Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
22/05/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma fydd cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru a Thrafnidiaeth. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jenny Rathbone.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item on our agenda this afternoon will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport. The first question is from Jenny Rathbone.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am wella'r gwasanaeth bysiau yng Nghaerdydd? OQ61174
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on improving the bus service in Cardiff? OQ61174
9. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i gefnogi teithio ar fysiau yng Nghaerdydd? OQ61161
9. What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to support bus travel in Cardiff? OQ61161
Presiding Officer, I understand that you've given your permission for questions 1 and 9 to be grouped. I'm very grateful indeed.
I can say that Cardiff Council and local bus operators have been working proactively together to provide a sustainable bus network in the region, supported by significant funding support from the Welsh Government through our bus network grant, which was also introduced in April.
Lywydd, deallaf eich bod wedi caniatáu i gwestiynau 1 a 9 gael eu grwpio. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn.
Gallaf ddweud bod Cyngor Caerdydd a gweithredwyr bysiau lleol wedi bod yn gweithio’n rhagweithiol gyda’i gilydd i ddarparu rhwydwaith bysiau cynaliadwy yn y rhanbarth, gyda chefnogaeth cymorth ariannol sylweddol gan Lywodraeth Cymru drwy ein grant rhwydwaith bysiau, a gyflwynwyd ym mis Ebrill hefyd.
The Government funding for the bus station has been very welcome, but the delay in producing a new bus station is not. The central bus station was demolished in 2008 and the new one is, I understand, about to be reopened. And it's made it really difficult for both local people and visitors to our capital city to know how to navigate their way through the bus system. Meanwhile, huge developments have taken place, all of them welcome, but the needs of bus passengers have definitely dropped off the end. And it seems to me that we need to look at the procurement process as to how this could have happened, because I was told that it wouldn't be possible to get the developers to finish in a more timely fashion without incurring a lot of additional costs in amending the contract. I just really want to understand how we can learn from this process so that we ensure that, when somebody takes on a contract, they then complete it within a specific time.
Mae cyllid y Llywodraeth ar gyfer yr orsaf fysiau i'w groesawu’n fawr, ond nid felly'r oedi cyn adeiladu gorsaf fysiau newydd. Cafodd yr orsaf fysiau ganolog ei dymchwel yn 2008 ac mae’r un newydd, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, ar fin cael ei hailagor. Ac mae wedi'i gwneud yn anodd iawn i bobl leol ac ymwelwyr â'n prifddinas wybod sut i ddefnyddio'r system fysiau. Yn y cyfamser, mae datblygiadau enfawr wedi bod, pob un ohonynt i'w croesawu, ond mae anghenion teithwyr bysiau yn sicr wedi eu dadflaenoriaethu. Ac ymddengys i mi fod angen inni edrych ar y broses gaffael o ran sut y gallai hyn fod wedi digwydd, gan y dywedwyd wrthyf na fyddai'n bosibl i'r datblygwyr orffen yn gynt heb achosi llawer o gostau ychwanegol i ddiwygio'r contract. Hoffwn ddeall sut y gallwn ddysgu o'r broses hon fel ein bod yn sicrhau, pan fydd rhywun yn ymrwymo i gontract, eu bod wedyn yn ei gwblhau o fewn amser penodol.
Well, can I thank Jenny Rathbone for her question and I do recognise the importance of a new bus station to Cardiff and to the wider region as well? It's vitally important in ensuring that we get modal shift that we give people a decent, twenty-first century facility for them to wait at whilst they await their buses.
Now, I am pleased to be able to inform the Senedd today that the bus station will definitely be open by the summer recess. There have been delays—the Member is absolutely right. The latest one concerns the sign-off of the building. It was difficult to find the local authority officials with the appropriate skills and expertise, but we have managed to find them from Caerphilly, so we're very grateful to that local authority. And the station keys, effectively, were handed over to Transport for Wales on Monday. They'll be now meeting with various stakeholder groups to ensure that everybody's concerns around accessibility are taken on board and that if there are any last-minute tweaks that need to be made, they will be. But I can share that information today that the bus station will be opened in the coming weeks. Thank you.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Jenny Rathbone am ei chwestiwn, ac rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd gorsaf fysiau newydd i Gaerdydd ac i'r rhanbarth ehangach hefyd? Mae'n hanfodol bwysig, er mwyn newid dulliau teithio, ein bod yn darparu cyfleuster addas ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain i bobl aros ynddo am eu bysiau.
Nawr, rwy’n falch o allu rhoi gwybod i'r Senedd heddiw y bydd yr orsaf fysiau yn bendant ar agor erbyn toriad yr haf. Bu oedi—mae’r Aelod yn hollol gywir. Mae'r oedi diweddaraf yn ymwneud â chymeradwyo'r adeilad. Roedd yn anodd dod o hyd i swyddogion awdurdod lleol â’r sgiliau a’r arbenigedd priodol, ond rydym wedi gallu dod o hyd iddynt o Gaerffili, felly rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn i’r awdurdod lleol hwnnw. Ac fe gafodd allweddi'r orsaf, i bob pwrpas, eu rhoi i Trafnidiaeth Cymru ddydd Llun. Byddant yn cyfarfod â gwahanol grwpiau rhanddeiliaid nawr i sicrhau bod pryderon pawb ynghylch hygyrchedd yn cael eu hystyried, ac os oes unrhyw newidiadau munud olaf y bydd angen eu gwneud, fe gânt eu gwneud. Ond gallaf rannu’r wybodaeth honno heddiw y bydd yr orsaf fysiau’n cael ei hagor yn yr wythnosau nesaf. Diolch.
What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to support bus travel in Cardiff?
Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i gefnogi teithio ar fysiau yng Nghaerdydd?
You don't need to ask the tabled question in that context, you can just move straight to your supplementary.
Nid oes angen ichi ofyn y cwestiwn a gyflwynwyd yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, gallwch symud yn syth at eich cwestiwn atodol.
Diolch. As Jenny Rathbone has already said, there's been a huge delay over the bus station. My constituents have had to wait for nine years, I think, now. I hear you say, and I'm very pleased to hear you say, that it will be open before the summer, but we have been told this many times before, so, I think if we can remember that.
But I wanted to bring up the issue of the accessibility of the new bus station, because, obviously, we want the interchange to be absolutely fully accessible. I'm told that the British Deaf Association in Wales were not consulted over the design of the interchange, and I understand that Guide Dogs Cymru have concerns regarding a lack of a central help point and that people who are blind or partially sighted will have to locate roving ambassadors to get assistance, which is causing a great deal of concern. So, I don't know if the Cabinet Secretary has got any information about to what extent disability groups have been worked with in order to produce this final version. And I do hope that the recommendations from the groups will be taken on board when this is completed.
Diolch. Fel y mae Jenny Rathbone eisoes wedi’i ddweud, bu oedi enfawr mewn perthynas â'r orsaf fysiau. Mae fy etholwyr wedi gorfod aros am naw mlynedd bellach, rwy'n credu. Fe'ch clywaf yn dweud, ac rwy’n falch iawn o’ch clywed yn dweud, y bydd ar agor cyn yr haf, ond rydym wedi clywed hyn sawl tro o’r blaen, felly rwy'n credu y dylem gadw hynny mewn cof.
Ond roeddwn am godi’r cwestiwn ynghylch hygyrchedd yr orsaf fysiau newydd, oherwydd yn amlwg, rydym am i’r gyfnewidfa fod yn gwbl hygyrch. Dywedir wrthyf nad ymgynghorwyd â Chymdeithas Pobl Fyddar Prydain yng Nghymru ynghylch cynllun y gyfnewidfa, a deallaf fod gan Cŵn Tywys Cymru bryderon ynghylch diffyg man cymorth canolog ac y bydd yn rhaid i bobl sy’n ddall neu’n rhannol ddall ddod o hyd i lysgenhadon crwydr i gael cymorth, sy’n achosi cryn dipyn o bryder. Felly, nid wyf yn gwybod a oes unrhyw wybodaeth gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynglŷn â faint o waith a wnaed gyda grwpiau anabledd er mwyn cynhyrchu'r fersiwn derfynol hon. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd argymhellion y grwpiau'n cael eu hystyried pan fydd hyn wedi'i gwblhau.
Absolutely. Can I thank Julie Morgan for her question as well? I can assure Members that, given that the station was handed back to TfW this week, we are now absolutely certain that it will be opening before the summer recess. It's come back from the contractors ready for TfW to carry out final engagement work with a number of different groups, and they will include—I can assure Julie Morgan—the British Deaf Association and Guide Dogs Cymru. They'll have the opportunity to visit the bus station before it opens, for an opportunity to provide further feedback. And I can also assure Members that the Cardiff bus interchange will fully comply with requirements set out in the Equality Act 2010. To assist blind and partially sighted customers, there will be tactile flooring throughout the concourse, and there will also be an accessibility map, where there'll be information about where bus bays are located and where facilities are located. The ambassadors who will be available are not there to replace those vitally important support services, they are there to enhance them, and I'm sure that user groups will welcome them once the interchange is open.
Yn sicr. A gaf i ddiolch i Julie Morgan am ei chwestiwn hefyd? Gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelodau, o gofio bod yr orsaf wedi'i rhoi yn ôl i Trafnidiaeth Cymru yr wythnos hon, ein bod bellach yn gwbl sicr y bydd yn agor cyn toriad yr haf. Mae wedi dod yn ôl gan y contractwyr yn barod i Trafnidiaeth Cymru wneud gwaith ymgysylltu terfynol gyda nifer o wahanol grwpiau, a byddant yn cynnwys—gallaf roi sicrwydd i Julie Morgan—Cymdeithas Pobl Fyddar Prydain a Cŵn Tywys Cymru. Byddant yn cael cyfle i ymweld â'r orsaf fysiau cyn iddi agor, i gael cyfle i roi adborth pellach. A gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelodau hefyd y bydd cyfnewidfa fysiau Caerdydd yn cydymffurfio'n llawn â'r gofynion a nodir yn Neddf Cydraddoldeb 2010. I gynorthwyo cwsmeriaid dall a rhannol ddall, bydd lloriau botymog yn yr ymgynullfannau oll, a bydd map hygyrchedd hefyd, a fydd yn darparu gwybodaeth ynglŷn â lleoliad cilfannau bysiau a chyfleusterau. Nid yw’r llysgenhadon yno i gymryd lle gwasanaethau cymorth hollbwysig, maent yno i’w hategu, ac rwy’n siŵr y bydd grwpiau defnyddwyr yn eu croesawu pan fydd y gyfnewidfa ar agor.
As you will know, Cabinet Secretary, I have brought up previously in this Chamber that, for some time now, buses in England have been retrofitted with fans to help improve air quality. Indeed, it has been found that, over a 100-day period, one bus can remove approximately 65g of particles from the air, which is about the weight of a tennis ball. Removing these particles is an easy win for councils, to improve air quality and tackle toxic pollution, because no energy is required—the filters work as the bus moves around. With this in mind, why don't we have these buses in Cardiff? Thank you.
Fel y gwyddoch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf eisoes wedi dweud yn y Siambr hon fod bysiau yn Lloegr, ers peth amser bellach, wedi’u hôl-osod â ffaniau er mwyn helpu i wella ansawdd aer. Yn wir, canfuwyd, dros gyfnod o 100 diwrnod, y gall un bws dynnu oddeutu 65g o ronynnau o'r aer, sef oddeutu pwysau pêl dennis. Mae cael gwared ar y gronynnau hyn yn fuddugoliaeth hawdd i gynghorau, i wella ansawdd aer a mynd i’r afael â llygredd gwenwynig, gan nad oes angen ynni—mae’r hidlyddion yn gweithio wrth i’r bws symud o gwmpas. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, pam nad oes gennym y bysiau hyn yng Nghaerdydd? Diolch.
Can I thank Joel James for his question? Just to assure him, bus fleet decarbonisation is a programme for government commitment for this Welsh Government. In the spring, we've been sharing our plans to deliver on this commitment and the target set out in 'Net Zero Wales'. We've been investing in electric buses across Wales—in the north and the south. There are also exciting plans for hydrogen services as well. Decarbonising the bus fleet in Wales by 2035 is an ambitious programme, but we are confident that we can deliver on it and we're keen to work with partners to deliver against this agenda.
A gaf i ddiolch i Joel James am ei gwestiwn? Os caf dawelu ei feddwl, mae datgarboneiddio'r fflyd fysiau yn ymrwymiad yn rhaglen lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn y gwanwyn, rydym wedi bod yn rhannu ein cynlluniau i gyflawni'r ymrwymiad hwn a'r targed a nodir yn 'Cymru Sero Net'. Rydym wedi bod yn buddsoddi mewn bysiau trydan ledled Cymru—yn y gogledd a'r de. Mae cynlluniau cyffrous ar y gweill hefyd ar gyfer gwasanaethau hydrogen hefyd. Mae datgarboneiddio’r fflyd fysiau yng Nghymru erbyn 2035 yn rhaglen uchelgeisiol, ond rydym yn hyderus y gallwn ei chyflawni ac rydym yn awyddus i weithio gyda phartneriaid i gyflawni yn erbyn yr agenda hon.
2. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r defnydd o gerbydau eco-gyfeillgar ar y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth yng Nghymru? OQ61139
2. How is the Welsh Government supporting the use of eco-friendly vehicles on the transport network in Wales? OQ61139
Supporting the switch to zero-emission vehicles is central to our approach to tackling transport emissions. We are investing in active travel, new electric trains, zero-emission buses, electric car clubs and the charging network to support electric vehicles across Wales.
Mae cefnogi’r newid i gerbydau di-allyriadau yn ganolog i’n dull o fynd i’r afael ag allyriadau trafnidiaeth. Rydym yn buddsoddi mewn teithio llesol, trenau trydan newydd, bysiau di-allyriadau, clybiau ceir trydan a’r rhwydwaith gwefru i gefnogi cerbydau trydan ledled Cymru.
Diolch. Thank you. After reports in February that Cardiff-based FleetEV had agreed a multimillion pound deal with the Welsh Government to supply electric vehicles, I was contacted by a senior transport professional in north Wales, expressing concern that the company had only been incorporated since October 2022, with no trading figures and a net worth of just £6,316. They added that this is hardly an established financially stable company to go into such a big spend with, and that the sole director and 100 per cent shareholder has previously been the director of four companies, all of which have gone into administration. Do you share this concern, will you investigate, and how do you respond to my constituent's concern that, although the Welsh Government states that Welsh Government commercial delivery followed the Welsh procurement policy statement, FleetEV's second year accounts were not posted until 28 December 2023, and the Welsh Government waited until early January, as the other tendering companies sat waiting, before proceeding with the procurement progress, which led to the announcement that FleetEV was the successful bidder?
Diolch. Ar ôl adroddiadau ym mis Chwefror fod FleetEV o Gaerdydd wedi sicrhau contract gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflenwi cerbydau trydan, cysylltodd uwch swyddog proffesiynol trafnidiaeth yng ngogledd Cymru â mi i fynegi pryder mai dim ond ers mis Hydref 2022 yr oedd y cwmni yn gorfforedig, heb unrhyw ffigurau masnachu a gwerth net o ddim ond £6,316. Fe wnaethant ychwanegu nad yw hwn yn gwmni digon sefydledig ac ariannol sefydlog i wario cymaint arno, a bod yr unig gyfarwyddwr a chyfranddaliwr wedi bod yn gyfarwyddwr pedwar cwmni yn y gorffennol, pob un ohonynt wedi mynd i ddwylo’r gweinyddwyr. A ydych chi'n rhannu’r pryder hwn, a wnewch chi ymchwilio, a sut rydych chi'n ymateb i bryder fy etholwr, er bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn datgan bod cyflawniad masnachol Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dilyn datganiad polisi caffael Cymru, na chafodd cyfrifon ail flwyddyn FleetEV eu postio tan 28 Rhagfyr 2023, ac arhosodd Llywodraeth Cymru tan ddechrau mis Ionawr, wrth i’r cwmnïau tendro eraill aros, cyn bwrw ymlaen â’r broses gaffael, a arweiniodd at y cyhoeddiad mai FleetEV oedd y cynigydd llwyddiannus?
Can I thank Mark Isherwood for his questions regarding this matter? I'll examine the issues raised today and provide feedback to Members. There are some serious concerns that have been raised. They require investigation, I believe, and so I'll share the feedback as soon as I can with Members across the Chamber.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mark Isherwood am ei gwestiynau ar y mater hwn? Byddaf yn archwilio’r materion a godwyd heddiw ac yn rhoi adborth i’r Aelodau. Mae rhai pryderon difrifol wedi’u codi. Credaf fod angen ymchwilio iddynt, ac felly byddaf yn rhannu’r adborth cyn gynted ag y gallaf gydag Aelodau ar draws y Siambr.
Cabinet Secretary, there can be no doubt that a move to electric vehicles is an essential part of our journey to net zero, and it's a move that many of my constituents are keen to make. However, there can be hurdles, and, representing a Valleys constituency, the most common worry that residents raise with me is how they can make that change to an electric vehicle if they live in a terraced street or other types of housing without access to off-road parking. They ask me what infrastructure Welsh Government is suggesting for people like them to help them charge their vehicles at home. Now, we know that there's an increasing number of charging points available in public spaces, usually due to Welsh Government funding streams, but I would say that access to these is not currently sufficient to give those without access to their own off-road parking at home the confidence that they need to make that shift to electric cars. So, Cabinet Secretary, what reassurance can you provide to my constituents on this thorny issue?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, nid oes amheuaeth nad yw newid i ddefnyddio cerbydau trydan yn rhan hanfodol o’n taith at sero net, ac mae’n gam y mae llawer o fy etholwyr yn awyddus i’w gymryd. Fodd bynnag, gall fod rhwystrau, ac fel cynrychiolydd etholaeth yn y Cymoedd, y pryder mwyaf cyffredin y mae trigolion yn ei godi gyda mi yw sut y gallant wneud y newid i gerbyd trydan os ydynt yn byw mewn tŷ teras neu fathau eraill o dai heb fynediad at barcio oddi ar y ffordd. Maent yn gofyn i mi pa seilwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei awgrymu i bobl fel nhw i'w helpu i wefru eu cerbydau gartref. Nawr, fe wyddom fod nifer cynyddol o fannau gwefru ar gael mewn mannau cyhoeddus, fel arfer oherwydd ffrydiau ariannu Llywodraeth Cymru, ond byddwn yn dweud nad oes mynediad digonol at y rhain ar hyn o bryd er mwyn rhoi'r hyder sydd ei angen ar bobl heb fynediad at fannau parcio oddi ar y ffordd yn eu cartrefi eu hunain i wneud y newid i geir trydan. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi i fy etholwyr ar y mater dyrys hwn?
Can I thank Vikki Howells for the question that has been raised today, which is hugely important to many communities, especially in the Valleys, where there are many, many terraced properties that are immediately on the street, and which would not currently lend themselves well to traditional types of EV charging? For those properties, and in those local authorities, Transport for Wales is working on solutions, and I'm sure that we'll have a package of ideas brought forward soon for consideration. But, Vikki Howells is absolutely right—we are investing very heavily in EV charging points, public EV charging points. We've invested, I believe, over £6 million to help local authorities increase the number of publicly accessible charging points, and we now have over 2,500 in Wales. Now, that's an increase of 55 per cent over the last year, so a very significant increase. We do lag behind London, where there are 221 publicly available charging devices per 100,000 population. However, Wales is faring better today and now leading many English regions.
It's absolutely vital that we look at emerging technology as well. Toyota have promised a dry, solid-state cell vehicle by 2028. Now, we need to understand what implications there may be for electric vehicle charging points if this is successfully developed and made available on the open market. I'm sure that all manufacturers would wish to follow that technology, given that it has potential to offer a far greater range and far quicker charging speeds. So, we also need to make sure that all of the EV charging points that we are investing in are futureproofed, because it may well be that we reach a point where, a bit like with Betamax and VHS, we have to choose one over the other, and we want to be able to back the eventual winner.
A gaf i ddiolch i Vikki Howells am y cwestiwn a godwyd heddiw, sy’n hynod bwysig i lawer o gymunedau, yn enwedig yn y Cymoedd, lle mae llawer iawn o dai teras ar y stryd yn uniongyrchol, ac na fyddent yn addas, ar hyn o bryd, ar gyfer mathau traddodiadol o wefru cerbydau trydan? Ar gyfer yr eiddo hynny, ac yn yr awdurdodau lleol hynny, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio ar atebion, ac rwy’n siŵr y bydd pecyn o syniadau yn cael ei gyflwyno i’w hystyried cyn bo hir. Ond mae Vikki Howells yn llygad ei lle—rydym yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn mannau gwefru cerbydau trydan, mannau gwefru cerbydau trydan cyhoeddus. Credaf ein bod wedi buddsoddi dros £6 miliwn i helpu awdurdodau lleol i gynyddu nifer y mannau gwefru sydd ar gael i’r cyhoedd, ac mae gennym bellach dros 2,500 ohonynt yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae hynny'n gynnydd o 55 y cant dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, felly cynnydd sylweddol iawn. Rydym ar ei hôl hi o gymharu â Llundain, lle mae 221 o ddyfeisiau gwefru ar gael i'r cyhoedd fesul 100,000 o’r boblogaeth. Fodd bynnag, mae Cymru yn gwneud yn well ar hyn o bryd na llawer o ranbarthau Lloegr.
Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn edrych ar dechnoleg ddatblygol hefyd. Mae Toyota wedi addo cerbyd cell cyflwr solet sych erbyn 2028. Nawr, mae angen inni ddeall pa oblygiadau a allai fod ar gyfer mannau gwefru cerbydau trydan pe caiff y cerbyd hwn ei ddatblygu'n llwyddiannus a'i werthu ar y farchnad agored. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob gweithgynhyrchydd yn dymuno dilyn y dechnoleg honno, o ystyried bod ganddi'r potensial i gynnig pellteroedd teithio llawer hirach a gwefru llawer cyflymach. Felly, mae angen inni sicrhau hefyd fod pob un o’r mannau gwefru cerbydau trydan yr ydym yn buddsoddi ynddynt yn cael eu diogelu at y dyfodol, gan y gallem gyrraedd sefyllfa, yn debyg i Betamax a VHS, lle mae’n rhaid inni ddewis rhwng y naill a'r llall, ac rydym am allu dewis yr enillydd yn y pen draw.
My family backed Betamax, which didn't work out well. [Laughter.]
Dewisodd fy nheulu Betamax, nad oedd yn ddewis doeth yn y pen draw. [Chwerthin.]
Cwestiynau gan lefarwyr y pleidiau nawr. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Darren Millar.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Darren Millar.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, in your capacity as the Cabinet Secretary for north Wales, can you tell us what action you're taking to ensure that north Wales gets its fair share of investment from the Welsh Government?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn rhinwedd eich swydd fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros ogledd Cymru, a allwch ddweud wrthym pa gamau rydych yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod gogledd Cymru'n cael ei gyfran deg o fuddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru?
Well, I could talk for many hours on this subject—and I have done in the past—about the vital role of initiatives like regional indicative budgets, of making sure that Welsh Government Ministers work with the Minister for north Wales on issues that are relevant to north Wales. We have a Cabinet sub-committee that considers major issues relevant to north Wales, and I'm determined to ensure that, as we seek out opportunities for the whole of Wales, we do so in a fair and equal way, and invest fairly and equally in opportunities to drive prosperity across the country.
Wel, gallwn siarad am oriau lawer ar y pwnc hwn—ac rwyf wedi gwneud hynny yn y gorffennol—ynglŷn â rôl hanfodol mentrau fel cyllidebau dangosol rhanbarthol, sicrhau bod Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r Gweinidog dros ogledd Cymru ar faterion sy’n berthnasol i'r gogledd. Mae gennym is-bwyllgor Cabinet sy’n ystyried y prif faterion sy’n berthnasol i ogledd Cymru, ac rwy’n benderfynol o sicrhau, wrth inni chwilio am gyfleoedd i Gymru gyfan, ein bod yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd deg a chyfartal, ac yn buddsoddi’n deg ac yn gyfartal mewn cyfleoedd i ysgogi ffyniant ledled y wlad.
Well, you make all the right noises, but we're yet to see the right actions from the Welsh Government, aren't we—that's the reality. Local government settlements are usually worse in north Wales. We're seeing a lack of investment in our road infrastructure in north Wales. You're building new hospitals in south Wales, but not in the north. That is the record of this Government, and I'm hoping that you as an incoming Cabinet Secretary, representing a north Wales constituency, might be able to change that.
The UK Government, of course, has its levelling-up agenda, and it wants to level up across the whole of the UK. We need a Welsh Government to have a levelling-up agenda within Wales, but that is not the reality, is it, because let's take the disparity, for example, between spending in north and south Wales, just on the metro projects. The south Wales metro has been awarded in excess of £1 billion by the Welsh Government, and has a set of major infrastructure projects elsewhere in south Wales that are well under way. In the north, the metro project there has been allocated a mere £50 million. Now, even when accounting for population differences, south Wales is still getting more than five times the investment per capita—five times—than north Wales. That is not good enough, is it, Cabinet Secretary? What are you going to do to address that gross unfairness?
Wel, rydych yn gwneud y synau iawn, ond rydym eto i weld y camau gweithredu iawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru—dyna'r realiti. Mae setliadau llywodraeth leol fel arfer yn waeth yng ngogledd Cymru. Rydym yn gweld diffyg buddsoddiad yn ein seilwaith ffyrdd yn y gogledd. Rydych yn adeiladu ysbytai newydd yn y de, ond nid yn y gogledd. Dyna hanes y Llywodraeth hon, ac rwy'n gobeithio efallai y gallwch chi fel Ysgrifennydd Cabinet newydd, sy’n cynrychioli etholaeth yn y gogledd, newid hynny.
Mae gan Lywodraeth y DU, wrth gwrs, ei hagenda ffyniant bro, ac mae'n awyddus i godi’r gwastad ledled y DU gyfan. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru gael agenda ffyniant bro yng Nghymru, ond nid dyna’r realiti, oherwydd gadewch inni ystyried y gwahaniaeth, er enghraifft, rhwng gwariant yng ngogledd Cymru a de Cymru, dim ond ar y prosiectau metro. Mae metro de Cymru wedi cael dros £1 biliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae cyfres o brosiectau seilwaith mawr eisoes yn mynd rhagddynt mewn mannau eraill yn y de. Yn y gogledd, dim ond £50 miliwn a ddyrannwyd i’r prosiect metro yno. Nawr, hyd yn oed wrth roi cyfrif am y gwahaniaethau mewn poblogaeth, mae'r de yn dal i gael mwy na phum gwaith y buddsoddiad y pen—pum gwaith—na'r gogledd. Nid yw hynny'n ddigon da, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Beth rydych chi'n mynd i’w wneud i fynd i’r afael â’r annhegwch difrifol hwnnw?
