Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
14/12/2022Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Heledd Fychan.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary session. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy, and the first question is from Heledd Fychan.
1. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynghylch cefnogaeth ar gyfer busnesau yng Nghanol De Cymru sy'n methu â chael neu fforddio yswiriant oherwydd risg parhaus o lifogydd? OQ58874
1. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding support for businesses in South Wales Central who are unable to obtain or afford insurance due to the ongoing risk of flooding? OQ58874
I have regular meetings with my colleague the Minister for Climate Change. Our funding objectives and strategic priorities to reduce the flood risk to communities and businesses across Wales are set out in our national flood strategy and the programme for government.
Rwy’n cael cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda fy nghyd-Aelod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd. Mae ein hamcanion ariannu a’n blaenoriaethau strategol i leihau’r perygl o lifogydd i gymunedau a busnesau ledled Cymru wedi’u nodi yn ein strategaeth llifogydd genedlaethol a’r rhaglen lywodraethu.
Diolch, Weinidog. Cwestiwn penodol ydy hwn o ran yswiriant, oherwydd, ar gyfer tai preswyl, mae'r cynllun yswiriant ar gael trwy ardoll ar gwmnïau yswiriant, sef Flood Re. Nid oes cynllun cyfatebol ar gael ar gyfer busnesau, sy'n golygu bod nifer gydag yswiriant costus dros ben neu sy'n methu bellach â chael yswiriant i'w gwarchod rhag llifogydd. Gyda'r argyfwng hinsawdd yn golygu bod llifogydd yn fwyfwy tebygol, mae nifer o fusnesau yn fy rhanbarth yn hynod o bryderus ac wedi dweud yn glir na fyddant yn medru fforddio ailagor os byddant yn dioddef llifogydd unwaith eto. Felly, eisiau holi oeddwn i os oedd yna unrhyw drafodaethau wedi bod o ran creu cynllun cyfatebol i Flood Re ar gyfer busnesau, ac, os nad oes yna drafodaethau eto, a fyddai'r Gweinidog yn ymrwymo i ymchwilio i mewn i hynny?
Thank you, Minister. This is a specific question in terms of insurance, because, for residential homes, there is an insurance scheme through a levy on insurance companies, namely Flood Re. Such a scheme isn't available for businesses, which means that many have very costly insurance or cannot obtain insurance to safeguard them from flooding. With the climate crisis meaning that floods are increasingly likely, a number of businesses in my region are very concerned and have said clearly that they won't be able to afford to reopen if they experience flooding again in future. So, I just wanted to ask whether there have been any discussions in terms of creating an equivalent scheme to Flood Re for businesses, and, if not, would the Minister commit to looking into such discussions?
I'm happy to have a discussion with my colleague the Minister for Climate Change around insurance for businesses because I understand, too, the Flood Re, developed in association with the Association of British Insurers, covers domestic properties; it doesn't cover businesses. So, I'm more than happy to take up the Member's suggestion, around the conversations that are ongoing and where the prospects are for a scheme to help cover businesses as opposed to households. So, I'll happily take that up myself with the Minister for Climate Change and report back.
Rwy’n fwy na pharod i gael trafodaeth gyda fy nghyd-Aelod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynghylch yswiriant i fusnesau, gan y deallaf hefyd fod Flood Re, a ddatblygwyd ar y cyd â Chymdeithas Yswirwyr Prydain, yn berthnasol i eiddo domestig yn unig; nid yw’n cynnwys busnesau. Felly, rwy’n fwy na pharod i wneud fel yr awgryma'r Aelod, ynglŷn â'r sgyrsiau parhaus a lle rhagwelir cynllun i helpu i gynnig yswiriant i fusnesau yn hytrach nag aelwydydd. Felly, byddaf yn mynd ar drywydd hynny fy hun gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ac yn adrodd yn ôl.
Minister, as we know, inflation is having an adverse effect on every budget, and money allocated to help reduce the impact of flooding and coastal erosion is no exception. Given that the cost of materials that will be used in providing flood defences has risen considerably, budgets are going to be stretched and it's now more important than ever that funds are used efficiently. Can I therefore ask what conversations have you had with the Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Rural Affairs to ensure that assessments are being made to ascertain if budgets allocated to help prevent flooding and coastal erosion are not only providing value for money and are being used efficiently, but are also meeting the needs of those who need them?
Weinidog, fel y gwyddom, mae chwyddiant yn cael effaith andwyol ar bob cyllideb, ac nid yw arian a ddyrennir i helpu i leihau effaith llifogydd ac erydu arfordirol yn eithriad. O ystyried bod cost deunyddiau a fydd yn cael eu defnyddio i ddarparu amddiffynfeydd rhag llifogydd wedi codi'n sylweddol, mae cyllidebau'n mynd i fod dan bwysau, ac mae'n bwysicach nag erioed bellach fod arian yn cael ei ddefnyddio'n effeithlon. A gaf fi ofyn, felly, pa sgyrsiau a gawsoch gyda’r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd a’r Gweinidog Materion Gwledig i sicrhau bod asesiadau’n cael eu cynnal i ganfod a yw'r cyllidebau a ddyrennir i helpu i atal llifogydd ac erydu arfordirol nid yn unig yn darparu gwerth am arian ac yn cael eu defnyddio'n effeithlon, ond eu bod hefyd yn diwallu anghenion y rheini sydd eu hangen?
Yes, I can confirm that those conversations do take place and it's a real concern for the Welsh Government. You'll see in the draft budget that we published yesterday the reality of how we make the whole budget balance. And the relative value of the Welsh Government's budget has significantly decreased because the realities of inflation within that prioritisation is looking at both of the points you make around the value for money in the schemes that there are, the efficacy and what that actually means, and how far our money can stretch in providing adequate flood defence measures. It also reinforces the other action we're looking to take to deal with some of the challenges and causes of flooding, as well as the flood defence schemes that you mentioned.
Gallaf gadarnhau bod y sgyrsiau hynny'n digwydd a bod hyn yn bryder gwirioneddol i Lywodraeth Cymru. Fe welwch, yn y gyllideb ddrafft a gyhoeddwyd gennym ddoe, realiti'r ffordd rydym yn cydbwyso'r gyllideb gyfan. Ac mae gwerth cymharol cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gostwng yn sylweddol gan fod realiti chwyddiant yn y broses honno o flaenoriaethu yn golygu edrych ar y ddau bwynt a wnewch ynghylch gwerth am arian yn y cynlluniau sydd ar gael, yr effeithiolrwydd a'r hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu mewn gwirionedd, a pha mor bell y gall ein harian ymestyn wrth ddarparu mesurau amddiffyn rhag llifogydd digonol. Mae hefyd yn atgyfnerthu'r camau eraill rydym yn bwriadu eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â rhai o heriau ac achosion llifogydd yn ogystal â'r cynlluniau amddiffyn rhag llifogydd y sonioch chi amdanynt.
2. Pa gefnogaeth mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei chynnig i fusnesau yng Ngorllewin De Cymru yn sgil yr argyfwng costau byw a chostau gwneud busnes? OQ58888
2. What support is the Welsh Government offering to businesses in South Wales West in light of the cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crisis? OQ58888
As the Member will know, the levers to tackle cost increases on businesses, interest rates for borrowing, taxation of windfall profits and regulation of the energy market lie squarely with the UK Government. Our priority remains to support businesses to decarbonise and to save. We continue to identify opportunities to redirect resources to reduce burdens on businesses, and, of course, the Member will be aware of the statement made by the finance Minister on non-domestic rates.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, Llywodraeth y DU sydd â’r ysgogiadau i fynd i’r afael â chynnydd mewn costau i fusnesau, cyfraddau llog ar gyfer benthyca, trethu ffawdelw a rheoleiddio’r farchnad ynni. Ein blaenoriaeth o hyd yw cefnogi busnesau i ddatgarboneiddio ac arbed. Rydym yn parhau i nodi cyfleoedd i ailgyfeirio adnoddau i leihau beichiau ar fusnesau, ac, wrth gwrs, bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol o’r datganiad a wnaeth y Gweinidog cyllid ar ardrethi annomestig.
Diolch, Weinidog. The cost-of-living crisis, high inflation and rising energy costs in particular all pose huge threats to businesses in the hospitality sector especially—a sector that employs 200,000 people in Wales. And while I welcome the inclusion of more support on business rates in Welsh Government's draft budget yesterday, albeit with the caveat that perhaps support could be more flexible and targeted, there's certainly more that could be done here by Welsh Government to help businesses survive this cost-of-doing-business crisis, particularly energy-intensive businesses in the hospitality sector, such as restaurants and independent breweries. The owner of one restaurant in my region, Ristorante Vecchio in Bridgend, recently shared how their energy bill was now at £8,000 a month. So, Minister, what is Welsh Government doing to help businesses invest in energy efficiency and green energy in order to reduce their costs and help lower the carbon emissions of our businesses at the same time?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae’r argyfwng costau byw, chwyddiant uchel a chostau ynni cynyddol yn enwedig i gyd yn fygythiadau enfawr i fusnesau yn y sector lletygarwch yn arbennig—sector sy’n cyflogi 200,000 o bobl yng Nghymru. Ac er fy mod yn croesawu cynnwys mwy o gymorth ar ardrethi busnes yng nghyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru ddoe, gyda'r cafeat y gallai cymorth fod yn fwy hyblyg ac wedi'i dargedu'n well, yn sicr, mae mwy y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud yma i helpu busnesau i oroesi'r argyfwng cost gwneud busnes hwn, yn enwedig busnesau ynni-ddwys yn y sector lletygarwch, megis bwytai a bragdai annibynnol. Yn ddiweddar, rhannodd perchennog un bwyty yn fy rhanbarth i, Ristorante Vecchio ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, fod eu bil ynni bellach yn £8,000 y mis. Felly, Weinidog, beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu busnesau i fuddsoddi mewn mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni ac ynni gwyrdd er mwyn lleihau eu costau a helpu i leihau allyriadau carbon ein busnesau ar yr un pryd?
Thank you for the question. This is not just topical, it's important not just for now but for the future as well. And we're looking at opportunities both to decarbonise but I would say also to save costs and to help the bottom line, and I think it's important that we do both of those things. Some businesses will be persuaded by the broader imperatives of the climate, and others will want to know, 'Will this help me with my business, or not, because I need to survive to next month, to next quarter, to next year?' And that's exactly what we're doing. We've got campaigns that we've already launched previously, through Business Wales—the resource efficiency advisers are already in place, we have a green ambition campaign and green growth pledge through Business Wales, and we can help businesses with their ambitions to become greener and smarter. But, in particular, when it comes to direct support—and I've outlined this in both evidence to committee and, I think, in previous questions as well—early in the new year, we'll do more on launching some of the work we're going to do on specific decarbonisation support, together with the scheme that the Development Bank of Wales will provide for loan finance, to help businesses to invest in decarbonisation, to invest in energy generation, as well as efficiency, and that really should help businesses with their bottom line, in addition to the support we're providing through non-domestic rates relief here in Wales, as announced at the start of this week.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Nid yn unig fod hyn yn amserol, ond mae'n bwysig, ac nid yn unig nawr ond ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd. Ac rydym yn edrych ar gyfleoedd i ddatgarboneiddio, ond hefyd i arbed costau ac i gynyddu elw net, a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn gwneud y ddau beth hynny. Bydd rhai busnesau'n cael eu perswadio gan yr hyn sy'n ofynnol ar gyfer yr hinsawdd yn fwy eang, a bydd eraill eisiau gwybod, 'A fydd hyn yn fy helpu gyda fy musnes ai peidio, gan fod angen imi oroesi tan y mis nesaf, tan y chwarter nesaf, tan y flwyddyn nesaf?' A dyna'n union rydym yn ei wneud. Mae gennym ymgyrchoedd rydym eisoes wedi’u lansio, drwy Busnes Cymru—mae’r cynghorwyr effeithlonrwydd adnoddau eisoes ar waith, mae gennym ymgyrch y weledigaeth werdd a'r addewid twf gwyrdd drwy Busnes Cymru, a gallwn helpu busnesau â’u huchelgeisiau i fod yn wyrddach ac yn graffach. Ond yn fwyaf arbennig, mewn perthynas â chymorth uniongyrchol—ac rwyf wedi amlinellu hyn mewn tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor ac mewn cwestiynau blaenorol hefyd—yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd, byddwn yn gwneud mwy ar lansio rhywfaint o'r gwaith rydym am ei wneud ar gymorth datgarboneiddio penodol, ynghyd â'r cynllun y bydd Banc Datblygu Cymru yn ei ddarparu ar gyfer cyllid benthyciadau, i helpu busnesau i fuddsoddi mewn datgarboneiddio, i fuddsoddi mewn cynhyrchu ynni, yn ogystal ag effeithlonrwydd, a dylai hynny fod o gymorth i fusnesau gyda’u helw net, yn ychwanegol at y cymorth a ddarparwn drwy ryddhad ardrethi annomestig yma yng Nghymru, fel y cyhoeddwyd ddechrau’r wythnos.
Our small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and it is in our national interest for companies to be sustained and to grow. What discussions has the Minister had with the Development Bank of Wales about the risk to businesses' viability over the next six to 12 months, and the potential for support that could be available? Thank you.
Ein busnesau bach a chanolig yw asgwrn cefn ein heconomi, ac mae o fudd i'r genedl fod cwmnïau'n cael eu cynnal ac yn tyfu. Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Gweinidog wedi’u cael gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru ynglŷn â'r risg i hyfywedd busnesau dros y chwech i 12 mis nesaf, a’r potensial ar gyfer cymorth a allai fod ar gael? Diolch.
We have a range of finance support available through the development bank for small and medium-sized businesses. Part of our challenge, as has been indicated by Sioned Williams in her opening question and the follow-up, is that there are particular pressures in different parts of the economy. So, broadly, those businesses that rely on discretionary spend—and I met the visitor economy forum today—are being squeezed at the one end by reductions in consumer spend, and at the same time their costs are going up, not just energy costs, but a range of those, and they're finding that their raw material costs, food and drink, are all rising. And you will have seen today that headline inflation was 10.7 per cent, and food inflation is at 16.5 per cent. So, a range of people in different sectors have even more extreme pressures than the headline rates. And what we're trying to do is to both understand what's taking place in those sectors and the availability of the support that we have. The truth is that, over the next year, there will be a very difficult picture for lots of businesses, and we will have to prioritise the support that we have available. And often, as well as the broad sector support we have, we'll have to have individual conversations with businesses. And I would say again, for businesses that are concerned about how to find out what support is available through the Welsh Government, Business Wales is the first gateway to do so, and they can direct you to all parts of our support system, to make sure that, if we have the support available, we can help provide where it is, and, equally, if support might be available through a UK Government scheme, we can direct you to that as well.
Mae gennym ystod o gymorth ariannol ar gael drwy’r banc datblygu ar gyfer busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint. Rhan o’n her, fel y nododd Sioned Williams yn ei chwestiwn agoriadol a’r cwestiwn atodol, yw bod pwysau arbennig mewn gwahanol rannau o’r economi. Felly, yn fras, mae busnesau sy'n dibynnu ar wariant disgresiynol—a chyfarfûm â fforwm yr economi ymwelwyr heddiw—yn cael eu gwasgu ar un pen gan ostyngiadau yng ngwariant defnyddwyr, ac ar yr un pryd, mae eu costau'n cynyddu, nid yn unig costau ynni, ond ystod ohonynt, ac mae eu costau deunydd crai, bwyd a diod i gyd yn codi. A byddwch wedi gweld heddiw fod chwyddiant craidd yn 10.7 y cant, a bod chwyddiant bwyd yn 16.5 y cant. Felly, mae amrywiaeth o bobl mewn gwahanol sectorau yn wynebu pwysau mwy eithafol na'r prif gyfraddau. A'r hyn rydym yn ceisio'i wneud yw deall beth sy'n digwydd yn y sectorau hynny, ac argaeledd y cymorth sydd gennym. Dros y flwyddyn nesaf, y gwir amdani yw y bydd llawer o fusnesau'n wynebu sefyllfa anodd iawn, a bydd yn rhaid inni flaenoriaethu’r cymorth sydd ar gael gennym. Ac yn aml, yn ogystal â’r cymorth cyffredinol sydd gennym i sectorau, bydd yn rhaid inni gael sgyrsiau unigol â busnesau. Ac rwyf am ddweud eto, ar gyfer busnesau sy'n poeni ynglŷn â sut i ddarganfod pa gymorth sydd ar gael drwy Lywodraeth Cymru, mai Busnes Cymru yw'r porth cyntaf i wneud hynny, a gallant eich cyfeirio at bob rhan o'n system gymorth, i sicrhau, os oes cymorth ar gael gennym, y gallwn helpu i gyfeirio pobl ato, ac yn yr un modd, os bydd cymorth ar gael drwy gynllun Llywodraeth y DU, gallwn eich cyfeirio at hwnnw hefyd.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, it goes without saying that 2022 has been a particularly difficult year for Welsh businesses. We know that businesses are facing continued challenges in terms of cost pressures, high interest rates and global economic weaknesses. Businesses have made it clear that issues such as business rates, skills development and infrastructure investment continue to be a major concern. And whilst I appreciate the Welsh Government has provided additional support for business rates for some businesses in its budget, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure that businesses are in the best shape possible to help lift the economy out of recession through economic growth. Minister, the Federation of Small Businesses recently told the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee that one third of businesses said access to skills and helping skills growth was their greatest barrier to growth. Therefore, what immediate action are you taking to address this issue and ensure businesses can recruit and retain staff in the very near future?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, afraid dweud bod 2022 wedi bod yn flwyddyn arbennig o anodd i fusnesau Cymru. Gwyddom fod busnesau’n wynebu heriau parhaus o ran pwysau costau, cyfraddau llog uchel, a gwendidau economaidd byd-eang. Mae busnesau wedi nodi'n glir fod materion fel ardrethi busnes, datblygu sgiliau a buddsoddi mewn seilwaith yn parhau i fod yn bryderon mawr. Ac er fy mod yn deall bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cymorth ychwanegol ar gyfer ardrethi busnes i rai busnesau yn ei chyllideb, mae angen gwneud mwy o hyd i sicrhau bod busnesau yn y sefyllfa orau bosibl i helpu i godi'r economi allan o'r dirwasgiad drwy dwf economaidd. Weinidog, dywedodd y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach wrth Bwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig yn ddiweddar fod un rhan o dair o fusnesau'n dweud mai mynediad at sgiliau, a helpu twf sgiliau, oedd eu rhwystr mwyaf rhag twf. Felly, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd ar unwaith i fynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn, a sicrhau y gall busnesau recriwtio a chadw staff yn y dyfodol agos iawn?
Well, there is both the challenge that we face and indeed the action that we're taking. And the challenge that we face, the Member will know, because we've talked about it and it's a reality, is that the challenges in replacement European Union funds are a significant problem in the skills landscape. We funded a whole range of our skills interventions through former EU funds. The fact that the replacement funds deliver a significant cut in cash terms to Wales, of over £1 billion over three years, is a real problem for us. And, actually, the landscape in terms of having UK Government interventions that cut us out make it more difficult as well. I continue to try to have constructive conversations with the UK Government about how we could resolve some of those challenges. What we are doing, though, within the levers we do have, is you'll have seen there's the broad choice I've made within the draft budget in my department around what we're going to try to do to preserve the impact of some of our spending around apprenticeships and skills. That includes the training at the outset of someone's career, at various points in their career, and, indeed, personal learning accounts. I've been very pleased to work with the Minister for Education in particular, to look at maintaining the progress we've made on personal learning accounts, and, indeed, the skills investment we're looking to make not just across sectors, but, broadly going back to question 2, the points around how we have the right sort of green skills available in the economy. So, there's a range of things we are already doing in the skills space, but it will be a difficult challenge in the year ahead. But you'll continue to see direct Welsh Government support on exactly this issue.
Wel, mae a wnelo hyn â'r her rydym yn ei hwynebu, ac yn wir, y camau rydym yn eu cymryd. A bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod mai’r her sy’n ein hwynebu, gan ein bod wedi'i thrafod a'i bod yn realiti, yw bod yr heriau o ran arian yn lle arian yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn broblem sylweddol yn y dirwedd sgiliau. Fe wnaethom ariannu ystod gyfan o’n hymyriadau sgiliau drwy arian blaenorol yr UE. Mae’r ffaith bod yr arian newydd yn golygu toriad sylweddol yn nhermau arian parod i Gymru, o dros £1 biliwn dros dair blynedd, yn broblem wirioneddol i ni. Ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r dirwedd o ran yr ymyriadau gan Lywodraeth y DU sy'n ein hanwybyddu ni yn ei gwneud yn anos hefyd. Rwy’n parhau i geisio cael sgyrsiau adeiladol gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â sut y gallem ddatrys rhywfaint o’r heriau hynny. Yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud, serch hynny, gyda'r ysgogiadau sydd gennym, yw, byddwch wedi gweld fy mod wedi gwneud dewis cyffredinol yn y gyllideb ddrafft yn fy adran ynglŷn â'r hyn rydym yn mynd i geisio'i wneud i ddiogelu effaith rhywfaint o'n gwariant ar brentisiaethau a sgiliau. Mae hynny'n cynnwys yr hyfforddiant ar ddechrau gyrfa rhywun, ar wahanol adegau yn eu gyrfa, ac yn wir, cyfrifon dysgu personol. Rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o weithio gyda’r Gweinidog Addysg yn enwedig, i edrych ar barhau â'r cynnydd rydym wedi’i wneud ar gyfrifon dysgu personol, ac yn wir, y buddsoddiad mewn sgiliau rydym yn bwriadu ei wneud, nid yn unig ar draws sectorau, ond gan fynd yn ôl yn fras at gwestiwn 2, y pwyntiau ynghylch sut mae gennym y math cywir o sgiliau gwyrdd ar gael yn yr economi. Felly, mae amrywiaeth o bethau rydym eisoes yn eu gwneud ym maes sgiliau, ond bydd yn her anodd yn y flwyddyn i ddod. Ond fe fyddwch yn parhau i weld cymorth uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar yr union fater hwn.
Well, Minister, the Confederation of British Industry have said that their recent employment trends survey found fewer than half of businesses expect to grow their workforce in the next 12 months, and they do rank access to labour and skills, followed by the cost of living, as their top three priorities. So, it's vital that the Welsh Government delivers pro-growth economic policies and, where it needs to, reverses policy making where there is evidence that it can damage businesses. For example, businesses across Wales have said that the proposed tourism tax will have an enormous impact on their businesses. They've also made it clear that changes to the criteria for a holiday let property to qualify for business rates will have a detrimental impact on them too. Minister, when businesses are telling you that your Government policy will have a detrimental impact on the economy, it's vital that the Welsh Government listens. Minister, why haven't you listened and dropped proposals for a tourism tax, and the 182-day holiday let rule, in light of the fierce opposition the policies have had from Welsh businesses, and what message do you have as economy Minister for those businesses in Wales that will be affected by the Welsh Government's plans?
Wel, Weinidog, mae Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain wedi dweud bod eu harolwg tueddiadau cyflogaeth diweddar wedi dod i'r casgliad fod llai na hanner y busnesau yn disgwyl tyfu eu gweithlu yn y 12 mis nesaf, ac maent yn nodi mai mynediad at lafur a sgiliau, ac yna costau byw, yw eu tair prif flaenoriaeth. Felly, mae'n hanfodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu polisïau economaidd sy'n hybu twf, a lle bo angen, yn gwrthdroi polisïau lle ceir tystiolaeth y gallant niweidio busnesau. Er enghraifft, mae busnesau ledled Cymru wedi dweud y bydd y dreth dwristiaeth arfaethedig yn cael effaith aruthrol ar eu busnesau. Maent hefyd wedi dweud yn glir y bydd newidiadau i'r meini prawf ar gyfer llety gwyliau i fod yn gymwys ar gyfer ardrethi busnes yn cael effaith andwyol arnynt hefyd. Weinidog, pan fydd busnesau’n dweud wrthych y bydd polisi eich Llywodraeth yn cael effaith andwyol ar yr economi, mae’n hanfodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwrando. Weinidog, pam nad ydych wedi gwrando a rhoi'r gorau i gynigion ar gyfer treth dwristiaeth, a’r rheol llety gwyliau 182 diwrnod, yn wyneb y gwrthwynebiad chwyrn i’r polisïau gan fusnesau Cymru, a pha neges sydd gennych fel Gweinidog yr economi ar gyfer busnesau yng Nghymru a fydd yn cael eu heffeithio gan gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru?
Well, when it comes to anti-growth measures, the most significant anti-growth intervention, of course, took place in the six weeks of Liz Truss's premiership. That was a significant intervention that made all of the challenges that exist within the economy much, much worse. And it was amusing to hear the anti-growth coalition being talked about and then seeing the hole that was blown by Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss. So, there's no need for any lectures from any Tory in this Chamber, or anywhere else, on this issue.
When it comes to what we are doing, we're delivering on the manifesto we were elected to deliver. That includes the measures we're taking on the visitor levy. It includes a conversation I had this morning with the visitor economy forum, where they're looking to work with us on the design of a levy that actually tries to do what it's supposed to do, and, in areas of the country where there is a challenge that local authorities want to reduce the levy, to then understand how that might be delivered in a way that works with the industry that we want to see carry on growing. And, actually, the biggest challenge facing that sector and others isn't the visitor levy, it isn't any policy position the Welsh Government takes; it's the challenge of not seeing enough growth in the UK-wide economy, the challenge of the cost-of-living crisis, the challenge in our ability to trade with other parts of the world, and what that's done to inflationary pressures in the economy that are above and beyond the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
When it comes to skills and labour, we are recognising those issues and challenges, and that's why our interventions could and should make a difference. We have challenges in labour supply that we are looking to address earlier in the life cycle of people, as well as what we're doing on skills investment. We need a much more grown-up conversation about migration and its value to the future of the economy. We need much more recognition of the cost-of-living challenges, which, if left unaddressed, will mean businesses will not last into the longer term future. And that's why the energy relief scheme for businesses is so important. And the difficulty is—and this came up very much today, and in other business meetings that I've had—that if the UK Government don't pass the legislation, discounts won't get passed on to businesses. So, you may find businesses that can't wait until the review is up, and they understand what will happen in the longer term future, who may not be here to deal with that future.
So, when it comes to the immediate challenges that are facing businesses, those are the direct conversations I'm having with them, and, indeed, that I look to have with the UK Government, where the real focus for action should be in the here and now.
Wel, mewn perthynas â mesurau gwrth-dwf, digwyddodd yr ymyrraeth wrth-dwf fwyaf arwyddocaol, wrth gwrs, yn ystod y chwe wythnos y bu Liz Truss yn Brif Weinidog y DU. Roedd honno’n ymyrraeth sylweddol a wnaeth yr holl heriau sy’n bodoli o fewn yr economi yn waeth o lawer. Ac roedd yn ddoniol clywed y sôn am gynghrair wrth-dwf ac yna gweld y smonach a wnaeth Kwasi Kwarteng a Liz Truss. Felly, nid oes angen unrhyw bregethau gan unrhyw Dori yn y Siambr hon, nac unrhyw le arall, ar y mater hwn.
O ran yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud, rydym yn cyflawni'r maniffesto y cawsom ein hethol i'w gyflawni. Mae hynny'n cynnwys y mesurau rydym yn eu rhoi ar waith mewn perthynas â'r ardoll ymwelwyr. Mae'n cynnwys sgwrs a gefais y bore yma gyda fforwm yr economi ymwelwyr, lle maent yn bwriadu gweithio gyda ni ar lunio ardoll sy'n ceisio gwneud yr hyn y mae i fod i'w wneud, ac mewn ardaloedd o'r wlad lle mae awdurdodau lleol yn awyddus i leihau’r ardoll, i ddeall wedyn sut y gellid gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy’n gweithio gyda’r diwydiant rydym am ei weld yn parhau i dyfu. Ac mewn gwirionedd, nid yr ardoll ymwelwyr yw'r her fwyaf sy'n wynebu'r sector hwnnw ac eraill, nac unrhyw safbwynt polisi gan Lywodraeth Cymru; ond yr her o beidio â gweld digon o dwf yn economi’r DU gyfan, her yr argyfwng costau byw, yr her yn ein gallu i fasnachu â rhannau eraill o’r byd, a’r hyn y mae hynny wedi'i wneud i bwysau chwyddiant yn yr economi y tu hwnt i ymosodiad Rwsia ar Wcráin.
O ran sgiliau a llafur, rydym yn cydnabod y materion a’r heriau hynny, a dyna pam y gallai ac y dylai ein hymyriadau wneud gwahaniaeth. Mae gennym heriau yn y cyflenwad llafur rydym yn bwriadu mynd i'r afael â hwy yn gynharach ym mywydau pobl, yn ogystal â'r hyn rydym yn ei wneud ar fuddsoddi mewn sgiliau. Mae angen sgwrs lawer mwy aeddfed arnom ynglŷn â mudo a’i werth i ddyfodol yr economi. Mae arnom angen llawer mwy o gydnabyddiaeth i heriau costau byw, a fydd, os nad eir i'r afael â hwy, yn golygu na fydd busnesau’n para i’r dyfodol mwy hirdymor. A dyna pam fod y cynllun rhyddhad ar filiau ynni i fusnesau mor bwysig. A'r anhawster yw—ac roedd hwn yn fater a gododd heddiw, ac mewn cyfarfodydd busnes eraill rwyf wedi'u cael—os na fydd Llywodraeth y DU yn cyflwyno'r ddeddfwriaeth, ni fydd gostyngiadau'n cael eu trosglwyddo i fusnesau. Felly, efallai y bydd gennych fusnesau na allant aros tan y daw'r adolygiad i ben, ac sy'n deall beth fydd yn digwydd yn y dyfodol mwy hirdymor, na fyddant yma, o bosibl, i wynebu’r dyfodol hwnnw.
