yn parhau i ysbrydoli cenedlaetholwyr heddiw, ac yn sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru. Diolch yn fawr.
It's a pleasure to participate in this important debate on the Thurley review. As Suzy had mentioned, this builds on previous reviews, and the rather troubled history of the institution over the past two years.
Now, we are very proud of Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru. It was established by royal charter back in 1907. It was to promote public education—that was the purpose of the charter—and it's true to say that the museum has delivered that laudably over the years. Educating the world about Wales and educating the Welsh about the nation—that was one of the key aims back from 1912. Educating the world about Wales and educating the people of Wales about their own country. People are still discovering things about their own nation—people who have lived here through their lives say, 'Well, jiw, I never knew that.' That's the importance of visiting the various sites of the national museum. There are historical facts that continue to surprise you about this nation.
In those dark days pre devolution, the national museum was a pillar of inspiration and was firm in its Welsh identity. It cast a shining light, representing Wales when similar structures didn't exist to express our national identity, our history and our traditions, giving backbone to every nationalist and patriot. That's the importance of the independence of Amgueddfa Cymru: to tell the story of Wales without it being negatively influenced by external influences, and being entirely independent of any Government. As we've heard, we've had the discussions on Historic Wales, with the original intention of the Cabinet Secretary of attempting to merge our heritage and large organisations. It's a wonderful thing that that absurd idea has been cast aside. But confirmation that there is no intention to merge our national arts institutions would be another clear signal that the Welsh Government takes the independence of the sector seriously.
Turning to another element, funding is crucially important. Since 2012, there have been substantial cuts in the funding of Amgueddfa Cymru, cuts of around 11 per cent. This led to arguments between the museum and the unions—we have heard about it repeatedly—about terms, conditions, wages, and there were strikes. They were difficult times; they were dark times, indeed. We don't want to go back to those days, but that was partly because of cuts in funding. We've also heard about the commercial successes that have been achieved recently by the museum, and we should also recognise the agreement between this Government and Plaid Cymru. As a result, the museum will receive a financial boost for the next two years. It would be good to hear assurances from the Minister this afternoon about financial security for the future, following that period, for Amgueddfa Cymru.
The Thurley report strikes a very positive note, as Suzy has mentioned, with praise for the quality of Amgueddfa Cymru and the quality and commitment of the staff. But, of course, there's also room for improvement, as has been noted, and it's included in the report. The report recognises that Amgueddfa Cymru is one of the major museums of the UK. It's not simply a narrow, Welsh issue, because, and quote from the report,
'In its collections, the expertise and knowledge of its staff, its support of social and community development and its contribution to a knowledge of Welsh history and culture its achievements have been outstanding.'
'Hear, hear' I say to that. Amgueddfa Cymru continues to inspire patriots of today, and stands firm for Wales. Thank you very much.
I'm very pleased to take part in what I think is a very important debate today. I would like to start my contribution by making three, I think, non-contentious statements: museums are an important asset to our communities; the national museums are very important to every nation, and Wales is no different; to make them successful, we need well-paid and well-motivated staff who are committed to the Welsh museum service.
We've talked about who should control it, but can I ask this question? I do not know the OCS classification of the museums of Wales. I would expect to see them classified as Welsh Government controlled. I'm happy to be corrected on this if somone wants to correct me. I think that if they were a business, they'd be described as wholly owned subsidiaries of the Welsh Government. [Interruption.] I'll take an intervention.
Rwy'n falch iawn o gymryd rhan yn yr hyn sydd yn fy marn i yn ddadl bwysig iawn heddiw. Hoffwn ddechrau fy nghyfraniad drwy wneud tri datganiad nad ydyn nhw, yn fy marn i, yn ddadleuol: mae amgueddfeydd yn asedau pwysig i'n cymunedau; mae amgueddfeydd cenedlaethol yn bwysig iawn i bob gwlad, ac nid yw Cymru'n eithriad; i'w gwneud yn llwyddiannus, mae angen inni gael staff ymroddgar sydd ar gyflogau da ac sydd wedi ymrwymo i wasanaeth Amgueddfa Cymru.
Rydym wedi trafod pwy ddylai ei rheoli, ond a gaf i ofyn y cwestiwn hwn? Nid wyf yn gwybod beth yw dosbarthiad OCS amgueddfeydd Cymru. Byddwn yn disgwyl eu gweld wedi eu rhestru o dan reolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Cywirwch fi ar bob cyfrif os mynnwch chi. Credaf petai nhw'n fusnesau, y byddent yn cael eu disgrifio'n is-gwmnïau sy'n eiddo llwyr i Lywodraeth Cymru. [Torri ar draws.] Fe wnaf i dderbyn ymyriad.
The whole point of the museum's structure, as we heard earlier, is that their history is very much based upon their own independence, guaranteed in the case of the original—[Interruption.] Guaranteed by the royal charter in its original inception. That is essential to maintain its independent structure, just as the arts council maintains an independent structure through that model, and I entirely endorse that model for the future.
Holl ddiben strwythur yr amgueddfa, fel y clywsom ni yn gynharach, yw bod ei hanes yn seiliedig i raddau helaeth ar ei hannibyniaeth ei hunan, wedi ei warantu yn achos y— [Torri ar draws.] Wedi ei warantu gan y siarter frenhinol pan gafodd ei sefydlu. Mae hynny'n hanfodol er mwyn cynnal ei strwythur annibynnol, yn union fel mae cyngor y celfyddydau yn cadw strwythur annibynnol drwy'r model hwnnw, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr ar y model hwnnw ar gyfer y dyfodol.
