Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
06/11/2024Cynnwys
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 Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni fydd cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Samuel Kurtz.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item on our agenda will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, and the first question is from Samuel Kurtz.
1. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r sector rhentu preifat? OQ61803
1. How is the Welsh Government supporting the private rented sector? OQ61803
Diolch. We are committed to using all available levers to ensure we maintain a viable private rented sector in Wales, offering high-quality and choice of accommodation. We have a number of grant schemes that are available to landlords or tenants and provide guidance and information through Rent Smart Wales.
Diolch. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddefnyddio pob ysgogiad sydd ar gael i sicrhau ein bod yn cynnal sector rhentu preifat hyfyw yng Nghymru, gan gynnig dewis eang o lety o ansawdd uchel. Mae gennym nifer o gynlluniau grant ar gael i landlordiaid neu denantiaid, ac rydym yn darparu arweiniad a gwybodaeth drwy Rhentu Doeth Cymru.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Recently, I had—well, I can’t call it an honour—I visited some housing stock in my constituency, which is owned by a private landlord, and the conditions, which the tenants live in, I can only describe as squalid. And I’m thankful to Carmarthenshire County Council and Pembrokeshire County Council—this landlord owns properties in both local authorities’ areas—because I’m working with them now to try and help these tenants because of the situation that they find themselves in. But one thing that really took me aback was that Rent Smart Wales has the ability to deter good-quality landlords from the sector, but not then hold those rogue landlords to account at the same time. So, what are you doing within your role and with other Cabinet Secretaries to make sure that Rent Smart Wales has the teeth to go after rogue landlords that are taking advantage of their tenants, but also to make it as welcoming and forthcoming as possible to get more private landlords into the sector to provide those high-quality, affordable homes that you mentioned in your opening response?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn ddiweddar, cefais y—wel, ni allaf ei galw’n fraint—ond ymwelais â thai yn fy etholaeth, sy’n eiddo i landlord preifat, ac roedd yr amodau y mae’r tenantiaid yn byw ynddynt yn wael. Ac rwy’n ddiolchgar i Gyngor Sir Caerfyrddin a Chyngor Sir Penfro—mae’r landlord hwn yn berchen ar eiddo yn ardaloedd y ddau awdurdod lleol—oherwydd rwy'n gweithio gyda hwy nawr i geisio helpu’r tenantiaid hyn oherwydd y sefyllfa y maent ynddi. Ond un peth a wnaeth fy synnu’n fawr oedd bod gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru allu i rwystro landlordiaid o ansawdd da o'r sector, ond nid i ddwyn landlordiaid diegwyddor i gyfrif ar yr un pryd. Felly, beth rydych chi'n ei wneud yn eich rôl a chydag Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet eraill i sicrhau bod gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru allu i gosbi landlordiaid diegwyddor sy'n cymryd mantais ar eu tenantiaid, ond hefyd i'w gwneud mor groesawgar ac mor hawdd â phosibl i ddenu mwy o landlordiaid preifat i’r sector i ddarparu’r cartrefi fforddiadwy o ansawdd uchel hynny y sonioch chi amdanynt yn eich ymateb agoriadol?
Diolch, Sam, and I'm sorry to hear about the issues that your constituents have. Rent Smart Wales is responsible for the registration and licensing of landlords, ensuring that they’re trained and meet requirements in respect of being fit and proper persons. If the landlord is in breach of standards set out in the Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022, then the tenant should report this to the relevant local authority's environmental health team, who have the responsibility to investigate those breaches. So, if a landlord is in breach of their contract, then any notices that they may serve in the future, including for rent or a no-fault eviction, may be invalid. So, I’d very much make sure that your constituents are raising that with the local authority.
Diolch, Sam, ac mae’n ddrwg gennyf glywed am y problemau sydd gan eich etholwyr. Rhentu Doeth Cymru sy’n gyfrifol am gofrestru a thrwyddedu landlordiaid, gan sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu hyfforddi ac yn bodloni gofynion o ran bod yn bobl addas a phriodol. Os yw’r landlord yn torri’r safonau a nodir yn Rheoliadau Rhentu Cartrefi (Ffitrwydd Annedd i Bobl Fyw Ynddi) (Cymru) 2022, dylai’r tenant roi gwybod i dîm iechyd yr amgylchedd yr awdurdod lleol perthnasol, sy’n gyfrifol am ymchwilio i’r achosion hynny. Felly, os yw landlord yn torri eu contract, gallai unrhyw hysbysiadau y gallent eu cyflwyno yn y dyfodol, gan gynnwys ar gyfer rhenti neu droi allan heb fai, fod yn annilys. Felly, buaswn yn sicrhau bod eich etholwyr yn codi hynny gyda’r awdurdod lleol.
Unfortunately, rogue landlords are probably not a rarity in Cardiff, which they may well be in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire—I hope so. But I’ve got a tenant who has been living in this property for quite a long time with a young child, and we all know how difficult it can be to get a tenancy when you’ve got a child. And they’ve just been suffering for years and years from the landlord refusing to do the necessary repairs. They’ve now been issued with a compulsory improvement order by environmental health, but, frankly, they should have been taken out long before now, because this landlord owns the majority of the flats in this large block and this is not the first situation of this kind that I have experienced. And I think that there’s a disconnect between environmental health and the licensing system, because environmental health needs to be reporting to Rent Smart Wales that they’ve had this problem with the licensee and, therefore, there needs to be a massive question mark over it. Rent Smart Wales just seem to lack the teeth that we need to make the licensing system have more effect.
Yn anffodus, mae'n debyg nad oes prinder o landlordiaid diegwyddor yng Nghaerdydd, yn wahanol, o bosibl, i sir Benfro a sir Gaerfyrddin—rwy'n gobeithio. Ond mae gennyf denant sydd wedi bod yn byw mewn eiddo ers amser maith gyda phlentyn ifanc, a gŵyr pob un ohonom pa mor anodd y gall fod i gael tenantiaeth pan fydd gennych blentyn. Ac maent wedi bod yn dioddef ers blynyddoedd lawer am fod y landlord yn gwrthod gwneud y gwaith atgyweirio angenrheidiol. Maent bellach wedi cael gorchymyn gwella gorfodol gan iechyd yr amgylchedd, ond a dweud y gwir, dylai hynny fod wedi digwydd ymhell cyn hyn, gan mai’r landlord hwn sy’n berchen ar y rhan fwyaf o’r fflatiau yn y bloc mawr hwn ac nid dyma’r achos cyntaf rwy'n ymwybodol ohono. A chredaf fod datgysylltiad rhwng iechyd yr amgylchedd a’r system drwyddedu, gan fod angen i'r adran iechyd yr amgylchedd roi gwybod i Rhentu Doeth Cymru eu bod wedi cael y broblem hon gyda’r trwyddedai ac felly fod angen marc cwestiwn enfawr drosto. Ymddengys nad oes gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru y dannedd sy'n angenrheidiol i wneud i'r system drwyddedu gael mwy o effaith.
Thank you for that question and for raising your constituent's concerns and their situation, as well as Sam's in his initial question. Again, if a landlord is in breach of standards set out in the fitness for human habitation regulations, then the tenant should report that, as your constituents have, to the relevant local authority. The local authority then should inform Rent Smart Wales of any enforcement or improvement notices that have been served on a landlord or, if they fail to rectify that issue, Rent Smart Wales can issue fixed-penalty notices and consider revoking a landlord's licence, which would mean that they could no longer legally manage the letting and would need to appoint an agent. A tenant may also be entitled, under the new occupation contracts, to withhold their rent if they have reported issues affecting the habitability of the property and the landlord has failed to rectify the issue. So, there are ways to make sure that tenants have recourse to this.
But I would just like to put on record that we do have the White Paper on adequate housing, and we’re keen to look at annual check-ins that will confirm whether landlords and properties are active in the sector to ensure that we’ve got up-to-date data rather than waiting for the end of the five-year registration or licensing period, so we've got a better understanding of who's in that. So, we do have the White Paper at the moment. And I'm also keen to see how we can support good landlords who provide high-quality, safe and affordable accommodation, so that people feel safe to stay and invest in the sector for the future.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn ac am godi pryderon eich etholwr a’u sefyllfa, yn ogystal â rhai Sam yn ei gwestiwn cychwynnol. Unwaith eto, os yw landlord yn torri’r safonau a nodir yn y rheoliadau ffitrwydd annedd i bobl fyw ynddi, dylai’r tenant roi gwybod am hynny, fel y gwnaeth eich etholwyr, i’r awdurdod lleol perthnasol. Dylai’r awdurdod lleol wedyn roi gwybod i Rhentu Doeth Cymru am unrhyw hysbysiadau gorfodi neu wella sydd wedi’u cyflwyno i landlord, neu os nad ydynt yn unioni’r mater hwnnw, gall Rhentu Doeth Cymru gyhoeddi hysbysiadau cosb benodedig ac ystyried dirymu trwydded y landlord, a fyddai’n golygu na allent bellach fod yn gyfrifol am reoli'r llety gosod yn ôl y gyfraith, a byddai angen iddynt benodi asiant. Mae’n bosibl y byddai gan denant hawl hefyd, o dan y contractau meddiannaeth newydd, i atal eu taliadau rhent os ydynt wedi rhoi gwybod am faterion sy’n effeithio ar y gallu i fyw yn yr eiddo a bod y landlord wedi methu unioni’r mater. Felly, mae ffyrdd o sicrhau bod hawliau gan denantiaid i wneud hyn.
Ond hoffwn gofnodi fod gennym y Papur Gwyn ar dai digonol, ac rydym yn awyddus i edrych ar wiriadau blynyddol a fyddai'n cadarnhau a yw landlordiaid ac eiddo yn weithredol yn y sector i sicrhau bod gennym ddata cyfredol yn hytrach nag aros tan ddiwedd y cyfnod cofrestru neu drwyddedu pum mlynedd, fel bod gennym well dealltwriaeth o bwy sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn hynny. Felly, mae gennym y Papur Gwyn ar hyn o bryd. Ac rwyf hefyd yn awyddus i weld sut y gallwn gefnogi landlordiaid da sy'n darparu llety diogel a fforddiadwy o ansawdd uchel, fel bod pobl yn teimlo'n ddiogel i aros a buddsoddi yn y sector ar gyfer y dyfodol.
2. Beth yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch gweithredu rheolaethau rhent? OQ61814
2. What is the Welsh Government's position regarding the implementation of rent controls? OQ61814
Diolch, Luke. Available evidence on rent controls in the private rented sector indicates such measures would likely to be ineffective or may even have negative impacts on affordability. As such, and as set out in our recently published White Paper, we are not currently proposing to take forward national rent control measures.
Diolch, Luke. Mae'r dystiolaeth sydd ar gael ar reoli rhenti yn y sector rhentu preifat yn dangos y byddai mesurau o'r fath yn debygol o fod yn aneffeithiol neu hyd yn oed yn cael effeithiau negyddol ar fforddiadwyedd. Fel y cyfryw, ac fel y nodir yn y Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd gennym yn ddiweddar, nid ydym yn bwriadu bwrw ymlaen â mesurau rheoli rhenti cenedlaethol ar hyn o bryd.
I have to say it is very disappointing that the Welsh Government is retreating from the idea of rent controls, despite the clear power imbalance that exists between tenants and landlords. Now, the White Paper on adequate housing that was launched on 24 October cites an insufficient evidence base for taking forward rent controls—you alluded to that in your answer. But there is a clear evidence base of immediate affordability challenges for tenants, and we can say for sure that private rents have increased dramatically in recent years. There are plenty of examples of places in the world where limits on rent increases have worked to stabilise housing markets. So, I wonder if the Cabinet Secretary could therefore clarify the Government's intentions? Does this mean that the Government is planning to revisit the idea of rent controls when sufficient data is gathered, or has it dismissed the concept altogether, because there is a space and there is a clear need in Wales for a well-designed rent control system?
Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud ei bod yn siomedig iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cilio oddi wrth y syniad o reoli rhenti, er gwaethaf yr anghydbwysedd grym clir sy’n bodoli rhwng tenantiaid a landlordiaid. Nawr, mae'r Papur Gwyn ar dai digonol a lansiwyd ar 24 Hydref yn nodi sylfaen dystiolaeth annigonol ar gyfer bwrw ymlaen â rheoli rhenti—fe gyfeirioch chi at hynny yn eich ateb. Ond mae sylfaen dystiolaeth glir o heriau fforddiadwyedd uniongyrchol i denantiaid, a gallwn ddweud i sicrwydd fod rhenti preifat wedi cynyddu’n aruthrol yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae digonedd o enghreifftiau o leoedd yn y byd lle mae cyfyngiadau ar godiadau rhent wedi gweithio i sefydlogi marchnadoedd tai. Tybed a allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet egluro bwriadau'r Llywodraeth felly? A yw hyn yn golygu bod y Llywodraeth yn bwriadu ailystyried y syniad o reoli rhenti pan fydd digon o ddata wedi'i gasglu, neu a yw wedi diystyru’r cysyniad yn gyfan gwbl, gan fod lle ac angen clir yng Nghymru am system reoli rhenti wedi’i chynllunio’n dda?
Diolch, Luke. The evidence from the Green Paper consultation, and evidence from the national rent cap in Scotland, indicates that rent control measures are unlikely to be effective and may have an adverse impact on the affordability and supply. Scotland have now lifted their national rent cap and are now taking forward legislation that will require the collection of rent data and provision for local authorities to apply for specific areas to be designated a rent pressure zone. We've always been clear that we would not introduce rent controls without an understanding of the potential unintended consequences of rent control on the private rented sector. So, we've considered a range of evidence, which has informed the White Paper, and, as I said, that evidence available at the moment indicates that rent control measures would likely be ineffective, and, as I said, may have that adverse impact on affordability.
Diolch, Luke. Mae’r dystiolaeth o’r ymgynghoriad ar y Papur Gwyrdd, a thystiolaeth o’r cap rhenti cenedlaethol yn yr Alban, yn dangos bod mesurau rheoli rhenti yn annhebygol o fod yn effeithiol ac y gallent gael effaith andwyol ar fforddiadwyedd a chyflenwad. Mae’r Alban bellach wedi codi eu cap rhenti cenedlaethol ac yn bwrw ymlaen â deddfwriaeth a fydd yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gasglu data rhent, a darpariaeth i awdurdodau lleol wneud cais i ddynodi ardaloedd penodol yn barthau pwysau rhent. Rydym bob amser wedi dweud yn glir na fyddem yn cyflwyno mesurau rheoli rhenti heb ddealltwriaeth o ganlyniadau anfwriadol posibl rheoli rhenti ar y sector rhentu preifat. Felly, rydym wedi ystyried ystod o dystiolaeth, sydd wedi llywio’r Papur Gwyn, ac fel y dywedais, mae’r dystiolaeth sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd yn nodi y byddai mesurau rheoli rhenti'n debygol o fod yn aneffeithiol, ac fel y dywedais, gallent gael effaith niweidiol ar fforddiadwyedd.
I don't think the Welsh Government's position on rent controls is clear, because you have flirted with rent controls in the past, and have consulted on this topic, with the idea, thankfully, being ruled out, albeit tepidly, from the Government. But I'd appreciate if the Welsh Government could actually make their position clearer on the subject and confirm to the Senedd that the Welsh Government does not have plans to follow Scotland's disastrous lead by implementing rent controls, which end up exacerbating the very problem they are designed to remedy, with thousands of landlords taking their properties off the rental market. I'm sure they wouldn't have done that if the Welsh Government's messaging on this matter were clearer. The National Residential Landlords Association said that rent controls would serve only to decimate this sector further and would be a disaster for tenants. And looking over to Dublin and the Republic of Ireland, we can see the real-world effect of this well-meaning but foolish policy, which has greatly exacerbated their housing crisis. So, could the Cabinet Secretary outline whether the Welsh Government's position remains one of rejecting the idea of rent controls, and whether that is also the position of the UK Labour Government, and that the Welsh Government will instead focus on house building, to ensure an adequate supply of housing in the social and private rented sectors? I think we need less ambiguity and more clarity around this subject. Thank you.
Ni chredaf fod safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar reoli rhenti yn glir, gan eich bod wedi chwarae â'r syniad o reoli rhenti yn y gorffennol, ac wedi ymgynghori ar y pwnc hwn, gyda'r syniad, diolch byth, yn cael ei ddiystyru, er yn llugoer, gan y Llywodraeth. Ond buaswn yn gwerthfawrogi pe gallai Llywodraeth Cymru nodi eu safbwynt ar y pwnc yn gliriach, a chadarnhau i’r Senedd nad oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynlluniau i ddilyn arweiniad trychinebus yr Alban drwy roi mesurau rheoli rhenti ar waith, sy’n gwaethygu’r union broblem y maent wedi'u cynllunio i'w hunioni, gyda miloedd o landlordiaid yn tynnu eu heiddo oddi ar y farchnad rentu. Rwy'n siŵr na fyddent wedi gwneud hynny pe bai negeseuon Llywodraeth Cymru ar y mater hwn yn gliriach. Dywedodd Cymdeithas Genedlaethol y Landlordiaid Preswyl y byddai mesurau rheoli rhenti'n dinistrio'r sector hwn ymhellach ac y byddai'n drychineb i denantiaid. Ac wrth edrych draw at Ddulyn a Gweriniaeth Iwerddon, gallwn weld effaith wirioneddol y polisi llawn bwriadau da ond ffôl hwn, sydd wedi gwaethygu eu hargyfwng tai yn sylweddol. Felly, a allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nodi a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i wrthod y syniad o reoli rhenti, ac ai dyna safbwynt Llywodraeth Lafur y DU hefyd, ac y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, yn hytrach, yn canolbwyntio ar adeiladu tai, er mwyn sicrhau cyflenwad digonol o dai yn y sectorau rhentu cymdeithasol a phreifat? Credaf fod angen llai o amwysedd a mwy o eglurder ar y pwnc hwn. Diolch.
Thank you, Gareth. As I said in response to Luke Fletcher, in our recently published White Paper, we are not currently proposing to take forward national rent control measures. As I said, the White Paper is looking to approve the affordability of the private rented sector by exploring how to achieve better and more localised rent data, to improve our understanding of the market rents. We confirmed to social landlords back in May that the current rent settlement, CPI+1, would be extended to cover the next financial year, while we're working with the sector to develop our proposals for a future social rent policy, thereby providing them certainty for 2026. We're going to consult on our proposals for a new social rent policy for Wales next summer.
Diolch, Gareth. Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Luke Fletcher, yn y Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar gennym, nid ydym ar hyn o bryd yn cynnig bwrw ymlaen â mesurau rheoli rhenti cenedlaethol. Fel y dywedais, bwriad y Papur Gwyn yw cymeradwyo fforddiadwyedd y sector rhentu preifat drwy archwilio sut i sicrhau data gwell a mwy lleol ar rentu, er mwyn gwella ein dealltwriaeth o renti’r farchnad. Fe wnaethom gadarnhau i landlordiaid cymdeithasol yn ôl ym mis Mai y byddai’r setliad rhent presennol, CPI+1, yn cael ei ymestyn i gwmpasu’r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, wrth inni weithio gyda’r sector i ddatblygu ein cynigion ar gyfer polisi rhent cymdeithasol yn y dyfodol, a thrwy hynny, darparu sicrwydd iddynt ar gyfer 2026. Byddwn yn ymgynghori ar ein cynigion ar gyfer polisi rhent cymdeithasol newydd i Gymru yn yr haf.
Galwaf yn awr ar lefarwyr y pleidiau ac, yn gyntaf, llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Mark Isherwood.
I now call the party spokespeople. First of all, the Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Mark Isherwood.
Diolch. Labour Welsh Governments slashed funding for housing from 1999, ignoring repeated warnings of a housing crisis, and setting in train the housing supply crisis, which has led to almost 140,000 people on social housing waiting lists now. The 2012 UK housing review stated that, by 2009-10, the Welsh Government had by far the lowest proportional level of housing expenditure of any of the four UK countries, and the Welsh Government has continued to lag ever since. North Wales housing associations have highlighted now the Audit Wales report, which found that, without additional funding, the Welsh Government will miss their 20,000 target by up to 4,140 homes. As the Bevan Foundation states, the delivery of new social homes is lagging behind the Welsh Government’s aspirations, as well as the reality of growing demand. And as Community Housing Cymru states, what they really need is a longer term, sustainable multi-year settlement. What assurances can you therefore provide that the affordable homes funding, which the Welsh Government will receive in consequentials from the UK Government—and, hopefully, more—will be fully allocated to affordable housing in Wales?
Diolch. Mae Llywodraethau Llafur Cymru wedi torri cyllid ar gyfer tai ers 1999, gan anwybyddu rhybuddion mynych am argyfwng tai, ac mae hyn wedi arwain at argyfwng cyflenwad tai sy'n golygu bod bron i 140,000 o bobl bellach ar restrau aros am dai cymdeithasol. Nododd adolygiad tai y DU yn 2012 mai Llywodraeth Cymru, erbyn 2009-10, oedd â'r lefel gyfrannol isaf o bell ffordd o wariant ar dai o unrhyw un o bedair gwlad y DU, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi parhau i fod ar ei hôl hi byth ers hynny. Mae cymdeithasau tai gogledd Cymru wedi tynnu sylw at adroddiad Archwilio Cymru, a ganfu, heb gyllid ychwanegol, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru 4,140 yn fyr o'i tharged o 20,000 o gartrefi. Fel y dywed Sefydliad Bevan, mae darpariaeth cartrefi cymdeithasol newydd yn brin o gymharu â dyheadau Llywodraeth Cymru, yn ogystal â realiti’r galw cynyddol. Ac fel y dywed Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru, yr hyn sydd ei angen arnynt yn fawr yw setliad amlflwyddyn cynaliadwy a hirdymor. Pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi, felly, y bydd y cyllid cartrefi fforddiadwy, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gael fel cyllid canlyniadol gan Lywodraeth y DU—a mwy, gobeithio—yn cael ei ddyrannu’n llawn ar gyfer tai fforddiadwy yng Nghymru?
Thank you, Mark. In terms of your point on affordable homes, I think affordable housing is, and really should be, a priority that we all support in this Chamber. In terms of the work we’re putting in on building more homes, we have—. Over the summer, I wrote to all local authorities, all registered social landlords, and asked them specifically what were the red flags in their programmes in terms of building more homes to rent in the social sector, and we’ve got that information now. And, again, I’ve announced a taskforce as part of that, which will look at the specific blockages within that.
So, I think we are doing everything we can, and I really feel that there is that pace behind it. We all know that we need to build more houses, and that is something that we’re looking to do, as we have done in the past, and we want to see where these blockages are and make sure we do what we can to unblock them.
Diolch, Mark. Ar eich pwynt ynglŷn â chartrefi fforddiadwy, credaf fod tai fforddiadwy yn flaenoriaeth y mae pob un ohonom yn ei chefnogi yn y Siambr hon, fel y dylem. Ar y gwaith a wnawn ar adeiladu mwy o gartrefi, mae gennym—. Dros yr haf, ysgrifennais at bob awdurdod lleol, pob landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig, a gofyn iddynt yn benodol beth oedd y baneri coch yn eu rhaglenni o ran adeiladu mwy o gartrefi i’w rhentu yn y sector cymdeithasol, ac mae’r wybodaeth honno gennym bellach. Ac unwaith eto, rwyf wedi cyhoeddi tasglu fel rhan o hynny, a fydd yn edrych ar y rhwystrau penodol yn hynny o beth.
Felly, credaf ein bod yn gwneud popeth a allwn, ac rwy'n teimlo o ddifrif ein bod yn gweithio'n gyflym. Gŵyr pob un ohonom fod angen inni adeiladu mwy o dai, ac mae hynny’n rhywbeth yr ydym yn bwriadu ei wneud, fel y gwnaethom yn y gorffennol, ac rydym yn awyddus i weld lle mae’r rhwystrau hyn a sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud yr hyn a allwn i gael gwared arnynt.
Thank you, but the question was: what assurances will you provide that the allocation for affordable homes funding you receive in consequentials from the UK Government will be fully allocated to affordable housing in Wales?
Following on from that, last week, Shelter Cymru published a new report showing that, in 2023-24, the total cost of temporary accommodation in Wales reached £99 million, more than double what it was in 2020-21, highlighting the significant increase in temporary accommodation in Wales, and the human impact of this, with over 11,000 people, including almost 3,000 children, now living in such places. Their research also shows increasing reliance on private sector provision. How, therefore, do you respond to calls by the National Residential Landlords Association for Welsh Government action to tackle an acute shortage of homes for private let, with demand outstripping supply, not only putting upward pressure on rents, but also undermining tenants’ purchasing power in the market, making it more difficult to hold bad and criminal landlords to account, and to the statement by Community Housing Cymru—the voice, as you know, of housing associations in Wales—that, as we come up to Welsh Government budget time, there is a need in particular to at least sustain the housing support grant in real terms and to keep people in their homes?
Diolch, ond y cwestiwn oedd: pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi y bydd y dyraniad ar gyfer cyllid tai fforddiadwy a gewch fel cyllid canlyniadol gan Lywodraeth y DU yn cael ei ddyrannu’n llawn ar gyfer tai fforddiadwy yng Nghymru?
At hynny, yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Shelter Cymru adroddiad newydd a ddangosai, yn 2023-24, fod cyfanswm cost llety dros dro yng Nghymru wedi cyrraedd £99 miliwn, mwy na dwbl yr hyn ydoedd yn 2020-21, gan nodi'r cynnydd sylweddol mewn llety dros dro yng Nghymru, ac effaith hyn ar bobl, gyda dros 11,000 o bobl, gan gynnwys bron i 3,000 o blant, bellach yn byw mewn lleoedd o’r fath. Mae eu hymchwil hefyd yn dangos dibyniaeth gynyddol ar ddarpariaeth sector preifat. Sut rydych chi'n ymateb felly i alwadau gan Gymdeithas Genedlaethol y Landlordiaid Preswyl am gamau gweithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd i’r afael â phrinder dybryd o gartrefi i’w gosod yn breifat, gyda’r galw yn fwy na’r cyflenwad, sydd nid yn unig yn rhoi pwysau cynyddol ar renti, ond hefyd yn tanseilio pŵer prynu tenantiaid yn y farchnad, gan ei gwneud yn fwy anodd i ddwyn landlordiaid gwael a throseddol i gyfrif, ac i’r datganiad gan Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru—llais cymdeithasau tai yng Nghymru, fel y gwyddoch—wrth inni agosáu at gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, fod angen cynnal y grant cymorth tai mewn termau real fan lleiaf, a chadw pobl yn eu cartrefi?