Well, can I thank Darren Millar for his second question today? Let me just run through the facts of the matter. The south Wales metro is a very significant investment—investment as part of the city deal. The north Wales metro, and the north Wales infrastructure improvements on rail, are not part of the north Wales growth deal—the equivalent. To ensure that we can see delivery of infrastructure improvements to enable a north Wales metro, we have to have those responsible for funding them writing the cheques. We're not getting that. We've had a vague promise of money for the north Wales main line electrification, which, with just £1 billion, would probably only electrify it from Chester through to Prestatyn at best. We need firm commitments from the UK Government not just on the main line, but we need them to make a firm commitment to upgrade the Wrexham-Bidston line, for which they're responsible, the Marches line, for which they're responsible. We need them to promise that it won't just be electrification from Chester to Prestatyn, but the whole way through to Holyhead. And crucially, to enable more passenger services, we have to ensure that capacity constraints at Chester station are resolved as well. These have all been priorities of the Welsh Government, of Growth Track 360, of the Wales rail board, which combines Welsh Government officials with UK Government officials. Unfortunately, time and time again, UK Treasury have said 'no'. That's the reason why we've seen more heavy investment in south Wales than north Wales. Once we get a new UK Labour Government in power at Westminster, I am confident that difference in spending and investment will be resolved.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Darren Millar am ei ail gwestiwn heddiw? Gadewch imi nodi'r ffeithiau. Mae metro de Cymru yn fuddsoddiad sylweddol iawn—buddsoddiad fel rhan o’r fargen ddinesig. Nid yw metro gogledd Cymru, a'r gwelliannau i seilwaith rheilffyrdd y gogledd, yn rhan o fargen dwf gogledd Cymru—y cytundeb cyfatebol. Er mwyn sicrhau bod y gwelliannau i'r seilwaith yn cael eu cwblhau i alluogi metro gogledd Cymru, mae'n rhaid i'r rheini sy'n gyfrifol am eu hariannu ysgrifennu'r sieciau. Nid yw hynny'n digwydd. Rydym wedi cael addewidion amhendant o arian ar gyfer trydaneiddio prif linell reilffordd y gogledd, a fyddai, gyda dim ond £1 biliwn, ond yn ei thrydaneiddio o Gaer i Brestatyn ar y gorau, yn ôl pob tebyg. Mae arnom angen ymrwymiadau cadarn gan Lywodraeth y DU, nid yn unig ar y brif linell reilffordd, ond mae arnom angen iddynt wneud ymrwymiad cadarn i uwchraddio rheilffordd Wrecsam-Bidston, y maent yn gyfrifol amdani, rheilffordd y Gororau, y maent yn gyfrifol amdani. Mae angen iddynt addo nad rhwng Caer a Phrestatyn yn unig y byddant yn trydaneiddio, ond yr holl ffordd i Gaergybi. Ac yn hollbwysig, er mwyn galluogi mwy o wasanaethau i deithwyr, mae’n rhaid inni sicrhau bod y problemau sy'n gysylltiedig â chyfyngiadau capasiti yng ngorsaf Caer yn cael eu datrys hefyd. Mae’r rhain oll wedi bod yn flaenoriaethau i Lywodraeth Cymru, Growth Track 360, bwrdd rheilffyrdd Cymru, sy’n cyfuno swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru â swyddogion Llywodraeth y DU. Yn anffodus, dro ar ôl tro, mae Trysorlys y DU wedi dweud 'na’. Dyna'r rheswm pam ein bod wedi gweld mwy o fuddsoddiad yn ne Cymru nag yng ngogledd Cymru. Pan gawn Lywodraeth Lafur newydd mewn grym yn San Steffan, rwy'n hyderus y bydd y gwahaniaeth mewn gwariant a buddsoddiad yn cael ei ddatrys.
Of course, the current UK Government, the Conservative Government, has actually delivered some electrification in Wales, unlike the promises made and not kept by the previous Labour Government, and it's committed itself to in excess of £1 billion-worth of investment in the north Wales railway network to electrify it. But let's get back to your responsibilities here. The reality is that hundreds of millions of pounds have been allocated by the Welsh Government to projects in south Wales, and a pittance has been thrown, like crumbs from the table, to the people of north Wales, who, frankly, are very angry with the Welsh Government for that situation.
Let's talk about another issue where there's a huge disparity and unfairness for the people of north Wales. Let's take Transport for Wales, for example. Ticket prices on Transport for Wales: between Swansea and Cardiff, you can pay £5.50 for a single ticket; a similar journey in north Wales between Llandudno Junction and Chester is £13.10. It's a huge, significant difference, which is grossly unfair. Why should people in north Wales pay double for their railway tickets, not get the investment in the metro that you promised them in a manifesto two manifestos back, and why should they put up with the unfair settlements that they receive in terms of capital investment from the Welsh Government?
Your answers, frankly, today are not good enough. I want to know what you're doing to address these problems and what specific action you will now take to deal with this disparity from Transport for Wales.
Wrth gwrs, mewn gwirionedd, mae Llywodraeth bresennol y DU, y Llywodraeth Geidwadol, wedi cyflawni rhywfaint o drydaneiddio yng Nghymru, yn wahanol i’r addewidion a wnaed ac na chafodd eu cadw gan y Llywodraeth Lafur flaenorol, ac mae wedi ymrwymo i werth dros £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad yn rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd gogledd Cymru er mwyn ei thrydaneiddio. Ond gadewch inni fynd yn ôl at eich cyfrifoldebau yma. Y gwir amdani yw bod cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd wedi’u dyrannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i brosiectau yn y de, a'r nesaf peth i ddim, fel briwsion oddi ar y bwrdd, wedi'i roi i bobl y gogledd, sy'n ddig iawn wrth Lywodraeth Cymru am y sefyllfa honno a dweud y gwir.
Gadewch inni sôn am fater arall lle mae gwahaniaeth ac annhegwch enfawr i bobl y gogledd. Gadewch inni ystyried Trafnidiaeth Cymru, er enghraifft. Prisiau tocynnau ar Trafnidiaeth Cymru: rhwng Abertawe a Chaerdydd, gallwch dalu £5.50 am docyn unffordd; mae taith debyg yn y gogledd rhwng Cyffordd Llandudno a Chaer yn costio £13.10. Mae'n wahaniaeth enfawr, sylweddol, sy'n annheg iawn. Pam y dylai pobl yn y gogledd dalu dwywaith cymaint am eu tocynnau trên, a pheidio â chael y buddsoddiad yn y metro a addawyd gennych ddau faniffesto yn ôl, a pham y dylent oddef y setliadau annheg a gânt o ran buddsoddiad cyfalaf gan Lywodraeth Cymru?
Nid yw eich atebion heddiw yn ddigon da. Hoffwn wybod beth rydych chi'n ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau hyn a pha gamau penodol y byddwch yn eu cymryd ar unwaith i fynd i'r afael â'r gwahaniaeth hwn gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru.
Can I just pick up on one point regarding rail and north Wales and investment? We were consistently asking UK Government to spend money on the Wrexham to Chester doubling, were we not? They kept saying 'no'. As a result of a deal between ourselves and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, we were able to invest in it. We will go on investing in it. We shouldn't have to. The UK Treasury is responsible for that piece of rail infrastructure, but the UK Treasury, under the Tories, once again said, 'No, we will not deliver for north Wales', just as they said, 'We will not deliver for north Wales on the Wrexham to Bidston line', just as they said that they will not deliver for north Wales on capacity constraints at Chester station, which will facilitate more services into north Wales.
They've said 'no' to us when we've asked for a degree of control over Avanti West Coast. You pick up on rail services in north Wales, so let me tell you: Transport for Wales's punctuality is far higher—far higher—than Avanti West Coast's, which the UK Government is responsible for and refuses to allow us any say in who should control that franchise. Indeed, they reappointed Avanti West Coast without even asking whether we agreed with it. They went ahead with giving Avanti West Coast, a very poor performer compared to TfW, another several years of operating that failed rail service.
Now, in terms of north Wales investment, let's just pick up on some of the recent investments that we have made. Let's say AMRC, the advanced manufacturing research centre at Airbus, a hugely valuable piece of infrastructure that will drive prosperity not just at Airbus but across the region. Also, the development bank headquartering in north Wales—
A gaf i godi un pwynt ynglŷn â'r rheilffyrdd a'r gogledd a buddsoddiad? Fe wnaethom ofyn yn gyson i Lywodraeth y DU wario arian ar ddyblu rheilffordd Wrecsam i Gaer, oni wnaethom? Roeddent yn dweud 'na' o hyd. O ganlyniad i gytundeb rhyngom ni a Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru, bu modd inni fuddsoddi ynddi. Byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi ynddi. Ni ddylem orfod gwneud hynny. Trysorlys y DU sy’n gyfrifol am y darn hwnnw o seilwaith rheilffyrdd, ond dywedodd Trysorlys y DU, o dan y Torïaid, unwaith eto, 'Na, ni fyddwn yn darparu ar gyfer gogledd Cymru’, yn union fel y dywedasant, 'Ni fyddwn yn darparu ar gyfer gogledd Cymru ar y lein o Wrecsam i Bidston’, yn union fel y gwnaethant ddweud na fyddant yn darparu ar gyfer gogledd Cymru o ran cyfyngiadau capasiti yng ngorsaf Caer, a fydd yn hwyluso mwy o wasanaethau i mewn i ogledd Cymru.
Maent wedi dweud 'na' wrthym pan wnaethom ofyn am rywfaint o reolaeth dros Avanti West Coast. Rydych yn sôn am wasanaethau rheilffyrdd yng ngogledd Cymru, felly gadewch imi ddweud wrthych: mae prydlondeb Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn llawer gwell—llawer gwell—na phrydlondeb Avanti West Coast, cwmni y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gyfrifol amdano, ac maent yn gwrthod caniatáu unrhyw lais i ni o ran pwy ddylai reoli'r fasnachfraint honno. Yn wir, fe wnaethant ailbenodi Avanti West Coast heb hyd yn oed ofyn a oeddem yn cydsynio. Aethant ymlaen i roi sawl blwyddyn arall i Avanti West Coast, perfformiwr gwael iawn o gymharu â Trafnidiaeth Cymru, sawl blwyddyn arall o weithredu’r gwasanaeth rheilffordd aflwyddiannus hwnnw.
Nawr, o ran buddsoddiad yn y gogledd, gadewch inni ystyried rhai o'r buddsoddiadau diweddar a wnaethom. Gadewch inni ystyried y ganolfan ymchwil gweithgynhyrchu uwch yn Airbus, darn hynod werthfawr o seilwaith a fydd yn ysgogi ffyniant nid yn unig yn Airbus ond ar draws y rhanbarth. Hefyd, mae lleoli pencadlys y banc datblygu yn y gogledd—
I'm very pleased about it.
Rwy'n falch iawn o hynny.
Hugely important—I'm glad that you welcome it. And not just that, as I said, we are investing—
Hynod bwysig—rwy'n falch eich bod yn ei groesawu. Ac nid yn unig hynny, fel y dywedais, rydym yn buddsoddi—
Crumbs.
Briwsion.
It's not crumbs. We are investing in opportunities right across north Wales, but there is more that we want to do and will do. We'll do it in part because we've invested £800 million in new rolling stock. TfW, when they took over the franchise in 2018, had one of the oldest fleets in the UK. By the end of this year, they will have one of the newest fleets. We took over just 270 train carriages in 2018. By the time the orders are finished, we'll have more than 470 train carriages on the lines, brand-new trains operating in north Wales. The franchises the UK Government operate in Wales can't boast the same.
Mae'n fwy na briwsion. Rydym yn buddsoddi mewn cyfleoedd ar draws y gogledd, ond rydym am wneud mwy ac fe fyddwn yn gwneud mwy. Byddwn yn gwneud hynny'n rhannol am ein bod wedi buddsoddi £800 miliwn mewn cerbydau rheilffyrdd newydd. Pan ddaeth Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gyfrifol am y fasnachfraint yn 2018, roedd gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru un o’r fflydoedd hynaf yn y DU. Erbyn diwedd eleni, bydd ganddynt un o'r fflydoedd mwyaf newydd. Dim ond 270 o gerbydau trên a oedd ar waith pan ddaethom yn gyfrifol amdanynt yn 2018. Erbyn i'r archebion gael eu cwblhau, bydd gennym fwy na 470 o gerbydau trên ar y rheilffyrdd, trenau newydd sbon yn gweithredu yn y gogledd. Ni all y masnachfreintiau y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn eu gweithredu yng Nghymru frolio'r un peth.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, I'd like to ask you about transport for young people, please. The Welsh Government's most recent child poverty strategy acknowledges that the cost of transport feeds into child poverty and exclusion. Now, there are a number of Government schemes aimed at partially alleviating transport costs on young people. I welcome that. But the Welsh Youth Parliament has found that 72 per cent of young people aren't aware of the discounts that are on offer. Could you tell me how the Welsh Government is helping young people to travel sustainably and affordably, but also how you're raising awareness amongst those young people about the discount schemes that could actually help them to make those journeys?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn eich holi ynglŷn â thrafnidiaeth i bobl ifanc, os gwelwch yn dda. Mae strategaeth dlodi plant ddiweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod bod cost trafnidiaeth yn gwaethygu allgáu a thlodi plant. Nawr, mae nifer o gynlluniau gan y Llywodraeth sydd â'r nod o leihau costau trafnidiaeth yn rhannol i bobl ifanc. Rwy'n croesawu hynny. Ond mae Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru wedi canfod nad yw 72 y cant o bobl ifanc yn ymwybodol o'r gostyngiadau sydd ar gael. A allwch ddweud wrthyf sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn helpu pobl ifanc i deithio’n gynaliadwy ac yn fforddiadwy, ond hefyd sut rydych chi'n codi ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith y bobl ifanc hyn am y cynlluniau gostyngiadau a allai eu helpu i wneud y teithiau hynny?
Well, can I thank Delyth Jewell for her question? I know this is a subject that she's passionate about, and has raised with me not just in the Chamber, but also in our discussions privately. There are huge opportunities once we've passed the bus Bill, I think, to create not just an integrated transport system, but also to make sure that we have fairer fares, and that includes for young people. Now, there are already, as the Member has highlighted, discounted schemes and free travel for children and young people on public transport in Wales. We keep it under review. It is based on the availability of funding as to how far we can go with it. We are open to considering all options for young people, including those that could come into being once we have started regulating bus services again.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Delyth Jewell am ei chwestiwn? Gwn fod hwn yn bwnc y mae'n angerddol yn ei gylch, ac mae wedi'i godi gyda mi nid yn unig yn y Siambr, ond hefyd yn ein trafodaethau preifat. Credaf y bydd cyfleoedd enfawr ar ôl inni basio’r Bil bysiau i greu nid yn unig system drafnidiaeth integredig, ond hefyd i sicrhau bod gennym brisiau tocynnau tecach, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys ar gyfer pobl ifanc. Nawr, fel y mae'r Aelod wedi'i nodi, mae cynlluniau teithio rhatach a theithio am ddim eisoes ar gael i blant a phobl ifanc ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Rydym yn cadw golwg ar hynny. Mae’n seiliedig ar argaeledd cyllid o ran pa mor bell y gallwn fynd gyda hynny. Rydym yn agored i ystyried yr holl opsiynau ar gyfer pobl ifanc, gan gynnwys y rhai a allai ddod i fodolaeth pan fyddwn wedi dechrau rheoleiddio'r gwasanaethau bysiau eto.
Thank you for that. Now, you alluded obliquely there, possibly, to the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, and some of the discussions that we've had about that. We have been told, on the learner travel Measure, that the current review won't result in any increase in the distance eligibility for free school transport. Now, the costs of school transport for children have led to children missing out on school, because their parents can't afford to get them there on the school bus. Now, I worry about the effects of this on education, on worsening poverty, as we've already discussed, social exclusion, also on the Welsh language, because—again, we've discussed this before—there are cases across Wales where parents want to send their child to Welsh-medium education, but they're not eligible for free transport to their nearest Welsh language school. So, could you tell me, firstly, please, how this links up with 'Cymraeg 2050'? And also, Cabinet Secretary, you mentioned funding there. It does concern me that the Welsh Government isn't pressing the UK Government or Keir Starmer on fair funding for Wales enough about this to help to rectify this issue, which lets our children and our young people down. So, what steps, please, would you take urgently to address that?
Diolch. Nawr, fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio’n anuniongyrchol, o bosibl, at Fesur Teithio gan Ddysgwyr (Cymru) 2008, a rhywfaint o’r trafodaethau a gawsom ynglŷn â hwnnw. Dywedwyd wrthym, ar y Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr, na fydd yr adolygiad presennol yn arwain at unrhyw gynnydd yn y pellter cymhwystra ar gyfer cludiant am ddim i'r ysgol. Nawr, mae cost cludiant i'r ysgol wedi arwain at blant yn colli ysgol, am na all eu rhieni fforddio eu hanfon yno ar y bws ysgol. Nawr, rwy’n poeni am effeithiau hyn ar addysg, ar dlodi sy’n gwaethygu, fel rydym eisoes wedi’i drafod, allgáu cymdeithasol, ac ar y Gymraeg hefyd, oherwydd—unwaith eto, rydym wedi trafod hyn o’r blaen—mae achosion ledled Cymru lle mae rhieni yn dymuno anfon eu plentyn i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, ond nid ydynt yn gymwys i gael cludiant am ddim i'w hysgol Gymraeg agosaf. Felly, a allech ddweud wrthyf, yn gyntaf, os gwelwch yn dda, sut mae hyn yn cysylltu â 'Cymraeg 2050'? A hefyd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fe sonioch chi am gyllid. Mae'n peri pryder i mi nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn pwyso digon ar Lywodraeth y DU na Keir Starmer am ariannu teg i Gymru i helpu i unioni'r mater hwn, sy'n gwneud cam â'n plant a'n pobl ifanc. Felly, pa gamau y gwnewch chi eu cymryd ar fyrder i fynd i’r afael â hynny?
Again, can I thank the Member for her question on this subject? Twenty per cent of young people, I believe, in parts of Wales are unable to get to their job interviews because they don't have access to public transport or because public transport is too expensive. So, there is a huge social injustice in the system that operates today, which is why we're so determined to pursue the bus Bill by the end of this parliamentary term. The review that took place is aimed to provide us with something of a bridge to the point where franchising takes place. And the key point with franchising, insofar as young people are concerned in education, is that it will enable us to utilise all services for the purposes of getting young people to school; it will enable us to blend regular passenger services better with school transport. I should just say that the problem isn't just with affordability, in terms of the bridging plans. It's also about availability of bus drivers and buses, which is a major challenge. And in some parts of Wales, there have been challenges in recruitment to the sector. It's one of the reasons, actually, why we established the diversity in public transport board, because we recognised the need to increase the number of people who were training not just as bus drivers, but also in the rail industry, and we needed to make sure that we had a more diverse workforce. So, that work is ongoing, but it's not just down to the actual funding for the service; it's also about the availability of buses and drivers as well.
Unwaith eto, a gaf i ddiolch i’r Aelod am ei chwestiwn ar y pwnc hwn? Credaf fod 20 y cant o bobl ifanc mewn rhannau o Gymru yn methu mynychu eu cyfweliadau swyddi am nad oes ganddynt fynediad at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus neu am fod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn rhy ddrud. Felly, mae anghyfiawnder cymdeithasol enfawr yn y system sy'n gweithredu heddiw, a dyna pam ein bod mor benderfynol o fynd ar drywydd y Bil bysiau erbyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon. Nod yr adolygiad a gynhaliwyd yw darparu rhyw fath o bont i ni at yr adeg pan fydd masnachfreinio yn digwydd. A’r pwynt allweddol gyda masnachfreinio, mewn perthynas â phobl ifanc ym myd addysg, yw y bydd yn ein galluogi i ddefnyddio’r holl wasanaethau at ddibenion cludo pobl ifanc i’r ysgol; bydd yn ein galluogi i gyfuno gwasanaethau rheolaidd i deithwyr yn well gyda chludiant i'r ysgol. Dylwn ddweud nad yw'r broblem yn ymwneud â fforddiadwyedd yn unig, o ran y cynlluniau pontio. Mae'n ymwneud hefyd ag argaeledd gyrwyr bysiau a bysiau, sy'n her fawr. Ac mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, cafwyd heriau o ran recriwtio i'r sector. Mae'n un o'r rhesymau, mewn gwirionedd, pam y gwnaethom sefydlu'r bwrdd amrywiaeth mewn trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, am ein bod yn cydnabod yr angen i gynyddu nifer y bobl a oedd yn hyfforddi nid yn unig fel gyrwyr bysiau, ond hefyd yn y diwydiant rheilffyrdd, ac roedd angen inni sicrhau bod gennym weithlu mwy amrywiol. Felly, mae’r gwaith hwnnw’n mynd rhagddo, ond mae'n ymwneud â mwy na'r cyllid ar gyfer y gwasanaeth; mae a wnelo ag argaeledd bysiau a gyrwyr hefyd.
Thank you again for that. Now, when it comes to the bus Bill, I welcome what you've said, certainly about the need to bridge that gap. Now, before that bridge is completely built, when those building blocks are still on the side, what can we do to make sure that the cohort at the moment that is missing out on free school transport between now and then don't get let down? And when we do have bus franchising, do you agree with me that we should, actually, go further and introduce a free young person's bus pass? Because I know that Scotland have introduced this in the last few years—free bus travel for five to 21-year-olds. The resulting extra patronage actually allowed some bus companies to increase service provision. So, actually, although there might be upfront investment, it could actually pay dividends and help to free up more money for extra services across the board. So, is a free young person's bus pass something that you are looking at already? And, if not, would commit you to start looking now at the potential for introducing that in Wales when the bus Bill is implemented, please?
Diolch eto am hynny. Nawr, o ran y Bil bysiau, rwy'n croesawu'r hyn rydych wedi’i ddweud, yn sicr ynglŷn â'r angen i bontio’r bwlch hwnnw. Nawr, cyn i'r bont honno gael ei chwblhau, pan fydd y blociau adeiladu'n dal i fod ar yr ochr, beth y gallwn ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw'r garfan sy'n colli cludiant am ddim i'r ysgol ar hyn o bryd yn cael cam rhwng nawr a hynny? A phan fydd y bysiau'n cael eu masnachfreinio, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y dylem fynd gam ymhellach mewn gwirionedd a chyflwyno tocyn bws am ddim i bobl ifanc? Oherwydd gwn fod yr Alban wedi cyflwyno hyn yn yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf—teithio am ddim ar fysiau i bobl ifanc rhwng pump a 21 oed. Fe wnaeth y defnydd ychwanegol a ddeilliodd o hynny alluogi rhai cwmnïau bysiau i gynyddu'r gwasanaethau a ddarperir. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, er y gallai fod buddsoddiad ymlaen llaw, gallai hynny dalu ar ei ganfed a helpu i ryddhau rhagor o arian ar gyfer gwasanaethau ychwanegol yn gyffredinol. Felly, a yw tocyn bws am ddim i bobl ifanc yn rhywbeth yr ydych chi eisoes yn ei ystyried? Ac os nad yw, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i ddechrau edrych nawr ar y potensial i gyflwyno hynny yng Nghymru pan gaiff y Bil bysiau ei weithredu, os gwelwch yn dda?
I'm very interested in this sort of initiative and the potential to go even further as well, actually. In some parts of Europe, you have free bus transport, which is actually paid for through the equivalent of our council tax. So, there are alternative and additional ways of raising revenue to improve not just the number of services that operate, but also improve accessibility by removing the cost to those who can least afford to pay.
So, with franchising, it will offer up that opportunity to create not just one network, with one timetable, with one ticket, but to introduce a far fairer fare regime on rail and on buses. So, I am keen to learn from other places, because there are some excellent examples across Europe and further afield, and within the United Kingdom, and I'm very, very keen to learn from any experiences that Members in this Chamber may have.
Mae gennyf gryn ddiddordeb yn y math hwn o fenter a'r potensial i fynd hyd yn oed ymhellach hefyd. Mewn rhai rhannau o Ewrop, mae gennych gludiant bws am ddim, y telir amdano drwy’r hyn sy’n cyfateb i’n treth gyngor ni. Felly, mae ffyrdd amgen ac ychwanegol o godi refeniw nid yn unig i gynyddu nifer y gwasanaethau sy’n weithredol, ond hefyd i wella hygyrchedd drwy ddileu’r gost i’r rheini nad ydynt yn gallu fforddio talu.
Felly, gyda masnachfreinio, bydd yn cynnig cyfle i greu nid yn unig un rhwydwaith, gydag un amserlen, gydag un tocyn, ond i gyflwyno trefn brisiau tocynnau lawer tecach ar drenau ac ar fysiau. Felly, rwy’n awyddus i ddysgu o fannau eraill, gan fod enghreifftiau rhagorol ledled Ewrop a thu hwnt, ac o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac rwy’n awyddus iawn i ddysgu o unrhyw brofiadau a allai fod gan Aelodau yn y Siambr hon.
3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella mynediad at wasanaethau rheilffyrdd dibynadwy i gymunedau gwledig? OQ61170
3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve access to reliable rail services for rural communities? OQ61170
The Welsh Government has invested £800 million in new trains, which are starting to operate across Wales. As the new trains have entered service, reliability and performance have improved. We'll continue to build on this progress, as well as better aligning our timetables with changing post-COVID travel patterns of our passengers.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi £800 miliwn mewn trenau newydd, sy’n dechrau gweithredu ledled Cymru. Wrth i'r trenau newydd ddod yn weithredol, mae dibynadwyedd a pherfformiad wedi gwella. Byddwn yn parhau i adeiladu ar y cynnydd hwn, ac yn alinio ein hamserlenni’n well â phatrymau teithio ôl-COVID newidiol ein teithwyr.
Diolch am yr ymateb.
Thank you for that response.
Cabinet Secretary, you have previously acknowledged the need to drive up patronage on the Heart of Wales line, and yet we are seeing a perpetuating cycle of declining ridership if services become increasingly impractical and unappealing. Local stakeholders, such as the Heart of Wales Line Travellers' Association, have criticised the proposed new timetable from Transport for Wales, stating that it will make it nearly impossible for individuals to commute or have reasonable travel times. With just three tourist-friendly weekday trains, the timetable also fails to capitalise on the line's significant potential for attracting visitors and promoting sustainable tourism. In its consultation, the association highlights two consultant reports that have found the need for at least one train every two hours for the line to operate optimally. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what discussions have you had with Transport for Wales to procure new, modern trains and address reliability issues to revitalise the Heart of Wales line? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydych wedi cydnabod o'r blaen yr angen i gynyddu'r defnydd o reilffordd Calon Cymru, ac eto rydym yn gweld cylch dieflig o ostyngiad yn nifer y defnyddwyr os bydd gwasanaethau'n dod yn fwyfwy anymarferol ac anneniadol. Mae rhanddeiliaid lleol, fel Cymdeithas Teithwyr Rheilffordd Calon Cymru, wedi beirniadu’r amserlen newydd arfaethedig gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gan nodi y bydd yn ei gwneud bron yn amhosibl i unigolion gymudo neu gael amseroedd teithio rhesymol. Gyda dim ond tri thrên cyfeillgar i dwristiaid yn ystod yr wythnos, nid yw'r amserlen yn manteisio ychwaith ar botensial sylweddol y rheilffordd i ddenu ymwelwyr a hyrwyddo twristiaeth gynaliadwy. Yn ei hymgynghoriad, mae'r gymdeithas yn tynnu sylw at ddau adroddiad ymgynghorol sydd wedi canfod bod angen o leiaf un trên bob dwy awr er mwyn i'r rheilffordd weithredu yn y ffordd orau bosibl. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru i gaffael trenau newydd, modern a mynd i’r afael â materion dibynadwyedd i adfywio rheilffordd Calon Cymru? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, can I thank Jane Dodds for her supplementary question? The line is one of the most stunning anywhere in the United Kingdom. The Member is right that it's not just important for people who have to commute to and from their communities in mid Wales. It's also vitally important for the tourism economy in mid Wales as well. I'm hoping, following discussions with Network Rail, to be able to share some exciting news regarding the tourism potential of that line in the not-too-distant future.
I was on the line as well—I was on a rail service—just this week, and I met with the passenger group referred to by the Member, brilliant people who shared with me their disappointment at the reduction in the service. Unfortunately, the savings of £1 million to £1.5 million were resulting as a consequence of removing one of those daily services, but that daily service only averaged six passengers. But I do recognise that its loss is something that has been much regretted by people in the area. So, I have asked Transport for Wales to work with passenger user groups and with the local authority to discuss how the situation could be rectified through the use of high-quality bus service options in the short term, at the very least. I'd be very pleased to meet with Transport for Wales, alongside the Member, to ensure that her constituents are not being disadvantaged.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Jane Dodds am ei chwestiwn atodol? Mae'r rheilffordd yn un o'r rhai mwyaf syfrdanol yn unrhyw le yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae’r Aelod yn llygad ei lle nid yn unig ei bod yn bwysig i bobl sy’n gorfod cymudo i’w cymunedau yn y canolbarth. Mae hefyd yn hanfodol bwysig i'r economi dwristiaeth yn y canolbarth. Yn dilyn trafodaethau gyda Network Rail, rwy'n gobeithio gallu rhannu newyddion cyffrous am botensial twristiaeth y rheilffordd honno yn y dyfodol agos.
