Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
07/07/2021Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da, bawb. Croeso i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn i ni ddechrau, dwi angen nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Cynhelir y cyfarfod hwn ar ffurf hybrid, gyda rhai Aelodau yn Siambr y Senedd ac eraill yn ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo. Bydd yr holl Aelodau sy'n cymryd rhan, ble bynnag y bônt, yn cael eu trin yn gyfartal. Mae Cyfarfod Llawn a gynhelir drwy gynhadledd fideo, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog Senedd Cymru, yn gyfystyr â thrafodion y Senedd at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y cyfarfod yma heddiw, ac mae'r rheini wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda. Dwi eisiau atgoffa Aelodau hefyd bod y Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn berthnasol i'r cyfarfod, ac yr un mor berthnasol i'r Aelodau sydd yn y Siambr ag i'r rhai sydd yn ymuno ar fideo.
Good afternoon, and welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. This meeting will be held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference. All Members participating in proceedings of the Senedd, wherever they may be, will be treated equally. A Plenary meeting held using video-conference, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitutes Senedd proceedings for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's Plenary meeting, and these are noted on your agenda. I would also remind Members that Standing Orders relating to order in Plenary meetings apply to this meeting, and apply equally to Members in the Chamber and to those joining virtually.
Yr eitem gyntaf, felly, y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jack Sargeant.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy, and the first question is from Jack Sargeant.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i fusnesau yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy? OQ56721
1. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for businesses in Alyn and Deeside? OQ56721
Thank you. We have made unprecedented levels of funding available to support Welsh businesses through the pandemic. Flintshire businesses have received £69.7 million in grant support since April 2020, which is in addition to our extensive support provided by Business Wales and the development bank.
Diolch. Rydym wedi sicrhau bod lefelau digynsail o gyllid ar gael i gefnogi busnesau Cymru drwy'r pandemig. Mae busnesau yn sir y Fflint wedi derbyn £69.7 miliwn mewn cymorth grant ers mis Ebrill 2020, sy'n ychwanegol at ein cymorth helaeth a ddarparwyd gan Busnes Cymru a'r banc datblygu.
Thank you for that answer, Minister, and thank you for the support to date. Minister, previous Welsh Labour Governments have had a strong focus on apprenticeships, a fact I should know better than most as a time-served engineer. We must train the next generation in order to deliver a green recovery and to develop the green products of the future. The Minister will know I want to see a green new deal for manufacturing in Wales. To ensure that happens, we must work with businesses to deliver highly skilled apprenticeships, and to also upskill the current workforce. Minister, do you agree with me, and can you update the Chamber on your plans to ensure this happens?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog, a diolch am y cymorth hyd yma. Weinidog, mae Llywodraethau Llafur blaenorol Cymru wedi rhoi ffocws cryf ar brentisiaethau, ffaith y dylwn fod yn fwy ymwybodol ohoni na'r rhan fwyaf o bobl oherwydd fy nghyfnod yn gweithio fel peiriannydd. Mae'n rhaid inni hyfforddi'r genhedlaeth nesaf er mwyn sicrhau adferiad gwyrdd ac er mwyn datblygu cynhyrchion gwyrdd y dyfodol. Bydd y Gweinidog yn gwybod fy mod yn awyddus i weld bargen newydd werdd ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu yng Nghymru. Er mwyn sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd, mae'n rhaid inni weithio gyda busnesau i ddarparu prentisiaethau sgil uwch, ac i uwchsgilio'r gweithlu presennol hefyd. Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno, ac a allwch roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Siambr am eich cynlluniau i sicrhau bod hyn yn digwydd?
Yes, and, of course, in the manifesto that we stood on, we talked about having a greener, fairer and more prosperous Wales. And I have met a range of the coming generations of apprentices and engineers during my visits both to Airbus and Toyota, and I look forward to meeting more of our new range of people coming in with skills into the workforce. And in fact, the manufacturing action plan provides a focus to support futureproofing of our manufacturing capabilities, and also, of course, the need to decarbonise the way that industry works here in Wales. And yesterday's steel statement—you'll recall in the question you asked yesterday—is a significant part of this. It's a challenge, but also an opportunity. So ,I look forward to seeing more of those skills, to green our economy as well as to grow it in the future, and this Government is certainly committed to that greener, fairer and more prosperous Wales.
Gallaf, ac wrth gwrs, yn ein maniffesto ar gyfer yr etholiad, soniasom am gael Cymru wyrddach, decach a mwy llewyrchus. Ac rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag ystod o brentisiaid a pheirianwyr y genhedlaeth nesaf yn ystod fy ymweliadau ag Airbus a Toyota, ac edrychaf ymlaen at gyfarfod â rhagor o'n hystod newydd o bobl sy'n dod i mewn i'r gweithlu gyda sgiliau. Ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu yn darparu ffocws i gefnogi'r gwaith o ddiogelu ein capasiti gweithgynhyrchu at y dyfodol, a hefyd wrth gwrs, yr angen i ddatgarboneiddio'r ffordd y mae diwydiant yn gweithio yma yng Nghymru. Ac mae'r datganiad ddoe ar ddur—fe fyddwch yn cofio yn y cwestiwn a ofynnoch chi ddoe—yn rhan sylweddol o hyn. Mae'n her, ond mae hefyd yn gyfle. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen at weld mwy o'r sgiliau hynny, i wneud ein heconomi'n wyrddach yn ogystal â'i thyfu yn y dyfodol, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn sicr wedi ymrwymo i'r Gymru wyrddach, decach a mwy llewyrchus honno.
Thank you, Minister, for your response to questions from the Member for Alyn and Deeside. As you will know, Alyn and Deeside is a strategic location in north Wales, with its border and important transport links into the north-west of England. Many businesses in Mr Sargeant's constituency, and across north Wales, do rely heavily on strong cross-border collaboration, which needs the UK and Welsh Governments working closely together in the best interest of businesses throughout north Wales. Minister, you will know that you and I attended a launch event for the Mersey Dee Alliance fiscal stimulus package recently, and it's a really important partnership to see that continued cross-border collaboration. So, what assessment would you make of the work of the Mersey Dee Alliance, and what plans does the Welsh Government have to improve that cross-border collaboration? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch am eich ymateb i gwestiynau gan yr Aelod dros Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy, Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, mae Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy yn lleoliad strategol yng ngogledd Cymru, gyda'i ffin a chysylltiadau trafnidiaeth pwysig â gogledd-orllewin Lloegr. Mae llawer o fusnesau yn etholaeth Mr Sargeant, ac ar draws gogledd Cymru, yn dibynnu'n fawr ar gydweithredu trawsffiniol cryf, ac er mwyn sicrhau hynny mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru weithio'n agos gyda'i gilydd er budd busnesau ledled gogledd Cymru. Weinidog, fe wyddoch i chi a minnau fynychu digwyddiad lansio ar gyfer pecyn ysgogi cyllidol Cynghrair Mersi a’r Ddyfrdwy yn ddiweddar, ac mae'n bartneriaeth bwysig iawn er mwyn sicrhau'r cydweithredu trawsffiniol parhaus hwnnw. Felly, pa asesiad y byddech yn ei wneud o waith Cynghrair Mersi a’r Ddyfrdwy, a pha gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i wella'r cydweithredu trawsffiniol hwnnw? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, it's something that my predecessor, Ken Skates, has recognised, about the importance of north-east Wales and north-west England, and some common economic interests. And we do think the Mersey Dee Alliance is helping to make the case for that. I have met them twice now since becoming the economy Minister, and I actually think that their stimulus package is worth serious consideration. The advice that I have given them, and the steer I've given, is we want to see this work—we recognise that investing in this part of Wales, and over the border, will benefit businesses and employees from Wales and from England too. And the challenge is whether, within the next comprehensive spending review, we'll see the sort of financial support that is required to make the stimulus package, and the real economic benefit it can bring to both north-east Wales and north-west England, a reality. And we stand ready to be constructive partners in doing just that.
Wel, mae'n rhywbeth y mae fy rhagflaenydd, Ken Skates, wedi'i gydnabod, ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru a gogledd-orllewin Lloegr, a buddiannau economaidd cyffredin. A chredwn fod Cynghrair Mersi a’r Ddyfrdwy yn helpu i ddadlau'r achos dros hynny. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â hwy ddwywaith bellach ers dod yn Weinidog yr Economi, a chredaf ei bod yn werth ystyried eu pecyn ysgogi o ddifrif. Y cyngor a roddais iddynt, a'r ffordd rwyf wedi'u cyfeirio, yw ein bod am weld hyn yn gweithio—rydym yn cydnabod y bydd buddsoddi yn y rhan hon o Gymru, a thros y ffin, o fudd i fusnesau a gweithwyr o Gymru ac o Loegr hefyd. A'r her yw a fyddwn yn gweld, yn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr nesaf o wariant, y math o gymorth ariannol sydd ei angen i sicrhau bod y pecyn ysgogi, a'r budd economaidd gwirioneddol y gall ei gynnig i ogledd-ddwyrain Cymru a gogledd-orllewin Lloegr, yn dod yn realiti. Ac rydym yn barod i fod yn bartneriaid adeiladol yn y gwaith o gyflawni hynny.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am hybu twristiaeth yn sir Ddinbych? OQ56749
2. Will the Minister make a statement on the promotion of tourism in Denbighshire? OQ56749
Denbighshire, and the whole of north Wales, feature prominently in Visit Wales’s promotional activities. We will continue to promote Denbighshire’s significant tourist offer, both on the coast and in the countryside, including, of course, signature events such as the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Mae i sir Ddinbych, a gogledd Cymru gyfan, le amlwg yng ngweithgareddau hyrwyddo Croeso Cymru. Byddwn yn parhau i hyrwyddo cynnig twristiaeth sylweddol sir Ddinbych, ar yr arfordir ac yng nghefn gwlad, gan gynnwys digwyddiadau unigryw fel Eisteddfod Gerddorol Ryngwladol Llangollen wrth gwrs.
Diolch i chi am eich ateb. Dwi eisiau tynnu eich sylw chi at ymgyrch sydd ar droed i roi cynlluniau ar waith i greu llwybr beicio o Ruthun i Ddinbych ar hyd Dyffryn Clwyd. Nawr, byddai hynny nid yn unig, wrth gwrs, yn cysylltu'r ddwy dref i drigolion lleol—
Thank you for that response. I want to draw your attention to a campaign that's afoot to put plans in place for a cycle route from Ruthin to Denbigh through the Vale of Clwyd. That would not only link the two towns for local residents—
Sorry, Llyr. Can I just cut across you? I think we have a problem with the translation. So, can we just pause a while, while we see if there's a button that the Minister can press to make it work?
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Llyr. A gaf fi dorri ar eich traws? Credaf fod gennym broblem gyda'r cyfieithu. Felly, a gawn ni aros am funud, inni weld a oes botwm y gall y Gweinidog ei bwyso i wneud iddo weithio?
Fe wnaf i siarad. Ydy'r cyfieithu'n gweithio nawr? Ydym ni'n gallu cario ymlaen? Ie, iawn. Felly, popeth wedi'i sortio. Llyr, gallwch chi gario ymlaen.
So, I will speak to ensure that things are working properly. Is it working? Can we continue? Yes, we can. So, everything is now sorted. Llyr, you can continue.
Diolch, Llywydd. Yr hyn dwi eisiau ei wneud yw tynnu sylw'r Gweinidog at gynlluniau sydd ar droed i greu llwybr beicio o Ruthun i Ddinbych ar hyd dyffryn Clwyd. Mi fyddai'r llwybr yma, wrth gwrs, yn cysylltu'r ddwy dref i drigolion lleol, o safbwynt teithio lesol, sydd, wrth gwrs, dwi'n gwybod, yn rhan bwysig o'r hyn mae'r Llywodraeth yn awyddus i'w hyrwyddo. Ond mi fyddai fe hefyd yn cynnig atyniad ychwanegol i dwristiaeth wrth gysylltu dwy drefn farchnad hanesyddol, dau gastell canol oesol, wrth gwrs, a dilyn, gobeithio, hen lwybr y rheilffordd i lawr y dyffryn. Felly, yr hyn dwi eisiau ei wneud yw gwahodd y Gweinidog, pan fyddwch chi yn y cyffiniau, i ddod gyda fi i gwrdd â'r criw sy'n ceisio gwireddu'r llwybr yma, dan arweiniad y Cynghorydd Emrys Wynne, i weld y cynlluniau ac i weld y llwybr arfaethedig drosoch chi eich hun, gan gofio hefyd, wrth gwrs, fod yna gynlluniau cyffrous ar droed i adeiladu felodrom awyr agored yng ngogledd Cymru yn Rhuthun hefyd. Mi fyddai creu llwybr beicio i gysylltu'r dref â'r ardal ehangach yn sicr yn gaffaeliad mawr o safbwynt amgylcheddol, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, fel bydd y Gweinidog dwi'n siŵr yn ei gydnabod, o safbwynt twristiaeth a'r economi leol.
Thank you, Llywydd. What I wanted to do was draw the Minister's attention to plans that are afoot to create a cycle route from Ruthin to Denbigh through the vale of Clwyd. Now, this route, of course, would link the towns for local residents, in terms of active travel, which we know is an important part of what the Government is keen to promote. But it would also be an additional attraction for tourists in linking two historic market towns, two medieval castles, and follow the old railway track hopefully down the valley. So, what I want to do is to invite the Minister, when he is in the region, to join with me to meet the group that is trying to deliver this route, led by Councillor Emrys Wynne, to see those plans in action and to see the proposed route for himself, bearing in mind, too, that there are exciting plans to build an open-air velodrome in north Wales in Ruthin. The creation of a cycle route to link the town with the broader area would certainly be a great benefit in environmental terms, but, as the Minister would also acknowledge, in terms of tourism and the local economy too.
Yes, I recognise the reality that active travel opens up new opportunities to promote tourism in many parts of Wales, and the initiative that the Member identifies is a good example of that potential. I'm not sure I can give him a cast iron guarantee to visit; I have lots of opportunities and invitations to visit different parts of Wales. But I'd be more than happy to take more of an interest in not just the tourism potential, but obviously with colleagues with responsibility for active travel to see how we can support the initiative that the Member has highlighted.FootnoteLink
Iawn, rwy’n cydnabod y realiti fod teithio llesol yn darparu cyfleoedd newydd i hyrwyddo twristiaeth mewn sawl rhan o Gymru, ac mae’r fenter y mae’r Aelod yn ei nodi yn enghraifft dda o’r potensial hwnnw. Nid wyf yn siŵr y gallaf roi sicrwydd llwyr iddo y byddaf yn ymweld; rwy'n cael llawer o gyfleoedd a gwahoddiadau i ymweld â gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i fod â mwy o ddiddordeb nid yn unig yn y potensial twristiaeth, ond yn amlwg, gyda chyd-Aelodau sy'n gyfrifol am deithio llesol, i weld sut y gallwn gefnogi'r fenter a nodwyd gan yr Aelod.FootnoteLink
Minister, tourism businesses in Denbighshire, particularly those in my constituency in the Vale of Clwyd, have been decimated by the pandemic. The sector's recovery is going to be long and slow, particularly as there appears to be very little detail in terms of opening up from COVID over the summer, which is essentially the peak time for the trade. Minister, without a relaxation of COVID restrictions, the likes of Rhyl, Prestatyn, Bodelwyddan and St Asaph are going to find it hard to compete with their English counterparts, who will face little to no social distancing rules. Even Scotland have plans to fully relax their restrictions. How will the Welsh Government ensure tourism businesses in my constituency aren't disadvantaged as a result of ongoing restrictions, and will you publish a road map for recovery? Thank you.
Weinidog, mae busnesau twristiaeth yn sir Ddinbych, yn enwedig y rhai yn fy etholaeth i yn Nyffryn Clwyd, wedi cael eu dinistrio gan y pandemig. Bydd adferiad y sector yn hir ac yn araf, yn enwedig gan ei bod hi'n ymddangos nad oes llawer o fanylion i'w cael ynghylch ailagor ar ôl COVID dros yr haf, sef amser prysuraf y sector yn y bôn. Weinidog, heb lacio cyfyngiadau COVID, mae lleoedd fel y Rhyl, Prestatyn, Bodelwyddan a Llanelwy yn mynd i'w chael hi'n anodd cystadlu â'r mannau cyfatebol yn Lloegr, a fydd yn wynebu fawr ddim rheolau cadw pellter cymdeithasol os o gwbl. Mae gan hyd yn oed yr Alban gynlluniau i lacio eu cyfyngiadau'n gyfan gwbl. Sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau nad yw busnesau twristiaeth yn fy etholaeth dan anfantais o ganlyniad i'r cyfyngiadau parhaus, ac a wnewch chi gyhoeddi cynllun ar gyfer yr adferiad? Diolch.
I think there are a couple of points to make in response. The first is, of course, that we have a much more generous offer to support businesses here in Wales, including the tourism sector, than over the border, and not just the general support that we've provided—at least £400 million more than the consequentials that would come from spending in England—but the fact that we continue to provide rate relief for a range of businesses, when England have already reduced that support for businesses across the border.
The second point that I'd make is that, actually, there is already high demand for tourism businesses through the summer already. And in the conversations that I have directly with the sector, their challenge is actually about getting enough staff to work within the sector itself, and we're working alongside the sector to promote people to look to work not just on a seasonal basis, but on a more permanent basis in an industry that pays perhaps more than people may realise, with the rewards that the broader sector may bring to them.
And I think the third point is that, when you come to the broad demand to end social distancing and to have dates in place, you will have heard consistently for more than a year now the approach we've taken in Wales is generally being driven by data not dates. We're considering the advice that we are getting from our own scientific advisers and public health advisers, and we need to take a balance in our public health risks, which we know are there still, even as we look to hopefully exit the pandemic, and we'll continue to make choices alongside the industry about what the future will look like. I'm optimistic about the choices that we'll get to make, but we'll do so in a manner that is responsible and not driven by demands to simply blow the doors off and allow everything to happen at the same time as other parts of the United Kingdom. We'll provide dates and data when the time is right, and the Member shouldn't have to wait very long for the Cabinet to make those choices.
Credaf fod un neu ddau o bwyntiau i'w gwneud mewn ymateb. Y cyntaf, wrth gwrs, yw bod gennym gynnig mwy hael o lawer i gefnogi busnesau yma yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys y sector twristiaeth, na'r hyn a geir dros y ffin, ac nid yn unig o ran y cymorth cyffredinol rydym wedi'i ddarparu—o leiaf £400 miliwn yn fwy na'r symiau canlyniadol a fyddai'n dod o wariant yn Lloegr—ond y ffaith ein bod yn parhau i ddarparu rhyddhad ardrethi i ystod o fusnesau, pan fo Lloegr eisoes wedi lleihau'r cymorth hwnnw i fusnesau dros y ffin.
Yr ail bwynt yr hoffwn ei wneud yw bod cryn dipyn o alw eisoes am fusnesau twristiaeth drwy'r haf. Ac yn y sgyrsiau uniongyrchol a gaf gyda'r sector, yr her iddynt yw cael digon o staff i weithio yn y sector ei hun, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda'r sector i annog pobl i weithio, nid yn unig yn dymhorol ond ar sail fwy parhaol mewn diwydiant sy'n talu mwy, efallai, nag y mae pobl yn sylweddoli, a'r buddion y gall y sector ehangach eu cynnig iddynt.
A chredaf mai'r trydydd pwynt yw, pan soniwch am y galw eang i ddod â mesurau cadw pellter cymdeithasol i ben a phennu dyddiadau, fe fyddwch wedi clywed yn gyson ers dros flwyddyn bellach fod ein dull o weithredu yng Nghymru yn cael ei lywio gan ddata yn hytrach na dyddiadau. Rydym yn ystyried y cyngor a gawn gan ein cynghorwyr gwyddonol a'n cynghorwyr iechyd cyhoeddus ein hunain, ac mae angen inni sicrhau cydbwysedd o ran y risgiau i iechyd y cyhoedd y gwyddom eu bod yno o hyd, hyd yn oed wrth inni gefnu ar y pandemig, gobeithio, a byddwn yn parhau i wneud penderfyniadau gyda'r diwydiant ynglŷn â sut fydd pethau yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n obeithiol ynglŷn â'r penderfyniadau y byddwn yn eu gwneud, ond byddwn yn gwneud hynny mewn modd cyfrifol yn hytrach na chael ein dylanwadu gan alwadau i fynd dros ben llestri a chaniatáu i bopeth ddigwydd ar yr un pryd â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Byddwn yn darparu dyddiadau a data pan fydd hi'n briodol inni wneud hynny ac ni ddylai'r Aelod orfod aros yn hir iawn i'r Cabinet wneud y penderfyniadau hynny.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Tom Giffard.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Tom Giffard.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I start by welcoming the written statement issued by the Deputy Minister that was provided to all Members last week on the Football Association of Wales's proposals to restructure the women's league in Wales? I'm sure all of us in this Chamber agree with the vision of developing and improving the women's game in Wales, but, unfortunately, in order to achieve this goal, the FAW have decided to reorganise the league structure of the women's game in Wales in a way that many of us have serious reservations about.
Sport is, and should be, about merit, and promotion and relegation is a part of the game, but it should be decided on results on the field. So, with that in mind, I wanted to express my disappointment that Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies, Cascade YC Ladies and Abergavenny Women FC were all relegated from the top division of the women's game as part of the restructure. Whilst I know it's a decision made, Minister, by the FAW and not by Welsh Government, can I ask what discussions you've had with the FAW on this matter and what support is the FAW and Welsh Government offering to those clubs that have been unfairly affected by the change?
Diolch, Lywydd. A gaf fi ddechrau drwy groesawu’r datganiad ysgrifenedig gan y Dirprwy Weinidog a ddarparwyd i'r holl Aelodau yr wythnos diwethaf ar gynigion Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru i ailstrwythuro'r gynghrair merched yng Nghymru? Rwy'n siŵr fod pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon yn cytuno â'r weledigaeth o ddatblygu a gwella'r gêm i fenywod yng Nghymru, ond yn anffodus, er mwyn cyflawni'r nod hwn, mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru wedi penderfynu ad-drefnu strwythur y gynghrair i fenywod yng Nghymru mewn ffordd y mae gan sawl un ohonom amheuon difrifol yn ei chylch.
Mae a wnelo chwaraeon â theilyngdod, a dyna fel y dylai fod, ac mae codi a disgyn rhwng adrannau'n rhan o'r gêm, ond y canlyniadau ar y cae a ddylai benderfynu hynny. Felly, gyda hynny mewn golwg, hoffwn fynegi fy siom fod timau menywod Llansawel, Cascade a'r Fenni wedi disgyn o uwch adran gêm y menywod fel rhan o'r ailstrwythuro. Er y gwn ei fod yn benderfyniad a wnaed gan Gymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ac nid gan Lywodraeth Gymru, Weinidog, a gaf fi ofyn pa drafodaethau rydych wedi'u cael gyda Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ynglŷn â'r mater hwn, a pha gymorth y mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig i'r clybiau yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn annheg gan y newid?
Can I thank the Member for that question and for the meeting that I had with him on 24 June, when we discussed this issue? Subsequently, I did meet with the FAW and they made several commitments that I expect them to deliver on. Firstly, they agreed to meet the clubs affected by the changes and to discuss any further support that they may need. And I understand that a positive meeting has already been held with Cascade Ladies, and the FAW have also said that they're going to be setting up a players' forum for tiers 1 and 2, which will meet monthly and will enable the FAW to better understand issues from a player's perspective. And they are also giving feedback to FIFA that women players need to be more involved in the decisions that affect their game.
The FAW do accept that they need to reflect on how they communicated these changes publicly and they are also committed to closer dialogue with Welsh Government through monthly meetings with officials and with myself as well. But ultimately, the matter of the restructuring of the women's game in Wales is a matter for the FAW, but I do expect them to deliver on the commitments that they've given to me.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn ac am y cyfarfod a gefais gydag ef ar 24 Mehefin, pan wnaethom drafod y mater hwn? Wedi hynny, cyfarfûm â Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru a gwnaethant sawl ymrwymiad rwy'n disgwyl iddynt gadw atynt. Yn gyntaf, gwnaethant gytuno i gyfarfod â'r clybiau yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan y newidiadau ac i drafod unrhyw gymorth pellach y gallai fod ei angen arnynt. Ac rwy'n deall bod cyfarfod cadarnhaol eisoes wedi'i gynnal gyda thîm menywod Cascade, ac mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru hefyd wedi dweud y byddant yn sefydlu fforwm chwaraewyr ar gyfer haenau 1 a 2 a fydd yn cyfarfod yn fisol ac yn galluogi Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru i ddeall materion yn well o safbwynt y chwaraewyr. Ac maent hefyd yn rhoi adborth i FIFA fod angen i chwaraewyr benywaidd chwarae rhan fwy yn y penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio ar eu gêm.
Mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru yn derbyn bod angen iddynt fyfyrio ar sut y gwnaethant gyfleu'r newidiadau hyn yn gyhoeddus, ac maent hefyd wedi ymrwymo i gynnal deialog agosach â Llywodraeth Cymru drwy gyfarfodydd misol â swyddogion, a chyda minnau hefyd. Ond yn y pen draw, mater i Gymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru yw ailstrwythuro gêm y menywod yng Nghymru, ond rwy'n disgwyl iddynt gadw at yr ymrwymiadau y maent wedi'u rhoi i mi.
Can I thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister? So, keeping to the theme of sport, I'd like to now turn to sporting pilot events that have taken place in Wales. In a question to the First Minister a month ago, I asked for an update on sporting pilot events that have taken place across Wales over the previous few weeks. In his reply, he said there would be a further set of pilot events. But, unfortunately, since he answered that question, no further timetable has emerged and he was not specific about when this timetable would emerge either. So, can I ask you when the Senedd can expect more information on the further set of pilots the First Minister promised?
And, secondly, we've also seen in England, with the Events Research Programme, where over 58,000 participants attended indoor and outdoor events, including matches at Wembley stadium, that no substantial outbreaks were linked to these events. So, we know that sporting events can be conducted safely in England. Whilst we've seen detailed findings from these phase 1 events, we're yet to see the findings from the Welsh Government's pilots. So, can the Minister confirm what support there is for clubs that are still having to limit the amount of fans that enter their stadiums? And will the Welsh Government publish the findings from its initial events pilot so that we can see whether these sporting events can be run safely in Wales, as they have been in England, and so that Members of this Senedd and the public can understand the rationale for any future decisions?
A gaf fi ddiolch i chi am eich ateb, Ddirprwy Weinidog? Felly, yn unol â'r thema chwaraeon, hoffwn droi yn awr at ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon peilot a gynhaliwyd yng Nghymru. Mewn cwestiwn i'r Prif Weinidog fis yn ôl, gofynnais am ddiweddariad ar ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon peilot a gynhaliwyd ledled Cymru dros yr wythnosau cyn hynny. Yn ei ateb, dywedodd y byddai set arall o ddigwyddiadau peilot yn cael eu cynnal. Ond yn anffodus, ers iddo ateb y cwestiwn hwnnw, nid oes amserlen bellach wedi ei rhoi, ac ni ddywedodd yn benodol ychwaith pryd y byddai'r amserlen hon yn cael ei darparu. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i chi pryd y gall y Senedd ddisgwyl mwy o wybodaeth am y set bellach o ddigwyddiadau peilot a addawyd gan y Prif Weinidog?
Ac yn ail, rydym hefyd wedi gweld yn Lloegr, gyda'r Rhaglen Ymchwil i Ddigwyddiadau, pan fynychodd dros 58,000 o bobl ddigwyddiadau dan do ac awyr agored, gan gynnwys gemau yn stadiwm Wembley, na fu unrhyw niferoedd sylweddol o achosion yn gysylltiedig â'r digwyddiadau hyn. Felly, gwyddom y gellir cynnal digwyddiadau chwaraeon yn ddiogel yn Lloegr. Er ein bod wedi gweld canfyddiadau manwl o'r digwyddiadau cam 1 hyn, nid ydym wedi gweld canfyddiadau digwyddiadau peilot Llywodraeth Cymru eto. Felly, a all y Gweinidog gadarnhau pa gymorth sydd ar gael i glybiau sy'n dal i orfod cyfyngu ar faint o gefnogwyr a all ddod i'w stadiwm? Ac a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru gyhoeddi canfyddiadau ei chynllun digwyddiadau peilot cychwynnol fel y gallwn weld a ellir cynnal y digwyddiadau chwaraeon hyn yn ddiogel yng Nghymru, fel y gwnaethant yn Lloegr, ac fel y gall yr Aelodau o'r Senedd hon a'r cyhoedd ddeall y sail resymegol dros unrhyw benderfyniadau yn y dyfodol?
As the Member knows, phase 2 of the pilot events involved nine events here in Wales, including Eid and Tafwyl at Cardiff castle, We Need Bees in Brecon, and Wales versus Albania. All of those were completed successfully and work on the final report will be completed shortly. Ahead of that, many of the findings have informed some of the revised events guidance. We're still in detailed discussions with events organisers regarding a third phase of pilot events, with a focus on indoor events. So, the decisions on the way forward on any further relaxation of restrictions on events are going to be taking place at the 21-day review and we fully appreciate, of course, that the value of events to our visitor economy is significant and, therefore, we need to continue to support the sector throughout the next phase.
