Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
04/06/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn y prynhawn yma. Cyn i ni gychwyn, licen i hysbysu'r Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75, fod Deddf Seilwaith (Cymru) 2024 wedi cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol ar ddydd Llun 3 Mehefin.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. Before we begin, I would like to inform the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, that the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 was given Royal Assent on Monday 3 June.
Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan John Griffiths.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from John Griffiths.
1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i hybu datblygiad economaidd yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru? OQ61219
1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to boost economic development in south-east Wales? OQ61219
Thank you for the question. We work with local authorities across the Cardiff capital region to increase economic prosperity. Our regional economic framework for south-east Wales has identified the development of key growth clusters as a priority, alongside our investment in infrastructure supporting the economic mission.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rydyn ni’n gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ar draws prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd i gynyddu ffyniant economaidd. Mae ein fframwaith economaidd rhanbarthol ar gyfer y de-ddwyrain wedi nodi bod datblygu clystyrau twf allweddol yn flaenoriaeth, ochr yn ochr â'n buddsoddiad mewn seilwaith sy'n cefnogi'r genhadaeth economaidd.
We're in the midst of a crucial general election for the future of Wales and the UK as a whole. An incoming UK Labour Government would have Gordon Brown's report available to it, recognising the regional inequalities of the UK, and providing major investment for Wales in infrastructure, renewables and clusters in south-east Wales, such as cyber security and the semiconductor industry, as well as easing the transition to green steel. What a contrast to the Tories short-changing Wales by several million pounds in not fulfilling their pledge to replace EU economic aid to Wales pound for pound, and now committing to introduce an outdated national service for our young people, which the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates would leave Wales £275 million worse off, in taking money from the £1.5 billion so-called shared prosperity scheme, which, of course, was originally earmarked to replace EU economic aid. Do you agree, First Minister, what a stark contrast this is between that regressive policy of the UK Tories and the Welsh Government's young person's guarantee for 16 to 24-year-olds, providing support for a place in education, training, work or self-employment?
Rydyn ni yng nghanol etholiad cyffredinol hanfodol bwysig ar gyfer dyfodol Cymru a'r DU yn ei chyfanrwydd. Byddai adroddiad Gordon Brown ar gael i Lywodraeth Lafur y DU newydd, gan gydnabod anghydraddoldebau rhanbarthol y DU, a darparu buddsoddiad mawr i Gymru mewn seilwaith, ynni adnewyddadwy a chlystyrau yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, fel seiberddiogelwch a'r diwydiant lled-ddargludyddion, yn ogystal â hwyluso'r broses o drosglwyddo i ddur gwyrdd. Am gyferbyniad i Gymru yn cael sawl miliwn o bunnoedd yn annigonol gan y Torïaid wrth beidio â chyflawni eu haddewid i ddisodli cymorth economaidd yr UE i Gymru fesul punt, ac ymrwymo nawr i gyflwyno gwasanaeth cenedlaethol hen ffasiwn ar gyfer ein pobl ifanc, y mae'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid yn amcangyfrif fyddai'n gadael Cymru £275 miliwn yn waeth ei byd, wrth gymryd arian o'r cynllun ffyniant cyffredin honedig gwerth £1.5 biliwn, a glustnodwyd yn wreiddiol, wrth gwrs, i ddisodli cymorth economaidd yr UE. A ydych chi'n cytuno, Prif Weinidog, am gyferbyniad llwyr yw hyn rhwng polisi atchweliadol hwnnw Torïaid y DU a gwarant i bobl ifanc Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer pobl ifanc 16 i 24 oed, gan ddarparu cymorth ar gyfer lle mewn addysg, hyfforddiant, gwaith neu hunangyflogaeth?
Okay, this is now a minute and a half into this party political broadcast. I'm sure you won't be the only one that tries this over the next few weeks, and it will come from all directions, I'm sure. But if we can allow the First Minister to find the question in there and to answer.
Iawn, mae hyn funud a hanner i mewn i'r darllediad gwleidyddol pleidiol hwn bellach. Rwy'n siŵr nad chi fydd yr unig un sy'n rhoi cynnig ar hyn dros yr wythnosau nesaf, a bydd yn dod o bob cyfeiriad, rwy'n siŵr. Ond os gallwn ni ganiatáu i'r Prif Weinidog ddod o hyd i'r cwestiwn yn y fan yna ac ateb.
Thank you for the question. I agree that the national service model proposed as a shock by Rishi Sunak was not just a shock to young people, but a shock to many Conservative MPs and indeed, Ministers—a desperate gimmick at the start of a crucial general election for Wales and Britain. And the Member's right to draw a contrast between that and what we have chosen to do with the young person's guarantee—long-term investment in the future of young people and the skills they need to survive and thrive in the world that we are seeking to create. It's a direct contrast to the Tories taking away money and powers from Wales—£275 million as a minimum every year is lost to Wales because of the shared prosperity fund that now the Tories propose to put into a national service model that no-one thinks is going to work or actually provide a future for young people. That is the Tory record. I believe people will make a definitive choice on 4 July. Look at what they have done to Wales. Look at what we offer. Who on earth would want to stand with the Tories when it comes to 4 or 5 July? I look forward to the verdict of the people of Wales.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rwy'n cytuno nad oedd y model gwasanaeth cenedlaethol a gynigiwyd fel sioc gan Rishi Sunak yn sioc i bobl ifanc yn unig, ond yn sioc i lawer o ASau Ceidwadol ac yn wir, Gweinidogion—gimig anobeithiol ar ddechrau etholiad cyffredinol hollbwysig i Gymru a Phrydain. Ac mae'r Aelod yn iawn i dynnu sylw at y cyferbyniad rhwng hynny a'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi dewis ei wneud gyda'r gwarant i bobl ifanc—buddsoddiad hirdymor yn nyfodol pobl ifanc a'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i oroesi a ffynnu yn y byd yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei greu. Mae'n gyferbyniad uniongyrchol i'r Torïaid yn cymryd arian a phwerau oddi wrth Cymru—mae £275 miliwn fel isafswm bob blwyddyn yn cael ei golli i Gymru oherwydd y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin y mae'r Torïaid yn cynnig ei gyfrannu bellach at fodel gwasanaeth cenedlaethol nad oes neb yn credu sy'n mynd i weithio na chynnig dyfodol i bobl ifanc mewn gwirionedd. Dyna record y Torïaid. Rwy'n credu y bydd pobl yn gwneud dewis pendant ar 4 Gorffennaf. Edrychwch ar yr hyn y maen nhw wedi ei wneud i Gymru. Edrychwch ar yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei gynnig. Pwy ar y ddaear fyddai eisiau sefyll gyda'r Torïaid pan ddaw i 4 neu 5 Gorffennaf? Edrychaf ymlaen at ddyfarniad pobl Cymru.
First Minister, let's bring it back to Wales now. We're in the Welsh Parliament; let the UK Government focus on their own things. Now, First Minister, businesses in Wales are finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat following the Welsh Government's decision to cut business rate relief. Labour Ministers' move to slash the relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent now means that businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 will be left with a rates bill of nearly £8,500. This isn't just a couple of pennies or pounds, First Minister; we're talking about businesses being expected to find thousands of pounds. UK Labour's shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, recently described your party as the natural party of British businesses and said that you are pro worker and pro business. That's simply not true, is it, First Minister, under Labour, because here in Wales we have the highest business rates in Great Britain, extremely low business survival rates, the second lowest gross value added growth since 1999 out of the UK nations, and the highest economic inactivity levels out of the four nations. So, do you think the Welsh Government should finally stop punishing hardworking businesses and start helping them thrive? And do you not think a good place to start would be reintroducing the 75 per cent rate relief support? Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, gadewch i ni ddod â pethau yn ôl i Gymru nawr. Rydym ni yn Senedd Cymru; gadewch i Lywodraeth y DU ganolbwyntio ar eu pethau eu hunain. Nawr, Prif Weinidog, mae busnesau yng Nghymru yn ei chael hi'n fwyfwy anodd cael dau ben llinyn ynghyd yn dilyn penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i dorri rhyddhad ardrethi busnes. Mae cam Gweinidogion Llafur i leihau'r rhyddhad o 75 y cant i 40 y cant bellach yn golygu y bydd busnesau sydd â gwerth ardrethol o £15,000 yn cael eu gadael â bil ardrethi o bron i £8,500. Nid dim ond cwpl o geiniogau neu bunnoedd yw hyn, Prif Weinidog; rydym ni'n sôn am ddisgwyl i fusnesau ddod o hyd i filoedd o bunnoedd. Yn ddiweddar, disgrifiodd Rachel Reeves, Canghellor gwrthblaid Llafur y DU, eich plaid fel plaid naturiol busnesau Prydain a dywedodd eich bod o blaid gweithiwr ac o blaid busnes. Nid yw hynny'n wir, onid yw, Prif Weinidog, o dan Lafur, oherwydd yma yng Nghymru mae gennym ni'r ardrethu busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain Fawr, cyfraddau goroesi busnesau eithriadol o isel, yr ail dwf i wrth ychwanegol gros ers 1999 o wledydd y DU, a'r lefelau anweithgarwch economaidd uchaf o'r pedair gwlad. Felly, a ydych chi'n credu y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru roi'r gorau o'r diwedd i gosbi busnesau sy'n gweithio'n galed a dechrau eu helpu nhw i ffynnu? Ac onid ydych chi'n credu y byddai ailgyflwyno'r cymorth rhyddhad ardrethi o 75 y cant yn lle da i ddechrau? Diolch.
I agree we're not talking about mere pennies or pounds; we're talking about over £1 billion lost to Wales because the Tories broke their manifesto pledge to replace EU funds in full. I remember Andrew R.T. Davies saying repeatedly that Wales would not lose a single penny. We've actually lost more than £1 billion, and, on top of that, our budget is worth £700 million less in real terms than just three years ago. That is the Tory record. That is what the Tories have done to Wales. I'm proud that we are pro worker and pro business. [Interruption.] I look forward to carrying our message into communities and doorsteps across the country. [Interruption.] I want a new start for Wales—
Rwy'n cytuno nad ydym ni'n sôn am ychydig geiniogau neu bunnoedd yn unig; rydym ni'n sôn am dros £1 biliwn a gollwyd i Gymru oherwydd bod y Torïaid wedi torri eu haddewid maniffesto i ddisodli cyllid yr UE yn llawn. Rwy'n cofio Andrew R.T. Davies yn dweud dro ar ôl tro na fyddai Cymru'n colli'r un geiniog. Mewn gwirionedd, rydym ni wedi colli mwy nag £1 biliwn, ac ar ben hynny, mae ein cyllideb werth £700 miliwn yn llai mewn termau real na dim ond tair blynedd yn ôl. Dyna record y Torïaid. Dyna mae'r Torïaid wedi ei wneud i Gymru. Rwy'n falch ein bod ni o blaid gweithwyr ac o blaid busnes. [Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gario ein neges i gymunedau a cherrig drws ledled y wlad. [Torri ar draws.] Rwyf i eisiau dechrau newydd i Gymru—
I can't hear the First Minister. Can we have some silence, please?
Allaf i ddim clywed y Prif Weinidog. A allwn ni gael ychydig o dawelwch os gwelwch yn dda?
—to turn the page on 14 desperate Tory years.
—droi'r dudalen ar 14 o flynyddoedd Torïaidd anobeithiol.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru i fusnesau yng Nghaerffili? OQ61210
2. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government support for businesses in Caerphilly? OQ61210
Thank you for the question. Our Business Wales service should be the first port of call for any business in the Caerphilly area in need of support. Since 2016, it has supported the creation of over 1,400 jobs, 283 new-start businesses, and provided support to over 1,800 individuals and businesses within Caerphilly.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Ein gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru ddylai fod y man galw cyntaf i unrhyw fusnes yn ardal Caerffili sydd angen cymorth. Ers 2016, mae wedi cefnogi creu dros 1,400 o swyddi, 283 o fusnesau newydd sbon, ac wedi darparu cymorth i dros 1,800 o unigolion a busnesau yng Nghaerffili.
I was reading just the other day about the futureproofing fund the Welsh Government is introducing. Can he give us more detail about how that's going to benefit businesses in such areas as the retail and leisure sectors in Caerphilly, Ystrad Mynach and Bargoed in my constituency?
Roeddwn i'n darllen y diwrnod o'r blaen am y gronfa diogelu at y dyfodol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei chyflwyno. A all ef roi mwy o fanylion i ni am sut y bydd hynny o fudd i fusnesau mewn meysydd fel y sectorau manwerthu a hamdden yng Nghaerffili, Ystrad Mynach a Bargod yn fy etholaeth i?
Thank you for the question. The futureproofing fund was launched by the economy Secretary on 20 May. It's a £20 million fund to provide discretionary financial assistance to microbusinesses and small and medium-sized enterprises in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. It's designed to help invest in measures to help them reduce their running costs, and to futureproof their businesses. I'm looking forward to seeing the applications that will come in for the different businesses we want to be able to support. It's part of what we look to do in investing in the future of our economy, in the jobs that our local communities and workers need. I want to see more tools in our armoury to do that, not desperately fighting against a deliberate attempt to take money and powers away from this Government and this Senedd. I expect there'll be more that we can do together, with local authorities, with businesses, if we do see a new start on 4 July. But we will carry on doing what we should do, with the powers we have, with the money that we have, to make those positive choices to support businesses in Caerphilly and beyond.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Lansiwyd y gronfa diogelu at y dyfodol gan Ysgrifennydd yr economi ar 20 Mai. Mae'n gronfa gwerth £20 miliwn i ddarparu cymorth ariannol dewisol i ficrofusnesau a busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint yn y sectorau manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden. Ei fwriad yw helpu i fuddsoddi mewn mesurau i'w helpu i leihau eu costau rhedeg, ac i ddiogelu eu busnesau at y dyfodol. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld y ceisiadau a fydd yn dod i mewn ar gyfer y gwahanol fusnesau yr ydym ni eisiau gallu eu cefnogi. Mae'n rhan o'r hyn yr ydym ni'n bwriadu ei wneud wrth fuddsoddi yn nyfodol ein heconomi, yn y swyddi sydd eu hangen ar ein cymunedau a'n gweithwyr lleol. Rwyf i eisiau gweld mwy o ddulliau yn ein harfogaeth i wneud hynny, nid ymladd yn daer yn erbyn ymgais fwriadol i gymryd arian a phwerau oddi wrth y Llywodraeth hon a'r Senedd hon. Rwy'n disgwyl y bydd mwy y gallwn ni ei wneud gyda'n gilydd, gydag awdurdodau lleol, gyda busnesau, os byddwch yn gweld dechrau newydd ar 4 Gorffennaf. Ond byddwn yn parhau i wneud yr hyn y dylem ni ei wneud, gyda'r pwerau sydd gennym ni, gyda'r arian sydd gennym ni, i wneud y dewisiadau cadarnhaol hynny i gefnogi busnesau yng Nghaerffili a thu hwnt.
As my colleague has already said, we now see Welsh businesses facing the highest business rates in Britain. You are certainly not the party for small businesses. These businesses, especially in our region, have been crying out for help, and what constituents have been telling us all for months is that this business rate rise will cause businesses to either shut or even move to England. This is obviously damaging to the economy and is an example of this Welsh Government not supporting young people, as you've just said, or any people at all. As we know on these benches, you cannot tax an economy into prosperity. It's all about choices, First Minister. And what worries me even more is that Keir Starmer now states that Wales is his plan for the rest of the UK. So, First Minister, can you tell us how this Government, and when this Government, actually plans to help businesses in my region and beyond, and bring them in line with the rest of the UK, instead of taxing them out of business?
Fel y mae fy nghyd-Aelod eisoes wedi ei ddweud, rydym ni bellach yn gweld busnesau Cymru yn wynebu'r ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain. Yn sicr, nid chi yw'r blaid i fusnesau bach. Mae'r busnesau hyn, yn enwedig yn ein rhanbarth ni, wedi bod angen cymorth yn daer, a'r hyn y mae etholwyr wedi bod yn ei ddweud wrthym ni i gyd ers misoedd yw y bydd y cynnydd hwn i ardrethi busnes yn achosi i fusnesau gau neu symud i Loegr hyd yn oed. Mae hyn yn amlwg yn niweidiol i'r economi ac mae'n enghraifft o'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru ddim yn cefnogi pobl ifanc, fel yr ydych chi newydd ei ddweud, nac unrhyw bobl o gwbl. Fel yr ydym ni'n ei wybod ar y meinciau hyn, ni allwch drethu economi i ffyniant. Mae'n ymwneud â dewisiadau, Prif Weinidog. A'r hyn sy'n fy mhoeni i fwy fyth yw bod Keir Starmer bellach yn dweud mai Cymru yw ei gynllun ar gyfer gweddill y DU. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni sut mae'r Llywodraeth hon, a phryd mae'r Llywodraeth hon, mewn gwirionedd yn bwriadu helpu busnesau yn fy rhanbarth i a thu hwnt, a sicrhau eu bod yn cyd-fynd â gweddill y DU, yn hytrach na'u trethu allan o fusnes?
Well, it's an extraordinary thing for a Conservative representative to stand up and talk about taxes. We have the highest tax burden in peacetime, under this UK Conservative Government—the highest tax burden in peacetime. We have the second lowest growth in any G7 country over the last year—all on the Tory watch. And they now say they're the party of business and the party of the economy. Well, people will make a judgment on that on 4 July, and I look forward to that judgment. We are dealing with a deliberate reduction in our budget—£700 million in real terms—and the deliberate taking away of money and powers of more than £1 billion of money that this Parliament and this Government should have determined, to invest in the long-term future of our economy. All of those choices were made by a UK Conservative Government, with cheerleaders in this place. Not a single Welsh Conservative raised their voice in opposition to the taking away of money and powers from Wales. I am confident that we will make a positive case to people in Wales in this election, for our future. And I say again, who on earth would want to stand with the Tories in what is to come after what you have done to Wales?
Wel, mae'n beth rhyfeddol i gynrychiolydd Ceidwadol sefyll ar ei thraed a siarad am drethi. Mae gennym ni'r baich treth uchaf mewn cyfnod o heddwch, o dan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol hon yn y DU—y baich treth uchaf mewn cyfnod o heddwch. Mae gennym ni'r ail dwf isaf o unrhyw wlad G7 dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf—y cwbl o dan oruchwyliaeth y Torïaid. Ac maen nhw'n dweud nawr mai nhw yw plaid busnes a phlaid yr economi. Wel, bydd pobl yn gwneud dyfarniad ar hynny ar 4 Gorffennaf, ac edrychaf ymlaen at y dyfarniad hwnnw. Rydym ni'n ymdrin â gostyngiad bwriadol i'n cyllideb—£700 miliwn mewn termau real—a'r cymryd arian a phwerau bwriadol o fwy na £1 biliwn o arian y dylai'r Senedd hon a'r Llywodraeth hon fod wedi ei derbyn, i'w fuddsoddi yn nyfodol hirdymor ein heconomi. Gwnaed yr holl ddewisiadau hynny gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU, gyda chefnogwyr brwd yn y lle hwn. Ni chododd yr un Ceidwadwr Cymreig eu llais yn erbyn cymryd arian a phwerau oddi wrth Gymru. Rwy'n hyderus y byddwn ni'n gwneud dadl gadarnhaol i bobl yng Nghymru yn yr etholiad hwn, ar gyfer ein dyfodol. Ac rwy'n dweud eto, pwy ar y ddaear fyddai eisiau sefyll gyda'r Torïaid yn yr hyn sydd i ddod ar ôl yr hyn yr ydych chi wedi ei wneud i Gymru?
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, yesterday, the BBC broadcast a programme called A Big Stink. You had to feel sympathy and empathy for the poor people of Withyhedge who are suffering the smells and odours that are coming from that tip. You took £200,000 as a leadership donation from that company. We learned from the programme yesterday that that company was under criminal investigation. Can you confirm when you knew that that company was under a criminal investigation?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ddoe, darlledodd y BBC raglen o'r enw A Big Stink. Roedd yn rhaid i chi deimlo cydymdeimlad ac empathi tuag at bobl druan Withyhedge sy'n dioddef yr arogleuon sy'n dod o'r domen honno. Fe wnaethoch chi gymryd £200,000 fel rhodd arweinyddiaeth gan y cwmni hwnnw. Fe wnaethom ni ddarganfod o'r rhaglen ddoe bod ymchwiliad troseddol i'r cwmni hwnnw. A allwch chi gadarnhau pryd yr oeddech chi'n gwybod bod y cwmni hwnnw yn destun ymchwiliad troseddol?
Well, of course I feel sympathy for anyone directly affected by the issues raised in the programme around the operating of the site. The Member will know, and I draw attention again to my register of interests, but, actually, this is an area where it would be wholly improper or inappropriate for me to know about the investigation that the BBC reported on. That's when I was first aware of it—when it was reported on. Either in my role as the constituency Member for Cardiff South and Penarth or, indeed, in my role as a Minister within the Government, it would simply not be appropriate for me to be informed of any type of investigation going on into the operation of the site in Pembrokeshire. How could I know about the investigation taking place? And I should not know. That's the point. Whoever is undertaking the investigation needs to be able to undertake the investigation without fear or favour and come to whatever the right outcome is to see the improvement that could and should be made.
Wel, wrth gwrs, rwy'n cydymdeimlo ag unrhyw un sydd wedi'i effeithio yn uniongyrchol gan y materion a godwyd yn y rhaglen ynghylch gweithredu'r safle. Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, ac rwy'n tynnu sylw eto at fy nghofrestr buddiannau, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae hwn yn faes lle byddai'n gwbl anghywir neu'n amhriodol i mi wybod am yr ymchwiliad yr adroddodd y BBC amdano. Dyna pryd roeddwn i'n ymwybodol ohono gyntaf—pan adroddwyd arno. Naill ai yn fy swyddogaeth fel yr Aelod etholaeth dros Dde Caerdydd a Phenarth neu, yn wir, yn fy swyddogaeth fel Gweinidog o fewn y Llywodraeth, ni fyddai'n briodol i mi gael fy hysbysu am unrhyw fath o ymchwiliad sy'n cael ei gynnal i weithrediad y safle yn sir Benfro. Sut allwn i wybod am yr ymchwiliad a oedd yn cael ei gynnal? Ac ni ddylwn i wybod. Dyna'r pwynt. Mae angen i bwy bynnag sy'n cynnal yr ymchwiliad allu cynnal yr ymchwiliad heb ofn na ffafr a dod i beth bynnag yw'r canlyniad cywir i weld y gwelliant y gellid ac y dylid ei wneud.
So, I take it from your answer that you did not know until the point was put to you by the BBC last week. I think I infer that from your answer. So, that leads on to the point where you've said that due diligence was undertaken on all donors to your campaign. What due diligence was actually undertaken, given that you were in receipt of the largest political donation in Welsh political history? Leave alone the other donations, but, on this specific £200,000 donation—given that you said you didn't know the criminal investigation was being undertaken until, I'm assuming, last week, because that's when the BBC put it to you—what due diligence were you and your team undertaking, as any reasonable person would expect to have been undertaken on a donation of that size?
Felly, rwy'n cymryd o'ch ateb nad oeddech chi'n gwybod tan i'r pwynt gael ei wneud i chi gan y BBC yr wythnos diwethaf. Rwy'n credu fy mod i'n casglu hynny o'ch ateb. Felly, mae hynny'n arwain at y pwynt lle'r ydych chi wedi dweud y cyflawnwyd diwydrwydd dyladwy ar bob rhoddwr i'ch ymgyrch. Pa ddiwydrwydd dyladwy a wnaed mewn gwirionedd, o ystyried eich bod chi wedi derbyn y rhodd wleidyddol fwyaf yn hanes gwleidyddol Cymru? Anghofiwch am y rhoddion eraill, ond, ar y rhodd benodol hon o £200,000—o gofio eich bod chi wedi dweud nad oeddech chi'n gwybod bod yr ymchwiliad troseddol yn cael ei gynnal tan, rwy'n tybio, yr wythnos diwethaf, oherwydd dyna pryd y gwnaeth y BBC eich holi amdano—pa ddiwydrwydd dyladwy oeddech chi a'ch tîm yn ei gyflawni, fel y byddai unrhyw berson rhesymol yn disgwyl iddo fod wedi cael ei gyflawni ar rodd o'r maint hwnnw?
Well, of course we undertook all the due diligence we were required to. That's exactly what happened. Again, even the BBC programme could not find an instance where any of the rules had been broken. So, we undertook due diligence. Again, I come back to the point that is being made: it would be improper and inappropriate for me to know about an investigation, whether it's undertaken by a regulator or any other authority with the ability to bring criminal proceedings. There would be no basis for me to be informed, and I should not be informed of that. That is the point. I just don't think there is much reasonable ground for a reasonable person to go over. I've answered these questions repeatedly, and I'll carry on repeatedly responding honestly and truthfully. I should also just correct the Member, as the largest political donation in Welsh political history was actually made to Plaid Cymru.
Wel, wrth gwrs, fe wnaethom ni gyflawni'r holl ddiwydrwydd dyladwy yr oedd yn ofynnol i ni ei gyflawni. Dyna'n union beth ddigwyddodd. Eto, doedd hyd yn oed rhaglen y BBC ddim yn gallu dod o hyd i achos lle'r oedd unrhyw un o'r rheolau wedi cael eu torri. Felly, rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i ddiwydrwydd dyladwy. Eto, rwy'n dychwelyd at y pwynt sy'n cael ei wneud: byddai'n anghywir ac yn amhriodol i mi wybod am ymchwiliad, pa un a yw'n cael ei gynnal gan reoleiddiwr neu unrhyw awdurdod arall â'r gallu i ddwyn achos troseddol. Ni fyddai unrhyw sail i mi gael fy hysbysu, ac ni ddylwn gael fy hysbysu am hynny. Dyna'r pwynt. Nid wyf i'n credu bod llawer o sail resymol i berson rhesymol fynd drosti. Rwyf i wedi ateb y cwestiynau hyn dro ar ôl tro, a byddaf yn parhau i ymateb yn onest ac yn ddidwyll dro ar ôl tro. Dylwn hefyd gywiro'r Aelod, gan y gwnaed y rhodd wleidyddol fwyaf yn hanes gwleidyddol Cymru i Blaid Cymru mewn gwirionedd.
Not on an individual basis, First Minister. The largest individual donation was to your leadership campaign as an individual. You have received £200,000. Now, it's not unreasonable to assume that due diligence was undertaken given such a major donation was undertaken by this businessman. You knew that this businessman had two criminal convictions against him—the owner of this company—yet you were not prepared to ask the searching questions; you were just prepared to bank the money and run. That's the long and the short of it. There's a vote of confidence in you tomorrow here, First Minister. Are you going to win?
Nid ar sail unigol, Prif Weinidog. Roedd y rhodd unigol fwyaf i'ch ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth chi fel unigolyn. Rydych chi wedi derbyn £200,000. Nawr, nid yw'n afresymol tybio y cyflawnwyd diwydrwydd dyladwy o ystyried y gwnaed cyfraniad mor fawr gan y gŵr busnes hwn. Roeddech chi'n gwybod bod gan y gŵr busnes hwn ddwy euogfarn droseddol yn ei erbyn—perchennog y cwmni hwn—ac eto nid oeddech chi'n barod i ofyn y cwestiynau treiddgar; roeddech chi'n barod i fancio'r arian a rhedeg. Dyna hyd a lled y mater. Mae pleidlais o hyder ynoch chi yma yfory, Prif Weinidog. A ydych chi'n mynd i ennill?
Again, I go back to reminding the Member that, on all occasions, I've answered truthfully and honestly about what happened, about the due diligence that was necessary and, indeed, the fact that no rules have been broken, the ministerial code has not been broken. And we come back to—. And I understand why the Conservatives have put forward a motion tomorrow—a non-binding vote, but a vote, nevertheless, in this Parliament. There is a formal method available. I understand why the Member puts the vote forward. I understand, at this time, when people are making choices, why he does not want to talk about his party's record. I understand the points being made about judgment. I understand what that means and looks like. Look at the judgments that I have made and compare them. Look at the judgments I have made on test and trace. Look at the judgements that I have made on PPE during the pandemic, with no corrupt VIP lane in Wales on my watch. Look at the judgments he has made: defending Boris Johnson to the hilt, backing Liz Truss to the hilt. When she made her speech to the Conservative conference, his response was, 'That's a cracking speech'. Ask mortgage holders what they think of her, ask people with business investment what they think of her. If you want to go into what's going to take place with people's judgment, I am very comfortable having any comparison between the two of us.
I am confident about tomorrow. I look forward to the debate, which I will attend. I could and should, in my view, have been elsewhere, but I will be in this Parliament to respond to the debate. And I say again, with the Conservative record of what you have done to Wales, who on earth would be prepared to stand with you? I do not believe the people of Wales will stand with you when it comes to 4 July.
Eto, rwy'n dychwelyd at atgoffa'r Aelod fy mod i, ar bob achlysur, wedi ateb yn onest ac yn ddidwyll am yr hyn a ddigwyddodd, am y diwydrwydd dyladwy a oedd yn angenrheidiol ac, yn wir, y ffaith nad oes unrhyw reolau wedi'u torri, nad yw cod y gweinidogion wedi cael ei dorri. Ac rydym ni'n dychwelyd at—. Ac rwy'n deall pam mae'r Ceidwadwyr wedi cyflwyno cynnig yfory—pleidlais nad yw'n rhwymol, ond pleidlais, serch hynny, yn y Senedd hon. Mae dull ffurfiol ar gael. Rwy'n deall pam mae'r Aelod yn cyflwyno'r bleidlais. Rwy'n deall, ar yr adeg hon, pan fo pobl yn gwneud dewisiadau, pam nad yw eisiau siarad am record ei blaid. Rwy'n deall y pwyntiau sy'n cael eu gwneud ynglŷn â chrebwyll. Rwy'n deall yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu a sut mae'n edrych. Edrychwch ar y dyfarniadau yr wyf i wedi eu gwneud a chymharwch nhw. Edrychwch ar y dyfarniadau yr wyf i wedi eu gwneud ar brofi ac olrhain. Edrychwch ar y dyfarniadau yr wyf i wedi eu gwneud ar gyfarpar diogelu personol yn ystod y pandemig, heb unrhyw lôn VIP lygredig yng Nghymru o dan fy ngoruchwyliaeth i. Edrychwch ar y dyfarniadau y mae ef wedi eu gwneud: amddiffyn Boris Johnson i'r carn, cefnogi Liz Truss i'r carn. Pan wnaeth ei haraith i gynhadledd y Ceidwadwyr, ei ymateb oedd, 'Mae honna'n araith wych'. Gofynnwch i ddeiliaid morgeisi beth yw eu barn amdani, gofynnwch i bobl â buddsoddiad busnes beth yw eu barn amdani. Os ydych chi eisiau trafod yr hyn sy'n mynd i ddigwydd o ran dyfarniad pobl, rwy'n gyffyrddus iawn yn cael unrhyw gymhariaeth rhwng y ddau ohonom ni.
Rwy'n hyderus am yfory. Edrychaf ymlaen at y ddadl, y byddaf yn ei mynychu. Gallwn, a dylwn, yn fy marn i, fod wedi bod yn rhywle arall, ond byddaf yn y Senedd hon i ymateb i'r ddadl. Ac rwy'n dweud eto, gyda record y Ceidwadwyr o'r hyn yr ydych chi wedi ei wneud i Gymru, pwy ar y ddaear fyddai'n barod i sefyll gyda chi? Nid wyf i'n credu y bydd pobl Cymru yn sefyll gyda chi pan ddaw i 4 Gorffennaf.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. The First Minister has perhaps signalled his attitude towards the vote of no confidence in saying that it is non-binding, but I think we should take it seriously. It's a rare thing for the Senedd to hold votes of no confidence, especially in the First Minister, and so it should be. Whilst we in opposition may not agree with Ministers on policy, we do respect the outcome of democratic elections. But, in this instance, the office of the First Minister has been undermined to such an extent that I have no doubt that the people of Wales have lost confidence in him. There is genuine anger. His acceptance of a £200,000 donation from a convicted polluter has eroded trust in politics, and we see it on the Labour benches themselves, even. Such is the level of concern that it was reported yesterday that a senior figure within the Labour Party offered to loan the First Minister £200,000 so he could pay the donation back. Given that some contrition might have actually shown he understood public anger, why on earth did the First Minister reject that offer?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Efallai bod y Prif Weinidog wedi nodi ei agwedd tuag at y bleidlais o ddiffyg hyder wrth ddweud nad yw'n rhwymol, ond rwy'n credu y dylem ni ei chymryd o ddifrif. Mae'n beth prin i'r Senedd gynnal pleidleisiau o ddiffyg hyder, yn enwedig yn y Prif Weinidog, ac felly dylai fod. Er efallai na fyddwn ni yn y gwrthbleidiau yn cytuno â Gweinidogion ar bolisi, rydym ni'n parchu canlyniad etholiadau democrataidd. Ond, yn yr achos hwn, mae swydd y Prif Weinidog wedi cael ei thanseilio i'r fath raddau fel nad oes gen i unrhyw amheuaeth bod pobl Cymru wedi colli hyder ynddo. Ceir dicter gwirioneddol. Mae ei dderbyniad o rodd o £200,000 gan lygrwr a gafwyd yn euog wedi erydu ymddiriedaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth, ac rydym ni'n ei weld ar feinciau Llafur eu hunain, hyd yn oed. Cymaint yw lefel y pryder, yr adroddwyd ddoe bod ffigwr uwch o fewn y Blaid Lafur wedi cynnig rhoi benthyg £200,000 i'r Prif Weinidog fel y gallai ad-dalu'r rhodd. O ystyried y gallai rhywfaint o edifeirwch fod wedi dangos mewn gwirionedd ei fod yn deall dicter y cyhoedd, pam ar y ddaear wnaeth y Prif Weinidog wrthod y cynnig hwnnw?
As I have made clear before, I don't have £200,000 to pay anybody back. I'm not sure if the Member has access to that ready cash; I certainly don't. Having followed the rules for donations and having followed the ministerial code as well—. And I understand the Member wants to make an alternative case that, regardless of not breaking rules, I should nevertheless suffer the ultimate price in political terms. And I say to the Member, the idea that votes of no confidence are not commonplace is just not borne out by any cursory examination of the record. There have been three votes of no confidence within this Senedd term. Every health Minister has faced a vote of no confidence at some point in time. So, this is part and parcel of what happens. I look forward to responding to the debate tomorrow and setting out what this Government has done, what we continue to do: the ceaseless, never-ending commitment to improve our country, the reason why the vote on 4 July matters to this place and the people that we serve. I look forward to carrying on doing my duty as the First Minister of Wales. I look forward to leading a Government that wants to, and will, transform lives of communities in every part of our country. That is what we are here for.
Fel yr wyf i wedi dweud yn glir o'r blaen, nid oes gen i £200,000 i ad-dalu unrhyw un. Nid wyf i'n siŵr a oes gan yr Aelod fynediad at yr arian parod hwnnw; does gen i ddim, yn sicr. Wedi dilyn y rheolau ar gyfer rhoddion ac wedi dilyn cod y gweinidogion hefyd—. Ac rwy'n deall bod yr Aelod eisiau gwneud dadl arall, waeth am unrhyw dorri rheolau, y dylwn i serch hynny ddioddef y pris eithaf mewn termau gwleidyddol. Ac rwy'n dweud wrth yr Aelod, nid yw'r syniad nad yw pleidleisiau o ddiffyg hyder yn gyffredin yn cael ei gadarnhau gan unrhyw archwiliad arwynebol o'r cofnod. Bu tair pleidlais o ddiffyg hyder yn nhymor y Senedd hon. Mae pob Gweinidog iechyd wedi wynebu pleidlais o ddiffyg hyder ar ryw adeg. Felly, mae hyn yn rhan annatod o'r hyn sy'n digwydd. Edrychaf ymlaen at ymateb i'r ddadl yfory a nodi'r hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ei wneud, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n parhau i'w wneud: yr ymrwymiad parhaus, di-derfyn i wella ein gwlad, y rheswm pam mae'r bleidlais ar 4 Gorffennaf yn bwysig i'r lle hwn ac i'r bobl yr ydym ni'n eu gwasanaethu. Edrychaf ymlaen at barhau i wneud fy nyletswydd fel Prif Weinidog Cymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at arwain Llywodraeth sydd eisiau gweddnewid bywydau cymunedau ym mhob rhan o'n gwlad, ac a fydd yn gwneud hynny. Dyna pam rydym ni yma.
