Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
30/04/2024Cynnwys
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.
Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Carolyn Thomas.
Welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Carolyn Thomas.
1. Sut y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn bwriadu mynd i'r afael â cholli bioamrywiaeth yng Nghymru? OQ61000
1. How does the First Minister intend to address biodiversity loss in Wales? OQ61000
Thank you. We will address biodiversity loss by strengthening our legislative framework, including introducing statutory biodiversity targets, tackling the pressures that drive the loss, and action to improve the condition and resilience of our most precious habitats and species. This includes our nature networks, marine protected areas and national peatland action programmes.
Diolch. Byddwn ni'n mynd i'r afael â cholli bioamrywiaeth drwy gryfhau ein fframwaith deddfwriaethol, gan gynnwys cyflwyno targedau bioamrywiaeth statudol, mynd i'r afael â'r pwysau sy'n gyrru'r golled, a chamau i wella cyflwr a chydnerthedd ein cynefinoedd a'n rhywogaethau mwyaf gwerthfawr. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ein rhwydweithiau natur, ardaloedd morol gwarchodedig a rhaglenni gweithredu ar fawndiroedd cenedlaethol.
Thank you, First Minister. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Without biodiversity, we will have no food, we will have no economy. May is a really important month for biodiversity—we have International Biodiversity Day, we also have No Mow May, and, next week, I'm sponsoring an event in the Senedd, where we have 24 different organisations coming here with stands, and I'm hoping that you and other Members will be able to visit as we celebrate biodiversity day in the Senedd.
I've been working on a project called It's for Them, with local authorities and other organisations regarding managing grass verges and amenity grass for nature, which is really important. And with the Welsh Government's Local Places for Nature fund, organisations and volunteers have been managing, now, tens of thousands of areas for wildlife, for nature. Over the last few years, lots of expertise has been built up, and we've created so many wildflower sites. I know Flintshire has just been awarded bee-friendly status, which is amazing. So, First Minister, would you agree that the Local Places for Nature funding from the Welsh Government is really making a difference for sites across Wales?
Diolch yn fawr, Prif Weinidog. Mae'r Deyrnas Unedig yn un o'r gwledydd lle mae natur wedi dirywio fwyaf yn y byd. Heb fioamrywiaeth, ni fydd gennym ni unrhyw fwyd, ni fydd gennym ni unrhyw economi. Mae mis Mai yn fis pwysig iawn i fioamrywiaeth—mae gennym ni Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Bioamrywiaeth, mae gennym ni hefyd Mai Di-dor, ac, yr wythnos nesaf, rwy'n noddi digwyddiad yn y Senedd, lle mae gennym ni 24 o wahanol sefydliadau yn dod yma gyda stondinau, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch chi ac Aelodau eraill yn gallu ymweld wrth i ni ddathlu diwrnod bioamrywiaeth yn y Senedd.
Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio ar brosiect o'r enw Iddyn Nhw, gydag awdurdodau lleol a sefydliadau eraill yn ymwneud â rheoli lleiniau glas a glaswellt amwynder ar gyfer natur, sy'n bwysig iawn. A chyda chronfa Lleoedd Lleol ar gyfer Natur Llywodraeth Cymru, mae sefydliadau a gwirfoddolwyr wedi bod yn rheoli, erbyn hyn, degau o filoedd o ardaloedd ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt, ar gyfer natur. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae llawer o arbenigedd wedi cael ei ddatblygu, ac rydym ni wedi creu cymaint o safleoedd blodau gwyllt. Rwy'n gwybod bod Sir y Fflint newydd dderbyn statws caru gwenyn, sy'n anhygoel. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a fyddech chi'n cytuno bod y cyllid Lleoedd Lleol ar gyfer Natur gan Lywodraeth Cymru wir yn gwneud gwahaniaeth i safleoedd ledled Cymru?
Yes, and thank you to the Member for the question on the practical steps that we can take to make a difference, and, in particular, to acknowledge the work that the Member for north Wales has already done to help develop, promote and support the It's for Them campaign. And that is about helping local communities understand the importance of verges and green spaces for wildlife, including pollinators.
I recognise the Senedd's biodiversity day is an important annual event—and I do hope to be able to drop in during May—and, in particular, your point around not just the local nature partnership action Wales, but some of the work you've done in chairing some of the work on this, about understanding a different approach to municipal grassland and roadside verges, and how they can actually help to add to biodiversity. So, recognising that work, and hoping that is taken on board, progressively, by more and more authorities as a practical step they can all take and support.
Byddwn, a diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn ar y camau ymarferol y gallwn ni eu cymryd i wneud gwahaniaeth, ac, yn benodol, i gydnabod y gwaith y mae'r Aelod dros ogledd Cymru eisoes wedi ei wneud i helpu i ddatblygu, hyrwyddo a chefnogi ymgyrch Iddyn Nhw. A diben honno yw helpu cymunedau lleol i ddeall pwysigrwydd lleiniau a mannau gwyrdd i fywyd gwyllt, gan gynnwys peillwyr.
Rwy'n cydnabod bod diwrnod bioamrywiaeth y Senedd yn ddigwyddiad blynyddol pwysig—ac rwy'n gobeithio gallu galw heibio yn ystod mis Mai—ac, yn benodol, eich pwynt o ran nid yn unig yr hyn y mae partneriaethau natur lleol yn ei wneud yng Nghymru, ond rhywfaint o'r gwaith yr ydych chi wedi ei wneud yn cadeirio rhywfaint o'r gwaith ar hyn, am ddeall gwahanol ddull o ymdrin â glaswelltir trefol a lleiniau ymyl y ffordd, a sut y gallan nhw helpu i ychwanegu at fioamrywiaeth mewn gwirionedd. Felly, gan gydnabod y gwaith hwnnw, a gobeithio y caiff hynny ei fabwysiadu, yn raddol, gan fwy a mwy o awdurdodau fel cam ymarferol y gall pob un ohonyn nhw ei gymryd a'i gefnogi.
One of the rare species in Wales that is affected by biodiversity loss, of course, is the red squirrel, and, as the red squirrel species champion, it would be improper of me not to take this opportunity to ask the new First Minister what action his Government is taking to promote a red squirrel vaccine in respect of squirrel pox. He will know that this is a very dangerous disease, which is causing a great deal of angst amongst the red squirrel-supporting community, and could severely hamper the conservation efforts across Wales, particularly on Anglesey, where we've seen some outbreaks in the past, and people there are very concerned to protect the population that exists. Now, we did have a debate—a Petition Committee debate—last year on this very subject, and, at that time, the Minister responsible for biodiversity helpfully gave a response that suggested that the Welsh Government would try to work with other UK Governments in trying to bring a vaccine forward. Can I ask what progress has been made in respect of that vaccine? Thank you.
Un o'r rhywogaethau prin yng Nghymru sy'n cael ei heffeithio gan golli bioamrywiaeth, wrth gwrs, yw'r wiwer goch, ac, fel hyrwyddwr rhywogaeth y wiwer coch, byddai'n amhriodol i mi beidio â manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog newydd pa gamau y mae ei Lywodraeth yn eu cymryd i hyrwyddo brechlyn gwiwerod coch o ran brech gwiwerod. Bydd yn gwybod bod hwn yn glefyd peryglus iawn, sy'n achosi llawer iawn o ofid ymhlith y gymuned sy'n cefnogi gwiwerod coch, ac y gallai rwystro ymdrechion cadwraeth yn ddifrifol ledled Cymru, yn enwedig ar Ynys Môn, lle'r ydym ni wedi gweld rhai achosion yn y gorffennol, ac mae pobl yno yn bryderus iawn i ddiogelu'r boblogaeth sy'n bodoli. Nawr, cawsom ddadl—dadl Pwyllgor Deisebau—y llynedd ar yr union bwnc hwn, a, bryd hynny, rhoddodd y Gweinidog a oedd yn gyfrifol am fioamrywiaeth ymateb cynorthwyol a awgrymodd y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio gweithio gyda Llywodraethau eraill y DU i geisio cyflwyno brechlyn. A gaf i ofyn pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud o ran y brechlyn hwnnw? Diolch.
I want to first acknowledge Darren Millar's role in championing the cause of the red squirrel, and, in particular, of course, the most significant bastion of the red squirrel is on Ynys Môn in Wales. On the challenges of squirrel pox, I have seen a briefing on this. I can't actually recall the detail of the work that is being done between Governments in the UK, but I'm more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs to provide an update to the Member, and also make sure that a copy is available through the library, so that other Members can see that as well, if they wish to see that practical update.
Hoffwn gydnabod yn gyntaf rôl Darren Millar wrth hyrwyddo achos y wiwer goch, ac, yn benodol, wrth gwrs, mae cadarnle mwyaf arwyddocaol y wiwer goch ar Ynys Môn yng Nghymru. O ran heriau brech gwiwerod, rwyf wedi gweld briff ar hyn. Ni allaf gofio manylion y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud rhwng Llywodraethau yn y DU, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelod, a hefyd i wneud yn siŵr bod copi ar gael drwy'r llyfrgell, fel y gall Aelodau eraill weld hwnnw hefyd, os ydyn nhw'n dymuno gweld y diweddariad ymarferol hwnnw.
First Minister, the Gwent levels are a great asset for Wales, and, certainly, in my local area in Newport East. Luckily, we have the living levels partnership doing a great deal of work to take forward the environment and biodiversity with wildlife groups and key partners. I'm the species champion for the water vole, and we see the water vole now spreading across that Gwent levels area as one example of the wonderful, unique biodiversity that it has. Would you join me in praising all the volunteers, First Minister, who make this work happen, through the Living Levels partnership, and all the organisations that coalesce around it, and all that they are doing for biodiversity locally and in Wales as a whole?
Prif Weinidog, mae gwastadeddau Gwent yn ased gwych i Gymru, ac, yn sicr, yn fy ardal leol yn Nwyrain Casnewydd. Yn ffodus, mae gennym ni'r bartneriaeth gwastadeddau byw sy'n gwneud llawer iawn o waith i ddatblygu'r amgylchedd a bioamrywiaeth gyda grwpiau bywyd gwyllt a phartneriaid allweddol. Fi yw'r hyrwyddwr rhywogaethau dros lygod y dŵr, ac erbyn hyn rydym ni'n gweld llygoden y dŵr yn gwasgaru ar draws ardal gwastadeddau Gwent fel un enghraifft o'r bioamrywiaeth wych, unigryw sydd ganddyn nhw. A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i ganmol yr holl wirfoddolwyr, Prif Weinidog, sy'n gwneud i'r gwaith hwn ddigwydd, trwy bartneriaeth Gwastadeddau Byw, a'r holl sefydliadau sy'n ymgyfuno o'i chwmpas, a'r oll y maen nhw'n ei wneud dros fioamrywiaeth yn lleol ac yng Nghymru yn ei chyfanrwydd?
I'm very happy to recognise the work of the Living Levels partnership, and, in particular, the work of the Member as the chair of the Friends of the Gwent Levels organisation, bringing together a range of different partners. I'm sure that water voles around the country celebrate your success as their species champion, and you continue to raise their cause in the Chamber and beyond. There is a serious point of course, though, around the point around biodiversity and the Gwent levels being a particular habitat in Wales, and our shared interest in seeing that habitat improve—that's both in the formal planning policy and also the work that's already started on an enhancement programme for the Gwent levels. That will continue with this Government, carrying on the work of my predecessor's Government, in making sure that there's a highlight on this work, and we understand its importance for all of us, as well as those who get to enjoy the Gwent levels in their local area.
Rwy'n hapus iawn i gydnabod gwaith y bartneriaeth Gwastadeddau Byw, ac, yn benodol, gwaith yr Aelod fel cadeirydd sefydliad Cyfeillion Gwastadeddau Gwent, sy'n dod ag amrywiaeth o wahanol bartneriaid at ei gilydd. Rwy'n siŵr bod llygod y dŵr ledled y wlad yn dathlu eich llwyddiant fel eu hyrwyddwr rhywogaeth, ac rydych chi'n parhau i godi eu hachos yn y Siambr a thu hwnt. Fodd bynnag, ceir pwynt difrifol wrth gwrs o ran y pwynt am fioamrywiaeth a'r ffaith bod gwastadeddau Gwent yn gynefin penodol yng Nghymru, a'n diddordeb cyffredin mewn gweld y cynefin hwnnw'n gwella—mae hynny yn y polisi cynllunio ffurfiol a hefyd y gwaith sydd eisoes wedi dechrau ar raglen wella ar gyfer gwastadeddau Gwent. Bydd hynny'n parhau gyda'r Llywodraeth hon, gan barhau â gwaith Llywodraeth fy rhagflaenydd, i wneud yn siŵr bod pwyslais ar y gwaith hwn, ac rydym ni'n deall ei bwysigrwydd i bob un ohonom ni, yn ogystal â'r rhai sy'n cael mwynhau gwastadeddau Gwent yn eu hardal leol.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am fynediad i drafnidiaeth ar gyfer pobl â nam ar eu golwg? OQ61033
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on access to transport for visually impaired people? OQ61033
I thank the Member for the question. We provide a range of support to visually impaired people to access public transport in Wales. We have set up a disability rights taskforce to identify the issues and barriers that affect the lives of many disabled people in Wales, including how to provide and access inclusive and genuinely accessible transport.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Rydym ni'n darparu amrywiaeth o gymorth i bobl â nam ar eu golwg i gael mynediad at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Rydym ni wedi sefydlu tasglu hawliau anabledd i nodi'r problemau a'r rhwystrau sy'n effeithio ar fywydau llawer o bobl anabl yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys sut i ddarparu a chael mynediad at drafnidiaeth gynhwysol a gwirioneddol hygyrch.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for that answer.
My constituent, Ryan Moreland, booked a taxi to take him from Rhiwbina to the University Hospital of Wales for an urgent medical appointment. He was waiting outside on the street, and when the taxi driver drew up and saw Ryan's guide dog, Jamie, he drove past, hid at the end of the street and cancelled the job. Ryan managed to get another taxi to get to the hospital, but the story doesn't end there. On the way back from the hospital, the taxi driver at the ranks that Ryan approached was again hesitant to take Jamie, and then added £5 to the bill because Ryan had a guide dog with him. This is something that visually impaired people experience every day, despite both actions being illegal. Would the First Minister condemn the actions of these taxi drivers, and would he do all he can to move towards compulsory disability training for all taxi drivers and to try and stop these shameful practices?
Trefnodd fy etholwr, Ryan Moreland, dacsi i'w gludo o Riwbeina i Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru ar gyfer apwyntiad meddygol brys. Roedd yn aros y tu allan ar y stryd, a phan gyrhaeddodd gyrrwr y tacsi a gweld ci tywys Ryan, Jamie, fe yrrodd heibio, gan guddio ar ben y stryd a chanslo'r gwaith. Llwyddodd Ryan i gael tacsi arall i gyrraedd yr ysbyty, ond nid yw'r stori yn dod i ben yn y fan honno. Ar y ffordd yn ôl o'r ysbyty, roedd y gyrrwr tacsi yn y safle tacsis yr aeth Ryan iddo unwaith eto yn betrusgar i fynd â Jamie, ac yna ychwanegodd £5 at y bil oherwydd bod gan Ryan gi tywys gydag ef. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae pobl â nam ar eu golwg yn ei brofi bob dydd, er bod y ddwy weithred yn anghyfreithlon. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog gondemnio ymddygiad y gyrwyr tacsi hyn, ac a wnaiff ef wneud popeth o fewn ei allu i symud tuag at hyfforddiant anabledd gorfodol i bob gyrrwr tacsi ac i geisio rhoi terfyn ar yr arferion cywilyddus hyn?
I was genuinely appalled to read of the experience of Julie Morgan's constituent, Ryan Moreland. It is unlawful for taxi drivers to refuse to carry assistance dogs. It is unlawful for them to add an extra fee for carrying an assistance dog. It is a positive that Veezu, the organisation that had the driver as a partner, have removed that person who refused to carry your constituent, and also reports were made to Cardiff Council to consider the licensing for that particular driver. I think that it's an important reminder of the fact that, despite the law, in practice, people's rights are determined by other people's attitudes and behaviours. This should never be acceptable. I'm pleased that some action has been taken, but I do not want a single disabled person to face the same barriers and challenges that we know your constituent has faced, and others will have similar stories, I'm afraid. So, we do intend to introduce national disability equality training for all taxi and private hire drivers, and we're working with Guide Dogs Cymru, and other groups who represent disabled people, as we develop those plans. And I'd be more than happy to provide an update, as indeed will the Cabinet Secretary for transport, on how that work is progressing.
Cefais fy mrawychu o ddarllen am brofiad etholwr Julie Morgan, Ryan Moreland. Mae'n anghyfreithlon i yrwyr tacsis wrthod cludo cŵn cymorth. Mae'n anghyfreithlon iddyn nhw ychwanegu ffi ychwanegol am gludo ci cymorth. Mae'n gadarnhaol bod Veezu, y sefydliad a oedd â'r gyrrwr fel partner, wedi cael gwared ar yr unigolyn hwnnw a wrthododd gludo eich etholwr, a gwnaed adroddiadau hefyd i Gyngor Caerdydd ystyried y drwydded ar gyfer y gyrrwr penodol hwnnw. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn ein hatgoffa'n bwysig o'r ffaith, er gwaethaf y gyfraith, bod hawliau pobl, yn ymarferol, yn cael eu penderfynu gan agweddau ac ymddygiadau pobl eraill. Ni ddylai hyn byth fod yn dderbyniol. Rwy'n falch bod camau wedi cael eu cymryd, ond nid wyf eisiau i'r un person anabl wynebu'r un rhwystrau a heriau ag y gwyddom fod eich etholwr wedi'u hwynebu, a bydd gan eraill straeon tebyg, mae arnaf ofn. Felly, rydym ni yn bwriadu cyflwyno hyfforddiant cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl cenedlaethol ar gyfer pob gyrrwr tacsi a hurio preifat, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda Guide Dogs Cymru, a grwpiau eraill sy'n cynrychioli pobl anabl, wrth i ni ddatblygu'r cynlluniau hynny. A byddwn i'n fwy na pharod i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, ac felly hefyd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, ar sut mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo.
I'd like to thank the Member for asking such an important question. First Minister, just last week, I raised the issue of ensuring equality of access to public transport for people right across Wales with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice. I was pleased to hear that the Cabinet Secretary was willing and ready to look into methods such as Braille on handrails as a means of boosting accessibility for people with visual impairments, because, First Minister, this comes at a time when these measures are more urgent than ever. Just last month, we actually saw a young woman state publicly that the lack of support by Transport for Wales for disabled people has made her question her place in society. This quite frankly is unacceptable in 2024, when countries like Japan have had such measures enshrined in law for the past 18 years. So, further to my question to the Cabinet Secretary last week, First Minister, can I get a commitment from you today on a timeline for your Government to properly investigate measures, such as Braille on handrails and tactile paving within public transport facilities across the country, to help support visually impaired people, as this is an urgent issue and we need to catch up with the rest of the world? Thank you.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am ofyn cwestiwn mor bwysig. Prif Weinidog, dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, codais y mater o sicrhau mynediad cyfartal at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i bobl ledled Cymru gyfan gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol. Roeddwn i'n falch o glywed bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn fodlon ac yn barod i ystyried dulliau fel Braille ar ganllawiau fel modd o hybu hygyrchedd i bobl â namau ar eu golwg, oherwydd, Prif Weinidog, daw hyn ar adeg pan fo'r mesurau hyn yn fwy pwysig nag erioed. Dim ond y mis diwethaf, gwelsom fenyw ifanc yn datgan yn gyhoeddus bod diffyg cymorth Trafnidiaeth Cymru i bobl anabl wedi gwneud iddi gwestiynu ei lle mewn cymdeithas. Mae hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol yn 2024, pan fo mesurau o'r fath wedi'u hymgorffori yn y gyfraith ers 18 mlynedd bellach mewn gwledydd fel Japan. Felly, yn ychwanegol at fy nghwestiwn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yr wythnos diwethaf, Prif Weinidog, a allaf i gael ymrwymiad gennych chi heddiw ar amserlen i'ch Llywodraeth ymchwilio'n briodol i fesurau, fel Braille ar ganllawiau a phalmentydd botymog mewn cyfleusterau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ledled y wlad, i helpu i gynorthwyo pobl â nam ar eu golwg, gan fod hwn yn fater brys ac mae angen i ni ddal i fyny â gweddill y byd? Diolch.
There'll be a further update from the Cabinet Secretary on the work that is already in train. It's, of course, important to understand our responsibilities and Transport for Wales's responsibilities to make the environment a genuinely accessible one, as well as our understanding of who is actually in control of the different infrastructure to provide practical access to rail. I've dealt with some of this in my own constituency. I understand the real practical impact of ensuring that station facilities are accessible. Many of our older stations still have steps, don't have lifts, and so there are real challenges about how different rail users are able to practically access them. And I am sure that the Member will want to follow up when the Cabinet Secretary does provide that further update in due course.
Bydd diweddariad pellach gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ar y gwaith sydd eisoes ar y gweill. Wrth gwrs, mae'n bwysig deall ein cyfrifoldebau ni a chyfrifoldebau Trafnidiaeth Cymru i wneud yr amgylchedd yn un gwirioneddol hygyrch, yn ogystal â'n dealltwriaeth o bwy mewn gwirionedd sy'n rheoli'r gwahanol seilwaith i ddarparu mynediad ymarferol at reilffyrdd. Rwyf wedi ymdrin â rhywfaint o hyn yn fy etholaeth fy hun. Rwy'n deall effaith ymarferol go iawn sicrhau bod cyfleusterau gorsafoedd yn hygyrch. Mae gan lawer o'n gorsafoedd hŷn risiau o hyd, nid oes ganddyn nhw lifftiau, ac felly mae heriau gwirioneddol o ran sut y gall gwahanol ddefnyddwyr rheilffyrdd gael mynediad ymarferol atyn nhw. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelod eisiau cymryd camau dilynol pan fydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn rhoi'r diweddariad pellach hwnnw maes o law.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. The question that started this session of question time from Julie Morgan indicated that a taxi firm obviously had broken the discrimination rules against disabled people. I believe the owner of that taxi firm contributed to your leadership campaign, First Minister. I am sure you inadvertently in referencing them would have declared an interest, but I'm sure you'll want to put that on the record so people can understand that you did receive a donation from them. And talking of donations, we have obviously seen continued speculation and comment on the substantial donation that you received for your leadership campaign. That company that donated to you, at the close of their accounts on 30 June 2023, in a footnote on their accounts, stated,
'Therefore, the external opportunities created for the Dauson Group to succeed continue to be mainly legislative driven'.
You are leader and First Minister of the Government that sets the legislative agenda. Can you not see why people are deeply, deeply concerned about the tensions between the substantial donation, the comments that the company asked people to see in their accounts about the legislative opportunities, and your accepting of that donation?
Diolch, Llywydd. Nododd y cwestiwn a ddechreuodd y sesiwn holi hon gan Julie Morgan fod cwmni tacsi yn amlwg wedi torri'r rheolau gwahaniaethu yn erbyn pobl anabl. Rwy'n credu bod perchennog y cwmni tacsis hwnnw wedi cyfrannu at eich ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi wedi datgan buddiant o gyfeirio atyn nhw'n anfwriadol, ond rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi eisiau rhoi hynny ar y cofnod fel y gall pobl ddeall eich bod chi wedi derbyn rhodd ganddyn nhw. Ac wrth sôn am roddion, rydym ni'n amlwg wedi gweld tybiaethau a sylwadau parhaus ynghylch y rhodd sylweddol a gawsoch ar gyfer eich ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth. Nododd y cwmni hwnnw a roddodd i chi, ar ddiwedd eu cyfrifon ar 30 Mehefin 2023, mewn troednodyn ar eu cyfrifon,
'Felly, mae'r cyfleoedd allanol a grëwyd i Grŵp Dauson lwyddo yn parhau i fod wedi'u hysgogi gan ddeddfwriaeth yn bennaf'.
Chi yw arweinydd a Phrif Weinidog y Llywodraeth sy'n pennu'r agenda ddeddfwriaethol. Allwch chi ddim gweld pam mae pobl yn poeni'n ddwys iawn am y tensiynau rhwng y rhodd sylweddol, y sylwadau y gofynnodd y cwmni i bobl eu gweld yn eu cyfrifon am y cyfleoedd deddfwriaethol, a'ch derbyniad o'r rhodd honno?
So, there are a couple of different points to make here. The first is that Veezu Holdings Limited did make a donation. That's been formally and properly declared. In answer to the first question about setting out the action that they took in removing that individual driver-operator from their platform and in reporting that matter to Cardiff Council as they should have done—. And I am pleased that they did so.
When it comes to the legislation this Government is pursuing, it again goes back to the first question. We will pursue the improvements in biodiversity targets, we will improve not just the legislation, but also the fines for people who do not meet the standards that are going into legislation. This Senedd will have before it in this term that substantive environmental sustainability Bill. It will be introduced by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. There is no question of any change in the commitment of this Government to introducing those measures. And, again, we go back to what's happened as a matter of fact, where donations have been properly declared or the rules have been followed to do so, and there is no link between any choice that this Government has made and what has taken place in the leadership contest, and all real conflicts are being managed. This is a business, that you referred to, that is based in my constituency. I could not, have not and will not make any kind of ministerial choice around that company.
Felly, ceir un neu ddau o wahanol bwyntiau i'w gwneud yma. Y cyntaf yw bod Veezu Holdings Limited wedi gwneud rhodd. Mae hynny wedi cael ei ddatgan yn ffurfiol ac yn briodol. I ateb y cwestiwn cyntaf am nodi'r camau a gymerwyd ganddyn nhw i gael gwared ar y gyrrwr-weithredwr unigol hwnnw o'u platfform ac o ran adrodd y mater hwnnw i Gyngor Caerdydd fel y dylen nhw fod wedi ei wneud—. Ac rwy'n falch eu bod nhw wedi gwneud hynny.
O ran y ddeddfwriaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn mynd ar ei thrywydd, mae'n dychwelyd eto at y cwestiwn cyntaf. Byddwn ni'n mynd ar drywydd y gwelliannau i dargedau bioamrywiaeth, byddwn ni'n gwella nid yn unig y ddeddfwriaeth, ond hefyd y dirwyon i bobl nad ydyn nhw'n bodloni'r safonau sy'n mynd i mewn i ddeddfwriaeth. Bydd gan y Senedd hon o'i blaen yn y tymor hwn y Bil cynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol sylweddol hwnnw. Bydd yn cael ei gyflwyno gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig. Nid oes unrhyw gwestiwn o unrhyw newid i ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon i gyflwyno'r mesurau hynny. Ac eto, rydym ni'n dychwelyd at yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd mewn gwirionedd, lle mae rhoddion wedi cael eu datgan yn briodol neu lle mae'r rheolau wedi cael eu dilyn i wneud hynny, ac nid oes unrhyw gysylltiad rhwng unrhyw ddewis y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ei wneud a'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn y gystadleuaeth arweinyddiaeth, ac mae pob gwrthdaro gwirioneddol yn cael ei reoli. Mae hwn yn fusnes, y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato, sydd wedi'i leoli yn fy etholaeth i. Ni allwn, nid wyf ac ni fyddaf yn gwneud unrhyw fath o ddewis gweinidogol o amgylch y cwmni hwnnw.
Well, we also heard in questions this afternoon from the Member for Newport East how valuable the Gwent levels are. But we know that the individual who made the donation to you has been the subject of court action and been convicted on two accounts of dumping and polluting the Gwent levels. But, equally, we've heard from other senior figures within your own ranks over the last week—Andrew Morgan, for example; a big fan of mine on Twitter, I might add—who has highlighted, obviously, his concerns, and he is leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and chairman of the Welsh Local Government Association. We've also had Beth Winters, the Member of Parliament for the Cynon Valley, and even your de facto deputy, Ken Skates, when interviewed on this last Wednesday, was struggling, I think, to put it kindly, to defend the position. So, what do you say to those substantial individuals within the Labour movement who do have genuine concerns, and the wider public who have real concerns, when they look at the evidence that is before them?
Wel, fe glywsom ni hefyd mewn cwestiynau y prynhawn yma gan yr Aelod dros Ddwyrain Casnewydd am ba mor werthfawr yw gwastadeddau Gwent. Ond rydym ni'n gwybod bod yr unigolyn a wnaeth y rhodd i chi wedi bod yn destun achos llys ac wedi ei gael yn euog ar ddau gyfrif o ddympio a llygru gwastadeddau Gwent. Ond, yn yr un modd, rydym ni wedi clywed gan ffigurau uwch eraill o fewn eich rhengoedd eich hun dros yr wythnos ddiwethaf—Andrew Morgan, er enghraifft; cefnogwr brwd ohonof i ar Twitter, dylwn ychwanegu—sydd wedi amlygu, yn amlwg, ei bryderon, a fe yw arweinydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf a chadeirydd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru. Rydym ni hefyd wedi cael Beth Winters, Aelod Seneddol Cwm Cynon, ac roedd hyd yn oed eich dirprwy de facto, Ken Skates, pan gafodd ei gyfweld ddydd Mercher diwethaf, yn ei chael hi'n anodd, rwy'n credu, i'w roi'n garedig, i amddiffyn y sefyllfa. Felly, beth ydych chi'n ei ddweud wrth yr unigolion pwysig hynny o fewn y mudiad Llafur sydd â phryderon gwirioneddol, a'r cyhoedd ehangach sydd â phryderon gwirioneddol, pan fyddan nhw'n edrych ar y dystiolaeth sydd o'u blaenau?
Again, if you want to go back to the evidence, the evidence is that donations have been declared quite properly by both campaigns following the leadership contest. There is a formal review process taking place to look at the length of the campaign, campaign finance and a range of other matters. That's being dealt with openly and transparently. It's a matter for my party to decide the rules for future leadership contests.
Actually, what we are doing is focusing on the business of this Government and of this country, what really matters to people: the cost-of-living crisis; the reality that many families still go to bed worrying about paying their bills at the end of the week or the end of the month; the reality that we know that we have more to do around our public services; the key importance of the funding settlement we have; and of course, last week, the news from Tata that they are looking to go ahead with their proposals to shed not just more than 2,500 direct jobs, but have an impact on the economy of more than 10,000 people. That's the business this Government is engaged with.
That's why, next week, I plan to go to Mumbai to meet Tata to press the case again not just for the alternative, but a clear case that we have continued to make and will continue to make for there to be no hard compulsory redundancies, and to look again at the opportunities for steel within Wales and Britain, and what it will mean not just for our renewable future, but the general future of our economy. That's a First Minister and a Government that are getting on with what matters to the people of Wales.
Eto, os hoffech chi ddychwelyd at y dystiolaeth, y dystiolaeth yw bod rhoddion wedi cael eu datgan yn gwbl briodol gan y ddwy ymgyrch yn dilyn y gystadleuaeth arweinyddiaeth. Mae proses adolygu ffurfiol yn cael ei chynnal i edrych ar hyd yr ymgyrch, cyllid ymgyrchu ac amrywiaeth o faterion eraill. Mae hynny'n cael ei drafod yn agored ac yn dryloyw. Mater i'm plaid yw penderfynu ar y rheolau ar gyfer cystadlaethau arweinyddiaeth yn y dyfodol.
Mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yw canolbwyntio ar fusnes y Llywodraeth hon a'r wlad hon, yr hyn sy'n wirioneddol bwysig i bobl: yr argyfwng costau byw; y realiti bod llawer o deuluoedd yn dal i fynd i'w gwelyau yn poeni am dalu eu biliau ar ddiwedd yr wythnos neu ddiwedd y mis; y realiti ein bod ni'n gwybod bod gennym ni fwy i'w wneud o ran ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus; pwysigrwydd allweddol y setliad cyllido sydd gennym ni; ac wrth gwrs, yr wythnos diwethaf, y newyddion gan Tata eu bod nhw'n bwriadu bwrw ymlaen â'u cynigion nid yn unig i gael gwared ar dros 2,500 o swyddi uniongyrchol, ond i gael effaith ar economi mwy na 10,000 o bobl. Dyna'r busnes y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ymgysylltu ag ef.
Dyna pam, yr wythnos nesaf, yr wyf i'n bwriadu mynd i Mumbai i gyfarfod â Tata i ddadlau'r achos eto nid yn unig dros y dewis amgen, ond achos clir yr ydym ni wedi parhau i'w wneud ac y byddwn ni'n parhau i'w wneud i beidio â chael unrhyw ddiswyddiadau gorfodol caled, ac i edrych eto ar y cyfleoedd ar gyfer dur yng Nghymru a Phrydain, a'r hyn y bydd yn ei olygu nid yn unig ar gyfer ein dyfodol adnewyddadwy, ond ar gyfer dyfodol cyffredinol ein heconomi. Dyna Brif Weinidog a Llywodraeth sy'n bwrw ymlaen â'r hyn sy'n bwysig i bobl Cymru.
It's wonderful to hear you're having an internal review in the Labour Party to look into all this. It does remind me of the Communist Party era when they used to have the politburo slapping themselves on the back and saying, 'We've done a great job, we'll have a quick look at the next five-year plan, and we're still in the same position.' The fact of the matter is, the average punter in the street does have serious questions over this particular issue. It's coming up time and time again, over why £200,000, and what was expected in receipt of that £200,000. Because it wasn't given to the Labour Party, it was given to you specifically to solicit the role of First Minister.
