Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

23/11/2022

Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.

In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.

Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair. 

The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.

1. Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd
1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd sydd gyntaf y prynhawn yma, a dwi wedi cael gwybod, o dan Reol Sefydlog 12.58, y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, Lee Waters, yn ateb yr holl gwestiynau y prynhawn yma. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Sarah Murphy.

Good afternoon and welcome, everyone, to this Plenary Meeting. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Climate Change and I've been notified, under Standing Order 12.58, that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, will answer all the questions this afternoon. The first question is from Sarah Murphy.

Defnydd Dyddiol o Ddŵr Mewn Cartrefi
Daily Household Usage of Water

1. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n gweithio i leihau'r defnydd dyddiol o ddŵr mewn cartrefi? OQ58731

1. How is the Welsh Government working to reduce daily household usage of water? OQ58731

Thank you, and, Llywydd, I'd like to pass on the apologies of Julie James for not being able to be here this afternoon.

We announced in July our strategic priorities and objectives statement. This sets a clear mandate for Ofwat to incentivise the efficient use of water resources by encouraging companies to reduce water consumption. 

Diolch, a Lywydd, hoffwn ymddiheuro ar ran Julie James am fethu bod yma y prynhawn yma.

Gwnaethom gyhoeddi ein datganiad strategol ar flaenoriaethau ac amcanion ym mis Gorffennaf. Mae'n gosod mandad clir i Ofwat gymell defnydd effeithlon o adnoddau dŵr drwy annog cwmnïau i leihau eu defnydd o ddŵr.

Thank you, Minister. Climate science tells us we're in for longer, hotter and dryer summers with the likelihood of ever more severe water shortages. Reducing daily water consumption would not only mitigate some of the challenges we've seen and will continue to see during the summer, but can also address water poverty during the current cost-of-living crisis. For example, there are parts of Wales at the moment that are at drought levels and we're only in November. In other countries, there are already targets set for water usage, with Brussels having a target of 96 litres per person per day, and there are also tech solutions such as water-saving flushes and tap fittings that I know Welsh Water already supply to customers, and that my group, Porthcawl U3A, were very keen for me to ask you about. So, Minister, given that parts of Wales are highly likely to continue facing summer drought and as bills continue to rise, what considerations have the Welsh Government made to upping our water efficiency status and potentially introducing a target that is ambitious enough to be meaningful in a climate and cost-of-living crisis?

Diolch, Weinidog. Mae gwyddoniaeth hinsawdd yn dweud wrthym y byddwn yn cael hafau hirach, poethach a sychach gyda'r tebygolrwydd o brinder dŵr mwy difrifol. Byddai lleihau’r defnydd dyddiol o ddŵr nid yn unig yn lliniaru rhywfaint o’r heriau rydym wedi’u hwynebu ac y byddwn yn parhau i’w hwynebu yn ystod yr haf, ond gall hefyd fynd i’r afael â thlodi dŵr yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw sydd ohoni. Er enghraifft, mae rhannau o Gymru ar lefelau sychder yn barod a hithau ond yn fis Tachwedd. Mewn gwledydd eraill, mae targedau eisoes wedi’u gosod ar gyfer defnydd dŵr, gyda Brwsel wedi gosod targed o 96 litr yr unigolyn y dydd, a cheir atebion technolegol hefyd, megis dyfeisiau fflysio sy'n arbed dŵr a dyfeisiau ar gyfer tapiau y gwn fod Dŵr Cymru eisoes yn eu darparu i gwsmeriaid, ac roedd fy ngrŵp, Porthcawl U3A, yn awyddus iawn i mi eich holi yn eu cylch. Felly, Weinidog, o ystyried bod rhannau o Gymru yn debygol iawn o barhau i wynebu sychder yn yr haf ac wrth i filiau barhau i godi, pa ystyriaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u rhoi i godi ein statws effeithlonrwydd dŵr, ac o bosibl, i gyflwyno targed sy’n ddigon uchelgeisiol i fod yn ystyrlon mewn argyfwng hinsawdd ac argyfwng costau byw?

Well, thank you. The Member raises a really important issue. As she says, our water system is under continued stress because of man-made climate change and it is going to get worse. The messages coming out of COP last week in Egypt were quite distressing about the state of the science and the level of the severity of the threat to us. So, conserving our water and treating it as the scarce resource that it is is essential. I've welcomed the campaign by Friends of the Earth to highlight this. 

There are number of things going on. There are individual initiatives by water companies. So, Dŵr Cymru, for example, has a set of tips that it promotes, encouraging people to take small measures for people to make a difference, like taking a shower instead of a bath, not leaving the tap running when you're brushing your teeth—these, cumulatively, make a meaningful contribution. Ofwat have also challenged the water companies to reduce leakage by at least 15 per cent over the next five years and both water companies in Wales are committed to doing this.

We are working with the UK Government on proposals to introduce a water efficiency labelling scheme to label water-using products such as taps, showers, toilets and dishwashers, and this will enable consumers to compare the relative water efficiency of these appliances, as they can for gas and electricity appliances. There are no plans at the moment to introduce targets, but clearly that's something we need to keep under review, depending on how the environment continues to change.

Wel, diolch. Mae’r Aelod yn codi mater gwirioneddol bwysig. Fel y dywed, mae ein system ddŵr dan straen parhaus oherwydd newid hinsawdd a achoswyd gan bobl, ac mae'n mynd i waethygu. Roedd y negeseuon a ddaeth allan o COP yr wythnos diwethaf yn yr Aifft ynglŷn â chyflwr yr wyddoniaeth a lefel difrifoldeb y bygythiad i ni yn dorcalonnus. Felly, mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn arbed ein dŵr ac yn ei drin fel yr adnodd prin ag ydyw. Rwyf wedi croesawu ymgyrch Cyfeillion y Ddaear i dynnu sylw at hyn.

Mae nifer o bethau’n digwydd. Ceir mentrau unigol gan gwmnïau dŵr. Felly, mae gan Dŵr Cymru, er enghraifft, set o awgrymiadau y mae’n eu hyrwyddo, sy'n annog pobl i gymryd camau bach fel y gall pobl wneud gwahaniaeth, fel cael cawod yn lle bath, peidio â gadael y tap i redeg pan fyddwch yn glanhau eich dannedd—mae'r rhain, gyda'i gilydd, yn gwneud cyfraniad ystyrlon. Mae Ofwat hefyd wedi herio’r cwmnïau dŵr i leihau gollyngiadau o leiaf 15 y cant dros y pum mlynedd nesaf ac mae’r ddau gwmni dŵr yng Nghymru wedi ymrwymo i wneud hyn.

Rydym yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar gynigion i gyflwyno cynllun labelu effeithlonrwydd dŵr i labelu cynhyrchion sy’n defnyddio dŵr fel tapiau, cawodydd, toiledau a pheiriannau golchi llestri, a bydd hyn yn galluogi defnyddwyr i gymharu effeithlonrwydd dŵr cymharol y peiriannau hyn, fel y gallant ar gyfer offer nwy a thrydan. Nid oes unrhyw gynlluniau ar hyn o bryd i gyflwyno targedau, ond yn amlwg, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae angen inni barhau i'w adolygu, yn dibynnu ar sut mae'r amgylchedd yn parhau i newid.

Minister, last year, Welsh Water customers consumed the most water per person per day, compared to all other regions in England. Our daily consumption at 176 litres was significantly higher than areas such as Bristol, for example, at 161 litres per day. What discussions has the Minister had with Welsh Water about the reasons for higher usage regarding household water consumption? As we attempt to be more responsible with our natural resources, it is clear that we need to take action to address this.

Weinidog, y llynedd, cwsmeriaid Dŵr Cymru a ddefnyddiodd fwyaf o ddŵr yr unigolyn y dydd o gymharu â phob rhanbarth arall yn Lloegr. Roedd ein defnydd dyddiol, 176 litr, yn sylweddol uwch nag ardaloedd fel Bryste, er enghraifft, a ddefnyddiodd 161 litr y dydd. Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Gweinidog wedi’u cael gyda Dŵr Cymru ynglŷn â'r rhesymau dros y defnydd uwch o ddŵr yn y cartref? Wrth inni geisio bod yn fwy cyfrifol gyda’n hadnoddau naturiol, mae’n amlwg fod angen inni roi camau ar waith i fynd i’r afael â hyn.

Well, thank you for highlighting this important issue. The water companies do have a duty to produce water resource management plans every five years and these must adhere to the Welsh Government's principles, which provide a high-level framework for the companies to follow in developing their plans. Dŵr Cymru has a commitment to reduce the average per-capita consumption of its domestic customers to 110 litres per person per day by 2050, and it plans to do this with a combination of education and behavioural change campaigns alongside increased household metering and leakage repairs. And we are continuing to work closely with them on that and Natural Resources Wales, along with Hafren Dyfrdwy—the two companies operating in Wales.

Wel, diolch am dynnu sylw at y mater pwysig hwn. Mae dyletswydd ar y cwmnïau dŵr i gynhyrchu cynlluniau rheoli adnoddau dŵr bob pum mlynedd ac mae’n rhaid i’r rhain gadw at egwyddorion Llywodraeth Cymru, sy’n darparu fframwaith lefel uchel i’r cwmnïau ei ddilyn wrth ddatblygu eu cynlluniau. Mae Dŵr Cymru wedi ymrwymo i leihau defnydd cyfartalog y pen eu cwsmeriaid domestig i 110 litr yr unigolyn y dydd erbyn 2050, ac maent yn bwriadu gwneud hyn drwy gyfuniad o addysg ac ymgyrchoedd newid ymddygiad ynghyd â mwy o fesuryddion cartref ac atgyweirio gollyngiadau. Ac rydym yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda hwy ar hynny, a chyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, ynghyd â Hafren Dyfrdwy—y ddau gwmni sy'n gweithredu yng Nghymru.

13:35
Gwelliannau Cyffyrdd ar yr A483
Junction Improvements on the A483

2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am adolygiad Llywodraeth Cymru o welliannau cyffyrdd ar yr A483? OQ58740

2. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's review of junction improvements on the A483? OQ58740

The roads review panel has submitted its final report to the Welsh Government about its findings for each of the road schemes that it has reviewed, and this includes the A483 junctions 3-6 improvements. I will be making a further announcement on the next steps of the roads review by the end of the month.

Mae’r panel adolygu ffyrdd wedi cyflwyno ei adroddiad terfynol i Lywodraeth Cymru ar ei ganfyddiadau ar gyfer pob un o’r cynlluniau ffyrdd y mae wedi’u hadolygu, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys gwelliannau i gyffyrdd 3-6 ar yr A483. Byddaf yn gwneud cyhoeddiad pellach ar gamau nesaf yr adolygiad ffyrdd erbyn diwedd y mis.

Thank you for your statement, Minister. Of course, junction 1 at Ruabon was not included in the roads review, and therefore work on improving that junction has not been paused, and it's for good reason. That particular junction is utterly lethal and has created a congestion canyon right up the A483, with resulting carbon emissions increases. And, of course, it's also sending motorists onto local roads, again, putting lives at risk, particularly schoolchildren, and deteriorating the air quality in and around Ruabon. Minister, would you agree to visit the A483 and to meet with community leaders, and can you outline what progress has been made in the past year on work to improve junction 1 on the A483?

Diolch am eich datganiad, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, nid oedd cyffordd 1 yn Rhiwabon wedi'i chynnwys yn yr adolygiad ffyrdd, ac felly nid yw gwaith ar wella’r gyffordd honno wedi’i oedi, a hynny am reswm da. Mae’r gyffordd benodol honno’n beryg bywyd, ac mae wedi creu hafn o dagfeydd i fyny’r A483, gyda chynnydd mewn allyriadau carbon o ganlyniad i hynny. Ac wrth gwrs, mae hefyd yn anfon modurwyr ar ffyrdd lleol, gan beryglu bywydau unwaith eto, yn enwedig plant ysgol, a dirywio ansawdd yr aer yn Rhiwabon a'r cyffiniau. Weinidog, a wnewch chi gytuno i ymweld â’r A483 ac i gyfarfod ag arweinwyr cymunedol, ac a wnewch chi amlinellu pa gynnydd a wnaed yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf ar waith i wella cyffordd 1 ar yr A483?

Thank you. As Ken Skates rightly says, junction 1 was not included as part of the roads review schemes that it has looked at, but the other junctions were. The proposals that have been put forward by the local council for junction 1 would involve a large remodelling of the junction, which would be carbon intensive and would increase road capacity. So, this is relevant to the recommendations we're anticipating from the roads review about future road schemes. What we don't want to do, by treating schemes in isolation—there's always a case for individual schemes—is for the cumulative impact of that to add to traffic volumes. So, we do need to think very carefully. That said, where there are traffic problems, there need to be solutions, and one of the themes in the roads review is how future roads can be made compliant with existing policies on climate change, transport and planning. So, when we produce the results, in the areas where we accept the recommendations of the review not to go ahead with a road, we will want to work with the local authority and other partners to see what else can be done in that case. As I say, I'm not able to preannounce what's decided—largely because we haven't yet decided—but we'll be updating Members in the coming weeks on the next steps.

Diolch. Fel y dywed Ken Skates, yn gwbl briodol, nid oedd cyffordd 1 wedi'i chynnwys yn rhan o’r cynlluniau adolygu ffyrdd yr edrychodd yr adolygiad arnynt, ond cafodd y cyffyrdd eraill eu hystyried. Byddai’r cynigion a gyflwynwyd gan y cyngor lleol ar gyfer cyffordd 1 yn golygu cryn dipyn o ailwampio ar y gyffordd, a fyddai’n ddrud ar garbon ac yn cynyddu capasiti’r ffyrdd. Felly, mae hyn yn berthnasol i'r argymhellion rydym yn eu rhagweld o'r adolygiad ffyrdd ynglŷn â chynlluniau ffyrdd yn y dyfodol. Yr hyn nad ydym am ei wneud, drwy drin cynlluniau ar eu pennau eu hunain—mae achos dros gynlluniau unigol bob amser—yw i effaith gronnol hynny ychwanegu at lefel y traffig. Felly, mae angen inni feddwl yn ofalus iawn. Wedi dweud hynny, lle ceir problemau traffig, mae angen atebion, ac un o’r themâu yn yr adolygiad ffyrdd yw sut y gellir sicrhau bod ffyrdd yn y dyfodol yn cydymffurfio â pholisïau presennol ar newid hinsawdd, trafnidiaeth, a chynllunio. Felly, pan fyddwn yn cynhyrchu’r canlyniadau, yn yr ardaloedd lle rydym yn derbyn argymhellion yr adolygiad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â ffordd, byddwn yn awyddus i weithio gyda’r awdurdod lleol a phartneriaid eraill i weld beth arall y gellir ei wneud yn yr achos hwnnw. Fel y dywedaf, ni allaf rag-gyhoeddi’r hyn sydd wedi’i benderfynu—yn bennaf gan nad ydym wedi penderfynu eto—ond byddwn yn rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Aelodau yn yr wythnosau nesaf ar y camau nesaf.

Minister, one improvement that's needed on the A483 is in regards to the Pant-Llanymynech bypass, which I've mentioned a number of times in this Chamber, and you'll know I'm very keen to see this bypass, partly in my constituency, move forward. So, I'm quite keen that, due to the roads review on the Welsh side, this scheme isn't delayed any further. As I understand it, the UK Government—. It's a joint scheme between the Welsh Government and the UK Government, with Highways England leading on the scheme. I wonder if you are in a position to update me, Minister, on the scheme, if not today, in writing, because this scheme is particularly important, because it's not just a bypass; it's actually a road safety improvement. And if you are on the way up the A483 to visit Ken Skates in his constituency, can I ask if you'd stop on the way and meet me in my constituency to discuss this part of the road area as well?

Weinidog, mae un gwelliant sydd ei angen ar yr A483 yn ymwneud â ffordd osgoi Pant-Llanymynech, y soniais amdani nifer o weithiau yn y Siambr hon, ac fe fyddwch yn gwybod fy mod yn awyddus iawn i weld y ffordd osgoi hon, y mae rhan ohoni yn fy etholaeth, yn mynd yn ei blaen. Felly, oherwydd yr adolygiad ffyrdd ar ochr Cymru, nid wyf yn awyddus i'r cynllun hwn gael ei ohirio ymhellach. Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae Llywodraeth y DU—. Mae’n gynllun ar y cyd rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU, gyda Highways England yn arwain ar y cynllun. Tybed a ydych mewn sefyllfa i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i mi am y cynllun, Weinidog, os nad heddiw, yn ysgrifenedig, gan fod y cynllun hwn yn arbennig o bwysig, gan nad ffordd osgoi yn unig ydyw; mewn gwirionedd, mae'n welliant diogelwch ar y ffyrdd. Ac os byddwch yn mynd i fyny'r A483 i ymweld â Ken Skates yn ei etholaeth, a gaf fi ofyn ichi stopio ar y ffordd a chyfarfod â mi yn fy etholaeth i drafod y rhan hon o'r ffordd hefyd?

There's nothing more I love than travelling around Wales visiting bypasses with my colleagues from the Senedd, so we'll see if the diary allows. I'm afraid the—. It's a cross-border scheme, as you say—only 5 per cent of it is in Wales, the rest being in England. And there are ongoing discussions between Highways England and Welsh Government officials about moving to the next stage, and I'm expecting some advice shortly about that, and I'd be happy to update the Member when I know more.

Nid oes unrhyw beth yn well gennyf na theithio o amgylch Cymru yn mynd i weld ffyrdd osgoi gyda fy nghyd-Aelodau o'r Senedd, felly cawn weld a yw'r dyddiadur yn caniatáu hynny. Mae arnaf ofn—. Mae'n gynllun trawsffiniol, fel y dywedwch—5 y cant yn unig ohono sydd yng Nghymru, gyda'r gweddill yn Lloegr. Ac mae trafodaethau ar y gweill rhwng Highways England a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch symud i'r cam nesaf, ac rwy'n disgwyl cyngor ynglŷn â hynny cyn bo hir, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelod pan fyddaf yn gwybod mwy.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, Natasha Asghar.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson first of all, Natasha Asghar.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Deputy Minister, during a recent interview on Sharp End, you hit out at Cardiff Bus for raising concerns about your controversial plans to roll out 20 mph speed limits across Wales. They feared that the move—which, I must stress, will cost upwards of £32 million—will lead to slower and more unreliable bus journeys. Deputy Minister, in response to the legitimate concerns raised by the company, you said Cardiff Bus had, and I quote,

'a remarkably narrow-sighted view'.

However, isn't it actually the reverse, Deputy Minister? It is in fact you who is narrow sighted, pushing ahead with this 20 mph plan whilst ignoring legitimate concerns, especially in light of a new report showing that cutting speeds to 20 mph does not actually, in fact, improve road safety.

Diolch, Lywydd. Ddirprwy Weinidog, yn ystod cyfweliad diweddar ar Sharp End, fe wnaethoch wawdio Bws Caerdydd am godi pryderon ynglŷn â'ch cynlluniau dadleuol i gyflwyno terfynau cyflymder 20 mya ledled Cymru. Roeddent yn ofni y byddai'r newid—a fydd, mae'n rhaid imi bwysleisio, yn costio mwy na £32 miliwn—yn arwain at deithiau bws arafach a mwy annibynadwy. Ddirprwy Weinidog, mewn ymateb i’r pryderon dilys a godwyd gan y cwmni, fe ddywedoch chi fod gan Bws Caerdydd, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,

'safbwynt hynod o gul'.

Fodd bynnag, onid y gwrthwyneb sy'n wir, Ddirprwy Weinidog? Chi sydd â'r safbwynt cul, wrth ichi fwrw ymlaen â'r cynllun 20 mya hwn gan anwybyddu pryderon dilys, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni adroddiad newydd sy'n dangos nad yw torri terfynau cyflymder i 20 mya yn gwella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd mewn gwirionedd.

I fear the Member's career as a tabloid newspaper editor has escaped her. The idea that I 'hit out' is rather sensationalist, I think. I was expressing my frustration with some of the comments that have been made, which I don't accept the premise of. I understand the concerns, and we're working with them on it, and we're working to understand better some of the problems they're having. We know one of the major problems that bus companies have is reliability and congestion. The evidence we have so far is that a 20 mph speed limit will produce smoother traffic flows. Most of the delays are at junctions, and people speeding up and slowing down to get to the next set of traffic lights as quickly as they can is a considerable cause of local air pollution, as well as using fuel, and, of course, being a danger on the roads. So, if we're able to smooth the traffic flows, that should help bus companies.

We're also not entirely clear how accurate most bus companies' timetables are. They're saying we're causing delays to their timetables; well, in many cases, they're not sticking to their timetables at the moment, and that's largely because of congestion. So, there's a circular argument here.

So, we certainly want to work with them to understand it better. Where there are problems, we're very keen to look at road space reallocations. The creation of bus lanes and bus priority measures is a different way of achieving efficiencies for the buses without, as she suggests, having a speed limit that we know increases the chance of being killed if you are hit by a car—some five times greater at 30 than 20. The study she referred to in Belfast is not a comparable study to what we're proposing in Wales, and I was disappointed that the coverage of that really did not reflect the reality of it. But I'm sure if she was to study it, and to study our proposals, she would notice significant differences. 

Mae arnaf ofn fod gyrfa’r Aelod fel golygydd papur newydd tabloid wedi achub y blaen arni. Credaf fod y syniad fy mod wedi eu 'gwawdio' braidd yn gyffrogarol. Roeddwn yn mynegi fy rhwystredigaeth gyda rhai o’r sylwadau a wnaed, nad wyf yn derbyn eu cynsail. Rwy'n deall y pryderon, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda hwy arnynt, ac rydym yn gweithio i ddeall rhai o'r problemau sydd ganddynt yn well. Gwyddom mai un o’r problemau mawr sydd gan gwmnïau bysiau yw dibynadwyedd a thagfeydd. Y dystiolaeth sydd gennym hyd yn hyn yw y bydd terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya yn cynhyrchu llif traffig llyfnach. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r achosion o oedi ar gyffyrdd, ac mae pobl yn cyflymu ac yn arafu i gyrraedd y set nesaf o oleuadau traffig cyn gynted ag y gallant yn un o brif achosion llygredd aer lleol, yn ogystal â defnyddio tanwydd, ac wrth gwrs, mae'n berygl ar y ffyrdd. Felly, os gallwn lyfnhau'r llif traffig, dylai hynny helpu cwmnïau bysiau.

Nid ydym yn deall yn iawn ychwaith pa mor gywir yw amserlenni'r rhan fwyaf o gwmnïau bysiau. Maent yn dweud ein bod yn achosi oedi i'w hamserlenni; wel, mewn llawer o achosion, nid ydynt yn cadw at eu hamserlenni eisoes, a hynny'n bennaf oherwydd tagfeydd. Felly, mae dadl gylchol yma.

Felly, rydym yn sicr yn awyddus i weithio gyda hwy i ddeall y sefyllfa'n well. Lle ceir problemau, rydym yn awyddus iawn i edrych ar ailddyrannu gofod ffordd. Mae creu lonydd bysiau a mesurau blaenoriaeth i fysiau yn ffordd wahanol o sicrhau arbedion effeithlonrwydd ar gyfer bysiau heb gael, fel y mae hi'n awgrymu, terfyn cyflymder y gwyddom ei fod yn cynyddu’r perygl o gael eich lladd os cewch eich taro gan gar—oddeutu pum gwaith yn fwy ar 30 nag ar 20. Nid yw'r astudiaeth y cyfeiriodd ati yn Belfast yn astudiaeth y gellir ei chymharu â'r hyn rydym yn ei gynnig yng Nghymru, ac roeddwn yn siomedig nad oedd y sylw a roddwyd i'r astudiaeth honno'n adlewyrchu ei realiti. Ond rwy'n siŵr, pe bai'n ei hastudio, ac yn astudio ein cynigion, y byddai'n sylwi ar wahaniaethau sylweddol.

13:40

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Believe me, I did study your interview, and sticking with the Sharp End theme here, Deputy Minister, you were asked if the people of Wales should expect to see more 50 mph speed limit zones—just like the ineffective ones already placed along the M4 at Newport, where I live—pop up across the road network. You replied, and I quote, 'Yes.' The 50 mph cameras in Newport, Deputy Minister, simply haven't worked. Heavy congestion still plagues that stretch of road every single day. I fail to see why on earth you'd even consider installing cameras elsewhere across the country when they do nothing to ease congestion and do everything to make motorists' lives a misery. Deputy Minister, is it not true that the imposition of unrealistic speed limits has less to do with cutting pollution and everything to do with forcing motorists off our inadequate roads to cover up your failure to provide Wales with an effective and efficient road network?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Credwch fi, astudiais eich cyfweliad, a chan gadw at thema Sharp End yma, Ddirprwy Weinidog, gofynnwyd i chi a all pobl Cymru ddisgwyl gweld mwy o barthau terfyn cyflymder 50 mya—yn union fel y rhai aneffeithiol sydd eisoes wedi’u gosod ar hyd yr M4 yng Nghasnewydd, lle rwy'n byw—yn codi ar draws y rhwydwaith ffyrdd. Fe ateboch chi, 'Gallant.' Yn syml iawn, nid yw’r camerâu 50 mya yng Nghasnewydd wedi gweithio, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Mae tagfeydd trwm yn dal i fod yn bla ar y darn hwnnw o'r ffordd bob dydd. Ni allaf weld pam ar y ddaear y byddech hyd yn oed yn ystyried gosod camerâu mewn mannau eraill ledled y wlad pan nad ydynt yn gwneud unrhyw beth i leddfu tagfeydd, ac yn gwneud popeth i wneud bywydau modurwyr yn fwrn. Ddirprwy Weinidog, onid yw’n wir fod gosod terfynau cyflymder afrealistig yn ymwneud nid â thorri llygredd ond â gorfodi modurwyr oddi ar ein ffyrdd annigonol i guddio eich methiant i ddarparu rhwydwaith ffyrdd effeithiol ac effeithlon i Gymru?

Well, I do enjoy the post-match analysis of my interviews; it's always very good to get feedback, and, again, from tabloid newspaper editors. Perhaps she should be a tabloid tv critic as well; there are certainly other avenues open to her should she not decide her future is in politics, which would be a great shame. 

The provision of 50 mph speed limits, as the Member knows, were, in many cases, court ordered because they were breaching air quality targets, and, far from her saying have proven ineffective, the reverse is true, as she well knows. They have proven effective in bringing down the pollution levels, as well as contributing to smoother flow of traffic. So, I'm afraid she is wrong with her facts, wrong with her analysis and wrong in her diagnosis of the motivation behind them. 

Wel, rwy'n mwynhau'r dadansoddiad o fy nghyfweliadau; mae bob amser yn dda cael adborth, ac unwaith eto, gan olygyddion papurau newydd tabloid. Efallai y dylai fod yn gritig teledu tabloid hefyd; yn sicr, mae llwybrau eraill yn agored iddi pe bai'n penderfynu nad oes dyfodol iddi ym myd gwleidyddiaeth, a byddai hynny'n drueni mawr.

Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mewn llawer o achosion, gorchmynnwyd y ddarpariaeth o derfynau cyflymder 50 mya gan lys am eu bod yn torri targedau ansawdd aer, ac yn hytrach na'u bod wedi bod yn aneffeithiol, y gwrthwyneb sy'n wir, fel y gŵyr yn iawn. Maent wedi bod yn effeithiol wrth ostwng lefelau llygredd, yn ogystal â chyfrannu at lif traffig llyfnach. Felly, mae arnaf ofn fod ei ffeithiau'n anghywir, mae ei dadansoddiad yn anghywir ac mae ei diagnosis o'r cymhelliant sy'n sail iddynt yn anghywir.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. I appreciate your call for my future career change, whereas I'm quite happy where I am. I plan on staying here for a very long time because someone needs to hold you to account.

In the same interview, returning back to Sharp End, Deputy Minister, you were asked if motorists across Wales should expect to see road charges introduced. Again, your response was, and I quote, 'Yes.' We on these Welsh Conservative benches have never been in any doubt that this Labour Government is anti-driver, but you have confirmed our worst suspicions with just one simple word, which was your 'Yes.' People across the country are struggling to make ends meet with the rising cost-of-living pressures, whilst at the same time you are drawing up plans to squeeze even more cash out of them. Deputy Minister, will you finally stop punishing drivers at every available opportunity and go back to the drawing board and rethink your 50 mph and road charge plans?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Diolch am eich galwad arnaf i newid gyrfa yn y dyfodol, ond rwy'n eithaf bodlon lle rwyf fi. Rwy'n bwriadu aros yma am amser hir iawn gan fod angen i rywun eich dwyn i gyfrif.

Yn yr un cyfweliad, gan ddychwelyd at Sharp End, Ddirprwy Weinidog, gofynnwyd i chi a all modurwyr ledled Cymru ddisgwyl gweld mesurau codi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd yn cael eu cyflwyno. Unwaith eto, eich ymateb oedd 'Gallant.' Nid ydym ni ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig erioed wedi bod ag unrhyw amheuaeth fod y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yn elyniaethus tuag at yrwyr, ond rydych wedi cadarnhau ein hamheuon gwaethaf gydag un gair syml, sef 'Gallant.' Mae pobl ledled y wlad yn ei chael hi'n anodd cael deupen llinyn ynghyd oherwydd y pwysau costau byw cynyddol, ac ar yr un pryd, rydych chi'n llunio cynlluniau i wasgu hyd yn oed mwy o arian allan ohonynt. Ddirprwy Weinidog, a wnewch chi roi’r gorau unwaith ac am byth i gosbi gyrwyr ar bob cyfle ac ailfeddwl eich cynlluniau ar gyfer 50 mya ac ar gyfer codi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd?

Well, I can only assume that Natasha Asghar's researchers have the week off, but, clearly, she got a lot out of this week's Sharp End, which I'm sure they'll be very pleased about.

Now, the issue of road charging is simply a reflection of the fact that petrol tax will disappear as people stop driving petrol cars. It's her party's Government in the UK who has set a legal deadline to stop selling petrol cars, which I strongly support. That means, by definition, the Treasury's reliance on fuel duty to fund large parts of public services will have to be reassessed because people won't be buying petrol. So, some of form of road user charging is inevitable, and is, in fact, being actively worked on by her Government in London. So, whenever she comes up with hysterical labels to throw at me, she really needs to think beyond the soundbite to what she's saying, because this is something all Governments are doing, because, simply, the rules are changing. What we have said in our transport strategy is that we favour a benefits and charges approach, just as is being considered in Cardiff, where we do look at charging in some circumstances, but the money from that is used to pay for improved public transport and alternatives to the car. I think people would be willing to pay a charge, and certainly the polling would support that, if they felt they were given real, good quality alternatives to driving. That's what we're working on, and we're doing it carefully. But the idea of sticking to the current system simply will not fly.

Wel, ni allaf ond tybio bod ymchwilwyr Natasha Asghar ar wythnos o wyliau, ond yn amlwg, cafodd lawer allan o Sharp End yr wythnos hon, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddant yn falch iawn ynglŷn â hynny.

