Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
07/02/2024Cynnwys
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 y prynhawn yma, a'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi sydd gyntaf. Mae'r cwestiwn gyntaf gan Sarah Murphy.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy, and the first question is from Sarah Murphy.
1. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi pobl ddi-waith i ddechrau eu busnes eu hunain? OQ60656
1. What is the Welsh Government doing to support unemployed people to start their own business? OQ60656
Thank you for the question. Business Wales helps unemployed people to start their own business in Wales through a range of business support initiatives. It is committed to helping individuals and young people furthest away from the labour market to overcome any barriers to business start-up.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae Busnes Cymru yn helpu pobl ddi-waith i ddechrau eu busnes eu hunain yng Nghymru drwy amrywiaeth o fentrau cymorth busnes. Mae wedi ymrwymo i helpu'r unigolion a'r bobl ifanc sydd bellaf i ffwrdd o'r farchnad lafur i oresgyn unrhyw rwystrau i ddechrau busnes newydd.
Thank you very much, Minister. Earlier this year—well, not earlier this year—last year, I was delighted to see the news that the Welsh Government has extended its barriers to start-up grant. Since 2020, the grant has supported over 1,500 unemployed people across Wales and had a marked impact on those who are able to take up the grant, with almost four out of five still trading. According to Cwmpas, small and medium businesses account for 99 per cent of the business count and 62 per cent of private sector employment in Wales, with family ownership common. We know that SMEs have a huge impact on their communities, with them often employing from the nearby area and then investing back into the area. So, in my constituency of Bridgend and Porthcawl, local businesses came together to provide CCTV, floodlights and drainage for Cornelly United. However, Minister, it’s important that we consider the challenges faced by SME owners. In the same report, Cwmpas found that one in five business owners are either looking at closing or stepping away from their business in the next five years—a very real time bomb. So, considering this, Minister, what steps will you be taking to ensure that programmes like the barriers to start-up grant are introduced and to maintain that Wales remains the best place in the UK to start a business? Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Weinidog. Yn gynharach eleni—wel, nid yn gynharach eleni—y llynedd, roeddwn wrth fy modd yn gweld y newyddion fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymestyn ei grant rhwystrau rhag dechrau busnes. Ers 2020, mae'r grant wedi cefnogi dros 1,500 o bobl ddi-waith ledled Cymru ac wedi cael effaith amlwg ar y nifer sy'n gallu manteisio ar y grant, gyda bron i bedwar o bob pump yn dal i fasnachu. Yn ôl Cwmpas, busnesau bach a chanolig yw 99 y cant o fusnesau a 62 y cant o gyflogaeth y sector preifat yng Nghymru, gyda pherchnogaeth deuluol yn gyffredin. Gwyddom fod busnesau bach a chanolig yn cael effaith enfawr ar eu cymunedau, gan eu bod yn aml yn cyflogi o'r ardal gyfagos ac yna'n buddsoddi yn ôl yn yr ardal. Felly, yn fy etholaeth i ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl, daeth busnesau lleol at ei gilydd i ddarparu teledu cylch cyfyng, llifoleuadau a draeniau ar gyfer Clwb Pêl-droed Corneli. Fodd bynnag, Weinidog, mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ystyried yr heriau sy'n wynebu perchnogion busnesau bach a chanolig. Yn yr un adroddiad, canfu Cwmpas fod un o bob pump perchennog busnes naill ai'n ystyried cau neu gefnu ar eu busnes yn y pum mlynedd nesaf—bom amser real iawn. Felly, o ystyried hyn, Weinidog, pa gamau y byddwch chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod rhaglenni fel y grant rhwystrau rhag dechrau busnes yn cael eu cyflwyno ac i sicrhau bod Cymru'n parhau i fod y lle gorau yn y DU ar gyfer dechrau busnes? Diolch.
Thank you for the question and for the recognition of the value of small businesses and business start-ups, not just in the sense of the jobs and the employment, because we know that the economy here in Wales has an even greater proportion of small and medium businesses within it, but also about the local connection and local investment that businesses often make in their community, and a real sense of place that is generated by the local and small business offer.
I'm pleased that you recognise that, on my figures, now over 1,600 individuals have been helped to start a new business with the barriers to start-up grant. The latest phase opened on 7 January—so, into this calendar year—and so far, it's had over 100 expressions of interest. I'm pleased that you've highlighted the fact that it's got a good record of people who are still trading following that as well.
In addition to the barriers to start-up grant, we also run Big Ideas Wales, and that has supported over 200 young people to explore ideas and, in fact, that's for the young person's guarantee element. In the broader offer, it's already made over 200 grants for people to help start a business. So, we do have a range of initiatives that we'll carry on promoting and we'll look at the budgets we have to help people to take an idea, to be encouraged how to do it, and then provide practical support, before opening as well as when it's open, on how to be a successful business. That is a key part of what we need to do—new businesses being created and then helping those businesses to grow and to scale up, as many of them want to. I'm thinking about when small become medium and when medium businesses become large ones as well.
Diolch am y cwestiwn ac am gydnabod gwerth busnesau bach a busnesau newydd, nid yn unig o ran swyddi a chyflogaeth, oherwydd gwyddom fod gan yr economi yma yng Nghymru gyfran hyd yn oed yn fwy o fusnesau bach a chanolig, ond hefyd am y cysylltiad lleol a'r buddsoddiad lleol y mae busnesau'n aml yn ei wneud yn eu cymuned, a'r ymdeimlad gwirioneddol o le a gynhyrchir gan y cynnig busnes lleol a bach.
Rwy'n falch eich bod yn cydnabod, ar fy ffigurau i, fod dros 1,600 o unigolion bellach wedi cael cymorth i ddechrau busnes newydd gyda'r grant rhwystrau rhag dechrau busnes. Agorodd y cyfnod diweddaraf ar 7 Ionawr—felly, i mewn i'r flwyddyn galendr hon—a hyd yma, cafwyd dros 100 o ddatganiadau o ddiddordeb. Rwy'n falch eich bod wedi tynnu sylw hefyd at y ffaith bod ganddo hanes da o bobl sy'n dal i fasnachu yn dilyn hynny.
Yn ogystal â'r grant rhwystrau rhag dechrau busnes, rydym hefyd yn rhedeg Syniadau Mawr Cymru, ac mae hwnnw wedi cefnogi dros 200 o bobl ifanc i archwilio syniadau a hynny ar gyfer yr elfen gwarant i bobl ifanc. Yn y cynnig ehangach, mae eisoes wedi rhoi dros 200 o grantiau i bobl i helpu i ddechrau busnes. Felly, mae gennym ystod o fentrau y byddwn yn parhau i'w hyrwyddo a byddwn yn edrych ar y cyllidebau sydd gennym i helpu pobl i gael syniad, i gael eu hannog ar sut i'w wneud, a darparu cymorth ymarferol, cyn agor a hefyd pan fydd ar agor, ar sut i fod yn fusnes llwyddiannus. Mae hynny'n rhan allweddol o'r hyn sydd angen inni ei wneud—busnesau newydd yn cael eu creu a helpu'r busnesau hynny wedyn i dyfu ac i ehangu, fel y mae llawer ohonynt eisiau ei wneud. Rwy'n meddwl ynglŷn â phryd y daw bach yn ganolig a phryd y daw busnesau canolig yn rhai mawr hefyd.
I was pleased to see that company start-ups in Wales have hit a record high, which is very welcome news and I'm pleased that the Welsh Government are continuing to fund the barriers to start-up grant and I hope that the start-up boom in Wales continues indeed. With the employment rate in Wales being the highest in the UK at 4.8 per cent, this scheme is particularly important to get people into work, earning money and stimulating the Welsh economy. Unfortunately, however, company insolvencies are rising in Wales, with many start-ups failing within their first three years. Times are tough, especially for hospitality and retail, after COVID-19, with one in six shops in Wales currently empty. With the planned cuts to business rate relief, significant cuts to Business Wales's budget and a reduction in funding for export trade and inward investments, keeping a profitable new business afloat is going to get harder in Wales. The barriers to start-up grant will be squandered if the businesses set up using the grant are not supported after they start trading. With the planned cuts in the draft budget, start-ups will need some additional help to sustain themselves in the first year or two of business. So, can the Minister outline what support is, or will be, offered to start-ups in Wales to get them off the ground and stay afloat in the first year of business? Thank you.
Roeddwn yn falch o weld bod busnesau newydd yng Nghymru wedi cyrraedd y lefel uchaf erioed, sy'n newyddion i'w groesawu'n fawr ac rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ariannu'r grant rhwystrau rhag dechrau busnes ac rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd ffyniant busnesau newydd yng Nghymru yn parhau. Gyda'r gyfradd gyflogaeth yng Nghymru yr uchaf yn y DU ar 4.8 y cant, mae'r cynllun hwn yn arbennig o bwysig i gael pobl i mewn i waith, i ennill arian ac ysgogi economi Cymru. Yn anffodus, fodd bynnag, mae nifer y cwmnïau sy'n wynebu ansolfedd ar gynnydd yng Nghymru, gyda llawer o fusnesau newydd yn methu o fewn eu tair blynedd gyntaf. Mae'n adeg anodd, yn enwedig yn y sector lletygarwch a manwerthu, ar ôl COVID-19, gydag un o bob chwe siop yng Nghymru yn wag ar hyn o bryd. Gyda'r toriadau arfaethedig i ryddhad ardrethi busnes, toriadau sylweddol i gyllideb Busnes Cymru a gostyngiad yn y cyllid ar gyfer y fasnach allforio a buddsoddiadau mewnol, mae cadw busnes newydd proffidiol yn weithredol yn mynd i fod yn anos yng Nghymru. Bydd grantiau rhwystrau rhag dechrau busnes yn cael eu gwastraffu os na chefnogir y busnesau a sefydlir drwy ddefnyddio'r grant ar ôl iddynt ddechrau masnachu. Gyda'r toriadau arfaethedig yn y gyllideb ddrafft, bydd angen help ychwanegol ar fusnesau newydd i gynnal eu hunain yn y flwyddyn neu ddwy gyntaf. Felly, a all y Gweinidog amlinellu pa gymorth sydd, neu a fydd yn cael ei gynnig i fusnesau newydd yng Nghymru i'w cael yn weithredol ac i gadw eu pennau uwch y dŵr yn y flwyddyn gyntaf? Diolch.
Well, as the Member knows, the Welsh Government's budget has been significantly reduced—it's down £1.3 billion in real terms over the last two years. That's more than the size of a reasonably sized health board in Wales. That's a huge amount of spending power, and you can't, on the one hand, celebrate the settlement the Welsh Government has and then complain about all of the consequences of it. I'm pleased to hear a more positive view on start-up businesses compared to yesterday's unfortunate intervention in the budget debate from the Member.
When it comes to the challenges for businesses facing start-up, the reason why I was so pleased to have the question from Sarah Murphy is that it recognises what we are doing to help promote business start-up—so, it's the advice and guidance before a business is created, as well as the up to £2,000 start-up grant that is provided, and, indeed, the offer of support and mentorship thereafter. And we continue to provide that support and advice through Business Wales in helping businesses on their journeys, to think about what they can do to survive and what they can do to grow. And I'm very pleased that you mentioned our international trade activities, because it's been a good year for Wales on international trade. That is because of the dedication of the staff in my department, it's because of a forward-looking programme, and exporters in Wales are growing in, actually, very difficult circumstances. But, above all, it's down to the resilience and ambition of those businesses and how we can help them to find, secure and maintain new markets.
Wel, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael ei lleihau'n sylweddol—mae wedi gostwng £1.3 biliwn mewn termau real dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Mae hynny'n fwy na maint bwrdd iechyd o faint cymedrol yng Nghymru. Mae'n swm enfawr o bŵer gwario, ac ni allwch, ar y naill law, ddathlu'r setliad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i gael a chwyno wedyn am holl ganlyniadau hynny. Rwy'n falch o glywed barn fwy cadarnhaol ar fusnesau newydd o'i gymharu â'r ymyriad anffodus ddoe yn y ddadl ar y gyllideb gan yr Aelod.
Ar yr heriau i fusnesau sy'n dechrau, y rheswm pam fy mod mor falch o gael y cwestiwn gan Sarah Murphy yw ei fod yn cydnabod yr hyn a wnawn i helpu i hyrwyddo busnesau newydd—felly, y cyngor a'r arweiniad cyn creu busnes, yn ogystal â'r grant dechrau busnes hyd at £2,000 sy'n cael ei ddarparu, ac yn wir, y cynnig o gefnogaeth a mentoriaeth wedi hynny. Ac rydym yn parhau i ddarparu'r cymorth a'r cyngor hwnnw trwy Busnes Cymru i helpu busnesau ar eu taith, i feddwl am yr hyn y gallant ei wneud i oroesi a'r hyn y gallant ei wneud i dyfu. Ac rwy'n falch iawn eich bod wedi sôn am ein gweithgareddau masnach ryngwladol, oherwydd mae wedi bod yn flwyddyn dda i Gymru o ran masnach ryngwladol. Mae hynny oherwydd ymroddiad y staff yn fy adran, oherwydd y rhaglen flaengar, ac mae allforwyr yng Nghymru yn tyfu mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn mewn gwirionedd. Ond yn anad dim, mae'n dibynnu ar wytnwch ac uchelgais y busnesau hynny a sut y gallwn eu helpu i ddod o hyd i farchnadoedd newydd, eu diogelu a'u cynnal.
2. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi bwytai yng Nghymru ar ôl i nifer ohonynt gau ers dechrau'r flwyddyn newydd? OQ60653
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to support restaurants in Wales following several closures since the start of the year? OQ60653
Restaurants in Wales benefit from all the support services offered by Business Wales. They are eligible for non-domestic rates relief and will be supported in 2024-25 by a new £20 million capital fund to help hospitality, retail and leisure businesses futureproof their business.
Mae bwytai yng Nghymru yn elwa o'r holl wasanaethau cymorth sy'n cael eu cynnig gan Busnes Cymru. Maent yn gymwys i gael rhyddhad ardrethi annomestig a byddant yn cael eu cefnogi yn 2024-25 gan gronfa gyfalaf newydd gwerth £20 miliwn i helpu busnesau lletygarwch, manwerthu a hamdden i ddiogelu eu busnes ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Weinidog. Since the cost-of-living crisis, Wales has lost some of its highest quality restaurants and eateries. It feels on occasions that, every time I look on Wales Online, it is announcing the closure of yet another well-established restaurant in Cardiff. It's clear that small businesses are struggling to stay afloat. The main concern of restaurants are the levels of non-domestic rates, whose relief is going to be cut under the new budget, from 75 per cent to 40 per cent. Instead of battling with business rates, I agree with Luke Fletcher, who last week spoke of producing a timescale to move away from them. In 2019, the Treasury Committee produced a report that presented some alternatives to this archaic model, such as a hybrid system, which would be more flexible to changes in a modern economy. I hope the Deputy Minister will agree with me that the brunt of tax should be felt by corporations, with limited interest in the community, rather than local businesses. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to potential replacements to the non-domestic rates system, if further tax is devolved to Wales? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Ers yr argyfwng costau byw, mae Cymru wedi colli rhai o'i bwytai a'i lleoedd bwyta o'r safon uchaf. Mae'n teimlo ar adegau, bob tro yr edrychaf ar Wales Online, ei fod yn cyhoeddi bod bwyty hirsefydlog arall yng Nghaerdydd yn cau. Mae'n amlwg fod busnesau bach yn ei chael hi'n anodd aros ar agor. Prif bryder bwytai yw lefelau ardrethi annomestig y bydd y rhyddhad ar eu cyfer yn cael ei dorri o dan y gyllideb newydd, o 75 y cant i 40 y cant. Yn hytrach na brwydro gydag ardrethi busnes, rwy'n cytuno â Luke Fletcher, a siaradodd yr wythnos diwethaf am gynhyrchu amserlen i symud oddi wrthynt. Yn 2019, lluniodd Pwyllgor y Trysorlys adroddiad a oedd yn cyflwyno dewisiadau amgen yn lle'r model hynafol hwn, megis system hybrid, a fyddai'n fwy hyblyg i newidiadau mewn economi fodern. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn cytuno â mi y dylai corfforaethau deimlo baich treth, corfforaethau sydd â fawr o ddiddordeb yn y gymuned, yn hytrach na busnesau lleol. Pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i ddewisiadau amgen posibl yn lle'r system ardrethi annomestig, os caiff trethiant ei ddatganoli ymhellach i Gymru? Diolch yn fawr.
Can I thank Rhys ab Owen for that supplementary question, which, I have to say, I think would be better directed to my colleague the Minister for finance, because she's responsible for financial measures and taxation? But can I sympathise absolutely with the position that a number of local businesses do find themselves in? You've highlighted the plight of local restaurants, Rhys, and, absolutely, I think we see that right across Wales. On the other hand, we also do see businesses thriving. I know, from the businesses that are struggling, that we know about the issue—it is not just about the national domestic rates because those new rates haven't come in yet. So, any businesses that we actually see going under at the moment, that's for a number of other factors, which we're all well versed in—whether it's the cost-of-living crisis, the energy crisis, the supply chains, food prices, the cost of living impacting on whether or not people can go out to eat and choose not to. So, those are the kinds of factors that really are at the root of the current business failures, and all of the levers to deal with that are actually with the UK Government, and not with the Welsh Government. But it's also encouraging to see that there are a number of new businesses that are starting up, and I think that the answer that my colleague the Minister for Economy gave to the last question, about the support that is available from Business Wales for start-ups, for businesses that are trying to expand, or for businesses that are struggling, was that they can provide the relevant advice to those businesses. I will take your points about non-domestic rates back to my colleague the Minister for finance, because, as I say, that is a matter for her and not for me.FootnoteLink But, I think it is important to say that the current system of non-domestic rates has been a support that's been in place for some considerable time, and the current level of support that's been in place was really there to see businesses through COVID and was only ever meant to be a temporary measure. So, what we're now seeing, as a result of this budget, is actually a move towards a more sustainable level of support for businesses.
A gaf i ddiolch i Rhys ab Owen am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, y byddai'n well ei gyfeirio at fy nghyd-Aelod y Gweinidog cyllid, mae rhaid i mi ddweud, gan mai hi sy'n gyfrifol am fesurau ariannol a threthiant? Ond a gaf i gydymdeimlo'n llwyr â'r sefyllfa y mae nifer o fusnesau lleol ynddi? Rydych chi wedi tynnu sylw at gyflwr bwytai lleol, Rhys, ac yn hollol, rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n gweld hynny ledled Cymru. Ar y llaw arall, rydym hefyd yn gweld busnesau'n ffynnu. O'r busnesau sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd, gwn ein bod ni'n gwybod am y broblem—mae'n ymwneud â mwy na'r ardrethi domestig cenedlaethol yn unig oherwydd nid yw'r ardrethi newydd hynny mewn grym eto. Felly, unrhyw fusnesau a welwn yn methu ar hyn o bryd, mae hynny'n digwydd am nifer o ffactorau eraill, y gŵyr pawb ohonom amdanynt—yr argyfwng costau byw, yr argyfwng ynni, y cadwyni cyflenwi, prisiau bwyd, costau byw'n effeithio ar allu pobl i fynd allan i fwyta neu'n dewis peidio â gwneud hynny. Felly, dyna'r mathau o ffactorau sydd wrth wraidd y methiannau busnes presennol, ac mae'r holl ddulliau o ymdrin â hynny gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ac nid gyda Llywodraeth Cymru. Ond mae hefyd yn galonogol gweld bod nifer o fusnesau newydd yn dechrau, ac rwy'n credu mai'r ateb a roddodd fy nghyd-Aelod, Gweinidog yr Economi, i'r cwestiwn diwethaf, am y gefnogaeth sydd ar gael gan Busnes Cymru i fusnesau newydd, i fusnesau sy'n ceisio ehangu, neu i fusnesau sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd, oedd eu bod yn gallu rhoi'r cyngor perthnasol i'r busnesau hynny. Fe af â'ch pwyntiau am ardrethi annomestig yn ôl at fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog cyllid, oherwydd, fel y dywedais, mater iddi hi yw hynny, ac nid i mi.FootnoteLink Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig dweud bod system bresennol yr ardrethi annomestig yn gymorth a fu ar waith ers cryn dipyn o amser, ac roedd y lefel bresennol o gymorth yno er mwyn i fusnesau ddod trwy COVID mewn gwirionedd a dim ond mesur dros dro oedd hwnnw i fod o'r cychwyn. Felly, yr hyn a welwn nawr, o ganlyniad i'r gyllideb hon, yw symud tuag at lefel fwy cynaliadwy o gymorth i fusnesau.
Deputy Minister, on the same theme, we know that 63 pubs have closed over the last year, and many pubs and restaurants and hotels in my constituency are mere miles from the border with England but will have to pay double the rates in business rates following the decision of your Government not to pass on the 75 per cent. And that's going to disadvantage them significantly. Minister, do you think that the Welsh Government is doing enough to support our hospitality sector on the borders of Wales? And are you concerned about the situation that's developing in the sector?
Ddirprwy Weinidog, ar yr un thema, gwyddom fod 63 o dafarndai wedi cau dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ac mae llawer o dafarndai a bwytai a gwestai yn fy etholaeth i rai milltiroedd yn unig o'r ffin â Lloegr ond bydd yn rhaid iddynt dalu dwbl yr ardrethi busnes yn dilyn penderfyniad eich Llywodraeth i beidio â throsglwyddo'r 75 y cant ymlaen. Ac mae hynny'n mynd i'w rhoi dan anfantais sylweddol. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud digon i gefnogi ein sector lletygarwch ar ffin Cymru? A ydych chi'n poeni am y sefyllfa sy'n datblygu yn y sector?
[Inaudible.]—be absolutely clear, what we are doing is we are putting in place a maximum level of support that is affordable, using all the consequential funding that came to Wales as a result of the multiplier announced by the UK Government's autumn statement, which is what you're referring to. But I do think it's important to say that there is not a direct comparison between what we're doing in Wales and what they're doing in England. And it's also worth saying, of course, that Scotland no longer provide any business rates relief at all. So, we are still putting in a significant amount of support—some £78 million of support—for local businesses. But we only have a single multiplier tax base for the whole of Wales, and that's something that we're seeking to address through the local government and finance Bill, so that we can get across the limitation that we have in the existing legislative framework for Wales.
But it's also worth highlighting again the differences between England and Wales. It's not like comparing apples with apples. Our small business rates relief, of course, supports up to two properties per local authority for businesses in Wales, and that's much more generous than it is in England, where businesses can only claim for one property. And, of course, small businesses here account for a much higher proportion of the local rates revenue compared to England. The cost of small business rates relief in Wales is fully funded by the Welsh Government and makes up 10 per cent of the total revenue, compared to only 4 per cent in England. So, I think it would be more beneficial if we talked about how we deliver this support in Wales rather than a comparison with England, which is not on a like-for-like basis.
[Anghlywadwy.]—yn gwbl glir, yr hyn a wnawn yw rhoi uchafswm o gymorth ar waith sy'n fforddiadwy, gan ddefnyddio'r holl gyllid canlyniadol a ddaeth i Gymru o ganlyniad i'r lluosydd a gyhoeddwyd gan ddatganiad y hydref Llywodraeth y DU, sef yr hyn y cyfeiriwch chi ato. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig dweud nad oes cymhariaeth uniongyrchol rhwng yr hyn a wnawn yng Nghymru a'r hyn a wnânt yn Lloegr. Ac mae'n werth dweud hefyd, wrth gwrs, nad yw'r Alban bellach yn darparu unrhyw ryddhad ardrethi busnes o gwbl. Felly, rydym yn dal i roi cryn dipyn o gymorth—gwerth £78 miliwn o gymorth—i fusnesau lleol. Ond dim ond sylfaen dreth un lluosydd sydd gennym ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn ceisio mynd i'r afael ag ef drwy'r Bil llywodraeth leol a chyllid, fel y gallwn oresgyn y cyfyngiad sydd gennym yn y fframwaith deddfwriaethol presennol ar gyfer Cymru.
Ond mae'n werth tynnu sylw eto at y gwahaniaethau rhwng Cymru a Lloegr. Nid yw fel cymharu tebyg am debyg. Mae ein rhyddhad ardrethi busnesau bach yn cefnogi hyd at ddau eiddo ym mhob awdurdod lleol ar gyfer busnesau yng Nghymru, ac mae hynny'n llawer mwy hael nag yn Lloegr, lle gall busnesau hawlio am un eiddo'n unig. Ac wrth gwrs, mae busnesau bach yma'n gyfran lawer uwch o'r refeniw ardrethi lleol o'i gymharu â Lloegr. Mae cost rhyddhad ardrethi busnesau bach yng Nghymru yn cael ei hariannu'n llawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac mae'n 10 y cant o gyfanswm y refeniw, o'i gymharu â dim ond 4 y cant yn Lloegr. Felly, rwy'n credu y byddai'n fwy buddiol pe byddem yn siarad ynglŷn â sut y darparwn y cymorth hwn yng Nghymru yn hytrach na chymhariaeth â Lloegr, nad yw ar sail debyg am debyg.
The Minister's mentioned some of the range of factors that are causing problems in the sector at the moment. And I'm wondering, do you accept that, when all of those are happening all at once, it's, essentially, an existential crisis for the sector? People working in the sector say that they have never, ever seen it this bad, and, of course, some of the factors are specific to this sector, in terms of the staff shortages that have driven wage pressures, and the cost-of-living crisis and discretionary spending, and the COVID debt, which is particularly a problem in this sector. Of course, the issue now is that many of the businesses are trading at a loss, and the decision to increase the business rates is coming at a time when many of them are weighing up whether to continue in business at all. So, unless the policy changes, we will see a whole raft of businesses going under in April and May. So, can I urge you, through the Minister for Economy, in your department, to raise this issue again? Is there a case for at least transitional relief for this sector in particular, because it is 8 per cent of the Welsh economy and it will have a huge impact in every community in Wales?
Mae'r Gweinidog wedi sôn am rai o'r ystod o ffactorau sy'n achosi problemau yn y sector ar hyn o bryd. Tybed a ydych chi'n derbyn, pan fydd pob un o'r rheini'n digwydd ar unwaith, ei fod, yn y bôn, yn argyfwng dirfodol i'r sector? Mae pobl sy'n gweithio yn y sector yn dweud nad ydynt erioed wedi ei weld mor ddrwg â hyn, ac wrth gwrs, mae rhai o'r ffactorau yn benodol i'r sector hwn, o ran y prinder staff sydd wedi sbarduno pwysau cyflog, a'r argyfwng costau byw a gwariant dewisol, a'r ddyled COVID, sy'n broblem arbennig yn y sector hwn. Wrth gwrs, y broblem nawr yw bod llawer o'r busnesau'n masnachu ar golled, ac mae'r penderfyniad i gynyddu'r ardrethi busnes yn dod ar adeg pan fo llawer ohonynt yn pwyso a mesur a ddylent barhau mewn busnes o gwbl. Felly, oni bai bod y polisi'n newid, byddwn yn gweld llu o fusnesau'n methu ym mis Ebrill a mis Mai. Felly, a gaf i eich annog, drwy Weinidog yr Economi, yn eich adran, i godi'r mater hwn eto? A oes achos dros ryddhad trosiannol o leiaf i'r sector hwn yn enwedig, oherwydd mae'n 8 y cant o economi Cymru a bydd yn cael effaith enfawr ym mhob cymuned yng Nghymru?
Can I thank Adam Price for that question? And he's absolutely right, of course—hospitality is a key sector in our economy and for our communities, and it is struggling for all the reasons that he has outlined and Rhys ab Owen also outlined earlier on. The vast majority of the reasons why these businesses are struggling are not within the gift of the Welsh Government to be able to rectify. They are primarily levers for the UK Government to pull and to put right. The cost of living, inflation, energy prices and so on, the food prices, the supply chain issues, most of those issues are not something that we have the control to rectify.
As I said in response to both Peter Fox and Rhys ab Owen, we are putting £78 million of support into the sector. This is the fifth year running that we've had a significant amount of support going into the sector since the start of COVID. That builds on almost a £1 billion of support that's gone into that sector since 2021, and the way in which the business rates support package is being delivered, through the budget for next year, is to look at also building into that a £20 million loan scheme, which will enable businesses to become futureproofed going forward. So, this is not just about sticking plaster to get them over a hump; this is about looking at how we can deliver long-term sustainability for those vital tourism and hospitality industry businesses.
A gaf i ddiolch i Adam Price am y cwestiwn hwnnw? Ac mae'n hollol gywir, wrth gwrs—mae lletygarwch yn sector allweddol yn ein heconomi ac i'n cymunedau, ac mae'n ei chael hi'n anodd am yr holl resymau y mae wedi'u hamlinellu ac a amlinellwyd gan Rhys ab Owen yn gynharach hefyd. Nid yw'r mwyafrif helaeth o'r rhesymau pam mae'r busnesau hyn yn cael trafferth yn bethau y mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru bŵer i'w hunioni. Maent yn ysgogiadau i Lywodraeth y DU eu defnyddio a'u cywiro. Nid yw costau byw, chwyddiant, prisiau ynni ac yn y blaen, y prisiau bwyd, problemau'r gadwyn gyflenwi, nid yw'r rhan fwyaf o'r materion hynny'n bethau y mae gennym reolaeth i'w hunioni.
Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Peter Fox a Rhys ab Owen, rydym yn rhoi £78 miliwn o gymorth i'r sector. Dyma'r bumed flwyddyn yn olynol i ni gael cryn dipyn o gymorth yn mynd i mewn i'r sector ers dechrau COVID. Mae hynny'n adeiladu ar bron i £1 biliwn o gymorth sydd wedi mynd i mewn i'r sector hwnnw ers 2021, a'r ffordd y mae'r pecyn cymorth ardrethi busnes yn cael ei ddarparu, drwy'r gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, yw edrych hefyd ar ymgorffori cynllun benthyciad £20 miliwn a fydd yn galluogi busnesau i ddod yn ddiogel ar gyfer y dyfodol. Felly, nid dim ond mesur dros dro i'w cael dros un broblem fach yw hyn; mae'n ymwneud ag edrych ar sut y gallwn ddarparu cynaliadwyedd hirdymor i fusnesau hanfodol yn y diwydiant twristiaeth a lletygarwch.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, as you know, it's National Apprenticeship Week, and this is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of apprenticeships to the Welsh economy. Now, on 27 February, you'll be making a policy statement in this Chamber on apprenticeships, and I sincerely hope that apprenticeship providers will hear something positive from you in that statement. So, can you tell us today whether that statement includes a u-turn on the cuts that your Government is currently making to apprenticeships in its draft budget?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, mae'n Wythnos Genedlaethol Prentisiaethau, a dyma gyfle i fyfyrio ar bwysigrwydd prentisiaethau i economi Cymru. Nawr, ar 27 Chwefror, fe fyddwch yn gwneud datganiad polisi yn y Siambr hon ar brentisiaethau, ac rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd darparwyr prentisiaethau yn clywed rhywbeth cadarnhaol gennych yn y datganiad hwnnw. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym heddiw a yw'r datganiad hwnnw'n cynnwys tro pedol ar y toriadau y mae eich Llywodraeth yn eu gwneud ar hyn o bryd i brentisiaethau yn ei chyllideb ddrafft?
Well, I'll certainly have lots of positivity to talk about apprenticeships. The fact that we are going to see at least a 10 per cent increase in apprenticeship starts in this Senedd term, compared to the last Senedd term, is good news; the fact that we're in National Apprenticeship Week, looking at all the value that apprenticeships provide—. The Construction Industry Training Board were here earlier, and a number of you had a go on the virtual reality headset. I think the machine's broken. We saw the variety of different construction careers there are, and it's a sector with above average wages, so we will continue to invest in apprenticeships. And I'll be honest with people about the reality that our choices are constrained.
The loss of £1.3 billion in spending power is separate to the loss of former EU funds. This year that we are coming in to, we face a cliff edge with the loss of former EU funds. As the Member will know from his committee, which he chairs, the reality is that those funds have gone. The design of those funds, decided by his colleagues in Whitehall, means that those funds are not available to use on a strategic apprenticeship programme. And we have not been able to find the money within our significantly reduced budget to avoid any of those challenges. I look forward to the money and the powers returning to Wales, and I am personally committed to seeing more money going to apprenticeships in the future.
Wel, yn sicr bydd gennyf lawer o bositifrwydd i siarad am brentisiaethau. Mae'r ffaith ein bod yn mynd i weld cynnydd o 10 y cant o leiaf mewn prentisiaethau newydd yn nhymor y Senedd hon, o'i gymharu â thymor diwethaf y Senedd, yn newyddion da; y ffaith ein bod ni yn Wythnos Genedlaethol Prentisiaethau yn edrych ar yr holl werth y mae prentisiaethau'n ei ddarparu—. Roedd Bwrdd Hyfforddi'r Diwydiant Adeiladu yma yn gynharach, a chafodd nifer ohonoch gyfle i roi cynnig ar y clustffonau realiti rhithwir. Rwy'n credu bod y peiriant wedi torri. Gwelsom yr amrywiaeth o yrfaoedd adeiladu gwahanol, ac mae'n sector sydd â chyflogau uwch na'r cyfartaledd, felly byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn prentisiaethau. Ac fe fyddaf yn onest â phobl am y realiti fod ein dewisiadau'n gyfyngedig.
Mae colli £1.3 biliwn o bŵer gwario yn dod ar ben colli cronfeydd blaenorol yr UE. Yn y flwyddyn a ddaw, rydym yn wynebu ymyl clogwyn gyda cholli cronfeydd blaenorol yr UE. Fel y bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod o'r pwyllgor y mae'n ei gadeirio, y gwir amdani yw bod yr arian hwnnw wedi mynd. Mae cynllun y cronfeydd hynny a benderfynwyd gan ei gymheiriaid yn Whitehall yn golygu nad yw'r cronfeydd hynny ar gael i'w defnyddio ar raglen brentisiaeth strategol. Ac nid ydym wedi gallu dod o hyd i arian yn ein cyllideb sylweddol is i allu osgoi unrhyw un o'r heriau hynny. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld yr arian a'r pwerau'n dychwelyd i Gymru, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n bersonol i sicrhau bod mwy o arian yn mynd tuag at brentisiaethau yn y dyfodol.
Well, here we go again: the First Minister in waiting blaming everyone else. At the moment, you are responsible for apprenticeships, Minister, and you must take responsibility for that. And let's be clear, the apprenticeship budget has been reduced by 3.65 per cent, which is a 24 per cent cut to the contract value, and if the Welsh Government proceeds with this cut, there will be a huge impact on young people and on the Welsh economy. Your own leadership manifesto recognises the importance of apprenticeships, and yet it's under your ministerial department that they're facing a cut.
Now, as you already know, apprenticeship providers need to prioritise supporting people already enrolled on their courses, so the combination of the reduced budget and increased costs will fall on new starters. So, what direct discussions are you having with apprenticeship providers about the impact of the current cut to their provision? And what support is the Welsh Government looking to make available to support them through this difficult period?
Wel, dyma ni eto: y darpar Brif Weinidog yn beio pawb arall. Ar hyn o bryd, chi sy'n gyfrifol am brentisiaethau, Weinidog, a rhaid i chi gymryd cyfrifoldeb am hynny. A gadewch inni fod yn glir, mae'r gyllideb brentisiaethau wedi gostwng 3.65 y cant, sy'n doriad o 24 y cant i werth y contract, ac os bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwrw ymlaen â'r toriad hwn, bydd effaith enfawr ar bobl ifanc ac ar economi Cymru. Mae eich maniffesto eich hun ar gyfer yr arweinyddiaeth yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd prentisiaethau, ac eto o dan eich adran weinidogol chi y maent yn wynebu toriad.
Nawr, fel y gwyddoch eisoes, mae angen i ddarparwyr prentisiaethau roi blaenoriaeth i gefnogi pobl sydd eisoes wedi cofrestru ar eu cyrsiau, felly bydd y cyfuniad o gyllideb lai a chostau uwch yn disgyn ar ddechreuwyr newydd. Felly, pa drafodaethau uniongyrchol rydych chi'n eu cael gyda darparwyr prentisiaethau ynghylch effaith y toriad presennol i'w darpariaeth? A pha gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu ei darparu i'w cefnogi drwy'r cyfnod anodd hwn?
There are a number of points to make there. The first is that, in the draft budget debate we had yesterday, there wasn't a dispute about the strategic direction of the budget in prioritising health and local government. In fact, we had a budget debate where there were demands to put more money into virtually every area that that particular speaker identified. No-one identified where the money would come from, no-one identified where we would find £40 million to put into the apprenticeship spend area if there were to be no fall in contract value. If, as is the truth, our budget has fallen by £1.3 billion in real terms—that's not blaming someone else, that is telling the truth—if that is the truth and the Member accepts that, then that means you can't simply say you're going to spend more in every area as the demand regularly is.
And the Member knows that it is the truth, not an opinion, that the money from former EU funds has stopped in Whitehall with the design and delivery of it. It is a disgrace that this Senedd and this Welsh Government have had those powers and that money taken from us by his colleagues in Whitehall, after more than 20 years of exercising those powers and being scrutinised properly in this Chamber and through our committees. So, when it comes to what I will be talking through with apprenticeship providers and others, I will reiterate the value of apprenticeships, I will reiterate my own pledge to make sure that, in the future, when the money and powers return with a UK Labour Government, we will invest that money back into apprenticeships, and I'll have that discussion directly with further education principals when I meet them on Thursday this week.
Mae nifer o bwyntiau i'w gwneud yno. Yn gyntaf, yn y ddadl ar y gyllideb ddrafft a gawsom ddoe, nid oedd dadl ynghylch cyfeiriad strategol y gyllideb yn blaenoriaethu iechyd a llywodraeth leol. Mewn gwirionedd, cawsom ddadl ar y gyllideb lle roedd galwadau am roi mwy o arian tuag at bron bob maes a nodwyd gan bob siaradwr penodol. Ni nododd neb o ble y byddai'r arian yn dod, ni nododd neb o ble y byddem yn dod o hyd i £40 miliwn i'w roi i faes gwariant prentisiaethau pe na bai gostyngiad yng ngwerth contract. Os yw ein cyllideb wedi gostwng £1.3 biliwn mewn termau real, fel sy'n wir—nid beio rhywun arall yw hynny ond dweud y gwir—os mai dyna'r gwir a bod yr Aelod yn derbyn hynny, mae hynny'n golygu na allwch chi ddweud eich bod chi'n mynd i wario mwy ym mhob maes fel y gelwir yn rheolaidd am ei wneud.
Ac mae'r Aelod yn gwybod mai'r gwir, nid mater o farn, yw bod yr arian o gronfeydd blaenorol yr UE wedi aros yn Whitehall o ran ei gynllun a'r modd y'i darperir. Mae'n warth fod y Senedd hon a Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweld y pwerau hynny a'r arian hwnnw'n cael ei dynnu'n ôl oddi wrthym gan ei gymheiriaid ef yn Whitehall, ar ôl mwy nag 20 mlynedd o arfer y pwerau hynny a'u craffu'n iawn yn y Siambr hon a thrwy ein pwyllgorau. Felly, o ran yr hyn y byddaf yn siarad drwyddo gyda darparwyr prentisiaethau ac eraill, byddaf yn ailadrodd gwerth prentisiaethau, byddaf yn ailadrodd fy addewid fy hun i sicrhau, yn y dyfodol, pan fydd yr arian a'r pwerau'n dychwelyd gyda Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, y byddwn yn buddsoddi'r arian hwnnw yn ôl i mewn i brentisiaethau, a byddaf yn cael y drafodaeth honno'n uniongyrchol gyda phenaethiaid addysg bellach pan fyddaf yn eu cyfarfod ddydd Iau yr wythnos hon.
The language of politics is about priorities, Minister. You make these decisions, you are the Minister responsible for these budget cuts and, as we all know, your Government are spending money on extra politicians, for example, when you could actually be spending money on apprentices. So, you should reflect on that.
Now, the recent developments at Tata are another reminder of the need for good-quality apprenticeships. And with the development of two free ports in Wales, it's even more important than ever that a pipeline of talent is being developed to meet the skills needs that these major developments bring. And, as I've already said, and as you've said, it's National Apprenticeship Week, and we should be celebrating and promoting apprenticeships as a valuable pathway into work or a new career, and the Welsh Government should be working with stakeholders and the private sector to explore how they can better support the delivery of apprenticeships in Wales. This is happening in other countries in Europe, where apprenticeships are prioritised and vocational skills and training have much better parity of esteem with academic education.
So, Minister, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to encourage the private sector to be more involved in the delivery of apprenticeships in Wales? Could you also tell us what discussions have taken place with stakeholders regarding the two free ports in Wales about the delivery of apprenticeships in those communities in the future? And what lessons is the Welsh Government learning from other countries, like Germany, for example, about the way in which apprenticeships can be better supported and promoted here in Wales?
Mae iaith gwleidyddiaeth yn ymwneud â blaenoriaethau, Weinidog. Chi sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau hyn, chi yw'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am y toriadau hyn yn y gyllideb ac fel y gwyddom i gyd, mae eich Llywodraeth yn gwario arian ar wleidyddion ychwanegol, er enghraifft, pan allech fod yn gwario arian ar brentisiaid. Felly, fe ddylech gnoi cil ar hynny.
Nawr, mae'r datblygiadau diweddar yn Tata yn atgoffa eto am yr angen am brentisiaethau o ansawdd da. A chyda datblygiad dau borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru, mae'n bwysicach nag erioed fod ffrwd o dalent yn cael ei datblygu i ddiwallu'r anghenion sgiliau a ddaw yn sgil y datblygiadau mawr hyn. Ac fel y dywedais eisoes, ac fel y dywedoch chi, mae'n Wythnos Genedlaethol Prentisiaethau, a dylem fod yn dathlu a hyrwyddo prentisiaethau fel llwybr gwerthfawr i waith neu yrfa newydd, a dylai Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda rhanddeiliaid a'r sector preifat i archwilio sut y gallant gefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu prentisiaethau yng Nghymru yn well. Mae hyn yn digwydd mewn gwledydd eraill yn Ewrop, lle mae prentisiaethau'n cael eu blaenoriaethu a lle ceir parch mwy cydradd ag addysg academaidd i sgiliau a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol.
Felly, Weinidog, a allwch ddweud wrthym beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i annog y sector preifat i gymryd mwy o ran yn y gwaith o ddarparu prentisiaethau yng Nghymru? A allwch chi ddweud wrthym hefyd pa drafodaethau sydd wedi digwydd gyda rhanddeiliaid mewn perthynas â'r ddau borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru ynghylch darparu prentisiaethau yn y cymunedau hynny yn y dyfodol? A pha wersi y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu dysgu o wledydd eraill, fel yr Almaen, er enghraifft, am y ffordd y gellir cefnogi a hyrwyddo prentisiaethau yn well yma yng Nghymru?
The Member started by talking about priorities; it's not a priority for the UK Government to put more money into apprenticeships. It's not a priority for the UK Government to properly and fairly fund Wales, which is why we are here in this Chamber with £1.3 billion less than we should have had, compared to two years ago. That's the reduction in our spending power. [Interruption.] And all of the farmyard noises from the Tories don't stop the reality. The truth is that £1.3 billion equates to more money than the whole of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board had to spend last year. That's the scale of the reduction that your party has delivered to Wales. So, we then have even more difficult choices to make as a direct consequence of Tory cuts to Wales.
He then talked about the private sector. We have a very good relationship with the private sector, about delivery and the actual completion of apprenticeships. We have a much better record than England on apprenticeship delivery. When you look at what we're doing on degree apprenticeships and look at what we're doing on shared apprenticeships, they're all integral to the private sector being involved. And the standard apprenticeships running through further education colleges, too. It is an essential part of what an apprenticeship gives that there is learning in a setting in a college and, indeed, there's learning in the workplace as well. And I'm very keen to promote the real value of an apprenticeship for people individually and for our wider economy—skills that I don't have and many other people in this room don't have, as Jack Sargeant isn't here. You have a different set of skills that are all valuable to the economy. We need to be much better at valuing those in this Chamber and outside when people come to make their choices.
I'll finally just touch on Germany, which the Member mentioned. I was in Germany recently and, of course, they have had a much longer and more stable period of government within the Länder and at federal level, where they haven't had significant varying between different forms of apprenticeship policy. That sustained, long-term investment provides certainty for businesses, for providers and for individuals. And, actually, some of it is a requirement. The Member might not like what they do in a number of places in Germany, where businesses are required to join a business forum, they're required to pay a fee for that, and that provides a great deal of stability in that setting. I think, in Wales, with the powers and the money, we can again show a level of ambition and delivery in this area, and I look forward to doing so with a future UK Labour Government.
Dechreuodd yr Aelod drwy siarad am flaenoriaethau; nid yw'n flaenoriaeth gan Lywodraeth y DU i roi mwy o arian tuag at brentisiaethau. Nid yw'n flaenoriaeth gan Lywodraeth y DU i ariannu Cymru'n briodol ac yn deg, a dyna pam ein bod ni yma yn y Siambr hon gydag £1.3 biliwn yn llai nag y dylem fod wedi'i gael, o'i gymharu â dwy flynedd yn ôl. Dyna'r gostyngiad yn ein pŵer gwario. [Torri ar draws.] Ac nid yw holl synau anifeilaidd y Torïaid yn atal y realiti. Y gwir yw bod £1.3 biliwn yn cyfateb i fwy o arian nag a oedd gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg yn ei gyfanrwydd i'w wario y llynedd. Dyna faint y gostyngiad y mae eich plaid chi wedi'i roi i Gymru. Felly, mae gennym ddewisiadau anos fyth i'w gwneud o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i doriadau Torïaidd i Gymru.
Siaradodd wedyn am y sector preifat. Mae gennym berthynas dda iawn â'r sector preifat, ynghylch cyflwyno a chwblhau prentisiaethau. Mae gennym hanes llawer gwell na Lloegr o ddarparu prentisiaethau. Pan edrychwch ar yr hyn a wnawn ar radd-brentisiaethau ac edrych ar yr hyn a wnawn ar rannu prentisiaethau, maent i gyd yn golygu bod y sector preifat yn rhan ganolog o hyn. A'r prentisiaethau safonol sy'n rhedeg trwy golegau addysg bellach hefyd. Mae'n rhan hanfodol o'r hyn y mae prentisiaeth yn ei gynnig fod dysgu'n digwydd mewn lleoliad mewn coleg ac yn wir, fod yna ddysgu yn y gweithle hefyd. Ac rwy'n awyddus iawn i hyrwyddo gwerth go iawn prentisiaeth i bobl yn unigol ac i'n heconomi ehangach—sgiliau nad wyf i a llawer o bobl eraill yn yr ystafell hon yn meddu arnynt, gan nad yw Jack Sargeant yma. Mae gennych set wahanol o sgiliau sydd oll yn werthfawr i'r economi. Mae angen inni fod yn llawer gwell am werthfawrogi'r rheini yn y Siambr hon a'r tu allan pan fydd pobl yn gwneud eu dewisiadau.
I orffen, rwyf am gyffwrdd â'r Almaen, y soniodd yr Aelod amdani. Roeddwn yn yr Almaen yn ddiweddar ac wrth gwrs, maent wedi cael cyfnod llawer hwy a mwy sefydlog o lywodraeth o fewn y Länder ac ar lefel ffederal, lle nad ydynt wedi gweld amrywio sylweddol rhwng gwahanol fathau o bolisi prentisiaethau. Mae'r buddsoddiad hirdymor parhaus hwnnw'n rhoi sicrwydd i fusnesau, i ddarparwyr ac i unigolion. Ac mewn gwirionedd, mae rhywfaint ohono'n ofyniad. Efallai na fydd yr Aelod yn hoffi'r hyn y maent yn ei wneud mewn nifer o leoedd yn yr Almaen, lle mae'n ofynnol i fusnesau ymuno â fforwm busnes, mae'n ofynnol iddynt dalu ffi am hynny, ac mae hynny'n darparu llawer iawn o sefydlogrwydd yn y lleoliad hwnnw. Rwy'n credu, yng Nghymru, gyda'r pwerau a'r arian, y gallwn ddangos lefel o uchelgais a chyflawniad yn y maes hwn eto, ac edrychaf ymlaen at wneud hynny gyda Llywodraeth Lafur yn y DU yn y dyfodol.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. As Paul Davies mentioned, of course, it's National Apprenticeship Week, and to mark the occasion, last night, we launched the apprenticeship cross-party group, which both Huw Irranca-Davies and I co-chair. Now, of course, the launch of this CPG is timely, given the crisis that was set out clearly by Paul Davies. What was clearly put across last night in the launch is the impact of these proposed cuts; that these cuts don't just trim around the edge. You mentioned putting the money back in when it becomes available, but the cuts as they currently stand would result in a decade of recovery for the sector to get back to where it is today. Cuts that, when they've happened, cannot simply be reversed the next financial year.
It was pointed out in your leadership manifesto launch that you propose to increase the number of apprenticeships. Is that based on an increase from where figures are today, and, if so, given the severity of the cuts, how do you propose to do it?
Diolch, Lywydd. Fel y soniodd Paul Davies wrth gwrs, mae'n Wythnos Genedlaethol Prentisiaethau, ac i nodi'r achlysur, neithiwr, fe lansiwyd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar brentisiaethau y mae Huw Irranca-Davies a minnau yn ei gadeirio. Nawr, mae lansio'r grŵp trawsbleidiol hwn yn amserol, o ystyried yr argyfwng a nodwyd yn glir gan Paul Davies. Yr hyn a gafodd ei gyfleu'n glir neithiwr yn y lansiad yw effaith y toriadau arfaethedig hyn; fod y toriadau hyn yn fwy na thocio ar yr ymylon. Roeddech chi'n sôn am roi'r arian yn ôl i mewn pan fydd ar gael, ond byddai'r toriadau fel y maent ar hyn o bryd yn arwain at ddegawd o adferiad er mwyn i'r sector ddychwelyd i ble mae arni heddiw. Toriadau na ellir eu gwrthdroi yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf pan fyddant wedi digwydd.
Nodwyd yn lansiad eich maniffesto ar gyfer yr arweinyddiaeth eich bod yn bwriadu cynyddu nifer y prentisiaethau. A yw hynny'n seiliedig ar gynnydd o ble mae'r ffigurau heddiw, ac os felly, o ystyried difrifoldeb y toriadau, sut ydych chi'n bwriadu ei wneud?
Well, there's a long-term need to reinvest in apprenticeships following the cliff edge, following the thievery of the former EU funds that have been taken from Wales. We are facing the undeniable consequences of that. And I know that Luke Fletcher doesn't want to give a free pass to the Tories for the significant and deliberate reductions they've made to our budgets and the way that former EU funds have stopped at Whitehall. The lack of any strategic choice for those funds is a choice that was made in Whitehall. There were options that would have allowed apprenticeship spend to have continued. It is a deliberate choice not to allow that to happen.
Now, what we face is: can we find additional and significant sums, within a reducing window, when health and local government are the priorities that we have set within the budget? And we're left with the choices we have. It is, though, in the draft budget, a genuine period of it being draft and a consultation. And I have said in committee and in this Chamber, if there are serious proposals about how to move money around, then I will look at those seriously, as indeed will every Minister in the Government. These are not choices that any of us take pleasure in making, but we have to balance the budget.
What I've set out for the future is a future direction of what I want to achieve, to build on what we are doing today, to make sure, not just in the next year to two years, but on a more sustained basis, that we see continued and sustained investment in apprenticeships for people and for the future of the economy, and I am confident that we'll be able to do so.
Wel, mae angen hirdymor i ailfuddsoddi mewn prentisiaethau yn dilyn yr ymyl clogwyn, yn dilyn lladrata arian blaenorol yr UE a gafodd ei ddwyn oddi wrthym yng Nghymru. Rydym yn wynebu canlyniadau diymwad hynny. Ac rwy'n gwybod nad yw Luke Fletcher eisiau anwybyddu'r gostyngiadau sylweddol a bwriadol y mae'r Torïaid wedi'u gwneud i'n cyllidebau a'r ffordd y mae arian blaenorol yr UE wedi aros yn Whitehall. Mae diffyg unrhyw ddewis strategol ar gyfer y cronfeydd hynny yn ddewis a wnaed yn Whitehall. Roedd yna opsiynau a fyddai wedi caniatáu i wariant ar brentisiaethau barhau. Mae'n ddewis bwriadol i beidio â gadael i hynny ddigwydd.
Nawr, yr hyn sy'n ein hwynebu yw: a allwn ddod o hyd i symiau ychwanegol a sylweddol, o fewn cyfle sy'n lleihau, pan mai iechyd a llywodraeth leol yw'r blaenoriaethau a osodwyd gennym yn y gyllideb? A chawn ein gadael gyda'r dewisiadau sydd gennym. Fodd bynnag, yn y gyllideb ddrafft, mae'n gyfnod gwirioneddol o'i fod yn ddrafft ac yn ymgynghoriad. Ac rwyf wedi dweud yn y pwyllgor ac yn y Siambr hon, os oes cynigion difrifol ynghylch sut i symud arian o gwmpas, fe edrychaf ar y rheini o ddifrif, fel y gwnaiff pob Gweinidog yn y Llywodraeth. Nid yw'r rhain yn ddewisiadau y mae unrhyw un ohonom yn mwynhau eu gwneud, ond mae'n rhaid inni gydbwyso'r gyllideb.
Yr hyn a nodais ar gyfer y dyfodol yw cyfeiriad yr hyn rwy'n awyddus i'w gyflawni yn y dyfodol, adeiladu ar yr hyn a wnawn heddiw, i sicrhau, nid yn unig yn y flwyddyn i ddwy flynedd nesaf, ond yn fwy parhaus, ein bod yn gweld buddsoddiad parhaus a pharhaol mewn prentisiaethau i bobl ac ar gyfer dyfodol yr economi, ac rwy'n hyderus y gallwn wneud hynny.
Of course, that doesn't provide any comfort to the sector, does it? I mean, it was very clear that the cuts will have a devastating impact in terms of the longevity of the sector to deliver on the ambitions that we all want to see here. In order to reverse those cuts, we are talking about a decade or more. That's the reality here.
Given the policy statement that was announced on 27 February—to happen on 27 February—by listening to your answers to Paul Davies, I take it that there is no good news for apprenticeships here, other than, of course, the 10 per cent increase that you mentioned in response to Paul Davies. But my question is: is that increase sustainable, given the cuts that we are going to see? If there is a reduction in the size of the cuts, then the sector needs to know now. Long-term planning in this particular sector is vitally important, and one thing, again, that was clear last night is that communication hasn't been where it should be.
The sector will listen closely to what is said on 27 February, and I can tell you now that they don't want to hear about how well they're doing currently; they want to know about how well the Government will do in terms of helping them progress forward. So, my plea to the Minister is, on 27 February, find the funds to reverse the cuts, perhaps not in their entirety, but at least meet the sector halfway. Because they've heard enough about how important they are as a sector, what they need now is that help.
Wrth gwrs, prin fod hynny'n rhoi unrhyw gysur i'r sector. Hynny yw, roedd yn amlwg iawn y bydd y toriadau'n cael effaith ddinistriol ar hirhoedledd y sector i gyflawni'r uchelgeisiau y mae pawb ohonom eisiau eu gweld yma. Er mwyn gwrthdroi'r toriadau hynny, rydym yn sôn am ddegawd neu fwy. Dyna'r realiti yma.
O ystyried y datganiad polisi a gyhoeddwyd ar 27 Chwefror—i ddigwydd ar 27 Chwefror—o wrando ar eich atebion i Paul Davies, rwy'n cymryd nad oes unrhyw newyddion da i brentisiaethau yma, heblaw am y cynnydd o 10 y cant a grybwyllwyd gennych mewn ymateb i Paul Davies wrth gwrs. Ond fy nghwestiwn i yw: a yw'r cynnydd hwnnw'n gynaliadwy, o ystyried y toriadau y byddwn yn eu gweld? Os oes gostyngiad ym maint y toriadau, mae angen i'r sector wybod nawr. Mae cynllunio hirdymor yn y sector penodol hwn yn hanfodol bwysig, ac un peth, unwaith eto, a oedd yn amlwg neithiwr yw nad yw cyfathrebu wedi bod cystal ag y dylai fod.
Bydd y sector yn gwrando'n astud ar yr hyn a ddywedir ar 27 Chwefror, a gallaf ddweud wrthych nawr nad ydynt eisiau clywed pa mor dda y maent yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd; maent am wybod pa mor dda y bydd y Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i'w helpu i symud ymlaen. Felly, rwy'n erfyn ar y Gweinidog, ar 27 Chwefror, i ddod o hyd i'r arian i wyrdroi'r toriadau, nid yn eu cyfanrwydd efallai, ond o leiaf i gyfarfod â'r sector hanner ffordd. Oherwydd maent wedi clywed digon am ba mor bwysig ydynt fel sector, yr hyn sydd ei angen arnynt nawr yw help.
And to do that, you need to find the money to do so. And, again, I go back and I say that when there's £1.3 billion less in real terms, you cannot hide that or avoid that. If there are serious proposals for how to move money in real terms around, to identify where that money won't be spent, then I will take those seriously, as indeed will every Minister in any portfolio.
And I should just point out that I don't accept his characterisation that there will be a decade of lost ground. I don't accept that at all. He also said that there was no good news, and then referred to the fact that there's going to be a 10 per cent rise in apprenticeship starts. Actually, a 10 per cent rise in apprenticeship starts is good news. The challenge is we want to do even better, and that's what I am looking to do in the future.
When it comes to the point about communication, there have been regular and honest conversations between my officials and the sector. I recognise the disappointment, because no Minister is celebrating the position that we find ourselves in. But being in Government requires a level of honesty about what we can do, the opportunity to go out and deliver things for your country, but also the honesty around what you can and can't do with the resources you have available to you. It's why I'm looking forward to the opportunity to once again design a coherent way to use former EU funds with the powers and the resources here with this Welsh Government where they should be, with all the scrutiny functions where they should be, within this Parliament. That's a future that I think is well worth fighting for, and I remain unashamedly optimistic and positive about the future for apprenticeships here in Wales.
Ac i wneud hynny, mae angen i chi ddod o hyd i'r arian i'w wneud. Ac unwaith eto, rwy'n mynd yn ôl ac rwy'n dweud, pan fydd £1.3 biliwn yn llai mewn termau real, na allwch guddio hynny nac osgoi hynny. Os oes cynigion difrifol ar sut i symud arian o gwmpas mewn termau real, i nodi lle na fydd yr arian hwnnw'n cael ei wario, fe roddaf ystyriaeth ddifrifol i hynny, fel y gwnaiff pob Gweinidog mewn unrhyw bortffolio.
A dylwn nodi nad wyf yn derbyn ei ddisgrifiad y bydd yna ddegawd o dir coll. Nid wyf yn derbyn hynny o gwbl. Dywedodd hefyd nad oedd unrhyw newyddion da, ac yna cyfeiriodd at y ffaith y bydd cynnydd o 10 y cant mewn prentisiaethau newydd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae cynnydd o 10 y cant mewn prentisiaethau newydd yn newyddion da. Yr her yw ein bod am wneud hyd yn oed yn well, a dyna rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ei wneud yn y dyfodol.
Ar y pwynt ynglŷn â chyfathrebu, bu sgyrsiau rheolaidd a gonest rhwng fy swyddogion a'r sector. Rwy'n cydnabod y siom, oherwydd nid oes yr un Gweinidog yn dathlu'r sefyllfa yr ydym ynddi. Ond mae bod mewn Llywodraeth yn galw am lefel o onestrwydd ynghylch yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud, y cyfle i fynd allan a chyflawni pethau dros eich gwlad, ond hefyd gonestrwydd ynghylch yr hyn y gallwch ac na allwch ei wneud gyda'r adnoddau sydd gennych ar gael i chi. Dyna pam rwy'n edrych ymlaen at y cyfle i lunio ffordd gydlynol unwaith eto o ddefnyddio cronfeydd blaenorol yr UE gyda'r pwerau a'r adnoddau yma gyda Llywodraeth Cymru lle dylent fod, gyda'r holl swyddogaethau craffu lle dylent fod, o fewn y Senedd hon. Dyna ddyfodol y credaf ei fod yn werth ymladd drosto, ac rwy'n parhau i fod yn ddigywilydd o optimistaidd a chadarnhaol am y dyfodol i brentisiaethau yma yng Nghymru.
3. Pa waith ymgysylltu y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar adfywio lleoliadau diwylliannol? OQ60643
3. What engagement has the Minister had with Bridgend County Borough Council on the regeneration of cultural venues? OQ60643
I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that question. Although I have not had any direct engagement with Bridgend County Borough Council, I visited Blaengarw Workmen's Hall in November and heard first-hand about the work being done to widen access to arts and culture across the county borough. It is clearly a very valued resource in the community.
Diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am ei gwestiwn. Er nad wyf wedi ymgysylltu'n uniongyrchol â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ymwelais â Neuadd y Gweithwyr Blaengarw ym mis Tachwedd a chlywais yn uniongyrchol am y gwaith sy’n mynd rhagddo i ehangu mynediad at gelfyddydau a diwylliant ar draws y fwrdeistref sirol. Mae’n amlwg yn adnodd gwerthfawr iawn yn y gymuned.
Thank you, Minister. I attended last Saturday the amazing production by Bridgend Youth Theatre of We Will Rock You in the Grand Pavilion Porthcawl in the constituency of my friend Sarah Murphy MS. After the standing ovation for those talented youngsters, there were some really emotional speeches at the final curtain call, as it was also the curtain coming down for a couple of years for the major refurbishment and expansion of this iconic venue, which has hosted so much talent over the years, including the legendary transatlantic telephone link-up between the Miners' Eisteddfod choirs and the singer, actor and civil rights campaigner Paul Robeson. It demonstrated the power of song to unite campaigners and performers across the seas and against those dark forces.
Maesteg Town Hall is also undergoing a major multimillion pound refurbishment. It's another iconic venue. It has hosted so much arts and entertainment, including former Californian governor Arnie Schwarzenegger in a body building contest, but also local choirs and musical groups, and huge political rallies—fundraising meetings for the fight against Franco and in support of striking miners. Would she therefore commit to continue to work in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council to help these venues thrive and survive for generations to come, noting that they're not only the beating heart of our culture and entertainment, but so often the showcase for our progressive values of internationalism and solidarity, which are enshrined in the communities of south Wales?
Diolch, Weinidog. Ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf, euthum i weld cynhyrchiad anhygoel Theatr Ieuenctid Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr o We Will Rock You ym Mhafiliwn y Grand Porthcawl yn etholaeth fy ffrind, Sarah Murphy AS. Ar ôl i’r dorf godi i gymeradwyo'r bobl ifanc ddawnus hynny, cafwyd areithiau emosiynol iawn gyda'r len-alwad olaf, gan fod y llen yn dod i lawr am flwyddyn neu ddwy hefyd ar gyfer gwaith adnewyddu ac ehangu sylweddol ar y lleoliad eiconig hwn, sydd wedi rhoi llwyfan i gymaint o dalent dros y blynyddoedd, gan gynnwys y perfformiad aruthrol gan gorau Eisteddfod y Glowyr a’r canwr, actor ac ymgyrchydd hawliau sifil, Paul Robeson, dros y ffôn o'r ochr draw i'r Iwerydd. Dangosodd rym cerddoriaeth i uno ymgyrchwyr a pherfformwyr o bedwar ban byd yn erbyn y grymoedd tywyll hynny.
Mae gwaith adnewyddu sylweddol gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd yn mynd rhagddo hefyd yn Neuadd y Dref Maesteg. Mae hwnnw'n lleoliad eiconig arall. Mae wedi rhoi llwyfan i gymaint o gelfyddydau ac adloniant, gan gynnwys cyn-lywodraethwr Califfornia, Arnie Schwarzenegger, mewn cystadleuaeth arddangos cyhyrau, ond hefyd corau lleol a grwpiau cerddorol, a ralïau gwleidyddol enfawr—cyfarfodydd codi arian ar gyfer y frwydr yn erbyn Franco ac i gefnogi streic y glowyr. A wnaiff hi ymrwymo, felly, i barhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i helpu’r lleoliadau hyn i ffynnu a goroesi am genedlaethau i ddod, gan nodi eu bod nid yn unig yn hollbwysig i'n diwylliant a’n hadloniant, ond yn aml yn gyfle i arddangos gwerthoedd blaengar rhyng-genedlaetholdeb ac undod, sy'n rhan annatod o gymunedau de Cymru?
Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that supplementary question? He is absolutely right, of course. If you go anywhere across the south Wales Valleys you will find these institutions. I have some in my own constituency that hosted Keir Hardie and the suffragettes and so on. So, wherever we go, we will see these iconic and historic buildings that have contributed so much to our history and our communities. I absolutely commend the lead that authorities like Bridgend County Borough Council have taken to invest in those local cultural venues.
You mentioned Maesteg Town Hall, and the amount of money that Bridgend has put into that, that the Welsh Government has put into that, that the Arts Council of Wales has put into that, alongside the upcoming redevelopment of the pavilion in Porthcawl, and of course the Blaengarw miners' institute, which I visited with you last year. Amongst all of that, of course, you have the amazing Awen Cultural Trust that is working to deliver the kind of goals that we're seeking to deliver through our cultural support to develop the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 objectives of making sure that we have a thriving cultural society. None of that is easy against the financial backdrop that we're currently facing that's been set out by the Minister for Economy very clearly. But within the scope that we have, there is still so much that we can do, if we're working with partners that are willing to work with us and deliver those cultural benefits.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am ei gwestiwn atodol? Mae'n llygad ei le, wrth gwrs. Os ewch i unrhyw le yng Nghymoedd de Cymru, fe welwch y sefydliadau hyn. Mae gennyf rai yn fy etholaeth i a groesawodd Keir Hardie a’r swffragetiaid ac ati. Felly, ble bynnag yr awn, byddwn yn gweld yr adeiladau eiconig a hanesyddol hyn sydd wedi cyfrannu cymaint at ein hanes a’n cymunedau. Rwy'n canmol arweiniad awdurdodau fel Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr drwy fuddsoddi yn y lleoliadau diwylliannol lleol hynny.
Fe sonioch am Neuadd y Dref Maesteg, a’r swm o arian y mae Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi’i ddarparu, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i ddarparu, y mae Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru wedi’i ddarparu ar ei chyfer, ochr yn ochr â’r gwaith ailddatblygu sydd ar y ffordd ar y pafiliwn ym Mhorthcawl, ac wrth gwrs, sefydliad y glowyr ym Mlaengarw, yr ymwelais ag ef gyda chi y llynedd. Ynghanol hynny oll, wrth gwrs, mae gennych Ymddiriedolaeth Ddiwylliannol Awen, sefydliad anhygoel sy’n gweithio i gyflawni’r math o nodau y ceisiwn eu cyflawni drwy ein cymorth diwylliannol i ddatblygu amcanion Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 i sicrhau bod gennym gymdeithas ddiwylliannol ffyniannus. Nid yw dim o hynny'n hawdd yn y cyd-destun ariannol a wynebwn ar hyn o bryd ac sydd wedi'i nodi'n glir iawn gan Weinidog yr Economi. Ond o fewn y cwmpas sydd gennym, mae cymaint y gallwn ei wneud o hyd, os ydym yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid sy'n barod i weithio gyda ni a sicrhau'r buddion diwylliannol hynny.
It's good to hear Huw Irranca-Davies and you, Minister, mention the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl. I am obviously, like many, sad to see it close this week. But the reason it's closing, which neither of you mentioned, is it is benefiting from £18 million in UK Government levelling-up money. In fact, I might have heard you in the answer suggest that the Welsh Government had some financial investment in the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, and that is not the case. I'd appreciate if you could clarify that in your next answer.
Amongst other things, the pavilion is the centrepiece of the Porthcawl Elvis Festival. It's where the main competition of the Porthcawl Elvis Festival is held. Obviously, with the closure of the Grand Pavilion this year, having spoken to the organisers, they are worried that the thousands of people that descend on Porthcawl, and the millions that it brings to the local economy, will assume that there is no competition because there is no Grand Pavilion to host it in. Obviously, the competition itself is being held in a different venue in Porthcawl, but there's no recognition of that on the Visit Wales page for the Porthcawl Elvis Festival. It makes no mention of that at all. So, can I ask you, Deputy Minister, whether you will look at that and what other ways you can promote the Porthcawl Elvis Festival this year specifically, given the change in venue?
Mae’n dda clywed Huw Irranca-Davies a chithau, Weinidog, yn sôn am Bafiliwn y Grand ym Mhorthcawl. Fel llawer o bobl, mae'n flin gennyf ei weld yn cau yr wythnos hon. Ond y rheswm pam ei fod yn cau, na soniodd yr un ohonoch amdano, yw am ei fod yn elwa o £18 miliwn mewn cyllid ffyniant bro gan Lywodraeth y DU. A dweud y gwir, efallai imi eich clywed yn eich ateb yn awgrymu bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi rhywfaint o fuddsoddiad ariannol i Bafiliwn y Grand ym Mhorthcawl, ac nid yw hynny’n wir. Buaswn yn gwerthfawrogi pe gallech wneud hynny'n eglur yn eich ateb nesaf.
Ymhlith pethau eraill, y pafiliwn yw canolbwynt Gŵyl Elvis Porthcawl. Dyma ble y cynhelir prif gystadleuaeth Gŵyl Elvis Porthcawl. Yn amlwg, gan fod Pafiliwn y Grand yn cau eleni, ar ôl siarad â’r trefnwyr, maent yn poeni y bydd y miloedd o bobl sy’n dod i Borthcawl, gyda’r miliynau o bunnoedd a gaiff ei ddenu i’r economi leol, yn cymryd yn ganiataol nad oes cystadleuaeth am nad oes Pafiliwn y Grand i'w chynnal. Yn amlwg, mae'r gystadleuaeth ei hun yn cael ei chynnal mewn lleoliad gwahanol ym Mhorthcawl, ond ni cheir cydnabyddiaeth i hynny ar dudalen Croeso Cymru ar gyfer Gŵyl Elvis Porthcawl. Nid oes unrhyw sôn am hynny o gwbl. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Ddirprwy Weinidog, a wnewch chi edrych ar hynny ac ar ffyrdd eraill y gallwch hyrwyddo Gŵyl Elvis Porthcawl eleni yn benodol, o ystyried y newid lleoliad?
I thank Tom Giffard for that question. He's absolutely right, of course; the Elvis festival is quite iconic now, isn't it, in Porthcawl. I absolutely hope that it remains as successful as it's always been, despite the fact that we're not going to have the pavilion available for the next couple of years.
Can I just clarify that, yes, absolutely, the UK Government is supporting the Porthcawl pavilion with levelling-up finding? But there is also funding for the refurbishment through the Arts Council of Wales, which, of course, comes directly from the Welsh Government. So, it's a combined project, and it's being supported by Bridgend County Borough Council as well. I think it's absolutely right that all arms of Government and local authorities can work together to make sure that these iconic venues thrive—not just survive, but absolutely that they thrive.
I'm more than happy to take away the question that he specifically raised with me about the publicising of the Elvis festival in Porthcawl this year through Visit Wales and how we can make sure that it remains successful even with the reduced number of venues that they've got to use this year.FootnoteLink
Diolch i Tom Giffard am ei gwestiwn. Mae'n llygad ei le, wrth gwrs; mae gŵyl Elvis yn eithaf eiconig bellach ym Mhorthcawl, onid yw. Rwy’n mawr obeithio ei bod yn parhau i fod mor llwyddiannus ag y bu erioed, er gwaethaf y ffaith nad yw'r pafiliwn yn mynd i fod ar gael am y flwyddyn neu ddwy nesaf.
A gaf i egluro bod Llywodraeth y DU, yn sicr, yn cefnogi pafiliwn Porthcawl gyda chyllid ffyniant bro? Ond mae cyllid yn cael ei ddarparu hefyd ar gyfer y gwaith adnewyddu drwy Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, sy'n dod yn uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru wrth gwrs. Felly, mae'n brosiect cyfunol, ac mae'n cael ei gefnogi gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr hefyd. Credaf ei bod yn gwbl briodol fod pob cangen o Lywodraeth ac awdurdodau lleol yn gallu gweithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau bod y lleoliadau eiconig hyn yn ffynnu—nid yn unig yn goroesi, ond yn ffynnu.
Rwy’n fwy na pharod i ystyried y cwestiwn a godwyd ganddo yn benodol ar roi cyhoeddusrwydd i ŵyl Elvis ym Mhorthcawl eleni drwy Croeso Cymru a sut y gallwn sicrhau ei bod yn parhau i fod yn llwyddiannus hyd yn oed gyda’r gostyngiad yn nifer y lleoliadau sydd ganddynt i'w defnyddio eleni.FootnoteLink
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi'r economi yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru? OQ60665
4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the economy in south-east Wales? OQ60665
Thank you for the question. We continue to work with local authorities across the capital region to increase the economic prosperity of the area. Our regional economic framework for south-east Wales has identified the development of a number of growth clusters as priorities, including the creative sector, semiconductors, the cyber sector, fintech and much more.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rydym yn parhau i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ar draws y brifddinas-ranbarth i gynyddu ffyniant economaidd yr ardal. Mae ein fframwaith economaidd rhanbarthol ar gyfer de-ddwyrain Cymru wedi nodi datblygu nifer o glystyrau twf fel blaenoriaethau, gan gynnwys y sector creadigol, lled-ddargludyddion, y sector seiber, technoleg ariannol a llawer mwy.
Thank you, Minister. Last week, Lloyds Banking Group announced disappointing news that it was going to close its Tredegar Park office in Newport in 2026, and all staff relocated to Cardiff. I understand from Lloyds that the increase in hybrid working since the COVID pandemic has meant that the office in Newport has been underoccupied for some time. As staff are expected to spend 40 per cent of their time in the office, every day 200 people will have to travel to work in Cardiff in future instead of Newport. While I'm very glad that the relocation does not involve job losses, I am sorry to see a company choose to leave Newport. The economic and well-being impact will not be felt immediately, but a longer commute for many workers will affect families with children in local schools, as well as local businesses. Minister, what more can be done to ensure that people in Newport and across Wales have access to good-quality jobs closer to home?
Diolch, Weinidog. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd grŵp bancio Lloyds y newyddion siomedig eu bod yn mynd i gau eu swyddfa ym Mharc Tredegar yng Nghasnewydd yn 2026, a symud yr holl staff i Gaerdydd. Deallaf gan Lloyds fod y cynnydd mewn gweithio hybrid ers pandemig COVID wedi golygu nad yw’r swyddfa yng Nghasnewydd wedi’i defnyddio’n ddigonol ers peth amser. Gan fod disgwyl i staff dreulio 40 y cant o’u hamser yn y swyddfa, bob dydd, bydd yn rhaid i 200 o bobl deithio i’r gwaith yng Nghaerdydd yn lle Casnewydd yn y dyfodol. Er fy mod yn falch iawn nad yw’r adleoli'n golygu bod swyddi'n cael eu colli, mae’n ddrwg gennyf weld cwmni’n dewis gadael Casnewydd. Ni fydd yr effaith ar yr economi a llesiant yn cael ei theimlo ar unwaith, ond bydd amseroedd cymudo hwy i lawer o weithwyr yn effeithio ar deuluoedd â phlant mewn ysgolion lleol, yn ogystal â busnesau lleol. Weinidog, beth arall y gellir ei wneud i sicrhau bod pobl yng Nghasnewydd a ledled Cymru yn gallu cael mynediad at swyddi o ansawdd da yn nes at adref?
Thank you for the question. I understand the Member's concern for the movement of employment as opposed to there not being a loss in head count, but the reality of both to local work and local spend and what that means. There are a number of businesses that are thinking about their office footprints, how much they need high-quality office accommodation, which is still a requirement, and what that then means for more hybrid forms of work. I think that, in the medium term, there will still be significant demand for high-quality office accommodation in Newport, Cardiff and beyond. I'm interested, though, in understanding what more we can do about this issue. If it's helpful, I'm happy to meet the Member in order to convene a meeting with the council and herself.
When it comes to Newport as a destination, I think it has a number of pluses. Look at the city as it's launching the soft-landing pad for tech businesses that is being run by Tramshed, where we are very encouraged about what is happening already. The creative sector already has a footprint, and indeed there's the physical rejuvenation of the city centre with the market, where, of course, the Member has her own office, and I'm sure she enjoys the food offering that's there. But there's a lot that is already being done to try to make sure there is a thriving city centre, and good reasons for people to see the opportunity to invest in Newport. Indeed, as we'll continue to discuss, there's the reality of the semiconductor jobs—not just the KLA expansion, but I believe there is more to come. My officials and I are keen to carry on working with the capital region and Newport council to do just that.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rwy’n deall pryder yr Aelod ynghylch swyddi'n symud yn hytrach na bod swyddi'n cael eu colli, ond realiti’r ddau beth i swyddi lleol a gwariant lleol a'r hyn y mae hynny’n ei olygu. Mae nifer o fusnesau'n meddwl am ôl troed eu swyddfeydd, faint o angen swyddfeydd o ansawdd uchel sydd arnynt, faint sy’n dal yn ofynnol, a beth mae hynny wedyn yn ei olygu ar gyfer ffyrdd mwy hybrid o weithio. Yn y tymor canolig, rwy'n credu y bydd galw sylweddol o hyd am swyddfeydd o ansawdd uchel yng Nghasnewydd, Caerdydd a thu hwnt. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb, fodd bynnag, mewn deall beth arall y gallwn ei wneud am y mater hwn. Os yw’n ddefnyddiol, rwy’n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â’r Aelod er mwyn cynnull cyfarfod gyda’r cyngor a hithau.
O ran Casnewydd fel cyrchfan, credaf fod gan y ddinas nifer o fanteision. Edrychwch ar y ddinas wrth iddi lansio'r pad glanio esmwyth ar gyfer busnesau technoleg sy'n cael ei redeg gan Tramshed, lle rydym wedi ein calonogi'n fawr gan yr hyn sy'n digwydd eisoes. Mae gan y sector creadigol ôl troed yn barod, ac yn wir, mae adnewyddiad ffisegol yn mynd rhagddo yng nghanol y ddinas gyda'r farchnad, lle mae swyddfa'r Aelod, wrth gwrs, ac rwy'n siŵr ei bod yn mwynhau'r bwyd sydd ar gael yno. Ond mae llawer yn mynd rhagddo eisoes i geisio sicrhau bod canol y ddinas yn ffyniannus, a rhesymau da i bobl weld cyfle i fuddsoddi yng Nghasnewydd. Yn wir, fel y byddwn yn parhau i'w drafod, mae swyddi i'w cael ym maes lled-ddargludyddion—nid yn unig gydag ehangu KLA, ond credaf fod mwy i ddod. Mae fy swyddogion a minnau’n awyddus i barhau i weithio gyda’r brifddinas-ranbarth a chyngor Casnewydd i wneud yn union hynny.
My colleague Jayne Bryant raised a rather interesting question that really got me thinking: what is the Welsh Government doing in order to support the economy? A bit of an oxymoron, if you ask me. The economy in south-east Wales is seriously hampered by poor transport infrastructure, and there's no denying it. Just look at the M4: the main artery into south Wales is regularly gridlocked, with workers and freight brought to a standstill—[Interruption.] Let's focus on the M4, because we're talking about south-east Wales. And don't even get me started on the damage Labour will inflict on our economy if your colleagues in Monmouthshire get their way and bring the dreaded Severn bridge tolls back.
'Doing nothing is no longer an option on the M4 relief road. Businesses across South and West Wales need certainty that the M4 will not be left as it is. I am determined that we will act and go ahead with an M4 relief road.'
Those are not my words, Minister; they're yours. So, does that mean that if you become the next First Minister you'll end this Government's anti-business agenda, and finally build the much-needed M4 relief road, or are you going to be flip-flopping on that issue too?