Felly, ar yr heriau uniongyrchol sy'n wynebu busnesau, rheini yw'r sgyrsiau uniongyrchol rwy'n eu cael gyda hwy, ac rwy'n gobeithio eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn wir, lle dylai'r ffocws fod ar weithredu nawr.
Minister, the reality is that, with one hand, you're trying to offer an olive branch to some businesses via additional rate relief, and, with the other hand, you're implementing policies that could be fatal for hundreds of Welsh businesses. I guess the Deputy Minister for Climate Change was right when he said that the Welsh Government didn't know what it was doing when it comes to the economy. So, let me try another one. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales's latest business confidence index for Wales shows that business confidence has fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter, and they are right to say that it's vital that 2023 is the year to develop environmentally sustainable long-term economic growth. There are significant opportunities in the move to decarbonise the economy, and I know that work is currently being done by the Development Bank of Wales to fast track a new invest-to-save scheme to support businesses to decarbonise, but, unfortunately, businesses continue to delay in investing in green solutions due to rising costs. Therefore, Minister, can you provide an update on the development bank's decarbonisation programme? And I listened very carefully to your earlier answer to Sioned Williams, and I understand that you will be making further announcements next year, but can you tell us when you'll be making those further announcements?
Weinidog, y gwir amdani yw eich bod, gydag un llaw, yn ceisio estyn llaw i rai busnesau drwy ryddhad ardrethi ychwanegol, a gyda’r llaw arall, rydych yn gweithredu polisïau a allai fod yn angheuol i gannoedd o fusnesau yng Nghymru. Mae'n debyg fod y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn iawn pan ddywedodd nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwybod beth mae'n ei wneud o ran yr economi. Felly, gadewch imi roi cynnig ar un arall. Mae mynegai hyder busnesau diweddaraf Sefydliad Cyfrifwyr Siartredig Cymru a Lloegr yn dangos bod hyder busnesau wedi gostwng am y pumed chwarter yn olynol, ac maent yn iawn i ddweud ei bod yn hanfodol mai 2023 yw’r flwyddyn i ddatblygu twf economaidd hirdymor sy’n amgylcheddol gynaliadwy. Mae cyfleoedd sylweddol ynghlwm wrth yr ymdrech i ddatgarboneiddio’r economi, a gwn fod gwaith yn mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru i roi cynllun buddsoddi i arbed newydd ar lwybr carlam er mwyn cefnogi busnesau i ddatgarboneiddio, ond yn anffodus, mae busnesau’n parhau i oedi cyn buddsoddi mewn atebion gwyrdd oherwydd costau cynyddol. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am raglen ddatgarboneiddio’r banc datblygu? A gwrandewais yn ofalus iawn ar eich ateb cynharach i Sioned Williams, a deallaf y byddwch yn gwneud cyhoeddiadau pellach y flwyddyn nesaf, ond a allwch ddweud wrthym pryd y byddwch yn gwneud y cyhoeddiadau pellach hynny?
Let's just deal with some of the challenges that come here. And I do say this as gently but as honestly as I can, to the Member: when it comes to talk of anti-growth policies, when it comes to talk of whether you know what you're doing, actually, you just need to look at what happened in the disastrous six weeks and what it did to tank the economy across the UK. Your party, that many of your own members were celebrating not just the election of Liz Truss, but celebrating the plan that she introduced, now need to look long and hard at themselves, at what actually happened. And it's not just that. If you look at what the CBI are saying, they say the UK Government does not have a plan for growth. And, actually, without a plan for growth across the UK, it will make our challenge much, much harder.
When you look at what we are doing, I will be announcing, early in the new year, with the Development Bank of Wales, a scheme to support businesses to grow, a scheme to support businesses to decarbonise and improve their bottom line. I'm looking forward very much to the announcement early in the new year, and I then look forward to a constructive response from Members in this Chamber and beyond. I'm very clear this Government thinks that, in a very difficult year ahead, there will be opportunities to help preserve Welsh businesses and Welsh jobs, but also, in a range of sectors, to see real growth, where we do have opportunities. I'm determined to do that, whilst calling out the incompetence of the UK Government at every possible turn.
Gadewch inni ymdrin â rhai o'r heriau a ddaw yma. A dywedaf hyn mor dyner ond mor onest ag y gallaf, wrth yr Aelod: pan ddaw'n fater o siarad am bolisïau gwrth-dwf, pan ddaw'n fater o ofyn a ydych yn gwybod beth rydych yn ei wneud, nid oes ond angen ichi edrych ar yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn ystod y chwe wythnos drychinebus a'r hyn y gwnaeth hynny i chwalu'r economi ledled y DU. Gyda llawer o’ch aelodau eich hun nid yn unig wedi dathlu'r ffaith bod Liz Truss wedi'i hethol, ond wedi dathlu’r cynllun a gyflwynodd, mae angen i'ch plaid edrych yn ofalus arnynt eu hunain nawr, ar yr hyn a ddigwyddodd mewn gwirionedd. Ac nid yn unig hynny. Os edrychwch ar yr hyn y mae Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain yn ei ddweud, maent yn dweud nad oes gan Lywodraeth y DU gynllun ar gyfer twf. Ac mewn gwirionedd, heb gynllun ar gyfer twf ledled y DU, bydd hynny'n gwneud ein her yn llawer iawn anos.
Pan edrychwch ar yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud, byddaf yn cyhoeddi cynllun yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd, gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru, i gefnogi busnesau i dyfu, cynllun i gefnogi busnesau i ddatgarboneiddio a gwella eu helw net. Edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at y cyhoeddiad yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd, ac edrychaf ymlaen wedyn at ymateb adeiladol gan Aelodau yn y Siambr hon a thu hwnt. Rwy'n glir iawn fod y Llywodraeth hon yn credu, yn y flwyddyn anodd iawn sydd o'n blaenau, y bydd cyfleoedd i helpu i ddiogelu busnesau Cymru a swyddi yng Nghymru, ond hefyd, mewn ystod o sectorau, i weld twf gwirioneddol, lle mae gennym gyfleoedd. Rwy'n benderfynol o wneud hynny, gan dynnu sylw at anallu Llywodraeth y DU ar bob cyfle.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, the announcement in the draft budget relating to business rates relief has been broadly welcomed by businesses across Wales, especially so in the hospitality, retail and leisure sector. The Federation of Small Businesses said, for example, that the measures will go some way to alleviate the pressures on small firms that they are facing. However, I am sure the Minister is aware of comments made by Wales Fiscal Analysis in Cardiff University, saying that it is arguably a blunt instrument to use when dealing with a recession, and, of course, by their analysis, larger businesses instead of smaller ones would benefit more from this non-targeted support. How would the Minister respond to that?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, mae’r cyhoeddiad yn y gyllideb ddrafft sy’n ymwneud â rhyddhad ardrethi busnes wedi’i groesawu’n gyffredinol gan fusnesau ledled Cymru, yn enwedig yn y sector lletygarwch, manwerthu a hamdden. Dywedodd y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach, er enghraifft, y bydd y mesurau'n mynd rywfaint o ffordd tuag at leddfu'r pwysau y mae cwmnïau bach yn ei wynebu. Fodd bynnag, rwy’n siŵr fod y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol o sylwadau a wnaed gan Dadansoddi Cyllid Cymru ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, a ddywedodd y gellir dadlau ei fod yn offeryn di-awch i’w ddefnyddio wrth ymdrin â dirwasgiad, ac wrth gwrs, yn ôl eu dadansoddiad hwy, byddai busnesau mwy yn elwa mwy na rhai llai o faint o'r cymorth hwn nad yw wedi'i dargedu. Sut y byddai’r Gweinidog yn ymateb i hynny?
Well, as ever, we're using the tools that we do have at our disposal, and the understanding of a scheme that people understand, because of the way that we have supported businesses in this area before, and, of course, we already have a range of reliefs built in to our system for smaller businesses in any event, and we've got a cap on the amount that businesses can benefit from as well. That actually means that the largest businesses won't have an even bigger amount provided to them. The cap means that we can then recycle more of that money that would otherwise go to larger businesses into our smaller and medium-sized firms. As ever, we're always interested in how we can have better and more targeted tools. There is, though, a pay-off or a trade-off in all of these. A scheme that is simple and easy to understand and administer, that can get money out rapidly, can have some edges around it that are more fuzzy. If you look for a more targeted scheme, it will make it more complex, and you're going to have to invest more time, energy and effort in the design and the delivery of it, and the more targeted and more complex a scheme, the more likely you are to see businesses fall through the gaps in it. So, there's always a choice to be made here. I'm comfortable we've made the right practical choice in where we are, and we'll need to continue to flex, as we move through the next difficult year ahead, with a recession that even the Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledges we're at the start of, and, as I say, it will be a difficult year ahead for many businesses in the sector, which is why we've made this announcement of support over the next two years.
Wel, fel bob amser, rydym yn defnyddio'r offer sydd ar gael i ni, a'r ddealltwriaeth o gynllun y mae pobl yn ei ddeall, oherwydd y ffordd rydym wedi cefnogi busnesau yn y maes hwn o'r blaen, ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym eisoes ystod o ryddhad wedi'i ymgorffori yn ein system ar gyfer busnesau llai beth bynnag, ac mae gennym gap ar y swm y gall busnesau elwa ohono hefyd. Golyga hynny na fydd swm hyd yn oed yn fwy o arian yn cael ei ddarparu i'r busnesau mwyaf. Golyga’r cap y gallwn wedyn ailgylchu mwy o’r arian hwnnw a fyddai fel arall yn mynd i fusnesau mwy a'i roi i’n cwmnïau llai a chanolig eu maint. Fel erioed, mae gennym ddiddordeb bob amser yn sut y gallwn gael arfau gwell sydd wedi'u targedu'n well. Fodd bynnag, mae mantais neu gyfaddawd ynghlwm wrth bob un o'r rhain. Gall cynllun sy'n syml ac yn hawdd ei ddeall a'i weinyddu, a all ddarparu arian yn gyflym, fod â rhai ymylon mwy aneglur o'i gwmpas. Os edrychwch am gynllun sydd wedi’i dargedu i raddau mwy, bydd yn ei wneud yn fwy cymhleth, a bydd yn rhaid ichi fuddsoddi mwy o amser, egni ac ymdrech yn y gwaith o’i lunio a’i gyflwyno, a pho fwyaf y caiff cynllun ei dargedu a pho fwyaf cymhleth yw'r cynllun hwnnw, y mwyaf tebygol ydych chi o weld busnesau’n cwympo drwy’r bylchau ynddo. Felly, mae dewis i'w wneud yma bob amser. Rwy'n dawel fy meddwl ein bod wedi gwneud y dewis ymarferol cywir o ran ble rydym arni ar hyn o bryd, a bydd angen inni barhau i fod yn ystwyth, wrth inni fynd drwy'r flwyddyn anodd nesaf sydd o'n blaenau, gyda dirwasgiad y mae hyd yn oed Canghellor y Trysorlys yn cydnabod ein bod ar ei ddechrau, ac fel y dywedaf, bydd yn flwyddyn anodd o'n blaenau i lawer o fusnesau yn y sector, a dyna pam ein bod wedi cyhoeddi'r cymorth hwn dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Of course, one of the things that they mentioned was that smaller businesses would miss out on that support. So, isn't it the case that we need that targeted support? There is a recognition that support is needed elsewhere. We've heard about energy today, and that business rates themselves, of course, as well, need reform. That, of course, was the view of the director of the CBI, who said that we should use the reprieve now in Wales to see how we can reform business rates. I'd be interested in knowing the Minister's view on that. Of course, we're at the time of year where hospitality in particular relies on the revenue made now in order to survive those much quieter few months in the new year. It's true, of course, generally, we've seen increased footfall, but spend per head is down, and today's news on inflation paints a very bleak picture for the hospitality sector in general.
I've mentioned previously in the Chamber—we've heard it again today from both Sioned Williams and Paul Davies—about the need to help small businesses go green. But what the sector is also facing is a recruitment crisis. In what way does the Minister see the Welsh Government's role in addressing this recruitment crisis? This crisis was an issue during the pandemic, it's continued to this day, yet very little seems to have been done by the Welsh Government to address it effectively.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, un o’r pethau a grybwyllwyd ganddynt oedd y byddai busnesau llai o faint yn methu cael y cymorth hwnnw. Felly, onid yw'n wir fod angen cymorth wedi'i dargedu arnom? Ceir cydnabyddiaeth fod angen cymorth mewn mannau eraill. Rydym wedi clywed am ynni heddiw, a bod angen diwygio'r ardrethi busnes eu hunain, wrth gwrs. Dyna oedd barn cyfarwyddwr Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain, a ddywedodd y dylem ddefnyddio’r seibiant yng Nghymru i weld sut y gallwn ddiwygio ardrethi busnes. Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod barn y Gweinidog ar hynny. Wrth gwrs, rydym ar yr adeg o'r flwyddyn lle mae lletygarwch yn arbennig yn dibynnu ar y refeniw a wneir ar hyn o bryd er mwyn goroesi'r ychydig fisoedd llawer tawelach hynny yn y flwyddyn newydd. Mae'n wir, wrth gwrs, yn gyffredinol, ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer yr ymwelwyr, ond mae gwariant y pen i lawr, ac mae newyddion heddiw ynghylch chwyddiant yn cynnig darlun llwm iawn ar gyfer y sector lletygarwch yn gyffredinol.
Rwyf wedi sôn o'r blaen yn y Siambr—ac rydym wedi ei glywed eto heddiw gan Sioned Williams a Paul Davies—am yr angen i helpu busnesau bach i fod yn wyrdd. Ond yr hyn y mae'r sector hefyd yn ei wynebu yw argyfwng recriwtio. Beth yw rôl Llywodraeth Cymru wrth fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng recriwtio hwn ym marn y Gweinidog? Roedd yr argyfwng hwn yn broblem yn ystod y pandemig, mae wedi parhau hyd heddiw, ond ychydig iawn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud yn ôl pob golwg i fynd i’r afael ag ef yn effeithiol.
There are two things. On non-domestic rates reform, that is a conversation that I continue to have with the finance Minister, who, as you understand, is the ministerial lead when it comes to reform of taxation. There's a significant programme of reform that continues to move at pace on broader taxation. You know of the work we're doing on council tax reform, for example. So, we are looking at what the future might look like. Understanding how we deliver a different scheme is really important to understand how you smooth out winners and losers within it to get to a better or a fairer system. That is work that we continue to look at.
When it comes to the particular challenges facing hospitality, it is one of the things that I am genuinely concerned about, when it comes to how much consumers will spend in this period of time that is really important for the hospitality sector and what that means for those businesses and their ability to survive in the new year, when January is normally a slower month, and whether businesses will look again, as a number of them already are doing, at whether they reduce the hours or the days that they're open as a means of dealing both with the reality of reduced consumer spend and the staffing problems that you've referred to.
During the last year, we have worked alongside the industry to try to do something more positive about recognising it as a sector that people can go into for careers and not simply casual work, which is the way that it's portrayed by some people as the only way of working in the sector. I've committed to looking with them again in the new year at what we might be able to do to encourage people to take this up as a job, as a career, to try to address the reality that we're not seeing people who want to come to work in the sector. As we've discussed in the Chamber and outside before, part of the challenge is the way that consumers behave in some parts of the hospitality sector, and about recognising, whilst the sector is short staffed, to show some kindness and understanding for those people that are there, as well as looking to get more people to want to come to work in the sector at a rate that is fair in terms of our ambitions around fair work and fair pay and also allows the businesses to plan for their own future.
Mae dau beth. O ran diwygio ardrethi annomestig, mae honno’n sgwrs rwy'n parhau i’w chael gyda’r Gweinidog cyllid, sef y Gweinidog arweiniol, fel y gwyddoch, mewn perthynas â mater diwygio trethiant. Ceir rhaglen ddiwygio sylweddol sy'n parhau i symud yn gyflym ar drethiant ehangach. Fe wyddoch am y gwaith rydym yn ei wneud ar ddiwygio'r dreth gyngor, er enghraifft. Felly, rydym yn edrych ar sut olwg a allai fod ar hynny yn y dyfodol. Mae deall sut rydym yn darparu cynllun gwahanol yn bwysig iawn er mwyn deall sut rydych yn cydraddoli enillwyr a chollwyr o'i fewn er mwyn sicrhau system well neu decach. Mae hwnnw'n waith rydym yn parhau i edrych arno.
O ran yr heriau penodol sy’n wynebu lletygarwch, mae’n un o’r pethau rwy'n wirioneddol bryderus yn eu cylch, o ran faint y bydd defnyddwyr yn ei wario yn y cyfnod hwn o amser sy’n wirioneddol bwysig i’r sector lletygarwch, a beth y mae hynny’n ei olygu i'r busnesau hynny a’u gallu i oroesi yn y flwyddyn newydd, pan fydd mis Ionawr fel arfer yn fis arafach, ac a fydd busnesau’n edrych eto, fel y mae nifer ohonynt eisoes yn ei wneud, i weld a ydynt yn mynd i leihau nifer yr oriau neu’r dyddiau y maent ar agor fel ffordd o ymdopi â realiti llai o wariant gan ddefnyddwyr a'r problemau staffio rydych wedi cyfeirio atynt.
Yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rydym wedi gweithio ochr yn ochr â’r diwydiant i geisio gwneud rhywbeth mwy cadarnhaol i'w gydnabod fel sector y gall pobl gael gyrfaoedd ynddo, ac nid gwaith achlysurol yn unig, sef yr unig ffordd o weithio yn y sector yn nhyb rhai pobl. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i edrych gyda hwy eto yn y flwyddyn newydd ar yr hyn y gallem ei wneud i annog pobl i wneud hyn fel swydd, fel gyrfa, i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r realiti lle nad ydym yn gweld pobl sydd am ddod i weithio yn y sector. Fel rydym wedi trafod o’r blaen yn y Siambr a thu hwnt, rhan o’r her yw’r ffordd y mae defnyddwyr yn ymddwyn mewn rhai rhannau o’r sector lletygarwch, ac mae'n ymwneud â chydnabod, tra bo'r sector yn brin o staff, i ddangos rhywfaint o garedigrwydd a dealltwriaeth i’r bobl hynny sydd yno, yn ogystal â cheisio cael mwy o bobl i fod yn awyddus i ddod i weithio yn y sector ar gyfradd sy’n deg o ran ein huchelgeisiau ynghylch gwaith teg a chyflog teg ac sydd hefyd yn caniatáu i’r busnesau gynllunio ar gyfer eu dyfodol eu hunain.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddatblygiad SA1 yn Abertawe? OQ58856
3. Will the Minister provide an update on the SA1 development in Swansea? OQ58856
Yes. Good progress continues at SA1, with good levels of developer and occupier interest. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s matrix innovation quarter proposals are progressing, the student accommodation development on Kings Road is nearing completion, and the Welsh Government has completed the acquisition of the Prince of Wales dock.
Gwnaf. Mae cynnydd da'n parhau i gael ei wneud yn SA1, gyda lefelau da o ddiddordeb gan ddatblygwyr a meddianwyr. Mae cynigion Prifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant ar gyfer ardal y matrics arloesedd yn dod yn eu blaenau, mae datblygiad llety myfyrwyr ar Heol y Brenin ar fin cael ei gwblhau, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cwblhau’r broses o gaffael doc Tywysog Cymru.
Can I thank the Minister for that response? As I mentioned yesterday in a question to the First Minister, there have been a number of high-tech successes in SA1. Also, SA1 is a further development in Swansea that combines residential, high-skilled employment and commercial activity, with development being driven by, as the Minister said, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. And I think it is important that we look to more high-skill, high-value jobs, rather than the Conservatives' view that we want to have lots of low-skill, low-paid jobs. When will the Welsh Government complete the transfer of the highway infrastructure to Swansea council?
A gaf fi ddiolch i’r Gweinidog am ei ymateb? Fel y soniais ddoe mewn cwestiwn i’r Prif Weinidog, mae llawer o lwyddiannau uwch-dechnoleg wedi bod yn SA1. Hefyd, mae SA1 yn ddatblygiad pellach yn Abertawe sy’n cyfuno mannau preswyl, cyflogaeth sgil uchel a gweithgarwch masnachol, gyda'r gwaith datblygu'n cael ei hybu, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, gan Brifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant. A chredaf ei bod yn bwysig inni anelu at fwy o swyddi sgiliau uchel, uchel eu gwerth, yn hytrach na safbwynt y Ceidwadwyr ein bod am gael llawer o swyddi sgiliau isel ar gyflogau isel. Pryd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cwblhau’r broses o drosglwyddo’r seilwaith priffyrdd i gyngor Abertawe?
Thank you for the points made. You're right that it is an area where we're seeing a successful combination in the development of a scheme that combines residential, high-skilled employment and commercial activity. What we're looking to do is we are having constructive conversations with Swansea council about the adoption and what we hope will be the eventual transfer to local authority responsibility of the estate roads. I know it's an issue that residents at SA1 take an interest in. As we're at a point where we're having conversations between lawyers about how that might work, when we get to the point when I'm able to give a more definitive update, I'll happily provide that to him, because I know this is an issue of significant concern to the Member and his constituents.
Diolch am y pwyntiau a wnaethoch. Rydych yn llygad eich lle ei bod yn ardal lle rydym yn gweld cyfuniad llwyddiannus gyda datblygiad cynllun sy'n cyfuno mannau preswyl, cyflogaeth sgìl uchel a gweithgarwch masnachol. Yr hyn rydym yn bwriadu ei wneud yw rydym yn cael sgyrsiau adeiladol gyda chyngor Abertawe ynglŷn â mabwysiadu, a throsglwyddo, yn y pen draw, gobeithio, y cyfrifoldeb am ffyrdd yr ystad i'r awdurdod lleol. Gwn ei fod yn fater sydd o ddiddordeb i drigolion SA1. Gan ein bod wedi cyrraedd pwynt lle rydym yn cael sgyrsiau rhwng cyfreithwyr ynghylch sut y gallai hynny weithio, pan fyddwn yn cyrraedd y pwynt pan allaf roi diweddariad mwy pendant, rwy'n fwy na pharod i roi'r diweddariad hwnnw iddo, gan y gwn fod hwn yn fater pwysig iawn i’r Aelod a’i etholwyr.
Can I thank Mike Hedges for tabling the question? Although I'm not too sure where his supplementary came from. But the Minister will no doubt be aware of the importance of the SA1 site and the investment and high-value jobs that come with the development. The last time this was raised, Minister, and in answer to my colleague Altaf Hussain, you mentioned that, quote:
'There is still some undeveloped land at SA1 in the ownership of the Welsh Government, and we're looking to ensure that that is fully developed and finalised.'
Obviously, the land that has already been developed has proven to be very effective in, as I mentioned, attracting that investment to the area. With the potential for even more jobs and investment in this area, it's vital Welsh Government does all it can to attract that investment. Therefore, could the Minister update the Senedd as to what discussions are taking place to finalise some of that undeveloped land, particularly the land under the ownership of the Welsh Government, and what further economic benefit will that bring to the local area in SA1?
A gaf fi ddiolch i Mike Hedges am gyflwyno’r cwestiwn? Er, nid wyf yn rhy siŵr o ble y daeth ei gwestiwn atodol. Ond mae’n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol o bwysigrwydd safle SA1 a’r buddsoddiad a’r swyddi uchel eu gwerth a ddaw yn sgil y datblygiad. Y tro diwethaf i hyn gael ei godi, Weinidog, ac i ateb fy nghyd-Aelod, Altaf Hussain, fe ddywedoch chi:
'Mae rhywfaint o dir heb ei ddatblygu o hyd yn SA1 sydd ym mherchnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym yn ceisio sicrhau bod hwnnw'n cael ei ddatblygu a'i gwblhau'n llawn.'
Yn amlwg, mae’r tir sydd eisoes wedi’i ddatblygu wedi bod yn effeithiol iawn, fel y soniais, yn denu’r buddsoddiad hwnnw i’r ardal. Gyda'r potensial ar gyfer mwy fyth o swyddi a buddsoddiad yn yr ardal hon, mae'n hanfodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud popeth yn ei gallu i ddenu'r buddsoddiad hwnnw. Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Senedd ynghylch pa drafodaethau sy’n mynd rhagddynt i gwblhau rhywfaint o’r tir heb ei ddatblygu hwnnw, yn enwedig y tir sydd ym mherchnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, a pha fudd economaidd pellach a ddaw yn sgil hynny i’r ardal leol yn SA1?
Yes, we continue to be in discussions with developers about the land—again, for a mix of residential and commercial uses. I don't want to comment about the actual discussions that are ongoing that are yet to be completed, but we are looking at options for that continued development to help to finalise it, together with the steps we've taken to acquire the Prince of Wales dock as well. So, you can expect there to be continued development on the site, and I think the fact that there's been significant development already gives us prospects to be optimistic about the proposals and the discussions that I've referenced being brought to a successful conclusion, with further development on there, further jobs and high-quality homes for local people.
Ydym, rydym yn parhau i gael trafodaethau gyda datblygwyr ynglŷn â'r tir—unwaith eto, at gymysgedd o ddibenion preswyl a masnachol. Nid wyf am wneud sylwadau am y trafodaethau sy'n mynd rhagddynt ac sydd eto i'w cwblhau, ond rydym yn ystyried opsiynau ar gyfer y datblygiad parhaus hwnnw i helpu i'w gwblhau, ynghyd â'r camau rydym wedi'u cymryd i gaffael doc Tywysog Cymru hefyd. Felly, gallwch ddisgwyl datblygiad parhaus ar y safle, a chredaf fod y ffaith bod datblygu sylweddol wedi digwydd eisoes yn rhoi gobaith inni y bydd y cynigion a’r trafodaethau y cyfeiriais atynt yn cael eu cwblhau'n llwyddiannus, gyda datblygiad pellach yno, rhagor o swyddi a chartrefi o ansawdd uchel i bobl leol.
4. Sut mae'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu cefnogi ymchwil a datblygu yng Nghymru yn sgil ansicrwydd parhaus o ran Horizon Ewrop? OQ58889
4. How does the Minister intend to support Welsh research and development in light of ongoing uncertainties with Horizon Europe? OQ58889
Welcome back. It is frustrating that political differences between the EU and UK have created continued uncertainty and the inability to resolve association with Horizon Europe. The UK Government has previously allocated £6.8 billion for EU programmes in this area to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, without a separate Welsh Government allocation. We do have a range of support, including funding through our Horizon Europe unit, based in the Welsh European Funding Office, and Global Wales, plus the innovation strategy that is in development.
Croeso nôl. Mae’n rhwystredig fod gwahaniaethau gwleidyddol rhwng yr UE a’r DU wedi creu ansicrwydd parhaus ac anallu i barhau â'r cysylltiad â Horizon Ewrop. Yn y gorffennol, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi dyrannu £6.8 biliwn ar gyfer rhaglenni’r UE yn y maes hwn i’r Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol, heb ddyraniad ar wahân i Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae gennym ystod o gymorth, gan gynnwys cyllid drwy ein huned Horizon Ewrop, sydd wedi’i lleoli yn Swyddfa Cyllid Ewropeaidd Cymru, a Cymru Fyd-eang, yn ogystal â’r strategaeth arloesi sy’n cael ei datblygu.
Diolch am yr ymateb yna, Gweinidog.
Thank you for for that response, Minister.
The UK Government recently announced a package of measures to support UK R&D amidst the continuing uncertainty over association with Horizon Europe. Within the package, as you've mentioned, is a pledge of £100 million quality-related funding for English universities, from which Wales will receive consequentials. It is important to highlight the fact that QR funding is unique in the sense that there are very few areas where Wales is directly competing against England, but universities are one of those areas competing for grants and students, both domestic and international. The loss of any funding reduces potential growth in Wales and increases the likelihood of brain drain. Welsh universities must have the same pro rata as English universities, if we are going to be able to compete for UK-wide funding, so is the Minister therefore willing to make assurances that any consequentials that come the Welsh Government's way will be ring-fenced for QR funding for Welsh universities?
Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU becyn o fesurau i gefnogi ymchwil a datblygu yn y DU yn ystod yr ansicrwydd parhaus ynghylch y cysylltiad â Horizon Ewrop. Yn y pecyn, fel rydych wedi sôn, mae addewid o £100 miliwn o gyllid cysylltiedig ag ansawdd ar gyfer prifysgolion Lloegr, y bydd Cymru yn cael cyllid canlyniadol yn ei sgil. Mae’n bwysig tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod cyllid cysylltiedig ag ansawdd yn unigryw yn yr ystyr mai mewn ychydig iawn o feysydd y mae Cymru’n cystadlu’n uniongyrchol â Lloegr, ond mae prifysgolion yn un o’r meysydd hynny sy’n cystadlu am grantiau a myfyrwyr domestig a rhyngwladol. Mae colli unrhyw gyllid yn lleihau twf posibl yng Nghymru ac yn cynyddu’r tebygolrwydd o ddraen dawn. Mae'n rhaid i brifysgolion Cymru gael yr un faint pro rata â phrifysgolion Lloegr os ydym yn mynd i allu cystadlu am gyllid DU gyfan, felly a yw’r Gweinidog yn fodlon rhoi sicrwydd y bydd unrhyw gyllid canlyniadol a ddaw i Lywodraeth Cymru yn cael ei glustnodi fel cyllid cysylltiedig ag ansawdd i brifysgolion Cymru?