Nawr, yn syml, mae mater codi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd yn adlewyrchiad o’r ffaith y bydd treth ar betrol yn diflannu wrth i bobl roi’r gorau i yrru ceir petrol. Llywodraeth ei phlaid hi yn y DU sydd wedi pennu terfyn amser cyfreithiol ar gyfer gwahardd gwerthu ceir petrol, ac rwy'n ei lwyr gefnogi. Mae hynny’n golygu, drwy ddiffiniad, y bydd yn rhaid ailasesu dibyniaeth y Trysorlys ar dreth tanwydd i ariannu rhannau helaeth o wasanaethau cyhoeddus gan na fydd pobl yn prynu petrol. Felly, mae rhyw fath o dâl ar ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd yn anochel, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae ei Llywodraeth yn Llundain yn mynd ati'n weithredol i weithio ar hynny. Felly, pryd bynnag y bydd yn llunio labeli hysterig i'w taflu ataf, mae gwir angen iddi feddwl y tu hwnt i'r sylw bachog y mae'n ei ddweud, gan fod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae pob Llywodraeth yn ei wneud, oherwydd yn syml iawn, mae'r rheolau'n newid. Rydym wedi dweud yn ein strategaeth drafnidiaeth ein bod yn ffafrio dull buddion a thaliadau, yn union fel sy’n cael ei ystyried yng Nghaerdydd, lle rydym yn edrych ar godi tâl mewn rhai amgylchiadau, ond defnyddir yr arian hwnnw i dalu am well trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a dewisiadau gwahanol i geir. Credaf y byddai pobl yn fodlon talu tâl, ac yn sicr, byddai’r arolygon barn yn cefnogi hynny, pe baent yn teimlo eu bod yn cael dewisiadau dilys eraill, o ansawdd da, yn lle gyrru. Dyna rydym yn gweithio arno, ac rydym yn gwneud hynny'n ofalus. Ond ni fydd y syniad o gadw at y system bresennol yn gweithio.

13:45

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.  

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Weinidog, rwyf eisiau gofyn i chi am COP27. Roedd gwledydd sy'n datblygu yn dathlu fore Sul, oherwydd, am y tro cyntaf mewn 30 mlynedd, cytunodd y gwledydd datblygedig i ddarparu cyllid i'w helpu nhw i ymateb i drychinebau sy'n gysylltiedig â newid hinsawdd, a elwir yn gronfa colled a difrod. Roedd y cytundeb yn COP27 ymhell o fod yn berffaith, gyda sawl elfen allweddol yn ddiffygiol. Dywedodd rhai gwledydd nad oedd yr ymrwymiadau i gyfyngu tymheredd i 1.5 gradd Celsius yn cynrychioli unrhyw gynnydd, ac roedd yr iaith ar danwyddau ffosil yn wan. Gwnaeth y cynnig colli a difrod ennyn clod, ond mae'n amlwg bod newid yn yr hinsawdd yn achosi dinistr nawr, tra rŷn ni yn siarad. A ydych chi'n cytuno mai'r hyn y dylem ni fod yn anelu ato, mewn gwirionedd, yw osgoi ac atal trychinebau, yn lle eu prisio nhw i mewn? Os felly, pa gyfraniad bydd Cymru yn ei wneud i'r ymdrechion yma?  

Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, I want to ask you about COP27. Developing nations were celebrating on Sunday morning, because, for the first time in 30 years, developed nations agreed to provide funding to help them respond to disasters related to climate change, known as a loss and damage fund. The agreement in COP27 was far from perfect, with several key elements missing from it. Some nations said that the commitment on limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius did not not represent any progress, and the language used on fossil fuels was weak. The loss and damage proposal did draw praise, but it is clear that climate change is causing damage now, as we speak. So, do you agree that what we should be aiming at, if truth be told, is avoiding and preventing disasters, rather than pricing them in? If so, what contribution will Wales make to these efforts? 

I completely agree with Delyth Jewell that the outcomes of the COP summit were disappointing and frustrating. The problems with these international summits is they inevitably move at the pace of the slowest, because there needs to be unanimous agreement. Clearly, a number of countries have their own reasons for slowing progress, and that, simply, is not going to be adequate to deal with the severity of the threat that the science suggests we now face from man-made global warming.

I think she is right that the one little bit of comfort was some support for the developing world—people, of course, who contribute the least to global warming, but are suffering the most the first. So, there's a real moral obligation on us, as an economy founded on fossil fuels to make a contribution, but, also, a strong self-interest. We know that levels of migration are set to increase as climate change hits, with people having been displaced from their land not being able to sustain a livelihood. They will be going onto other countries, and that will inevitably impact us. Even those who are not fully signed up to the science of climate change and fill our newspapers with warnings about migration should pay attention to the need to help the developing world mitigate the impacts to avoid adverse effects on things they care about further down the line.

The Welsh Government has been, for a number of years, working through our Wales and Africa project, in helping developing nations. It's an outstanding project. To give you just one example, in the Mbale region of Uganda, we're working with coffee farmers to plant trees. We've planted now 20 million trees since the project started. That not only helps give them a livelihood, but also stabilises their land from flash flooding that is produced by climate change, by using the trees to bind the land together. I've met a number of the coffee farmers, who are remarkable people. We need to understand the impact of our behaviour on their ability to live their lives. 

Cytunaf yn llwyr â Delyth Jewell fod canlyniadau uwchgynhadledd COP yn siomedig ac yn rhwystredig. Y problemau gyda’r uwchgynadleddau rhyngwladol hyn yw eu bod yn anochel yn symud ar gyflymder yr arafaf, gan fod angen cytundeb unfrydol. Yn amlwg, mae gan nifer o wledydd eu rhesymau eu hunain dros arafu cynnydd, ac yn syml iawn, nid yw hynny'n mynd i fod yn ddigon i ymdrin â difrifoldeb y bygythiad y mae’r wyddoniaeth yn awgrymu sy’n ein hwynebu bellach yn sgil cynhesu byd-eang a achoswyd gan bobl.

Credaf ei bod yn iawn mai’r mymryn bach o gysur oedd rhywfaint o gymorth i’r gwledydd datblygol—y rhai, wrth gwrs, sy’n cyfrannu leiaf at gynhesu byd-eang, ond y rhai sy'n dioddef fwyaf yn gyntaf. Felly, mae rhwymedigaeth foesol wirioneddol arnom, fel economi sydd wedi'i sefydlu ar danwydd ffosil, i wneud cyfraniad, ond hefyd, hunan-les cryf. Gwyddom y bydd lefelau ymfudo yn cynyddu wrth i newid hinsawdd daro, gyda phobl sydd wedi’u dadleoli o’u gwledydd yn methu cynnal bywoliaeth. Byddant yn symud i wledydd eraill, a bydd hynny'n anochel yn effeithio arnom ni. Dylai hyd yn oed y rheini nad ydynt wedi'u hargyhoeddi'n llwyr gan y wyddoniaeth newid hinsawdd ac sy'n llenwi ein papurau newydd â rhybuddion am ymfudo dalu sylw i'r angen i helpu'r gwledydd datblygol i liniaru'r effeithiau er mwyn osgoi effeithiau andwyol ar bethau y maent yn poeni amdanynt yn y dyfodol.

Ers nifer o flynyddoedd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio drwy ein prosiect Cymru ac Affrica i helpu gwledydd datblygol. Mae'n brosiect rhagorol. I roi un enghraifft i chi, yn rhanbarth Mbale yn Uganda, rydym yn gweithio gyda ffermwyr coffi i blannu coed. Rydym wedi plannu 20 miliwn o goed ers i'r prosiect ddechrau. Nid yn unig fod hynny'n helpu i roi bywoliaeth iddynt, ond mae hefyd yn sefydlogi eu tir rhag fflachlifoedd a gynhyrchir gan newid hinsawdd, drwy ddefnyddio’r coed i rwymo'r tir at ei gilydd. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â nifer o’r ffermwyr coffi, sy’n bobl ryfeddol. Mae angen inni ddeall effaith ein hymddygiad ni ar eu gallu hwy i fyw eu bywydau.

Thank you for that, Minister. Sticking with the COP theme, after COP27, it seems that Governments across the world have abandoned hope of 1.5—that chance of limiting global temperature rises to an only slightly catastrophic 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. That is escaping us. It's being written off in newspaper columns and government policies. It is slipping into the past—a future we might have saved for ourselves but we didn't manage to do it. And whilst the difference between 1.5 degrees and 2, 2.5, or 3 degrees can be measured in the number of extinctions, deaths and droughts, it can also be catalogued in the turmoil and despair of young people. What more can your Government do to retain that hope for young people in a world that's writing off their future? Can your Government bring its influence on keeping 1.5 alive? 

Diolch, Weinidog. Gan gadw at thema COP, ar ôl COP27, ymddengys bod Llywodraethau ledled y byd wedi cefnu ar y gobaith o 1.5—y cyfle i gadw'r cynnydd yn y tymheredd byd-eang i lefel sydd ond ychydig yn drychinebus, sef 1.5 gradd C uwchlaw lefelau cyn-ddiwydiannol. Mae'r cyfle hwnnw'n prysur ddiflannu. Cefnir arno mewn colofnau papurau newydd ac ym mholisïau llywodraethau. Mae'n llithro i'r gorffennol—dyfodol y gallem fod wedi'i achub i ni ein hunain, ond na lwyddasom i'w sicrhau. Ac er y gellir mesur y gwahaniaeth rhwng 1.5 gradd a 2, 2.5, neu 3 gradd drwy ffigurau difodiant, marwolaethau a sychderau, gellir ei gatalogio hefyd drwy drybestod ac anobaith pobl ifanc. Beth arall y gall eich Llywodraeth ei wneud i gadw gobaith i bobl ifanc mewn byd sy’n cefnu ar eu dyfodol? A all eich Llywodraeth ddylanwadu ar gadw 1.5 yn fyw?

She is, of course, right to be distressed by the increasing likelihood that we're not going to be able to reach the target set in the Paris agreement, and I think people need to focus on what this means. When we have the world's scientists telling us that we are facing catastrophic irreversible climate change, we really need to sit up and take notice. We're going to have to account for our failure to act in the face of very clear evidence to our children and future generations. So, it's imperative that we fight hard to make sure that we do take meaningful steps now, not wait until 2030 or 2040, by which time it'll probably be too late as we'll have locked in embedded emissions.

To answer her question, 'What can we do?', I think we can show leadership, we can show other Governments that we are prepared to match our rhetoric with action. That's one of the reasons why we have commissioned the roads review. There are always difficult short-term trade-offs to face up to, and sometimes unpopularity, because change is difficult and painful, but the alternative is far, far worse.

Mae'n llygad ei lle, wrth gwrs, i boeni ynglŷn â'r tebygolrwydd cynyddol nad ydym yn mynd i allu cyflawni'r targed a osodwyd yng nghytundeb Paris, a chredaf fod angen i bobl ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn y mae hyn yn ei olygu. Pan fo gwyddonwyr y byd yn dweud wrthym ein bod yn wynebu newid hinsawdd trychinebus na ellir ei wrthdroi, mae gwir angen inni wrando a chymryd sylw. Rydym yn mynd i orfod rhoi cyfrif am ein methiant i weithredu yn wyneb tystiolaeth glir iawn i'n plant a chenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Felly, mae'n hollbwysig ein bod yn brwydro'n galed i sicrhau ein bod yn cymryd camau ystyrlon ar unwaith, nid aros tan 2030 neu 2040, oherwydd erbyn hynny, mae'n debyg y bydd yn rhy hwyr gan y bydd gennym allyriadau corfforedig parhaol.

I ateb ei chwestiwn, 'Beth y gallwn ei wneud?’, credaf y gallwn ddangos arweiniad, gallwn ddangos i Lywodraethau eraill ein bod yn barod i gymryd camau sy'n cyd-fynd â'n rhethreg. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod wedi comisiynu'r adolygiad ffyrdd. Ceir cyfaddawdau tymor byr anodd i’w hwynebu bob amser, ac amhoblogrwydd weithiau, gan fod newid yn anodd ac yn boenus, ond mae’r dewis arall yn llawer iawn gwaeth.

13:50
Lleihau Allyriadau Carbon
Reducing Carbon Emissions

3. Beth mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud i leihau ôl-troed carbon ei hadran yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf? OQ58745

3. What has the Minister done to reduce the carbon footprint of her department in the past year? OQ58745

The Welsh Government, along with other public organisations, has a responsibility to reduce its carbon impact and to act as a role model for others. Officials in our department have developed a net-zero strategic plan for the Welsh Government, which will be published before Christmas to inform future action.

Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ynghyd â sefydliadau cyhoeddus eraill, gyfrifoldeb i leihau ei heffaith carbon ac i fod yn esiampl i eraill. Mae swyddogion yn ein hadran wedi datblygu cynllun strategol sero net ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru, a fydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi cyn y Nadolig i lywio camau gweithredu yn y dyfodol.

Thank you for that, Deputy Minister. We all accept in this Chamber that there is a massive issue with climate change, and no-one can deny that. Your Government often talks about tackling the climate emergency. Indeed, the Welsh Government refused to go to the recent COP27 in Egypt, as the Minister stated, due to concerns over the carbon footprint. That is a very moral decision. However, Welsh Government Ministers and officials this year have enjoyed a world tour that I think would put many rock bands to shame. You've been to Norway, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, USA, Qatar, and I'm sure there are plenty more venues to come. Indeed, I have to tell you that some of these places are further away than Egypt, and, as a result, there will be a substantial increase in the carbon in the atmosphere. So, I'd like to know how you and the climate Minister can justify not going to COP in the light of the Minister's comments and all that the Welsh Government is doing to tackle the climate emergency.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Mae pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon yn derbyn bod problem enfawr gyda newid hinsawdd, ac ni all unrhyw un wadu hynny. Mae eich Llywodraeth yn aml yn sôn am fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd. Yn wir, gwrthododd Llywodraeth Cymru fynd i’r COP27 diweddar yn yr Aifft, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, oherwydd pryderon ynghylch yr ôl troed carbon. Mae hwnnw’n benderfyniad moesol iawn. Fodd bynnag, mae Gweinidogion a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru eleni wedi mwynhau taith fyd-eang a fyddai’n codi cywilydd ar lawer o fandiau roc, yn fy marn i. Rydych wedi bod yn Norwy, Gwlad Belg, yr Emiradau Arabaidd Unedig, Seland Newydd, UDA, Qatar, ac rwy'n siŵr fod llawer o leoliadau eraill i ddod. Yn wir, mae’n rhaid imi ddweud wrthych fod rhai o’r lleoedd hyn ymhellach i ffwrdd na’r Aifft, ac o ganlyniad, bydd cynnydd sylweddol yn lefel y carbon yn yr atmosffer. Felly, hoffwn wybod sut y gallwch chi a'r Gweinidog hinsawdd gyfiawnhau peidio â mynd i COP yng ngoleuni sylwadau'r Gweinidog a phopeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd.

The ministerial code makes it clear that Ministers have to think carefully about the need to travel and whether or not there is a justification for it. Of course, there will be times when there is a justification for it. The examples that he chose were about pursuing trade opportunities, about developing relationships with other countries, and about telling people about the work that we are doing. There is a role for that, but we need to do it selectively. So, yes, Julie James and I decided it wouldn't be appropriate to go to this year's COP because it was not a decision-making COP, as last year's in Glasgow was. Instead, Julie James will be going next month to Canada for the biodiversity COP because we think we can add value to that in a way we didn't think we'd add value to the Egypt one, even though we were represented by officials. I realise the Member is interested in making a cheap point, but there is force to the argument that we need to be minimising our own carbon footprint and we should not be travelling internationally unless there's a strong case for it, as indeed the ministerial code makes clear.

Mae cod y gweinidogion yn nodi'n glir fod yn rhaid i Weinidogion feddwl yn ofalus am yr angen i deithio ac a oes cyfiawnhad dros hynny ai peidio. Wrth gwrs, bydd yna adegau pan fydd cyfiawnhad dros deithio. Roedd yr enghreifftiau a ddewisodd yn ymwneud â mynd ar drywydd cyfleoedd masnach, datblygu perthynas â gwledydd eraill, a dweud wrth bobl am y gwaith a wnawn. Mae rôl i hynny, ond mae angen inni ei wneud yn ddetholus. Felly, do, penderfynodd Julie James a minnau na fyddai'n briodol mynd i'r COP eleni gan nad oedd yn COP a oedd yn gwneud penderfyniadau, fel yr un yn Glasgow y llynedd. Yn lle hynny, bydd Julie James yn mynd i Ganada y mis nesaf ar gyfer y COP bioamrywiaeth gan y credwn y gallwn ychwanegu gwerth at hynny mewn ffordd nad oeddem yn credu y byddem yn ychwanegu gwerth at un yr Aifft, er ein bod yn cael ein cynrychioli gan swyddogion. Rwy’n sylweddoli bod yr Aelod yn awyddus i wneud pwynt hawdd, ond mae grym i’r ddadl fod angen inni leihau ein hôl troed carbon ein hunain ac na ddylem deithio’n rhyngwladol oni bai bod achos cryf dros hynny, fel yn wir y mae cod y gweinidogion yn ei nodi'n glir.

Ynni Gwynt ar y Môr Arnofiol
Floating Offshore Wind Power

4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y cyfleoedd ddaw yn sgil datblygu ynni gwynt ar y môr arnofiol yng Nghymru? OQ58727

4. Will the Minister make a statement on the opportunities presented by the development of floating offshore wind power in Wales? OQ58727

Floating offshore wind has the potential to contribute significantly to Wales and Great Britain’s future net-zero energy system and is a fantastic opportunity to bring social and economic benefits to our coastal communities. We are working closely with industry, the Crown Estate and the UK Government to make this a reality.

Mae gan wynt arnofiol botensial i gyfrannu’n sylweddol at system ynni sero net Cymru a Phrydain yn y dyfodol, ac mae’n gyfle gwych i ddod â buddion cymdeithasol ac economaidd i’n cymunedau arfordirol. Rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda'r diwydiant, Ystad y Goron a Llywodraeth y DU i wireddu hyn.

I agree with you, Deputy Minister, that the opportunities presented by floating offshore wind are enormous. As you know, I am a supporter of the transformational bid for the Celtic free port, which I believe would play a huge role in developing a greener and more sustainable future here in Wales. Of course, it's vital that all marine development projects are strategically placed to protect marine species and support ocean recovery. Wales's first floating offshore wind farm, project Erebus, is being developed 40 km off the coast of Pembrokeshire. The developers, Blue Gem Wind, who I've met on a number of occasions, submitted their planning consent in December 2021 with a clear ask for a consent decision in 12 months to enable the project to compete in the next contracts for difference allocation round. Therefore, Deputy Minister, what assurances can you give to Erebus and all other potential floating offshore wind projects that decisions over consents will be given in a timely manner in order to enable projects to progress and so they don't actually miss out on valuable funding opportunities in the future?

Cytunaf â chi, Ddirprwy Weinidog, fod y cyfleoedd a gyflwynir gan wynt arnofiol yn enfawr. Fel y gwyddoch, rwy’n cefnogi’r cais trawsnewidiol ar gyfer y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd, a fyddai, yn fy marn i, yn chwarae rhan enfawr yn y broses o ddatblygu dyfodol gwyrddach a mwy cynaliadwy yma yng Nghymru. Wrth gwrs, mae'n hanfodol fod pob prosiect datblygu morol wedi'i leoli'n strategol i ddiogelu rhywogaethau morol a chefnogi adferiad y cefnfor. Mae fferm wynt arnofiol gyntaf Cymru, prosiect Erebus, yn cael ei datblygu 40 km oddi ar arfordir sir Benfro. Cyflwynodd y datblygwyr, Blue Gem Wind, y cyfarfûm â hwy droeon, eu cais caniatâd cynllunio ym mis Rhagfyr 2021, gyda chais clir am benderfyniad ar y caniatâd ymhen 12 mis er mwyn galluogi’r prosiect i gystadlu yn y rownd ddyrannu contractau ar gyfer gwahaniaeth nesaf. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi i Erebus a phob darpar brosiect ynni gwynt arnofiol arall y bydd penderfyniadau ynghylch caniatadau'n cael eu rhoi mewn modd amserol er mwyn galluogi prosiectau i symud ymlaen ac fel nad ydynt yn colli cyfleoedd gwerthfawr i gael cyllid yn y dyfodol?

13:55

The Member may remember that, just under a year ago, I led a deep dive into renewables to look at what barriers were in the way of us achieving our ambitious targets. One of the recommendations we came up with there was an end-to-end review—if a deep dive can come up with an end-to-end review; you know what I mean, we're lost in jargon here—of the consenting process from beginning to end, to look at what was frustrating developers, and what was causing delays, and was there a case for example on looking at an evidence base collaboratively, which would save individual developers having to do it each time. This project was one of the ones that we looked at as part of that process. We've had the results of the end-to-end review, and we're now working through those in detail to see with NRW what we can implement to help schemes like this in the future. On this specific project, we are working with the project developers on the process for a marine licence. You'll understand that, as we have a role in the appeals process, I can't comment any further on it, but our officials are doing what they can, and of course, the developers also need to do what they can to meet the deadline that they've asked us to meet. 

Efallai y bydd yr Aelod yn cofio, ychydig yn llai na blwyddyn yn ôl, imi arwain archwiliad dwfn o ynni adnewyddadwy er mwyn edrych ar ba rwystrau sy'n ein hatal rhag cyflawni ein targedau uchelgeisiol. Un o'r argymhellion a luniwyd gennym oedd adolygiad proses gyfan—os gall archwiliad dwfn arwain at adolygiad proses gyfan; fe wyddoch beth rwy'n ei olygu, rydym yn boddi mewn jargon yma—o'r broses gydsynio o'r dechrau i'r diwedd, i edrych ar beth oedd yn rhwystredig i ddatblygwyr, a beth oedd yn achosi oedi, ac roedd achos, er enghraifft, dros edrych ar sylfaen dystiolaeth mewn ffordd gydweithredol, a fyddai'n arbed datblygwyr unigol rhag gorfod gwneud hynny bob tro. Roedd y prosiect hwn yn un o’r rhai y buom yn edrych arnynt fel rhan o’r broses honno. Rydym wedi cael canlyniadau’r adolygiad proses gyfan, ac rydym bellach yn gweithio drwyddynt yn fanwl i weld gyda CNC beth y gallwn ei roi ar waith i gynorthwyo cynlluniau fel hyn yn y dyfodol. Ar y prosiect penodol hwn, rydym yn gweithio gyda datblygwyr y prosiect ar y broses ar gyfer cael trwydded forol. Gan fod gennym rôl yn y broses apelio, fe fyddwch yn deall na allaf wneud sylw pellach ar hynny, ond mae ein swyddogion yn gwneud yr hyn a allant, ac wrth gwrs, mae angen i’r datblygwyr hefyd wneud yr hyn a allant hwy i gadw at y dyddiad cau y maent wedi gofyn i ni gadw ato.

There's been much focus, of course, on floating offshore wind. It feels a bit like it's the flavour of the month, but it's hugely valid, of course—nobody is challenging that—particularly with the focus on the Celtic sea. But we mustn't forget, of course, there's still huge potential to be realised from fixed-base turbines in the Irish sea. I see that as very much a key driver for the north Wales economy, particularly focused around developing a strong offshore wind presence at Holyhead. So, can you tell us what the Welsh Government's aspirations are in relation to the Irish sea, particularly post the Crown Estate's round 4 leasing, and what your Government is doing to continually promote those opportunities in terms of fixed-base turbines, particularly in the Irish sea?

Mae llawer o ffocws wedi bod ar wynt arnofiol wrth gwrs. Mae'n teimlo i raddau fel pe bai'n rhywbeth sy'n ffasiynol ar hyn o bryd, ond mae'n hynod ddilys, wrth gwrs—nid oes unrhyw un yn herio hynny—yn enwedig gyda'r ffocws ar y môr Celtaidd. Ond mae'n rhaid inni beidio ag anghofio, wrth gwrs, fod potensial enfawr o hyd i'w wireddu mewn perthynas â thyrbinau sefydlog ym Môr Iwerddon. Mae hynny'n sbardun allweddol ar gyfer economi gogledd Cymru yn fy marn i, gyda ffocws penodol ar ddatblygu presenoldeb ynni gwynt ar y môr cryf yng Nghaergybi. Felly, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym beth yw dyheadau Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â môr Iwerddon, yn enwedig ar ôl rownd lesio 4 Ystad y Goron, a beth y mae eich Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo'r cyfleoedd hynny'n barhaus o ran tyrbinau sefydlog, yn enwedig ym Môr Iwerddon?

He's right, and we're interested in all opportunities to improve renewables capacity. One of the things we're also keen on is to make sure we have a supply chain and a benefit to the local economy, both through ownership and through manufacture. I've never found it fathomable why we are having German pension funds invested in wind farms off north Wales when we're not benefiting directly from the profit ourselves. That's one of the reasons why we've announced the creation of an energy company for Wales, to exploit the opportunities on the Natural Resources Wales estate. We are also—along with Plaid Cymru—working on a proposal for community energy. So, there is much work going on to exploit this. What we need to work closely with the UK Government on is an industrial strategy to go alongside the renewable plans. I raised this with Greg Hands when he was energy Minister, and this is something the industry themselves are keen on, because there is significant both energy potential but also employment potential if we get this right.

Mae'n llygad ei le, ac mae gennym ddiddordeb ym mhob cyfle i wella capasiti ynni adnewyddadwy. Un o'r pethau rydym hefyd yn awyddus i'w gwneud yw sicrhau bod gennym gadwyn gyflenwi a budd i'r economi leol, drwy berchnogaeth a thrwy weithgynhyrchu. Nid wyf erioed wedi deall pam fod cronfeydd pensiwn yr Almaen yn cael eu buddsoddi mewn ffermydd gwynt oddi ar ogledd Cymru pan nad ydym yn elwa'n uniongyrchol o'r elw ein hunain. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod wedi cyhoeddi y byddwn yn creu cwmni ynni i Gymru, i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd a geir ar ystad Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Rydym hefyd—gyda Phlaid Cymru—yn gweithio ar gynnig ar gyfer ynni cymunedol. Felly, mae llawer o waith yn mynd rhagddo i fanteisio ar hyn. Mae angen inni weithio’n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar strategaeth ddiwydiannol i gyd-fynd â’r cynlluniau adnewyddadwy. Codais hyn gyda Greg Hands pan oedd yn Weinidog ynni, ac mae'n rhywbeth y mae’r diwydiant ei hun yn frwdfrydig yn ei gylch, gan fod potensial sylweddol o ran ynni yn ogystal â photensial o ran cyflogaeth hefyd os cawn hyn yn iawn.

Gwasanaethau Rheilffordd
Rail Services

5. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu ansawdd ac argaeledd teithiau trenau yn Nwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr? OQ58747

5. What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase the quality and availability of rail journeys in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr? OQ58747

Transport for Wales are increasing the number of rail services on the Heart of Wales line from this December from five services a day to seven. The refurbishment of the rolling stock used on this line has also recently been completed, providing an improved passenger facility.

Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn cynyddu nifer y gwasanaethau rheilffordd ar reilffordd Calon Cymru o fis Rhagfyr eleni o bum gwasanaeth y dydd i saith. Mae'r gwaith o adnewyddu'r cerbydau rheilffyrdd a ddefnyddir ar y rheilffordd hon hefyd wedi'i gwblhau'n ddiweddar, gan ddarparu cyfleuster gwell i deithwyr.

Dwi'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ei ateb. Wrth gwrs, byddi di a minnau yn gyfarwydd iawn gyda'r llinell yma, gan ei bod hi'n mynd trwy ganol y dref lle cawsom ni ein haddysg. Mae hi'n cynnig taith hyfryd, wrth gwrs, o gwmpas canolbarth Cymru. Ond mae nifer o'm etholwyr innau wedi bod yn cael profiadau gwael yn ddiweddar o ran y gwasanaeth—o ran oedi cyson, ac argaeledd gwael ac annibynadwy. Yn ystod y mis diwethaf, er enghraifft, rwyf wedi cael ar ddeall bod un etholwr wedi cael ei adael i bob pwrpas gyda'i gyd-deithwyr yn Llanwrtyd yn aros oriau am wasanaeth bws amgen yn lle'r trên. Bu'n rhaid i etholwr arall ganslo gwyliau yn yr Amwythig ar ôl i wasanaeth gael ei ganslo heb rybudd o flaen llaw. Yn ogystal â hyn, mae problemau hefyd yn Nglan-y-fferi o ran y llinell arall, lle dyw'r gwasanaeth sy'n mynd o Fanceinion i Aberdaugleddau ddim yn stopio yn Nglan-y-fferi er ei fod e'n mynd trwy'r pentref. Felly, oes modd cael gair gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r ddau bwynt hynny?

I'm grateful to the Minister for his response. Of course, you and I will be very familiar with this line, as it travels through the middle of the town where we were educated. It provides a wonderful journey, of course, through mid Wales. But many of my constituents have been having poor experiences recently, in terms of regular delays, poor availability and poor reliability. During the past month, for example, I've been given to understand that one constituent had been left to all intents and purposes with his fellow passengers in Llanwrtyd Wells, waiting hours for an alternative bus service in place of that train. Another constituent had to cancel a holiday in Shrewsbury after a service was cancelled without notice. In addition to this, there are also problems in Ferryside with the other line, where the service travelling from Manchester to Milford Haven doesn't stop in Ferryside, although it goes through the village. So, could you have a word with Transport for Wales on both of those points?

14:00

I was grateful that the Member wrote to me about his constituents' experience of being left behind in Llanwrtyd, and I hope he got my response on that. There have been problems right across the rail system. We've been particularly struggling with the legacy fleet of trains that are, many of them, not as reliable as we'd want them to be, and that has been causing impacts on the reliability of services. We are very hopeful that the new trains—one is already operating on the Conwy valley line, another is due to come into service on the Rhymney valley line early in the new year, and then they'll be cascaded throughout the year, which I think will make a significant difference, not only to passenger comfort, but also to capacity; they'll be able to carry more passengers.

We also are promoting the Heart of Wales line through free travel for concessionary pass holders between October and March, and we are looking as well at visitor opportunities around the stations when they get there. I'm meeting with passenger groups soon to discuss further opportunities for that.

On the communication point he raises when things do go wrong, I think it is a very fair point, and we know that there have been failures that have been raised in this Chamber before, with the poor communication with passengers. I will ask Transport for Wales to write to you further about that and the issue of stopping in Ferryside to see what more can be done for what is a legitimate grievance.