Perhaps the First Minister can clarify whether that means he plans to continue regardless of the result of the vote of no confidence in the Senedd tomorrow. But, once again, no contrition, no remorse, not the slightest acknowledgement by the First Minister that his actions were severely ill-judged. This is even more staggering given that we learnt yesterday that a firm that donated to the First Minister's campaign was subject to a criminal investigation at the time a donation was made. We come back, don't we, to this issue of due diligence and why on earth the First Minister could have put himself in such a compromised position. Let me ask this: if he were given the opportunity again, would he take a different attitude towards due diligence, or would he again prioritise the size of his leadership war chest over what was right and proper?
Efallai y gall y Prif Weinidog egluro pa un a yw hynny'n golygu ei fod yn bwriadu parhau beth bynnag fo canlyniad y bleidlais o ddiffyg hyder yn y Senedd yfory. Ond, unwaith eto, dim edifeirwch, dim cydnabyddiaeth leiaf gan y Prif Weinidog bod ei weithredoedd wedi dangos crebwyll difrifol wael. Mae hyn hyd yn oed yn fwy syfrdanol o gofio ein bod ni wedi darganfod ddoe bod cwmni a roddodd i ymgyrch y Prif Weinidog yn destun ymchwiliad troseddol ar yr adeg y gwnaed rhodd. Rydym ni'n dychwelyd, onid ydym, at y mater hwn o ddiwydrwydd dyladwy a pham ar y ddaear y gallai'r Prif Weinidog fod wedi rhoi ei hun mewn sefyllfa lle'r oedd o dan gymaint o fygythiad. Gadewch i mi ofyn hyn: pe bai'n cael y cyfle eto, a fyddai'n cymryd agwedd wahanol tuag at ddiwydrwydd dyladwy, neu a fyddai'n blaenoriaethu eto ei gronfa ryfel arweinyddiaeth dros yr hyn a oedd yn gywir a phriodol?
Again, the Member has asked me a hypothetical question about the past. I'll go back to what I've said before. It would be improper and inappropriate for me to have known that there was any investigation at the time that investigation started. Can you imagine if I was informed of those investigations, whether it's by the regulator, by the police or any other authority who could undertake an investigation that could lead to a criminal sanction? I can't respond to questions about an investigation I'm not aware of. You can't undertake due diligence on matters that you're not aware of. What I am focused on is being able to turn a new page for Wales on 4 July and the partnership I believe should happen. If you look at our communities and the challenges we face, on the doorstep the cost-of-living crisis is the No. 1 issue, and, more than that, all of the issues it drives: the reality of our budget, the fact that we've lost £700 million in real terms, what that does to being able to properly fund the NHS and public services, to support the economy. Those are the things that drive me in public life. Those are the things that underpin our campaign over the next few weeks and, more than that, how the Government I lead wants to change Wales for the better.
Eto, mae'r Aelod wedi gofyn cwestiwn damcaniaethol i mi am y gorffennol. Dychwelaf at yr hyn yr wyf i wedi ei ddweud o'r blaen. Byddai'n anghywir ac yn amhriodol i mi fod wedi gwybod bod unrhyw ymchwiliad ar yr adeg y dechreuodd yr ymchwiliad hwnnw. A allwch chi ddychmygu pe bawn i wedi cael fy hysbysu am yr ymchwiliadau hynny, boed hynny gan y rheoleiddiwr, gan yr heddlu neu unrhyw awdurdod arall a allai gynnal ymchwiliad a allai arwain at gosb droseddol? Ni allaf ateb cwestiynau am ymchwiliad nad wyf i'n ymwybodol ohono. Ni allwch chi gyflawni diwydrwydd dyladwy ar faterion nad ydych chi'n ymwybodol ohonyn nhw. Yr hyn yr wyf i'n canolbwyntio arno yw gallu troi tudalen newydd i Gymru ar 4 Gorffennaf a'r bartneriaeth yr wyf i'n credu ddylai ddigwydd. Os edrychwch ar ein cymunedau a'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu, ar garreg y drws, yr argyfwng costau byw yw'r prif fater, ac, yn fwy na hynny, yr holl faterion y mae'n eu ysgogi: realiti ein cyllideb, y ffaith ein bod ni wedi colli £700 miliwn mewn termau real, yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei wneud i allu ariannu'r GIG a'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn iawn, i gefnogi'r economi. Dyna'r pethau sy'n fy ysgogi i mewn bywyd cyhoeddus. Dyna'r pethau sy'n sail i'n hymgyrch dros yr wythnosau nesaf ac, yn fwy na hynny, sut mae'r Llywodraeth yr wyf i'n ei harwain eisiau newid Cymru er gwell.
Of course, the First Minister did know about the convictions that had already been passed on the person that had given the £200,000. It's nearly a fortnight now since Rishi Sunak looked to the heavens in Downing Street and wished he had an umbrella, but here in Wales, look up and what we see is the parachutes of Labour candidates imposed by Labour's headquarters in London. With the number of MPs slashed in Wales from 40 to 32 in this election, we can't afford, the Senedd can't afford, the Welsh Government can't afford to have our voice further diluted by having candidates or MPs who've shown no past interest whatsoever in pursuing what's right for Wales—issues of fair funding, for example. Landing parachutes in places like Cardiff West and Swansea West is damaging to Welsh democracy, it shows complete disregard for Wales, and for the views and voices, frankly, of local Labour Members, who are, understandably, livid with the UK party leadership. Perhaps the First Minister can tell us if he endorsed the choice of those candidates over local alternatives. And given that Keir Starmer clearly isn't willing to apologise to local Labour members, or to the people of Wales as a whole, will the First Minister do so on his behalf?
Wrth gwrs, roedd y Prif Weinidog yn gwybod am yr euogfarnau a roddwyd eisoes i'r unigolyn a oedd wedi rhoi'r £200,000. Mae bron i bythefnos bellach ers i Rishi Sunak edrych tua'r nefoedd yn Downing Street a dymuno y byddai ganddo ymbarél, ond yma yng Nghymru, edrychwch i fyny a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei weld yw parasiwtiau ymgeiswyr Llafur a orfodwyd gan bencadlys Llafur yn Llundain. Wrth i nifer yr ASau gael ei thorri yng Nghymru o 40 i 32 yn yr etholiad hwn, ni allwn fforddio, ni all y Senedd fforddio, ni all Llywodraeth Cymru fforddio i'n llais gael ei wanhau ymhellach drwy gael ymgeiswyr neu ASau nad ydyn nhw wedi dangos unrhyw ddiddordeb o gwbl yn y gorffennol mewn mynd ar drywydd yr hyn sy'n iawn i Gymru—materion cyllid teg, er enghraifft. Mae glanio parasiwtiau mewn mannau fel Gorllewin Caerdydd a Gorllewin Abertawe yn niweidiol i ddemocratiaeth Cymru, mae'n dangos diystyrwch llwyr o Gymru, ac o safbwyntiau a lleisiau, a dweud y gwir, Aelodau Llafur lleol, sydd, yn ddealladwy, yn gandryll gydag arweinyddiaeth plaid y DU. Efallai y gall y Prif Weinidog ddweud wrthym ni a wnaeth ef gymeradwyo dewis yr ymgeiswyr hynny dros ddewisiadau lleol amgen. Ac o ystyried bod Keir Starmer yn amlwg ddim yn fodlon ymddiheuro i aelodau Llafur lleol, nac i bobl Cymru yn ei chyfanrwydd, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog wneud hynny ar ei ran?
I see yet again the leader of Plaid Cymru is obsessed with the internal democracy of the Labour Party. In terms of candidates who are approved to stand, in the two recent instances, there was a joint panel of local members and the elected members of the Welsh executive. Those candidates now need to go out and work alongside local members and, more than that, on your point about Welsh democracy, need to persuade Welsh voters that they are the right person to stand up for their local communities within the UK Parliament. It's a UK Parliament that will have a huge amount of work ahead of it after 14 years of Tory chaos, 14 years where I do not believe families are better off, and the last four and a half chaotic years, with what that has meant to and for Wales. I believe we do need a new start, and that is the case that we will make. If you look not just at the cost-of-living crisis, not just the way that money and powers have been stolen from us in this Parliament, the fear and the division of culture wars, the failure on the economy, the fact that deliberate choices made in the UK Parliament now mean that more children grow up poor in Wales than when this party across the UK first entered Government, those are the things that I believe will drive people to the ballot box to make their choices on every Labour candidate that we put forward. I'm proud to stand on the side of Welsh Labour and the Labour offer in a UK election. I believe that none of us who believe in progressive politics should stand with the Tories. I make that division very clear about what I'm not in favour of and what I believe should happen with and for the people of the country I am proud to lead.
Rwy'n gweld unwaith eto bod gan arweinydd Plaid Cymru obsesiwn gyda democratiaeth fewnol y Blaid Lafur. O ran ymgeiswyr sydd wedi'u cymeradwyo i sefyll, yn y ddau achos diweddar, roedd panel ar y cyd o aelodau lleol ac aelodau etholedig o weithrediaeth Cymru. Mae angen nawr i'r ymgeiswyr hynny fynd allan a gweithio ochr yn ochr ag aelodau lleol ac, yn fwy na hynny, ar eich pwynt am ddemocratiaeth Cymru, mae angen iddyn nhw berswadio pleidleiswyr Cymru mai nhw yw'r person iawn i sefyll dros eu cymunedau lleol o fewn Senedd y DU. Mae'n Senedd y DU a fydd â gwaith aruthrol o'i blaen ar ôl 14 mlynedd o anhrefn Torïaidd, 14 mlynedd lle nad wyf i'n credu bod teuluoedd yn well eu byd, a'r pedair blynedd a hanner anhrefnus diwethaf, gyda'r hyn y mae hynny wedi ei olygu i ac ar gyfer Cymru. Rwy'n credu bod angen dechrau newydd arnom ni, a dyna'r ddadl y byddwn ni'n ei gwneud. Os edrychwch chi nid yn unig ar yr argyfwng costau byw, nid yn unig y ffordd y mae arian a phwerau wedi cael eu dwyn oddi wrthym ni yn y Senedd hon, ofn a rhaniadau rhyfeloedd diwylliant, y methiant o ran yr economi, mae'r ffaith bod dewisiadau bwriadol a wnaed yn Senedd y DU bellach yn golygu bod mwy o blant yn tyfu i fyny yn dlawd yng Nghymru na phan ddaeth y blaid hon ar draws y DU i'r Llywodraeth gyntaf, dyna'r pethau yr wyf i'n credu fydd yn gyrru pobl i'r blwch pleidleisio i wneud eu dewisiadau ar bob ymgeisydd Llafur yr ydym ni'n ei gynnig. Rwy'n falch o sefyll ar ochr Llafur Cymru a chynnig Llafur mewn etholiad ar lefel y DU. Rwy'n credu na ddylai'r un ohonom ni sy'n credu mewn gwleidyddiaeth flaengar sefyll gyda'r Torïaid. Rwy'n gwneud y rhaniad hwnnw yn eglur iawn am yr hyn nad wyf i o'i blaid a'r hyn rwy'n credu ddylai ddigwydd gydag ac ar gyfer pobl y wlad rwy'n falch o'i harwain.
Question 3 [OQ61184] by Jack Sargeant has been withdrawn, for the best possible reason for withdrawing a question. I'm sure we all welcome little Noa Sargeant to this world. Croeso, Noa.
Mae cwestiwn 3 [OQ61184] gan Jack Sargeant wedi cael ei dynnu'n ôl, am y rheswm gorau posibl am dynnu cwestiwn yn ôl. Rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn croesawu Noa Sargeant bach i'r byd hwn. Croeso, Noa.
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i hybu economi gogledd Cymru? OQ61188
4. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to boost the economy of north Wales? OQ61188
I hope the economy of north Wales will be boosted by the arrival of Noa Sargeant, but our plan for boosting the Welsh economy is set out in our economic mission, namely to ensure a just transition to a green economy, a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success, with stronger partnerships for stronger regions, the everyday economy we enjoy, and investing for growth.
Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd economi'r gogledd yn cael hwb gan ddyfodiad Noa Sargeant, ond mae ein cynllun ar gyfer hybu economi Cymru wedi'i nodi yn ein cenhadaeth economaidd, sef sicrhau trosglwyddiad cyfiawn i economi werdd, llwyfan i bobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant, gyda phartneriaethau cryfach ar gyfer rhanbarthau cryfach, yr economi bob dydd rydym ni'n ei mwynhau, a buddsoddi ar gyfer twf.
Thank you for your answer, First Minister. You will know that north Wales has had significant attention, investment and support in recent years from the UK Conservative Government, who are transforming the economic prospects of the region I represent, with a new free port in Anglesey creating high-quality, long-term jobs, attracting around £1.4 billion-worth of investment; the enablement of a nuclear power plant at Wylfa that is a key part of our nuclear revolution and will create thousands of jobs on the island; a new investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire, which will be an engine for further economic growth and improving skills and training; and £1 billion committed to upgrading and modernising the north Wales main line, which will improve links across north Wales and into the north-west. All of this is made possible by a UK Conservative Government. Why doesn't Cardiff Labour show the same commitment and faith to north Wales?
Diolch am eich ateb, Prif Weinidog. Byddwch yn gwybod bod y gogledd wedi cael cryn sylw, buddsoddiad a chefnogaeth yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU, sy'n trawsnewid rhagolygon economaidd y rhanbarth yr wyf i'n ei gynrychioli, gyda phorthladd rhydd newydd yn Ynys Môn yn creu swyddi hirdymor o ansawdd uchel, gan ddenu gwerth tua £1.4 biliwn o fuddsoddiad; galluogi pwerdy niwclear yn Wylfa sy'n rhan allweddol o'n chwyldro niwclear ac a fydd yn creu miloedd o swyddi ar yr ynys; parth buddsoddi newydd yn Wrecsam a sir y Fflint, a fydd yn beiriant ar gyfer twf economaidd pellach a gwella sgiliau a hyfforddiant; ac £1 biliwn wedi'i ymrwymo i uwchraddio a moderneiddio prif reilffordd gogledd Cymru, a fydd yn gwella cysylltiadau ar draws y gogledd ac i mewn i ogledd-orllewin Lloegr. Mae hyn i gyd yn cael ei wneud yn bosibl gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU. Pam nad yw Llafur Caerdydd yn dangos yr un ymrwymiad a ffydd i ogledd Cymru?
I admire the Member for saying all that with a straight face. On all of the areas that he's set out, there's joint investment and joint decision making with the Welsh Government, of course. I'm proud to have taken a pragmatic approach to working with a range of very different Ministers in succession on the free port, on growth deals, and indeed on the future of investment zones. And look at what we have done: the investment in Llanberis with Siemens, making sure there are high-quality jobs in rural Wales. Think about what we've done on Ynys Môn, investing in Halen Môn and others—a partnership over a long period of time, working alongside them. Look at what we're doing in north-east Wales with Enfinium and the work we are doing there, with more jobs coming as part of the green revolution that is on our doorstep, and the work we're doing to take advantage of offshore energy.
We could do so much more with a stable and decent Government across the UK, a Government that can make decisions. The reason why we have not seen investment delivered in a new generation of nuclear, whether that is for radioisotopes desperately needed in our national health service or whether it's new small modular reactors or larger technology, is because the Conservatives have never managed to field a Minister who could make a decision. It is because of the chaos in the Conservative Government that that investment has not been delivered. And who on earth knew, when they bought the site of Wylfa from Horizon, when they made an announcement on the day before the general election, that would be a gimmick for the election? I want a Government that is serious about being a partner with the Welsh Government and north Wales to deliver good, high-quality jobs in the green revolution that is coming.
Rwy'n edmygu'r Aelod am ddweud hynna i gyd gydag wyneb syth. O ran yr holl feysydd y mae wedi'u nodi, ceir buddsoddiad ar y cyd a gwneud penderfyniadau ar y cyd â Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs. Rwy'n falch fy mod i wedi mabwysiadu dull pragmatig o weithio gydag amrywiaeth o Weinidogion gwahanol iawn yn olynol ar y porthladd rhydd, ar fargeinion twf, ac ar ddyfodol parthau buddsoddi yn wir. Ac edrychwch ar yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud: y buddsoddiad yn Llanberis gyda Siemens, gan wneud yn siŵr bod swyddi o ansawdd uchel yng nghefn gwlad Cymru. Meddyliwch am yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud ar Ynys Môn, buddsoddi yn Halen Môn ac eraill—partneriaeth dros gyfnod hir, yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â nhw. Edrychwch ar yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yn y gogledd-ddwyrain gydag Enfinium a'r gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yno, gyda mwy o swyddi yn dod yn rhan o'r chwyldro gwyrdd sydd ar garreg ein drws, a'r gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i fanteisio ar ynni ar y môr.
Gallem ni wneud cymaint mwy gyda Llywodraeth sefydlog a theg ar draws y DU, Llywodraeth a all wneud penderfyniadau. Y rheswm pam nad ydym ni wedi gweld buddsoddiad yn cael ei ddarparu mewn cenhedlaeth newydd o niwclear, boed hynny ar gyfer radioisotopau sydd eu hangen yn daer yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol neu'n adweithyddion modiwlaidd bach newydd neu'n dechnoleg fwy, yw oherwydd nad yw'r Ceidwadwyr erioed wedi llwyddo i gyflwyno Gweinidog a allai wneud penderfyniad. Oherwydd yr anrhefn yn y Llywodraeth Geidwadol nad yw'r buddsoddiad hwnnw wedi cael ei wneud. A phwy ar y ddaear oedd yn gwybod, pan wnaethon nhw brynu safle Wylfa gan Horizon, pan wnaethon nhw gyhoeddiad ar y diwrnod cyn yr etholiad cyffredinol, y byddai hwnnw'n gimig ar gyfer yr etholiad? Rwyf i eisiau Llywodraeth sydd o ddifrif am fod yn bartner gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a'r gogledd i ddarparu swyddi da o ansawdd uchel yn y chwyldro gwyrdd sydd i ddod.
We've not even seen any development funding for those projects mentioned in north Wales yet. In the last 14 years we've seen the UK Tory Government make vicious real-terms cuts to the building blocks of economic growth: health, social care, housing, wages and local authority budgets. We've seen them starve Wales of the funding it needs, whether through successive austerity budgets or through the deliberate holding back of billions of HS2 funding. We've seen them conspiring to take money out of people's pockets through Liz Truss's mortgage and inflation bombshell. And we've seen them give more levelling-up funding to Canary Wharf in London than the whole of Wales combined this year. Is it not therefore the case, First Minister, that the best thing we can do to boost the economy of north Wales is to vote out the UK Conservative Government on 4 July?
Nid ydym ni hyd yn oed wedi gweld unrhyw gyllid datblygu ar gyfer y prosiectau hynny y soniwyd amdanyn nhw yn y gogledd eto. Yn ystod y 14 mlynedd diwethaf, rydym ni wedi gweld Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU yn gwneud toriadau termau real dieflig i flociau adeiladu twf economaidd: iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol, tai, cyflogau a chyllidebau awdurdodau lleol. Rydym ni wedi eu gweld nhw'n amddifadu Cymru o'r cyllid sydd ei angen arni, boed hynny drwy gyllidebau cyni cyllidol olynol neu drwy ddal biliynau o gyllid HS2 yn ôl yn fwriadol. Rydym ni wedi eu gweld nhw'n cynllwynio i dynnu arian allan o bocedi pobl trwy daranfollt morgeisi a chwyddiant Liz Truss. Ac rydym ni wedi eu gweld nhw'n rhoi mwy o gyllid ffyniant bro i Canary Wharf yn Llundain na Chymru gyfan gyda'i gilydd eleni. Onid yw'n wir felly, Prif Weinidog, mai'r peth gorau y gallwn ni ei wneud i roi hwb i economi’r gogledd yw pleidleisio i gael gwared ar Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU ar 4 Gorffennaf?
I think within the question the Member makes a particular point that says everything you need to know about the Conservatives' attitude to Wales and to whether levelling-up is genuine: the fact that Canary Wharf in London has received more than the whole of Wales combined. That is not a Government committed to investing in the future of the economy, not a Government committed to genuine levelling-up for the communities that need a Government on their side. And no-one should be surprised that this Conservative group are such fans of Liz Truss and the disaster that she unleashed, because, of course, just on their own watch they had a series of unfunded tax cuts they pledged to the people of Wales in 2021. This group of Tories cannot be trusted, nor can the shower down the road who are in the current UK Government. I look forward to seeing them run out of town at the ballot box and a new start for Wales and Britain.
Rwy'n credu o fewn y cwestiwn bod yr Aelod yn gwneud pwynt penodol sy'n dweud popeth y mae angen i chi ei wybod am agwedd y Ceidwadwyr tuag at Gymru a pha un a yw ffyniant bro yn ddilys: y ffaith bod Canary Wharf yn Llundain wedi derbyn mwy na Chymru gyfan gyda'i gilydd. Nid yw honno'n Llywodraeth sydd wedi ymrwymo i fuddsoddi yn nyfodol yr economi, nid yw'n Llywodraeth sydd wedi ymrwymo i ffyniant bro gwirioneddol i'r cymunedau sydd angen Llywodraeth ar eu hochr nhw. Ac ni ddylai neb synnu bod y grŵp Ceidwadol hwn yn gymaint o gefnogwyr Liz Truss a'r drychineb a grëwyd ganddi, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, dim ond o dan eu goruchwyliaeth eu hunain, roedd ganddyn nhw gyfres o doriadau treth heb eu hariannu a addawyd ganddyn nhw i bobl Cymru yn 2021. Ni ellir ymddiried yn y grŵp hwn o Dorïaid, ac ni ellir ymddiried yn y criw anobeithiol i lawr y ffordd sydd yn Llywodraeth bresennol y DU chwaith. Edrychaf ymlaen at eu gweld nhw'n cael eu gorfodi i adael yn y blwch pleidleisio a chychwyn newydd i Gymru a Phrydain.
5. Pa werthusiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r cynllun cymhelliant addysg gychwynnol athrawon ar gyfer pynciau â blaenoriaeth? OQ61195
5. What evaluation has the Welsh Government undertaken of the initial teacher education priority subject incentive scheme? OQ61195
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
Several research reports into attracting graduates into teaching, including the use of incentives, have been published since 2019. Preliminary work to further evaluate the priority subject incentive scheme specifically is currently under way.
Cyhoeddwyd sawl adroddiad ymchwil ar ddenu graddedigion i faes addysgu, gan gynnwys defnyddio cymhellion, ers 2019. Mae gwaith rhagarweiniol i werthuso'r cynllun cymhelliant pynciau blaenoriaeth yn benodol yn mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd.
Diolch. Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod yna broblemau mawr gyda ni o ran recriwtio a chadw athrawon ar draws Cymru gyfan. Yn wir, mae negeseuon etholiadol eich plaid eich hun yn cydnabod bod yr argyfwng hwn wedi digwydd o dan eich arweiniad chi, ac mae hyn yn gyfaddefiad sy'n cael ei adlewyrchu yn un o'ch chwe addewid etholiadol. A does dim prinder cyhoeddiadau wedi bod dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn annog pobl ifanc i feddwl am yrfa fel athrawon neu gynorthwywyr dosbarth, ond a ydyn ni'n gwybod a yw'r ymgyrchoedd hyn wedi bod yn llwyddiannus?
Thank you. We know that there are great problems in terms of recruitment and retaining teachers across the whole of Wales. Indeed, the electoral messages of your own party do recognise that this crisis has happened under your leadership, and this is also reflected in one of your six electoral commitments. And there has been no shortage of announcements in recent years by the Welsh Government encouraging young people to think about a career as a teacher or classroom assistant, but we do know whether these campaigns have been successful?
Can you tell me, First Minister, whether the initial teacher education incentive scheme for priority subjects is working, and how do you know this, because I was quite shocked recently to learn from the Cabinet Secretary for Education that the Welsh Government has no data to determine if the recipients of the incentive before 2022-23 are still teaching in Wales, are teaching somewhere else, or not teaching at all? Now, this is a scheme that's been running, in one way or another, for over a decade, with millions of pounds spent on it, and we don't know if any of its previous recipients are still in teaching positions. Now, that I find quite astounding. So, can you confirm, First Minister, that this astonishing oversight will be corrected, and explain to me how?
A allwch chi ddweud wrthyf i, Prif Weinidog, pa un a yw'r cynllun cymhelliant addysg gychwynnol i athrawon ar gyfer pynciau blaenoriaeth yn gweithio, a sut ydych chi'n gwybod hyn, oherwydd cefais dipyn o sioc yn ddiweddar o ddarganfod gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg nad oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw ddata i ddarganfod a yw derbynwyr y cymhelliant cyn 2022-23 yn dal i addysgu yng Nghymru, yn addysgu yn rhywle arall neu ddim yn addysgu o gwbl? Nawr, mae hwn yn gynllun sydd wedi bod yn rhedeg, mewn rhyw ffordd neu'i gilydd, ers dros ddegawd, gyda miliynau o bunnoedd wedi'u gwario arno, ac nid ydym ni'n gwybod a oes unrhyw un o'i dderbynwyr blaenorol yn dal i fod mewn swyddi addysgu. Nawr, mae hynny'n gwbl syfrdanol i mi. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau, Prif Weinidog, y bydd yr esgeulustod rhyfeddol hwn yn cael ei chywiro, ac esbonio i mi sut?
I think there are a couple of different things, to try to address the Member's questions and points directly. There's the point about how you link data for when people go into the workforce and how you can track where they are, and how you do that successfully, and understand where they've undertaken an incentive. Indeed, incentives for teacher training have been agreed on a cross-party basis during most of the life of devolution, a recognition that you need to have incentives to bring people into the teacher workforce, and then specifically across a range of subjects. So, that's why we're undertaking an evaluation to understand more deliberately, after a period of time of incentives, how successful it has been. We also need to understand without those incentives, where would we have been with the workforce that we need to know what all of us want to see for children and young people.
So, that's why the research is important, but I would say that in the subjects that we have—a range of sciences, design and technology, ICT, maths, modern foreign languages, physics, Welsh and any of those subjects through the medium of Welsh—we know that we need more workforce. It's a challenge for both English-medium education and, indeed, Welsh-medium education for the ambitions that we share. Now, to get there, you've got to understand how you get teachers and then keep them. It's partly about the initial stage about incentives, I think. It's also partly about the environment within the classroom. It's also partly about how they're then supported and the reforms that we are undertaking on changing our curriculum. Lots of teachers positively want to come to Wales because of the journey we're on, and it needs to work to make sure that young people get the best start in life through the first 1,000 days, and into education.
So, yes, we will look at the research and the evidence that is there. The crucial part is: how do we get the workforce we need to understand how we make clear that being a teacher is a fantastic career to make a big difference for the community you live in and you serve, and the country, and it can be a hugely rewarding profession for individuals as well? Sadly, lots of parts of the teaching profession have been attacked on a regular basis by different actors, and that has turned some people—[Inaudible.]—wanting to be teachers through and immediately after the pandemic. That's levelling off a bit, so we need to understand what more we can do to get the high-quality teachers that we need, and each and every one of our constituents and their families want to see in Welsh education.
Rwy'n credu bod un neu ddau o wahanol bethau, i geisio mynd i'r afael â chwestiynau a phwyntiau'r Aelod yn uniongyrchol. Ceir pwynt ynglŷn â sut rydych chi'n cysylltu data ar gyfer pryd mae pobl yn mynd i mewn i'r gweithlu a sut y gallwch chi olrhain ble maen nhw, a sut rydych chi'n gwneud hynny'n llwyddiannus, a deall lle maen nhw wedi cyflawni cymhelliant. Yn wir, cytunwyd ar gymhellion ar gyfer hyfforddiant athrawon ar sail drawsbleidiol yn ystod y rhan fwyaf o oes datganoli, cydnabyddiaeth bod angen i chi gael cymhellion i ddod â phobl i mewn i'r gweithlu athrawon, ac yna yn benodol ar draws amrywiaeth o bynciau. Felly, dyna pam rydym ni'n cynnal gwerthusiad i ddeall yn fwy bwriadol, ar ôl cyfnod o gymhellion, pa mor llwyddiannus fu hynny. Mae angen i ni ddeall hefyd heb y cymhellion hynny, lle byddem ni wedi bod gyda'r gweithlu sydd ei angen arnom i wybod beth mae pob un ohonom ni eisiau ei weld ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc.
Felly, dyna pam mae'r ymchwil yn bwysig, ond byddwn yn dweud yn y pynciau sydd gennym ni—amrywiaeth o wyddorau, dylunio a thechnoleg, TGCh, mathemateg, ieithoedd tramor modern, ffiseg, Cymraeg ac unrhyw un o'r pynciau hynny drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg—rydym ni'n gwybod bod angen mwy o weithlu arnom ni. Mae'n her i addysg cyfrwng Saesneg ac, yn wir, addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg ar gyfer yr uchelgeisiau yr ydym ni'n eu rhannu. Nawr, i gyrraedd yno, mae'n rhaid i chi ddeall sut rydych chi'n cael athrawon ac yna eu cadw. Mae'n rhannol am y cam cychwynnol am gymhellion, rwy'n credu. Mae hefyd yn rhannol am yr amgylchedd yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Mae hefyd yn ymwneud yn rhannol â sut maen nhw'n cael eu cefnogi a'r diwygiadau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud ar newid ein cwricwlwm. Mae llawer o athrawon eisiau dod i Gymru yn gadarnhaol oherwydd y daith yr ydym ni arni, ac mae angen iddo weithio i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl ifanc yn cael y dechrau gorau mewn bywyd drwy'r 1,000 o ddiwrnodau cyntaf, ac i fyd addysg.
Felly, byddwn, mi fyddwn yn edrych ar yr ymchwil a'r dystiolaeth sydd yno. Y rhan hanfodol yw: sut ydym ni'n cael y gweithlu sydd ei angen arnom ni i ddeall sut rydym ni'n ei gwneud yn eglur bod bod yn athrawes neu athro yn yrfa wych i wneud gwahaniaeth mawr i'r gymuned yr ydych chi'n byw ynddi ac yn ei gwasanaethu, a'r wlad, a gall fod yn broffesiwn gwerth chweil iawn i unigolion hefyd? Yn anffodus, ymosodwyd ar lawer o rannau o'r proffesiwn addysgu yn rheolaidd gan wahanol weithredwyr, ac mae hynny wedi troi rhai pobl—[Anghlywadwy.]—eisiau bod yn athrawon drwy'r pandemig ac yn syth ar ei ôl. Mae hynny'n gwastadu ychydig, felly mae angen i ni ddeall beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud i gael yr athrawon o ansawdd uchel sydd eu hangen arnom ni, ac y mae pob un o'n hetholwyr a'u teuluoedd eisiau eu gweld ym myd addysg Cymru.
The First Minister has been talking a lot about the last 14 years. Well, in the last 14 years in England, we've seen massive growth in the education sector in England, thanks to Conservative-led reforms that have delivered the best Programme for International Student Assessment results anywhere in the UK consistently. Meanwhile, the Welsh Labour Government refuses to follow suit, presiding over the worst education scores anywhere in the UK and getting worse.
Now, the initial teacher education priority subject incentive scheme, as the First Minister outlined, includes physics as a profession that can be taught via it. The Welsh Government targeted the recruitment of 61 students to complete the ITE programme for 2023-24. Do you want to know how many did qualify in 2023-24? Three. Is it not, First Minister, one lesson that we can learn from Wales and the Welsh Labour Government that you just can't trust Labour when it comes to education?
Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi bod yn siarad llawer am y 14 mlynedd diwethaf. Wel, yn ystod y 14 mlynedd diwethaf yn Lloegr, rydym ni wedi gweld twf enfawr yn y sector addysg yn Lloegr, diolch i ddiwygiadau dan arweiniad y Ceidwadwyr sydd wedi sicrhau'r canlyniadau Rhaglen Asesu Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol gorau yn unrhyw le yn y DU yn gyson. Yn y cyfamser, mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn gwrthod dilyn yr un trywydd, gan lywyddu dros y sgoriau addysg gwaethaf yn unrhyw le yn y DU ac sy'n gwaethygu.
Nawr, mae'r cynllun cymhelliant pynciau blaenoriaeth addysg gychwynnol athrawon, fel yr amlinellodd y Prif Weinidog, yn cynnwys ffiseg fel proffesiwn y gellir ei addysgu drwyddo. Targedodd Llywodraeth Cymru recriwtio 61 o fyfyrwyr i gwblhau'r rhaglen AGA ar gyfer 2023-24. Hoffech chi wybod faint wnaeth gymhwyso yn 2023-24? Tri. Onid yw'n un wers, Prif Weinidog, y gallwn ni ei dysgu gan Gymru a Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru na allwch chi ymddiried yn Llafur o ran addysg?
Actually, what the Member points out is that the incentives are part of the answer, but not the whole answer, and if you want a serious debate about how we get the workforce we need, that contribution doesn't get you to where you need to be. You need to understand what we need to do to make teaching an attractive profession for people to want to study it, and then to stay in it and want to carry on delivering. Now, I went to university with a range of people who are now teachers; I met some of them at the Urdd Eisteddfod, actually—the Aber mafia is everywhere, as the Presiding Officer knows—but to understand why they stayed in Welsh education and what makes a difference, that's part of the work we need to do, as well as a commitment to want to raise standards with and for children and young people.
Part of it is it the environment in which they work in as well, and, of course, we have now seen, on a sustained basis, the largest school and college building programme for new facilities since the 1960s. I'm very proud of what Welsh Labour has done to invest in facilities; we'll carry on working together with the profession, and others, to make clear that teaching is an attractive profession. You can undertake a hugely rewarding and valuable career and make a big difference to communities that you live in. And that is the journey we are on, and I make no apologies for wanting to be positive about the workforce needs we have and how we want to go about meeting them for the future of the country.
Mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei nodi yw bod y cymhellion yn rhan o'r ateb, ond nid yr ateb cyfan, ac os ydych chi eisiau trafodaeth ddifrifol am sut rydym ni'n cael y gweithlu sydd ei angen arnom, nid yw'r cyfraniad hwnnw yn eich arwain i'r man lle mae angen i chi fod. Mae angen i chi ddeall yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud i wneud addysgu yn broffesiwn deniadol i bobl eisiau ei astudio, ac yna aros ynddo ac eisiau parhau i'w ddarparu. Nawr, es i i'r brifysgol gydag amrywiaeth o bobl sydd bellach yn athrawon; fe wnes i gyfarfod rhai ohonyn nhw yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd, a dweud y gwir—mae maffia Aber ym mhobman, fel y mae'r Llywydd yn gwybod—ond i ddeall pam wnaethon nhw aros mewn addysg Gymraeg a'r hyn sy'n gwneud gwahaniaeth, mae hynny'n rhan o'r gwaith y mae angen i ni ei wneud, yn ogystal ag ymrwymiad i fod eisiau codi safonau gyda phlant a phobl ifanc ac ar eu cyfer.
Rhan ohono yw'r amgylchedd y maen nhw'n gweithio ynddo hefyd, ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni bellach wedi gweld, yn barhaus, y rhaglen adeiladu ysgolion a cholegau fwyaf ar gyfer cyfleusterau newydd ers y 1960au. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r hyn y mae Llafur Cymru wedi ei wneud i fuddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau; byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'r proffesiwn, ac eraill, i'w gwneud yn eglur bod addysgu yn broffesiwn deniadol. Gallwch ymgymryd â gyrfa lawn boddhad a hynod werthfawr a gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr i'r cymunedau yr ydych yn byw ynddyn nhw. A dyna'r daith yr ydym ni arni, ac nid wyf i'n ymddiheuro o gwbl am fod eisiau bod yn gadarnhaol am yr anghenion gweithlu sydd gennym ni a sut rydym ni eisiau mynd ati i'w diwallu ar gyfer dyfodol y wlad.
6. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i amddiffyn lles milgwn rasio, ar y trac rasio yn ogystal ag oddi arno? OQ61220
6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds, both on and off the racetrack? OQ61220
Thank you. In March this year we concluded our 12-week consultation on the regulation of animal welfare establishments, activities and exhibits. This refers to companion animals. The consultation proposed licensing owners, keepers and trainers of racing dogs, including greyhounds, with a view to improving their lifelong welfare, from birth to retirement, when bred or raised specifically for sport.
Diolch. Ym mis Mawrth eleni, fe wnaethom ni orffen ein hymgynghoriad 12 wythnos ar reoleiddio sefydliadau, gweithgareddau ac arddangosion lles anifeiliaid. Mae hyn yn cyfeirio at anifeiliaid anwes. Fe wnaeth yr ymgynghoriad gynnig trwyddedu perchnogion, ceidwaid a hyfforddwyr cŵn rasio, gan gynnwys milgwn, gyda'r bwriad o wella eu lles gydol oes, o'u genedigaeth hyd at ymddeol, pan fyddan nhw'n cael eu bridio neu eu magu'n benodol ar gyfer chwaraeon.
Thank you for that response, First Minister. While seeking election to the post of First Minister, you stated on your social media channel that
'Protecting Greyhounds goes beyond just ending the sport—we need to ensure good care throughout a greyhound's life.'
I could not agree more. But does the First Minister agree with me that ending greyhound racing sooner rather than later is key to protecting the welfare of these wonderful animals? Therefore, will you commit to a meeting with the Cut the Chase coalition, which has been campaigning on the issue, to discuss their concerns about the well-being of the dogs that are still being used for commercial racing in Wales? Thank you.
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Wrth geisio cael eich ethol i swydd y Prif Weinidog, fe wnaethoch chi ddweud ar eich sianel cyfryngau cymdeithasol
'Mae amddiffyn milgwn yn mynd y tu hwnt i ddod â'r gamp i ben—mae angen i ni sicrhau gofal da drwy gydol oes milgi.'
Allwn i ddim cytuno mwy. Ond a yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi bod rhoi terfyn ar rasio milgwn yn fuan yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach yn allweddol i amddiffyn lles yr anifeiliaid hyfryd hyn? Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gyfarfod â chlymblaid Cut the Chase, sydd wedi bod yn ymgyrchu ar y mater, i drafod eu pryderon am lesiant y cŵn sy'n dal i gael eu defnyddio ar gyfer rasio masnachol yng Nghymru? Diolch.
I thank the Member for his question and the genuineness. I know he is a supporter of the campaign to end greyhound racing and the reasons behind that. I want to thank everyone who took the time to get involved in the consultation; we had over 1,100 consultation responses. So, we're having to go through those, undertake a proper analysis of them, then come out with the response from the Government. It's why I can't give a commitment that I know the Member and others may want to hear, for a specific outcome, because we do need to understand what that response is, in all of its terms, and then to set out what the Government's response will be.
One of the points in the consultation is about whether to support a phased ban, but as I have said, and will go on saying, you need to think about not just greyhounds for today but, actually, the welfare for those greyhounds, if the sport continues or, indeed, if greyhound racing ends. That's what we'll look at. I don't want to prejudge or pre-empt the consultation, but I do take seriously the point the Member makes, and I know that there is genuine cross-party support on this issue.
Diolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn a'r diffuantrwydd. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn gefnogwr o'r ymgyrch i ddod â rasio milgwn i ben a'r rhesymau sy'n sail i hynny. Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a roddodd o'u hamser i gymryd rhan yn yr ymgynghoriad; cawsom dros 1,100 o ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni fynd drwy'r rheini, cynnal dadansoddiad priodol ohonyn nhw, yna dod allan gyda'r ymateb gan y Llywodraeth. Dyna pam na allaf i roi ymrwymiad y gwn y gallai'r Aelod ac eraill fod eisiau ei glywed, am ganlyniad penodol, oherwydd mae angen i ni ddeall beth yw'r ymateb hwnnw, yn ei holl dermau, ac yna nodi beth fydd ymateb y Llywodraeth.
Un o'r pwyntiau yn yr ymgynghoriad yw a ddylid cefnogi gwaharddiad graddol ai peidio, ond fel y dywedais i, ac y byddaf yn parhau i'w ddweud, mae angen i chi feddwl nid yn unig am filgwn ar gyfer heddiw ond, mewn gwirionedd, lles y milgwn hynny, os bydd y gamp yn parhau neu, yn wir, os bydd rasio milgwn yn dod i ben. Dyna beth y byddwn ni'n edrych arno. Nid wyf i eisiau rhagfarnu na rhagweld yr ymgynghoriad, ond rwy'n cymryd o ddifrif y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud, a gwn fod cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol wirioneddol ar y mater hwn.
Good afternoon, Prif Weinidog. It's not a surprise to many that I wanted to just say a few words on this issue, and I'm grateful to my colleague Altaf Hussain. I do understand totally that you're not able to prejudge any outcome in relation to the consultation period, but just to say a little bit about my dog, Wanda, she is—[Interruption.] No, I won't go into that. She and the previous dog that I owned, the previous racing greyhound, were both very traumatised by racing. Wanda, in fact, ran her last race in October of last year—it was her forty-eighth race in four years. I very much hope that the consultation period will mean that we have a phased ban on greyhound racing.
My question to you is this—hopefully we'll have that outcome—what will you do to secure the safety and protection of greyhounds that are on the racing track in Caerphilly, to ensure that they are protected during that period? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Bore da, Prif Weinidog. Nid yw'n syndod i lawer fy mod i eisiau dweud ychydig eiriau ar y mater hwn, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'm cydweithiwr Altaf Hussain. Rwy'n deall yn llwyr nad ydych chi'n gallu rhagfarnu unrhyw ganlyniad o ran y cyfnod ymgynghori, ond dim ond i ddweud ychydig am fy nghi i, Wanda, mae hi—[Torri ar draws.] Na, ni wnaf i fynd i mewn i hynny. Roedd hi a'r ci blaenorol yr oeddwn i'n berchen arno, y milgi rasio blaenorol, ill dau wedi'u trawmateiddio'n fawr gan rasio. A dweud y gwir, rhedodd Wanda ei ras olaf ym mis Hydref y llynedd—hon oedd ei hwythfed ras ar ddeugain mewn pedair blynedd. Rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd y cyfnod ymgynghori yn golygu bod gennym ni waharddiad graddol ar rasio milgwn.
Fy nghwestiwn i chi yw hwn—gobeithio y cawn ni'r canlyniad hwnnw—beth fyddwch chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau diogelwch ac amddiffyniad milgwn sydd ar y trac rasio yng Nghaerffili, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael eu hamddiffyn yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you for the question. I should say I am a dog owner myself; sometimes we feel that we're owned by the dog. But she's not a greyhound, but I understand they make fantastic family pets. But there is a point here about the broader welfare and what happens with those greyhounds that are bred for racing, whether they make it at racing greyhounds or not, and I know the concerns that are there. The Valley track is now part of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, so it has to meet external standards. We will continue to maintain an interest in what takes place there, regardless of the outcome of the consultation and the Government response.
The local authority don't have statutory responsibilities to inspect the track and understand animal welfare, but we do want to make sure that the GB-wide standards they only signed up to last year, when they joined the GB overarching body, are met. And I do take seriously the point the Member makes about the welfare whilst the sport continues for greyhounds in Wales and beyond and also what might happen if there's a different future, because I take very seriously the welfare of these wonderful animals. I will stop there, because otherwise I'll start talking about family history with greyhounds, which probably is beyond First Minister's questions.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Dylwn i ddweud fy mod i'n berchennog ci fy hun; rydym ni'n teimlo weithiau mai'r ci sydd berchen arnom ni. Ond nid yw'n filgi, ond rwy'n deall eu bod nhw'n anifeiliaid anwes teuluol gwych. Ond ceir pwynt yma am y lles ehangach a'r hyn sy'n digwydd gyda'r milgwn hynny sy'n cael eu bridio ar gyfer rasio, pa un a ydyn nhw'n ei wneud yn rasio milgwn ai peidio, a gwn am y pryderon sydd yno. Mae trac y Cymoedd bellach yn rhan o Fwrdd Milgwn Prydain Fawr, felly mae'n rhaid iddo fodloni safonau allanol. Byddwn yn parhau i gynnal diddordeb yn yr hyn sy'n digwydd yno, waeth beth fydd canlyniad yr ymgynghoriad ac ymateb y Llywodraeth.
Nid oes gan yr awdurdod lleol gyfrifoldebau statudol i archwilio'r trac a deall lles anifeiliaid, ond rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod y safonau Prydain Fawr gyfan y gwnaethon nhw gytuno iddyn nhw dim ond y llynedd, pan wnaethon nhw ymuno â chorff cyffredinol Prydain Fawr, yn cael eu bodloni. Ac rwy'n cymryd o ddifrif y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am les tra bod y gamp yn parhau i filgwn yng Nghymru a thu hwnt a hefyd beth allai ddigwydd os oes gwahanol ddyfodol, oherwydd rwy'n cymryd lles yr anifeiliaid hyfryd hyn o ddifrif. Byddaf yn stopio yn y fan yna, oherwydd fel arall byddaf yn dechrau siarad am hanes teuluol gyda milgwn, sydd fwy na thebyg y tu hwnt i gwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog.
First Minister, 2 June marks National Greyhound Day. It is a timely reminder that Wales is one of only 10 countries across the entire globe—this includes all UK nations—where commercial greyhound racing still takes place in 2024. Published results from races and trials at the Valley Greyhounds stadium, which sits within the Senedd seat of Islwyn, show that from 3 March to 29 May this year nine dogs were recorded as 'fell' and 15 were recorded as 'knocked over'. The welfare of these precious greyhounds that are fallen in races remains unknown. The Cut the Chase coalition, which consists of the highly respected RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales, have well documented the truly shocking lack of welfare shown in the greyhound racing industry for the welfare of the animals. First Minister, what timescales and what more details, then, can you give about the outcome of the 12-week consultation considering the future of greyhound racing, and when will that report to the Senedd? I also would like to pick up on the point of what is going to happen in the interim to those dogs and their welfare.
Prif Weinidog, 2 Mehefin yw Diwrnod Cenedlaethol y Milgwn. Mae'n atgof amserol bod Cymru yn un o ddim ond 10 gwlad ar draws y byd i gyd—mae hyn yn cynnwys holl wledydd y DU—lle mae rasio milgwn masnachol yn dal i ddigwydd yn 2024. Mae canlyniadau cyhoeddedig o rasys a threialon yn stadiwm milgwn y Cymoedd, sydd wedi'i leoli yn sedd Islwyn y Senedd, yn dangos y cofnodwyd bod naw ci wedi 'cwympo' a bod 15 wedi cael eu 'bwrw drosodd' rhwng 3 Mawrth a 29 Mai eleni. Mae lles y milgwn gwerthfawr hyn sydd wedi cwympo mewn rasys yn parhau i fod yn anhysbys. Mae'r glymblaid Cut the Chase, sy'n cynnwys sefydliadau uchel eu parch yr RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue a Greyhound Rescue Wales, wedi rhoi llawer o sylw i'r diffyg lles gwirioneddol syfrdanol a ddangosir yn y diwydiant rasio milgwn tuag at les yr anifeiliaid. Prif Weinidog, pa amserlenni a pha fanylion pellach, felly, allwch chi eu rhoi am ganlyniad yr ymgynghoriad 12 wythnos yn ystyried dyfodol rasio milgwn, a phryd fydd hwnnw'n adrodd i'r Senedd? Hoffwn hefyd roi sylw i'r pwynt o'r hyn sy'n mynd i ddigwydd yn y cyfamser i'r cŵn hynny a'u lles.
Thank you for the question. Again, I understand the response the Member would like me to give, but I can't give it because we're going through the response to the consultation, but it is striking, the point the Member makes, that Wales is one of only 10 countries around the globe that still has commercial greyhound racing. We need to understand more about the welfare of the dogs, the standards that the Greyhound Board of Great Britain has for greyhounds to be able to make sure that they are met and that they undertake the welfare engagement they're supposed to, and we have to deal with the response to the consultation. Now, I can't give you an absolute time frame for when that will be published, but the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs is leading the work on this; we will publish a summary of the responses, and we will publish a response from the Government about how we propose to take those matters forward. So, I'd ask Members on all sides to bear with us, to understand we're treating this seriously, with the significant volume of responses that shows a real interest in the issue, and we'll set out the Government's response as soon as we're able to. And again, I recognise the significant and very genuine and well-meant and kind-heartedly-felt concern on all sides of the Chamber.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Eto, rwy'n deall yr ymateb yr hoffai'r Aelod i mi ei roi, ond na allaf ei roi gan ein bod ni'n mynd drwy'r ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad, ond mae'n drawiadol, y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud, bod Cymru yn un o ddim ond 10 gwlad ledled y byd sy'n dal i fod â rasio milgwn masnachol. Mae angen i ni ddeall mwy am les y cŵn, y safonau sydd gan Fwrdd Milgwn Prydain Fawr ar gyfer milgwn i allu gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n cael eu bodloni a'u bod nhw'n ymgymryd â'r ymgysylltiad lles y maen nhw i fod i'w wneud, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ymdrin â'r ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad. Nawr, ni allaf roi amserlen bendant i chi ar gyfer pryd y bydd hwnnw'n cael ei gyhoeddi, ond mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig yn arwain y gwaith ar hyn; byddwn yn cyhoeddi crynodeb o'r ymatebion, a byddwn yn cyhoeddi ymateb gan y Llywodraeth ynglŷn â sut rydym ni'n bwriadu bwrw ymlaen â'r materion hynny. Felly, byddwn yn gofyn i Aelodau ar bob ochr i fod yn amyneddgar, i ddeall ein bod ni'n trin hyn o ddifrif, gyda'r nifer sylweddol o ymatebion sy'n dangos gwir ddiddordeb yn y mater, a byddwn yn cyflwyno ymateb y Llywodraeth cyn gynted ag y gallwn. Ac eto, rwy'n cydnabod y pryder sylweddol a diffuant iawn a da ei fwriad a thwymgalon ar bob ochr i'r Siambr.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y cynnydd o ran mynediad at wasanaethau'r GIG yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ61191
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on progress regarding access to NHS services in north Wales? OQ61191
The Welsh Government continues to work closely with the health board to drive sustainable improvement that enables patients to access safe and timely health and care services. We have set out clear expectations for improvement that will be followed through by myself and the Cabinet Secretary.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda'r bwrdd iechyd i ysgogi gwelliant cynaliadwy sy'n galluogi cleifion i gael mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd a gofal diogel a phrydlon. Rydym ni wedi nodi disgwyliadau eglur ar gyfer gwelliant y byddaf i ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cymryd camau dilynol arnyn nhw.
First Minister, under Labour, the NHS in north Wales is on its knees: the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been in and out of special measures since 2015; there's been a failure to deliver improvements, which has resulted in patients coming to harm; patients are waiting longer than in other parts of the UK for operations and treatments; and we all know that the Glan Clwyd Hospital, which serves the people of Conwy and Denbighshire, has the worst emergency department performance in the country, with one in four people waiting 12 hours or more in A&E. It's totally unacceptable.
Now, in a bid to address some of these issues, 11 years ago, the Welsh Government promised to build a brand-new hospital in Rhyl to serve the coastal strip, improve access to NHS services and alleviate the pressure on Glan Clwyd. It should have been open in 2016, but we're yet to see a spade in the ground, First Minister, and yet, since then, since 2013, you've opened a brand-new hospital in south Wales. Why is north Wales always playing second fiddle to south Wales under your Government? And when will people in Conwy and Denbighshire get this vital facility that patients need?
Prif Weinidog, o dan Lafur, mae'r GIG yn y gogledd ar ei liniau: mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi bod i mewn ac allan o fesurau arbennig ers 2015; mae methiant wedi bod i gyflawni gwelliannau, sydd wedi arwain at gleifion yn dioddef niwed; mae cleifion yn aros yn hirach nag mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU am lawdriniaethau a thriniaethau; ac rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod mai Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, sy'n gwasanaethu pobl Conwy a sir Ddinbych, sydd â'r perfformiad adran achosion brys gwaethaf yn y wlad, gydag un o bob pedwar o bobl yn aros 12 awr neu fwy mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Mae'n gwbl annerbyniol.
Nawr, mewn ymgais i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion hyn, 11 mlynedd yn ôl, addawodd Llywodraeth Cymru adeiladu ysbyty newydd sbon yn y Rhyl i wasanaethu'r llain arfordirol, i wella mynediad at wasanaethau'r GIG ac i leddfu'r pwysau ar Glan Clwyd. Dylai fod wedi bod ar agor yn 2016, ond nid ydym ni wedi gweld rhaw yn y ddaear eto, Prif Weinidog, ac eto, ers hynny, ers hynny, ers 2013, rydych chi wedi agor ysbyty newydd sbon yn y de. Pam mae'r gogledd bob amser yn dod yn ail i'r de o dan eich Llywodraeth chi? A phryd fydd pobl yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych yn cael y cyfleuster hanfodol hwn y mae cleifion ei angen?
Well, I recognise that long waits are something that I would not try to defend, whether it's emergency care or usual, planned care. There has been a reduction for long waits in north Wales, a more than 20 per cent reduction. There's been a reduction of more than 55 per cent, sorry, in orthopaedic patient waits as well, and there is investment going into the health service in north Wales. Ysbyty Glan Clwyd itself has had a significant refit, not just in the A&E department, but actually a whole-hospital refurbish and refit. We've also seen money going to new mental health units and indeed the orthopaedic unit in Llandudno, which the Cabinet Secretary went to open and to view. So, there is real investment going in. The challenge isn't just in the bricks and the mortar of the hospital, it's in the transformation and modernisation of the service overall, and the need to have not just the numbers of staff, but the way in which they work. It's a partnership for staff and the wider public; a partnership, indeed, with local government and beyond.
Part of our biggest challenge in getting people through hospital-based care is the fact that far too many people who are medically fit are still in a hospital bed. We can't fix that without the resources and the joint working between health, local care, local government and others. And, of course, we're in an environment, as the Member knows very well, where not only our budget has been compromised, with a more than £700 million real-terms reduction in the last three years, but actually that has a real impact on health and its partners as well.
There are real questions for us, and I believe a new page being turned on a UK level will give us more resources and different partnerships to work with. I look forward to listening to the public, understanding the challenges that I know that we face, but, crucially, I look forward to a new partnership that allows us to deliver on the aspirations of this Government and every community across the country.
Wel, rwy'n cydnabod na fyddai amseroedd aros hir yn rhywbeth y byddwn i'n ceisio'u hamddiffyn, p'un a yw'n ofal brys neu'n ofal arferol, wedi'i gynllunio. Mae amseroedd aros hir wedi gostwng yn y gogledd, gostyngiad o fwy nag 20 y cant. Mae gostyngiad o fwy na 55 y cant wedi bod, mae'n ddrwg gennyf i, yn nifer cleifion orthopedig sy'n aros hefyd, ac mae buddsoddiad yn mynd i'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn y gogledd. Mae Ysbyty Glan Clwyd ei hun wedi cael ei adnewyddu'n sylweddol, nid yn unig yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys, ond mae'r ysbyty cyfan wedi'i ailwampio ac adnewyddu mewn gwirionedd. Rydyn ni hefyd wedi gweld arian yn mynd i unedau iechyd meddwl newydd ac yn wir yr uned orthopedig yn Llandudno, yr aeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ati i'w hagor a'i gweld. Felly, mae buddsoddiad gwirioneddol yn cael ei gyflwyno. Ond nid ym mrics a morter yr ysbyty yn unig y mae'r her, mae hi'n ymwneud â thrawsnewid a moderneiddio'r gwasanaeth yn gyffredinol, a'r angen i gael nid yn unig nifer y staff, ond y ffordd y maen nhw'n gweithio. Mae'n bartneriaeth ar gyfer staff a'r cyhoedd yn ehangach; partneriaeth, yn wir, gyda llywodraeth leol a thu hwnt.
Rhan o'n her fwyaf o gael pobl drwy ofal mewn ysbytai yw'r ffaith bod gormod o lawer o bobl sy'n ffit yn feddygol yn dal i fod mewn gwelâu ysbyty. Ni allwn ni ddatrys hynny heb yr adnoddau a'r cydweithio rhwng iechyd, gofal lleol, llywodraeth leol ac eraill. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydyn ni mewn amgylchedd, fel y mae'r Aelod yn gwybod yn dda iawn, lle mai nid yn unig ein cyllideb sydd wedi'i pheryglu, gyda gostyngiad o fwy na £700 miliwn mewn termau gwirioneddol yn ystod y tair blynedd diwethaf, ond mewn gwirionedd mae hynny'n cael effaith wirioneddol ar iechyd a'i bartneriaid hefyd.
Mae yna gwestiynau gwirioneddol i ni, ac rwy'n credu y bydd tudalen newydd yn cael ei throi ar lefel y DU yn rhoi mwy o adnoddau a phartneriaethau gwahanol i ni weithio gyda nhw. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at wrando ar y cyhoedd, at ddeall yr heriau rwy'n ymwybodol ein bod ni'n eu hwynebu, ond, yn hollbwysig, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at bartneriaeth newydd sy'n ein galluogi ni i gyflawni dyheadau'r Llywodraeth hon a phob cymuned ledled y wlad.
8. Beth mae'r Prif Weinidog yn ei wneud i leihau'r angen i anfon cleifion yn allanol i glinigau preifat ar gyfer sganiau MRI ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr? OQ61214
8. What is the First Minister doing to reduce the need for the outsourcing of patients to private clinics for MRI scans in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? OQ61214
Reducing waiting times is a priority for this Government, and we've been clear with health boards that they should utilise all available capacity, including through the independent sector, to reduce waiting times. Our overall objective is to have a genuinely sustainable public national health service.
Mae lleihau amseroedd aros yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon, ac rydyn ni wedi bod yn glir gyda byrddau iechyd y dylen nhw ddefnyddio'r holl gapasiti sydd ar gael, gan gynnwys drwy'r sector annibynnol, i leihau amseroedd aros. Ein nod cyffredinol yw bod â gwasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol cyhoeddus gwirioneddol gynaliadwy.
Thank you. Well, interestingly, in Betsi terms, they call it insourcing of external, you know, procedures. Now, 8,568 patient pathways are waiting over 105 weeks, two years, to start treatment, and that's 3,600 per cent more than the whole of England. Now, in an effort to combat this crisis, the health board did turn to insourcing, using private companies. They've been entering contracts with external healthcare providers to provide clinical teams to attend health board sites, see patients and also undertake a number of results from scans. Now, this has only just come to my attention, but, due to funding pressure, the health board recently—. I have constituents waiting several months for scan results. Now, surely, First Minister, you can understand that, anybody going for a scan, it's a worrying time for them; anybody waiting for those results, it's even more worrying. And when those results don't come through, it just causes an additional burden of stress and anxiety. Now, what has happened is, due to funding pressures, the health board made a decision to halt the insourcing of external services on scans with effect from April 2023, a year ago. However, rather than bring in those patients back under the NHS umbrella—
Diolch. Wel, yn ddiddorol, o ran Betsi, maen nhw'n ei alw'n fewnoli triniaethau allanol, wyddoch chi. Nawr, mae 8,568 o lwybrau cleifion yn aros dros 105 wythnos, dwy flynedd, i ddechrau triniaeth, ac mae hynny 3,600 y cant yn fwy na Lloegr gyfan. Nawr, mewn ymdrech i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hwn, fe wnaeth y bwrdd iechyd droi at fewnoli, gan ddefnyddio cwmnïau preifat. Maen nhw wedi bod yn ymrwymo i gontractau gyda darparwyr gofal iechyd allanol i ddarparu timau clinigol i fynychu safleoedd byrddau iechyd, gweld cleifion a hefyd ymgymryd â nifer o ganlyniadau o sganiau. Nawr, dim ond newydd ddod at fy sylw i mae hyn, ond, oherwydd pwysau cyllidol, mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn ddiweddar—. Mae gennyf i etholwyr yn aros sawl mis am ganlyniadau sgan. Nawr, mae'n siŵr, Prif Weinidog, y gallwch chi ddeall bod unrhyw un sy'n mynd am sgan, mae'n gyfnod pryderus iddyn nhw; unrhyw un sy'n aros am y canlyniadau hynny, mae hi hyd yn oed yn fwy pryderus iddyn nhw. A phan nad yw'r canlyniadau hynny'n cael eu cyflwyno, mae'n achosi baich ychwanegol o straen a phryder. Nawr, yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yw, oherwydd pwysau ariannol, gwnaeth y bwrdd iechyd benderfyniad i atal y gwaith mewnoli gwasanaethau allanol ar sganiau o fis Ebrill 2023, flwyddyn yn ôl. Fodd bynnag, yn hytrach na dod â'r cleifion hynny yn ôl o dan ymbarél y GIG—
I've been very patient. Please get to a question, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Rydw i wedi bod yn amyneddgar iawn. Gofynnwch y cwestiwn, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Yes. So, basically, those patients were then just left in abeyance for months and months and months at a time. Now, they've written to me saying—
Iawn. Felly, yn y bôn, cafodd y cleifion hynny eu rhoi o'r neilltu am fisoedd a misoedd a misoedd ar y tro. Nawr, maen nhw wedi ysgrifennu ataf i yn dweud—
The question now, please, Janet.
Y cwestiwn nawr, Janet os gwelwch yn dda.
Yes, okay. So, what will you do, working with the health Minister, First Minister, to ensure that you look exactly at how the insourcing of external programmes is working? Because to actually stop it for a year and it not be picked up is disgraceful. I want to make sure that doesn't happen again.
Ie iawn. Felly, beth fyddwch chi'n ei wneud, gan weithio gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd, Prif Weinidog, i sicrhau eich bod chi'n edrych ar sut yn union mae mewnoli rhaglenni allanol yn gweithio? Oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, mae ei atal am flwyddyn a pheidio ag ailgydio ag ef yn warthus. Rwyf i eisiau sicrhau nad yw hynny'n digwydd eto.
Two minutes is sufficient for the question there.
Mae dwy funud yn ddigon ar gyfer y cwestiwn yno.
I think, as the Member acknowledged, insourcing is where people are brought into the NHS to deliver some of the scans that are required, and our challenge is, if we want to generate the capacity we need, we need to invest in people and in equipment to do that. And we need to utilise parts of the independent sector to make sure that we don't have unacceptable waits within the system. And in fact, on MRI scans in the last year, there has been about a 30 per cent reduction in people waiting longer than our expectation, so it has made a difference. And that reduction in people waiting has actually taken place despite there being a 14 per cent increase in demand. Now, I know there has been an issue and some people were missed for follow-up. That's something the Cabinet Secretary is aware of. It's also something the health board are aware of. They've reviewed all of those cases to make sure people are put back into the system where they should have been. Part of our challenge is not just in saying what we want to do to recognise there is a problem we need to resolve; it is also, where things go wrong, about whether you are prepared to put it right. That's exactly what has happened in this instance. And we're going to need to invest more in this area to get to a point of being genuinely sustainable, and then we need to find a way to carry on investing in more preventative healthcare as well. That's the challenge we face. I understand it very well as a former health Minister. The Cabinet Secretary for health understands that very well and that is exactly what she is doing: getting on top of long waits and looking to shift our system to more preventative healthcare.
Rwy'n credu, fel y gwnaeth yr Aelod ei gydnabod, mewnoli yw lle mae pobl yn cael eu dwyn i mewn i'r GIG i ddarparu rhai o'r sganiau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw, a'n her ni yw, os ydyn ni eisiau cynhyrchu'r capasiti sydd ei angen arnon ni, mae angen i ni fuddsoddi mewn pobl ac mewn offer i wneud hynny. Ac mae angen i ni ddefnyddio rhannau o'r sector annibynnol i sicrhau nad oes gennym ni amseroedd aros annerbyniol o fewn y system. Ac mewn gwirionedd, o ran sganiau MRI yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, roedd gostyngiad o tua 30 y cant yn nifer y bobl sy'n aros yn hirach na'n disgwyl, felly mae wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth. Ac mae'r gostyngiad hwnnw yn nifer y bobl sy'n aros wedi digwydd mewn gwirionedd er bod cynnydd o 14 y cant yn y galw. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod problem wedi bod a chafodd rhai pobl eu methu ar gyfer apwyntiadau dilynol. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ymwybodol ohono. Mae hefyd yn rhywbeth y mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn ymwybodol ohono. Maen nhw wedi adolygu'r holl achosion hynny i sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu rhoi yn ôl i mewn i'r system lle dylen nhw fod wedi bod. Rhan o'n her ni yw nid yn unig dweud yr hyn yr ydyn ni eisiau'i wneud i gydnabod bod yna broblem y mae angen i ni ei datrys; mae hefyd, yn ymwneud â phan fo pethau'n mynd o chwith, ynghylch a ydych chi'n barod i'w gywiro. Dyna'n union a ddigwyddodd yn yr achos hwn. A bydd angen i ni fuddsoddi mwy yn y maes hwn i gyrraedd pwynt o fod yn wirioneddol gynaliadwy, ac yna mae angen i ni ddod o hyd i ffordd i barhau i fuddsoddi mewn gofal iechyd mwy ataliol hefyd. Dyna'r her sy'n ein hwynebu ni. Rwy'n deall hyn yn dda iawn fel cyn weinidog iechyd. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd yn deall hynny'n dda iawn a dyna'n union y mae hi'n ei wneud: mynd i'r afael ag amseroedd aros hir ac yn bwriadu symud ein system i ofal iechyd mwy ataliol.
Yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Delyth Jewell.
Finally, question 9, Delyth Jewell.
9. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o ddigonolrwydd gwasanaethau ysbyty yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ61216
9. What assessment has the First Minister made of the adequacy of hospital services in South Wales East? OQ61216
Access to hospital services in South Wales East under sustained pressure, with record demand and need. This inevitably affects both staff and patients. The Welsh Government will continue to work closely with health boards in this region to improve access to safe and timely health and care services.
Mae mynediad i wasanaethau ysbytai yn Nwyrain De Cymru o dan bwysau parhaus, gyda'r galw a'r angen uchaf erioed. Mae'n anochel bod hyn yn effeithio ar staff a chleifion. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda byrddau iechyd yn y rhanbarth hwn i wella mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd a gofal diogel ac amserol.
Thank you for that. Our hospitals in Wales seem forever to be close to crisis. I was contacted recently by a constituent whose 92-year-old mother was taken to the Grange hospital after a fall. She was unconscious. Thirteen ambulances were lined up outside when they arrived, and after triage they had to wait for five hours in an ambulance outside before this 92-year-old woman was brought back into the building, and only after they'd complained—all of this before it was established whether she'd had a bleed on the brain. Now, I've spoken before here about how ambulances are the new waiting rooms, that it's normal to see queues of ambulances waiting outside A&E. It shouldn't be normal, but it has become normalised. Now, surely you would agree that that is not adequate, that that is not right. In this election, the Labour Party is focusing on the need to modernise our NHS and they are even campaigning on that in Wales, where their own party runs the health service. Isn't part of this your own fault?
Diolch am hynny. Mae i'w weld bod ein hysbytai yng Nghymru yn agos at argyfwng byth a beunydd. Cysylltodd etholwr â mi yn ddiweddar y cafodd ei fam 92 oed ei chludo i ysbyty'r Faenor ar ôl cwympo. Roedd hi'n anymwybodol. Roedd tri ar ddeg o ambiwlansys yn aros y tu allan pan gyrhaeddon nhw, ac ar ôl brysbennu roedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw aros am bum awr mewn ambiwlans y tu allan cyn i'r fenyw 92 oed yma gael ei symud yn ôl i'r adeilad, a dim ond ar ôl iddyn nhw gwyno—hyn oll cyn iddo gael ei sefydlu a oedd hi'n gwaedu ar yr ymennydd. Nawr, rwyf i wedi sôn o'r blaen yma am sut mae ambiwlansys yw'r ystafelloedd aros newydd, ei bod yn arferol gweld ciwiau o ambiwlansys yn aros y tu allan i adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Ni ddylai fod yn normal, ond mae wedi dod yn normal. Nawr, siawns na fyddech chi'n cytuno nad yw hynny'n ddigonol, nad yw hynny'n iawn. Yn yr etholiad hwn, mae'r Blaid Lafur yn canolbwyntio ar yr angen i foderneiddio ein GIG ac maen nhw hyd yn oed yn ymgyrchu ar hynny yng Nghymru, lle mae eu plaid eu hunain yn rhedeg y gwasanaeth iechyd. Onid eich bai chi yw rhan o hyn?
I think if you look at what we are doing—. Let's take the specific point. I'm sorry to hear of the instance that the Member has highlighted. I can't address individual matters, but I hope that the Member, together with the health board, is looking at that, and there are other services available, including Llais and others, to help support the Member if there is a complaint or a concern to be raised, and it's important that concerns are raised. I remember, when the Member for Cardiff West was the health Minister, about the gift of complaints, and understanding that, when complaints are made, they're opportunities for improvement, and to do it in an environment where staff don't feel they're under attack, but, actually, how do you do this better in the future. Some of it is about how we cope with demand. Some of it is about how our whole systems work.
I made the point in earlier questions that part of our challenge is that we have too many people who are medically fit for discharge who can't go into the next phase of their care and treatment outside of a hospital. It's also something about the capacity at the front door. So, at the Grange in particular, they're looking to double the capacity for the total waiting area. That should make a real difference for people that come in, and ambulances can be released to deal with the risk that is in the community at that time. But we've got to deal with the back door, where people can get out of the hospital. Now, this is part of what you need to do to modernise the service: to invest in your staff, to invest in facilities. And I make no apology for campaigning for a modernised national health service, together with the resources we need to keep the staff we have and to recruit the staff that we will need.
If you think about what we have already done to modernise the health service, the new treatment fund that we introduced in the last Senedd term, it does deliver better and faster access to new treatments. We made that choice here in Wales ahead of the rest of the UK. Think about what we've done in optometry. Your high-street optometrist can now deal with a whole range of conditions, taking pressure off healthcare services in a hospital on eye care, and that means people get a better experience and faster access to care. I've seen that within my own family. And in pharmacy, the Conservatives in England are now planning to do what we have already done here in Wales, in reforming pharmacy, in modernising it and having new services delivered closer to where people live. That's a record that we want to build on. I make no apology for wanting to modernise and improve a public national health service with the resources to be able to do so, and I believe the result on 4 July or 5 July will be crucial to how quickly we can do that here in Wales.
Rwy'n credu os edrychwch chi ar yr hyn yr ydyn ni'n ei wneud—. Gadewch i ni gymryd y pwynt penodol. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf i glywed am yr enghraifft y mae'r Aelod wedi tynnu sylw ato. Ni allaf ymdrin â materion unigol, ond rwy'n gobeithio bod yr Aelod, ynghyd â'r bwrdd iechyd, yn edrych ar hynny, ac mae gwasanaethau eraill ar gael, gan gynnwys Llais ac eraill, i helpu i gefnogi'r Aelod os oes angen codi cwyn neu bryder, ac mae'n bwysig bod pryderon yn cael eu codi. Rwy'n cofio, pan oedd yr Aelod dros Orllewin Caerdydd yn Weinidog iechyd, am y rhodd cwynion, a deall, pan fo cwynion yn cael eu gwneud, eu bod yn gyfleoedd i wella, ac i'w wneud mewn amgylchedd lle nad yw staff yn teimlo eu bod o dan y lach, ond yn hytrach, sut ydych chi'n gwneud hyn yn well yn y dyfodol. Mae rhywfaint ohono'n ymwneud â sut yr ydyn ni'n ymdopi â'r galw. Mae rhywfaint yn ymwneud â sut mae ein systemau cyfan yn gweithio.
