Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
26/01/2022Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd drwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
The Senedd met by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da, bawb, a chroeso i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn i ni ddechrau, dwi angen nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. 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'r prynhawn yma. Mae'r rheini wedi nodi ar eich agenda chi.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. A Plenary meeting held by 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.
Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Gareth Davies.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Climate Change, and the first question is from Gareth Davies.
1. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Chyngor Sir Ddinbych ynghylch atgyweirio seilwaith a ddifrodwyd gan storm Christoph? OQ57516
1. What discussions has the Minister had with Denbighshire County Council about repairing infrastructure damaged by storm Christoph? OQ57516
Thank you, Gareth. Denbighshire were successful in their application for £440,000-worth of works for post-storm repairs to flood and drainage assets as a result of storm Christoph at various locations. Post-storm repairs were 100 per cent funded and the grant award of the works were subject to technical appraisal, ensuring flood funding eligibility criteria.
Diolch, Gareth. Bu Sir Ddinbych yn llwyddiannus gyda'u cais am werth £440,000 o waith atgyweirio asedau llifogydd a draenio o ganlyniad i storm Christoph mewn gwahanol leoliadau. Cafodd y gwaith atgyweirio ar ôl y storm ei ariannu 100 y cant, ac roedd dyfarniad y grant ar gyfer y gwaith yn amodol ar arfarniad technegol, gan sicrhau bod y meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer cyllid llifogydd wedi'u bodloni.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. While I understand that there are processes to be followed, the fact is that, a year after the devastation, my constituents are still without a vital road link between Trefnant and Tremeirchion, and two local communities, essentially, remain isolated from one another and there's no end in sight, which is hugely frustrating. Minister, will you ensure that any funding requests are prioritised and that processes are accelerated and that you do all you can to ensure that the historic Llannerch bridge is restored as quickly as possible?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Er fy mod yn deall bod prosesau i’w dilyn, y gwir amdani, flwyddyn ar ôl y dinistr, yw bod fy etholwyr yn dal i fod heb gysylltiad ffordd hanfodol rhwng Trefnant a Thremeirchion, ac mae dwy gymuned leol yn parhau i fod wedi'u hynysu oddi wrth ei gilydd i bob pwrpas ac nid oes unrhyw arwydd y daw hynny i ben cyn bo hir, sy'n hynod o rwystredig. Weinidog, a wnewch chi sicrhau bod unrhyw geisiadau am gyllid yn cael eu blaenoriaethu a bod prosesau’n cael eu cyflymu a’ch bod yn gwneud popeth a allwch i sicrhau bod pont hanesyddol Llannerch yn cael ei hadfer cyn gynted â phosibl?
Yes, thank you, Gareth. I appreciate the difficulties caused to the local road network, but it is the responsibility of the local authority to maintain and ensure that resilience of those assets. We haven't yet had a funding bid from Denbighshire regarding Llannerch bridge. A sum of £18,491,000 was awarded from the resilient roads fund in 2021-22 to local authorities in Wales for works to address disruptions caused by severe weather to the highway network, particularly the public transport network, and that included £5.3 million for schemes in north Wales.
Local authorities have been invited to apply for funding from the resilient roads fund in 2022-23 for schemes to address disruptions caused by severe weather to the highway network. So, basically, the short-form answer is: we haven't had a funding application from the council yet. I'm very happy, of course, to look at that as quickly as we can do once we have that application. We've not yet had it, so I'd encourage you to contact the local authority and understand from them what exactly is happening with that.
Ie, diolch, Gareth. Rwy'n deall yr anawsterau a achoswyd i'r rhwydwaith ffyrdd lleol, ond cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdod lleol yw cynnal a sicrhau cydnerthedd yr asedau hynny. Nid ydym wedi cael cais am gyllid gan Sir Ddinbych eto mewn perthynas â phont Llannerch. Dyfarnwyd swm o £18,491,000 o’r gronfa ffyrdd cydnerth yn 2021-22 i awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru ar gyfer gwaith i fynd i’r afael ag effaith tywydd garw ar y rhwydwaith priffyrdd, yn enwedig y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac roedd hynny’n cynnwys £5.3 miliwn ar gyfer cynlluniau yng ngogledd Cymru.
Mae awdurdodau lleol wedi cael eu gwahodd i wneud cais am arian o’r gronfa ffyrdd cydnerth yn 2022-23 ar gyfer cynlluniau i fynd i’r afael ag effaith tywydd garw ar y rhwydwaith priffyrdd. Felly, yn y bôn, yr ateb byr yw: nid ydym wedi cael cais am gyllid gan y cyngor eto. Rwy’n fwy na pharod, wrth gwrs, i edrych ar hynny cyn gynted ag y gallwn ar ôl inni gael y cais hwnnw. Nid ydym wedi’i gael eto, felly byddwn yn eich annog i gysylltu â’r awdurdod lleol i weld beth yn union sy’n digwydd gyda hynny.
Infrastructure across several places in north Wales has been affected by recent storms, including the bridge mentioned before at Tremeirchion in Denbighshire. Newbridge in Wrexham keeps getting mentioned and there's also a landslide in Ffrith, in Flintshire, which is estimated to cost £3.8 million. When such natural events occur, they are often with very short notice and devastating consequences, which can be expensive to repair for one local authority. Would Welsh Government look at setting up an emergency capital fund for such repairs following natural disasters?
Mae’r seilwaith ar draws sawl man yng ngogledd Cymru wedi’i effeithio gan stormydd diweddar, gan gynnwys y bont y soniwyd amdani eisoes yn Nhremeirchion yn Sir Ddinbych. Mae Newbridge yn Wrecsam yn cael ei grybwyll yn aml ac mae tirlithriad hefyd yn Ffrith yn Sir y Fflint, yr amcangyfrifir ei fod wedi costio £3.8 miliwn. Pan fydd digwyddiadau naturiol o’r fath yn digwydd, maent yn aml yn digwydd heb fawr o rybudd ac yn arwain at ganlyniadau dinistriol iawn, a all fod yn ddrud i un awdurdod lleol eu hatgyweirio. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried sefydlu cronfa gyfalaf frys ar gyfer atgyweiriadau o’r fath yn dilyn trychineb naturiol?
Well, Carolyn, the way that that works at the moment is, obviously, we allocate an unhypothecated capital grant to local authorities as part of their overall funding settlement. We try very hard not to hypothecate funding in the way that you suggest, because obviously what would happen is that would be taken off the overall unhypothecated grant and held centrally. We don't think that is the best way to do it. In point of fact, we've assisted, as I just said to Gareth, local authorities with nearly £18.5 million in storm damage repairs over the last winter. Also, from the revenue point of view, we also have the emergency financial assistance scheme, which is the revenue funding that kicks in in particularly severe climatic conditions. So, we have a number of schemes available to assist with both revenue and capital, but local authorities would, I think, be the first to say that they didn't want more hypothecation inside what is a finite capital grants system.
Wel, Carolyn, y ffordd y mae hynny’n gweithio ar hyn o bryd, yn amlwg, yw ein bod yn dyrannu grant cyfalaf heb ei neilltuo i awdurdodau lleol fel rhan o’u setliad cyllid cyffredinol. Rydym yn ymdrechu’n galed iawn i beidio â neilltuo cyllid yn y ffordd yr awgrymwch, oherwydd yn amlwg, yr hyn a fyddai’n digwydd yw y byddai’n cael ei dynnu oddi ar y grant cyffredinol heb ei neilltuo a’i gadw’n ganolog. Nid ydym o'r farn mai dyna'r ffordd orau o wneud hyn. Mewn gwirionedd, rydym wedi cynorthwyo, fel y dywedais wrth Gareth, awdurdodau lleol gyda bron i £18.5 miliwn mewn atgyweiriadau difrod storm dros y gaeaf diwethaf. Hefyd, o ran refeniw, mae gennym y cynllun cymorth ariannol brys, sef y cyllid refeniw sy'n cael ei ddarparu mewn amodau hinsoddol arbennig o ddifrifol. Felly, mae gennym nifer o gynlluniau ar gael i gynorthwyo gyda refeniw a chyfalaf, ond credaf mai'r awdurdodau lleol fyddai'r cyntaf i ddweud nad oeddent am weld mwy o neilltuo o fewn system grantiau cyfalaf gyfyngedig.
2. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn codi ymwybyddiaeth o effaith newid yn yr hinsawdd mewn cymunedau lleol? OQ57498
2. How is the Welsh Government raising awareness of the impact of climate change in local communities? OQ57498
Diolch, Paul. The Welsh Government is fully committed to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. We have raised awareness as part of our recent COP Cymru and Wales Climate Week events, and we continue to work closely with local authorities to support communities to understand and to address the climate emergency.
Diolch, Paul. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo’n llwyr i fynd i’r afael ag achosion ac effeithiau'r newid yn yr hinsawdd. Rydym wedi codi ymwybyddiaeth fel rhan o’n digwyddiadau COP Cymru ac Wythnos Hinsawdd Cymru yn ddiweddar, ac rydym yn parhau i weithio’n agos gydag awdurdodau lleol i gynorthwyo cymunedau i ddeall a mynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd.
Thank you for that response, Minister. You may be aware of the work of the CHERISH project, which consists of a team of archaeologists, geographers and geologists who study the effects of climate change on coastal and maritime heritage in Wales, and indeed in Ireland. The project is currently running an exhibition at Oriel y Parc in St David's in my constituency, looking at the effects of climate change in the local area, between now and the end of February. I'm sure you'll agree with me that this kind of activity is so important in terms of explaining the impact of climate change on our local areas. And so, can you tell me what the Welsh Government is doing to support and raise awareness of specific projects like this across Wales?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol o waith prosiect CHERISH, tîm o archeolegwyr, daearyddwyr a daearegwyr sy’n astudio effeithiau'r newid yn yr hinsawdd ar dreftadaeth arfordirol a morol yng Nghymru, ac yn wir, yn Iwerddon. Mae’r prosiect yn cynnal arddangosfa ar hyn o bryd yn Oriel y Parc yn Nhyddewi yn fy etholaeth, sy'n edrych ar effeithiau'r newid yn yr hinsawdd yn yr ardal leol, rhwng nawr a diwedd mis Chwefror. Rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi fod y math hwn o weithgarwch mor bwysig i egluro effaith y newid yn yr hinsawdd ar ein hardaloedd lleol. Ac felly, a allwch ddweud wrthyf beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi a chodi ymwybyddiaeth o brosiectau penodol fel hyn ledled Cymru?
Diolch, Paul. I am aware of the exhibition you have because I am a proud member of the mailing list for Oriel y Parc there—a place I often visit on my holidays—so I was aware of it. I'm actually hoping to go down and see the exhibition shortly. Yes, of course, we're very keen to assist with all such exhibitions and to publicising them—and very happy to join with you in publicising that one—across Wales, as we work with community groups in a number of ways, both highlighting events from around the world that can be brought back here to Wales, and indeed, actually, in assisting Welsh scientists and community groups to go abroad with theirs, virtually at the moment of course, but to go abroad with their very good ideas. And one of the things that I was particularly pleased with with COP Cymru and Wales Climate Week was the number of contributors we had from around the world as a result of our membership of the Under2 alliance, with what are called sub-national states. So, we had people contributing to that from around the world, and indeed we were able to showcase Wales's community efforts, such as the one you've just mentioned, in that as well. So, very happy to join with you in both commending it and publicising it.
Diolch, Paul. Rwy’n ymwybodol o’r arddangosfa sydd gennych gan fy mod yn aelod balch o restr bostio Oriel y Parc—lle rwy’n ymweld ag ef yn aml ar fy ngwyliau—felly roeddwn yn ymwybodol ohoni. Rwy'n gobeithio mynd i weld yr arddangosfa cyn bo hir. Rydym yn awyddus iawn i gynorthwyo gyda phob arddangosfa o'r fath wrth gwrs ac i roi cyhoeddusrwydd iddynt—ac rwy'n falch iawn o ymuno â chi i roi cyhoeddusrwydd i'r un honno—ledled Cymru, wrth inni weithio gyda grwpiau cymunedol mewn nifer o ffyrdd, a thynnu sylw at ddigwyddiadau o bob cwr o’r byd y gellir dod â hwy yn ôl yma i Gymru, a chynorthwyo gwyddonwyr a grwpiau cymunedol o Gymru i fynd â'u rhai hwythau dramor yn wir, yn rhithwir ar hyn o bryd wrth gwrs, ond i fynd dramor gyda’u syniadau da iawn hwythau. Ac un o’r pethau roeddwn yn arbennig o falch ohonynt gyda COP Cymru ac Wythnos Hinsawdd Cymru oedd nifer y cyfranwyr a gawsom o bedwar ban byd o ganlyniad i’n haelodaeth o gynghrair Under2, gyda’r hyn a elwir yn wladwriaethau is-genedlaethol. Felly, roedd gennym bobl yn cyfrannu at hynny o bob cwr o’r byd, ac yn wir, bu modd inni arddangos ymdrechion cymunedol Cymru, fel yr un rydych newydd sôn amdani, yno hefyd. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o ymuno â chi i'w chymeradwyo ac i roi cyhoeddusrwydd iddi.
Good afternoon, Minister. I just wanted to talk about heating in domestic homes. We know that homes are responsible for 27 per cent of all energy consumed and 9 per cent of all emissions in Wales. And with just 10 per cent of homes being built in the last 20 years, our housing stock is amongst the oldest and least efficient in Europe. Just focusing on homes in rural areas, and in mid and west Wales, and those that are heated from oil, we know that more than 33 per cent of homes in Ceredigion are reliant on oil to heat their homes. The Office for National Statistics said the county faces the highest increase in fuel bills of any area in mainland United Kingdom in the past year—£863 on average. Without price regulation, as we know, and without a greener alternative, those reliant on oil are facing the sharp end of this cost-of-living energy crisis. I just wondered if you could outline what measures have been considered to support those homes reliant on oil now, and to support those households and businesses to look at transitioning to greener energy in the longer term? Diolch.
Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Hoffwn sôn am wresogi mewn cartrefi domestig. Gwyddom mai cartrefi sy’n gyfrifol am 27 y cant o’r holl ynni a ddefnyddir a 9 y cant o’r holl allyriadau yng Nghymru. A chyda 10 y cant o gartrefi yn unig wedi'u hadeiladu yn yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf, mae ein stoc dai ymhlith yr hynaf a'r lleiaf effeithlon yn Ewrop. Gan ganolbwyntio ar gartrefi mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn unig, ac yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru, a’r rhai sy’n cael eu gwresogi ag olew, gwyddom fod mwy na 33 y cant o gartrefi yng Ngheredigion yn ddibynnol ar olew i gynhesu eu cartrefi. Dywedodd y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol fod y sir yn wynebu’r cynnydd mwyaf mewn biliau tanwydd o bob ardal ar dir mawr y Deyrnas Unedig yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf—£863 ar gyfartaledd. Heb reoleiddio prisiau, fel y gwyddom, a heb ddewis amgen gwyrddach, mae'r rheini sy'n dibynnu ar olew yn wynebu effeithiau gwaethaf yr argyfwng ynni a chostau byw hwn. Tybed a allwch amlinellu pa fesurau sydd wedi’u hystyried i gefnogi’r cartrefi sy’n dibynnu ar olew ar hyn o bryd, ac i gefnogi’r aelwydydd a’r busnesau hynny i edrych ar drosglwyddo i ynni gwyrddach yn fwy hirdymor? Diolch.
Diolch, Jane. We absolutely are aware of the real cost-of-living crisis, particularly for people on off-grid oil, as you say. Just to say, we are currently consulting on the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme—so, to encourage everyone to respond to that. That's in order to support households to transition to both lower carbon heating, but also actually to assist with their domestic household bills as well. We obviously recognise the problem that you've just outlined so ably, and the difficulty the energy price increases have caused for households who are dependent on oil in particular. It is acknowledged in our cold weather resilience plan, which includes actions to better support households and work with oil suppliers to improve cold weather resilience for low-income households.
Just to emphasise, rural households are included within the scope of the assistance fund to support eligible off-grid homes with the cost of fuel and boiler repairs. It's often something that people don't realise—that they're eligible to apply for the discretionary assistance fund grant. We also are working closely with our single advice fund services, so that we are making sure that more vulnerable people get the advice and support they need to apply for the support that is available. And also then, on the longer term point, we're obviously rolling out the optimised retrofit programme, because we absolutely recognise that we've got some of the oldest housing stock in Europe, and that one-size-fits-all retrofit certainly does not work. And the whole purpose, as you've heard me saying before, of the optimised retrofit is to experiment with what will work, to bring those houses up to both the insulation and the domestic heating standards that we expect, to tackle both the climate emergency and the fuel poverty agenda that comes with living in a draughty and inefficient home.
Diolch, Jane. Rydym yn gwbl ymwybodol o’r argyfwng costau byw, yn enwedig i bobl ar olew oddi ar y grid, fel y dywedwch. Dylwn ddweud ein bod yn ymgynghori ar hyn o bryd ar iteriad nesaf rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd—felly, i annog pawb i ymateb iddo. Mae hynny er mwyn cefnogi aelwydydd i drosglwyddo i wres carbon is, ond hefyd i gynorthwyo gyda'u biliau cartref domestig. Yn amlwg, rydym yn cydnabod y broblem rydych newydd ei hamlinellu, a’r anawsterau y mae’r cynnydd mewn prisiau ynni wedi’u hachosi i aelwydydd sy’n ddibynnol ar olew yn benodol. Mae hyn yn cael ei gydnabod yn ein cynllun ymdopi â thywydd oer, sy’n cynnwys camau gweithredu i gefnogi cartrefi’n well a gweithio gyda chyflenwyr olew i wella gallu aelwydydd incwm isel i ymdopi â thywydd oer.
Hoffwn bwysleisio bod aelwydydd gwledig yn cael eu cynnwys o fewn cwmpas y gronfa gymorth i gefnogi cartrefi cymwys oddi ar y grid gyda chost tanwydd ac atgyweirio boeleri. Yn aml, mae'n rhywbeth nad yw pobl yn ymwybodol ohono—eu bod yn gymwys i wneud cais am grant o'r gronfa cymorth dewisol. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio’n agos gyda gwasanaethau'r gronfa gynghori sengl, fel ein bod yn sicrhau bod mwy o bobl agored i niwed yn cael y cyngor a’r cymorth sydd eu hangen arnynt i wneud cais am y cymorth sydd ar gael. A hefyd wedyn, ar y pwynt mwy hirdymor, rydym yn amlwg yn cyflwyno'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio, gan ein bod yn llwyr gydnabod bod rhywfaint o'n stoc dai ymhlith yr hynaf yn Ewrop, ac nad yw cynllun ôl-osod 'un ateb addas i bawb' yn gweithio. A holl ddiben y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio, fel rydych wedi fy nghlywed yn ei ddweud o'r blaen, yw arbrofi â'r hyn a fydd yn gweithio, i godi safonau inswleiddio a gwresogi domestig y tai hynny i'r lefelau rydym yn eu disgwyl, er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a'r agenda tlodi tanwydd a ddaw yn sgil byw mewn cartref oer ac aneffeithlon.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Llywydd. In June 2021, our Senedd Cymru, Welsh Parliament, declared a climate change and nature emergency. We voted in favour of introducing a legally binding requirement to reverse biodiversity loss through statutory targets. Five months later, however, in November, the best that you, Minister, and Plaid Cymru could do was simply just to reiterate what we've already agreed, and that is that targets do have a role to play in helping to protect and restore biodiversity. Now, Wales Environment Link sent you and the First Minister a letter last week stating that the scale and pace of action needed to address the nature crisis are simply not in place. Now, I and others agree with Wales Environment Link that Wales, as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, needs to lead the way on setting targets that will drive action and prevent another lost decade for nature. In addition to responding to Wales Environment Link, will you clarify to the Senedd today why you have not yet set nature recovery targets in law, and have you actually responded to WEL yet regarding their letter of concern?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ym mis Mehefin 2021, fe wnaeth Senedd Cymru ddatgan argyfwng newid hinsawdd a natur. Gwnaethom bleidleisio o blaid cyflwyno gofyniad sy'n rhwymo mewn cyfraith i wrthdroi colli bioamrywiaeth drwy dargedau statudol. Bum mis yn ddiweddarach, fodd bynnag, ym mis Tachwedd, y gorau y gallech chi, Weinidog, a Phlaid Cymru ei wneud oedd ailadrodd yr hyn rydym wedi cytuno arno eisoes, sef fod gan dargedau rôl i’w chwarae yn helpu i ddiogelu ac adfer bioamrywiaeth. Nawr, anfonodd Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru lythyr atoch chi a’r Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf yn nodi nad yw'r camau gweithredu sy'n cael eu cymryd i fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng natur yn ddigon mawr nac yn ddigon cyflym. Nawr, rwyf fi ac eraill yn cytuno â Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru fod angen i Gymru, fel un o’r gwledydd lle mae natur wedi teneuo fwyaf yn y byd, arwain y ffordd ar osod targedau a fydd yn ysgogi camau gweithredu ac yn atal degawd arall o golled i fyd natur. Yn ogystal ag ymateb i Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru, a wnewch chi egluro i’r Senedd heddiw pam nad ydych wedi gosod targedau adfer natur mewn cyfraith eto, ac a ydych wedi ymateb i Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru eto ynghylch eu llythyr o bryder?
Thank you, Janet. So, at the time we declared the nature emergency, I made it extremely plain that we were looking to see what the outcome of COP15 was before we set the fundamental statutory targets for nature recovery—so, actually, the halt of nature decline and then nature recovery, because we need to achieve both. We've also said we will of course sign up to the 30 per cent by 2030 targets, although we hope to improve those as a result of the outcome of the COP15 discussions. I've made that plain all the way through, so it's not as if we suddenly haven't done anything; we've always made it plain that that's what we were relying on to look at what the targets ought to be.
I recently met with Wales Environment Link; I meet with them very regularly indeed. We're absolutely on the same page as them. We need to set stretching targets that are achievable. We need to understand it's not just about the targets; it's about putting all the resources in place and the actions necessary to achieve those targets. So, it's not as if you just pluck a target out of mid air and go, 'There we are, then.' So, we've got quite a lot of work to do to make sure we can actually achieve the targets.
Just after February half term, I will be undertaking a deep dive into biodiversity, halting its decline and reversing, so that we have recovery, so that we can understand not only what the targets should be, but what the measures we need to put in place to do just that ought to be, and I will be doing that in conjunction with our statutory, our local authority and our non-governmental organisation partners across Wales. So, we are absolutely working towards that. We are, as I say, engaging in the COP15 process, and there certainly hasn't been any delay in the timetable that I set out when we declared the nature emergency.
Diolch, Janet. Felly, pan wnaethom ddatgan yr argyfwng natur, dywedais yn hynod o glir ein bod yn aros i weld beth oedd canlyniad COP15 cyn inni osod y targedau statudol sylfaenol ar gyfer adfer natur—felly, atal dirywiad natur ac yna adfer natur, gan fod angen inni gyflawni'r ddau beth. Rydym hefyd wedi dweud y byddwn yn ymrwymo, wrth gwrs, i'r targedau o 30 y cant erbyn 2030, er ein bod yn gobeithio eu gwella o ganlyniad i drafodaethau COP15. Rwyf wedi dweud hynny'n glir bob amser, felly nid yw fel pe na baem wedi gwneud unrhyw beth; rydym bob amser wedi dweud yn glir mai dyna roeddem yn dibynnu arno er mwyn gweld beth y dylai'r targedau fod.
Cyfarfûm â Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru yn ddiweddar; rwy'n cyfarfod â hwy'n rheolaidd iawn yn wir. Yn sicr, rydym ar yr un dudalen â hwy. Mae angen inni osod targedau uchelgeisiol sy'n gyraeddadwy. Mae angen inni ddeall nad oes a wnelo hyn â’r targedau’n unig; mae'n ymwneud â rhoi'r holl adnoddau ar waith ynghyd â'r camau gweithredu angenrheidiol i gyflawni'r targedau hynny. Felly, nid yw fel pe baech yn dewis targed mympwyol ac yn dweud 'Dyma ni felly.' Felly, mae gennym gryn dipyn o waith i'w wneud i sicrhau ein bod yn gallu cyflawni'r targedau.
Ychydig ar ôl hanner tymor mis Chwefror, byddaf yn cynnal astudiaeth at wraidd y mater o fioamrywiaeth, atal a gwrthdroi ei dirywiad, er mwyn inni gael adferiad, fel y gallwn ddeall nid yn unig beth y dylai’r targedau fod, ond beth y dylai'r mesurau y mae angen inni eu rhoi ar waith er mwyn gwneud hynny fod, a byddaf yn gwneud hynny ar y cyd â’n partneriaid statudol, awdurdodau lleol a sefydliadau anllywodraethol ledled Cymru. Felly, rydym yn sicr yn gweithio tuag at hynny. Fel y dywedaf, rydym yn cymryd rhan ym mhroses y COP15, ac yn sicr, nid oes unrhyw oedi wedi bod o ran yr amserlen a nodais pan wnaethom ddatgan yr argyfwng natur.
Thank you. Now, one area that would hugely benefit from more ambitious targets is your pledge to restore 800 to 900 hectares of peatlands per annum. Now, during the cross-party group for biodiversity, there was general consensus that we must adequately fund peatland restoration as part of the rural interventions that are actually laid out in your programme for government. Alarmingly, however, the representatives of the wildlife trusts in Wales have made it clear that if we remain on your present trajectory, it would take us over 100 years to restore all our peatland in Wales. So, at climate change committee last week, after I raised concerns that Natural Resources Wales could be spending less than 3 per cent of their flooding budget on natural solutions, NRW responded that they will submit a bid to the Welsh Government to expand this work. Minister, what commitment can you provide us today to fast-track any application for restorative peatland flood management works by NRW? And given the need to encourage and engage scientific citizens, can you also confirm what steps you will take to collaborate with the third sector to promote greater community involvement? Diolch.
Diolch. Nawr, un maes a fyddai’n elwa’n fawr o dargedau mwy uchelgeisiol yw eich addewid i adfer 800 i 900 hectar o fawndiroedd y flwyddyn. Nawr, yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar fioamrywiaeth, cafwyd consensws cyffredinol fod yn rhaid inni ariannu gwaith adfer mawndiroedd yn ddigonol fel rhan o’r ymyriadau gwledig a nodir yn eich rhaglen lywodraethu. Mae'n destun gofid, fodd bynnag, fod cynrychiolwyr ymddiriedolaethau natur Cymru wedi dweud yn glir, pe baem yn parhau ar eich trywydd presennol, y byddai’n cymryd dros 100 mlynedd inni adfer ein holl fawndiroedd yng Nghymru. Felly, yn y pwyllgor newid hinsawdd yr wythnos diwethaf, ar ôl imi godi pryderon y gallai Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru fod yn gwario llai na 3 y cant o’u cyllideb llifogydd ar atebion naturiol, ymatebodd CNC y byddant yn cyflwyno cais i Lywodraeth Cymru i ehangu’r gwaith hwn. Weinidog, pa ymrwymiad y gallwch ei roi i ni heddiw y byddwch yn rhoi unrhyw gais am waith rheoli llifogydd drwy adfer mawndiroedd gan CNC ar lwybr carlam? Ac o ystyried yr angen i annog ac ymgysylltu â dinasyddion gwyddonol, a allwch gadarnhau hefyd pa gamau y byddwch yn eu cymryd i gydweithio â’r trydydd sector i gynnwys mwy o'r gymuned yn hynny? Diolch.
So, again, Janet, we're very keen indeed to work with a group of scientists to understand exactly what is meant by recovery and restoration. So, again, these aren't just about the targets; these are about the processes that we need to put in place in order to be able to do them. We're currently—as you know, because you were in the committee when I was giving evidence as well—undertaking a baseline review with NRW about its funding across the piece, making sure that it's streamlined and fit for purpose by doing end-to-end process reviews with them. I will certainly be working very hard with NRW to make sure that they have the right resources in the right place to do all of this work, and, of course, they will be integral to doing the biodiversity deep dive that I've just spoken about. And, as part of that, of course, we will be looking at recovery of a large number of different types of habitat across Wales, including peatlands.
Felly, unwaith eto, Janet, rydym yn awyddus iawn i weithio gyda grŵp o wyddonwyr i ddeall beth yn union y mae adfer yn ei olygu. Felly, unwaith eto, nid oes a wnelo'r rhain â'r targedau yn unig; mae’r rhain yn ymwneud â’r prosesau y mae angen inni eu rhoi ar waith er mwyn eu cyflawni. Rydym ar hyn o bryd—fel y gwyddoch, gan eich bod yn y pwyllgor pan oeddwn yn rhoi tystiolaeth hefyd—yn cynnal adolygiad sylfaenol gyda CNC am eu cyllid yn gyffredinol, a sicrhau ei fod yn symlach ac yn addas i’r diben drwy gynnal adolygiadau proses o'r dechrau i'r diwedd gyda hwy. Yn sicr, byddaf yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda CNC i sicrhau bod ganddynt yr adnoddau iawn yn y lle iawn i wneud yr holl waith hwn, ac wrth gwrs, byddant yn rhan hollbwysig o'r astudiaeth at wraidd y mater o fioamrywiaeth y soniais amdani. Ac fel rhan o hynny, wrth gwrs, byddwn yn edrych ar adferiad nifer fawr o wahanol fathau o gynefinoedd ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys mawndiroedd.