Roeddwn yn ddiolchgar fod yr Aelod wedi ysgrifennu ataf ynglŷn â phrofiad ei etholwyr o gael eu gadael ar ôl yn Llanwrtyd, ac rwy'n gobeithio ei fod wedi cael fy ymateb ar hynny. Mae problemau wedi bod ar draws y system reilffyrdd. Rydym wedi ei chael hi'n arbennig o anodd gyda'r fflyd o drenau a etifeddwyd, gyda llawer ohonynt heb fod mor ddibynadwy ag y byddem am iddynt fod, ac mae hynny wedi effeithio ar ddibynadwyedd gwasanaethau. Rydym yn obeithiol iawn fod y trenau newydd—mae un eisoes yn gweithredu ar reilffordd dyffryn Conwy, mae un arall i fod i gael ei ddefnyddio ar reilffordd cwm Rhymni yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd, ac yna byddant yn cael eu rhaeadru drwy gydol y flwyddyn, a chredaf y bydd hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol, nid yn unig o ran cyfforddusrwydd teithwyr, ond hefyd o ran y capasiti; byddant yn gallu cario mwy o deithwyr.

Rydym hefyd yn hyrwyddo rheilffordd Calon Cymru drwy gynnig teithio am ddim i ddeiliaid pas rhatach rhwng mis Hydref a mis Mawrth, ac rydym yn edrych hefyd ar gyfleoedd i ymwelwyr o amgylch y gorsafoedd pan fyddant yn cyrraedd yno. Rwy'n cyfarfod â grwpiau teithwyr yn fuan i drafod cyfleoedd pellach ar gyfer hynny.

Ar y pwynt cyfathrebu y mae'n ei godi pan fo pethau'n mynd o chwith, rwy'n meddwl ei fod yn bwynt teg iawn, ac fe wyddom fod methiannau wedi'u nodi yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen, gyda chyfathrebu gwael â theithwyr. Byddaf yn gofyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru ysgrifennu atoch ymhellach ynglŷn â hynny a mater aros yng Nglanyfferi i weld beth arall y gellir ei wneud am yr hyn sy'n gŵyn hollol deg.

I thank Adam Price for tabling this question, because it's pertinent to my constituents too in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, who, over the last few weekends, have been hit by misery and delay as they've travelled to and from Cardiff for Wales's autumn international rugby games. 'Exhausted', 'out of ideas' and 'directionless' were the words uttered to me by a constituent—not a description of the Wales men's rugby team after their loss to Georgia, but their account of the rail services in Carmarthenshire and south Pembrokeshire. Given this, Deputy Minister, what specific options are you taking to ensure that those who live literally at the end of the line get an equal and comparable service to those in the rest of south Wales?

Diolch i Adam Price am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn hwn, oherwydd mae'n berthnasol i fy etholwyr innau hefyd yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro sydd, dros y penwythnosau diwethaf, wedi cael eu taro gan ddiflastod ac oedi wrth iddynt deithio i ac o Gaerdydd ar gyfer gemau rygbi rhyngwladol yr hydref yng Nghymru. 'Wedi ymlâdd', 'dim syniadau newydd' a 'di-gyfeiriad' oedd y geiriau a ynganwyd wrthyf gan etholwr—nid disgrifiad o dîm rygbi dynion Cymru ar ôl iddynt golli yn erbyn Georgia, ond eu disgrifiad o'r gwasanaethau rheilffordd yn sir Gaerfyrddin a de sir Benfro. O ystyried hyn, Ddirprwy Weinidog, pa opsiynau penodol sydd gennych mewn golwg er mwyn sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n byw yn llythrennol ar ben draw'r lein yn cael gwasanaeth cyfartal a chystal â phobl yng ngweddill de Cymru?

There were some difficulties after the Georgia match on the weekend because, again, of reliability of some of the rolling stock, and, as I say, we have got active plans now to replenish that in the coming months, which I think will make a significant difference. We are investing significantly in services, and we need that to be matched by infrastructure investment from the UK Government in the rail system. Rail infrastructure is not devolved, and as we have rehearsed in this Chamber, we are being significantly underfunded and not getting the benefits from HS2.

I was very disappointed to see the new Secretary of State for Wales, David T.C. Davies, who had championed this cause when he was Chair of the Welsh select committee, recognising the case with cross-party consensus on that committee, and I'm pleased to say, support now as well from the Conservatives in this Chamber for passing on to Wales the full Barnet consequential of the HS2 project. Sadly, as soon as he sits around the Cabinet table, where he is meant to be Wales's voice, he recants from that and makes the case for not passing it on on the basis that people in north Wales would be able to catch trains at Crewe, ignoring the fact that its own business case shows a significant harm to the south Wales economy from HS2, as well as the lack of investment that we'll have to invest in alternatives. So, I hope that we can continue to work on a cross-party basis to try and get sense in Westminster and to get the Secretary of State, both for Wales and for transport, to change their minds.

Roedd rhai anawsterau ar ôl gêm Georgia ar y penwythnos, unwaith eto oherwydd dibynadwyedd rhai o'r cerbydau, ac fel y dywedais, mae gennym gynlluniau gweithredol nawr i unioni hynny yn y misoedd nesaf, a chredaf y bydd hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr. Rydym yn buddsoddi'n sylweddol mewn gwasanaethau, ac i gyd-fynd â hynny mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU fuddsoddi yn seilwaith y system rheilffyrdd. Nid yw seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi'i ddatganoli, ac fel rydym wedi ailadrodd yn y Siambr hon, nid ydym yn cael agos digon o gyllid nac yn elwa ar fanteision HS2.

Cefais fy siomi'n fawr wrth weld Ysgrifennydd Gwladol newydd Cymru, David T.C. Davies, a oedd wedi hyrwyddo'r achos hwn pan oedd yn Gadeirydd y pwyllgor dethol Cymreig, yn cydnabod yr achos gyda chonsensws trawsbleidiol ar y pwyllgor hwnnw, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud, cefnogaeth nawr hefyd gan y Ceidwadwyr yn y Siambr hon i weld y cyllid canlyniadol Barnet llawn ar gyfer prosiect HS2 yn cael ei drosglwyddo i Gymru. Yn anffodus, cyn gynted ag y mae'n eistedd o amgylch bwrdd y Cabinet, lle mae i fod yn llais dros Gymru, mae'n cefnu ar hynny ac yn gwneud yr achos dros beidio â'i drosglwyddo ar y sail y byddai pobl yng ngogledd Cymru yn gallu dal trenau yn Crewe, gan anwybyddu'r ffaith bod ei achos busnes ei hun yn dangos niwed sylweddol i economi de Cymru yn sgil HS2, yn ogystal â'r diffyg buddsoddiad y bydd yn rhaid i ni ei fuddsoddi mewn atebion amgen. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn barhau i weithio ar sail drawsbleidiol i geisio cael synnwyr yn San Steffan ac i gael yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Gymru a'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros drafnidiaeth i newid eu meddyliau.

Good afternoon, Deputy Minister. I do just want to say very quickly that I recently had a very good journey with TfW, finding the ticket office staff very, very helpful. So, I know that they do work very hard, and I think it's important to put on record the achievements of many of those people. But I just want to raise another wonderful railway line, from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth, with a little diversion to Pwllheli. Now, that route is just like going through Italy, it really is. You've got the sea on one side, you go over the Mawddach estuary, you see Barmouth, you've got wonderful Pwllheli to go up to. It is a wonderful railway route, but it just doesn't have enough trains to go on it. When I lived in Welshpool and would travel to work, if I missed the 6.30 a.m. morning train, there wasn't another one until 9.00 a.m. Now, we're not asking for a lot; we're just asking for an hourly train service along the Cambrian line. So, I just wondered, Minister, if you could tell us about any plans for that to happen, and when that might be the case. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Prynhawn da, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Hoffwn ddweud yn gyflym iawn imi gael taith dda iawn gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ddiweddar, ac roedd staff y swyddfa docynnau'n gymwynasgar tu hwnt. Felly, rwy'n gwybod eu bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn, ac rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig cofnodi cyflawniadau llawer o'r bobl hynny. Ond hoffwn grybwyll rheilffordd wych arall, o'r Amwythig i Aberystwyth, gyda dargyfeiriad bach i Bwllheli. Nawr, mae'r llwybr hwnnw'n union fel mynd trwy'r Eidal, ydy wir. Mae'r môr ar un ochr, fe ewch dros aber y Fawddach, fe welwch Abermaw, gallwch fynd i fyny i dref hyfryd Pwllheli. Mae'n llwybr rheilffordd gwych, ond nid oes digon o drenau'n mynd ar hyd-ddo. Pan oeddwn yn byw yn y Trallwng ac yn teithio i'r gwaith, pe bawn yn colli trên 6.30 y bore, nid oedd un arall tan 9.00 y bore. Nawr, nid ydym yn gofyn llawer; rydym yn gofyn am wasanaeth trên bob awr ar hyd lein y Cambrian. Felly, roeddwn i meddwl, Weinidog, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym ynglŷn ag unrhyw gynlluniau i hynny ddigwydd, a phryd y gallai hynny fod. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

14:05

Thank you. Yes, there are particular challenges on that line, because only one of the trains that we have are able to use it. So, when there are problems with the carriages, it makes it very difficult to provide an alternative. As I say, as we cascade our new fleet of trains across the network, there will be improvements for, I think, 95 per cent of passengers and journeys, which will be a significant step ahead.

The railways are a challenge for us. They are an expensive form of public transport and carry comparatively few passengers. We have faced the judgment of investment in buses and in active travel to try and reach our modal shift targets, and, obviously, with inflation, the cost of running rail projects are also significant, as well as other delays being felt throughout the industry. So, it is a challenging situation and the progress is slow; everything takes forever, it does feel like, sometimes. We do have ambitious plans and we are implementing them, but there is scope to do far more, which is going to be harder to achieve with the cuts that we are now expecting from the UK Government. I heard the leader of the opposition say again yesterday that the Welsh budget's going to be better off as a result of the budget, completely ignoring the impact of inflation. We are going to be something like £3 billion worse off, not £1 billion better off, and that's not taking into account the £1 billion we've lost from European funds. [Interruption.] Janet Finch-Saunders gives her first heckle of the day to ask me to sell the airport. Well, a £3 billion shortfall is not going to be raised from a circa £50 million sale of an airport, and that's assuming that you can find a buyer for it.

Diolch. Oes, mae yna heriau penodol ar y rheilffordd honno, am mai dim ond un o'r trenau sydd gennym sy'n gallu ei defnyddio. Felly, pan fo problemau gyda'r cerbydau, mae'n ei gwneud hi'n anodd iawn cynnig darpariaeth yn ei lle. Fel y dywedais, wrth i ni raeadru ein fflyd newydd o drenau ar draws y rhwydwaith, rwy'n credu y bydd gwelliannau i 95 y cant o deithwyr a theithiau, a fydd yn gam sylweddol ymlaen.

Mae'r rheilffyrdd yn her i ni. Maent yn fath drud o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac ond yn cludo nifer cymharol ychydig o deithwyr. Rydym wedi wynebu dyfarniad o fuddsoddiad mewn bysiau ac mewn teithio llesol i geisio cyrraedd ein targedau newid dulliau teithio, ac yn amlwg, gyda chwyddiant, mae cost rhedeg prosiectau rheilffyrdd hefyd yn sylweddol, yn ogystal â mathau eraill o oedi sydd i'w teimlo ledled y diwydiant. Felly, mae'n sefyllfa heriol ac mae'r cynnydd yn araf; mae'n teimlo weithiau fel pe bai popeth yn cymryd oes. Mae gennym gynlluniau uchelgeisiol ac rydym yn eu gweithredu, ond mae lle i wneud llawer mwy, sy'n mynd i fod yn anos i'w gyflawni gyda'r toriadau rydym yn eu disgwyl nawr gan Lywodraeth y DU. Clywais arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn dweud eto ddoe fod cyllideb Cymru yn mynd i fod yn well o ganlyniad i'r gyllideb, gan anwybyddu effaith chwyddiant yn llwyr. Rydym yn mynd i fod oddeutu £3 biliwn yn waeth ein byd, nid £1 biliwn yn well ein byd, a hynny heb ystyried y £1 biliwn rydym wedi'i golli o gronfeydd Ewropeaidd. [Torri ar draws.] Dyna Janet Finch-Saunders yn heclo am y tro cyntaf heddiw i ofyn imi werthu'r maes awyr. Wel, nid yw diffyg o £3 biliwn yn mynd i gael ei godi o werthu maes awyr am oddeutu £50 miliwn, a hynny gan ragdybio y gallem ddod o hyd i brynwr.

Amgylcheddau Trefol Mewnol
Inner Urban Environments

6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu polisi Llywodraeth Cymru i wella amgylcheddau trefol mewnol? OQ58752

6. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's policy to improve inner urban environments? OQ58752

The focus of our Transforming Towns programme is the sustainable development of our town centres, supporting investments in our towns that are shaped by place-making plans and include green space, reuse of derelict buildings as community hubs and increasing the variety of services on offer.

I paid my first visit to the refurbished Newport market last week, after a visit with John Griffiths to open the secure cycle store in the heart of the centre, and, I must say, I thought the market was superb and I'm proud of the role that we've played, with the local council, in making that an attractive facility, which I'm told is packed on weekends. And for those who haven't visited, I would encourage a trip. 

Ffocws ein rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi yw datblygu canol ein trefi yn gynaliadwy, cefnogi buddsoddiad yn ein trefi sy'n cael eu llunio gan gynlluniau creu lleoedd ac sy'n cynnwys mannau gwyrdd, ailddefnyddio adeiladau anghyfannedd fel canolfannau cymunedol a chynyddu amrywiaeth y gwasanaethau sydd ar gael.

Ymwelais am y tro cyntaf â marchnad Casnewydd ar ei newydd wedd yr wythnos diwethaf, wedi ymweliad gyda John Griffiths i agor y storfa ddiogel ar gyfer beiciau ynghanol y ganolfan, a rhaid i mi ddweud, roeddwn yn meddwl bod y farchnad yn wych ac rwy'n falch o'r rôl a chwaraewyd gennym ni gyda'r cyngor lleol i wneud hwnnw'n gyfleuster deniadol, a dywedir wrthyf ei fod yn llawn ar benwythnosau. Ac i'r rhai sydd heb ymweld, byddwn yn eich annog i fynd yno. 

Well, I'd certainly join you, Minister, in encouraging as many people as possible to visit the wonderfully refurbished and transformed Newport market. There is much good work going on in Newport. A further example, Minister, in Newport East is the Maindee renewal project. This has engaged local residents to transform the local area, which is a very busy urban environment with a lot of road traffic. As part of those projects, Greening Maindee is producing some really good quality green space to be enjoyed by the local community. There is a Maindee makers project that is reusing and recycling, producing things like portable flower containers to help with the greening effort, and the Maindee triangle, which is opposite the community library, has a cafe and a performance space, which saw the first ever Maindee music festival this summer. So, much is going on there, Minister, but there are ambitious plans for further work. And I wonder if you would consider how Welsh Government might continue to support this transformative work and hopefully visit the area with me to see first-hand the progress made, and hear first-hand the future plans, which I think would further transform that very important local community. 

Wel, byddwn yn sicr yn ymuno â chi, Weinidog, i annog cymaint o bobl â phosibl i ymweld â marchnad Casnewydd sydd wedi'i hadnewyddu a'i thrawsnewid yn wych. Mae llawer o waith da yn digwydd yng Nghasnewydd. Enghraifft arall, Weinidog, yn Nwyrain Casnewydd yw prosiect adnewyddu Maendy. Mae wedi ennyn diddordeb trigolion lleol i drawsnewid yr ardal leol, sy'n amgylchedd trefol prysur iawn gyda llawer o draffig ar y ffyrdd. Yn rhan o'r prosiectau hynny, mae Gwyrddu Maendy yn cynhyrchu mannau gwyrdd o ansawdd da iawn i'w mwynhau gan y gymuned leol. Mae yna brosiect gwneuthurwyr Maendy sy'n ailddefnyddio ac ailgylchu, gan gynhyrchu pethau fel cynwysyddion blodau cludadwy i helpu gyda'r ymdrech wyrddu, ac mae gan driongl Maendy, sydd gyferbyn â'r llyfrgell gymunedol, gaffi a gofod perfformio, lle cynhaliwyd gŵyl gerddoriaeth Maendy, y gyntaf erioed, yr haf hwn. Felly, mae llawer yn digwydd yno, Weinidog, ond ceir cynlluniau uchelgeisiol ar gyfer gwaith pellach. Tybed a fyddech chi'n ystyried sut y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru barhau i gefnogi'r gwaith trawsnewidiol hwn ac ymweld â'r ardal gyda mi, gobeithio, i weld drosoch eich hun y cynnydd a wnaed, a chlywed am y cynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol, a fyddai'n trawsnewid y gymuned leol bwysig honno yn fy marn i. 

Well, thanks very much for highlighting the great work going on in Maindee, John. I'm pleased that the Maindee Unlimited triangle project has received over £200,000 of Welsh Government money towards transforming what was a public toilet into a community hub and green space. That was through our community facilities programme, and applicants can submit up to three applications totalling a maximum of £300,000 in any three-year period. This means that Maindee Unlimited can currently apply for an additional grant of around £70,000 within the current window, and I'd be keen to work with him and talk to them about what other opportunities there might be to improve the area. 

Wel, diolch yn fawr am dynnu sylw at y gwaith gwych sy'n digwydd ym Maendy, John. Rwy'n falch fod prosiect triongl Maendy Unlimited wedi derbyn dros £200,000 o arian Llywodraeth Cymru tuag at drawsnewid hen doiled cyhoeddus yn ganolfan gymunedol a man gwyrdd. Digwyddodd hynny drwy ein rhaglen cyfleusterau cymunedol, a gall ymgeiswyr gyflwyno hyd at dri chais sy'n werth cyfanswm o £300,000 mewn unrhyw gyfnod o dair blynedd. Mae hyn yn golygu y gall Maendy Unlimited ymgeisio am grant ychwanegol o tua £70,000 o fewn y cyfnod ymgeisio presennol, a byddwn yn awyddus i weithio gydag ef a siarad gyda hwy ynglŷn â chyfleoedd eraill a allai fod i wella'r ardal. 

Swansea city centre has seen welcome investment from the local council, Welsh Government and UK Government in recent years, mostly as a consequence of the Swansea bay city deal. The investment, worth around £1.3 billion, has helped deliver things like the new digital arena in Swansea and other projects, with the aim of making the city a more attractive place for workers and employers. But constituents have contacted me about the disproportionate emphasis they feel that this and other funding has, having been aimed at the city centre specifically. Swansea is home to fantastic other conurbations, such as Morriston, Gorseinon, Mumbles and Pontarddulais, and in some of those areas, high streets are really struggling, and transport and infrastructure needs are not being met in the same way as they would be if they were in the city centre. So, with that in mind, how are you working with Swansea council and other councils to ensure that it is not just city centres that benefit from additional funding to improve urban areas?

Mae canol dinas Abertawe wedi gweld buddsoddiad sydd i'w groesawu gan y cyngor lleol, Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, yn bennaf o ganlyniad i fargen ddinesig bae Abertawe. Mae'r buddsoddiad, sy'n werth tua £1.3 biliwn, wedi helpu i gyflawni pethau fel yr arena ddigidol newydd yn Abertawe a phrosiectau eraill, gyda'r nod o wneud y ddinas yn lle mwy deniadol i weithwyr a chyflogwyr. Ond mae etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi ynglŷn â'r pwyslais anghymesur y teimlant ei fod wedi'i roi ar hyn a chyllid arall, ar ôl cael ei anelu at ganol y ddinas yn benodol. Mae Abertawe yn gartref i gytrefi gwych eraill, fel Treforys, Gorseinon, y Mwmbwls a Phontarddulais, ac mewn rhai o'r ardaloedd hynny, mae'r stryd fawr yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn, ac nid yw anghenion trafnidiaeth a seilwaith yn cael eu diwallu yn yr un ffordd ag y byddent pe baent ynghanol y ddinas.  Felly, gyda hynny mewn cof, sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda chyngor Abertawe a chynghorau eraill i sicrhau nad canol dinasoedd yn unig sy'n elwa o gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer gwella ardaloedd trefol?

14:10

Well, I have been leading an exercise looking at what we can do to help town centres; what are the barriers to improving them? We all know, from our own areas, of the sorry state of many town centres and the huge pressures that are on them—pressures that are only going to get worse with rising energy prices. And I am very concerned about the lack of an offer from the UK Government for businesses, for very significant increases in their energy bills. I was simply talking to a chip shop owner in Burry Port the other week, who tells me that their energy bills have gone up by 300 per cent. It's very hard to see how businesses like that can sustain those sorts of rises for very long.

So, I fear that we will have an even sorrier state of town centres over the coming months as businesses close down because they are not able to meet unsustainable increases in energy bills. I would urge the UK Government to put a package together to help with that.

We'll be publishing the results of the town centre action group recommendations soon. But, one of the things that we did look at was the experience of Morriston, as part of that work—the study done by Professor Karel Williams into the value of that very long high street, and actually, what local people value. Far from being infrastructure, of the sort that he mentions, what they found is that they valued social infrastructure. So, the state of the park, the state of the toilets—things that have been hit by austerity cuts significantly in the last 10 years, and will be hit even further by the austerity cuts that we are expecting as a result of the budget.

So, it's very hard to improve things when public services are being hammered, as they have been under this Conservative Government. But we have come up with a series of practical recommendations of things that we can do, working with local authorities, to help town centres rebuild.

Wel, bûm yn arwain ymarfer i edrych ar beth y gallwn ei wneud i helpu canol trefi; beth yw'r rhwystrau i'w gwella? Rydym i gyd yn gwybod, yn ein hardaloedd ein hunain, am gyflwr truenus llawer o ganol trefi a'r pwysau enfawr sydd arnynt—pwysau sydd ond yn mynd i waethygu gyda phrisiau ynni cynyddol. Ac rwy'n bryderus iawn na cheir cynnig gan Lywodraeth y DU i fusnesau gogyfer â'r cynnydd sylweddol iawn yn eu biliau ynni. Roeddwn yn siarad â pherchennog siop sglodion ym Mhorth Tywyn yr wythnos o'r blaen, ac fe ddywedodd wrthyf fod eu biliau ynni wedi codi 300 y cant. Mae'n anodd iawn gweld sut y gall busnesau fel hynny gynnal codiadau o'r fath am yn hir iawn.

Felly, rwy'n ofni y bydd gennym ganol trefi mewn cyflwr hyd yn oed yn fwy truenus dros y misoedd nesaf wrth i fusnesau gau am na allant gynnal y cynnydd anghynaladwy yn eu biliau ynni. Hoffwn annog Llywodraeth y DU i roi pecyn at ei gilydd i helpu gyda hynny.

Byddwn yn cyhoeddi canlyniadau argymhellion y grŵp gweithredu ar ganol trefi yn fuan. Ond un o'r pethau y gwnaethom edrych arnynt oedd profiad Treforys, fel rhan o'r gwaith hwnnw—yr astudiaeth a wnaed gan yr Athro Karel Williams o werth y stryd fawr hir iawn honno, a'r hyn y mae pobl leol yn ei werthfawrogi mewn gwirionedd. Ymhell o fod yn seilwaith, o'r math y mae'n sôn amdano, canfuwyd eu bod yn gwerthfawrogi seilwaith cymdeithasol.  Felly, cyflwr y parc, cyflwr y toiledau—pethau sydd wedi cael eu taro'n sylweddol gan doriadau cyni yn ystod y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, ac a fydd yn cael eu taro hyd yn oed ymhellach gan y toriadau cyni rydym yn eu disgwyl o ganlyniad i'r gyllideb.

Felly, mae'n anodd iawn gwella pethau pan fo gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu taro, fel sydd wedi digwydd o dan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol hon. Ond rydym wedi cynnig cyfres o argymhellion ymarferol ynglŷn â phethau y gallwn eu gwneud, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, i helpu canol trefi i ailadeiladu.

Stoc Tai Gwag
Empty Housing Stock

7. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o faint o stoc tai gwag sydd ar dir sy'n eiddo i awdurdodau cyhoeddus? OQ58730

7. What assessment has the Minister made of the amount of empty housing stock on public authority-owned land? OQ58730

Thank you for raising this very important issue. The latest figures suggest that around 1 per cent of social housing stock held by local authorities has been vacant for more than six months.

Diolch am godi'r mater pwysig hwn. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn awgrymu bod tua 1 y cant o'r stoc tai cymdeithasol sy'n eiddo i awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn wag ers dros chwe mis.

Thank you. Now, you don't need me to tell you that, across north Wales, we have a severe shortage of housing accommodation. During 2021-22, 1,126 people contacted Gwynedd Council because they were homeless—50 per cent more than in 2018-19. Around 2,000 are on the list for social housing in Conwy County Borough Council, and in Wrexham, the number of individuals classed as homeless has more than doubled to 2,238, from 2019-20 to 2021-22.

Now, despite people being so desperate for housing units, it is a fact that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has as many as 750 units of accommodation across north Wales that are not in use. I have raised it with the Minister for health; I have raised it also with the Minister for Climate Change. The Minister for Health and Social Services informed me again last week that the health board is now in the process of looking at procurement options to work with a partner for its residences. Now, I know from liaising with registered social landlords that these units could be made into viable housing stock, either for those in the medical sector, or, indeed, those who simply want a home. So, Minister, do you agree with me, given that I have raised these concerns now for—oh, I started raising them last year, when I found out that we had all this empty housing stock. Do you not think that it's unacceptable that there isn't some kind of partnership working now between the Minister for Climate Change, who is responsible for housing; the Minister for health; and whoever it takes, to get this empty stock back in as livable, warm, safe homes for all those many, many hundreds of people who just lie lingering on a housing waiting list? Diolch. 

Diolch. Nawr, nid oes angen imi ddweud wrthych fod gennym brinder difrifol o ddarpariaeth dai ar draws gogledd Cymru. Yn ystod 2021-22, cysylltodd 1,126 o bobl â Chyngor Gwynedd oherwydd eu bod yn ddigartref—50 y cant yn fwy nag yn 2018-19. Mae tua 2,000 ar y rhestr ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy, ac yn Wrecsam, mae nifer yr unigolion sy'n cael eu hystyried yn ddigartref wedi mwy na dyblu i 2,238, rhwng 2019-20 a 2021-22.

Nawr, er bod pobl yn ysu am unedau tai, mae'n ffaith bod gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr gymaint â 750 o unedau llety ar draws gogledd Cymru nad ydynt yn cael eu defnyddio. Rwyf wedi ei godi gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd; rwyf wedi ei godi hefyd gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd. Fe wnaeth y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol roi gwybod imi eto yr wythnos diwethaf fod y bwrdd iechyd bellach yn y broses o edrych ar opsiynau caffael i weithio gyda phartner ar gyfer ei breswylfeydd. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod o gysylltu â landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig y gellid gwneud yr unedau hyn yn stoc dai hyfyw, naill ai i'r rhai yn y sector meddygol, neu'n wir, i rai sydd ond eisiau cartref. Felly, Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno, o ystyried fy mod wedi codi'r pryderon hyn nawr ers—o, dechreuais eu codi y llynedd, pan ddarganfûm fod gennym yr holl stoc tai gwag hyn. Onid ydych chi'n credu ei bod hi'n annerbyniol nad oes rhyw fath o weithio mewn partneriaeth bellach rhwng y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, sy'n gyfrifol am dai; y Gweinidog iechyd; a phwy bynnag y mae'n ei gymryd i wneud y stoc wag hon yn gartrefi cynnes, diogel i'r cannoedd lawer o bobl sy'n oedi ar restr aros am dai allu byw ynddynt? Diolch. 

Well, I appreciate you raising it, and it is a good question, and I thank you for raising it. You have written to us and we are working on a response and getting to the bottom of the situation in Betsi Cadwaladr. Of course, not all vacant housing stock in public ownership is available or suitable for letting: they may well be being kept for other schemes; they may be part of further developments. So, it's not a simple picture; that's why we need to try to get to the bottom of it. [Interruption.] Janet Finch-Saunders tells me it's a lot simpler than I think. Well, things may seem simple from the opposition benches; I can promise you that, in Government, things are often a little more complex than they seem. But she is right to raise it, we want to tackle it; we have ambitious plans to bring empty homes across Wales back into use.

I was involved in a pilot in the Valleys taskforce, based on an excellent scheme that Rhondda Cynon Taf have been running for a number of years of giving grants to private homeowners to bring empty properties back into use. Rhondda Cynon Taf again are showing great leadership in increasing the council tax on empty homes and recycling that funding into getting more empties filled up, and that is something other local authorities have available to them. They can increase council tax by 300 per cent on empty homes that have been empty for more than six months. Across all social landlords—local authorities and RSLs—something like 1,700 units were vacant for over six months, and of these 286 units were available for letting and were awaiting a tenant.

So, there is considerable potential there to try and quickly get these back into use, and we are providing over £24 million to purchase and refurbish empty properties, and a further £65 million in what's snappily called the transitional accommodation capital programme, to respond to this. We'll be bringing more than 1,000 additional homes into use over the next 18 months as good quality, long-term homes for people. But I will write to you once we have further information on the specific example that you cite. 

Wel, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich bod chi'n ei godi, ac mae'n gwestiwn da, a diolch i chi am ei godi. Rydych chi wedi ysgrifennu atom ac rydym yn gweithio ar ymateb ac yn mynd at wraidd y sefyllfa yn Betsi Cadwaladr. Wrth gwrs, nid yw pob stoc tai gwag sydd mewn perchnogaeth gyhoeddus ar gael nac yn addas i'w gosod: mae'n ddigon posibl eu bod yn cael eu cadw ar gyfer cynlluniau eraill; efallai eu bod yn rhan o ddatblygiadau pellach. Felly, nid yw'n ddarlun syml; dyna pam fod angen inni geisio mynd at wraidd y mater. [Torri ar draws.] Mae Janet Finch-Saunders yn dweud wrthyf ei fod yn llawer symlach na rwy'n ei gredu. Wel, gall pethau ymddangos yn syml o feinciau'r wrthblaid; gallaf addo i chi, yn y Llywodraeth, fod pethau'n aml ychydig yn fwy cymhleth nag y maent yn ymddangos. Ond mae hi'n iawn i'w godi, rydym am fynd i'r afael ag ef; mae gennym gynlluniau uchelgeisiol i ddod â thai gwag ar draws Cymru yn ôl i ddefnydd.

Roeddwn i'n rhan o gynllun peilot yn nhasglu'r Cymoedd, yn seiliedig ar gynllun ardderchog y mae Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi bod yn ei weithredu ers nifer o flynyddoedd i roi grantiau i berchnogion tai preifat er mwyn dod ag eiddo gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd. Mae Rhondda Cynon Taf unwaith eto'n dangos arweinyddiaeth wych drwy gynyddu'r dreth gyngor ar gartrefi gwag ac ailgylchu'r cyllid hwnnw i gael rhagor o eiddo gwag wedi'i lenwi, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gall awdurdodau lleol eraill ei wneud. Gallant gynyddu'r dreth gyngor 300 y cant ar dai gwag sydd wedi bod yn wag ers dros chwe mis. Ar draws pob landlord cymdeithasol—awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig—roedd oddeutu 1,700 o unedau'n wag ers dros chwe mis, ac o'r rhain roedd 286 o unedau ar gael i'w gosod ac yn aros am denant.