So, the education Minister has already announced an increase in QR funding previously. When it comes to consequentials from this announcement, we are in active conversation with the UK Government to finalise the amount and the usage of that. There is always a challenge—and I understand why it's made—when there is an announcement made for a particular sector within England for exactly the same use to be applied here in Wales. Welsh Ministers will decide what to do, when we have finalised the amount coming, and we'll make that decision openly and transparently for Members and, indeed, people interested in this particular sector. But I'm very keen that we do see a return on that money that does not mean that Wales loses out in the money that's available. And I recognise the importance in this area of actually doing something to resolve the gap that has been left in research funding for universities as a result of the failure to resolve Horizon Europe.
Felly, mae’r Gweinidog addysg eisoes wedi cyhoeddi cynnydd mewn cyllid cysylltiedig ag ansawdd. O ran cyllid canlyniadol yn sgil y cyhoeddiad hwn, rydym mewn trafodaeth barhaus â Llywodraeth y DU i benderfynu’n derfynol ar y swm a’r defnydd ohono. Mae her bob amser—a deallaf pam y’i gwnaed—pan fo cyhoeddiad yn cael ei wneud ar gyfer sector penodol yn Lloegr iddo fod ar gyfer yr un defnydd yn union yma yng Nghymru. Bydd Gweinidogion Cymru yn penderfynu beth i’w wneud, pan fyddwn wedi penderfynu’n derfynol ar y swm sydd i ddod, a byddwn yn gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw’n agored ac yn dryloyw ar gyfer yr Aelodau, ac yn wir, pobl a chanddynt fuddiant yn y sector penodol hwn. Ond rwy'n awyddus iawn ein bod yn gwneud elw ar yr arian hwnnw nad yw'n golygu bod Cymru ar ei cholled o ran yr arian sydd ar gael. Ac rwy’n cydnabod pwysigrwydd gwneud rhywbeth yn y maes hwn i ddatrys y bwlch sydd wedi’i adael mewn cyllid ymchwil i brifysgolion o ganlyniad i’r methiant i ddatrys mater Horizon Ewrop.
Luke Fletcher is quite right to say the UK Government has announced that, if it is unable to associate with Horizon, then it will continue to support the research and innovation sector through transitional arrangements. This includes the UK guarantee scheme, which then provides funding to researchers and innovators unable to reach their Horizon Europe funding while the UK is in the process of associating to the programme. The UK Government provides over £8 billion-worth of funding support across five different schemes, including funds for industrial strategy and global challenges. And most recently, of course, we've seen the establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, set up with an initial £800 million investment to develop high-reward research. Now, by way of contrast, alongside Horizon, the Welsh Government offers just two additional research and innovation funds: Sêr Cymru and SCoRE Cymru. So, to point the finger at the UK Government, when they provide the overwhelming bulk of R&I funding, really isn't good enough. So, Minister, with this in mind, how will you be working with the UK Government to make sure that Wales does deliver on its own science funding commitments? Thank you.
Mae Luke Fletcher yn llygad ei le pan ddywed fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi, os na all gysylltu â Horizon, y bydd yn parhau i gefnogi’r sector ymchwil ac arloesi drwy drefniadau pontio. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cynllun gwarant y DU, sydd wedyn yn darparu cyllid i ymchwilwyr ac arloeswyr nad ydynt yn gallu cael gafael ar eu cyllid Horizon Ewrop tra bo'r DU yn y broses o gysylltu â’r rhaglen. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn darparu gwerth dros £8 biliwn o gymorth ariannol ar draws pum cynllun gwahanol, gan gynnwys arian ar gyfer strategaeth ddiwydiannol a heriau byd-eang. Ac yn fwyaf diweddar, wrth gwrs, rydym wedi gweld yr Asiantaeth Ymchwil a Dyfeisio Blaengar yn cael ei sefydlu gyda buddsoddiad cychwynnol o £800 miliwn i ddatblygu ymchwil lle mae'r enillion yn fawr. Nawr, mewn cyferbyniad, ynghyd â Horizon, dim ond dwy gronfa ymchwil ac arloesi arall y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cynnig: Sêr Cymru a SCoRE Cymru. Felly, nid yw pwyntio bys at Lywodraeth y DU yn ddigon da o ystyried mai hwy sy'n darparu'r rhan helaethaf o gyllid ymchwil ac arloesi. Felly, Weinidog, gyda hyn mewn golwg, sut y byddwch yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod Cymru yn cyflawni ei hymrwymiadau ei hun o ran cyllid gwyddoniaeth? Diolch.
There are a couple of different points I think that we should make. There is the fact that because replacement funds have not been made available, we are over £1 billion down over three years; that's a matter of fact, not opinion. That directly affects research, development and innovation funding. That's, again, an inescapable fact. When it comes to improving the return for Wales from UK funds, that's a point that I've discussed both with the sector here as well as with UK Ministers.
Now, when it comes to the points that the Member has made about ARIA and other aspects, those actually are supposed to deliver funds on a UK-wide basis. I had some quite difficult conversations with a number of different science Ministers in the UK Government about the creation of ARIA itself and how it would function, and making sure that there was a structure that directly involved chief scientific officers from around the UK and not being centrally driven with one point, because the challenge is that the way that a number of funds have previously been delivered, about high-quality and high-value scientific research, the golden triangle in England tends to do a great deal better than the rest of the UK, including English regions as well as Wales. I'm very clear about our need in the new innovation strategy to get more from those UK funding sources; it's part of the reason I've met with UK Research and Innovation, part of the reason I've met yet again recently with Innovate UK, and I'm optimistic that when we get to not just the new strategy, but the way in which decisions are made, we should see a better return for Wales.
The other thing that I think would help all of us is some stability at the UK level. I welcome George Freeman's return to being the science Minister; he is someone who I think has been constructive and someone who understands the sector. I think what's been unhelpful is that I think I am now on my fifth or sixth UK science Minister to have conversations with. We would all be better off if there was a period of welcome stability. Even if we disagree with the UK Government's perspective, actually having some stability there would be welcome for all of us.
Mae yna un neu ddau o wahanol bwyntiau rwy'n credu y dylem eu gwneud. Oherwydd nad oes arian newydd wedi ei ryddhau, rydym wedi cael £1 biliwn yn llai dros dair blynedd; ffaith yw hynny, nid mater o farn. Mae hynny'n effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar gyllid ymchwil, datblygu ac arloesi. Mae hynny, unwaith eto, yn ffaith ddiymwad. Mewn perthynas â gwella'r arian i Gymru o gronfeydd y DU, mae hwnnw'n bwynt rwyf wedi'i drafod gyda'r sector yma yn ogystal â chyda Gweinidogion y DU.
Nawr, ar y pwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud am ARIA ac agweddau eraill, mae'r rheini mewn gwirionedd i fod i ddarparu arian ar sail y DU gyfan. Cefais sgyrsiau eithaf anodd gyda nifer o wahanol Weinidogion gwyddoniaeth yn Llywodraeth y DU am greu ARIA ei hun a sut y byddai'n gweithredu, a gwneud yn siŵr fod yna strwythur a oedd yn ymwneud yn uniongyrchol â phrif swyddogion gwyddonol o bob cwr o'r DU a sicrhau nad oedd yn cael ei lywio'n ganolog o un pwynt, oherwydd mae'r her yn ymwneud â'r ffordd y mae nifer o gronfeydd wedi'u darparu yn y gorffennol, ynghylch ymchwil gwyddonol o safon uchel a gwerth uchel, ac mae'r triongl euraidd yn Lloegr yn tueddu i wneud yn llawer iawn gwell na gweddill y DU, gan gynnwys rhanbarthau Lloegr yn ogystal â Chymru. Rwy'n glir iawn am ein hangen yn y strategaeth arloesi newydd i gael mwy o ffynonellau ariannu y DU; mae'n rhan o'r rheswm y cefais gyfarfod ag Ymchwil ac Arloesi yn y DU, yn rhan o'r rheswm pam y cefais gyfarfod ag Innovate UK eto yn ddiweddar, a phan fydd yna ffordd newydd o wneud penderfyniadau yn ogystal â strategaeth newydd, rwy'n obeithiol y gwelwn well enillion i Gymru.
Rwy'n credu y byddai rhywfaint o sefydlogrwydd ar lefel y DU yn ein helpu ni i gyd hefyd. Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod George Freeman wedi dychwelyd i fod yn Weinidog gwyddoniaeth; mae'n rhywun sydd, yn fy marn i, wedi bod yn adeiladol ac mae'n rhywun sy'n deall y sector. Rwyf bellach yn cael sgyrsiau gyda fy mhumed neu chweched Gweinidog gwyddoniaeth y DU ac nid wyf yn credu bod hynny'n helpu'r sefyllfa. Byddai'n well i bawb ohonom pe bai yna gyfnod o sefydlogrwydd. Hyd yn oed os ydym yn anghytuno â safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU, byddai cael rhywfaint o sefydlogrwydd yn rhywbeth y byddai pob un ohonom yn ei groesawu.
5. Beth mae'r Gweinidog yn ei wneud i godi'r cyfartaledd cyflog yn Nwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58883
5. What is the Minister doing to increase the average salary in Dwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58883
We are using our skills, business support and economic development levers to help create and safeguard good-quality employment and to help improve progression opportunities. This supports our efforts to increase gross disposable income per head as part of our economic mission and our approach to a well-being economy here in Wales.
Rydym yn defnyddio ein sgiliau, ein cymorth busnes a'n hysgogiadau datblygu economaidd i helpu i greu a diogelu cyflogaeth o ansawdd da ac i helpu i wella cyfleoedd i gamu ymlaen. Mae hyn yn cefnogi ein hymdrechion i gynyddu incwm gwario gros y pen fel rhan o'n cenhadaeth economaidd a'n hymagwedd tuag at economi llesiant yma yng Nghymru.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb hynny, ond dwi'n ofni bod y Llywodraeth yn chwilio am atebion llawer rhy simplistaidd i gwestiynau llawer iawn mwy dyrys, mewn gwirionedd. Mae yna lu o swyddi gwag gennym ni ar hyn o bryd; mae rhai yn talu'n dda iawn, rhai ddim cystal—yn feddygon, yn filfeddygon, yn ddarlithwyr, yn athrawon, yn swyddogion cynllunio, yn ofalwyr, a llawer iawn mwy. Ond, does yna ddim pobl yn gofyn y cwestiwn pam nad ydy pobl yn cymryd y swyddi yma i fyny. Mae'r cyfrifiad diweddaraf yn dangos y boblogaeth yn disgyn efo ni yng Ngwynedd, efo cynnydd sylweddol yn y boblogaeth dros 65 a chwymp pryderus yn y boblogaeth oedran gwaith. Felly, mae yna rywbeth llawer iawn dyfnach yn mynd ymlaen yma. A wnewch chi fel Gweinidog, felly, ymrwymo i wneud ymchwiliad trylwyr, deep dive, i mewn i beth sy'n digwydd yng Nghymru wledig, er mwyn deall y ffenomenon yma o beth sydd yn digwydd, ac yna, o gael y wybodaeth yma, gallwn ni ddechrau adnabod y datrysiadau i ateb y problemau go iawn?
I thank the Minister for that response, but I fear that the Government is looking for far too simplistic solutions to questions that are far more complex. There are a range of vacant jobs in Gwynedd at the moment; some pay very well, some not so well—doctors, vets, lecturers, teachers, planning officers, carers, and many more. But, nobody is asking the question why people aren't taking up these posts. The recent census shows the population falling here in Gwynedd, with a significant increase in the population over 65 and a worrying reduction in the working-age population. So, there is something far more deep-seated happening here. So, will you as a Minister, therefore, commit to carrying out a deep dive into what exactly is going on in rural Wales, in order to understand this phenomenon as to what is happening, and then, having gathered this information, we could start to identify the solutions to deal with the real problems?
I'm not sure that we need a deep dive, but what I did do at the start of this term, in work that I commissioned Jonathan Portes to do for the Welsh Government, was to look at a range of our challenges and factors. It includes both the reality that, as the Member has said, in some parts of Wales we're seeing a population move away from those areas. That's a big challenge in making sure that we have communities that have a future. It's part of the reason we set out in the economic mission the need to ensure that we help younger people to be able to plan their future in Wales, as well as attracting people to move to Wales to be part of our future story. Those could be Welsh diaspora moving back to us, it could be others too as well, because we want to see a real life for communities that is economically successful.
The challenge is also about the sort of economic future that we offer, which is why we need to invest in skills. It's why we need to recognise that in a range of the areas the Member has mentioned, the point that I made earlier about the relationship with migration is really important. Part of the challenge in the veterinary world that the Member mentioned—and I should note that I think I'm an honorary patron of the British Veterinary Association; my father was a vet as well—is recognising that, actually, part of the big challenge we've had is that a number of vets have come from Europe and further afield, and actually there is a big risk in what's already happened with a number of those people having left the UK. So, the pool for vets is short. At the same time, we're going to have an even bigger demand, particularly because of our changed border arrangements as well.
So, it is multifactorial—I recognise that—and our challenge is how we manage to have a response in the economic mission, but also a range of other Government departments too, that tries to meet that challenge to both get the sort of people we need to come into Wales and to give people who are brought up here the opportunity to plan a successful future in Wales as well, whether that's in urban or rural Wales. That's part of the reason I'm looking at economic development opportunities that aren't simply based around a model that says, 'Move people to cities', because that model itself won't work for Wales.
Rwy'n siŵr fod angen archwiliad dwfn, ond yr hyn a wneuthum ar ddechrau'r tymor hwn, mewn gwaith y comisiynais Jonathan Portes i'w wneud ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, oedd edrych ar ystod o'r ffactorau a'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu. Mae'n cynnwys y realiti, fel y mae'r Aelod wedi'i ddweud, mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, ein bod yn gweld poblogaeth yn symud i ffwrdd o'r ardaloedd hynny. Mae honno'n her fawr wrth sicrhau dyfodol i'n cymunedau. Mae'n rhan o'r rheswm pam rydym wedi nodi'r angen, yn y genhadaeth economaidd, i sicrhau ein bod yn helpu pobl iau i allu cynllunio eu dyfodol yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â denu pobl i symud i Gymru i fod yn rhan o'n stori ar gyfer y dyfodol. Gallai'r rheini fod yn Gymry ar wasgar sy'n symud yn ôl atom, gallent fod yn eraill hefyd yn ogystal, oherwydd rydym eisiau gweld bywyd go iawn i gymunedau sy'n llwyddiannus yn economaidd.
Mae'r her hefyd yn ymwneud â'r math o ddyfodol economaidd rydym yn ei gynnig, a dyna pam mae angen inni fuddsoddi mewn sgiliau. Dyna pam mae angen inni gydnabod, mewn ystod o'r meysydd y mae'r Aelod wedi'u crybwyll, fod y pwynt a wneuthum yn gynharach am y berthynas â mudo yn bwysig iawn. Rhan o'r her yn y byd milfeddygol y soniodd yr Aelod amdano—a dylwn nodi fy mod yn noddwr anrhydeddus i Gymdeithas Milfeddygon Prydain, rwy'n credu; roedd fy nhad yn filfeddyg hefyd—yw cydnabod, mewn gwirionedd, mai rhan o'r her fawr rydym yn ei hwynebu yw bod nifer o filfeddygon wedi dod o Ewrop ac ymhellach i ffwrdd, ac mewn gwirionedd mae yna risg fawr yn yr hyn sydd eisoes wedi digwydd gyda nifer o'r bobl hynny wedi gadael y DU. Felly, mae nifer y milfeddygon sydd gennym yn isel. Ar yr un pryd, bydd y galw hyd yn oed yn fwy, yn enwedig oherwydd bod ein trefniadau ar y ffin wedi newid hefyd.
Felly, mae'n ymwneud ag amryw o ffactorau—rwy'n cydnabod hynny—a'n her ni yw sut rydym yn llwyddo i gael ymateb yn y genhadaeth economaidd, ond hefyd ystod o adrannau eraill y Llywodraeth, sy'n ceisio ateb yr her honno i ddenu'r math o bobl rydym eu hangen i ddod i Gymru ac i roi cyfle i bobl sydd wedi'u magu yma i gynllunio dyfodol llwyddiannus yng Nghymru hefyd, boed hynny yn y Gymru drefol neu wledig. Dyna ran o'r rheswm rwy'n edrych ar gyfleoedd datblygu economaidd nad ydynt yn seiliedig ar fodel sydd ond yn dweud, 'Symudwch bobl i ddinasoedd', oherwydd ni fydd y model hwnnw ei hun yn gweithio i Gymru.
6. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddarparu cymorth i fusnesau yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru wrth i’r argyfwng costau byw ddwysáu? OQ58880
6. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to provide support to businesses in Mid and West Wales as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies? OQ58880
Thank you. The levers to tackle cost increases for businesses, interest rates for borrowing, taxation of windfall profits and regulation of the market lie squarely with the UK Government. Our priority is to support businesses to decarbonise and save, and we look for opportunities to help them to do so.
Diolch. Llywodraeth y DU sydd â'r ysgogiadau i fynd i'r afael â chynnydd mewn costau i fusnesau, cyfraddau llog ar gyfer benthyca, treth ffawdelw a rheoleiddio'r farchnad. Ein blaenoriaeth yw cefnogi busnesau i ddatgarboneiddio ac i arbed, ac rydym yn chwilio am gyfleoedd i'w helpu i wneud hynny.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fel rŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod, busnesau bach yw asgwrn cefn ein heconomi wledig. Fodd bynnag, mae'r argyfwng costau byw wedi bod yn ergyd sylweddol iddyn nhw, gydag adroddiad diweddar gan Ffederasiwn y Busnesau Bach yn nodi bod 63 y cant o fusnesau bach wedi gweld costau ynni yn cynyddu dros y flwyddyn diwethaf—dau allan o bob pump wedi gweld eu costau yn mwy na dyblu.
Nawr, mae gan Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru nifer arbennig o uchel o fusnesau off-grid sy'n ddibynol ar LPG neu olew ar gyfer gwresogi, ac yn agored felly i amrywiadau ym mhris y farchnad. Er enghraifft, mae Caws Teifi—cynhyrchydd caws nodedig yng Ngheredigion—wedi profi prisiau tanwydd LPG yn codi o 40c y litr i 80c y litr, a chyfanswm eu costau ynni blynyddol yn codi o £20,000 i £40,000. Felly, tra bod busnesau gwledig yn wynebu'r cynnydd aruthrol hwn, mae Llywodraeth San Steffan ond wedi clustnodi swm pitw o £150 i gefnogi busnesau off-grid. Felly, wrth i fusnesau bach wynebu dyfodol ansicr, pa bwysau a chefnogaeth gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu rhoi i gefnogi busnesau off-grid, y gaeaf hwn?
Thank you very much. As we all know, small businesses are the backbone of our rural economy. However, the cost-of-living crisis has been a significant blow to them, with a recent report by the Federation of Small Businesses noting that 63 per cent of small businesses have seen energy costs increasing over the past year—two out of every five have seen their costs more than doubling.
Now, Mid and West Wales has a particularly high number of off-grid businesses that are dependent on LPG or oil for heating, and are therefore vulnerable to price variance in the market. For example, Caws Teifi—a notable cheese producer in Ceredigion—has experienced LPG prices increasing from 40p per litre to 80p per litre, and the total costs for energy on an annual basis have increased from £20,000 to £40,000. So, whilst rural businesses face these huge increases, the Westminster Government has only earmarked a pitiful sum of £150 to support off-grid businesses. So, as small businesses face an uncertain future, what support can the Welsh Government provide to assist off-grid businesses this winter?
There is particular support available through Business Wales, and some of the energy efficiency advisors look at what might be possible for those businesses, because it will vary from one business to another. I recognise the point the Member makes about off-grid businesses and their energy costs as opposed to those businesses seeing energy cost increases who are on grid as well.
It also reinforces, though, the challenges in the energy relief scheme. As I said earlier, it's a scheme that hasn't had legislation passed, that isn't seeing discounts being passed directly onto businesses in the here and now as we face a winter, and the point that when the review is done, it will make a material difference for those businesses in terms of planning for the future. If the scheme doesn't have not just a longer term base to provide the certainty for businesses, then some of those businesses may choose to make permanent choices about their business. So, when that relief scheme comes, it will be an important point for businesses right across the UK, not just for those that are within the definition of what is an energy-intensive business. Part of my concern is whether those off-grid businesses will be part of the consideration for that. The points that we make, and indeed, in my recent appearance at the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, I committed to sharing the evidence that we've provided to the BEIS consultation on the energy relief scheme, which will be directly relevant to a range of these businesses. I'll make sure that that is available, and it will become public once it's provided to the committee.
Mae cymorth penodol ar gael drwy Busnes Cymru, ac mae rhai o'r cynghorwyr effeithlonrwydd ynni yn edrych ar yr hyn a allai fod yn bosibl i'r busnesau hynny, oherwydd bydd yn amrywio o un busnes i'r llall. Rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am fusnesau nad ydynt ar y grid a'u costau ynni yn ogystal â busnesau sydd ar y grid ac sy'n gweld cynnydd mewn costau ynni.
Ond mae hefyd yn atgyfnerthu'r heriau yn y cynllun rhyddhad ar filiau ynni. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, nid oes deddfwriaeth wedi'i derbyn mewn perthynas â'r cynllun, nid yw'n gweld gostyngiadau uniongyrchol yn cael eu trosglwyddo i fusnesau nawr wrth inni wynebu'r gaeaf, a phan fydd yr adolygiad wedi'i gwblhau, bydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth o bwys i'r busnesau hynny o ran cynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol. Os mai sylfaen fwy hirdymor yn unig sydd gan y cynllun i ddarparu sicrwydd i fusnesau, mae'n bosibl y bydd rhai o'r busnesau hynny'n dewis gwneud dewisiadau parhaol am eu busnes. Felly, pan ddaw'r cynllun rhyddhad, bydd yn bwynt pwysig i fusnesau ar draws y DU, nid yn unig i'r rheini a elwir yn fusnesau ynni-ddwys. Rhan o fy mhryder yw a fydd busnesau nad ydynt ar y grid yn cael eu hystyried ar gyfer hynny. Mae'r pwyntiau a wnawn, ac yn wir, yn fy ymddangosiad diweddar yn y Pwyllgor Economi, Masnach, a Materion Gwledig, ymrwymais i rannu'r dystiolaeth rydym wedi'i darparu i ymgynghoriad yr Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol ar y cynllun rhyddhad ynni, a fydd yn berthnasol i ystod o'r busnesau hyn yn uniongyrchol. Byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr fod y dystiolaeth honno ar gael, a bydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi pan fydd wedi'i darparu i'r pwyllgor.
Minister, I was alarmed to read that ONS statistics show that the average price of a pint of beer has gone up 9 per cent compared to last year, and more than 50 pubs a month are now closing across the UK, compared to around 30 pubs a month last year. Pubs are the heartbeat of many communities in Brecon and Radnorshire, and they play an important social role for many people. So, I'd like to ask the Minister: what is the Welsh Government doing to support our pubs through a difficult winter and beyond?
Weinidog, cefais fraw wrth ddarllen bod ystadegau'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn dangos bod pris cyfartalog peint o gwrw wedi codi 9 y cant o'i gymharu â'r llynedd, a bellach mae dros 50 o dafarndai yn cau ledled y DU bob mis, o'i gymharu â thua 30 o dafarndai y mis y llynedd. Tafarndai yw curiad calon nifer o gymunedau ym Mrycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed, ac maent yn chwarae rôl gymdeithasol bwysig i lawer o bobl. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog: beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i gefnogi ein tafarndai drwy aeaf anodd a thu hwnt?
Well, we do certainly recognise that pubs are an important part of community life, not just as businesses employing people, but giving places a sense of place as well. And I've recognised again the way that pubs have been highlighted today and the brewing businesses have come up on more than one occasion in this set of questions: the challenges of raw material increases, the challenges of energy increasing in cost as well and what that then means for pubs that are then facing their own challenges in terms of getting the right number of staff and, indeed, their own costs going up. So, I recognise there's a challenge. The difficulty then comes, beyond the support that we have provided through business rates, about what other support we can practically provide in a budget that has little room for manoeuvre. You'll see in the draft budget there isn't a spare amount of cash that the finance Minister has held back to do so. And it's also on the back of today's inflation figures showing a modest fall from 11.1 per cent to 10.7 per cent, but as I've said, the headline rate for food and drink that directly affects how pubs can do business has gone up 16.5 per cent. So, I recognise there is a wide range of challenges, and it's the part of the conversation we'll continue to have, not just with the sector but with the UK Government to understand what we can do and what resources will be available to try to support pubs as businesses and important hubs within communities.
Wel, rydym yn sicr yn cydnabod bod tafarndai yn rhan bwysig o fywyd y gymuned, nid yn unig fel busnesau sy'n cyflogi pobl, maent hefyd yn rhoi ymdeimlad o le i lefydd hefyd. Ac unwaith eto rwyf wedi cydnabod y ffordd y mae tafarndai wedi cael sylw heddiw ac mae'r busnesau bragu wedi codi ar fwy nag un achlysur yn y gyfres hon o gwestiynau: mae heriau'n ymwneud â deunydd crai yn cynyddu, yr heriau'n ymwneud â'r cynnydd yng nghostau ynni hefyd a beth mae hynny'n ei olygu wedyn i dafarndai sy'n wynebu eu heriau eu hunain gyda chael y nifer cywir o staff ac yn wir, eu costau eu hunain yn codi. Felly, rwy'n cydnabod bod yna her. Mae yna anawsterau wedyn, y tu hwnt i'r cymorth rydym wedi'i ddarparu drwy ardrethi busnes, mewn perthynas â pha gefnogaeth arall y gallwn ei darparu'n ymarferol mewn cyllideb sydd heb lawer o le i symud. Fe welwch yn y gyllideb ddrafft nad yw'r Gweinidog cyllid wedi cadw unrhyw arian dros ben yn ôl i wneud hynny. A daw hefyd yn sgil ffigurau chwyddiant heddiw sy'n dangos cwymp bach o 11.1 y cant i 10.7 y cant, ond fel y dywedais, mae'r brif gyfradd ar gyfer bwyd a diod sy'n effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar sut y gall tafarndai wneud busnes wedi cynyddu 16.5 y cant. Felly, rwy'n cydnabod bod ystod eang o heriau, ac mae'n rhan o'r sgwrs y byddwn yn parhau i'w chael, nid yn unig gyda'r sector ond gyda Llywodraeth y DU i ddeall beth y gallwn ei wneud a pha adnoddau fydd ar gael i geisio cefnogi tafarndai fel busnesau a chanolfannau pwysig o fewn cymunedau.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net arfaethedig y Llywodraeth? OQ58886
7. Will the Minister provide an update on the Government's proposed net-zero skills action plan? OQ58886
Yes. I expect to launch our net-zero skills action plan in early 2023, and no later than the end of February 2023.
Gwnaf. Rwy'n disgwyl lansio ein cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net yn gynnar yn 2023, a dim hwyrach na diwedd mis Chwefror 2023.
Wel, diolch am y cadarnhad hynny oherwydd rydyn ni gyd yn cydnabod ei bod hi'n anodd iawn symud ymlaen gyda'r agenda yma heb gael gweithlu sydd wedi'i ymbweru â'r sgiliau i wireddu nifer o'r interventions sydd eu hangen ar gyfer cyrraedd sero net. Mi wnaeth y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd bwysleisio i'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith yn ddiweddar ei bod hi'n methu tanlinellu'n ddigon cryf pa mor allweddol oedd hi i symud ymlaen â'r agenda yma ar fyrder. Nawr, mi oedd y cynllun i fod yn cael ei gyhoeddi, wrth gwrs, yn y gwanwyn. Mi ohiriwyd hynny tan yr haf. Mi ohiriwyd hynny'n bellach wedyn tan y Nadolig, a nawr wrth gwrs rydych chi'n cadarnhau y bydd hynny yn y flwyddyn newydd. Gaf i ofyn pam bod yr oedi wedi digwydd, ac a gaf i ofyn i chi ategu efallai yr hyn a ddywedoch chi yn eich ateb cyntaf na fydd yna slippage pellach?
Well, thank you for that confirmation because we all recognise that it's very difficult to make progress with this agenda without a workforce that's empowered with the skills to deliver many of the interventions needed to achieve net zero. The Minister for Climate Change did emphasise to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee recently that she couldn't emphasise strongly enough how important it was to make progress on this agenda as a matter of urgency. Now, the plan was to be published in the spring, of course. That was postponed until the summer. That was further postponed until Christmas, and now you have confirmed, of course, that that will happen in the new year. Can I ask why there were these delays and can I ask you to echo what you said in your first answer, that there won't be further slippage?
Yes, I'm happy to confirm about some of the challenges that we needed to take on board. As you've seen, during the year, there have been a number of different events. It was our expectation that we would accomplish it within this financial year, we then had to deal with the shocks that have come at various points in the year, not just the autumn, but we then, as we'd reached the autumn and the challenges of the changed economic picture that radically took over, also wanted to include the latest evidence and advice available from the Climate Change Committee and a number of other publications. It would have been odd, I think, to have published our plan on net-zero skills and then the next day to have received evidence from the Climate Change Committee. So, we're looking to take those into account. I am expecting to be able to make an oral statement on the net-zero skills plan, so you will hear directly from me at the time about what we've done and why, and the balance we're looking to strike, having all of that information available, to how we bring together net-zero skills in a more co-ordinated way, what that will mean for businesses, what it will mean for sectors, what it will mean for providers, and crucially for people who want to equip themselves with these skills in the future as we look to decarbonise our economy and do so in a way that delivers on a just transition.