Thank you. As peat is five times more effective at storing carbon than trees, there really is no excuse now for not increasing the scale and pace of investment to protect and restore our peatlands. We all agree on the need to protect the environment, but it does seem that you've failed, Minister, as yet, to deliver a green Brexit for Wales. The UK Environment Act 2021 and UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 do include environmental principles and governance arrangements intended to ensure compliance and accountability in England and Scotland. And, again, to quote the Wales Environment Link, Wales has achieved comparatively little. Last week, you informed me that the timing of any work on long-term environment governance structures will just have to wait until after complex discussions with your new coalition partners, Plaid Cymru. So, rather than let another political party in the Senedd delay a green Brexit in this nature crisis, Minister, will you confirm whether the timeline for preparatory works on environmental governance will be fast-tracked, and confirm what stakeholders you hope to be involved in its discussions and that will be undertaken with those bodies established in England and Scotland?
Diolch. Gan fod mawn bum gwaith yn fwy effeithiol na choed am storio carbon, nid oes unrhyw esgus bellach dros beidio â chynyddu a chyflymu buddsoddiad er mwyn diogelu ac adfer ein mawndiroedd. Mae pob un ohonom yn cytuno ar yr angen i ddiogelu’r amgylchedd, ond ymddengys eich bod wedi methu cyflawni Brexit gwyrdd i Gymru hyd yma, Weinidog. Mae Deddf Amgylchedd y DU 2021 a Deddf Ymadawiad y DU â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd (Parhad) (Yr Alban) 2021 yn cynnwys egwyddorion amgylcheddol a threfniadau llywodraethu gyda’r bwriad o sicrhau cydymffurfiaeth ac atebolrwydd yn Lloegr a’r Alban. Ac unwaith eto, gan ddyfynnu Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru, cymharol ychydig y mae Cymru wedi'i gyflawni. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe ddywedoch chi wrthyf y bydd yn rhaid i amseriad unrhyw waith ar strwythurau llywodraethu amgylcheddol hirdymor aros tan ar ôl y trafodaethau cymhleth gyda'ch partneriaid clymblaid newydd, Plaid Cymru. Felly, yn hytrach na gadael i blaid wleidyddol arall yn y Senedd ohirio Brexit gwyrdd yn yr argyfwng natur hwn, Weinidog, a wnewch chi gadarnhau y bydd yr amserlen ar gyfer gwaith paratoadol ar lywodraethu amgylcheddol yn cael ei roi ar lwybr carlam, a chadarnhau pa randdeiliaid rydych yn gobeithio eu gweld yn rhan o'r trafodaethau hynny ac y cyflawnir hynny gyda'r cyrff a sefydlwyd yn Lloegr a’r Alban?
Thank you, Janet. Once again, you've conflated about five different things there, so I don't intend to proceed to unpick it. The green Brexit you talk about, of course, had we just stayed inside the European governance arrangements, we wouldn't have needed to do anything in addition, and one of the big issues for us will be maintaining parity with European laws going forward, and not having the current Conservative Government already headlong towards removing many of the protections that we have in a number of areas in England. So, I despair as to the idea that a green Brexit is what we're talking about. It's quite clear, from various of the laws already passed, that that's not what we're talking about. Here in Wales we've got interim arrangements in place for environmental protection. We will be, of course, legislating to put that on a statutory basis. I wish to do that at the same time as putting the targets for biodiversity halt and decline and recovery into place, and so we will be bringing those forward once we have those arrangements in place. In the meantime, we have functioning interim arrangements in place to do just that.
Diolch, Janet. Unwaith eto, rydych wedi cyfuno oddeutu pum peth gwahanol, felly nid wyf am geisio datod yr hyn a ddywedoch. Y Brexit gwyrdd y soniwch amdano, wrth gwrs, pe baem wedi aros o fewn y trefniadau llywodraethu Ewropeaidd, ni fyddem wedi gorfod gwneud unrhyw beth ychwanegol, ac un o'r pethau mawr i ni fydd cynnal safon debyg i'r cyfreithiau Ewropeaidd yn y dyfodol, a pheidio â chael y Llywodraeth Geidwadol bresennol yn mynd ati eisoes i ddileu llawer o'r amddiffyniadau sydd gennym mewn nifer o feysydd yn Lloegr. Felly, rwy'n anobeithio ynghylch y syniad mai Brexit gwyrdd yw'r hyn rydym yn sôn amdano. Mae'n eithaf amlwg, o'r amrywiol ddeddfau a gyflwynwyd eisoes, nad hynny rydym yn sôn amdano. Yma yng Nghymru, mae gennym drefniadau interim ar waith ar gyfer diogelu'r amgylchedd. Byddwn yn deddfu, wrth gwrs, i roi hynny ar sail statudol. Rwy'n dymuno gwneud hynny ar yr un pryd ag y byddwn yn rhoi’r targedau ar gyfer atal dirywiad ac adfer bioamrywiaeth ar waith, ac felly byddwn yn cyflwyno’r rheini pan fydd y trefniadau hynny ar waith gennym. Yn y cyfamser, mae gennym drefniadau interim gweithredol ar waith i wneud hynny.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru nawr, Delyth Jewell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, the Crown Estate in Wales generated £8.7 million in revenue last year, and the valuation of the estate's Welsh marine portfolio has increased from £49.2 million to £549.1 million. These are resources that could enable Wales to develop our Welsh renewable energy industry and retain wealth to fund Welsh public services, instead of selling off precious assets to the highest foreign bidder. This month, Scotland auctioned 17 options of seabed, totalling 25 GW, through Crown Estate Scotland, and that led to an extra £700 million for Scotland's public finances, based on sustainable development. Wales can't do this, because the Crown Estate isn't devolved. So, you've said in the past, Minister, that you support its devolution, but there needs to be movement on this, or we risk hampering our attempts to develop the marine and offshore renewables industry, which, of course, is a key aspect of reaching the net-zero target. Could you set out what steps, please, you're taking to seek the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales, and also share your view about what process should be in place to ensure that, where there are areas where the Welsh Government and the Senedd agree they should be devolved, those are devolved, so that we keep in line with the democratic wishes of the people of Wales?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, cynhyrchodd Ystad y Goron yng Nghymru £8.7 miliwn o refeniw y llynedd, ac mae prisiad portffolio morol yr ystad yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu o £49.2 miliwn i £549.1 miliwn. Mae’r rhain yn adnoddau a allai alluogi Cymru i ddatblygu ein diwydiant ynni adnewyddadwy a chadw cyfoeth i ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru, yn hytrach na gwerthu asedau gwerthfawr i’r cynigydd tramor uchaf. Y mis hwn, arwerthodd yr Alban 17 opsiwn gwely’r môr, cyfanswm o 25 GW, drwy Ystad y Goron yr Alban, ac arweiniodd hynny at £700 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid cyhoeddus i'r Alban, yn seiliedig ar ddatblygu cynaliadwy. Ni all Cymru wneud hyn, gan nad yw Ystad y Goron wedi’i datganoli. Felly, rydych wedi dweud yn y gorffennol, Weinidog, eich bod yn cefnogi ei datganoli, ond mae angen mynd ati i wneud hyn, neu rydym mewn perygl o lesteirio ein hymdrechion i ddatblygu diwydiant ynni'r môr ac ynni adnewyddadwy alltraeth, sydd wrth gwrs, yn elfen allweddol o gyflawni'r targed sero net. A allwch nodi pa gamau rydych yn eu cymryd i geisio datganoli Ystad y Goron i Gymru, a rhannu eich barn hefyd am ba broses a ddylai fod ar waith i sicrhau, lle mae meysydd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru a’r Senedd yn cytuno y dylid eu datganoli, eu bod yn cael eu datganoli, fel ein bod yn cyflawni dymuniadau democrataidd pobl Cymru?
Absolutely, Delyth. I completely agree that the Crown Estate should be devolved to Wales. It's completely outrageous that it's devolved to Scotland and not to us, and that, indeed, the returns from the Crown Estate go straight back to HM Treasury. They don't even go through the Barnett formula arrangement. So, I have absolutely written to say that we want the Crown Estate devolved, and we want them devolved on the same basis as they are devolved in Scotland. However, in the meantime, and in the absence of a Government at UK level who seems likely to do that in the foreseeable future, in the meantime, we have also sought to develop a very good relationship with the Crown Estate. So, both myself and Lee Waters have met with the Crown Estate to discuss the various potential in the Celtic sea and around the Welsh coast, where Crown Estate land is involved, and, also, actually, on land as well. So, the Crown Estate own some land in Wales too. We've also engaged with them to make sure that we have as much of a community ownership, community benefit, strand in the auctions that they are conducting, although the money goes, as you say, back to the Treasury. So far, we've had an engaged and reasonable reception from them, although that's no substitute, I absolutely agree, for having the thing devolved to us.
Yn sicr, Delyth. Cytunaf yn llwyr y dylid datganoli Ystad y Goron i Gymru. Mae'n gwbl warthus ei bod wedi'i datganoli i'r Alban ac nid i ninnau, a bod enillion Ystad y Goron yn mynd yn syth yn ôl i Drysorlys Ei Mawrhydi. Nid ydynt hyd yn oed yn mynd drwy drefniant fformiwla Barnett. Felly, rwy'n sicr wedi ysgrifennu i ddweud ein bod am i Ystad y Goron gael ei datganoli, a'n bod am iddi gael ei datganoli ar yr un sail ag y mae wedi’i datganoli yn yr Alban. Fodd bynnag, yn y cyfamser, ac yn absenoldeb Llywodraeth ar lefel y DU sy’n edrych yn debygol o wneud hynny yn y dyfodol agos, yn y cyfamser, rydym hefyd wedi ceisio datblygu perthynas dda iawn ag Ystad y Goron. Felly, mae Lee Waters a minnau wedi cyfarfod ag Ystad y Goron i drafod y potensial amrywiol yn y môr Celtaidd ac o amgylch arfordir Cymru mewn perthynas â thir Ystad y Goron, ac ar y tir hefyd, mewn gwirionedd. Felly, mae Ystad y Goron yn berchen ar rywfaint o dir yng Nghymru hefyd. Rydym hefyd wedi ymgysylltu â hwy i sicrhau bod gennym yr un faint o berchnogaeth gymunedol, budd cymunedol, yn yr arwerthiannau y maent yn eu cynnal, er bod yr arian, fel y dywedwch, yn mynd yn ôl i’r Trysorlys. Hyd yn hyn, rydym wedi cael ymateb ymgysylltiol a rhesymol ganddynt, er nad yw hynny'n gwneud y tro yn lle datganoli'r mater i ni, rwy’n cytuno’n llwyr.
Thank you for that, Minister. I look forward to seeing developments on this as that progresses.
I was going to raise a different issue with you this afternoon, but actually this lunchtime a number of Members attended the cross-party group on clean air and we heard a really powerful presentation from someone called Rosamund whose daughter, I believe living in London, died and it was found that air pollution had really contributed towards not just the fact that she died but also why she had asthma in the first place.
We know, gosh, so much more it seems with every year about the really damaging toll that air pollution has on even levels of dementia, but certainly on children's health, on respiratory health. Could you please give us any update that you can on what timetable you are following to be introducing a clean air Act for Wales?
Diolch, Weinidog. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld datblygiadau ar hyn wrth i hynny fynd rhagddo.
Roeddwn am godi mater gwahanol gyda chi y prynhawn yma, ond amser cinio heddiw, roedd nifer o'r Aelodau yn bresennol yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar aer glân, a chlywsom gyflwyniad pwerus iawn gan rywun o’r enw Rosamund y bu farw ei merch, a oedd yn byw yn Llundain, rwy'n credu, a chanfuwyd bod llygredd aer wedi cyfrannu’n sylweddol nid yn unig at y ffaith ei bod wedi marw, ond hefyd at y rheswm pam fod asthma arni yn y lle cyntaf.
Ymddengys ein bod yn gwybod mwy bob blwyddyn am yr effaith wirioneddol niweidiol y mae llygredd aer yn ei chael ar lefelau dementia hyd yn oed, ond yn sicr ar iechyd plant, ar iechyd anadlol. A allwch roi unrhyw ddiweddariad i ni os gwelwch yn dda ynglŷn â pha amserlen rydych yn ei dilyn er mwyn cyflwyno Deddf aer glân i Gymru?
Llywydd, the Deputy Minister is the Minister responsible for clean air, so I wonder if he could be unmuted.
Lywydd, y Dirprwy Weinidog yw’r Gweinidog sy’n gyfrifol am aer glân, felly tybed a ellid dadfudo ei feicroffon.
Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you for putting your hand up there, Deputy Minister.
Diolch am godi eich llaw, Ddirprwy Weinidog.
Oh, okay. Okay, fine.
O, o'r gorau. Iawn.
Yes, as you know, we've been waiting for the publication of the latest World Health Organization guidance on clean air in order to base our Senedd law on that standard, and that has only recently been published. We're now completing that, and there are several stages of consultation and design that it needs to go through to make sure that is robust. But the provision of the law is not the only thing that will drive progress on clean air, clearly, and we are committed to action this year, not just simply waiting for the law to be passed.
So, our active travel fund, for example, has clean air as a key component of its guidance. That's again one of the actions we have under the Wales transport strategy to achieve modal shift, so that's £75 million this year to encourage people to use walking and cycling for short journeys rather than cars. Similarly, our bus strategy, and we're hoping to publish a White Paper in the coming months, is also about achieving modal shift to have fewer polluting cars on the road. And also our electric car action plan is similarly about decarbonising the car fleet so that there are not tailpipe emissions, which again causes those dangerous toxins that are released and kill people.
So, we are committed to doing a series of actions this year and next year to tackle clean air, whilst in parallel working on as robust as possible clean air Act. Now, I've issued the invitation to the cross-party group, and I'll do it to Members again; we want to work cross-party on this. The challenge I've set the cross-party group is to identify the most robust set of measures that can command cross-party support that we can then bring to the Senedd.
Ie, fel y gwyddoch, rydym wedi bod yn aros i ganllawiau diweddaraf Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd ar aer glân gael eu cyhoeddi er mwyn seilio deddf y Senedd ar y safon honno, a dim ond yn ddiweddar y cawsant eu cyhoeddi. Rydym bellach yn cwblhau hynny, ac mae sawl cam o ymgynghori a chynllunio y mae angen iddi fynd drwyddynt i sicrhau ei bod yn gadarn. Ond yn amlwg, nid darpariaeth y gyfraith yw’r unig beth a fydd yn ysgogi cynnydd ar aer glân, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i weithredu eleni, yn hytrach nag aros i’r ddeddf gael ei chyflwyno.
Felly, er enghraifft, mae aer glân yn elfen allweddol o ganllawiau ein cronfa teithio llesol. Mae hynny, unwaith eto, yn un o'r camau gweithredu sydd gennym o dan strategaeth trafnidiaeth Cymru i newid dulliau teithio, felly mae hynny'n £75 miliwn eleni i annog pobl i gerdded a beicio ar gyfer teithiau byr yn hytrach na defnyddio ceir. Yn yr un modd, mae ein strategaeth fysiau, ac rydym yn gobeithio cyhoeddi Papur Gwyn yn y misoedd nesaf, hefyd yn ymwneud â newid dulliau teithio er mwyn cael llai o geir sy'n llygru ar y ffyrdd. A hefyd, mae ein cynllun gweithredu ceir trydan, yn yr un modd, yn ymwneud â datgarboneiddio’r fflyd geir fel nad oes allyriadau o bibellau mwg, sydd eto’n achosi’r tocsinau peryglus sy’n cael eu rhyddhau ac sy'n lladd pobl.
Felly, rydym wedi ymrwymo i roi cyfres o gamau gweithredu ar waith eleni a’r flwyddyn nesaf i fynd i’r afael ag aer glân, gan weithio ar yr un pryd ar sicrhau Deddf aer glân mor gadarn â phosibl. Nawr, rwyf wedi rhoi'r gwahoddiad i’r grŵp trawsbleidiol, a gwnaf hynny i’r Aelodau eto; rydym am weithio’n drawsbleidiol ar hyn. Yr her rwyf wedi'i gosod i'r grŵp trawsbleidiol yw nodi'r set fwyaf cadarn o fesurau a all ennyn cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol y gallwn ei chyflwyno i'r Senedd yn sgil hynny.
I forgot my own rule there; I was expecting a third question. My apologies. Cwestiwn 3, Samuel Kurtz.
Anghofiais fy rheol fy hun yno; roeddwn yn disgwyl trydydd cwestiwn. Rwy'n ymddiheuro. Cwestiwn 3, Samuel Kurtz.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynnydd prosiect creu coetiroedd Llywodraeth Cymru? OQ57523
3. Will the Minister provide an update on the progress of the Welsh Government's woodland creation project? OQ57523
Yes. The trees and timber deep-dive exercise identified the actions we will take to increase woodland creation, including a new funding scheme and changes to the way projects are verified. These are being implemented and overseen by a delivery panel, which I chair.
Gwnaf. Nododd yr adroddiad at wraidd y mater ar goed a phren y camau y byddwn yn eu cymryd i greu mwy o goetiroedd, gan gynnwys cynllun ariannu newydd a newidiadau i’r ffordd y caiff prosiectau eu dilysu. Caiff y rhain eu gweithredu a’u goruchwylio gan banel cyflawni a gadeirir gennyf fi.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Weinidog. Ash dieback is a common fungal based disease that is sadly shared amongst much of Wales's ash tree population, the third most common tree in Wales. Within my own consistency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, we have seen first hand how damaging this disease can be. On the Stackpole Estate alone—which I had the pleasure of visiting on Monday to plant a tree as part of the National Trust blossom watch campaign—the trust will be felling over 900 ash trees this winter, at a cost of £30,000. Across Wales, 6,500 ash trees have been managed because of ash dieback since 2020, and a further 20,500 trees have been designated as requiring safety works. Therefore, what assurances can you as Deputy Minister give that our current tree planting strategy is exceeding the number of trees being culled due to this disease, and will the Welsh Government's woodland creation tree count figures accurately reflect the total number of trees in Wales, including those removed, not just the number of new trees planted? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Mae clefyd coed ynn yn glefyd ffyngaidd cyffredin sy'n effeithio ar lawer iawn o goed ynn Cymru, y drydedd goeden fwyaf cyffredin yng Nghymru. Yn fy etholaeth i, Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro, rydym wedi gweld pa mor niweidiol y gall y clefyd hwn fod. Ar Ystad Ystangbwll yn unig—y cefais y pleser o ymweld â hi ddydd Llun i blannu coeden fel rhan o ymgyrch gwledd y gwanwyn yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol—bydd yr ymddiriedolaeth yn torri dros 900 o goed ynn y gaeaf hwn, ar gost o £30,000. Ledled Cymru, mae 6,500 o goed ynn wedi’u rheoli oherwydd clefyd coed ynn ers 2020, ac mae 20,500 o goed eraill wedi’u dynodi fel rhai sydd angen gwaith diogelwch. Felly, pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi fel Dirprwy Weinidog fod ein strategaeth blannu coed bresennol yn plannu mwy o goed nag sy’n cael eu difa oherwydd y clefyd hwn, ac a fydd ffigurau creu coetiroedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn adlewyrchu cyfanswm y coed yng Nghymru yn gywir, gan gynnwys y rhai a dorrwyd, yn hytrach na nifer y coed newydd a blannwyd yn unig? Diolch yn fawr.
Well, Sam Kurtz is right that ash dieback is a serious threat to our tree population. Some 97 per cent of the ash population across the UK is estimated to be vulnerable to being infected by ash dieback. Just this week, the Wales strategic ash dieback group met with a range of stakeholders to provide feedback on draft guidance to support landowners in the management of their ash trees, and we'll be publishing that this spring. So, we know we also need to make sure that the trees we plant are resilient to future diseases. It is likely, as a result of climate change, that our trees will be facing a greater range of threats, and that's why it's also important that, when we do plant trees, we don't plant monocultures. So, the UK forestry standard, for example, that all tree planting that we fund has to be compliant with, requires at least five different varieties of tree to be planted to partly guard against this kind of threat.
As the Member knows, we do have ambitious targets for planting more trees, guided by the advice of the UK Climate Change Committee on the number of trees we need to tackle the climate emergency. And of course, they also tackle the nature emergency. So, the deep-dive exercise, which was designed to unblock barriers, identified that we need to plant more than 80 million trees within the next nine years. And we need to do a variety of trees, both trees for crops, so that we can create a Welsh timber industry, but also trees for biodiversity, and deciduous trees as well, but trees primarily on farmland. We work very closely with farmers, and they are taking the lead in this. If every farmer planted a hectare of their land with trees, then we'd be meeting our target. So, we don't want to see massive plantations as a rule, we want to see every farmer and every landowner, as well as communities, embrace tree planting as both a good for climate change but also a good for health and well-being in their communities.
Wel, mae Sam Kurtz yn llygad ei le fod clefyd coed ynn yn fygythiad difrifol i’n coed. Amcangyfrifir fod oddeutu 97 y cant o goed ynn y DU yn agored i gael eu heintio gan glefyd coed ynn. Yr wythnos hon yn unig, cyfarfu grŵp strategol Cymru ar glefyd coed ynn ag amrywiaeth o randdeiliaid i roi adborth ar ganllawiau drafft i gynorthwyo perchnogion tir i reoli eu coed ynn, a byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r rheini yn y gwanwyn. Felly, gwyddom fod angen inni sicrhau hefyd fod y coed rydym yn eu plannu yn gallu gwrthsefyll afiechydon yn y dyfodol. Mae’n debygol, o ganlyniad i'r newid yn yr hinsawdd, y bydd ein coed yn wynebu ystod ehangach o fygythiadau, a dyna pam ei bod yn bwysig hefyd, pan fyddwn yn plannu coed, nad ydym yn plannu ungnydau. Felly, mae safon coedwigaeth y DU, er enghraifft, y mae’n rhaid i’r holl waith plannu coed rydym yn ei ariannu gydymffurfio â hi, yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i blannu o leiaf bum math gwahanol o goed i warchod yn rhannol rhag y math hwn o fygythiad.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae gennym dargedau uchelgeisiol ar gyfer plannu mwy o goed, wedi’u harwain gan gyngor Pwyllgor y DU ar y Newid yn yr Hinsawdd ar nifer y coed sydd eu hangen arnom i fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd. Ac wrth gwrs, maent hefyd yn mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng natur. Felly, nododd yr adroddiad at wraidd y mater a gynlluniwyd i gael gwared ar rwystrau fod angen inni blannu mwy nag 80 miliwn o goed o fewn y naw mlynedd nesaf. Ac mae angen inni blannu amrywiaeth o goed, coed ar gyfer cnydau, fel y gallwn greu diwydiant pren Cymreig, ond hefyd coed ar gyfer bioamrywiaeth, a choed collddail hefyd, ond coed ar dir fferm yn bennaf. Rydym yn gweithio’n agos iawn gyda ffermwyr, a hwy sy'n arwain y gwaith hwn. Pe bai pob ffermwr yn plannu coed ar hectar o'u tir, byddem yn cyflawni ein targed. Felly, nid ydym am weld planhigfeydd enfawr fel rheol, ond rydym am weld pob ffermwr a phob perchennog tir, yn ogystal â chymunedau, yn croesawu plannu coed fel rhywbeth sy’n dda ar gyfer newid hinsawdd ond sydd hefyd yn dda ar gyfer iechyd a llesiant yn eu cymunedau.
Ymddiheuriadau—problemau technolegol. Weinidog, dwi'n clywed adroddiadau bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn prynu ffermydd teuluol yng Nghymru er mwyn plannu coed, efo pryderon bod y tir yma felly yn cael ei dynnu allan o dir cynhyrchu bwyd ac yna'r pris, gwerth y tir, yn cynyddu. Mae hyn nid yn unig yn niweidiol i amaethyddiaeth, ond yn golygu bod llai o fwyd yn cael ei gynhyrchu yma. Ydy hyn yn rhan o gynllun coedwigaeth y Llywodraeth, ac a ydych chi'n credu ei fod yn iawn fod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn prynu tir at y dibenion yma, os mai dyna'r achos? Diolch.
Apologies for my technical problems. Minister, I hear reports that Natural Resources Wales are buying family farms in Wales in order to plant trees, with concerns that this land will be no longer food-producing land and that the value of the land increases. This is not only damaging to agriculture, but also means that less food will be produced here in Wales. Is this part of the Government's forestry plan, and do you believe that it's right that NRW should be buying land for these purposes, if that is the case? Thank you.
Well, I think we all agree we need to plant more trees, therefore it follows that we need more land to plant those trees on. The UK Climate Change Committee estimates that we need around a 10 per cent shift in land use from food production to tree planting, both, as I say, as a crop for timber production, but also for carbon sequestration. And I also note that, as part of our partnership agreement with Plaid Cymru, we're looking to be more ambitious than the 2050 net-zero target and looking at what it would take to reach net zero by 2035, and I can hazard a guess that that work is going to show we need to be planting even more trees. So, I would hope that Mabon ap Gwynfor is supportive of our efforts to plant more trees, and there will be some change of land use to do that. But, as I said in the answer to Sam Kurtz, if this is done at scale by all landowners and farmers, there only needs to be a modest change of use on the land they currently farm. We are working closely with the Woodland Trust, who have an excellent initiative to encourage farmers to plant hedges and edges. Every farmer has an element of their farm that they would be happy to use for tree planting, and that's the conversation we want to have with each of them as part of the sustainable farming scheme, to identify that land and make it easier for them to plant that land. It's not helpful to continuously be questioning whether or not tree planting is something we need to do and constantly finding reasons for stymieing the progress. It has to be done sensitively, it has to be done with communities. I want it to be led by Welsh farmers, but it is going to involve a small degree of changing land use.
Wel, credaf fod pob un ohonom yn cytuno bod angen inni blannu mwy o goed, felly golyga hynny fod angen mwy o dir i blannu'r coed hynny arno. Mae Pwyllgor y DU ar y Newid yn yr Hinsawdd yn amcangyfrif bod arnom angen oddeutu 10 y cant o newid mewn defnydd tir o gynhyrchu bwyd i blannu coed, fel cnwd ar gyfer cynhyrchu pren, fel y dywedais, ond hefyd ar gyfer dal a storio carbon. A nodaf hefyd, fel rhan o'n cytundeb partneriaeth â Phlaid Cymru, ein bod yn bwriadu bod yn fwy uchelgeisiol na'r targed sero net erbyn 2050 ac edrych ar yr hyn y byddai'n ei gymryd i gyflawni sero net erbyn 2035, a gallaf ddyfalu bod y gwaith hwnnw'n mynd i ddangos bod angen inni blannu mwy byth o goed. Felly, byddwn yn gobeithio bod Mabon ap Gwynfor yn gefnogol i’n hymdrechion i blannu mwy o goed, a bydd angen rhywfaint o newid mewn defnydd tir er mwyn gwneud hynny. Ond fel y dywedais yn yr ateb i Sam Kurtz, os gwneir hyn ar raddfa fawr gan yr holl berchnogion tir a ffermwyr, nid oes ond angen ychydig o newid ar y tir y maent yn ei ffermio ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda Coed Cadw, ac mae ganddynt fenter ragorol i annog ffermwyr i blannu perthi ac ymylon caeau. Mae gan bob ffermwr ran o’u ffermydd y byddent yn barod i’w defnyddio i blannu coed, a dyna’r sgwrs rydym am ei chael gyda phob un ohonynt fel rhan o’r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, i nodi’r tir hwnnw a’i gwneud yn haws iddynt blannu ar y tir hwnnw. Nid yw'n ddefnyddiol cwestiynu'n barhaus a yw plannu coed yn rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei wneud ai peidio a dod o hyd i resymau dro ar ôl tro dros rwystro'r cynnydd. Rhaid ei wneud mewn modd sensitif, rhaid ei wneud gyda'r cymunedau. Rwyf am i ffermwyr Cymru arwain y gwaith, ond mae’n mynd i olygu ychydig bach o newid defnydd tir.
4. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o benderfyniad Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i wahardd hela trywydd ar dir y mae'n ei reoli? OQ57507
4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the decision by Natural Resources Wales to ban trail hunting on land it manages? OQ57507
Diolch, Vikki. The Natural Resources Wales decision to ban trail hunting in the Welsh Government woodland estate was taken following the outcome of a court case against a senior leader of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, and in response to it.
Diolch, Vikki. Gwnaed penderfyniad Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i wahardd hela trywydd ar ystad goed Llywodraeth Cymru yn dilyn canlyniad achos llys yn erbyn un o uwch arweinwyr Cymdeithas y Meistri Cŵn Hela ac mewn ymateb i'r achos hwnnw.
Thank you, Minister. I'm following up on my question to the rural affairs Minister before Christmas, and specifically her reply that the Welsh Government would support the consideration of a permanent ban on trail hunting by those responsible for publicly owned land in Wales. We know that trail hunting is used as a smokescreen for the hunting of live animals. Following on from the examples of NRW and the National Trust banning trail hunting, will you look to bring in such a ban as a matter of urgency to ensure that our public land isn't used for this cruel, illegal and archaic practice?