I think there's a bit of confusion here between the two of us. I was talking in financial terms. I'll ask this question: if the Welsh Government withdrew funding tomorrow, would the museums continue, or would they be forced to close their doors? If they are wholly dependent, or substantially dependent, on the Welsh Government in operational terms, the OCS I'm sure classify them as Welsh Government-controlled bodies.
One of the things I've argued against during the whole of my time at the Assembly is exploitative contracts: zero-hours contracts, flexible low-hour contracts, annualised hours, agency staff—there's no shortage of ways to badly treat people. I also believe that everyone should be paid the real living wage. The museum staff deserve not to be subject to these employment practices. I am pleased that Mr Thurley acknowledges the high quality of all the museum sites and the impact many of them have for their local communities, both in terms of a museum presence in the locality and providing a source of regular employment in often marginal areas.
Free entry to museums has been a long-standing policy of the Labour Party in Wales. Do not exclude people on price from viewing their history. On charging, I have no difficulty in charging for specific exhibitions, with caveats that anything relating to Wales must be free. I do not believe the people of Wales should have to pay to view their own history. Also, it should not be a back-door method of charging for museum entry. I believe the report is correct in its final section addressing the need for financial stability for the museum and clarity on its funding position over the next few years. In addition to the areas outlined, I would also add that the museum is still in the process of negotiating the 2017-19 pay offer with the trade unions. Any funding settlement needs to take account of the costs associated with this and ensure a period of stability for the organisation going forward.
The museum is at a pivotal moment where it can move forward with a well-funded model that seeks to engage with its staff and their recognised trade unions, and deliver a world-class service provided by professional and well-motivated people, able to deliver for the communities and the people of Wales. Over the last year, the Historic Wales steering group has developed ideas and programmes that it hopes will build and develop such a model, which involves the recognised trade unions in the process. I believe any recommendations should be considered by this group and the report should not derail the development of this work. I think it's important, and I sincerely hope, for the sake of the future of the staff and the cultural sector within Wales, that both the Welsh Government and museum management look to that option as a way to take it forward.
If I can return to what I was talking about earlier on the financial side of it, you might have whatever rules you've got and whatever charters you've got, but where is the money coming from? There are lots of organisations throughout Wales—they want money from the public sector, but they want to run their organisations as if they're part of the private sector. That is one of the things—[Interruption.] Please, yes.
Credaf fod peth dryswch yma rhwng y ddau ohonom. Roeddwn i'n siarad mewn termau ariannol. Gofynnaf y cwestiwn hwn: petai Llywodraeth Cymru yn terfynu'r cyllid yfory, a fyddai'r amgueddfeydd yn parhau, neu a fydden nhw'n cael eu gorfodi i gau eu drysau? Os ydyn nhw'n dibynnu'n llwyr, neu'n dibynnu’n sylweddol, ar Lywodraeth Cymru yn weithredol, mae'r OCS rwy'n siŵr yn eu dosbarthu'n gyrff o dan reolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru.
Un o'r pethau yr wyf wedi dadlau yn eu herbyn drwy gydol fy amser yn y Cynulliad yw contractau camfanteisiol: contractau dim oriau, contractau hyblyg oriau bychain, oriau blynyddol, staff asiantaeth—nid oes diwedd ar ffyrdd o drin pobl yn wael. Rwy'n credu hefyd y dylid talu'r cyflog byw i bawb. Mae staff yr amgueddfa yn haeddu peidio â bod ar drugaredd yr arferion cyflogaeth hyn. Rwy'n falch bod Mr Thurley yn cydnabod ansawdd uchel safleoedd yr amgueddfa ac effaith llawer ohonyn nhw ar eu cymunedau, o ran presenoldeb amgueddfa yn yr ardal a darparu ffynhonnell reolaidd o waith mewn ardaloedd lle mae gwaith yn aml yn brin.
Mae mynediad am ddim i amgueddfeydd wedi bod yn bolisi hirhoedlog gan y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru. Peidiwch ag eithrio pobl rhag dysgu am eu hanes oherwydd pris. O ran codi tâl, nid wyf yn gwrthwynebu codi tâl am arddangosfeydd penodol, gydag amodau bod yn rhaid i unrhyw beth sy'n ymwneud â Chymru fod yn rhad ac am ddim. Nid wyf yn credu y dylai pobl Cymru orfod talu i weld eu hanes eu hunain. Hefyd, ni ddylai fod yn ffordd lechwraidd o godi tâl am fynd i mewn i'r amgueddfa. Credaf fod yr adroddiad yn gywir yn yr adran olaf sy'n rhoi sylw i'r angen am sefydlogrwydd ariannol i'r amgueddfa ac eglurder ynglŷn â'i sefyllfa ariannu dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf. Yn ychwanegol at y meysydd a amlinellwyd, rwyf hefyd yn ychwanegu bod yr amgueddfa yn dal wrthi'n trafod cynnig tâl 2017-19 gyda'r undebau llafur. Mae angen i unrhyw setliad ariannol ystyried y costau sy'n gysylltiedig â hyn a sicrhau cyfnod o sefydlogrwydd i'r sefydliad yn y dyfodol.
Mae'r amgueddfa mewn adeg dyngedfennol lle gall symud ymlaen gyda model wedi'i ariannu'n dda sy'n ceisio trafod â'i staff a'u hundebau llafur cydnabyddedig, a darparu gwasanaeth o'r radd flaenaf gan bobl broffesiynol a brwdfrydig, sy'n gallu cyflawni ar gyfer cymunedau a phobl Cymru. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae grŵp llywio Cymru Hanesyddol wedi datblygu syniadau a rhaglenni y mae'n gobeithio y byddant yn adeiladu ac yn datblygu model o'r fath, sy'n cynnwys yr undebau llafur cydnabyddedig yn y broses. Credaf y dylid ystyried unrhyw argymhellion gan y grŵp hwn ac na ddylai'r adroddiad fod yn faen tramgwydd i'r gwaith. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig, ac rwy'n mawr obeithio, er lles dyfodol y staff a'r sector diwylliannol yng Nghymru, fod Llywodraeth Cymru a rheolwyr yr amgueddfa yn ystyried y dewis hwnnw fel ffordd o'i ddatblygu.