Roeddwn ar y rheilffordd hefyd—roeddwn ar wasanaeth rheilffordd—yr wythnos hon, a chyfarfûm â’r grŵp teithwyr y cyfeiriodd yr Aelod ato, pobl wych a rannodd eu siom â mi ynghylch lleihau'r gwasanaeth. Yn anffodus, gwnaed yr arbedion o £1 filiwn i £1.5 miliwn drwy ddileu un o'r gwasanaethau dyddiol hynny, ond dim ond chwe theithiwr, ar gyfartaledd, a oedd ar y gwasanaeth dyddiol hwnnw. Ond rwy'n cydnabod bod ei golli'n rhywbeth sydd wedi digalonni pobl yr ardal yn fawr. Felly, rwyf wedi gofyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru weithio gyda grwpiau defnyddwyr teithwyr a chyda’r awdurdod lleol i drafod sut y gellid unioni’r sefyllfa drwy ddefnyddio gwasanaeth bysiau o ansawdd uchel fel opsiwn tymor byr, o leiaf. Byddwn yn falch iawn o gyfarfod â Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gyda’r Aelod, i sicrhau nad yw ei hetholwyr o dan anfantais.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer to Jane Dodds. Back on 24 April, I raised concerns with you about the cuts to the Heart of Wales line. You said then that you take incredibly seriously the needs of the people who live in rural Wales. You also went on to say that you would meet with residents and elected Members over this. Since our discussion on 24 April, I haven't had an opportunity to meet with you to discuss these challenges. Additionally, I haven't heard of any meetings that you've had with direct constituents regarding these cuts. So, I'm interested to know what steps have been taken by you to address the concerns that have been raised by people on the reduced services on the Heart of Wales line. And can you actually confirm today whether you do take this issue seriously, or is this actually just some warm words and PR spin from the Government? Because the people who live in my constituency want to see these services reintroduced, and they don't just need warm words from the Welsh Government; they actually need action.
Diolch am eich ateb i Jane Dodds, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn ôl ar 24 Ebrill, mynegais bryderon ynglŷn â'r toriadau i reilffordd Calon Cymru. Fe ddywedoch chi bryd hynny eich bod o ddifrif ynghylch anghenion y bobl sy’n byw yng nghefn gwlad Cymru. Fe aethoch yn eich blaen hefyd i ddweud y byddech yn cyfarfod â thrigolion ac Aelodau etholedig ynglŷn â hyn. Ers ein trafodaeth ar 24 Ebrill, nid wyf wedi cael cyfle i gyfarfod â chi i drafod yr heriau hyn. Yn ogystal, nid wyf wedi clywed am unrhyw gyfarfodydd a gawsoch gydag etholwyr yn uniongyrchol ynghylch y toriadau hyn. Felly, mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod pa gamau a gymerwyd gennych i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a godwyd gan bobl ynghylch y lleihau nifer y gwasanaethau ar reilffordd Calon Cymru. Ac a allwch gadarnhau heddiw eich bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r mater hwn, neu ai dim ond geiriau cynnes a sbin cysylltiadau cyhoeddus gan y Llywodraeth yw hyn mewn gwirionedd? Oherwydd mae’r bobl sy’n byw yn fy etholaeth yn awyddus i weld y gwasanaethau hyn yn cael eu hailgyflwyno, ac nid geiriau cynnes yn unig gan Lywodraeth Cymru yw'r hyn sydd ei angen arnynt; maent angen gweld gweithredu'n digwydd.
Can I thank James Evans for his question and say that I very much regret that we haven't had an opportunity to meet to discuss this in person ourselves? But I have met with residents and, as I mentioned to Jane Dodds, I've met with the user group just last week. There was an event that took place on the Heart of Wales line. I met with many organisations, including TfW, including rail managers and Network Rail. This issue was raised by a number of people, and so I've spoken with Transport for Wales about the need to address the concerns that were raised and the need to provide high-quality bus services, as I said to Jane Dodds, in the short term, at the very least. But I would still welcome an opportunity to speak about this matter with James Evans in person.
A gaf i ddiolch i James Evans am ei gwestiwn a dweud fy mod yn gresynu’n fawr nad ydym wedi cael cyfle i gyfarfod i drafod hyn wyneb yn wyneb? Ond rwyf wedi cyfarfod â thrigolion, ac fel y soniais wrth Jane Dodds, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â'r grŵp defnyddwyr yr wythnos diwethaf. Cynhaliwyd digwyddiad ar reilffordd Calon Cymru. Cyfarfûm â llawer o sefydliadau, yn cynnwys Trafnidiaeth Cymru, yn cynnwys rheolwyr rheilffyrdd a Network Rail. Codwyd y mater hwn gan nifer o bobl, ac felly rwyf wedi siarad â Trafnidiaeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r angen i fynd i’r afael â’r pryderon a godwyd a’r angen i ddarparu gwasanaethau bysiau o ansawdd uchel, fel y dywedais wrth Jane Dodds, yn y tymor byr, o leiaf. Ond byddwn yn dal i groesawu cyfle i drafod y mater wyneb yn wyneb gyda James Evans.
Bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn—. Mi wnaf i aros am eiliad. Bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ymwybodol bod yna ymgynghoriad wedi bod ar newid amserlen trenau rheilffordd y Cambrian o Fachynlleth i Bwllheli. Mae'r newidiadau arfaethedig yma wedi achosi lot fawr o bryderon i bobl ar arfordir Meirionnydd—pobl a fydd, o gael y newidiadau yma mewn grym, yn methu mynd i'w gwaith, yn methu mynd i'w lle addysg. Yn wir, yr hyn sydd yn sarhad pellach ydy bod yr argymhellion yn argymell cynyddu nifer y trenau yn ystod tymor yr haf, er mwyn cael mwy o dwristiaid, ond llai yn ystod y tymor sydd y tu allan i dymor yr ymwelwyr, fydd yn niweidio cyfleoedd pobl leol er mwyn mynd i'r gwaith, addysg, siopa, ac yn y blaen. Felly, dwi eisiau sicrwydd gennych chi—tra dwi'n ymwybodol ac yn gwerthfawrogi mai ymgynghoriad oedd o—na fydd yr argymhellion yn yr ymgynghoriad yma yn cael eu gweithredu, ac y byddwch chi yn gwrando ar lais pobl sydd yn byw yn yr ardal ac yn ddibynnol ar y trên yna er mwyn mynd i'r gwaith ac addysg, ac yn datblygu amserlen a fydd yn siwtio anghenion pobl arfordir Meirionnydd.
The Cabinet Secretary will—. I will just pause for a second. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that there's been a consultation on a change of timetable for the Cambrian railway from Machynlleth to Pwllheli. These proposed changes have caused many concerns for people on the Meirionnydd coast—people who, if these changes are introduced, won't be able to get to their places of work or their education establishment. And what's a further insult is that the recommendations recommend increasing the number of services during the summer season, in order to serve more tourists, but reduce the service outside the visitor season, which is damaging to the opportunities of local people to access work, education, shopping, and so on. So, I want an assurance from you—whilst I am aware and appreciate that that was a consultation—that the recommendations in that consultation will not be implemented, and that you will listen to the voice of people living in the area and who are reliant on that train service to access work and education, and will develop a timetable that suits the needs of the people of the Meirionnydd coast.
Can I thank Mabon for his question and assure him that Transport for Wales will consider and take account of the consultation responses over the planned timetable changes, and any changes that might take place in the future as well? I would agree that the removal of two services between Machynlleth and Pwllheli, one in each direction, of course, is unfortunate, but is, again, as with the Heart of Wales service, driven by very low demand indeed. They have an average of four to five passengers, and therefore a very significant subsidy rate. And I know that Members in this Chamber have often called for equivalent subsidies to be applied to rail and bus services, but the problem with that is that subsidies for rail services are always going to be significantly higher.
Now, the question is: at what point do you deem a service to be unsustainable? And with only four to five passengers, this service was deemed to be unsustainable by Transport for Wales in the current financial environment. Now, we do hope that finances will improve. We also hope that people will change travel behaviours in a post-COVID context, as we see more people using transport to get to and from the office, rather than working from home, and to and from regional hubs. But I can assure the Member that there was a crucial element to the decision that was made by Transport for Wales, which is that the removed services do not or are not used by pupils for the schools at Harlech and Tywyn. That's one benefit of them having listened already, but I can guarantee the Member that TfW will take account of all consultation responses that have been received.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mabon am ei gwestiwn a'i sicrhau y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ystyried yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad dros y newidiadau arfaethedig i'r amserlen, ac unrhyw newidiadau a allai ddigwydd yn y dyfodol hefyd? Byddwn yn cytuno bod cael gwared ar ddau wasanaeth rhwng Machynlleth a Phwllheli, un i bob cyfeiriad, yn anffodus wrth gwrs, ond eto, fel gyda gwasanaeth Calon Cymru, mae'r galw amdanynt yn isel iawn. Mae ganddynt gyfartaledd o bedwar i bump o deithwyr, ac felly cyfradd cymhorthdal sylweddol iawn. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod Aelodau yn y Siambr hon wedi galw droeon am gymhwyso cymorthdaliadau tebyg i wasanaethau rheilffyrdd ar gyfer gwasanaethau bysiau, ond y broblem gyda hynny yw y bydd cymorthdaliadau i wasanaethau rheilffyrdd bob amser yn sylweddol uwch.
Nawr, y cwestiwn yw: ar ba bwynt ydych chi'n ystyried bod gwasanaeth yn anghynaladwy? A chyda dim ond pedwar i bump o deithwyr, barnwyd bod y gwasanaeth hwn yn anghynaladwy gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn yr amgylchedd ariannol presennol. Nawr, rydym yn gobeithio y bydd cyllid yn gwella. Rydym hefyd yn gobeithio y bydd pobl yn newid ymddygiad teithio mewn cyd-destun ôl-COVID, wrth inni weld mwy o bobl yn defnyddio trafnidiaeth i gyrraedd a gadael y swyddfa, yn hytrach na gweithio gartref, ac i ac o hybiau rhanbarthol. Ond gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod fod elfen hanfodol i'r penderfyniad a wnaed gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru, sef nad yw'r gwasanaethau a gollwyd yn cael eu defnyddio gan ddisgyblion i gyrraedd yr ysgolion yn Harlech a Thywyn. Dyna un budd sy'n deillio o'r ffaith eu bod wedi gwrando eisoes, ond gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ystyried yr holl ymatebion a ddaeth i law o'r ymgynghoriad.
4. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig i sefydliadau trafnidiaeth gymunedol? OQ61151
4. What support is the Welsh Government offering to community transport organisations? OQ61151
We continue to provide valuable core grant funding to the Community Transport Association to enable them to provide comprehensive support for the community transport sector across the country. We also encourage local authorities to allocate some of the bus funding that we award to them, to support local community transport initiatives.
Rydym yn parhau i ddarparu cyllid grant craidd gwerthfawr i'r Gymdeithas Cludiant Cymunedol i'w galluogi i ddarparu cefnogaeth gynhwysfawr i'r sector trafnidiaeth gymunedol ledled y wlad. Rydym hefyd yn annog awdurdodau lleol i ddyrannu rhywfaint o'r arian bysiau a ddyfarnwn iddynt i gefnogi cynlluniau trafnidiaeth gymunedol lleol.
Mae sefydliadau trafnidiaeth gymunedol yn fy etholaeth i wedi bod yn darparu gwasanaeth rhagorol i'r cymunedau hynny a allai gael eu tanwasanaethu gan ddarparwyr gwasanaethau bysiau mawr a thraddodiadol. Mae Dolen Teifi, er enghraifft, sy'n gwasanaethu llawer yng Ngheredigion a sir Gaerfyrddin, yn enghraifft wych o sefydliad sy'n llenwi rhai o'r bylchau yn ein system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar hyn o bryd. Roedd lansiad Bws Bach y Wlad hefyd yn newyddion i'w groesawu yn ddiweddar. Mae llawer iawn o'r sefydliadau hyn ar raddfa fach iawn ac yn gweithredu allan o ganolfannau a hybiau cymunedol, fel yr un yn Ystradowen, er enghraifft, sy'n darparu gwasanaeth hanfodol ac, mewn llawer o achosion, yn achubiaeth i drigolion lleol. Gyda'r newyddion diweddar fod First Cymru yn lleihau ei amserlen ar rai o'r prif lwybrau yn fy etholaeth, pa gymorth ychwanegol mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu ei gynnig i'r sefydliadau trafnidiaeth gymunedol hyn fel y gallant dyfu a llenwi'r bylchau a adawyd gan y cwmnïau traddodiadol?
Community transport organisations in my constituency have been providing an excellent service to those communities that could be underserved by major and traditional bus operators. Dolen Teifi, for example, serves many in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, and they're an excellent example of an organisation that fills some of the gaps in our public transport system at the moment. The launch of Bws Bach y Wlad was also news to be welcomed recently. Many of these organisations are on a very small scale and operate out of community hubs and centres, such as the one in Ystradowen, which provides a vital a service and, in many cases, they are saviours for local people. With the recent news that First Cymru is reducing its timetable on some of the major routes in my constituency, what additional support can the Welsh Government provide to these community transport organisations, so that they can grow and fill the gaps left by the traditional operators?
Adam Price makes a number of vitally important points in his question regarding social justice—that far too many people would be left without access to work, to services, were it not for community transport services in rural areas. Each year, around 0.75 million people rely on community transport services across Wales. It's a staggering number, and we now have a network of 110 community transport organisations that are working actively in their communities across Wales.
For several years, we've provided core grant funding of just under £0.25 million to the Community Transport Association to support their activities in Wales, and in turn that has helped to lever in £2 million or more of additional investment to support community transport in Wales. However, I am due to meet with the Welsh team of the CTA in the next few weeks, to see what we can further do to strengthen our support for this key sector. And, again, there's a lot to be said for strengthening it as part of the bridge through to franchising, because once we're able to franchise bus services, we'll be able to better integrate the timetables of both the commercial and conventional bus services with community-based transport.
Mae Adam Price yn gwneud nifer o bwyntiau hanfodol bwysig yn ei gwestiwn ynglŷn â chyfiawnder cymdeithasol—y byddai llawer gormod o bobl yn cael eu gadael heb fynediad at waith, at wasanaethau, oni bai am wasanaethau trafnidiaeth gymunedol mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Bob blwyddyn, mae tua 0.75 miliwn o bobl yn dibynnu ar wasanaethau trafnidiaeth gymunedol ledled Cymru. Mae'n ffigur syfrdanol, ac erbyn hyn mae gennym rwydwaith o 110 o sefydliadau trafnidiaeth gymunedol sy'n weithredol yn eu cymunedau ledled Cymru.
Ers sawl blwyddyn, rydym wedi darparu cyllid grant craidd o ychydig o dan £0.25 miliwn i'r Gymdeithas Cludiant Cymunedol i gefnogi eu gweithgareddau yng Nghymru, ac yn ei dro mae hynny wedi helpu i ddenu £2 filiwn neu fwy o fuddsoddiad ychwanegol i gefnogi trafnidiaeth gymunedol yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, rwyf i fod i gyfarfod â thîm Cymru y Gymdeithas yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, i weld beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i gryfhau ein cefnogaeth i'r sector allweddol hwn. Ac unwaith eto, mae llawer i'w ddweud dros ei gryfhau fel rhan o'r bont tuag at fasnachfreinio, oherwydd pan allwn fasnachfreinio gwasanaethau bysiau, byddwn yn gallu integreiddio amserlenni'r gwasanaethau bysiau masnachol a chonfensiynol yn well gyda chludiant yn y gymuned.
I'm pleased to see a question tabled on community transport because it gives me the opportunity to talk about the very successful scheme that operates in Bishopston in Swansea, and I'm very keen to pay tribute to the local councillor there, Lyndon Jones, who's been very integral in the setting up of that community transport scheme. Now, that scheme has been so popular, it's so successful, it's such a lifeline for people in Bishopston, that they want to see that network expand, and neighbouring villages and settlements also want to see the continuation of that scheme. But the organisations tell me that they really struggle with the recruitment of bus drivers, and that is a real, real challenge for them. So, what can the Welsh Government do proactively to ensure that more bus drivers are recruited, so that we can enhance this scheme?
Rwy'n falch o weld cwestiwn yn cael ei gyflwyno ar drafnidiaeth gymunedol oherwydd mae'n rhoi cyfle imi siarad am y cynllun llwyddiannus iawn sy'n gweithredu yn Llandeilo Ferwallt yn Abertawe, ac rwy'n awyddus iawn i dalu teyrnged i'r cynghorydd lleol yno, Lyndon Jones, sydd wedi bod yn rhan annatod iawn o sefydlu'r cynllun trafnidiaeth gymunedol hwnnw. Nawr, mae'r cynllun hwnnw wedi bod mor boblogaidd, mae mor llwyddiannus, mae'n gymaint o achubiaeth i bobl yn Llandeilo Ferwallt, fel eu bod am weld y rhwydwaith hwnnw'n ehangu, ac mae pentrefi ac aneddiadau cyfagos hefyd eisiau gweld parhad y cynllun hwnnw. Ond mae'r sefydliadau'n dweud wrthyf eu bod yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn recriwtio gyrwyr bysiau, ac mae honno'n her fawr iawn iddynt. Felly, beth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud yn rhagweithiol i sicrhau bod mwy o yrwyr bysiau'n cael eu recriwtio, fel y gallwn wella'r cynllun hwn?
I thank Tom Giffard and agree with him that there is real pressure in the sector in parts of Wales, and in response to questions earlier from Delyth Jewell, I highlighted some of the work that we've been doing to address this. We don't just want to address the issues around recruitment; we want to make sure that we also use the solutions to the recruitment dilemmas at the moment to drive diversity within the sector, because it is still very much a male-dominated sector, and we want to make sure that it is more diverse. So, we are working with Transport for Wales and operators to determine what needs to be done to recruit more, to train more, and to make sure that the sector is more diverse.
Diolch i Tom Giffard ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef fod pwysau gwirioneddol yn y sector mewn rhannau o Gymru, ac mewn ymateb i gwestiynau yn gynharach gan Delyth Jewell, nodais beth o'r gwaith y buom yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Rydym am wneud mwy na mynd i'r afael â materion recriwtio yn unig; rydym am sicrhau ein bod hefyd yn defnyddio'r atebion i'r trafferthion recriwtio ar hyn o bryd i hybu amrywiaeth o fewn y sector, oherwydd mae'n dal i fod yn sector sy'n cael ei ddominyddu gan ddynion, ac rydym am sicrhau ei fod yn fwy amrywiol. Felly, rydym yn gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru a gweithredwyr i benderfynu beth sydd angen ei wneud i recriwtio mwy o bobl, hyfforddi mwy o bobl, ac i sicrhau bod y sector yn fwy amrywiol.
5. A all yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am gynlluniau i wella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Ngorllewin De Cymru ? OQ61128
5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on plans to improve public transport in South Wales West? OQ61128
Our national transport delivery plan sets out the projects and programmes that will improve public transport services in South Wales West. We are providing substantial and continued support through our transport grants, and also Transport for Wales are able to provide assistance wherever and whenever required.
Mae ein cynllun cyflawni cenedlaethol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth yn nodi'r prosiectau a'r rhaglenni a fydd yn gwella gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Ngorllewin De Cymru. Rydym yn darparu cefnogaeth sylweddol a pharhaus drwy ein grantiau trafnidiaeth, a hefyd mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gallu darparu cymorth ble bynnag a phryd bynnag y bo angen.
Diolch, Cabinet Secretary. I was pleased to see proposals for a slight increase in service provision along some railway stations across South Wales West. However, concerns have been raised with me that, for some stations, the level of service being proposed falls short of what was previously promised. Stations that make up the Swanline service, such as Llansamlet, Skewen, Briton Ferry, Baglan, Pyle and Pencoed, will be served every two hours for much of the day. The previous commitment was for an hourly service to be provided. I don't think that a service once every two hours on such a well-used route is good enough, really, for my constituents. It won't encourage people to use public transport over cars, and it will contribute, of course, to failing to meet our carbon emission targets. So, do you think a service once every two hours is good enough, considering that some Valleys communities towards the east are now looking at getting four trains an hour? Do you agree that this feels inequitable for residents of the region that I represent?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Roeddwn yn falch o weld cynigion ar gyfer cynnydd bach yn y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau ar hyd rhai gorsafoedd rheilffordd ar draws Gorllewin De Cymru. Fodd bynnag, mynegwyd pryderon wrthyf nad yw lefel y gwasanaeth sy'n cael ei argymell gymaint â'r hyn a addawyd yn flaenorol i rai gorsafoedd. Bydd gorsafoedd sy'n rhan o wasanaeth Swanline, fel Llansamlet, Sgiwen, Llansawel, Baglan, y Pîl a Phencoed, yn cael gwasanaeth bob dwy awr am ran helaeth o'r dydd. Yr ymrwymiad blaenorol oedd darparu gwasanaeth bob awr. Nid wyf yn credu bod gwasanaeth unwaith bob dwy awr ar lwybr mor boblogaidd yn ddigon da i fy etholwyr. Ni fydd yn annog pobl i ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn lle ceir, a bydd yn cyfrannu, wrth gwrs, at fethu cyrraedd ein targedau allyriadau carbon. Felly, a ydych chi'n credu bod gwasanaeth unwaith bob dwy awr yn ddigon da, o ystyried bod rhai o gymunedau'r Cymoedd tua'r dwyrain bellach yn ystyried cael pedwar trên yr awr? A ydych chi'n cytuno bod hyn yn teimlo'n annheg i drigolion y rhanbarth rwy'n ei gynrychioli?
Can I thank Sioned Williams for her question and say that we wish to transform public transport to drive up the number of services that people use, to integrate the bus and the rail network, to make sure that we have one timetable, one ticketing regime? And we'll do that in part through bus franchising, but also through rolling out more railway trains, and that's why the order of £800 million for rolling stock is just so important.
Now, in regard to the programmes that are not able to be delivered, there is a variety of reasons, and it's not just down to cost in these highly pressured times. There are also reasons relating to infrastructure works that need to be carried out by Network Rail for which we are not responsible, which have curtailed our plans, but I recognise that there's a variety of reasons across Wales. And so, I'll provide a comprehensive list to Members regarding why it is that certain services have not been introduced as planned.
A gaf i ddiolch i Sioned Williams am ei chwestiwn a dweud ein bod yn dymuno trawsnewid trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i gynyddu nifer y gwasanaethau y mae pobl yn eu defnyddio, i integreiddio'r rhwydwaith bysiau a threnau, i wneud yn siŵr fod gennym un amserlen, un drefn docynnau? A byddwn yn gwneud hynny'n rhannol trwy fasnachfreinio bysiau, ond hefyd trwy gyflwyno mwy o drenau ar y rheilffyrdd, a dyna pam mae tua £800 miliwn ar gyfer cerbydau trenau yr un mor bwysig.
Nawr, ar y rhaglenni nad oes modd eu darparu, mae yna amryw o resymau, ac nid mater o gost yn unig ydyw yn y cyfnod anodd hwn. Ceir rhesymau hefyd sy'n ymwneud â gwaith seilwaith y mae angen i Network Rail ei wneud, gwaith nad ydym yn gyfrifol amdano, sydd wedi cyfyngu ar ein cynlluniau, ond rwy'n cydnabod bod yna amryw o resymau ledled Cymru. Ac felly, byddaf yn darparu rhestr gynhwysfawr i'r Aelodau o resymau pam nad yw rhai gwasanaethau wedi'u cyflwyno yn ôl y bwriad.
Cabinet Secretary, if we are to encourage modal shift, we need a fast, reliable and truly integrated public transport network. A Swansea bay metro, which is linked to the south Wales metro and provides a regular, reliable service, is vital. As it stands, people can't depend on the train or bus network to travel to major events across the region. Cabinet Secretary, when can the people of my region of South Wales West expect fast, reliable and cheap trains and buses?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, os ydym am annog newid i ddulliau teithio, mae arnom angen rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus gyflym, ddibynadwy a gwirioneddol integredig. Mae metro bae Abertawe, sy'n gysylltiedig â metro de Cymru ac sy'n darparu gwasanaeth rheolaidd a dibynadwy, yn hanfodol. Fel y mae, ni all pobl ddibynnu ar y rhwydwaith trenau neu fysiau i deithio i ddigwyddiadau mawr ar draws y rhanbarth. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pryd y gall pobl fy rhanbarth yng Ngorllewin De Cymru ddisgwyl trenau a bysiau cyflym, dibynadwy a rhad?
Can I thank Altaf Hussain for his question, and say that there are some services that Welsh Government is not responsible for at all and which we cannot influence, unfortunately? They include the services operated by Great Western Railway. That's a responsibility that is retained by the Department for Transport. In terms of what we are responsible for, the Member will be aware that punctuality has improved quite considerably on Transport for Wales services, including in his region.
Also, together with Transport for Wales, local authorities are working on regional transport plans across Wales, including in that metro area, co-designing services and infrastructure works that will be required to deliver far better transport outcomes. The transport plans, I hope, will be completed and published this time next year, and from that we'll be able to then roll out one integrated public transport system, utilising the bus Bill.
A gaf i ddiolch i Altaf Hussain am ei gwestiwn, a dweud bod rhai gwasanaethau nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfrifol amdanynt o gwbl ac na allwn ddylanwadu arnynt, yn anffodus? Maent yn cynnwys y gwasanaethau a weithredir gan Great Western Railway. Mae hwnnw'n gyfrifoldeb a gedwir yn ôl i'r Adran Drafnidiaeth. O ran yr hyn rydym ni'n gyfrifol amdano, bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fod prydlondeb wedi gwella'n eithaf sylweddol ar wasanaethau Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gan gynnwys yn ei ranbarth ef.
Hefyd, gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, mae awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio ar gynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys yn yr ardal metro honno, yn cydgynllunio gwasanaethau a gwaith seilwaith y bydd eu hangen i gyflawni canlyniadau trafnidiaeth llawer gwell. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y cynlluniau trafnidiaeth yn cael eu cwblhau a'u cyhoeddi yr adeg hon y flwyddyn nesaf, ac o hynny ymlaen byddwn yn gallu cyflwyno un system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig, gan ddefnyddio'r Bil bysiau.
For most of my constituents, public transport means buses. It is important that buses are organised so that through travel is possible without lengthy waits. I want to highlight the need for evening bus services. Does the Minister agree that we need an integrated transport system where buses are scheduled to meet with trains? And again I will ask for Landore station to be reopened to reduce traffic on match days, and reduce city centre traffic.
I'r rhan fwyaf o fy etholwyr, mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn golygu bysiau. Mae'n bwysig fod bysiau'n cael eu trefnu fel bod teithio yn bosibl heb orfod aros yn hir. Rwyf am nodi'r angen am wasanaethau bysiau gyda'r nos. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod angen system drafnidiaeth integredig lle mae bysiau wedi'u trefnu i gysylltu â threnau? Ac unwaith eto rwy'n gofyn am ailagor gorsaf Glandŵr i leihau traffig ar ddiwrnodau gemau, a lleihau traffig yng nghanol y ddinas.
Can I thank Mike Hedges for his question? He's absolutely right: we've got a fragmented network at the moment, one that is poorly integrated. As I've mentioned on numerous occasions this afternoon, our ambition is to have one network with one timetable and one ticketing system across rail and bus services in Wales. If we can accomplish that by 2027, we'll be the first place in the United Kingdom to have done that on such scale. It will also enable us to introduce far fairer fare regimes, as I've mentioned on a number of occasions as well. In the meanwhile, we're determined to look at how we can improve bus services in the short term; I've mentioned, again, on a number of occasions the need for a bridge to franchising. Transport for Wales is working with operators on how we can deliver that bridge.