Diolch, Weinidog. Rwyf am ofyn cwestiwn yn sgil fy nghwestiwn i’r Gweinidog materion gwledig cyn y Nadolig, ac yn benodol, ei hateb y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi ystyried gwaharddiad parhaol ar hela trywydd gan y rhai sy’n gyfrifol am dir cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Gwyddom fod hela trywydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel ffug-esgus dros hela anifeiliaid byw. O ystyried bod CNC a’r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol wedi gwahardd hela trywydd, a wnewch chi geisio cyflwyno gwaharddiad cyffelyb fel mater o frys i sicrhau na chaiff ein tir cyhoeddus ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer yr arfer creulon, anghyfreithlon a hynaflyd hwn?
Yes, Vikki, I absolutely welcome the decision made by NRW. Of course, NRW makes the decision on behalf of the Welsh Government on its public land, so a very large amount of public land is now covered by the decision not to allow trail hunting on that land. We certainly will be working with other public landholders—local authorities, and so on, across Wales—when there is land that is used for trail hunting. We're of the opinion that a very large percentage of that land—because the National Trust has done something very similar—it's now not possible to conduct that practice on that land. But, I'm absolutely on board with what you're saying. We will be exploring what else we can do to protect any other lands that are currently in use, and we're also really interested to see how the Scottish Government address their commitment to banning trail hunting across all public land in Scotland in this parliamentary term as well, because we're very anxious to do that. So, I absolutely agree with the thrust of your question. I think we have largely accomplished that with the combination of the National Trust and NRW land, and I will certainly be working with other public landholding partners to see what can be done.
Ie, Vikki, rwy'n croesawu'n llwyr y penderfyniad a wnaed gan CNC. Wrth gwrs, mae CNC yn gwneud y penderfyniad ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru ar ei thir cyhoeddus, felly mae llawer iawn o dir cyhoeddus bellach yn dod o dan y penderfyniad i beidio â chaniatáu hela trywydd ar y tir hwnnw. Byddwn yn sicr yn gweithio gyda deiliaid tir cyhoeddus eraill—awdurdodau lleol, ac yn y blaen, ledled Cymru—lle ceir tir a ddefnyddir ar gyfer hela trywydd. Rydym o'r farn nad yw'n bosibl gwneud hynny ar ganran fawr iawn o'r tir hwnnw, oherwydd mae'r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol wedi gwneud rhywbeth tebyg iawn. Ond rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn rydych yn ei ddweud. Byddwn yn archwilio beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i ddiogelu unrhyw dir arall sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio ar hyn o bryd, ac mae gennym ddiddordeb mawr hefyd mewn gweld sut y mae Llywodraeth yr Alban yn mynd i gyflawni eu hymrwymiad i wahardd hela trywydd ar draws yr holl dir cyhoeddus yn yr Alban yn y tymor seneddol hwn, oherwydd rydym yn awyddus iawn i wneud hynny. Felly, cytunaf yn llwyr â byrdwn eich cwestiwn. Credaf ein bod wedi cyflawni hynny i raddau helaeth gyda'r cyfuniad o dir yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol a CNC, a byddaf yn sicr yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid eraill sy'n ddeiliaid tir cyhoeddus i weld beth y gellir ei wneud.
The national survey for Wales has shown that almost 10 per cent of people in Wales participate in off-road cycling and mountain biking, and a considerable amount of Natural Resources Wales's land accommodates this activity. Whilst I agree that off-road biking is, on the whole, a good thing, providing an opportunity for eco tourism and helps with health and well-being, we must be aware that it also causes long-term damage to the land.
I have in mind Ty'n-y-coed forest in Creigiau in Cardiff West, which has been extensively damaged by mountain bike users who have, by the unauthorised creation of their trails, not only damaged the topography of the land, but caused permanent damage to trees, habitats and other vegetation. Residents have also expressed concern about the dangers these mountain bikers pose to other users of the forest, such as walkers using the trails and public rights of way, primarily due to the speeds that they travel. From my discussions with NRW, and if I remember rightly, mountain bikers are not allowed in this forest, but clearly NRW are unable to enforce this.
Properly built and maintained trails with a proactive management strategy in place have proven to be extremely sustainable, and best practices have been identified in the mitigation of wildlife and vegetation disturbance. With this in mind, and given the unprecedented need to protect our forests, can the Minister explain what steps NRW and the Welsh Government are taking to ensure proper trail design and management strategies are put into place for all users of forests in Wales? Thank you.
Mae arolwg cenedlaethol Cymru wedi dangos bod bron i 10 y cant o bobl Cymru yn cymryd rhan mewn gweithgaredd beicio oddi ar y ffordd a beicio mynydd, ac mae cryn dipyn o dir Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn darparu ar gyfer y gweithgaredd hwn. Er fy mod yn cytuno bod beicio oddi ar y ffordd yn beth da ar y cyfan, yn darparu cyfle ar gyfer ecodwristiaeth ac yn helpu gydag iechyd a lles, rhaid inni fod yn ymwybodol ei fod hefyd yn achosi niwed hirdymor i'r tir.
Rwy'n meddwl am goedwig Ty'n-y-coed yng Nghreigiau yng Ngorllewin Caerdydd, sydd wedi'i difrodi'n helaeth gan ddefnyddwyr beiciau mynydd sydd, drwy greu eu llwybrau heb awdurdod, nid yn unig wedi difrodi topograffeg y tir, ond wedi achosi difrod parhaol i goed, cynefinoedd a llystyfiant arall. Mae trigolion hefyd wedi mynegi pryder am y peryglon y mae'r beicwyr mynydd hyn yn eu hachosi i ddefnyddwyr eraill y goedwig, megis cerddwyr sy'n defnyddio'r llwybrau a hawliau tramwy cyhoeddus, yn bennaf oherwydd y cyflymder y maent yn teithio. O fy nhrafodaethau gyda CNC, ac os cofiaf yn iawn, ni chaniateir beicwyr mynydd yn y goedwig hon, ond mae'n amlwg nad yw CNC yn gallu gorfodi hyn.
Mae llwybrau wedi'u hadeiladu a'u cynnal a'u cadw'n briodol gyda strategaeth reoli ragweithiol wedi profi'n hynod gynaliadwy, a nodwyd arferion gorau ar gyfer lliniaru tarfu ar fywyd gwyllt a llystyfiant. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, ac o gofio'r angen digynsail i ddiogelu ein coedwigoedd, a all y Gweinidog egluro pa gamau y mae CNC a Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod strategaethau llunio a rheoli llwybrau priodol yn cael eu rhoi ar waith ar gyfer yr holl ddefnyddwyr coedwigoedd yng Nghymru? Diolch.
Whilst the question does refer to forests, this question is primarily around hunting on forestry land, but if the Minister is able to offer some response, that might be useful, but I'd understand if that isn't possible given the nature of the original question.
Er bod y cwestiwn yn cyfeirio at goedwigoedd, mae'r cwestiwn yn ymwneud yn bennaf â hela ar dir coedwigaeth, ond os gall y Gweinidog gynnig rhyw ymateb, gallai hynny fod yn ddefnyddiol, ond byddwn yn deall os nad yw hynny'n bosibl o ystyried natur y cwestiwn gwreiddiol.
So, I'm happy to respond just partly, Llywydd. Indeed, it's not quite on the point of the original question, but, Joel, I'm absolutely aware of the issues about off-road biking, particularly scramblers, and so on, as well as mountain biking. The short answer is that I think it's very important for us to set up special areas where people can indulge in the sport of jump biking, and so on. We actually have some world champions in Wales in my own constituency in that sport, but it's also very important to make sure that the trails in the forest are used for the purposes they're intended, for walking, where that's intended, for cycling, where that's intended, and so on, and not a mixed use in the way that you mention. We are working with NRW to understand what enforcement messages—'measures', sorry; I can't speak with my cold today—what enforcement measures might be possible, and also, actually, with the local police forces to ensure that bye-laws are in place and properly enforced, and so on. I'm more than happy to discuss the issue with you further, as it's a matter of some interest across Wales.
Rwy'n hapus i ymateb yn rhannol, Lywydd. Yn wir, nid yw'n ymwneud yn llwyr â phwynt y cwestiwn gwreiddiol, ond Joel, rwy'n gwbl ymwybodol o'r materion sy'n codi ynghylch beicio oddi ar y ffordd, yn enwedig sgramblo ac yn y blaen, yn ogystal â beicio mynydd. Yr ateb byr yw fy mod yn credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn inni sefydlu ardaloedd arbennig lle gall pobl gymryd rhan mewn gweithgaredd beic-neidio ac yn y blaen. Mewn gwirionedd, mae gennym bencampwyr byd yng Nghymru yn fy etholaeth i yn y gamp honno, ond mae hefyd yn bwysig iawn sicrhau bod y llwybrau yn y goedwig yn cael eu defnyddio at y dibenion a fwriadwyd ar eu cyfer, ar gyfer cerdded lle'u bwriadwyd ar gyfer hynny, ar gyfer beicio lle'u bwriadwyd ar gyfer hynny, ac yn y blaen, ac nid ar gyfer defnydd cymysg yn y ffordd a nodwyd gennych. Rydym yn gweithio gyda CNC i ddeall pa negeseuon gorfodi—'mesurau', mae'n ddrwg gennyf; ni allaf siarad gyda fy annwyd heddiw—pa fesurau gorfodi a allai fod yn bosibl, a hefyd, gyda'r heddluoedd lleol i sicrhau bod is-ddeddfau ar waith ac yn cael eu gorfodi'n briodol, ac yn y blaen. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i drafod y mater gyda chi ymhellach, gan ei fod yn fater sydd o ddiddordeb ledled Cymru.
Cwestiwn 5, Rhun ap Iorwerth, ac i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Weinidog.
Question 5, Rhun ap Iorwerth, to be answered by the Deputy Minister.
Gan ddymuno'n dda i'r Gweinidog efo'i hannwyd. Mi ofynnaf i'r dirprwy felly.
Wishing the Minister well as she recovers from her cold.
5. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i wneud ffyrdd sy’n llifogi’n gyson yn fwy gwydn? OQ57514
5. What support does the Welsh Government provide to make roads that flood regularly more resilient? OQ57514
I note that no good wishes were offered to me as I recover from my cold, but I'll put that to one side.
The Welsh Government have measures in place to manage trunk roads that are affected by weather events, including flooding. The local road network is, of course, the responsibility of local authorities who are provided with grant funding by the Welsh Government to maintain and ensure the resilience of their roads.
Nodaf na ddymunwyd yn dda i mi wrth i mi wella o fy annwyd i, ond fe anwybyddaf hynny.
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru fesurau ar waith i reoli cefnffyrdd yr effeithir arnynt gan ddigwyddiadau tywydd, gan gynnwys llifogydd. Cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdodau lleol yw'r rhwydwaith ffyrdd lleol wrth gwrs, a chânt arian grant gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnal a sicrhau cydnerthedd eu ffyrdd.
Mae fy nymuniadau gorau i'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn dibynnu ar ei ateb i'r cwestiwn canlynol, wrth gwrs. Pan fydd glaw a gwynt neu lanw uchel yn dod at ei gilydd, mae'r ffordd i'r dwyrain o Fiwmares wrth safle Laird yn llifogi. Mae o'n digwydd yn amlach ac yn amlach, ac er nad oes yna dai dan fygythiad o lifogydd uniongyrchol, mae miloedd o gartrefi yn ardaloedd Llangoed a Phenmon yn cael eu hynysu, cartrefi gofal yn methu cael eu cyrraedd, llwybrau gwasanaethau brys yn cael eu torri, ac mae o'n risg gwirioneddol. Dwi'n gwybod bod yna ddim ateb hawdd, ond mae'n rhaid ei wneud o, a dwi'n gwybod bod swyddogion y cyngor sir yn rhannu fy mhryderon i yn dilyn fy sgyrsiau i efo cynghorwyr. Un broblem mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei hwynebu ydy diffyg capasiti i roi cynlluniau at ei gilydd, ac mi fyddwn i'n croesawu ymrwymiad i helpu awdurdodau lleol i greu'r capasiti yna. Ond fy mhrif gwestiwn i: yn allweddol, gaf i ofyn am ymrwymiad hir dymor i'r gronfa ffyrdd cydnerth, er mwyn sicrhau y bydd yna gyllid ar gael am y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod, er mwyn dod o hyd i ateb i'r broblem benodol yma, problemau eraill fel yr A5 ym Mhentre Berw er enghraifft, hefyd—hynny ydy, lle dydy tai ddim dan fygythiad, ond lle mae risg i wydnwch trafnidiaeth ac i ddiogelwch cymunedau yn risg gwirioneddol?
My best wishes to the Deputy Minister depend on his answer to the next question, of course. When wind, rain, and high tides come together, the road to the east of Beaumaris near the Laird site floods. It's happening more and more often, and although there are no homes at risk directly from the flooding, thousands of homes in the areas of Llangoed and Penmon are isolated, care homes can't be reached, routes for emergency services are interfered with, and there is a real risk. I know there is no easy solution, but it has to be done, and I do know that officials from the council share my concerns, following the conversations I've had with councillors. Now, one problem that local authorities face is a lack of capacity in putting plans together, and I would welcome a commitment to assist local authorities to generate that capacity. But my main question is: crucially, can I ask for a long-term commitment to the resilient roads fund, in order to ensure that there is funding available for ensuing years, in order to find a solution to this specific problem and other problems such as A5 in Pentre Berw too—that is, where homes are not directly at risk, but where the risk to the resilience of transport and to community safety is very real indeed?
Well, the Member is right. This is very real indeed, and we know it's going to get worse as climate change intensifies and making our roads resilient to the threats of storms and also the impact of extreme heat is one of the things we need to do as we adapt to climate change, which is part of our net-zero strategy. It's one of the reasons why we've set up the roads review, so we shift funding away from continuously building new roads to maintaining the roads that we have better, partly in order to deal with the growing threat of climate change. And it was with that in mind that we created the resilient roads fund and we are spending £18.5 million this year for local authorities to bid in to deal with schemes like the one that Rhun mentions. And, in the next financial year, authorities will be able to continue to apply for funding for schemes they've already begun. We do have difficult budget choices to make—there's no point pretending otherwise—and we're not able to do all that we want to do. We're hoping that the roads review panel's report will come out in the summer, and that will give us some advice on how we can make these choices in the years beyond next year.
Wel, mae'r Aelod yn iawn. Mae hyn yn real iawn, a gwyddom y bydd yn gwaethygu wrth i'r newid yn yr hinsawdd ddwysáu ac mae gwella gallu ein ffyrdd i wrthsefyll bygythiadau stormydd ac effaith gwres eithafol hefyd yn un o'r pethau y mae angen inni ei wneud wrth inni addasu i newid hinsawdd, sy'n rhan o'n strategaeth sero net. Dyma un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod wedi sefydlu'r adolygiad o ffyrdd, felly rydym yn symud cyllid oddi wrth adeiladu ffyrdd newydd yn barhaus i gynnal a chadw'r ffyrdd sydd gennym yn well, yn rhannol er mwyn gwrthsefyll bygythiad cynyddol newid hinsawdd. A chyda hynny mewn golwg, gwnaethom greu'r gronfa ffyrdd cydnerth ac rydym yn gwario £18.5 miliwn eleni i awdurdodau lleol wneud cais i gyflawni cynlluniau fel yr un y mae Rhun yn sôn amdano. Ac yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, bydd awdurdodau'n gallu parhau i wneud cais am gyllid ar gyfer cynlluniau y maent eisoes wedi'u dechrau. Mae gennym ddewisiadau anodd i'w gwneud ar y gyllideb—nid oes pwrpas esgus fel arall—ac ni allwn wneud popeth rydym eisiau ei wneud. Rydym yn gobeithio y caiff adroddiad y panel adolygu ffyrdd ei gyhoeddi yn yr haf, a bydd hynny'n rhoi cyngor i ni ar sut y gallwn wneud y dewisiadau hyn yn y blynyddoedd y tu hwnt i'r flwyddyn nesaf.
I'm sure the Deputy Minister will be aware of the issue of the B5605 in Wrexham, which was raised in First Minister's questions yesterday. However, the First Minister said he wasn't familiar with the issues there. It's also been raised in Prime Minister's questions this afternoon by my colleague Simon Baynes MP. And it's the closure of this road for more than a year now that has had a huge impact on local people, who now have to take longer journeys. This is a significant issue for them, adding 15 miles and up to 30 minutes to their journey, while of course also adding to their carbon footprint. I did write to the Minister on 23 November regarding the damage to the B5605 between Cefn Mawr and Newbridge, caused by storm Christoph. I wrote again last week, but I've yet to receive a response to any letter. The repair works to the road are expected to cost around £1 million, and 12 months after the storm, the only progress that appears to have been made is that Welsh Government approved money to carry out a preliminary assessment. So, Deputy Minister, do you think it's acceptable for this road to stay closed, and if you don't, what urgent action are you taking to ensure it reopens as soon as possible?
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn ymwybodol o broblem y B5605 yn Wrecsam, a godwyd yng nghwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog ddoe. Fodd bynnag, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog nad oedd yn gyfarwydd â'r problemau yno. Fe'i codwyd hefyd yng nghwestiynau Prif Weinidog y DU y prynhawn yma gan fy nghyd-bleidiwr, Simon Baynes AS. Ac mae cau'r ffordd hon ers mwy na blwyddyn bellach wedi cael effaith enfawr ar bobl leol, sydd bellach yn gorfod gwneud teithiau pellach. Mae hwn yn fater o bwys iddynt, gan ei fod yn ychwanegu 15 milltir a hyd at 30 munud at eu taith, tra'n ychwanegu at eu hôl troed carbon wrth gwrs. Ysgrifennais at y Gweinidog ar 23 Tachwedd ynghylch y difrod i'r B5605 rhwng Cefn Mawr a Newbridge, a achoswyd gan storm Christoph. Ysgrifennais eto yr wythnos diwethaf, ond nid wyf wedi cael ymateb i unrhyw lythyr hyd yma. Disgwylir i'r gwaith atgyweirio ar y ffordd gostio tua £1 filiwn, a 12 mis ar ôl y storm, yr unig gynnydd sydd i'w weld wedi'i wneud yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymeradwyo arian i gynnal asesiad rhagarweiniol. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, a ydych yn credu ei bod yn dderbyniol fod y ffordd hon yn aros ar gau, ac os nad ydych, pa gamau brys rydych yn eu cymryd i sicrhau ei bod yn ailagor cyn gynted â phosibl?
Yes. I noticed it was raised both in First Minister's questions and in Prime Minister's questions by Simon Baynes—erroneously, because he's blaming the Welsh Government for something that is the responsibility of the local authority. I understand the temptation to play politics on this, but he ought to do his homework a little better before casting aspersions. We are in discussions with the local authority. We want to help them to solve this problem, but it's for them to put in the right application, to the right fund, in the right way. I think it's unfortunate that Sam Rowlands joins the bandwagon of placing blame at our door when it doesn't properly belong here. That said, we recognise the problem this is causing to the local community and we want to be part of finding a solution. The leadership for this belongs properly—as a former council leader, he will recognise—with the local government, and we hope to work along with them to try and find the solution as quickly as possible.
Ie. Sylwais ei fod wedi'i godi yng nghwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog ac yng nghwestiynau Prif Weinidog y DU gan Simon Baynes—yn wallus, oherwydd mae'n beio Llywodraeth Cymru am rywbeth sy'n gyfrifoldeb i'r awdurdod lleol. Rwy'n deall y demtasiwn i chwarae gwleidyddiaeth ar hyn, ond dylai wneud ei waith cartref ychydig yn well cyn bwrw sen. Rydym mewn trafodaethau gyda'r awdurdod lleol. Rydym am eu helpu i ddatrys y broblem hon, ond mater iddynt hwy yw cyflwyno'r cais cywir, i'r gronfa gywir, yn y ffordd gywir. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn anffodus fod Sam Rowlands yn mynd i ganlyn y llif a'n beio ni pan nad yw'n fater sy'n ymwneud â ni yma. Wedi dweud hynny, rydym yn cydnabod y broblem y mae hyn yn ei achosi i'r gymuned leol ac rydym am helpu i ddod o hyd i ateb. Gan lywodraeth leol y ceir arweiniad priodol ar hyn—fel cyn-arweinydd cyngor, fe fydd yn cydnabod hynny—a gobeithiwn weithio gyda hwy i geisio dod o hyd i'r ateb cyn gynted â phosibl.
I also mentioned this earlier, I think, in the questions, as a supplementary to Gareth Davies's one. Our highway infrastructure, including the drainage system of ditches, culverts and gullies, was built many years ago and is struggling to cope with the volume of rain that often falls these days. Many properties sit level with roads and some older ones are below road level. A lot of water drains off land onto the highway, and once the highway gullies cannot take the volume, water then flows off the road into properties. I watched one day as rain fell so heavily, the gullies could not take any more and water started to flow down towards the sandbagged properties, but thankfully, as the volume of rainfall eased, the gullies started to take it and the ebb of water eased and receded. Due to climate change, there are more instances of this monsoon-like rainfall. So, what is being done to capture rainfall using natural solutions to help with the capacity of the drainage systems and mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall on roads that flood regularly? Thank you.
Soniais innau am hyn yn gynharach hefyd, rwy'n credu, yn y cwestiynau, fel cwestiwn atodol i gwestiwn Gareth Davies. Adeiladwyd ein seilwaith priffyrdd, gan gynnwys system ddraenio ffosydd, cwlferi a gylïau, flynyddoedd lawer yn ôl ac mae'n ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi â faint o law sy'n aml yn disgyn y dyddiau hyn. Mae llawer o eiddo ar yr un lefel â ffyrdd ac mae peth eiddo hŷn yn is na lefel y ffordd. Mae llawer o ddŵr yn draenio oddi ar y tir ar y briffordd, a phan fydd yn ormod i gylïau priffyrdd allu ei gymryd, mae dŵr yn llifo wedyn oddi ar y ffordd ac i mewn i eiddo. Gwyliais un diwrnod wrth i law ddisgyn mor drwm fel na allai'r gylïau gymryd mwy a dechreuodd dŵr lifo i lawr tuag at eiddo a oedd wedi gosod bagiau tywod, ond diolch byth, wrth i'r glaw lacio, dechreuodd y gylïau ei gymryd, llaciodd grym y dŵr a dechreuodd ostwng. Oherwydd newid hinsawdd, mae mwy o achosion o lawiadau tebyg i law monsŵn o'r fath. Felly, beth sy'n cael ei wneud i ddal glawiad gan ddefnyddio atebion naturiol i helpu gyda chapasiti'r systemau draenio a lliniaru effaith glawiad trwm ar ffyrdd sy'n dioddef llifogydd yn rheolaidd? Diolch.
As I mentioned in the answer to Rhun ap Iorwerth, we recognise that climate change means that these events are going to occur more frequently and they do pose a problem to our critical infrastructure, and we are committed to doing what we can to address that.
The question the Member asks specifically about natural drainage solutions is a really important one, because I think we over-rely sometimes on engineering, when we want to try and use different approaches, because we can achieve results quicker and cheaper as well as enhancing biodiversity as we do so. She'll be aware that, since January 2019, all new significant developments, including roads, have had to implement some kind of sustainable drainage scheme to capture the rainfall and run-off from those projects. That is now something embedded in our approach to capital construction, and of course, we look for opportunities to mitigate where we can.
Fel y soniais yn yr ateb i Rhun ap Iorwerth, rydym yn cydnabod bod newid hinsawdd yn golygu y bydd y digwyddiadau hyn yn digwydd yn amlach ac maent yn peri problem i'n seilwaith hanfodol, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i wneud yr hyn a allwn i fynd i'r afael â hynny.
Mae'r cwestiwn y mae'r Aelod yn ei ofyn yn benodol am atebion draenio naturiol yn un pwysig iawn, oherwydd credaf ein bod yn orddibynnol weithiau ar beirianneg, pan fyddwn am geisio defnyddio dulliau gwahanol, oherwydd gallwn sicrhau canlyniadau'n gyflymach ac yn rhatach yn ogystal â gwella bioamrywiaeth wrth inni wneud hynny. Fe fydd hi'n gwybod, ers mis Ionawr 2019, fod pob datblygiad arwyddocaol newydd, gan gynnwys ffyrdd, wedi gorfod gweithredu rhyw fath o gynllun draenio cynaliadwy i ddal y glawiad a'r dŵr ffo o'r prosiectau hynny. Mae hynny bellach yn rhywbeth sy'n rhan annatod o'n dull o weithredu mewn perthynas â gwaith adeiladu mawr, ac wrth gwrs, rydym yn chwilio am gyfleoedd i liniaru lle y gallwn.
6. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i warchod natur ar draws parth 200 milltir forol Cymru? OQ57494
6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to conserve nature throughout the Welsh 200 nautical mile zone? OQ57494
Diolch, Janet. I'm committed to a resilient marine environment covering the entire Welsh marine zone. Our programme for government commits us to a marine ecosystem recovery and enhancement programme. Supporting this aim is the designation process for predominantly offshore marine conservation zones and the management actions for our marine protected areas.
Diolch, Janet. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i amgylchedd morol gwydn sy'n cwmpasu holl barth morol Cymru. Mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu yn ein hymrwymo i raglen adfer a gwella ecosystemau morol. Mae'r broses ddynodi ar gyfer parthau cadwraeth morol alltraeth yn bennaf a'r camau rheoli ar gyfer ein hardaloedd morol gwarchodedig yn cefnogi'r nod hwn.
Thank you. I have to say that I was disappointed during climate change committee last week when the Deputy Minister refuted the fact that, during his deep dive on nature conservation, he basically ignored the fact when I said that I was concerned about whether there'd been any engagement with any of the non-governmental organisations in terms of nature conservation. If you look at the actual deep dive report, there's no reference to any of them, so that's that something I would like you to take further.
But I've highlighted during climate change committee that there still exists a discrepancy between the section 158 definition and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, which of course provides responsibility for Natural Resources Wales to promote sustainable management of natural resources up to 12 nautical miles, and your Welsh Government's broader legal responsibility for nature conservation throughout the Welsh 200 nautical mile zone. In a recent written question reply, you kindly stated that the Welsh Government will look for an opportunity to amend the legislation in subsequent years, and in a letter to the First Minister, Wales Environment Link urged this administration to make the restoration of marine wildlife a higher priority, including protections for—I can never say it—cetaceans that recognise their ecosystem-regulating functions. Minister, can you clarify what engagement you have undertaken to secure a firm timeline to amend this discrepancy, so that this Siambr Cymru and Senedd Cymru may be in a better position to scrutinise and monitor the actions of NRW with regard to deep-water nature conservation? Thank you.
Diolch. Rhaid imi ddweud fy mod wedi fy siomi yn ystod y pwyllgor newid hinsawdd yr wythnos diwethaf pan wrthododd y Dirprwy Weinidog y ffaith ei fod, yn ystod ei adroddiad at wraidd y mater ar gadwraeth natur, fwy neu lai wedi anwybyddu'r ffaith pan ddywedais fy mod yn pryderu ynglŷn ag a fu unrhyw gysylltiad ag unrhyw un o'r sefydliadau anllywodraethol ynghylch chadwraeth natur. Os edrychwch ar yr adroddiad at wraidd y mater, nid oes cyfeiriad at yr un ohonynt, felly dyna rywbeth yr hoffwn i chi edrych ymhellach arno.
Ond rwyf wedi tynnu sylw yn ystod y pwyllgor newid hinsawdd at y ffaith bod anghysondeb o hyd rhwng diffiniad adran 158 a Deddf yr Amgylchedd (Cymru) 2016, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn rhoi cyfrifoldeb i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru hyrwyddo rheolaeth gynaliadwy ar adnoddau naturiol hyd at 12 milltir forol, a chyfrifoldeb cyfreithiol ehangach Llywodraeth Cymru dros gadwraeth natur ledled parth 200 milltir forol Cymru. Mewn ateb i gwestiwn ysgrifenedig yn ddiweddar, fe ddywedoch chi y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn chwilio am gyfle i ddiwygio'r ddeddfwriaeth yn y blynyddoedd dilynol, ac mewn llythyr at y Prif Weinidog, anogodd Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru y weinyddiaeth hon i wneud adfer bywyd gwyllt morol yn flaenoriaeth uwch, gan gynnwys mesurau i ddiogelu teulu'r morfil i gydnabod eu rôl yn rheoleiddio ecosystemau. Weinidog, a allwch egluro pa ymgysylltiad a gawsoch i sicrhau amserlen gadarn i ddiwygio'r anghysondeb hwn, fel y gallai'r Siambr hon a Senedd Cymru fod mewn gwell sefyllfa i graffu ar weithredoedd CNC a'u monitro mewn perthynas â chadwraeth natur y dyfnfor? Diolch.
Thank you, Janet. I am absolutely committed to amending the legislation. The legislation was of course passed before we had the 200 nautical mile zone, so we are absolutely committed to doing that, and I'm sure there will be a suitable opportunity to put it into a relevant Bill at some point in this Senedd term; we absolutely want to do that. In the meantime, we're behaving as if the environment Act says the 200 mile zone, because that's obviously what we'd like it to say, and we're making sure that we take that responsibility seriously.
In undertaking a deep dive on biodiversity, I already mentioned I will of course be including marine biodiversity in that; it's a very important part of our biodiversity, as indeed is the intertidal part of Wales. So, all of the massive biodiversity in the intertidal zone is incredibly important as well. So, just to assure you, we will be looking at marine biodiversity at the same time, and that will, of course, include cetacean protection programmes and others. There's a very large amount of work to do here to ensure good conservation status both inside the marine protected zones and in the marine conservation areas, and to make sure that we have the right network right around the shore. I do absolutely assure you that I take it very seriously indeed. We are very, very aware of both the importance for biodiversity and the climate of healthy oceans, but actually, also, of course, to our tourism industry, which relies very heavily on our beautiful countryside and our beautiful coastline and seas. So, I certainly do take that very seriously. We know that we have, from the recent 'State of Natural Resources Report', some real fundamental challenges for the marine environment, including the threat of climate change, so we will be including that in the programme as we bring it forward.