Humza Yousaf yesterday lost his job as First Minister because he failed to read the room. First Minister, are you failing to read the Welsh public's mind on this particular issue by not coming forward and commissioning that independent inquiry into the important issues that people have identified as being of deep concern to them, so that we can have clarity on this, rather than you being judge, jury and executioner, if that's what's required at the end of this process? I hope it's not, but ultimately we need the clarity and that's why we need the independent inquiry. What have you got to fear?
Mae'n hyfryd clywed eich bod chi'n cael adolygiad mewnol yn y Blaid Lafur i ymchwilio i hyn i gyd. Mae'n fy atgoffa o oes y Blaid Gomiwnyddol pan oedden nhw'n arfer cael y politbiwro yn llongyfarch eu hunain ac yn dweud, 'Rydym ni wedi gwneud gwaith gwych, cymerwn ni olwg gyflym ar y cynllun pum mlynedd nesaf, ac rydym ni'n dal i fod yn yr un sefyllfa.' Y gwir amdani yw, mae gan bobl gyffredin ar y stryd gwestiynau difrifol am y mater penodol hwn. Mae'n codi dro ar ôl tro, ynghylch pam £200,000, a'r hyn a ddisgwyliwyd o dderbyn y £200,000 hwnnw. Oherwydd ni chafodd ei roi i'r Blaid Lafur, fe'i rhoddwyd i chi yn benodol i geisio cael swydd y Prif Weinidog.
Collodd Humza Yousaf ei swydd fel Prif Weinidog ddoe oherwydd iddo fethu â deall y sefyllfa. Prif Weinidog, ydych chi'n methu â darllen meddyliau'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru ar y mater penodol hwn trwy beidio â dod ymlaen a chomisiynu'r ymchwiliad annibynnol hwnnw i'r materion pwysig y mae pobl wedi nodi fel rhai sy'n peri pryder mawr iddyn nhw, fel y gallwn ni gael eglurder ynghylch hyn, yn hytrach na'ch cael chi'n farnwr, yn rheithgor ac yn ddienyddiwr, os mai dyna sy'n ofynnol ar ddiwedd y broses hon? Rwy'n gobeithio nad ydyw, ond yn y pen draw rydym ni angen yr eglurder a dyna pam rydym ni angen yr ymchwiliad annibynnol. Beth sydd gennych chi i'w ofni?
I think there are a number of points to make. The first is that there was of course an election—not soliciting the post, having an election for the post. Members made a choice in a one member, one vote ballot. The second is, the Member made reference to Humza Yousaf, and it's a reminder of how difficult and brutal the business of politics can be. But, I have to say, in all of my interactions with Humza Yousaf, I found him to be a decent individual. We, of course, have different views on constitutional futures, but I do wish him and his family well. Every now and again we should acknowledge that there are decent people on all sides of our political divide, trying to do the right thing for their country.
When it comes to how the public feel, I don't think the public will rally to the Tories' banner when it comes to how politics should be funded. Indeed, when you look at how the public feel about a whole range of issues, the most recent polling evidence simply doesn't support the Member's contention. The public are most concerned and most obsessed with the cost-of-living crisis, they're concerned with the future of the UK and Wales, they're concerned with how well-funded their public services are, and they're concerned with the sort of economy we could have. If you went to Port Talbot or to Llanwern or to Shotton or to Trostre, you wouldn't find people obsessing about the issue the Member wants to raise. They're concerned about this issue. They're concerned about the issue of the future of their jobs. They're concerned about the future of their communities. They're concerned about whether the UK Government is prepared to support a decent future for steel. That's what people are concerned about. That's what this Government will be focused on. I look forward to doing just that.
Rwy'n credu bod nifer o bwyntiau i'w gwneud. Y cyntaf yw bod etholiad, wrth gwrs—nid ceisio cael y swydd, cael etholiad ar gyfer y swydd. Fe wnaeth aelodau ddewis mewn pleidlais un aelod, un bleidlais. Yr ail yw, cyfeiriodd yr Aelod at Humza Yousaf, ac mae'n ein hatgoffa o ba mor anodd a chreulon y gall busnes gwleidyddiaeth fod. Ond, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, ym mhob un o'm rhyngweithiadau â Humza Yousaf, roeddwn i o'r farn ei fod yn unigolyn rhadlon. Wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni wahanol farn ar ddyfodol cyfansoddiadol, ond rwy'n dymuno'n dda iddo ef a'i deulu. Bob hyn a hyn dylem gydnabod bod yna bobl radlon ar bob ochr i'n rhaniad gwleidyddol, yn ceisio gwneud y peth iawn dros eu gwlad.
O ran sut mae'r cyhoedd yn teimlo, nid wyf i'n credu y bydd y cyhoedd yn ralïo i faner y Torïaid o ran sut y dylid ariannu gwleidyddiaeth. Yn wir, pan edrychwch chi ar sut mae'r cyhoedd yn teimlo am amrywiaeth eang o faterion, nid yw'r dystiolaeth diweddaraf o arolygon yn cefnogi dadl yr Aelod. Mae'r cyhoedd yn poeni fwyaf ac yn fwyaf obsesiynol am yr argyfwng costau byw, maen nhw'n poeni am ddyfodol y DU a Chymru, maen nhw'n poeni am ba mor dda y mae eu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi'u hariannu, ac maen nhw'n poeni am y math o economi y gallem ni ei chael. Pe baech chi'n mynd i Bort Talbot neu i Lan-wern neu i Shotton neu i Drostre, fyddech chi ddim yn dod o hyd i bobl ag obsesiwn am y mater y mae'r Aelod eisiau ei godi. Maen nhw'n poeni am y mater hwn. Maen nhw'n poeni am fater dyfodol eu swyddi. Maen nhw'n poeni am ddyfodol eu cymunedau. Maen nhw'n poeni pa un a yw Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i gefnogi dyfodol boddhaol i ddur. Dyna beth mae pobl yn poeni amdano. Dyna fydd y Llywodraeth hon yn canolbwyntio arno. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at wneud yn union hynny.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. People want to know that they have a Government and a First Minister that they can trust, and that's why there's so much public attention on the poor judgment that you showed in receiving that money as part of your leadership campaign. I'll look forward to continuing with the scrutiny when we look at this again in the Senedd tomorrow afternoon, because these questions won't go away.
I also noted that perhaps the First Minister should reflect on whether a declaration of interest is needed when he mentioned not once but twice, in positive terms, a taxi firm, Veezu, that he was given £25,000 by as a donation to his campaign. It is a matter of a declaration of interest. But, this afternoon, I'm going to turn to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Mae pobl eisiau gwybod bod ganddyn nhw Lywodraeth a Phrif Weinidog y gallan nhw ymddiried ynddyn nhw, a dyna pam mae cymaint o sylw cyhoeddus ar y crebwyll gwael y gwnaethoch chi ei ddangos wrth dderbyn yr arian hwnnw yn rhan o'ch ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth. Edrychaf ymlaen at barhau â'r craffu pan edrychwn ni ar hyn eto yn y Senedd brynhawn yfory, oherwydd ni wnaiff y cwestiynau hyn ddiflannu.
Nodais hefyd efallai y dylai'r Prif Weinidog fyfyrio ar ba un a oes angen datganiad o fuddiant pan soniodd nid unwaith ond ddwywaith, yn gadarnhaol, am gwmni tacsi, Veezu, y rhoddwyd £25,000 iddo ganddo fel rhodd i'w ymgyrch. Mae'n fater o ddatganiad o fuddiant. Ond, y prynhawn yma, rwy'n mynd i droi at Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru.
Ym mis Chwefror, mi gyhoeddwyd bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd drosodd Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru ar ôl canfyddiad bod yna ddiwylliant o aflonyddu rhywiol a misogyny. Mi wnaeth y comisiynwyr a gafodd eu hanfon i mewn gan y Llywodraeth benodi Stuart Millington yn brif swyddog tân interim. Ond mi ddaeth hi i'r amlwg bod Mr Millington ei hun yn wynebu tribiwnlys cyflogaeth yn dilyn cyhuddiad o aflonyddu a gwahaniaethu yn ei rôl efo gwasanaeth tân ac achub y gogledd. Rŵan, er i undeb y frigâd dân, yr FBU, ofyn am dynnu ei apwyntiad yn ôl, mi gafodd y penodiad ei amddiffyn gan y comisiynwyr. Ond ydy'r Prif Weinidog yn gwbl hyderus bod gan y comisiynwyr a'r Gweinidogion yr holl wybodaeth berthnasol yn eu meddiant er mwyn gallu dod i gasgliad am briodoldeb ei apwyntiad o, pa un ai ydy hyn yn wybodaeth gyhoeddus ai peidio?
In February, it was announced that the Welsh Government would take over the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service after a finding that there was a culture of misogyny and sexual harassment. The commissioners who were sent in by the Government appointed Stuart Millington as interim chief fire officer. But it became clear that Mr Millington himself was facing an employment tribunal following an accusation of harassment and discrimination in his role with the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Now, although the Fire Brigades Union, the FBU, asked for the withdrawal of the appointment, the appointment was defended by the commissioners. But is the First Minister entirely confident that commissioners and Ministers have all relevant information in order to come to a conclusion on the appropriateness of his appointment, be that information in the public domain or not?
I'll first just go back to the point about Veezu, the fact that a declaration has been made and referenced today, and I was pointing out factually what they had done in response to the very, very difficult and wholly unacceptable treatment of Julie Morgan's constituent. And that is a simple matter of fact that that report has been made.
On the reality of the commissioners' appointment of Stuart Millington as the acting chief fire officer for south Wales fire and rescue, I recognise that in a previous internal investigation, whilst no disciplinary action was taken, there were points of learning for Mr Millington about his managerial style. I understand the sort of comments that that can lead to. Of course, I've been a former trade union shop steward and an employment lawyer myself. I understand a lot about the realities of the world of work and how difficult it can be for people to raise complaints in the first place, but also in contested matters how there is often a need for the leader or the manager in question to undertake and take on board changes to their own management style.
There is, of course, an employment tribunal that is due to take place on 7 May, where the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority are the named respondent. The Welsh Government will, of course, take an interest in the evidence provided at that tribunal and, indeed, the outcome. If further action needs to be taken after that, we will do so, but there is a process in place to have a permanent leader in place for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the improvement that is plainly required within that organisation.
Fe wnaf i ddychwelyd yn gyntaf at y pwynt am Veezu, y ffaith bod datganiad wedi cael ei wneud ac y cyfeiriwyd ato heddiw, ac roeddwn i'n tynnu sylw'n ffeithiol at yr hyn yr oedden nhw wedi ei wneud mewn ymateb i'r driniaeth anodd dros ben a chwbl annerbyniol o etholwr Julie Morgan. Ac mae hwnnw'n fater syml o ffaith bod yr adroddiad hwnnw wedi cael ei wneud.
O ran realiti penodi Stuart Millington yn brif swyddog tân dros dro gwasanaeth tân ac achub de Cymru gan y comisiynwyr, rwy'n cydnabod, mewn ymchwiliad mewnol blaenorol, er na chymerwyd unrhyw gamau disgyblu, bod pwyntiau dysgu i Mr Millington am ei arddull reoli. Rwy'n deall y math o sylwadau y gall hynny arwain ato. Wrth gwrs, rwyf i wedi bod yn gyn stiward siop undeb llafur ac yn gyfreithiwr cyflogaeth fy hun. Rwy'n deall llawer am realiti byd gwaith a pha mor anodd y gall fod i bobl wneud cwynion yn y lle cyntaf, ond hefyd mewn materion dadleuol sut mae angen yn aml i'r arweinydd neu'r rheolwr dan sylw gyflawni a derbyn newidiadau i'w arddull reoli ei hun.
Wrth gwrs, mae yna dribiwnlys cyflogaeth y disgwylir iddo gael ei gynnal ar 7 Mai, y mae Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru yn ymatebydd a enwir ynddo. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn cymryd diddordeb yn y dystiolaeth a ddarperir yn y tribiwnlys hwnnw ac, yn wir, y canlyniad. Os bydd angen cymryd camau pellach ar ôl hynny, byddwn ni'n gwneud hynny, ond mae proses ar waith i gael arweinydd parhaol i Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru a'r gwelliant y mae'n amlwg sydd ei angen o fewn y sefydliad hwnnw.
The interim appointment is an important one. I know this is something that is being pursued by journalists at ITV Wales. When Stuart Millington was appointed, the north Wales chief fire officer, Dawn Docx issued a statement saying, and I quote,
'While it would be improper for us to comment on any particular grievance, we do provide Welsh Government with details of cases of inappropriate behaviour, including bullying and harassment, on a regular basis.'
Now, we were told that the complaints Mr Millington was facing represented only learning opportunities, or minor learning opportunities—a phrase repeated by the First Minister today. None were deemed serious enough to meet the threshold for a disciplinary panel to meet, but I have here a copy of the report presented to Dawn Docx on 12 October last year, an independent report commissioned by the north Wales fire service into allegations against Mr Millington. It concluded that there is evidence to support a prima facie case that may amount to bullying, harassment and discrimination, or harassment on the grounds of trade union activity. Is the First Minister content that Dawn Docx's response gave an accurate reflection of this report's conclusions? And does he know whether the commissioners appointed by the Welsh Government were aware of this independent report when they promoted Mr Millington to his current post?
Mae'r penodiad dros dro yn un pwysig. Rwy'n gwybod bod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae newyddiadurwyr yn ITV Wales yn mynd ar ei drywydd. Pan benodwyd Stuart Millington, cyhoeddodd prif swyddog tân gogledd Cymru, Dawn Docx, ddatganiad yn dweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
'Er y byddai'n amhriodol i ni wneud sylwadau ar unrhyw gŵyn benodol, rydym ni'n rhoi manylion achosion o ymddygiad amhriodol i Lywodraeth Cymru, gan gynnwys bwlio ac aflonyddu, yn rheolaidd.'
Nawr, dywedwyd wrthym ni mai cyfleoedd dysgu, neu fân gyfleoedd dysgu, yn unig oedd y cwynion yr oedd Mr Millington yn eu hwynebu—ymadrodd a ailadroddwyd gan y Prif Weinidog heddiw. Ni ystyriwyd bod yr un ohonyn nhw'n ddigon difrifol i gyrraedd y trothwy i banel disgyblu gyfarfod, ond mae gen i gopi yma o'r adroddiad a gyflwynwyd i Dawn Docx ar 12 Hydref y llynedd, adroddiad annibynnol a gomisiynwyd gan wasanaeth tân gogledd Cymru ar honiadau yn erbyn Mr Millington. Daeth i'r casgliad bod tystiolaeth i gefnogi achos prima facie a allai fod yn gyfystyr â bwlio, aflonyddu a gwahaniaethu, neu aflonyddu ar sail gweithgarwch undeb llafur. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn fodlon bod ymateb Dawn Docx wedi rhoi adlewyrchiad cywir o gasgliadau'r adroddiad hwn? Ac a yw'n gwybod pa un a oedd y comisiynwyr a benodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol o'r adroddiad annibynnol hwn pan wnaethon nhw ddyrchafu Mr Millington i'w swydd bresennol?
I haven't had the advantage of reading the report that the Member refers to from October last year. The point about a prima facie case is that you then need to investigate that fully to understand what comes from that. And I've represented in my life before coming into this Chamber people on all sides of the employment relationship, so I wouldn't want to try to reach a judgment on a report that I haven't read, haven't had access to, and, indeed, not understanding the investigation that did or didn't take place.
What is important, I believe, is that when information is provided to decision makers to make a choice on it, you can understand why that's happened. When actually, as in this case, there's a suggestion that there may be more information available, well I'd want us to consider that. And, as I said, this is an issue where there is an employment tribunal taking place about the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, where Mr Millington may or may not be a part of that. I'll need to understand that, and I know the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning will want to understand that too, to see if there's anything for us to do, but the first point is for the commissioners to understand what that looks like.
This is important to get right the leadership and the culture, not just in south Wales, but across our fire and rescue authorities. None of this takes away from the bravery and the service of all of the firefighters across the country, but the culture has to be right for everyone to have the opportunity to join and to be able to progress as they should do within the fire and rescue authority, and where that is not the case, we want to see action taken.
Nid wyf wedi cael y fantais o ddarllen yr adroddiad y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato o fis Hydref y llynedd. Y pwynt am achos prima facie yw bod angen i chi ymchwilio i hynny'n llawn wedyn er mwyn deall yr hyn sy'n dod o hynny. Ac rwyf wedi cynrychioli yn fy mywyd cyn dod i mewn i'r Siambr hon bobl ar bob ochr i'r berthynas gyflogaeth, felly ni fyddwn eisiau ceisio gwneud dyfarniad ar adroddiad nad wyf wedi ei ddarllen, nad wyf wedi cael mynediad ato, ac, yn wir, heb ddeall yr ymchwiliad a gynhaliwyd neu na chynhaliwyd.
Yr hyn sy'n bwysig, rwy'n credu, yw pan ddarperir gwybodaeth i'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau i wneud dewis yn ei chylch, gallwch chi ddeall pam y digwyddodd hynny. Pan mewn gwirionedd, fel yn yr achos hwn, ceir awgrym y gallai fod mwy o wybodaeth ar gael, wel byddwn i eisiau i ni ystyried hynny. Ac, fel y dywedais, mae hwn yn fater lle mae tribiwnlys cyflogaeth yn cael ei gynnal am Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru, lle gallai Mr Millington fod yn rhan o hynny neu beidio. Bydd angen i mi ddeall hynny, a gwn y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai, Llywodraeth Leol a Chynllunio eisiau deall hynny hefyd, i weld a oes unrhyw beth i ni ei wneud, ond y pwynt cyntaf yw i'r comisiynwyr ddeall sut mae hynny'n edrych.
Mae hyn yn bwysig i gael yr arweinyddiaeth a'r diwylliant yn iawn, nid yn unig yn ne Cymru, ond ar draws ein hawdurdodau tân ac achub. Nid oes dim o hyn yn tynnu oddi wrth ddewrder a gwasanaeth yr holl ddiffoddwyr tân ledled y wlad, ond mae'n rhaid i'r diwylliant fod yn iawn i bawb gael y cyfle i ymuno ac i allu symud ymlaen fel y dylen nhw o fewn yr awdurdod tân ac achub, a lle nad yw hynny'n wir, rydym ni eisiau gweld camau'n cael eu cymryd.
The First Minister is right: it's key what happened after this independent investigation. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning was questioned about Mr Millington's appointment in the Equality and Social Justice Committee only last week. In her evidence, she said that, yes, prior to appointing Mr Millington, a complaint had been made about him in 2023, that he had been the subject of an investigation, and that
'that had concluded that there was no disciplinary case to answer.'
But we know that the independent external investigation did say that there was a case to pursue. The Government's most senior fire and rescue adviser, Dan Stephens, also downplayed the allegations against Mr Millington. In the same committee, he said that the disciplinary investigation found that no aspects of the allegations made against Mr Millington met the threshold for disciplinary action. But we have already established that the external report found evidence to support a prima facie case that may amount to bullying and harassment, and that if upheld, the report concluded that this may amount to misconduct or gross misconduct. Now, bearing in mind that Dan Stephens is aware
'of all complaints made against principal officers and the outcomes'—
his words to the committee—does the First Minister, again, have confidence that Government has been given an accurate account of investigations, all investigations, including this independent external one?
Mae'r Prif Weinidog yn iawn: mae'n allweddol yr hyn a ddigwyddodd ar ôl yr ymchwiliad annibynnol hwn. Holwyd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai, Llywodraeth Leol a Chynllunio am benodiad Mr Millington yn y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf. Yn ei thystiolaeth, dywedodd, do, cyn penodi Mr Millington, bod cwyn wedi cael ei gwneud amdano yn 2023, ei fod wedi bod yn destun ymchwiliad, a bod
'hwnnw wedi dod i'r casgliad nad oedd achos disgyblu i'w ateb.'
Ond rydym ni'n gwybod bod yr ymchwiliad allanol annibynnol wedi dweud bod achos i fynd ar ei drywydd. Fe wnaeth uwch gynghorydd tân ac achub y Llywodraeth, Dan Stephens, hefyd fychanu'r honiadau yn erbyn Mr Millington. Yn yr un pwyllgor, dywedodd fod yr ymchwiliad disgyblu wedi canfod nad oedd unrhyw agweddau ar yr honiadau a wnaed yn erbyn Mr Millington yn cyrraedd y trothwy ar gyfer camau disgyblu. Ond rydym ni eisoes wedi canfod bod yr adroddiad allanol wedi dod o hyd i dystiolaeth i gefnogi achos prima facie a allai fod yn gyfystyr â bwlio ac aflonyddu, a phe bai'n cael ei gadarnhau, daeth yr adroddiad i'r casgliad y gallai hyn fod yn gyfystyr â chamymddwyn neu gamymddwyn difrifol. Nawr, o gofio bod Dan Stephens yn ymwybodol
'o'r holl gwynion a wnaed yn erbyn prif swyddogion a'r canlyniadau'—
ei eiriau i'r pwyllgor—a oes gan y Prif Weinidog, eto, hyder bod y Llywodraeth wedi cael cyfrif cywir o'r ymchwiliadau, yr holl ymchwiliadau, gan gynnwys yr un allanol annibynnol hwn?
I think there are two important aspects to what the Member has said. It's both his earlier comment about a prima facie case; that isn't a conclusion at the end of a disciplinary process, but is the point about disciplinary action if those prima facie allegations were upheld, and that's what I'm interested in. The disciplinary action to date has not found a cause of action that has been upheld. The employment tribunal and the evidence in it may change the picture. I know what I'm not prepared to do is to comment in advance of that, before I understand what has happened. It will be the same thing for the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning. We need to understand what evidence is provided at that employment tribunal, and if that changes the position for the commissioners.
The bigger picture, though, is actually the cultural change that is still required within South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority to make sure that the culture at work is a welcoming one, where there's appropriate challenge and support within the workplace, and we don't tolerate behaviours that we're determined to drive out of wider society. That's the path that I want us to take, and not to be drawn away from. If that means that there's a challenge with any senior manager within the fire and rescue service in any part of Wales, then I will want to see that addressed and for Ministers to be properly informed about not just the investigations, but the action that does need to be taken.
Rwy'n credu bod dwy agwedd bwysig ar yr hyn y mae'r Aelod wedi ei ddweud. Mae'n cynnwys ei sylw cynharach am achos prima facie; nid casgliad ar ddiwedd proses ddisgyblu yw hwnnw, ond y pwynt ynglŷn â chamau disgyblu pe bai'r cyhuddiadau prima facie hynny yn cael eu cadarnhau, a dyna'r hyn y mae gen i ddiddordeb ynddo. Nid yw'r camau disgyblu hyd yma wedi dod o hyd i achos dros weithredu a gadarnhawyd. Gallai'r tribiwnlys cyflogaeth a'r dystiolaeth ynddo newid y darlun. Rwy'n gwybod mai'r hyn nad wyf i'n barod i'w wneud yw gwneud sylw cyn hynny, cyn i mi ddeall yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd. Bydd yr un peth yn wir i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai, Llywodraeth Leol a Chynllunio. Mae angen i ni ddeall pa dystiolaeth a ddarperir yn y tribiwnlys cyflogaeth hwnnw, ac os yw honno'n newid y sefyllfa i'r comisiynwyr.
Y darlun ehangach, fodd bynnag, yw'r newid diwylliannol sydd ei angen o hyd o fewn Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru i wneud yn siŵr bod y diwylliant yn y gwaith yn un croesawgar, lle ceir her a chefnogaeth priodol yn y gweithle, ac nad ydym yn goddef ymddygiadau yr ydym ni'n benderfynol o'u gyrru allan o gymdeithas ehangach. Dyna'r llwybr yr wyf i eisiau i ni ei ddilyn, a pheidio â chael ein tynnu oddi wrtho. Os yw hynny'n golygu bod her gydag unrhyw uwch reolwr yn y gwasanaeth tân ac achub mewn unrhyw ran o Gymru, yna byddaf eisiau gweld hynny'n cael sylw ac i Weinidogion gael eu hysbysu'n briodol nid yn unig am yr ymchwiliadau, ond y camau y mae angen eu cymryd.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ysbyty cymuned gogledd Sir Ddinbych yn y Rhyl? OQ61001
3. Will the First Minister provide an update on the north Denbighshire community hospital in Rhyl? OQ61001
Yes, thank you. The health board is currently reviewing its proposals for the Royal Alexandra Hospital site in partnership with local stakeholders. The proposals are expected to include a minor injuries unit, intermediate care beds and integrated care. The business case should be submitted to the Welsh Government for consideration when ready.
Gwnaf, diolch. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd wrthi'n adolygu ei gynigion ar gyfer safle Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra ar hyn o bryd, mewn partneriaeth â rhanddeiliaid lleol. Disgwylir i'r cynigion gynnwys uned mân anafiadau, gwelyau gofal canolraddol a gofal integredig. Dylai'r achos busnes gael ei gyflwyno i Lywodraeth Cymru ei ystyried pan fydd yn barod.
Thank you very much for your update this afternoon, First Minister. I think the perceived progress and the actual tangible progress being felt by my constituents are somewhat not parallel here, because the fact of the matter is that my constituents have been waiting over 10 years for this community hospital to be built within Rhyl, which has long been seen as the remedy for treating some of the most acute issues in Glan Clwyd's accident and emergency department, which is the worst performing hospital in the worst performing health board.
You were the health Minister when you first announced £40 million to go towards the north Denbighshire community hospital, and while I can appreciate the fact that costs have gone up significantly since then, I think you can go two ways with this, First Minister. You can either be the latest First Minister in an ever-increasing line of First Ministers to fail to deliver this project, which your direct predecessor said was a regret that, in his time in office, this hospital wasn't delivered, or you could be the First Minister to finally get this project over the line. Which will it be? If it somehow is the latter, then what would your message be to my constituents in the Vale of Clwyd who have been waiting too long for this to happen?
Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich diweddariad y prynhawn yma, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n credu efallai nad yw'r cynnydd tybiedig a'r cynnydd gwirioneddol sy'n cael ei deimlo gan fy etholwyr yn cyfateb yma, oherwydd y ffaith amdani yw bod fy etholwyr wedi bod yn aros dros 10 mlynedd i'r ysbyty cymuned hwn gael ei adeiladu yn y Rhyl, a ystyriwyd ers amser maith fel yr ateb ar gyfer trin rhai o'r problemau mwyaf difrifol yn adran damweiniau ac achosion brys Glan Clwyd, sef yr ysbyty sy'n perfformio waethaf yn y bwrdd iechyd sy'n perfformio waethaf.
Chi oedd y Gweinidog iechyd pan wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi gyntaf y byddai £40 miliwn yn mynd tuag at ysbyty cymuned gogledd Sir Ddinbych, ac er y gallaf werthfawrogi'r ffaith bod costau wedi codi'n sylweddol ers hynny, rwy'n credu y gallwch chi fynd dwy ffordd gyda hyn, Prif Weinidog. Gallwch chi naill ai fod y Prif Weinidog diweddaraf mewn llinell o Brif Weinidogion sy'n tyfu'n barhaus i fethu â chyflawni'r prosiect hwn, y dywedodd eich rhagflaenydd uniongyrchol ei fod yn gresynu na chafodd yr ysbyty hwn ei ddarparu yn ystod ei amser yn y swydd, neu gallech chi fod y Prif Weinidog i gwblhau'r prosiect hwn o'r diwedd. Pa un fydd hi? Os rywsut mai'r olaf fydd hi, yna beth fyddai eich neges i'm hetholwyr yn Nyffryn Clwyd sydd wedi bod yn aros yn rhy hir i hyn ddigwydd?
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
It is, of course, a matter of regret that the proposal to use the Royal Alexandra site, which has widespread support, has not come to fruition yet. When I approved proposals some years ago, the initial price tag was thought to be around £40 million. That then increased to £100 million. And it's just worth reflecting not just the significant increase in the cost of the project, but actually all of that took place against a backdrop where our capital ability within the Welsh Government and within the Welsh NHS has reduced successively. We've actually done worse on capital than we have done on revenue in the last few budget rounds, so we're really, really squeezed.
What has now taken place is the scheme has been prioritised by the regional planning board, with other partners—the health service, working with other local partners—to look at a design that should work. It is a matter for those partners to come up with a full business case that can come to the Government for approval. I would very much like us to be able to have a business case we can invest in and see delivery in as well. That will make a real difference for different stakeholders and constituents not just in the Member's constituency but in the wider region. But we do need to have the business case robustly provided to us, with detailed costings around it, and I then want to be able to give the go-ahead for that. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services actually recently wrote to Councillor Joan Butterfield, the chair of the partnerships scrutiny committee, giving an update along those lines.
Mae'n destun gofid, wrth gwrs, nad yw'r cynnig i ddefnyddio safle Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra, y mae cefnogaeth eang iddo, wedi dwyn ffrwyth eto. Pan gymeradwyais i gynigion rai blynyddoedd yn ôl, credwyd i ddechrau y byddai'n costio tua £40 miliwn. Cynyddodd hynny wedyn i £100 miliwn. Ac mae'n werth ystyried nid yn unig y cynnydd sylweddol o ran cost y prosiect, ond y ffaith bod hynny i gyd wedi digwydd yn erbyn cefndir lle mae ein gallu cyfalaf o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru ac o fewn GIG Cymru wedi lleihau'n olynol. A dweud y gwir, rydym ni wedi gwneud yn waeth o ran cyfalaf nag yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud o ran refeniw yn yr ychydig rowndiau cyllideb diwethaf, felly rydym ni wir wedi ein gwasgu.
Yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd nawr yw bod y cynllun wedi cael ei flaenoriaethu gan y bwrdd cynllunio rhanbarthol, gyda phartneriaid eraill—y gwasanaeth iechyd, yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid lleol eraill—i edrych ar ddyluniad a ddylai weithio. Mater i'r partneriaid hynny yw llunio achos busnes llawn a all ddod i'r Llywodraeth i'w gymeradwyo. Hoffwn yn fawr iawn petawn ni'n gallu cael achos busnes y gallwn ni fuddsoddi ynddo a gweld darpariaeth ynddo hefyd. Bydd hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i wahanol randdeiliaid ac etholwyr, nid yn unig yn etholaeth yr Aelod ond yn y rhanbarth ehangach. Ond mae angen i'r achos busnes gael ei ddarparu'n gadarn i ni, gyda chostau manwl o'i gwmpas, ac yna rwyf eisiau gallu rhoi sêl bendith i hynny. Yn wir, ysgrifennodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol at y Cynghorydd Joan Butterfield, cadeirydd y pwyllgor craffu partneriaethau, yn ddiweddar i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar hyd y llinellau hynny.
4. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn hyrwyddo cyfleoedd twristiaeth yn y Cymoedd i'r byd? OQ60999
4. How is the Welsh Government is promoting tourism opportunities in the Valleys to the world? OQ60999
Visit Wales promotes the Valleys as part of the strategy 'Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the visitor economy 2020-2025'. This focuses on growing tourism across the whole of Wales. The Valleys have recently featured in tv advertising, social media and website activity, and in promotion to the travel trade.
Mae Croeso Cymru yn hyrwyddo'r Cymoedd yn rhan o'r strategaeth 'Croeso i Gymru: Blaenoriaethau i'r economi ymwelwyr 2020-2025'. Mae hon yn canolbwyntio ar dyfu twristiaeth ar draws Cymru gyfan. Mae'r Cymoedd wedi ymddangos yn ddiweddar mewn hysbysebion teledu, ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol a gweithgarwch gwefannau, ac mewn deunydd hyrwyddo i'r fasnach deithio.
I know you've previously stated that tourism in Wales can't only rely on our mountains and our coastlines, and that we have to tell our story and our history too. In the Rhondda, we have the Eisteddfod coming to Ponty to celebrate our language, with Clwb Coffi providing Welsh lessons, and the Lion in Treorchy hosting Welsh language events, including Mabon festival. But we also have beautiful walking trails at Maerdy reservoirs and Cwm Clydach country park, and amazing mountain bike tracks at Barry Sidings. These beautiful places also tell the story of our industrial history. Add to this the Tower colliery zip wire and the Rhondda Heritage Park and Heritage Park Hotel, and we have a real opportunity to sell our story, through amazing experiences, to the world.
More recently, Martin Roberts has brought new life to the Rhondda tunnel project, which, when completed, will be the longest cycle tunnel in Europe. So, First Minister, would you please be willing to visit the Rhondda tunnel with me to meet the fantastic team, and to be lowered down into the tunnel to see for yourself the potential on offer, and, please, raise the funding problems we currently face to restore the tunnel with the UK Government?
Rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi wedi dweud yn flaenorol na all twristiaeth yng Nghymru ddibynnu ar ein mynyddoedd a'n harfordiroedd yn unig, a bod yn rhaid i ni adrodd ein stori a'n hanes hefyd. Yn y Rhondda, mae gennym ni'r Eisteddfod yn dod i Bontypridd i ddathlu ein hiaith, gyda Clwb Coffi yn darparu gwersi Cymraeg, a'r Llew yn Nhreorci yn cynnal digwyddiadau Cymraeg, gan gynnwys gŵyl Mabon. Ond mae gennym ni hefyd lwybrau cerdded hardd yng nghronfeydd dŵr Maerdy a pharc gwledig Cwm Clydach, a llwybrau beicio mynydd anhygoel yn Barry Sidings. Mae'r lleoedd hardd hyn hefyd yn adrodd stori ein hanes diwydiannol. Ychwanegwch at hyn weiren wib pwll glo'r Tower a Pharc Treftadaeth y Rhondda a Gwesty'r Parc Treftadaeth, ac mae gennym ni gyfle gwirioneddol i werthu ein stori, trwy brofiadau anhygoel, i'r byd.