Fe wnes i'r pwynt mewn cwestiynau cynharach mai rhan o'n her ni yw bod gennym ni ormod o bobl sy'n feddygol ffit i gael eu rhyddhau sydd ddim yn gallu symud i gam nesaf eu gofal a'u triniaeth y tu allan i'r ysbyty. Mae hefyd yn rhywbeth sy'n ymwneud â gallu wrth y drws ffrynt. Felly, yn y Faenor yn benodol, maen nhw'n ceisio dyblu'r capasiti ar gyfer yr holl ardal aros. Dylai hynny wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i bobl sy'n dod i mewn, ac mae modd rhyddhau ambiwlansys i ymdrin â'r risg sydd yn y gymuned bryd hynny. Ond mae'n rhaid i ni ymdrin â'r drws cefn, lle y gall pobl fynd allan o'r ysbyty. Nawr, mae hyn yn rhan o'r hyn y mae angen i chi ei wneud i foderneiddio'r gwasanaeth: buddsoddi yn eich staff, buddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau. Ac nid wyf i'n ymddiheuro am ymgyrchu dros wasanaeth iechyd gwladol wedi'i foderneiddio, ynghyd â'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnon ni i gadw'r staff sydd gennym ni ac i recriwtio'r staff y bydd eu hangen arnon ni.
Os ydych chi'n ystyried yr hyn yr ydyn ni eisoes wedi'i wneud i foderneiddio'r gwasanaeth iechyd, y gronfa triniaethau newydd a gafodd ei chyflwyno gennym ni yn nhymor diwethaf y Senedd, mae'n rhoi gwell mynediad a mynediad cyflymach at driniaethau newydd. Fe wnaethon ni'r dewis hwnnw yma yng Nghymru cyn gweddill y DU. Ystyriwch yr hyn yr ydyn ni wedi'i wneud mewn optometreg. Gall eich optometrydd ar y stryd fawr nawr ymdrin ag amrywiaeth eang o gyflyrau, gan gymryd pwysau oddi ar wasanaethau gofal iechyd mewn ysbyty ar gyfer gofal llygaid, ac mae hynny'n golygu bod pobl yn cael gwell brofiad a mynediad cyflymach at ofal. Rwyf i wedi gweld hynny yn fy nheulu i fy hun. Ac mewn fferylliaeth, mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn Lloegr erbyn hyn yn bwriadu gwneud yr hyn yr ydyn ni eisoes wedi'i wneud yma yng Nghymru, wrth ddiwygio fferylliaeth, ei foderneiddio a darparu gwasanaethau newydd yn agosach at ble mae pobl yn byw. Mae hwnnw'n gyflawniad yr ydyn ni eisiau ei ddatblygu. Nid wyf i'n ymddiheuro fy mod i eisiau moderneiddio a gwella gwasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol cyhoeddus gyda'r adnoddau i allu gwneud hynny, ac rwy'n credu y bydd y canlyniad ar 4 Gorffennaf neu 5 Gorffennaf yn hanfodol i ba mor gyflym y gallwn ni wneud hynny yma yng Nghymru.
Diolch yn fawr i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes. Y Trefnydd, felly, i wneud y datganiad hwnnw—Jane Hutt.
The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement.
Mae dwy ddadl a dau ddatganiad llafar wedi cael eu hychwanegu at agenda heddiw; mae'r teitlau i'w gweld yn agenda y Cyfarfod Llawn. Mae busnes drafft y tair wythnos nesaf wedi ei nodi yn y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, sydd ar gael i Aelodau yn electronig.
Two debates and two oral statements have been added to today's agenda; the titles are published on the Plenary agenda. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Minister, can I call for a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Care in respect of the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists into mental health services at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? I think that the report that was published recently was very, very troubling. It found that less than half of the 84 key recommendations and improvements that had been promised because of recommendations following independent reviews into mental health services in the past have yet to be implemented. And, as a result of that, patients have been coming to harm and have even lost their lives as a result of the incompetence of local leaders and, indeed, the Welsh Government in being able to get to grips with the problems in that troubled health board.
It was 2013 when we first read the scandalous report into the situation in Tawel Fan. We've read reports about the very poor services being provided by the Hergest unit, and we've had multiple reports since saying that things still need to improve. Why on earth is it taking such a long time for this health board, which is in special measures, to get to grips with these issues, and what on earth is the Welsh Government doing to sort these things out? People deserve to know, and that's why I think we need an urgent statement.
Can I also request a second statement, please, from the economy Minister in relation to the report by Visit Wales last week, which found that people were being put off from coming to Wales as visitors because of the Welsh Labour Government's default 20 mph speed limit policy in Wales? This is a significant concern for people in north Wales, particularly in Conwy and Denbighshire, which rely heavily on the visitor economy, and we must do something to make sure that we don't see a significant decline in visitor numbers as a result of this barmy policy continuing. Thank you.
Gweinidog, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol am yr adroddiad gan Goleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion i wasanaethau iechyd meddwl ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr? Rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad a gafodd ei gyhoeddi'n ddiweddar yn hynod ofidus. Canfu fod llai na hanner yr 84 o argymhellion a gwelliannau allweddol a gafodd eu haddo oherwydd argymhellion yn dilyn adolygiadau annibynnol yn y gorffennol i wasanaethau iechyd meddwl heb eu gweithredu eto. Ac, o ganlyniad i hynny, mae cleifion wedi bod yn dod i niwed ac maen nhw hyd yn oed wedi colli eu bywydau o ganlyniad i anallu arweinwyr lleol ac, yn wir, Llywodraeth Cymru wrth allu ymdrin â'r problemau yn y bwrdd iechyd hwnnw sydd mewn trafferthion.
Roedd hi'n 2013 pan ddarllenom ni yn gyntaf yr adroddiad gwarthus i'r sefyllfa yn Tawel Fan. Rydyn ni wedi darllen adroddiadau am y gwasanaethau gwael iawn sy'n cael eu darparu gan uned Hergest, ac rydyn ni wedi cael sawl adroddiad ers hynny yn dweud bod angen gwella pethau o hyd. Pam ar y ddaear ydy hi'n cymryd cymaint o amser i'r bwrdd iechyd hwn, sydd mewn mesurau arbennig, ymdrin â'r materion hyn, a beth ar y ddaear ydy Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i ddatrys y pethau hyn? Mae pobl yn haeddu gwybod, a dyna pam rwy'n credu bod angen datganiad brys arnon ni.
A gaf i hefyd ofyn am ail ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan Weinidog yr economi am yr adroddiad gan Croeso Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf, a wnaeth ddarganfod bod pobl yn cael eu perswadio i beidio â dod i Gymru fel ymwelwyr oherwydd polisi terfyn cyflymder 20 mya diofyn Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yng Nghymru? Mae hyn yn bryder sylweddol i bobl yn y gogledd, yn enwedig yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych, sy'n dibynnu'n helaeth ar yr economi ymwelwyr, ac mae'n rhaid i ni wneud rhywbeth i sicrhau nad ydyn ni'n gweld gostyngiad sylweddol yn nifer yr ymwelwyr o ganlyniad i barhad y polisi lloerig hwn. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr, Darren Millar, am eich cwestiynau.
Thank you very much, Darren Millar, for your questions.
In terms of mental health, of course, you are referring to the report that the Welsh Government commissioned in 2023 from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and it was to undertake that review of four previous mental health reviews and also to look at the extent to which recommendations had been completed—embedded and completed. Now, that report has been completed and—very timely—it was presented to the health board at its meeting on 30 May. So, it's there before them in terms of the health board's review of those recommendations and their implementation.
I think it's also important, and you may be aware of this as a local Member, that Betsi Cadwaladr UHB met with a small group of representatives from families with experience of mental health services within the health board on the evening of 20 May 2024 to discuss the findings of the royal college report prior to its publication. And it's really important that that discussion took place with those families, only in the last fortnight, and that the health board, once again, apologised to those affected by past failings, and also that views were given by the families. Their concerns, of course, were expressed at that meeting, and the call for accountability, transparency and candour from those families was important. I think there has been a media response to that, interest in that, but good evidence of implementation in relation to 37 out of a total of 84 recommendations in the four external reports.
And also, of course, the health board chair has been interviewed and there has been significant media coverage of the report, as well as engagement between the First Minister and an individual who did attempt to present him with a hard copy of the report. So, much engagement with the health board now, and the health board chair—very engaged as it went to the board on 30 May. So, topical to raise today, but, clearly, it is about implementation, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, of course, is here with us today.
Well, of course, as for the 20 mph debate, I think you took part, Darren Millar, in the important debate that took place on 22 May, and it was an important debate, and, of course, it was the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport who responded and made it very clear that, in all his conversations, he's putting communities at the heart of our thinking and listening to the voices of citizens, and also listening to all those partners who are engaging with this. And it was a very positive debate, and I'm sure you will agree with that.
But what was so important was that this is very important for visitors, and that people must feel safe when travelling, including pedestrians and cyclists, as so many of our visitors are pedestrians and cyclists. And he said he wanted that targeted approach to 20 mph on roads where vulnerable road users mix with heavy traffic, and, of course, that is crucial in terms of having a welcoming, safe community for our tourism and for our visitors, because, finally, I have to say, Llywydd, the principal objective, again, of the policy of 20 mph is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads. And that's what our visitors want when they come to Wales. And, of course, now we're pressing ahead with refining the policy, which is all to do with engaging with the 22 local authorities and how they're consulting as well, and looking at that from the whole perspective of Wales being a welcoming and open and safe country.
O ran iechyd meddwl, wrth gwrs, rydych chi'n cyfeirio at yr adroddiad a gafodd ei gomisiynu gan Goleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion yn 2023, ac roedd hynny i gynnal yr adolygiad hwnnw o bedwar adolygiad iechyd meddwl blaenorol a hefyd ystyried i ba raddau yr oedd argymhellion wedi'u cwblhau—wedi'u hymwreiddio a'u cwblhau. Nawr, mae'r adroddiad hwnnw wedi'i gwblhau ac—yn amserol iawn—cafodd ei gyflwyno i'r bwrdd iechyd yn ei gyfarfod ar 30 Mai. Felly, mae yno o'u blaenau nhw o ran adolygiad y bwrdd iechyd o'r argymhellion hynny a'u gweithrediad.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn bwysig, ac efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o hyn fel Aelod lleol, bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cyfarfod â grŵp bach o gynrychiolwyr o deuluoedd sydd â phrofiad o wasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y bwrdd iechyd ar 20 Mai 2024 i drafod canfyddiadau adroddiad y Coleg Brenhinol cyn ei gyhoeddi. Ac mae'n bwysig iawn bod y drafodaeth honno wedi'i chynnal gyda'r teuluoedd hynny, dim ond yn ystod y pythefnos diwethaf, a bod y bwrdd iechyd, unwaith eto, wedi ymddiheuro i'r rhai y gwnaeth fethiannau'r gorffennol effeithio arnyn nhw, a hefyd bod y teuluoedd wedi cynnig eu barn. Cafodd eu pryderon, wrth gwrs, eu mynegi yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, ac roedd yr alwad am atebolrwydd, tryloywder ac onestrwydd gan y teuluoedd hynny'n bwysig. Rwy'n credu bod ymateb wedi bod gan y cyfryngau i hynny, diddordeb yn hynny, ond tystiolaeth dda o weithredu o ran 37 o gyfanswm o 84 o argymhellion yn y pedwar adroddiad allanol.
A hefyd, wrth gwrs, maen nhw wedi cyfweld â chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd ac mae cyfryngau wedi rhoi cryn sylw i'r adroddiad, yn ogystal ag ymgysylltu rhwng y Prif Weinidog ac unigolyn a geisiodd gyflwyno copi caled o'r adroddiad iddo. Felly, mae llawer o ymgysylltu â'r bwrdd iechyd nawr, a chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd—sy'n ymgysylltiedig iawn wrth iddo fynd i'r bwrdd ar 30 Mai. Felly, mae'n amserol i'w godi heddiw, ond, yn amlwg, mae'n ymwneud â gweithredu, ac mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, wrth gwrs, yma gyda ni heddiw.
Wel, wrth gwrs, o ran y ddadl 20 mya, rwy'n credu eich bod chi wedi cymryd rhan, Darren Millar, yn y ddadl bwysig a gafodd ei chynnal ar 22 Mai, ac roedd yn ddadl bwysig, ac, wrth gwrs, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru a Thrafnidiaeth a ymatebodd gan ei gwneud yn glir iawn, yn ei holl sgyrsiau, ei fod yn rhoi cymunedau wrth wraidd ein hystyriaeth gan wrando ar leisiau dinasyddion, a hefyd, gan wrando ar yr holl bartneriaid hynny sy'n ymgysylltu â hyn. Ac roedd yn ddadl gadarnhaol iawn, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n cytuno â hynny.
Ond yr hyn yr oedd mor bwysig oedd bod hyn yn bwysig iawn i ymwelwyr, a bod yn rhaid i bobl deimlo'n ddiogel wrth deithio, gan gynnwys cerddwyr a beicwyr, gan fod cymaint o'n hymwelwyr yn gerddwyr a beicwyr. A dywedodd ei fod eisiau gweld y dull wedi'i dargedu hwnnw o 20 mya ar ffyrdd lle mae defnyddwyr ffyrdd agored i niwed yn cymysgu â thraffig trwm, ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n hanfodol o ran cael cymuned groesawgar a diogel i'n twristiaeth ac i'n hymwelwyr ni, oherwydd, yn olaf, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, Llywydd, prif amcan, unwaith eto, y polisi o 20 mya yw achub bywydau a lleihau anafiadau ar ein ffyrdd ni. A dyna'r hyn y mae ein hymwelwyr ni eisiau pan eu bod yn dod i Gymru. Ac, wrth gwrs, nawr rydyn ni'n bwrw ymlaen â mireinio'r polisi, sy'n ymwneud ag ymgysylltu â'r 22 awdurdod lleol a sut maen nhw'n ymgynghori hefyd, gan edrych ar hynny o safbwynt Cymru gyfan yn wlad groesawgar ac agored a diogel.
Trefnydd, in a similar vein, my focus is also on the safety of pedestrians, and I'd like to request a statement, please, from the Cabinet Secretary for transport regarding taking forward the recommendations made in the pavement parking taskforce report. Obviously, that was delayed until this year, which was understandable from the perspective of pressure on local government, but there are many people impacted by the delay, such as those who use wheelchairs, the visually impaired, those who use buggies, or pedestrians, all saying that pavement parking is a major issue. Obviously, in Valleys communities, we know that's a huge challenge, because if people were not to park on pavements, then there would be other issues. But, in other areas, it is possible and it is impacting. Therefore, I've had this request from many, many constituents: when will we see progress to ensure that, in terms of those who do park selfishly, which means that people can't use pavements safely, those people are able to see action and progress on this?
Trefnydd, ar drywydd tebyg, rwyf i hefyd yn canolbwyntio ar ddiogelwch cerddwyr, a hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth ynghylch bwrw ymlaen â'r argymhellion a gafodd eu gwneud yn adroddiad y tasglu parcio ar balmentydd. Yn amlwg, cafodd hynny ei ohirio tan eleni, a oedd yn ddealladwy o safbwynt pwysau ar lywodraeth leol, ond mae'r oedi wedi effeithio ar lawer o bobl, fel y rhai sy'n defnyddio cadeiriau olwyn, y rhai â nam ar eu golwg, y rhai sy'n defnyddio bygis, neu gerddwyr, pob un yn dweud bod parcio ar balmentydd yn broblem fawr. Yn amlwg, yng nghymunedau'r Cymoedd, rydyn ni'n gwybod bod honno'n her enfawr, oherwydd pe na bai pobl yn parcio ar balmentydd, yna byddai materion eraill. Ond, mewn ardaloedd eraill, mae'n bosibl ac mae'n cael effaith arnyn nhw. Felly, rwyf i wedi cael y cais hwn gan nifer fawr o etholwyr: pryd fyddwn ni'n gweld cynnydd i sicrhau, o ran y rhai sy'n parcio'n hunanol, sy'n golygu na all pobl ddefnyddio palmentydd yn ddiogel, fod y bobl hynny'n gallu gweld camau gweithredu a chynnydd ar hyn?
Wel, diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn, achos mae yn gwestiwn pwysig.
Well, thank you very much for your important question, because it is an important question.
We have to look at this when we look at the safety, as you say, of our pedestrians. And that's where pavement parking is dangerous, and it is also why, of course, this was something that was taken forward by the former Minister for transport. And, now, I will certainly raise this with the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport to get an update on where we are with this in terms of delivery.
Mae'n rhaid i ni ystyried hyn wrth edrych ar ddiogelwch ein cerddwyr, fel y dywedwch chi. A dyna lle mae parcio ar balmentydd yn beryglus, a dyna pam, wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn rhywbeth a gafodd ei gyflwyno gan y cyn Weinidog trafnidiaeth. A nawr, yn sicr fe wnaf i godi hyn gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru a Thrafnidiaeth i gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf o ran ble yr ydyn ni gyda hyn o ran cyflawni.
I'm seeking two statements. The first one is an update on Airbnb licensing and control. There are concerns that Airbnb are reducing the availability of privately rented accommodation and affecting traditional holiday accommodation. Could we have a statement to indicate what progress has been made on creating a register of all types of visitor accommodation and having planning controls on the creation of Airbnb, and when will a draft Bill on these proposals be produced?
Secondly, I've been contacted by pupils at Hafod school in Swansea, who are concerned about the cost of hiring a bus that is wheelchair accessible to take the children swimming. It is substantially more expensive than a bus that is not wheelchair accessible. Can I ask for a Government statement on wheelchair-accessible bus provision and cost?
Rwy'n gofyn am ddau ddatganiad. Y cyntaf yw diweddariad ar drwyddedu a rheoli Airbnb. Mae pryderon bod Airbnb yn lleihau faint o lety preifat sydd ar gael i'w rentu ac yn effeithio ar lety gwyliau traddodiadol. A gawn ni ddatganiad i nodi pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud o ran creu cofrestr o bob math o lety i ymwelwyr a chael rheolaethau cynllunio ar greu lletyau Airbnb, a phryd y bydd Bil drafft ar y cynigion hyn yn cael ei gynhyrchu?
Yn ail, mae disgyblion yn ysgol Hafod yn Abertawe wedi cysylltu â mi, sy'n pryderu am gost llogi bws sy'n hygyrch i gadair olwyn i fynd â'r plant i nofio. Mae'n sylweddol ddrytach na bws nad yw'n hygyrch i gadeiriau olwyn. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth am ddarpariaeth a chost bysiau sy'n hygyrch i gadeiriau olwyn?
Diolch yn fawr, Mike Hedges. You raised a really important point about the impact of Airbnb, and, clearly, the evidence is that it does reduce the availability of privately rented accommodation, and it also affects traditional holiday accommodation as well. And I think it's useful to look at the Bevan Foundation report on holiday lets in the private rented sector. And, of course, this is quite regional and local—the local authorities with the largest numbers listed as Airbnbs are Gwynedd, followed by Pembrokeshire and Powys. There are fewer, far fewer, in the south Wales Valleys. But many of them, I think, from that report, of the 21,000-plus listings on Airbnb, 14,000-plus appear to be suitable for long-term habitation, which just proves that—. That's 1 per cent of Wales's dwelling stock. For Gwynedd, it's 4.6 per cent; Pembrokeshire, 3.7 per cent; and Ceredigion, 3.1 per cent.
It's something on which we intend to develop a scheme, where all visitor accommodation providers must show they're adhering to certain requirements to operate. And we've talked about safety for our visitors. We want to show visitors to Wales the importance we do place on their safety, but that's about standards, isn't it, in the tourism sector? And then, of course, we are now looking towards a phased approach, with an initial focus on a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, with the intention of supporting other wider Welsh Government policies, such as a visitor levy scheme and broader housing objectives. It is important, I think, to look back to the statement that was made on 9 January 2024—an oral statement on progress in terms of tackling the Airbnb issue. We've changed planning regulations to allow local planning authorities to control the change of use of permanent homes to short-term lets. And it's interesting to look at Gwynedd county council, who are in the process of introducing local controls using these powers, and others are looking at this. And now England is following the lead provided by Wales. So, thank you for giving us the opportunity to update on that.
But you also raised important issues in terms of public service vehicle accessibility. The regulations are not devolved to Wales and are still led by the UK Government Department for Transport. Those regulations do apply to all new public service vehicles—buses or coaches—which have been introduced since 2000 in England, Scotland and Wales, with a particular capacity. Now, importantly, it's important that all full-size single-deck buses over 7.5 tonnes are fully accessible from January 2016, all double-deckers from January 2017, and they have been required to have wheelchair access from 1 January 2005. It's important to see this in terms of how the operators have got to comply with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations. So, it is about us being proactive. We've talked about being proactive, engaging the UK Government and the Department for Transport on this matter. But I'm very conscious of the fact we've got a disability rights taskforce, which is now co-chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice. I was a co-chair with Professor Debbie Foster, and we had a very active transport group, a taskforce travel working group—disabled people telling us what it's like, and producing recommendations to support inclusive and accessible transport, which I'm sure will be followed through.
Diolch yn fawr, Mike Hedges. Fe wnaethoch chi godi pwynt pwysig iawn am effaith Airbnb, ac, yn amlwg, y dystiolaeth yw ei fod yn lleihau faint o letyau preifat sydd ar gael i'w rhentu, ac mae hefyd yn effeithio ar letyau gwyliau traddodiadol hefyd. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn ddefnyddiol ystyried adroddiad Sefydliad Bevan ar letyau gwyliau yn y sector rhentu preifat. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn eithaf rhanbarthol a lleol—Gwynedd yw'r awdurdod lleol sydd â'r niferoedd mwyaf wedi'u rhestru fel lletyau Airbnb, ac yna sir Benfro a Phowys. Mae llai, llawer llai, yng Nghymoedd y de. Ond mae'n ymddangos bod llawer ohonyn nhw, rwy'n credu, o'r adroddiad hwnnw, o'r rhestrau 21,000 a mwy ar Airbnb, bod 14,000 a mwy yn addas ar gyfer byw ynddyn nhw yn yr hirdymor, sy'n profi bod—. Dyna 1 y cant o stoc anheddau Cymru. Ar gyfer Gwynedd, mae'n 4.6 y cant; sir Benfro, 3.7 y cant; a Cheredigion, 3.1 y cant.
Mae'n rhywbeth yr ydyn ni'n bwriadu datblygu cynllun arno, lle mae'n rhaid i bob darparwr llety ymwelwyr ddangos ei fod yn cadw at rai gofynion i weithredu. Rydyn ni wedi sôn am ddiogelwch i'n hymwelwyr. Rydyn ni eisiau dangos i ymwelwyr â Chymru y pwysigrwydd yr ydyn ni'n ei roi ar eu diogelwch, ond mae hynny'n ymwneud â safonau, onid ydyw, yn y sector twristiaeth? Ac yna, wrth gwrs, rydyn ni erbyn hyn yn edrych tuag at ddull graddol o weithredu, gan ganolbwyntio i ddechrau ar gynllun cofrestru statudol ar gyfer pob darparwr llety, gan fwriadu cefnogi polisïau ehangach eraill Llywodraeth Cymru, fel cynllun ardoll ymwelwyr ac amcanion tai ehangach. Mae'n bwysig, rwy'n credu, edrych yn ôl ar y datganiad a gafodd ei wneud ar 9 Ionawr 2024—datganiad llafar ar gynnydd o ran ymdrin â mater Airbnb. Rydyn ni wedi newid rheoliadau cynllunio i ganiatáu i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol reoli newid defnydd cartrefi parhaol i lety tymor byr. Ac mae'n ddiddorol ystyried cyngor sir Gwynedd, sydd wrthi'n cyflwyno rheolaethau lleol gan ddefnyddio'r pwerau yma, ac mae eraill yn edrych ar hyn. A nawr mae Lloegr yn dilyn yr arweiniaeth y mae Cymru wedi'i rhoi. Felly, diolch i chi am roi'r cyfle i ni roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am hynny.
Ond fe wnaethoch chi hefyd godi materion pwysig o ran hygyrchedd cerbydau gwasanaeth cyhoeddus. Nid yw'r rheoliadau wedi'u datganoli i Gymru ac mae Adran Drafnidiaeth Llywodraeth y DU yn dal yn eu harwain. Mae'r rheoliadau hynny'n berthnasol i bob cerbyd gwasanaeth cyhoeddus newydd—bysiau neu goetsys—sydd wedi'u cyflwyno ers 2000 yng Nghymru, Lloegr a'r Alban, gyda gallu penodol. Nawr, yn bwysig, mae'n bwysig bod pob bws un llawr maint llawn dros 7.5 tunnell yn gwbl hygyrch o fis Ionawr 2016, a phob un deulawr o Ionawr 2017, ac mae wedi bod yn ofynnol iddyn nhw gael mynediad i gadeiriau olwyn o 1 Ionawr 2005. Mae'n bwysig gweld hyn o ran sut mae'n rhaid i'r gweithredwyr gydymffurfio â'r Rheoliadau Hygyrchedd Cerbydau Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â ni'n gweithredu'n rhagweithiol. Rydyn ni wedi sôn am fod yn rhagweithiol, gan ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU a'r Adran Drafnidiaeth ar y mater hwn. Ond rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r ffaith bod gennym ni dasglu hawliau anabledd, sydd erbyn hyn yn cael ei gyd-gadeirio gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol. Roeddwn i'n gyd-gadeirydd gyda'r Athro Debbie Foster, ac roedd gennym ni grŵp trafnidiaeth gweithgar iawn, gweithgor teithio'r tasglu—pobl anabl yn dweud wrthyn ni sut beth ydyw, ac yn cynhyrchu argymhellion i gefnogi trafnidiaeth gynhwysol a hygyrch, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd y rhain yn cael eu gweithredu.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Trefnydd, I'd like to call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on GP provision in rural areas. I've had shared with me an freedom of information response from the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, which shows that only one small primary care premises has been built in Wales in the last 10 years. That lack of investment is quite troubling, certainly given the disproportionate impact that smaller surgeries can have when they're built in a rural community. It's also troubling that 99 GP surgeries across Wales have closed in recent years, which creates a further barrier for those rural communities. One example that comes up in my region is that of Hanmer surgery, which has been recently covered in a Channel 4 television programme, highlighting the quality of care that people receive there, but also highlighting that the premises is not fit for purpose and that investment is required. Local people are frustrated at the pace of progress, which is painfully slow. So, I'd like a statement addressing what will be done to bring those GP services closer to people who live in rural Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Trefnydd, hoffwn i alw am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd ar ddarpariaeth meddygon teulu mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Mae ymateb wedi'i rannu gyda mi i gais rhyddid gwybodaeth gan Bartneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru, sy'n dangos mai dim ond un safle gofal sylfaenol bach sydd wedi'i adeiladu yng Nghymru yn ystod y 10 mlynedd diwethaf. Mae'r diffyg buddsoddi hwnnw'n peri eithaf pryder, yn sicr o ystyried yr effaith anghymesur y gall meddygfeydd llai ei chael pan fyddan nhw'n cael eu hadeiladu mewn cymuned wledig. Mae hefyd yn peri pryder bod 99 o feddygfeydd teulu ledled Cymru wedi cau yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, sy'n creu rhwystr arall i'r cymunedau gwledig hynny. Un enghraifft sy'n codi yn fy rhanbarth i yw meddygfa Hanmer, sydd wedi'i chynnwys yn ddiweddar mewn rhaglen deledu ar Channel 4, sy'n tynnu sylw at ansawdd y gofal y mae pobl yn ei dderbyn yno, ond hefyd yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith nad yw'r safle'n addas i'r diben a bod angen buddsoddi. Mae pobl leol yn rhwystredig ar gyflymder y cynnydd, sy'n boenus o araf. Felly, hoffwn i gael datganiad yn ymdrin â'r hyn sy'n cael ei wneud i ddod â'r gwasanaethau meddygon teulu hynny yn agosach at bobl sy'n byw yng nghefn gwlad Cymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you for that question. Access to primary care services is crucial, because it delivers better access to doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists and all those other health professionals who are essential to transforming services, and it's a Government commitment.
I think it's important just to say, for the record, that, every month, GPs make contact with 322,000 people in north Wales. They refer 30,000 people to hospitals for secondary care each month. The First Minister was responding to a question on this earlier on. Also, the fact is that there are practices that have experienced recent challenges around staffing and there are financial incentives for GP training in Wales. The targeted incentive scheme in Wales provides £20,000 to GP trainees to take up a training post in north Wales, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire or Powys. I'll just say that, in terms of one particular medical centre, the West End Medical Centre, a new GP is starting this week, the week commencing 3 June, and a further two within the next few months. So, that shows the great efforts being made by the practice team to engage to recruit, to engage with the community to make improvements. Clearly, the Cabinet Secretary and her officials are reviewing progress to improve permanent staffing not just for that practice, but through other practices to make sure that those GP services in rural areas are supported.
Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn hanfodol, gan ei fod yn rhoi gwell mynediad at feddygon, nyrsys, deintyddion, optometryddion a'r holl weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol eraill hynny sy'n hanfodol i drawsnewid gwasanaethau, ac mae'n ymrwymiad gan y Llywodraeth.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig dweud, ar gyfer y cofnod, fod meddygon teulu, bob mis, yn cysylltu â 322,000 o bobl yn y gogledd. Maen nhw'n atgyfeirio 30,000 o bobl at ysbytai ar gyfer gofal eilaidd bob mis. Roedd y Prif Weinidog yn ymateb i gwestiwn ar hyn yn gynharach. Hefyd, y ffaith yw bod yna feddygfeydd sydd wedi wynebu heriau diweddar o ran staffio ac mae cymhellion ariannol ar gyfer hyfforddi meddygon teulu yng Nghymru. Mae'r cynllun cymhelliant wedi'i dargedu yng Nghymru yn rhoi £20,000 i hyfforddeion meddygon teulu i ymgymryd â swyddi hyfforddi yn y gogledd, Ceredigion, sir Benfro neu Bowys. Fe wnaf i ond dweud, o ran un ganolfan feddygol benodol, Canolfan Feddygol y West End, fod meddyg teulu newydd yn dechrau'r wythnos hon, yr wythnos sy'n dechrau 3 Mehefin, a dau arall o fewn y misoedd nesaf. Felly, mae hynny'n dangos yr ymdrechion mawr sy'n cael eu gwneud gan dîm y practis i ymgysylltu â recriwtio, i ymgysylltu â'r gymuned i wneud gwelliannau. Yn amlwg, mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet a'i swyddogion yn adolygu'r cynnydd i wella staffio parhaol nid yn unig ar gyfer y practis hwnnw, ond trwy bractisau eraill i sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau meddygon teulu hynny mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn cael eu cefnogi.
I'd like to have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning on Denbighshire County Council's replacement of the mixed recycling blue bin with the three-tier trolley-box system where waste has to be separated—previously, it was a co-mingled system. The new system has been rolled out this week, on Monday, much to the dismay of residents across Denbighshire. My initial concern is that the decision was made without the consent of residents, who deeply dislike the new bin system. The reason given for the change has been the need to increase recycling rates, but Denbighshire already has one of the best recycling rates in Wales, at 65.9 per cent. So, I think the real reason for the change is their desire to cut costs, and I'm sure that the money offered by the Welsh Government was also an incentive for the change too. It's plainly obvious that these new bins will in fact discourage recycling as many residents would rather toss their rubbish into the general bin than spend time rifling through waste, separating it into different compartments. So, could I get a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning on the Welsh Government's position on Denbighsire County Council ploughing ahead with unpopular policies without the consent of residents?
Hoffwn i gael datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol, Tai a Chynllunio ar y ffaith bod Cyngor Sir Ddinbych wedi newid biniau glas ailgylchu cymysg i system blwch troli â thair lefel lle mae'n rhaid gwahanu gwastraff—yn flaenorol, roedd yn system gymysg. Mae'r system newydd wedi'i chyflwyno ddydd Llun yr wythnos hon, er mawr siom i drigolion ledled sir Ddinbych. Fy mhryder cychwynnol i yw bod y penderfyniad wedi'i wneud heb ganiatâd trigolion, nad ydyn nhw'n hoffi'r system biniau newydd o gwbl. Yr angen i gynyddu cyfraddau ailgylchu yw'r rheswm dros y newid, ond mae gan sir Ddinbych eisoes un o'r cyfraddau ailgylchu gorau yng Nghymru, sef 65.9 y cant. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r gwir reswm dros y newid yw eu hawydd i dorri costau, ac rwy'n siŵr bod yr arian a gafodd ei gynnig gan Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn gymhelliant ar gyfer y newid hefyd. Mae'n amlwg iawn y bydd y biniau newydd hyn, mewn gwirionedd, yn annog pobl i beidio ailgylchu gan y byddai'n well gan lawer o drigolion daflu eu sbwriel i'r bin cyffredinol na threulio amser yn twrio trwy wastraff, gan ei wahanu i wahanol adrannau. Felly, a gaf i ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol, Tai a Chynllunio ar safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar Gyngor Sir Ddinbych yn bwrw ymlaen â pholisïau amhoblogaidd heb gydsyniad preswylwyr?
You've already recognised the good recycling rates in Denbighshire. Let's thank the citizens of Denbighshire, and the local authority in terms of leadership, for achieving those good rates. Wales is absolutely at the forefront globally of delivering on recycling. I hope you are proud of that as well. Actually, in many authorities, including the one I live in, across Wales residents have responded to the changes in the arrangements for our recycling. It is important that we recognise that separating that recycling is important for the destination of those recycled goods, and there's a lot of support given by local authorities. Some authorities have been doing this for decades, or certainly a decade or two. So, Denbighshire is actually catching up with that. I think you will find that people will adjust to it. It is something that is best practice and it is being rolled out successfully across Wales. And, of course, it is again, through the ways in which recycling is now progressing in Wales, making sure that Wales—as I'm sure Denbighshire and the citizens of Denbighshire will recognise—will be at the forefront of those really impressive recycling rates.
Rydych chi eisoes wedi cydnabod y cyfraddau ailgylchu da yn sir Ddinbych. Gadewch i ni ddiolch i ddinasyddion sir Ddinbych, a'r awdurdod lleol o ran arweinyddiaeth, am gyflawni'r cyfraddau da hynny. Mae Cymru ar flaen y gad yn fyd-eang o ran cyflawni ailgylchu. Gobeithio eich bod chi'n falch o hynny hefyd. Mewn gwirionedd, mewn llawer o awdurdodau, gan gynnwys yr un yr wyf i'n byw ynddo, mae trigolion ledled Cymru wedi ymateb i'r newidiadau yn y trefniadau ar gyfer ein hailgylchu. Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n cydnabod bod gwahanu yr ailgylchu yn bwysig ar gyfer cyrchfan y nwyddau hynny i'w hailgylchu, ac mae awdurdodau lleol yn rhoi llawer o gefnogaeth. Mae rhai awdurdodau wedi bod yn gwneud hyn ers degawdau, neu yn sicr ddegawd neu ddwy. Felly, mae sir Ddinbych yn adennill tir mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n credu y byddwch chi'n gweld y bydd pobl yn addasu iddo. Mae'n rhywbeth sy'n arfer gorau ac mae'n cael ei gyflwyno'n llwyddiannus ledled Cymru. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae hi eto, drwy'r ffyrdd y mae ailgylchu erbyn hyn yn mynd rhagddo yng Nghymru, yn sicrhau y bydd Cymru—fel rwy'n siŵr y bydd sir Ddinbych a dinasyddion sir Ddinbych yn cydnabod—ar flaen y gad yn y cyfraddau ailgylchu rhagorol hynny.
Ac yn olaf, Laura Anne Jones.
And finally, Laura Anne Jones.