Diolch, Janet. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i ddiwygio'r ddeddfwriaeth. Cafodd y ddeddfwriaeth ei phasio, wrth gwrs, cyn inni gael y parth 200 milltir forol, felly rydym wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i wneud hynny, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd cyfle addas i'w roi mewn Bil perthnasol rywbryd yn nhymor y Senedd hon; rydym yn bendant yn awyddus i wneud hynny. Yn y cyfamser, rydym yn ymddwyn fel pe bai Deddf yr amgylchedd yn dweud y parth 200 milltir, oherwydd dyna'n amlwg yr hoffem iddi ei ddweud, ac rydym yn sicrhau ein bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r cyfrifoldeb hwnnw.
Wrth gyflawni adroddiad at wraidd y mater ar fioamrywiaeth, soniais eisoes y byddaf yn cynnwys bioamrywiaeth forol yn hynny wrth gwrs; mae'n rhan bwysig iawn o'n bioamrywiaeth, fel yn wir y mae'r rhan rynglanwol o Gymru. Felly, mae'r holl fioamrywiaeth enfawr yn y parth rhynglanwol yn eithriadol o bwysig hefyd. Felly, gallaf eich sicrhau y byddwn yn edrych ar fioamrywiaeth forol ar yr un pryd, a bydd hynny, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys rhaglenni diogelu teulu'r morfil a rhywogaethau eraill. Mae llawer iawn o waith i'w wneud yma i sicrhau statws cadwraeth da o fewn y parthau morol gwarchodedig ac yn yr ardaloedd cadwraeth morol, ac i sicrhau bod gennym y rhwydwaith cywir o amgylch y glannau i gyd. Rwy'n eich sicrhau'n bendant fy mod yn gyfan gwbl o ddifrif yn ei gylch. Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn o bwysigrwydd cefnforoedd iach ar gyfer bioamrywiaeth a hinsawdd, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer ein diwydiant twristiaeth, sy'n dibynnu'n drwm iawn ar ein cefn gwlad hardd a'n harfordir a'n moroedd hardd. Felly, rwy'n sicr o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn. O'r 'Adroddiad ar Sefyllfa Adnoddau Naturiol' diweddar, gwyddom fod gennym heriau sylfaenol go iawn i'r amgylchedd morol, gan gynnwys bygythiad newid hinsawdd, felly byddwn yn cynnwys hynny yn y rhaglen wrth inni ei chyflwyno.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer llwybrau teithio llesol yng Nghaerffili? OQ57528
7. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government support for active travel routes in Caerphilly? OQ57528
We support active travel routes in Caerphilly by providing the council with a core allocation from our active travel fund each year, and by offering the opportunity to apply for additional funding through a range of grants. In this financial year, Caerphilly has been allocated over £1.4 million.
Rydym yn cefnogi llwybrau teithio llesol yng Nghaerffili drwy roi dyraniad craidd i'r cyngor o'n cronfa teithio llesol bob blwyddyn, a thrwy gynnig cyfle i wneud cais am gyllid ychwanegol drwy amrywiaeth o grantiau. Yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, dyrannwyd dros £1.4 miliwn i Gaerffili.
That funding is very welcome. I've seen throughout the constituency, and, indeed, the borough, the impact that that has made, most recently in Cwm Calon, where the cycle path has been opened for the first time and is very welcomed by residents. However, I'd like to focus on a specific part of the constituency. The Tynygraig footbridge over the Rhymney valley rail line in Llanbradach has been closed since April 2020 after the bridge was damaged and then was subsequently removed by Transport for Wales for safety reasons. Unfortunately, local elected members have made some mischievous comments suggesting that Transport for Wales have no intention of replacing that bridge. That's not true. I'd like to say I've had a meeting with Transport for Wales and they've made it absolutely clear their intention to replace the bridge—that that will happen. However, the timescale is fairly long. They were going to introduce a temporary bridge, but that would interfere with the work required to introduce a permanent bridge, they've subsequently discovered, which is disappointing. However, that bridge will be replaced. I would ask the Deputy Minister if he would commit to working with Transport for Wales officials to do everything he can to shorten the timescale that is currently in place to get that bridge permanently replaced. Any assistance the Welsh Government can offer Transport for Wales in these circumstances would be very welcome.
Mae'r cyllid hwnnw i'w groesawu'n fawr. Rwyf wedi gweld ledled yr etholaeth, a thrwy'r fwrdeistref yn wir, yr effaith y mae hynny wedi'i chael, yn fwyaf diweddar yng Nghwm Calon, lle mae'r llwybr beicio wedi'i agor am y tro cyntaf ac wedi cael croeso mawr gan drigolion. Fodd bynnag, hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar ran benodol o'r etholaeth. Mae pont droed Ty'n-y-graig dros reilffordd cwm Rhymni yn Llanbradach wedi bod ar gau ers mis Ebrill 2020 ar ôl i'r bont gael ei difrodi ac yna cafodd ei symud wedyn gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru am resymau diogelwch. Yn anffodus, mae aelodau etholedig lleol wedi gwneud rhai sylwadau maleisus sy'n awgrymu nad oes gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru unrhyw fwriad i osod pont arall yn lle'r bont honno. Nid yw hynny'n wir. Hoffwn ddweud fy mod wedi cael cyfarfod â Trafnidiaeth Cymru ac maent wedi dweud yn gwbl glir mai eu bwriad yw gosod pont arall—y bydd hynny'n digwydd. Fodd bynnag, mae'r amserlen yn weddol hir. Roeddent yn mynd i gyflwyno pont dros dro, ond canfuwyd wedyn y byddai hynny'n ymyrryd â'r gwaith sydd ei angen i gyflwyno pont barhaol, sy'n siomedig. Fodd bynnag, fe gaiff pont newydd ei chodi. Hoffwn ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a wnaiff ymrwymo i weithio gyda swyddogion Trafnidiaeth Cymru i wneud popeth yn ei allu i gwtogi'r amserlen sy'n weithredol ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer codi pont newydd barhaol. Byddai croeso mawr i unrhyw gymorth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei gynnig i Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn yr amgylchiadau hyn.
I can confirm what the Member says: the bridge definitely will be replaced and we're hoping it'll be in place a year from now, between late March and April 2023. It has taken longer than expected. As Hefin David said, it was severely damaged by a lorry and then had to be torn down. The process that it's had to go through, with a design bespoke for this particular location, has been complex, and obviously we've had COVID hit us at the same time. I apologise to the residents for the delays that they've had to put up with, but there's every intention by Transport for Wales to replace this bridge.
Gallaf gadarnhau'r hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei ddweud: yn sicr, fe gaiff pont ei chodi ac rydym yn gobeithio y bydd yn ei lle ymhen blwyddyn, rhwng diwedd mis Mawrth a mis Ebrill 2023. Mae wedi cymryd mwy o amser na'r disgwyl. Fel y dywedodd Hefin David, cafodd ei difrodi'n ddifrifol gan lori ac yna bu'n rhaid ei chwalu. Mae'r broses y bu'n rhaid mynd drwyddi, gyda chynllun pwrpasol ar gyfer y lleoliad penodol hwn, wedi bod yn gymhleth, ac yn amlwg cawsom ein taro gan COVID ar yr un pryd. Rwy'n ymddiheuro i'r trigolion am yr oedi y maent wedi gorfod ymdopi ag ef, ond mae pob bwriad gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru i godi pont newydd yn lle'r bont hon.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Rhianon Passmore.
And finally, question 8, Rhianon Passmore.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am wasanaethau rheilffordd yn Islwyn? OQ57511
8. Will the Minister provide an update on railway services in Islwyn? OQ57511
We've provided a £70 million loan to Blaenau Gwent council to work with Network Rail to enable an hourly Newport to Ebbw Vale service from December 2023. Our longer term ambition is the provision of four services per hour on the line.
Rydym wedi darparu benthyciad o £70 miliwn i gyngor Blaenau Gwent i weithio gyda Network Rail er mwyn gallu gweithredu gwasanaeth bob awr o Gasnewydd i Lynebwy o fis Rhagfyr 2023 ymlaen. Ein huchelgais mwy hirdymor yw darparu pedwar gwasanaeth yr awr ar y rheilffordd.
Diolch. On 12 December last year, following the £1.2 million investment to upgrade the Ebbw Vale line, an hourly direct passenger service between Crosskeys and Newport recommenced after a gap of 60 years. Minister, I along with colleagues met with representatives of Network Rail and Transport for Wales recently to discuss the further expansion plans of the line northwards through Newbridge to Ebbw Vale. With the Department for Transport finally upgrading the relief lines between Newport and Cardiff, what further discussions will the Welsh Government have with our partner agencies on the further possibility of twice-hourly services on the line through Islwyn, both stopping at Newport and Cardiff?
Diolch. Ar 12 Rhagfyr y llynedd, yn dilyn y buddsoddiad o £1.2 miliwn i uwchraddio rheilffordd Glynebwy, ailddechreuodd gwasanaeth teithwyr uniongyrchol bob awr rhwng Crosskeys a Chasnewydd ar ôl bwlch o 60 mlynedd. Weinidog, cyfarfûm â chynrychiolwyr Network Rail a Trafnidiaeth Cymru gyda chyd-Aelodau yn ddiweddar i drafod cynlluniau ehangu pellach y rheilffordd tua'r gogledd drwy Drecelyn i Lynebwy. Gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth o'r diwedd yn uwchraddio'r rheilffyrdd lliniaru rhwng Casnewydd a Chaerdydd, pa drafodaethau pellach y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael gyda'n hasiantaethau partner ynglŷn â'r posibilrwydd pellach o wasanaethau ddwywaith yr awr ar y rheilffordd drwy Islwyn, gyda'r ddau wasanaeth yn aros yng Nghasnewydd a Chaerdydd?
That's certainly our ambition too, but we are still awaiting a decision from the UK Government in respect of the funding submitted under the Restoring Your Railway scheme, which will allow us to progress our plans to take forward the reopening of the Abertillery spur. Rhianon Passmore will know that rail infrastructure is not devolved to Wales, but it was the Welsh Government that reopened the Ebbw Vale line in 2008, it was the Welsh Government that extended the line to Ebbw Vale Town in 2016, and it was the Welsh Government that made possible a brand new additional service on the line between Crosskeys and Newport in December. It is the Welsh Government that has committed £70 million of funding in a long-term loan to the extended service to Ebbw Vale Town in 2023, along with the introduction of brand new rolling stock on the line, which will help futureproof our longer term aspiration for four trains an hour on the line, which will benefit around 59,000 people living in communities alongside the Ebbw Vale branch line. So, I think we've more than done our fair share of making sure that this service in place. It is non-devolved and the UK Government needs to do its part.
Dyna'n sicr yw ein huchelgais ninnau hefyd, ond rydym yn dal i aros am benderfyniad gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â'r cyllid a gyflwynwyd o dan gynllun Adfer Eich Rheilffordd, a fydd yn ein galluogi i fwrw ymlaen â'n cynlluniau i ailagor rheilffordd gangen Abertyleri. Bydd Rhianon Passmore yn gwybod nad yw'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi'i ddatganoli i Gymru, ond Llywodraeth Cymru a ailagorodd reilffordd Glynebwy yn 2008, Llywodraeth Cymru a estynnodd y rheilffordd i Dref Glynebwy yn 2016, a Llywodraeth Cymru a'i gwnaeth yn bosibl cynnig gwasanaeth ychwanegol newydd sbon ar y rheilffordd rhwng Crosskeys a Chasnewydd ym mis Rhagfyr. Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi ymrwymo £70 miliwn o gyllid mewn benthyciad hirdymor i'r gwasanaeth estynedig i Dref Glynebwy yn 2023, ynghyd â chyflwyno cerbydau newydd sbon ar y rheilffordd a fydd yn helpu i ddiogelu ar gyfer y dyfodol ein dyhead hirdymor i gael pedwar trên yr awr ar y rheilffordd a fydd o fudd i tua 59,000 o bobl sy'n byw mewn cymunedau ar hyd rheilffordd gangen Glynebwy. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod wedi gwneud mwy na'n cyfran deg i sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth hwn yn ei le. Nid yw wedi'i ddatganoli ac mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU wneud ei rhan.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog ac i'r Gweinidog hefyd.
I thank the Deputy Minister and the Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf heddiw gan Paul Davies.
The next item is questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language and the first question today is from Paul Davies.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddarparu addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg yn sir Benfro? OQ57499
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the delivery of Welsh-medium education in Pembrokeshire? OQ57499
Mae sir Benfro, fel pob awdurdod lleol, wedi bod yn brysur yn paratoi'r cynllun strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg newydd. Mae'r cynllun yn nodi sut y maen nhw'n bwriadu cynyddu eu darpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg 10 i 14 y cant dros y 10 mlynedd nesaf. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gael eu cynllun drafft ddiwedd y mis hwn.
Pembrokeshire, like all local authorities, has been busy preparing the new Welsh in education strategic plan, setting out how they propose to grow their Welsh-medium provision by 10 to 14 per cent over the next 10 years. I look forward to receiving their draft at the end of this month.
Diolch am yr ymateb yna, Weinidog. Fel rŷch chi'n gwybod, ddoe, fe ddathlodd yr Urdd 100 mlwydd oed, ac fel rŷch chi hefyd yn gwybod, mae'r sefydliad yn gwneud gwaith rhyfeddol o ddarparu cyfleoedd i blant a phobl ifanc ddysgu a chymdeithasu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch yn ymuno â fi i ddiolch i'r gwirfoddolwyr a'r staff di-ri ar hyd y blynyddoedd sydd wedi cyfrannu cymaint dros blant Cymru.
Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod y galw am addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol, cymaint felly nes bod cynghorwyr lleol yn fy ardal i wedi nodi ei fod yn fwy na'r nifer o leoedd sydd ar gael. Mae yna blant nawr sy'n cael eu troi i ffwrdd, ac o ganlyniad, mae rhieni'n poeni'n fawr iawn bod yna loteri cod post yn cael ei chreu yn sir Benfro. O ystyried yr amgylchiadau, pa gymorth y gall Lywodraeth Cymru ei gynnig i fynd i'r afael â'r diffyg sylweddol o leoedd cyfrwng Cymraeg yn sir Benfro ar hyn o bryd, a pha drafodaethau sydd wedi'u cynnal gyda Chyngor Sir Penfro i ddatblygu strategaeth hirdymor ar gyfer addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg yn yr ardal?
Thank you for that response, Minister. As you know, yesterday, the Urdd celebrated its centenary, and as you also know, the organisation does incredible work in providing opportunities for children and young people to learn and to socialise through the medium of Welsh. I'm sure that you will join me in thanking the volunteers and staff over the years who have contributed so much for the children of Wales.
You will be aware that the demand for Welsh-medium education has increased substantially, so much so that local councillors in my area have noted that it is greater than the number of places available. There are children now who are being turned away, and as a result, parents are very concerned that there is a postcode lottery being created in Pembrokeshire. Given these circumstances, what support can the Welsh Government provide to tackle the substantial lack of Welsh-medium places in Pembrokeshire at the moment, and what discussions have been had with Pembrokeshire County Council in order to develop a long-term strategy for Welsh-medium education in the area?
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cyfle i ategu ei longyfarchiadau e i'r Urdd am eu gwaith aruthrol nhw dros ganrif i ddarparu gwasanaethau ieuenctid i'n pobl ni yma yng Nghymru. Byddaf, rwy'n siŵr, yn rhannu gyda fe atgofion melys iawn o ba mor bwysig oedd yr Urdd i fi fel crwtyn yn tyfu i fyny. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn i ategu llongyfarchiadau'r Aelod.
Mae'r awdurdod lleol yn sir Benfro yn rhannu ein barn ni fel Llywodraeth bod y ffaith nad oes digon o lefydd ar gael yn un o bwys, ac maen nhw wedi bod yn gweithio ar eu cynllun strategol gyda hynny mewn golwg. Rwy'n gwybod hefyd bod y mudiad Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg wedi bod yn gweithio gydag amryw o deuluoedd yn sir Benfro i'w cefnogi nhw mewn apeliadau ynglŷn â phenderfyniadau o ran mynediad at ysgolion penodol. Mae'r ystod y mae'r cyngor yn ei ddatgan yn y cynllun drafft yn un sydd yn golygu y bydd cynnydd o hyd at 14 y cant, fel y gwnes i ddweud. Mae hefyd cynlluniau gan yr awdurdod i sefydlu ysgol newydd ac i edrych ar gategoreiddio ysgolion a symud categoreiddio ysgolion i sicrhau mwy o ddarpariaeth drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ynghyd â'r angen i fuddsoddi yn y blynyddoedd cynnar. Felly, mae elfen o uchelgais yng nghynlluniau'r cyngor er mwyn darparu darpariaeth ehangach.
Bydd yr Aelod hefyd yn gwybod bod cynllun cyfalaf wedi'i ddatgan y llynedd o ryw £30 miliwn ar gyfer darparu buddsoddiadau yn seilwaith addysg Gymraeg yma yng Nghymru, ac mae llawer iawn o'n hawdurdodau lleol ni wedi datgan diddordeb yn hwnnw. Mae'r broses yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd o edrych ar y cynigion hynny a'u cymharu nhw gyda'r lefel o uchelgais sydd yn y cynlluniau strategol, a byddaf i'n gallu dweud mwy am hynny ym mis Chwefror.
I thank the Member for the opportunity to echo his congratulations to the Urdd for their incredible work over a century in providing youth services to our young people here in Wales. I'm sure I will share with him some happy memories of how important the Urdd was to me as a boy growing up. So, I'm happy to echo the Member's congratulations.
The local authority in Pembrokeshire shares our view as a Government that the issue of insufficient places available is an important issue, and they have been working on their strategic plan with that in mind. I also know that Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg have been working with many families in Pembrokeshire to support them in appeals on decisions in terms of access to specific schools. The range proposed by the council in its draft plan means that there will be an increase of up to 14 per cent, as I stated in my first answer. There are also plans in place by the authority to establish a new school and to look at the categorisation of schools and to change some categorisation to ensure that there is greater provision through the medium of Welsh, as well as the need to invest in the early years too. So, that element of ambition is there in the council's strategic plan in order to enhance provision.
The Member will also be aware that a capital programme was announced last year of some £30 million in order to provide investment in Welsh-medium education infrastructure here in Wales, and many of our local authorities have expressed an interest in that. The process is ongoing at the moment. We are looking at those proposals and comparing them with the level of ambition in the WESPs, and I will be able to say more about that in February.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddiogelwch mewn ysgolion ac o'u hamgylch? OQ57506
2. Will the Minister make a statement on safety in and around school premises? OQ57506
All education settings in Wales have a legal duty to ensure that children have access to a safe learning environment. Safeguarding of learners is of paramount importance, and our statutory guidance, 'Keeping learners safe', sets out actions and expectations placed on schools to ensure the safety of children.
Mae gan bob lleoliad addysg yng Nghymru ddyletswydd gyfreithiol i sicrhau bod plant yn cael mynediad at amgylchedd dysgu diogel. Mae diogelwch dysgwyr yn hollbwysig, ac mae ein canllawiau statudol, 'Cadw dysgwyr yn ddiogel', yn nodi'r camau gweithredu a'r disgwyliadau a osodir ar ysgolion i sicrhau diogelwch plant.
Thank you very much for that response, Minister. It's precisely what I would have expected you to say. One thing I am concerned about is the focus that we seem to have in Wales on protecting younger children going in and out of the school premises in terms of safer routes to school and the active travel routes that are being developed. I've seen significant investment in those in recent years in my own constituency, and they've been very successful, including here in the town of Abergele. However, there's not been the same sort of focus on safety around secondary schools, and I wonder to what extent the Minister has considered trying to bring forward schemes that promote safety in terms of particularly younger pupils getting in and out of secondary schools. So, for example, if I can refer to the situation in Abergele, there have been some significant improvements and investments in active travel routes and safer community routes to get children to and from three schools that share the same site. But just across the road, there's a secondary school that has lots of traffic going in and out around school drop-off and pick-up times, and there's not been any attention paid to improving that situation. Can you tell us what work you might be able to do with Cabinet colleagues to look at bringing forward schemes that address these concerns? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr am yr ymateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Dyma'n union y byddwn wedi disgwyl i chi ei ddweud. Un peth rwy'n pryderu amdano yw'r ffocws sydd gennym yng Nghymru ar ddiogelu plant iau sy'n mynd i mewn ac allan o safle'r ysgol yng nghyd-destun llwybrau mwy diogel i'r ysgol a'r llwybrau teithio llesol sy'n cael eu datblygu. Rwyf wedi gweld buddsoddiad sylweddol yn y rheini yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf yn fy etholaeth i, ac maent wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn, gan gynnwys yma yn nhref Abergele. Fodd bynnag, ni fu'r un math o ffocws ar ddiogelwch o amgylch ysgolion uwchradd, a tybed i ba raddau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi ystyried ceisio cyflwyno cynlluniau sy'n hyrwyddo diogelwch disgyblion iau yn enwedig wrth fynd i mewn ac allan o ysgolion uwchradd. Felly, er enghraifft, os caf gyfeirio at y sefyllfa yn Abergele, bu rhai gwelliannau a buddsoddiadau sylweddol mewn llwybrau teithio llesol a llwybrau cymunedol mwy diogel i gael plant yn ôl ac ymlaen o dair ysgol sy'n rhannu'r un safle. Ond ar draws y ffordd, mae yna ysgol uwchradd sydd â llawer o draffig yn mynd i mewn ac allan o gwmpas amseroedd gollwng a chasglu'r ysgol, ac ni roddwyd unrhyw sylw i wella'r sefyllfa honno. A allwch ddweud wrthym pa waith y gallech ei wneud gyda chyd-Weinidogion Cabinet i ystyried cyflwyno cynlluniau sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon hyn? Diolch.
Darren Millar makes a very important point about this, and it's a topic that I've discussed with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change in this context as well. It is absolutely essential that we make active travel to and from schools as convenient and as safe as possible for as many learners as possible, for reasons that I know he will share. The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 obviously provides for the underpinning requirements in relation to this, and the design guidance sets out standards that routes are expected to meet. Of course, as part of that, the availability of safe drop-off and pick-up points, for example, as well as other arrangements, are integral to that. But I will discuss further with the Deputy Minister what more perhaps we could do in this area. I'm happy to update the Member in due course.
Mae Darren Millar yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn ynglŷn â hyn, ac mae'n bwnc a drafodais gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn y cyd-destun hwn hefyd. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn gwneud teithio llesol i ac o ysgolion mor gyfleus ac mor ddiogel â phosibl i gynifer o ddysgwyr â phosibl, am resymau y gwn y bydd yn eu rhannu. Mae Deddf Teithio Llesol (Cymru) 2013 yn amlwg yn darparu ar gyfer y gofynion sylfaenol mewn perthynas â hyn, ac mae'r canllawiau cynllunio yn nodi safonau y disgwylir i lwybrau eu bodloni. Wrth gwrs, fel rhan o hynny, mae argaeledd mannau gollwng a chasglu diogel, er enghraifft, yn ogystal â threfniadau eraill, yn ganolog i hynny. Ond byddaf yn trafod ymhellach gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog beth arall y gallem ei wneud yn y maes hwn. Rwy'n hapus i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelod maes o law.
Weinidog, yr wythnos ddiwethaf, trefnodd fy nhîm i gyfarfod diddorol iawn rhwng trigolion Gwaelod-y-garth yng ngogledd-orllewin Caerdydd â Rod King—rŷch chi'n siŵr yn gyfarwydd â'r arbenigwr diogelwch ar y ffyrdd a sylfaenydd y mudiad llwyddiannus iawn 20's Plenty for Us. Er tegwch, roedd Mr King yn llawn canmoliaeth i bolisïau diogelwch ffyrdd Llywodraeth Cymru, ond un pwynt roedd e'n ei wneud oedd angen i yrwyr fod yn fwy ymwybodol pryd maen nhw'n gyrru mewn i gymuned, eu bod nhw'n gweld ardal fel cymuned gyda phobl yn hytrach na jest tai yn unig. Yn union tu fas i'r ysgol yng Ngwaelod-y-Garth, mae yno barth 20 milltir yr awr. Consérn mawr trigolion Gwaelod-y-Garth yw bod gweddill y pentref ddim yn y parth 20 mya a bod cerbydau'n tueddu i gyflymu yn y parthau hynny. Pa drafodaethau ŷch chi'n eu cael gyda'ch cydweithwyr, ac efallai y Dirprwy Weinidog sy'n dal ar y sgrin, a Chyngor Caerdydd, i sicrhau bod parth 20 mya yn cael ei gyflwyno yn y pentref cyfan, fel y gall y plant sy'n cerdded ac yn seiclo nôl ac ymlaen o'r ysgol wneud hynny yn ddiogel? Diolch yn fawr.
Minister, last week, my team arranged a very interesting meeting between the residents of Gwaelod-y-garth in north-west Cardiff and Rod King—I'm sure you're familiar with him—an expert on road safety and the founder of 20's Plenty for Us. Now, Mr King was full of praise for the road-safety policies of the Welsh Government, but one point he made was that drivers needed to be more aware of when they are driving into a community that they see an area as a community with people not just homes and buildings. Now, outside the school in Gwaelod-y-Garth, there is a 20 mph zone. Now, the major concern of residents of Gwaelod-y-Garth is that the rest of the village is not a 20 mph zone and that vehicles tend to speed up in those areas. So, what discussions are you having with your colleagues, and, perhaps, the Deputy Minister, who is still on our screens, and Cardiff Council, in order to ensure that a 20 mph zone is introduced for the whole of the village, so that children walking and cycling back and forth to school can do so safely? Thank you.
Diolch i Rhys ab Owen am hynny. Dwi ddim fy hunan wedi cael trafodaethau ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa benodol honno mae e'n ei disgrifio. Fel rŷch chi'n dweud, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn gwrando ar y drafodaeth yn astud, rwy'n sicr, a gallaf i gael trafodaethau pellach gyda fe ynglŷn â hyn. Ond dyma yn union pam bod y cynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu cyfyngiadau o ran cyflymder mor bwysig, fel ein bod ni'n diogelu cymaint â phosib o'r cymunedau sydd gyda ni, lle mae'r ysgolion, wrth gwrs, yn cael eu gwarchod. Ond fel mae e'n dweud, mae angen gwneud hynny'n ehangach hefyd.
I thank Rhys ab Owen for that. I myself haven't had any discussions on the specific circumstances he described. As he said, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is listening to this discussion, and I can have further discussions with him on this. But this is exactly why the plans that the Welsh Government has to provide speed restrictions is so very important, so that we do safeguard as many of our communities as possible, where the schools are protected. But as he said, that needs to be done more broadly too.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yr wythnos yma, Samuel Kurtz.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson this week, Samuel Kurtz.
Diolch, Llywydd. Weinidog, hoffwn ddechrau drwy groesawu'r newyddion bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu ymchwil newydd i gadernid profion gwybyddol GIG Cymru, yn enwedig o ran gofal dementia a'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg. Rwy'n siŵr bod y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol bod siaradwyr Cymraeg iaith gyntaf â dementia yn aml yn anghofio eu bod yn gallu siarad Saesneg er yn cadw eu gwybodaeth o'u hiaith frodorol. Mae hyn yn caniatáu i linell gyfathrebu bwysig aros tra hefyd yn cael gwared ar y risg o ynysu unigolion trwy fethu â darparu gwasanaethau yn eu dewis iaith.
O ystyried hyn, cefais fy siomi o glywed nad oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw ddata swyddogol ar ganran eu gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol sy'n siarad Cymraeg. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i'r Gweinidog weithio gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog dros Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol i gynnal archwiliad iaith Gymraeg llawn o'r sector gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru a nodi pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth i wella gofal cymdeithasol ar gyfer siaradwyr Cymraeg iaith gyntaf?
Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, I'd like to start by welcoming the news that the Welsh Government is to fund new research into the resilience of NHS Wales's cognitive tests, particularly in terms of dementia care and the use of the Welsh language. Now, I'm sure that the Minister will be aware that first-language Welsh speakers with dementia often forget that they're able to communicate in English, whilst retaining their mother tongue. This allows for a clear line of communication to remain open whilst eliminating the risk of isolating individuals by not providing services in their language of choice.
Given this, I was disappointed to hear that the Welsh Government doesn't have any official data on the percentage of its social care workforce who are Welsh speakers. So, could I ask the Minister to work with the Deputy Minister for Social Services in order to carry out a Welsh language audit of the social care sector here in Wales, and note what plans the Government has to improve social care for first-language Welsh speakers?