I would also agree that the new station at Landore could be a magnificent addition. Transport for Wales are developing plans for up to seven new stations in the Swansea bay area, including at Landore, and that work will result in a preferred solution this summer. But, ultimately, we're going to be relying again on the UK Government, who are responsible for rail infrastructure, to provide the funding for the necessary works to take place.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mike Hedges am ei gwestiwn? Mae'n llygad ei le: mae gennym rwydwaith tameidiog ar hyn o bryd, un sydd wedi'i integreiddio'n wael. Fel y crybwyllais sawl gwaith y prynhawn yma, ein huchelgais yw cael un rhwydwaith gydag un amserlen ac un system docynnau ar draws y gwasanaethau trenau a bysiau yng Nghymru. Os gallwn gyflawni hynny erbyn 2027, ni fydd y lle cyntaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig i fod wedi gwneud hynny ar raddfa o'r fath. Bydd hefyd yn ein galluogi i gyflwyno trefniadau tocynnau tecach o lawer, fel y nodais sawl gwaith hefyd. Yn y cyfamser, rydym yn benderfynol o edrych ar sut y gallwn wella gwasanaethau bysiau yn y tymor byr; unwaith eto, ar sawl achlysur, crybwyllais yr angen am bont tuag at fasnachfreinio. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda gweithredwyr ar sut y gallwn ddarparu'r bont honno.
Byddwn hefyd yn cytuno y gallai'r orsaf newydd yng Nglandŵr fod yn ychwanegiad gwych. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn datblygu cynlluniau ar gyfer hyd at saith gorsaf newydd yn ardal bae Abertawe, gan gynnwys Glandŵr, a bydd y gwaith hwnnw'n arwain at ateb a ffafrir yr haf hwn. Ond yn y pen draw, byddwn yn dibynnu eto ar Lywodraeth y DU, sy'n gyfrifol am seilwaith rheilffyrdd, i ddarparu'r cyllid er mwyn i'r gwaith angenrheidiol allu digwydd.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad ar weithredu prosiectau ffyrdd yn Sir Benfro? OQ61124
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the implementation of road projects in Pembrokeshire? OQ61124
Of course. We are currently upgrading the A40 between Llanddewi Velfrey and Redstone Cross, and our current list of strategic network improvements is contained within the national transport delivery plan. We'll continue to monitor sections of the network that experience congestion and identify solutions aligned with the Wales transport strategy, where required.
Wrth gwrs. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn uwchraddio'r A40 rhwng Llanddewi Felffre a Redstone Cross, ac mae ein rhestr gyfredol o welliannau rhwydwaith strategol wedi'i chynnwys yn y cynllun cyflawni cenedlaethol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth. Byddwn yn parhau i fonitro rhannau o'r rhwydwaith sy'n profi tagfeydd ac yn nodi atebion sy'n cyd-fynd â strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru, lle bo angen.
Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. You'll be aware of the Newgale coastal adaptation scheme in my constituency, given that the Welsh Government has provided funding for feasibility studies to take place. I appreciate that this potential project is the responsibility of the local authority, and it's quite clear that Pembrokeshire County Council's proposals for the road would cost millions of pounds to the taxpayer, but now the local community has put together an alternative plan that could save lots of money. So, given the significant savings that could be made, as well as the positive environmental benefits, I believe it's really important that the Welsh Government hears the community's proposals. Will the Cabinet Secretary agree to meet with me to discuss these plans further, given that the Welsh Government has already provided funding for feasibility studies to take place?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o gynllun addasu arfordirol Niwgwl yn fy etholaeth i, o gofio bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cyllid i gynnal astudiaethau dichonoldeb. Rwy'n sylweddoli mai'r awdurdod lleol sy'n gyfrifol am y prosiect posibl hwn, ac mae'n eithaf amlwg y byddai cynigion Cyngor Sir Penfro ar gyfer y ffordd yn costio miliynau o bunnoedd i'r trethdalwr, ond nawr mae'r gymuned leol wedi llunio cynllun amgen a allai arbed llawer o arian. Felly, o ystyried yr arbedion sylweddol y gellid eu gwneud, yn ogystal â'r buddion amgylcheddol cadarnhaol, credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn clywed cynigion y gymuned. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gytuno i gyfarfod â mi i drafod y cynlluniau hyn ymhellach, o gofio bod Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi darparu cyllid ar gyfer cynnal astudiaethau dichonoldeb?
I'd very much like to thank Paul Davies for the question and the invitation—this sounds intriguing. If we can deliver the outcomes at less cost, that would be fabulous. I'm very interested in what he may be able to share with us. So, yes, absolutely, I'll certainly meet with the Member and with the community.
Hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Paul Davies am y cwestiwn a'r gwahoddiad—mae hyn yn swnio'n ddiddorol. Os gallwn gyflawni'r canlyniadau am lai o gost, byddai hynny'n wych. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb mawr yn yr hyn y gallai ei rannu gyda ni. Felly, yn sicr, rwy'n barod i gyfarfod â'r Aelod a chyda'r gymuned.
Tynnwyd cwestiwn 7 [OQ61172] yn ôl.
Question 7 [OQ61172] has been withdrawn.
Cwestiwn 8, yn olaf, Delyth Jewell.
Finally, question 8, Delyth Jewell.
8. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am ddyfodol gwasanaethau bysiau yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ61130
8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the future of bus services in South Wales East? OQ61130
The provision of good-quality local bus services remains at the core of our vision to create a fully sustainable and integrated public transport system for South Wales East. As well as providing better services, we are working hard to modernise the bus fleet and passenger infrastructure right across the region.
Mae darparu gwasanaethau bysiau lleol o ansawdd da yn parhau i fod yn ganolog i'n gweledigaeth i greu system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus gwbl gynaliadwy ac integredig ar gyfer Dwyrain De Cymru. Yn ogystal â darparu gwell gwasanaethau, rydym yn gweithio'n galed i foderneiddio'r fflyd fysiau a'r seilwaith teithwyr ledled y rhanbarth.
Diolch. The 26 bus run by Stagecoach used to link Caerphilly and Cardiff via Nantgarw, but the route has been changed to run over Caerphilly mountain, replacing what was the inadequate 86 Heath hospital route. Last month, a constituent tried to catch the bus, but it was 20 minutes late and the information at the bus stop was non-existent. There were also no paper timetables available on the bus when it did turn up, as there used to be. I've asked Stagecoach about this, and changes to this route were made, I understand, because it wasn't a particularly profitable service. But how could passengers know about this change when the timetables hadn't been updated? I'm not just asking about this one particular route, Cabinet Secretary, but the point is that many people rely on buses to get to appointments, they need to know when their bus will turn up and where it's going to take them. So, would you raise this, please, with bus companies, so that when changes are made, information is accessible to passengers, not just on a website or an app, but at bus stops themselves as well?
Diolch. Roedd y bws 26 a oedd yn cael ei redeg gan Stagecoach yn arfer cysylltu Caerffili a Chaerdydd trwy Nantgarw, ond mae'r llwybr wedi ei newid i fynd dros fynydd Caerffili, yn lle'r llwybr ysbyty 86 Heath annigonol. Fis diwethaf, ceisiodd etholwr ddal y bws, ond roedd 20 munud yn hwyr ac nid oedd gwybodaeth ar gael yn y safle bws. Hefyd, nid oedd amserlenni papur ar gael ar y bws pan gyrhaeddodd, fel yr arferai fod. Rwyf wedi gofyn i Stagecoach am hyn, a deallaf fod newidiadau wedi'u gwneud i'r llwybr hwn am nad oedd yn wasanaeth arbennig o broffidiol. Ond sut y gallai teithwyr wybod am y newid pan nad oedd yr amserlenni heb eu diweddaru? Rwy'n gofyn ynghylch mwy na'r un llwybr penodol hwn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond y pwynt yw bod llawer o bobl yn dibynnu ar fysiau i gyrraedd apwyntiadau, mae angen iddynt wybod pryd y bydd eu bws yn cyrraedd a ble y bydd yn mynd â nhw. Felly, os gwelwch yn dda, a wnewch chi godi hyn gyda chwmnïau bysiau, fel bod gwybodaeth yn hygyrch i deithwyr pan wneir newidiadau, nid ar wefan neu ap yn unig, ond yn y safleoedd bysiau eu hunain hefyd?
Can I thank Delyth Jewell for this question? On the points that she raises, actually, we've found, through our research, that the primary reason people choose not to use bus services is because they fear that they're not going to be on time or they're going to be cancelled. That's more important, apparently, than the price of the ticket. And so, reliable and punctual services are vitally important, and so too is the provision of information. Many of us might use an app, but lots of us don't, and having information—live information, ideally—at bus stops is hugely important. We're thinking about this as we move forward with the bus Bill—who will take responsibility for the provision of information at bus stops, who will take responsibility for the bus stops as well. There's a lot of thought being given to how we can improve this in the longer term. In the short term, I will certainly meet with bus operators, I'll raise it with local authorities and Transport for Wales as well, because if people don't know when buses are going to turn up, they're simply not going to turn up themselves at a bus stop.
A gaf i ddiolch i Delyth Jewell am y cwestiwn hwn? Ar y pwyntiau y mae'n eu codi, rydym wedi canfod, drwy ein hymchwil, mai'r prif reswm pam mae pobl yn dewis peidio â defnyddio gwasanaethau bws yw oherwydd eu bod yn ofni na fyddant yn brydlon neu eu bod yn mynd i gael eu canslo. Mae'n ymddangos bod hynny'n bwysicach na phris y tocyn. Ac felly, mae gwasanaethau dibynadwy a phrydlon yn hanfodol bwysig, a darparu gwybodaeth hefyd. Efallai y bydd llawer ohonom yn defnyddio ap, ond mae llawer ohonom nad ydym yn gwneud hynny, ac mae cael gwybodaeth—gwybodaeth fyw, yn ddelfrydol—mewn safleoedd bysiau yn hynod bwysig. Rydym yn meddwl am hyn wrth inni symud ymlaen gyda'r Bil bysiau—pwy fydd yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am ddarparu gwybodaeth mewn safleoedd bysiau, pwy fydd yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am y safleoedd bysiau hefyd. Mae llawer o feddwl yn cael ei roi i sut y gallwn wella hyn yn y tymor hir. Yn y tymor byr, byddaf yn sicr yn cyfarfod â gweithredwyr bysiau, byddaf yn ei godi gydag awdurdodau lleol a Trafnidiaeth Cymru hefyd, oherwydd os nad yw pobl yn gwybod pryd y bydd bysiau'n cyrraedd, ni fydd pobl yn mynd i'r safleoedd bysiau yn y lle cyntaf.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Buffy Williams.
The next item is questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice. The first question is from Buffy Williams.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad ar gyllid ar gyfer y grŵp cyfleusterau chwaraeon cydweithredol? OQ61132
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on funding for the collaborative sports facilities group? OQ61132
The Welsh Government has maintained capital funding for Sport Wales at £8 million in 2024-25. The artificial turf pitch collaboration group and the court collaboration group determine successful projects following an application process.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cadw cyllid cyfalaf ar gyfer Chwaraeon Cymru ar £8 miliwn yn 2024-25. Mae'r grŵp cydweithio ar gaeau pob tywydd a'r grŵp cydweithio ar gyrtiau yn penderfynu ar brosiectau llwyddiannus yn dilyn proses ymgeisio.
Thanks to Cameron Winnett and Keiron Assiratti, Rhondda has a growing number of rugby players reaching regional and international level. Last weekend, both Ferndale and Wattstown won their mid district finals respectively. Our women's and girls' teams are also going from strength to strength, with hundreds of girls training with the Rhondda Miners, Penygraig and Treorchy. With the volume of rugby being played and at such a high standard, we're desperate in the Rhondda for a World Rugby-accredited 3G pitch with a shock pad. Meetings have been taking place recently, with a unique site identified at Coleg y Cymoedd that is already home to excellent training and playing facilities. It also has a library that can be utilised by players, parents and spectators to undertake qualifications, awareness-raising sessions and homework clubs. Partners are working tirelessly to make this a reality, but there is currently a shortfall in funding. I understand that front-line services must be protected during the cost-of-living crisis, but is the Cabinet Secretary aware of any potential funding opportunities for this site? Will she ensure the collaboration unit's budget is protected in the future? And does she agree with me that community sport can play a key role in reaching social justice?
Diolch i Cameron Winnett a Keiron Assiratti, mae gan y Rhondda nifer cynyddol o chwaraewyr rygbi sy'n cyrraedd lefel ranbarthol a rhyngwladol. Y penwythnos diwethaf, enillodd Glynrhedynog a Wattstown eu rowndiau terfynol rhanbarthol. Mae ein timau menywod a merched hefyd yn mynd o nerth i nerth, gyda channoedd o ferched yn hyfforddi gyda Rhondda Miners, Penygraig a Threorci. Gyda chymaint o rygbi'n cael ei chwarae ac ar safon mor uchel, rydym yn ysu yn y Rhondda am gae 3G wedi'i achredu gan World Rugby gyda phad sioc. Cynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd yn ddiweddar, gyda safle unigryw wedi'i nodi yng Ngholeg y Cymoedd sydd eisoes yn gartref i gyfleusterau hyfforddi a chwarae rhagorol. Mae ganddo hefyd lyfrgell y gall chwaraewyr, rhieni a gwylwyr ei defnyddio i fynd ar drywydd cymwysterau, sesiynau codi ymwybyddiaeth a chlybiau gwaith cartref. Mae partneriaid yn gweithio'n ddiflino i wireddu hyn, ond mae diffyg cyllid ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n deall bod yn rhaid diogelu gwasanaethau rheng flaen yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw, ond a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol o unrhyw gyfleoedd cyllido posibl ar gyfer y safle hwn? A wnaiff hi sicrhau bod cyllideb yr uned gydweithio'n cael ei diogelu yn y dyfodol? Ac a yw hi'n cytuno â mi y gall chwaraeon cymunedol chwarae rhan allweddol wrth gyflawni cyfiawnder cymdeithasol?
Thank you. I absolutely agree with you on that last point, and that's why I'm so pleased that culture, which obviously includes sport, and social justice have been put together in one portfolio, because I absolutely agree with you that it does play a key role. I'm very happy to congratulate both Ferndale RFC and Wattstown RFC on their recent achievements. It's another sport, but yesterday I met with the Football Association of Wales and we were talking about Wattstown from a football perspective, so clearly there's a lot going on in your constituency.
I think it's really good to hear about the very positive strides that have been taken around women and girls playing rugby. I would like that to continue very much at every level, but certainly at a community level. Investing in sporting facilities is a key commitment of ours in our programme for government. Whilst we do have budget pressures, of course, we did maintain the budget, as I said in my original answer to you, at £8 million for capital for Sport Wales. They are responsible for setting their own internal budgets, and I know they've allocated £1 million to the artificial turf pitch collaboration group and £0.5 million to the court collaboration group for this financial year.
You mentioned Coleg y Cymoedd. The provision of a 3G facility in the Rhondda, which is a priority for the WRU, has been identified as a potential solution for this. I understand the application wasn't ready to be submitted within the current year's deadline—that's now passed—but I think it's really important that all parties come together now to work towards submitting the application for the project in the next financial year.
Diolch. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ar y pwynt olaf hwnnw, a dyna pam fy mod mor falch fod diwylliant, sy'n amlwg yn cynnwys chwaraeon, a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol wedi cael eu cynnwys gyda'i gilydd mewn un portffolio, oherwydd rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ei fod yn chwarae rhan allweddol. Rwy'n falch iawn o longyfarch Clwb Rygbi Glynrhedynog a Chlwb Rygbi Wattstown ar eu llwyddiannau diweddar. Mae'n gamp arall, ond ddoe cyfarfûm â Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ac roeddem yn siarad am Wattstown o safbwynt pêl-droed, felly mae'n amlwg fod llawer yn digwydd yn eich etholaeth.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn dda iawn clywed am y camau cadarnhaol iawn sydd wedi'u cymryd gyda menywod a merched yn chwarae rygbi. Hoffwn yn fawr weld hynny'n parhau ar bob lefel, ond yn sicr ar lefel gymunedol. Mae buddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn ymrwymiad allweddol yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu. Er bod gennym bwysau cyllidebol wrth gwrs, fe wnaethom gadw'r gyllideb, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol i chi, ar £8 miliwn o gyfalaf i Chwaraeon Cymru. Maent yn gyfrifol am bennu eu cyllidebau mewnol eu hunain, ac rwy'n gwybod eu bod wedi dyrannu £1 filiwn i'r grŵp cydweithio ar gaeau pob tywydd a £0.5 miliwn i'r grŵp cydweithio ar gyrtiau ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am Goleg y Cymoedd. Mae darparu cyfleuster 3G yn y Rhondda, sy'n flaenoriaeth i URC, wedi'i nodi fel ateb posibl ar gyfer hyn. Rwy'n deall nad oedd y cais yn barod i'w gyflwyno o fewn y cyfnod ymgeisio y flwyddyn hon—mae bellach wedi dod i ben—ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod pob parti'n dod at ei gilydd nawr i weithio tuag at gyflwyno'r cais ar gyfer y prosiect yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf.
Cabinet Secretary, I recently visited the Battle Back Centre with the cross-party group on the armed forces. That centre does fantastic work supporting veterans in their recovery journey. Since the centre opened, it has helped 5,500 wounded, injured and sick service personnel with their recovery journey due to sport and recreation. That's how they actually get people back to be recovered to full fitness. They also do a lot of work with co-ordinating the Invictus Games, and I'm pleased to say that there's a lot of interest from serving Welsh personnel in entering the Invictus Games—something that's really, really positive. During our visit, we discussed the possibility of launching an accreditation scheme for sports clubs to become armed forces and veterans friendly. This scheme would encourage clubs to create a welcome and supportive collaborative environment for our veterans in our community. Cabinet Secretary, given your commitment to our armed forces and to sport, would you be willing to meet with me, Darren Millar and the Battle Back Centre to see how we can get this accreditation scheme off the ground to really make that welcoming environment for our service personnel in our sports clubs across Wales?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn ddiweddar, ymwelais â Chanolfan Battle Back gyda'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar y lluoedd arfog. Mae'r ganolfan honno'n gwneud gwaith gwych yn cefnogi cyn-filwyr ar eu taith i adferiad. Ers i'r ganolfan agor, mae wedi helpu 5,500 o bersonél gwasanaeth clwyfedig, anafedig a sâl ar eu taith i adferiad drwy chwaraeon a gweithgareddau hamdden. Dyna sut maent yn sicrhau adferiad i ffitrwydd llawn. Maent hefyd yn gwneud llawer o waith yn cydlynu Gemau Invictus, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod llawer o ddiddordeb gan bersonél Cymreig sy'n gwasanaethu mewn cystadlu yn y Gemau Invictus—rhywbeth sy'n gadarnhaol iawn. Yn ystod ein hymweliad, fe wnaethom drafod y posibilrwydd o lansio cynllun achredu i glybiau chwaraeon ddod yn gyfeillgar tuag at y lluoedd arfog a chyn-filwyr. Byddai'r cynllun hwn yn annog clybiau i greu amgylchedd cydweithredol croesawgar a chefnogol i'n cyn-filwyr yn ein cymuned. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ystyried eich ymrwymiad i'n lluoedd arfog ac i chwaraeon, a fyddech chi'n barod i gyfarfod â mi, Darren Millar a Chanolfan Battle Back i weld sut y gallwn ni gael y cynllun achredu hwn yn weithredol i sicrhau amgylchedd croesawgar o'r fath i bersonél ein gwasanaethau yn ein clybiau chwaraeon ledled Cymru?
Thank you. Yes, I'd certainly be very happy to meet with you to discuss. We do have some armed forces-specific sport schemes. As you know, we've got our free swimming scheme, for instance; that continues to provide local authorities with the funding to enable our veterans to have free access, and serving members of the armed forces as well. I think that scheme has really grown in popularity over the years, and I know that other sports are also increasing their specific offers to the armed forces and veterans community. I recently met with Tennis Wales, and they were talking about their offers as well. There's also the Blue Light Cycling Club. But you mentioned something very specific, and I'm very happy to look at innovative ways in which we can help both our armed forces and our veterans communities.
Diolch. Byddwn yn hapus iawn i gyfarfod â chi i drafod. Mae gennym gynlluniau chwaraeon sy'n benodol i'r lluoedd arfog. Fel y gwyddoch, mae gennym ein cynllun nofio am ddim, er enghraifft; mae hwnnw'n parhau i roi arian i awdurdodau lleol i alluogi ein cyn-filwyr i gael mynediad am ddim, ac aelodau o'r lluoedd arfog sy'n gwasanaethu hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod y cynllun hwnnw wedi tyfu o ran ei boblogrwydd dros y blynyddoedd, a gwn fod chwaraeon eraill hefyd yn cynyddu eu cynigion penodol i gymuned y lluoedd arfog a chyn-filwyr. Fe wneuthum gyfarfod â Tenis Cymru yn ddiweddar, ac roeddent yn sôn am eu cynigion nhw hefyd. Dyna i chi Glwb Beicio Golau Glas hefyd. Ond fe sonioch chi am rywbeth penodol iawn, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i edrych ar ffyrdd arloesol o helpu cymuned ein lluoedd arfog a chyn-filwyr.
2. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i amgueddfeydd lleol yn Aberconwy? OQ61126
2. What support is the Welsh Government providing to local museums in Aberconwy? OQ61126
Museum development support in Wales is provided directly by the Welsh Government. This support includes a workforce development programme, a capital grant fund and revenue grants delivered through the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales. All accredited local and independent museums in Aberconwy can benefit from this support.
Mae cymorth datblygu amgueddfeydd yng Nghymru yn cael ei ddarparu'n uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r cymorth hwn yn cynnwys rhaglen datblygu'r gweithlu, cronfa grantiau cyfalaf a grantiau refeniw a ddarperir drwy Ffederasiwn Amgueddfeydd ac Orielau Celf Cymru. Gall pob amgueddfa leol ac annibynnol achrededig yn Aberconwy elwa o'r gefnogaeth hon.
Thank you. I rise today to seek some support and funding opportunity for Llandudno Museum & Gallery, a museum that was formed in 1925 by Francis Edouard Chardon. They host school workshops and are really trying to make this a key all-weather attraction in north Wales. They hold over 9,000 artifacts and they also do a lot of educational programmes on natural history, geology, fine art, social history and military history. As one of your own party colleagues, Alun Davies, has said, the politics of devolution has seen this Government deliberately take a decision to deprioritise culture funding in terms of its overall budget—not just because of the crisis today or yesterday, but over the period of devolved self-government. We've seen cuts in the Welsh Government's 2024-25 budget pushing arts funding down the pecking order once again. The cutting away of these institutions that hold the history of Wales is harming centres across the country such as Llandudno Museum. They need extra funding now. They're seeing higher bills, they need staff, and they need all that just to keep the doors open. What plans do you have in place? Do you know of any grant funding that maybe they're not accessing at the moment? I know you've been to it, and I know that's going to come in your response. It is fantastic and the thought of it closing its doors would horrify the people of Aberconwy, but also our visitors who rely on this as a tourism destination.
Diolch. Rwy'n codi heddiw i ofyn am gefnogaeth a chyfle ariannu i Amgueddfa ac Oriel Llandudno, amgueddfa a ffurfiwyd ym 1925 gan Francis Edouard Chardon. Maent yn cynnal gweithdai i ysgolion ac yn ceisio gwneud hwn yn atyniad pob tywydd allweddol yng ngogledd Cymru. Mae ganddynt dros 9,000 o arteffactau ac maent hefyd yn gwneud llawer o raglenni addysgol ar hanes byd natur, daeareg, celfyddyd gain, hanes cymdeithasol a hanes milwrol. Fel y dywedodd un o gyd-Aelodau eich plaid eich hun, Alun Davies, mae gwleidyddiaeth datganoli wedi gweld y Llywodraeth hon yn fwriadol yn penderfynu dadflaenoriaethu cyllid i ddiwylliant yn ei chyllideb gyffredinol—nid yn unig oherwydd yr argyfwng heddiw neu ddoe, ond dros gyfnod hunanlywodraeth ddatganoledig. Rydym wedi gweld toriadau yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2024-25 yn gwthio cyllid i'r celfyddydau i lawr yn is unwaith eto. Mae torri'r sefydliadau yma sy'n dal hanes Cymru yn niweidio canolfannau ar draws y wlad fel Amgueddfa Llandudno. Mae angen arian ychwanegol arnynt nawr. Maent yn gweld biliau uwch, maent angen staff, ac maent angen hyn i gyd i ddim ond cadw'r drysau ar agor. Pa gynlluniau sydd gennych ar waith? A ydych chi'n gwybod am unrhyw gyllid grant nad ydynt yn ei gael ar hyn o bryd efallai? Rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi bod yno, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd hynny'n dod yn eich ymateb. Mae'n wych a byddai'r syniad ohono'n cau ei ddrysau yn arswydo pobl Aberconwy, ond hefyd ein hymwelwyr sy'n dibynnu arno fel cyrchfan twristiaid.
I wasn't going to say, 'I visited', but, as you say, I have. I'm trying to remember if it was in 2021 or—. I think it was 2021 I visited. I remember I had to wear a face covering, so it was around that time. And I'm ashamed to say it was the first time I visited it. When you think I come from just along the coast, it was actually the first time I'd visited it.
I know Welsh Government has provided funding to the Llandudno Museum via its grants programme, administered by the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, as I referred to in my original answer. I think they've also received funding for bespoke events also, so I'm not aware of any funding that they haven't accessed. But I fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation our arts and culture sector are currently facing.
Nid oeddwn yn mynd i ddweud, 'Fe ymwelais', ond fel y dywedwch, fe wneuthum. Rwy'n ceisio cofio ai yn 2021 neu—. Rwy'n credu mai yn 2021 yr ymwelais â'r lle. Rwy'n cofio bod yn rhaid imi wisgo gorchudd wyneb, felly roedd hi tua'r adeg honno. Ac mae arnaf gywilydd dweud mai dyma'r tro cyntaf i mi ymweld â'r lle. Pan fyddwch chi'n meddwl fy mod i'n dod o ychydig ymhellach draw ar hyd yr arfordir, dyma'r tro cyntaf imi ymweld â'r lle.
Rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cyllid i Amgueddfa Llandudno drwy ei rhaglen grantiau, a weinyddir gan Ffederasiwn Amgueddfeydd ac Orielau Celf Cymru, fel y nodais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol. Rwy'n credu eu bod hefyd wedi derbyn cyllid ar gyfer digwyddiadau arbennig, felly nid wyf yn ymwybodol o unrhyw gyllid nad ydynt wedi'i gael. Ond rwy'n llwyr ddeall difrifoldeb y sefyllfa y mae ein sector celfyddydau a diwylliant yn ei hwynebu ar hyn o bryd.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Laura Anne Jones.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Welsh Conservatives spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. For those who witnessed the wonderful spectacle on the steps of the Senedd yesterday by the Welsh National Opera, the orchestra and the chorus, performing the Easter Hymn, conducted by Maestro Carlo Rizzi, I think it's plain to see why you need to do all that you can, Cabinet Secretary, to protect this world-class institution.
Cabinet Secretary, over the past few weeks, various Members, including myself, Rhianon Passmore from your own benches, and many Members across this Chamber, have been relaying their concern and outrage about the cuts to the Welsh National Opera. The crisis, of course, threatens the future of our flagship arts organisation and the only full-time opera company here in Wales. The Welsh National Opera is a jewel in Wales’s crown. It is the largest arts employer, created in the 1940s by a group of doctors, miners and teachers who wished to build a performing ensemble that would live up to our reputation as the land of song.