Yn fwy diweddar, mae Martin Roberts wedi dod â bywyd newydd i brosiect twnnel y Rhondda, y twnnel beicio hiraf yn Ewrop pan gaiff ei gwblhau. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a fuasech chi'n fodlon ymweld â thwnnel y Rhondda gyda mi i gyfarfod â'r tîm gwych, ac i gael eich gostwng i lawr i'r twnnel i weld drosoch chi eich hun y potensial sydd ar gael, a chodi'r problemau ariannu sy'n ein hwynebu ar hyn o bryd i adfer y twnnel gyda Llywodraeth y DU, os gwelwch yn dda?
Thank you for the offer. I'm sure the previous First Minister is regretting he didn't have the same opportunity to get lowered into a tunnel in the middle of a mountain. But you're right about the funding challenges, because, actually, there's a real will and desire locally to see the tunnel reopen. There's about £20 million of capital work that needs to be done. I'll be more than happy to arrange a visit with the Member to look at tourism opportunities in the Valleys. I'm sure that a number of Members, including Vikki Howells, in whose constituency the Tower zip wire is, are delighted to hear name checks for those. But I'm also pleased that you mentioned different aspects within your own constituency, including the old wash house in Maerdy on the way up to the reservoir, the memorial for the Cambrian colliery disaster at Clydach lakes, and the old railway sidings at Barry. I think there are real opportunities there to think about more tourism that can go there in a way that is genuinely sustainable. So, I'm more than happy to talk to the Member about an appropriate visit, and we'll see whether that will be in the middle of a mountain or somewhere else.
Diolch am y cynnig. Rwy'n siŵr bod y Prif Weinidog blaenorol yn difaru na chafodd yr un cyfle i gael ei ostwng i dwnnel yng nghanol mynydd. Ond rydych chi'n iawn am yr heriau ariannu, oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, mae ewyllys ac awydd gwirioneddol yn lleol i weld y twnnel yn ailagor. Mae tua £20 miliwn o waith cyfalaf y mae angen ei wneud. Byddaf yn fwy na pharod i drefnu ymweliad gyda'r Aelod i edrych ar gyfleoedd twristiaeth yn y Cymoedd. Rwy'n siŵr bod nifer o Aelodau, gan gynnwys Vikki Howells, y mae weiren wib y Tower yn ei hetholaeth, wrth eu boddau o glywed cyfeiriadau at y rheini. Ond rwyf hefyd yn falch eich bod chi wedi sôn am wahanol agweddau yn eich etholaeth eich hun, gan gynnwys yr hen olchdy ym Maerdy ar y ffordd i fyny at y gronfa ddŵr, y gofeb i drychineb pwll glo Cambrian yn llynnoedd Clydach, a'r hen seidins rheilffordd yn Barry Sidings. Rwy'n credu bod cyfleoedd gwirioneddol yno i feddwl am fwy o dwristiaeth a all fynd yno mewn ffordd sy'n wirioneddol gynaliadwy. Felly, rwy'n fwy na pharod i siarad â'r Aelod am ymweliad priodol, a chawn ni weld a fydd hwnnw yng nghanol mynydd neu yn rhywle arall.
You're welcome to walk through the tunnel and come out in the Aberavon constituency.
Mae croeso i chi gerdded drwy'r twnnel a dod allan yn etholaeth Aberafan.
As we've heard, First Minister, the Rhondda Tunnel Society has been campaigning to reopen the old Rhondda railway tunnel between Blaencwm and Blaengwynfi in the hope of creating Europe’s longest indoor cycle path, as well as creating a tourism and community hub, which would include, among other things, a visitor centre, a bike trail and an amphitheatre, which will undoubtedly help attract visitors to the area. It has the potential to be a major tourist attraction for the Valleys, and bring in vital jobs to the area. And for the record, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm a member of the Rhondda Tunnel Society, and this is project I believe passionately in. I've met with the Secretary of State for Wales and I've been in correspondence with the UK transport Secretary, and the latest is that the UK Government will only pass ownership of the tunnel on to a Government body, local or otherwise, not directly to a trust or other organisation. As you will know, First Minister, the UK Government has offered this tunnel to you in the past, but this has been refused. With this in mind, can you please give an account of the reasons for this, and explain why this Government is refusing to help support this opportunity to grow tourism in the Valleys? Thank you.
Fel y clywsom, Prif Weinidog, mae Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda wedi bod yn ymgyrchu i ailagor hen dwnnel rheilffordd y Rhondda rhwng Blaen-cwm a Blaengwynfi yn y gobaith o greu llwybr beicio dan do hiraf Ewrop, yn ogystal â chreu canolfan twristiaeth a chymunedol, a fyddai'n cynnwys, ymhlith pethau eraill, canolfan ymwelwyr, llwybr beicio ac amffitheatr, a fydd yn sicr yn helpu i ddenu ymwelwyr i'r ardal. Mae ganddo'r potensial i fod yn atyniad twristiaeth mawr ar gyfer y Cymoedd, ac i ddod â swyddi hanfodol i'r ardal. Ac ar gyfer y cofnod, Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n aelod o Gymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda, ac mae hwn yn brosiect rwy'n credu'n angerddol ynddo. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ac rwyf wedi bod yn gohebu ag Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth y DU, a'r diweddaraf yw y gwnaiff Llywodraeth y DU ond drosglwyddo perchnogaeth o'r twnnel ymlaen i gorff Llywodraeth, lleol neu fel arall, nid yn uniongyrchol i ymddiriedolaeth neu sefydliad arall. Fel y byddwch yn gwybod, Prif Weinidog, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cynnig y twnnel hwn i chi yn y gorffennol, ond gwrthodwyd hyn. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a allwch chi roi cyfrif o'r rhesymau am hyn, ac esbonio pam mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn gwrthod helpu i gefnogi'r cyfle hwn i dyfu twristiaeth yn y Cymoedd? Diolch.
I should mention that Martin Roberts, of course more famous for being the Homes Under the Hammer presenter, in this context has provided a real boost to the tunnel society. The challenge, though, in Joel James's question, is the fact that this asset, which is currently owned by the Department for Transport in the UK Government, as I said in response to Buffy Williams, comes with a £20 million capital cost to deliver the project. That simply isn't available to us. There's also, then, the need to generate £0.25 million in revenue terms. None of that has been offered by the Department for Transport, so essentially it would mean transferring something with a massive bill and a liability for the Welsh Government. I'd like to have a sensible and grown-up conversation between the Welsh Government and the UK Government about the costs that come with that. I would like to see it turned into a real asset for the visitor economy here in Wales, and indeed the opportunity, potentially, for active travel too, as part of that. But we have got to be upfront and honest about the real cost and the significant price tag that exists on an asset that is in the responsibility, at present, of the UK Government.
Dylwn i sôn fod Martin Roberts, sy'n fwy enwog, wrth gwrs, am fod yn gyflwynydd Homes Under the Hammer, yn y cyd-destun hwn wedi rhoi hwb gwirioneddol i gymdeithas y twnnel. Yr her, fodd bynnag, yng nghwestiwn Joel James, yw'r ffaith bod yr ased hwn, sy'n eiddo i'r Adran Drafnidiaeth yn Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd, fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Buffy Williams, yn dod â chost gyfalaf o £20 miliwn i gyflawni'r prosiect. Yn syml, nid yw hynny ar gael i ni. Hefyd, mae'r angen wedyn i gynhyrchu £0.25 miliwn mewn refeniw. Nid oes dim o hynny wedi cael ei gynnig gan yr Adran Drafnidiaeth, felly, yn ei hanfod, byddai'n golygu trosglwyddo rhywbeth gyda bil enfawr a rhwymedigaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Hoffwn gael sgwrs synhwyrol ac aeddfed rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r costau sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny. Hoffwn ei weld yn cael ei droi'n ased gwirioneddol i'r economi ymwelwyr yma yng Nghymru, ac yn wir y cyfle, o bosibl, ar gyfer teithio llesol hefyd, yn rhan o hynny. Ond mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn agored ac yn onest am y gost go iawn a'r costau sylweddol sy'n gysylltiedig ag ased y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gyfrifol amdano ar hyn o bryd.
Diolch i Buffy Williams am ofyn y cwestiwn yma. Mi ddylwn i ddatgan fy mod i'n aelod o gyfeillion twnnel y Rhondda, a na, nid dim ond gan eu bod nhw wedi fy rhoi dan ddaear. Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, nid gŵyl am Mabon ap Gwynfor sydd yn y Rhondda, ond gŵyl Mabon, fydd yn ŵyl wych ddydd Sadwrn yn dathlu'r Gymraeg a cherddoriaeth Gymraeg yn y Rhondda, yn y Lion yn Nhreorci.
Un o'r heriau mawr, wrth gwrs, o ran twristiaeth ydy pobl yn gallu cael mynediad at yr holl gyfoeth o bethau sydd wedi cael eu rhestru eisoes. Rhywbeth sy'n cael ei godi efo fi yn aml gan fusnesau lleol ydy, yn dilyn uwchraddio llinell Treherbert, sydd wrth gwrs wedi bod yn fuddsoddiad sylweddol, nad ydy'r amserlenni wedi cael eu hehangu, gan olygu bod pobl yn methu â chael nôl i ba bynnag ran o Gymru neu Loegr maen nhw'n dod ohono fo os ydyn nhw eisiau mwynhau'r hyn sydd gan y Cymoedd i'w cynnig. Os ydych chi'n meddwl am Theatr y Parc a'r Dâr, er enghraifft, yn Nhreorci, does yna ddim trên yn hwyr yn y nos. Felly, gaf i ofyn sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru i sicrhau bod yr amserlenni yn cael eu hehangu rŵan, fel bod mwy o bobl yn gallu aros i fwynhau'r cyfoeth sydd gan y Cymoedd i'w cynnig?
I thank Buffy Williams for asking this question. I should state that I'm a member of the friends of the Rhondda tunnel, and not just because they put me underground. And I have to say, it's not the Mabon ap Gwynfor festival that will be held in the Rhondda, but the Mabon festival, which will celebrate Welsh music and Welsh culture on Saturday in the Lion in Treorchy.
One of the great challenges, of course, in terms of tourism is people being able to have access to the rich array of attractions already listed. Something that's raised with me often by local businesses is the fact that, following the upgrading of the Treherbert line, which has been a significant investment, the timetables haven't been expanded, which means that people can't get back to whichever part of Wales or England they come from if they want to enjoy what the Valleys have to offer. When you think about the Park and Dare Theatre, for example, in Treorchy, there's no late train in the night. So, could I ask how is the Welsh Government working with Transport for Wales to ensure that the timetables are expanded so that more people can stay and enjoy the rich array of attractions the Valleys have?
I should have said in response to Buffy Williams earlier that I in particular look forward to going to the Eisteddfod in Ponty. I look forward to joining Andrew Morgan and others, and I'm sure that many Members here will also take the opportunity to visit the Eisteddfod—a great window into Welsh language culture. Indeed, I'm delighted that it's taking place in a Valleys location this year. And I was at the proclamation for the Wrexham Eisteddfod that will take place next year, with Lesley Griffiths, on the weekend.
On your point around the Treherbert line, our challenge is how we deliver against a significant investment in rolling stock. Part of the reason I mentioned Wrexham is that we saw two new trains named after the co-owners of Wrexham football club. That's part, though, of the roll-out of a significant improvement in the rolling stock: £800 million that has been invested. There are significant capital works taking place on the Treherbert line as well, and a much better passenger experience and a more reliable experience for people paying fares. That is essential to get to where the Member wants us to and indeed this Government wants us to. We'll have more options on the timetable, and we can expand the services. What we need to do, though, is to increase patronage on those lines. That's why the journey that Transport for Wales are on in improving their punctuality and in improving the reality that they are the best performing franchise in Wales is so important to us. Without that increase in passengers, we're unlikely to see the developments that we want to, and of course the opportunities for a fair funding settlement to allow us to invest in passenger rail services here in Wales.
Dylwn i fod wedi dweud mewn ymateb i Buffy Williams yn gynharach fy mod i'n arbennig yn edrych ymlaen at fynd i'r Eisteddfod ym Mhontypridd. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymuno ag Andrew Morgan ac eraill, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd llawer o Aelodau yma hefyd yn manteisio ar y cyfle i ymweld â'r Eisteddfod—ffenestr wych i ddiwylliant Cymraeg. Yn wir, rwyf wrth fy modd ei bod yn cael ei chynnal mewn lleoliad yn y Cymoedd eleni. Ac roeddwn i yn seremoni cyhoeddi Eisteddfod Wrecsam a fydd yn cael ei chynnal y flwyddyn nesaf, gyda Lesley Griffiths, dros y penwythnos.
O ran eich pwynt am reilffordd Treherbert, yr her i ni yw sut yr ydym yn cyflawni yn erbyn buddsoddiad sylweddol mewn cerbydau rheilffyrdd. Rhan o'r rheswm y soniais i am Wrecsam yw ein bod ni wedi gweld dau drên newydd yn cael eu henwi ar ôl cydberchnogion clwb pêl-droed Wrecsam. Fodd bynnag, mae hynny'n rhan o gyflwyno gwelliant sylweddol i'r cerbydau rheilffyrdd: £800 miliwn sydd wedi'i fuddsoddi. Mae gwaith cyfalaf sylweddol yn cael ei wneud ar reilffordd Treherbert hefyd, a phrofiad llawer gwell i deithwyr a phrofiad mwy dibynadwy i bobl sy'n talu am docynnau. Mae hynny'n hanfodol er mwyn cyrraedd lle mae'r Aelod eisiau i ni gyrraedd, ac yn wir lle mae'r Llywodraeth hon eisiau i ni gyrraedd. Bydd gennym ni fwy o opsiynau ar yr amserlen, a gallwn ni ehangu'r gwasanaethau. Yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud, fodd bynnag, yw cynyddu nifer y teithwyr ar y rheilffyrdd hynny. Dyna pam mae'r daith y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru arni o ran gwella eu prydlondeb ac o ran gwella'r realiti mai nhw yw'r fasnachfraint sy'n perfformio orau yng Nghymru mor bwysig i ni. Heb y cynnydd hwnnw yn nifer y teithwyr, rydym ni'n annhebygol o weld y datblygiadau yr ydym eisiau eu gweld, ac wrth gwrs y cyfleoedd ar gyfer setliad ariannu teg i ganiatáu i ni fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd teithwyr yma yng Nghymru.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad ar gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ61012
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for public transport in Mid and West Wales? OQ61012
We have provided substantial and continued support for public transport in mid and west Wales, both financially and through the resources of our officials and Transport for Wales. We want mid and west, and indeed all of Wales, to have a public transport system that meets the needs of our communities.
Rydym ni wedi darparu cymorth sylweddol a pharhaus ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn y canolbarth a'r gorllewin, yn ariannol a thrwy adnoddau ein swyddogion a Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Rydym ni eisiau i'r canolbarth a'r gorllewin ac, yn wir, Cymru gyfan, fod â system trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sy'n diwallu anghenion ein cymunedau.
I welcome the Welsh Government's investment of £4.6 million in mid Wales to improve public transport and economic growth. The funding will help to develop important projects like the second phase of a shared-use path along Severn Road to Welshpool town centre, improving road safety in Llanidloes, and the Rhiwgoch footway link to Aberaeron. First Minister, do you agree with me that it's vital that we see continued investment in local tranport infrastructure to encourage people to use active travel and public transport?
Rwy'n croesawu buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru o £4.6 miliwn yn y canolbarth i wella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a thwf economaidd. Bydd y cyllid yn helpu i ddatblygu prosiectau pwysig fel ail gam llwybr cyd-ddefnyddio ar hyd Ffordd Hafren i ganol tref y Trallwng, gwella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd yn Llanidloes, a chysylltiad troedffordd Rhiwgoch ag Aberaeron. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi ei bod hi'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n gweld buddsoddiad parhaus mewn seilwaith trafnidiaeth lleol i annog pobl i ddefnyddio ffyrdd llesol o deithio a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus?
Yes, and I'm really pleased that the Member has highlighted the £4.6 million that has been invested to improve public transport and active travel in mid Wales. This is part of more than £100 million awarded to local authorities through grants for active travel and safe routes, to help improve road safety, electric vehicle charging facilities, road resilience, local transport and unadopted roads. We're also, of course, investing in transforming high streets in Brecon, Crickhowell and Newtown, and in strategic bus corridor infrastructure in Ceredigion. It's a good example of the practical support we provide—not just support in terms of wanting people to use public transport, but how we practically make it easier and more effective for our constituents to do so.
Ydw, ac rwy'n falch iawn bod yr Aelod wedi tynnu sylw at y £4.6 miliwn sydd wedi cael ei fuddsoddi i wella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a theithio llesol yn y canolbarth. Mae hyn yn rhan o fwy na £100 miliwn a roddwyd i awdurdodau lleol drwy grantiau ar gyfer teithio llesol a llwybrau diogel, i helpu i wella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd, cyfleusterau gwefru cerbydau trydan, gwytnwch ffyrdd, trafnidiaeth leol a ffyrdd heb eu mabwysiadu. Rydym hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn buddsoddi mewn trawsnewid y strydoedd mawr yn Aberhonddu, Crucywel a'r Drenewydd, ac mewn seilwaith coridor bysiau strategol yng Ngheredigion. Mae'n enghraifft dda o'r cymorth ymarferol yr ydym ni'n ei ddarparu—nid cymorth o ran bod eisiau i bobl ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn unig, ond sut rydym, yn ymarferol, yn ei gwneud hi'n haws ac yn fwy effeithiol i'n hetholwyr wneud hynny.
First Minister, I want to raise with you public transport in mid Wales from a rail perspective. It's pretty abysmal, I'm afraid. I continue to get constituents contacting me about delayed trains on the Cambrian line, and also trains not turning up at all at short notice. It shouldn't really be a surprise, of course, because Transport for Wales had the worst customer satisfaction of any train operator in the UK, according to the rail user survey.
But most frustrating to me is the delayed progress on an hourly service. We've had commitment after commitment that's gone broken. Back in 2021, Transport for Wales informed me, 'We're very sorry to break another commitment, but your hourly service on the Cambrian line will now be delivered in May 2024.' Now we're in May, just about—later this week—and I'm told that it's going to be 2026 until we get a true hourly service stopping at every town on the Cambrian line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. And even then, it will only be in the summer months.
So, First Minister, as you are ultimately responsible for Transport for Wales, can you give me a commitment, and my constituents, as to when they can expect a service that is on time for the vast majority of occasions, and also is not cancelled at short notice, and when can we really expect that true hourly service, as was promised many, many years ago?
Prif Weinidog, hoffwn godi gyda chi drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn y canolbarth o safbwynt rheilffyrdd. Mae braidd yn druenus, mae arna' i ofn. Rwy'n parhau i gael etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi am drenau sydd wedi eu gohirio ar reilffordd y Cambrian, a threnau sydd ddim yn ymddangos o gwbl ar fyr rybudd hefyd. Ni ddylai fod yn syndod mewn gwirionedd, wrth gwrs, oherwydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru oedd â'r boddhad cwsmeriaid gwaethaf o blith unrhyw weithredwr trenau yn y DU, yn ôl arolwg o ddefnyddwyr y rheilffyrdd.
Ond yr hyn sydd fwyaf rhwystredig i mi yw'r oedi o ran cynnydd gwasanaeth bob awr. Rydym ni wedi cael ymrwymiad ar ôl ymrwymiad sydd heb eu cyflawni. Yn ôl yn 2021, dywedodd Trafnidiaeth Cymru wrthyf, 'Mae'n ddrwg iawn gennym dorri ymrwymiad arall, ond bydd eich gwasanaeth bob awr ar reilffordd y Cambrian yn cael ei ddarparu nawr ym mis Mai 2024.' Nawr rydym ni ym mis Mai, fwy neu lai—yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon—ac rwy'n cael fy hysbysu y bydd hi'n 2026 cyn i ni gael gwasanaeth bob awr gwirioneddol sy'n stopio ym mhob tref ar reilffordd y Cambrian rhwng Amwythig ac Aberystwyth. A hyd yn oed wedyn, dim ond yn ystod misoedd yr haf y bydd hynny.
Felly, Prif Weinidog, gan mai chi sy'n gyfrifol am Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn y pen draw, a allwch chi roi ymrwymiad i mi, a'm hetholwyr, o ran pryd y gallan nhw ddisgwyl gwasanaeth sy'n brydlon ar y mwyafrif helaeth o achlysuron, ac nad yw'n cael ei ganslo ar fyr rybudd hefyd, a phryd y gallwn ni ddisgwyl, mewn gwirionedd, y gwasanaeth bob awr gwirioneddol hwnnw, fel yr addawyd flynyddoedd maith yn ôl?
There are two broad points to mention, and they're factual points here: the factual point is that Transport for Wales is the best performing franchise in Wales by a significant distance. It performs better on timeliness and on the lack of cancellations compared to every franchise that is run and managed through the UK Government departments. That's a matter of fact, not a matter of opinion, and it's a shame that the Member can't recognise that, even if he would choose not to celebrate it. [Interruption.]
Mae yna ddau bwynt eang i'w crybwyll, ac maen nhw'n bwyntiau ffeithiol yma: y pwynt ffeithiol yw mai Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw'r fasnachfraint sy'n perfformio orau yng Nghymru o bell ffordd. Mae'n perfformio'n well o ran prydlondeb ac o ran diffyg achosion o ganslo o'i gymharu â phob masnachfraint sy'n cael ei rhedeg a'i rheoli drwy adrannau Llywodraeth y DU. Mae hynny'n fater o ffaith, nid mater o farn, ac mae'n drueni na all yr Aelod gydnabod hynny, hyd yn oed os byddai'n dewis peidio â'i ddathlu. [Torri ar draws.]
I would like to hear the First Minister's answers, and that means all backbenchers on all sides should remain quiet, so we can hear the answers.
Hoffwn glywed atebion y Prif Weinidog, ac mae hynny'n golygu y dylai pob aelod o'r meinciau cefn ar bob ochr gadw'n dawel, fel y gallwn ni glywed yr atebion.
The second point, of course, is that rail infrastructure is not devolved. The challenge that the Member faces is on the one hand regretting and complaining about the challenges that a lack of investment in rail infrastructure causes, without willing the means for that to happen. I'd have a deal more respect for the Member if he was prepared to stand up and call out the fact that the UK Government has not invested in rail infrastructure in equitable terms, and it is the rail infrastructure that is a direct cause of the challenges that the Member points to on this part of the rail network. I'd have a great deal more respect if he was prepared to call that out. I look forward to a UK Labour Government that will invest in rail infrastructure. I look forward to making and winning the case for real investment in rail infrastructure here in Wales. I hope the Member will then recognise that in the future, even if he is not prepared to call out the shameful Tory failure to invest in our rail infrastructure in Wales.
Yr ail bwynt, wrth gwrs, yw nad yw seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi'i ddatganoli. Yr her y mae'r Aelod yn ei hwynebu yw, ar y naill law mae'n gresynu ac yn cwyno am yr heriau y mae diffyg buddsoddiad mewn seilwaith rheilffyrdd yn eu hachosi, heb ewyllysio'r modd o sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd. Byddai gen i lawer mwy o barch tuag at yr Aelod pe bai'n barod i sefyll ar ei draed a beirniadu'r ffaith nad yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi buddsoddi mewn seilwaith rheilffyrdd ar delerau teg, a'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd yw achos uniongyrchol yr heriau y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio atyn nhw ar y rhan hon o'r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd. Byddai gen i lawer mwy o barch pe bai'n barod i feirniadu hynny. Edrychaf ymlaen at Lywodraeth Lafur yn y DU a fydd yn buddsoddi mewn seilwaith rheilffyrdd. Edrychaf ymlaen at wneud ac ennill y ddadl dros fuddsoddiad gwirioneddol mewn seilwaith rheilffyrdd yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelod yn cydnabod hynny wedyn yn y dyfodol, hyd yn oed os nad yw'n barod i feirniadu methiant cywilyddus y Torïaid i fuddsoddi yn ein seilwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer yr economi yng nghefn gwlad Cymru? OQ61032
6. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans for the economy in rural Wales? OQ61032
We will continue to support our rural economy, as we support the economy across all of Wales. We're investing in our growth deals, digital infrastructure, transport network and Welsh-speaking heartlands. We maintained the basic payment scheme at £238 million in 2024 and are also funding rural investment schemes.
Byddwn ni'n parhau i gefnogi ein heconomi wledig, fel yr ydym ni'n cefnogi'r economi ledled Cymru gyfan. Rydym ni'n buddsoddi yn ein bargeinion twf, mewn seilwaith digidol, yn y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth ac yng nghadarnleoedd y Gymraeg. Fe wnaethom ni gynnal y cynllun taliad sylfaenol ar £238 miliwn yn 2024 ac rydym ni hefyd yn ariannu cynlluniau buddsoddi gwledig.
Prif Weinidog, as the chairman of the cross-party group on rural growth, we launched a report in March, entitled 'Generating Growth in the Rural Economy'. With support from CLA Cymru, the report was compiled following four evidence sessions focusing on key components of Wales's rural economy: tourism; housing and planning; economy, infrastructure and connectivity; and, finally, food production and the supply chain. My thanks to the range of experts and stakeholders who took part in the inquiry. Now, these evidence sessions helped to draw up 19 recommendations, non-partisan recommendations, that, if accepted, would boost our rural economy. So, given Wales's economy continually lags behind the rest of the United Kingdom's, what consideration have you given to the work of the CPG, its inquiry, its report and the recommendations to give Wales's rural economy the shot of adrenaline it so desperately needs?
Prif Weinidog, fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dwf gwledig, fe wnaethon ni lansio adroddiad ym mis Mawrth o'r enw 'Cynhyrchu Twf yn yr Economi Wledig'. Gyda chefnogaeth CLA Cymru, cafodd yr adroddiad ei lunio yn dilyn pedair sesiwn dystiolaeth yn canolbwyntio ar elfennau allweddol o economi wledig Cymru: twristiaeth; tai a chynllunio; economi, seilwaith a chysylltedd; ac, yn olaf, cynhyrchu bwyd a'r gadwyn gyflenwi. Diolch i'r amrywiaeth o arbenigwyr a rhanddeiliaid a gymerodd ran yn yr ymchwiliad. Nawr, helpodd y sesiynau tystiolaeth hyn i lunio 19 o argymhellion, argymhellion amhleidiol, a fyddai, pe bydden nhw'n cael eu derbyn, yn rhoi hwb i'n heconomi wledig. Felly, o ystyried bod economi Cymru ar ei hôl hi'n barhaus o gymharu â gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig, pa ystyriaeth ydych chi wedi'i rhoi i waith y grŵp trawsbleidiol, ei ymchwiliad, ei adroddiad a'r argymhellion i roi'r hwb sydd ei angen mor daer ar economi wledig Cymru?
I'm proud of the work this Government has done and will continue to do to support the rural economy across different parts of Wales. We will of course take seriously the work of the cross-party group and the different recommendations, some of which will be for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, leading on the food industry, some of which will be for the Cabinet Secretary for the economy and energy. We're doing that, of course, against a backdrop where we have lost nearly £0.25 billion that would otherwise have been spent on the rural economy in Wales. So, there are challenges about our funding, resources that are available to us. Even within that context, we will look seriously at the work of the cross-party group, and I'm sure that the relevant Cabinet Secretaries will be happy to make sure that their officials respond to you.
Rwy'n falch o'r gwaith y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi'i wneud ac y bydd yn parhau i'w wneud i gefnogi'r economi wledig ar draws gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni'n cymryd o ddifrif waith y grŵp trawsbleidiol a'r gwahanol argymhellion, y bydd rhai ohonyn nhw ar gyfer Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, gan arwain ar y diwydiant bwyd, ac y bydd rhai ohonyn nhw ar gyfer Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi ac ynni. Rydyn ni'n gwneud hynny, wrth gwrs, yn erbyn cefndir lle'r ydyn ni wedi colli bron i £0.25 biliwn a fyddai fel arall wedi cael ei wario ar yr economi wledig yng Nghymru. Felly, mae heriau ynglŷn â'n cyllid, yr adnoddau sydd ar gael i ni. Hyd yn oed yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, fe wnawn ni edrych o ddifrif ar waith y grŵp trawsbleidiol, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet perthnasol yn hapus i sicrhau bod eu swyddogion yn ymateb i chi.
Ddysgon ni ar Ffermio neithiwr fod 12,000 o ymatebion wedi bod i'r ymgynghoriad ar y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn ffigwr sylweddol iawn, ac yn awgrymu efallai fod yna waith sylweddol iawn angen ei wneud er mwyn sicrhau bod y cynllun yn addas i bwrpas. Ond gaf i ofyn, fel rhan neu yn sgil unrhyw newidiadau arfaethedig i'r cynllun, a fydd yna asesiad effaith economaidd newydd yn cael ei baratoi yn seiliedig ar y cynigion terfynol ac y bydd hwnnw, gobeithio, ddim mor gul, efallai, â'r asesiad blaenorol, a bydd e'n edrych ar bethau fel yr impact ar y gadwyn gyflenwi oedd ddim wedi ei gynnwys yn flaenorol? Ond bydd hefyd yn edrych ar y gwerth cymdeithasol, y social value, achos mae hwnna yn elfen bwysig iawn o werth y cynllun yn symud ymlaen, ac efallai'n elfen sydd ddim wedi cael y sylw y dylai hi fod wedi ei chael hyd yn hyn.
We learned on Ffermio last night that 12,000 responses had been received to the consultation on the sustainable farming scheme, which, of course, is a very substantial number, and suggests that there is substantial work that needs to be done to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose. But may I ask you, as a result of any proposed changes to the scheme, will there be a new economic impact assessment prepared based on the final proposals and that that, hopefully, won't be as narrow as the previous assessment, and will look at things like impact on the supply chain that wasn't previously included, but it will also look at social value, because that is a very important element of the value of the scheme moving forward, and one that hasn't been given due attention to date?
I continue to make the point that I'm someone who has a real connection to our rural economy. I grew up in a rural community and, as the Member knows, I spent many hours on farms with my father in my childhood. So, this isn't something that I need to be introduced to: understanding what rural life is like or the hard work of our farming communities. So, that informs the way that I and my Government address this issue.
As the Member knows, the three groups of early stakeholders I met were steelworkers, doctors and farmers. So, we are looking at the nearly 12,000 responses to the sustainable farming scheme consultation. It was always the case that it would be a genuine consultation, so we will take account of what we've been told. That does mean that there's likely to be some change in the scheme, and the conversations that are taking place around how we deliver a scheme that is fit for purpose, that prioritises and promotes sustainable food and drink production here in Wales and properly takes account of the climate and nature emergencies that we face. Of course, farmers know that, because they see that impact on the land that they are the guardians of. So, I do look forward to a constructive conversation that will get taken forward by the Cabinet Secretary for rural affairs, and I think, when it comes to that, we may well not agree on every aspect of it, but we can envisage a scheme that will allow farming to move forward in a way that is genuinely sustainable and champions Welsh produce.
Rwy'n parhau i wneud y pwynt fy mod i'n rhywun sydd â chysylltiad gwirioneddol â'n heconomi wledig. Cefais fy magu mewn cymuned wledig ac, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, treuliais i oriau lawer ar ffermydd gyda fy nhad yn ystod fy mhlentyndod. Felly, dydy hyn ddim yn rhywbeth y mae angen i mi gael fy nghyflwyno iddo: deall sut beth yw bywyd gwledig neu waith caled ein cymunedau ffermio. Felly, mae hynny'n llywio'r ffordd yr wyf i a fy Llywodraeth yn ymdrin â'r mater hwn.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, y tri grŵp o randdeiliaid cynnar y gwnes i gyfarfod â nhw oedd gweithwyr dur, meddygon a ffermwyr. Felly, rydym yn edrych ar bron i 12,000 o ymatebion a gafwyd i'r ymgynghoriad ar y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy. Roedd bob amser yn wir y byddai'n ymgynghoriad dilys, felly byddwn ni'n ystyried yr hyn sydd wedi'i ddweud wrthyn ni. Mae hynny'n golygu ei bod hi'n debygol y bydd rhywfaint o newid yn y cynllun, a'r sgyrsiau sy'n digwydd o amgylch sut allwn gyflwyno cynllun sy'n addas i'r diben, sy'n blaenoriaethu ac yn hyrwyddo cynhyrchu bwyd a diod cynaliadwy yma yng Nghymru ac sy'n ystyried yn briodol yr argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur sy'n ein hwynebu ni. Wrth gwrs, mae ffermwyr yn gwybod hynny, oherwydd maen nhw'n gweld yr effaith honno ar y tir y maen nhw'n warcheidwaid drosto. Felly, rwyf yn edrych ymlaen at sgwrs adeiladol a fydd yn cael ei chynnal gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros faterion gwledig, ac rwy'n credu, o ran hynny, efallai na fyddwn ni'n cytuno ar bob agwedd arno, ond gallwn ni ragweld cynllun a fydd yn caniatáu i ffermio symud ymlaen mewn ffordd sy'n wirioneddol gynaliadwy ac sy'n hyrwyddo cynnyrch o Gymru.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weindiog roi diweddariad am y cynlluniau i hyfforddi seicolegwyr addysg yn Mangor? OQ61034
7. Will the First Minister provide an update on plans to train education psychologists in Bangor? OQ61034
Yes, thank you for the question. Educational psychologists play an important role in the education system in north Wales, and, indeed, across the whole of Wales. We are investing £2.6 million to train and retain new educational psychologists in Wales.