Ie, rwy'n hapus i gadarnhau ynghylch rhai o'r heriau roedd angen inni fynd i'r afael â hwy. Fel rydych wedi'i weld, yn ystod y flwyddyn, mae nifer o ddigwyddiadau gwahanol wedi bod. Ein disgwyliad ni oedd y byddem yn ei gyflawni o fewn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, ond bu'n rhaid inni wedyn fynd i'r afael â'r ergydion sydd wedi ein taro ar wahanol adegau yn y flwyddyn, nid yn unig yr hydref, ond wrth inni gyrraedd yr hydref ac wrth i heriau'r darlun economaidd newydd gymryd drosodd yn radical, roeddem hefyd eisiau cynnwys y dystiolaeth a'r cyngor diweddaraf a oedd ar gael gan y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd a nifer o gyhoeddiadau eraill. Byddai wedi bod yn od, rwy'n credu, pe byddem wedi cyhoeddi ein cynllun ar sgiliau sero net ac yna wedi derbyn tystiolaeth gan y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd y diwrnod wedyn. Felly, rydym yn bwriadu ystyried y rheini. Rwy'n disgwyl gallu gwneud datganiad ar lafar ar y cynllun sgiliau sero net, felly byddwch yn clywed yn uniongyrchol gennyf fi ar y pryd am yr hyn rydym wedi'i wneud a pham, a'r cydbwysedd rydym yn ceisio ei daro, gyda'r holl wybodaeth honno ar gael, a sut rydym yn dod â sgiliau sero net at ei gilydd mewn ffordd fwy cydgysylltiedig, beth fydd hynny'n ei olygu i fusnesau, beth fydd yn ei olygu i sectorau, beth fydd yn ei olygu i ddarparwyr, ac yn allweddol beth fydd yn ei olygu i bobl sydd eisiau arfogi eu hunain â'r sgiliau hyn yn y dyfodol wrth inni geisio datgarboneiddio ein heconomi a gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n sicrhau pontio teg.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with Floventis Energy, one of the many floating offshore wind companies choosing to invest in the Celtic sea. Floventis have developed the capacity to generate 200 MW of floating offshore wind energy, 35 km off the coast of Pembrokeshire—yet another key player helping us to achieve our net-zero ambitions. The opportunities in the Celtic sea, Minister, are vast: a successful Celtic free port bid, coupled with the renewable energy opportunities could and should supercharge Pembrokeshire into a green energy peninsula. Therefore, I'd be grateful to know what the Welsh Government is doing to futureproof our workforce, giving current and future generations the skills to succeed in the green sector now and into the future. Diolch.
Ddoe, cefais gyfle i gyfarfod â Floventis Energy, un o'r nifer o gwmnïau gwynt ar y môr arnofiol sydd wedi dewis buddsoddi yn y môr Celtaidd. Mae Floventis wedi datblygu'r gallu i gynhyrchu 200 MW o ynni gwynt ar y môr arnofiol, 35 km oddi ar arfordir sir Benfro—chwaraewr allweddol arall sy'n ein helpu i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau sero net. Mae'r cyfleoedd yn y môr Celtaidd yn enfawr, Weinidog: fe allai ac fe ddylai cais llwyddiannus am borthladd rhydd Celtaidd, ynghyd â'r cyfleoedd ynni adnewyddadwy, atgyfnerthu sir Benfro i fod yn benrhyn ynni gwyrdd. Felly, byddwn yn falch o wybod beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i ddiogelu ein gweithlu ar gyfer y dyfodol, gan roi'r sgiliau i genedlaethau'r presennol a'r dyfodol allu llwyddo yn y sector gwyrdd nawr ac yn y dyfodol. Diolch.
Well, I should just make the point that, in responding, I won't be making any kind of indication about the free ports and the competing bids. It was mentioned in the question, and I just want to make that absolutely clear. However, my officials are reviewing the bids, together with UK Government officials, as the bidding deadline has finished. But I think you're right to point out that this is an area where we do expect significant economic growth, as well as green energy generation opportunities. It will also be something where, in the net-zero skills plan, I think the Member and the businesses in the sector more broadly will see a recognition of what we're able to do and what we're planning to do to try to make sure that we do capitalise on the economic opportunity that exists. This is one of the areas where I have a good deal more optimism in the year ahead than in some of the sectors that will face more challenges. I think there are people with resources they want to invest, opportunities they want to take up, and I look forward to a range of areas, including Pembrokeshire, taking advantage of the opportunities in the Celtic sea and what they will mean for the future of the Welsh economy.
Wel, dylwn wneud y pwynt na fyddaf, wrth ymateb, yn gwneud unrhyw fath o arwydd am y porthladdoedd rhydd a'r ceisiadau sy'n cystadlu. Soniwyd amdano yn y cwestiwn, ac rwyf eisiau gwneud hynny'n hollol glir. Fodd bynnag, mae fy swyddogion yn adolygu'r ceisiadau, ynghyd â swyddogion Llywodraeth y DU, gan fod y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau wedi gorffen. Ond rwy'n credu eich bod yn iawn i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod hwn yn faes lle rydym yn disgwyl twf economaidd sylweddol, yn ogystal â chyfleoedd cynhyrchu ynni gwyrdd. Bydd hefyd yn rhywbeth lle rwy'n credu y bydd yr Aelod a'r busnesau yn y sector yn ehangach yn gweld cydnabyddiaeth yn y cynllun sgiliau sero net o'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud a'r hyn rydym yn bwriadu ei wneud i geisio sicrhau ein bod yn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd economaidd sy'n bodoli. Mae hwn yn un o'r meysydd lle mae gennyf lawer iawn mwy o optimistiaeth ar gyfer y flwyddyn sydd i ddod nag yn rhai o'r sectorau a fydd yn wynebu mwy o heriau. Rwy'n credu bod yna bobl sydd ag adnoddau y maent eisiau eu buddsoddi, cyfleoedd y maent eisiau manteisio arnynt, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld amryw o ardaloedd, gan gynnwys sir Benfro, yn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd yn y môr Celtaidd a'r hyn y byddant yn ei olygu i ddyfodol economi Cymru.
8. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael am wneud Caerdydd yn gyrchfan dwristiaeth ddeniadol i ymwelwyr o Gymru ac ymwelwyr rhyngwladol? OQ58879
8. What discussions has the Welsh Government had about making Cardiff an attractive tourism destination for Welsh and international visitors? OQ58879
The Welsh Government continues to have discussions with a range of partners in supporting the cultural, sporting and business life of the capital city, which already contributes to making Cardiff a vibrant and attractive destination, both today and into the future.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n parhau i gael trafodaethau gydag amrywiaeth o bartneriaid i gefnogi bywyd diwylliannol, chwaraeon a busnes y brifddinas, sydd eisoes yn cyfrannu at wneud Caerdydd yn gyrchfan fywiog a deniadol, heddiw ac yn y dyfodol.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Cardiff docks made Cardiff into a capital city by exporting coal to the whole world. Today, we are fortunate to welcome people back to Cardiff Bay, and it's a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. I've received a number of complaints that we're not maximising the potential of Cardiff Bay. The impression given to tourists enjoying the boardwalk around the Mermaid Quay currently is less than great, with large sections of the boardwalk fenced off for many months at a time, seemingly in a semi-permanent state, with no schedule of works in sight. There are similar issues to be seen on the Cardiff Bay trail, and I know all these walkways are very familiar to the Minister. Therefore, what discussions have you had with Cardiff city council and the port authority to ensure that 2023 is the year that Cardiff Bay can truly maximise its tourist potential? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Dociau Caerdydd a wnaeth Gaerdydd yn brifddinas drwy allforio glo i'r byd i gyd. Heddiw, rydym yn ffodus o groesawu pobl yn ôl i Fae Caerdydd, ac mae'n gyrchfan boblogaidd i bobl leol a thwristiaid fel ei gilydd. Rwyf wedi derbyn nifer o gwynion nad ydym yn gwneud y mwyaf o botensial Bae Caerdydd. Nid yw'r argraff a roddir i dwristiaid sy'n mwynhau'r llwybr pren o amgylch Cei'r Fôr-forwyn yn dda iawn ar hyn o bryd, gyda rhannau mawr o'r llwybr pren wedi'u ffensio am fisoedd lawer ar y tro, mewn cyflwr lled-barhaol, mae'n ymddangos, heb unrhyw amserlen waith i'w gweld. Mae problemau tebyg i'w gweld ar lwybr Bae Caerdydd, ac rwy'n gwybod bod yr holl lwybrau cerdded hyn yn gyfarwydd iawn i'r Gweinidog. Felly, pa drafodaethau rydych wedi eu cael gyda chyngor dinas Caerdydd a'r awdurdod porthladd i sicrhau mai 2023 yw'r flwyddyn y gall Bae Caerdydd gynyddu ei botensial i ymwelwyr i'r eithaf? Diolch yn fawr.
I should note that I have to answer in very broad terms, given that this is in my constituency. I can't have ministerial discussions on this particular point, but I certainly do take up the opportunity to talk with the council and other partners about this and other areas of interest within the great and glorious constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth.
Dylwn nodi bod yn rhaid i mi ateb yn fras iawn o ystyried bod hyn yn ymwneud â fy etholaeth. Ni allaf gael trafodaethau gweinidogol ar y pwynt penodol hwn, ond rwy'n sicr yn manteisio ar y cyfle i siarad gyda'r cyngor a phartneriaid eraill am hyn a mannau eraill o ddiddordeb yn etholaeth wych a gogoneddus De Caerdydd a Phenarth.
And because it's Christmas, question 9, John Griffiths.
Ac oherwydd ei bod yn Nadolig, cwestiwn 9, John Griffiths.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, a Nadolig llawen.
Thank you very much, Llywydd, and merry Christmas.
9. Beth yw asesiad diweddaraf y Gweinidog o ddatblygiad economaidd yn Nwyrain Casnewydd? OQ58872
9. What is the Minister's latest assessment of economic development in Newport East? OQ58872
Welsh Government continue to work collaboratively with Newport City Council and the Cardiff capital region to help build a strong economy in Newport and the surrounding areas.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n parhau i gydweithio â Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd a phrifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd er mwyn helpu i adeiladu economi gref yng Nghasnewydd a'r ardaloedd cyfagos.
Minister, I've recently met with constituents who work at Newport Wafer Fab and Nexperia, and they're very concerned, along with others in the 600-plus workforce, at the current situation, and particularly, of course, at the UK Government decision forcing Nexperia to sell at least 86 per cent of its stake in Newport Wafer Fab. These are very well-paid and high-tech, highly skilled jobs, as I know you're aware, Minister. The UK Government, having cited national security concerns for their decision, now seem to have walked away from the consequences. I know the workforce feel this very strongly, having met with them onsite and here just this week, along with colleagues such as Jayne Bryant, in whose constituency, of course, the plant is situated. Obviously, what the workforce wants and the company wants, Minister, is for UK Government to engage, to have a dialogue, to be part of finding a way forward that protects these crucial, valuable jobs, and indeed planned investment. So, Minister, will the Welsh Government do all it can to ensure that the UK Government faces up to its responsibility and supports these quality jobs and this high-tech industry in Newport?
Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm ag etholwyr sy'n gweithio yn Newport Wafer Fab a Nexperia, ac maent yn bryderus iawn, ynghyd ag eraill yn y gweithlu o 600 a mwy, am y sefyllfa bresennol, ac yn enwedig, wrth gwrs, am benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU sydd wedi gorfodi Nexperia i werthu o leiaf 86 y cant o'i gyfran yn Newport Wafer Fab. Mae'r rhain yn swyddi uwch-dechnoleg medrus iawn sy'n talu'n dda iawn, fel y gwn eich bod yn gwybod, Weinidog. Mae'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth y DU, ar ôl nodi pryderon diogelwch cenedlaethol am eu penderfyniad, bellach yn ymddangos fel pe baent wedi troi eu cefnau ar y canlyniadau. Rwy'n gwybod bod y gweithlu'n teimlo'n gryf iawn am hyn, ar ôl cyfarfod â hwy ar y safle ac yma yr wythnos hon, gyda chyd-Aelodau fel Jayne Bryant y mae'r safle wedi'i leoli yn ei hetholaeth, wrth gwrs. Yn amlwg, yr hyn y mae'r gweithlu ei eisiau a'r hyn y mae'r cwmni ei eisiau, Weinidog, yw i Lywodraeth y DU ymgysylltu, i gael deialog, i fod yn rhan o ddod o hyd i ffordd ymlaen sy'n diogelu'r swyddi hanfodol, gwerthfawr hyn, a buddsoddiad wedi'i gynllunio yn wir. Felly, Weinidog, a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud popeth yn ei gallu i sicrhau bod Llywodraeth y DU yn wynebu ei chyfrifoldeb ac yn cefnogi'r swyddi o ansawdd hyn a'r diwydiant uwch-dechnoleg hwn yng Nghasnewydd?
Thank you for the question. I recognise what the Member had to say about Jayne Bryant. Nexperia is, of course, in her constituency, but I recognise the Member will have a number of constituents who work there as well. I had the opportunity to meet a group of staff from Nexperia in a meeting hosted by Jayne Bryant, and I know other Members took the opportunity to drop in to listen to them too.
We agree that the UK Government needs to undertake more engagement around the future of this particular business. There are over 600 well-paid jobs at that site in an industry with a very clear future, but an industry that also will, I think, need some time to transition to a future should the divestment and sale go ahead. There are challenges about the order book, because those people are Nexperia customers. There's also a challenge about future investment that would need to be made, and, crucially, about the people. It's not just the 600 people with families and well-paid jobs we should be concerned about, it's about some of those people who, if there isn't a clear plan for the future, may make alternative choices.
That is not what I think lies behind the UK Government's decision on the national security basis following the review, but I'm looking for certainty about what the future means—a plan for the future that involves the UK Government and involves further conversations with the company and other potential investors. Those are points that I've been looking to take up when I meet Grant Shapps, Secretary of State at BEIS. I'm due to meet him before the end of this week. We're certainly looking for an approach together with the UK Government that involves us and our direct relationships with the business and, indeed, the wider sector.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rwy'n cydnabod beth oedd gan yr Aelod i'w ddweud am Jayne Bryant. Wrth gwrs, mae Nexperia yn ei hetholaeth hi, ond rwy'n cydnabod y bydd gan yr Aelod nifer o etholwyr sy'n gweithio yno hefyd. Cefais gyfle i gyfarfod â grŵp o staff o Nexperia mewn cyfarfod a gynhaliwyd gan Jayne Bryant, ac rwy'n gwybod bod Aelodau eraill wedi manteisio ar y cyfle i alw heibio i wrando arnynt hefyd.
Rydym yn cytuno bod angen i Lywodraeth y DU ymgysylltu'n well mewn perthynas â dyfodol y busnes penodol hwn. Mae dros 600 o swyddi sy'n talu'n dda ar y safle hwnnw mewn diwydiant sydd â dyfodol clir iawn, ond mae'n ddiwydiant a fydd, yn fy marn i, angen peth amser i bontio i'r dyfodol os bydd y dadfuddsoddiad a'r gwerthiant yn mynd rhagddynt. Mae yna heriau gydag archebion, oherwydd cwsmeriaid Nexperia yw'r bobl hynny. Yn ogystal, mae yna her ynglŷn â'r buddsoddiad a fyddai angen cael ei wneud yn y dyfodol, ac yn hollbwysig, ynglŷn â'r bobl. Dylem fod yn bryderus am y 600 o bobl sydd â theuluoedd a swyddi sy'n talu'n dda, ond dylem fod yn bryderus hefyd am rai o'r bobl hynny a allai wneud dewisiadau amgen os nad oes cynllun clir ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Nid wyf yn credu mai dyna sydd y tu ôl i benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU ar sail diogelwch cenedlaethol yn dilyn yr adolygiad, ond rwy'n chwilio am sicrwydd ynglŷn â beth mae'r dyfodol yn ei olygu—cynllun ar gyfer y dyfodol sy'n cynnwys Llywodraeth y DU ac sy'n cynnwys sgyrsiau pellach gyda'r cwmni a buddsoddwyr posibl eraill. Mae'r rheini'n bwyntiau rwyf wedi bod yn bwriadu eu codi pan fyddaf yn cyfarfod â Grant Shapps, yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn yr Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol. Rwyf i fod i'w gyfarfod cyn diwedd yr wythnos hon. Rydym yn sicr yn chwilio am ddull o weithredu gyda Llywodraeth y DU sy'n ein cynnwys ni a'n perthynas uniongyrchol â'r busnes, a'r sector ehangach yn wir.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Y cwestiynau nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethu Cymdeithasol—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Natasha Asghar.
The next set of questions are questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services—[Interruption.] The first question is from Natasha Asghar.
It's okay.
Mae'n iawn.
1. Pa gamau mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i wella gwasanaethau cyswllt toresgyrn yng Nghymru? OQ58875
1. What action is the Minister taking to improve fracture liaison services in Wales? OQ58875
Sorry, I'm just rescuing my water now. Thank you very much. I have made clear my expectation that all patients in Wales should receive equitable access to fracture liaison services, and we are working with health boards to achieve this.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, rwy'n achub fy nŵr nawr. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwyf wedi amlinellu fy nisgwyliad y dylai pob claf yng Nghymru gael mynediad teg at wasanaethau cyswllt toresgyrn, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda'r byrddau iechyd i gyflawni hyn.
Thank you, Minister. Osteoporosis, I am sure you understand and know better than I do, affects more than 180,000 people in Wales, and fracture liaison services can help to transform the quality of life for many older people in Wales and deliver cost savings to the NHS. At present, only two thirds of people in Wales aged over 50 have access to the fracture liaison services, compared to 100 per cent coverage in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Extending and improving the quality of service could free up the 73,000 acute hospital bed days and 16,500 rehabilitation bed days estimated to be taken up by hip fracture patients over the next five years, delivering huge savings to the NHS. For example, the Royal Osteoporosis Society says providing a full FLS in the Aneurin Bevan health board area would cost just over £343,000 a year. Over five years, 337 hip fractures and 114 spinal fractures would be prevented, saving the NHS an estimated £6.6 million. So, do you agree, Minister, that we have a real opportunity here to improve the lives of people across Wales? Will you commit to investing in the fracture liaison services to provide 100 per cent cover across Wales? Thank you.
Diolch. Mae osteoporosis, fel rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn deall ac yn gwybod yn well na fi, yn effeithio ar fwy na 180,000 o bobl yng Nghymru, a gall gwasanaethau cyswllt toresgyrn helpu i drawsnewid ansawdd bywyd llawer o bobl hŷn yng Nghymru a sicrhau arbedion costau i'r GIG. Ar hyn o bryd, dim ond dwy ran o dair o bobl yng Nghymru dros 50 oed sydd â mynediad at y gwasanaethau cyswllt toresgyrn, o'i gymharu â 100 y cant yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon. Gallai ymestyn a gwella ansawdd y gwasanaeth ryddhau'r 73,000 o ddiwrnodau gwely acíwt mewn ysbytai a'r 16,500 o ddiwrnodau gwely adsefydlu yr amcangyfrifir y byddant yn cael eu llenwi gan gleifion sydd wedi torri clun dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, gan sicrhau arbedion enfawr i'r GIG. Er enghraifft, mae Cymdeithas Frenhinol Osteoporosis yn dweud y byddai darparu gwasanaeth cyswllt toresgyrn llawn yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan yn costio ychydig dros £343,000 y flwyddyn. Dros bum mlynedd, byddai 337 o doriadau clun a 114 o doriadau asgwrn cefn yn cael eu hatal, gan arbed amcangyfrif o £6.6 miliwn i'r GIG. Felly, a ydych yn cytuno, Weinidog, fod gennym gyfle gwirioneddol yma i wella bywydau pobl ledled Cymru? A wnewch chi ymrwymo i fuddsoddi yn y gwasanaethau cyswllt toresgyrn i sicrhau darpariaeth o 100 y cant ledled Cymru? Diolch.
Thank you very much, Natasha, and thank you for the opportunity to draw attention to the fact that, actually, in cold weather, in icy weather, in snowy weather, you are more likely to fall. I would ask, in particular, those who are more frail to pay particular attention at this time of year, because the last thing we need is more pressure on our NHS at this point in time. So, thank you for that.
I think it's really important that we do everything we can in the preventative space when it comes to ensuring that we improve the fracture situation in Wales. We know that one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 are expected to break a bone during their lifetime, so that's a lot of people. And so, we do need to put some measures in place. I was really delighted to have attended the conference on World Osteoporosis Day in October where we made it very clear that we do expect to see significant improvement in this space. What we've got is a situation where Wales currently has about 72 per cent coverage, and England has about 57 per cent coverage, but I am determined to get to 100 per cent, and that's what that conference was about. It was really about asking people to look at best practice and to make sure that health boards take their responsibility seriously in this area.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Natasha, a diolch am y cyfle i dynnu sylw at y ffaith eich bod chi, mewn tywydd oer, mewn tywydd rhewllyd, mewn eira, yn fwy tebygol o ddisgyn. Hoffwn ofyn, yn arbennig, i'r rhai sy'n fwy bregus i dalu sylw arbennig ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, oherwydd y peth olaf sydd ei angen arnom yw mwy o bwysau ar ein GIG ar hyn o bryd. Felly, diolch am hynny.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu mewn perthynas ag atal er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gwella'r sefyllfa o ran toresgyrn yng Nghymru. Rydym yn gwybod bod disgwyl i un o bob dwy fenyw ac un o bob pum dyn dros 50 oed dorri asgwrn yn ystod eu hoes, felly mae hynny'n llawer o bobl. Ac felly, mae angen inni roi rhai mesurau ar waith. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o fod wedi mynychu'r gynhadledd ar Ddiwrnod Osteoporosis y Byd ym mis Hydref lle gwnaethom hi'n glir iawn ein bod yn disgwyl gweld gwelliant sylweddol yn hyn o beth. Rydym mewn sefyllfa lle mae lefel y ddarpariaeth yng Nghymru oddeutu 72 y cant ar hyn o bryd, ac mae lefel y ddarpariaeth yn Lloegr oddeutu 57 y cant, ond rwy'n benderfynol o gyrraedd 100 y cant, a dyna beth oedd pwrpas y gynhadledd honno. Roedd yn ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â gofyn i bobl edrych ar arferion gorau a gwneud yn siŵr fod byrddau iechyd o ddifrif ynghylch eu cyfrifoldebau yn y maes hwn.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddarparu diweddariad ar y cynllun iechyd menywod a'i berthnasedd i fenywod a merched yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ58882
2. Will the Minister provide an update on the women's health plan and its relevance to women and girls in Mid and West Wales? OQ58882
Mae cydweithrediad y gwasanaeth iechyd wedi arwain y gwaith o ddatblygu cynllun 10 mlynedd ar iechyd menywod, a hwn fydd ymateb y gwasanaeth i'r gofynion yn y datganiad ansawdd iechyd menywod a merched. Bydd y cynllun yn sicrhau gwelliannau i'r ddarpariaeth iechyd i fenywod ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
The NHS Wales collaborative has led the development of a 10-year women's health plan, and this will form the service's response to the requirement set out in the women and girls health quality statement. The plan will deliver improvements to health provision for women across all regions of Wales.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Minister, you may recall me sharing my constituent Emily's story some months ago during Plaid Cymru's opposition debate on women's health. Tragically, she was forced to endure almost a 10-year wait for a diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition that affects one in 10 women across Wales. Now 24, Emily lives with stage 4 endometriosis, adenomyosis and other symptoms that remain to be diagnosed. She can no longer work, nor drive, and lives with chronic pain every single day. Despite her best efforts to work with clinicians and the health board to improve the care she receives, she's still waiting for a referral for specialised care and treatment. She tells me she has no option now but to pay for private healthcare. We know that this is just one story of many.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Weinidog, efallai y byddwch yn cofio imi rannu stori fy etholwr Emily rai misoedd yn ôl yn ystod dadl wrthblaid gan Blaid Cymru ar iechyd menywod. Yn drasig, bu'n rhaid iddi ddioddef am bron i 10 mlynedd cyn cael diagnosis o endometriosis, cyflwr sy'n effeithio ar un o bob 10 menyw ledled Cymru. Bellach yn 24 oed, mae Emily yn byw gydag endometriosis cam 4, adenomyosis a symptomau eraill sydd eto i gael diagnosis. Ni all weithio mwyach, na gyrru, ac mae'n byw gyda phoen cronig bob dydd. Er gwaethaf ei hymdrechion gorau i weithio gyda chlinigwyr a'r bwrdd iechyd i wella'r gofal mae'n ei gael, mae'n dal i aros i gael ei hatgyfeirio am driniaeth a gofal arbenigol. Mae'n dweud wrthyf nad oes ganddi opsiwn nawr ond talu am ofal iechyd preifat. Rydym yn gwybod mai dim ond un stori o blith nifer yw hon.
Weinidog, fe ddywedoch chi y byddai'r cam cyntaf—ac rŷn ni wedi eich clywed chi'n cadarnhau hyn—ar gyfer diweddariad y cynllun iechyd menywod yn cael ei gyhoeddi yn yr hydref, a dyma ni ar ein hwythnos olaf cyn y Nadolig. Felly, dwi'n erfyn arnoch chi i ddweud pryd yn union fydd y cynllun yma'n cael ei gyhoeddi, a bod hynny'n cael ei gyhoeddi ar frys er mwyn osgoi'r fath o brofiadau mae rhywun fel Emily wedi'u dioddef dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
Minister, you said that the first stage—and we've heard you confirm this—of the update to the women's health plan would be published in the autumn, and now we are in the final week before the Christmas recess. So, I urge you to say when exactly this plan will be published, and it should be published immediately to avoid the kinds of experiences that individuals such as Emily have faced over the past few years.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae'n ddrwg iawn gyda fi i glywed am hanes Emily; mae hi'n un o'r nifer o fenywod sydd yn dioddef o endometriosis. Rydyn ni wedi cydnabod bod angen inni wneud lot mwy yn y maes yma, a dyna pam nawr mae gyda ni nyrsys endometriosis ym mhob bwrdd iechyd ar draws Cymru. Felly, mae pethau'n gwella, ond rŷn ni'n cydnabod hefyd bod angen mwy o feddygon sydd yn gallu gwneud yr ymyrraeth sydd angen ar gyfer nifer o fenywod.
O ran y cyhoeddiad, beth rŷn ni wedi ei wneud nawr—. Cyhoeddiad yr NHS fydd e, yn hytrach na chyhoeddiad y Llywodraeth, ond dwi wedi ei weld. Dwi wedi dweud fy mod i'n hapus gyda'r ffordd mae'r trywydd yna'n mynd a dwi'n gobeithio y bydd hwnna'n cael ei gyhoeddi yn ystod yr wythnos nesaf. Felly, mi fydd e'n dod. Beth sydd yn hwnnw yw—. Rŷn ni wedi gwneud ymgynghoriad, wrth gwrs, gyda menywod ar draws Cymru i ofyn iddyn nhw, 'Beth ŷch chi'n meddwl sydd angen mewn cynllun?' A beth fyddwn ni'n ei gael yw'r ymateb yma, beth mae'r 4,000 o bobl sydd wedi ymateb yn meddwl ddylai fod yn y cynllun, ac wedyn bydd hwnna'n mynd ymlaen, a gobeithio cawn ni rywbeth arall wedyn, cam ymhellach ymlaen, yn yr haf. Achos cynllun 10 mlynedd fydd e, a dwi'n awyddus iawn i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni ddim jest yn edrych ar faterion sydd yn ymwneud â gynaecoleg a'r agweddau hynny o fenywod, ond dwi yn meddwl ei fod e'n bwysig ein bod ni'n edrych ar bethau fel asthma, yr anxiety a'r migraines sy'n effeithio ar fenywod mewn ffordd wahanol. Felly, mae lot o waith eto i'w wneud, ond beth oedd yn bwysig oedd gwneud yn siŵr mai menywod oedd yn teimlo fel mai nhw oedd yn cael dylanwad ar siâp y rhaglen fydd i ddod.
Thank you very much. I'm very sorry to hear Emily's story; she is one of many women suffering from endometriosis. We have recognised that we need to do far more in this area, and that's why we do have endometriosis nurses in all health boards across Wales. So, improvements are being made, but we also recognise that we need more doctors who can undertake the interventions necessary for many women.
In terms of the announcement, what we have done now—. This will be an announcement made by the NHS, rather than by Government, but I have seen it. I've said that I am happy with the direction of travel and I very much hope that that will be published and made available during the next week. What's contained within that is the results of a consultation that we carried out with women across Wales to ask them what they think is needed in such a plan. And what we'll have is that response, what the 4,000 respondents think should be included in the plan, and then that will be taken forward and hopefully we'll have a further step forward in the summer. Because this will be a 10-year plan, and I'm very eager to ensure that we don't just look at issues related to gynaecology and those aspects of women's health, but I think it's also important that we look at things like asthma, anxiety and migraines, which impact women in a different way. So, there's a lot of work still to be done, but what was important was to ensure that it was women who felt that they could influence the shape and content of the programme.