Gofynnodd fy nghyd-Aelod, Jayne Bryant, gwestiwn diddorol a wnaeth imi feddwl: beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi’r economi? Ocsimoron braidd, yn fy marn i. Mae’r economi yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru yn cael ei llesteirio’n ddifrifol gan seilwaith trafnidiaeth gwael, ac nid oes modd gwadu hynny. Edrychwch ar yr M4: mae'r brif rydweli i mewn i dde Cymru yn dioddef tagfeydd yn rheolaidd, gyda gweithwyr a nwyddau'n dod i stop—[Torri ar draws.] Gadewch inni ganolbwyntio ar yr M4, gan ein bod yn siarad am dde-ddwyrain Cymru. A pheidiwch â sôn am y difrod y bydd Llafur yn ei wneud i'n heconomi os bydd eich cyd-bleidwyr yn sir Fynwy yn cael eu ffordd ac yn dod â'r tollau ofnadwy ar bont Hafren yn eu holau.
'Nid yw gwneud dim yn opsiwn bellach mewn perthynas â ffordd liniaru’r M4. Mae angen sicrwydd ar fusnesau ar draws De a Gorllewin Cymru na fydd yr M4 yn cael ei gadael fel y mae ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n benderfynol y byddwn yn gweithredu ac yn bwrw ymlaen â ffordd liniaru'r M4.'
Nid fy ngeiriau i, Weinidog; eich rhai chi. Felly, a yw hynny'n golygu, os mai chi fydd y Prif Weinidog nesaf, y byddwch yn rhoi diwedd ar agenda wrth-fusnes y Llywodraeth hon, ac yn adeiladu ffordd liniaru fawr ei hangen yr M4 o'r diwedd, neu a fyddwch chi'n mynd yn ôl ar eich gair ar y mater hwnnw hefyd?
There are a couple of things there. Let's just deal with the fake news about the Severn bridge. There are no proposals to reintroduce tolls on the Severn bridge—[Interruption.] Let's just deal with the fact that there are no proposals to reintroduce tolls on the Severn bridge. When it comes to the M4 relief road, the reality is there is not the resource there. The Member may not have noticed, but actually there is real pressure on capital budgets here in the Welsh Government and it is simply not a credible choice to say that the M4 relief road is going to happen.
When we then look at what we are doing, we're very proud to be a pro-business and pro-worker Government. Look at the work that we are already doing on the increase in investment that is coming to Wales through foreign direct investment. Look at the work we're doing on increasing exports, with businesses in Wales that are being actively supported by this Government. Look at the work we're doing on the growth clusters I mentioned, around the creative sector, semiconductors, the cyber sector and fintech—all areas where this Government is active and proactive, all areas where I've been directly engaged and involved in securing new investment.
If you want to think about the Tory record, it's an undeniable truth that there is a long tail from the Liz Truss Government with the damage that was done that is still being felt today in increased mortgage rates—[Interruption.] They're not my words, actually; they're the words of one of your former ministerial colleagues in the UK Government who said that last night on Newsnight. There is a recognition within your own party of the long-lasting harm that Liz Truss has done, and then she returns again claiming that she's going to save us all. Well, I would be delighted to see Liz Truss take another central role in the Conservative Party, as it will guarantee a much better future and a much larger majority for an incoming UK Labour government.
Mae dau beth i'w hateb yno. Gadewch inni ymdrin â'r newyddion ffug am bont Hafren. Nid oes unrhyw gynigion i ailgyflwyno tollau ar bont Hafren—[Torri ar draws.] Gadewch inni ymdrin â’r ffaith nad oes unrhyw gynigion i ailgyflwyno tollau ar bont Hafren. Ar ffordd liniaru’r M4, y gwir amdani yw nad yw'r adnoddau ar gael. Efallai nad yw’r Aelod wedi sylwi, ond mae pwysau gwirioneddol ar gyllidebau cyfalaf yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac yn syml iawn, nid yw’n ddewis credadwy i ddweud bod ffordd liniaru’r M4 yn mynd i ddigwydd.
Pan edrychwn ar yr hyn a wnawn, rydym yn falch iawn o fod yn Llywodraeth sydd o blaid busnes ac o blaid gweithwyr. Edrychwch ar y gwaith a wnawn eisoes ar y cynnydd mewn buddsoddiad sy’n dod i Gymru drwy fuddsoddiad uniongyrchol o dramor. Edrychwch ar y gwaith a wnawn ar gynyddu allforion, gyda'r Llywodraeth hon yn mynd ati'n weithredol i gefnogi busnesau yng Nghymru. Edrychwch ar y gwaith a wnawn ar y clystyrau twf y soniais amdanynt, yn y sector creadigol, lled-ddargludyddion, y sector seiber a thechnoleg ariannol—pob un yn faes lle mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn weithgar ac yn rhagweithiol, pob un yn faes lle bûm yn ymwneud yn uniongyrchol â'r gwaith o sicrhau buddsoddiad newydd.
Os ydych am feddwl am record y Torïaid, ni ellir gwadu'r ffaith bod cynffon hir gan Lywodraeth Liz Truss, gyda’r difrod a wnaed ac y mae ei effaith yn dal i gael ei deimlo heddiw mewn cyfraddau morgeisi uwch—[Torri ar draws.] Nid fy ngeiriau i; geiriau un o'ch cydweithwyr gweinidogol yn Llywodraeth y DU, a ddywedodd hynny neithiwr ar Newsnight. Mae cydnabyddiaeth yn eich plaid eich hun o’r niwed parhaol y mae Liz Truss wedi’i wneud, ac yna daw yn ei hôl eto gan honni ei bod yn mynd i’n hachub ni i gyd. Wel, buaswn yn falch iawn o weld Liz Truss mewn rôl ganolog arall yn y Blaid Geidwadol, gan y bydd yn gwarantu dyfodol llawer gwell a mwyafrif llawer mwy i Lywodraeth Lafur newydd y DU.
5. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i greu mwy o swyddi â chyflogau uwch yn y canolbarth? OQ60659
5. What is the Welsh Government doing to create more higher paid jobs in mid Wales? OQ60659
We will continue to work with our regional partners to invest in skills and business support and provide support for capital infrastructure projects through the mid Wales growth deal. Our aim is to help realise a shared ambition of delivering better jobs closer to home.
Byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda’n partneriaid rhanbarthol i fuddsoddi mewn sgiliau a chymorth i fusnesau a darparu cymorth ar gyfer prosiectau seilwaith cyfalaf drwy fargen twf canolbarth Cymru. Ein nod yw helpu i wireddu uchelgais a rennir o ddarparu swyddi gwell yn nes at adref.
Thank you for your answer, Minister. I'm grateful for your update in regard to the mid Wales growth deal earlier this week, and I've been an advocate for that growth deal. It's been slow coming, but I'm pleased that it is now in place and has the support of both the Welsh and the UK Government. What certainly I believe is it's not so much that we need more jobs; we need better jobs, higher skilled jobs, and better paid jobs. In your letter to me this week in regard to the growth deal, Minister, you mentioned that the deal must be seen as a catalyst to secure and leverage additional funding from various sources, including the private sector. I do fully agree with that. Can I ask, Minister, how you are going about that, how you're engaging with the private sector to achieve that?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich diweddariad mewn perthynas â bargen twf canolbarth Cymru yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, a bûm yn dadlau dros y fargen twf honno. Mae wedi bod yn hir iawn yn dod, ond rwy'n falch ei bod bellach ar waith a bod ganddi gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU. Yn sicr, yr hyn rwy'n ei gredu yw nad mwy o swyddi sydd ei angen arnom fel y cyfryw, ond swyddi gwell, swyddi sgiliau uwch, a swyddi sy'n talu'n well. Yn eich llythyr ataf yr wythnos hon ynglŷn â’r fargen twf, Weinidog, fe sonioch fod yn rhaid i’r fargen gael ei hystyried yn gatalydd i sicrhau ac ysgogi cyllid ychwanegol o wahanol ffynonellau, gan gynnwys y sector preifat. Rwy’n cytuno’n llwyr â hynny. A gaf i ofyn, Weinidog, sut yr ewch chi ati i wneud hynny, sut rydych chi'n ymgysylltu â’r sector preifat i gyflawni hynny?
There are a number of examples. I'll give you a couple of examples in your own constituency. You think about Atherton Bikes, one of the best brands, if not the best brand, within the bicycle arena and off-road. They don't just run a business park for that, but actually you've got a multi-storey, multi-world-cup-winning family there, and we've helped them with investment to go into that. These are high-end products and high-skill products, so all of the jobs that they provide are relatively well-paid jobs. And, again, the Member will know about the Marrill group and its purchase of a building in Llanfyllin, securing 102 jobs, and the fact they're investing in research and development—the same with YASA as well. So, you can see there is a commitment from this Government, partnering with those businesses, to make sure that that investment does deliver more jobs and better jobs, better-paid jobs, in particular with the R&D, in each of those three businesses within the Member's constituency. That's a marker of what we are already doing, and what we want to see more of, with the successful delivery of the mid Wales growth deal.
Mae nifer o enghreifftiau. Rhoddaf un neu ddau o enghreifftiau i chi yn eich etholaeth eich hun. Os meddyliwch chi am Atherton Bikes, un o'r brandiau gorau, os nad y brand gorau, ym maes beicio a beicio oddi ar y ffordd. Nid yn unig eu bod yn rhedeg parc busnes ar gyfer hynny, ond mae gennych gyfleuster aml-lawr hefyd, teulu sydd wedi ennill sawl cwpan y byd yno, ac rydym wedi eu helpu gyda buddsoddiad ar gyfer hynny. Mae’r rhain yn gynhyrchion ym mhen uchaf y farchnad a chynhyrchion sgìl uchel, felly mae’r holl swyddi y maent yn eu darparu yn swyddi sy’n talu’n gymharol dda. Ac unwaith eto, bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod am grŵp Marrill a'u bod wedi prynu adeilad yn Llanfyllin, gan ddiogelu 102 o swyddi, a'r ffaith eu bod yn buddsoddi mewn ymchwil a datblygu—yr un peth gydag YASA hefyd. Felly, gallwch weld bod ymrwymiad gan y Llywodraeth hon, mewn partneriaeth â’r busnesau hynny, i sicrhau bod y buddsoddiad yn darparu mwy o swyddi a swyddi gwell, swyddi sy’n talu’n well, yn enwedig gydag ymchwil a datblygu, ym mhob un o’r tri busnes hynny yn etholaeth yr Aelod. Dyna arwydd o'r hyn a wnawn eisoes, a'r hyn y dymunwn weld mwy ohono wrth i fargen twf canolbarth Cymru gael ei chyflwyno'n llwyddiannus.
According to the latest Economic Intelligence Wales quarterly report, in quarter 1 of this financial year, 48 per cent of total Development Bank of Wales investments were made to firms in south-east Wales, as compared to 29 per cent in mid and west Wales and 23 per cent in north Wales. Now, this was linked to the creation of more than 250 jobs in south-east Wales, less than 150 in mid and west Wales and under 100 jobs in north Wales. And this data is indicative of a long-running trend whereby development bank investment related to job creation has tended to be concentrated in south-east Wales. Minister, can I ask you, therefore, whether, in your view, the Development Bank of Wales is doing enough to support small and medium-sized businesses in mid and west Wales, and what more might be done to ensure that businesses in my region are both made aware of, and are able to access, the kinds of support and finance on offer via the bank?
Yn ôl adroddiad chwarterol diweddaraf Dirnad Economi Cymru, yn chwarter 1 y flwyddyn ariannol hon, gwnaed 48 y cant o holl fuddsoddiad Banc Datblygu Cymru mewn cwmnïau yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, o gymharu â 29 y cant yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru a 23 y cant yn y gogledd. Nawr, roedd hyn yn gysylltiedig â chreu mwy na 250 o swyddi yn y de-ddwyrain, llai na 150 yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru a llai na 100 swydd yn y gogledd. Ac mae'r data hwn yn arwydd o duedd hirdymor lle mae buddsoddiad y banc datblygu sy'n gysylltiedig â chreu swyddi wedi tueddu i fod wedi'i ganolbwyntio yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru. Weinidog, a gaf i ofyn i chi, felly, a yw Banc Datblygu Cymru, yn eich barn chi, yn gwneud digon i gefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru, a beth arall y gellid ei wneud i sicrhau bod busnesau yn fy rhanbarth yn gwybod am, ac yn gallu cael mynediad at, y mathau o gymorth a chyllid sydd ar gael drwy'r banc?
Well, I've just given an example, in response to Russell George, of the Marrill Group, who have had support from the development bank, to secure and further grow their business. So, there are examples, and I do think there is something about the visibility of what the Development Bank of Wales already does and provides.
I met the board of the Development Bank of Wales at one of their strategy days last week, and, again, part of my challenge to them was, bearing in mind the relative success of the bank since its creation, how do they go further to understand the areas of the economy where they can make the biggest difference, with the levers they have, and how we do something that is both about generating a return on investment, but, actually, looking at the different parts of the country—the different challenges, but also the different opportunities. And I'm very pleased they're looking at mid Wales, for example, not just in the businesses that are already there, but, for example, in some of the opportunities around renewable energy, which is one of the actual pillars underpinning the ambition in the mid Wales growth deal. So, I think you can see that this is an organisation that understands it has an all-Wales remit. It's headquartered in north Wales, not here in south Wales. It is something that understands there is opportunity that is different in different parts of the country, and they understand how to secure that opportunity, or to make sure that different sources of finance can be made available.
I'll be more than happy to send again to the Member a more detailed breakdown of investments and opportunities supported within mid and west Wales by the development bank, because I don't think his question quite gave us the whole remit and the whole coverage of what DBW are doing to grow economic activity and well-being within mid and west Wales.
Wel, rwyf newydd roi enghraifft, mewn ymateb i Russell George, sef grŵp Marrill, sydd wedi cael cymorth gan y banc datblygu, i sicrhau a thyfu eu busnes ymhellach. Felly, mae enghreifftiau, a chredaf fod rhywbeth am amlygrwydd yr hyn y mae Banc Datblygu Cymru eisoes yn ei wneud ac yn ei ddarparu.
Cyfarfûm â bwrdd Banc Datblygu Cymru yn un o’u diwrnodau strategaeth yr wythnos diwethaf, ac unwaith eto, rhan o fy her iddynt, o gofio llwyddiant cymharol y banc ers ei greu, oedd sut maent yn mynd ymhellach i ddeall y meysydd yn yr economi lle gallant wneud y gwahaniaeth mwyaf, gyda’r ysgogiadau sydd ganddynt, a sut rydym yn gwneud rhywbeth sy’n ymwneud â chynhyrchu elw ar fuddsoddiad, ond mewn gwirionedd, yn edrych ar y gwahanol rannau o’r wlad—y gwahanol heriau, ond hefyd y gwahanol gyfleoedd. Ac rwy'n falch iawn eu bod yn edrych ar y canolbarth, er enghraifft, nid yn unig ar y busnesau sydd yno'n barod, ond er enghraifft, gyda rhai o'r cyfleoedd sy'n gysylltiedig ag ynni adnewyddadwy, sef un o'r pileri sy'n sail i'r uchelgais ym margen twf canolbarth Cymru. Felly, rwy'n credu y gallwch weld bod hwn yn sefydliad sy’n deall bod ganddo gylch gwaith Cymru gyfan. Mae ei bencadlys yn y gogledd, nid yma yn y de. Mae’n rhywbeth sy’n deall bod cyfle sy’n wahanol mewn gwahanol rannau o’r wlad, ac maent yn deall sut i wireddu'r cyfle hwnnw, neu sicrhau y gellir gwneud yn siŵr fod ffynonellau cyllid gwahanol ar gael.
Rwy'n fwy na pharod i anfon dadansoddiad manylach arall at yr Aelod o’r buddsoddiadau a’r cyfleoedd a gefnogwyd gan y banc datblygu yn y canolbarth a’r gorllewin, gan nad wyf yn credu bod ei gwestiwn wedi rhoi'r holl gylch gwaith i ni, a holl gwmpas yr hyn y mae Banc Datblygu Cymru yn ei wneud i dyfu gweithgarwch economaidd a llesiant yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am werth economaidd y diwydiant paneli pren i Gymru? OQ60645
6. Will the Minister make a statement on the economic value of the wood panel industry to Wales? OQ60645
Thank you for the question. The wood panel industry provides a valued economic contribution to the timber sector in Wales. We welcome the continued engagement with the wood panel industry, as we prepare this Welsh Government's first timber industrial strategy, to develop and sustain high-value production and processing of Welsh wood.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Mae’r diwydiant paneli pren yn gwneud cyfraniad economaidd gwerthfawr i’r sector pren yng Nghymru. Rydym yn croesawu’r ymgysylltiad parhaus â’r diwydiant paneli pren, wrth inni baratoi strategaeth ddiwydiannol gyntaf Llywodraeth Cymru ar bren, i ddatblygu a chynnal diwydiant cynhyrchu a phrosesu pren Cymreig o werth uchel.
Well, Minister, thank you for that answer, and it will reassure, I'm in no doubt, more than 600 people who are employed at the Kronospan plant in Clwyd South, almost all of whom are unionised. They are members of Unite the Union, and they contribute, and the business contributes, and the sector contributes, not only to growing the economy in a sustainable way, but also to the circular economy and to prosperity in their community. Would you join me in thanking the workforce and the company for how they contribute to economic growth in this area, and would you recommit to ensuring that the wood panel sector grows and thrives in the years to come?
Wel, Weinidog, diolch am eich ateb, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn tawelu meddyliau mwy na 600 o bobl sydd wedi'u cyflogi yn ffatri Kronospan yn Ne Clwyd, y mae bron i bob un ohonynt yn aelodau o undeb. Maent yn aelodau o undeb Unite, ac maent yn cyfrannu, ac mae’r busnes yn cyfrannu, ac mae’r sector yn cyfrannu, nid yn unig at dyfu’r economi mewn modd cynaliadwy, ond hefyd at yr economi gylchol ac at ffyniant yn eu cymuned. A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i ddiolch i’r gweithlu a’r cwmni am y ffordd y maent yn cyfrannu at dwf economaidd yn y maes hwn, ac a wnewch chi ailymrwymo i sicrhau bod y sector paneli pren yn tyfu ac yn ffynnu yn y blynyddoedd i ddod?
I thank the Member for the question. I had the opportunity to visit, twice, this particular significant employer, and it's not just an example of its business but, actually, of its local and community impact. So, I've seen the sponsorship shirts, the fact that it helps provide a significant outlet for leisure activity for that community that it supports. And, indeed, having met the Unite convener there on previous visits, it is an employer that values its good set of industrial relationships, and that's helped it to invest in its plant to both decarbonise in terms of some of the power and the new processing opportunities it has, and the investment in capital. So, it's thinking about the future of its business.
Now, there aren't many champions for the wood power industry, but I'm sure Kronospan are pleased that you're one of them, because it is a good example of a circular approach for reprocessing Welsh wood. So, lots of wood that would otherwise be waste can be reprocessed and turned into really high-quality products that are actually well sought-after, and a growing market here within Wales and the wider UK. It is the largest accredited reprocessor of wood in the UK of wooden pallets and has innovative product design with circularity and reuse in mind. So, it's a very good example of a business that we want more of, with good wages, grounded in the local community, and they're reinvesting in their business for the future. That is part of the journey we all need to be on to create a lower carbon economy, but one that is still successful in providing good jobs closer to home.
Diolch i’r Aelod am ei gwestiwn. Cefais gyfle i ymweld, ddwywaith, â’r cyflogwr pwysig hwn, ac mae'n enghraifft nid yn unig o'i effaith fusnes, ond o'i effaith leol a chymunedol hefyd. Felly, rwyf wedi gweld y crysau nawdd, y ffaith ei fod yn helpu i ddarparu man pwysig ar gyfer gweithgarwch hamdden i'r gymuned honno y mae'n ei chefnogi. Ac yn wir, ar ôl cyfarfod â chynullydd Unite yno ar ymweliadau blaenorol, mae'n gyflogwr sy'n gwerthfawrogi ei set dda o gysylltiadau diwydiannol, ac mae hynny wedi ei helpu i fuddsoddi yn ei ffatri i ddatgarboneiddio peth o'r pŵer a'r cyfleoedd prosesu newydd sydd ganddo, a'r buddsoddiad mewn cyfalaf. Felly, mae'n meddwl am ddyfodol ei fusnes.
Nawr, nid oes llawer o hyrwyddwyr ar ran y diwydiant pŵer coed, ond rwy'n siŵr bod Kronospan yn falch eich bod yn un ohonynt, gan ei fod yn enghraifft dda o ddull cylchol ar gyfer ailbrosesu pren Cymreig. Felly, gellir ailbrosesu llawer o bren a fyddai fel arall yn wastraff, a'i droi'n gynhyrchion o ansawdd uchel iawn y mae galw mawr amdanynt, ac sy'n farchnad sy'n tyfu yma yng Nghymru a'r DU yn ehangach. Dyma'r ailbrosesydd paletau pren achrededig mwyaf yn y DU, ac mae cynllun ei gynnyrch yn arloesol, gyda chylcholrwydd ac ailddefnyddio mewn golwg. Felly, mae'n enghraifft dda iawn o fusnes yr ydym yn awyddus i weld mwy ohono, gyda chyflogau da, wedi'i wreiddio yn y gymuned leol, ac maent yn ailfuddsoddi yn eu busnes ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae hynny’n rhan o’r daith y mae angen i bob un ohonom fod arni i greu economi carbon is, ond un sy’n dal i lwyddo i ddarparu swyddi da yn nes at adref.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod gan weithlu Cymru y sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar gyfer y farchnad swyddi yn y dyfodol? OQ60646
7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure the Welsh workforce has the necessary skills for the future jobs market? OQ60646
Thank you for the question. Through key skills programmes such as apprenticeships that we discussed earlier, personal learning accounts and the flexible skills programme, we continue to work in collaboration with industry, business, learning providers, trade unions and other key stakeholders to increase our skills capacity across Wales. I look forward to publishing a sector skills road map this spring.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Drwy raglenni sgiliau allweddol, megis y prentisiaethau a drafodwyd gennym yn gynharach, cyfrifon dysgu personol a rhaglen sgiliau hyblyg, rydym yn parhau i weithio mewn cydweithrediad â diwydiant, busnes, darparwyr dysgu, undebau llafur a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill i gynyddu ein capasiti sgiliau ledled Cymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at gyhoeddi cynllun sgiliau'r sector yn y gwanwyn.
Thank you for your response, Minister. The world of work is changing rapidly, as are the needs of society at large. As we adapt to external pressures such as climate change or changing demographics, we have to ensure that not only our future generations are equipped for the demands of the future job market, but that the current workforce has full support and opportunities to retrain at any point in their career. Minister, what steps are you taking to maximise training places and ensure apprenticeships are available to workers at any age, not just school leavers?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Mae'r byd gwaith yn newid yn gyflym, fel y mae anghenion cymdeithas yn gyffredinol. Wrth inni addasu i bwysau allanol megis y newid yn yr hinsawdd neu ddemograffeg sy’n newid, mae’n rhaid inni sicrhau nid yn unig fod cenedlaethau’r dyfodol yn barod ar gyfer gofynion marchnad swyddi’r dyfodol, ond bod gan y gweithlu presennol gefnogaeth lawn a chyfleoedd i ailhyfforddi ar unrhyw adeg yn eu gyrfa. Weinidog, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i gael cymaint â phosibl o leoedd hyfforddi ac i sicrhau bod prentisiaethau ar gael i weithwyr o bob oedran, nid pobl sy’n gadael ysgol yn unig?
lI'm proud of the fact that we have an all-age apprenticeship programme here in Wales, and when I meet apprentices in different businesses I of course meet younger workers near the start of their working career, but I often meet people who have had time in different businesses. So, when I've met Unite stewards at Airbus UK, I've met a number of people in that apprenticeship programme who've had a change of career in their later 20s and 30s, the same when I've met workers in GE Aviation, for example, as well—people who have come in from the auto engineering industry and have transferred into aerospace. So, you can and do continue to see people moving careers.
Apprenticeships are one of the routes to do that. There are also other forms of skills interventions. So, for some people, they'll have a larger business that can continue to invest in them whilst continuing to take an apprenticeship. In other businesses, they may not be able to provide the same sort of wage level, so it's how we make sure that the skills interventions are fit for purpose both for the skills that the worker and the business need, but also taking account of that person's real-world responsibilities as well. And I think we've managed to do it.
It's important, I think, to reflect on the fact that trade union learning is part of this as well. It both helps people to come forward, sometimes with basic skills needs, but certainly higher skills opportunities as well, because having different routes for people to access that training and learning is of real value. I've seen that myself with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers at Tesco, for example, where Tesco themselves welcome the fact that there's trade union learning through USDAW. This is of benefit to the individual worker outside their work, but they also see that benefit within the workplace as well.
Again, this is all-age training and development opportunities that we want to see more of. The Government are looking to do our part: we want to see more businesses continue to invest in their biggest asset, which is, of course, their people.
Rwy’n falch o’r ffaith bod gennym raglen brentisiaethau pob oed yma yng Nghymru, a phan fyddaf yn cyfarfod â phrentisiaid mewn gwahanol fusnesau, rwy’n cyfarfod â gweithwyr iau yn agos at ddechrau eu gyrfa, wrth gwrs, ond rwy’n aml yn cyfarfod â phobl sydd wedi treulio amser mewn gwahanol fusnesau. Felly, wrth gyfarfod â stiwardiaid Unite yn Airbus UK, cyfarfûm â nifer o bobl yn y rhaglen brentisiaeth honno sydd wedi newid gyrfa yn eu 20au hwyr a'u 30au, a'r un peth wrth gyfarfod â gweithwyr yn GE Aviation, er enghraifft, hefyd—pobl sydd wedi dod o'r diwydiant peirianneg ceir ac wedi trosglwyddo i faes awyrofod. Felly, gallwch barhau i weld pobl yn newid gyrfaoedd.
Prentisiaethau yw un o’r llwybrau i wneud hynny. Ceir mathau eraill o ymyriadau sgiliau hefyd. Felly, i rai pobl, bydd ganddynt fusnes mwy a all barhau i fuddsoddi ynddynt wrth barhau i ddilyn prentisiaeth. Mewn busnesau eraill, efallai na fyddant yn gallu darparu’r un lefel o gyflog, felly dyna sut rydym yn sicrhau bod yr ymyriadau sgiliau yn addas i’r diben ar gyfer y sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar y gweithiwr a’r busnes, ond hefyd gan ystyried cyfrifoldebau'r unigolyn hwnnw yn y byd go iawn hefyd. A chredaf ein bod wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig myfyrio ar y ffaith bod dysgu drwy undebau llafur yn rhan o hyn hefyd. Mae’n helpu pobl i gamu ymlaen, gydag anghenion sgiliau sylfaenol weithiau, ond yn sicr, gyda chyfleoedd sgiliau uwch hefyd, gan fod cael llwybrau gwahanol i bobl gael mynediad at yr hyfforddiant a’r dysgu hwnnw'n wirioneddol werthfawr. Rwyf wedi gweld hynny fy hun gyda'r Undeb Gweithwyr Siopau, Dosbarthu a Gwaith Perthynol (USDAW) yn Tesco, er enghraifft, lle mae Tesco eu hunain yn croesawu'r ffaith bod modd dysgu drwy undeb llafur USDAW. Mae hyn o fudd i’r gweithiwr unigol y tu allan i’w gwaith, ond maent hefyd yn gweld y budd yn y gweithle hefyd.
Unwaith eto, mae'r rhain yn gyfleoedd hyfforddi a datblygu pob oed yr ydym am weld mwy ohonynt. Mae’r Llywodraeth yn awyddus i chwarae ein rhan: rydym am weld mwy o fusnesau’n parhau i fuddsoddi yn eu hased mwyaf, sef eu pobl, wrth gwrs.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Jane Dodds.
Finally, question 8, Jane Dodds.
Diolch, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Minister.
Diolch, Lywydd, a phrynhawn da, Weinidog.
8. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o gyfleoedd economaidd i bobl ifanc yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ60647
8. What assessment has the Minister made of economic opportunities for young people in Mid and West Wales? OQ60647
Prynhawn da. Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Good afternoon. Thank you for the question.
For young people, making the choice to remain within rural communities is, I believe, about ensuring that the rural economy can thrive and prosper to offer them good work close to home. Our 'Economic mission: priorities for a stronger economy' sets out our four national priorities, one of which is focused upon young people.
I bobl ifanc, credaf fod gwneud y dewis i aros mewn cymunedau gwledig yn ymwneud â sicrhau y gall yr economi wledig ffynnu a llwyddo i gynnig gwaith da iddynt yn agos at adref. Mae ein 'Cenhadaeth economaidd: blaenoriaethau ar gyfer economi gryfach' yn nodi ein pedair blaenoriaeth genedlaethol, ac mae un ohonynt yn canolbwyntio ar bobl ifanc.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. A 2022 survey by Aberystwyth University found that four in 10 young people in rural Wales expect to be living outside of Wales in five years' time. That's a staggering statistic. And at the same time, we know that skills shortages are acting as a break on investment and growth in rural Wales. Research from the Federation of Small Businesses, for example, found that 80 per cent of small firms have been struggling to recruit over the last 12 months. Taken together, these figures illustrate the mismatch between the aspirations of our rural young people and the needs of our local industries and small businesses in the countryside.
One of the issues that may help in relation to keeping young people in rural areas is transport, and in evidence submitted last year to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, Careers Wales called for improved rural public transportation links and exploring reduced fares for young people to facilitate those skills getting to the right places. I would like to see free public transport in Wales to be available to all under-25s. Do you agree that this could help our young people in rural Wales? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Canfu arolwg gan Brifysgol Aberystwyth yn 2022 fod pedwar o bob 10 o bobl ifanc yng nghefn gwlad Cymru yn disgwyl byw y tu allan i Gymru ymhen pum mlynedd. Mae hwnnw'n ystadegyn syfrdanol. Ac ar yr un pryd, gwyddom fod prinder sgiliau yn atal buddsoddiad a thwf yng nghefn gwlad Cymru. Canfu ymchwil gan y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach, er enghraifft, fod 80 y cant o gwmnïau bach wedi'i chael hi'n anodd recriwtio dros y 12 mis diwethaf. Gyda'i gilydd, mae’r ffigurau hyn yn dangos yr anghydweddiad rhwng dyheadau ein pobl ifanc yng nghefn gwlad ac anghenion ein diwydiannau lleol a busnesau bach gwledig.
Un o’r materion a all fod o gymorth mewn perthynas â chadw pobl ifanc mewn ardaloedd gwledig yw trafnidiaeth, ac mewn tystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd y llynedd i Bwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, galwodd Gyrfa Cymru am well cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn ardaloedd gwledig ac am archwilio prisiau gostyngol i bobl ifanc er mwyn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i'r sgiliau hynny gyrraedd y lleoedd iawn. Hoffwn weld trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus am ddim yng Nghymru i bawb o dan 25 oed. A ydych chi'n cytuno y gallai hyn helpu ein pobl ifanc yng nghefn gwlad Cymru? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I think there are two points. The first is I'd like to see a free transport offer for young people. Our challenge is being able to afford it, and so, actually, that is a budgetary choice for us to make, and at the moment we can't in all good conscience say we want to do that. There is a future aspiration for wanting to make bus travel in particular more affordable for people across the country.
The second point I’d make, and this came up in First Minister’s questions yesterday—some of the challenges around the bus network and our ability and willingness to reintroduce regulation for a franchising model that means that different routes are sustained in the way that we reward and organise bus travel within Wales. I’m very pleased to say that every member of this Government is committed to re-regulating buses, because we believe we will have a more stable network that will protect what we currently have, it will be a better use of public money, and give us opportunities to grow the bus network in the future, and to address the point that the Member makes about its affordability for people of all ages, but especially the point she makes around young people.
Credaf fod dau bwynt yma. Y cyntaf yw yr hoffwn weld cynnig trafnidiaeth am ddim i bobl ifanc. Yr her i ni yw gallu fforddio hynny, ac felly, mewn gwirionedd, mae hwnnw'n ddewis cyllidebol i ni ei wneud, ac ar hyn o bryd, gyda phob ewyllys da ni allwn ddweud ein bod eisiau gwneud hynny. Mae yna ddyhead ar gyfer y dyfodol i wneud teithio ar fysiau yn enwedig yn fwy fforddiadwy i bobl ledled y wlad.
Yr ail bwynt y buaswn yn ei wneud, a chodwyd hyn yn ystod y cwestiynau i’r Prif Weinidog ddoe—rhai o’r heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r rhwydwaith bysiau a’n gallu a’n parodrwydd i ailgyflwyno rheoleiddio ar gyfer model masnachfreinio sy’n golygu bod llwybrau gwahanol yn cael eu cynnal yn y ffordd y gwobrwywn ac y trefnwn deithio ar fysiau yng Nghymru. Rwy’n falch iawn o ddweud bod pob aelod o’r Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i ailreoleiddio bysiau, gan y credwn y bydd gennym rwydwaith mwy sefydlog a fydd yn diogelu’r hyn sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd, a bydd yn ddefnydd gwell o arian cyhoeddus, ac yn rhoi cyfleoedd inni dyfu’r rhwydwaith bysiau yn y dyfodol, a mynd i’r afael â’r pwynt y mae’r Aelod yn ei wneud am ei fforddiadwyedd i bobl o bob oed, ond yn enwedig y pwynt y mae’n ei wneud ynghylch pobl ifanc.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog a'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
I thank the Minister and Deputy Minister.
Y cwestiynau nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Sam Rowlands.
The next questions will be questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services, and the first question is from Sam Rowlands.
1. Beth mae'r Gweinidog yn ei wneud i sicrhau gwerth am arian wrth gaffael cynhyrchion i'w defnyddio yn y GIG? OQ60638
1. What is the Minister doing to ensure value for money when procuring products for use in the NHS? OQ60638
Welsh public sector contracting authorities, including NHS Wales, are expected to have regard to the principles set out in our Wales procurement policy statement. This approach seeks to ensure that public procurement in Wales maximises social and economic value outcomes when delivering goods and services for the people of Wales.
Disgwylir i awdurdodau contractio sector cyhoeddus Cymru, gan gynnwys GIG Cymru, roi sylw i’r egwyddorion a nodir yn natganiad polisi caffael Cymru. Nod y dull gweithredu hwn yw gwneud yn siŵr fod caffael cyhoeddus yng Nghymru yn sicrhau’r canlyniadau gorau posibl o ran gwerth cymdeithasol ac economaidd wrth ddarparu nwyddau a gwasanaethau i bobl Cymru.
Thank you for your response, Minister. You will accept, as you've outlined there, that value for money is something that should be running through every Government department, and should be an absolute priority for every Minister and official in Welsh Government, and, of course, this applies to health services in Wales too. You’ll be aware that earlier this year the UK Conservative Government, on behalf of all parts of the UK, and the pharmaceutical industry entered a new voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth—the VPAG. This deal, brokered by the UK Government, means that the very latest innovative medicines are available to the NHS in Wales and can be used with patients, ensuring best value for money.
Now, historically these schemes have enabled hundreds of millions of pounds to come to the Welsh Government, and usually targeted at the health department. So, could you confirm today that this money will continue to be retained within health, and where you expect these additional funds to be targeted?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Fe fyddwch yn derbyn, fel rydych newydd ei amlinellu, fod gwerth am arian yn rhywbeth a ddylai fod yn rhedeg drwy bob adran yn y Llywodraeth, a dylai fod yn flaenoriaeth lwyr i bob Gweinidog a swyddog yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn berthnasol i wasanaethau iechyd yng Nghymru hefyd. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU, yn gynharach eleni, ar ran pob rhan o’r DU, a’r diwydiant fferyllol wedi ymrwymo i gynllun prisio, mynediad a thwf gwirfoddol newydd ar gyfer meddyginiaethau wedi'u brandio—y VPAG. Mae’r fargen hon, a frocerwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU, yn golygu bod y meddyginiaethau arloesol diweddaraf ar gael i’r GIG yng Nghymru ac y gellir eu defnyddio gyda chleifion, gan sicrhau’r gwerth gorau am arian.
Nawr, yn hanesyddol, mae’r cynlluniau hyn wedi galluogi cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd i ddod i Lywodraeth Cymru, a'i dargedu fel arfer at yr adran iechyd. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau heddiw y bydd yr arian hwn yn parhau i gael ei gadw ar gyfer iechyd, a lle rydych chi'n disgwyl i’r cronfeydd ychwanegol hyn gael eu targedu?
Thank you very much. The Member is correct, in January a new voluntary scheme, the voluntary pricing, access and growth scheme, came into effect. What this does is to set an annual cap on the value of total sales of branded medicines across the NHS, and what happens then is, if sales go above the cap, then there’s a rebate. Each rebate is apportioned between the four nations of the UK, and that’s based on the medicines expenditure in each nation. So, what it does is it doesn’t actually provide new money. Any funding derived from the voluntary pricing, access and growth scheme has already been factored into budget planning to deliver for the NHS and the people of Wales.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae’r Aelod yn llygad ei le, ym mis Ionawr, daeth cynllun gwirfoddol newydd, y cynllun prisio, mynediad a thwf gwirfoddol, i rym. Yr hyn y mae'n ei wneud yw gosod cap blynyddol ar uchafswm gwerthiant meddyginiaethau wedi’u brandio ar draws y GIG, a’r hyn sy’n digwydd wedyn yw, os yw gwerthiannau’n mynd uwchlaw’r cap, ceir ad-daliad. Caiff pob ad-daliad ei ddosrannu rhwng pedair gwlad y DU, ac mae hynny’n seiliedig ar y gwariant ar feddyginiaethau ym mhob gwlad. Felly, nid yw'n darparu arian newydd mewn gwirionedd. Mae unrhyw gyllid sy’n deillio o’r cynllun prisio, mynediad a thwf gwirfoddol eisoes wedi’i gynnwys wrth gynllunio’r gyllideb i ddarparu ar gyfer y GIG a phobl Cymru.
Un ffordd o sicrhau gwerth am arian ydy gwneud gwaith ymchwil manwl iawn, trafod efo clinigwyr sy'n mynd i fod yn defnyddio rhyw offer newydd, a gwneud yn siŵr bod y cynnyrch gorau posibl yn cael ei gaffael. A dyna'n union gafodd ei wneud drwy drio dewis system electronic patient record ar gyfer gwasanaethau opthalmoleg. Mi fuddsoddwyd miliynau yn y gwaith hwnnw, a'r casgliad oedd y dylid caffael y system OpenEyes, system sydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio'n eang iawn yn barod, yn cynnwys mewn canolfannau llygaid blaenllaw fel Moorfields. Mae wedi'i gyflwyno yn yr Alban hefyd.
Ond, bum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, does yna ddim byd wedi digwydd. Fe wnes i gyfarfod opthalmolegwyr yn Ysbyty Singleton, Abertawe, yr wythnos diwethaf. Roedd yna gynrychiolaeth o ar draws de Cymru yno. Fe wnaeth Llyr Gruffydd ddoe godi hyn ar ran opthalmolegwyr yn y gogledd. Maen nhw wir, wir yn erfyn ar y Gweinidog i plîs bwyso'r botwm ar gaffael y system yma. Mi fyddai'n trawsnewid eu gwaith nhw, yn arwain at well gofal llygaid. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn barod i wneud y penderfyniad hwnnw ar frys, o ystyried bod y gwaith wedi cael ei wneud?
One way of ensuring value for money is to do very detailed research, to discuss with clinicians who will be using new equipment, and ensuring that the best products are procured. And that's exactly what was done by trying to select the electronic patient record system for ophthalmology services. Millions were invested in that work, and the conclusion was that the OpenEyes system should be procured—a system used very broadly already, including in leading eye centres such as Moorfields. It has been introduced in Scotland too.
But, five years later, nothing has happened. I met ophthalmologists at Singleton Hospital last week. There was representation from across south Wales there. Llyr Gruffydd, yesterday, raised this on behalf of ophthalmologists in north Wales. They are urging the Minister to please press the button to procure this system. It would transform their work, and would lead to better eye care. So, is the Minister willing to take that decision as a matter of urgency, given that the work has already been done?
Diolch yn fawr. I have been looking into the issues in relation to the digital eye care programme, because it’s also been brought to my attention. What happened was that there was an initial funding allocation that was granted, and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board were responsible for hosting and delivering that. And the idea was to digitise the referral process from primary care to secondary care as well as to introduce an electronic patient record. The programme didn’t progress as planned as far as I understand. And so there were some concerns reported in initial technology deployment, and clinical safety issues were raised by the health board.
So, what’s happened is that that was then transitioned to Digital Health and Care Wales, and I’ve asked for a meeting with Digital Health and Care Wales to progress this, because it is frustrating, I know. So, I have asked for a meeting, not just with Digital Health and Care Wales, but also with the ophthalmologists to make sure that I hear every side of the argument in relation to this.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwyf wedi bod yn ymchwilio i'r materion mewn perthynas â'r rhaglen gofal llygaid ddigidol, oherwydd cafodd ei ddwyn i fy sylw hefyd. Yr hyn a ddigwyddodd oedd bod dyraniad cyllid cychwynnol wedi cael ei gymeradwyo, a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro oedd yn gyfrifol am gynnal a darparu hwnnw. A'r syniad oedd digideiddio'r broses atgyfeirio o ofal sylfaenol i ofal eilaidd yn ogystal â chyflwyno cofnod cleifion electronig. Yn ôl yr hyn rwy'n ei ddeall, ni wnaeth y rhaglen fynd yn ei blaen fel y cynlluniwyd. Ac felly adroddwyd am rai pryderon wrth ddefnyddio technoleg ar y cychwyn, a chodwyd materion diogelwch clinigol gan y bwrdd iechyd.
Felly, cafodd hynny ei drosglwyddo wedyn i Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru, ac rwyf wedi gofyn am gyfarfod gydag Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru er mwyn bwrw ymlaen â hyn, oherwydd mae'n rhwystredig, rwy'n gwybod. Felly, rwyf wedi gofyn am gyfarfod, nid yn unig gydag Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru, ond hefyd gyda'r offthalmolegwyr i sicrhau fy mod yn clywed pob ochr i'r ddadl mewn perthynas â hyn.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am fynediad at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl cymunedol yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ60651
2. Will the Minister make a statement on access to community mental health services in North Wales? OQ60651
As part of the special measures escalation, a comprehensive programme of work has been agreed to ensure that the health board is able to make the sustained progress required in mental health services.
Fel rhan o uwchgyfeirio i fesurau arbennig, cytunwyd ar raglen waith gynhwysfawr i sicrhau bod y bwrdd iechyd yn gallu gwneud y cynnydd parhaus sydd ei angen mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl.
Thank you for that answer. Deputy Minister, you'll be aware that, yesterday, I raised concerns with the First Minister about the poor experience of patients at the Nant y Glyn community mental health centre in Colwyn Bay. Patients are simply not getting the service that they need, and that is resulting in some of them having much worse mental health than would have been the case otherwise. I know that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales has previously raised concerns about access for patients to services provided by Nant y Glyn and that an announced inspection took place recently.
However, I am concerned that the inspection regime is insufficient. It does not always include patient experiences or reaching out to patients who have made their experiences known to elected representatives like me. I would therefore urge the Welsh Government to encourage HIW to look at its inspection framework to ensure that engagement with elected representatives and patients is paramount in terms of one of the pillars of their inspection regime in the future, including on the Nant y Glyn experiences that my constituents have been experiencing.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Ddirprwy Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, ddoe, fy mod wedi codi pryderon gyda'r Prif Weinidog am brofiadau gwael cleifion yng nghanolfan iechyd meddwl gymunedol Nant y Glyn ym Mae Colwyn. Nid yw cleifion yn cael y gwasanaeth sydd ei angen arnynt, ac mae hynny'n golygu bod iechyd meddwl rhai ohonynt yn llawer gwaeth nag y byddai fel arall. Gwn fod Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru wedi codi pryderon yn y gorffennol am fynediad cleifion at wasanaethau a ddarperir gan Nant y Glyn a bod arolygiad lle rhoddwyd rhybudd wedi ei gynnal yn ddiweddar.
Fodd bynnag, rwy'n pryderu nad yw'r drefn arolygu yn ddigonol. Nid yw bob amser yn cynnwys profiadau cleifion nac yn estyn allan at gleifion sydd wedi gwneud eu profiadau'n hysbys i gynrychiolwyr etholedig fel fi. Felly, hoffwn erfyn ar Lywodraeth Cymru i annog Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru i edrych ar ei fframwaith arolygu i sicrhau bod ymgysylltiad â chynrychiolwyr etholedig a chleifion yn hollbwysig ac yn cael ei ystyried yn un o bileri eu trefn arolygu yn y dyfodol, gan gynnwys ar y profiadau y mae fy etholwyr wedi bod yn eu cael yn Nant y Glyn.
Can I thank you, Darren, for that supplementary question? And I listened carefully to your exchange with the First Minister yesterday, and I know that he gave you assurances, and I would like to repeat those assurances. We're waiting for the HIW report to come through and I'll certainly be looking very carefully at that.
As you're aware, HIW is independent of Welsh Government as an inspectorate, and I'm also conscious that they do attempt, as I understand it, to take account of service-user feedback as part of the work that they do. But, in relation to community mental health teams, I will make enquiries as to whether there was feedback sought from service users. And just to repeat the First Minister's assurance that I will get the report, I will look at it and we will make sure that everything that needs to be followed up is followed up.
A gaf i ddiolch i chi am y cwestiwn atodol, Darren? Ac fe wrandawais yn ofalus ar eich trafodaeth gyda'r Prif Weinidog ddoe, a gwn ei fod wedi rhoi sicrwydd i chi, a hoffwn ailadrodd y sicrwydd hwnnw. Rydym yn aros i adroddiad Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru gael ei gyhoeddi a byddaf yn sicr yn edrych yn ofalus iawn ar hwnnw.
Fel y gwyddoch, mae Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yn annibynnol ar Lywodraeth Cymru fel arolygiaeth, ac fel rwy'n ei ddeall, rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol eu bod yn ceisio ystyried adborth gan ddefnyddwyr gwasanaeth fel rhan o'r gwaith a wnânt. Ond mewn perthynas â thimau iechyd meddwl cymunedol, fe wnaf ymholiadau ynglŷn ag a ofynnwyd am adborth gan ddefnyddwyr gwasanaeth. A hoffwn ailadrodd sicrwydd y Prif Weinidog y byddaf yn cael yr adroddiad, byddaf yn edrych arno a byddwn yn sicrhau bod popeth y mae angen mynd ar ei drywydd yn cael sylw.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Questions now from party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Russell George.
Diolch, Llywydd. Llywydd, rural mid and north Wales needs a strong ambulance service, particularly in emergencies. With the lack of a district general hospital in these areas, it makes the need for an air ambulance service all the more vital. Now, Minister, you will be aware, of course, that the final engagement process has now begun. The review is being led by a service within the Welsh NHS, but, of course, you are the heath Minister and you are responsible for ensuring appropriate policy is in place, and ensuring that patients are transferred to appropriate medical facilities rapidly. And I know, Minister, that you've been involved in this process as well. So, you have the ability to intervene, to influence and to decide what happens. So are you, Minister, prepared to take on board the significant concerns that have come across from communities in north and mid Wales, to ensure that both sites in Welshpool and Caernarfon remain open, so that we have an ambulance service that reaches all parts of Wales and takes into account the very specific nature of some of the most rural parts of Wales?
Diolch, Lywydd. Lywydd, mae angen gwasanaeth ambiwlans cryf yng nghefn gwlad canolbarth a gogledd Cymru, yn enwedig mewn argyfwng. Mae'r ffaith nad oes ysbyty cyffredinol dosbarth yn yr ardaloedd hyn yn golygu bod yr angen am wasanaeth ambiwlans awyr yn bwysicach fyth. Nawr, Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, fod y broses ymgysylltu derfynol bellach wedi dechrau. Mae'r adolygiad yn cael ei arwain gan wasanaeth o fewn GIG Cymru, ond wrth gwrs, chi yw'r Gweinidog iechyd a chi sy'n gyfrifol am sicrhau bod polisi priodol ar waith, a sicrhau bod cleifion yn cael eu trosglwyddo i gyfleusterau meddygol priodol yn gyflym. Ac rwy'n gwybod, Weinidog, eich bod wedi bod yn rhan o'r broses hon hefyd. Felly, mae gennych allu i ymyrryd, i ddylanwadu ac i benderfynu beth sy'n digwydd. Felly a ydych chi, Weinidog, yn barod i ystyried y pryderon sylweddol sydd wedi cael eu codi gan gymunedau yng ngogledd a chanolbarth Cymru, i sicrhau bod y ddau safle yn y Trallwng a Chaernarfon yn parhau ar agor, fel bod gennym wasanaeth ambiwlans sy'n cyrraedd pob rhan o Gymru ac yn ystyried natur benodol iawn rhai o rannau mwyaf gwledig Cymru?
Thanks very much. Well, the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, of course, is an independent charity—it's independent of Government. But you're quite right to point out that there is obviously a relationship with the Welsh Government, in the sense that there's a link with the emergency aspect of it and the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee, and the chair of EASC has been absolutely instrumental in terms of ensuring that the public has had its voice heard in relation to any proposed changes. So, as you say, there has been significant feedback already to inform the review during the last phase. What's happened now I think as a result of that is that two options have been put forward, and that's what's now going out to the public. I did ask the chair of EASC specifically to make sure that he'd listened in to the conversations that took place within this Chamber, just to get a real sense of what were the concerns of people in this Chamber.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, elusen annibynnol yw Elusen Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru wrth gwrs—mae'n annibynnol ar y Llywodraeth. Ond rydych yn llygad eich lle i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod yna berthynas â Llywodraeth Cymru, yn yr ystyr bod cysylltiad â natur frys y mater ac mae'r Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Brys, a chadeirydd y Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Brys wedi bod yn gwbl allweddol yn sicrhau bod llais y cyhoedd yn cael ei glywed mewn perthynas ag unrhyw newidiadau arfaethedig. Felly, fel y dywedwch, cafwyd adborth sylweddol eisoes i lywio'r adolygiad yn ystod y cam diwethaf. Yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd nawr, rwy'n credu, o ganlyniad i hynny, yw bod dau opsiwn wedi cael eu cyflwyno, a dyna'r opsiynau sydd bellach yn cael eu cynnig i'r cyhoedd. Gofynnais i gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Brys i wneud yn siŵr yn benodol ei fod wedi gwrando ar y trafodaethau a gafwyd yn y Siambr hon, er mwyn cael gwir ymdeimlad o'r hyn sy'n destun pryder i bobl yn y Siambr hon.
Thank you, Minister. First of all, the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, as you say, is a charity, but they are commissioned by the Welsh NHS. And they've also accepted the result of this process, and they will follow the result of this process, and of course the NHS pays for the paramedics and the equipment on those air ambulance vehicles. So, it's important, Minister, that this is ultimately a decision for the Welsh Government and the Welsh NHS.
I was a little bit concerned when you said that there are two options that have now come forward, because the commissioner has told me, and it says so in the documentation, that there are six options that have come forward, and two are preferred. Of those two preferred options, both mean the closure of Caernarfon and Welshpool bases, which is entirely unacceptable. And I think, Minister, that what is frustrating here is that, whilst you've pointed out that there's been an engagement process that has taken place—yes, that is right, a significant one; thousands of people have attended meetings or responded to consultations—this is the issue: have they been listened to? Because that doesn't come through when you see two preferred options that close these two bases. And to go from four bases to three bases across Wales just isn't appropriate, Minister. I'm disappointed that we've got to this position, and I think now is the time that you, Minister, certainly need to intervene.
And it's not only the public that have got concerns; it's clinicians as well. They're saying that they fear lives will be put at risk should these two bases close. They're also saying that many of them will actually leave the service—these experienced people in Welshpool, in Caernarfon, will leave the service. Now, I and the public have repeatedly been told that this is never about saving money. Is that still the case? And if a case was made for an expansion of the air ambulance service, are you still committed to considering such proposals and financing such proposals?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Yn gyntaf oll, elusen yw Elusen Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru, fel y dywedwch, ond cânt eu comisiynu gan GIG Cymru. Ac maent hefyd wedi derbyn canlyniad y broses hon, a byddant yn dilyn canlyniad y broses hon, ac wrth gwrs mae'r GIG yn talu am y parafeddygon a'r offer ar y cerbydau ambiwlans awyr hynny. Felly, mae'n bwysig, Weinidog, mai penderfyniad i Lywodraeth Cymru a'r GIG yng Nghymru yw hwn yn y pen draw.
Roeddwn ychydig yn bryderus pan ddywedoch chi fod dau opsiwn wedi eu cyflwyno bellach, oherwydd mae'r comisiynydd wedi dweud wrthyf, ac mae'n dweud hynny yn y ddogfennaeth, fod yna chwe opsiwn wedi'u cyflwyno, a bod dau yn cael eu ffafrio. Mae'r ddau opsiwn a ffefrir fel ei gilydd yn golygu cau canolfannau Caernarfon a'r Trallwng, sy'n gwbl annerbyniol. Ac rwy'n credu, Weinidog, mai'r hyn sy'n rhwystredig yma yw, er eich bod wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod yna broses ymgysylltu wedi bod—mae hynny'n wir, proses sylweddol; mae miloedd o bobl wedi mynychu cyfarfodydd neu wedi ymateb i ymgynghoriadau—dyma'r broblem: a ydych wedi gwrando arnynt? Oherwydd nid yw hynny i'w weld pan welwch ddau opsiwn a ffefrir sy'n golygu cau'r ddwy ganolfan. Ac nid yw mynd o bedair canolfan i dair canolfan ar draws Cymru yn briodol, Weinidog. Rwy'n siomedig ein bod wedi cyrraedd y sefyllfa hon, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bryd i chi ymyrryd nawr, Weinidog.
Ac nid y cyhoedd yn unig sydd â phryderon; mae gan glinigwyr bryderon hefyd. Maent yn dweud eu bod yn ofni y bydd bywydau mewn perygl pe bai'r ddwy ganolfan yn cau. Maent hefyd yn dweud y bydd llawer ohonynt yn gadael y gwasanaeth mewn gwirionedd—bydd y bobl brofiadol hyn yn y Trallwng, yng Nghaernarfon, yn gadael y gwasanaeth. Nawr, rwyf fi a'r cyhoedd wedi clywed dro ar ôl tro nad yw hyn yn ymwneud ag arbed arian. A yw hynny'n dal i fod yn wir? Ac os cafodd achos ei wneud dros ehangu'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans awyr, a ydych chi'n dal i fod wedi ymrwymo i ystyried cynigion o'r fath ac ariannu cynigion o'r fath?
Thanks very much. Well, you're right, it's not about saving money, but it is about maximising efficiency, and I think that is something that is a responsibility of Government to do. So, you'll know that there were some principles that were set out: if people get the service now, they will continue to get it, and more people will get the service. So, those are the two things that were absolutely key in terms of driving any proposed changes. I think one of the things that has been suggested is that there could be more cars at strategic points. This is something that I heard very clearly in the debates that we've had in the past in this Chamber. So, if, for example, you have somebody at the far end of Pen Llŷn, and there's fog and the helicopter can't make it, actually, the issue is not the helicopter; it's about the strategic positioning of the vehicles. And I think that's something that has very much come across and has been understood, which is why I think that has become, certainly, part of the options that have been put forward.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, rydych chi'n iawn, nid yw'n ymwneud ag arbed arian, ond mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau cymaint o effeithlonrwydd â phosibl, ac rwy'n credu bod cyfrifoldeb ar Lywodraeth i wneud hynny. Felly, fe wyddoch fod rhai egwyddorion wedi'u nodi: os bydd pobl yn cael y gwasanaeth nawr, byddant yn parhau i'w gael, a bydd mwy o bobl yn cael y gwasanaeth. Felly, dyna'r ddau beth a oedd yn gwbl allweddol wrth lywio unrhyw newidiadau arfaethedig. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau a awgrymwyd yw y gellid cael mwy o geir ar bwyntiau strategol. Mae hwn yn awgrym rwyf wedi'i glywed yn glir iawn yn y dadleuon a gawsom yn y Siambr hon yn y gorffennol. Felly, er enghraifft, os oes gennych chi rywun ym mhen pellaf Pen Llŷn, a bod niwl ac nad yw'r hofrennydd yn gallu cyrraedd yno mewn gwirionedd, nid yr hofrennydd yw'r broblem; mae'n ymwneud â lleoliad strategol y cerbydau. Ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n sicr yn rhywbeth sydd wedi cael ei gyfleu ac sydd wedi cael ei ddeall, ac rwy'n credu mai dyna pam mae hynny wedi dod yn rhan o'r opsiynau sydd wedi'u cyflwyno.
Well, thank you for your answer, Minister. Certainly, you're right in one sense—at the beginning of this process, we were told that 500 more people would be able to be reached under the original proposal. That, as I now certainly understand it, is something that has been dismissed, but the First Minister mentioned it again last week. So, I do hope, Minister, that you and the First Minister can intervene in this process and take a lead on this process, because it's important that you know the feelings on the ground, what the feelings are in mid and north Wales and in these communities.
You also mentioned the issue of fog. Well, we've got a weather warning coming in for mid and north Wales tomorrow, which is significant. At the moment, we've got two bases—Welshpool and Caernarfon—covering mid and north Wales. If proposals come forward to have one centralised base, then that base—. If that closes due to adverse weather, there is then no cover in the mid and north Wales area from a mid and north Wales base. So, there's greater flexibility by having those two bases, and that makes and answers the point that you made about fog. Fog, adverse weather—this is exactly why we need to retain both bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon.
So, can I ask you, Minister—? Given the fact that the First Minister I think perhaps made some statements that I'm not sure are entirely accurate last week, can I ask that you and the First Minister actively get involved in this process, intervene, and, ultimately, you, as the Minister, make the final decision in terms of what happens to the current bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon, because moving from four to three bases is entirely unacceptable for the population of mid and north Wales?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Yn sicr, rydych chi'n iawn ar un ystyr—ar ddechrau'r broses hon, dywedwyd wrthym y byddai modd cyrraedd 500 yn rhagor o bobl o dan y cynnig gwreiddiol. Mae hynny, fel rwy'n sicr yn ei ddeall erbyn hyn, yn rhywbeth sydd wedi'i wrthod, ond soniodd y Prif Weinidog amdano eto yr wythnos diwethaf. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio, Weinidog, y gallwch chi a'r Prif Weinidog ymyrryd yn y broses hon a chymryd yr awenau yn y broses hon, oherwydd mae'n bwysig eich bod yn gwybod beth yw'r teimladau ar lawr gwlad, beth yw'r teimladau yng nghanolbarth a gogledd Cymru ac yn y cymunedau hyn.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn hefyd am niwl. Wel, mae gennym rybudd tywydd yn dod i mewn ar gyfer canolbarth a gogledd Cymru yfory, sy'n sylweddol. Ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym ddwy ganolfan—y Trallwng a Chaernarfon—ar gyfer canolbarth a gogledd Cymru. Os daw cynigion gerbron i gael un ganolfan ganolog, yna bydd y ganolfan honno—. Os yw honno'n cau oherwydd tywydd garw, ni fydd darpariaeth yn ardal canolbarth a gogledd Cymru o ganolfan yng nghanolbarth a gogledd Cymru. Felly, ceir mwy o hyblygrwydd drwy gael y ddwy ganolfan, ac mae hynny'n gwneud ac yn ateb y pwynt a wnaethoch am niwl. Niwl, tywydd anffafriol—dyma'n union pam mae angen inni gadw'r ddwy ganolfan yn y Trallwng a Chaernarfon.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Weinidog—? O ystyried bod y Prif Weinidog efallai wedi gwneud rhai datganiadau nad wyf yn siŵr eu bod yn gwbl gywir yr wythnos diwethaf, a gaf i ofyn i chi a'r Prif Weinidog gymryd rhan weithredol yn y broses hon, ymyrryd, ac yn y pen draw, eich bod chi, fel y Gweinidog, yn gwneud y penderfyniad terfynol ynghylch yr hyn sy'n digwydd i'r canolfannau presennol yn y Trallwng a Chaernarfon, oherwydd mae symud o bedair canolfan i dair yn gwbl annerbyniol i boblogaeth canolbarth a gogledd Cymru?
Well, I think it is important that local populations, once again, become involved in this consultation. There has been an incredible response to the consultation so far. We know how much this service is loved by the populations, in particular, of mid and north Wales. So, I would encourage them to feed into that response, and, obviously, a decision will be made after we've had the final recommendation.
Wel, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig fod poblogaethau lleol, unwaith eto, yn cymryd rhan yn yr ymgynghoriad hwn. Cafwyd ymateb anhygoel i'r ymgynghoriad hyd yn hyn. Rydym yn gwybod cymaint o feddwl sydd gan y boblogaeth o'r gwasanaeth hwn, yn enwedig yn y canolbarth a'r gogledd. Felly, carwn eu hannog i ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw, ac yn amlwg, fe wneir penderfyniad ar ôl i ni gael yr argymhelliad terfynol.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ddaru'r Gweinidog yn ei hateb hi i Russell George rŵan ddweud ei bod hi eisiau gwybod beth ydy barn Aelodau yn y Siambr yma ynghylch yr ambiwlans awyr. Felly, dwi'n ategu'n llwyr yr hyn ddaru Russell George ei ddweud hefyd, ac yn gobeithio y byddwch chi'n dilyn ar rhai o'r cwestiynau yna ac yn cymryd y cyfrifoldeb.
Thank you, Llywydd. The Minister in her response to Russell George said that she wanted to know what the views of Members in this Chamber are on the air ambulance. So, I echo everything that Russell George said, and I hope that you will follow up on some of those questions and will take responsibility for this.
At the end of this month, the UK COVID inquiry hearings for module 2B will be heard here in Cardiff. The Welsh Government has, of course, so far resisted establishing a full inquiry into its own handling of the pandemic, in stark contrast with the Scottish Government. According to the First Minister, this is because the UK inquiry represents the best option for scrutinising the decisions that were made here in Wales. Almost eight months since the UK inquiry formally commenced its proceedings therefore, it's worth reflecting on the credibility of this assessment.
Firstly, we heard Baroness Hallett herself acknowledge that the scope of the UK inquiry would not be able to cover every issue relating to Wales. Then, we had both the First Minister and the former health Minister provide their testimonies for module 1 over a single day in July last year, at which the former admitted that Wales was not as prepared as it could have been for the pandemic. We've also discovered that organisations such as the Children's Commissioner for Wales, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have been denied core participant status, with the latter being told they would not receive the degree of focus that they initially believed. And though this Government has belatedly set up a special purpose committee to cover gaps in the UK inquiry, to date, it's only met four times, always behind closed doors, with the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group justifiably concerned about the ability of the committee to go beyond merely duplicating existing work.
So, Minister, do you still believe that a full Wales inquiry into the pandemic is unnecessary, and, if so, why?
Ddiwedd y mis hwn, bydd gwrandawiadau ymchwiliad COVID y DU ar gyfer modiwl 2B yn cael eu cynnal yma yng Nghaerdydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, wedi gwrthod sefydlu ymchwiliad llawn i'w hymateb ei hun i'r pandemig, mewn cyferbyniad llwyr â Llywodraeth yr Alban. Yn ôl y Prif Weinidog, mae hyn oherwydd mai ymchwiliad y DU yw'r opsiwn gorau ar gyfer craffu ar y penderfyniadau a wnaed yma yng Nghymru. Bron i wyth mis ers i ymchwiliad y DU ddechrau ei drafodion yn ffurfiol felly, mae'n werth myfyrio ar hygrededd yr asesiad hwn.
Yn gyntaf, clywsom y Farwnes Hallett ei hun yn cydnabod na fyddai cwmpas ymchwiliad y DU yn gallu ymdrin â phob mater yn ymwneud â Chymru. Yna, clywsom y Prif Weinidog a'r cyn Weinidog iechyd yn darparu eu tystiolaethau ar gyfer modiwl 1 dros un diwrnod ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd, pan gyfaddefodd y cyntaf nad oedd Cymru mor barod ag y gallai fod ar gyfer y pandemig. Rydym hefyd wedi darganfod bod sefydliadau fel Comisiynydd Plant Cymru, Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro wedi cael eu hamddifadu o statws cyfranogwyr craidd, gyda'r olaf yn cael gwybod na fyddent yn derbyn yr un lefel o ffocws ag yr oeddent wedi'i feddwl yn wreiddiol. Ac er bod y Llywodraeth hon yn hwyr yn y dydd wedi sefydlu pwyllgor diben arbennig i ymdrin â bylchau yn ymchwiliad y DU, dim ond pedwar cyfarfod a gawsant hyd yma, a hynny bob amser y tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig, gyda grŵp COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru yn poeni, yn ddigon teg, am allu'r pwyllgor i fynd gam ymhellach na dim ond dyblygu gwaith presennol.
Felly, Weinidog, a ydych chi'n dal i gredu nad oes angen ymchwiliad llawn i ymateb Cymru i'r pandemig, ac os felly, pam?
Well, I do think it's unnecessary, for the reasons that have been said over and over again in this Chamber. What we have seen in the inquiry is plenty of evidence to suggest that, actually, in the link between the decision making in London and the decision making here, we were restricted by certain issues in relation to our ability to put in, for example, some supportive funding if we wanted to lock down for longer. So, there were some areas where it was almost impossible for us to take different actions. Another example, of course, is our ability to close the borders—very difficult for us to, for example, stop people coming in from countries where there was a high prevalence of COVID occurring. So, that link between them, I think, means it does make sense that we wait for the inquiry to report. Now, having said that, I know and, I think, the two Chairs—the Co-chairs, who are sitting in the Chamber today, and they will have heard what you said; I'm sure they won't agree with what you said—that, clearly, we haven't really started on the interrogation of module 2B yet, and I think there will be an opportunity after that for the committee to undertake more scrutiny, because then the gaps will become a bit more obvious.
Wel, rwy'n credu ei fod yn ddiangen, am y rhesymau sydd wedi'u hailadrodd dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr hon. Yr hyn a welsom yn yr ymchwiliad yw digon o dystiolaeth i awgrymu, mewn gwirionedd, yn y cysylltiad rhwng y penderfyniadau yn Llundain a'r penderfyniadau a wnaed yma, ein bod wedi cael ein cyfyngu gan rai materion mewn perthynas â'n gallu i ddarparu, er enghraifft, rhywfaint o gyllid cymorth, pe byddem am barhau â chyfyngiadau symud am gyfnod hwy. Felly, roedd rhai meysydd lle roedd hi bron yn amhosibl inni roi camau gwahanol ar waith. Enghraifft arall, wrth gwrs, yw ein gallu i gau'r ffiniau—roedd yn anodd iawn i ni, er enghraifft, atal pobl rhag dod i mewn o wledydd lle roedd llawer iawn o achosion COVID. Felly, mae'r cysylltiad rhyngddynt, rwy'n credu, yn golygu ei bod yn gwneud synnwyr ein bod yn aros am adroddiad yr ymchwiliad. Nawr, wedi dweud hynny, rwy'n gwybod, a'r ddau Gadeirydd, rwy'n credu—y Cyd-gadeiryddion, sy'n eistedd yn y Siambr heddiw, a byddant wedi clywed yr hyn a ddywedoch chi; rwy'n siŵr na fyddant yn cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedoch—yn amlwg, nid ydym wedi dechrau archwilio modiwl 2B eto, a chredaf y bydd cyfle ar ôl hynny i'r pwyllgor wneud mwy o waith craffu, oherwydd erbyn hynny bydd y bylchau ychydig yn fwy amlwg.
It is disappointing to hear the Minister blame London for everything. While Boris Johnson and London were certainly to blame for a number of things, here in Wales the Government decided to introduce mask wearing at a later date than in England, for instance, and it was the Welsh Government that decided to release or allow elderly people to go back to care homes. So, those are entirely Welsh Government decisions. We also have best practice in Wales. Look at the test and trace in Ceredigion, which then rolled out to other parts of the UK. So, we've got things that we need to learn, and lessons to learn, here in Wales.
A creation of a Welsh-specific inquiry would not only give the thousands of bereaved individuals across Wales the answers and the closure they richly deserve, it would also ensure that the experiences of the pandemic can effectively inform future preparedness and resilience measures, so that we're never again in a position where we're not as prepared as we could be. And since the impact of climate change is increasing the likelihood and frequency of future pandemic outbreaks, this process of a constructive retrospection has never been more important.
One of the key issues to have emerged since the last set of legal restrictions were lifted is mask wearing by healthcare workers in Wales. Following the spread of a new sub-variant of the Omicron strand of the virus in December, the World Health Organization recommended the reintroduction of mask wearing in health and social care settings. While the risk posed by this new variant was ultimately deemed low, it, nevertheless, highlighted the need for vigilance and caution in how we manage the post-pandemic approach to COVID.
Mae'n siomedig clywed y Gweinidog yn beio Llundain am bopeth. Er mai Boris Johnson a Llundain a oedd ar fai am nifer o bethau, penderfynodd Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno'r rheol i wisgo masgiau yn ddiweddarach nag yn Lloegr, er enghraifft, a Llywodraeth Cymru a benderfynodd ryddhau neu ganiatáu i bobl oedrannus fynd yn ôl i gartrefi gofal. Felly, penderfyniadau Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfan gwbl yw'r rheini. Mae gennym arferion gorau yng Nghymru hefyd. Edrychwch ar y cynllun profi ac olrhain yng Ngheredigion, a gafodd ei gyflwyno i rannau eraill o'r DU yn ddiweddarach. Felly, mae gennym bethau y mae angen inni eu dysgu, a gwersi i'w dysgu, yma yng Nghymru.
Byddai creu ymchwiliad penodol i Gymru nid yn unig yn darparu atebion ac yn cynnig y diweddglo y maent yn eu haeddu i'r miloedd o unigolion sydd mewn profedigaeth ledled Cymru, byddai hefyd yn sicrhau y gall profiadau'r pandemig lywio mesurau parodrwydd a gwytnwch ar gyfer y dyfodol mewn modd effeithiol, fel na fyddwn ni byth eto mewn sefyllfa lle nad ydym mor barod ag y gallem fod. A chan fod effaith newid hinsawdd yn cynyddu tebygolrwydd ac amlder digwyddiadau pandemig yn y dyfodol, nid yw'r broses hon o ôl-weithredu adeiladol erioed wedi bod yn bwysicach.
Un o'r materion allweddol sydd wedi dod i'r amlwg ers i'r set ddiwethaf o gyfyngiadau cyfreithiol gael eu codi yw'r mater gwisgo masgiau ymhlith gweithwyr gofal iechyd yng Nghymru. Yn dilyn lledaeniad is-amrywiolyn newydd straen Omicron y feirws ym mis Rhagfyr, argymhellodd Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd y dylid ailgyflwyno gwisgo masgiau mewn lleoliadau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Er y barnwyd yn y pen draw fod y risg a achosir gan yr amrywiolyn newydd hwn yn isel, roedd yn tynnu sylw at yr angen am wyliadwriaeth a gofal yn y ffordd y rheolwn y dull ôl-bandemig o weithredu ar COVID.
I have been very generous with timing for your preambles and your very short questions at the end—
Rwyf wedi bod yn hael iawn gyda'r amseru ar gyfer eich rhagymadrodd a'ch cwestiynau byr iawn ar y diwedd—
I appreciate—.
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi—.
—so, if you can get to your very short question at the end, then I'd appreciate it.
—felly buaswn yn falch pe gallech chi gyrraedd eich cwestiwn byr iawn ar y diwedd os gwelwch yn dda.
The very short question at the end, appreciating the patience shown, is: will the Minister commit to aligning with World Health Organization health guidelines by recommending universal FFP2 and FFP3 mask wearing for health and social care workers in Wales?
Y cwestiwn byr iawn ar y diwedd, gan werthfawrogi'r amynedd a ddangoswyd, yw: a wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo i gydymffurfio â chanllawiau iechyd Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd drwy argymell bod yr holl weithwyr iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru yn gwisgo masgiau FFP2 a FFP3?
Well, I won't agree to that unless it's appropriate to do so. And, obviously, we take our lead from Public Health Wales, who scrutinise the evidence. They've looked at what the World Health Organization has recommended, and the World Health Organization, as you yourself have suggested, actually suggests that there's low incidence and there's low protection when there is low incidence. So, this is something that I've pushed, discussed with, and I've questioned Public Health Wales on, and, when it's appropriate, I'm sure that they will know when to recommend health boards should be reintroducing that. But that is not the situation at the moment, and, actually, the incidence is relatively low at the moment.
Wel, ni wnaf gytuno i hynny oni bai ei bod yn briodol gwneud hynny. Ac yn amlwg, cawn ein harwain gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, sy'n craffu ar y dystiolaeth. Maent wedi edrych ar yr hyn y mae Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd wedi'i argymell, ac fel rydych chi eich hun wedi'i nodi, mae Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd yn awgrymu mewn gwirionedd fod nifer yr achosion yn isel a bod lefel yr amddiffyniad yn isel pan fo nifer yr achosion yn isel. Felly, mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf wedi ei wthio, wedi ei drafod gydag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ac wedi eu holi yn ei gylch, a phan fydd yn briodol, rwy'n siŵr y byddant yn gwybod pryd i argymell y dylai byrddau iechyd ailgyflwyno hynny. Ond nid dyna'r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae nifer yr achosion yn gymharol isel ar hyn o bryd.
3. Pa fesurau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gadw meddygon yn y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yng Nghymru? OQ60663
3. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to retain doctors in the national health service in Wales? OQ60663
Mae cadw staff yr un mor bwysig â recriwtio staff newydd. Mae ein cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol ar gyfer y gweithlu yn nodi nifer o gamau i wella’r lefelau cadw. Mae nifer y meddygon sy'n cael eu cyflogi'n uniongyrchol gan sefydliadau NHS Cymru wedi cynyddu bob blwyddyn am y naw mlynedd diwethaf, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys ymgynghorwyr meddygol.
Retaining staff is equally as important as recruiting new staff. Our national workforce implementation plan sets out a number of actions to improve retention. The number of doctors, including consultants, directly employed by NHS Wales organisations has increased every year for the last nine years.
Diolch am hwnna, Gweinidog. Mae tâl meddygon iau yng Nghymru wedi ei dorri bron i draean mewn termau real ers 2008-09. Erbyn hyn, fel dwi'n gwybod y byddwch chi'n ymwybodol, mae yna berygl gwirioneddol y bydd toriadau cyflog olynol yn gyrru hyd yn oed yn fwy o feddygon i ffwrdd o'r proffesiwn ar adeg pan fydd cleifion eu hangen fwyaf. Dydy meddygon iau ddim yn gofyn am godiad yn eu cyflog; maen nhw'n gofyn am adferiad yn eu cyflogau. Dwi'n ymwybodol o ba mor anodd ydy'r setliad ariannol sydd gennym, ond, eto, mae'n rhaid i gyflogau meddygon fod yn deg ac yn gystadleuol gyda systemau gofal iechyd eraill ledled y byd, neu byddwn ni'n eu colli nhw. Felly, a fyddwch chi, Weinidog, yn dychwelyd at y bwrdd negodi gyda meddygon iau mewn ymdrech i osgoi mwy o streics, achos dydyn nhw chwaith ddim eisiau bod ar streic; maen nhw eisiau bod yn yr ysbytai yn helpu cleifion?
Thank you for that, Minister. The pay of junior doctors in Wales has been cut by almost a third in real terms since 2008-09. By now, as you'll know, there is real danger that successive pay cuts will drive even more doctors away from the profession at a time when patients need them most. Junior doctors are not asking for a pay rise; they're asking for pay restoration. I'm aware of how difficult the financial settlement that we have is, however, doctors' salaries must be fair and competitive with those in other healthcare systems around the world, otherwise we will lose them. So, will you, Minister, return to the negotiating table with the junior doctors in an effort to avoid more strikes, because they don't want to be on strike either; they want to be in the hospitals helping patients?
Diolch yn fawr. Well, we certainly recognise the strength of feeling amongst junior doctors, and, whilst we certainly are very keen to address their pay restoration ambitions, I'm afraid that the 5 per cent that has been put into their pay packages is at the limits of the finances available to us this year, and, obviously, it's the same thing as has been offered to other health unions this year.
We know, and you heard, in terms of the debate yesterday, the strength of feeling amongst other areas of Government and all the demands that were being asked of us as a Government yesterday. We took money from other parts of Government to shore up the health service, to enable us to pay for that 5 per cent. So, already it's been very difficult for us to make that. I think it's probably worth noting also that, when we can offer more, we do. So, last year, we offered 4.5 per cent, plus 1.5 per cent consolidated, plus 1.5 per cent non-consolidated, while in England they only offered 2 per cent. So, I do think it's important to take a longer term view of this as well.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, rydym yn sicr yn cydnabod cryfder y teimlad ymhlith meddygon iau, ac er ein bod yn sicr yn awyddus iawn i fynd i’r afael â’u huchelgeisiau i adfer cyflogau, mae arnaf ofn fod y 5 y cant a roddwyd tuag at eu pecynnau cyflog ar ben eithaf yr arian sydd ar gael i ni eleni, ac yn amlwg, mae’r un fath â’r hyn a gynigiwyd i undebau iechyd eraill eleni.
Fe wyddom, ac fe glywoch chi, yn y ddadl ddoe, am gryfder y teimladau mewn meysydd eraill o Lywodraeth a’r holl alwadau arnom fel Llywodraeth. Fe aethom ag arian o rannau eraill o Lywodraeth i gynnal y gwasanaeth iechyd, i’n galluogi i dalu’r 5 y cant. Felly, eisoes, mae wedi bod yn anodd iawn i ni wneud hynny. Rwy’n credu ei bod yn werth nodi hefyd, pan fyddwn yn gallu cynnig mwy, ein bod yn gwneud hynny. Felly y llynedd, fe wnaethom gynnig 4.5 y cant ynghyd ag 1.5 y cant cyfunedig, ac 1.5 y cant anghyfunol, ond yn Lloegr, dim ond 2 y cant a gynigiwyd ganddynt. Felly, rwy’n credu ei bod yn bwysig edrych yn fwy hirdymor ar hyn hefyd.
Retaining doctors, including GPs, is absolutely fundamental to a sustainable health service. I recently visited a GP practice in my constituency. The current contract burdens them with bureaucratic paperwork, a lack of compensatory element and decreasing funding in the wake of increasing staffing costs, leading to redundancies, thus longer waiting times, and, indeed, driving some GPs to consider their and their practice's future.
Another practice in my constituency has now ceased to provide five key services, despite spending money on the equipment and training, because the contract funding simply does not cover the costs of providing the services. Simply put, the retention crisis cannot be addressed without revisiting GP contracts. Minister, are you in conversation with health boards to consider contractual issues that are threatening GPs, their practices and local primary care?
Mae cadw meddygon, gan gynnwys meddygon teulu, yn gwbl hanfodol i wasanaeth iechyd cynaliadwy. Yn ddiweddar, ymwelais â meddygfa yn fy etholaeth. Mae'r contract presennol yn eu llwytho â gwaith papur biwrocrataidd, diffyg elfen ddigolledu a chyllid sy'n gostwng yn sgil costau staffio cynyddol, gan arwain at ddiswyddiadau ac amseroedd aros hwy, ac yn wir, mae'n gwneud i rai meddygon teulu ystyried eu dyfodol a dyfodol eu meddygfeydd.
Mae meddygfa arall yn fy etholaeth bellach wedi rhoi'r gorau i ddarparu pum gwasanaeth allweddol, er eu bod wedi gwario arian ar yr offer a'r hyfforddiant, am nad yw cyllid y contract yn talu costau darparu'r gwasanaethau. Yn syml iawn, ni ellir mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng cadw staff heb ailedrych ar gontractau meddygon teulu. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n siarad â byrddau iechyd i ystyried materion cytundebol sy'n bygwth meddygon teulu, eu practisau a gofal sylfaenol lleol?
Thanks very much. I'm very pleased to say that, actually, today, we have announced that we have actually come to a conclusion with the general medical services in terms of conclusion with them. They have been offered 5 per cent as well, but that, obviously, is aligned to certain commitments that we're expecting of them. But it's not just for them; it's also for their staff. And I think it's really important that we remember that this is not just about people; it's the team around the doctor that we have to consider as well. So, I'm very pleased that we have come to a conclusion on that issue.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud ein bod wedi cyhoeddi heddiw ein bod wedi dod i benderfyniad gyda'r gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol. Maent wedi cael cynnig 5 y cant hefyd, ond mae hynny, yn amlwg, wedi ei alinio ag ymrwymiadau yr ydym yn eu disgwyl ganddynt. Ond nid ar eu cyfer nhw yn unig y mae; mae ar gyfer eu staff hefyd. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n cofio bod hyn yn ymwneud â mwy na phobl; mae'n rhaid inni ystyried y tîm o amgylch y meddyg hefyd. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi dod i benderfyniad ar y mater hwnnw.
When GP partners take on responsibility for running doctors' surgeries, I think it is a sign of confidence in the sustainability of that local service in the community. And that's why the news that Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is handing back the management of Bryntirion surgey in Bargoed to new GP partners is welcome, although I have to say to the Minister that we would have preferred that to have been run directly from Bargoed, rather than at arm's length from a private company in England, although it will see contracted GPs at the surgery.
With Welsh Government support, the health board facilitated the construction in my constituency of a new centre for health in Llanbradach, which opened in August 2021, and there is the prospect of other new sites of primary care provision opening in my constituency in the future. Does the Minister agree, therefore, that we need to look at these good examples and that we need to be looking at where things are positive and turning around in order to recognise that the Welsh Government and the health boards are doing things to take pressure off our hospitals?
Pan fydd partneriaid meddygon teulu yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am redeg meddygfeydd, credaf ei fod yn arwydd o hyder yng nghynaladwyedd y gwasanaeth lleol hwnnw yn y gymuned. A dyna pam rwy'n croesawu'r newyddion fod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan yn trosglwyddo rheolaeth meddygfa Bryntirion ym Margoed i bartneriaid meddygon teulu newydd, er bod rhaid imi ddweud wrth y Gweinidog y byddai'n well gennym pe bai'n cael ei rhedeg yn uniongyrchol o Fargoed, yn hytrach na hyd braich gan gwmni preifat yn Lloegr, er y bydd yn golygu y bydd yna feddygon teulu dan gontract yn y feddygfa.
Gyda chefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, hwylusodd y bwrdd iechyd y gwaith o adeiladu canolfan iechyd newydd yn fy etholaeth i yn Llanbradach, a agorodd ym mis Awst 2021, ac mae gobaith y bydd safleoedd newydd eraill sy'n darparu gofal sylfaenol yn agor yn fy etholaeth yn y dyfodol. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno, felly, fod angen inni edrych ar yr enghreifftiau da hyn a bod angen inni edrych ar lle mae pethau'n bositif ac yn gwella er mwyn cydnabod bod Llywodraeth Cymru a'r byrddau iechyd yn gwneud pethau i dynnu pwysau oddi ar ein hysbytai?
Thanks very much, Hefin. I had a meeting just this morning with the chief executive of Aneurin Bevan, who was positively buzzing about the fact that, actually, every single GP in her health board will be an independent contractor in future. Obviously, that actually represents quite good value for money for the health board. So, whilst we're very happy to have them directed by the health boards and run by the health boards directly, if people are happy to come in and run it for themselves independently, then that's also something to be celebrated. So, it's not just your area, Hefin. There are lots of other areas in Aneurin Bevan that have been super successful recently at recruiting new GPs and, hopefully, giving confidence to the communities.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Hefin. Cefais gyfarfod y bore yma gyda phrif weithredwr Aneurin Bevan, a oedd yn llawn bwrlwm cadarnhaol am y ffaith y bydd pob meddyg teulu yn ei bwrdd iechyd yn gontractwr annibynnol yn y dyfodol. Yn amlwg, mae hynny'n werth eithaf da am arian i'r bwrdd iechyd. Felly, er ein bod ni'n hapus iawn iddynt gael eu cyfarwyddo gan y byrddau iechyd a'u rhedeg gan y byrddau iechyd yn uniongyrchol, os yw pobl yn hapus i ddod i mewn a'u rhedeg drostynt eu hunain yn annibynnol, mae hynny'n rhywbeth i'w ddathlu hefyd. Felly, nid eich ardal chi yn unig ydyw, Hefin. Mae llawer o ardaloedd eraill yn Aneurin Bevan wedi bod yn hynod lwyddiannus yn ddiweddar wrth recriwtio meddygon teulu newydd, ac wedi rhoi hyder i'r cymunedau hynny, gobeithio.
Good afternoon, Minister. I'd just like, also, to follow up on the issue of GPs, particularly in rural areas where they face particularly severe challenges with recruitment and retention, but also escalating costs, a paucity of social care options, and difficulties in arranging home visits across such a wide area. They have a unique economic disadvantage, which does jeopardise their sustainability. I've been talking with GPs across Powys recently, and it is evident that the current arrangements don't meet their costs or meet their challenges. They need mechanisms and money, in essence, to offset these higher delivery costs. One idea could be a rural GP premium that enables rural communities to meet those primary care needs of their rural populations. Would you, Minister, perhaps give consideration to a rural GP premium? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Hoffwn innau hefyd fynd ar ôl mater meddygon teulu, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig lle maent yn wynebu heriau arbennig o ddifrifol gyda recriwtio a chadw, ond hefyd costau cynyddol, prinder opsiynau gofal cymdeithasol, ac anawsterau wrth drefnu ymweliadau cartref ar draws ardal mor eang. Mae ganddynt anfantais economaidd unigryw, sy'n peryglu eu cynaliadwyedd. Rwyf wedi bod yn siarad â meddygon teulu ledled Powys yn ddiweddar, ac mae'n amlwg nad yw'r trefniadau presennol yn talu eu costau nac yn mynd i'r afael â'u heriau. Mae angen mecanweithiau ac arian arnynt, yn y bôn, i wrthbwyso'r costau cyflawni uwch hyn. Mae'n bosibl mai un syniad fyddai premiwm gwledig i feddygon teulu i alluogi cymunedau gwledig i ddiwallu anghenion gofal sylfaenol eu poblogaethau gwledig. Weinidog, a wnewch chi ystyried premiwm gwledig i feddygon teulu? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, you'll be pleased to hear we already have it, Jane. We already have a system. It's a targeted incentive system, which provides £20,000 to GP trainees who take up training posts in particular parts of Wales where we are challenged, and that includes north Wales—there are three training schemes in Bangor, Dyffryn Clwyd and Wrexham—and Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. So, it is, I think, probably worth recognising that that scheme is already in place and is making a huge difference in terms of recruitment.
Wel, fe fyddwch chi'n falch o glywed bod gennym ni un eisoes, Jane. Mae gennym system eisoes. Mae'n system gymhelliant wedi'i thargedu, sy'n darparu £20,000 i rai sy'n hyfforddi i fod yn feddygon teulu ac sy'n derbyn lleoliadau hyfforddi mewn rhannau penodol o Gymru sy'n her i ni, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys gogledd Cymru—mae tri chynllun hyfforddi ym Mangor, Dyffryn Clwyd a Wrecsam—a Cheredigion, sir Benfro a Phowys. Felly, mae'n debyg ei bod yn werth cydnabod bod y cynllun hwnnw eisoes ar waith ac yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr o ran recriwtio.
Rydyn ni'n gweld y problemau sydd yn codi yn sgil heriau recriwtio a chadw meddygon teulu yn benodol yn y creisis sydd yna yn Hwb Iechyd Cybi ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r Gweinidog yn ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa. Dwi'n gwybod bod meddygon wedi ysgrifennu ati hi ac ataf innau yn codi pryderon am arafwch y bwrdd iechyd yn penodi meddygon teulu yn sgil y ffaith bod yna bedair yn gadael ar gyfnod mamolaeth ar yr un pryd a bod yna un meddyg teulu yn gadael. Ac efallai mae argyfwng dros dro ydi o, ond mae o'n dal yn argyfwng.
Rŵan, mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn dweud wrthyf i eu bod nhw'n hyderus y bydd popeth yn iawn, ond does yna ddim ateb hyd yma. Dwi'n apelio ar y Gweinidog i helpu i wthio am sicrwydd staffio yn y byr dymor yn Hwb Iechyd Cybi achos mae hi'n boblogaeth sydd wedi bod drwy gyfnod o wasanaeth gofal sylfaenol annigonol am resymau mae'r Gweinidog yn gwybod amdanyn nhw. Ond, ydy hi'n cytuno hefyd fod hyn eto yn arwydd clir o ba mor fregus ac anghynaliadwy ydy'r sefyllfa o ran meddygon teulu ar hyn o bryd?
We do see the problems arising as a result of recruitment and retention problems, particularly amongst GPs in the crisis in the Cybi health hub at the moment. The Minister is aware of the situation, and I know that doctors have written to her, and to me, raising concerns about the sluggishness of the health board in appointing GPs in light of the fact that four are leaving on maternity leave at the same time, and that one GP is leaving the service. And it may be a temporary crisis, but it's still a crisis.
The health board tells me that they're confident that everything will be fine, but there's no solution to date. I would appeal to the Minister to help to push for staffing assurances in the short term in the Cybi health hub, because it's a population that's been through a period of inadequate primary care for reasons that the Minister will be aware of. But does the Minister also agree that this is a clear sign of how vulnerable and unsustainable the situation is in terms of GPs at the moment?
Dwi'n meddwl y gall pobl baratoi. Dwi'n meddwl y gall byrddau iechyd baratoi, ond dwi ddim yn meddwl ei bod hi'n deg i ofyn iddyn nhw baratoi am bedwar o bobl yn mynd ar gyfnod mamolaeth ar yr un pryd. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna limit i faint o baratoi maen nhw'n gallu gwneud. A dyna pam dwi'n falch bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi cymryd hwn o ddifrif. Dwi'n gwybod eu bod nhw wedi cwrdd â chi yn barod i drafod hyn, ac yn sicr dwi'n gwybod eu bod nhw'n cymryd hwn o ddifrif ac yn rhoi mesurau mewn lle.
I think that people can prepare. I think health boards can prepare, but I don't think that it's fair to ask them to prepare for four people going off on maternity leave at the same time. I think there is a limit to how much preparation they can do. And that's why I am pleased that the health board has taken this seriously. I know that they have met you already to discuss this and, certainly, I know that they are taking this seriously and are putting measures in place.
4. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn sicrhau bod triniaeth iechyd effeithiol ar gael i bobl sy'n camddefnyddio cyffuriau? OQ60637
4. How does the Government ensure that effective health treatment is available to people who misuse drugs? OQ60637
We are committed to reducing the harm caused by substance misuse in Wales. We currently invest over £67 million in our substance misuse agenda, of which over £39 million goes to our area planning boards to commission local services in response to need.
Rydym wedi ymrwymo i leihau'r niwed a achosir gan gamddefnyddio sylweddau yng Nghymru. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn buddsoddi dros £67 miliwn yn ein hagenda camddefnyddio sylweddau, ac mae dros £39 miliwn ohono'n mynd i'n byrddau cynllunio ardal i gomisiynu gwasanaethau lleol mewn ymateb i angen.
Diolch. Mae etholwr wedi cysylltu â mi yn dweud ei fod, ers iddo gael presgripsiwn Buvidal, wedi gallu rhoi'r gorau i ddefnyddio heroin ac mae hyn wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i'w fywyd. Cafodd y cyffur oherwydd ei fod e mewn rhaglen benodol ar gyfer troseddwyr. Mae’n debyg bod y rhestr aros ar gyfer y driniaeth yma yn hir, ac mae fy etholwr yn ymwybodol o bobol sydd yn troseddu yn benodol er mwyn medru cael mynediad i Buvidal yn gynt. Mae e'n poeni nad yw'r driniaeth ar gael i fwy o bobl a fyddai’n gallu elwa o’i chael yn yr un modd ag ef.
Mae’r Athro Bewley-Taylor o’r Arsyllfa Polisi Cyffuriau Byd-eang ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe wedi nodi bod tystiolaeth yn gynyddol awgrymu bod Buvidal yn effeithiol wrth drin defnydd problemus o opioid, yn enwedig ymysg y rhai y mae eu hamgylchiadau’n gwneud ffurfiau traddodiadol o amnewid opioid yn anaddas. Mae’r niwed cymdeithasol ac i unigolion sy'n cael ei achosi yn sgil defnyddio cyffuriau yn gymhleth ac yn eang, a dylai’r Llywodraeth, meddai'r Athro Bewley-Taylor, fod yn gwneud popeth o fewn ei gallu i helpu’r rhai sy’n chwilio am gefnogaeth.
O ystyried, felly, fod Buvidal wedi profi i fod yn effeithiol, ac yn fwy effeithiol na chyrsiau o driniaeth eraill, a wnewch chi esbonio pam nad yw ar gael i bob defnyddiwr cyffuriau opioid sy'n awyddus i wella o'i gaethiwed i gyffuriau? Rwy'n deall bod cyfyngiadau cost i’r fath yma o driniaeth, ond onid oes yna ddadl i ystyried ehangu ei argaeledd fel triniaeth iechyd ataliol effeithiol, wrth ystyried y costau ychwanegol i’r pwrs cyhoeddus o beidio â sicrhau hynny?
Thank you. A constituent has contacted me saying that, since he was prescribed Buvidal, it has allowed him to stop using heroin, which has made a huge difference to his life. My constituent received the drug because he was in a special programme for offenders. Apparently, the waiting list for this treatment is long, and my constituent is aware of people who commit offences deliberately so that they can get access to Buvidal sooner. He is concerned that the treatment is not available to more people who could benefit from receiving it in the same way as he has.
Professor Bewley-Taylor of the Global Drug Policy Observatory at Swansea University has noted that there is a growing evidence base to suggest that Buvidal is effective in treating problematic opioid use, particularly among those whose circumstances render traditional forms of opioid replacement unsuitable. The social and individual harms caused by drug use are complex and widespread, and the Government should be doing all that it can, says Professor Bewley-Taylor, to help those looking for support.
Given that Buvidal has proven to be effective, and more effective than other courses of treatment, will you explain why it is not available to all opioid users who are eager to recover from their drug addiction? I understand that there are cost implications to this sort of treatment, but isn't there an argument for expanding its availability as effective preventative healthcare, considering the additional costs to the public purse of not ensuring that?
Can I thank Sioned Williams for that question? As I said, we have prioritised substance misuse services in Wales. We have protected funding for those services, and even for the next coming year, when, as you know, the budget has been so very difficult, we are increasing our allocation to area planning boards by a further £2 million, from £39 million to £41 million. We've been using Buvidal in Wales since the pandemic—it was rolled out in the pandemic—and we're currently investing £3 million per year in Buvidal. We've got more than 1,600 people who are on Buvidal, so we are very much leading the UK in terms of Buvidal treatment.
I share the Member's enthusiasm for Buvidal. We've commissioned a full evaluation of it, but the anecdotal evidence we've received—and you can see that through the word of mouth, that people are telling other people that Buvidal is a good thing to take—is that this is a really beneficial treatment. What we know is that it enables people to get on with their lives; they don't have to go back and forth to the pharmacy, they can hold down jobs and, also, it seems to bring with it a clarity of mind that enables people to tackle some of the problems underpinning their heroin use.
We have, to some extent, been a victim of our own success in relation to Buvidal, and, currently, demand for this treatment does exceed what we can financially support. In some, but not all, areas, there are waiting lists for Buvidal, but it is important to note that those people can still access standard opioid substitution therapy treatment. We've also got these pressures in relation to people entering treatment through the criminal justice setting in the community, and although we don't commission criminal justice substance misuse services, we have funded Buvidal in these settings as well.
So, we are very much leading the way on Buvidal. We will have the evaluation to look at the outcomes from it. I've also asked officials to look at the waiting lists in different parts of Wales, and we will do what we can within the financial envelope that we've got to ensure that as many people who could benefit from it will do.
A gaf i ddiolch i Sioned Williams am y cwestiwn hwnnw? Fel y dywedais, rydym wedi blaenoriaethu gwasanaethau camddefnyddio sylweddau yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi diogelu cyllid ar gyfer y gwasanaethau hynny, a hyd yn oed ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, er bod y gyllideb, fel y gwyddoch, wedi bod yn anodd iawn, rydym yn sicrhau cynnydd o £2 filiwn arall yn ein dyraniad i fyrddau cynllunio ardal, o £39 miliwn i £41 miliwn. Rydym wedi bod yn defnyddio Buvidal yng Nghymru ers y pandemig—cafodd ei gyflwyno yn ystod y pandemig—ac ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn buddsoddi £3 miliwn y flwyddyn yn Buvidal. Mae gennym fwy na 1,600 o bobl ar Buvidal, felly, rydym yn arwain y DU i raddau helaeth mewn perthynas â thriniaeth Buvidal.
Rwy'n rhannu brwdfrydedd yr Aelod ynghylch Buvidal. Rydym wedi comisiynu gwerthusiad llawn ohono, ond y dystiolaeth anecdotaidd a gawsom—a gallwch weld hynny ar lafar, fod pobl yn dweud wrth bobl eraill fod Buvidal yn beth da i'w gymryd—yw bod hon yn driniaeth fuddiol iawn. Fe wyddom ei fod yn galluogi pobl i fwrw ymlaen â'u bywydau; nid oes rhaid iddynt fynd yn ôl ac ymlaen i'r fferyllfa, gallant gadw swyddi ac mae'n ymddangos hefyd ei fod yn cynnig eglurder meddwl sy'n galluogi pobl i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r problemau sy'n sail i'w defnydd o heroin.
I ryw raddau, rydym wedi dioddef yn sgil ein llwyddiant ein hunain mewn perthynas â Buvidal, ac ar hyn o bryd, mae'r galw am y driniaeth yn fwy na'r hyn y gallwn ei gynnal yn ariannol. Mewn rhai ardaloedd, ond nid pob un, mae yna restrau aros am Buvidal, ond mae'n bwysig nodi y gall y bobl hynny barhau i gael triniaeth therapi amnewidion opioid safonol. Mae pwysau arnom hefyd mewn perthynas â phobl sy'n cael triniaeth drwy leoliad cyfiawnder troseddol yn y gymuned, ac er nad ydym yn comisiynu gwasanaethau camddefnyddio sylweddau cyfiawnder troseddol, rydym wedi ariannu Buvidal yn y lleoliadau hyn hefyd.
Felly, rydym yn arwain y ffordd i raddau helaeth o ran Buvidal. Bydd gennym y gwerthusiad i edrych ar y canlyniadau yn ei sgil. Rwyf hefyd wedi gofyn i swyddogion edrych ar y rhestrau aros mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, a byddwn yn gwneud yr hyn a allwn gyda'r amlen ariannol sydd gennym i sicrhau y bydd cymaint o bobl a allai elwa ohono yn gwneud hynny.
I would like to declare an interest as a patron of Brynawel Rehab, and I'm thankful to Sioned for raising this important issue. Minister, residential rehab remains one of the best available treatments for those suffering from drug and alcohol misuse. However, this type of treatment is vastly underutilised. I remain concerned that tier 4 funding under the substance misuse programme is regularly underspent by local authorities. So, what discussions have you had with colleagues in local government and on programme boards about the importance of referring these patients to residential rehab?
Hoffwn ddatgan buddiant fel un o noddwyr Brynawel Rehab, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i Sioned am godi'r mater pwysig hwn. Weinidog, mae adsefydlu preswyl yn parhau i fod yn un o'r triniaethau gorau sydd ar gael i'r rhai sy'n dioddef yn sgil camddefnyddio cyffuriau ac alcohol. Fodd bynnag, ni wneir agos digon o ddefnydd o'r math hwn o driniaeth. Rwy'n dal i bryderu bod cyllid haen 4 o dan y rhaglen camddefnyddio sylweddau yn cael ei danwario'n rheolaidd gan awdurdodau lleol. Felly, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda chymheiriaid mewn llywodraeth leol ac ar fyrddau rhaglenni am bwysigrwydd atgyfeirio'r cleifion hyn at adsefydlu preswyl?
Thank you very much, Altaf. I know how committed you are to Brynawel, and I've been very pleased to visit there on two occasions myself. You'll be aware that we've provided investment to Brynawel ourselves, including a very significant capital investment to enable them to develop some detox beds. In terms of rehabilitation, clearly that's a really important area of work, and that's why, in Wales, we've established Rehab Cymru, which is our framework for enabling people to access rehabilitation services. That's been underpinned with ring-fenced funding that area planning boards can access to enable people to access the services that they need. We're very committed to doing what we can to build on those rehabilitation services, and I'm very much looking forward to Brynawel being in a position to open their detox beds.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Altaf. Rwy'n gwybod am eich ymrwymiad i Frynawel, ac rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o ymweld â'r lle ar ddau achlysur fy hun. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol ein bod wedi buddsoddi ym Mrynawel ein hunain, gan gynnwys buddsoddiad cyfalaf sylweddol iawn i'w galluogi i ddatblygu gwelyau dadwenwyno. O ran adsefydlu, mae'n amlwg fod hwnnw'n faes gwaith pwysig iawn, a dyna pam, yng Nghymru, ein bod wedi sefydlu Rehab Cymru, sef ein fframwaith ar gyfer galluogi pobl i gael mynediad at wasanaethau adsefydlu. Mae hynny wedi'i ategu gan gyllid wedi'i glustnodi y gall byrddau cynllunio ardal gael mynediad ato er mwyn galluogi pobl i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt. Rydym wedi ymrwymo'n fawr i wneud yr hyn a allwn i adeiladu ar y gwasanaethau adsefydlu hynny, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at weld Brynawel mewn sefyllfa i agor eu gwelyau dadwenwyno.
5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i greu cenhedlaeth ddi-fwg? OQ60641
5. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government action to create a smoke-free generation? OQ60641
Thank you. We are working with the other UK nations to take collective action on smoking and youth vaping and intend to legislate to create a smoke-free generation. This will make it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products, thereby protecting future generations.
Diolch. Rydym yn gweithio gyda gwledydd eraill y DU i gymryd camau ar y cyd ar ysmygu a fepio ymhlith ieuenctid ac rydym yn bwriadu deddfu i greu cenhedlaeth ddi-fwg. Bydd hyn yn ei gwneud yn drosedd i werthu cynhyrchion tybaco i unrhyw un a anwyd ar neu ar ôl 1 Ionawr 2009, gan ddiogelu cenedlaethau'r dyfodol drwy hynny.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. I welcomed your written statement of 29 January, covering actions that will be taken on disposable vapes, and to deal with some of the aspects of vaping that are, perhaps, aimed at under-aged users. From discussions with schools in my constituency, I know that this is one of their priorities too. Public Health Wales has produced guidance aimed at secondary schools and other settings, and is working to develop materials to support its implementation. So, can I ask when you expect that these will be available, and also how they will make sure that families are also aware of these messages around the misuse of vapes by under-aged users?
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Croesawais eich datganiad ysgrifenedig ar 29 Ionawr, a oedd yn sôn am y camau gweithredu a gymerir ar fêps tafladwy, ac i ymdrin â rhai o'r agweddau ar fepio sydd, efallai, wedi'u hanelu at ddefnyddwyr dan oed. O drafodaethau gydag ysgolion yn fy etholaeth, gwn fod hyn yn un o'u blaenoriaethau nhw hefyd. Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi cynhyrchu canllawiau ar gyfer ysgolion uwchradd a lleoliadau eraill, ac mae wrthi'n datblygu deunyddiau i gefnogi eu gweithrediad. Felly, a gaf i ofyn pryd ydych chi'n disgwyl y bydd y rhain ar gael, a hefyd sut y byddant yn sicrhau bod teuluoedd hefyd yn ymwybodol o'r negeseuon hyn ynghylch camddefnyddio fêps gan ddefnyddwyr dan oed?
Thank you very much, Vikki. I entirely share your concerns about the rising prevalence of youth vaping. As you've highlighted, Public Health Wales have been working very hard in this area. They established an incident response group to look at youth vaping and what could be done through schools, and you'll be aware that they published guidance for schools last year, which was well received, and teachers have been able to use that information to guide important conversations with young people on the dangers of vaping. Public Health Wales is continuing to work with education practitioners and are currently working to develop a toolkit with a range of supporting materials for schools. Those toolkit materials will be aligned with the curriculum and we expect them to become available to schools in the spring term in 2024—so, this year.
But in addition, you've highlighted a very important point about how families can tackle the issues of young people vaping, and I'm pleased to let you know that Public Health Wales is also planning to develop a web-based information resource that will highlight some of the concerns associated with vape use amongst children and young people, and will provide information on how parents can support their children. As you know, we have plans to regulate vapes and to prevent them being accessible or appealing to children and young people, and while we continue to develop this legislative work, I'm really pleased that we're also taking these steps to make sure that young people and their families can make sensible, informed decisions about vaping.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Vikki. Rwy'n rhannu eich pryderon yn llwyr am y cynnydd mewn fepio ymhlith pobl ifanc. Fel y nodwyd gennych, mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn yn y maes hwn. Fe wnaethant sefydlu grŵp ymateb i ddigwyddiadau i edrych ar fepio ymhlith pobl ifanc a'r hyn y gellid ei wneud drwy ysgolion, ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol eu bod wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau i ysgolion y llynedd, a gafodd dderbyniad da, ac mae athrawon wedi gallu defnyddio'r wybodaeth honno i lywio sgyrsiau pwysig gyda phobl ifanc am beryglon fepio. Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn parhau i weithio gydag addysgwyr ac ar hyn o bryd, maent wrthi'n datblygu pecyn cymorth gydag amrywiaeth o ddeunyddiau ategol ar gyfer ysgolion. Bydd y deunyddiau cymorth yn cyd-fynd â'r cwricwlwm ac rydym yn disgwyl iddynt fod ar gael i ysgolion yn nhymor y gwanwyn yn 2024—felly, eleni.
Ond hefyd, rydych wedi tynnu sylw at bwynt pwysig iawn ynglŷn â sut y gall teuluoedd fynd i'r afael â phroblem pobl ifanc yn fepio, ac rwy'n falch o roi gwybod i chi fod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru hefyd yn bwriadu datblygu adnodd gwybodaeth ar y we a fydd yn tynnu sylw at rai o'r pryderon sy'n gysylltiedig â phlant a phobl ifanc yn defnyddio fêps, a bydd yn rhoi gwybodaeth ynglŷn â sut y gall rhieni gynorthwyo eu plant. Fel y gwyddoch, mae gennym gynlluniau i reoleiddio fêps a'u hatal rhag bod yn hygyrch neu rhag apelio at blant a phobl ifanc, ac er ein bod yn parhau i ddatblygu'r gwaith deddfwriaethol hwn, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod hefyd yn cymryd y camau hyn i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc a'u teuluoedd yn gallu gwneud penderfyniadau synhwyrol, gwybodus ynglŷn â fepio.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gontractau meddygon teulu yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ60661
6. Will the Minister make a statement on GP contracts in Mid and West Wales? OQ60661
Mae sicrhau dyfodol cynaliadwy i bractis cyffredinol mewn cymunedau ar hyd a lled Cymru yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth yma. Rŷn ni wedi cymryd camau i wella mynediad at wasanaethau a helpu i recriwtio meddygon teulu, ac fe fyddwn ni’n dal i weithio gyda’r byrddau iechyd a'r proffesiwn meddygon teulu i wreiddio’r newidiadau hyn.
Ensuring a sustainable future for general practice in local communities across Wales is a priority for this Government. We have taken steps to improve access to services and to incentivise GP recruitment, and we will continue to work with health boards and the GP profession to embed these changes.
Diolch, Weinidog. Rŷch chi eisoes wedi clywed gan Jane Dodds, wrth gwrs, fod yna bryder enfawr ar draws y rhanbarth dwi a chi'n ei chynrychioli am ddyfodol ein meddygfeydd, a'r anghydfod ynglŷn â chontractau. Mae adroddiad diweddar y BMA yn nodi bod dros 80 o feddygfeydd wedi cau yng Nghymru rhwng 2013 a 2022. Mae'r problemau hyn yn amlwg iawn yn ein cymunedau gwledig, sydd yn wahanol dros ben i beth rŷn ni wedi'i glywed am ardal Aneurin Bevan yn gynharach. Yng ngeiriau adroddiad pwyllgor meddygol lleol Dyfed Powys, ac fe gwrddais i â nhw yn ddiweddar, fel mae'n digwydd, mae hyn yn cael ei ddweud:
Thank you, Minister. You've already heard from Jane Dodds, of course, about the huge concerns across the region that both you and I represent about the future of our GP surgeries, and the dispute regarding contracts. A recent report by the BMA notes that over 80 surgeries closed in Wales between 2013 and 2022. These problems are very apparent in our rural communities, which are very different to what we heard about the Aneurin Bevan area earlier. In the words of the Dyfed Powys local medical committee, and I met with them recently, as it happens, this is said.
'Sustainability continues to be a concern and is a symptom of the difficulty in recruiting GP partners in parts of Dyfed Powys'.
'Mae cynaliadwyedd yn parhau i fod yn bryder ac mae'n symptom o'r anhawster wrth recriwtio partneriaid meddygon teulu mewn rhannau o Ddyfed Powys'.
Nawr, fel ateb i gwestiwn Jane Dodds yn gynharach, fe ddywedoch chi fod yna gynllun ar waith yn targedu ardaloedd arbennig, sydd yn cynnwys rhannau o Bowys, ardaloedd Betsi Cadwaladr a Hywel Dda. Felly, yn wyneb yr argyfwng dwi wedi ei amlinellu fan hyn, allwch chi roi asesiad i ni o ba mor llwyddiannus mae'r cynllun yna wedi bod, ac os oes angen mwy o waith, sut ŷn ni'n mynd ati i recriwtio mwy o feddygon i ardaloedd gwledig?
Now, in response to Jane Dodds's question earlier, you said there was a scheme in place targeting particular areas, including parts of Powys, areas in Betsi Cadwaladr and Hywel Dda. So, given the crisis that I've outlined here, can you give us an assessment of how successful that scheme has been, and if more work needs to be done, how will we recruit more doctors to rural areas?
Diolch yn fawr. Y peth cyntaf yw bod yn rhaid i ni sicrhau bod pobl yn teimlo yn gyfforddus yn eu meddygfeydd nhw, ac mae hwnna'n rhan o'r rheswm pam ŷn ni mor falch ein bod ni wedi dod i gytundeb â'r general medical services. Mae £20 miliwn ar y bwrdd, mae hwnna'n fwy nag erioed o'r blaen, ac rŷn ni yn gobeithio bydd hwnna'n helpu. Ond rŷn ni yn deall bod yna gwestiynau ynglŷn â chynaliadwyedd, a dyna pam—a dwi'n meddwl ei fod e'n werth cofio—ein bod ni'n gweld symudiad o, er enghraifft, single-handed practices. Mae pobl eisiau cydweithio yn well, mae e'n fwy sustainable iddyn nhw. Felly, er efallai eich bod chi'n gweld llai o feddygfeydd, beth ŷch chi'n ei weld yw bod grwpiau o feddygon yn dod at ei gilydd. Felly, maen nhw'n dal i gynnal yr un cymunedau, ond maen nhw'n dod at ei gilydd ac maen nhw'n fwy sustainable. Dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna yn bwysig.
Jest o ran recriwtio a'r trainees, maen nhw wedi bod yn hynod o lwyddiannus. Mae 175 o trainees newydd wedi cael eu recriwtio yn 2022, ac mae hwnna, wrth gwrs, yn wahanol i'r 'Train. Work. Live' campaign ŷn ni'n ei rhedeg hefyd. Felly, mae hi wedi bod yn hynod o lwyddiannus, a dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi wedi bod yn ymwneud â'r GP practice yn Laugharne, ac mae yna ofidion fanna. Dwi'n gwybod bod y meddyg yn fanna wedi gwthio i Gaerfyrddin fod yn rhan o'r cynllun yma i ddenu pobl, achos doedd Caerfyrddin ddim yn rhan o'r project yna, ond mae hi nawr, o ganlyniad i'r lobïo a ddaeth o fanna.
Thank you very much. The first thing is that we have to ensure that people feel comfortable in their surgeries, and that is part of the reason why we're so pleased that we have come to an agreement with the general medical services. There's £20 million on the table, that's more than ever before, and we do hope that that will help. But we do understand that there are questions about sustainability, and that's why—and I think it's worth bearing in mind—we're seeing a move away from, for example, single-handed practices. People want to collaborate better, it's more sustainable for them. So, although you may be seeing fewer surgeries, what you are seeing are groups of doctors coming together. So, they are still sustaining the same communities, but they are coming together and they're more sustainable. So, I think that's important.
In terms of recruitment and the trainees, they have been very successful. There are 175 new trainees that have been recruited in 2022, and that, of course, is different to the 'Train. Work. Live' campaign that we're running as well. So, it has been very successful, and I know that you have been involved with the GP practice in Laugharne, and there are concerns there. I do know that the GP there has pushed for Carmarthen to be part of that plan to attract people, because Carmarthen wasn't part of that project originally, but it is now, as a result of the lobbying that emanated from there.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gofal sylfaenol? OQ60636
7. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for primary care? OQ60636
The four primary care services of general medical services, community pharmacy, dentistry and optometry are the most familiar and frequently used health services. We continue to work with health boards and professional bodies on the reform of the national contracts for these important services to improve access.
Y pedwar gwasanaeth gofal sylfaenol, sef gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol, fferylliaeth gymunedol, deintyddiaeth ac optometreg, yw'r gwasanaethau iechyd mwyaf cyfarwydd a'r rhai a ddefnyddir amlaf. Rydym yn parhau i weithio gyda byrddau iechyd a chyrff proffesiynol ar ddiwygio'r contractau cenedlaethol ar gyfer y gwasanaethau pwysig hyn er mwyn gwella mynediad.
I thank the Minister for that response. I really want to highlight the importance of primary care. Where it works well, it provides a great service. Can I make a request to the Government to protect the percentage of the health budget provided for primary care in the same way as mental health is protected? And what further powers over primary care practices that are funded by the health boards can be given to health boards? I am fed up with a very poorly performing GP practice in my constituency that generates over 25 complaints a year.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb hwnnw. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd gofal sylfaenol. Lle mae'n gweithio'n dda, mae'n darparu gwasanaeth gwych. A gaf i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth ddiogelu'r ganran o'r gyllideb iechyd a ddarperir ar gyfer gofal sylfaenol yn yr un modd ag y mae iechyd meddwl yn cael ei ddiogelu? A pha bwerau pellach y gellir eu rhoi i fyrddau iechyd dros bractisau gofal sylfaenol a ariennir gan y byrddau iechyd? Rwyf wedi cael llond bol ar bractis meddyg teulu yn fy etholaeth sy'n perfformio'n wael iawn ac sy'n cynhyrchu dros 25 o gwynion y flwyddyn.
Thanks very much, Mike. I think we've got to get to a place in relation to the health service where we stop talking about money going in. What I'm interested in is what do we produce as a result of the money going in; it's got to be about what are the outcomes as a result of that money. That's why, actually, the current funding is linked to contract values, and if that happens, then that creates, effectively, a ring fence.
I am very keen to see, as in our strategic document, which is 'A Healthier Wales'—. We want to see a shift from secondary care into the community, right? So, that's the strategic plan. Actually, it's been slightly blown out of the water, not because we're not doing it, but because we've piled a lot of money into trying to clear the backlog. So, because we've spent or we're planning to spend £1 billion over the course of this Senedd term on clearing the backlog, obviously it looks disproportionate, then, in terms of the percentage differences. But it doesn't mean that less is going into primary care, it's just that the percentage may look smaller because of the need to clear the backlog.
But I'm absolutely with you all the way, Mike, in terms of the need to get into that preventative space, into that community space. It's something that I ask regularly of health boards: ‘Demonstrate to me that you're on that journey, show me what you're doing.' But what I'm interested in is not the money; I'm interested in outcomes, and we've got to get back into that space.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mike. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni gyrraedd lle mewn perthynas â'r gwasanaeth iechyd lle rydym yn rhoi'r gorau i siarad am arian yn mynd i mewn. Yr hyn y mae gennyf ddiddordeb ynddo yw beth a gynhyrchwn o ganlyniad i'r arian sy'n mynd i mewn; mae'n rhaid iddo ymwneud â beth yw'r canlyniadau o ganlyniad i'r arian hwnnw. Dyna pam mae'r cyllid cyfredol yn gysylltiedig â gwerthoedd contract, ac os bydd hynny'n digwydd, fe fydd yn arian wedi'i glustnodi, i bob pwrpas.
Rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld, fel yn ein dogfen strategol, sef 'Cymru Iachach'—. Rydym am weld newid o ofal eilaidd i'r gymuned, onid ydym? Felly, dyna yw'r cynllun strategol. A dweud y gwir, mae wedi cael ei esgeuluso braidd, nid oherwydd nad ydym yn ei wneud, ond oherwydd ein bod wedi pentyrru llawer o arian i geisio clirio'r ôl-groniad. Felly, oherwydd ein bod wedi gwario neu ein bod yn bwriadu gwario £1 biliwn yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon ar glirio'r ôl-groniad, yn amlwg, mae'n edrych yn anghymesur o ran y gwahaniaethau canrannol. Ond nid yw'n golygu bod llai'n mynd tuag at ofal sylfaenol, dim ond y gallai'r ganran edrych yn llai oherwydd yr angen i glirio'r ôl-groniad.
Ond rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr, Mike, ynghylch yr angen i fynd i'r gofod ataliol hwnnw, i'r gofod cymunedol hwnnw. Mae'n rhywbeth yr wyf yn ei ofyn yn rheolaidd i fyrddau iechyd: 'Dangoswch i mi eich bod ar y daith honno, dangoswch i mi beth rydych chi'n ei wneud.' Ond nid yr arian sy'n bwysig i mi, ond y canlyniadau, ac mae'n rhaid inni ddychwelyd i'r lle hwnnw.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Rhys ab Owen.
And finally, question 8, Rhys ab Owen.
8. Pa ystyriaeth mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i rhoi i gyflwyno gwasanaethau IVF am ddim ar y GIG ledled Cymru? OQ60654
8. What consideration has the Minister given to introducing free NHS IVF services across Wales? OQ60654
Mae gwasanaethau IVF yr NHS ar gael am ddim yn barod ar draws Cymru. Maen nhw’n cael eu comisiynu gan Bwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru ar ran pob un o’r byrddau iechyd. Mae gan gleifion ledled Cymru sy'n bodloni'r meini prawf mynediad hawl i ddau gylch o driniaeth IVF ar yr NHS, ac mae’r gwasanaethau ar gael hyd at ben-blwydd menyw yn 43 oed.
NHS IVF services are already freely available across Wales. They are commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee on behalf of all health boards. Patients across Wales who meet the access criteria are entitled to two NHS cycles of IVF treatment, and services are available up to a woman’s forty-third birthday.
Diolch ichi am eich ateb, Gweinidog, ac am y nifer o lythyron dwi wedi eu derbyn gennych chi ar y pwnc yma. Dwi'n siŵr y gallwn ni i gyd gytuno mai triniaeth IVF a ffrwythlondeb yw un o wyrthiau meddygaeth ein cyfnod ni. Mae'n llenwi gwacter o fewn teuluoedd. A dylwn i ddatgan budd, oherwydd rwyf wedi profi'r llawenydd hwnnw ac yn hynod o ddiolchgar i'r gwasanaeth iechyd am yr hyn maen nhw wedi ei wneud. Ond mae rhai darpar rieni yn talu hyd at £1,600 am y driniaeth. Mae hyn yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar gyplau lesbiaidd, sydd yn rhy aml yn gorfod talu o'u pocedi eu hunain yn hytrach na derbyn y driniaeth ar y gwasanaeth iechyd. Yn ôl dashboard yr Awdurdod Ffrwythlondeb ac Embryoleg Dynol, dim ond 33 y cant o donor insemination neu driniaethau IVF yng Nghymru a gafodd eu hariannu gan y gwasanaeth iechyd rhwng 2019 a 2021. Derbyniodd 37 y cant o fenywod gyda phartneriaid gwrywaidd eu triniaeth ar y gwasanaeth iechyd, ond mae'n syrthio i 11 y cant i gyplau lesbiadd. A wnaiff y Gweinidog gymryd camau i sicrhau bod triniaethau ffrwythlondeb yn decach i gyplau lesbiaiadd? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you for that response, Minister, and for the number of letters I've received from you on this issue. I'm sure we could all agree that IVF and fertility treatment is one of the miracles in medicine in our time. It fills a void within families. And I should declare an interest because I have experienced that joy myself and am extremely grateful to the NHS for what they did. But some prospective parents are paying up to £1,600 for the treatment. This has a disproportionate impact on lesbian couples, who too often have to pay from their own pockets, rather than receiving the treatment on the NHS. According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority dashboard, only 33 per cent of donor insemination or IVF treatments in Wales were funded by the health service between 2019 and 2021. While 37 per cent of women with male partners received their treatment on the NHS, it falls to 11 per cent for lesbian couples. So, will the Minister take steps to ensure that fertility treatments are fairer for lesbian couples? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr. Dwi eisiau ei gwneud hi'n glir ein bod ni'n blaid sy'n credu'n gryf mewn ecwiti, ac yn arbennig pan fo'n dod i lesbiaid a'r posibilrwydd iddyn nhw gael plant hefyd. Mae yna access criteria ar gyfer y nifer o cycles IVF NHS y mae pobl yn gallu eu cael, ac mae yna eglurder ynglŷn â phwy sy'n gallu cael y rheini. Dwi'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi bod yn ysgrifennu llythyrau at ein gilydd i sicrhau ein bod ni'n deall y sefyllfa. Dwi'n gwybod bod NICE ar hyn o bryd yn edrych unwaith eto ar fertility assessment and treatment. Maen nhw'n disgwyl gweld hynny'n digwydd yn yr hydref, ac mi edrychwn ni eto ar y sefyllfa. Ond mae'r sefyllfa o ran ecwiti yn hollbwysig i ni fel Llywodraeth.
Thank you very much. I want to make it clear that we are a party that believes greatly in equity, and particularly when it comes to lesbians and the possibility of them having children as well. There are access criteria for the number of NHS IVF cycles that people can have, and there is clarity about who can have those. I know that we have been exchanging correspondence to ensure that we do understand the situation. I know that NICE at present is looking once again at fertility assessment and treatment. They expect to see that happening in the autumn, and we will look again at the situation then. But the situation in terms of equity is very important for us as a Government.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Pwynt o drefn nawr yn codi o'r cwestiynau gan un o Gyd-gadeiryddion y pwyllgor COVID, Tom Giffard.
A point of order arising from questions from one of the Co-chairs of the COVID committee, Tom Giffard.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I wanted to make a point of order based on the comments made by Mabon ap Gwynfor in his spokesperson's questions, where he made reference to the committee, saying it had met four times, always behind closed doors. I have looked at the Senedd website, and the committee has met seven times, and the last three have been in public, including one yesterday morning.
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Roeddwn am wneud pwynt o drefn yn seiliedig ar y sylwadau a wnaed gan Mabon ap Gwynfor yn ei gwestiynau fel llefarydd, lle cyfeiriodd at y pwyllgor, gan ddweud ei fod wedi cyfarfod bedair gwaith, bob amser y tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig. Rwyf wedi edrych ar wefan y Senedd, ac mae'r pwyllgor wedi cyfarfod saith gwaith, ac mae'r tri diwethaf wedi bod yn gyhoeddus, gan gynnwys un fore ddoe.
Thank you for that clarification. I'm sure it's accepted by Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch am yr eglurhad hwnnw. Rwy'n siŵr ei fod wedi ei dderbyn gan Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Dwi'n derbyn hynny.
I accept that.
Thank you for the immediate correction of the record. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch am gywiro'r cofnod ar unwaith. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Cwestiynau amserol nesaf. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf i'w ateb gan Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg. Heledd Fychan i ofyn y cwestiwn.
Next, the topical questions. The first question is to be answered by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. Heledd Fychan to ask the question.
1. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith cynyddu'r cap ffioedd dysgu a thorri grantiau cymorth ôl-raddedig ar y nifer tebygol o fyfyrwyr sy'n gwneud cais i astudio ym Mhrifysgolion Cymru? TQ981
1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effect of increasing tuition fee caps and cutting postgraduate support grants on the probable number of students applying to study in Welsh Universities? TQ981
Mae hwnnw'n fater o bwys i ni. Mae tystiolaeth yn dangos mai costau byw yn hytrach na ffioedd yw'r rhwystredigaeth fwyaf i fynediad at addysg uwch. Dyna pam rydyn ni wedi ffocysu ein hadnoddau ar gynnal costau byw i israddedigion ac ôl-raddedigion sydd gyda'r uchaf ym Mhrydain.
This is an issue of great importance to us. Evidence shows that it is the cost of living, rather than fees, which is the greatest barrier to accessing higher education. That's why we've focused our resources on support with the cost of living to undergraduates and postgraduates that is among the highest in the UK.
Diolch, Weinidog. Heb os, mae ein prifysgolion ni mewn sefyllfa argyfyngus. Dro ar ôl tro, rhybuddiodd cyn is-ganghellor Prifysgol Caerdydd, Colin Riordan, bod eu sefyllfa gyllidol yn anghynaliadwy. Mewn erthygl ym Mehefin 2023, roedd yn gyfan gwbl onest eu bod nhw’n gorfod bod yn orddibynnol ar ffioedd myfyrwyr rhyngwladol gan olgyu bod myfyrwyr o Gymru yn colli allan ar lefydd. Dywedodd bod hyn yn
Thank you, Minister. Without a doubt, universities are in a critical situation. Time and time again, the former vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, Colin Riordan, warned that their financial situation was unsustainable. In an article in June 2023, he was very candid about the fact that they had to be overly dependent on international student fees, meaning that students from Wales were missing out on places. He said that this is
'a risky strategy, and arguably difficult to defend in moral terms.'
'strategaeth beryglus, a gellir dadlau ei bod yn anodd ei hamddiffyn mewn termau moesol.'
Mae myfyrwyr dan straen cynyddol hefyd, wedi eu heffeithio, fel y dywedoch chi, gan yr argyfwng costau byw, gyda 35 y cant o fyfyrwyr yn dweud wrth NUS Cymru ym Mehefin 2023 eu bod wedi ystyried gadael eu cyrsiau o’r herwydd. Wrth gwrs, ein cred ni, ym Mhlaid Cymru, yw y dylai addysg fod am ddim, a bod buddsoddi mewn pobl ifanc yn fuddsoddiad nid yn unig yn eu dyfodol nhw, ond hefyd dyfodol ein cenedl.
Ond o dderbyn nad yw hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n bosib yn y sefyllfa gyllidol eleni, gaf i ofyn pam bod hyn yn digwydd mor hwyr yn y dydd pan fo llythyrau gyda chynigion eisoes wedi eu gyrru i fyfyrwyr, ac yng nghanol cylch ffioedd a chynllun mynediad? Pan godwyd y ffioedd yn Lloegr, dywedodd Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wrth brifysgolion flwyddyn yn flaenorol, felly roedd gan fyfyrwyr a phrifysgolion ddealltwriaeth glir o'r sefyllfa.
Beth yw eich cyfiawnhad dros gyflwyno hyn mor ddisymwth? Pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi fod yr hyn sydd wedi ei gyhoeddi yn gyson gyda chynlluniau ffioedd a mynediad y prifysgolion unigol ac yn ymarferol bosib ei weithredu yn gyfreithlon ym mhob prifysgol yr un pryd? Byddai'n sefyllfa annheg pe bai prifysgolion unigol yng Nghymru yn codi ffioedd gwahanol—annheg i fyfyrwyr ac yn beryglus o ran eu hyfywedd cyllidol. Yn bellach, pan gyhoeddwyd y gyllideb ddrafft ym mis Rhagfyr, nodwyd ym mharagraff 58 o ran ffioedd dysgu, a dwi'n dyfynnu:
'Os penderfynwn gynyddu costau, caiff cynigion eu cyflwyno at ddibenion ymgynghori.'
Pryd bu'r ymgynghoriad, ac efo pwy? Ac os na fu ymgynghoriad, ai dyma'r ffordd o lywodraethu—dweud un peth a gwneud fel arall?
Students are also under increasing stress, affected, as you said, by the cost-of-living crisis, with 35 per cent of students telling NUS Cymru in June 2023 that they had considered leaving their courses because of that.Of course, our belief, in Plaid Cymru, is that education should be free, and that investing in young people is an investment not only in their future, but also the future of our nation.
Accepting that that is not something that's possible in this year's fiscal situation, may I ask why this is happening so late in the day when offer letters have already been sent out to students, and in the middle of a cycle of fee and access plans? When fees were raised in England, the UK Government told universities a year in advance so students and universities had a clear understanding of the situation.
What is your justification for introducing this so suddenly? What assurance can you give that what has been published is consistent with the fee and access plans of the individual universities and is practically possible to implement legally in all universities at the same time? It would be an unfair situation if individual universities in Wales were to charge different fees—unfair for students and dangerous in terms of their financial viability. Furthermore, when the draft budget was published in December, paragraph 58 stated in relation to tuition fees, and I quote:
'If we decide to increase charges, proposals will be brought forward for consultation.'
When was the consultation, and with whom? And if there was no consultation, is this the way to govern—to say one thing, but do another?
I thank the Member for the questions. Just to be clear, maintenance support for eligible undergraduate students will increase by 3.7 per cent and the tuition fee cap, which has been announced, will be increased only to the same level already charged by higher education providers in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. We've protected our policy of partial cancellation of debt of up to £1,500 when a student begins repaying their loans—and this is unique to Welsh students no matter where they study. The fee limit changes will not result in an increase to the monthly repayment that students will make. Repayments will still be subject to the earnings threshold.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau. I fod yn glir, bydd y cymorth cynhaliaeth ar gyfer myfyrwyr israddedig cymwys yn cynyddu 3.7 y cant a bydd y cap ar ffioedd dysgu, sydd wedi'i gyhoeddi, yn cael ei gynyddu i'r un lefel a godir eisoes gan ddarparwyr addysg uwch yn Lloegr, Gogledd Iwerddon a'r Alban. Rydym wedi diogelu ein polisi o ddileu dyled o hyd at £1,500 yn rhannol pan fydd myfyriwr yn dechrau ad-dalu ei fenthyciadau—ac mae hyn yn unigryw i fyfyrwyr Cymru waeth ble maent yn astudio. Ni fydd y newidiadau i'r terfyn ffioedd yn arwain at gynnydd i'r ad-daliad misol y bydd myfyrwyr yn ei wneud. Bydd ad-daliadau'n dal i fod yn ddarostyngedig i'r trothwy enillion.
Mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwyntiau pwysig ynglŷn â'r pwysau sydd ar brifysgolion o ran adnoddau—dyna pam mae'r newid hwn wedi cael ei gyflwyno. Mae'r newid yn cael ei gyflwyno o fewn y flwyddyn hon oherwydd y pwysau arbennig sydd ar y gyllideb eleni a'r angen i allu sicrhau cefnogaeth i brifysgolion yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, fel y nodwyd yn y dyfyniad oddi wrth Is-Ganghellor Riordan cyn iddo adael Prifysgol Caerdydd. Rŷn ni wedi bod mewn trafodaethau gyda'r is-gangellorion a rŷn ni wedi trafod hefyd gydag NUS Cymru ynglŷn â'r newidiadau sydd ar y gweill.
The Member makes important points on the pressures on universities in terms of resources—that's why this change has been introduced. The change is being introduced within this year because of the particular pressures on this year's budget and the need to ensure adequate support for universities in that context, as noted in the quote from Vice-Chancellor Riordan before he left Cardiff University. We have been in discussions with the vice-chancellors and we've also had discussions with NUS Wales on the changes in the pipeline.
Can I thank Heledd Fychan for tabling this question? It's very important. I sympathise with the general health of the university sector in Wales. Paul Boyle, the vice-chancellor of Swansea University and chair of Universities Wales said recently:
'Currently, the income for neither research nor domestic undergraduate teaching courses covers the cost of delivery.'
He warned that the financial environment for universities
'is one of the most challenging in recent memory'.
In light of the decision that's been taken, could you speak to your reading of the wider health, if you like, of those universities in Wales, and whether they are able to compete on that global stage, where we know that is very, very important for our universities.
But secondly, this decision, obviously—. The Welsh Government doesn't set course fees itself; it's important to say that. The Minister has obviously raised the maximum level of these Welsh Government tuition fees. I wonder what work the Welsh Government and the Minister have done to understand the proportion of courses that will now charge this new maximum fee.
A gaf i ddiolch i Heledd Fychan am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn hwn? Mae'n bwysig iawn. Rwy'n cydymdeimlo ag iechyd cyffredinol y sector prifysgolion yng Nghymru. Dywedodd Paul Boyle, is-ganghellor Prifysgol Abertawe a chadeirydd Prifysgolion Cymru yn ddiweddar:
'Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'r incwm ar gyfer cyrsiau ymchwil na chyrsiau addysgu israddedig domestig yn talu am y gost o'u cyflwyno.'
Rhybuddiodd fod yr amgylchedd ariannol i brifysgolion
'yn un o'r rhai mwyaf heriol o fewn cof'.
Yng ngoleuni'r penderfyniad a wnaed, a allech siarad am eich barn chi am iechyd ehangach, os mynnwch, y prifysgolion hynny yng Nghymru, ac a ydynt yn gallu cystadlu ar y llwyfan byd-eang hwnnw, lle gwyddom fod hynny'n bwysig iawn i'n prifysgolion.
Ond yn ail, y penderfyniad hwn, yn amlwg—. Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn pennu ffioedd cyrsiau ei hun; mae'n bwysig dweud hynny. Mae'r Gweinidog yn amlwg wedi codi uchafswm ffioedd dysgu Llywodraeth Cymru. Tybed pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru a'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud i ddeall pa gyfran o gyrsiau a fydd yn codi'r ffi uchaf newydd hon nawr.
The Member is right to say that that is a matter for universities and it is a matter for them whether they choose to increase the fee limit within the cap. As the Member will know, the tuition fee cap, when increased, will be the same as already charged by higher education providers in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and Welsh students studying outside Wales will already be paying fees at the increased cap.
It is a matter for universities how they approach charging for their courses; that is not a matter for me as the Minister. And to answer the point that I failed to answer to Heledd Fychan, the timing of any changes that universities wish to make is a matter for them and they will each have their own arrangements in relation to that. We've been open with them about the timing of this change.
In relation to the broader picture, which Tom Giffard is inviting me to comment on, universities are under funding pressure; they're under funding pressure right across the UK. We are in ongoing discussions with all our vice-chancellors in Wales, and with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales as well, to make sure that we are sighted on challenges as they emerge. In my discussions with university vice-chancellors, they have welcomed the change that I have announced. It is not a change I was keen to make, but it is one that will enable more funding to go to universities without changing the monthly repayments of those students. In fact, most students will have their tuition fee loans written off before they get to the point where this extra charge is paid. So, it effectively operates as a means of providing more income to universities without, generally speaking, affecting students in their own pockets in the longer term.
Mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud mai mater i brifysgolion yw hynny ac mae'n fater iddynt hwy a ydynt yn dewis cynyddu'r terfyn ffioedd o fewn y cap. Fel y bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, bydd y cap ffioedd dysgu, o'i gynyddu, yr un fath â'r hyn a godir eisoes gan ddarparwyr addysg uwch yn Lloegr, Gogledd Iwerddon a'r Alban, a bydd myfyrwyr o Gymru sy'n astudio y tu allan i Gymru eisoes yn talu ffioedd ar y cap sydd wedi'i gynyddu.
Mater i brifysgolion yw sut yr ânt ati i godi tâl am eu cyrsiau; nid mater i mi fel y Gweinidog yw hynny. Ac i ateb y pwynt y methais ei ateb i Heledd Fychan, mae amseriad unrhyw newidiadau y mae prifysgolion am eu gwneud yn fater iddynt hwy a bydd gan bob un ohonynt eu trefniadau eu hunain mewn perthynas â hynny. Rydym wedi bod yn agored gyda nhw am amseriad y newid hwn.
Mewn perthynas â'r darlun ehangach, y mae Tom Giffard yn fy ngwahodd i wneud sylwadau arno, mae prifysgolion dan bwysau ariannol; maent dan bwysau ariannol ledled y DU. Rydym mewn trafodaethau parhaus gyda'n holl is-gangellorion yng Nghymru, a chyda Chyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru hefyd, i sicrhau ein bod yn ymwybodol o heriau wrth iddynt ddod i'r amlwg. Yn fy nhrafodaethau gydag is-gangellorion prifysgolion, maent wedi croesawu'r newid a gyhoeddais. Nid yw'n newid yr oeddwn yn awyddus i'w wneud, ond mae'n un a fydd yn galluogi mwy o gyllid i fynd i brifysgolion heb newid ad-daliadau misol y myfyrwyr hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, bydd y rhan fwyaf o fyfyrwyr yn gweld eu benthyciadau ffioedd dysgu yn cael eu dileu cyn iddynt gyrraedd y pwynt lle byddai'r tâl ychwanegol hwn yn cael ei dalu. Felly, mae'n gweithredu i bob pwrpas fel ffordd o ddarparu mwy o incwm i brifysgolion heb effeithio, a siarad yn gyffredinol, ar bocedi'r myfyrwyr eu hunain yn fwy hirdymor.
Of course, I share a lot of the concerns that Heledd Fychan has raised. I take the point in terms of the focus on cost of living, but of course, a lot of the postgraduate support grants were around making it more affordable for people to continue on to postgraduate degrees. Of course, there is also a psychological effect when it comes to tuition fees. I think of myself now, looking at my student finance account and seeing a sum of £33,000 that I owe in payments. This, potentially, is going to have a long-term effect, isn't it, on the skills base we have here in Wales. We know there are substantial skills gaps in a number of sectors. So, I'd be really interested to know from the Government's perspective whether or not they've done an assessment on what potential effect this might have on that skills base, and also how this might align, then, with the economic priorities that were set out by the Government just last year.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n rhannu llawer o'r pryderon y mae Heledd Fychan wedi eu codi. Rwy'n derbyn y pwynt ynghylch y ffocws ar gostau byw, ond wrth gwrs, roedd llawer o'r grantiau cymorth ôl-raddedig yn ymwneud â'i gwneud yn fwy fforddiadwy i bobl barhau i wneud graddau ôl-raddedig. Wrth gwrs, mae yna effaith seicolegol hefyd o ran ffioedd dysgu. Rwy'n meddwl amdanaf fy hun nawr, wrth edrych ar fy nghyfrif cyllid myfyrwyr a gweld swm o £33,000 sy'n ddyledus gennyf mewn taliadau. Mae hyn, o bosibl, yn mynd i gael effaith hirdymor, onid yw, ar y sylfaen sgiliau sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru. Gwyddom fod bylchau sylweddol mewn sgiliau mewn nifer o sectorau. Felly, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn gwybod o bersbectif y Llywodraeth a ydynt wedi gwneud asesiad o'r effaith bosibl y gallai hyn ei chael ar y sylfaen sgiliau honno, a hefyd sut y gallai hyn gyd-fynd, felly, â'r blaenoriaethau economaidd a nodwyd gan y Llywodraeth y llynedd.
I think it is really important that we are clear about what is being changed and what is not being changed. All the evidence that we have points to the fact that students are more likely to make the decision based on the costs of living and the maintenance cost implications rather than on the tuition fee element itself. I think it's important that we still, in the discussions that we have in the Chamber, encourage people into higher education and postgraduate study. Wales is the only nation in the UK that offers our students, wherever they have studied, a £1,500 write-off at the start of the repayment of their loans, which is twice the amount by which the cap is increased on a typical three-year degree. So, I think that is important context because, as he says, people considering going into higher education will want to know what the reality of the support available is. Maintenance support in Wales is set to reflect the national living wage and will be increased by 3.7 per cent, because we absolutely recognise that that is more likely to be a barrier to higher education that students face.
In relation to postgraduate support specifically, as he will know from previous exchanges in the Chamber—and we've had the opportunity to discuss this in committee as well—these are unenviable choices about the allocation of resources. The choice that I have made as Minister is to prioritise the resources we have available at the earliest point in the education journey, which all evidence tells us is the most progressive way of making the biggest change in the most lives for the longest term. That does mean, unfortunately, that students studying postgraduate degrees will now be supported by loans rather than grants. The bursary scheme that we have, which we've also reallocated, comes on top of postgraduate support that is already at a higher level than most students in the UK can access. These are not choices one wants to make as a Minister, but I'm absolutely confident that the choices we have made in this budget are the most progressive choices available to us within that context.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn glir ynghylch yr hyn sy'n cael ei newid a'r hyn nad yw'n cael ei newid. Mae'r holl dystiolaeth sydd gennym yn dynodi bod myfyrwyr yn fwy tebygol o wneud y penderfyniad yn seiliedig ar gostau byw a'r goblygiadau o ran costau cynhaliaeth yn hytrach nag ar yr elfen ffioedd dysgu ei hun. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod, yn y trafodaethau a gawn yn y Siambr, yn parhau i annog pobl i addysg uwch ac astudiaethau ôl-raddedig. Cymru yw'r unig wlad yn y DU sy'n cynnig dileu £1,500 i'n myfyrwyr, lle bynnag y buont yn astudio, wrth iddynt ddechrau ad-dalu eu benthyciadau, swm sy'n ddwywaith y swm y caiff y cap ei gynyddu ar gyfer gradd dair blynedd arferol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n gyd-destun pwysig oherwydd, fel y mae'n dweud, bydd pobl sy'n ystyried mynd ar drywydd addysg uwch am wybod beth yw realiti'r cymorth sydd ar gael. Mae disgwyl i'r cymorth cynhaliaeth yng Nghymru adlewyrchu'r cyflog byw cenedlaethol a bydd yn cynyddu 3.7 y cant, gan ein bod yn cydnabod yn llwyr fod hynny'n fwy tebygol o fod yn rhwystr y mae myfyrwyr yn ei wynebu i addysg uwch.
Mewn perthynas â chymorth ôl-raddedig yn benodol, fel y bydd yn gwybod o drafodaethau blaenorol yn y Siambr—ac rydym wedi cael cyfle i drafod hyn yn y pwyllgor hefyd—mae'r rhain yn ddewisiadau annymunol ynghylch dyraniad adnoddau. Y dewis a wneuthum fel Gweinidog yw blaenoriaethu'r adnoddau sydd gennym ar gael ar y pwynt cynharaf ar y daith addysg, ac mae'r holl dystiolaeth yn dweud wrthym mai dyna'r ffordd fwyaf blaengar o wneud y newid mwyaf yn y mwyaf o fywydau am y cyfnod hiraf. Mae hynny'n golygu, yn anffodus, y bydd myfyrwyr sy'n astudio graddau ôl-raddedig bellach yn cael eu cefnogi gan fenthyciadau yn hytrach na grantiau. Daw'r cynllun bwrsariaeth sydd gennym, ac sydd hefyd wedi'i ailddyrannu, ar ben cymorth ôl-raddedig sydd eisoes ar lefel uwch nag y gall y rhan fwyaf o fyfyrwyr yn y DU ei gael. Nid yw'r rhain yn ddewisiadau y mae rhywun am eu gwneud fel Gweinidog, ond rwy'n hollol hyderus mai'r dewisiadau a wnaethom yn y gyllideb hon yw'r dewisiadau mwyaf blaengar sydd ar gael inni yn y cyd-destun hwnnw.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Mae'r cwestiwn nesaf i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, ac i'w ofyn gan Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Thank you, Minister. The next question is to be answered by the Minister for local government and to be asked by Peredur Owen Griffiths.
2. Pa ymgynghoriad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i gynnal gydag awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru cyn i Lywodraeth Cymru ddyrannu cyllid canlyniadol i awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru yn dilyn cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth y DU ym mis Ionawr 2024? TQ987
2. What consultation has the Minister held with local authorities across Wales before the Welsh Government allocates consequential funding to local authorities in Wales following the UK Government's announcement in January 2024? TQ987
I have formally consulted local authorities on the provisional settlement. Responses to that consultation included requests for the restoration of the social care workforce grant to the value of £45 million. Responses also reflected on a range of pressures being felt by all local authorities, including in social care and education.
Rwyf wedi ymgynghori'n ffurfiol ag awdurdodau lleol ar y setliad dros dro. Ymhlith yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw yr oedd ceisiadau am adfer grant y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol i £45 miliwn. Roedd ymatebion hefyd yn myfyrio ar bwysau amrywiol a deimlir gan bob awdurdod lleol, gan gynnwys ym maes gofal cymdeithasol ac addysg.
Diolch yn fawr am yr ateb yna.
Thank you very much for that answer.
I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has recognised the need to further support local authorities during this period of extreme financial hardship—something that Plaid Cymru has been calling for ever since the draft budget was announced in December. I also welcome that the Minister has given reassurance in her statement that extra funding will be made available for councils, to allow them to make their final decisions on council tax rates and budgets for the next financial year.
We also need to keep sight of the bigger picture: that this money will barely scratch the service in terms of undoing the devastating impact of 14 years of Tory-driven austerity, and that local authorities across Wales will still need to make very painful decisions over the coming weeks on cuts to public services, substantial changes in council taxes or, in many cases, both.
I note that you've raised the funding floor to 2.3 per cent. How high did you consider increasing this before settling on 2.3 per cent? Or is it the natural increase when the extra £14.4 million is applied via the RSG to the original 2 per cent floor?
You also mentioned in your statement that the RSG uplift will help support local authorities meet the cost of funding the 5 per cent pay increase for teachers that was agreed in October. But local authorities have been making the case for some time that their core finance settlement for 2024-25 is simply insufficient to cover this expense. As my colleague Heledd Fychan mentioned in the draft budget debate yesterday, we'd urge the Government to restore the recurrent funding model that was agreed for the previous pay award to ease the extreme pressures facing local government. Will you consider, therefore, to at least part-fund the teacher pay award? Diolch yn fawr.
Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cydnabod yr angen i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol ymhellach yn ystod y cyfnod hwn o galedi ariannol eithafol—rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn galw amdano ers cyhoeddi'r gyllideb ddrafft ym mis Rhagfyr. Rwyf hefyd yn croesawu sicrwydd y Gweinidog yn ei datganiad y bydd cyllid ychwanegol ar gael i gynghorau, er mwyn caniatáu iddynt wneud eu penderfyniadau terfynol ar gyfraddau'r dreth gyngor a chyllidebau ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf.
Mae angen inni hefyd gadw golwg ar y darlun ehangach: mai prin y bydd yr arian hwn yn crafu'r wyneb o ran dadwneud effaith ddinistriol 14 mlynedd o gyni wedi'i yrru gan y Torïaid, ac y bydd angen i awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru ddal i wneud penderfyniadau poenus iawn dros yr wythnosau nesaf ynghylch toriadau i wasanaethau cyhoeddus, newidiadau sylweddol i drethi cyngor neu'r ddau beth, mewn sawl achos.
Rwy'n nodi eich bod wedi codi'r cyllid gwaelodol i 2.3 y cant. Pa mor uchel oeddech chi'n ystyried ei gynyddu cyn penderfynu ar 2.3 y cant? Neu ai dyma'r cynnydd naturiol pan fo'r £14.4 miliwn ychwanegol yn cael ei ddefnyddio drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw i'r cyllid gwaelodol gwreiddiol o 2 y cant?
Fe wnaethoch chi grybwyll yn eich datganiad hefyd y bydd codi'r grant cynnal refeniw yn helpu i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol i dalu cost ariannu'r codiad cyflog o 5 y cant i athrawon y cytunwyd arno ym mis Hydref. Ond mae awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn dadlau'r achos ers peth amser nad yw eu setliad cyllid craidd ar gyfer 2024-25 yn ddigon i dalu am y gost hon. Fel y soniodd fy nghyd-Aelod Heledd Fychan yn y ddadl ar y gyllideb ddrafft ddoe, rydym yn annog y Llywodraeth i adfer y model ariannu rheolaidd y cytunwyd arno ar gyfer y dyfarniad cyflog blaenorol i leddfu'r pwysau eithafol sy'n wynebu llywodraeth leol. A wnewch chi ystyried ariannu'r dyfarniad cyflog i athrawon felly, yn rhannol fan lleiaf? Diolch yn fawr.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
I'm very grateful for the question and particularly for the welcome that I know Plaid Cymru has given to the additional funding going into social services. I know that, listening to Plaid Cymru's responses in respect of the draft budget, social services, and local government in particular, are a shared area of priority. And just to confirm as well that I have had some discussions with the designated Member for the co-operation agreement on this particular issue, again reflecting our shared priority of social services in particular, but local government more widely.
I should just recognise that point, really, that local government will nonetheless be making some really difficult choices in the period ahead. We have provided the best possible settlement in terms of keeping our promise about the 3.1 per cent for next year and providing this additional £25 million, which has come through as a result of the consequential funding announced by the UK Government. We do also have to reflect that it does come with a bit of risk that the Welsh Government will hold, in the sense that this figure won't be confirmed until the UK Government's spring statement on 6 March. So, it could potentially be offset by cuts elsewhere. Local government can count on it. We were keen to make the announcement early so that they could plan it into their future budgets and so that they could consult on the basis of this new information. So, we felt it was worth us taking the risk in Welsh Government to be able to do that.
And to confirm that specific question, the floor that we had originally set was 2 per cent, and that involved providing an additional—well, more than £1 million into the RSG. But the impact now of the additional £14.4 million into the RSG means that no authority will have an increase of less than 2.3 per cent. So, the increase is the natural—I think you described it as the 'natural increase' as a result of that additional funding to the RSG.
We do know those key pressures that authorities are facing. So, when writing to local authority leaders today to notify them formally of the additional funding, I have set out that the additional funding is to support the pressures that they've identified in both social care and education, including teachers' pay, as local need dictates. And, of course, that supports one of our key priorities in developing the budget of protecting core front-line services as far as possible.
So, we understand that it won't meet all of the pressures. It is the case that teachers' pay should be covered from within the funding with the RSG. I said yesterday in the debate on the draft budget that, in previous years, we have been able to provide some in-year allocation as a result of underspends that have emerged across Government. We haven't been able to do so on this occasion, but we do hope that the additional funding, formally announced today, will at least help with some of those pressures.
At yesterday's debate, Heledd Fychan raised the issue of pensions and the superannuation contributions adjusted for past experience issue, and I neglected to answer that in response to the debate then, so I'll answer it now, and that is that we are pressing the UK Government to fund that fully. We have said that we will provide that funding on to public services as and when it comes from the UK Government, but we have a larger proportion of workers in the public sector here in Wales, so it will cost us more. So, what we need the UK Government to do is fully fund that and we continue to press them to do that.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn ac yn arbennig am y croeso y gwn fod Plaid Cymru wedi'i roi i'r cyllid ychwanegol sy'n mynd tuag at wasanaethau cymdeithasol. Wrth wrando ar ymatebion Plaid Cymru mewn perthynas â'r gyllideb ddrafft, gwn fod gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, a llywodraeth leol yn benodol, yn faes blaenoriaeth a rennir. Ac i gadarnhau hefyd fy mod wedi cael rhai trafodaethau gyda'r Aelod dynodedig ar gyfer y cytundeb cydweithio ar y mater penodol hwn, gan adlewyrchu eto y flaenoriaeth a rannwn i wasanaethau cymdeithasol yn arbennig, ond i lywodraeth leol yn ehangach.
Dylwn gydnabod y pwynt y bydd llywodraeth leol yn gwneud dewisiadau anodd iawn er hynny yn y cyfnod i ddod. Rydym wedi darparu'r setliad gorau posibl o ran cadw ein haddewid am y 3.1 y cant ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf a darparu'r £25 miliwn ychwanegol, a ddaeth o ganlyniad i'r cyllid canlyniadol a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU. Mae'n rhaid inni ystyried hefyd fod ychydig o risg ynghlwm wrtho i Lywodraeth Cymru, yn yr ystyr na fydd y ffigur yn cael ei gadarnhau tan ddatganiad y gwanwyn Llywodraeth y DU ar 6 Mawrth. Felly, gallai gael ei wrthbwyso gan doriadau mewn mannau eraill. Gall llywodraeth leol fod yn sicr o'i gael. Roeddem yn awyddus i wneud y cyhoeddiad yn gynnar fel y gallent gynllunio ar ei gyfer yn eu cyllidebau yn y dyfodol ac fel y gallent ymgynghori ar sail yr wybodaeth newydd hon. Felly, roeddem yn teimlo ei bod yn werth inni gymryd y risg y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu gwneud hynny.
Ac i gadarnhau'r cwestiwn penodol hwnnw, y cyllid gwaelodol yr oeddem wedi'i osod yn wreiddiol oedd 2 y cant, ac roedd hynny'n golygu darparu—wel, mwy na £1 filiwn ychwanegol i'r grant cynnal refeniw. Ond mae'r effaith nawr o'r £14.4 miliwn ychwanegol i'r grant cynnal refeniw yn golygu na fydd yr un awdurdod yn cael cynnydd o lai na 2.3 y cant. Felly, mae'n gynnydd naturiol—credaf ichi ei ddisgrifio fel y 'cynnydd naturiol' o ganlyniad i'r cyllid ychwanegol hwnnw i'r grant cynnal refeniw.
Rydym yn ymwybodol o'r pwysau allweddol y mae awdurdodau yn ei wynebu. Felly, wrth ysgrifennu at arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol heddiw i'w hysbysu'n ffurfiol ynghylch y cyllid ychwanegol, rwyf wedi nodi bod y cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer cynnal y pwysau y maent wedi'u nodi ym maes gofal cymdeithasol ac addysg, gan gynnwys tâl athrawon, fel y mae angen lleol yn ei bennu. Ac wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n cefnogi un o'n blaenoriaethau allweddol wrth ddatblygu'r gyllideb i ddiogelu gwasanaethau rheng flaen craidd cyn belled ag y bo modd.
Felly, rydym yn deall na fydd yn lleddfu'r holl bwysau. Mae'n wir y dylai cyflogau athrawon ddod o'r cyllid gyda'r grant cynnal refeniw. Dywedais ddoe yn y ddadl ar y gyllideb ddrafft ein bod, mewn blynyddoedd blaenorol, wedi gallu darparu rhywfaint o ddyraniad yn ystod y flwyddyn o ganlyniad i danwariant a ddaeth i'r amlwg ar draws y Llywodraeth. Nid ydym wedi gallu gwneud hynny y tro hwn, ond rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y cyllid ychwanegol, a gyhoeddwyd yn ffurfiol heddiw, o leiaf yn helpu gyda pheth o'r pwysau hwnnw.
Yn y ddadl ddoe, cododd Heledd Fychan fater pensiynau a'r cyfraniadau pensiwn wedi'u haddasu ar gyfer profiad blaenorol, ac ni atebais hynny mewn ymateb i'r ddadl bryd hynny, felly fe wnaf ei ateb nawr, a dweud ein bod yn pwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i ariannu hynny'n llawn. Rydym wedi dweud y byddwn yn darparu'r cyllid hwnnw ymlaen i wasanaethau cyhoeddus pan ddaw gan Lywodraeth y DU, ond mae gennym gyfran fwy o weithwyr yn y sector cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru, felly fe fydd yn costio mwy i ni. Felly, rydym angen i Lywodraeth y DU ariannu hynny'n llawn ac rydym yn parhau i bwyso arnynt i wneud hynny.
Minister, I certainly welcome your announcement of the additional £25 million for local authorities in the next financial year. And as we've already heard, when the UK Government announced an increase to the local government settlement in England, of the £600 million, it has then released that £25 million in consequential funding for the Welsh Government, which of course is a substantial amount of money, but, as you say, and others say, not the full amount to deal with many of the pressures that councils are facing at the moment. My colleagues and I called for this money to be passported to local councils from the moment it was announced, and I'm pleased to see that this is going to happen.
Welsh councils are facing these huge challenges, as we've all acknowledged here today. We firmly believe this is not helped by what we see as an unfair funding formula from Cardiff Bay here, in particular affecting councils in north Wales and rural areas, who are feeling the sharp end of these funding disparities. So, I wonder, Minister, whether, on reflection, with this funding specifically identifying pressures in specific areas in local authorities, that's triggered any thoughts in your mind around the funding formula at the moment and its quality, in terms of what it's identifying as need in councils across Wales.
Weinidog, rwy'n sicr yn croesawu eich cyhoeddiad am y £25 miliwn ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Ac fel y clywsom eisoes, pan gyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU gynnydd i'r setliad llywodraeth leol yn Lloegr, am y £600 miliwn, mae wedi rhyddhau £25 miliwn mewn cyllid canlyniadol i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac wrth gwrs mae'n swm sylweddol o arian, ond fel y dywedwch chi ac eraill, nid yw'n swm llawn i ymdrin â llawer o'r pwysau y mae cynghorau'n eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd. Galwodd fy nghyd-Aelodau a minnau am basbortio'r arian i gynghorau lleol o'r eiliad y cafodd ei gyhoeddi, ac rwy'n falch o weld bod hyn yn mynd i ddigwydd.
Mae cynghorau Cymru yn wynebu heriau enfawr, fel y mae pawb ohonom wedi cydnabod yma heddiw. Credwn yn gryf na chaiff hyn ei helpu gan yr hyn a welwn fel fformiwla ariannu annheg o Fae Caerdydd yma, gan effeithio'n arbennig ar gynghorau yng ngogledd Cymru ac ardaloedd gwledig, sy'n teimlo brath y gwahaniaethau ariannol hyn. Felly, Weinidog, gyda'r cyllid hwn yn nodi pwysau penodol mewn meysydd penodol mewn awdurdodau lleol, tybed a yw hynny wedi cymell unrhyw feddyliau yn eich meddwl ynghylch y fformiwla ariannu ar hyn o bryd a'i ansawdd, o ran yr hyn y mae'n nodi fel angen mewn cynghorau ledled Cymru.
I'm grateful for the question, and again for the welcome that this additional funding is going to local government. There is no evidence to suggest that any authority, or group of authorities, in any particular geographical area of Wales, or any area that has political or social characteristics, is being disadvantaged through the local government funding formula as it is. We do update the vast majority of data within the funding formula on an annual basis. I think what we are seeing this year is the impact of population change in particular areas, and that's coming through in the formula, and it is impacting on the settlements that have been provided.
And that was one of the considerations, really, in terms of how we best go about using this additional funding. The £14.4 million is going through the RSG rather than raising the floor, as I know some colleagues have called for. And that's because those pressures in social care, in education and elsewhere do exist in all authorities, and I think that we needed to recognise that. And, of course, by raising the floor, essentially, you are making the potential gap greater in future years for those authorities. It gives them some time to plan for that, but, essentially, you might be baking in problems for authorities, and calling into question the fundamental basis of the formula as well. So, as we all know, funding floors are normally there to protect authorities who are receiving a decrease in their funding, to make sure that they don't go below that decrease. But on this occasion, we've used it to protect at least an increase to authorities, which we think was the pragmatic thing to do in these exceptional circumstances, recognising the impact of inflation in the recent times.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, ac unwaith eto diolch am y croeso i'r ffaith bod yr arian ychwanegol hwn yn mynd i lywodraeth leol. Nid oes tystiolaeth i awgrymu bod unrhyw awdurdod, neu grŵp o awdurdodau, mewn unrhyw ardal ddaearyddol benodol yng Nghymru, nac unrhyw ardal ag iddi nodweddion gwleidyddol neu gymdeithasol, dan anfantais yn sgil y fformiwla ariannu llywodraeth leol fel y mae. Rydym yn diweddaru'r mwyafrif helaeth o ddata o fewn y fformiwla ariannu bob blwyddyn. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn a welwn eleni yw effaith newid poblogaeth mewn ardaloedd penodol, a daw hynny drwodd yn y fformiwla, ac mae'n effeithio ar y setliadau a ddarparwyd.
A dyna un o'r ystyriaethau, mewn gwirionedd, o ran y ffordd orau i ni fynd ati i ddefnyddio'r cyllid ychwanegol hwn. Mae'r £14.4 miliwn yn mynd drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw yn hytrach na chodi'r cyllid gwaelodol, fel y gwn fod rhai cyd-Aelodau wedi galw amdano. A hynny oherwydd bod y pwysau ym maes gofal cymdeithasol, mewn addysg ac mewn mannau eraill yn bodoli ym mhob awdurdod, ac rwy'n credu bod angen inni gydnabod hynny. Ac wrth gwrs, trwy godi'r cyllid gwaelodol, yn y bôn, rydych chi'n gwneud y bwlch posibl yn fwy yn y blynyddoedd i ddod i'r awdurdodau hynny. Mae'n rhoi peth amser iddynt gynllunio ar gyfer hynny, ond yn y bôn, efallai eich bod yn creu problemau yn y dyfodol i awdurdodau, ac yn cwestiynu holl sail y fformiwla hefyd. Felly, fel y gwyddom i gyd, mae cyllid gwaelodol yno fel arfer i ddiogelu awdurdodau sy'n cael gostyngiad yn eu cyllid, er mwyn sicrhau nad ydynt yn mynd yn is na'r gostyngiad hwnnw. Ond ar yr achlysur hwn, rydym wedi ei ddefnyddio o leiaf i ddiogelu cynnydd i awdurdodau, gan en bod yn credu mai dyma oedd y peth pragmataidd i'w wneud yn yr amgylchiadau eithriadol hyn, i gydnabod effaith chwyddiant yn y cyfnod diweddar.
Yesterday I did ask about the £25 million consequentials being passported to councils via the funding floor. I know there is an uplift—2.1 per cent, or a floor of 2 per cent—but with inflationary pressures that is actually still a negative uplift, well, not even an uplift, really, when you take into consideration all those pressures, which is my concern. And at the Local Government and Housing Committee, Councillor Lis Burnett advocated using the floor, because she thinks that there are times when local authorities are adrift from everybody else, and in terms of funding, they need to make sure that they are not at a level below which they can sustainably deliver services, which is why I asked that. So, I'd like to know what process is there in place to make sure that they are not at that level below which they can sustain services, because I believe that some are at that level now—I'm really concerned about some in north Wales. And on the concept of a deficit budget, we know that health boards can, and that schools can, actually set a deficit budget, which they've got to carry over within the local authority's budget. So, what process is in place there? Thank you.
Ddoe, gofynnais am basbortio £25 miliwn o arian canlyniadol i gynghorau drwy'r cyllid gwaelodol. Rwy'n gwybod bod yna gynnydd—2.1 y cant, neu gyllid gwaelodol o 2 y cant—ond gyda phwysau chwyddiant mae hwnnw'n dal i fod yn gynnydd negyddol, wel, nid yw'n gynnydd mewn gwirionedd, pan ystyriwch yr holl bwysau hynny, a dyna yw fy mhryder i. Ac yn y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai, fe wnaeth y Cynghorydd Lis Burnett argymell defnyddio'r cyllid gwaelodol, oherwydd mae hi'n credu bod adegau pan fo awdurdodau lleol yn sefyll ar wahân i bawb arall, ac o ran cyllid, mae angen iddynt sicrhau nad ydynt ar lefel islaw'r hyn y gallant ddarparu gwasanaethau yn gynaliadwy arni, a dyna pam y gofynnais hynny. Felly, hoffwn wybod pa broses sydd ar waith i wneud yn siŵr nad ydynt islaw'r lefel y gallant gynnal gwasanaethau arni, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod rhai ar y lefel honno nawr—rwy'n poeni'n fawr am rai yng ngogledd Cymru. Ac ar y cysyniad o gyllideb ddiffyg, rydym yn gwybod y gall byrddau iechyd, ac y gall ysgolion osod cyllideb ddiffyg y mae'n rhaid iddynt ei chario ymlaen o fewn cyllideb yr awdurdod lleol. Felly, pa broses sydd ar waith yno? Diolch.
I'm grateful to Carolyn Thomas for raising these issues today. I know that they were issues that were raised in the debate yesterday, and then we also had a further conversation outside the Chamber as well, to hear the particular concerns that Carolyn is bringing forward, particularly from north Wales. I have had the opportunity to speak to some north Wales leaders, in various fora, recently as well, to hear their particular concerns. Again, it goes back to whether or not we should have increased the floor further. And I do understand the arguments to suggest that we could have, but, at the end of the day, authorities across Wales are seeing these kinds of pressures, and, actually, the gap, in terms of increase between the lowest and the highest, is actually very small in any case; it's less than 3 per cent. So, we don't see any authorities this year that are seeing significant uplifts that are kind of notably out of step, if you like, with other authorities.
So, as I say, we're continuing, though, to provide as much support as we can to local authorities, and, certainly, it's come through very strongly in the budget scrutiny and the debate we had yesterday, and the committee's reports and so on, that this is an area that people would like us to continue to look to, should there be additional funding at the spring statement, which, of course, is the day after we vote on our final budget. So, as I say, things may yet change next year.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Carolyn Thomas am godi'r materion hyn heddiw. Gwn eu bod yn faterion a godwyd yn y ddadl ddoe, ac yna cawsom sgwrs bellach y tu allan i'r Siambr hefyd, i glywed y pryderon penodol y mae Carolyn yn eu cyflwyno, yn enwedig o ogledd Cymru. Cefais gyfle i siarad â rhai o arweinwyr gogledd Cymru mewn amryw o fforymau yn ddiweddar hefyd, i glywed eu pryderon penodol. Unwaith eto, mae'n ymwneud ag a ddylem fod wedi codi'r cyllid gwaelodol ymhellach ai peidio. Ac rwy'n deall y dadleuon sy'n awgrymu y gallem fod wedi gwneud hynny, ond yn y pen draw, mae awdurdodau ledled Cymru yn gweld y mathau hyn o bwysau, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r bwlch, o ran cynnydd rhwng yr isaf a'r uchaf, yn fach iawn beth bynnag; mae'n llai na 3 y cant. Felly, nid ydym yn gweld unrhyw awdurdodau eleni sy'n gweld codiadau sylweddol sy'n amlwg wahanol, os mynnwch, i awdurdodau eraill.
Felly, fel y dywedaf, rydym yn parhau, serch hynny, i ddarparu cymaint o gymorth ag y gallwn i awdurdodau lleol, ac yn sicr, mae wedi dod drwodd yn gryf iawn yn y broses graffu ar y gyllideb a'r ddadl a gawsom ddoe, ac adroddiadau'r pwyllgor ac ati, fod hwn yn faes yr hoffai pobl inni barhau i edrych arno, os oes cyllid ychwanegol yn natganiad y gwanwyn, sydd, wrth gwrs, y diwrnod ar ôl i ni bleidleisio ar ein cyllideb derfynol. Felly, fel y dywedaf, efallai y bydd pethau'n newid eto y flwyddyn nesaf.
Most of my questions have been answered—[Interruption.] Thank you, Lee. But I still want to reiterate my welcome for the additional money going to local government. It won't scratch the surface of the huge real-terms cut that you've passed on to them, or address the £260 million deficit they have, or the problem they have in social care.
I think I can assume that all of the money is going to councils. You're not got to retain a bit of that £25 million locally, because we know there's not a good track record of passing on consequentials, is there, when we look at business rates support or childcare money. So, I think councils are going to really struggle—we know that—and will need all the help they can get. So, I'm reassured that that money is going to them directly.
Mae'r rhan fwyaf o fy nghwestiynau wedi cael eu hateb—[Torri ar draws.] Diolch yn fawr, Lee. Ond rwy'n dal i fod eisiau ailadrodd fy nghroeso i'r arian ychwanegol sy'n mynd i lywodraeth leol. Ni fydd yn crafu wyneb y toriad enfawr mewn termau real yr ydych chi wedi'u trosglwyddo iddynt, nac yn mynd i'r afael â'r diffyg o £260 miliwn sydd ganddynt, na'r broblem sydd ganddynt mewn gofal cymdeithasol.
Rwy'n meddwl y gallaf gymryd bod yr arian i gyd yn mynd i gynghorau. Nid ydych chi'n mynd i gadw peth o'r £25 miliwn hwnnw'n lleol, oherwydd gwyddom nad oes hanes da o drosglwyddo symiau canlyniadol, pan edrychwn ar gymorth ardrethi busnes neu arian gofal plant. Felly, rwy'n credu bod cynghorau'n mynd i gael trafferth go iawn—rydym yn gwybod hynny—a byddant angen yr holl help y gallant ei gael. Felly, rwy'n dawel fy meddwl fod yr arian hwnnw'n mynd iddynt hwy'n uniongyrchol.
Yes, so just to reconfirm that, of the £25 million, just over £10 million will be going to restore fully the cuts that were originally made to the social care workforce grant to help manage the overall position and to provide that additional funding for the NHS, and also to maintain the 3.1 per cent for local government. And then the remainder will be distributed through the RSG as well.
Of course, I would take a different view on some of those consequentials. It often costs us more to deliver the same here in Wales. So, you'll be familiar with the large packages of support that we've provided to businesses in recent years, which have actually cost us more to deliver than the consequentials that we received, or, for example, in the budget for this financial year, we provided more than the consequentials that we received for education and social care to local government as well.
So, I think that there are various different examples, and the point, really, with consequential funding is that it comes to the Welsh Government, and we, then, allocate that in line with our priorities. And in-year, our priorities have clearly been to support education and social care, thereby providing more than we've received in consequential funding.
I gadarnhau, bydd ychydig dros £10 miliwn o'r £25 miliwn yn mynd i adfer yn llawn y toriadau a wnaed yn wreiddiol i grant y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol i helpu i reoli'r sefyllfa gyffredinol ac i ddarparu cyllid ychwanegol i'r GIG, a hefyd i gynnal y 3.1 y cant ar gyfer llywodraeth leol. Ac yna bydd y gweddill yn cael ei ddosbarthu trwy'r grant cynnal refeniw hefyd.
Wrth gwrs, mae fy marn i'n wahanol ar rai o'r symiau canlyniadol hynny. Yn aml mae'n costio mwy i ni gyflawni'r un pethau yma yng Nghymru. Felly, fe fyddwch chi'n gyfarwydd â'r pecynnau cymorth mawr a ddarparwyd gennym i fusnesau yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, sydd wedi costio mwy i ni eu darparu na'r symiau canlyniadol a gawsom, neu, er enghraifft, yn y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon, fe wnaethom ddarparu mwy na'r symiau canlyniadol a gawsom ar gyfer addysg a gofal cymdeithasol i lywodraeth leol hefyd.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod yna wahanol enghreifftiau, a'r pwynt, mewn gwirionedd, gyda chyllid canlyniadol yw ei fod yn dod i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym ni, wedyn, yn ei ddyrannu yn unol â'n blaenoriaethau. Ac yn ystod y flwyddyn, ein blaenoriaethau yn amlwg yw cefnogi addysg a gofal cymdeithasol, a thrwy hynny ddarparu mwy nag a gawsom mewn cyllid canlyniadol.
Ac yn olaf, Mike Hedges.
And finally, Mike Hedges.
Diolch. The money is very welcome, but it will go nowhere near answering the additional costs in social services departments across Wales. I do not believe that, in England, it will actually stop additional section 114 notices, which is the technical term for local authorities going bankrupt. I will again stress the importance of local government. Can I urge the Minister to put any additional money that comes in out via the formula? My question is: will you publish the standard spending assessment and aggregate external finance calculations for each authority, not just the final answer, but the calculations—following this additional money—to answer the Conservatives' assertion about the funding formula being unfair? If you don't show your workings, they're going to keep on saying it's unfair.
Diolch. Mae croeso mawr i'r arian, ond ni fydd yn mynd yn agos at ateb y costau ychwanegol mewn adrannau gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ledled Cymru. Nid wyf yn credu, yn Lloegr, y bydd yn atal hysbysiadau adran 114 ychwanegol, sef y term technegol am awdurdodau lleol yn mynd yn fethdalwyr. Unwaith eto, rwyf am bwysleisio pwysigrwydd llywodraeth leol. A gaf i annog y Gweinidog i ddyrannu unrhyw arian ychwanegol a ddaw i mewn drwy'r fformiwla? Fy nghwestiwn yw: a wnewch chi gyhoeddi'r asesiad o wariant safonol a chyfrifiadau cyllid allanol cyfanredol ar gyfer pob awdurdod, nid dim ond yr ateb terfynol, ond y cyfrifiadau—yn dilyn yr arian ychwanegol hwn—i ateb haeriad y Ceidwadwyr fod y fformiwla ariannu'n annheg? Os nad ydych chi'n dangos eich gwaith, maent yn mynd i barhau i ddweud ei fod yn annheg.
I'm very grateful to Mike Hedges for finding the opportunity to raise that particular concern in his question this afternoon. And, yes, we will, obviously continue to consider what more levels of information we are able to provide. I know this is something that Mike Hedges has been particularly interested in in previous discussions on the budget. We had a Finance Committee this morning, and, again, we explored what more information we could provide in different forms, so we'll keep that under review.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Mike Hedges am fanteisio ar y cyfle i godi'r pryder penodol hwnnw yn ei gwestiwn y prynhawn yma. Ac yn amlwg fe fyddwn yn parhau i ystyried pa lefelau ychwanegol o wybodaeth y gallwn eu darparu. Rwy'n gwybod bod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Mike Hedges wedi bod â diddordeb arbennig ynddo mewn trafodaethau blaenorol ar y gyllideb. Cawsom Bwyllgor Cyllid y bore yma, ac unwaith eto, fe wnaethom archwilio pa wybodaeth arall y gallem ei darparu mewn gwahanol ffurfiau, felly fe wnawn barhau i adolygu hynny.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Eitem 4 yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf gan Adam Price.
Item 4 is the 90-second statements, and the first statement is from Adam Price.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae gan bawb a welodd Barry John yn chwarae stori—un foment y gallan nhw gofio lle y gwelon nhw'r arian byw ar y cae, yn cyflawni dim byd llai na gwyrthiau. Roedd pris tocyn i Barc yr Arfau wastad yn fargen pan oedd Barry yn y gêm. I'r crwt o Gefneithin, yr iaith oedd cyfrinach ei bartneriaeth wefreiddiol gyda Gareth Edwards—mewnwr a maswr gorau'r byd yn cydlynu tîm fyddai'n dominyddu degawd, a hynny i gyd drwy'r Gymraeg, 'Twla di hi, dala i hi', fel dywed y dyfyniad enwog.
Hyfryd oedd gweld clipiau o gêm yr Urdd yn y teyrngedau fideo ar-lein, lle cystadlodd 15 Barry John yn erbyn 15 Carwyn James—dau ddyn o'r un pentref a wnaeth newid hanes rygbi Cymru yn llwyr. Ond, yn ddiymwad, Barry oedd y brenin, dyn oedd yn meddu ar y gallu i greu trydan yn yr awyr yn yr hanner eiliad hwnnw cyn i'r bêl gyrraedd ei ddwylo, un o'r chwaraewyr prin hynny lle gallech chi bron clywed y dorf yn cymryd anadl mewn disgwyliad o beth fyddai'n anochel,
'rhengoedd ôl—a chegau—yn lled agored'.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Everyone who saw Barry John has a story—one moment that they can remember where they saw his mercurial talent on the field, performing feats that were nothing short of miracles. The price of a ticket to the Arms Park was always a bargain when Barry was involved in the game. To the boy from Cefneithin, the language was the secret of his incredible relationship with Gareth Edwards—the best scrum half and fly half in the world co-ordinating a team that dominated a decade through the medium of Welsh, 'You throw it, I'll catch it', as the famous quote goes.
It was wonderful to see clips of the Urdd match in the online video tributes, where the Barry John 15 played against the Carwyn James 15—two men from the same village who changed the history of Welsh rugby entirely. But, without doubt, Barry was the king, a man who had the ability to make electricity crackle in the air in that nanosecond before the ball reached his hands, one of those rare players where you could almost hear the crowd take a breath in anticipation of the inevitable,
'back rows—and mouths—rendered wide open'.
Welsh Dark Skies Week starts on Friday. It's a week of events that has taken place every year since 2021, giving us all the opportunity to celebrate Wales's wonderful dark sky reserves, as well as raising awareness of light pollution. There are various events across Wales's protected landscapes this next week, including walks and stargazing sessions, where people can learn more about the work that's being done to protect Wales's dark skies. North Wales, of course, has some of the best dark skies and spots in the UK for stargazing, and it's vital that we all make the most of this opportunity to promote everything they have to offer. And one way, of course, to do this would be to establish a national observatory for Wales in the dark skies of the Clwydian range, which, of course, will soon be Wales's newest national park. A national observatory there could be located close to Wrexham University, with its centre of excellence, which has been doing some fantastic research at the OpTIC Technology Centre in St Asaph. Establishing a national observatory offers potential not just for research, but also for tourism, and would be a major asset for bringing visitors to the region. So, this dark skies week, let us all take a moment to gaze upwards upon the magnificent night-time skies above, and let us do what we can to tackle light pollution and to protect and promote Wales's dark skies.
Mae Wythnos Awyr Dywyll Cymru yn dechrau ddydd Gwener. Mae'n wythnos o ddigwyddiadau a gynhaliwyd bob blwyddyn ers 2021, i roi cyfle i bawb ohonom ddathlu gwarchodfeydd awyr dywyll bendigedig Cymru, yn ogystal â chodi ymwybyddiaeth o lygredd golau. Cynhelir digwyddiadau amrywiol ar draws tirweddau gwarchodedig Cymru yr wythnos nesaf, gan gynnwys teithiau cerdded a sesiynau syllu ar y sêr, lle gall pobl ddysgu mwy am y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud i ddiogelu awyr dywyll Cymru. Mae gan ogledd Cymru, wrth gwrs, rai o'r mannau awyr dywyll gorau yn y DU ar gyfer edrych ar y sêr, ac mae'n hanfodol ein bod i gyd yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfle i hyrwyddo popeth sydd ganddynt i'w gynnig. Ac un ffordd o wneud hynny, wrth gwrs, fyddai sefydlu arsyllfa genedlaethol i Gymru yn awyr dywyll bryniau Clwyd, a fydd cyn bo hir yn barc cenedlaethol mwyaf newydd Cymru. Gellid lleoli arsyllfa genedlaethol yno yn agos at Brifysgol Wrecsam, gyda'i chanolfan ragoriaeth, sydd wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith ymchwil gwych yng Nghanolfan Dechnoleg OpTIC yn Llanelwy. Mae sefydlu arsyllfa genedlaethol yn cynnig potensial nid yn unig ar gyfer ymchwil, ond ar gyfer twristiaeth hefyd, a byddai'n ased mawr ar gyfer dod ag ymwelwyr i'r rhanbarth. Felly, yr wythnos awyr dywyll hon, gadewch i bawb ohonom roi eiliad i syllu i fyny ar awyr wych y nos uwchben, a gadewch inni wneud yr hyn a allwn i fynd i'r afael â llygredd golau ac i ddiogelu a hyrwyddo awyr dywyll Cymru.
The fifth of February was World Cancer Research Day. I would like to use this statement to highlight leukaemia, a devastating blood cancer that claims, sadly, 250 Welsh lives a year. The most recent Public Health Wales Observatory data showed that Swansea Bay University Health Board has the second highest leukaemia mortality rate in Wales, with leukaemia being attributable to 139 deaths between 2017 and 2021. I have met with representatives of Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK, as part of their Spot Leukaemia campaign. Earlier diagnosis is linked to better prognosis, whilst diagnosis through emergency presentation is linked to adverse patient outcomes. A better understanding of how it presents itself and how it is diagnosed is needed to achieve life-changing early diagnosis.
Comprehensive data on emergency presentation, and use of this data as a proxy measure, is crucial to understanding how people are diagnosed with leukaemia and what needs to change to diagnose this devastating cancer earlier. Wales does not regularly collect or routinely collect data on the route to diagnosis for any cancer type, including leukaemia, thus it is of the essence that Wales collects and makes available more and better data on cancer, including emergency presentation data for leukaemia. Earlier diagnosis is vital to save and improve the lives of those with leukaemia and all other cancers. The one thing we do know about cancer is catch it early and you've got a better chance of living.
Y pumed o Chwefror oedd Diwrnod Ymchwil Canser y Byd. Hoffwn ddefnyddio'r datganiad hwn i dynnu sylw at lewcemia, canser gwaed dinistriol sy'n hawlio 250 o fywydau y flwyddyn yng Nghymru. Dangosodd data diweddaraf Arsyllfa Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru mai Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe sydd â'r gyfradd farwolaethau lewcemia ail uchaf yng Nghymru, gyda lewcemia wedi ei briodoli i 139 o farwolaethau rhwng 2017 a 2021. Cyfarfûm â chynrychiolwyr Leukaemia Care a Leukaemia UK, fel rhan o'u hymgyrch Spot Leukaemia. Mae cysylltiad rhwng diagnosis cynharach a phrognosis gwell, tra bod diagnosis a wneir pan ganfyddir lewcemia mewn gofal argyfwng yn gysylltiedig â chanlyniadau andwyol i gleifion. Mae angen gwell dealltwriaeth o'i symptomau a sut y gwneir diagnosis ohono er mwyn sicrhau diagnosis cynnar sy'n newid bywydau.
Mae data cynhwysfawr am lewcemia a ganfyddir mewn gofal argyfwng a defnydd o'r data hwn fel mesur procsi, yn hanfodol er mwyn deall sut y gwneir diagnosis o lewcemia a beth sydd angen ei newid er mwyn gwneud diagnosis o'r canser dinistriol hwn yn gynharach. Nid yw Cymru'n casglu data'n rheolaidd nac fel mater o drefn ar y llwybr at ddiagnosis ar gyfer unrhyw fath o ganser, gan gynnwys lewcemia, felly mae'n hanfodol fod Cymru'n casglu ac yn sicrhau bod mwy o ddata a data gwell ar gael am ganser, gan gynnwys data a geir am lewcemia a ganfyddir mewn gofal argyfwng. Mae diagnosis cynharach yn hanfodol er mwyn achub a gwella bywydau'r rhai â lewcemia a phob canser arall. Yr un peth a wyddom am ganser yw bod gennych well gobaith o oroesi os ydych yn ei ddal yn gynnar.
Diolch i'r tri Aelod.
Thank you to all three Members.
Eitem 5 yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai, ‘Amrywiaeth ym maes Llywodraeth Leol’, a galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig—John Griffiths.
Item 5 is the debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee report, ‘Diversity in Local Government’, and I call on the committee Chair to move the motion—John Griffiths.
Cynnig NDM8477 John Griffiths
Cynnig bod Senedd Cymru:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai, ‘Amrywiaeth ym maes Llywodraeth Leol’, a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 17 Hydref 2023.
Motion NDM8477 John Griffiths
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, ‘Diversity in Local Government’, which was laid in the Table Office on 17 October 2023.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to open today's debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee's report on diversity in local government. And I would like to start by thanking all those who contributed to our inquiry, including those who provided oral and written evidence and the councillors who shared their personal experiences with us through the focus groups we held.
The under-representation of women and people with protected characteristics in politics has long been identified as an issue that needs to be addressed, yet we remain in a position where progress has remained stubbornly slow. Despite a general recognition that all democratic institutions should reflect and be representative of the communities being served, few actually do. Today will be the second time in recent years I've led a Senedd debate on diversity in local government, having chaired a committee that undertook a similar inquiry in the fifth Senedd. I'm pleased to say that some things have moved on since that debate in 2019, and I will go on to mention some of the areas where progress has been made.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o agor y ddadl heddiw ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai ar amrywiaeth ym maes llywodraeth leol. A hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i bawb a gyfrannodd at ein hymchwiliad, gan gynnwys y rhai a roddodd dystiolaeth lafar ac ysgrifenedig a'r cynghorwyr a rannodd eu profiadau personol gyda ni drwy'r grwpiau ffocws a gynhaliwyd gennym.
Mae tangynrychiolaeth menywod a phobl â nodweddion gwarchodedig mewn gwleidyddiaeth wedi cael ei nodi ers amser maith fel mater y mae angen mynd i'r afael ag ef, ac eto rydym yn parhau mewn sefyllfa lle mae cynnydd wedi parhau'n ystyfnig o araf. Er gwaethaf cydnabyddiaeth gyffredinol y dylai pob sefydliad democrataidd adlewyrchu a chynrychioli'r cymunedau sy'n cael eu gwasanaethu, ychydig sy'n gwneud hynny mewn gwirionedd. Heddiw fydd yr ail dro yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf imi arwain dadl yn y Senedd ar amrywiaeth mewn llywodraeth leol, ar ôl cadeirio pwyllgor a gynhaliodd ymchwiliad tebyg yn y bumed Senedd. Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod rhai pethau wedi symud ymlaen ers y ddadl honno yn 2019, ac rwyf am sôn am rai o'r meysydd lle gwnaed cynnydd.
Committing to increasing diversity requires strong leadership, and progress made by some local authorities is encouraging and demonstrates what can be achieved. Our report recognises where progress has taken place. We identified good practice and suggest ways of sharing that with peers across Wales. Many of our recommendations, therefore, call for good practice to be identified and shared by local government partners. The first recommendation relates to the local government candidate survey. Candidate data is vital to enable better understanding of how representative local authorities are of their electorate. The response rate between authorities varies greatly, however, and we believe there needs to be greater consistency. We recommend that the Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association work together to improve the response rate by increasing awareness and promotion of the survey among candidates and councillors and sharing best practice between local authorities. I'm pleased that this recommendation has been accepted.
When I spoke in the debate on the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill yesterday, I said we are pleased that the Bill includes provisions relating to the survey. We welcome the changes in that Bill, but would like to see questions relating to candidates’ caring responsibilities and their experience of abuse and harassment among the core questions. We know that abuse and harassment acts as a barrier to many from entering politics, particularly those from under-represented groups. However, evidence of such abuse is often anecdotal. We believe that including a question in the survey could provide more definitive data to help address this important issue.
We welcomed the commitment from some local authorities to increasing gender diversity, such as progress made by Monmouthshire County Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Although those two took different approaches, both resulted in gender parity across those councils, and they both required commitment and leadership. We recommend that the Welsh Government and partners work together to identify areas of good practice to improve diversity, and to share and learn from those experiences. We are pleased that this has also been accepted.
We particularly welcomed the piloting of the access to elected office fund at the 2022 local government elections, and we are pleased that candidates were able to benefit from it. The availability of the fund was clearly useful in supporting disabled candidates to access the practical assistance needed to stand for election. We therefore welcome the inclusion of financial assistance schemes in the elections Bill. We believe that raising awareness of the fund will be crucial to ensuring success, and that all relevant partners should work together to promote its availability and benefits. It is also important that lessons learned from the evaluation of the fund are taken forward to ensure there is sufficient and timely support for disabled candidates before future elections.
We would like to see how such a fund could be expanded in order to support other underrepresented groups, and we explored this further in our work on the elections Bill. We heard a suggestion that the fund be available to candidates who have unpaid caring responsibilities and believe there is merit in taking this forward. We believe that expanding the scheme in this way would remove a barrier to standing for election that disproportionately affects women. Our report on the Bill therefore recommended that the Welsh Government should commit to developing and piloting a financial assistance fund to support unpaid carers in standing for election.
Mae ymrwymo i gynyddu amrywiaeth yn galw am arweinyddiaeth gref, ac mae'r cynnydd a wneir gan rai awdurdodau lleol yn galonogol ac yn dangos yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni. Mae ein hadroddiad yn cydnabod lle mae cynnydd wedi digwydd. Fe wnaethom nodi arfer da ac awgrymu ffyrdd o rannu hynny gyda chymheiriaid ledled Cymru. Mae llawer o'n hargymhellion, felly, yn galw am nodi a rhannu arferion da gan bartneriaid llywodraeth leol. Mae'r argymhelliad cyntaf yn ymwneud ag arolwg ymgeiswyr llywodraeth leol. Mae data ymgeiswyr yn hanfodol er mwyn galluogi gwell dealltwriaeth o ba mor gynrychioliadol yw awdurdodau lleol o'u hetholwyr. Fodd bynnag, mae'r gyfradd ymateb yn amrywio'n fawr o un awdurdod i'r llall, ac rydym yn credu bod angen mwy o gysondeb. Rydym yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn cydweithio i wella'r gyfradd ymateb drwy gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth a hyrwyddo'r arolwg ymhlith ymgeiswyr a chynghorwyr, a rhannu arfer gorau rhwng awdurdodau lleol. Rwy'n falch fod yr argymhelliad hwn wedi'i dderbyn.
Pan siaradais yn y ddadl ar y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru) ddoe, dywedais ein bod yn falch fod y Bil yn cynnwys darpariaethau sy'n ymwneud â'r arolwg. Rydym yn croesawu'r newidiadau yn y Bil hwnnw, ond hoffem weld cwestiynau'n ymwneud â chyfrifoldebau gofalu ymgeiswyr a'u profiad o gamdriniaeth ac aflonyddu ymhlith y cwestiynau craidd. Gwyddom fod camdriniaeth ac aflonyddu yn rhwystr i lawer rhag mynd i fyd gwleidyddiaeth, yn enwedig pobl o grwpiau heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol. Fodd bynnag, mae tystiolaeth o gamdriniaeth o'r fath yn aml yn anecdotaidd. Credwn y gallai cynnwys cwestiwn yn yr arolwg ddarparu data mwy diffiniol i helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r mater pwysig hwn.
Fe wnaethom groesawu ymrwymiad rhai awdurdodau lleol i gynyddu amrywiaeth o ran rhywedd, megis y cynnydd a wnaed gan Gyngor Sir Fynwy a Chyngor Bro Morgannwg. Er i'r ddau gyngor fabwysiadu gwahanol ddulliau o weithredu, arweiniodd y rhain at gydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau ar draws y cynghorau hynny, ac roedd y ddau'n galw am ymrwymiad ac arweinyddiaeth. Rydym yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru a phartneriaid yn cydweithio i nodi meysydd o arfer da i wella amrywiaeth, ac i rannu a dysgu o'r profiadau hynny. Rydym yn falch fod hyn wedi cael ei dderbyn hefyd.
Fe roesom groeso arbennig i gynllun peilot y gronfa mynediad i swyddi etholedig yn etholiadau llywodraeth leol 2022, ac rydym yn falch fod ymgeiswyr wedi gallu elwa ohoni. Roedd argaeledd y gronfa yn amlwg yn ddefnyddiol wrth gefnogi ymgeiswyr anabl i gael mynediad at y cymorth ymarferol sydd ei angen i sefyll etholiad. Felly, rydym yn croesawu'r ffaith bod cynlluniau cymorth ariannol wedi eu cynnwys yn y Bil etholiadau. Credwn y bydd codi ymwybyddiaeth o'r gronfa yn hanfodol i sicrhau llwyddiant, ac y dylai'r holl bartneriaid perthnasol gydweithio i hyrwyddo ei hargaeledd a'i manteision. Mae hefyd yn bwysig fod gwersi a ddysgwyd o werthuso'r gronfa yn cael eu datblygu i sicrhau bod digon o gymorth amserol i ymgeiswyr anabl cyn etholiadau yn y dyfodol.
Hoffem weld sut y gellid ehangu cronfa o'r fath er mwyn cefnogi grwpiau eraill heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol, ac fe wnaethom archwilio hyn ymhellach yn ein gwaith ar y Bil etholiadau. Clywsom awgrym y dylai'r gronfa fod ar gael i ymgeiswyr sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofal di-dâl a chredwn ei bod yn werth bwrw ymlaen â hyn. Credwn y byddai ehangu'r cynllun fel hyn yn dileu rhwystr rhag sefyll mewn etholiad sy'n effeithio'n anghymesur ar fenywod. Felly, argymhellodd ein hadroddiad ar y Bil y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i ddatblygu a threialu cronfa cymorth ariannol i gynorthwyo gofalwyr di-dâl i sefyll etholiad.
Dirprwy Lywydd, since the 2019 report, arrangements for job sharing amongst members of council executives have been formalised. This is a welcome development. However, to date, this option has not been utilised by many authorities. It is clear that greater awareness of the potential benefits and challenges of job sharing is needed. The guidance recently published by the Welsh Government, which explains the overall principles and provides practical advice on managing its implementation, is therefore welcome. We believe awareness could be raised further by the Welsh Government and partners working together to promote job sharing and facilitate greater sharing of local authorities' experiences. We would also like to see better collection of data on job sharing to enable regular monitoring of its impact in contributing to improving diversity across authorities.
One of the biggest changes since the 2019 report is the move to hybrid meetings, partly a result of the requirements to work from home in 2020, but the ability to do so was overwhelmingly supported by the stakeholders we heard from. Attending meetings virtually as an option is very beneficial to councillors and an important factor for some potential candidates in considering whether to stand for election. Although it has been identified as a particular benefit to certain groups, such as disabled people or those with work or caring responsibilities, the universality of the provision means that everyone can benefit.
We also considered the benefits mentoring schemes can bring in helping under-represented groups to gain confidence, receive training and connect with role models. We recognise the significant contribution made by Chwarae Teg over many years in developing and running mentoring and training schemes, and as a committee we were saddened to hear of the charity's closure. We recommend that the Welsh Government should, in light of the closure of Chwarae Teg, assess the capacity across Wales to deliver mentoring schemes, and quickly identify how any gaps in provision may be filled.
We welcome the provisions in the elections Bill to promote diversity in persons seeking elected office, in particular the list of services that may be provided. Given the evidence we heard that online abuse and intimidation is clearly still a significant barrier for many, which deters them from putting their names forward for election, we recommend in our report on the Bill that specific training to assist under-represented groups in dealing with abuse should also be included in the services listed. We know that tackling online abuse is a priority for the Minister, and we welcome the work done to bring partners together to combat abuse in politics. It's unfortunate that the committee was unable to send a representative to attend the event held last month, which the Minister informed us of, but we would like to be kept informed of future events and their outcomes.
Dirprwy Lywydd, we know that there is still much progress to be made, despite the progress that I mentioned since our previous report. It's clear, however, that, in order to make that progress, which I'm sure all of us here would like to see, we do need to have a partnership approach amongst all the key players, and that spreading of best practice and sharing of experience that much of our report concentrates on. It's such an important objective, in terms of the perception of elected bodies by our population and indeed the decisions they make, and the performance of those authorities, that they draw on all sections of our society in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age and more, and I hope that this debate and our committee's report will go some way to achieving that further progress.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, ers adroddiad 2019, mae trefniadau ar gyfer rhannu swyddi ymhlith aelodau o weithrediaeth cynghorau wedi'u ffurfioli. Mae hwn yn ddatblygiad i'w groesawu. Fodd bynnag, hyd yn hyn, nid yw'r opsiwn wedi'i ddefnyddio gan lawer o awdurdodau. Mae'n amlwg fod angen mwy o ymwybyddiaeth o fanteision a heriau posibl rhannu swyddi. Mae'r canllawiau a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sy'n esbonio'r egwyddorion cyffredinol ac yn rhoi cyngor ymarferol ar reoli ei weithrediad, i'w croesawu. Credwn y gellid codi ymwybyddiaeth ymhellach drwy i Lywodraeth Cymru a phartneriaid gydweithio i hyrwyddo rhannu swyddi a'i gwneud yn bosibl rhannu profiadau awdurdodau lleol yn well. Hefyd hoffem weld gwell trefniadau ar gyfer casglu data ar rannu swyddi er mwyn gallu monitro ei effaith yn rheolaidd ar gyfrannu at wella amrywiaeth ar draws awdurdodau.
Un o'r newidiadau mwyaf ers adroddiad 2019 yw'r newid i gyfarfodydd hybrid, yn rhannol o ganlyniad i'r gofynion i weithio gartref yn 2020, ond roedd y mwyafrif helaeth o'r rhanddeiliaid y clywsom ganddynt yn cefnogi'r gallu i wneud hynny. Mae mynychu cyfarfodydd rhithwir fel opsiwn yn fuddiol iawn i gynghorwyr ac yn ffactor pwysig i rai darpar ymgeiswyr wrth iddynt ystyried a ddylent sefyll etholiad. Er ei fod wedi'i nodi fel budd arbennig i grwpiau penodol, megis pobl anabl neu'r rhai sydd â chyfrifoldebau gwaith neu ofalu, mae cyffredinolrwydd y ddarpariaeth yn golygu y gall pawb elwa.
Hefyd fe wnaethom ystyried y manteision y gall cynlluniau mentora eu cynnig i helpu grwpiau heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol i fagu hyder, derbyn hyfforddiant a chysylltu â modelau rôl. Rydym yn cydnabod cyfraniad sylweddol Chwarae Teg dros nifer o flynyddoedd yn datblygu a chynnal cynlluniau mentora a hyfforddi, ac fel pwyllgor roeddem yn drist o glywed fod yr elusen yn cau. Yn sgil cau Chwarae Teg, rydym yn argymell y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru asesu'r capasiti ledled Cymru i gyflwyno cynlluniau mentora, a nodi'n gyflym sut y gellir llenwi unrhyw fylchau yn y ddarpariaeth.
Rydym yn croesawu'r darpariaethau yn y Bil etholiadau i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth ymhlith pobl sy'n ymgeisio am swydd etholedig, yn enwedig y rhestr o wasanaethau a allai gael ei darparu. O ystyried y dystiolaeth a glywsom fod cam-drin a bygwth ar-lein yn amlwg yn dal i fod yn rhwystr sylweddol i lawer, sy'n eu hatal rhag sefyll etholiad, rydym yn argymell yn ein hadroddiad ar y Bil y dylid cynnwys hyfforddiant penodol hefyd i gynorthwyo grwpiau heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol i ymdopi â chamdriniaeth yn y gwasanaethau a restrir. Gwyddom fod mynd i'r afael â chamdriniaeth ar-lein yn flaenoriaeth i'r Gweinidog, ac rydym yn croesawu'r gwaith a wnaed i ddod â phartneriaid ynghyd i frwydro yn erbyn camdriniaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth. Mae'n anffodus nad oedd y pwyllgor yn gallu anfon cynrychiolydd i fynychu'r digwyddiad a gynhaliwyd fis diwethaf, y soniodd y Gweinidog wrthym yn ei gylch, ond hoffem gael gwybod am ddigwyddiadau yn y dyfodol a'u canlyniadau.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, gwyddom fod llawer o gynnydd i'w wneud o hyd, er gwaethaf y cynnydd a grybwyllais ers ein hadroddiad blaenorol. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn gwneud y cynnydd yr hoffai pawb ohonom yma ei weld, mae'n amlwg fod angen i ni gael dull partneriaeth ymhlith yr holl chwaraewyr allweddol, a lledaenu'r arfer gorau a rhannu'r profiad y mae llawer o'n hadroddiad yn canolbwyntio arno. Mae'n amcan mor bwysig, o ran canfyddiad ein poblogaeth o gyrff etholedig ac yn wir, o ran y penderfyniadau a wnânt, a pherfformiad yr awdurdodau hynny, eu bod yn denu pobl o bob rhan o'n cymdeithas o ran rhywedd, ethnigrwydd, anabledd, cyfeiriadedd rhywiol, oedran a mwy, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y ddadl hon ac adroddiad ein pwyllgor yn cyfrannu rhywfaint at gyflawni'r cynnydd pellach hwnnw.
I'd like to start by thanking my committee Chair, John Griffiths, for opening this debate. I am pleased to see that the Government has accepted, or accepted in principle, all the recommendations in this report. I believe strongly that we need to encourage diversity in politics, local or otherwise, whether it's gender, race, thought or socioeconomic, because it brings together everyone's individual experiences and backgrounds to collectively help their communities.
In my remarks today, I want to particularly focus on recommendations 12 and 13, those of bringing together key partners to combat abuse in local government politics, and pressing the UK Government to take stronger action against social media abuse. It is undoubtedly human nature for people to react strongly against Governments and their policies. We heard yesterday in this Chamber from some Members who believe that the policies of the UK Government are evil, yet we are a society that fundamentally believes and encourages free speech. But with great power comes great responsibility, and we should be mindful of how our actions and words in this Chamber are viewed by those outside, and, more importantly, what reactions our words encourage. In today's digital age, we are seeing growing numbers of people now believing that they have the right to hurl vile abuse and threats whenever they feel like it, and we must, for the future of our democracy, take action in setting the standards of how we engage with others and how we express our frustrations and concerns towards each other. It will be mirrored by those watching us.
Diversity is a challenge in local government. There's very little incentive to put your head above the parapet and to advocate for your community. There is a widespread lack of respect for politicians. There's very little thanks shown, and you open yourself up to huge amounts of abuse for just trying to make your community a better place to live. Who in their right mind would do such a thing?
I imagine everyone here has suffered abuse in one form or another. I know I have, and it usually comes from people who would ordinarily see themselves as quite rational under normal circumstances. Yet the harsh truth is that a lot of this abusive behaviour is incited by politicians themselves. Members of all political parties have to understand that, when we make derogatory and personal comments about other politicians, we are setting an example for the public to follow.
And this is not a new problem either. In 1948, Tory voters, as far as Aneurin Bevan was concerned, were 'lower than vermin'. There are also many recent examples as well: Angela Rayner labelling Tories as 'scum' only serves to validate the hurling of abuse by Labour supporters towards Conservatives and, in turn, validates Conservatives in hurling it back—a vicious circle. We know the situation is bad when even a bishop, such as the former Bishop of St Davids, who should be proclaiming the gospel messages of love and care for our neighbours, is fully prepared and unashamed to incite hatred towards those with differing political opinions. Verbal abuse can so easily lead to physical abuse, and this hatred eventually boils over into violence and despicable acts, as we have so sadly seen with the horrifying murders of Jo Cox and David Amess.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I know that I have cited only three examples, but this isn't a problem solely with Labour or the left; activists and politicians from every political party, including my own, have been guilty at some point of this, and we have to realise that this behaviour is putting people off standing. In order to encourage diversity and address abuse towards politicians, we need to be mindful of the language we use. We have to call out Members, and Members of our own parties, when they haven't set the high standards we should expect.
I appreciate, as mentioned in the report, the efforts made to provide training and materials to deal with harassment and abuse, but we need to do more than just accept it as a part of public life; we need to make a conscious effort to change public attitudes. The Senedd should be instrumental in helping reset the standards for how politicians at all levels are treated. It is fair and proper that we campaign, scrutinise and call out policies that we see as negative or detrimental, but when it turns to abuse, nobody wins. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i Gadeirydd fy mhwyllgor, John Griffiths, am agor y ddadl hon. Rwy'n falch o weld bod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn, neu dderbyn mewn egwyddor, yr holl argymhellion yn yr adroddiad hwn. Credaf yn gryf fod angen inni annog amrywiaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth, yn lleol neu fel arall, boed o ran rhywedd, hil, cred neu'n economaidd-gymdeithasol, oherwydd mae'n dod â phrofiadau a chefndiroedd unigol pawb at ei gilydd i helpu eu cymunedau gyda'i gilydd.
Yn fy sylwadau heddiw, hoffwn ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar argymhellion 12 a 13, sy'n sôn am ddod â phartneriaid allweddol at ei gilydd i frwydro yn erbyn camdriniaeth yng ngwleidyddiaeth llywodraeth leol, a phwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i gymryd camau cryfach yn erbyn cam-drin ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Heb os, mae'n rhan o'r natur ddynol fod pobl yn ymateb yn gryf yn erbyn Llywodraethau a'u polisïau. Clywsom ddoe yn y Siambr gan rai Aelodau sy'n credu bod polisïau Llywodraeth y DU yn ddrwg, ac eto rydym yn gymdeithas sy'n credu'n sylfaenol mewn rhyddid i fynegi barn ac yn annog hynny. Ond gyda grym mawr daw cyfrifoldeb mawr, a dylem fod yn ymwybodol o sut mae ein gweithredoedd a'n geiriau yn y Siambr hon yn cael eu gweld gan bobl ar y tu allan, ac yn bwysicach, yr ymatebion y mae ein geiriau'n eu hannog. Yn yr oes ddigidol sydd ohoni, rydym yn gweld niferoedd cynyddol o bobl bellach yn credu bod ganddynt hawl i gam-drin yn eiriol a lleisio bygythiadau difrifol pryd bynnag y byddant yn teimlo fel gwneud hynny, a rhaid i ni, er mwyn dyfodol ein democratiaeth, roi camau ar waith i osod safonau ar gyfer y ffordd yr ymgysylltwn ag eraill a sut y mynegwn ein rhwystredigaethau a'n pryderon tuag at ein gilydd. Bydd yn cael ei adlewyrchu gan y rhai sy'n ein gwylio.
Mae amrywiaeth yn her mewn llywodraeth leol. Ychydig iawn o gymhelliant a geir i godi eich pen uwchben y parapet ac i eirioli ar ran eich cymuned. Mae diffyg parch mawr tuag at wleidyddion. Ychydig iawn o ddiolch a ddangosir, ac rydych chi'n agor eich hun i lawer iawn o gamdriniaeth am geisio gwneud eich cymuned yn lle gwell i fyw. Pwy yn ei iawn bwyll a fyddai'n gwneud y fath beth?
Rwy'n dychmygu bod pawb yma wedi dioddef camdriniaeth ar ryw ffurf neu'i gilydd. Rwy'n gwybod fy mod i, ac fel arfer fe ddaw gan bobl a fyddai fel rheol yn gweld eu hunain yn eithaf rhesymol mewn amgylchiadau arferol. Eto y gwir cas amdani yw bod llawer o'r ymddygiad camdriniol hwn yn cael ei ysgogi gan wleidyddion eu hunain. Rhaid i aelodau o bob plaid wleidyddol ddeall, pan fyddwn yn gwneud sylwadau difrïol a phersonol am wleidyddion eraill, ein bod yn gosod esiampl i'r cyhoedd ei dilyn.
Ac nid yw hon yn broblem newydd ychwaith. Yn 1948, roedd pleidleiswyr Torïaidd, ym marn Aneurin Bevan, yn 'waeth na fermin'. Mae yna lawer o enghreifftiau diweddar hefyd: mae'r ffaith bod Angela Rayner wedi labelu Torïaid fel 'scum' yn dilysu camdriniaeth a leisir gan gefnogwyr Llafur tuag at y Ceidwadwyr ac yn ei dro, yn ei ddilysu gan Geidwadwyr sy'n ei leisio'n ôl—cylch dieflig. Gwyddom fod y sefyllfa'n wael pan fydd esgob hyd yn oed, fel cyn Esgob Tyddewi, a ddylai fod yn cyhoeddi negeseuon yr efengyl o gariad a gofal am ein cymdogion, yn gwbl barod a heb gywilydd i annog casineb tuag at y rhai sydd â safbwyntiau gwleidyddol gwahanol. Gall cam-drin geiriol arwain mor hawdd at gam-drin corfforol, ac yn y pen draw mae'r casineb hwn yn berwi drosodd yn drais a gweithredoedd ffiaidd, fel y gwelsom gyda llofruddiaethau arswydus Jo Cox a David Amess.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, gwn mai tair enghraifft yn unig a nodais, ond nid problem gyda Llafur neu'r chwith yn unig yw hon; mae ymgyrchwyr a gwleidyddion o bob plaid wleidyddol, gan gynnwys fy un i, wedi bod yn euog o hyn ar ryw bwynt, ac mae'n rhaid inni sylweddoli bod yr ymddygiad hwn yn atal pobl rhag sefyll. Er mwyn annog amrywiaeth a mynd i'r afael â chamdriniaeth tuag at wleidyddion, mae angen i ni fod yn ymwybodol o'r iaith a ddefnyddiwn. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn feirniadol o Aelodau, ac Aelodau o'n pleidiau ein hunain, pan nad ydynt yn gosod y safonau uchel y dylem eu disgwyl.
Fel y nodwyd yn yr adroddiad, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r ymdrechion a wnaed i ddarparu hyfforddiant a deunyddiau i ymdrin ag aflonyddu a chamdriniaeth, ond mae angen inni wneud mwy na dim ond ei dderbyn fel rhan o fywyd cyhoeddus; mae angen inni wneud ymdrech ymwybodol i newid agweddau'r cyhoedd. Dylai'r Senedd fod yn allweddol wrth helpu i ailosod y safonau ar gyfer y ffordd y mae gwleidyddion ar bob lefel yn cael eu trin. Mae'n deg ac yn briodol ein bod yn ymgyrchu, yn craffu ac yn beirniadu polisïau yr ystyriwn eu bod yn negyddol neu'n niweidiol, ond pan fo'n troi'n gamdriniaeth, nid oes neb yn ennill. Diolch.
A democracy that reflects the people it represents can draw on a wealth of personal experience, backgrounds and beliefs to implement more inclusive policies that better serve its citizens. Unfortunately, however, in parliaments and councils across the world, progress to achieving equality is slow, while in Wales it is noted that, at present, women's representation is highly dependent on the voluntary initiative of individual parties. And it's disappointing that some political parties have been reluctant to take such measures.
The Labour Party has used all-women shortlists since the 1990s, and it's led to a dramatic improvement in the gender balance of both the UK Parliament and this Senedd. There is unconscious bias and gender quotas are still needed. It's important that the best practice of local authorities who have made a positive difference is shared across Wales. The example set by Monmouthshire County Council, agreeing an unanimous motion to aim for gender parity, is an impressive one, and I would like to see other local authorities follow this lead.
Political parties also have an important role to play in increasing the number of elected representatives and candidates from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Race Council Cymru surveyed over 300 ethnic minority grass-roots people, and 94 per cent of them reported not getting through upon showing an interest in standing for election.
I said in yesterday's Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill debate that I'm extremely pleased to see the success of the Welsh Government's access to elected office fund pilot to assist disabled individuals to run for office. This fund was administered by Disability Wales and covered costs such as assistive aids, training, travel, personal assistance and communication support. Feedback from candidates was extremely positive, with one candidate as a wheelchair user using the fund to pay for an assistant to help deliver her leaflets, which is exactly the sort of practical assistance the fund is designed to provide, and to make a real difference to whether an individual feels able to participate in an election.
I welcome the Welsh Government's commitment to learning from this pilot, and taking steps to improve the scheme, raising awareness of the scheme among candidates and making the fund available at an earlier stage in the process. This would ensure candidates have sufficient time to arrange the support needed.
But I would also like to see the financial assistance scheme extended to those who have caring responsibilities, as this can be a huge barrier to standing for election and does disproportionately impact women. As being a carer is not a protected characteristic, the additional challenges facing those with caring responsibilities are often hidden and not included in equalities monitoring. I want to see this change and I hope the Welsh Government will look into this going forward. I find that very often women are still the main carers of children and it's not needed for long, just until the children grow up and they become independent, and it would just assist a lot more women coming into politics.
Hybrid working has facilitated more flexible working, enabling those with conflicting priorities such as caring responsibilities, or councillors with disabilities, to attend meetings where they might otherwise have not been able to. I know work is under way to support town and community councils achieve hybrid capabilities as well, and that's welcome.
Online abuse and harassment remain a persistent barrier to women entering public life, and the worry about the impact it may have on families and particularly children. That was mentioned by the leader of Ynys Môn as well; she spoke about her experience of that. I know the Welsh Government are taking steps to tackle this, but we need stronger intervention from the UK Government when it comes to social media abuse.
The local government candidate survey has had a low response, and encouraging councils to collect comprehensive equalities monitoring information when councils are onboarded may provide a more accurate understanding of diversity across local government. It was suggested that the candidate survey could be issued with the new councillor pack handed out at elections, and filled in and returned to the council offices when signing the declaration on becoming a councillor. And Women's Equality Network Wales supported making the survey compulsory and suggested that mandatory training and the completion of the survey should be done before payment is received as a councillor. So, they think unless you do that, you do not get your payment, which would be a strong message.
Progress to reaching diversity in local government has been slow, but the Welsh Labour Government is taking definitive steps to improve the situation. We have a long way to go to tackle unconscious bias in politics, and each of us in this Chamber has an important role to play in part of this solution. Thank you.
Gall democratiaeth sy'n adlewyrchu'r bobl y mae'n eu cynrychioli fanteisio ar gyfoeth o brofiad personol, cefndiroedd a chredoau i weithredu polisïau mwy cynhwysol sy'n gwasanaethu ei dinasyddion yn well. Yn anffodus, fodd bynnag, mewn seneddau a chynghorau ar draws y byd, mae'r cynnydd i sicrhau cydraddoldeb yn araf, tra yng Nghymru nodir bod cynrychiolaeth menywod, ar hyn o bryd, yn ddibynnol iawn ar fenter wirfoddol partïon unigol. Ac mae'n siomedig fod rhai pleidiau gwleidyddol wedi bod yn amharod i roi mesurau o'r fath ar waith.
Mae'r Blaid Lafur wedi defnyddio rhestrau byr menywod yn unig ers y 1990au, ac mae wedi arwain at welliant dramatig yng nghydbwysedd y rhywiau yn Senedd y DU a'r Senedd hon. Mae yna ragfarn anymwybodol ac mae angen cwotâu rhywedd o hyd. Mae'n bwysig fod arfer gorau awdurdodau lleol sydd wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol yn cael ei rannu ledled Cymru. Mae'r enghraifft a osodwyd gan Gyngor Sir Fynwy, a dderbyniodd gynnig yn unfrydol i anelu at gydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau, yn un trawiadol, a hoffwn weld awdurdodau lleol eraill yn dilyn ei arweiniad.
Mae gan bleidiau gwleidyddol rôl bwysig i'w chwarae hefyd yn cynyddu nifer y cynrychiolwyr etholedig ac ymgeiswyr o gefndiroedd du, Asiaidd a lleiafrifol ethnig. Arolygodd Race Council Cymru dros 300 o bobl ar lawr gwlad o leiafrifoedd ethnig, a nododd 94 y cant ohonynt na wnaethant lwyddo ar ôl dangos diddordeb mewn sefyll mewn etholiad.
Dywedais yn y ddadl ar y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru) ddoe fy mod yn hynod falch o weld llwyddiant cynllun peilot cronfa mynediad i swyddi etholedig Llywodraeth Cymru i gynorthwyo unigolion anabl i sefyll etholiad. Gweinyddwyd y gronfa hon gan Anabledd Cymru a thalai gostau am bethau fel cymhorthion cynorthwyol, hyfforddiant, teithio, cymorth personol a chymorth cyfathrebu. Roedd adborth gan ymgeiswyr yn hynod gadarnhaol, gydag un ymgeisydd fel defnyddiwr cadair olwyn yn defnyddio'r gronfa i dalu am gynorthwyydd i helpu i ddosbarthu ei thaflenni, sef yr union fath o gymorth ymarferol y mae'r gronfa wedi'i llunio i'w ddarparu, ac i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i'r graddau y bydd unigolyn yn teimlo eu bod yn gallu cymryd rhan mewn etholiad.
Rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i ddysgu o'r cynllun peilot hwn, ac i gymryd camau i wella'r cynllun, codi ymwybyddiaeth o'r cynllun ymhlith ymgeiswyr a sicrhau bod y gronfa ar gael yn gynharach yn y broses. Byddai hyn yn sicrhau bod gan ymgeiswyr ddigon o amser i drefnu'r cymorth sydd ei angen.
Ond hefyd, hoffwn weld y cynllun cymorth ariannol yn cael ei ymestyn i gynnwys pobl sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofalu, gan y gall hyn fod yn rhwystr enfawr i sefyll etholiad ac mae'n effeithio'n anghymesur ar fenywod. Gan nad yw bod yn ofalwr yn nodwedd warchodedig, mae'r heriau ychwanegol sy'n wynebu'r rhai sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofalu yn aml yn gudd ac nid ydynt wedi'u cynnwys mewn prosesau monitro cydraddoldebau. Rwyf am weld y newid hwn ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn edrych ar hyn wrth symud ymlaen. Nodaf mai menywod yn aml iawn yw prif ofalwyr plant o hyd, ac ni fydd angen cymorth am amser hir, dim ond hyd nes bod y plant yn tyfu i fyny ac yn dod yn annibynnol, a byddai o gymorth i lawer mwy o fenywod sydd am fynd i fyd gwleidyddiaeth.
Mae gweithio hybrid wedi hwyluso gweithio mwy hyblyg, gan alluogi'r rhai sydd â blaenoriaethau sy'n gwrthdaro fel cyfrifoldebau gofalu, neu gynghorwyr ag anableddau, i fynychu cyfarfodydd lle na fyddent wedi gallu gwneud hynny fel arall. Rwy'n gwybod bod gwaith ar y gweill i gynorthwyo cynghorau tref a chymuned i gael gallu i weithio'n hybrid hefyd, ac mae hynny i'w groesawu.
Mae camdriniaeth ac aflonyddu ar-lein yn parhau i fod yn rhwystr parhaus i fenywod rhag mynd i fywyd cyhoeddus, a'r pryder am yr effaith y gallai ei chael ar deuluoedd ac yn enwedig plant. Soniwyd am hynny gan arweinydd Ynys Môn hefyd; siaradodd am ei phrofiad o hynny. Rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau i fynd i'r afael â hyn, ond mae angen ymyrraeth gryfach arnom gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â cham-drin ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol.
Ychydig o ymateb a gafwyd i'r arolwg o ymgeiswyr llywodraeth leol, a gallai annog cynghorau i gasglu gwybodaeth monitro cydraddoldeb gynhwysfawr gyda chefnogaeth cynghorau ddarparu dealltwriaeth fwy cywir o amrywiaeth ar draws llywodraeth leol. Awgrymwyd y gallai'r arolwg ymgeiswyr gael ei gyhoeddi gyda'r pecyn i gynghorwyr newydd a ddosbarthir mewn etholiadau, a'i lenwi a'i ddychwelyd i swyddfeydd y cyngor wrth arwyddo'r datganiad ar ddod yn gynghorydd. Ac roedd Rhwydwaith Cydraddoldeb Menywod Cymru yn cefnogi gwneud yr arolwg yn orfodol ac awgrymodd y dylid gwneud hyfforddiant gorfodol a chwblhau'r arolwg cyn derbyn taliad fel cynghorydd. Felly, oni bai eich bod chi'n gwneud hynny, credant na ddylech gael eich taliad, a byddai honno'n neges gref.
Mae'r cynnydd tuag at sicrhau amrywiaeth mewn llywodraeth leol wedi bod yn araf, ond mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn cymryd camau pendant i wella'r sefyllfa. Mae gennym ffordd bell i fynd i drechu rhagfarn anymwybodol mewn gwleidyddiaeth, ac mae gan bob un ohonom yn y Siambr rôl bwysig i'w chwarae yn rhan o'r ateb. Diolch.
I'd like to thank the Local Government and Housing Committee for this vitally important report. Democracy without diversity is no democracy at all, and as the grass roots of our democracy ecosystem here in Wales, it is essential that local government is at the heart of efforts to promote diversity in our politics.
This Senedd has a proud record when it comes to diversity. After all, in 2003 it became the first legislature in the world to achieve equal balance of gender representation. The percentage of women elected to the Senedd remains well above the global average. However, this does not mean we should leave this to chance. As part of our co-operation agreement, we remain committed to bringing forward plans to embed equality of gender representation as an integral part of the Senedd reform programme. We also recognise that this must go hand in hand with a firm foundation at the local government level, and it is an unfortunate reality that progress here has not been as rapid as we’d like.
In evidence to the committee report, the Welsh Local Government Association highlighted that only four of the 22 local authorities in Wales had appointed female leaders, and that only two authorities were gender balanced. Organisations like Race Council Cymru also raised concerns regarding the lack of black, Asian and minority ethnic representation in local government. They also reported that members of these communities currently involved in local politics often feel marginalised when participating in council-related activities. Much work remains to be done.
One of the key metrics against which we can measure the success of initiatives to promote diversity in local government is the local government candidate survey, as referenced by Carolyn. As has been noted in the report, it’s unfortunate that the number of respondents to the latest survey decreased compared to previous years. In the response, the Government have promised to take steps to promote the importance of the survey and encourage a greater level of completion. Could the Minister provide an update on this work and let us know how confident you are that we will see greater response rates in future elections?
The report also outlines some interesting views on the role that the voting system has in the context of representation. For example, Electoral Reform Society Cymru stated that the first-past-the-post voting system currently used in Welsh local elections perpetuates the lack of diversity in local government. There was also widespread recognition of the benefits that a more proportional model, such as the single transferrable vote system, could deliver in this area. As a party, we’ve consistently expressed our support for STV as our preferred voting system, and we’ll continue to make the case for its introduction in future Senedd elections.
Since the passage of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, local authorities in Wales now have the ability to move to single transferrable vote in time for the 2027 local election. But as was apparent from the contributions of a range of councillors to the report, the practical implications of making the change are considerable, especially at a time when local government finances are so strained.
There’s also the issue that, unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, implementing this reform is purely at the discretion of individual councils. This means there will be an understandable element of hesitancy in how they approach this matter, given the reality that change will not be universally applied across Wales at the same time. What support are you offering to local authorities that are considering switching to an STV system in time for 2027? And what considerations have you had regarding the universal introduction of STV for Welsh local elections, in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Finally, I think it’s worth reflecting on the small things that we as elected politicians can do to promote the cause of diversity in politics. Our words as politicians have power and influence, and I agree with some of the comments made by Joel on this, and, as such, we must use them responsibly. It's a point that’s really pertinent today in light of the disgraceful and callous remarks made by the British Prime Minister at Prime Minister's question time, and I hope all Members will call on him to apologise for those comments. So, I hope the Minister would agree with me that we have a responsibility to reflect carefully on our use of language, especially in terms of how we speak about the most disadvantaged and discriminated groups in our society. In doing so, we can help foster a more inclusive political environment. Diolch yn fawr.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai am yr adroddiad hanfodol bwysig hwn. Nid democratiaeth yw democratiaeth heb amrywiaeth, ac fel gwreiddyn ein hecosystem ddemocrataidd yma yng Nghymru, mae'n hanfodol fod llywodraeth leol yn ganolog mewn ymdrechion i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth yn ein gwleidyddiaeth.
Mae gan y Senedd hon hanes balch o gefnogi amrywiaeth. Wedi'r cyfan, yn 2003 hi oedd y ddeddfwrfa gyntaf yn y byd i sicrhau cynrychiolaeth gyfartal o ran y rhywiau. Mae canran y menywod sy'n cael eu hethol i'r Senedd yn parhau ymhell uwchlaw'r cyfartaledd byd-eang. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hynny'n golygu y dylem adael y cyfan i ffawd. Fel rhan o'n cytundeb cydweithio, rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i gyflwyno cynlluniau i ymgorffori cynrychiolaeth gyfartal o ran y rhywiau yn rhan annatod o raglen ddiwygio'r Senedd. Rydym hefyd yn cydnabod bod yn rhaid i hyn fynd law yn llaw â sylfaen gadarn ar lefel llywodraeth leol, ac mae'n realiti anffodus nad yw'r cynnydd yma wedi bod mor gyflym ag yr hoffem.
Yn yr adroddiad ar y dystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor, amlygodd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru mai dim ond pedwar o'r 22 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru oedd wedi penodi arweinwyr benywaidd, ac mai dim ond dau awdurdod oedd â chydbwysedd o ran y rhywiau. Fe wnaeth sefydliadau fel Race Council Cymru fynegi pryderon hefyd ynghylch diffyg cynrychiolaeth pobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifol ethnig mewn llywodraeth leol. Roeddent yn nodi hefyd fod aelodau'r cymunedau hyn sy'n ymwneud â gwleidyddiaeth leol ar hyn o bryd yn aml yn teimlo eu bod wedi eu hymyleiddio wrth iddynt gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau'n gysylltiedig â'r cyngor. Mae llawer o waith i'w wneud o hyd.
Un o'r metrigau allweddol y gallwn fesur llwyddiant mentrau i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth mewn llywodraeth leol yn eu herbyn yw'r arolwg o ymgeiswyr llywodraeth leol, fel y nododd Carolyn. Fel y nodai'r adroddiad, mae'n anffodus fod nifer yr ymatebwyr i'r arolwg diweddaraf wedi gostwng o'i gymharu â blynyddoedd blaenorol. Yn yr ymateb, mae'r Llywodraeth wedi addo rhoi camau ar waith i hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd yr arolwg ac annog mwy o bobl i'w gwblhau. A allai'r Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y gwaith hwn a rhoi gwybod i ni pa mor hyderus ydych chi y byddwn yn gweld cyfraddau ymateb uwch yn etholiadau'r dyfodol?
Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn amlinellu safbwyntiau diddorol ar rôl y system bleidleisio yng nghyd-destun cynrychiolaeth. Er enghraifft, dywedodd Cymdeithas Diwygio Etholiadol Cymru fod system bleidleisio y cyntaf i'r felin a ddefnyddir ar hyn o bryd yn etholiadau lleol Cymru yn parhau'r diffyg amrywiaeth mewn llywodraeth leol. Roedd cydnabyddiaeth eang hefyd i'r manteision y gallai model mwy cyfrannol, fel system y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy, eu cynnig yn y maes hwn. Fel plaid, rydym wedi mynegi ein cefnogaeth yn gyson i'r bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy fel ein system bleidleisio ddewisol, a byddwn yn parhau i ddadlau dros ei chyflwyno yn etholiadau'r Senedd yn y dyfodol.
Ers pasio Deddf Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru) 2021, mae gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru allu bellach i newid i bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy mewn pryd ar gyfer etholiadau lleol 2027. Ond fel y gwelwyd o gyfraniadau ystod o gynghorwyr i'r adroddiad, mae goblygiadau ymarferol gwneud y newid yn sylweddol, yn enwedig ar adeg pan fo cyllid llywodraeth leol dan gymaint o straen.
Mae yna fater yn codi hefyd, yn wahanol i'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, gyda'r ffaith mai yn ôl disgresiwn y cynghorau unigol yn llwyr y gweithredir y diwygiad hwn. Golyga hyn y bydd yna elfen ddealladwy o betruster ynglŷn â sut yr ânt i'r afael â'r mater, o ystyried y realiti na fydd newid yn digwydd ym mhob rhan o Gymru ar yr un pryd. Pa gymorth a gynigir gennych i awdurdodau lleol sy'n ystyried newid i system y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy mewn pryd ar gyfer 2027? A pha ystyriaethau a roddwyd gennych i gyflwyno'r bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy yn gyffredinol ar gyfer etholiadau lleol Cymru, yn unol â'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon?
Yn olaf, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth myfyrio ar y pethau bach y gallwn ni fel gwleidyddion etholedig eu gwneud i hyrwyddo achos amrywiaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth. Mae gan ein geiriau ni fel gwleidyddion rym a dylanwad, ac rwy'n cytuno â rhai o'r sylwadau a wnaeth Joel ar hyn, ac o'r herwydd, mae'n rhaid inni eu defnyddio'n gyfrifol. Mae'n bwynt sy'n berthnasol iawn heddiw yng ngoleuni'r sylwadau gwarthus a dideimlad a wnaed gan Brif Weinidog Prydain yn sesiwn holi'r Prif Weinidog, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gwnaiff yr holl Aelodau alw arno i ymddiheuro am y sylwadau hynny. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y byddai'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi fod gennym gyfrifoldeb i fyfyrio'n ofalus ar ein defnydd o iaith, yn enwedig y ffordd y siaradwn am y grwpiau mwyaf difreintiedig a'r rhai y gwahaniaethir yn eu herbyn fwyaf yn ein cymdeithas. Drwy wneud hynny, gallwn helpu i feithrin amgylchedd gwleidyddol mwy cynhwysol. Diolch yn fawr.
I'd like to start my contribution by commending the Local Government and Housing Committee for an excellent report. This is a really helpful piece of work, setting out the progress that has been made to ensure our councils represent the communities they serve. It also shines a spotlight on some of the areas where additional work is needed to deliver change by removing barriers.
Before I turn to the report itself, I'd just like to make a few comments on why diversity in local government is so important. As mentioned, all tiers of our democracy should reflect the diversity in the areas they represent—that is crucial for engaging with the marginalised and tackling stereotypes. It also brings different viewpoints and perspectives to the table, leading to better decisions grounded in lived experience of the people. As the founder of the 50:50 Parliament campaign reminds us, representation shapes policy and diversity leads to better decision making.
Turning to the report itself, recommendation 2 around sharing best practice is very important. Considering the issue of gender, in my local authority of Rhondda Cynon Taf, just under 47 per cent of councillors elected in 2022 were women. In my constituency, that stands at a fantastic 56.5 per cent. This is an increase from the 2017 elections, where the figures were 43 per cent and 52 per cent respectively. But across Wales, the change still strikes that snail's pace the Chair writes about in his foreword to the report. We need to look at what works and prioritise those interventions.
With that being the case, I want to mention recommendation 6, which calls for an evaluation of the access to elected office fund pilot, so there is sufficient support for disabled candidates before local government elections. I was interested to read the evidence from witnesses, including Disability Wales, the WLGA and Professor Evans, that this fund was a game changer in enabling people with disabilities to overcome barriers so they could be candidates. I also note their comments around improvements to the fund, not least of all in promoting awareness of it in a timely fashion. I'm glad the Welsh Government has accepted this recommendation, and I look forward to seeing how the fund develops.
Recommendation 10 deals with the support for town and community councils so they are all able to access multilocation meeting technology. Again, this is crucial to attract and empower candidates from a diverse variety of backgrounds. Some Members may have met my late constituent Richard Jones. Richard was someone I was proud to call a friend. Born with brittle bones, he did not let that get in his way, and amongst his numerous activities served several years as a member and then chair of Hirwaun and Penderyn Community Council. Multilocation working was crucial to allow him to fulfil his role as councillor, and I know that that is true for many other councillors in all tiers.
Finally, I want to briefly discuss recommendations 12 and 13, asking the Welsh Government for an update on work to combat abuse in politics and to press the UK Government to take appropriate action to tackle social media abuse. I was pleased to attend last week's event on abuse in politics in my role as chair of the Senedd Labour group. I would like to thank the Minister for Finance and Local Government for organising what I found to be a very constructive day, bringing together stakeholders from across Wales and beyond, including the Jo Cox Foundation. We heard from the foundation's civility commission research that 88 per cent of local councillors who were surveyed in 2022 had experienced abuse and intimidation. That is just unacceptable. There is evidence that councillors are having to escalate and put in remedial measures, such as police or security involvement, due to the threat to elected members. And the LGA say that one in four councillors have decided not to run again due to abuse.
As I'm sure the Minister will reflect on, the big unresolved issue at the end of the Welsh Government's event was the role of social media. Unacceptably, social media companies seem unwilling to take action to prevent abuse on their platforms. There is a need for the UK Government to step into this vacuum. But as we heard in comments made after the horrendous murder of Brianna Ghey, Rishi Sunak seems content to let the big social media companies monitor themselves. I just want to associate myself also with the comments of Peredur Owen Griffiths on Rishi Sunak's comments today. If we want to ensure diversity in local government and encourage more people from a wider variety of backgrounds to stand for office, then all of that is just not good enough. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddechrau fy nghyfraniad drwy ganmol y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai am adroddiad rhagorol. Mae hwn yn waith defnyddiol iawn, sy'n nodi'r cynnydd a wnaed i sicrhau bod ein cynghorau yn cynrychioli'r cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. Mae hefyd yn tynnu sylw at rai o'r meysydd lle mae angen gwaith ychwanegol i gyflawni newid trwy gael gwared ar rwystrau.
Cyn imi droi at yr adroddiad ei hun, hoffwn wneud ychydig o sylwadau ar pam mae amrywiaeth mewn llywodraeth leol mor bwysig. Fel y soniwyd, dylai pob haen o'n democratiaeth adlewyrchu'r amrywiaeth yn yr ardaloedd y maent yn eu cynrychioli—mae hynny'n hanfodol ar gyfer ymgysylltu â'r rhai sydd wedi eu hymyleiddio a threchu stereoteipiau. Mae hefyd yn dod â barn a safbwyntiau gwahanol at y bwrdd, gan arwain at benderfyniadau gwell wedi'u seilio ar brofiad bywyd y bobl. Fel y mae sylfaenydd ymgyrch Senedd 50:50 yn ein hatgoffa, mae cynrychiolaeth yn siapio polisi ac mae amrywiaeth yn arwain at wneud penderfyniadau gwell.
Gan droi at yr adroddiad ei hun, mae argymhelliad 2 ynghylch rhannu arfer gorau yn bwysig iawn. O ystyried mater rhywedd, yn fy awdurdod lleol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, roedd ychydig o dan 47 y cant o'r cynghorwyr a etholwyd yn 2022 yn fenywod. Yn fy etholaeth i, mae'n 56.5 y cant, sy'n wych. Mae'n gynnydd o'r etholiadau yn 2017, pan oedd y ffigurau'n 43 y cant a 52 y cant yn y drefn honno. Ond ar draws Cymru, mae'r newid yn dal i fod yn hynod o araf fel y noda'r Cadeirydd yn ei ragair i'r adroddiad. Mae angen inni edrych ar yr hyn sy'n gweithio a blaenoriaethu'r ymyriadau hynny.
Gyda hynny, rwyf am sôn am argymhelliad 6, sy'n galw am werthusiad o gynllun peilot y gronfa mynediad i swyddi etholedig, fel bod digon o gefnogaeth i ymgeiswyr anabl cyn etholiadau llywodraeth leol. Roedd yn ddiddorol darllen y dystiolaeth gan dystion, gan gynnwys Anabledd Cymru, CLlLC a'r Athro Evans, fod y gronfa hon yn newid pethau'n sylfaenol o ran galluogi pobl ag anableddau i oresgyn rhwystrau fel y gallent fod yn ymgeiswyr. Nodaf hefyd eu sylwadau ynghylch gwelliannau i'r gronfa, yn bennaf oll o ran hyrwyddo ymwybyddiaeth ohoni mewn modd amserol. Rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn yr argymhelliad hwn, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld sut mae'r gronfa'n datblygu.
Mae argymhelliad 10 yn ymdrin â'r gefnogaeth i gynghorau tref a chymuned fel eu bod i gyd yn gallu cael mynediad at dechnoleg cyfarfodydd aml-leoliad. Unwaith eto, mae hyn yn hanfodol i ddenu a grymuso ymgeiswyr o amrywiaeth eang o gefndiroedd. Efallai fod rhai Aelodau wedi cyfarfod â'm diweddar etholwr, Richard Jones. Roedd Richard yn rhywun yr oeddwn yn falch o'i alw'n ffrind. Cafodd ei eni ag esgyrn brau, ond ni adawodd i hynny ei rwystro, ac ymhlith ei weithgareddau niferus bu'n aelod ac yna'n gadeirydd Cyngor Cymuned Hirwaun a Phenderyn. Roedd gweithio mewn sawl lleoliad yn hanfodol er mwyn caniatáu iddo gyflawni ei rôl fel cynghorydd, a gwn fod hynny'n wir am lawer o gynghorwyr eraill ar bob haen.
Yn olaf, hoffwn drafod yn fyr argymhellion 12 a 13, sy'n gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith i fynd i'r afael â chamdriniaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth a phwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i gymryd camau priodol i fynd i'r afael â cham-drin ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Roeddwn yn falch o fynychu'r digwyddiad yr wythnos diwethaf ar gamdriniaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth yn fy rôl fel cadeirydd grŵp Llafur y Senedd. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol am drefnu diwrnod adeiladol iawn yn fy marn i, gan ddod â rhanddeiliaid o bob rhan o Gymru a thu hwnt ynghyd, yn cynnwys Sefydliad Jo Cox. Clywsom am ymchwil gan gomisiwn y sefydliad ar foesgarwch fod 88 y cant o gynghorwyr lleol a arolygwyd yn 2022 wedi dioddef camdriniaeth a bygythiadau. Mae hynny'n gwbl annerbyniol. Ceir tystiolaeth fod cynghorwyr yn gorfod uwchgyfeirio a rhoi camau unioni ar waith, fel cynnwys yr heddlu neu fesurau diogelwch, oherwydd y bygythiad i aelodau etholedig. Ac mae CLlLC yn dweud bod un o bob pedwar cynghorydd wedi penderfynu peidio â sefyll eto oherwydd camdriniaeth.
Fel y bydd y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol, rwy'n siŵr, y broblem fawr a oedd heb ei datrys ar ddiwedd digwyddiad Llywodraeth Cymru oedd rôl y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Nid yw'n dderbyniol ei bod hi'n ymddangos nad yw cwmnïau cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn fodlon cymryd camau i atal camdriniaeth ar eu platfformau. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU gamu i'r gwagle hwn. Ond fel y clywsom mewn sylwadau a wnaed ar ôl llofruddiaeth erchyll Brianna Ghey, mae Rishi Sunak i'w weld yn fodlon gadael i'r cwmnïau cyfryngau cymdeithasol mawr fonitro eu hunain. Hefyd, rwyf am ategu sylwadau Peredur Owen Griffiths ar sylwadau Rishi Sunak heddiw. Nid yw hynny'n ddigon da os ydym am sicrhau amrywiaeth mewn llywodraeth leol ac annog mwy o bobl o amrywiaeth ehangach o gefndiroedd i sefyll etholiad. Diolch.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Finance and Local Government, Rebecca Evans.
Thank you. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. I'd also like to thank the Local Government and Housing Committee for its report, which builds on the report that it published in 2019 and looks to recognise the progress that has been made since the original recommendations, but also goes on then to develop those themes further.
Diolch. Rwy'n falch o'r cyfle i siarad yn y ddadl hon. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i'r Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai am ei adroddiad, sy'n adeiladu ar yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd ganddo yn 2019 ac sy'n cydnabod y cynnydd a wnaed ers yr argymhellion gwreiddiol, ond sydd hefyd yn mynd rhagddo wedyn i ddatblygu'r themâu hynny ymhellach.
In a country with such a diverse population, it's important that everyone has faith in the democratic arrangements that deliver the services that they rely on. It's important that the views of all parts of society are represented in the discussion and the debate that underpins the exercise of democracy locally. It's important that communities can identify with the people who are making decisions on their behalf. Without this, individuals from under-represented communities can be left feeling that their needs are not understood or catered for, which can lead to community isolation.
It's important to recognise that people go on a journey in choosing to put themselves forward to represent others. And that journey can only begin if people are aware of what an elected Member is, what they do and how they do it. For this reason, it's important that we all maximise those opportunities to raise awareness of the role of councillors and the positive difference that they can make in their communities.
Once interest is sparked, we need to ensure that we remove the barriers that prevent people from putting themselves forward as candidates, and then support successful candidates post election. We need to ensure that there are appropriate systems in place in terms of training and development, as well as emotional support and mechanisms to safeguard individuals' well-being. It's important to have cross-party collaboration on this issue and I look forward to working with everybody as we continue our work in this area.
In response to the recommendations in the report there are areas where work is already under way. We're working to raise awareness of and promote job sharing for executive roles, and the next step is to consider how we extend this approach to non-executive appointments. We are encouraging people to share valuable insights and views through the candidate survey and I share the disappointment expressed by Members and those who gave evidence to the committee about the level of engagement with the survey. With our partners we'll be exploring how we can increase participation in future, sharing ideas and building solutions together.
We have also heard about the work to make participation more accessible through the work that we're doing on digital innovations and making it easier for people to attend those meetings. And again, we've had very good feedback from local government, and particularly also from town and community councils in that regard.
The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill is currently progressing through the Senedd. This will build on existing approaches requiring Ministers to put in place a fund to support disabled candidates who are seeking election. That will learn the lessons from the successful pilot access to elected office fund, and it will build on those arrangements.
It will allow steps to be taken to assist people across the broader spectrum of protected characteristics and socioeconomic circumstances. It will explore more tailored support arrangements for different groups, dependent on the barriers that they face. This will include exploring financial and non-financial arrangements.
I want to respond as well to the comments on STV and confirm that we have published guidance to local authorities on the steps that they need to take were they to decide to move towards STV. My officials I are more than open to further discussions with local authorities who might be interested in pursuing that.
We all know the privilege of representing our communities as elected Members. It's not an easy role and I'm deeply concerned by some of the stories that I hear from our local government colleagues about the way in which elected members are treated. The abuse that some receive from the public is appalling, but I'm also concerned that some of the abuse experienced is at the hands of other elected members. Inappropriate language and behaviours are unacceptable wherever they happen, whether that be in meetings, in debating chambers, at events, in person or on social media. It does turn good people off putting themselves forward when they see that kind of behaviour, and it also causes good people to leave early.
Last week, I hosted an event focused on tackling abuse in politics. It focused on all levels of representation here in Wales and was attended by a range of individuals including Members of the Senedd. It explored what we are currently doing to address this abuse and what further steps can be taken. The outcome of the event will inform the further work that we will take forward in the coming months. As part of our ongoing work we'll be looking at how we can work together to promote the value and the diversity of elected Members and their unique contribution to society. The committee's report, and its recommendations, will make an important contribution to that work.
Mewn gwlad sydd â phoblogaeth mor amrywiol, mae'n bwysig fod gan bawb ffydd yn y trefniadau democrataidd sy'n darparu'r gwasanaethau y maent yn dibynnu arnynt. Mae'n bwysig fod barn pob rhan o gymdeithas yn cael ei chynrychioli yn y drafodaeth a'r ddadl sy'n sail i weithredu democratiaeth yn lleol. Mae'n bwysig fod cymunedau'n gallu uniaethu â'r bobl sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau ar eu rhan. Heb hyn, gall unigolion o gymunedau heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol deimlo nad yw eu hanghenion yn cael eu deall ac na ddarperir ar eu cyfer, a gall hynny arwain at ynysu cymunedol.
Mae'n bwysig cydnabod bod pobl yn mynd ar daith wrth ddewis cynnig eu hunain i gynrychioli eraill. Ac ni all y daith honno ddechrau os nad yw pobl yn ymwybodol o beth yw aelod etholedig, beth a wnânt a sut maent yn ei wneud. Am y rheswm hwn, mae'n bwysig ein bod i gyd yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd i godi ymwybyddiaeth o rôl cynghorwyr a'r gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol y gallant ei wneud yn eu cymunedau.
Pan gaiff diddordeb ei danio, mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn dileu'r rhwystrau sy'n atal pobl rhag cynnig eu hunain fel ymgeiswyr, a chefnogi ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus ar ôl eu hethol. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod systemau priodol ar waith ar gyfer hyfforddiant a datblygiad, yn ogystal â chefnogaeth emosiynol a mecanweithiau i ddiogelu lles unigolion. Mae'n bwysig cael cydweithrediad trawsbleidiol ar y mater hwn ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda phawb wrth inni barhau â'n gwaith yn y maes hwn.
Mewn ymateb i'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad, mae yna feysydd lle mae gwaith eisoes ar y gweill. Rydym yn gweithio i godi ymwybyddiaeth a hyrwyddo rhannu swyddi ar gyfer rolau gweithredol, a'r cam nesaf yw ystyried sut y gallwn ymestyn y dull hwn i gynnwys aelodau anweithredol. Rydym yn annog pobl i rannu mewnwelediad a safbwyntiau gwerthfawr drwy'r arolwg ymgeiswyr ac rwy'n rhannu'r siom a fynegwyd gan Aelodau a'r rhai a roddodd dystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor am lefel yr ymgysylltiad â'r arolwg. Gyda'n partneriaid byddwn yn archwilio sut y gallwn gynyddu cyfranogiad yn y dyfodol, gan rannu syniadau ac adeiladu atebion gyda'n gilydd.
Rydym hefyd wedi clywed am y gwaith i wneud cyfranogiad yn fwy hygyrch drwy'r gwaith a wnawn ar ddatblygiadau digidol a'i gwneud yn haws i bobl fynychu'r cyfarfodydd hynny. Ac unwaith eto, rydym wedi cael adborth da iawn gan lywodraeth leol, ac yn enwedig hefyd gan gynghorau tref a chymuned yn hynny o beth.
Mae'r Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru) yn mynd drwy'r Senedd ar hyn o bryd. Fe fydd yn adeiladu ar ddulliau presennol sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i Weinidogion roi cronfa ar waith i gefnogi ymgeiswyr anabl sy'n sefyll etholiad. Bydd hynny'n dysgu'r gwersi o'r cynllun peilot llwyddiannus ar y gronfa mynediad i swyddi etholedig, ac fe fydd yn adeiladu ar y trefniadau hynny.
Bydd yn caniatáu i gamau gael eu rhoi ar waith i gynorthwyo pobl ar draws y sbectrwm ehangach o nodweddion gwarchodedig ac amgylchiadau economaidd-gymdeithasol. Bydd yn archwilio trefniadau cymorth wedi'u teilwra ar gyfer gwahanol grwpiau, yn dibynnu ar y rhwystrau a wynebant. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys archwilio trefniadau ariannol ac anariannol.
Rwyf am ymateb hefyd i'r sylwadau ar y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy a chadarnhau ein bod wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol ar y camau y mae angen iddynt eu cymryd pe baent yn penderfynu symud tuag at y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy. Mae fy swyddogion a minnau'n fwy na pharod i drafod ymhellach gydag awdurdodau lleol a allai fod â diddordeb mewn mynd ar drywydd hynny.
Rydym i gyd yn gwybod am y fraint o gynrychioli ein cymunedau fel Aelodau etholedig. Nid yw'n rôl hawdd ac rwy'n bryderus iawn ynghylch rhai o'r straeon a glywaf gan ein cymheiriaid mewn llywodraeth leol am y ffordd y caiff aelodau etholedig eu trin. Mae'r cam-drin y mae rhai yn ei ddioddef gan y cyhoedd yn warthus, ond rwyf hefyd yn pryderu bod peth o'r cam-drin a brofir yn dod gan aelodau etholedig eraill. Mae iaith ac ymddygiad amhriodol yn annerbyniol lle bynnag y byddant yn digwydd, boed hynny mewn cyfarfodydd, mewn siambrau trafod, mewn digwyddiadau, yn bersonol neu ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol. Mae'n atal pobl dda rhag cynnig eu hunain pan welant y math hwnnw o ymddygiad, ac mae hefyd yn achosi i bobl dda adael yn gynnar.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cynhaliais ddigwyddiad yn canolbwyntio ar fynd i'r afael â chamdriniaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth. Roedd yn canolbwyntio ar bob lefel o gynrychiolaeth yma yng Nghymru a mynychodd ystod o unigolion gan gynnwys Aelodau'r Senedd. Archwiliodd yr hyn a wnawn ar hyn o bryd i fynd i'r afael â'r cam-drin hwn a pha gamau pellach y gellir eu cymryd. Bydd canlyniad y digwyddiad yn llywio'r gwaith pellach y byddwn yn ei wneud yn ystod y misoedd nesaf. Fel rhan o'n gwaith parhaus, byddwn yn edrych ar sut y gallwn gydweithio i hyrwyddo gwerth ac amrywiaeth Aelodau etholedig a'u cyfraniad unigryw i gymdeithas. Bydd adroddiad y pwyllgor, a'i argymhellion, yn gwneud cyfraniad pwysig i'r gwaith hwnnw.
Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor, John Griffiths, i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on the committee Chair, John Griffiths, to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I thank all those who have taken part in this debate for their contributions, starting with Joel James? I very much agree with Joel, who is, of course, a member of the committee, in terms of the importance of all of us thinking long and hard about what we say and the way that we conduct ourselves, in terms of the abuse that's prevalent in politics. It was, obviously, mentioned by other Members and the Minister, and the Minister mentioned other elected representatives, in terms of abuse that colleagues experience, so it's from within and without the elected bodies and it has to be addressed in the round.
I would say, I think, Dirprwy Lywydd, that in my own lifetime I can remember when employers saw it as a feather in their cap to have a councillor within their workforce—something that gave them a positive image and was respected by the rest of the community and valued. But now, unfortunately, we seem to have moved into an anti-politics age for very many reasons that make abuse more likely and seem to give people the idea that it's open season, as far as politicians are concerned. It's a real problem; I would say that a lot of it does come through the social media and then finds its way into our communities, and both feed off each other, but wherever it comes from we have to think long and hard, and anew, I think, in terms of how we tackle it. I hope our recommendations will go some way to helping that.
In terms of getting the diversity we need, it was good to hear Carolyn Thomas and, indeed, Peredur Owen Griffiths talk about the responsibility of political parties. I would say, from a Labour point of view, as Carolyn said, it hasn't been easy to take forward policies such as all-women shortlists and twinning for the Assembly, now Senedd, but those policies have borne fruit and we see the results; they do work, and we need to understand that.
Hybrid working and new technology are very important, and it's good to hear the Minister talk about some further digital improvements. I very much welcome what Vikki Howells said about the good performance at RCT; we add that to the examples that I gave earlier, in terms of how progress can be made and best practice shared.
When we come to look at these matters, Dirprwy Lywydd, I think it's absolutely important, as Members have mentioned, that we focus on what this is all about. It's a good in itself to have greater diversity and to have our elected bodies representing the communities they serve, but it's also practical; it's about better decisions, as we've heard. If we have greater diversity in our local councils, in the Senedd and in the House of Commons, indeed, we get better engagement with our communities, we get wider experiences brought to the table and it results in better decisions—better strategies, better policies and better decisions—and that's why we have to work ever harder to build on the progress we've made to date.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon am eu cyfraniadau, gan ddechrau gyda Joel James? Rwy'n cytuno'n fawr â Joel, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn aelod o'r pwyllgor, ynghylch pa mor bwysig yw hi i bob un ohonom feddwl yn hir ac yn galed am yr hyn a ddywedwn a'r ffordd y byddwn yn ymddwyn ein hunain, o ran y cam-drin sy'n gyffredin mewn gwleidyddiaeth. Yn amlwg, soniodd Aelodau eraill a'r Gweinidog am hynny, a soniodd y Gweinidog am gynrychiolwyr etholedig eraill, o ran cam-drin y mae cymheiriaid yn ei brofi, felly mae'n dod o'r tu mewn i gyrff etholedig a thu hwnt iddynt ac mae'n rhaid mynd i'r afael ag ef yn gyffredinol.
Rwy'n credu, Ddirprwy Lywydd, y gallaf gofio yn fy oes fy hun pan oedd cyflogwyr yn ystyried bod cael cynghorydd yn eu gweithlu yn bluen yn eu het—yn rhywbeth a roddai ddelwedd gadarnhaol iddynt ac a gâi ei barchu gan weddill y gymuned a'i werthfawrogi. Ond nawr, yn anffodus, mae'n ymddangos ein bod wedi symud i oes wrth-wleidyddiaeth am lawer iawn o resymau sy'n gwneud camdriniaeth yn fwy tebygol ac mae fel pe bai'n rhoi'r syniad i bobl fod rhwydd hynt iddynt gam-drin gwleidyddion. Mae'n broblem wirioneddol; buaswn yn dweud bod llawer ohono'n dod drwy'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol ac yna'n canfod ei ffordd i mewn i'n cymunedau, ac mae'r ddau'n bwydo oddi ar ei gilydd, ond o ble bynnag y daw, rhaid inni feddwl yn hir ac yn galed, ac o'r newydd, rwy'n credu, ynglŷn â sut yr awn i'r afael ag ef. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd ein hargymhellion yn mynd rywfaint o'r ffordd i helpu hyn.
O ran cael yr amrywiaeth sydd ei angen arnom, braf oedd clywed Carolyn Thomas, a Peredur Owen Griffiths yn wir, yn siarad am gyfrifoldeb pleidiau gwleidyddol. Buaswn i'n dweud, o safbwynt Llafur, fel y dywedodd Carolyn, nad yw wedi bod yn hawdd bwrw ymlaen â pholisïau fel rhestrau byr menywod yn unig a gefeillio ar gyfer y Cynulliad, y Senedd erbyn hyn, ond mae'r polisïau hynny wedi dwyn ffrwyth ac rydym yn gweld y canlyniadau; maent yn gweithio ac mae angen inni ddeall hynny.
Mae gweithio hybrid a thechnoleg newydd yn bwysig iawn, ac mae'n dda clywed y Gweinidog yn siarad am welliannau digidol pellach. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr yr hyn a ddywedodd Vikki Howells am y perfformiad da yn Rhondda Cynon Taf; rydym yn ychwanegu hynny at yr enghreifftiau a roddais yn gynharach, o ran sut y gellir gwneud cynnydd a rhannu arfer gorau.
Pan fyddwn yn edrych ar y materion hyn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn, fel y crybwyllodd yr Aelodau, ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar beth yw diben hyn. Mae cael mwy o amrywiaeth a chael ein cyrff etholedig i gynrychioli'r cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu yn dda ynddo'i hun, ond mae hefyd yn ymarferol; mae'n ymwneud â phenderfyniadau gwell, fel y clywsom. Os oes gennym fwy o amrywiaeth yn ein cynghorau lleol, yn y Senedd ac yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin yn wir, fe gawn well ymgysylltiad â'n cymunedau, fe gaiff profiadau ehangach eu dwyn at y bwrdd ac mae hynny'n arwain at benderfyniadau gwell—gwell strategaethau, gwell polisïau a phenderfyniadau gwell—a dyna pam mae'n rhaid inni weithio'n galetach byth i adeiladu ar y cynnydd a wnaethom hyd yma.
Y cwestiwn yw a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, felly derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to note the committee report. Does any Member object? No; the motion is, therefore, agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Heledd Fychan, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Lesley Griffiths. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Heledd Fychan, and amendment 2 in the name of Lesley Griffiths. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected.
Eitem 6 heddiw yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar gyflenwad tai. Galwaf ar Janet Finch-Saunders i wneud y cynnig.
Item 6 today is the Welsh Conservatives debate on housing supply. I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8479 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn gresynu, er bod angen o leiaf 12,000 o gartrefi newydd ar Gymru bob blwyddyn, bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi adeiladu prin hanner y nifer hwnnw dros y degawd diwethaf.
2. Yn cydnabod ffigurau a ryddhawyd gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn 2023 bod 103,000 o anheddau sy'n wirioneddol wag yng Nghymru.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) sefydlu tasglu penodedig o gynllunwyr i fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad yn y cynghorau â'r perfformiad arafaf, a chreu prentis cynllunio ar gyfer pob cyngor;
b) cefnogi datblygwyr bach yng Nghymru i adeiladu cartrefi ar dir sy'n eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru a chynghorau lleol, gan ganolbwyntio ar ddiwallu anghenion lleol o ran tai; ac
c) troi eiddo gwag yng Nghymru yn ôl i fod yn gartrefi.
Motion NDM8479 Darren Millar
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Regrets that despite Wales needing at least 12,000 new homes every year, over the last decade the Welsh Government has barely built half that number.
2. Recognises figures released from the Office for National Statistics in 2023 that there are 103,000 truly vacant unoccupied dwellings in Wales.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) establish a dedicated taskforce of planners to tackle the backlog in the slowest performing councils, and create a planning apprentice for every council;
b) support small developers in Wales to build homes on land owned by the Welsh Government and local councils, with a focus on meeting local housing needs; and
c) turn Wales’s empty properties back into homes.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you—diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A man's right to work as he will, to spend what he earns and to own property is increasingly harder for people to achieve in Wales. This is no surprise when considering that only 5,785 new dwellings were completed in 2022-23, one of the lowest numbers since records began. A person earning the average salary in Wales would have to spend over seven times their yearly earnings to purchase the average-priced home in Wales, which is £212,000. Affordability is clearly an influence in the fact that the number of houses sold is 35 per cent less than in January 2019.
Coinciding with a fall in house building and purchases is a rapid increase in demand in the rental market. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, requirement for rental properties increased by approximately 35 per cent in the three months to August 2023. However, during the same time period, the number of rental properties entering the market reduced by the same amount. We know why, and I've previously outlined to this Senedd the major reforms required by this Welsh Government as regards the rental sector.
Homelessness has reached record levels in Wales. In February 2023 the number of dependent children under the age of 16 who were placed into temporary accommodation reached over 3,000 for the first time. In March 2023 the total number of individuals who entered temporary accommodation hit 10,000 for the first time. Approximately 90,000 households are on a social housing waiting list in Wales—8,000 in Cardiff, 8,500 in Swansea and almost 10,000 in Newport. Those figures are unsustainable. The cost to mental health and well-being is serious. The impact on the lives of many families and children is one of absolute despair. Now, speaking to these residents who live in temporary accommodation for months on end, I've been provided with a lot of powerful messages, such as: 'Temporary feels very permanent'; 'My depression has deteriorated, but I was too scared to tell anyone. I needed to live here, because I simply needed a roof over my head'; 'My children will always remember this trauma. This is not an environment where my children should live'; and 'Sometimes you think, "Why am I living here? What have I done to deserve this?" It is very painful.' They are living there because of the failure of three decades of devolution under Labour, supported by Plaid Cymru.
Local authorities spent a minimum of £60 million on temporary accommodation in the last financial year. Yesterday I pointed out to the First Minister how, under his tenure, homelessness and spending on poor accommodation has spiralled out of control. Just look at Toys 'R' Us in Cardiff—how can any of you allow the people of Wales to live like this? As the late, very dear Rt Hon Baroness Margaret Thatcher said 40 years ago, I believe in home ownership because I believe in individual responsibility, and I believe that, by our actions, we can shape our future.
The Welsh Conservatives—
Diolch Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae hawl dyn i weithio fel y myn, i wario'r hyn y mae'n ei ennill ac i fod yn berchen ar eiddo yn gynyddol anos i bobl ei gyflawni yng Nghymru. Nid yw'n syndod o ystyried mai dim ond 5,785 o anheddau newydd a gwblhawyd yn 2022-23, un o'r niferoedd isaf ers dechrau cadw cofnodion. Byddai'n rhaid i berson sy'n ennill cyflog cyfartalog yng Nghymru wario dros saith gwaith ei enillion blynyddol i brynu cartref am y pris cyfartalog yng Nghymru, sef £212,000. Mae'n amlwg fod fforddiadwyedd yn ddylanwad ar y ffaith bod nifer y tai a werthwyd 35 y cant yn is nag ym mis Ionawr 2019.
I gyd-fynd â chwymp mewn adeiladu tai a phrynu tai, gwelwyd cynnydd cyflym yn y galw yn y farchnad rentu. Yn ôl Sefydliad Brenhinol y Syrfewyr Siartredig, cynyddodd yr angen am eiddo rhent oddeutu 35 y cant yn y tri mis hyd at fis Awst 2023. Fodd bynnag, yn ystod yr un cyfnod, gwelwyd yr un gostyngiad yn nifer yr eiddo rhent a ddaeth i mewn i'r farchnad. Rydym yn gwybod pam, ac rwyf wedi amlinellu i'r Senedd hon o'r blaen y diwygiadau mawr sydd eu hangen gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y sector rhentu.
Mae digartrefedd wedi cyrraedd y lefelau uchaf erioed yng Nghymru. Ym mis Chwefror 2023 cyrhaeddodd nifer y plant dibynnol o dan 16 oed a gafodd eu rhoi mewn llety dros dro dros 3,000 am y tro cyntaf. Ym mis Mawrth 2023 fe wnaeth cyfanswm yr unigolion a aeth i lety dros dro daro 10,000 am y tro cyntaf. Mae tua 90,000 o aelwydydd ar restr aros am dai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru—8,000 yng Nghaerdydd, 8,500 yn Abertawe a bron i 10,000 yng Nghasnewydd. Mae'r ffigurau hyn yn anghynaladwy. Mae'r gost i iechyd meddwl a lles yn ddifrifol. Mae'r effaith ar fywydau llawer o deuluoedd a phlant yn un o anobaith llwyr. Nawr, wrth siarad â'r trigolion hyn sy'n byw mewn llety dros dro am fisoedd bwy'i gilydd, clywais lawer o negeseuon pwerus, megis: 'Mae dros dro'n teimlo'n barhaol iawn'; 'Mae fy iselder wedi dirywio, ond roedd arnaf ormod o ofn dweud wrth unrhyw un. Roedd angen imi fyw yma, oherwydd roeddwn angen to uwch fy mhen'; 'Bydd fy mhlant bob amser yn cofio'r trawma hwn. Nid yw hwn yn amgylchedd y dylai fy mhlant fyw ynddo'; a 'Weithiau rydych chi'n meddwl, "Pam wyf i'n byw yma? Beth wyf i wedi'i wneud i haeddu hyn?" Mae'n boenus iawn.' Maent yn byw yno oherwydd methiant tri degawd o ddatganoli dan Lafur, gyda chefnogaeth Plaid Cymru.
Gwariodd awdurdodau lleol o leiaf £60 miliwn ar lety dros dro yn y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf. Ddoe, nodais wrth y Prif Weinidog sut mae digartrefedd a gwariant ar lety gwael wedi gwaethygu allan o reolaeth o dan ei brif weinidogaeth. Edrychwch ar Toys 'R' Us yng Nghaerdydd—sut y gall unrhyw un ohonoch ganiatáu i Gymry fyw fel hyn? Fel y dywedodd yr annwyl Farwnes Margaret Thatcher 40 mlynedd yn ôl, rwy'n credu mewn perchentyaeth oherwydd fy mod yn credu yng nghyfrifoldeb yr unigolyn, ac rwy'n credu, drwy ein gweithredoedd, y gallwn siapio ein dyfodol.
Mae fforwm polisi'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—
Would you give way on that?
A wnewch chi ildio ar hynny?
Yes, okay.
Gwnaf, o'r gorau.
One of the other things that happened under the late Baroness Lady Thatcher's tenure, of course, was the sell-off of council housing without actually replacing it. How does she now reflect on that, when it actually destroyed, decimated the affordable housing stock for rent?
Un o’r pethau eraill a ddigwyddodd o dan brif weinidogaeth y diweddar Farwnes, y Fonesig Thatcher, wrth gwrs, oedd gwerthu tai cyngor heb ddarparu rhai newydd yn eu lle. Sut mae'n gweld hynny bellach, gan fod hynny wedi dinistrio'r stoc o dai rhent fforddiadwy?
Well, let's be honest, the houses are still there. And it was, in fact, in Wales where you were selling off the houses and not reinvesting. For every one house sold, you can build three. Speak to any developer. [Interruption.]
The Welsh Conservative policy forum—
Wel, gadewch inni fod yn onest, mae'r tai yn dal yno. Ac yng Nghymru fe fuoch yn gwerthu'r tai heb ailfuddsoddi. Am bob un tŷ a werthir, gallwch adeiladu tri. Siaradwch ag unrhyw ddatblygwr. [Torri ar draws.]
Mae fforwm polisi’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—
I would like to hear the contribution, please.
Hoffwn glywed y cyfraniad, os gwelwch yn dda.
—that I chaired with house building stakeholders, the registered social landlords, the private rented sector and charities from across Wales, delivered a number of solid evidence-based backed recommendations. As a result, the Welsh Conservatives have a new three-point plan and one of speed, aspiration and opportunity. Speed: we would create a joint action taskforce of planners to target the slowest performing local planning authorities. The planning system was repeatedly identified as the No. 1 barrier to house building in Wales—no surprise when the average time for planning permission to be approved is 374 days, with Bridgend, the worst offender, taking 1,800 days. Fast-track applications for affordable housing development—[Interruption.] I need to crack on. The action is simple. Planning authorities will be required to prioritise applications for affordable housing and cut out these delays. We would ring-fence revenue generated from planning fees for local planning authorities. The £460 fee paid per dwelling in planning fees is viewed as too cheap in Wales. Stakeholders highlighted that this could be increased and all planning fees ring-fenced for use by planning departments. We would also establish a planner apprentice fund for each local authority.
Now, stakeholders also raised their concerns surrounding the skill gaps in Wales. Flintshire council warned of planning delays due to a shortage of staff and high volumes of work. In 2021 Swansea councillors heard that the local authority was having to hire specialist staff to address the shortage. And during the policy board, we heard that there are around 130 vacancies in the planning departments here in local authorities.
Aspiration: we would develop a support scheme to enable small and medium-sized building enterprises to build homes, whilst prioritising them to be able to build on public-owned land. The aim here would be to address the fact that the industry is primarily made up of larger developers, with just 12 per cent of homes in the UK being built by the smaller businesses. In the 1980s SMEs built approximately 40 per cent of homes. We should help our SMEs to grow, to employ and to build here in Wales.
We will conduct surveys on all public authority land to determine suitability for housing. You've got the local authority, you've got the health authority, but the Welsh Government owns 437 acres of land that's been identified as suitable for housing. We need to build on that and identify other land in the public sector suitable for development.
And we must ensure that the right type of property is built. It was highlighted to me that Wales needs to construct smaller size houses in terms of the number of bedrooms. In particular, we have a massive shortage of one-bedroomed homes. The average household size in Wales, as of 2020, was 2.26. This has gradually increased since 1991. So, our action would be to ensure homes are suitable for all, with the percentage of each development to include one or two-bedroomed homes.
Opportunity: with 103,000 truly vacant unoccupied dwellings in Wales, it's just common sense that a series of changes are made to bring them back into use. We would expand the Help to Buy to include second-hand homes and those in need of renovation, and we would empower local authorities to bring empty homes back into use for social rent and rent to buy. The leasing scheme in Wales so often referred to here is a lead balloon. Only 16 local authorities have signed up, and, over the last two financial years, only 60 grants have been awarded. The terms of these agreements must be reviewed. We need local authorities to be looking at using empty property management orders to enable properties to be managed, rather than purchased, by a local housing authority or a registered social landlord. And if that doesn't work, clamp down on the scourge of long-term empty homes by using compulsory purchase powers. Be clear: there would be zero tolerance for long-term, dilapidated empty properties in a Welsh Conservative-run Wales.
And finally, we would empower property owners to convert empty commercial spaces above high-street shops into homes, and we would use the planning system, where needed, to turn empty retail units into homes. The high street in Bangor is a prime example where this policy change could have a fantastic impact on footfall and prosperity. We don't just highlight the housing crisis in Wales, we actually offer a genuine alternative to our country, after 30 years of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru failure. By taking the actions that we have outlined today and the work we have carried out with the stakeholders—and let's be honest, these people are on the front line, so they know and they agree with what we are saying—we can shape the future so that the people of Wales can have their own homes. Diolch.
—a gadeiriais gyda rhanddeiliaid adeiladu tai, y landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig, y sector rhentu preifat ac elusennau o bob rhan o Gymru, wedi cyflwyno nifer o argymhellion cadarn yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth. O ganlyniad, mae gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig gynllun tri phwynt newydd sy'n cynnwys cyflymder, uchelgais a chyfle. Cyflymder: byddem yn creu tasglu gweithredu ar y cyd o gynllunwyr i dargedu’r awdurdodau cynllunio lleol sy’n perfformio arafaf. Nodwyd dro ar ôl tro mai’r system gynllunio oedd y rhwystr mwyaf rhag adeiladu tai yng Nghymru—nid yw’n syndod pan fo'r amser cyfartalog ar gyfer cymeradwyo caniatâd cynllunio yn 374 diwrnod, gyda Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr, y gwaethaf, yn cymryd 1,800 o ddiwrnodau. Mae ceisiadau carlam ar gyfer datblygu tai fforddiadwy—[Torri ar draws.] Mae angen imi barhau. Mae'r cam gweithredu'n syml. Bydd yn ofynnol i awdurdodau cynllunio flaenoriaethu ceisiadau am dai fforddiadwy a chael gwared ar yr oedi. Byddem yn clustnodi refeniw a gynhyrchir o ffioedd cynllunio i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol. Ystyrir bod y ffi o £460 a delir fesul annedd mewn ffioedd cynllunio yn rhy rhad yng Nghymru. Tynnodd rhanddeiliaid sylw at y ffaith y gellid cynyddu hyn a chlustnodi’r holl ffioedd cynllunio i’w defnyddio gan adrannau cynllunio. Byddem hefyd yn sefydlu cronfa prentisiaid cynllunio ar gyfer pob awdurdod lleol.
Nawr, mynegodd rhanddeiliaid eu pryderon hefyd ynghylch y bylchau sgiliau yng Nghymru. Rhybuddiodd Cyngor Sir y Fflint am oedi ar y cam cynllunio oherwydd prinder staff a llwythi gwaith mawr. Yn 2021, clywodd cynghorwyr Abertawe fod yr awdurdod lleol yn gorfod llogi staff arbenigol i fynd i'r afael â'r prinder. Ac yn ystod y bwrdd polisi, clywsom fod oddeutu 130 o swyddi gwag yn yr adrannau cynllunio yma mewn awdurdodau lleol.
Uchelgais: byddem yn datblygu cynllun cymorth i alluogi mentrau adeiladu bach a chanolig i adeiladu cartrefi, gan eu blaenoriaethu ar yr un pryd i allu adeiladu ar dir cyhoeddus. Y nod yma fyddai mynd i’r afael â’r ffaith bod y diwydiant yn cynnwys datblygwyr mwy o faint yn bennaf, gyda dim ond 12 y cant o gartrefi yn y DU yn cael eu hadeiladu gan fusnesau llai. Yn y 1980au, busnesau bach a chanolig oedd yn adeiladu oddeutu 40 y cant o gartrefi. Dylem helpu ein busnesau bach a chanolig i dyfu, i gyflogi ac i adeiladu yma yng Nghymru.
Byddwn yn cynnal arolygon o holl dir awdurdodau cyhoeddus i bennu addasrwydd ar gyfer tai. Mae gennych yr awdurdod lleol, mae gennych yr awdurdod iechyd, ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn berchen ar 437 erw o dir y nodwyd ei fod yn addas ar gyfer tai. Mae angen inni adeiladu arno a nodi tir arall yn y sector cyhoeddus sy’n addas i’w ddatblygu.
Ac mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod y math iawn o eiddo yn cael ei adeiladu. Cafodd ei ddwyn i fy sylw fod angen i Gymru adeiladu tai llai o faint o ran nifer yr ystafelloedd gwely. Yn fwyaf abennig, mae gennym brinder enfawr o gartrefi un ystafell wely. Maint cyfartalog aelwydydd yng Nghymru, yn 2020, oedd 2.26. Mae hyn wedi cynyddu’n raddol ers 1991. Felly, ein cam gweithredu fyddai sicrhau bod cartrefi’n addas i bawb, gyda chanran o bob datblygiad i gynnwys cartrefi un neu ddwy ystafell wely.
Cyfle: gyda 103,000 o anheddau sy'n wirioneddol wag yng Nghymru, synnwyr cyffredin yw bod cyfres o newidiadau’n cael eu gwneud i sicrhau y gellir eu defnyddio unwaith eto. Byddem yn ehangu cynllun Cymorth i Brynu i gynnwys cartrefi ail law a rhai y mae angen eu hadnewyddu, a byddem yn grymuso awdurdodau lleol i ddod â thai gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd ar gyfer rhent cymdeithasol a rhentu i brynu. Mae'r cynllun lesio yng Nghymru, y cyfeirir ato mor aml yma, yn fethiant llwyr. Dim ond 16 o awdurdodau lleol sydd wedi ymrwymo i'r cynllun, a dros y ddwy flynedd ariannol ddiwethaf, dim ond 60 o grantiau sydd wedi’u dyfarnu. Mae'n rhaid adolygu telerau'r cytundebau hyn. Mae arnom angen i awdurdodau lleol edrych ar ddefnyddio gorchmynion rheoli eiddo gwag i'w gwneud yn bosibl rheoli eiddo, yn hytrach na’i brynu, gan awdurdod tai lleol neu landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig. Ac os na fydd hynny’n gweithio, mynd i’r afael â phroblem tai gwag hirdymor drwy ddefnyddio pwerau prynu gorfodol. Gadewch imi fod yn glir: ni fyddai unrhyw oddefgarwch i eiddo dadfeiliedig sy'n wag yn hirdymor yng Nghymru o dan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig.
Ac yn olaf, byddem yn grymuso perchnogion eiddo i droi mannau masnachol gwag uwchben siopau’r stryd fawr yn gartrefi, a byddem yn defnyddio’r system gynllunio, lle bo angen, i droi unedau manwerthu gwag yn gartrefi. Mae'r stryd fawr ym Mangor yn enghraifft wych lle gallai'r newid polisi hwn gael effaith wych ar nifer yr ymwelwyr a ffyniant. Nid tynnu sylw'n unig at yr argyfwng tai yng Nghymru a wnawn, rydym yn cynnig dewis amgen dilys i’n gwlad, ar ôl 30 mlynedd o fethiant gan Lafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru. Drwy gymryd y camau a amlinellwyd gennym heddiw a’r gwaith a wnaethom gyda’r rhanddeiliaid—a gadewch inni fod yn onest, mae’r bobl hyn ar y rheng flaen, felly maent yn gwybod beth rydym yn ei ddweud ac yn cytuno—gallwn siapio’r dyfodol fel y gall pobl Cymru gael eu cartrefi eu hunain. Diolch.
Rwyf wedi dethol y ddau welliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol. Galwaf ar Mabon ap Gwynfor i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.
I have selected the two amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.
Gwelliant 1—Heledd Fychan
Dileu'r cyfan a rhoi yn ei le:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi bod:
a) bron i 90,000 o aelwydydd ar restrau aros tai cymdeithasol ar hyn o bryd; a
b) 11,273 o unigolion mewn llety dros dro ym mis Hydref 2023, a bod 3,403 ohonynt yn blant dibynnol o dan 16 oed.
2. Yn gresynu:
a) mai dim ond 5,775 o unedau mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu darparu ers 2021, er gwaethaf y targed o ddarparu 20,000 o gartrefi carbon isel newydd i'w rhentu o fewn y sector cymdeithasol yn ystod tymor y llywodraeth hon; a
b) bod dros 139,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol ar rent wedi eu colli i'r farchnad agored erbyn i'r Hawl i Brynu gael ei diddymu yng Nghymru yn 2019, gan gyfrannu'n fawr at yr argyfwng tai presennol.
3. Yn credu:
a) mai'r ateb i argyfwng tai Cymru yw cynyddu'r cyflenwad o gartrefi fforddiadwy ar gyfer aelwydydd incwm canolig ac isel, i'w rhentu ac i'w prynu; a
b) y bydd sicrhau cyfradd llawer uwch o gartrefi mewn perchnogaeth gyhoeddus a chymunedol hefyd yn dylanwadu'n gadarnhaol ar fforddiadwyedd yn y farchnad dai ehangach.
4. Yn croesawu'r:
a) ymrwymiad yn y Cytundeb Cydweithio i gyhoeddi Papur Gwyn sy'n nodi cynigion i sefydlu system o renti teg a dulliau newydd o wneud cartrefi'n fwy fforddiadwy; a
b) diwygio radical ar gyfer y dyfodol a nodir yn y Papur Gwyn ar roi diwedd ar ddigartrefedd a ddatblygwyd fel rhan o'r Cytundeb Cydweithio.
5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflymu'r gwaith o adeiladu tai cymdeithasol yn gyflym er mwyn cyrraedd neu ragori ar y targed i ddarparu 20,000 o gartrefi carbon isel newydd i'w rhentu o fewn y sector cymdeithasol.
Amendment 1—Heledd Fychan
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) that almost 90,000 households are on social housing waiting lists at present; and
b) that 11,273 individuals were in temporary accommodation, of which 3,403 were dependent children aged under 16 in October 2023.
2. Regrets:
a) that the Welsh Government has only delivered 5,775 units since 2021, despite the target to deliver 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent within the social sector during this government term; and
b) that over 139,000 social homes on rent had been lost to the open market, by the time the Right to Buy was abolished in Wales in 2019, contributing greatly to the current housing crisis.
3. Believes:
a) the solution to Wales’s housing crisis lies in increasing the supply of affordable homes for medium- and low-income households, for rent and for purchase; and
b) that securing a much higher rate of homes in public and community ownership will also positively influence affordability in the wider housing market.
4. Welcomes:
a) the Co-operation Agreement commitment to publish a White Paper setting out proposals to establish a system of fair rents and new approaches to make homes more affordable; and
b) radical reform for the future set out in the White Paper on Ending Homelessness developed as part of the Co-operation Agreement.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to rapidly accelerate the construction of social housing in order to meet or exceed the target to deliver 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent within the social sector.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, a dwi'n cynnig y gwelliant. Mi ydyn ni'n byw yng nghanol nid yn unig argyfwng tai ond hefyd yr argyfwng costau byw gwaethaf o fewn cof. Er yn ddau argyfwng gwahanol ar yr wyneb, maen nhw hefyd yn gydgysylltiedig. Er gwaethaf y cynnydd sylweddol mewn pris tanwydd, bwyd a chostau eraill, y gwariant mwyaf ym mywydau'r rhan fwyaf o bobl ydy'r gwariant ar gael to uwch eu pen, boed trwy forgais neu rent, ac mae'r cynnydd sydd wedi bod yn y costau yma wedi bod yn anferthol dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf. Mae hyn, yn ei dro, yn golygu bod yr argyfwng costau byw yn gwasgu hyd yn oed yn fwy.
Mae degau o filoedd o bobl yn byw mewn cylch dieflig o ansicrwydd tai, yn cael eu gorfodi i symud yn gyson, yn byw mewn tai rhent o ansawdd gwael neu'n gorfod dewis rhwng cael to uwch eu pen neu hanfodion eraill, megis gwres a bwyd. Mae'r ansicrwydd tai yma a thai anaddas hefyd yn cael effaith andwyol ar iechyd corfforol a meddyliol pobl, sydd yn ei dro yn rhoi straen anferthol ar yr NHS a chyllidebau eraill.
Mae ein gwelliant ni, felly, yn nodi'r ystadegau moel: y 90,000 o bobl sydd ar y rhestrau aros am dai cymdeithasol, y bron i 12,000 sydd mewn llety dros dro, a dros 3,000 ohonyn nhw yn blant. Dŷn ni'n clywed yn gyson fod y broblem sy'n ein hwynebu yn gymhleth â sawl haen iddi, ac mae hynny'n wir. Ond mae yna un datrysiad sydd, ar yr wyneb, yn syml: mae angen adeiladu tai o dan berchnogaeth gyhoeddus, tai cymdeithasol, a hynny ar raddfa nad ydym wedi ei weld ers yr 1950au.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I move the amendment. We are living in the middle of not only a housing crisis but also the worst cost-of-living crisis in memory. Although two different crises on the face of it, they are also interrelated. Despite the significant increase in the cost of fuel, food and other costs, the biggest expenditure in most people's lives is the expenditure on putting a roof above their heads, be that through a mortgage or rent, and the increase in these costs has been huge over the past two years. This, in turn, means that the cost-of-living crisis has even greater effect.
Tens of thousands of people are living in a vicious cycle of housing uncertainty, they are forced to move regularly, they are living in rented accommodation of poor quality, or having to choose between having a roof over their heads or other essentials, such as heating and food. This housing uncertainty and inappropriate housing also has a detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of people, which in turn puts huge pressure on the NHS and other budgets.
Our amendment, therefore, notes the bare statistics,: the 90,000 households on social housing waiting lists, the almost 12,000 in temporary accommodation, and over 3,000 of them being dependent children. We hear regularly that the problem facing us is complex and multilayered, and that is true. But there is one solution that, on the face of it, is simple: we need to build houses that are publicly owned, social housing, at a scale that we haven't seen since the 1950s.
I understand that, for various reasons, which I don't have time to discuss here today, social housing has a stigma attached to it. We need to change that. Municipal housing, social housing, council housing and co-operative housing should be something that everybody should aspire to live in, offering the best quality, most energy efficient and best serviced, with the houses being the central point of a wider community serviced by access to health, education, recreation and transport. An utopia, some might say—[Interruption.] Go for it, Darren.
Deallaf, am wahanol resymau nad oes gennyf amser i’w trafod yma heddiw, fod stigma ynghlwm wrth dai cymdeithasol. Mae angen inni newid hynny. Dylai tai trefol, tai cymdeithasol, tai cyngor a thai cydweithredol fod yn rhywbeth y dylai pawb fod eisiau byw ynddynt, gan gynnig yr ansawdd gorau, mwyaf effeithlon o ran ynni a’r gwasanaethau gorau, gyda’r tai'n ganolbwynt i gymuned ehangach a wasanaethir gan fynediad at iechyd, addysg, hamdden a thrafnidiaeth. Iwtopia, byddai rhai yn ei ddweud—[Torri ar draws.] Ewch amdani, Darren.
Thank you for taking the intervention. I appreciate what you say about social housing. I agree there should be no stigma attached to social housing at all. But isn't it a fact that most people do aspire to want to own their own home, rather than to rent a home on a permanent basis? And that needs to be where the focus of our efforts as a Senedd ought to be: trying to help people to reach that aspiration of owning their own home, even if they are currently living in social housing.
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Rwy’n derbyn yr hyn a ddywedwch am dai cymdeithasol. Rwy’n cytuno na ddylai fod unrhyw stigma o gwbl ynghlwm wrth dai cymdeithasol. Ond onid yw'n ffaith bod y rhan fwyaf o bobl yn dyheu am fod yn berchen ar eu cartrefi eu hunain, yn hytrach na rhentu cartref yn barhaol? Ac ar hynny y dylem ganolbwyntio ein hymdrechion fel Senedd: ceisio helpu pobl i wireddu'r dyhead o fod yn berchen ar eu cartrefi eu hunain, hyd yn oed os ydynt yn byw mewn tai cymdeithasol ar hyn o bryd.
I think you're going against something that your colleague, Janet, said earlier, because the market has failed in that respect. We know that the market is failing to build one-bedroomed and two-bedroomed properties. The market is only interested in profit in four or five-bedroomed executive homes. So, we need to intervene in that market. But I will get on to your point in a minute, during my contribution.
As I was saying, what I've set out there with regard to social housing and the fact that that social housing should be accompanied by access to health, education, recreation and transport, some might call that an utopia. But if you look at Vienna, it is a reality, and others are now emulating their vision. And remember, Vienna only followed in the footsteps of Lloyd George and, before him, Robert Owen, here in Wales, and other pioneers. This is part of our heritage, our tradition in Wales, and sometimes it would be good for us to look back in order to find a way forwards.
Again, I understand that some might disparage my contribution, but consider this: as young people are today forced to tie themselves into a lifetime of mortgage repayments, taking away at least a third or more of their hard-earned monthly earnings, they will end up paying the best part of £600,000 at current prices for a three-bedroomed house by the end of that mortgage's lifetime, with all the costs, then, associated with owning a home, with that money going primarily to the shareholders of large banking conglomerates abroad. If we were able to provide the best-quality municipal house with next to no energy costs and low maintenance, that same young couple would pay less than £250,000 in current prices over the same time period, saving them over £300,000 and releasing to them that money to either save it in order to eventually buy a house of their own privately, or spend it on other things—holidays, children's education, a better car and so on—making the quality of their life better. That's something we should aspire towards. That's something we can achieve.
Increasing the stock of social housing in Wales, therefore, is an urgent and strategic response to the affordable housing crisis. With house prices and rents soaring beyond the reach of many, social housing offers a lifeline to individuals and families struggling to secure stable and reasonably priced homes. Affordable housing is a fundamental right, not a luxury. Housing is about more than just providing a secure place for people to live. It's about building communities, it's about ensuring that people have access to essential services, it's about improving people's quality of life and the contribution they can then make to society.
Credaf eich bod yn mynd yn groes i rywbeth a ddywedodd eich cyd-Aelod, Janet, yn gynharach, gan fod y farchnad wedi methu yn hynny o beth. Gwyddom nad yw'r farchnad yn adeiladu digon o eiddo un ystafell wely a dwy ystafell wely. Dim ond mewn elw drwy gartrefi uwchraddol pedair neu bum ystafell wely y mae gan y farchnad ddiddordeb. Felly, mae angen inni ymyrryd yn y farchnad honno. Ond fe ddof at eich pwynt mewn munud, yn ystod fy nghyfraniad.
Fel roeddwn yn ei ddweud, byddai rhai'n galw'r hyn a ddisgrifiais yno am dai cymdeithasol a'r ffaith y dylai tai cymdeithasol ddod law yn llaw â mynediad at iechyd, addysg, hamdden a thrafnidiaeth, yn iwtopia. Ond os edrychwch ar Fienna, mae'n realiti, ac mae eraill bellach yn efelychu eu gweledigaeth. A chofiwch, dilynodd Fienna yn ôl traed Lloyd George, ac o’i flaen ef, Robert Owen, yma yng Nghymru, ac arloeswyr eraill. Mae hyn yn rhan o’n hetifeddiaeth, ein traddodiad yng Nghymru, ac weithiau, byddai’n dda inni edrych yn ôl er mwyn dod o hyd i ffordd ymlaen.
Unwaith eto, rwy'n deall y bydd rhai'n wfftio at fy nghyfraniad, ond ystyriwch hyn: gan fod pobl ifanc heddiw yn cael eu gorfodi i glymu eu hunain wrth oes o ad-daliadau morgais, gan lyncu o leiaf traean neu fwy o’u henillion misol, byddant yn talu bron i £600,000, ar brisiau presennol, am dŷ tair ystafell wely erbyn diwedd oes y morgais, gyda’r holl gostau, felly, sy’n gysylltiedig â bod yn berchen ar gartref, gyda’r arian hwnnw’n mynd yn bennaf i gyfranddalwyr cwmnïau bancio mawr dramor. Pe baem yn gallu darparu tŷ trefol o ansawdd uchel, gyda phrin unrhyw gostau ynni a chynnal a chadw, byddai’r un cwpl ifanc hwnnw’n talu llai na £250,000 mewn prisiau cyfredol dros yr un cyfnod, gan arbed dros £300,000, a rhyddhau'r arian hwnnw iddynt naill ai ei gynilo er mwyn prynu eu tŷ preifat eu hunain yn y pen draw, neu ei wario ar bethau eraill—gwyliau, addysg plant, car gwell ac ati—gan wella ansawdd eu bywydau. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y dylem anelu ato. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn ei gyflawni.
Mae cynyddu’r stoc o dai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, felly, yn ymateb difrifol a strategol i’r argyfwng tai fforddiadwy. Gyda phrisiau tai a rhenti yn codi i’r entrychion y tu hwnt i gyrraedd llawer o bobl, mae tai cymdeithasol yn cynnig achubiaeth i unigolion a theuluoedd sy’n ei chael hi'n anodd sicrhau cartrefi sefydlog am bris rhesymol. Mae tai fforddiadwy yn hawl sylfaenol, nid yn foethusrwydd. Mae tai'n golygu mwy na darparu lle diogel i bobl fyw ynddo yn unig. Mae'n ymwneud ag adeiladu cymunedau, mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau bod gan bobl fynediad at wasanaethau hanfodol, mae'n ymwneud â gwella ansawdd bywydau pobl a'r cyfraniad y gallant ei wneud wedyn i gymdeithas.
Mabon, I've given you extra time for the intervention. You need to conclude, please.
Mabon, rwyf wedi rhoi amser ychwanegol i chi ar gyfer yr ymyriad. Mae angen ichi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda.
I'll conclude now. The current trajectory of rising house prices and rents is unsustainable and threatens to exacerbate social and economic inequalities. By bolstering the social housing sector, we introduce a stabilising force into the market, applying downward pressure on overall housing costs and ensuring that the dream of home ownership or stable rental accommodation is not out of reach for a significant proportion of our population.
Dof i ben nawr. Mae trywydd presennol y cynnydd mewn prisiau tai a rhenti yn anghynaliadwy ac yn bygwth gwaethygu anghydraddoldebau cymdeithasol ac economaidd. Drwy gryfhau’r sector tai cymdeithasol, rydym yn cyflwyno grym sy'n sefydlogi i’r farchnad, sy'n cadw costau tai cyffredinol yn is ac yn sicrhau nad yw breuddwyd perchentyaeth neu lety rhent sefydlog allan o gyrraedd cyfran sylweddol o’n poblogaeth.
Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd i gynnig yn ffurfiol gwelliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths.
I call on the Deputy Minister for Climate Change to formally move amendment 2, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths.
Gwelliant 2—Lesley Griffiths
Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod yr heriau y mae’r sector tai yn eu hwynebu, sy’n effeithio ar y cyflenwad o dai ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig.
2. Yn croesawu’r camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd a’i buddsoddiad mewn tai.
3. Yn nodi ymrwymiad uchelgeisiol Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol, carbon isel yn ystod tymor y Llywodraeth hon.
4. Yn nodi ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i Unnos, ar y cyd â Plaid Cymru, er mwyn cefnogi ein cynghorau a’n landlordiaid cymdeithasol i wella’r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol a thai fforddiadwy, gan gynnwys sicrhau bod mwy o gartrefi gwag yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto.
Amendment 2—Lesley Griffiths
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Acknowledges the challenges being faced by the housing sector, which are impacting housing supply across the United Kingdom.
2.Welcomes the action and investment being made in housing by the Welsh Government.
3. Notes the Welsh Government’s ambitious commitment to deliver 20,000 low carbon, social homes during this term of Government.
4. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to Unnos, together with Plaid Cymru, to support our councils and social landlords to improve the supply of social and affordable housing, including bringing more empty homes back into use.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 2.
Amendment 2 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
I'm pleased to be taking part in this important debate, which, of course, affects so many people in Wales.
The Welsh housing crisis is more pronounced, clearly, in large cities like Cardiff, but the crisis affects everyone in our society. The housing crisis means that our children are unlikely to own a home before the age of thirty; people are competing for a smaller number of houses, and that has driven up costs to an eye-watering level in many areas. It seems that there is a lack of social housing for those on the lowest incomes in our society, with 90,000 households waiting for social housing in Wales. So, the issue needs to be taken seriously and we have an ambitious plan to get the housing crisis under control.
The figures in Wales are not encouraging. The number of homes being built is fewer than that of the Welsh Government's target. The last time the Welsh Government met the minimum house building requirement was in 2016-17. The number of affordable houses—homes, sorry—built each year is increasing far too slowly, by just 3,603 during the 2020-21 financial year, and this is the highest number on record. So, it's clear that standards have slipped, unfortunately.
We need to accelerate house building now more than ever. The more house building falls behind, the more expensive and unaffordable houses become as a result. A person in Wales earning the average salary would have to spend over seven times their yearly income to purchase an average-priced home in Wales. Aside from the construction of new dwellings, there are pre-existing unoccupied buildings in Wales that are ripe for the picking—103,000 of them, to be precise.
Construction of homes on brownfield sites is also not being fully explored. Building on brownfield sites and turning the bad into good is better than turning the good into concrete. We need to take—[Interruption.] Yes, certainly.
Rwy’n falch o gymryd rhan yn y ddadl bwysig hon, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn effeithio ar gynifer o bobl yng Nghymru.
Mae argyfwng tai Cymru yn fwy amlwg mewn dinasoedd mawr fel Caerdydd, ond mae’r argyfwng yn effeithio ar bawb yn ein cymdeithas. Mae’r argyfwng tai yn golygu bod ein plant yn annhebygol o fod yn berchen ar gartref cyn eu bod yn ddeg ar hugain oed; mae pobl yn cystadlu am nifer llai o dai, ac mae hynny wedi cynyddu costau i lefel aruthrol o uchel mewn sawl ardal. Ymddengys bod prinder tai cymdeithasol ar gyfer y bobl ar yr incwm isaf yn ein cymdeithas, gyda 90,000 o aelwydydd yn aros am dai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Felly, mae angen bod o ddifrif ynghylch y mater, ac mae gennym gynllun uchelgeisiol i gael yr argyfwng tai o dan reolaeth.
Nid yw'r ffigurau yng Nghymru yn galonogol. Mae nifer y cartrefi sy'n cael eu hadeiladu yn llai na tharged Llywodraeth Cymru. Y tro diwethaf i Lywodraeth Cymru gyrraedd yr isafswm gofynnol o dai a adeiladwyd o'r newydd oedd 2016-17. Mae nifer y tai fforddiadwy—cartrefi, mae’n ddrwg gennyf—sy’n cael eu hadeiladu bob blwyddyn yn cynyddu’n llawer rhy araf, o ddim ond 3,603 yn ystod blwyddyn ariannol 2020-21, a dyma’r nifer uchaf a gofnodwyd. Felly, mae’n amlwg fod safonau wedi llithro, yn anffodus.
Mae angen inni gyflymu cyfraddau adeiladu tai nawr yn fwy nag erioed. Po fwyaf y bydd cyfraddau adeiladu tai yn gostwng, y mwyaf drud ac anfforddiadwy y bydd tai o ganlyniad. Byddai’n rhaid i unigolyn yng Nghymru sy’n ennill y cyflog cyfartalog wario dros saith gwaith eu hincwm blynyddol i brynu cartref am bris cyfartalog yng Nghymru. Ar wahân i adeiladu anheddau newydd, mae adeiladau gwag yn bodoli eisoes yng Nghymru sy'n addas i'w defnyddio—103,000 ohonynt, a bod yn fanwl gywir.
Nid yw adeiladu cartrefi ar safleoedd tir llwyd yn fater sy'n cael ei archwilio'n llawn ychwaith. Mae adeiladu ar safleoedd tir llwyd a throi'r drwg yn dda yn well na throi'r da yn goncrit. Mae angen inni gymryd—[Torri ar draws.] Iawn, wrth gwrs.
Do you agree that what's been happening, though, is that developers are developing greenfield sites rather than brown, because it's easier and I think more affordable? So, the brownfield sites could be prohibitive.
A ydych yn cytuno mai’r hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd, serch hynny, yw bod datblygwyr yn datblygu safleoedd maes glas yn hytrach na safleoedd tir llwyd am fod hynny'n haws ac yn fwy fforddiadwy? Felly, gallai’r safleoedd tir llwyd fod yn waharddol.
Well, the brownfield sites are the more obvious option, of course—
Wel, y safleoedd tir llwyd yw’r opsiwn mwyaf amlwg, wrth gwrs—
Yes, definitely. I agree.
Ie, yn bendant. Rwy'n cytuno.
—because they're sites where buildings have been situated before. So, naturally, when there have been dwellings, or, you know, for whatever use the previous buildings have been used for, it's more of an obvious solution than building on green-belt land, which obviously has its own controversies, with biodiversity and all of the other aspects as well. So, I think it's another can of worms, that one, I think.
We need to take advantage of this abundant source of potential housing land. The Welsh Government could do this via the simplification of planning consent and the conversion of land owned by the Welsh Government and local councils for development. The Welsh Government needs to look at simplifying the planning process in general to speed up the approvals and remove barriers to developers, as well as create a dedicated taskforce of planners to tackle the planning backlog.
I believe we need to start thinking about the housing crisis as an emergency. The foundations of our property-owning democracy are beginning to crumble and the demand in the rental markets has sky-rocketed, with properties on the market reducing by the same amount.
To close, Deputy Llywydd, bold and ambitious plans are needed in order to bring this slippage under control so that, hopefully, our children will have the option of purchasing their own affordable and beautiful home. I hope the Welsh Government will heed the advice put forth by the Welsh Conservatives this afternoon and recognise the importance of urgent action on this issue. I look forward to hearing the other contributions in this debate. Thank you.
—am eu bod yn safleoedd lle mae adeiladau wedi'u lleoli yn y gorffennol. Felly, yn naturiol, pan fo anheddau wedi bod yno, neu am ba ddefnydd bynnag y defnyddiwyd yr adeiladau blaenorol, mae'n ateb mwy amlwg nag adeiladu ar dir llain las, sy'n amlwg yn ddadleuol ynddo'i hun, gyda bioamrywiaeth a'r holl agweddau eraill hefyd. Felly, credaf fod llawer iawn o broblemau ynghlwm wrth hynny, yn fy marn i.
Mae angen inni fanteisio ar y ffynhonnell doreithiog hon o dir posibl ar gyfer tai. Gallai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud hyn drwy symleiddio caniatâd cynllunio a throi tir sy’n eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru a chynghorau lleol yn dir i'w ddatblygu. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych ar symleiddio’r broses gynllunio yn gyffredinol er mwyn cyflymu’r broses o gymeradwyo caniatâd cynllunio a chael gwared ar rwystrau i ddatblygwyr, yn ogystal â chreu tasglu pwrpasol o gynllunwyr i fynd i’r afael â’r ôl-groniad cynllunio.
Credaf fod angen inni ddechrau meddwl am y sefyllfa tai fel argyfwng. Mae seiliau ein democratiaeth perchnogaeth eiddo yn dechrau dadfeilio, ac mae’r galw yn y marchnadoedd rhentu wedi cynyddu’n aruthrol, gydag eiddo ar y farchnad yn lleihau i'r un graddau.
I gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae angen cynlluniau beiddgar ac uchelgeisiol er mwyn dod â’r llithriant hwn dan reolaeth fel y bydd gan ein plant, gobeithio, opsiwn i brynu eu cartref fforddiadwy a hardd eu hunain. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn dilyn y cyngor a roddwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig y prynhawn yma ac yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd gweithredu brys ar y mater hwn. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed y cyfraniadau eraill yn y ddadl. Diolch.
The Welsh Government has not built any houses. Private developers, both large and small, individuals, councils and housing associations have built houses. There are the following types of tenure: owner-occupied, being bought via a mortgage, privately rented, social housing via housing associations and council housing and co-operative housing. Starting with co-operative housing, while places as diverse as New York, Scandinavia and Vancouver have substantial co-operative housing, the same is not true of Wales and the rest of Britain. There have been major changes since devolution; Merthyr Valley Homes took over the control of the former council housing stock, and in 2016 the tenants voted to create the first tenant and employee mutual housing association in Wales.
Already, the Wales co-operative housing model has been developing housing. Successes include Dol-llys Hall, situated just outside the historic market town of Llanidloes, and Home Farm Village in Cardiff, where 41 social rented houses were completed. With funding from the Nationwide Foundation and the Welsh Government, Cwmpas's Communities Creating Homes programme is offering free comprehensive support tailored to each housing scheme. The project is expected to lead to a thriving co-operative and community-led housing sector in Wales, which is desperately needed.
Not for the first time, I'm raising concerns about empty properties. There have been arguments over the number. Can I just say—one empty property is one too many? While some will be undergoing renovation and others are being marketed, there is still the problem of dwellings being left unoccupied for several years. There are reasons, including families inheriting properties and living abroad, and family disputes. Many of these properties are in sought-after areas and would sell easily. Empty homes are a wasted resource in a time of substantial housing demand. They can also cause nuisance and environmental problems, where empty homes can be a focus for increased levels of crime, vandalism, anti-social behaviour, drug abuse, overgrown gardens, unsteady boundary fences or walls, and, with a shared wall, damp can come through. I've had complaints from constituents about every single one of those, who have been attached to an empty house. They also represent a potential housing resource that is currently underutilised. Bringing empty homes back into use can help address housing and social issues by increasing the supply in areas where there are housing shortages, and provide an opportunity to link suitable empty homes with housing need.
If all efforts to persuade owners to bring their properties back into use fail, and such properties continue to prove to be a nuisance, or be in poor condition, councils need to consider their enforcement powers. Bringing in compulsory purchase powers for councils when a house or flat has been empty for four or five years would improve housing availability. Once a compulsory purchase has taken place, the property can then be sold on to a housing association, an owner-occupier, or a private landlord to bring the accommodation back into use. The key is getting it back into use. The ownership of it is much less important.
The Welsh Government introduced Houses into Homes loans that are available to renovate empty properties and make them fit to live in. The loans are interest free, and the money is available before work starts. This can pay for works on houses or commercial buildings, including splitting a property into flats.
Between 1945 and 1959—six years of a Labour Government and eight years of a Conservative Government—120,000 council houses were built in Wales. Building council houses was seen as a challenge by both political parties, and, by the mid 1970s, there was equilibrium between demand and supply for rented housing. This equilibrium was broken by the discounted sale of council houses and near the complete ending of council house building, which was inevitable, because, if houses could be sold at substantial discount for people who had been a council tenant for any length of time, then it was obvious that people would move into the new ones, buy them, and the council would have the debt but not the house.
With thousands homeless or inadequately housed, the best means of providing quality, affordable housing is via the building of council houses. The Welsh Government needs to set a target of increasing the number of council houses built each year, aiming to reach 5,000 houses a year in 2030-31. We also need to work with our private rented sector landlords, many of whom work very happily alongside the Welsh Government, to make sure that their housing is brought into use. I commend the scheme where the Welsh Government allows private rented sector landlords to give their houses over to the Welsh Government to rent so that they can rent those houses for social tenants and the private landlord gets a guaranteed income. We need to increase the quantity of properties available for rent on every type of tenure, because everyone deserves a suitable home.
And just a quick personal aside: my daughter knows how difficult it is to buy a house in Ynys Môn, as more and more are being bought up for second homes. And when a 25-year-old teacher cannot afford to buy a home in Ynys Môn, we've got a problem.
Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi adeiladu unrhyw dai. Datblygwyr preifat, mawr a bach, unigolion, cynghorau a chymdeithasau tai sydd wedi adeiladu tai. Mae’r mathau canlynol o ddeiliadaeth i'w cael: perchen-feddiannaeth, prynu drwy forgais, rhentu’n breifat, tai cymdeithasol drwy gymdeithasau tai a thai cyngor a thai cydweithredol. Gan ddechrau gyda thai cydweithredol, tra bod gan leoedd mor amrywiol ag Efrog Newydd, Sgandinafia a Vancouver lawer iawn o dai cydweithredol, nid yw’r un peth yn wir am Gymru a gweddill Prydain. Bu newidiadau mawr ers datganoli; daeth yr hen stoc o dai cyngor o dan reolaeth Cartrefi Cymoedd Merthyr, ac yn 2016, pleidleisiodd y tenantiaid o blaid creu’r gymdeithas dai gydfuddiannol gyntaf i denantiaid a gweithwyr yng Nghymru.
Eisoes, mae model tai cydweithredol Cymru wedi bod yn datblygu tai. Ymhlith y llwyddiannau mae Neuadd Dol-llys, sydd wedi’i lleoli ger tref farchnad hanesyddol Llanidloes, a Home Farm Village yng Nghaerdydd, lle cwblhawyd 41 o dai rhent cymdeithasol. Gyda chyllid gan Sefydliad Nationwide a Llywodraeth Cymru, mae rhaglen Cwmpas, Cymunedau’n Creu Cartrefi, yn cynnig cymorth cynhwysfawr am ddim wedi’i deilwra i bob cynllun tai. Mae disgwyl i’r prosiect arwain at sector tai cydweithredol ac a arweinir gan y gymuned sy’n ffynnu yng Nghymru, ac mae ei angen yn ddirfawr.
Nid am y tro cyntaf, rwy’n codi pryderon am eiddo gwag. Cafwyd dadleuon ynghylch y nifer. A gaf i ddweud—mae un eiddo gwag yn ormod? Tra bod rhai'n cael eu hadnewyddu ac eraill yn cael eu marchnata, erys y broblem fod anheddau'n cael eu gadael yn wag am flynyddoedd. Mae rhesymau dros hynny, gan gynnwys teuluoedd yn etifeddu eiddo ac yn byw dramor, ac anghydfodau teuluol. Mae llawer o'r eiddo mewn ardaloedd poblogaidd iawn, a byddent yn gwerthu'n hawdd. Mae cartrefi gwag yn adnodd sy’n cael ei wastraffu mewn cyfnod o alw sylweddol am dai. Gallant hefyd fod yn niwsans ac achosi problemau amgylcheddol, lle gall cartrefi gwag ddenu lefelau uwch o droseddu, fandaliaeth, ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol, cam-drin cyffuriau, gerddi wedi gordyfu, ffensys neu waliau ffiniol ansefydlog, a chyda waliau a rennir, gall lleithder ddod drwyddynt. Rwyf wedi cael cwynion gan etholwyr am bob un o'r materion hynny, mewn perthynas â thŷ gwag. Maent hefyd yn adnodd tai posibl nad yw'n cael ei ddefnyddio'n ddigonol ar hyn o bryd. Gall dod â thai gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd helpu i fynd i’r afael â materion tai a materion cymdeithasol drwy gynyddu’r cyflenwad mewn ardaloedd lle ceir prinder tai, a rhoi cyfle i gysylltu cartrefi gwag addas ag anghenion tai.
Os bydd pob ymdrech i berswadio perchnogion i ddod â’u heiddo yn ôl i ddefnydd yn methu, a bod eiddo o’r fath yn parhau i fod yn niwsans, neu mewn cyflwr gwael, mae angen i gynghorau ystyried eu pwerau gorfodi. Byddai cyflwyno pwerau prynu gorfodol i gynghorau pan fo tŷ neu fflat wedi bod yn wag ers pedair neu bum mlynedd yn gwella argaeledd tai. Pan fydd pryniant gorfodol wedi'i wneud, gellir gwerthu'r eiddo wedyn i gymdeithas dai, perchen-feddiannydd, neu landlord preifat i ddod â'r adeilad yn ôl i ddefnydd. Y peth allweddol yw dod ag ef yn ôl i ddefnydd. Mae ei berchnogaeth yn llawer llai pwysig.
Cyflwynodd Llywodraeth Cymru fenthyciadau Troi Tai’n Gartrefi sydd ar gael i adnewyddu eiddo gwag a’u gwneud yn addas i fyw ynddynt. Mae’r benthyciadau’n ddi-log, ac mae’r arian ar gael cyn i’r gwaith ddechrau. Gall hyn dalu am waith ar dai neu adeiladau masnachol, gan gynnwys rhannu eiddo'n fflatiau.
Rhwng 1945 a 1959—chwe blynedd o Lywodraeth Lafur ac wyth mlynedd o Lywodraeth Geidwadol—adeiladwyd 120,000 o dai cyngor yng Nghymru. Roedd adeiladu tai cyngor yn cael ei ystyried yn her gan y ddwy blaid wleidyddol, ac erbyn canol y 1970au, roedd cydbwysedd rhwng y galw a'r cyflenwad o dai rhent. Cafodd y cydbwysedd hwn ei chwalu drwy werthu tai cyngor am brisiau gostyngol, a fu bron â rhoi diwedd ar adeiladu tai cyngor, a oedd yn anochel, oherwydd pe gellid gwerthu tai am brisiau gostyngol iawn i bobl a oedd wedi bod yn denantiaid tŷ cyngor am unrhyw gyfnod o amser, roedd hi'n amlwg y byddai pobl yn symud i mewn i'r rhai newydd, yn eu prynu, a byddai gan y cyngor y ddyled ond nid y tŷ.
Gyda miloedd o bobl yn ddigartref neu heb gartref addas, y ffordd orau o ddarparu tai fforddiadwy o safon yw drwy adeiladu tai cyngor. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru osod targed i gynyddu nifer y tai cyngor a adeiladir bob blwyddyn, gan anelu at 5,000 o dai y flwyddyn yn 2030-31. Mae angen inni weithio hefyd gyda’n landlordiaid yn y sector rhentu preifat, y mae llawer ohonynt yn fwy na pharod i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, i sicrhau bod eu tai yn cael eu defnyddio. Rwy'n cymeradwyo'r cynllun lle mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn caniatáu i landlordiaid yn y sector rhentu preifat drosglwyddo eu tai i Lywodraeth Cymru eu rhentu er mwyn iddynt allu gosod y tai hynny ar rent i denantiaid cymdeithasol, ac mae'r landlord preifat yn cael incwm gwarantedig. Mae angen inni gynyddu nifer yr eiddo sydd ar gael i’w rentu ym mhob math o ddeiliadaeth, gan fod pawb yn haeddu cartref addas.
A phwynt personol cyflym: mae fy merch yn gwybod pa mor anodd yw prynu tŷ ar Ynys Môn, gan fod mwy a mwy ohonynt yn cael eu prynu fel ail gartrefi. A phan na all athrawes 25 oed fforddio prynu cartref ar Ynys Môn, mae gennym broblem.
I'd like to say what a pleasure it is to be speaking in our Welsh Conservative debate on housing today, submitted by colleague, Darren Millar. As outlined by my colleague Janet Finch-Saunders in opening today's debate, we have a clear housing crisis here in Wales and, I'm very sorry to say, no-one in the Labour Party can pull their favourite stunt right now and point the finger at Westminster, because the blame directly lies within this Welsh Labour Government, who have been in charge here in Wales for the past 25 years. Wales needs at least 12,000 new homes to be built every single year. Regretfully, under the Labour Government here in Cardiff Bay over the last decade, they have barely built half of that number. This is all whilst figures from the Office for National Statistics in 2023 show that there are 103,000 truly vacant, unoccupied dwellings in Wales. Our Welsh Conservative housing plan, highlighted in our motion today, contains three action points that we believe will go a long way in tackling Wales's housing crisis that we, regretfully, see here every day.
I would be shocked here if any Member could look me in the eye and tell me that we have enough planners within our councils across Wales, and I doubt that any Member can, with any sincerity, tell me that we have the next generation of planners ready and raring to go. But we do need to do something drastic, and we need to do it now, because, as it stands, many seasoned planners are retiring, leaving the industry, or are finding the role too stressful, and new recruits undergoing training are being snapped up by the private sector. So, firstly, we need to establish a dedicated taskforce of planners to tackle the planning backlogs in Wales, the slowest performing councils, and create a planning apprentice for every single council here in Wales.
Secondly, we must develop and support small developers in Wales to build homes on land owned by the Welsh Labour Government and local councils that has been purchased by the Welsh public purse, so there should be focus on meeting a local housing need and with all sincerity.
Lastly, and thirdly, we must turn Wales's empty properties back into homes again. It cannot be right that there are over 100,000 truly vacant, unoccupied dwellings here in Wales. Wales does have a housing crisis, regardless of how much anyone mumbles—. Go on.
Hoffwn ddweud ei bod yn bleser cael siarad yn nadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar dai heddiw, a gyflwynwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Darren Millar. Fel yr amlinellwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Janet Finch-Saunders, wrth agor y ddadl heddiw, mae gennym argyfwng tai amlwg yma yng Nghymru, ac mae’n ddrwg iawn gennyf ddweud, ni all unrhyw un yn y Blaid Lafur chwarae eu hoff gêm nawr a phwyntio’r bys ar San Steffan, gan fod y bai ar Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, sydd wedi bod wrth y llyw yma yng Nghymru am y 25 mlynedd diwethaf. Mae ar Gymru angen i 12,000 fan lleiaf o gartrefi newydd gael eu hadeiladu bob blwyddyn. Yn anffodus, o dan y Llywodraeth Lafur yma ym Mae Caerdydd dros y degawd diwethaf, prin eu bod wedi adeiladu hanner y nifer hwnnw. Mae hyn oll tra bod ffigurau gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn 2023 yn dangos bod gennym 103,000 o anheddau sy'n wirioneddol wag yng Nghymru. Mae cynllun tai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, a gafodd sylw yn ein cynnig heddiw, yn cynnwys tri phwynt gweithredu y credwn y byddant yn gwneud llawer i fynd i’r afael â'r argyfwng tai yng Nghymru fel y'i gwelwn yma bob dydd, yn anffodus.
Buaswn yn synnu pe gallai unrhyw Aelod edrych ym myw fy llygad a dweud wrthyf fod gennym ddigon o gynllunwyr yn ein cynghorau ledled Cymru, ac rwy'n amau y gall unrhyw Aelod, yn gwbl onest, ddweud wrthyf fod gennym y genhedlaeth nesaf o gynllunwyr yn barod ac ar dân i gychwyn. Ond mae angen inni wneud rhywbeth mawr, ac mae angen inni ei wneud ar unwaith, oherwydd fel y saif pethau, mae llawer o gynllunwyr profiadol yn ymddeol, yn gadael y diwydiant, neu'n ystyried y rôl yn ormod o straen, ac mae recriwtiaid newydd dan hyfforddiant yn cael eu bachu gan y sector preifat. Felly, yn gyntaf, mae angen inni sefydlu tasglu penodol o gynllunwyr i fynd i’r afael â’r ôl-groniadau cynllunio yng Nghymru, y cynghorau sy’n perfformio arafaf, a chreu prentis cynllunio ar gyfer pob cyngor yma yng Nghymru.
Yn ail, mae'n rhaid inni ddatblygu a chefnogi datblygwyr bach yng Nghymru i adeiladu cartrefi ar dir sy’n eiddo i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru a chynghorau lleol ac sydd wedi’i brynu o'r pwrs Cymreig, felly dylid canolbwyntio ar ddiwallu'r angen lleol am dai, a hynny'n gwbl onest.
Yn olaf, ac yn drydydd, mae'n rhaid inni droi eiddo gwag Cymru yn ôl yn gartrefi. Ni all fod yn iawn fod dros 100,000 o anheddau gwirioneddol wag yma yng Nghymru. Mae gan Gymru argyfwng tai, ni waeth faint y bydd unrhyw un yn mwmian—. Ewch amdani.
When you mention the numbers and the statistics around empty properties, I hope you realise that a large percentage of them are second homes, so I assume therefore that you agree with the actions that we've taken with the Welsh Government to bring those houses back into ownership with local people.
Pan fyddwch yn sôn am y niferoedd a’r ystadegau sy'n gysylltiedig ag eiddo gwag, rwy'n gobeithio eich bod yn sylweddoli bod canran uchel ohonynt yn ail gartrefi, felly rwy’n cymryd, gan hynny, eich bod yn cytuno â’r camau a gymerwyd gennym gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i ddod â’r tai hynny yn ôl i berchnogaeth pobl leol.
I appreciate your comment, however, the properties, and, as my colleagues have all been saying whilst you were making your comment, and these statistics are genuinely empty homes. So, I think that's something that you need to take into account with that.
Now, as I mentioned, Wales has a housing crisis, and the Welsh Government's lack of action in letting families and future generations is certainly being seen. When I was growing up, it was genuinely a dream of mine to own my own home, and it really saddens me, truly saddens me, that this will remain a dream for so many people across the country, if people within this Welsh Parliament don't pull their socks up.
Rwy'n derbyn eich sylw, ond fel y dywedodd fy nghyd-Aelodau pan oeddech yn gwneud eich sylw, mae'r ystadegau hyn yn ymwneud â chartrefi sy'n wirioneddol wag. Felly, credaf fod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae angen i chi ei ystyried gyda hynny.
Nawr, fel y soniais, mae gan Gymru argyfwng tai, ac mae diffyg gweithredu ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau tai i deuluoedd a chenedlaethau’r dyfodol yn amlwg i bawb. Pan oeddwn yn ifanc, roedd bod yn berchen ar fy nghartref fy hun yn freuddwyd gennyf, ac mae'n fy nigalonni, yn fy nigalonni'n fawr, y bydd hon yn parhau i fod yn ddim mwy na breuddwyd i gynifer o bobl ledled y wlad, os na fydd pobl yn Senedd Cymru yn torchi eu llewys.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
No, I'm short on time, but thank you so much. That's why I'm calling on all Members to support our Welsh Conservative motion today and to tackle Wales’s housing crisis once and for all. Thank you so much.
Na, rwy'n brin o amser, ond diolch yn fawr iawn. Dyna pam fy mod yn galw ar bob Aelod i gefnogi cynnig y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig heddiw ac i fynd i’r afael ag argyfwng tai Cymru unwaith ac am byth. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'm delighted to take part in this debate. It's a very serious issue, affecting people right across Wales. So, it's very important we get the detail right, because only then can we successfully use the powers and the limited resources available to Welsh Government to ensure that we meet, as far as possible, tacking this problem.
The figure quoted in the motion conveniently ignores the second homes, as Mabon has pointed out, which the ONS pointed out are vacant for large portions of the year and, undoubtedly, exacerbate housing need in areas that attract a lot of tourism. We need to know exactly what the gap is in the housing stock and the number of homes needed to house people appropriately. So, we know the ONS figures are dubious, as they are two years out of date and based on a 2021 census during the pandemic. This ONS health warning is conveniently ignored by the Tories in their motion.
It seems to me that the Valuation Office Agency provides the most reliable data, otherwise why would both Welsh Government and local authorities rely on the VOA council tax dwellings report to estimate the amount of council tax they need to levy to meet their obligations? So, the real figure of empty homes is roughly 22,500. So, less than 23,000. And I agree with earlier speakers who say that it is a disgrace, that these properties that have been lying vacant for over six months should be brought back into use where possible, when there are so many people who desperately need a permanent home rather than temporary accommodation.
So, obviously, the VOA data enables local authorities to assess how much supplementary council tax they need to levy in order to mitigate the cost of these second homes, based on the impact it's having on exacerbating local housing need, but we do—. I think we can all agree that there are, actually, less than 23,000 properties vacant for more than six months that we should be using to mitigate homelessness.
Affordable housing is in short supply in my constituency. My constituents who are unable to be the privileged living in social housing are living in private rented properties, and they are the most precariously housed. Some are at the mercy of landlords and letting agents who neither provide safe, healthy nor energy-efficient housing, and routinely raid tenants' deposits at the end of tenancies.
Students, unfortunately, are easy prey for disreputable landlords. There they are having their first experience of renting their own place, and they and their families often don't have the time or resources to fight the endless pile of bureaucracy necessary to prise their deposits back. Rent Smart Wales is under-resourced to go after these people, despite the obligatory deposit scheme.
The impermanence of the private rented sector is fine for students who have yet to settle down. For families with children, it's a disaster because it means they're often having to move schools—
Rwy’n falch iawn o gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon. Mae’n fater difrifol iawn, sy’n effeithio ar bobl ledled Cymru. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael y manylion yn gywir, gan mai dim ond wedyn y gallwn ddefnyddio'r pwerau a'r adnoddau cyfyngedig sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru yn llwyddiannus i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud ein gorau i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem hon.
Mae’r ffigur a ddyfynnwyd yn y cynnig yn anwybyddu'n gyfleus iawn yr ail gartrefi, fel y nododd Mabon, ac y nododd y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol eu bod yn wag am rannau helaeth o’r flwyddyn, ac yn ddiamau, yn gwaethygu’r angen am dai mewn ardaloedd sy’n denu llawer o dwristiaeth. Mae angen inni wybod beth yn union yw’r bwlch yn y stoc dai a nifer y cartrefi sydd eu hangen i gartrefu pobl yn briodol. Felly, gwyddom fod ffigurau’r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn amheus, gan eu bod yn ddwyflwydd oed ac yn seiliedig ar gyfrifiad 2021 a gynhaliwyd yn ystod y pandemig. Mae’r rhybudd iechyd hwn gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn cael ei anwybyddu yn gyfleus iawn gan y Torïaid yn eu cynnig.
Ymddengys i mi mai Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio sy’n darparu’r data mwyaf dibynadwy, oherwydd fel arall, pam y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol yn dibynnu ar adroddiad Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio ar dreth gyngor anheddau i amcangyfrif faint o dreth gyngor y mae angen iddynt ei chodi i fodloni eu rhwymedigaethau? Felly, y ffigur gwirioneddol o gartrefi gwag yw oddeutu 22,500. Felly, llai na 23,000. Ac rwy’n cytuno â siaradwyr cynharach sy’n dweud ei bod yn warthus, y dylid dod ag eiddo sydd wedi bod yn wag ers dros chwe mis yn ôl i ddefnydd lle bo modd, pan fo cynifer o bobl gymaint o angen cartref parhaol yn hytrach na llety dros dro.
Felly, yn amlwg, mae data Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio yn galluogi awdurdodau lleol i asesu faint o dreth gyngor atodol y mae angen iddynt ei chodi er mwyn lliniaru cost yr ail gartrefi hyn, yn seiliedig ar yr effaith y maent ei chael ar waethygu'r angen am dai lleol, ond rydym yn gwneud—. Credaf y gall pob un ohonom gytuno bod llai na 23,000 eiddo sydd wedi bod yn wag am fwy na chwe mis y dylem fod yn ei ddefnyddio i liniaru digartrefedd.
Mae tai fforddiadwy yn brin yn fy etholaeth. Mae fy etholwyr nad ydynt yn ddigon lwcus i fyw mewn tai cymdeithasol yn byw mewn eiddo rhent preifat, a nhw sydd yn y cartrefi mwyaf ansicr. Mae rhai ar drugaredd landlordiaid ac asiantaethau gosod tai nad ydynt yn darparu tai diogel, iach nac effeithlon o ran ynni, ac sy’n bachu blaendaliadau tenantiaid fel mater o drefn ar ddiwedd tenantiaethau.
Yn anffodus, mae myfyrwyr yn ysglyfaeth hawdd i landlordiaid diegwyddor. Yno, cânt eu profiad cyntaf o rentu eu lle eu hunain, ac yn aml, nid oes ganddynt hwy na'u teuluoedd amser nac adnoddau i frwydro yn erbyn y pentwr diddiwedd o fiwrocratiaeth sydd ei angen i fynnu eu blaendaliadau yn ôl. Nid oes gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru ddigon o adnoddau i fynd ar ôl y bobl hyn, er gwaethaf y cynllun blaendal gorfodol.
Mae natur ansefydlog y sector rhentu preifat yn iawn i fyfyrwyr sydd eto i fwrw gwreiddiau. I deuluoedd â phlant, mae'n drychineb, am ei fod yn golygu eu bod yn aml yn gorfod newid ysgol—
Jenny, will you take an intervention from Gareth Davies?
Jenny, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad gan Gareth Davies?
Yes, happy to. Yes.
Gwnaf, rwy'n hapus i wneud hynny.
Thank you, Jenny. I'm just wondering if you could clarify your comments on private landlords because, like anything in life, you've got good landlords and bad landlords, but you seem to be tarring them all with the same brush and demonising some good people there, Jenny.
Diolch yn fawr, Jenny. Tybed a allech chi egluro eich sylwadau ar landlordiaid preifat oherwydd, fel unrhyw beth mewn bywyd, mae gennych chi landlordiaid da a landlordiaid gwael, ond mae'n ymddangos eich bod chi'n eu paentio i gyd â'r un brws ac yn gwneud diafoliaid o bobl dda, Jenny.
No, no, I'm not at all; you weren't listening. I said 'many'; I didn't say 'all' at all. I absolutely agree that there are some landlords who are providing affordable, warm housing in the private rented sector, but in Cardiff Central, they are like a needle in a haystack, frankly; there are almost none of them. But, I admit they do exist, and they exist in other parts, I have no doubt. In Cardiff Central, it's virtually impossible to find homes that are affordable for anybody who's relying on the housing allowance, which doesn't begin to cover the cost of renting in Cardiff.
I congratulate the Minister on the efforts she's making to reform the rental market and ensure that landlords do actually take care of their properties and their tenants, and don't simply use them as money spinners. I'm disappointed that only 69 private landlords in Cardiff have taken up the Welsh Government leasing scheme, which is one very good way of ensuring that there are more social homes available and better quality private rented homes, which will eventually revert to the people who own them.
I agree absolutely that more housing stock is needed, but how and where we do this is of the utmost importance. The Welsh Government has offered to share the learning from its innovative social housing programme, but the big six house builders continue to want to build them by—
Nac ydw, ddim o gwbl; nid oeddech yn gwrando. Dywedais 'llawer'; ni ddywedais 'pob un' o gwbl. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod rhai landlordiaid yn darparu tai fforddiadwy, cynnes yn y sector rhentu preifat, ond yng Nghanol Caerdydd, maent fel nodwydd mewn tas wair, a dweud y gwir; maent yn brin iawn. Ond rwy'n cyfaddef eu bod yn bodoli, ac maent yn bodoli mewn rhannau eraill, yn ddi-os. Yng Nghanol Caerdydd, mae bron yn amhosibl dod o hyd i gartrefi sy'n fforddiadwy i unrhyw un sy'n dibynnu ar y lwfans tai, nad yw'n dechrau talu cost rhentu yng Nghaerdydd.
Rwy'n llongyfarch y Gweinidog ar yr ymdrechion y mae hi'n ei wneud i ddiwygio'r farchnad rentu a sicrhau bod landlordiaid yn gofalu am eu heiddo a'u tenantiaid, ac nad ydynt yn eu defnyddio fel ffordd o wneud llawer o arian yn unig. Rwy'n siomedig mai dim ond 69 o landlordiaid preifat yng Nghaerdydd sydd wedi ymrwymo i gynllun lesio Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n un ffordd dda iawn o sicrhau bod mwy o gartrefi cymdeithasol ar gael a chartrefi rhent preifat o ansawdd gwell, a fydd yn y pen draw yn dychwelyd i'r bobl sy'n berchen arnynt.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr bod angen mwy o stoc dai, ond mae sut a ble y gwnawn hyn o'r pwys mwyaf. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynnig rhannu'r hyn a ddysgwyd o'i rhaglen tai cymdeithasol arloesol, ond mae'r chwe chwmni adeiladu tai mawr yn parhau i fod eisiau eu hadeiladu—
Jenny, you need to conclude now, please.
Jenny, mae angen ichi ddirwyn i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.
Sorry?
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf?
You need to conclude.
Mae angen ichi ddirwyn i ben.
Okay. The limits of people's ability to pay. It is essential that we use the local development plans to ensure that they aren't simply endeavouring to breach all the planning regulations we have to avoid more congestion, more air pollution, a lack of public transport links, and I support the motion as amended.
Iawn. Pen draw gallu pobl i dalu. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn defnyddio'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol i sicrhau nad ydynt yn ceisio torri'r holl reoliadau cynllunio sydd gennym i osgoi mwy o dagfeydd, mwy o lygredd aer, diffyg cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac rwy'n cefnogi'r cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd.
Thank you, Jenny. Sam Rowlands.
Diolch yn fawr, Jenny. Sam Rowlands.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. We've clearly heard many problems and issues around housing outlined so far here today, but let's be clear: the roots of these issues sit with the Welsh Government and their refusal to enable enough homes to be built for the people of Wales. And instead of addressing the real problem by tackling the planning backlogs, by backing small developers and turning empty properties into homes, they instead decide to tinker around the edges and then attack others, like those in the tourism industry, and drag them into—. They pretend there's a crisis around self-catering businesses that work hard in that sector to attract people to Wales and provide a place for them to stay, so they can spend money and boost our local economies.
Data shows very clearly that housing supply in Wales remains far below the delivery levels achieved during the 1990s and into the mid 2000s, and that the number of planning permissions for new projects is on a downward trend. And, sadly, there's very little sign of this changing, despite what Labour at a UK level have to say on this issue. I was intrigued to read a commitment from UK Labour to blitz planning reform; to build the next generation of new towns; to unleash mayors—a package of devolution of mayors—with stronger powers over planning control; and a planning passport for urban brownfield development. Many of these things sound fantastic, and if they're truly the Labour plans, I've no idea why they're not doing it here in Wales, where they've been in power for 25 years. It's clear to me that the Cardiff Labour Government and their coalition partners in Plaid Cymru aren't serious at all about building homes and providing a future for the people of Wales—
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Yn amlwg, rydym wedi clywed am nifer o broblemau a materion yn ymwneud â thai hyd yma heddiw, ond gadewch inni fod yn glir: mae gwreiddiau'r materion hyn yn Llywodraeth Cymru a'r ffaith eu bod yn gwrthod sicrhau bod digon o gartrefi'n cael eu hadeiladu ar gyfer pobl Cymru. Ac yn hytrach na rhoi sylw i'r broblem go iawn drwy fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniadau cynllunio, drwy gefnogi datblygwyr bach a throi eiddo gwag yn gartrefi, maent yn penderfynu tincran ar yr ymylon ac ymosod ar eraill, fel y rhai yn y diwydiant twristiaeth, a'u llusgo i mewn i—. Maent yn esgus bod yna argyfwng gyda busnesau hunanarlwyo sy'n gweithio'n galed yn y sector hwnnw i ddenu pobl i Gymru a darparu lle iddynt aros, fel y gallant wario arian a rhoi hwb i'n heconomïau lleol.
Mae data'n dangos yn glir iawn fod y cyflenwad tai yng Nghymru yn parhau i fod yn llawer is na'r lefelau cyflenwi a gyflawnwyd yn ystod y 1990au ac i mewn i ganol y 2000au, a bod nifer y caniatadau cynllunio ar gyfer prosiectau newydd ar duedd tuag i lawr. Ac yn anffodus, nid oes fawr o arwydd y bydd hyn yn newid, er gwaethaf yr hyn sydd gan y Blaid Lafur ar lefel y DU i'w ddweud ar y mater. Roedd yn ddiddorol darllen ymrwymiad gan Blaid Lafur y DU i fynd ati o ddifrif i ddiwygio cynllunio; i adeiladu'r genhedlaeth nesaf o drefi newydd; i ryddhau meiri—pecyn datganoli meiri—gyda phwerau cryfach dros reolaeth gynllunio; a phasbort cynllunio ar gyfer datblygu tir llwyd trefol. Mae llawer o'r pethau hyn yn swnio'n wych, ac os mai dyma yw cynlluniau'r Blaid Lafur mewn gwirionedd, nid oes gennyf syniad pam nad ydynt yn ei wneud yma yng Nghymru, lle maent wedi bod mewn grym ers 25 mlynedd. Mae'n amlwg i mi nad yw Llywodraeth Lafur Caerdydd a'u partneriaid clymblaid ym Mhlaid Cymru o ddifrif o gwbl ynglŷn ag adeiladu cartrefi a darparu dyfodol i bobl Cymru—
Sam, will you take an intervention?
Sam, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Certainly, Jenny.
Yn sicr, Jenny.
Are you suggesting that we should simply allow the house builders to go on building homes that are not carbon neutral, which we've then got to retrofit? Because that's an utter waste of money, and it's just dumping the problem onto the hard-pressed people who are stretching themselves to buy them in the first place.
A ydych yn awgrymu y dylem ganiatáu i'r adeiladwyr tai fynd ati i adeiladu cartrefi nad ydynt yn garbon niwtral, y mae'n rhaid i ni eu hôl-osod wedyn? Oherwydd mae hynny'n wastraff arian llwyr, ac mae'n dadlwytho'r broblem ar y bobl sydd dan bwysau ac sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd i'w prynu yn y lle cyntaf.
I think it's a really important point you've made, Jenny, but let me remind you: I was quoting from the Labour Party manifesto, so you should probably take that up with your colleagues in Westminster, I would suggest.
It seems to me that Labour are not serious about tackling this issue here in Wales. And let's be clear again: we haven't, just as a Conservative Party, today, presented problems and issues, we've presented a plan to deal with this. We'll tackle those backlogs, we'll be backing those small developers, and we've a plan to turn empty properties into homes, and that's why I'd encourage everyone to vote and support the Welsh Conservative motion in front of us today.
Rwy'n credu eich bod yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn, Jenny, ond gadewch imi eich atgoffa: roeddwn yn dyfynnu o faniffesto'r Blaid Lafur, felly mae'n debyg y dylech chi drafod hynny gyda'ch cymheiriaid yn San Steffan, buaswn i'n awgrymu.
Mae'n ymddangos i mi nad yw Llafur o ddifrif ynglŷn â mynd i'r afael â'r mater yma yng Nghymru. A gadewch inni fod yn glir eto: nid ydym, fel Plaid Geidwadol, heddiw, wedi cyflwyno problemau a materion, rydym wedi cyflwyno cynllun i ymdrin â hyn. Byddwn yn mynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniadau hynny, byddwn yn cefnogi'r datblygwyr bach hynny, ac mae gennym gynllun i droi eiddo gwag yn gartrefi, a dyna pam rwy'n annog pawb i bleidleisio a chefnogi cynnig y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig sydd o'n blaenau heddiw.
I've been visiting new homes built across north Wales, and with Welsh Government funding, lifetime homes, well insulated, with solar panels, and that's what we need to be doing. Homes not just for now, but futureproofed, and I'd like to see more being built in the private sector like that. But also built with the infrastructure of schools, health and roads that can be adopted by councils as well.
Going back to planners and having planning and drainage officers in place, public services are fighting over the same officers. Being employed by the council used to be a prestige job—you knew it was usually a job for life, a career with good terms and conditions—but now they're struggling to recruit, as austerity has bitten. Jobs have been lost to the private sector or registered social landlords, who can afford to pay them, give them annual reviews, but vacancies are now taken as cost savings.
The apprenticeship levy has impacted heavily as well. I remember it being introduced when the council was growing apprentices in planning and technical officers. The impact was significant, adding a pressure of £100,000 when it was first introduced.
The housing crisis is rooted in the 1980s. The social housing shortage started under Thatcher. Her Government withdrew funding for councils to build housing, and the disastrous right-to-buy policy saw a 45 per cent reduction in social housing available between 1981 and 2014. Most of the homes sold under this policy were never replaced. It represented a mass sell-off of state assets into the private sector, which, as a result, cost local people—
Rwyf wedi bod yn ymweld â chartrefi newydd a adeiladwyd ar draws gogledd Cymru, a chyda chyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, cartrefi am oes, wedi'u hinswleiddio'n dda, gyda phaneli solar, a dyna beth sydd angen i ni fod yn ei wneud. Nid cartrefi am nawr, ond cartrefi sy'n addas ar gyfer y dyfodol, a hoffwn weld mwy o rai felly'n cael eu hadeiladu yn y sector preifat. Ond hoffwn iddynt gael eu hadeiladu gyda seilwaith ysgolion, iechyd a ffyrdd y gellir eu mabwysiadu gan gynghorau hefyd.
Gan droi'n ôl at gynllunwyr a chael swyddogion cynllunio a draenio ar waith, mae gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn ymladd dros yr un swyddogion. Roedd cael eich cyflogi gan y cyngor yn arfer bod yn swydd o fri—roeddech chi'n gwybod ei bod yn swydd am oes fel arfer, gyrfa gyda thelerau ac amodau da—ond nawr maent yn cael trafferth recriwtio, ers i gyni ddechrau brathu. Mae swyddi wedi cael eu colli i'r sector preifat neu landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig, sy'n gallu fforddio eu talu, rhoi adolygiadau blynyddol iddynt, ond mae swyddi gwag bellach yn cael eu cymryd fel arbedion cost.
Mae'r ardoll brentisiaeth wedi cael effaith fawr hefyd. Rwy'n cofio iddi gael ei chyflwyno pan oedd y cyngor yn datblygu prentisiaid yn swyddogion cynllunio a swyddogion technegol. Roedd yr effaith yn sylweddol, gan ychwanegu pwysau o £100,000 pan gafodd ei gyflwyno gyntaf.
Mae'r argyfwng tai wedi'i wreiddio yn y 1980au. Dechreuodd y prinder tai cymdeithasol o dan Thatcher. Fe wnaeth ei Llywodraeth hi ddiddymu cyllid i gynghorau ar gyfer adeiladu tai, a gwelodd y polisi hawl i brynu trychinebus ostyngiad o 45 y cant yn y tai cymdeithasol a oedd ar gael rhwng 1981 a 2014. Ni chafwyd tai newydd yn lle'r rhan fwyaf o'r cartrefi a werthwyd o dan y polisi hwn. Cafodd nifer helaeth o asedau'r wladwriaeth eu gwerthu i'r sector preifat, ac o ganlyniad, fe gostiodd arian i bobl leol—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, I will, Tom.
Gwnaf, Tom.
You'll know Margaret Thatcher came to power over 40 years ago. You've been in charge in Wales for 25 years. What have you been doing?
Fe wyddoch chi fod Margaret Thatcher wedi dod i rym dros 40 mlynedd yn ôl. Rydych chi wedi bod wrth y llyw yng Nghymru ers 25 mlynedd. Beth ydych chi wedi bod yn ei wneud?
Okay. I'll carry on and I'll tell you. Okay.
So, I'd just like to say as well that the money from the sell-off of council houses wasn't able to be kept by local authorities for investing. It wasn't until 2016 that local authorities could keep the rent from the properties that they still owned, to reinvest into bringing them up to the Welsh housing quality standard, and to start really investing in council house building, because the restrictions on borrowing weren't lifted in 2016.
Unfortunately, by this time, Tory cuts under austerity were biting. High interest rates, which are currently in place because of the Truss budget, have impacted on borrowing and the cost of materials, and there are workforce shortages because of Brexit, all of which will affect Welsh Government's target of building 20,000 zero-carbon homes for rent, and the affordability of building new houses is impacted. The local housing allowance has been frozen by the UK Government and the discretionary housing payment fund for Wales, which provides local authorities with top-ups towards rent payments, has been significantly reduced. And the situation is fast moving and critical.
I also believe that council tax could be replaced with a land value tax, paid for by the owner of the property, and it would also help stop land banking by developers. I'm also concerned, like Gareth is, about not developing on brownfield sites. Developers choose greenfield sites, which are much simpler, easier and cheaper to develop, which is a huge concern, but I know Welsh Government have set policies in place and funding, so that brownfield sites should be developed first as a priority.
And Welsh Government is taking action, Tom. For instance, last year, the Minister for Climate Change announced £65 million to ensure that everyone has a place to call home. Living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation is incredibly difficult for people to move on, but this fund helps them to move on from temporary accommodation and supports a wide range of projects by local authorities and registered social landlords to create much-needed extra housing capacity across Wales. Welsh Government have also provided funding for landlords to renovate empty properties and bring them back into use. There's also funding available to purchase private rental properties to bring them back into the public sector. Those are the ex-council houses, so that they can come back into the rental market.
Despite the positive ambitions we have in Wales, the housing system is under significant pressure, and I am pleased to say that the Local Government and Housing Committee are shortly doing an inquiry into social housing supply, going forward.
O'r gorau. Fe wnaf barhau ac fe wnaf ddweud wrthych. Iawn.
Felly, hoffwn ddweud hefyd nad oedd modd i'r awdurdodau lleol gadw a buddsoddi'r arian a wnaed o werthu tai cyngor. Roedd hi'n 2016 cyn bod awdurdodau lleol yn gallu cadw'r rhent o'r eiddo yr oeddent yn dal i fod yn berchen arno, i ail-fuddsoddi i'w codi i safon ansawdd tai Cymru, ac i ddechrau buddsoddi go iawn mewn adeiladu tai cyngor, oherwydd ni chodwyd y cyfyngiadau ar fenthyca yn 2016.
Yn anffodus, erbyn hynny, roedd toriadau Torïaidd yn sgil polisïau cyni'n brathu. Mae'r cyfraddau llog uchel sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd oherwydd cyllideb Truss wedi effeithio ar fenthyca a chost deunyddiau, ac mae prinder gweithlu oherwydd Brexit, a bydd pob un o'r pethau hyn yn effeithio ar darged Llywodraeth Cymru o adeiladu 20,000 o gartrefi di-garbon i'w gosod ar rent, ac effeithiwyd ar fforddiadwyedd adeiladu tai newydd. Mae'r lwfans tai lleol wedi cael ei rewi gan Lywodraeth y DU ac mae'r gronfa taliadau disgresiwn at gostau tai, sy'n rhoi ychwanegiadau i awdurdodau lleol tuag at daliadau rhent, wedi'i lleihau'n sylweddol. Ac mae'r sefyllfa'n symud yn gyflym ac yn ddifrifol.
Credaf hefyd y gallai'r dreth gyngor gael ei disodli gan dreth gwerth tir, y telir amdani gan berchennog yr eiddo, a byddai hefyd yn helpu i atal datblygwyr rhag bancio tir. Rwyf hefyd yn poeni, fel Gareth, nad oes digon o ddatblygu ar safleoedd tir llwyd. Mae datblygwyr yn dewis safleoedd maes glas, sy'n llawer symlach, yn haws ac yn rhatach i'w datblygu, sy'n bryder enfawr, ond rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dyrannu cyllid ac wedi rhoi polisïau ar waith, fel y gellir datblygu safleoedd tir llwyd yn gyntaf fel blaenoriaeth.
Ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu, Tom. Er enghraifft, y llynedd, cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd £65 miliwn i sicrhau bod gan bawb le i'w alw'n gartref. Mae'n anodd iawn i bobl symud ymlaen o fyw mewn llety gwely a brecwast, ond mae'r gronfa hon yn eu helpu i symud o lety dros dro ac yn cefnogi ystod eang o brosiectau gan awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i greu capasiti tai ychwanegol mawr ei angen ledled Cymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd wedi darparu cyllid i landlordiaid adnewyddu eiddo gwag i'w defnyddio unwaith eto. Mae cyllid hefyd ar gael i brynu eiddo rhent preifat er mwyn dod â nhw'n ôl i'r sector cyhoeddus. Hen dai cyngor yw'r rheini, fel y gallant ddod yn ôl i'r farchnad rentu.
Er gwaethaf yr uchelgeisiau cadarnhaol sydd gennym yng Nghymru, mae'r system dai dan bwysau sylweddol, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud y bydd y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai yn cynnal ymchwiliad i'r cyflenwad tai cymdeithasol cyn bo hir.
Can I begin my contribution, and I welcome this debate thoroughly, just by noting the £3.5 million of funding that was announced towards the end of last year for the Ewenny Road brownfield site? It's massive remediation. It's been empty for 10 years since the former industries on it went. It's at the top end of the Llynfi valley. But with the allocation of that £3.5 million confirmed now by the Cardiff capital region, I mention that because many people have said, 'Nothing comes out of the Cardiff capital region to our area.' Well, it's £3.5 million to develop a brownfield site ready for over 200 homes, of which a proportion will be affordable homes as well, plus an enterprise unit, plus a park-and-ride and transport interchange next to the Ewenny station, and so on. So, I commend the Cardiff capital region for signing off on that, and also the work of the local authority who've been working with the developers behind the scenes, to make sure that that can be ready when the money has been announced. I hope, Minister, that you'll continue to work with the local authority and with developers there to bring that site to fruition as soon as possible.
The other one I want to touch is in the east of the constituency of Ogmore, which is the Llanilid development. And it was great to have the announcement last week, and it shows how we can actually build sustainable communities with affordable housing, and develop sites, but do it in a sustainable way with sustainable transport right at the heart of it. Because when the roads review happened, that meant we had to stop and think again about actually completing—the money was there for it—what was known as the Llanharan bypass. Now, with the engagement of the Minister, I have to say, but also with the leadership of Andrew Morgan in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and some hard work by officials in Welsh Government, and also within the authority of RCT as well, we are working through a way in which we can take this forward with the development, and link up those communities, not in a traditional bypass way, but actually looking at proper bus infrastructure, proper cycleways as part of it, maybe reductions in speed along the final stretch, and so on, but we will open that site up for housing development as well. That's a major thing, as we see along much of the M4 corridor, where people want to live because of the access to jobs, to social activities, and so on.
But the thing I wanted to really focus on today, Dirprwy Lywydd, was something that hasn't been mentioned so far. We are undoubtedly right across Britain—not just in Wales, but right across Britain—struggling not just with housing supply, but access to affordable housing for rent as well as purchase—rent and purchase. Sometimes, these debates focus on one or the other. We actually need both, and we need both to be affordable as well. We are seeing rents soaring, we are also seeing leaseholders exploited. Colleagues from my own benches and others have highlighted this time and time again. And we’re seeing people priced out of home ownership.
I want to suggest another way, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to people that I suggest this. It’s something that we have not done on a grand scale, and that is community-led housing. That is tenure that is locked in so it actually dampens down prices, it fixes that tenure, whether it’s purchased housing that people live in or whether it’s rental, but it’s locked into community tenure. I think we should be doing more in Wales going forward on community-led housing. We’ve got some good examples in Wales. Some of them have struggled, but some have succeeded. We need to see the way that we can scale this up so that we put this democratic model right at the heart—community-led housing, co-operative housing, to deliver high-quality homes, and better community engagement as well, in the running not only of their own homes, but of their area and of their locality. That’s the important thing about this as well. And lower costs—lower costs for rent, lower costs to purchase and to sell on. So, we would like to see more being done in the community-led housing sector.
I’m a Labour and Co-operative Member of the Senedd, as people know. Some of the suggestions put forward are things such as a new specific co-operative housing tenure model, which would encourage it, and a land-use presumption in favour of community-led housing co-operatives. I know that there’s great interest here in Wales already about what we can do with community land trusts. In fact, curiously, it figured in hustings the other day as well, which took place for the two contenders for the Labour leadership, both of whom are co-operative members. Community land trusts were asked about from the floor, what do people think on that. So that is a possibility as well. [Interruption.] Well, this is a debate on housing, and what I’m suggesting to you is that we need to disrupt the housing model entirely, because a lot of the debate today is very much focused on what can we do to build more private sector housing. It has been touched on, affordable housing, but the definition of ‘affordable’ is very interesting. When you look at co-operative and community-led housing, it is genuinely affordable. So, what I’m suggesting is that we disrupt that market. [Interruption.] I will indeed.
A gaf fi ddechrau fy nghyfraniad, ac rwy'n croesawu'r ddadl hon yn wir, drwy nodi'r £3.5 miliwn o gyllid a gyhoeddwyd tuag at ddiwedd y llynedd ar gyfer safle tir llwyd Heol Ewenni? Mae'n waith adfer enfawr. Mae wedi bod yn wag ers 10 mlynedd ers i'r hen ddiwydiannau arno fynd. Mae ar ben uchaf cwm Llynfi. Ond mae'r dyraniad hwnnw o £3.5 miliwn bellach wedi'i gadarnhau gan brifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd, rwy'n dweud hynny oherwydd mae llawer o bobl wedi dweud, 'Nid oes unrhyw beth yn dod o brifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd i'n hardal ni.' Wel, mae'n £3.5 miliwn i baratoi safle tir llwyd ar gyfer dros 200 o gartrefi, a bydd cyfran ohonynt yn gartrefi fforddiadwy hefyd, ynghyd ag uned fenter, cyfleuster parcio a theithio a chyfnewidfa drafnidiaeth wrth ymyl gorsaf Ewenni, ac yn y blaen. Felly, rwy'n canmol prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd am gymeradwyo'r cyllid hwnnw, a hefyd gwaith yr awdurdod lleol sydd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda'r datblygwyr y tu ôl i'r llenni, i sicrhau y gall hwnnw fod yn barod pan fydd yr arian wedi'i gyhoeddi. Rwy'n gobeithio, Weinidog, y byddwch yn parhau i weithio gyda'r awdurdod lleol a chyda datblygwyr yno i adfer y safle hwnnw cyn gynted â phosibl.
Mae'r un arall yr hoffwn ei grybwyll yn nwyrain etholaeth Ogwr, sef datblygiad Llanilid. Ac roedd yn wych cael y cyhoeddiad yr wythnos diwethaf, ac mae'n dangos sut y gallwn adeiladu cymunedau cynaliadwy gyda thai fforddiadwy, a datblygu safleoedd, a'i wneud mewn ffordd gynaliadwy gyda thrafnidiaeth gynaliadwy yn ganolog iddo. Oherwydd pan gynhaliwyd yr adolygiad ffyrdd, roedd yn rhaid i ni aros a meddwl eto am gwblhau—roedd yr arian yno ar ei gyfer—yr hyn a elwid yn ffordd osgoi Llanharan. Nawr, gydag ymgysylltiad y Gweinidog, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, ond hefyd gydag arweinyddiaeth Andrew Morgan yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf a gwaith caled gan swyddogion yn Llywodraeth Cymru, a hefyd yn awdurdod Rhondda Cynon Taf, rydym yn ceisio dod o hyd i ffordd o fwrw ymlaen â'r datblygiad hwn, a chysylltu'r cymunedau hynny, nid drwy ffordd osgoi draddodiadol, ond mewn gwirionedd drwy edrych ar seilwaith bysiau priodol, llwybrau beicio priodol fel rhan ohono, efallai gostyngiadau cyflymder ar hyd y darn olaf, ac yn y blaen, ond byddwn yn agor y safle hwnnw ar gyfer datblygu tai hefyd. Mae hynny'n beth mawr, fel y gwelwn ar hyd llawer o goridor yr M4, lle mae pobl eisiau byw oherwydd y mynediad at swyddi a gweithgareddau cymdeithasol ac yn y blaen.
Ond roedd y peth yr oeddwn eisiau canolbwyntio o ddifrif arno heddiw, Ddirprwy Lywydd, yn rhywbeth nad yw wedi cael ei grybwyll hyd yn hyn. Heb os, ar draws Prydain—nid yn unig yng Nghymru, ond ledled Prydain—rydym yn cael trafferth nid yn unig gyda'r cyflenwad tai, ond hefyd gyda mynediad at dai fforddiadwy i'w rhentu yn ogystal â phrynu—rhentu a phrynu. Weithiau, mae'r trafodaethau hyn yn canolbwyntio ar y naill neu'r llall. Rydym angen y ddau mewn gwirionedd, ac rydym angen i'r ddau fod yn fforddiadwy hefyd. Rydym yn gweld rhenti'n codi i'r entrychion, rydym hefyd yn gweld lesddeiliaid yn cael eu hecsbloetio. Mae cyd-Aelodau ar fy meinciau i ac eraill wedi tynnu sylw at hyn dro ar ôl tro. Ac rydym yn gweld pobl yn cael eu prisio allan o berchentyaeth.
Rwyf eisiau awgrymu ffordd arall, ac ni ddylai fod yn syndod i bobl fy mod yn awgrymu hyn. Mae'n rhywbeth nad ydym wedi'i wneud ar raddfa fawr, sef tai dan arweiniad y gymuned. Mae hynny'n golygu bod deiliadaeth wedi'i gloi i mewn felly mae'n gostwng prisiau mewn gwirionedd, mae'n sefydlu'r ddeiliadaeth honno, boed yn dai i'w prynu neu'n dai rhent, ond mae wedi'i gloi i mewn i ddeiliadaeth gymunedol. Rwy'n credu y dylem fod yn gwneud mwy yng Nghymru wrth symud ymlaen gyda thai dan arweiniad y gymuned. Mae gennym enghreifftiau da yng Nghymru. Mae rhai ohonynt wedi cael trafferth, ond mae rhai wedi llwyddo. Mae angen inni ddod o hyd i ffordd o wneud hyn ar raddfa fwy fel ein bod yn rhoi'r model democrataidd hwn yn y canol—tai dan arweiniad y gymuned, tai cydweithredol, i ddarparu cartrefi o ansawdd uchel, a gwell ymgysylltiad cymunedol hefyd, wrth gynnal eu cartrefi eu hunain, yn ogystal â'u hardal a'u bro. Dyna'r peth pwysig am hyn hefyd. A chostau is—costau is ar gyfer rhentu a chostau is i brynu a gwerthu ymlaen. Felly, hoffem weld mwy yn cael ei wneud yn y sector tai dan arweiniad y gymuned.
Rwy'n Aelod Llafur a Chydweithredol o'r Senedd, fel y mae pobl yn gwybod. Mae rhai o'r awgrymiadau a gyflwynwyd yn cynnwys pethau fel model deiliadaeth tai cydweithredol penodol newydd, a fyddai'n ei annog, a rhagdybiaeth defnydd tir o blaid cwmnïau cydweithredol ar gyfer tai dan arweiniad y gymuned. Rwy'n gwybod bod diddordeb mawr yma yng Nghymru eisoes am yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud gydag ymddiriedolaethau tir cymunedol. Mewn gwirionedd, yn rhyfedd, fe gododd yn yr hystingau y diwrnod o'r blaen hefyd, i'r ddau sydd yn y ras am arweinyddiaeth Llafur, ac mae'r ddau ohonynt yn aelodau cydweithredol. Gofynnwyd cwestiwn o'r llawr am ymddiriedolaethau tir cymunedol, beth oedd barn pobl am hynny. Felly, mae hynny'n gyfle hefyd. [Torri ar draws.] Wel, mae hon yn ddadl ar dai, a'r hyn rwy'n ei awgrymu yw bod angen inni newid y model tai yn gyfan gwbl, oherwydd mae llawer o'r ddadl heddiw yn canolbwyntio ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i adeiladu mwy o dai sector preifat. Rydym wedi cyffwrdd ar dai fforddiadwy, ond mae'r diffiniad o 'fforddiadwy' yn ddiddorol iawn. Pan edrychwch ar dai cydweithredol a thai dan arweiniad y gymuned, mae'n wirioneddol fforddiadwy. Felly, rwy'n awgrymu ein bod yn tarfu ar y farchnad honno. [Torri ar draws.] Gwnaf, yn sicr.
No, he's out of time already. He's going to conclude shortly.
Na, mae ei amser wedi dod i ben yn barod. Bydd yn gorffen yn fuan.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'll conclude by saying we need all sorts of models within the housing market, but I think we should be doing more—and you'd expect me to say this—on the co-operative and community-led models, because I think that can disrupt and make better the housing market, and deliver affordable housing for rent and sale.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf am gloi drwy ddweud bod angen pob math o fodelau o fewn y farchnad dai, ond rwy'n credu y dylem fod yn gwneud mwy—a byddech chi'n disgwyl i mi ddweud hyn—gyda'r model cydweithredol a'r model dan arweiniad y gymuned, oherwydd rwy'n credu y gall hynny darfu ar y farchnad dai a'i gwella, a darparu tai fforddiadwy ar gyfer eu rhentu a'u gwerthu.
Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, Lee Waters.
I call on the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters.
Diolch yn fawr. Let me first thank Darren Millar for the opportunity to debate such an important topic today. We clearly agree on the need to build more houses, and I think we agree on at least some of the barriers.
In the last few years, the house building sector has faced supply chain disruption, inflation in material costs and labour shortages following Brexit, and of course we all know the impact increased mortgage interest has had on the market, too. I’m bound to point out that this is a direct result of the Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget. The Conservative benches groan, but that is a clear conclusion drawn not just by me, but by the Bank of England itself, who have said that is the case. It sent the pound to record lows, which made things more expensive to buy, which pushed inflation up and increased the cost of borrowing. So, there’s no denying that the Conservative Government at the UK level has caused an economic crisis that has made the challenge of building more houses all the more difficult, and they need to take responsibility for that. Andrew R.T. Davies and others who supported Liz Truss through thick and thin need to accept the consequences of those decisions.
Despite all of this, we have been clear in terms of our responsibilities—
Diolch yn fawr. Gadewch imi ddiolch yn gyntaf i Darren Millar am y cyfle i drafod pwnc mor bwysig heddiw. Rydym yn amlwg yn cytuno ar yr angen i adeiladu mwy o dai, ac rwy'n credu ein bod yn cytuno ar rai o'r rhwystrau o leiaf.
Yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf, mae'r sector adeiladu tai wedi wynebu tarfu ar y gadwyn gyflenwi, chwyddiant yng nghost deunyddiau a phrinder llafur yn dilyn Brexit, ac wrth gwrs rydym i gyd yn gwybod am yr effaith y mae cynnydd yn y llog ar forgeisi wedi'i chael ar y farchnad hefyd. Rhaid imi nodi bod hyn wedi digwydd o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i gyllideb fach Truss-Kwarteng. Mae'r meinciau Ceidwadol yn griddfan, ond mae hwnnw'n gasgliad clir, nid yn unig gennyf fi, ond gan Fanc Lloegr ei hun, sydd wedi dweud bod hynny'n wir. Dyna a achosodd i werth y bunt ostwng i lefelau is nag erioed, ac mae wedi gwneud pethau'n ddrutach i'w prynu, sydd wedi cynyddu chwyddiant ac wedi cynyddu cost benthyca. Felly, ni ellir gwadu bod y Llywodraeth Geidwadol ar lefel y DU wedi achosi argyfwng economaidd sydd wedi gwneud yr her o adeiladu mwy o dai yn anos byth, ac mae angen iddynt gymryd cyfrifoldeb am hynny. Mae angen i Andrew R.T. Davies ac eraill a gefnogodd Liz Truss drwy bopeth dderbyn canlyniadau'r penderfyniadau hynny.
Er hyn oll, rydym wedi bod yn glir ynglŷn â'n cyfrifoldebau ni—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
No, I won't.
Social housing is our priority, and should be a priority that we all support. We've made an ambitious commitment to deliver 20,000 new low-carbon homes for rent in the social sector this Senedd term, and I believe the case for investing in social housing is as strong as it has ever been. It's interesting, the comments from the Conservative benches—Janet Finch-Saunders trying to say that liberty depended upon the ability to own your own home. There is ideological dogma getting in the way here of what people want, which is a decent place to live. I'm afraid this market dogma is one of the reasons why we're in the pickle that we are in today.
Na wnaf.
Tai cymdeithasol yw ein blaenoriaeth, a dylai fod yn flaenoriaeth y mae pawb ohonom yn ei chefnogi. Rydym wedi gwneud ymrwymiad uchelgeisiol i ddarparu 20,000 o gartrefi carbon isel newydd i'w rhentu yn y sector cymdeithasol yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon, a chredaf fod yr achos dros fuddsoddi mewn tai cymdeithasol mor gryf ag erioed. Mae'r sylwadau oddi ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr yn ddiddorol—Janet Finch-Saunders yn ceisio dweud bod rhyddid yn dibynnu ar y gallu i fod yn berchen ar eich cartref eich hun. Mae yna ddogma ideolegol yma sy'n mynd yn ffordd yr hyn y mae pobl ei eisiau, sef lle gweddus i fyw. Mae arnaf ofn fod y ddogma hon am y farchnad yn un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod yn wynebu'r trafferthion sydd gennym heddiw.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
I will.
Gwnaf.
Talking about people being able to live where they want, I'm sure that you're aware that through the buildings development grant from the Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire County Council, in 2022, bought 46 former Ministry of Defence houses that are going now to local people with extreme need, some in case of homelessness, which will be renovated to meet their new housing quality standard. Is that the sort of ideological thinking that you support, Minister?
Wrth sôn am allu pobl i fyw lle maent yn dymuno byw, rwy'n siŵr eich bod chi'n ymwybodol, drwy grant datblygu adeiladau Llywodraeth Cymru, fod Cyngor Sir Penfro, yn 2022, wedi prynu 46 o hen dai y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn sydd bellach yn mynd i bobl leol mewn angen eithafol, rai ohonynt rhag i bobl fynd yn ddigartref, a byddant yn cael eu hadnewyddu i gyrraedd eu safon ansawdd tai newydd. Ai dyna'r math o feddylfryd ideolegol rydych chi'n ei gefnogi, Weinidog?
Thank you. That's a very good example of the positive impact our decisions and our investment has made: almost £1.2 billion allocated to the social housing grant over the first four years of this Senedd term.
In the context of the economic pressures that we are facing, maintaining funding levels last year and this year demonstrates our fierce and unwavering commitment to delivering more social housing. And I note that the latest figures published in November showed an increase in the number of affordable homes delivered in Wales—our second highest figure to date in the year 2021-22. There were 3,212 delivered of those that counted towards the target, bringing the total units delivered since 2021 to 5,775. That is a tangible difference we are making to the people of Wales.
We need more homes and we need to get them more quickly, and it's important to say that whilst the social housing grant is central to this, there are other programmes and policies that support the delivery of social housing. Our transitional accommodation capital programme, housing with care fund and our regeneration programme support a wide range of projects to meet the needs of people in Wales. The leasing scheme Wales, which Julie James has mentioned many times, is improving access to longer term affordable housing in the private sector. There's a practical initiative we are doing to increase more houses for rent. And crucially, our homelessness prevention and our housing support services are supporting councils to deliver the 'no-one left out' approach and the provision of temporary accommodation.
As part of the co-operation agreement, we're exploring how financial transaction capital can be used to provide loans. Nearly £16 million of financial transaction capital has been secured over this year, and next, to support registered social landlords in the delivery of more social homes. We've launched the Help to Stay Wales programme, a mortgage support scheme for homeowners struggling to afford their mortgage payments and at serious risk of losing their home, something the Conservatives in England could learn from. And we are the only UK nation to continue our Help to Buy programme, providing vital support to first-time buyers, but also SME house builders in Wales. I'll just draw attention to the Conservative speakers on that. We recognise the importance of the mixed market and the role of the SME, and we are doing practical things to help that.
The other thing that was mentioned a number of times was the situation of empty homes, and I completely agree. As chair of the Valleys taskforce, I was able to scale out Rhondda Cynon Taf's excellent approach on bringing empty homes back into use. In January last year, we announced a national scheme, based on that Rhondda Cynon Taf and Valleys taskforce model, with investment of up to £50 million to bring up to 2,000 long-term empty properties back into use. So, again, there's a lot of talk from the Conservative benches of more needing to be done, but we are doing more. Again, that is not something the UK Government in England are doing to bring empty homes back into use. We're providing grants of up to £25,000, as well as a loan scheme, which Mike Hedges mentioned, of £43 million to bring empty properties back into use through providing interest-free loans. That's brought 1,700 homes back into use, as well as 1,800 commercial properties and 395 town-centre units, again providing a tangible boost to our town centres. So, we are doing a great deal.
We're looking also at our land ownership and we're aiming to develop sites that are in the public estate with 50 per cent social housing on them. The land for housing scheme increases the funding options available to social landlords to secure land sites for housing development. Unlike in England, in Wales we have complete coverage of local development plans, which collectively make provision for around 225,000 homes. That demonstrates the value of our plan-led approach and we are encouraging local authorities to get on with the job of updating their plans where they are currently not doing so. The Competition and Markets Authority has identified a positive link between having a local development plan and housing supply. It has also identified the barriers faced by SMEs in the planning process, and highlights that in Wales—again, the Conservatives should mark this point—the number of homes given planning permission annually has been higher than the estimates of need since 2014. So, again, they do an injustice to our actual record in their pursuit of their ideological points. Evidence points to there being sufficient land available to meet housing need and that is now being converted into planning commissions.
There is more that I could say, Dirprwy Lywydd, about the practical actions we are taking, and also, to pick up the point that Jenny Rathbone made, about the need, while we're doing it, to tackle both the nature and the climate emergencies. That's what an activist Labour Government can achieve in office. The dogma of the Conservatives has produced a market failure that has led to this position. Their pursuit of think-tank obsessions has led to the collapse of the economy, which is now causing all those mortgage payers—including Conservative Ministers who can no longer afford to stay in their jobs—real pain.
Diolch. Mae honno'n enghraifft dda iawn o'r effaith gadarnhaol y mae ein penderfyniadau a'n buddsoddiad wedi'i chael: bron i £1.2 biliwn wedi'i ddyrannu i'r grant tai cymdeithasol dros bedair blynedd gyntaf o dymor y Senedd hon.
Yng nghyd-destun y pwysau economaidd sy'n ein hwynebu, mae cynnal lefelau cyllid y llynedd ac eleni yn dangos ein hymrwymiad angerddol a chadarn i ddarparu mwy o dai cymdeithasol. A nodaf fod y ffigurau diweddaraf a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Tachwedd yn dangos cynnydd yn nifer y tai fforddiadwy a ddarperir yng Nghymru—ein ail ffigur uchaf hyd yma yn y flwyddyn 2021-22. Roedd 3,212 o'r rhai a gyflawnwyd yn cyfrif tuag at y targed, gan ddod â chyfanswm yr unedau a ddarparwyd ers 2021 i 5,775. Mae hwnnw'n wahaniaeth pendant a wneir gennym i bobl Cymru.
Mae angen mwy o gartrefi arnom ac mae angen inni eu codi'n gyflymach, ac mae'n bwysig dweud, er bod y grant tai cymdeithasol yn ganolog i hyn, fod yna raglenni a pholisïau eraill sy'n cefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu tai cymdeithasol. Mae ein rhaglen gyfalaf llety trosiannol, y gronfa tai â gofal a'n rhaglen adfywio yn cefnogi ystod eang o brosiectau i ddiwallu anghenion pobl Cymru. Mae cynllun lesio Cymru, y mae Julie James wedi'i grybwyll sawl gwaith, yn gwella mynediad at dai fforddiadwy mwy hirdymor yn y sector preifat. Mae gennym fenter ymarferol i gynyddu niferoedd tai i'w rhentu. Ac yn hollbwysig, mae ein gwasanaethau atal digartrefedd a'n gwasanaethau cymorth tai yn cefnogi cynghorau i fabwysiadu dull 'neb heb help' a darparu llety dros dro.
Fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio, rydym yn archwilio sut y gellir defnyddio cyfalaf trafodiadau ariannol i ddarparu benthyciadau. Mae bron i £16 miliwn o gyfalaf trafodiadau ariannol wedi'i sicrhau dros y flwyddyn hon, a'r flwyddyn nesaf, i gefnogi landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i ddarparu mwy o gartrefi cymdeithasol. Rydym wedi lansio'r rhaglen Cymorth i Aros Cymru, cynllun cymorth morgeisi i berchnogion tai sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd fforddio eu taliadau morgais ac sydd mewn perygl difrifol o golli eu cartref, rhywbeth y gallai'r Ceidwadwyr yn Lloegr ddysgu ohono. A ni yw'r unig wlad yn y DU i barhau â'n rhaglen Cymorth i Brynu, gan ddarparu cefnogaeth hanfodol i brynwyr am y tro cyntaf, ond hefyd busnesau adeiladu tai bach a chanolig yng Nghymru. Rwyf am dynnu sylw siaradwyr y Ceidwadwyr at hynny. Rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd y farchnad gymysg a rôl y busnesau bach a chanolig, ac rydym yn gwneud pethau ymarferol i helpu hynny.
Y peth arall sydd wedi cael ei grybwyll nifer o weithiau yw'r sefyllfa mewn perthynas â chartrefi gwag, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Fel cadeirydd tasglu'r Cymoedd, llwyddais i ehangu dull rhagorol Rhondda Cynon Taf o ddefnyddio cartrefi gwag unwaith eto. Ym mis Ionawr y llynedd, fe wnaethom gyhoeddi cynllun cenedlaethol, yn seiliedig ar fodel tasglu'r Cymoedd a Rhondda Cynon Taf, gyda buddsoddiad o hyd at £50 miliwn i ddod â 2,000 eiddo gwag hirdymor yn ôl i ddefnydd. Felly, unwaith eto, mae llawer o siarad oddi ar y meinciau Ceidwadol am yr angen i wneud mwy, ond rydym ni yn gwneud mwy. Unwaith eto, nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn Lloegr yn ei wneud i ddefnyddio cartrefi gwag unwaith eto. Rydym yn darparu grantiau o hyd at £25,000, yn ogystal â chynllun benthyciadau gwerth £43 miliwn, y soniodd Mike Hedges amdano, i ddod ag eiddo gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd drwy ddarparu benthyciadau di-log. Mae hynny wedi dod â 1,700 o gartrefi yn ôl i ddefnydd, yn ogystal â 1,800 eiddo masnachol a 395 o unedau canol tref, sydd unwaith eto'n rhoi hwb gwirioneddol i ganol ein trefi. Felly, rydym yn gwneud llawer iawn.
Rydym hefyd yn edrych ar ein perchnogaeth tir ac rydym yn anelu at ddatblygu safleoedd sydd ar yr ystad gyhoeddus gyda 50 y cant o dai cymdeithasol arnynt. Mae'r cynllun tir ar gyfer tai yn cynyddu'r opsiynau cyllido sydd ar gael i landlordiaid cymdeithasol i sicrhau safleoedd tir ar gyfer datblygu tai. Yn wahanol i Loegr, mae gennym gynlluniau datblygu lleol ar gyfer pob rhan o Gymru, sydd gyda'i gilydd yn darparu ar gyfer tua 225,000 o gartrefi. Mae hynny'n dangos gwerth ein dull o weithredu dan arweiniad cynllun ac rydym yn annog awdurdodau lleol i fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o ddiweddaru eu cynlluniau lle nad ydynt yn gwneud hynny ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd wedi nodi cysylltiad cadarnhaol rhwng cael cynllun datblygu lleol a'r cyflenwad tai. Mae hefyd wedi nodi'r rhwystrau sy'n wynebu busnesau bach a chanolig yn y broses gynllunio, ac mae'n tynnu sylw at y ffaith—unwaith eto, dylai'r Ceidwadwyr nodi'r pwynt hwn—fod nifer y cartrefi yng Nghymru sy'n cael caniatâd cynllunio bob blwyddyn wedi bod yn uwch na'r amcangyfrifon o angen ers 2014. Felly, unwaith eto, maent yn gwneud cam â'n cyflawniad go iawn wrth fynd ar drywydd eu pwyntiau ideolegol. Mae tystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod digon o dir ar gael i ddiwallu anghenion tai ac mae bellach yn cael ei droi'n gomisiynau cynllunio.
Mae mwy y gallwn ei ddweud, Ddirprwy Lywydd, am y camau ymarferol rydym yn eu cymryd, a hefyd, os caf gyfeirio at y pwynt a wnaeth Jenny Rathbone, am yr angen i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfyngau natur a hinsawdd wrth i ni ei wneud. Dyna beth y gall Llywodraeth Lafur weithredol ei gyflawni mewn grym. Mae dogma'r Ceidwadwyr wedi cynhyrchu methiant yn y farchnad sydd wedi arwain at y sefyllfa hon. Mae eu hymlyniad wrth obsesiynau melinau trafod wedi arwain at gwymp yr economi, sydd bellach yn achosi poen gwirioneddol i'r holl dalwyr morgeisi—gan gynnwys Gweinidogion Ceidwadol na allant fforddio aros yn eu swyddi mwyach.
Galwaf ar Mark Isherwood i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Mark Isherwood to reply to the debate.
Diolch. I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for opening the debate and all speakers for contributing. Janet highlighted one of the lowest completions of new dwellings in Wales since records began, and the rapid increase in demand for rental homes as the number in the rental market reduced by a similar amount because of Welsh Government reforms. And, boy, do I remember moving amendments in those legislative debates, and seeing every one of them—nearly 200—ideologically defeated by the Welsh Government. She talked about this being unsustainable and creating despair and homelessness because of the failure of a quarter of a century of devolved Labour Governments, periodically supported by Plaid Cymru. And then she highlighted and outlined the Welsh Conservatives' three-pronged approach to kick-start house building in Wales based upon speed, aspiration and opportunity.
Mabon ap Gwynfor rightly said that we're living in the middle of a housing crisis and the biggest increase in cost people are facing is putting a roof over their heads. He said tens of thousands are living in housing uncertainty, that we need to build social homes at scale, and that the current trajectory of rising house and rent prices is unsustainable.
Gareth Davies pointed out that the housing crisis affects everyone, with young people unable to buy, a lack of social housing, rising housing costs and the number of homes being built even lower than the Welsh Government's own targets. And the more that house building falls behind, the more unaffordable housing becomes. We need to access brownfield publicly owned land, he said, and to look at the housing crisis as an emergency.
Mike Hedges pointed out that the Welsh Government doesn't build houses, but he didn't mention that their policies, funding and direction determined the levels of housing supply. He said that one empty property is one too many—quite right—that we need to match suitable empty homes with housing need, and that councils should utilise housing enforcement powers. He referred to the near end of council house building but failed to note that the priority for council house building—a point that Carolyn Thomas doesn't also appear to be aware of—switched to housing associations under legislation in the 1980s.
Natasha Asghar said that blame for the housing crisis directly lies with Labour Welsh Government policies over 25 years and how she's truly saddened that the dream of home ownership is beyond so many young people today.
Jenny Rathbone claimed that the ONS figures for truly vacant unoccupied dwellings quoted in our motion were dubious because they're out of date, yet the motion quotes figures from 2023. She said many landlords are bad landlords, when research shows that almost 90 per cent of these do not fall into this category.
Sam Rowlands pointed out that the root of the problem lies with the Welsh Government and its failure to address the problem—instead, tinkering around the edges and scapegoating others, including legitimate local self-catering businesses.
Carolyn Thomas rightly said we need futureproofed homes, and then she said that the housing crisis is rooted in the 1980s. Well, I can tell you that those of us who worked in the housing sector in the 1980s know that that is rubbish. And as I said regarding Mike Hedges, the legislation transferred the housing associations—[Interruption.] I don't think I'll have time; I'd love to bring you in, but I don't think I'll have time. Local authorities, she said, couldn't keep rent from properties and invest in council house building until 2016. Well, because the council debt impacted on public sector borrowing requirement, inherited by the Conservatives in 1979, they were faced with no choice over that. But Labour did nothing to address that in their 11-year tenure, although they did allow retention for maintenance. Welsh Government took years before they allowed councils to do that. When the Conservatives came in in 2010, they did allow that, and in England it was introduced, but the Welsh Government took year, after year, after year before they allowed local authorities to start progressing and taking action on that.
Huw Irranca-Davies highlighted local developments and the need to build in a sustainable way for rent and purchase, and highlighted community-led co-op housing and community land trusts. I would point out that previous Labour Welsh Governments, with cross-party support, have gone down that road. Your colleague Huw Lewis introduced policies and projects on that, so I would suggest you revisit why that didn't go forward and what you learned from that, as a bedrock for future action.
The Deputy Minister, Lee Waters, agreed on some of the barriers, but then this dogmatic and ideological politician deflected blame once again to his favourite politician, Liz Truss, and her temporary tenure. I have to remind him that the pound, the cost of borrowing and markets rebounded as soon as Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt restored stability. He had the cheek to say that social housing is a priority for the Labour Welsh Government, after the savage cuts and damage they've caused to the sector over the last 25 years, because there wasn't a housing supply crisis when the Conservative UK Government ended in 1997. But Labour's focus groups told them that housing was a low priority, because there wasn't a crisis—
Diolch. Diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am agor y ddadl a diolch i'r holl siaradwyr am gyfrannu. Tynnodd Janet sylw at y ffaith bod y nifer isaf o dai newydd wedi'u cwblhau yng Nghymru ers dechrau cadw cofnodion, a chyfeiriodd at y cynnydd cyflym yn y galw am dai rhent wrth i'r nifer yn y farchnad rentu ostwng i raddau tebyg oherwydd diwygiadau Llywodraeth Cymru. Ac rwy'n cofio cynnig gwelliannau yn y dadleuon deddfwriaethol hynny, a gweld pob un ohonynt—bron i 200—yn cael eu trechu'n ideolegol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Soniodd am y ffaith bod hyn yn anghynaladwy ac yn creu anobaith a digartrefedd oherwydd methiant chwarter canrif o Lywodraethau Llafur datganoledig, wedi'u cefnogi o bryd i'w gilydd gan Blaid Cymru. Ac yna amlinellodd ddull tair haen y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig o roi hwb i adeiladu tai yng Nghymru yn seiliedig ar gyflymder, uchelgais a chyfle.
Roedd Mabon ap Gwynfor yn gywir pan ddywedodd ein bod yn byw yng nghanol argyfwng tai a'r cynnydd mwyaf mewn costau y mae pobl yn ei wynebu yw rhoi to uwch eu pennau. Dywedodd fod degau o filoedd yn byw mewn ansicrwydd tai, fod angen inni adeiladu cartrefi cymdeithasol ar raddfa fawr, a bod y duedd bresennol o gostau tai a rhent cynyddol yn anghynaladwy.
Tynnodd Gareth Davies sylw at y ffaith bod yr argyfwng tai yn effeithio ar bawb, gyda phobl ifanc yn methu prynu, prinder tai cymdeithasol, costau tai cynyddol a'r ffaith bod nifer y tai sy'n cael eu hadeiladu yn is na thargedau Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun hyd yn oed. A pho fwyaf y mae'r gwaith o adeiladu tai ar ei hôl hi, y mwyaf anfforddiadwy y mae tai'n mynd. Mae angen inni gael mynediad at dir llwyd sy'n eiddo cyhoeddus, meddai, ac edrych ar y sefyllfa dai fel argyfwng.
Tynnodd Mike Hedges sylw at y ffaith nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn adeiladu tai, ond ni soniodd mai eu polisïau, eu cyllid a'u cyfeiriad sy'n pennu lefelau'r cyflenwad tai. Dywedodd fod un eiddo gwag yn un yn ormod—sy'n hollol gywir—fod angen inni sicrhau bod cartrefi gwag addas yn cyfateb i'r angen am dai, ac y dylai cynghorau ddefnyddio pwerau gorfodi tai. Cyfeiriodd at y ffaith bod y gwaith o adeiladu tai cyngor wedi dod i ben bron iawn ond methodd nodi bod y flaenoriaeth i adeiladu tai cyngor—pwynt nad yw Carolyn Thomas yn ymwybodol ohono chwaith, mae'n ymddangos—wedi trosglwyddo i gymdeithasau tai o dan ddeddfwriaeth yn yr 1980au.
Dywedodd Natasha Asghar mai polisïau Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru dros 25 mlynedd sydd ar fai am yr argyfwng tai a'i bod hi'n wirioneddol drist fod y freuddwyd o berchentyaeth y tu hwnt i gymaint o bobl ifanc heddiw.
Honnodd Jenny Rathbone fod ffigurau'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol ar gyfer yr anheddau gwirioneddol wag a ddyfynnir yn ein cynnig yn amheus oherwydd eu bod wedi dyddio, ac eto mae'r cynnig yn dyfynnu ffigurau o 2023. Dywedodd fod llawer o landlordiaid yn landlordiaid gwael, er bod ymchwil yn dangos nad yw bron i 90 y cant ohonynt yn perthyn i'r categori hwn.
Tynnodd Sam Rowlands sylw at y ffaith mai Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wrth wraidd y broblem a'i methiant i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem—yn hytrach, mae'n tincran ar yr ymylon a gwneud bychod dihangol o eraill, gan gynnwys busnesau hunanarlwyo lleol cyfreithlon.
Dywedodd Carolyn Thomas yn briodol fod angen cartrefi sy'n ddiogel ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac yna dywedodd fod yr argyfwng tai wedi'i wreiddio yn yr 1980au. Wel, gallaf ddweud wrthych fod y rhai ohonom a oedd yn gweithio yn y sector tai yn yr 1980au yn gwybod mai nonsens yw hynny. Ac fel y dywedais mewn perthynas â Mike Hedges, trosglwyddodd y ddeddfwriaeth—[Torri ar draws.] Nid wyf yn credu y bydd gennyf amser; byddwn wrth fy modd yn ildio i chi, ond nid wyf yn credu y bydd gennyf amser. Dywedodd nad oedd awdurdodau lleol yn gallu cadw rhent o eiddo a buddsoddi yn y gwaith o adeiladu tai cyngor tan 2016. Wel, oherwydd bod dyled cynghorau'n effeithio ar ofyniad benthyca sector cyhoeddus, a etifeddwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr ym 1979, nid oedd ganddynt ddewis yn hynny o beth. Ond ni wnaeth Llafur unrhyw beth i fynd i'r afael â hynny yn ystod eu 11 mlynedd mewn grym, er iddynt ganiatáu cadw ar gyfer cynnal a chadw. Fe gymerodd flynyddoedd i Lywodraeth Cymru ganiatáu i gynghorau wneud hynny. Pan ddaeth y Ceidwadwyr i rym yn 2010, fe wnaethant ganiatáu hynny, ac yn Lloegr cafodd ei gyflwyno, ond cymerodd Llywodraeth Cymru flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn i ganiatáu i awdurdodau lleol ddechrau symud ymlaen a gweithredu ar hynny.
Tynnodd Huw Irranca-Davies sylw at ddatblygiadau lleol a'r angen i adeiladu mewn ffordd gynaliadwy ar gyfer rhentu a phrynu, a soniodd am dai cydweithredol dan arweiniad y gymuned ac ymddiriedolaethau tir cymunedol. Hoffwn nodi bod Llywodraethau Llafur blaenorol yng Nghymru, gyda chefnogaeth drawsbleidiol, wedi dilyn y trywydd hwnnw. Cyflwynodd eich cyd-Aelod Huw Lewis bolisïau a phrosiectau mewn perthynas â hynny, felly hoffwn awgrymu eich bod yn ailedrych ar pam na fwriwyd ymlaen â hynny, a pha wersi a ddysgwyd gennych o hynny, fel sylfaen ar gyfer gweithredu yn y dyfodol.
Cytunodd y Dirprwy Weinidog, Lee Waters, ynghylch rhai o'r rhwystrau, ond wedyn fe wnaeth y gwleidydd dogmataidd ac ideolegol hwn daflu bai unwaith eto ar ei hoff wleidydd, Liz Truss, a'i phrif weinidogaeth dros dro. Mae'n rhaid imi ei atgoffa bod gwerth y bunt, cost benthyca a marchnadoedd wedi codi'n ôl cyn gynted ag y gwnaeth Rishi Sunak a Jeremy Hunt adfer sefydlogrwydd. Bu'n ddigon digywilydd i ddweud bod tai cymdeithasol yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, wedi'r difrod a'r toriadau creulon y maent wedi'u hachosi i'r sector dros y 25 mlynedd diwethaf, oherwydd nid oedd argyfwng cyflenwad tai pan ddaeth Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU i ben ym 1997. Ond dywedodd grwpiau ffocws Llafur wrthynt fod tai yn flaenoriaeth isel, am nad oedd argyfwng—
Mark, you need to conclude now.
Mark, mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr.
—and they cynically slashed funding for social housing from 1997, setting in train the housing supply crisis that was to follow. I suggest all of you look at the StatsWales figures and compare the new social housing provided and total housing provided 40 years ago, 30 years ago under the Conservatives, even the year the Conservatives left power, and the collapse in social housing and overall housing in the years that followed, right up to the present day. Diolch yn fawr.
—ac yn sinigaidd, fe wnaethant dorri arian ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol o 1997 ymlaen, gan roi cychwyn ar yr argyfwng cyflenwad tai a oedd i ddilyn. Awgrymaf eich bod i gyd yn edrych ar ffigurau StatsCymru ac yn cymharu'r tai cymdeithasol newydd a ddarparwyd a chyfanswm y tai a ddarparwyd 40 mlynedd yn ôl, 30 mlynedd yn ôl o dan y Ceidwadwyr, hyd yn oed y flwyddyn yr ildiodd y Ceidwadwyr rym, a'r cwymp mewn tai cymdeithasol a thai yn gyffredinol yn y blynyddoedd dilynol, hyd at heddiw. Diolch yn fawr.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Gohiriaf y bleidlais ar yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Yes. I will defer voting under this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Lesley Griffiths, a gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn enw Darren Millar. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths, and amendments 2 and 3 in the name of Darren Millar. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected.
Eitem 7 heddiw yw dadl Plaid Cymru ar y gwasanaeth iechyd, a galwaf ar Mabon ap Gwynfor i wneud y cynnig.
Item 7 today is the Plaid Cymru debate on the health service, and I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8478 Heledd Fychan
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cefnogi ymdrechion arwrol staff y GIG yng Nghymru wrth iddynt ddarparu gofal mewn amgylchiadau heriol.
2. Yn nodi blwyddyn ers i’r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol amlinellu blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y GIG yng Nghymru.
3. Yn credu bod:
a) canlyniadau iechyd wedi gwaethygu yn y flwyddyn sydd wedi mynd heibio; a
b) methiant i weithredu ar y blaenoriaethau wedi cyfrannu at fod pob bwrdd iechyd mewn rhyw fath o statws uwchgyfeirio.
4. Yn gresynu:
a) bod nifer y llwybrau cleifion oedd yn aros am driniaeth yn 758,815 ym mis Tachwedd 2023, o'i gymharu â 731,102 ym mis Chwefror 2023;
b) mai 53.5 y cant o gleifion canser ddechreuodd eu triniaeth ddiffiniol gyntaf o fewn y targed 62 diwrnod ym mis Tachwedd 2023, o'i gymharu â 54.3 y cant ym mis Chwefror 2023;
c) mai nifer y meddygon teulu cyfwerth ag amser llawn yng Nghymru oedd 1901 yn 2013 a 1429.6 yn 2023; a
d) mai 66.7 y cant o gleifion dreuliodd llai na 4 awr mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ym mis Rhagfyr 2023, o'i gymharu â 71.5 y cant ym mis Chwefror 2023.
5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) pennu amserlen glir i ddad-ddwysáu trefniadau ymyrryd ym mhob bwrdd iechyd; a
b) datgan argyfwng iechyd.
Motion NDM8478 Heledd Fychan
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Supports the heroic efforts of NHS staff in Wales as they provide care in challenging circumstances.
2. Notes the first anniversary of the Minister for Health and Social Services setting out the Welsh Government's priorities for the NHS in Wales.
3. Believes that:
a) health outcomes have worsened in the past year; and
b) a failure to act on the priorities has contributed to all health boards being in some form of escalation status.
4. Regrets that:
a) the number of patient pathways waiting for treatment was 758,815 in November 2023, compared to 731,102 in February 2023;
b) 53.5 per cent of patients started their first definitive treatment within the target of 62 days of first being suspected of cancer in November 2023 , compared to 54.3 per cent in February 2023;
c) the full time equivalent number of GPs in Wales was 1901 in 2013 and 1429.6 in 2023; and
d) 66.7 per cent of patients spent less than 4 hours in A&E in December 2023, compared to 71.5 per cent in February 2023.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) set out a clear timescale to de-escalate intervention arrangements in every health board; and
b) declare a health emergency.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a dwi'n cynnig yn ffurfiol. Dirprwy Lywydd, rŷn ni wedi cyflwyno'r ddadl yma heddiw gydag un pwrpas clir, sef er mwyn trio argyhoeddi'r Llywodraeth fod angen cydnabod y bygythiad dirfodol sydd yn wynebu'r NHS, sydd mor fregus a gwerthfawr i ni, gan ddatgan argyfwng iechyd yng Nghymru.
Efallai y bydd yr Aelodau sydd yn bresennol yn cofio, ar ddechrau'r llynedd, pan oedd y gwasanaeth iechyd yn gwegian o dan bwysau eithafol y gaeaf, inni gyflwyno cynnig tebyg i'r Senedd bryd hynny. Er i'r Llywodraeth bleidleisio yn erbyn y cynnig, fe wnaeth y Gweinidog gyhoeddi yn fuan wedyn set newydd o flaenoriaethau er mwyn gorfodi gwelliannau yn yr NHS yng Nghymru. Ond y caswir ydy, flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, fod y Llywodraeth wedi methu'n llwyr a mynd i'r afael â'r problemau hynny. Ar draws pob un mesurydd, mae'r rhagolygon ar gyfer darpariaeth gofal iechyd yng Nghymru wedi gwaethygu.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I formally move. Dirprwy Lywydd, we have brought forward this debate today with one clear purpose: to try and convince the Government that we need to recognise the existential threat facing the NHS, which is so fragile and valuable to us, by declaring a health emergency in Wales.
Perhaps Members in attendance will recall that, at the beginning of last year, when the health service was creaking under the huge winter pressures, we introduced a similar motion to the Senedd at that point. Although the Government voted against that motion, the Minister did announce soon after a new set of priorities in order to force through changes in the NHS in Wales. But the sad truth is that, a year later, the Government has entirely failed to tackle those problems. Across all measures, the forecast for the provision of healthcare in Wales has deteriorated.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Since the priorities were first announced in February, waiting lists have hit record highs in July, August, September and October. And while the latest figures do show a slight drop-off, they are still higher than at any point before February. There are currently 582,000 individuals waiting for health treatment in Wales—that's almost a fifth of our entire population that are stuck in this ever-expanding limbo zone, uncertain as to when they'll be able to receive treatment.
Let's turn to cancer services—another key priority for this Government, we're told. As we're all aware, early diagnosis and treatment is an essential factor in determining survival rates. With the World Health Organization predicting a rise in global cancer cases of more than 75 per cent by 2050, this is an issue that will be of critical significance over the coming decades. But the latest statistics show that less then 54 per cent of cancer patients in Wales started their first definitive treatment within the recommended 62 days of first being suspected of cancer in November 2023. This is not only lower than the 54.3 per cent recorded in February 2023, it is also well below the Welsh Government's target of 75 per cent, which, of course, has never been met.
Then there's the fact that ambulances across Wales spent a combined total of over 22,000 hours in December parked outside hospital waiting to drop off their patients; the fact that only 66.7 per cent of patients were waiting less than four hours in accident and emergency departments, down from 71.5 per cent in February; then there's the fact that full-time GPs have declined by 21.7 per cent over the past decade. But I don't need to stand here and reel off these figures, the sheer scale of the problems are plain to see, and the experience recently shared by the Labour MP for the Gower of dealing with A&E departments in Hywel Dda, which she described as an 'utter failure of the system', is typical in this respect. I'm sure that every single Member in this Chamber will have no shortage of similar stories to hand, whether from their constituents, from loved ones or based on their own personal experiences.
To quote the Labour shadow health Secretary,
'You would have to be living on Mars not to see that the NHS is in an emergency'.
So, when is the Welsh branch of the Labour Party going to come back to Earth and open their eyes to what is happening here on their watch?
Just like the last time we brought forward a debate of this kind, I expect the Minister to accuse us of being alarmist and claim that the terminology of emergency is somehow inappropriate or inaccurate. But we don't use these words lightly. We're simply echoing what people working in the healthcare sector have been saying for some time. As I've emphasised many times before, the NHS is nothing without its legions of dedicated staff. They continue to perform heroics on a daily basis under the most challenging of circumstances, but they're being badly let down by this Government's inability to heed their warnings about systematic issues in the health service and to confront them with the honest seriousness they deserve.
We should also remember this Government has not shied away from using language of this kind in the past. After all, they were the first in the world to declare a climate emergency and have readily used the cost-of-living crisis narrative to frame the relentless financial pressures facing households over recent years. They were absolutely right to do so in both cases. So, why can't they bring themselves to do the same with health? The implications of this denialism is that non-routine and chronic failing standards have become normalised, which is underlined by the fact that every single major health board is currently under a form of targeted intervention, with some having been in this position for many years. Two weeks ago, when the Minister revealed the refreshed framework for escalation and intervention measures, she told us that its success would be based on
'whether the health boards come down the escalation ladder in terms of improvement.'
But that isn't a plan, that's just restating the final destination without any sense of the directions.
The people of Wales, patients and staff alike, deserve a Government that has a clear understanding of how to bring the NHS back from the brink, and the best place to start this process would be for them to finally acknowledge the emergency that is unfolding before them. Without a drastic course correction, therefore, our precious health service will be condemned to a highly uncertain future. It is for this reason I urge Members to vote for this motion.
Ers cyhoeddi'r blaenoriaethau am y tro cyntaf ym mis Chwefror, mae rhestrau aros wedi cyrraedd y lefel uchaf erioed ym mis Gorffennaf, mis Awst, mis Medi a mis Hydref. Ac er bod y ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos gostyngiad bach, maent yn dal yn uwch nag ar unrhyw adeg cyn mis Chwefror. Ar hyn o bryd mae 582,000 o unigolion yn aros am driniaeth iechyd yng Nghymru—dyna bron i bumed ran o'n poblogaeth gyfan yn gaeth yn y limbo hwn sy'n ehangu'n barhaus, yn ansicr pryd y cânt driniaeth.
Gadewch inni droi at wasanaethau canser—blaenoriaeth allweddol arall i'r Llywodraeth hon, dywedir wrthym. Fel y gwyddom i gyd, mae diagnosis a thriniaeth gynnar yn ffactor hanfodol wrth bennu cyfraddau goroesi. Gyda Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd yn rhagweld cynnydd o fwy na 75 y cant mewn achosion o ganser yn fyd-eang erbyn 2050, mae hwn yn fater a fydd o bwys allweddol dros y degawdau nesaf. Ond mae'r ystadegau diweddaraf yn dangos mai llai na 54 y cant o gleifion canser yng Nghymru ym mis Tachwedd 2023 a ddechreuodd eu triniaeth ddiffiniol gyntaf o fewn y 62 diwrnod a argymhellir o'r adeg lle'r amheuir canser gyntaf. Mae hyn nid yn unig yn is na'r 54.3 y cant a gofnodwyd ym mis Chwefror 2023, mae hefyd ymhell islaw targed Llywodraeth Cymru o 75 y cant, nad yw erioed wedi'i gyflawni wrth gwrs.
Wedyn, mae'r ffaith bod ambiwlansys ledled Cymru wedi treulio cyfanswm cyfunol o dros 22,000 o oriau ym mis Rhagfyr wedi parcio y tu allan i ysbyty yn aros i ollwng eu cleifion; y ffaith mai dim ond 66.7 y cant o gleifion a oedd yn aros llai na phedair awr mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, i lawr o 71.5 y cant ym mis Chwefror; a'r ffaith wedyn fod niferoedd meddygon teulu llawn amser wedi gostwng 21.7 y cant dros y degawd diwethaf. Ond nid oes angen imi sefyll yma ac adrodd y ffigurau hyn, mae maint y problemau'n amlwg, ac mae'r profiad a rannwyd yn ddiweddar gan yr AS Llafur dros Benrhyn Gŵyr o ymdrin ag adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys yn Hywel Dda, a ddisgrifiwyd ganddi fel 'methiant llwyr y system', yn nodweddiadol yn hyn o beth. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd gan bob Aelod yn y Siambr hon ddigonedd o straeon tebyg, boed hynny gan eu hetholwyr, gan anwyliaid neu'n seiliedig ar eu profiadau personol.
Os caf ddyfynnu Ysgrifennydd iechyd yr wrthblaid Lafur,
'Byddai'n rhaid ichi fod yn byw ar y blaned Mawrth i beidio â gweld bod y GIG mewn argyfwng'.
Felly, pryd mae cangen Cymru o'r Blaid Lafur yn mynd i ddod yn ôl i'r Ddaear ac agor eu llygaid i'r hyn sy'n digwydd yma o dan eu goruchwyliaeth nhw?
Yn union fel y tro diwethaf inni gyflwyno dadl fel hon, rwy'n disgwyl i'r Gweinidog ein cyhuddo o godi bwganod a honni bod terminoleg argyfwng rywsut yn amhriodol neu'n anghywir. Ond nid ydym yn defnyddio'r geiriau hyn yn ysgafn. Rydym yn adleisio'r hyn y mae pobl sy'n gweithio yn y sector gofal iechyd wedi bod yn ei ddweud ers peth amser. Fel y pwysleisiais sawl gwaith o'r blaen, nid yw'r GIG yn ddim heb ei lu o staff ymroddedig. Maent yn parhau i gyflawni'n arwrol bob dydd o dan yr amgylchiadau mwyaf heriol, ond cânt eu siomi'n wael gan anallu'r Llywodraeth hon i wrando ar eu rhybuddion am broblemau systematig yn y gwasanaeth iechyd ac i'w hwynebu gyda'r difrifoldeb gonest y maent yn ei haeddu.
Dylem gofio hefyd nad yw'r Llywodraeth hon wedi cilio rhag defnyddio iaith o'r fath yn y gorffennol. Wedi'r cyfan, nhw oedd y rhai cyntaf yn y byd i ddatgan argyfwng hinsawdd ac maent wedi defnyddio'r naratif argyfwng costau byw yn barod iawn i fframio'r pwysau ariannol di-baid sydd wedi wynebu aelwydydd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Roeddent yn llygad eu lle i wneud hynny yn y ddau achos. Felly, pam na allant wneud yr un peth gydag iechyd? Goblygiadau'r ymwadu hwn yw bod safonau sy'n methu ar raddfa gronig ac anarferol wedi eu normaleiddio, rhywbeth a danlinellir gan y ffaith bod pob bwrdd iechyd mawr o dan ffurf ar ymyrraeth wedi'i thargedu ar hyn o bryd, gyda rhai wedi bod yn y sefyllfa honno ers blynyddoedd lawer. Bythefnos yn ôl, pan ddatgelodd y Gweinidog y fframwaith diwygiedig ar gyfer uwchgyfeirio a mesurau ymyrraeth, dywedodd wrthym y byddai ei lwyddiant yn seiliedig ar
'a yw'r byrddau iechyd yn dod i lawr yr ysgol uwchgyfeirio o ran gwella.'
Ond nid cynllun yw hynny, dim ond ailddatgan y cyrchfan terfynol heb unrhyw synnwyr o gyfeiriad.
Mae pobl Cymru, cleifion a staff fel ei gilydd, yn haeddu Llywodraeth sydd â dealltwriaeth glir o sut i ddod â'r GIG yn ôl o ymyl y dibyn, a'r lle gorau i ddechrau'r broses hon fyddai iddynt gydnabod o'r diwedd yr argyfwng sy'n datblygu o'u blaenau. Heb gywiriadau mawr i'r llwybr felly, bydd ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwerthfawr yn cael ei gondemnio i ddyfodol ansicr iawn. Am y rheswm hwn, rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i bleidleisio dros y cynnig.
Rwyf wedi dethol y tri gwelliant i'r cynnig, ac os derbynnir gwelliant 1, bydd gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn cael eu dad-ddethol. Rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog iechyd i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1.
I have selected the three amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services to move formally amendment 1.
Gwelliant 1—Lesley Griffiths
Dileu popeth ar ôl pwynt 2 a rhoi yn ei le:
Yn nodi:
a) ar ddiwedd mis Tachwedd 2023, mai canran y llwybrau agored a oedd yn aros llai na 104 wythnos oedd 96.7%, sef yr 20fed gwelliant yn olynol a'r uchaf y mae wedi bod ers Awst 2021;
b) yn 2023, bod nifer cyfartalog y bobl sy'n cael eu hatgyfeirio i’r llwybr lle’r amheuir canser bob mis wedi cynyddu 53% ers 2020;
c) ym mis Tachwedd 2023, bod bron i 14,800 o bobl a atgyfeiriwyd oherwydd amheuaeth o ganser wedi cael gwybod nad oedd canser arnynt, sef yr ail uchaf ar gofnod;
d) bod mwy o feddygon teulu cwbl gymwysedig yn gweithio yng Nghymru ym mis Mehefin 2023 o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol – cynnydd o 0.9%; ac
e) bod y data diweddaraf sydd ar gael ar gyfer mis Rhagfyr 2023 yn dangos lleihad o 51% yn y perfformiad o ran amser ymateb cyfartalog ambiwlansys i alwadau oren, gwelliant o 29% yn y perfformiad o ran trosglwyddo cleifion o ambiwlansys a gostyngiad o 20% yn nifer y cleifion sy'n treulio dros 12 awr mewn adrannau brys cyn cael eu derbyn neu eu rhyddhau; o'i gymharu â'r un mis yn 2022.
Amendment 1—Lesley Griffiths
Delete all after point 2 and replace with:
Notes that:
a) at the end of November 2023, the percentage of open pathways waiting less than 104 weeks was 96.7%, which is 20th successive improvement and the highest it has been since August 2021;
b) in 2023, the average number of people referred onto the suspected cancer pathway per month has increased by 53% since 2020;
c) in November 2023, nearly 14,800 people who were referred for suspected cancer were informed they did not have cancer, the second highest on record;
d) there were more fully-qualified GPs working in Wales in June 2023 compared with the year before – an increase of 0.9%; and
e) latest available data for December 2023 show a 51% reduction in average ambulance response time performance for amber calls, 29% improvement in ambulance patient handover performance and a 20% reduction in patients spending over 12 hours in emergency departments before admission or discharge; when compared with the same month in 2022.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Ffurfiol.
Formally.
Ydy, mae e wedi ei gynnig yn ffurfiol. Felly, nesaf rwy'n galw ar Russell George i gynnig gwelliannau 2 a 3. Russell George.
Yes, it's moved formally. So, next I call on Russell George to move amendments 2 and 3. Russell George.
Gwelliant 2—Darren Millar
Ychwanegu is-bwynt newydd ar ddiwedd pwynt 5:
datblygu a chyflwyno cynllun gweithlu ar gyfer GIG Cymru;
Amendment 2—Darren Millar
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
develop and deliver a workforce plan for the Welsh NHS;
Gwelliant 3—Darren Millar
Ychwanegu is-bwynt newydd ar ddiwedd pwynt 5:
gosod targed i ddileu amseroedd aros dwy flynedd erbyn mis Medi 2024 a chreu tasglu i'w gyflawni;
Amendment 3—Darren Millar
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
set a target to eliminate two-year waits by September 2024 and create a taskforce to deliver it;
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 2 a 3.
Amendments 2 and 3 moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. I move the amendments in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. As Welsh Conservatives, we'll be supporting Plaid Cymru's motion today, and I certainly echo the first point in the motion recognising the heroic efforts of NHS staff in Wales, often working against a backdrop of a challenging environment, and also recognising that they're doing so as a result of, in my view, a lack of planning from the Government. And, of course, the Welsh health Minister set out her priorities for the NHS almost one year ago, but we're still seeing, of course, those outcomes worsening, frustratingly. And just last week, we saw one lady in her 90s with dementia and breast cancer left on a care home floor for 24 hours, waiting in pain and discomfort for an ambulance. But, sadly, her story is not unique, Llywydd. There are reports on a regular basis of those unacceptably long waits and ambulances queuing outside hospitals.
In Plaid's motion, they also mention the GP crisis, and it is a crisis. And it is a fact that the number of patients per GP in Wales has risen by a third in less than a decade, despite Wales's population barely moving in that time. And I'm afraid the Government has failed to sufficiently—more broadly than GPs—recruit, train and retain NHS talent.
Now, as Welsh Conservatives, we have added to this motion today, and I hope those amendments will be supported, because we believe that the NHS desperately needs a workforce plan. And as the Minister knows, I've long advocated and called for this, and the staffing crisis in our NHS is so acute that we do need to act now to prevent the collapse of our NHS. Those aren't actually my words, those are the words straight from the British Medical Association.
Our second amendment today calls on the Government to set a target to eliminate two-year waits by September of this year and create a taskforce to deliver it. The Government needs to put every weight behind it in order to eliminate these two-year waits. This has got to be the single focus, I would have thought, of the health Minister and the Government, because we've still got those 25,000 people waiting for over two years for treatment, and, of course, we know that across the border in England, and in Scotland, those were virtually eliminated some time ago. And, of course, when we talk about 25,000 people—. It's wrong, sometimes, to talk about statistics, because there are real people waiting in pain, affecting the quality of their lives, but not only their lives but their families' lives as well. They want to go back to work, but they can't go back to work. They're waiting for that operation and it's affecting the wider quality of not only their health but of their well-being as well. So, certainly, I do hope that the Minister will give attention to that in her closing remarks today.
And I think, for me, I'll tell you what I want to see for our Welsh NHS: I want to see a Welsh NHS that is fully resourced, reliable once again, and one that is a renowned institution, as Aneurin Bevan envisaged when he first brought the service into being. And I hope that the Minister will be able to reflect on and comment on some of our amendments today. Diolch, Llywydd.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n cynnig y gwelliannau yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod Darren Millar. Fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, byddwn yn cefnogi cynnig Plaid Cymru heddiw, ac rwy'n sicr yn adleisio'r pwynt cyntaf yn y cynnig sy'n cydnabod ymdrechion arwrol staff y GIG yng Nghymru, sy'n aml yn gweithio yn erbyn cefndir o amgylchiadau heriol, a chydnabod hefyd eu bod yn gwneud hynny, yn fy marn i, o ganlyniad i ddiffyg cynllunio ar ran y Llywodraeth. Ac wrth gwrs, nododd Gweinidog Iechyd Cymru ei blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y GIG bron i flwyddyn yn ôl, ond rydym yn dal i weld y canlyniadau'n gwaethygu wrth gwrs, sy'n rhwystredig. A'r wythnos diwethaf, gwelsom un ddynes yn ei 90au gyda dementia a chanser y fron yn cael ei gadael ar lawr mewn cartref gofal am 24 awr, yn aros mewn poen ac anghysur am ambiwlans. Ond yn anffodus, nid yw ei stori'n unigryw, Lywydd. Ceir adroddiadau rheolaidd ynghylch arosiadau annerbyniol o hir a'r ambiwlansys sy'n ciwio y tu allan i ysbytai.
Yng nghynnig Plaid Cymru, maent yn sôn hefyd am yr argyfwng meddygon teulu, ac mae'n argyfwng. Ac mae'n ffaith bod nifer y cleifion fesul meddyg teulu yng Nghymru wedi codi traean mewn llai na degawd, er mai prin y newidiodd poblogaeth Cymru yn yr amser hwnnw. Ac rwy'n ofni bod y Llywodraeth—yn ehangach na meddygon teulu—wedi methu recriwtio, hyfforddi a chadw talent y GIG yn ddigonol.
Nawr, fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, rydym wedi ychwanegu at y cynnig hwn heddiw, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y gwelliannau hynny'n cael eu cefnogi, gan ein bod yn credu bod gwir angen cynllun gweithlu ar gyfer y GIG. Ac fel y gŵyr y Gweinidog, rwyf wedi dadlau a galw am hyn ers tro, ac mae'r argyfwng staffio yn ein GIG mor ddifrifol fel bod angen inni weithredu nawr i atal ein GIG rhag methu'n llwyr. Nid fy ngeiriau i yw'r rheini, daw'r geiriau'n syth gan Gymdeithas Feddygol Prydain.
Mae ein hail welliant heddiw yn galw ar y Llywodraeth i osod targed i ddileu arosiadau dwy flynedd erbyn mis Medi eleni a chreu tasglu i gyflawni hynny. Mae angen i'r Llywodraeth roi ei holl bwysau y tu ôl iddo er mwyn dileu'r arosiadau dwy flynedd hyn. Buaswn wedi meddwl bod rhaid i hyn fod yn brif ffocws i'r Gweinidog iechyd a'r Llywodraeth, oherwydd mae gennym 25,000 o bobl yn dal i aros dros ddwy flynedd am driniaeth, ac wrth gwrs, fe wyddom fod y rheini, dros y ffin yn Lloegr, ac yn yr Alban, wedi cael eu dileu bron iawn beth amser yn ôl. Ac wrth gwrs, pan fyddwn yn sôn am 25,000 o bobl—. Mae'n anghywir siarad am ystadegau weithiau, oherwydd pobl go iawn yw'r rhain, sy'n aros mewn poen sy'n effeithio ar ansawdd eu bywydau, ac nid yn unig eu bywydau nhw ond bywydau eu teuluoedd hefyd. Maent eisiau mynd yn ôl i'r gwaith, ond ni allant fynd yn ôl i'r gwaith. Maent yn aros am y llawdriniaeth ac mae'n effeithio ar ansawdd ehangach nid yn unig eu hiechyd ond eu lles hefyd. Felly, yn sicr, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi sylw i hynny yn ei sylwadau wrth gloi heddiw.
Ac rwy'n credu, i mi, fe ddywedaf wrthych beth rwy'n awyddus i'w weld ar gyfer ein GIG yng Nghymru: rwyf am weld GIG Cymru gydag adnoddau llawn, sy'n ddibynadwy unwaith eto, ac sy'n sefydliad o fri, fel y rhagwelodd Aneurin Bevan pan ddaeth â'r gwasanaeth i fodolaeth gyntaf. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn gallu ystyried rhai o'n gwelliannau heddiw a gwneud sylwadau arnynt. Diolch, Lywydd.
Let me begin by saying that, in recent months and, indeed, in recent years, I've seen the NHS at its very best and its very worst. I've seen the individual stories where I, like others, have had to contact the hospital, contact the health board, contact social services and say, 'Can you help?', because the delays we've had have been so severe. And I've had good responses, I have to say, as well, from Cwm Taf and from my local authorities in doing that. I've seen it at its most strained, and heard some of the stories that we've heard in the Senedd, but I've got to say that I have seen it at its very best as well. I've had constituents say to me, in light of everything that they hear every single day on the national media, UK-wide media, as well as within Wales and what they hear within this Chamber, 'My treatment was superb; my treatment was fast; I was seen fast; I went through A&E fast; I went through the emergency services fast; I came out the other end, and I've been transported back home with care and repair.' And sometimes—. I guess my request would be that we see the balance in this. Because—. And this isn't to do with talking up or talking down. There's a hard reality behind the challenges that the NHS and care is facing, but it's getting the balance right. Because there are—I was just about to swear—there are miracles being performed every day.
I'm currently receiving treatment myself, have been for years, actually, but the treatment I'm receiving at the moment is for something that's come up at the last—. Unexpected, as it happens to many people when they turn 60 or whatever. I've had amazing treatment. I haven't experienced those long delays. And it isn't because, as somebody will say, 'Well, you're an MS, your name goes up the list.' It isn't that. The NHS treats me like any other citizen and it's seen me and it's seen me promptly and it's getting me through the system as fast as it possibly can, and I'm having the best of service, and I do think we need to reflect that in the debates that we have and the conversations we have with constituents. Because, when I have constituents coming to me, I don't hide from them the challenges that we have. They are real challenges and they're worse at the moment. And it's not simply because of the pandemic, but that had a major effect, it's because of the sheer expectations that we have now of the NHS, the treatments that we have available, the demands on the NHS. So, for every £1 billion extra we throw into it, there's more than £1 billion more demand coming on it. We have to be real about this, and I think the Minister's been right recently as well in saying that means we have a responsibility to drive efficiency through the system, to demand of our NHS managers, to demand of our social care providers, that they work together well and deliver efficiently as well. And there is also an expectation on me, as a plus-60-year-old who's in relatively good health, to actually look after my health as best I can so that I don't put the load on my wife when she's working in A&E, so that I don't have to wash up there, I can normally, actually, look after myself and keep myself going as long as I possibly can.
Now, those are the demands, those are the realities of the situation we're working with. So, my simple appeal to everybody within this situation is not to hide from the hard reality that is out there at the moment, but also to reflect the fact that there are miracles being done every single day, and I include that with my family members who work on the front line, both in health and social care.
But what I want to ask the Minister today is for a progress update, I have to say, particularly around the issue that's been touched on by Mabon already, which is waiting times. There are many issues we can look at within the NHS and within care; waiting times is not just a NHS issue, it is a whole-system issue. But the fact—. And I'm not simply talking here about the flows through A&E and through into the right ward and through to the right treatment and out there, but those wider issues of waiting times.
I've reflected in this Chamber before that, amongst the tough situation we're seeing, we are seeing some exemplary work going on within Cwm Taf. So, within the Princess of Wales Hospital, we have some superb work going on there with specialists who are really doing those day treatments at a rate and discharging people safely, with care wrapped around them, so they don't have to stay in hospital. We're seeing it elsewhere, in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital as well. So, I guess my question is: how do we expedite that so that becomes the norm and that we do that not simply when we're faced with the challenges we now have, but that becomes the normal for now and forward within the NHS? How effective have the interventions—not just the money that's being put into the NHS, but some of those innovations in different parts of Wales—been? We can see that there is a dip now within the long-term waiting times, but we've still got a large cohort of people who are in those not-so-long waiting times that are filling up. Well, is what we're doing sufficient to actually turn that around? Because, for many of my constituents, one of their prime indicators is what is happening on waiting times. Because that's when they need their hip or their cataract or whatever else it is—they need to get in promptly, so that their quality of life can be restored.
But I don't think this is a criticism of one Government or another. I think what it is is that we have to reflect the reality of the incredible demands on the system that Nye Bevan and others set up in those post-war days that was never expecting to be dealing with this, but it is now. So, what progress, Minister, are we making, slowly, in turning this around and getting on top of it? Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Gadewch imi ddechrau drwy ddweud, yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf ac yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf yn wir, fy mod wedi gweld y GIG ar ei orau a'i waethaf. Rwyf wedi gweld y straeon unigol lle bu'n rhaid i mi, fel eraill, gysylltu â'r ysbyty, cysylltu â'r bwrdd iechyd, cysylltu â'r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a dweud, 'A allwch chi helpu?', oherwydd mae'r oedi a welsom wedi bod mor ddifrifol. Ac rwyf wedi cael ymatebion da, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud hefyd, gan Gwm Taf a chan fy awdurdodau lleol wrth wneud hynny. Rwyf wedi ei weld pan fo'r pwysau mwyaf arno, ac wedi clywed rhai o'r straeon a glywsom yn y Senedd, ond mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod wedi ei weld ar ei orau hefyd. Yng ngoleuni popeth a glywant bob dydd ar y cyfryngau cenedlaethol, cyfryngau ledled y DU yn ogystal ag yng Nghymru a'r hyn y maent yn ei glywed yn y Siambr hon, rwyf wedi cael etholwyr yn dweud wrthyf 'Roedd fy nhriniaeth yn wych; roedd fy nhriniaeth yn gyflym;cefais fy ngweld yn gyflym; euthum drwy'r adran ddamweiniau ac achosion brys yn gyflym; euthum drwy'r gwasanaethau brys yn gyflym; fe ddeuthum allan yn y pen arall, a chefais fy nghludo yn ôl adref gyda gofal.' Ac weithiau—. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn yr hoffwn ei ofyn yw ein bod yn gweld y cydbwysedd yn hyn. Oherwydd—. Ac nid yw hyn yn ymwneud â chanmol neu ddifrïo. Mae yna realiti caled y tu ôl i'r heriau y mae'r GIG a gofal yn eu hwynebu, ond mae'n fater o gael y cydbwysedd yn iawn. Oherwydd mae gwyrthiau'n cael eu cyflawni bob dydd.
Rwy'n cael triniaeth fy hun ar hyn o bryd, wedi bod ers blynyddoedd mewn gwirionedd, ond mae'r driniaeth rwy'n ei chael ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer rhywbeth sydd wedi codi—. Yn annisgwyl, fel y mae'n digwydd i lawer o bobl pan fyddant yn troi'n 60 neu beth bynnag. Rwyf wedi cael triniaeth anhygoel. Nid wyf wedi profi'r oedi hir. Ac nid oherwydd, fel y bydd rhywun yn dweud, 'Wel, rydych chi'n Aelod o'r Senedd, mae eich enw'n codi i fyny'r rhestr.' Nid yw hynny'n wir. Mae'r GIG yn fy nhrin i fel unrhyw ddinesydd arall ac mae wedi fy ngweld i ac mae wedi fy ngweld i'n brydlon ac mae'n fy nerbyn i drwy'r system mor gyflym ag y gall, ac rwy'n cael y gwasanaeth gorau, ac rwy'n credu bod angen inni adlewyrchu hynny yn y dadleuon a gawn a'r sgyrsiau a gawn gydag etholwyr. Oherwydd, pan fydd gennyf etholwyr yn dod ataf, nid wyf yn cuddio'r heriau sydd gennym rhagddynt. Maent yn heriau go iawn ac maent yn waeth ar hyn o bryd. Ac nid yn unig oherwydd y pandemig, er i hynny gael effaith fawr, ond oherwydd y disgwyliadau sydd gennym nawr o'r GIG, y triniaethau sydd gennym ar gael, y galwadau ar y GIG. Felly, am bob £1 biliwn ychwanegol a daflwn ato, mae mwy na £1 biliwn yn fwy o alw yn dod arno. Mae'n rhaid inni fod yn realistig am hyn, a chredaf fod y Gweinidog wedi bod yn iawn yn ddiweddar hefyd i ddweud bod hynny'n golygu bod gennym gyfrifoldeb i yrru effeithlonrwydd drwy'r system, i fynnu bod ein rheolwyr GIG, i fynnu bod ein darparwyr gofal cymdeithasol, yn cydweithio'n dda ac yn cyflawni'n effeithlon hefyd. Ac mae disgwyliadau arnaf i hefyd, fel dyn dros 60 oed sydd mewn iechyd cymharol dda, i edrych ar ôl fy iechyd cystal ag y gallaf, fel nad wyf yn rhoi'r baich ar fy ngwraig pan fydd hi'n gweithio yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys, fel nad oes rhaid imi gyrraedd yno, ac fel arfer, mewn gwirionedd, gallaf ofalu amdanaf fy hun a chadw fy hun i fynd cyn hired ag y gallaf.
Nawr, dyna'r galwadau, dyna realiti'r sefyllfa yr ydym yn gweithio gyda hi. Felly, fy apêl syml i bawb yn y sefyllfa hon yw peidio â chuddio rhag y realiti caled sydd yno ar hyn o bryd, ond hefyd i adlewyrchu'r ffaith bod gwyrthiau'n cael eu gwneud bob dydd, ac rwy'n cynnwys yn hynny aelodau fy nheulu sy'n gweithio ar y rheng flaen, ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.
Ond yr hyn rwyf am ofyn amdano i'r Gweinidog heddiw yw diweddariad ar gynnydd, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yn enwedig ar y mater y mae Mabon eisoes wedi cyffwrdd ag ef, sef amseroedd aros. Mae llawer o faterion y gallwn edrych arnynt yn y GIG ac o fewn gofal; nid mater GIG yn unig yw amseroedd aros, mae'n fater system gyfan. Ond y ffaith—. Ac nid wyf yn siarad yn unig am y llif drwy adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys a drwodd i'r ward gywir a thrwy'r driniaeth gywir ac allan, ond am y materion ehangach sy'n gysylltiedig ag amseroedd aros.
Rwyf wedi sôn yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen, ynghanol y sefyllfa anodd a welwn, ein bod yn gweld gwaith rhagorol yn digwydd yng Nghwm Taf. Felly, yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru, mae gennym waith gwych yn digwydd yno gydag arbenigwyr sy'n gwneud y triniaethau dydd hynny'n gyflym ac yn rhyddhau pobl yn ddiogel, gyda gofal cofleidiol, fel nad oes rhaid iddynt aros yn yr ysbyty. Rydym yn ei weld mewn mannau eraill, yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg hefyd. Felly, mae'n debyg mai fy nghwestiwn i yw: sut mae cyflymu hynny fel ei fod yn dod yn norm a'n bod ni'n gwneud hynny nid yn unig pan fyddwn yn wynebu'r heriau sydd gennym nawr, ond bod hynny'n dod yn normal nawr ac yn y dyfodol o fewn y GIG? Pa mor effeithiol y mae'r ymyriadau—nid yn unig yr arian sy'n cael ei roi i'r GIG, ond rhai o'r datblygiadau arloesol mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru—wedi bod? Gallwn weld bod gostyngiad nawr yn yr amseroedd aros hirdymor, ond mae gennym garfan fawr o bobl o hyd sydd yn yr amseroedd aros nad ydynt mor hir. Wel, a yw'r hyn a wnawn yn ddigonol i newid hynny? Oherwydd, i lawer o fy etholwyr, un o'u prif ddangosyddion yw'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar amseroedd aros. Oherwydd dyna pryd maent angen eu clun neu eu cataract neu beth bynnag arall—mae angen iddynt fynd i mewn yn brydlon, fel bod modd adfer eu hansawdd bywyd.
Ond nid wyf yn credu bod hon yn feirniadaeth o un Llywodraeth neu'r llall. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni adlewyrchu realiti'r galwadau anhygoel ar y system a sefydlwyd gan Nye Bevan ac eraill yn y dyddiau wedi'r rhyfel nad oedd byth yn disgwyl y byddai'n ymdrin â hyn, ond mae'n ei wynebu nawr. Felly, Weinidog, pa gynnydd rydym yn ei wneud yn araf bach i newid hyn a mynd i'r afael ag ef? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Huw Irranca-Davies is, of course, correct in saying that miracles are being performed daily by the NHS, but this is against all odds, because we can't shy away from the fact that, for many people, there is a health emergency. They are not receiving the care that they need and deserve in a timely manner. And this isn't an overstatement, or, as Mabon said, it's not a headline-grabbing statement in our motion. It's what constituents are telling us, but also it's what NHS workers tell us directly when we've joined them on picket lines or visited NHS settings. We'll all know that casework relating to health is heartbreaking, and often involves bereft families who are left fighting for answers after losing a loved one prematurely because of a long myriad of different reasons. But we also have as casework people working in the NHS coming to us to outline just how impossible their workload is and the conditions in which they are working, and the toll this is having on their own health and well-being. Seeing NHS workers broken surely suggests that the NHS itself is at breaking point. That's why retention and recruitment is proving so difficult. It's why, when we join junior doctors on picket lines, they tell us that Australia is sounding so appealing when they hear from others who have taken that big leap.
The statement that there is a health emergency should not detract in any way from the heroic and, frankly, miraculous work taking place each day. All of that needs to be celebrated. As the health Minister frequently reminds us, every month there are 2 million contacts with the NHS, but what I would like to know is: how many people does that equate to each month? That is, how many of those 2 million contacts are related to the same person? Because what patients and staff are telling me is that people are deteriorating whilst waiting to be seen, or waiting for treatment—sometimes for years—and that then, as they continue to worsen, they then need to be seen, or their condition needs to be discussed on the phone, multiple times a week by a GP, or, of course, they end up in A&E. This only adds to the strain felt within the NHS, and also means that patients die without ever receiving a diagnosis, or receive a diagnosis so late in the day that it's too late for them to receive treatment. This is not only heartbreaking for their families, but also the NHS staff, often GPs who've seen these patients decline over time without the treatment or care that they need. All they can offer them are medicines to manage pain and to keep increasing those doses.
Another issue of concern is the shortages that we've seen with medicines. I know I've raised previously with the Minister urgent casework, with examples of patients who would die without access to the medicines they need, but also, for example, at present there is a shortage of a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in my region. A constituent had to contact 14 pharmacies before being able to find any. Luckily, he was able to drive, and there were some still available when he arrived from Treorchy to Aberdare, but he would have had to go without otherwise, which would have then impacted his ability to work. And this is something other constituents have raised with me, and something that has a major impact on them, if they're unable to access the prescription they need. On top of this, these medicines, specifically with ADHD, can only be prescribed by psychiatrists rather than GPs. It's incredibly difficult to secure an appointment with a psychiatrist, and, in one example, a patient hasn't had a follow-up appointment or a review of his medicine in two and a half years, despite multiple requests. We are leaving people vulnerable in our communities because of a failure to follow up in a timely manner.
As I said at the beginning, there is a health emergency. We need to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, and the experiences and comments of staff and patients, to get to grips with the NHS. I believe in the NHS. I hope all Members here also do. I'm sure that you do. But we need to act in a way that proves that we believe in the NHS. That means believing in staff, believing in what patients tell us, and declaring a health emergency but also finding solutions.
Mae Huw Irranca-Davies, wrth gwrs, yn gywir pan ddywed fod gwyrthiau'n cael eu cyflawni'n ddyddiol gan y GIG, ond mae hyn yn erbyn pob disgwyl, oherwydd ni allwn osgoi'r ffaith, i lawer o bobl, ei bod yn argyfwng iechyd. Nid ydynt yn cael y gofal sydd ei angen arnynt ac y maent yn ei haeddu mewn modd amserol. Ac nid gor-ddweud yw hyn, neu, fel y dywedodd Mabon, nid yw'n ddatganiad i fachu penawdau yn ein cynnig. Dyma mae etholwyr yn ei ddweud wrthym, ond hefyd dyma mae gweithwyr y GIG yn ei ddweud wrthym yn uniongyrchol pan fyddwn yn ymuno â nhw ar linellau piced neu wrth ymweld â lleoliadau'r GIG. Rydym i gyd yn gwybod bod gwaith achos sy'n ymwneud ag iechyd yn dorcalonnus, ac yn aml yn ymdrin â theuluoedd sy'n cael eu gadael yn brwydro am atebion ar ôl colli rhywun annwyl yn gynamserol am fyrdd o wahanol resymau. Ond mewn gwaith achos, mae gennym hefyd bobl sy'n gweithio yn y GIG yn dod atom i ddisgrifio pa mor amhosibl yw eu llwyth gwaith a'r amodau y maent yn gweithio oddi tanynt, a'r effaith y mae hyn yn ei chael ar eu hiechyd a'u lles eu hunain. Mae gweld gweithwyr y GIG wedi torri yn sicr yn awgrymu bod y GIG ei hun ar fin torri. Dyna pam mae cadw a recriwtio mor anodd. Dyna pam, pan fyddwn yn ymuno â nhw ar linellau piced, fod meddygon iau'n dweud wrthym fod Awstralia'n swnio mor apelgar pan fyddant yn clywed gan eraill sydd wedi gwneud y naid fawr honno.
Ni ddylai'r datganiad ei bod yn argyfwng iechyd leihau mewn unrhyw ffordd y gwaith arwrol, a gwyrthiol a dweud y gwir, sy'n digwydd bob dydd. Mae angen dathlu hynny i gyd. Fel y mae'r Gweinidog iechyd yn ein hatgoffa'n aml, bob mis ceir 2 filiwn o gysylltiadau â'r GIG, ond yr hyn yr hoffwn ei wybod yw: faint o bobl y mae hynny'n ei olygu bob mis? Hynny yw, faint o'r 2 filiwn o gysylltiadau hynny sy'n ymwneud â'r un unigolion? Oherwydd yr hyn y mae cleifion a staff yn ei ddweud wrthyf yw bod pobl yn dirywio wrth aros i gael eu gweld, neu wrth aros am driniaeth—weithiau am flynyddoedd—ac yna, wrth iddynt barhau i waethygu, maent angen cael eu gweld, neu mae angen trafod eu cyflwr ar y ffôn, sawl gwaith yr wythnos gyda meddyg teulu, neu wrth gwrs, maent yn mynd i adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys yn y pen draw. Mae hyn yn ychwanegu at y straen a deimlir o fewn y GIG, ac mae hefyd yn golygu bod cleifion yn marw heb erioed gael diagnosis, neu'n cael diagnosis mor hwyr fel ei bod yn rhy hwyr iddynt gael triniaeth. Mae hyn nid yn unig yn dorcalonnus i'w teuluoedd, ond hefyd i staff y GIG, meddygon teulu yn aml, sydd wedi gweld y cleifion hyn yn dirywio dros amser heb y driniaeth neu'r gofal sydd ei angen arnynt. Y cyfan y gallant ei gynnig yw meddyginiaethau i reoli poen a pharhau i gynyddu'r dosau hynny.
Mater arall sy'n peri pryder yw'r prinder meddyginiaethau a welsom. Rwy'n gwybod fy mod wedi tynnu sylw'r Gweinidog o'r blaen at waith achos pwysig, gydag enghreifftiau o gleifion a fyddai'n marw heb fynediad at y meddyginiaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt, ond hefyd, er enghraifft, ar hyn o bryd, mae yna brinder cyffur a ddefnyddir i drin anhwylder diffyg canolbwyntio a gorfywiogrwydd (ADHD) yn fy rhanbarth. Bu'n rhaid i etholwr gysylltu â 14 fferyllfa cyn gallu dod o hyd i'r cyffur. Yn ffodus, llwyddodd i yrru yno, ac roedd rhai tabledi ar gael o hyd pan gyrhaeddodd o Dreorci i Aberdâr, ond byddai wedi gorfod mynd hebddo fel arall, a byddai hynny wedyn wedi effeithio ar ei allu i weithio. Ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae etholwyr eraill wedi'i godi gyda mi, ac yn rhywbeth sy'n cael effaith fawr arnynt, os nad ydynt yn gallu cael gafael ar y presgripsiwn sydd ei angen arnynt. Ar ben hynny, dim ond seiciatryddion, nid meddygon teulu, sy'n cael rhoi'r meddyginiaethau hyn ar bresgripsiwn, yn enwedig gydag ADHD. Mae'n anhygoel o anodd sicrhau apwyntiad gyda seiciatrydd, ac mewn un enghraifft, mae claf heb gael apwyntiad dilynol nac adolygiad o'i feddyginiaeth mewn dwy flynedd a hanner, er gwaethaf sawl cais. Rydym yn gadael pobl yn agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau oherwydd methiant i ddarparu apwyntiadau dilynol mewn modd amserol.
Fel y dywedais ar y dechrau, mae'n argyfwng iechyd. Mae angen inni gydnabod difrifoldeb y sefyllfa, a phrofiadau a sylwadau staff a chleifion, er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r GIG. Rwy'n credu yn y GIG. Rwy'n gobeithio bod yr holl Aelodau yma yn credu ynddo hefyd. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod. Ond mae angen inni weithredu mewn ffordd sy'n profi ein bod yn credu yn y GIG. Mae hynny'n golygu credu yn y staff, credu yn yr hyn y mae cleifion yn ei ddweud wrthym, a datgan argyfwng iechyd, yn ogystal â dod o hyd i atebion.
I can't speak as a clinician here, because so much is going wrong in our NHS. So, let me start. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate this afternoon. Despite assurances from the First Minister, our NHS is not in safe hands. Health outcomes for constituents have worsened in the quarter of a century Labour has been in charge of it. This debate is taking place this afternoon to mark the anniversary of the Welsh Government setting out its priorities for the NHS. All that has happened in the intervening 12 months is more misery for patients and medical staff in the health services. You have a 50:50 chance of an ambulance arriving on time and, from recent media reports, it seems that you're not always guaranteed one will show up on the same day. Just over half of cancer patients start definitive treatment within the 62-days target. That is if they can get to see a GP in order to start the clock in the first place. And that GP should be able to diagnose that and also should have those tools to diagnose that cancer, which he doesn't have.
One of the biggest complaints we receive as Senedd Members is about access to GPs. Over the last 10 years we have seen a 93,000 increase in primary care patients, but, at the same time, we have had a loss of 84 GP surgeries, or a fifth fewer GPs. General practice now only accounts for around 7 per cent—just 7 per cent—of NHS funding, despite accounting for the vast majority of people's interactions with the NHS. When I challenged the First Minister on the decline in GP numbers, he told me
'on every single measure, numbers are growing, not falling, and certainly do not bear out any suggestion that people are somehow leaving the service in droves.'
But the facts are the facts. We now have only 1,429.6 full-time-equivalent GPs practicing in Wales, a massive decrease over the past decade.
Without a clear plan, general practice is facing potentially insurmountable problems. Our population is not only growing, but is also ageing. If we can't accommodate the health needs of our current population, then what hope do we have of addressing future demands? Patients are already unable to get a routine doctor appointment. We need to reverse the decline in GP numbers if we are to save our surgeries and guarantee patients access. To do that, we need a clear plan from the Welsh Government, but the first step in addressing a problem is admitting that you have a problem in the first place. All the First Minister wants to do is deny the fact and then point any blame at the UK Government.
We have heard time and time again that Wales spends more per head on health than England, so, clearly, money is not the issue. The UK Government does not run the Welsh health service, so exactly how is it they are to blame for its dire state in Wales? It is not the UK Government who are at fault—it is the Welsh Government, a Welsh Government without a plan. It is all well and good having priorities, but these past 12 months have shown they are meaningless without a proper workforce strategy. Our NHS does not exist without its staff, and no amount of bureaucracy can replace the clinicians who should be in charge. Diolch yn fawr.
Ni allaf siarad fel clinigydd yma, oherwydd mae cymaint yn mynd o'i le yn ein GIG. Felly, gadewch imi ddechrau. Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i gyfrannu at y ddadl bwysig hon y prynhawn yma. Er gwaethaf sicrwydd gan y Prif Weinidog, nid yw ein GIG mewn dwylo diogel. Mae canlyniadau iechyd etholwyr wedi gwaethygu yn y chwarter canrif y bu Llafur yn gyfrifol amdano. Mae'r ddadl hon yn digwydd y prynhawn yma i nodi blwyddyn ers i Lywodraeth Cymru amlinellu ei blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y GIG. Y cyfan sydd wedi digwydd yn y 12 mis yn y cyfamser yw mwy o ofid i gleifion a staff meddygol yn y gwasanaethau iechyd. Mae gennych obaith 50:50 y bydd ambiwlans yn cyrraedd ar amser, ac o adroddiadau diweddar yn y cyfryngau, mae'n ymddangos na allwch fod yn siŵr bob amser y bydd un yn cyrraedd ar yr un diwrnod. Ychydig dros hanner y cleifion canser sy'n dechrau triniaeth ddiffiniol o fewn y targed 62 diwrnod. Hynny yw os llwyddant i weld meddyg teulu er mwyn dechrau'r cloc yn y lle cyntaf. A hynny os gall y meddyg teulu wneud diagnosis ohono a bod ganddynt offer i wneud diagnosis o'r canser hwnnw, ac ni fydd ganddynt offer o'r fath.
Mae un o'r cwynion mwyaf a gawn fel Aelodau o'r Senedd yn ymwneud â mynediad at feddygon teulu. Dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf rydym wedi gweld cynnydd o 93,000 yn niferoedd cleifion gofal sylfaenol, ond ar yr un pryd, rydym wedi colli 84 meddygfa, neu un rhan o bump yn llai o feddygon teulu. Erbyn hyn dim ond tua 7 y cant o gyllid y GIG sy'n mynd at ymarfer cyffredinol—7 y cant yn unig—er mai dyna yw mwyafrif helaeth y cysylltiadau y bydd pobl yn eu cael â'r GIG. Pan heriais y Prif Weinidog ynghylch y gostyngiad yn nifer y meddygon teulu, dywedodd wrthyf
'ar bob un mesur, mae'r niferoedd yn tyfu, nid yn gostwng, ac yn sicr nid ydynt yn cadarnhau unrhyw awgrym bod pobl rywsut yn gadael y gwasanaeth yn eu dwsinau.'
Ond y ffeithiau yw'r ffeithiau. Erbyn hyn dim ond 1,429.6 o feddygon teulu cyfwerth ag amser llawn sydd gennym yn gweithio yng Nghymru, gostyngiad enfawr dros y degawd diwethaf.
Heb gynllun clir, mae ymarfer cyffredinol yn wynebu problemau a allai fod yn anorchfygol. Mae ein poblogaeth nid yn unig yn tyfu, ond hefyd yn heneiddio. Os na allwn ddiwallu anghenion iechyd ein poblogaeth bresennol, pa obaith sydd gennym o fynd i'r afael â gofynion y dyfodol? Eisoes, nid yw cleifion yn gallu cael apwyntiad arferol gyda meddyg. Mae angen inni wyrdroi'r gostyngiad yn niferoedd y meddygon teulu os ydym am achub ein meddygfeydd a gwarantu mynediad i gleifion. I wneud hynny, mae angen cynllun clir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ond y cam cyntaf wrth fynd i'r afael â phroblem yw cyfaddef bod gennych broblem yn y lle cyntaf. Y cyfan y mae'r Prif Weinidog am ei wneud yw gwadu'r ffaith a beio Llywodraeth y DU am bopeth.
Clywsom dro ar ôl tro fod Cymru'n gwario mwy y pen ar iechyd na Lloegr, felly mae'n amlwg nad arian yw'r broblem. Nid Llywodraeth y DU sy'n rhedeg gwasanaeth iechyd Cymru, felly sut yn union y maent hwy i'w beio am ei gyflwr enbyd yng Nghymru? Nid Llywodraeth y DU sydd ar fai—Llywodraeth Cymru sydd ar fai, Llywodraeth Cymru heb gynllun. Un peth yw cael blaenoriaethau, ond mae'r 12 mis diwethaf wedi dangos eu bod yn ddiystyr heb strategaeth briodol ar gyfer y gweithlu. Nid yw ein GIG yn bodoli heb ei staff, ac ni all unrhyw fesur o fiwrocratiaeth gymryd lle'r clinigwyr a ddylai fod wrth y llyw. Diolch yn fawr.
Dwi jest eisiau ymateb i ddechrau i gyfraniad pwysig Huw Irranca ar y dechrau, a dweud y gwir, ac yn cytuno â llawer iawn o'r hyn roedd e'n ei ddweud. Mae bob un ohonom ni, naill ai ar lefel bersonol, neu'n adnabod rhywun o'r teulu sydd wedi cael triniaeth ardderchog gan y gwasanaeth iechyd, ac rŷn ni'n hynod o ddiolchgar ein bod ni yma, efallai, oherwydd y gofal arbennig yna. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod y realiti hefyd fod yna heriau mawr iawn, iawn yn wynebu'r gwasanaeth iechyd, ac oni bai ein bod ni'n tynnu sylw at hyn—. Ac mae'r Gweinidog, wrth gwrs, yn ymwybodol iawn o beth yw’r heriau, ond mae'n bwysig efallai ein bod ni'n cael y sgwrs er mwyn symud pethau ymlaen a dod i ddeall beth yw'r ffordd y gallwn ni ddatrys rhai o'r heriau yma.
Dwi jest eisiau sôn yn fyr iawn, os caf i, am sefyllfa bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda, sef y bwrdd iechyd sydd yn yr ardal lle dwi'n byw ac yn ei gynrychioli. Mae'r problemau sydd yn wynebu'r bwrdd iechyd arbennig yna yn cael eu hamlygu mewn sawl ffordd. Gallwn i fod yn treulio diwrnod cyfan yn sôn am nifer ohonyn nhw. Dwi eisiau canolbwyntio ar dair agwedd yn benodol, sef y gwasanaethau optometrig, y sefyllfa meddygon teulu, a deintyddiaeth. Fel y gwyddoch chi, un o flaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth nôl ym mis Chwefror llynedd oedd sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau hyn ar gael i bobl mewn ffordd hwylus a di-rwystr, ond, ym mwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda, mae'r sefyllfa ym mhob un o'r gwasanaethau arbennig yma wedi gwaethygu dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
Gadewch i ni ddechrau gyda gwasanaethau optometrig. Yn ôl yr ystadegau mwyaf diweddar, dim ond 44 y cant o gleifion sy'n dioddef o risg ffactor iechyd R1, sef y lefel risg uchaf o ddallineb, gafodd apwyntiad o fewn yr amser targed roedd Hywel Dda wedi'i osod. Wrth gwrs, y stori oedd bod yna ddiffyg gweithlu, ac, yn wir, mae hyn yn bendifaddau yn broblem achos mae nifer yr optometryddion sy'n gweithio yn Hywel Dda wedi gostwng o 636 i 595 er mis Mehefin 2021, felly mae cael gweithlu yn y maes arbennig yma'n her. Mae'r RNIB yn amcangyfrif y bydd nifer y bobl yng Nghymru sy'n byw gyda cholled golwg yn dyblu erbyn 2050, felly heb ddiwygio brys yn y sector hwn byddwn yn wynebu
I just want to respond, initially, to the important contribution made by Huw Irranca at the outset, and I agree with a lot of what he said. All of us, either on a personal level, or we know someone or a family member who have had excellent treatment from the NHS, and we're very grateful that we are here, perhaps, because of that very special care. But, of course, we have to recognise the reality as well that there are major challenges facing the NHS, and unless we draw attention to this—. And the Minister, of course, is very aware of those challenges, but it's important that we do have the conversation in order to move things forward and come to an understanding on how we can resolve some of those challenges.
I just want to talk very briefly about the situation of Hywel Dda health board, namely the health board that covers the area that I represent and where I live. The problems facing that health board are evidenced in many ways. I could spend an entire day talking about many of them, but I want to talk about three aspects in particular, namely the optometry services, GP services, and dentistry. As you know, one of the Government's priorities back in February last year was to ensure that those services were available to people in an unfettered way, but, in Hywel Dda health board, the situation in each of these services has deteriorated over recent times.
Let us start with optometry services. According to the recent statistics, only 44 per cent of patients suffering from health risk factor R1, the highest risk level in relation to blindness, had an appointment within the target time that Hywel Dda had set. Of course, the story was that there was a workforce shortage, and, indeed, that is certainly a problem because the number of optometrists working in Hywel Dda has fallen from 636 to 595 since June 2021, so getting staff in this particular area is a challenge. The RNIB estimates that the number of people in Wales living with sight loss will double by 2050. So, without urgent reform in this sector, we will face
'a tidal wave of blindness',
'ton enfawr o ddallineb',
sef geiriau Gwyn Williams, llywydd y Royal College of Opthamologists.
Ac i droi at wasanaethau ymarferol, mae ymgyrch Save our Surgeries wedi amlygu'r effaith y mae blynyddoedd o danfuddsoddi wedi'i chael ar y sector hwn, sef dirywiad o 21.7 y cant yn lefelau GPs llawn amser. Felly, rŷn ni'n nesáu at sefyllfa ble fydd yna ardaloedd cyfan—ardaloedd gwledig yn arbennig—heb feddygfeydd, yn rhyw fath o ddiffeithwch meddygol ar draws Cymru. Mae prif weithredwr Hywel Dda eisoes wedi cyfaddef y bydd angen i drigolion deithio ymhellach i gael gofal.
Ac ers datganiad y Gweinidog ym mis Chwefror 2023, mae nifer y meddygon teulu sy'n cael eu cyflogi gan Hywel Dda wedi gostwng ymhellach. Dwi'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ateb cwestiwn gen i'n gynharach y prynhawn yma am feddygfeydd a'r gwaith o dargedu a recriwtio meddygon mewn ardaloedd gwledig, a chydnabod y cynllun sydd ar waith, ac yn falch bod yna lwyddiant wedi bod, ond mae angen, wrth gwrs, i ni fynd ymhellach i liniaru'r ansicrwydd mae cymunedau gwledig yn ei deimlo ar hyn o bryd. Fel mae Mabon eisoes wedi sôn, y canlyniad amlwg o'r diffyg buddsoddiad mewn gofal cynradd yw cynyddu'r pwysau ar wasanaethau rheng flaen, gyda'r gost aruthrol sydd yn deillio o hyn.
Felly, i gloi, dwi jest eisiau cyffwrdd yn sydyn iawn gyda deintyddiaeth. Unwaith eto, mae'r broblem yn enwedig o amlwg yn ardal Hywel Dda: dim ond 34 y cant o bobl sydd wedi cofrestru gyda gwasanaethau deintyddol NHS sydd wedi llwyddo i gael triniaeth dros y 24 mis diwethaf, a'r gweithlu NHS sydd wedi crebachu'n sylweddol dros y blynyddoedd yw'r prif reswm am hyn. Felly, yn anffodus, mae'n glir nad yw cynlluniau'r Llywodraeth wedi gwella'r sefyllfa druenus sy'n wynebu'r sector iechyd yn fy rhanbarth i, ond y pwynt dwi am wneud yw bod angen i ni gydweithio er mwyn sicrhau bod yna atebion i'w cael er lles ein pobl ni. Diolch yn fawr.
which were the words of Gwyn Williams, president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
Turning now to GP services, the Save our Surgeries campaign has highlighted the impact that years of underinvestment has had on the sector, namely a 21.7 per cent decline in full-time GP levels. So, we are approaching a situation where there will be entire areas, particularly in rural areas, without GP surgeries, some kinds of surgery desert across Wales. The chief executive of Hywel Dda has already admitted that residents will need to travel further to receive care.
Since the statement by the Minister in February 2023, the number of GPs employed by Hywel Dda has decreased further. I'm very grateful to the Minister for answering a question from me earlier this afternoon about surgeries and the work of targeting and recruiting GPs in rural areas, and I recognise the plan in place, and I'm pleased that there has been some success, but, of course, we need to go further to mitigate the uncertainty that rural communities do feel as present. As Mabon has already mentioned, the obvious result of this lack of investment in primary care is increasing the pressure on front-line services, and the extreme costs that stem from this.
So, to close, I just want to touch on dentistry. Once again, the problem is particularly evident in Hywel Dda, where only 34 per cent of people who have registered with NHS dental services have managed to obtain treatment in the last 24 months, and it's the fact that the NHS workforce has shrunk considerably over the last few years that is the main reason for that. Therefore, unfortunately, it's clear that the Government's plans have not improved the deplorable situation facing the health sector in my region, but the point I want to make is that we all need to collaborate in order to ensure that there are solutions available for the benefit of our people. Thank you very much.
I'd like to follow up from what Cefin Campbell has said, in that we can all work together here in order to look at solutions and ways forward. I, like Cefin, want to concentrate my contribution on rural communities, which continue to face significant challenges in accessing primary healthcare services.
In the earlier question session today with the health Minister, I was grateful for her response, as Cefin has also said, concerning my question around a GP rural premium. I heard from her about a scheme that offered £20,000 to GPs whose first general practice post was within a specific target areas in the three health boards of Hywel Dda, Betsi Cadwaladr and Powys. I've found out since that the scheme has been running since 2017. But, despite this scheme running for seven years, and only in specific towns and areas within the three health boards, there are still serious challenges in recruiting GPs to rural surgeries. So, recruitment and retention of GPs still remains a significant issue for our rural GP surgeries. A rural GP premium would help with recruitment and retention. And staying with the challenge of maintaining a GP workforce, this is offset by those leaving. Increasingly, GPs are continuing to say they've had enough. A survey, last year, from the Royal College of General Practitioners found that one in four did not expect to be in their current role in five years' time.
But a rural GP premium is not just for recruitment and retention of GPs; it is also for the recruitment and retention of those other roles and those other professionals who make our rural surgeries, and other surgeries, so important to our communities. A rural premium could also be for enhanced services that rural GPs provide that are essential to our areas and which cannot be accessed due to distance to secondary services, such as phlebotomy, and a rural premium would be to help with those additional transport challenges. So, I would ask the Minister again to reconsider the concept and idea of a rural GP premium.
And, as Cefin has said, we've got dentists in terms of challenges in our rural areas. I'm grateful to the Minister for her support to expand our NHS dentistry services, but it really is still not enough. In rural areas, and in urban areas, there are challenges. A shortage of dentists and a continued reduction in service provision has led many patients travelling miles to be able to access NHS dental services. Dentistry also has similar retirement challenges. Of the 1,389 dental practices undertaking NHS work in 2020-21, more than 14 per cent of those dentists were approaching retirement age, and that number rises to 20 per cent in rural areas.
Finally, primary care services are a source of comfort and reassurance for rural communities. We know that increased isolation itself carries health risks, especially for vulnerable older residents with reduced mobility and reduced income. The campaign to end loneliness has stated that lacking social connections can be more harmful than physical inactivity and obesity, and there is an increased risk of early mortality by 26 per cent.
Just to finish, I would welcome the Minister outlining her response to what more the Welsh Government will be doing to help our rural health services. And, again, I echo what Cefin has said, in that we all need to work together to achieve financial sustainability so that our GPs stay within our areas. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Hoffwn ddilyn yr hyn a ddywedodd Cefin Campbell, a dweud y gallwn i gyd weithio gyda'n gilydd yma er mwyn edrych ar atebion a ffyrdd ymlaen. Fel Cefin, rwyf am ganolbwyntio fy nghyfraniad ar gymunedau gwledig, sy'n parhau i wynebu heriau sylweddol wrth gael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal iechyd sylfaenol.
Yn y sesiwn gwestiynau gynharach heddiw gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd, roeddwn yn ddiolchgar am ei hymateb, fel y dywedodd Cefin hefyd, i fy nghwestiwn ynghylch premiwm gwledig i feddygon teulu. Clywais ganddi am gynllun a oedd yn cynnig £20,000 i feddygon teulu yr oedd eu swydd gyntaf fel meddyg teulu mewn ardaloedd targed penodol yn nhri bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda, Betsi Cadwaladr a Phowys. Darganfûm ers hynny fod y cynllun wedi bod yn weithredol ers 2017. Ond er bod y cynllun hwn wedi bod yn weithredol ers saith mlynedd, a dim ond mewn trefi ac ardaloedd penodol o fewn y tri bwrdd iechyd, ceir heriau difrifol o hyd wrth recriwtio meddygon teulu i feddygfeydd gwledig. Felly, mae recriwtio a chadw meddygon teulu yn dal i fod yn broblem sylweddol i'n meddygfeydd gwledig. Byddai premiwm gwledig i feddygon teulu yn helpu gyda recriwtio a chadw. A chan aros gyda'r her o gynnal gweithlu o feddygon teulu, caiff hyn ei wrthbwyso gan y rhai sy'n gadael. Yn gynyddol, mae meddygon teulu yn parhau i ddweud eu bod wedi cael digon. Canfu arolwg y llynedd gan Goleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol nad oedd un o bob pedwar yn disgwyl bod yn eu swydd bresennol ymhen pum mlynedd.
Ond nid ar gyfer recriwtio a chadw meddygon teulu yn unig y byddai premiwm gwledig i feddygon teulu'n gweithio; mae yno hefyd ar gyfer recriwtio a chadw'r swyddi eraill a'r gweithwyr proffesiynol eraill sy'n gwneud ein meddygfeydd gwledig, a meddygfeydd eraill, mor bwysig i'n cymunedau. Gallai premiwm gwledig fod ar gyfer gwasanaethau estynedig y mae meddygon teulu gwledig yn eu darparu sy'n hanfodol i'n hardaloedd ac na ellir eu cyrraedd oherwydd pellter i wasanaethau eilaidd, fel phlebotomi, a byddai premiwm gwledig yn helpu gyda'r heriau trafnidiaeth ychwanegol hynny. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog ailystyried y cysyniad a'r syniad o bremiwm gwledig i feddygon teulu.
Ac fel y dywedodd Cefin, mae gennym ddeintyddion yn rhan o'r her yn ein hardaloedd gwledig. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ei chefnogaeth i ehangu gwasanaethau deintyddiaeth y GIG, ond nid yw'n ddigon o hyd. Ceir heriau mewn ardaloedd gwledig ac mewn ardaloedd trefol. Mae prinder deintyddion a gostyngiad parhaus yn y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau wedi arwain at lawer o gleifion yn teithio milltiroedd i allu cael mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG. Mae gan ddeintyddiaeth heriau ymddeol tebyg hefyd. O'r 1,389 o bractisau deintyddol sy'n gwneud gwaith y GIG yn 2020-21, roedd mwy na 14 y cant o'r deintyddion hynny'n agosáu at oedran ymddeol, ac mae'r nifer yn codi i 20 y cant mewn ardaloedd gwledig.
Yn olaf, mae gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn ffynhonnell o gysur a sicrwydd i gymunedau gwledig. Rydym yn gwybod bod mwy o ynysigrwydd ynddo'i hun yn arwain at risgiau iechyd, yn enwedig i breswylwyr hŷn bregus gyda symudedd cyfyngedig a llai o incwm. Mae'r ymgyrch i roi diwedd ar unigrwydd wedi dweud y gall diffyg cysylltiadau cymdeithasol fod yn fwy niweidiol nag anweithgarwch corfforol a gordewdra, ac mae'r risg o farwolaeth gynnar 26 y cant yn uwch.
I orffen, buaswn yn falch pe bai'r Gweinidog yn amlinellu yn ei hymateb beth arall y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu ein gwasanaethau iechyd gwledig. Ac unwaith eto, rwy'n adleisio'r hyn y mae Cefin wedi'i ddweud, yn yr ystyr fod angen i bob un ohonom weithio gyda'n gilydd i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd ariannol fel bod ein meddygon teulu yn aros yn ein hardaloedd. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Mae'n debyg mai iechyd a Betsi Cadwaladr yw'r pwnc dwi wedi siarad mwyaf amdano fe yn y 12 mlynedd dwi wedi bod fan hyn yn y Siambr, ac mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn rhannol oherwydd bod y bwrdd wedi bod i mewn ac allan o fesurau arbennig ar fwy nag un achlysur, ac yn fwyaf diweddar nawr, wrth gwrs, flwyddyn yn ôl, sef mis Chwefror diwethaf, pan aeth y bwrdd yn ôl i mewn i fesurau arbennig. A dyw record y bwrdd, wrth gwrs, ddim yn un i ymhyfrydu ynddo fe, dwi'n ofni, ar sawl un o'r ystadegau pwysicaf, pan fyddwn ni'n edrych ar berfformiad. Yn Betsi rŷn ni'n gweld y rhestrau aros mwyaf yng Nghymru, gyda dros 175,000 o bobl yn disgwyl am driniaeth—ffigwr sydd wedi cynyddu ers i'r bwrdd gael ei roi mewn i fesurau arbennig. Yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rŷn ni hefyd wedi gweld amserau disgwyl hirach mewn unedau gofal brys. Rŷn ni wedi gweld gostyngiad o rhwng 4 ac 8 y cant yn nifer y cleifion sydd yn cyrraedd targedau pedwar, wyth a 12 awr yn y gwasanaeth iechyd hefyd.
Ym mis Mawrth y llynedd, roedd gwariant Betsi ar staff asiantaeth yn £72 miliwn. Mae hwnna'n swm anferthol, onid yw e—y mwyaf, wrth gwrs, o unrhyw fwrdd iechyd. Nawr, mae e'n amlygu y broblem rŷm ni i gyd yn gwybod sy'n bodoli, wrth gwrs, sef y broblem staffio hirdymor ddifrifol sydd yna o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Ond, rhwng mis Mawrth a Mehefin y llynedd, sef y pedwar mis cyntaf o fod mewn mesurau arbennig, dim ond dau ddoctor llawn amser ychwanegol oedd wedi ymuno â'r bwrdd. Ac mae nifer y gweithwyr deintyddol wedi gostwng i ddim ond 306 yn y chwe blynedd diwethaf hefyd.
Nawr, mae'r problemau staffio hirdymor yma, wrth gwrs, yn gosod straen anodd ar y staff sydd ar ôl—y rhai rŷm ni'n dibynnu arnyn nhw i redeg y gwasanaeth iechyd sydd gennym ni. Mae yna 500 o swyddi nyrsio gwag ym Metsi Cadwaladr, bwlch sydd nid yn unig, fel roeddwn i'n dweud, yn rhoi straen ar y staff sy'n gorfod llenwi'r bylchau hynny, ond hefyd, jest i'n hatgoffa ni, mae e yn dod â baich ariannol sylweddol yn ei sgil e i'r bwrdd ac, o ganlyniad, i'r trethdalwr. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, angen canolbwyntio yn ddidrugaredd ar recriwtio, ar hyfforddi a chadw staff, rhywbeth dwi'n gwybod mae'r Gweinidog yn ingol ymwybodol ohono fe, achos os na fydd hynny yn digwydd, yna does gen i ddim amheuaeth y gwelwn ni barhad yn y tueddiad yma o ddoctoriaid a nyrsys yn gadael Cymru i chwilio am amodau gweithio gwell.
Yn ogystal â phroblemau staffio a rhestrau aros hir, mae yna heriau eraill wedi codi yn gyson dros y blynyddoedd: materion yn ymwneud â'r gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, gwasanaethau vascular yn fater rŷm ni wedi codi'n gyson fan hyn yn y Siambr. Dwi'n cofio codi problemau C. difficile a hylendid ar wardiau, ac, wrth gwrs, y ffioedd aruthrol o uchel a oedd yn cael eu talu i ymgynghorwyr er mwyn trio cael nhw mas o'r twll maen nhw wedi bod ynddo fe am lawer rhy hir, nifer o'r rhain yn deillio'n uniongyrchol o fethiannau rheolaethol—hynny yw, camreoli gan y bwrdd—a hefyd diffyg trosolwg digonol gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Yn wreiddiol, fe gafodd y bwrdd ei roi o dan fesurau arbennig yn 2015 a hynny tan fis Tachwedd 2020, pan benderfynodd y Llywodraeth dynnu'r bwrdd allan o fesurau arbennig, penderfyniad y mae nifer erbyn hyn yn teimlo oedd yn gynamserol, oherwydd ychydig dros ddwy flynedd wedyn, beth ddigwyddodd? Roedd yn ôl o dan y lefel uchaf o uwchgyfeirio. Felly, ddylem ni ddim synnu bod yr holl amgylchiadau yma wedi arwain at sefyllfa lle mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd yng ngogledd Cymru, er gwaethaf, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed, holl ymdrechion arwrol y gweithwyr yna sydd yn y rheng flaen yn dal y gwasanaethau yna at ei gilydd, yn dal i wneud y penawdau am y rhesymau anghywir yn rhy aml o lawer.
Ond—ac mi fydd y Gweinidog yn falch i glywed bod fi'n dweud 'ond'—er gwaethaf y backstory echrydus yna a'r gefnlen heriol eithriadol sydd yn dal i wynebu'r bwrdd heddiw, dwi eisiau dweud gair positif am y cywair gwahanol sydd yn dechrau cael ei daro gan gadeirydd y bwrdd a phrif weithredwr newydd y bwrdd. Dwi'n siarad o brofiad y misoedd diwethaf fan hyn, oherwydd bydd nifer ohonoch chi'n ymwybodol bod yna ofid wedi bod yn y cyfnod diwethaf ynglŷn â dyfodol y feddygfa leol ym Metws-y-coed, gyda'r meddygon presennol yn rhoi'r cytundeb i fyny cyn bo hir a, gyda hynny, nifer o drigolion lleol yn poeni, wrth gwrs, y byddai'r feddygfa yn cau. Mi fues i yn rhan o drefnu cyfarfod cyhoeddus i geisio sicrhau fod popeth posibl yn cael ei wneud i warchod y feddygfa. Nawr, roeddwn i'n gobeithio y byddai rhywun yn dod o'r bwrdd i wynebu'r cwestiynau gan y gynulleidfa. Beth gawsom ni? Cadeirydd y bwrdd yn dod, prif weithredwr newydd y bwrdd yn dod, pennaeth yr adran berthnasol yn dod i wynebu'r cyhoedd, i ateb y cwestiynau ac i amlinellu eu cynllun. Nawr, dyw hynna ddim yn rhywbeth fyddem ni wedi gweld yn y gorffennol. Chwa o awyr iach, os caf i ddweud, ac atebolrwydd a thryloywder ar waith.
Ond mae yna 'ond' arall yn dod nawr, a fyddwch chi ddim yn licio'r 'ond' yma, efallai. Dwi yn falch o weld y camau positif yna yn digwydd, ond camau cychwynnol a chamau bychan ŷn nhw. Rŷn ni'n gweld dechrau newid diwylliant ar y lefel uchaf yn y bwrdd, ond mae'n mynd i gymryd amser i hwnna raeadru i lawr trwy'r bwrdd iechyd cyfan, a hyd yn oed wedyn, wrth gwrs, does dim sicrwydd y byddan nhw'n gallu datrys y problemau sylweddol iawn wnes i eu rhestru ar y cychwyn sydd yn llethu'r gwasanaeth yn ehangach. Ond, fel mae pethau'n sefyll, mae angen i'r Llywodraeth bennu amserlen glir i ddad-ddwysáu trefniadau ymyrryd ar draws y byrddau iechyd yng Nghymru, ac fel rhan o hynny ac er gwaethaf yr egin positif rŷn ni'n gweld, mae'n rhaid cydnabod, fel mae'r sefyllfa ehangach ar hyn o bryd, ei bod hi yn argyfwng iechyd.
I suppose that health and Betsi Cadwaladr is the issue that I've spoken most about in the 12 years I've spent in the Siambr, and that, of course, is partly because the board has been in and out of special measures on more than one occasion, and most recently now, a year ago, back in February of last year, when the board was returned to special measures. And the record of the board isn't one to take pride in, I fear, in terms of many of the most important statistics, when we look at performance. It's in Betsi that we see the longest waiting lists in Wales, with over 175,000 people waiting for treatment—a figure that's increased since the board was placed into special measures. In the last 12 months, we've also seen longer waiting times in emergency units. We've seen a reduction of between 4 and 8 per cent in the number of patients that reach the targets of four, eight and 12 hours in the health service too.
In March of last year, Betsi's expenditure on agency staff was £72 million. That is a staggering sum, the largest of any health board, of course. Now, it does highlight the problem that we all know exists, of course, namely the serious long-term staffing problem in the health service. But, between March and June of last year, the first four months of being in special measures, only two full-time additional doctors had joined the board. And the number of dental workers has reduced to only 306 in the past six years too.
Now, these long-term staffing problems do place huge stresses on the remaining staff—those staff that we depend on to run the health service we have. There are 500 vacant nursing posts in Betsi Cadwaladr, a gap that not only puts pressure on the staff that have to fill those gaps, but also, just to remind ourselves, brings a financial burden with it too for the board and, as a result, for the taxpayer. The Welsh Government, of course, needs to focus remorselessly on recruiting, training and retaining staff. I know that the Minister is painfully aware of that, because if that doesn't happen, then I have no doubt that we will see a continuation in these trends of doctors and nurses leaving Wales to seek better working conditions.
In addition to staffing problems and long waiting lists, other challenges have arisen regularly over the years: issues related to mental health services at Betsi Cadwaladr health board, and vascular services are an issue that we raise regularly here in the Chamber. I remember raising problems around C. difficile and hygiene on wards, and, of course, the huge fees that were paid to consultants in order to try and get them out of the hole that they have been in for far too long. Many of these issues emerged directly from management failings—mismanagement by the board—and also a lack of adequate oversight by the Welsh Government.
Originally, the board was placed in special measures in 2015 until November 2020, when the Government decided to take the board out of special measures, a decision that many now think was premature, because just over two years later, what happened? They were back under the highest level of intervention. So, we shouldn't be surprised that all of these circumstances have led to a situation where the health service in north Wales, despite, as we've heard, the heroic efforts of the workforce on the front line holding those services together, is still making the headlines for the wrong reasons far too often.
But—and the Minister will be glad to hear me say 'but'—despite that appalling backstory and the very challenging backdrop still facing the board, I do want to say a positive word about the different note that's starting to be struck by the new chief executive and chair of the board. And I speak from experience of the past months here, because many of you will be aware that there has been concern in recent times about the future of the local surgery in Betws-y-coed, with the current GPs giving up the contract, and, with that, a number of local residents were concerned that the surgery would close. I was part of arranging a public meeting to try and ensure that everything possible was done to safeguard that surgery. Now, I'd hoped that somebody from the board would come to face the questions from the audience. What did we have? The chair of the board in attendance, the new chief executive of the board in attendance, the head of the relevant department attending to face the public, to answer the questions and to outline their plan. Now, that isn't something that we would have seen in the past. It was a breath of fresh air, if I may say so, and accountability and transparency in action.
But there is another 'but', and you won't like this 'but', perhaps. I am pleased to see the positive steps being taken, but they are small, initial steps. We are starting to see a change of culture at the highest level of the board, but it's going to take time for that to permeate down through the whole of the health board, and even then, of course, there is no guarantee that they will be able to resolve the very significant problems that I outlined at the beginning and which are affecting the service more widely. But as things stand, the Government needs to set a clear timetable to reduce the intervention levels across health boards in Wales, and as part of that and despite that positive trend we are seeing, we have to admit, given the state of the wider situation at the moment, there is a health crisis in Wales.
Over a decade of underfunding against need has impacted on health across the UK. It desperately needs a lot more funding, not just because of the massive inflationary pressures that everyone is facing, such as utility bills, but we also have a sicker, older population in Wales, and on top of that we need to fund new technology and new medicines to help our residents. We also need to invest in our buildings and continually upgrade the estate, just as we’ve done with the twenty-first century schools programme, but have limited capital funding and borrowing powers here in Wales.
I welcome the interventions that the Welsh Government are making regarding training new nurses, providing bursaries, building a new medical training school in Bangor, and trying to overcome the shortages in staff that Brexit and the pandemic have brought about, including complications with visa applications. But we do need to retain good staff. There is burnout, and I hear that for exhausted health professionals morale is low. I’m also worried about working hours and wages in the social healthcare sector, which is also at breaking point. They are joined together, really—you can’t address one without the other.
So, Minister, I’d like to ask what conversations you have had with the UK Government to properly fund the public sector following years of cuts under austerity, and to ensure that adequate funding is made available in Wales. I hear that funding has been made available in England, to give pay rises for doctors, but none for Wales, which seems to be happening quite a lot at the moment.
I don’t want to criticise the health service, because I want to promote it. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board employs 19,000 people and we need to be able to recruit and retain them. One of the best things we can do is offer more reasonable working hours, job shares and employ couples into the health service, which I’ve mentioned to the Minister before. Very often people train together, and if we can offer jobs to both those people, that would help with recruitment.
I don’t support the call for a health emergency. I don’t want to frighten people. I want to make sure that, if they think they’ve got a health issue, they get it checked out, and know that they need to do that. And every day, thousands of people do receive treatment, as Huw Irranca-Davies mentioned earlier.
More is being done in the community. We need to celebrate that as well, and celebrate the progress that is being made. In Flintshire, there are two new integrated health and social care community facilities backed by more than £14 million of funding, a new residential care home in Flint, and another for individuals with learning disabilities, autism and mental health support needs in Mold. Croes Atti residential home will be expanded to house 56 older people on the site of the much-loved former community hospital.
The health board has extended minor injury units in community hospitals, which was much-welcomed news the other week. Many people are living longer with cancer thanks to regular check-ups and new and emerging medicines, so we must remember that. The new hub at Llandudno has now been given the go-ahead and it should be built this year, and will be available for orthopaedics, knees and hips for the whole of north Wales. And whilst we regularly hear about the challenges facing Betsi, improvements in waiting times are beginning to show. I welcome the new chief exec and chair, as Llyr Gruffydd said. For instance, the improvements since February 2023, there’s been a 52.4 per cent reduction in the number of orthopaedic pathways over 104 weeks to 1,176, and it’s now at its lowest since April 2021.
I’d like to finish by thanking everyone who works in the health service for their hard work and dedication. Without you, there’d be no NHS. Thank you.
Mae dros ddegawd o danariannu yn erbyn angen wedi effeithio ar iechyd ar draws y DU. Mae taer angen llawer mwy o gyllid, nid yn unig oherwydd y pwysau chwyddiant enfawr y mae pawb yn eu hwynebu, fel biliau cyfleustodau, ond mae gennym hefyd boblogaeth salach a hŷn yng Nghymru, ac ar ben hynny mae angen inni ariannu technoleg newydd a meddyginiaethau newydd i helpu ein trigolion. Mae angen inni fuddsoddi yn ein hadeiladau hefyd ac uwchraddio'r ystad yn barhaus, yn union fel y gwnaethom gyda'r rhaglen ysgolion ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, ond cyfyngedig yw ein cyllid cyfalaf a'n pwerau benthyca yma yng Nghymru.
Rwy'n croesawu'r ymyriadau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu gwneud ar hyfforddi nyrsys newydd, darparu bwrsariaethau, adeiladu ysgol hyfforddiant meddygol newydd ym Mangor, a cheisio goresgyn y prinder staff y mae Brexit a'r pandemig wedi'i greu, yn cynnwys cymhlethdodau gyda cheisiadau fisa. Ond mae'n rhaid inni gadw staff da. Mae staff wedi gorflino, ac rwy'n clywed bod morâl yn isel ymhlith gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol sydd wedi ymlâdd. Rwyf hefyd yn poeni am oriau gwaith a chyflogau yn y sector gofal iechyd cymdeithasol, sydd hefyd ar fin torri. Maent yn gysylltiedig—ni allwch roi sylw i un heb y llall.
Felly, Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn pa sgyrsiau a gawsoch gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar ariannu'r sector cyhoeddus yn briodol yn dilyn blynyddoedd o doriadau cyni, ac i sicrhau bod cyllid digonol ar gael yng Nghymru. Rwy'n clywed bod cyllid ar gael yn Lloegr, i roi codiad cyflog i feddygon, ond nid i Gymru, rhywbeth sydd i'w weld yn digwydd cryn dipyn ar hyn o bryd.
Nid wyf am feirniadu'r gwasanaeth iechyd, oherwydd rwy'n awyddus i'w hyrwyddo. Mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn cyflogi 19,000 o bobl ac mae angen inni allu eu recriwtio a'u cadw. Un o'r pethau gorau y gallwn eu gwneud yw cynnig oriau gwaith mwy rhesymol, rhannu swyddi a chyflogi cyplau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, rhywbeth y soniais amdano wrth y Gweinidog o'r blaen. Yn aml iawn mae pobl yn hyfforddi gyda'i gilydd, ac os gallwn gynnig swyddi i'r ddau berson, byddai hynny'n helpu gyda recriwtio.
Nid wyf yn cefnogi'r alwad i ddatgan argyfwng iechyd. Nid wyf eisiau codi ofn ar bobl. Rwyf am sicrhau, os ydynt yn meddwl bod ganddynt broblem iechyd, eu bod yn mynd i'w gael wedi'i archwilio, a'u bod yn gwybod bod angen iddynt wneud hynny. A phob dydd, mae miloedd o bobl yn cael triniaeth, fel y soniodd Huw Irranca-Davies yn gynharach.
Mae mwy yn cael ei wneud yn y gymuned. Mae angen inni ddathlu hynny hefyd, a dathlu'r cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud. Yn sir y Fflint, ceir dau gyfleuster cymunedol iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol integredig newydd wedi'u cefnogi gan fwy na £14 miliwn o gyllid, cartref gofal preswyl newydd yn y Fflint, ac un arall ar gyfer unigolion ag anableddau dysgu, awtistiaeth a chymorth anghenion iechyd meddwl yn yr Wyddgrug. Bydd cartref preswyl Croes Ati yn cael ei ymestyn i gartrefu 56 o bobl hŷn ar safle'r hen ysbyty cymunedol poblogaidd.
Mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi ymestyn unedau mân anafiadau mewn ysbytai cymunedol, rhywbeth a gafodd groeso mawr yr wythnos o'r blaen. Mae llawer o bobl yn byw'n hirach gyda chanser diolch i archwiliadau rheolaidd a meddyginiaethau newydd sy'n cael eu datblygu, felly mae'n rhaid inni gofio hynny. Mae'r ganolfan newydd yn Llandudno bellach wedi cael sêl bendith a dylai gael ei hadeiladu eleni, a bydd ar gael ar gyfer orthopedeg, pengliniau a chluniau ar gyfer gogledd Cymru gyfan. Ac er ein bod yn clywed yn rheolaidd am yr heriau sy'n wynebu Betsi, mae gwelliannau'n dechrau dangos yn yr amseroedd aros. Rwy'n croesawu'r prif weithredwr a'r cadeirydd newydd, fel y dywedodd Llyr Gruffydd. Er enghraifft, y gwelliannau ers mis Chwefror 2023, bu gostyngiad o 52.4 y cant yn nifer y llwybrau orthopedig dros 104 wythnos i 1,176, ac mae bellach ar ei isaf ers mis Ebrill 2021.
Hoffwn orffen drwy ddiolch i bawb sy'n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth iechyd am eu gwaith caled a'u hymroddiad. Ni fyddai'r GIG yn bodoli heboch chi. Diolch.
Fe glywon ni i gyd yr hanes truenus yna a gafodd ei adrodd yn y newyddion ddoe am brofiad un o fy etholwyr i, Theresa Jones, menyw 91 oed o Bort Talbot a oedd yn gorwedd mewn poen, a phoen meddwl, ar lawr ei chartref gofal am bron i 24 awr tra’n aros am ambiwlans i gyrraedd. Roedd yn dorcalonnus i'w theulu a'r staff oedd yn ceisio gofalu amdani. Torcalonnus ac annerbyniol.
Yn anffodus, tra bod yr achos yma yn ymddangos fel un eithriadol, mae'n stori debyg iawn i nifer dwi'n eu clywed yn gyson gan etholwyr, ac yn symptomataidd o ddiffygion yn y gwasanaeth y mae cleifion yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe yn eu profi. Dyw gweld cyhoeddiad gan y bwrdd iechyd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn gofyn i bobl beidio â galw 999 os ydynt yn medru, neu beidio mynychu'r adran achosion brys yn Nhreforys yn sgil pwysau acíwt, ddim yn ddigwyddiad anghyffredin mwyach. Pan oeddwn i'n arfer gweld y cyhoeddiad yna, roeddwn i'n arfer ei rannu fe dros y lle i gyd, ond nawr mae fe'n digwydd mor aml dyw pobl ddim yn talu lot o sylw iddo fe. Ac maen nhw hefyd yn sôn bob tro maen nhw'n mynd i'r adran achosion brys am y ciwiau o ambiwlansys sydd yno am oriau y tu fas, ac mae hyn bron i'w ddisgwyl bellach.
Clywais i'r Prif Weinidog yn sôn ddoe nad oes gan y Llywodraeth gyfrifoldeb uniongyrchol dros berfformiad gwasanaethau ambiwlans yng Nghymru, ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud dyw fy etholwyr jest ddim yn deall hynny. Dyw'r agwedd yna ddim yn cael ei gwerthfawrogi, na gan y gweithwyr yn y gwasanaeth ambiwlans eu hunain, sy'n parhau i weithio mor galed i helpu cleifion mewn cyfnod o argyfwng, mewn cyfnod tra'u bod nhw mewn poen ac maen nhw'n ofni, er bod y pwysau sylweddol yma ar eu hadnoddau i fedru cefnogi'r bobl hyn. Achos nid yr un hen gân gan y Llywodraeth y maen nhw'n moyn ei chlywed, bod pethau yn gwella, achos dydyn nhw jest ddim yn profi hynny. Nid dyna yw eu realiti nhw, a'n dyletswydd ni yw adlewyrchu'r hyn rŷn ni'n ei glywed gan ein hetholwyr. Maen nhw am i'r Llywodraeth gydnabod maint yr her sy'n wynebu eu bwrdd iechyd, hynny yw, o ran cleifion ac o ran staff, ac mae'r esiampl o amseroedd aros ambiwlans yn amlygu hyn yn glir, dwi'n meddwl.
Yn ôl ym mis Chwefror 2023, pan gyhoeddwyd blaenoriaethau'r Gweinidog ar gyfer y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, roedd 51.8 y cant o alwadau coch ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe yn derbyn ymateb o fewn yr wyth munud delfrydol. Ond yn ôl yr ystadegau diweddaraf, mae'r ffigwr ymhellach yn 47.2 y cant, ac yn is o lawer, wrth gwrs, na'r targed sydd gan y Llywodraeth o 65 y cant.
Mater arall o bwys difrifol i fae Abertawe yw'r gwasanaethau mamolaeth a newydd-enedigol, a gafodd eu gosod mewn cyflwr o uwch fonitro cyn y Nadolig ar ôl i bryderon niferus gael eu codi gan deuluoedd ac adroddiad gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru. Roedd yr adroddiad yn nodi bod lefelau staffio'r ysbyty wedi bod yn anniogel ers 2019, a thynnwyd sylw at bwysau staffio fel rhai argyfyngus ym mis Mehefin y llynedd mewn cyfarfod rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r bwrdd iechyd. Mae'r bwrdd wedi comisiynu adolygiad annibynnol i'r gwasanaethau o'r herwydd. Fe fues i'n ymweld â'r uned famolaeth a newydd-enedigol yn Ysbyty Singleton yr wythnos diwethaf, gan gwrdd â chleifion a staff, ac rwyf hefyd wedi cwrdd â Sian a Robert Channon, sydd wedi sôn am eu profiadau yn yr ysbyty wrth eni eu mab, Gethin, a gafodd niwed sylweddol i'w ymennydd yn ystod ei enedigaeth.
Mae yna welliannau i'w gweld ar y gweill yn y gwasanaethau mamolaeth a newydd-enedigol, gan gynnwys y ffocws pendant yna ar recriwtio staff. Ond yr hyn sydd yn fy nharo i yn sgil y ddau gyfarfod yma yw'r effaith dorcalonnus ac annerbyniol ar deuluoedd a staff sydd wedi profi effaith andwyol pwysau a straen ar wasanaethau. Ac er fy mod i'n croesawu bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithredu i sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau hynny yn fy rhanbarth yn cael eu monitro'n fwy gofalus, a'r bwrdd iechyd yn mynd i gael ei gefnogi'n well i wneud y gwelliannau, mae yna gwestiynau dilys o hyd gan fy etholwyr a yw'r camau hyn yn mynd i fod yn ddigonol i adfer hyder, achos mae'r hyder yna wedi mynd ar goll.
Fel mae ein cynnig ni'n ei amlygu, does yna ddim cynllun nac amserlen ar gyfer symud i'r pwynt o fusnes fel arfer yn y bwrdd, lle mae popeth yn gweithio mewn ffordd gynaliadwy ac effeithiol. Fel rydym ni wedi gweld eisoes gyda'r strategaeth tlodi plant, heb dargedau clir i fesur cynnydd, y peryg yw y bydd pwysau yma, y diffyg sy'n gallu digwydd wedyn o ran ansawdd gofal, yn cael eu normaleiddio yng Nghymru.
Blwyddyn ers cyhoeddi'r blaenoriaethau, gydag amseroedd aros ambiwlans wedi gwaethygu a'm bwrdd iechyd i bellach mewn trefniadau uwchgyfeirio ac ymyrryd ar draws tri maes gwahanol, mae fy etholwyr sy'n dibynnu ar y gwasanaethau hyn yn haeddu gwybod, os nad yw blwyddyn yn ddigon hir i fesurau'r Llywodraeth ddwyn ffrwyth, pa mor hir byddwn ni yn aros? Mae angen cynllun brys sy'n cwrdd â'r galw, yn cwrdd â difrifoldeb y sefyllfa. Dyna nod ein cynnig, er mwyn y teuluoedd a'r staff sydd yn dioddef yn sgil y pwysau anghynaliadwy ar wasanaethau, ac rwy'n annog Aelodau i'w gefnogi.
We all heard the harrowing story that was reported in the news yesterday, about the experience of one of my constituents, Theresa Jones, a 91-year-old woman from Port Talbot, who was lying in pain, and in mental anguish, on the floor of her care home for almost 24 hours while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. It was heartbreaking for her family and the staff who were trying to look after her. Heartbreaking and unacceptable.
Unfortunately, while this case appears to be an exceptional one, it is very similar to many of the stories that I regularly hear from constituents, and is symptomatic of shortcomings in the services that patients in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area receive. Announcements by the health board on social media asking people not to call 999 if they can, or not to attend the emergency department in Morriston in the wake of acute pressure, are no longer a rare occurrence. When I used to see those announcements, I used to share them everywhere, but now it happens so often that people don't pay much attention to it. And they also mention every time they go to the emergency department the queues of ambulances waiting outside for hours, and that's now almost to be expected.
I heard the First Minister say yesterday that the Government does not have direct responsibility for the performance of ambulance services in Wales, but I have to say that my constituents just don't understand that. That attitude is not appreciated by them or by the workers in the ambulance services themselves, who continue to work so hard to help patients in times of crisis, when they're in pain and in fear, even though there is considerable pressure on their resources to be able to support these people. They don't want to hear the same old song from the Government that things are improving, because they're not experiencing that. That's not their reality, and our duty is to reflect what we hear from our constituents. They want the Government to recognise the scale of the challenge facing their health board, that is, in terms of patients and staff, and the example of ambulance waiting times clearly highlights this, I think.
Back in February 2023, when the Minister's priorities for the NHS were published, 51.8 per cent of red calls at Swansea Bay University Health Board received a response within the ideal eight minutes. But according to the latest statistics, the figure is now 47.2 per cent, and much lower, of course, than the Government's target of 65 per cent.
Another issue of grave importance to Swansea bay is that of maternity and neonatal services, which were placed in a state of increased monitoring before Christmas after numerous concerns were raised by families and in a report by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. The report stated that staffing levels at the hospital had been unsafe since 2019, and attention was drawn to staffing pressures as being critical in June last year during a meeting between the Welsh Government and the health board. The board has commissioned an independent review of the services because of that. I visited the maternity and neonatal unit at Singleton Hospital at the end of last week, meeting patients and staff. I have also met with Sian and Robert Channon, who have spoken about their experiences at the hospital during the birth of their son, Gethin, who suffered significant brain damage during childbirth.
There are improvements to be seen in maternity and neonatal services, including a definite focus on staff recruitment. But what strikes me, in the wake of these two meetings, is the heartbreaking and unacceptable impact on families and staff who have experienced the adverse impact of pressure and strain on services. And although I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has acted to ensure that those services in my region are being monitored more carefully, and that the health board is now going to be better supported to make improvements, there are still valid questions from my constituents as to whether these actions will be sufficient to restore confidence, because that confidence has been lost.
As our motion highlights, there is no plan or timetable for moving to a point of business as usual in the board, where everything works in a sustainable and effective way. And as we've already seen with the Government's child poverty strategy, without clear targets to measure progress, the danger is that this pressure and the deficit that can happen in terms of the quality of care will be normalised in Wales.
A year since the publication of the priorities, with ambulance waiting times having deteriorated and my local health board now subject to escalation and intervention measures across three different areas, my constituents who rely on these services deserve to know, if a year is not long enough for the Government's measures to bear fruit, how long will we have to wait? We need an emergency plan that meets the demand and matches the severity of the situation. That's the aim of our motion, for the sake of the families and staff who are suffering as a result of the unsustainable pressure on services, and I encourage Members to support it.
Galwaf nawr ar y Gweinidog iechyd i gyfrannu i'r ddadl. Eluned Morgan.
I now call on the Minister for Health and Social Services to contribute to the debate. Eluned Morgan.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to respond to today's debate and to share with you how the NHS, despite continued pressures, delivers for the people of Wales.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge the excellent work of all staff in the NHS whose commitment and dedication in such challenging times is essential. Our NHS has seen demands that we've never seen before, and although achieving performance targets has been really difficult, record levels of activity have been achieved over the last year. And I, like you, meet almost every day with patients who cannot praise the service they've had enough, and I think it's really important that we don't lose sight of that. But I also accept that there are too many occasions when the service is not delivering as it should, and we've heard some examples of that this week.
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i ymateb i'r ddadl heddiw ac i rannu gyda chi sut mae'r GIG, er gwaethaf pwysau parhaus, yn darparu ar gyfer pobl Cymru.
Yn gyntaf, rwyf am gydnabod gwaith rhagorol yr holl staff yn y GIG y mae eu hymrwymiad a'u hymroddiad yn hanfodol mewn cyfnod mor heriol. Mae ein GIG wedi gweld galwadau nad ydym erioed wedi'u gweld o'r blaen, ac er bod cyrraedd targedau perfformiad wedi bod yn anodd iawn, cyflawnwyd lefelau uwch nag erioed o weithgarwch dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Ac fel chithau, rwy'n cyfarfod bron bob dydd â chleifion sy'n canmol y gwasanaeth a gawsant i'r cymylau, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn nad ydym yn colli golwg ar hynny. Ond rwyf hefyd yn derbyn bod gormod o achlysuron pan nad yw'r gwasanaeth yn cyflawni fel y dylai, ac rydym wedi clywed rhai enghreifftiau o hynny yr wythnos hon.
But I don't accept there is a health emergency and I'm not really sure what we hope to achieve by declaring a health emergency, especially if we are not prepared to put the money in when it comes to political priorities. Yesterday, we had a very expansive discussion on the budget, and there was a whole list of other areas where people did not want to see services cut. We as a Government have prioritised the NHS in the face of over £1 billion of cuts in real terms. It is our priority. We have set it as a priority, and that is not necessarily where everyone else is.
Now, looking at demand over the last year, referrals have increased by over 10 per cent. That's over 1.5 million referrals in a population of 3.1 million people, yet our total waiting list has increased by less than 2 per cent. On average, each month almost 300,000 people—that's about the population of Cardiff—are seen as out-patients. And over 31,000 procedures were performed in the last 12 months. The most common access points for people seeking NHS services are either GP services, NHS 111 or 999. On average, around 1.5 million contacts happen through GP services each month. And when I told the former chief operating officer of the NHS in England that last week, he almost fell off his chair. Over 2,500—[Interruption.] No, if you don't mind, I'm going to plough on a bit. I may allow you to come in later.
Over 2,500 people attend an emergency department and around 1,100 people call 999 every single day. I think the vast majority of these people would say that there is not a crisis. People fall over themselves, as I say, to tell me how great their treatment has been, but, as Huw says, you've got to balance it. We've got to balance all of the criticism with the great work that is being done in the NHS.
But the good news is that we now have alternative pathways that have been developed as part of our strategic national transformation programmes to take pressure off GPs. In December, over 41,000 people used the new clinical community pharmacy service for common ailments, like access to the morning-after pill and oral contraception, or emergency supplies of medicines and flu vaccinations. And the number of consultations delivered through pharmacists or independent prescribing services has almost doubled.
Over 300,000 new patients have accessed NHS dental care since April 2022, and it's interesting to see that the UK Government is deciding to recognise that there are real challenges in England. But, unlike in England, we don't announce things, we deliver them and then we tell people what we've done.
In December, the ambulance service had, on average, over 1,200 calls every day and responded to the highest number of red calls within eight minutes on record. So, I think what's amazing—. You've got to keep on remembering, actually, that performance is better than it's ever been before. More than ever responded to in eight minutes, but because the demand has gone through the roof, of course it's difficult for them to hit the targets we've set.
Over 2,700 people attended our emergency departments every day in December, with over 66 per cent of those being treated and discharged in four hours, with a median wait of under three hours. The time to see a senior clinician in an emergency department has improved by over 23 minutes in the last 12 months. So, you can see that things are improving. So, that's not the time to declare an emergency, when you see, actually, that things are improving. It's the sure way to demoralise staff within the NHS.
So, you can imagine, I think—. In December, there were more than 95,000 calls to NHS 111. Do you hear that? Ninety-five thousand calls in a month. That was a service that hardly existed just about three years ago and that doesn't include the '111 press 2' service. That's an increase, just in December, of 35,000 on the previous month. So, it's all very well saying, 'Why aren't you hitting the target?' It's because the demand just keeps coming. We have 16 urgent primary care centres offering a real alternative to both GP and emergency departments, and around 12,000 people use these centres every month. Once again, they didn't exist two years ago, they weren't established. So, all these things are taking pressure off; just imagine had we not put them in place.
I've been asked to give an update on waiting times, and the fact is that there's been a huge increase in the number of referrals, both for planned care and for cancer. The number of people waiting over 104 weeks is still too high, but it's 50 per cent lower than a year ago and it has reduced every single month for the last 20 months. The average waiting time now is 20 weeks, compared to 29 weeks at its peak—so, again, improvements all the time. Huw was saying about Cwm Taf; they've really pulled their socks up and it's really made a difference. It was amazing to go and watch a knee being replaced last week, actually, and the incredible skill of those surgeons. But, actually, it's not a fast job, it's not something you can knock out in a couple of minutes. That was probably a bad use of words. I think, also, it should probably be noted that, in November, 1,894 people started definitive cancer treatment and almost 15,000 people were told that they didn't have cancer. That's the second highest number on record. So, again, these are record-breaking statistics in terms of activity.
Ond nid wyf yn derbyn ei bod yn argyfwng iechyd ac nid wyf yn siŵr iawn beth y gobeithiwn ei gyflawni drwy ddatgan argyfwng iechyd, yn enwedig os nad ydym yn barod i roi'r arian i i ganlyn blaenoriaethau gwleidyddol. Ddoe, cawsom drafodaeth eang iawn ar y gyllideb, ac roedd rhestr gyfan o feysydd eraill lle nad oedd pobl eisiau gweld gwasanaethau'n cael eu torri. Rydym ni fel Llywodraeth wedi blaenoriaethu'r GIG yn wyneb dros £1 biliwn o doriadau mewn termau real. Dyma yw ein blaenoriaeth. Rydym wedi ei osod fel blaenoriaeth, ac nid yw hynny'n wir am bawb arall o reidrwydd.
Nawr, o edrych ar y galw dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae atgyfeiriadau wedi cynyddu dros 10 y cant. Mae hynny'n fwy na 1.5 miliwn o atgyfeiriadau mewn poblogaeth o 3.1 miliwn o bobl, ac eto mae cyfanswm ein rhestr aros wedi cynyddu llai na 2 y cant. Ar gyfartaledd, bob mis mae bron i 300,000 o bobl—oddeutu maint poblogaeth Caerdydd—yn cael eu gweld fel cleifion allanol. A chafodd dros 31,000 o driniaethau eu cyflawni yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf. Y pwyntiau mynediad mwyaf cyffredin i bobl sy'n defnyddio gwasanaethau'r GIG yw naill ai gwasanaethau meddygon teulu, GIG 111 neu 999. Ar gyfartaledd, mae tua 1.5 miliwn o gysylltiadau'n digwydd trwy wasanaethau meddygon teulu bob mis. A phan ddywedais hynny wrth gyn brif swyddog gweithredol y GIG yn Lloegr yr wythnos diwethaf, bu bron iddo ddisgyn oddi ar ei gadair. Mae dros 2,500—[Torri ar draws.] Na, os nad oes ots gennych, rwy'n mynd i fwrw yn fy mlaen am ychydig. Efallai y gallaf adael i chi ddod i mewn yn nes ymlaen.
Mae dros 2,500 o bobl yn mynychu adran frys ac oddeutu 1,100 o bobl yn ffonio 999 bob dydd. Rwy'n credu y byddai'r mwyafrif helaeth o'r bobl hyn yn dweud nad oes argyfwng. Mae pobl yn mynd allan o'u ffordd, fel y dywedais, i ddweud wrthyf pa mor wych oedd eu triniaeth, ond fel y dywed Huw, mae'n rhaid i chi gydbwyso'r peth. Mae'n rhaid inni gydbwyso'r holl feirniadaeth gyda'r gwaith gwych sy'n cael ei wneud yn y GIG.
Ond y newyddion da yw bod gennym lwybrau amgen nawr a ddatblygwyd yn rhan o'n rhaglenni trawsnewid strategol cenedlaethol i dynnu pwysau oddi ar feddygon teulu. Ym mis Rhagfyr, defnyddiodd dros 41,000 o bobl y gwasanaeth fferylliaeth gymunedol glinigol newydd ar gyfer anhwylderau cyffredin, fel mynediad at y bilsen bore wedyn a phils atal cenhedlu, neu gyflenwadau brys o feddyginiaethau a brechiadau ffliw. Ac mae nifer yr ymgyngoriadau a ddarperir trwy fferyllwyr neu wasanaethau presgripsiynu annibynnol bron â bod wedi dyblu.
Mae dros 300,000 o gleifion newydd wedi cael gofal deintyddol y GIG ers mis Ebrill 2022, ac mae'n ddiddorol gweld bod Llywodraeth y DU yn penderfynu cydnabod bod yna heriau gwirioneddol yn Lloegr. Ond yn wahanol i Loegr, nid ydym yn cyhoeddi pethau, rydym yn eu cyflawni ac yna rydym yn dweud wrth bobl beth a wnaethom.
Ym mis Rhagfyr, roedd y gwasanaeth ambiwlans yn cael dros 1,200 o alwadau bob dydd ar gyfartaledd ac ymatebodd i'r nifer uchaf a gofnodwyd erioed o alwadau coch o fewn wyth munud. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n anhygoel—. Rhaid ichi ddal i gofio, mewn gwirionedd, fod perfformiad yn well nag y bu erioed o'r blaen. Ymatebwyd i fwy nag erioed o fewn wyth munud, ond oherwydd bod y galw wedi mynd drwy'r to, mae'n anodd iddynt gyrraedd y targedau a osodwyd gennym wrth gwrs.
Daeth dros 2,700 o bobl i'n hadrannau brys bob dydd ym mis Rhagfyr, gyda dros 66 y cant o'r rheini'n cael eu trin a'u rhyddhau mewn pedair awr, gydag amser aros canolrifol o lai na thair awr. Mae'r amser i weld uwch glinigydd mewn adran frys wedi gwella dros 23 munud yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf. Felly, gallwch weld bod pethau'n gwella. Felly, nid dyna'r amser i ddatgan argyfwng, pan welwch fod pethau'n gwella mewn gwirionedd. Dyna ffordd sicr o ddigalonni staff o fewn y GIG.
Felly, fe allwch ddychmygu, rwy'n credu—. Ym mis Rhagfyr, roedd dros 95,000 o alwadau i GIG 111. A glywoch chi hynny? Cafwyd 95,000 o alwadau mewn mis. Roedd hwnnw'n wasanaeth nad oedd prin yn bodoli tua thair blynedd yn ôl ac nid yw'n cynnwys y gwasanaeth '111 pwyso 2'. Dyna gynnydd, ym mis Rhagfyr yn unig, o 35,000 ar y mis blaenorol. Felly, mae'n hawdd iawn dweud, 'Pam nad ydych chi'n cyrraedd y targed?' Oherwydd bod y galw'n dal i ddod, dyna pam. Mae gennym 16 o ganolfannau gofal sylfaenol brys sy'n cynnig dewis arall go iawn yn lle meddygon teulu ac adrannau brys, ac mae tua 12,000 o bobl yn defnyddio'r canolfannau hyn bob mis. Unwaith eto, nid oeddent yn bodoli ddwy flynedd yn ôl, nid oeddent wedi'u sefydlu. Felly, mae'r holl bethau hyn yn lleddfu pwysau; dychmygwch pe na baem wedi eu rhoi ar waith.
Gofynnwyd i mi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am amseroedd aros, a'r gwir amdani yw y bu cynnydd enfawr yn nifer yr atgyfeiriadau, ar gyfer gofal wedi'i gynllunio ac ar gyfer canser. Mae nifer y bobl sy'n aros dros 104 wythnos yn dal i fod yn rhy uchel, ond mae 50 y cant yn is na'r hyn a oedd flwyddyn yn ôl ac mae wedi gostwng bob mis am yr 20 mis diwethaf. Yr amser aros cyfartalog nawr yw 20 wythnos, o'i gymharu â 29 wythnos ar ei waethaf—felly, eto, gwelliannau drwy'r amser. Roedd Huw yn siarad am Gwm Taf; maent wedi gwella'n fawr ac mae wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn. Roedd yn anhygoel mynd i wylio llawdriniaeth i osod pen-glin newydd yr wythnos diwethaf, a sgiliau anhygoel y llawfeddygon hynny. Ond mewn gwirionedd, nid yw'n waith cyflym, nid yw'n rhywbeth y gallwch ei wneud mewn ychydig funudau. Rwy'n credu, hefyd, y dylid nodi mae'n debyg fod 1,894 o bobl wedi dechrau triniaeth ddiffiniol ar gyfer canser ym mis Tachwedd a dywedwyd wrth bron i 15,000 o bobl nad oedd ganddynt ganser. Dyna'r ail nifer uchaf erioed. Felly, unwaith eto, ystadegau gwell nag erioed o ran gweithgaredd.
Dwi'n meddwl bod hyn yn dipyn o gamp yn yr hinsawdd sydd ohoni, ond er gwaethaf hyn i gyd, dwi'n ymwybodol iawn bod rhai pobl yn cael eu gadael i lawr gan y gwasanaeth. Dwi'n poeni am y bobl sy'n gorfod aros mewn ambiwlans neu goridor, neu'n methu cael gwely; pobl sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd symud o gwmpas wrth ddisgwyl am lawdriniaeth clun neu gataract a chleifion sy'n aros i glywed os oes gyda nhw ganser. A fi yw'r cyntaf i gyfaddef nad yw rhestrau aros yn yr NHS ble rŷn ni eisiau iddyn nhw fod, ond dwi yn meddwl bod angen inni gydnabod a gwerthfawrogi'r cynnydd sydd wedi cael ei wneud ar draws Cymru.
Llywydd, rŷn ni'n benderfynol o ddal ati a gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i gefnogi'r NHS. Rŷn ni wedi darparu £425 miliwn yn ychwanegol y flwyddyn ariannol yma ac fe fydd £450 miliwn yn ychwanegol y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae gyda ni strategaeth 10 mlynedd ar y cyd ar gyfer y gweithlu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, sy'n cael ei hategu gan gynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol. Bydd hyn yn arwain at greu cynllun tymor hir ar gyfer y gweithlu. Mae gweithlu'r NHS bellach ar ei lefel uchaf erioed, gyda 110,000 o bobl yn gweithio ynddi. Mae yna gynnydd wedi bod o 32 y cant mewn staff medical a dental; 11 y cant o gynnydd yn y 10 mlynedd diwethaf o nyrsys; 25 y cant o gynnydd o consultants. Mae pobl yn gofyn am GPs—.
I think this is quite an achievement in the current climate, but despite all of this, I'm highly aware that some people are being let down by the service. I am concerned about those people who have to wait in an ambulance or a corridor, or can't get a bed; people who find it difficult to move around while awaiting a hip replacement or cataract surgery and patients who are waiting to hear if they have cancer. I'm the first to admit that the waiting lists in the NHS aren't where we want them to be, but I do think we have to recognise and appreciate the progress that's been made across Wales.
Llywydd, we are determined to continue do everything within our ability to support the NHS. We have provided £425 million in addition this financial year and £450 million in addition will be available for next year. We do have a joint 10-year strategy for the health and social care workforce, which is supported by a national action plan. This will lead to the creation of a long-term plan for the workforce. The NHS workforce is now at its highest level ever, with 110,000 people working in the service. There has been an increase of 32 per cent in medical and dental staff; an 11 per cent of increase in the past 10 years in the number of nurses; a 25 per cent increase in consultants. People ask about GPs—.
I'm afraid, Altaf, your statistics are just wrong. In 2022, there were 1,808 GPs; in 2021, there were 2,038 and it's gone up last year by 1.6 per cent again. In Wales, we have 63 GPs per 100,000, compared to 57 per 100,000 in England.
Mae arnaf ofn, Altaf, fod eich ystadegau'n anghywir. Yn 2022, roedd yna 1,808 o feddygon teulu; yn 2021, roedd yna 2,038 ac mae wedi cynyddu 1.6 y cant eto y llynedd. Yng Nghymru, mae gennym 63 o feddygon teulu i bob 100,000 o bobl, o'i gymharu â 57 i bob 100,000 yn Lloegr.
I am going to ask the Minister to bring her contribution to a close here. I've been very generous.
Rwy'n mynd i ofyn i'r Gweinidog ddod â'i chyfraniad i ben yma. Rwyf wedi bod yn hael iawn.
Thank you. The frustration is that, actually, I could go on for a really long time, because—[Interruption.] I'm more than happy to; blame the Llywydd. [Laughter.] I do think that people need to hear the good news—that, actually, there's been a massive amount of improvement, and we've got to celebrate that. And the one sure way of demoralising those 100,000 people working in the NHS is to say that there's an emergency and it's not working. I don't think that that would be constructive way of us appreciating the incredible efforts that they've made over the past year. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch. Y rhwystredigaeth, mewn gwirionedd, yw y gallwn barhau am amser hir iawn, oherwydd—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n fwy na hapus i wneud hynny; beiwch y Llywydd. [Chwerthin.] Rwy'n credu bod angen i bobl glywed y newyddion da—fod llawer iawn o welliant wedi bod mewn gwirionedd, ac mae'n rhaid inni ddathlu hynny. A'r ffordd sicr o ddigalonni'r 100,000 o bobl sy'n gweithio yn y GIG yw datgan argyfwng ac nad yw'n gweithio. Nid wyf yn credu y byddai honno'n ffordd adeiladol i ni werthfawrogi'r ymdrechion anhygoel y maent wedi'u gwneud dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Diolch yn fawr.
Mabon ap Gwynfor nawr i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Mabon ap Gwynfor to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd, a diolch i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu yn y ddadl yma heno. Mae hi wedi bod yn ddadl, ar y cyfan, adeiladol iawn, ac rwyf yn gwerthfawrogi pawb sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniad gwerthfawr yma. Os caf i gytuno i ddechrau efo'r hyn roedd Huw Irranca-Davies a Carolyn Thomas yn ei ddweud o ran y gwaith arwrol sydd yn cael ei wneud gan y gweithlu, wrth gwrs, mi ydyn ni'n cytuno, a dyna pam ein bod ni wedi ei roi o ar frig y cynnig yma ein bod ni eisiau cydnabod y gwaith arwrol hwnnw, a ddaru Cefin sôn am enghreifftiau o hynny.
Ond, er gwaethaf y gwaith arwrol hwnnw, y gwir amdani ydy fod yr ystadegau yna, beth bynnag oedd y Gweinidog yn ei ddweud, yn siarad drostyn nhw eu hunain. Mi glywson ni Heledd Fychan yn sôn am sut mae'r ystadegau'n dangos ein bod ni, mewn gwirionedd, mewn argyfwng, gydag Altaf wedyn yn mynd ymlaen i sôn am niferoedd y meddygon teulu, a bod yr arian sydd yn mynd iddyn nhw bellach yn 7 y cant yn hytrach na, fel oedd o, 8.7 y cant, a bod gan pobl ddim ond yr hanner cyfle yna—50:50 chance, roedd o'n ei ddweud—i gael ambiwlans yn cyrraedd ar amser. Felly'r ystadegau yna sydd yn dangos bod pethau ddim yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd. A Llyr wedyn yn sôn am yr ystadegau rhestrau aros sydd yna yn Betsi Cadwaladr.
Yr elfen mwyaf clir o hyn i gyd ydy y gweithlu, a dyna pam y byddwn ni yn cytuno ac yn cefnogi gwelliannau y Ceidwadwyr. Roedd un o welliannau'r Ceidwadwyr yn sôn bod yn rhaid cael cynllun gweithlu, a'r cynllun gweithlu yna hefyd yn mynd i fod yn ganolog er mwyn sicrhau ein bod ni'n codi'r lefel yna nôl.
Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you to everyone who's contributed in this debate this evening. It has, generally speaking, been a very constructive debate, and I appreciate every contribution made. If I could agree, first of all, with what Huw Irranca-Davies and Carolyn Thomas said in terms of the heroic work that is done by the workforce, of course, we agree, and that's why we put it at the top of our motion that we do want to acknowledge those heroic efforts, and Cefin mentioned some examples of that.
But, despite that heroic effort, the truth is that these statistics, whatever the Minister said, do speak for themselves. We heard Heledd Fychan talking about how those stats do demonstrate that we are, actually, in a crisis or emergency, and Altaf going on to mention the numbers of GPs, and that the funding provided to them is now 7 per cent rather than the 8.7 per cent it was in the past, and that people have only that 50:50 chance, as he put it, to get an ambulance to arrive on time. So, it's those statistics that show that things aren't working at the moment. Llyr then talked about the waiting list statistics in Betsi Cadwaladr.
The clearest element in of all this is the workforce, and that's why we would agree and support the Conservative amendments. One of the Conservative amendments mentioned that there has to be a workforce plan, and that workforce plan would also be central in order to ensure that we raise those levels again.
The Minister tried to reel off some stats, and yes, we know that we've seen certain increases, but the fact remains that we still don't have enough nurses. We're 2,000 nurses short. The Minister says time and again that the one sure way to demoralise the staff is by us pointing out the weaknesses within the health service. No; the sure way to demoralise staff is by not honouring the contracts that you promised them—giving GPs, for instance, the pay that they deserve, the pay that you promised them, making sure that the contracts of the nurses are amended so that they can have more flexible working hours. How you demoralise the staff is by not giving them what they need and what they require in order to fulfil their jobs to the best of their capacity.
The stats speak for themselves. We've got longer waiting lists, and those waiting lists—. I appreciate the fact that the Minister says the health service has received around 2 million contacts over the last month, I think you said, in December—
Ceisiodd y Gweinidog adrodd rhai ystadegau, a do, fe wyddom ein bod wedi gweld peth cynnydd, ond y gwir amdani yw nad oes gennym ddigon o nyrsys o hyd. Rydym 2,000 o nyrsys yn brin. Mae'r Gweinidog yn dweud dro ar ôl tro mai'r un ffordd sicr o ddigalonni'r staff yw drwy inni dynnu sylw at y gwendidau o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Na; y ffordd sicr o ddigalonni staff yw drwy beidio ag anrhydeddu'r contractau a addawoch chi iddynt—a rhoi i feddygon teulu, er enghraifft, y tâl y maent yn ei haeddu, y cyflog a addawoch chi iddynt, a sicrhau bod contractau'r nyrsys yn cael eu diwygio fel y gallant gael oriau gwaith mwy hyblyg. Y ffordd o ddigalonni staff yw drwy beidio â rhoi'r hyn y maent ei angen iddynt a'r hyn y maent ei angen i gyflawni eu swyddi hyd eithaf eu gallu.
Mae'r ystadegau'n siarad drostynt eu hunain. Mae gennym restrau aros hirach, ac mae'r rhestrau aros hynny—. Rwy'n derbyn y ffaith bod y Gweinidog yn dweud bod y gwasanaeth iechyd wedi gweld tua 2 filiwn o gysylltiadau dros y mis diwethaf, rwy'n credu ichi ddweud, ym mis Rhagfyr—
It's 1.5 million.
Mae'n 1.5 miliwn.
Okay, that's a significant number, but a lot of them are the same people. Because they're on a long waiting list, because they can't get that treatment, they're going back, returning to the GPs, because they have increased pain, because they have other ailments, because they are then suffering from things like mental ill health because of the long waiting list. So, we have more contacts because we are in this health crisis.
I'm a bit frustrated that the Minister said that she doesn't understand why we need to declare a health emergency. This Government was the first in the world to declare a climate emergency. Why? What was the point of doing that if you don't believe in declaring an emergency, that it has a purpose? The Government has declared a nature emergency. The first motion we put forward in this Senedd was supported by the Government, declaring a housing emergency. We've got a cost-of-living crisis, another emergency, which the Government keeps talking about, quite rightly. But for some reason there's a reluctance there to admit that we have a health emergency. If there was that admission, then we would have the proper focus. We would be able to focus on what's needed to get us out of this situation, to identify what we need to do to de-escalate and work together to find a way forward.
Iawn, mae'n nifer sylweddol, ond yr un bobl yw llawer ohonynt. Oherwydd eu bod ar restr aros hir, oherwydd na allant gael y driniaeth honno, maent yn mynd yn ôl, yn dychwelyd at y meddygon teulu, oherwydd bod eu poen yn fwy, oherwydd bod ganddynt anhwylderau eraill, oherwydd eu bod wedyn yn dioddef o bethau fel iechyd meddwl gwael oherwydd y rhestr aros hir. Felly, mae gennym fwy o gysylltiadau oherwydd ein bod yn yr argyfwng iechyd hwn.
Rwyf ychydig yn rhwystredig fod y Gweinidog wedi dweud nad yw'n deall pam fod angen inni ddatgan argyfwng iechyd. Y Llywodraeth hon oedd y gyntaf yn y byd i ddatgan argyfwng hinsawdd. Pam? Beth oedd pwynt gwneud hynny os nad ydych chi'n credu mewn datgan argyfwng, fod pwrpas gwneud hynny? Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi cyhoeddi argyfwng natur. Cafodd y cynnig cyntaf a gyflwynwyd gennym yn y Senedd hon ei gefnogi gan y Llywodraeth, yn datgan argyfwng tai. Mae gennym argyfwng costau byw, argyfwng arall, y mae'r Llywodraeth yn siarad amdano o hyd, yn gwbl briodol. Ond am ryw reswm, mae yna amharodrwydd i gyfaddef bod gennym argyfwng iechyd. Pe bai hynny'n cael ei gyfaddef, byddai gennym ffocws priodol. Byddem yn gallu canolbwyntio ar yr hyn sydd ei angen i'n cael ni allan o'r sefyllfa hon, i nodi'r hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud i isgyfeirio a chydweithio i ddod o hyd i ffordd ymlaen.
Dyna pam ein bod ni wedi rhoi'r cynnig yma at ei gilydd. Dyma pam ein bod ni eisiau'r datganiad yna, datganiad argyfwng iechyd clir, er mwyn ein bod ni'n medru cael y ffocws yna sydd ei angen er mwyn rhoi'r sylw angenrheidiol, er mwyn inni fedru cydweithio efo'n gilydd a ffeindio datrysiad. Ond heb hynny, yna mae arnaf i ofn fod y Llywodraeth unwaith eto yn cuddio eu pennau yn y tywod ac yn gwadu'r hyn sydd yn glir i bawb i weld, yr hyn sydd yn brofiad i bob un ohonom ni, boed yn uniongyrchol, neu efo'n cyfeilion neu efo'n teuluoedd, sef bod yna argyfwng iechyd yma yng Nghymru. Felly, dwi'n eich annog chi i gyd i gefnogi'r cynnig, a hefyd i gefnogi'r gwelliannau. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
That's why we have brought forward this motion, and that's why we need that statement, a health emergency declaration, a clear statement, so that we can have that focus that we need in order to give the necessary attention, so that we can co-operate and find a solution. But without that, then I'm afraid the Government is putting its head in the sand again and is denying what's clear for everyone to see in terms of our experiences, whether they're direct, or whether it's friends or family members, which is that we are facing a health emergency here in Wales. So, I encourage you all to support the motion, and also to support the amendments. Thank you.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, mae yna wrthwynebiad, felly fe wnawn ni adael y bleidlais tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. We will therefore defer voting until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Oni bai bod tri Aelod yn dymuno i mi ganu'r gloch, byddwn ni'n pleidleisio nawr. Y bleidlais gyntaf heno fydd ar eitem 6, sef dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar gyflenwad tai. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 14, neb yn ymatal, 37 yn erbyn. Ac felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.
Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, we will move immediately to voting time. The first vote this evening is on item 6, the Welsh Conservatives debate on housing supply. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 14, no abstentions, 37 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Cyflenwad tai. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 14, Yn erbyn: 37, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Housing supply. Motion without amendment: For: 14, Against: 37, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Y bleidlais nesaf fydd ar welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, bydd gwelliant 2 yn cael ei ddad-ddethol. Pleidlais ar welliant 1, agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 12, neb yn ymatal, 40 yn erbyn. Ac felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei wrthod.
We will now move to a vote on amendment 1 tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. So, I call for a vote on amendment 1. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 12, no abstentions, 40 against. And therefore, amendment 1 is not agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Cyflenwad tai. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan: O blaid: 12, Yn erbyn: 40, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Housing supply. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan: For: 12, Against: 40, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
Gwelliant 2 fydd nesaf—gwelliant 2 yn enw Lesley Griffiths. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 37, neb yn ymatal, 15 yn erbyn. Ac felly, mae gwelliant 2 wedi ei dderbyn.
We'll move now to amendment 2 tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favor 37, no abstentions, 15 against. Amendment 2 is therefore agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Cyflenwad tai. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths: O blaid: 37, Yn erbyn: 15, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Housing supply. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths: For: 37, Against: 15, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Y bleidlais olaf ar yr eitem yma yw'r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio.
The last vote on this item is on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM8479 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod yr heriau y mae’r sector tai yn eu hwynebu, sy’n effeithio ar y cyflenwad o dai ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig.
2. Yn croesawu’r camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd a’i buddsoddiad mewn tai.
3. Yn nodi ymrwymiad uchelgeisiol Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol, carbon isel yn ystod tymor y Llywodraeth hon.
4. Yn nodi ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i Unnos, ar y cyd â Plaid Cymru, er mwyn cefnogi ein cynghorau a’n landlordiaid cymdeithasol i wella’r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol a thai fforddiadwy, gan gynnwys sicrhau bod mwy o gartrefi gwag yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto.
Motion NDM8479 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Acknowledges the challenges being faced by the housing sector, which are impacting housing supply across the United Kingdom.
2. Welcomes the action and investment being made in housing by the Welsh Government.
3. Notes the Welsh Government’s ambitious commitment to deliver 20,000 low carbon, social homes during this term of Government.
4. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to Unnos, together with Plaid Cymru, to support our councils and social landlords to improve the supply of social and affordable housing, including bringing more empty homes back into use.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 37, neb yn ymatal, 15 yn erbyn. Ac felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn.
Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 37, no abstentions, 15 against. And therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Cyflenwad tai. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 37, Yn erbyn: 15, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Housing supply. Motion as amended: For: 37, Against: 15, Abstain: 0
Motion as amended has been agreed
Pleidleisiau ar ddadl Plaid Cymru ar y gwasanaeth iechyd sydd nesaf. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal, ac felly dwi'n defnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn y cynnig. Felly, canlyniad y bleidlais yw bod 26 o blaid, neb yn ymatal, 27 yn erbyn. Mae'r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.
We'll now move to the votes on the Plaid Cymru debate on the health service. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is tied, and therefore I exercise my casting vote against the motion. The result of the vote therefore is that 26 are in favor, no abstentions and 27 against. The motion is therefore not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru. Y gwasanaeth iechyd. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate. The health service. Motion without amendment: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Motion has been rejected
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal. Gwnaf ddefnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn y gwelliant, ac felly, mae'r gwelliant wedi ei drechu o 27 pleidlais i 26.
The next vote is on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is again tied. I will exercise my casting vote against the amendment, and therefore the amendment has been defeated by 27 votes to 26.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru. Y gwasanaeth iechyd. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate. The health service. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Amendment has been rejected
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf felly ar welliant 2 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal. Dwi'n defnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn y gwelliant. Canlyniad y bleidlais yw bod 26 o blaid a 27 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 2 wedi ei wrthod.
The next vote is on amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is tied. I exercise my casting vote against the amendment. The result of the vote is that there were 26 in favour and 27 against. Therefore, amendment 2 is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru. Y gwasanaeth iechyd. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate. The health service. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Amendment has been rejected
Gwelliant 3 nesaf yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 27, neb yn ymatal, 25 yn erbyn, ac felly mae gwelliant 3 wedi ei gymeradwyo.
Amendment 3 is next, in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 27, no abstentions, 25 against, and therefore amendment 3 is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru. Y gwasanaeth iechyd. Gwelliant 3, cyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 25, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate. The health service. Amendment 3, tabled in the name of Darren Millar: For: 27, Against: 25, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Mi gymrwn ni bleidlais nawr ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio.
We will now vote on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM8478 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cefnogi ymdrechion arwrol staff y GIG yng Nghymru wrth iddynt ddarparu gofal mewn amgylchiadau heriol.
2. Yn nodi blwyddyn ers i’r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol amlinellu blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y GIG yng Nghymru.
3. Yn credu bod:
a) canlyniadau iechyd wedi gwaethygu yn y flwyddyn sydd wedi mynd heibio; a
b) methiant i weithredu ar y blaenoriaethau wedi cyfrannu at fod pob bwrdd iechyd mewn rhyw fath o statws uwchgyfeirio.
4. Yn gresynu:
a) bod nifer y llwybrau cleifion oedd yn aros am driniaeth yn 758,815 ym mis Tachwedd 2023, o'i gymharu â 731,102 ym mis Chwefror 2023;
b) mai 53.5 y cant o gleifion canser ddechreuodd eu triniaeth ddiffiniol gyntaf o fewn y targed 62 diwrnod ym mis Tachwedd 2023, o'i gymharu â 54.3 y cant ym mis Chwefror 2023;
c) mai nifer y meddygon teulu cyfwerth ag amser llawn yng Nghymru oedd 1901 yn 2013 a 1429.6 yn 2023; a
d) mai 66.7 y cant o gleifion dreuliodd llai na 4 awr mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ym mis Rhagfyr 2023, o'i gymharu â 71.5 y cant ym mis Chwefror 2023.
5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) pennu amserlen glir i ddad-ddwysáu trefniadau ymyrryd ym mhob bwrdd iechyd; a
b) datgan argyfwng iechyd; a
c) gosod targed i ddileu amseroedd aros dwy flynedd erbyn mis Medi 2024 a chreu tasglu i'w gyflawni.
Motion NDM8478 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Supports the heroic efforts of NHS staff in Wales as they provide care in challenging circumstances.
2. Notes the first anniversary of the Minister for Health and Social Services setting out the Welsh Government's priorities for the NHS in Wales.
3. Believes that:
a) health outcomes have worsened in the past year; and
b) a failure to act on the priorities has contributed to all health boards being in some form of escalation status.
4. Regrets that:
a) the number of patient pathways waiting for treatment was 758,815 in November 2023, compared to 731,102 in February 2023;
b) 53.5 per cent of patients started their first definitive treatment within the target of 62 days of first being suspected of cancer in November 2023 , compared to 54.3 per cent in February 2023;
c) the full time equivalent number of GPs in Wales was 1901 in 2013 and 1429.6 in 2023; and
d) 66.7 per cent of patients spent less than 4 hours in A&E in December 2023, compared to 71.5 per cent in February 2023.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) set out a clear timescale to de-escalate intervention arrangements in every health board;
b) declare a health emergency; and
c) set a target to eliminate two-year waits by September 2024 and create a taskforce to deliver it.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal, ac felly dwi'n defnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio. Ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi'i drechu.
Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is tied, and therefore I exercise my casting vote against the motion as amended. And therefore the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru. Y gwasanaeth iechyd. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate. The health service. Motion as amended: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Motion as amended has been rejected
Dyna ni ddiwedd ar y pleidleisio.
That concludes voting for today.
Mae yna un eitem arall ar ein hagenda ni ar gyfer y prynhawn yma.
We have one remaining item on our agenda for this afternoon.
I'll ask Members to leave the Chamber, if you're leaving, quietly, so I can call on Janet Finch-Saunders to introduce her short debate. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Fe ofynnaf i'r Aelodau adael y Siambr yn dawel, os ydych yn gadael, er mwyn imi alw ar Janet Finch-Saunders i gyflwyno ei dadl fer. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'm pleased to be giving Natasha Asghar, Mark Isherwood, Joel James, Russell George, Peter Fox and Mike Hedges a minute in this debate.
According to the National Community Hearing Association, there are currently 527,100 adults in Wales, which is 17 per cent of the population, with a degree of some hearing loss that would benefit from treatment such as with hearing aids. Over 95 per cent of those with a hearing loss in Wales are over the age of 40 and hearing loss is the fifth leading cause of years lived with a disability in Wales.
Wales also has a particular issue with an ageing population. The incidence of age-related hearing loss is roughly 1 per cent per year of age; so 60 per cent of 60-year-olds, 80 per cent of 80-year-olds and 90 per cent of 90-year-olds and so on. Wales is the nation in the UK with the highest percentage of its population aged 65 or older, so it is imperative that we have the best hearing services possible.
Three years ago, just over 4,000 people were waiting on appointments to receive their hearing aid. In September 2023 nearly 10,000 now are waiting for the same; a third of whom are waiting over 14 weeks. So, there has been a 150 per cent increase in those waiting. Waiting lists have risen steadily since 2019 and continue to grow. In November 2019 not a single NHS patient waited more than 40 weeks, however, in September 2023, there were 35.
The number of audiologists employed by health boards differ across the nation. So, you have in Public Health Wales, three; Powys, five; Hywel Dda, 18; Betsi Cadwaladr, in my region, 65. So, on top of the inconsistent spread of audiologists, it is a complete postcode lottery as to how long you have to wait for any hearing support needed. In November 2023 the number of adults waiting longer than 14 weeks were just one patient in Swansea bay, 583 in Hywel Dda and, again, a staggering 1,674 patients at the Betsi Cadwaladr health board.
So, let's look at what the Welsh Government have in place to try and improve audiology services. Last year you advised that once the wax-management pathway is in place, patients will be referred to a primary care audiology service, where it would be performed free of charge by advanced audiology practitioners, thereby freeing up unnecessary patient appointments in primary and secondary care.
I'm aware, also, that NHS Wales pathways with national clinical standards for the delivery of a hearing care service are being implemented across all health boards, with advanced progress having been made by Betsi board and Swansea bay. This means that patients can now be referred to a primary care audiology service, where hearing care will be provided free of charge by these advanced audiology practitioners. So, the Welsh Government model is focused on NHS advanced practice audiologists seeing patients at initial presentation with hearing problems. The problem is, though, that primary care audiology still comprises locating hosptial hearing loss practitioners in GP surgeries, and, as you can imagine, you need a model that removes that pressure from GPs. The move improves local access, but does not add capacity to the service.
So, I believe you could go a step further. Both Boots hearing care and Specsavers have approached me to highlight that, by working with primary ophthalmic service contractors, opticians, and private audiologists who already provide this community audiology to adults who choose to pay for their hearing loss care, health boards can add capacity as well as improving access. The risk of investing in additional colleagues and premises would fall entirely to those contractors already placed there, with their hearing booths, with their ophthalmology units there in the high street. So, the service delivery model, already in use by England and Ireland, has proven to be safely delivered by these independent providers, and at as much, Minister, as a third of the cost per patient of providing this service through a hospital.
Based on the evidence from NHS audiology services, the unit cost per patient would fall significantly. Access to support would be quicker, which is what we need. And also, why would you have people needing hearing aids, batteries, and all that maintenance, wandering down corridors of hospitals, at risk of infection, and, indeed, adding more pressure to those hospitals, when they could go onto the high street and work with our audiologists and our ophthalmic providers, and, actually, be livening up our high streets?
The National Deaf Children's Society has found that 26 per cent of families were dissatisfied with waiting times for paediatric audiology. Now, whilst I understand that they are in the process of contacting people to discuss waiting times, we need to see some action now. In fact, 45 per cent of families who were satisfied with waiting times still shared at least one concern for their child whilst waiting for an appointment. They include delays in finding out the reasons behind their children's hearing loss, if their child was able to access all that was said in their education setting, missing out on improved social communication with friends and family, and understanding whether hearing technology would benefit their deaf child.
I'm sure you will agree that it is imperative that no time is lost in ensuring that children and young people requiring audiology assistance receive it. So, there needs to be cross-departmental action. For example, health needs to work with education, which has seen a 17 per cent reduction in teachers of the deaf in Wales since 2011. No surprise, then, that, in December, Ros Hannam from Caldicot launched a campaign calling for more investment in specialist teachers who have helped her and her family, which includes two deaf children. Another example of where schools are not effectively supporting health is through the individual development plans. The NDCS has found that, despite the commitments of the additional learning needs code to provide IDPs to all learners with sensory impairment by virtue of said impairment, some children are still being denied these. This cannot be right in 2024.
Left unsupported, hearing loss cuts people off from each other. This can increase the risk of social isolation, cognitive decline and other mental issues. And I'm given to understand that it can actually bring on early dementia and Alzheimer's. Too often, deaf people who simply cannot hear quite often feel that they are referred to as 'daft' people, and that's the stigma that we've got to get rid of. I believe that you could be delivering hearing services in Wales through this much easier model, on the high street, working through private contractors, at a third of the cost. And, therefore, Minister, I would ask that you consider giving that model some consideration. Diolch.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o roi munud i Natasha Asghar, Mark Isherwood, Joel James, Russell George, Peter Fox a Mike Hedges yn y ddadl hon.
Yn ôl y Gymdeithas Genedlaethol Clywed Cymunedol, NCHA, mae gan 527,100 o oedolion yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, sef 17 y cant o'r boblogaeth, rywfaint o golled clyw a fyddai'n elwa o driniaeth megis gyda chymhorthion clyw. Mae dros 95 y cant o'r rhai sydd â cholled clyw yng Nghymru dros 40 oed a cholled clyw yw pumed prif achos blynyddoedd o fyw gydag anabledd yng Nghymru.
Mae gan Gymru broblem arbennig hefyd gyda phoblogaeth sy'n heneiddio. Mae nifer yr achosion o golled clyw sy'n gysylltiedig ag oedran oddeutu 1 y cant am bob blwyddyn o'ch oed; felly 60 y cant o bobl 60 oed, 80 y cant o bobl 80 oed a 90 y cant o bobl 90 oed ac yn y blaen. Cymru yw'r genedl yn y DU sydd â'r ganran uchaf o'i phoblogaeth yn 65 oed neu'n hŷn, felly mae'n hanfodol fod gennym y gwasanaethau clyw gorau posibl.
Dair blynedd yn ôl, roedd ychydig dros 4,000 o bobl yn aros am apwyntiadau i gael eu cymorth clyw. Ym mis Medi 2023 mae bron i 10,000 bellach yn aros am yr un peth; mae traean o'r rhain yn aros dros 14 wythnos. Felly, gwelwyd cynnydd o 150 y cant yn nifer y rhai sy'n aros. Mae rhestrau aros wedi codi'n gyson ers 2019 ac maent yn parhau i dyfu. Ym mis Tachwedd 2019 nid oedd yr un claf GIG yn aros am fwy na 40 wythnos, ond ym mis Medi 2023, roedd yna 35.
Mae nifer y awdiolegwyr a gyflogir gan fyrddau iechyd yn wahanol ar draws y wlad. Felly, mae gennych dri yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru; Powys, pump; Hywel Dda, 18; Betsi Cadwaladr, yn fy rhanbarth i, 65. Felly, ar ben y dosbarthiad anghyson o awdiolegwyr, loteri cod post llwyr yw pa mor hir y mae'n rhaid i chi aros am unrhyw gymorth clyw sydd ei angen. Ym mis Tachwedd 2023 nifer yr oedolion a oedd yn aros am fwy na 14 wythnos oedd un claf yn unig ym mae Abertawe, 583 yn Hywel Dda ac unwaith eto, 1,674 o gleifion ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr.
Felly, gadewch inni edrych ar yr hyn sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar waith i geisio gwella gwasanaethau awdioleg. Y llynedd, fe ddywedoch chi y bydd cleifion yn cael eu cyfeirio at wasanaeth awdioleg gofal sylfaenol pan fyddai'r llwybr rheoli cwyr clustiau'n weithredol, a byddai'n cael ei gyflawni yno am ddim gan uwch-ymarferwyr awdioleg, gan ryddhau apwyntiadau diangen i gleifion mewn gofal sylfaenol ac eilaidd.
Rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd fod llwybrau GIG Cymru sydd â safonau clinigol cenedlaethol ar gyfer darparu gwasanaeth gofal clyw yn cael eu gweithredu ar draws pob bwrdd iechyd, gyda chynnydd gwell wedi'i wneud gan fwrdd Betsi a bae Abertawe. Golyga hyn y gall cleifion gael eu hatgyfeirio at wasanaeth awdioleg gofal sylfaenol bellach, lle bydd gofal clyw'n cael ei ddarparu am ddim gan yr uwch-ymarferwyr awdioleg hyn. Felly, mae model Llywodraeth Cymru yn canolbwyntio ar gael uwch-ymarferwyr awdioleg y GIG i weld cleifion wrth iddynt ymgyflwyno gyntaf gyda phroblemau clyw. Y broblem, serch hynny, yw bod awdioleg gofal sylfaenol yn dal i olygu bod ymarferwyr colled clyw ysbytai yn cael eu lleoli mewn meddygfeydd, ac fel y gallwch ddychmygu, mae angen model arnoch sy'n dileu'r pwysau hwnnw ar feddygon teulu. Mae'r newid yn gwella mynediad lleol, ond nid yw'n ychwanegu capasiti i'r gwasanaeth.
Felly, rwy'n credu y gallech fynd gam ymhellach. Mae gofal clyw Boots a Specsavers wedi dod ataf i nodi y gall byrddau iechyd, trwy weithio gyda chontractwyr gwasanaeth offthalmig sylfaenol, optegwyr ac awdiolegwyr preifat sydd eisoes yn darparu awdioleg gymunedol i oedolion sy'n dewis talu am eu gofal colled clyw, ychwanegu capasiti yn ogystal â gwella mynediad. Byddai risg buddsoddi mewn cydweithwyr a safleoedd ychwanegol yn disgyn yn gyfan gwbl ar y contractwyr sydd eisoes wedi'u lleoli yno, gyda'u bythau clyw, gyda'u hunedau offthalmoleg yno ar y stryd fawr. Felly, profodd y darparwyr annibynnol hyn fod y model darparu gwasanaeth, sydd eisoes yn cael ei ddefnyddio yn Lloegr ac Iwerddon, yn ddiogel, a hynny am gyn lleied â thraean o'r gost fesul claf o ddarparu'r gwasanaeth hwn trwy ysbyty.
Yn seiliedig ar y dystiolaeth gan wasanaethau awdioleg y GIG, byddai cost uned fesul claf yn gostwng yn sylweddol. Byddai mynediad at gymorth yn gyflymach, sef yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom. A hefyd, pam y byddech chi eisiau gweld pobl sydd angen cymhorthion clyw, batris, a'r holl waith cynnal a chadw hwnnw, yn crwydro ar hyd coridorau ysbytai, mewn perygl o ddal haint, ac yn ychwanegu mwy o bwysau ar yr ysbytai hynny yn wir, pan allent fynd i'r stryd fawr a gweithio gyda'n awdiolegwyr a'n darparwyr offthalmig, a bywiogi ein strydoedd mawr mewn gwirionedd?
Mae'r Gymdeithas Genedlaethol i Blant Byddar wedi canfod bod 26 y cant o deuluoedd yn anfodlon gydag amseroedd aros awdioleg bediatrig. Nawr, er fy mod yn deall eu bod yn y broses o gysylltu â phobl i drafod amseroedd aros, mae angen inni weld rhywfaint o weithredu nawr. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd 45 y cant o deuluoedd a oedd yn fodlon gydag amseroedd aros yn dal i rannu o leiaf un pryder am eu plentyn wrth aros am apwyntiad. Maent yn cynnwys oedi cyn darganfod y rhesymau am golled clyw eu plant, a oedd eu plentyn yn gallu deall popeth a ddywedir yn ei leoliad addysg, colli cyfathrebu cymdeithasol gwell gyda ffrindiau a theulu, a deall a fyddai technoleg clyw o fudd i'w plentyn byddar.
Rwy'n siŵr y cytunwch ei bod yn hanfodol nad oes amser yn cael ei golli i sicrhau bod plant a phobl ifanc sydd angen cymorth awdioleg yn ei gael. Felly, mae angen gweithredu trawsadrannol. Er enghraifft, mae angen i iechyd weithio gydag addysg, sydd wedi gweld gostyngiad o 17 y cant yn nifer yr athrawon i bobl fyddar yng Nghymru ers 2011. Nid yw'n syndod, felly, ym mis Rhagfyr, fod Ros Hannam o Gil-y-coed wedi lansio ymgyrch yn galw am fwy o fuddsoddiad mewn athrawon arbenigol sydd wedi ei helpu hi a'i theulu, sy'n cynnwys dau blentyn byddar. Enghraifft arall o ble nad yw ysgolion yn cefnogi iechyd yn effeithiol yw drwy'r cynlluniau datblygu unigol. Mae'r Gymdeithas Genedlaethol i Blant Byddar wedi canfod, er gwaethaf ymrwymiadau'r cod anghenion dysgu ychwanegol i ddarparu cynlluniau datblygu unigol i bob dysgwr sydd â nam ar y synhwyrau yng nghyd-destun y nam hwnnw, fod rhai plant yn dal i gael eu hamddifadu o'r rhain. Ni all hyn fod yn iawn yn 2024.
Heb gefnogaeth, mae colled clyw yn gwahanu pobl oddi wrth ei gilydd. Gall hyn gynyddu'r risg o ynysu cymdeithasol, dirywiad gwybyddol a phroblemau meddyliol eraill. Ac rwy'n deall y gall arwain at ddementia cynnar a chlefyd Alzheimer mewn gwirionedd. Yn rhy aml, mae pobl fyddar nad ydynt yn gallu clywed yn aml yn teimlo bod rhai'n cyfeirio atynt fel pobl 'dwp', ac mae'n rhaid inni gael gwared ar y stigma hwnnw. Credaf y gallech fod yn darparu gwasanaethau clyw yng Nghymru drwy'r model llawer haws hwn, ar y stryd fawr, gan weithio trwy gontractwyr preifat, am draean o'r gost. Ac felly, Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn i chi roi rhywfaint o ystyriaeth i'r model hwnnw. Diolch.
I'd like to thank Janet for letting me contribute to the short debate today, and thank her for bringing this important topic to the Chamber. I had the pleasure yesterday of sponsoring an event in the Welsh Parliament about adult hearing loss and tackling the stigma around it. It was a very interesting event, and I must pay tribute to my colleagues Russell George and also Joel James MS for speaking so openly, particularly about his experience of hearing loss. It was really, really moving, Joel, and honestly meant a lot.
Hearing loss is a huge issue here in Wales, with there being more than 0.5 million people with some degree of hearing loss, and there is a huge demand on our NHS for ear care, with nearly 10,000 people waiting for appointments to receive hearing aids as of September last year. Now, every health board in Wales commissions Specsavers to provide eye specialist health services within the community, and I must commend them, because they started something very new in Newport, and that is within their flagship store. I must commend also my predecessor in South East Wales who, apparently, was the linchpin between the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Specsavers in creating such an incredible new outlook, which is, when you walk into an opticians, at the bottom you have your eyes tested, you get your glasses, your contacts, but then upstairs, in collaboration with Aneurin Bevan Health Board, you can also go and have small procedures done with your eyes and also your ears as well. I was invited to the actual flagship. I would suggest you go as well, Minister, if you get the opportunity. I'd love to take you there, because it shows great collaborative working, and it certainly can be done. I just wish it would be done everywhere, as opposed to just in Newport as well.
I'd like to ask you today, Minister, if the Welsh Government has explored implementing something similar when it comes to actually providing good ear services as well to residents across Wales. It's clear more needs to be done in Wales to support those with hearing loss, and I look forward to the Minister outlining what steps the Welsh Government is going to be taking to achieve just this. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Janet am adael i mi gyfrannu at y ddadl fer heddiw, a diolch iddi am ddod â'r pwnc pwysig hwn i'r Siambr. Cefais y pleser ddoe o noddi digwyddiad yn Senedd Cymru am golled clyw oedolion a mynd i'r afael â'r stigma sydd ynghlwm wrtho. Roedd yn ddigwyddiad diddorol iawn, ac mae'n rhaid imi dalu teyrnged i fy nghyd-Aelodau Russell George, a hefyd Joel James AS am siarad mor agored, yn enwedig am ei brofiad o golled clyw. Fe wnaeth argraff fawr arnaf, Joel, ac o ddifrif, roedd yn golygu llawer i mi.
Mae colled clyw yn broblem enfawr yma yng Nghymru, gyda mwy na 0.5 miliwn o bobl â rhywfaint o golled clyw, ac mae galw enfawr ar ein GIG am ofal clust, gyda bron i 10,000 o bobl yn aros am apwyntiadau i gael cymhorthion clyw ym mis Medi y llynedd. Nawr, mae pob bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru yn comisiynu Specsavers i ddarparu gwasanaethau iechyd arbenigol y llygaid yn y gymuned, ac mae'n rhaid i mi eu cymeradwyo, oherwydd maent wedi dechrau rhywbeth newydd iawn yng Nghasnewydd, a hynny yn eu siop flaenllaw. Rhaid imi ganmol fy rhagflaenydd yn Ne-ddwyrain Cymru hefyd, a oedd, yn ôl pob tebyg, yn gyswllt pwysig rhwng Bwrdd Iechyd Aneurin Bevan a Specsavers wrth greu ffordd newydd mor anhygoel o fynd ati, sef, pan fyddwch chi'n cerdded i mewn i siop optegwyr, ar y llawr gwaelod gallwch gael prawf llygaid, gallwch gael eich sbectol, eich lensys cyffwrdd, ond i fyny'r grisiau, mewn cydweithrediad â Bwrdd Iechyd Aneurin Bevan, gallwch hefyd fynd i gael triniaethau bach wedi'u gwneud gyda'ch llygaid ac ar eich clustiau yn ogystal. Cefais fy ngwahodd i'r siop arloesol. Carwn awgrymu eich bod chi'n mynd hefyd, Weinidog, os cewch gyfle. Byddwn wrth fy modd yn mynd â chi yno, oherwydd mae'n dangos gwaith cydweithredol gwych, ac yn sicr fe ellir ei wneud. Hoffwn pe bai'n cael ei wneud ym mhobman, yn hytrach na dim ond yng Nghasnewydd.
Hoffwn ofyn i chi heddiw, Weinidog, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ystyried gweithredu rhywbeth tebyg ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau clust da hefyd i breswylwyr ledled Cymru. Mae'n amlwg fod angen gwneud mwy yng Nghymru i gefnogi'r rhai sydd â cholled clyw, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed y Gweinidog yn amlinellu pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gyflawni hyn. Diolch.
Two years ago I met Specsavers with the chief executive officer of the Wales Council for Deaf People to discuss how the optical industry could help NHS Wales improve access to NHS hearing loss services. Early last year, however, a written response from the Minister told me she had agreed not to seek private providers’ assistance at this time, despite every health board in Wales commissioning optometry services from the same providers. Last June, during a visit to Specsavers in Mold, they demonstrated their comprehensive community audiology hearing loss services, the audiology pathway they provide, and how they work with and care for audiology patients every day. Although community audiology service providers hold NHS audiology contracts elsewhere in the UK, NHS hearing loss services in Wales are exclusively provided within NHS Wales, forcing some patients to go private, and other to suffer in silence. A responsible Welsh Government would recognise that demand for audiology services is only going to increase. Many, unlike myself who lost my hearing as a younger person, lose their hearing as they grow older, and although the primary care audiology model improves accessibility, it fails to provide the additional capacity needed.
Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, cefais gyfarfod â Specsavers gyda phrif swyddog gweithredol Cyngor Cymru i Bobl Fyddar i drafod sut y gallai'r diwydiant optegol helpu GIG Cymru i wella mynediad at wasanaethau colled clyw y GIG. Yn gynnar y llynedd, fodd bynnag, nododd ymateb ysgrifenedig a gefais gan y Gweinidog ei bod wedi cytuno i beidio â cheisio cymorth darparwyr preifat ar hyn o bryd, er bod pob bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru yn comisiynu gwasanaethau optometreg gan yr un darparwyr. Fis Mehefin diwethaf, yn ystod ymweliad â Specsavers yn yr Wyddgrug, fe wnaethant ddangos eu gwasanaethau awdioleg colled clyw cymunedol cynhwysfawr, y llwybr awdioleg y maent yn ei ddarparu, a sut maent yn gweithio gyda chleifion awdioleg ac yn gofalu amdanynt bob dydd. Er bod gan ddarparwyr gwasanaethau awdioleg cymunedol gontractau awdioleg y GIG mewn mannau eraill yn y DU, darperir gwasanaethau colled clyw y GIG yng Nghymru o fewn GIG Cymru yn unig, gan orfodi rhai cleifion i fynd yn breifat, ac eraill i ddioddef yn dawel. Byddai Llywodraeth gyfrifol yng Nghymru yn cydnabod mai dim ond cynyddu y bydd y galw am wasanaethau awdioleg. Yn wahanol i mi a gollodd fy nghlyw yn iau, mae llawer yn colli eu clyw wrth iddynt heneiddio, ac er bod y model awdioleg gofal sylfaenol yn gwella hygyrchedd, mae'n methu darparu'r capasiti ychwanegol sydd ei angen.
I'd like to start by thanking Janet for allowing me a minute of her time and for raising such an important debate, and also to thank Natasha for her kind words just then, really. I suppose I just want to take my opportunity to reiterate the valid points that Janet rose in her debate in terms of just tackling hearing loss quickly. If we look at child development, we know of social isolation, the impact in terms of speech and language, and then also the social skills that can be impaired. And then if we look at when we become adults, in terms of the working environment, there are 4.4 million in the entire United Kingdom that have hearing difficulties. Many of them feel that they're being discriminated in the working environment, in terms of being passed over for promotion, losing out on the office atmosphere—the banter, the conversations. And then, as Janet highlighted, hearing impairment is linked to cognitive decline, but the statistics show that, as soon as those hearing aids are fitted, cognitive decline ceases almost immediately. So, those are the key points I'd like to just reiterate for the Minister. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i Janet am ganiatáu munud o'i hamser i mi ac am gyflwyno dadl mor bwysig, a diolch hefyd i Natasha am ei geiriau caredig. Mae'n debyg fy mod eisiau manteisio ar fy nghyfle i ailadrodd y pwyntiau dilys a gododd Janet yn ei dadl ynghylch mynd i'r afael â cholled clyw yn gyflym. Os edrychwn ar ddatblygiad plant, rydym yn gwybod am ynysigrwydd cymdeithasol, yr effaith ar leferydd ac iaith, a hefyd yr effaith bosibl ar sgiliau cymdeithasol. Ac os edrychwn ar pan fyddwn ni'n dod yn oedolion, a'r amgylchedd gwaith, mae gan 4.4 miliwn yn y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan anawsterau clyw. Mae llawer ohonynt yn teimlo bod pobl yn gwahaniaethu yn eu herbyn yn yr amgylchedd gwaith, o ran methu cael dyrchafiad, neu golli awyrgylch swyddfa—y tynnu coes, y sgyrsiau. A hefyd, fel yr amlygodd Janet, mae cysylltiad rhwng nam ar y clyw a dirywiad gwybyddol, ond cyn gynted ag y caiff cymhorthion clyw eu gosod, mae'r ystadegau'n dangos bod dirywiad gwybyddol yn stopio bron ar unwaith. Felly, dyna'r pwyntiau allweddol yr hoffwn eu hailadrodd i'r Gweinidog. Diolch.
Thank you, Janet, for giving me a minute in this debate. I am president of the Swansea Hard of Hearing Group. People's hearing deteriorates with age. Age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis—I hope I got that right—is the gradual loss of hearing in both ears. It is a frequent problem linked to ageing. One in three adults over 65 has hearing loss. Because of the gradual change in hearing, some people are not aware of the change at first—they just turn the tv and radio volume up. The hearing range is also reduced as we age, so do you inner ears. Because of this there are certain sounds we simply cannot hear as we get older: 17,400 Hz is a frequency that only teenagers can hear; 12,000 Hz is hard for anyone over 50 years of age to hear. Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body, and is often associated with hearing loss. Adult hearing loss services in Wales are mostly provided by NHS health boards, mostly as hospital-based services, even though 94 per cent of adult onset hearing loss is age related, which can be safely and effectively treated in community locations. We need to support more community-based treatment.
Diolch, Janet, am roi munud i mi yn y ddadl hon. Rwy'n llywydd Grŵp Trwm eu Clyw Abertawe. Mae clyw pobl yn dirywio gydag oedran. Gyda cholli clyw sy'n gysylltiedig ag oedran, a elwir hefyd yn presbycwsis—gobeithio imi ddweud hynny'n iawn—mae'r clyw'n gwaethygu'n raddol yn y ddwy glust. Mae'n broblem gyffredin sy'n gysylltiedig â heneiddio. Mae un o bob tri oedolyn dros 65 oed â cholled clyw. Oherwydd y newid graddol yn eu clyw, bydd rhai pobl yn anymwybodol o'r newid i ddechrau—maent yn codi'r sain ar y teledu a'r radio. Mae'r ystod clyw hefyd yn lleihau wrth inni heneiddio, yn ogystal â'ch clustiau mewnol. Oherwydd hyn mae rhai synau na allwn eu clywed wrth inni fynd yn hŷn: mae 17,400 Hz yn amledd na all ond pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau ei glywed; mae 12,000 Hz yn anodd i unrhyw un dros 50 oed ei glywed. Tinitws yw'r term am glywed synau sy'n dod o'r tu mewn i'ch corff, ac mae'n aml yn gysylltiedig â cholled clyw. Caiff gwasanaethau colled clyw i oedolion yng Nghymru eu darparu'n bennaf gan fyrddau iechyd y GIG, yn bennaf fel gwasanaethau mewn ysbytai, er bod 94 y cant o golled clyw mewn oedolion yn gysylltiedig ag oedran, a gellir ei drin yn ddiogel ac yn effeithiol mewn lleoliadau cymunedol. Mae angen inni gefnogi mwy o driniaeth yn y gymuned.
I was really pleased to attend the event yesterday, hosted by Natasha Asghar, and any Member walking through the Oriel yesterday may have seen the inside of my ear on a big screen. It was a really delightful picture, wasn't it, Janet? I think Janet saw it and was horrified. But I do support some of the comments others have made, especially Mark Isherwood, in terms of what Specsavers and the private sector can do, not only to support the NHS but actually to save the NHS money. The case seems quite clear to me, so I hope it is something the Minister will be able to examine.
But I also met with Auditory Verbal UK today, and they spoke about the need for early intervention and diagnosis on hearing impairment for younger people. Now, if that's done early, and that diagnosis can come early, that can also bring a saving later down the line as well. But they spoke about the need for 30 AV specialists across Wales. At the moment, they told us there are zero in Wales, so I hope that the Minister may be able to comment on that as well—perhaps not, but if the Minister can—. The Minister's indicating not, so I'll make sure I drop the Minister a note on that.
Roeddwn yn falch iawn o fynychu'r digwyddiad ddoe a gynhaliwyd gan Natasha Asghar, ac efallai fod unrhyw Aelod a oedd yn cerdded trwy'r Oriel ddoe wedi gweld y tu mewn i fy nghlust ar sgrin fawr. Roedd yn ddarlun hyfryd iawn, onid oedd, Janet? Rwy'n credu bod Janet wedi ei weld ac wedi dychryn drwyddi. Ond rwy'n cefnogi rhai o'r sylwadau y mae eraill wedi'u gwneud, yn enwedig Mark Isherwood, ynghylch yr hyn y gall Specsavers a'r sector preifat ei wneud, nid yn unig i gefnogi'r GIG ond i arbed arian i'r GIG mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r achos i'w weld yn eithaf clir i mi, felly rwy'n gobeithio ei fod yn rhywbeth y bydd y Gweinidog yn gallu edrych arno.
Ond cyfarfûm ag Auditory Verbal UK heddiw hefyd, ac roeddent yn siarad am yr angen am ddiagnosis ac ymyrraeth gynnar ar nam ar y clyw i bobl iau. Nawr, os yw hynny'n cael ei wneud yn gynnar, a bod modd cael diagnosis yn gynnar, gall hynny hefyd greu arbediad yn ddiweddarach hefyd. Ond roeddent yn sôn am yr angen am 30 o arbenigwyr clywedol-eiriol ledled Cymru. Ar hyn o bryd, roeddent yn dweud nad oes unrhyw arbenigwyr o'r fath yng Nghymru, felly rwy'n gobeithio y gall y Gweinidog wneud sylw ar hynny hefyd—efallai na all wneud hynny, ond os gall y Gweinidog—. Mae'r Gweinidog yn dynodi na all, felly yn sicr fe anfonaf nodyn ati ar hynny.
Finally, Peter Fox, before the Minister responds. Peter Fox. Just one more. Just one more, Minister.
Yn olaf, Peter Fox, cyn i'r Gweinidog ymateb. Peter Fox. Dim ond un arall. Dim ond un arall, Weinidog.
Sorry, Minister. Thank you. Thank you, Janet, for giving me some time, and, like Russ, I wanted to raise the important issue related to therapies to support deaf babies and children. Clearly, it's so important that our youngest citizens have access to all the support they need, as their whole life lies ahead of them, and how we support them at the start of their lives will determine how their life progresses—positively or, possibly, negatively. To that end, I would like to understand if steps to increase access to auditory and verbal therapy for deaf babies and children are being considered, and, if so, will this specialist support be adequately supported with Government funding, to ensure all deaf children have the opportunity to access it via publicly funded services?
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Weinidog. Diolch. Diolch i chi, Janet, am roi peth amser i mi, ac fel Russ, roeddwn i eisiau codi'r mater pwysig yn ymwneud â therapïau i gefnogi babanod a phlant byddar. Yn amlwg, mae hi mor bwysig fod ein dinasyddion ieuengaf yn cael mynediad at yr holl gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt, gan fod eu bywydau cyfan o'u blaenau, a bydd sut y gwnawn eu cefnogi ar ddechrau eu bywydau yn penderfynu sut y bydd eu bywydau'n datblygu—yn gadarnhaol neu o bosibl, yn negyddol. I'r perwyl hwnnw, hoffwn ddeall a oes ystyriaeth yn cael ei rhoi i gamau i gynyddu mynediad at therapi clywedol a geiriol ar gyfer babanod a phlant byddar, ac os felly, a fydd y cymorth arbenigol hwn yn cael ei gefnogi'n ddigonol gan gyllid y Llywodraeth, i sicrhau bod pob plentyn byddar yn cael cyfle i gael mynediad ato trwy wasanaethau a ariennir yn gyhoeddus?
Y Gweinidog nawr i gyfrannu i'r ddadl.
The Minister to contribute to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr. I'm grateful for the opportunity of the short debate today to focus on this important topic of faster access to hearing services. The Welsh Government recognises that loss of hearing at any age can be devastating and, as a result, can leave people feeling isolated and detached from the world around them. Early intervention and diagnosis are paramount for the health and well-being of these individuals.
Now, since 2017, when the 'Framework of Action for Wales, 2017-2020: Integrated framework of care and support for people who are D/deaf or living with hearing loss' was launched, we have worked hard to become a leader in hearing care. As Janet set out, audiology services here are delivered differently from the rest of the UK—a much stronger emphasis on more treatment and care delivered in primary and community care, underpinned by those prudent healthcare principles. Now, this puts new emphasis on what would work best for patients and makes the most effective use of all available resources across primary care and in hospitals. Actually, the other devolved nations have followed our lead in replicating the work we've pioneered.
Some people have asked about exploration with the private sector. I've got to tell you that I have looked into this, and I don't have any principled objection to it, but I am very keen to see can we do this, first of all, through the public sector. If they can't do it, then, obviously, let's look at alternatives. But I would like to give this a fair wind, and I guess the health boards are on notice that they've got to deliver on what we're asking them to deliver.
I think people living longer is a cause for celebration, but it also places renewed pressure on services, and we're all aware that the incidence of hearing loss is increasing because of our ageing population. I loved your statistics: I didn't realise 90 per cent of people who are 90 have hearing loss, so those are some easy statistics to remember. So, obviously, we've got to progress transformational change, as we are aware of that ageing population.
We've developed direct referral criteria and pathways to and from audiology departments, to ENT, clinical psychology and radiology, and agencies, including social services for assessment and assistive equipment. Patients have been empowered to increase their self-management skills with improved information, accessing services only when necessary. There's also local support to complement audiology services; examples include local authority and third sector collaboration on signposting individuals to advice and support.
Now, we have developed and implemented a nationally agreed pathway for hearing aid battery provision and ongoing hearing aid maintenance, including volunteer peer support. So, I'm not thinking of seeing people in hospitals fixing batteries; the whole point of this is that we're getting it into the community. Ear wax management services are being rolled out in primary care clusters, combined with self-management advice, an important part of treating problematic ear wax. So, that's happening in clusters already. Betsi Cadwaladr and Swansea Bay health boards lead the way, and are sharing best practice. It's my expectation that all health boards deliver wax management services. And where services are already rolled out, they're reducing the number of patients being referred to GPs and ENT departments.
I think Peter Fox asked about children. Well, school-entry hearing screening has also been rolled out, which helps to identify hearing impairments early, to enable these children to reach their full education, social and employment potential. Health boards also now have local dementia standard operating procedures in place, and we've included hearing status as part of in-patient pathways for people with dementia and out-patient memory care pathways for diagnosis of dementia. All this work is centred around that primary care model, which is about people accessing the right care, from the right professional, close to home.
Now, as the national clinical framework drives national clinical pathways, we'll make faster progress with rebalancing services, moving away from illness and hospitals towards wellness and care closer to home. So, we've got a pathway. The key thing is now everybody knows what they should be doing; if they don't do it, then obviously we'll have to think of an alternative. But I'm determined now: we've got a plan, let's stick to the plan, and, if they don't deliver, then there'll be ructions. Whilst there has been good progress implementing the framework of action, there is still more, I think, for health boards to do, and to have approved plans in place to enable that faster access to integrated hearing care.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfle yn y ddadl fer heddiw i ganolbwyntio ar bwnc pwysig mynediad cyflymach at wasanaethau clyw. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod y gall colli clyw ar unrhyw oedran fod yn ddinistriol ac o ganlyniad, gall adael pobl yn teimlo'n ynysig ac wedi eu gwahanu oddi wrth y byd o'u cwmpas. Mae diagnosis ac ymyrraeth gynnar yn hollbwysig i iechyd a lles yr unigolion hyn.
Nawr, ers 2017, pan lansiwyd 'Fframwaith Gweithredu ar gyfer Cymru, 2017-2020: Fframwaith Gofal a chymorth integredig ar gyfer pobl sy’n F/fyddar neu sy’n byw â cholled clyw', rydym wedi gweithio'n galed i ddod yn arweinydd mewn gofal clyw. Fel y nododd Janet, mae gwasanaethau awdioleg yma yn cael eu darparu'n wahanol i weddill y DU—pwyslais llawer cryfach ar fwy o driniaeth a gofal wedi'i ddarparu mewn gofal sylfaenol a chymunedol, a'i ategu gan yr egwyddorion gofal iechyd darbodus hynny. Nawr, mae hyn yn rhoi pwyslais newydd ar beth fyddai'n gweithio orau i gleifion ac yn gwneud y defnydd mwyaf effeithiol o'r holl adnoddau sydd ar gael ar draws gofal sylfaenol ac mewn ysbytai. A dweud y gwir, mae'r gwledydd datganoledig eraill wedi dilyn ein harweiniad drwy efelychu'r gwaith rydym wedi arloesi ynddo.
Mae rhai pobl wedi gofyn am archwilio gwaith gyda'r sector preifat. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud wrthych fy mod wedi edrych ar hyn, ac nid oes gennyf wrthwynebiad iddo mewn egwyddor, ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld a allwn ei wneud, yn gyntaf oll, drwy'r sector cyhoeddus. Os na allant ei wneud, yn amlwg, gadewch inni edrych ar ddewisiadau amgen. Ond hoffwn roi cyfle teg i hyn, ac mae'r byrddau iechyd wedi cael rhybudd fod yn rhaid iddynt gyflawni'r hyn y gofynnwn iddynt ei gyflawni.
Rwy'n credu bod y ffaith bod pobl yn byw'n hirach yn achos dathlu, ond mae hefyd yn rhoi pwysau o'r newydd ar wasanaethau, ac rydym i gyd yn ymwybodol fod nifer yr achosion o golled clyw yn cynyddu oherwydd bod ein poblogaeth yn heneiddio. Roeddwn wrth fy modd gyda'ch ystadegau: nid oeddwn yn sylweddoli bod gan 90 y cant o bobl 90 oed golled clyw, felly mae'r rheini'n ystadegau hawdd i'w cofio. Felly, yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid inni fwrw ymlaen â newid trawsnewidiol, gan ein bod yn ymwybodol o'r boblogaeth honno sy'n heneiddio.
Rydym wedi datblygu meini prawf atgyfeirio uniongyrchol a llwybrau at ac o adrannau awdioleg, y glust, y trwyn a'r gwddf, seicoleg glinigol a radioleg, ac asiantaethau, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ar gyfer asesu ac offer cynorthwyol. Mae cleifion wedi cael eu grymuso i gynyddu eu sgiliau hunanreoli gyda gwell gwybodaeth, gan ddefnyddio gwasanaethau pan fo angen yn unig. Ceir cefnogaeth leol hefyd i ategu gwasanaethau awdioleg; mae enghreifftiau'n cynnwys cydweithio rhwng awdurdodau lleol a'r trydydd sector ar gyfeirio unigolion at gyngor a chymorth.
Nawr, rydym wedi datblygu a gweithredu llwybr a gytunwyd yn genedlaethol ar gyfer darparu batris cymorth clyw a chynnal a chadw parhaus ar gyfer cymorth clyw, yn cynnwys cymorth gwirfoddol gan gymheiriaid. Felly, nid wyf yn meddwl am weld pobl mewn ysbytai'n trwsio batris; holl bwynt hyn yw ein bod yn ei gael i mewn i'r gymuned. Mae gwasanaethau rheoli cwyr clustiau yn cael eu cyflwyno mewn clystyrau gofal sylfaenol, ynghyd â chyngor hunanreoli, rhan bwysig o drin cwyr clustiau sy'n broblemus. Felly, mae hynny'n digwydd mewn clystyrau eisoes. Mae byrddau iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr a Bae Abertawe yn arwain y ffordd, ac yn rhannu arfer gorau. Rwy'n disgwyl y bydd pob bwrdd iechyd yn darparu gwasanaethau rheoli cwyr clustiau. A lle mae gwasanaethau eisoes yn cael eu cyflwyno, maent yn lleihau nifer y cleifion sy'n cael eu hatgyfeirio at feddygon teulu ac adrannau'r glust, y trwyn a'r gwddf.
Rwy'n credu bod Peter Fox wedi gofyn am blant. Wel, cyflwynwyd sgrinio clyw wrth ddechrau yn yr ysgol hefyd, sy'n helpu i nodi namau clyw yn gynnar, er mwyn galluogi'r plant hyn i gyrraedd eu potensial llawn yn addysgol, yn gymdeithasol ac mewn gwaith. Mae gan fyrddau iechyd drefniadau gweithredu safonol lleol ar gyfer dementia ar waith nawr, ac rydym wedi cynnwys statws clyw fel rhan o'r llwybrau cleifion mewnol ar gyfer pobl â dementia a llwybrau gofal cof i gleifion allanol er mwyn gwneud diagnosis o ddementia. Mae'r holl waith hwn yn seiliedig ar y model gofal sylfaenol, sy'n ymwneud â phobl yn cael mynediad at y gofal cywir, gan y gweithiwr proffesiynol cywir, yn agos at eu cartref.
Nawr, wrth i'r fframwaith clinigol cenedlaethol lywio llwybrau clinigol cenedlaethol, byddwn yn gwneud cynnydd cyflymach wrth ail-gydbwyso gwasanaethau, gan symud i ffwrdd o salwch ac ysbytai tuag at iechyd gwell a gofal yn agosach at adref. Felly, mae gennym lwybr. Y peth allweddol nawr yw bod pawb yn gwybod beth y dylent fod yn ei wneud; os nad ydynt yn ei wneud, yn amlwg bydd yn rhaid inni feddwl am ffordd arall. Ond rwy'n benderfynol nawr: mae gennym gynllun, gadewch inni gadw at y cynllun, ac os nad fyddant yn cyflawni, fe fydd yna helynt. Er y gwelwyd cynnydd da ar roi'r fframwaith gweithredu ar waith, rwy'n credu bod mwy i fyrddau iechyd ei wneud o hyd, ac i gael cynlluniau cymeradwy ar waith er mwyn galluogi mynediad cyflymach at ofal clyw integredig.
Will the Minister take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Sure.
Wrth gwrs.
I'm pleased to hear that you have a plan, and that there will be ructions if it's not delivered on. What's the timeline that you're going to give, though, for that plan to be tried and tested, to see if it's delivered? Because that's fair to say, if the plan's there, give it space, but it can't be an open-ended amount of space that you give it.
Rwy'n falch o glywed bod gennych gynllun, ac y bydd yna helynt os na chaiff ei gyflawni. Ond beth yw'r amserlen y byddwch chi'n ei rhoi er mwyn profi'r cynllun, i weld a yw'n cael ei gyflawni? Oherwydd mae'n deg dweud, os yw'r cynllun yno, rhowch gyfle iddo, ond ni allwch roi cyfle di-ben-draw iddo.
No. I'd be disappointed if, within a year, this is not something that we've seen rolled out. We know that two health boards are doing it already. They all know what to do. I think we've got to give them a little bit of space to get on with it, but there have got to be consequences if things don't follow through. And I'm very clear now that we've got to be a little bit more forthright—once we've got these clinical pathways, people must be expected to really focus on them.
Na. Buaswn yn siomedig pe na bai hyn yn rhywbeth a welwn wedi'i gyflwyno o fewn blwyddyn. Fe wyddom fod dau fwrdd iechyd yn ei wneud yn barod. Mae pawb yn gwybod beth i'w wneud. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni roi ychydig o le iddynt fwrw ymlaen ag ef, ond mae'n rhaid cael canlyniadau os nad yw pethau'n gweithio. Ac rwy'n glir iawn nawr fod rhaid inni fod ychydig yn fwy diamwys—pan fydd gennym y llwybrau clinigol hyn, rhaid bod disgwyl i bobl ffocysu'n iawn arnynt.
Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n parhau i ofyn am ddiweddariadau ar y cynnydd yn erbyn argymhellion y fframwaith weithredu. Os na fydd cynnydd sylweddol wedi ei wneud, bydd angen ystyried opsiynau cyllido eraill hefyd o fewn dyraniad cyllideb y byrddau iechyd eleni, er mwyn cryfhau'r gwasanaeth awdioleg mewn gofal sylfaenol. Ein cam nesaf yw cynllunio dull gweithredu ar gyfer gwasanaethau awdioleg yn y dyfodol. Ein dull gweithredu yn y dyfodol fydd ar gyfer y 12 mis nesaf—felly, dyna beth roedd rhywun yn gofyn i fi amdano.
Felly, i gloi, dwi'n credu y gallwn ni gytuno ein bod ni'n ymwybodol o'r problemau, a bod amrywiaeth eang o fesurau'n cael eu datblygu i wella mynediad at wasanaethau clyw, ac mae mwy i ddod. Yn ogystal â gwella mynediad i unigolion, fy uchelgais i yw bod y gwelliannau hyn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth positif i'r bobl sy'n darparu'r gwasanaethau hefyd. Mae eu hymrwymiad diflino nhw i gefnogi pobl yn eu cymunedau yn wirioneddol wych. Diolch yn fawr.
The Welsh Government will continue to ask for updates on progress against the recommendations in the operational framework. If there isn't significant progress made, then we will need to consider other funding options too within the health boards' budgetary allocation this year, in order to strengthen audiology services in primary care. Our next step is to plan an approach for audiology services for the future. Our operational approach for the future will be for the next 12 months—I think somebody asked me about that issue.
So, to conclude, I think we can agree that we are aware of the problems, and that there's a broad range of measures being developed to improve access to hearing services, and there is more to come. In addition to improving access for individuals, my ambition is that these improvements will make a positive difference to those people who provide those services too. Their ceaseless commitment to supporting people in their communities is truly excellent. Thank you.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog, a diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am gyflwyno'r ddadl ddiddorol yna. Prynhawn da, bawb.
Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Janet Finch-Saunders, for introducing that interesting short debate. Good evening.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 19:09.
The meeting ended at 19:09.