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to request a statement, please, Trefnydd, from the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Sport and Social Justice on the mapping of sports facilities in Wales. It's clear from conversations with sporting bodies and organisations that it's currently extremely hard to find a clear list of sporting facilities right across Wales and even harder to find them on any sort of map. This Welsh Government claims to want to encourage sporting participation, lift up our future sporting stars, cut down the obesity rate, and ensure we have a healthy Wales. So, surely, mapping out where sporting facilities actually are is essential to ensure equality of provision for all in Wales. Currently, there is no information available. So, I'd be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary for sport could provide a written or oral statement on mapping out facilities in Wales. Thanks.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, Trefnydd, gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant, Chwaraeon a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ar fapio cyfleusterau chwaraeon yng Nghymru. Mae'n amlwg o sgyrsiau gyda chyrff a sefydliadau chwaraeon ei bod ar hyn o bryd yn anodd iawn dod o hyd i restr glir o gyfleusterau chwaraeon ledled Cymru a hyd yn oed yn anoddach ddod o hyd iddyn nhw ar unrhyw fath o fap. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn honni ei bod eisiau annog pobl i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon, dyrchafu ein sêr chwaraeon yn y dyfodol, lleihau'r gyfradd gordewdra, a sicrhau bod gennym ni Gymru iach. Felly, yn sicr, mae mapio lle mae cyfleusterau chwaraeon mewn gwirionedd yn hanfodol er mwyn sicrhau cydraddoldeb darpariaeth i bawb yng Nghymru. Ar hyn o bryd, nid oes unrhyw wybodaeth ar gael. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar os gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros chwaraeon roi datganiad ysgrifenedig neu ar lafar ar fapio cyfleusterau yng Nghymru. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn.
Thank you very much for your question.
Sporting facilities are crucial, aren't they, both locally based and nationally provided. They are key to access sport, physical health and well-being, particularly for our children and young people. Again, local authorities have a crucial role to play in terms of provision and support, although it's really tough and they're hard pressed, because of the austerity and the lack of funding from the UK Government to the Welsh Government, and thence to local authorities, to maintain and improve sporting facilities. But can I also say that Sport Wales plays a really important role as well? The funding that comes through Sport Wales is very accessible, and also information about the sporting facilities is provided locally, regionally and nationally.
I think it's also important to look at this from the perspective of our schools. We were reflecting earlier on the transformational programme of school development, and, actually, many of those new schools that we've got—primary and secondary—have also not just got their own state-of-the-art sporting facilities, but they are available to the community as well, and that's where it's very important. But I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice will be looking at, in terms of her portfolio, the very important connections, of course, between providing that information, providing the facilities, and the importance of accessibility, particularly for our children and young people, but for our adults as well, as they also take part not just themselves in terms of enjoying a sport, but also enjoying supporting their children and young people on the touchline and in training, which many of them do.
Mae cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn hanfodol, onid ydyn nhw, y ddarpariaeth yn lleol ac yn genedlaethol. Maen nhw'n allweddol i alluogi chwaraeon, iechyd corfforol a lles, yn enwedig ar gyfer ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Eto, mae gan awdurdodau lleol swyddogaeth hanfodol o ran darpariaeth a chymorth, er ei bod hi'n anodd iawn ac maen nhw dan bwysau mawr, oherwydd y cyni a'r diffyg cyllid gan Lywodraeth y DU i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac oddi yno i awdurdodau lleol, i gynnal a gwella cyfleusterau chwaraeon. Ond a gaf i ddweud hefyd fod Chwaraeon Cymru â rhan bwysig iawn hefyd? Mae'r cyllid a ddaw drwy Chwaraeon Cymru yn hawdd iawn ei gael, a darperir gwybodaeth hefyd am y cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn lleol, yn rhanbarthol ac yn genedlaethol.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig edrych ar hyn o safbwynt ein hysgolion hefyd. Roeddem ni'n meddwl yn gynharach am y rhaglen drawsnewidiol o ddatblygiad ysgolion, ac, mewn gwirionedd, mae llawer o'r ysgolion newydd hynny sydd gennym ni—cynradd ac uwchradd—hefyd nid yn unig wedi cael eu cyfleusterau chwaraeon eu hunain, o'r radd flaenaf, ond maen nhw ar gael i'r gymuned hefyd, a dyna sy'n bwysig iawn. Ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yn ystyried, o ran ei phortffolio hi, y cysylltiadau pwysig iawn, wrth gwrs, rhwng darparu'r wybodaeth honno, darparu'r cyfleusterau, a phwysigrwydd hygyrchedd, yn enwedig i'n plant a'n pobl ifanc, ond i'n hoedolion hefyd, gan eu bod nhw'n cymryd rhan nid yn unig eu hunain o ran mwynhau cymryd rhan mewn unrhyw chwaraeon, ond wrth fwynhau cefnogi eu plant a'u pobl ifanc ar ochr y maes chwarae ac mewn hyfforddiant, fel mae llawer ohonyn nhw'n gwneud.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
Thank you, Trefnydd.
Nesaf, mae'r cynnig i atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro er mwyn caniatáu i eitem 3, adroddiad yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig, gael ei thrafod. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i wneud y cynnig. Eluned Morgan.
Next, we have a motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow item 3, the infected blood inquiry report, to be debated. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to move the motion. Eluned Morgan.
Cynnig NNDM8596 Jane Hutt
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 33.6 a 33.8:
Yn atal Rheol Sefydlog 12.20(i), 12.22(i) a’r rhan honno o Reol Sefydlog 11.16 sy’n ei gwneud yn ofynnol bod y cyhoeddiad wythnosol o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.11 yn darparu’r amserlen ar gyfer busnes yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yr wythnos ganlynol, er mwyn caniatáu i NNDM8595 gael ei ystyried yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ddydd Mawrth, 4 Mehefin 2024.
Motion NNDM8596 Jane Hutt
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:
Suspends Standing Order 12.20(i), 12,22(i) and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NNDM8595 to be considered in Plenary on Tuesday, 4 June 2024.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Y cynnig yw atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to suspend Standing Orders. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliannau 1, 2 a 3 yn enw Heledd Fychan.
The following amendments have been selected: amendments 1, 2 and 3 in the name of Heledd Fychan.
Nesaf, mae eitem 3, dadl ar adroddiad yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i wneud y cynnig. Eluned Morgan.
Next, we have item 3, the debate on the infected blood inquiry report. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to move the motion. Eluned Morgan.
Cynnig NNDM8595 Jane Hutt
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod:
a) y niwed a'r dioddefaint a achoswyd i filoedd o bobl yn sgil y sgandal gwaethaf o ran triniaethau yn hanes y GIG;
b) ymgyrchu diflino a gwaith caled pawb a gafodd eu heintio ac sydd wedi dioddef, i geisio'r gwir; ac
c) ymddiheuriad Llywodraeth y DU am y degawdau hir o fethiant moesol wrth galon ein bywyd cenedlaethol.
2. Yn croesawu adroddiad terfynol yr Ymchwiliad Gwaed Heintiedig a gyhoeddwyd ar 20 Mai 2024 a'i argymhellion.
3. Yn croesawu gwaith y pedair gwlad i sefydlu Awdurdod Iawndal Gwaed Heintiedig.
4. Yn nodi y bydd taliadau iawndal pellach yn cael eu gwneud i bobl a gafodd eu heintio ac sydd wedi dioddef yn sgil y sgandal.
Motion NNDM8595 Jane Hutt
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises:
a) the harm and suffering caused to thousands of people in the worst treatment scandal in the history of the NHS;
b) the tireless campaign and hard work of all those infected and affected to seek the truth; and
c) the UK Government’s apology for the decades-long moral failure at the heart of our national life.
2. Welcomes the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry published on 20 May 2024 and its recommendations.
3. Welcomes the four-nations work to put in place an Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
4. Notes that further compensation payments will be made to people infected and affected by the scandal.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for the opportunity to have this debate today, following the publication of the infected blood inquiry's final report last month. I want to be clear: this was the worst treatment scandal in the history of the NHS. While it predated devolution, as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Wales, I want to apologise to all those who were infected and have been affected by this terrible tragedy. I want to pay tribute to the infected and affected, some of whom I met earlier today and are in the gallery this afternoon to listen to this debate. There's been so much suffering by so many people. They fought for decades for the truth to be told, and they must be commended for this.
I've just met some of those victims and heard their stories: Tony and Pat Summers, fighting for justice for decades for their son, Paul; Rose, who lost her brother in 1990, aged 44; Suzanne, setting out how her mother was a tiny bit anaemic and received tainted blood from a service that was supposed to heal her but ended up killing her and depriving her of the opportunity of meeting her nine great-grandchildren; the harrowing story I heard from Margaret Sugar about how her son Lee suffered and how her son Craig is still paying a price; Joanne, who explained how her brother-in-law was ostracised in school because he had HIV and the school failed to keep it private; Kirk, who is still suffering and is determined to ensure justice is done; Sharon and Ceri, whose father died and nobody told them he had a hepatoma; Ruth, whose husband died in 1989, and wasn’t told he had hep C. They’ve all fought for decades for the truth to be told.
The culmination of the infected blood inquiry on 20 May and Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations provided them with many of the answers to so many of the questions they’ve been asking for so long. The sense of vindication and relief is palpable. But so too is the anger that this was ever allowed to happen. I want to thank the members of the cross-party group who have also supported the victims and campaigned for a UK inquiry to take place. I want to pay a special tribute to Julie Morgan, who has worked tirelessly for many, many decades with Haemophilia Wales, helping people like Tony Lane. I also want to pay tribute to the chair, Lynne Kelly. Together, they’ve fought for the inquiry, they’ve lobbied for ex-gratia payments, for parity and a compensation package.
Dirprwy Lywydd, following the conclusion of the infected blood inquiry and the publication of the final report, we’ve already started work to consider its recommendations. We’ve set up an infected blood inquiry next steps for Wales group, chaired by our new deputy chief medical officer, Dr Push Mangat, and it will meet for the very first time soon. It will work with health boards, the Welsh Blood Service, Public Health Wales and policy officials to ensure we look at the wrongs of the past and work together to ensure this can never happen again. There are some issues we can and we will progress quickly; others will take more time. I’ll report back to Members as this work progresses.
I met John Glen, the responsible Cabinet Office Minister, just after the general election was announced, and said the Welsh Government will continue to work on a four-nations basis to implement improvements across the UK. In response, he told me that the election would not hold the work up. Members will recall that this Senedd gave its consent to the provisions in the UK Victims and Prisoners Bill to establish the new compensation arrangements for people infected and affected. The Victims and Prisoners Bill was approved by the UK Parliament as part of the wash-up process, and has now received Royal Assent. This means the new infected blood compensation authority will be formally set up and payments will be made.
Compensation is a matter for and will be funded by the UK Government, but my officials will continue to work with their counterparts in Whitehall to ensure there is a smooth transition for beneficiaries to the new arrangements. Those people who were infected and affected will rightly be able to claim compensation and we will assist them in this process. We’ll also do all we can to ensure that all those eligible for further interim compensation payments receive it as quickly as possible. A second interim payment to those living beneficiaries who are registered on a support scheme will be made within 90 days. Further interim payments will be made to the estates of those registered who were infected and the Wales infected blood support scheme will continue to make ex-gratia payments to provide welfare and psychological support until the transition is complete.
Sir Robert Francis, who wrote the compensation report for the Cabinet Office, will be holding a series of engagement events over the summer about the compensation package put forward by the UK Government. This will help ensure those able to make claims have the correct information and, where necessary, have their views heard on the proposals.
I’m now going to turn to speak in Welsh, so you may need your headphones.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch am y cyfle i gael y ddadl hon heddiw, yn dilyn cyhoeddiad adroddiad terfynol yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig fis diwethaf. Rwy'n awyddus i fod yn eglur: hon oedd y sgandal waethaf yn hanes triniaethau'r GIG. Er ei bod yn rhagflaenu datganoli, gan mai fi yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, rwy'n dymuno ymddiheuro i bawb a gafodd eu heintio ac sydd wedi eu heffeithio gan y drasiedi ofnadwy hon. Rwy'n dymuno rhoi teyrnged i'r rhai sydd wedi eu heintio a'u heffeithio, ac fe gwrddais i â rhai ohonyn nhw'n gynharach heddiw ac maen nhw yn yr oriel y prynhawn yma i wrando ar y ddadl hon. Mae cymaint o bobl wedi dioddef. Fe fuon nhw'n ymladd am ddegawdau a dweud y gwir, ac mae'n rhaid eu canmol nhw am hynny.
Rwyf i newydd gwrdd â rhai o'r dioddefwyr hynny ac wedi clywed eu straeon: Tony a Pat Summers, sydd wedi brwydro am gyfiawnder i'w mab, Paul, am ddegawdau; Rose, a gollodd ei brawd yn 1990, yn 44 oed; Suzanne, a ddywedodd mai ychydig yn anemig oedd ei mam pan gafodd hi waed heintiedig gan wasanaeth a oedd i fod i'w gwella hi ond a wnaeth ei lladd hi yn y pen draw a'i hamddifadu o'r cyfle i gwrdd â’i naw gorwyr; y stori ddirdynnol a glywais gan Margaret Sugar am sut y bu i'w mab Lee ddioddef a sut mae ei mab Craig yn talu pris o hyd; Joanne, a esboniodd sut y cafodd ei brawd yng nghyfraith ei wrthod yn yr ysgol am fod ganddo HIV a methiant yr ysgol i gadw hynny'n breifat; Kirk, sy'n dal i ddioddef ac sy'n benderfynol o sicrhau cyfiawnder; Sharon a Ceri, y bu farw eu tad heb i unrhyw un ddweud wrthyn nhw fod ganddo hepatoma; Ruth, y bu farw ei gŵr yn 1989, ac ni ddywedwyd wrtho fod ganddo hep C. Maen nhw i gyd wedi brwydro ers degawdau i'r gwir gael ei ddatgelu.
Daeth yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig i'w gyflawniad ar 20 Mai a gwnaeth argymhellion Syr Brian Langstaff roi llawer o'r atebion iddyn nhw i lawer o'r cwestiynau y maen nhw wedi bod yn eu gofyn cyhyd. Mae'r ymdeimlad o gyfiawnhad a rhyddhad yn amlwg. Ond felly hefyd y dicter oherwydd i hyn gael eu caniatáu i ddigwydd erioed. Fe hoffwn i ddiolch i aelodau'r grŵp trawsbleidiol sydd wedi cefnogi'r dioddefwyr hefyd ac wedi ymgyrchu dros gynnal ymchwiliad yn y DU. Fe hoffwn i roi teyrnged arbennig i Julie Morgan, sydd wedi gweithio yn ddiflino ers degawdau lawer gyda Haemophilia Wales, gan helpu pobl fel Tony Lane. Rwyf i am roi teyrnged hefyd i'r cadeirydd, Lynne Kelly. Gyda'i gilydd, maen nhw wedi brwydro am yr ymchwiliad, maen nhw wedi lobïo am daliadau ex-gratia, am gydraddoldeb a phecyn iawndal.
Dirprwy Lywydd, yn dilyn casgliad yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig a chyhoeddiad yr adroddiad terfynol, rydym ni wedi dechrau gweithio eisoes i ystyried ei argymhellion. Fe wnaethom ni sefydlu grŵp y camau nesaf i Gymru ar yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig, dan gadeiryddiaeth ein dirprwy brif swyddog meddygol newydd, Dr Push Mangat, ac fe fydd yn cyfarfod am y tro cyntaf yn fuan. Bydd yn gweithio gyda byrddau iechyd, Gwasanaeth Gwaed Cymru, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru a swyddogion polisi i sicrhau ein bod ni'n ystyried camweddau'r gorffennol ac yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i sicrhau na all rhywbeth fel hyn fyth ddigwydd eto. Mae yna rai materion y byddwn ni'n gallu bwrw ymlaen â nhw'n gyflym, ac fe wnawn ni hynny; fe fydd eraill yn cymryd mwy o amser. Fe fyddaf i'n adrodd yn ôl i'r Aelodau wrth i'r gwaith hwn fynd rhagddo.
Fe wnes i gyfarfod â John Glen, y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am hyn yn Swyddfa'r Cabinet, ychydig ar ôl cyhoeddi'r etholiad cyffredinol, ac fe ddywedais i y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio ar sail pedair gwlad i weithredu gwelliannau ledled y DU. Mewn ymateb i hynny, fe ddywedodd wrthyf na fyddai'r etholiad yn oedi'r gwaith. Mae'r Aelodau yn siŵr o fod yn cofio bod y Senedd hon wedi rhoi ei chydsyniad i'r darpariaethau ym Mil Dioddefwyr a Charcharorion y DU i sefydlu'r trefniadau iawndal newydd ar gyfer pobl sydd wedi eu heintio a'u heffeithio. Cafodd y Bil Dioddefwyr a Charcharorion ei gymeradwyo gan Senedd y DU yn rhan o broses cau pen y mwdwl y Senedd honno, ac mae wedi cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol erbyn hyn. Mae hyn yn golygu y bydd yr awdurdod iawndal gwaed heintiedig newydd yn cael ei sefydlu yn ffurfiol ac fe fydd y taliadau yn cael eu gwneud.
Mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw'r iawndal a'i ariannu, ond fe fydd fy swyddogion i'n parhau i weithio gyda'u cymheiriaid yn Whitehall i sicrhau y bydd trosglwyddiad rhwydd i fuddiolwyr ar gyfer y trefniadau newydd. Bydd y bobl hynny a gafodd eu heintio a'u heffeithio yn gallu hawlio iawndal, a hynny'n briodol, ac fe fyddwn ni'n eu cynorthwyo nhw gyda'r broses hon. Fe fyddwn ni'n gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i sicrhau y bydd pawb sy'n gymwys i gael taliadau iawndal interim pellach yn eu derbyn cyn gynted â phosibl hefyd. Fe fydd ail daliad dros dro yn cael ei wneud ymhen 90 diwrnod i'r buddiolwyr sy'n fyw ac sydd ar gofrestr cynllun cymorth. Bydd taliadau dros dro pellach yn cael eu gwneud i ystadau'r rhai a gofrestrwyd ac fe fydd cynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig Cymru yn parhau i wneud taliadau ex gratia i ddarparu cymorth lles a seicolegol hyd nes y caiff y pontio ei gwblhau.
Bydd Syr Robert Francis, a ysgrifennodd yr adroddiad iawndal i Swyddfa'r Cabinet, yn cynnal cyfres o ddigwyddiadau dros yr haf ar gyfer ymgysylltu ynglŷn â'r pecyn iawndal a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU. Bydd hyn yn helpu i sicrhau bod y wybodaeth gywir gan y rhai sy'n gallu gwneud hawliadau a hefyd, lle bod angen, y gellir clywed eu barn ar y cynigion.
Rwyf am droi i'r Gymraeg nawr, felly efallai y bydd angen eich clustffonau arnoch chi.
Dirprwy Lywydd, roedd hi'n drychineb i bob un gafodd eu heintio a’u heffeithio. Gwaetha'r modd, dyw nifer fawr ohonyn nhw ddim gyda ni bellach. Dwi eisiau sicrhau pobl sy'n gwrando heddiw bod newidiadau wedi cael eu gwneud ac, yn bwysig iawn, fod y gwasanaeth a’r cyflenwad gwaed yn dra gwahanol erbyn hyn. Mae pawb sy’n rhoi gwaed yn wirfoddolwr di-dâl, ac mae’r risg o waed wedi'i heintio yn mynd i gyflenwad gwaed y Deyrnas Unedig yn llai nag un mewn 20 miliwn ar gyfer HIV a hepatitis C. Mae modd i unrhyw un sy'n poeni y gallai fod wedi heintio gael gafael ar becyn profi gartref trwy wasanaeth ar-lein Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru neu drwy eu bwrdd iechyd neu feddygfa.
Dirprwy Lywydd, it was a tragedy for everyone who was infected and affected. Sadly, many of them are no longer with us. I want to give assurances to those listening today that changes have been made and, very importantly, that the service and the blood supply is very different now. Everyone who is a blood donor is an unpaid volunteer, and the risk of infected blood going into the UK blood supply is less than one in 20 million for HIV and hepatitis C. Anyone who is concerned that they may have been infected can access a home testing kit through the Public Health Wales online service or through their health board or surgery.
Dirprwy Lywydd, the scandal of infected blood is a dark stain on the history of the NHS and of our public institutions. We must be better, and we must do better than the denials, the false reassurances, the complacency, the cover-ups, the obfuscations and the repeated failures at an individual, institutional and Government level that characterised and compounded this awful tragedy, which cost so many people their lives and their futures.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r sgandal gwaed heintiedig yn taflu cysgod tywyll ar hanes y GIG a'n sefydliadau cyhoeddus. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn well, ac mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn well na'r gwadiadau, y sicrwydd di-sail, yr hunanfodlonrwydd, y celu, y cymylu a'r methiannau dro ar ôl tro ar lefel unigolion, sefydliadau a Llywodraeth a fu'n nodweddu a gwaethygu'r drasiedi enbyd hon, a achosodd i gymaint o bobl golli eu bywydau a'u dyfodol.
Rwyf wedi dethol y tri gwelliant i'r cynnig. Galwaf ar Mabon ap Gwynfor i gynnig gwelliannau 1, 2 a 3 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.
I have selected the three amendments to the motion. I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to move amendments 1, 2 and 3 tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.
Gwelliant 1—Heledd Fychan
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod yr holl unigolion yr effeithir arnynt yng Nghymru yn derbyn eu hail daliad iawndal interim o fewn 90 diwrnod i gyhoeddi adroddiad Langstaff.
Amendment 1—Heledd Fychan
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to make representations to the UK Government to ensure that all affected individuals in Wales receive their second interim compensation payment within 90 days of the publication of the Langstaff report.
Gwelliant 2—Heledd Fychan
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddeddfu holl argymhellion adroddiad Langstaff sy'n ymwneud â meysydd cyfrifoldeb datganoledig yn llawn ac yn ddi-oed.
Amendment 2—Heledd Fychan
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to enact all recommendations of the Langstaff report pertaining to devolved areas of responsibility in full and without delay.
Gwelliant 3—Heledd Fychan
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i estyn allan yn rhagweithiol at yr holl unigolion yr effeithir arnynt yng Nghymru gyda'r cynnig o gefnogaeth a chwnsela perthnasol.
Amendment 3—Heledd Fychan
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to proactively reach out to all affected individuals in Wales with the offer of relevant support and counselling.
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 1, 2 a 3.
Amendments 1, 2 and 3 moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i'r Llywodraeth am gytuno i gyflwyno'r ddadl yma heddiw. Er ei bod yn ddadl sydd yn amlwg yn haeddu sylw brys, y gwir ydy na ddylem ni fod yn y sefyllfa yma o orfod cael y ddadl yn y lle cyntaf.
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to the Government for agreeing to bring forward this debate this afternoon. Although it is a debate that clearly deserves urgent attention, the truth is that we shouldn't be in this situation of having to have the debate in the first instance.
The findings of the Langstaff report on the infected blood scandal are an utterly damning indictment of an entrenched culture of institutional abuse, governmental neglect and political obfuscation that was allowed to fester in our body politic for decades and that led to tragic consequences on an unprecedented scale. First and foremost, it is right that we pay tribute to the inspirational campaigning of the affected individuals who have fought tirelessly for justice in the face of powerful vested interests that sought to silence their plight at every turn. Thanks must also be expressed to my colleague Rhun ap Iorwerth for his chairing of the cross-party group and his consistent support to all those affected. So too I'd like to thank Julie Morgan for her immense contribution in this fight.
Though nothing will fully repair the damage inflicted on their lives by this scandal, I hope the report can provide those individuals impacted with some degree of closure and finally initiate the long-overdue process of accountability. I also hope that this proves to be a watershed moment in addressing the glaring imbalance of power at the very heart of our criminal justice system. From the Hillsborough disaster to the Post Office Horizon scandal, the wheels of justice can often turn far too slowly when it come to the misdemeanours and failings of the wealthy, the elite and the well-connected, as is sadly attested by the fact that numerous victims have gone to their graves long before justice has come to light.
It is for this reason I believe there is a particular responsibility on us as elected representatives, regardless of our political affiliations, to reflect on the report with the utmost humility that it deserves and to strive at all times to never lose sight of the true meaning of public service. It is in this spirit we have introduced a series of amendments to the Government's original motion to this debate. Last month, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed in her response to my topical question on this matter that she had received assurances from the UK Government that the second interim compensation payment of £210,000 to affected individuals registered on the support scheme will be paid within 90 days of the publication of the report. Our first amendment, therefore, calls on the Welsh Government to do everything it can to ensure this pledge is fulfilled as promised. It is vital that restitution for affected individuals, however meagre it may be in the context of their suffering, is not held up by a change in Government at Westminster.
I'd also welcome an update from the Cabinet Secretary in her response as to the duration of the regular payment scheme. Concern has been raised that regular payments are only planned up to April 2025, at present. So, does the Welsh Government have any intention of extending these payments beyond this point?
We also believe that the Welsh Government has a duty to be proactive in reaching out to the 264 people currently registered on the Wales infected blood support scheme with offers of relevant support and counselling, as set out in our third amendment. Of course, such was the protracted nature of this scandal, it straddled the pre- and post-devolution eras in Wales, over which time the range and complexity of powers assigned to the Senedd have evolved significantly. The report emphasises that the inability of both the Wales Office and the earliest Welsh Governments to challenge or scrutinise the settled position of successive UK administrations on the issue of infected blood use is a sad commentary on the effectiveness of these inter-governmental arrangements. Clearly, therefore, the frameworks of governance both here in the Senedd and on a pan-UK level can never again be allowed to fail so egregiously. And from the perspective of the Welsh Government, this means utilising the levers at its disposal as effectively and as extensively as possible.
Mae canfyddiadau adroddiad Langstaff ar y sgandal gwaed heintiedig yn ddyfarniad llwyr ddamniol yn erbyn diwylliant ymwreiddiedig o gam-drin sefydliadol, esgeulustod llywodraethol a chymylu gwleidyddol a ganiatawyd i gronni yn ein corff gwleidyddol ers degawdau ac a arweiniodd at ganlyniadau trychinebus ar raddfa ddigynsail. Yn gyntaf i gyd, mae hi'n iawn i ni roi teyrnged i ymgyrchu ysbrydoledig yr unigolion a gafodd eu heffeithio sydd wedi brwydro dros gyfiawnder yn ddiflino yn wyneb buddiannau breintiedig grymus a geisiodd roi taw ar eu trafferthion ar bob cam. Dylid diolch hefyd i fy nghydweithiwr Rhun ap Iorwerth am ei gadeiryddiaeth o'r grŵp trawsbleidiol a'i gefnogaeth gyson i bawb a gafodd ei effeithio. Felly hefyd fe hoffwn ddiolch i Julie Morgan am ei chyfraniad aruthrol i'r frwydr hon.
Er na all unrhyw beth lwyr atgyweirio'r difrod a achoswyd i fywydau gan y sgandal hon, rwy'n gobeithio y gall yr adroddiad roi rhywfaint o ddiweddglo ar y mater i'r unigolion hynny a gafodd eu heffeithio a chychwyn y broses atebolrwydd y bu llawer gormod o aros amdani. Rwy'n gobeithio hefyd y bydd hwn yn drobwynt o ran mynd i'r afael â grym sy'n amlwg yn anghytbwys ac sydd yng nghraidd ein system cyfiawnder troseddol. O drychineb Hillsborough i sgandal Horizon Swyddfa'r Post, yn rhy aml fe all olwynion cyfiawnder droi yn llawer yn rhy araf o ran camymddygiad a methiannau'r cyfoethog, yr elît a'r rhai â chysylltiadau da fel, yn anffodus, y mae'r ffaith i gymaint o ddioddefwyr fynd i'w beddau ymhell cyn i gyfiawnder ddod i'r golwg yn tystio i hynny.
Am y rheswm hwn, rwy'n credu bod cyfrifoldeb arbennig arnom ni'r cynrychiolwyr etholedig, ni waeth beth fo'n cysylltiadau gwleidyddol, i fyfyrio ar yr adroddiad gyda'r gwyleidd-dra mwyaf teilwng ac ymdrechu bob amser i beidio â cholli golwg fyth ar wir ystyr gwasanaeth cyhoeddus. Yn yr ysbryd hwn, rydym ni wedi cyflwyno cyfres o welliannau i gynnig gwreiddiol y Llywodraeth i'r ddadl hon. Fis diwethaf, fe gadarnhaodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ei hymateb i fy nghwestiwn amserol ynglŷn â'r mater hwn ei bod hi wedi cael sicrwydd gan Lywodraeth y DU y bydd yr ail daliad iawndal dros dro o £210,000 i unigolion a gafodd eu heffeithio sydd wedi eu cofrestru ar y cynllun cymorth yn cael ei dalu o fewn 90 diwrnod i gyhoeddiad yr adroddiad. Mae ein gwelliant cyntaf ni, felly, yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud popeth yn ei gallu i sicrhau y bydd yr addewid hwn yn cael ei gadw fel yr addawyd. Mae'n hanfodol nad yw iawndal i unigolion yr effeithir arnynt, waeth pa mor fach y gallai fod yng nghyd-destun eu dioddefaint, yn cael ei ddal yn ôl gan newid yn y Llywodraeth yn San Steffan.
Fe fyddwn i'n croesawu diweddariad hefyd gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ei hymateb ynghylch hyd y cynllun taliadau rheolaidd. Mynegwyd pryder mai dim ond hyd at fis Ebrill 2025 y bwriedir gwneud taliadau rheolaidd, ar hyn o bryd. Felly, a oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw fwriad i ymestyn y taliadau hyn y tu hwnt i'r dyddiad hwnnw?
Rydym ni o'r farn hefyd fod dyletswydd ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fod yn rhagweithiol wrth estyn allan at y 264 o bobl sydd wedi'u cofrestru ar gynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig Cymru ar hyn o bryd gyda chynigion o gefnogaeth a chwnsela perthnasol, fel mae ein trydydd gwelliant yn ei nodi. Wrth gwrs, fe gymerodd y sgandal hon gymaint o amser, gwnaeth hi bontio'r cyfnod cyn ac ar ôl datganoli yng Nghymru, ac yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw mae ystod a chymhlethdod y pwerau a neilltuwyd i'r Senedd wedi esblygu yn sylweddol. Mae'r adroddiad yn pwysleisio bod anallu Swyddfa Cymru a Llywodraethau cynharaf Cymru i herio neu graffu ar safiad sefydlog gweinyddiaethau olynol y DU ar fater y defnydd o waed heintiedig yn rhoi sylwebaeth ddigalon iawn ar effeithiolrwydd y trefniadau rhynglywodraethol hyn. Yn amlwg, felly, ni ellir caniatáu i'r fframweithiau llywodraethu yma yn y Senedd nac ar lefel y DU gyfan fyth eto â methu mewn ffordd mor eithriadol. Ac o safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, mae hyn yn golygu defnyddio'r ysgogiadau sydd ar gael iddi yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol ac eang â phosibl.
Felly, am y rheswm hwn, mae ein gwelliant terfynol yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithredu argymhellion yr adroddiad sy'n ymwneud â meysydd cymhwysedd datganoledig yn llawn ac yn ddi-oed. Mae'r penodau tywyllaf yma yn hanes y gwasanaeth iechyd, a'r sefydliad gwleidyddol yn ehangach, yn wers hollbwysig yn y modd y mae sefydliadau sydd i fod i ymgorffori'r egwyddor o wneud dim niwed yn gallu cael eu hecsbloetio, gan arwain at fwy o niwed yn y pen draw. Mae'n ddyletswydd, felly, arnom i ddioddefwyr y sgandal hwn, i gynnal y tryloywder a'r atebolrwydd mwyaf mewn bywyd cyhoeddus, a ddylai cynnwys mesurau diogelu cadarn ar gyfer chwythwyr chwiban a grymuso lleisiau'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. Hyderaf, felly, y byddwch yn cefnogi ein gwelliannau heddiw. Diolch.
So, for this reason, our final amendment calls on the Welsh Government to implement the recommendations of the report that relate to devolved areas of competence fully and without delay. These darkest chapters in the history of our health service, and the political institution more broadly, are a crucial lesson in the way that institutions that are supposed to incorporate the principle of doing no harm can be exploited, leading to further harm, ultimately. It is a duty upon us, therefore, for the victims of this scandal, to maintain the greatest accountability and transparency in public life, which should include firm safeguarding measures for whistleblowers and empower those most vulnerable in our society. I am confident, therefore, that you will support our amendments this afternoon. Thank you.
Mae llawer o Aelodau sy'n dymuno siarad ar yr eitem hon, felly os bydd Aelodau'n cadw eu cyfraniadau'n fyr, byddaf yn gallu galw mwy o siaradwyr. Sam Rowlands.
There are many Members who wish to speak on this item, so if Members could keep their contributions brief, I'll be able to call more speakers. Sam Rowlands.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I also thank the Welsh Government for bringing forward this important debate today? Whilst, technically, it is a debate, there are no party lines here when it comes to the issue at hand, and we on these benches agree with all the proposals that the Government has set out and also with the amendments that Plaid Cymru have put forward here today. And it's simply because the infected blood scandal is one of the most grotesque miscarriages of justice in British history. Each of the victims had their entire lives turned upside down, destroyed or even lost in such agonising circumstances, and it's entirely right now that the priorities of Governments, both here and in Westminster, are ensuring that compensation gets to those victims and the families of those victims as well.
It's a cliché, but we also need to ensure that lessons are learnt from this as well. It must be a priority that we never allow cover-ups and, essentially, corruption of this kind to happen again in our institutions, and in particular our largest public institutions that are there to protect and serve the people that we represent. Cabinet Secretary, like you, I'd like to share a couple of stories that residents have shared with me in terms of some of their awful experiences. A resident in north Wales, who was a recipient of the Welsh infected blood support scheme, shared his story with me of being infected as a child with hepatitis B and HIV and hepatitis C, spending months in intensive care. He described the lifelong impact on him, his wife and parents as 'long gnawing at our spirits'. So, aside from the physical health impact, that 'long gnawing at our spirits', which was constantly with them. Another constituent was infected with hepatitis C through treatments for Von Willebrand disease, and her mother also infected, and both had to undergo liver transplants—clearly a very, very serious procedure that has long-term impacts for them and their family. And there are many traumatic details to these cases and far too many others. All of these people are in our thoughts here today, as we engage in this debate.
Of course, we did have the opportunity to discuss the inquiry report before our recess a couple of weeks ago, but Cabinet Secretary, as you pointed out, there have been some updates in the interim, and I'm pleased that, on 24 May, as part of the pre-election wash-up process, the Victims and Prisoners Bill was granted, as you say, by Royal Assent, creating the infected blood compensation authority, which will be responsible for making these final payments to victims. There are, of course, a number of moving parts within that, so I wonder, Cabinet Secretary, if, as part of your closing, you'll be able to just clarify that confidence that you have that, with the general election taking place now, and some of those moving parts, you have that confidence that this compensation will indeed get through to people who rightfully deserve it in the quickest timescale possible; we're told that by 24 August is the deadline.
I'm also pleased, as you mentioned, Cabinet Secretary, that the interim chair of the IBCA, Sir Robert Francis, made a statement that they are working as quickly as possible to be in a position to receive those applications and make those awards, so I'd like to understand how you may be working with the IBCA to help that process happen with the much-needed haste.
I'm conscious that there are many speakers here today, Deputy Presiding Officer, but I simply want to thank the Welsh Government for bringing forward this debate and recognise all of the hard work done by so many people over so many years to ensure that justice is finally being done. Thank you.