Felly, mae yna gryn botensial yno i geisio cael y rhain yn ôl i ddefnydd yn gyflym, ac rydym yn darparu dros £24 miliwn i brynu ac adnewyddu eiddo gwag, a £65 miliwn arall yn y rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro i ymateb i hyn. Byddwn yn dod â mwy na 1,000 o gartrefi ychwanegol i ddefnydd dros y 18 mis nesaf fel cartrefi hirdymor o ansawdd da i bobl. Ond fe ysgrifennaf atoch pan gawn wybodaeth bellach am yr enghraifft benodol a nodwch. 

14:15

Cwestiwn 8 yn olaf, Altaf Hussain.

Finally, question 8, Altaf Hussain.

Ynni Adnewyddadwy
Renewable Energy

8. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o'r potensial o ddefnyddio pŵer y môr i gynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy? OQ58737

8. What assessment has the Minister made of the potential of harnessing the power of the sea to generate renewable energy? OQ58737

Thank you. There is very significant resource potential that exists in the seas around the Welsh coast to generate renewable energy. That's why we've established the marine energy programme to lead on our programme for government commitment to make Wales a global centre of tidal technologies.

Diolch. Ceir potensial adnoddau sylweddol iawn yn y moroedd o amgylch arfordir Cymru ar gyfer cynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy. Dyna pam ein bod wedi sefydlu'r rhaglen ynni morol i arwain ar ymrwymiad ein rhaglen lywodraethu i wneud Cymru'n ganolfan fyd-eang ar gyfer technolegau llanw.

Thank you, Minister. Minister, as a country with a significant coastline, the opportunities to harness the power of the sea in energy production are vast, and while there have been some recent announcements, such as at Morlais in north Wales, I want to see greater ambition from Government, working with the Crown Estate and other key partners, to step up this ambition if we are to turn our energy production and economy towards a more sustainable future. One significant area is the Severn estuary, which has, of course, the most spectacular tidal range and tidal power, which remains untapped. Is it now time to revisit this with the UK Government and others?

Diolch. Weinidog, fel gwlad sydd ag arfordir sylweddol, mae'r cyfleoedd i harneisio grym y môr i gynhyrchu ynni yn enfawr, ac er y bu rhai cyhoeddiadau diweddar, fel ym Morlais yng ngogledd Cymru, hoffwn weld mwy o uchelgais gan y Llywodraeth, gan weithio gydag Ystad y Goron a phartneriaid allweddol eraill, i ddatblygu'r uchelgais os ydym am droi ein cynhyrchiant ynni a'n heconomi tuag at ddyfodol mwy cynaliadwy. Un ardal arwyddocaol yw aber afon Hafren, sydd â'r amrediad llanw a'r grym llanw mwyaf trawiadol, ond nid oes neb wedi manteisio ar hynny hyd yma. A yw'n bryd bellach inni ailedrych ar hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU ac eraill?

Well, I'm glad the Member mentioned the Morlais scheme on Ynys Môn, which is an excellent scheme made possible by European funding—funding that is no longer available to us, and which, despite the promise by the UK Government that we would not be a penny worse off, has not been replaced. So, our ability to do similar schemes to Morlais has been impeded by Brexit and the failure of the UK Government to bring forward an alternative scheme. James Evans may groan, but facts are facts, my friend, and there's a real-world consequence, which—. I'm in support of your colleague's call for us to do more to harness the power of the sea; it's his Government that is getting in the way of that. In fact, it was by reducing their incentive regime prematurely that it hampered the ability of the market to deliver on the targets we have, and that's why we've set up our marine energy programme, to bring real advantages to Wales. 

To just loop back round to how we started the question, with the Morlais scheme, we should pay tribute to the huge leadership provided by Menter Môn, a social enterprise based on the island, who have driven this from the beginning, and the role of the community sector in working with Government to take forward these projects is of vital importance. 

Wel, rwy'n falch fod yr Aelod wedi sôn am gynllun Morlais ar Ynys Môn, sy'n gynllun ardderchog a wnaed yn bosibl drwy arian Ewropeaidd—cyllid nad yw ar gael i ni mwyach, ac ni chafwyd arian yn ei le er gwaethaf yr addewid gan Lywodraeth y DU na fyddem geiniog yn waeth ein byd. Felly mae ein gallu i wneud cynlluniau tebyg i un Morlais wedi'i rwystro gan Brexit a methiant Llywodraeth y DU i gyflwyno cynllun amgen. Gall James Evans ochneidio, ond ffeithiau yw ffeithiau, gyfaill, ac mae canlyniad yn y byd go iawn, sydd—. Rwy'n cefnogi galwad eich cyd-Aelod arnom i wneud mwy i harneisio pŵer y môr; ei Lywodraeth ef sy'n rhwystro hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, lleihau eu trefniadau cymell yn gynamserol a arweiniodd at lesteirio gallu'r farchnad i gyflawni'r targedau sydd gennym, a dyna pam ein bod wedi sefydlu ein rhaglen ynni morol, i sicrhau manteision go iawn i Gymru. 

I fynd yn ôl at sut y dechreuasom y cwestiwn, gyda chynllun Morlais, dylem dalu teyrnged i'r arweiniad enfawr a roddir gan Menter Môn, menter gymdeithasol wedi'i lleoli ar yr ynys, sydd wedi gyrru hyn o'r dechrau, ac mae rôl y sector cymunedol yn gweithio gyda'r Llywodraeth i fwrw ymlaen â'r prosiectau hyn yn allweddol bwysig. 

2. Cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg
2. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Heledd Fychan.

The next item, therefore, is questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, and the first question is from Heledd Fychan.

Mynediad At Addysg
Access to Education

1. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi dysgwyr yng Nghanol De Cymru y mae eu mynediad at addysg wedi ei effeithio gan yr argyfwng costau byw? OQ58751

1. How is the Welsh Government supporting learners in South Wales Central whose access to education has been affected by the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58751

14:20

Mae ein grant datblygu disgyblion—mynediad yn darparu cyllid yn uniongyrchol i deuluoedd cyfoes i brynu gwisg, cit a chyflenwadau eraill ar gyfer yr ysgol. Fe wnes i gyhoeddi taliad untro ychwanegol o £100 i bob plentyn a pherson ifanc sy'n gymwys i gael y grant eleni, gan gynyddu'r cyllid i fwy na £23 miliwn ar gyfer 2022-23. 

Our pupil development grant—access provides funding directly to eligible families for the purchase of uniform, kit and other school supplies. I announced an additional one-off payment of £100 to all children and young people eligible for PDG—access this year, taking funding to over £23 million for 2022-23.

Diolch, Weinidog. Gwn i chi ymweld yn ddiweddar ag Ysgol Uwchradd Llanishen, lle codwyd gyda chi cost trafnidiaeth fel un o'r rhwystrau sy'n effeithio ar bresenoldeb dysgwyr yn yr ysgol. Mae hon yn broblem barhaus sydd wedi ei chodi gyda mi, ac yn rhywbeth rydych wedi dweud yn flaenorol eich bod yn cydweithio efo'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd arno. Serch hynny, deallaf gan y dysgwyr mai gwaethygu mae'r sefyllfa, gyda mwy o ddysgwyr wedi cael eu gwrthod rhag mynd ar y bws gan nad oedd ganddynt arian i dalu am siwrnai. Pa drafodaethau sydd wedi eu cynnal felly gydag awdurdodau lleol yng Nghanol De Cymru—sef Caerdydd, Bro Morgannwg a Rhondda Cynon Taf—i sicrhau nad yw cost y diwrnod ysgol, gan gynnwys cost trafnidiaeth, yn rhwystr i bob disgybl fynd i'r ysgol? 

Thank you, Minister, I know that you recently visited Llanishen High School, where the cost of transport was raised with you as one of the barriers that has an impact on the attendance of pupils. This is an ongoing problem that's been raised with me, and something that you have previously said that you are working with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on. However, I understand from the learners that the situation is getting worse, with more learners having been refused bus travel because they didn't have money to pay for the journey. So, what discussions have been held with local authorities in South Wales Central—namely Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf—in order to ensure that the cost of the school day, including the cost of transport, isn't a barrier to all pupils attending school? 

Diolch i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiwn pellach, ac mae hwn yn bwynt teilwng iawn; mae e yn sefyllfa heriol, fel gwnaeth yr Aelod ddweud. Fe fues i yn ddiweddar yn ysgol Llanishen yn trafod gyda grŵp o ddisgyblion, yn cynnwys Aelod o'r Sened Ieuenctid, oedd wedi bod yn gwneud ymchwil i fewn i impact hyn ar yr ysgol, ac wedi bod yn edrych am ddatrysiadau. Ac roedd e'n ymweliad buddiol ac yn drafodaeth ddefnyddiol iawn, ac rwy'n sicr yn deall y consárn a'r heriau mae teuluoedd yn eu wynebu yn y cyd-destun hwn. Mae swyddogion yn yr adran newid hinsawdd, sydd yn gyfrifol am drafnidiaeth, fel mae'r Aelod yn gwybod, wedi bod mewn trafodaethau gydag awdurdodau lleol a gyda darparwyr trafnidiaeth ysgol ar draws Cymru, a dweud y gwir, i edrych ar gost trafnidiaeth ysgol yn benodol wrth i awdurdodau barhau i gyrraedd eu dyletswyddau statudol i ddarparu trafnidiaeth. Mae'r cynnydd mewn cost tanwydd wedi bod yn her sylweddol i hyn. Fel mae'r Aelod yn gwybod, dyw'r dreth sy'n cael ei thalu am danwydd ddim yn rhywbeth sydd wedi ei ddatganoli, felly. Nid yw'r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, wrth gwrs, wedi gweithredu yn hynny o beth, yn anffodus. Rŷm ni wedi ysgrifennu at Llywodraeth San Steffan i ddwyn sylw at hynny. Mae'r adolygiad sydd wedi digwydd o'r Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 yn ddiweddar wedi dangos bod angen edrych ymhellach i rai elfennau ohono, ac mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd o ran y swyddogion yn yr adran newid hinsawdd. 

Thank you to Heledd Fychan for that supplementary question, and this is a very fair point to raise, and it is a challenging situation, as the Member said. I visited Llanishen school recently to discuss with a group of pupils, including a Member of the Youth Parliament, who had been undertaking research into the impact of this on the school, and who'd been looking at possible solutions. And it was a very beneficial visit and a very useful discussion, because I certainly understand the concern and the major challenges that families face in this context. Officials in the climate change department, who are responsible for transport, as the Member will know, have been in discussions with local authorities and with school transport providers across Wales, if truth to be told, to look at the cost of school transport in particular as local authorities continue to meet their statutory duties to provide transport. The increase in the cost of fuel has been a significant challenge to this. As the Member will know, the duty paid on fuel is not something that's been devolved. The UK Government hasn't taken action on that, unfortunately. We've written to the UK Government to draw attention to that. A review has taken place of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 recently, and it has demonstrated that there is a need to look further at some elements of that provision, and that work is currently taking place in terms of officials in the climate change department.    

Minister, as I am sure you are aware, disadvantaged children face a myriad of challenges that do not necessarily exist for most people. One such disadvantage is the availability of internet and appropriate devices at home. The Children's Commissioner for Wales has estimated that a third to perhaps even half of children do not have access to appropriate devices, and that, even when these have been made available, there is still the issue that households on low incomes are less likely to have internet connections. This is particularly true for rural communities, where sufficient broadband bandwidth is extremely limited, and therefore not really worth purchasing. Given the fact that home learning has become a tool adopted by schools to manage teaching during COVID lockdown—and I'm aware that many, if not almost all, schools have kept the system in place to continue to help provide additional learning support—what steps is the Welsh Government taking to work in partnership with local authorities and schools to help ensure sufficient devices with internet access are available for low-income households with school-age children? Thank you. 

Weinidog, fel rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn gwybod, mae plant difreintiedig yn wynebu llu o heriau nad ydynt o reidrwydd yn bodoli i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl. Un anfantais o'r fath yw argaeledd rhyngrwyd a dyfeisiau priodol gartref. Mae Comisiynydd Plant Cymru wedi amcangyfrif nad oes gan rhwng traean a hanner y plant efallai ddyfeisiau priodol at eu defnydd, a hyd yn oed pan fo'r rhain ar gael, fod problem o hyd yn sgil y ffaith bod aelwydydd incwm isel yn llai tebygol o fod â chysylltiad â'r rhyngrwyd. Mae hyn yn arbennig o wir am gymunedau gwledig, lle mae'r gallu i gael digon o led band ar gyfer band eang yn gyfyngedig dros ben, a heb fod yn werth ei brynu mewn gwirionedd. O ystyried bod dysgu gartref wedi dod yn arf a fabwysiadwyd gan ysgolion i reoli addysgu yn ystod cyfyngiadau COVID—ac rwy'n ymwybodol fod llawer o ysgolion, os nad pob un, wedi cadw'r system yn ei lle i barhau i helpu i ddarparu cymorth dysgu ychwanegol—pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i weithio mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol ac ysgolion i helpu i sicrhau bod digon o ddyfeisiau gyda mynediad at y rhyngrwyd ar gael ar gyfer aelwydydd incwm isel sydd â phlant oed ysgol? Diolch. 

I thank Joel James for drawing attention to this issue. It was one of the key areas of priority for us during the COVID pandemic for the very important reason that he gives—to make sure that inability to afford digital equipment or connectivity didn't pose a barrier to young people being able to take advantage of the blended learning that was taking place at the time. We invested over £180 million to, if you like, futureproof our education technology infrastructure and make sure that it's available to every learner on an equitable basis. That involved 216,000 end-user devices and also connectivity. So, there will, I'm in no doubt, be examples where that remains a barrier, but our commitment is to make available that significant pot of funding to ensure that no learner is disadvantaged because of an inability either to afford computer kit or broadband connectivity.

Diolch i Joel James am dynnu sylw at y mater hwn. Roedd yn un o'r meysydd blaenoriaeth allweddol i ni yn ystod y pandemig COVID am y rheswm pwysig iawn y mae'n ei nodi—i sicrhau nad oedd anallu i fforddio offer neu gysylltedd digidol yn rhwystr i bobl ifanc allu manteisio ar y dysgu cyfunol a oedd yn digwydd ar y pryd. Fe wnaethom fuddsoddi dros £180 miliwn i ddiogelu ein seilwaith technoleg addysg ar gyfer y dyfodol a sicrhau ei fod ar gael i bob dysgwr ar sail deg. Roedd hynny'n cynnwys 216,000 o ddyfeisiau defnyddiwr terfynol a chysylltedd hefyd. Felly, rwy'n siŵr y bydd yna enghreifftiau lle mae hynny'n parhau i fod yn rhwystr, ond ein hymrwymiad yw sicrhau bod pot sylweddol o gyllid ar gael i sicrhau nad oes unrhyw ddysgwr dan anfantais oherwydd anallu naill ai i fforddio offer cyfrifiadurol neu gysylltedd band eang.

14:25

Minister, I mentioned, during First Minister's questions yesterday, my recent visit to Capcoch Primary School in Abercwmboi to see the work they do to tackle child poverty, which has been praised by Estyn. Their interventions include things like a clothes exchange, a foodbank and an inclusive approach to school trips, which are all the more vital when we are facing increasing pressures on household budgets, which can pose barriers to accessing schooling. How is the Welsh Government promoting examples of best practice like this, so that schools can support learners and their families to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis?

Weinidog, soniais yn ystod sesiwn gwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog ddoe am fy ymweliad ag Ysgol Gynradd Capcoch yn Abercwmboi yn ddiweddar i weld y gwaith a wnânt ar fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant, gwaith sydd wedi'i ganmol gan Estyn. Mae eu hymyriadau'n cynnwys pethau fel cyfnewidfa ddillad, banc bwyd ac ymagwedd gynhwysol tuag at fynd ar deithiau ysgol, sy'n fwyfwy hanfodol pan fyddwn yn wynebu pwysau cynyddol ar gyllidebau aelwydydd, ac sy'n gallu creu rhwystrau o ran mynediad at addysg. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n hybu enghreifftiau o arferion gorau o'r fath, fel y gall ysgolion gynorthwyo dysgwyr a'u teuluoedd i liniaru effaith yr argyfwng costau byw?

I thank Vikki Howells for drawing attention to the good work happening in Capcoch school in Abercwmboi. The PDG—access grant that we make available in Wales has, I hope, made a significant difference to many families, at least many lower income families, around Wales, helping to remove some of the worry, at least, around, for example, the purchase of school uniforms, kit and other equipment. In addition to what I've just said in response to the earlier question, what we want to make sure is that children can both attend school and take full part in activities at the same level as their peers. That grant is now available to eligible children and young people in all compulsory school years. She'll know, as I mentioned earlier, that that has been increased during this financial year by an additional £100. But we are also looking at the use to which PDG funding is put generally. There are some really good examples—and she's drawn attention to some of them in her question—of schools using that funding in a very impactful way, and I want to make sure, as part of that review, that every head looking at how best to use that funding has access to a good evidence base, good case studies and best practice from elsewhere. And I'm sure that the work that she's drawn attention to at Capcoch school is the sort of thing that we want to make sure that schools everywhere are able to take advantage of.

Diolch i Vikki Howells am dynnu sylw at y gwaith da sy'n digwydd yn ysgol Capcoch yn Abercwmboi. Rwy'n gobeithio bod y grant datblygu disgyblion—grant mynediad a ddarparwn yng Nghymru wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i lawer o deuluoedd, neu lawer o deuluoedd incwm is o leiaf, o amgylch Cymru, gan helpu, fan lleiaf, i gael gwared ar rywfaint o'r pryder sy'n gysylltiedig â phrynu gwisg ysgol, er enghraifft, neu git ac offer arall. Yn ogystal â'r hyn a ddywedais nawr mewn ymateb i'r cwestiwn cynharach, rydym am wneud yn siŵr y gall plant fynychu'r ysgol a chymryd rhan lawn mewn gweithgareddau ar yr un lefel â'u cyfoedion. Mae'r grant hwnnw bellach ar gael i blant a phobl ifanc cymwys ym mhob blwyddyn ysgol orfodol. Fe fydd hi'n gwybod, fel y soniais yn gynharach, ei fod wedi cynyddu £100 yn ychwanegol yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Ond rydym hefyd yn edrych ar y defnydd a wneir o'r cyllid grant datblygu disgyblion yn gyffredinol. Mae yna rai enghreifftiau da iawn—ac mae hi wedi tynnu sylw at rai ohonynt yn ei chwestiwn—o ysgolion yn defnyddio'r cyllid mewn ffordd effeithiol iawn, ac rwyf am sicrhau, yn rhan o'r adolygiad hwnnw, fod gan bob pennaeth sy'n edrych ar y ffordd orau o ddefnyddio'r cyllid fynediad at sylfaen dystiolaeth dda, astudiaethau achos da ac arferion gorau o lefydd eraill. Ac rwy'n siŵr mai'r gwaith y mae hi wedi tynnu sylw ato yn ysgol Capcoch yw'r math o beth rydym ei eisiau er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr fod ysgolion ym mhob man yn gallu manteisio arno.

I'd like to ask what support is available for students in further education and other colleges that generally serve the poorest students, because of the breadth of their curriculum. The UK Government gave no money to colleges in the financial statement last week, even though they did give some money to schools. What can colleges in South Wales Central expect from the Welsh Government?

Hoffwn ofyn pa gefnogaeth sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr mewn addysg bellach a cholegau eraill sydd ar y cyfan yn gwasanaethu'r myfyrwyr tlotaf, oherwydd ehangder eu cwricwlwm. Ni roddodd Llywodraeth y DU unrhyw arian i golegau yn y datganiad ariannol yr wythnos diwethaf, er eu bod wedi rhoi ychydig o arian i ysgolion. Beth y gall colegau yng Nghanol De Cymru ei ddisgwyl gan Lywodraeth Cymru?

I thank Jenny Rathbone for that question. They can expect our commitment to further education to continue; I was determined that we would reflect that commitment in our budget settlement for this year. So, for the 2022-23 year, you will see investment of over £400 million directly to colleges for core provision and support, which is the largest increase, actually, in many years, and that was to reflect our commitment to the work that further education colleges do, in particular reaching parts of our communities that sometimes schools may not be able to always reach, because of the breadth of the offer in the way that she mentioned in her question. But my officials are working closely with the sector to identify the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and to look for opportunities to reduce costs to the sector through joint procurement, joint negotiation. I'll shortly be announcing further funding for innovation in this space, so that FE colleges can look at how they can deliver things differently, to release, perhaps, some longer term savings. And I'll also be announcing some further funding to colleges that will benefit learners who are most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis by means of an additional £1.3 million to increase the funding available for financial contingency funds, and an additional £2.5 million to contribute towards the increased costs of consumable materials, which are absolutely critical in the delivery of some of the vocational programmes that FE colleges deliver so well.

Diolch i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Gallant ddisgwyl i'n hymrwymiad i addysg bellach barhau; roeddwn yn benderfynol y byddem yn adlewyrchu'r ymrwymiad hwnnw yn ein setliad cyllideb ar gyfer eleni. Felly, ar gyfer y flwyddyn 2022-23, fe welwch fuddsoddiad o dros £400 miliwn yn uniongyrchol i golegau ar gyfer darpariaeth a chymorth craidd, sef y cynnydd mwyaf ers blynyddoedd lawer mewn gwirionedd, ac roedd hwnnw er mwyn adlewyrchu ein hymrwymiad i'r gwaith y mae colegau addysg bellach yn ei wneud, yn enwedig ar gyrraedd rhannau o'n cymunedau na fydd ysgolion weithiau'n gallu eu cyrraedd bob amser, oherwydd ehangder y cynnig yn y ffordd y soniodd hi yn ei chwestiwn. Ond mae fy swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r sector i nodi effaith yr argyfwng costau byw ac i chwilio am gyfleoedd i leihau costau i'r sector drwy gaffael ar y cyd, trafod ar y cyd. Cyn bo hir, byddaf yn cyhoeddi cyllid pellach ar gyfer arloesi yn hyn o beth, fel y gall colegau addysg bellach edrych i weld sut y gallant ddarparu pethau'n wahanol, er mwyn rhyddhau arbedion mwy hirdymor efallai. A byddaf hefyd yn cyhoeddi cyllid pellach i golegau a fydd o fudd i'r dysgwyr yr effeithir arnynt fwyaf gan yr argyfwng costau byw drwy gyfrwng £1.3 miliwn ychwanegol i gynyddu'r cyllid sydd ar gael ar gyfer cronfeydd ariannol wrth gefn, a £2.5 miliwn ychwanegol i gyfrannu tuag at gostau cynyddol deunyddiau traul, sy'n gwbl hanfodol ar gyfer cyflawni rhai o'r rhaglenni galwedigaethol y mae colegau addysg bellach yn eu cyflwyno mor dda.

14:30
Addysg Wyneb Yn Wyneb
Face-to-Face Education

2. Pa gamau mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod addysg yn cael ei ddarparu mewn fformat wyneb yn wyneb? OQ58743

2. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure education is delivered in a face-to-face format? OQ58743

It is vital that high-quality, face-to-face learning is maintained for all learners whenever it is possible and safe to do so. Any transition to remote learning should be the last resort and only happen in exceptional circumstances, such as, for example, where a health and safety or safeguarding risk is identified.

Mae'n hanfodol fod dysgu wyneb yn wyneb o ansawdd uchel yn cael ei gynnal i bob dysgwr pryd bynnag y bydd yn bosibl ac yn ddiogel i wneud hynny. Dylai unrhyw newid i ddysgu o bell fod yn ddewis olaf a dylai ddigwydd mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol yn unig, er enghraifft lle nodir risg i iechyd a diogelwch neu ddiogelu.

Minister, I would like to thank you for your answer. I was deeply concerned to read that the Liberal Democrats in charge of Powys County Council are considering forcing children to miss one day a week of school in favour of so-called virtual education. I'm sure you'll agree with me that this puts a huge amount of pressure on parents and pupils. And I hope you'll also agree with me—and I got that from your answer—that face-to-face learning is absolutely the best thing for our children in terms of their development, their education and their overall well-being. Our children have had far too long out of the classroom due to the pandemic. So, Minister, will you stress the need with Powys County Council and the Liberal Democrats there that face-to-face education is the best thing for our children and that they should ditch this idea from their books?

Weinidog, diolch i chi am eich ateb. Roeddwn yn pryderu'n fawr wrth ddarllen bod y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol sy'n gyfrifol am Gyngor Sir Powys yn ystyried gorfodi plant i fethu un diwrnod yr wythnos o'r ysgol o blaid addysg rithwir fel y'i gelwir. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno bod hyn yn rhoi llawer iawn o bwysau ar rieni a disgyblion. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch hefyd yn cytuno—ac fe gefais hynny o'ch ateb—mai dysgu wyneb yn wyneb yw'r peth gorau i ddatblygiad, addysg a llesiant cyffredinol ein plant. Mae ein plant wedi cael llawer gormod o amser allan o'r ystafell ddosbarth oherwydd y pandemig. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi bwysleisio wrth Gyngor Sir Powys a'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yno mai addysg wyneb yn wyneb yw'r peth gorau i'n plant ac y dylent roi'r gorau i'r syniad hwn?

Well, I think, just for clarity, the proposal, as I understand it, was never formally made. It appears to have been a suggestion made in a committee discussion, which obviously has become a matter in the public domain, but it was never a formal proposal, as I understand it. Powys County Council have provided an assurance that this is not something that they are intending to pursue. My officials wrote to the council at the time that this speculation arose in the press to clarify the importance that we all attach to making sure that face-to-face learning is what we are prioritising throughout and we have the assurance that that is also what Powys County Council intends.

Wel, er eglurder, fel rwy'n deall, ni chafodd y cynnig ei wneud yn ffurfiol. Mae'n ymddangos mai awgrym a wnaed mewn trafodaeth pwyllgor ydoedd, ac sy'n amlwg wedi dod yn wybodaeth gyhoeddus, ond nid oedd erioed yn gynnig ffurfiol, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf. Mae Cyngor Sir Powys wedi rhoi sicrwydd nad yw'n rhywbeth y maent yn bwriadu mynd ar ei drywydd. Ysgrifennodd fy swyddogion at y cyngor ar y pryd pan ddaeth hyn i sylw'r wasg i egluro ein bod i gyd yn ystyried ei bod yn bwysig fod dysgu wyneb yn wyneb yn cael ei flaenoriaethu drwyddi draw ac rydym wedi cael sicrwydd mai dyna hefyd yw bwriad Cyngor Sir Powys.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Laura Anne Jones.

Questions now from party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones.

Diolch, Llywydd. Just a few weeks ago, the Minister announced the Unions and the World of Work pilot scheme—a policy that would see trade unions going into our schools, having direct contact with our learners. Llywydd, the Welsh Conservatives have no issue with children being taught about the workplace and, in fact, would actively encourage careers and work-related experience, however, it doesn't seem fair or proper that politicised trade unions that donate large sums of money to the Labour Party are allowed in our schools where they have the ability to influence. Political impartiality ultimately helps schools command the confidence of our diverse and multi-opinion society. Llywydd, can the Minister tell parents up and down Wales how allowing Labour Party donors into our classrooms supports this requirement for impartiality in our schools?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog gynllun peilot yr Undebau a Byd Gwaith—polisi a fyddai'n golygu bod undebau llafur yn mynd i mewn i'n hysgolion, ac yn cael cyswllt uniongyrchol gyda'n dysgwyr. Lywydd, nid oes gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig unrhyw broblem gyda phlant yn cael eu dysgu am y gweithle ac mewn gwirionedd, byddai'n annog gyrfaoedd a phrofiad sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith, ond nid yw'n ymddangos yn deg nac yn briodol fod undebau llafur gwleidyddol sy'n rhoi symiau mawr o arian i'r Blaid Lafur yn cael eu caniatáu i ddod i'n hysgolion lle mae'r gallu ganddynt i ddylanwadu. Yn y pen draw, mae amhleidgarwch gwleidyddol yn helpu ysgolion i ennyn hyder ein cymdeithas amrywiol ac aml-farn. Lywydd, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud wrth rieni ar hyd a lled Cymru sut mae caniatáu i rai sy'n rhoi arian i'r Blaid Lafur ddod i'n hystafelloedd dosbarth yn cefnogi'r gofyniad am amhleidgarwch yn ein hysgolion?

Well, I think the Member has rather missed the point. What the curriculum is designed to do is to make sure that our young people have a rounded education and that they are ethical and informed citizens when they leave our education system, understanding fully the range of their democratic rights and their responsibilities; the importance of social action; their agency as individuals, together with the democratic and industrial history of their communities and their country. And the pilot scheme to which you refer is one running in 35 schools at the moment and is intended to equip teachers in order to deliver that part of the curriculum. I'm grateful to the Wales TUC for the work they have done to support teachers in order to do that. I know that she will also agree with me how important it is to make sure that we are providing teachers with resources and professional learning to discharge all parts of the curriculum, and this part is no different from any other.

Wel, rwy'n meddwl bod yr Aelod wedi methu'r pwynt braidd. Yr hyn y mae'r cwricwlwm wedi'i lunio i'w wneud yw sicrhau bod ein pobl ifanc yn cael addysg gyflawn a'u bod yn ddinasyddion moesegol a gwybodus pan fyddant yn gadael ein system addysg, gan ddeall yn llawn yr ystod o hawliau a chyfrifoldebau democrataidd sydd ganddynt; pwysigrwydd gweithredu cymdeithasol; eu grym fel unigolion, ynghyd â hanes democrataidd a diwydiannol eu cymunedau a'u gwlad. Ac mae'r cynllun peilot y cyfeiriwch ato yn un sy'n weithredol mewn 35 o ysgolion ar hyn o bryd a'i fwriad yw arfogi athrawon i allu cyflwyno'r rhan honno o'r cwricwlwm. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i TUC Cymru am y gwaith a wnaethant ar gynorthwyo athrawon i wneud hynny. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd hi hefyd yn cytuno pa mor bwysig yw gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn darparu adnoddau a dysgu proffesiynol i athrawon allu cyflwyno pob rhan o'r cwricwlwm, ac nid yw'r rhan hon yn wahanol i unrhyw ran arall.

Absolutely, Minister. I completely agree with what you're trying to do, however, let's take Unite, which are listed as contributors to be able to contribute in person to our learners. Unite have donated millions of pounds to the UK Labour Party—£33,000 to the Welsh Labour Party directly since 2020. The Minister himself is a member of Unite and received nearly £2,000 for his own personal election expenses campaign. This arguably casts serious doubt on the motives for Unite and others to be part of this project. Llywydd, quite frankly, this whole scheme stinks of cronyism. Does the Minister not see a conflict of interest here or does he not care?