Thank you, Mark, and I can assure you that I’ll be making that argument around the housing support grant around the Cabinet table. I’ve heard directly from people and organisations, as you’ve outlined in your question, and we know that the housing support grant has been really, really important, and the uplift that we’ve managed to put in that. We’ve done as much as we can possibly do in the last budget round, but I really think that the work of people who work in the sector is incredible, and, without that, we just put more pressure on other parts of the system.
Going back to the first question—apologies—that you did raise around the UK Government budget, again, this is something that we’re looking at very carefully. We have our budget-setting process going on, as you know, at the moment, but we’re doing all we can to fix—. We’re seeing a UK Government who want to fix the foundations of the country, after the budget and the last 14 years of economic mismanagement we’ve had by the previous Government. We know that we need to build more houses. As I said, we're looking at what more we can do, and I can assure you that I, the First Minister and the Minister for Delivery, and our new taskforce will be very much focused on that, because we know that there are too many people in temporary accommodation. You mentioned the human cost of that, and I do feel that myself very strongly. We often see numbers and we see those statistics, but behind those are individuals.
Diolch, Mark, a gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y byddaf yn codi'r ddadl honno ynghylch y grant cymorth tai o amgylch bwrdd y Cabinet. Rwyf wedi clywed yn uniongyrchol gan bobl a sefydliadau, fel yr amlinelloch chi yn eich cwestiwn, a gwyddom fod y grant cymorth tai wedi bod yn wirioneddol bwysig, a’r cynnydd yr ydym wedi llwyddo i’w wneud iddo. Rydym wedi gwneud cymaint ag y gallwn yn y rownd gyllidebol ddiwethaf, ond rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol fod gwaith y bobl sy'n gweithio yn y sector yn anhygoel, a heb hynny, nid ydym ond yn rhoi mwy o bwysau ar rannau eraill o'r system.
I fynd yn ôl at y cwestiwn cyntaf—ymddiheuriadau—a godwyd gennych ynghylch cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU, unwaith eto, mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydym yn edrych arno’n ofalus iawn. Mae ein proses o osod y gyllideb yn mynd rhagddi, fel y gwyddoch, ar hyn o bryd, ond rydym yn gwneud popeth a allwn i unioni—. Rydym yn gweld Llywodraeth y DU sydd am unioni sylfeini’r wlad, ar ôl y gyllideb a’r 14 mlynedd diwethaf o gamreoli economaidd a gawsom gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol. Gwyddom fod angen inni adeiladu mwy o dai. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn edrych ar beth arall y gallwn ei wneud, a gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y byddaf i, y Prif Weinidog, y Gweinidog Cyflawni a’n tasglu newydd yn canolbwyntio ar hynny, gan y gwyddom fod gormod o bobl mewn llety dros dro. Fe sonioch chi am gost ddynol hynny, ac rwy'n teimlo hynny'n gryf iawn fy hun. Rydym yn aml yn gweld ffigurau ac yn gweld yr ystadegau, ond mae unigolion y tu ôl i’r rheini.
Thank you for answering some of the questions, but you didn't respond to the question about the National Residential Landlords Association highlighting an acute shortage of homes for private let and calling for Welsh Government action accordingly. And, of course, the previous Conservative Governments dealt with the largest deficit in the G20, a global pandemic and a global cost-of-living crisis, and still left a deficit, as a proportion of gross domestic product, at two and a half times less than had been left by the UK Government in 2010. But that aside, I was trying to avoid those sorts of comments today.
The Home Builders Federation stated last month that Wales continues to face a housing affordability crisis, caused in part by a lack of new supply of housing over many decades. Indeed, they say, the latest Welsh Government data on housing supply confirms that new dwellings built in Wales in the 2023-24 financial year was the second lowest on record. Furthermore, the Welsh Government's 'Future Wales: The National Plan 2040' estimates that on average 7,400 additional homes were required annually from 2019-24, with the majority for market sale or rent. However, the average number completed over the last five years was just 5,498. They also—.
Diolch am ateb rhai o’r cwestiynau, ond ni wnaethoch ymateb i’r cwestiwn ynglŷn â Chymdeithas Genedlaethol y Landlordiaid Preswyl yn tynnu sylw at brinder dybryd o gartrefi i’w gosod yn breifat ac yn galw am gamau gweithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn unol â hynny. Ac wrth gwrs, bu'n rhaid i'r Llywodraethau Ceidwadol blaenorol ymdrin â'r diffyg mwyaf yn y G20, pandemig byd-eang ac argyfwng costau byw byd-eang, gan adael diffyg a oedd yn dal i fod, fel cyfran o'r cynnyrch domestig gros, ddwywaith a hanner yn llai na’r hyn a adawyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn 2010. Ond ar wahân i hynny, roeddwn yn ceisio osgoi’r mathau hynny o sylwadau heddiw.
Dywedodd y Ffederasiwn Adeiladwyr Cartrefi fis diwethaf fod Cymru yn parhau i wynebu argyfwng fforddiadwyedd tai, sydd wedi'i achosi'n rhannol gan ddiffyg cyflenwad newydd o dai dros ddegawdau lawer. Yn wir, dywedant fod data diweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru ar y cyflenwad tai yn cadarnhau mai'r nifer o anheddau newydd a adeiladwyd yng Nghymru ym mlwyddyn ariannol 2023-24 oedd y nifer isaf ond un a gofnodwyd erioed. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, roedd fframwaith 'Cymru’r Dyfodol: y cynllun cenedlaethol 2040' gan Llywodraeth Cymru yn amcangyfrif fod angen 7,400 o gartrefi ychwanegol bob blwyddyn ar gyfartaledd rhwng 2019-24, gyda'r rhan fwyaf i'w rhentu neu eu gwerthu ar y farchnad. Fodd bynnag, dim ond 5,498 oedd y nifer cyfartalog a gwblhawyd dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf. Maent hefyd—.
You need to ask your question, please, Mark.
Mae angen ichi ofyn eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda, Mark.
Well, noting the statement earlier by yourself on support for housing delivery, issued only 50 minutes ago, do you agree that we need a whole-market solution to the housing crisis in Wales? And if so, how will you co-produce, co-design and co-deliver solutions with housing providers, including private landlords and house builders, with social landlords and local authorities across the whole sector?
Wel, gan nodi’r datganiad gennych yn gynharach ar gymorth i ddarparu tai, a gyhoeddwyd 50 munud yn ôl yn unig, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod angen ateb marchnad gyfan arnom i’r argyfwng tai yng Nghymru? Ac os felly, sut y byddwch yn cydgynhyrchu, yn cydgynllunio ac yn cydgyflawni atebion gyda darparwyr tai, gan gynnwys landlordiaid preifat ac adeiladwyr tai, gyda landlordiaid cymdeithasol ac awdurdodau lleol ar draws y sector cyfan?
Thank you, Mark. We do have a proud record of delivery in difficult circumstances here in Wales in terms of housing. We've provided record levels of funding to support the delivery of social housing in this Senedd term; it's more than £1.4 billion allocated. Despite the challenging budgets that we have seen over the last 14 years, we have protected the budget for social housing. In 2023-24, we awarded an additional £61 million on top of the original £300 million budget for that social housing grant, but there is always more to be done. You know, I'm very acutely aware of that, and I'm really focused on what more we can do together. And that's why one of the reasons I wrote to all the registered social landlords, and wrote to local authorities, to see what more can be done. And I will work in partnership across all elements of the sector to see how we can do this, because it is really important we come together. We all have this ambition, and I think we need to really focus on how we can deliver for people in Wales.
Diolch, Mark. Mae gennym hanes balch o gyflawni mewn amgylchiadau anodd yma yng Nghymru o ran tai. Rydym wedi darparu’r lefelau uchaf erioed o gyllid i gefnogi darparu tai cymdeithasol yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon; mae mwy na £1.4 biliwn wedi'i ddyrannu. Er y cyllidebau heriol a welsom dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf, rydym wedi diogelu’r gyllideb ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol. Yn 2023-24, dyfarnwyd £61 miliwn yn ychwanegol gennym ar ben y gyllideb wreiddiol o £300 miliwn ar gyfer y grant tai cymdeithasol, ond mae mwy i’w wneud bob amser. Wyddoch chi, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o hynny, ac rwy'n canolbwyntio'n agos ar beth arall y gallwn ei wneud gyda'n gilydd. A dyna pam mai un o'r rhesymau yr ysgrifennais at yr holl landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig, ac at awdurdodau lleol, oedd er mwyn gweld beth arall y gellir ei wneud. A byddaf yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth ar draws pob rhan o'r sector i weld sut y gallwn wneud hyn, gan ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig ein bod yn dod at ein gilydd. Mae hyn yn uchelgais gan bob un ohonom, a chredaf fod angen inni ganolbwyntio ar sut y gallwn gyflawni ar ran pobl yng Nghymru.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. 'Austerity has ended'—these were the words of the First Minister yesterday. I know it will be news to the councils across Wales that are in the midst of a financial crisis, facing a £559 million shortfall. They need a 7 per cent revenue increase just to maintain the current services, let alone investment in improvements. I'd be interested to know if the Cabinet Secretary also believes that austerity is over. The UK budget announced funding of £1.7 billion for Wales. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a timeline for this £1.7 billion spend and let us know how much she is requesting for local authorities, when in discussions with the financial Secretary, and will it be enough to cover the whole of the £559 million gap?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. 'Mae cyni wedi dod i ben'—dyna eiriau'r Prif Weinidog ddoe. Gwn y bydd hynny'n newyddion i’r cynghorau ledled Cymru sydd yng nghanol argyfwng ariannol, ac yn wynebu diffyg o £559 miliwn. Mae angen cynnydd refeniw o 7 y cant arnynt ddim ond i gynnal gwasanaethau presennol, heb sôn am fuddsoddi mewn gwelliannau. Hoffwn wybod a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hefyd yn credu bod cyni wedi dod i ben. Cyhoeddodd cyllideb y DU gyllid o £1.7 biliwn i Gymru. A allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddarparu amserlen ar gyfer y gwariant hwn o £1.7 biliwn a rhoi gwybod inni faint y mae’n gofyn amdano ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol mewn trafodaethau â’r Ysgrifennydd cyllid, ac a fydd yn ddigon i lenwi’r bwlch cyfan o £559 miliwn?
Diolch, Peredur. You know, we have to remember here that we've got that £22 billion black hole from the previous UK Governments that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has started to have to fix. The position of the new UK Government that we've inherited cannot be turned around in one budget, and I think we have to be aware of that, and it's going to take time for public finances to recover. The budget is welcome and it's a welcome investment in Wales, its people and its communities, local businesses and public services. You know that the wider financial context remains challenging, remains difficult, but the budget does represent vital first steps forward to fixing that damage that we have inherited.
In terms of local authorities in particular, I obviously meet local authority leaders regularly, I speak to them regularly. And this is all about how we work in partnership to deliver the best that we possibly can, because local authorities have been under a huge amount of pressure over a number of years now, and we’ve done the best we can here in Wales to protect our local authorities. They’ve been under that pressure, as I say, for a number of years, and I’m very acutely aware of that and I hear that directly from them.
Diolch, Peredur. Wyddoch chi, mae'n rhaid inni gofio yma fod gennym dwll du o £22 biliwn gan Lywodraethau blaenorol y DU y mae Canghellor newydd y Trysorlys, Rachel Reeves, wedi dechrau gorfod ei lenwi. Ni ellir trawsnewid y sefyllfa y mae Llywodraeth newydd y DU wedi’i hetifeddu mewn un gyllideb, a chredaf fod yn rhaid inni fod yn ymwybodol o hynny, ac y bydd yn cymryd amser i gyllid cyhoeddus adfer. Mae’r gyllideb i’w chroesawu, ac mae’n fuddsoddiad i’w groesawu yng Nghymru, ei phobl a’i chymunedau, busnesau lleol a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Fe wyddoch fod y cyd-destun ariannol ehangach yn parhau i fod yn heriol, yn parhau i fod yn anodd, ond mae'r gyllideb yn cynrychioli'r camau cyntaf hanfodol ymlaen at unioni'r niwed a etifeddwyd gennym.
O ran awdurdodau lleol yn benodol, rwy’n amlwg yn cyfarfod ag arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol yn rheolaidd, rwy’n siarad â hwy'n rheolaidd. Ac mae hyn yn ymwneud â sut rydym yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth i gyflawni'r gorau sy'n bosibl, gan fod awdurdodau lleol wedi bod o dan bwysau aruthrol dros nifer o flynyddoedd bellach, ac rydym wedi gwneud ein gorau yma yng Nghymru i ddiogelu ein hawdurdodau lleol. Maent wedi bod o dan bwysau, fel y dywedaf, ers nifer o flynyddoedd, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o hynny ac rwy'n clywed hynny'n uniongyrchol ganddynt hwy.
Diolch. It is disappointing that that assurance isn’t there at the moment. I’m sure you are listening to local authorities. I’ve been speaking to them as well, and they are making those asks as to how much of that £1.7 billion will be coming their way to help the most vulnerable in our societies. We also heard yesterday that the changes in national insurance contributions will be fully funded, separate from the £1.7 billion, based on the ONS definition of public sector workers. Could the Cabinet Secretary clarify this definition and confirm whether it includes third sector workers contracted to local authorities? Does the Cabinet Secretary acknowledge that employer national insurance increases will have a huge impact on the third sector and the services that they provide on behalf of local authorities?
Diolch. Mae’n siomedig nad yw’r sicrwydd hwnnw yno ar hyn o bryd. Rwy’n siŵr eich bod yn gwrando ar awdurdodau lleol. Rwyf innau wedi bod yn siarad â hwy, ac maent yn gofyn y cwestiynau hynny ynghylch faint o'r £1.7 biliwn a gaiff ei ddarparu iddynt hwy i helpu'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau. Clywsom ddoe hefyd y bydd y newidiadau mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol yn cael eu hariannu’n llawn, ar wahân i’r £1.7 biliwn, yn seiliedig ar ddiffiniad y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol o weithwyr y sector cyhoeddus. A allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet egluro’r diffiniad hwn a chadarnhau a yw’n cynnwys gweithwyr y trydydd sector sydd wedi’u contractio i awdurdodau lleol? A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cydnabod y bydd codiadau i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn cael effaith enfawr ar y trydydd sector a’r gwasanaethau y maent yn eu darparu ar ran awdurdodau lleol?
Diolch, Peredur. HM Treasury have acknowledged that the change to employer national insurance contributions from April will increase costs for public sector employers, and they’ve said that they’ll provide funding to the public sector to support them with additional costs associated with these changes. We’re working with HM Treasury to clarify the details, and I can assure you that we’ll provide further information as soon as we possibly can.
Diolch, Peredur. Mae Trysorlys EF wedi cydnabod y bydd y newid i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr o fis Ebrill yn cynyddu costau i gyflogwyr yn y sector cyhoeddus, ac maent wedi dweud y byddant yn darparu cyllid i’r sector cyhoeddus i’w cefnogi â chostau ychwanegol sy’n gysylltiedig â’r newidiadau hyn. Rydym yn gweithio gyda Thrysorlys EF i gael eglurder ynghylch y manylion, a gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y byddwn yn darparu rhagor o wybodaeth cyn gynted ag y gallwn.
Okay, that’s not quite as positive as what the finance Secretary said yesterday, but I know there are lots of things to be worked through. I’ll look forward to getting that update from you.
Finally, can the Cabinet Secretary assure us that consequentials from the social care spend in England will go directly to Welsh councils rather than being absorbed into the Welsh health budget, to ensure that councils are able to fund the vital services?
Iawn, nid yw hynny mor gadarnhaol â’r hyn a ddywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd cyllid ddoe, ond gwn fod llawer o bethau i’w gweithio drwyddynt. Edrychaf ymlaen at gael y diweddariad hwnnw gennych.
Yn olaf, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi sicrwydd i ni y bydd cyllid canlyniadol yn sgil y gwariant ar ofal cymdeithasol yn Lloegr yn mynd yn uniongyrchol i gynghorau Cymru yn hytrach na chael ei amsugno i gyllideb iechyd Cymru, er mwyn sicrhau bod cynghorau'n gallu ariannu gwasanaethau hanfodol?
I can certainly make sure that we write to you further on that, because this is something that I know local authorities are very concerned about. Again, I speak to them regularly, and social care is one of those challenges that comes up time and time again. I’ve heard the pressure that they’ve been under and face, and I know that the finance Secretary is very much aware of that as well. I can make sure we write to you with some further information specifically on that.
Yn bendant, gallaf sicrhau y byddwn yn ysgrifennu atoch ymhellach ynglŷn â hynny, gan fod hyn yn rhywbeth y gwn fod awdurdodau lleol yn bryderus iawn yn ei gylch. Unwaith eto, rwy’n siarad â hwy'n rheolaidd, ac mae gofal cymdeithasol yn un o’r heriau sy’n codi dro ar ôl tro. Rwyf wedi clywed am y pwysau sydd wedi bod arnynt ac y maent yn ei wynebu, a gwn fod yr Ysgrifennydd cyllid yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny hefyd. Gallaf sicrhau ein bod yn ysgrifennu atoch gyda gwybodaeth bellach am hynny'n benodol.
3. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig i sefydliadau sy'n trosi eiddo masnachol gwag yn dai preswyl? OQ61799
3. What support does the Welsh Government offer to organisations that convert empty commercial property into residential houses? OQ61799
Diolch, Adam. Through our funding programmes, we're working with local authorities to redevelop empty properties, including empty commercial properties across Wales, with many of these disused properties being revitalised for mixed-use development, including residential housing.
Diolch, Adam. Drwy ein rhaglenni ariannu, rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i ailddatblygu eiddo gwag, gan gynnwys eiddo masnachol gwag ledled Cymru, gyda llawer o'r eiddo nas defnyddir hyn yn cael eu hadfywio ar gyfer datblygiadau defnydd cymysg, gan gynnwys tai preswyl.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am ei hateb. Mae yna angen dybryd o ran digartrefedd a thai cymdeithasol yn ardal Rhydaman a Dyffryn Aman. Er enghraifft, mae yna tua 400 o bobl ar restr aros tai'r cyngor yn Rhydaman yn unig, gyda’r rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw ar y lefel uchaf o ran angen, felly band A. Mae llawer ohonyn nhw angen tai un person, sydd yn brin iawn, wrth gwrs.
Wrth drafod gyda’r banc bwyd yn lleol a’r cyngor sut ŷn ni’n gallu bod yn ddyfeisgar wrth ymateb i’r angen yma, rŷn ni wedi bod yn trafod gyda Habitat for Humanity, yr elusen sydd ar hyn o bryd yn datblygu cynlluniau peilot yn Lloegr i droi adeiladau gwag yn dai cymdeithasol. Mae diddordeb gyda nhw i wneud rhywbeth yng Nghymru. Mae yna adeiladau gwag gyda ni yn Rhydaman, ac mae diddordeb gyda’r cyngor i fod yn rhan o gynllun peilot o’r fath. Pa gymorth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu cynnig er mwyn hwyluso hyn a’i droi e'n gynllun efallai y gellir wedyn ei efelychu mewn cymunedau eraill ar draws Cymru?
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for her response. There is a dire need in terms of homelessness and social housing in the Ammanford and the Amman Valley area. For example, there are around 400 people on the council’s housing waiting list in Ammanford alone, with most of them on the highest level in terms of need, namely band A. Many of them need one-person accommodation, which is very scarce, of course.
In discussing with the food bank locally and with the council in terms of how we can be innovative in responding to this need, we have been having discussions with Habitat for Humanity, a charity that is currently developing pilots in England in order to turn empty buildings into social housing. They're interested in doing something in Wales. There are empty buildings in Ammanford, and the council is interested in being part of such a pilot scheme. So, what support can the Welsh Government provide in order to facilitate that and to make it a plan that can be emulated in other communities across Wales?
Diolch, Adam. I do very much understand the situation of our town centres, in particular, are facing, and when we see empty properties in those town centres I think we all look at them and think, 'Could they be used for businesses or accommodation?' I know of some places like in my own constituency, actually, where they've worked really hard to put—. The local registered social landlord has actually bought up some of those properties and created extra housing in the city centre, which has been really successful to bring people to the high street as well. So, this is something we are obviously keen on and looking at, and working with local authorities and RSLs to ensure that that happens.
We do have a number of loans and grant schemes that are available that might be useful to know, and different funds. We've got our land and buildings development fund, which is about low-carbon homes through a strong, short supply chain to make use of modern methods of construction. We also know that we've got our empty homes grant. Just for you to know, we've had 904 valid applications for this scheme to date and 122 of those properties completed. But I can write to you on specific funds, and perhaps you could write to me about that particular scheme that you mentioned as well, because I'd be very interested to hear about that.
Diolch, Adam. Rwy'n deall yn iawn y sefyllfa y mae canol ein trefi, yn arbennig, yn ei hwynebu, a phan welwn eiddo gwag yng nghanol y trefi hynny, credaf fod pob un ohonom yn edrych arnynt ac yn meddwl, 'A ellid eu defnyddio ar gyfer busnesau neu lety?' Gwn am rai lleoedd fel yn fy etholaeth fy hun, mewn gwirionedd, lle maent wedi gweithio'n galed iawn i roi—. Mae’r landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig lleol wedi prynu peth o’r eiddo ac wedi creu tai ychwanegol yng nghanol y ddinas, sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn o ran denu pobl i’r stryd fawr hefyd. Felly, mae hyn yn rhywbeth rydym yn amlwg yn hoff ohono ac yn edrych arno, ac rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd.
Mae gennym nifer o fenthyciadau a chynlluniau grant a allai fod yn ddefnyddiol, a gwahanol gronfeydd. Mae gennym ein cronfa datblygu tir ac adeiladau, sy'n ymwneud â chartrefi carbon isel drwy gadwyn gyflenwi gref, fer i wneud defnydd o ddulliau adeiladu modern. Gwyddom hefyd fod gennym ein grant cartrefi gwag. Er gwybodaeth, rydym wedi cael 904 o geisiadau dilys ar gyfer y cynllun hwn hyd yma, ac mae 122 o'r eiddo wedi'i gwblhau. Ond gallaf ysgrifennu atoch ynglŷn â chronfeydd penodol, ac efallai y gallech chi ysgrifennu ataf i ynglŷn â'r cynllun penodol y sonioch chi amdano hefyd, gan y buaswn yn awyddus iawn i glywed am hynny.
I thank my colleague Adam Price for raising this really important issue, because for years we've discussed the shortage of affordable homes. I will declare an interest in this matter and refer Members to my declarations of interest. We have so many empty properties in our constituencies within town centres. One only has to look at towns like Bangor and Caernarfon; those high streets now look really sad because there are so many closed-down properties. It's a fact that the commercial market is shrinking and many ground-floor retail properties are suitable for easy conversion back to homes, but this is of course dependent on an innovate-thinking local authority planning department. Too often, such applications struggle to obtain the necessary change-of-use class allowing conversion to make these homes. So, will you, Cabinet Secretary, perhaps work with or send out guidance notes to local authorities to almost suggest to them that one way they could lower the increase in temporary accommodation spend would be by turning some of these commercial units back into lovely homes, and that planning authorities should see it now as a new direction for some of these town centres? Diolch.
Diolch i fy nghyd-Aelod, Adam Price, am godi’r mater hynod bwysig hwn, oherwydd ers blynyddoedd, rydym wedi trafod y prinder tai fforddiadwy. Rwyf am ddatgan buddiant yn y mater a chyfeirio’r Aelodau at fy natganiadau o fuddiant. Mae gennym gymaint o eiddo gwag yn ein hetholaethau yng nghanol trefi. Nid oes ond angen edrych ar drefi fel Bangor a Chaernarfon; mae’r strydoedd mawr hynny bellach yn edrych yn drist iawn gan fod cymaint o eiddo wedi cau. Mae'n ffaith bod y farchnad fasnachol yn crebachu a bod llawer o eiddo manwerthu ar y llawr gwaelod yn addas i'w troi'n ôl yn gartrefi yn hawdd, ond mae hyn wrth gwrs yn dibynnu ar adrannau cynllunio awdurdodau lleol yn meddwl yn arloesol. Yn rhy aml, mae ceisiadau o'r fath yn methu sicrhau'r dosbarth newid defnydd angenrheidiol i gael caniatâd i droi'r adeiladu hyn yn gartrefi. Felly, a wnewch chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, weithio gyda, efallai, neu anfon canllawiau at awdurdodau lleol i awgrymu iddynt mai un ffordd y gallent leihau’r cynnydd yn y gwariant ar lety dros dro fyddai drwy droi rhai o’r unedau masnachol hyn yn ôl yn gartrefi hyfryd, ac y dylai awdurdodau cynllunio ystyried hynny nawr fel cyfeiriad newydd ar gyfer canol rhai o'r trefi hyn? Diolch.
As I say, I do agree and I've seen where it's started to be done really well. Earlier this week I visited Torfaen County Borough Council, and just across from where they are they're redeveloping an empty property within Pontypool town centre, which will be for assisted accommodation, assisted living, which is really, really interesting. So, I look forward to that scheme opening, but that's just another example, perhaps, on our high streets of seeing a building that isn't suitable or no longer used being brought back to life with people living in it.
I'd also like to take the opportunity to mention our Leasing Scheme Wales campaign. I try to encourage it as much as I can when I go to all local authorities, and I just think if every Member here could also look into the Leasing Scheme Wales campaign that we have got going on—. That actually looks at some private landlords who might actually be looking to leave or give up their property, or perhaps have a property that's empty, and that's a scheme that local authorities administer, so they can contact their local authorities. And I think it's just something that we can help promote. There is a video on Welsh Government website with Rent Smart Wales. Rent Smart Wales, I believe, have sent out information to landlords who might be interested in Leasing Scheme Wales. It started off small. It's only been announced recently, but we are making some really good progress. Some local authorities have only just brought it online, so I know, when I was speaking to Torfaen, that that's just come on. But I really would encourage Members to share that video as much as possible, and perhaps I could write to all Members to make sure you've all got that information.
Fel y dywedaf, rwy'n cytuno, ac rwyf wedi gweld lle mae wedi dechrau digwydd yn dda iawn. Yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, ymwelais â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Torfaen, gyferbyn â'r man lle maent yn ailddatblygu eiddo gwag yng nghanol tref Pont-y-pŵl, a fydd yn llety â chymorth, byw â chymorth, sy'n ddiddorol iawn. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen at weld y cynllun hwnnw’n agor, ond un enghraifft yn unig yw honno, efallai, ar ein strydoedd mawr o adeilad nad yw’n addas neu nad yw’n cael ei ddefnyddio mwyach yn cael ei adfywio gyda phobl yn byw ynddo.
Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hefyd i sôn am ein hymgyrch Cynllun Lesio Cymru. Rwy'n ceisio ei annog mor aml ag y gallaf pan fyddaf yn siarad ag awdurdodau lleol, a phe gallai pob Aelod yma hefyd edrych ar ymgyrch Cynllun Lesio Cymru sydd ar y gweill gennym—. Mae'r cynllun hwnnw'n edrych ar rai landlordiaid preifat a allai fod yn ystyried gadael neu werthu eu heiddo, neu sydd efallai ag eiddo gwag, ac mae hwnnw'n gynllun y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei weinyddu, felly gallant gysylltu â'u hawdurdodau lleol. Ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhywbeth y gallwn helpu i'w hyrwyddo. Mae fideo ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru gyda Rhentu Doeth Cymru. Credaf fod Rhentu Doeth Cymru wedi anfon gwybodaeth at landlordiaid a allai fod â diddordeb yng Nghynllun Lesio Cymru. Fe ddechreuodd yn fach. Dim ond yn ddiweddar y cafodd ei gyhoeddi, ond rydym yn gwneud cynnydd da iawn. Dim ond newydd ei roi ar waith y mae rhai awdurdodau lleol, felly pan oeddwn yn siarad â Thorfaen, rwy'n gwybod mai newydd ddechrau oedd hwnnw. Ond rwy'n annog yr Aelodau'n gryf i rannu'r fideo hwnnw gymaint â phosibl, ac efallai y gallwn ysgrifennu at bob Aelod i sicrhau bod y wybodaeth honno gan bob un ohonoch.
4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am weithredu'r cynllun Arbed yng Nghaerau? OQ61788
4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implementation of the Arbed scheme in Caerau? OQ61788
Diolch, Tom. Welsh Government has awarded £2.65 million of grant funding to Bridgend County Borough Council for remedial works on affected homes in Caerau. My officials recently met with BCBC and we will receive an update on progress to treat the affected properties in early December.
Diolch, Tom. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dyfarnu £2.65 miliwn o gyllid grant i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar gyfer gwaith adfer ar gartrefi yr effeithir arnynt yng Nghaerau. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfu fy swyddogion â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a byddwn yn cael diweddariad ar y cynnydd ar drin yr eiddo yr effeithiwyd arno ddechrau mis Rhagfyr.
I'm grateful to you for your response. Obviously, what has happened in Caerau I think is one of the biggest injustices that we've seen in a long, long time. What we saw was one of the poorest communities in Wales receive remedial works—or not even remedial works, works to insulate their properties, in the first instance—through a Welsh Government project, delivered by the local council, who then contracted a company where a sitting Labour councillor was its director and found shoddy workmanship that meant those houses were in a much worse condition than before they had the work done. Now, it has taken over a decade for work to even begin on fixing the damage done. This is a huge problem, and it has really damaged the faith, I think, that people in Caerau have not only in the scheme but in politics and in politicians. Now, I asked this question alongside Luke Fletcher just over a month ago of the First Minister, and the First Minister said in response to me,
'I know that my colleague the Deputy First Minister has been making sure that the lessons are being learnt.'
Now, that will have been news to me and all of us, I think, and the first time we would have heard that, so can you inform us exactly what that work entails? Is that a formal piece of work commissioned by the Welsh Government, and when can we expect to hear the lessons-learnt exercise from the Deputy First Minister?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi am eich ymateb. Yn amlwg, mae'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghaerau yn un o'r anghyfiawnderau mwyaf a welsom ers amser maith. Yr hyn a welsom oedd un o'r cymunedau tlotaf yng Nghymru yn cael gwaith adferol—nid gwaith adferol hyd yn oed, gwaith i inswleiddio eu heiddo, i gychwyn—drwy brosiect gan Lywodraeth Cymru, wedi'i wneud gan y cyngor lleol, a gontractiodd gwmni wedyn lle roedd cynghorydd Llafur yn gyfarwyddwr a gwelwyd bod gwaith gwael wedi'i wneud a olygai fod y tai hynny mewn cyflwr llawer gwaeth na chyn iddynt gael y gwaith wedi'i wneud. Nawr, mae wedi cymryd dros ddegawd i'r gwaith hyd yn oed ddechrau ar ddatrys y difrod a wnaed. Mae hon yn broblem enfawr, ac mae wedi niweidio'r ffydd sydd gan bobl yng Nghaerau nid yn unig yn y cynllun ond mewn gwleidyddiaeth ac mewn gwleidyddion. Nawr, gofynnais y cwestiwn hwn i'r Prif Weinidog gyda Luke Fletcher ychydig dros fis yn ôl, a dywedodd y Prif Weinidog mewn ymateb i mi,
'Rwy'n gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelod, y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, wedi bod yn sicrhau bod y gwersi'n cael eu dysgu.'
Nawr, bydd hynny wedi bod yn newyddion i mi a phob un ohonom, rwy'n credu, a'r tro cyntaf y byddem wedi clywed hynny, felly a allwch chi ein hysbysu yn union beth y mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n ei olygu? A yw'n ddarn ffurfiol o waith a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a phryd y gallwn ddisgwyl clywed yr ymarfer gwersi a ddysgwyd gan y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog?
Diolch, Tom, and, again, I'd just like to put on record that I recognise and understand the frustration of home owners in Caerau. I know this, as you say, has been a long-standing issue, and I know that residents are being kept informed of progress now. I know that drop-in sessions happen at least weekly, and I know that there will be opportunities to meet an appointed co-ordinator. Bridgend County Borough Council have appointed that community liaison manager to answer any queries from concerned residents, so I just hope that everybody could share that as well with residents in Caerau to make sure that they are aware of those weekly meetings.
And in terms of the lessons learnt, some of the things from the lessons learnt, from those legacy issues at Caerau, have influenced our new Warm Homes programme, in which we have incorporated a higher standard of quality assurance. Just to say, officials are in regular contact with the local authority and we will receive progress updates on a quarterly basis, but I will also ask my officials to update Members of the Senedd as well. But there are some lessons to be learnt as well as that Warm Homes programme, for example, reducing potential conflicts of interest by letting separate contracts for our advice and referral provider and our delivery provider, introducing key performance indicators for complaints received. So, there are lessons that we definitely need to learn, and I can assure you that that is what we're doing.
Diolch, Tom, ac unwaith eto, hoffwn gofnodi fy mod yn cydnabod ac yn deall rhwystredigaeth perchnogion tai yng Nghaerau. Gwn fod hwn wedi bod yn fater hirsefydlog, fel y dywedwch, a gwn fod trigolion yn cael gwybod am gynnydd nawr. Rwy'n gwybod bod sesiynau galw heibio yn digwydd o leiaf bob wythnos, a gwn y bydd cyfleoedd i gyfarfod â chydlynydd a benodwyd. Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi penodi'r rheolwr cyswllt cymunedol hwnnw i ateb unrhyw ymholiadau gan drigolion pryderus, felly rwy'n gobeithio y gallai pawb rannu hynny gyda thrigolion Caerau i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn ymwybodol o'r cyfarfodydd wythnosol hynny.
Ac ar y gwersi a ddysgwyd, mae rhai o'r pethau o'r gwersi a ddysgwyd, o'r materion etifeddol hynny yng Nghaerau, wedi dylanwadu ar ein rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd, lle rydym wedi ymgorffori safon uwch o sicrwydd ansawdd. Os caf ddweud, mae swyddogion mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â'r awdurdod lleol a byddwn yn cael diweddariadau ar gynnydd bob chwarter, ond byddaf hefyd yn gofyn i fy swyddogion roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau'r Senedd hefyd. Ond mae gwersi i'w dysgu yn ogystal â'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd, er enghraifft, lleihau gwrthdaro buddiannau posibl trwy osod contractau ar wahân ar gyfer ein darparwr cyngor a chyfeirio a'n darparwr cyflenwi, gan gyflwyno dangosyddion perfformiad allweddol ar gyfer cwynion a ddaeth i law. Felly, mae yna wersi y mae angen inni eu dysgu yn bendant, a gallaf eich sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud hynny.
Luke Fletcher.
Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I appreciate you allowing me to come in on this. Tom Giffard is right, the residents in Caerau—or at least the feeling I'm getting—have lost complete faith in politicians and organisations to resolve this issue after over a decade or more dealing with it. One resident's daughter has lived in these conditions for as long as she's been alive. Now, I wouldn't accept those living conditions; you wouldn't accept those living conditions; nobody in this Chamber would accept those living conditions.
I just want to pick up on one thing that was said in your answer to Tom Giffard, which is that residents are being given a timeline and a timetable for when works are going to happen. That's not what we're hearing on the ground. A number of residents have approached me over the last couple of months with different dates in hand about when works are going to start, so there's a real communication issue here. So, what I would impress on the Government is that they need to co-ordinate how they're communicating with residents a lot better, because right now that is equally causing as much frustration as the works begin to progress.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich bod yn caniatáu imi ddod i mewn ar hyn. Mae Tom Giffard yn iawn, mae'r trigolion yng Nghaerau—neu o leiaf y teimlad rwy'n ei gael—wedi colli ffydd mewn gwleidyddion a sefydliadau i ddatrys y mater hwn ar ôl dros ddegawd neu fwy o ymwneud ag ef. Mae merch un preswylydd wedi byw o dan yr amodau hyn ar hyd ei hoes. Nawr, ni fyddwn i'n derbyn yr amodau byw hynny; ni fyddech chi'n eu derbyn; ni fyddai neb yn y Siambr hon yn derbyn yr amodau byw hynny.
Hoffwn fynd ar drywydd un peth a ddywedwyd yn eich ateb i Tom Giffard, sef bod trigolion yn cael amserlen ar gyfer pryd y bydd gwaith yn digwydd. Nid dyna beth rydym ni'n ei glywed ar lawr gwlad. Mae nifer o drigolion wedi cysylltu â mi dros y misoedd diwethaf gyda dyddiadau gwahanol ar gyfer pryd y bydd y gwaith yn dechrau, felly mae yna broblem gyfathrebu go iawn yma. Felly, yr hyn rwyf am ei bwysleisio wrth y Llywodraeth yw bod angen iddynt gydlynu sut y dylent gyfathrebu'n llawer gwell â thrigolion, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd mae hynny'n achosi llawn cymaint o rwystredigaeth wrth i'r gwaith ddechrau symud yn ei flaen.
Diolch, Luke. I know of yours and Tom's, and, I know, the Deputy First Minister's, interest in this area. I think, from my perspective, it's hopeful and helpful to know about the new community liaison manager who answers queries from residents, and I think it's important that I can feed that back and that that is fed back to the community liaison manager as well, because I think, as you say, communication is so important, isn't it, if residents have been living with this for such a long time. I think that we can make sure that communication is as clear as possible for residents. So, I'll take that information back as well. But I think it's important that there is somewhere for people to go. There is a drop-in session that happens, as I say, at least weekly, and I would encourage residents to go to that as well.
Diolch, Luke. Rwy'n gwybod am eich diddordeb chi a Tom, a diddordeb y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog yn y maes hwn. Rwy'n credu, o fy safbwynt i, ei bod yn obeithiol ac yn ddefnyddiol gwybod am y rheolwr cyswllt cymunedol newydd sy'n ateb ymholiadau gan drigolion, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig fy mod yn gallu bwydo hynny'n ôl a bod hynny'n cael ei fwydo yn ôl i'r rheolwr cyswllt cymunedol hefyd, oherwydd fel y dywedwch, rwy'n credu bod cyfathrebu mor bwysig, onid yw, os yw'r trigolion wedi bod yn byw gyda hyn ers cymaint o amser. Rwy'n credu y gallwn sicrhau bod cyfathrebu mor glir â phosibl i breswylwyr. Felly, byddaf yn mynd â'r wybodaeth honno yn ôl hefyd. Ond rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig fod rhywle i bobl fynd. Mae sesiwn galw heibio sy'n digwydd, fel y dywedaf, yn wythnosol fan lleiaf, ac rwy'n annog trigolion i fynychu honno hefyd.
5. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn monitro sut y mae awdurdodau lleol yn cyflawni eu dyletswyddau o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010? OQ61777
5. Does the Welsh Government monitor how local authorities fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010? OQ61777
Diolch, Mark. Local authorities are democratically accountable to their electorate. Responsibility for regulating and enforcing the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty falls to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Diolch, Mark. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn atebol yn ddemocrataidd i'w hetholwyr. Y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol sydd â'r cyfrifoldeb o reoleiddio a gorfodi Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 a dyletswydd cydraddoldeb y sector cyhoeddus.
Thank you, and, of course, they have limited powers to pursue individual cases. But, for over nine years, I've worked with disabled people and others across Flintshire seeking to work with Flintshire County Council to remove all barriers along the Wales coastal path, managed by the council, allowing access for all. The campaign includes TCC, a charity that supports 40 member groups in tackling social justice issues within north-east Wales, Cycling UK, TheFDF Centre for Independent Living, Sustrans Cymru, Disabled Ramblers UK, Wheels for Wellbeing, Chester Wheelers, and people with lived experience of the impact of these barriers on them. The current situation contravenes both the UK Equality Act 2010 and the legal and policy frameworks of the Welsh Government and Flintshire County Council itself. Age Cymru also contacted me in the context of the Equality Act after respondents to their annual survey noted that public spaces were becoming increasingly inaccessible for older people due to the disappearance of public toilets, benches, dropped pavements and other essential pieces of infrastructure. What actions can you therefore take when breaches of the legislation such as these are identified by external bodies and people with lived experience?
Diolch, ac wrth gwrs, mae ganddynt bwerau cyfyngedig i fynd ar drywydd achosion unigol. Ond ers dros naw mlynedd, rwyf wedi gweithio gyda phobl anabl ac eraill ledled sir y Fflint sy'n ceisio gweithio gyda Chyngor Sir y Fflint i gael gwared ar bob rhwystr ar hyd llwybr arfordir Cymru, a reolir gan y cyngor, i ganiatáu mynediad i bawb. Mae'r ymgyrch yn cynnwys Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru, elusen sy'n cefnogi 40 o grwpiau sy'n aelodau i fynd i'r afael â materion cyfiawnder cymdeithasol yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, Cycling UK, Canolfan Byw'n Annibynnol TheFDF, Sustrans Cymru, Disabled Ramblers UK, Wheels for Wellbeing, Chester Wheelers, a phobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd o effaith y rhwystrau hyn arnynt. Mae'r sefyllfa bresennol yn mynd yn groes i Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb y DU 2010 a fframweithiau cyfreithiol a pholisi Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Sir y Fflint ei hun. Cysylltodd Age Cymru â mi hefyd yng nghyd-destun y Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb ar ôl i ymatebwyr i'w harolwg blynyddol nodi bod mannau cyhoeddus yn dod yn fwyfwy anhygyrch i bobl hŷn oherwydd diflaniad toiledau cyhoeddus, meinciau, palmentydd wedi'u gostwng a darnau hanfodol eraill o seilwaith. Pa gamau y gallwch chi eu cymryd felly pan fydd achosion o dorri'r ddeddfwriaeth fel y rhain yn cael eu nodi gan gyrff allanol a phobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd?
Diolch, Mark, and thank you—I know you've raised these sorts of issues over a number of years now—and for the work that you do with disabled people's groups as well. I know that you have a long-standing history of that.
The Welsh Government does take a leadership role in promoting the Equality Act across the public sector, including in social partnership, through the workforce partnership council, and the workforce partnership council has promoted the Disability Confident scheme across the public sector, social partners, and produced a variety of statements and reports on diversity, monitoring and things like the gender pay gap. So, there is work ongoing, and I think that it's really important that we also find where there are areas of best practice and how we can share that. There are opportunities where that happens. It includes events such as the one being planned for spring 2025 that showcases best practice and develops new approaches to encourage greater diversity in local democracy. So, there are ways, but we do take that very seriously.
Diolch, Mark, a diolch—rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi codi'r mathau hyn o faterion dros nifer o flynyddoedd nawr—ac am y gwaith a wnewch gyda grwpiau pobl anabl hefyd. Rwy'n gwybod bod gennych hanes hir o hynny.
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru rôl arweiniol yn hyrwyddo'r Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb ar draws y sector cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol, trwy gyngor partneriaeth y gweithlu, ac mae cyngor partneriaeth y gweithlu wedi hyrwyddo'r cynllun Hyderus o ran Anabledd ar draws y sector cyhoeddus, partneriaid cymdeithasol, ac wedi cynhyrchu amryw o ddatganiadau ac adroddiadau ar amrywiaeth, monitro a phethau fel y bwlch cyflog rhwng y rhywiau. Felly, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod hefyd yn dod o hyd i feysydd o arferion gorau a sut y gallwn rannu hynny. Fe geir cyfleoedd lle mae hynny'n digwydd. Mae'n cynnwys digwyddiadau fel yr un sy'n cael ei gynllunio ar gyfer gwanwyn 2025 sy'n arddangos arferion gorau ac yn datblygu dulliau newydd er mwyn annog mwy o amrywiaeth mewn democratiaeth leol. Felly, mae yna ffyrdd, ond rydym o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am dai cydweithredol yng Nghymru? OQ61773
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on co-operative housing in Wales? OQ61773
Diolch, Mike. We're committed to supporting the development of co-operative and community-led housing in Wales. We have increased funding through Cwmpas to £180,000 annually between 2022-23 and 2024-25. Cwmpas is prioritising support for 41 community-led housing groups seeking to deliver affordable housing in Wales.
Diolch, Mike. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi datblygiad tai cydweithredol a thai dan arweiniad y gymuned yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi cynyddu cyllid drwy Cwmpas i £180,000 bob blwyddyn rhwng 2022-23 a 2024-25. Mae Cwmpas yn blaenoriaethu cymorth i 41 o grwpiau tai dan arweiniad y gymuned sy'n ceisio darparu tai fforddiadwy yng Nghymru.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. In terms of co-operative housing, Wales and the rest of Great Britain have substantially less co-operative housing than Europe and North America. Why is co-operative housing so popular in places as diverse as New York City and Scandinavia, but has failed to become a standard form of accommodation in Wales and the rest of Great Britain? As we all know, John Lennon lived in the Dakota building, a co-operative apartment in Manhattan. Some progress has been made, but I believe Vancouver still has more co-operative housing than the whole of Great Britain. The Welsh Government has prioritised registered social landlords as a means to providing social housing. What further action can be taken to increase the number of co-operative housing units?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Ar dai cydweithredol, mae gan Gymru a gweddill Prydain lawer llai o dai cydweithredol nag Ewrop a Gogledd America. Pam mae tai cydweithredol mor boblogaidd mewn llefydd mor amrywiol ag Efrog Newydd a Sgandinafia, ond wedi methu dod yn fath safonol o gartref yng Nghymru a gweddill Prydain? Fel y gŵyr pawb ohonom, roedd John Lennon yn byw yn adeilad Dakota, fflat cydweithredol ym Manhattan. Mae rhywfaint o gynnydd wedi'i wneud, ond rwy'n credu bod gan Vancouver fwy o dai cydweithredol na Phrydain gyfan. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi blaenoriaethu landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig fel modd o ddarparu tai cymdeithasol. Pa gamau pellach y gellir eu cymryd i gynyddu nifer yr unedau tai cydweithredol?
Diolch, Mike, and getting John Lennon into a question is no mean feat, so thank you for that. It must be recognised that we do have different models in Wales when compared to some European countries, and our traditional social housing model is one where local authorities and registered social landlords play a central role. The Danish model, for example, has chosen to drive forward community-led housing instead of our more traditional social housing approach. But we do look to learn where we can. Community-led housing is and continues to be an important part of the housing solution in Wales. We're focusing our efforts on our ambition to end homelessness by providing support at both ends, providing more homes alongside early intervention, prevention and support systems. So, we are working with Cwmpas on a future package of support to continue the growing of the sector, and I'm looking forward to the publication of research being undertaken by Cardiff University and Co-op Dan Do to support needs for the sector.
Diolch, Mike, ac mae cael John Lennon i mewn i gwestiwn yn dipyn o gamp, felly diolch am hynny. Rhaid cydnabod bod gennym wahanol fodelau yng Nghymru o'i gymharu â rhai gwledydd Ewropeaidd, ac mae ein model tai cymdeithasol traddodiadol yn un lle mae awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig yn chwarae rhan ganolog. Mae model Denmarc, er enghraifft, wedi dewis hyrwyddo tai dan arweiniad y gymuned yn hytrach na'n dull mwy traddodiadol ni o gyflenwi tai cymdeithasol. Ond rydym yn ceisio dysgu lle gallwn. Mae tai dan arweiniad y gymuned yn parhau i fod yn rhan bwysig o'r ateb tai yng Nghymru. Rydym yn canolbwyntio ein hymdrechion ar ein huchelgais i roi diwedd ar ddigartrefedd drwy ddarparu cymorth ar y ddau ben, gan ddarparu mwy o gartrefi ochr yn ochr ag ymyrraeth gynnar, atal a systemau cefnogi. Felly, rydym yn gweithio gyda Cwmpas ar becyn cymorth yn y dyfodol i barhau i dyfu'r sector, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gyhoeddi ymchwil sy'n cael ei wneud gan Brifysgol Caerdydd a Co-op Dan Do i gefnogi anghenion y sector.
Cabinet Secretary, while we of course welcome any moves to encourage more housing co-operatives, these are only a small piece of the puzzle. We need to urgently address the supply of housing for rent in the social sector and you are a long way off achieving the 20,000 target. So, while co-operative housing initiatives will play a part in addressing Wales's housing needs, and, hopefully, in time, a large part of that need, we have to address the here and now. Cabinet Secretary, what immediate steps are you taking to address the housing shortage and ensure that no families are forced into long-term temporary accommodation? Thank you.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er ein bod wrth gwrs yn croesawu unrhyw gamau i annog mwy o fentrau tai cydweithredol, dim ond darn bach o'r pos yw'r rhain. Mae angen inni fynd i'r afael ar frys â chyflenwad tai i'w rhentu yn y sector cymdeithasol ac rydych chi'n bell o gyrraedd y targed o 20,000. Felly, er y bydd mentrau tai cydweithredol yn chwarae rhan wrth fynd i'r afael ag anghenion tai Cymru, a gobeithio, ymhen amser, yn rhan fawr o'r angen hwnnw, mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â'r presennol. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gamau uniongyrchol rydych chi'n eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r prinder tai a sicrhau nad oes unrhyw deuluoedd yn cael eu gorfodi i fyw mewn llety dros dro hirdymor? Diolch.
Diolch, Altaf, and, as I said earlier, affordable housing is and should be a priority that we all support. We know that we can't solely continue to deliver homes in the traditional way, which is why innovative housing solutions have been mainstreamed into the social housing grant funding programme. I'd like to encourage all RSLs and local authorities to explore alternative housing solutions, such as community-led housing, as a mechanism to meet the needs of their communities. To support this, we've launched a range of initiatives that will deliver more genuinely affordable homes as quickly as possible to meet that housing need, such as our transitional accommodation capital programme, or as I know it and many in the sector do, TACP, and, as I mentioned earlier, Leasing Scheme Wales. So, we do know that there are lots of things to do on this, but I think this does—. Community-led and co-operative housing certainly has its role, but we know that it's a small sector.
Diolch, Altaf, ac fel y dywedais yn gynharach, mae tai fforddiadwy yn flaenoriaeth y mae pawb ohonom yn ei chefnogi, fel y dylai fod. Gwyddom na allwn barhau i ddarparu cartrefi yn y ffordd draddodiadol yn unig, a dyna pam mae datrysiadau tai arloesol wedi'u prif ffrydio i raglen ariannu'r grant tai cymdeithasol. Hoffwn annog pob landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig ac awdurdod lleol i archwilio atebion tai amgen, fel tai dan arweiniad y gymuned, fel mecanwaith i ddiwallu anghenion eu cymunedau. I gefnogi hyn, rydym wedi lansio ystod o gynlluniau a fydd yn darparu mwy o gartrefi gwirioneddol fforddiadwy cyn gynted â phosibl i ddiwallu'r angen am dai, megis ein rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro, a Chynllun Lesio Cymru fel y soniais yn gynharach. Felly, fe wyddom fod llawer o bethau i'w gwneud ar hyn, ond rwy'n credu bod hyn yn gwneud—. Yn sicr, mae gan dai cydweithredol a thai dan arweiniad y gymuned ran i'w chwarae, ond fe wyddom ei fod yn sector bach.
7. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn gallu darparu gwasanaethau mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn effeithiol? OQ61781
7. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that local authorities are able to effectively deliver services in rural areas? OQ61781
Diolch, Cefin. The Welsh Government will continue to protect local authority services as far as possible, including in rural areas. We're committed to continuing to use and maintain a fair and transparent funding formula for all local authorities, which is agreed with local government.
Diolch, Cefin. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ddiogelu gwasanaethau awdurdodau lleol cyn belled ag y bo modd, gan gynnwys mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i barhau i ddefnyddio a chynnal fformiwla ariannu deg a thryloyw ar gyfer pob awdurdod lleol, fformiwla y cytunir arni gyda llywodraeth leol.
Diolch. Fel y nododd pedwar arweinydd mewn cynghorau yn cael eu harwain gan Blaid Cymru mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn ddiweddar mewn llythyr at y Canghellor cyn y gyllideb, maen nhw'n nodi bod llawer iawn o awdurdodau lleol yn ei gweld hi'n anodd i ddarparu gwasanaethau mewn ardaloedd gwledig, yn arbennig gwasanaethau craidd fel addysg a gofal cymdeithasol. Yn ogystal, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid inni sylweddoli'r pwysau mawr, y straen, sydd ar gynghorwyr sir sydd yn gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau fel hyn, ac mae'r WLGA wedi cydnabod hynny yn ddiweddar. Ac mae'n rhaid inni gofio bod yna bwysau arbennig ar gynghorau mewn ardaloedd gwledig oherwydd y gost ychwanegol o ddarparu gwasanaethau, yn arbennig y gost o deithio o un man i'r llall.
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, wythnos diwethaf, gwnes i lansio strategaeth tlodi gwledig, ac un o'r argymhellion yn y strategaeth oedd bod angen inni osod ar sail statudol prawf fesur gwledig o bob polisi gan Lywodraeth Cymru. A wnewch chi gytuno i archwilio'r posibilrwydd o ddeddfu ar gyfer dyletswydd o'r fath?
Thank you. As four leaders in councils led by Plaid Cymru in rural areas noted recently, in a letter to the Chancellor before the budget, they noted many of our local authorities are finding it difficult to provide services in rural areas, particularly in core services such as education and social care. As well, of course, we have to realise the great pressure and stress on county councillors who have to make these decisions, and the WLGA has recognised that recently. And we do have to remember that there is great pressure on councils in rural areas because of the additional cost of providing services, particularly the cost of travelling from one location to another.
Cabinet Secretary, last week, I launched a strategy on rural poverty, and one of the recommendations in the strategy was that we needed to set on a statutory basis rural-proofing of every Welsh Government policy. Would you agree to explore the possibility of legislating for such a duty?