Os caf i ddychwelyd at yr hyn yr oeddwn i'n sôn yn gynharach amdano ynglŷn â'r agwedd ariannol, hwyrach fod gennych chi pa reolau bynnag sydd gennych chi, a pha siarteri bynnag sydd gennych chi, ond o ble mae'r arian yn dod? Mae yna lawer o sefydliadau ledled Cymru—maen nhw eisiau arian gan y sector cyhoeddus, ond maen nhw eisiau rhedeg eu sefydliadau fel petaen nhw'n rhan o'r sector preifat. Dyna un o'r pethau—[Torri ar draws.] Os gwelwch yn dda, ie.
I think part of the purpose of the Thurley review was to see how the museum sector—well, certainly the national museum sector as a whole—could raise more of its income so that that balance between public funding and non-government funding would change.
Credaf mai rhan o bwrpas adolygiad Thurley oedd gweld sut y gallai'r sector amgueddfeydd—wel, yn sicr sector yr amgueddfa genedlaethol yn ei chyfanrwydd—godi mwy o incwm fel y byddai'r cydbwysedd hwnnw rhwng cyllid cyhoeddus a chyllid nad yw'n gyllid y Llywodraeth yn newid.
I've got no problem with organisations raising money. The point I'm trying to get across—which I'm obviously failing with—is that these organisations are wholly dependent on Government money. If the Government turns the money off, these organisations close. That is the key to this. So, they can't go about pretending they're private sector organisations for the benefit of themselves. They're dependent on Government money, they're dependent on the public sector, they're dependent on money from the taxpayers of Wales, and, as such, they should be responsible to them.
Nid oes gennyf broblem gyda sefydliadau yn codi arian. Y pwynt rwy'n ceisio'i gyfleu—ac rwy'n amlwg yn methu â gwneud hyny—yw bod y sefydliadau hyn yn gyfan gwbl ddibynnol ar arian y Llywodraeth. Os yw'r Llywodraeth yn diddymu'r arian hwn, mae'r sefydliadau hyn yn cau. Mae hynny'n allweddol i hyn. Felly, ni allant smalio eu bod nhw'n sefydliadau sector preifat er eu budd eu hunain. Maen nhw'n dibynnu ar arian y Llywodraeth, maen nhw'n dibynnu ar y sector cyhoeddus, maen nhw'n dibynnu ar arian gan drethdalwyr Cymru, ac, fel y cyfryw, fe ddylen nhw fod yn atebol iddynt.
Thanks to the Minister for bringing today's debate. I haven't yet had any formal contact with the new Minister, either in the Chamber or in committee, so I'd like to officially welcome him into his new role. I think we all feel, certainly in this section of the Chamber—by which I mean the UKIP seats—that he has shown a lot of promise, and I believe he could be a valuable addition to the Government's ministerial team. I have certainly marked his name down as somebody with a bright future in Government.
On to today's matters. I've heard what the other contributors have said, but I want to go slightly further than the Thurley review and float a more contentious idea. I appreciate that there has been a commitment from the Welsh Government to the principle of free entry to the national museum network. I don't want to unduly restrict people's access to these museums, but I think it is possible that we could consider stretching this principle slightly so that Amguedda Cymru can generate some income and operate more effectively. A token charge of £1 for adults to enter a museum, with children going free, would not, I feel, put off parents who are considering visiting a museum as part of a family day out. Of course, there could be an argument, then, as to what will stop this £1 charge from rising and rising until it becomes exorbitant. Well, as the museums are a public facility—and will still largely be publicly financed with a grant from the Welsh Government still being the main source of income—then, surely, the Government can draw up terms under which the charge can only rise annually in line with the consumer price index, the measure of inflation that tends to rise at a lower rate than the retail price index.
There is also the issue of special exhibitions. To get many of these exhibitions to come to Wales will take considerable effort in terms of time and cost, so I feel that Amgueddfa Cymru should be able to try and recoup some of this cost by charging extra for access to these exhibitions, or at least certain ones. I appreciate what Suzy said earlier—she didn't want to have a look at what happens in London—
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am gyflwyno'r ddadl heddiw. Nid wyf eto wedi cael unrhyw gyswllt ffurfiol gyda'r Gweinidog newydd, naill ai yn y Siambr nac mewn Pwyllgor, felly hoffwn ei groesawu i'w swydd newydd yn swyddogol. Credaf ein bod ni i gyd yn teimlo, yn sicr yn yr adran hon o'r Siambr—ac wrth hynny rwy'n golygu seddi UKIP—ei fod yn argoeli'n addawol iawn, ac rwy'n credu y gallai fod yn ychwanegiad gwerthfawr i dîm gweinidogol y Llywodraeth. Rwyf yn sicr yn rhagweld dyfodol disglair iddo yn y Llywodraeth.