Minister, as you're well aware, we as Welsh Conservatives held a debate in this Chamber on gynaecological cancer that affects women. We had some clear calls in that debate that we feel could actually really help women right across who are suffering with this awful, awful disease. What I would like to know today from the Welsh Government is what are you doing to address gynaecological cancer here in Wales, and what actions have you taken, following on from that debate, to make sure that no more women in Wales have to suffer from this horrendous disease.
Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch yn sicr, fe wnaethom ni fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig gynnal dadl yn y Siambr hon ar ganser gynaecolegol sy'n effeithio ar fenywod. Roedd gennym alwadau clir yn y ddadl honno y teimlwn y gallent helpu menywod ledled Cymru sy'n dioddef gyda'r clefyd ofnadwy hwn. Yr hyn yr hoffwn ei wybod heddiw gan Lywodraeth Cymru yw beth rydych chi'n ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â chanser gynaecolegol yma yng Nghymru, a pha gamau a gymerwyd gennych, yn dilyn y ddadl honno, i wneud yn siŵr nad oes rhaid i fwy o fenywod yng Nghymru ddioddef gyda'r clefyd erchyll hwn.
Thanks very much. I'm pleased to say that I have followed up on that debate, and one of the things that I've done is to hold a cancer summit meeting, where, obviously, we looked at the breakdown of where we need to make further progress in relation in particular to gynaecological cancer. We're putting pressure on health boards to make sure that they understand what are the optimum pathways, to make sure that they can learn from each other. One of the key purposes of these cancer summits is that they understand what is the optimal pathway, following the best clinical advice. So, there has been progress, I'm pleased to say. I think we've got a long way to go, if I'm honest. Some of that is about workforce, but obviously, we'll be making announcements soon about what we plan to do in the workforce space.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n falch o ddweud fy mod wedi bod ar drywydd y ddadl honno, ac un o'r pethau rwyf wedi'i wneud yw cynnal uwchgynhadledd canser, lle buom yn edrych, yn amlwg, ar ddadansoddiad o lle mae angen inni wneud cynnydd pellach mewn perthynas â chanser gynaecolegol yn arbennig. Rydym yn rhoi pwysau ar fyrddau iechyd i sicrhau eu bod yn deall beth yw'r llwybrau gorau posibl i wneud yn siŵr y gallant ddysgu oddi wrth ei gilydd. Un o brif ddibenion yr uwchgynadleddau canser hyn yw sicrhau eu bod yn deall beth yw'r llwybr gorau posibl, gan ddilyn y cyngor clinigol gorau. Felly, rwy'n falch o ddweud bod cynnydd wedi'i wneud. Rwy'n credu bod gennym ffordd bell i fynd, a bod yn onest. Mae rhywfaint o hynny'n ymwneud â gweithlu, ond yn amlwg, byddwn yn gwneud cyhoeddiadau'n fuan am yr hyn y bwriadwn ei wneud mewn perthynas â'r gweithlu.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Questions now from party spokespeople. The Conservatives' spokesperson, Russell George.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I wish you and colleagues across the Chamber a happy Christmas, Minister?
Not a single surgical hub exists in Wales. Surgical hubs have been identified by the Royal College of Surgeons as essential to tackling the record treatment backlog in the NHS, which now stands at over 0.75 million cases in Wales. They've also proven central to reducing the backlog in England, which is why a further 50 are on the way, in addition to the 91 already in place. Minister, can I ask you why there aren't any surgical hubs in Wales when we have been telling you and your predecessor to put them in place for over two years?
Diolch, Lywydd. A gaf fi ddymuno Nadolig llawen i chi, Weinidog, ac i fy nghyd-Aelodau ar draws y Siambr?
Nid oes un hyb llawfeddygol yn bodoli yng Nghymru. Nododd Coleg Brenhinol y Llawfeddygon fod hybiau llawfeddygol yn hanfodol er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad mwyaf erioed o driniaethau yn y GIG, sydd bellach yn fwy na 0.75 miliwn o achosion yng Nghymru. Maent hefyd wedi profi'n ganolog i'r gwaith o leihau'r ôl-groniad yn Lloegr, a dyna pam mae 50 arall ar y ffordd, yn ychwanegol at y 91 sydd eisoes yn weithredol. Weinidog, a gaf fi ofyn i chi pam nad oes yna unrhyw hybiau llawfeddygol yng Nghymru er ein bod wedi bod yn dweud wrthych chi a'ch rhagflaenydd i'w rhoi ar waith ers dros ddwy flynedd?
Well, you may have noticed that, actually, where the populations are based in Wales, it's very different from what exists in England—they have big cities; they have places that are near each other. It's much easier for them to organise separate surgical hubs. What we are doing is we're ring-fencing elective surgery, which is effectively doing the same thing. So, making sure that elective surgery is not knocked out by the demands of urgent care. And in that sense, I think we have seen a lot of progress. Certainly, what we've got in Hywel Dda University Health Board is now two new modular places where, actually, we're expecting to see about 4,000 additional procedures occurring per year. In Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, there is, again, effectively a hub, it's the same thing; it's a ring-fenced facility, and there, you'll see 4,000 additional cataracts a year being done. And also the Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedic Centre, where there is, again, protected activity. So, you call them what you want, that's effectively what they do—they do the same thing as surgical hubs.
Wel, efallai eich bod wedi sylwi, mewn gwirionedd, lle mae'r poblogaethau wedi'u lleoli yng Nghymru, mae'n wahanol iawn i'r hyn sy'n bodoli yn Lloegr—mae ganddynt hwy ddinasoedd mawr; mae ganddynt lefydd sy'n agos at ei gilydd. Mae'n llawer haws iddynt hwy drefnu hybiau llawfeddygol ar wahân. Rydym ni'n neilltuo llawdriniaethau dewisol, sydd i bob pwrpas yn gwneud yr un peth. Felly, sicrhau nad yw llawdriniaethau dewisol yn cael eu bwrw allan gan alwadau gofal brys. Ac yn y ffordd honno, rwy'n meddwl ein bod ni wedi gweld llawer o gynnydd. Yn sicr, ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda mae gennym ddau le modiwlar newydd bellach lle rydym yn disgwyl gweld tua 4,000 o driniaethau ychwanegol yn digwydd bob flwyddyn. Ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro, unwaith eto mae yna hyb i bob pwrpas, yr un peth; mae'n gyfleuster wedi'i neilltuo, ac yno, fe welwch 4,000 o driniaethau cataract ychwanegol y flwyddyn. A hefyd Canolfan Orthopedig Caerdydd a'r Fro, lle mae yna weithgaredd wedi'i ddiogelu unwaith eto. Felly, galwch hwy'n beth bynnag a ddymunwch, dyna i bob pwrpas y maent yn ei wneud—maent yn gwneud yr un peth â hybiau llawfeddygol.
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Of course, they're not effectively the same thing, because we're having a very different outcome in Wales. We've got 50,000 people, Minister, waiting over two years for treatment and the same figure in England and Scotland is zero—they've been wiped out. So, we're in a very different position. So, although you've set out a different position in Wales, I would suggest that that position is not working. We have one in four patients here waiting for over a year for treatment and the figure in England is one in 20. Average waiting times in Wales are 10 weeks longer than in England. So, I would say, look at what's working in England and do as England do when it is working. And I don't think it's safe to say—. I think it's very difficult for you to meet your targets this year, Minister; you've got a target to meet by the end of March and I think that it is more or less a reality now that you're not going to meet that target. I hope you do, but I don't think you're going to meet that target. I think it's going to be a very difficult target to meet even by the end of 2024.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, nid ydynt i bob pwrpas yr un peth, achos rydym yn cael canlyniad gwahanol iawn yng Nghymru. Weinidog, mae gennym ni 50,000 o bobl yn aros dros ddwy flynedd am driniaeth ac mae'r un ffigwr yn Lloegr a'r Alban yn sero—maent wedi cael eu dileu. Felly, rydym ni mewn sefyllfa wahanol iawn. Felly er eich bod wedi nodi safbwynt gwahanol yng Nghymru, byddwn yn awgrymu nad yw'r safbwynt hwnnw'n gweithio. Mae gennym ni un o bob pedwar claf yma yn aros dros flwyddyn am driniaeth ac mae'r ffigur yn Lloegr yn un o bob 20. Mae amseroedd aros cyfartalog yng Nghymru 10 wythnos yn hirach nag yn Lloegr. Felly, byddwn i'n dweud, edrychwch ar yr hyn sy'n gweithio yn Lloegr a gwnewch fel y mae Lloegr yn ei wneud pan fo'n gweithio. Ac nid wyf yn meddwl ei bod hi'n ddiogel i ddweud—. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn anodd iawn i chi gyrraedd eich targedau eleni, Weinidog; mae gennych darged i'w gyrraedd erbyn diwedd mis Mawrth ac rwy'n meddwl ei bod fwy neu lai yn realiti nawr nad ydych yn mynd i gyrraedd y targed hwnnw. Gobeithio y gwnewch chi, ond nid wyf yn meddwl eich bod chi'n mynd i gyrraedd y targed hwnnw. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn darged anodd iawn i'w gyrraedd hyd yn oed erbyn diwedd 2024.
Well, thanks. Listen, we've put in stretching targets; I'm confident that we are going to meet the target in many areas of specialisms and, obviously, we're going to be pushing everybody to try. But we always said that orthopaedics in particular would be a particular challenge.
I think you've got to just understand that, actually, when your capital budget has been cut, effectively, which is what's happened, it's very difficult for us to establish new centres. And so, the option that you have available to you is to reorganise what you already have. So, we could theoretically say, 'Okay, we're going to stop doing accident and emergency in a particular hospital and we'll ring-fence that', but you're going to be a brave politician if you do that at the moment. And I'm certainly not in a position where I'm prepared to do that when the pressures on our accident and emergency are so great. But actually, what they've done in England is they've closed huge numbers of hospitals where they were previously providing accident and emergency, and we haven't done that in Wales. Now, that comes at a cost—it's very, very expensive, but actually, I just think there is a political decision that is being made here. And the public, I think, are keen to see most of those accident and emergency places remain open.
Wel, diolch. Gwrandewch, rydym wedi rhoi targedau ymestynnol i mewn; rwy'n hyderus ein bod ni'n mynd i gyrraedd y targed mewn sawl maes arbenigol ac, yn amlwg, rydym yn mynd i fod yn gwthio pawb i geisio'u cyrraedd. Ond rydym bob amser wedi dweud y byddai orthopaedeg, yn enwedig, yn her arbennig.
Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i chi ddeall, mewn gwirionedd, pan fydd eich cyllideb gyfalaf wedi'i thorri i bob pwrpas, sef yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd, mae'n anodd iawn inni sefydlu canolfannau newydd. Ac felly, yr opsiwn sydd gennych ar gael i chi yw ad-drefnu'r hyn sydd gennych eisoes. Felly, gallem ddweud yn ddamcaniaethol, 'Iawn, rydym yn mynd i roi'r gorau i wneud damweiniau ac achosion brys mewn ysbyty penodol ac fe wnawn ni neilltuo hwnnw', ond rydych chi'n mynd i fod yn wleidydd dewr os ydych chi'n gwneud hynny ar hyn o bryd. Ac yn sicr, nid wyf mewn sefyllfa lle rwy'n barod i wneud hynny pan fo'r pwysau ar ein hadrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys mor fawr. Ond yr hyn y maent wedi'i wneud yn Lloegr yw cau niferoedd enfawr o ysbytai lle roeddent yn darparu ar gyfer damweiniau ac achosion brys cyn hynny, ac nid ydym wedi gwneud hynny yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae cost ynghlwm wrth hynny—mae'n ddrud iawn, ond rwy'n meddwl bod yna benderfyniad gwleidyddol yn cael ei wneud yma. Ac mae'r cyhoedd, rwy'n credu, yn awyddus i weld y rhan fwyaf o'r llefydd damweiniau ac achosion brys hynny'n parhau ar agor.
Well, Minister, you've just got to look at the stats—the stats speak for themselves: in Wales, we are waiting 10 weeks longer for treatment than patients have to in England. So the stats do speak for themselves, and you can't get away from that.
But what my final question of the year would be to you, Minister, is: what do you believe is your biggest regret of 2022? And there is a bit of a shopping list here for you. Was it keeping in place the ineffective vaccine passports; recording the longest ambulance waiting times on record; the worst A&E waits in Britain; leaving a fifth of the population on an NHS waiting list; nurses on strike, ambulance workers on strike, midwives on strike; 1,200 further nurse vacancies and £130 million spent on agency nurses; NHS dentistry becoming a rare luxury; failing to support GPs to be more accessible and modernising NHS technology; or dodging accountability through a Wales-wide specific COVID inquiry? Is this what Keir Starmer means when he says, 'Look at Wales to see the good a Labour Government can do'?
Wel, Weinidog, mae'n rhaid i chi edrych ar yr ystadegau—mae'r ystadegau'n siarad drostynt eu hunain: yng Nghymru, rydym yn aros 10 wythnos yn hwy am driniaeth nag y mae'n rhaid i gleifion ei wneud yn Lloegr. Felly mae'r ystadegau'n siarad drostynt eu hunain, ac ni allwch ddianc rhag hynny.
Ond fy nghwestiwn olaf i chi eleni, Weinidog, yw: beth y credwch eich bod yn gresynu fwyaf yn ei gylch yn 2022? Ac mae'n rhestr faith. Ai cadw'r pasbortau brechlynnau aneffeithiol ar waith ydoedd; yr amseroedd aros hiraf am ambiwlans ers dechrau cadw cofnodion; yr amseroedd aros gwaethaf ym Mhrydain am wasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys; gadael un rhan o bump o'r boblogaeth ar restr aros GIG; nyrsys ar streic, gweithwyr ambiwlans ar streic, bydwragedd ar streic; 1,200 pellach o swyddi nyrsys yn wag a £130 miliwn wedi ei wario ar nyrsys asiantaethau; deintyddiaeth y GIG yn dod yn foethusrwydd prin; methu cefnogi meddygon teulu i fod yn fwy hygyrch a moderneiddio technoleg y GIG; neu osgoi atebolrwydd drwy ymchwiliad COVID penodol i Gymru? Ai dyma beth y mae Keir Starmer yn ei olygu pan fo'n dweud, 'Edrychwch ar Gymru i weld y daioni y gall Llywodraeth Lafur ei wneud'?
Well, happy Christmas to you as well, Russell. [Laughter.] And I'm very pleased that that was your last question this year. Look, I've had better years, if I'm honest, and obviously, there are a lot of things that I wish that we'd seen improvements on and I wish we'd gone faster with some areas. Because for me, the key thing is to keep an eye on what is it that the public needs, and what they need is care in the right place at the right time. And I regret that we haven't been able to do more of that. And there are valid reasons for that: we have had a COVID pandemic; we have had massive inflationary impacts that have sucked £200 million out of the NHS budget; we have had massive, massive increases in demand; and we haven't seen some of the progress that I would have liked to have seen in relation to waiting times. But we're not at the point yet where we've hit the deadline, and I, as the Minister responsible, will continue to press the health boards, to make sure that they do everything they can to make sure that they work towards meeting those targets that we made very, very clear in April that we expect them to meet.
Wel, Nadolig llawen i chi hefyd, Russell. [Chwerthin.] Ac rwy'n falch iawn mai dyna oedd eich cwestiwn olaf chi eleni. Edrychwch, rwyf wedi cael blynyddoedd gwell, os ydw i'n onest, ac yn amlwg, mae yna lawer o bethau yr hoffwn pe byddem wedi gweld gwelliannau arnynt a hoffwn pe baem wedi mynd yn gyflymach gyda rhai pethau. Oherwydd i mi, y peth allweddol yw cadw llygad ar beth sydd ei angen ar y cyhoedd, a'r hyn sydd ei angen arnynt yw gofal yn y lle iawn ar yr adeg iawn. Ac rwy'n gresynu nad ydym wedi gallu gwneud mwy o hynny. Ac mae rhesymau dilys am hynny: rydym wedi cael pandemig COVID; rydym wedi cael effeithiau chwyddiant enfawr sydd wedi sugno £200 miliwn allan o gyllideb y GIG; rydym wedi cael cynnydd enfawr yn y galw; ac nid ydym wedi gweld peth o'r cynnydd y byddwn wedi hoffi ei weld mewn perthynas ag amseroedd aros. Ond nid ydym ar y pwynt eto ble rydym wedi cyrraedd y dyddiad terfynol, ac fe fyddaf i, fel y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol, yn parhau i bwyso ar y byrddau iechyd, i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i sicrhau eu bod yn gweithio tuag at gyrraedd y targedau a wnaethom yn glir iawn ym mis Ebrill ac y disgwyliwn iddynt eu cyrraedd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. A gaf innau, yng nghwestiynau iechyd olaf y flwyddyn, ddefnyddio'r cyfle yma i ddymuno Nadolig llawen i'r Gweinidog, i'r Senedd, ac i bawb sy'n gweithio ar draws y gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal? Ac mae'n teimlo'n gyfarchiad gwag, braidd, pan ydyn ni'n edrych ar yr heriau y mae'r gwasanaethau hynny'n eu hwynebu. Doeddwn i wir ddim yn gwybod beth i'w ofyn heddiw. Mi allwn i fynd ar ôl heriau'r gaeaf; yr argyfwng recriwtio a chadw staff; amseroedd aros am driniaeth mewn adrannau brys, neu am ambiwlans; dyfodol yr ambiwlans awyr; diffyg gwlâu cymunedol; streics; mi fuaswn i fod wedi gallu cynnwys prinder antibiotigs—mae yna gwestiwn amserol wedi ei dderbyn ar hwnnw. Lle mae rhywun yn dechrau? Ond gadewch i fi ofyn hyn: pa gyflwr y mae'r Gweinidog yn disgwyl i'r NHS fod ynddo fo erbyn fy mod i'n gallu gofyn y cwestiynau nesaf yma yn y Senedd? Mae gen i ofn bod cleifion a staff wedi colli ffydd yng ngallu'r Llywodraeth i reoli'r NHS. Gaf i ofyn i'r Gweinidog roi rhywbeth i ni—unrhyw beth—y byddwn ni'n gallu ei weld yn gwella, cornel yn cael ei throi, i brofi y dylem ni ymddiried yn y Gweinidog?
Thank you very much. And in the final health questions of the year, may I take this opportunity to wish the Minister, the Senedd, and everyone working across the health and care services a very merry Christmas? But it sounds quite an empty greeting, when we look at the challenges that those services face. I truly didn't know what to ask today. There are so many things that I could pursue: the winter challenges; the staff recruitment and retention crisis; treatment waiting times in A&E; ambulance waiting times; the future of the air ambulance; strikes; I could have included the shortage of antibiotics—there's a topical question that's been accepted on that. Where does one start? But let me ask you this: what state does the Minister expect the NHS to be in by the time I can ask my next questions here in the Senedd? I fear that patients and staff have lost faith in the Government's ability to manage the NHS. Can I ask the Minister to give us something—anything—that we can see as improving, a corner turned, in order to prove that we can trust in the Minister?
Wel, mae'n amlwg ein bod ni'n treulio lot o amser yn paratoi ar gyfer y gaeaf—rŷn ni'n gwybod y bydd pwysau dros y gaeaf. Maen nhw eisoes wedi dechrau—rŷn ni wedi gweld faint o bwysau oedd ar y gwasanaethau dros y penwythnos diwethaf. Dyw hi ddim yn helpu pan ŷn ni'n gweld pethau fel scarlet fever yn codi—doeddem ni ddim yn disgwyl gweld hynny. Felly, mae pethau'n codi nag ydym ni'n disgwyl eu gweld. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae arian ychwanegol nawr ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, ar gyfer y gwasanaeth iechyd. Yn amlwg, mae hwnna'n mynd i fod yn anodd, pan fo chwyddiant yn effeithio. Mae yna gwpwl o bethau lle dwi'n meddwl y byddwn ni'n gweld gwahaniaeth dros y gaeaf. Un ohonynt fydd y ffaith ein bod ni'n mynd i weld 100 o weithwyr ambiwlans ychwanegol yn dechrau dros gyfnod y Nadolig. Maen nhw wedi bod mewn hyfforddiant; gobeithio y bydd hynny'n cymryd rhywfaint o bwysau oddi ar y gwasanaeth ambiwlans. A hefyd, bydd yna gyhoeddiad ar ddydd Gwener gan y Dirprwy Weinidog, ar ofal, sydd hefyd, gobeithio—. Rŷn ni wedi bod yn gweithio ar hwnna am fisoedd lawer, gyda'n gilydd, gyda llywodraeth leol, ar roi mwy o help yn ein cymunedau, ond mi wnawn ni gyhoeddiad mwy manwl ar hynny ar ddiwedd yr wythnos.
Well, it's clear that we spend a great deal of time preparing for winter—we know that there will be pressures during the winter months. They've already started—we've seen how much pressure there was on the services over the past weekend. It doesn't help when we see rates of scarlet fever increasing—we didn't expect to see that. So, there are things arising that we don't expect to see. But of course, additional funding is available for next year, for the health service. That is going to be a difficult situation when you factor in inflation. But there are some areas where I do think we will see a difference over the winter. One of them will be the fact that we are going to see 100 additional ambulance workers starting in post during the Christmas period. They've been in training; I hope that will take away some of the pressure from the ambulance service. And, also, there will be an announcement on Friday from the Deputy Minister, on care, which also, hopefully—. We've been working on that for many months, together with local government, to provide additional help in our communities, but we'll make a more detailed announcement on that at the end of the week.
Roedd 'gobaith' yn air a gafodd ei ddefnyddio yn fanna. Mae gen i ofn mai'r Gweinidog yn gobeithio am y gorau ydy hynny; dydy'r NHS ddim yn mynd i ddod dros ei broblemau os ydy'r Gweinidog jest yn gobeithio am y gorau. Ac efo mwy o staff ambiwlans, wrth gwrs, methu cael cleifion i mewn i'r ysbytai mae'r ambiwlans; dydy mwy o staff ambiwlans ddim yn mynd i ddatrys pethau.
Well, 'hope' was a word used there. I fear that that is the Minister hoping for the best; the NHS isn't going to overcome its problems if the Minister simply hopes for the best. And with more ambulance staff, of course, it's a problem of failing to get patients into hospital, so more staff isn't going to resolve that issue.
I do turn, though, in my second question, to the various pay disputes—nurses in Wales striking for the first time this week, ambulance staff and midwives to strike too. I'm keen to find a way through this, but Welsh Government still isn't even engaging in meaningful negotiations. Now, the Minister says her hands are tied. Let me ask her this: does she even want those hands to be untied, because nurses tell me that what they see is a Minister seemingly happy to hide behind the inaction of UK Government? And I'm not talking about financial constraints; goodness me, I know it's tough, and the Conservatives on the UK level need to hang their heads in shame for the proactive role that they've played in helping create the economic mess we're in. But, currently, the Minister is able to avoid the reprioritising, the innovative thinking, the possibility of using devolved powers at the Government's disposal by saying that there's nothing she can do. Well, if she really isn't able to negotiate, as she suggests, what is she doing to try to be given the powers to do so, so that we can support our workers and avert these strikes?
Yn fy ail gwestiwn, serch hynny, rwy'n troi at y gwahanol anghydfodau cyflog—nyrsys yng Nghymru yn streicio am y tro cyntaf yr wythnos hon, staff ambiwlans a bydwragedd i streicio hefyd. Rwy'n awyddus i ddod o hyd i ffordd drwy hyn, ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i ymatal rhag cymryd rhan mewn trafodaethau ystyrlon. Nawr, mae'r Gweinidog yn dweud bod ei dwylo wedi'u clymu. Gadewch imi ofyn hyn iddi: a yw hi hyd yn oed eisiau i'r dwylo hynny gael eu datod, oherwydd mae nyrsys yn dweud wrthyf mai'r hyn a welant hwy yw Gweinidog sy'n ymddangos yn hapus i guddio tu ôl i ddiffyg gweithredu Llywodraeth y DU? Ac nid wyf yn sôn am gyfyngiadau ariannol; mawredd, rwy'n gwybod ei bod hi'n anodd, ac mae angen i'r Ceidwadwyr ar lefel y DU gywilyddio am y rôl ragweithiol y maent hwy wedi'i chwarae yn helpu i greu'r llanast economaidd rydym ynddo. Ond ar hyn o bryd, mae'r Gweinidog yn gallu osgoi'r ail-flaenoriaethu, y meddwl arloesol, y posibilrwydd o ddefnyddio pwerau datganoledig sydd ar gael i'r Llywodraeth drwy ddweud nad oes unrhyw beth y gall hi ei wneud. Wel, os nad yw hi wir yn gallu trafod, fel y mae hi'n awgrymu, beth mae'n ei wneud i geisio cael pwerau i wneud hynny, er mwyn inni allu cefnogi ein gweithwyr ac osgoi'r streiciau hyn?
Well, look, first of all, I think it's important that I set on record once again that we understand the strength of feeling felt by those people who feel like they've got no other option but to take industrial action. We believe that all our public sector workers should be fairly rewarded, and we think that the chaos that has been created by the Tory Government, and the increases that we've seen in terms of inflation, has eroded a lot of the money that actually would have gone into the pockets of those nurses.
And I think what's important is that we understand that it's not just money going into the pockets of the nurses that's been eroded, but the fact is that, this year, I have had a bill for £207 million for energy that we weren't expecting. Now, £200 million would be the equivalent of giving a 4 per cent increase to NHS workers. Now, I don't think that we can switch the lights off in our hospitals. I don't think that we can switch the heating off in our hospitals, but that might be an option that Plaid Cymru might want to take. But that's not an option that I feel that we can take. And that's the difference between lobbing grenades from the other side of the Chamber and actually being in power, because you have to make those difficult decisions. And I frankly think that we have to keep the lights on, and to keep patients warm when they come into hospital. That's a decision that we've made.
Wel, edrychwch, yn gyntaf oll, rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig i mi gofnodi unwaith eto ein bod yn deall cryfder teimladau'r bobl sy'n teimlo fel pe nad oes ganddynt unrhyw opsiwn arall heblaw gweithredu'n ddiwydiannol. Rydym yn credu y dylai ein holl weithwyr sector cyhoeddus gael eu gwobrwyo'n deg, ac rydym yn credu bod yr anhrefn sydd wedi'i greu gan y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd, a'r cynnydd a welsom yn y chwyddiant, wedi erydu llawer o'r arian a fyddai wedi mynd i bocedi'r nyrsys hynny mewn gwirionedd.
Ac rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod ni'n deall nad arian sy'n mynd i bocedi'r nyrsys yn unig sydd wedi ei erydu, ond y ffaith amdani yw, eleni, cefais fil nad oeddem yn ei ddisgwyl o £207 miliwn am ynni. Nawr, byddai £200 miliwn yn cyfateb i roi cynnydd o 4 y cant i weithwyr y GIG. Nawr, nid wyf yn credu y gallwn ni ddiffodd y goleuadau yn ein hysbytai. Nid wyf yn credu y gallwn ddiffodd y gwres yn ein hysbytai, ond efallai fod hynny'n opsiwn y gallai Plaid Cymru fod eisiau ei ddewis. Ond nid yw'n opsiwn y teimlaf y gallwn ni ei ddewis. A dyna'r gwahaniaeth rhwng taflu grenadau o ochr arall y Siambr a bod mewn grym mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd mae'n rhaid i chi wneud y penderfyniadau anodd hynny. Ac a dweud y gwir rwy'n meddwl bod rhaid inni gadw'r goleuadau ymlaen, a chadw cleifion yn gynnes pan ddônt i'r ysbyty. Mae hwnnw'n benderfyniad rydym ni wedi ei wneud.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y gwaith o sefydlu ysgol feddygol Bangor? OQ58869
3. Will the Minister provide an update on the establishment of Bangor medical school? OQ58869
Mae’r niferoedd a fydd yn cael eu derbyn i ysgol feddygol Bangor wedi cael eu cytuno, ac mae’r cyllid wedi cael ei gymeradwyo ar gyfer 140 o fyfyrwyr bob blwyddyn, pan fydd yr ysgol wedi cyrraedd y capasiti uchaf. Cafodd llythyr o sicrwydd ei anfon at gydweithwyr y Cyngor Meddygol Cyffredinol ym mis Tachwedd er mwyn caniatáu i Brifysgol Bangor barhau i symud ymlaen drwy'r broses achredu—accreditation. Diolch.
Intake numbers for the Bangor medical school have been approved, and funding has also been approved for 140 students per year once the school reaches optimum capacity. A letter of assurance was sent to General Medical Council colleagues in November to allow Bangor University to continue their forward momentum through the accreditation process. Thank you.
Da iawn, ac mae'n dda gweld y cynllun yma'n datblygu. Ond, hoffwn i wybod a oes yna unrhyw waith pellach ar y gweill er mwyn sicrhau bod y ganran angenrheidiol o ddarpar feddygon sydd â sgiliau yn yr iaith Gymraeg yn mynychu'r ysgol feddygol? Fe gyhoeddwyd cynllun newydd ar gyfer 'Mwy na Geiriau', a hoffwn wybod sut mae'r themâu sydd yn y cynllun hwnnw yn cael eu rhoi ar waith ym Mangor, yn benodol, y thema cynllunio ar gyfer gweithlu dwyieithog yfory.