Diolch i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch hefyd i Lywodraeth Cymru am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon heddiw? Er, yn dechnegol, nid dadl mohoni, nid oes safbwyntiau pleidiol yma o ran y mater dan sylw, ac rydym ni ar y meinciau hyn yn cytuno â'r holl gynigion a nododd y Llywodraeth a hefyd gyda'r gwelliannau a gyflwynodd Plaid Cymru yma heddiw. A'r cyfan oherwydd bod gwarth gwaed heintiedig yn un o'r camweddau mwyaf erchyll a fu erioed yn hanes cyfiawnder ym Mhrydain. Cafodd bywydau pob un o'r dioddefwyr eu troi wyneb i waered, bywydau wedi eu dinistrio neu hyd yn oed eu colli mewn amgylchiadau mor ingol, ac mae hi'n gwbl gyfiawn ei bod hi'n flaenoriaeth nawr i Lywodraethau, yma ac yn San Steffan, i sicrhau bod iawndal yn cael ei roi i'r dioddefwyr hynny a theuluoedd y dioddefwyr hynny hefyd.
Mae'n ystrydeb, ond mae angen i ni sicrhau yn ogystal fod gwersi yn cael eu dysgu o hyn hefyd. Mae'n rhaid iddi fod yn flaenoriaeth na fyddwn ni fyth yn caniatáu i bethau gael eu celu ac, yn y bôn, nad oes llygredd o'r fath yn digwydd eto yn ein sefydliadau, ac yn enwedig ein sefydliadau cyhoeddus mwyaf sy'n bodoli i amddiffyn a gwasanaethu'r bobl yr ydym yn eu cynrychioli. Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, fel chi, fe hoffwn innau rannu cwpl o straeon y mae trigolion wedi dweud wrthyf amdanyn nhw o ran rhai o'u profiadau mwyaf ingol. Rhannodd un o drigolion y gogledd, a oedd wedi cael gwaed o gynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig Cymru, ei stori gyda mi o gael ei heintio yn blentyn â hepatitis B a HIV a hepatitis C, ac fe dreuliodd fisoedd mewn gofal dwys. Disgrifiodd yr effaith gydol oes arno, ei wraig a'i rieni fel 'rhywbeth yn cnoi ar ein heneidiau ers talwm'. Felly, ar wahân i'r effaith ar iechyd corfforol, y 'rhywbeth yn cnoi ar ein heneidiau ers talwm' hwnnw a oedd gyda nhw trwy'r amser. Cafodd etholwr arall ei heintio â hepatitis C trwy driniaethau ar gyfer clefyd Von Willebrand, ac fe gafodd ei mam ef ei heintio hefyd, ac fe fu'n rhaid i'r ddwy gael trawsblaniad iau—sy'n amlwg yn driniaeth ddifrifol iawn, iawn sydd ag effeithiau hirdymor arnyn nhw a'u teulu. Ac mae llawer o fanylion trawmatig i'r achosion hyn a llawer gormod o rai eraill. Mae'r bobl hyn i gyd yn ein meddyliau ni yma heddiw, wrth i ni gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon.
Wrth gwrs, fe gawsom ni gyfle i drafod adroddiad yr ymchwiliad cyn ein toriad ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, ond Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, fel roeddech chi'n ei nodi, bu rhai diweddariadau yn y cyfamser, ac rwy'n falch fod y Bil Dioddefwyr a Charcharorion, ar 24 Mai, wedi cael cydsyniad yn rhan o'r broses cau pen y mwdwl cyn etholiad, y cafodd y Bil Dioddefwyr a Charcharorion, fel rydych chi'n dweud, Gydsyniad Brenhinol, sy'n creu'r awdurdod i roi iawndal am waed heintiedig, a fydd yn gyfrifol am wneud y taliadau terfynol hyn i ddioddefwyr. Wrth gwrs, mae nifer o rannau symudol yn hynny, felly tybed, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, pe gallech chi, yn rhan o'ch diweddglo, egluro'r hyder sydd gennych chi, gyda'r etholiad cyffredinol yn digwydd nawr, a rhai o'r materion newidiol hynny, yr hyder sydd gennych chi y bydd yr iawndal hwn yn wir yn cyrraedd y bobl sy'n ei haeddu â phob cyfiawnder yn yr amserlen gyflymaf bosibl; fe ddywedir wrthym ni mai erbyn 24 Awst yw'r dyddiad cau.
Rwy'n falch hefyd, fel roeddech chi'n sôn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, bod cadeirydd dros dro'r awdurdod iawndal gwaed heintiedig, Syr Robert Francis, wedi gwneud datganiad eu bod ni'n gweithio mor gyflym â phosibl i fod mewn sefyllfa i dderbyn y ceisiadau hynny a gwneud y dyfarniadau hynny, felly fe hoffwn i ddeall sut y gallech fod yn gweithio gyda'r awdurdod iawndal gwaed heintiedig i helpu'r broses honno fynd rhagddi gyda'r cyflymder y mae cymaint o angen amdano.
Rwy'n ymwybodol bod llawer o siaradwyr yma heddiw, Dirprwy Lywydd, ond fe hoffwn i ddiolch i Lywodraeth Cymru am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon a chydnabod yr holl waith caled a wnaeth cymaint o bobl dros gymaint o flynyddoedd i sicrhau cyfiawnder o'r diwedd. Diolch.
I'm very pleased that we're joined in the public gallery by a large group of those infected and affected here in Wales, including my constituents, Sybil and Bev, and chair of Haemophilia Wales, Lynne Kelly. I'd like to pay a particular tribute to Lynne Kelly to thank her for the sensitive, determined way that she has led this group. Because it's those that have had their lives incomprehensibly turned upside down that must be at the forefront of this debate today. I'd like to, therefore, put on record the experiences of two of my constituents, Sybil and Bev, illustrative of the experience, of course, of many others.
Sybil had a heart operation in 1989. Ten years later, she received a letter from the head of the Wales blood transfusion service and got the news that she had blood infected with hepatitis C. She was told not to use the same crockery or cutlery as her husband, and not to have an intimate relationship. Sybil received no counselling. She had to attend the infectious disease clinic at the University Hospital of Wales, and described how she felt dirty because she had hepatitis C. The side effects of her treatment were worse than having chemotherapy. The publishing of the infected blood inquiry's report on 20 May was a milestone in the campaign for justice. In Sybil's own words, 'No-one can possibly begin to understand how I currently feel when hearing Sir Brian Langstaff's opening comments say, "This was no accident".'
I'll now turn to Bev, whose two brothers, Gareth and Haydn, died 10 months apart in 2010 after receiving infected blood contaminated with HIV and hepatitis C. Gareth and Haydn were key figures in the campaign to provide support and justice to haemophiliacs and their families through Birchgrove Wales, Haemophilia Wales, the National Birchgrove Group and the Tainted Blood campaign group, and, in fact, they started off by meeting as a group in the Birchgrove pub in my constituency in Cardiff North, but now, of course, it has become Birchgrove Wales.
When haemophilia patients were told about their HIV diagnosis, it was a terrifying ordeal—a death sentence, with life-expectancy estimates of between two and five years. The stigma was horrendous and the majority of patients kept their status secret. The groups that Gareth and Haydn set up to support those who had been infected were a lifeline. Bev told me that Gareth was angry, outspoken and determined, whereas Haydn was much quieter and measured in his approach, working away and quietly researching.
With devolution in 1999, campaigning to get the truth gathered strength, and Gareth, as chair of the newly formed Haemophilia Wales, presented the case for a public inquiry at the first cross-party group held in the newly formed Assembly. When Bev travelled to London on 20 May, she described it as an 'emotional, uplifting experience' to hear the outcome and see survivors from across the UK, but this was filled with huge sadness given the fact that her brothers, Gareth and Haydn, with their huge input towards the inquiry, were not there to hear it. She wished they could have been there.
But the fight is not over. Brian Langstaff has said that it was not an accident, and that has been a huge comfort, I think, to many of the people infected and affected. But there are great worries about whether Sir Brian's full list of recommendations will be implemented. There are concerns about the monthly support scheme, and many people are worried that they might be financially worse off if Sir Brian's recommendations are not acted upon. I think many people believe that false hope has been given. And I think, if you look at the history of what's happened to this group, you can absolutely understand why people feel that way. This is a fantastic report, Brian Langstaff was absolutely great in everything he said, but now we've got to make sure that it is implemented, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary will do all she possibly can within our powers here to make sure that all those recommendations are implemented. It's taken 40 years to get to this point, and we need to learn from past mistakes and do the right thing from the outset.
Rwy'n falch iawn fod grŵp mawr o'r rhai sydd wedi eu heintio a'u heffeithio yma yng Nghymru yn ymuno â ni yn yr oriel gyhoeddus, gan gynnwys fy etholwyr, Sybil a Bev, a chadeirydd Haemophilia Wales, Lynne Kelly. Fe hoffwn i roi teyrnged arbennig i Lynne Kelly i ddiolch iddi hi am y ffordd deimladwy a phenderfynol y mae hi wedi arwain y grŵp hwn. Oherwydd mae'n rhaid i'r rhai y mae eu bywydau wedi cael eu troi yn gwbl wyneb i waered fod yn flaenllaw yn y ddadl hon heddiw. Fe hoffwn, felly, roi profiadau dau o fy etholwyr, Sybil a Bev, sy'n dangos profiad llawer o rai eraill, wrth gwrs, ar y cofnod heddiw.
Cafodd Sybil lawdriniaeth ar ei chalon yn 1989. Ddeng mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, cafodd lythyr gan bennaeth gwasanaeth trallwyso gwaed Cymru a chafodd y newyddion ei bod wedi cael gwaed a oedd wedi'i heintio â hepatitis C. Dywedwyd wrthi am beidio â defnyddio'r un llestri na'r un cyllyll a ffyrc â'i gŵr, a pheidio â chael cyfathrach agos. Ni chafodd Sybil unrhyw gwnsela. Bu'n rhaid iddi fynychu'r clinig clefydau heintus yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru, ac fe ddisgrifiodd sut y byddai hi'n teimlo yn aflan oherwydd bod ganddi hepatitis C. Roedd sgil effeithiau ei thriniaeth yn waeth na chael cemotherapi. Roedd cyhoeddi adroddiad yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig ar 20 Mai yn garreg filltir yn yr ymgyrch dros gyfiawnder. Yng ngeiriau Sybil ei hun, 'Ni all neb ddechrau amgyffred sut rwy'n teimlo ar hyn o bryd wrth glywed sylwadau agoriadol Syr Brian Langstaff pan ddywedodd, "Nid damwain oedd hon"'.
Rwyf i am droi nawr at Bev, y bu farw ei dau frawd, Gareth a Haydn, mewn 10 mis o'i gilydd yn 2010 ar ôl cael gwaed heintiedig a oedd wedi'i heintio â HIV a hepatitis C. Roedd Gareth a Haydn yn ffigurau allweddol yn yr ymgyrch i ddarparu cefnogaeth a chyfiawnder i bobl â hemoffilia a'u teuluoedd trwy Birchgrove Cymru, Haemophilia Wales, Grŵp Cenedlaethol Birchgrove a grŵp ymgyrchu Tainted Blood, ac, mewn gwirionedd, fe ddechreuon nhw drwy gyfarfod fel grŵp yn nhafarn y Birchgrove yn fy etholaeth i yng Ngogledd Caerdydd, ond erbyn hyn, wrth gwrs, mae wedi dod yn Birchgrove Cymru.
Pan ddywedwyd wrth gleifion hemoffilia am eu diagnosis o HIV, roedd yn brofiad arswydus—dedfryd o farwolaeth, gydag amcangyfrifon disgwyliad oes o rhwng dwy a phum mlynedd. Roedd y gwarthnod yn erchyll ac roedd y mwyafrif o gleifion yn cadw eu cyflwr yn gyfrinachol. Roedd y grwpiau a sefydlodd Gareth a Haydn i gefnogi'r rhai a oedd wedi eu heintio yn achubiaeth i'r bobl hyn. Dywedodd Bev wrthyf fod Gareth yn ddig, yn ddi-flewyn-ar-dafod ac yn benderfynol, tra bod Haydn yn llawer tawelach ac yn bwyllog yn ei ddull o weithio, gan weithio i ffwrdd ac ymchwilio yn dawel.
Gyda datganoli yn 1999, aeth yr ymgyrchu i fynd at y gwir o nerth i nerth, ac fe gyflwynodd Gareth, fel cadeirydd Haemophilia Wales a oedd newydd gael ei sefydlu, yr achos dros ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol cyntaf a gynhaliwyd yn y Cynulliad a oedd newydd ei ffurfio. Pan deithiodd Bev i Lundain ar 20 Mai, roedd hi'n ei ddisgrifio fel 'profiad emosiynol, dyrchafol' wrth glywed y canlyniad a gweld goroeswyr o bob rhan o'r DU, ond llanwyd hi â thristwch enfawr o ystyried nad oedd ei brodyr hi, Gareth a Haydn, gyda'u cyfraniad enfawr tuag at yr ymchwiliad, yno i'w glywed. Roedd hi'n dymuno y bydden nhw wedi gallu bod yno gyda hi.
Ond nid yw'r frwydr wedi ei hennill eto. Mae Brian Langstaff wedi dweud nad damwain oedd hon, ac mae hynny wedi bod o gysur mawr, rwy'n credu, i lawer o'r bobl sydd wedi eu heintio a'u heffeithio. Ond mae pryderon eang o ran a fydd rhestr lawn argymhellion Brian Langstaff yn cael ei gweithredu. Mae pryderon ynglŷn â'r cynllun cymorth misol, ac mae llawer o bobl yn poeni y gallen nhw fod yn dlotach yn ariannol os na weithredir ar argymhellion Syr Brian. Rwy'n credu bod llawer o bobl yn credu mai gobaith di-sail a roddwyd. Ac rwy'n credu, os edrychwch chi ar hanes yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd i'r grŵp hwn, fe allwch chi ddeall yn iawn pam mae pobl yn teimlo felly. Mae hwn yn adroddiad gwych, roedd Brian Langstaff yn hollol wych ym mhopeth a ddywedodd, ond nawr mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod hynny'n cael ei roi ar waith, ac fe wn i y bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gwneud popeth yn ei gallu gyda'r pwerau sydd gennym ni yma i sicrhau bod yr argymhellion hynny i gyd yn cael eu gweithredu. Mae hi wedi cymryd 40 mlynedd i gyrraedd y sefyllfa hon, ac mae angen i ni ddysgu o gamgymeriadau'r gorffennol a gwneud yr hyn sy'n iawn o'r dechrau'n deg.
Mi oedd hi'n anrhydedd go iawn i fod yn Llundain ychydig wythnosau'n ôl i wrando ar Syr Brian Langstaff yn cyhoeddi ei adroddiad terfynol. Mi oedd Julie Morgan yno hefyd, a chymaint o'r rhai sydd wedi bod yn ymgyrchu dros y blynyddoedd yma yng Nghymru. Mi oedd o'n ddigwyddiad emosiynol iawn, iawn, efo llawer iawn yn eu dagrau, wrth gwrs, ac yn cofio am y rheini oedd yn methu bod yno—y rhai oedd wedi gorfod talu efo'u bywydau am y sgandal yma ddylai fod erioed wedi digwydd ac, ie, oedd ddim o gwbl yn ddamwain. Ac yno oedden nhw i glywed y canfyddiadau ac i dderbyn y cyfiawnder roedden nhw'n ei haeddu, ac i glywed y gwir, wrth gwrs, dŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod oedd yn wirionedd drwy'r cyfan.
Etholwyr i mi, Mr a Mrs Hutchinson, wnaeth fy nghyflwyno i i fawredd y sgandal yma, a dwi wedi cadw mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd efo nhw dros y blynyddoedd. Drwyddyn nhw y dysgais i am yr anghyfiawnder. Drwyddyn nhw y des i'n rhan o'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar waed wedi'i heintio, yn cael ei gadeirio gan Julie Morgan ar y pryd. A phan ddaeth Julie Morgan yn Weinidog yn y Llywodraeth, fy mraint i oedd cael cymryd drosodd fel cadeirydd, a gweithio'n agos efo Lynne Kelly a'r holl unigolion a theuluoedd hynny sydd wedi rhoi eu bywydau yn llythrennol, neu eu hamser, eu hegni a'u holl angerdd i frwydro am y cyfiawnder dydyn ni ddim wedi'i gael eto, ond o leiaf rydyn ni'n agos at ei gael. Mi oedd gwrando arnyn nhw unwaith eto amser cinio heddiw—y brodyr wedi colli eu chwiorydd, y chwiorydd wedi colli eu brodyr, pobl wedi colli eu rhieni, rhieni wedi colli eu plant; y stigma, y galw enwau, y cywilydd sydd wedi bod yn gysgod dros gymaint o fywydau.
Dwi ddim yn mynd i wneud pwyntiau ychwanegol o ran yr hyn dŷn ni angen ei weld gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth Prydain, fwy na sydd wedi cael ei ddweud gan Mabon ap Gwynfor ar ran y meinciau Plaid Cymru yma'n barod, ond i ategu y geiriau hynny a gwneud y pwynt na allwn ni ildio eiliad yn ein penderfynoldeb i gyrraedd at ben draw hyn a chael y cyfiawnder gwirioneddol, oherwydd mae yna garreg filltir bwysig wedi'i chyrraedd yn y datganiad hwnnw gan Syr Brian Langstaff a gwaith yr ymchwiliad, ond dim ond carreg filltir ydy hi ar hyn o bryd.
Mi ddaeth yr ymddiheuriadau a'r ymateb taer gan Weinidogion yn San Steffan oriau, mewn difri, cyn i etholiad cyffredinol gael ei alw, felly mae pethau ar stop, ond mae'n rhaid inni rŵan, dan y Llywodraeth nesaf, o ba bynnag liw fydd honno, fod mor benderfynol ag erioed o fwrw'r maen i'r wal, er mwyn y rheini sy'n dal i ymgyrchu, a'r rheini sydd, oherwydd eu bod nhw wedi talu i'r eithaf am hyn, yn methu â gwneud hynny bellach. Mae'n ddyletswydd arnom ni, a'n dyled ni iddyn nhw ydy gwneud popeth y gallwn ni i sicrhau bod y cyfiawnder yna'n dod.
It was an honour to be in London some weeks ago to listen to Sir Brian Langstaff announcing his final report. Julie Morgan was there as well, and so many of those who have been campaigning over the years in Wales. It was an extremely emotional event, with many in tears, of course, and remembering those who could not be there—those who had paid with their lives for the scandal that should never have happened and, yes, that was no accident. And they were there to hear the findings and to accept the justice that they deserved, and to hear the truth, of course—we all know that it was the truth all along.
Mr and Mrs Hutchinson, my constituents, presented me to the scale of the scandal, and I've kept in touch with them over the years. It was through them that I learned of this injustice. Through them I became part of the cross-party group on infected blood, which was chaired by Julie Morgan at the time. And when she became a Minister in the Government, it was my honour to take over as chair and co-operate and work closely with Lynne Kelly and all of the individuals and families who have given their lives literally, or their time, their energy and all their passion to fighting for the justice that we haven't quite had yet, but we're very close to getting it. Listening to them again at lunchtime today—the brothers who had lost their sisters, the sisters who had lost their brothers, people having lost their parents, parents who had lost their children; the stigma, the name calling, the shame that has cast a shadow over so many lives.
I'm not going to make additional points in terms of what we need to see from the Welsh Government and the UK Government, more than what has been said by Mabon ap Gwynfor on behalf of the Plaid Cymru benches here, but just to echo those words and just to make the point that we can't miss a second in our determination to reach the end of this journey and get that real justice, because an important milestone has been reached in that statement by Sir Brian Langstaff and the work of the inquiry, but it's only a milestone at present.
The apologies and the strong response from the Ministers in Westminster came just hours, indeed, before a general election was called, so things have been halted, but we now, under the next Government, of whatever stripe, need to be just as determined as we were ever to press ahead with this, for those who are still campaigning, and those who, because they've paid the ultimate price for this, can't do that anymore. It's our duty, and our debt to them is to do everything that we can to ensure that they get that justice.
Mark Isherwood. Mark, you are unmuted.
Mark Isherwood. Mark, rydych chi wedi eich dad-dawelu.
Oh, I'm speaking. Thank you. The damning findings of the infected blood inquiry published on 25 May shone a light on one of the biggest treatment scandals in NHS history. An estimated 3,000 people infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products have died. Around 400 people in Wales are known to have been infected, excluding those who died without it being known they were infected. Haemophilia Wales state that 283 patients in Wales were infected with hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s, and over 70 people with haemophilia died in Wales alone.
As the five-year inquiry stated, infected blood was not an accident and was avoidable. The truth had been hidden and victims had been repeatedly failed. Haemophilia Wales has asked me to speak about the impact of infected blood on North Wales constituent Jane Jones and her family. Jane was infected with hepatitis C through treatment for Von Willebrand disease, a rare clotting disorder. She was not told about her infection. Her late mother Anona was also infected with hepatitis C and both underwent liver transplants due to hepatitis C. Jane travelled from north Wales to London to hear the recommendations made by Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the infected blood inquiry. She was interviewed by the media in Welsh and English for weeks ahead of the inquiry and on the day itself, and was chosen to represent Welsh victims and Haemophilia Wales. On 21 May, Jane represented Haemophilia Wales and Welsh infected blood victims in Parliament and watched John Glen's statement on infected blood compensation from the Speaker's gallery.
Haemophilia Wales are very grateful for the important role Jane and her mother played campaigning for the public inquiry to finally get to the truth about what happened. Both maintained that they had never been informed about the risks of the treatment and were then not told about their infections. As Jane said in her statement to the inquiry, being infected with hepatitis C is something you would not wish upon an animal.
A Denbighshire constituent, Rose Richards, has also written asking me to speak on her behalf in this debate. She is an affected person both as a carrier of the haemophilia gene and as a sister to a haemophiliac brother who died of AIDS in 1990 aged 46, after receiving contaminated factor VIII treatment in the early 1980s. She is also a core participant in the infected blood inquiry and has submitted two written statements to it. She made a decision on whether to have children based on information that withheld the truth about the known risk of serious harm. Her sons, born in 1983 and 1985, both have haemophilia. Fortunately, neither required factor VIII until it was a safer product in the late 1980s. As she states, however, the experience of hearing of other parents losing their children has been harrowing now that we know the truth about the scandal. She added that, although Sir Brian Langstaff recommended that the current ongoing support payments under the Wales infected blood support scheme should continue for infected persons and spouses or partners of infected persons who have died, and compensation should be paid in addition to the support payments, there's been no commitment to honour this. She concluded that, 'As a group we're very concerned about any further Government delay.’ Victims continue to die at the rate of one every four days without justice.
Speaking here in the 2017 debate, calling on the UK Government to hold a full public inquiry into the contaminated blood tragedy of the 1970s and 1980s, I quoted Monica Summers, whose husband Paul, a contaminated blood bank victim, died on 16 December 2008, aged 44. Their daughter was five years old. Monica said,
‘Every day for 18 months she asked “when is daddy coming home?” She turned 13 years in October and we both struggle. My husband didn’t have a choice, it was made for him and he and he lost his life because of decisions taken by others. Yet over 30 years later we are still trying to get some agreement. Please let the next decisions be made by voices of people who are currently suffering with HIV and Hepatitis C, by the widows and families left behind trying to heal and build a new normal life.'
Their daughter would now be 20. As I said then, contaminated blood has had and continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of infected people and their families.
O, fi sydd i siarad. Diolch. Roedd canfyddiadau damniol yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig a gyhoeddwyd ar 25 Mai yn taflu goleuni ar un o'r sgandalau mwyaf yn hanes triniaethau'r GIG. Amcangyfrifir bod 3,000 o bobl a heintiwyd â HIV a hepatitis C ar ôl cael cynhyrchion gwaed heintiedig wedi marw. Gwyddys bod tua 400 o bobl yng Nghymru wedi cael eu heintio, ac eithrio'r rhai a fu farw heb gael gwybod eu bod wedi eu heintio. Mae Haemophilia Wales yn dweud bod 283 o gleifion yng Nghymru wedi cael eu heintio â hepatitis C yn y 1970au a'r 1980au, a bu farw dros 70 o bobl â hemoffilia yng Nghymru yn unig.
Fel y gwnaeth yr ymchwiliad pum mlynedd ei fynegi, nid damwain ydoedd ac roedd modd ei osgoi. Cafodd y gwirionedd ei gelu a chafodd dioddefwyr eu siomi dro ar ôl tro. Mae Haemophilia Wales wedi gofyn i mi siarad am effaith gwaed heintiedig ar etholwraig o'r gogledd, Jane Jones, a'i theulu. Cafodd Jane ei heintio â hepatitis C trwy driniaeth ar gyfer clefyd Von Willebrand, anhwylder prin ar y gwaed. Ni chafodd wybod am yr haint a oedd arni. Cafodd ei diweddar fam, Anona, ei heintio â hepatitis C hefyd ac fe gafodd y ddwy drawsblaniad iau oherwydd hepatitis C. Teithiodd Jane o'r gogledd i Lundain i glywed argymhellion Syr Brian Langstaff, cadeirydd yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig. Cafodd ei chyfweld gan y cyfryngau Cymraeg a Saesneg am wythnosau cyn yr ymchwiliad ac ar y diwrnod ei hun, fe gafodd ei dewis i gynrychioli dioddefwyr Cymru a Haemophilia Wales. Ar 21 Mai, cynrychiolodd Jane Haemophilia Wales a dioddefwyr gwaed heintiedig Cymru yn y Senedd gan fod yno i weld datganiad John Glen ar iawndal gwaed heintiedig o oriel y Llefarydd.
Mae Haemophilia Wales yn ddiolchgar iawn iddi am ran bwysig Jane a'i mam yn yr ymgyrch dros gael ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i ganfod y gwirionedd o'r diwedd ynglŷn â'r hyn a ddigwyddodd. Roedd y ddwy yn honni nad oedden nhw erioed wedi cael gwybod am risgiau'r driniaeth ac na chawson nhw wybod wedyn eu bod nhw wedi eu heintio. Fel y dywedodd Jane yn ei datganiad i'r ymchwiliad, mae cael eich heintio â hepatitis C yn rhywbeth na fyddech chi'n ei ddymuno ar eich gelyn pennaf.
Mae etholwraig o sir Ddinbych, Rose Richards, wedi ysgrifennu hefyd yn gofyn i mi siarad ar ei rhan yn y ddadl hon. Mae hi wedi ei heffeithio am ei bod yn cario genyn hemoffilia ac fel chwaer i frawd a oedd â hemoffilia a fu farw o AIDS yn 46 oed ym 1990, ar ôl derbyn triniaeth ffactor VIII halogedig yn gynnar yn y 1980au. Mae hi hefyd yn gyfranogwr craidd yn yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig ac mae hi wedi cyflwyno dau ddatganiad ysgrifenedig i hwnnw. Fe wnaeth hi benderfyniad ynghylch a ddylai gael plant ar sail y wybodaeth a oedd yn dal y gwir yn ôl am y risg hysbys o niwed difrifol. Mae gan ei meibion hi, a aned ym 1983 a 1985, hemoffilia. Yn ffodus, nid oedd angen ffactor VIII ar y ddau hyd nes ei fod yn gynnyrch mwy diogel ar ddiwedd yr 1980au. Fel mae hi'n dweud, er hynny, mae'r profiad o glywed rhieni eraill yn colli eu plant wedi bod yn ddirdynnol nawr ein bod ni'n gwybod y gwir am y sgandal. Ychwanegodd hi, er bod Syr Brian Langstaff yn argymell y dylai'r taliadau cymorth parhaus presennol o dan gynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig Cymru barhau i bobl a phriod heintiedig neu bartneriaid pobl heintiedig a fu farw, ac y dylid talu iawndal yn ychwanegol at y taliadau cymorth, ni fu unrhyw ymrwymiad i anrhydeddu hyn. Fe ddaeth hi i'r casgliad, 'Fel grŵp, rydym ni'n bryderus iawn ynglŷn ag unrhyw oedi eto gan y Llywodraeth.' Mae dioddefwyr yn parhau i farw ar gyfradd o un bob pedwar diwrnod heb gael cyfiawnder.
Wrth siarad yma mewn dadl yn 2017, wrth alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i gynnal ymchwiliad cyhoeddus llawn i drychineb gwaed heintiedig y 1970au a'r 1980au, fe ddyfynnais i Monica Summers, y bu farw ei gŵr Paul, a oedd yn ddioddefwr oherwydd banc gwaed heintiedig, ar 16 Rhagfyr 2008, yn 44 oed. Pum mlwydd oed oedd eu merch. Dywedodd Monica,
'Bob dydd am 18 mis roedd hi'n holi "pryd bydd dadi'n dod adref?" Fe drodd hi'n 13 oed ym mis Hydref ac mae'r ddwy ohonom ni'n dal i'w chael hi'n anodd. Ni chafodd fy ngŵr ddewis, fe wnaeth rhywun ddewis drosto ac fe gollodd ei fywyd oherwydd penderfyniadau a wnaeth eraill. Ond dros 30 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach rydym ni'n dal i geisio rhywfaint o gytundeb. Gadewch i'r penderfyniadau nesaf gael eu gwneud gan leisiau pobl sy'n dioddef o HIV a Hepatitis C ar hyn o bryd, gan y gweddwon a'r teuluoedd sy'n cael eu gadael ar ôl ac sy'n ceisio gwella ac adeiladu bywyd normal newydd.'
Byddai eu merch yn 20 oed erbyn hyn. Fel y dywedais i bryd hynny, mae gwaed heintiedig wedi cael ac yn parhau i gael effaith ddinistriol ar fywydau miloedd o bobl a heintiwyd a'u teuluoedd.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm aware of three victims of the contaminated blood scandal from my constituency in Newport East: Colin John Smith, Terry Webley and Bill Dumbleton, all victims of the shocking failures of the health and political systems that were involved and have been set out in the report. At the event earlier held by Haemophilia Wales and chaired by Lynne Kelly, such an amazing campaigner on these issues and such a source of strength and support to the families, I met Joanne Davies who spoke about her husband Gavin's brother, Terry Webley, who died aged 10, and of the ignorance and fear that we've already heard about, the stigma that existed around HIV/AIDS at that time, which meant that they were avoided within the community, the families involved, that the schools didn't provide the support that they should have, that the local media weren't sensitive or understanding and showed little empathy, there was bullying and name calling involved and, of course, that has an ongoing impact on the health of the families, and, in Joanne's case, the health of her husband Gavin and the wider family.
And also present were Colin and Janet Smith, who lost their son Colin John Smith, who died aged seven of AIDS weighing just 13lb, having been a victim of those failings. And I know that their house, Dirprwy Lywydd, was daubed with abuse and graffiti as a result of the situation of Colin John Smith, that it was difficult to get him into school and that there were problems at the school and, again, that there were these problems within the wider community. It was a terrible scandal and indictment of the systems at the time, Dirprwy Lywydd, and so many families suffered in the way that these families did. Colin John Smith knew that he was dying and was in fact giving his toys, before he died, to his brothers. You just think of that huge torrent of emotion that engulfed families at the time, so many families, and the terrible failings of those systems set out in the report following the inquiry.
But I would just like to say in closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, that, as we reflect on that suffering—and we'll hear further examples here today, and we've heard those examples through the inquiry report and also proceedings up at the House of Commons in Westminster—when we reflect on the scale of the human tragedy and suffering involved, I really think it's important that we also reflect on the massive human spirit that's involved in those families of the victims, the love and the commitment that was sustained over such a period of time and is still sustained today that produced the campaign, produced the inquiry and the report that got that recognition for the victims and their families, which should now lead to the speedy action that others have called for today.
And I would just like to close with the words of Janet Smith, Colin John Smith's mother, when she spelt out what this campaign, what the inquiry, what the report is about for the victims and the families. Janet said:
'I want recognition. I want my son to have his name back. His name is Colin John Smith. And that's what I want people to remember.'
Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n ymwybodol o dri dioddefwr y sgandal gwaed heintiedig o fy etholaeth i yn Nwyrain Casnewydd: Colin John Smith, Terry Webley a Bill Dumbleton, ac mae pob un ohonyn nhw wedi dioddef oherwydd methiannau gresynus y systemau iechyd a gwleidyddol a oedd yn gysylltiedig â hyn ac a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad. Yn y digwyddiad a gynhaliwyd yn gynharach gan Haemophilia Wales ac a gadeiriwyd gan Lynne Kelly, a fu'n ymgyrchydd mor anhygoel ynglŷn â'r materion hyn ac yn ffynhonnell mor wych o gadernid a chefnogaeth i'r teuluoedd, fe gwrddais i â Joanne Davies a sonioddd am frawd ei gŵr Gavin, sef Terry Webley, a fu farw yn 10 oed, ac am yr anwybodaeth a'r ofn a glywsom ni amdano eisoes, y stigma a oedd yn bodoli ynghylch HIV/AIDS ar y pryd, a oedd yn golygu eu bod yn cael eu hosgoi yn y gymuned, y teuluoedd dan sylw, nad oedd yr ysgolion yn darparu'r gefnogaeth y dylen nhw fod wedi ei rhoi, nad oedd y cyfryngau lleol yn garedig nac yn deall ac nad oedden nhw'n dangos llawer o gydymdeimlad, roedd bwlio a galw enwau yn gysylltiedig â hynny ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r effaith ar iechyd y teuluoedd yn parhau, ac, yn achos Joanne, ar iechyd ei gŵr Gavin a'r teulu yn fwy eang.
Ac yn bresennol hefyd yr oedd Colin a Janet Smith, a gollodd eu mab Colin John Smith, a fu farw yn saith oed o AIDS yn pwyso dim ond 13 pwys, ar ôl dioddef methiannau o'r fath. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod eu tŷ nhw, Dirprwy Lywydd, wedi cael ei paentio â sarhad a graffiti oherwydd cyflwr Colin John Smith, a'i bod hi'n anodd ei gael mewn i ysgol a bod problemau yn yr ysgol wedyn ac, unwaith eto, problemau fel hyn yn y gymuned yn fwy eang. Roedd hi'n sgandal ofnadwy ac yn gondemniad o systemau'r cyfnod, Dirprwy Lywydd, ac fe ddioddefodd cymaint o deuluoedd yn y ffordd y gwnaeth y teuluoedd hyn. Roedd Colin John Smith yn gwybod ei fod ar farw a'r hyn a wnaeth mewn gwirionedd oedd rhoi ei deganau, cyn iddo farw, i'w frodyr. Rydych chi'n meddwl am y don enfawr honno o emosiwn a ddaeth dros deuluoedd yn y cyfnod hwnnw, cymaint o deuluoedd, a methiannau ofnadwy'r systemau hynny a nodir yn yr adroddiad yn dilyn yr ymchwiliad.
Ond fe hoffwn i ddweud wrth gloi, Dirprwy Lywydd, wrth i ni fyfyrio ar y dioddefaint hwnnw—ac fe fyddwn ni'n clywed enghreifftiau pellach yma heddiw, ac fe glywsom ni'r enghreifftiau hynny drwy adroddiad yr ymchwiliad a'r achosion i fyny yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin yn San Steffan hefyd—pan fyddwn ni'n myfyrio ar raddfa'r drasiedi i bobl a'r dioddefaint cysylltiedig, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni fyfyrio ar ba mor gadarnhaol yw ysbryd y bobl yn nheuluoedd y dioddefwyr, y cariad a'r ymrwymiad sydd wedi cael ei gynnal dros gyfnod hirfaith ac sy'n dal i gael ei gynnal heddiw a hwnnw a gynhyrchodd yr ymgyrch, a gynhyrchodd yr ymchwiliad a'r adroddiad a gafodd y gydnabyddiaeth honno i'r dioddefwyr a'u teuluoedd, fe ddylai hynny arwain nawr at y camau cyflym y mae eraill wedi galw amdanynt heddiw.
Ac fe hoffwn i orffen gyda geiriau Janet Smith, mam Colin John Smith, pan fynegodd hi'n union beth yw ystyr yr ymgyrch hon, yr ymchwiliad, yr adroddiad i'r dioddefwyr a'r teuluoedd nhw. Meddai Janet:
'Mae angen cydnabyddiaeth arnaf i. Rwyf eisiau i fy mab gael ei enw yn ôl. Ei enw yw Colin John Smith. A dyna yr wyf i eisiau i bobl ei gofio.'