Ymlaen i faterion heddiw. Rwyf wedi clywed yr hyn a ddywedodd y cyfranwyr eraill, ond rwyf eisiau mynd ychydig ymhellach nag adolygiad Thurley a chyflwyno syniad mwy dadleuol. Rwy'n sylweddoli y bu gan Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymiad i'r egwyddor o fynediad am ddim i rwydwaith yr amgueddfa genedlaethol. Nid wyf eisiau cyfyngu ar fynediad pobl yn ormodol i'r amgueddfeydd hyn, ond credaf fod modd ystyried ymestyn yr egwyddor hon ryw ychydig fel y gall Amgueddfa Cymru gynhyrchu rhywfaint o incwm a gweithredu'n fwy effeithiol. Ni fyddai tâl sefydlog o £1 i oedolyn gael mynediad i amgueddfa, gyda'r plant yn mynd am ddim, yn rhwystr, rwy'n credu, i rieni sy'n ystyried ymweld ag amgueddfa yn rhan o ddiwrnod allan i'r teulu. Wrth gwrs, gellid dadlau, wedyn, beth fydd yn atal i'r tâl hwn o £1 gynyddu a chynyddu nes iddo fod yn grocbris. Wel, oherwydd bod amgueddfeydd yn gyfleusterau cyhoeddus—ac y byddant yn dal i gael eu hariannu'n gyhoeddus yn bennaf, a grant Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i fod yn brif ffynhonnell incwm—yna, siawns y gallai'r Llywodraeth lunio telerau y gallai'r tâl gynyddu bob blwyddyn dim ond yn unol â'r mynegai prisiau defnyddwyr, y mesur chwyddiant sy'n tueddu i gynyddu ar gyfradd is na'r mynegai prisiau manwerthu.
Ceir hefyd y mater o arddangosfeydd arbennig. Bydd denu llawer o'r arddangosfeydd hyn i Gymru yn golygu cryn ymdrech o ran amser a chost, felly teimlaf y dylai Amgueddfa Cymru allu ceisio adennill rhywfaint o'r gost hon drwy godi tâl ychwanegol am fynediad i'r arddangosfeydd hyn, neu o leiaf i rai penodol. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r hyn a ddywedodd Suzy yn gynharach—nad oedd hi eisiau edrych ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn Llundain—
Well, I didn't quite say that.
Wel, nid dyna yn union a ddywedais i.
Okay, sorry. I might have slightly simplified what you said. Anyway, I'm going to have a look at what happens in London.
To get into the Victoria and Albert Museum is free, but entry to special exhibitions—and there are always numerous special exhibitions on at the V&A—currently ranges from £8 to £19. Now, we have to remember that entry to the V&A's general displays is free. So, they are perhaps having to charge fairly large amounts for the special exhibitions, at least in part, to cross-subsidise the free entry to the rest of the museum. Now, if you had the token £1 charge, you wouldn't perhaps have to do that. You could have a different financial model and you could perhaps charge £5 for the special exhibitions. You could raise money in other ways as well.
The museum in St Fagans, which I will persist in calling the Welsh national folk museum, has recently been refurbished—
Iawn, mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Efallai fy mod i wedi symleiddio'r hyn a ddywedasoch chi. Beth bynnag, rwy'n mynd i sôn am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn Llundain.
Nid oes tâl i fynd i mewn i Amgueddfa Victoria ac Albert, ond mae mynediad i arddangosfeydd arbennig—ac mae yna wastad nifer o arddangosfeydd arbennig yn y V&A—ar hyn o bryd yn amrywio o £8 i £19. Nawr, mae'n rhaid inni gofio bod mynediad i arddangosfeydd cyffredinol y V&A yn rhad ac am ddim. Felly, efallai fod yn rhaid iddyn nhw godi symiau pur sylweddol ar gyfer yr arddangosfeydd arbennig, o leiaf yn rhannol, i allu caniatáu mynediad am ddim i weddill yr amgueddfa. Nawr, pe byddai gennych chi'r tâl sylfaenol hwnnw o £1, hwyrach na fyddai'n rhaid ichi wneud hynny. Fe allech chi fod â model ariannol gwahanol ac fe allech chi o bosib godi £5 ar gyfer yr arddangosfeydd arbennig. Fe allech chi godi arian mewn ffyrdd eraill hefyd.
Mae'r amgueddfa yn Sain Ffagan, a byddaf yn parhau i'w galw yn amgueddfa werin genedlaethol Cymru, wedi'i hadnewyddu'n ddiweddar—
Why?
Pam?
Well, I'll go on to that, Lee. I will tell you later.
It has recently been refurbished with the addition of a new main building, a craft workshop and other facilities. The new building contains an enlarged cafe, activity and event spaces, some of which can be hired out to groups, and a bigger gift shop. So, this will hopefully help the museum at St Fagans to raise more revenue, and is therefore a welcome development and one that could be followed by the other museums under the umbrella of Amgueddfa Cymru.
Now, to raise Lee's point, I mentioned the old name of the St Fagans museum, which was what I knew it as growing up. It has since been called the Museum of Welsh Life, and is now, I see, named the St Fagans National Museum of History—neither of which are as evocative as the original name, in my opinion. Can I therefore issue a plea to the museums to keep their evocative, original names? Because I also noticed that—
Wel, af ymlaen at hynny wedyn, Lee. Dywedaf wrthych wedyn.
Fe'i hadnewyddwyd yn ddiweddar i gynnwys prif adeilad newydd, gweithdy crefft a chyfleusterau eraill. Mae'r adeilad newydd yn cynnwys caffi estynedig, mannau gweithgareddau a digwyddiadau, y gellir llogi rhai ohonyn nhw i grwpiau, a siop anrhegion fwy o faint. Bydd hyn, gobeithio, yn helpu amgueddfa Sain Ffagan i godi mwy o arian, ac mae felly yn ddatblygiad i'w groesawu ac yn un y gallai amgueddfeydd eraill ei efelychu o dan ymbarél Amgueddfa Cymru.