Yn bendant, Weinidog. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn rydych chi'n ceisio ei wneud, ond gadewch inni ystyried Unite, sydd wedi'u rhestru fel cyfranwyr i allu cyfrannu ar lefel bersonol ar gyfer ein dysgwyr. Mae Unite wedi rhoi miliynau o bunnoedd i Blaid Lafur y DU—£33,000 i'r Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru yn uniongyrchol ers 2020. Mae'r Gweinidog ei hun yn aelod o Unite ac wedi cael bron i £2,000 tuag at dreuliau ei ymgyrch etholiadol ei hun. Gellid dadlau bod hyn yn bwrw amheuaeth ddifrifol ar gymhellion Unite ac eraill i fod yn rhan o'r prosiect hwn. Lywydd, a bod yn gwbl onest, mae'r cynllun cyfan yn drewi o ffrindgarwch. Onid yw'r Gweinidog yn gweld gwrthdaro buddiannau yma neu onid yw'n poeni?

Well, I'm not sure the Member heard my previous answer. The purpose of this scheme is to make sure that young people are able to access the full range of the curriculum. As well as the broader objectives I referred to earlier, we are clear in our commitment to our young people to prepare them for the world of work, through careers-related experiences. We also want to make sure that they understand the world of business more broadly. It's a full, it's a rich curriculum, and it's completely appropriate that young people have access to all parts of it, as they work through their school journey. What we have seen is that understanding people's democratic rights, union membership, rights in the workplace, responsibilities in the workplace, is a positive in people's lives. And just like understanding the career trajectories that are available to them, also we want young people to understand the opportunities they have to join a trade union, to participate in that as part of the democratic process, to understand their rights and responsibilities. That is the purpose to which this pilot has been put. I hope and expect that it will be successful, and, if so, I look forward to being able to roll it out.

Wel, nid wyf yn siŵr a glywodd yr Aelod fy ateb blaenorol. Pwrpas y cynllun hwn yw gwneud yn siŵr fod pobl ifanc yn gallu manteisio ar amrywiaeth lawn y cwricwlwm. Yn ogystal â'r amcanion ehangach y cyfeiriais atynt yn gynharach, rydym yn glir yn ein hymrwymiad i'n pobl ifanc i'w paratoi ar gyfer byd gwaith, drwy brofiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â gyrfaoedd. Rydym hefyd am sicrhau eu bod yn deall byd busnes yn ehangach. Mae'n gwricwlwm llawn, mae'n gwricwlwm cyfoethog, ac mae'n hollol briodol fod pobl ifanc yn cael mynediad at bob rhan ohono, wrth iddynt weithio drwy eu taith ysgol. Gwelsom fod deall hawliau democrataidd pobl, aelodaeth o undebau, hawliau yn y gweithle, cyfrifoldebau yn y gweithle, yn rhywbeth cadarnhaol ym mywydau pobl. Ac yn union fel deall y llwybrau gyrfa sydd ar gael iddynt, rydym am i bobl ifanc ddeall y cyfleoedd sydd ganddynt i ymuno ag undeb llafur, i gymryd rhan yn hynny fel rhan o'r broses ddemocrataidd, i ddeall eu hawliau a'u cyfrifoldebau. Dyna ddiben y cynllun peilot. Rwy'n gobeithio ac yn disgwyl y bydd yn llwyddiannus, ac os ydyw, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at allu ei gyflwyno.

14:35

Llywydd, the new curriculum does provide wonderful opportunities to bring in local businesses. However, it deeply concerns me that the Minister is still putting in jeopardy school impartiality. This Government's first focus needs to be on getting the basics right here in Wales first. Wales has the lowest Programme for International Student Assessment results in the UK; teachers don't feel supported enough with the development of the new curriculum; pupils and teachers still have no idea what exams are going to look like; and teachers are dealing daily with violence in the classroom. I could go on. Minister, wouldn't your time and effort be better spent focusing on getting the basics right here in Wales in education first, before wasting money trying to indoctrinate our children any further?

Lywydd, mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn rhoi cyfleoedd gwych i ddod â busnesau lleol i mewn. Fodd bynnag, mae'n fy mhryderu'n fawr fod y Gweinidog yn dal i beryglu amhleidgarwch ysgolion. Mae angen i ffocws cyntaf y Llywodraeth hon fod ar gael y pethau sylfaenol yn iawn yma yng Nghymru yn gyntaf. Cymru sydd â chanlyniadau gwaethaf y Rhaglen Ryngwladol Asesu Myfyrwyr yn y DU; nid yw athrawon yn teimlo eu bod yn cael digon o gefnogaeth i ddatblygu'r cwricwlwm newydd; nid oes gan ddisgyblion ac athrawon syniad o hyd sut ffurf fydd ar arholiadau; ac mae athrawon yn wynebu trais yn yr ystafell ddosbarth yn ddyddiol. Gallwn barhau. Weinidog, oni fyddai'n well i chi dreulio'ch amser yn canolbwyntio ar gael y pethau sylfaenol yn iawn gyntaf yn y byd addysg yng Nghymru cyn gwastraffu arian ar geisio cyflyru ein plant?

I'm not sure what point the Member is trying to make; what I heard was a list of criticisms of our school system. I think her time would be better spent, if I may put it to her, finding ways to scrutinise me in a way that puts forward a positive alternative. If she doesn't think what we are doing is in the interests of the school system, maybe she would like to advance a view of her own—a critique and a world view, or a single policy—but I hear nothing, week in, week out, from that part of the Chamber but negativity and an undermining of the work that teachers are doing in our schools. I hope that—. There was a point in time when she was a supporter of the curriculum and of the Government's reform programme; I would ask her to cast her mind back to that point. It's really important for our young people that we can make sure that the kind of cross-party support that our reforms have been able to command continue to do that—that's in their best interests. And we will continue as a Government to make sure that we prioritise schools, prioritise our education reforms, to make sure that every child in Wales has the best start in life.

Nid wyf yn siŵr pa bwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ceisio ei wneud; yr hyn a glywais i oedd rhestr o bethau'n beirniadu ein system ysgolion. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n well iddi dreulio ei hamser, os caf ddweud, yn dod o hyd i ffyrdd o graffu arnaf mewn ffordd sy'n cyflwyno dewis arall cadarnhaol. Os nad yw'n credu bod yr hyn a wnawn o fudd i'r system ysgolion, efallai yr hoffai gynnig safbwynt ei hun—beirniadaeth a golwg ar y byd, neu un polisi—ond ni chlywaf unrhyw beth o un wythnos i'r llall o'r rhan honno o'r Siambr ond agwedd negyddol a thanseilio'r gwaith y mae athrawon yn ei wneud yn ein hysgolion. Rwy'n gobeithio—. Roedd yna adeg pan oedd hi'n cefnogi'r cwricwlwm a rhaglen ddiwygio'r Llywodraeth; hoffwn ofyn iddi feddwl nôl. Mae'n bwysig iawn i'n pobl ifanc ein bod yn gallu sicrhau bod y math o gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol y mae ein diwygiadau wedi gallu ei chynnig yn parhau i wneud hynny—mae hynny er eu lles gorau. A byddwn yn parhau fel Llywodraeth i sicrhau ein bod yn blaenoriaethu ysgolion, yn blaenoriaethu ein diwygiadau addysg, i wneud yn siŵr fod pob plentyn yng Nghymru yn cael y dechrau gorau mewn bywyd.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Heledd Fychan.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Heledd Fychan.

Diolch, Llywydd. I would like just to respond to that point. I think it is a positive thing if young people know their rights in the workplace, and I do not share the concerns. We all go as politicians to schools, and are able to talk about our values and differences as political parties, and this is part of that education process.

Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn i ymateb i'r pwynt hwnnw. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn beth cadarnhaol fod pobl ifanc yn gwybod eu hawliau yn y gweithle, ac nid wyf yn rhannu'r pryderon. Rydym i gyd fel gwleidyddion yn mynd i ysgolion, ac yn gallu siarad am ein gwerthoedd a'n gwahaniaethau fel pleidiau gwleidyddol, ac mae hyn yn rhan o'r broses addysg honno.

Ar ôl degawd o lymder, mae ysgolion wedi gwneud yr holl arbedion y gallant eu gwneud, ac mae prif athrawon yn rhybuddio y bydd yr unig bethau sydd ar ôl i'w torri yn cael effaith uniongyrchol a sylweddol ar blant a phobl ifanc. Mae arolwg newydd NAHT Cymru yn dangos bod y mwyafrif o ysgolion yn dweud y bydd yn rhaid iddynt ddiswyddo athrawon neu ddod â chytundebau i ben oherwydd argyfwng ariannu. Dywedodd tua 73 y cant y bydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw ddiswyddo cynorthwywyr dosbarth neu leihau eu horiau, gyda bron i hanner yr ysgolion yn dweud y byddant yn cael eu gorfodi i gwtogi ar gymorth megis cwnsela, therapi a chymorth iechyd meddwl. Ymhellach, dywedodd 56 y cant y bydd yn rhaid iddynt leihau gwariant ar ymyriadau ychwanegol wedi'u targedu ar gyfer disgyblion sydd angen cymorth ychwanegol, gan gynnwys anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Sut bydd y Gweinidog yn sicrhau nad yw’r sefyllfa ariannol bresennol yn effeithio’n andwyol ar ddysgwyr, nac ychwaith y gweithlu yn ein hysgolion?

After a decade of austerity, schools have made all of the savings that they can, and headteachers are warning that the only things left to cut will have a direct and significant impact on children and young people. A new survey by NAHT Cymru shows that the majority of schools say that they will have to make teachers redundant or terminate contracts due to a funding crisis. Around 73 per cent said that they will have to make teaching assistants redundant or reduce their hours, with almost half of schools saying that they will be forced to cut back on support such as counselling, therapy and mental health support. Furthermore, 56 per cent said that they will have to cut expenditure on additional targeted interventions for those pupils needing additional support, including additional learning needs. How will the Minister ensure that the current financial situation will not have a detrimental impact on learners, nor on the workforce in our schools?

Wel, fel mae'r Aelod yn ei wybod, roedd gennym ni gyfle yn natganiad yr hydref yr wythnos diwethaf i weld, ar draws y Deyrnas Gyfunol, fod cyllidebau ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn ymateb i'r her o ran chwyddiant sydd wedi digwydd i gyllidebau yma yng Nghymru, fel ar draws y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn gyffredinol. Nid hynny welsom ni. Fe welsom ni rhyw gynnydd yn yr hyn sydd i'w ddisgwyl, ond dyw e ddim yn mynd yn agos at ateb yr her y mae ysgolion, a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn ehangach, yn ei hwynebu. Dyw e'n sicr ddim yn gwneud i fyny am impact chwyddiant ar gyllidebau.

Dwi wedi gweld yr hyn mae'r arolygiad gan yr NAHT yn ei ddweud; dwi wedi trafod hynny gyda nhw mewn cyfarfod, a chyfarfod ar y cyd gydag undebau eraill. Rŷn ni fel Llywodraeth yn mynd i flaenoriaethu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rŷn ni'n mynd i flaenoriaethu addysg, fel rŷn ni wastad wedi gwneud. Ond mae'r sefyllfa yn un heriol iawn o ran cyllidebau. Rŷn ni wedi bod yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i'w cefnogi nhw yn eu trafodaethau gydag ysgolion i wneud y gorau o'r hyn sydd ganddyn nhw o ran arian wrth gefn ar hyn o bryd. Mae hynny, ar hyn o bryd, ar lefel uchel, uchel iawn. Ond dyw hynny ddim yn ateb cynaliadwy. Wrth gwrs, unwaith mae'r ffynhonnell honno wedi ei gwario, mae wedi ei gwario. Ond rŷn ni'n cefnogi awdurdodau i weithio gydag ysgolion ar hyn o bryd i weld pa ddefnydd gorau y gellir ei wneud er mwyn osgoi'r gwaethaf o'r hyn y mae'r Aelod yn sôn amdano.

Well, as the Member will know, we had an opportunity in last week's autumn statement to see budgets for public services, across the UK, responding to the challenge of inflation that has affected Wales and the whole of the UK generally. But that is not what we saw. We saw some increase in what we can expect, but it's nowhere near meeting the challenges that schools, and public services more broadly, face. And it certainly doesn't make up for the impact of inflation on budgets.

I have seen what the NAHT have said, and I have discussed that with them in a meeting and a joint meeting with other unions. We as a Government will prioritise public services. We will prioritise education, as we've always done. But the budgetary situation is very challenging. We have been working with local authorities to support them in their discussions with schools in making the most of what they have in reserves at the moment. Those are currently at a very, very high level, but that is not a sustainable solution. Of course, once that money has been spent, it's spent. But we are supporting local authorities in working with schools at the moment to see what best use could be made in order to avoid the worst of what the Member mentioned.

14:40

Diolch, Weinidog, ac yn amlwg wrth i'r trafodaethau yna barhau, fe fyddem ni'n ddiolchgar o'r diweddariadau, fel rydych chi'n eu rhoi, o ran y cymorth angenrheidiol sydd ei angen fel nad yw dysgwyr, nac ychwaith staff, yn cael eu heffeithio'n andwyol, cyn belled â bo modd. 

Neithiwr, cynhaliodd Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg gyfarfod yn Rhondda Cynon Taf. Tynnwyd sylw at achos Jenna a David o Gilfach Goch, sy'n wynebu gorfod talu am gludiant i'w mab fynychu Ysgol Llanhari yn dilyn newid polisi gan gyngor sir Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr i beidio parhau i dalu am gludiant am ddim i'w hysgol uwchradd Gymraeg agosaf, sydd dros y ffin yn Rhondda Cynon Taf. Mae'r cyngor yn parhau i dalu i gludo disgyblion o'r un ardal i ysgol cyfrwng Saesneg yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, sef Ysgol Gymunedol Tonyrefail. Barn Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg yw bod hyn yn trin y Gymraeg yn llai ffafriol na'r Saesneg, ac yn amddifadu cymunedau fel Gilfach Goch o addysg Gymraeg hygyrch. 

Pa gamau sydd yn cael eu cymryd gan y Llywodraeth i unioni hyn, a sicrhau bod plant, megis mab Jenna a David, yn derbyn cludiant am ddim i'w hysgol Gymraeg agosaf?

Thank you, Minister, and as those conversations continue, we'd be grateful for updates, like those you do give, in terms of the vital support that is needed so that neither learners nor staff are detrimentally impacted, as far as possible.

Last night, Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg held a meeting in Rhondda Cynon Taf. They drew attention to the case of Jenna and David from Gilfach Goch, who face having to pay for transport so that their son can attend Ysgol Llanhari, following a change of policy by Bridgend council, which decided not to continue to pay for free transport to the nearest Welsh-medium secondary school, which is over the border in RCT. The council continues to pay to transport pupils from the same area to an English-medium school in RCT, namely Tonyrefail Community School. Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg's view is that this is an example of the Welsh language being treated less favourably than English, depriving communities such as Gilfach Goch of accessible Welsh-medium education. 

So, what steps are being taken by the Government to rectify this and to ensure that children such as Jenna and David's son receive free transport to their nearest Welsh-medium school?

Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am godi'r pwynt hwnnw. O ran y pwynt ehangach, mae'r pwynt mae hi'n ei wneud yn y cyd-destun hwn, fel yn y cwestiwn blaenorol, yn un teilwng o ran pa mor bwysig yw cludiant ar gyfer cael mynediad at addysg yn gyffredinol. Ond oherwydd y dosbarthiad daearyddol, mae'n aml yn benodol o bwysig yng nghyd-destun addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, fel mae ei chwestiwn hi yn awgrymu.

Mae elfen o hyblygrwydd neu ddisgresiwn, os hoffech chi, ynghlwm yn y Mesur, sydd yn caniatáu i awdurdodau wneud penderfyniadau amrywiol yn y cyd-destun hwn. Beth sydd yn glir i ni yw bod yn rhaid sicrhau, gorau gallwn ni, fod y diwygiadau sy'n digwydd i'r Mesur yn mynd i'r afael â hyn. Yn y cyfamser, beth rwy'n bwriadu ei wneud yw cael trafodaethau â phob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru ynglŷn â'u hymrwymiadau nhw yn eu cynlluniau strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg. A lle mae polisi gan awdurdodau—mae hyn yn digwydd mewn mwy nac un man—sydd yn cael yr effaith mae hi'n sôn amdano fe, ar y ffiniau rhwng awdurdodau, byddaf yn trafod hynny'n benodol gydag awdurdodau a byddaf yn hapus i roi diweddariad i'r Aelod ar ddiwedd y broses honno.

Well, I thank the Member for raising that point. In terms of the broader point, the point that she makes in this context, as was the case with the previous question, is quite proper in terms of how important transport is to accessing education. But because of geographical distribution, it's particularly pertinent in relation to Welsh-medium education, as her question suggests. 

There is an element of flexibility or discretion, if you like, implicit in the Measure, which allows authorities to make different decisions in this context. What is clear to me is that we must ensure, to the best of our ability, that the reforms to the Measure do tackle this issue. In the meantime, what I intend to do is to have discussions with all local authorities in Wales on their commitments in their Welsh in education strategic plans. And where authorities have a policy—and this happens in more than one area—that has the impact that she describes, on the boundaries between authorities, I will discuss that issue specifically with authorities and I would be happy to give the Member an update at the end of that process.

Y Lwfans Cynhaliaeth Addysg
Education Maintenance Allowance

3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i gefnogi dysgwyr ôl-16 oed yn Nwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr sy'n derbyn y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg? OQ58748

3. What is the Welsh Government doing to support post-16 learners in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr who are in receipt of education maintenance allowance? OQ58748

Mae ystod o fesurau cymorth ychwanegol ar gael i ddysgwyr ôl-16 sy'n derbyn y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg—mesurau sy'n cael eu darparu gan Lywodraeth Cymru drwy law eu coleg neu eu hysgol. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys teithio am ddim, neu gyfraniad at y gost, prydau am ddim, nwyddau mislif am ddim, a mynediad at gyllid caledi lle bo ar gael.

There is a range of additional support measures provided to post-16 learners in receipt of education maintenance allowance. These are measures provided by the Welsh Government through their college or school. These include free or subsidised travel, free meals, free period products, and access to hardship funding where available.

Mae'n destun balchder i ni yng Nghymru ein bod ni wedi parhau â'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, sydd ddim yn wir mewn rhai mannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Ond un peth sydd ddim wedi digwydd, wrth gwrs, fel mae'r Gweinidog yn ymwybodol, yw dŷn ni ddim wedi codi'r lwfans yn unol â chwyddiant ers iddo fe gael ei gyflwyno yn 2004. Felly, mae wedi colli gwerth real yn ystod y cyfnod yna—bron i ddau ddegawd erbyn hyn—ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynny wedi cynyddu nawr gyda chwyddiant yn cynyddu yn aruthrol yn ystod y cyfnod diwethaf yma gyda'r crisis costau byw. 

Mae Sefydliad Bevan yn amcangyfrif mai tua £45 y dylai'r lwfans fod nawr pe bai e wedi cadw yn unol â chwyddiant. Mi fyddai'r cynnydd yna yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth i'r 18,000 o fyfyrwyr ar draws Cymru sydd yn derbyn y lwfans. Dwi'n gwybod bod arian yn brin, Weinidog. Pymtheng miliwn—tua—fyddai e'n costio, ond byddai e'n drawsnewidiol o ran ei effaith ar fyfyrwyr sydd ymhlith y rhai mwyaf difreintiedig sydd gyda ni yn ein gwlad.

It is a cause of great pride for us in Wales that we have continued with the EMA, which isn't true of some other parts of the United Kingdom. But one thing that hasn't happened, of course, as the Minister is aware, is that we haven't increased the allowance in line with inflation since it was introduced in 2004. So, it has lost real-terms value over that time of almost two decades, and that has accelerated now with inflation increasing at such a rate over the past few months during the cost-of-living crisis.

The Bevan Foundation estimates that the EMA would now be £45 if it had kept pace with inflation. That increase would make such a difference to the 18,000 students across Wales who receive it. I know that money is tight, Minister. It would cost around £15 million, but it would be transformative in terms of its impact on students who are amongst those most deprived in our nation. 

14:45

Wel, fel mae'r Aelod yn gwybod, ac rwy'n gwybod ei fod e'n cydnabod hyn hefyd, rydyn ni'n gwneud popeth gallwn ni i sicrhau bod yr adnoddau sydd ar gael yn cael eu darparu i gefnogi'r rheini sydd eu hangen nhw fwyaf yn ein system addysg ni. O ran yr ymrwymiad i gynnal EMA, mae hynny yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni. Rydym ni yn falch ein bod ni wedi parhau â hynny, fel mae'r Alban wedi gwneud hefyd, fel mae Gogledd Iwerddon wedi gwneud, ond ddim Lloegr. Mae'r lefel sydd gyda ni yma, o ran tâl, yr un lefel ag sydd gan y Llywodraeth yn yr Alban ac yng Ngogledd Iwerddon hefyd. Beth rydym ni wedi ceisio gwneud yw sicrhau bod cyrhaeddiad yr EMA yn cynyddu. Felly, rydym ni wedi diwygio'r system fel ein bod ni'n gallu ehangu'r cyfnod o daliadau backdated sydd ar gael i ddysgwyr unigol, ac rwyf wedi dwyn hynny i sylw colegau fel eu bod nhw'n mynd ati i hysbysu pobl o hynny, a hefyd, lle mae amgylchiadau arbennig gan ddysgwyr unigol, fod y rheini'n cael eu cymryd mewn i ystyriaeth wrth gynnig y taliadau hwy yna. Rydym ni hefyd, wrth gwrs, mewn maes arall, wedi ehangu prydau bwyd am ddim yn ystod gwyliau colegau ac, fel gwnes i sôn wrth Jenny Rathbone jest nawr, wedi ehangu'r arian sydd ar gael yn y financial contingency fund. Mae'r rhain ymhlith rhai o'r ymyraethau rydym ni'n eu gwneud i gefnogi dysgwyr unigol sydd angen y mwyaf o gefnogaeth mewn addysg bellach.

O ran y costau mae'r Aelod yn sôn amdanynt, fel mae'n digwydd, oherwydd chwyddiant, ers adroddiad Sefydliad Bevan, mae'r ffigwr, efallai, nawr yn agosach i ryw £54 er mwyn cynnal ei werth o ran chwyddiant. Felly, mae'r ffigwr o £15 miliwn hyd yn oed yn fwy erbyn hyn, ac rwy'n gwybod bydd e'n deall, heb gyllid ychwanegol, sydd ddim wedi dod i law, yr unig ffordd i dalu am hyn yw wrth edrych ar rai o'r ymyriadau blaengar eraill rydym ni yn eu gwneud fel Llywodraeth yn y rhaglen lywodraethu yn gyffredinol, yn y cytundeb cydweithio. Felly, mae'r heriau yma yn rhai real, ond byddwn ni'n gwneud popeth gallwn ni o fewn y gyllideb sydd gyda ni. 

Well, as the Member knows, and acknowledges, we do everything we can to ensure that the resources available are provided to help those who need them most in our education system. In terms of the commitment to maintain the EMA, that's part of our programme for government. And I'm proud that we have continued with that, as Scotland and Northern Ireland have done, but that's not the case in England. The level we have here in Wales is the same level as that of the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments. What we have endeavoured to do is to ensure that the reach of the EMA is enhanced. So, we've reformed the system, in order to expand the backdated payments available to individuals learners, and we've drawn that to the attention of colleges, so that they can inform their students of that, and, where there are particular circumstances for individual learners, those are taken into account in providing those enhanced payments. Also, in another area, we have expanded free school meals during school and college holidays and, as I mentioned to Jenny Rathbone a few moments ago, we've enhanced the funding available in the financial contingency fund. These are just some of our interventions in support of those individual learners who need most support in FE. 

In terms of the costs the Member mentioned, as it happens, because of inflation, since the Bevan Foundation report, the figure could now be closer to some £54 in order to maintain value in line with inflation. So, the figure of £15 million is even greater now, and I know he will accept that, without additional funding, which hasn't come to hand, the only way to pay for that is to look at the other innovative interventions that we have in place as part of our programme for government and through the co-operation agreement too. So, these challenges are very real, but we will do everything we can within the budget that we have. 

I'm grateful to be able to follow the Member's line of questioning with regard to EMA. Eighteen thousand, six hundred and fifty students accessed EMA support in the year 2020-21. As someone who was eligible for EMA as well, I know there are complexities in understanding how students are able to access this and which students are eligible, and, indeed, in talking to the Senedd research department in compiling this supplementary question, that complexity in finding out an accurate take-up number of those who are eligible for EMA and taking it up, and those, therefore, not taking it up, was hard to distinguish. Therefore, can I ask what the Minister and his Government are doing to ensure that all those who are eligible for EMA are able to access the support? 

Rwy'n ddiolchgar fy mod yn gallu dilyn cyfeiriad cwestiynau'r Aelod mewn perthynas â'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg. Cafodd 18,650 o fyfyrwyr gymorth y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn y flwyddyn 2020-21. Fel rhywun a oedd yn gymwys i gael y lwfans hefyd, rwy'n gwybod bod deall sut y gall myfyrwyr gael mynediad ato a pha fyfyrwyr sy'n gymwys yn gymhleth, ac yn wir, wrth siarad ag adran ymchwil y Senedd ar gyfer llunio'r cwestiwn atodol hwn, mae'n gymhleth canfod nifer cywir y rhai sy'n gymwys i gael lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg ac sy'n manteisio arno, a'r rheini, felly, nad ydynt yn manteisio arno. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn beth y mae'r Gweinidog a'i Lywodraeth yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod pawb sy'n gymwys i gael lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn gallu cael y cymorth? 

As I was saying to Adam Price earlier—in response to Adam Price—although we've not been able to increase the value of it, we have been able to maximise the current offer. So, we've expanded the eligible cohort to include some of those most vulnerable young people in Wales, including some who are impacted by Brexit, family members of those with protected immigration status, for example, and, more recently, the expansion to include young people fleeing the war in Ukraine. So, we are looking always at ways in which we can make sure that the reach of the EMA, at its current level at least, is extended. We continue to allow learners to benefit from an extended period, as I was saying, of backdated EMA payments. We recently issued a notice to all schools and colleges reminding them of the mechanism by which that works, and highlighting the discretion in the scheme for learners with particular extenuating circumstances—caring responsibilities, for example—to make sure they are not disadvantaged in being able to access EMA. All young people can apply for EMA at any point in the academic year. Sometimes that isn't known; people aren't aware of that. And, where their family circumstances change, which may result in a drop in income, we encourage young people to apply for EMA with a current-year income assessment. So, we will continue to do everything we can as a Government, and I know that colleges are doing whatever they can to draw attention to the existing scheme to make sure the uptake is as great as it can be. 

Fel roeddwn i'n dweud wrth Adam Price yn gynharach—mewn ymateb i Adam Price—er nad ydym wedi gallu cynyddu gwerth y peth, rydym wedi gallu sicrhau bod y cynnig presennol cystal ag y gall fod. Felly, rydym wedi ehangu'r garfan gymwys i gynnwys rhai o'r bobl ifanc fwyaf bregus yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys rhai yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan Brexit, aelodau o deuluoedd y rhai sydd â statws mewnfudo gwarchodedig, er enghraifft, ac yn fwy diweddar, yr ehangu i gynnwys pobl ifanc sy'n ffoi o'r rhyfel yn Wcráin. Felly, rydym yn edrych bob amser ar ffyrdd y gallwn wneud yn siŵr fod cyrhaeddiad y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, ar ei lefel bresennol o leiaf, yn cael ei ymestyn. Fel roeddwn i'n dweud, rydym yn parhau i ganiatáu i ddysgwyr elwa o gyfnod estynedig o daliadau lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg wedi'u hôl-ddyddio. Yn ddiweddar, gwnaethom gyhoeddi hysbysiad i bob ysgol a choleg yn eu hatgoffa o'r ffordd y mae hynny'n gweithio, ac yn tynnu sylw at y disgresiwn yn y cynllun ar gyfer dysgwyr mewn amgylchiadau penodol—cyfrifoldebau gofalu, er enghraifft—i sicrhau nad ydynt dan anfantais o ran eu gallu i gael lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg. Gall pob unigolyn ifanc wneud cais am lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg ar unrhyw adeg yn y flwyddyn academaidd. Weithiau nid yw hynny'n hysbys; nid yw pobl yn ymwybodol o hynny. A lle mae eu hamgylchiadau teuluol yn newid, a allai arwain at ostyngiad mewn incwm, rydym yn annog pobl ifanc i wneud cais am lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg gydag asesiad incwm o'r flwyddyn gyfredol. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i wneud popeth yn ein gallu fel Llywodraeth, ac rwy'n gwybod bod colegau'n gwneud beth bynnag a allant i dynnu sylw at y cynllun presennol i wneud yn siŵr fod y nifer sy'n manteisio arno mor fawr ag y gall fod. 

14:50
Effaith Amddifadedd ar Addysg
The Effect of Deprivation on Education

4. Sut fydd cyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd yn mynd i'r afael ag effaith amddifadedd ar addysg? OQ58753

4. How will the roll-out of the new curriculum address the effect of deprivation on education? OQ58753

Curriculum for Wales provides a rich and broad curriculum for every child, ensuring that every child develops the knowledge, skills and experiences that will enable them to progress to their full potential, regardless of their background. It treats every child as an individual, with different strengths and needs.

Mae'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn darparu cwricwlwm cyfoethog ac eang i bob plentyn, gan sicrhau bod pob plentyn yn datblygu'r wybodaeth, y sgiliau a'r profiadau a fydd yn ei alluogi i symud ymlaen i'w lawn botensial, beth bynnag fo'i gefndir. Mae'n trin pob plentyn fel unigolyn, gyda chryfderau ac anghenion gwahanol.

[Inaudible.]—million pounds in this financial year in community-focused schools, given they build partnerships with families, communities and a range of organisations, and provide opportunities to pupils who would not otherwise benefit from them. In Newport East, Maindee Primary School is a fantastic example of a community school. It is based in one of the most deprived parts of Newport. It's multi-cultural, with quite a significant south Asian and Roma population. They have partnered with numerous third sector organisations, such as the Community Youth Project, Iqra Mosque, Positive Futures, G-Expressions, and Urban Circle, and all of these organisations are really enhancing the pupil experience and improving outcomes. Anna and Martine, staff members at Maindee, volunteer for FoodCycle, which cooks and serves hot meals to families of Maindee Primary School. It's really special, Minister, to see staff members giving up their personal time, given the pressures they have, to give back to the community they serve, and this undoubtedly reflects positively in the classroom. Maindee primary is also a DAF registered school, assisting families of their pupils in their discretionary assistance fund applications. Minister, schools like Maindee primary offer a beacon of hope to struggling, more vulnerable families with this holistic and community approach to education. What more can Welsh Government do to ensure all our schools in Wales are community focused, like Maindee primary, how can this be linked into the roll-out of the new curriculum, and will you visit to see first-hand, Minister?