'To save face and to save expense, there has been a hiding of much of the truth.'
Sir Brian Langstaff's damning and shocking words must be at the very forefront of our minds as we consider the impact of the infected blood scandal on the constituents that we represent here. There are two sisters from the Swansea valley in the public gallery today, Sharon and Rhian. They wanted me to highlight their family's situation and suffering in relation to this appalling and unforgivable scandal, because their story highlights how the unique circumstances of each family affected must be considered, recognised and fairly and equally compensated without further delay. Their late father, Arwyn Davies, from Trebanos, was a haemophiliac. He was under the care of, and trusted in, the medical professions that provided treatment for his condition. He attended both Cardiff and Swansea haemophilia centres, and Mr Bloom was his main consultant. Arwyn Davies died on 18 March 1992, aged 60 years. His death certificate stated he died of hepatitis C, hepatoma and haemophilia.
His whole career was spent as a local government officer, but, in the 1980s, his health began to deteriorate and he had to take early retirement from work, and little over a year later he was dead. His wife Eira passed away in 2018, 26 years after her husband, and only after their mother's passing did Rhian and Sharon become aware of what was written on their father's death certificate. During those 26 years, no contact was made to inform any of the family of any of the risks they had been made subject to, or to inform them they were entitled to any kind of benefit payments. It was so hard to hear from Sharon and Rhian about their long and distressing battle to obtain medical records relating to their father, as they campaigned for justice for their family. But they finally got proof, which confirmed their father was given contaminated factor and that the consultants were aware of how he had died.
Since obtaining this information, they've been working with the infected blood inquiry and Haemophilia Wales to ensure that someone is held to account. And although Sir Brian Langstaff took the unusual step of announcing interim compensation ahead of the final report, this was only for the living infected and the bereaved widows. There has been no commitment by the UK Government to the recommendation in the second interim report on compensation, of April 2023, which called for interim compensation payment for the previously unrecognised deaths, and, to date, children who lost parents, like Rhian and Sharon, have never been provided with compensation or recognition of their father's death. They haven't even received a letter of apology from their local health board. So, my question is: how will the Welsh Government endeavour to ensure the UK Government do not delay progress any further?
And within the new regulation of infected blood compensation, under the heading, 'Estate application', it states:
'where an affected person has died it is not possible for the personal representatives of their estate to apply for compensation.'
Cabinet Secretary, do you agree that is unjustifiable when people, such as Rhian and Sharon's mother Eira, suffered and endured financial hardship and ill health, with no financial support, following the death of Arwyn? Does the Welsh Government therefore accept that the right thing to do in circumstances like this family's would be to ensure that the family of the affected be allowed to benefit from compensation? I believe it's not only morally right, it's also a symbol of an apology rightly owed by the state—the state, remember, who covered up—to those impacted by this scandal, those whose whole lives have been scarred by loss and by lies? And how further will the Welsh Government ensure that all of those now currently living with haemophilia, like Arwyn's grandson, Sharon's son, are provided with the best possible support by public services, not having to explain the implications of their condition to education settings and healthcare settings, for example, each time, which is what's happening, so that wider steps can be put in place to increase awareness and ensure safety for all those who live with haemophilia? Diolch.
'I arbed wyneb ac arbed cost, cafodd llawer o'r gwirionedd ei gelu.'
Mae'n rhaid i eiriau damniol a brawychus Syr Brian Langstaff fod yn flaenllaw yn ein meddyliau wrth i ni ystyried effaith y sgandal gwaed heintiedig ar etholwyr yr ydym ni'n eu cynrychioli yma. Mae dwy chwaer o Gwm Tawe yn yr oriel gyhoeddus heddiw, Sharon a Rhian. Roedden nhw'n dymuno i mi dynnu sylw at sefyllfa a dioddefaint eu teulu nhw o ran y sgandal echrydus ac anfaddeuol hon, oherwydd mae eu stori nhw'n tynnu sylw at sut y mae'n rhaid ystyried, a chydnabod a gwneud cyfiawnder yn deg ac yn gyfartal heb oedi dim mwy. Roedd eu diweddar dad, Arwyn Davies, o Drebanos, â hemoffilia. Roedd dan ofal y proffesiynau meddygol ac roedd yn ymddiried ynddyn nhw, a oedd yn darparu triniaeth ar gyfer ei gyflwr. Roedd yn mynd i ganolfannau hemoffilia Caerdydd ac Abertawe, a Mr Bloom oedd ei brif ymgynghorydd. Bu farw Arwyn Davies ar 18 Mawrth 1992, yn 60 mlwydd oed. Roedd tystysgrif ei farwolaeth yn nodi ei fod wedi marw o hepatitis C, hepatoma a emoffilia.
Treuliodd ei yrfa gyfan yn swyddog llywodraeth leol, ond, yn yr 1980au, dechreuodd ei iechyd ddirywio a bu'n rhaid iddo ymddeol yn gynnar o'i waith, ac ychydig dros flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach roedd wedi marw. Bu farw ei wraig Eira yn 2018, 26 mlynedd ar ôl ei gŵr, a dim ond ar ôl marwolaeth eu mam y daeth Rhian a Sharon yn ymwybodol o'r hyn a nodwyd ar dystysgrif marwolaeth eu tad. Yn ystod y 26 mlynedd hynny, ni wnaed unrhyw gyswllt i roi gwybod i unrhyw un o'r teulu am unrhyw un o'r risgiau yr oedden nhw wedi dod yn agored iddynt, nac i'w hysbysu bod ganddyn nhw hawl i unrhyw fath o daliadau budd-dal. Roedd hi mor anodd clywed gan Sharon a Rhian am eu brwydr faith a dolurus i gael gafael ar gofnodion meddygol a oedd yn ymwneud â'u tad, wrth iddyn nhw ymgyrchu dros gyfiawnder i'w teulu. Ond fe gawson nhw brawf o'r diwedd, a oedd yn cadarnhau mai wedi cael ffactor heintiedig yr oedd eu tad a bod y meddygon ymgynghorol yn ymwybodol o achos ei farwolaeth.
Ers cael y wybodaeth hon, maen nhw wedi bod yn gweithio gyda'r ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig a Haemophilia Wales i sicrhau bod rhywun yn cael ei ddwyn i gyfrif. Ac er i Syr Brian Langstaff gymryd y cam anarferol o gyhoeddi iawndal dros dro cyn yr adroddiad terfynol, dim ond ar gyfer y rhai sy'n fyw a gafodd eu heintio a'r gweddwon mewn profedigaeth yr oedd hyn. Ni chafwyd unrhyw ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth y DU i'r argymhelliad yn yr ail adroddiad interim ar iawndal, ym mis Ebrill 2023, a oedd yn galw am daliad iawndal dros dro am y marwolaethau nas cydnabuwyd yn flaenorol, ac, hyd yma, nid yw plant a gollodd rieni, fel Rhian a Sharon, erioed wedi cael iawndal na chydnabyddiaeth o farwolaeth eu tad. Nid ydyn nhw wedi cael llythyr ymddiheuriad gan eu bwrdd iechyd lleol, hyd yn oed. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i yw: sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymdrechu i sicrhau nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn oedi'r cynnydd ymhellach?
Ac yn y rheoliad newydd o iawndal gwaed heintiedig, o dan y pennawd, 'Cais ystad', mae'n nodi:
'pan fo unigolyn yr effeithiwyd arno wedi marw, nid yw'n bosibl i gynrychiolwyr personol eu hystad wneud cais am iawndal.'
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno nad oes modd cyfiawnhau hynny pan ddioddefodd pobl, fel mam Rhian a Sharon, sef Eira, galedi ariannol a salwch, heb unrhyw gymorth ariannol, yn dilyn marwolaeth Arwyn? A yw Llywodraeth Cymru felly yn derbyn mai'r peth iawn i'w wneud mewn amgylchiadau fel un y teulu hwn fyddai sicrhau bod y teulu yr effeithiwyd arno'n cael manteisio ar iawndal? Rwy'n credu nid yn unig mai dyna sy'n foesol gywir, ond ei fod hefyd yn arwydd o ymddiheuriad dyledus gan y wladwriaeth—y wladwriaeth, cofiwch, a gelodd y mater—i'r rhai y mae'r sgandal hon wedi effeithio arnyn nhw, y rhai y mae eu bywydau cyfan wedi eu creithio gan golled a chan gelwyddau? A pha mor bell y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i sicrhau y bydd pawb sydd bellach yn byw gyda hemoffilia, fel ŵyr Arwyn, mab Sharon, yn cael y cymorth gorau posibl gan wasanaethau cyhoeddus, heb orfod egluro goblygiadau eu cyflwr i leoliadau addysg a lleoliadau gofal iechyd, er enghraifft, bob tro, sef yr hyn sy'n digwydd, er mwyn rhoi camau ehangach ar waith i gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth a sicrhau diogelwch i bawb sy'n byw gyda hemoffilia? Diolch.
I remember the day eight years ago, I was sitting next to Julie Morgan in this Chamber, and it was just after lunch time, and she said, 'There's a cross-party group I'm chairing, would you come and meet some of your constituents who are affected by this scandal?' And I went to meet with them—and I can see Kirk Ellis in the gallery today—and it had a huge impact on me and I wanted to join that campaign, so I'm proud to be vice-chair of the Senedd cross-party group on haemophilia and contaminated blood.
I just want to give some examples of those constituents I've met and have been in touch with since then. Janet Morgan and her daughter Felicity wrote to me to talk about their late husband and father who was a haemophiliac, who was infused with factor VIII and, as a result, was infected with hepatitis C. He received a number of clinical trial medications that made him very ill, and he and his family were robbed of a normal life. Felicity was only 12 years old when her father was informed that he had hepatitis C and three to five years to live. The loss of their husband and father in 2010 shook them and still deeply affects them as a family, as he was such a loving husband, father and grandfather, and their lives have never been the same.
I was contacted by Susan Hughes, whose brother Alan Jones was a haemophiliac who was infected with HIV and hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood in the 1980s at the age of 15. He was told at the age of 17, without his parents being present, that he had contracted the viruses. Alan had learning difficulties after suffering a brain haemorrhage at the age of three, and he passed away in 1994 at the age of just 25 of a brain tumour caused by the AIDS virus. Alan and Susan's parents have now sadly passed away themselves, and they never saw justice.
I was contacted by Professor Nicholas Moran, whose late brothers, Peter and Tim, who were twins, were co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C by NHS contaminated blood products. They died at a young age due to HIV-related illnesses. Their mother's health suffered consequently, and her passing was a direct result of that. Professor Moran is a senior surgeon who's worked exclusively in the NHS for over four decades, but he has told me that he is so shaken by the outcome of this scandal that his confidence in the service has been shattered, particularly by the devastating revelations of Sir Brian Langstaff's report. As a result, he has decided to leave the NHS. He wants to see the recommendations from Sir Brian’s report implemented fully and without delay, and he’s concerned that although the UK Government has announced that interim payments will be made to infected persons, there has been no commitment to support affected relatives or previously unrecognised deaths.
I come to Kirk Ellis. Kirk gave me this tie, which is in the colours of the campaign, outside Wayne David’s office in Bedwas, I think it was three years ago now. We were still working on just basic compensation levels at that point. He regularly attends meetings of the cross-party group, and, as I’ve mentioned, he’s in the public gallery. I met him just after lunch today, and he said he’s got real concerns about the UK Government’s proposed compensation scheme. He could actually end up worse off in spite of the payments if he was to get the lump sum mentioned in the compensation scheme statement, as the support payments he receives would then stop. His lump sum would last him and his family for 20 years at most, and he points out that in Scotland the Scottish Government has guaranteed that ongoing current support payments are for life, as well as the lump sum compensation payments proposed by the UK Government in response to Sir Brian’s report. What he wants the Welsh Government to do—he recognises that this was a pre-devolution issue—is to make sure that that issue is resolved, that he isn’t reliant on just 20 years of funding as a result of the compensation, and that he isn’t caught in the trap of having that income that reduces, then, the disability benefits to which he was previously entitled.
And finally, I want to pay tribute to Wayne David, the now former MP for Caerphilly. Wayne worked very hard on this issue in the House of Commons, and presented a petition recently on the infected blood inquiry in the Chamber of the House of Commons. The petition called for immediate compensation to be given to those who had been affected by contaminated blood, and, jointly, our constituents Lee Stay and Kirk Ellis had added a number of local names to that petition. I think Wayne’s campaigning spirit on this will be missed from the House of Commons, but I think he’s worked hard too to make sure that we see the outcome that we’ve got today, albeit, I still think, as a staging post in the journey of providing full justice to the families and people affected by this scandal.
Rwy'n cofio'r diwrnod wyth mlynedd yn ôl, roeddwn i'n eistedd wrth ymyl Julie Morgan yn y Siambr hon, ac ychydig ar ôl amser cinio, fe ddywedodd hi, 'Mae yna grŵp trawsbleidiol yr wyf i'n ei gadeirio, a wnewch chi ddod i gwrdd â rhai o'ch etholwyr chi sydd wedi'u heffeithio gan y sgandal hon?' Ac fe es i gyfarfod â nhw—ac rwy'n gallu gweld Kirk Ellis yn yr oriel heddiw—ac fe gafodd hynny effaith aruthrol arnaf i ac roeddwn i'n awyddus i ymuno â'r ymgyrch honno, ac felly rwy'n falch o fod yn is-gadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar hemoffilia a gwaed heintiedig.
Fe hoffwn i roi rhai enghreifftiau i chi o'r etholwyr hynny yr wyf i wedi cwrdd â nhw ac wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â nhw ers hynny. Ysgrifennodd Janet Morgan a'i merch Felicity ataf i sôn am ei diweddar ŵr a thad a oedd â hemoffilia, a gafodd ei drwytho â ffactor VIII ac, o ganlyniad i hynny, fe gafodd ei heintio â hepatitis C. Cafodd nifer o feddyginiaethau clinigol arbrofol a oedd yn ei wneud yn wan iawn, a chafodd ef a'i deulu eu hamddifadu o fywyd normal. Dim ond 12 oed oedd Felicity pan gafodd ei thad wybod bod ganddo hepatitis C a thair i bum mlynedd o fywyd ar ôl. Fe wnaeth colli gŵr a'u tad yn 2010 eu hysgwyd ac mae hynny'n dal i effeithio'n fawr ar eu teulu, gan ei fod yn ŵr, tad a thaid mor annwyl, ac nid yw eu bywydau fyth wedi bod yr un fath.
Cysylltodd Susan Hughes â mi, yr oedd ei brawd Alan Jones â hemoffilia ac fe gafodd ei heintio â HIV a hepatitis C ar ôl derbyn gwaed heintiedig yn y 1980au yn 15 oed. Cafodd wybod hynny'n 17 oed, heb i'w rieni fod yn bresennol, sef ei fod wedi cael y firysau. Roedd gan Alan anawsterau dysgu ar ôl dioddef gwaedlif ar yr ymennydd yn dair oed, ac fe fu farw yn 1994 yn ddim ond 25 oed o diwmor ar yr ymennydd a achoswyd gan y firws AIDS. Mae rhieni Alan a Susan wedi marw eu hunain bellach yn drist, ac ni welson nhw gyfiawnder erioed.
Cysylltodd yr Athro Nicholas Moran â mi, y cafodd ei ddiweddar frodyr, Peter a Tim, a oedd yn efeilliaid, eu cyd-heintio â HIV a hepatitis C gan gynhyrchion gwaed heintiedig y GIG. Bu'r ddau farw yn ifanc oherwydd salwch sy'n gysylltiedig â HIV. Dioddefodd iechyd eu mam o ganlyniad, ac roedd ei marwolaeth hi o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i hynny. Mae'r Athro Moran yn uwch lawfeddyg sydd wedi gweithio ar hyd ei yrfa yn y GIG ers dros bedwar degawd, ond fe ddywedodd ef wrthyf ei fod wedi cael ei ysgwyd gymaint o ganlyniad i'r sgandal hon fel bod ei hyder yn y gwasanaeth wedi cael ei chwalu, yn enwedig gan ddatguddiadau dinistriol adroddiad Syr Brian Langstaff. O ganlyniad i hynny, mae wedi penderfynu ymadael â'r GIG. Mae'n dymuno gweld argymhellion adroddiad Syr Brian yn cael eu gweithredu yn eu llawnder ac yn ddiymdroi, ac mae'n pryderu, er bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi y bydd taliadau dros dro yn cael eu gwneud i bobl a gafodd eu heintio, ni chafwyd unrhyw ymrwymiad i gefnogi perthnasau a effeithiwyd na chydnabod marwolaethau nad oedden nhw wedi cael eu nodi yn flaenorol.
Rwy'n dod at Kirk Ellis. Kirk a roddodd y tei yma i mi, sydd â lliwiau'r ymgyrch arno, y tu allan i swyddfa Wayne David ym Medwas, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n dair blynedd oddi ar hynny erbyn hyn. Roeddem ni'n dal i weithio ar gyfraddau iawndal sylfaenol ar yr adeg honno. Bydd ef yn mynychu cyfarfodydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol yn rheolaidd, ac, fel y soniais i, mae ef yn yr oriel gyhoeddus. Fe wnes i gyfarfod ag ef ychydig ar ôl cinio heddiw, ac fe ddywedodd fod pryderon gwirioneddol ganddo ynglŷn â chynllun iawndal arfaethedig Llywodraeth y DU. Gallai hwnnw mewn gwirionedd fod yn waeth yn y pen draw er gwaethaf y taliadau pe byddai ef yn cael y cyfandaliad a grybwyllir yn natganiad y cynllun iawndal, oherwydd fe fyddai'r taliadau cymorth y mae'n eu derbyn yn dod i ben wedyn. Fe fyddai ei gyfandaliad ef yn para 20 mlynedd ar y mwyaf iddo ef a'i deulu, ac mae'n nodi bod Llywodraeth yr Alban yn yr Alban wedi gwarantu y bydd y taliadau cymorth cyfredol parhaus yn para am oes, yn ogystal â'r taliadau cyfandaliad iawndal a gynigiwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn ymateb i adroddiad Syr Brian. Yr hyn y mae ef yn dymuno i Lywodraeth Cymru ei wneud—mae'n cydnabod mai mater cyn datganoli oedd hwn—yw sicrhau bod y mater hwnnw yn cael ei ddatrys, ac nad yw'n ddibynnol ar ddim ond 20 mlynedd o gyllid o ganlyniad i'r iawndal, ac nad yw'n cael ei ddal yn y fagl o weld yr incwm hwnnw'n lleihau, wedyn, sef incwm y budd-daliadau anabledd yr oedd hawl ganddo i'w cael o'r blaen.
Ac yn olaf, rwy'n dymuno rhoi teyrnged i Wayne David, cyn AS Caerffili erbyn hyn. Gweithiodd Wayne yn galed iawn ar y mater hwn yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin, ac fe gyflwynodd ddeiseb yn ddiweddar ar yr ymchwiliad gwaed heintiedig yn Siambr Tŷ'r Cyffredin. Roedd y ddeiseb yn galw am roi iawndal ar unwaith i'r rhai a gafodd eu heffeithio gan waed heintiedig, ac ar y cyd ag ef, roedd ein hetholwyr Lee Stay a Kirk Ellis wedi ychwanegu nifer o enwau lleol at y ddeiseb honno. Rwy'n credu y bydd Tŷ'r Cyffredin yn gweld eisiau ysbryd ymgyrchu Wayne ar hyn, ond rwy'n credu ei fod ef wedi gweithio yn galed hefyd i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gweld y canlyniad sydd gennym heddiw, er fy mod i o'r farn o hyd, mai un cam ar y daith o ddarparu cyfiawnder llawn ydyw i'r teuluoedd a'r bobl y mae'r sgandal hon yn effeithio arnyn nhw.
Firstly, I want to pay tribute to all those who have campaigned on this issue and continue to campaign. Some are here with us today, and we will remember the ones who are not. As the Cabinet Secretary highlighted, before FMQs, there was an opportunity to listen to those affected by this scandal, and I don’t think anyone could have left that room without a clear understanding of the injustice faced by families. You would have heard how people in positions of authority vilified these families for raising concerns, accused them of lying, accused them of giving life to rumours. Corruption is the long and short of it, isn't it—a bid to save money. What an indictment of our system.
Last week, I was contacted by Deborah James, a constituent in Bridgend, who told me the story of her brother. Her brother, a serving police officer, died aged 31 in 1982, as a result of receiving contaminated blood at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Deborah shared that he had been battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, and had been given the all-clear following chemotherapy. However, complications meant that he had internal bleeding and was taken to Cardiff, where he received several pints of blood to replace the blood that he was losing. They were advised that he had received what was referred to as 'a bad pint', and that he had been infected with hepatitis C. Due to the impact on his liver, Deborah's brother suffered jaundice. It would hurt for him to have them hug him, and—I'm quoting Deborah here—they have not as a family ever recovered from what happened in those last few weeks of his life.
One of the key things that stood out for me in the meeting earlier was something that was said: an apology means nothing if there's no recognition of what people have gone through. Compensation is one way of giving recognition, and whilst an interim compensation payment of £210,000 to those infected will be made, disappointingly there's been no commitment to make the interim compensation payment available for the unrecognised, as highlighted by other Members. I would hope the Minister could comment on this, because this is, of course, a concern for families—specifically how we can help those families whose relatives died but the cause of death was registered as something else.
There's no denying that deaths were covered up, documents were destroyed—it was in the report. For Deborah's family, it has taken 42 years to get to the truth. The worry now is that, despite recognition that what happened was not an accident, families will be denied compensation because of destroyed documents during those cover-ups. I will conclude, Dirprwy Lywydd, by referring back to Deborah's words to me: 'It is inconceivable that, 42 years after his death, and following Sir Brian's report, there is still uncertainty, and battles for those infected and affected are still to be fought.'
Yn gyntaf i gyd, fe hoffwn i roi teyrnged i bawb sydd wedi ymgyrchu dros y mater hwn ac sy'n parhau i wneud hynny. Mae rhai gyda ni yma heddiw, ac fe gofiwn ni'r rhai nad ydyn nhw. Fel y gwnaeth yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dynnu sylw ato, cyn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, roedd yna gyfle i wrando ar y rhai yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw gan y sgandal hon, ac nid wyf i'n credu y gallai unrhyw un fod wedi gadael yr ystafell honno heb ddealltwriaeth eglur o'r anghyfiawnder y mae teuluoedd wedi ei wynebu. Fe fyddech chi wedi clywed sut y gwnaeth pobl mewn safleoedd o awdurdod ddifenwi'r teuluoedd am godi pryderon, gan eu cyhuddo o ddweud celwydd, eu cyhuddo o godi bwganod. Anonestrwydd, dim llai, onid e—ymgais i arbed arian. Wel am ddyfarniad yn erbyn ein cyfundrefn ni.
Wythnos diwethaf, fe gysylltodd Deborah James, etholwraig ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, â mi i adrodd hanes ei brawd. Bu ei brawd, a oedd yn swyddog heddlu gweithredol, farw yn 31 oed yn 1982, o ganlyniad i gael gwaed heintiedig yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru yng Nghaerdydd. Datgelodd Deborah wrthyf ei fod wedi bod yn brwydro yn erbyn lymffoma Hodgkin, a'i fod wedi cael diagnosis cadarnhaol yn dilyn cemotherapi. Serch hynny, roedd cymhlethdodau yn golygu iddo ddioddef gwaedu mewnol ac fe'i cludwyd i Gaerdydd, lle cafodd sawl peint o waed yn lle'r gwaed yr oedd yn ei golli. Dywedwyd wrthyn nhw ei fod wedi cael yr hyn y cyfeiriwyd ato'n 'beint drwg', a'i fod wedi cael ei heintio â hepatitis C. Oherwydd yr effaith ar ei iau, dioddefodd brawd Deborah glefyd melyn. Roedd yn ei frifo iddo eu cael nhw'n ei gofleidio, ac—rwy'n dyfynnu Deborah nawr—nid ydyn nhw erioed wedi dod dros yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn ystod wythnosau olaf ei fywyd.
Un o'r pethau allweddol a oedd yn sefyll allan i mi yn y cyfarfod yn gynharach heddiw oedd rhywbeth a gafodd ei ddweud: nid yw ymddiheuriad yn golygu dim os nad oes cydnabyddiaeth o'r hyn y mae pobl wedi bod trwyddo. Mae iawndal yn un ffordd o gydnabod, ac er y bydd yna daliad iawndal dros dro o £210,000 yn cael ei roi i'r rhai a gafodd eu heintio, yn siomedig iawn, ni chafwyd ymrwymiad i sicrhau y bydd y taliad iawndal dros dro yn cael ei wneud pan nad oes cydnabyddiaeth, fel y mynegodd Aelodau eraill. Fe fyddwn i'n gobeithio y gallai'r Gweinidog roi sylw ar hyn, oherwydd mae hwnnw, wrth gwrs, yn ofid i deuluoedd—yn benodol o ran sut y byddwn ni'n cynorthwyo'r teuluoedd hynny a gollodd eu perthnasau ond mai achos arall a roddwyd i'r farwolaeth a dyna'r hyn a gafodd ei gofrestru.
Ni ellir gwadu bod marwolaethau wedi cael eu celu, cafodd dogfennau eu difa—roedd hynny yn yr adroddiad. I deulu Deborah, mae hi wedi cymryd 42 o flynyddoedd i gael gwybod y gwirionedd. Y pryder nawr yw, er gwaethaf y gydnabyddiaeth nad damwain oedd yr hyn a ddigwyddodd, y bydd teuluoedd yn cael eu hamddifadu o iawndal oherwydd y cafodd dogfennau eu difa yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw o guddio'r gwir. Rwyf i am orffen, Dirprwy Lywydd, drwy gyfeirio yn ôl at eiriau Deborah wrthyf i: 'Prin y gellir credu, 42 mlynedd ar ôl ei farwolaeth, ac yn dilyn adroddiad Syr Brian, bod ansicrwydd yn parhau, a bod brwydrau eto i ddod dros y rhai a heintiwyd ac a effeithiwyd.'
We've already heard from the Cabinet Secretary for health and many other people about the tens of thousands infected and affected, as well as the 3,000 people who died of infected blood. But this isn't just about a treatment scandal, as Luke Fletcher has already said. This is about a criminal cover-up. And it's that that I wish to address my remarks to today. Sir Brian Langstaff catalogues three separate sets of documents that were lost, or deliberately destroyed in most cases, and the failure to safeguard these documents, which were supposed to be kept in a safe place, precisely to be able to be called upon by victims to consolidate their claim for compensation.
The first lot were papers relating to the Advisory Committee on the Virological Safety of Blood. It was discovered back in the middle of 1995 that one of the volumes had been destroyed, in September 1994. No attempt was made to safeguard all the remaining volumes of documents, which were then destroyed between October 1997 and November 1998. This is truly, truly shocking. We have to understand how it was that the Department of Health was allowed to continue to try and cover this up, even after Yvette Cooper asked for a report, which was called the self-sufficiency report, when she became the Under-Secretary of State for Public Health in 2002.
This led to an extraordinary cover-up. An initial report by a senior officer at the Department of Health was actually delivered to somebody on the day before Christmas 2002, and it did not emerge to the light of day until a further three years, by which time it had been doctored from a factual account of what the document said about self-sufficiency to an excuse for why it hadn't been possible to avert this terrible scandal. These are really, really devastating points that we really need to take seriously.
Lord Owen's papers, the former Secretary of State for Health, completely disappeared, because obviously they revealed things that they did not want to admit. And in one case, the Department of health was saying it was probably destroyed by a junior member of staff. Really? I just cannot see that. It's absolutely unjustifiable and egregious behaviour by our public servants.
To this end, we really do have to challenge the defensive culture of cover-up and get behind Sir Brian Langstaff's calls for Ministers to consider statutory duties of candour for civil servants and Ministers in all their day-to-day work.
I am very pleased that Mark Drakeford, under his leadership, did introduce this duty of candour last year, but we need to ensure that this extends to leaders in our health services as well. There is clearly much more that we need to consider on this. But we have to ensure that leaders in the Welsh NHS, including board members, really are going to be following through with this and that our own civil servants also are not continuing to be less than candid with the truth.
Rydyn ni eisoes wedi clywed gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd a llawer o bobl eraill am y degau o filoedd sydd wedi'u heintio a'u heffeithio, yn ogystal â'r 3,000 o bobl a fu farw o waed heintiedig. Ond nid sgandal triniaeth yn unig yw hyn, fel y dywedodd Luke Fletcher eisoes. Mae hyn yn ymwneud â chuddio gweithredoedd troseddol. A dyna yr hoffwn i fynd i'r afael ag ef yn fy sylwadau heddiw. Mae Syr Brian Langstaff yn catalogio tair set wahanol o ddogfennau a gollwyd, neu a ddifrodwyd yn fwriadol yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, a'r methiant i ddiogelu'r dogfennau hyn, a oedd i fod i gael eu cadw mewn man diogel, er mwyn i ddioddefwyr allu galw arnyn nhw i atgyfnerthu eu cais am iawndal.
Roedd y set gyntaf yn bapurau yn ymwneud â'r Pwyllgor Cynghori ar Ddiogelwch Feiregol Gwaed. Darganfuwyd yn ôl yng nghanol 1995 fod un o'r cyfrolau wedi ei ddinistrio, ym mis Medi 1994. Ni wnaed unrhyw ymdrech i ddiogelu'r holl gyfrolau o ddogfennau a oedd yn weddill, a gafodd eu dinistrio rhwng Hydref 1997 a Thachwedd 1998. Mae hyn yn wirioneddol, wirioneddol frawychus. Mae'n rhaid i ni ddeall sut y caniatawyd i'r Adran Iechyd barhau i geisio cuddio hyn, hyd yn oed ar ôl i Yvette Cooper ofyn am adroddiad, a alwyd yn adroddiad hunangynhaliaeth, pan ddaeth yn Is-Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Iechyd y Cyhoedd yn 2002.
Arweiniodd hyn at achos rhyfeddol o geisio cuddio'r hyn ddigwyddodd. Cyflwynwyd adroddiad cychwynnol gan uwch swyddog yn yr Adran Iechyd i rywun ar y diwrnod cyn Nadolig 2002, ac ni ddaeth i olau dydd am dair blynedd arall, ac erbyn hynny roedd wedi cael ei ddoctora o gyfrif ffeithiol o'r hyn y dywedodd y ddogfen am hunangynhaliaeth i esgus pam nad oedd wedi bod yn bosibl osgoi'r sgandal ofnadwy hon. Mae'r rhain yn bwyntiau gwirioneddol, gwirioneddol ddinistriol y mae'n rhaid i ni eu cymryd o ddifrif.
Fe ddiflannodd papurau'r Arglwydd Owen, y cyn-Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Iechyd, yn llwyr, oherwydd yn amlwg roedden nhw'n datgelu pethau nad oedden nhw am eu cyfaddef. Ac mewn un achos, roedd yr Adran Iechyd yn dweud ei bod yn debygol iddyn nhw gael eu dinistrio gan aelod iau o staff. O ddifrif? Dydw i ddim yn gallu gweld hynny. Mae'n ymddygiad cwbl ddigyfiawnhad a dybryd gan ein gweision cyhoeddus.
I'r perwyl hwn, mae'n rhaid i ni wir herio diwylliant amddiffynnol celu a chefnogi galwadau Syr Brian Langstaff i Weinidogion ystyried dyletswyddau statudol gonestrwydd ar gyfer gweision sifil a Gweinidogion yn eu holl waith o ddydd i ddydd.
Rwy'n falch iawn bod Mark Drakeford, o dan ei arweinyddiaeth, wedi cyflwyno'r ddyletswydd gonestrwydd hon y llynedd, ond mae angen i ni sicrhau ei bod yn ymestyn i arweinwyr yn ein gwasanaethau iechyd hefyd. Mae'n amlwg bod llawer mwy i'w ystyried ar hyn. Ond mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau y bydd arweinwyr y GIG yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys aelodau'r bwrdd, yn dilyn hyn mewn gwirionedd ac nad yw ein gweision sifil ein hunain ychwaith yn parhau i fod yn llai na gonest â'r gwir.
Mi hoffwn i gysylltu fy hun efo nifer o'r sylwadau sydd eisoes wedi cael eu gwneud. Weithiau, mae yna gysylltiad yn dod gan etholwr sydd jest yn eich taro chi, a dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni i gyd wedi derbyn e-byst gan deuluoedd a'r rheini sydd wedi dioddef ac yn parhau i ddioddef heddiw sydd wedi cael yr effaith hwnnw. Felly, dwi'n mynd i ddefnyddio fy amser i roi llais a rhannu rhai o'r straeon hynny, yn ôl yr hyn sydd wedi'i ofyn ohonof.
Efallai bod nifer ohonoch chi wedi darllen neu weld ar y teledu stori Owain Harris am ei dad, Norman. Roedd gan Norman hemoffilia, ac yn y 1970au a’r 1980au cynnar fe ddechreuodd ar driniaeth newydd ar gyfer y cyflwr. Yng nghanol yr 1980au, fe gafodd wybod ei fod wedi dal hepatitis C a bod ganddo HIV. Pedair oed oedd ei fab Owain ar y pryd, ac ni wnaeth ei rieni rannu'r diagnosis llawn gydag o tan oedd o’n 26 oed. Bu Norman farw yn 2012. Mae Owain, ei chwaer a’i fam wedi rhoi tystiolaeth fel rhan o’r ymchwiliad, ond dim ond y mis diwethaf y gwnaethon nhw am y tro cyntaf siarad yn gyhoeddus am hyn, gydag Owain yn dweud, 'Roedd hwn yn cover-up llwyr gan y sefydliad.'
I'd like to associate myself with a number of the comments that have already been made. Sometimes, there is a contact made by a constituent that really strikes you, and I think that we've all received e-mails from families and from those who have suffered and who continue to suffer today that have had that impact. So, I'm going to use my time to give a voice and share some of those stories, according to what has been asked of me.
Maybe many of you have read about or seen on tv the story of Owain Harris regarding his father, Norman. Norman had haemophilia, and in the 1970s and the early 1980s he began a new treatment for the condition. In the mid 1980s, he was told that he had contracted hepatitis C and that he had HIV. His son, Owain, was four years old at the time, and his parents did not share the full diagnosis with him until he was 26 years old. Norman died in 2012. Owain, his sister and his mother have given evidence as part of the inquiry, but it was only last month that they spoke publicly about this for the first time, with Owain saying, 'This was a total cover-up by the establishment.'
David shared with me in his own words, 'I was infected with hepatitis C in the early 1980s, likely between the age of nine and 13. I was informed of my diagnosis aged 23 in 1994, and ever since this date have been permanently in a state of worry about my health and my mortality.' He went on to share with me the impact this has had on his life, including having to fight tooth and nail to get access to the new retroviral drugs that were becoming available towards the end of 2014.
Another constituent, Paul from Cardiff, said, 'I'm one of the haemophiliacs that has been infected in the mid 1970s, early 1980s, with hep C. This has made life a living nightmare. I had to undertake horrendous treatments. I could not continue working due to my mental health and the stigma. I have hidden myself away, no longer feeling able to interact with others and became isolated. People reacted to my condition at many times with abuse. It has left me with lifelong complications, not to mention not being able to have children and causing many relationship issues through my life.' He urges us as a Senedd, 'Please, with people passing away at an average of four a week, all we want is to have some of our life that is ours and not stolen from us by this deliberate use of infected blood, which has destroyed mine and many others' lives.'
Another constituent, who wants to remain anonymous, shared the story of her father, who died 20 years ago at just 38 years old. Carol told me of her father Ian’s death in 2004, at the age of 48.
Rhannodd David gyda mi yn ei eiriau ei hun, 'Cefais fy heintio â hepatitis C ar ddechrau'r 1980au, yn debygol rhwng naw a 13 oed. Cefais wybod am fy diagnosis yn 23 oed yn 1994, a byth ers y dyddiad hwn rwyf wedi bod mewn cyflwr o bryder parhaol am fy iechyd a fy marwoldeb.' Aeth ymlaen i rannu gyda mi effaith hyn ar ei fywyd, gan gynnwys gorfod ymladd yn galed i gael y cyffuriau retrofirysol newydd a oedd ar gael tua diwedd 2014.