Nawr, i ateb cwestiwn Lee, soniais am hen enw amgueddfa Sain Ffagan, sef yr enw yr adwaenwn hi yn ystod fy mebyd. Ers hynny cafodd ei galw yn 'the Museum of Welsh Life', a bellach, gwelaf mai ei henw yw 'St Fagans National Museum of History'— nid yw'r un ohonyn nhw mor hudolus â'r enw gwreiddiol, yn fy marn i. A gaf i felly apelio ar yr amgueddfeydd i gadw eu henwau hudolus, gwreiddiol? Oherwydd sylwais hefyd—
Like the National Front.
Fel y Ffrynt Cenedlaethol.
No, not that. The maritime museum, as was, is now called the National Waterfront Museum. Before long, we will have the Big Pit National Coal Museum changing its name into the 'National Industry Museum' or some similarly anodyne title. I sometimes wonder who dreams these name changes up. Every time you change a name, you will lose potential customers because you are changing a well-known brand. I think there is a strong commercial case for sticking with the name that is already familiar to many people. However, I can see that I'm no expert in this field. [Interruption.] Yes, I do. These kinds of decisions certainly, though, should fall under the oversight of somebody like a commercial director. I see that the Thurley review is calling for Amgueddfa Cymru to bring in a commercial director, and I would strongly endorse that call. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Na, nid hynny. Mae'r amgueddfa forol, fel y'i gelwid, bellach yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau. Cyn hir, fe welwn ni'r Big Pit: Amgueddfa Lofaol Cymru yn newid ei enw i'r 'Amgueddfa Diwydiant Cenedlaethol' neu ryw deitl diddychymyg tebyg. Rwy'n pendroni weithiau tybed pwy sy'n dyfeisio'r enwau newydd hyn. Bob tro rydych chi'n newid enw, rydych chi'n colli cwsmeriaid posib oherwydd rydych chi'n newid brand adnabyddus. Rwy'n credu bod achos masnachol cryf dros gadw at yr enw sydd eisoes yn gyfarwydd i lawer o bobl. Fodd bynnag, gallwch weld nad wyf yn arbenigwr yn y maes hwn. [Torri ar draws.] Wel, ydw. Dylai cyfarwyddwr masnachol neu rywun cyffelyb, yn sicr, fod yn gyfrifol am oruchwylio penderfyniadau o'r fath. Gwelaf fod adolygiad Thurley yn galw ar Amgueddfa Cymru i benodi cyfarwyddwr masnachol, ac rwy'n cefnogi'r alwad honno'n llwyr. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
It's a great pleasure to take part in this very important debate. The first thing I want to say, really, is that I'm glad that this is getting us talking about National Museum Wales as I think it's of huge importance to us as a nation because we need to tell our story to our children here in Wales as well as to visitors who come here. And I agree that Wales should be telling its story to the world of how a small nation has had such a massive impact, particularly in terms of the industrial revolution.
This report by Simon Thurley does recognise National Museum Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru, as one of the jewels in the crown of the museums in the UK, and I'm particularly pleased that it praises the expertise and knowledge of the staff who work there. Because I think all our experience of the staff, and particularly the front-line staff, the people who welcome you when you go there, and the skills of the craftspeople, the people who split the slates, and all the craftspeople at St Fagans—I think it is absolutely great that they are acknowledged. The report also praises the rise in visitor numbers to the national museum in Cardiff, which were up 34 per cent between 2010 and 2015, to nearly 0.5 million a year.
Obviously, in terms of the commercial viability, it's obvious that the report is concentrating a lot of its emphasis on that, and some of his recommendations do make sense to me, such as asking visitors for donations. A donation of 20p per head is not unaffordable, and the report says that this has raised £300,000 a year. I see no problems at all in asking for small donations, and obviously other museums are sometimes much more forthright in asking for money. I don't see a problem with charging for special exhibitions, and I think it would be acceptable to have a member scheme, which would also help to raise funds. I think these options should be investigated, but I think it is absolutely essential that we keep free access. I think it's one of the great achievements of this Assembly, of the Welsh Government, that there is free access so that everybody, whatever their means, can benefit from the museums. And I believe that this huge rise in numbers is directly linked to the openness of the museum—the fact that people can go there and don't have to worry about paying. So, I don't think there should be any barrier, and I don't support Gareth Bennett's proposal of £1 to go in. I think it must be free.
I wanted to go on now about the relationship in the museum. I think this is pivotal moment. This is an opportunity to improve the relationship between the unions and the management. The report is correct in saying that there have been well-publicised difficulties with the staff and management relationship, and as chair of the Public and Commercial Services Union cross-party group, I am very well aware of all these difficulties. This report does look back at some of those problems, but what it doesn't say is that the reason for the problems was that the museums were seeking to slash staff wages for the lowest paid, whilst senior management pay was being increased. During this difficult time, the PCS actually balloted their members four times, and I, along with other members from this Assembly, were there speaking at rallies in support of the staff, and I think it's important to say that a resolution to this dispute was actually helped and brokered by the Welsh Government. So, I think it's important that there—. Although I support the idea of the independence of the bodies, when they can't manage things properly, I think it is very important that we are able to turn to the Welsh Government.
I just want to say about some of the things that are problems at the museum. There are the zero-hours contracts that Mike Hedges already mentioned. It's not acceptable to have these zero-hours contracts, and, certainly, there should be a formal agreement on how they are used, if they have to be there at all. I think that the use of fixed-term contracts should be limited. This is a real opportunity now, on the basis of this report, to restore good relations in the museum, because I think we all feel that the staff are the key to the success of the museum, and surely their terms and conditions and pay should be in line with Welsh Government departments. Certainly, there should be time off for trade union work.