[Anghlywadwy.]—miliwn o bunnoedd yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon mewn ysgolion sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned, o gofio eu bod yn adeiladu partneriaethau gyda theuluoedd, cymunedau ac amrywiaeth o sefydliadau, ac yn darparu cyfleoedd i ddisgyblion na fyddai'n elwa arnynt fel arall. Yn Nwyrain Casnewydd, mae Ysgol Gynradd Maendy yn enghraifft wych o ysgol gymunedol. Fe'i lleolir yn un o rannau mwyaf difreintiedig Casnewydd. Mae'n aml-ddiwylliannol, gyda phoblogaeth eithaf sylweddol o blant o gefndir Roma a de Asiaidd. Maent wedi partneru gyda nifer o sefydliadau trydydd sector, megis y Prosiect Ieuenctid Cymunedol, Mosg Iqra, Positive Futures, G-Expressions, ac Urban Circle, ac mae'r holl sefydliadau hyn yn sicr yn gwella profiad disgyblion a gwella canlyniadau. Mae Anna a Martine, aelodau o staff Maendy, yn gwirfoddoli i FoodCycle, sy'n coginio ac yn gweini prydau poeth i deuluoedd Ysgol Gynradd Maendy. Weinidog, mae'n wirioneddol ardderchog gweld aelodau staff yn rhoi eu hamser eu hunain, o ystyried y pwysau sydd arnynt, i roi yn ôl i'r gymuned y maent yn ei gwasanaethu, ac mae hyn heb os yn cael effaith gadarnhaol yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Mae Ysgol Gynradd Maendy hefyd yn ysgol gofrestredig gyda'r gronfa cymorth dewisol, sy'n cynorthwyo teuluoedd eu disgyblion gyda'u ceisiadau i'r gronfa cymorth dewisol. Weinidog, mae ysgolion fel Ysgol Gynradd Maendy yn cynnig gobaith i deuluoedd bregus sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd gyda'r ymagwedd gyfannol a chymunedol hon tuag at addysg. Beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau bod ein holl ysgolion yng Nghymru yn canolbwyntio ar y gymuned, fel Ysgol Gynradd Maendy, sut y gellir cysylltu hyn â chyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd, ac a wnewch chi ymweld â'r ysgol ichi allu gweld drosoch eich hun, Weinidog?

'Beacon of hope' is exactly the right phrase in John Griffiths's question. I'm aware of the work that Maindee primary do. I've met some of the staff, and I would be delighted to visit the school to see at first hand the fantastic work that I know they do. The kind of work that the school does is exactly the sort of work that we want to see more and more schools in Wales supported to do. We want all schools in Wales to be community-focused school. That will look differently in different schools and in different communities, but, at its heart, it's about building a strong partnership with families, responding to their community, and collaborating with other services. I think the curriculum, with its focus on reflecting cynefin and the cluster working and the working to reflect the community of the school, provides a really good underpinning for this ambition that we have. 

Schools have a critical role in enabling our young people to become ambitious, enterprising and ethical—all those qualities and characteristics that are at the heart of the new curriculum. The school is fundamental in that, but also young people are obviously very influenced by their home environment and the wider community as well. That is why working collaboratively, in the way John Griffiths was just describing the work at Maindee primary, that collaborative working, is so important.

I would just say that, last week, we published guidance on community-focused schools. It explains what a community-focused school is and why we believe that that approach is the best approach to support our children and young people. It was developed—and I thank all those who worked with us in relation to it—by Estyn, the National Academy for Educational Leadership, the consortia, local authorities, third sector organisations and others. So, that's now published. We will follow that up with a programme of professional learning to support heads and teachers in that journey. Crucial to this is multi-agency engagement, and we'll be publishing some supplementary guidance on how best to deliver that as well to reach our goal and to reflect the kind of fantastic work that John Griffiths was highlighting in his question.

'Cynnig gobaith' yw'r union ymadrodd cywir yng nghwestiwn John Griffiths. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r gwaith y mae Ysgol Gynradd Maendy yn ei wneud. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â rhai o'r staff, a byddwn yn falch iawn o ymweld â'r ysgol i weld drosof fy hun y gwaith gwych y gwn eu bod yn ei wneud. Y math o waith y mae'r ysgol yn ei wneud yw'r union fath o waith rydym am weld mwy a mwy o ysgolion yng Nghymru'n cael eu cefnogi i'w wneud. Rydym am i bob ysgol yng Nghymru fod yn ysgol â phwyslais ar y gymuned. Bydd hynny'n edrych yn wahanol mewn ysgolion gwahanol ac mewn cymunedau gwahanol, ond mae'n ymwneud yn sylfaenol ag adeiladu partneriaeth gref gyda theuluoedd, ymateb i'w cymuned, a chydweithio â gwasanaethau eraill. Rwy'n credu bod y cwricwlwm, gyda'i ffocws ar adlewyrchu cynefin a gwaith clwstwr a gwaith i adlewyrchu cymuned yr ysgol, yn rhoi sylfaen dda iawn i'r uchelgais sydd gennym. 

Mae gan ysgolion rôl hanfodol yn galluogi ein pobl ifanc i fod yn uchelgeisiol, yn fentrus ac yn foesegol—yr holl rinweddau a nodweddion sy'n ganolog i'r cwricwlwm newydd. Mae'r ysgol yn sylfaenol yn hynny, ond hefyd wrth gwrs, mae dylanwad amgylchedd eu cartref a'r gymuned ehangach yn dylanwadu'n fawr ar bobl ifanc. Dyna pam y mae gweithio ar y cyd, yn y ffordd roedd John Griffiths yn disgrifio'r gwaith yn Ysgol Gynradd Maendy, y cydweithio hwnnw, mor bwysig.

Hoffwn ddweud ein bod wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau yr wythnos diwethaf ar ysgolion sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned. Maent yn esbonio beth yw ysgol sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned a pham ein bod yn credu mai'r dull hwnnw yw'r dull gorau o gefnogi ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Datblygwyd y canllawiau—a diolch i bawb a weithiodd gyda ni mewn perthynas â hwy—gan Estyn, yr Academi Genedlaethol ar gyfer Arweinyddiaeth Addysgol, y consortia, awdurdodau lleol, sefydliadau'r trydydd sector ac eraill. Felly, mae'r rheini bellach wedi eu cyhoeddi. I ddilyn hynny, bydd gennym raglen o ddysgu proffesiynol i gefnogi penaethiaid ac athrawon ar y daith honno. Yn allweddol i hyn mae ymgysylltiad amlasiantaethol, a byddwn yn cyhoeddi canllawiau atodol ar y ffordd orau o gyflawni hynny hefyd i gyrraedd ein nod ac i adlewyrchu'r math o waith gwych roedd John Griffiths yn tynnu sylw ato yn ei gwestiwn.

We know that there's a clear correlation between poor academic performance and persistent deprivation. The Education Policy Institute said, and I quote:

'Persistently disadvantaged pupils experienced still larger disadvantage gaps, with those in England suffering a persistent disadvantage gap of 23 months and those in Wales experiencing 29 months. With little sign of these persistent disadvantage gaps closing...improving educational outcomes for the persistently disadvantaged should be prioritised by policymakers.'

While it's clear Welsh pupils in deprived areas suffer from a greater deprivation gap than their peers elsewhere in the UK, more needs to be done to ensure that the Welsh Government narrows this gap. So, how does the Minister's new curriculum address the gap that Welsh students face? And what steps is the Minister taking to heed this advice and ensure that gap is narrowed here in Wales?

Rydym yn gwybod bod cydberthynas glir rhwng perfformiad academaidd gwael ac amddifadedd parhaus. Dywedodd y Sefydliad Polisi Addysg, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:

'Roedd disgyblion dan anfantais barhaus yn profi bylchau anfantais mwy eto, gyda'r rhai yn Lloegr yn dioddef bwlch anfantais parhaus o 23 mis a'r rhai yng Nghymru'n profi bwlch o 29 mis. Heb fawr o arwydd y bydd y bylchau anfantais parhaus hyn yn cau... dylai llunwyr polisïau roi blaenoriaeth i wella canlyniadau disgyblion dan anfantais barhaus.'

Tra bo'n glir fod disgyblion Cymru mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig yn dioddef bwlch amddifadedd mwy na'u cyfoedion mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, mae angen gwneud mwy i sicrhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn lleihau'r bwlch hwn. Felly, sut mae cwricwlwm newydd y Gweinidog yn mynd i'r afael â'r bwlch y mae myfyrwyr Cymru'n ei wynebu? A pha gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i wrando ar y cyngor hwn a sicrhau bod y bwlch yn lleihau yma yng Nghymru?

14:55

Well, the report to which the Member refers was published following the statement that I made in the Senedd, I think, from memory—but somebody may correct me—back in March, and the speech that I then made to the Bevan Foundation in June, I believe, which sets out a full programme of interventions from early years to life-long learning to address some of the challenges that were confirmed to us in the report that he refers to. The curriculum has an important part to play in that. I think it will help us to meet the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable learners, and that's been an important consideration in how it's been designed. Embedding that equity in schools is, obviously, critical, and I think that because the curriculum takes the learner where they find the learner, it enables us to provide bespoke learner journeys, if you like, which can better help us support the most disadvantaged pupils.

But he will recall, perhaps, if he's had a chance to remind himself of that statement and that speech, the wide range of steps that we've been working on. Some of them are to support schools to employ the kind of teachers that they need to best develop strategies to help those pupils that need most support. Some of it is around peer-to-peer support for school leaders. I'm about to announce some initiatives in that area. Some of it is about quite challenging discussions that we need to have around how we approach setting in schools. So, we're going to undertake a piece of research on that. That happens quite extensively in Wales. I think we need a discussion about whether that is the right approach in all circumstances. Some of it is about interventions around literacy and reading, which he will know, from reading that report, have been a particular challenge over the course of the last two years of COVID, for example. And, on the point I was making at the very start in relation to the effective use of school-based funding where that targets deprivation—so, in Wales, that's the pupil development fund—we are working with Bangor University at the moment to understand what works effectively, where it works effectively, and for the outcome of that review to be available to all heads so they can best use that funding.

But there's a wide range of steps that are already under way. I will be reporting to the Senedd with an update on that, I think in the new year. But the crucial thing is I think no one intervention is going to be able to address the issue; it's a range of interventions. And I would also say—and I think I'm right in saying the report acknowledged this—deprivation in society is not something that a school can entirely mitigate on its own. That's part of a broader strategy, but there is work that schools can do, and that work is part of that broader plan. It's under way and, as I say, I'd be very happy to give a more detailed update on that work in the new year.

Wel, cyhoeddwyd yr adroddiad y cyfeiria'r Aelod ato yn dilyn y datganiad a wneuthum yn y Senedd, os cofiaf yn iawn—ond gallwch fy nghywiro—yn ôl ym mis Mawrth, a'r araith a wneuthum wedyn i Sefydliad Bevan ym mis Mehefin, rwy'n credu, sy'n nodi rhaglen lawn o ymyriadau o'r blynyddoedd cynnar i ddysgu gydol oes i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r heriau a gadarnhawyd i ni yn yr adroddiad y cyfeiria ato. Mae gan y cwricwlwm ran bwysig i'w chwarae yn hynny. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn ein helpu i ddiwallu anghenion dysgwyr difreintiedig a bregus, ac mae honno wedi bod yn ystyriaeth bwysig yn y ffordd y cafodd ei lunio. Mae gwreiddio'r tegwch hwnnw mewn ysgolion yn allweddol wrth gwrs, ac oherwydd bod y cwricwlwm yn mynd â'r dysgwr lle dônt o hyd i'r dysgwr, mae'n ein galluogi i ddarparu llwybrau pwrpasol, os mynnwch chi, i ddysgwyr a all ein helpu i gefnogi'r disgyblion mwyaf difreintiedig yn well.

Ond fe fydd yn cofio, efallai, os yw wedi cael cyfle i atgoffa ei hun ynglŷn â'r datganiad hwnnw a'r araith honno, yr ystod eang o gamau rydym wedi bod yn gweithio arnynt. Mae rhai ohonynt ar gyfer cefnogi ysgolion i gyflogi'r math o athrawon sydd eu hangen arnynt i ddatblygu strategaethau yn y ffordd orau i helpu'r disgyblion sydd angen fwyaf o gefnogaeth. Mae peth ohono'n ymwneud â chefnogaeth gan gymheiriaid i arweinwyr ysgolion. Rwyf ar fin cyhoeddi rhai cynlluniau yn y maes hwnnw. Mae peth ohono'n ymwneud â thrafodaethau eithaf heriol y mae angen inni eu cael ynglŷn â sut yr awn ati i setio mewn ysgolion. Felly, rydym yn mynd i wneud ymchwil ar hynny. Mae hynny'n digwydd yn eithaf helaeth yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu bod angen trafodaeth i weld ai dyna'r dull cywir ym mhob amgylchiad. Mae peth ohono'n ymwneud ag ymyriadau llythrennedd a darllen y bydd yn gwybod o ddarllen yr adroddiad eu bod wedi bod yn her arbennig dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf o COVID er enghraifft. Ac ar y pwynt roeddwn yn ei wneud ar y dechrau mewn perthynas â defnydd effeithiol o gyllid ysgolion sy'n targedu amddifadedd—felly, yng Nghymru, y gronfa datblygu disgyblion—rydym yn gweithio gyda Phrifysgol Bangor ar hyn o bryd i ddeall beth sy'n gweithio'n effeithiol, lle mae'n gweithio'n effeithiol, ac i ganlyniad yr adolygiad fod ar gael i bob pennaeth fel y gallant wneud y defnydd gorau o'r cyllid hwnnw.

Ond ceir ystod eang o gamau sydd eisoes ar y gweill. Byddaf yn adrodd i'r Senedd gyda diweddariad ar hynny, yn y flwyddyn newydd rwy'n credu. Ond y peth hollbwysig yw fy mod o'r farn nad oes unrhyw ymyrraeth unigol yn mynd i allu mynd i'r afael â'r mater; mae'n galw am ystod o ymyriadau. A hoffwn ddweud hefyd—ac rwy'n credu fy mod yn iawn i ddweud bod yr adroddiad wedi cydnabod hyn—nid yw amddifadedd yn y gymdeithas yn rhywbeth y gall ysgol ei liniaru'n llwyr ar ei phen ei hun. Mae hynny'n rhan o strategaeth ehangach, ond mae yna waith y gall ysgolion ei wneud, ac mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n rhan o'r cynllun ehangach. Mae ar y gweill ac fel rwy'n dweud, byddaf yn falch iawn o roi diweddariad manylach ar y gwaith hwnnw yn y flwyddyn newydd.

Hyfforddiant ym Maes Gofal Cymdeithasol
Social Care Training

5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a sefydliadau addysg bellach ac addysg uwch ynglŷn â datblygu hyfforddiant ar gyfer gweithwyr proffesiynol ym maes gofal cymdeithasol? OQ58738

5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social Services and further and higher education institutions about developing training for social care professionals? OQ58738

I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues about education, training and development and their portfolios.

Rwy'n cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda chyd-Weinidogion ynglŷn ag addysg, hyfforddiant a datblygu a'u portffolios.

Minister, we know that having the right number of qualified and well-supported professionals in the health and social care sector is vital for the delivery of high-quality services. Our higher and further education colleges are key to ensuring we can attract, inspire and train people in the range of health and care disciplines we need. They do a superb job. Looking specifically at further education, what more can we do to actually promote a career in care to those young people who are the workforce of the future?

Weinidog, rydym yn gwybod bod cael y nifer cywir o weithwyr proffesiynol cymwys wedi eu cefnogi'n dda yn y sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn hanfodol ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau o ansawdd uchel. Mae ein colegau addysg uwch ac addysg bellach yn allweddol i sicrhau y gallwn ddenu, ysbrydoli a hyfforddi pobl yn yr ystod o ddisgyblaethau iechyd a gofal sydd eu hangen arnom. Maent yn gwneud gwaith gwych. O edrych yn benodol ar addysg bellach, beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i hyrwyddo gyrfa mewn gofal i'r bobl ifanc a fydd yn weithlu'r dyfodol?

That's a really important question—thank you to Altaf Hussain for raising it. There's a huge amount of work under way to ensure that social care workers across the sector in Wales can receive the training that they need to do their jobs well, and that that is promoted to people as a career path. Social Care Wales, as the regulator, the body with responsibility for workforce development, works with higher education institutions, FE institutions and others on a range of matters in relation to education and training, but qualifications obviously are key to the registration of the social care workforce, which is an important part of our professionalisation agenda for the sector. We continue to provide significant funds to the social care sector for training and development, through the social care workforce development programme with Social Care Wales. You will also know, I think, that Qualifications Wales has also recently established a sector qualification group to examine health, social care and childcare in particular, to seek and to receive feedback around any gaps in provision, resolving any issues relating to the post-16 qualification, so that we can make sure that that is an attractive and popular route for young people looking at a profession in the care sector as an option, so that it's popular for them to take up.

Dyna gwestiwn pwysig iawn—diolch i Altaf Hussain am ei godi. Mae gwaith aruthrol ar y gweill i sicrhau bod gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol ar draws y sector yng Nghymru yn gallu cael yr hyfforddiant sydd ei angen arnynt i wneud eu gwaith yn dda, a bod hynny'n cael ei hyrwyddo i bobl fel llwybr gyrfa. Mae Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru, fel y rheoleiddiwr, y corff sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros ddatblygu'r gweithlu, yn gweithio gyda sefydliadau addysg uwch, sefydliadau addysg bellach ac eraill ar ystod o faterion sy'n gysylltiedig ag addysg a hyfforddiant, ond yn amlwg mae cymwysterau'n allweddol ar gyfer cofrestru'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, sy'n rhan bwysig o'n hagenda broffesiynoli ar gyfer y sector. Rydym yn parhau i ddarparu cronfeydd sylweddol i'r sector gofal cymdeithasol ar gyfer hyfforddiant a datblygu, drwy raglen datblygu'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol gyda Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru. Rwy'n credu y byddwch yn gwybod bod Cymwysterau Cymru hefyd wedi sefydlu grŵp cymwysterau sector yn ddiweddar i archwilio iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol a gofal plant yn benodol, i gael adborth ar unrhyw fylchau yn y ddarpariaeth, i ddatrys unrhyw faterion sy'n ymwneud â'r cymhwyster ôl-16, er mwyn inni wneud yn siŵr fod hwnnw'n llwybr deniadol a phoblogaidd i bobl ifanc sy'n edrych ar broffesiwn yn y sector gofal fel opsiwn, fel ei fod yn boblogaidd iddynt ei ddilyn.

15:00
Niwed Ar-lein
Online Harm

6. Sut fydd cwricwlwm newydd Cymru yn helpu pobl ifanc i adnabod niwed ar-lein ac amddiffyn eu hunain rhagddo? OQ58755

6. How will the new Curriculum for Wales help young people to better identify, and protect themselves from, online harm? OQ58755

Keeping safe online is critical to our children's physical and mental health. That's why digital competence is a mandatory cross-curricular skill and the health and well-being area has a focus on developing safe behaviour online. It's also a clear focus of the relationships and sexuality education code.

Mae cadw'n ddiogel ar-lein yn hanfodol i iechyd corfforol a meddyliol ein plant. Dyna pam y mae cymhwysedd digidol yn sgìl trawsgwricwlaidd gorfodol a dyna pam fod gan y maes iechyd a llesiant ffocws ar ddatblygu ymddygiad diogel ar-lein. Mae hefyd yn ffocws amlwg i'r cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb.

Thank you, Minister, for your response. Minister, a Youth Endowment Fund report highlighted some concerning statistics: over the past 12 months alone, some 54 per cent of children and young people in Wales had experienced or had seen some form of online violence on social media. This has had a profound effect on not only the mental health and well-being of these young people, but their education and wider lives too. In Wales, 57 per cent had changed their behaviour and a tenth had missed school because of online violence. These numbers also help to back up many of the observations made by the Children, Young People and Education Committee in their report on pupil absence from school, which said that learners' mental health is a key factor in them missing school. The new curriculum is a welcome step in helping young people to better understand some of these issues, and the health and well-being area of learning and experience has the potential to be an important vehicle to introduce such issues in education settings. Minister, how is the Government working with schools to ensure that teachers and other education professionals are equipped with the skills they need to effectively discuss these difficult but important topics with young people? Does the Government have plans to help schools to better engage with parents and guardians so that they too are able to support children to identify and protect themselves from online harm?

Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Mae adroddiad gan y Gronfa Gwaddol Ieuenctid wedi tynnu sylw at ystadegau sy'n peri pryder: dros y 12 mis diwethaf yn unig, mae tua 54 y cant o blant a phobl ifanc Cymru wedi profi neu wedi gweld rhyw fath o drais ar-lein ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Mae hyn wedi cael effaith ddwys ar iechyd meddwl a llesiant y bobl ifanc hyn yn ogystal â'u haddysg a'u bywydau ehangach hefyd. Yng Nghymru, mae 57 y cant wedi newid eu hymddygiad ac un o bob deg wedi colli ysgol oherwydd trais ar-lein. Mae'r niferoedd hyn hefyd yn helpu i gefnogi llawer o'r arsylwadau a wnaed gan y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg yn eu hadroddiad ar absenoldeb disgyblion o'r ysgol, a ddywedodd fod iechyd meddwl dysgwyr yn ffactor allweddol yn eu habsenoldeb o'r ysgol. Mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn gam i'w groesawu i helpu pobl ifanc i ddeall rhai o'r materion hyn yn well, ac mae gan y maes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a llesiant botensial i fod yn gyfrwng pwysig i gyflwyno materion o'r fath mewn lleoliadau addysg. Weinidog, sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio gydag ysgolion i sicrhau bod athrawon a gweithwyr addysg proffesiynol eraill yn cael y sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt i drafod y pynciau anodd ond pwysig hyn yn effeithiol gyda phobl ifanc? A oes gan y Llywodraeth gynlluniau i helpu ysgolion i ymgysylltu'n well â rhieni a gwarcheidwaid fel eu bod hwy hefyd yn gallu cefnogi plant i adnabod niwed ar-lein a diogelu eu hunain rhagddo?

I thank Peter Fox for raising this and for the way in which he's raised it. It's a very profound challenge, isn't it, and a challenge that many of us who are—considerably, in my case, at least—beyond school years find it hard to understand the scale of, really. But it is a very significant issue, and as Peter Fox was saying, the evidence given to the CYPE committee is very vivid in the scale of the challenge that young people face.

You mentioned the health and well-being area of learning in the curriculum, and that is fundamental to how we can teach young people to develop safe behaviours in relation to the online world. In many ways, so many aspects of our lives are now entwined with using technology that teaching that digital literacy and resilience is absolutely fundamental.

We have a dedicated single area on Hwb, the learning platform, called 'Keeping safe online', which provides learners but also, in the way that his question was asking about, families, practitioners, professionals and governors with a range of resources. That's where we make sure that all our resources in this area are hosted. Some of them have been developed specifically as a consequence of the work that we've been doing in relation to peer-on-peer sexual harassment in school. There are broader resources there as well, and that is about enhancing digital resilience across the life of the school generally, including obviously online safety but also cyber security and data protection. All of those aspects can have a significant impact, can't they, on the lives of young people.

Also, just to say, keeping children safe obviously is a part of the RSE code, and online safety in that context, dealing with issues around online bullying, for example. All of those are included in the code at a developmentally appropriate phase, handled in a sensitive way, and we will continue to invest in professional learning and support for teachers so that they have the best available resources for teaching young people in this area. 

Diolch i Peter Fox am godi hyn ac am y ffordd y mae wedi'i godi. Mae'n her ddwys iawn, onid yw, ac mae llawer ohonom sydd wedi hen adael yr ysgol—ers amser hir yn fy achos i, o leiaf—yn ei chael hi'n anodd deall graddfa'r her mewn gwirionedd. Ond mae'n broblem fawr iawn, ac fel roedd Peter Fox yn dweud, mae'r dystiolaeth a roddwyd i'r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg yn glir iawn o ran maint yr her y mae pobl ifanc yn ei hwynebu.

Fe wnaethoch grybwyll y maes dysgu iechyd a llesiant yn y cwricwlwm, ac mae hwnnw'n hanfodol i sut y gallwn ddysgu pobl ifanc i ddatblygu ymddygiadau diogel mewn perthynas â'r byd ar-lein. Mewn sawl ffordd, mae cymaint o agweddau ar ein bywydau bellach yn gysylltiedig â defnyddio technoleg fel bod dysgu llythrennedd a gwytnwch digidol yn gwbl hanfodol.

Mae gennym ardal bwrpasol ar Hwb, y platfform dysgu, o'r enw 'Cadw'n ddiogel ar-lein', sy'n darparu ystod o adnoddau i ddysgwyr ond hefyd, yn y ffordd roedd ei gwestiwn yn holi yn ei gylch, i deuluoedd, ymarferwyr, gweithwyr proffesiynol a llywodraethwyr. Dyna lle y gwnawn yn siŵr fod ein holl adnoddau yn y maes yn cael eu cynnwys. Mae rhai ohonynt wedi'u datblygu'n benodol o ganlyniad i'r gwaith y buom yn ei wneud mewn perthynas ag aflonyddu'n rhywiol ar gyfoedion yn yr ysgol. Mae adnoddau ehangach yno hefyd, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â gwella gwytnwch digidol ar draws bywyd yr ysgol yn gyffredinol, gan gynnwys diogelwch ar-lein yn amlwg ond hefyd diogelwch seiber a diogelu data. Mae'r holl agweddau hynny'n gallu cael effaith sylweddol, oni allant, ar fywydau pobl ifanc.

Hefyd, hoffwn ddweud bod cadw plant yn ddiogel yn amlwg yn rhan o'r cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb, a diogelwch ar-lein yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, gan ymdrin â materion sy'n ymwneud â bwlio ar-lein, er enghraifft. Mae pob un o'r rheini wedi'u cynnwys yn y cod ar gam sy'n briodol yn ddatblygiadol, wedi'u trin mewn ffordd sensitif, a byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn dysgu proffesiynol a chefnogaeth i athrawon fel bod ganddynt yr adnoddau gorau sydd ar gael ar gyfer addysgu pobl ifanc yn y maes hwn. 

15:05
Gweithgareddau Hamdden drwy Gyfrwng y Gymraeg
Welsh-medium Leisure Activities

7. Pa gefnogaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei rhoi i sicrhau gweithgareddau hamdden drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg i blant a phobol ifanc? OQ58756

7. What support is the Government providing to ensure that leisure activities through the medium of Welsh are available to children and young people? OQ58756

Rydym yn darparu dros £5 miliwn i bartneriaid fel yr Urdd, y ffermwyr ifanc a'r mentrau ar gyfer gweithgareddau Cymraeg. Yr wythnos diwethaf, ymunodd 230 o blant yn jamborî yr Urdd i ddathlu tîm Cymru yng nghwpan y byd, a byddaf i'n parhau i bwysleisio defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn fy holl waith.

We provide over £5 million to partners such as the Urdd, the young farmers and the mentrau for activities through the medium of Welsh. Last week, 230 children joined in the Urdd jamboree to celebrate the Wales team in the world cup, and I'll be continuing to emphasise the use of the Welsh language in all of my work. 

Rhyw 230,000 o blant dwi'n meddwl roeddech chi'n ei olygu, nid 230.

Dwi jest eisiau amlygu i chi mater eithaf difrifol, a dweud y gwir, achos etholwr i fi sydd wedi bod yn aros dros dair blynedd am wersi nofio trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg i'w blant e. Fe gyflwynwyd cwyn i'r comisiynydd iaith nôl yn 2017, ac mi farnwyd bryd hynny bod y cyngor wedi methu â chwrdd â'r safonau iaith angenrheidiol. Mi gymeradwywyd cynllun gweithredu i'r cyngor er mwyn darparu gwersi nofio yn y Gymraeg. Ymlaen, wedyn, i 2020, doedd hynny ddim wedi ei ddarparu, ac felly mi gafwyd cwyn arall. Mi ffeindiwyd eto bod y cyngor wedi methu â chwrdd â'r safonau iaith angenrheidiol ac wedi methu â chydymffurfio â'r cynllun gweithredu a roddwyd yn ei le yn dilyn y cwyn blaenorol. Rŷn ni nawr ar ddiwedd 2022, bron 2023, ac maen nhw'n dal i aros. Ydych chi'n cytuno â fi bod hynny'n annerbyniol? Oherwydd yr unig gasgliad dwi'n dod iddo fe yw bod hwn yn gwahaniaethu ar sail ieithyddol. Dwi eisiau gwybod beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol fel Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam yn cymryd hyn o ddifrif, oherwydd mae siaradwyr Cymraeg yn methu allan ar gyfleoedd sylfaenol y mae pawb arall jest yn eu cymryd yn ganiataol. 

I think you meant 230,000 children, rather than 230.

I just want to highlight quite a serious issue, a case of a constituent of mine who has been waiting over three years for Welsh-medium swimming lessons for his children. A complaint was made to the language commissioner in 2017, and it was decided that the proper actions hadn't been taken. The council was given an order to provide lessons through the medium of Welsh. By 2020, that hadn't been provided, and there was another complaint. It was again found that the council has failed to meet language standards and had failed to comply with the action plan put in place following the previous complaint. We're now at the end of 2022, almost 2023, and they are still waiting. Do you agree with me that that is unacceptable? Because the only conclusion I can come to is that this is discrimination on the basis of language. I want to know what the Government is doing to ensure that local authorities like Wrexham County Borough Council do take this seriously, because Welsh speakers are missing out on fundamental opportunities that everyone else takes for granted. 

A gaf i achub ar y cyfle i gywiro'r record mai 230,000 roeddwn i yn bwriadu ei ddweud yn yr ateb blaenorol?

Jest i ategu beth mae'r Aelod newydd ddweud, dwi'n siomedig iawn bod y teulu yma—ymysg eraill, siŵr o fod, yn y gymuned, byddwn i'n tybio—yn methu â chael mynediad at wersi nofio yn Gymraeg. Rydyn ni wedi paratoi safonau sy'n gosod dyletswyddau ar awdurdodau lleol i gynnig cyrsiau addysg drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, sy'n cynnwys safonau penodol ar gyfer cyrsiau addysg wedi eu hanelu at bobl ifanc. Mater i'r comisiynydd, wrth gwrs, yw pennu'r safonau a monitro cydymffurfiaeth, fel mae'n cydnabod yn ei gwestiwn. Ond, er mwyn bod yn rhagweithiol o'n safbwynt ni yn y maes yma, rydyn ni'n darparu arian sylweddol i bartneriaid fel yr Urdd a mentrau iaith i ddarparu gweithgareddau hamdden yn y Gymraeg, a hefyd yn rhoi arian i gynllun prentisiaethau adran chwaraeon a phrentisiaethau'r Urdd sy'n canolbwyntio ar gynyddu sgiliau Cymraeg hyfforddwyr chwaraeon y dyfodol. Felly, mae sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu darparu'r gwersi yma yn y Gymraeg yn rhan bwysig o hynny, a dyna un o'n blaenoriaethau ni o ran ariannu.  

Can I take the opportunity to correct the record that it was 230,000 children? That's what I intended to say in my answer. 

I just want to echo what the Member has just said. I am disappointed for this family and others, I shouldn't wonder, in the community who can't access Welsh-medium swimming lessons. We've prepared standards that place duties on local authorities to provide education courses through the medium of Welsh, which include specific standards for education courses aimed at young people. It's a matter for the commissioner to set the standards and to ensure compliance, as the Member acknowledges in the question. But, to be proactive from our point of view in this field, we do provide significant funding for partners, such as the Urdd and mentrau iaith, to provide leisure activities through the medium of Welsh, and we also provide funding to the Urdd sport apprenticeships, which focus on increasing Welsh-medium skills for sporting coaches in future. So, ensuring that people are able to provide these lessons through the medium of Welsh is an important part of that work, and that is one of our priorities in terms of funding. 

I'm glad this question has been raised this afternoon as I'd like to applaud the work and efforts of cylchoedd meithrin, or Welsh-language preschools, in Denbighshire, north Wales, and across the country, who play a vital role in introducing preschool-age children to the Welsh language and provide educational and activity-based programmes to encourage the benefits of Welsh-medium education at an entry level and offer skills for life. Will the Minister join me in congratulating local and national cylchoedd meithrin and the roles they play in Welsh society for my constituents and people across Wales? Thank you. 

Rwy'n falch fod y cwestiwn hwn wedi cael ei godi y prynhawn yma oherwydd hoffwn gymeradwyo gwaith ac ymdrechion cylchoedd meithrin, neu gyn ysgolion Cymraeg eu hiaith, yn sir Ddinbych, gogledd Cymru, ac ar draws y wlad, sy'n chwarae rhan allweddol yn cyflwyno plant dan oed ysgol i'r Gymraeg ac yn darparu rhaglenni addysgol a rhaglenni'n seiliedig ar weithgareddau i annog manteision addysg Gymraeg ar lefel mynediad a chynnig sgiliau i bara oes. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ymuno â mi i longyfarch cylchoedd meithrin lleol a chenedlaethol a'r rolau y maent yn eu chwarae yn y gymdeithas yng Nghymru i fy etholwyr a phobl ledled Cymru? Diolch. 

15:10

I certainly will. They play an integral role in making sure that young people are able to access early years and nursery through the medium of Welsh. That is fantastic in terms of ensuring that Welsh language provision is available, but also supporting parents in making that choice for their children and also sometimes encouraging parents themselves to learn Welsh. We know that is one of the best possible ways of making sure that we meet our goals of a million Welsh speakers and making sure that young people and children get the support for the options they want to choose in this area. So, I’m very happy indeed to join in congratulating and thanking Mudiad Meithrin for all the work they do.

Gwnaf, yn sicr. Maent yn chwarae rhan annatod yn sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn gallu cael mynediad at addysg blynyddoedd cynnar a meithrinfeydd drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae hynny'n wych o ran sicrhau bod darpariaeth Gymraeg ar gael, ond mae hefyd yn cefnogi rhieni i wneud y dewis hwnnw i'w plant a weithiau'n annog rhieni eu hunain i ddysgu Cymraeg. Rydym yn gwybod mai dyna un o'r ffyrdd gorau posibl o sicrhau ein bod yn cyrraedd ein nod o gael miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg a gwneud yn siŵr fod pobl ifanc a phlant yn cael cefnogaeth ar gyfer yr opsiynau y maent eisiau eu dewis yn y maes hwn. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn wir i ymuno â chi a llongyfarch a diolch i'r Mudiad Meithrin am yr holl waith y maent yn ei wneud.

Hyfforddi Athrawon
Teacher Training

8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi diweddariad ar unrhyw gynnydd mewn denu pobl i hyfforddi fel athrawon i ddysgu mewn ysgolion uwchradd cyfrwng Cymraeg? OQ58757

8. Will the Minister provide an update on any progress in attracting people to train as teachers to teach in Welsh-medium secondary schools? OQ58757

Rŷn ni'n bwrw ymlaen gyda'n cynllun gweithlu Cymraeg mewn addysg 10 mlynedd, sy'n cynnwys datblygu a gweithredu strategaeth farchnata mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor y Gweithlu Addysg a’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol i annog mwy o siaradwyr Cymraeg i ddewis addysgu fel gyrfa.

We are progressing with our 10-year Welsh in education workforce plan, which includes developing and implementing a marketing strategy in partnership with the Education Workforce Council and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to encourage more Welsh speakers to choose teaching as a career.

Diolch, Weinidog. Oes modd i chi egluro pa waith sy'n digwydd i adnabod y pynciau hynny ble mae prinder o athrawon cyfrwng Cymraeg uwchradd? Rŷn ni'n deall bod prinder difrifol o ran y rhai sy’n hyfforddi mewn pynciau fel ffiseg a mathemateg, er enghraifft, ac felly hoffwn wybod beth mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i ddadansoddi’r data er mwyn bwydo i mewn i’r gwaith o ddenu mwy o fyfyrwyr gyda graddau yn y pynciau hynny i hyfforddi fel athrawon uwchradd cyfrwng Cymraeg. Pwy sydd â chyfrifoldeb i wneud y gwaith dadansoddi, cynllunio a monitro hynny? O ran ffiseg yn benodol, ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, dim ond 43 y cant o’r rhai sy’n addysgu’r pwnc mewn ysgolion uwchradd a gafodd hyfforddiant yn y pwnc. A all y Gweinidog gadarnhau nifer yr athrawon ffiseg a hyfforddwyd mewn ffiseg sy’n gweithio mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg? Y cymhelliant i hyfforddi i addysgu ffiseg mewn ysgolion uwchradd Cymraeg yw £20,000—£7,000 yn is na’r isafswm y bydd rhywun yn cael yn Lloegr. Mae’r bwlch ar gyfer y rhai sy’n addysgu yn y sector addysg bellach hyd yn oed yn fwy: £26,000 yn Lloegr o’i gymharu â dim ond £4,000 yng Nghymru. Felly, o ystyried yr angen, a yw’r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu mynd i’r afael â’r gwahaniaeth hwn?

Thank you, Minister. Can you explain what work is being done to identify those subjects where there is a lack of Welsh-medium teachers in the secondary sector? We understand that there is a serious lack in terms of those training in physics and mathematics, for example, so I’d like to know what the Government is doing to analyse the data to feed in to the work of attracting more students with degrees in those subjects to train as secondary teachers through the medium of Welsh. Who is responsible for doing that analysis, planning and monitoring? In terms of physics specifically, for the whole of Wales, only 43 per cent of those who teach the subject in secondary schools received training in that subject. So, can the Minister confirm the number of physics teachers trained in physics who are working in Welsh-medium schools? The incentive to teach physics through the medium of Welsh is £20,000—£7,000 less than the minimum one would receive in England. And the gap for those teaching in the further education sector is even greater: £26,000 in England as compared to only £4,000 in Wales. So, bearing in mind the need and demand, will the Minister tackle this deficit?

Diolch i’r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw. Mae’r data ŷn ni’n defnyddio yn sail i’r polisïau o ran cymhellion ariannol y mae’r Aelod eisoes wedi sôn amdanyn nhw. Dyw’r gymhariaeth rhwng beth sydd ar gael yng Nghymru a Lloegr ddim yn un cymwys, ond mae’r gefnogaeth yng Nghymru ar gael mewn pynciau lle mae prinder. Ar ben hynny, wrth gwrs, mae cymhellion penodol ar gyfer athrawon sy’n bwriadu dysgu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Un o’r pethau ŷn ni eisiau gweld—roedd hi’n sôn am gymhellion ar draws y ffin—yw bod pobl sydd efallai yn siarad Cymraeg ond sydd ar hyn o bryd yn astudio yn y pynciau hynny yn Lloegr—ein bod ni’n gweithio gyda’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol i adnabod pwy yw’r bobl hynny, ac i gael trafodaeth a chyfathrebu gyda nhw i ddwyn perswâd arnyn nhw i ddod nôl i Gymru i ddysgu. Felly, dwi’n credu bod hynny yn un o’r pethau creadigol ddaeth allan o’r gwaith gyda’n partneriaid a rhanddeiliaid yn y cynllun 10 mlynedd. Bydd rhai elfennau ohono fe yn llwyddo’n sylweddol iawn, byddwn i’n meddwl, ond dŷn ni ddim yn disgwyl llwyddiant ym mhob un o’r ymyriadau sy’n cael eu cynnig yn y cynllun, felly y peth pwysig yw ein bod ni’n cadw i adnewyddu hynny, yn cadw i edrych ar y data, fel mae’r Aelod yn dweud, i weld beth sydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ar lawr gwlad, beth sydd yn llwyddo orau, ac yn pwysleisio'r rheini. Ac os nad yw rhai elfennau ohono fe’n gweithio, byddwn ni’n barod i ddweud hynny a phwysleisio'r rheini sydd yn. Ond beth ŷn ni wedi gweld yw cydweithio creadigol iawn gan ein partneriaid ni ar draws y system, yn cynnwys y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, yn cynnwys yr EWC ac eraill, ac rwy’n credu bod yr her yn un mae pawb yn deall sydd yn gyffredinol; mae’n her sylweddol. Mae’r cymhellion mae’r Aelod wedi sôn amdanyn nhw yn un elfen o hynny, ond jest un elfen.

I thank the Member for that important question. The data that we use is the foundation for policies in terms of financial incentives and the Member has already mentioned those. The comparison between what’s available in Wales and England isn’t appropriate, but there is support in Wales for subjects where there are shortages. In addition to that, there are additional incentives for those wishing to teach through the medium of Welsh. You mentioned incentives across the border. One of the things we want to see is those people who are Welsh speakers but are studying those subjects in England—that we work with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to identify those people and to communicate with them to persuade them to return to Wales to teach. I think that’s one of the creative things that came out of the work with partners and stakeholders as part of the 10-year plan. Some elements will be very successful, but we don’t expect success with all of the interventions proposed by the plan, so the important thing is that we continue to renew that and continue to look at the data, as the Member said, to see what makes a difference on the ground and what is most successful and to emphasise those. And if some elements don’t work, we’ll be willing to say that and focus on those that do work. But what we have seen is a very creative collaboration by partners across the system, including the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, including the EWC and others, and I think the challenge is a significant one. The incentives that the Member mentioned are one element of that, but only one element.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cwestynau amserol. Dim ond un sydd wedi ei gytuno y prynhawn yma. Mae e i'w ateb gan y Cwnsler Cyffredinol, ac mae e i'w ofyn gan Adam Price.

The next item is the topical questions. There is only one question that has been agreed this afternoon. It's to be answered by the Counsel General, and it's to be asked by Adam Price.

1. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o sut bydd dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys ar fwriad Senedd yr Alban i gynnal ail refferendwm ar annibyniaeth yn effeithio ar allu Cymru i benderfynu ar ei dyfodol cyfansoddiadol ei hun? TQ687

1. What assessment has the Counsel General made of how the Supreme Court's judgement on the Scottish Parliament's intention to hold a second independence referendum will affect Wales’s ability to decide its own constitutional future? TQ687

The judgment was handed down this morning. I will take time to study the judgment carefully.

Cafodd y dyfarniad ei gyhoeddi y bore yma. Byddaf yn rhoi amser i astudio'r dyfarniad yn ofalus.

15:15

Well, as we know, Counsel General, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict that the Scottish Government, despite the strength of the democratic mandate it secured at last year's Holyrood election, has no legal route under the current constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom to hold an independence referendum if Westminster continues to withhold its consent. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has already stated in the House of Commons that he will continue to disregard that unambiguous mandate, even though you could say that his personal mandate is indirect at best and somewhat tenuous. And, really, what we have here, of course, is a Westminster veto, effectively, a clear crystallisation of the doctrine of Westminster supremacy that we, as a nation, and Scotland, as a nation, are not in a union of equals. We are not an equal Parliament either, and, unfortunately, of course, this situation will not change, even with a change in Government at Westminster, because the UK Labour leader has himself said that he will not agree an Order in Council, under section 30 in the case of Scotland, to hold an independence referendum either. So, that Westminster veto is being used by both Labour and Conservative parties at Westminster in this case.

So, does the Counsel General agree with the view that has been expressed today by the First Minister of Scotland that this judgment emphatically and unequivocally illustrates the fallacy of the notion of the United Kingdom as a voluntary partnership of equals, as a voluntary association? Now, the First Minister in Scotland has announced that she will hold a special conference to explore the means by which the next UK general election could be framed in Scotland as a de facto referendum. Now, this is obviously far from ideal, but it is the only route available to them currently, given the block on other routes for self-determination. As the Counsel General knows, there is a historic precedent in this regard, the 1918 general election, when Sinn Fein in Ireland sought a mandate and stood on a platform of establishing an Irish republic, and the landslide that they got through that referendum was the basis on which they established Dáil Éireann and declared the Irish republic, though, unfortunately, that mandate itself was not immediately respected with very tragic consequences that I'm sure all of us would wish had been avoided.

Does the Counsel General agree with the comments by Professor Ciaran Martin in the joint Senedd and Welsh Government lecture last night that all the nations of these islands should have a clear and legitimate route to express their desire in terms of their constitutional future, including the right to hold an independence referendum? And does he agree, whatever the judgment of the Supreme Court in terms of its interpretation of international law, that, politically, democratically, philosophically, every nation has the right to self-determination, that, as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights says,

'All peoples have the right of self-determination'?

That has a particular urgency, you and I will agree on this, in the cases of countries that are colonised or subject to military occupation, absolutely, but the principle is an universal one that we must all, as democrats, uphold. So, does the Counsel General agree that that right to self-determination for Wales, for Scotland, for the people of the north of Ireland, should be enshrined and protected in law in the UK to address the democratic deficit that has been laid bare this morning in the judgment? It is particularly affecting the people of Scotland, given the very clear mandate that there is there, but it is of importance to us as well as we consider our constitutional future. Though you and I disagree in terms of independence, would you, as a democrat, express your solidarity with the people of Scotland and express the clear view of the Welsh Government that every nation, including the Scottish nation, and the Scottish people have the right to self-determination and that should be respected?

Wel, fel y gwyddom, Gwnsler Cyffredinol, cyhoeddodd y Goruchaf Lys ei ddyfarniad nad oes gan Lywodraeth yr Alban, er gwaethaf cryfder y mandad democrataidd a sicrhawyd yn etholiad Holyrood y llynedd, lwybr cyfreithiol o dan drefniadau cyfansoddiadol presennol y Deyrnas Unedig i gynnal refferendwm annibyniaeth os yw Llywodraeth San Steffan yn parhau i wrthod rhoi ei chaniatâd. Mae Prif Weinidog y Deyrnas Unedig eisoes wedi datgan yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin y bydd yn parhau i ddiystyru'r mandad diamwys hwnnw, er y gallech ddweud bod ei fandad personol yn anuniongyrchol ar y gorau ac ychydig yn ddisylwedd. Ac mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn sydd gennym yma, wrth gwrs, yw feto San Steffan, i bob pwrpas, sy'n crisialu athrawiaeth goruchafiaeth San Steffan yn glir nad ydym ni, fel cenedl, na'r Alban, fel cenedl, yn undeb cydradd. Nid ydym yn Senedd gydradd ychwaith, ac yn anffodus, wrth gwrs, ni fydd y sefyllfa hon yn newid, hyd yn oed gyda newid Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, oherwydd mae arweinydd Llafur y DU ei hun wedi dweud na fydd yn cytuno i Orchymyn yn y Cyfrin Gyngor, o dan adran 30 yn achos yr Alban, i gynnal refferendwm ar annibyniaeth ychwaith. Felly, mae feto San Steffan yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan bleidiau Llafur a Cheidwadol yn San Steffan yn yr achos hwn.

Felly, a yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno â'r farn a fynegwyd heddiw gan Brif Weinidog yr Alban fod y dyfarniad hwn yn bendant ac yn ddigamsyniol yn dangos mai ffug yw'r syniad fod y Deyrnas Unedig yn bartneriaeth gydradd a gwirfoddol, yn gymdeithas wirfoddol? Nawr, mae Prif Weinidog yr Alban wedi cyhoeddi y bydd yn cynnal cynhadledd arbennig i archwilio'r modd y gellid fframio etholiad cyffredinol nesaf y DU yn yr Alban fel refferendwm de facto. Nawr, mae hyn yn amlwg ymhell o fod yn ddelfrydol, ond dyma'r unig lwybr sydd ar gael iddynt ar hyn o bryd, o ystyried y rhwystr ar lwybrau eraill tuag at hunanbenderfyniaeth. Fel y gŵyr y Cwnsler Cyffredinol, ceir cynsail hanesyddol yn hyn o beth, etholiad cyffredinol 1918, pan oedd Sinn Fein yn Iwerddon yn ceisio mandad ac yn sefyll dros sefydlu gweriniaeth Wyddelig, ac ar sail eu buddugoliaeth ysgubol yn y refferendwm hwnnw sefydlwyd Dáil Éireann a chyhoeddwyd gweriniaeth Iwerddon, er, yn anffodus, ni chafodd y mandad hwnnw ei barchu ar unwaith gan arwain at ganlyniadau trasig iawn y byddai pawb ohonom, rwy'n siŵr, yn dymuno pe baent wedi cael eu hosgoi.

A yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno â sylwadau'r Athro Ciaran Martin yn narlith y Senedd ar y cyd â Llywodraeth Cymru neithiwr y dylai holl genhedloedd yr ynysoedd hyn fod â llwybr clir a dilys i fynegi eu dymuniadau mewn perthynas â'u dyfodol cyfansoddiadol, gan gynnwys yr hawl i gynnal refferendwm annibyniaeth? A beth bynnag yw dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys ynghylch ei ddehongliad o gyfraith ryngwladol, a yw'n cytuno, yn wleidyddol, yn ddemocrataidd, yn athronyddol, fod gan bob cenedl hawl i hunanbenderfyniaeth, ac fel y dywed y Cyfamod Rhyngwladol ar Hawliau Sifil a Gwleidyddol,

'Mae gan yr holl bobloedd hawl i hunanbenderfyniaeth'?

Fe fyddwch chi a minnau'n cytuno bod brys penodol ynghlwm wrth hynny yn achosion gwledydd sydd wedi cael eu gwladychu neu sy'n ddarostyngedig i feddiannaeth filwrol, yn sicr, ond mae'r egwyddor yn un gyffredinol y mae'n rhaid i bawb ohonom, fel democratiaid, ei harddel. Felly, a yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno y dylai'r hawl i hunanbenderfyniaeth i Gymru, i'r Alban, i bobl gogledd Iwerddon, gael ei hymgorffori a'i gwarchod yng nghyfraith y DU er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r diffyg democrataidd sydd wedi'i ddatgelu'n amlwg yn y dyfarniad y bore yma? Mae'n effeithio'n arbennig ar bobl yr Alban, o ystyried y mandad clir iawn sydd yno, ond mae o bwys i ni hefyd wrth i ni ystyried ein dyfodol cyfansoddiadol. Er eich bod chi a minnau'n anghytuno mewn perthynas ag annibyniaeth, a fyddech chi, fel democrat, yn mynegi eich undod â phobl yr Alban ac yn mynegi barn glir Llywodraeth Cymru fod gan bob cenedl, gan gynnwys y genedl Albanaidd, a phobl yr Alban, hawl i hunanbenderfyniaeth ac y dylid parchu hynny?

15:20

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

Thank you for the question. Of course, yes, last night, I thought it was a very impressive presentation by Professor Ciaran Martin, following on from the previous presentation by Sir David Lidington. I think these are very important contributions to our understanding of the constitutional issues that clearly do face us.

I think it's worth just being clear about, firstly, what the judgment was this morning. The judgment was a unanimous judgment of all five Supreme Court judges. It is a 34-page judgment, and I will be considering the detail of the judgment very carefully. The main question in the judgment was whether the Scottish Parliament had the power to legislate for the holding of a referendum on Scottish independence. Our role as a Welsh Government within that case was limited. It was not appropriate to intervene, so we carried out a watching brief. There will be a need to consider carefully, I think, all the findings of the Supreme Court and to consider all the submissions that were made, and the response of the Supreme Court to them. I can certainly assure the Senedd that I will undertake that task.

It's also important to be clear about what the conclusion of the Supreme Court was. The Supreme Court stated very clearly that the provision of the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill that provides that the question should be asked in a referendum would be, 'Should Scotland be an independent country?', and the determination of the Supreme Court was that that is a reserved matter. Now, as far as Wales is concerned, the position that we've taken is really set out within our reforming justice paper, which was published, I think, in June 2021, where it said that

'Future constitutional developments in the United Kingdom should be considered on a holistic basis and on the basis of constitutional principle, rather than by way of ad hoc reforms to particular constitutional settlements. This should be undertaken by a constitutional convention.'

Now, of course, we have our own independent commission; we've set it up very much to look at and to explore some of the issues that the Member has specifically raised, and perhaps I'll just remind the Senedd again of what the terms of the independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales is. There are two broad objectives: the first is to consider and develop options for fundamental reform of the constitutional structures of the United Kingdom, in which Wales remains an integral part, and the second is to consider and develop all progressive principle options to strengthen Welsh democracy and to deliver improvements for the people of Wales. Professor Ciaran Martin certainly raised the point that, constitutionally, there needs to be a route in which decisions can actually be taken, and I certainly hope that our own commission will actually explore what those are.

Now, you know that the position of the Welsh Government is that Wales's interests are best served by being part of the United Kingdom, but a United Kingdom that needs significant and radical reform, and those reforms are set out in the 'Reforming our union: shared governance in the UK' paper. I certainly am of the view that the best way of actually achieving constitutional reform and change is best achieved by electing a Labour Government across the UK in the next general election.

Diolch am y cwestiwn. Wrth gwrs, roeddwn yn credu bod cyflwyniad yr Athro Ciaran Martin yn drawiadol iawn neithiwr, yn dilyn y cyflwyniad blaenorol gan Syr David Lidington. Rwy'n credu bod y rhain yn gyfraniadau pwysig iawn i'n dealltwriaeth o'r materion cyfansoddiadol sy'n amlwg yn ein hwynebu.

I ddechrau, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth inni fod yn glir ynghylch y dyfarniad y bore yma. Roedd y dyfarniad yn ddyfarniad unfrydol gan bob un o'r pum barnwr yn y Goruchaf Lys. Mae'n ddyfarniad 34 tudalen, a byddaf yn ystyried manylion y dyfarniad yn ofalus iawn. Y prif gwestiwn yn y dyfarniad oedd a oedd gan Senedd yr Alban rym i ddeddfu ar gyfer cynnal refferendwm annibyniaeth i'r Alban. Roedd ein rôl fel Llywodraeth Cymru yn yr achos hwnnw yn gyfyngedig. Nid oedd yn briodol ymyrryd, felly fe wnaethom gynnal briff gwylio. Credaf y bydd angen ystyried holl ganfyddiadau'r Goruchaf Lys ac ystyried yr holl gyflwyniadau a wnaed yn ofalus, yn ogystal ag ymateb y Goruchaf Lys iddynt. Yn sicr gallaf sicrhau'r Senedd y byddaf yn ymgymryd â'r dasg honno.

Mae hefyd yn bwysig inni fod yn glir ynghylch casgliad y Goruchaf Lys. Roedd y Goruchaf Lys yn glir iawn, mewn perthynas â darpariaeth Bil Refferendwm Annibyniaeth yr Alban, sy'n dweud mai'r cwestiwn y dylid ei ofyn mewn refferendwm yw, 'A ddylai'r Alban fod yn wlad annibynnol?', a phenderfyniad y Goruchaf Lys oedd bod hwnnw'n fater a gedwir yn ôl. Nawr, o ran Cymru, mae'r safbwynt rydym wedi'i fabwysiadu wedi'i nodi yn ein papur diwygio cyfiawnder, a gyhoeddwyd, rwy'n credu, ym mis Mehefin 2021, lle roedd yn dweud

'Dylid ystyried datblygiadau cyfansoddiadol yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn y dyfodol ar sail holistaidd ac ar sail egwyddor gyfansoddiadol, yn hytrach na thrwy ddiwygio setliadau cyfansoddiadol penodol mewn modd ad hoc. Dylid gwneud hyn drwy gonfensiwn cyfansoddiadol.'

Nawr, wrth gwrs, mae gennym ein comisiwn annibynnol ein hunain; rydym wedi ei sefydlu er mwyn ystyried ac archwilio rhai o'r materion y mae'r Aelod wedi'u codi'n benodol, ac efallai y dylwn atgoffa'r Senedd eto o dermau'r Comisiwn Annibynnol ar Ddyfodol Cyfansoddiadol Cymru. Ceir dau amcan eang: y cyntaf yw ystyried a datblygu opsiynau ar gyfer diwygio strwythurau cyfansoddiadol y Deyrnas Unedig yn sylfaenol, lle mae Cymru'n parhau i fod yn rhan annatod ohoni, a'r ail yw ystyried a datblygu pob opsiwn egwyddor flaengar i gryfhau democratiaeth Cymru a sicrhau gwelliannau i bobl Cymru. Yn sicr, nododd yr Athro Ciaran Martin y pwynt, yn gyfansoddiadol, fod angen llwybr lle gellir gwneud penderfyniadau mewn gwirionedd, ac rwy'n sicr yn gobeithio y bydd ein comisiwn ein hunain yn archwilio'r rheini.

Nawr, fe wyddoch mai safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru yw mai'r ffordd orau o ddiogelu buddiannau Cymru yw drwy fod yn rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig, ond Teyrnas Unedig sydd angen ei diwygio'n sylweddol ac yn radical, a nodir y diwygiadau hynny ym mhapur 'Diwygio ein hundeb: cydlywodraethu yn y DU'. Yn sicr, rwy'n credu mai'r ffordd orau o gyflawni newid a diwygio cyfansoddiadol yw drwy ethol Llywodraeth Lafur ar draws y DU yn yr etholiad cyffredinol nesaf.

Counsel General, I hear what you say about your considered view. You will, obviously, sensibly read the judgment in its entirety. But, from your initial consideration of the judgment, are you able to confirm that the democratic will of Wales is not affected, and that no elections will be terminated by this decision in the Supreme Court, and that every time the independence question has been put to the people of Wales—most recently in the 2021 election—the party that made that offer came a distant third, and the people of Wales spoke with one voice saying that they wanted to remain in a strong United Kingdom? 

Gwnsler Cyffredinol, rwy'n clywed yr hyn a ddywedwch am eich barn ystyrlon. Yn amlwg, fe fyddwch yn darllen y dyfarniad yn ei gyfanrwydd. Ond o'ch ystyriaeth gychwynnol o'r dyfarniad, a ydych chi'n gallu cadarnhau nad yw ewyllys ddemocrataidd Cymru yn cael ei heffeithio, ac na fydd unrhyw etholiadau'n cael eu pennu gan y penderfyniad hwn yn y Goruchaf Lys, a bob tro y mae cwestiwn annibyniaeth wedi cael ei roi i bobl Cymru—yn fwyaf diweddar yn etholiad 2021—daeth y blaid a wnaeth y cynnig hwnnw'n drydydd pell, a siaradodd pobl Cymru ag un llais i ddweud eu bod eisiau aros mewn Teyrnas Unedig gref? 

Thank you for the question. The judgment is very clear about the competence issue, and that is, really, the only issue that the Supreme Court has dealt with. It is clear and final in that respect.

In terms of the Welsh position, well, what we do have is a recognition within Wales, from the various manifestos, that there is a need for constitutional reform. There is a need for engagement within that, and the Government has made the case very strongly for the need for a constitutional convention. I've set out the position that we have from the reforming the UK decision there, but, of course, the one thing that we do look forward to—and I think that it's important not to, I suppose, presume what the conclusions will be, or the direction that will be taken of the independent commission that we have established, which will give us guidance and information with which to take this constitutional reform issue further.

Now, we are expecting, in due course, an interim report from the independent constitutional convention. And I think when that comes, that will be the appropriate time for us to have a more detailed, more thorough and, I think, informed debate on some of the constitutional options. Of course, the independent commission's report will be an interim one; there will also be a report coming out in due course from Gordon Brown on the Labour Party position on—or, certainly, the report that he has been instructed to prepare on constitutional reform. So, the one thing that we can say is that there is a deep recognition of the need for constitutional reform—that we have a dysfunction within our constitution, and that change needs to occur. The question is what that change is and how it should actually be achieved. This is a debate that isn't going to go away, and I look forward to the receipt of the interim report and any further reports, and to further discussions of this.

The reason that these constitutional issues are important is not because it is some sort of technical debate; the constitution is about how power operates, how it is shared, how it is distributed, how it is exercised. So, these are matters that are fundamentally important to the people of Wales and, indeed, to the people of the UK. But, as far as the decision of the Supreme Court is concerned, I think that that is particularly clear.  

Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae'r dyfarniad yn glir iawn ynglŷn â mater cymhwysedd, a dyna, mewn gwirionedd, yw'r unig fater y mae'r Goruchaf Lys wedi ymdrin ag ef. Mae'n glir ac yn derfynol yn hynny o beth.

O ran sefyllfa Cymru, wel, yr hyn sydd gennym yw cydnabyddiaeth yng Nghymru, o'r maniffestos amrywiol, fod angen diwygio cyfansoddiadol. Mae angen ymgysylltiad o fewn hynny, ac mae'r Llywodraeth wedi gwneud achos cryf iawn dros yr angen am gonfensiwn cyfansoddiadol. Rwyf wedi nodi'r safbwynt sydd gennym o'r penderfyniad ar ddiwygio'r DU, ond wrth gwrs, yr un peth rydym yn edrych ymlaen ato—ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig inni beidio â rhagdybio beth fydd y casgliadau, na'r cyfeiriad a fydd yn cael ei bennu gan y comisiwn annibynnol a sefydlwyd gennym, a fydd yn rhoi arweiniad a gwybodaeth i ni wrth i ni fwrw ymlaen ymhellach â mater diwygio cyfansoddiadol.

Nawr, rydym yn disgwyl adroddiad interim maes o law gan y confensiwn cyfansoddiadol annibynnol. Ac rwy'n credu, pan fydd hwnnw'n cael ei gyhoeddi, mai dyna fydd yr amser priodol i ni gael trafodaeth fanylach, fwy trylwyr ac yn fy marn i dadl fwy gwybodus ar rai o'r opsiynau cyfansoddiadol. Wrth gwrs, bydd adroddiad y comisiwn annibynnol yn un interim; bydd adroddiad yn cael ei gyhoeddi gan Gordon Brown hefyd maes o law ar safbwynt y Blaid Lafur—neu'n sicr, yr adroddiad y cafodd gyfarwyddyd i'w baratoi ar ddiwygio cyfansoddiadol. Felly, yr un peth y gallwn ei ddweud yw bod cydnabyddiaeth ddofn o'r angen am ddiwygio cyfansoddiadol—fod yna gamweithredu o fewn ein cyfansoddiad, a bod angen i'r newid hwnnw ddigwydd. Y cwestiwn yw beth yw'r newid hwnnw a sut y dylid ei gyflawni mewn gwirionedd. Nid yw hon yn ddadl sy'n mynd i ddiflannu, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gael yr adroddiad interim ac unrhyw adroddiadau pellach, ac at drafodaethau pellach ynglŷn â hyn.

Mae'r materion cyfansoddiadol hyn yn bwysig, nid oherwydd ei bod yn rhyw fath o ddadl dechnegol; mae'r cyfansoddiad yn ymwneud â sut mae pŵer yn gweithredu, sut y caiff ei rannu, sut y caiff ei ddosbarthu, sut y caiff ei ddefnyddio. Felly, mae'r rhain yn faterion sy'n sylfaenol bwysig i bobl Cymru, ac i bobl y DU yn wir. Ond ar benderfyniad y Goruchaf Lys, rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n arbennig o glir.  

15:25
4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Nid oes datganiadau 90 eiliad y prynhawn yma.

No 90-second statements were selected this afternoon.

5. Cynnig i gymeradwyo Cyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer 2023-24
5. Motion to approve the Senedd Commission Budget for 2023-24

Symudwn ymlaen at yr eitem nesaf ar yr agenda—eitem 5, sef cynnig i gymeradwyo cyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer 2023-24. Galwaf ar Ken Skates i wneud y cynnig.

We move on to the next item on the agenda—item 5, which is a motion to approve the Senedd Commission budget for 2023-24. I call on Ken Skates to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM8137 Ken Skates

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 20.16:

Yn cytuno ar gyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer 2023-24, fel y pennir yn Nhabl 1 o Gyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer 2023-24, a osodwyd gerbron y Senedd ar 9 Tachwedd 2022, a’i bod yn cael ei hymgorffori yn y Cynnig Cyllidebol Blynyddol o dan Reol Sefydlog 20.26(ii).

Motion NDM8137 Ken Skates

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 20.16:

Agrees the budget of the Senedd Commission for 2023-24, as specified in Table 1 of the Senedd Commission Budget 2023-24, laid before the Senedd on 9 November 2022 and that it be incorporated in the Annual Budget Motion under Standing Order 20.26(ii).

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the Commission's budget motion for 2023-24, and ask that it be incorporated into the annual budget motion. As you will have seen in the budget document, the Commission is seeking a total budget of £67.643 million, comprising £41 million for Commission services, £17.8 million for the remuneration board’s determination, £101,000 for the office of the standards commissioner, £547,000 for costs associated with providing support to the independent remuneration board, and £8 million for interest and non-cash items. The total budget represents a 4.06 per cent increase on the current year’s budget.

Now, as Members will know, the 2023-24 draft Commission budget was laid on 28 September. It was then scrutinised on 5 October, and the Finance Committee's report was published on 21 October. To meet the requirement of Standing Orders to lay the Commission's draft budget by 1 October, work to prepare and develop the budget was carried out during the summer term and then finalised in August this year. In parallel to this timeline, unprecedented political and economic events have meant that the resulting budget has been overtaken by the emergence of a new reality regarding public finances. Although it's too early to assess the full impact on the Welsh public purse of the UK Government's autumn statement, we note the increase of £1.2 billion in the Welsh block over the next two years. The increase of 4.6 per cent in resource funding between 2022-23 and 2023-24 is, however, far below inflation, and this may impact significantly on the Welsh Government's ability to support the most vulnerable in society and secure the short-term future of the vital public services on which we rely. The Commission therefore now considers that its 2023-24 4 per cent budget increase will require revision to reflect the additional pressures facing the entire wider public sector in Wales.

In light of this, I will commit to an in-year review by the Commission, as a responsible public body, to find savings and to accelerate efficiencies. This will reflect the reality that we face today, rather than that which existed during the budget-setting process over the summer. It is an exercise in responsible and agile pragmatism. We had already committed to carry out this work in time to incorporate it into the 2024-25 budget, but I am now proposing that work is brought forward at a faster pace. This is in line with the Finance Committee's statement of principles, which states that directly funded bodies should continually seek to improve processes and accrue efficiencies.

Now, we are determined to ensure that any planned activities and services to Members are both efficient and sustainable. It's important for us, therefore, that any reductions are conducted effectively, and continue to support our commitment to effective workforce planning and well-being. This, however, will not be an easy task and will impact on Members. I've shared my proposals for savings and accelerated efficiencies in a letter to the Chair of the Finance Committee earlier this week, and stressed that we will be required to take extremely difficult decisions. We hope that Welsh Government and other public bodies will follow this responsible principle in the weeks to come, as savings are sought, to adapt to the more severe economic landscape that has very recently formed.

Returning to the substance of today's budget motion, the Commission exists to support the Senedd and, of course, its Members, and the pressure on Members remains significant. We've prepared a budget that we think is transparent and fair. We've seen some unavoidable budget increases—for example, to meet increased utility costs. We've sought to make savings elsewhere to mitigate the full effect of these price rises. You'll also see that we have explicitly identified the budget to meet the estimated costs of Senedd reform. In order to be ready to support the potential increase in Members from 2026, work needs to start now, and the budget for 2023-24 recognises that we will need to bring in new skills and additional resource to meet this challenge robustly and properly.

Now, the new normal is still emerging from the pandemic, but it is clear that staff are working effectively in this hybrid environment. We continue to engage with staff to monitor health and well-being, and we've invested in flexible office space for Commission staff, so that everybody working on the estate is still able to do so easily and safely. I'd like to thank the Finance Committee for its scrutiny of this budget, and its continued commitment to ensuring the budgets are set at an appropriate level, whilst continuing to ask challenging questions, which help us drive performance and deliver excellence.

Now, the committee made eight recommendations, which we have addressed in our response. The first was that the Senedd supports this budget, which we note and appreciate. Four were focused on the Senedd estate, one looking at how we can mitigate the ever-increasing utility costs in the short to medium term, and then, longer term, giving consideration to our future requirement for and use of building space—those in Cardiff Bay, and elsewhere in Wales. The Commission will look to implement measures to reduce usage and, ultimately, cost, by taking many of the steps we'll be taking in our own homes. With regard to the longer term estate strategy, a working group is being formed to consider what our future needs look like, including the impact of Senedd reform, and to consider what options best meet those needs.

Two recommendations were focused on staff well-being, specifically how Commission staff are being supported during the cost-of-living crisis. The Commission already offers a number of programmes and mechanisms to offer support, and these are regularly reviewed with our trade unions. The final recommendation sought to engage Members, to gain their views on the work they would like the Commission to take forward and how that work can be managed within existing budgets, or, indeed, incorporated into future budget proposals. We have accepted these recommendations, and we are, as ever, open to suggestions on how to improve the budget process. We're also willing to answer any questions that Members may have. In the meantime, I present this budget forward, on behalf of the Commission, and reiterate our commitment to working in a way that is open and transparent, delivering the best possible value for money for the people of Wales.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n cyflwyno cynnig cyllideb y Comisiwn ar gyfer 2023-24, ac yn gofyn iddo gael ei ymgorffori yn y cynnig cyllidebol blynyddol. Fel y byddwch wedi'i weld yn nogfen y gyllideb, mae'r Comisiwn yn gofyn am gyfanswm cyllidebol o £67.643 miliwn, sy'n cynnwys £41 miliwn ar gyfer gwasanaethau'r Comisiwn, £17.8 miliwn ar gyfer dyfarniad y bwrdd taliadau, £101,000 ar gyfer swyddfa'r comisiynydd safonau, £547,000 am gostau sy'n gysylltiedig â darparu cymorth i'r bwrdd taliadau annibynnol, ac £8 miliwn ar gyfer llog ac eitemau nad ydynt yn arian parod. Mae cyfanswm y gyllideb yn cyflwyno cynnydd o 4.06 y cant ar gyllideb y flwyddyn bresennol.

Nawr, fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod, pennwyd cyllideb ddrafft y Comisiwn ar gyfer 2023-24 ar 28 Medi. Bu'n destun craffu ar 5 Hydref, a chyhoeddwyd adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cyllid ar 21 Hydref. Er mwyn bodloni gofyniad y Rheolau Sefydlog i osod cyllideb ddrafft y Comisiwn erbyn 1 Hydref, cafodd gwaith i baratoi a datblygu'r gyllideb ei wneud yn ystod tymor yr haf ac yna fe'i cwblhawyd ym mis Awst eleni. Ochr yn ochr â'r amserlen hon, mae digwyddiadau gwleidyddol ac economaidd digynsail wedi golygu bod y gyllideb a ddeilliodd o hynny wedi cael ei goddiweddyd gan realiti newydd mewn perthynas â chyllid cyhoeddus. Er ei bod yn rhy gynnar i asesu effaith lawn datganiad yr hydref Llywodraeth y DU ar bwrs y wlad yng Nghymru, rydym yn nodi'r cynnydd o £1.2 biliwn yng ngrant bloc Cymru dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf. Fodd bynnag, mae'r cynnydd o 4.6 y cant yn y cyllid adnoddau rhwng 2022-23 a 2023-24, yn llawer is na chwyddiant, a gall hyn effeithio'n sylweddol ar allu Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas a sicrhau dyfodol tymor byr y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol rydym yn dibynnu arnynt. Felly, mae'r Comisiwn bellach o'r farn y bydd angen adolygu'r cynnydd o 4 y cant yn y gyllideb ar gyfer 2023-24 i adlewyrchu'r pwysau ychwanegol sy'n wynebu'r sector cyhoeddus ehangach yng Nghymru.

O ystyried hyn, byddaf yn ymrwymo i adolygiad yn ystod y flwyddyn gan y Comisiwn, fel corff cyhoeddus cyfrifol, i ddod o hyd i arbedion ac i gyflymu arbedion effeithlonrwydd. Bydd hyn yn adlewyrchu'r realiti sy'n ein hwynebu heddiw, yn hytrach na'r realiti a fodolai yn ystod y broses o bennu'r gyllideb dros yr haf. Mae'n ymarfer mewn pragmatiaeth gyfrifol a hyblyg. Roeddem eisoes wedi ymrwymo i wneud y gwaith hwn mewn pryd i'w ymgorffori yng nghyllideb 2024-25, ond rwy'n cynnig bellach fod gwaith yn cael ei wneud yn gyflymach. Mae hyn yn unol â datganiad egwyddorion y Pwyllgor Cyllid, sy'n dweud y dylai cyrff sy'n cael eu hariannu'n uniongyrchol geisio gwella prosesau a chynyddu arbedion effeithlonrwydd yn barhaus.

Nawr, rydym yn benderfynol o sicrhau bod unrhyw weithgareddau a gwasanaethau a gynlluniwyd i Aelodau yn effeithlon ac yn gynaliadwy. Mae'n bwysig, felly, fod unrhyw ostyngiadau'n cael eu cyflwyno'n effeithiol, ac yn parhau i gefnogi ein hymrwymiad i gynllunio'r gweithlu yn effeithiol ac i lesiant. Fodd bynnag, ni fydd yn dasg hawdd a bydd yn effeithio ar Aelodau. Rwyf wedi rhannu fy nghynigion ar gyfer arbedion a chyflymu arbedion effeithlonrwydd mewn llythyr at Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, ac rwyf wedi pwysleisio y bydd angen inni wneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn. Ein gobaith yw y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru a chyrff cyhoeddus eraill yn dilyn yr egwyddor gyfrifol hon yn yr wythnosau i ddod, wrth inni geisio gwneud arbedion, er mwyn addasu i'r tirlun economaidd mwy difrifol sydd wedi ffurfio'n ddiweddar iawn.

I ddychwelyd at sylwedd y cynnig cyllidebol heddiw, mae'r Comisiwn yn bodoli i gefnogi'r Senedd, a'i Haelodau wrth gwrs, ac mae'r pwysau ar Aelodau'n parhau i fod yn sylweddol. Rydym wedi paratoi cyllideb y credwn ei bod yn dryloyw ac yn deg. Rydym wedi gweld rhywfaint o gynnydd anochel yn y gyllideb—er enghraifft, i dalu costau cyfleustodau cynyddol. Rydym wedi ceisio gwneud arbedion mewn mannau eraill i liniaru effaith lawn y cynnydd hwn mewn prisiau. Fe fyddwch hefyd yn gweld ein bod wedi nodi'r gyllideb yn glir i dalu costau amcangyfrifiedig diwygio'r Senedd. Er mwyn bod yn barod i gefnogi'r cynnydd posibl yn nifer yr Aelodau o 2026 ymlaen, mae angen i'r gwaith ddechrau nawr, ac mae'r gyllideb ar gyfer 2023-24 yn cydnabod y bydd angen inni ddod â sgiliau newydd ac adnoddau ychwanegol i mewn i gyflawni'r her hon yn gadarn ac yn briodol.

Nawr, mae'r normal newydd yn dal i amlygu ei hun ers y pandemig, ond mae'n amlwg fod staff yn gweithio'n effeithiol yn yr amgylchedd hybrid hwn. Rydym yn parhau i ymgysylltu â staff i fonitro iechyd a llesiant, ac rydym wedi buddsoddi mewn gofod swyddfa hyblyg ar gyfer staff y Comisiwn, fel bod pawb sy'n gweithio ar yr ystad yn dal i allu gwneud hynny'n hawdd ac yn ddiogel. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid am graffu ar y gyllideb hon, ac am ei ymrwymiad parhaus i sicrhau bod y cyllidebau'n cael eu pennu ar lefel briodol, gan barhau i ofyn cwestiynau heriol, sy'n ein helpu i yrru perfformiad a chyflawni rhagoriaeth.

Nawr, fe wnaeth y pwyllgor wyth argymhelliad ac rydym wedi mynd i'r afael â hwy yn ein hymateb. Y cyntaf oedd bod y Senedd yn cefnogi'r gyllideb hon ac rydym yn nodi ac yn gwerthfawrogi hynny. Roedd pedwar yn canolbwyntio ar ystad y Senedd, roedd un yn edrych ar sut y gallwn liniaru costau cynyddol cyfleustodau yn y tymor byr i'r tymor canolig, ac yna, yn fwy hirdymor, rhoi ystyriaeth i'n hangen yn y dyfodol am ofod adeiladu a'r defnydd ohono—y rhai ym Mae Caerdydd, ac mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru. Bydd y Comisiwn yn ceisio gweithredu mesurau i leihau defnydd, a lleihau'r gost yn y pen draw, drwy gymryd llawer o'r camau y byddwn yn eu cymryd yn ein cartrefi ein hunain. O ran y strategaeth ystadau fwy hirdymor, mae gweithgor yn cael ei ffurfio i ystyried ein hanghenion ar gyfer y dyfodol, gan gynnwys effaith diwygio'r Senedd, ac i ystyried pa opsiynau sy'n diwallu'r anghenion hynny orau.

Roedd dau argymhelliad yn canolbwyntio ar lesiant staff, yn benodol sut mae staff y Comisiwn yn cael eu cefnogi yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw. Mae'r Comisiwn eisoes yn cynnig nifer o raglenni a mecanweithiau i gynnig cymorth, ac mae'r rhain yn cael eu hadolygu'n rheolaidd gyda'n hundebau llafur. Roedd yr argymhelliad olaf yn galw am ymgysylltu ag Aelodau, i gael eu barn ar y gwaith y maent eisiau i'r Comisiwn ei ddatblygu a sut y gellir rheoli'r gwaith hwnnw o fewn cyllidebau presennol, neu'n wir, sut y gellir eu hymgorffori mewn cynigion cyllidebol yn y dyfodol. Rydym wedi derbyn yr argymhellion hyn, ac fel erioed, rydym yn agored i awgrymiadau ar sut i wella'r broses gyllidebol. Rydym hefyd yn barod i ateb unrhyw gwestiynau a allai fod gan Aelodau. Yn y cyfamser, rwy'n cyflwyno'r gyllideb hon, ar ran y Comisiwn, ac yn ailadrodd ein hymrwymiad i weithio mewn ffordd sy'n agored ac yn dryloyw, gan sicrhau'r gwerth gorau posibl am arian i bobl Cymru.

15:30

Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid, Peredur Owen Griffiths.

I call on the Chair of the Finance Committee, Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cyn i mi ddechrau, hoffwn ddiolch i Ken Skates, Comisiynydd y Senedd dros gyllideb a llywodraethu, a swyddogion y Senedd a ddaeth i gyfarfod y Pwyllgor Cyllid ar 5 Hydref i drafod cynigion y Comisiwn, a hefyd am yr wybodaeth ychwanegol a ddarparwyd yn dilyn ein cais yn fuan ar ôl y cyfarfod hwnnw. Hefyd, hoffwn nodi ar ddechrau fy nghyfraniad fod y gwaith o graffu ar y gyllideb hon wedi bod yn anodd i’r pwyllgor yng nghyd-destun y darlun economaidd newidiol a’r diffyg sicrwydd ynghylch cyllid. Yn benodol, ac fel y mae’r Comisiynydd wedi ei awgrymu, mae’r cyd-destun ariannol hefyd wedi newid yn sylweddol ers i’r Comisiwn osod ei gyllideb ddrafft ar 28 Medi. Rydym o ganlyniad yn gwerthfawrogi’r llythyr gan y Comisiynydd yn gynharach yn yr wythnos, sydd wedi cadarnhau bwriad y Comisiwn i gynnal adolygiad o fewn y flwyddyn ariannol i ddod o hyd i arbedion.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Before I begin, I would like to thank Ken Skates, the Senedd Commissioner for budget and governance, and Senedd officials, for attending the Finance Committee on 5 October to discuss the Commission’s proposals, and for the additional information provided shortly after that meeting. I would also like to note at the beginning of my contribution that the scrutiny of this budget was difficult for the committee in the context of the shifting economic picture and uncertainty regarding funding. In particular, and as the Commissioner has alluded to, the financial context has also changed significantly since the Commission laid its draft budget on 28 September. We are therefore grateful to the Commissioner for the letter issued earlier this week, confirming the Commission’s intention to undertake an in-year review to find savings.

The committee considered the Commission’s draft budget, and published its report on 21 October. We found that the Commission developed its budget proposals in a prudent manner and, as a result, we recommend that the Senedd should endorse the budget before us today.

However, as the commissioner has mentioned, public sector organisations across Wales will face even more difficult financial decisions following last week’s autumn statement, and the committee believes that the Commission should not be isolated from such considerations. Therefore, I note the commissioner’s commitment to reflect on the content of that statement to ensure that its proposals for the next year remain proportionate.

I also welcome the commissioner’s assurances about engaging with the committee on the issues, and look forward to hearing more about its plans so that they can be scrutinised, considered and assessed as soon as possible.

I'm glad to say that the committee has a constructive relationship with the Commission, based on open dialogue, which you want to see continue as we embark on these discussions. However, although I accept that the realities we face today are different to the context that existed during the budget-setting process over the summer, it is regrettable that these issues have only been identified now, outside of the usual financial procedures that govern the scrutiny of the Commission’s budget. The Finance Committee does not take kindly to such procedures being undermined. It can weaken scrutiny and lead to poor outcomes. We therefore wish this to be a one-off, and that lessons are learnt so that the situation is not repeated in future years.

Turning now to our report, the committee’s overall support for the Commission’s budget is caveated by eight recommendations, which are intended to ensure that as much transparency is provided relating to the Commission’s proposals. I have received the Commission’s response to our report and am pleased to see that six of those have been accepted and two have been noted.

Firstly, the committee is deeply concerned by the impact of rising utility costs on the Commission’s budget and its ability to deliver its core services—an issue facing all public sector organisations, businesses and households across Wales. Although we welcome efforts by the Commission to explore options that keep utility costs as low as possible, we believe that further information about the effectiveness of such initiatives is required to ensure that the Commission is on the right track in reaching its sustainability goals.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd like to turn now to some specific issues. Clearly, the biggest organisational challenge facing the Commission over the next few years is delivering proposals relating to Senedd reform. We also understand the difficulties faced by the Commission in providing clarity relating to the associated funding, and in separating its ongoing costs from the investment needed to support the change. We therefore welcome the inclusion of a dedicated budget line for Senedd reform in the draft budget, and note the Commission’s intention to provide as much transparency as possible in presenting costs attributable to these plans in future budgets.

Turning now to the workforce pressures, the rise in living costs will have an impact on us all, but the committee is concerned by its impact on the Commission staff, particularly those on lower grades. We are pleased that all Commission staff receive the living wage and that solid initiatives are in place, but the Commission should not rest on its laurels. That is why we would like to see the Commission looking at ways it can provide additional support to staff who are struggling, and that steps are put in place to rigorously evaluate the initiatives already in place to ensure that the support provided reaches those who need it most. I was also glad to see that the Commission will not consider staff redundancies as a cost-saving measure as part of the in-year review it has promised.

Ystyriwyd cyllideb ddrafft y Comisiwn gan y pwyllgor, a chyhoeddodd ei adroddiad ar 21 Hydref. Canfuom fod y Comisiwn wedi datblygu ei gynigion cyllidebol mewn modd darbodus, ac o ganlyniad, rydym yn argymell y dylai’r Senedd gymeradwyo’r gyllideb sydd ger ein bron heddiw.

Fodd bynnag, fel y mae’r comisiynydd wedi’i grybwyll, bydd sefydliadau’r sector cyhoeddus ledled Cymru yn wynebu penderfyniadau ariannol anos fyth yn dilyn datganiad yr hydref yr wythnos diwethaf, ac mae’r pwyllgor yn credu na ddylai’r Comisiwn gael ei ynysu rhag ystyriaethau o’r fath. Felly, nodaf ymrwymiad y comisiynydd i ystyried cynnwys y datganiad hwnnw i sicrhau bod ei gynigion ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf yn parhau i fod yn gymesur.

Rwyf hefyd yn croesawu sicrwydd y comisiynydd ynghylch ymgysylltu â’r pwyllgor ar y materion, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am ei gynlluniau fel y gellir craffu arnynt, eu hystyried a’u hasesu cyn gynted â phosibl.

Rwy’n falch o ddweud bod gan y pwyllgor berthynas adeiladol â’r Comisiwn, yn seiliedig ar ddeialog agored, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y dymunwch ei weld yn parhau wrth inni gychwyn ar y trafodaethau hyn. Fodd bynnag, er fy mod yn derbyn bod y realiti sy’n ein hwynebu heddiw yn wahanol i’r cyd-destun a fodolai yn ystod y broses o bennu’r gyllideb dros yr haf, mae’n anffodus mai nawr yn unig y nodwyd y materion hyn, y tu allan i’r gweithdrefnau ariannol arferol sy’n llywodraethu’r gwaith o graffu ar gyllideb y Comisiwn. Nid yw'r Pwyllgor Cyllid yn hoff o weld gweithdrefnau o'r fath yn cael eu tanseilio. Gall hynny wanhau gwaith craffu ac arwain at ganlyniadau gwael. Rydym yn awyddus felly i hyn fod yn rhywbeth sy'n digwydd unwaith yn unig, a bod gwersi'n cael eu dysgu fel nad yw'r sefyllfa'n cael ei hailadrodd yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.

Gan droi nawr at ein hadroddiad, mae cefnogaeth gyffredinol y pwyllgor i gyllideb y Comisiwn hefyd yn dod gyda chafeat o wyth argymhelliad, gyda'r bwriad o sicrhau bod cymaint o dryloywder â phosibl yn cael ei ddarparu mewn perthynas â chynigion y Comisiwn. Rwyf wedi cael ymateb y Comisiwn i’n hadroddiad, ac rwy'n falch o weld bod chwech o’r rheini wedi’u derbyn a dau wedi’u nodi.

Yn gyntaf, mae’r pwyllgor yn bryderus iawn ynghylch effaith costau cynyddol cyfleustodau ar gyllideb y Comisiwn a’i allu i ddarparu ei wasanaethau craidd—problem sy’n wynebu holl sefydliadau'r sector cyhoeddus, busnesau a chartrefi ledled Cymru. Er ein bod yn croesawu ymdrechion gan y Comisiwn i archwilio opsiynau sy’n cadw costau cyfleustodau mor isel â phosibl, credwn fod angen rhagor o wybodaeth am effeithiolrwydd mentrau o’r fath i sicrhau bod y Comisiwn ar y trywydd iawn i gyflawni ei nodau cynaliadwyedd.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn droi nawr at ambell fater penodol. Yn amlwg, yr her sefydliadol fwyaf sy’n wynebu’r Comisiwn dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf yw cyflawni cynigion sy’n ymwneud â diwygio’r Senedd. Rydym hefyd yn deall yr anawsterau a wynebir gan y Comisiwn o ran darparu eglurder ynghylch y cyllid cysylltiedig, ac wrth wahanu ei gostau parhaus oddi wrth y buddsoddiad sydd ei angen i gefnogi’r newid. Rydym felly’n croesawu cynnwys llinell wariant benodol ar gyfer diwygio’r Senedd yn y gyllideb ddrafft, ac yn nodi bwriad y Comisiwn i ddarparu cymaint o dryloywder â phosibl wrth gyflwyno costau y gellir eu priodoli i’r cynlluniau hyn yng nghyllidebau’r dyfodol.

Gan droi yn awr at bwysau’r gweithlu, bydd y cynnydd mewn costau byw'n effeithio ar bob un ohonom, ond mae’r pwyllgor yn pryderu am ei effaith ar staff y Comisiwn, yn enwedig y rheini ar raddfeydd cyflog is. Rydym yn falch fod holl staff y Comisiwn yn cael y cyflog byw a bod mentrau cadarn ar waith, ond ni ddylai’r Comisiwn orffwys ar ei fri. Dyna pam yr hoffem weld y Comisiwn yn edrych ar ffyrdd y gall ddarparu cymorth ychwanegol i staff sy’n ei chael hi’n anodd, a bod camau’n cael eu cymryd i werthuso’r mentrau sydd eisoes ar waith yn drylwyr i sicrhau bod y cymorth a ddarperir yn cyrraedd y rheini sydd ei angen fwyaf. Roeddwn hefyd yn falch o weld na fydd y Comisiwn yn ystyried diswyddo staff fel mesur i arbed costau yn rhan o’r adolygiad canol blwyddyn y mae wedi’i addo.

I gloi, Dirprwy Lywydd, roedd cyd-destun y gwaith o lunio’r gyllideb hon, a chraffu arni, yn anodd. Fel pwyllgor, rydym yn deall bod pob corff cyhoeddus yn wynebu heriau sylweddol o ran darparu gwasanaethau o fewn eu cyllidebau. O ganlyniad, mae'n bwysicach nag erioed o’r blaen bod cynigion y Comisiwn yn gymesur ac yn dryloyw, a bod modd eu cyfiawnhau. Er bod cyllideb y Comisiwn ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf yn cyflawni hyn yn ein barn ni, rydym hefyd yn nodi'r ymrwymiad a wnaed i adolygu’r cynigion yng ngoleuni datganiad yr hydref wythnos diwethaf. Edrychwn ymlaen i weithio gyda’r comisiynydd wrth iddo geisio sicrhau hynny. Diolch yn fawr. 

To conclude, Dirprwy Lywydd, the context in which this budget was produced and scrutinised has been very difficult. As a committee, we understand that all public bodies are facing significant challenges in delivering services within their budgets. As a result, it's more important than ever that the Commission’s proposals are proportionate, justified and transparent. Whilst we believe that the Commission’s budget for the next financial year achieves this, we also note the commitment made to review these proposals in light of last week’s autumn statement. We look forward to working with the commissioner as he seeks to achieve this. Thank you very much. 

15:35

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. And can I thank the commissioner for his statement? I would just like to clarify that, whilst I'm responding to this in my position as the shadow Minister for finance, I am, of course, also a member of the Finance Committee. I welcome the commissioner's overall approach to setting this budget. I think he's been constructive, and has engaged well with the Finance Committee and Members during the process, and I thank him for that.

Presiding Officer, I appreciate that the current national financial environment is difficult, and this, as outlined by the Commissioner, will have an impact on the Commission's budget. But I do think that some flexibility could have been built into the Commission's budget-setting process to allow it to properly consider and account for the autumn statement in its proposed budget, so that we, as Members, could scrutinise a full budget and have a say on where efficiencies could be made. At the moment, we're voting on the budget whilst relying on the letter provided by the Commissioner to the Finance Committee. This is unusual, but I recognise the time frames in play. But I welcome the commitment. 

Moving to the budget, I acknowledge that the Commission, much like public bodies, is facing pressures as a result of inflation. On the whole, I think it has done a decent job to limit the increase that it is asking for. Energy costs have a considerable impact on the budget, as we know, but I do wonder, when looking at making efficiencies, whether more can be done to reduce energy costs further, and what further plans the Commission has to look into this. I understand that the Commission has taken steps to turn down thermostats across the estate—I felt that in my office today; that's a fact. But should we, for example, possibly, look at lowering them a little further, whilst maintaining comfortable levels, or turning off the heating in unused rooms? What about things like solar panels on our estate? In the budget report, there is reference to the Senedd estate joining the Cardiff district heat network from 2024. Is there scope to join this sooner? And have the Commission analysed how much money this will save, and, if so, has this been accounted for in its future budget projections?

There's also a question as to how the estate is used. Many employees are still working from home for at least some of the week, and so it's right that the Commission considers how the estate can be used more efficiently. Again, I would like to ask the Commissioner whether there are additional savings that can be found by using some of the Welsh Government space in north Wales in different ways. Has this been considered and factored in? Or has the Commission looked at other possible locations for its offices that would be more cost effective than the Welsh Government option? It's also my understanding that the broadcasting contract is soon to be going up for renewal, yet the projected budget for this is near enough the same as previous years. Can I ask for an update on this work, as it could allow for additional savings to be found?

I do have to mention Senedd reform, where the budget increases by £571,000 to undertake preparation. I know the rationale, but, given the financial context that we've been speaking about, this is a significant sum of money, which, it can be argued, could be better used elsewhere, such as supporting staff members or being used for energy costs. What does the Commission envisage using this budget for? And has it looked into reducing some of this work, as much as is practicably possible, so that the money can be diverted to where it is needed most? 

Finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, as well as making efficiencies, the Commission could really look at boosting its income. Currently, there is a £200,000 budget for engagement activities, yet the Senedd shop only brings in around £20,000 a year. Surely, if the engagement and outreach strategies were working well, then sales would increase. Clearly, there needs to be some consideration of how that is all working. Therefore, what consideration has the Commission given to diversifying its income streams, so that it can top up its budget and is less reliant on external funding? Thank you, Deputy Llywydd.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ac a gaf fi ddiolch i'r comisiynydd am ei ddatganiad? Hoffwn egluro, er fy mod yn ymateb i hyn yn fy rôl fel Gweinidog cyllid yr wrthblaid, rwyf hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn aelod o'r Pwyllgor Cyllid. Croesawaf ddull cyffredinol y comisiynydd o bennu'r gyllideb hon. Credaf ei fod wedi bod yn adeiladol, ac wedi ymgysylltu’n dda â’r Pwyllgor Cyllid a’r Aelodau yn ystod y broses, a diolch iddo am hynny.

Lywydd, rwy’n sylweddoli bod yr amgylchiadau ariannol cenedlaethol presennol yn anodd, a bydd hyn, fel yr amlinellodd y Comisiynydd, yn cael effaith ar gyllideb y Comisiwn. Ond credaf y gallai rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd fod wedi’i gynnwys ym mhroses y Comisiwn o osod y gyllideb