Hoffwn i ofyn hefyd—glywsoch chi fi ddoe yn holi'r Prif Weinidog—am bosibiliadau datblygu Bangor yn hwb hyfforddiant iechyd a meddygol, gan gyfeirio at ddysgu deintyddiaeth a fferylliaeth fel pynciau gradd. O ran deintyddiaeth, dim ond un ysgol ddeintyddol sydd yna yng Nghymru. Onid oes angen un arall? Ac onid Bangor ydy'r lle hollol amlwg i sefydlu'r ail ysgol ddeintyddol yng Nghymru, o gofio'r arbenigedd iechyd a meddygol sydd yn prysur ddatblygu yno?
Well done, and it's good to see this scheme developing. But I would like to know if any further work is ongoing to ensure that the necessary percentage of prospective students who have skills in the Welsh language will attend the medical school. A new scheme was announced for 'More than just words', and I would like to know how the themes in that scheme are being implemented in Bangor, specifically, the theme with regard to planning for a bilingual workforce of tomorrow.
I’d also like to ask, as you heard me yesterday asking the First Minister, about the possibility of developing Bangor as a centre for health and medical training, referring to the teaching of dentistry and pharmacy as degree subjects. In terms of dentistry, there’s only one dentistry school in Wales. Don’t we need another one? Isn’t Bangor the obvious place to establish the second school of dentistry in Wales, bearing in mind the health and medical expertise quickly developing there?
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, a gaf i ddweud fy mod i'n hapus iawn fy mod i wedi cwrdd â Phroffesor Mike Larvin yn ddiweddar, jest i sicrhau ein bod ni'n symud ymlaen gyda datblygiadau yn y brifysgol? Rŷn ni'n ymwybodol iawn fod angen inni dalu sylw i faint o recriwtio sy'n mynd i fod o ran y niferoedd sy'n siarad Cymaeg, a dwi'n gwybod bod ffocws arbennig wedi cael ei roi ar hynny, ac mae yna waith yn cael ei wneud ar hynny ar hyn o bryd. Felly, dwi'n falch i ddweud bod hynny'n rhywbeth maen nhw'n ei gymryd o ddifrif.
O ran deintyddiaeth, dwi'n siwr y clywsoch chi'r Prif Weinidog yn sôn ddoe am y ffaith ein bod ni'n keen iawn i edrych ar y tîm, a dwi'n meddwl bod rhaid inni ddechrau gyda'r tîm a sicrhau ein bod ni'n cynyddu'r niferoedd sydd, er enghraifft, yn therapyddion deintyddol. Rŷn ni yn mynd i weld cynnydd yn hynny. Rŷn ni wedi gweld hynny yn y gorffennol, ond dwi wedi rhoi pwysau ar Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru i sicrhau ein bod ni'n mynd hyd yn oed ymhellach. I fi, hwnna yw'r peth pwysicaf. Mae'n rhaid inni ddechrau troi'r system ar ei phen a gweithio gyda phobl sydd yn therapyddion deintyddol, ac, felly, byddwn i eisiau gweld hynny'n gam cyntaf, ac, wedyn, yn y dyfodol, gallwn ni edrych ar ddeintyddiaeth ymhellach.
Thank you very much. May I say that I was delighted to have met Professor Mike Larvin recently, just to ensure that we are making progress with developments in the university? We are highly aware that we do need to be cognisant of how much recruitment there will be in terms of the numbers that are Welsh speaking, and I know that a particular focus has been placed on that, with work currently being done in that area. So, I’m pleased to say that that is something that they are taking seriously.
In terms of dentistry, I’m sure you will have heard the First Minister mention yesterday that we are very eager to look at the broader dental team. I think we have to start with that team and ensure that we increase the numbers that, for example, are qualified dental therapists. We will see increases there; we have done in the past. But, I have put pressure on Health Education and Improvement Wales to ensure that we go even further in that area and, to me, that’s the most important thing. We have to try and turn the system on its head and work with dental therapists. So, I would want to see that as a first step, and then, in the future, we can look at dentistry further.
I'm pleased to see this question raised this afternoon, as, when the Government actually gets round to delivering the thing, rather than just talking about it, I'm sure it will have positive knock-on effects for people across north Wales who aspire to have careers in health and social care, and go some way to improving the recruitment and retention problems we currently face in Wales.
Now, last week, with the Health and Social Care Committee, I visited the nursing and midwifery school at the University of South Wales in Pontypridd, and they have state-of-the-art simulation wards that give students the opportunity to practise in a mock environment, to build their skills and confidence before being introduced to real-life situations. But, as with a lot of things under this Labour Government, what south Wales has in abundance, north Wales lacks. So, could the Minister outline some more details of the exact specifications of the medical school in Bangor, and whether students in north Wales will have the same opportunities as those in the south, so that we're best equipped to provide first-class care to people who need it the most and make sure north Wales people aren't left behind? Thank you.
Rwy'n falch o weld y cwestiwn hwn yn cael ei godi'r prynhawn yma, oherwydd, pan fydd y Llywodraeth yn llwyddo i gyflawni'r peth, yn hytrach na dim ond siarad amdano, rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn cael sgil-effeithiau cadarnhaol i bobl ledled gogledd Cymru sy'n dyheu am gael gyrfaoedd mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, ac yn mynd rywfaint o'r ffordd i wella'r problemau recriwtio a chadw staff sy'n ein hwynebu yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.
Nawr, yr wythnos diwethaf, gyda'r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, ymwelais â'r ysgol nyrsio a bydwreigiaeth ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru ym Mhontypridd, ac mae ganddynt wardiau efelychu o'r radd flaenaf sy'n rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwyr ymarfer mewn amgylchedd ffug, i feithrin eu sgiliau a'u hyder cyn cael eu cyflwyno i sefyllfaoedd go iawn. Ond fel gyda llawer o bethau dan y Llywodraeth Lafur hon, nid oes gan ogledd Cymru yr hyn y mae gan dde Cymru ddigonedd ohono. Felly, a allai'r Gweinidog amlinellu ychydig mwy o fanylion am union fanylebau'r ysgol feddygol ym Mangor, ac a fydd myfyrwyr gogledd Cymru yn cael yr un cyfleoedd â'r rhai yn y de, fel ein bod mor barod ag y gallem fod i ddarparu gofal o'r radd flaenaf i'r bobl sydd ei angen fwyaf a sicrhau nad yw pobl gogledd Cymru'n cael eu gadael ar ôl? Diolch.
Thank you. Well, I'm sure you will understand that, actually, we are very keen to get this under way as soon as possible. We are very aware that we need to increase the numbers of people in training to become medics, but, of course, we have to work within the confines that are set by the GMC. So, it's not up to us to say, 'Right, switch it on'; we have to work with the GMC, which gives permission to the university to move on. What's good to hear, I think, is that already a team of 13 staff across medical and science teams have been recruited, and 6.6 of these are full time.
I think it's unfair to say that it's just in south Wales. I know that the Llywydd and I went to visit the new nursing training centre in Aberystwyth University recently, and they certainly had areas where there are simulation areas as well. Obviously, we'll have to wait and see how things develop in the school. You'll be aware that the capital constraints are very, very tight at the moment. So, at the moment, we'll see, as things continue, how things develop. Hopefully, by the time we get up to the full cohort of numbers, we will have a Labour Government that will be able to put more money into the system.
Diolch. Wel, rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n deall, mewn gwirionedd, ein bod yn awyddus iawn i gael hyn ar y gweill cyn gynted â phosibl. Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn fod angen inni gynyddu niferoedd y bobl sy'n hyfforddi i fod yn feddygon, ond wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid inni weithio o fewn y cyfyngderau sy'n cael eu gosod gan y Cyngor Meddygol Cyffredinol. Felly, nid ein lle ni yw dweud, 'Iawn, gwnewch hyn'; mae'n rhaid inni weithio gyda'r Cyngor Meddygol Cyffredinol, sy'n rhoi caniatâd i'r brifysgol symud ymlaen. Yr hyn sy'n dda i'w glywed, rwy'n meddwl, yw bod tîm o 13 aelod o staff ar draws timau meddygol a gwyddoniaeth eisoes wedi cael eu recriwtio, ac mae 6.6 o'r rhain yn staff amser llawn.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn annheg dweud mai dim ond yn ne Cymru y mae pethau. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Llywydd a minnau wedi ymweld â'r ganolfan hyfforddiant nyrsio newydd ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth yn ddiweddar, ac roedd ganddynt hwy fannau efelychu hefyd, yn sicr. Yn amlwg, bydd rhaid aros i weld sut mae pethau'n datblygu yn yr ysgol. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod cyfyngiadau cyfalaf yn dynn iawn ar hyn o bryd. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, fe gawn weld, wrth i bethau barhau, sut mae pethau'n datblygu. Erbyn inni gyrraedd y cohort llawn o niferoedd, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd gennym Lywodraeth Lafur a fydd yn gallu rhoi mwy o arian i mewn i'r system.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gefnogaeth i Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans Cymru ar gyfer mynd i'r afael ag amseroedd aros? OQ58866
4. Will the Minister make a statement on support for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust in combating waiting times? OQ58866
Welsh Government funding has enabled the Welsh ambulance service to deliver a range of actions to improve ambulance performance, including the recruitment of 100 additional staff, reformed rota arrangements, reductions in sickness absence, and new investment in technology to support clinical decision making.
Mae cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru wedi galluogi gwasanaeth ambiwlans Cymru i ddarparu ystod o gamau gweithredu i wella perfformiad ambiwlansys, gan gynnwys recriwtio 100 aelod o staff ychwanegol, trefniadau rota wedi'u diwygio, lleihau absenoldeb oherwydd salwch, a buddsoddiad newydd mewn technoleg i gefnogi'r broses o wneud penderfyniadau clinigol.
Thank you, Minister. On Saturday, more than 2,000 emergency 999 calls were presented, this being a 17 per cent increase on last week. The trust responded to more than 200 immediately life-threatening red calls, and also 111 received over 10,000 calls—the busiest day ever for the service. In the face of the tsunami of calls, on Sunday, the trust declared a business continuity incident. Some were left waiting for hours while others were asked to make their own way to hospital. When considering that WAST staff have worked an average of 31,700 hours of overtime every month since April 2017 at a total cost of £61 million, it is clear that the continued operation of the service is hanging by a thread. Minister, you know my view that pressure should be alleviated in major hospitals by transferring those patients who are fit for discharge but who are still awaiting a social care package to community hospitals where there are still empty wards. I would be really grateful for your thoughts on that. Will you consider moving forward again, as you did last winter, with the ward, say, in Llandudno, where people were able to leave hospital and go there as a halfway house before returning home? That takes a lot of pressure off the families, the patients and the health board. Also, what plans have you got, moving forward, about asking for volunteers to come forward and help the Welsh NHS over the winter period? Thank you.
Diolch. Ddydd Sadwrn, cafodd dros 2,000 o alwadau brys 999 eu gwneud, sy'n gynnydd o 17 y cant ers yr wythnos diwethaf. Ymatebodd yr ymddiriedolaeth i dros 200 o alwadau coch lle mae bywyd yn y fantol, a hefyd gwnaed dros 10,000 o alwadau 111—y diwrnod prysuraf erioed i'r gwasanaeth. Yn wyneb y tswnami o alwadau, ddydd Sul, fe wnaeth yr ymddiriedolaeth ddatgan digwyddiad parhad busnes. Gadawyd rhai yn aros am oriau a gofynnwyd i eraill wneud eu ffordd eu hunain i'r ysbyty. Wrth ystyried bod staff ymddiriedolaeth gwasanaethau ambiwlans Cymru wedi gweithio 31,700 awr o oramser bob mis ar gyfartaledd ers mis Ebrill 2017 ar gyfanswm cost o £61 miliwn, mae'n amlwg fod gweithrediad parhaus y gwasanaeth yn y fantol. Weinidog, rydych chi'n gwybod mai fy safbwynt i yw y dylid lleddfu pwysau mewn ysbytai mawr drwy drosglwyddo cleifion sy'n ddigon iach i'w rhyddhau ond sy'n dal i aros am becyn gofal cymdeithasol i ysbytai cymunedol lle ceir wardiau gwag o hyd. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn am eich barn ar hynny. A wnewch chi ystyried symud ymlaen eto, fel y gwnaethoch y gaeaf diwethaf, gyda'r ward, dyweder, yn Llandudno, lle roedd pobl yn gallu gadael yr ysbyty a mynd yno fel tŷ hanner ffordd cyn dychwelyd adref? Mae hynny'n lleddfu llawer o'r pwysau sydd ar deuluoedd, cleifion a'r bwrdd iechyd. Hefyd, pa gynlluniau sydd gennych chi, wrth symud ymlaen, i ofyn i wirfoddolwyr ddod i helpu GIG Cymru dros gyfnod y gaeaf? Diolch.
Thanks very much. You're absolutely right to highlight the incredible pressure on the emergency services at the moment. As you say, we've seen, this October, the number of red immediately life-threatening calls the highest on record—77 per cent more than in October 2019. This is huge compared to what we've seen before. We have done a huge amount of investment, we've put huge support in place, we've put urgent primary care centres in place, we've rolled out 111, which didn't exist this time last year in north Wales. So, all of those things have actually taken a huge amount of pressure away from accident and emergency, but the demand keeps coming.
Obviously, last weekend, a lot of these—very, very understandably—were parents worried about their children. Certainly, a significant proportion of, for example, the 18,000 calls to NHS 111 were from parents who were worried about children with sore throats. So, we understand what's going on and we understand the pressure. Flow, as we all know, is a significant challenge for us and, as I say, the Deputy Minister and I will be making an announcement on that on Friday along with our local government colleagues.
The issue with beds is actually not the beds but the staffing. That's where the challenge for us constantly is. How do we get the staff in place, and in particular in relation to packages of care that need to be provided by local government? I'm very pleased, now that the budget has come out, that you will see that we have committed once again to honouring the real living wage, and hopefully that should attract more people into the system.
Volunteers are already helping out, but I think it is important that we try and galvanise where we can. What I don't want to do is to ask volunteers to come forward without a very clear plan. So, it does exist, and lots of health boards have these things in place. We've just got to be really careful that we don't raise expectations and then don't follow through. So, a structure is really important. That exists in some health boards, it exists in local government. So, volunteers certainly are helping, but, obviously, we will keep looking at how we can do more in that space.
Diolch yn fawr. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir i dynnu sylw at y pwysau anhygoel ar y gwasanaethau brys ar hyn o bryd. Fel y dywedwch, y mis Hydref hwn, gwelsom y nifer fwyaf a gofnodwyd erioed o alwadau coch lle mae bywyd yn y fantol—77 y cant yn fwy nag ym mis Hydref 2019. Mae hyn yn enfawr o'i gymharu â'r hyn rydym wedi'i weld o'r blaen. Rydym wedi gwneud llawer iawn o fuddsoddiad, rydym wedi rhoi cymorth enfawr ar waith, rydym wedi rhoi canolfannau gofal sylfaenol brys ar waith, rydym wedi cyflwyno 111, nad oedd yn bodoli yr adeg hon y llynedd yng ngogledd Cymru. Felly, mae'r holl bethau hynny wedi tynnu llawer iawn o bwysau oddi ar wasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys, ond mae'r galw'n dal i ddod.
Yn amlwg, y penwythnos diwethaf, roedd llawer o'r rhain—yn ddealladwy iawn—yn rhieni a oedd yn poeni am eu plant. Yn sicr, daeth cyfran sylweddol o'r 18,000 o alwadau i GIG 111 gan rieni a oedd yn poeni am blant â dolur gwddf. Felly, rydym yn deall beth sy'n digwydd ac rydym yn deall y pwysau. Mae llif, fel y gwyddom i gyd, yn her sylweddol i ni ac fel y dywedais, bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog a minnau'n gwneud cyhoeddiad ar hynny ddydd Gwener ochr yn ochr â'n cydweithwyr llywodraeth leol.
Nid y gwelyau yw'r broblem gyda gwelyau mewn gwirionedd, ond y staffio. Dyna lle mae'r her i ni yn gyson. Sut mae cael y staff yn eu lle, ac yn benodol mewn perthynas â phecynnau gofal sydd angen eu darparu gan lywodraeth leol? Gan fod y gyllideb wedi'i chyhoeddi bellach, rwy'n falch iawn y byddwch yn gweld ein bod wedi ymrwymo unwaith eto i anrhydeddu'r cyflog byw go iawn, a gobeithio y bydd hynny'n denu mwy o bobl i mewn i'r system.
Mae gwirfoddolwyr eisoes yn helpu, ond rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni'n ceisio cryfhau lle gallwn. Nid wyf am ofyn i wirfoddolwyr gamu ymlaen heb gynllun clir iawn. Felly, mae'n bodoli, ac mae gan lawer o fyrddau iechyd y pethau hyn yn eu lle. Mae'n rhaid inni fod yn ofalus iawn nad ydym yn codi disgwyliadau heb weithredu ar hynny wedyn. Felly, mae strwythur yn bwysig iawn. Mae hynny'n bodoli mewn rhai byrddau iechyd, mae'n bodoli mewn llywodraeth leol. Felly, mae gwirfoddolwyr yn sicr yn helpu, ond yn amlwg, byddwn yn parhau i edrych ar sut y gallwn wneud mwy yn y gofod hwnnw.
5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael ag amseroedd aros am driniaeth yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ58885
5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to tackle waiting times for treatment in north Wales? OQ58885
Dwi’n falch o weld bod yr amseroedd aros hiraf am driniaeth yn Betsi Cadwaladr wedi gostwng a’u bod nhw 21 y cant yn is nag oedden nhw ym mis Mawrth 2022. Fel rhan o’r ymyrraeth wedi'i thargedu, maen nhw’n cael cymorth gan y tîm adfer a gwella gofal wedi’i gynllunio, i sicrhau eu bod nhw’n gallu cynllunio’u gofal dewisol yn effeithiol.
I am pleased to see that the longest waiting times for treatment at Betsi Cadwaladr have fallen and are 21 per cent lower than they were in March 2022. As part of targeted intervention, they are receiving support from the planned care recovery and improvement team to ensure that they are able to plan their elective care effectively.
Mae etholwraig wedi cysylltu â mi sydd yn nyrs ddeintyddol. Mae hi’n dioddef o carpal tunnel syndrome yn ei dwy law. Yn amlwg, mae hynny’n effeithio ar ei gallu hi i wneud ei swydd. Mae hefyd yn effeithio ar ei lles a’i ansawdd bywyd ehangach hi. Nawr, dywedwyd wrthi cyn yr haf y byddai hi yn gorfod aros 12 mis am driniaeth, ond dim ond os oedd hi’n achos brys. Mi gafodd hi gadarnhad ym mis Medi ei bod hi’n achos brys ond bellach fod y rhestr aros yn ddwy flynedd. Nawr, cymaint yw’r boen a chymaint yw’r effaith y mae’r cyflwr yn ei chael arni, wrth gwrs, mae bellach wedi penderfynu bod yn rhaid iddi fynd yn breifat i gael y driniaeth. I dalu am hynny, mae hi’n gorfod gwerthu ei thŷ, Weinidog. Felly, beth yw’ch neges chi i bobl fel hi, sy’n cael eu gyrru i’r sector preifat ac yn aml iawn yn gorfod gwneud hynny er nad ydyn nhw, mewn gwirionedd, yn gallu fforddio gwneud hynny? Ac onid ydych chi’n cywilyddio o bobl yn gorfod gwerthu eu cartrefi er mwyn iddyn nhw gael triniaeth—[Anghlywadwy.]
A constituent has contacted me who is a dental nurse. She suffers with carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. Clearly, that impacts her ability to work, but it also has an impact on her well-being and quality of life. She was told before the summer that she would have to wait 12 months for treatment, but only if it was an emergency. It was confirmed in September that it was an emergency but that the waiting time was now two years. Now, such is the pain and the impact that the condition has on her that she's now decided that she must access private treatment. To pay for that, she is having to sell her home, Minister. So, what's your message to people such as her, who are driven to the private sector and very often have to do that although they can't truly afford to? And aren't you ashamed that people are having to sell their homes to get treatment—[Inaudible.]
Diolch. Wrth gwrs, dwi'n deall pam y byddai pobl yn teimlo bod hynny’n system—
Thank you. Of course, I understand why people might feel that that is a system—
—drwy'r sector preifat sydd, wrth gwrs, i fod ar gael iddyn nhw ar yr NHS?
—from the private sector that, of course, is supposed to be available to them on the NHS?
Dwi'n meddwl bod Llyr Gruffydd wedi rhewi yn fanna—nid oherwydd y tywydd ond oherwydd y dechnoleg. Ond dwi'n meddwl bod y Gweinidog wedi cael y rhan fwyaf o'r cwestiwn. Felly, y Gweinidog i ateb.
I think that Llyr Gruffydd froze there—not because of the weather, but because of technological problems. But I think that the Minister got the gist of the question. So, the Minister to respond.
Diolch. Wel, rŷm ni’n deall pam mae pobl yn diflasu wrth aros mor hir. Mae carpal tunnel syndrome yn rhywbeth, wrth gwrs, y mae’n rhaid i orthopaedic surgeons ymwneud ag ef. Dwi’n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig ein bod ni’n monitro faint o waith y mae’r orthopaedic surgeons yn ei wneud. Mae’n bwysig iawn ein bod ni yn cadw i fynd.
Cawsom ni gyfarfod arall yn ddiweddar gyda’r arbenigwr Prydeinig dros orthopeadic surgery i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn deall beth yw’r system—beth yw’r pathway gorau i gael y rhan fwyaf o bobl drwy’r system cyn gyflymed â phosibl. Felly, mae gwaith i’w wneud ar draws Cymru i wella perfformiad yr hyn sydd eisoes mewn lle pan fo'n dod i orthopaedic surgery. Felly, dwi’n siŵr, yn Betsi Cadwaladr, eu bod nhw wedi cael y neges hynny yn glir oddi wrthyf i yn ddiweddar.
Thank you. We understand that people are fed up in having to wait so long. Carpal tunnel syndrome is something that an orthopaedic surgeon has to be involved in. I think that it is important that we monitor how much work the orthopaedic surgeons do. It's very important that we continue with this work.
We had another meeting recently with the British specialist in orthopaedic surgery to ensure that people understand what the system is—what the best pathway is to get as many people through the system as quickly as possible. So, there is a job of work to do across Wales to improve the performance of what is already in place when it comes to orthopaedic surgery. So, I'm sure that, in Betsi Cadwaladr, they have heard that message clearly from me recently.
I thank Llyr Gruffydd for raising this important point, which, of course, is a broader issue not just around carpal tunnel syndrome, but around the fact that many people who have paid their taxes or national insurance over many decades are unable to gain treatment in a reasonable, timely manner, as something that they have paid for, for many, many years. So, I wonder first of all, Minister, whether you think that that’s a fair situation for many of my constituents to be in, who have paid into the system for such a long time but cannot gain the treatment from the system when they need it. And also, in relation to private healthcare, I wonder if you could outline how you are working with the private health sector to utilise any capacity or capability and fund NHS patients who can access that care in a more timely manner. Thank you very much.
Diolch i Llyr Gruffydd am godi'r pwynt pwysig hwn, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn fater ehangach nad yw'n ymwneud yn unig â syndrom twnnel y carpws, ond â'r ffaith nad yw llawer o bobl sydd wedi talu eu trethi neu yswiriant gwladol dros ddegawdau lawer yn gallu cael triniaeth mewn modd rhesymol, amserol, fel rhywbeth y maent wedi talu amdano dros lawer iawn o flynyddoedd. Felly, tybed yn gyntaf oll, Weinidog, a ydych chi'n credu bod honno'n sefyllfa deg i lawer o fy etholwyr fod ynddi, pobl sydd wedi talu i mewn i'r system ers cymaint o amser ond sy'n methu cael triniaeth gan y system pan fydd ei hangen arnynt. A hefyd, mewn perthynas â gofal iechyd preifat, tybed a wnewch chi amlinellu sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda'r sector iechyd preifat i ddefnyddio unrhyw gapasiti neu allu ac ariannu cleifion y GIG i allu cael mynediad at y gofal hwnnw mewn modd mwy amserol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thanks very much. I think that what's really important is that we keep on remembering how many people are actually helped on a monthly basis. What's really interesting for me—. Obviously, I get a lot of people coming up to me and complaining about their waiting times. But I also get a lot of people coming up to me saying what an absolutely magnificent job the NHS is doing for them. And I would like to take this opportunity, just before Christmas, to thank NHS workers across Wales for the incredible work that they have done over the past year. It really has been a relentless year. We understand that it's difficult and, obviously, we thank them for all the work that they have done.
It's important to understand that there are people working flat out. There are also some spaces where, actually, we can improve performance, and the first thing for me is we've got to get the maximum capacity from the people we're already paying at the moment. So, obviously, we are doing a certain amount in the private sector already, but, for me, I want to get my money's worth out of people we're already paying, and sometimes—it's interesting, isn't it—they haven't got a packed plan for the day that actually they should have. There may be good reasons for that, but then that's up to management to make sure that those systems are in place to ensure that people who have these incredible skills are able to do the job that they've been trained to do. So, that's why we have these very regular meetings now with surgeons, with health board executives, just to make sure they understand: this is the optimum pathway, why aren't you doing more day cases, why aren't you doing the longest waiters, as we've asked you to, first? And actually there's a long way to go on some of this stuff, and I think my job as a health Minister is to push them on what we have asked them to do and to deliver.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig iawn yw ein bod yn parhau i gofio faint o bobl sy'n cael cymorth bob mis mewn gwirionedd. Beth sy'n ddiddorol iawn i mi—. Yn amlwg, rwy'n cael llawer o bobl yn dod ataf yn cwyno am eu hamseroedd aros. Ond rwyf hefyd yn cael llawer o bobl yn dod ataf i ddweud pa mor wirioneddol wych yw'r GIG iddynt hwy. A hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn, ychydig cyn y Nadolig, i ddiolch i weithwyr y GIG ledled Cymru am y gwaith anhygoel y maent wedi'i wneud dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae hi wedi bod yn flwyddyn ddidrugaredd. Rydym yn deall ei bod hi'n anodd ac yn amlwg, rydym yn diolch iddynt am yr holl waith y maent wedi ei wneud.
Mae'n bwysig deall bod yna bobl yn gweithio'u gorau glas. Mae yna rai mannau hefyd lle gallwn wella perfformiad, a'r peth cyntaf i mi yw bod yn rhaid inni gael y capasiti mwyaf posibl gan y bobl rydym eisoes yn eu talu ar hyn o bryd. Felly, yn amlwg, rydym yn gwneud rhyw ychydig yn y sector preifat yn barod, ond i mi, rwyf am gael gwerth am arian gan bobl rydym eisoes yn eu talu, ac weithiau—mae'n ddiddorol, onid yw—nid oes ganddynt gynllun llawn ar gyfer y diwrnod fel y dylai fod. Efallai fod rhesymau da dros hynny, ond wedyn mater i'r rheolwyr yw gwneud yn siŵr fod y systemau hynny ar waith i sicrhau bod pobl sydd â'r sgiliau anhygoel hyn yn gallu gwneud y gwaith y cawsant eu hyfforddi i'w wneud. Felly, dyna pam y cawn y cyfarfodydd rheolaidd iawn hyn gyda llawfeddygon nawr, gyda swyddogion gweithredol byrddau iechyd, i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn deall: dyma'r llwybr gorau posibl, pam nad ydych chi'n gwneud mwy o achosion dydd, pam nad ydych chi'n gwneud y rhai sydd wedi aros hiraf yn gyntaf, fel rydym wedi gofyn i chi ei wneud? Ac mewn gwirionedd mae ffordd bell i fynd ar ychydig o hyn, ac rwy'n meddwl mai fy ngwaith i fel Gweinidog iechyd yw eu gwthio ar yr hyn rydym wedi gofyn iddynt ei wneud a'i gyflawni.
Cwestiwn 6, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Question 6, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae'n ddrwg gen i. Mae'n ddrwg gen i.
Thank you, Llywydd. Apologies. Apologies.
Mae'n olreit.
It's all right.
It's Nadolig; I'm in a good mood.
Mae'n Nadolig; rwyf mewn hwyliau da.
Diolch, diolch, diolch, diolch. [Laughter.] Will the Minister—? Diolch yn fawr iawn. Christmas spirit.
Diolch, diolch, diolch, diolch. [Chwerthin.] A wnaiff y Gweinidog—? Diolch yn fawr iawn. Ysbryd y Nadolig.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr amserlen ar gyfer cyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu gwasanaethau canser? OQ58868
6. Will the Minister provide an update on the timetable for publishing the cancer services action plan? OQ58868
I need the answer. [Laughter.] Thank you. I expect the cancer services action plan—the NHS’s response to our policy expectations set out in 'The quality statement for cancer'—to be published at the end of January in the run-up to World Cancer Day.
Mae angen yr ateb arnaf. [Chwerthin.] Diolch. Rwy'n disgwyl i’r cynllun gweithredu ar wasanaethau canser—ymateb y GIG i’n disgwyliadau polisi a nodir yn 'Y datganiad ansawdd ar gyfer canser’—gael ei gyhoeddi ddiwedd mis Ionawr, ychydig cyn Diwrnod Canser y Byd.
The Minister will know that the cross-party group on cancer is currently carrying out an inquiry, particularly into the issues of deprivation and cancer. There seems to be a direct correlation, from all of the evidence that we've heard in two sessions, so there's clearly a great anticipation of driving forward on the cancer action plan. I wonder if she has any preliminary thoughts herself on the work that the CPG on cancer is undertaking currently, and that very question of not just bringing forward the action plan, but the issue of the impact of deprivation clearly on incidence of cancer, both in terms of diagnosis, treatment, care and the success of a successful life after cancer as well, and living with cancer.