Diolch, Cefin, and thank you for raising the issues within rural communities. We do recognise that there are particular challenges in rural communities, associated with things like the cost of living and poverty, for example. We know that there are those challenges, and I've heard from local authorities on that in particular, and I'm looking forward to visiting Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire in the next week, I think—so, very shortly—and I'm sure I'll hear some of those issues that you've raised today.
It's not the Welsh Government's intention to develop a rural strategy. We are committed to delivering support across all parts of Wales through a range of policy interventions and funding mechanisms, and we remain steadfast in our core priorities. The Welsh Government does undertake a rural-proofing assessment as part of its integrated impact assessments when developing any policy, and we are committed to eradicating poverty and agree that support should be available to everyone in all parts of Wales. As I said, we do recognise that lived experiences of poverty can be different for many in rural areas.
Diolch, Cefin, a diolch am godi'r problemau mewn cymunedau gwledig. Rydym yn cydnabod bod heriau penodol mewn cymunedau gwledig, heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â phethau fel costau byw a thlodi, er enghraifft. Fe wyddom am yr heriau hynny, a chlywais gan awdurdodau lleol am hynny'n benodol, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymweld â sir Gaerfyrddin a sir Benfro yn yr wythnos nesaf, rwy'n meddwl—felly, yn fuan iawn—ac rwy'n siŵr y byddaf yn clywed am rai o'r problemau yr ydych chi wedi'u codi heddiw.
Nid oes bwriad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu strategaeth wledig. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu cymorth ar draws pob rhan o Gymru drwy ystod o ymyriadau polisi a mecanweithiau ariannu, ac rydym yn parhau i fod yn gadarn yn ein blaenoriaethau craidd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnal asesiad prawfesur polisïau o safbwynt anghenion cefn gwlad fel rhan o'i hasesiadau effaith integredig wrth ddatblygu unrhyw bolisi, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddileu tlodi ac yn cytuno y dylai cymorth fod ar gael i bawb ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn cydnabod y gall profiadau bywyd o dlodi fod yn wahanol i lawer mewn ardaloedd gwledig.
Cwestiwn 8, Natasha Asghar.
Question 8, Natasha Asghar.
Thank you so much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, physically, times are tough and we know that our local authorities have been stretched beyond belief. When it comes—. Sorry, I do apologise, I didn't ask my first question. I'm so sorry.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'n adeg wirioneddol anodd a gwyddom fod ein hawdurdodau lleol dan bwysau anhygoel. Pan ddaw—. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, nid wyf wedi gofyn fy nghwestiwn cyntaf. Mae'n wir ddrwg gennyf.
8. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn cyflawni eu dyletswyddau statudol yn effeithiol? OQ61805
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure local authorities are carrying out their statutory duties effectively? OQ61805
Local authorities in Wales are democratically accountable bodies. Audit Wales, Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales assess their performance. This includes consideration of their compliance with statutory requirements and guidance.
Mae awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru yn gyrff sy'n atebol yn ddemocrataidd. Mae Archwilio Cymru, Estyn ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru yn asesu eu perfformiad. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ystyried eu cydymffurfiaeth â gofynion statudol a chanllawiau.
Thank you so much, Cabinet Secretary. As I mentioned just previously, physically, times are tough for everybody. Therefore, I'm sure that you would have been appalled, as I was, when hearing the recent revelation that Caerphilly County Borough Council has awarded their ex-CEO a £209,000 pay-off in a deal drawn up behind closed doors. Cabinet Secretary, that's a staggering amount of money and could pay for just shy of seven doctors' salaries per year, including pay increments as well. And I think this figure does put everything into perspective for all of us. I'm sure my constituents in Caerphilly would rather that this money was, in fact, spent on more nurses or doctors or, in fact, anything else that would, indeed, be to the local authority's benefit, but not on just a golden handshake for a soon-to-be ex-employee. So, Cabinet Secretary, do you agree with me that this cloak-and-dagger approach is entirely unacceptable, and will you commit to ensuring that councils are as open and transparent as possible with the people that they serve? After all, public funds are, indeed, their money.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fel y soniais o'r blaen, mae'n adeg wirioneddol anodd i bawb. Felly, rwy'n siŵr y byddwch wedi eich brawychu, fel finnau, wrth glywed y datgeliad diweddar fod Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili wedi dyfarnu taliad o £209,000 i'w cyn-brif swyddog gweithredol mewn cytundeb a luniwyd y tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae hwnnw'n swm syfrdanol o arian a gallai dalu cyflogau ychydig o dan saith meddyg y flwyddyn, gan gynnwys cynyddrannau cyflog hefyd. Ac rwy'n credu bod y ffigur hwn yn rhoi popeth mewn persbectif i bob un ohonom. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n well gan fy etholwyr yng Nghaerffili fod yr arian hwn yn cael ei wario ar fwy o nyrsys neu feddygon, neu unrhyw beth arall a fyddai o fudd i'r awdurdod lleol mewn gwirionedd, ond nid ar dâl ymadael i rywun sydd ar fin dod yn gyn-weithiwr. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod gweithredu yn y dirgel fel hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol, ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod cynghorau mor agored a thryloyw â phosibl gyda'r bobl y maent yn eu gwasanaethu? Wedi'r cyfan, arian cyhoeddus yw eu harian.
Diolch, Natasha. Local authorities make decisions. They are accountable for their decisions, so I do agree that local authorities make those decisions and are accountable for them.
Diolch, Natasha. Awdurdodau lleol sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau. Maent yn atebol am eu penderfyniadau, felly rwy'n cytuno bod awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud y penderfyniadau hynny ac yn atebol amdanynt.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Russell George.
And finally, question 9, Russell George.
9. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad ar y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd? OQ61789
9. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Warm Homes programme? OQ61789
We are in the early stages of the new Warm Homes programme, which is an ambitious programme to tackle fuel poverty and the climate emergency. Officials are undertaking a six-month review to ensure the scheme meets the requirements of Welsh householders.
Rydym yng nghamau cynnar y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd, sy'n rhaglen uchelgeisiol i fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a'r argyfwng hinsawdd. Mae swyddogion yn cynnal adolygiad chwe mis i sicrhau bod y cynllun yn bodloni gofynion deiliaid tai Cymru.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and I'm pleased to hear that officials are taking that six-monthly review. Care and Repair tell me that their caseworkers and home energy officers have experienced difficulties in successfully referring their clients into the scheme. Secondly, there's also an issue that has been encountered where there are serious challenges when it comes to meeting the heating needs of their most vulnerable clients. Many of them, of course, have inefficient homes and complex health needs as well.
So, given these challenges, I wonder if the Welsh Government would consider reviewing the eligibility criteria and the funding criteria of the Warm Homes programme to better accommodate the urgent and particular heating needs of the most vulnerable, particularly in cases where like-for-like replacements are essential for their health and well-being.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac rwy'n falch o glywed bod swyddogion yn cynnal yr adolygiad chwe mis hwnnw. Mae Gofal a Thrwsio yn dweud wrthyf fod eu gweithwyr achos a'u swyddogion ynni cartref wedi profi anawsterau wrth gyfeirio eu cleientiaid at y cynllun. Yn ail, gwelwyd problem hefyd lle mae heriau difrifol i ddiwallu anghenion gwresogi eu cleientiaid mwyaf agored i niwed. Mae gan lawer ohonynt gartrefi aneffeithlon o ran eu defnydd o ynni ac anghenion iechyd cymhleth hefyd.
Felly, o ystyried yr heriau hyn, tybed a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried adolygu'r meini prawf cymhwysedd a meini prawf ariannu'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd er mwyn diwallu anghenion gwresogi penodol ac uniongyrchol y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn well, yn enwedig mewn achosion lle mae cyfnewid tebyg am debyg yn hanfodol ar gyfer eu hiechyd a'u lles.
Diolch, Russell. We're investing more than £30 million this year in the new Warm Homes Nest scheme to reduce the number of low-income households living in cold, damp homes. Eligible households will receive a bespoke package of measures to insulate and decarbonise their home, leading to lower energy bills and moving them out of fuel poverty. We are targeting the least well-off, and so that income threshold has been introduced, rather than relying solely on that means-tested benefit.
The new Warm Homes programme does respond to the current cost-of-living crisis and it takes a fabric, worst and low-carbon first approach to improve the long-term energy efficiency of the least thermally efficient low-income households in Wales. It’s going to take a two-pronged approach, through an advice service and through physically improving the homes of the fuel poor. The scheme is in its infancy and my officials are reviewing progress to ensure that the programme meets its primary objectives. Free energy savings advice is available to all householders in Wales and I’ve also introduced a crisis route for vulnerable households without heating and hot water on 7 October, and I’m pleased that this service has already helped 26 vulnerable households.
Diolch, Russell. Rydym yn buddsoddi mwy na £30 miliwn eleni yn y cynllun Nyth Cartrefi Clyd newydd i leihau nifer yr aelwydydd incwm isel sy'n byw mewn cartrefi oer, llaith. Bydd aelwydydd cymwys yn derbyn pecyn pwrpasol o fesurau i inswleiddio a datgarboneiddio eu cartref, gan arwain at filiau ynni is a'u symud allan o dlodi tanwydd. Rydym yn targedu'r lleiaf cefnog, ac fel bod trothwy incwm wedi'i gyflwyno, yn hytrach na dibynnu'n llwyr ar y budd-dal prawf modd.
Mae'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd yn ymateb i'r argyfwng costau byw presennol ac mae'n ddull gwneuthuriad, gwaethaf a charbon isel yn gyntaf i wella effeithlonrwydd ynni hirdymor yr aelwydydd incwm isel lleiaf effeithlon yn thermol yng Nghymru. Mae'n mynd i alw am ddull deublyg o weithredu, trwy wasanaeth cynghori a thrwy fynd ati'n weithredol i wella cartrefi pobl sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd. Mae'r cynllun yn ei ddyddiau cynnar ac mae fy swyddogion yn adolygu cynnydd i sicrhau bod y rhaglen yn cyflawni ei phrif amcanion. Mae cyngor am ddim ar arbedion ynni ar gael i bob deiliad tŷ yng Nghymru ac rwyf hefyd wedi cyflwyno llwybr argyfwng i aelwydydd bregus heb wres a dŵr poeth ar 7 Hydref, ac rwy'n falch fod y gwasanaeth hwn eisoes wedi helpu 26 o aelwydydd bregus.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Symudwn ymlaen yn awr at gwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Julie Morgan.
We'll move now to item 2, questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and the first question is from Julie Morgan.
1. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hybu'r nifer sy'n dewis dilyn pynciau STEM mewn addysg bellach ac uwch? OQ61815
1. What is the Welsh Government doing to boost the take up of STEM subjects in further and higher education? OQ61815
I am committed to ensuring equality of opportunity, encouraging a culture of science literacy and learner progression. We provide support from nursery to higher education and beyond, prioritising STEM across the Curriculum for Wales, pledging £1.6 million for STEM enrichment activities, and promoting initiatives such as the science education scheme Wales.
Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau cyfle cyfartal, gan annog diwylliant o lythrennedd gwyddoniaeth a chynnydd dysgwr. Rydym yn darparu cefnogaeth o addysg feithrin i addysg uwch a thu hwnt, gan flaenoriaethu STEM ar draws y Cwricwlwm i Gymru, addo £1.6 miliwn ar gyfer gweithgareddau cyfoethogi STEM, a hyrwyddo mentrau fel cynllun addysg wyddoniaeth Cymru.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for that response.
We know that getting young people, especially girls, into STEM and ensuring that they pursue it into further and higher education means that it has to start at an early age and should be reinforced at every level of education. So, since April, Sacyr, the company that is building the new Velindre Cancer Centre in my constituency, has delivered STEM engagement sessions relating to construction to more than 1,400 young people in secondary schools across south Wales. They’ll also be providing STEM education activities for pupils in as many as 19 local primary schools that are close to the new Velindre centre. Sacyr is also working with Cardiff and Vale College to encourage STEM subjects, and this is so important at every level of education. So, what more can the Welsh Government do to encourage this type of partnership working in education, to make sure that young people continue with STEM in further and higher education?
Gwyddom fod cael pobl ifanc, yn enwedig merched, i mewn i STEM a sicrhau eu bod yn parhau â hynny i addysg bellach ac uwch yn golygu bod yn rhaid iddo ddechrau ar oedran cynnar ac y dylid ei atgyfnerthu ar bob lefel o addysg. Felly, ers mis Ebrill, mae Sacyr, y cwmni sy'n adeiladu canolfan ganser newydd Felindre yn fy etholaeth i, wedi cyflwyno sesiynau ymgysylltu STEM sy'n gysylltiedig ag adeiladu i fwy na 1,400 o bobl ifanc mewn ysgolion uwchradd ledled de Cymru. Byddant hefyd yn darparu gweithgareddau addysg STEM i ddisgyblion mewn cynifer â 19 o ysgolion cynradd lleol sy'n agos at ganolfan newydd Felindre. Mae Sacyr hefyd yn gweithio gyda Choleg Caerdydd a'r Fro i hyrwyddo pynciau STEM, ac mae hyn mor bwysig ar bob lefel o addysg. Felly, beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i annog y math hwn o weithio mewn partneriaeth mewn addysg, i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn parhau â STEM mewn addysg bellach ac uwch?
I’d like to thank Julie Morgan for that supplementary question, and I know from my own work as a local MS that when construction projects like this deliver these tangible educational benefits, then it can really help our learners to understand how studying STEM subjects can lead to practical and well-paid career opportunities. And I would add as well that I’m also working closely with the Minister for skills, because this is a cross-cutting area, and one of the key things that we’re working on is to agree how best to progress some of the recommendations made by Hefin David MS in his report on transitions to employment, which of course emphasised the importance of effective partnerships between our schools, colleges and employers, alongside, of course, the recommendations made in the vocational qualifications review.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Julie Morgan am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, a gwn o fy ngwaith fy hun fel AS lleol, pan fo prosiectau adeiladu fel hwn yn darparu manteision addysg go iawn o'r fath, y gall helpu ein dysgwyr i ddeall sut y gall astudio pynciau STEM arwain at gyfleoedd gyrfa ymarferol ar gyflogau da. A hoffwn ychwanegu hefyd fy mod yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r Gweinidog sgiliau, oherwydd mae hwn yn faes trawsbynciol, ac un o'r pethau allweddol yr ydym yn gweithio arno yw cytuno ar y ffordd orau o ddatblygu rhai o'r argymhellion a wnaed gan Hefin David AS yn ei adroddiad ar bontydd i gyflogaeth, a oedd wrth gwrs yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd partneriaethau effeithiol rhwng ein hysgolion, colegau a chyflogwyr, ochr yn ochr â'r argymhellion a wnaed yn yr adolygiad o gymwysterau galwedigaethol.
Minister, I welcome the announcement today, actually, but my question was just asked by Julie, so I just want to say that I really welcome what you said today. Not enough has been done at all when it comes to STEM subjects to date. You’ve had a whole host of opportunities to do things, but I’m looking forward to this Government hopefully now stepping up and at least becoming parallel with what’s going on in England, because they are streets ahead, particularly as they’ve kept their triple separate sciences in their schools, whereas we’ve moved to the double science thing, which immediately puts our children and young people at a disadvantage when going into STEM subjects, and it sends the wrong message, when it's STEM subjects are where they should be focusing for the jobs of the future. I do think it’s completely unfair that we’re disadvantaging our children like that. But it was promised that STEM industries—local, particularly—would engage with schools, so as Julie said, I really look forward to hearing more examples, and I want to hear what you’re going to do to ensure the whole of Wales can benefit from those STEM industries, not just Cardiff. Thank you.
Weinidog, rwy'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiad heddiw mewn gwirionedd, ond mae Julie newydd ofyn fy nghwestiwn, felly hoffwn ddweud fy mod yn croesawu'n fawr yr hyn a ddywedoch chi heddiw. Nid oes digon wedi ei wneud ynghylch pynciau STEM hyd yma. Rydych chi wedi cael llu o gyfleoedd i wneud pethau, ond rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld y Llywodraeth hon nawr yn camu i'r adwy ac o leiaf yn gwneud cystal â'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn Lloegr, oherwydd maent ymhell ar y blaen i ni, yn enwedig gan eu bod wedi cadw eu gwyddoniaeth driphlyg yn eu hysgolion, a ninnau wedi symud at wyddoniaeth ddwbl, sy'n rhoi ein plant a'n pobl ifanc dan anfantais ar unwaith wrth ddilyn pynciau STEM, ac mae'n anfon y neges anghywir, pan ddylent fod yn canolbwyntio ar bynciau STEM ar gyfer swyddi'r dyfodol. Rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n hollol annheg ein bod ni'n rhoi ein plant dan anfantais yn y ffordd honno. Ond addawyd y byddai diwydiannau STEM—lleol, yn enwedig—yn ymgysylltu ag ysgolion, felly fel y dywedodd Julie, rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at glywed mwy o enghreifftiau, ac rwyf am glywed beth y bwriadwch ei wneud i sicrhau y gall Cymru gyfan elwa o'r diwydiannau STEM hyn, nid Caerdydd yn unig. Diolch.
Thank you, Laura Anne Jones, for your supplementary there. And I would disagree with what you said there; I think the Government has got a really strong track record of investing in STEM. A £1.6 million commitment will reach across the STEM portfolio to deliver a range of enrichment activities, and also professional learning opportunities for teachers, because that’s important too, all encouraging the take-up of STEM subjects at GCSE and A-level. And, of course, that additional £1.1 million that was announced this year will improve attainment in literacy, maths and science as well.
I'd just like to pick up on the point you raised there about science. It has been proven through stakeholder engagement and through all of the professional channels that there is no dumbing down of the science qualifications here in Wales.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Laura Anne Jones. Ac rwy'n anghytuno â'r hyn a ddywedoch chi yno; rwy'n credu bod gan y Llywodraeth hanes cryf iawn o fuddsoddi mewn STEM. Bydd ymrwymiad o £1.6 miliwn yn estyn ar draws y portffolio STEM i ddarparu ystod o weithgareddau cyfoethogi, a hefyd cyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol i athrawon, oherwydd mae hynny'n bwysig hefyd, a'r cyfan yn annog disgyblion i ddilyn pynciau STEM ar lefel TGAU a Safon Uwch. Ac wrth gwrs, bydd y £1.1 miliwn ychwanegol a gyhoeddwyd eleni yn gwella cyrhaeddiad mewn llythrennedd, mathemateg a gwyddoniaeth hefyd.
Hoffwn fynd ar drywydd y pwynt a wnaethoch am wyddoniaeth. Profwyd trwy ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid a thrwy'r holl sianeli proffesiynol nad oes unrhyw dwpeiddio'n digwydd i gymwysterau gwyddoniaeth yma yng Nghymru.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am ymateb y Llywodraeth yn sgil euogfarn Neil Foden? OQ61812
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Government's response following the conviction of Neil Foden? OQ61812
The north Wales regional safeguarding board have commissioned a child practice review. We need to allow the CPR to run its course before considering what action is needed. The outcome of this review will therefore inform our next steps.
Mae bwrdd diogelu rhanbarthol gogledd Cymru wedi comisiynu adolygiad ymarfer plant. Mae angen i ni ganiatáu i'r adolygiad gael ei gwblhau cyn ystyried pa gamau sydd eu hangen. Felly, bydd canlyniad yr adolygiad hwnnw'n llywio ein camau nesaf.
Dwi wedi cael gwybod am bryderon gan etholwyr ynglŷn â’r broses gyfathrebu ar gyfer rhieni a phobl ifanc sy’n dymuno rhannu gwybodaeth efo bwrdd diogelu gogledd Cymru fel rhan o’r adolygiad ymarfer plant rydych chi’n sôn amdano fo, yn dilyn euogfarn y cyn-bennaeth Neil Foden o droseddau rhyw yn erbyn plant ysgol. Ydych chi’n hyderus bod yr ymateb yn briodol ac yn amserol i’r rhai sydd am ddarparu gwybodaeth neu am rannu pryderon? Yn ail, ydy cylch gorchwyl yr adolygiad diogelu plant wedi cael ei gyhoeddi eto? Mae hyn yn hanfodol er mwyn sicrhau tryloywder ac ymddiriedaeth yn broses. Os nad ydy o wedi cael ei gyhoeddi erbyn hyn, pryd fydd o’n cael ei gyhoeddi a beth oedd y rheswm dros yr oedi? Dwi’n parhau i gredu, fel mae nifer cynyddol o bobl, mai ymchwiliad cyhoeddus fyddai’r ffordd orau a thecaf o ymdrin â’r sefyllfa yma, yn enwedig gan ystyried honiadau pellach a ddatgelwyd mewn rhaglen deledu yn ddiweddar. Gennych chi fel Llywodraeth mae’r grym i gomisiynu—
I've been informed of constituents' concerns in relation to the communication process for parents and young people who wish to share information with the north Wales safeguarding board as part of the child practice review that you've just mentioned, following the conviction of former headteacher Neil Foden for sexual offences against schoolchildren. Are you confident that the response is appropriate and timely for those who wish to provide information or share concerns? Secondly, has the remit of the child safeguarding review yet been published? This is crucial to ensure transparency and confidence in the process. If it hasn't been published yet, when will that happen and what is the reason for the delay? I remain convinced, as do an increasing number of people, that a public inquiry would be the best and fairest way of dealing with this situation, particularly given the further allegations that came to light in a recent television programme. The power to call a public inquiry is in your hands—
Siân, mae’n rhaid i chi orffen nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.
Siân, you must conclude now, please.
Gennych chi mae’r grym i gomisiynu ymchwiliad cyhoeddus. A wnewch chi wneud hynny, os gwelwch chi’n dda?
The power to call a public inquiry is in your hands. Will you do that, please?
Can I thank Siân Gwenllian for her supplementary question, and can I say that my thoughts remain with the young people and the families affected by the horrendous abuse perpetuated by Neil Foden? Siân Gwenllian raised several points there. I'm aware that some Senedd Members have raised concerns over the process for communicating with the child practice review. I understand that a letter was issued before half term with an e-mail address that people could contact if they wanted to contribute to the review, and that children, young people and their parents do not have to go via the local authority or school to make contact. I will follow up with officials to check, and maybe you could write to me about specific concerns if you're talking about the timeliness of a response. Obviously, this is a review that's being undertaken under the auspices of the north Wales safeguarding board, so it's not our Welsh Government review, but I would be very happy to follow up any particular concerns you've got over the responses that are coming from the child practice review to families.
In terms of the publication of the remit, I can certainly ask officials to follow that up with the north Wales safeguarding board as well. I think it's important that everything is as transparent as possible.
If I can come to your substantive point, really, about a public inquiry, we do need, I think, to allow the child practice review to run its course before we consider what further action is needed, including the possibility of a public inquiry. You'll be aware, Siân, that public inquiries are lengthy processes that will also prolong this process. I think it's right that we wait to see what the child practice review reports, and then Welsh Government will consider next steps.
A gaf i ddiolch i Siân Gwenllian am ei chwestiwn atodol, ac a gaf i ddweud fy mod yn cydymdeimlo â'r bobl ifanc a'r teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan y cam-drin erchyll a achoswyd gan Neil Foden? Cododd Siân Gwenllian sawl pwynt yno. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod rhai Aelodau o'r Senedd wedi codi pryderon ynghylch y broses o gyfathrebu â'r adolygiad ymarfer plant. Rwy'n deall bod llythyr wedi'i ddosbarthu cyn hanner tymor gyda chyfeiriad e-bost y gallai pobl gysylltu ag ef pe baent am gyfrannu at yr adolygiad, ac nad oes rhaid i blant, pobl ifanc a'u rhieni fynd trwy'r awdurdod lleol neu'r ysgol i gysylltu. Byddaf yn gwneud gwaith dilynol gyda swyddogion i wirio, ac efallai y gallech ysgrifennu ataf am bryderon penodol os ydych chi'n siarad am amseroldeb ymateb. Yn amlwg, adolygiad yw hwn sy'n cael ei gynnal o dan oruchwyliaeth bwrdd diogelu gogledd Cymru, felly nid ein hadolygiad ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru mohono, ond rwy'n hapus iawn i fynd ar drywydd unrhyw bryderon penodol sydd gennych ynglŷn â'r ymatebion sy'n dod o'r adolygiad ymarfer plant i deuluoedd.
O ran cyhoeddi'r cylch gwaith, gallaf yn sicr ofyn i swyddogion edrych ar hynny gyda bwrdd diogelu gogledd Cymru hefyd. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig fod popeth mor dryloyw â phosibl.
Os caf ddod at eich prif bwynt ynglŷn ag ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, rwy'n credu bod angen i ni ganiatáu i'r adolygiad ymarfer plant gael ei gwblhau cyn i ni ystyried pa gamau pellach sydd eu hangen, gan gynnwys y posibilrwydd o ymchwiliad cyhoeddus. Fe fyddwch chi'n gwybod, Siân, fod ymchwiliadau cyhoeddus yn brosesau hir a fydd hefyd yn ymestyn y broses hon. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn iawn ein bod yn aros i weld beth y mae'r adolygiad ymarfer plant yn ei ddweud, ac yna bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried y camau nesaf.
This individual is one of the most evil sex offenders in Welsh history, and there was a litany of failures, negligence, red flags that were missed that allowed this abuse to continue unchallenged.
Perhaps the most shocking of the allegations is that Neil Foden gave advice to the Welsh Government. He was also disgracefully defended by the Plaid Cymru leader of Gwynedd Council, who refused to apologise to Foden’s victims after the disgraced headteacher’s conviction. Thankfully, the leader of Gwynedd Council has now stepped down, following pressure to do so from his own party. But there remain questions that need to be answered as to why he remained in the employment of Gwynedd Council when his trial started. And questions also arise regarding the thoroughness of Welsh Government vetting, given that the Welsh Government were unknowingly taking advice on education policy from a prolific paedophile.
Neil Foden was also reprimanded by the teaching regulator and kicked out of his union in 2020. Yet, a year later in 2021, he was given more responsibility as a strategic superhead overseeing two different schools in north Wales. So, clearly there are huge deficiencies—
Mae'r unigolyn hwn yn un o'r troseddwyr rhyw gwaethaf yn hanes Cymru, ac fe wnaeth cyfres o fethiannau, esgeulustod, baneri coch a fethwyd ganiatáu i'r cam-drin barhau heb ei herio.
Efallai mai'r mwyaf brawychus o'r honiadau yw bod Neil Foden wedi rhoi cyngor i Lywodraeth Cymru. Cafodd ei amddiffyn yn warthus hefyd gan arweinydd Plaid Cymru ar Gyngor Gwynedd, a wrthododd ymddiheuro i ddioddefwyr Foden wedi i'r pennaeth gael ei ddyfarnu'n euog. Diolch byth, mae arweinydd Cyngor Gwynedd wedi ymddiswyddo erbyn hyn, yn dilyn pwysau i wneud hynny gan ei blaid ei hun. Ond erys cwestiynau y mae angen eu hateb pam ei fod yn parhau'n gyflogedig gan Gyngor Gwynedd pan ddechreuodd ei achos. Ac mae cwestiynau'n codi hefyd ynghylch trylwyredd fetio Llywodraeth Cymru, o gofio bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ddiarwybod yn derbyn cyngor ar bolisi addysg gan bedoffeil.
Cafodd Neil Foden ei geryddu gan y rheoleiddiwr addysgu a'i ddiarddel o'i undeb yn 2020. Ond flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach yn 2021, cafodd fwy o gyfrifoldeb fel uwch-bennaeth strategol a oruchwyliai ddwy ysgol wahanol yng ngogledd Cymru. Felly, yn amlwg mae diffygion enfawr—
You need to ask a question, Gareth, please.
Mae angen ichi ofyn cwestiwn, Gareth, os gwelwch yn dda.
—in the reporting process, in communications between agencies and in Welsh Government vetting. So, what is the Cabinet Secretary doing to ensure that these deficiencies are identified and fixed as soon as possible so that these mistakes are never made again?
—yn y broses adrodd, wrth gyfathrebu rhwng asiantaethau a phroses fetio Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, beth y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y diffygion hyn yn cael eu nodi a'u datrys cyn gynted â phosibl fel na wneir y camgymeriadau hyn byth eto?
Thank you, Gareth. I do think it's regrettable to bring party politics into a subject that is this serious, whether that's—[Interruption.] I think that that is a regrettable thing to do. This is a really serious issue. A prolific offender has flown under the radar and we have to take that very seriously.
As I explained, we're having the child practice review, which is being undertaken by the north Wales safeguarding board. I have not had any advice from Neil Foden. Like many headteachers, he would have had contact with the Welsh Government previously. In fact, he gave evidence to the Children, Young People and Education Committee when I was Chair, because he was a senior official for the NUT at the time. Obviously, all headteachers are subject to really stringent procedures around safeguarding, so there could never have been any inkling at Welsh Government level, or even at the committee level, that he was the kind of prolific offender that he was.
I think that it’s really important that we let the child practice review take its course. If, during the review, the reviewer, the panel members or board members identify any issues with regard to individual professionals or agencies that need to be explored further, these issues will be remitted to the relevant organisations and they will take any further action required. So, any organisations that have learning from this case have to do that.
The child practice review will involve asking all agencies that are represented on the board, and any other agencies that have had contact with the victims and their families, to prepare a timeline of their involvement, and this information will be merged to create a multi-agency chronology of all known contact with agencies. That will be scrutinised and challenged by the independent reviewers, chair and panel members, sense-checked with practitioners in a learning event, and then there’ll be further challenge and scrutiny at regional safeguarding board meetings.
As I said in response to Siân Gwenllian, when we’ve had the information from the child practice review, we will then consider whether there is any further action that we need to take. But you can be assured, Gareth, that I want to make sure that we are as thorough as possible in the interests of having justice for the young people who have suffered at the hands of this man.
Diolch, Gareth. Rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n anffodus dod â gwleidyddiaeth plaid i mewn i bwnc mor ddifrifol â hyn, boed hynny—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n beth anffodus i'w wneud. Mae hwn yn fater difrifol iawn. Dyma droseddwr cyson na chafodd ei ganfod ac mae'n rhaid inni fod o ddifrif ynglŷn â hynny.
Fel yr eglurais, rydym yn cynnal adolygiad ymarfer plant, sy'n cael ei gyflawni gan fwrdd diogelu gogledd Cymru. Nid wyf wedi cael unrhyw gyngor gan Neil Foden. Fel llawer o benaethiaid, byddai wedi cael cyswllt â Llywodraeth Cymru yn y gorffennol. Mewn gwirionedd, rhoddodd dystiolaeth i'r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg pan oeddwn yn Gadeirydd, oherwydd ei fod yn uwch swyddog i Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Athrawon ar y pryd. Yn amlwg, mae pob pennaeth yn destun gweithdrefnau llym iawn o ran diogelu, felly ni allai fod wedi bod unrhyw syniad ar lefel Llywodraeth Cymru, neu hyd yn oed ar lefel y pwyllgor, ei fod yn droseddwr cyson o'r fath.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn gadael i'r adolygiad ymarfer plant ddilyn ei gwrs. Os bydd yr adolygydd, aelodau'r panel neu aelodau'r bwrdd, yn ystod yr adolygiad, yn nodi unrhyw faterion ynghylch gweithwyr proffesiynol neu asiantaethau unigol y mae angen eu harchwilio ymhellach, bydd y materion hyn yn cael eu hailgyfeirio at y sefydliadau perthnasol a byddant hwy'n cymryd unrhyw gamau pellach sydd eu hangen. Felly, mae'n rhaid i unrhyw sefydliadau sydd â gwaith dysgu o'r achos hwn wneud hynny.
Bydd yr adolygiad ymarfer plant yn golygu gofyn i bob asiantaeth sy'n cael ei chynrychioli ar y bwrdd, ac unrhyw asiantaethau eraill sydd wedi cael cyswllt â'r dioddefwyr a'u teuluoedd, baratoi llinell amser o'u cysylltiad, a bydd y wybodaeth hon yn cael ei chyfuno i greu cronoleg amlasiantaethol o'r holl gyswllt hysbys ag asiantaethau. Bydd yr adolygwyr annibynnol, y cadeirydd ac aelodau'r panel yn craffu ar hynny ac yn ei herio, bydd ymarferwyr mewn digwyddiad dysgu yn gwirio synnwyr hynny, ac yna bydd herio a chraffu pellach mewn cyfarfodydd byrddau diogelu rhanbarthol.
Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Siân Gwenllian, pan fyddwn wedi cael y wybodaeth o'r adolygiad ymarfer plant, byddwn yn ystyried wedyn a oes unrhyw gamau pellach y mae angen inni eu cymryd. Ond gallwch fod yn sicr, Gareth, fy mod am wneud yn siŵr ein bod mor drylwyr â phosibl er mwyn cael cyfiawnder i'r bobl ifanc sydd wedi dioddef oherwydd y dyn yma.
Cwestiynau y nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Yn gyntaf, llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Tom Giffard.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. First of all, the Conservatives' spokesperson, Tom Giffard.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Yesterday, as part of your statement, I asked you whether the pay rise you announced for teachers—. Sorry, I was asking the Cabinet Secretary, not the Minister.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ddoe, fel rhan o'ch datganiad, gofynnais i chi a oedd y codiad cyflog a gyhoeddwyd gennych ar gyfer athrawon—. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, roeddwn yn gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, nid y Gweinidog.
I've been notified that the questions are to the Minister.
Cefais wybod bod y cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog.
I believe Cefin's questions are to the Minister and mine are to the Cabinet Secretary.
Rwy'n credu mai cwestiynau Cefin sydd i'r Gweinidog ac mae fy rhai innau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
We were notified that both sets of questions were for the Minister.
Cawsom wybod bod y ddwy set o gwestiynau ar gyfer y Gweinidog.
Right. There's clearly a misunderstanding here somewhere that has happened.
Iawn. Mae'n amlwg fod camddealltwriaeth wedi digwydd yma yn rhywle.
Well, we are telling you what we were notified.
Wel, rydym yn dweud wrthych beth y cawsom ni ei gwybod.
Okay. I'm not sure what's gone wrong there. I haven't got a question prepared, I'm afraid, for the Minister.
Iawn. Nid wyf yn siŵr beth aeth o'i le yno. Mae arnaf ofn nad oes gennyf gwestiwn wedi ei baratoi i'r Gweinidog.
I'm happy to take the questions.
Rwy'n hapus i gael y cwestiynau.
The Cabinet Secretary will take the questions.
Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn derbyn y cwestiynau.
I'm grateful to you, Cabinet Secretary, for taking the questions. Thank you, and I apologise for that if it's an administration error on the part of the Welsh Conservatives.
Yesterday, you announced the 5.5 per cent pay rise for teachers in Welsh schools. I asked you whether that would be funded in full by the Welsh Government and that no schools or local authorities would have to find that from within their own budget. Can you confirm today that no school and no local authority in Wales will have to find the money to pay for that pay rise from within their own budgets?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am dderbyn y cwestiynau. Diolch, ac rwy'n ymddiheuro am hynny os yw'n gamgymeriad gweinyddol ar ran y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig.
Ddoe, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi'r codiad cyflog o 5.5 y cant i athrawon yn ysgolion Cymru. Gofynnais i chi a fyddai hynny'n cael ei ariannu'n llawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac na fyddai'n rhaid i unrhyw ysgol nac awdurdod lleol ddod o hyd i hynny yn eu cyllideb eu hunain. A allwch chi gadarnhau heddiw na fydd yn rhaid i unrhyw ysgol nac awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru ddod o hyd i'r arian i dalu am y codiad cyflog hwnnw o'u cyllidebau eu hunain?
We've already made provision, Tom, for some of that pay rise in the money that's been allocated to local government. Thankfully, because we have a UK Labour Government now in Westminster that is really committed to protecting our public services, there will also be additional money that will be coming to enable us to go further than the independent Welsh pay review body recommendation, which was 4.3 per cent, to take us to 5.5 per cent. So, I think we are making very good provision. That is not to say that I don't recognise the pressures on schools, and I've been very clear with you before that we have done what we can to protect the money that goes to schools through the revenue support grant. And obviously, we're going through a budget process at the moment to look at the budget allocations for next year. But the Welsh Government, in partnership with the UK Labour Government, has made good provision for that pay rise.
Rydym eisoes wedi gwneud darpariaeth, Tom, ar gyfer rhywfaint o'r codiad cyflog hwnnw yn yr arian sydd wedi'i ddyrannu i lywodraeth leol. Diolch byth, oherwydd bod gennym Lywodraeth Lafur y DU nawr yn San Steffan sydd wedi ymrwymo i ddiogelu ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, bydd arian ychwanegol hefyd yn dod i'n galluogi i fynd y tu hwnt i argymhelliad corff adolygu cyflogau annibynnol Cymru, sef 4.3 y cant, i'n codi i 5.5 y cant. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwneud darpariaeth dda iawn. Nid yw hynny'n golygu nad wyf yn cydnabod y pwysau ar ysgolion, ac rwyf wedi bod yn glir iawn gyda chi o'r blaen ein bod wedi gwneud yr hyn a allwn i ddiogelu'r arian sy'n mynd i ysgolion drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw. Ac yn amlwg, rydym yn mynd trwy broses gyllidebol ar hyn o bryd i edrych ar ddyraniadau'r gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru, mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, wedi gwneud darpariaeth dda ar gyfer y codiad cyflog hwnnw.
I'm grateful to you for your response. Obviously, I read your written statement that was sent out about an hour ago, and what was made very clear in that statement was that this pay rise would not be funded in full by the Welsh Government. I think there's probably an expectation from the public and from schools that, if you announce something, you should pay for it. Schools at the moment are making really difficult decisions. We've seen schools cut back on subjects in curricula, cut back on school trips, school improvements, even some teachers are being made redundant. Without the announcement that this is going to be funded in full by the Welsh Government, schools will have to take a decision as a consequence of the announcement that you made yesterday to make further cuts in their budgets, let alone the decisions local authorities might have to make. So, on that basis, what do you advise that schools should cut?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn ichi am eich ymateb. Yn amlwg, darllenais eich datganiad ysgrifenedig a anfonwyd tua awr yn ôl, a'r hyn a wnaed yn glir iawn yn y datganiad hwnnw oedd na fyddai'r codiad cyflog hwn yn cael ei ariannu'n llawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n credu bod disgwyliad gan y cyhoedd ac ysgolion, os ydych chi'n cyhoeddi rhywbeth, y dylech dalu amdano. Mae ysgolion yn gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wedi gweld ysgolion yn gwneud toriadau ar bynciau mewn cwricwla, yn gwneud toriadau i deithiau ysgol a gwelliannau ysgol, ac mae rhai athrawon yn cael eu diswyddo hyd yn oed. Heb y cyhoeddiad y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu hyn yn llawn, bydd yn rhaid i ysgolion wneud penderfyniad o ganlyniad i'r cyhoeddiad a wnaethoch chi ddoe i wneud toriadau pellach yn eu cyllidebau, heb sôn am y penderfyniadau y gallai fod yn rhaid i awdurdodau lleol eu gwneud. Felly, ar y sail honno, beth ydych chi'n cynghori ysgolion i'w dorri?
Thank you, Tom. I think I've been very clear that we've made funding available to meet the pay increase that we have allocated. We've also protected the funding that has gone to schools as best we can. And can I remind you that we were in the situation of school budgets, and indeed all public services, being under pressure because of the actions of your Government in Westminster, who consistently short-changed this Government in terms of funding of public services? This is a Government that protects public services, and, by working in partnership with the UK Labour Government, we have identified funding for the pay rise for our school teachers.
Diolch, Tom. Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi bod yn glir iawn ein bod wedi sicrhau bod cyllid ar gael i dalu'r codiad cyflog a ddyrannwyd gennym. Rydym hefyd wedi diogelu'r cyllid sydd wedi mynd i ysgolion gystal ag y gallwn. Ac a gaf i eich atgoffa ein bod mewn sefyllfa lle mae cyllidebau ysgolion, ac yn wir yr holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus, o dan bwysau oherwydd gweithredoedd eich Llywodraeth chi yn San Steffan, a fu'n tanariannu'r Llywodraeth hon yn gyson mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau cyhoeddus? Mae hon yn Llywodraeth sy'n diogelu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a thrwy weithio mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, rydym wedi nodi cyllid ar gyfer y codiad cyflog i'n hathrawon ysgol.
Under a Conservative Government, we consistently saw the largest ever budget settlements given to the Welsh Government, and what did the Welsh Government do with it? They spent money on more politicians, they spent money on 20 mph zones, propping up airports—the list goes on and on. And yet, at the same time, schools were struggling to make ends meet, letting teachers go, cutting back on subjects, and delivering the worst education outcomes anywhere in the United Kingdom. You can blame the last UK Government all you want; you are in charge on both ends of the M4, and yesterday we heard the First Minister say that austerity is over. So, will you now commit—given that austerity is over—to funding the thing that you announced yesterday in full, so that schools will not have to cut back any further as a consequence of the announcement that you made?
O dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol, yn gyson fe welsom y setliadau cyllideb mwyaf erioed i Lywodraeth Cymru, a beth a wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru â'r arian hwnnw? Fe wnaethant wario arian ar fwy o wleidyddion, fe wnaethant wario arian ar barthau 20 mya, ar gynnal meysydd awyr—mae'r rhestr yn mynd ymlaen ac ymlaen. Ac eto, ar yr un pryd, roedd ysgolion yn ei chael hi'n anodd cael dau ben llinyn ynghyd, yn diswyddo athrawon, yn gwneud toriadau i bynciau, ac yn cyflawni'r canlyniadau addysg gwaethaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Gallwch feio Llywodraeth ddiwethaf y DU cymaint ag y dymunwch; chi sydd wrth y llyw ar ddau ben yr M4, a ddoe clywsom y Prif Weinidog yn dweud bod cyni wedi dod i ben. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo bellach—o ystyried bod cyni wedi dod i ben—i ariannu'r hyn a gyhoeddoch chi ddoe yn llawn, fel na fydd yn rhaid i ysgolion wneud toriadau pellach o ganlyniad i'r cyhoeddiad a wnaethoch?
Well, the UK Labour Government has been in power since July—it's a matter of months. It's absurd, really, to—. I'm incredibly impressed by what they've done already. Your Government had 14 years of raining destruction down on our public services. We have made provision, in partnership with the UK Labour Government, for a pay rise for teachers that is above what was recommended by the IWPRB. You could be a bit more graceful and welcome that money that's been made available to teachers. And what's more, Tom, I'm confident, following the budget last week, you heard the huge amount of additional funding that's being made available to us here in Wales, which is the biggest boost that we've had since we last had a Labour Government in Westminster. This is a Government that will be spending that additional money on our priorities, and education is one of our priorities.
Wel, mae Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi bod mewn grym ers mis Gorffennaf—mater o fisoedd. Mae'n hurt, mewn gwirionedd, i—. Rwy'n hynod falch o'r hyn y maent eisoes wedi'i wneud. Cafodd eich Llywodraeth 14 mlynedd o chwalu ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rydym wedi gwneud darpariaeth, mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, ar gyfer codiad cyflog i athrawon sy'n uwch na'r hyn a argymhellwyd gan gorff adolygu cyflogau annibynnol Cymru. Gallech fod ychydig yn fwy graslon a chroesawu'r arian a ryddhawyd i athrawon. Ac yn fwy na hynny, Tom, rwy'n hyderus, yn dilyn y gyllideb yr wythnos diwethaf, eich bod wedi clywed am y swm enfawr o gyllid ychwanegol sy'n cael ei ddarparu inni yma yng Nghymru, sef yr hwb mwyaf a gawsom ers inni gael Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan ddiwethaf. Llywodraeth yw hon a fydd yn gwario'r arian ychwanegol hwnnw ar ein blaenoriaethau, ac addysg yw un o'n blaenoriaethau.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Cefin Campbell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Cefin Campbell.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ddydd Llun, fe gyhoeddodd Ysgrifennydd addysg Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol y bydd myfyrwyr yn talu mwy i fynd i brifysgolion yn Lloegr y flwyddyn nesaf, gyda ffioedd dysgu yn codi i £9,535. Gan roi’r ffaith bod Keir Starmer wedi torri’i addewid ar hyn o’r neilltu am eiliad, mae’n glir y bydd hyn yn sicr o gael effaith ar brifysgolion yma yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â’n myfyrwyr.
Mae’r naill a’r llall wedi'u siomi dros y degawdau diwethaf gan Lywodraethau Ceidwadol a Llafur sydd heb roi strategaeth gydlynol ar gyfer y sector yn ei lle, a chan ddiffyg cyllid, buddsoddiad a chefnogaeth, a thoriadau i ymchwil ac arloesi. Mae Plaid Cymru yn credu yn yr egwyddor o fynediad unifersal i’n prifysgolion ni, ond mae’n amlwg bod rhaid i ni roi ein prifysgolion ar seiliau llawer mwy cadarn cyn y gallwn ni feddwl am wneud hynny.
Felly, yn sgil y cyhoeddiad, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Weinidog, a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynyddu ffioedd yn yr un modd a gyhoeddwyd yn Lloegr? Ac os ydych chi, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn derbyn, hyd yn oed gydag unrhyw gynnydd, y bydd prifysgolion yn dal i wynebu argyfwng ariannol heriol? Ac yn olaf, pa gamau y byddwch chi’n eu cymryd i gefnogi mynediad i addysg uwch i’r rhai sydd yn dod o gefndiroedd mwy difreintiedig?
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. On Monday, the education Secretary of the UK Government announced that students will pay more for going to university in England next year, with tuition fees rising to £9,535. Setting aside the fact that Keir Starmer has broken his promise on this, it is clear that this will certainly have an impact on Welsh universities, as well as our students.
Both have been let down over the last few decades by Conservative and Labour Governments that haven’t put a clear strategy for the sector in place, and by a lack of funding, investment and support, and cuts to research and innovation. Plaid Cymru believes in the principle of universal access to our universities, but it is clear that we have to put our education institutions on a much more sustainable footing before we can do that.
So, in the wake of that announcement, could I ask you, Minister, will the Welsh Government increase fees in the same way as has been announced in England? And if so, does the Welsh Government accept that, even with any increase, universities will still face a financial crisis? And finally, what steps will you take to support access to higher education for those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds?
I thank Cefin Campbell for those questions. I will begin by saying that I recognise that our universities, just like universities across the UK and beyond, are under significant financial pressure. I’m working with my officials to consider the impact of the UK Government decision to raise tuition fees by £285 per student per year. I think it’s important to look at the impact of that, both on the higher education sector and on students. I want to make a decision on that swiftly, with an informed evidence base, so that we can provide certainty both to the universities and to the students themselves.
I can confirm today that all Welsh students on courses at regulated institutions will have the full cost of their undergraduate tuition fees met by the Welsh Government through the student finance system, whether they choose to study in Wales or elsewhere in the UK. This continues our long-standing policy of no Welsh student paying upfront costs for their undergraduate tuition.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I’m not sure if the Member asked all his three questions in one go.
Diolch i Cefin Campbell am y cwestiynau hynny. Dechreuaf drwy ddweud fy mod yn cydnabod bod ein prifysgolion, yn union fel prifysgolion ledled y DU a thu hwnt, o dan bwysau ariannol sylweddol. Rwy'n gweithio gyda fy swyddogion i ystyried effaith penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i godi ffioedd dysgu £285 y flwyddyn i bob myfyriwr. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig edrych ar effaith hynny, ar y sector addysg uwch ac ar fyfyrwyr. Rwyf am wneud penderfyniad ar hynny'n gyflym, gyda sail dystiolaeth wybodus, fel y gallwn roi sicrwydd i'r prifysgolion ac i'r myfyrwyr eu hunain.
Gallaf gadarnhau heddiw y bydd pob myfyriwr o Gymru ar gyrsiau mewn sefydliadau a reoleiddir yn cael costau llawn eu ffioedd dysgu israddedig wedi'u talu gan Lywodraeth Cymru drwy'r system cyllid myfyrwyr, boed eu bod yn dewis astudio yng Nghymru neu rywle arall yn y DU. Mae hyn yn parhau ein polisi hirsefydlog nad oes unrhyw fyfyriwr o Gymru'n talu costau ymlaen llaw am eu hyfforddiant israddedig.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, nid wyf yn siŵr a ofynnodd yr Aelod ei dri chwestiwn i gyd ar yr un pryd.
I will remind the Member that he has three questions. He doesn't have to put all three into the first one and go over time. I'm sure he didn't intend to, and I'm sure he won't do it in the future either.
Fe wnaf atgoffa'r Aelod fod ganddo dri chwestiwn. Nid oes raid iddo roi'r tri yn yr un cyntaf a mynd dros yr amser. Rwy'n siŵr nad oedd yn bwriadu gwneud hynny, ac rwy'n siŵr na fydd yn gwneud hynny yn y dyfodol ychwaith.
Is that all three of your questions?
Ai dyna bob un o'ch tri chwestiwn?
No, I'll give him the credit to ask more. He won't do it again.
Na, fe roddaf gredyd iddo ofyn mwy. Ni fydd yn gwneud hynny eto.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen at y datganiad ynglŷn ag ydych chi’n bwriadu codi ffioedd yn yr un ffordd, a byddwn i’n hoffi clywed rhyw amserlen wrthych chi ynglŷn â phryd mae hynny yn debygol o ddigwydd, achos mae yna ansicrwydd mawr yn y sector ar hyn o bryd.
Cyhoeddiad arall yng nghyllideb San Steffan yn y dyddiau diwethaf oedd y cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr. Mae hyn hefyd yn mynd i gael effaith ariannol mawr iawn ar ein prifysgolion ni. Yr amcangyfrif yw bod hyn yn mynd i ychwanegu rhyw £20 miliwn yn fwy ar y costau.
Felly, a allwch chi, Weinidog, roi eglurhad i ni ynghylch a ydych chi’n credu y gallai prifysgolion Cymru dderbyn unrhyw gymorth o dan gynlluniau’r Trysorlys a’i peidio? Achos fe glywon ni yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros gyllid ddoe yn dweud bod y sector cyhoeddus yn rhydd o’r taliadau yma, ond mae’r sector prifysgolion yn rhan o’r sector preifat. Felly, a allwch chi esbonio i ni a ydy staff ein prifysgolion ni yn dod o dan y sector cyhoeddus neu'r sector preifat, ac, os na fydd cefnogaeth ar gael—
Thank you very much. I look forward to that statement about whether you intend to raise fees in the same way, and I’d like to hear some kind of timetable about when that’s likely to happen, because there is great uncertainty in the sector at present.
Another announcement in the Westminster budget in recent days was the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions. This is also going to have a great financial impact on our universities, and the estimate is that this is going to add about £20 million to costs.
So, could you, Minister, provide clarification to us as to whether you believe universities in Wales could receive any support under the UK Treasury’s plans or not? Because we heard the Cabinet Secretary for finance yesterday saying that the public sector was free from those payments, but the universities sector is part of the private sector. So, could you explain to us whether the staff in universities come under the public sector or the private sector, and, if there is no support available—
Diolch, Cefin.
Thank you, Cefin.
—ydych chi'n poeni—
—are you concerned—
Cefin.
Cefin.
—na fydd yna—
—that there won't be any—
Cefin.
Cefin.
—gefnogaeth ariannol i chi? Diolch yn fawr iawn. .
—financial support for you? Thank you very much.
Thank you, Cefin Campbell, for the question. I acknowledge that the Chancellor's announcements of changes to employer national insurance contributions from April next year will increase costs for our universities, and I'm currently working with my officials with the affected sectors to understand the scope of these new costs. We're considering the impact of employer national insurance contributions on all public sector employers and public sector services in Wales, and I look forward to being able to provide an update in due course.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Cefin Campbell. Rwy'n cydnabod y bydd cyhoeddiadau'r Canghellor am newidiadau i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr o fis Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf yn cynyddu costau i'n prifysgolion, ac rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio gyda fy swyddogion gyda'r sectorau yr effeithir arnynt i ddeall cwmpas y costau newydd hyn. Rydym yn ystyried effaith cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ar bob cyflogwr sector cyhoeddus a gwasanaethau sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at allu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf maes o law.
So, even before this most recent kick in the teeth for Welsh universities—having to deal with rises to national insurance contributions—Welsh universities have been on the financial brink for a while, with cumulative deficits upwards of £100 million. Now, a fortnight ago, I asked the Minister had she or the Cabinet Secretary for Education had discussions via official correspondence with individual Welsh universities regarding the transformation fund that she mentioned. Now, the Minister responded by saying,
'Yes, I have started that already'.
So, I've contacted all Welsh universities directly, asking them what correspondence they've had between themselves and the Welsh Government regarding this transformation fund or any other potential support package. I'm afraid the answer that I've had so far paints a different picture to the one painted by the Minister just a fortnight ago: Trinity St David's, no correspondence; Aberystwyth University, no correspondence; Swansea, no correspondence; Cardiff, no correspondence. It seems, yet again, Welsh Government Ministers are saying on the floor of the Senedd one thing, which doesn't seem to match the reality from our evidence. So, the question remains, therefore, what steps have the Welsh Government actually been taking at a ministerial and official level to develop this transformation fund and any other support packages for Welsh universities in conjunction with Welsh universities?
Felly, hyd yn oed cyn yr ergyd ddiweddaraf hon i brifysgolion Cymru—gorfod ymdopi â chodiadau i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol—mae prifysgolion Cymru wedi bod ar y dibyn ariannol ers tro, gyda diffygion cronnol o dros £100 miliwn. Nawr, bythefnos yn ôl, gofynnais i'r Gweinidog a oedd hi neu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg wedi cael trafodaethau drwy ohebiaeth swyddogol â phrifysgolion unigol yng Nghymru ynghylch y gronfa drawsnewid a grybwyllodd. Nawr, ymatebodd y Gweinidog drwy ddweud,
'Ydw, rwyf eisoes wedi dechrau ar hynny.'
Felly, rwyf wedi cysylltu â holl brifysgolion Cymru yn uniongyrchol, gan ofyn iddynt pa ohebiaeth y maent wedi'i chael rhyngddynt hwy a Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch y gronfa drawsnewid hon neu unrhyw becyn cymorth posibl arall. Mae arnaf ofn fod yr ateb a gefais hyd yma yn paentio darlun gwahanol i'r un a baentiwyd gan y Gweinidog bythefnos yn ôl: y Drindod Dewi Sant, dim gohebiaeth; Prifysgol Aberystwyth, dim gohebiaeth; Abertawe, dim gohebiaeth; Caerdydd, dim gohebiaeth. Unwaith eto, mae'n ymddangos bod Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn dweud un peth ar lawr y Senedd, nad yw'n ymddangos ei fod yn cyfateb i'r realiti o'n tystiolaeth ni. Felly, mae'r cwestiwn yn aros, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn eu cymryd ar lefel weinidogol a swyddogol i ddatblygu'r gronfa drawsnewid hon ac unrhyw becynnau cymorth eraill ar gyfer prifysgolion Cymru ar y cyd â phrifysgolion Cymru?
Thank you, Cefin. Correspondence, as I'm sure you're aware, is written correspondence. All of my dealings with the universities to date have been through face-to-face meetings and discussions, and I've been really pleased to be able to meet with so many vice-chancellors, Universities Wales, stakeholders from across the sector, and I'll be continuing to do that as I tour each and every higher education institution in Wales. And I explained to the Senedd that the Welsh Government is continuing to explore what, if any, potential support mechanisms are feasible to support the higher education sector in Wales. Those discussions, as I've outlined twice, both in writing and here on the floor of this Chamber, are at an early and exploratory stage and will need to be considered in the context of our wider budget priorities. But, as I've said before, and as I know the Member is aware, the funding that the Welsh Government provides to our HE institutions comprises 10 per cent of their overall funding, and so it is really important that each and every university looks at the rest of their funding streams. And I know that that is exactly what they are doing—exploring innovative ways of working, greater collaboration with the FE sector in particular, which can only be of benefit, so that they can explore ways that they can cut costs and meet these challenging opportunities. The Welsh Government's Digarbon fund, that I mentioned here previously, has had £33 million-worth of applications from our HE institutions, and that shows just one way in which they are exploring different ways to cut costs and to make those savings.
Diolch, Cefin. Mae gohebiaeth, fel y gwyddoch rwy'n siŵr, yn ohebiaeth ysgrifenedig. Mae fy holl waith yn ymwneud â'r prifysgolion hyd yma wedi bod trwy gyfarfodydd a thrafodaethau wyneb yn wyneb, ac rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o allu cyfarfod â chymaint o is-gangellorion, Prifysgolion Cymru, rhanddeiliaid o bob rhan o'r sector, a byddaf yn parhau i wneud hynny wrth imi deithio o amgylch pob sefydliad addysg uwch yng Nghymru. Ac eglurais wrth y Senedd fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i archwilio pa fecanweithiau cymorth posibl, os o gwbl, sy'n ymarferol i gefnogi'r sector addysg uwch yng Nghymru. Mae'r trafodaethau hynny, fel yr amlinellais ddwywaith, yn ysgrifenedig ac yma ar lawr y Siambr hon, ar gam cynnar ac archwiliadol a bydd angen eu hystyried yng nghyd-destun ein blaenoriaethau cyllidebol ehangach. Ond fel y dywedais o'r blaen, ac fel y gwn fod yr Aelod yn gwybod, mae'r cyllid y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i'n sefydliadau addysg uwch yn ffurfio 10 y cant o'u cyllid cyffredinol, ac felly mae'n bwysig iawn fod pob prifysgol yn edrych ar weddill eu ffrydiau cyllido. Ac rwy'n gwybod mai dyna'n union y maent yn ei wneud—gan archwilio ffyrdd arloesol o weithio, mwy o gydweithio â'r sector addysg bellach yn enwedig, sy'n sicr yn fuddiol, fel y gallant archwilio ffyrdd o dorri costau a chyflawni'r cyfleoedd heriol hyn. Mae cronfa Digarbon Llywodraeth Cymru, y soniais amdani yma o'r blaen, wedi cael gwerth £33 miliwn o geisiadau gan ein sefydliadau addysg uwch, ac mae hynny'n dangos un ffordd yn unig y maent yn archwilio ffyrdd gwahanol o dorri costau ac o wneud yr arbedion hynny.
Before I move on, I do expect all backbenchers to continue to keep to their time and ask their questions within their time. I expect the same from spokespeople as well, and, if they have multiple questions, spokespeople have the advantage of having the ability to ask more than one question. So, please, in future, keep to your times to ensure that everybody has a fair opportunity to ask their question, including backbenchers.
Cyn imi symud ymlaen, rwy'n disgwyl i bob aelod o'r meinciau cefn barhau i gadw at eu hamser a gofyn eu cwestiynau o fewn eu hamser. Rwy'n disgwyl yr un peth gan lefarwyr hefyd, ac os oes ganddynt sawl cwestiwn, mae gan lefarwyr y fantais o allu gofyn mwy nag un cwestiwn. Felly, os gwelwch yn dda, yn y dyfodol, cadwch at eich amseroedd i sicrhau bod pawb yn cael cyfle teg i ofyn eu cwestiwn, gan gynnwys aelodau o'r meinciau cefn.
3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella recriwtio a chadw athrawon yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OQ61798
3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve teacher recruitment and retention in South Wales West? OQ61798
We continue to support recruitment into initial teacher education programmes through a range of activities. These include providing incentives to support recruitment to priority subjects and for Welsh-medium trainees, expanding the subjects available through the salaried PGCE programmes and the Teaching Wales marketing campaign.
Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi recriwtio i raglenni addysg gychwynnol i athrawon drwy amrywiaeth o weithgareddau. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys darparu cymhellion i gefnogi recriwtio i bynciau â blaenoriaeth ac ar gyfer hyfforddeion cyfrwng Cymraeg, gan ehangu'r pynciau sydd ar gael drwy'r rhaglenni TAR cyflogedig ac ymgyrch farchnata Addysgu Cymru.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Unfortunately, teacher morale is at an all-time low. Decisions being taken by local authorities to cut school budgets, leading to lay-offs of teachers and teaching assistants, are increasing the workload on the remaining teaching staff, with many warnings that class sizes are set to grow, adding to the pressures. But, the biggest threat of them all is the behaviour of the pupils and the lack of support given to teaching staff who are subjected to abuse and physical violence. Cabinet Secretary, teachers in my region have had to strive to get their voices heard regarding attacks on staff. I note your earlier statement regarding the school social partnership forum and the steps you’ll take to address pupils’ behaviour. However, it does little to protect staff in the here and now. Cabinet Secretary, what immediate steps will you take to protect staff in our schools? We politicians get issued with panic alarms; have you considered issuing these to our teachers?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn anffodus, mae morâl athrawon ar ei isaf erioed. Mae penderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud gan awdurdodau lleol i dorri cyllidebau ysgolion, gan arwain at ddiswyddo athrawon a chynorthwywyr addysgu, yn cynyddu'r llwyth gwaith ar weddill y staff addysgu, gyda llawer o rybuddion y bydd maint dosbarthiadau'n tyfu, gan ychwanegu at y pwysau. Ond y bygythiad mwyaf ohonynt i gyd yw ymddygiad y disgyblion a'r diffyg cefnogaeth a roddir i staff addysgu sy'n agored i gamdriniaeth a thrais corfforol. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae athrawon yn fy rhanbarth wedi gorfod ymdrechu i gael eu lleisiau wedi eu clywed ynglŷn ag ymosodiadau ar staff. Nodaf eich datganiad cynharach ynghylch fforwm partneriaeth gymdeithasol ysgolion a'r camau y byddwch yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael ag ymddygiad disgyblion. Fodd bynnag, nid yw'n gwneud llawer i ddiogelu staff ar hyn o bryd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gamau y byddwch yn eu cymryd ar unwaith i ddiogelu staff yn ein hysgolion? Rydym ni wleidyddion yn cael larymau panig; a ydych chi wedi ystyried rhoi'r rhain i'n hathrawon?
Thank you very much, Altaf, for your supplementary. You raised a number of points there. I would like to assure you that we take the issue of teacher recruitment and retention very seriously and that we recognise the huge pressures teachers are under, and also the link between workload and their well-being. It’s essential that teachers are able to maintain an appropriate work-life balance, and there’s a commitment from all stakeholders to make tangible, impactful changes that will make real positive change for teachers.
We’ve worked in the last year in particular with our stakeholders and our partners around the issues of workload, and we’ve had an independently chaired strategic workload co-ordination group, membership of which is drawn from key stakeholders and representatives from across the education system. I issued a written statement updating on our efforts to tackle teacher workload a few weeks ago.
In terms of the points you raise about behaviour in schools, as I made clear yesterday in answers to question, I am really worried about what schools are dealing with. They’re dealing with a really complex range of societal issues that are now presenting in schools, because they are the places that are there all the time, and teachers are focusing on those issues when they want to be focusing on teaching and learning.
You’ve seen my letter, so you know that I have the meeting with the trade unions coming up next week, and that we have the headteachers conference with secondary heads on Friday, where we’re going to be focusing on behaviour. Local authorities and schools are under a legal duty to make sure that schools are a safe place to work. But what I will do is, following those meetings, I’m very happy to consider the issues arising from those. I mean, things like panic alarms, that may be raised—I don’t know. I want to listen to the people who are at the front line when we consider how we can help with this, and that’s, of course, in addition to the other things that we’re doing like the behaviour toolkit and the research that we’re doing on behaviour.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Altaf. Fe wnaethoch chi godi nifer o bwyntiau yno. Hoffwn eich sicrhau ein bod o ddifrif ynghylch recriwtio a chadw athrawon a'n bod yn cydnabod y pwysau enfawr sydd ar athrawon, a hefyd y cysylltiad rhwng llwyth gwaith a'u llesiant. Mae'n hanfodol fod athrawon yn gallu cynnal cydbwysedd priodol rhwng bywyd a gwaith, ac mae ymrwymiad gan yr holl randdeiliaid i wneud newidiadau ymarferol, effeithiol a fydd yn sicrhau newid cadarnhaol go iawn i athrawon.
Rydym wedi gweithio yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn enwedig gyda'n rhanddeiliaid a'n partneriaid ar faterion llwyth gwaith, ac rydym wedi cael grŵp strategol annibynnol ar gydlynu llwyth gwaith, y daw ei aelodaeth o blith rhanddeiliaid allweddol a chynrychiolwyr o bob rhan o'r system addysg. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, cyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn rhoi'r diweddaraf ar ein hymdrechion i fynd i'r afael â llwyth gwaith athrawon.
Ar y pwyntiau a godwch am ymddygiad mewn ysgolion, fel y dywedais yn glir ddoe mewn atebion i gwestiwn, rwy'n poeni'n fawr am yr hyn y mae ysgolion yn ymdrin ag ef. Maent yn ymdrin ag amrywiaeth gymhleth iawn o broblemau cymdeithasol sydd i'w gweld mewn ysgolion erbyn hyn, am mai dyna'r lleoedd sydd yno drwy'r amser, ac mae athrawon yn canolbwyntio ar y problemau hynny pan fyddant eisiau canolbwyntio ar addysgu a dysgu.
Rydych chi wedi gweld fy llythyr, felly fe wyddoch fy mod yn cael y cyfarfod â'r undebau llafur yr wythnos nesaf, a bod gennym y gynhadledd penaethiaid gyda phenaethiaid uwchradd ddydd Gwener, lle byddwn yn canolbwyntio ar ymddygiad. Mae dyletswydd gyfreithiol ar awdurdodau lleol ac ysgolion i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn lle diogel i weithio. Ond yr hyn a wnaf, yn dilyn y cyfarfodydd hynny, rwy'n hapus iawn i ystyried y materion sy'n codi o'r rheini. Hynny yw, pethau fel larymau panig, a allai gael eu codi—nid wyf yn gwybod. Rwyf am wrando ar y bobl sydd ar y rheng flaen pan ystyriwn sut y gallwn helpu gyda hyn, ac mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn ychwanegol at y pethau eraill a wnawn fel y pecyn cymorth ymddygiad a'r ymchwil a wnawn ar ymddygiad.
4. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella canlyniadau addysgol i bobl ifanc yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ61780
4. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve educational outcomes for young people in South Wales East? OQ61780
My priorities for schools in South Wales East include raising levels of attainment, attendance and closing the gap for our poorest learners.
Mae fy mlaenoriaethau ar gyfer ysgolion yn Nwyrain De Cymru yn cynnwys codi lefelau cyrhaeddiad, presenoldeb a chau'r bwlch i'n dysgwyr tlotaf.
Thank you so much, Cabinet Secretary. The Ebbw Vale Institute in Blaenau Gwent is a cherished community asset that currently provides an array of services, two of which are work experience programmes and volunteering opportunities. Both are, indeed, a vital part of building a well-rounded education as well as setting people up from all ages and backgrounds for work and building self-esteem, additionally benefiting the local community. But, Cabinet Secretary, just like so many various prosperous local assets, the Ebbw Vale Institute community hub offering these services has relied quite a lot on levelling-up funding. However, in the wake of the new Government taking over management of the site, I'm naturally concerned about the future. So, Cabinet Secretary, what assurance can you give me today that you will work with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government to support brilliant hubs like this to ensure a holistic approach is indeed taken in education, where both young people and adults can enhance vital skill sets whilst benefiting their communities at large? Thank you.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae Sefydliad Glyn Ebwy ym Mlaenau Gwent yn ased cymunedol annwyl sydd ar hyn o bryd yn darparu amrywiaeth o wasanaethau, a dau ohonynt yw rhaglenni profiad gwaith a chyfleoedd gwirfoddoli. Mae'r ddau beth, yn wir, yn rhan hanfodol o adeiladu addysg gyflawn, yn ogystal â pharatoi pobl o bob oedran a chefndir ar gyfer gwaith a meithrin hunan-barch, sydd hefyd o fudd i'r gymuned leol. Ond Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn union fel cymaint o asedau lleol llewyrchus, mae hyb cymunedol Sefydliad Glyn Ebwy, sy'n cynnig y gwasanaethau hyn, wedi dibynnu cryn dipyn ar gyllid ffyniant bro. Fodd bynnag, wedi i'r Llywodraeth newydd gymryd rheolaeth ar y safle, rwy'n naturiol yn bryderus am y dyfodol. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi i mi heddiw y byddwch yn gweithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai i gefnogi hybiau gwych fel hyn i sicrhau bod dull cyfannol yn cael ei weithredu mewn addysg, lle gall pobl ifanc ac oedolion wella sgiliau hanfodol gan fod o fudd i'w cymunedau yn gyffredinol? Diolch.
Thank you, Natasha, and you raise a really important point about work experience. It's good for all young people to get those opportunities, but, in my experience, it's often our most vulnerable learners who get the most from those opportunities to do things in a slightly different way, and to experience the real-life world of work. I wasn't aware of the funding issues at the Ebbw Vale Institute that you've referred to. Obviously, the levelling-up fund and other funds are in a state of transition at the moment, but I do give you my commitment that I will talk to Cabinet colleagues, not just the local government Minister but also the Cabinet Secretary for finance, about the issues that you've raised, and I'm very happy to write to you about that.
Diolch, Natasha, ac rydych chi'n codi pwynt pwysig iawn am brofiad gwaith. Mae'n dda i bob person ifanc gael y cyfleoedd hynny, ond yn fy mhrofiad i, ein dysgwyr mwyaf agored i niwed yn aml sy'n cael y gorau o'r cyfleoedd hynny i wneud pethau mewn ffordd ychydig yn wahanol, ac i brofi byd gwaith go iawn. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r problemau ariannu yn Sefydliad Glyn Ebwy y cyfeirioch chi atynt. Yn amlwg, mae'r gronfa ffyniant bro a'r cronfeydd eraill mewn cyfnod o bontio ar hyn o bryd, ond rwy'n rhoi fy ymrwymiad i chi y byddaf yn siarad â chyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet, nid dim ond y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol ond Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid hefyd, am y materion a godwyd gennych, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i ysgrifennu atoch ynglŷn â hynny.
5. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i annog rhagor o ferched i astudio pynciau STEM? OQ61800
5. What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage more girls to study STEM subjects? OQ61800
We want to ensure all our young people are able to positively engage with a world increasingly driven by technological and digital innovation. This financial year, the Welsh Government is providing over £1.6 million for STEM activities in schools, with a focus on encouraging girls into STEM qualifications and careers.
Rydym am sicrhau bod ein holl bobl ifanc yn gallu ymgysylltu'n gadarnhaol â byd sy'n cael ei yrru'n gynyddol gan arloesedd technolegol a digidol. Yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu dros £1.6 miliwn ar gyfer gweithgareddau STEM mewn ysgolion, gan ganolbwyntio ar annog merched i fynd ar drywydd cymwysterau a gyrfaoedd STEM.
Diolch, Minister. Women and girls are still hugely under-represented in STEM subjects, and they are still often stereotyped as subjects for boys. I was delighted to see that Pembrokeshire College and Pembrokeshire County Council are trying to address this bias by joining forces with local industries like RWE Renewables, Blue Gem Wind, Floventis Energy, Port of Milford Haven and Ledwood Engineering. At the end of last year, they created a careers initiative called SPARC to help inspire a more diverse workforce in STEM industries, and these industries are also massively under-represented by females and, of course, this often starts with the subjects that they study at school or in college. Cabinet Secretary, do you agree with me that initiatives like these are crucial if we are going to ever address the imbalance of girls and women studying STEM subjects?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae menywod a merched yn dal heb gynrychiolaeth sy'n agos at fod yn ddigonol mewn pynciau STEM, ac maent yn dal i gael eu stereoteipio fel pynciau i fechgyn. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o weld bod Coleg Sir Benfro a Chyngor Sir Penfro yn ceisio mynd i'r afael â'r duedd hon trwy ymgysylltu â diwydiannau lleol fel RWE Renewables, Blue Gem Wind, Floventis Energy, Porthladd Aberdaugleddau a Ledwood Engineering. Ddiwedd y llynedd, fe wnaethant greu menter gyrfaoedd o'r enw SPARC i helpu i ysbrydoli gweithlu mwy amrywiol mewn diwydiannau STEM, ac nid oes agos digon o fenywod yn y diwydiannau hyn ac wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn aml yn dechrau gyda'r pynciau a astudiant yn yr ysgol neu yn y coleg. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod mentrau fel hyn yn hanfodol os ydym am fynd i'r afael â'r anghydbwysedd o ran y nifer o ferched a menywod sy'n astudio pynciau STEM?
Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd like to thank Joyce Watson for that supplementary question, and I absolutely agree with her about the importance of initiatives like that. And, in fact, I'm undertaking a joint visit to Pembrokeshire College in just two weeks' time with the Cabinet Secretary for economy, so I really look forward to hearing more about this work when I'm there. Building partnerships between schools and industry can inspire our young girls to follow their passion for STEM subjects, and, of course, that can lead them to rewarding and fulfilling careers. As part of our funding to the Engineering Education Scheme Wales, we're supporting the Girls into STEM initiative, and this is helping to break down barriers, giving girls the opportunity to visit employers and universities, and encouraging them to follow STEM qualification and career pathways. In the last financial year, 390 girls were involved in the Girls into STEM initiative, visiting a range of industry partners. And you'll be aware, Joyce Watson, that, on Tuesday, the Cabinet Secretary announced as part of her oral statement additional investment in the Engineering Education Scheme Wales, including to further enhance the Girls into STEM initiative. That brings our total investment in this work to £196,000 in this year alone.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i Joyce Watson am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â hi am bwysigrwydd mentrau fel honno. Ac mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n ymweld â Choleg Sir Benfro ymhen pythefnos gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi, felly rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at glywed mwy am y gwaith hwn pan fyddaf yno. Gall meithrin partneriaethau rhwng ysgolion a diwydiant ysbrydoli ein merched ifanc i fynd ar drywydd eu brwdfrydedd ynghylch pynciau STEM, ac wrth gwrs, gall hynny eu harwain at yrfaoedd gwerth chweil a boddhaus. Fel rhan o'n cyllid i Gynllun Addysg Beirianneg Cymru, rydym yn cefnogi'r fenter Denu Merched i Faes STEM, ac mae hyn yn helpu i chwalu rhwystrau, gan roi cyfle i ferched ymweld â chyflogwyr a phrifysgolion, a'u hannog i ddilyn cymwysterau a llwybrau gyrfa STEM. Yn y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, roedd 390 o ferched yn rhan o'r fenter Denu Merched i Faes STEM, gan ymweld ag amrywiaeth o bartneriaid diwydiant. Ac fe fyddwch chi'n gwybod, Joyce Watson, fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel rhan o'i datganiad llafar ddydd Mawrth wedi cyhoeddi buddsoddiad ychwanegol yng Nghynllun Addysg Beirianneg Cymru, gan gynnwys gwella'r fenter Denu Merched i Faes STEM ymhellach. Daw hynny â chyfanswm ein buddsoddiad yn y gwaith hwn i £196,000 eleni yn unig.
I met with SPARC at Pembrokeshire College recently, at the launch of the skills transition hub, which has been part funded by Shell. On Friday, in Pembroke Dock, I'm meeting with Cymbrogi as they're doing an event with four schools in the area, advocating for STEM subjects for young boys and girls in secondary school to show not only are they able to go into fantastic careers using STEM, but the other opportunities that are out there in the workforce to stay locally in the areas in which they were born and raised, which is really important, especially in west Wales where we're seeing a demographic shift of young people, unfortunately, leaving, and the age demographic shifting and putting pressure on those care sectors. So, if it's okay with you, Minister, would you be able to meet with Cymbrogi in the future, as they've got some really exciting plans about how they're having that outreach into our education establishments, getting people thinking about careers in STEM and the alternatives that come in fields such as engineering, mathematics and science? Thank you.
Cyfarfûm â SPARC yng Ngholeg Sir Benfro yn ddiweddar, yn lansiad yr hyb pontio sgiliau, sydd wedi'i ariannu'n rhannol gan Shell. Ddydd Gwener, yn Noc Penfro, rwy'n cyfarfod â Cymbrogi gan eu bod yn cynnal digwyddiad gyda phedair ysgol yn yr ardal i hyrwyddo pynciau STEM i fechgyn a merched ifanc yn yr ysgol uwchradd i ddangos nid yn unig eu bod yn gallu mynd ar drywydd gyrfaoedd gwych gan ddefnyddio STEM, ond y cyfleoedd eraill sydd ar gael yn y gweithlu i aros yn lleol yn yr ardaloedd lle cawsant eu geni a'u magu, sy'n bwysig iawn, yn enwedig yng ngorllewin Cymru lle gwelwn newid demograffig o ran pobl ifanc yn gadael, gwaetha'r modd, a'r oedran demograffig yn newid gan roi pwysau ar y sectorau gofal. Felly, os yw'n iawn gyda chi, Weinidog, a fyddech chi'n gallu cyfarfod â Cymbrogi yn y dyfodol, gan fod ganddynt gynlluniau cyffrous iawn o ran sut y cânt allgymorth i mewn i'n sefydliadau addysg, cael pobl i feddwl am yrfaoedd ym maes STEM a'r dewisiadau amgen sydd ar gael mewn meysydd fel peirianneg, mathemateg a gwyddoniaeth? Diolch.
Thank you, Sam, for that supplementary question. I absolutely agree with everything you said there. It's so important that we don't just look at these skill sets, but at how they can enable our young people to stay in the communities that they are born and raised in and to have a positive impact on those local economies. And that's exactly the kind of cross-cutting work that I'm looking into with the Minister for skills, and I'd be delighted to receive more information about that project. I look forward to finding out more and hopefully visiting in the future.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Sam. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â phopeth a ddywedoch chi. Mae mor bwysig ein bod yn edrych ar fwy na'r setiau sgiliau hyn yn unig, ac ar sut y gallant alluogi ein pobl ifanc i aros yn y cymunedau lle cânt eu geni a'u magu a chael effaith gadarnhaol ar yr economïau lleol hynny. A dyna'n union y math o waith trawsbynciol rwy'n edrych arno gyda'r Gweinidog sgiliau, a buaswn yn falch iawn o gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y prosiect hwnnw. Edrychaf ymlaen at ddarganfod mwy ac at ymweld yn y dyfodol, gobeithio.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am y defnydd o e-sgol yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ61811
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the use of e-sgol in South Wales East? OQ61811
E-sgol is an innovative project delivered across Wales. In September I launched an e-sgol partnership in Monmouthshire and saw how it enables learners to access subjects that might not otherwise be offered. E-sgol is currently delivered in three authorities in South Wales East for pupils in years 12 and 13.
Mae e-sgol yn brosiect arloesol a gyflwynir ledled Cymru. Ym mis Medi, lansiais bartneriaeth e-sgol yn sir Fynwy a gweld sut y mae’n galluogi dysgwyr i gael mynediad at bynciau na fyddai’n cael eu cynnig fel arall o bosibl. Ar hyn o bryd, mae prosiect e-sgol yn cael ei gyflwyno mewn tri awdurdod yn Nwyrain De Cymru ar gyfer disgyblion ym mlynyddoedd 12 a 13.
Diolch am yr ateb yna. Yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, dwi wedi bod yn cael trafodaethau gyda'r proffesiwn addysgu ynglŷn â defnydd o e-sgol yn fy rhanbarth. Fel y dywedoch chi, sefydlwyd yr adnodd yma ar-lein yn wreiddiol i gynorthwyo darpariaeth chweched dosbarth mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ond mae o wedi dod yn opsiwn sy'n cael ei ffafrio ar gyfer rhai ardaloedd a rhai pynciau yn lle addysgu wyneb yn wyneb. Fel dŷch chi wedi sôn, mae addysgu Cymraeg safon uwch yn sir Fynwy yn un o'r enghreifftiau o hyn.
Er bod gan y math yma o addysgu ei rinweddau, dylai fo ddim bod yn norm ar draul addysgu wyneb yn wyneb. Yn fy marn i a barn llawer o addysgwyr, does dim yn gallu cymryd lle addysgu wyneb yn wyneb o ran darparu profiad cyfoethog ac amrywiol i ddisgyblion. A allwch chi, felly, roi addewid y bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn mynd i'r afael â diffyg athrawon mewn rhai meysydd a rhai pynciau, fel bod e-sgol ddim yn dod yn fwy cyffredin, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun y darpariaethau yn y Bil y Gymraeg ac Addysg (Cymru) a'r prif amcan o gael pob disgybl yn siaradwr hyderus erbyn 2050? Diolch.
Thank you for that response. During the last few weeks, I've been having discussions with the education profession on the use of e-sgol in my region. As you said, this resource was established online originally to help with the provision of sixth form in rural areas, but it's an option that's been favoured in some areas and certain subjects rather than face-to-face teaching. As you've mentioned, teaching Welsh at A-level in Monmouthshire is one of the examples of this.
Although this kind of learning does have its merits, it shouldn't become the norm at the expense of face-to-face teaching. In my view and the view of many educators, nothing can replace face-to-face teaching in terms of providing a rich and varied experience for pupils. Can you, therefore, provide a pledge that this Government will tackle the shortage of teachers in certain areas and certain subjects, so that e-sgol doesn't become more common, particularly in the context of the provisions of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill and the main objective of having all pupils as being confident Welsh speakers by 2050? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Peredur, for that question. Without e-sgol there is, unfortunately, a distinct possibility that Welsh A-level wouldn't have been delivered for the nine A-level students in Monmouthshire—two in Caldicot School, two in King Henry VIII school and five in Monmouth Comprehensive School. And I do believe that e-sgol can help rebuild Welsh language provision in Monmouthshire, so that the numbers increase again. There is some face-to-face provision as part of the project, and I was assured of that when I went to see it; they do get opportunities to meet together, face to face.
I think you raise important issues, though, about the numbers of young people who are taking A-level Welsh and I'm keen to look again at the A-level to ensure that we've got a qualification that motivates more young people to choose to do the subject at A-level. More work is going to be done with schools, pupils and parents to showcase the e-sgol provision and its quality to give them the confidence that it provides high-quality teaching and a good experience for learners. And you may find it reassuring that the initial pupil questionnaire came back with a 94 per cent positive response in relation to the provision. I know that the local authority have undertaken a lesson observation cycle recently and had very positive feedback. As I said, I went to see it in action with the Spanish lessons in September and had the opportunity to talk to the young people. It seemed to be going really, really well and they were happy with how it was working. I think the academic results are encouraging as well. The 2023 A-level results show that 15.2 per cent of learners achieved A* grades through e-sgol, compared with 13.5 per cent across Wales, and similarly, there's a slightly higher achievement of A to C grades with e-sgol, compared to the rest of Wales. You'll also, I'm sure, be assured that Estyn have recognised the e-sgol provision in their post-16 partnership report.
The strategic head of e-sgol is very happy to come and meet with Members of the Senedd to talk to you about your concerns if that would be helpful. You do make an important point about the Welsh language and education Bill, and I hope that the work that we're doing, not just through the Bill but through our Welsh in education strategic plans and through our workforce plan, will mean that we will increase the stream of young people that are coming forward to do A-level Welsh, because, clearly, what is creating the challenge here is the fact that there aren't that many pupils, and we need to address that.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Peredur. Heb e-sgol, yn anffodus, mae posibilrwydd cryf na fyddai naw myfyriwr Safon Uwch yn sir Fynwy wedi gallu astudio Cymraeg Safon Uwch—dau yn Ysgol Cil-y-coed, dau yn Ysgol Brenin Harri'r VIII a phump yn Ysgol Gyfun Trefynwy. Ac rwy'n credu y gall e-sgol helpu i ailadeiladu darpariaeth iaith Gymraeg yn sir Fynwy, fel bod y niferoedd yn cynyddu eto. Ceir rhywfaint o ddarpariaeth wyneb yn wyneb yn rhan o’r prosiect, a chefais sicrwydd o hynny pan euthum i’w weld; maent yn cael cyfleoedd i gyfarfod â'i gilydd, wyneb yn wyneb.
Credaf eich bod yn codi materion pwysig, serch hynny, ynglŷn â niferoedd pobl ifanc sy’n astudio'r Gymraeg fel pwnc Safon Uwch, ac rwy’n awyddus i edrych eto ar y Safon Uwch i sicrhau bod gennym gymhwyster sy’n ysgogi mwy o bobl ifanc i astudio'r pwnc ar gyfer Safon Uwch. Bydd mwy o waith yn cael ei wneud gydag ysgolion, disgyblion a rhieni i arddangos darpariaeth ac ansawdd e-sgol er mwyn rhoi hyder iddynt ei fod yn darparu addysgu o ansawdd uchel a phrofiad da i ddysgwyr. Ac efallai y bydd yn galonogol i chi fod yr holiadur cychwynnol i ddisgyblion wedi nodi ymateb cadarnhaol o 94 y cant mewn perthynas â’r ddarpariaeth. Gwn fod yr awdurdod lleol wedi cynnal cylch arsylwi gwersi yn ddiweddar ac wedi cael adborth cadarnhaol iawn. Fel y dywedais, euthum i’w weld ar waith gyda’r gwersi Sbaeneg ym mis Medi a chefais gyfle i siarad â’r bobl ifanc. Roedd i'w weld yn mynd yn dda iawn ac roeddent yn fodlon â sut y gweithiai. Credaf fod y canlyniadau academaidd yn galonogol hefyd. Mae canlyniadau Safon Uwch 2023 yn dangos bod 15.2 y cant o ddysgwyr wedi cael graddau A* drwy e-sgol, o gymharu â 13.5 y cant ledled Cymru, ac yn yr un modd, mae cyflawniad ychydig yn uwch o ran graddau A i C gydag e-sgol, o gymharu â gweddill Cymru. Fe fyddwch yn falch o glywed hefyd, rwy’n siŵr, fod Estyn wedi cydnabod darpariaeth e-sgol yn eu hadroddiad ar bartneriaethau ôl-16.
Mae pennaeth strategol e-sgol yn fwy na pharod i ddod i gyfarfod ag Aelodau’r Senedd i siarad â chi am eich pryderon os byddai hynny o gymorth. Rydych yn gwneud pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â Bil y Gymraeg ac addysg, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y gwaith a wnawn, nid yn unig drwy’r Bil ond drwy ein cynlluniau strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg a thrwy ein cynllun ar gyfer y gweithlu, yn golygu y byddwn yn cynyddu’r llif o bobl ifanc sy’n astudio Cymraeg Safon Uwch, oherwydd yn amlwg, yr hyn sy’n creu’r her yma yw’r ffaith nad oes cymaint â hynny o ddisgyblion, ac mae angen inni fynd i’r afael â hynny.
It's really good to hear about advancing technologies, such as e-sgol, and how they're connecting classrooms across Wales. I hope you enjoyed that visit to the Spanish class in Caldicot, and we know that that, as you've shared, is sharing provision with Monmouth comprehensive, and it's great that Monmouthshire is taking a lead. It is great that these technologies exist to ensure that pupils can maximise their attendance but also learn new subjects that might not have been available, whilst also ensuring that no child is left behind.
Unfortunately, though, Cabinet Secretary, pupils in Wales are still being left behind, based on the 2023 Programme for International Student Assessment scores. I note your predecessor stated at the time the results were released that plans had been launched to raise standards. Can I therefore ask, Cabinet Secretary, what progress has been made on improving the standard of education systems in Wales, and on ensuring that the gap between Wales and other UK nations is not just narrowed but eliminated altogether?
Mae'n dda iawn clywed am dechnolegau sy'n datblygu, fel e-sgol, a sut y maent yn cysylltu ystafelloedd dosbarth ledled Cymru. Rwy'n gobeithio eich bod wedi mwynhau’r ymweliad â’r dosbarth Sbaeneg yng Nghil-y-coed, a gwyddom fod yr ysgol honno, fel rydych chi wedi’i rannu, yn rhannu darpariaeth ag Ysgol Gyfun Trefynwy, ac mae’n wych fod sir Fynwy yn arwain y ffordd. Mae’n wych fod y technolegau hyn yn bodoli i sicrhau bod disgyblion yn gallu gwneud y mwyaf o’u presenoldeb ond hefyd yn gallu dysgu pynciau newydd na fyddent wedi bod ar gael o bosibl, gan sicrhau hefyd nad oes unrhyw blentyn yn cael eu gadael ar ôl.
Yn anffodus, serch hynny, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae disgyblion yng Nghymru yn dal i gael eu gadael ar ôl, yn seiliedig ar sgorau'r Rhaglen Ryngwladol Asesu Myfyrwyr ar gyfer 2023. Nodaf fod eich rhagflaenydd wedi datgan pan gyhoeddwyd y canlyniadau fod cynlluniau wedi’u lansio i godi safonau. A gaf i ofyn, felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gynnydd a wnaed ar wella safon systemau addysg yng Nghymru, ac ar sicrhau bod y bwlch rhwng Cymru a gwledydd eraill y DU nid yn unig yn cael ei leihau ond yn cael ei ddileu’n gyfan gwbl?
Thank you, Peter, for your supplementary. Indeed, the e-sgol project was a pleasure to visit; I think it has got lots of potential for subjects where there aren't that many learners who are opting to do it. There's good evidence now that we're starting to see it being rolled out in primary schools, where young people are getting opportunities they would never get otherwise to work with things like the Goethe-Institut, so, you know, it is a really good opportunity and I commend the council for their work on it.
Obviously, you went on, then, to make a wider political point about the school standards in Wales. I did make a statement yesterday on that, which I would refer you to. That set out that it is a Welsh Government priority to increase attendance and attainment; that we're going to have an absolute focus on literacy and numeracy. I went into considerable detail in the session yesterday about how we are going to do that, so I would refer you to that statement, which sets out our plans in some detail.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Peter. Yn wir, roedd yn bleser ymweld â phrosiect e-sgol; credaf fod ganddo lawer o botensial ar gyfer pynciau nad oes cymaint o ddysgwyr yn eu dewis. Mae tystiolaeth dda bellach ein bod yn dechrau gweld y prosiect yn cael ei gyflwyno mewn ysgolion cynradd, lle mae pobl ifanc yn cael cyfleoedd na fyddent byth yn eu cael fel arall i weithio gyda phethau fel y Goethe-Institut, felly mae'n gyfle da iawn ac rwy'n canmol y cyngor am eu gwaith arno.
Yn amlwg, fe aethoch yn eich blaen wedyn i wneud pwynt gwleidyddol ehangach am y safonau ysgolion yng Nghymru. Gwneuthum ddatganiad ar hynny ddoe yr hoffwn eich cyfeirio ato. Roedd yn nodi ei bod yn flaenoriaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu presenoldeb a chyrhaeddiad; ein bod yn mynd i ganolbwyntio'n bendant ar lythrennedd a rhifedd. Soniais mewn cryn dipyn o fanylder yn y sesiwn ddoe sut y gwnawn hynny, felly hoffwn eich cyfeirio at y datganiad hwnnw, sy’n nodi ein cynlluniau yn eithaf manwl.
7. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i ysgolion o ran plant bach sy'n mynychu'r ysgol mewn cewynnau? OQ61782
7. What support is the Welsh Government providing schools with regard to toddlers attending in nappies? OQ61782
Our approach in Wales is on early help and prevention, providing support to families from an early stage to help ensure children experience a smooth transition to school.
Mae ein dull o weithredu yng Nghymru yn ymwneud â chymorth cynnar ac atal, gan ddarparu cymorth i deuluoedd yn gynnar er mwyn helpu i sicrhau bod plant yn pontio'n rhwydd i’r ysgol.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. A new report released last Friday by Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives explains that in 2022-23 a third of children were not considered school-ready, with concerns around speech and language development and arriving to school whilst still wearing nappies. Even a report from some 10 years ago revealed that at least half of primary school staff observed an increase in children unable to successfully take themselves to the toilet during the day. In speaking with my own headteachers locally, concerns of children arriving in nappies now are growing.
Over half of children who are not school-ready perform below expectations in their key stage 1 reading assessment, so there is some direct correlation here. What guidance, Cabinet Secretary, can you provide to parents and families? Also, what resources will you be able to provide to headteachers and schoolteachers, because, clearly, any time spent changing nappies is time away from the classroom? Obviously, there is some guidance needed on this now, because it's an ever-growing problem. Diolch.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae adroddiad newydd a gyhoeddwyd ddydd Gwener diwethaf gan Child of the North a’r Centre for Young Lives yn esbonio nad ystyrir bod traean o blant yn barod ar gyfer yr ysgol yn 2022-23, gyda phryderon ynghylch datblygiad lleferydd ac iaith a dod i'r ysgol mewn cewynnau. Datgelodd adroddiad o oddeutu 10 mlynedd yn ôl hyd yn oed fod o leiaf hanner y staff ysgolion cynradd wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y plant nad oeddent yn gallu mynd i’r toiled eu hunain yn ystod y dydd. Wrth siarad â fy mhenaethiaid fy hun yn lleol, mae pryderon ynghylch plant yn dod i'r ysgol mewn cewynnau yn cynyddu.
Mae dros hanner y plant nad ydynt yn barod ar gyfer yr ysgol yn perfformio’n waeth na’r disgwyl yn eu hasesiad darllen cyfnod allweddol 1, felly mae rhywfaint o gydberthynas uniongyrchol yma. Pa ganllawiau, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, y gallwch eu rhoi i rieni a theuluoedd? Hefyd, pa adnoddau y gallwch eu darparu i benaethiaid ac athrawon ysgol, oherwydd yn amlwg, mae unrhyw amser a dreulir yn newid cewynnau yn amser allan o’r ystafell ddosbarth? Yn amlwg, mae angen rhywfaint o arweiniad ar hyn nawr, gan ei bod yn broblem sy’n cynyddu’n barhaus. Diolch.
Can I thank Janet for her question? Indeed, I've heard myself from some headteachers that they are seeing children coming to school who aren't toilet trained, and how challenging that can be. It's part of what I've described in the Chamber about schools picking up a wider range of issues that are not education related, and that's putting a lot of pressure on them. We do have our ‘Parenting. Give it Time’ campaign and a Teulu Cymru campaign and webpages, which provide vital information for families including parenting tips, advice on parenting concerns such as behaviour, tantrums, bedtimes, mealtimes and potty training, and which signpost parents to sources of further support. The ‘Parenting. Give it Time’ campaign has worked with the Children's Bladder and Bowel Charity to co-brand two of their resources, one called ‘Thinking of wee & poo now you've reached the age of two’ and one called ‘Thinking of wee & poo now you're on your way to school’, to explain the importance of healthy bladder and bowels.
You'll be aware as well of our Flying Start, which we've maintained in Wales despite it not being in place for so long over the border. Our transitional guidance for Flying Start families takes a holistic approach to ensure that children experience positive transitions in the early years, and promotes the importance of understanding the needs of children, including toileting.
A gaf i ddiolch i Janet am ei chwestiwn? Yn wir, rwyf wedi clywed fy hun gan rai penaethiaid eu bod yn gweld plant nad ydynt wedi'u hyfforddi i ddefnyddio'r toiled yn dod i'r ysgol, a pha mor heriol y gall hynny fod. Mae'n rhan o'r hyn a ddisgrifiais yn y Siambr ynglŷn ag ysgolion yn ymdrin ag ystod ehangach o faterion nad ydynt yn ymwneud ag addysg, ac mae hynny'n rhoi llawer o bwysau arnynt. Mae gennym ein hymgyrch 'Magu plant. Rhowch amser iddo' ac ymgyrch a gwefan Teulu Cymru, sy’n darparu gwybodaeth hanfodol i deuluoedd gan gynnwys gwybodaeth am fagu plant, cyngor ar bryderon yn ymwneud â rhianta megis ymddygiad, strancio, amser gwely, amser bwyd a hyfforddiant toiled, ac sy’n cyfeirio rhieni at ffynonellau cymorth pellach. Mae ymgyrch 'Magu plant. Rhowch amser iddo’ wedi gweithio gydag elusen Children's Bladder and Bowel Charity i gyd-frandio dau o’u hadnoddau, un o’r enw ‘Meddwl am bi-pi a phw pw gan dy fod di bellach yn ddwy oed’ ac un o’r enw ‘Meddwl am bi-pi a phw pw nawr eich bod ar y ffordd i'r ysgol!', i egluro pwysigrwydd pledren a choluddion iach.
Fe fyddwch chi hefyd yn ymwybodol o'n rhaglen Dechrau'n Deg, yr ydym wedi'i chadw yng Nghymru er nad yw wedi bod ar waith cyhyd dros y ffin. Mae ein harweiniad trosiannol ar gyfer teuluoedd Dechrau’n Deg yn defnyddio dull cyfannol i sicrhau bod plant yn pontio'n gadarnhaol yn y blynyddoedd cynnar, ac yn hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd deall anghenion plant, gan gynnwys mynd i’r toiled.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Laura Anne Jones.
And finally, question 8, Laura Anne Jones.
8. Pa gamau y mae yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn eu cymryd i wella mynediad cyhoeddus i gyfleusterau chwaraeon ysgolion y tu allan i oriau ysgol? OQ61786
8. What steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to improve public access to school sporting facilities outside of school hours? OQ61786
Investing in our sports facilities is a programme for government commitment and we work closely with Sport Wales to improve and renew facilities across Wales. Since 2022-23, our £60 million community-focused schools capital grant programme has delivered sporting facilities and improved access to our school sites for the community.
Mae buddsoddi yn ein cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn ymrwymiad yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu ac rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda Chwaraeon Cymru i wella ac adnewyddu cyfleusterau ledled Cymru. Ers 2022-23, mae ein rhaglen grant cyfalaf ysgolion bro gwerth £60 miliwn wedi darparu cyfleusterau chwaraeon a gwell mynediad at ein safleoedd ysgol ar gyfer y gymuned.
The Welsh Government made a shiny announcement about a year or so ago that twenty-first century schools would then be named ‘community schools’, but unfortunately they haven't lived up to their name, have they, Cabinet Secretary, as many schools do not open past school hours and provide the community with access to those brilliant sporting facilities that are on offer there? This is a particular problem in rural areas where we are sporting facilities poor across Wales, and the schools could provide that unique opportunity to encourage children, young people, the entire community to carry on using sporting facilities out of school hours. The things that are holding the schools back from opening are safety concerns, but also the inability to pay for someone to open and close the school after school hours due to already stretched school budgets, as you can imagine. What action will you be taking to try and get over those hurdles? Thank you.
Gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gyhoeddiad arbennig oddeutu blwyddyn yn ôl y byddai ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain yn cael eu galw'n 'ysgolion cymunedol', ond yn anffodus, nid yw hwnnw wedi bod yn ddisgrifiad teilwng, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gan nad oes llawer o ysgolion ar agor ar ôl oriau ysgol ac yn darparu mynediad i'r gymuned at y cyfleusterau chwaraeon gwych sydd ar gael yno? Mae hon yn broblem arbennig mewn ardaloedd gwledig lle mae cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn wael ledled Cymru, a gallai’r ysgolion ddarparu cyfle unigryw i annog plant, pobl ifanc, y gymuned gyfan i barhau i ddefnyddio cyfleusterau chwaraeon y tu hwnt i oriau ysgol. Y pethau sy’n atal yr ysgolion rhag agor yw pryderon ynghylch diogelwch, ond hefyd yr anallu i dalu rhywun i agor a chau’r ysgol ar ôl oriau ysgol oherwydd bod cyllidebau ysgolion eisoes dan bwysau, fel y gallwch ddychmygu. Pa gamau y byddwch chi'n eu cymryd i geisio goresgyn y rhwystrau hynny? Diolch.
Thank you, Laura. Well I have to disagree with you that this isn't an area where we've made good progress in Wales. As I said, you know, by the end of this financial year, 2024-25, we'll have invested £60 million in community-focused schools. That's on top of the billions of pounds that we've spent on new school buildings et cetera, so I think our track record in Wales on investing in school buildings is one that we can be proud of.
In terms of South Wales East, we've invested specifically £9.5 million for projects in the South Wales East area. That supported sports facilities in the area through other capital grants, such as the new 3G pitch in Torfaen at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw and a new sports hall in Newport in Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, delivered through the Welsh-medium capital grant funding, and almost 30 per cent of this funding is specifically targeted to deliver and improve a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
Now, the Member does make a valid point that not all schools do this, and many schools in Wales do accommodate extended school and community services including sports, but it is down to the governing body, which plays a crucial role in controlling use of these facilities, both outside and inside school hours. The decision to facilitate wider community use normally sits with the governing body and the headteacher, and it's really important that there's a clear vision communicated by senior leaders and governors at the school. In sharing resources, the right fit between schools and other partners will vary depending on the nature of the community, and school leaders need to be clear about how the role of the school is nested within wider initiatives at a local level, and develop the partnerships most relevant to them.
Obviously, in addition to capital we've also this year invested £6.5 million in family engagement officers to work with families and communities around schools, and that's an important contribution to this as well. But we're also continuing to fund a trial of community-focused schools managers who will work on developing better engagement between schools and their communities, and, hopefully, that will lead to a more consistent application of people being able to benefit from this funding.
Diolch, Laura. Wel mae'n rhaid imi anghytuno â chi nad yw hwn yn faes lle rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd da yng Nghymru. Fel y dywedais, erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon, 2024-25, byddwn wedi buddsoddi £60 miliwn mewn ysgolion bro. Daw hynny ar ben y biliynau o bunnoedd a wariwyd gennym ar adeiladau ysgol newydd ac ati, felly credaf fod ein hanes o fuddsoddi mewn adeiladau ysgol yng Nghymru yn un y gallwn fod yn falch ohono.
O ran Dwyrain De Cymru, rydym wedi buddsoddi £9.5 miliwn yn benodol ar gyfer prosiectau yn ardal Dwyrain De Cymru. Fe wnaeth hynny gefnogi cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn yr ardal drwy grantiau cyfalaf eraill, megis y cae 3G newydd yn Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw yn Nhorfaen a neuadd chwaraeon newydd yn Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed yng Nghasnewydd, a ddarperir drwy’r cyllid grant cyfalaf cyfrwng Cymraeg, ac mae bron i 30 y cant o'r cyllid hwn wedi'i dargedu'n benodol i ddarparu a gwella ystod eang o gyfleusterau chwaraeon dan do ac awyr agored.
Nawr, mae’r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt dilys nad yw pob ysgol yn gwneud hyn, ac mae llawer o ysgolion yng Nghymru yn darparu ar gyfer gwasanaethau ysgol a chymunedol estynedig gan gynnwys chwaraeon, ond mae'n fater i’r corff llywodraethu, sy’n chwarae rhan hanfodol yn rheoli’r defnydd o’r cyfleusterau hyn, o fewn a thu hwnt i oriau ysgol. Mae’r penderfyniad i hwyluso defnydd cymunedol ehangach fel arfer yn nwylo’r corff llywodraethu a’r pennaeth, ac mae’n bwysig iawn fod gweledigaeth glir yn cael ei chyfleu gan uwch-arweinwyr a llywodraethwyr yr ysgol. Wrth rannu adnoddau, bydd trefniant addas rhwng ysgolion a phartneriaid eraill yn amrywio yn dibynnu ar natur y gymuned, ac mae angen i arweinwyr ysgol fod yn glir ynglŷn â sut y mae rôl yr ysgol yn ffitio o fewn mentrau ehangach ar lefel leol, a datblygu’r partneriaethau mwyaf perthnasol iddynt hwy.
Yn amlwg, yn ogystal â chyfalaf, rydym hefyd wedi buddsoddi £6.5 miliwn eleni mewn swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd i weithio gyda theuluoedd a chymunedau o amgylch ysgolion, ac mae hwnnw'n gyfraniad pwysig at hyn hefyd. Ond rydym hefyd yn parhau i ariannu treial o reolwyr ysgolion bro a fydd yn gweithio ar ddatblygu gwell ymgysylltiad rhwng ysgolion a’u cymunedau, a bydd hynny, gobeithio, yn arwain at fwy o gysondeb o ran gallu pobl i elwa ar y cyllid hwn.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Eitem 3 yw'r cwestiynau amserol, a bydd y cyntaf gan Hannah Blythyn.
Item 3 is the topical questions, and the first will be from Hannah Blythyn.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am yr honiadau a adroddwyd o fwlio a rhywiaeth yn URC yn ymwneud â thîm rhyngwladol y menywod? TQ1228
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the reported allegations of bullying and sexism at the WRU involving the Women’s International team? TQ1228
Thank you. I met with representatives of the WRU on Monday and issued a written statement later that afternoon. My aim now is to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the recent contract negotiations for women's players and how improvements to existing processes can be taken forward more positively in the future.
Diolch. Cyfarfûm â chynrychiolwyr Undeb Rygbi Cymru ddydd Llun a chyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn hwnnw. Fy nod nawr yw deall yr amgylchiadau ynghylch y negodiadau contract diweddar i chwaraewyr benywaidd yn llawn, a sut y gellir bwrw ymlaen â gwelliannau i brosesau presennol mewn ffordd fwy cadarnhaol yn y dyfodol.
Thank you for that update, and I obviously very much welcome that you promptly met with representatives of the WRU, following the most recent allegations. And I'm sure we were all shocked and saddened to see these allegations when they appeared in The Telegraph last week, and I want to pay tribute to the journalist Fiona Thomas who broke the story, and of course to the women who had the courage to come forward.
For me, the most appalling revelation relates to how the players were threatened with disciplinary action, and the potential of the team being withdrawn from the world cup, if they did not conform to the WRU's will and sign their new contracts. Can anyone in the Siambr imagine the men's team being subjected to such treatment? And subsequently, at a hastily arranged WRU press conference on Friday, it was reported that the WRU apologised profusely and was sorry for not treating their women players as employees and for any stress and hurt caused, but denied claims of sexism.
Minister, the definition of sexism is prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex. I think it's clear to many that what the national team has experienced is the very definition of sexism. Do you agree with me that this is what the women's team have experienced? And whilst I'm sure the apology was appreciated by the team, we've been here before, and words aren't enough. An apology is not, and cannot be, the end of it. It's not about individuals; it's institutional.
So, as well as the WRU's own review, what further action will the Welsh Government take? Will you review the Government's relationship with the WRU, and that there needs to be greater transparency and accountability? I would also urge the same caution here as I've done previously regarding your offer to meet the players. They must not be put in a position where speaking out potentially risks not just their professional career but their mental health too, and they must be protected.
Any cosy establishment consensus must end. We can't hold people to account if we're sharing information or a hospitality box with them, and, this time, there has to be tangible and meaningful cultural change. We owe it not just to the women of the international team but to all young girls wanting to play rugby in Wales.