The Welsh National Opera currently stands on a precipice, having received cuts from both the arts councils of Wales and England that amount to 25 per cent of its yearly budget. This is clearly untenable. Unless further financial help can be found, WNO is going to be forced to make the orchestra and chorus—the beating heart of their company—part-time. It's already scaling back, as you know, Cabinet Secretary, its touring venues, and has already offered voluntary redundancy to the rest of its company. This will result in a vital loss of skills across the organisation. You will, of course, be aware—
Diolch, Lywydd. I'r rhai a welodd y sioe hyfryd ar risiau'r Senedd ddoe gan Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, y gerddorfa a'r corws, yn perfformio Emyn y Pasg, dan arweiniad y Maestro Carlo Rizzi, rwy'n credu ei bod yn amlwg pam mae angen i chi wneud popeth a allwch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, i ddiogelu'r sefydliad hwn sydd o safon fyd-eang.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, mae amryw o Aelodau, gan fy nghynnwys i, Rhianon Passmore o'ch meinciau eich hun, a llawer o Aelodau ar draws y Siambr hon, wedi bod yn cyfleu eu pryder a'u dicter am y toriadau i Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. Mae'r argyfwng, wrth gwrs, yn bygwth dyfodol ein sefydliad celfyddydol blaenllaw a'r unig gwmni opera llawn amser yma yng Nghymru. Mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn un o drysorau Cymru. Dyma'r cyflogwr mwyaf ym myd y celfyddydau, ac fe'i crëwyd yn y 1940au gan grŵp o feddygon, glowyr ac athrawon a oedd yn dymuno adeiladu ensemble perfformio a fyddai'n gwneud cyfiawnder â'r enw a roddir i ni fel gwlad y gân.
Ar hyn o bryd, mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn sefyll ar ymyl y dibyn, ar ôl wynebu toriadau gan gynghorau celfyddydau Cymru a Lloegr sy'n cyfateb i 25 y cant o'i chyllideb flynyddol. Mae hyn yn amlwg yn anghynaliadwy. Oni bai bod modd dod o hyd i gymorth ariannol pellach, mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn mynd i gael ei orfodi i wneud y gerddorfa a'r corws—calon eu cwmni—yn rhan-amser. Fel y gwyddoch chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae eisoes yn torri'n ôl ar ei leoliadau teithio, ac mae eisoes wedi cynnig diswyddo gwirfoddol i weddill y cwmni. Bydd hyn yn arwain at golli sgiliau hanfodol ar draws y sefydliad. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol wrth gwrs—
I think the Cabinet Secretary is aware by now. Can you come to your question, please? I've been very generous.
Rwy'n credu bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol erbyn hyn. A wnewch chi ddod at eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda? Rwyf wedi bod yn hael iawn.
Diolch, Llywydd. You'll, of course, be aware of the nearly 10,000-strong petition now to protect the WNO, and so I just wanted to ask you what recent discussions you have had with the UK Government regarding the Welsh National Opera. Can you today ease the current fears and assure us that you'll do everything that you can to ensure the future of the WNO?
Diolch, Lywydd. Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r ddeiseb o bron i 10,000 o bobl yn galw am ddiogelu Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, ac felly roeddwn eisiau gofyn i chi pa drafodaethau a gawsoch yn ddiweddar gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. A allwch chi leddfu'r ofnau presennol a'n sicrhau y byddwch chi'n gwneud popeth yn eich gallu i sicrhau dyfodol Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru?
Very unusually, I disagree with very little of what Laura Anne Jones has said. Have we ever heard a protest like that on the Senedd steps? I don't think so. It was truly incredible. I fully appreciate the concerns around the Welsh National Opera. I met with them yesterday to discuss what they’re doing to mitigate the impact of the funding cuts. When I came into this portfolio, I found it very unusual to have an organisation funded by the Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England. I was very interested in how that set-up had come about.
I personally believe the WNO is probably one of our most global export successes. I was very fortunate to see them in Dubai when I was there for Gulfood in the previous portfolio, and the work they did with Welsh people and Welsh schoolchildren out in Dubai. There are so many aspects of the WNO. I have attended an inter-ministerial group on culture and sport with Lucy Frazer, Angus Robertson and the Northern Ireland Minister to discuss what we can do around this. I have committed to do all I can to see if there is anything further we can do in this financial year.
I won't repeat the difficulties that the Government is facing with our budget, but, clearly, I think it's fair to say that the cut that came from Arts Council England came overnight. It was very, very significant, and I think it was a complete shock. So, I do need to probably have a further discussion. Whilst I appreciate that both Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales are arm's-length bodies from the Government, and we wouldn't interfere with their funding decisions, I think there is a need now to have that discussion directly with Arts Council England, just so that I can understand this very unique way of funding an organisation.
Yn anarferol iawn, rwy'n cytuno â llawer iawn o'r hyn mae Laura Anne Jones wedi'i ddweud. A ydym ni erioed wedi clywed protest fel honno ar risiau'r Senedd? Nid wyf yn credu hynny. Roedd yn wirioneddol anhygoel. Rwy'n deall yn llwyr y pryderon ynghylch Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. Cyfarfûm â nhw ddoe i drafod beth maent yn ei wneud i liniaru effaith y toriadau ariannol. Pan gefais y portffolio hwn, roedd hi'n anarferol iawn cael sefydliad wedi'i ariannu gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Lloegr. Roedd gennyf ddiddordeb mawr yn y ffordd y daeth y trefniant hwnnw i fodolaeth.
Yn bersonol, credaf mai Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yw un o'n llwyddiannau allforio byd-eang mwyaf. Roeddwn i'n ffodus iawn o'u gweld yn Dubai pan oeddwn yno ar gyfer Gulfood yn y portffolio blaenorol, a'r gwaith a wnaethant gyda phobl Cymru a phlant ysgol Cymru allan yn Dubai. Mae cymaint o agweddau ar Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. Rwyf wedi mynychu grŵp rhyng-weinidogol ar ddiwylliant a chwaraeon gyda Lucy Frazer, Angus Robertson a Gweinidog Gogledd Iwerddon i drafod yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud ar hyn. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i wneud popeth a allaf i weld a oes unrhyw beth pellach y gallwn ei wneud yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Nid wyf am ailadrodd yr anawsterau y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu hwynebu gyda'n cyllideb, ond yn amlwg, rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud bod y toriad a ddaeth gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Lloegr wedi dod dros nos. Roedd yn arwyddocaol iawn, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn sioc lwyr. Felly, mae'n debyg y bydd angen imi gael trafodaeth bellach. Er fy mod yn deall bod Cyngor Celfyddydau Lloegr a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru yn gyrff hyd braich oddi ar y Llywodraeth, ac na fyddem yn ymyrryd â'u penderfyniadau ariannu, rwy'n credu bod angen cael y drafodaeth honno'n uniongyrchol gyda Chyngor Celfyddydau Lloegr nawr, er mwyn imi allu deall y ffordd unigryw hon o ariannu sefydliad.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. It's great to hear that you will look into that and that you will work further to understand that and hopefully come to a positive conclusion along with people across the border.
I want to say that, as well as, of course, as you've mentioned, the Welsh National Opera being world-renowned far and wide across our globe, they also do an awful lot of work within our community and on the ground. And there are concerns that the Wellness with WNO programme will be in jeopardy following these cuts as well—a programme that was extended in 2003 because of its recognised results, like improvements in mental health, improvements in confidence, positive emotions and feelings and suppressing anxiety, depression and panic for those who are on that programme. This is obviously something that I don't think any of us would want to see not continue, and we want to see it protected. So, in that vein, even though the Arts Council of Wales is arm's length, as you said earlier, from the Welsh Government and the WNO, will you reassure us today, Cabinet Secretary, that you will do all that you can to protect this renowned, now flagship service, that is Wellness with WNO, and protect its future? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae'n wych clywed y byddwch yn edrych ar hynny ac y byddwch yn gwneud gwaith pellach i ddeall hynny ac yn dod i gasgliad cadarnhaol gyda phobl dros y ffin, gobeithio.
Hoffwn ddweud, yn ogystal â'r ffaith, wrth gwrs, fel rydych wedi sôn, fod Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn fyd-enwog ar hyd a lled y byd, eu bod hefyd yn gwneud llawer iawn o waith yn ein cymuned ac ar lawr gwlad. Ac mae pryderon y bydd y rhaglen Lles gyda WNO mewn perygl yn dilyn y toriadau hyn hefyd—rhaglen a gafodd ei hymestyn yn 2003 oherwydd ei chanlyniadau cydnabyddedig, fel gwelliannau iechyd meddwl, gwelliannau i hyder, emosiynau cadarnhaol a theimladau ac atal gorbryder, iselder a phanig i'r rhai sy'n cymryd rhan yn y rhaglen. Nid wyf yn credu y byddai unrhyw un ohonom eisiau gweld hyn yn dod i ben, ac rydym eisiau iddo gael ei ddiogelu. Felly, o ran hynny, er bod Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, fel y dywedoch chi'n gynharach, yn gorff hyd braich oddi ar Lywodraeth Cymru ac Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, a wnewch chi ein sicrhau ni heddiw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, y byddwch chi'n gwneud popeth yn eich gallu i ddiogelu'r gwasanaeth enwog hwn sydd bellach yn flaenllaw, sef Lles gyda WNO, a diogelu ei ddyfodol? Diolch.
So, I don't think you need to take my word for it. The WNO—one of the people who I met with yesterday, their finance director, Stephanie, was at great pains to tell me of all the work that they're doing to support that service, because they absolutely recognise the importance of it. I have committed to go and visit somewhere where I can see this service being undertaken, probably in the summer recess, because I think it's very important, as you say, that we don't just focus on their amazing productions. It is about all the other work: I mentioned the education work that they do; you now mentioned the work that they do within the health sphere. So, I think they themselves want to protect it. But my commitment to them yesterday—I met with the chair and their interim chief executive—was to do all that I can to help them get through this very difficult period.
Felly, nid wyf yn credu bod angen i chi gymryd fy ngair i ar hyn. O ran Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru—roedd un o'r bobl y gwneuthum gyfarfod â nhw ddoe, eu cyfarwyddwr cyllid, Stephanie, yn awyddus iawn i ddweud wrthyf am yr holl waith y maent yn ei wneud i gefnogi'r gwasanaeth hwnnw, oherwydd maent yn cydnabod ei bwysigrwydd yn llwyr. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i ymweld â rhywle lle gallaf weld y gwasanaeth hwn yn cael ei gynnal, yn ystod toriad yr haf yn ôl pob tebyg, oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn, fel y dywedwch, nad ydym yn canolbwyntio ar eu cynyrchiadau anhygoel yn unig. Mae'n ymwneud â'r holl waith arall: soniais am y gwaith addysg y maent yn ei wneud; rydych newydd sôn am y gwaith a wnânt ym maes iechyd. Felly, rwy'n credu eu bod nhw eu hunain eisiau ei ddiogelu. Ond fy ymrwymiad iddynt ddoe—cyfarfûm â'r cadeirydd a'u prif weithredwr dros dro—oedd y byddwn yn gwneud popeth yn fy ngallu i'w helpu drwy'r cyfnod anodd hwn.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Well, it's good to hear that, but, of course, we need more than words—we need urgent action now with all that is at risk, which we have both outlined today. Without our arts and culture, we are nothing as a nation; without our arts and culture, we lose so much of our unique history here in Wales and all that makes us proudly Welsh. Without our art and culture, Wales loses its very best talent and we are the poorer for it.
We have a long-standing history of our arts enriching our culture, boosting our economy and making Wales a better place in which to live, perform and to visit. Now is not the time, obviously, to give up on the sector—now's the time to double down, as you've just said, and ensure that future generations get to enjoy the richness that all of our arts have to offer and make sure that it's for everyone, not just those who can afford it—those with money.
What the sector is crying out for is a structure and a plan in place now to ensure that funding cuts and threats like this will not happen in the future, because once it's gone, it's gone. So, Cabinet Secretary, I ask you again: can you ease current fears and ensure that long-term funding plans will now be in place with the Arts Council of Wales, through capital funding, to secure everything that we love dearly here in Wales?
Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Wel, mae'n dda clywed hynny, ond wrth gwrs, mae angen mwy na geiriau arnom—rydym angen camau gweithredu brys nawr mewn perthynas â phopeth sydd mewn perygl, fel y mae'r ddau ohonom wedi eu hamlinellu heddiw. Heb ein celfyddydau a'n diwylliant, nid ydym yn ddim fel cenedl; heb ein celfyddydau a'n diwylliant, rydym yn colli cymaint o'n hanes unigryw yma yng Nghymru a phopeth sy'n ein gwneud yn falch o fod yn Gymry. Heb ein celfyddydau a'n diwylliant, mae Cymru'n colli ei doniau gorau a ni sydd ar ein colled o ganlyniad i hynny.
Mae gennym hanes hirsefydlog o'n celfyddydau'n cyfoethogi ein diwylliant, yn rhoi hwb i'n heconomi ac yn gwneud Cymru'n lle gwell i fyw, perfformio ac ymweld ag ef. Nid nawr yw'r amser, yn amlwg, i roi'r ffidl yn y to mewn perthynas â'r sector—dyma'r amser i ddyblu ein hymdrechion, fel rydych chi newydd ddweud, a sicrhau bod cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn gallu mwynhau'r cyfoeth sydd gan ein holl gelfyddydau i'w gynnig a gwneud yn siŵr ei fod ar gyfer pawb, nid dim ond y rhai sy'n gallu ei fforddio—y rhai sydd ag arian.
Yr hyn y mae'r sector yn crefu amdano yw strwythur a chynllun ar waith i sicrhau na fydd toriadau a bygythiadau fel hyn yn digwydd yn y dyfodol, oherwydd pan fydd wedi mynd, fe fydd wedi mynd am byth. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gofynnaf i chi eto: a allwch chi leddfu pryderon cyfredol a sicrhau y bydd yna gynlluniau cyllido hirdymor ar waith nawr gyda Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, drwy gyllid cyfalaf, i ddiogelu popeth a garwn yma yng Nghymru?
Well, the Member will appreciate that I can't offer any long-term surety, because we don't know what our budget will be. We assume we're going to get another multi-year settlement, but we don't know. So, unfortunately, I can't offer the assurance. What I can offer is an assurance that I will work with the sector very closely.
You may be aware that we're just about to launch our priorities for culture consultation. I've been questioned as to why we should go ahead with that, and when I came into the portfolio, I had been working with Siân Gwenllian on that, as part of the co-operation agreement, but I did ask to have a little—not pause, but just to make sure that this was the right time. And having looked at the very exciting consultation document that we will be launching, I do think it's the right time, because one of our—. Well, we've got three priorities and the first one absolutely fits in with your point about it not just being for people who can afford it—it's about that accessibility for everybody. The second priority within the consultation will be us as a nation of culture, and the third will be to make the sector sustainable and resilient. And the point that you make about losing talent is very pertinent, because we don't want our singers and musicians, for instance, to go elsewhere—we want to keep them here in Wales.
So, what I'm trying to look at is—. The budgets aren't going to increase significantly in the very near future, but we need to look at ways of working, we need to look at ways we work with our partners, and perhaps be a little bit more creative in our thinking. So, I'm absolutely committed to that.
Wel, fe fydd yr Aelod yn deall na allaf gynnig unrhyw sicrwydd hirdymor, oherwydd nid ydym yn gwybod beth fydd ein cyllideb. Rydym yn tybio y byddwn yn cael setliad amlflwyddyn arall, ond nid ydym yn gwybod. Felly, yn anffodus, ni allaf gynnig y sicrwydd hwnnw. Yr hyn y gallaf ei gynnig yw sicrwydd y byddaf yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r sector.
Efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol ein bod ar fin lansio ein dogfen ymgynghori ar flaenoriaethau ar gyfer diwylliant. Holwyd i mi pam y dylem fwrw ymlaen â hwnnw, a phan ddeuthum i'r swydd, roeddwn wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Siân Gwenllian ar hwnnw, fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio, ond fe ofynnais am rywfaint o—nid seibiant, ond amser i wneud yn siŵr mai dyma'r adeg iawn. Ac ar ôl edrych ar y ddogfen ymgynghori gyffrous iawn y byddwn yn ei lansio, rwy'n credu mai dyma'r amser iawn, oherwydd roedd un o'n—. Wel, mae gennym dair blaenoriaeth ac mae'r cyntaf yn cyd-fynd yn llwyr â'ch pwynt chi nad rhywbeth ar gyfer pobl sy'n gallu ei fforddio yn unig ydyw—mae'n ymwneud â hygyrchedd i bawb. Bydd yr ail flaenoriaeth yn yr ymgynghoriad yn ymwneud â ni fel cenedl ddiwylliant, a bydd y drydedd yn ymwneud â sicrhau bod y sector yn gynaliadwy ac yn wydn. Ac mae'r pwynt a wnewch ynglŷn â cholli talent yn berthnasol iawn, oherwydd nid ydym eisiau i'n cantorion a'n cerddorion, er enghraifft, fynd i rywle arall—rydym eisiau eu cadw yma yng Nghymru.
Felly, yr hyn rwy'n ceisio edrych arno yw—. Ni fydd y cyllidebau'n cynyddu'n sylweddol yn y dyfodol agos iawn, ond mae angen inni edrych ar ffyrdd o weithio, mae angen inni edrych ar sut rydym yn gweithio gyda'n partneriaid, a bod ychydig yn fwy creadigol yn ein meddylfryd efallai. Felly, rwy'n gwbl ymrwymedig i hynny.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Heledd Fychan.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Llywydd. Gaf i groesawu'n fawr y sylwadau dŷch chi newydd eu gwneud fel ymateb i Laura Anne Jones? Mi gawsom ni i gyd ein swyno, ein cyfareddu, ddoe y tu allan i'r Senedd, a dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni i gyd angen cael ein hatgoffa weithiau o bwysigrwydd y pethau yna, o ran ein hiechyd a'n hiechyd meddwl ni hefyd. Maen nhw'n ysgogi pobl mewn ffyrdd hollol wahanol, fel oedd yn amlwg o'r dorf. Ond yn amlwg, yr wythnos diwethaf, mi wnaethom ni hefyd glywed bod Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru yn edrych i dorri eu gwersi cerddoriaeth ac actio i blant a phobl ifanc, gan olygu mai dyma fydd yr unig goleg cerdd a drama yn y Deyrnas Unedig heb adran iau. Ar y penwythnos, mi gyhoeddodd y BBC erthygl yn dyfynnu Michael Sheen, sydd ar hyn o bryd wedi bod yn portreadu Aneurin Bevan yn y cynhyrchiad Nye. Disgrifiodd y toriadau i'n cyrff diwylliannol fel
Thank you, Llywydd. May I warmly welcome the comments that you've just made in response to Laura Anne Jones? We were all enchanted yesterday outside of the Senedd, and I think we all sometimes need to be reminded of the importance of those things, in terms of our health and our mental health too. They inspire people in very different ways, as was clear from the audience there yesterday. But clearly, last week, we heard also that the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama were looking to cut their music lessons and acting lessons for children and young people, meaning that this will be the only college of music and drama in the UK without a youth department. At the weekend, the BBC published an article quoting Michael Sheen, who has currently been portraying Aneurin Bevan in the production Nye. He described the cuts in the culture sphere as
'an attack on culture in Wales'.
'ymosodiad ar ddiwylliant yng Nghymru'.
Beth ydy eich asesiad chi o effaith y toriadau ar ein sectorau diwylliannol a chelfyddydol yng Nghymru, ac a ydych chi'n deall ac yn rhannu pryderon pobl fel Michael Sheen?
What's your assessment of the impact of cuts on our cultural and arts sectors in Wales, and do you understand and share the concerns of people like Michael Sheen?
Of course I recognise the concerns. You will have heard my answers to Laura Anne Jones about looking to see what I can do to support the sector. And I do think it's absolutely the right time to launch the consultation, and we will be doing that this week. Because I think it's really important that we get the responses to the consultation, to see how we can support it; apart from funding, what else we can do. And as I say, I don't underestimate the seriousness. It's arts and culture—you heard me say previously I've always thought that culture is the great redeemer of life, and it does have a bearing on our health, and it does have a bearing on our well-being. So, I will continue to work closely—. I will continue to work closely with the Arts Council of Wales, particularly, to see what—. They've had the investment review, for instance. I think it's really important that we bring all the pieces together.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n cydnabod y pryderon. Byddwch wedi clywed fy atebion i Laura Anne Jones ynglŷn ag edrych i weld beth y gallaf ei wneud i gefnogi'r sector. Ac rwy'n credu mai dyma'r amser iawn i lansio'r ymgynghoriad, a byddwn yn gwneud hynny yr wythnos hon. Oherwydd credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad, i weld sut y gallwn ei gefnogi; ar wahân i gyllid, beth arall y gallwn ei wneud? Ac fel y dywedais, nid wyf yn tanamcangyfrif difrifoldeb y mater. Mae'n ymwneud â chelfyddydau a diwylliant—rydych wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud o'r blaen fy mod i bob amser wedi meddwl mai diwylliant yw achubwr mawr bywyd, ac mae'n cael effaith ar ein hiechyd, ac mae'n cael effaith ar ein llesiant. Felly, byddaf yn parhau i weithio'n agos—. Byddaf yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, yn enwedig, i weld beth—. Maent wedi cael yr adolygiad buddsoddi, er enghraifft. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn dod â'r holl ddarnau ynghyd.
Thank you for that response. You'll appreciate that a number of comments have been made that have been specifically critical of the Welsh Government's approach to culture and the arts to date. The Welsh writer of the play Nye, Tim Price, was vocal in his concern, stating
'Welsh theatre is in crisis with the cuts, still waiting for a theatre strategy from Arts Council Wales.'
And he went on to say:
'I think the Welsh Government doesn’t value arts in the same way that the other nations and regions and I think that’s going to have a huge impact on wellbeing and on the economy.'
I must say that, since you've been in post, I have appreciated the change in tone, and I am certain that you do get it, as the Cabinet Secretary. But can I ask, are you a lone voice in Government, or do you see a much-needed shift from your colleagues, to not only secure the future of these much-loved institutions but to support them in maximising their impact? You talked previously of finding out about Amgueddfa Cymru's work in terms of education and so on. We know that they do contribute, in terms of the contribution they make, in terms of health and social justice. So, how do we secure that the investment just doesn't come from the portfolio in terms of culture, but across Government?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Fe fyddwch yn deall bod nifer o sylwadau wedi'u gwneud sydd wedi bod yn feirniadol yn benodol o ddull Llywodraeth Cymru o ymdrin â diwylliant a'r celfyddydau hyd yma. Mae awdur Cymreig y ddrama Nye, Tim Price, wedi lleisio ei bryder, gan ddatgan
'Mae'r theatr yng Nghymru mewn argyfwng yn sgil y toriadau, ac yn dal i aros am strategaeth theatr gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru.'
Aeth rhagddo i ddweud:
'Nid wyf yn credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweld gwerth y celfyddydau yn yr un ffordd ag y mae gwledydd a rhanbarthau eraill yn ei wneud ac rwy'n credu y bydd hynny'n cael effaith enfawr ar lesiant ac ar yr economi.'
Rhaid i mi ddweud, ers i chi ddod i'r swydd, rwyf wedi gwerthfawrogi'r newid cywair ac rwy'n sicr eich bod yn deall, fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ond a gaf i ofyn, ai chi yw'r unig lais yn y Llywodraeth, neu a ydych chi'n gweld newid mawr ei angen gan eich cyd-Aelodau, nid yn unig i sicrhau dyfodol y sefydliadau annwyl hyn ond i'w cefnogi i wneud y gorau o'u heffaith? Rydych chi wedi sôn yn y gorffennol eich bod wedi cael gwybod am waith Amgueddfa Cymru mewn addysg ac yn y blaen. Rydym yn gwybod eu bod yn cyfrannu, o ran y cyfraniad a wnânt i iechyd a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Felly, sut mae sicrhau nad yw'r buddsoddiad ond yn dod o'r portffolio diwylliant yn unig, ond o bob rhan o'r Llywodraeth?
No, I'm not a lone voice at all. I had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language around the export value of the WNO. He absolutely fully appreciates that. I've had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Education around Amgueddfa Cymru, as you just referred to. I mentioned the well-being service that the WNO are doing. So, I absolutely am not a lone voice, and I really want to reassure you about that. Nobody wants to make budget cuts, not anybody; none of us come into politics to make budget cuts, but we did face some really significant cuts. So, I really want to reassure everybody that the Welsh Government recognises how important the culture sector, our sports sector, our arts sectors are to all of us.
You mentioned in an earlier answer about the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I know, again, that that's caused another layer of apprehension for people, and I really appreciate that that could have an impact on the provision of music, particularly for our young people. So, whilst that's an autonomous body, it's just another layer, really, and another area of concern.
Na, nid fi yw'r unig lais o gwbl. Cefais drafodaeth gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a'r Gymraeg ynghylch gwerth allforio Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. Mae'n deall hynny'n iawn. Rwyf wedi cael trafodaeth gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg mewn perthynas ag Amgueddfa Cymru, fel y gwnaethoch chi nodi. Soniais am y gwasanaeth llesiant y mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn ei ddarparu. Felly, nid fi yw'r unig lais o gwbl, ac rwyf eisiau eich sicrhau o hynny. Nid oes neb eisiau gwneud toriadau i'r gyllideb, neb; nid oes yr un ohonom yn dod i'r byd gwleidyddol i wneud toriadau i'r gyllideb, ond rydym wedi wynebu toriadau gwirioneddol sylweddol. Felly, rwyf eisiau sicrhau pawb fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw'r sector diwylliant, ein sector chwaraeon, a'n sectorau celfyddydol i bob un ohonom.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn mewn ateb cynharach am Goleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru. Rwy'n gwybod, unwaith eto, fod hynny wedi creu haen arall o bryder i bobl, ac rwy'n sylweddoli'n iawn y gallai hynny gael effaith ar ddarpariaeth cerddoriaeth, yn enwedig i'n pobl ifanc. Felly, er bod hwnnw'n gorff annibynnol, mae'n haen arall, a maes arall, sy'n peri pryder.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi. Yn amlwg, mae yna gysylltiad, onid oes, rhwng yr holl doriadau yma o ran y sector yn gyfan gwbl. Ac, yn amlwg, mae'r strategaeth ddiwylliant yma yn hirddisgwyliedig, ond mi fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol hefyd ein bod ni wedi cytuno bod yr adnoddau oedd ar gael wedi mynd at liniaru'r toriadau mwyaf diweddar.
Felly, un o'r pethau y byddwn i yn hoffi gofyn i chi yw, gyda'r sefyllfa ariannol a'r lefel o doriadau ledled Cymru—a ddim dim ond gan Lywodraeth Cymru—mor ddyrys, oes yna asesiad effaith wedi'i gomisiynu o ran beth ydy'r sefyllfa o ran diwylliant a'r celfyddydau yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd? Ac os felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i'w rannu gyda ni fel Aelodau o'r Senedd? Ond os does yna ddim, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gomisiynu asesiad effaith fel bod y strategaeth ddiwylliant derfynol yn un a fydd yn sicrhau dyfodol y sectorau hyn a'r gweithlu? Oherwydd mae yna wastad risg, onid oes, y byddwn ni'n gofyn i bobl fod yn cyflawni ar y strategaeth yma, ond efallai na fyddan nhw'n bodoli, a rhai o'r gwasanaethau dŷn ni'n cymryd yn ganiataol rŵan ddim yn bodoli. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni ddeall beth ydy'r sefyllfa, beth fydd y sefyllfa, er mwyn i'r strategaeth honno fod yn un llwyddiannus.
Thank you very much. Clearly, there is a link between all of these cuts in terms of the broader sector. And, clearly, the culture strategy has been long awaited, but you will be aware too that we had agreed that the resources available should go to mitigating the most recent cuts.