I think it's probably important to say that, when we are looking at the report that we've had from the English test pilots, they don't yet give us as much information as we need about the transmission of the virus at those events. The post-events testing was very, very small. There's a lot that we need to take into account when we are still dealing with the rise in the delta variant at the moment. But the programme for the third phase is ongoing, there are further test events planned, and the details will be published as soon as we're in a position to do so.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, roedd cam 2 y digwyddiadau peilot yn cynnwys naw digwyddiad yma yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys Eid a Tafwyl yng nghastell Caerdydd, Gwarchod y Gwenyn yn Aberhonddu a gêm Cymru yn erbyn Albania. Cwblhawyd pob un o'r rheini'n llwyddiannus a bydd gwaith ar yr adroddiad terfynol yn cael ei gwblhau cyn bo hir. Cyn hynny, mae llawer o'r canfyddiadau eisoes wedi llywio rhai o'r canllawiau diwygiedig ar gyfer digwyddiadau. Rydym yn dal i gael trafodaethau manwl gyda threfnwyr digwyddiadau ynghylch trydydd cam y digwyddiadau peilot, gan ganolbwyntio ar ddigwyddiadau dan do. Felly, bydd y penderfyniadau ar y ffordd ymlaen o ran llacio pellach ar gyfyngiadau ar ddigwyddiadau yn digwydd yn yr adolygiad 21 diwrnod, ac rydym yn derbyn yn llwyr, wrth gwrs, fod gwerth digwyddiadau i'n heconomi ymwelwyr yn sylweddol, ac felly mae angen inni barhau i gefnogi'r sector drwy gydol y cam nesaf.
Credaf ei bod hi'n bwysig dweud, mae'n debyg, wrth edrych ar yr adroddiad a gawsom ar y digwyddiadau peilot yn Lloegr, nad ydynt yn rhoi cymaint o wybodaeth ar hyn o bryd â'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom ynglŷn â throsglwyddiad y feirws yn y digwyddiadau hynny. Ychydig iawn o brofion a gynhaliwyd ar ôl y digwyddiadau. Mae cryn dipyn y mae angen inni ei ystyried pan ydym yn dal i fynd i'r afael â'r cynnydd yn yr amrywiolyn delta ar hyn o bryd. Ond mae'r rhaglen ar gyfer y trydydd cam yn parhau, mae digwyddiadau prawf pellach ar y gweill, a chyhoeddir y manylion cyn gynted ag y byddwn mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny.
Thank you for that answer. Unfortunately, there's still a bit of inconsistency when it comes to the return of spectators to sporting events and sports clubs across Wales. So, as fans return to stadia in smaller numbers, it's also been raised with me some of the inconsistencies of the COVID regulations surrounding sport. Whilst it's a welcome sight to see some Wales fans returning to support the Welsh rugby team at the Principality stadium for the most recent set of internationals, as well as some fans returning to other sporting events, the rules around them remain unclear. So, for example, at the Principality stadium, fans are being asked to wear masks around the venue but they can be removed in their seat. Meanwhile, the Football Association of Wales has announced that up to 100 fans can return to the Welsh Premier League fixtures. They have also said that masks must be worn at all times, as well as a temperature check and a medical questionnaire upon entry, none of which the Welsh Rugby Union deems are requirements for its fixtures. Glamorgan Cricket have said that masks do not need to be worn whilst seated but, like the WRU, do need to be worn whilst walking around the stadium, whilst temperature checks are being undertaken upon entry, like the FAW but unlike the WRU. So, there's also an issue of a clear inconsistency there.
There's also an issue around household bubbles. The FAW in its Welsh Premier League guidance and Glamorgan Cricket have both said that those not living in the same household cannot sit together, whereas the WRU website for ticketholders for Saturday's game says, 'As per Welsh Government guidelines, there is no restriction on who you can attend with', which is different again from the rule of six, for example, in pubs and restaurants. Whilst I understand the designing of the COVID regulations are the responsibility of the health Minister, your role as the Deputy Minister responsible for sport is to ensure that sporting organisations have a consistent understanding of Welsh Government regulations and, at the moment, some of our biggest sporting organisations in Wales have vastly different interpretations of Welsh Government regulations in this area. So, can I ask: what action are you taking to ensure not only a consistent understanding of the regulations by all sporting bodies, but also that fans attending sporting events are treated equitably as people attending other venues, such as pubs and restaurants?
Diolch am eich ateb. Yn anffodus, mae ychydig o anghysondeb o hyd o ran caniatáu gwylwyr i ddychwelyd i ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon a chlybiau chwaraeon ledled Cymru. Felly, wrth i gefnogwyr ddychwelyd i stadia mewn niferoedd llai, mae rhai o anghysondebau'r rheoliadau COVID yng nghyswllt chwaraeon hefyd wedi cael eu dwyn i fy sylw. Er ei bod yn wych gweld rhai o gefnogwyr Cymru yn dychwelyd i gefnogi tîm rygbi Cymru yn stadiwm Principality ar gyfer y set ddiweddaraf o gemau rhyngwladol, yn ogystal â rhai cefnogwyr yn dychwelyd i ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon eraill, mae'r rheolau ynglŷn â hyn yn parhau i fod yn aneglur. Felly, er enghraifft, yn stadiwm Principality, gofynnir i gefnogwyr wisgo masgiau o gwmpas y lleoliad ond gallant eu tynnu pan fyddant yn eu seddau. Yn y cyfamser, mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru wedi cyhoeddi y gall hyd at 100 o gefnogwyr ddychwelyd i gemau Uwch Gynghrair Cymru. Maent hefyd wedi dweud bod yn rhaid gwisgo masgiau bob amser, yn ogystal â gwirio tymheredd a chwblhau holiadur meddygol wrth fynd i mewn, er nad yw hynny'n ofynnol gan Undeb Rygbi Cymru ar gyfer eu gemau hwy. Mae Criced Morgannwg wedi dweud nad oes angen gwisgo masgiau wrth eistedd, ond fel Undeb Rygbi Cymru, mae angen eu gwisgo wrth gerdded o gwmpas y stadiwm, yn ogystal â gwirio tymheredd wrth fynd i mewn, fel Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ond yn wahanol i Undeb Rygbi Cymru. Felly, mae yna anghysondeb amlwg yno hefyd.
Ceir problem hefyd mewn perthynas â swigod aelwydydd. Mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru, yn eu canllawiau ar gyfer Uwch Gynghrair Cymru, a Chriced Morgannwg wedi dweud na chaiff y rheini nad ydynt yn byw ar yr un aelwyd eistedd gyda'i gilydd, ond dywed gwefan Undeb Rygbi Cymru ar gyfer deiliaid tocynnau ar gyfer y gêm ddydd Sadwrn, 'Yn unol â chanllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru, nid oes cyfyngiad ar bwy y gallwch fynychu gyda hwy', sy'n wahanol eto i'r rheol chwech, er enghraifft, mewn tafarndai a bwytai. Er fy mod yn deall mai cyfrifoldeb y Gweinidog iechyd yw llunio rheoliadau COVID, eich rôl chi fel y Dirprwy Weinidog sy'n gyfrifol am chwaraeon yw sicrhau bod gan sefydliadau chwaraeon ddealltwriaeth gyson o reoliadau Llywodraeth Cymru, ac ar hyn o bryd, mae rhai o'r sefydliadau chwaraeon mwyaf yng Nghymru yn dehongli rheoliadau Llywodraeth Cymru yn y maes hwn mewn ffyrdd tra gwahanol. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn: pa gamau rydych yn eu cymryd nid yn unig i sicrhau bod gan bob corff chwaraeon ddealltwriaeth gyson o'r rheoliadau, ond hefyd fod cefnogwyr sy'n mynychu digwyddiadau chwaraeon yn cael eu trin yr un mor deg â phobl sy'n mynychu lleoliadau eraill, fel tafarndai a bwytai?
I think the guidance that has been issued to all of these organisations is consistent. What is a matter for the organisations themselves is to undertake their own risk assessments based on their venues, their numbers and how they are going to mitigate against the infection. So, whether it's an indoor or an outdoor event. So, the guidance is consistent. What are not, necessarily, are the decisions that the organisers of those events make in terms of the venues and the numbers involved, because that is dependent upon the individual risk assessment for each event.
Credaf fod y canllawiau a roddwyd i'r holl sefydliadau hyn yn gyson. Mater i'r sefydliadau eu hunain yw cynnal eu hasesiadau risg eu hunain yn seiliedig ar eu lleoliadau, eu niferoedd a sut y byddant yn diogelu yn erbyn yr haint. Felly, boed yn ddigwyddiad dan do neu'n ddigwyddiad awyr agored, mae'r canllawiau'n gyson. Yr hyn nad yw'n gyson, o reidrwydd, yw'r penderfyniadau y mae trefnwyr y digwyddiadau hynny'n eu gwneud ynglŷn â'r lleoliadau a'r niferoedd dan sylw, gan fod hynny'n dibynnu ar yr asesiad risg unigol ar gyfer pob digwyddiad.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Minister will know that I welcome the extension of current business support until the end of August, and I was grateful for the opportunity, of course, provided by the Minister for a briefing before the announcement was made. But of course, some of the hardest-hit sectors are those that depend on members of the public mixing together both indoors and in close proximity, all of which are activities that have been either severely restricted or prohibited in law for much of the past year. For example, the effects of these restrictions have fallen heavily on businesses and organisations in the culture sector, such as theatres, live music venues and nightclubs. The night-time industry is the UK's fifth-biggest industry but it's estimated that by the time nightclubs can reopen, there will be 40 per cent to 50 per cent fewer operating compared to pre-COVID figures. Whilst nightclubs understand they are closed to protect public health, they feel like there's a significant lack of clarity regarding reopening.
Of course, the pandemic is unpredictable and we can't fall into the trap of giving arbitrary dates for reopening but, as things stand, the culture sector have no idea what reopening will look like. Whilst the financial support provided to the sector is, of course, welcome, businesses will need time to prepare to operate them; from personal experience, that's often around four weeks' notice and, in some cases, several months. Even if they can't fully open right now, it would be very helpful to know some details. So, could the Government provide an outline of what exact conditions will allow for reopening, and would it be linked to the vaccination programme and/or the infection rate, for example, and what will reopening look like for venues that require close proximity?
Diolch, Lywydd. Bydd y Gweinidog yn gwybod fy mod yn croesawu'r ffaith bod y cymorth cyfredol i fusnesau wedi'i ymestyn tan ddiwedd mis Awst, ac roeddwn yn ddiolchgar am y cyfle, wrth gwrs, a ddarparwyd gan y Gweinidog i gael sesiwn friffio cyn i'r cyhoeddiad gael ei wneud. Ond wrth gwrs, rhai o'r sectorau sy'n cael eu taro galetaf yw'r rheini sy'n dibynnu ar aelodau'r cyhoedd yn cymysgu dan do ac yn agos at ei gilydd, ac mae pob un ohonynt yn weithgareddau sydd naill ai wedi wynebu cyfyngiadau difrifol neu wedi'u gwahardd yn gyfreithiol am ran helaeth o'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Er enghraifft, mae'r cyfyngiadau hyn wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar fusnesau a sefydliadau yn y sector diwylliant, megis theatrau, lleoliadau cerddoriaeth fyw a chlybiau nos. Y diwydiant nos yw pumed diwydiant mwyaf y DU, ond erbyn i glybiau nos allu ailagor, amcangyfrifir y bydd 40 y cant i 50 y cant yn llai ohonynt yn weithredol o gymharu â'r ffigurau cyn COVID. Er bod clybiau nos yn deall eu bod ar gau er mwyn diogelu iechyd y cyhoedd, maent yn teimlo bod yna ddiffyg eglurder sylweddol mewn perthynas ag ailagor.
Wrth gwrs, nid oes modd rhagweld trywydd y pandemig ac ni allwn syrthio i'r fagl o nodi dyddiadau mympwyol ar gyfer ailagor, ond fel y mae pethau, nid oes gan y sector diwylliant unrhyw syniad sut y bydd ailagor yn gweithio. Er bod y cymorth ariannol a ddarparwyd i'r sector wedi'i groesawu, wrth gwrs, bydd angen amser ar fusnesau i baratoi i weithredu; o'm profiad personol, mae hynny'n aml yn golygu oddeutu pedair wythnos o rybudd, a sawl mis mewn rhai achosion. Hyd yn oed os na allant agor yn gyfan gwbl ar hyn o bryd, byddai'n ddefnyddiol iawn gwybod rhai manylion. Felly, a all y Llywodraeth ddarparu amlinelliad o'r union amodau a fydd yn caniatáu i'r diwydiant ailagor, ac a fydda'n gysylltiedig â'r rhaglen frechu a/neu'r gyfradd heintio er enghraifft, a sut y bydd ailagor yn gweithio i leoliadau lle mae pobl yn agos at ei gilydd yn gorfforol?
I think the challenge in giving an honest answer to that question is that we don't know all of the issues around that, and we've just got to be honest about this. We know that we're in the midst of a significant spike in coronavirus infections. We know that there is a different relationship between infections and harm. It's why the hospitalisation and the death rate have not climbed in the way that we've seen in the past. And, to be frank, with the rates we see today, if we didn't have the success of the vaccination programme, we'd have already gone into reverse. Now that's good news, because it shows we have got more latitude. What we can't say, though, is, 'We have an exact formula now that tells us about the amount of harm that would be caused and the extra latitude we have.' We're working through that, though, and what I can't do is pre-empt the conversations that we have not finished within the Government with the advice we have still not had finalised from our scientific advisers, and indeed our public health advisers too. We do, though, understand right across the Government that we're in a phase now where the balancing of the health harms and the economic harms and others we've always had to look at is now shifting towards the greater harms in terms of economic activity. That doesn't mean to say there's no balance to be struck, but we do think we're in a different relationship.
So, yes, we will continue to look at the emerging evidence on the changed, not broken, relationship between infections and harm. We will continue to look at pressure within the NHS. We will continue to look at the impact on the economy. And we will continue to look at the success of the vaccination programme. That will allow us to have the conversations that are already taking place with the events sector, with hospitality, with others. Nightclubs are one of the few sectors that still remain closed, and we're looking to give them the sort of perspective they will need to allow themselves to reopen safely and, as the Deputy Minister said in answer to previous questions, to think about their own processes for the guidance that will be in place, for their own risk assessment that they will need to undertake for their staff and their customers.
Credaf mai'r her wrth roi ateb gonest i'r cwestiwn hwnnw yw nad ydym yn gwybod beth yw'r holl broblemau sy'n codi gyda hynny, ac mae'n rhaid inni fod yn onest ynglŷn â hyn. Gwyddom ein bod ynghanol ymchwydd sylweddol o heintiau coronafeirws. Gwyddom fod y berthynas rhwng yr haint a niwed yn wahanol. Dyma pam nad yw'r gyfradd o bobl mewn ysbytai a marwolaethau wedi codi yn y ffordd a welsom yn y gorffennol. Ac a dweud y gwir, gyda'r cyfraddau a welwn heddiw, pe na bai'r rhaglen frechu wedi bod mor llwyddiannus, byddem eisoes wedi mynd i'r cyfeiriad arall. Nawr, mae hynny'n newyddion da, gan ei fod yn dangos bod gennym fwy o le i symud. Yr hyn na allwn ei ddweud, serch hynny, yw, 'Mae gennym fformiwla bendant yn awr sy'n dweud wrthym faint o niwed a fyddai'n cael ei achosi a'r lle ychwanegol sydd gennym i symud.' Rydym yn gweithio drwy hynny, serch hynny, a'r hyn na allaf ei wneud yw achub y blaen ar y sgyrsiau nad ydym wedi'u gorffen o fewn y Llywodraeth gyda'r cyngor gan ein cynghorwyr gwyddonol nad yw'n derfynol eto, ac yn wir, y cyngor gan ein cynghorwyr iechyd cyhoeddus hefyd. Fodd bynnag, ar draws y Llywodraeth rydym yn deall ein bod mewn cyfnod yn awr lle mae cydbwyso'r niwed i iechyd a'r niwed economaidd a mathau eraill o niwed rydym bob amser wedi gorfod eu hystyried bellach yn symud tuag at y niwed mwy i weithgarwch economaidd. Nid yw hynny'n golygu nad oes cydbwysedd i'w gael, ond credwn ein bod mewn perthynas wahanol.
Felly, fe fyddwn yn parhau i edrych ar y dystiolaeth sy'n dod i'r amlwg ar y berthynas sydd wedi newid, nid wedi torri, rhwng yr haint a niwed. Byddwn yn parhau i edrych ar bwysau ar y GIG. Byddwn yn parhau i edrych ar yr effaith ar yr economi. A byddwn yn parhau i edrych ar lwyddiant y rhaglen frechu. Bydd hynny'n caniatáu inni gael y sgyrsiau sydd eisoes yn mynd rhagddynt gyda'r sector digwyddiadau, gyda'r sector lletygarwch, gydag eraill. Clybiau nos yw un o'r ychydig sectorau sydd ar gau o hyd, ac rydym yn awyddus i ddarparu'r math o bersbectif y bydd ei angen arnynt i ganiatáu iddynt ailagor yn ddiogel, ac fel y dywedodd y Dirprwy Weinidog wrth ateb cwestiynau blaenorol, i feddwl am eu prosesau eu hunain ar gyfer y canllawiau a fydd ar waith, a'u hasesiadau risg eu hunain y bydd angen iddynt eu cynnal ar gyfer eu staff a'u cwsmeriaid.
Thank you, Minister, and I'd hope, of course, that conversations continue with the night-time industry so that they can gain some clarity as we go forward. If I could move on to the job retention scheme, of course the Minister again will be aware that we've had several discussions outside this Chamber on this subject. The UK Government has begun the gradual process of winding up the retention scheme. As of 1 July, the Government will drop its contribution to furloughed workers' salaries from 80 per cent to 70 per cent, and from 1 August it will pay 60 per cent of a furloughed employee's wage, leaving employers to pick up the missing 10 per cent for the first time—a decision with significant consequences for thousands of Welsh firms across Wales. While young people made up the majority of workers initially placed on furlough, the reopening of shops, bars and restaurants has allowed many under-25s to return to work or find new jobs in those sectors in recent months, but many workers and businesses are still struggling. Older employees could face an increased risk, given that around half of those still on furlough are 45 or over, according to the Resolution Foundation, which has said in its annual living standards audit for 2021, that this pattern of younger workers more swiftly returning from furlough has resulted in older workers on full furlough bearing the highest risk of having been out of work for long time periods. It's estimated that as many as one in four staff who are still reliant on the scheme are aged 55 to 64. What analysis has the Welsh Government made of the demographic breakdown of people in Wales who remain on furlough, and does the Minister share the concerns of the Resolution Foundation that it is older employees who could face higher levels of unemployment with the end of the furlough scheme approaching?
Diolch, Weinidog, a byddwn yn gobeithio, wrth gwrs, y bydd y sgyrsiau'n parhau gyda'r diwydiant nos fel y gallant gael eglurder wrth inni symud ymlaen. Os caf symud ymlaen at y cynllun cadw swyddi, bydd y Gweinidog unwaith eto'n ymwybodol wrth gwrs ein bod wedi cael sawl trafodaeth y tu allan i'r Siambr ar y pwnc hwn. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi dechrau'r broses raddol o ddirwyn y cynllun cadw swyddi i ben. Ers 1 Gorffennaf, bydd y Llywodraeth yn gostwng ei chyfraniad at gyflogau gweithwyr ar ffyrlo o 80 y cant i 70 y cant, ac o 1 Awst, bydd yn talu 60 y cant o gyflog gweithiwr ar ffyrlo, gan adael i'r cyflogwyr dalu'r 10 y cant coll am y tro cyntaf—penderfyniad a fydd yn arwain at ganlyniadau sylweddol i filoedd o fusnesau ledled Cymru. Er mai pobl ifanc oedd y rhan fwyaf o'r gweithwyr a roddwyd ar ffyrlo i ddechrau, mae ailagor siopau, bariau a bwytai wedi caniatáu i lawer o bobl dan 25 oed ddychwelyd i'r gwaith neu ddod o hyd i swyddi newydd yn y sectorau hynny dros y misoedd diwethaf, ond mae llawer o weithwyr a busnesau'n dal i'w chael hi'n anodd. Gallai gweithwyr hŷn wynebu risg uwch, o gofio bod oddeutu hanner y rheini sy'n dal i fod ar ffyrlo yn 45 oed neu'n hŷn, yn ôl Sefydliad Resolution, sydd wedi dweud yn eu harchwiliad o safonau byw blynyddol ar gyfer 2021 fod y patrwm hwn o weithwyr iau'n dychwelyd o fod ar ffyrlo yn gynt wedi arwain at weithwyr hŷn ar ffyrlo llawn yn wynebu'r risg fwyaf o fod allan o waith am gyfnodau hir. Amcangyfrifir bod cymaint ag un o bob pedwar aelod o staff sy'n dal i ddibynnu ar y cynllun rhwng 55 a 64 oed. Pa ddadansoddiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r dadansoddiad demograffig o bobl yng Nghymru sy'n dal i fod ar ffyrlo, ac a yw'r Gweinidog yn rhannu pryderon Sefydliad Resolution mai gweithwyr hŷn a allai wynebu lefelau uwch o ddiweithdra wrth i ddiwedd y cynllun ffyrlo agosáu?
Our position on labour market intelligence and relationships that we have not just with the broader surveys but from business sectors themselves is one that we continue to look at, as we discuss the further path to opening up parts of our economy, as restrictions, we still think, can be eased in the future. That's the incomplete conversation that I referred to in your first question.
I don't think it's quite as simple as saying that it will be older or younger workers who will be affected, because actually we know that lots of younger workers have been hit extremely hard during the pandemic as well, and in the sectors you mentioned some people are going back to work, but also those sectors face a real labour challenge in that some people have moved on to different industries and different jobs. So, we have a challenge across a range of ages, and the risk for younger people is that if they're not able to re-enter the world of work, that can have a scarring effect on their future potential and ability to achieve. And older workers, if they're out of work for a long time, and if firms do make choices of either reducing head count or closing their business, as we see the stepped down support from furlough, then there is a real risk, and we've seen this many times with economic shocks in the past, that it can be very difficult for people, particularly higher skilled people, to return to the world of work on salaries that are commensurate, and that in itself has a real impact. So, at more than one age range, we recognise there are significant risks that we're managing in the economy at present. It's why we've called for the UK Government to reconsider its approach to furlough and to think about a more agile way of supporting businesses as those choices are made, and the opening up of our economy is not complete in any part of the UK, and we're equally not entirely certain what will happen in the pandemic and what that may mean about future economic activity as well.
Mae ein safbwynt ar wybodaeth am y farchnad lafur a'r cysylltiadau sydd gennym nid yn unig â'r arolygon ehangach ond gyda'r sectorau busnes eu hunain yn un rydym yn parhau i'w ystyried, wrth inni drafod y llwybr pellach tuag at agor rhannau o'n heconomi, fel rydym yn dal i feddwl y gellir llacio'r cyfyngiadau yn y dyfodol. Dyna'r sgwrs anghyflawn y cyfeiriais ati yn eich cwestiwn cyntaf.
Ni chredaf ei fod mor syml â dweud mai gweithwyr hŷn neu iau a fydd yn cael eu heffeithio, gan y gwyddom fod llawer o weithwyr iau wedi cael eu taro’n galed iawn yn ystod y pandemig hefyd, ac yn y sectorau y sonioch chi amdanynt, mae rhai pobl yn mynd yn ôl i'r gwaith, ond mae'r sectorau hynny hefyd yn wynebu her wirioneddol mewn perthynas â llafur gan fod rhai pobl wedi symud ymlaen i wahanol ddiwydiannau a gwahanol swyddi. Felly, mae gennym her ar draws ystod o oedrannau, a'r risg i bobl iau, os na allant ailymuno â'r byd gwaith, yw y gall hynny gael effaith andwyol ar eu potensial a'u gallu i gyflawni yn y dyfodol. Ac os yw gweithwyr hŷn allan o waith am gyfnod hir, ac os yw cwmnïau'n gwneud penderfyniadau naill ai i leihau eu nifer o staff neu ddod â'r busnes i ben, wrth inni weld y cymorth ffyrlo'n lleihau, mae yna risg wirioneddol, ac rydym wedi gweld hyn sawl gwaith gyda thrychinebau economaidd yn y gorffennol, y gall fod yn anodd iawn i bobl, yn enwedig pobl â sgiliau uwch, ddychwelyd i fyd gwaith ar gyflogau sy'n gymesur, ac mae hynny ynddo'i hun yn cael effaith wirioneddol. Felly, mewn mwy nag un ystod oedran, rydym yn cydnabod ein bod yn rheoli risgiau sylweddol yn yr economi ar hyn o bryd. Dyna pam ein bod wedi galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ailystyried ei hymagwedd tuag at ffyrlo ac i feddwl am ffordd fwy hyblyg o gefnogi busnesau wrth i'r penderfyniadau hynny gael eu gwneud, ac nid yw'r broses o ailagor ein heconomi wedi'i chwblhau mewn unrhyw ran o'r DU, ac yn yr un modd, nid ydym yn hollol sicr beth fydd yn digwydd yn y pandemig a beth y gall hynny ei olygu i weithgarwch economaidd yn y dyfodol chwaith.
Of course, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has also warned that an extra cost being assumed by struggling businesses could result in tens of thousands of workers facing redundancies. To ensure the possible outcome outlined by the IFS of a reduction and ending of furlough does not occur in Wales, has the Welsh Government undertaken any contingency planning to enable them to continue supporting Welsh workers and businesses through furlough if support from Westminster is cut off?
And further to this, of course, in Wales, despite the number of people on furlough reducing steadily over the past few months, as of last week, there are still 88,000 jobs in Wales still furloughed. Of course, you yourself have warned that furlough should not be withdrawn before the Welsh economy is ready, and at Westminster, my colleague Ben Lake has accused the UK Treasury of rigidly sticking to dates with regard to financial support even though uncertainty continues to loom large over the economy. With a continued risk of economic instability as we emerge from the pandemic, it is crucial that the Treasury keeps maximum flexibility to its approach if it is to truly support people and businesses out of this crisis.
The TUC has also warned Ministers not to pull the plug on the UK's economic recovery by cutting off support for workers and businesses too soon. Should the public health situation unexpectedly deteriorate as we approach autumn and winter, is the Welsh Government prepared to step up to the mark and support Welsh workers and businesses? And with the Chancellor's decisions weaving in with the Prime Minister's announcement this week of England easing all restrictions from 19 July, will the Welsh Government be modelling not only how this will impact the public health situation in Wales but the economic environment as well? Does the Minister also agree that if Westminster gets this wrong, with both the economic and health situation deteriorating, this could end up costing us in the long run?
Wrth gwrs, mae'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid hefyd wedi rhybuddio y gallai cost ychwanegol i fusnesau sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd arwain at ddegau o filoedd o weithwyr yn wynebu cael eu diswyddo. Er mwyn sicrhau nad yw lleihau a dirwyn y cynllun ffyrlo i ben yn arwain yng Nghymru at y canlyniad posibl a amlinellwyd gan y Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud unrhyw waith cynllunio wrth gefn i'w galluogi i barhau i gefnogi gweithwyr a busnesau Cymru drwy ffyrlo os bydd San Steffan yn rhoi'r gorau i'w cymorth?
Ac yn ychwanegol at hyn, wrth gwrs, yng Nghymru, er bod nifer y bobl ar ffyrlo wedi gostwng yn gyson dros yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf, yr wythnos diwethaf, roedd 88,000 o weithwyr yng Nghymru yn dal i fod ar ffyrlo. Wrth gwrs, rydych wedi rhybuddio eich hun na ddylid dirwyn y cynllun ffyrlo i ben cyn bod economi Cymru'n barod, ac yn San Steffan, mae fy nghydweithiwr Ben Lake wedi cyhuddo Trysorlys y DU o lynu'n ormodol at ddyddiadau mewn perthynas â chymorth ariannol er yr ansicrwydd parhaus mewn perthynas â'r economi. Gyda risg barhaus o ansefydlogrwydd economaidd wrth inni ddod allan o'r pandemig, mae'n hanfodol fod y Trysorlys yn parhau i weithredu yn y ffordd fwyaf hyblyg os yw o ddifrif yn mynd i gynorthwyo pobl a busnesau i ddod allan o'r argyfwng hwn.
Mae Cyngres yr Undebau Llafur hefyd wedi rhybuddio Gweinidogion i beidio â throi cefn ar adferiad economaidd y DU drwy ddirwyn cymorth i weithwyr a busnesau i ben yn rhy fuan. Pe bai sefyllfa iechyd y cyhoedd yn dirywio'n annisgwyl wrth inni agosáu at yr hydref a'r gaeaf, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i gamu i'r adwy a chefnogi gweithwyr a busnesau Cymru? A chyda phenderfyniadau’r Canghellor yn plethu â chyhoeddiad Prif Weinidog y DU yr wythnos hon y bydd Lloegr yn llacio'r holl gyfyngiadau o 19 Gorffennaf, a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn modelu nid yn unig sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar sefyllfa iechyd y cyhoedd yng Nghymru, ond ar yr amgylchedd economaidd hefyd? A yw'r Gweinidog hefyd yn cytuno, os nad yw San Steffan yn gwneud hyn yn iawn, gyda'r sefyllfa economaidd a'r sefyllfa iechyd yn dirywio, y gallai hyn gostio i ni yn hirdymor?
Obviously, if the UK Government don't take proper account of what will happen next with the pandemic that we all want to see come to an end, then it could have significant public health and economic consequences, and there's plenty of commentary about that and about the balance of risk in the choice the Prime Minister has made for England in terms of its reopening and what that may mean for infections, which they themselves have modelled will rise significantly.
Now, here in Wales, we have made deliberate choices about supporting businesses with more generous business support to get through the pandemic. It's why I was able to announce the further stage of business support to get through to the end of August, so there's a bit more certainty for businesses as we still make choices about reopening. And I was happy to provide a briefing to yourself and, indeed, the offer was made to the Conservative spokesperson as well.
Our challenge, though, will be to think about how we're able to do that more successfully in the future and the resources that we still have retained to support businesses. Now, we're in this position because we have managed other parts of the pandemic in a different way. So, we have more latitude because we've managed our PPE acquisition in a different way, with less cost and more efficiently and you haven't seen any kind of a whiff of a VIP lane in Wales because it doesn't exist. We've also got a test, trace and protect service that is much more efficient and doesn't cost anything like as much as the system in England. Those have given us more latitude to be more generous in our support to businesses. I'm already working through with officials and having conversations with business sectors about how we might support them during the recovery with the resources that we have available.