Ie, diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae seicolegwyr addysg yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn y system addysg yn y gogledd, ac, yn wir, ar draws Cymru gyfan. Rydyn n'n buddsoddi £2.6 miliwn i hyfforddi a chadw seicolegwyr addysg newydd yng Nghymru.
Mae prinder dybryd o seicolegwyr addysg yn y gogledd-orllewin, sy'n golygu nad ydy rhai o'n dysgwyr mwyaf bregus yn cael y gefnogaeth maen nhw ei hangen. Mae yna her sylweddol wrth recriwtio seicolegwyr addysg, ac mae hyn yn deillio yn rhannol oherwydd y rhwystrau yn y llwybrau hyfforddi presennol, gyda dim ond Prifysgol Caerdydd yng Nghymru yn darparu'r ddoethuriaeth dair blynedd sy'n angenrheidiol ar gyfer cymhwyso fel seicolegydd addysg. Mae teithio neu adleoli i Gaerdydd ar ôl gwneud gradd gyntaf ym Mangor yn rhwystr penodol. Felly, ydych chi'n cytuno mai'r ateb syml ydy sefydlu doethuriaeth mewn seicoleg addysg ym Mhrifysgol Bangor ar hyd yr un llinellau â'r hyfforddiant seicoleg clinigol sydd yno eisoes?
There is a grave shortage of educational psychologists in the north-west of Wales, which means that some of our most vulnerable learners don't receive the support that they need. There is a significant challenge in recruiting educational psychologists, and this stems partly from the barriers in the current training pathways, with only Cardiff University in Wales providing the three-year doctorate required for an educational psychologist. Travelling or relocating to Cardiff after doing the first degree in Bangor is a specific barrier. So, do you agree that the simple answer is to establish an educational psychology doctorate in Bangor University along the same lines as the clinical psychology training already there?
Thank you for the follow-up question. I should have responded to Llyr Huws Gruffydd that, of course, there will be a new economic impact assessment on the new sustainable farming scheme.
In response to the Member's point about educational psychologist training, we have increased educational psychologist training at the course in Cardiff. I do understand, though, the point the Member makes about where people train and where they're likely to then work. And the challenge for people who undertake their training over the border in excellent universities in the north-west of England is about whether they will then come back to practice here in Wales, and in particular the challenge about having educational psychology support in both of our national languages. So, I understand that there is an excellent psychology department in Bangor University, with the potential to train educational psychologists. My understanding is that there's a meeting with partners, including Gwynedd local authority, to discuss this. I think it's next week that the meeting takes place. So, I'll take an interest, as, indeed, will the Cabinet Secretary for Education, in the conversations that take place and whether, actually, we can deliver more training in different parts of Wales, because I recognise the point that the Member makes.
Diolch am y cwestiwn dilynol. Dylwn i fod wedi ymateb i Llyr Huws Gruffydd drwy ddweud y bydd asesiad newydd o effaith economaidd y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy newydd, wrth gwrs.
Mewn ymateb i bwynt yr Aelod am hyfforddi seicolegwyr addysg, rydyn ni wedi cynyddu'r hyfforddiant i seicolegwyr addysg ar y cwrs yng Nghaerdydd. Fodd bynnag, rwyf yn deall y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud ynghylch lle mae pobl yn hyfforddi a lle maen nhw'n debygol o weithio wedyn. A'r her i bobl sy'n ymgymryd â'u hyfforddiant dros y ffin mewn prifysgolion ardderchog yng ngogledd-orllewin Lloegr yw a fyddan nhw wedyn yn dod yn ôl i ymarfer yma yng Nghymru, ac yn benodol yr her ynglŷn â chael cefnogaeth seicoleg addysg yn ein dwy iaith genedlaethol. Felly, rwy'n deall bod adran seicoleg ragorol ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, gyda'r potensial i hyfforddi seicolegwyr addysg. Fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod cyfarfod gyda phartneriaid, gan gynnwys awdurdod lleol Gwynedd, i drafod hyn. Rwy'n credu mai'r wythnos nesaf y bydd y cyfarfod yn digwydd. Felly, byddaf i'n cymryd diddordeb, fel y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, yn y sgyrsiau sy'n digwydd a ph'un a allwn ni, mewn gwirionedd, ddarparu mwy o hyfforddiant mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, oherwydd rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Delyth Jewell.
Finally, question 8, Delyth Jewell.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad ar gyllido'r celfyddydau a diwylliant yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol? OQ60993
8. Will the First Minister make a statement on future funding of the arts and culture in Wales? OQ60993
Yes. The Government will continue to work closely with the arts and culture sectors in Wales to ensure that they receive sufficient funding within our budget envelope. Details of funding for arts and culture within this financial year are set out in the final budget that this Senedd passed in March.
Gwnaf. Bydd y Llywodraeth yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda'r sectorau celfyddydau a diwylliant yng Nghymru i sicrhau eu bod yn cael digon o gyllid o fewn ein hamlen gyllidebol. Mae manylion cyllid ar gyfer y celfyddydau a diwylliant yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon wedi'u nodi yn y gyllideb derfynol a basiwyd gan y Senedd hon ym mis Mawrth.
Diolch am hwnna.
Thank you for that.
Starving the arts of funding impoverishes us all. Music, drama and literature bring immense riches to people's lives. Culture should not be the reserve of only people with lots of money, because poverty doesn't only hurt people in the pocket, it also saps the soul. More that 100 years ago, James Oppenheim wrote that
'Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; / Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.'
First Minister, I wonder if I might give you this rose and if you will keep it and press it as a reminder of that vital sentiment that, no matter the pressures placed on this place or its people, the heart of Wales shall not be starved. So, First Minister, will you accept this rose? I promise there is no thorn in it. [Laughter.]
Mae amddifadu'r celfyddydau o gyllid yn ein gwneud ni i gyd yn dlotach. Mae cerddoriaeth, drama a llenyddiaeth yn dod â chyfoeth aruthrol i fywydau pobl. Ni ddylai diwylliant gael ei neilltuo ar gyfer pobl gefnog yn unig, oherwydd nid yn unig y mae tlodi yn effeithio ar bocedi pobl, mae hefyd yn gwanhau'r enaid. Fwy na 100 mlynedd yn ôl, ysgrifennodd James Oppenheim
'Ni fydd ein bywydau yn cael eu chwysu o'n genedigaeth hyd ddiwedd ein hoes; / Mae calonnau'n llwgu yn ogystal â chyrff; rhowch inni fara, ond rhowch i ni rhosod.'
Prif Weinidog, tybed a gaf i roi'r rhosyn hwn i chi ac a wnewch chi ei gadw a'i wasgu i'ch atgoffa chi o'r teimlad hanfodol hwnnw na chaiff calon Cymru ei hamddifadu, ni waeth pa bwysau bynnag a gaiff eu rhoi ar y lle hwn na'i phobl. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi dderbyn y rhosyn hwn? Rwy'n addo nad oes draenen ynddo. [Chwerthin.]
The roses I grow in my garden have plenty of thorns on them. But, look, thank you for the offer of giving me a flower. I'm not entirely sure that that would be welcomed at home—[Laughter.]
Mae gan y rhosod rwy'n eu tyfu yn fy ngardd ddigonedd o ddrain arnyn nhw. Ond, edrychwch, diolch am y cynnig o roi blodyn i mi. Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr y byddai hynny'n cael ei groesawu gartref—[Chwerthin.]
It's a yellow rose, not red.
Rhosyn melyn ydyw, nid un coch.
But on your point around 'Bread and Roses', I recognise the point that's made and this Government does not want to reduce funding for our cultural institutions; we want to make sure that it is genuinely accessible in terms of what we do in trying to introduce arts and culture, across the opportunities, for young people in every community, recognising that access to arts and culture is different, in practical terms, between different communities. The challenge we have, though, is having the budget envelope that we had and prioritising health and local government and then, within my then department, making choices about wanting to put more resources into apprenticeships. It's a difficult space to be in. Our commitment is to listen to the sector, to work with them within the envelope we have. I would like to see us in a place where we can not just have a cultural strategy that we've agreed with the designated Member, but actually to be able to fund significantly in that in the future. Our current envelope doesn't allow us to do that. What we have done, though, is prioritise money for the cultural strategy, with agreement that that money will be used to try to ameliorate and avoid further job loss in the sector. And that transference of resource does show the shared commitment between the Government and Plaid Cymru in wanting to see jobs continue, wanting to see the culture sector continue. And I look forward, in the future, when I hope there will be a different budget settlement, to seeing a rebirth and a growth in what the cultural sector is able to do and the real contribution it makes to our economy and, indeed, to our society.
Ond ar eich pwynt o ran 'Bara a Rhosynnod', rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt sy'n cael ei wneud ac nid yw'r Llywodraeth hon eisiau lleihau cyllid ar gyfer ein sefydliadau diwylliannol; rydyn ni eisiau sicrhau ei fod yn wirioneddol hygyrch o ran yr hyn yr ydyn ni'n ei wneud wrth geisio cyflwyno'r celfyddydau a diwylliant, ar draws y cyfleoedd, i bobl ifanc ym mhob cymuned, gan gydnabod bod mynediad at y celfyddydau a diwylliant yn wahanol, mewn termau ymarferol, rhwng gwahanol gymunedau. Yr her sydd gennym ni, er hynny, yw bod â'r amlen gyllidebol a oedd gennym ni a blaenoriaethu iechyd a llywodraeth leol ac yna, o fewn fy adran i ar y pryd, gwneud dewisiadau ynghylch eisiau rhoi mwy o adnoddau i brentisiaethau. Mae'n lle anodd i fod ynddo. Ein hymrwymiad ni yw gwrando ar y sector, gweithio gyda nhw o fewn yr amlen sydd gennym ni. Hoffwn i ein gweld ni mewn man lle y gallwn ni nid yn unig gael strategaeth ddiwylliannol yr ydym wedi cytuno arni gyda'r Aelod dynodedig, ond ein bod ni wir yn gallu ariannu hynny'n sylweddol yn y dyfodol. Dydy ein hamlen bresennol ddim yn caniatáu i ni wneud hynny. Yr hyn yr ydyn ni wedi'i wneud, er hynny, yw blaenoriaethu arian ar gyfer y strategaeth ddiwylliannol, gyda chytundeb y bydd yr arian hwnnw'n cael ei ddefnyddio i geisio lliniaru ac osgoi colli swyddi eraill yn y sector. Ac mae'r weithred honno o drosglwyddo adnoddau yn dangos yr ymrwymiad ar y cyd rhwng y Llywodraeth a Phlaid Cymru o ran bod eisiau gweld swyddi'n parhau, eisiau gweld y sector diwylliant yn parhau. Ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen, yn y dyfodol, pan fyddaf yn gobeithio y bydd setliad cyllideb gwahanol, at weld dadeni a thwf yn yr hyn y gall y sector diwylliannol ei wneud a'r gwir gyfraniad y mae'n ei wneud i'n heconomi ni ac, yn wir, i'n cymdeithas ni.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Eitem 2 heddiw yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a galwaf ar y Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.
Item 2 is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae tri newid i fusnes yr wythnos yma. Cyn hir, bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a'r Gymraeg yn gwneud datganiad ar Tata Steel. Yn ail, bydd y ddadl ar LCM y Bil Dioddefwyr a Charcharorion nawr yn digwydd yr wythnos nesaf. Yn olaf, bydd y ddadl ar Fil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau) nawr yn para pedair awr. Mae busnes drafft y tair wythnos nesaf wedi ei nodi yn y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, sydd ar gael ar-lein.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. There are three changes to this week's business. Shortly, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language will make a statement on Tata Steel. Secondly, the debate on the legislative consent memorandum for the Victims and Prisoners Bill will now happen next week. Finally, the debate on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill will now last four hours. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which is available online.
Trefnydd, can I call for a statement on the Welsh Government's childcare offer? I've been contacted by a number of concerned constituents in my constituency of Clwyd West who are expressing with dismay the lack of support with childcare costs that they are eligible for compared to their friends and family over the border in England, where the UK Government, of course, is rolling out 30 hours of free childcare for children aged two, three and four, whereas we have a much less generous offer here in Wales. But you do seem to be able to provide free childcare in Flying Start areas to people who can afford to pay for their children's own childcare, which seems absolutely ludicrous. The Welsh Government is getting the money to be able to offer a comparable free childcare offer to working parents in Wales. Why aren't you giving parents here that level playing field and making that support available?
Trefnydd, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad am gynnig gofal plant Llywodraeth Cymru? Mae nifer o etholwyr pryderus yn fy etholaeth i yng Ngorllewin Clwyd wedi cysylltu â mi yn mynegi siom am y diffyg cymorth gyda chostau gofal plant y maen nhw'n gymwys i'w cael o'i gymharu â'u ffrindiau a'u teulu dros y ffin yn Lloegr, lle mae Llywodraeth y DU, wrth gwrs, yn cyflwyno 30 awr o ofal plant am ddim i blant dwy, tair a phedair oed, tra bod gennym ni gynnig llawer llai hael yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae'n ymddangos eich bod chi'n gallu rhoi gofal plant am ddim mewn ardaloedd Dechrau'n Deg i bobl sy'n gallu fforddio talu am ofal plant eu plant nhw, sydd i'w weld yn hollol chwerthinllyd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael yr arian i allu cynnig cynnig gofal plant tebyg am ddim i rieni sy'n gweithio yng Nghymru. Pam nad ydych chi'n rhoi'r tegwch hwnnw i rieni yma ac yn sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth honno ar gael?
Well, indeed, Darren Millar, we are very proud of our childcare offer here in Wales, the best childcare offer in the UK, not just in terms of the 30 hours, but the extension of that childcare offer for three-year-olds to those who are in training—not available to anyone else outside of Wales—and that it also covers some of the all-important holiday periods.
Now, equally, we're immensely proud of our Flying Start initiative. The loss of Sure Start in England—the cut to Sure Start in England—after 14 years of austerity has had such an adverse impact in terms of the needs and circumstances of our youngest children, because, of course, Flying Start is about our earliest years. Evidence has proven that Flying Start, which we are going to extend—we have extended it in our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, and we've extended it across Wales—. Of course, the Minister's taking this forward, in terms of the next steps, again in co-operation with Plaid Cymru, to ensure that we can ultimately reach up to all two-year-olds in terms of Flying Start.
Actually, I have to say that the First Minister and I visited a Flying Start setting with Jayne Bryant only a couple of weeks ago in my constituency, in Barry, and we didn't actually have to go up to the parents; they came to us and said what a positive impact Flying Start had had on their lives—not just their children's lives, but their lives as well, because of the parenting engagement, but also recognising the impact that Flying Start had had on those children's lives.
Wel, yn wir, Darren Millar, rydyn ni'n falch iawn o'n cynnig gofal plant yma yng Nghymru, y cynnig gofal plant gorau yn y DU, nid dim ond o ran y 30 awr, ond o ran y ffaith bod y cynnig gofal plant hwnnw i blant tair oed wedi'i ymestyn i'r rhai sydd mewn hyfforddiant—nad yw ar gael i unrhyw un arall y tu allan i Gymru—a'i fod hefyd yn cynnwys rhai o'r cyfnodau gwyliau hollbwysig.
Nawr, yn yr un modd, rydyn ni'n hynod falch o'n menter Dechrau'n Deg. Mae colli Cychwyn Cadarn yn Lloegr—y toriad i Cychwyn Cadarn yn Lloegr—ar ôl 14 mlynedd o gyni, wedi cael effaith mor niweidiol o ran anghenion ac amgylchiadau ein plant ieuengaf, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae Dechrau'n Deg yn ymwneud â'n blynyddoedd cynharaf. Mae tystiolaeth wedi profi bod Dechrau'n Deg, yr ydyn ni'n mynd i'w ymestyn—rydyn ni wedi'i ymestyn yn ein cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru, ac rydyn ni wedi'i ymestyn ledled Cymru—. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Gweinidog yn bwrw ymlaen â hyn, o ran y camau nesaf, unwaith eto ar y cyd â Phlaid Cymru, i sicrhau y gallwn ni gyrraedd pob plentyn dwy oed yn y pen draw o ran Dechrau'n Deg.
A dweud y gwir, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog a minnau ymweld â lleoliad Dechrau'n Deg gyda Jayne Bryant ychydig wythnosau yn ôl yn fy etholaeth i, yn y Barri, ac yn wir doedd dim rhaid i ni fynd at y rhieni; fe ddaethon nhw aton ni a sôn am yr effaith gadarnhaol yr oedd Dechrau'n Deg wedi'i chael ar eu bywydau—nid dim ond ar fywydau eu plant, ond ar eu bywydau nhw hefyd, oherwydd yr ymgysylltiad o ran magu plant, ond gan gydnabod hefyd yr effaith y mae Dechrau'n Deg wedi'i chael ar fywydau'r plant hynny.
Trefnydd, hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi. Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi wedi gweld y newyddion o ran y 100 o swyddi sydd yn y fantol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yn sgil y newyddion ynglŷn ag Everest Windows. Mi fydd nifer o Aelodau, wrth gwrs, yn cofio bod 496 o swyddi wedi'u colli yn ôl ym mis Hydref gyda chau UK Windows and Doors. Mae'r rhain yn swyddi na fedrwn ni fforddio eu colli, felly a gaf i ofyn a fyddai'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn fodlon rhoi datganiad o ran unrhyw drafodaethau sydd wedi bod gyda'r cwmni? Hefyd, pa becyn cefnogaeth sydd ar gael i'r gweithwyr hynny, rhai ohonyn nhw yn wynebu diswyddo am yr ail waith, neu golli swyddi am yr eilwaith, sydd yn dorcalonnus? Yn drydydd, pa asesiad sy'n cael ei wneud o unrhyw gwmnïau eraill sydd yn cyflogi ar y funud yn Rhondda Cynon Taf sydd, efallai, o risg o gau? Sut ydyn ni'n creu cynllun er mwyn sicrhau bod yna swyddi da yn parhau yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, oherwydd mae'r angen yn ddirfawr ac mae nifer o'r rheini a gollodd eu swyddi yn ôl ym mis Hydref dal heb ffeindio gwaith amgen, felly mae hwn yn newyddion torcalonnus i nifer, ond hefyd yn bryderus dros ben?
Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for economy. I'm sure you will have seen the news in terms of the 100 jobs that are at stake in Rhondda Cynon Taf in light of the news about Everest Windows. Many Members, of course, will recall that 496 jobs were lost back in October with the closing of UK Windows and Doors. These are jobs that we can't afford to lose, so can I ask whether the Cabinet Secretary would be willing to make a statement in terms of any negotiations or discussions that have taken place with the company? Also, what package of support is available for those workers, some of them facing redundancy or losing their jobs for the second time, which is heartbreaking? Thirdly, what assessment is being made of any other companies that are currently employers in RCT that are, perhaps, at risk of closure? How can we create a plan in orderin order to ensure that there are good jobs in Rhondda Cynon Taf, because the need is great and many of those who lost their jobs back in October still haven't found alternative employment, so this is heartbreaking news for many, but also very concerning news?
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn.
Thank you very much for your very important question.
Of course, we have the Minister for economy here in the Chamber, and I know these issues have also been raised by the local Member, Buffy Williams, as well, but you do it also in terms of the region—Rhondda Cynon Taf as a whole—in terms of job impacts. Of course, we are going to be having a statement very shortly from the economy Minister, which looks at this in terms of the impact of those job losses across south Wales and further beyond. So, I'm sure that the Minister will be following that up. Diolch.
Wrth gwrs, mae Gweinidog yr economi yma yn y Siambr, a gwn fod yr Aelod lleol, Buffy Williams, wedi codi'r materion hyn hefyd, ond rydych chi'n gwneud hynny hefyd o ran y rhanbarth—Rhondda Cynon Taf yn ei gyfanrwydd—o ran yr effeithiau ar swyddi. Wrth gwrs, rydyn ni'n mynd i fod yn cael datganiad yn fuan iawn gan Weinidog yr economi, sy'n edrych ar hyn o ran effaith y colledion swyddi hynny ledled y de a thu hwnt. Felly, rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn mynd ar drywydd hynny. Diolch.
Cabinet Secretary, I've been supporting a constituent, Lucy Vers, whose six-year-old son, Elliot, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare condition that involves muscular wasting and is life limiting. Much of her concern has been around access to clinical trials, and, on occasion, she's taken Elliot all the way from south Wales to Newcastle just for a blood test, as part of those clinical trials. And access to clinical trials for children is, of course, an issue for other conditions, not just Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I am aware that Welsh Government is doing work on these matters, and I wonder if the Cabinet Secretary for health could make a statement on that work and how Welsh Government, with partners, is addressing these issues.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf wedi bod yn cefnogi etholwr, Lucy Vers, y mae gan ei mab chwech oed, Elliot, nychdod cyhyrol Duchenne, cyflwr prin sy'n golygu bod y cyhyrau'n nychu ac sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd. Mae llawer o'i phryder yn ymwneud â mynediad at dreialon clinigol, ac, ar brydiau, mae hi wedi mynd ag Elliot yr holl ffordd o dde Cymru i Newcastle dim ond ar gyfer prawf gwaed, fel rhan o'r treialon clinigol hynny. Ac mae mynediad at dreialon clinigol i blant, wrth gwrs, yn broblem ar gyfer cyflyrau eraill, nid dim ond nychdod cyhyrol Duchenne. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud gwaith ar y materion hyn, a thybed a allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd wneud datganiad ar y gwaith hwnnw a sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda phartneriaid, yn mynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn.
Diolch yn fawr, John Griffiths, for that very important question. And you raise that point about the importance of those clinical trials, and their importance for your constituent. I think the Welsh Government, via Health and Care Research Wales—. Importantly, we must report back that there's approximately £19.6 million in funding a year to support the delivery of those kinds of high-quality research studies across health and social care, particularly looking at not just a broad range of diseases, but rare diseases as well, and working with rare disease clinicians and charities. It is important to look at where there are specific research studies—and you've named one that your constituent has been accessing—and it's important that funding for travel is also available, so actually encouraging your constituent to discuss access to those trials with consultants and clinical teams. But, again, we've noted today what you've brought up, and we'll be sharing that with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
Diolch yn fawr, John Griffiths, am y cwestiwn pwysig iawn hwnnw. Ac rydych chi'n codi'r pwynt hwnnw am bwysigrwydd y treialon clinigol hynny, a'u pwysigrwydd i'ch etholwr. Rwy'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru, drwy Ymchwil Iechyd a Gofal Cymru—. Yn bwysig, mae'n rhaid i ni adrodd yn ôl bod tua £19.6 miliwn o gyllid y flwyddyn i gefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu'r mathau hynny o astudiaethau ymchwil o ansawdd uchel ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, yn enwedig o ran edrych nid yn unig ar amrywiaeth eang o glefydau, ond clefydau prin hefyd, a gweithio gyda chlinigwyr ac elusennau clefydau prin. Mae'n bwysig edrych ar lle mae yna astudiaethau ymchwil penodol—ac rydych chi wedi enwi un y mae'ch etholwr wedi bod yn cymryd rhan ynddi—ac mae'n bwysig bod cyllid ar gyfer teithio ar gael hefyd, felly annog eich etholwr i drafod mynediad at y treialon hynny gyda meddygon ymgynghorol a thimau clinigol. Ond, unwaith eto, rydyn ni wedi nodi heddiw yr hyn yr ydych chi wedi'i godi, a byddwn ni'n rhannu hynny gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol.
Trefnydd, I'm again calling for the Welsh Government to make a statement on the ongoing situation at Withyhedge landfill site in my constituency. I wrote to the First Minister, who didn't even give me the courtesy of a response and instead just passed it on to the Cabinet Secretary for rural affairs, who basically confirmed that the Welsh Government will not intervene in this matter. Therefore, I'd be grateful if the Welsh Government could provide a statement outlining what criteria need to be met before the Welsh Government will intervene on a serious environmental and public health issue. This issue is affecting people's health and well-being, and there are huge air pollution and environmental concerns, and so it's infuriating that the Welsh Government can't do the right thing here and intervene to support the community. And so I'd be grateful if a statement could be made urgently, clarifying the Welsh Government's position and explaining what criteria need to be met before it will intervene on such serious issues.
Secondly, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd also like to request a statement from the Cabinet—
Trefnydd, rwy'n galw unwaith eto ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud datganiad ar y sefyllfa barhaus ar safle tirlenwi Withyhedge yn fy etholaeth i. Ysgrifennais i at y Prif Weinidog, nad oedd hyd yn oed yn ddigon cwrtais i ymateb, ac yn hytrach, fe wnaeth ei drosglwyddo i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros faterion gwledig, a gadarnhaodd i bob pwrpas na fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymyrryd yn y mater hwn. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe gallai Llywodraeth Cymru roi datganiad yn amlinellu pa feini prawf y mae angen eu bodloni cyn y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymyrryd ar fater amgylcheddol ac iechyd cyhoeddus difrifol. Mae'r mater hwn yn effeithio ar iechyd a lles pobl, ac mae pryderon mawr ynghylch llygredd aer a'r amgylchedd, ac felly mae'n gynddeiriogol na all Llywodraeth Cymru wneud y peth iawn yma ac ymyrryd i gefnogi'r gymuned. Ac felly byddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe gallai datganiad gael ei wneud ar frys, gan egluro safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ac egluro pa feini prawf sydd angen eu bodloni cyn y bydd yn ymyrryd ar faterion mor ddifrifol.
Yn ail, Dirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn i hefyd ofyn am ddatganiad gan y—
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
Okay, thank you very much.
Iawn, diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr, Paul Davies. I know that this issue you've raised with us, and you've raised with me as Trefnydd in the Senedd. And I assure you that the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs recognises that concern that you raise again, the concern within the local community, and also the need for swift action; I know that's what you're calling for. And your point about the swift action really has to be directed to Natural Resources Wales, and also ensuring that residents are reporting instances of the odour so that action can be taken.
But I think, just in terms of Natural Resources Wales's priorities, it's been action to remediate the most likely source of fugitive landfill gas emissions, to identify and then remediate that source, while, obviously, looking at other potential impacts of this work. So, that is the next point in terms of the update, but I have to say that the site is controlled by an environmental permit, which contains conditions that the operator must comply with.
Diolch yn fawr, Paul Davies. Rwy'n gwybod bod y mater hwn yr ydych chi wedi'i godi gyda ni, ac yr ydych chi wedi'i godi gyda mi fel Trefnydd yn y Senedd. Ac rwy'n eich sicrhau chi bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig yn cydnabod y pryder yr ydych chi'n ei godi eto, y pryder o fewn y gymuned leol, a hefyd yr angen i weithredu'n gyflym; rwy'n gwybod mai dyna'r hyn yr ydych chi'n galw amdano. Ac mae'n rhaid i'ch pwynt am weithredu'n gyflym gael ei gyfeirio at Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, a hefyd sicrhau bod preswylwyr yn adrodd achosion o'r arogl fel bod modd gweithredu.
Ond rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi'i flaenoriaethu yw camau i fynd i'r afael â ffynhonnell fwyaf tebygol allyriadau nwyon sy'n ffoi o'r safle tirlenwi, nodi ac yna mynd i'r afael â'r ffynhonnell honno, ac, yn amlwg, edrych ar effeithiau posibl eraill y gwaith hwn ar yr un pryd. Felly, dyna'r pwynt nesaf o ran yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod y safle'n cael ei reoli gan drwydded amgylcheddol, sy'n cynnwys amodau y mae'n rhaid i'r gweithredwr gydymffurfio â nhw.
The miners' pension scandal has gone on for decades, and I request a statement from this Welsh Government setting out how it will demand that this injustice be made by Westminster. Our miners paid a terrible price for their labour, in the dust that choked their lungs and in their blood that stained the mountainsides of our valleys. But their pension fund is making rich people in London richer, and keeping the miners themselves in poverty. It is daylight robbery of the men who worked in darkness, the men who suffered physically and mentally, the men and women who ripped the coal from the earth and had their health and happiness ripped from them. So, I'd like a statement setting out how the Welsh Government will demand that Westminster relinquish their entitlement to the investment reserve and transfer the billions they've stolen to the miners themselves, and, what's more, when they will commit to implement the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's inquiry's own recommendations into the mineworkers' pension scheme. We owe these miners better than this.
Mae sgandal pensiwn y glowyr wedi rhygnu ymlaen ers degawdau, ac rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn nodi sut y bydd yn mynnu bod San Steffan yn gwneud iawn am yr anghyfiawnder hwn. Talodd ein glowyr bris ofnadwy am eu llafur, o ran y llwch a dagodd eu hysgyfaint ac o ran y gwaed a liwiodd lethrau ein cymoedd. Ond mae eu cronfa bensiwn yn gwneud pobl gyfoethog yn Llundain yn gyfoethocach ac yn cadw'r glowyr eu hunain mewn tlodi. Lladrad golau dydd i'r dynion a weithiodd mewn tywyllwch, y dynion a ddioddefodd yn gorfforol ac yn feddyliol, y dynion a'r menywod a rwygodd y glo o'r ddaear ac a gafodd eu hiechyd a'u hapusrwydd wedi'u rhwygo oddi wrthyn nhw. Felly, hoffwn i gael datganiad yn nodi sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynnu bod San Steffan yn ildio'u hawl i'r gronfa fuddsoddiadau a throsglwyddo'r biliynau y maen nhw wedi'u dwyn i'r glowyr eu hunain, ac, ar ben hynny, pryd y byddan nhw'n ymrwymo i weithredu argymhellion ymchwiliad yr Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol ei hun i gynllun pensiwn y glowyr. Mae'r glowyr hyn yn haeddu gwell na hyn gennym ni.
Diolch yn fawr, Delyth Jewell. Thank you for drawing attention to this injustice, an injustice that I know the Counsel General Mick Antoniw MS has been addressing, as MS and in a ministerial capacity. But it is something that, again, our finance Minister will be aware of. So, we will take that back, to explore it further.
Diolch yn fawr, Delyth Jewell. Diolch am dynnu sylw at yr anghyfiawnder hwn, anghyfiawnder rwy'n gwybod bod y Cwnsler Cyffredinol Mick Antoniw AS wedi bod yn mynd i'r afael ag ef, fel AS ac yn rhinwedd ei swydd weinidogol. Ond mae'n rhywbeth y bydd ein Gweinidog cyllid, unwaith eto, yn ymwybodol ohono. Felly, fe awn ni â hynny'n ôl, i'w archwilio ymhellach.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Trefnydd, over the weekend, we saw the JD Welsh Cup come back to where it belongs—back across the border to Cymru, with Connah's Quay Nomads Football Club as champions, a fantastic achievement from all those involved at the club, and left one proud club ambassador on Sunday evening. Trefnydd, it was topped off by a graduate of our academy, Josh Williams, scoring an amazing volley to win the game. We've already seen videos of current academy players trying to replicate his goal. Can I ask for a Welsh Government statement from the Cabinet Secretary responsible for sport on how we can build on successes like Connah's Quay Nomads in the Welsh Cup and promote grass-roots football across Cymru? Diolch.
Trefnydd, dros y penwythnos, fe wnaethon ni weld Cwpan JD Cymru yn dychwelyd i'r lle y mae i fod—yn ôl dros y ffin i Gymru, gyda Chlwb Pêl-droed Cei Connah yn bencampwyr, camp wych gan bawb sy'n gysylltiedig â'r clwb, gan adael un llysgennad clwb balch nos Sul. Trefnydd, yn goron ar y cyfan oedd foli anhygoel gan un o raddedigion ein hacademi, Josh Williams, i ennill y gêm. Rydyn ni eisoes wedi gweld fideos o chwaraewyr presennol yr academi yn ceisio efelychu ei gôl. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad Llywodraeth Cymru gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet sy'n gyfrifol am chwaraeon ar sut y gallwn ni adeiladu ar lwyddiannau fel Clŵb Pêl-droed Cei Connah yng Nghwpan Cymru a hyrwyddo pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad ledled Cymru? Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr, Jack Sargeant. I'm sure that all of us here in the Chamber want to congratulate Connah's Quay Nomads. You've named Josh Williams, and I think he needs to be down on the records. He was of course the club ambassador, I understand. They won on Sunday in the Welsh Cup final. Of course, our term of government remit letter to Sport Wales, which has a budget, sets out our expectation that Sport Wales will promote equal access to sport, and it is clearly supporting young and talented athletes in grass-roots clubs. So, I'll ask my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice to also write to him, further outlining how grass-roots sport is promoted across Wales.
Diolch yn fawr, Jack Sargeant. Rwy'n siŵr bod pob un ohonon ni yma yn y Siambr eisiau llongyfarch Clŵb Pêl-droed Cei Connah. Rydych chi wedi enwi Josh Williams, ac rwy'n credu bod angen iddo fod wedi'i gofnodi. Fe, wrth gwrs, oedd llysgennad y clwb, rwy'n deall. Fe wnaethon nhw ennill ddydd Sul yn rownd derfynol Cwpan Cymru. Wrth gwrs, mae ein llythyr cylch gwaith ar gyfer tymor y llywodraeth at Chwaraeon Cymru, sydd â chyllideb, yn nodi ein disgwyliad y bydd Chwaraeon Cymru yn hyrwyddo mynediad cyfartal at chwaraeon, ac mae'n amlwg ei fod yn cefnogi athletwyr ifanc a thalentog mewn clybiau ar lawr gwlad. Felly, fe wnaf i ofyn i fy nghyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ysgrifennu ato hefyd, gan amlinellu ymhellach sut mae chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad yn cael eu hyrwyddo ledled Cymru.
Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I wonder if I could have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for—I've forgotten now—social justice and something else—culture; apologies—on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, and its effect on our citizens here in Wales and those seeking asylum. We've heard about the cold, callous Conservative Government policy of literally picking up people who are waiting for decisions on their asylum applications and placing them in detention, with the possibility of then putting them on a plane to Rwanda. I wonder if I could ask the Cabinet Secretary for a statement on how she is interacting with the Government in London to ensure that this doesn't happen to people who we have welcomed in Wales as a citizen of sanctuary. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Trefnydd. Tybed a gaf i ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros—rydw i wedi anghofio nawr—cyfiawnder cymdeithasol a rhywbeth arall—diwylliant; ymddiheuriadau—ar Fil Diogelwch Rwanda (Lloches a Mewnfudo), a'i effaith ar ein dinasyddion yma yng Nghymru a'r rhai sy'n ceisio lloches. Rydyn ni wedi clywed am bolisi oer a dideimlad y Llywodraeth Geidwadol o godi pobl sy'n aros am benderfyniadau ar eu ceisiadau lloches a'u rhoi mewn canolfannau cadw, gyda'r posibilrwydd wedyn o'u rhoi nhw ar awyren i Rwanda. Tybed a gaf i ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am ddatganiad ar sut mae hi'n rhyngweithio â'r Llywodraeth yn Llundain i sicrhau nad yw hyn yn digwydd i bobl yr ydyn ni wedi'u croesawu yng Nghymru fel dinesydd noddfa. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds, am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn.
Thank you very much for that very important question.
Thank you for raising this with us today. We want to be a nation of sanctuary, we want to have that welcome. But can we just start by expressing our condolences for the recent tragic loss of life in the English Channel? And despite UK Government claims, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill will do nothing to stop these perilous journeys. It's fundamentally clear that what we need are sufficiently safe and legal routes to protection in the UK, and international co-operation must be developed with our European neighbours to undermine the business models of smugglers. And that is what we've said to the UK Government.
Of course, migration policy is not devolved, so solutions to some important issues, the supporting issue, lie with the UK Government. I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice—as I did, in my former role—will continue to make clear our opposition to the Illegal Migration Act 2023, and our opposition to the newly passed Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024. The provisions are unworkable, leave most people in limbo and undermine other priorities. As I say, we weren't given advance notice of the UK Government operation to detain individuals residing in Wales pending removal from the UK, and we do understand a small number of individuals have been detained. So, can we today—and, I hope, across this Chamber—urge the Home Office to ensure detained individuals are given prompt access to legal advice in terms of addressing this issue? We have to recognise, in Wales alone, over 3,000 people are sat in limbo, with worsening mental health, no right to work and a UK policy that makes community integration impossible.
Diolch am godi hyn gyda ni heddiw. Rydyn ni eisiau bod yn genedl noddfa, rydyn ni eisiau rhoi'r croeso hwnnw. Ond a gawn ni ddechrau drwy fynegi ein cydymdeimlad yn dilyn y marwolaethau trasig yn ddiweddar yn y Sianel? Ac er gwaethaf honiadau Llywodraeth y DU, ni fydd Bil Diogelwch Rwanda (Lloches a Mewnfudo) yn gwneud dim i atal y teithiau peryglus hyn. Mae'n gwbl glir mai'r hyn sydd ei angen arnon ni yw llwybrau digon diogel a chyfreithlon i amddiffyniad yn y DU, a rhaid datblygu cydweithredu rhyngwladol gyda'n cymdogion Ewropeaidd i danseilio modelau busnes smyglwyr. A dyna'r hyn yr ydyn ni wedi'i ddweud wrth Lywodraeth y DU.
Wrth gwrs, nid yw polisi mudo wedi'i ddatganoli, felly mae atebion i rai materion pwysig, y mater ategol, yn nwylo Llywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol—fel y gwnes i, yn fy rôl flaenorol—yn parhau i egluro ein gwrthwynebiad i Ddeddf Mudo Anghyfreithlon 2023, a'n gwrthwynebiad i Ddeddf Diogelwch Rwanda (Lloches a Mewnfudo) 2024 sydd newydd ei phasio. Mae'r darpariaethau'n anymarferol, maen nhw'n gadael y rhan fwyaf o bobl mewn limbo ac maen nhw'n tanseilio blaenoriaethau eraill. Fel y dywedais i, chawson ni ddim rhybudd ymlaen llaw o weithrediad Llywodraeth y DU i gadw unigolion sy'n byw yng Nghymru hyd nes y byddan nhw'n cael eu symud o'r DU, ac rydyn ni'n deall bod nifer bach o unigolion wedi cael eu cadw. Felly, a gawn ni heddiw—ac, rwy'n gobeithio, ar draws y Siambr hon—annog y Swyddfa Gartref i sicrhau bod unigolion sy'n cael eu cadw yn cael mynediad prydlon at gyngor cyfreithiol o ran ymdrin â'r mater hwn? Mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod, yng Nghymru yn unig, bod dros 3,000 o bobl mewn limbo, gyda'u hiechyd meddwl yn gwaethygu, dim hawl i weithio a pholisi y DU sy'n gwneud integreiddio cymunedol yn amhosibl.
I will refer Members to my declaration of interests in terms of property ownership. Last month, the Minister at the time, Julie James, for housing, informed the Welsh Parliament that the Minister for Finance and Local Government had encouraged local authorities on empty premiums, on the second home council tax premiums, to publish the information about how much additional revenue has been raised. We were told £17 million. Now, I am concerned that that figure promoted might be incorrect. For example, having submitted freedom of information requests asking, in relation to council tax premiums on second homes, for the financial losses from property owners—an issue that's been raised with me—switching from council tax to business rates, several local authorities have reported losses: Ceredigion has seen a financial loss of £1 million; Conwy, £1.8 million; Pembrokeshire, a financial loss of £3.6 million. So, the figures would be higher if it was assumed that the properties—that's just three out of 22 local authorities—switching from second homes to business rates in one financial year then remaining qualified for business rates in the following financial years. We need, Cabinet Secretary, to get to the truth of the figures in terms of the impact of the second homes premium. So, as such, could you ask the Cabinet Secretary for finance to make a statement on the possibility of requiring an audit into these figures? Diolch.
Fe wnaf i gyfeirio Aelodau at fy natganiad buddiannau o ran perchnogaeth eiddo. Fis diwethaf, dywedodd y Gweinidog dros dai ar y pryd, Julie James, wrth Senedd Cymru fod y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol wedi annog awdurdodau lleol ar bremiymau cartrefi gwag, ar bremiymau treth gyngor ail gartrefi, i gyhoeddi'r wybodaeth am faint o refeniw ychwanegol sydd wedi'i godi. £17 miliwn, cawson ni wybod ganddyn nhw. Nawr, rwy'n pryderu y gallai'r ffigur hwnnw a hyrwyddwyd fod yn anghywir. Er enghraifft, ar ôl cyflwyno ceisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth yn gofyn, o ran premiymau treth gyngor ar ail gartrefi, am y colledion ariannol gan berchnogion eiddo—mater sydd wedi'i godi gyda mi—wrth newid o'r dreth gyngor i ardrethi busnes, mae sawl awdurdod lleol wedi nodi colledion: mae Ceredigion wedi gweld colled ariannol o £1 filiwn; Conwy, £1.8 miliwn; sir Benfro, colled ariannol o £3.6 miliwn. Felly, byddai'r ffigurau'n uwch pe tybid bod yr eiddo—dim ond tri allan o 22 awdurdod lleol yw hynny—yn newid o ail gartrefi i ardrethi busnes mewn un flwyddyn ariannol yna'n aros yn gymwys ar gyfer ardrethi busnes yn y blynyddoedd ariannol canlynol. Mae angen i ni, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, gael y gwirionedd ynghylch y ffigurau o ran effaith y premiwm ail gartrefi. Felly, a wnewch chi ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid wneud datganiad ar y posibilrwydd o fynnu archwiliad i'r ffigurau hyn? Diolch.
Diolch, Janet Finch-Saunders. Of course, regular monitoring in terms of the implications of implementing a policy that is important to the future of Wales in terms of housing provision, in terms of the impact of the second homes premium—. I'm sure that Ministers concerned—the Cabinet Secretaries—will be able to provide an update on those impacts, which we believe, in terms of the second homes premium, are so important to address our housing need in Wales.
Diolch, Janet Finch-Saunders. Wrth gwrs, monitro rheolaidd o ran goblygiadau gweithredu polisi sy'n bwysig i ddyfodol Cymru o ran darpariaeth tai, o ran effaith y premiwm ail gartrefi—. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidogion dan sylw—yr Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet—yn gallu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr effeithiau hynny, sydd, yn ein barn ni, o ran y premiwm ail gartrefi, mor bwysig o ran mynd i'r afael â'n hangen ni am dai yng Nghymru.
Trefnydd, can we have an urgent statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Education, following the shocking incident in Ysgol Dyffryn Aman last week, into what plans the Government has to hold an immediate review of school safety? I feel certain, having spoken to staff, students and parents over the last few days in Ammanford that they certainly would welcome a review of this kind. And I think among the issues that a review could usefully look at would be the current proposal to phase out the funding for school community police officers, the accessibility and resourcing of pupil referral units and other relevant services in terms of child and adolescent mental health services and children's social services, the powers available to staff in dealing with challenging behaviour and the guidelines around that, and the latest data that we have on the prevalence of knife possession in Welsh schools. I feel certain there is a need now, isn't there, to rebuild trust and security amongst staff, students and families to make sure that people know that we are making our schools as safe as possible, and I think a review at this time would be a very, very important step forward.
Trefnydd, a gawn ni ddatganiad brys gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, yn dilyn y digwyddiad ysgytwol yn Ysgol Dyffryn Aman yr wythnos diwethaf, i ba gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth i gynnal adolygiad brys o ddiogelwch ysgolion? Rwy'n teimlo'n sicr, ar ôl siarad â staff, myfyrwyr a rhieni dros y dyddiau diwethaf yn Rhydaman, y bydden nhw'n sicr yn croesawu adolygiad o'r math hwn. Ac rwy'n credu ymhlith y materion y gallai adolygiad eu hystyried yn ddefnyddiol fyddai'r cynnig presennol i ddileu'r cyllid ar gyfer swyddogion heddlu cymunedol ysgolion yn raddol, hygyrchedd unedau cyfeirio disgyblion a'r adnoddau ar eu cyfer a gwasanaethau perthnasol eraill o ran gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a phobl ifanc a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol plant, y pwerau sydd ar gael i staff wrth ymdrin ag ymddygiad heriol a'r canllawiau ynghylch hynny, a'r data diweddaraf sydd gennym ni ar nifer yr achosion o feddu ar gyllyll mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru. Rwy'n teimlo'n sicr bod angen nawr, onid oes, i ailadeiladu ymddiriedaeth a diogelwch ymhlith staff, myfyrwyr a theuluoedd i sicrhau bod pobl yn gwybod ein bod ni'n gwneud ein hysgolion mor ddiogel â phosibl, ac rwy'n credu y byddai adolygiad ar hyn o bryd yn gam pwysig iawn, iawn ymlaen.
Well, thank you very much, Adam Price, and thank you for the way Members, and yourself and your colleagues, and our colleagues across the Chamber, engaged so clearly last week, and, of course, we acknowledge family members as well. I think the Cabinet Secretary for Education, definitely in Cabinet yesterday, was saying this is a priority for her at the moment to look to how she can and we can support the community, support Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, recognising the huge courage and also the cohesion of that community response and with the local authority. Her focus has been on the provisional support for the welfare of those pupils, staff and anyone impacted by that incident, and, of course, as the investigation proceeds, lessons will be learnt and taken forward.
But I know you are referring to much wider issues that can affect many other schools in Wales. I think it's important to just look at issues around security. Welsh Government guidance is available to support schools in planning to deal with any incidents such as this, in 'Emergency planning and response guidance for education and childcare settings'. On the point about access to safe learning environments, education settings have a legal duty to ensure children and young people are safeguarded, and guidelines are in place to support organisations with this. So, on the wider issues, yes, I'm sure the education Cabinet Secretary will want to respond in greater depth. Thank you.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn, Adam Price, a diolch am y ffordd y gwnaeth yr Aelodau, a chi eich hun a'ch cyd-Aelodau, a'n cyd-Aelodau ni ar draws y Siambr, ymgysylltu mor glir yr wythnos diwethaf, ac, wrth gwrs, rydyn ni'n cydnabod aelodau'r teulu hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, yn y Cabinet ddoe yn bendant, yn dweud bod hyn yn flaenoriaeth iddi hi ar hyn o bryd i edrych ar sut y gall hi ac y gallwn ni gefnogi'r gymuned, cefnogi Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, cydnabod dewrder enfawr a hefyd gydlyniant yr ymateb cymunedol hwnnw a chyda'r awdurdod lleol. Mae hi wedi canolbwyntio ar y gefnogaeth dros dro ar gyfer lles y disgyblion, y staff ac unrhyw un y mae'r digwyddiad hwnnw wedi effeithio arnyn nhw, ac, wrth gwrs, wrth i'r ymchwiliad fynd yn ei flaen, bydd gwersi'n cael eu dysgu a'u datblygu.
Ond rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n cyfeirio at faterion llawer ehangach a all effeithio ar lawer o ysgolion eraill yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig edrych ar faterion sy'n ymwneud â diogelwch yn unig. Mae canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gael i gefnogi ysgolion wrth gynllunio i ymdrin ag unrhyw ddigwyddiadau fel hyn, yn 'Canllawiau i leoliadau addysg a gofal plant ar gynllunio at argyfyngau ac ymateb iddynt'. O ran y pwynt ynglŷn â mynediad at amgylcheddau dysgu diogel, mae gan leoliadau addysg ddyletswydd gyfreithiol i sicrhau bod plant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu diogelu, ac mae canllawiau ar waith i gefnogi sefydliadau gyda hyn. Felly, o ran y materion ehangach, ydw, rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros addysg eisiau ymateb yn fanylach. Diolch.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd eitem 3. Datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a'r Gymraeg yw hwn ar Tata Steel. Dwi'n galw ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i wneud y datganiad hynny—Jeremy Miles.
The next item will be item 3, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language on Tata Steel. I call on the Cabinet Secretary to make the statement—Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cyhoeddodd Tata Steel ddydd iau y byddan nhw'n bwrw ymlaen gyda'u cynlluniau ar gyfer Port Talbot, a fydd yn golygu cau dwy ffwrnais chwyth ac agor ffwrnais arc trydan yn eu lle. Daw'r cyhoeddiad yn dilyn saith mis o drafod eu cynigion gyda’r undebau llafur.
Mae'n hynod siomedig nad yw'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad aml-undebol a gomisiynwyd gan bwyllgor dur y Deyrnas Unedig ar gynhyrchu dur carbon is ym Mhort Talbot wedi cael eu mabwysiadu. Dyma ergyd gas i filoedd o weithwyr a’u teuluoedd ac i gymunedau cyfan yng Nghymru, yn enwedig ym Mhort Talbot.
Rydyn ni'n falch o'n sector dur yng Nghymru. Mae'n ased strategol i'r Deyrnas Unedig, ac mae ganddo'r gweithlu medrus i allu darparu’r capasiti cynaliadwy i gynhyrchu'r dur sydd ei angen ar economïau Cymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig, y capasiti y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn dadlau’n gyson drosto.
Thank you, Llywydd. Tata Steel announced on Thursday that it will proceed with its plans for Port Talbot, which will see the closure of two blast furnaces to be replaced with an electric arc furnace. The announcement follows seven months of discussions regarding their proposals with trade unions.
It's extremely disappointing that the recommendations from the multi-union report commissioned by the UK steel committee on the transition to lower carbon steel making at Port Talbot have not been taken up. This will have a devastating impact for thousands of workers, their families and whole communities in Wales, particularly in Port Talbot.
We are proud of our steel sector in Wales. It provides a strategic asset for the UK, with a skilled workforce able to deliver the sustainable, primary steel-making capacity for the Welsh and UK economies, the capacity that the Welsh Government has argued for consistently.
Since Tata’s proposals were originally announced last year, Ministers have raised concerns about the speed of the proposed transition. Consultation between the company and unions could have secured a longer, fairer transition that minimised job losses. With that consultation now concluding, Tata will instead be taking forward its plan to close blast furnace 5 in June, and blast furnace 4 and the remaining heavy-end assets by the end of September. As part of the £1.25 billion plan, in order to be able to meet its customer needs during the three-year transition to electric arc furnace steel making, and continue production at their downstream sites, Tata will be reliant on imports from overseas. Tata has previously announced that up to 2,800 jobs are expected to be lost as part of its transition plan, around 2,500 of which would be impacted in tranches over the next 18 months, with the first tranche expected this July. The company expects that a further 300 roles would be lost in two to three years at the Llanwern site.
Llywydd, the confirmation by Tata of the ending of blast furnace steel production at Port Talbot is incredibly sad for Wales and means a very difficult time ahead for employees and their families, as well as those within local communities and the wider supply chain. It is essential that the company now does all it can to avoid compulsory redundancies within its loyal workforce and works with the transition board to ensure the affected employees receive the appropriate help and guidance to reskill or seek employment. There is also an urgent need for Tata to provide detail and timings of the impact on its workforce and on its supply chain, where many, many thousands more jobs could be lost, to ensure that the Welsh Government and our partners can provide them with the best possible support. This will include the provision of tailored support for skills and training to enable them to plan for a positive future.
We will also urge Tata to give their workers and supply chain, wherever feasible, the opportunity to work on the decommissioning and construction phase required to move to electric arc steel making. Preparatory work begins in December this year and could therefore offer continuity of employment for some workers. However, there will be a significant time lag between the closure of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot and the commencement of the operation of the proposed electric arc furnace. This means that we are in danger of losing many supply chain companies along with the expertise and cutting-edge skills and specialism that they bring to the Welsh economy.
We are concerned about the impact that the Tata plan will have on output volumes across all Tata sites in Wales, not only on Port Talbot, but the downstream plants based at Llanwern, Trostre, Shotton and Caerphilly, primarily during the transition period, but also once the electric arc furnace is operational. We need to see a clear vision from the company that will involve significant investment in all sites and one that continues to harness the innovation within our universities.
We will work with the Tata transition board to swiftly put in place the mechanisms that will allow Tata employees, businesses within its supply chain, families and communities to access all available support. The support will include reskilling and training, health and well-being support, entrepreneurship and business advice, financial advice and guidance as well as future job opportunities. Through the work of the transition board sub-groups and work streams, drop-in sessions are already up and running in Port Talbot, with advisers from the Department for Work and Pensions, Careers Wales, Business Wales, Citizens Advice, Neath Port Talbot Council and NPTC group of colleges on hand to answer concerns and questions. More organisations will attend future sessions, expanding the range of advice available, and job fairs will be arranged when the time is appropriate. Similarly, a web page is available on the Neath Port Talbot Council website that provides a one-stop-shop single point of contact for everyone seeking help and advice. The web page will have continued increase in its content and will signpost links for both individuals and businesses to all available support and guidance.
The Tata transition board has commissioned a local economic action plan to estimate the economic impact on the local and regional economy, to identify interventions to mitigate impacts on individuals, families, businesses and the wider community, and to provide a pipeline of opportunities to regenerate the local economy over the short, medium and longer terms. The plan will be used as a tool by the transition board when recommending how the £100 million support fund should be spent.
The three steel unions, Community, GMB and Unite, have or are in the process of balloting their members on industrial action. Unite members have already returned a vote in favour of industrial action. Community and GMB ballots close on 9 May. In response to these ballots on industrial action, Tata have put conditions around the elements of the voluntary redundancy package they intend to offer. We believe Tata should offer the best possible package to their workforce. Although formal consultations have finished, the company and the unions' discussions will continue during the next two weeks on a potential memorandum of understanding on future investments in the business and the impact of the restructuring on employees. A voluntary redundancy process will be launched across Tata Steel UK from 15 May.
The Welsh Government believes that steel making is a fundamental part of our future as a nation, and we will continue to support those working in the steel industry in all ways that we can.
Ers cyhoeddiad gwreiddiol cynigion Tata'r llynedd, mae Gweinidogion wedi mynegi pryderon ynglŷn â chyflymder y pontio arfaethedig. Fe allai ymgynghoriad rhwng y cwmni a'r undebau fod wedi sicrhau pontio hwy, tecach a fyddai wedi lliniaru colli swyddi. Gyda'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw wedi dod i ben erbyn hyn, mae Tata am symud ymlaen â'i gynllun i gau ffwrnais chwyth 5 ym mis Mehefin, a ffwrnais chwyth 4 a'r asedau pen trwm sy'n weddill erbyn diwedd mis Medi. Yn rhan o'r cynllun gwerth £1.25 biliwn, ar gyfer gallu diwallu anghenion cwsmeriaid yn ystod y cyfnod pontio tair blynedd i gynhyrchu dur gyda ffwrneisi arc trydan, a pharhau i gynhyrchu yn eu safleoedd eilaidd, bydd Tata yn dibynnu ar fewnforion o dramor. Mae Tata eisoes wedi cyhoeddi bod disgwyl i hyd at 2,800 o swyddi gael eu colli yn rhan o'i gynllun pontio, ac fe effeithir ar tua 2,500 o'r rhain mewn cyfrannau dros y 18 mis nesaf, gyda disgwyl y gyfran gyntaf ym mis Gorffennaf eleni. Mae'r cwmni yn disgwyl y byddai 300 o swyddi pellach yn cael eu colli mewn dwy flynedd i dair ar safle Llanwern.
Llywydd, mae'r cadarnhad gan Tata y bydd cynhyrchu dur ffwrnais chwyth yn dod i ben ym Mhort Talbot yn hynod drist i Gymru ac mae'n golygu cyfnod anodd iawn i ddod i weithwyr a'u teuluoedd, yn ogystal ag eraill yn y cymunedau lleol a'r gadwyn gyflenwi ehangach. Mae hi'n hanfodol fod y cwmni'n gwneud popeth yn ei allu i osgoi diswyddiadau gorfodol o'i weithlu teyrngar ac mae'n gweithio gyda'r bwrdd pontio i sicrhau bod y gweithwyr yr effeithir arnyn nhw'n cael y cymorth a'r arweiniad priodol i ailsgilio neu geisio cyflogaeth. Mae angen i Tata ddarparu manylion ar fyrder hefyd gydag amseriadau o'r effaith ar ei weithlu a'i gadwyn gyflenwi, lle gellid colli llawer o filoedd o swyddi eto, i sicrhau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru a'n partneriaid roi'r cymorth gorau posibl iddyn nhw. Fe fyddai hyn yn cynnwys darparu cymorth a gafodd ei deilwra ar gyfer sgiliau a hyfforddiant i'w galluogi i gynllunio ar gyfer dyfodol cadarnhaol.
Fe fyddwn i'n annog Tata hefyd i roi cyfle i'w gweithwyr a'r gadwyn gyflenwi, lle bynnag y bo hynny'n ymarferol, a gweithio ar y cam datgomisiynu ac adeiladu sydd ei angen ar gyfer symud at gynhyrchu dur arc trydan. Bydd y gwaith paratoi yn dechrau ym mis Rhagfyr eleni ac felly fe allai gynnig parhad cyflogaeth i rai gweithwyr. Serch hynny, fe fydd yna fwlch sylweddol rhwng cau'r ffwrneisi chwyth ym Mhort Talbot a dechrau gyda'r ffwrnais arc drydan arfaethedig. Mae hyn yn golygu ein bod ni mewn perygl o golli llawer o gwmnïau'r gadwyn gyflenwi ynghyd â'r arbenigedd a'r sgiliau a'r blaengarwch arloesol y maen nhw'n eu cynnig i economi Cymru.
Rydym ni'n pryderu am yr effaith y bydd cynllun Tata yn ei gael ar faint yr allbwn ar draws pob un o safleoedd Tata yng Nghymru, nid yn unig ym Mhort Talbot, ond ar y gweithfeydd eilaidd a leolir yn Llanwern, Trostre, Shotton a Chaerffili, yn ystod y cyfnod pontio yn gyntaf, ond eto wedyn pan fydd y ffwrnais arc drydan yn weithredol. Mae angen i ni fod â gweledigaeth bendant oddi wrth y cwmni a fyddai'n cynnwys buddsoddiad sylweddol ym mhob safle ac yn parhau i ddefnyddio'r arloesedd sy'n tarddu o'n prifysgolion ni.
Fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda bwrdd pontio Tata i roi'r mecanweithiau ar waith yn gyflym a fyddai'n caniatáu i weithwyr Tata, busnesau yn ei gadwyn gyflenwi, teuluoedd a chymunedau allu cael gafael ar yr holl gymorth sydd ar gael. Fe fyddai'r cymorth yn cynnwys ailsgilio a hyfforddi, cymorth iechyd a llesiant, entrepreneuriaeth a chyngor busnes, cyngor ariannol ac arweiniad yn ogystal â chyfleoedd gwaith yn y dyfodol. Trwy waith is-grwpiau'r bwrdd pontio a ffrydiau gwaith, mae sesiynau galw heibio eisoes yn digwydd ym Mhort Talbot, gydag ymgynghorwyr o'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, Gyrfa Cymru, Busnes Cymru, Cyngor ar Bopeth, Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot a grŵp colegau Castell-nedd Port Talbot wrth law i ymateb i bryderon a chwestiynau. Fe fydd rhagor o sefydliadau yn mynychu'r sesiynau yn y dyfodol, ar gyfer ehangu'r ystod o gyngor a fydd ar gael, ac fe fydd ffeiriau swyddi yn cael eu trefnu yn yr amser priodol. Yn yr un modd, mae tudalen we ar gael ar wefan Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot sy'n cynnig un pwynt cyswllt siop un stop i bawb sy'n chwilio am gymorth a chyngor. Fe fydd y dudalen we wedi parhau i gynyddu ei chynnwys a chyfeirio dolenni ar gyfer unigolion a busnesau tuag at y gefnogaeth a'r arweiniad sydd ar gael i gyd.
Mae bwrdd pontio Tata wedi comisiynu cynllun gweithredu economaidd lleol i amcangyfrif yr effaith economaidd ar yr economi leol a rhanbarthol, i nodi ymyraethau i liniaru effeithiau ar unigolion, teuluoedd, busnesau a'r gymuned ehangach, a chynnig piblinell o gyfleoedd i adfywio'r economi leol dros y tymhorau byr, canolig a hwy. Bydd y cynllun yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan y bwrdd pontio yn arf i argymell sut y dylid gwario'r gronfa gymorth gwerth £100 miliwn.
Mae'r tri undeb dur, Community, GMB ac Unite, wedi neu ar ganol holi barn eu haelodau ynglŷn â gweithredu diwydiannol. Mae aelodau Unite wedi dychwelyd pleidlais o blaid gweithredu diwydiannol eisoes. Bydd pleidleisiau Community a GMB yn cau ar 9 o fis Mai. Mewn ymateb i'r pleidleisiau hyn ar weithredu diwydiannol, mae Tata wedi rhoi amodau ynghylch elfennau'r pecyn diswyddo gwirfoddol y bwriedir ei gynnig. Rydym ni o'r farn y dylai Tata fod yn cynnig y pecyn gorau posibl i'w weithlu. Er bod ymgynghoriadau ffurfiol wedi dod i ben, fe fydd trafodaethau rhwng y cwmni a'r undebau yn parhau yn ystod y pythefnos nesaf ar femorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth posibl ar gyfer buddsoddiadau yn y busnes yn y dyfodol ac effaith ailstrwythuro ar weithwyr. Fe fydd proses diswyddo wirfoddol yn cael ei lansio ar draws Tata Steel UK o 15 Mai.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru o'r farn fod cynhyrchu dur yn rhan sylfaenol o ddyfodol y genedl, ac fe fyddwn ni'n dal ati i gefnogi'r rhai sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant dur ym mhob ffordd y gallwn ni.
Diolch ichi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am y datganiad ac am ganiatáu i mi ei weld o flaen llaw. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for the statement and for giving me prior sight of it. Thank you.
I and my colleagues on these benches share the Cabinet Secretary's disappointment at what has unfolded with Tata in Port Talbot. The impact that this will have on individuals, families and wider communities cannot be underestimated. We think of those who are impacted and living with the uncertainty at this time. Our position has been clear, that we wish to see Tata continue to operate a blast furnace as they transition to an electric arc furnace.
Cabinet Secretary, your statement offers a clear commentary on where we are, but it is light on detail on how the Welsh Government is supporting the workforce and the wider community. But knowing now how Tata wish to proceed, can I ask, Cabinet Secretary, are you privy to who within the Tata workforce will be directly impacted? What skills and type of employees are due to be lost to the workforce? And, if you are aware, have you been able to reach out to them directly and what support will you be offering to them? For such large-scale redundancies to occur, an audit, in essence, of who and with what skills will be made redundant could help with finding suitable employment for them as quickly as possible. The Welsh Government has often stressed the support it has offered to the Tata workforce prior to these plans being announced last year, specifically support around skills and training. Therefore, can I ask and seek assurances that any and all skills accreditation and qualifications that the workforce received, which were Welsh Government funded, either in part or in whole, are fully transferrable to a new employer and are not constrained to Tata employment only? For example, would a forklift driver be able to take their certificate with them to another company, or would they have to undertake further qualifications?
As we look to future opportunities, we must include the Celtic free port, which promises thousands of new jobs by the start of the next decade, many of which will be in Port Talbot. Knowing that, and given Tata's decision and its timing, there will a period between the blast furnaces ceasing to operate, the arc furnace being in operation and the Celtic free port being itself fully operational too—another reason why Tata's decision is disappointing. Cabinet Secretary, can I ask how you will support the workers in this transition period so that they will be able to stay in the area and then get the jobs that the free port offers? Clearly, if there is a loss to skills in this transition period, if there is a brain and skills drain, then we simply will not be able to maximise the full economic benefit that the free port has to offer to Port Talbot and to the wider areas.
One way to minimise this brain and skills drain would be to utilise all of these skills as best as possible in the decommissioning and the construction of the new arc furnace, which you've mentioned, and that would involve using local employed people by local businesses. Therefore, can I ask, Cabinet Secretary, if, in any discussions you've had with Tata, you've been able to stress and urge the use of the domestic workforce, those already on Tata's payroll, on the construction of the electric arc furnace and on the decommissioning of the two blast furnaces too? If so, what guarantees have you had from Tata that they are willing to accept that proposal?
My final question, Cabinet Secretary, knowing I've raised quite a few detailed points this afternoon, is on the importance of, and impact on, the supply chain, which you've mentioned in your statement. Has any assessment been made as to who in the supply chain will be affected by Tata's proposals, and what jobs, if any, will be lost to those companies in Wales? Now, while we all hope that job losses from Tata can be absorbed by new job creation from the free port and elsewhere, job losses from the supply chain may not be so readily transferred, depending on their location. In your statement, the transition board is mentioned quite readily, and it seems to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Now that the Welsh Government is sitting on that transition board, I think it's also time that the Welsh Government contributed to the running of that transition board financially too. Diolch, Llywydd.
Mae fy nghyd-Aelodau ar y meinciau hyn a minnau'r un mor siomedig â'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet oherwydd yr hyn sydd wedi datblygu gyda Tata ym Mhort Talbot. Ni ddylid diystyru maint effaith hyn ar unigolion, teuluoedd a chymunedau ehangach. Rydym ni'n meddwl am y rhai yr effeithir arnynt ac sy'n byw gyda'r fath ansicrwydd ar hyn o bryd. Mae ein safbwynt ni wedi bod yn amlwg, sef ein bod ni'n dymuno gweld Tata yn parhau i redeg ffwrnais chwyth wrth iddyn nhw bontio at ffwrnais arc drydan.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae eich datganiad chi'n rhoi sylwebaeth eglur ar ein sefyllfa ni ar hyn o bryd, ond mae'n brin o fanylion ynghylch sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r gweithlu a'r gymuned yn fwy eang. Ond gan wybod nawr sut mae Tata yn dymuno bwrw ymlaen, a gaf i ofyn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a ydych chi'n gwybod ar bwy yng ngweithlu Tata y bydd hyn yn effeithio yn uniongyrchol? Pa sgiliau a pha fathau o weithwyr a fydd yn cael eu colli o'r gweithlu? Ac, os ydych chi'n ymwybodol o hynny, a ydych chi wedi gallu cysylltu â nhw'n uniongyrchol a pha gymorth a wnaethoch chi ei gynnig iddyn nhw? Er mwyn i ddiswyddiadau ar raddfa fawr fel hyn fod yn digwydd, fe allai archwiliad, yn hanfodol, o'r gweithwyr a'u sgiliau a fydd yn cael eu diswyddo fod o gymorth wrth ddod o hyd i gyflogaeth addas iddyn nhw cyn gynted â phosibl. Yn aml, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn pwysleisio'r gefnogaeth a gynigiodd hi i weithlu Tata cyn i'r cynlluniau hyn gael eu cyhoeddi'r llynedd, o ran cefnogaeth ynglŷn â sgiliau a hyfforddiant yn benodol. Felly, a gaf i ofyn a cheisio sicrwydd y bydd unrhyw achrediad a chymwysterau gyda sgiliau a gafodd y gweithlu, a ariannwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, naill ai'n rhannol neu'n gyfan gwbl, yn drosglwyddadwy yn gyfan gwbl i gyflogwr newydd ac nad ydyn nhw'n gyfyngedig i gyflogaeth gyda Tata yn unig? Er enghraifft, a fyddai gyrrwr wagen fforch godi yn gallu mynd â'i dystysgrif gydag ef i gwmni arall, neu a fyddai'n rhaid iddo ymgymryd â chymwysterau eraill?
Wrth i ni edrych ar gyfleoedd i'r dyfodol, mae'n rhaid i ni gynnwys y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd, sy'n addo miloedd o swyddi newydd erbyn dechrau'r degawd nesaf, ac fe fydd llawer ohonyn nhw ym Mhort Talbot. Gan wybod, ac o ystyried penderfyniad Tata a'i amseriad, y bydd cyfnod rhwng diffodd y ffwrneisi chwyth a bod y ffwrnais arc ar waith a bod y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd ei hun yn gwbl weithredol hefyd—rheswm arall pam mae penderfyniad Tata yn siomedig. Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a gaf i ofyn sut yr ydych chi am gefnogi'r gweithwyr yn y cyfnod pontio hwn er mwyn iddyn nhw allu aros yn yr ardal a chael swyddi y bydd y porthladd rhydd yn eu cynnig wedyn? Yn amlwg, pe byddai sgiliau yn cael eu colli yn y cyfnod pontio hwn, pe byddai draen dawn a sgiliau, yna ni allwn ni wneud y mwyaf o'r budd economaidd llawn a gynigir gan y porthladd rhydd i Bort Talbot a'r ardaloedd ehangach.
Un ffordd o leihau'r draen dawn a sgiliau fel hyn fyddai defnyddio'r holl sgiliau hyn i'r fath raddau â phosibl wrth ddatgomisiynu ac adeiladu'r ffwrnais arc newydd, yr ydych chi wedi sôn amdani hi, ac fe fyddai hynny'n golygu y byddai busnesau lleol yn defnyddio pobl a gyflogir yn lleol. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, mewn unrhyw drafodaethau a gawsoch chi gyda Tata, a ydych chi wedi gallu pwysleisio ac annog defnyddio'r gweithlu mewnol, y rhai a gyflogir eisoes gan Tata, wrth adeiladu'r ffwrnais arc drydan ac wrth ddatgomisiynu'r ddwy ffwrnais chwyth hefyd? Os felly, pa warantau a gawsoch chi oddi wrth Tata eu bod nhw'n fodlon derbyn y cynnig hwnnw?
Mae fy nghwestiwn olaf i, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, gan wybod fy mod i wedi codi cryn dipyn o bwyntiau manwl y prynhawn yma, ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd y gadwyn gyflenwi, a'r effaith arni hi, gyda'r hyn y gwnaethoch chi ei grybwyll yn eich datganiad. A wnaethpwyd unrhyw asesiad o bwy yn y gadwyn gyflenwi yr effeithir arnynt yn sgil cynigion Tata, a pha swyddi, os o gwbl, a fydd yn cael eu colli yn y cwmnïau hynny yng Nghymru? Nawr, er ein bod ni i gyd yn gobeithio y gellir amsugno swyddi a gollwyd yn Tata drwy greu swyddi newydd yn y porthladd rhydd a mannau eraill, efallai na fydd mater y swyddi o'r gadwyn gyflenwi mor hawdd i'w ddatrys, ac mae hynny'n dibynnu ar eu lleoliad nhw. Yn eich datganiad chi, mae llawer o sôn am y bwrdd pontio, ac mae hi'n ymddangos y bydd ef yn gwneud llawer o'r gwaith trwm. Gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn eistedd wrth y bwrdd pontio hwnnw erbyn hyn, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n hen bryd i Lywodraeth Cymru gyfrannu at redeg y bwrdd pontio hwnnw'n ariannol hefyd. Diolch, Llywydd.
I thank Sam Kurtz for his observations and his questions. The Welsh Government support that will be made available is an extensive range of interventions, which match the scale of the challenge that the workforce and those in the supply chain face. So, he will know about the multi-agency approach that we seek to adopt in Wales, and will be adopted in this situation, where we will bring our support programmes into play, alongside the jobcentre, Working Wales, local authorities, trade unions and Tata Steel itself. Whether it's the ReAct+ programme or Communities for Work, whether it's the Flexible Skills Programme, which jointly funds some skills programmes, whether it's the changes that we've recently introduced to personal learning accounts, which mean that the wage qualification that would otherwise rule many employees at Tata out of eligibility, we have now removed that, expanding the availability of PLA, for both those affected in the workforce and also those in the supply chain, there is a range of programmes that we will make available, as we have in other contexts, albeit previously in the context of fewer redundancies and fewer job losses.
At this point in time, it is not possible to quantify the scale of that, though the programmes will be made available, because we are not party to the conditions attached by the UK Government to the funding that it has made available, and we are not party to the work that Tata itself has undertaken around the mapping of the numbers of jobs lost at which particular points in time. So, we await that information from Tata so that we are able to make sure that our contribution, along with that of the range of partners who will also be making a contribution, can be most effectively brought to bear to support those workers.
One of the key tasks in the work of the board—. And I wouldn’t accept the characterisation of the board doing the heavy lifting. There are a range of partners who have a considerable role to play, either represented on the board or beyond, and it’s really important that this is a collaborative effort. So, I think that is the way in which we want to be able to proceed. But, critically, we need to identify the support that is customarily available, and I’ve outlined to you what that would be from the Welsh Government’s perspective, and then identify what more needs to be done. So, that piece of work is absolutely critical, so that the resources that are available can be brought to bear in addition to what we would normally provide.
The Member mentioned a number of important points in relation to skills, and he will understand that we aren’t able to identify the particular skills mix at the moment because we are awaiting that further information, but we will be able to do that when that information is available. But there are some understood challenges already. One is the accreditation of skills that workers may have acquired during their employment at Tata, but where that hasn’t led to a qualification that would be portable outside the workplace. That is recognised as a challenge. Tata itself will be working on that, and is already working with Bridgend College on how those can be mapped onto recognisable qualifications for the workforce in that job matching that will need to follow. So, that piece of work is one of the pieces of work that will need to be taken forward.
He makes an important point in relation to the Celtic free port, but also makes the point that there is a significant time lag between the loss of the jobs at Tata and those employment opportunities becoming available. It’s really important that we maintain the confidence of those people who would invest in those future opportunities in the free port, by making sure that everything we do in the short term supports workers, and supports them to upskill or to have their skills recognised.
There are no guarantees that Tata have provided, but there is absolutely a recognition, I would say, that they will do all that they can to make sure those employees who can take roles in the decommissioning and the construction work are offered those roles. So, that has been raised in discussions. No guarantees have been given, but that is recognised as something that they will want to do. We would certainly want to see that happen. There will be specialist roles that are required for those tasks for which the skills may not be available, but wherever we can, that’s what we would want to see.
He makes a point, finally, about the financial contribution to the transition board. What we have seen is a commitment of headline figures. There hasn’t yet been a commitment to spend any individual penny within that headline figure at this point, so I think it’s worth bearing that in mind, and we all want to see that happen quickly. All parties want to see that happen quickly. The contributions we have made have been consistent over a number of years when Tata has needed support, whether that’s around skills, whether it’s around innovation, whether it’s around capital investment, which represents a significant proportion of our overall budget, and the capacity of any devolved Government to intervene in relation to an economic event such as this is obviously very, very much more constrained than that of the UK Government, not least because the impact will be felt across the entire UK economy of what we are seeing in Port Talbot. I think that needs to be recognised.
Rwy'n diolch i Sam Kurtz am ei sylwadau a'i gwestiynau. Mae'r cymorth a fydd ar gael oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru yn cynnig ystod eang o ymyraethau, a fydd yn gymesur â maint yr her y mae'r gweithlu a'r rhai yn y gadwyn gyflenwi yn ei hwynebu. Felly, mae ef yn gwybod am y dull amlasiantaeth yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei fabwysiadu yng Nghymru, a bydd hwnnw'n cael ei fabwysiadu yn y sefyllfa hon, pan rown ni ein rhaglenni cymorth ar waith, ochr yn ochr â'r ganolfan waith, Cymru'n Gweithio, awdurdodau lleol, undebau llafur a Tata Steel ei hun. Bydded hynny gyda rhaglen ReAct+ neu Cymunedau am Waith, gyda'r Rhaglen Sgiliau Hyblyg, sy'n ariannu rhai rhaglenni sgiliau ar y cyd, neu gyda'r newidiadau y gwnaethom ni eu cyflwyno yn ddiweddar i gyfrifon dysgu personol, sy'n golygu bod y cymhwyster cyflog a fyddai fel arall yn eithrio llawer o weithwyr Tata rhag bod yn gymwys, fe wnaethom ni ddiddymu hynny erbyn hyn, gan ehangu argaeledd cyfrifon dysgu personol, hyd at y gweithlu yr effeithir arno a rhai yn y gadwyn gyflenwi hefyd, fe geir amrywiaeth o raglenni y byddwn ni'n eu darparu, fel sydd gennym ni mewn cyd-destunau eraill, er nad oedd cyd-destunau'r gorffennol yn cynnwys cymaint o ddiswyddiadau na cholli swyddi.
Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw hi'n bosibl i ni fesur maint hynny i gyd, er y bydd y rhaglenni ar gael, oherwydd nid ydym ni'n gwybod pa amodau a fydd gan Lywodraeth y DU o ran y cyllid y gwnaeth ei ddarparu ac nid oes gennym ni ran yn y gwaith a wnaeth Tata ei hun o ran mapio nifer y swyddi a gollir ar amseroedd penodol. Felly, rydym ni'n aros am yr wybodaeth honno oddi wrth Tata er mwyn sicrhau y gellir dod â'n cyfraniad ni, ynghyd â'r ystod o bartneriaid a bydd yn gwneud cyfraniad hefyd, at ei gilydd ar gyfer bod yn fwyaf effeithiol o ran y gefnogaeth i'r gweithwyr hynny.
Un o'r tasgau allweddol yng ngwaith y bwrdd—. Ac ni fyddwn i'n derbyn y portread mai'r bwrdd sy'n gwneud y gwaith trwm. Mae yna amrywiaeth o bartneriaid sydd â rhan sylweddol, naill ai'n cael eu cynrychioli ar y bwrdd neu'r tu hwnt iddo, ac mae hi'n bwysig iawn mai ymdrech gydweithredol yw hon. Felly, rwy'n credu mai honno yw'r ffordd y byddwn ni'n gallu bwrw ymlaen ynddi hi. Ond, yn hollbwysig, mae angen i ni nodi'r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael yn arferol, ac rwyf i wedi amlinellu i chi beth fyddai honno o safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, a nodi wedyn beth arall y mae angen ei wneud. Felly, mae'r darn hwnnw o waith yn gwbl hanfodol, er mwyn defnyddio'r adnoddau sydd ar gael dros ben yr hyn y byddem ni'n ei roi fel arfer.
Roedd yr Aelod yn sôn am nifer o bwyntiau pwysig o ran sgiliau, ac mae ef yn deall nad ydym ni'n gallu nodi'r gymysgedd benodol o sgiliau ar hyn o bryd am ein bod yn aros am yr wybodaeth bellach honno, ond fe fyddwn ni'n gallu gwneud hynny pan fydd yr wybodaeth honno ar gael. Eto i gyd, mae rhai heriau wedi cael eu nodi eisoes. Un ohonyn nhw yw achrediad sgiliau y gallai gweithwyr fod wedi ei gael yn ystod eu cyflogaeth yn Tata, ond lle nad yw hwnnw wedi arwain at gymhwyster y gellid ei drosglwyddo o'r gweithle. Mae honno'n cael ei chydnabod yn her. Fe fydd Tata ei hun yn gweithio ar hynny, ac mae eisoes yn gweithio gyda Choleg Penybont ar sut y gellir mapio'r rhain ar gymwysterau y gellir eu hadnabod ar gyfer gweithlu gyda'r paru swyddi y bydd ei angen. Felly, mae'r darn hwnnw o waith yn un o'r darnau o waith y bydd angen ei ddatblygu.
Mae ef yn gwneud pwynt pwysig o ran y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd, ond mae'n gwneud y pwynt hefyd y bydd bwlch sylweddol rhwng cyfnod y colli swyddi yn Tata a'r cyfnod pan fydd y cyfleoedd cyflogaeth hynny ar gael. Mae hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn ni cadw hyder y bobl hynny a fyddai'n buddsoddi yn y cyfleoedd hynny yn y porthladd rhydd yn y dyfodol, trwy sicrhau bod popeth a wnawn ni yn y byrdymor yn cefnogi gweithwyr, ac yn eu cefnogi nhw i uwchsgilio neu i gael cydnabyddiaeth i'w sgiliau.
Nid yw Tata wedi darparu unrhyw warantau, ond mae cydnabyddiaeth eang y bydden nhw'n gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i sicrhau bod y gweithwyr hynny sy'n gallu bod â rhan yn y datgomisiynu a'r gwaith adeiladu yn cael cynnig y swyddi hynny. Felly, mae hynny wedi cael ei godi mewn trafodaethau. Nid oes unrhyw warantau wedi cael eu rhoi, ond mae cydnabyddiaeth iddyn nhw fod yn awyddus i wneud felly. Yn sicr, fe fyddem ninnau'n awyddus i weld hynny'n digwydd. Fe fydd swyddi arbenigol yn ofynnol ar gyfer y tasgau hynny lle nad yw'r sgiliau ar gael ar eu cyfer nhw, ond pryd bynnag y gallwn ni, dyna'r hyn y byddem ni'n dymuno ei weld.
Fe wnaeth ef bwynt, yn olaf, ynglŷn â'r cyfraniad ariannol i'r bwrdd pontio. Yr hyn a welsom ni yw ymrwymiad o ran ffigurau pennawd. Hyd yn hyn, nid oes ymrwymiad wedi bod eto i wario'r un geiniog o fewn y prif ffigur hwnnw, ac felly rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth cadw hynny mewn cof, ac fe fyddem ni i gyd yn dymuno gweld hynny'n digwydd yn gyflym. Mae pob plaid yn awyddus i weld hynny'n digwydd yn gyflym. Mae'r cyfraniadau a wnaethom ni wedi bod yn gyson dros nifer o flynyddoedd pan oedd angen cefnogaeth ar Tata, boed hynny ynglŷn â sgiliau, ynghylch arloesi, ynghylch buddsoddiad cyfalaf, sy'n cynrychioli cyfran sylweddol o'n cyllideb gyffredinol ni, a gallu unrhyw Lywodraeth ddatganoledig i ymyrryd o ran digwyddiad economaidd fel hwn yn amlwg iawn, llawer mwy cyfyng na gallu Llywodraeth y DU, yn anad dim oherwydd y bydd yr effaith yn cael ei theimlo ar draws economi'r DU gyfan oherwydd yr hyn a welwn ni ym Mhort Talbot. Rwy'n credu bod angen cydnabod hynny.
The news on Thursday was of course news we didn’t want to see, and I’d associate myself with the Cabinet Secretary’s comments as well as the comments of the Conservative spokesperson in expressing solidarity with workers in the wider communities that will be impacted by this.
I want to put on record as well my disappointment with the way in which Tata has acted over the past few months specifically, making statements of intention during their consultation period, during committee inquiries, threatening to pull generous redundancy packages from workers, and still not being transparent with information around who exactly will be affected by the closures and where they are in terms of being directly employed by Tata or in the wider supply chain. A responsible company doesn’t act like this, especially when the context is of intergenerational linkages with the place you own.
This whole situation has shown very clearly the issues we have with the Welsh economy; perhaps it even crystallises why the Government has been unable to make significant improvements to the economy over the years. It's an ownership problem, isn't it? Here we are, in a situation with a strategic resource, important in so many ways, in a situation where there is cross-party agreement that the blast furnaces should stay open, and here we are nonetheless, bystanders in our own nation's future.
I'm frustrated to no end. Two thousand eight hundred direct jobs, thousands more in the supply chain and contractors—it's all I've heard since being elected: job losses, job losses, job losses. What is the point—and I put this to every Member in this Chamber—what is the point of us here? What is the point of Members of Parliament in Westminster if when our communities need us the most, we throw our hands in the air and let things happen? Are we so eager to accept defeat?
Now, we've played the game. We've tried to appeal to Tata's better nature. We've put alternatives in front of them, but it's here, it's happening. They're doing what they want to, so what do we do now? Well, there are three options as far as I see it now, two of which Plaid Cymru has consistently put on the table: nationalisation, take ownership of a strategic resource, take control of our future. It's an idea supported by the Industrial Communities Alliance, an idea that, by some accounts, the UK Government's civil service has floated. The First Minister called it a red herring. In the face of this now, will the Cabinet Secretary agree with that statement? Of course, this would have to be done by UK Government.
The second option is an idea originally floated by Adam Price, to use the planning system to put a preservation order on the blast furnaces, to give us the time to work out how the steel industry might become sustainable. That is something the Welsh Government could do. And thirdly, accept the managed decline of a vital industry. So, which is it? What's your preference: nationalisation, preservation or managed decline? It's game night. What's the play? This can't be it. If the workers are willing to fight, we should be too.
Roedd y newyddion ar ddydd Iau yn newyddion nad oeddem ni'n awyddus i'w gweld, ac fe hoffwn i ategu sylwadau'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ogystal â sylwadau llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr wrth iddyn nhw fynegi cydsafiad â'r gweithwyr yn y cymunedau yn fwy eang yr effeithir arnyn nhw gan hyn.
Fe hoffwn i fynegi fy siom ar goedd hefyd ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae Tata wedi ymddwyn dros y misoedd diwethaf yn benodol, gan wneud datganiadau o fwriad yn ystod eu cyfnod ymgynghori, yn ystod ymchwiliadau'r pwyllgor, a bygwth tynnu pecynnau diswyddo hael oddi ar weithwyr, a dal ati i beidio â bod yn dryloyw gyda'r wybodaeth ynghylch pwy yn union yr effeithir arnyn nhw yn sgil y cau a'u sefyllfa o ran cael eu cyflogi gan Tata yn uniongyrchol neu yn y gadwyn gyflenwi yn fwy eang. Nid yw cwmni cyfrifol yn gweithredu fel hyn, yn enwedig pan fo hynny mewn cyd-destun o genedlaethau lawer o gysylltiad gyda'r safle rydych chi'n berchen arno.
Mae'r sefyllfa hon yn ei chyfanrwydd wedi arddangos y materion yn eglur iawn sydd ynghlwm ag economi Cymru; efallai ei bod hyd yn oed yn crisialu pam nad yw'r Llywodraeth wedi gallu gwneud gwelliannau sylweddol i'r economi dros y blynyddoedd. Mae hon yn broblem o ran perchnogaeth, onid yw hi? Dyma ni, mewn sefyllfa gydag adnodd strategol, sy'n bwysig mewn cymaint o ffyrdd, mewn sefyllfa lle mae cytundeb trawsbleidiol y dylai'r ffwrneisi chwyth aros ar agor, ac yma rydym ni'n dal i fod yn ddi-rym o ran dyfodol ein cenedl ein hunain.
Rwy'n sobr o rwystredig. Dwy fil wyth cant o swyddi uniongyrchol, miloedd yn rhagor yn y gadwyn gyflenwi a'r contractwyr—dyna'r cyfan rwyf wedi'i glywed ers cael fy ethol: colli swyddi, colli swyddi, colli swyddi. Beth yw'r pwynt—ac rwy'n gofyn hyn i bob Aelod yn y Siambr hon—beth yw'r pwynt i ni fod yma? Beth yw diben bod ag Aelodau Seneddol yn San Steffan pan fo'r angen amdanom ni ar ei fwyaf yn ein cymunedau ni, rydym ni'n taflu ein dwylo yn yr awyr ac yn gadael llonydd i bethau ddigwydd? A ydym ni mor awyddus i dderbyn ein trechu?
Rydyn ni wedi chwarae'r gêm nawr. Rydym ni wedi ceisio apelio ar hynawsedd Tata. Fe wnaethom ni roi dewisiadau eraill o'u blaenau nhw, ond nawr, mae hyn am ddigwydd. Maen nhw'n gwneud fel a fynnont, felly beth a wnawn ni nawr? Wel, mae yna dri dewis hyd y gwelaf i nawr, mae Plaid Cymru wedi rhoi dau ohonyn nhw ar y bwrdd yn gyson: gwladoli, cymryd perchnogaeth o adnodd strategol, cymryd rheolaeth ar ein dyfodol. Dyma syniad a gefnogir gan y Gynghrair Cymunedau Diwydiannol, y syniad a wyntyllodd gwasanaeth sifil Llywodraeth y DU, yn ôl rhai. Galwodd y Prif Weinidog hynny'n godi sgwarnogod. Yn wyneb hyn nawr, a fyddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â'r datganiad hwnnw? Wrth gwrs, fyddai hi'n rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU wneud hyn.
Yr ail ddewis yw'r syniad a wyntyllwyd yn wreiddiol gan Adam Price, sef defnyddio'r system gynllunio i roi gorchymyn cadwraeth ar y ffwrneisi chwyth, i roi amser i ni weithio allan sut y gallai'r diwydiant dur fynd yn gynaliadwy. Mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud. Ac yn drydydd, derbyn dirywiad rheoledig diwydiant hanfodol. Felly, beth amdani? Beth yw eich dewis chi: gwladoli, cadwraeth neu ddirywiad a reolir? Mae'r gêm wedi dechrau. Sut ydych chi am ei chwarae hi? Nid fel hyn. Os yw'r gweithwyr yn barod i ymladd, fe ddylem ninnau fod yn barod hefyd.
I thank Luke Fletcher for the comments that he has made and the passion that we will all feel in the way he's put his case. I absolutely agree with him: primary steel making capacity is a strategic resource for the Welsh economy, for the entire UK economy, and to have an economy that gives that up is absolutely unthinkable. That has not been our position as a Government. We've consistently made the argument for primary steel making in the future of Wales on a sustainable basis, and have argued for the last 14 years for that to be taken seriously on a UK-wide basis without the success that we would have wished to have seen.
He makes the point about a number of policies that Plaid Cymru have advocated. I think that the reality of the situation that the workers are facing on the ground is one that is, I think, somewhat different from the scenario that the Member paints. I think that reaching for creative solutions is always the right thing to do, but I think we need to recognise the reality of what is happening on the ground at the moment.
My own view about a stake in the business is that we've seen—. In the banking sector, we see this discussed from time to time; in the nuclear sector, I think that these things are ideas that are considered, but I think these particular circumstances on the ground are very different. We have a business that although I, and I know he, would have much preferred to have seen a plan very, very, very different from what is being pursued, and one which was much more closely like the plan that the multi-unions proposed, which provided for that just transition to a future sustainable steel sector, which we would all want to see, here is a business putting in £1.2 billion for a different vision, but that, I think, puts a very different context around the point he makes around nationalisation.
Our approach as a Government is to make sure that we do everything we can to support the workforce, to make the case strongly to Tata about the need to provide the workers with the best possible package as they face what they do face now, as the impact that will have on them, on their families, but also on communities right across south Wales is absolutely immense. So, they need the best available package from Tata, but also we need to see a commitment to invest in the future of steel production in all sites across Wales. And that involves continued investment and increased investment in the kind of research, with university partners, that provides that cutting-edge capacity, so that that is a critical part, and agreed to be, and committed to be, a critical part of the offer for steel production here in Wales into the future.
Rwy'n diolch i Luke Fletcher am y sylwadau a wnaeth ac am yr angerdd a deimlodd pob un ohonom ni yn y ffordd y mynegodd ef ei achos. Rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr ag ef: mae cynhyrchiant dur sylfaenol yn adnodd strategol i economi Cymru, i economi gyfan y DU, ac ni ellir dychmygu bod ag economi sy'n ildio adnodd o'r fath. Nid dyna fu ein safbwynt ni yn y Llywodraeth. Rydym ni wedi dadlau yn gyson dros roi cynhyrchiant dur sylfaenol ar sail gynaliadwy yn y dyfodol yng Nghymru, ac rydym ni wedi dadlau dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf i hynny fod yn cael ei gymryd o ddifrif ledled y DU ond heb wneud hynny mor llwyddiannus ag y byddem ni wedi dymuno.
Fe wnaeth ef y pwynt ynglŷn â nifer o bolisïau y mae Plaid Cymru wedi eirioli drostyn nhw. Rwy'n credu bod y sefyllfa wirioneddol y mae'r gweithwyr yn ei hwynebu ar lawr gwlad yn un sydd, yn fy marn i, ychydig yn wahanol i'r sefyllfa y mae'r Aelod yn ei phortreadu. Rwyf i o'r farn mai rhywbeth da iawn bob amser yw ymestyn am atebion creadigol, ond rwy'n credu bod angen i ni gydnabod gwirionedd yr hyn sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad ar hyn o bryd.
Fy marn bersonol i ynglŷn â chyfran yn y busnes yw ein bod ni wedi gweld—. Yn y sector bancio, rydym ni'n gweld hyn yn cael ei drafod o bryd i'w gilydd; yn y sector niwclear, rwy'n credu bod y pethau hyn yn syniadau sy'n cael eu hystyried, ond rwy'n credu bod yr amgylchiadau arbennig hyn ar lawr gwlad yn wahanol iawn. Mae yma fusnes gennym ni, er y byddai hi'n llawer gwell gennyf i fod wedi gweld cynllun gwahanol iawn, iawn, iawn i'r un a ddaeth i'r golwg, fel yntau, rwy'n gwybod, ac un a oedd yn llawer tebycach i'r cynllun a gynigiodd yr aml-undeb, a oedd yn darparu ar gyfer y pontio teg hwnnw i sector dur cynaliadwy yn y dyfodol, y byddem ni i gyd yn dymuno ei weld, dyma fusnes sy'n rhoi £1.2 biliwn i mewn ar gyfer gweledigaeth wahanol, ond mae hynny, yn fy marn i, yn rhoi cyd-destun gwahanol iawn i'r pwynt a wnaeth ef o ran gwladoli.
Ein dull ni o weithredu yn y Llywodraeth yw sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i gefnogi'r gweithlu, i ddadlau'r achos yn gadarn i Tata ynghylch yr angen i roi'r pecyn gorau posibl i'r gweithwyr wrth iddyn nhw wynebu'r hyn y maen nhw'n ei wynebu nawr, oherwydd fe fydd effaith hyn arnyn nhw, ac ar eu teuluoedd nhw, ond ar gymunedau ledled y de hefyd yn aruthrol fawr. Felly, mae angen y pecyn gorau sydd ar gael oddi wrth Tata, ond mae angen i ni weld ymrwymiad i fuddsoddi yn nyfodol cynhyrchu dur ym mhob safle ledled Cymru hefyd. Ac mae hynny'n cynnwys buddsoddiad parhaus a rhagor o fuddsoddiad yn y math o ymchwil, gyda phartneriaid prifysgol, sy'n darparu'r gallu blaengar hwnnw, fel bydd honno'n rhan hollbwysig, a chytunwyd hynny, a bod ag ymrwymiad i honno fod yn rhan hanfodol o'r cynnig ar gyfer cynhyrchiant dur yma yng Nghymru i'r dyfodol.
Cabinet Secretary, can I thank you and your predecessor for all the support you've given to Tata Steel workers over recent months? And here we are again. We could be back in November, because very little has changed since November, when the announcement was made: Tata are shutting down two blast furnaces, they've shut the coke ovens. And this is not a transition, because a transition moves from one thing to another; this is a closure of a steel industry, steel making in south Wales, and we are waiting for, hopefully, an electric arc furnace, which will allow us to recycle steel in the future, and now we've got a huge gap in between.
I very much welcome the cross-party support for the multi-union plan, which was, by the way, not from the unions, it was from steel experts. They actually had the knowledge and they put it together, and it was about keeping a blast furnace operational, to actually allow a transition to take place, and that's unfortunately been rejected by Tata.
The UK Government has actually honestly failed to move Tata in the right direction; they've just let them get on with it, and they've put no conditions upon any money. So, I appreciate the local economic action plan that was produced and presented to the transition board last week, but my worries about that is that it's a plan for the future, with regeneration possibly included, but no guarantees that businesses will come. No guarantees of what skills will be required. And you've said yourself that Tata haven't even done their skill assessment and supply chain assessment of their own workforce areas, so it's a huge gap we're going to have coming ahead of us.
There's no lack of ambition in the town, and I'll be putting my hand up saying I'm prepared to fight; I'm not going to give up, and my communities will not give up. There's no lack of ambition. We want to move forward. We have resilient people, but we need to have the future and hope there for us, and, at the moment, we're not seeing that hope. I want us to be able to give that hope. The Celtic free port is a wonderful idea, 10 years down the line. Where are we going to get the workforce and where are we going to be in the next 10 years? That's the crucial element of what we've got to do.
So, the reality is, Cabinet Secretary, you're doing everything you can, and I appreciate that. We've got more to do, all of us have got more to do; we've all got to work together to support our communities, to support the families, to support the workers. But the reality is—and this is the true reality—this current Government has no industrial strategy and no plan for steel. It's time we got rid of this Government, and do you agree with me that the only way we can actually move forward is with a Government with a plan for an industrial strategy, a Government with a plan for steel, and that's a Labour Government?
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a gaf i ddiolch i chi a'ch rhagflaenydd am yr holl gefnogaeth y gwnaethoch chi ei rhoi i weithwyr Tata Steel dros y misoedd diwethaf? A dyma ni eto. Fe allem fod yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd, oherwydd ychydig iawn sydd wedi newid ers mis Tachwedd, pan ddaeth y cyhoeddiad: mae Tata am gau dwy ffwrnais chwyth, maen nhw wedi cau'r ffyrnau golosg. Ac nid pontio mohono, oherwydd mae pontio yn symud o un peth i'r llall; cau diwydiant dur ac atal cynhyrchu dur yn y de yw hyn, ac rydym ni'n aros am ffwrnais arc trydan, gyda gobaith, a fydd yn caniatáu inni ailgylchu dur yn y dyfodol, ond mae gennym fwlch enfawr rhyngddyn nhw nawr.
Rwy'n croesawu'r fawr y gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol i'r cynllun aml-undeb, a ddaeth, gyda llaw, nid oddi wrth yr undebau, ond gan arbenigwyr dur. Roedd yr wybodaeth ganddyn nhw ac fe wnaethon nhw ei rhoi at ei gilydd, ac roedd yn ymwneud â chadw ffwrnais chwyth ar waith, ar gyfer caniatáu i bontio ddigwydd mewn gwirionedd, ac yn anffodus mae Tata wedi gwrthod hynny.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi methu ag ysgogi Tata i'r cyfeiriad cywir mewn gwirionedd; dim ond gadael llonydd iddyn nhw fwrw ati, ac nid ydyn nhw wedi rhoi unrhyw amodau ar unrhyw arian. Felly, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd lleol a gafodd ei gynhyrchu a'i gyflwyno i'r bwrdd pontio'r wythnos diwethaf, ond fy mhryderon i ynglŷn â hynny yw mai cynllun i'r dyfodol ydyw, ag adfywio yn gynwysedig o bosibl, ond nid oes unrhyw sicrwydd y bydd busnesau yn dod. Nid oes sicrwydd pa sgiliau fydd eu hangen. Ac rydych chi eich hun wedi dweud nad yw Tata hyd yn oed wedi gwneud eu hasesiad sgiliau na'u hasesiad cadwyn gyflenwi o feysydd eu gweithlu eu hunain, felly dyma fwlch enfawr sydd gennym ni o'n blaenau.
Nid oes diffyg uchelgais yn y dref, ac rwyf i am roi fy llaw i fyny i ddweud fy mod i'n barod i ymladd; nid wyf i am ildio, ac ni fydd fy nghymunedau i'n ildio. Nid oes unrhyw ddiffyg uchelgais. Rydym ni'n awyddus i symud ymlaen. Mae gennym ni bobl gydnerth, ond mae angen i ni fod â dyfodol a gobaith, ac, ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'r gobaith hwnnw gennym ni. Rwy'n dymuno i ni allu estyn y gobaith hwnnw. Mae'r porthladd rhydd Celtaidd yn syniad gwych, ymhen 10 mlynedd. Ond o ble y cawn ni'r gweithlu a beth fydd ein sefyllfa ni yn y 10 mlynedd nesaf? Dyna'r elfen hanfodol o'r hyn y mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud.
Felly, y gwir amdani, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, yw eich bod chi'n gwneud popeth yn eich gallu, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny. Mae gennym ni fwy i'w wneud eto, mae gan bob un ohonom ni fwy i'w wneud; mae'n rhaid i ni gyd weithio gyda'n gilydd i gefnogi ein cymunedau, i gefnogi'r teuluoedd, i gefnogi'r gweithwyr. Ond y gwir yw—a dyma'r sefyllfa wirioneddol—nid oes gan Lywodraeth bresennol y DU unrhyw strategaeth ddiwydiannol nac unrhyw gynllun ar gyfer dur. Mae hi'n hen bryd i ni gael gwared ar y Llywodraeth hon, ac a ydych yn cytuno â mi mai'r unig ffordd y gallwn ni symud ymlaen yn wirioneddol yw gyda Llywodraeth a fydd â chynllun ar gyfer strategaeth ddiwydiannol, Llywodraeth gyda chynllun ar gyfer dur, a honno'n Llywodraeth Lafur?
Well, I thank David Rees for his questions, and I associate myself with all that he has said, and acknowledge his championing of the steel sector in his own community and right across Wales. And I know how hard he works for his communities who are facing an unimaginable level of anxiety as a consequence of the news that came last week.
He is right to say that what we need to see is a Government in Westminster, as we have already in Wales, that is interested in investing in the foundations of our economy, investing in an industrial strategy, and that will provide opportunities for south Wales, as in other parts of the UK. He's right to say, I think, that the plan shows a number of potential projects in the future that, when they come to pass, will provide opportunities. But he's also right to say that we have a period of time between the closure of the blast furnaces and some of those plans coming to fruition, and so what we are seeking to do, as part of the partnership working with others, is to identify, for example—and I know, from my previous discussions with him, that he's concerned about the effect on the supply chain—what the impact will be on the supply chain. We know that Tata has done that work and we'll be receiving that information, I hope, very soon.
But then there are opportunities in high-value manufacturing, again in his part of the world, in Baglan. The developments there will provide opportunities, I hope, for some of those companies in the supply chain to have support to diversify into other sectors of the economy where their skills, where their business, where their capacity can—where they can take advantage of those opportunities.
But critical in this is that work I mentioned earlier, which is not simply to rely on the work that all of us do, in terms of a normal offer, through Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales. All of those have a critical role to play, but what now is the additional support? What now are the additional programmes that are required that we look to the transition board funding to be able to support, so that we're able to give that support, not lose those skills, not lose those businesses, so that they're here to make the reality of those plans that are set out in the local economic action plan?
Wel, rwy'n diolch i David Rees am ei gwestiynau, ac rwy'n ategu popeth a ddywedodd ef, ac yn cydnabod ei fod ef yn hyrwyddo'r sector dur yn ei gymuned ei hun a ledled Cymru. Ac rwy'n gwybod pa mor galed y mae ef yn gweithio ar ran ei gymunedau sy'n wynebu cyfradd o bryder na ellir ei dychmygu o ganlyniad i'r newyddion a ddaeth yr wythnos diwethaf.
Mae ef yn iawn i ddweud mai'r hyn y mae angen i ni ei weld yw Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, fel sydd gennym ni eisoes yng Nghymru, sydd â diddordeb mewn buddsoddi yn sylfeini ein heconomi, buddsoddi mewn strategaeth ddiwydiannol, ac fe fydd hynny'n estyn cyfleoedd i'r de, fel mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU. Mae ef yn gywir i ddweud, rwy'n credu, bod y cynllun yn dangos nifer o brosiectau posibl yn y dyfodol a fydd, wrth iddyn nhw ddigwydd, yn cynnig cyfleoedd. Ond mae ef yn gywir hefyd i ddweud bod bwlch gennym ni rhwng cau'r ffwrneisi chwyth a chyflawniad rhai o'r cynlluniau hynny, ac felly'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud, yn rhan o'r bartneriaeth yw gweithio gydag eraill, yw nodi, er enghraifft—ac fe wn i, o'r trafodaethau a gefais i'n flaenorol gydag ef, ei fod yn gofidio am yr effaith ar y gadwyn gyflenwi—yr effaith a fydd ar y gadwyn gyflenwi. Fe wyddom ni fod Tata wedi gwneud y gwaith hwnnw ac fe fyddwn ni'n cael yr wybodaeth honno, rwy'n gobeithio, yn fuan iawn.
Ond wedyn mae cyfleoedd i'w cael mewn gweithgynhyrchu gwerth uchel, yn ei ran ef o'r byd unwaith eto, ym Maglan. Fe fydd y datblygiadau yn y fan honno'n darparu cyfleoedd, rwy'n gobeithio, i rai o'r cwmnïau hynny yn y gadwyn gyflenwi i fod â chefnogaeth wrth arallgyfeirio i sectorau eraill o'r economi lle mae eu sgiliau nhw, lle gall eu busnes, lle bydd eu gallu—lle gallan nhw elwa ar y cyfleoedd hynny.
Ond mae'r gwaith hwnnw y soniais amdano yn gynharach yn allweddol yn hyn o beth, sef nid yn unig o ran ei ddibyniaeth ar y gwaith y mae pob un ohonom ni'n ei wneud, o ran cynnig arferol, trwy gyfrwng Busnes Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru. Mae i bob un o'r rhain swyddogaeth hanfodol, ond beth yw'r gefnogaeth ychwanegol nawr? Beth yw'r rhaglenni ychwanegol y mae eu hangen nhw nawr ar gyfer edrych ar gyllid y bwrdd pontio i allu eu cefnogi nhw, fel ein bod ni'n gallu rhoi'r gefnogaeth honno, nad ydym ni'n colli'r sgiliau hynny, nad ydym ni'n colli'r busnesau hynny, er mwyn iddyn nhw fod yma i wireddu'r cynlluniau hynny a nodir yn y cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi leol?
Can I thank the Minister for his statement today? It was—I agree with my party spokesperson, Sam Kurtz—a little bit light, I think, on the detail in terms of what the Welsh Government is going to practically do to help steelworkers in Port Talbot, and relied quite heavily, I think, on the actions of that transition board. It's a matter of deep regret for me and many constituents that I speak to that the Welsh Government still has not contributed towards that transition board. We've seen £80 million put in by the UK Government, £20 million from Tata Steel itself, but still nothing from the Welsh Government, and that is a matter of deep regret to me.
One issue that Sam Kurtz also mentioned is this issue of worker skill accreditation, where they've got the skills to be able to fulfil a role on the Tata site, in the Tata plant, inside that company, but perhaps do not have the right certification and qualifications outside of Tata, so if they were to move on to look for other work, perhaps they wouldn't have the right certification to be able to do that. I know the transition board is not only responsible for the improvement in the skills of workers but also the wider regeneration of the area, and obviously, the less you spend on one, the more you've got to spend on the other, and that regeneration work is important as well. So, can the Welsh Government confirm whether it will be the one to pick up the tab, if you like, for that worker accreditation programme so that the vital regeneration work can also take place to the maximum scale it possibly can?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad heddiw? Roedd hwnnw—rwy'n cytuno â llefarydd fy mhlaid i, Sam Kurtz—ychydig yn brin, yn fy marn i, o ran manylder ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru am ei wneud yn ymarferol i helpu gweithwyr dur ym Mhort Talbot, ac mae'n pwyso llawer iawn, rwy'n credu, ar gamau'r bwrdd pontio hwnnw. Testun gofid mawr i mi a llawer o etholwyr yr wyf i'n siarad â nhw yw nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru fyth wedi cyfrannu at y bwrdd pontio hwnnw. Fe welsom ni £80 miliwn yn cael ei roi gan Lywodraeth y DU, £20 miliwn gan Tata Steel ei hun, ond dim byd oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru hyd yn hyn, ac mae hynny'n destun gofid mawr i mi.
Un mater a grybwyllwyd hefyd gan Sam Kurtz yw'r mater hwn o achredu sgiliau gweithwyr, lle mae'r sgiliau ganddyn nhw i gyflawni swydd ar safle Tata, yn ffatri Tata, yn y cwmni hwnnw, ond efallai nad yw'r ardystiad na'r cymwysterau cywir ganddyn nhw'r tu allan i Tata, felly pe bydden nhw'n symud ymlaen i chwilio am waith arall, efallai na fyddai'r ardystiad priodol ganddyn nhw i wneud felly. Fe wn i fod y bwrdd pontio yn gyfrifol nid yn unig am wella sgiliau gweithwyr ond am adfywiad yr ardal yn fwy eang hefyd, ac yn amlwg, po leiaf y gwariwch chi ar un, y mwyaf y bydd yn rhaid i chi wario ar y llall, ac fe fydd y gwaith adfywio hwnnw'n bwysig hefyd. Felly, a all Llywodraeth Cymru gadarnhau ai hi fydd yn talu'r bil, os mynnwch chi, ar gyfer y rhaglen honno i achredu gweithwyr er mwyn i'r gwaith adfywio hanfodol ddigwydd hyd at ei graddfa fwyaf posibl?
Just to address the point that Tom Giffard made, I do think he overestimates the extent to which workers want to hear political point scoring in relation to this. I think what people want to hear is a recognition of the reality of the situation on the ground. Just to set the record straight, I think it's fair to say that the contributions that we've made as a Government to support steel production in Tata, from a skills and innovation and capital point of view, represent a much greater proportion of the budget available to the Welsh Government than the £80 million as a proportion of the UK Government's budget. But we are here to support the workforce and to do everything we can in our respective roles and powers to do that.
The work that he talks about, the skills accreditation, is actually critical. We discussed at the board on Thursday the risk to those workers who have developed significant skills but aren't readily recognised outside Tata and need to have the support so that those skills can be accredited and qualifications recognised elsewhere. The work is currently under way with Bridgend College, and that will be extended beyond that. There are a number of different sources of funding that support that, either from Tata, from the transition board, and from the work that I've already outlined in my response to Sam Kurtz earlier—the commitments that we are making as a Government and the changes that we're making to existing programmes, including the personal learning accounts, which are there to extend the skills of those in work. There are a range of different interventions that will support the workforce, and we'll bring the full capacity that we have from our skills and employability programmes to bear in order to support them.
Dim ond ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â'r pwynt a wnaeth Tom Giffard, rwy'n credu ei fod ef yn rhoi gormod o gyfrif ar y graddau y mae gweithwyr yn dymuno clywed rhywun yn ceisio sgorio pwyntiau gwleidyddol yn hyn o beth. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y mae pobl yn dymuno ei glywed yw cydnabyddiaeth o wirionedd y sefyllfa ar lawr gwlad. Dim ond i gywiro'r cofnod, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n deg dweud bod y cyfraniadau a wnaethom ni yn y Llywodraeth i gefnogi cynhyrchiant dur yn Tata, o safbwynt sgiliau ac arloesedd a chyfalaf, yn cynrychioli cyfran lawer mwy o'r gyllideb sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru na chyfran o £80 miliwn o gyllideb Llywodraeth y DU. Ond rydym ni yma i gefnogi'r gweithlu a gwneud popeth yn ein gallu yn ein priod swyddogaethau a'n pwerau i wneud hynny.
Mae'r gwaith y mae ef yn sôn amdano, sef achrediad sgiliau, yn wirioneddol hanfodol. Fe fuom ni'n trafod y perygl yn y bwrdd ddydd Iau i'r gweithwyr hynny sydd wedi datblygu sgiliau sylweddol ond nad ydyn nhw'n cael cydnabyddiaeth yn rhwydd y tu allan i Tata ac y mae angen iddyn nhw fod â chefnogaeth er mwyn achredu'r sgiliau hynny a chydnabod cymwysterau mewn mannau eraill. Mae'r gwaith ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd gyda Choleg Penybont, ac fe fydd hwnnw'n cael ei ymestyn ymhellach eto. Mae nifer o wahanol ffynonellau ariannu i gefnogi hynny, naill ai oddi wrth Tata, y bwrdd pontio, a'r gwaith a amlinellais i eisoes yn fy ymateb i Sam Kurtz yn gynharach—yr ymrwymiadau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud yn y Llywodraeth a'r newidiadau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud i raglenni cyfredol, gan gynnwys y cyfrifon dysgu personol, sydd ar gael i ymestyn sgiliau rhai sydd mewn gwaith. Mae yna amrywiaeth o wahanol ymyraethau a fydd yn cefnogi'r gweithlu, ac fe fyddwn ni'n dod â holl rym y rhaglenni sgiliau a chyflogadwyedd ar gyfer eu cefnogi nhw.
The news we heard last week from Tata doesn't just impact the workforce in Port Talbot and their families, but also, of course, all of the communities that I represent, and the nightmare that has hung over them for all these months is now real. It's so disappointing, but these people need to know that action is being taken by the Welsh Government to explore every possible route you could take to save at least some of those thousands of jobs that will be lost, such as those put forward by Plaid Cymru. Because you're waiting for a new UK Labour Government, but by that time it will be too late and we will have lost that blast furnace. So, are you doing any work in that vein? How do you propose getting that vitally necessary information from Tata to identify companies and contractors that need support in good time? Because I don't think awaiting it is really good enough. And on those interventions you mentioned being planned for the wider community, how are those who are going to be affected going to be involved in those? Do you agree it's imperative that the community's voice is fully heard as it navigates this difficult future?
Mae'r newyddion a glywsom ni'r wythnos diwethaf oddi wrth Tata nid yn unig yn effeithio ar y gweithlu ym Mhort Talbot a'u teuluoedd nhw, ond yn ogystal â hynny, wrth gwrs, ar yr holl gymunedau yr wyf i'n eu cynrychioli, ac mae'r hunllef sydd wedi bod yn gwmwl uwch eu pennau nhw am fisoedd lawer erbyn hyn yn sefyllfa wirioneddol nawr. Mae hi mor siomedig, ond mae angen i'r bobl hyn wybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau i archwilio pob llwybr posibl y gallech ei ddilyn ar gyfer achub rhai o leiaf o'r miloedd o swyddi a gaiff eu colli fel hyn, fel y camau a gyflwynodd Plaid Cymru. Oherwydd rydych chi'n aros am Lywodraeth Lafur newydd yn y DU, ond erbyn hynny fe fydd hi'n rhy hwyr ac fe fyddwn ni wedi colli'r ffwrnais chwyth honno. Felly, a ydych chi'n gwneud unrhyw waith yn y maes hwnnw? Sut ydych chi'n cynnig cael yr wybodaeth hanfodol angenrheidiol honno oddi wrth Tata i nodi cwmnïau a chontractwyr sydd angen cymorth yn fuan iawn? Oherwydd nid wyf i o'r farn fod disgwyl am hynny'n ddigonol mewn gwirionedd. Ac o ran yr ymyraethau hynny yr oeddech chi'n sôn amdanyn nhw a gynllunnir ar gyfer y gymuned yn fwy eang, sut mae'r rhai a effeithir am fod â rhan yn hynny o beth? A ydych chi'n cytuno ei bod hi'n hanfodol y bydd llais y gymuned yn cael ei glywed yn iawn wrth iddi lywio drwy'r dyfodol anodd hwn?
We share with you the anxiety on behalf of the communities that are affected. I represent many, many families who have people working at the steelworks, and I know from the discussions that I've had in my own surgeries just what this means for those families. So, I identify myself with the comments that you were making at the start of your questions. But those families also know what we are doing as a Government to support job matching, upskilling, business start-ups, the supply chain work that I was talking about earlier in relation to David Rees's question, the work that we're doing to make sure there is mental health and well-being support for those at Tata who are affected and beyond. We know that there are mental health risks that are very serious that can result from large-scale redundancies, and even much smaller redundancies than this situation. So, we are working with the local health boards to make sure that support will be available. There is support in Tata at the moment, but everyone recognises there needs to be a much wider offer to support the broader well-being of those individuals, their families and the community as well.
What I've outlined in my statement today and in the answers to questions is a very practical set of actions. What we now need to see is the translation of the ambition in that plan that the board looked at and approved last week into the concrete set of actions taken by the various parties around that table—ourselves in a multi-agency approach, working together in partnership, so that we can deliver the support that we can for workers, for their families, for those in the supply chain, and for those in local communities. We have made that case consistently to Tata that we need the information about which workers are likely to be affected when, and the mapping of the supply chain, so that all that support can be brought to bear.
Mae'r un pryderon gennym ninnau ar ran y cymunedau yr effeithir arnynt. Rwyf innau'n cynrychioli llawer o deuluoedd sydd â phobl yn gweithio yn y gwaith dur, ac rwy'n gwybod beth yw arwyddocâd hynny i'r teuluoedd o'r trafodaethau a gefais i yn fy nghymorthfeydd. Felly, rwy'n ategu'r sylwadau a wnaethoch chi ddechrau eich cwestiynau. Ond mae'r teuluoedd hynny'n gwybod hefyd beth rydym ni'n ei wneud yn y Llywodraeth i gefnogi paru swyddi, uwchsgilio, sefydlu busnesau newydd, y gwaith cadwyn gyflenwi yr oeddwn i'n sôn amdano yn gynharach wrth ymdrin â chwestiwn David Rees, y gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod cefnogaeth iechyd meddwl a llesiant i'r rhai yn Tata yr effeithir arnynt a'r tu hwnt i hynny. Fe wyddom ni fod risgiau iechyd meddwl difrifol iawn yn gallu deillio o ddiswyddiadau ar raddfa eang, a phan fo llawer llai o ddiswyddiadau nag yn yr achos hwn, hyd yn oed. Felly, rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r byrddau iechyd lleol i sicrhau y bydd cymorth ar gael. Mae cefnogaeth ar gael yn Tata ar hyn o bryd, ond mae pawb yn cydnabod yr angen i'w chynnig yn llawer ehangach i gefnogi llesiant yr unigolion hynny, eu teuluoedd nhw a'r gymuned hefyd.
Yr hyn y gwnes i ei amlinellu yn fy natganiad heddiw ac yn yr atebion i gwestiynau yw cyfres ymarferol iawn o gamau. Yr hyn sydd angen i ni ei weld nawr yw trosi'r uchelgais yn y cynllun hwnnw y bu'r bwrdd yn ei ystyried a'i gymeradwyo'r wythnos diwethaf i gyfres bendant o gamau a gymerir gan y gwahanol bartïon o amgylch y bwrdd hwnnw—y ni ein hunain mewn dull amlasiantaethol, gan weithio gyda'n gilydd mewn partneriaeth, ar gyfer rhoi'r gefnogaeth y gallwn ni i weithwyr, i'w teuluoedd nhw, i rai yn y gadwyn gyflenwi, ac eraill yn y cymunedau lleol. Rydym ni wedi cyflwyno'r achos hwnnw'n wastadol i Tata sef fod angen yr wybodaeth arnom ni ynghylch pa weithwyr y mae'n debygol yr effeithir arnyn nhw a pha bryd, a mapio'r gadwyn gyflenwi, ar gyfer rhoi'r gefnogaeth honno i gyd.
Cabinet Secretary, Llanwern is a major player, still, in the local economy in Newport and the surrounding area, including the Gwent valleys, providing well-paid, highly skilled jobs, and the age profile is actually a lot younger than many people assume, with, of course, a number of apprentices supported by the Welsh Government. So, as matters proceed, Cabinet Secretary, will you ensure that downstream operations, such as those at Llanwern, have all the guarantees that can be arrived at, to keep as many of those jobs as possible, and also that those apprentices at Llanwern continue to receive support so that they are retained and developed for the future?
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, mae Llanwern yn waith pwysig iawn, o hyd, yn yr economi leol yng Nghasnewydd a'r cyffiniau, gan gynnwys cymoedd Gwent, ac mae'n darparu swyddi â chyflog da, medrus dros ben, ac mae'r proffil oedran yn llawer iau mewn gwirionedd na'r hyn y mae llawer o bobl yn ei dybio, gyda nifer o brentisiaid yn cael eu cefnogi gan Lywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs. Felly, wrth i faterion fynd rhagddyn nhw, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a wnewch chi sicrhau y bydd gweithrediadau eilaidd, fel y rhai yn Llanwern, yn cael yr holl warantau y gellir eu cynnig, ar gyfer cadw cymaint o'r swyddi hynny â phosibl, a bod y prentisiaid hynny yn Llanwern yn parhau i dderbyn cymorth fel eu bod nhw'n cael eu cadw a'u datblygu i'r dyfodol hefyd?
I thank John Griffiths for those questions. He's right to say that there are steelworkers right across Wales who will be looking at the announcement last week and thinking what this means for them and for their work. In relation to the two points that he asked me about specifically, we have sought and obtained commitments from Tata in relation to both those areas. In relation to downstream production, they have confirmed that, both during the transition process and after the transition, they will protect that downstream supply through imported steel. They've said they're confident they'll have the capacity and the capability to supply that high-quality steel that is required into the future. They have also made a commitment in relation to apprentices—that they will make sure that those apprentices are able to complete their apprenticeships through retaining or redeploying them, to ensure that they get the support that they need.
Rwy'n diolch i John Griffiths am y cwestiynau yna. Mae ef yn iawn i ddweud bod gweithwyr dur ledled Cymru yn edrych ar gyhoeddiad yr wythnos diwethaf ac yn pendroni ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu iddyn nhw a'u gwaith. O ran y ddau bwynt a ofynnodd i mi'n benodol, rydym wedi ceisio a chael ymrwymiadau gan Tata ynglŷn â'r ddau faes hynny. O ran cynhyrchu eilaidd, maen nhw wedi cadarnhau, yn ystod y broses bontio ac ar ôl y pontio, y byddan nhw'n sicrhau'r cyflenwad eilaidd trwy ddefnyddio dur o dramor. Maen nhw wedi dweud eu bod nhw'n hyderus y bydd ganddyn nhw'r gallu a'r medr i gyflenwi'r dur hwnnw o ansawdd uchel y bydd ei angen yn y dyfodol. Maen nhw wedi gwneud ymrwymiad hefyd o ran prentisiaid—y byddan nhw'n sicrhau y bydd y prentisiaid hynny yn gallu cwblhau eu prentisiaethau drwy eu cadw nhw neu eu hadleoli nhw, i sicrhau eu bod nhw â'r gefnogaeth sy'n angenrheidiol.
I'm making a very brief statement, because I want to make sure that the Welsh Liberal Democrats are also joining together in this cross-party support in relation to the workers at Port Talbot. We share your dismay at Tata Steel’s outright rejection of the union proposals and their heavy-handed approach. We must be crystal clear: allowing an unjust transition, which is what this is, which fails the thousands of Port Talbot workers, their families and the surrounding community, is completely unacceptable. These are not faceless statistics, but real people dealing with decades of governmental negligence, a lack of vision, and abandonment by, once again, Tata Steel. Port Talbot is a resilient community, one that in 2011 performed The Passion in their hundreds. They came out and they actually joined in with something so creative. We must be by their side at this time, to ensure that we take risks, are bold, and stand up to Tata. This is totally not acceptable. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Rwy'n gwneud datganiad byr iawn, oherwydd rwy'n awyddus i sicrhau bod Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru hefyd yn ymuno yn y gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol hon o ran y gweithwyr ym Mhort Talbot. Rydym ni'n rhannu eich siom wrth i Tata wrthod cynigion yr undeb yn llwyr a'u hymagwedd lawdrwm. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn gwbl bendant: mae caniatáu pontio annheg, oherwydd dyna yw hyn, sy'n siomi'r miloedd o weithwyr ym Mhort Talbot, eu teuluoedd nhw a'r gymuned gyfagos, yn gwbl annerbyniol. Nid ystadegau moel mo'r rhain, ond pobl wirioneddol sy'n ymdrin â degawdau o esgeulustod llywodraethol, diffyg gweledigaeth, ac, unwaith eto, Tata Steel yn eu gadael yn amddifad. Mae Port Talbot yn gymuned gydnerth, yn un a berfformiodd Y Dioddefaint yn eu cannoedd, yn 2011. Fe ddaethon nhw allan ac ymuno mewn gwirionedd yn rhywbeth creadigol iawn. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod wrth eu hymyl nawr, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cymryd risgiau, yn feiddgar ac yn sefyll i fyny i Tata. Nid yw hyn yn dderbyniol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I thank Jane Dodds for that statement and questions. Our view as a Government is that a better deal, both for steel and for the workforce, is available and should have been the kind of deal negotiated between the UK Government and Tata—one that provides for a much longer and fairer transition to a more sustainable form of steel production into the future. We believe the consultation provided the opportunity for such a plan to be brought forward, and it's hugely disappointing that that has not happened. That will have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of individuals, but also their families, the local community, and communities, in fact, right across south Wales. Our task now is to make sure that we fight for the best possible future for the workers and for the steel industry in Wales. I know the First Minister will be going to Mumbai very shortly to make that case on behalf of the steel production sector and steelworkers in Wales.
Diolch i Jane Dodds am y datganiad a'r cwestiynau yna. Ein barn ni yn y Llywodraeth yw bod bargen well, ar gyfer dur ac i'r gweithlu, ar gael ac y dylai fod wedi bod yn fath o gytundeb a gafodd ei negodi rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Tata—un a fyddai wedi darparu ar gyfer pontio llawer hwy a thecach i ffurf fwy cynaliadwy o gynhyrchu dur i'r dyfodol. Rydym ni o'r farn fod yr ymgynghoriad wedi cynnig cyfle i gyflwyno cynllun o'r fath, ac mae hi'n hynod o siomedig nad yw hynny wedi digwydd. Fe fydd hynny ag effaith sylweddol ar fywydau miloedd o unigolion, ond ar eu teuluoedd nhw, y gymuned leol, a chymunedau, mewn gwirionedd, ledled y de. Ein gorchwyl ni nawr yw sicrhau ein bod ni'n ymladd dros y dyfodol gorau posibl i'r gweithwyr a'r diwydiant dur yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn mynd i Mumbai yn fuan iawn i gyflwyno'r achos hwnnw ar ran y sector cynhyrchu dur a gweithwyr dur yng Nghymru.
Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. Yesterday, we received a briefing from the Industrial Communities Alliance, suggesting that the Port Talbot steelworks should be brought back into public ownership. Cabinet Secretary, is this something that the Welsh Government support, and have you had any conversations with the UK Government along these lines? Has the Welsh Government made any assessments of the risks and/or benefits of such proposals, which have also been suggested by unions? Finally, Cabinet Secretary, how are you engaging with the wider community around the steelworkers to mitigate the impact of Tata's proposals on those not directly impacted by the proposed redundancies? Thank you.
Diolch i chi am eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Ddoe, fe gawsom ni ein briffio gan y Gynghrair Cymunedau Diwydiannol, a oedd yn awgrymu y dylid dod â gwaith dur Port Talbot yn ôl i berchnogaeth gyhoeddus. Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a yw hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gefnogol iddo, ac a ydych chi wedi cael unrhyw drafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU i'r perwyl hwnnw? A yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud unrhyw asesiadau o risgiau a/neu fuddion cynigion o'r fath, a awgrymwyd gan undebau hefyd? Yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, sut ydych chi'n ymgysylltu â'r gymuned yn fwy eang sydd o amgylch y gweithwyr dur i liniaru effaith cynigion Tata ar y rhai nad yw'r diswyddiadau arfaethedig yn effeithio yn uniongyrchol arnyn nhw? Diolch i chi.
I think the Member puts quite an extraordinary point to me—that I should have advocated for the UK Government to nationalise steel production in Wales—when this is a Government that has failed to engage for 14 years on the need to deliver a sustainable future for steel in Wales and right across the UK. There were much different plans available to the UK Government if they wanted to support a sustainable steel sector, which does not require nationalisation; it requires taking steel seriously and the livelihoods of steelworkers seriously. And it's a matter of regret that they haven't chosen to do that.
Rwyf i o'r farn mai pwynt rhyfeddol iawn a wnaeth yr Aelod i mi—y dylwn i fod wedi argymell i Lywodraeth y DU wladoli cynhyrchiant dur yng Nghymru—pan nad yw'r Llywodraeth honno wedi ymgysylltu o gwbl am dros 14 mlynedd ynglŷn â'r angen i sicrhau dyfodol cynaliadwy i ddur yng Nghymru a ledled y DU. Roedd cynlluniau llawer gwahanol ar gael i Lywodraeth y DU pe bydden nhw wedi dymuno cefnogi sector dur cynaliadwy, heb angen gwladoli; sy'n gofyn rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i fywoliaeth y gweithwyr dur. A thestun gofid mawr yw nad ydyn nhw wedi dewis gwneud felly.
There will be memories of the 1980s, when the Conservatives didn't take the steel industry seriously then, and what happened in my community. What's happening in Port Talbot is very similar now. It's absolutely devastating news, and it will be felt in steel communities right across Wales. [Interruption.] I can hear the comments, but it doesn't make the reality any different, Cabinet Secretary. You recognise in your statement the importance of other sites, including Shotton in my own constituency. It's absolutely vital that we continue to invest in the skilled workforce in Shotton. The product that comes out the end at the Shotton site is the very best in the world, but to do this, we need the capacity to produce virgin steel here in Wales. Can I ask you, Cabinet Secretary, what conversations you have had particularly about the Shotton site and the future steel supply there?
Bydd atgofion o'r 1980au, pan nad oedd y Ceidwadwyr yn cymryd y diwydiant dur o ddifri bryd hynny, a'r hyn a ddigwyddodd yn fy nghymuned i. Mae'r hyn sy'n digwydd ym Mhort Talbot yn debyg iawn nawr. Dyma newyddion cwbl ddinistriol, ac fe fydd hwn yn cael ei deimlo mewn cymunedau dur ledled Cymru. [Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n gallu clywed y sylwadau, ond nid yw'n gwneud gwahaniaeth i'r sefyllfa wirioneddol, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Rydych chi'n cydnabod yn eich datganiad bwysigrwydd safleoedd eraill, gan gynnwys Shotton yn fy etholaeth i. Mae hi'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod ni'n parhau i fuddsoddi yn y gweithlu medrus yn Shotton. Y cynnyrch terfynol a ddaw o safle Shotton yw'r gorau yn y byd, ond ar gyfer gwneud hyn, mae angen y gallu arnom ni i gynhyrchu dur crai yma yng Nghymru. A gaf i ofyn i chi, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, pa sgyrsiau a gawsoch chi'n arbennig ynglŷn â safle Shotton a'r cyflenwad dur yno i'r dyfodol?
I thank Jack Sargeant for that important point. I've had assurances from the company that its downstream operations, including the site at Shotton, will continue to operate at planned levels, and that the substrate will be secured from Tata's other steel-making facilities during the transition to electric arc furnace steel making. I agree with the Member that Shotton supplies world-class products, and I am pleased that it will continue to do that during the transition.
Rwy'n diolch i Jack Sargeant am y pwynt pwysig yna. Fe gefais i sicrwydd gan y cwmni y bydd ei weithrediadau eilaidd, gan gynnwys y safle yn Shotton, yn parhau i weithio ar y cyfraddau a gynlluniwyd, ac y bydd y swbstrad yn cael ei sicrhau gan gyfleusterau dur eraill Tata yn ystod y cyfnod pontio at wneud dur gyda ffwrneisi arc trydan. Rwy'n cytuno â'r Aelod bod Shotton yn cyflenwi cynnyrch o'r radd flaenaf, ac rwy'n falch y bydd yn parhau i wneud hynny yn ystod y cyfnod pontio.
An election of a Labour Government with a different industrial policy in October or November will be too late to save a blast furnace that is closing in September. And we know that the company will work very quickly to dismantle, degrade and demolish the blast furnace, because they know that if it's still standing by October or November, with a new Government in place, they will have to reverse their plans. The Welsh Government, we were told by Senedd legal advisers, has the power to maintain and mothball the site. We could introduce emergency legislation. This is not me saying this; this is the Senedd's legal advisers. We could use compulsory purchase-like powers to maintain or mothball the site. If we do that, even just for a few months, we could create the space for that transition to a new policy, new investment, and we can get back to the multi-union plan. Why don't we use the power that we have? Will the Government investigate to see if the Senedd's legal advice is correct, by asking your own lawyers? And will you commit to sharing that legal advice with the Senedd as a whole?
Fe fydd ethol Llywodraeth Lafur gyda pholisi diwydiannol gwahanol ym mis Hydref neu fis Tachwedd yn rhy hwyr i achub ffwrnais chwyth sydd am gau ym mis Medi. Ac fe wyddom ni y bydd y cwmni yn gweithio ar gyflymder mawr i ddatgymalu, diraddio a dymchwel y ffwrnais chwyth, am eu bod nhw'n gwybod, pe byddai honno'n dal i sefyll ym mis Hydref neu fis Tachwedd, gyda Llywodraeth newydd yn ei lle, y byddai'n rhaid iddyn nhw wyrdroi eu cynlluniau. Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru, fel dywedwyd wrthym ni gan gynghorwyr cyfreithiol y Senedd, bŵer i gynnal a rhoi'r safle i'w gadw. Fe allem ni gyflwyno deddfwriaeth frys. Nid y fi sy'n dweud hyn; ond cynghorwyr cyfreithiol y Senedd. Fe allem ni ddefnyddio pwerau prynu gorfodol i gynnal neu roi'r safle i'w gadw. Pe gallem ni wneud hynny, hyd yn oed am ychydig fisoedd yn unig, fe allem ni greu cyfle ar gyfer y newid hwnnw i bolisi newydd, buddsoddiad newydd, ac fe allem ni ddychwelyd at y cynllun aml-undeb. Pam nad ydym ni'n defnyddio'r pŵer sydd gennym? A wnaiff y Llywodraeth ymchwilio i weld a yw cyngor cyfreithiol y Senedd yn gywir, drwy ofyn i'ch cyfreithwyr eich hunain? Ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo i rannu'r cyngor cyfreithiol hwnnw gyda'r Senedd gyfan?
What we want to see is a Labour Government later this year, which will have a clear plan for steel right across the UK, a commitment to invest, and a commitment to invest in the infrastructure that we need for the sustainable future of our economy in Wales. That is why it's an incredible frustration for all of us that Tata is taking the decisions it's taking, at the time that it's taking them, when, on the horizon, directly in front of us, there is a new Government committed to steel production in the way the current Government simply is not.
There is still a commitment from an incoming Labour Government to invest in steel. There is still going to be a need to invest in steel in Wales and across the UK. We will want to see a Labour Government elected to do that, and I want to see commitments from Tata to invest in all its sites in Wales, to make sure that we retain that capacity, that reputation for cutting-edge steel production, even in the transformed methods that they are planning. That investment, that commitment, is critical to our future steel production in Wales.
Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei weld yw Llywodraeth Lafur yn ddiweddarach eleni, a fydd â chynllun eglur ar gyfer dur ledled y DU, ac ymrwymiad i fuddsoddi, ac ymrwymiad i fuddsoddi yn y seilwaith angenrheidiol ar gyfer bod â dyfodol cynaliadwy i'n heconomi yng Nghymru. Dyna pam mae hi'n anhygoel o rwystredig i bob un ohonom ni fod Tata yn gwneud y penderfyniadau a wna, yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, pryd mae, ar y gorwel, yn syth o'n blaenau ni, Lywodraeth newydd ymrwymedig i gynhyrchiant dur mewn ffordd nad yw'r Llywodraeth bresennol, yn syml.
Mae ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth Lafur sydd ar ddod i mewn i fuddsoddi mewn dur yn parhau. Mae'r angen i fuddsoddi mewn dur yng Nghymru a ledled y DU yn parhau. Fe fyddwn ni'n awyddus i weld Llywodraeth Lafur yn cael ei hethol i wneud hynny, ac rwy'n dymuno gweld ymrwymiadau gan Tata i fuddsoddi yn ei holl safleoedd yng Nghymru, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cadw'r gallu hwnnw, yr enw da hwnnw am gynhyrchu dur blaengar, hyd yn oed yn y dulliau trawsnewidiol a gynllunnir ganddyn nhw. Mae'r buddsoddiad hwnnw, yr ymrwymiad hwnnw, yn hanfodol i'n cynhyrchiant dur yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol.
Cabinet Secretary, thank you very much. It is hugely disappointing that the capitalist steel giant Tata have rejected this index report commissioned by the trade unions—Community and GMB—that examines those alternatives to Tata's plan. And everyone who cares for Wales and the UK's security needs, and the ability to be a primary steel-making nation, will lament this decision, so cross-party support is desperately needed here. But it is the lack of an industrial strategy that is at the bottom of this.
As the Member of the Senedd for Islwyn, I'm hugely concerned about the impacts of the Tata plan, not just on output volumes across sites at the downstream plant in Llanwern, of which a major part of the largest social housing scheme in Caerphilly borough was built—which is in Ty Sign—but also on the steel security, needing to rely on China and others with strategic UK interest. Is that at the heart of that—to produce UK steel for major infrastructures and the Ministry of Defence? And so, without that UK industrial strategy, I'm hugely concerned that this is going to be detrimental to Wales and the UK.
These are worrying times, as the plans outlined involve replacing UK production, as I've said, with imported steel instead. That is truly profits placed ahead of people and the environment. So, how and what guarantees are there for the Welsh Government, which they can potentially secure from Tata and the UK Government, to ensure that the Llanwern site, and an important employment zone to the whole of the Gwent region, will see significant investment moving forward, and to safeguard that primary steel-making capacity for the UK?
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae'n hynod siomedig bod y cawr dur cyfalafol Tata wedi gwrthod yr adroddiad mynegai hwn a gomisiynwyd gan yr undebau llafur—Community a GMB—sy'n archwilio'r dewisiadau amgen hynny i gynllun Tata. A bydd pawb sy'n gofalu am Gymru ac anghenion diogelwch y DU, a'r gallu i fod yn genedl creu dur sylfaenol, yn galaru'r penderfyniad hwn, felly mae taer angen cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol yma. Ond diffyg strategaeth ddiwydiannol sy'n gyfrifol am hyn.
Fel Aelod o'r Senedd dros Islwyn, rwy'n bryderus iawn am effeithiau cynllun Tata, nid yn unig ar faint allbwn pob un o'r safleoedd yn y gwaith eilaidd yn Llanwern, y cafodd rhan fawr o'r cynllun tai cymdeithasol mwyaf ym mwrdeistref Caerffili ei adeiladu ar ei gyfer—sydd yn Nhŷ Sign—ond hefyd ar ddiogelwch dur, angen dibynnu ar Tsieina ac eraill sydd â budd strategol yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Ai dyna sydd wrth wraidd hynny—i gynhyrchu dur y DU ar gyfer seilwaith mawr a'r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn? Ac felly, heb y strategaeth ddiwydiannol honno yn y DU, rwy'n hynod bryderus y bydd hyn yn niweidiol i Gymru a'r DU.
Mae'n adeg bryderus, gan fod y cynlluniau a amlinellwyd yn golygu disodli cynhyrchu yn y DU, fel y dywedais i, gyda dur wedi'i fewnforio yn lle hynny. Mae hynny'n wirioneddol yn rhoi elw o flaen pobl a'r amgylchedd. Felly, sut a pha warantau sydd yna i Lywodraeth Cymru, y gallan nhw o bosibl eu sicrhau gan Tata a Llywodraeth y DU, i sicrhau y bydd safle Llanwern, a pharth cyflogaeth pwysig i ranbarth Gwent gyfan, yn gweld buddsoddiad sylweddol wrth symud ymlaen, ac i ddiogelu'r capasiti cynhyrchu dur sylfaenol hwnnw ar gyfer y DU?
Well, the Member is right to point out the importance of steel production to the security of the nation, as well as the economic health of the nation. She's absolutely right to say that. That's the case that we've made consistently as the Welsh Government. That's why we believe passionately that a primary steel-making capacity is absolutely critical for the future needs, future health and future security of our economy. And I know that that will be the case that the First Minister makes when he goes to Mumbai next week to speak directly with Tata there. And he will be taking with him, I'm sure, the support of Members in this Chamber who want to see steel production successfully, sustainably transformed into the future, but on the basis of a just transition to that new way of steel production.
That is the future—a just transition to that, not the plan that we saw Tata bring forward last week, and I'm very sure that's the case the First Minister will be making next week.
Wel, mae'r Aelod yn iawn i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd cynhyrchu dur i ddiogelwch y genedl, yn ogystal ag iechyd economaidd y genedl. Mae hi'n iawn i ddweud hynny. Dyna'r achos yr ydym wedi'i wneud yn gyson fel Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyna pam rydym yn credu'n angerddol bod gallu gwneud dur sylfaenol yn gwbl hanfodol ar gyfer anghenion y dyfodol, iechyd yn y dyfodol a diogelwch ein heconomi yn y dyfodol. Ac rwy'n gwybod mai dyna fydd yr achos y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ei wneud pan fydd yn mynd i Mumbai yr wythnos nesaf i siarad yn uniongyrchol â Tata yno. Ac fe fydd yn mynd gydag ef, rwy'n siŵr, gefnogaeth yr Aelodau yn y Siambr hon sydd eisiau gweld cynhyrchu dur yn cael ei drawsnewid yn llwyddiannus, yn gynaliadwy i'r dyfodol, ond ar sail pontio teg i'r ffordd newydd honno o gynhyrchu dur.
Dyna'r dyfodol—pontio teg i hynny, nid y cynllun y gwelsom Tata yn ei gyflwyno yr wythnos diwethaf, ac rwy'n siŵr iawn mai dyna fydd yr achos y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ei wneud yr wythnos nesaf.
Ac yn olaf, Jenny Rathbone.
And finally, Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you. The south Wales industrial cluster's mission statement is to develop a world-leading, truly sustainable industrial cluster to meet society's needs in 2030, 2040, 2050 and beyond. It can't be done without steel—just cannot be done, because nobody's invented the material to build rail lines or renewable energy without steel. And I just feel this is not a net-zero plan, as some people have argued at the other end of the M4, but not colleagues here in the Senedd.
The purpose of the Celtic free port can't simply be to import steel from India or China. In 2013 the Welsh Government bought Cardiff Airport for £52 million. I'd like to echo the words of Altaf Hussain and Adam Price to consider nationalisation as the only route to saving our steel industry, not just for Wales, but for the whole of the UK, because, otherwise, Tata Steel is planning to just walk away from all this. So, we need a bold policy now, and I wonder if you've given any thought to discussing this, both with the UK Government—if they could ever be persuaded of the gravity of this situation—as well as with the Labour administration in waiting.
Diolch. Datganiad cenhadaeth clwstwr diwydiannol de Cymru yw datblygu clwstwr diwydiannol gwirioneddol gynaliadwy o'r radd flaenaf i ddiwallu anghenion cymdeithas yn 2030, 2040, 2050 a thu hwnt. Ni ellir ei wneud heb ddur—ni ellir ei wneud, oherwydd does neb wedi dyfeisio'r deunydd i adeiladu llinellau rheilffordd neu ynni adnewyddadwy heb ddur. Ac rwy'n teimlo nad cynllun sero net yw hwn, fel y mae rhai pobl wedi dadlau ar ben arall yr M4, ond nid cyd-Aelodau yma yn y Senedd.
Ni all diben y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd fod dim ond i fewnforio dur o India neu Tsieina. Yn 2013 fe wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru brynu Maes Awyr Caerdydd am £52 miliwn. Hoffwn adleisio geiriau Altaf Hussain ac Adam Price i ystyried gwladoli fel yr unig lwybr i achub ein diwydiant dur, nid yn unig i Gymru, ond i'r DU gyfan, oherwydd, fel arall, mae Tata Steel yn bwriadu cerdded i ffwrdd o hyn i gyd. Felly, mae angen polisi beiddgar arnom nawr, a tybed a ydych chi wedi rhoi unrhyw ystyriaeth i drafod hyn, gyda Llywodraeth y DU—os gellid byth eu perswadio o ddifrifoldeb y sefyllfa hon—yn ogystal â gyda'r weinyddiaeth Lafur sydd ar ddod.
This is not something that is within the Welsh Government's capacity to deliver, as the Member I think accepts in her question. Obviously, we've seen Governments take public stakes in the banking sector, and it's certainly under discussion in the nuclear sector, so there are contexts in which that is considered. I don't think that those circumstances apply directly in this particular case; the context is different. The plan that Tata are putting forward is not the plan that I want to see, it's not the plan that Members in this Chamber want to see, but it is a plan that they are investing several hundreds of millions of pounds in, so it's a different context to the other examples that I have given.
I want to see a different deal for steel making, a different deal for steelworkers than the one that Tata is pursuing. That is the right future for steel making—one that brings about that just transition to a sustainable steel sector, which builds on the plan that Syndex has developed for the multi-unions, as David Rees was saying earlier, a plan that is costed, is credible, is deliverable, and does deliver that just transition. That deal is still available, and the First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister last week, making that very point.
Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth sydd o fewn gallu Llywodraeth Cymru i'w gyflawni, fel y mae'r Aelod rwy'n credu yn derbyn yn ei chwestiwn. Yn amlwg, rydym wedi gweld Llywodraethau'n cymryd rhan gyhoeddus yn y sector bancio, ac yn sicr mae'n cael ei drafod yn y sector niwclear, felly mae cyd-destunau lle mae hynny'n cael ei ystyried. Nid wyf yn credu bod yr amgylchiadau hynny'n berthnasol yn uniongyrchol yn yr achos penodol hwn; mae'r cyd-destun yn wahanol. Nid y cynllun y mae Tata yn ei gyflwyno yw'r cynllun yr wyf i eisiau ei weld, nid dyma'r cynllun y mae Aelodau yn y Siambr hon eisiau ei weld, ond mae'n gynllun y maen nhw'n buddsoddi cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd ynddo, felly mae'n gyd-destun gwahanol i'r enghreifftiau eraill yr wyf wedi'u rhoi.
Rwyf eisiau gweld bargen wahanol ar gyfer gwneud dur, bargen wahanol i weithwyr dur na'r un y mae Tata yn mynd ar ei hôl. Y dyfodol iawn ar gyfer creu dur—un sy'n cyflawni'r pontio teg hwnnw i sector dur cynaliadwy, sy'n ategu'r cynllun y mae Syndex wedi'i ddatblygu ar gyfer yr aml-undebau, fel yr oedd David Rees yn ei ddweud yn gynharach, cynllun sydd wedi ei gostio, sy'n gredadwy, yn gyflawnadwy, ac sy'n cyflawni'r pontio teg hwnnw. Mae'r fargen honno ar gael o hyd, ac ysgrifennodd y Prif Weinidog at Brif Weinidog y DU yr wythnos diwethaf, gan wneud yr union bwynt hwnnw.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Mae eitem 4 ac eitem 5 wedi eu gohirio, ac felly fe gymerwn ni doriad nawr o tua 10 munud, i baratoi ar gyfer Cyfnod 3 y Bil sydd i ddilyn. Byddwn ni'n canu'r gloch bum munud cyn i ni ailgychwyn. Diolch yn fawr.
Items 4 and 5 have been postponed, and therefore we will now take a break of around 10 minutes, to prepare for Stage 3 proceedings. We will ring the bell five minutes before we reconvene. Thank you very much.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:36.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:48, gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
Plenary was suspended at 15:36.
The Senedd reconvened at 15:48, with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
[Anghlywadwy.]—o welliannau, sy'n ymwneud ag enw Comisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru. Gwelliant 44 yw'r prif welliant yn y grŵp, a dwi'n galw ar Adam Price i gynnig y prif welliant—Adam Price.
[Inaudible.]—will be the first group of amendments, and they relate to the name of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. The lead amendment in this group is amendment 44, and I call on Adam Price to move the lead amendment.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 44 (Adam Price).
Amendment 44 (Adam Price) moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Mae'n anrhydedd i gychwyn Cyfnod 3 yn ein trafodion ar y Bil yma o bwys hanesyddol o ran ein llwybr cenedlaethol a'n bywyd democrataidd.
Mae'r gwelliant yma a'r, beth yw hi, 78 o welliannau cysylltiedig—does neb yn gallu ein cyhuddo ni o beidio â bod yn drylwyr, a dwi'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cymorth a ges i, wrth gwrs, gyda'r clercod—yn newid enw'r corff sydd yn gyfrifol o fewn y Bil yma am benderfynu ffiniau'r seddi newydd ar gyfer y Senedd hon i gymryd mas y term 'ffiniau'. Mae hynny, ar yr olwg gyntaf, yn edrych braidd yn wrth-resymegol, felly dyma ychydig o esboniad cefndirol.
Enw'r corff perthnasol ar hyn o bryd ydy'r Comisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru. Dyna'r corff sydd ar hyn o bryd yn adolygu'r trefniadau etholiadol o fewn llywodraeth leol, ac mae'r enw presennol yn ceisio ei wahanu o'r Comisiwn Ffiniau i Gymru, sy'n gyfrifol am benderfynu ffiniau etholaethau Senedd San Steffan. Yn y Bil yma, fel mae'n sefyll ar hyn o bryd, mae enw'r corff yn newid i Gomisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru—dwi'n edrych ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol i weld a ydw i'n gywir—ond, yn Saesneg, Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, a hynny yn bennaf i adlewyrchu swyddogaeth ychwanegol y corff i fod yn gyfrifol am osod ffiniau newydd y Senedd genedlaethol o 2026 ymlaen. Mae hyn i gyd yn gwneud synnwyr, a dylwn i ddweud hynny, na ddylwn, gan taw fi yn rhannol oedd wedi cyd-gytuno'r awgrym am yr enw newydd yma wrth drafod y Mesur drafft yn rhinwedd fy rôl ar y pryd yn arweinydd Plaid Cymru.
'Felly, pam y gwelliant yma?', dwi'n eich clywed chi'n ei ofyn. Wel, ers cyhoeddi'r Bil hwn, mae yna Fil arall gennym hefyd, y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru), sydd yn newid swyddogaethau'r comisiwn dan sylw. Mae'n ymestyn swyddogaeth y comisiwn, er enghraifft, i fod yn gyfrifol am benderfynu lefelau cymeradwyaeth i gynghorwyr a deiliaid swyddi eraill o fewn llywodraeth leol. Mae'n rhoi swyddogaeth ganolog i'r comisiwn, trwy'r bwrdd rheoli etholiadol newydd, wrth asesu cynlluniau peilot sydd yn arloesi ym maes etholiadau yng Nghymru. A'r tebygrwydd yw, hefyd, mai'r corff yma fydd cartref safle gwybodaeth ar-lein newydd arfaethedig i bleidleiswyr, fydd yn cynnig gwybodaeth am ymgeiswyr a'r broses etholiadol ehangach.
Mae nodyn esboniadol y Bil arall yna yn dweud y bydd gan y comisiwn, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
'cyfrifoldeb am oruchwylio’r gwaith o gyd-drefnu a gweinyddu etholiadau datganoledig...yn ogystal â chynghori Gweinidogion Cymru ar faterion sy’n ymwneud ag iechyd democrataidd y wlad.'
Felly, cwmpas o ran cyfrifoldeb sydd yn eang iawn yn ymwneud ag iechyd democrataidd, ac, yn wyneb y diffiniad hwnnw, rydw i wedi llunio'r newid yma mewn enw, oherwydd ymddengys i mi y bydd gan y corff ar ei newydd wedd swyddogaeth eang o ran democratiaeth Cymru, ac mae uwcholeuo dim ond un agwedd ar hynny, sef y swyddogaeth ffiniau, ymhlith llawer o dan ddemocratiaeth yn gyffredinol, yn rhoi camargraff ynglŷn â natur eang y swyddogaethau y bydd gan y corff. Mae ailenwi'r corff yn symlach, yn Gomisiwn Democratiaeth Cymru, yn adlewyrchiad gwell o'r sefyllfa newydd yma. Mae teitlau byrrach i gyrff cyhoeddus bob amser i'w ffafrio, dwi'n teimlo, o'i gymharu â rhai hir a chlogyrnaidd, yn enwedig o bersbectif dealltwriaeth y dinesydd o rôl a chyfansoddiad y cyrff dan sylw.
Felly, dyna air o esboniad o ran diben y gwelliant. Dylwn nodi, o ran proses, mai fy mwriad oedd cyflwyno'r gwelliant fel gwelliant procio yn ystod y trafodion ar y Bil arall, gan fod y pwyntiau rwyf wedi eu nodi yn deillio o'r Bil hwnnw. Ond canfuwyd, ar ôl trafod â chlercod y Senedd, na fyddai'r gwelliant o fewn sgôp y Bil hwnnw, a dim ond o fewn cyd-destun y Bil yma y gellir newid enw, y gellir trafod ailenwi. Felly, oherwydd rhyfeddodau gweithdrefnau'r broses seneddol, rydyn ni wedi cyrraedd y pwynt yma o drafod gwelliant i newid enw corff sydd yn edrych yn rhesymol yng nghyd-destun y Bil yma ond ddim yng nghyd-destun Bil arall nad yw'n bosib gwella i'r perwyl arbennig yma.
Gwelliant procio ydy hwn o hyd, o ran fy mwriadau i, er mwyn o leiaf rhoi'r cyfle i roi ystyriaeth i'r mater a chlywed y dadleuon ar y naill ochr a'r llall. Rwyf wedi, serch hynny, fel roeddwn i wedi cyfeirio, cyflwyno rhestr gyflawn o welliannau er mwyn rhoi'r cyfle i ni gyflawni'r newid os taw dyna fyddai farn y Senedd, ond nid wyf yn bwriadu gwasgu nhw i gyd i bleidlais os yw hi'n glir nad oes mwyafrif yn mynd i fod o blaid. Felly, gyda hynny o eiriau i ddechrau, edrychaf ymlaen at glywed barn fy nghyd-Aelodau ar draws y Senedd.
Thank you, Llywydd. It's an honour to begin these Stage 3 proceedings on this historically important Bill in terms of our democratic life and the nation's path.
This amendment and the other related 78 amendments—nobody can accuse us of not being thorough, and I am grateful, of course, for the support that I received from the clerks in this—change the name of the body responsible within this Bill for deciding the boundaries for the new seats for this Senedd in order to withdraw the word 'boundary'. At first sight that seems counterintuitive, but here's a brief background explanation.
The name of the relevant body at the moment is the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales. That is the body that oversees local government elections, and the current name seeks to differentiate it from the Boundary Commission for Wales, which is responsible for Westminster boundaries. In this Bill, as it currently stands, the name of the body changes to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—and I'm looking to the Counsel General to see if I am correct in this—but it is the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru to reflect the additional function of the body in taking responsibility for setting the new boundaries for the national Parliament for 2026 onwards. This all makes sense, and I should say that, because I partially agreed the suggestion for this new name in discussing the draft Bill in light of my role at the time as leader of Plaid Cymru.
'So, why this amendment?', I hear you asking. Well, since the publication of this Bill, there is also another Bill, the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill, which changes the functions of the commission. It extends its functions, for example to be responsible for deciding on approval levels for councillors and other office holders within local government. It provides a central role for the commission through the new electoral management board in assessing pilot schemes that innovate in elections in Wales. And it's likely too that this body will be the home of the new online information hub proposed for voters, which will provide information about candidates and the broader electoral process.
The explanatory note to that other Bill states that the commission, and I quote, will
'take responsibility for oversight of the coordination and administration of devolved elections...and advising Welsh Ministers on issues related to the democratic health of the nation.'
So, it's a broad area of responsibility related to the health of our democracy, and, in light of that definition, I have drawn up this change in name, because it appears to me that the body in its new form will have a broad function in terms of Welsh democracy, and highlighting only one aspect of that, namely the boundaries issue, among many under democracy as a whole, gives a false impression of the broad nature of the role that this body will have. Renaming the body and simplifying it as the Democracy Commission Cymru is a better reflection of this new situation. Shorter titles for public bodies are always preferable, I feel, rather than lengthy, complex ones, particularly in terms of the citizen's understanding of the role and constitution of the body in question.
So, that's just a brief explanation in terms of the purpose of the amendment. I should note, in terms of process, that my intention was to introduce the amendment as a probing amendment to the other Bill, as the points that I've noted emerge from that Bill. But, having discussed it with Senedd clerks, it emerged that such an amendment would not have been within the scope of that Bill, and it was only within the context of this Bill that we could change that name, rather than through a probing amendment to the other Bill. So, because of the procedural peculiarities of the Senedd process, we have reached this point where we're discussing changing the name of a body that appears reasonable in the context of this Bill, but not in the context of another Bill that can't be amended to that end.
So, this is a probing amendment still, in terms of my intentions, in order to at least give the opportunity to give consideration to the issue and to hear the arguments on both sides. I have, however, as I mentioned, tabled a full list of amendments in order to give us an opportunity to deliver this change, if that is the will of the Senedd, but I don't intend to push them all to a vote if it's clear that there is not going to be a majority in favour of the change. So, with those few words, I look forward to hearing the views of fellow Members across the Senedd.
Mick Antoniw a gododd—.
Mick Antoniw rose—.
You're a bit presumptuous, Counsel General; I'm going to call Darren Millar.
Rydych chi ychydig yn hyf, Cwnsler Cyffredinol; rwy'n mynd i alw Darren Millar.
Diolch, Llywydd. In making my opening comments at this Stage 3 debate today, I want to once again put on record my thanks to the Reform Bill Committee team for their support and work throughout the stages of this Bill so far, supporting Members—including me—with drafting and preparing all of the amendments that we will be tabling. I think it’s safe to say that all of us here in the Senedd are very grateful for the work that the clerks and the legal advisers and the researchers on these committees do. I’m also very grateful to the Member in charge, actually, and to other Members of the Senedd, for their engagement in leading up to today’s proceedings. As they will know, we have fundamental differences about the principles of this Bill and the reforms that it seeks to impose, but we have been able to engage in a constructive way that has been respectful and has given the Bill and the proposed amendments to it the serious consideration that they deserve.
Now, of course, as you would expect me to say, even if this Bill had all of the amendments accepted to it, I think it’s very unlikely that we’d give it our support, but, in saying that, I do want to acknowledge the positive way that we’ve been able to work together and the amendments that we’ve tabled through this third stage of the Bill would make the Bill, in our opinion, a great deal better than it currently is and would be much better for our Welsh democracy and improve the way that the Senedd works in the future.
If I can turn briefly, if I may, to group 1 and the amendments tabled in the name of Adam Price, I have to say, Adam, I find them, I’m afraid, unnecessary. At no stage of the Bill’s scrutiny so far was any concern raised about the proposed change in the name of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales to Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, and, in fact, removing the word ‘boundary’ from the title will also delete a reference to one of the most important aspects of this commission’s work. Now, I appreciate it’s got much wider and broader responsibilities, but that surely is covered in the word ‘democracy’ right at the start of the title as well, so, in calling it the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, it will do exactly what it says on the tin, like a Ronseal wood stain, and, therefore, I believe that, because these amendments are unnecessary, I’m going to be discouraging people from supporting them.
Diolch, Llywydd. Wrth wneud fy sylwadau agoriadol yn y ddadl Cyfnod 3 hon heddiw, hoffwn unwaith eto gofnodi fy niolch i dîm y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio am eu cefnogaeth a'u gwaith drwy gydol cyfnodau'r Bil hwn hyd yn hyn, gan gefnogi Aelodau—gan gynnwys fi—gyda drafftio a pharatoi'r holl welliannau y byddwn yn eu cyflwyno. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gywir dweud bod pob un ohonom yma yn y Senedd yn ddiolchgar iawn am y gwaith y mae'r clercod a'r cynghorwyr cyfreithiol a'r ymchwilwyr ar y pwyllgorau hyn yn ei wneud. Rwyf hefyd yn ddiolchgar iawn i'r Aelod sy'n gyfrifol, mewn gwirionedd, ac i Aelodau eraill o'r Senedd, am eu hymgysylltiad yn arwain at y trafodion heddiw. Fel y gwyddant, mae gennym wahaniaethau sylfaenol ynghylch egwyddorion y Bil hwn a'r diwygiadau y mae'n ceisio eu gosod, ond rydym wedi gallu cymryd rhan mewn ffordd adeiladol sydd wedi bod yn barchus ac sydd wedi rhoi'r ystyriaeth ddifrifol i'r Bil a'r gwelliannau arfaethedig iddo y maent yn eu haeddu.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, fel y byddech chi'n disgwyl i mi ddweud, hyd yn oed pe bai'r holl welliannau yn cael eu derbyn, rwy'n credu ei bod yn annhebygol iawn y byddem yn rhoi ein cefnogaeth iddo, ond, wrth ddweud hynny, rwyf am gydnabod y ffordd gadarnhaol yr ydym wedi gallu gweithio gyda'n gilydd a byddai'r gwelliannau yr ydym wedi'u cyflwyno drwy drydydd cyfnod y Bil hwn yn gwneud y Bil, yn ein barn ni, llawer gwell nag ydyw ar hyn o bryd a byddai'n llawer gwell i ddemocratiaeth Cymru ac yn gwella'r ffordd y mae'r Senedd yn gweithio yn y dyfodol.
Os gallaf droi'n fyr at grŵp 1 a'r gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd yn enw Adam Price, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, Adam, rwy'n eu gweld, mae arnaf ofn, yn ddiangen. Nid oedd unrhyw bryder wedi ei godi hyd yma ynghylch y cynnig i newid yr enw Comisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru i Gomisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru, ac, mewn gwirionedd, bydd dileu'r gair 'ffiniau' o'r teitl hefyd yn dileu cyfeiriad at un o agweddau pwysicaf gwaith y comisiwn hwn. Nawr, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod ganddo gyfrifoldebau llawer ehangach, ond mae hynny'n sicr yn cael ei gynnwys yn y gair 'democratiaeth' ar ddechrau'r teitl hefyd, felly, wrth ei alw'n Gomisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru, bydd yn gwneud yn union yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud ar y tun, fel staen pren Ronseal, ac, felly, rwy'n credu, oherwydd bod y gwelliannau hyn yn ddiangen, byddaf yn annog pobl i beidio â'u cefnogi.
Cwnsler Cyffredinol.
Counsel General.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I—? Before speaking on the specific amendments, I’d like to thank both Darren, Jane Dodds and Adam Price and others, really, for the engagement, the constructive engagement? It’s clear there are areas where there are disagreements but it is important to be able to have conversations, to be able to engage and make changes that are mutually beneficial, and also that there is then proper scrutiny of the legislation. So, I thank you for that, and also those who've worked on this Bill, because this is a groundbreaking piece of legislation in the history of devolution and this Senedd. And I believe that this Bill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a modern Senedd that reflects twenty-first century Wales, a more effective Senedd with greater ability and capacity to hold the Welsh Government and legislation to account, and a Senedd whose size reflects its current responsibilities.
Again, turning specifically to the amendments, as I think is well understood, the Welsh Government will not be supporting those changes to the Bill, for many of the reasons that Darren Millar has set out, because boundary reviews are and will continue to be a core function of the commission’s work. The commission will have responsibility for reviewing electoral arrangements for local authorities in Wales. It will also confer upon it the Senedd’s constituency boundary review functions, making it the first body with specific responsibility for reviewing Senedd constituency boundaries. So, I think it’s important that the commission’s name should retain the word ‘boundary’ because it highlights and reflects one of the key elements of the commission’s work.
Can I say also that I very much respect and have a lot of empathy with, actually, the points that are made? Because the issue of democracy, the well-being of our democracy and so on, and those elements that are contained within this legislation, and indeed will be contained in subsequent legislation, are very much, I think, groundbreaking and reflect the attention that we pay to improving democracy within Wales, which is what I think this is actually about. So, I’d encourage Members, if it’s moved to a vote, to vote against the amendments, but I do take on board, very much, the points, the emphatic points that are made, specifically with regard to those elements that are there with democracy. It is, in fact, quite groundbreaking that we not only have a boundary commission, but we have a Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, so I think that's important.
Diolch, Llywydd. A gaf i—? Cyn siarad am y gwelliannau penodol, hoffwn ddiolch i Darren, Jane Dodds ac Adam Price ac eraill, mewn gwirionedd, am yr ymgysylltiad, yr ymgysylltiad adeiladol? Mae'n amlwg bod yna feysydd lle mae anghytundebau ond mae'n bwysig gallu cael sgyrsiau, gallu ymgysylltu a gwneud newidiadau sy'n fuddiol i'r ddwy ochr, a hefyd bod yna graffu priodol ar y ddeddfwriaeth. Felly, diolchaf ichi am hynny, a hefyd y rhai sydd wedi gweithio ar y Bil hwn, oherwydd mae hwn yn ddarn arloesol o ddeddfwriaeth yn hanes datganoli a'r Senedd hon. Ac rwy'n credu bod y Bil hwn yn cynrychioli cyfle unwaith mewn cenhedlaeth i greu Senedd fodern sy'n adlewyrchu Cymru'r unfed ganrif ar hugain, Senedd fwy effeithiol gyda mwy o allu a chapasiti i ddwyn Llywodraeth Cymru a deddfwriaeth i gyfrif, a Senedd y mae ei maint yn adlewyrchu ei chyfrifoldebau presennol.
Unwaith eto, gan droi'n benodol at y gwelliannau, fel y deallir yn dda, yn fy marn i, ni fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r newidiadau hynny i'r Bil, am lawer o'r rhesymau y mae Darren Millar wedi'u nodi, oherwydd bod adolygiadau ffiniau yn swyddogaeth graidd gwaith y comisiwn ac y byddant yn parhau i fod felly. Bydd y comisiwn yn gyfrifol am adolygu trefniadau etholiadol ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru. Bydd hefyd yn rhoi swyddogaethau adolygu ffiniau etholaethol y Senedd arno, gan ei wneud y corff cyntaf â chyfrifoldeb penodol dros adolygu ffiniau etholaethau'r Senedd. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig bod enw'r comisiwn yn cadw'r gair 'ffin' oherwydd ei fod yn amlygu ac yn adlewyrchu un o elfennau allweddol gwaith y comisiwn.
A gaf i ddweud hefyd fy mod i'n parchu'n fawr ac mae gennyf lawer o empathi gyda'r pwyntiau sy'n cael eu gwneud, mewn gwirionedd? Oherwydd bod mater democratiaeth, llesiant ein democratiaeth ac ati, a'r elfennau hynny sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn y ddeddfwriaeth hon, ac a fydd yn wir yn cael eu cynnwys mewn deddfwriaeth ddilynol, yn arloesol iawn, rwy'n credu, ac yn adlewyrchu'r sylw yr ydym yn ei roi i wella democratiaeth yng Nghymru, sef yr hyn rwy'n credu yw hanfod hyn mewn gwirionedd. Felly, byddwn yn annog Aelodau, os caiff ei symud i bleidlais, i bleidleisio yn erbyn y gwelliannau, ond rwy'n rhoi sylw mawr i'r pwyntiau, y pwyntiau amlwg a wneir, yn benodol o ran yr elfennau hynny sydd yno gyda democratiaeth. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n eithaf arloesol bod gennym nid yn unig gomisiwn ffiniau, ond mae gennym Gomisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru, felly rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig.
Adam Price i ymateb.
Adam Price to reply.