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw. Efallai ei fod yn gwybod bod y Gweinidog iechyd eisoes wedi comisiynu gwaith er mwyn cloriannu'r polisïau sydd gyda ni ym maes y Gymraeg o fewn y system addysg a gofal cymdeithasol yn barod. Mae'r pwynt mae e'n ei wneud yn bwysig iawn yng nghyd-destun dementia ac mewn cyd-destun ehangach na hynny hefyd. Beth sy'n wir yn bwysig yw ein bod ni'n sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu darparu gwasanaeth Cymraeg i'r rheini efallai pan fo'r iaith ar ei phwysicaf iddyn nhw. Felly, mae'r sialens mae'r Aelod yn ei ddatgan yn un teilwng iawn ond mae gwaith eisoes ar waith gan y Gweinidog iechyd i gloriannu'r polisïau sydd yn digwydd ar lawr gwlad ar hyn o bryd.
I thank the Member for this important question. He may know that the Minister for health has already commissioned work in order to evaluate the policies that we have in terms of the Welsh language in education and social care. The point that he makes is important in terms of dementia and in broader contexts too. What's truly important is that we ensure that we're able to provide a Welsh language service for those when the language is most important to them. So, the challenges set by the Member are very worthy indeed, but there is work in train already by the health Minister to evaluate policies on the ground at the moment.
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn ei adroddiad blynyddol, mae Comisiynydd y Gymraeg wedi dangos llawer iawn o rwystredigaeth gyda'r cynnydd ar reolau safonau’r Gymraeg ac arafwch yn y newid mewn addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg. Yn wir, dywedodd yr Aelod Llafur dros Flaenau Gwent yn y pwyllgor:
Thank you, Minister. In his annual report, the Welsh Language Commissioner has identified a great frustration with the increase in rules around Welsh language standards and the sluggish change in Welsh-medium education. Indeed, the Labour Member for Blaenau Gwent in the committee said:
'One of the disappointments in the Welsh Government's language policies over the past few years is the deficiencies in terms of promoting the Welsh language.'
'Un o'r siomau ym mholisi iaith Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystod y rhai blynyddoedd diwethaf yw y diffygion o ran hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg.'
Aeth yr Aelod ymlaen wedyn i gwestiynu ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth i 'Cymraeg 2050' drwy adleisio pryderon y cyn-Brif Weinidog, Carwyn Jones. Mae sylwadau Alun Davies yn peri cryn bryder yn enwedig o'u cyplysu â galwad y comisiynydd am ymyrraeth sylweddol a newid meddylfryd llwyr wrth rybuddio na fydd strategaeth Cymraeg 2050 yn cael ei chyflawni. Os gall Aelod Seneddol Llafur, cyn-Brif Weinidog a Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg weld problem trywydd presennol 'Cymraeg 2050', ydych chi'n cytuno gyda nhw?
The Member went on to mention the Government's commitment to the Welsh language through 'Cymraeg 2050' by echoing the concerns of the former First Minister, Carwyn Jones. The comments made by Alun Davies are a cause for concern, particularly when linked to the commissioner's call for substantial intervention and a change of mindset in warning that the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy will not be delivered. If a Labour MS, a former First Minister and the Welsh Language Commissioner can see the problems with 'Cymraeg 2050', would you agree with them?
Nac ydw. Roedd yr Aelod yn y pwyllgor i glywed y drafodaeth ac fe wnaeth e glywed fy ateb i i'r pwynt a godwyd hefyd—rwy'n sicr o hynny.
Mae'r cwestiwn yma o ran hyrwyddo yn un diddorol rwy'n credu. Rwy'n credu ei fod e'n—. Mae'r gair 'hyrwyddo' yn gallu golygu lot fawr o bethau. Mae polisi iaith yn datblygu dros amser ac rŷn ni'n dysgu i wneud pethau'n wahanol ac yn well. A'r hyn sydd gyda ni nawr yw ystod o bolisïau mewn meysydd y byddem ni wedi galw, yn gyffredinol, yn 'hyrwyddo' yn y gorffennol.
Felly, un o'r pethau rŷn ni'n gwneud yw edrych ar y cynllun grantiau hyrwyddo i weld yn union beth maen nhw'n ei wneud—dŷn nhw ddim wedi cael eu cloriannu a'u hasesu ers inni gymryd cyfrifoldeb dros y cynllun grantiau. Felly, rŷn ni'n edrych eto ar bob un o'r ymyraethau yna rŷn ni'n eu gwneud i weld a ydyn nhw'n gwneud y gorau y gallan nhw er mwyn sicrhau ffyniant y Gymraeg. Buaswn i'n annog Aelodau i feddwl amdano fe fel cyfle pellach i graffu ar waith y Llywodraeth, yn hytrach na fy mod i'n gallu esbonio ar lefel gyffredinol y gwaith hyrwyddo rŷn ni'n ei wneud. Mae camau penodol ar waith a gallwch chi edrych ar y rheini a'u hasesu nhw'n benodol. Mae hynny, rwy'n credu, yn ffordd fwy ymarferol o wneud cynnydd ym maes y Gymraeg yn gyffredinol.
O ran sylwadau'r comisiynydd, ac unrhyw un arall sydd yn annog y Llywodraeth i wneud cymaint ag y gallwn ni o ran darpariaeth addysg Gymraeg, gewch chi ddim rhywun sydd yn fwy o eiriolwr dros hynny na minnau. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod angen inni wneud cymaint ag y gallwn ni mor gyflym ag y gallwn ni o ran darpariaeth addysg Gymraeg. Rwy eisiau gweld ein bod ni'n sicrhau bod mynediad hafal ymhob rhan o Gymru i unrhyw un sydd yn moyn addysg Gymraeg. Yn ffodus, mae gyda ni ymrwymiad eisoes i ddarparu deddfwriaeth yn hyn o beth, fel ein bod ni'n gallu, yn ystod y Senedd hon, sicrhau bod sail statudol gryfach gyda ni er mwyn darparu addysg Gymraeg. Ond fel clywsoch chi eisoes, mae'r cynlluniau strategol y mae ein hawdurdodau lleol ni wedi bod yn gweithio arnyn nhw yn rhai rwy'n disgwyl iddynt fod yn uchelgeisiol. Dwi ddim wedi eu gweld nhw ond mewn drafft ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n credu eu bod nhw'n darparu cyfle i ni fynd ymhellach dros y ddegawd nesaf.
No. The Member was in the committee to hear the discussion and he heard my response to the point that was raised—I'm sure of that.
This question in terms of promotion is an interesting one I think. I think it's—. The word 'promotion' can mean a number of different things. Language policy develops over time and we learn to do things differently and to work more effectively. What we have now is a range of policies in areas that we would have generally described as 'promotion' in the past.
So, one of the things we're doing is looking at the grants for promotion to see exactly what they do—they haven't been assessed since we took responsibility for that grant programme, so we're looking at all of those interventions to see whether they're working to their greatest capacity to ensure the prosperity of the Welsh language. And I would encourage Members to think of it as a further opportunity to scrutinise the work of Government, rather than me explaining in general terms the promotional work that we do. There are specific steps in train and you can look at them and assess them. And I think that is a more practical way of making progress in terms of the Welsh language more generally.
In terms of the comments of the commissioner, and anyone else who is encouraging the Government to do as much as we can in terms of Welsh-medium education provision, you will see no greater advocate for that than me. And I agree entirely that we need to do as much as we can as quickly as we can in terms of Welsh-medium education provision, and I want to ensure that there is equal access in all parts of Wales for anyone who wants Welsh-medium education. Fortunately, we already have a commitment to provide legislation in this area, so that, during this Senedd term, we can ensure that there is a stronger statutory basis for the provision of Welsh-medium education. But as you've already heard, the WESPs that the local authorities have been working on are expected to be ambitious. I've only seen them in draft form at the moment, and I do think they provide us with an opportunity to go further over the next decade.
Diolch, Weinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Ahead of my final question, I'd just like to declare an interest as a member of Pembrokeshire County Council, and it's an issue that I've raised before within the Chamber. It's regarding Cosheston VC School in my own constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, which has faced ongoing difficulties relating to lack of space, which have worsened due to COVID-19. Following an issue I raised in this Chamber, Pembrokeshire County Council have provided additional portakabin toilets for the pupils, and a portakabin office for the headteacher. Discussions continue between the school and the council as to a more permanent improvement for the school, the teachers, and, most importantly, the pupils. However, the headteacher has expressed her frustration over the lack of clarity about what funding is available to either her school directly or to the local authority, to pay for the work that is desperately needed. Therefore, Minister, can you confirm whether your £100 million funding announcement from earlier this year will be open to schools like Cosheston VC School, who, due to COVID, require additional space, in either a new build or portakabin classrooms, and can you please confirm how schools can go about expressing their interest and applying for this funding? Diolch.
Cyn fy nghwestiwn olaf, hoffwn ddatgan buddiant fel aelod o Gyngor Sir Penfro, ac mae'n fater rwyf wedi'i godi o'r blaen yn y Siambr. Mae'n ymwneud ag Ysgol Cosheston, sy'n ysgol wirfoddol a reolir, yn fy etholaeth i, sef Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro, sydd wedi wynebu anawsterau parhaus yn ymwneud â diffyg lle, anawsterau sydd wedi gwaethygu oherwydd COVID-19. Yn dilyn mater a godais yn y Siambr hon, mae Cyngor Sir Penfro wedi darparu toiledau caban symudol ychwanegol i'r disgyblion, a swyddfa caban symudol i'r pennaeth. Mae trafodaethau'n parhau rhwng yr ysgol a'r cyngor ynglŷn â gwelliant mwy parhaol ar gyfer yr ysgol, yr athrawon, ac yn bwysicaf oll, y disgyblion. Fodd bynnag, mae'r pennaeth wedi mynegi ei rhwystredigaeth ynghylch y diffyg eglurder ynglŷn â pha gyllid sydd ar gael i'w hysgol naill ai'n uniongyrchol neu drwy'r awdurdod lleol, i dalu am y gwaith sydd ei angen yn ddybryd. Felly, Weinidog, a allwch roi gwybod inni a fydd eich cyhoeddiad ynghylch £100 miliwn o gyllid yn gynharach eleni yn agored i ysgolion fel Ysgol Cosheston, sydd, oherwydd COVID, angen lle ychwanegol, naill ai mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth newydd neu ystafelloedd dosbarth mewn cabanau symudol, ac a allwch chi gadarnhau sut y gall ysgolion fynd ati i fynegi eu diddordeb a gwneud cais am y cyllid hwn? Diolch.
Yes, certainly. I don't know the particular circumstances of Cosheston school, so I won't be able to comment particularly on that, although, if the Member writes to me, I will be able to respond specifically in relation to that. There are a number of ways in which schools can have access to capital funding to make adaptations—local authority budgets are one of them, but also the funding that, from time to time, the Welsh Government declares, including that which was most recently declared by me. So, if the Member cares to write to me about certain schools in particular, I'll be able to give him some specific advice.
Yn sicr. Nid wyf yn gwybod am amgylchiadau penodol Ysgol Cosheston, felly ni fyddaf yn gallu gwneud sylw ar honno yn benodol, ond os gwnaiff yr Aelod ysgrifennu ataf, gallaf ymateb yn benodol mewn perthynas â hynny. Mae yna nifer o ffyrdd y gall ysgolion gael mynediad at gyllid cyfalaf i wneud addasiadau—mae cyllidebau awdurdodau lleol yn un ohonynt, ond hefyd y cyllid y mae Llywodraeth Cymru, o bryd i’w gilydd, yn ei ddatgan, gan gynnwys y cyllid rwyf newydd ei ddatgan yn ddiweddar. Felly, os yw'r Aelod yn penderfynu ysgrifennu ataf am rai ysgolion yn benodol, gallaf roi cyngor penodol iddo.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarydd Plaid Cymru, Heledd Fychan.
Questions now from the Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Llywydd. Weinidog, ddoe fe wnaethoch yn glir mai'r bwriad yw i arholiadau fynd rhagddynt eleni, ac roeddwn yn falch o'ch gweld yn cydnabod yr aflonyddwch y mae dysgwyr a staff wedi ei wynebu dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf yn ein hysgolion a'n colegau. Fe wnaethoch annog pob dysgwr ym mlynyddoedd arholiadau i siarad â'u hysgolion a'u colegau am ba gymorth a hyblygrwydd ychwanegol a allai fod ar gael eleni. Ond mae hyn dal yn amwys iawn, ac yn rhoi'r baich yn ôl ar y dysgwyr i geisio cael cefnogaeth, yn hytrach na bod y cymorth yn cael ei gynnig iddynt. Yn amlwg, dydyn ni ddim yn gwybod beth sydd am ddigwydd o ran coronafeirws, er bod yr arwyddion yn galonogol. Os bydd amharu pellach ar addysg, gan gynnwys absenoldebau uchel o ran staff a dysgwyr, pa gynlluniau wrth gefn sydd ar waith rhag ofn na ellir bwrw ymlaen â'r arholiadau?
Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, yesterday you made it clear that the intention is that examinations should proceed this year, and I was pleased to see you recognising the disquiet of learners and staff, and the problems that they've faced in our schools and colleges over the past two years. You encouraged all students in exam years to speak to their schools and colleges about what additional support and flexibility could be available this year. But this is still very ambiguous, and places the burden back on the learners to try and seek support, rather than that support being offered to them. Clearly, we don't know what will happen in terms of coronavirus, although the signs so far are encouraging. If there was further interference with education, including high absence levels in terms of staff and learners, what contingency plans are in place in case examinations cannot take place?
Wel, o ran y cyngor i fyfyrwyr a disgyblion yn y datganiad ddoe, mae llythyr wedi mynd at benaethiaid—ddoe, dwi'n credu—o'r adran, yn esbonio, yn eu hatgoffa nhw, a dweud y gwir, ble mae'r holl adnoddau sydd ar gael er mwyn cefnogi myfyrwyr yn y blynyddoedd arholiad, fel y gwnes i sôn. Roeddwn i jest hefyd yn annog dysgwyr i gynnal y sgyrsiau hynny, ond wrth gwrs bydd y ddarpariaeth yn dod drwy law'r ysgol, felly mae hynny i gyd eisoes yn hysbys, ond mae e wedi ei grynhoi mewn llythyr eto ddoe i benaethiaid. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny o ddefnydd ymarferol yn ein hysgolion ni.
O ran y cynlluniau ehangach ar gyfer arholiadau, wrth gwrs, mae Cymwysterau Cymru wedi datgan eisoes beth yw'r trefniadau wrth gefn. Maen nhw ar gael ar eu gwefan nhw ac ati. Felly, beth ro'n i eisiau ei sicrhau bod pobl yn ei ddeall ddoe yw bod y Llywodraeth yn parhau i ddweud mai arholiadau fydd gyda ni yr haf sy'n dod, oni bai ei bod hi, fel dŷch chi'n ei ddweud, yn amhosib o ran logistics ac ati i'w cynnal nhw, ond dydyn ni ddim yn disgwyl mai hynny fydd yn digwydd.
Mae'n bwysig, dwi'n credu, ein bod ni'n edrych ar arholiadau'r haf yma mewn cyd-destun penodol. Maen nhw'n cael eu teilwra'n benodol ar gyfer yr amgylchiadau, i gymryd mewn i ystyriaeth yr aflonyddwch sydd wedi bod. Bydd y graddio yn wahanol, i gymryd hynny mewn i ystyriaeth; bydd cynnwys yr arholiadau yn llai, er mwyn cymryd hynny mewn i ystyriaeth.
Yr hyn sy'n bwysig iawn, dwi'n credu, yw ein bod ni'n ymrwymo i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cefnogi dilyniant myfyrwyr sy'n gwneud TGAU. Beth bynnag yw'r opsiynau sy'n dod nesaf, dŷn ni eisiau eu cefnogi nhw i wneud hynny. Mae'r gyllideb y gwnes i ei datgan cyn y Nadolig yn cefnogi ysgolion a cholegau i gael trafodaethau personol gyda myfyrwyr yn y blynyddoedd hynny, fel bod gyda nhw ystod o opsiynau sy'n gweddu i'w hamgylchiadau personol nhw. A hefyd, dwi eisiau sicrhau bod pobl sy'n gwneud arholiadau lefel A, er enghraifft, yn cael yr un cyfle ag unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol. Mae hynny'n sefyllfa gystadleuol, onid ydy, wrth edrych ar lefydd prifysgol—os taw dyna y maen nhw'n bwriadu ei wneud. Felly, mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw gyfle teg, ac mae'r newidiadau i arholiadau yng Nghymru—rŷn ni wedi gallu mynd ymhellach, rwy'n credu, nag unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol oherwydd y ffordd rŷn ni'n strwythuro arholiadau yng Nghymru. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bydd hynny o gysur i fyfyrwyr hefyd.
Well, in terms of the advice to students and pupils in my statement yesterday, a letter has been issued to headteachers yesterday, explaining, or reminding them, where all the resources available are, in order to support pupils in examination years. I was also just encouraging pupils to have those conversations too, but the support will be provided through the school. That's already known, and has been emphasised once again in a letter to headteachers. So, I hope that will be practically useful in our schools.
In terms of the broader plans for examinations, Qualifications Wales has already stated what the contingency plans are. They're available on their website. So, what I wanted to do yesterday was to ensure that people understood that the Government was continuing to say that we will have examinations this summer, unless, as you say, it is impossible in terms of logistics to stage those examinations, but I don't expect that to be the case.
I think it's important that we look at this summer's examinations in a particular context. They are being specifically tailored for the circumstances, taking into account the disruption that there has been. The grading will be different, to take that into account; the content of the examinations will be reduced, in order to take account of that disruption.
What's very important, I think, is that we commit to ensure that we support continuity for pupils at GCSE level; whatever their options are, we want to support them. There is a budget, which I announced before Christmas, encouraging schools and colleges to have individual conversations with pupils in those years, so that they know what the range of options are that are appropriate to their personal circumstances. And we also want to ensure that those studying A-level, for example, have the same opportunities as are available in any other part of the UK. That's a competitive scenario, if you like, if you look at university places—if that's their intended route. So, it's important that we ensure that they have a fair opportunity, and the changes to examinations in Wales have, I think, gone further than any other part of the UK because of the way we structure examinations in Wales. So, I very much hope that that will be of some comfort to students too.
Diolch, Weinidog. Hoffwn ddatgan, cyn y cwestiwn nesaf, fy mod i'n gynghorydd ar gyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Hoffwn droi rŵan at fater anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, a darpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg yn benodol. Rwyf yn croesawu'n fawr y £18 miliwn ychwanegol y gwnaethoch gyhoeddi yn gynharach y mis hwn ar gyfer rhoi rhagor o gymorth i blant a phobl ifanc y mae'r pandemig wedi effeithio arnynt, ac i helpu lleoliadau addysgol wrth i ddysgwyr ddechrau symud i'r system ADY newydd.
Fodd bynnag, er bod arian ar gael, a bod angen i'r awdurdodau ddarparu cymorth yn yr iaith y gofynnir amdani yn y Ddeddf, mae yna brinder dirfawr o athrawon arbenigol sy'n siarad Cymraeg i ddiwallu'r anghenion. Yn y rhanbarth rwyf yn ei gynrychioli, er enghraifft, tynnwyd fy sylw i'n ddiweddar at y ffaith nad oes un dosbarth ADY arbenigol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg ar y funud, tra bod mwy na 40 yn y Saesneg. Hyd yn oed yn yr ymgynghoriad presennol, dim ond un dosbarth uwchradd mae'r cyngor yn bwriadu ei sefydlu ar gyfer yr holl sir.
Felly, hoffwn ofyn beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud yn ymarferol i sicrhau bod y ddarpariaeth ADY angenrheidiol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn cael ei gwarantu i'r rhai sy'n gofyn amdani lle bynnag y byddant yn byw yng Nghymru?
Thank you, Minister. I would like to declare, before asking the next question, that I am a Rhondda Cynon Taf councillor.
I'd like to turn now to the issue of additional learning needs, and Welsh-medium provision particularly. I warmly welcome the £18 million in addition that you announced earlier this month for providing further support for children and young people with additional learning needs who have been affected by the pandemic, and to help educational settings as learners start to the move to the new additional learning needs system.
However, although funding is available, and local authorities do have to provide support in the language of choice in the Act, there is a severe shortage of qualified Welsh-medium teachers to meet the need. In the region I represent, for example, I was recently told that there isn't a single specialist additional learning needs class in Rhondda Cynon Taf through the medium of Welsh, while there are more than 40 in English. Even in the current consultation, there is only one secondary class that the council intends to establish for the whole county.
So, I would like to ask what the Welsh Government is doing on a practical level to ensure that the additional learning needs necessary through the medium of Welsh is guaranteed for those who require it, wherever they live in Wales?
Wel, mae'r Aelod yn codi pwynt pwysig iawn, hynny yw, ynghyd â darparu sail gyfreithiol newydd ar gyfer y diwygiadau, mae angen sicrhau bod yr adnoddau ar gael ar lawr gwlad i allu diwallu'r angen ac i baratoi ac i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau sydd eu hangen, a bod hynny hefyd yn elfen sydd yn golygu hyfforddiant ar gyfer athrawon i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau hynny.
Rŷn ni mewn proses ar hyn o bryd o ehangu ar yr adnoddau sydd ar gael i athrawon er mwyn hyfforddiant personol, ac er mwyn diwallu gofynion y ddeddfwriaeth yn ehangach. Mae llawer o waith wedi bod yn digwydd eisoes o ran hyfforddiant proffesiynol yn y maes hwnnw ar gyfer athrawon sydd yn gallu dysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a darparu gwasanaethau ehangach yn y Gymraeg. A byddwn i eisiau sicrhau bod yr adnoddau hynny i gyd ar gael, fel maen nhw eisoes yn Saesneg, ac yn y Gymraeg, ond, yn sicr, mae hwn yn faes sydd yn bwysig iawn i ni, a byddaf yn edrych i weld ein bod ni'n gwneud popeth y gallwn ni i ddiwallu'r angen, nid yn unig yn y Saesneg ond yn Gymraeg hefyd.
Well, the Member raises a very important point. As well as providing a legal basis for these reforms, we need to ensure that the resources are available on the ground in order to meet the demand and to prepare and provide the services required, and that that is an element that will require training for our teachers in providing those services.
We're in a process at the moment of enhancing the resources available to teachers for personal training, and also to meet the requirements of the legislation more broadly. There's been a great deal of work happening in terms of professional training in this area for teachers who can teach through the medium of Welsh and provide broader services through the medium of Welsh. And I would want to ensure that those resources are all available, as they are in English, in Welsh too. But, certainly, this is an area that's very important to us, and I will ensure that we do everything we can to meet the need, not only in English but also in Welsh.
Cwestiwn 3, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Question 3, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
3. A wnaiff y Llywodraeth roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau i ddarparu prydau ysgol am ddim i ddisgyblion ysgol gynradd? OQ57510
3. Will the Government provide an update on plans to deliver free school meals to primary school pupils? OQ57510
Yes, I issued a written statement on 17 December, outlining the activities and priorities associated with the roll-out of free schools meals to primary school pupils, reflecting the agreement reached with Plaid Cymru in the co-operation agreement. Our absolute focus now is on working with our partners to increase the capacity of schools to deliver this extended provision.
Ie, cyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ar 17 Rhagfyr, yn amlinellu’r gweithgareddau a’r blaenoriaethau sy’n gysylltiedig â chyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim i ddisgyblion ysgolion cynradd, gan adlewyrchu’r cytundeb a wnaethpwyd gyda Phlaid Cymru yn y cytundeb cydweithio. Mae ein ffocws pendant yn awr ar weithio gyda'n partneriaid i gynyddu gallu ysgolion i gyflwyno'r ddarpariaeth estynedig hon.
Diolch, Weinidog. One of the main parts of the co-operation agreement was the free-school-meals policy, which will benefit so many families. I'm proud that Plaid Cymru has helped to bring this to fruition from September of this year. This policy has major and positive implications for local supply chains and combating child poverty. It will also entail a capital cost to ensure that all primary schools can accommodate the extra demand of preparing and serving additional school meals. Minister, are you able to confirm that the capital funds are in place to equip school canteens, and that everything is on track to facilitate this flagship policy of the co-operation agreement?
Diolch, Weinidog. Un o brif rannau’r cytundeb cydweithredu oedd y polisi prydau ysgol am ddim, a fydd o fudd i gymaint o deuluoedd. Rwy’n falch fod Plaid Cymru wedi helpu i wireddu hyn o fis Medi eleni ymlaen. Mae gan y polisi hwn oblygiadau mawr a chadarnhaol i gadwyni cyflenwi lleol a'r frwydr yn erbyn tlodi plant. Bydd hefyd yn golygu cost cyfalaf i sicrhau bod pob ysgol gynradd yn gallu darparu ar gyfer y galw ychwanegol o baratoi a gweini prydau ysgol ychwanegol. Weinidog, a allwch chi gadarnhau bod y cronfeydd cyfalaf yn eu lle i baratoi ffreuturau ysgolion, a’n bod ar y trywydd cywir i hwyluso’r polisi blaenllaw hwn yn y cytundeb cydweithio?
We've already provided an initial package of funding, which isn't the larger package that he's describing, to local authorities, to begin the planning work for the roll-out of the new level of entitlement, which, as he obviously knows, is a very significant extension of the existing eligibility, and that will enable local authorities to work with us in the coming months.
Some of that work is around working with their own partners, the supply partners, and others that he's alluded to in his question, but also to audit the workforce, to audit the existing infrastructure, and what more then needs to be put in place in particular schools in order to deliver the extended provision, and, generally, to work out the practical implications related to changes in the free-school-meals eligibility. We would all like that to be in place at the very earliest moment, but there are, as his question implies, a set of practical things that need to happen in order for that to be rolled out smoothly. As he knows, some of that work will be done between now and September, enabling the first tranche to be rolled out then, and there'll be ongoing work obviously for schools to make sure that the capacity is there in the system to deliver the next tranche the following year, but that work is already under way. We'll be working with local authorities over the coming weeks to map out what that means on the ground in terms of extra capacity, extra arrangements in relation to workforce and infrastructure.
Rydym eisoes wedi darparu pecyn cychwynnol o gyllid—nid y pecyn mwy y mae’n ei ddisgrifio—i awdurdodau lleol, i ddechrau ar y gwaith cynllunio ar gyfer cyflwyno’r lefel newydd o hawl, sydd, fel y mae’n amlwg yn gwybod, yn estyniad sylweddol iawn i’r cymhwysedd presennol, a bydd hynny’n galluogi awdurdodau lleol i weithio gyda ni dros y misoedd nesaf.
Mae rhywfaint o’r gwaith hwnnw’n ymwneud â gweithio gyda’u partneriaid eu hunain, y partneriaid cyflenwi, ac eraill y mae wedi cyfeirio atynt yn ei gwestiwn, ond hefyd archwilio’r gweithlu, i archwilio’r seilwaith presennol, a beth arall sydd angen ei wneud wedyn mewn ysgolion penodol er mwyn cyflwyno’r ddarpariaeth estynedig, ac yn gyffredinol, i ystyried y goblygiadau ymarferol sy’n gysylltiedig â newidiadau yn y cymhwysedd i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Byddem i gyd yn hoffi i hwnnw fod ar waith cyn gynted â phosibl, ond fel y mae ei gwestiwn yn awgrymu, mae yna gyfres o bethau ymarferol y mae angen iddynt ddigwydd er mwyn i hynny gael ei gyflwyno'n ddidrafferth. Fel y gŵyr, bydd peth o’r gwaith hwnnw’n cael ei wneud rhwng nawr a mis Medi, gan alluogi’r gyfran gyntaf i gael ei chyflwyno bryd hynny, a bydd ysgolion yn amlwg yn gwneud gwaith parhaus i sicrhau bod y capasiti yno yn y system i gyflawni’r gyfran nesaf yn y flwyddyn ganlynol, ond mae’r gwaith hwnnw eisoes ar y gweill. Byddwn yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol dros yr wythnosau nesaf i fapio’r hyn y mae hynny’n ei olygu ar lawr gwlad o ran capasiti ychwanegol a threfniadau ychwanegol mewn perthynas â gweithlu a seilwaith.
Minister, I recently met with members of the Farmers Union of Wales at Monmouthshire livestock market. During the meeting, concerns were raised about the Welsh Government's plans to extend free school meals to all primary school pupils in view of the Deputy Minister for Climate Change's statement that we should eat less meat. The president of NFU Cymru, John Davies, said that the high sustainability values of Welsh red meat and dairy means that consumers can continue to enjoy these products knowing that they are not impacting the environment. So, can I ask, Minister, what discussions have you had with ministerial colleagues to ensure that school meals have high nutritional value, with the priority being given to locally sourced good-quality produce from Welsh farms? Thank you.
Weinidog, cyfarfûm yn ddiweddar ag aelodau o Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru ym marchnad da byw Mynwy. Yn ystod y cyfarfod, mynegwyd pryderon ynghylch cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim i bob disgybl ysgol gynradd yng ngoleuni datganiad y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd y dylem fwyta llai o gig. Dywedodd llywydd NFU Cymru, John Davies, fod gwerthoedd cynaliadwyedd uchel cig coch a llaeth Cymru yn golygu y gall defnyddwyr barhau i fwynhau'r cynhyrchion hyn gan wybod nad ydynt yn effeithio ar yr amgylchedd. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn, Weinidog, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda chyd-Weinidogion i sicrhau bod gwerth maeth uchel i brydau ysgol, gyda'r flaenoriaeth i gynnyrch lleol o ansawdd da o ffermydd Cymru? Diolch.