So, one of the things I would like to ask you is: given the financial situation and the level of cuts across Wales—and not just from Welsh Government—being so complex, has there been an impact assessment commissioned in terms of what the situation actually is for culture and the arts in Wales at the moment? And if so, will you commit to share that with us as Members of the Senedd? But if there is no such assessment, will you commit to commissioning an impact assessment, so that the final culture strategy is one that will ensure the future of this sector and the workforce? Because there's always a risk that we will ask people to deliver against the strategy, but perhaps they won't be there anymore, and some of the services that we now take for granted won't exist any longer. So, we need to understand what the situation is and what the situation will be, in order for that strategy to be successful.
Diolch. I think it was really important that we launched the consultation. As I say, we're doing that this week, and I really pay tribute to the work that Siân Gwenllian has done with us, and Plaid Cymru, as part of the co-operation agreement. And as you say, the funding that I think had been set aside towards an implementation plan, following the consultation responses, was put to mitigate job losses. And I think that was absolutely the right thing to do. We needed to protect people's livelihoods.
So, I think the best thing now is to get the consultation out there. I've asked for an extended consultation, because as it's over the summer, I always find that you don't get the responses back quite so quickly. So, it's really important—so I've extended it a little bit, only a couple of weeks—to get those responses back, and then we need to bring forward an implementation plan. And at that time, I think we need to make sure there is funding available for the implementation plan.
As far as I know, no impact assessment has been looked into as yet, but it's certainly something I'm happy to consider.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn lansio'r ymgynghoriad. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn gwneud hynny yr wythnos hon, a hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r gwaith y mae Siân Gwenllian wedi'i wneud gyda ni, a Phlaid Cymru, fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio. Ac fel y dywedwch, yn dilyn yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad rwy'n credu bod yr arian a oedd wedi'i neilltuo ar gyfer cynllun gweithredu wedi ei roi tuag at liniaru colli swyddi. Ac rwy'n credu mai dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud. Roedd angen inni ddiogelu bywoliaeth pobl.
Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r peth gorau i'w wneud nawr yw cael yr ymgynghoriad allan yno. Rwyf wedi gofyn am ymgynghoriad estynedig, oherwydd, am ei fod dros yr haf, rwyf bob amser yn gweld nad ydych yn cael yr ymatebion yn ôl mor gyflym. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn—felly rwyf wedi'i ymestyn rywfaint, wythnos neu ddwy—i gael yr ymatebion hynny yn ôl, ac yna mae angen inni gyflwyno cynllun gweithredu. Ac ar yr adeg honno, rwy'n credu bod angen inni sicrhau bod yna gyllid ar gael ar gyfer y cynllun gweithredu.
Hyd y gwn i, nid oes unrhyw asesiad effaith wedi'i ystyried hyd yma, ond mae'n sicr yn rhywbeth rwy'n hapus i'w ystyried.
3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am y paratoadau ar gyfer datganoli'r gwasanaeth prawf yng Nghymru? OQ61141
3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on preparations for the devolution of the probation service in Wales? OQ61141
Diolch. Welsh Government has been working with a range of academics and practitioners with experience in probation to advise on the future of probation services in Wales. The Wales Centre for Public Policy was commissioned to take forward specific research to outline options for devolution to Wales.
Diolch. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o academyddion ac ymarferwyr sydd â phrofiad o'r gwasanaeth prawf i gynghori ar ddyfodol y gwasanaeth prawf yng Nghymru. Comisiynwyd Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru i fwrw ymlaen â gwaith ymchwil penodol i amlinellu opsiynau ar gyfer datganoli i Gymru.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. I recently attended the annual Welsh criminology conference in Gregynog and was very heartened to see both the sense of excitement at further devolution that may well come to this Senedd, and the practical sense of grappling with the technical and administrative challenges that devolution will bring.
So, does the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that the time has come to move on from making the case for the devolution of youth justice and probation, and instead for the focus to be on the practical preparation for this Senedd taking on those responsibilities in what, if we are to place any credence on today's speculation, may be only a few weeks away?
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am yr ateb hwnnw. Yn ddiweddar, mynychais gynhadledd droseddeg flynyddol Cymru yng Ngregynog ac roedd yn galonogol iawn gweld yr ymdeimlad o gyffro ynghylch y datganoli pellach a allai ddod i'r Senedd hon, a'r ymdeimlad ymarferol o fynd i'r afael â'r heriau technegol a gweinyddol a fydd yn dod yn sgil datganoli.
Felly, a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â mi fod yr amser wedi dod i symud ymlaen o gyflwyno'r achos dros ddatganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid a'r gwasanaeth prawf a chanolbwyntio yn hytrach ar y gwaith paratoi ymarferol cyn bod y Senedd hon yn ysgwyddo'r cyfrifoldebau hynny ymhen yr hyn a allai fod yn ychydig wythnosau, os ydym am roi unrhyw goel ar y dyfalu heddiw?
Thank you. I certainly do agree that the case is made for devolution. We've had a variety of commissions. We've had the Thomas commission. We've had the Brown commission, and, most recently, we had, obviously, the commission that was chaired by Laura McAllister and Rowan Williams. And I think it is the time to move on now from arguing for the case to doing the preparatory work.
We've got an ambitious work programme in place to develop our understanding of how devolution might work in the areas most likely to be taken forward, and that includes probation. And we've also commissioned the Wales Centre for Public Policy, who are taking work forward to identify potential options for probation devolution, learning from the many experts we have around the UK, and also across Europe. That work is now drawing to a close. I understand we should be getting some feedback on those findings at the end of this month, and, of course, I should thank you for your role as the former First Minister for making sure we have that significant programme of work established.
Diolch. Yn sicr, rwy'n cytuno bod yr achos wedi ei wneud dros ddatganoli. Rydym wedi cael amrywiaeth o gomisiynau. Rydym wedi cael comisiwn Thomas. Rydym wedi cael comisiwn Brown, ac yn fwyaf diweddar, rydym wedi cael y comisiwn a gadeiriwyd gan Laura McAllister a Rowan Williams. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bryd i ni symud ymlaen nawr o ddadlau dros yr achos i wneud y gwaith paratoi.
Mae gennym raglen waith uchelgeisiol ar waith i ddatblygu ein dealltwriaeth o sut y gallai datganoli weithio yn y meysydd sy'n fwyaf tebygol o gael eu datblygu, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys y gwasanaeth prawf. Ac rydym hefyd wedi comisiynu Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru, sy'n bwrw ymlaen â gwaith i nodi opsiynau posibl ar gyfer datganoli'r gwasanaeth prawf, gan ddysgu gan y nifer o arbenigwyr sydd gennym ledled y DU, a hefyd ledled Ewrop. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw bellach yn dod i ben. Deallaf y dylem fod yn cael rhywfaint o adborth ar y canfyddiadau hynny ar ddiwedd y mis, ac wrth gwrs, hoffwn ddiolch i chi am eich gwaith fel cyn Brif Weinidog yn sicrhau bod y rhaglen waith sylweddol honno'n cael ei sefydlu.
Heaven forbid that there should be any further devolution when one considers that, after 26 years, you've failed in health, transport, education, culture, arts, social care, the economy, and I could go on. I believe that the UK Conservative Government has made it very clear that it has no plans to devolve the probation service to Wales in the near future. I think that is a wise decision. Why would we want more power devolved when the Welsh Government has shown over 26 years such poor judgment when it comes to law and order and many other matters? How could we trust this Government to implement, manage and maintain a probation service when it is being led by somebody who clearly thinks that taking money for their campaign from somebody who is polluting in the way they are—? That is unacceptable. Does the Cabinet Secretary not agree with me, at a time when the Senedd is going through its biggest transformation in history, and when its own leader displays such poor levels of judgment, that powers of policing, probation and justice are certainly best left in the wise hands of a United Kingdom Conservative Government?
Duw a'n gwaredo rhag unrhyw ddatganoli pellach pan fo rhywun yn ystyried, ar ôl 26 mlynedd, eich bod wedi methu ym maes iechyd, trafnidiaeth, addysg, diwylliant, y celfyddydau, gofal cymdeithasol, yr economi, a gallwn barhau. Credaf fod Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU wedi dweud yn glir iawn nad oes ganddi unrhyw gynlluniau i ddatganoli'r gwasanaeth prawf i Gymru yn y dyfodol agos. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n benderfyniad doeth. Pam y byddem eisiau datganoli mwy o bŵer pan fo Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dangos cymaint o ddiffyg crebwyll dros 26 mlynedd o ran cyfraith a threfn a llawer o faterion eraill? Sut y gallem ymddiried yn y Llywodraeth hon i weithredu, rheoli a chynnal gwasanaeth prawf pan fo'n cael ei harwain gan rywun sy'n amlwg yn credu bod derbyn arian ar gyfer eu hymgyrch gan rywun sy'n llygru yn y ffordd y maent yn ei wneud—? Mae hynny'n annerbyniol. Onid yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno, ar adeg pan fo'r Senedd yn mynd drwy ei thrawsnewidiad mwyaf mewn hanes, a phan fo'i harweinydd ei hun yn dangos diffyg crebwyll o'r fath, y dylid sicrhau bod pwerau plismona, cyfiawnder a'r gwasanaeth prawf yn aros yn nwylo doeth Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn y Deyrnas Unedig?
I'm sure the Member won't be surprised that I do not agree with her, and that's why we need a UK Labour Government as soon as possible.
Rwy'n siŵr na fydd yr Aelod yn synnu nad wyf yn cytuno â hi, a dyna pam mae angen Llywodraeth Lafur arnom yn y DU cyn gynted â phosibl.
4. Pa asesiad mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi wneud o effaith yr argyfwng costau byw ar bobl anabl? OQ61173
4. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on disabled people? OQ61173
Our assessment of the effects of rising costs in Wales, including for disabled people, has been informed by the voices of people affected and through consideration by our Cabinet sub-committee. Using the levers we have, during 2022-25, we have provided targeted financial support worth almost £5 billion.
Mae ein hasesiad o effeithiau costau cynyddol yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys i bobl anabl, wedi cael ei lywio gan leisiau pobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt a'i ystyried gan ein his-bwyllgor Cabinet. Gan ddefnyddio'r ysgogiadau sydd gennym, yn ystod 2022-25, rydym wedi darparu cymorth ariannol wedi'i dargedu sy'n werth bron i £5 biliwn.
Listening to the voices of those who are being affected, okay. Well, the Trussell Trust network in Wales distributed nearly 190,000 emergency food parcels in the 12 months from April last year. That's the highest amount of packages they've ever had to supply. In that period, 73 per cent of those people referred to foodbanks were disabled people, which is more than double, actually, the proportion of the population who are disabled people. Now, that's clearly a concerning issue. Indeed, research by Scope has highlighted that the cost of living is higher for people with disabilities, with disabled households spending on average £625 more each year when compared with non-disabled households. Considering this, do you agree that the proposals to increase the cap on adult non-residential social care in Wales are ill-advised and do you acknowledge that this will actually plunge disabled people even deeper into financial trouble?
Gwrando ar leisiau pobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt, iawn. Wel, dosbarthodd rhwydwaith Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell yng Nghymru bron i 190,000 o barseli bwyd brys yn y 12 mis o fis Ebrill y llynedd. Dyna'r nifer uchaf o becynnau y maent erioed wedi gorfod eu cyflenwi. Yn y cyfnod hwnnw, roedd 73 y cant o'r bobl a gyfeiriwyd at fanciau bwyd yn bobl anabl, sy'n fwy na dwbl y gyfran o'r boblogaeth sy'n bobl anabl mewn gwirionedd. Nawr, mae hynny'n amlwg yn peri pryder. Yn wir, mae ymchwil gan Scope wedi amlygu bod costau byw yn uwch i bobl ag anableddau, gydag aelwydydd anabl yn gwario £625 yn fwy bob blwyddyn ar gyfartaledd o'i gymharu ag aelwydydd nad ydynt yn anabl. O ystyried hyn, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod y cynigion i gynyddu'r cap ar ofal cymdeithasol amhreswyl i oedolion yng Nghymru yn annoeth ac a ydych yn cydnabod y bydd hyn yn gwthio pobl anabl i drafferthion ariannol dyfnach byth?
This morning, I co-chaired my first disability rights taskforce, and it was a very interesting meeting, to hear from the working group's streams that had been set up by my predecessor, Jane Hutt. This was the tenth meeting of the disability rights taskforce. What came over to me was the detrimental effect of so many things on disabled people because of the additional expenses they incur and the significant barriers they face. As a Government, you will know we've been working with disabled people to make sure they receive everything that they should do, and we also have the Welsh benefits charter, which I look forward to taking forward.
Y bore yma, cyd-gadeiriais fy nghyfarfod cyntaf o'r tasglu hawliau pobl anabl, ac roedd yn gyfarfod diddorol iawn, lle clywsom gan ffrydiau'r gweithgor a sefydlwyd gan fy rhagflaenydd, Jane Hutt. Hwn oedd degfed cyfarfod y tasglu hawliau pobl anabl. Yr hyn a wnaeth argraff arnaf oedd effaith andwyol cymaint o bethau ar bobl anabl oherwydd y costau ychwanegol a'r rhwystrau sylweddol y maent yn eu hwynebu. Fel Llywodraeth, fe fyddwch yn gwybod ein bod wedi bod yn gweithio gyda phobl anabl i sicrhau eu bod yn cael popeth y dylent ei gael, ac mae gennym siarter budd-daliadau Cymru hefyd, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at fwrw ymlaen â honno.
Cabinet Secretary, as Llyr has highlighted, the cost-of-living crisis has had a dramatic impact on many disabled people. Thankfully, inflation is now under control, and the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England have upgraded the UK growth prospects once again. Sadly, decisions such as increasing the charge for non-residential care are certainly creating fear amongst many disabled people and leaving them with a choice between food or care. Cabinet Secretary, will you please urge colleagues in the Welsh Government to abandon the proposed increase in charges, which, according to Disability Wales, will do little to address shortfalls in local authority budgets and could lead to people opting out of social care?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel y mae Llyr wedi nodi, mae'r argyfwng costau byw wedi cael effaith ddramatig ar lawer o bobl anabl. Diolch byth, mae chwyddiant bellach dan reolaeth, ac mae'r Gronfa Ariannol Ryngwladol a Banc Lloegr wedi uwchraddio rhagolygon twf y DU unwaith eto. Yn anffodus, mae penderfyniadau fel cynyddu'r tâl am ofal amhreswyl yn sicr yn creu ofn ymhlith llawer o bobl anabl ac yn gwneud iddynt orfod dewis rhwng bwyd neu ofal. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi annog cyd-Aelodau yn Llywodraeth Cymru i gael gwared ar y cynnydd arfaethedig mewn taliadau, a fydd, yn ôl Anabledd Cymru, yn gwneud fawr ddim i fynd i'r afael â diffygion yng nghyllidebau awdurdodau lleol ac a allai arwain at bobl yn optio allan o ofal cymdeithasol?
I think it's very important that people don't opt out of services that they need, and this is something I will certainly be happy to discuss with my colleague.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn nad yw pobl yn optio allan o wasanaethau y maent eu hangen, ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y byddaf yn sicr yn hapus i'w drafod gyda fy nghyd-Aelod.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael â Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru ynghylch y pwysau cyllidebol y mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn eu hwynebu? OQ61168
5. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Arts Council of Wales regarding the budgetary pressures faced by Welsh National Opera? OQ61168
Welsh Government funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales. I met with the chair and chief executive of ACW last month to discuss the current position of the arts sectors in Wales, including the music sector. Under the arm's-length principle, the Welsh Government does not intervene in ACW's funding decisions. I also met with the WNO yesterday.
Mae cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y celfyddydau yn cael ei sianelu drwy Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Cyfarfûm â chadeirydd a phrif weithredwr Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru fis diwethaf i drafod sefyllfa bresennol sectorau'r celfyddydau yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys y sector cerddoriaeth. O dan yr egwyddor hyd braich, nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymyrryd â phenderfyniadau cyllido Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Cyfarfûm ag Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru ddoe hefyd.
Great. I think Laura Anne Jones and Heledd Fychan have rather stolen my thunder a little bit in their previous question time. I fully support the principles that they were asking you about as to the Welsh National Opera. It was magnificent yesterday, and one of the chorus of the WNO, Angharad Morgan, is a resident in my constituency, and she was singing there yesterday as well. And one of the things she stressed to me is it's not only the regular work and regular tours that the WNO do, but also the community outreach work that they do with people with additional learning needs, for example, which is very close to my heart. And they do some wonderful things.
But what I wanted to do, just to add a new direction to the question, is just remind you of the widely supported statement of opinion that Rhianon Passmore has posted. She can't be here today, but this is her principle. She says that we recognise
'the challenge posed by financial austerity and the funding cuts which have been made as part of the bi-national funding agreement.'
And she wants to stress that bi-national aspect. And she
'Calls on the Welsh Government to urgently work with partners, including the UK Government, to seek bi-national funding arrangements which will help the WNO maintain a full-time organisation in the short and medium term, until longer-term, sustainable plans can be put in place.'
Basically, what she's saying is we need to keep the WNO alive until such time as further funding can be found. Would you agree and support that, and respond to that, as well the responses you've given already?
Gwych. Rwy'n credu bod Laura Anne Jones a Heledd Fychan wedi achub y blaen arnaf braidd yn eu cwestiynau blaenorol. Rwy'n llwyr gefnogi'r egwyddorion yr oeddent yn gofyn i chi yn eu cylch yn gynharach mewn perthynas ag Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. Roedd yn wych ddoe, ac mae un o aelodau corws Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, Angharad Morgan, yn byw yn fy etholaeth i, ac roedd hi'n canu yno ddoe hefyd. Ac un o'r pethau a bwysleisiodd i mi yw nid yn unig y gwaith rheolaidd a'r teithiau rheolaidd y mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn eu gwneud, ond hefyd y gwaith allgymorth cymunedol a wnânt gyda phobl ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, er enghraifft, sy'n agos iawn at fy nghalon. Ac maent yn gwneud pethau rhyfeddol.
Ond i ychwanegu cyfeiriad newydd i'r cwestiwn, roeddwn eisiau eich atgoffa o'r datganiad barn a gefnogir yn eang y mae Rhianon Passmore wedi'i gyhoeddi. Nid yw'n gallu bod yma heddiw, ond dyma yw ei hegwyddor. Mae hi'n dweud ein bod ni'n cydnabod
'yr heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â chyni cyllidol a'r toriadau a wnaed fel rhan o'r cytundeb cyllido rhwng y ddwy genedl.'
Ac mae hi eisiau pwysleisio'r agwedd ddwy genedl. Ac mae hi'n
'galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio ar frys gyda phartneriaid, gan gynnwys Llywodraeth y DU, i geisio sicrhau trefniadau cyllido rhwng y ddwy genedl a fydd yn helpu Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru i barhau i fod yn sefydliad amser llawn yn y tymor byr a'r tymor canolig, hyd nes y gellir rhoi cynlluniau cynaliadwy ar waith ar gyfer y tymor hwy.'
Yn y bôn, yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud yw bod angen inni gadw Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru'n fyw hyd nes y gellir dod o hyd i gyllid pellach. A fyddech chi'n cytuno ac yn cefnogi hynny, ac a wnewch chi ymateb i hynny, yn ogystal â'r ymatebion rydych chi wedi'u rhoi eisoes?
Thank you. Well, Rhianon Passmore, I think, on day three in the job, was knocking on my door around the WNO, and they know, in this Senedd—and certainly this was something we discussed yesterday—they have cross-party support, and I think that is really important. So, I'm absolutely committed to continuing to work with them. The community work is very important—you heard Laura Anne Jones mention the health work, you heard Heledd Fychan mention the educational work. You're right, the community work is just as important. And the first time, I think, I came across the WNO was when they did a workshop in my own constituency when I was first elected, about 17 years ago, and I remember the outreach work they were doing there. So, I do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation, but I am fully committed to doing all I can.
Diolch. Wel, rwy'n credu bod Rhianon Passmore ar y trydydd diwrnod yn y swydd, yn curo ar fy nrws i drafod Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, ac maent yn gwybod, yn y Senedd hon—ac yn sicr roedd hyn yn rhywbeth y buom yn ei drafod ddoe—fod ganddynt gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol, a chredaf fod hynny'n bwysig iawn. Felly, rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i barhau i weithio gyda nhw. Mae'r gwaith cymunedol yn bwysig iawn—fe glywsoch chi Laura Anne Jones yn sôn am y gwaith ym maes iechyd, fe glywsoch chi Heledd Fychan yn sôn am y gwaith addysgol. Rydych chi'n iawn, mae'r gwaith cymunedol yr un mor bwysig. Ac rwy'n credu mai'r tro cyntaf imi ddod ar draws Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru oedd pan wnaethant weithdy yn fy etholaeth pan gefais fy ethol gyntaf, tua 17 mlynedd yn ôl, ac rwy'n cofio'r gwaith allgymorth roeddent yn ei wneud yno. Felly, nid wyf yn tanbrisio difrifoldeb y sefyllfa, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i wneud popeth a allaf.
Cabinet Secretary, we've heard today in detail from colleagues around the Chamber the importance that they feel the Welsh National Opera has for our life here in Wales. And what I think comes across really, really clearly as well is that this is not the first cultural institution that has warned about financial issues in the last number of months. We've heard, for example, from Amgueddfa Cymru as well, citing financial concerns for their organisation. Now, we know, in the Welsh Government's last budget, that culture or the culture line in the budget probably took a bigger cut than any other part of the Welsh Government's budget. So, under your tenure as Cabinet Secretary, can you reassure the Senedd that that decision will not be taken again and that culture will be prioritised in future spending?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydym wedi clywed gan gyd-Aelodau o amgylch y Siambr heddiw ynglŷn â pha mor bwysig yw Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru i'n bywyd yma yng Nghymru. Ac rwy'n credu hefyd ei bod yn amlwg iawn nad hwn yw'r sefydliad diwylliannol cyntaf sydd wedi rhybuddio am broblemau ariannol dros y misoedd diwethaf. Rydym wedi clywed, er enghraifft, gan Amgueddfa Cymru hefyd, sydd wedi nodi pryderon ariannol am eu sefydliad. Nawr, rydym yn gwybod, yng nghyllideb ddiwethaf Llywodraeth Cymru, fod diwylliant neu'r llinell ddiwylliant yn y gyllideb wedi wynebu toriadau mwy yn ôl pob tebyg nag unrhyw ran arall o gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, yn ystod eich cyfnod chi fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi dawelu meddyliau'r Senedd na fydd y penderfyniad hwnnw'n cael ei wneud eto ac y bydd diwylliant yn cael ei flaenoriaethu mewn gwariant yn y dyfodol?
Well, you will have heard me say in an answer to Laura Anne Jones that I can't give any commitment about next year's budget because we've got no certainty on future funding at the moment. We are expecting another multi-year funding settlement. But, of course, there's great uncertainty in relation to the timing of that, given the uncertainty of timing for the next UK general election.
Wel, fe fyddwch wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud mewn ateb i Laura Anne Jones na allaf roi unrhyw ymrwymiad ynghylch cyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf oherwydd nid oes gennym unrhyw sicrwydd ynghylch y cyllid yn y dyfodol ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yn disgwyl setliad cyllido amlflwyddyn arall. Ond wrth gwrs, mae ansicrwydd mawr mewn perthynas ag amseriad hwnnw, o ystyried yr ansicrwydd ynglŷn ag amseriad etholiad cyffredinol nesaf y DU.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am fynediad at wasanaethau cyhoeddus ar gyfer pobl sydd wedi colli eu clyw? OQ61123
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on access to public services for people who have hearing loss? OQ61123
The Welsh Government has set up a working group to focus on access to services as part of the disability rights taskforce. This work is integral to driving forward access to all services in Wales, including for those with hearing loss.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefydlu gweithgor i ganolbwyntio ar fynediad at wasanaethau fel rhan o'r tasglu hawliau pobl anabl. Mae'r gwaith hwn yn rhan annatod o wella mynediad at bob gwasanaeth yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys ar gyfer y rhai hynny sydd â cholled clyw.
It is very important that people who have hearing loss have access, if they need one, to a British Sign Language translator when attending medical appointments, when dealing with councils and other public services. I often compare it with me and speaking Welsh: quite happy to speak socially, but, when it gets complicated, I use one of these that translates it for me. And I think a lot of other people do the same. I think it is important that, for people who are deaf to get the full understanding, they have a BSL translator. This is the only way to ensure the deaf community can fully understand what is being said. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure access to BSL interpreters when requested?
Mae'n bwysig iawn fod pobl sydd â cholled clyw yn cael mynediad, os ydynt ei angen, at gyfieithydd Iaith Arwyddion Prydain wrth fynychu apwyntiadau meddygol, wrth ymdrin â chynghorau a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill. Rwy'n aml yn ei gymharu â fi'n siarad Cymraeg: rwy'n ddigon hapus i siarad Cymraeg yn gymdeithasol, ond pan fo'n mynd yn gymhleth, rwy'n defnyddio un o'r rhain sy'n ei chyfieithu i mi. Ac rwy'n credu bod llawer o bobl eraill yn gwneud yr un peth. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig i bobl fyddar gael cyfieithydd Iaith Arwyddion Prydain er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn deall yn iawn. Dyma'r unig ffordd o sicrhau bod y gymuned fyddar yn deall yr hyn sy'n cael ei ddweud yn iawn. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau mynediad at ddehonglwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain pan fo galw amdanynt?
Thank you. I think you raise a very important point, Mike Hedges. Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers must provide reasonable adjustments, and that includes BSL interpreters, who are essential to ensure access to services. But we do, however, acknowledge there is a shortage of BSL interpreters and translators in Wales, and that capacity building needs to take place. I mentioned in an earlier answer that I co-chaired the disability rights taskforce group this morning, and we have a BSL interpreter there to help some of our people who attend that group. I've had to learn to slow down my speech quite significantly, going forward, but it's really important that we have that discussion. It was good to hear somebody talking this morning about BSL being part of GCSE now, and, obviously, it's part of the curriculum, and the Welsh Government was one of the first to recognise BSL as a language. So, I don't disagree with what you say at all. I do think we need to look at the capacity to make sure we have enough BSL interpreters here in Wales, but, in the meantime, we certainly encourage service providers and service users to work together to make sure those services are responsive to the needs of all citizens in Wales.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn, Mike Hedges. O dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010, rhaid i ddarparwyr gwasanaethau ddarparu addasiadau rhesymol, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys dehonglwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain, sy'n hanfodol i sicrhau mynediad at wasanaethau. Ond rydym yn cydnabod fodd bynnag fod prinder dehonglwyr a chyfieithwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yng Nghymru, a bod angen adeiladu capasiti. Soniais mewn ateb cynharach fy mod wedi cyd-gadeirio cyfarfod y tasglu hawliau pobl anabl y bore yma, ac mae gennym ddehonglydd Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yno i helpu rhai o'n pobl sy'n mynychu'r grŵp hwnnw. Rwyf wedi gorfod dysgu siarad yn llawer arafach, wrth symud ymlaen, ond mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael y drafodaeth honno. Roedd yn dda clywed rhywun yn dweud y bore yma fod Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yn rhan o TGAU nawr, ac yn amlwg, mae'n rhan o'r cwricwlwm, a Llywodraeth Cymru oedd un o'r rhai cyntaf i gydnabod Iaith Arwyddion Prydain fel iaith. Felly, nid wyf yn anghytuno â'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ddweud o gwbl. Rwy'n credu bod angen inni edrych ar y capasiti i sicrhau bod gennym ddigon o ddehonglwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yma yng Nghymru, ond yn y cyfamser, rydym yn sicr yn annog darparwyr gwasanaethau a defnyddwyr gwasanaethau i weithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau hynny'n ymateb i anghenion pob dinesydd yng Nghymru.