Of course, all of those things could take a different point. Rather than investing in the recovery and investing in future skills and innovation, we may need to return to investing in more emergency support. We have some ability to do that, but if the pandemic does take another unexpected course, then we would, of course, expect that the UK Government would provide UK resources for businesses right across the UK if that's the position we were in. But I am optimistic that we will be able to make positive choices in the future and properly balancing public health together with our economic future.
Yn amlwg, os na fydd Llywodraeth y DU yn rhoi ystyriaeth briodol i'r hyn a fydd yn digwydd nesaf gyda'r pandemig y mae pob un ohonom am ei weld yn dod i ben, gallai hynny arwain at ganlyniadau sylweddol o ran iechyd y cyhoedd a'r economi, ac mae digon o sylwebaeth ynglŷn â hynny ac ynglŷn â chydbwyso risg yn y dewis y mae Prif Weinidog y DU wedi'i wneud ar gyfer Lloegr mewn perthynas ag ailagor a'r hyn y gallai hynny ei olygu o ran nifer yr achosion o'r haint, y mae eu gwaith modelu eu hunain wedi dangos y bydd yn cynyddu'n sylweddol.
Nawr, yma yng Nghymru, rydym wedi gwneud penderfyniadau bwriadol ynghylch cefnogi busnesau gyda chymorth mwy hael i fusnesau fel y gallant oroesi'r pandemig. Dyna pam y bu modd imi gyhoeddi'r cam pellach o gymorth i fusnesau tan ddiwedd mis Awst, felly ceir rhywfaint o sicrwydd ychwanegol i fusnesau wrth inni barhau i wneud penderfyniadau ynglŷn ag ailagor. Ac roeddwn yn falch o ddarparu sesiwn friffio i chi, ac yn wir, gwnaed y cynnig i lefarydd y Ceidwadwyr hefyd.
Yr her i ni, serch hynny, fydd meddwl sut y gallwn wneud hynny'n fwy llwyddiannus yn y dyfodol a'r adnoddau rydym wedi'u cadw i gefnogi busnesau. Nawr, rydym yn y sefyllfa hon am ein bod wedi rheoli agweddau eraill ar y pandemig mewn ffordd wahanol. Felly, mae gennym fwy o le i symud am ein bod wedi caffael cyfarpar diogelu personol mewn ffordd wahanol, am lai o gost ac yn fwy effeithlon, ac nid ydych wedi gweld unrhyw fath o lwybr i'r breintiedig yng Nghymru gan nad oes un yn bodoli. Hefyd, mae gennym wasanaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu llawer mwy effeithlon sy'n costio llai o lawer na'r system yn Lloegr. Mae hynny wedi rhoi mwy o le i symud er mwyn i ni allu bod yn fwy hael gyda'n cymorth i fusnesau. Rwyf eisoes yn gweithio gyda swyddogion ac yn cael sgyrsiau gyda sectorau busnes ynglŷn â sut y gallem eu cefnogi yn ystod yr adferiad gyda'r adnoddau sydd ar gael.
Wrth gwrs, gallai'r holl bethau hynny fynd i gyfeiriad gwahanol. Yn hytrach na buddsoddi yn yr adferiad a buddsoddi yn sgiliau'r dyfodol ac mewn arloesi, efallai y bydd angen inni fynd yn ôl i fuddsoddi mewn mwy o gymorth brys. Mae gennym rywfaint o allu i wneud hynny, ond os bydd y pandemig yn mynd i gyfeiriad annisgwyl arall, byddem yn disgwyl, wrth gwrs, i Lywodraeth y DU ddarparu adnoddau'r DU i fusnesau ledled y DU pe baem yn y sefyllfa honno. Ond rwy'n obeithiol y bydd modd inni wneud dewisiadau cadarnhaol yn y dyfodol gan sicrhau cydbwysedd priodol rhwng iechyd y cyhoedd a'n dyfodol economaidd.
3. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith technoleg arloesol ar y gweithlu? OQ56729
3. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of innovative technology on the workforce? OQ56729
Thank you for the question. Our economic and reconstruction mission builds on the 2019 findings from Professor Phillip Brown’s review, with a focus on accelerating industrial transformation by embracing new and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Mae ein cenhadaeth i ailadeiladu'r economi yn adeiladu ar ganfyddiadau adolygiad yr Athro Phillip Brown yn 2019, gyda ffocws ar gyflymu trawsnewid diwydiannol drwy fanteisio ar dechnolegau newydd a tharfol, megis deallusrwydd artiffisial.
Thank you, Minister. According to the TUC, one in four workers in Wales say that monitoring and surveillance at work has increased since the COVID-19 crisis began. This includes tracking and logging workers as they move via wristbands, including when they're on toilet breaks; forcing drivers to have to urinate in bottles because an algorithm has set them an impossible number of deliveries in a day, so they cannot afford to take a break; and people working from home having facial recognition technology used on them via their laptop without their consent.
Whilst conducting my own research with Professor Lina Dencik at the data justice lab at Cardiff University, we interviewed over 10 different trade unions and found that this oppressive and widespread surveillance is resulting in workers feeling stressed, demotivated, unappreciated and distrusted, breaking down the necessary respect between workers and employers. How can Welsh Government ensure that as new technology is introduced into the workplace it improves workers' lives and does not rob them of their dignity?
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn ôl Cyngres yr Undebau Llafur, dywed un o bob pedwar gweithiwr yng Nghymru fod monitro a gwyliadwriaeth yn y gwaith wedi cynyddu ers dechrau argyfwng COVID-19. Mae hyn yn cynnwys olrhain a logio gweithwyr wrth iddynt symud gyda strapen arddwrn, gan gynnwys pan fyddant yn mynd i'r toiled; gorfodi gyrwyr i wneud dŵr mewn poteli gan fod algorithm wedi gosod nifer amhosibl o gyflenwadau i'w dosbarthu mewn diwrnod, fel na allant fforddio cymryd seibiant; a'r defnydd o dechnoleg adnabod wynebau ar bobl sy'n gweithio gartref drwy eu gliniadur heb eu caniatâd.
Wrth gyflawni fy ymchwil fy hun gyda'r Athro Lina Dencik yn y labordy cyfiawnder data ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, gwnaethom gyfweld â dros 10 undeb llafur gwahanol a chanfod bod y wyliadwriaeth ormesol a helaeth hon yn gwneud i weithwyr deimlo dan straen ac yn ddigymhelliad, ac nad yw eu cyflogwyr yn eu gwerthfawrogi nac yn ymddiried ynddynt, gan chwalu'r parch angenrheidiol rhwng gweithwyr a chyflogwyr. Sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau wrth i dechnoleg newydd gael ei chyflwyno i'r gweithle ei bod yn gwella bywydau gweithwyr yn hytrach na'u hamddifadu o urddas?
I think that's the important point that the Member makes at the end, because, when deployed responsibly, technology can provide workers with greater flexibility and enable them to be more productive, as many businesses have found during the pandemic. That innovative use of technology has given people that freedom and ability to work remotely in a way that they value.
Now, that doesn't work for every single employee or every business, but it's the inappropriate use of technology that the Member is highlighting, with unscrupulous employers, that can create an environment of fear and distrust. This Welsh Government does not want to see and won't endorse emerging tech and COVID-related working practices being used to create an oppressive or controlling environment for workers.
I can say that, as we continue to have our discussions in the social partnership approach that we have built, which has been of significant benefit to Wales through the pandemic, we'll continue to set out our expectations for a fair work economy, where we balance the needs of businesses to turn a profit, but also their responsibilities to look after their own workers. That's why we continue to work with businesses themselves and with trade unions that represent the interests of the workforce, and I'll be sure to pay this particular area more attention, and I'm grateful to the Member for highlighting the research she's already done on this issue.
Credaf mai dyna'r pwynt pwysig y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud ar y diwedd, gan y gall technoleg, o'i defnyddio'n gyfrifol, roi mwy o hyblygrwydd i weithwyr a'u galluogi i fod yn fwy cynhyrchiol, fel y mae llawer o fusnesau wedi'i ddarganfod yn ystod y pandemig. Mae'r defnydd arloesol o dechnoleg wedi rhoi rhyddid a gallu i bobl weithio o bell mewn ffordd y maent yn ei gwerthfawrogi.
Nawr, nid yw hynny'n gweithio i bob gweithiwr neu bob busnes, ond gall y defnydd amhriodol o dechnoleg fel y mae'r Aelod yn ei nodi, gyda chyflogwyr diegwyddor, greu amgylchedd o ofn a diffyg ymddiriedaeth. Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn dymuno gweld ac ni fyddwn yn cefnogi'r defnydd o arferion gwaith technolegol a chysylltiedig â COVID sy'n dod i'r amlwg i greu amgylchedd gormesol neu fygythiol i reoli gweithwyr.
Wrth inni barhau i gael ein trafodaethau yn y dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol rydym wedi'i adeiladu, sydd wedi bod o fudd sylweddol i Gymru drwy'r pandemig, gallaf ddweud y byddwn yn parhau i nodi ein disgwyliadau ar gyfer economi gwaith teg, lle rydym yn cydbwyso anghenion busnesau i wneud elw, ond hefyd eu cyfrifoldebau i ofalu am eu gweithwyr eu hunain. Dyna pam ein bod yn parhau i weithio gyda busnesau eu hunain a chydag undebau llafur sy'n cynrychioli buddiannau'r gweithlu, a byddaf yn sicrhau fy mod yn rhoi mwy o sylw i'r maes penodol hwn, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at yr ymchwil a wnaed ganddi eisoes ar y mater hwn.
Minister, the conversation concerning artificial intelligence has often focused on its impact on the workforce and how it can cost jobs. However, the reality is that over 96 per cent of all manufacturing in Wales comes from small business enterprises, and we, as a country, are very much behind the curve in terms of productivity when compared to competitors across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Innovative technology provides a perfect opportunity to reduce the investment costs that companies need in order to make them competitive, and Wales has some fantastic businesses that are well positioned to be able to do this, such as Nightingale HQ, based in Pontypridd. Can the Minister highlight what proposals the Welsh Government are considering to help small businesses integrate artificial intelligence into their businesses and help them increase their productivity?
Weinidog, mae'r sgwrs ynghylch deallusrwydd artiffisial yn aml wedi canolbwyntio ar ei effaith ar y gweithlu a sut y gall arwain at lai o swyddi. Fodd bynnag, y gwir amdani yw bod dros 96 y cant o'r holl weithgynhyrchu yng Nghymru yn dod o fentrau busnes bach, ac rydym ni fel gwlad ar ei hôl hi o ran cynhyrchiant o gymharu â chystadleuwyr ledled y Deyrnas Unedig ac Ewrop.
Mae technoleg arloesol yn rhoi cyfle perffaith i leihau’r costau buddsoddi sydd eu hangen ar gwmnïau er mwyn eu gwneud yn gystadleuol, ac mae gan Gymru fusnesau gwych sydd mewn sefyllfa dda i allu gwneud hyn, fel Nightingale HQ ym Mhontypridd. A all y Gweinidog nodi pa gynigion y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu hystyried i helpu busnesau bach i integreiddio deallusrwydd artiffisial yn eu busnesau a'u helpu i gynyddu eu cynhyrchiant?
We're actually looking at digital innovation in manufacturing. We've already created a hub in Wales that we're supporting as well, so we're looking at how this works for different businesses in different sectors. It's also part of the work that we're looking to develop on a properly regional approach to understand what will work in different parts of Wales, and that's about empowering different regions in Wales to make choices together. So, the work that Julie James did in her previous ministerial role in creating joint committees—how that work is overlaid with the work that we've been doing with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on regional economic development as well.
The challenge is to make sure that our ability to invest in those choices being made at the most appropriate level isn't undercut by changes in the way that funding structures work as well. So, there are challenges both for the Welsh Government in what we can do, but also levers that are outside our control and the differences of view we have with the UK Government on how those funding sources to replace European funds are actually used—that will be of crucial importance to make a practical difference to support more businesses and more jobs here in Wales.
Rydym yn edrych ar arloesi digidol ym maes gweithgynhyrchu. Rydym eisoes wedi creu hyb yng Nghymru a gefnogir gennym hefyd, felly rydym yn edrych ar sut y mae hyn yn gweithio i wahanol fusnesau mewn gwahanol sectorau. Mae hefyd yn rhan o'r gwaith rydym yn bwriadu ei ddatblygu ar ddull hollol ranbarthol o ddeall beth fydd yn gweithio mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, ac mae a wnelo hynny â grymuso gwahanol ranbarthau yng Nghymru i wneud penderfyniadau gyda'i gilydd. Felly, y gwaith a wnaeth Julie James yn ei rôl weinidogol flaenorol yn creu cyd-bwyllgorau—sut y mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n sail i'r gwaith rydym wedi bod yn ei wneud gyda'r Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd ar ddatblygiad economaidd rhanbarthol hefyd.
Yr her yw sicrhau nad yw ein gallu i fuddsoddi yn y penderfyniadau a wneir ar y lefel fwyaf priodol yn cael ei danseilio gan newidiadau yn y ffordd y mae strwythurau cyllido'n gweithio hefyd. Felly, mae heriau i Lywodraeth Cymru o ran yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud, ond hefyd dulliau sydd y tu hwnt i'n rheolaeth a'r gwahaniaethau barn rhyngom ni a Llywodraeth y DU ar sut y defnyddir y ffynonellau cyllid hynny a ddaw yn lle'r cronfeydd Ewropeaidd—bydd hynny'n hanfodol bwysig er mwyn gwneud gwahaniaeth ymarferol i gefnogi mwy o fusnesau a mwy o swyddi yma yng Nghymru.
4. Beth yw blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cefnogi'r sector manwerthu yng Nghymru dros y 12 mis nesaf? OQ56717
4. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for supporting the retail sector in Wales over the next 12 months? OQ56717
Thank you. We fully recognise the COVID pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the retail sector. That's why we're working closely with them to develop a retail strategy, which will outline our priorities and a shared vision for the future of the sector.
Diolch. Rydym yn llwyr gydnabod bod pandemig COVID wedi cael effaith aruthrol ar y sector manwerthu. Dyna pam ein bod yn gweithio'n agos gyda hwy i ddatblygu strategaeth fanwerthu a fydd yn amlinellu ein blaenoriaethau a chydweledigaeth ar gyfer dyfodol y sector.
Thank you for that response, Minister. I'm sure that you'll be aware that the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, of which I'm a member, has produced a retail recovery plan, setting out some key interventions to support the sector. Acknowledging, of course, that some of the levers are reserved and that the Welsh Government has already delivered on some key asks, such as full rates relief for retail businesses in Wales, I'd welcome your reflections on that report and what further measures you could take in order to ensure that the needs of the retail sector are at the heart of Welsh Government economic policy during the next 12 months.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn ymwybodol fod yr Undeb Gweithwyr Siopau, Dosbarthu a Gwaith Perthynol, undeb rwy'n aelod ohono, wedi cynhyrchu cynllun adfer manwerthu, sy'n nodi ymyriadau allweddol i gefnogi'r sector. Gan gydnabod, wrth gwrs, fod rhai o'r dulliau wedi'u cadw'n ôl a bod Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi cyflawni ar rai gofynion allweddol, megis rhyddhad ardrethi llawn i fusnesau manwerthu yng Nghymru, byddwn yn croesawu eich barn ar yr adroddiad hwnnw a pha fesurau pellach y gallech eu rhoi ar waith er mwyn sicrhau bod anghenion y sector manwerthu yn ganolog ym mholisi economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru dros y 12 mis nesaf.
Yes. In fact, in my initial response, I should have been clear that, when I talk about working with them, the retail sector, I do mean businesses and trade unions. USDAW have been very constructive in their retail recovery plan that they've proposed, and I'm actually going to be meeting with businesses and the trade union side over the next week. Because what we have been doing already is looking at what we can do here, within Wales, to make sure that we help the retail sector recover as far as possible. And the future vision relies both on what we're prepared to do, as well as what businesses are prepared to do as well, to think about the offer and how they survived in the pandemic. But it also relies on the behaviour of us as consumers. For a long time during the pandemic, people bought into buying local and supporting local traders. The challenge is that if more people move to online and remote purchasing that can have an impact on high street and in-person retail. So, we've got to think about what we're prepared to do and how people feel about going back into environments that many of us haven't been in for some time. So, there's a challenge here about personal behaviour, but we look forward to working with the retail sector, both businesses and trade unions, to make sure that there is a positive future for retail here in Wales.
Iawn. Mewn gwirionedd, yn fy ymateb cychwynnol, dylwn fod wedi dweud yn glir, pan siaradaf am weithio gyda hwy, y sector manwerthu, rwy'n golygu busnesau ac undebau llafur. Mae'r Undeb Gweithwyr Siopau, Dosbarthu a Gwaith Perthynol wedi bod yn adeiladol iawn yn y cynllun adfer manwerthu y maent wedi'i gynnig, a byddaf yn cyfarfod â busnesau ac ochr yr undebau llafur dros yr wythnos nesaf. Oherwydd rydym eisoes wedi bod yn edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud yma yng Nghymru i sicrhau ein bod yn cynorthwyo'r sector manwerthu i adfer i'r graddau mwyaf posibl. Ac mae'r weledigaeth ar gyfer y dyfodol yn dibynnu ar yr hyn rydym yn barod i'w wneud yn ogystal â'r hyn y mae busnesau'n barod i'w wneud hefyd, i feddwl am y cynnig a sut y gwnaethant oroesi yn y pandemig. Ond mae hefyd yn dibynnu ar ein hymddygiad ninnau fel defnyddwyr. Am gyfnod hir yn ystod y pandemig, roedd pobl yn awyddus i brynu'n lleol a chefnogi masnachwyr lleol. Os bydd mwy o bobl yn newid i brynu ar-lein ac o bell, yr her yw y gall hynny effeithio ar y stryd fawr a siopa yn y cnawd. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni feddwl am yr hyn rydym yn barod i'w wneud a sut y mae pobl yn teimlo ynglŷn â dychwelyd i amgylcheddau nad yw llawer ohonom wedi bod ynddynt ers peth amser. Felly, mae her yma ynglŷn ag ymddygiad personol, ond edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda'r sector manwerthu, yn fusnesau ac undebau llafur, i sicrhau dyfodol cadarnhaol i fanwerthu yma yng Nghymru.
Can I thank Vikki Howells for bringing this question today? And I think, whilst we all welcome the business support that has been offered to date, as we begin to emerge from the pandemic, it's crucial that certain existing support packages are reformed to instil confidence and encourage consumer spending in the retail sector on our high streets and town centres. And the transforming towns fund is vital for retail across Wales and, indeed, in my own constituency, but its funding streams are only short term. Therefore, Minister, will you address this by ensuring those eligible can access the fund in the longer term? Thank you.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Vikki Howells am ofyn y cwestiwn hwn heddiw? Ac er bod pob un ohonom yn croesawu'r cymorth a gynigiwyd hyd yma i fusnesau, wrth inni ddechrau dod allan o'r pandemig, credaf ei bod hi'n hanfodol fod rhai pecynnau cymorth presennol yn cael eu diwygio i ennyn hyder ac annog gwario gan ddefnyddwyr yn y sector manwerthu ar y stryd fawr a chanol ein trefi. Ac mae'r gronfa trawsnewid trefi yn hanfodol ar gyfer manwerthu ledled Cymru, ac yn wir, yn fy etholaeth i, ond byrdymor yn unig yw ei ffrydiau cyllido. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi fynd i’r afael â hyn drwy sicrhau y gall pobl gymwys gael mynediad at y gronfa yn fwy hirdymor? Diolch.
Well, longer term choices will need to be subject to our budget considerations, but I'm proud that this Government has taken a serious view on investing in the future of towns—and retail is an important part of a sense of place for people who live in those towns—and how we drive more footfall into town centres to make sure those businesses are viable. So, yes, I expect we'll be making further choices about how to further support towns in the future, as opposed to funding that will only end after a limited period of time, but I can't give you a definitive view about the budgetary future. As you know, we'll be going through budget setting over the coming months, and I look forward to talking about that with you, and no doubt there'll be many opportunities to do so.
Wel, bydd angen i ddewisiadau mwy hirdymor fod yn amodol ar ein hystyriaethau cyllidebol, ond rwy'n falch fod y Llywodraeth hon yn meddwl o ddifrif am fuddsoddi yn nyfodol trefi—ac mae manwerthu'n rhan bwysig o ymdeimlad o le i'r bobl sy'n byw yn y trefi hynny—a sut rydym yn denu mwy o ymwelwyr i ganol trefi i sicrhau bod y busnesau hynny'n hyfyw. Felly, ydw, rwy'n disgwyl y byddwn yn gwneud penderfyniadau pellach ynglŷn â sut i gefnogi trefi ymhellach yn y dyfodol, yn hytrach na chyllid a fydd yn dod i ben ar ôl cyfnod cyfyngedig o amser, ond ni allaf roi syniad pendant i chi ynglŷn â'r dyfodol cyllidebol. Fel y gwyddoch, byddwn yn ymgymryd â'r broses o bennu'r gyllideb dros y misoedd nesaf, ac edrychaf ymlaen at drafod hynny gyda chi, a heb os, bydd sawl cyfle i wneud hynny.
5. Pa drafodaethau mae'r Gweinidog wedi eu cael gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd am effaith economaidd porthladdoedd rhydd? OQ56751
5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change about the economic impact of free ports? OQ56751
I've had a range of discussions on free ports with ministerial colleagues, including the Minister for Climate Change. However, no offer has been presented to the Welsh Government for a Welsh free port by the UK Government. Welsh Ministers have, though, clearly set out conditions where a joint approach could be taken, including, importantly, funding parity with English free ports.
Rwyf wedi cael ystod o drafodaethau ar borthladdoedd rhydd gyda chyd-Weinidogion, gan gynnwys y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd. Fodd bynnag, ni wnaed unrhyw gynnig gan Lywodraeth y DU i Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â phorthladd rhydd yng Nghymru. Er hynny, mae Gweinidogion Cymru wedi nodi amodau clir lle gellid defnyddio dull gweithredu ar y cyd, gan gynnwys, yn bwysig, cyllid cydradd â phorthladdoedd rhydd Lloegr.
Diolch am yr ymateb yna. Mae eisiau ystyried pob opsiwn ar gyfer cyfleon newydd i borthladd Caergybi yn fy etholaeth i; dwi wedi edrych ers sawl blwyddyn ar y posibiliadau o ran creu porthladd rhydd. Ond mae eisiau bod yn glir iawn am fanteision posib ac anfanteision posib, ac mae'n anodd pan fo pethau'n cael eu cymylu braidd gan rethreg wleidyddol. Fel dywedodd Pwyllgor Materion Cymreig San Steffan:
Thank you for that response. We need to consider every option for new opportunities for the port of Holyhead in my constituency; I've looked at the possibilities of creating a free port for many years. But we need to be very clear about the possible benefits and disbenefits, and that's difficult when things are muddied by political rhetoric. As the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in Westminster said:
The UK Government mustn't
'create a 'Welsh Freeport'...for optical or political purposes.'
Ni ddylai Llywodraeth y DU
'greu porthladd rhydd yng Nghymru at ddibenion optegol neu wleidyddol'.
Mae'n bwysig bod pobl yn deall nad rhyw fath o dividend Brexit ydy hyn, er enghraifft, achos mi ellid, mewn egwyddor, bod wedi cael statws porthladd rhydd tra'n dal yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Ac mae eisiau, fel mae'r Gweinidog yn ei ddweud, i bobl ddeall bod Llywodraeth Geidwadol Prydain yn cynnig llawer llai ar gyfer porthladdoedd rhydd yng Nghymru o'i gymharu â Lloegr—rhyw £8 miliwn, o'i gymharu â £25 miliwn. Ond, oes, mae eisiau edrych ar y cyfleon. Felly, all Llywodraeth Cymru, tra'n mynnu cael maes chwarae gwastad o ran cefnogaeth ariannol posib, sicrhau bod gwaith yn cael ei wneud i ddeall yn union pa fanteision a allai ddod i Gaergybi yn ymarferol, ym mha sectorau, a balansio hynny, hefyd, efo sgil-effeithiau negyddol posib?
It's important that people understand that it's not some kind of Brexit dividend, for example, because, in principle, one could have had free-port status while still in the European Union. And, as the Minister said, people need to understand that the UK Conservative Government are offering far less for free ports in Wales as compared to England—some £8 million, as compared to £25 million in England. But, yes, we need to look at the opportunities. So, can the Welsh Government, whilst insisting on a level playing field in terms of possible financial support, ensure that work is done to understand exactly what benefits could come to Holyhead on a practical level, in which sectors, and to balance that with the negative impacts that are also possible?
I should start by saying that, as we don't have a firm proposal, we don't have a proposal to work with. We have written to the UK Government, the previous Minister has written, and myself and the finance Minister will be writing again, ahead of our meeting with the Welsh Affairs Select Committee tomorrow, to set out, again, the parameters in which we are prepared to work with the UK Government to look at a free port in Wales. One of those points is funding parity. This isn't something where a Barnettised share should be provided; this is a place-based intervention, and the same funding given to any free port in England should come to any free port in Wales. I should gently say to the Member that Holyhead is one port that may wish to bid to be a free port, because, actually, what the UK Government have done is they've undertaken a competitive bidding process. Now, part of my concern is that you could end up—. Already we're seeing some activity taking place in getting ready to bid for a process that we don't understand, that isn't actually live yet, and there'll be wasted resources in doing so, because other ports would be interested in bidding to do that as well. And our challenge then is, if we were going to do this, we do want to understand more clearly about whether we genuinely create more activity or displace activity that is already taking place.
It is, of course, a matter of fact, not opinion, that free ports already existed when we were members of the European Union; it was Prime Minister Cameron who ended the free ports existing in the UK in 2012. So, it's not a new idea. And actually, what we really need is direct engagement with the Treasury, because it's a Treasury-driven project. It's something that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is very personally wedded to, and he's perfectly entitled to have individual areas of interest that he wants to see happen, but, for a free port, there has to be proper engagement with the Welsh Government as decision-taking Ministers here with the decision-taking Ministers in the UK Government to make sure we understand what we are being asked to commit to and what the full offer actually looks like. And I would like to be able to have a more detailed discussion with the Member and others, but I'm not able to do so, because, as I say, we don't have a proper offer to engage with.
Gan nad oes gennym gynnig cadarn, dylwn ddechrau drwy ddweud nad oes gennym gynnig i weithio gydag ef. Rydym wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU, mae'r Gweinidog blaenorol wedi ysgrifennu, a bydd y Gweinidog cyllid a minnau'n ysgrifennu eto, cyn ein cyfarfod gyda'r Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig yfory, i nodi, unwaith eto, y paramedrau rydym yn barod i weithio o'u mewn gyda Llywodraeth y DU i edrych ar borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru. Un o'r pwyntiau hynny yw cyllid cydradd. Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth lle dylid darparu cyfran yn ôl fformiwla Barnett; ymyrraeth sy'n seiliedig ar leoedd yw hi, a dylid rhoi'r un cyllid ag a roddir i unrhyw borthladd rhydd yn Lloegr i unrhyw borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru. Dylwn ddweud yn garedig wrth yr Aelod fod Caergybi yn un porthladd a allai fod yn awyddus i wneud cais i ddod yn borthladd rhydd, oherwydd yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i wneud yw ymgymryd â phroses geisiadau gystadleuol. Nawr, rhan o fy mhryder yw y gallech, yn y pen draw—. Rydym eisoes yn gweld gweithgarwch yn mynd rhagddo i baratoi i ymgeisio am broses nad ydym yn ei deall, nad yw'n fyw eto, a bydd adnoddau'n cael eu gwastraffu wrth wneud hynny, gan y byddai gan borthladdoedd eraill ddiddordeb mewn ymgeisio hefyd. A'r her i ninnau wedyn, pe byddem yn gwneud hyn, yw yr hoffem ddeall yn well a ydym o ddifrif yn creu mwy o weithgarwch neu'n disodli gweithgarwch sydd eisoes yn digwydd.
Mater o ffaith, nid barn, wrth gwrs, yw bod porthladdoedd rhydd eisoes yn bodoli pan oeddem yn aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd; y Prif Weinidog Cameron a ddaeth â'r porthladdoedd rhydd i ben yn y DU yn 2012. Felly, nid yw'n syniad newydd. Ac mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw ymgysylltiad uniongyrchol â'r Trysorlys, gan ei fod yn brosiect sy'n cael ei lywio gan y Trysorlys. Mae'n rhywbeth y mae Canghellor y Trysorlys yn ymrwymedig iawn iddo, ac mae ganddo berffaith hawl i gael meysydd diddordeb personol y mae'n awyddus i'w gweld yn digwydd, ond er mwyn cael porthladd rhydd, mae'n rhaid i'r Gweinidogion sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau yn Llywodraeth y DU ymgysylltu'n iawn â Llywodraeth Cymru fel y Gweinidogion sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau yma er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn deall yr hyn y gofynnir inni ymrwymo iddo a sut beth fydd y cynnig llawn. A hoffwn allu cael trafodaeth fanylach gyda'r Aelod ac eraill, ond nid wyf yn gallu gwneud hynny, oherwydd, fel y dywedaf, nid oes gennym gynnig iawn i'w drafod.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
Oh, we can't hear you at the moment, Janet Finch-Saunders. Can you see if there's a button you can press? Say something, Janet, to see if we can hear you now. Say something. No. We'll come back to you. I'll call Joyce Watson next.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
O, ni allwn eich clywed ar hyn o bryd, Janet Finch-Saunders. A allwch weld a oes yna fotwm y gallwch ei wasgu? Dywedwch rywbeth, Janet, i weld a allwn eich clywed nawr. Dywedwch rywbeth. Na. Fe ddown yn ôl atoch chi. Galwaf ar Joyce Watson nesaf.