I'm very pleased that the Minister said the points of view of staff are vital. He also mentioned that, perhaps, some museums would close for certain periods of the year. Well, obviously, that will make the members of staff who work permanently in those museums for all the hours in the year—their hearts are going to sink when they read that. So, I think these issues have to be taken into consideration when proposals are made about how this is going to affect staff, and make sure they're part of the dialogue, so that there are good relationships.
So, I think that this is a great opportunity to try and start off on a new foot. Let's recognise the huge contribution that staff are making, and make sure that they're part of this dialogue.
Pleser o'r mwyaf yw cymryd rhan yn y ddadl bwysig iawn hon. Y peth cyntaf yr hoffwn i ei ddweud, mewn gwirionedd, yw fy mod i'n falch bod hyn yn gymhelliant inni sôn am Amgueddfa Cymru oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn i ni fel cenedl ac mae angen inni adrodd ein hanes i'n plant yma yng Nghymru yn ogystal ag i ymwelwyr sy'n dod yma. Ac rwy'n cytuno y dylai Cymru ddweud ei stori i'r byd o ran sut mae cenedl fach wedi cael effaith mor enfawr, yn arbennig o ran y chwyldro diwydiannol.
Mae'r adroddiad hwn gan Simon Thurley yn cydnabod bod Amgueddfa Cymru yn un o'r amgueddfeydd pwysicaf yn y DU, ac rwy'n arbennig o falch ei fod yn canmol arbenigedd a gwybodaeth y staff sy'n gweithio yno. Credaf fod y profiad sydd gennym ni o'r staff, a'r staff rheng flaen yn benodol, y bobl sy'n eich croesawu pan fyddwch chi'n mynd yno, a sgiliau'r crefftwyr, y bobl sy'n hollti'r llechi, a'r holl grefftwyr yn Sain Ffagan — credaf ei bod yn wirioneddol wych iddyn nhw gael eu cydnabod. Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn canmol y cynnydd yn nifer y bobl sy'n ymweld â'r amgueddfa genedlaethol yng Nghaerdydd, a gynyddodd 34 y cant rhwng 2010 a 2015, i bron 0.5 miliwn y flwyddyn.
Yn amlwg, o ran hyfywedd masnachol, mae'n amlwg bod yr adroddiad yn rhoi llawer o bwyslais ar hynny, ac mae rhai o'i argymhellion yn gwneud synnwyr i mi, megis gofyn i ymwelwyr am gyfraniadau. Nid yw cyfraniad o 20 ceiniog yr un yn anfforddiadwy, ac mae'r adroddiad yn dweud bod hyn wedi codi £300,000 y flwyddyn. Nid wyf yn gweld unrhyw broblemau o gwbl gyda gofyn am gyfraniad bach, ac yn amlwg, weithiau mae amgueddfeydd eraill yn llawer mwy di-flewyn-ar-dafod yn gofyn am arian. Nid wyf yn gweld problem o ran codi tâl am arddangosfeydd arbennig, a chredaf y byddai'n dderbyniol cael cynllun aelodau, a fyddai hefyd yn helpu i godi arian. Credaf y dylid ymchwilio i'r posibiliadau hyn, ond mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod ni'n cadw'r mynediad am ddim. Mae'n un o lwyddiannau mawr y Cynulliad hwn, a Llywodraeth Cymru, fod mynediad am ddim fel y gall pawb, faint bynnag o fodd sydd ganddyn nhw, elwa o'r amgueddfeydd. A chredaf fod y cynnydd enfawr hwn mewn niferoedd yn uniongyrchol gysylltiedig â natur agored yr amgueddfa—y ffaith y gall pobl fynd yno heb orfod poeni am dalu. Felly, nid wyf yn credu y dylai fod unrhyw rwystr, ac nid wyf yn cefnogi cynnig Gareth Bennett o £1 i fynd i mewn. Rwy'n credu bod rhaid iddo fod yn rhad ac am ddim.
Roeddwn i eisiau sôn am y berthynas yn yr amgueddfa. Credaf fod hon yn adeg dyngedfennol. Dyma gyfle i wella'r berthynas rhwng yr undebau a'r rheolwyr. Mae'r adroddiad yn gywir wrth ddweud y bu cryn sylw cyhoeddus i'r anawsterau yn y berthynas rhwng staff a rheolwyr, a chan fy mod i'n gadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol Undeb y Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus a Masnachol, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r holl anawsterau hyn. Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn bwrw golwg ar rai o'r problemau hynny, ond yr hyn nad yw yn ei ddweud yw mai'r rheswm am y problemau oedd bod yr amgueddfeydd yn ceisio torri cyflogau staff oedd ar y cyflogau lleiaf, tra bod cyflogau'r uwch reolwyr yn cael eu cynyddu. Yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn, fe wnaeth Undeb y Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus a Masnachol mewn gwirionedd roi pleidlais i'w aelodau bedair gwaith, ac roeddwn i, ynghyd ag aelodau eraill o'r Cynulliad hwn, yno yn siarad mewn ralïau i gefnogi staff. Ac mae'n bwysig dweud y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru mewn gwirionedd helpu i gyfryngu a datrys yr anghydfod hwn. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig bod—. Er fy mod i'n cefnogi'r syniad o annibyniaeth y cyrff, pan na allan nhw reoli pethau'n iawn, credaf ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn gallu troi at Lywodraeth Cymru.