Fe ŵyr y Gweinidog fod y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ganser yn cynnal ymchwiliad ar hyn o bryd, yn benodol i faterion yn ymwneud ag amddifadedd a chanser. Ymddengys bod cydberthynas uniongyrchol rhyngddynt, o'r holl dystiolaeth rydym wedi'i chlywed mewn dwy sesiwn, felly mae'n amlwg fod awydd mawr i fwrw ymlaen â'r cynllun gweithredu ar ganser. Tybed a oes ganddi unrhyw safbwyntiau rhagarweiniol ei hun ynglŷn â'r gwaith y mae’r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ganser yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd, a’r cwestiwn ynghylch nid yn unig cyflwyno’r cynllun gweithredu, ond mater effaith amlwg amddifadedd ar nifer achosion o ganser, o ran diagnosis, triniaeth, gofal a llwyddiant bywyd llwyddiannus ar ôl canser hefyd, a byw gyda chanser.
Thanks very much, Huw, and can I thank you for the work that you and the CPG are doing on this really important area? Because one of the key things that we are conscious of all of the time in relation to health is inequality. So, why is it that some people are getting very different treatment? And obviously there's a link with deprivation, and we need to make sure that we're addressing that. So, it's one of the key things that we keep on looking at.
There are factors where, actually, we need to make sure that we're getting the right messaging to avoid cancer. So, obviously, we need to make sure people are cutting down on smoking, they need to be eating the right kinds of food, they need to be doing exercise, and actually we've got to make sure that that deprivation link is broken. I know that my colleague Lynne Neagle's doing a huge amount of work in this space to make sure the healthy eating programme, for example, is very targeted at some of those areas of greatest deprivation, and there is a link—let's be clear, there is a link with cancer.
So, I'm pleased that we have the single cancer pathway and of course we also now have these rapid diagnostic centres around Wales.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Huw, ac a gaf fi ddiolch am y gwaith rydych chi a'r grŵp trawsbleidiol yn ei wneud yn y maes hynod bwysig hwn? Oherwydd un o'r pethau allweddol rydym yn ymwybodol ohonynt bob amser mewn perthynas ag iechyd yw anghydraddoldeb. Felly, pam fod rhai pobl yn cael triniaeth wahanol iawn? Ac yn amlwg, mae cysylltiad ag amddifadedd, ac mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â hynny. Felly, mae'n un o'r pethau allweddol rydym yn dal i edrych arnynt.
Mae yna ffactorau, mewn gwirionedd, lle mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn anfon y negeseuon cywir er mwyn osgoi canser. Felly, yn amlwg, mae angen inni sicrhau bod pobl yn torri lawr ar ysmygu, mae angen iddynt fod yn bwyta'r mathau cywir o fwyd, mae angen iddynt wneud ymarfer corff, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod y cysylltiad hwnnw ag amddifadedd yn cael ei dorri. Gwn fod fy nghyd-Aelod Lynne Neagle yn gwneud llawer iawn o waith yn y maes hwn i sicrhau bod y rhaglen fwyta’n iach, er enghraifft, wedi’i thargedu’n benodol at rai o’r ardaloedd sydd â'r amddifadedd mwyaf, ac mae cysylltiad—gadewch inni fod yn glir, mae cysylltiad â chanser.
Felly, rwy'n falch fod gennym y llwybr canser sengl, ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym bellach y canolfannau diagnostig cyflym hyn ledled Cymru hefyd.
Minister, in the past couple of weeks I have repeated the need for you to outline to the Senedd the outcome of the cancer summit held more than a month ago, and described as unprecedented and significant, where a number of key actions were agreed to. What progress have you made in taking this agreement forward, and why has this Government failed to respond quickly to the clear urgency that was set out in that cancer summit? Thank you.
Weinidog, yn yr ychydig wythnosau diwethaf, rwyf wedi ailadrodd yr angen ichi amlinellu canlyniad yr uwchgynhadledd ar ganser a gynhaliwyd dros fis yn ôl i’r Senedd, ac a ddisgrifiwyd fel un ddigynsail ac arwyddocaol, lle cytunwyd ar nifer o gamau allweddol. Pa gynnydd a wnaethoch ar fwrw ymlaen â’r cytundeb hwn, a pham fod y Llywodraeth hon wedi methu ymateb yn gyflym i’r brys amlwg a nodwyd yn yr uwchgynhadledd honno ar ganser? Diolch.
Thanks very much, Altaf. I think I've responded to a letter from you on this, so I'm surprised that you haven't received that yet, so I'll chase that up immediately after this. But I think what was important for some of the things that came out of that cancer summit meeting was the need to make sure we do a lot more straight to test, so you cut out some of the waiting time, because, obviously, the sooner you catch cancer, the less complicated it is and much easier it is to treat. So, there are some health boards that are in a really different place to others. One health board, for example, does about 37 per cent straight to test, and another does about 79 per cent. Highlighting those kinds of things in a summit meeting, making sure that everybody tries to work to best practice and that we're benchmarking is really important, I think. I think there's also an unacceptable variation in terms of tumour sites. As we've heard today, gynaecology is an area that needs a lot more attention, and there are other areas where, actually, we're doing much better, so why are we seeing that variation? So, those are some of the questions that we've asked them to focus on.
Also, I think we've got a lot more to do in terms of making sure that we use digital technology as much as we can, but also that we think about what the future might look like. There are real developments now in terms of cancer in relation to, for example, liquid biopsy tests, and we need to make sure that we're on the right page and ready for those when that development really is mature enough for us to use.
Diolch yn fawr, Altaf. Credaf fy mod wedi ymateb i lythyr gennych ar hyn, felly rwy'n synnu nad ydych wedi cael hwnnw eto, felly fe af ar ôl hwnnw yn syth wedi hyn. Ond rwy'n credu mai’r hyn oedd yn bwysig i rai o’r pethau a ddeilliodd o’r uwchgynhadledd honno ar ganser oedd yr angen i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud llawer mwy o symud yn syth at brofion, felly rydych yn torri allan rhywfaint o’r amser aros, oherwydd yn amlwg, y cynharaf y gwnewch chi ganfod canser, y lleiaf cymhleth ydyw, ac mae'n llawer haws ei drin. Felly, mae rhai byrddau iechyd mewn sefyllfa wahanol iawn i eraill. Mae un bwrdd iechyd, er enghraifft, yn symud oddeutu 37 y cant yn syth at brofion, ac un arall yn symud oddeutu 79 y cant. Mae tynnu sylw at y mathau hynny o bethau mewn uwchgynhadledd, sicrhau bod pawb yn ceisio gweithio yn unol ag arferion gorau a’n bod yn meincnodi yn bwysig iawn yn fy marn i. Credaf fod amrywio annerbyniol hefyd mewn perthynas â safleoedd tiwmorau. Fel y clywsom heddiw, mae gynaecoleg yn faes sydd angen llawer mwy o sylw, a cheir meysydd eraill lle rydym yn gwneud yn llawer gwell mewn gwirionedd, felly pam ein bod yn gweld yr amrywio hwnnw? Felly, dyna rai o'r cwestiynau rydym wedi gofyn iddynt roi sylw iddynt.
Hefyd, credaf fod gennym lawer mwy i’w wneud i sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio technoleg ddigidol gymaint ag y gallwn, ond hefyd y dylem fod yn meddwl sut olwg a allai fod ar y dyfodol. Mae datblygiadau gwirioneddol yn digwydd bellach yn y maes canser mewn perthynas, er enghraifft, â phrofion biopsi hylifol, ac mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod ar y dudalen gywir ac yn barod amdanynt pan fydd y datblygiad hwnnw'n ddigon aeddfed inni ei ddefnyddio.
7. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o ddigonolrwydd gwasanaethau ambiwlans yn Nwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58884
7. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the adequacy of ambulance services in Dwyfor Meirionnydd? OQ58884
Dyw’r perfformiad o ran amser ymateb ambiwlansys ddim ble bydden ni, y gwasanaeth iechyd na'r cyhoedd yn hoffi iddo fe fod. Mae gennym ni gynllun gwella cenedlaethol yn ei le i wella gwasanaethau ambiwlans, gyda chefnogaeth £3 miliwn o gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae hwn yn cynnwys camau gweithredu cenedlaethol a lleol i gefnogi gwelliannau, gan gynnwys yn Nwyfor Meirionnydd.
Ambulance response time performance is not where we, the NHS or the public would like it to be. We have a national ambulance improvement plan in place, supported by over £3 million of Welsh Government funding. This features national and local actions to support improvement, including in Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb, ac roeddwn i'n falch o glywed y Gweinidog yn sôn yn gynharach, gyda llaw, yn dweud diolch i weithwyr y sector iechyd, ond dydy geiriau, fel clapio, ddim yn talu biliau; mae angen i chi fynd a thrafod efo'r undebau o ran lefel eu cyflog. Ond ta waeth am hynny am y tro, mae'r straeon am gleifion yn aros oriau am ambiwlansys yn llawer rhy gyffredin, mae gen i ofn. Mae gennyf i achos o ddynes 78 oed yn aros 18 awr am ambiwlans efo'i chlun wedi'i ddadleoli; un arall yn ddynes 88 oed yn dioddef o ddementia wedi gorfod aros 11 awr efo clun wedi'i dorri.
Ond yn fwy pryderus fyth ydy fy mod i ar ddeall fod y gwasanaeth ambiwlans, mewn ymateb i'r argyfwng yma, am weddnewid eu darpariaeth nhw o'r gwasanaeth, ac yn hytrach nag anelu i drin y cleifion 80 y cant o'r amser, y bydden nhw yn lle yn anelu i drin a chludo 20 y cant o'r amser. Felly, mae hynny yn codi pryder o ran beth mewn gwirionedd ydy blaenoriaeth y gwasanaeth ambiwlans efo'r aildrefnu yma—ai bod ar y ffôn ynteu trin cleifion?
Ond yn fwy pryderus fyth ydy bod ambiwlansys ym Meirionnydd yn treulio'r rhan fwyaf o'u hamser bellach yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru ar alwadau, oherwydd y diffygion yno. Beth ydych chi am wneud er mwyn sicrhau bod ambiwlansys Meirionnydd yn aros i drin pobl ym Meirionnydd, yn hytrach na gorfod teithio ymhell i ffwrdd a thrin pobl mewn ardaloedd eraill, gan adael ardaloedd mawr yn ne Gwynedd yn wag, heb gyfr?
I thank the Minister for that response, and I was pleased to hear the Minister speaking earlier thanking health sector workers, but words and claps don't pay bills; you need to discuss with unions in terms of wage levels. But that aside for the time being, the stories of patients waiting hours for ambulances are far too common, I'm afraid. I can point to the case of a 78-year-old woman having to wait 18 hours for an ambulance with a dislocated hip; in another case, an 88-year-old woman suffering from dementia had to wait 11 hours with a broken hip.
But even more concerning is that I understand that the ambulance service, in response to this crisis, intends to transform the provision and service, and rather than aiming to treat patients 80 per cent of the time, it will instead aim to treat and transport patients 20 per cent of the time. So, that raises concerns in terms of what the ambulance service's priority is with this reorganisation—is it to be on the telephone or treating patients?
But even more concerning is that ambulances in Meirionnydd spend most of their time in the north-east of Wales on calls, because of the deficiencies there. So, what will you do to ensure that ambulances in Meirionnydd remain to treat patients in Meirionnydd, rather than having to travel far and wide to treat patients in other regions, leaving major parts of my constituency without coverage?
Dwi'n meddwl bod yna fodelau gwahanol yn weddus i leoedd gwahanol yng Nghymru. Felly, un o'r pethau welais i wrth i fi ymweld â Hwb Iechyd Eifionydd oedd defnydd arbennig o dda o paramedics. Felly, beth roedden nhw'n ei wneud oedd anfon paramedics lleol i mewn—advanced paramedics—ac roedden nhw'n gallu helpu lot fawr o gleifion, a oedd yn golygu nad oedd angen iddyn nhw wedyn fynd i'r ysbyty. Felly, y peth pwysicaf i fi yw ein bod ni'n cludo dim ond y bobl sydd wirioneddol angen cael eu cludo i'r ysbyty, a dyna pam rŷm ni wedi gweld gwahaniaeth. Rŷm ni wedi gweld llai o bobl yn cael eu cludo i'r ysbyty; mae hynny yn beth da. Beth mae pobl yn gyffredinol yn ei angen yw help yn y gymuned. Yn amlwg, os ydyn nhw wirioneddol yn sâl, mae angen eu cludo nhw. Felly, beth sy'n bwysig yw ein bod ni'n rhoi'r gofal, lle y gallwn ni, yn y gymuned, ond bod yna gyfle i fynd â nhw, os yn bosib, at y ganolfan agosaf. Dwi'n deall bod hynny'n golygu, ambell waith, bydd ambiwlansys yn bell i ffwrdd o Feirionnydd, os bydd rhai yn cael eu cludo yna. Dyna pam mae gyda ni rosters newydd, sydd yn golygu bod yr equivalent o 72 o bobl sy'n gweithio i'r ambiwlansys yn ychwanegol yn gweithio yn ein gwasanaeth ni, ar ben y 100 o staff ychwanegol oherwydd y ffordd rŷn ni wedi ailddylunio ble mae'r ambiwlansys yn cael eu cadw.
I think there are different models that are appropriate to different areas of Wales. So, one of the things that I saw when I visited Hwb Iechyd Eifionydd was very good work by paramedics. So, what they did was to send local paramedics in—advanced paramedics—and they could help very many patients, which meant that they then didn't need to go to hospital. So, the most important thing for me is that we transport only those people who truly need to be taken to hospital, and that's why we have seen a difference. We've seen fewer people taken to hospital, and that's a good thing. Generally speaking, what people need is help in the community. Clearly, if they are in a serious condition, they will need to be transported to hospital. But what's important is that we provide care, where possible, in the community, but there is also provision available to take them to the nearest appropriate centre. I understand that that can occasionally mean that ambulances will be a long way away from Meirionnydd, and that's why we do have new rosters, which do mean that the equivalent of 72 additional people working in the ambulance service are available, on top of the 100 additional staff because of the way that we have redesigned where ambulances are located.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Adam Price.
Finally, question 8, Adam Price.
8. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i wella amseroedd aros mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ac amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys ar gyfer pobl sy'n byw yn Nwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr? OQ58876
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve A&E wait times and ambulance response times for people living in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr? OQ58876
Mae’r camau sy'n cael eu cymryd i leihau’r amser aros mewn adrannau brys, a lleihau amser ymateb ambiwlansys, yn cynnwys creu mwy o gapasiti ambiwlans, gweithredu gwasanaethau ffrydio clinigol, defnyddio modelau ward rhithiol a gwella gwasanaethau gofal brys yr un diwrnod.
The steps taken to reduce waiting time in A&E and to reduce ambulance response times include creating more ambulance capacity, delivering clinical streaming services, using virtual ward models and enhancement of same-day emergency care services.
Dwi wedi clywed llu o achosion tebyg i rai Mabon ap Gwynfor yn fy ardal i: un etholwraig arhosodd dros 17 awr tu allan i'r adran frys mewn ambiwlans gyda symptomau o strôc; etholwr arall, anabl, a fu'n aros am 12 awr tu allan i'r adran frys am wely, oherwydd iddo gwympo; a hyd yn oed un dyn yn teithio nôl ac ymlaen i'r adran frys ac argyfwng i roi blancedi a bwyd i'w fam oedrannus oherwydd roedd yn rhaid iddi aros yn yr adran dros nos yn eistedd mewn cadair.
O ran y darlun mawr, mae'r sefyllfa o ran amseroedd ymateb yn Hywel Dda ymhlith y gwaethaf yng Nghymru. Yn ystod mis Hydref, dim ond 39.3 y cant o alwadau coch gafodd eu hateb o fewn yr amser o wyth munud. Chwe mis yn ôl, pan godais i yr un mater gyda chi, roeddech chi'n dweud bryd hynny nad oeddech chi'n derbyn bod yna argyfwng. Ydych chi wedi newid eich meddwl nawr? Ac o ran yr hyn sydd yn mynd i ddigwydd ar 21 Rhagfyr o ran y streic, ydych chi'n disgwyl neu am ofyn i aelodau o'r lluoedd arfog neu'r heddlu i gamu mewn i'r bwlch oherwydd y streic honno?
I have heard of a number of cases similar to those expressed by Mabon ap Gwynfor in my region: one constituent waiting over 17 hours outside of A&E in an ambulance with stroke symptoms; another disabled constituent waiting for 12 hours outside of the A&E department for a bed after a fall; and even one man travelling back and forth to A&E to provide blankets and food for his elderly mother because she had to wait in a chair overnight.
In terms of the bigger picture, the situation in terms of response times in Hywel Dda is amongst the worst in Wales. In October, only 39.3 per cent of red calls were answered within the eight minutes. Six months ago, when I raised the same issue with you, you said that you didn't accept that there's an emergency or a crisis. Have you changed your mind now? And in terms of what's going to happen on 21 December in terms of the strike, do you expect or will you ask members of the armed forces or the police to step into the breach because of the strike action?
Diolch. Dwi'n siŵr bod Adam Price wedi deall erbyn hyn mai rhan o'r broblem ynglŷn â chael pobl i mewn i'r ysbytai yw'r ffaith ein bod ni'n ffaelu â'u cael nhw mas o'r ysbytai. Felly, mae dros 1,000 o bobl yn ein hysbytai na ddylai fod yna. Rhan o'r broblem yw achos bod pobl yn methu â recriwtio, o ran llywodraeth leol, i weithio yn yr adrannau gofal. Felly, mae'r cydgysylltiad yna yn rhywbeth dwi'n meddwl bod yn rhaid i bob un ei ddeall, a dyna pam ein blaenoriaeth ni, yn ein tîm iechyd a gofal ni, y No. 1 priority, oedd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n talu y real living wage, ac felly mae hynny, i fi, yn fwy pwysig na dim i helpu gyda recriwtio. A fel dwi wedi dweud eisoes, fe fydd yna gyhoeddiad arall ynglŷn â beth rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei wneud yn y maes yma i weithio gyda llywodraeth leol, dros fisoedd lawer, i helpu gyda'r flow yma o ran cael pobl i mewn i'n hysbytai, achos mae pob gwely wedi'i gymryd, ac mae hwnna, wrth gwrs, yn broblem.
O ran y streic fydd yn digwydd ar 21 Rhagfyr, wrth gwrs dŷn ni'n dal i baratoi am hynny; dŷn ni ddim wedi—. Byddwn ni'n edrych i weld sut mae pethau'n gweithio yfory; mae yna lot o baratoi wedi cael ei wneud eisoes. Dŷn ni ddim ar hyn o bryd yn bwriadu defnyddio'r lluoedd arfog os nad oes yna wirioneddol angen, os nad oes yna real sefyllfa fydd yn golygu bod yna broblem wirioneddol o ran cadw pobl yn saff. Ond rŷn ni wedi bod yn siarad, er enghraifft, gyda'r heddlu, ynglŷn â nhw yn cario pethau i helpu pobl i gael eu calonnau nhw i ddechrau eto yn eu ceir nhw. Felly, mae yna lot o baratoi wedi cael ei wneud, yn sicr, gyda'r heddlu hefyd.
Thank you. I'm sure that Adam Price will have understood by now that part of the problem in getting people into the hospital is that we can't get them out. So, there are over 1,000 people in our hospitals who shouldn't be there. Part of the problem is because people can't be recruited in local government to work in the care services. So, that inter-relationship is something that everyone needs to understand, and that's why our priority, in our health and care team, the No. 1 priority, was to ensure that we pay the real living wage, and, for me, that's the most important thing in helping with recruitment. And as I've already said, there will be a further announcement as to what we have been doing in this area to work with local government, over many months, to help with that patient flow in getting people into our hospitals, because every bed is taken up, and that, of course, is a problem.
In terms of the strike action on the twenty-first, of course we are still making preparations for that. We will look at how things are going to work tomorrow; a great deal of preparation's been done already. At the moment, we don't intend to use the armed forces, unless that is truly necessary, unless there is a situation that would mean that there would be a serious problem in keeping the public safe. But we have been speaking, for example, to the police in terms of the police helping with resuscitation and so on. So, preparation has been done with the police also.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr atebion i'r sesiwn gwestiynau yna.
I thank the Minister for those responses during that question session.
Un cwestiwn amserol hefyd i chi, Weinidog. Mae'r cwestiwn yna i'w ofyn gan Mabon ap Gwynfor.
There is also a topical question for you, Minister. That question is to be asked by Mabon ap Gwynfor.
1. Pa gamau mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r prinder gwrthfiotigau dros gyfnod y Nadolig? TQ699
1. What steps is the Government taking to tackle the antibiotics shortage over the Christmas period? TQ699
Diolch. Rŷn ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, gwneuthurwyr a chyfanwerthwyr i gyflymu'r symudiad o stoc ychwanegol yn y gadwyn gyflenwad fel canlyniad i'r cynnydd sylweddol yn y galw. Rŷn ni hefyd yn gweithio gyda'r byrddau iechyd a fferyllwyr cymunedol i sicrhau bod stoc ar gael i'w ddosbarthu lle mae'r galw ar ei uchaf.
Thank you. We are working closely with the UK Government, the makers and wholesalers in order to hasten the movement of additional stock in the supply chain as a result of the significant increase in demand. We are also working with health boards and community pharmacists to ensure that stock is available for distribution where demand is highest.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb. Mae nifer fawr o rieni a fferyllwyr, yn wir, wedi dod ataf i dros y dyddiau diwethaf yn pryderu nad ydyn nhw'n medru cael gafael ar penicillin, amoxicillin, clarithromycin ac erythromycin. Mae fferyllwyr yn methu rhoi gwrthfiotig hylif i blant gan nad ydy o ar gael, ac yn gorfod dangos i ofalwyr neu rieni sut mae agor capsiwls a chymysgu'r powdr efo hylif arall er mwyn i blant gael y feddyginiaeth. Ar ben hynny, mae pris prynu'r cyffuriau yma i mewn wedi cynyddu'n aruthrol o £1 neu £2, mewn rhai achosion, i £8 neu £10 ar achosion eraill. Mae'r dwymyn goch wedi cychwyn yn gynt na'r arfer, ac mae pobl yn naturiol yn pryderu am streptococcus grŵp A. Mae'n fy mhryderu i, felly, fod y neges sydd wedi dod allan o'r Llywodraeth dros yr wythnosau diwethaf wedi dangos diffyg dealltwriaeth o ddifrifoldeb y sefyllfa. Mae angen sicrwydd ar bobl Cymru fod yna feddyginiaeth elfennol ar gael pan fo'r angen yn codi heb orfod teithio pellteroedd, weithiau hyd at 30 milltir, neu aros wythnosau er mwyn cael y feddyginiaeth. Felly, a wnewch chi roi'r sicrwydd yna i ni, a hefyd a wnewch chi roi pwysau ar gwmnïau cynhyrchu i beidio manteisio ar yr argyfwng a chodi'r prisiau?
Thank you to the Minister for the response. A large number of parents and pharmacists have approached me over the past few days concerned that they're unable to source penicillin, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin. Pharmacists are unable to give liquid antibiotics to children, as they're not available, and they have to show carers or parents how to open the capsules and then mix the powder with another liquid in order for children to receive the medication. On top of this, the cost of purchasing in these drugs has increased hugely from £1 or £2, in some cases, to £8 or £10. Now, scarlet fever season has started earlier than usual, and people are naturally concerned about group A streptococcus. It concerns me, therefore, that the message from the Government over the past few weeks has demonstrated a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation. The people of Wales need assurance that basic medicines will be available when the need arises, without having to travel long distances, sometimes 30 miles or more, or wait weeks to access these medicines. So, will you give us that reassurance, and will you urge the manufacturers not to take advantage of this crisis by raising their prices?
Diolch yn fawr. Well, I absolutely understand the concern of parents in these very difficult times. When your child is ill and you know that there's a potential that they could get invasive strep A, then you understand why we've seen a huge increase in contact numbers. I think we had 18,000 calls on the weekend, and 54 per cent of the call activity on Sunday related to children who were under 14. So, we have got a multi-agency incident management team in place. There has, as you said, been a surge in demand for antibiotics, which did lead to a temporary disruption in supply. We are working with the UK Government to speed up the movement of additional stock into supply chains, and we've issued guidance on alternative antibiotic choices and on the administration of tablets and capsules to children where penicillin and liquid antibiotics are unavailable. Also, we've given advice on how solid dosage can be given to people who have swallowing difficulties where there is a shortage of liquid medicine. So, we are giving that advice, that advice has gone out, and, obviously, if there are alternatives, as there are, then we need to keep an eye on that in terms of the price of the antibiotics.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, rwy’n deall pryderon rhieni yn y cyfnod anodd hwn yn llwyr. Pan fydd eich plentyn yn sâl ac rydych yn gwybod bod posibilrwydd y gallent gael clefyd strep A ymledol, rydych yn deall pam ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd enfawr yn y niferoedd sy'n cysylltu. Credaf inni gael 18,000 o alwadau ar y penwythnos, ac roedd 54 y cant o'r galwadau ddydd Sul yn ymwneud â phlant o dan 14 oed. Felly, mae gennym dîm rheoli digwyddiadau amlasiantaethol ar waith. Fel y dywedoch chi, mae ymchwydd wedi bod yn y galw am wrthfiotigau, a arweiniodd at brinder dros dro yn y cyflenwad. Rydym yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i gyflymu’r broses o symud stoc ychwanegol i gadwyni cyflenwi, ac rydym wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau ar ddewisiadau gwrthfiotig gwahanol ac ar roi tabledi a chapsiwlau i blant pan nad oes penisilin a gwrthfiotigau hylifol ar gael. Hefyd, rydym wedi rhoi cyngor ar sut y gellir rhoi dos solet i bobl ag anawsterau llyncu pan fo prinder meddyginiaeth hylifol. Felly, rydym yn rhoi’r cyngor hwnnw, mae’r cyngor hwnnw wedi'i gyhoeddi, ac yn amlwg, os oes dewisiadau eraill, fel sydd, mae angen inni gadw llygad ar hynny mewn perthynas â phris y gwrthfiotigau.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Mae'r cwestiwn amserol nesaf i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol, ac i'w ofyn gan Joel James.
Thank you, Minister. The next topical question is to be answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, and is to be asked by Joel James.
2. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cynnig i sicrhau safonau cyflogaeth mwy trwyadl yng ngwasanaethau tân ac achub Cymru yn sgil yr honiadau yn erbyn Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru? TQ700
2. What action is the Welsh Government proposing to ensure more rigorous employment standards in Welsh fire and rescue services in light of the allegations against South Wales Fire and Rescue Service? TQ700
These allegations reveal appalling and completely unacceptable behaviour that has no place in the fire and rescue service, nor anywhere else. South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority has already announced a review of its own processes and culture. This needs to be truly independent, robust, and comprehensive.
Mae’r honiadau hyn yn datgelu ymddygiad echrydus a chwbl annerbyniol nad oes lle iddo yn y gwasanaeth tân ac achub, nac yn unman arall. Mae Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru eisoes wedi cyhoeddi adolygiad o'i brosesau a'i ddiwylliant ei hun. Mae angen iddo fod yn wirioneddol annibynnol, cadarn a chynhwysfawr.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. The ITV Wales news story on Monday evening reported that south Wales fire service has had at least two individuals who have fallen short of the exemplary standards promoted by the fire and rescue service. I think we can all agree that their abhorrent behaviour should never, ever be tolerated, and I would like to add my voice to acknowledge the bravery of the victims in coming forward to highlight this and what has happened to them.
The coverage also alleged that south Wales fire service has a culture of cover-up, and these individuals had not been permanently removed from their posts when the incidents first came to light. Instead, they were transferred elsewhere, including to a White Ribbon station. I believe it is true to say that almost every organisation, company or institution will undoubtedly at some point have to deal with staff, or several staff, who fall appallingly short of meeting the values and conduct that are expected of them. These individuals, both who commit acts and those who cover them up, not only do tremendous damage to their victims, but leave long-lasting consequences for their company and co-workers.
I'm conscious that, as you say, the fire service has now launched an independent review of the culture, discipline process, and of any historic cases. But I'm also conscious that full details were not provided of these cases in the coverage, and this might be a case of a failure of proper procedure, rather than a failure of culture in the service. With this in mind, and given what has happened, Deputy Minister, will you outline what discussions you have had with the fire service on this matter? Is it not time that active service personnel undertake regular and continual vetting procedures, similar to those they went through when they were applying for the role, to ensure that the standards expected of them can be maintained throughout their careers? Thank you.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Dywedodd y stori newyddion ar ITV Cymru nos Lun fod o leiaf ddau unigolyn yng ngwasanaeth tân de Cymru wedi methu cyrraedd y safonau rhagorol sy'n cael eu hyrwyddo gan y gwasanaeth tân ac achub. Rwy'n credu y gall pob un ohonom gytuno na ddylai eu hymddygiad ffiaidd fyth gael ei oddef, a hoffwn ychwanegu fy llais i gydnabod dewrder y dioddefwyr sydd wedi tynnu sylw at hyn, a’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd iddynt.