Dywedodd etholwr arall, Paul o Gaerdydd, 'Rwy'n un o'r hemoffiligion sydd wedi'i heintio yng nghanol y 1970au, dechrau'r 1980au, gyda hep C. Mae hyn wedi gwneud bywyd yn hunllef. Roedd yn rhaid i mi ymgymryd â thriniaethau erchyll. Allwn i ddim parhau i weithio oherwydd fy iechyd meddwl a'r stigma. Rwyf wedi cuddio fy hun i ffwrdd, ddim bellach yn teimlo fy mod yn gallu rhyngweithio ag eraill ac wedi dod yn ynysig. Gwnaeth pobl ymateb i fy nghyflwr ar sawl achlysur gydag ymosodiad geiriol. Mae wedi fy ngadael â chymhlethdodau gydol oes, heb sôn am beidio â gallu cael plant ac achosi llawer o broblemau yn fy mherthnasoedd trwy fy mywyd.' Mae'n ein hannog ni fel Senedd, 'Os gwelwch yn dda, gyda phobl yn marw ar gyfartaledd o bedwar yr wythnos, y cyfan yr ydym ni ei eisiau yw cael rhywfaint o'n bywyd ni sy'n eiddo i ni a heb ei ddwyn oddi wrthym gan y defnydd bwriadol hwn o waed heintiedig, sydd wedi dinistrio fy mywyd i a bywydau llawer o bobl eraill.'
Rhannodd etholwr arall, sydd eisiau aros yn ddienw, stori ei thad, a fu farw 20 mlynedd yn ôl yn ddim ond 38 mlwydd oed. Dywedodd Carol wrthyf am farwolaeth ei thad Ian yn 2004, yn 48 oed.
Ysgrifennodd Rachel ataf gan ddweud,
'Bu farw fy nhad (oedd yn hemoffilig) o AIDS yn 1990 ar ôl salwch chwe mlynedd, lle gwastraffodd ei gorff a'i ymennydd i ddim.'
Rachel wrote to me, saying,
'My father (who was a haemophiliac) died of AIDS in 1990, after a six-year illness, during which his body and brain wasted away.'
You referenced at the beginning, Cabinet Secretary, the Sugar family. And it is important that we do tell the story of Leigh, a much-loved son, husband and father, who was a mild haemophiliac, infected with his first and only treatment at the age of 14, following a fall from his horse. He was only told of his infection 14 years later, by which time he was married and had five and three-year-old daughters. He died at the age of 44 from liver cancer, having been infected with hepatitis C. His family shared that he spent the last year of his life in intense pain and suffering, and that his father Graham died three years ago, never seeing justice. They describe their family as 'having been torn apart by contaminated blood'.
I'd like to pay tribute to all the victims and their families who’ve campaigned for justice and who've been brave enough to share with us their suffering and continued pain. We can acknowledge that today, apologise for all they’ve been through, but also state unitedly that we will ensure everything possible that can be done to right this terrible, terrible wrong is done. It should never have happened and nothing we do will put this right, but we can try and offer that support. This is going to have an impact for generations to come on these families affected. Therefore, I'd like to finish by asking the Cabinet Secretary: what support is being provided to those still living with the infection, who are in pain, who are suffering, but also their families, who are still in pain and suffering? We need to be able to provide not just compensation, but ongoing support, and I'd like to know how they will be able to access that support. Diolch.
Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio ar y dechrau, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, at y teulu Sugar. Ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n adrodd hanes Leigh, mab, gŵr a thad annwyl iawn, a oedd â ffurf ysgafn ar hemoffilia, a gafodd ei heintio â'i driniaeth gyntaf a'i unig driniaeth yn 14 oed, yn dilyn cwymp o'i geffyl. Un deg pedwar mlynedd yn ddiweddarach y cafodd wybod am ei haint am y tro cyntaf, ac erbyn hynny roedd yn briod ac roedd ganddo ferched pump a thair oed. Bu farw yn 44 oed o ganser yr iau, ar ôl cael ei heintio â hepatitis C. Rhannodd ei deulu iddo dreulio blwyddyn olaf ei fywyd mewn poen a dioddefaint dwys, a bod ei dad Graham wedi marw dair blynedd yn ôl, heb weld cyfiawnder. Maen nhw'n dweud bod eu teulu 'wedi ei rwygo ar wahân gan waed heintiedig'.
Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r holl ddioddefwyr a'u teuluoedd sydd wedi ymgyrchu dros gyfiawnder ac sydd wedi bod yn ddigon dewr i rannu eu dioddefaint a'u poen parhaus gyda ni. Gallwn ni gydnabod hynny heddiw, ymddiheuro am bopeth y maen nhw wedi bod drwyddo, ond hefyd ddatgan yn unedig y byddwn yn sicrhau y gwneir popeth posibl y gellir ei wneud i unioni'r cam ofnadwy, ofnadwy hwn. Ni ddylai byth fod wedi digwydd ac ni fydd unrhyw beth a wnawn yn unioni hyn, ond gallwn ni geisio cynnig y gefnogaeth honno. Mae hyn yn mynd i gael effaith ar genedlaethau i ddod ar y teuluoedd hyn yr effeithiwyd arnynt. Felly, hoffwn orffen drwy ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet: pa gymorth sy'n cael ei ddarparu i'r rhai sy'n dal i fyw gyda'r haint, sydd mewn poen, sy'n dioddef, ond hefyd eu teuluoedd, sy'n dal i fod mewn poen a dioddefaint? Mae angen i ni allu darparu nid yn unig iawndal, ond cefnogaeth barhaus, a hoffwn wybod sut y byddant yn gallu cael gafael ar y cymorth hwnnw. Diolch.
Like other speakers before me, I would like to read the testimony of two of my constituents whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the contaminated blood scandal. And I think it speaks volumes, as to the stigma still attached to this, that both of my constituents have asked that their stories remain anonymous. One of my constituents contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood whilst being treated for leukaemia between 1985 and 1989. They have now lived with hepatitis for 35 years, undergoing five gruelling courses of interferon, numerous invasive and non-invasive tests, reduced career prospects and limitations on the size of their family. Prior to diagnosis, they were sent to one of the first AIDS wards in London and then to a mental health institution in Cardiff, because the medical professionals thought that they were making their illness up. Fortunately, my constituent tells me they have worked hard to manage their condition and are now in good health, but they say there are many less fortunate, who they believe deserve so much more.
My other constituent was just 17 years old and ready to start their life, when they were told by their haemophilia doctor that they'd contracted HIV from contaminated blood. They were told not to tell anyone, not even their mother. Doctors told them that they would live about 18 months. They've seen their fellow haemophiliac friends dying of AIDS in the hospital, and they thought that they would die in the same way. This was a death sentence. They had three nervous breakdowns over the years, attempted suicide three times, and for years spent spells in and out of hospital. The stigma associated with HIV, they say, is unbearable, and they meet this in all aspects of their daily life. In 1994 this same constituent was told that they were also infected with hepatitis C. They underwent three courses of treatment with horrendous side effects. They haven't been able to have children, get life assurance or mortgage protection, due to the impact of HIV and hepatitis C.
My constituents say they hope that the inquiry's recommendations will prevent things like this from ever happening again, that people will not be tested without consent, that commercial interests will not take precedence over patient safety. They hope that future generations do not have to suffer the pain and stigma that they have, and that medical professionals will be educated to ensure that they are treated with the respect that they deserve.
Fel siaradwyr eraill o fy mlaen, hoffwn ddarllen tystiolaeth dau o fy etholwyr y mae eu bywydau wedi eu newid yn anadferadwy gan y sgandal gwaed heintiedig. Ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn dweud y cyfan, o ran y stigma sy'n dal ynghlwm wrth hyn, fod fy etholwyr ill dau wedi gofyn i'w straeon aros yn ddienw. Fe wnaeth un o fy etholwyr ddal hepatitis C o waed heintiedig tra'r oedd yn cael triniaeth am lewcemia rhwng 1985 a 1989. Mae bellach wedi byw gyda hepatitis am 35 mlynedd, gan gael pum cwrs anodd o interfferon, nifer o brofion mewnwthiol ac anfewnwthiol, gobeithion gyrfa is a chyfyngiadau ar faint y teulu. Cyn cael diagnosis, cafodd ei anfon i un o'r wardiau AIDS cyntaf yn Llundain ac yna i sefydliad iechyd meddwl yng Nghaerdydd, oherwydd bod y gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol yn meddwl ei fod yn dychmygu ei salwch. Yn ffodus, mae fy etholwr yn dweud wrthyf ei fod wedi gweithio'n galed i reoli ei gyflwr a'i fod bellach mewn iechyd da, ond mae'n dweud bod llawer o bobl yn llai ffodus, ac mae'n credu eu bod yn haeddu cymaint yn fwy.
Dim ond 17 oed oedd fy etholwr arall ac yn barod i ddechrau ei fywyd, pan ddywedwyd wrtho gan ei feddyg hemoffilia ei fod wedi dal HIV o waed heintiedig. Dywedwyd wrtho am beidio â dweud wrth neb, dim hyd yn oed ei fam. Dywedodd meddygon y byddai'n byw tua 18 mis. Mae wedi gweld ei ffrindiau hemoffilig yn marw o AIDS yn yr ysbyty, ac roedd yn meddwl y byddai'n marw yn yr un ffordd. Roedd hon yn ddedfryd o farwolaeth. Cafodd dri chwalfa'r nerfau dros y blynyddoedd, ceisio lladd ei hun dair gwaith, ac am flynyddoedd bu'n treulio cyfnodau i mewn ac allan o'r ysbyty. Mae'r stigma sy'n gysylltiedig ag HIV, meddai, yn annioddefol, ac mae'n gweld hyn ym mhob agwedd ar ei fywyd bob dydd. Yn 1994 dywedwyd wrth yr un etholwr ei fod hefyd wedi'i heintio â hepatitis C. Cafodd dri chwrs o driniaeth gyda sgil-effeithiau erchyll. Nid yw wedi gallu cael plant, cael sicrwydd bywyd nac amddiffyniad morgais, oherwydd effaith HIV a hepatitis C.
Dywed fy etholwyr eu bod yn gobeithio y bydd argymhellion yr ymchwiliad yn atal pethau fel hyn rhag digwydd eto, na fydd pobl yn cael eu profi heb ganiatâd, na fydd buddiannau masnachol yn cael blaenoriaeth dros ddiogelwch cleifion. Maen nhw'n gobeithio na fydd yn rhaid i genedlaethau'r dyfodol ddioddef y boen a'r stigma y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw, ac y bydd gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol yn cael eu haddysgu i sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu trin gyda'r parch y maen nhw'n ei haeddu.
Siân Gwenllian? Na. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Siân Gwenllian? No. I call on the Cabinet Secretary to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr. I want to thank all Members who have contributed to this important debate today. I think it's been a really emotional debate, and it has been quite heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories of your constituents. There are just a few points I want to address. First of all, one of the issues that people have asked about is those who are unrecognised. Part of the issue here is that records are required to make claims. Now, we are aware that there have been issues with NHS records in the past. Both our Wales infected blood support scheme and the new infected blood compensation authority will work with those infected and affected to gather the information required for claims to be made. In terms of young beneficiaries, this is an issue that my officials have raised with the Cabinet Office, and we've been given an assurance that this is something that they're looking into.
In terms of immediate next steps, Sir Robert Francis, along with the interim CEO of the IBCA, David Foley, will meet with the main campaign groups, including Lynne Kelly of Haemophilia Wales, to discuss looking at the proposals for compensation to check if they're fair. They will check if the scheme will work, and they will check if anything has been missed. And what they learn from these meetings will help frame the work of the IBCA. In terms of future and current schemes, representations have been made in each of the nations to retain the support schemes. Discussions, I know, are in their infancy, and officials will take on board the representations received.
I'd like to make it clear that we will be accepting all of Plaid Cymru's amendments.
Diolch yn fawr. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl bwysig hon heddiw. Rwy'n credu ei bod wedi bod yn ddadl emosiynol iawn, ac mae wedi bod yn eithaf torcalonnus clywed rhai o straeon eich etholwyr. Dim ond ychydig bwyntiau rwyf eisiau mynd i'r afael â nhw. Yn gyntaf oll, un o'r materion y mae pobl wedi gofyn amdano yw'r rhai nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu cydnabod. Rhan o'r broblem yma yw bod angen cofnodion i wneud hawliadau. Nawr, rydym yn ymwybodol bod problemau wedi bod gyda chofnodion y GIG yn y gorffennol. Bydd ein cynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig yng Nghymru a'r awdurdod iawndal gwaed heintiedig newydd yn gweithio gyda'r rhai sydd wedi'u heintio a'r rhai y mae hyn wedi effeithio arnyn nhw i gasglu'r wybodaeth sydd ei hangen er mwyn i hawliadau gael eu gwneud. O ran buddiolwyr ifanc, mae hwn yn fater y mae fy swyddogion wedi'i godi gyda Swyddfa'r Cabinet, ac rydym wedi cael sicrwydd bod hyn yn rhywbeth y maen nhw'n edrych arno.
O ran y camau uniongyrchol nesaf, bydd Syr Robert Francis, ynghyd â Phrif Swyddog Gweithredol dros dro yr IBCA, David Foley, yn cwrdd â'r prif grwpiau ymgyrchu, gan gynnwys Lynne Kelly o Haemophilia Wales, i drafod edrych ar y cynigion am iawndal i wirio a ydyn nhw'n deg. Byddan nhw'n gwirio a fydd y cynllun yn gweithio, a byddan nhw'n gwirio a oes unrhyw beth wedi'i fethu. A bydd yr hyn y byddan nhw'n ei ddysgu o'r cyfarfodydd hyn yn helpu i fframio gwaith yr IBCA. O ran cynlluniau cyfredol a chynlluniau yn y dyfodol, mae sylwadau wedi'u gwneud ym mhob un o'r gwledydd i gadw'r cynlluniau cymorth. Megis dechrau mae'r trafodaethau, rwy'n gwybod, a bydd swyddogion yn ystyried y sylwadau a dderbyniwyd.
Hoffwn ei gwneud yn glir y byddwn ni'n derbyn holl welliannau Plaid Cymru.
Dwi hefyd eisiau talu teyrnged i Rhun ap Iorwerth am ei waith e fel arweinydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar hemoffilia a gwaed wedi'i heintio. Dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi wedi bod yn brwydro am flynyddoedd lawer gyda'r rheini sydd wedi bod yn ymladd am gyfiawnder.
I also want to pay tribute to Rhun ap Iorwerth for his work as chair of the cross-party group on haemophilia and infected blood. I know that you have been fighting very hard for many years, along with those who have been battling for justice.
I'd like some time to go through the report. He has taken years to write this report and we need to give it the respect it deserves, and so we will do that. And I want to assure Jenny Rathbone that there is, as you have noted, already a duty of candour in the NHS in Wales, including the one that applies to leaders in the health service. Tonight I think we unite as a Chamber and as a Parliament, and I'm sure you'll join with me to pay tribute to those who have suffered as a result of this, the greatest scandal in the history of the NHS. Diolch.
Hoffwn i gael amser i fynd drwy'r adroddiad. Mae wedi cymryd blynyddoedd i ysgrifennu'r adroddiad hwn ac mae angen i ni roi'r parch y mae'n ei haeddu iddo, ac felly byddwn ni'n gwneud hynny. Ac rwyf am sicrhau Jenny Rathbone bod yna ddyletswydd gonestrwydd eisoes yn y GIG yng Nghymru, fel y nodwyd gennych, gan gynnwys yr un sy'n berthnasol i arweinwyr yn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Heno rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n uno fel Siambr ac fel Senedd, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n ymuno â mi i dalu teyrnged i'r rhai sydd wedi dioddef o ganlyniad i hyn, y sgandal fwyaf yn hanes y GIG. Diolch.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 1? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Na. Felly, derbynnir gwelliant 1 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree amendment 1. Does any Member object? No. Amendment 1 is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Y cwestiwn nesaf yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 2? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir gwelliant 2 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree amendment 2. Does any Member object? No. Amendment 2 is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 3? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir gwelliant 3 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree amendment 3. Does any Member object? No. Amendment 3 is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Cynnig NNDM8595 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod:
a) y niwed a'r dioddefaint a achoswyd i filoedd o bobl yn sgil y sgandal gwaethaf o ran triniaethau yn hanes y GIG;
b) ymgyrchu diflino a gwaith caled pawb a gafodd eu heintio ac sydd wedi dioddef, i geisio'r gwir; ac
c) ymddiheuriad Llywodraeth y DU am y degawdau hir o fethiant moesol wrth galon ein bywyd cenedlaethol.
2. Yn croesawu adroddiad terfynol yr Ymchwiliad Gwaed Heintiedig a gyhoeddwyd ar 20 Mai 2024 a'i argymhellion.
3. Yn croesawu gwaith y pedair gwlad i sefydlu Awdurdod Iawndal Gwaed Heintiedig.
4. Yn nodi y bydd taliadau iawndal pellach yn cael eu gwneud i bobl a gafodd eu heintio ac sydd wedi dioddef yn sgil y sgandal.
5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod yr holl unigolion yr effeithir arnynt yng Nghymru yn derbyn eu hail daliad iawndal interim o fewn 90 diwrnod i gyhoeddi adroddiad Langstaff.
6. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddeddfu holl argymhellion adroddiad Langstaff sy'n ymwneud â meysydd cyfrifoldeb datganoledig yn llawn ac yn ddi-oed.
7. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i estyn allan yn rhagweithiol at yr holl unigolion yr effeithir arnynt yng Nghymru gyda'r cynnig o gefnogaeth a chwnsela perthnasol.
Motion NNDM8595 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises:
a) the harm and suffering caused to thousands of people in the worst treatment scandal in the history of the NHS;
b) the tireless campaign and hard work of all those infected and affected to seek the truth; and
c) the UK Government’s apology for the decades-long moral failure at the heart of our national life.
2. Welcomes the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry published on 20 May 2024 and its recommendations.
3. Welcomes the four-nations work to put in place an Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
4. Notes that further compensation payments will be made to people infected and affected by the scandal.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to make representations to the UK Government to ensure that all affected individuals in Wales receive their second interim compensation payment within 90 days of the publication of the Langstaff report.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to enact all recommendations of the Langstaff report pertaining to devolved areas of responsibility in full and without delay.
7. Calls on the Welsh Government to proactively reach out to all affected individuals in Wales with the offer of relevant support and counselling.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion as amended. Does any Member object? No. The motion as amended is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion as amended agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Eitem 4 heddiw yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg: ymgynghoriad ar y flwyddyn ysgol. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, Lynne Neagle.
Item 4 is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: a consultation on the school year. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Three weeks ago I was pleased to come to this Chamber and to talk to Members about my priorities for the education system in Wales. I have always championed the rights of children and young people, and in that statement I made clear my commitment to raising attainment, to being ambitious for every learner in Wales and to supporting our most disadvantaged learners and closing the attainment gap. To me, these are central ambitions and, as I said, ones I want and expect the whole education system to work together to achieve.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dair wythnos yn ôl, roeddwn i'n falch o ddod i'r Siambr hon a siarad â'r Aelodau am fy mlaenoriaethau ar gyfer y system addysg yng Nghymru. Rwyf bob amser wedi hyrwyddo hawliau plant a phobl ifanc, ac yn y datganiad hwnnw fe nodais yn glir fy ymrwymiad i godi cyrhaeddiad, i fod yn uchelgeisiol ar gyfer pob dysgwr yng Nghymru ac i gefnogi ein dysgwyr mwyaf difreintiedig a chau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad. I mi, mae'r rhain yn uchelgeisiau canolog ac, fel y dywedais i, maen nhw'n rhai yr wyf eisiau ac yr wyf yn disgwyl i'r system addysg gyfan gydweithio i'w cyflawni.
As Members know, the Government committed in the programme for government to explore reform of the school year, and I would like to thank my predecessor, Jeremy Miles, for all of his efforts in that work. I would also like to thank Siân Gwenllian for her efforts and support in taking this forward.
With learner outcomes at its core, we have looked at the system as a whole to see how the way we structure the school calendar could better support school staff to improve the educational experiences of our young people, particularly our most disadvantaged, while aligning more effectively with how people and families live and work.
On 13 November last year we announced the launch of the consultation on the school year. Today I am publishing the findings of that consultation, which closed on 12 February. Having received over 16,000 responses, it is clearly one of the Welsh Government's widest reaching consultations, and it is fair to say that the issue of the school year is one that reaches across society, with views on all sides. This is reflected in the responses, where views were split almost evenly on every question posed and every option put forward.
The consultation set out three core proposals. They were, first, to maintain the status quo; the second would see a five-week summer, a two-week break in the autumn, and the flexibility to decouple the Easter end-of-term break from the Easter festival; the third and final option built on this, and would look to move to a four-week summer, introduce a two-week break in May, and arrange for AS, A-level and GCSE results to issue on the same day.
Members will see that while the results indicate there is support for changes to the pattern of the school year, there was no strong preference for any of the options put forward. In this context, I have returned to the evidence base for change, and again, as Members will be aware, this is not clear-cut.
There is evidence that suggests the summer period contributes to learning loss, and there are obvious concerns around how we support those children for whom school is safer than home. But there is also evidence that shows the benefit of an extended break for the well-being of both children and the workforce, and how that contributes positively to family life. This is just one example of many, and Members can see more detail in the information previously published on our website.
In my statement last week I said I would listen to the views of those working within the education system, and to the views of children, young people and parents, and I have taken time to consider the comments made in response to the consultation and to listen to the differing views and opinions. As a result, I have taken the decision that we will not implement any changes to the pattern of the school year within this Senedd term. It is important to be clear about this, and so I am also confirming today that I have asked local authorities and other relevant bodies to publish term dates for 2025-26. I do, however, want to continue to look at what more can be done to support our children and young people, their learning and the all-important actions needed to raise attainment, standards and aspirations.
Over the remainder of this Senedd term, I intend to continue exploring the proposals set out in our second option in the consultation: a five-week summer, a two-week break in the autumn, and the flexibility to decouple the Easter end-of-term break from the Easter festival. However, getting reform right means ensuring it is properly planned out and has the time and space to succeed. I want to take this time to discuss with children and young people, parents, the workforce and other partners both what these changes might mean and when would be the right time for them. No final decisions will be taken in this Senedd term, as I feel strongly that we need to remain focused on our existing and ambitious programme of reform over this period, and I am acutely aware we are already asking a lot of teachers and schools.
In the coming months, I will prioritise support on curriculum design, progression and assessment. I will work with teachers to ensure the right support reaches their classrooms and that they have the knowledge, resources and confidence to ensure every learner and every part of Wales feel the benefit of the curriculum.
As I set out before recess, I will also focus on ALN reform. I want to ensure firm legislative foundations are in place, and I want to strengthen implementation by improving the consistency of the approach being taken. That certainly does not mean we won’t be doing anything to address the impact of the long summer break here and now. Our immediate priority will be to maximise the support available to learners during the summer holidays, including doing more to target that provision towards the poorest communities and increasing the educational value of that provision.
We will look to increase the impact of the school holiday enrichment programme and enhance our community-focused schools programme, including through the work being undertaken by the school improvement partnership programme. I am pleased Julie Morgan MS has agreed to lead a review of SHEP for the Welsh Government on how provisions can be maximised during the summer holidays to ensure they are reaching those children and young people who need it most. I look forward to working with her on this important piece of work.
The issues raised in the consultation show that this is an area where there are lots of interests, including from sectors and organisations not involved in the education of our children and young people. And so I do need to be clear that, as Cabinet Secretary, my priority is the well-being and learning of our children and young people. That will be the driving force behind my actions and will be central to the further exploration of the proposals.
To conclude, I am fully committed to ensuring our education system supports all children and their ambitions. I will continue to explore changes to the pattern of the school year where these can support attainment, ambition and well-being, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged, to give them the best opportunities in learning and life. And I will do this over the remainder of this Senedd term, working in partnership with the education sector, children, young people and parents to ensure that we make the right changes at the right time. Diolch.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, ymrwymodd y Llywodraeth yn y rhaglen lywodraethu i archwilio diwygio'r flwyddyn ysgol, a hoffwn ddiolch i fy rhagflaenydd, Jeremy Miles, am ei holl ymdrechion yn y gwaith hwnnw. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i Siân Gwenllian am ei hymdrechion a'i chefnogaeth wrth fwrw ymlaen â hyn.
Gyda deilliannau dysgwyr yn ganolog iddi, rydym wedi edrych ar y system yn ei chyfanrwydd i weld sut y gallai'r ffordd yr ydym yn strwythuro calendr yr ysgol gefnogi staff ysgolion yn well i wella profiadau addysgol ein pobl ifanc, yn enwedig ein rhai mwyaf difreintiedig, ac alinio'n fwy effeithiol â'r ffordd y mae pobl a theuluoedd yn byw ac yn gweithio ar yr un pryd.
Ar 13 Tachwedd y llynedd, cyhoeddwyd lansiad yr ymgynghoriad ar y flwyddyn ysgol. Heddiw, rwy'n cyhoeddi canfyddiadau'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw, a ddaeth i ben ar 12 Chwefror. Ar ôl derbyn dros 16,000 o ymatebion, mae'n amlwg yn un o ymgynghoriadau mwyaf pellgyrhaeddol Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae'n deg dweud bod mater y flwyddyn ysgol yn un sy'n cyrraedd ar draws cymdeithas, gyda barn ar bob ochr. Caiff hyn ei adlewyrchu yn yr ymatebion, lle rhannwyd barn bron yn gyfartal ar bob cwestiwn a ofynnwyd a phob opsiwn a gyflwynwyd.
Roedd yr ymgynghoriad yn nodi tri chynnig craidd sef, yn gyntaf, i gynnal y status quo; byddai'r ail yn gweld pum wythnos o haf, toriad o bythefnos yn yr hydref, a'r hyblygrwydd i ddatgysylltu toriad diwedd tymor y Pasg o ŵyl y Pasg; roedd y trydydd opsiwn a'r opsiwn olaf yn adeiladu ar hyn, a byddai'n edrych ar symud i bedair wythnos o haf, cyflwyno toriad o bythefnos ym mis Mai, a threfnu i ganlyniadau UG, Safon Uwch a TGAU gael eu cyhoeddi ar yr un diwrnod.
Bydd yr Aelodau'n gweld, er bod y canlyniadau'n dangos bod cefnogaeth i newidiadau i batrwm y flwyddyn ysgol, nid oedd dewis cryf i unrhyw un o'r opsiynau a gyflwynwyd. Yn y cyd-destun hwn, rwyf wedi dychwelyd i'r sylfaen dystiolaeth ar gyfer newid, ac unwaith eto, fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, nid yw hyn yn glir.
Mae yna dystiolaeth sy'n awgrymu bod cyfnod yr haf yn cyfrannu at golli dysgu, ac mae yna bryderon amlwg ynghylch sut rydym yn cefnogi'r plant hynny y mae'r ysgol yn fwy diogel na'u cartref. Ond mae yna dystiolaeth hefyd sy'n dangos budd toriad estynedig i les plant a'r gweithlu, a sut mae hynny'n cyfrannu'n gadarnhaol at fywyd teuluol. Un enghraifft o blith llawer yw hon, a gall Aelodau weld mwy o fanylion yn y wybodaeth a gyhoeddwyd yn flaenorol ar ein gwefan.
Yn fy natganiad yr wythnos diwethaf, fe ddywedais i y byddwn i'n gwrando ar farn y rhai sy'n gweithio o fewn y system addysg, ac ar farn plant, pobl ifanc a rhieni, ac rwyf wedi cymryd amser i ystyried y sylwadau a wnaed mewn ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad ac i wrando ar y farn a'r safbwyntiau gwahanol. O ganlyniad, rwyf wedi penderfynu na fyddwn yn rhoi unrhyw newidiadau i batrwm y flwyddyn ysgol ar waith yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon. Mae'n bwysig bod yn glir am hyn, ac felly rwyf hefyd yn cadarnhau heddiw fy mod i wedi gofyn i awdurdodau lleol a chyrff perthnasol eraill gyhoeddi dyddiadau tymhorau ar gyfer 2025-26. Fodd bynnag, rwyf am barhau i edrych ar beth arall y gellir ei wneud i gefnogi ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, eu dysgu a'r camau hollbwysig sydd eu hangen i godi cyrhaeddiad, safonau a dyheadau.
Dros weddill tymor y Senedd hon, rwy'n bwriadu parhau i archwilio'r cynigion a nodwyd yn ein hail opsiwn yn yr ymgynghoriad: pum wythnos o haf, toriad o bythefnos yn yr hydref, a'r hyblygrwydd i ddatgysylltu toriad diwedd tymor y Pasg o ŵyl y Pasg. Fodd bynnag, mae diwygio pethau'n iawn yn golygu sicrhau ei fod wedi'i gynllunio'n iawn a'i fod yn cael yr amser a'r lle i lwyddo. Rwyf am gymryd yr amser hwn i drafod gyda phlant a phobl ifanc, rhieni, y gweithlu a phartneriaid eraill yr hyn y gallai'r newidiadau hyn ei olygu a phryd fyddai'r amser iawn ar eu cyfer nhw. Ni fydd unrhyw benderfyniadau terfynol cael eu gwneud yn nhymor y Senedd hon, gan fy mod i'n teimlo'n gryf bod angen i ni barhau i ganolbwyntio ar y rhaglen uchelgeisiol o ddiwygiadau sy'n gennym eisoes yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn ein bod ni'n gofyn llawer gan athrawon ac ysgolion.
Yn ystod y misoedd nesaf, byddaf yn blaenoriaethu cymorth ar ddylunio'r cwricwlwm, cynnydd ac asesu. Byddaf yn gweithio gydag athrawon i sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth gywir yn cyrraedd eu hystafelloedd dosbarth a bod ganddyn nhw'r wybodaeth, yr adnoddau a'r hyder i sicrhau bod pob dysgwr a phob rhan o Gymru yn teimlo budd y cwricwlwm.
Fel y dywedais i cyn y toriad, byddaf hefyd yn canolbwyntio ar ddiwygio ADY. Rwyf am sicrhau bod sylfeini deddfwriaethol cadarn ar waith, ac rwyf am gryfhau gweithredu trwy wella cysondeb y dull gweithredu sy'n cael ei gymryd. Yn sicr, nid yw hynny'n golygu na fyddwn ni'n gwneud unrhyw beth i fynd i'r afael ag effaith toriad hir yr haf nawr. Ein blaenoriaeth gyntaf fydd sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael y cymorth mwyaf posibl yn ystod gwyliau'r haf, gan gynnwys gwneud mwy i dargedu'r ddarpariaeth honno tuag at y cymunedau tlotaf a chynyddu gwerth addysgol y ddarpariaeth honno.
Byddwn ni'n ceisio cynyddu effaith y rhaglen gwella gwyliau'r haf a gwella ein rhaglen ysgolion sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned, gan gynnwys drwy'r gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud gan y rhaglen partneriaeth gwella ysgolion. Rwy'n falch bod Julie Morgan AS wedi cytuno i arwain adolygiad o SHEP i Lywodraeth Cymru ar sut y gellir gwneud y mwyaf o ddarpariaethau yn ystod gwyliau'r haf i sicrhau eu bod yn cyrraedd y plant a'r bobl ifanc hynny sydd eu hangen fwyaf. Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda hi ar y gwaith pwysig hwn.
Mae'r materion a godwyd yn yr ymgynghoriad yn dangos bod hwn yn faes lle mae llawer o ddiddordebau, gan gynnwys o sectorau a sefydliadau nad ydyn nhw'n ymwneud ag addysg ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Ac felly mae angen i mi fod yn glir, fel yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, mai fy mlaenoriaeth i yw lles a dysgu ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Dyna fydd y sbardun y tu ôl i'm gweithredoedd a bydd yn ganolog wrth fynd ati i archwilio'r cynigion ymhellach.
I gloi, rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i sicrhau bod ein system addysg yn cefnogi pob plentyn a'i uchelgeisiau. Byddaf yn parhau i archwilio newidiadau i batrwm y flwyddyn ysgol lle gall y rhain gefnogi cyrhaeddiad, uchelgais a lles, yn enwedig i'r rhai mwyaf difreintiedig, er mwyn rhoi'r cyfleoedd gorau iddyn nhw mewn dysgu ac mewn bywyd. A byddaf yn gwneud hyn dros weddill tymor y Senedd hon, gan weithio mewn partneriaeth â'r sector addysg, plant, pobl ifanc a rhieni i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud y newidiadau cywir ar yr adeg gywir. Diolch.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her statement today and for meeting with me earlier this afternoon to discuss the contents of the statement? I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has kicked into the long grass its latest plans for changes to the school year. But we should be very clear that these plans haven't gone away for good, and they appear as though they might be back with a vengeance in two years' time, should this complacent Welsh Labour Government remain in power by then.
We know that it was a hugely unpopular policy across a range of sectors in Wales and, back in January, 11 different bodies came together, including teaching unions, farming unions and representatives from the tourism sector and many more, and wrote to the education Minister at the time to warn about the damage that these plans could cause right across Wales. The letter said, and I quote:
'This proposal runs the risk of fixing a problem that does not exist, when there is also little public appetite for such a change.'
End quote. And they're right. The evidence base for bringing forward the change is weak at best. These ideas about lost learning over the summer months are flawed to begin with. We know that this evidence is often based on countries like the USA, which have a much have a much longer summer break than we do. In fact, our summer break is already amongst the shortest in Europe, and these plans would have seen it reduced further. And countries above us in the Programme for International Student Assessment rankings—and there are many of them—have significantly longer summer breaks than we do.
But even recent research from the USA shows that Welsh Government's core assumption that poorer pupils are disproportionately impacted by the summer break is flawed in the first place. Research conducted just before the pandemic by American academics Megan Kuhfeld and Karyn Lewis said, and I again quote,
'recent data does not show that summer test score drops are concentrated among students in poverty'.
End quote. So, does the Welsh Government now accept that the academic evidence about the impact a summer holiday has on lower income earners has changed, or is the Cabinet Secretary still clinging onto outdated assumptions about the issue?
But let me return to that earlier letter, because in it they say, and I quote:
'The education unions are also incredulous that, at a time when schools are facing a crisis in funding, recruitment and pupil behaviour, the Welsh Government should be so engaged in this entirely unnecessary distraction.'
I'm sure they don't use a word like 'incredulous' lightly. But they're entirely right. After 25 years of this Welsh Labour Government we've seen hardworking pupils and staff completely undermined by Labour's record of falling standards. We've been at the bottom of UK-wide league tables in every single subject assessed by PISA every time that we've been assessed. What a damning indictment of the shambolic education policies of this Welsh Labour Government. We also know that the policy so far has cost the Welsh taxpayer £350,000. What a difference that could have made to our schools. The message from parents and teachers alike is clear, Cabinet Secretary: we don't want this proposal delayed; we want it consigned to the dustbin of history for good.
More widely, the tourism and hospitality sector were clear that these changes would mean businesses closed and jobs lost. That's on top of the other policies pursued by this Welsh Labour Government, such as a tourism tax, which seem intended to decimate a sector on which one in seven jobs in Wales relies. The agricultural sector was also clear that it would massively damage those farms that have diversified to capitalise on the summer months. And similarly, the Royal Welsh Show said that schools remaining open during show week would lead to a £1 million loss to the show and threaten its future financial viability. Representatives from across these sectors said in that damning letter that these are
'a few of many arguments that we have all repeated time and again to Welsh Government officials, but no one is listening.'
So, did the Welsh Government do its due diligence on the impact that these changes would have on other sectors in Wales, and why does she think that they said that no-one is listening?
And finally, it would be remiss of me not to note, Llywydd, where this sits in the wider picture of the last few weeks of decisions taken by this Welsh Labour Government.