Well, actually, many of our local authorities already have arrangements in place to procure local produce in the way that she underlines, and her question is so important for many of our food producers, and we want to build on these practices across Wales. So, where schools and local authorities are able to establish cost-effective procurement arrangements with local food producers, I would absolutely encourage them to do so. I think the benefits of doing so are obvious to us all, aren't they. We all will share that priority. I think instilling healthy eating habits and attitudes at a young age really will bring the biggest benefits. Food preferences formed when we're young actually cover the rest of our journey through life, and I think offering a healthy school meal to all primary-age children free of charge will remove the stigma, which is sometimes associated with receiving free school meals, and I think that, alongside the ability to deliver even more locally sourced food in our schools, is a fantastic opportunity.
Wel, mewn gwirionedd, mae gan lawer o'n hawdurdodau lleol drefniadau ar waith eisoes i gaffael cynnyrch lleol yn y ffordd y mae'n ei bwysleisio, ac mae ei chwestiwn mor bwysig i lawer o'n cynhyrchwyr bwyd, ac rydym eisiau adeiladu ar yr arferion hyn ledled Cymru. Felly, os gall ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol sefydlu trefniadau caffael costeffeithiol gyda chynhyrchwyr bwyd lleol, byddwn yn sicr yn eu hannog i wneud hynny. Rwy'n credu bod manteision gwneud hynny'n amlwg i ni i gyd, onid ydynt. Byddwn i gyd yn rhannu'r flaenoriaeth honno. Rwy'n credu y bydd meithrin arferion ac agweddau bwyta'n iach yn ifanc yn esgor ar fanteision helaeth. Mae dewisiadau bwyd a ffurfir pan ydym yn ifanc yn para dros weddill ein taith drwy fywyd, a chredaf y bydd cynnig pryd ysgol iach i bob plentyn oedran cynradd yn rhad ac am ddim yn dileu'r stigma sydd weithiau'n gysylltiedig â chael prydau ysgol am ddim, a chredaf y bydd hynny, ochr yn ochr â'r gallu i ddarparu mwy byth o fwyd lleol yn ein hysgolion, yn gyfle gwych.
I speak as someone who has long supported free school meals in state primary schools, not just to support local farmers, but, more importantly to me, to improve the health of children and improve educational attainment. Hungry children do not perform very well. But my question is: what is the estimated capital spend necessary to increase capacity of school kitchens and dining halls? And what is the estimated number of additional kitchen staff that will be needed? I know this won't all happen in one year, but, if you hope to do it over the next four years, how much are you talking about?
Rwy'n siarad fel rhywun sydd wedi cefnogi prydau ysgol am ddim ers amser maith mewn ysgolion cynradd gwladol, nid yn unig i gefnogi ffermwyr lleol, ond yn bwysicach i mi, i wella iechyd plant a gwella cyrhaeddiad addysgol. Nid yw plant llwglyd yn perfformio'n dda iawn. Ond fy nghwestiwn yw: beth yw'r gwariant cyfalaf amcangyfrifedig sy'n angenrheidiol i gynyddu capasiti ceginau ysgol a neuaddau bwyta? Ac oddeutu faint o staff cegin ychwanegol y bydd eu hangen? Rwy'n gwybod na fydd hyn i gyd yn digwydd mewn blwyddyn, ond os ydych yn gobeithio ei wneud dros y pedair blynedd nesaf, am faint rydych chi'n sôn?
That is the work that's currently under way with local authorities to map out the need both in relation to infrastructure and also in relation to workforce, and that will enable us then to crystallise those numbers. But that work is already under way, and we've provided a budget to our local authority partners to support them in working with us to do that.
Dyna'r gwaith sy'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd gydag awdurdodau lleol i fapio'r angen mewn perthynas â seilwaith a hefyd mewn perthynas â'r gweithlu, a bydd hynny'n ein galluogi i grisialu'r niferoedd hynny wedyn. Ond mae'r gwaith hwnnw eisoes ar y gweill, ac rydym wedi darparu cyllideb i'n partneriaid awdurdodau lleol i'w cefnogi i weithio gyda ni i wneud hynny.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gymorth ariannol ar gyfer addysg bellach? OQ57521
4. Will the Minister provide an update on financial support for further education? OQ57521
Yes, certainly. The 2022-23 budget sees post-16 funding at its highest level for some time and represents the largest increase, actually, in recent years, and it recognises, effectively, the increased numbers staying in post-16 education, continued post-16 renew and reform funding, and ensures that learners are offered the best possible support following the impact of the pandemic.
Gwnaf, yn sicr. Mae cyllideb 2022-23 yn gweld cyllid ôl-16 ar ei lefel uchaf ers peth amser ac yn cynrychioli’r cynnydd mwyaf, mewn gwirionedd, yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac mae’n cydnabod, i bob pwrpas, y cynnydd yn y niferoedd sy’n aros mewn addysg ôl-16, y cyllid adnewyddu a diwygio ôl-16 parhaus, ac yn sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael cynnig y cymorth gorau posibl yn dilyn effaith y pandemig.
Minister, further education continues to provide top-quality education and training across Wales and, I think, provides good value for public funding. Together with Jayne Bryant, I recently met with Coleg Gwent to discuss their plans to relocate their Newport city campus to the city centre, where it would be alongside the University of South Wales campus, allowing for good co-operation and progression, and it would also place education and training in the very heart of the city centre, and, I think, make everyone aware of the possibilities and the opportunities available at what would be a state-of-the-art campus. So, it would be very good for local learners, very good for local employers. So, I just wonder, Minister, if you could continue to work closely with Coleg Gwent to bring this important project to fruition, given all the benefits that it would deliver.
Weinidog, mae addysg bellach yn parhau i ddarparu addysg ac hyfforddiant o'r radd flaenaf ledled Cymru ac yn fy marn i, mae'n rhoi gwerth da am arian cyhoeddus. Cyfarfûm â Choleg Gwent yn ddiweddar gyda Jayne Bryant i drafod eu cynlluniau i adleoli eu campws yn ninas Casnewydd i ganol y ddinas, ochr yn ochr â champws Prifysgol De Cymru, a fyddai'n annog cydweithredu da a dilyniant, a byddai hefyd yn rhoi addysg a hyfforddiant yng nghanol y ddinas, ac yn fy marn i, yn gwneud pawb yn ymwybodol o'r posibiliadau a'r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael ar gampws o'r radd flaenaf. Felly, byddai'n dda iawn i ddysgwyr lleol ac yn dda iawn i gyflogwyr lleol. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi barhau i weithio'n agos gyda Choleg Gwent i wireddu'r prosiect pwysig hwn, o gofio'r holl fanteision y byddai'n eu cyflawni?
I thank John Griffiths for that. Coleg Gwent is a very, very good example of what I was saying about how important further education is, and the contribution that colleges like Coleg Gwent make to our education landscape and to meeting our broader economic needs is absolutely indispensable. He was suggesting in his question that there'll be discussions with universities around collaboration, and he will know that the legislation that we're currently taking through the Senedd in relation to post-16 education generally is intended to remove some of the obstacles, if you like, to collaboration in all sorts of different ways, between HE and FE, between FE and other kinds of providers, so that we can encourage our institutions to collaborate as they choose with other organisations in the best interests of our learners.
Diolch i John Griffiths am hynny. Mae Coleg Gwent yn enghraifft dda iawn o'r hyn roeddwn yn ei ddweud am ba mor bwysig yw addysg bellach, ac mae'r cyfraniad y mae colegau fel Coleg Gwent yn ei wneud i'n tirwedd addysg ac i ddiwallu ein hanghenion economaidd ehangach yn gwbl anhepgor. Roedd yn awgrymu yn ei gwestiwn y bydd trafodaethau gyda phrifysgolion ynghylch cydweithio, a bydd yn gwybod mai bwriad y ddeddfwriaeth rydym yn ceisio ei thywys drwy'r Senedd ar hyn o bryd mewn perthynas ag addysg ôl-16 yn gyffredinol yw dileu rhai o'r rhwystrau, os mynnwch, i gydweithio mewn pob math o wahanol ffyrdd, rhwng addysg uwch ac addysg bellach, rhwng addysg bellach a mathau eraill o ddarparwyr, fel y gallwn annog ein sefydliadau i gydweithio fel y maent yn dewis gyda sefydliadau eraill er budd ein dysgwyr.
Minister, the number of FE teachers has fallen by over 2 per cent between 2020 and 2021. Minister, with the new moneys announced, which are welcomed, what strategy do you have in place to reverse this trend?
Weinidog, mae nifer yr athrawon addysg bellach wedi gostwng dros 2 y cant rhwng 2020 a 2021. Weinidog, gyda'r arian newydd a gyhoeddwyd, sydd i'w groesawu, pa strategaeth sydd gennych ar waith i wrthdroi'r duedd hon?
We want to make sure that the workforce is able to meet the needs of our learners, as do all our colleges. The funding—[Inaudible.]—this year, as I say, has enabled us to restore, perhaps, some of the more challenging budgets that we've seen in the past. It reflects the increasing demand for further education, which we will all welcome, and of course enables provision to be made in relation to the workforce so that those demands are met. I'm very keen to make sure that we are able to meet the needs of our learners in the post-16 landscape in a variety of ways, and I hope that the budget settlement will support further education colleges in doing that.
Rydym eisiau sicrhau bod y gweithlu'n gallu diwallu anghenion ein dysgwyr, fel y mae ein holl golegau. Mae'r cyllid—[Anghlywadwy.]—eleni, fel y dywedais, wedi ein galluogi i adfer, efallai, rhai o'r cyllidebau mwy heriol rydym wedi'u gweld yn y gorffennol. Mae'n adlewyrchu'r galw cynyddol am addysg bellach, y byddwn i gyd yn ei groesawu, ac wrth gwrs yn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl gwneud darpariaeth mewn perthynas â'r gweithlu fel bod y gofynion hynny'n cael eu bodloni. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i sicrhau ein bod yn gallu diwallu anghenion ein dysgwyr yn y dirwedd ôl-16 mewn amrywiaeth o ffyrdd, a gobeithio y bydd setliad y gyllideb yn cynorthwyo colegau addysg bellach i wneud hynny.
Cwestiwn 5, Janet Finch Saunders.
Question 5, Janet Finch-Saunders.
I think we're struggling to hear you. Yes, carry on, now.
Rwy'n credu ein bod yn cael trafferth eich clywed. Iawn, ewch ymlaen.
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the pandemic on the attainment gap?
Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith y pandemig ar y bwlch cyrhaeddiad?
The—. Forgive me.
Y—. Maddeuwch imi.
I don't think that's the question that's tabled here.
Nid wyf yn credu mai dyna'r cwestiwn sydd wedi'i gyflwyno yma.
No.
Na.
Can you ask question 5, Janet Finch-Saunders?
A allwch chi ofyn cwestiwn 5, Janet Finch-Saunders?
Sorry, Minister. Sorry, Llywydd. I wasn't aware of that one.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Weinidog. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Lywydd. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r cwestiwn hwnnw.
All right, okay. It's on the agenda and tabled in your name.
O'r gorau, popeth yn iawn. Mae'r cwestiwn ar yr agenda ac wedi'i gyflwyno yn eich enw chi.
Ni ofynnwyd cwestiwn 5 [OQ57493].
Question 5 [OQ57493] not asked.
We'll move to question 6, Joel James. Right, I don't think I see Joel James here. So, Joel James's question can't be asked. Yes, I can see you now, Joel James. I don't know what happened there.
Symudwn at gwestiwn 6, Joel James. Iawn, nid wyf yn credu fy mod yn gweld Joel James yma. Felly, ni ellir gofyn cwestiwn Joel James. Ydw, gallaf eich gweld yn awr, Joel James. Nid wyf yn gwybod beth ddigwyddodd.
I couldn't unmute myself, sorry, and then I realised my camera was off. Sorry.
Nid oeddwn yn gallu dadfudo fy meicroffon, mae'n ddrwg gennyf, ac yna sylweddolais fod fy nghamera wedi'i ddiffodd. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.
Right, okay. Ask your question, Joel.
O'r gorau, iawn. Gofynnwch eich cwestiwn, Joel.
Thank you, Llywydd.
Diolch, Lywydd.
6. Sut y bydd Deddf Cwricwlwm ac Asesu (Cymru) 2021 yn gwella cynwysoldeb i bob dysgwr? OQ57519
6. How will the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 improve inclusivity for all learners? OQ57519
The Act ensures the four purposes of the new curriculum become the shared vision and aspiration for every child and young person. In fulfilling these purposes, we set high expectations for all, ensuring each learner gains a broad and balanced education regardless of any barriers to learning they face.
Mae'r Ddeddf yn sicrhau bod pedwar diben y cwricwlwm newydd yn datblygu i fod yn weledigaeth a dyhead a rennir ar gyfer pob plentyn a pherson ifanc. Wrth gyflawni'r dibenion hyn, rydym yn gosod disgwyliadau uchel i bawb, gan sicrhau bod pob dysgwr yn cael addysg eang a chytbwys ni waeth pa rwystrau i ddysgu y maent yn eu hwynebu.
Thank you. As you're aware, and as you have explained, the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 is the legislation that sets out the legal framework for the new curriculum, and on the surface it has very inclusive aims, stating for example in section 28 that:
'The adopted curriculum must be implemented in a way that—
'(a) enables each pupil to develop in the ways described in the four purposes,
'(b) secures teaching and learning that offers appropriate progression for each pupil,
'(c) is suitable for each pupil's age, ability and aptitude,
'(d) takes account of each pupil's additional learning needs (if any), and
'(e) secures broad and balanced teaching and learning for each pupil.'
In the first part of the Act, it refers to each learner and states that learner needs will be accounted for within the curriculum. However, the legislation then goes on to state that, for children with additional learning needs, these sections, 27 to 30, disapply in relation to them. As a result, the legislation that sets out to apply to all learners, and specifically mentions ALN, is then subsequently disapplied or modified for learners with ALN, with the potential to become exclusionary and betray a deficit value for these learners. With this in mind, can the Minister explain why those with additional learning needs have sections 27 to 30 outlining how the legislation applies to every other learner disapplied to them? Thank you.
Diolch. Fel y gwyddoch, ac fel rydych wedi'i esbonio, Deddf Cwricwlwm ac Asesu (Cymru) 2021 yw'r ddeddfwriaeth sy'n nodi'r fframwaith cyfreithiol ar gyfer y cwricwlwm newydd, ac ar yr wyneb mae ganddo nodau cynhwysol iawn, gan nodi er enghraifft yn adran 28:
'Rhaid gweithredu r cwricwlwm mabwysiedig mewn ffordd—
'(a) sy n galluogi pob disgybl i ddatblygu yn y ffyrdd a ddisgrifir yn y pedwar diben,
'(b) sy n sicrhau addysgu a dysgu sy n cynnig cynnydd priodol ar gyfer pob disgybl,
'(c) sy n addas ar gyfer oedran, gallu a dawn pob disgybl,
'(d) sy n ystyried anghenion dysgu ychwanegol pob disgybl (os oes rhai), ac
'(e) sy n sicrhau addysgu a dysgu eang a chytbwys i bob disgybl.'
Yn rhan gyntaf y Ddeddf, mae'n cyfeirio at bob dysgwr ac yn nodi y bydd anghenion dysgwyr yn cael sylw o fewn y cwricwlwm. Fodd bynnag, mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yn mynd rhagddi wedyn i ddweud, ar gyfer plant ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, nad yw'r adrannau hyn, 27 i 30, yn berthnasol iddynt hwy. O ganlyniad, mae'r ddeddfwriaeth sy'n anelu at fod yn berthnasol i bob dysgwr, ac sy'n sôn yn benodol am ADY, yn dod yn amherthnasol wedyn neu'n cael ei haddasu ar gyfer dysgwyr ag ADY, gyda'r perygl o fod yn waharddol a datgelu gwerth diffygiol i'r dysgwyr hyn. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a all y Gweinidog egluro pam nad yw adrannau 27 i 30, sy'n amlinellu sut y mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yn berthnasol i bob dysgwr arall, yn berthnasol i ddysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol? Diolch.
He has the advantage of presumably having the legislation in front of him with specific sections. But the legislation, obviously, is designed very much to work hand in hand with the additional learning needs legislation, and so the two Acts come together to provide access to the curriculum, and I think the focus on the four purposes and progression that underpin the idea of the curriculum offers that additional flexibility to be able to meet the needs of all individual learners. We've worked with a wide range of partners from all sectors of education, obviously including a network of ALN experts, to develop a curriculum framework that we are confident is fully inclusive and allows all learners, including those with additional learning needs, to participate, to enjoy their learning and to progress towards the four purposes.
Mae ganddo'r fantais o fod â'r ddeddfwriaeth o'i flaen gydag adrannau penodol, rwy'n tybio. Ond yn amlwg, lluniwyd y ddeddfwriaeth i weithio law yn llaw gyda'r ddeddfwriaeth anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ac felly mae'r ddwy Ddeddf yn dod at ei gilydd i ddarparu mynediad at y cwricwlwm, a chredaf fod y ffocws ar y pedwar diben a'r cynnydd sy'n sail i'r syniad o'r cwricwlwm yn cynnig yr hyblygrwydd ychwanegol i allu diwallu anghenion pob dysgwr unigol. Rydym wedi gweithio gydag ystod eang o bartneriaid o bob sector addysg, gan gynnwys rhwydwaith o arbenigwyr ADY yn amlwg i ddatblygu fframwaith cwricwlwm rydym yn hyderus ei bod yn gwbl gynhwysol ac yn caniatáu i bob dysgwr, gan gynnwys y rhai ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, gymryd rhan ynddo, i fwynhau eu dysgu a gwneud cynnydd tuag at y pedwar diben.
Well, I haven't got the Act in front of me either, but I'm absolutely of the view that this is a great opportunity for all learners—the new curriculum as well as the additional learning needs Act. I just wanted to ask you what plans you have to co-locate all special schools on mainstream school sites in the future so that people with ALN, who come in all shapes and sizes, can benefit from the additional resources you get in mainstream schools, particularly in the secondary sector, and enable those who've got particular needs to have the full benefit of a rounded education in line with their capabilities and abilities.
Wel, nid yw'r Ddeddf gennyf finnau o fy mlaen ychwaith, ond rwyf o'r farn fod yma gyfle gwych i bob dysgwr—y cwricwlwm newydd yn ogystal â'r Ddeddf anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Roeddwn eisiau gofyn i chi pa gynlluniau sydd gennych i gyd-leoli pob ysgol arbennig ar safleoedd ysgolion prif ffrwd yn y dyfodol fel y gall pobl ag ADY, o bob lliw a llun, elwa o'r adnoddau ychwanegol a gewch mewn ysgolion prif ffrwd, yn enwedig yn y sector uwchradd, a galluogi'r rhai sydd ag anghenion penodol i gael budd llawn o addysg gron yn unol â'u galluoedd.
I thank Jenny Rathbone for that very important supplementary. I think it is very important for us, whenever we can, to be able to co-locate and make sure that all learners have access to the widest range of experiences and resources and facilities. She will know that, through the school building programme, the college building programme, twenty-first century schools, which is now renamed sustainable communities for learning, opportunities do rise from time to time to be able to provide for, for example, specific additional learning needs facilities within the campus, alongside mainstream provision. So, there are opportunities that we are keen to take for the reasons that she outlines in her question.
Diolch i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiwn atodol pwysig iawn hwnnw. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn inni allu cyd-leoli lle bynnag y gallwn a sicrhau bod pob dysgwr yn gallu manteisio ar yr ystod ehangaf o brofiadau, adnoddau a chyfleusterau. Fe fydd hi'n gwybod, drwy'r rhaglen adeiladu ysgolion, y rhaglen adeiladu colegau, rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, sydd bellach wedi'i hailenwi'n gymunedau cynaliadwy ar gyfer dysgu, fod cyfleoedd yn codi o bryd i'w gilydd i allu darparu, er enghraifft, ar gyfer cyfleusterau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol penodol ar y campws, ochr yn ochr â darpariaeth prif ffrwd. Felly, mae yna gyfleoedd rydym yn awyddus i fanteisio arnynt am y rhesymau y mae hi'n eu hamlinellu yn ei chwestiwn.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wneud y Gymraeg mor hygyrch â phosibl yng Nghaerdydd? OQ57508
7. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to make the Welsh language as accessible as possible in Cardiff? OQ57508
Mae'r fenter iaith a'r Urdd yn weithgar iawn yn y brifddinas drwy gynnig cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio, dathlu a mwynhau'r Gymraeg. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen i Tafwyl ddychwelyd i'r castell ym Mehefin. Mae hyn oll yn bwysig i gefnogi twf addysg Gymraeg a bod pawb yn gweld y Gymraeg fel iaith fyw.
The menter iaith and the Urdd are active within the capital, offering opportunities to use, celebrate and enjoy the Welsh language. I'm looking forward to see Tafwyl returning to the castle in June. This is all important to support the growth of Welsh-medium education and so that everyone can see Welsh as a living language.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Fel un o blant y brifddinas, mae wedi bod yn wych gweld y twf yn y defnydd a chlywed y Gymraeg o'n hamgylch ni wrth gerdded strydoedd y ddinas. Fel dywedoch chi, un o uchafbwyntiau'r calendr cymdeithasol yng Nghaerdydd yw gŵyl Tafwyl, ac roedd e'n golled mawr i beidio â'i gweld hi yn ystod blwyddyn gyntaf y pandemig, ond roedd hi'n grêt i'w chael hi y llynedd ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr ati eto eleni. Mae'n denu miloedd ar filoedd bob blwyddyn. Dwi'n ei chofio hi pan oedd hi'n cwrdd ym maes parcio'r Mochyn Du; nawr mae hi'n cwrdd yn y castell ac mae hi wedi mynd yn ŵyl fawr. Ond, gyda llwyddiant, gyda'r 39,000 o bobl sydd nawr yn mynychu Tafwyl, mae yna gostau ychwanegol, ac rŷn ni'n clywed yn gyson, onid ŷn ni, yn y Senedd yma am gostau yn gyffredinol yn cynyddu. Mae Menter Caerdydd yn meddwl y bydd cost cynnal Tafwyl eleni rhyw 20 y cant yn ddrutach o'i chymharu â 2019. Mae'n rhaid i Fenter Caerdydd sicrhau'r arian hwnnw trwy ymgeisio bob blwyddyn am wahanol grantiau, ac mae hynny yn ei hunan yn creu ansicrwydd. Mae'r ffaith bod mynediad am ddim i Tafwyl yn gwneud yr ŵyl mor hygyrch, gyda nifer o rieni a thrigolion di-Gymraeg a phobl o gefndiroedd ethnig Caerdydd yn mynychu'r ŵyl. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod Tafwyl yn parhau yn hygyrch ac yn cael ei hariannu yn addas? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much. As a son of the capital city, it's been wonderful to see the growth in the use of the Welsh language and to hear the Welsh language around me as I walk the streets of the capital. As you said, one of the highlights of the social calendar in Cardiff is the Tafwyl festival, and it was a great loss that it wasn't staged during the first year of the pandemic. It was wonderful to have it back last year, and I'm looking forward to its return this year too. It attracts thousands every year. I remember it when it was held in the car park of the Mochyn Du; it now meets in the castle and has become a major festival. But, with that success, with the 39,000 people who attend Tafwyl, there are additional costs attached to that, and we regularly hear in this Senedd about costs increasing in general. Menter Caerdydd believe that the cost of staging Tafwyl this year will be some 20 per cent higher than the figure for 2019. Menter Caerdydd has to secure that funding through bidding annually for various different grants, and that in itself creates uncertainty. The fact that access to Tafwyl is free of charge makes it so accessible, with many non-Welsh-speaking parents and residents and people from ethnic minority communities in Cardiff attending the festival. So, what plans does the Government have to ensure that Tafwyl continues to be accessible and continues to be appropriately funded? Thank you.
Diolch i Rhys ab Owen am y pitsh penodol hwnnw am gyllid pellach i Tafwyl. Rŷn ni'n darparu dros ryw £200,000 y flwyddyn i fenter iaith Caerdydd a menter Bro Morgannwg i'w galluogi nhw i gynnig arlwy o brosiectau, gweithgareddau a digwyddiadau yng Nghaerdydd i deuluoedd ac i blant ac i bobl ifanc ac i'r gymuned gyfan, ac mae hynny i'w ddathlu. Mae'n ffantastig eu bod nhw'n gwneud y gwaith hwnnw ac i weld impact cadarnhaol hynny yn ffyniant yr iaith yn y brifddinas. Fel gwnes i ddweud, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld Tafwyl yn dychwelyd i'r castell, nid i faes parcio'r Mochyn Du, fel gwnaeth e ein hatgoffa ni. Mae'n gyfraniad pwysig iawn nid yn unig i'r Gymraeg yn y brifddinas, ond, byddwn i'n awgrymu, yn ehangach na hynny hefyd.
I'd like to thank Rhys ab Owen for that specific pitch for further funding for Tafwyl. We provide over £200,000 per annum to menter iaith Caerdydd and menter Bro Morgannwg to enable them to provide a range of projects, activities and events in Cardiff for families, children, young people and the whole community, and that's to be celebrated. It's wonderful that they're doing that work and that we're seeing the positive impact of that in the language's development in the capital city. As I said, I look forward to seeing Tafwyl returning to the castle, not to the Mochyn Du car park, as he reminded us it started in. It's a very important contribution not only to the Welsh language in the capital city, but also more broadly than that.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Buffy Williams.
Finally, question 8, Buffy Williams.
8. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith y pandemig ar y bwlch cyrhaeddiad? OQ57489
8. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the pandemic on the attainment gap? OQ57489
We plan to publish a strategy to tackle the impact of poverty on educational attainment in the coming months. The Curriculum for Wales is central to our aspirations for learners' attainment, which we know has been adversely affected by COVID. The renew and reform plan, at this stage, has been supported in this financial year by £232 million in response to the pandemic itself.
Rydym yn bwriadu cyhoeddi strategaeth i fynd i’r afael ag effaith tlodi ar gyrhaeddiad addysgol yn y misoedd nesaf. Mae'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn hollbwysig i’n dyheadau ar gyfer cyrhaeddiad dysgwyr, yr effeithiwyd yn andwyol arno gan COVID. Mae’r cynllun adnewyddu a diwygio, ar y cam hwn, wedi’i gefnogi yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon gan £232 miliwn mewn ymateb i’r pandemig ei hun.
Minister, pupils in schools have not been impacted equally in this pandemic. The hundreds of millions of pounds you have allocated to make schools COVID-secure has made a real difference, but there are still specific groups of pupils who have been disadvantaged more than others. We've seen an unprecedented demand for child and adolescent mental health services and school-based services with year 11 and post-16 pupils. Pupils eligible for free school meals and pupils with additional learning needs have found the return to school more difficult than their peers. Pupils living in high levels of social deprivation have seen their learning disproportionately impacted, from a lack of IT equipment to higher levels of teacher and pupil absence. I understand that these are difficult problems to address. How will the Welsh Government ensure we don't continue to see the attainment gap widen as a result of the pandemic, and how will you work with Qualifications Wales and the WJEC to ensure pupils sitting exams this year are on a level playing field?
Weinidog, nid yw’r pandemig hwn wedi effeithio’n gyfartal ar ddisgyblion mewn ysgolion. Mae’r cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd rydych wedi’i ddyrannu i wneud ysgolion yn ddiogel mewn perthynas â COVID wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol, ond mae grwpiau penodol o ddisgyblion o hyd sydd wedi bod dan fwy o anfantais nag eraill. Rydym wedi gweld galw digynsail am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a’r glasoed a gwasanaethau mewn ysgolion gyda disgyblion blwyddyn 11 a disgyblion ôl-16. Mae dychwelyd i’r ysgol wedi bod yn anos i ddisgyblion sy’n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim a disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Bu effaith anghymesur ar addysg disgyblion sy’n byw mewn lefelau uchel o amddifadedd cymdeithasol, o ddiffyg offer TG i lefelau uwch o absenoldeb ymhlith athrawon a disgyblion. Deallaf fod y rhain yn broblemau anodd i fynd i’r afael â hwy. Sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau nad ydym yn parhau i weld y bwlch cyrhaeddiad yn cynyddu o ganlyniad i’r pandemig, a sut y byddwch yn gweithio gyda Cymwysterau Cymru a CBAC i sicrhau bod disgyblion sy’n sefyll arholiadau eleni yn cael chwarae teg?
Well, just to echo the point that the Member is making, I share a very clear personal commitment to making sure we do everything that we can to close the attainment gap. We have made progress in the past, but, as she said in her question, the experience of COVID in our schools and colleges will have not been felt equally by all our learners, and so it's incumbent on all of us to do whatever we can to support learners who need the most support to close that gap. We've recognised for some time that that was likely to be the issue, was likely to be the outcome, and, indeed, evidence tells us now that that is very likely to be what's happened. The funding that we've made available has been weighted specifically towards schools, reflecting, in the context of this question, the number of pupils who are from disadvantaged backgrounds so that that funding is balanced in that way, to provide extra support.
She will know that the—. She mentioned the digital challenge in her question. She will know that we have provided quite a significant increase in the availability of not just computer equipment but also the connectivity that is essential to be able to deliver that. Again, families living in disadvantage have found that a struggle and so we've been very keen to make sure that the work we do reflects that. The Education Policy Institute, in comparing the work of the four Governments across the UK, not only has said that in Wales we've invested more in our pupils, but that we've done that in a way that is more progressive and reflects better the needs of pupils that are disadvantaged or vulnerable.