Diolch am y diweddariad, ac rwy’n amlwg yn croesawu’n fawr y ffaith eich bod wedi cyfarfod yn brydlon â chynrychiolwyr URC, yn dilyn yr honiadau mwyaf diweddar. Ac rwy'n siŵr fod pob un ohonom wedi ein synnu a'n digalonni o weld yr honiadau hyn pan wnaethant ymddangos yn The Telegraph yr wythnos diwethaf, a hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r newyddiadurwr Fiona Thomas a ddatgelodd y stori, ac wrth gwrs, i'r menywod a fu'n ddigon dewr i godi llais.
I mi, mae’r datgeliad mwyaf echrydus yn ymwneud â sut y cafodd y chwaraewyr eu bygwth â chamau disgyblu, a’r potensial i’r tîm gael ei dynnu allan o gwpan y byd os na fyddent yn cydymffurfio â dymuniadau'r URC ac yn arwyddo eu contractau newydd. A all unrhyw un yn y Siambr ddychmygu tîm y dynion yn cael eu trin yn y fath fodd? Ac wedi hynny, mewn cynhadledd i'r wasg a drefnwyd ar frys gan URC ddydd Gwener, adroddwyd bod URC wedi ymddiheuro'n llaes ac yn edifar am beidio â thrin eu chwaraewyr benywaidd fel gweithwyr cyflogedig ac am unrhyw straen a loes a achoswyd, ond eu bod yn gwadu honiadau o rywiaeth.
Weinidog, y diffiniad o rywiaeth yw rhagfarn, stereoteipio neu wahaniaethu, yn erbyn menywod fel arfer, ar sail rhyw. Credaf ei bod yn amlwg i lawer fod yr hyn y mae’r tîm cenedlaethol wedi’i brofi yn cyd-fynd yn llwyr â'r diffiniad o rywiaeth. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi mai dyma y mae tîm y menywod wedi’i brofi? Ac er fy mod yn sicr fod y tîm yn gwerthfawrogi'r ymddiheuriad, rydym wedi bod yma o'r blaen, ac nid yw geiriau'n ddigon. Nid yw ymddiheuriad yn ddiwedd arni, ac ni all fod. Nid yw'n ymwneud ag unigolion; mae'n sefydliadol.
Felly, yn ogystal ag adolygiad URC ei hun, pa gamau pellach y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd? A wnewch chi adolygu perthynas y Llywodraeth ag URC, a bod angen mwy o dryloywder ac atebolrwydd? Hoffwn annog yr un gofal yma ag a anogais yn y gorffennol ynglŷn â'ch cynnig i gyfarfod â'r chwaraewyr. Mae'n rhaid iddynt beidio â chael eu rhoi mewn sefyllfa lle gallai codi llais beryglu nid yn unig eu gyrfa broffesiynol ond eu hiechyd meddwl hefyd, ac mae'n rhaid eu diogelu.
Mae'n rhaid i unrhyw gonsensws sefydliadol clyd ddod i ben. Ni allwn ddwyn pobl i gyfrif os ydym yn rhannu gwybodaeth neu flwch lletygarwch â hwy, a'r tro hwn, mae'n rhaid gwneud newid diwylliannol gweladwy ac ystyrlon. Mae arnom ddyled nid yn unig i fenywod y tîm rhyngwladol ond i bob merch ifanc sydd am chwarae rygbi yng Nghymru.
Presiding Officer, can I thank Hannah Blythyn for tabling this important question and for the way in which she contributed her supplementary question this afternoon? I think it's fair to say that all of us in this Chamber were shocked and saddened at last week's revelations in The Telegraph, and I join Hannah Blythyn in thanking in particular the players for having the courage to come forward too because of that process.
As I set out in my statement on Monday to Members of the Senedd, Presiding Officer, I met with the WRU as a matter of urgency, following the media focus over the weekend on the allegations of sexism faced by the women's national team in their contract negotiations. I left them in no doubt of my disappointment that, once again, Welsh rugby was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, especially given the context of recent years. In my meeting with the WRU, and as Hannah Blythyn has pointed out already, it is clear that the WRU has already accepted some failings of the process and is looking for areas of improvement that need to be followed. The WRU themselves are looking to meet with the players to issue that apology, and, as I said again in my statement on Monday, the review of the process is taking place, and that report is yet to be published. Therefore, I have not had sight of the report, but I'm hoping to do so in the coming weeks to get a full picture and full understanding of what has taken place and what action needs to take place to address the issues, because I agree with Hannah Blythyn that words aren't enough.
My view on any allegations of this nature is clear: the Welsh Government will not be a bystander to any form of sexism, bullying or abuse, and that women and girls should be and should feel safe in all aspects of their life, including in their workplace, and we expect the same level of commitment from all our partners and stakeholders and citizens in Wales, including the WRU.
Presiding Officer, what's most important to me in this process is how the women themselves feel about this, and if they feel they have been treated differently. I take the Member's point around the men's team, and I'm sure many in this Chamber will feel the same way as she does and as I do, that the men's team would not have been treated in this way, with the prospect of not going to the world cup being an option on the negotiating table. That's why I'm seeking to meet with the authors of the review's report in due course, and indeed the players of the women's national team, and I'm seeking to do that in a space in which they feel comfortable and protected, and those meetings will take place in confidence. Presiding Officer, in closing, the players can do that either through the WRU themselves or directly to me, either themselves collectively or through their representative bodies, so it's a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing what they want to share with me, so that I have the full understanding of what action needs to take place.
I should say, Presiding Officer, in all of this, we all want this issue to be addressed because we do in Wales want rugby to thrive in the future.
Lywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Hannah Blythyn am gyflwyno’r cwestiwn pwysig hwn ac am y ffordd y cyfrannodd ei chwestiwn atodol y prynhawn yma? Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud bod pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon wedi ein synnu a'n digalonni gan y datgeliadau yr wythnos diwethaf yn The Telegraph, ac ymunaf â Hannah Blythyn i ddiolch yn arbennig hefyd i’r chwaraewyr am fod yn ddigon dewr i godi eu llais yn sgil y broses honno.
Fel y nodais yn fy natganiad i Aelodau’r Senedd ddydd Llun, Lywydd, cyfarfûm ag URC fel mater o frys, yn dilyn y ffocws yn y cyfryngau dros y penwythnos ar yr honiadau o rywiaeth a wynebwyd gan dîm cenedlaethol y menywod yn eu negodiadau contract. Mynegais yn glir fy siom fod rygbi Cymru, unwaith eto, yn y penawdau am y rhesymau anghywir, yn enwedig o ystyried cyd-destun y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Yn fy nghyfarfod ag URC, ac fel y mae Hannah Blythyn eisoes wedi'i nodi, mae’n amlwg fod URC eisoes wedi derbyn rhai methiannau yn y broses ac yn chwilio am feysydd i’w gwella. Mae URC eu hunain yn bwriadu cyfarfod â’r chwaraewyr i roi'r ymddiheuriad hwnnw, ac fel y dywedais eto yn fy natganiad ddydd Llun, mae’r adolygiad o’r broses yn mynd rhagddo, ac nid yw’r adroddiad hwnnw wedi’i gyhoeddi eto. Felly, nid wyf wedi cael golwg ar yr adroddiad, ond rwy'n gobeithio gwneud hynny yn yr wythnosau nesaf i gael darlun llawn a dealltwriaeth lawn o’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd a pha gamau sydd angen eu cymryd i fynd i’r afael â’r materion sy'n codi, gan fy mod yn cytuno gyda Hannah Blythyn nad yw geiriau'n ddigon.
Mae fy marn ar unrhyw honiadau o’r natur hon yn glir: ni fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cadw'n dawel ar unrhyw fath o rywiaeth, bwlio neu gam-drin, ac y dylai menywod a merched fod yn ddiogel ac y dylent deimlo’n ddiogel ym mhob agwedd ar eu bywydau, gan gynnwys yn eu gweithle, ac rydym yn disgwyl yr un lefel o ymrwymiad gan ein holl bartneriaid a rhanddeiliaid a dinasyddion yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys URC.
Lywydd, yr hyn sydd bwysicaf i mi yn y broses hon yw sut y mae’r menywod eu hunain yn teimlo am hyn, ac a ydynt yn teimlo eu bod wedi cael eu trin yn wahanol. Rwy’n derbyn pwynt yr Aelod ynglŷn â thîm y dynion, ac rwy’n siŵr y bydd llawer yn y Siambr hon yn teimlo'r un ffordd â hi a minnau, na fyddai tîm y dynion wedi cael eu trin fel hyn, gyda’r posibilrwydd o beidio â mynd i gwpan y byd yn opsiwn ar y bwrdd negodi. Dyna pam fy mod yn gobeithio cyfarfod ag awduron adroddiad yr adolygiad maes o law, ac yn wir, chwaraewyr tîm cenedlaethol y menywod, ac rwy’n gobeithio gwneud hynny mewn man lle maent yn teimlo’n gyfforddus ac yn ddiogel, a bydd y cyfarfodydd hynny'n cael eu cynnal yn gyfrinachol. Lywydd, i gloi, gall y chwaraewyr wneud hynny naill ai drwy URC eu hunain neu’n uniongyrchol i mi, naill ai eu hunain ar y cyd neu drwy eu cyrff cynrychioliadol, felly mae’n ofod diogel lle maent yn teimlo’n gyfforddus yn rhannu’r hyn y maent am ei rannu â mi, fel fy mod yn cael dealltwriaeth lawn o ba gamau sydd angen eu cymryd.
Dylwn ddweud, Lywydd, yn hyn oll, fod pob un ohonom am i’r mater gael ei ddatrys gan ein bod ni yng Nghymru eisiau i rygbi ffynnu yn y dyfodol.
Thank you, Hannah, for tabling this question. Less than two years ago, wasn't it, we saw the BBC documentary into the toxic culture and sexism that existed at the heart of the Welsh Rugby Union, and, in the wake of that documentary, we were assured that lessons had been learnt and that things would change at the Welsh Rugby Union. But I think the report we saw in The Telegraph at the tail end of last week shows that there is still quite a long way to go in terms of tackling sexism at one of our premier institutions in Wales.
I think one of the remarks after the publication of the report that concerned me the most was, when asked if this was a failure of one individual at the Welsh Rugby Union or whether it was collective, the Welsh Rugby Union said it was a collective failure, which does raise questions about whether those lessons have been learnt and about whether things have changed. So, I wonder what assessment you had prior to the publication of this report about the culture at the Welsh Rugby Union, whether you felt that it was a welcoming place, a safe place to work, and that people who engaged with it were treated with the respect and the dignity that they deserved, and what action you've taken since that report has been published to ensure that it lives up to the standards that all of us in Wales expect it to.
Diolch, Hannah, am gyflwyno’r cwestiwn hwn. Mae llai na dwy flynedd, onid oes, ers inni weld rhaglen ddogfen y BBC ar y diwylliant gwenwynig a’r rhywiaeth a fodolai yn Undeb Rygbi Cymru, ac yn sgil y rhaglen ddogfen honno, cawsom sicrwydd fod gwersi wedi’u dysgu ac y byddai pethau'n newid yn Undeb Rygbi Cymru. Ond credaf fod yr adroddiad a welsom ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf yn The Telegraph yn dangos bod cryn dipyn o ffordd i fynd o hyd i drechu rhywiaeth yn un o’n prif sefydliadau yng Nghymru.
Credaf mai un o’r sylwadau a oedd yn peri’r pryder mwyaf i mi ar ôl cyhoeddi’r adroddiad, pan ofynnwyd iddynt ai methiant un unigolyn yn Undeb Rygbi Cymru oedd hyn neu fethiant sefydliadol, oedd bod Undeb Rygbi Cymru wedi dweud ei fod yn fethiant sefydliadol, sy'n codi cwestiynau ynglŷn ag a ddysgwyd y gwersi hynny ac a yw pethau wedi newid. Felly, tybed beth oedd eich asesiad chi cyn cyhoeddi’r adroddiad hwn am y diwylliant yn Undeb Rygbi Cymru, ac a oeddech chi'n teimlo ei fod yn lle croesawgar, yn lle diogel i weithio, a bod pobl a oedd yn ymgysylltu ag ef yn cael eu trin â'r parch a’r urddas a haeddent, a pha gamau a gymerwyd gennych ers cyhoeddi’r adroddiad hwnnw i sicrhau ei fod yn bodloni’r safonau y mae pob un ohonom yng Nghymru yn disgwyl iddo eu bodloni.
Can I thank Tom Giffard for contributing this afternoon? I think, Tom, it's important, isn't it, that we join forces politically in the Senedd and take action, and make sure that we call out this type of behaviour where we see it, and I thank Tom for doing that as well.
The points the Member makes are important and valid points. I should stress, Presiding Officer, that the report on this allegation has not yet been fully published. I haven't seen the content within that report, but will be doing so in due course. I've asked to see the report; I want to understand the content of the report, but not just see that report—I want to meet with the authors of the report and also Dame Rafferty, who leads the work on the oversight group, which reflects the Member's point around the issues a year ago. I want to do that for two reasons, Presiding Officer: firstly, to get Dame Rafferty's view on where the WRU are up to in terms of changing the culture, the very much needed change of culture that was there a year ago, and the allegations in front of us again, and what further needs to be done and what support can be offered to the WRU to make sure that this does not happen again. I can't stress enough, Presiding Officer, my disappointment, as I said in the written statement on Monday, and I think, just going back to the clear importance and utmost importance in this of the players in the national team, what I find particularly distressing over the most recent period and allegations made in The Telegraph was the lack of acknowledgement of the power imbalance in this situation. These women, Presiding Officer, have worked all their lives to get to the elite level of their sport. To represent their nation on the global stage is the very pinnacle of their careers, and to be treated in the way in which the players were during the contract negotiations is wholly unacceptable, and that's before we even consider the fact that a strict deadline was put into place.
So, I've heard Heledd Fychan’s contribution to the Trefnydd yesterday during the business statement, and I agree with what the Member said during that statement and the request for a further statement from me, Presiding Officer. Once I've understood what is in the report from the WRU, once those meetings have taken place with the authors and the players themselves, then I will come back to the Senedd Chamber and update Members further.
A gaf i ddiolch i Tom Giffard am gyfrannu y prynhawn yma? Tom, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig, onid yw, ein bod yn ymuno â'n gilydd yn wleidyddol yn y Senedd ac yn gweithredu, ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn tynnu sylw at y math hwn o ymddygiad pan fyddwn yn ei weld, a diolch i Tom am wneud hynny hefyd.
Mae’r pwyntiau a wna’r Aelod yn rhai pwysig a dilys. Dylwn bwysleisio, Lywydd, nad yw’r adroddiad ar yr honiad hwn wedi’i gyhoeddi’n llawn eto. Nid wyf wedi gweld cynnwys yr adroddiad hwnnw, ond byddaf yn ei weld maes o law. Rwyf wedi gofyn am gael gweld yr adroddiad; hoffwn ddeall cynnwys yr adroddiad, ond nid gweld yr adroddiad hwnnw'n unig—rwyf am gyfarfod ag awduron yr adroddiad a hefyd y Fonesig Rafferty, sy'n arwain y gwaith yn y grŵp goruchwylio, sy'n adlewyrchu pwynt yr Aelod ynghylch y materion a ddaeth i'r amlwg flwyddyn yn ôl. Hoffwn wneud hynny am ddau reswm, Lywydd: yn gyntaf, i gael barn y Fonesig Rafferty ar ble y mae URC arni o ran newid y diwylliant, y newid diwylliant mawr ei angen a nodwyd flwyddyn yn ôl, a’r honiadau ger ein bron eto, a beth arall sydd angen ei wneud a pha gymorth y gellir ei gynnig i URC i sicrhau nad yw hyn yn digwydd eto. Ni allaf orbwysleisio fy siom, Lywydd, fel y dywedais yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig ddydd Llun, ac i fynd yn ôl at bwysigrwydd clir a hanfodol chwaraewyr y tîm cenedlaethol yn hyn, i mi, yr hyn sy'n hynod drallodus yn y cyfnod diweddaraf a'r honiadau a wnaed yn The Telegraph oedd y diffyg cydnabyddiaeth i'r anghydbwysedd grym yn y sefyllfa hon. Mae’r menywod hyn, Lywydd, wedi gweithio ar hyd eu hoes i gyrraedd lefel elît eu camp. Cynrychioli eu cenedl ar y llwyfan byd-eang yw pinacl eu gyrfaoedd, ac mae cael eu trin yn y ffordd y cafodd y chwaraewyr eu trin yn ystod y negodiadau contract yn gwbl annerbyniol, a hynny cyn i ni hyd yn oed ystyried y ffaith bod terfyn amser caeth wedi’i roi ar waith.
Felly, rwyf wedi clywed cyfraniad Heledd Fychan i’r Trefnydd ddoe yn ystod y datganiad busnes, ac rwy’n cytuno â’r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod yn ystod y datganiad hwnnw a’r cais am ddatganiad pellach gennyf i, Lywydd. Pan fyddaf wedi gweld cynnwys yr adroddiad gan URC, pan fydd y cyfarfodydd wedi’u cynnal gyda’r awduron a’r chwaraewyr eu hunain, fe ddof yn ôl i Siambr y Senedd i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Aelodau.
A Heledd Fychan.
And Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I thank you for that response? I think you've seen, over the past few years, when the WRU has, unfortunately, been in the headlines, how concerned Members of the Senedd are, and I would like to associate myself fully with Hannah Blythyn’s comment. It is sexism. This would never have happened to the men’s national team. We need to be clear on that. And I would like to associate myself with the tribute you paid to the bravery of those that have come forward, and the journalists as well, because they will be penalised for speaking out unless we call it out as well, because it is institutional sexism. Looking at Jess Kavanagh’s statement, which was extremely brave as a former player, saying,
'It's a shame really because we've heard apologies over the past three and four years, and we are still hearing the same apologies today.'
So, we have to question what's changed, because we're trying to encourage more participation in sport. This will put women off rugby unless the WRU show meaningful change.
I would like to follow up on Hannah’s question to you, because I don't think we got that point of clarity, in terms of the Welsh Government's continued relationship with the WRU. Obviously, they are a key partner, often in terms of our international relations, for instance. They are a key partner as well, as we've seen, in terms of promoting Wales to the world, but also the economic benefits their huge matches have here in Wales. So, they are a key player. So, we've seen, previously, Welsh Government support the WRU, including providing a loan in 2022. Can I ask what the expectations are in terms of that relationship, and how that relationship is progressing?
I'm very glad that you'll be coming back to the Senedd. I'm sure the culture committee will also be taking a keen look at this. We need assurances that the WRU are not just listening, but progressing real change. It's not good enough that we're seeing the WRU hit the headlines once again and that people have to speak out about sexism. We need to be able to move forward and ensure that everybody that plays rugby here in Wales is respected, whichever team they are playing for.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch am eich ymateb? Credaf eich bod wedi gweld, dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf, pan fo URC wedi bod yn y penawdau, pa mor bryderus yw Aelodau’r Senedd, a hoffwn gytuno'n llwyr â sylwadau Hannah Blythyn. Rhywiaeth yw hyn. Ni fyddai byth wedi digwydd i dîm cenedlaethol y dynion. Mae angen inni ddweud hynny'n glir. A hoffwn ategu eich teyrnged i ddewrder y rheini sydd wedi codi llais, a'r newyddiadurwyr hefyd, gan y byddant yn cael eu cosbi am godi eu llais oni bai ein bod ni'n tynnu sylw at y peth hefyd, oherwydd mae'n rhywiaeth sefydliadol. Wrth edrych ar ddatganiad Jess Kavanagh, a oedd yn hynod ddewr fel cyn-chwaraewr, fe ddywedodd,
'Mae'n drueni, mewn gwirionedd, gan ein bod wedi clywed ymddiheuriadau dros y tair a phedair blynedd diwethaf, ac rydym yn dal i glywed yr un ymddiheuriadau heddiw.'
Felly, mae'n rhaid inni gwestiynu beth sydd wedi newid, gan ein bod yn ceisio annog mwy o gyfranogiad mewn chwaraeon. Bydd hyn yn anghymell menywod rhag chwarae rygbi oni bai bod URC yn dangos newid ystyrlon.
Hoffwn eich holi, yn dilyn cwestiwn Hannah, gan nad wyf yn credu inni gael eglurhad clir ynghylch y pwynt hwnnw, ynglŷn â pherthynas barhaus Llywodraeth Cymru ag URC. Yn amlwg, maent yn bartner allweddol, o ran ein cysylltiadau rhyngwladol yn aml, er enghraifft. Maent yn bartner allweddol hefyd, fel y gwelsom, o ran hyrwyddo Cymru i’r byd, ond hefyd y manteision economaidd yn sgil eu gemau enfawr yma yng Nghymru. Felly, maent yn chwaraewr allweddol. Felly, rydym wedi gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi URC yn flaenorol, gan gynnwys rhoi benthyciad yn 2022. A gaf i ofyn beth yw'r disgwyliadau o ran y berthynas honno, a sut y mae'r berthynas honno'n dod yn ei blaen?
Rwy’n falch iawn y byddwch yn dychwelyd i’r Senedd. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y pwyllgor diwylliant hefyd yn edrych yn fanwl ar hyn. Mae angen sicrwydd arnom nad gwrando yn unig y mae URC, ond ei fod yn sicrhau newid gwirioneddol. Nid yw'n ddigon da ein bod yn gweld URC yn y penawdau unwaith eto, a bod yn rhaid i bobl godi llais ynglŷn â rhywiaeth. Mae angen inni allu symud ymlaen a sicrhau bod pawb sy’n chwarae rygbi yma yng Nghymru yn cael eu parchu, ni waeth i ba dîm y maent yn chwarae.
Diolch yn fawr, Heledd. Again, I agree with the points that you've made this afternoon. As I said at the start, yes, I want rugby to thrive, Presiding Officer, but I will not be a bystander in this process. I thought it was important for me, at the first opportunity, to meet with the WRU on Monday, that I did meet with their chair, their chief executive and their executive director where I could express my disappointment to them, but remind them that—. You're right, the partnership that we have as a Government—. And we reminded them, in the renegotiation of their loan, that, particularly, workplace practices should be fair for all, both on and off the field. That remains the commitment of our side. It's the expectation I place not just on the WRU, but it's the expectation I place on all employers in Wales. As I said previously and in the statement, I'm keen to satisfy myself that a robust process will be in place to ensure those improvements to the processes within the WRU to ensure that the culture is changed to support a thriving and inclusive rugby union in Wales.
And I want to have the confidence in that process. It's why I want to speak to the players; it's why I want to speak to the chair, the authors of the review; it's why I want to speak to Dame Rafferty around the oversight group and the recommendations, and it's why I'll be meeting with the chief executive and the chair again to discuss those actions, because they are important actions, as all Members who've contributed this afternoon have recognised. We must have a rugby union in Wales that is supportive of inclusive participation in the sport at whatever level and whatever game the players play.
I'll repeat my disappointment about what's happened in the headlines. I hope that we can get to a better place. Of course, I'll bring forward a further statement to Members of this Senedd, and I'm happy to engage in those conversations with Members outside the Senedd because I recognise that this is a matter of importance to them, and I welcome the scrutiny on this issue as well.
Diolch, Heledd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n cytuno â’r pwyntiau a wnaed gennych y prynhawn yma. Fel y dywedais ar y dechrau, ydw, rwyf am i rygbi ffynnu, Lywydd, ond nid wyf am gadw'n dawel yn y broses hon. Roeddwn yn credu ei bod yn bwysig i mi, ar y cyfle cyntaf, gyfarfod ag URC ddydd Llun, fy mod wedi cyfarfod â’u cadeirydd, eu prif weithredwr a’u cyfarwyddwr gweithredol, ac wedi mynegi fy siom iddynt, ond eu hatgoffa—. Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, mae'r bartneriaeth sydd gennym fel Llywodraeth—. Ac fe wnaethom eu hatgoffa, wrth aildrafod eu benthyciad, y dylai arferion yn y gweithle, yn arbennig, fod yn deg i bawb, ar y cae ac oddi arno. Dyna ymrwymiad ein hochr ni o hyd. Dyna rwy'n ei ddisgwyl nid yn unig gan URC, ond gan bob cyflogwr yng Nghymru. Fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud o'r blaen ac yn y datganiad, rwy’n awyddus i sicrhau y bydd proses gadarn ar waith i sicrhau gwelliannau i’r prosesau o fewn URC er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr fod y diwylliant yn newid i gefnogi undeb rygbi ffyniannus a chynhwysol yng Nghymru.
Ac rwyf am gael hyder yn y broses honno. Dyna pam fy mod am siarad â'r chwaraewyr; dyna pam fy mod am siarad â'r cadeirydd, awduron yr adolygiad; dyna pam fy mod am siarad â’r Fonesig Rafferty ynghylch y grŵp goruchwylio a’r argymhellion, a dyna pam y byddaf yn cyfarfod â’r prif weithredwr a’r cadeirydd eto i drafod y camau hynny, gan eu bod yn gamau pwysig, fel y mae'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu y prynhawn yma wedi'i gydnabod. Mae'n rhaid inni gael undeb rygbi yng Nghymru sy’n gefnogol i gyfranogiad cynhwysol yn y gamp, ni waeth ar ba lefel a pha gêm y mae’r chwaraewyr yn ei chwarae.
Ailadroddaf fy siom am yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn y penawdau. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn gyrraedd lle gwell. Wrth gwrs, byddaf yn cyflwyno datganiad pellach i Aelodau’r Senedd hon, ac rwy’n fwy na pharod i gymryd rhan yn y sgyrsiau hynny gydag Aelodau y tu allan i’r Senedd, gan fy mod yn cydnabod bod hwn yn fater o bwys iddynt, ac rwy'n croesawu'r craffu ar y mater hwn hefyd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Bydd y cwestiwn nesaf gan Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Thank you, Minister. The next question is from Peredur Owen Griffiths.
2. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o drenau eraill Trafnidiaeth Cymru sydd wedi cael eu ffitio â'r system ddiogelwch awtomataidd y bwriedir i chwistrellu tywod pan fydd olwynion yn llithro ac a fethodd ar drên a fu'n rhan o'r ddamwain angheuol ddiweddar ym Mhowys, a beth yw'r asesiad o'r risg o fethiannau tebyg? TQ1234
2. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of other Transport for Wales trains fitted with the automated safety system intended to spray sand during wheel slippage which failed on a train involved in the recent fatal crash in Powys, and what is the assessed risk of similar failures? TQ1234
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Safety is always the main priority for Transport for Wales and Network Rail. They’ve carried out enhanced checks to both the trains and the railway line itself to enable the reopening of the Cambrian line, and I’m grateful to their staff who have worked tirelessly since the incident to resume services.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Diogelwch yw'r brif flaenoriaeth i Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Network Rail bob amser. Maent wedi cynnal archwiliadau estynedig o'r trenau a'r rheilffordd ei hun i alluogi rheilffordd y Cambrian i ailagor, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'w staff sydd wedi gweithio'n ddiflino ers y digwyddiad i ailddechrau gwasanaethau.