Dim ond eisiau sôn yr wyf i am rai o'r problemau yn yr amgueddfa. Ceir contractau dim oriau y mae Mike Hedges wedi eu crybwyll eisoes. Mae'n annerbyniol cael y contractau dim oriau hyn, ac, yn sicr, dylai fod cytundeb ffurfiol ynglŷn â sut y defnyddir nhw, os dylid eu defnyddio o gwbl. Credaf y dylid cyfyngu ar y defnydd o gontractau cyfnod penodol. Dyma gyfle gwirioneddol nawr, ar sail yr adroddiad hwn, i adfer perthnasau da yn yr amgueddfa, oherwydd credaf fod pob un ohonom ni'n teimlo bod y staff yn allweddol i lwyddiant yr amgueddfa, a siawns y dylai eu telerau ac amodau a'u cyflogau fod yn gydnaws ag adrannau Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn sicr, dylai staff gael eu rhyddhau i wneud gwaith undeb llafur.
Rwy'n falch iawn fod y Gweinidog wedi dweud bod barn staff yn hollbwysig. Soniodd hefyd y byddai rhai amgueddfeydd, efallai, yn cau ar gyfer rhai cyfnodau o'r flwyddyn. Wel, yn amlwg, bydd hynny'n gwneud i'r aelodau staff sy'n gweithio'n barhaol yn yr amgueddfeydd hynny bob awr o'r flwyddyn—bydd eu calonnau'n suddo pan fyddan nhw'n darllen hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu bod angen ystyried y materion hyn pan wneir cynigion ynghylch sut y mae hyn yn mynd i effeithio ar staff, a gwnewch yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n rhan o'r sgwrs, fel bod y berthynas yn un dda.
Felly, credaf fod hwn yn gyfle gwych i roi cynnig arni o'r newydd. Gadewch inni gydnabod y cyfraniad enfawr y mae'r staff yn ei wneud, a gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n rhan o'r sgwrs hon.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on the Minister to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, ac a gaf i ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl, ac am y croeso cyffredinol sydd wedi cael ei roi i'r argymhellion? Fe gawsom ni sylwadau agoriadol gan Suzy Jenkins a oedd yn pwysleisio ei bod hi'n—Suzy Jenkins? Suzy Davies. Mae'n rhaid fy mod i'n meddwl am rywun arall, Suzy Davies. Fe gawsom ni sylwadau am bwysigrwydd Aelodau Cynulliad yn mynegi barn, a dyna oedd pwynt cynnal y ddadl yma heddiw ac rydw i'n ddiolchgar am hynny. Rydw i'n ddiolchgar am y gefnogaeth a roddwyd i annibyniaeth a'r pwysigrwydd o dyfu capasiti o fewn y sefydliad. Rydw i'n hyderus, a buaswn i ddim yn dweud hyn heblaw ei fod o ar sail y trafodaethau rydw i wedi eu cael ac rydw i'n mynd i'w cael eto.
Fel y pwysleisiwyd yn barod, mae annibyniaeth yr amgueddfa yn bwysig, ond hefyd, fel y dywedodd Julie Morgan, mae dylanwad y Llywodraeth fel awdurdod a chorff cyhoeddus sydd â chyfrifoldeb cenedlaethol am yr amgueddfa yn rhan o'r cyfrifoldeb yna sydd gyda ni fel Llywodraeth a Chynulliad. Felly, mae'r ddwy elfen yna yn gorfod cydweithio â'i gilydd. Mater o gael pwysigrwydd y gwahaniaeth rhyngddyn nhw'n glir yw'r hyn sydd yn bwysig. Medraf roi sicrwydd iddi hefyd y byddaf yn ceisio cyd-ddrafftio'r llythyr cylch gorchwyl fel y gallwn ni drafod â'n gilydd sut rydym ni am osod y rhaglen am y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod. Mae hynny'n cynnwys, wrth gwrs, y rhaglen gyllidol. Rydym ni'n cael ein cyfyngu gan y drefn gyllidol bresennol o San Steffan ynglŷn â pha mor bell y gallwn ni fynd mewn blynyddoedd i baratoi sicrwydd. Ond yr amcan ydy ceisio sicrhau hynny.
Rydw i'n ddiolchgar hefyd i Dai Lloyd am ei ddarlith hanesyddol addas iawn ynglŷn â datblygiad yr amgueddfa ac am y pwyslais ar y rôl addysgol. A gaf i ei sicrhau o nad oes unrhyw fwriad gan y Gweinidog hwn i uno sefydliadau cenedlaethol? Mae annibyniaeth ddiwylliannol, os nad annibyniaeth lwyr gyfansoddiadol i'r genedl sydd yn berchen ar yr amgueddfa, yn rhan hanfodol o agenda'r Gweinidog diwylliant. Mae natur ddatganoledig yr amgueddfa yng Nghymru hefyd yn rhan hanfodol o'i diddordeb hi a'i gwahaniaeth hi, fel rydw i wedi gweld wrth ymweld â'r sefydliadau yma yn ddiweddar. Rydw i yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd y cytundeb a wnaed â Phlaid Cymru. Roedd hyn yn rhan o'r drafodaeth roeddwn i'n ei chael â swyddogion yr amgueddfa, a'r bwriad ydy y byddwn ni'n parhau yn yr ysbryd yna o gytundeb dros y blynyddoedd nesaf ynglŷn â'r cyllid.
Diolch yn fawr i Mike Hedges, sydd bob amser yn gallu dweud gwirionedd gyda difyrrwch.
Thank you very much, Llywydd, and may I thank all of the Members who have taken part in this debate, and for the general welcome that's been extended to the recommendations? We had opening remarks from Suzy Jenkins that emphasised that—why did I say Suzy Jenkins? It was Suzy Davies. I was thinking about someone else, Suzy Davies. We had remarks about the importance of Assembly Members expressing their opinions, and that was the reason for holding this debate and I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for the support given to independence and the importance of growing capacity within the institution. I am confident, and I wouldn't be saying this unless it wasn't on the basis of the discussions that I've had and that I'm going to have again.