Diolch, Llywydd. As you said, Minister, free ports policy does, indeed, predate Brexit. It was proposed in Britannia Unchained, the 2012 manifesto for turning the UK into a low-tax, deregulated economy, written by right-wing Members of the current Tory Brexit Government, and the Prime Minister just happened to receive a £25,000 donation from Bristol port too, so I'm sceptical of the policy, to say the least. But my immediate concern is the impact of Brexit on Welsh ports. Truckers travelling to or from Ireland are increasingly met by delays and bureaucracy, leading some to bypass Welsh ports, and we've seen a significant decrease in-year in terms of volume. So, my question to you, Minister, is: what is the Welsh Government doing to safeguard the short-term viability of our ports?
Diolch, Lywydd. Fel y dywedoch chi, Weinidog, mae'r polisi porthladdoedd rhydd, yn wir, yn rhagflaenu Brexit. Fe’i cynigiwyd yn Britannia Unchained, maniffesto 2012 ar gyfer troi’r DU yn economi treth isel wedi’i dadreoleiddio, a ysgrifennwyd gan Aelodau asgell dde'r Llywodraeth Brexit Dorïaidd gyfredol, ac fe wnaeth Prif Weinidog y DU ddigwydd derbyn rhodd o £25,000 gan borthladd Bryste hefyd, felly rwy'n amheus o'r polisi a dweud y lleiaf. Ond fy mhryder uniongyrchol yw effaith Brexit ar borthladdoedd Cymru. Mae gyrwyr lorïau sy'n teithio i ac o Iwerddon yn wynebu mwy a mwy o oedi a biwrocratiaeth, sy'n golygu bod rhai ohonynt yn osgoi porthladdoedd Cymru, ac rydym wedi gweld gostyngiad sylweddol yn ystod y flwyddyn o ran niferoedd. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i chi, Weinidog, yw: beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i ddiogelu hyfywedd ein porthladdoedd yn y tymor byr?
We have real challenges in this area, as Joyce Watson highlights. We have a reduction of about a quarter to a third of activity through our ports. Now, that's not just an issue in Holyhead; it's certainly a big issue for the trade with the island of Ireland that comes through south-west Wales as well, through the ports in Pembrokeshire. So, this is an issue I have raised repeatedly in engagements with the UK Government to understand that this doesn't appear to be a passing matter; it's certainly not just a matter of teething problems.
Through the rest of this summer, there's going to be quite intensive engagement between the Welsh Government and all other Governments within the UK and the European Union as we look to see what happens following the free trade deal that's been agreed. There's quite a lot that's still left to agree, and that will have a real impact on the viability and the future of ports across the UK, but particularly here in Wales, where people are looking to avoid the bridge that previously existed between the island of Ireland and our ports here in Wales. It's a matter of real concern to me, and I'd like to see, as we look to create border control posts in Wales, as a direct consequence of Brexit—we need to have those in place, because of the extra checks that we need to undertake as a third country—that we actually have a broader agreement on how we're going to support ports and the economic activity that goes through them. That requires some straight answers from the UK Government, as well as clarity on the in-principle things they say they are prepared to do to support ports in the short, medium and longer term as well.
Mae gennym heriau gwirioneddol yn y maes hwn, fel y dywed Joyce Watson. Mae gennym ostyngiad o rhwng chwarter a thraean yn y gweithgarwch drwy ein porthladdoedd. Nawr, nid problem yng Nghaergybi yn unig yw honno; mae'n sicr yn broblem fawr i'r fasnach ag ynys Iwerddon a ddaw drwy dde-orllewin Cymru hefyd, drwy'r porthladdoedd yn sir Benfro. Felly, mae hwn yn fater rwyf wedi'i godi dro ar ôl tro wrth ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU i ddeall nad yw hwn, yn ôl pob golwg, yn fater wrth fynd heibio; yn sicr, nid mater o broblemau cychwynnol yn unig mohono.
Drwy weddill yr haf, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru a phob Llywodraeth arall yn y DU yn ymgysylltu'n ddwys â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd wrth inni geisio gweld beth fydd yn digwydd yn dilyn y cytundeb masnach rydd a wnaed. Mae cryn dipyn ar ôl i'w drafod, a bydd hynny'n cael effaith wirioneddol ar hyfywedd a dyfodol porthladdoedd ledled y DU, ond yn enwedig yma yng Nghymru, lle mae pobl yn awyddus i osgoi'r bont a arferai fodoli rhwng ynys Iwerddon a'n porthladdoedd yma yng Nghymru. Mae'n fater o gryn bryder i mi, ac wrth inni geisio creu safleoedd rheoli ffiniau yng Nghymru, o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i Brexit—mae angen inni sicrhau eu bod ar waith, oherwydd y gwiriadau ychwanegol y mae angen inni eu cyflawni fel trydedd wlad—hoffwn weld bod gennym gytundeb ehangach ynglŷn â sut rydym yn mynd i gefnogi porthladdoedd a'r gweithgarwch economaidd sy'n mynd drwyddynt. Golyga hynny fod angen atebion gonest gan Lywodraeth y DU, yn ogystal ag eglurder ar y pethau mewn egwyddor y dywedant eu bod yn barod i'w gwneud i gefnogi porthladdoedd yn y tymor byr, y tymor canolig ac yn fwy hirdymor hefyd.
I can no longer see Janet Finch-Saunders in Zoom, so I'm presuming we've not been able to resume contact. Let's give it one other go. Yes, I can now see you, Janet; can I hear you, though? No, I don't think we can. I'm sure we'll resume contact at some point later with Janet Finch-Saunders.
Ni allaf weld Janet Finch-Saunders ar Zoom mwyach, felly tybiaf nad ydym wedi gallu ailgysylltu. Gadewch inni roi un cynnig arall arni. Gallaf, gallaf eich gweld yn awr, Janet; fodd bynnag, a allaf eich clywed? Na, ni chredaf y gallwn. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwn yn ailgysylltu gyda Janet Finch-Saunders yn y man.
Cwestiwn 6, Cefin Campbell. O—. Cwestiwn 6, Cefin Campbell.
Question 6, Cefin Campbell. Oh—. Question 6, Cefin Campbell.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y gefnogaeth ariannol a ddarparwyd i'r diwydiant lletygarwch dros y misoedd diwethaf? OQ56745
6. Will the Minister make a statement on the financial support provided to the hospitality industry over recent months? OQ56745
To date, not including the recently announced support, the Welsh Government has provided the tourism and hospitality industry with nearly £56 million in support through the economic resilience fund, and emergency funding will, of course, now be available until the end of August. The sector will continue to benefit from our 100 per cent rate relief scheme for the entire financial year, unlike their colleague businesses in England.
Hyd yn hyn, heb gynnwys y cymorth a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu bron i £56 miliwn i'r diwydiant twristiaeth a lletygarwch drwy'r gronfa cadernid economaidd, a bydd cyllid brys, wrth gwrs, ar gael yn awr tan ddiwedd mis Awst. Bydd y sector yn parhau i elwa o'n cynllun rhyddhad ardrethi 100 y cant ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol gyfan, yn wahanol i fusnesau cyfatebol yn Lloegr.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Byddwch chi'n cofio imi ysgrifennu atoch chi ar fater y diffyg cyllid oedd ar gael i'r sector lletygarwch ar gyfer mis Ebrill yn benodol. Yn eich llythyr ataf i ar 25 Mehefin, rŷch chi'n nodi, a dwi'n dyfynnu, fod 'y pecyn cymorth ariannol i fusnesau Cymru wedi parhau trwy gydol mis Ebrill ac i mewn i fis Mai.' Fodd bynnag, mae busnesau yn y rhanbarth yn dweud wrthyf i nad yw hyn yn gywir. Yn wir, mae dogfen ar wefan Busnes Cymru yn nodi'n glir fod cyllid ar gyfer cymorth penodol i'r sector, y gronfa ERF cam 2, yn cwmpasu'r cyfnod rhwng 25 Ionawr 2021 a 31 Mawrth 2021. Nid oedd y gronfa nesaf ar gael tan fis Mai, felly sut ŷch chi'n esbonio'r anghysondeb rhwng y wybodaeth sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd ar wefan Busnes Cymru a'r wybodaeth a roesoch chi imi yn eich llythyr ar 25 Mehefin?
Thank you, Minister. You will remember that I wrote to you on the issue in terms of the lack of funding available to the hospitality sector for April specifically. In your letter to me on 25 June, you note, and I do quote, that 'the financial support package for Welsh businesses has continued throughout April and into May.' However, businesses in my region tell me that this is not right. Indeed, a document on the Business Wales website notes that funding for sector-specific support, the ERF fund phase 2, encompasses the period 25 January 2021 to 31 March 2021. The next fund wasn't available until May, so how do you explain the inconsistency between the information available to the public on the Business Wales website and the information that you gave to me in your letter on 25 June?
We've been round this track several times, as the Member is aware, on when the choices are made and how the schemes actually look to provide cover for the costs that businesses have incurred. So, the scheme that we're in the application process of now, where the eligibility checker is open, and applications will open next week, will look to cover costs from the end of the last period of business support through to the end of August. That's the way we've done things consistently, and it's a matter of fact, not opinion, that we do provide a more generous package of support to the relevant businesses that the Member raises here in Wales compared to England.
Our big challenge, though, is our ability to continue to support businesses through this emergency period of time, where the pandemic has had a material impact on their ability to trade successfully, and what we're going to be able to do as we hope to be able to take further steps forward in easing restrictions and opening up more economic activity. That goes back to the points that were made in previous questions about the balance between the public health position here in Wales, the success of our world-beating, world-leading vaccination programme, and the economic activity we want to safely restore and the next stage in our approach. As the Member will know, as part of our 21-day review process, it's only a short period of time before we're able to make further concrete decisions to help support businesses in the next stage of the recovery.
Rydym wedi bod o amgylch y trac hwn sawl gwaith, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, ynglŷn â phryd y caiff y penderfyniadau eu gwneud a sut y mae'r cynlluniau'n ceisio gwrthbwyso'r costau i fusnesau. Felly, bydd y cynllun rydym yn y broses ymgeisio ar ei gyfer yn awr, lle mae'r gwiriwr cymhwysedd ar agor, a bydd y ceisiadau'n agor yr wythnos nesaf, yn ceisio gwrthbwyso costau o ddiwedd y cyfnod diwethaf o gymorth i fusnesau hyd at ddiwedd mis Awst. Dyna'r ffordd rydym wedi gwneud pethau'n gyson, a mater o ffaith, nid barn, yw ein bod yn darparu pecyn cymorth mwy hael i'r busnesau perthnasol y mae'r Aelod yn eu crybwyll yma yng Nghymru o gymharu â Lloegr.
Yr her fawr i ni, serch hynny, yw ein gallu i barhau i gefnogi busnesau drwy'r cyfnod hwn o argyfwng, pan fo'r pandemig wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar eu gallu i fasnachu'n llwyddiannus, a'r hyn y byddwn yn gallu ei wneud wrth inni obeithio gallu cymryd camau pellach i lacio'r cyfyngiadau a chaniatáu mwy o weithgarwch economaidd. Mae hynny'n gysylltiedig â'r pwyntiau a wnaed mewn cwestiynau blaenorol am y cydbwysedd rhwng sefyllfa iechyd y cyhoedd yma yng Nghymru, llwyddiant ein rhaglen frechu, yr orau yn y byd, a'r gweithgarwch economaidd rydym am ei adfer yn ddiogel a'r cam nesaf yn ein dull o weithredu. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, fel rhan o'n proses adolygu 21 diwrnod, cyfnod byr yn unig sydd yna cyn y gallwn wneud penderfyniadau pendant pellach i helpu i roi cymorth i fusnesau yng ngham nesaf yr adferiad.
Minister, you'll be aware that UK Hospitality Cymru has been calling for a new, nine-month, smart funding strategy to help businesses survive, recover and to protect jobs going forward. Now, hospitality business in my constituency continue to tell me that they're still in a critical and fragile position. Therefore, could you tell us whether you will actually consider taking on UK Hospitality Cymru's suggestion by looking to actually develop a nine-month strategy?
Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod UK Hospitality Cymru wedi bod yn galw am strategaeth ariannu ddoeth naw mis newydd i gynorthwyo busnesau i oroesi ac ymadfer, a diogelu swyddi ar gyfer y dyfodol. Nawr, mae busnes lletygarwch yn fy etholaeth yn parhau i ddweud wrthyf eu bod yn dal i fod mewn sefyllfa enbyd a bregus. Felly, a allwch ddweud wrthym a fyddwch yn ystyried derbyn awgrym UK Hospitality Cymru a cheisio datblygu strategaeth naw mis?
Well, I've had a recent constructive engagement with the hospitality sector and others. We continue to talk, my officials are in regular conversations with representatives from the hospitality sector, and, as I've said previously, it's a matter of fact, not opinion, that hospitality businesses in Wales have a more generous package of financial support compared with hospitality businesses in England. Actually, their concerns are—they do recognise they're in a position where there is real fragility, still—challenges about staff, being able to invest in future skills, and if we're able to move forward further, what that means in terms of the ability to adapt to either the easing of restrictions or changes in the way in which their business operates. It's about how we provide as stable a footing as possible.
The challenge with looking to set out a plan over, say, a nine-month period of time is that I couldn't tell the Member or anyone else, and with absolute certainty, what trading will be like over the Christmas period, because we're not in a position to forecast that far ahead with real certainty. We're going to make choices over the coming days and weeks, over the next stage in our journey, hopefully, out of the pandemic. We'll do that with the sort of future forecasts we can give responsibly, and we'll need to continue to re-evaluate where we are in terms of the pandemic. But the choice that I made to provide emergency support up to the end of August provides some certainty for the rest of the summer about the support that will be in place, and I look forward to working on the future vision with them at a time when we're able to do so with enough certainty. Until then, I look forward to the continuing constructive conversations we have about how we support this particular sector of the Welsh economy.
Wel, rwyf wedi ymgysylltu'n adeiladol yn ddiweddar â'r sector lletygarwch ac eraill. Rydym yn parhau i siarad, mae fy swyddogion yn cael sgyrsiau rheolaidd gyda chynrychiolwyr o'r sector lletygarwch, ac fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud eisoes, mater o ffaith, nid barn, yw bod busnesau lletygarwch yng Nghymru yn cael pecyn mwy hael o gymorth ariannol o gymharu â busnesau lletygarwch yn Lloegr. Mewn gwirionedd, eu pryderon yw—maent yn cydnabod eu bod mewn sefyllfa wirioneddol fregus, o hyd—heriau ynghylch staff, gallu buddsoddi mewn sgiliau yn y dyfodol, ac os gallwn symud ymlaen ymhellach, yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu o ran y gallu i addasu naill ai i'r cyfyngiadau wrth iddynt gael eu llacio neu i newidiadau yn y ffordd y mae eu busnes yn gweithredu. Mae'n ymwneud â sut rydym yn darparu sylfaen mor sefydlog â phosibl.
Yr her wrth geisio nodi cynllun ar gyfer cyfnod o naw mis, dyweder, yw na allwn ddweud wrth yr Aelod nag unrhyw un arall, a chyda sicrwydd pendant, sut fydd pethau o ran masnachu dros gyfnod y Nadolig, gan nad ydym mewn sefyllfa i ragweld mor bell â hynny gyda gwir sicrwydd. Byddwn yn gwneud penderfyniadau dros y dyddiau a'r wythnosau nesaf, dros gam nesaf ein taith allan o'r pandemig, gobeithio. Byddwn yn gwneud hynny gyda'r math o ragolygon y gallwn eu rhoi yn gyfrifol ar gyfer y dyfodol, a bydd angen inni barhau i ailwerthuso lle rydym arni o ran y pandemig. Ond mae'r dewis a wneuthum i ddarparu cymorth brys hyd at ddiwedd mis Awst yn rhoi rhywfaint o sicrwydd am weddill yr haf ynghylch y cymorth a fydd ar waith, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda hwy ar y weledigaeth ar gyfer y dyfodol pan fyddwn yn gallu gwneud hynny gyda digon o sicrwydd. Tan hynny, edrychaf ymlaen at y sgyrsiau adeiladol parhaus a gawn ynglŷn â sut rydym yn cefnogi'r sector hwn yn economi Cymru.
I know, Minister, that one of the most welcome parts of financial support to hospitality providers in Ogmore has been the COVID-19 outdoor improvements recovery fund, and its benefits are going to be felt long beyond the pandemic. When hospitality shifted outside and COVID restrictions were firmly in place, grants of up to £10,000 were made available to cover 80 per cent of the costs of business adaptation across Wales. So, a dozen sports and social clubs across my area, from Pencoed to Heol-y-Cyw, to Maesteg and right across the piece, but also cafes and restaurants and bars, from Blaenogwr to Bryncethin, Bettws to Blackmill, Llanharan to Llangeinor and Llangynwyd, they all took advantage of that grant and they've produced fantastic outdoor provision now.
So, will the Minister, during the summer, take the time and accept my invitation to visit one or more of these hostelries with me during the summer, share a pint, chat with the staff and the owners about the help they've had, but also what more they might need in the months ahead, after such challenging times? And just to reassure the Minister, if he takes my invitation up, I will buy the first pint. [Laughter.]
Weinidog, rwy'n gwybod mai un o’r elfennau mwyaf poblogaidd o gymorth ariannol i ddarparwyr lletygarwch yn Ogwr oedd y gronfa adfer wedi COVID-19 ar gyfer gwelliannau awyr agored, a bydd pobl yn elwa o'i budd ymhell ar ôl y pandemig. Pan symudodd lletygarwch i'r awyr agored a'r cyfyngiadau COVID yn weithredol, darparwyd grantiau o hyd at £10,000 i dalu am 80 y cant o gostau addasu busnesau ledled Cymru. Felly, dwsin o glybiau chwaraeon a chlybiau cymdeithasol ar draws fy ardal, o Bencoed i Heol-y-Cyw, i Faesteg a phob rhan o'r ardal, ond caffis a bwytai a bariau hefyd, o Flaenogwr i Fryncethin, o Fetws i Felin Ifan Ddu, o Lanharan i Langeinwyr a Llangynwyd, gwnaeth pob un ohonynt fanteisio ar y grant hwnnw, ac maent bellach wedi cynhyrchu darpariaeth awyr agored arbennig.
Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog, dros yr haf, roi amser i dderbyn fy ngwahoddiad i ymweld ag un neu fwy o'r tafarnau hyn gyda mi dros yr haf, rhannu peint, sgwrsio â'r staff a'r perchnogion am y cymorth y maent wedi'i gael, ond hefyd beth arall y gallai fod ei angen arnynt dros y misoedd i ddod, ar ôl cyfnod mor heriol? Ac er mwyn tawelu meddwl y Gweinidog, os bydd yn derbyn fy ngwahoddiad, fe brynaf y peint cyntaf. [Chwerthin.]
It sounded like a bit of an invitation for a pub crawl to me. [Laughter.]
Roedd yn swnio fel gwahoddiad i hel tafarnau i mi. [Chwerthin.]
Well, I praise the Member for mentioning so many different venues within his constituency. That was an impressive act that I'm sure others will look to emulate.
I have seen the real impact, and I think the Member's right on the fact that the use of outdoor space as a necessity in the pandemic is helping to change some behaviour and, in the future, I think more people will take advantage of the outdoor space that's been created. And I see some of that in the venue that my own son goes to for cricket and rugby, with the way that they've significantly expanded their outdoor offer, and it's been of real benefit and value. I should say, though, when I take my son to such events I don't take alcoholic beverages as I need to drive the car.
I can't promise to accompany the Member on his very tempting invitation, but I do really take on board the point he's raising about the adaptability of businesses and the longer term benefit, and it does show that the choices being made to protect businesses now will hopefully have a much longer term benefit for businesses and jobs, and the Member's ability to visit hostelries within his constituency. [Laughter.]
Wel, rwy’n canmol yr Aelod am grybwyll cymaint o wahanol leoliadau yn ei etholaeth. Roedd honno'n gamp rwy'n siŵr y bydd eraill yn awyddus i'w hefelychu.
Rwyf wedi gweld yr effaith wirioneddol, a chredaf fod yr Aelod yn iawn fod y ffaith bod yr angen i ddefnyddio mannau awyr agored yn y pandemig yn helpu i newid peth ymddygiad, ac yn y dyfodol, credaf y bydd mwy o bobl yn manteisio ar y mannau awyr agored sydd wedi'u creu. Ac rwy'n gweld rhywfaint o hynny yn y lleoliad y mae fy mab fy hun yn ei fynychu i chwarae criced a rygbi, gyda'r ffordd y maent wedi ehangu eu cynnig awyr agored yn sylweddol, ac mae wedi bod o fudd a gwerth gwirioneddol. Dylwn ddweud, serch hynny, pan fyddaf yn mynd â fy mab i ddigwyddiadau o'r fath, nid wyf yn yfed diodydd alcoholaidd gan fod angen imi yrru'r car.
Ni allaf addo mynd gyda'r Aelod er gwaethaf y demtasiwn, ond rwy'n derbyn y pwynt y mae'n ei godi ynghylch gallu busnesau i addasu a'r budd mwy hirdymor, ac mae'n dangos bod y penderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud i ddiogelu busnesau yn awr yn arwain at fudd mwy hirdymor, gobeithio, i fusnesau a swyddi, a gallu'r Aelod i ymweld â thafarnau yn ei etholaeth. [Chwerthin.]
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am fargen twf y gogledd? OQ56732
7. Will the Minister provide an update on the north Wales growth deal? OQ56732
Thank you. The final deal agreement was signed by Welsh Government, UK Government and the North Wales Economic Ambition Board in December 2020. I think a Member in this place would have been one of the signatories. The first tranche of Government funding was paid to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board in March 2021. The deal is owned and delivered by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.
Diolch. Llofnodwyd y cytundeb terfynol gan Lywodraeth Cymru, Llywodraeth y DU a Bwrdd Uchelgais Economaidd Gogledd Cymru ym mis Rhagfyr 2020. Credaf y byddai un o Aelodau'r lle hwn wedi bod yn un o'r llofnodwyr. Talwyd y gyfran gyntaf o arian y Llywodraeth i Fwrdd Uchelgais Economaidd Gogledd Cymru ym mis Mawrth 2021. Bwrdd Uchelgais Economaidd Gogledd Cymru sy'n berchen ar y fargen ac yn ei chyflawni.
Thank you very much for that answer, Minister, and it's great to see how the UK and Welsh Governments can work together to deliver real benefits to businesses and residents across north Wales. Minister, one of the key planks of the growth deal is around securing better digital connectivity. Will you join me in welcoming the news of the UK Government's shared rural network, which will see a massive boost to mobile communications in rural parts of my constituency, as well as the latest projects in the £5 billion Project Gigabit, which will see rural towns and villages in the Vale of Clwyd get access to lightning-fast fixed broadband connections? How will your Government maximise the benefits of this new investment and work with businesses to ensure they fully utilise the boost to rural broadband? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich ateb, Weinidog, ac mae'n wych gweld sut y gall Llywodraethau'r DU a Chymru weithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau budd gwirioneddol i fusnesau a thrigolion ledled gogledd Cymru. Weinidog, mae un o nodweddion allweddol y fargen twf yn ymwneud â sicrhau gwell cysylltedd digidol. A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i groesawu’r newyddion am rwydwaith gwledig Llywodraeth y DU, a fydd yn hwb enfawr i gyfathrebiadau symudol mewn rhannau gwledig o fy etholaeth, yn ogystal â phrosiectau diweddaraf Prosiect Gigabit, sy'n werth £5 biliwn, a fydd yn darparu mynediad at gysylltiadau band eang sefydlog cyflym iawn i drefi a phentrefi gwledig yn Nyffryn Clwyd? Sut y bydd eich Llywodraeth yn sicrhau'r budd mwyaf posibl yn sgil y buddsoddiad newydd hwn ac yn gweithio gyda busnesau i sicrhau eu bod yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cymorth ychwanegol i fand eang gwledig? Diolch.
Well, we know that broadband is a regular utility for businesses in urban and rural Wales, and I'm very pleased to welcome investment in the future of the economy—in north Wales, in other parts of Wales. And it really does show that it is possible for the Welsh Government and the UK Government to have a programme of work where we agree on how to support businesses and don't get drawn into a needless conflict. I would like to see a similar approach taken in the way that successor European Union funds are not only used but how they're determined for use, to allow us to invest in the broader area, because at present the projects that the Member is describing are undertaken and agreed on a whole-north-Wales basis. The current community renewal fund, of course, pits authorities against each other in a competitive bidding process. I do think that there is a much better opportunity to look at how we could work together, and the growth deals and our regional agenda here in Wales, supported by the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, provides just that.
Wel, gwyddom fod band eang yn gyfleustod rheolaidd i fusnesau yn y Gymru drefol a gwledig, ac rwy'n falch iawn o groesawu buddsoddiad yn nyfodol yr economi—yng ngogledd Cymru, mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru. Ac mae wir yn dangos bod modd i Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU gael rhaglen waith lle rydym yn cytuno sut i gefnogi busnesau yn hytrach na chael ein tynnu i mewn i ffrae ddiangen. Hoffwn weld dull gweithredu tebyg yn y ffordd y mae cronfeydd olynol yr Undeb Ewropeaidd nid yn unig yn cael eu defnyddio ond sut y gwneir y penderfyniadau ynghylch eu defnydd, er mwyn caniatáu inni fuddsoddi yn yr ardal ehangach, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, mae'r prosiectau y mae'r Aelod yn eu disgrifio yn cael eu cyflawni a'u cytuno ar sail gogledd Cymru yn ei gyfanrwydd. Mae'r gronfa adfywio cymunedol gyfredol, wrth gwrs, yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau fynd benben â'i gilydd mewn proses ymgeisio gystadleuol. Credaf fod cyfle llawer gwell i'w gael i edrych ar sut y gallem weithio gyda'n gilydd, ac mae'r bargeinion twf a'n hagenda ranbarthol yma yng Nghymru, wedi'u cefnogi gan waith y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, yn darparu cyfle o'r fath.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Tom Giffard.
And finally question 8, Tom Giffard.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am fargeinion dinesig yn ne Cymru? OQ56747
8. Will the Minister provide an update on city deals in south Wales? OQ56747
Yes. Both city deals are making good progress. The Swansea bay city deal is progressing well, with five projects approved and £54 million of city deal funding released. In Cardiff, the investment fund has so far committed £198 million across 12 projects, nine of which are already in delivery.
Gwnaf. Mae'r ddwy fargen ddinesig yn gwneud cynnydd da. Mae bargen ddinesig bae Abertawe yn gwneud cynnydd da, gyda phum prosiect wedi'u cymeradwyo a £54 miliwn o gyllid y fargen ddinesig wedi'i ryddhau. Yng Nghaerdydd, mae'r gronfa fuddsoddi wedi ymrwymo £198 miliwn hyd yn hyn ar gyfer 12 prosiect, ac mae naw ohonynt eisoes yn y broses o gael eu cyflawni.
Thank you, Minister, for the answer and I'd first of all just like to declare that I'm a member of Bridgend County Borough Council, and to declare that interest where I'm a member.
As you'll know, my region of South Wales West consists of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot councils, which form part of the Swansea bay city region deal, and also Bridgend County Borough Council, which is part of the Cardiff city deal. These areas are not exclusive to each other and many residents in Neath Port Talbot—or Swansea, for that matter—would benefit from some of the projects in the pipeline in Bridgend, and the same vice versa. An example of this is the park-and-ride project at Pyle railway station, which is situated in the Bridgend county borough, but it will have a significant benefit for many people living in Neath Port Talbot too, given its close geographical proximity.
So, can I ask what action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure co-operation between the various city deal projects, particularly on border projects that will impact more than one city deal area? And what else can be done to improve co-operation, so that residents, businesses and the wider public are aware of the investment that may not necessarily fall in their region?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog, ac yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn ddatgan fy mod yn aelod o Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, a datgan y buddiant hwnnw lle rwy'n aelod.
Fel y gwyddoch, mae fy rhanbarth i, Gorllewin De Cymru, yn cynnwys cynghorau Abertawe a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot, sy'n rhan o fargen dinas-ranbarth bae Abertawe, yn ogystal â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, sy'n rhan o fargen ddinesig Caerdydd. Nid yw'r ardaloedd hyn yn annibynnol ar ei gilydd a byddai llawer o drigolion Castell-nedd Port Talbot—neu Abertawe, o ran hynny—yn elwa o rai o'r prosiectau sydd yn yr arfaeth ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac fel arall. Enghraifft o hyn yw'r prosiect parcio a theithio yng ngorsaf drenau'r Pîl, sydd ym mwrdeistref sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ond bydd o fudd mawr i lawer o bobl sy'n byw yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot hefyd, o ystyried ei fod mor agos yn ddaearyddol.
Felly, a gaf fi ofyn pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod cydweithredu'n digwydd rhwng gwahanol brosiectau'r bargeinion dinesig, yn enwedig ar brosiectau ar y ffiniau a fydd yn effeithio ar fwy nag un o ardaloedd y bargeinion dinesig? A beth arall y gellir ei wneud i wella cydweithredu, fel bod preswylwyr, busnesau a'r cyhoedd yn ehangach yn ymwybodol o'r buddsoddiad na fydd o reidrwydd yn digwydd yn eu rhanbarth hwy?
I think there's a really pragmatic approach to be taken here, and actually the work that has been done on gathering regions together to recognise their common interests is part of doing this. And, look, we understand very well that Bridgend is in a position where it broadly looks east but not exclusively—that was a conversation we had about health board boundaries, for example—and making sure that Bridgend looks broadly in one direction for its regional strategic partnership does not mean that activity that goes across in more than one direction is somehow forgotten or put to one side. So, yes, I expect we can do more and, in fact, the way that officials from the Welsh Government and the UK Government work with the city deal areas is a good example of looking at how they can positively impact upon each other.
I again reiterate the point that I made to Gareth Davies: there is a good example here of how the UK Government and the Welsh Government can work collaboratively together with stakeholders and partners here in Wales, with an agreed programme of work on boundaries and areas we have agreement on how to proceed. That is exactly what we wish to do for the future and not get drawn into a competitive approach where individual local authorities bid against and compete with each other in a way that I think will deliver less benefit for jobs and businesses here in Wales.
Credaf fod angen dull gwirioneddol bragmatig yma, ac mae'r gwaith a wnaed ar ddod â rhanbarthau ynghyd i gydnabod eu diddordebau cyffredin yn rhan o'r broses hon. Ac edrychwch, rydym yn deall yn iawn fod Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr mewn sefyllfa lle mae'n edrych tua'r dwyrain i raddau helaeth, ond nid yn llwyr—roedd honno'n sgwrs a gawsom am ffiniau byrddau iechyd, er enghraifft—ac nid yw sicrhau bod Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn edrych i un cyfeiriad yn fras ar gyfer eu partneriaeth strategol ranbarthol yn golygu bod gweithgarwch sy'n mynd i fwy nag un cyfeiriad rywsut yn cael ei anghofio neu ei roi o'r neilltu. Felly, ydw, rwy'n disgwyl y gallwn wneud mwy, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r ffordd y mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithio gydag ardaloedd y bargeinion dinesig yn enghraifft dda o edrych ar sut y gallant effeithio'n gadarnhaol ar ei gilydd.
Ailadroddaf y pwynt a wneuthum i Gareth Davies: mae enghraifft dda yma yng Nghymru o sut y gall Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru weithio ar y cyd â rhanddeiliaid a phartneriaid, gyda rhaglen waith wedi'i chytuno ar ffiniau a meysydd rydym yn cytuno sut i fwrw ymlaen â hwy. Dyna'n union rydym am ei wneud ar gyfer y dyfodol, a pheidio â chael ein tynnu i mewn i ddull cystadleuol o weithredu lle mae awdurdodau lleol unigol yn ymgeisio yn erbyn ei gilydd ac yn cystadlu â'i gilydd mewn ffordd a fydd yn sicrhau llai o fudd i swyddi a busnesau yma yng Nghymru yn fy marn i.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Rhys ab Owen.
The next item, therefore, is the questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services, and the first question is from Rhys ab Owen.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i ddiwygio gofal cymdeithasol? OQ56719
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans to reform social care? OQ56719
The Welsh Government published a summary of the consultation responses to our White Paper, 'Rebalancing care and support', on 29 June. The White Paper set out proposals to reform social care and to improve well-being. Our programme for government includes commitments to take forward these proposals, in partnership with the sector.
Cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru grynodeb o'r ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad ar ein Papur Gwyn, 'Ailgydbwyso gofal a chymorth', ar 29 Mehefin. Roedd y Papur Gwyn yn nodi cynigion i ddiwygio gofal cymdeithasol a gwella llesiant. Mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu'n cynnwys ymrwymiadau i fwrw ymlaen â'r cynigion hyn, mewn partneriaeth â'r sector.
Diolch yn fawr am y diweddariad, a diolch yn fawr am y Papur Gwyn. A gaf i'ch annog chi, plis, i beidio aros i Lywodraeth Prydain i wneud unrhyw beth? Maen nhw wedi addo o'r blaen ac wedi cyflawni dim. Mi wnaeth Cymru arwain y gad gyda'r gwasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol—Tredegar, Cymru, a chi yn y Blaid Lafur, er tegwch. Pe byddai Nye Bevan wedi aros i'r Torïaid, byddai'r gwasanaeth iechyd heb gael ei sefydlu. Felly, plis, gweithredwch nawr.
Thank you for that update, and thank you for the White Paper. May I encourage you, please, not to wait for the UK Government to do something? They've made pledges in the past, but have delivered nothing. Wales was in the vanguard with the national health service—Tredegar, Wales, and you in the Labour Party, to be fair. If Nye Bevan had waited for the Tories, then we wouldn't have had a health service. So, please take action now.
Minister, I'd like to ask a pressing issue with regard to the social care system, which can be resolved now, and this is a personal issue to me. In response to my colleague Gareth Davies last week, you said there hadn't been a blanket ban on care home visits. Technically, that might have been true, but the reality was very different and I can say that from a personal point of view, because my father, who was a Member here for two terms, is a resident of a care home nearby here in Cardiff Bay. He has advanced dementia. I'll never forget that Tuesday before the Scottish game, going there and being told by a tearful receptionist that the care home had been closed half an hour earlier, and it was closed then until August. Of course, it was then closed again for the second wave, and it's been closed again now for the last two months because of positive COVID tests by residents and care home workers, despite them all having two jabs, despite not showing any symptoms and despite not being hospitalised.
Deputy Minister, I appreciate it's very difficult; I appreciate the need to protect residents like my father, but we want to see our loved ones. I know the concerns about the delta variant, I know the concerns about the third wave, but, please, could you look again at the Public Health Wales guidance towards visiting care homes, so people like me and many others can visit their loved ones? Diolch yn fawr.
Weinidog, hoffwn holi am fater brys mewn perthynas â'r system gofal cymdeithasol, y gellir ei ddatrys yn awr, ac mae hwn yn fater personol i mi. Mewn ymateb i fy nghyd-Aelod Gareth Davies yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedasoch na fu gwaharddiad cyffredinol ar ymweliadau â chartrefi gofal. Yn dechnegol, efallai fod hynny'n wir, ond roedd y realiti'n wahanol iawn a gallaf ddweud hynny o safbwynt personol, gan fod fy nhad, a oedd yn Aelod yma am ddau dymor, yn byw mewn cartref gofal cyfagos yma ym Mae Caerdydd. Mae ganddo ddementia datblygedig. Nid anghofiaf byth mo'r dydd Mawrth cyn gêm yr Alban, pan euthum yno a chael gwybod gan dderbynnydd dagreuol fod y cartref gofal wedi cael ei gau hanner awr ynghynt, a bu ar gau wedyn tan fis Awst. Wrth gwrs, fe’i caewyd eto dros yr ail don, ac mae wedi bod ar gau eto yn awr am y ddau fis diwethaf oherwydd profion COVID positif ymhlith preswylwyr a gweithwyr y cartref gofal, er bod pob un wedi cael dau bigiad, er nad oeddent yn dangos unrhyw symptomau ac er nad oeddent wedi gorfod mynd i'r ysbyty.
Ddirprwy Weinidog, rwy'n deall ei bod hi'n anodd iawn; rwy'n deall yr angen i ddiogelu preswylwyr fel fy nhad, ond rydym am weld ein hanwyliaid. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r pryderon am yr amrywiolyn delta, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r pryderon am y drydedd don, ond os gwelwch yn dda, a allwch edrych eto ar ganllawiau Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ynglŷn ag ymweld â chartrefi gofal, fel y gall pobl fel fi a llawer o bobl eraill ymweld â'u hanwyliaid? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch. And I thank Rhys ab Owen for that very heartfelt question. To start with his opening comments about not waiting for the UK Government, we would prefer a solution for England and Wales, but I absolutely agree we can't wait forever. We'd like a joint solution because of the interface with the benefits system and the taxation system. So, that's why we'd like that. But we have been waiting a long time, and I absolutely acknowledge that.
In terms of the care home visits, those have been some of the most difficult decisions that have been made, and it is a really difficult situation. I absolutely understand how hard it must have been in terms of visiting his father, who I knew well, and worked with when he was a Member here. What we have tried to do is we have tried to balance the safety of the residents with their need to see their family, and of course with the family's need to see the residents. Throughout the whole of the pandemic, at every stage, our guidance has not had a blanket refusal for any visits—there has always been the scope for visits when the situation is very difficult or desperate. So, there always has been that option.
At the moment, the guidance is clear that two visitors can go in to visit a care home resident. There is no approved list of people who can go in now; it has opened up more than that. But obviously, individual care homes are interpreting the guidance as they think is safest for their residents. I think the important thing really is to look at how this is being interpreted in individual care homes. But certainly, we do want families to be able to see their loved ones, and we want loved ones to see their families, because obviously, that is the essence of family life. I know how awful it has been for so many residents and their families.
Diolch. A diolch i Rhys ab Owen am ei gwestiwn teimladwy iawn. Gan ddechrau gyda'i sylwadau agoriadol am beidio ag aros am Lywodraeth y DU, byddai'n well gennym gael ateb ar gyfer Cymru a Lloegr, ond rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr na allwn aros am byth. Hoffem gael ateb ar y cyd oherwydd y cysylltiad â'r system fudd-daliadau a'r system drethi. Felly, dyna pam yr hoffem hynny. Ond rydym wedi bod yn aros ers peth amser, ac rwy'n llwyr gydnabod hynny.
Ar yr ymweliadau â chartrefi gofal, dyna rai o'r penderfyniadau anoddaf a wnaed, ac mae'n sefyllfa anodd iawn. Rwy'n deall yn iawn pa mor anodd y bu pethau, mae'n rhaid, o ran ymweld â'i dad, rhywun roeddwn yn ei adnabod yn dda, a bûm yn gweithio gydag ef pan oedd yn Aelod yma. Yr hyn rydym wedi ceisio ei wneud yw cydbwyso diogelwch y preswylwyr â'u hangen i weld eu teulu, ac wrth gwrs, gydag angen y teulu i weld y preswylwyr. Drwy gydol y pandemig, ar bob cam, nid yw ein canllawiau wedi cynnwys gwaharddiad cyffredinol ar unrhyw ymweliadau—mae'r posibilrwydd o gael ymweliadau wedi bod yno o'r cychwyn pan fo'r sefyllfa'n anodd iawn neu'n anobeithiol. Felly, mae'r opsiwn hwnnw wedi bod yno o'r cychwyn.
Ar hyn o bryd, mae'r canllawiau'n glir y gall dau ymwelydd ymweld â phreswylydd cartref gofal. Nid oes rhestr gymeradwy o bobl a all fynd i mewn yn awr; mae pethau'n fwy agored na hynny. Ond yn amlwg, mae cartrefi gofal unigol yn dehongli'r canllawiau yn y ffordd y credant sydd fwyaf diogel i'w preswylwyr. Credaf mai'r peth pwysig yw edrych ar sut y caiff hyn ei ddehongli mewn cartrefi gofal unigol. Ond yn sicr, rydym am i deuluoedd allu gweld eu hanwyliaid, ac rydym am i anwyliaid weld eu teuluoedd, oherwydd yn amlwg, dyna hanfod bywyd teuluol. Gwn pa mor ofnadwy y mae'r sefyllfa wedi bod i gymaint o breswylwyr a'u teuluoedd.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your comments so far. May I add my support to the learned Member for South Wales Central in regard to care home visits as well? It's certainly a frustrating experience for many individuals at the moment. Minister, during the pandemic, we have seen the importance and the incredible work of many care workers, who have gone above and beyond to provide an exceptional service of support to some of the most vulnerable, particularly those on the front line in care homes, and carrying out domiciliary care support as well. I think the pandemic has highlighted the value and importance of our social care workers, but also the opportunities to enhance careers in the sector, by upskilling these workers, who could perhaps in turn relieve some of the pressures that are on our health service. As part of your review and reform of plans for the social care sector, I'd ask what views you have in regard to the remit of those front-line social care workers. What support would you provide to see them upskilled and to see this important workforce enhanced? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch am eich sylwadau hyd yma, Ddirprwy Weinidog. A gaf fi ychwanegu fy nghefnogaeth i'r Aelod dysgedig dros Ganol De Cymru mewn perthynas ag ymweliadau â chartrefi gofal hefyd? Mae'n sicr yn brofiad rhwystredig i lawer o unigolion ar hyn o bryd. Weinidog, yn ystod y pandemig, rydym wedi gweld pwysigrwydd a gwaith anhygoel llawer o weithwyr gofal, sydd wedi mynd y tu hwnt i’r hyn sy’n ddisgwyliedig i ddarparu gwasanaeth eithriadol o gefnogaeth i rai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed, yn enwedig y rhai ar y rheng flaen mewn cartrefi gofal, a'r rhai sy'n darparu cymorth gofal cartref hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod y pandemig wedi tynnu sylw at werth a phwysigrwydd ein gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, ond hefyd y cyfleoedd i wella gyrfaoedd yn y sector, drwy uwchsgilio’r gweithwyr hyn, a allai, yn eu tro, leddfu rhywfaint o’r pwysau ar ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Fel rhan o'ch adolygiad a diwygio cynlluniau ar gyfer y sectorau gofal cymdeithasol, hoffwn ofyn beth yw eich barn ar gylch gwaith y gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol rheng flaen hynny. Pa gefnogaeth y byddech yn ei darparu er mwyn eu huwchsgilio ac er mwyn gwella’r gweithlu pwysig hwn? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch. I think the pandemic has really highlighted the importance of social care workers, and I think many of the public were not aware of the value of the work that they do. So, I think we have to use this opportunity to make sure that we do use every opportunity to upskill them, as the Member said, and also to ensure that they get a better reward for what they're doing. That is why, of course, we are bringing in the real living wage for social care workers. We have set up the social care fair work forum, which is a group made up of trade unions, employers, and other relevant organisations. That group will be looking at all these issues related to social care workers. Because as well as wanting to raise the amount of money they earn, we want to see the job of a social care worker valued and seen as the really important work that it is. That group will be looking at all these issues, and certainly, training on the job and other types of training is one very important part of that. I think this is the opportunity to try to see that social care workers—their professional standing improves, and there is a much greater awareness of the job that they do.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu bod y pandemig wedi tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, ac nid wyf yn credu bod llawer o'r cyhoedd yn ymwybodol o werth y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio pob cyfle i'w huwchsgilio, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, a hefyd i sicrhau eu bod yn cael tâl gwell am yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud. Dyna pam ein bod yn cyflwyno’r cyflog byw go iawn i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol wrth gwrs. Rydym wedi sefydlu fforwm gwaith teg gofal cymdeithasol, sef grŵp sy'n cynnwys undebau llafur, cyflogwyr a sefydliadau perthnasol eraill. Bydd y grŵp hwnnw'n edrych ar yr holl faterion hyn sy'n ymwneud â gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol. Oherwydd, yn ogystal â chynyddu’r cyflog y maent yn ei ennill, rydym eisiau i bobl werthfawrogi swydd gweithiwr gofal cymdeithasol a chydnabod y gwaith pwysig y maent yn ei wneud. Felly bydd y grŵp hwnnw'n edrych ar yr holl faterion hyn, ac yn sicr, mae hyfforddiant yn y swydd a mathau eraill o hyfforddiant yn rhan bwysig iawn o hynny. Rwy'n credu bod hwn yn gyfle i geisio sicrhau bod gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol—fod eu statws proffesiynol yn gwella, a bod llawer mwy o ymwybyddiaeth o'r swydd y maent yn ei gwneud.
2. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod plant sydd angen gofal lliniarol yn cael y gofal gorau posibl? OQ56741
2. How is the Welsh Government ensuring that children in need of palliative care get the best possible care? OQ56741
Diolch yn fawr. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n gweithio'n agos gyda'r bwrdd gofal diwedd oes a gyda rhwydwaith gofal lliniarol pediatrig Cymru gyfan er mwyn sicrhau gwelliannau parhaus mewn gofal palliative a gofal diwedd oes ar gyfer oedolion, plant a phobl ifanc ar draws Cymru.
Thank you very much. The Welsh Government works closely with the end-of-life care board and the all-Wales paediatric palliative care network to drive continuous improvements in palliative care and end-of-life care for adults, children and young people across Wales.
Diolch yn fawr. My question is in two parts. Can the Welsh Government outline how much of the £8.4 million invested into the end-of-life care sector each year in Wales goes towards paediatric palliative care services? Secondly, Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith receive less than 10 per cent of their funding from the Welsh Government. This is a significantly lower proportion than children's hospices in England and Scotland receive from their respective Governments. Can this Government therefore commit to increasing state funding for Wales's two children's hospices in the long term, and to meeting with Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith to ensure their needs are considered in the upcoming funding review for hospices? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr. Mae dwy ran i fy nghwestiwn. A all Llywodraeth Cymru amlinellu faint o'r £8.4 miliwn a fuddsoddir yn y sector gofal diwedd oes bob blwyddyn yng Nghymru sy'n mynd tuag at wasanaethau gofal lliniarol pediatrig? Yn ail, mae Tŷ Hafan a Thŷ Gobaith yn cael llai na 10 y cant o'u cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hon yn gyfran sylweddol is nag y mae hosbisau plant yn Lloegr a'r Alban yn ei chael gan eu Llywodraethau hwy. A all y Llywodraeth hon felly ymrwymo i gynyddu cyllid y wladwriaeth i ddwy hosbis plant Cymru yn hirdymor, ac i gyfarfod â Thŷ Hafan a Thŷ Gobaith i sicrhau bod eu hanghenion yn cael eu hystyried yn yr adolygiad cyllido sydd ar y gweill ar gyfer hosbisau? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr. Thank you. I can't give you the exact breakdown for the £8.4 million, but I can give it to you for the additional funding we gave during the pandemic. You'll be aware that we gave an extra £12.3 million to hospices during the pandemic, and of that, £2.3 million was specifically for our two children's hospices in Wales. So, that should give you an idea of what it would be proportionately also for that £8.4 million. You'll be aware that in our manifesto we made it clear that we do want to revise the way that we fund hospices in Wales, and we do want to strengthen our end-of-life care. That work has already started. There is a new programme for end-of-life care. We will be publishing the revised proposal and we will be sharing that proposal with stakeholders in Wales towards the end of the month. We expect that to take about three to four months, so hopefully that will report then in the autumn.
Diolch yn fawr. Ni allaf roi'r union fanylion i chi ar gyfer yr £8.4 miliwn, ond gallaf ddarparu manylion am y cyllid ychwanegol a roesom yn ystod y pandemig. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol ein bod wedi rhoi £12.3 miliwn ychwanegol i hosbisau yn ystod y pandemig, ac o hwnnw, roedd £2.3 miliwn yn benodol ar gyfer ein dwy hosbis i blant yng Nghymru. Felly, dylai hynny roi syniad i chi beth fyddai'r gyfran gymesur mewn perthynas â'r £8.4 miliwn hefyd. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol ein bod, yn ein maniffesto, wedi dweud yn glir ein bod eisiau adolygu'r ffordd rydym yn ariannu hosbisau yng Nghymru, ac rydym eisiau cryfhau ein gofal diwedd oes. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw eisoes wedi dechrau. Ceir rhaglen newydd ar gyfer gofal diwedd oes. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r cynnig diwygiedig a byddwn yn rhannu'r cynnig hwnnw â rhanddeiliaid yng Nghymru tuag at ddiwedd y mis. Disgwyliwn i hynny gymryd tua thri i bedwar mis, felly gobeithio y bydd hwnnw'n adrodd yn yr hydref.
Minister, hospice care, especially for children, is a sensitive and emotive subject, but the pandemic and lockdowns have made a difficult subject worse. Last year, Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith jointly published 'Family Voices', a report that gave voice to the most important concerns of families who have children with life-limiting conditions. They stressed that they urgently needed more of the care that only the hospices could provide, especially in relation to respite. Do you agree, Minister, that a sustainable model of funding would give the children's hospices in Wales confidence to plan and expand their services to better meet the needs of all children with life-limiting conditions and their families across Wales?
Weinidog, mae gofal hosbis, yn enwedig i blant, yn bwnc sensitif ac emosiynol, ond mae'r pandemig a'r cyfyngiadau symud wedi gwneud pwnc anodd yn waeth. Y llynedd, cyhoeddodd Tŷ Hafan a Thŷ Gobaith adroddiad ar y cyd, 'Lleisiau Teuluoedd', i roi llais i bryderon pwysicaf teuluoedd plant â chyflyrau sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd. Roeddent yn pwysleisio eu bod angen mwy o'r gofal na all neb ond yr hosbisau ei ddarparu, a hynny ar frys, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â gofal seibiant. A ydych yn cytuno, Weinidog, y byddai model ariannu cynaliadwy yn rhoi hyder i hosbisau plant yng Nghymru gynllunio ac ehangu eu gwasanaethau i ddiwallu'n well anghenion pob plentyn sydd â chyflwr sy'n cyfyngu ar eu bywyd a'u teuluoedd ledled Cymru?
Thanks very much, Natasha. You're quite right that the 'Family Voices' report does highlight the importance of supporting those children with life-limiting conditions and, of course, their families as well, who are going through a very traumatic time supporting them. It does propose that lifeline fund for Wales; that's precisely what we're looking at in this revision that is being undertaken at the moment and that, as I say, will be reporting in the autumn.
I think you might also be interested to hear that actually I met with the Ministers from the four UK nations to share best practice, and to discuss in particular how teenagers and young adults affected by cancer are properly supported during their appointments. It was good to compare notes with the different health Ministers across the UK in terms of what they're doing to respond, and learning from each other to make sure that we're all doing the very best for people in this most difficult, sensitive area. It is important, in particular, I think, in the middle of a pandemic, to just deal with this situation as sensitively as we can.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Natasha. Rydych yn llygad eich lle fod yr adroddiad 'Lleisiau Teuluoedd' yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd cefnogi plant sydd â chyflyrau sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd, a'u teuluoedd hefyd, wrth gwrs, sy'n mynd drwy gyfnod trawmatig iawn yn eu cefnogi. Mae'n argymell y gronfa hollbwysig honno i Gymru; dyna'n union rydym yn edrych arni yn yr adolygiad hwn sy'n cael ei gyflawni ar hyn o bryd ac fe fydd yn adrodd yn yr hydref, fel y dywedais.
Credaf y gallai fod gennych ddiddordeb hefyd mewn clywed fy mod wedi cyfarfod â Gweinidogion o bedair gwlad y DU i rannu arferion gorau, ac i drafod yn benodol sut y caiff pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau ac oedolion ifanc yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ganser eu cefnogi'n briodol yn ystod eu hapwyntiadau. Roedd yn dda cymharu nodiadau gyda'r gwahanol Weinidogion iechyd ar draws y DU o ran yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud i ymateb, a dysgu oddi wrth ein gilydd i sicrhau ein bod i gyd yn gwneud y gorau i bobl yn y maes hynod anodd a sensitif hwn. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig ymdrin â'r sefyllfa hon mor sensitif ag y gallwn, yn enwedig ynghanol pandemig.
Minister, I just want to continue with the theme of funding. I'm afraid I'm going to come back to it, because I do really want to pin you down. Thank you very much to Peredur and to Natasha as well for raising this important issue. I was really shocked to hear from Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan that they only got 10 per cent of their funding from the Welsh Government. Let's just pin this one down: in Scotland, 50 per cent of their funding comes from the Scottish Government; Northern Ireland, 25 per cent; England, 21 per cent. And yet we only give 10 per cent. I'm sure we really could do better. So, my appeal to you is: can we really commit ourselves to increasing that in this really important area and can you be just much clearer about timelines? The autumn is four months; it's from September through to Christmas. Can you just be really a little bit clearer about how much you're looking at and when we'll get that result? Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Weinidog, hoffwn barhau â thema ariannu. Rwy'n ofni fy mod yn troi'n ôl ato, oherwydd rwy'n awyddus iawn i gael atebion gennych. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Peredur ac i Natasha hefyd am godi'r mater pwysig hwn. Cefais sioc fawr o glywed gan Dŷ Gobaith a Thŷ Hafan mai 10 y cant yn unig o'u cyllid a roddwyd iddynt gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Gadewch inni ddod at wraidd y mater: yn yr Alban, daw 50 y cant o'u cyllid gan Lywodraeth yr Alban; Gogledd Iwerddon, 25 y cant; Lloegr, 21 y cant. Ac eto, dim ond 10 y cant rydym yn ei roi. Rwy'n siŵr y gallem wneud yn well. Felly, fy apêl i chi yw: a gawn ni ymrwymo i gynyddu hynny yn y maes gwirioneddol bwysig hwn ac a allwch chi fod yn llawer cliriach ynglŷn ag amserlenni? Mae yna bedwar mis yn nhymor yr hydref; o fis Medi hyd at y Nadolig. A allwch chi fod ychydig bach yn gliriach ynglŷn â faint rydych chi'n edrych arno a phryd y cawn y canlyniad hwnnw? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thanks very much, Jane, and just to make it clear that we recognise that we do need to do better in this space and that's why we're undertaking this review; that's why it was in our manifesto and that's why we've moved on very quickly—we were only elected a few weeks ago on that manifesto and already, we've got that workshop in place that is going to happen later this month. So, if you want more specifics, it's anticipated that that review will take about three to four months. So, I can be that specific. You're quite right: the autumn can go on for a long period, but that should give you a better idea of exactly when we hope to report on this situation, which we have made a commitment to.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jane, a hoffwn ei gwneud yn glir ein bod yn cydnabod bod angen inni wneud yn well yn y maes hwn a dyna pam ein bod yn cynnal yr adolygiad hwn; dyna pam yr oedd yn ein maniffesto a dyna pam ein bod wedi symud ymlaen yn gyflym iawn—dim ond ychydig wythnosau yn ôl y cawsom ein hethol ar y maniffesto hwnnw ac rydym eisoes wedi trefnu gweithdy a fydd yn digwydd yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn. Felly, os hoffech fwy o fanylion, rhagwelir y bydd yr adolygiad hwnnw'n cymryd oddeutu tri i bedwar mis. Felly, gallaf fod mor fanwl â hynny. Rydych yn llygad eich lle: gall tymor yr hydref bara'n hir, ond dylai hynny roi gwell syniad i chi o'r union adeg pan fyddwn yn gobeithio adrodd ar y sefyllfa hon, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i wneud hynny.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Russell George.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, do you feel it would be appropriate to apologise on behalf of the Welsh Government for its failure to contain hospital transmissions during the first and second waves of the pandemic?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, a ydych yn teimlo y byddai'n briodol ymddiheuro ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru am fethu ag atal trosglwyddiadau yn yr ysbyty yn ystod ton gyntaf ac ail don y pandemig?
Thanks very much, Russell. Of course, every death in this pandemic has been difficult, and for those who've caught COVID in hospital it's even more tragic. We are very aware of the difficulties of the situation. Of course, what we have to remember is that the people who are serving in those hospitals also belong to the community, and when transmissions were high in those communities, there was always a possibility that COVID could get in in that way. Also, we just heard, passionately, how Rhys ab Owen was keen to see his loved one; there are also people who wanted to see loved ones in hospital. That should demonstrate to you the difficult balance and the difficult calls we have to make in this situation. Every time you let somebody in, there is a risk. And that risk, in particular in a hospital—you're allowing people to go into one of the most difficult and sensitive areas, where, if people catch COVID, the problems could be catastrophic, and have been. So, I just think that this balance has been extremely difficult. Of course, if you're already in hospital, you are likely to be more vulnerable, and therefore if it gets into hospital, as it has, and as, I'm afraid, it will continue to—. But we have put all measures in place; we've set out very, very strict guidelines. We have tried to learn as we've gone along in this area, and, of course, with all of those infections, where we've had those incidents of patient safety, each case has been investigated thoroughly to see what we can learn.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Russell. Wrth gwrs, mae pob marwolaeth yn y pandemig hwn wedi bod yn anodd, ac i'r rheini sydd wedi dal COVID yn yr ysbyty mae hyd yn oed yn fwy trasig. Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn o anawsterau'r sefyllfa. Wrth gwrs, yr hyn y mae'n rhaid inni ei gofio yw bod y bobl sy'n gwasanaethu yn yr ysbytai hynny hefyd yn perthyn i'r gymuned, a phan oedd lefelau'r trosglwyddiadau'n uchel yn y cymunedau hynny, roedd posibilrwydd bob amser y gallai pobl ddal COVID yn y ffordd honno. Hefyd, rydym newydd glywed, yn deimladwy, sut roedd Rhys ab Owen yn awyddus i weld rhywun sy'n annwyl iddo; mae yna bobl eraill a oedd eisiau gweld eu hanwyliaid yn yr ysbyty hefyd. Dylai hynny ddangos i chi pa mor anodd yw gwneud penderfyniadau a chadw cydbwysedd yn y sefyllfa hon. Bob tro y byddwch yn gadael rhywun i mewn, mae yna risg. A'r risg honno, yn enwedig mewn ysbyty—rydych yn caniatáu i bobl fynd i mewn i un o'r mannau anoddaf a mwyaf sensitif, lle gallai'r problemau fod yn drychinebus pe bai pobl yn dal COVID, ac rydym wedi gweld hynny. Felly, credaf fod y cydbwysedd hwn wedi bod yn eithriadol o anodd. Wrth gwrs, os ydych eisoes yn yr ysbyty, rydych yn debygol o fod yn fwy agored i niwed, ac felly os yw'n mynd i mewn i ysbytai, fel y mae wedi'i wneud, ac fel y bydd yn parhau i'w wneud, mae arnaf ofn—. Ond rydym wedi rhoi'r holl fesurau ar waith; rydym wedi nodi canllawiau llym iawn. Rydym wedi ceisio dysgu wrth inni symud ymlaen gyda hyn, ac wrth gwrs, gyda'r holl heintiau hynny, lle rydym wedi cael achosion yn ymwneud â diogelwch cleifion, ymchwiliwyd yn drylwyr i bob achos i weld beth y gallwn ei ddysgu.
Thank you for your answer, Minister. I appreciate what you've said. I think, from my perspective, we as Welsh Conservatives were raising deep concerns about the level of hospital-acquired infections in Wales from last summer onwards. There was a sense, I feel, that the Welsh Government was shrugging its shoulders at the time, with your predecessor saying that lessons had been learnt. [Interruption.] I can hear the former health Minister; he should be listening to what I'm saying rather than dismissing what I'm saying. But what I would say to you, Minister, is that there was a great focus last year on community transmission—and I wouldn't dismiss that; that is correct, there should be that focus—but there wasn't that focus last summer and last year in terms of infection in hospital settings.
Now, we now know that one in four deaths across Wales were probably or definitely as a direct result of ward-to-ward transmission. In Hywel Dda itself, it's one in three deaths. That's significant, and I'm sure, Minister, you wouldn't disagree how significant those figures are. That's 1,000 people who have sadly died, with countless loved ones bereaved, when this could have been avoided to a large extent, or to some extent, if the Welsh Government had acted differently. Now, a group of 35 clinicians have also written to the Welsh Government calling for a Welsh public inquiry, and they believe that one of the questions for that investigation should be how healthcare organisations can be guided to reduce this death rate. This is a specific Wales issue, so will you and the First Minister heed the growing concerns and calls, and agree to a public inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales? You yourself said in your answer that you're learning as you go along. That's the right approach, but that's surely a reason why we need a public inquiry to properly scrutinise the process.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Rwy'n derbyn yr hyn rydych wedi'i ddweud. O'm safbwynt i, roeddem ni fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn mynegi pryderon mawr am nifer y bobl a gâi eu heintio mewn ysbytai yng Nghymru o'r haf diwethaf ymlaen. Teimlaf fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn codi'i hysgwyddau ar y pryd, gyda'ch rhagflaenydd yn dweud bod gwersi wedi'u dysgu. [Torri ar draws.] Gallaf glywed y cyn-Weinidog iechyd; dylai fod yn gwrando ar yr hyn rwy'n ei ddweud yn hytrach na diystyru'r hyn rwy'n ei ddweud. Ond yr hyn y byddwn yn ei ddweud wrthych, Weinidog, yw bod ffocws mawr y llynedd ar drosglwyddiad cymunedol—ac ni fyddwn yn diystyru hynny; mae hynny'n gywir, dylid cael y ffocws hwnnw—ond nid oedd gennym y ffocws hwnnw o ran yr haint mewn ysbytai yr haf diwethaf ac y llynedd.
Nawr, gwyddom bellach fod un o bob pedair marwolaeth yng Nghymru yn debygol neu'n bendant o fod wedi digwydd i ganlyniad uniongyrchol i drosglwyddiad o ward i ward. Yn Hywel Dda ei hun, mae'n un o bob tair marwolaeth. Mae hynny'n sylweddol, ac rwy'n siŵr, Weinidog, na fyddech yn anghytuno pa mor sylweddol yw'r ffigurau hynny. Dyna 1,000 o bobl sydd wedi marw yn anffodus, gydag anwyliaid dirifedi yn galaru, pan ellid bod wedi osgoi hyn i raddau helaeth, neu i ryw raddau, pe bai Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithredu'n wahanol. Nawr, mae grŵp o 35 o glinigwyr hefyd wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth Cymru yn galw am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, a chredant mai un o'r cwestiynau y dylid eu gofyn fel rhan o'r ymchwiliad hwnnw yw sut y gellir arwain sefydliadau gofal iechyd i leihau'r gyfradd farwolaeth hon. Mae hwn yn fater penodol i Gymru, felly a wnewch chi a'r Prif Weinidog roi sylw i'r pryderon a'r galwadau cynyddol, a chytuno i ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i'r ffordd yr ymdriniwyd â'r pandemig COVID-19 yng Nghymru? Fe ddywedoch chi eich hun yn eich ateb eich bod yn dysgu wrth fynd ymlaen. Dyna'r ffordd gywir o fynd ati, ond does bosibl nad yw'n rheswm pam ein bod angen ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i graffu'n briodol ar y broses.
Thanks very much. I, too, would refute the implication that we haven't been taking seriously the nosocomial transmission in hospitals, this infection transmission in hospitals. We've been taking very careful steps, and anybody who's been to hospital will understand how strict they are in terms of who's allowed in and wearing PPE, and I absolutely refute that. As you say, we are investigating every case, and we are trying to learn as we go along. I know and I hear the calls for a public inquiry, and I have read carefully the letter that has been written, but I've got to tell you that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. We have all our hands at the pump at the moment, and this is not over. We know, if you look at the projections in particular in England, they're talking now of the possibility of two million cases a day. So, we've got to be really serious, and take this seriously and understand that this is not the time for us to get involved in a public inquiry, but we are learning as we go along.
I also refute the fact that this is a specific Welsh issue. Let's not pretend that there haven't been deaths in hospitals as a result of COVID in hospitals in England and that transmission in hospitals in England. That is simply not the case.
Diolch yn fawr. Byddwn innau hefyd yn gwadu'r awgrym nad ydym wedi bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r trosglwyddiad nosocomiaidd o ddifrif mewn ysbytai, trosglwyddiad yr haint mewn ysbytai. Rydym wedi bod yn rhoi camau gofalus iawn ar waith, a bydd unrhyw un sydd wedi bod yn yr ysbyty yn deall pa mor llym y maent o ran pwy sy'n cael caniatâd i fynd i mewn a gwisgo cyfarpar diogelu personol, ac felly rwy'n gwrthod hynny'n llwyr. Fel y dywedwch, rydym yn ymchwilio i bob achos, ac rydym yn ceisio dysgu wrth inni symud ymlaen. Rwy'n gwybod ac rwy'n clywed y galwadau am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, ac rwyf wedi darllen y llythyr sydd wedi'i ysgrifennu yn ofalus, ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrthych ein bod yn dal i fod ynghanol pandemig. Mae angen i ni ymateb i hynny ar hyn o bryd, ac nid yw hyn ar ben. Os edrychwch ar yr amcanestyniadau yn enwedig yn Lloegr, gwyddom eu bod yn sôn yn awr am y posibilrwydd o ddwy filiwn o achosion y dydd. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn gyfan gwbl o ddifrif, a deall nad dyma'r amser inni gymryd rhan mewn ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, ond rydym yn dysgu wrth inni symud ymlaen.
Rwyf hefyd yn gwadu bod hwn yn fater penodol i Gymru. Gadewch inni beidio ag esgus na fu marwolaethau mewn ysbytai o ganlyniad i COVID mewn ysbytai yn Lloegr a'r trosglwyddiad hwnnw mewn ysbytai yn Lloegr. Nid yw hynny'n wir.
Well, I wasn't suggesting that is the case at all. That'll be the case in countries around the world, but I was suggesting it was to a greater extent in Wales and that lessons need to be learned from that specifically. Now, a Wales-only inquiry, and not being willing to bring that forward—. I was very careful in my question not to say an inquiry immediately now. I specifically asked about agreeing to a public inquiry—that's what I should add to that. But not agreeing to that, I suspect, I believe, shows a lack of transparency in terms of the Welsh Government's role in looking into how it has handled the pandemic.
This leads me on to my final question, Minister, with regard to the confidence in a COVID-lite environment, and I would be very concerned—I know you are—about the over 4,000 people who have not turned up for cancer diagnosis treatment. I would suggest, is there any wonder that there's a concern about turning up into a hospital setting when we hear about the figures I've outlined and that we're aware of. Now, you and I will both know, and both agree, that it's going to be a real challenging situation where we've got coming forward now people with advanced cancer and more complex treatment, and the Welsh Government was again warned about this last summer by medical professionals, but we've not seen any significant work in terms of COVID-green sites or COVID-lite cancer hubs, which have been present in England for over a year. I would suggest, after the context of my earlier questions, that there's a greater need now to have COVID-lite hubs here in Wales. Sadly, these decisions will bring more pressure onto palliative care services as cancer becomes untreatable at later diagnosis, of course. So, can I ask finally, Minister, will you therefore tell us how many people your department has calculated are missing from diagnosis, and how long are the backlogs? Will you bring forward before this Senedd specific plans on tackling the backlog of cancer patients as well as telling us when the cancer quality statement implementation plan will be published? Thank you, Minister.
Wel, nid oeddwn yn awgrymu hynny o gwbl. Bydd hynny'n wir mewn gwledydd ym mhob rhan o'r byd, ond roeddwn yn awgrymu ei fod wedi digwydd i raddau mwy yng Nghymru a bod angen dysgu gwersi o hynny'n benodol. Nawr, mewn perthynas ag ymchwiliad i Gymru'n unig, a'r ffaith nad ydych yn barod i gyflwyno hwnnw—. Roeddwn yn ofalus iawn yn fy nghwestiwn i beidio â dweud ymchwiliad ar unwaith yn awr. Gofynnais yn benodol ynglŷn â chytuno i ymchwiliad cyhoeddus—dylwn ychwanegu hynny. Ond mae peidio â chytuno i hynny, rwy'n tybio, rwy'n credu, yn dangos diffyg tryloywder ynghylch rôl Llywodraeth Cymru wrth edrych ar sut y mae wedi ymdrin â'r pandemig.
Mae hyn yn fy arwain at fy nghwestiwn olaf, Weinidog, ynglŷn â'r hyder mewn amgylchedd sy'n rhydd o COVID-19, a byddwn yn bryderus iawn—gwn eich bod chithau—am y 4,000 a mwy o bobl nad ydynt wedi mynychu triniaeth diagnosis canser. Byddwn yn awgrymu, a oes unrhyw ryfedd bod pryderon ynghylch ymweld ag ysbyty pan glywn am y ffigurau rwyf wedi'u hamlinellu ac rydym yn ymwybodol ohonynt. Nawr, fe fyddwch chi a minnau'n gwybod, ac rydym yn cytuno, y bydd gennym sefyllfa heriol iawn lle bydd gennym bobl â chanser datblygedig a thriniaeth fwy cymhleth yn awr, a rhybuddiwyd Llywodraeth Cymru am hyn yr haf diwethaf gan weithwyr meddygol proffesiynol, ond nid ydym wedi gweld unrhyw waith sylweddol o ran safleoedd heb COVID na chanolfannau canser sy'n rhydd o COVID-19, sydd wedi bod yn bresennol yn Lloegr ers dros flwyddyn. Byddwn yn awgrymu, yn dilyn cyd-destun fy nghwestiynau cynharach, fod mwy o angen cael canolfannau sy'n rhydd o COVID-19 yma yng Nghymru bellach. Yn anffodus, bydd y penderfyniadau hyn yn rhoi mwy o bwysau ar wasanaethau gofal lliniarol wrth i ganser ddod yn amhosibl ei drin os ceir diagnosis yn ddiweddarach, wrth gwrs. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog i gloi, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym, felly, faint o bobl y mae eich adran wedi'u cyfrif sydd heb gael diagnosis, a pha mor hir yw'r ôl-groniadau? A wnewch chi gyflwyno cynlluniau penodol gerbron y Senedd hon ar fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad o gleifion canser yn ogystal â dweud wrthym pryd y cyhoeddir cynllun gweithredu'r datganiad ansawdd ar gyfer canser? Diolch, Weinidog.
Thanks very much. It's interesting that this has been presented as some big, sensational news story. It's not. We have been transparent about this the whole way through, about how many people are contracting COVID in hospitals. It's published on the Public Health Wales website on a regular basis. That is not done in England or elsewhere. So, if anybody wanted to see these, this is not new, it is not sensational, it has been there the whole time and you could have been tracking it.
When it comes to the public inquiry, it is very difficult to disaggregate what was going on in the rest of the UK from what's going on here. If you just take PPE, there was a relationship there. In fact, the relationship, very interestingly, was us giving parts of England some PPE. On vaccines, we were dependent on the supply working together across the United Kingdom. So, it is really difficult to disaggregate this, and that's why I do think the right approach is to have a UK inquiry but with a kind of subsection for Wales, where there will be a need to look in detail at what we can learn. But I can tell you that we are trying to learn as we go along as well.
We are very concerned about the number of people who haven't turned up in relation to cancer diagnosis and the fewer people who have presented relative to other years. That's why we have undertaken a very comprehensive advertising campaign to try and encourage people to come forward. And, of course, cancer treatment has never been stopped. We've been making sure that that has been seen as an essential service throughout the pandemic.
When it comes to COVID-lite hubs, I absolutely don't object to this in principle. The problem we have is that the implication of that is that you have to separate them off from A&E and the kind of hot issues that are coming into hospitals. Now, Russell, you might want to go around closing A&E departments, but I don't. So, I just think we've got to be really careful about the practicalities of making that happen, but we are trying to look at what alternatives there are, and I'm pleased to say that health boards have come forward with some ideas and we're analysing those at the moment.
Diolch yn fawr. Mae'n ddiddorol bod hyn wedi'i gyflwyno fel stori newyddion fawr, syfrdanol. Nid yw hynny'n wir. Rydym wedi bod yn dryloyw ynglŷn â hyn ar hyd y daith, ynglŷn â faint o bobl sy'n dal COVID mewn ysbytai. Fe'i cyhoeddir ar wefan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn rheolaidd. Ni wneir hynny yn Lloegr nac yn unman arall. Felly, os oedd unrhyw un eisiau gweld y rhain, nid yw hyn yn newydd, nid yw'n syfrdanol, mae wedi bod yno drwy'r amser a gallech fod wedi mynd ar ei drywydd.
O ran yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, mae'n anodd iawn dadgyfuno'r hyn a oedd yn digwydd yng ngweddill y DU oddi wrth yr hyn sy'n digwydd yma. Os edrychwch ar gyfarpar diogelu personol, roedd yna berthynas yno. Yn wir, yn y berthynas honno, yn ddiddorol iawn, roeddem yn rhoi rhywfaint o gyfarpar diogelu personol i rannau o Loegr. Ar frechlynnau, roeddem yn ddibynnol ar y cyflenwad gan gydweithio ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, mae'n anodd iawn dadgyfuno hyn, a dyna pam rwy'n credu mai'r dull cywir o fynd ati yw cael ymchwiliad yn y DU ond gyda rhyw fath o is-adran i Gymru, lle bydd angen edrych yn fanwl ar yr hyn y gallwn ei ddysgu. Ond gallaf ddweud wrthych ein bod yn ceisio dysgu wrth inni symud ymlaen hefyd.
Rydym yn pryderu'n fawr am nifer y bobl nad ydynt wedi mynychu apwyntiadau mewn perthynas â diagnosis o ganser a'r ffaith bod llai o bobl wedi mynychu'r apwyntiadau hyn o gymharu â blynyddoedd eraill. Dyna pam ein bod wedi cynnal ymgyrch hysbysebu gynhwysfawr iawn i geisio annog pobl i ymgysylltu. Ac wrth gwrs, nid yw triniaethau canser erioed wedi'u hatal. Rydym wedi bod yn sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu hystyried yn wasanaethau hanfodol drwy gydol y pandemig.
O ran canolfannau sy'n rhydd o COVID-19, nid wyf yn gwrthwynebu hyn mewn egwyddor. Y broblem sydd gennym yw mai goblygiad hynny yw bod yn rhaid ichi eu gwahanu oddi wrth yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys a'r math o faterion llosg sy'n dod i mewn i ysbytai. Nawr, Russell, efallai eich bod chi eisiau mynd o gwmpas yn cau adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, ond nid wyf fi eisiau gwneud hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni fod yn ofalus iawn ynglŷn ag ymarferoldeb gwneud i hynny ddigwydd, ond rydym yn ceisio edrych ar ba ddewisiadau eraill sydd i'w cael, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod byrddau iechyd wedi cyflwyno rhai syniadau ac rydym yn dadansoddi'r rheini ar hyn o bryd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Dwi eisiau holi am adferiad y gwasanaeth iechyd hefyd, gan gyfeirio at sawl maes. Mi wnaf innau gyfeirio at y backlog yma o ddiagnosis canser, er yn edrych ar faes gwahanol o hynny. Mae'n bryder meddwl am filoedd o bobl—dros 4,000 yn ôl Macmillan—yn bosib sydd ddim wedi cael diagnosis. Ond mae'n bryder i fi, wrth gwrs, mai beth sydd wedi digwydd yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf ydy chwyddo problem oedd yn bodoli yn barod, ac un broblem oedd gennym ni mewn gwasanaethau canser oedd prinder gweithwyr i wneud y gwaith diagnosis. Dwi'n meddwl bod Coleg Brenhinol y Radiolegwyr yn sôn ein bod ni 97 radiolegydd yn brin yma yng Nghymru. Allwch chi ddim cael gwasanaeth diagnosis effeithiol, cyflym heb gael digon o radiolegwyr. Felly, wrth edrych ymlaen at adfer, allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni ba adnoddau fyddwch chi'n eu rhoi mewn lle i ddelifro yn benodol ar ddatrys rhai o'r problemau gweithlu sydd gennym ni?
Thank you very much, Llywydd. I want to ask about the recovery of the health service too and reference a number of areas. I, too, will refer to this backlog in terms of cancer diagnosis, looking at a different aspect of that. It's a concern to think that thousands of people—over 4,000 people according to Macmillan—who haven't had a diagnosis. But it's a concern to me that what's happened over the past year is that we've exacerbated a problem that already existed, and one problem we had in cancer services was a shortage of workers to do that diagnostic work. I think the Royal College of Radiologists has mentioned that we we are 97 radiologists short here in Wales. You can't have an effective diagnosis and a swift diagnosis service without those staff in place. So, in looking to recovery, can you tell us what resources you will put in place to deliver specifically on resolving some of the workforce problems we have?
Diolch yn fawr. Fel mae'n digwydd, dwi newydd ddod off galwad gyda HIW heddiw, lle roeddem ni'n siarad ynglŷn â'r problemau yn arbennig gyda radiolegwyr. Nawr, maen nhw wedi rhoi system mewn lle lle rŷm ni yn cynhyrchu tua 20 o radiolegwyr newydd bob blwyddyn, so mae hynny'n gynnydd eithaf mawr o ble rŷm ni wedi bod yn y gorffennol. Wrth gwrs, beth sy'n bwysig yw'r quality of training maen nhw'n ei gael, a dwi wedi gofyn iddyn nhw hefyd weld beth arall allwn ni ei wneud. Ydy e'n bosibl i ni, er enghraifft, anfon rhai o'r lluniau rŷm ni'n eu cael dramor fel bod nhw'n cael yr analysis dramor?
Felly, dwi yn meddwl bod yna le i ni fod yn ddychmygol o ran sut rŷm ni'n mynd ati i ymdrin â'r backlog yma yn arbennig pan fydd hi'n dod i ganser. Ond mi fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol hefyd ein bod ni wedi darparu £25 miliwn yn ychwanegol er mwyn sicrhau bod yr offer ar gael, fel ein bod ni'n gallu cynyddu a chyflymu'r broses yna, ac mae hynny eisoes wedi mynd i mewn i rai o'n hysbytai ni.
Thank you very much. As it happens, I've just come from a call with HIW where we were talking about the problems specifically in relation to radiologists. Now, they have put a system in place where we do produce about 20 new radiologists every year, so that is quite a big increase from where we've been in the past. And of course, what's important is the quality of training that they receive, and I've asked them to also consider what else we can do. Is it possible, for example, for us to send some of the images that we get abroad so that they are analysed overseas?
So, I think that there is scope for us to be imaginative in terms of how we approach the issue of dealing with this backlog, particularly when it comes to cancer. But you'll be aware as well that we have provided £25 million in additional funding in order to ensure that the equipment is available, so that we can increase and accelerate that process, and that has already gone into some of our hospitals.
Mi wnaf i droi nesaf at wasanaethau orthopedig. Mae yna her enfawr o'ch blaen chi yn adeiladu capasiti. Dwi a phob Aelod yn fan hyn, dwi'n siŵr, wedi clywed am lawer gormod o gleifion yn aros yn llawer rhy hir mewn poen. Ym mis Ebrill eleni, mi oedd yna 88,000 o bobl yn aros am driniaeth trawma ac orthopedig, gyda 60 y cant yn aros dros 36 wythnos. Rhyw 11 y cant oedd y ffigur yn ôl yn 2019. Mae dros hanner bellach yn aros dros flwyddyn. Wrth gwrs, mi oedd y rhestrau aros yna eto yn rhy hir cyn y pandemig, felly pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi i ni y byddwch chi, wrth drio delio efo'r broblem acíwt o backlog ychwanegol y pandemig, yn gwneud llawer mwy na thrio adfer gwasanaethau i sut oedden nhw o'r blaen? Sut byddwch chi rŵan yn llwyddo i drio creu gwasanaethau mwy cynaliadwy i'r hirdymor, achos dyna dŷn ni'n chwilio amdano fo wrth ddod allan o'r pandemig yma?
If I could turn next to orthopaedic services, there are huge challenges facing you in building capacity. I and every other Member here, I'm sure, will have heard about far too many patients waiting far, far too long in pain. In April of this year, there were 88,000 people waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment, with 60 per cent waiting over 36 weeks. The figure back in 2019 was around 11 per cent. Over half now wait for longer than 12 months. Of course, these waiting lists, again, were too long prior to the pandemic, so what assurance can you give us that, in trying to deal with the acute problem of the backlog caused by the pandemic, you will do far more than just restore services to where they were previously? How will you now try to create services that are more sustainable for the longer term, because that is what we are looking for in coming out of this pandemic?
Wel, dwi eisiau gwneud yn siŵr nad ydym ni'n colli'r cyfle yma o'r pandemig i newid pethau. Mae lot wedi newid eisoes ac mae eisiau i ni glymu mewn yr hyn sy'n dda o ran y newidiadau sydd wedi bod yn y ffordd mae'r gweithlu yn ymddwyn, ond hefyd y systemau rŷm ni'n eu defnyddio. Roeddwn i'n falch i fod yn rhan o gynhadledd dros y penwythnos gyda chymdeithas orthopaedig o India. Mae lot fawr o'n orthopaedic surgeons ni yn dod o India yng Nghymru, ac roedd e'n dda i glywed eu syniadau nhw ynglŷn â sut ddylen ni fod yn cyflymu'r broses. Ac, wrth gwrs, bydd hynny, efallai, yn cynnwys y posibilrwydd o gael canolfannau yn uniongyrchol, efallai'r canolfannau oer yma—y canolfannau uniongyrchol roeddwn i'n sôn amdanyn nhw. Felly, rydym ni jest yn analeiddio i weld sut byddai hynny'n digwydd yn ymarferol a sut byddai hynny'n gallu cael ei ariannu. Ond rŷm ni yn awyddus iawn i weld sut allwn ni ddefnyddio'r achlysur yma i ymdrin â'r broblem ond hefyd i'n cael ni i le gwahanol yn ystod y tymor canolig.
Well, I want to ensure that we don't miss this opportunity presented by the pandemic to change things. A lot has already changed, and we need to tie in what's good as regards the changes that have happened in terms of how the workforce operates, but also the systems that we use. I was pleased to be part of a conference over the weekend with an orthopaedic society from India. A lot of our orthopaedic surgeons in Wales come from India, and it was good to hear their ideas about how we should be accelerating the process. And, of course, that will include the possibility of having direct hubs or centres—these cold centres, the direct centres that I was talking about. So, we're just analysing how that could happen in practice and how that could be funded. But we're very eager to see how we can use this pandemic to deal with this problem and to get us to a different place in the medium term.
Dwi am gwblhau, os caf i, Llywydd, drwy droi at COVID hir. Mae o'n bryder mawr i fi. Mae gen i bryderon mawr am bobl ifanc, a dweud y gwir, ar hyn o bryd, wrth i gyfyngiadau gael eu codi. Mi gawn ni gyfle i drafod hynny eto. Ond dwi eisiau edrych yn benodol, yn sydyn, ar effaith COVID hir ar y gweithlu iechyd a gofal. O fy ngwaith i fel cyd-gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar COVID hir, dwi'n gweld cyfran ryfeddol o uchel o'r bobl dwi'n siarad â nhw yn bobl sydd wedi mynd yn sâl drwy eu gwaith nhw mewn iechyd a gofal. Mae eisiau edrych ar hyn. Mae eisiau cynnig cefnogaeth iddyn nhw, a dwi eisiau gwybod beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i'w wneud i'w cefnogi nhw, achos maen nhw'n haeddu'r gefnogaeth yna am y gwaith maen nhw wedi ei wneud a'r ffaith eu bod nhw wedi rhoi eu hunain mewn perig yn ystod y pandemig yma. Ond pan fyddwn ni'n edrych ar y gwaith adfer hefyd, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym ni beth mae hi'n mynd i'w wneud i wthio am sicrwydd bod y rhain yn cael cefnogaeth i ddod yn ôl i'r gwaith, achos dŷn ni angen sicrhau bod ein gweithlu ni'n llawn, ac mae dioddefwyr COVID hir o fewn y gweithlu iechyd a gofal eisiau mynd yn ôl i'r gwaith i wneud yr hyn maen nhw wedi cael eu hyfforddi i'w wneud? Allwn ni ddim aros yn rhagor am sicrwydd bod yna driniaeth a thegwch yn mynd i gael eu rhoi i'r nifer uchel, dwi'n ofni, o weithwyr sydd yn dioddef yn y ffordd yma.
I want to finish, Llywydd, if I may, by turning to long COVID. It's a huge concern for me. I have huge concerns about young people, if truth be told, at the moment, as restrictions are relaxed. We'll have an opportunity to discuss that again. But I want to look specifically at the impact of long COVID on the health and care workforce. From my work as joint chair of the cross-party group on long COVID, I see that an incredible percentage of the people I speak to are people who have fallen ill as a result of their work in health and care. We need to look at this. We need to provide support to them, and I want to know what the Government will do to support them, because they deserve that support for the work that they have done and the fact that they put themselves in harm's way during this pandemic. But if we look at the recovery work, will the Minister tell us what she is going to do in order to push for assurances that these people get the support they need to return to the workplace, because we need to ensure that our workforce is fully staffed, and sufferers of long COVID within the health and care service want to return to work to do what they've been trained to do? We can't wait any longer for an assurance that treatment will be provided to the high number, I fear, of workers who are suffering in this way, and that they will be treated fairly.
Diolch yn fawr. Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol, yn ein cyhoeddiad ni am y cynllun newydd ar adferiad, mi roesom ni sylw arbennig i'r rheini oedd yn dioddef o COVID hir a oedd yn gweithio yn ein system iechyd a gofal ni, a sicrhau bod canllawiau ar gael i roi syniad i gyflogwyr i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gwybod sut ddylai'r gwasanaeth iechyd a'r gwasanaeth gofal fod yn ymateb i'r rheini sydd yn dioddef o COVID hir. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny'n glir yn yr adroddiad yna.
Thank you very much. You'll be aware, in our publication on the new recovery plan, that we did give specific attention to those working in our health and care system who are suffering from long COVID, and we did ensure that guidance is available in order to give employers an idea as regards ensuring that they know how the health and care system should be responding to those suffering from long COVID. So, I would hope that that is clear in that report.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddarparu gofal cartref yn ardal Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr? OQ56727
3. Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of domiciliary care in the Bridgend area? OQ56727
I am pleased the council is moving toward commissioning services that have person-centred care as the focus. I am also pleased to note the consideration of staff remuneration, in line with my recent oral statement setting out our Welsh Government's commitment to the introduction of the real living wage.
Rwy'n falch fod y cyngor yn symud tuag at gomisiynu gwasanaethau gofal sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn. Rwyf hefyd yn falch o nodi'r ystyriaeth ynghylch taliadau staff, yn unol â fy natganiad llafar diweddar yn nodi ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol.
Well, I really welcome that response to my question, because I draw the Minister's attention to the letter that was sent by Bridgend on 16 June, where they put forward, I thought, an interesting offer in their recommissioning of domiciliary care, which will take place this year, not only to pilot a move towards the real living wage—it's a timely moment to do it—but also to introduce more flexibility into the way they provide domiciliary care, based on the approach of what matters to you as the end user, much more flexible, based around not just the care needs but the social needs of that individual as well. And we've seen this work well in other areas I visited when I was doing the role that you're now doing in Cardiff and the Vale, and seeing how that worked so well not only for the user, but also for staff themselves to feel empowered and to use their skills and experience properly. So, I wonder if you've had time to consider that, and also the invitation in that letter that they made to come and visit the integrated care teams that they're running with Cwm Taf that have been the subject of excellent reports and feedback from Care Inspectorate Wales.
Wel, rwy'n croesawu'r ymateb hwnnw i fy nghwestiwn yn fawr, oherwydd hoffwn dynnu sylw'r Gweinidog at y llythyr a anfonwyd gan Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr ar 16 Mehefin, lle gwnaethant gyflwyno cynnig diddorol, yn fy marn i, wrth ailgomisiynu gofal cartref, a fydd yn digwydd eleni, nid yn unig i dreialu newid i'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol—mae'n adeg amserol i'w wneud—ond hefyd i gyflwyno mwy o hyblygrwydd i'r ffordd y maent yn darparu gofal cartref, yn seiliedig ar yr hyn sy'n bwysig i chi fel y defnyddiwr terfynol, yn llawer mwy hyblyg, yn seiliedig nid yn unig ar anghenion gofal ond anghenion cymdeithasol yr unigolyn dan sylw hefyd. Ac rydym wedi gweld y gwaith hwn yn gweithio'n dda mewn ardaloedd eraill yr ymwelais â hwy pan oeddwn yn gwneud y gwaith rydych chi'n ei wneud yn awr yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro, a gweld sut roedd hynny'n gweithio mor dda i'r defnyddiwr ond hefyd sut roedd yn gwneud i'r staff eu hunain deimlo eu bod wedi'u grymuso ac i ddefnyddio'u sgiliau a'u profiad yn briodol. Felly, tybed a ydych wedi cael amser i ystyried hynny, yn ogystal â'u gwahoddiad yn y llythyr hwnnw i ymweld â'r timau gofal integredig y maent yn eu gweithredu gyda Chwm Taf sydd wedi bod yn destun adroddiadau ac adborth rhagorol gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru.
I'd like to thank Huw Irranca-Davies very much for that question. I am aware and have received the letter from Bridgend, and I was very interested to read about their proposed pilot to pay domiciliary care workers at the level of the real living wage and also to introduce more flexibility into the provision. I think he's described how flexibility can be of great advantage to users of the service.
He knows that we have set up the fair work social care forum and I'll be asking them to consider which part or parts of the sector should be our starting point for rolling out the commitment, because we are very keen to do this in a co-productive way, working with the trade unions and employers and, of course, working with local government. I mean, of course, our overall aim is that all eligible social care workers will be receiving the real living wage within the term of this Government. But in terms of where we start, I will be discussing that with the forum and I'm very grateful indeed to Bridgend for putting forward their proposal.
Hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Huw Irranca-Davies am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Rwy'n ymwybodol ac wedi cael y llythyr gan Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac roedd gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn darllen am eu cynllun peilot arfaethedig i dalu gweithwyr gofal cartref ar lefel y cyflog byw gwirioneddol a hefyd i gyflwyno mwy o hyblygrwydd i'r ddarpariaeth. Rwy'n credu ei fod wedi disgrifio sut y gall hyblygrwydd fod o fantais fawr i ddefnyddwyr y gwasanaeth.
Mae'n gwybod ein bod wedi sefydlu'r fforwm gwaith teg gofal cymdeithasol a byddaf yn gofyn iddynt ystyried pa ran neu rannau o'r sector a ddylai fod yn fan cychwyn ar gyfer cyflwyno'r ymrwymiad, oherwydd rydym yn awyddus iawn i wneud hyn mewn ffordd gydgynhyrchiol, gan weithio gyda'r undebau llafur a chyflogwyr a chan weithio gyda llywodraeth leol, wrth gwrs. Hynny yw, ein nod cyffredinol yw y bydd pob gweithiwr gofal cymdeithasol cymwys yn cael y cyflog byw gwirioneddol o fewn tymor y Llywodraeth hon. Ond o ran lle rydym yn dechrau, byddaf yn trafod hynny gyda'r fforwm ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr am gyflwyno'u cynnig.
Thank you to Huw Irranca-Davies for tabling this question. I think it's very important, and as Huw correctly says, domiciliary care workers in Bridgend and social care workers across Wales have played a really important part in this pandemic.
But I think domiciliary care doesn't just start and end with those social care workers. One aspect of domiciliary care—and it's sometimes overlooked, actually—is the role of community pharmacies and their provision of medicines and other services for those who are either shielding or can't leave their homes. I recently visited Porthcawl pharmacy, which provides services to those shielding or can't leave their homes to deliver medication or other services across the local area into the wider community. Very often, the people who are receiving domiciliary care are most likely to receive services like this, but despite the good work being done by Porthcawl pharmacy on this issue, the provision is quite patchy across Wales, which means that many vulnerable people in other areas are left out of accessing these vital services. So, can I ask what assessment you have made of the role of community pharmacies in the provision of certain services for those receiving domiciliary care and what action the Welsh Government is taking to improve these services to standardise them across Wales?
Diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn hwn. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn bwysig iawn, ac fel y dywed Huw yn gywir, mae gweithwyr gofal cartref ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr a gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol ledled Cymru wedi chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn y pandemig hwn.
Ond rwy'n credu nad yw gofal cartref yn dechrau ac yn gorffen gyda'r gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol hynny. Un agwedd ar ofal cartref—ac weithiau mae'n cael ei hanghofio mewn gwirionedd—yw rôl fferyllfeydd cymunedol a'u darpariaeth o feddyginiaethau a gwasanaethau eraill i'r rhai sydd naill ai'n gwarchod neu'n methu gadael eu cartrefi. Ymwelais yn ddiweddar â fferyllfa Porthcawl, sy'n darparu gwasanaethau i'r rhai sy'n gwarchod neu'n methu gadael eu cartrefi i ddarparu meddyginiaeth neu wasanaethau eraill ar draws yr ardal leol i'r gymuned ehangach. Yn aml iawn, y bobl sy'n derbyn gofal cartref sydd fwyaf tebygol o dderbyn gwasanaethau fel hyn, ond er gwaethaf y gwaith da sy'n cael ei wneud gan fferyllfa Porthcawl yn hyn o beth, mae'r ddarpariaeth yn eithaf bylchog ledled Cymru, sy'n golygu bod llawer o bobl sy'n agored i niwed mewn ardaloedd eraill yn methu cael y gwasanaethau hanfodol hyn. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn pa asesiad a wnaethoch o rôl fferyllfeydd cymunedol yn darparu gwasanaethau penodol i'r rhai sy'n derbyn gofal cartref a pha gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella'r gwasanaethau hyn er mwyn eu safoni ledled Cymru?
I thank you very much for that question. Obviously, community pharmacy is absolutely crucial in terms of delivering services and delivering services to those who are in receipt of domiciliary care as well.
I think community pharmacies have got a very good record in terms of providing services, and I'm personally aware of many individuals and families who have depended on community pharmacies in delivering the medication and in being a link to other services. So, we're certainly very well aware and very supportive of the role of community pharmacies, and we'll be looking to do all we can to increase their role, because I think it's absolutely key that we do reach all those people who need this additional help in having the services. We see community pharmacies as absolutely crucial.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Yn amlwg, mae fferylliaeth gymunedol yn gwbl hanfodol ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau, a darparu gwasanaethau i'r rheini sy'n derbyn gofal cartref hefyd.
Rwy'n credu bod gan fferyllfeydd cymunedol record dda iawn o ddarparu gwasanaethau, ac rwy'n ymwybodol yn bersonol o lawer o unigolion a theuluoedd sydd wedi dibynnu ar fferyllfeydd cymunedol i ddarparu'r feddyginiaeth ac i fod yn gyswllt â gwasanaethau eraill. Felly, rydym yn sicr yn ymwybodol iawn ac yn gefnogol iawn i rôl fferyllfeydd cymunedol, a byddwn yn ceisio gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i gynyddu eu rôl, oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl allweddol ein bod yn cyrraedd yr holl bobl sydd angen y cymorth ychwanegol a geir drwy'r gwasanaethau. Credwn fod fferyllfeydd cymunedol yn gwbl hanfodol.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y defnydd o driniaeth breifat o fewn y GIG? OQ56718
4. Will the Minister make a statement on the use of private treatment within the NHS? OQ56718
Cyfrifoldeb y byrddau iechyd yw sicrhau eu bod yn darparu gwasanaethau i ateb anghenion eu poblogaeth leol. Mae'n ofynnol i fyrddau iechyd ddefnyddio capasiti lleol y gwasanaeth iechyd yn y lle cyntaf, ac yna, unrhyw gapasiti sydd ar gael yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn Lloegr, gan ddefnyddio capasiti yn y sector annibynnol dim ond pan nad oes unrhyw opsiwn arall.
It is the responsibility of health boards to ensure that they provide services to meet the needs of their local populations. It's a requirement for health boards to use the local capacity of the health service in the first instance, and then, any capacity available in the English health service, using capacity in the independent sector only when there is no other option.
Diolch ichi am hynny.
Thank you for that.
We've heard already this afternoon of the tremendous pain and suffering of people across the whole country who are waiting for services, following the pandemic or as the pandemic dominates the national health service. Is it not time now, Minister, that we consider suspending the use of NHS resources for private work to ensure that all of the resources of the national health service are provided for those who are most in need and most in pain who require services, and not for those who are able to pay?
It's the anniversary of the national health service, of course, this week, and when Nye Bevan was creating the national health service, he wanted to create a service that met the needs of people who were in need, and not those who can afford to pay. So, is it not time, in this crisis that the national health service is facing today, that we suspend all of the use of the private sector and private work within the national health service to ensure that those in need have their needs met?
Rydym eisoes wedi clywed y prynhawn yma am boen a dioddefaint aruthrol pobl sy'n aros am wasanaethau ar hyd a lled y wlad, yn dilyn y pandemig neu wrth i'r pandemig ddominyddu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol. Weinidog, a yw'n bryd inni ystyried atal y defnydd o adnoddau'r GIG ar gyfer gwaith preifat er mwyn sicrhau bod holl adnoddau'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yn cael eu darparu ar gyfer y rhai mwyaf anghenus a'r rhai sy'n dioddef fwyaf o boen ac sydd angen gwasanaethau, ac nid i'r rheini sy'n gallu talu?
Mae'n ben-blwydd y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yr wythnos hon wrth gwrs, a phan oedd Nye Bevan yn creu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, roedd am greu gwasanaeth a oedd yn diwallu anghenion pobl mewn angen, ac nid y rhai sy'n gallu fforddio talu. Felly, yn yr argyfwng y mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yn ei wynebu heddiw, onid yw'n bryd ein bod yn atal yr holl ddefnydd o'r sector preifat a gwaith preifat o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol i sicrhau bod anghenion pobl mewn angen yn cael eu diwallu?
Diolch yn fawr, Alun. I'm very aware of the fact that there are literally hundreds of thousands of patients, many waiting in severe pain for an operation. I can assure you that apart from COVID and preparing the NHS for winter, addressing this backlog is absolutely my top priority.
Now, I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of NHS staff have gone way beyond and above the call of duty in this past year. When it comes to consultants, they are contracted to carry out a certain number of sessions that they provide to the NHS, and they have to undertake that before they offer anything in terms of additional work outside of the NHS.
The Wales Audit Office report found that the level of private sector activity in NHS facilities is about 0.02 per cent of all activity, so it's a very low level anyway. I think what's important is that we recognise that long waits at the moment mean that some patients are making those really difficult decisions to go private, but I can assure you that all patients are being seen in an order of clinical priority.
Our priority at the moment is to get those who need the urgent care to be seen first. But, I think it is important that we put our measures in place, as we talked about earlier, to prepare the NHS to get us into a better place for the medium term, not just to address the immediate crisis that we're facing today.
Diolch yn fawr, Alun. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r ffaith bod yna gannoedd o filoedd o gleifion yn llythrennol, gyda llawer yn aros mewn poen difrifol am lawdriniaeth. Gallaf eich sicrhau, ar wahân i COVID a pharatoi'r GIG ar gyfer y gaeaf, mai mynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad hwn yw fy mhrif flaenoriaeth.
Nawr, rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud bod y mwyafrif helaeth o staff y GIG wedi mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i alwad dyletswydd yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Caiff meddygon ymgynghorol eu contractio i gynnal nifer penodol o sesiynau y maent yn eu darparu i'r GIG, ac mae'n rhaid iddynt wneud hynny cyn iddynt gynnig unrhyw waith ychwanegol y tu allan i'r GIG.
Canfu adroddiad Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru fod lefel gweithgarwch y sector preifat yng nghyfleusterau'r GIG oddeutu 0.02 y cant o'r holl weithgarwch, felly mae'n lefel isel iawn beth bynnag. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod yn cydnabod bod arosiadau hir ar hyn o bryd yn golygu bod rhai cleifion yn gwneud y penderfyniadau anodd hynny i fynd yn breifat, ond gallaf eich sicrhau bod pob claf yn cael ei weld yn nhrefn blaenoriaeth glinigol.
Ein blaenoriaeth ar hyn o bryd yw sicrhau bod y rhai sydd angen gofal brys yn cael eu gweld yn gyntaf. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn rhoi ein mesurau ar waith, fel y buom yn sôn yn gynharach, i baratoi'r GIG er mwyn ein rhoi mewn sefyllfa well ar gyfer y tymor canolig, nid yn unig i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng uniongyrchol sy'n ein hwynebu heddiw.
Minister, the Bridgend Clinic is a private clinic located within the Princess of Wales Hospital. It is unique to Wales, and for the past 24 years it has worked in partnership with the NHS, with more than 50 consultants practising in both the clinic and the Princess of Wales Hospital, while profits are put back into the local NHS.
We all know that the NHS is an amazing institution, but we should not hide it from meaningful and beneficial partnerships that deliver for patients. Will the Minister examine the outcomes achieved by this partnership so that other health boards may consider the advantages of building capacity in this way? Thank you.
Weinidog, mae Clinig Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn glinig preifat sydd wedi'i leoli yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru. Mae'n unigryw i Gymru, ac am y 24 mlynedd diwethaf mae wedi gweithio mewn partneriaeth â'r GIG, gyda mwy na 50 o feddygon ymgynghorol yn gweithio yn y clinig ac yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru, tra bod elw'n cael ei roi yn ôl i'r GIG lleol.
Gwyddom i gyd fod y GIG yn sefydliad rhyfeddol, ond ni ddylem ei guddio rhag partneriaethau ystyrlon a buddiol sy'n cyflawni ar gyfer cleifion. A wnaiff y Gweinidog archwilio'r canlyniadau a gyflawnwyd gan y bartneriaeth hon fel y gall byrddau iechyd eraill ystyried manteision adeiladu capasiti yn y ffordd hon? Diolch.
Thanks very much for that question, Altaf. I don't know enough about this particular partnership to comment on it, but I will make sure that I go and investigate further. I know that some of the people involved in the call that I was on on Saturday are involved in the Princess of Wales Hospital, so I will investigate further and see whether there is anything that we can learn from that. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Altaf. Nid wyf yn gwybod digon am y bartneriaeth benodol hon i wneud sylwadau arni, ond byddaf yn sicrhau fy mod yn ymchwilio ymhellach. Gwn fod rhai o'r bobl roeddwn ar alwad â hwy ddydd Sadwrn yn ymwneud ag Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru, felly byddaf yn edrych ymhellach i weld a oes unrhyw beth y gallwn ei ddysgu o hynny. Diolch.
5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am fynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy? OQ56720
5. Will the Minister make a statement on access to GP services in Alyn and Deeside? OQ56720
GP practices across Wales are providing a wide range of options for patients to access services through the use of digital technology. Clinical triage is a key tool to ensure patients receive the care they need, at the right time, from the right person.
Mae practisau meddygon teulu ledled Cymru yn darparu ystod eang o opsiynau i gleifion gael mynediad at wasanaethau drwy ddefnyddio technoleg ddigidol. Mae brysbennu clinigol yn arf allweddol i sicrhau bod cleifion yn cael y gofal sydd ei angen arnynt, ar yr adeg gywir, gan y person cywir.
I thank the Minister for that answer. Access to GP services is an increasing issue in Alyn and Deeside, and this has been highlighted in recent weeks—twice, actually—at St Mark's surgery in Connah's Quay, where there is clearly a shortage of doctors, and in Queensferry, where residents are seeing their practice being moved, or potentially being moved, to Connah's Quay, because the current building is not fit for purpose.
Minister, with this in mind, will you meet with the health board to address the issue at St Mark's and make sure they do have an adequate number of GPs? Will you also ask your officials to look into the potential of building a new purpose-built medical centre that serves Queensferry and the surrounding communities?
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb hwnnw. Mae mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu yn broblem gynyddol yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy, ac amlygwyd hyn yn yr wythnosau diwethaf—ddwywaith, mewn gwirionedd—ym meddygfa St Mark yng Nghei Connah, lle mae'n amlwg fod yna brinder meddygon, ac yn Queensferry, lle mae practis yn cael ei symud, neu o bosibl yn cael ei symud, i Gei Connah, oherwydd nad yw'r adeilad presennol yn addas at y diben.
Weinidog, gyda hyn mewn golwg, a wnewch chi gyfarfod â'r bwrdd iechyd i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem ym meddygfa St Mark a sicrhau bod ganddynt nifer digonol o feddygon teulu? A wnewch chi hefyd ofyn i'ch swyddogion ymchwilio i'r posibilrwydd o adeiladu canolfan feddygol newydd bwrpasol i wasanaethu Queensferry a'r cymunedau cyfagos?
Diolch yn fawr, Jack. I know there have been some issues in particular with surgery at Connah's Quay in recent weeks. I think some of the issues that we saw outlined there, where, actually, a message went out that the practice was actually closed, and advising patients to call an alternative number, that should not have happened. The health board is very aware of that. I think we've got to remember, of course, that our clinicians and our services are built on the people who deliver them, and they are also susceptible to falling ill, and that's what happened in this particular case.
And I think it's important that we have a situation where of course we're looking at the infrastructure relating to surgeries around Wales. I've got to tell you that there's a huge amount of work to do in relation to upgrading surgeries around Wales. We have a commitment in our manifesto to create twenty-first century surgeries. We're hoping to do that on a kind of hub system so that we're working with local authorities and other partners to put that in place. It will be up to the local health board to determine the priority in which those should be set out. So, we will be in further discussions with them, but we are looking for how we can fulfil that commitment that was very clearly set out in our manifesto.
Diolch yn fawr, Jack. Gwn fod rhai problemau wedi codi'n benodol gyda meddygfa yng Nghei Connah yn yr wythnosau diwethaf. Credaf na ddylai rhai o'r materion a welsom yno, lle anfonwyd neges fod y practis wedi'i gau mewn gwirionedd, ac yn cynghori cleifion i ffonio rhif arall, fod wedi digwydd. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni gofio, wrth gwrs, fod ein clinigau a'n gwasanaethau wedi'u hadeiladu ar y bobl sy'n eu darparu, a gallant hwythau hefyd fynd yn sâl, a dyna a ddigwyddodd yn yr achos penodol hwn.
Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig fod gennym sefyllfa lle rydym, wrth gwrs, yn edrych ar y seilwaith mewn perthynas â meddygfeydd ledled Cymru. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrthych fod llawer iawn o waith i'w wneud mewn perthynas ag uwchraddio meddygfeydd ledled Cymru. Mae gennym ymrwymiad yn ein maniffesto i greu meddygfeydd ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Rydym yn gobeithio gwneud hynny ar ffurf rhyw fath o system hybiau fel ein bod yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid eraill i roi hynny ar waith. Mater i'r bwrdd iechyd lleol fydd penderfynu ar y flaenoriaeth ar gyfer pennu'r rheini. Felly, byddwn yn cynnal trafodaethau pellach gyda hwy, ond rydym yn edrych i weld sut y gallwn gyflawni'r ymrwymiad hwnnw a oedd wedi'i nodi'n glir iawn yn ein maniffesto.
Well, I was copied in on a patient's e-mail to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last week, complaining that a lack of permanent GPs at St Mark's surgery in Connah's Quay is, quote, 'now causing major problems as unable to book an appointment to see a doctor'. They tried to get through to the switchboard from 8 a.m. on 22, 23 and 24 June, and on each occasion, they were kept waiting for 45 minutes before being told that no appointments were left. On 28 June, a voicemail said the surgery was closed. Responding to me, the health board said the root of the problem was the unexpected sickness of two GPs due to be physically present and on duty on Monday, adding that this was the consequence of unplanned sickness, and this is now subject to the intervention of the area team to ensure this situation does not recur. However, this did not address the problem identified before 28 June, and similar problems are being raised by constituents who are patients at other practices.
What engagement are you therefore now having or planning with the relevant professional bodies, where it's now nine years since both the British Medical Association Cymru and the Royal College of General Practitioners Wales first launched campaigns warning members of a ticking time bomb, and seven years since the north Wales medical committee came to the Assembly, warning that general practice in north Wales was in crisis?
Wel, cefais gopi o e-bost claf at Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yr wythnos diwethaf, yn cwyno bod diffyg meddygon teulu parhaol ym meddygfa St Mark yng Nghei Connah bellach yn 'achosi problemau mawr gan na ellir trefnu apwyntiad i weld meddyg'. Ceisiwyd ffonio'r dderbynfa o 8 y bore ymlaen ar 22, 23 a 24 Mehefin, ac ar bob achlysur, buont yn aros am 45 munud cyn cael gwybod nad oedd unrhyw apwyntiadau ar ôl. Ar 28 Mehefin, roedd neges lais yn dweud bod y feddygfa ar gau. Wrth ymateb i mi, dywedodd y bwrdd iechyd mai gwraidd y broblem oedd salwch annisgwyl dau feddyg teulu a oedd i fod yn bresennol ac ar ddyletswydd ddydd Llun, gan ychwanegu bod hyn o ganlyniad i salwch sydyn ac mae hyn bellach yn destun ymyrraeth gan y tîm ardal i sicrhau nad yw'r sefyllfa hon yn digwydd eto. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd hyn yn mynd i'r afael â'r broblem a nodwyd cyn 28 Mehefin, ac mae problemau tebyg yn cael eu nodi gan etholwyr sy'n gleifion mewn practisau eraill.
Pa ymgysylltiad a gawsoch neu y bwriadwch ei gael gyda'r cyrff proffesiynol perthnasol, lle mae naw mlynedd bellach ers i Gymdeithas Feddygol Prydain yng Nghymru a Choleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol yng Nghymru lansio ymgyrchoedd yn rhybuddio aelodau fod y bom yn tician, a saith mlynedd ers i bwyllgor meddygol gogledd Cymru ddod i'r Cynulliad a rhybuddio bod ymarfer cyffredinol yng ngogledd Cymru mewn argyfwng?
Well, thanks very much. Now, since the launch of our ‘Train. Work. Live.’ campaign, north Wales in particular has benefited from a higher number of appointments into GP training. So, last year saw 29 new trainees who were recruited to speciality training schemes in Bangor, in Dyffryn Clwyd and in Wrexham. So, I think that should demonstrate to you that, actually, there is a lot of work being done on this, specifically by Health Education and Improvement Wales.
The other issue, which you touch upon, is about access to GPs, and we did set out some standards that we announced back in March 2019, and there were a whole series of standards that GPs needed to respond to, if they were to get that enhanced payment that was due—and I have written to Members today to set out who received what and who achieved what in relation to meeting those standards. So, we do have measures and ways of trying to interact and engage, and we will be doing that in the next few weeks, with general medical services, to make sure that we can drive up access for our patients around the whole of Wales. Just to let you know that about 76 per cent of practices across Wales achieved all of the GMS in-hours access standards, and that compares to 65 per cent last year. But I'm very well aware that that suggests that 24 per cent didn't, and those are the ones we need to focus on.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Nawr, ers lansio ein hymgyrch 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw.' mae gogledd Cymru yn arbennig wedi elwa o nifer fwy o benodiadau i hyfforddiant ymarfer cyffredinol. Felly, y llynedd, recriwtiwyd 29 o hyfforddeion newydd i gynlluniau hyfforddi arbenigol ym Mangor, yn Nyffryn Clwyd ac yn Wrecsam. Felly, credaf y dylai hynny ddangos i chi fod llawer o waith yn cael ei wneud ar hyn, yn benodol gan Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru.
Mae'r mater arall rydych yn sôn amdano, yn ymwneud â mynediad at feddygon teulu, a gwnaethom nodi safonau a gyhoeddwyd gennym yn ôl ym mis Mawrth 2019, ac roedd cyfres gyfan o safonau roedd angen i feddygon teulu ymateb iddynt cyn cael y taliad ychwanegol a oedd yn ddyledus—ac rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau heddiw i nodi pwy a gafodd beth a phwy a gyflawnodd beth mewn perthynas â chyrraedd y safonau hynny. Felly, mae gennym fesurau a ffyrdd o geisio rhyngweithio ac ymgysylltu, a byddwn yn gwneud hynny yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, gyda gwasanaethau meddygon teulu, i sicrhau y gallwn wella mynediad i'n cleifion ledled Cymru. Gallaf roi gwybod i chi fod tua 76 y cant o bractisau ledled Cymru wedi cyrraedd yr holl safonau mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu yn ystod oriau arferol, ac mae hynny'n cymharu â 65 y cant y llynedd. Ond rwy'n ymwybodol iawn fod hynny'n awgrymu na wnaeth 24 y cant lwyddo i wneud hynny, a dyna'r rhai y mae angen inni ganolbwyntio arnynt.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ymdrechion i wella gwasanaethau dementia yng Nghymru? OQ56738
6. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to improve dementia services in Wales? OQ56738
Thank you, Luke. Delivering the actions set out in our dementia action plan 2018 to 2022 continues to be a priority for the Welsh Government. We continue to work with regional partnership boards and stakeholders to do this, and to identify areas where further progress is needed.
Diolch, Luke. Mae cyflawni'r camau gweithredu a nodir yn ein cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia 2018 i 2022 yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Rydym yn parhau i weithio gyda byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol a rhanddeiliaid i wneud hyn, ac i nodi meysydd lle mae angen cynnydd pellach.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, and, as I'm sure you're aware, there are several different types of dementia in addition to Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form, affecting around 75 per cent of people in Wales. Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of dementia in older people, a type that my grandmother lived with, but it's relatively unknown and has very different symptoms to Alzheimer's disease. What strategies are in place to ensure that the sub-types of dementia are accurately diagnosed and recorded by health boards to ensure that patients get the best possible treatment, and carers and families get the right support?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog, ac fel y gwyddoch mae'n siŵr, mae sawl math gwahanol o ddementia yn ogystal â chlefyd Alzheimer, sef y ffurf fwyaf cyffredin, sy'n effeithio ar tua 75 y cant o bobl yng Nghymru. Dementia cyrff Lewy yw'r ail fath mwyaf cyffredin o ddementia ymhlith pobl hŷn, math roedd fy mam-gu yn byw gydag ef, ond ni wyddys llawer amdano ac mae'r symptomau'n wahanol iawn i glefyd Alzheimer. Pa strategaethau sydd ar waith i sicrhau bod byrddau iechyd yn gwneud diagnosis cywir o'r is-fathau o ddementia, ac yn eu cofnodi'n gywir, i sicrhau bod cleifion yn cael y driniaeth orau bosibl, a bod gofalwyr a theuluoedd yn cael y cymorth cywir?
Thank you very much, Luke, for that supplementary. And you've raised a very important issue, because we too often talk about dementia as an all-encompassing condition, whereas, as you've correctly highlighted, it does cover a range of different conditions. It is absolutely vital that we ensure that people have an accurate diagnosis, and also that that accurate diagnosis is properly recorded. Last year, a Welsh health circular was issued, requiring memory assessment services and primary care services to accurately record someone's dementia diagnosis according to set READ codes that are issued. Also, a new all-Wales pathway of dementia standards has recently been issued, which reinforces the need to do that, and, in order to attract funding from the dementia action plan, it is required that organisations align with those standards. So, that will help drive that progress, but also there's further work ongoing to embed the need to properly record the diagnosis being taking forward. But I'm also very happy if you would like to write to me with more detail about your concerns, as I recognise this is something you feel strongly about. I'd be very happy to look further at this and to meet you to discuss it further. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, Luke. Ac rydych wedi codi mater pwysig iawn, oherwydd rydym yn rhy aml yn siarad am ddementia fel cyflwr hollgynhwysol, ond fel rydych wedi nodi'n gywir, mae'n cwmpasu ystod o wahanol gyflyrau. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn sicrhau bod pobl yn cael diagnosis cywir, a hefyd bod y diagnosis cywir hwnnw'n cael ei gofnodi'n gywir. Y llynedd, cyhoeddwyd cylchlythyr iechyd yng Nghymru yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i wasanaethau asesu'r cof a gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol gofnodi diagnosis rhywun o ddementia yn gywir yn ôl codau READ penodol a gyhoeddir. Hefyd, cyhoeddwyd llwybr newydd o safonau dementia i Gymru gyfan yn ddiweddar, sy'n atgyfnerthu'r angen i wneud hynny, ac er mwyn denu cyllid o'r cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia, mae'n ofynnol i sefydliadau gyd-fynd â'r safonau hynny. Felly, bydd hynny'n helpu i hybu'r cynnydd hwnnw, ond hefyd mae gwaith pellach yn mynd rhagddo i ymgorffori'r angen i gofnodi'r diagnosis yn briodol. Ond rwyf hefyd yn hapus iawn i chi ysgrifennu ataf gyda mwy o fanylion am eich pryderon, gan fy mod yn cydnabod bod hwn yn fater rydych yn teimlo'n gryf yn ei gylch. Byddwn yn hapus iawn i edrych ar hyn yn fanylach ac i gwrdd â chi i'w drafod ymhellach. Diolch.
7. Beth yw blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gwella systemau digidol o fewn GIG Cymru? OQ56716
7. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for improving digital systems within the Welsh NHS? OQ56716
Our priority is to build on the impressive digital response to the COVID pandemic, and to lock in new ways of working that enabled us to use digital platforms to support our outstanding contact tracing and vaccine delivery services in Wales.
Ein blaenoriaeth yw adeiladu ar yr ymateb digidol trawiadol i bandemig COVID, a gweithredu ffyrdd newydd o weithio a'n galluogodd i ddefnyddio llwyfannau digidol i gefnogi ein gwasanaethau olrhain cysylltiadau a darparu brechlynnau rhagorol yng Nghymru.
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I'm sure that you know that, for many years now, IT workarounds have been devised by practitioners within the NHS, such as a bespoke app that two GPs in my constituency are developing with a local company. This particular app will enable patients to access their records, better medicate their own conditions and order repeat prescriptions, whilst also empowering the GPs to push out public health information. How are you, Minister, ensuring, though, that the NHS Wales Informatics Service has oversight of these kind of workarounds and is able to extrapolate best practice and then embed this into their 'once for Wales' approach?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn gwybod bod datrysiadau TG wedi'u dyfeisio ers blynyddoedd bellach gan ymarferwyr o fewn y GIG, megis ap pwrpasol y mae dau feddyg teulu yn fy etholaeth yn ei ddatblygu gyda chwmni lleol. Bydd yr ap hwn yn galluogi cleifion i gael mynediad at eu cofnodion, i feddyginiaethu eu cyflyrau eu hunain yn well ac i archebu presgripsiynau rheolaidd, gan rymuso'r meddygon teulu hefyd i ledaenu gwybodaeth iechyd y cyhoedd. Weinidog, sut rydych chi'n sicrhau, serch hynny, fod Gwasanaeth Gwybodeg GIG Cymru yn gallu goruchwylio'r mathau hyn o ddatrysiadau ac allosod arferion gorau a'u cynnwys yn eu dull 'unwaith i Gymru'?
Thanks very much, Vikki, and I know that some GPs have been incredibly innovative in the way that they've responded to the pandemic, and knowing that it's difficult to meet people face to face under some conditions, and therefore they have been really inventive, and it's great to hear that is happening in your constituency. I'm certainly very happy to pass on—if you could pass on that information to me, I'll make sure that that gets to Digital Health and Care Wales, who, of course, have now taken over from NWIS, and I know they work hard to identify new and emerging technologies that have the potential to improve health and care services. So, I'm very happy to look at that, and I'll be meeting with the head of Digital Health and Care Wales next week.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Vikki, a gwn fod rhai meddygon teulu wedi bod yn anhygoel o arloesol yn y ffordd y maent wedi ymateb i'r pandemig, gan wybod ei bod yn anodd cwrdd â phobl wyneb yn wyneb o dan rai amgylchiadau, ac felly maent wedi bod yn ddyfeisgar iawn, ac mae'n wych clywed bod hynny'n digwydd yn eich etholaeth. Rwy'n sicr yn hapus iawn i drosglwyddo—os gallwch drosglwyddo'r wybodaeth honno i mi, fe wnaf yn siŵr ei bod yn cyrraedd Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru, sydd bellach wedi cymryd drosodd gan Wasanaeth Gwybodeg GIG Cymru wrth gwrs, a gwn eu bod yn gweithio'n galed i nodi technolegau newydd a thechnolegau sy'n datblygu sydd â photensial i wella gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn i edrych ar hynny, a byddaf yn cyfarfod â phennaeth Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru yr wythnos nesaf.
8. Beth yw asesiad presennol y Gweinidog o ledaeniad amrywiolyn delta ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr? OQ56742
8. What is the Minister's current assessment of the spread of the delta variant in Bridgend? OQ56742
The delta variant continues to spread both in Bridgend and elsewhere in Wales, but Bridgend does currently have comparatively low rates of infection compared to a lot of other local authority areas in Wales. Our vaccination programme continues to offer the best means of combating the spread.
Mae'r amrywiolyn delta yn parhau i ledaenu ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr ac mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru, ond ar hyn o bryd mae gan Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr gyfraddau heintio cymharol isel o gymharu â llawer o ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol eraill yng Nghymru. Mae ein rhaglen frechu yn parhau i gynnig y ffordd orau o ymladd y lledaeniad.
Diolch, Minister. During the election campaign, I met a lot of people who are very appreciative of the Welsh Government's handling of the pandemic, and particularly the First Minister's cautious approach to easing restrictions, as they are very scared and anxious about relaxing restrictions too quickly. The area I represent, Bridgend and Porthcawl, was one of the worst affected areas during the second wave of the pandemic, and that's an experience that we don't want to repeat. Many of the most vulnerable in our community are only just getting the confidence to go back out and about again, and when I met with staff at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend a few weeks ago, they too are very concerned about another wave of COVID cases. So, with that in mind, could you outline what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure as many people as possible are protected against this terrible virus and its many variants before we look to relax restrictions further?
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn ystod ymgyrch yr etholiad, cyfarfûm â llawer o bobl sy'n gwerthfawrogi'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymdrin â'r pandemig, ac yn enwedig ymagwedd ragofalus y Prif Weinidog tuag at lacio cyfyngiadau symud, gan eu bod yn ofnus ac yn bryderus iawn ynghylch llacio'r cyfyngiadau symud yn rhy gyflym. Roedd yr ardal rwy'n ei chynrychioli, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl, yn un o'r ardaloedd yr effeithiwyd arni waethaf yn ystod ail don y pandemig, ac mae hwnnw'n brofiad nad ydym am ei ailadrodd. Dim ond newydd gael hyder i fynd yn ôl allan eto y mae llawer o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymuned, a phan gyfarfûm â staff yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, roedd yn amlwg eu bod hwythau hefyd yn pryderu'n fawr am don arall o achosion COVID. Felly, gyda hynny mewn golwg, a allech chi amlinellu'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod cynifer o bobl â phosibl yn cael eu diogelu rhag y feirws ofnadwy hwn a'i amrywiolion niferus cyn inni geisio llacio'r cyfyngiadau symud ymhellach?
Well, thanks very much, Sarah, and can I assure you that there is not going to be any big liberation day here in Wales when it comes to COVID, not when rates are increasing at the rate they are? It really defies belief to look at what's happening in England, when you see the rates increasing at the rate they are. Our decisions will be based on science, they'll be based on evidence, and we are very pleased to see the number of people in Wales who have taken the opportunity to have the vaccine, and we know now that there is definitely a weakening when we see the relationship between contracting the virus and having the vaccine and hospitalisations and deaths. So, that's the good news.
The other good news is that, actually, adults have been taking up this opportunity. There's still an issue with younger people, which is why we have set up walk-in centres, which were set up across Wales last weekend. But I think we have also got to be realistic and get to a place to understand that we are going to have to live with COVID; it's not going to disappear. But we will need to do that in a cautious way, understanding that there will always be vulnerable people within our communities and we need to be sensitive to them as well, whilst, of course, understanding the other harms that people are experiencing. In particular, there are economic harms, mental health harms and social harms that we also have to bear in mind. So, next week, we as a Government will be setting out our next steps in terms of the virus and our route-map in Wales.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn, Sarah, ac a gaf fi eich sicrhau na fydd diwrnod rhyddid mawr yma yng Nghymru mewn perthynas â COVID gyda chyfraddau'n cynyddu fel y maent? Mae'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn Lloegr yn wirioneddol anghredadwy, pan welwch y cyfraddau'n cynyddu fel y maent. Bydd ein penderfyniadau'n seiliedig ar wyddoniaeth, byddant yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth, ac rydym yn falch iawn o weld nifer y bobl yng Nghymru sydd wedi manteisio ar y cyfle i gael y brechlyn, a gwyddom yn awr fod yna wanhau pendant pan welwn y berthynas rhwng dal y feirws a chael y brechlyn a'r nifer sy'n cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty a nifer y marwolaethau. Felly, dyna'r newyddion da.
Y newyddion da arall yw bod oedolion wedi bod yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwn. Mae problem o hyd gyda phobl iau, a dyna pam ein bod wedi sefydlu canolfannau galw i mewn, a sefydlwyd ledled Cymru y penwythnos diwethaf. Ond rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni hefyd fod yn realistig a deall y bydd yn rhaid inni fyw gyda COVID; ni fydd yn diflannu. Ond bydd angen inni wneud hynny mewn ffordd ragofalus, gan ddeall y bydd yna bob amser bobl sy'n agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau ac mae angen inni fod yn sensitif iddynt hwythau hefyd, tra'n deall, wrth gwrs, y mathau eraill o niwed y mae pobl yn eu dioddef. Yn benodol, mae yna niwed economaidd, niwed i iechyd meddwl a niwed cymdeithasol y mae'n rhaid inni eu cadw mewn cof hefyd. Felly, yr wythnos nesaf, byddwn ni fel Llywodraeth yn nodi ein camau nesaf mewn perthynas â'r feirws a'n cynllun yng Nghymru.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Fe fyddwn ni nawr yn cymryd toriad byr tra bod newidiadau yn digwydd yn y Siambr.
I thank the Minister. We will now suspend proceedings to allow changeovers in the Chamber.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:22.
Plenary was suspended at 15:22.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:31, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 15:31, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.
Eitem 3, cwestiynau amserol. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Item 3 is topical questions. Janet Finch-Saunders.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad yn ymateb i’r galwadau gan arweinwyr y 22 o awdurdodau lleol Cymru i Lywodraeth Cymru adolygu pwerau a chylch gwaith Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru? TQ562
1. Will the Minister make a statement in response to calls from the leaders of Wales's 22 local authorities for the Welsh Government to review the powers and remit of Natural Resources Wales? TQ562
I welcome feedback from the Welsh Local Government Association. We certainly need to ensure our bodies, including NRW, are best placed to achieve our significant environmental ambitions. We're starting with the review of the delivery of flood risk management functions, to which the Welsh Government committed in the national flood strategy.
Rwy'n croesawu adborth gan Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru. Yn sicr, mae angen inni sicrhau bod ein cyrff, gan gynnwys Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, yn y sefyllfa orau i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau amgylcheddol sylweddol. Rydym yn dechrau gyda'r adolygiad o swyddogaethau rheoli perygl llifogydd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo iddynt yn y strategaeth llifogydd genedlaethol.
Thank you. I wouldn't have exactly called it 'welcome feedback'. I was shocked, and I'm sure those employees on the front line were shocked also, working for NRW, that all of Wales's 22 local authorities have now called for a review. The letter sent by the leader of the WLGA had scathing comments on it, Minister, such as,
'when dealing with events at a local level there can still be tensions over decisions and choices'.
And a number of leaders suggested that not all is well. Local authorities are calling for you to question how well the functions undertaken by NRW are being performed, and if there might be an alternative, more effective model of working. We believe there most certainly is. As we said in 2018, the quango should be split up. It has simply gone from crisis to crisis.
The timber deal scandal lost the Welsh taxpayer at least £1 million. Despite compiling an evidence-based report at a cost of £45,000 to the taxpayer, NRW ignored the advice and banned game shooting on public land. The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, at their inquiry into the February flooding, found that NRW's role and services were stretched beyond capacity, and only around half the 70 additional staff needed—and that was according to the chief executive and the 'February 2020 Floods in Wales: Flood Incident Management Review'—only 30 had been appointed.
The recent section 19 report by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council found that flooding at Pentre was caused by wooded debris washing off the mountainside and blocking a local culvert. They very robustly pointed the finger at NRW. Another failing. In Aberconwy, local landowners were forced to carry out works to the Tan Lan embankment, after NRW would not pay. They were quoting £150,000 for this work to be done, and my constituents have managed to have the work done for £15,000. And our community request for dredging of the afon Conwy, protection of Gwydir Castle, and removal of the large build-up of shale around Llanrwst bridge, remain unaddressed.
I am not alone in having no confidence whatsoever in NRW's ability to respond effectively to flood events, and, as such, have made clear that we should have a national flood agency for Wales, 100 per cent focused on flooding. Do you agree on that?
NRW and Welsh Government should pay compensation to the residents affected in Rhondda. Are you looking into the possibility of doing so? And, do you agree with me that you should respond to Councillor Andrew Morgan's letter by committing to review how NRW might be better modelled going forward?
The number of complaints coming into my mailbag now about NRW, and the lack of trust that the public have in this organisation now, is becoming quite concerning. Will you please listen to the words of those 22 local authority leaders, who have their own local intelligence and know what works for them and what doesn't? And will you look, please, Minister, once and for all, at restructuring NRW? Thank you. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Diolch. Ni fyddwn wedi'i alw'n 'adborth i'w groesawu'. Cefais sioc, ac rwy'n siŵr bod gweithwyr ar y rheng flaen wedi cael sioc hefyd, a hwythau'n gweithio i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, fod pob un o'r 22 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru bellach wedi galw am adolygiad. Roedd y llythyr a anfonwyd gan arweinydd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn cynnwys sylwadau brawychus, Weinidog, megis,
'wrth ymdrin â digwyddiadau ar lefel leol gall fod tensiynau o hyd ynghylch penderfyniadau a dewisiadau'.
Ac mae nifer o arweinwyr wedi awgrymu nad yw pethau fel y dylent fod. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn galw arnoch i gwestiynu pa mor dda y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn cyflawni eu swyddogaethau, ac a ellid cael model gweithio amgen, mwy effeithiol. Credwn fod hynny'n sicr. Fel y dywedasom yn 2018, dylid chwalu'r cwango. Mae wedi mynd o un argyfwng i'r llall.
Collodd sgandal y cytundeb pren o leiaf £1 filiwn i drethdalwyr Cymru. Er bod adroddiad sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth wedi'i lunio ar gost o £45,000 i'r trethdalwr, anwybyddodd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru y cyngor a gwahardd saethu adar hela ar dir cyhoeddus. Yn ei ymchwiliad i lifogydd mis Chwefror, canfu'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig fod rôl a gwasanaethau Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi'u hymestyn y tu hwnt i gapasiti, ac mai dim ond tua hanner y 70 o staff ychwanegol roedd eu hangen—a hynny yn ôl y prif weithredwr a 'Llifogydd yng Nghymru ym mis Chwefror 2020: Adolygiad Rheoli Digwyddiadau Llifogydd'—30 yn unig a gafodd eu penodi.
Canfu'r adroddiad adran 19 diweddar gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf fod llifogydd ym Mhentre wedi'u hachosi gan weddillion pren yn golchi oddi ar ochr y mynydd ac yn blocio cwlfert lleol. Fe wnaethant bwyntio bys yn bendant iawn at Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Methiant arall. Yn Aberconwy, gorfodwyd tirfeddianwyr lleol i wneud gwaith ar arglawdd Tan Lan, wedi i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wrthod talu. Roeddent yn dweud y byddai'r gwaith yn costio £150,000 i'w wneud, ac mae fy etholwyr wedi llwyddo i wneud y gwaith am £15,000. Ac rydym yn dal i ddisgwyl ateb ynglŷn â'n cais cymunedol yn galw am garthu afon Conwy, diogelu Castell Gwydir, a chael gwared ar y siâl sy'n cronni o gwmpas pont Llanrwst.
Nid fi yw'r unig un sydd heb unrhyw hyder o gwbl yng ngallu Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i ymateb yn effeithiol i lifogydd, ac o'r herwydd, rwyf wedi egluro y dylem gael asiantaeth lifogydd genedlaethol i Gymru, sy'n canolbwyntio 100 y cant ar lifogydd. A ydych chi'n cytuno â hynny?
Dylai Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru dalu iawndal i'r trigolion yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn y Rhondda. A ydych yn ymchwilio i'r posibilrwydd o wneud hynny? Ac a ydych yn cytuno y dylech ymateb i lythyr y Cynghorydd Andrew Morgan drwy ymrwymo i adolygu sut y gellid modelu Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn well wrth symud ymlaen?
Mae nifer y cwynion rwy'n eu derbyn am Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn awr, a'r diffyg ymddiriedaeth sydd gan y cyhoedd yn y sefydliad hwn yn awr, yn peri cryn bryder. A wnewch chi wrando ar eiriau'r 22 arweinydd awdurdod lleol sydd â'u gwybodaeth leol eu hunain ac sy'n gwybod beth sy'n gweithio iddynt hwy a beth nad yw'n gweithio? Ac a wnewch chi edrych, os gwelwch yn dda, Weinidog, unwaith ac am byth, ar ailstrwythuro Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru? Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Thank you for that, Janet Finch-Saunders. I'm not sure which of your very many questions you wanted me to focus on, so I will just focus on the ones that I think are the most important. First of all, I've already had a meeting with NRW's leadership team, in which I've been extremely clear about my expectations for their future resource management, management in general, and their relationships with public authorities across Wales in a team Wales approach.
We're already conducting a review of the flood management arrangements, as I have said. We have a large number of regulatory arrangements coming back from Europe, and I've already asked for a review of the structure and delivery of those new regulatory powers to be arranged. We also need to be mindful of NRW's capacity to look at all of these reviews at the same time as delivering their vital services on the ground.
I've asked all flood management authorities to review their processes as we approach the next winter. We've already conducted two emergency exercises to ensure that everybody knows who should be doing what in the event of extreme flooding or other weather events during the next winter. And I am, of course, in close liaison with the local government association, with whom I have an excellent relationship, via my good friend and colleague Rebecca Evans's good offices as local government Minister, to continue a robust discussion with them and with NRW.
Diolch ichi am hynny, Janet Finch-Saunders. Nid wyf yn siŵr pa un o'ch cwestiynau niferus roeddech eisiau i mi ganolbwyntio arnynt, felly rwyf am ganolbwyntio ar y rhai sydd bwysicaf yn fy marn i. Yn gyntaf oll, rwyf eisoes wedi cael cyfarfod gyda thîm arwain Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, lle rwyf wedi bod yn hynod glir ynglŷn â fy nisgwyliadau ar gyfer sut y byddant yn rheoli adnoddau yn y dyfodol, sut y byddant yn rheoli'n gyffredinol, a'u perthynas ag awdurdodau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru mewn dull tîm Cymru o weithredu.
Rydym eisoes yn cynnal adolygiad o'r trefniadau rheoli llifogydd, fel y dywedais. Mae gennym nifer fawr o drefniadau rheoleiddio yn dod yn ôl o Ewrop, ac rwyf eisoes wedi gofyn am drefnu adolygiad o strwythur a darpariaeth y pwerau rheoleiddio newydd hynny. Mae angen inni fod yn ymwybodol hefyd o allu Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i edrych ar yr holl adolygiadau hyn ar yr un pryd â darparu eu gwasanaethau hanfodol ar lawr gwlad.
Rwyf wedi gofyn i bob awdurdod rheoli llifogydd adolygu eu prosesau wrth i ni nesáu at y gaeaf nesaf. Rydym eisoes wedi cynnal dau ymarfer brys i sicrhau bod pawb yn gwybod pwy ddylai fod yn gwneud beth os bydd llifogydd eithafol neu ddigwyddiadau tywydd eraill yn digwydd yn ystod y gaeaf nesaf. Ac wrth gwrs, rwyf mewn cysylltiad agos â'r gymdeithas llywodraeth leol, corff y mae gennyf berthynas ragorol ag ef drwy gymwynasgarwch fy nghyfaill agos a fy nghyd-Aelod Rebecca Evans fel Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, i barhau i drafod yn gadarn â hwy a chyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru.
I need to declare an interest in this issue, as I live in the community of Pentre, and was personally affected by the 2020 floods.
Minister, as you're aware, I have my own anxieties and frustrations with NRW. Over 200 properties and businesses flooded in the Rhondda last year. Immediate action was taken by Welsh Government, Welsh Water and RCT council to put right the culvert and drainage systems. Clear dialogue has been provided to residents throughout. Sadly, this can't be said of NRW. Flood-affected residents frankly feel ignored by NRW and feel that the public body lacks accountability. I share these views.
The behaviour of NRW following the release of RCT council's section 19 report into the Pentre floods was appalling. Refusing to take any responsibility for the dreadful events of last year is insulting, given the fact there's clear photo and video evidence of wooded debris from NRW land blocking the culvert above Pentre. Public bodies should willingly co-operate with other public bodies for the benefit of residents. We've seen anything but from NRW in the Rhondda. It's for these reasons that I believe NRW needs an urgent review, and I'd appreciate a meeting with the Minister to further discuss this for the benefit of the flood-affected residents and businesses.
Mae angen imi ddatgan buddiant yn y mater hwn, gan fy mod yn byw yng nghymuned Pentre, ac fe gefais fy effeithio yn bersonol gan lifogydd 2020.
Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, mae gennyf fy mhryderon a fy rhwystredigaethau fy hun gyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Fe ddioddefodd dros 200 eiddo a busnes lifogydd yn y Rhondda y llynedd. Cymerwyd camau ar unwaith gan Lywodraeth Cymru, Dŵr Cymru a chyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf i gyweirio'r systemau cwlfert a draenio. Darparwyd deialog glir ar gyfer y preswylwyr drwyddi draw. Yn anffodus, ni ellir dweud hyn am Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Mae trigolion yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan lifogydd yn teimlo eu bod wedi cael eu hanwybyddu gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ac yn teimlo bod diffyg atebolrwydd o fewn y corff cyhoeddus. Rwy'n rhannu'r safbwyntiau hyn.
Roedd ymddygiad Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, yn dilyn rhyddhau adroddiad adran 19 cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf ar lifogydd Pentre yn warthus. Mae gwrthod cymryd unrhyw gyfrifoldeb am ddigwyddiadau ofnadwy y llynedd yn sarhaus, o ystyried bod tystiolaeth glir mewn lluniau a fideos o weddillion pren o dir Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn blocio'r cwlfert uwchben Pentre. Dylai cyrff cyhoeddus fod yn barod i gydweithredu â chyrff cyhoeddus eraill er budd trigolion. Nid ydym wedi gweld hynny o gwbl gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn y Rhondda. Am y rhesymau hyn, rwy'n credu bod angen adolygiad brys ar Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, a byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi cyfarfod gyda'r Gweinidog i drafod hyn ymhellach er budd y trigolion a'r busnesau yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan y llifogydd.
Thank you, Buffy, for those comments and remarks. I've certainly already welcomed Rhondda Cynon Taf's section 19 report in relation to the 2020 flooding in Pentre, and my sympathies go to all of the residents, including yourself, who suffered from the flooding in that extreme weather event last year.
There are clearly some very concerning findings, and lessons clearly need to be learned following those devastating floods. Both NRW and RCT have acknowledged this in their respective reports, and I know they are working together to address recommendations to improve the level of flood protection provided to the community. I can't comment on the individual issues around compensation and so on for obvious reasons. I am more than happy to meet with you and the local authority leaders, and, in fact, I believe we have such a meeting immediately following this topical question. So, I'll be very delighted to take part in that meeting and consider further what we can do.
I am very keen to consider the feedback from local authority leaders, other delivery partners, and the public in the context of the lessons we need to learn. We also need to make absolutely certain that all flood risk management authorities work together to develop a plan of action for the Pentre community and for the other communities across Wales, to provide clarity on the action they have taken since the floods in 2020 and to provide reassurance that we will not see recurrences of that in the forthcoming winter.
However, as you know, we have declared a climate and nature emergency in the Senedd because of our changing climate and the necessary need to protect against extreme weather events becoming much more common. So, I understand and accept the urgency of the remarks that you've made and we certainly will be working with NRW and all of the relevant flood risk management authorities to ensure that we have those robust emergency plans in place, and that we've taken all the necessary steps to do everything we can do to be as ready as possible for the forthcoming winter.
Diolch am y sylwadau hynny, Buffy. Rwyf eisoes wedi croesawu adroddiad adran 19 Rhondda Cynon Taf mewn perthynas â llifogydd 2020 ym Mhentre, ac rwy'n cydymdeimlo â'r holl drigolion, gan eich cynnwys chi, a ddioddefodd yn sgil y llifogydd yn y tywydd eithafol hwnnw y llynedd.
Mae'n amlwg fod yna rai canfyddiadau sy'n peri pryder mawr, ac mae'n amlwg fod angen dysgu gwersi yn dilyn y llifogydd dinistriol hynny. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a chyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi cydnabod hyn yn eu hadroddiadau, a gwn eu bod yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i fynd i'r afael ag argymhellion i wella lefel yr amddiffyniad rhag llifogydd a ddarperir i'r gymuned. Ni allaf roi sylwadau ar y materion unigol sy'n ymwneud ag iawndal ac yn y blaen am resymau amlwg. Rwy'n fwy na bodlon cwrdd â chi ac arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol, ac mewn gwirionedd, credaf fod gennym gyfarfod o'r fath yn syth ar ôl y cwestiwn amserol hwn. Felly, byddaf wrth fy modd yn cymryd rhan yn y cyfarfod hwnnw a rhoi ystyriaeth bellach i'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud.
Rwy'n awyddus iawn i ystyried yr adborth gan arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol, partneriaid cyflenwi eraill, a'r cyhoedd yng nghyd-destun y gwersi y mae angen i ni eu dysgu. Mae angen inni hefyd sicrhau bod pob awdurdod rheoli perygl llifogydd yn cydweithio i ddatblygu cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer cymuned Pentre a'r cymunedau eraill ledled Cymru, er mwyn egluro'r camau y maent wedi'u cymryd ers y llifogydd yn 2020 ac i roi sicrwydd na fydd hynny'n digwydd eto yn y gaeaf sydd i ddod.
Fodd bynnag, fel y gwyddoch, rydym wedi datgan argyfwng hinsawdd a natur yn y Senedd oherwydd ein hinsawdd newidiol a'r rheidrwydd i ddiogelu rhag i ddigwyddiadau tywydd eithafol ddod yn llawer mwy cyffredin. Felly, rwy'n deall ac yn derbyn difrifoldeb y sylwadau rydych wedi'u gwneud a byddwn yn sicr yn gweithio gyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a'r holl awdurdodau rheoli perygl llifogydd perthnasol i sicrhau bod gennym gynlluniau argyfwng cadarn ar waith, a'n bod wedi cymryd yr holl gamau angenrheidiol i wneud popeth y gallwn ei wneud i fod mor barod â phosibl ar gyfer y gaeaf sydd i ddod.
It is right that questions are asked of NRW and I raised this very issue yesterday in the Senedd, but I am concerned by the tone of the comments made today. At the end of the day, I think we need to remember that Natural Resources Wales are a Welsh Government sponsored body. In their own review and report into the floods, they stated that they have been underfunded and this has been on record for a number of years, and, as Janet Finch-Saunders referenced, they need an additional 60 to 70 members of staff, which they still don't have.
So, therefore, can I ask that we don't make a scapegoat of Natural Resources Wales solely on this, but that it is time now that we have that full independent inquiry into the floods? Because as the rest of the section 19 report will be published, the fault won't just lie with Natural Resources Wales—questions will be asked of Welsh Government; questions will be asked of local authorities; questions will be asked of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. There are a number of organisations with responsibility for flooding and it's a very complex picture, and there are different reasons. Even in the section 19 report, there is some fault directed towards RCT council in terms of the drains in Pentre as well, so not solely focused on NRW.
Can we please, given this public fallout and given all of these concerns raised, have that independent inquiry into the floods, so that people get justice and the answers they deserve, and we tackle flooding for the future once and for all, rather than commissioning review after review and rather than tackling the root cause and getting to grips with this issue as a matter of urgency?
Mae'n iawn inni ofyn cwestiynau i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a chodais yr union fater hwn ddoe yn y Senedd, ond rwy'n bryderus ynghylch cywair y sylwadau a wnaethpwyd heddiw. Yn y pen draw, rwy'n credu bod angen inni gofio bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gorff a noddir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Yn eu hadolygiad a'u hadroddiad eu hunain ar y llifogydd, dywedasant eu bod wedi eu tangyllido a bod hynny wedi'i gofnodi ers nifer o flynyddoedd, ac fel y dywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders, mae angen 60 i 70 aelod ychwanegol o staff arnynt, ac maent yn dal i fod heb eu cael.
Felly, a gaf fi ofyn am beidio â gwneud Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn fwch dihangol ar hyn yn unig, ond ei bod yn bryd inni gael ymchwiliad annibynnol llawn i'r llifogydd? Oherwydd, wrth i weddill adroddiad adran 19 gael ei gyhoeddi, nid Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn unig fydd ar fai—bydd cwestiynau yn cael eu gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru; bydd cwestiynau'n cael eu gofyn i awdurdodau lleol; bydd cwestiynau'n cael eu gofyn i Dŵr Cymru. Mae gan nifer o sefydliadau gyfrifoldeb am lifogydd ac mae'n ddarlun cymhleth iawn, a cheir rhesymau gwahanol. Hyd yn oed yn yr adroddiad adran 19, dywedir bod rhywfaint o fai ar gyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf mewn perthynas â'r draeniau ym Mhentre hefyd, felly nid oedd yn canolbwyntio ar Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn unig.
Os gwelwch yn dda, o gofio'r anghydfod cyhoeddus hwn ac o ystyried yr holl bryderon a godwyd, a allwn ni gael yr ymchwiliad annibynnol hwnnw i'r llifogydd, er mwyn i bobl gael cyfiawnder a'r atebion y maent yn eu haeddu, ac a gawn ni fynd i'r afael â llifogydd unwaith ac am byth ar gyfer y dyfodol, yn hytrach na chomisiynu adolygiad ar ôl adolygiad, a mynd i'r afael â'r achos sylfaenol a datrys y mater hwn ar frys?
Well, thank you very much, Heledd, for those remarks. I certainly agree with the remarks in which you praised the action of the many staff in NRW who worked above and beyond the call of duty during the flooding. And I want to add my thanks to those staff, including the staff who work specifically on these particular issues. There were staff from across the public sector working very hard both in the run-up to the flood events and indeed in the crisis afterwards—well above and beyond the call of duty, and I certainly add my thanks to them for doing so.
As I said, we are already in the process of reviewing the flood management arrangements. We've already reviewed that with a number of public bodies and I have already met with the NRW leadership team in order to discuss my requirements going forward for their liaison as part of our team Wales approach, exactly as you outlined.
As I've already explained several times in the Senedd to you, I don't agree with your call for an independent inquiry. I think that just diverts resources away from the issue at hand. I appreciate that you don't agree with that, but I'm afraid I don't agree with you on that point. We will be working very hard with NRW and all other partners across Wales to ensure that we have all the lessons learned in place and that we have the right resources available in the right place for the forthcoming winter.
Just to remind everyone that NRW is a great deal more than just a flood defences authority. They employ 1,900 staff and have a budget of £180 million. This is not a small, under-resourced organisation and I do think the public of Wales need to understand that in the light of the comments being made today.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn am y sylwadau hynny, Heledd. Rwy'n sicr yn cytuno â'r sylwadau lle'r oeddech yn canmol gwaith y nifer fawr o staff Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a weithiodd y tu hwnt i alwad dyletswydd yn ystod y llifogydd. A hoffwn ychwanegu fy niolch i'r staff hynny, gan gynnwys y staff sy'n gweithio'n benodol ar y materion hyn. Roedd staff o bob rhan o'r sector cyhoeddus yn gweithio'n galed iawn yn y cyfnod cyn y llifogydd ac yn wir yn ystod yr argyfwng wedyn—ymhell y tu hwnt i alwad dyletswydd, ac rwy'n sicr eisiau diolch iddynt am wneud hynny.
Fel y dywedais, rydym eisoes wrthi'n adolygu'r trefniadau rheoli llifogydd. Rydym eisoes wedi adolygu'r rheini gyda nifer o gyrff cyhoeddus ac rwyf eisoes wedi cyfarfod â thîm arwain Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru er mwyn trafod fy ngofynion wrth symud ymlaen i gael cyswllt â hwy fel rhan o'n dull tîm Cymru, yn union fel yr amlinellwyd gennych.
Fel rwyf eisoes wedi'i esbonio i chi sawl gwaith yn y Senedd, nid wyf yn cytuno â'ch galwad am ymchwiliad annibynnol. Credaf fod hynny'n dargyfeirio adnoddau oddi wrth y mater dan sylw. Rwy'n sylweddoli nad ydych yn cytuno â hynny, ond mae arnaf ofn nad wyf yn cytuno â chi ar y pwynt hwnnw. Byddwn yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a'r holl bartneriaid eraill ledled Cymru i sicrhau ein bod yn ystyried yr holl wersi a ddysgwyd a bod gennym yr adnoddau cywir ar gael yn y lle iawn ar gyfer y gaeaf sydd i ddod.
Hoffwn atgoffa pawb fod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn llawer mwy nag awdurdod amddiffyn rhag llifogydd. Maent yn cyflogi 1,900 o staff ac mae ganddynt gyllideb o £180 miliwn. Nid yw hwn yn sefydliad bach heb ddigon o adnoddau ac rwy'n credu bod angen i'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru ddeall hynny yng ngoleuni'r sylwadau sy'n cael eu gwneud heddiw.
Diolch, Weinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Eitem 4: datganiadau 90-eiliad. Huw Irranca-Davies.
The next item is the 90-second statements. Huw Irranca-Davies.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. This weekend, I took my first steps on Prostate Cymru's The Big