In relation to examinations and her question, I am working with Qualifications Wales. I have been working with them and the WJEC. My next meeting with them is next week, to discuss what further we can do to specifically support learners through the assessment process, and reflecting, as she says in her question, the fact that not everyone has had the same experience over the last two years. The grade boundaries will reflect the disruption that we've seen in our schools, but I want to make sure, in addition to that, that there's also, for example, a fair and accessible appeals process that goes with our examination results to make sure that those issues can be taken into account.
Wel, i adleisio pwynt yr Aelod, rwy’n rhannu ymrwymiad personol clir iawn i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud popeth a allwn i gau’r bwlch cyrhaeddiad. Rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd yn y gorffennol, ond fel y dywedodd yn ei chwestiwn, ni fydd ein holl ddysgwyr yn ein hysgolion a’n colegau wedi teimlo effaith COVID yn gyfartal, ac felly mae’n ddyletswydd arnom oll i wneud popeth a allwn i gefnogi dysgwyr sydd angen y cymorth mwyaf i gau’r bwlch hwnnw. Rydym wedi cydnabod ers peth amser fod hynny'n debygol o fod yn broblem, yn debygol o fod yn ganlyniad, ac yn wir, mae tystiolaeth yn dweud wrthym bellach ei bod yn debygol iawn mai dyna sydd wedi digwydd. Mae’r cyllid rydym wedi’i ddarparu wedi’i bwysoli’n benodol tuag at ysgolion, gan adlewyrchu, yng nghyd-destun y cwestiwn hwn, nifer y disgyblion o gefndiroedd difreintiedig fel bod y cyllid hwnnw’n cael ei gydbwyso yn y modd hwnnw, i ddarparu cymorth ychwanegol.
Bydd yn gwybod bod y—. Soniodd am yr her ddigidol yn ei chwestiwn. Bydd yn gwybod ein bod wedi darparu cynnydd eithaf sylweddol nid yn unig o ran argaeledd offer cyfrifiadurol ond hefyd y cysylltedd sy’n hanfodol i allu cyflawni hynny. Unwaith eto, mae hynny wedi bod yn her i deuluoedd sy'n byw dan anfantais ac felly rydym wedi bod yn awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod y gwaith a wnawn yn adlewyrchu hynny. Mae’r Sefydliad Polisi Addysg, wrth gymharu gwaith pedair Llywodraeth y DU, nid yn unig wedi dweud ein bod ni yng Nghymru wedi buddsoddi mwy yn ein disgyblion, ond ein bod wedi gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy’n fwy blaengar ac yn adlewyrchu anghenion disgyblion difreintiedig neu agored i niwed yn well.
Mewn perthynas ag arholiadau a’i chwestiwn, rwy’n gweithio gyda Cymwysterau Cymru. Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio gyda CBAC a hwythau. Mae fy nghyfarfod nesaf gyda hwy yr wythnos nesaf, i drafod beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i gefnogi dysgwyr yn benodol drwy’r broses asesu, ac adlewyrchu, fel y dywed yn ei chwestiwn, y ffaith nad yw pawb wedi cael yr un profiad dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Bydd ffiniau graddau'n adlewyrchu’r tarfu a welsom yn ein hysgolion, ond hoffwn sicrhau, yn ogystal â hynny, er enghraifft, fod proses apelio deg a hygyrch ar gael hefyd i gyd-fynd â’n canlyniadau arholiadau er mwyn sicrhau y gellir ystyried y materion hynny.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Does dim cwestiynau amserol heddiw.
There are no topical questions today.
Ac felly'r eitem nesaf yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad, ac mae'r cyntaf o'r rheini heddiw gan Sioned Williams.
Therefore the next item is the 90-second statements, and the first of those comes from Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ddydd Llun yr wythnos hon oedd Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Addysg, diwrnod sy’n dathlu rôl addysg o ran hyrwyddo heddwch a datblygu ar draws y byd. Mae Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Addysg eleni unwaith eto'n disgyn yng nghanol pandemig COVID-19 ac, fel llefarydd Plaid Cymru ar addysg ôl-16, hoffwn gymryd y cyfle i longyfarch y sector yng Nghymru am barhau i gydweithio ar lefel ryngwladol er gwaethaf heriau'r pandemig. Mae ColegauCymru er enghraifft yn cefnogi colegau addysg bellach, fel Coleg Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn fy rhanbarth i, i integreiddio gweithgareddau a phartneriaethau rhyngwladol i fywydau beunyddiol dysgwyr a staff, a'r rhaglen gyfnewid ryngwladol i Gymru ar gyfer dysgu yn rhoi pwyslais cadarn ar werth rhaglenni cyfnewid rhyngwladol yn y sector addysg bellach yn ogystal ag addysg uwch a chynnig cyfleon sy'n ehangu gorwelion ac yn newid bywydau yma ac ar draws y byd.
Wrth inni ddod mas o'r pandemig, rhaid sicrhau bod pobl o bob oed yn medru gwella eu cyfleon drwy uwchraddio sgiliau neu ail hyfforddi a newid cwrs. Mae'n sector addysg bellach ni a'n haddysg gymunedol yn arbenigwyr ar hyn, ac maen nhw angen y gefnogaeth iawn i gyflawni hyn.
Yn ogystal â COVID, mae gormod o wledydd hefyd yn delio â rhyfeloedd, newyn a thlodi—problemau y mae gwledydd gorllewinol fel Prydain yn aml wedi chwarae rhan ynddynt. Wrth nodi Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Addysg felly, dylwn herio ein hunain ac arweinwyr cenhedloedd grymus y byd i sicrhau bod yr amgylchiadau gorau posib ar gyfer addysg—amgylchiadau sy'n hyrwyddo heddwch a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol—yn cael eu meithrin a'u datblygu. Diolch.
Thank you, Llywydd. Monday of this week was the International Day of Education, a day that celebrates the role of education in terms of promoting peace and development worldwide. The International Day of Education this year takes place once again during the COVID-19 pandemic and, as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on post-16 education, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the sector in Wales for continuing to collaborate at an international level despite the challenges that the pandemic has posed. ColegauCymru CollegesWales, for example, is supporting further education colleges, such as Neath Port Talbot College in my region, to integrate international activities and partnerships into the daily lives of learners and staff, and the international learning exchange programme for Wales places a firm emphasis on the value of international exchange programmes in the further education sector as well as in higher education and on providing opportunities that broaden horizons and change lives here and worldwide.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we must ensure that people of all ages can improve their opportunities through upskilling or retraining and changing course. Our further education sector and community education are experts on this, and need to be fully supported to achieve these aims.
As well as COVID, too many nations are also facing war, famine and poverty—problems in which western nations, such as the UK, have often played a part. As we mark International Day of Education therefore, we should challenge ourselves and the leaders of the world's powers to ensure that the best possible environment for education—an environment that promotes peace and social justice—is nurtured and developed. Thank you.
Nesaf, Heledd Fychan.
Next today we have Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ddoe, fel y nodwyd gan nifer o fy nghyd Aelodau, roedd y genedl yn dathlu canmlwyddiant yr Urdd. Ac fel y clywsom drwy ganu gwych ein Llywydd, fel rhan o'r dathliadau, bu pobl o bob oed yn rhan o her lwyddiannus yr Urdd i dorri dwy record y byd gan ganu 'Hei Mistar Urdd'.
Imi, roedd yr her yn crynhoi yn berffaith cryfder mawr yr Urdd, sef rôl y sefydliad o ran hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg fel iaith fyw, hwyliog sy'n perthyn i bawb, rhywbeth sydd yr un mor berthnasol a phwysig heddiw ac yr oedd pan sefydlwyd y mudiad yn ôl yn 1922 gan Syr Ifan ab Owen Edwards. Fel y nododd mewn rhifyn o Cymru'r Plant yn 1922:
'Yn awr mewn llawer pentref, a bron ym mhob tref yng Nghymru, mae'r plant yn chwarae yn Saesneg, yn darllen llyfrau Saesneg, ac yn anghofio mai Cymry ydynt.'
Nod y mudiad felly oedd amddiffyn y Gymraeg mewn byd lle roedd y Saesneg yn fwy fwy dominyddu bywydau plant Cymru. Dros y degawdau a ddilynodd, aeth y mudiad o nerth i nerth, gan arwain at sefydlu Eisteddfod yr Urdd a gwersylloedd Llangrannog, Glan Llyn a bellach Caerdydd, ynghyd a llu o weithgareddau, gan gynnwys clybiau chwaraeon, cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli a gwaith dyngarol. Yn fwy diweddar, chwaraeodd ran blaenllaw o ran cefnogi ffoaduriaid o Afghanistan ynghyd a sicrhau mynediad i bawb i'r Urdd drwy gynnig aelodaeth am £1 i blant a phobl ifanc sy’n derbyn cinio ysgol am ddim.
Wrth i'r mudiad esblygu, mae miliynau o blant a phobl ifanc Cymru wedi elwa o waith y mudiad. Ac oherwydd yr esblygu hwn, mae'r mudiad yr un mor bwysig a pherthnasol heddiw ac yr oedd yn 1922. Dymunwn pob llwyddiant i'r mudiad ar gyfer y 100 mlynedd i ddod.
Thank you, Llywydd. Yesterday, as noted by many of my fellow Members, the nation celebrated the Urdd's centenary. And we heard, through our Llywydd's excellent singing, that, as part of the celebrations, people of all ages were part of the Urdd's successful attempt to break two world records by singing 'Hei Mistar Urdd'.
For me, the challenge summed up perfectly the Urdd's great strength, namely the organisation's role in promoting the Welsh language as a living, fun language that belongs to everyone, something that is just as relevant and important today as it was when the organisation was established back in 1922 by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards. As he noted in an issue of Cymru'r Plant in 1922,
'Now in many villages, and almost every town in Wales, children play through the medium of English, they read English books, and they forget that they are Welsh.'
The organisation's aim, therefore, was to safeguard the Welsh language in a world where English was increasingly dominating the lives of children in Wales. Over the decades that followed, the organisation went from strength to strength, leading to the establishment of the Urdd Eisteddfod, the residential centres in Llangrannog, Glan Llyn and now Cardiff, as well as a whole host of activities such as sports clubs, volunteering opportunities and humanitarian work. More recently, the Urdd played a prominent role in supporting refugees from Afghanistan, as well as ensuring access to the Urdd for all by offering membership for £1 to young people in receipt of free school meals.
As the organisation evolves, millions of children and young people in Wales have benefited from its work. And because of this evolution, the organisation is as important and relevant today as it was in 1922. We wish the Urdd every success for the next 100 years.
Ac ar yr un thema, Carolyn Thomas.
And on the same theme, Carolyn Thomas.
Thank you. As we celebrate 100 years of the Urdd, I want to read a short extract from Urdd Gobaith Cymru Treuddyn, celebrating 100 years. Just over 100 years ago, Ifan ab Owen Edwards, from near Bala, wrote passionately about the plight of the Welsh language and culture. He was concerned that many children were reading and playing in English. They were forgetting they were Welsh, and so he proposed the establishment of new organisation for young people aimed at keeping the language alive and making young people aware of their responsibilities to it. Ifan invited readers of Cymru'r Plant, a monthly magazine he produced for children, to join his new movement, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, and the response exceeded expectations. By the end of 1922, the names of 720 new members had appeared in the magazine, with hundreds more waiting to join.
It was a girl who became the first general—remember, this reflected the style of the times, just after the first world war. She was Marian Williams, and did not, as one would expect, come from the heart of Welsh Wales, but from a farm, Fferm y Llan, in Treuddyn, Flintshire. Marian made history by organising her enlisted members into a group that met regularly once a week, and so, without any pressure, or even any suggestion from the founder, the first Urdd branch, or adran, came into being.
Sixteen-year-old Marian was a talented musician and writer who loved to write dramas for children. She was passionate about the movement and cycled round many houses recruiting members. She kept them busy practising songs, dances and recitations. She also wrote plays for them to perform. Thank you.
Diolch. Wrth inni ddathlu 100 mlynedd o’r Urdd, hoffwn ddarllen detholiad byr o hanes Urdd Gobaith Cymru Treuddyn, sy'n dathlu 100 mlynedd. Ychydig dros 100 mlynedd yn ôl, ysgrifennodd Ifan ab Owen Edwards, o ger y Bala, yn angerddol am gyflwr yr iaith a'r diwylliant Cymraeg. Roedd yn pryderu bod llawer o blant yn darllen ac yn chwarae yn Saesneg. Roeddent yn anghofio eu bod yn Gymry, ac felly cynigiodd sefydlu mudiad newydd i bobl ifanc gyda'r nod o gadw'r iaith yn fyw a gwneud pobl ifanc yn ymwybodol o'u cyfrifoldebau iddi. Gwahoddodd Ifan ddarllenwyr Cymru'r Plant, cylchgrawn misol a gynhyrchai i blant, i ymuno â'i fudiad newydd, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, a bu'r ymateb yn well na'r disgwyl. Erbyn diwedd 1922, roedd enwau 720 o aelodau newydd wedi ymddangos yn y cylchgrawn, gyda channoedd yn rhagor yn aros i ymuno.
Merch oedd eu cadfridog cyntaf—cofiwch, roedd hyn yn adlewyrchu arddull yr oes, ychydig ar ôl y rhyfel byd cyntaf. Marian Williams oedd hi, ac nid oedd, fel y byddai rhywun yn disgwyl, yn dod o galon y Gymru Gymraeg, ond o fferm, Fferm y Llan, yn Nhreuddyn, Sir y Fflint. Marian oedd y gyntaf i drefnu ei haelodau rhestredig yn grŵp a oedd yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd unwaith yr wythnos, ac felly, heb unrhyw bwysau, na hyd yn oed unrhyw awgrym gan y sylfaenydd, daeth cangen, neu adran gyntaf yr Urdd i fodolaeth.
Roedd Marian, yn un ar bymtheg oed, yn gerddor dawnus ac yn awdur a oedd wrth ei bodd yn ysgrifennu dramâu i blant. Roedd hi'n angerddol am y mudiad, ac arferai feicio o dŷ i dŷ yn recriwtio aelodau. Cadwai hwy'n brysur yn ymarfer caneuon, dawnsio a llefaru. Ysgrifennodd ddramâu iddynt eu perfformio hefyd. Diolch.
Da iawn, Marian, a phawb arall o aelodau'r Urdd ar hyd y ganrif.
Well done, Marian, and all Urdd members throughout the years.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 10.5 i benodi ombwdsmon gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i Gymru, a dwi'n galw ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid i'w wneud y cynnig hwnnw—Peredur Owen Griffiths.
The next item, therefore, is the motion under Standing Order 10.5 to appoint the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, and I call on the Chair of the Finance Committee to move the motion—Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Cynnig NDM7893 Peredur Owen Griffiths
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn mynegi ei diolchgarwch am gyfraniad Nick Bennett yn ystod ei dymor yn swydd Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru.
2. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 10.5 a, gan weithredu o dan baragraff 1 i Atodlen 1 Deddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019, yn enwebu Michelle Morris i’w phenodi i swydd Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru gan Ei Mawrhydi am dymor o saith mlynedd i ddechrau ar 1 Ebrill 2022.
Motion NDM7893 Peredur Owen Griffiths
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Expresses its gratitude for the contribution of Nick Bennett during his term of office as Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
2. In accordance with Standing Order 10.5, and acting under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019, nominates Michelle Morris for appointment by Her Majesty as Public Services Ombudsman for Wales for a term of seven years to commence on 1 April 2022.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, mae Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru yn benodiad y Goron a wneir ar enwebiad y Senedd o dan Atodlen 1 i Ddeddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019. Mae’r Pwyllgor Cyllid, fel y pwyllgor sydd â chyfrifoldeb dirprwyedig am oruchwylio trefniadau sy’n ymwneud â’r ombwdsmon, wedi chwarae rhan lawn drwy gydol y broses o recriwtio'r ombwdsmon newydd, ac mae manylion llawn am hyn wedi’u hamlinellu yn adroddiad y pwyllgor.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. As Members will be aware, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales is a Crown appointment made on the nomination of the Senedd under Schedule 1 to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019. The Finance Committee, as the committee with delegated responsibility for overseeing arrangements relating to the ombudsman, has been fully involved throughout the process of recruiting a new ombudsman, full details of which are outlined in the committee’s report.
I'm glad to say that the recruitment process attracted many excellent candidates and it gives me great pleasure to move this motion today, on behalf of the Finance Committee, to nominate the preferred candidate, Michelle Morris, to Her Majesty for appointment as the next Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the current ombudsman, Nick Bennett. Nick was due to complete his term of office on 31 July 2021, but was appointed to continue in the role in an acting capacity for a further eight months until 31 January this year. I'd like to thank Nick for his valuable contribution during his time as ombudsman, and for continuing in the role in an acting capacity, in particular, for his work in pursuing the development of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019, which provides the ombudsman with own-initiative powers to investigate complaints and for setting up model complaints. This will undoubtedly provide a lasting legacy.
It is also worth noting that this will be the first ombudsman appointment made since the 2019 Act came into force. I would like to thank our predecessor Finance Committee in the fifth Senedd, which includes Members of the current Senedd, for bringing it forward and ensuring its successful passage. It is an example of the Senedd leading the way in taking a distinct 'made in Wales' approach to improving services and something, as a committee and a legislature, we should be rightly proud of.
Rwy’n falch o ddweud bod y broses recriwtio wedi denu llawer o ymgeiswyr rhagorol ac mae’n bleser mawr gennyf wneud y cynnig hwn heddiw, ar ran y Pwyllgor Cyllid, i enwebu’r ymgeisydd a ffefrir, Michelle Morris, i’w phenodi i swydd Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus nesaf Cymru gan Ei Mawrhydi.
Hoffwn hefyd achub ar y cyfle hwn i dalu teyrnged i’r ombwdsmon presennol, Nick Bennett. Roedd Nick i fod i gwblhau ei gyfnod yn y swydd ar 31 Gorffennaf 2021, ond fe’i penodwyd i barhau yn y rôl ar sail dros dro am wyth mis arall tan 31 Ionawr eleni. Hoffwn ddiolch i Nick am ei gyfraniad gwerthfawr yn ystod ei gyfnod fel ombwdsmon, ac am barhau yn y rôl ar sail dros dro, ac yn arbennig, am ei waith ar ddatblygiad Deddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019, sy’n yn rhoi pwerau i'r ombwdsmon ymchwilio i gwynion ar eu liwt eu hunain a phennu gweithdrefnau cwyno enghreifftiol. Bydd hyn, heb os, yn gadael gwaddol parhaol.
Mae’n werth nodi hefyd mai'r ombwdsmon nesaf fydd y cyntaf i gael eu penodi ers i Ddeddf 2019 ddod i rym. Hoffwn ddiolch i’n Pwyllgor Cyllid blaenorol yn y pumed Senedd, a oedd yn cynnwys Aelodau o’r Senedd bresennol, am ei chyflwyno a sicrhau ei thaith lwyddiannus. Mae’n enghraifft o’r Senedd yn arwain y ffordd a defnyddio dull ‘gwnaed yng Nghymru’ o wella gwasanaethau ac mae'n rhywbeth y dylem fod yn falch ohono fel pwyllgor ac fel deddfwrfa.
Fel yr amlinellwyd yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, mae’n hanfodol bod proses ddethol y pwyllgor yn bodloni disgwyliadau pobl Cymru o ran cadernid a thryloywder. Mae hefyd yn hanfodol bod y broses yn cael ei chynnal mewn ffordd sy’n ei datgysylltu oddi ar unrhyw awgrym o ymyrraeth wleidyddol. O’r herwydd, gwnaethom sicrhau bod dau grŵp plaid yn cael eu cynrychioli ar y panel penodi. Yn ymuno â mi oedd fy nghyd-aelod o’r Pwyllgor Cyllid ac aelod o’r Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus a Gweinyddiaeth Gyhoeddus, Rhianon Passmore. Ymunodd Prif Weithredwr a Chlerc y Senedd, Manon Antoniazzi, a Peter Tyndall, yr Ombwdsmon, y Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth a Chomisiynydd Gwybodaeth Amgylcheddol Iwerddon â ni hefyd.
Ar ôl y cyfweliadau a dewis Michelle Morris fel yr ymgeisydd rydym yn ei ffafrio, aeth Michelle gerbron y Pwyllgor Cyllid trawsbleidiol ar gyfer gwrandawiad cyhoeddus cyn-enwebu ar 16 Rhagfyr 2021.
As outlined in the committee’s report, it is vital that the committee’s selection process meets the expectations of the people of Wales in terms of robustness and transparency. It's also vital that the process is conducted in a way that removes it from any suggestion of political interference. As such, we ensured that two party groups were represented on the appointment panel. I was joined by my fellow Finance Committee member and member of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, Rhianon Passmore. We were also joined by the Chief Executive and Clerk to the Senedd, Manon Antoniazzi, and Peter Tyndall, the Ombudsman, Information Commissioner and Commissioner for Environmental Information of Ireland.
Following the interviews and the selection of Michelle Morris as the preferred candidate, Michelle attended a public pre-nomination hearing of the cross-party Finance Committee on 16 December 2021.
The committee firmly believes that a pre-nomination hearing ensures open and transparent scrutiny of the candidate identified as the most suitable from the recruitment process. It also provides the committee, and ultimately the Senedd, with additional confidence that the preferred candidate is suitable for nomination to Her Majesty for appointment.
During the pre-nomination hearing, members of the committee were keen to question the preferred candidate on her previous experience and aspirations for driving forward the ombudsman’s work in Wales. The committee concluded unanimously that Michelle is the preferred candidate for this post.
I therefore ask the Senedd to agree the motion to nominate Michelle Morris to Her Majesty for appointment as the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
Mae’r pwyllgor yn credu’n gryf fod gwrandawiad cyn enwebu yn sicrhau craffu agored a thryloyw ar yr ymgeisydd a nodir fel yr un mwyaf addas o’r broses recriwtio. Mae hefyd yn rhoi hyder ychwanegol i’r pwyllgor, ac yn y pen draw, i'r Senedd, fod yr ymgeisydd a ffefrir yn addas i’w enwebu i’w penodi gan Ei Mawrhydi.
Yn ystod y gwrandawiad cyn enwebu, roedd aelodau’r pwyllgor yn awyddus i holi’r ymgeisydd a ffefrir am ei phrofiad blaenorol a’i dyheadau ar gyfer datblygu gwaith yr ombwdsmon yng Nghymru. Daeth y pwyllgor i’r casgliad unfrydol mai Michelle yw’r ymgeisydd a ffefrir ar gyfer y swydd hon.
Gofynnaf felly i’r Senedd dderbyn y cynnig i enwebu Michelle Morris i’w phenodi gan Ei Mawrhydi yn Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch i Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid am y cynnig yna. Does neb wedi datgan diddordeb i gyfrannu i'r ddadl. Dwi'n cymryd, felly, nad yw'r Cadeirydd eisiau ymateb gydag unrhyw sylwadau cloi, felly fe wnaf i ofyn y cwestiwn: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Na, dwi ddim yn gweld gwrthwynebiad, ac felly mae'r cynnig yna wedi ei dderbyn o dan Reol Sefydlog 12.36. A gaf i ddymuno pob llwyddiant i'r ombwdsmon yn ei gwaith wrth i'r cynnig fynd yn ei flaen?
I thank the Chair of the Finance Committee for moving the motion. Nobody has declared an interest in contributing to this debate. I take it, therefore, that the Chair does not wish to respond with any closing remarks. So, I will ask the question whether the motion should be agreed. Does any Member object? I don't see any objection, therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. May I wish every success to the new ombudsman in her work as the motion goes forward?
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enwau Alun Davies, Hefin David, Jack Sargeant, Rhys ab Owen a chefnogwyd gan Carolyn Thomas.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the names of Alun Davies, Hefin David, Jack Sargeant, Rhys ab Owen and supported by Carolyn Thomas.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r ddadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21 ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn ardaloedd gwledig, a dwi'n galw ar James Evans i wneud y cynnig yma. James Evans.
The next item, therefore, is the Member debate under Standing Order 11.21 on public transport in rural areas, and I call on James Evans to move the motion. James Evans.
Cynnig NDM7880 James Evans, Jack Sargeant, Samuel Kurtz, Natasha Asghar, Rhys ab Owen, Carolyn Thomas, Mabon ap Gwynfor
Cefnogwyd gan Paul Davies, Peter Fox
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi y cymerwyd 101 miliwn o deithiau bws yng Nghymru yn 2018-19, o'i gymharu â 129 miliwn yn 2004-05.
2. Yn nodi ymhellach nad oes gan 23 y cant o bobl yng Nghymru fynediad at gar neu fan.
3. Yn cydnabod bod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn hanfodol yng nghefn gwlad Cymru i atal pobl rhag teimlo'n unig ac ynysig.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) darparu cyllid hirdymor cynaliadwy i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn gwella gwasanaethau bysiau gwledig;
b) sicrhau bod cynghorau gwledig yn cael cyfran deg o fuddsoddiad yn y dyfodol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a chynlluniau teithio llesol;
c) gwarantu bod Strategaeth Fysiau Genedlaethol Cymru yn ystyried heriau unigryw trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng nghefn gwlad Cymru.
d) blaenoriaethu buddsoddi mewn cerbydau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus nad ydynt yn achosi allyriadau mewn ardaloedd gwledig.
Motion NDM7880 James Evans, Jack Sargeant, Samuel Kurtz, Natasha Asghar, Rhys ab Owen, Carolyn Thomas, Mabon ap Gwynfor
Supported by Paul Davies, Peter Fox
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that 101 million bus journeys were undertaken in Wales in 2018-19, compared to 129 million in 2004-05.
2. Further notes that 23 per cent of people in Wales do not have access to a car or van.
3. Recognises that public transport is essential in rural Wales to prevent isolation and loneliness.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) provide sustainable long-term funding for local authorities to enhance rural bus services;
b) ensure rural councils receive a fair share of future investment for public transport and active travel schemes;
c) guarantee the National Bus Strategy for Wales considers the unique challenges of public transport in rural Wales.
d) prioritise investing in zero-emissions public transport vehicles in rural areas.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd, and I'd like to move the motion in the names of my co-submitters and myself.
This debate is an issue that all MSs know all too well about. We are contacted by residents in our constituencies all the time who are having issues with accessing local transport and ask us what we can do to improve the services. I was overwhelmed to get wide-ranging, cross-party support for this motion, as I think it shows the maturity of this Parliament that we can all work together for the common good of the people of Wales. I was disappointed to see an amendment to this motion, and I'll touch on that later on. I hope today that we can share some ideas together to move forward to improve lives and improve public transport in Wales.
Living in rural Wales, as I and many others do, really is a blessing. It's a place untouched by much of modern society, and it is a landscape that people from all over the world come to admire. From the beautiful Brecon Beacons and Elan valley in my constituency to the coast of Pembrokeshire, up to the mountains of Snowdonia and along the shores of the picturesque north Wales coast, our nation is overwhelmingly rural, and politicians of all colours must remember that those living rurally have vastly different needs from those who dwell in more urbanised areas.
The National Federation of Women's Institutes has a campaign called 'Get on Board' to raise awareness of the importance of local bus services. They commissioned a report to explore the impacts of the significant reductions in local bus services that we have seen in recent years. Findings show that around one in five of their survey respondents living in rural areas have access to a frequent, reliable bus service; 25 per cent of respondents said that cuts to bus services have made them feel more isolated; and 19 per cent said their mental health had been negatively affected. Cuts to rural bus services have also meant a decrease in being able to connect to other modes of public transport and, as a result, 72 per cent said that their dependency on using a car and a reliance on family and friends has increased, and this has been at a cost to our fragile climate.
In 2004-05, 129 million bus journeys were undertaken in Wales, compared with only 101 million in 2018-19. This shows a significant drop in the people using public transport. This could be for a number of reasons: a reduction in the quality of the service, more access to cars and private transport, and sometimes a reluctance to wait for public transport. It could be for a number of reasons. But people who rely on public services as their sole mode of transport deserve a strong, well-funded, regular service. Approximately 80 per cent of bus users do not have access to a car, and 23 per cent of those people in Wales do not have access to a car or van. So, reliable public transport is vital.
Communities like Trecastle in the west of my constituency have seen their bus service reduce to a taxi service pre COVID and now no service at all, and that's on a Welsh Government trunk road. I met with Women's Institute members in Whitton, who saw their bus service cease in 2015, following the closure of a local school. They all now find themselves stranded in rural isolation, reliant on friends and neighbours for lifts to the nearest town for shopping and the usual things from the shops.
The data is clear: we all know that socialising and having access to meet with people keeps our mental health strong and prevents isolation and loneliness. The people in those communities deserve to have a guaranteed service that is sustainable for the long term, and funding for local authorities should be a top priority for Welsh Government in public transport. I know this area well as I was previously a cabinet member in the most rural council in Wales. And, if funding could be guaranteed in the long term, it would give the council and the people accessing those services a real sense of security and help them plan for the long term, and help us on the route to net zero.
We're also seeing the modernisation of public transport across the United Kingdom. Zero-emission vehicles are being rolled out across various areas of public sector transport. This move is vital to ensuring Wales plays its part in tackling climate change, and ensuring Wales continues to have clean air for our citizens across the nation.
I noted that my colleague Alun Davies and others have tabled an amendment to this motion, and I do think it's a shame, as it's making this motion overly political when there is no need for it to be so. They're blaming Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Government for the deregulation of bus services way back in 1986, which was almost 40 years ago. If deregulation was so awful, why did the Labour Governments under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown not reverse these decisions between 1997 and 2009? And I hope that the people who have put the amendment forward can answer that when they make their contributions.
To conclude, I look forward to hearing the debate from across the Chamber today. This is a very important topic that needs to come above party politics, because it's vital we improve public transport for all of the people right across Wales. Diolch.
Diolch, Lywydd, a hoffwn wneud y cynnig yn enwau fy nghyd-gyflwynwyr a minnau.
Mae’r ddadl hon yn fater y mae pob Aelod o'r Senedd yn ymwybodol iawn ohono. Mae trigolion yn ein hetholaethau yn cysylltu â ni drwy’r amser ynglŷn â'u trafferthion mewn perthynas â thrafnidiaeth leol ac yn gofyn inni beth y gallwn ei wneud i wella’r gwasanaethau. Roeddwn wedi syfrdanu gyda'r gefnogaeth eang, drawsbleidiol i’r cynnig hwn, a chredaf fod hynny'n dangos aeddfedrwydd y Senedd hon, ein bod yn gallu gweithio gyda’n gilydd er lles pawb yng Nghymru. Roeddwn yn siomedig o weld gwelliant i’r cynnig hwn, ac fe soniaf am hynny yn nes ymlaen. Gobeithiaf y gallwn rannu syniadau gyda’n gilydd heddiw er mwyn mynd ati i wella bywydau a gwella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru.
Mae byw yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, fel rwyf finnau a llawer o bobl eraill, yn sicr yn fendith. Mae'n lle sydd heb ei gyffwrdd gan lawer o gymdeithas fodern, ac mae'n dirwedd y mae pobl o bob cwr o'r byd yn dod i'w hedmygu. O harddwch Bannau Brycheiniog a chwm Elan yn fy etholaeth i arfordir Sir Benfro, hyd at fynyddoedd Eryri ac ar hyd arfordir prydferth gogledd Cymru, mae ein gwlad yn un wledig iawn, ac mae'n rhaid i wleidyddion o bob lliw gofio bod gan y rheini sy’n byw mewn ardaloedd gwledig anghenion tra gwahanol i'r rheini sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd mwy trefol.
Mae gan Ffederasiwn Cenedlaethol Sefydliadau'r Merched ymgyrch o'r enw 'Get on Board' i godi ymwybyddiaeth o bwysigrwydd gwasanaethau bysiau lleol. Fe wnaethant gomisiynu adroddiad i archwilio effeithiau’r toriadau sylweddol i wasanaethau bysiau lleol rydym wedi’u gweld dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae'r canfyddiadau'n dangos mai oddeutu un o bob pump o'r rhai a ymatebodd i'r arolwg ac sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd gwledig sy'n gallu defnyddio gwasanaeth bysiau aml a dibynadwy; dywedodd 25 y cant o’r ymatebwyr fod toriadau i wasanaethau bysiau wedi gwneud iddynt deimlo’n fwy ynysig; a dywedodd 19 y cant fod eu hiechyd meddwl wedi'i effeithio'n negyddol. Mae toriadau i wasanaethau bysiau gwledig hefyd wedi golygu lleihad yn y gallu i gysylltu â mathau eraill o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac o ganlyniad, dywedodd 72 y cant fod eu dibyniaeth ar ddefnyddio car a’u dibyniaeth ar deulu a ffrindiau wedi cynyddu, a hynny ar draul ein hinsawdd fregus.
Yn 2004-05, gwnaed 129 miliwn o deithiau bws yng Nghymru, o gymharu â 101 miliwn yn unig yn 2018-19. Mae hyn yn dangos gostyngiad sylweddol yn nifer y bobl sy'n defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Gallai fod nifer o resymau am hyn: gostyngiad yn ansawdd y gwasanaeth, mwy o fynediad at geir a thrafnidiaeth breifat, ac amharodrwydd, weithiau, i aros am drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Gallai fod nifer o resymau. Ond mae pobl sy'n dibynnu ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus fel eu hunig ddull teithio yn haeddu gwasanaeth rheolaidd, cryf sydd wedi'i ariannu'n dda. Nid oes gan oddeutu 80 y cant o ddefnyddwyr bysiau gar at eu defnydd, ac nid oes gan 23 y cant o bobl Cymru gar neu fan at eu defnydd. Felly, mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ddibynadwy yn hollbwysig.
Mae cymunedau fel Trecastell yng ngorllewin fy etholaeth wedi gweld eu gwasanaeth bysiau'n lleihau'n wasanaeth tacsis cyn COVID, a dim gwasanaeth o gwbl bellach, a hynny ar un o gefnffyrdd Llywodraeth Cymru. Cyfarfûm ag aelodau Sefydliad y Merched yn Llanddewi-yn-Hwytyn, lle daeth y gwasanaeth bysiau i ben yn 2015, ar ôl i ysgol leol gau. Maent bellach wedi eu hynysu mewn ardal wledig, yn dibynnu ar ffrindiau a chymdogion i'w cludo i'r dref agosaf i siopa a chael y pethau arferol o'r siopau.
Mae’r data’n glir: gŵyr pob un ohonom fod cymdeithasu a gallu cyfarfod â phobl yn cadw ein hiechyd meddwl yn gryf ac yn atal teimladau o fod yn ynysig ac yn unig. Mae’r bobl yn y cymunedau hynny’n haeddu cael gwasanaeth sicr sy’n gynaliadwy yn hirdymor, a dylai cyllid i awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fod yn brif flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwy’n dra chyfarwydd â'r maes hwn gan fy mod yn arfer bod yn aelod cabinet o'r cyngor mwyaf gwledig yng Nghymru. A phe gellid gwarantu cyllid ar gyfer hirdymor, byddai’n rhoi ymdeimlad gwirioneddol o sicrwydd i’r cyngor a’r bobl sy’n defnyddio’r gwasanaethau hynny ac yn eu helpu i gynllunio'n hirdymor, ac yn ein helpu ar y llwybr tuag at sero net.
Rydym hefyd yn gweld moderneiddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae cerbydau allyriadau sero yn cael eu cyflwyno ar gyfer amryw o feysydd trafnidiaeth sector cyhoeddus. Mae’r newid yn hanfodol i sicrhau bod Cymru’n chwarae ei rhan wrth fynd i’r afael â newid hinsawdd, a sicrhau bod Cymru’n parhau i fod ag aer glân i’n dinasyddion ledled y wlad.
Sylwais fod fy nghyd-Aelod, Alun Davies, ac eraill wedi cyflwyno gwelliant i’r cynnig hwn, a chredaf fod hynny'n drueni, gan ei fod yn gwneud y cynnig yn rhy wleidyddol pan nad oes angen iddo fod felly. Maent yn beio Margaret Thatcher a'r Llywodraeth Geidwadol am ddadreoleiddio gwasanaethau bysiau amser maith yn ôl ym 1986, sydd bron i 40 mlynedd yn ôl. Os oedd dadreoleiddio mor ofnadwy, pam na wnaeth y Llywodraethau Llafur o dan Tony Blair a Gordon Brown wrthdroi’r penderfyniadau hyn rhwng 1997 a 2009? Ac rwy'n gobeithio y gall y bobl sydd wedi cyflwyno’r gwelliant ateb hynny pan fyddant yn gwneud eu cyfraniadau.
I gloi, edrychaf ymlaen at glywed y ddadl o bob rhan o’r Siambr heddiw. Mae hwn yn bwnc pwysig iawn ac mae angen iddo fod uwchlaw gwleidyddiaeth bleidiol, gan ei bod yn hanfodol ein bod yn gwella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i bawb ledled Cymru. Diolch.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Rwyf wedi dethol y gwelliant i'r cynnig. Galwaf ar Alun Davies i gynnig gwelliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn ei enw ef ac enwau Hefin David, Jack Sargeant a Rhys ab Owen. Alun Davies.
I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on Alun Davies to move amendment 1, tabled in his name and those of Hefin David, Jack Sargeant and Rhys ab Owen. Alun Davies.
Gwelliant 1—Alun Davies, Hefin David, Jack Sargeant, Rhys ab Owen
Cefnogwyd gan Carolyn Thomas
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn cydnabod y difrod a wnaed drwy breifateiddio gwasanaethau bysiau yn y 1980au ac yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno deddfwriaeth i ail-reoleiddio gwasanaethau bysiau fel mater o frys yn y Senedd hon.
Amendment 1—Alun Davies, Hefin David, Jack Sargeant, Rhys ab Owen
Supported by Carolyn Thomas
Add as new point at end of motion:
Recognises the damage done by the privatisation of bus services in the 1980s and calls upon the Welsh Government to bring forward legislation to re-regulate bus services as a matter of urgency in this Senedd.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful to the Member for Brecon and Radnor for putting forward the debate this afternoon, although I have to say to him that there are two areas that I take issue with in his introduction. The motion itself is one where I think most of us, and many of us, will agree, but there's no point—and as a Conservative, of course, you will agree with me—in pouring money into a public service that isn't working. We need reform, as well as more money. At the moment, there are many hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money supporting bus services across the whole of Wales, and the one thing we all agree on is that that money, if we doubled it, still wouldn't be sufficient and wouldn't be working.
When I represented Mid and West Wales, one of the things I found was that people, wherever they lived in that region, wanted the same things, not different things. Somebody in rural Wales doesn't want a different public service environment to somebody who lives in the centre of Cardiff. What happens all too often is that they don't get the right services. People, what we found time and time again—. A fantastic introduction to this place when I was first elected was an inquiry we did on deprivation in rural Wales, and what we found, exactly as the Member has said for B and R, was that there were issues with public transport that meant that they weren't able to access public services in all sorts of different ways, but people wanted those same services, the services that I speak to people about today in Blaenau Gwent. And to try to create conflict between people in different parts of the country I don't think is the right way to deal with these things. What we need to do is agree the services that people want to see delivered, whether they live in the smallest village in Powys or in the centre of our capital city. We have to deliver those services, and it's how you deliver those services that is actually the crucial point at question here, not the services themselves.
And what Thatcher did in 1986 was to break the link between what the Member himself has described as vital public services and the people who use those services, because what happened with privatisation—. It didn't happen in London, of course, and that's the really key issue: if this was such an important policy and such a breakthrough in public policy, then surely London would have experienced the same as elsewhere, but they didn't do it in London because they knew that it wouldn't work, and it hasn't worked since then. We've seen the disruption and the decline in services as a consequence of that.
So, what we need to do is to fund local authorities properly, and I think this is one area of policy where the corporate joint committees could work very well, actually, with local authorities working together to deliver services across a wider region. I think that could certainly be the case in the part of Wales I represent now in Gwent. But also, I think we need to look at the structure of the industry, because we are putting hundreds of millions of pounds into an industry that isn't working. It is not sensible to continue to fund an industry that isn't working, in a way, and to fund services without reform. And, for me, the re-regulation of buses is absolutely key. The Minister in this area has made commitments time and time again to not only more comprehensive public service offerings, but also multimodal public services. The only way you can achieve that is through public control and public regulation of those services.
So, we need to be able to do that. We need the tools, and I hope that the Welsh Government, in replying to this debate, will say that they are working with local government and with bus operators to ensure that we do have the tools available to us to ensure that the villages represented by the Member in B and R and the towns represented by me have the services that they require, at the times that they need those services, but also it's the quality of the services that are on offer. We all know that, quite often—. And I've seen down in Cardiff recently that there is a whole fleet of new electric buses there. It's fantastic. It's fantastic for the people of Cardiff. I want to see that in Blaenau Gwent, and why can't I see that in Blaenau Gwent? And why shouldn't you have that in Ceredigion or Brecon and Radnor or Conwy? Why shouldn't you have access to the same quality of service in all parts of Wales as you have in the centre of Cardiff? That is surely the ambition Government must have.
And what we should be doing, on this Wednesday afternoon, in bringing forward these debates and scrutinising the Government, is to say: what policy tools are you going to employ in order to achieve that? And there isn't a policy tool available to Government, with the exception of re-regulation, with the exception of public control, that is going to deliver the public services, in particular in rural Wales, that the Member says that he wants to achieve.
So, I will close, Deputy Presiding Officer, but one thing about good, high-quality public services that we all know is that they don't make money for people who don't use them. That means that we need public control of public services to ensure that the quality is available to people and, then, to co-ordinate those public services to deliver the services in all parts of Wales that the Member has described. And I hope that before this Senedd goes into the next election that we will have a bus Act on the statute book that will re-regulate the services and provide the foundation for the sort of high-quality public transport service that we can all be proud of. Thank you.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i chi, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r Aelod dros Frycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed am gyflwyno’r ddadl y prynhawn yma, er bod yn rhaid imi ddweud wrtho fod dau beth rwy'n anghytuno â hwy yn ei gyflwyniad. Mae'r cynnig ei hun yn un y credaf y bydd y rhan fwyaf ohonom, a llawer ohonom, yn cytuno yn ei gylch, ond nid oes pwynt—ac fel Ceidwadwr, wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch yn cytuno â mi—arllwys arian i mewn i wasanaeth cyhoeddus nad yw'n gweithio. Mae angen diwygio, yn ogystal â mwy o arian. Ar hyn o bryd, mae cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd o arian trethdalwyr yn cefnogi gwasanaethau bysiau ledled Cymru gyfan, a’r un peth y mae pob un ohonom yn cytuno yn ei gylch yw na fyddai’r arian hwnnw, pe baem yn ei ddyblu, yn ddigon o hyd, ac ni fyddai'n gweithio.
Pan oeddwn yn cynrychioli Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, un o’r pethau a welais oedd bod pobl, ni waeth ble yn y rhanbarth hwnnw roeddent yn byw, eisiau yr un pethau, nid pethau gwahanol. Nid yw rhywun yng nghefn gwlad Cymru eisiau gwasanaeth cyhoeddus gwahanol i rywun sy'n byw yng nghanol Caerdydd. Yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn rhy aml o lawer yw nad ydynt yn cael y gwasanaethau cywir. Fel y gwelsom dro ar ôl tro—. Cyflwyniad gwych i’r lle hwn, pan gefais fy ethol gyntaf, oedd ymchwiliad a wnaethom ar amddifadedd yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, a’r hyn a welsom, yn union fel y dywedodd yr Aelod dros Frycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed, oedd bod problemau gyda thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn golygu nad oeddent yn gallu cael mynediad at wasanaethau cyhoeddus mewn pob math o wahanol ffyrdd, ond roedd pobl eisiau yr un gwasanaethau, y gwasanaethau rwy'n siarad â phobl amdanynt heddiw ym Mlaenau Gwent. Ac ni chredaf mai ceisio creu gwrthdaro rhwng pobl mewn gwahanol rannau o'r wlad yw'r ffordd iawn o ymdrin â'r pethau hyn. Mae angen inni gytuno ar y gwasanaethau y mae pobl am eu gweld yn cael eu darparu, boed eu bod yn byw yn y pentref lleiaf ym Mhowys neu ynghanol ein prifddinas. Mae'n rhaid inni ddarparu'r gwasanaethau hynny, a'r ffordd rydych yn darparu'r gwasanaethau hynny yw'r pwynt hollbwysig dan sylw yma, nid y gwasanaethau eu hunain.
A’r hyn a wnaeth Thatcher ym 1986 oedd torri’r cysylltiad rhwng yr hyn y mae’r Aelod ei hun wedi’i ddisgrifio fel gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol a’r bobl sy’n defnyddio’r gwasanaethau hynny, gan mai'r hyn a ddigwyddodd gyda phreifateiddio—. Ni ddigwyddodd yn Llundain, wrth gwrs, a dyna’r pwynt allweddol: pe bai hwn yn bolisi mor bwysig ac yn ddatblygiad mor arloesol mewn polisi cyhoeddus, byddai Llundain wedi profi'r un peth â mannau eraill, ond ni wnaethant hyn yn Llundain am eu bod yn gwybod na fyddai'n gweithio, ac nid yw wedi gweithio ers hynny. Gwelsom y tarfu a'r toriadau i wasanaethau o ganlyniad i hynny.
Felly, yr hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud yw ariannu awdurdodau lleol yn iawn, a chredaf fod hwn yn un maes polisi lle gallai'r cyd-bwyllgorau corfforaethol weithio'n dda iawn mewn gwirionedd, gydag awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i ddarparu gwasanaethau ar draws rhanbarth ehangach. Yn sicr, credaf y gallai hynny fod yn wir yn y rhan o Gymru rwy'n ei chynrychioli yn awr yng Ngwent. Ond credaf hefyd fod angen inni edrych ar strwythur y diwydiant, gan ein bod yn rhoi cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd i mewn i ddiwydiant nad yw’n gweithio. Nid yw'n synhwyrol parhau i ariannu diwydiant nad yw'n gweithio, mewn ffordd, ac ariannu gwasanaethau heb eu diwygio. Ac i mi, mae ailreoleiddio bysiau'n gwbl allweddol. Mae’r Gweinidog yn y maes hwn wedi gwneud ymrwymiadau dro ar ôl tro nid yn unig i gynnig gwasanaethau cyhoeddus mwy cynhwysfawr, ond gwasanaethau cyhoeddus aml-ddull hefyd. Yr unig ffordd y gallwch gyflawni hynny yw drwy reolaeth gyhoeddus a rheoleiddio cyhoeddus ar y gwasanaethau hynny.
Felly, mae angen inni allu gwneud hynny. Mae arnom angen yr offer, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth ymateb i’r ddadl hon, yn dweud eu bod yn gweithio gyda llywodraeth leol a chyda gweithredwyr bysiau i sicrhau bod gennym yr offer ar gael i ni i sicrhau bod y pentrefi a gynrychiolir gan yr Aelod dros Frycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed a’r trefi a gynrychiolir gennyf fi yn cael y gwasanaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt, ar yr adegau y mae angen y gwasanaethau hynny arnynt, ond mae hyn yn ymwneud hefyd ag ansawdd y gwasanaethau a gynigir. Gŵyr pob un ohonom, yn aml iawn—. Ac rwyf wedi gweld i lawr yng Nghaerdydd yn ddiweddar fod fflyd gyfan o fysiau trydan newydd yno. Mae'n wych. Mae'n wych i bobl Caerdydd. Rwyf am weld hynny ym Mlaenau Gwent, a pham na allaf weld hynny ym Mlaenau Gwent? A pham na ddylech gael hynny yng Ngheredigion neu Frycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed neu Gonwy? Pam na ddylech gael mynediad at wasanaeth o'r un safon ym mhob rhan o Gymru ag sydd gennych ynghanol Caerdydd? Dyna ddylai fod yn uchelgais i'r Llywodraeth.
A’r hyn y dylem ei wneud, y prynhawn dydd Mercher yma, wrth gyflwyno’r dadleuon hyn a chraffu ar y Llywodraeth, yw dweud: pa offer polisi rydych yn mynd i’w defnyddio i gyflawni hynny? Ac nid oes offeryn polisi ar gael i'r Llywodraeth, ac eithrio ailreoleiddio, ac eithrio rheolaeth gyhoeddus, sy'n mynd i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, yn enwedig yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, y mae'r Aelod yn dweud ei fod am eu sicrhau.
Felly, rwyf am gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ond un peth y gŵyr pob un ohonom am wasanaethau cyhoeddus da o ansawdd uchel yw nad ydynt yn gwneud arian i bobl nad ydynt yn eu defnyddio. Golyga hynny fod angen inni gael rheolaeth gyhoeddus ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus i sicrhau bod yr ansawdd ar gael i bobl, ac yna, cydgysylltu’r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hynny i ddarparu’r gwasanaethau ym mhob rhan o Gymru y mae’r Aelod wedi’u disgrifio. Ac rwy'n gobeithio, cyn i’r Senedd hon fynd i mewn i’r etholiad nesaf, y bydd gennym Ddeddf bysiau ar y llyfr statud a fydd yn ailreoleiddio’r gwasanaethau ac yn darparu’r sylfaen ar gyfer y math o wasanaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus o ansawdd uchel y gallwn i gyd fod yn falch ohono. Diolch.
I'd like to thank my colleague James Evans for initiating this debate. It's a fact that 85 per cent of land in Wales is used for agriculture, forestry or as common land, and this is the same figure as England. However, whereas 18 per cent of the population in England lives in rural areas, the figure for Wales is 35 per cent. We know that practical and affordable public transport is difficult to provide in rural areas, but in my view I just cannot understand why this is the case in 2022. I spent over 10 years in London, where a bus comes between every five to 10 minutes, and whilst I appreciate in Wales we don't have the same number of residents as in London, I still can't get my head around that in some parts of Wales, particularly rural areas, it's only one bus per hour and in some cases much longer than that. There is no doubt that people living here in Wales are very much car dependent—
Hoffwn ddiolch i fy nghyd-Aelod, James Evans, am gychwyn y ddadl hon. Mae’n ffaith bod 85 y cant o dir Cymru’n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer amaethyddiaeth, coedwigaeth neu fel tir comin, ac mae'r ffigur hwn yr un fath â Lloegr. Fodd bynnag, tra bo 18 y cant o boblogaeth Lloegr yn byw mewn ardaloedd gwledig, y ffigur yng Nghymru yw 35 y cant. Gwyddom ei bod yn anodd darparu trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ymarferol a fforddiadwy mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ond ni allaf ddeall pam fod hyn yn wir yn 2022. Treuliais dros 10 mlynedd yn Llundain, lle mae bws yn dod bob pump i 10 munud, ac er fy mod yn sylweddoli nad oes gennym yr un nifer o drigolion yng Nghymru ag yn Llundain, ni allaf ddeall pam, mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, yn enwedig ardaloedd gwledig, ei fod yn un bws yr awr a llawer hirach na hynny mewn rhai achosion. Nid oes amheuaeth fod pobl sy’n byw yma yng Nghymru yn ddibynnol iawn ar geir—
Natasha, will you take an intervention?
Natasha, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
At the end, please, Deputy Presiding Officer, if that's okay. There is no doubt that people living here in Wales are very car dependent, as bus services are inadequate, infrequent or non-existent. It is a fact that a lack of a decent transport service undermines the economies of rural areas, which therefore makes it more difficult for people to access jobs and services. It also has environmental consequences, with the high level of car use compared to urban areas causing greater carbon emissions per head. From what I have seen first-hand to what I am hearing from constituents all across south-east Wales, and from the letters I am receiving from other parts of Wales, there has been a spiral of decline in bus services across Wales. The number of local bus journeys has fallen from 100 million a year in 2016-17 to 89 million in 2019-20. Rural bus services have particularly suffered as they carry fewer people per mile operated and are less secure economically. As a result, they are more at risk, whether they are operated commercially or are supported.
Before the pandemic, the Welsh Government's direct support for the bus network was largely focused on the bus services support grant. In 2014, they replaced a bus service operators grant with a bus services support grant, with funding set at £25 million. This fixed pot of £25 million has not changed since then. Why? It's evident that the funding per passenger for bus services in Wales in inadequate, and compares poorly with that provided for rail passengers.
With the decline of rural bus services, community transport schemes have tried to fill the gap. Community transport schemes are significant providers of transport in rural areas, and, there's no denying it, their detailed knowledge of their local market and enthusiasm to service their local communities is invaluable. However, community transport is not able to be self-sustaining in rural areas and requires support. Many operators are small and the sector has little capacity to meet increased demand without investment. Whereas community transport providers often meet specific needs to serve particular groups, they cannot provide a comprehensive rural public transport system.
Wales needs a strategy for rural public transport. Rural areas tend to have older populations and there will be other vulnerable people that have limited or no access to private transport. They cannot be abandoned and left to their own devices. The impact of social isolation on people's health and well-being, as we have seen during the pandemic, is considerable. The rural public transport strategy would start from the basis that all rural areas should have a public transport service that provides access to employment, education, health services, shopping and recreation. Based on this principle, there is an opportunity to rethink the provision of rural bus services, to recognise their importance, and provide all rural dwellers with the opportunity to access services.
The Welsh Government must recognise the importance of rural bus services, and provide the framework and funding necessary for their support. It's been over seven months since the Deputy Minister's road freeze, and we cannot just sit and wait for something to happen. Something needs to happen now to address the public needs, whether that be more co-operation with the London Government, or whether that needs to be something created by the Welsh Government itself. We need a consistent and long-term approach, taking into account the current and future needs, which doesn't just cater for a declining market, but allows public transport to grow and to thrive. Thank you so much. I'll take any questions or interventions now.
Ar y diwedd, os gwelwch yn dda, Ddirprwy Lywydd, os yw hynny'n iawn. Nid oes amheuaeth fod pobl sy’n byw yma yng Nghymru yn ddibynnol iawn ar geir, gan fod gwasanaethau bysiau yn annigonol, yn anaml neu heb fod yn bodoli. Mae’n ffaith bod diffyg gwasanaeth trafnidiaeth digonol yn tanseilio economïau ardaloedd gwledig, sy'n ei gwneud yn anoddach felly i bobl gael mynediad at swyddi a gwasanaethau. Ceir canlyniadau amgylcheddol hefyd, gyda lefel uchel y defnydd o geir o gymharu ag ardaloedd trefol yn achosi mwy o allyriadau carbon y pen. O’r hyn a welais fy hun i’r hyn a glywaf gan etholwyr ledled de-ddwyrain Cymru, ac o’r llythyrau a gaf o rannau eraill o Gymru, mae dirywiad wedi bod mewn gwasanaethau bysiau ledled Cymru. Mae nifer y teithiau bws lleol wedi gostwng o 100 miliwn y flwyddyn yn 2016-17 i 89 miliwn yn 2019-20. Mae gwasanaethau bysiau gwledig wedi dioddef yn arbennig gan eu bod yn cludo llai o bobl y filltir ac yn llai diogel yn economaidd. O ganlyniad, maent mewn mwy o berygl, boed yn cael eu gweithredu'n fasnachol neu'n cael cymorth.
Cyn y pandemig, roedd cymorth uniongyrchol Llywodraeth Cymru i’r rhwydwaith bysiau yn canolbwyntio’n bennaf ar y grant cynnal gwasanaethau bysiau. Yn 2014, gwnaethant sefydlu'r grant cynnal gwasanaethau bysiau yn lle'r grant gweithredwyr gwasanaethau bysiau, gyda £25 miliwn o gyllid. Nid yw'r gronfa benodedig hon o £25 miliwn wedi newid ers hynny. Pam? Mae'n amlwg fod y cyllid fesul teithiwr ar gyfer gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru yn annigonol, ac yn cymharu'n wael â'r hyn a ddarperir ar gyfer teithwyr rheilffyrdd.
Gyda dirywiad gwasanaethau bysiau gwledig, mae cynlluniau trafnidiaeth gymunedol wedi ceisio llenwi’r bwlch. Mae cynlluniau trafnidiaeth gymunedol yn ddarparwyr trafnidiaeth pwysig mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ac ni ellir gwadu bod eu gwybodaeth fanwl am eu marchnad leol a’u brwdfrydedd i wasanaethu eu cymunedau lleol yn amhrisiadwy. Fodd bynnag, ni all trafnidiaeth gymunedol fod yn hunangynhaliol mewn ardaloedd gwledig ac mae'n ddibynnol ar gymorth. Mae llawer o weithredwyr yn fach ac nid oes gan y sector fawr o gapasiti i ateb y galw cynyddol heb fuddsoddiad. Er bod darparwyr trafnidiaeth gymunedol yn aml yn diwallu anghenion penodol i wasanaethu grwpiau penodol, ni allant ddarparu system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus wledig gynhwysfawr.
Mae ar Gymru angen strategaeth ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus wledig. Mae poblogaethau ardaloedd gwledig yn tueddu i fod yn hŷn, a bydd y cludiant preifat sydd ar gael at ddefnydd pobl fregus eraill yn gyfyngedig neu heb fod yn bodoli o gwbl. Ni ellir eu gadael i ymdopi â'u sefyllfa ar eu pennau eu hunain. Mae effaith ynysigrwydd cymdeithasol ar iechyd a lles pobl yn sylweddol fel y gwelsom yn ystod y pandemig. Byddai’r strategaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus wledig yn cychwyn o’r sail y dylai pob ardal wledig gael gwasanaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sy’n darparu mynediad at gyflogaeth, addysg, gwasanaethau iechyd, siopau a gweithgareddau hamdden. Ar sail yr egwyddor hon, mae cyfle i ailfeddwl y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau bysiau gwledig, i gydnabod eu pwysigrwydd, a rhoi cyfle i holl drigolion cefn gwlad gael mynediad at wasanaethau.
Mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gydnabod pwysigrwydd gwasanaethau bysiau gwledig, a darparu’r fframwaith a’r cyllid sydd eu hangen ar gyfer eu cynorthwyo. Mae dros saith mis wedi bod ers i'r Dirprwy Weinidog rewi prosiectau ffyrdd newydd, ac ni allwn eistedd ac aros i rywbeth ddigwydd. Mae angen i rywbeth ddigwydd yn awr i roi sylw i anghenion y cyhoedd, boed yn fwy o gydweithredu â Llywodraeth Llundain, neu'n rhywbeth a grëir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ei hun. Mae angen dull gweithredu cyson a hirdymor, sy'n ystyried yr anghenion presennol ac anghenion y dyfodol, ac sydd nid yn unig yn darparu ar gyfer marchnad sy’n dirywio, ond sy’n caniatáu i drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus dyfu a ffynnu. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fe gymeraf unrhyw gwestiynau neu ymyriadau yn awr.