As emphasised already, the independence of the museum is important, but also, as Julie Morgan said, the Government's influence as the authority and public body that has national responsibility for the museum is part of the responsibility that we have as a Government and as an Assembly. So, both of those elements have to work in accord. It's a matter of establishing the difference between them that's important. I can give assurance that I will be striving to co-draft the remit letter so that we can discuss together how we want to set out the programme for the coming years. That includes, of course, the funding programme. We're restricted by the current fiscal regime established in Westminster as to how far we can go in the years to come to give assurance. But we will be considering that further.
I am grateful to Dai Lloyd for his appropriate historic lecture on the development of the museum and its educational role. May I assure him that there's no intention by this Minister to merge national institutions? Cultural independence, if not full constitutional independence for the nation that owns the museum, is a vital part of the culture Minister's agenda. The devolved nature of the museum within Wales itself is a vital part of its interest and its difference, as I've seen in visiting these institutions recently. I acknowledge the importance of the agreement made with Plaid Cymru. This was part of the discussion that I had with museum officials, and the intention is that we will continue in that spirit of agreement over the coming years with regard to the budget.
Thank you to Mike Hedges, who always tells the truth in an amusing way.
I'm very grateful to Mike for providing us with lessons in public administration in a way that is so attractive and amusing to listen to, and that's supposed to be a compliment.
We are certainly aiming for financial stability and, indeed, Welsh Government has already indicated that we are looking to ensure proper financial capacity, which must include meeting the need for effective remuneration. I would say, as a matter of principle, I agree with a longer term target of aligning the level of remuneration in terms of the conditions of those who work for us in the museum sector and those who work for us in other parts of our public services. That's something that we need to address.
I'm very grateful to Gareth Bennett for his generous remarks, and I can assure him that there is no intention to pursue a model of charging adults and not charging younger citizens. We need to look at the family visitors to the museum as a whole unit.
With regard to names, the 'Welsh folk museum' always reminded me of something more folksy than even amgueddfa werin, although I do find, as I travel around that part of west Cardiff, that the brown signs take a bit of time catching up with the latest name. No doubt that will happen in the future.
Can I here publicly thank Julie Morgan for her role, which I've now learnt more fully about in ensuring improved Government relations and the relationship between this Assembly, through her PCS cross-party group, and the trade union side, and, indeed, the management of the museums when there were the difficulties to which we've all referred? It is indeed my wish, as much as hers, that we do not return there.
As I say, we are seeking to ensure a steady level of funding for the future, and I'm certain that the degree of support that has been exhibited in this debate today will strengthen our relationship with the museum.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Mike am roi gwersi inni mewn gweinyddiaeth gyhoeddus a hynny mewn ffordd mor ddeniadol a diddorol, ac mae hynny i fod yn air o ganmoliaeth.
Rydym yn sicr yn anelu at sefydlogrwydd ariannol ac, yn wir, mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi dweud ein bod yn ceisio sicrhau gallu ariannol priodol, ac mae'n rhaid i hynny gynnwys diwallu'r angen am gydnabyddiaeth ariannol effeithiol. Byddwn yn dweud, o ran egwyddor, fy mod i'n cytuno â tharged mwy hirdymor o gael cyfatebiaeth rhwng cyflog ac amodau y bobl sy'n gweithio i ni yn y sector amgueddfeydd a'r rhai sy'n gweithio i ni mewn meysydd eraill o'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae angen inni roi sylw iddo.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Gareth Bennett am ei sylwadau hael, a gallaf ei sicrhau nad oes unrhyw fwriad i ddechrau codi tâl ar oedolion ac nid codi tâl ar ddinasyddion iau. Mae angen inni ystyried teuluoedd sy'n ymweld â'r amgueddfa yn uned gyfan.
O ran enwau, roedd 'Welsh folk museum' wastad yn fy atgoffa i o rywbeth mwy gwerinol na hyd yn oed yr enw 'amgueddfa werin', er y gwelaf, wrth imi deithio o amgylch y rhan honno o orllewin Caerdydd, mai'n araf deg y bydd yr arwyddion brown yn arddel yr enw diweddaraf. Heb os, bydd hynny'n digwydd yn y dyfodol.
A gaf i nawr ddiolch yn gyhoeddus i Julie Morgan am ei swyddogaeth, yr wyf bellach wedi dysgu mwy amdani, yn sicrhau gwell perthynas gyda'r Llywodraeth a gwell perthynas rhwng y Cynulliad hwn, drwy ei grŵp trawsbleidiol PCS, a'r undebau llafur, ac, yn wir, gyda rheolwyr amgueddfeydd pan oedd yr anawsterau yr ydym ni i gyd wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw yn bodoli? Yn wir, fy nymuniad i, cymaint â'i un hithau, yw nad ydym yn gweld hynny'n cael ei ailadrodd.
Fel y dywedaf, rydym yn ceisio sicrhau bod lefel gyson o gyllid ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac rwy'n sicr y bydd graddau'r gefnogaeth a welir yn y ddadl hon heddiw yn cryfhau ein perthynas â'r amgueddfa.
Diolch yn fawr i chi gyd am eich cyfraniadau.
Thank you very much for your contributions.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly, derbynnir y cynnig.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Gan hynny, nid oes yna bleidlais ar ddiwedd y cyfarfod yma, a dyna ddiwedd ein trafodion am y dydd.
Therefore, there will be no voting time at the end of this meeting, and that brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 17:55.
The meeting ended at 17:55.