Well, access to public services for deaf BSL signers is being held back by the lack of provision of BSL interpreters. The manager for the Wales Interpretation and Translation Service, WITS, attended the last meeting of the cross-party group on deaf issues, which I chair, highlighting a shortfall of interpreters, especially for emergency and unplanned care, with most requests being pre-planned, and with challenges in finding interpreters with appropriate skills at short notice. How do you propose to address both this and concerns raised about staff in the health service lacking knowledge about how to book interpreters, about a disconnect between staff in the health service and WITS leading to uncertainty about interpreter availability, about deaf individuals receiving appointment letters without clear information on whether an interpreter is booked, causing confusion and uncertainty, and about the lack of awareness in the medical profession about the needs of deafblind individuals?
Wel, mae mynediad at wasanaethau cyhoeddus i arwyddwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain byddar yn cael ei rwystro gan ddiffyg darpariaeth o ddehonglwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain. Fe wnaeth rheolwr Gwasanaeth Dehongli a Chyfieithu Cymru, WITS, fynychu cyfarfod olaf y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar faterion byddar a gadeirir gennyf, a thynnu sylw at brinder dehonglwyr, yn enwedig ar gyfer gofal brys a gofal heb ei gynllunio, gyda'r rhan fwyaf o geisiadau wedi'u trefnu ymlaen llaw, a chyda heriau o ran dod o hyd i ddehonglwyr sydd â sgiliau priodol ar fyr rybudd. Sut ydych chi'n cynnig mynd i'r afael â hyn a'r pryderon ynghylch y ffaith nad yw staff yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn gwybod sut i drefnu dehonglwyr, ynghylch datgysylltiad rhwng staff yn y gwasanaeth iechyd a WITS sy'n arwain at ansicrwydd ynglŷn ag argaeledd dehonglwyr, ynghylch unigolion byddar yn cael llythyrau apwyntiad heb wybodaeth glir yn dweud a oes dehonglydd wedi'i drefnu, gan achosi dryswch ac ansicrwydd, ac ynghylch y diffyg ymwybyddiaeth yn y proffesiwn meddygol am anghenion unigolion sy'n ddall a byddar?
Well, I mentioned the need to build up the capacity here in Wales. We were the first country in the UK to recognise British Sign Language alongside English, Welsh and other languages in its curriculum, and we now need to make sure that we support the increase in the services. It's very clear that BSL is the first or preferred language of the deaf community not just in Wales, but right across the UK.
Wel, soniais am yr angen i adeiladu capasiti yma yng Nghymru. Ni oedd y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i gydnabod Iaith Arwyddion Prydain ochr yn ochr â Saesneg, Cymraeg ac ieithoedd eraill yn ei chwricwlwm ac mae angen i ni sicrhau nawr ein bod yn cefnogi'r cynnydd yn y gwasanaethau. Mae'n amlwg iawn mai Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yw iaith gyntaf neu iaith ddewisol y gymuned fyddar nid yn unig yng Nghymru, ond ledled y DU.
7. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r mater o stelcio? OQ61171
7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's strategy to address the issue of stalking? OQ61171
Our 'Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence: strategy 2022 to 2026' prioritises tackling all forms of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Our commitment to tackling stalking and harassment is being delivered through our VAWDASV blueprint, which includes work streams focused on tackling perpetration and gender-based harassment in all public spaces.
Mae ein strategaeth 'Trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol: strategaeth 2022 i 2026' yn blaenoriaethu mynd i'r afael â phob math o gam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol. Mae ein hymrwymiad i fynd i'r afael â stelcio ac aflonyddu yn cael ei gyflawni drwy ein glasbrint trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol, sy'n cynnwys ffrydiau gwaith sy'n canolbwyntio ar fynd i'r afael â chyflawni ac aflonyddu ar sail rhywedd ym mhob man cyhoeddus.
Diolch am yr ymateb.
Thank you for that response.
Cabinet Secretary, while stalking protection orders were introduced as a vital tool to safeguard victims of this awful crime, the stark reality is that these orders remain alarmingly underutilised across Wales. Recent freedom of information requests revealed alarming statistics from three Welsh police forces: over the past two years, these forces recorded over 13,000 incidents of stalking, but, during the same period, they issued only 12 stalking protection orders combined. Dyfed-Powys Police did not respond and weren't able to provide any data. The reasons for this failure are, of course, multifaceted, but the lack of training and understanding among our law enforcement officers cannot be ignored. According to a 2021 report from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, 50 per cent of stalking advocates said police 'hardly ever' or 'never' consider a stalking protection order without being prompted. This situation cannot continue. I'd like to ask you, Cabinet Secretary, whether you would consider taking this issue forward and championing multi-agency stalking intervention programmes, which is something that's advocated by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and other partners, in order to address this rising issue of stalking. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er bod gorchmynion diogelu rhag stelcio wedi'u cyflwyno fel arf hanfodol i ddiogelu dioddefwyr y drosedd erchyll hon, y gwir amdani yw bod y gorchmynion hyn yn parhau i gael eu tanddefnyddio'n frawychus ledled Cymru. Datgelodd ceisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth diweddar ystadegau brawychus gan dri heddlu yng Nghymru: dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, cofnododd y lluoedd hyn dros 13,000 o achosion o stelcio, ond yn ystod yr un cyfnod, dim ond 12 gorchymyn amddiffyn rhag stelcio a gyhoeddwyd rhyngddynt. Ni wnaeth Heddlu Dyfed-Powys ymateb ac nid oeddent yn gallu darparu unrhyw ddata. Mae'r rhesymau dros y methiant hwn yn amlochrog wrth gwrs, ond ni ellir anwybyddu'r diffyg hyfforddiant a dealltwriaeth ymhlith swyddogion gorfodi'r gyfraith. Yn ôl adroddiad yn 2021 gan Ymddiriedolaeth Suzy Lamplugh, dywedodd 50 y cant o adfocadau stelcio nad yw'r heddlu 'prin byth' neu 'byth' yn ystyried gorchymyn amddiffyn rhag stelcio heb gael eu hannog. Ni all y sefyllfa hon barhau. Hoffwn ofyn i chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a fyddech chi'n ystyried bwrw ymlaen â'r mater hwn a hyrwyddo rhaglenni ymyriadau stelcio amlasiantaethol, sy'n rhywbeth sy'n cael ei argymell gan Ymddiriedolaeth Suzy Lamplugh a phartneriaid eraill, er mwyn mynd i'r afael â phroblem gynyddol stelcio. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch. I am aware of the report that the Member refers to of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and the recommendations within that report to tackle stalking. You'll be very well aware that we work very closely with our police colleagues. The issues, I think, raised in the report predominantly are not devolved, and it's for the UK Government to respond to these recommendations, but I was really pleased to learn that both north Wales and Dyfed-Powys police forces have recently recruited a domestic abuse stalking perpetrator co-ordinator to focus on the risks posed by perpetrators, taking a really proactive approach in this area. So, what that will do is investigate the effective use of stalking protection orders and have a look at a multidisciplinary response to stalking. So, it's something I will certainly raise with the PCCs when I meet them—I think it's the week after next. Also in north Wales, the force has commenced a new multi-agency stalking panel. That includes the police, victim services, probation and a forensic psychologist. So, I'll certainly be very interested to see how that plays out.
Diolch. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r adroddiad y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato gan Ymddiriedolaeth Suzy Lamplugh, a'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad hwnnw i fynd i'r afael â stelcio. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol iawn ein bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'n cydweithwyr yn yr heddlu. Nid wyf yn credu at ei gilydd fod y materion a godwyd yn yr adroddiad wedi'u datganoli, a mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw ymateb i'r argymhellion hyn, ond roeddwn yn falch iawn o glywed bod heddluoedd gogledd Cymru a Dyfed-Powys wedi recriwtio cydgysylltydd ar gam-drin domestig a stelcio yn ddiweddar i ganolbwyntio ar y peryglon a achosir gan gyflawnwyr, gan fabwysiadu dull rhagweithiol iawn yn y maes hwn. Felly, bydd yn ymchwilio i'r defnydd effeithiol o orchmynion amddiffyn rhag stelcio ac yn edrych ar ymateb amlddisgyblaethol i stelcio. Felly, mae'n rhywbeth y byddaf yn sicr yn ei godi gyda'r comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu pan fyddaf yn eu cyfarfod—yr wythnos ar ôl y nesaf, rwy'n credu. Hefyd yng ngogledd Cymru, mae'r heddlu wedi dechrau panel stelcio amlasiantaethol newydd. Mae hwnnw'n cynnwys yr heddlu, gwasanaethau dioddefwyr, y gwasanaeth prawf a seicolegydd fforensig. Felly, yn sicr bydd gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn gweld sut effaith y bydd hwnnw'n ei chael.
Recently, Cabinet Secretary, I was made aware of the acronym FOUR—fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated. I wasn't aware of that previously. I wonder, Cabinet Secretary, given what you said in response to Jane Dodds, what more you can say about any potential communication campaign that the Welsh Government can run in order to encourage people, if there are signs of stalking, to encourage them so that they feel able to contact the police and be aware of those signs?
Yn ddiweddar, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, dywedwyd wrthyf am yr acronym SODA—sefydlog, obsesiynol, digroeso ac ailadroddus. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol ohono cyn hyn. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ystyried yr hyn a ddywedoch chi mewn ymateb i Jane Dodds, beth arall y gallwch ei ddweud ynglŷn ag unrhyw ymgyrch gyfathrebu bosibl y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei chynnal er mwyn annog pobl, os oes arwyddion o stelcio, i’w cefnogi fel eu bod yn teimlo y gallant gysylltu â'r heddlu a bod yn ymwybodol o'r arwyddion hynny?
I wasn't aware of that group, either. I think I wrote it all down correctly, but I will certainly have a look at that. Following my meeting with the four new—well, two new, two re-elected—PCCs, I'll certainly—. This is an area that I'm very keen to look at in relation to stalking. Obviously the Live Fear Free helpline could be used at the current time, because I'm not aware of any plans to have a specific line around stalking, but you'll be very aware of Live Fear Free. That's a free 24/7 service for everyone in this space, and I would encourage people to use that, or indeed ring the police, at the current time.
Nid oeddwn innau'n ymwybodol o’r grŵp hwnnw ychwaith. Credaf fy mod wedi ysgrifennu’r holl wybodaeth yn gywir, ond byddaf yn sicr yn edrych ar hynny. Yn dilyn fy nghyfarfod gyda'r pedwar comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu newydd—wel, dwy newydd, dau sydd wedi'u hailethol—byddaf yn sicr—. Mae hwn yn faes rwy'n awyddus iawn i edrych arno mewn perthynas â stelcio. Yn amlwg, gellid defnyddio llinell gymorth Byw Heb Ofn ar hyn o bryd, gan nad wyf yn ymwybodol o unrhyw gynlluniau i gael llinell benodol ar gyfer stelcio, ond fe fyddwch yn gwybod yn iawn am Byw Heb Ofn. Mae hwnnw’n wasanaeth 24/7 rhad ac am ddim i bawb yn y sefyllfa hon, ac ar hyn o bryd, hoffwn annog pobl i'w ddefnyddio, neu'n wir, i ffonio’r heddlu.
Yn olaf cwestiwn 8, Rhys ab Owen.
Finally, question 8, Rhys ab Owen.
8. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd yng Nghymru? OQ61167
8. How is the Welsh Government tackling fuel poverty in Wales? OQ61167
Diolch. Our discretionary assistance fund and support for the Fuel Bank Foundation provides a lifeline to households in immediate need. Our Warm Homes Nest scheme and optimised retrofit programme are transforming the homes of low-income households for the long term, lowering bills and reducing carbon emissions.
Diolch. Mae ein cronfa cymorth dewisol a chymorth i'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd yn darparu achubiaeth i aelwydydd mewn angen dybryd. Mae ein cynllun Cartrefi Clyd Nyth a’n rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio yn trawsnewid cartrefi aelwydydd incwm isel ar gyfer y tymor hir, gan ostwng biliau a lleihau allyriadau carbon.
Diolch, Weinidog. According to Care and Repair Cymru, older people are spending an average of 19 per cent of their income on energy. According to Citizens Advice, 11 per cent of people in Wales are in debt due to their energy bills, meaning they have to worry about bailiffs invading their homes, along with struggling to cover their monthly essentials. The Welsh Government has set targets for 2035 that no households should be living in severe fuel poverty, however these aspirations mean very little to those currently living in fuel poverty. I know that the Government stated in 2021 that they would be looking into introducing interim targets on fuel poverty, but this is yet to happen. Will the Cabinet Secretary now commit to implementing interim targets in the tackling fuel poverty plan in Wales? Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn ôl Gofal a Thrwsio Cymru, mae pobl hŷn yn gwario 19 y cant o’u hincwm ar gyfartaledd ar ynni. Yn ôl Cyngor ar Bopeth, mae 11 y cant o bobl yng Nghymru mewn dyled oherwydd eu biliau ynni, sy’n golygu bod yn rhaid iddynt boeni am feilïaid yn dod i'w cartrefi, ar ben y ffaith eu bod yn ei chael hi'n anodd talu am eu hanfodion misol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gosod targedau ar gyfer 2035 na ddylai unrhyw aelwydydd fod yn byw mewn tlodi tanwydd difrifol, ond ychydig iawn y mae’r dyheadau hyn yn ei olygu i’r rheini sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd ar hyn o bryd. Gwn fod y Llywodraeth wedi datgan yn 2021 y byddent yn ystyried cyflwyno targedau interim ar dlodi tanwydd, ond nid yw hyn wedi digwydd eto. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ymrwymo nawr i roi targedau interim y cynllun trechu tlodi tanwydd yng Nghymru ar waith? Diolch.
Thank you. Well, the Member will be aware that I'm two months in post, and this is certainly something that we're looking at in the round around all issues of poverty.
Diolch. Wel, bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fy mod yn y swydd ers deufis, ac mae hyn yn sicr yn rhywbeth yr ydym yn edrych arno yn ei gyfanrwydd mewn perthynas â'r holl faterion sy'n ymwneud â thlodi.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau i Gomisiwn y Senedd. Y cwestiwn cyntaf i'w ateb gan Janet Finch-Saunders ac i'w ofyn gan Carolyn Thomas.
The next item will be questions to the Senedd Commission. The first question is to be answered by Janet Finch-Saunders and to be asked by Carolyn Thomas.
1. Sut y mae Comisiwn y Senedd yn hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd cynaliadwyedd a diogelu'r amgylchedd naturiol ar ystâd y Senedd? OQ61138
1. How does the Senedd Commission promote the importance of sustainability and protecting the natural environment on the Senedd estate? OQ61138
I'd like to thank the Member, because it's important that we actually keep the natural environment in everything that we do here in the Senedd Commission. I went to see the bees last week. I believe you've been as well.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod, gan ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn cadw'r amgylchedd naturiol ym mhopeth a wnawn yma yng Nghomisiwn y Senedd. Bûm yn gweld y gwenyn yr wythnos diwethaf. Rwy'n deall eich bod chi wedi bod hefyd.
Yesterday.
Ddoe.
Amazing. I would just say in my response to you that any Member who hasn't been up to see the bees, you must go, and you can buy the honey.
The Commission takes the sustainability portfolio very seriously. We have an externally verified environmental system in place, and we were the first UK legislature to publish a carbon-neutral strategy. We do publish progress updates in our sustainability annual report. We've made significant reductions to energy consumption over the past two winters, at a time when prices rose significantly, and we’ve provided staff with energy advice when they were themselves facing higher bills at home. We run a bike and environment week for staff in June. This year, we will be helping people with low-carbon travel and clothing repairs. We’ve made extensive improvements to the Senedd estate to support biodiversity, including the wildflower strip alongside the Senedd, extended garden areas, beehives, bug hotels and ponds. We’ve also done work in terms of hedgehog recovery, nature recovery. We’ve run biodiversity and well-being walks for staff in early May to explore those areas, and a local primary school have also visited the beehive earlier this month.
Rhyfeddol. Hoffwn ddweud yn fy ymateb i chi y dylai unrhyw Aelod sydd heb fod yn gweld y gwenyn fynd i'w gweld, a gallwch brynu'r mêl.
Mae'r Comisiwn o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r portffolio cynaliadwyedd. Mae gennym system amgylcheddol a ddilyswyd yn allanol ar waith, a ni oedd y ddeddfwrfa gyntaf yn y DU i gyhoeddi strategaeth carbon niwtral. Rydym yn cyhoeddi diweddariadau cynnydd yn ein hadroddiad blynyddol ar gynaliadwyedd. Rydym wedi gwneud gostyngiadau sylweddol i’r defnydd o ynni dros y ddau aeaf diwethaf, ar adeg pan gododd prisiau’n sylweddol, ac rydym wedi rhoi cyngor ynni i staff pan oeddent yn wynebu biliau uwch gartref. Rydym yn cynnal wythnos feicio ac amgylchedd i staff ym mis Mehefin. Eleni, byddwn yn helpu pobl gyda theithio carbon isel a thrwsio dillad. Rydym wedi gwneud gwelliannau helaeth i ystad y Senedd i gefnogi bioamrywiaeth, gan gynnwys y llain o flodau gwyllt ger y Senedd, gerddi estynedig, cychod gwenyn, gwestai trychfilod a phyllau dŵr. Rydym hefyd wedi gwneud gwaith ar adfer draenogod, adfer natur. Rydym wedi cynnal teithiau cerdded bioamrywiaeth a llesiant i staff ddechrau mis Mai fel y gallent archwilio’r ardaloedd hynny, ac mae ysgol gynradd leol hefyd wedi ymweld â’r cwch gwenyn yn gynharach y mis hwn.
Thank you for that. It’s really pleasing to hear about all that goes on; it would be great to promote it on the Senedd website as well. I did look on the Senedd website and that’s where I heard about the bees, so I went to see them yesterday and really enjoyed the visit—thank you.
I recently sponsored a Senedd biodiversity day, bringing together 25 organisations from across Wales to showcase their hard work and dedication to promoting the importance of biodiversity and protecting our wildlife and natural habitats. I also advertised it to the public as well—it was a public event—and I have discovered that some visitors to the bay didn’t realise before that they can visit the Senedd without booking, and that the entrance isn’t very clear. So, as I said, the event was really well attended and received, by members of the public as well as Members of the Senedd, and it was lovely to see them enjoying it, and each organisation brought in a colourful array of objects as well and displays.
So, would you consider making the Senedd biodiversity day an annual event? Because they’d like to see that happen again. Maybe the first week in May would be really good. And would you look at finding new ways to promoting that the Senedd is open to the public? It was great yesterday, when I came in through the main entrance, to see an A-frame outside saying ‘entrance this way’. And I thought that was a really good initiative.
Diolch. Mae'n braf iawn clywed am bopeth sy'n digwydd; byddai’n wych ei hyrwyddo ar wefan y Senedd hefyd. Edrychais ar wefan y Senedd a dyna ble y clywais am y gwenyn, felly bûm yn eu gweld ddoe a mwynheais yr ymweliad yn fawr—diolch.
Yn ddiweddar, noddais ddiwrnod bioamrywiaeth y Senedd, gan ddod â 25 o sefydliadau o bob rhan o Gymru ynghyd i arddangos eu gwaith caled a’u hymroddiad i hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd bioamrywiaeth a diogelu ein bywyd gwyllt a’n cynefinoedd naturiol. Fe’i hysbysebais i’r cyhoedd hefyd—roedd yn ddigwyddiad cyhoeddus—ac rwyf wedi darganfod nad oedd rhai ymwelwyr â’r bae wedi sylweddoli cyn hynny y gallent ymweld â’r Senedd heb archebu ymlaen llaw, ac nad yw’r fynedfa’n glir iawn. Felly, fel y dywedais, daeth llawer iawn o bobl i’r digwyddiad a chafodd dderbyniad da, gan aelodau’r cyhoedd yn ogystal ag Aelodau o’r Senedd, ac roedd yn hyfryd eu gweld yn ei fwynhau, a daeth pob sefydliad ag amrywiaeth liwgar o wrthrychau ac arddangosfeydd.
Felly, a fyddech yn ystyried gwneud diwrnod bioamrywiaeth y Senedd yn ddigwyddiad blynyddol? Oherwydd hoffent weld hynny'n digwydd eto. Efallai y byddai wythnos gyntaf mis Mai yn dda iawn. Ac a fyddech yn ystyried dod o hyd i ffyrdd newydd o hyrwyddo'r ffaith bod y Senedd yn agored i'r cyhoedd? Pan ddeuthum drwy'r brif fynedfa ddoe, roedd yn wych gweld arwydd y tu allan yn dweud 'mynedfa y ffordd yma'. Ac roeddwn yn credu bod hynny'n syniad da iawn.
Thank you. Yes, of course, I’ll take those points on board and, when we next meet as a Commission, I will raise those, but I would like to thank you for hosting the event that you did. In fact, some of my constituents attended that event, so that just shows how you reach out when you hold such an event. As far as having a Senedd biodiversity day again, I can’t see any problem with that, but, again, I will raise it. It seems a no-brainer to have one.
We’ve committed to being an anchor client for the Cardiff Heat Network, which will provide our estate with low-carbon heat. Our connection to the network is currently being constructed. We’ve worked with RSPB Cymru and Buglife to make the Senedd estate an urban buzz area, to promote biodiversity. In our carbon strategy, we’ve committed to doubling the green space on the estate. We’re already making progress with this, with a larger garden strip in Tŷ Hywel car park, incorporating many pollinator-friendly plants. We do not use harmful chemicals to reduce weeds on the estate, instead employing vinegar or mechanical means. Changing the way we cut the vegetation alongside the Senedd has turned the land into—and this is really, really important stuff—an important wildflower strip, including two species of orchid, and many more insects are now present. We publish extensive sustainability data each year, both in the stand-alone report and the annual report and accounts. Our canteen sources food from around Wales where possible, and has recently gained the Soil Association’s Food For Life award. We have low rates of food waste and any leftovers and waste staff food are sent locally for composting. We have converted almost the whole estate to run on more efficient LED lights, and that again is really important work. We promote sustainable and active travel, with extensive facilities for cyclists and electric vehicle drivers, and we’ve recently completed the healthy travel workplace charter as part of the Cardiff public services board group.
In saying all that, I would like to thank the team led by Matthew Jones, because behind us all politicians there are people working in the background. It was Matthew that took me up to see the bees and he and his team are to be commended, and the Senedd Commission, to be fair, for all the work that we’re doing in terms of this. It’s important to us all, as Commissioners. Thank you—diolch.
Diolch. Gwnaf, wrth gwrs, fe ystyriaf y pwyntiau hynny, a phan fyddwn yn cyfarfod nesaf fel Comisiwn, byddaf yn eu codi, ond hoffwn ddiolch i chi am gynnal y digwyddiad. Mewn gwirionedd, bu rhai o fy etholwyr yn y digwyddiad, felly mae hynny’n dangos sut rydych yn estyn allan pan fyddwch yn cynnal digwyddiad o’r fath. O ran cynnal diwrnod bioamrywiaeth y Senedd eto, ni allaf weld unrhyw broblem gyda hynny, ond unwaith eto, byddaf yn ei godi. Mae i'w weld yn gwneud synnwyr perffaith inni gynnal un.
Rydym wedi ymrwymo i fod yn gleient angori ar gyfer Rhwydwaith Gwres Caerdydd, a fydd yn darparu gwres carbon isel i'n hystad. Mae ein cysylltiad â'r rhwydwaith yn cael ei adeiladu ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wedi gweithio gydag RSPB Cymru a Buglife i wneud ystad y Senedd yn ardal Urban Buzz, er mwyn hyrwyddo bioamrywiaeth. Yn ein strategaeth carbon, rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddyblu'r mannau gwyrdd ar yr ystad. Rydym eisoes yn gwneud cynnydd ar hyn, gyda llain ardd fwy o faint ym maes parcio Tŷ Hywel, sy'n cynnwys llawer o blanhigion sy’n denu peillwyr. Nid ydym yn defnyddio cemegau niweidiol i leihau chwyn ar yr ystad, gan ddefnyddio finegr neu ddulliau mecanyddol yn lle hynny. Mae newid y ffordd rydym yn torri’r llystyfiant ger y Senedd wedi troi’r tir—ac mae hyn yn bwysig iawn—yn llain flodau gwyllt bwysig, sy'n cynnwys dwy rywogaeth o degeirian, ac mae llawer mwy o bryfed yno bellach. Rydym yn cyhoeddi data cynaliadwyedd helaeth bob blwyddyn, yn yr adroddiad annibynnol ac yn yr adroddiad blynyddol a chyfrifon. Mae ein ffreutur yn defnyddio bwyd o bob rhan o Gymru lle bo modd, ac yn ddiweddar, mae wedi ennill gwobr Bwyd Am Oes Cymdeithas y Pridd. Mae ein cyfraddau gwastraff bwyd yn isel ac mae unrhyw fwyd dros ben a gwastraff bwyd gan staff yn cael ei ddanfon i'w gompostio yn lleol. Rydym wedi trawsnewid yr ystad gyfan bron i redeg ar oleuadau LED mwy effeithlon, ac mae hynny eto'n waith pwysig iawn. Rydym yn hyrwyddo teithio cynaliadwy a llesol, gyda chyfleusterau helaeth ar gyfer beicwyr a gyrwyr cerbydau trydan, ac yn ddiweddar, fe wnaethom gwblhau’r siarter teithio'n iach i staff fel rhan o grŵp bwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Caerdydd.
Wrth ddweud hyn oll, hoffwn ddiolch i’r tîm sy’n cael ei arwain gan Matthew Jones, oherwydd y tu ôl i bob un ohonom ni wleidyddion, mae pobl yn gweithio yn y cefndir. Matthew a aeth â mi i weld y gwenyn ac mae ef a’i dîm i’w canmol, a Chomisiwn y Senedd, a bod yn deg, am yr holl waith a wnawn ar hyn. Mae'n bwysig i bob un ohonom, fel Comisiynwyr. Diolch.
Cwestiwn 2 i'w ateb gan Hefin David, cwestiwn gan Gareth Davies.
Question 2 to be answered by Hefin David and asked by Gareth Davies.
2. Pa drafodaethau y mae Comisiwn y Senedd wedi'u cael â'r Bwrdd Taliadau ynghylch effaith y cynnydd yn y dreth gyngor ar gyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd? OQ61177
2. What discussions has the Senedd Commission had with the Remuneration Board regarding the impact of council tax increases on the Senedd Commission budget? OQ61177
The Commission is aware of the potential impact of the council tax increases for Members on the determination budget. The Senedd Commission has not had discussions on this matter with the independent remuneration board. However, officials have provided information to the board on this matter. The provision of the determination that allows Members to be reimbursed for council tax for their Cardiff accommodation is sufficient to cover the increases incurred by Members on the basis of their current accommodation.
Mae’r Comisiwn yn ymwybodol o effaith bosibl y cynnydd yn y dreth gyngor i Aelodau ar gyllideb y penderfyniad. Nid yw Comisiwn y Senedd wedi cael trafodaethau ar y mater hwn gyda’r bwrdd taliadau annibynnol. Fodd bynnag, mae swyddogion wedi darparu gwybodaeth i’r bwrdd ar y mater hwn. Mae darpariaeth y penderfyniad sy’n caniatáu i’r Aelodau gael ad-daliad am y dreth gyngor ar eu llety yng Nghaerdydd yn ddigon i dalu am y cynnydd yng nghostau Aelodau ar sail eu llety presennol.
Thank you very much for that response, Commissioner. Cardiff Council's proposed tax rise in January was 3 per cent, but this was subsequently doubled to a 6 per cent rise in their final budget. This will, of course, hit the pockets of Cardiff residents, but it'll also hit the Senedd Commission budget. Many Senedd Members have accommodation in Cardiff in order to carry out their duties in the Senedd and can claim residential accommodation expenditure. For Members defined as having a main home in the outer area, they can claim back council tax that is payable up to the amount of a property in council tax band F. There was an increase of 7 per cent in the 2024-25 Senedd Commission budget from the previous year's budget in funding for Member-related expenses, but this latest budget was published in November of last year, before Cardiff Council's irresponsible tax hike was announced. The 7 per cent rise in the budget for Members' expenses will also undoubtedly account for the rising cost of living and the increased costs of travel. So, I'd appreciate if the Commissioner could outline whether the Commission has made an assessment of the council tax rises and their impact on the Senedd Commission's budget for expenses, whether the 7 per cent rise for Members' expenses was sufficient to cover this and what contingencies does the Commission have in place so that it is prepared for future unpredicted expenditures?
Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich ymateb, Gomisiynydd. Tri y cant oedd codiad treth arfaethedig Cyngor Caerdydd ym mis Ionawr, ond dyblwyd hyn wedyn i godiad o 6 y cant yn eu cyllideb derfynol. Bydd hyn, wrth gwrs, yn taro pocedi trigolion Caerdydd, ond bydd hefyd yn taro cyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd. Mae gan lawer o Aelodau’r Senedd lety yng Nghaerdydd er mwyn cyflawni eu dyletswyddau yn y Senedd, a gallant hawlio gwariant ar lety preswyl. Ar gyfer Aelodau a ddiffinnir fel rhai sydd â'u prif gartref yn yr ardal allanol, gallant hawlio'r dreth gyngor sy’n daladwy yn ôl hyd at swm eiddo ym mand treth gyngor F. Roedd cynnydd o 7 y cant yng nghyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer 2024-25 o gymharu â chyllideb y flwyddyn flaenorol mewn cyllid ar gyfer treuliau Aelodau, ond cyhoeddwyd y gyllideb ddiweddaraf hon ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, cyn i gynnydd treth anghyfrifol Cyngor Caerdydd gael ei gyhoeddi. Bydd y cynnydd o 7 y cant yn y gyllideb ar gyfer treuliau Aelodau hefyd, heb os, yn cyfrif y cynnydd mewn costau byw a chostau teithio uwch. Felly, hoffwn pe gallai’r Comisiynydd amlinellu a yw’r Comisiwn wedi gwneud asesiad o’r codiadau yn y dreth gyngor a’u heffaith ar gyllideb Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer treuliau, a oedd y codiad o 7 y cant ar gyfer treuliau Aelodau yn ddigon i dalu am hyn a pha gynlluniau wrth gefn sydd gan y Comisiwn ar waith fel ei fod yn barod ar gyfer gwariant nas rhagwelir yn y dyfodol?
Okay. Thank you. First of all, I don't want to get into any criticism of Cardiff Council. I think they are scrutinised through their members and make those decisions. There are such things as job-related accommodation for workers in this position, but it doesn't apply to Members, so it may be worth the Member speaking to the Government about this and seeing if there is an opportunity, perhaps, to amend the law. That is, obviously, beyond the jurisdiction of the Senedd Commission, but, certainly, he has raised an important point. He also said, of course, that, up to band F, the remuneration board covers fully the council tax for those Members living in Cardiff who have to travel from the outer ring, I think it's called. I'm a commuter, so I'm just getting to grips with these things and finding out what it is like to travel from so far.
One thing—. You raised a concern about the budget. The Senedd draft budget contains an amount set for issues of Members' expenses that the remuneration board has requested us to set aside. The good news for you is that most Members don't claim the maximum expenses to which they're entitled. I think it's worth us broadcasting that loudly: Members don't claim the maximum expenses to which they're entitled. And that gives us quite a lot of headroom to make up for contingencies such as this with Cardiff Council. So, it isn't a concern going into the future budget. As you've brought this to our attention, it will be considered as an issue in the future draft budget, but we aren't concerned that it's going to lead to any need for supplementary guidance in the future.
Iawn. Diolch. Yn gyntaf oll, nid wyf am feirniadu Cyngor Caerdydd. Credaf fod eu haelodau'n craffu arnynt a'u bod yn gwneud y penderfyniadau hynny. Mae pethau fel anheddau sy'n gysylltiedig â swydd ar gyfer gweithwyr yn y sefyllfa hon, ond nid yw’n berthnasol i'r Aelodau, felly efallai y byddai’n werth i’r Aelod siarad â’r Llywodraeth am hyn a gweld a oes cyfle, efallai, i ddiwygio’r gyfraith. Mae hynny, yn amlwg, y tu hwnt i awdurdodaeth Comisiwn y Senedd, ond yn sicr, mae wedi codi pwynt pwysig. Dywedodd hefyd, wrth gwrs, fod y bwrdd taliadau, hyd at fand F, yn talu'r dreth gyngor yn llawn ar gyfer yr Aelodau sy’n byw yng Nghaerdydd ac sy’n gorfod teithio o’r cylch allanol, rwy’n credu yw'r term. Rwy'n gymudwr, felly rwy'n dechrau dod i ddeall y pethau hyn a darganfod sut beth yw hi i deithio mor bell.
Un peth—. Fe wnaethoch chi fynegi pryder am y gyllideb. Mae cyllideb ddrafft y Senedd yn cynnwys swm a bennwyd ar gyfer materion yn ymwneud â threuliau Aelodau y mae’r bwrdd taliadau wedi gofyn i ni eu neilltuo. Y newyddion da i chi yw nad yw'r rhan fwyaf o'r Aelodau yn hawlio'r uchafswm treuliau y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Credaf ei bod yn werth inni ddatgan hynny'n uchel: nid yw'r Aelodau'n hawlio'r uchafswm treuliau y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Ac mae hynny'n rhoi cryn dipyn o le i ni fynd i'r afael â threuliau annisgwyl fel hyn gan Gyngor Caerdydd. Felly, nid yw'n bryder ar gyfer y gyllideb yn y dyfodol. Gan eich bod wedi tynnu ein sylw at hyn, bydd yn cael ei ystyried fel mater yn y gyllideb ddrafft yn y dyfodol, ond nid ydym yn pryderu ei fod yn mynd i arwain at unrhyw angen am ganllawiau atodol yn y dyfodol.
Cwestiwn 3 nesaf: Joyce Watson sy'n ateb, a Julie Morgan i holi'r cwestiwn.
Question 3 next, to be answered by Joyce Watson and asked by Julie Morgan.
3. Sut mae Comisiwn y Senedd yn sicrhau bod pobl sy'n fyddar neu'n drwm eu clyw yn gallu cymryd rhan weithredol yng ngwaith y Senedd? OQ61149
3. How does the Senedd Commission ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can actively participate in the work of the Senedd? OQ61149
I thank you, Julie, for that question. The Senedd Commission remains committed to optimising the active participation of people who are deaf or hard of hearing in the work of the Senedd. On our estate, services and facilities, including BSL interpreters, palantypists, lip speakers and hearing loop systems, can be used to facilitate participation for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss in Senedd business, tours and visits. All video content provided for the Senedd social media channels is issued with subtitles. This is done in both Welsh and in English. Commission staff are currently exploring how the existing provision of both live and recorded British Sign Language interpretation for Plenary items on Tuesdays and Wednesdays could be enhanced.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Julie. Mae Comisiwn y Senedd yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i optimeiddio cyfranogiad pobl sy’n fyddar neu’n drwm eu clyw yng ngwaith y Senedd. Ar ein hystad, gellir defnyddio gwasanaethau a chyfleusterau, gan gynnwys dehonglwyr BSL, palanteipyddion, siaradwyr gwefusau a systemau dolen glyw, i hwyluso cyfranogiad ar gyfer pobl sy’n fyddar neu sy’n byw â cholled clyw ym musnes y Senedd, a theithiau ac ymweliadau â’r Senedd. Rhoddir is-deitlau ar yr holl gynnwys fideo a ddarperir ar gyfer sianeli'r Senedd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Gwneir hyn yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg. Mae staff y Comisiwn wrthi'n archwilio sut y gellid gwella'r ddarpariaeth bresennol o wasanaethau dehongli Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yn fyw ac wedi'u recordio ar gyfer eitemau'r Cyfarfod Llawn ar ddyddiau Mawrth a Mercher.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for the response.
Thank you very much, Joyce. Two weeks ago, I had a 90-second statement here in the Chamber to talk about the life of Dorothy Miles, who was a deaf sign language poet from north Wales. I was very pleased that the statement was interpreted live here into British Sign Language. There were members of the British Deaf Association up in the gallery and Senedd business up until the statement was not interpreted, and after the statement, it switched back to no interpretation, and I think this was very difficult, because we had deaf people here in the Senedd who weren't able to follow the proceedings.
So, I do think a lot more work needs to be done, and I'm very pleased to hear what you're planning, because we do want to make this place accessible to everybody. At the moment, current arrangements do mean that people can be excluded. I wondered if it might be worth you looking at the Scottish Parliament, where they have a particular page on the website, which helps people to negotiate all the different areas where there is interpretation. I wondered, to start with, because I'm aware that there's a shortage of interpreters, which came up in the previous set of questions, whether the Commission would consider live interpreting every First Minister's questions into BSL as a start.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Joyce. Bythefnos yn ôl, cefais ddatganiad 90 eiliad yma yn y Siambr i sôn am fywyd Dorothy Miles, a oedd yn fardd iaith arwyddion byddar o ogledd Cymru. Roeddwn yn falch iawn fod y datganiad wedi’i ddehongli’n fyw yma i Iaith Arwyddion Prydain. Roedd aelodau o Gymdeithas Pobl Fyddar Prydain yn yr oriel, ac nid oedd busnes y Senedd wedi'i ddehongli tan y datganiad, ac ar ôl y datganiad, fe newidiodd yn ôl i ddim dehongliad, a chredaf fod hyn wedi bod yn anodd iawn, gan fod gennym bobl fyddar yma yn y Senedd nad oeddent yn gallu dilyn y trafodion.
Felly, credaf fod angen gwneud llawer mwy o waith, ac rwy'n falch iawn o glywed yr hyn rydych yn ei gynllunio, gan ein bod am wneud y lle hwn yn hygyrch i bawb. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'r trefniadau presennol yn golygu y gall pobl gael eu hallgáu. Tybed a allai fod yn werth ichi edrych ar Senedd yr Alban, lle mae ganddynt dudalen benodol ar y wefan, sy’n helpu pobl i ddod o hyd i'r holl fannau gwahanol ble mae gwasanaethau dehongli ar gael. I ddechrau, gan fy mod yn ymwybodol fod prinder dehonglwyr, mater a godwyd yn y set flaenorol o gwestiynau, tybed a fyddai'r Comisiwn yn ystyried dehongli pob sesiwn gwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog yn fyw i Iaith Arwyddion Prydain fel man cychwyn.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Again, all the points that you make are absolutely valid, and I was really pleased to see, when you were asking your question, that the interpretation was here. But you're right, obviously, to say that that wasn't the case for all of that afternoon's session, and those people who would have hoped to have it didn't get it. However, on Senedd.tv, we do have subtitles for the business that is carried on here, and we also have the Record, which people can read. But I think it's fair to say that we're at the point where we're about to change this Chamber and it was raised in a meeting we had last week about the changes that will happen once it has been reconfigured. One of the issues that was raised was a space for a BSL interpreter, so the thinking is there, is what I'm trying to say.
We have also already engaged with Ireland and Scotland on what they're doing, and that already has happened; Commission staff have done that. And you're right that there is a shortage of BSL interpreters at the moment. But in terms of moving forward and making this an inclusive Parliament—and that's what we're talking about—we do other things beyond BSL for other people who are hard of hearing, or need help and support with limited hearing. So, it's a live issue. We are trying to move it forward, and we hope to do that as soon as possible, given the restrictions that I've just mentioned.
Unwaith eto, mae’r holl bwyntiau a wnewch yn gwbl ddilys, ac roeddwn yn falch iawn o weld, pan oeddech yn gofyn eich cwestiwn, fod y dehongliad ar gael. Ond rydych yn llygad eich lle, yn amlwg, wrth ddweud nad oedd hynny'n wir am y sesiwn gyfan y prynhawn hwnnw, ac na ddarparwyd dehongliad i'r bobl a fyddai wedi gobeithio cael un. Fodd bynnag, ar Senedd.tv, mae gennym is-deitlau ar gyfer y busnes a gyflawnir yma, ac mae gennym y Cofnod, y gall pobl ei ddarllen. Ond credaf ei bod yn deg dweud ein bod wedi cyrraedd pwynt lle rydym ar fin newid y Siambr hon, ac mewn cyfarfod a gawsom yr wythnos diwethaf, codwyd y newidiadau a fydd yn digwydd pan fydd wedi’i had-drefnu. Un o'r materion a godwyd oedd man ar gyfer dehonglwr BSL, felly mae'r bwriad yno, dyna rwy'n ceisio'i ddweud.
Rydym hefyd wedi ymgysylltu ag Iwerddon a'r Alban eisoes ar yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud, ac mae hynny eisoes wedi digwydd; mae staff y Comisiwn wedi gwneud hynny. Ac rydych yn llygad eich lle fod prinder dehonglwyr BSL ar hyn o bryd. Ond o ran symud ymlaen a gwneud hon yn Senedd gynhwysol—a dyna rydym yn sôn amdano—rydym yn gwneud pethau eraill y tu hwnt i BSL ar gyfer pobl eraill sy'n drwm eu clyw, neu sydd angen cymorth a chefnogaeth gyda chlyw cyfyngedig. Felly, mae’n fater sydd ar y gweill. Rydym yn ceisio gwneud cynnydd arno, ac rydym yn gobeithio gwneud hynny cyn gynted â phosibl, o ystyried y cyfyngiadau rwyf newydd eu crybwyll.
As I said earlier, for many deaf people, their preferred communication method is BSL and that means that they can fully understand what is being said. To get a full understanding, they definitely need BSL. Lip reading won't provide it, they'll get a fair understanding of it—and I compared it to me with Welsh previously—but you don't get the full understanding and the full nuance. If BSL is unavailable, subtitles are the second-best option, although people who watch subtitles on television realise that they can get things remarkably wrong on those. Does the Commissioner agree with me that it is important that we ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing have the same access to information as hearing people?
Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, i lawer o bobl fyddar, BSL yw'r dull cyfathrebu a ffafrir ganddynt, ac mae hynny’n golygu y gallant ddeall yr hyn sy’n cael ei ddweud yn llawn. I gael dealltwriaeth lawn, yn bendant, mae angen BSL arnynt. Ni wnaiff darllen gwefusau mo'r tro, byddant yn cael dealltwriaeth weddol—ac rwyf wedi cymharu'r peth â mi a'r Gymraeg—ond nid ydych yn cael y ddealltwriaeth lawn na'r elfennau mwyaf cynnil. Os nad oes BSL ar gael, is-deitlau yw'r opsiwn ail orau, er bod pobl sy'n gwylio is-deitlau ar y teledu yn sylweddoli y gallant gael pethau'n rhyfeddol o anghywir ar y rheini. A yw’r Comisiynydd yn cytuno â mi ei bod yn bwysig inni sicrhau bod pobl sy’n fyddar neu’n drwm eu clyw yn cael yr un mynediad at wybodaeth â phobl sy’n clywed?
I absolutely do agree with you, Mike. Hearing loop provision around the estate has been audited and improved, and improved one-to-one loop systems are installed at reception in all three buildings. We have now purchased newer, more advanced portable loop systems, which can be used in meeting rooms and bigger event spaces, because, clearly, the pre-existing ones weren't adequate.
The Siambr, committee rooms and public galleries are all fitted with an infrared audio system. In addition to the in-room fixed system, we also have a portable version for off-site external committees and events. That system provides translation and verbatim audio amplification via headsets or an induction neck loop, available on request for Members, witnesses and the public attending proceedings.
Attendees at Senedd events, tours, outreach events and meetings are asked if they require any reasonable adjustments as part of the planning process. Similarly, organisations planning events on the Senedd estate have to adhere to an accessibility checklist.
British Sign Language interpretation is made available for First Minister’s questions each Tuesday and each meeting of the Welsh Youth Parliament. Commission staff are exploring how we can enhance that, and I have answered those questions in responding to the previous question.
Interpretation is available, upon request, for anyone wishing to watch a specific debate or committee meeting, for events and for Senedd tours. BSL interpretation has been proactively provided where the subject discussed is such—and we did that as well.
Commission staff have undergone disability awareness training, with extra deaf awareness and BSL classes provided. Our front of house and security colleagues have undertaken disability confidence training. The Commission’s newly designed inclusive customer service training module will provide best practice when liaising with members from the deaf community. The hope is that it will raise our staff members’ awareness and confidence when dealing with a diverse range of customers.
I have already mentioned that the inter-parliamentary learning at work provision included a sessions in the Oireachtas and the Scottish Parliament on BSL.
Rwy’n cytuno’n llwyr â chi, Mike. Mae’r ddarpariaeth dolen glyw o amgylch yr ystad wedi’i harchwilio a’i gwella, ac mae systemau dolen un-i-un gwell wedi’u gosod yn y dderbynfa ym mhob un o’r tri adeilad. Rydym bellach wedi prynu systemau dolen symudol mwy newydd, mwy datblygedig, y gellir eu defnyddio mewn ystafelloedd cyfarfod a mannau digwyddiadau mwy, oherwydd yn amlwg, nid oedd y rhai a oedd yn bodoli eisoes yn ddigonol.
Mae systemau sain isgoch wedi'u gosod yn y Siambr, yr ystafelloedd pwyllgora a'r orielau cyhoeddus. Yn ogystal â'r system sefydlog yn yr ystafelloedd, mae gennym hefyd fersiwn symudol ar gyfer pwyllgorau a digwyddiadau allanol oddi ar y safle. Mae’r system honno’n darparu cyfieithiad a mwyhad sain gair am air drwy glustffonau neu ddolenni sain personol, sydd ar gael ar gais i Aelodau, tystion a’r cyhoedd sy’n mynychu trafodion.
Gofynnir i bobl sy'n dod i ddigwyddiadau, teithiau, digwyddiadau allgymorth a chyfarfodydd y Senedd a ydynt angen unrhyw addasiadau rhesymol fel rhan o’r broses gynllunio. Yn yr un modd, mae’n rhaid i sefydliadau sy’n cynllunio digwyddiadau ar ystad y Senedd gadw at restr wirio hygyrchedd.
Mae gwasanaeth dehongli Iaith Arwyddion Prydain ar gael ar gyfer y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog bob dydd Mawrth ac ym mhob un o gyfarfodydd Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru. Mae staff y Comisiwn yn archwilio sut y gallwn wella hynny, ac rwyf wedi ateb y cwestiynau hynny wrth ymateb i'r cwestiwn blaenorol.
Mae gwasanaeth dehongli ar gael, ar gais, i unrhyw un sy’n dymuno gwylio dadl neu gyfarfod pwyllgor penodol, ar gyfer digwyddiadau ac ar gyfer teithiau’r Senedd. Mae gwasanaeth dehongli Iaith Arwyddion Prydain wedi'i ddarparu'n rhagweithiol lle mae'r pwnc hwnnw'n cael ei drafod—ac fe wnaethom ni hynny hefyd.
Mae staff y Comisiwn wedi cael hyfforddiant ymwybyddiaeth o anabledd, gyda dosbarthiadau ymwybyddiaeth o fyddardod a BSL ychwanegol yn cael eu darparu. Mae ein cydweithwyr blaen y tŷ a diogelwch wedi cwblhau hyfforddiant hyder o ran anabledd. Bydd modiwl hyfforddiant gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid cynhwysol newydd y Comisiwn yn darparu arferion gorau wrth gysylltu ag aelodau o'r gymuned fyddar. Y gobaith yw y bydd hynny'n codi ymwybyddiaeth a hyder ein staff wrth ymdrin ag ystod amrywiol o gwsmeriaid.
Rwyf eisoes wedi crybwyll y ffaith bod y ddarpariaeth dysgu yn y gweithle ryngseneddol yn cynnwys sesiynau yn yr Oireachtas a Senedd yr Alban ar BSL.
4. A wnaiff y Comisiwn roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau buddsoddi moesegol ei gronfa bensiwn? OQ61163
4. Will the Commission provide an update on the ethical investment schemes of its pension fund? OQ61163
Mae tri chynllun pensiwn yn gysylltiedig â’r Senedd. Mewn perthynas â chynllun pensiwn Aelodau o’r Senedd, nid oes gan y Comisiwn unrhyw bŵer i ddylanwadu ar ddyraniad asedau’r cynllun. Y bwrdd pensiynau sydd â’r pŵer i fuddsoddi asedau’r cynllun, sy’n annibynnol oddi ar y Comisiwn.
Caiff cynllun pensiwn y staff cymorth ei redeg gan Aviva. Nid yw'r Comisiwn yn ymwneud â phenderfynu sut i fuddsoddi'r asedau. Mae cynllun pensiwn y gwasanaeth sifil, sydd ar gael i staff y Comisiwn, yn gynllun heb ei ariannu, ac felly nid oes ganddo asedau i’w buddsoddi. Telir y buddion o refeniw treth yn hytrach nag o asedau a neilltuwyd i'w talu.
There are three pension schemes connected to the Senedd. In relation to the Members of the Senedd's pension scheme, the Commission has no means to influence the allocation of the pension scheme's assets. The power to invest the scheme’s assets sits entirely with the pension board, which is independent of the Commission.
The support staff pension scheme is run by Aviva. The Commission is not involved in deciding how the assets are invested. The civil service pension scheme, which is available to Commission staff, is an unfunded scheme and therefore has no assets to invest. Benefits are paid from tax revenues rather than from assets set aside to pay them.
I hope that that was clear enough.
Rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny’n ddigon clir.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb yna. Wel, wrth gwrs, mi fydd Hefin yn ymwybodol bod amryw o alwadau wedi cael eu gwneud dros y blynyddoedd ynghylch ymddihatru, neu divest, buddsoddiadau o gwmnïau sydd yn anfoesol. Mae yna bryder mawr ar hyn o bryd y gall pot pensiwn y Comisiwn a phethau sy’n ymwneud â phensiwn y Comisiwn fod yn cael eu defnyddio i ariannu cwmnïau arfau, a’r arfau hynny, yn eu tro, yn cael eu gwerthu i Lywodraeth Israel, sydd wedyn yn defnyddio’r arfau hynny i ymosod ar ysbytai, cwmnïau elusennol, ysgolion ac ati yn Gaza. A fedrwch chi roi sicrwydd i ni y gwnewch chi, fel Comisiwn, edrych i mewn i hyn a rhoi pwysau, lle mae’n addas ac yn bosibl i wneud hynny, ar fuddsoddwyr y pensiwn i ymddihatru o gwmnïau sy’n cynhyrchu arfau?
Thank you very much for that response. Well, of course, Hefin will be aware that a number of demands have been made over the years on divesting from investments in unethical companies. There is great concern at the moment that the Commission pension pot, and things relating to Commission pensions, could be used to fund arms companies, and those weapons, in turn, being sold to the Israeli Government, who would then use those weapons to attack hospitals, charities, schools and so on in Gaza. So, can you give us assurance that you, as a Commission, will look into this issue and put pressure, where it is appropriate and possible to do so, on pension investors to divest from companies that produce arms?
We have the three pensions that I mentioned that the Commission is related to—or Commission staff are related to. The Members' pension is the responsibility of the pension board. So, the Commission can't directly influence that. It has got to be through the pension board. I have got some good news and bad news. The good news is that I have just joined the pension board. That's good news. The bad news is that I haven't been to the first meeting yet. But certainly what he said, I think, is worth that dialogue, and perhaps a response from the pension board to you. Perhaps you might want to write to the pension board directly with these issues. Certainly, the pension board is interested in long-term investment in companies that are likely to be sustainable and keep a strategy that is around appropriate investments.
As I said in my answer to you earlier, the issue with the support staff pension is that it's run by Aviva, so we don't have a say on that one, but, again, you might wish to write directly to Aviva with your concerns, and raise those concerns with them. And then a little bit more good news for you: the civil service pension scheme, which is available to Commission staff, is an unfunded scheme, and therefore has no assets to invest.
So, where I can help you is with the Members' scheme, and make those representations via the pension board. So, perhaps we could have a discussion—. Mike Hedges is also a member of the pension board. I'm sure we would be willing to have a discussion with you—Mike—
Mae gennym y tri phensiwn y soniais amdanynt y mae'r Comisiwn yn perthyn iddynt—neu y mae staff y Comisiwn yn perthyn iddynt. Cyfrifoldeb y bwrdd pensiynau yw pensiwn yr Aelodau. Felly, ni all y Comisiwn ddylanwadu ar hynny’n uniongyrchol. Mae'n rhaid iddo fod drwy'r bwrdd pensiynau. Mae gennyf newyddion da a newyddion drwg. Y newyddion da yw fy mod newydd ymuno â’r bwrdd pensiynau. Mae hynny'n newyddion da. Y newyddion drwg yw nad wyf wedi bod i'r cyfarfod cyntaf eto. Ond yn sicr, credaf fod yr hyn a ddywedodd yn werth y sgwrs honno, ac ymateb gan y bwrdd pensiynau i chi o bosibl. Efallai yr hoffech ysgrifennu at y bwrdd pensiynau yn uniongyrchol gyda’r materion hyn. Yn sicr, mae gan y bwrdd pensiynau ddiddordeb mewn buddsoddiad hirdymor mewn cwmnïau sy’n debygol o fod yn gynaliadwy a chadw strategaeth sy’n ymwneud â buddsoddiadau priodol.
Fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i chi’n gynharach, y broblem gyda phensiwn y staff cymorth yw ei fod yn cael ei redeg gan Aviva, felly nid oes gennym lais mewn perthynas â hwnnw, ond unwaith eto, efallai yr hoffech ysgrifennu’n uniongyrchol at Aviva gyda’ch pryderon, a chodi’r pryderon hynny gyda nhw. Ac yna, rhagor o newyddion da i chi: mae cynllun pensiwn y gwasanaeth sifil, sydd ar gael i staff y Comisiwn, yn gynllun heb ei ariannu, ac felly nid oes ganddo asedau i'w buddsoddi.
Felly, lle gallaf eich helpu yw gyda chynllun yr Aelodau, a gwneud y sylwadau hynny drwy'r bwrdd pensiynau. Felly, efallai y gallem gael trafodaeth—. Mae Mike Hedges hefyd yn aelod o’r bwrdd pensiynau. Rwy’n siŵr y byddem yn fodlon cael trafodaeth gyda chi—Mike—
Yes.
Ie.
—before our next meeting, and make sure that your concerns are heard loud and clear.
—cyn ein cyfarfod nesaf, a sicrhau bod eich pryderon yn cael eu clywed yn glir.
I'd just like to follow on from Mabon's question and ask specifically about what can be done to divest from Israeli companies in general, given that an increasing majority people are not just against, but reviled by Israel's continuing offensive in Gaza and its bloody consequences. It's long overdue that we act upon this. Many people will be horrified to learn that their pension investments may potentially be sustaining a war economy that is causing so much death and destruction for the people of Gaza. I want to know what the Senedd can do to do its part in bringing about the end of this horrific conflict and play its part in bringing about peace, humanity and a future for Palestine, through its pension schemes, but also through its procurement processes.
Hoffwn ddilyn trywydd cwestiwn Mabon a gofyn yn benodol am yr hyn y gellir ei wneud i ymryddhau o gwmnïau Israelaidd yn gyffredinol, o ystyried bod mwyafrif cynyddol o bobl nid yn unig yn erbyn, ond yn ffieiddio at ymosodiadau parhaus Israel yn Gaza a'u canlyniadau gwaedlyd. Mae'n hen bryd inni weithredu ar hyn. Bydd llawer o bobl yn arswydo wrth glywed y gallai eu buddsoddiadau pensiwn fod yn cynnal economi rhyfel sy'n achosi cymaint o farwolaeth a dinistr i bobl Gaza. Hoffwn wybod beth y gall y Senedd ei wneud i chwarae ei rhan i ddod â’r gwrthdaro erchyll hwn i ben ac i sicrhau heddwch, dynoliaeth a dyfodol i Balesteina, drwy ei chynlluniau pensiwn, ond hefyd drwy ei phrosesau caffael.