Roedd y stori newyddion hefyd yn honni bod gan wasanaeth tân de Cymru ddiwylliant o gelu, ac nad oedd yr unigolion hyn wedi cael eu diswyddo'n barhaol pan ddaeth y digwyddiadau i'r amlwg gyntaf. Yn lle hynny, cawsant eu trosglwyddo i rywle arall, gan gynnwys i orsaf Rhuban Gwyn. Credaf ei bod yn wir dweud y bydd bron i bob sefydliad, cwmni neu fudiad, heb os, ar ryw adeg, yn gorfod ymdrin â staff, neu sawl aelod o staff, nad ydynt wedi cadw at y gwerthoedd a'r ymddygiad a ddisgwylir ganddynt. Mae'r unigolion hyn sy'n cyflawni gweithredoedd a'r rheini sy'n eu celu nid yn unig yn gwneud niwed aruthrol i'w dioddefwyr, ond maent hefyd yn achosi canlyniadau hirdymor i'w cwmni a'u cydweithwyr.
Rwy'n ymwybodol, fel y dywedwch, fod y gwasanaeth tân bellach wedi lansio adolygiad annibynnol o'r diwylliant, y broses ddisgyblu, ac unrhyw achosion hanesyddol. Ond rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd na ddarparwyd manylion llawn yr achosion hyn yn y stori newyddion, ac efallai mai achos o fethiant y weithdrefn briodol yw hyn, yn hytrach na methiant diwylliant yn y gwasanaeth. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, ac o ystyried yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd, Ddirprwy Weinidog, a wnewch chi amlinellu pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda’r gwasanaeth tân ar y mater hwn? Onid yw’n bryd i bersonél gweithredol y gwasanaeth ymgymryd â gweithdrefnau fetio rheolaidd a pharhaus, yn debyg i’r rheini a gawsant pan oeddent yn ymgeisio am y rôl, er mwyn sicrhau y gellir cynnal y safonau a ddisgwylir ganddynt drwy gydol eu gyrfaoedd? Diolch.
Can I thank Joel James for raising this today? It's right that we have an opportunity to address this on the floor of this Senedd, and I absolutely agree with him that the allegations that were brought to light in the ITV news report were absolutely abhorrent, but you're right that it shouldn't take a news report for action to be taken on these issues as well. You talked about the bravery of the women that have come forward. That is not an easy thing to do. It's a significant step to take. But that shouldn't be a necessary step to take. That behaviour shouldn't exist in the first place, but the support should be there within those organisations to enable people to feel safe and to come forward without fear of repercussions from that.
Actually, I had an urgent meeting with the chair of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority yesterday morning, and made it very clear to him the need for a fully independent and wide-ranging inquiry into these matters. It should be similar to the one that the London Fire Commissioner established to investigate claims of racist bullying, which reported last month. On the points the Member made, I particularly stressed to the chair that this inquiry needs to be headed up by a trusted figure who's wholly independent of the fire and rescue services, such as a barrister, and that its scope must encompass all forms of discrimination, harassment, unacceptable behaviours and cultures. It must be free to inspect any documents and to survey or interview staff, and that its findings must be made public. It cannot be addressed as an isolated incident; it needs to look at the structures that have allowed that to happen and what action needs to be taken to ensure it isn't repeated in the future. I've asked the chair for urgent assurance on these matters, and I'm happy to keep this place updated on that.
I think, in closing to Joel James, what is clear is that we need zero tolerance, not only of this sort of behaviour, but also of cultures and institutions that allow people to be bystanders as well.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Joel James am godi hyn heddiw? Mae’n iawn ein bod yn cael cyfle i drafod hyn ar lawr y Senedd hon, a chytunaf yn llwyr ag ef fod yr honiadau a ddaeth i’r amlwg yn adroddiad newyddion ITV yn gwbl wrthun, ond rydych yn llygad eich lle na ddylai gymryd adroddiad newyddion i gamau gweithredu gael eu cymryd ar y materion hyn hefyd. Fe sonioch chi am ddewrder y menywod sydd wedi rhoi gwybod am eu profiadau. Nid yw hynny’n beth hawdd i’w wneud. Mae’n gam mawr i’w gymryd. Ond ni ddylai fod yn gam angenrheidiol i'w gymryd. Ni ddylai’r ymddygiad hwnnw fodoli yn y lle cyntaf, ond dylai’r gefnogaeth fod yno o fewn y sefydliadau hynny i alluogi pobl i deimlo’n ddiogel ac i roi gwybod i rywun heb ofni ôl-effeithiau yn sgil hynny.
A dweud y gwir, cefais gyfarfod brys gyda chadeirydd Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru bore ddoe, a dywedais yn glir iawn wrtho fod angen ymchwiliad cwbl annibynnol ac eang i’r materion hyn. Dylai fod yn debyg i'r un a sefydlwyd gan Gomisiynydd Tân Llundain i ymchwilio i honiadau o fwlio hiliol, a adroddodd fis diwethaf. Ar y pwyntiau a wnaeth yr Aelod, pwysleisiais yn arbennig wrth y cadeirydd fod angen i’r ymchwiliad hwn gael ei arwain gan unigolyn y gellir ymddiried ynddynt ac sy’n gwbl annibynnol ar y gwasanaethau tân ac achub, megis bargyfreithiwr, a bod yn rhaid i’w gwmpas gynnwys pob math o wahaniaethu, aflonyddu, ymddygiad a diwylliannau annerbyniol. Mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn rhydd i archwilio unrhyw ddogfennau ac i arolygu neu gyfweld â staff, ac mae'n rhaid cyhoeddi ei ganfyddiadau. Ni ellir mynd i'r afael â'r mater fel digwyddiad unigol; mae angen iddo edrych ar y strwythurau sydd wedi caniatáu i hynny ddigwydd a pha gamau sydd angen eu cymryd i sicrhau na chaiff ei ailadrodd yn y dyfodol. Rwyf wedi gofyn i’r cadeirydd am sicrwydd brys ar y materion hyn, ac rwy’n fwy na pharod i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r lle hwn ar hynny.
I gloi fy ateb i Joel James, rwy'n credu mai’r hyn sy’n amlwg yw bod angen polisi dim goddefgarwch, nid yn unig tuag at y math hwn o ymddygiad, ond tuag at ddiwylliannau a sefydliadau sy’n caniatáu i bobl gadw'n dawel hefyd.
The White Ribbon pledge is never to commit, excuse or remain silent about men's violence against women. When the service allowed two abusers to keep their jobs, it broke that promise. Llywydd, I want to pay tribute to the brave women who have spoken out, and note my deep disappointment in the service that I've worked closely with on the White Ribbon campaign for many years. We'll see what the investigation finds, but clearly something has gone very wrong here.
First, Gwent Police; now south Wales fire service. Do you agree, Deputy Minister, that people have every right to expect zero tolerance of gender-based violence in all their public services? And what is being done within public sector organisations to identify and deal with offenders? Will you please table a debate on this, with your colleague Jane Hutt, for a workplace strategy based on dignity and respect, because according to the report, any level of either dignity or respect had been completely removed from the females who were employed in this organisation?
I know that, with Jane Hutt, I'm launching a report that will move into this space in January, with the Wales Trades Union Congress. I think it would be an excellent idea if all public sector organisations sent some heads of departments to that launch, so that they could at least learn something and hopefully take that learning back to the workplace. This is an absolute disgrace. It's let people down, and if half or a fraction of what was in that report is to be believed, it is absolutely beyond comprehension.
Addewid y Rhuban Gwyn yw peidio byth â chyflawni, esgusodi nac aros yn dawel am drais dynion yn erbyn menywod. Pan ganiataodd y gwasanaeth i ddau gamdriniwr gadw eu swyddi, torrodd yr addewid hwnnw. Lywydd, hoffwn roi teyrnged i’r menywod dewr sydd wedi siarad, a nodi fy siom enbyd yn y gwasanaeth rwyf wedi gweithio’n agos ag ef ar ymgyrch y Rhuban Gwyn ers blynyddoedd lawer. Cawn weld beth mae'r ymchwiliad yn ei ddarganfod, ond yn amlwg, mae rhywbeth wedi mynd ymhell o'i le yma.
Yn gyntaf, Heddlu Gwent; a nawr, gwasanaeth tân de Cymru. A ydych chi'n cytuno, Ddirprwy Weinidog, fod gan bobl bob hawl i ddisgwyl dim goddefgarwch tuag at drais ar sail rhywedd yn eu holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus? A beth sy'n cael ei wneud o fewn sefydliadau'r sector cyhoeddus i ganfod ac ymdrin â throseddwyr? A wnewch chi gyflwyno dadl ar hyn, os gwelwch yn dda, gyda’ch cyd-Aelod Jane Hutt, am strategaeth y gweithle sy'n seiliedig ar urddas a pharch, oherwydd yn ôl yr adroddiad, roedd y menywod a gâi eu cyflogi yn y sefydliad hwn wedi cael eu hamddifadu'n llwyr o bob lefel o urddas a pharch?
Gwn fy mod, gyda Jane Hutt, yn lansio adroddiad a fydd yn ymdrin â hyn ym mis Ionawr, gyda Chyngres Undebau Llafur Cymru. Rwy'n credu y byddai’n syniad ardderchog pe bai pob sefydliad yn y sector cyhoeddus yn anfon penaethiaid adran i’r lansiad hwnnw, fel y gallent o leiaf ddysgu rhywbeth a mynd â’r gwersi hynny a ddysgwyd yn ôl i’r gweithle, gobeithio. Mae hyn yn gwbl warthus. Mae wedi siomi pobl, ac os yw hanner neu ran fach o'r hyn a oedd yn yr adroddiad hwnnw i'w gredu, mae tu hwnt i bob dealltwriaeth.
I absolutely share—well, actually, to say that I share Joyce Watson's disappointment is probably an understatement. The Member raises some really salient points about what I and Jane Hutt and you can do moving forward now, and I'm more than happy to take that up with regard to the debate and actually how we bring people together. You talked about the White Ribbon campaign and your disappointment that they've broken that pledge. In 2014, we were incredibly proud that the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service became the first fire and rescue service in the world to get White Ribbon accreditation, and only last year they declared their 47 fire stations in the region to be safe havens. Now, we've seen that that accreditation has been removed following the publication of these allegations, but I think what it does tell us is that a corporate commitment to this isn't enough; it needs whole-scale cultural change and practices and processes in place that support and enable that as well. You talked about other services, and I think what's clear to me and everybody in here is that we've heard time and time again about bad apples—that 'bad apples' narrative—and it doesn't and it cannot wash. Enough is really enough.
Rwy'n rhannu'n llwyr—wel, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n debyg bod dweud fy mod yn rhannu siom Joyce Watson yn danosodiad. Mae’r Aelod yn codi pwyntiau pwysig am yr hyn y gallaf fi a Jane Hutt a chithau ei wneud wrth symud ymlaen, ac rwy’n fwy na pharod i godi hynny mewn perthynas â'r ddadl a sut y down â phobl ynghyd. Fe sonioch chi am ymgyrch y Rhuban Gwyn a’ch siom eu bod wedi torri’r addewid hwnnw. Yn 2014, roeddem yn hynod falch mai Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru oedd y gwasanaeth tân ac achub cyntaf yn y byd i gael achrediad Rhuban Gwyn, a dim ond y llynedd, fe wnaethant ddatgan bod eu 47 o orsafoedd tân yn y rhanbarth yn hafanau diogel. Nawr, rydym wedi gweld bod yr achrediad hwnnw wedi'i ddileu yn sgil cyhoeddi'r honiadau hyn, ond credaf mai'r hyn y mae hynny'n ei ddweud wrthym yw nad yw ymrwymiad corfforaethol i hyn yn ddigon; mae angen newid diwylliannol ar raddfa'r sefydliad cyfan ac arferion a phrosesau ar waith sy'n cefnogi ac yn galluogi hynny hefyd. Fe sonioch chi am wasanaethau eraill, ac rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n amlwg i mi a phawb yn y fan hon yw ein bod wedi clywed dro ar ôl tro am afalau drwg—y naratif 'afalau drwg' hwnnw—ac ni wnaiff hynny mo'r tro, ac ni all wneud y tro. Digon yw digon.
Mae cam-drin ar sail rhywedd a rhagfarn a chasineb at fenywod o fewn ein gwasanaethau rheng flaen yn gwbl annerbyniol. Dyma'r gwasanaethau sydd fod yn ein gwarchod ni, yn gwasanaethu'r cyhoedd, ac felly yn cynrychioli egwyddorion gorau ein cymdeithas. Felly, ni allwn ganiatáu i wasanaeth sy'n ymwneud â'r cyhoedd ac sydd â rôl mor warchodol feddu ar safbwyntiau ystrydebol, rhagfarnllyd a pheryglus am grwpiau penodol yn ein cymdeithas, yn enwedig pan fo tystiolaeth gynyddol bod pobl sy'n arddel y safbwyntiau rhagfarnllyd hyn yn gweithredu arnyn nhw. Rhaid i'r cyhoedd a'r grwpiau penodol hynny yn enwedig gael ffydd yn y gwasanaethau hyn—fel dinasyddion, fel cydweithwyr, fel cynrychiolwyr o werthoedd ein cymdeithas. Mae'r ffaith nad yw'r gwasanaeth tân bellach wedi ei restru fel sefydliad cefnogwyr y Rhuban Gwyn ar wefan y Rhuban Gwyn yn ysgytwol, pan ydych chi wir yn meddwl am y peth, fod ein gwasanaeth tân—un o'n gwasanaethau tân ni—wedi gorfod dad-gysylltu ei hun o ymgyrch sy'n ceisio rhoi terfyn ar drais yn erbyn menywod gan ddynion.
Gwnaeth Joyce Watson sôn am yr achosion pryderus diweddar yn Heddlu Gwent. Yn sgil hynny, ydy'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn meddwl efallai bod angen nid yn unig ymchwiliad i'r achosion penodol yma a'r llu penodol yma, y gwasanaeth yma, ond efallai bod angen ymchwiliad ehangach i ddiwylliant a gweithdrefnau ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus rheng flaen? Gallwch chi hefyd efallai amlinellu sut y bydd y strategaeth trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol ddiweddaraf yn helpu i atal sefyllfaoedd fel hyn rhag digwydd eto yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus? A beth ydych chi'n meddwl sy'n mynd o'i le yn fan hyn?
Gender-based abuse and prejudice and hatred towards women in our front-line services are totally unacceptable. These are the services that are supposed to protect us and serve the public, and they are therefore supposed to represent the very best principles in our society. So, we cannot permit a service that has such close contact with the public and that has such a safeguarding role to hold such stereotypical, prejudiced and dangerous views about specific groups in our society, especially as there is increasing evidence that people who hold such prejudiced views act upon them too. The public and these specific groups in particular must have faith in these services—as citizens, as colleagues, and as representatives of the values of our society. The fact that the fire service is no longer listed as a White Ribbon supporter organisation on the White Ribbon website is shocking when you really think about it, that our fire service—or one of our fire services—has had to distance itself from a campaign that seeks to eradicate violence against women by men.
Joyce Watson spoke about the concerning cases in Gwent Police recently. In the wake of those cases, does the Deputy Minister believe that, perhaps, there should not just be an inquiry into these specific cases and this specific service, but perhaps that we need a wider ranging inquiry into the culture and processes of our front-line public services? Could the Deputy Minister perhaps please outline how the most recent violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy will help to prevent situations like this from recurring in our public services? And what do you believe is going wrong here?
Dwi'n cytuno efo Sioned Williams.
I agree with Sioned Williams.
And with the points you raise in terms of—I don't think we can downplay just how shocking this is, but alas, for many of us here, sadly, it's not surprising because we know this sort of behaviour is endemic, not just in workplaces but across society. We've talked before, when we've talked about everyday sexism, misogyny, that it's not all men, but you can probably guarantee that just about all women have experienced some sort of harassment, been on the receiving end of misogyny, or just been made to feel uncomfortable in a place where they should feel safe. So, I think, like I said before, enough is enough. We're at a point now where it cannot continue.
And just in respect of what you said about the fire and rescue service, we're waiting to see the terms of the investigation that the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority have pledged to undertake, but prior to that, as we've said, we know there are wider problems within the fire and rescue service. There was an independent review of the London Fire Brigade published just last month, which revealed numerous shocking and disgusting instances of racial and sexual harassment, so we can't be sure that they are confined just to one service. Ahead of the ITV news broadcast on Monday evening, I had written to the three fire and rescue authorities in Wales asking for assurances around how they had approached these issues on the back of the London Fire Brigade report. We'll go through the process now of working with South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority in terms of what the parameters of that inquiry will look like, going back to what I said in response to the first question about making sure that it is truly independent and that it doesn't just look at individual allegations, but looks at wholesale culture and process and the support that is in place there. But if that isn't forthcoming, we will consider undertaking such a wholesale review ourselves.
A chyda'r pwyntiau a godwch o ran—ni chredaf y gallwn fychanu pa mor syfrdanol yw hyn, ond gwaetha'r modd, i lawer ohonom yma, yn anffodus, nid yw'n syndod, gan y gwyddom fod y math hwn o ymddygiad yn endemig, nid yn unig mewn gweithleoedd, ond ar draws cymdeithas. Rydym wedi sôn o'r blaen, wrth drafod rhywiaeth bob dydd, casineb at fenywod, nad yw pob dyn ar fai, ond mae'n debyg y gallwch fod yn sicr fod bron bob menyw wedi dioddef rhyw fath o aflonyddu, wedi dioddef casineb at fenywod, neu wedi'u gwneud i deimlo'n anghyfforddus mewn man lle dylent allu teimlo'n ddiogel. Felly, fel y dywedais eisoes, credaf mai digon yw digon. Rydym wedi cyrraedd pwynt bellach lle na all hyn barhau.
Ac o ran yr hyn a ddywedoch chi am y gwasanaeth tân ac achub, rydym yn aros i weld amodau'r ymchwiliad y mae Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru wedi addo ei gynnal, ond cyn hynny, fel y dywedasom, fe wyddom fod problemau ehangach o fewn y gwasanaeth tân ac achub. Cyhoeddwyd adolygiad annibynnol o Frigâd Dân Llundain fis diwethaf, a ddatgelodd nifer o achosion gwarthus a ffiaidd o aflonyddu hiliol a rhywiol, felly ni allwn fod yn siŵr eu bod wedi'u cyfyngu i un gwasanaeth yn unig. Cyn darllediad newyddion ITV nos Lun, roeddwn wedi ysgrifennu at y tri awdurdod tân ac achub yng Nghymru i ofyn am sicrwydd ynghylch y modd roeddent wedi mynd i’r afael â’r materion hyn yn dilyn adroddiad Brigâd Dân Llundain. Byddwn yn mynd drwy’r broses nawr o weithio gydag Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru ar beth fydd paramedrau’r ymchwiliad hwnnw, gan fynd yn ôl at yr hyn a ddywedais mewn ymateb i’r cwestiwn cyntaf ynglŷn â sicrhau ei fod yn wirioneddol annibynnol ac nad yw’n edrych ar honiadau unigol yn unig, ond yn hytrach, ar ddiwylliant a phroses yn gyffredinol, a’r gefnogaeth sydd ar waith yno. Ond os na cheir hynny, byddwn yn ystyried cynnal adolygiad cyffredinol o'r fath ein hunain.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
I thank the Deputy Minister.
Y datganiadau 90 eiliad sydd nesaf. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf gan Natasha Asghar.
We move now to the 90-second statements and the first is from Natasha Asghar.
Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. This Sunday marks the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah. Hanukkah is an eight-day festival of light and is a hugely joyous occasion for the Jewish community all across the world. Hanukkah involves lighting candles on a special nine-branch candle holder known as the menorah. A candle is lit each day and a lit menorah is placed near a doorway or window to announce the miracle of the festival to the outside world. It is a time for families to come together to eat, sing traditional songs and give gifts to children. It's also customary to play with a dreidel—a four-sided spinning top—stating, 'A great miracle happened there'. The game is often played for coins, nuts and other things. As we await the start of the festival, I would like to celebrate proudly the great contribution that our Jewish communities have made to our country.
At a time of growing antisemitism across Europe, the themes of freedom and liberty that lie at the heart of the story of Hanukkah are as relevant as ever. Some of the common messages that come out are, 'Never be afraid to stand up for what is right', 'A little light goes a long way', or 'Be like a menorah and shine bright and observe your faith with pride'. We in the Senedd must strongly advocate the right of people to practise their faith without fear of violence and commit ourselves to fight the extremist ideology and prejudice that lies at the heart of antisemitism. So, at this special time of the year, as Jewish families come together to celebrate, let us be inspired by the message of hope Hanukkah brings, confident that hatred will be overcome and that light will always replace darkness.
Diolch o galon, Lywydd. Mae'r Sul hwn yn nodi dechrau gŵyl Iddewig Hanukkah, a elwir hefyd yn Chanukah. Gŵyl y goleuni yw Hanukkah sy'n para wyth diwrnod ac mae'n achlysur hynod lawen i'r gymuned Iddewig ar draws y byd. Yn ystod Hanukkah caiff canhwyllau eu cynnau ar ganhwyllbren naw cangen arbennig a elwir yn menora. Caiff cannwyll ei chynnau bob dydd a gosodir menora wedi'i goleuo ger drws neu ffenestr i gyhoeddi gwyrth yr ŵyl i'r byd y tu allan. Mae'n adeg i deuluoedd ddod at ei gilydd i fwyta, canu caneuon traddodiadol a rhoi anrhegion i blant. Hefyd, mae'n arferol chwarae gyda dreidl—top pedair ochr sy'n troi—gan ddatgan, 'Digwyddodd gwyrth fawr yno'. Yn aml mae'r gêm yn cael ei chwarae am arian, cnau a phethau eraill. Wrth inni aros am ddechrau'r ŵyl, hoffwn ddathlu, gyda balchder, y cyfraniad mawr y mae ein cymunedau Iddewig wedi'i wneud i'n gwlad.
Ar adeg lle mae gwrthsemitiaeth yn cynyddu ar draws Ewrop, mae thema rhyddid sy'n ganolog i stori Hanukkah mor berthnasol ag erioed. Dyma rai o'r negeseuon cyffredin sydd i'w gweld, 'Peidiwch byth ag ofni sefyll dros yr hyn sy'n iawn', 'Mae ychydig o olau'n mynd yn bell', neu 'Byddwch fel menora a disgleiriwch yn llachar a chadwch eich ffydd gyda balchder'. Rhaid i ni yn y Senedd ddadlau'n gryf dros hawl pobl i arfer eu ffydd heb ofni trais ac ymrwymo i frwydro yn erbyn yr ideoleg eithafol a'r rhagfarn sydd wrth wraidd gwrthsemitiaeth. Felly, ar yr adeg arbennig hon o'r flwyddyn, wrth i deuluoedd Iddewig ddod at ei gilydd i ddathlu, gadewch i ni gael ein hysbrydoli gan y neges o obaith a ddaw gyda Hanukkah, yn hyderus y bydd casineb yn cael ei oresgyn ac y bydd goleuni bob amser yn disodli'r tywyllwch.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
There were almost 50,000 knife-enabled crimes recorded in the year ending June 2022. Sadly, one of those victims was my constituent Jake Pickstock, who, on 21 August 2021, and through no fault of his own, found himself with his head and neck slashed open and left fighting for his life at a nightclub in Llandudno. He required 62 stitches and he almost died twice. Jake is a lovely young man of just 25. He has moved on and is now a successful businessman, but he is determined that from that very negative issue, a positive must come out. The young perpetrator himself was only 19 and is now facing 10 and a half years.
Jake and I have been working together over the past 12 months and we've founded Operation Pickstock to raise awareness of knife crime amongst the younger generation at night-time and throughout our local community. This campaign is seen in pubs and clubs across Llandudno displaying the posters, Llew Jones and Arriva Buses Wales are displaying posters on their buses, Conwy council are arranging for posters to be in taxis, and Transport for Wales are committing to display posters at stations. There's going to be training for pub staff, free metal detector wands, and we've arranged for a knife amnesty bin to be placed at Llandudno.
Lifelong damage in just 40 seconds—now that's a scary thought. Carrying a knife can bring about such tragic consequences. Jake Pickstock and I want to do what we can to make sure that anyone stops and thinks before going out, 'Never carry a knife'. What happened in Llandudno and to Jake could happen to anybody. When you go home to your constituencies, I hope you will remember the Operation Pickstock campaign, and try and spread this message. So many lives, including the families of both the perpetrator and, in particular, Jake Pickstock, the victim, were damaged by the consequences of a split-second decision. If that young man hadn't been carrying a knife, he couldn't have used a knife. Thank you; diolch.
Cafodd bron i 50,000 o droseddau lle defnyddiwyd cyllell eu cofnodi yn y flwyddyn a ddaeth i ben ym mis Mehefin 2022. Yn anffodus, un o'r dioddefwyr hynny oedd fy etholwr Jake Pickstock, a gafodd ei adael, ar 21 Awst 2021, heb unrhyw fai arno ef ei hun, gyda'i ben a'i wddf wedi'u torri ar agor ac yntau'n ymladd am ei fywyd mewn clwb nos yn Llandudno. Roedd angen 62 o bwythau arno a bu bron iddo farw ddwywaith. Mae Jake yn ddyn ifanc hyfryd ac nid yw ond yn 25 oed. Mae wedi symud ymlaen ac mae bellach yn ddyn busnes llwyddiannus, ond mae'n benderfynol fod rhaid i rywbeth cadarnhaol ddod o'r digwyddiad negyddol iawn hwnnw. Nid oedd y troseddwr ei hun ond yn 19 oed ac mae bellach yn wynebu 10 mlynedd a hanner yn y carchar.
Mae Jake a minnau wedi bod yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd dros y 12 mis diwethaf ac rydym wedi sefydlu Operation Pickstock i godi ymwybyddiaeth o droseddau cyllyll ymhlith y genhedlaeth iau wedi nos ac yn ein cymuned leol drwyddi draw. Mae'r ymgyrch hon i'w gweld mewn tafarndai a chlybiau ar draws Llandudno lle maent yn arddangos y posteri, mae Llew Jones a Bysiau Arriva Cymru yn arddangos posteri ar eu bysiau, mae cyngor Conwy yn trefnu i bosteri gael eu harddangos mewn tacsis, ac mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru'n ymrwymo i arddangos posteri mewn gorsafoedd. Bydd hyfforddiant ar gael ar gyfer staff tafarndai, synwyryddion metel am ddim, ac rydym wedi trefnu i osod bin amnest cyllyll yn Llandudno.
Niwed gydol oes mewn dim ond 40 eiliad—nawr mae honno'n ystyriaeth ddychrynllyd. Gall cario cyllell arwain at ganlyniadau mor drasig. Mae Jake Pickstock a minnau eisiau gwneud yr hyn a allwn i wneud yn siŵr fod pobl yn stopio ac yn meddwl cyn mynd allan, 'Peidiwch byth â chario cyllell'. Gallai'r hyn a ddigwyddodd yn Llandudno ac i Jake ddigwydd i unrhyw un. Pan fyddwch yn mynd adref i'ch etholaethau, gobeithio y byddwch yn cofio am Operation Pickstock, ac yn ceisio lledaenu'r neges hon. Mae cymaint o fywydau, gan gynnwys teulu'r troseddwr ac yn enwedig Jake Pickstock, y dioddefwr, wedi cael eu niweidio gan ganlyniadau penderfyniad a wnaed ar amrantiad. Pe na bai'r dyn ifanc hwnnw wedi bod yn cario cyllell, ni allai fod wedi defnyddio cyllell. Diolch.
Diolch i'r ddau.
I thank both Members.
Eitem 5 heddiw yw datganiad gan Peter Fox ar gyflwyno Bil Aelod, y Bil Bwyd (Cymru). Galwaf ar Peter Fox.
Item 5 today is a statement by Peter Fox on the introduction of a Member Bill, the Food (Wales) Bill. I call on Peter Fox.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I first of all remind Members of my declaration of interest as a farmer? It is an absolute pleasure to introduce the Food (Wales) Bill to the Chamber this afternoon—the first Member Bill of the sixth Senedd. Around 13 months ago, I was given the opportunity by you all to present an outline of the Bill, based on the principle that we need to get more locally produced food into our homes, our communities and our public services. But when discussing my ideas with stakeholders, it turned out that much more work was needed to ensure that the food system works for not just our producers, but our communities as well. And so, the Bill as drafted today has been expanded far beyond what I originally envisaged. I felt that it was important that we grasped this opportunity to strengthen the Welsh food system as a whole, to establish a more sustainable food system in Wales, to strengthen food security, improve Wales's socioeconomic well-being, and to enhance consumer choice.
These are the broad principles that have underpinned the provision and policy objectives of the food Bill. To achieve this, the Bill provides a framework that enables a coherent, consistent and strategic cross-governmental approach to policy and practice on all aspects of the food system. To inform this process, I have held a wide range of consultation—from policy round-tables to scope the initial approach of the Bill, I've had regular engagement with policy experts to discuss technical aspects, as well as a public consultation, which I launched at the Royal Welsh Show. That went over the summer, and we've received over 50 high-quality responses to the consultation. What this uncovered was strong support for the general principles of the Bill and its provisions. Over 75 per cent of respondents agreed that we need to see this Bill on the statute book.
Deputy Llywydd, the amount of work that has gone into producing the Bill, and the explanatory memorandum, has been immense, and I could not have done this without the expert support and friendship offered to me by the Commission Bill team, who have been drawn from across the Senedd Commission, as well as thanks to the external counsel. They have put a tremendous and immense effort in, from day one, to transform my ideas into reality, and to guide me through this process. I'm ever so thankful, and I have to praise the quality of the staff in the Commission—they have been outstanding. I also wanted to say a special thanks to my own support staff, particularly Tyler Walsh, who has been absolutely fundamental in helping me achieve this to date, and also Tom Povey, who has been invaluable throughout this process. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank every