Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
05/06/2018Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, a'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan David Rowlands.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from David Rowlands.
1. Sut y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn asesu cynnydd o ran cyflawni'r ymrwymiadau sy'n ymwneud â datblygu economaidd a nodir yn y rhaglen lywodraethu? OAQ52286
1. How does the First Minister assess progress in delivering the commitments relating to economic development set out in the programme for government? OAQ52286
Well, the economic action plan sets out our approach to building a strong economy through futureproofing businesses and empowering our places and people to become more productive.
Wel, mae'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd yn nodi ein dull o adeiladu economi gref trwy baratoi busnesau ar gyfer y dyfodol a grymuso ein lleoedd a'n pobl i fod yn fwy cynhyrchiol.
One of the recommendations of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report, 'City Deals and the Regional Economies of Wales', stated,
'There is a real danger that the creation of Regional Boards and structures to support them add an additional level of bureaucracy to economic development in Wales.'
We now understand that north Wales, south-west and mid Wales, and the South Wales East region, will have a regional officer to overlook the city and growth deals. Could the First Minister give an indication as to how these appointments are progressing, and also outline what he feels will be their full remit?
Nododd un o argymhellion adroddiad Pwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau, 'Bargeinion Dinesig ac Economïau Rhanbarthol Cymru',
'Mae perygl gwirioneddol bod creu Byrddau Rhanbarthol a strwythurau i’w cefnogi yn ychwanegu lefel ychwanegol o fiwrocratiaeth i ddatblygiad economaidd yng Nghymru.'
Rydym ni'n deall erbyn hyn y bydd gan y gogledd, y de-orllewin y canolbarth, a rhanbarth Dwyrain De Cymru, swyddog rhanbarthol i oruchwylio'r bargeinion dinesig a thwf. A allai'r Prif Weinidog roi syniad o sut y mae'r penodiadau hyn yn mynd rhagddynt, a hefyd amlinellu'r hyn y mae'n ei gredu fydd eu cylch gwaith llawn?
I understand that three are in place now. He asked the question about the structure. Well, where you have a regional deal, there needs to be a regional structure to deliver that deal; you can't rely on individual local authorities to do it working by themselves, but, by working together, and with other levels of Government, they can deliver the best outcome for the people who live in that area.
Rwy'n deall bod tri yn eu swyddi erbyn hyn. Gofynnodd y cwestiwn am y strwythur. Wel, lle mae gennych chi fargen rhanbarthol, mae angen strwythur rhanbarthol i sicrhau'r fargen honno; allwch chi ddim dibynnu ar awdurdodau lleol unigol i'w wneud gan weithio ar eu pennau eu hunain, ond, trwy weithio gyda'i gilydd, a chyda lefelau eraill o Lywodraeth, gallant sicrhau'r canlyniad gorau i'r bobl sy'n byw yn yr ardal honno.
First Minister, the new wave of technological advances in robotics and artificial intelligence will potentially have a huge impact on jobs, and this is a piece of work that we're currently doing in the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee. Now, I certainly want to see the Welsh economy take full advantage of the opportunities presented by automation. Now, I appreciate that the Welsh Government has appointed Phil Brown to carry out a piece of work in this area, but that's not to say that work can't be ongoing now, before he reports. Do you have a lead officer working on this within the Welsh Government, and, as this is an area that rightly crosses over a number of portfolios across Cabinet Secretaries, who is the lead Cabinet Secretary in this area?
Prif Weinidog, mae'n bosibl y bydd y don newydd o ddatblygiadau technolegol ym meysydd roboteg a deallusrwydd artiffisial yn cael effaith enfawr ar swyddi, ac mae hwn yn ddarn o waith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud ar hyn o bryd ym Mhwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau. Nawr, rwyf i'n sicr eisiau gweld economi Cymru yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd a gyflwynir gan awtomatiaeth. Nawr, rwy'n sylweddoli bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi penodi Phil Brown i gyflawni darn o waith yn y maes hwn, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu na all gwaith barhau nawr, cyn iddo adrodd. A oes gennych chi swyddog arweiniol yn gweithio ar hyn o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru, a, chan fod hwn yn faes sy'n croesi'n briodol ar draws nifer o bortffolios ar draws Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet, pwy yw'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet sy'n arwain yn y maes hwn?
Well, in terms of digital innovation, obviously Julie James has that role. This is more than just about economic development, of course. People tend to see innovation as a threat to jobs. It needn't be. And, of course, we have to understand that there are opportunities there in terms of transforming the way, for example, that the health service works. That's something that my colleague the Assembly Member for Llanelli has made very clear on a number of occasions. So, it's not just an issue of economic development, although it's an important part of the future, but it cuts across many, many areas of Government, and that's why, of course, it needs to be dealt with by somebody with a cross-Government responsibility in that area.
Wel, o ran arloesi digidol, Julie James sydd â'r swyddogaeth honno yn amlwg. Mae hyn yn fwy na dim ond mater o ddatblygu economaidd, wrth gwrs. Mae pobl yn tueddu i weld arloesi fel bygythiad i swyddi. Nid oes rhaid iddo fod. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i ni ddeall bod cyfleoedd ar gael o ran gweddnewid y ffordd, er enghraifft, y mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn gweithio. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae fy nghyd-Aelod, yr Aelod Cynulliad dros Lanelli wedi ei wneud yn eglur iawn ar nifer o achlysuron. Felly, nid yw'n fater o ddatblygu economaidd yn unig, er ei fod yn rhan bwysig o'r dyfodol, ond mae'n torri ar draws llawer iawn o feysydd Llywodraeth, a dyna pam, wrth gwrs, y mae angen i rywun â chyfrifoldeb traws-lywodraethol yn y maes hwnnw ymdrin ag ef.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddyfarnu masnachfraint rheilffyrdd Cymru a'r Gororau? OAQ52261
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the awarding of the Wales and Borders rail franchise? OAQ52261
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am fasnachfraint rheilffyrdd newydd Cymru a'r Gororau? OAQ52285
4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the new Wales and Borders rail franchise? OAQ52285
Yes. Presiding Officer, I understand you've given your permission for questions two and four to be grouped.
Members will now be aware of the details of the new rail services contract, following the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport's written statement on Monday.
Gwnaf. Llywydd, rwy'n deall eich bod wedi rhoi eich caniatâd i gwestiynau dau a phedwar gael eu grwpio.
Bydd Aelodau yn ymwybodol erbyn hyn o fanylion y contract gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd newydd, yn dilyn datganiad ysgrifenedig Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ddydd Llun.
Okay. Diolch. Just before the recess, you announced the winner of the new Wales and Borders rail franchise, and it's already been pointed out that you have broken a manifesto commitment for a not-for-profit railway company. But it also seems now that you're privatising the infrastructure from the core Valleys lines as well, and that's a real concern after what happened the last time that the Conservatives privatised rail—in particular, we had the Hatfield disaster, which led to private companies running Railtrack and being abandoned, and the creation of Network Rail as a public body. So, what I'd like to know is whether you've had permission from Network Rail to privatise this infrastructure, and the real question really is: why can't it be kept in public ownership, and what will happen to the 1,600 people that Network Rail directly employs in Wales? Will your Labour Government be transferring these to the private multinational corporations?
Iawn. Diolch. Ychydig cyn y toriad, cyhoeddwyd enillydd masnachfraint rheilffyrdd newydd Cymru a'r Gororau gennych, a nodwyd eisoes eich bod chi wedi torri ymrwymiad maniffesto o gael cwmni rheilffordd di-elw. Ond mae hefyd yn ymddangos nawr eich bod chi'n preifateiddio'r seilwaith o reilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd hefyd, ac mae hynny'n bryder mawr ar ôl yr hyn a ddigwyddodd y tro diwethaf y gwnaeth y Ceidwadwyr breifateiddio rheilffyrdd—yn benodol, cawsom ni drychineb Hatfield, a arweiniodd at droi cefn ar gwmnïau preifat yn rhedeg Railtrack, a chreu Network Rail fel corff cyhoeddus. Felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn i ei wybod yw pa un a ydych chi wedi cael caniatâd gan Network Rail i breifateiddio'r seilwaith hwn, a'r cwestiwn gwirioneddol mewn gwirionedd yw: pam na ellir ei gadw mewn perchnogaeth gyhoeddus, a beth fydd yn digwydd i'r 1,600 o bobl y mae Network Rail yn eu cyflogi yn uniongyrchol yng Nghymru? A fydd eich Llywodraeth Lafur chi yn trosglwyddo'r bobl hyn i'r corfforaethau amlwladol preifat?
No. First of all, it's probably right to say that our first preference would have been to have had a not-for-profit public sector organisation or body able to bid for the franchise. That was expressly ruled out by the legislation in Westminster, something that I didn't welcome, neither now nor at the time. What we have, however, is a service that will be an excellent service. It will improve capacity across the whole of Wales, and everybody will see a positive difference to services. He suggests that the network has been privatised. Well, we've talked to the rail unions, to the RMT—personally, I've talked to them—to the TSSA, and also to ASLEF. They understand the way forward. We have made sure, for example, there'll be a guard on every train, to add to passenger security and safety. So, we work with the unions in order to deliver a rail network that will be, I believe, the envy of the rest of the UK in future years, especially given the chaos that we see existing in some parts of England at the moment.
Na fydd. Yn gyntaf oll, mae'n debyg ei bod hi'n iawn i ddweud mai ein dewis cyntaf fyddai wedi bod cael sefydliad neu gorff sector cyhoeddus di-elw i wneud cais am y fasnachfraint. Cafodd hynny ei ddiystyru'n benodol gan y ddeddfwriaeth yn San Steffan, rhywbeth na wnes i ei groesawu, nawr nac ar y pryd. Fodd bynnag, yr hyn sydd gennym ni yw gwasanaeth a fydd yn wasanaeth ardderchog. Bydd yn gwella capasiti ar draws Cymru gyfan, a bydd pawb yn gweld gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol i wasanaethau. Mae e'n awgrymu bod y rhwydwaith wedi cael ei breifateiddio. Wel, rydym ni wedi siarad â'r undebau rheilffyrdd, gyda'r RMT—rwyf i wedi siarad â nhw'n bersonol—gyda'r TSSA, ac gydag ASLEF hefyd. Maen nhw'n deall y ffordd ymlaen. Rydym ni wedi gwneud yn siŵr, er enghraifft, y bydd giard ar bob trên, i ychwanegu at ddiogelwch teithwyr. Felly, rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r undebau er mwyn darparu rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd a fydd, yn fy marn i, yn achos cenfigen i weddill y DU yn y dyfodol, yn enwedig o ystyried yr anhrefn yr ydym ni'n ei weld sy'n bodoli mewn rhai rhannau o Loegr ar hyn o bryd.
This announcement is great news, particularly for many of us who campaigned for many years for the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line to stop in Newport. It's gathered a lot of local support, including from the South Wales Argus, which has long campaigned on this issue, and it's a huge boost and will link communities across the region. I welcome the announcement that £800 million will be invested in rolling stock and that the franchise has committed to commissioning 148 brand-new trains for the next five years.
Yesterday's announcement stated that over half the new trains would be built in Wales. Can you give any further detail about what discussions are taking place with CAF Rail in Newport?
Mae'r cyhoeddiad hwn yn newyddion gwych, yn enwedig i lawer ohonom ni a ymgyrchodd am flynyddoedd lawer i reilffordd Glynebwy i Gaerdydd aros yng Nghasnewydd. Mae wedi ennill llawer o gefnogaeth leol, gan gynnwys oddi wrth y South Wales Argus, sydd wedi ymgyrchu ers amser maith ar y mater hwn, ac mae'n hwb mawr a fydd yn cysylltu cymunedau ar draws y rhanbarth. Croesawaf y cyhoeddiad y bydd £800 miliwn yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn cerbydau a bod y fasnachfraint wedi ymrwymo i gomisiynu 148 o drenau newydd sbon dros y pum mlynedd nesaf.
Nododd y cyhoeddiad ddoe y byddai dros hanner y trenau newydd yn cael eu hadeiladu yng Nghymru. A allwch chi roi unrhyw fanylion pellach ynghylch pa drafodaethau sy'n cael eu cynnal gyda CAF Rail yng Nghasnewydd?
Well, the CAF investment is hugely significant. As the Member has said, it is a hugely important capital investment. It will create 300 highly skilled jobs in Newport as well. I can say that the operator and development partner is expected to procure long-distance rolling stock fleet from CAF. That rolling stock will be assembled at the CAF facility in Newport. Of course, the contractual arrangements will be a commercial matter between the ODP and CAF itself, but it's an excellent example of working together in order to deliver jobs in Wales. There's no doubt in my mind that one of the things that attracted CAF to Wales in the first place was the fact that we have an exciting programme of investment in our railways.
Wel, mae'r buddsoddiad CAF yn arwyddocaol iawn. Fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, mae'n fuddsoddiad cyfalaf aruthrol o bwysig. Bydd yn creu 300 o swyddi medrus iawn yng Nghasnewydd hefyd. Gallaf ddweud y disgwylir i'r gweithredwr a'r partner datblygu gaffael fflyd gerbydau teithiau hir gan CAF. Bydd y cerbydau hynny yn cael eu cydosod yng nghyfleuster CAF yng Nghasnewydd. Wrth gwrs, bydd y trefniadau cytundebol yn fater masnachol rhwng yr ODP a CAF ei hun, ond mae'n enghraifft ardderchog o gydweithio er mwyn darparu swyddi yng Nghymru. Nid oes amheuaeth yn fy meddwl i mai un o'r pethau a ddenodd CAF i Gymru yn y lle cyntaf oedd y ffaith bod gennym ni raglen gyffrous o fuddsoddiad yn ein rheilffyrdd.
Yesterday's statement by the economy and transport Secretary said that we'll see a second limited-stop express service every hour on the Wrexham to Bidston line from 2021 and, from 2022, see services stopping at Wrexham as part of a new two-hourly Liverpool to Cardiff service. How, therefore, do you respond to the statement made to me yesterday by rail user groups in north-east Wales that the two trains allocated to the route could be running an earlier service into Wrexham at around 8.30 a.m. and operating a more frequent service over the line during the evenings and on Sundays and that, provided that train crews can be sourced, this could be realised as early as December 2018 or the May 2019 timetable change?
Dywedodd y datganiad ddoe gan Ysgrifennydd yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth y byddwn yn gweld ail wasanaeth cyflym arosfannau cyfyngedig bob awr ar reilffordd Wrecsam i Bidston o 2021, ac o 2022, yn gweld gwasanaethau yn aros yn Wrecsam yn rhan o wasanaeth newydd bob dwy awr o Lerpwl i Gaerdydd. Sut, felly, ydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad a wnaed i mi ddoe gan grwpiau defnyddwyr rheilffyrdd yn y gogledd-ddwyrain y gallai'r ddau drên a neilltuwyd i'r llwybr fod yn rhedeg ar wasanaeth cynharach i mewn i Wrecsam am tua 8.30 a.m. ac yn gweithredu gwasanaeth amlach ar hyd y rheilffordd fin nos ac ar ddydd Sul a, cyhyd â bod modd cael gafael ar griwiau trên, y gellid gwireddu hyn mor gynnar â mis Rhagfyr 2018 neu'r newid i'r amserlen ym mis Mai 2019?
Yes, I mean these are all part of the discussions on timetabling, but the intention as the Member has rightly said is to improve the service on the Wrexham to Bidston line and indeed, due to the Halton Curve, further than that, of course, to discuss with Merseyrail the possibility of using the Mersey tunnel as well in order for trains to be able go straight into Liverpool. Those discussions will take place in order to allow that to happen. It's a long-held ambition for trains from Wrexham Central to go into Liverpool, but, of course, the Wrexham to Bidston service is amongst one of the first candidates for improvement that people will see, and we want to see that line develop even further in the future.
Ie, hynny yw mae'r rhain i gyd yn rhan o'r trafodaethau ar amserlennu, ond y bwriad fel y dywedodd yr Aelod yn briodol yw gwella'r gwasanaeth ar y rheilffordd o Wrecsam i Bidston, ac yn wir, oherwydd yr Halton Curve, ymhellach na hynny, wrth gwrs, i drafod gyda Merseyrail y posibilrwydd o ddefnyddio twnnel Mersi hefyd i drenau allu mynd yn syth i Lerpwl. Bydd y trafodaethau hynny yn cael eu cynnal er mwyn caniatáu i hynny ddigwydd. Mae'n uchelgais hirsefydlog i drenau o Wrecsam Canolog fynd i Lerpwl, ond, wrth gwrs, mae gwasanaeth Wrecsam i Bidston ymhlith un o'r prif ymgeiswyr ar gyfer gwelliant y bydd pobl yn ei weld, ac rydym ni eisiau gweld y rheilffordd honno'n datblygu hyd yn oed ymhellach yn y dyfodol.
One of the issues that was mentioned yesterday in press reports was that the payments made to the new franchisee will depend to some extent on their delivery of service, which sounds good. Now, some of the criteria that were mentioned included cleanliness, quality of service and punctuality, but one of the problems with the privatised rail services that we've had in the last 20 years is that, sometimes, with punctuality the rules can sometimes be avoided by trains being cancelled instead. I wondered whether that issue had been looked at with the awarding of the contract.
Un o'r materion y cyfeiriwyd ato ddoe mewn adroddiadau yn y wasg oedd y bydd y taliadau a wnaed i ddeiliad newydd y fasnachfraint yn dibynnu i ryw raddau ar eu darpariaeth o wasanaeth, sy'n swnio'n dda. Nawr, roedd rhai o'r meini prawf y cyfeiriwyd atynt yn cynnwys glendid, ansawdd gwasanaeth a phrydlondeb, ond un o'r problemau gyda gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd wedi eu preifateiddio yr ydym ni wedi eu cael yn ystod yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf yw, weithiau, o ran prydlondeb, y gellir osgoi'r rheolau weithiau trwy ganslo trenau. Roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a ystyriwyd y mater hwnnw wrth ddyfarnu'r contract.
No, that can't happen. We are aware of what happened at Northern Rail. We've ensured as part of the contract that rail operators cannot get out of their obligations simply by running fewer or no trains, and, of course, as part of the announcement, there will be simplified compensation arrangements for passengers who have to wait as well. So, we want to make the service as user friendly as possible, and it's exciting that the operator wants to do the same. They want to make sure that they work with us in order to build a rail network for the future. The days of 40-year-old trains running on the Valleys lines particularly—those days are coming to an end, and I'm sure that the people of the Valleys will be delighted to see that.
Na, ni all hynny ddigwydd. Rydym ni'n ymwybodol o'r hyn a ddigwyddodd yn Northern Rail. Rydym ni wedi sicrhau yn rhan o'r contract na all gweithredwyr rheilffyrdd osgoi eu rhwymedigaethau trwy redeg llai o drenau neu ddim trenau, ac, wrth gwrs, yn rhan o'r cyhoeddiad, bydd trefniadau iawndal wedi eu symleiddio i deithwyr sy'n gorfod aros hefyd. Felly, rydym ni eisiau gwneud y gwasanaeth mor ystyriol o ddefnyddiwr â phosibl, ac mae'n gyffrous bod y gweithredwr eisiau gwneud hynny hefyd. Maen nhw eisiau gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n gweithio gyda ni er mwyn adeiladu rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae dyddiad trenau 40 mlwydd oed yn rhedeg ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd yn arbennig—mae'r dyddiau hynny yn dod i ben, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd pobl y Cymoedd yn falch iawn o weld hynny.
First Minister, I welcome the announcements made as a result of the Wales and borders rail franchise and the south Wales metro. I particular welcome the commitment to include half-hourly services to the Vale of Glamorgan line from 2022. I've been campaigning for this for many years, and, of course, you recall that the Welsh Government reopened the stations at Rhoose and Llantwit Major in 2005. First Minister, do you agree with me that a half-hourly service that calls at Rhoose station for Cardiff Airport will also improve access to the airport?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiadau a wnaed o ganlyniad i fasnachfraint rheilffyrdd Cymru a'r gororau a metro de Cymru. Rwy'n croesawu'n arbennig yr ymrwymiad i gynnwys gwasanaethau bob hanner awr i reilffordd Bro Morgannwg o 2022. Rwyf i wedi bod yn ymgyrchu am hyn ers blynyddoedd lawer, ac, wrth gwrs, byddwch yn cofio bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ailagor gorsafoedd yn y Rhŵs a Llanilltud Fawr yn 2005. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y bydd gwasanaeth bob hanner awr sy'n galw yng ngorsaf y Rhŵs ar gyfer Maes Awyr Caerdydd hefyd yn gwella mynediad at y maes awyr?
Yes it will. I can also say that Transport for Wales, with support from the ODP, will also be procuring a bus service as part of an integrated approach to improving connectivity across the Vale of Glamorgan, connecting Barry and the airport, and that will be available no later than 1 January 2024.
Bydd, mi fydd. Gallaf ddweud hefyd y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gyda chefnogaeth gan yr OPD, hefyd yn caffael gwasanaeth bws yn rhan o ddull integredig o wella cysylltedd ar draws Bro Morgannwg, gan gysylltu'r Barri a'r maes awyr, a bydd hwnnw ar gael erbyn 1 Ionawr 2024 fan bellaf.
I welcome the new contracts and particularly the long overdue new rolling stock for the Valleys lines, but also the reduction in fares for the upper Valleys, which will help many people get more opportunities to commute in and access jobs, particularly in Cardiff.
Could I just ask the First Minister to say something about the risks that may come from the contract in terms of the different approach to risk sharing? If we see passenger numbers and fares undershoot relative to expectations, what may be the implications for other Government services?
Rwy'n croesawu'r contractau newydd ac yn enwedig y cerbydau newydd ar gyfer rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd y mae'n hen bryd iddyn nhw gael eu cyflwyno, ond hefyd y gostyngiad i brisiau tocynnau ar gyfer y Cymoedd uchaf, a fydd yn helpu llawer o bobl i gael mwy o gyfleoedd i gymudo i mewn a chael mynediad at swyddi, yn enwedig yng Nghaerdydd.
A gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog ddweud rhywbeth am y risgiau a allai ddod o'r contract mewn o ran y gwahanol agwedd tuag at rhannu risg? Os byddwn yn gweld na fydd nifer y teithwyr a phrisiau tocynnau yn cyrraedd y nod o'u cymharu â disgwyliadau, beth allai'r goblygiadau fod i wasanaethau eraill y Llywodraeth?
We don't anticipate that at all. The last franchise was let on the basis that there would be no growth in passenger numbers. There was an enormous growth in passenger numbers, and we see now the overcrowding that takes place on so many services not just on the Valleys lines, but across many services that run on the Wales and the borders franchise network. We have built into the agreement the expectation that passenger numbers will rise, particularly but not exclusively passengers going through Cardiff Central, and the agreement is based on seeing an increase in passenger numbers. I can't see the numbers decreasing. I can't see that people will want to travel less or not travel into work. We must be careful to make sure, of course, that there is sufficient capacity over the next few years that people feel that there is a comfortable and good-value alternative to the car. But what we can't do is keep on building roads into our cities in the hope that that will resolve the issue of traffic. It can't be done without demolishing houses.
Nid ydym yn rhagweld hynny o gwbl. Gosodwyd y fasnachfraint ddiwethaf ar y sail na fyddai unrhyw gynnydd i nifer y teithwyr. Cafwyd cynnydd aruthrol i nifer y teithwyr, ac rydym ni'n gweld nawr y gorlenwi sy'n digwydd ar gynifer o wasanaethau, nid yn unig ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd, ond ar draws llawer o wasanaethau sy'n rhedeg ar rwydwaith masnachfraint Cymru a'r gororau. Rydym ni wedi cynnwys yn y cytundeb y disgwyliad y bydd nifer y teithwyr yn cynyddu, yn enwedig ond nid yn unig teithwyr sy'n mynd trwy Caerdydd Canolog, ac mae'r cytundeb yn seiliedig ar weld cynnydd i nifer y teithwyr. Ni allaf weld y niferoedd yn gostwng. Ni allaf weld y bydd pobl eisiau teithio llai neu beidio â theithio i'r gwaith. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus i wneud yn siŵr, wrth gwrs, bod digon o gapasiti dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf, fel bod pobl yn teimlo bod dewis cyfforddus sy'n cynnig gwerth da am arian yn hytrach na'r car. Ond yr hyn na allwn ni ei wneud yw parhau i adeiladu ffyrdd i mewn i'n dinasoedd yn y gobaith y bydd hynny'n datrys y broblem o draffig. Ni ellir gwneud hynny heb ddymchwel tai.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Caroline Jones.
Now questions from the party leaders. The UKIP group leader, Caroline Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the plans for the new Wales and borders franchise are very promising and a clear demonstration of what can be achieved by a true public-private partnership. The investment that will be pumped into our rail network over the next decade could not be achieved by the public sector alone. The biggest transformation will be in the south-east of Wales, with the metro delivering better transport links for our capital city. I hope the investment, though, will deliver improvements for the whole of Wales.
I note from the Cabinet Secretary's statement that the north-east metro is to be accelerated. What about the rest of north Wales? Will we see an end to situations that we saw when the cancellation of services between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog were apparent?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae'r cynlluniau ar gyfer masnachfraint newydd Cymru a'r gororau yn addawol iawn ac yn arwydd eglur o'r hyn sy'n bosibl trwy bartneriaeth cyhoeddus-preifat wirioneddol. Ni allai'r buddsoddiad a fydd yn cael ei wneud yn ein rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd dros y degawd nesaf gael ei gyflawni gan y sector cyhoeddus yn unig. Bydd y newid byd mwyaf yn y de-ddwyrain, gyda'r metro yn darparu cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gwell ar gyfer ein prifddinas. Rwy'n gobeithio, fodd bynnag, y bydd y buddsoddiad yn sicrhau gwelliannau i Gymru gyfan.
Rwy'n sylwi o ddatganiad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet y bydd metro'r gogledd-ddwyrain yn cael ei gyflymu. Beth am weddill y gogledd? A fyddwn ni'n gweld diwedd y sefyllfaoedd a welsom pan roedd gwasanaethau rhwng Cyffordd Llandudno a Blaenau Ffestiniog yn cael eu canslo?
There are structural issues on the Conwy valley line, given the fact that it often floods, and we've seen that over the—. Well, not often; it has sometimes flooded over the past few years, and that is something for Network Rail to deal with in order to avoid that in the future. She asked, 'What will the rest of Wales see?' Better services on every railway line in Wales; more frequent services from Llandudno, as well, for example; we've already mentioned the Wrexham-Bidstone line; a proper hourly service on the central Wales line; more services on the Cambrian Coast line; station upgrades—the introduction of Bow Street station, an upgrade at Machynlleth together with the guarantee of the future of the loco sheds there; if we come down further south, an extra train on the Heart of Wales line; station improvements in Llanelli, in Carmarthen; more frequent services between Swansea and Fishguard Harbour. These are some examples of what will be done across the whole of Wales to ensure that everybody benefits.
Ceir materion strwythurol ar reilffordd dyffryn Conwy, o gofio'r ffaith ei bod yn aml yn dioddef llifogydd, ac rydym ni wedi gweld hynny dros y—. Wel, ddim yn aml; mae wedi dioddef llifogydd weithiau dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth i Network Rail ymdrin ag ef er mwyn osgoi hynny yn y dyfodol. Fe ofynnodd hi, 'Beth fydd gweddill Cymru yn ei weld?' Gwell gwasanaethau ar bob rheilffordd yng Nghymru; gwasanaethau amlach o Landudno, hefyd, er enghraifft; rydym ni eisoes wedi sôn am reilffordd Wrecsam-Bidstone; gwasanaeth bob awr gwirioneddol ar reilffordd y canolbarth; mwy o wasanaethau ar reilffordd Arfordir Cambria; uwchraddio gorsafoedd—cyflwyno gorsaf Bow Street, uwchraddio ym Machynlleth ynghyd â sicrhau dyfodol y siediau trenau yno; os byddwn yn dod i lawr ymhellach i'r de, trên ychwanegol ar reilffordd Calon Cymru; gwelliannau i orsafoedd yn Llanelli, yng Nghaerfyrddin; gwasanaethau amlach rhwng Abertawe a Harbwr Abergwaun. Dyma rai enghreifftiau o'r hyn a fydd yn cael ei wneud ledled Cymru gyfan i sicrhau bod pawb yn elwa.
Thank you very much. Thank you for highlighting how the whole of Wales will benefit.
Staying with the new franchise, I'm glad to see the commitment to retaining onboard toilets on all existing trains, and I hope that they will be fully accessible. There was little in the Cabinet Secretary's written statement about the accessibility of rail services other than on the south-east metro. We have to put an end to the situation whereby disabled passengers have to pre-plan and pre-book their journeys. Disabled passengers have been left stranded on trains, have been refused travel on trains, and that's if they can get access to the trains in the first place. Sixty-one of our train stations are defined as poor for accessibility in that they have no staff or insufficient wheelchair access or totally unsuitable wheelchair access. So, First Minister, what improvements will the new franchise agreement deliver to disabled passengers in Wales?
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Diolch am nodi sut y bydd Cymru gyfan yn elwa.
Gan aros gyda'r fasnachfraint newydd, rwy'n falch o weld yr ymrwymiad i gadw toiledau ar yr holl drenau presennol, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddan nhw'n gwbl hygyrch. Ychydig iawn oedd yn natganiad ysgrifenedig Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am hygyrchedd gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd ac eithrio ar fetro'r de-ddwyrain. Mae'n rhaid i ni roi terfyn ar y sefyllfa lle mae'n rhaid i deithwyr anabl gynllunio ac archebu eu teithiau ymlaen llaw. Mae teithwyr anabl wedi cael eu gadael ar drenau, gwrthodwyd iddynt deithio ar drenau, ac mae hynny os gallan nhw gael mynediad at y trenau yn y lle cyntaf. Diffinnir chwe deg un o'n gorsafoedd rheilffordd fel bod yn wael ar gyfer hygyrchedd o'r safbwynt nad oes ganddyn nhw unrhyw staff neu fynediad annigonol ar gyfer cadeiriau olwyn neu fynediad cwbl anaddas i gadeiriau olwyn. Felly, Prif Weinidog, pa welliannau fydd y cytundeb masnachfraint newydd yn eu cynnig i deithwyr anabl yng Nghymru?
Fifteen million pounds has been allocated to improve accessibility, and every station on the franchise network will be made accessible.
Dyrannwyd pymtheg miliwn o bunnau i wella hygyrchedd, a bydd pob gorsaf ar rwydwaith y fasnachfraint yn cael ei gwneud yn hygyrch.
Thank you for that, First Minister. The new franchise holders, KeolisAmey, have indicated that half of all new trains will be assembled in Wales, and I ask: will they be built with Welsh steel? With the Trump administration's tariffs on steel, the Port Talbot steelworks stand to lose 10 per cent of their business, and with the electrification to Swansea abandoned, and it being all but abandoned with the tidal lagoon, if the steel sector is to get support in Wales, then it needs to come from Wales. So, what discussions have you had with the franchisees about using Welsh materials in addition to a Welsh workforce in the construction of new rolling stock for the Welsh rail network, the north-east metro and the south Wales metro? Thank you.
Diolch am hynna, Prif Weinidog. Mae deiliaid y fasnachfraint newydd, KeolisAmey, wedi nodi y bydd hanner yr holl drenau newydd yn cael eu hadeiladu yng Nghymru, a gofynnaf: a fyddan nhw'n cael eu hadeiladu gyda dur Cymru? Gyda thariffau gweinyddiaeth Trump ar ddur, mae'n debygol y bydd gwaith dur Port Talbot yn colli 10 y cant o'i fusnes, ac ar ôl troi cefn ar drydaneiddio i Abertawe, a'r morlyn llanw fwy neu lai ar ben, os yw'r sector dur am gael cefnogaeth yng Nghymru, yna mae angen i honno ddod o Gymru. Felly, pa drafodaethau ydych chi wedi eu cael gyda deiliaid y fasnachfraint ynghylch defnyddio deunyddiau o Gymru yn ogystal â gweithlu o Gymru i adeiladu cerbydau newydd ar gyfer rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd Cymru, metro'r gogledd-ddwyrain a metro de Cymru? Diolch.
We would encourage, of course, there to be as much sourcing of Welsh steel as possible. She has also raised two other important points in terms of steel tariffs and also the tidal lagoon. I can inform Members that I have written today to Greg Clark and suggested to him that the UK Government should make an offer in terms of the contract for difference to the tidal lagoon on the same terms as they made the offer to Hinkley. If it's right for Hinkley, it's right for Swansea. And she's right to point out that electrification was promised and then reneged on by the UK Government. The tidal lagoon has been talked down by the Secretary of State this morning and by others. Well, we have put money on the table and we have said today, 'Treat the tidal lagoon in the same way as you treated Hinkley.' We ask no more than that, and we believe that it would be possible for the tidal lagoon to move ahead on that basis. We await the UK Government's response with regard to that.
In terms of steel, there are two issues with steel. Firstly, of course, the tariffs that the US has imposed will create a situation where Welsh steel will become more expensive in the US market. What is not clear is whether that would in fact lead to a decrease in demand, given the fact that so much of the steel is not made in the US and has to be bought from outside anyway. Okay, we don't know what the effect of that will be, but of great concern as well is where the steel that was originally bound for the US market will end up. If it comes to Europe, it will create a glut of steel in Europe, the price will drop, and that will not be of benefit to the Welsh steel producers. So, I have said—I was in Washington and met with people there at the end of last week—that it's also important that the European Union now takes prompt steps, within weeks, not within months, to ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to ensure that the price of steel is supported in Europe.
Byddem yn annog, wrth gwrs, bod cymaint o ddur Cymru â phosibl yn cael ei ddefnyddio. Mae hi hefyd wedi codi dau bwynt pwysig arall o ran tariffau dur a'r morlyn llanw hefyd. Gallaf hysbysu'r Aelodau fy mod i wedi ysgrifennu at Greg Clark heddiw gan awgrymu iddo y dylai Llywodraeth y DU wneud cynnig o ran y contract gwahaniaeth i'r morlyn llanw ar yr un telerau ag a wnaethant y cynnig i Hinkley. Os yw'n iawn i Hinkley, mae'n iawn i Abertawe. Ac mae hi'n iawn i nodi yr addawyd trydaneiddio gan Lywodraeth y DU cyn iddyn nhw fynd yn ôl ar yr addewid. Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol ac eraill wedi tawelu unrhyw obeithion am y morlyn llanw y bore yma. Wel, rydym ni wedi rhoi arian ar y bwrdd, ac rydym ni wedi dweud heddiw, 'Dylech chi drin y morlyn llanw yn yr un modd ag y gwnaethoch chi drin Hinkley.' Dydyn ni ddim yn gofyn dim mwy na hynny, ac rydym ni'n credu y byddai'n bosibl i'r morlyn llanw symud ymlaen ar y sail honno. Rydym ni'n disgwyl ymateb Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â hynny.
O ran dur, ceir dau fater yn ymwneud â dur. Yn gyntaf, wrth gwrs, bydd y tariffau y mae'r Unol Daleithiau wedi eu cyflwyno yn creu sefyllfa lle bydd dur Cymru yn ddrytach ym marchnad yr Unol Daleithiau. Yr hyn nad yw'n eglur yw pa un a fyddai hynny'n arwain mewn gwirionedd at leihad i'r galw, o ystyried y ffaith bod cymaint o'r dur nad yw'n cael ei wneud yn yr Unol Daleithiau a bod yn rhaid ei brynu o'r tu allan beth bynnag. Iawn, nid ydym ni'n gwybod beth fydd effaith hynny, ond o bryder mawr hefyd yw ble y bydd dur a oedd ar gyfer marchnad yr Unol Daleithiau yn wreiddiol yn mynd yn y pen draw. Os bydd yn dod i Ewrop, bydd yn creu gormodedd o ddur yn Ewrop, bydd y pris yn gostwng, ac ni fydd hynny o fudd i gynhyrchwyr dur Cymru. Felly, rwyf i wedi dweud—roeddwn i yn Washington a chefais gyfarfodydd gyda phobl yno ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf—ei bod hi hefyd yn bwysig bod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn cymryd camau prydlon nawr, o fewn wythnosau, nid o fewn misoedd, i sicrhau bod mesurau diogelu digonol ar waith i sicrhau bod pris dur yn cael ei gefnogi yn Ewrop.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.
Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood.
Diolch, Llywydd. How much profit are KeolisAmey expected to make out of Welsh rail passengers during the next 15 years?
Diolch, Llywydd. Faint o elw a ddisgwylir i KeolisAmey ei wneud ar draul teithwyr rheilffordd yng Nghymru yn ystod y 15 mlynedd nesaf?
Well, there are, of course, commercial matters that the leader of Plaid Cymru will be aware of. What I can say, however, is that for £150 million, KeolisAmey will deliver a rail franchise for Wales and the borders below the current cost of £185 million. It's a total investment of £738 million as well on phase 2 of the metro, and what we will see is, for the first time, a rail system that the people of Wales deserve and not the cast-offs of other networks.
Wel, ceir materion masnachol, wrth gwrs, y bydd arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn ymwybodol ohonynt. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud, fodd bynnag, yw y bydd KeolisAmey, am £150 miliwn, yn darparu masnachfraint rheilffyrdd i Gymru a'r gororau am lai na'r gost bresennol o £185 miliwn. Mae'n fuddsoddiad gwerth cyfanswm o £738 miliwn hefyd yng nghyfnod 2 y metro, a'r hyn y byddwn yn ei weld, am y tro cyntaf, yw system reilffyrdd y mae pobl Cymru yn ei haeddu ac nid elfennau ail law o rwydweithiau eraill.
First Minister, there's been talk of this 3 per cent cap on profits, and if that is true, that is no cap at all. Because according to the rail industry's own trade body, the Rail Delivery Group, the average operating profit for a rail company is 2.9 per cent. So, this means that your cap is higher than the average profit margin for train companies. Putting that aside, the Wales and borders franchise doesn't commercially make a profit, so the only way that any rail company makes money is through Government subsidies. That means, First Minister, that you are paying profits out of our budget to the pockets of private shareholders.
Secondly, the idea that you won't pay a company if it doesn't meet its targets is hardly some kind of radical socialist policy because nobody pays for work that hasn't been done—it's as simple as that.
Now, page 20 of the manifesto on which you were elected promised that you would deliver a not-for-profit rail operator. You have failed—you've done the exact opposite. So, can you explain: if you believe that the only way to deliver a rail service that works for people in Wales is through a not-for-profit operator, why have you lumbered us with a second-rate private rail service for the next 15 years?
Prif Weinidog, bu sôn am y cap hwn o 3 y cant ar elw, ac os yw hynny'n wir, nid yw hwnnw'n unrhyw gap o gwbl. Oherwydd yn ôl corff masnach y diwydiant rheilffyrdd ei hun, y Rail Delivery Group, 2.9 y cant yw cyfartaledd elw gweithredu i gwmni rheilffordd. Felly, mae hyn yn golygu bod eich cap yn uwch na'r elw cyfartalog i gwmnïau trenau. Gan roi hynny o'r neilltu, nid yw masnachfraint Cymru a'r gororau yn gwneud elw yn fasnachol, felly yr unig ffordd y mae unrhyw gwmni rheilffordd yn gwneud arian yw trwy gymorthdaliadau gan y Llywodraeth. Mae hynny'n golygu, Prif Weinidog, eich bod chi'n talu elw allan o'n cyllideb ni i bocedi cyfranddalwyr preifat.
Yn ail, prin bod y syniad na fyddwch chi'n talu cwmni os nad yw'n bodloni ei dargedau yn rhyw fath o bolisi sosialaidd radical, oherwydd nid oes neb yn talu am waith nad yw wedi ei wneud—mae mor syml â hynny.
Nawr, addawodd tudalen 20 y maniffesto y cawsoch chi eich ethol ar ei sail y byddech chi'n darparu gweithredwr rheilffyrdd di-elw. Rydych chi wedi methu—rydych chi wedi gwneud yn union i'r gwrthwyneb. Felly, a allwch chi egluro: os ydych chi'n credu mai'r unig ffordd o ddarparu gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd sy'n gweithio i bobl yng Nghymru yw trwy weithredwr di-elw, pam ydych chi wedi ein beichio ni gyda gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd preifat eilradd am y 15 mlynedd nesaf?
Talking Wales down—talking Wales down yet again. Of all the people who have commented yesterday, the only party who have said 'This is a bad idea. It's going to be a second-rate network' is Plaid Cymru—it's The Party of Wales, apparently, who are saying this.
Now, there are legitimate questions, I understand that in terms of the way it works, but saying it's a second-rate network is simply not true. Have a look at what is being proposed for Wales and bear in mind that the delivery cost is a good £30 million below the current cost. So, actually, this is far better value for money than the current system with Arriva. She asks the question again: why is it not the case that this was set up as a not-for-profit—why is it not the case that a public sector operator is running the service? Because the law says so. That's why. She can't do it—your party can't do it. The reality is: she is saying to the people of Wales, 'We would have done something that actually we know legally we can't do', and that's not a particularly credible position, I would suggest.
For goodness' sake, let's all celebrate the fact we have an excellent rail service that is going to be set up across the whole of Wales, people will benefit from good value, new trains, air conditioning—all delivered by a Welsh Government working for the people of Wales.
Bychanu Cymru—bychanu Cymru unwaith eto. O'r holl bobl a wnaeth sylwadau ddoe, yr unig blaid sydd wedi dweud 'Mae hwn yn syniad gwael. Mae'n mynd i fod yn rhwydwaith eilradd' yw Plaid Cymru—Plaid Cymru, mae'n debyg, sy'n dweud hyn.
Nawr, ceir cwestiynau dilys, rwy'n deall hynny o ran y ffordd y mae'n gweithio, ond nid yw dweud ei fod yn rhwydwaith eilradd yn wir. Edrychwch ar yr hyn sy'n cael ei gynnig ar gyfer Cymru a chofiwch fod y gost gyflenwi tua £30 miliwn yn is na'r gost bresennol. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, mae hyn yn werth llawer gwell am arian na'r system bresennol gydag Arriva. Mae hi'n gofyn y cwestiwn eto: pam na chafodd hyn ei sefydlu ar sail ddi-elw—pam nad oes gweithredwr sector cyhoeddus yn rhedeg y gwasanaeth? Oherwydd bod y gyfraith yn dweud hynny. Dyna pam. Ni all hi ei wneud—ni all eich plaid chi ei wneud. Y gwir amdani yw: mae hi'n dweud wrth bobl Cymru, 'Byddem ni wedi gwneud rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n gwybod yn gyfreithiol na allwn ni ei wneud', ac nid yw hwnnw'n safbwynt arbennig o gredadwy, byddwn i'n awgrymu.
Er mwyn popeth, gadewch i ni i gyd ddathlu'r ffaith bod gennym ni wasanaeth rheilffyrdd rhagorol sy'n mynd i gael ei sefydlu ledled Cymru gyfan, bydd pobl yn elwa ar werth da am arian, trenau newydd, aerdymheru—y cwbl wedi ei ddarparu gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n gweithio dros bobl Cymru.
First Minister, a cap of 3 per cent will see profits to KeolisAmey in the region of between £100 million and £150 million from this contract. Whether you pay them now or in five years' time means that the Welsh taxpayer is putting money in the pockets of private company shareholders instead of reinvesting it back in our own rail network. That's £150 million that could have been spent on better trains, on more stations, on cheaper tickets.
Now, the Scotland Act 2016—[Interruption.]—contained a clause that explicitly allowed for the Scottish Government to procure a public sector rail operator. [Interruption.] One year later—
Prif Weinidog, bydd cap o 3 y cant yn arwain at elw rhwng £100 miliwn a £150 miliwn i KeolisAmey o'r contract hwn. Pa ydych chi'n eu talu nhw nawr neu ymhen pum mlynedd, mae'n golygu bod trethdalwyr Cymru yn rhoi arian ym mhocedi cyfranddalwyr cwmni preifat yn hytrach na'i ailfuddsoddi yn ein rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd ein hunain. Mae hynny'n £150 miliwn y gellid bod wedi ei wario ar drenau gwell, ar fwy o orsafoedd, ar docynnau rhatach.
Nawr, roedd Deddf yr Alban 2016—[Torri ar draws.]—yn cynnwys cymal a oedd yn caniatáu'n benodol i Lywodraeth yr Alban gaffael gweithredwr rheilffyrdd sector cyhoeddus. [Torri ar draws.] Flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach—
I do need to hear, and I'm sure the First Minister needs to hear, the leader of Plaid Cymru. So, can we please allow Leanne Wood to continue—please. Please.
Mae angen i mi glywed, ac rwy'n siŵr bod angen i'r Prif Weinidog glywed, arweinydd Plaid Cymru. Felly, a allwn ni ganiatáu i Leanne Wood barhau os gwelwch yn dda—os gwelwch yn dda. Os gwelwch yn dda.
Diolch, Llywydd. One year later, there was no such clause in the Wales Act of 2017. Despite this, your Government obediently voted to accept this new devolution deal from your friends in the Conservative Government at the UK level. Now, Plaid Cymru didn't dance to Westminster's tune. Plaid Cymru voted against that Bill. First Minister, do you now regret backing the Tories by voting for the deficient Wales Bill?
Diolch, Llywydd. Flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, nid oedd unrhyw gymal o'r fath yn Neddf Cymru 2017. Er gwaethaf hyn, pleidleisiodd eich Llywodraeth yn ufudd i dderbyn y cytundeb datganoli newydd hwn gan eich ffrindiau yn y Llywodraeth Geidwadol ar lefel y DU. Nawr, ni wnaeth Plaid Cymru ddawnsio i dôn San Steffan. Pleidleisiodd Plaid Cymru yn erbyn y Bil hwnnw. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n gresynu erbyn hyn cefnogi'r Torïaid trwy bleidleisio o blaid y Bil Cymru diffygiol?
Just over two years ago, we all sat in this Chamber and watched Plaid Cymru actively canvass the support of the Tories in order for the leader of Plaid Cymru to become the First Minister. [Interruption.] And now she lectures us about working with the Tories. Memories are incredibly short on the Plaid Cymru benches. If she asks me, 'Am I happy with every element of the last Wales Act?, the answer is 'no'. Of course it's 'no'. There are some elements of it that I don't like. But most of it is something that I think was worth supporting. I don't take the absolutist view that she takes of, 'Let's jump off the edge of the cliff and let's see what happens.' The reality is that there's more work to be done on devolution. We know that. I know she knows that.
But what we have delivered, in the constraints that we have, is a better value, better system that the people of the Valleys will support and the people of the whole of Wales will support. It will deliver a first-rate railway system for Wales—a first-rate railway system—the best rail system that has ever been produced for Wales, a system that will deliver the best trains, a system that will provide jobs for Newport—for CAF, with 300 jobs there—a system that will ensure that we meet our targets in terms of sustainability, in terms of job creation, in terms of economic growth. Why on earth can't Plaid Cymru just for once support something that is good for Wales?
Ychydig dros ddwy flynedd yn ôl, eisteddodd pob un ohonom ni yn y Siambr hon gan wylio Plaid Cymru yn mynd ati i ganfasio cefnogaeth y Torïaid er mwyn i arweinydd Plaid Cymru fod yn Brif Weinidog. [Torri ar draws.] Ac nawr mae hi'n pregethu wrthym ni am weithio gyda'r Torïaid. Mae'r cof yn arbennig o fyr ar feinciau Plaid Cymru. Os bydd hi'n gofyn i mi, 'A ydw i'n hapus gyda phob elfen ar y Ddeddf Cymru ddiwethaf?, yr ateb yw 'nac ydw'. 'Nac ydw' yw'r ateb wrth gwrs. Ceir rhai elfennau ohoni nad wyf i'n eu hoffi. Ond mae'r rhan fwyaf ohoni yn rhywbeth y credaf oedd yn werth ei chefnogi. Nid wyf i'n cymryd y safbwynt absoliwtaidd y mae hi o, 'Gadewch i ni neidio oddi ar ymyl y dibyn a gadewch i ni weld beth sy'n digwydd.' Y gwir amdani yw bod mwy o waith i'w wneud ar ddatganoli. Rydym ni'n gwybod hynny. Gwn ei bod hithau'n gwybod hynny.
Ond yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei ddarparu, yn unol â'r cyfyngiadau sydd gennym ni, system well, sy'n cynnig mwy o werth am arian y bydd pobl y Cymoedd yn ei chefnogi ac y bydd pobl Cymru gyfan yn ei chefnogi. Bydd yn darparu system reilffyrdd o'r radd flaenaf i Gymru— system reilffyrdd o'r radd flaenaf—y system reilffyrdd orau a gynhyrchwyd ar gyfer Cymru erioed, system a fydd yn darparu'r trenau gorau, system a fydd yn darparu swyddi i Gasnewydd—i CAF, gyda 300 o swyddi yno—system a fydd yn sicrhau ein bod ni'n bodloni ein targedau o ran cynaliadwyedd, o ran creu swyddi, o ran twf economaidd. Pam ar y ddaear na all Plaid Cymru gefnogi rhywbeth sy'n dda i Gymru dim ond am unwaith?
Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Leader of the opposition, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I find myself with a group that's stuck in the middle here. Very often, it's good to be in the middle ground of politics, I find. So, I'll leave the extremists to debate amongst themselves on this.
First Minister, what is the Welsh Government's position when it comes to a second referendum, either on the deal that's negotiated around Brexit or on rerunning the referendum of June 2016?
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwy'n canfod fy hun gyda grŵp sydd wedi ei ddal yn y canol yn y fan yma. Yn aml iawn, mae'n dda i fod yn y tir canol ym myd gwleidyddiaeth, yn fy marn i. Felly, gadawaf yr eithafwyr i ddadlau am hyn ymysg ei gilydd.
Prif Weinidog, beth yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru pan ddaw i ail refferendwm, naill ai ar y fargen sy'n cael ei tharo o ran Brexit neu ar ail-gynnal refferendwm mis Mehefin 2016?
We don't have a position on a second referendum. If you want my view, I do not believe a second referendum on the issue of Brexit is merited. There's been a referendum. Although, his party wanted a second referendum on devolution in 2005—I remember that—because they thought the result was too close. But I don't take the same view in that regard. So, we don't have a position as a Government. I think what's important now is to focus on getting the best deal for Wales and Britain as a result of Brexit.
Nid oes gennym ni safbwynt ar ail refferendwm. Os ydych chi eisiau fy marn i, nid wyf i'n credu bod ail refferendwm ar fater Brexit yn haeddiannol. Cafwyd refferendwm. Er, roedd ei blaid ef eisiau ail refferendwm ar ddatganoli yn 2005—rwy'n cofio hynny—gan eu bod nhw'n meddwl bod y canlyniad yn rhy agos. Ond nid wyf i o'r un farn yn hynny o beth. Felly, nid oes gennym ni safbwynt fel Llywodraeth. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig nawr yw canolbwyntio ar gael y fargen orau i Gymru a Phrydain o ganlyniad i Brexit.
Did I hear you correctly there First Minister? You said you do not have a position as a Government. Because, obviously, two of your Cabinet colleagues signed a letter last week indicating that they wanted to see a referendum. I always assumed that Government operated on collective responsibility, and I have certainly heard you say on several occasions as leader of the Welsh Government that you do not support a second referendum. So, surely, there is collective responsibility, and Cabinet colleagues now, after you've signalled that you are leaving the office of First Minister, are running their own agendas. Why is collective responsibility not running on this particular issue?
A wnes i eich clywed chi'n iawn Prif Weinidog? Dywedasoch nad oes gennych chi safbwynt fel Llywodraeth. Oherwydd, yn amlwg, llofnodwyd llythyr gan ddau o'ch cyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet yr wythnos diwethaf yn nodi eu bod nhw eisiau gweld refferendwm. Tybiais erioed bod Llywodraeth yn gweithredu ar sail cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd, ac rwy'n sicr wedi eich clywed chi'n dweud ar sawl achlysur fel arweinydd Llywodraeth Cymru nad ydych chi'n cefnogi ail refferendwm. Felly, does bosib nad oes cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd, ac mae cyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet nawr, ar ôl i chi nodi eich bod chi'n gadael y swydd Prif Weinidog, yn dilyn eu hagendâu eu hunain. Pam nad yw cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd yn bodoli ar y mater penodol hwn?
I can't believe that he's chosen this ground to ask questions. Let's see, for example, the situation that happens in Whitehall? If you want to see a lame duck leader, have a look at Whitehall. What do we have there? We have factions briefing against each other in public. We have people like Boris Johnson openly criticising the Prime Minister about Brexit policy without any kind of penalty. He'd have been out on his feet if he'd have been in my Government, I can tell you that now. We now have this farce where a decision has been taken on Heathrow where carte blanche has been given to Cabinet Ministers to campaign against that, because there's not enough support in Cabinet to take a collective decision. And when it comes to collective responsibility, we are solid here compared to the anarchist collective that exists in London.
Ni allaf gredu ei fod wedi dewis y tir hwn i ofyn cwestiynau. Gadewch i ni weld, er enghraifft, y sefyllfa sy'n bodoli yn Whitehall? Os ydych chi eisiau gweld arweinydd cloff, edrychwch ar Whitehall. Beth sydd gennym ni yn y fan honno? Mae gennym ni garfanau yn briffio yn erbyn ei gilydd yn gyhoeddus. Mae gennym ni bobl fel Boris Johnson yn beirniadu'r Prif Weinidog yn agored ar bolisi Brexit heb unrhyw fath o gosb. Byddai wedi bod allan ar ei union pe byddai wedi bod yn fy Llywodraeth i, gallaf ddweud hynny wrthych chi nawr. Mae gennym ni'r ffars yma nawr lle mae penderfyniad wedi ei wneud ar Heathrow lle rhoddwyd rhwydd hynt i Weinidogion Cabinet ymgyrchu yn erbyn hynny, gan nad oes digon o gefnogaeth yn y Cabinet i wneud penderfyniad ar y cyd. A phan ddaw i gyfrifoldeb ar y cyd, rydym ni'n gadarn yma o'n cymharu â'r cymundod anarchaidd sy'n bodoli yn Llundain.
First Minister, I notice you didn't address my question about your own Government, and it was only some months ago that you sacked the Member for Cardiff Central from her role as Government oversight on the European committee because she didn't agree with Cabinet responsibility, as you interpreted it, because you said that her letter of appointment had collective responsibility attached to it. So, you sacked one of your backbenchers, but when one of your Liberal colleagues in the Cabinet or one of your leadership contenders here decides to break ranks with collective responsibility, you do not take any action at all. Is it not the case that it is one rule for one member of the Government and another rule for backbenchers, and you are the lame duck First Minister?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n sylwi na wnaethoch chi ateb fy nghwestiwn ynghylch eich Llywodraeth eich hun, a dim ond rai misoedd yn ôl y gwnaethoch chi ddiswyddo'r Aelod dros Ganol Caerdydd o'i swydd fel goruchwylydd Llywodraeth ar y pwyllgor Ewropeaidd oherwydd nad oedd hi'n cytuno â chyfrifoldeb Cabinet, fel y'i dehonglwyd gennych chi, oherwydd dywedasoch bod cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd ynghlwm i'w llythyr penodi. Felly, fe wnaethoch chi ddiswyddo un o aelodau eich meinciau cefn, ond pan fydd un o'ch cyd-Aelodau Rhyddfrydol yn y Cabinet neu un o'ch cystadleuwyr am yr arweinyddiaeth yn y fan yma yn penderfynu gadael y rhengoedd o ran cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd, nid ydych chi'n cymryd unrhyw gamau o gwbl. Onid yw'n wir ei bod hi'n un rheol i un aelod o'r Llywodraeth a rheol arall i aelodau'r meinciau cefn, ac mai chi yw'r Prif Weinidog cloff?
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Well, let's just examine that. As I've said—[Interruption.] As I've said—[Interruption.] I mean, you've got to admire his brass neck. You've got to admire his brass neck more than anything else, and his ability to ignore the chaos that his party has created in London, and the fact that Cabinet Government as we know it doesn't exist, actually, in Whitehall under his party.
He asked the question: what's our view? Our view has always been, and I've said this many, many times in the Chamber, that any deal should be approved by the Parliaments—plural—of the UK. That's the situation. If that doesn't happen, well, it could well be there's another election. There would have to be another election. If there is then an inconclusive result, there'd have to be some way of settling it, but we're some way away from that. So, our view as a Government is quite simply this: let the Parliaments of the UK decide as to whether the final deal is a good one or not.
I come back again to his point. There's an element of incredible double standards in the Tory party, and let me say why. I don't advocate a second referendum on Brexit. I don't advocate that, because I remember his party saying in 1997 that the result of the devolution referendum was too close that there needed to be another referendum, and they stood on that manifesto commitment in a general election. And now they say, 'Well, of course, that was then, this is now.' I don't have that double standard; I argued against a second referendum then, I argue against a second referendum now on the issue of Brexit. When he wants to lecture us about our position, he needs to take a long hard look at his own party and the mess that the leader of the UK is in, the complete lack of planning, the complete lack of unity and the complete lack of a Government.
O diar, o diar, o diar. Wel, gadewch i ni ystyried hynny. Fel y dywedais—[Torri ar draws.] Fel y dywedais—[Torri ar draws.] Hynny yw, mae'n rhaid i chi edmygu ei ddigywilydd-dra. Mae'n rhaid i chi edmygu ei ddigywilydd-dra mwy nag unrhyw beth arall, a'i allu i anwybyddu'r anhrefn y mae ei blaid ei hun wedi ei chreu yn Llundain, a'r ffaith nad yw Llywodraeth Cabinet fel yr ydym ni'n ei hadnabod yn bodoli, mewn gwirionedd, yn Whitehall o dan ei blaid ef.
Gofynnodd y cwestiwn: beth yw ein safbwynt ni? Ein safbwynt ni erioed, ac rwyf i wedi dweud hyn lawer iawn o weithiau yn y Siambr, yw y dylai unrhyw gytundeb gael ei gymeradwyo gan Seneddau—lluosog—y DU. Dyna'r sefyllfa. Os na fydd hynny'n digwydd, wel, mae'n bosibl iawn y bydd etholiad arall. Byddai'n rhaid cael etholiad arall. Os bydd canlyniad amhendant wedyn, byddai'n rhaid cael rhyw ffordd o'i setlo, ond rydym ni'n bell i ffwrdd o hynny. Felly, yn syml iawn, ein barn ni fel Llywodraeth yw hyn: gadewch i Seneddau'r DU benderfynu ar ba un a yw'r cytundeb terfynol yn un da ai peidio.
Dychwelaf at ei bwynt eto. Ceir elfen o safonau dwbl anhygoel yn y blaid Geidwadol, a gadewch i mi ddweud pam. Nid wyf i'n dadlau o blaid ail refferendwm ar Brexit. Nid wyf i'n dadlau o blaid hynny, gan fy mod i'n cofio ei blaid ef yn dweud ym 1997 bod canlyniad y refferendwm ar ddatganoli yn rhy agos bod angen refferendwm arall, ac fe wnaethant sefyll ar sail yr ymrwymiad maniffesto hwnnw mewn etholiad cyffredinol. Ac nawr maen nhw'n dweud, 'Wel, wrth gwrs, roedd hynny bryd hynny, mae hyn nawr.' Nid yw'r safon ddwbl honno gen i. dadleuais yn erbyn ail refferendwm bryd hynny, ac rwy'n dadlau yn erbyn ail refferendwm nawr ar y mater o Brexit. Pan fydd ef eisiau pregethu wrthym ni am ein safbwynt, mae angen iddo edrych yn ofalus iawn ar ei blaid ei hun a'r llanastr y mae arweinydd y DU ynddo, y diffyg cynllunio llwyr, y diffyg undod llwyr a'r diffyg Llywodraeth llwyr.
3. Pa strategaeth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei dilyn yn y dyfodol i wella cydlyniant cymunedol yn ne Cymru? OAQ52260
3. What future strategy will the Welsh Government follow to improve community cohesion in south Wales? OAQ52260
There are four objectives that we will pursue: firstly, building community cohesion at a national level; secondly, cohesion support at a regional level for isolated groups; thirdly, integration of new arrivals; and, fourthly, mitigating tensions and tackling hate crime.
Ceir pedwar amcan y byddwn ni'n mynd ar eu trywydd: yn gyntaf, datblygu cydlyniant cymunedol ar lefel genedlaethol; yn ail, cymorth cydlyniant ar lefel ranbarthol ar gyfer grwpiau sydd ar wahân; yn drydydd, integreiddio newydd-ddyfodiaid; ac, yn bedwerydd, lliniaru tensiynau a mynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb.
First Minister, policing is crucial to ensuring our communities are cohesive and enjoy good quality of life, and our police forces work with local authorities, health, housing and, indeed, the voluntary sector in close partnership, reflecting the fact that a large majority of police work concerns devolved responsibilities. Given that, and the very strong case for devolving policing that follows from it, what work will Welsh Government do to ensure that relevant issues are foreseen and explored in terms of future devolution of policing?
Prif Weinidog, mae plismona yn hollbwysig i sicrhau bod ein cymunedau yn gydlynol ac yn mwynhau ansawdd bywyd da, ac mae ein heddluoedd yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, iechyd, tai ac, yn wir, y sector gwirfoddol mewn partneriaeth agos, gan adlewyrchu'r ffaith bod y rhan fwyaf o waith yr heddlu yn ymwneud â chyfrifoldebau datganoledig. O gofio hynny, a'r achos cryf iawn dros ddatganoli plismona sy'n dilyn ohono, pa waith y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod problemau perthnasol yn cael eu rhagweld a'u harchwilio o ran datganoli plismona yn y dyfodol?
Can I thank the Member for his question? He is right to say that we have a long-standing position of supporting the devolution of policing and, of course, the commission on justice will be looking at further issues. It is important, of course, devolution or not, that we work with the police. We do that, whether it's through the civil contingencies forum, whether it's through other groups, for example looking at victim support, because we're committed to protecting and supporting victims of hate crime. So, we've provided funding to Victim Support Cymru to operate the national hate crime report and support centre. That funding will continue until at least 2020, and there do continue to be positive signs that victims are coming forward and are more confident in reporting.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn? Mae e'n iawn wrth ddweud bod gennym ni safbwynt hirsefydlog o gefnogi datganoli plismona ac, wrth gwrs, bydd y comisiwn ar gyfiawnder yn ystyried materion pellach. Mae'n bwysig, wrth gwrs, datganoli ai peidio, ein bod ni'n gweithio gyda'r heddlu. Rydym ni'n gwneud hynny, boed drwy'r fforwm argyfyngau sifil, boed drwy grwpiau eraill, er enghraifft ystyried cymorth i ddioddefwyr, gan ein bod ni wedi ymrwymo i amddiffyn a chefnogi dioddefwyr troseddau casineb. Felly, rydym ni wedi darparu cyllid i Cymorth i Ddioddefwyr Cymru i weithredu canolfan genedlaethol hysbysu a chymorth troseddau casineb. Bydd y cyllid hwnnw'n parhau hyd at 2020 o leiaf, a cheir arwyddion cadarnhaol o hyd bod dioddefwyr yn dod ymlaen a'u bod yn fwy hyderus o ran hysbysu.
First Minister, third sector organisations play a vital role in strengthening and actively promoting community cohesion as well as providing a link between public sector bodies and ethnic minority communities. For them to succeed, they need the support of the Welsh Government. So, will the First Minister outline how his strategy to improve community cohesion will utilise and support the third sector in Wales, please?
Prif Weinidog, mae sefydliadau trydydd sector yn chwarae rhan hanfodol o ran cryfhau a mynd ati i hyrwyddo cydlyniant cymunedol yn ogystal â darparu cyswllt rhwng cyrff y sector cyhoeddus a chymunedau lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Er mwyn iddyn nhw lwyddo, maen nhw angen cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu sut y bydd ei strategaeth i wella cydlyniant cymunedol yn defnyddio ac yn cynorthwyo'r trydydd sector yng Nghymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
Well, one of the things that we're looking at is whether we should update the community cohesion plan for the summer of this year to take account of recent rises in hate crime and the new challenges to community cohesion in Wales. I can confirm that we plan to publish the community cohesion plan and the tackling hate crimes delivery plan, so that as those plans are taken forward, they will take account of new evidence and fresh circumstances.
Wel, un o'r pethau yr ydym ni'n ei ystyried yw pa un a ddylem ni ddiweddaru'r cynllun cydlyniant cymunedol ar gyfer yr haf eleni i gymryd cynnydd diweddar i droseddau casineb a'r heriau newydd i gydlyniant cymunedol yng Nghymru i ystyriaeth. Gallaf gadarnhau ein bod ni'n bwriadu cyhoeddi cynllun cydlyniant cymunedol a'r cynllun cyflenwi ar fynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb, fel y bydd y cynlluniau hynny, wrth iddynt gael eu datblygu, yn cymryd tystiolaeth newydd ac amgylchiadau newydd i ystyriaeth.
There is definitely more that can be done on this front, First Minister, when you consider that the latest figures from the Home Office show that hate crimes are up by a fifth in Wales in just one year. The majority of the 2,941 offences recorded—and we know that there will be many more incidents that go unreported—are related to race or religion, and if you combine this with Nazi graffiti that has appeared in Cardiff and Newport in recent months, a worrying picture begins to emerge. We also know that Muslim women are disproportionately affected by hate crime. So, can you tell us: what can your Government do to provide targeted support, in particular for Muslim women, but to all others who are victims of hate crime and discrimination, and how can Welsh Government directly challenge this growing problem of hate crime?
Mae'n sicr bod mwy y gellir ei wneud yn hyn o beth, Prif Weinidog, pan fyddwch chi'n ystyried bod y ffigurau diweddaraf gan y Swyddfa Gartref yn dangos bod troseddau casineb wedi cynyddu gan ugain y cant yng Nghymru mewn blwyddyn yn unig. Mae mwyafrif y 2,941 o droseddau a gofnodwyd—ac rydym ni'n gwybod y bydd llawer mwy o ddigwyddiadau nas adroddir amdanynt—yn ymwneud â hil neu grefydd, ac os cyfunwch chi hyn â graffiti Natsïaidd sydd wedi ymddangos yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd yn y misoedd diwethaf, mae darlun sy'n peri gofid mawr yn dechrau dod i'r amlwg. Rydym ni hefyd yn gwybod bod menywod Mwslimaidd yn cael eu heffeithio'n anghymesur gan droseddau casineb. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni: beth all eich Llywodraeth ei wneud i ddarparu cymorth wedi ei dargedu, yn enwedig i fenywod Mwslimaidd, ond i bawb arall sy'n dioddef troseddau casineb a gwahaniaethu hefyd, a sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru herio'r broblem gynyddol hon o droseddau casineb yn uniongyrchol?
Well, as I said earlier on, we do fund Victim Support Cymru, and I said earlier on when that funding would continue until—at least 2020. Can I join with her in deploring the daubing of racist slogans on buildings, particularly, but not exclusively, in Newport? I know that she will share my strong condemnation of that. When it comes to reporting crimes, of course, there are two ways of looking at it: firstly, if there was an increase in reported crime, it may be that the actual level of crime has increased, but also it may be that people are more willing to come forward to report crime. It's always difficult to get underneath the statistics. From our perspective, we believe that more people are coming forward. There are not enough yet that report hate crime, and that's why, of course, we continue to support Victim Support Cymru, as I've said, and also, of course, to see how we can further evaluate the community cohesion plan in order to be more effective.
Wel, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, rydym ni'n ariannu Cymorth i Ddioddefwyr Cymru, a dywedais yn gynharach tan pryd y byddai'r cyllid hwnnw'n parhau—2020 o leiaf. A gaf i ymuno â hi o ran gresynu'r weithred o beintio sloganau hiliol ar adeiladau, yn enwedig, ond nid yn unig, yng Nghasnewydd? Gwn y bydd hi yn rhannu fy nghondemniad cryf o hynny. Pan ddaw i hysbysu am droseddau, wrth gwrs, ceir dwy ffordd o edrych ar y mater: yn gyntaf, os bu cynnydd yn nifer y troseddau a adroddwyd, efallai fod lefel wirioneddol y troseddau wedi cynyddu, ond efallai hefyd fod pobl yn fwy parod i ddod ymlaen i hysbysu am droseddau. Mae bob amser yn anodd cael at wraidd yr ystadegau. O'n safbwynt ni, rydym ni'n credu bod mwy o bobl yn dod ymlaen. Nid oes digon eto sy'n hysbysu am droseddau casineb, a dyna pam, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n parhau i gefnogi Cymorth i Ddioddefwyr Cymru, fel y dywedais, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, i weld sut y gallwn ni werthuso'r cynllun cydlyniant cymunedol ymhellach er mwyn bod yn fwy effeithiol.
5. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Prif Weinidog ar waith i gefnogi cyflwyno technoleg 5G? OAQ52283
5. What plans does the First Minister have in place to support the roll-out of 5G technology? OAQ52283
We have appointed Innovation Point to advise, stimulate and develop activity on 5G in Wales, including opportunities to secure funding from the UK Government 5G test bed and trials fund.
Rydym ni wedi penodi Yr Arloesfa i gynghori, ysgogi a datblygu gweithgarwch o ran 5G yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cyfleoedd i sicrhau cyllid o gronfa gwely prawf a threialon Llywodraeth y DU.
Thank you, First Minister. 5G, as you know, will be crucial to enable much of the innovation that will come out of the fourth industrial revolution. Without 5G, things like driverless cars and the internet of things simply won't be possible. In China, they've already established 5G test beds in 16 cities and predict that 5G will be commercially available in 2020. We've currently got plans for just one, in Monmouthshire. There's an opportunity to use the Swansea bay city region metro that's being proposed as a test bed for using 5G in Wales to develop a new type of metro in the west. So, what is the First Minister going to do to make sure Wales isn't left behind, and will he commit to ensuring that 5G will be commercially available in Wales by 2020, just like in China?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Bydd 5G, fel y gwyddoch, yn hanfodol i alluogi llawer o arloesedd a fydd yn dod yn sgil y pedwerydd chwyldro diwydiannol. Heb 5G, ni fydd pethau fel ceir hunan-yrru a rhyngrwyd pethau yn bosibl. Yn Tsieina, maen nhw eisoes wedi sefydlu gwelyau prawf mewn 16 o ddinasoedd ac maen nhw'n rhagweld y bydd 5G ar gael yn fasnachol yn 2020. Mae gennym ni gynlluniau ar gyfer un yn unig ar hyn o bryd, yn sir Fynwy. Ceir cyfle i ddefnyddio metro dinas-ranbarth bae Abertawe sy'n cael ei gynnig fel gwely prawf ar gyfer defnyddio 5G yng Nghymru i ddatblygu math newydd o fetro yn y gorllewin. Felly, beth mae'r Prif Weinidog yn mynd i'w wneud i wneud yn siŵr nad yw Cymru yn cael ei gadael ar ôl, ac a wnaiff ef ymrwymo i sicrhau y bydd 5G ar gael yn fasnachol yng Nghymru erbyn 2020, yn union fel yn Tsieina?
Well, some of that is outside of our control, but he asked the question properly: what are we doing as a Government? Would I can say to him is that Innovation Point have been working closely with local authorities to develop credible bids and they have done that with the Swansea and Cardiff city regions. The deadline is the twelfth of this month, but that work is ongoing, so it's not just Monmouthshire, but we look at how this can work for our city regions as well. I can say as well that Innovation Point is working with Digital Catapult to undertake the Wales element of a wider UK 5G mapping study. That's delivered an up-to-date comprehensive view of the emerging 5G system in Wales on both the regional and local level. So, as far as the north is concerned, Innovation Point have also been providing support to Bangor University in their efforts to establish a digital signal processing centre of excellence in the north of our country. So, Monmouthshire, yes, first, but looking now, of course, at Swansea and Cardiff and beyond.
Wel, mae rhywfaint o hynny y tu hwnt i'n rheolaeth, ond fe ofynnodd y cwestiwn yn briodol: beth ydym ni'n ei wneud fel Llywodraeth? Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrtho yw bod yr Arloesfa wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos gydag awdurdodau lleol i ddatblygu cynigion credadwy ac maen nhw wedi gwneud hynny gyda dinas-ranbarthau Abertawe a Chaerdydd. Y deuddegfed o'r mis hwn yw'r dyddiad terfyn, ond mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n parhau, felly nid yw'n golygu sir Fynwy yn unig, ond rydym ni'n ystyried sut y gall hyn weithio i'n dinas-ranbarthau hefyd. Gallaf ddweud hefyd bod yr Arloesfa yn gweithio gyda Digital Catapult i gyflawni elfen Cymru o astudiaeth mapio 5G ehangach y DU. Mae hynny wedi darparu golwg gynhwysfawr a chyfredol ar y system 5G sy'n dod i'r amlwg yng Nghymru ar y lefelau rhanbarthol a lleol. Felly, o ran y gogledd, mae'r Arloesfa hefyd wedi bod yn darparu cymorth i Brifysgol Bangor yn ei hymdrechion i sefydlu canolfan ragoriaeth ar gyfer prosesu signalau digidol yng ngogledd ein gwlad. Felly, sir Fynwy, ie, yn gyntaf, ond yn edrych nawr, wrth gwrs, ar Abertawe a Chaerdydd a thu hwnt.
First Minister, can I welcome the fact that Monmouthshire will be chosen as a 5G test bed? I think the implications for rural connectivity are outstanding, and this announcement is a clear example of the UK Government delivering in terms of a digital strategy for Wales, and I look forward to how you're going to co-operate with it.
We've heard about the range of applications and these, to add to them, will go to smart farming with drones and using the internet to improve healthcare in the home and increasing manufacturing productivity, even as far as self-driving cars. So, what consideration are you giving to the impact that 5G technology will have on the health sector and public sector in Wales, first observing the practice in Monmouthshire?
Prif Weinidog, a gaf i groesawu'r ffaith y bydd sir Fynwy yn cael ei dewis fel gwely prawf ar gyfer 5G? Rwy'n credu bod y goblygiadau ar gyfer cysylltedd gwledig yn rhagorol, ac mae'r cyhoeddiad hwn yn enghraifft eglur o Lywodraeth y DU yn cyflawni o ran strategaeth ddigidol i Gymru, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld sut yr ydych chi'n mynd i gydweithredu â hi.
Rydym ni wedi clywed am yr ystod o gymwysiadau a bydd y rhain, i ychwanegu atynt, yn mynd i ffermio clyfar gyda dronau a defnyddio'r rhyngrwyd i wella gofal iechyd yn y cartref a chynyddu cynhyrchiant gweithgynhyrchu, cyn belled â cheir hunan-yrru hyd yn oed. Felly, pa ystyriaeth ydych chi wedi ei rhoi i'r effaith y bydd technoleg 5G yn ei chael ar y sector iechyd a'r sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, gan arsylwi'r arfer yn sir Fynwy yn gyntaf?
Discussions are ongoing between the Cabinet Secretary, Julie James, and those in the health sector to see how 5G can benefit the health sector. As I said earlier on, we quite often see technology as something that primarily benefits the economy. It does, there's no question about that, but we know that there are opportunities in both health and education and other sectors to make sure that technology facilitates better working in the future.
Mae trafodaethau yn parhau rhwng Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, Julie James, a'r rhai hynny yn y sector iechyd i weld sut y gall 5G fod o fudd i'r sector iechyd. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, rydym ni'n aml yn gweld technoleg fel rhywbeth sydd yn bennaf o fudd i'r economi. Mae hynny'n wir, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth am hynny, ond rydym ni'n gwybod bod cyfleoedd ym meysydd iechyd ac addysg a sectorau eraill i wneud yn siŵr bod technoleg yn hwyluso gweithio gwell yn y dyfodol.
6. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i gefnogi busnesau bach yng Nhrefynwy? OAQ52274
6. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to support small businesses in Monmouth? OAQ52274
Through Business Wales and the development bank, we are committed to supporting entrepreneurs, of course, and small and medium-sized enterprises across Wales. And our focus remains on innovation-driven entrepreneurs, jobs and the economy.
Trwy Busnes Cymru a'r banc datblygu, rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i gynorthwyo entrepreneuriaid, wrth gwrs, a busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint ledled Cymru. Ac mae ein pwyslais yn parhau ar entrepreneuriaid a ysgogir gan arloesedd, swyddi a'r economi.
Diolch, First Minister. Can I ask you, there was great concern about the introduction of the rate revaluation recently—last year, I should say. That revaluation had a mixed effect across Wales: some areas were far better off, others were not so good. Areas like mine in Monmouthshire and also the Vale of Glamorgan, Cowbridge, were badly affected. There is one business in Chepstow in my constituency that has seen its business rates rise from £4,500 per year to almost £8,000. I know that there were packages of support that were available, but those haven't helped all businesses, particularly that business in Chepstow, which is now in very serious difficulty. Can you tell me if you're going to revisit the rate revaluation and see how you can better provide support for businesses that have been badly affected like this?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. A gaf i ofyn i chi, roedd pryder mawr ynghylch cyflwyno'r ailbrisiad ardrethi yn ddiweddar—y llynedd, dylwn i ddweud. Cafodd yr ailbrisiad hwnnw effaith gymysg ledled Cymru: roedd rhai ardaloedd yn llawer gwell eu byd, nid oedd eraill yn gwneud cystal. Cafwyd effaith wael ar ardaloedd fel fy ardal i yn sir Fynwy a hefyd Bro Morgannwg, y Bont-faen. Ceir un busnes yng Nghas-gwent yn fy etholaeth i y mae ei ardrethi busnes wedi cynyddu o £4,500 y flwyddyn i bron i £8,000. Gwn fod pecynnau cymorth a oedd ar gael, ond nid yw'r rheini wedi helpu pob busnes, yn enwedig y busnes hwnnw yng Nghas-gwent, sydd mewn trafferthion difrifol iawn erbyn hyn. A allwch chi ddweud wrthyf a ydych chi'n mynd i ailystyried y broses ailbrisio ardrethi a gweld a oes ffordd well y gallwch chi ddarparu cymorth i fusnesau sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio'n wael fel hyn?
The difficulty is that if you revise the revaluation or go back to the former valuation, you end up with people having to pay more as a result of the fact that they pay less now. There are always people who pay more and there are always people who pay less. We've known that through revaluations over the years. What we look to do then, of course, is to provide support for those who need it most. I don't know the ins and outs of the situation of the business that the Member has described, but what I can say is that during the course of this year, we'll be providing around £210 million of rates relief to support businesses and other rate payers, and that means that more than three quarters of rate payers in Wales will see a difference. Indeed, more than half will pay no rates at all.
Yr anhawster yw os byddwch chi'n diwygio'r ailbrisiad neu'n dychwelyd i'r prisiad blaenorol, bydd gennych chi sefyllfa yn y pen draw lle mae'n rhaid i bobl dalu mwy o ganlyniad i'r ffaith eu bod nhw'n talu llai nawr. Ceir pobl sy'n talu mwy bob amser a cheir pobl sy'n talu llai bob amser. Rydym ni wedi bod yn ymwybodol o hynny trwy ailbrisiadau dros y blynyddoedd. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud wedyn, wrth gwrs, yw rhoi cymorth i'r rhai hynny sydd ei angen fwyaf. Nid wyf i'n ymwybodol o union fanylion sefyllfa'r busnes y mae'r Aelod wedi ei ddisgrifio, ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud yw y byddwn ni'n darparu tua £210 miliwn o ryddhad ardrethi y flwyddyn hon i gynorthwyo busnesau a thalwyr ardrethi eraill, ac mae hynny'n golygu y bydd mwy na thri chwarter talwyr ardrethi Cymru yn gweld gwahaniaeth. Yn wir, bydd mwy na hanner na fyddant yn talu unrhyw ardrethi o gwbl.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am strategaeth gyffredinol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer ariannu llywodraeth leol? OAQ52266
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s overall strategy for the funding of local government? OAQ52266
We support local government services through a mix of core revenue funding, capital funding and specific grants as appropriate. Our strategy continues to be to protect local government from the impacts of austerity within the resources available to us as a Government.
Rydym ni'n cynorthwyo gwasanaethau llywodraeth leol trwy gymysgedd o gyllid refeniw craidd, cyllid cyfalaf a grantiau penodol fel y bo'n briodol. Ein strategaeth o hyd yw diogelu Llywodraeth Leol rhag effeithiau cyni cyllidol yn unol â'r adnoddau sydd ar gael i ni fel Llywodraeth.
Thank you, First Minister. I think in these times of Tory austerity, the approach that the Welsh Government has taken is to be welcomed. I'm aware, of course, that, for the current 2018-19 budget round, less of this money was hypothecated or ring-fenced, therefore giving greater flexibility and discretion over local authority spending priorities.
From my recent questions to the education Secretary, you'll be aware that, in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, this means that school funding is being cut and breakfast clubs are under threat, which is actually contrary to the council's own budget consultation in which the public said that schools and education were their No. 1 priority for the borough. So, do you agree with me that this must draw into question whether the Welsh Government can risk removing ring-fenced funding from any further priority areas, such as Supporting People, for example, if some local authorities are going to choose to cut in your determined priority areas?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n credu yn y cyfnod hwn o gyni cyllidol y Torïaid, bod y dull a fabwysiadwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'w groesawu. Rwy'n ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer y cylch cyllideb 2018-19 cyfredol, bod llai o'r arian hwn wedi ei neilltuo neu ei glustnodi, gan roi mwy o hyblygrwydd a disgresiwn dros flaenoriaethau gwariant awdurdodau lleol.
O'm cwestiynau diweddar i'r Ysgrifennydd dros Addysg, byddwch yn ymwybodol, yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful, bod hyn yn golygu bod cyllid ysgolion yn cael ei dorri a bod clybiau brecwast o dan fygythiad, sy'n mynd yn groes i ymgynghoriad cyllideb y cyngor ei hun pryd y dywedodd y cyhoedd mai ysgolion ac addysg oedd eu prif flaenoriaeth ar gyfer y fwrdeistref. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi bod yn rhaid i hyn godi cwestiynau ynghylch pa un a all Llywodraeth Cymru gymryd y risg o dynnu cyllid wedi ei glustnodi o unrhyw feysydd blaenoriaeth eraill, fel Cefnogi Pobl, er enghraifft, os yw rhai awdurdodau lleol yn mynd i ddewis torri yn eich meysydd blaenoriaeth a bennwyd?
Well, the Member makes a fair point. We look, of course, to give as much flexibility as possible to local authorities and they are answerable to their electorates for the decisions that they take. I would've hoped that any local authority would see education as a very strong priority. I'm surprised to hear what the Member has said about her own local authority, and it is the case that local authorities need to demonstrate that, as they're given greater flexibility, they continue to prioritise spending in those areas where money is needed most. And education is one of those areas.
Wel, mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt teg. Ein nod, wrth gwrs, yw rhoi cymaint o hyblygrwydd â phosibl i awdurdodau lleol ac maen nhw'n atebol i'w hetholwyr am y penderfyniadau a wnânt. Byddwn wedi gobeithio y byddai unrhyw awdurdod lleol yn gweld addysg fel blaenoriaeth gref iawn. Rwy'n synnu o glywed yr hyn y mae'r Aelod wedi ei ddweud am ei hawdurdod lleol ei hun, ac mae'n wir bod angen i awdurdodau lleol ddangos, wrth iddyn nhw gael mwy o hyblygrwydd, eu bod nhw'n parhau i flaenoriaethu gwariant yn y meysydd hynny lle mae angen arian fwyaf. Ac mae addysg yn un o'r meysydd hynny.
The 'Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People' White Paper acknowledged directly that there is a need, First Minister, for a more fundamental review of the funding of local government. The current Green Paper also notes that local authorities have highlighted a number of additions in relation to funding. Reacting to the Green Paper, the WLGA states that it
'will continue to press the case for proper funding'
of authorities, and a number of our local authorities now remain committed to calling for appropriate and equitable longer term funding budgets. The Vale of Glamorgan note that there is a well-made case for changes to the formula, as do many other local authorities. When one considers the correspondence your Cabinet Secretary has received, but which he ignores—. He isn't listening now; he's actually preferring to completely ignore the question, and he is the Cabinet Secretary for local government. So, as well as ignoring those calls and ignoring this question today—. Will you liaise with and talk to your Cabinet Secretary, please, to ensure that there is a more sustainable funding model and formula to be established, going forward? It's the very least that our local authorities deserve.
Cydnabuwyd yn uniongyrchol yn y Papur Gwyn 'Diwygio Llywodraeth Leol: Grym i Bobl Leol' bod angen, Prif Weinidog, adolygiad mwy sylfaenol o gyllid llywodraeth leol. Mae'r Papur Gwyrdd cyfredol hefyd yn nodi bod awdurdodau lleol wedi tynnu sylw at nifer o ychwanegiadau o ran chyllid. Gan ymateb i'r Papur Gwyrdd, dywed CLlLC y bydd
yn parhau i ddadlau'r achos dros gyllid priodol
i awdurdodau, ac mae nifer o'n hawdurdodau lleol yn dal i fod yn ymrwymedig nawr i alw am gyllidebau ariannol tymor hwy priodol a theg. Mae Bro Morgannwg yn nodi bod achos da dros newidiadau i'r fformiwla, ac felly hefyd llawer o awdurdodau lleol eraill. Pan fydd rhywun yn ystyried yr ohebiaeth y mae eich Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi ei derbyn, ond y mae'n ei hanwybyddu—. Nid yw'n gwrando nawr; mae'n well ganddo anwybyddu'r cwestiwn yn llwyr, ac ef yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol. Felly, yn ogystal ag anwybyddu'r galwadau hynny ac anwybyddu'r cwestiwn hwn heddiw—. A wnewch chi gysylltu â'ch Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a siarad ag ef, os gwelwch yn dda, i sicrhau bod model a fformiwla gyllido mwy cynaliadwy yn cael eu sefydlu, yn y dyfodol? Dyna'r lleiaf un y mae ein hawdurdodau lleol yn ei haeddu.
Well, I think the Vale of Glamorgan need to explain why they spend less on education than anywhere else in Wales, per head. That is under her party, and that is something that they will need to explain to their electorate. So, what I can say to her is this: that we fund local authorities at a level far higher than would be the case if they were in England, we have sought to protect them as much as we can, but it's inevitable that there will be difficulties and a squeeze of local authorities, because we are ourselves being squeezed. Can I suggest that she takes up the issue with her party in London, who continue to impose a squeeze, year after year after year after year, on Welsh Government, on the Welsh budget, while at the same time chucking £1 billion towards Northern Ireland to buy a handful of votes? That is how low the current UK Government have got—no strategy, all about buying votes.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod angen i Fro Morgannwg esbonio pam maen nhw'n gwario llai ar addysg nag unman arall yng Nghymru, fesul pen. Mae hynny o dan ei phlaid hi, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y bydd angen iddyn nhw ei esbonio i'w hetholwyr. Felly, yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthi yw hyn: ein bod ni'n ariannu awdurdodau lleol ar lefel uwch o lawer na fyddai'n wir pe bydden nhw yn Lloegr, rydym ni wedi ceisio eu diogelu cymaint ag y gallwn, ond mae'n anochel y bydd anawsterau a gwasgfa ar awdurdodau lleol, gan ein bod ni ein hunain yn cael ein gwasgu. A gaf i awgrymu ei bod hi'n codi'r mater gyda'i phlaid yn Llundain, sy'n parhau i orfodi gwasgfa, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, ar Lywodraeth Cymru, ar gyllideb Cymru, gan daflu £1 biliwn tuag at Ogledd Iwerddon ar yr un pryd i brynu llond llaw o bleidleisiau? Dyna pa mor isel y mae Llywodraeth bresennol y DU wedi gostwng—dim strategaeth, popeth yn ymwneud â phrynu pleidleisiau.
Un o brif ddadleuon eich Llywodraeth chi dros yr angen i ddiwygio llywodraeth leol yn y ffordd a gynigir yn y Papur Gwyrdd ydy'r angen i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd ariannol y cynghorau i'r dyfodol. Mae arweinwyr cynghorau ledled Cymru o bob lliw gwleidyddol yn cwestiynu'n gryf a fyddai uno'r cynghorau yn arbed arian. Felly, ar sail hynny, pa asesiad ariannol mae'r Llywodraeth wedi ei gwblhau er mwyn cefnogi bwriadau'r Papur Gwyrdd? Faint yn union ydych chi'n gobeithio ei arbed a dros ba gyfnod o amser? Beth fydd cost gychwynnol gweithredu'r ailstrwythuro yma?
One of the main arguments made by your Government over the need to reform local government in the way proposed in the Green Paper is the need to ensure financial sustainability of councils for the future. Council leaders the length and breadth of Wales of all political hues have strongly questioned whether merging councils would save money. So, on the basis of that, what financial assessment has the Government undertaken in order to support the objectives of the Green Paper? How much exactly do you hope to save, and over what period of time? And what will be the initial costs of implementing this restructuring?
Wel, mae yna gost os nad ydym ni'n edrych ar unrhyw fath o newid yn y system o lywodraeth leol. Ar un adeg, roedd chwe awdurdod lleol o fewn mesurau arbennig ynglŷn ag addysg. Roedd Ynys Môn wedi cael ei gymryd drosodd yn gyfan gwbl. Nawr, nid yw hynny'n dangos i fi fod pethau ar hyn o bryd yn gynaliadwy. Mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau o leiaf fod awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd mewn ffordd ranbarthol. Nid yw'n ddigon da i awdurdod lleol i ddweud, 'Wel, nid ydym ni'n mynd i weithio gyda'r rheini sydd drws nesaf i ni.' Rydym ni wedi gweld, wrth gwrs, y gwahaniaeth mawr sydd wedi cael ei wneud yn addysg gyda'r consortia, ac nid oes un awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru yn gallu gweithredu yn iawn dros y bobl sydd yn byw tu fewn i'w ffiniau os nad ydyn nhw'n gweithio gydag awdurdodau eraill. So, mae arian yn bwysig—rydym ni i gyd yn deall hynny—ond mae'r modd mae pobl yn gweithio yn bwysig hefyd.
Well, there is a cost if we were not to look at any kind of reform in the local government system. At one point, there were six local authorities in special measures as regards education, and Anglesey had been taken over completely. That demonstrates to me that things are not currently sustainable. We must ensure that local authorities at least work on a regional basis together. It’s not good enough for them to say, 'We're just not going to work with those next door to us.' We’ve seen the great change and difference that has been made in education with the consortia, and no local authority in Wales can work properly on behalf of their people unless they collaborate with other authorities. So, funding is important—we all understand that—but the way in which people work together is also important too.
8. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i amddiffyn a chefnogi'r diwydiant dur yng Nghymru? OAQ52284
8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect and support the steel industry in Wales? OAQ52284
We remain fully committed to supporting steel making in Wales and to ensuring a secure and sustainable future for the sector. We're working hard, of course, with Tata. If I could read to the Member the joint statement that we sent out last week with Tata Steel, which says:
We're working closely and constructively together to finalise the substantial public investment in the power plant at Port Talbot, which will reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. We remain fully committed to a secure and sustainable future for steel making at Port Talbot and this investment will play a significant part in this. We look forward to announcing the final go-ahead for the project and drawdown of funding in the near future.
That builds on, course, the substantial help that we've given to steel making in Wales, and rightly so, because we know how important steel making is to our economy.
Rydym ni'n parhau i fod wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i gefnogi cynhyrchu dur yng Nghymru ac i sicrhau dyfodol diogel a chynaliadwy i'r sector. Rydym ni'n gweithio, wrth gwrs, gyda Tata. Os caf i ddarllen i'r Aelod y datganiad ar y cyd a anfonwyd allan gennym yr wythnos diwethaf gyda Tata Steel, sy'n dweud:
Rydym ni'n gweithio'n agos ac yn adeiladol gyda'n gilydd i gwblhau'r buddsoddiad cyhoeddus sylweddol yn yr orsaf bŵer ym Mhort Talbot, a fydd yn lleihau costau ynni ac yn lleihau allyriadau carbon. Rydym ni'n dal i fod yn gwbl ymrwymedig i sicrhau dyfodol diogel a chynaliadwy i gynhyrchu dur ym Mhort Talbot a bydd y buddsoddiad hwn yn chwarae rhan sylweddol yn hyn. Edrychwn ymlaen at gyhoeddi'r sêl bendith terfynol ar gyfer y prosiect a darparu'r arian yn y dyfodol agos.
Mae hynny'n adeiladu, wrth gwrs, ar y cymorth sylweddol yr ydym ni wedi ei roi i gynhyrchu dur yng Nghymru, yn gwbl briodol, gan ein bod ni'n gwybod pa mor bwysig yw cynhyrchu dur i'n heconomi.
Thank you, First Minister, for that answer and pre-empting my question, to an extent. But the sanction that has been imposed by the US on UK steel is going to have a major impact upon Port Talbot steel and steel products from elsewhere in Wales. Steel companies will look elsewhere, to other markets, which you've you already highlighted, to sell their steel and, therefore, the price of steel is likely to go down. This affects the profitability of steel, therefore, we need to address these matters, and you've already, thankfully, commented upon the leaked report that was mentioned in the press a couple of weeks ago about the £30 million investment in Tata for the power plant, so I can leave that one.
But you also, in your response to Caroline Jones, mentioned the actions that need to be taken to address the steel tariff issues. What are you doing as a Government to actually push those? Because it's important that we get this message across to the UK Government, and elsewhere, to ensure that actions are taken to protect our steel industry and the profitability of our steel industry. Otherwise, we will see damage done to our industry here.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am yr ateb yna ac am achub y blaen ar fy nghwestiwn, i raddau. Ond mae'r sancsiwn a orfodwyd gan yr Unol Daleithiau ar ddur y DU yn mynd i gael effaith fawr ar ddur Port Talbot a chynhyrchion dur o fannau eraill yng Nghymru. Bydd cwmnïau dur yn troi at fannau eraill, at farchnadoedd eraill, rhywbeth yr ydych chi wedi ei amlygu eisoes, i werthu eu dur ac, felly, mae pris dur yn debygol o ostwng. Mae hyn yn effeithio ar broffidioldeb dur, felly, mae angen i ni roi sylw i'r materion hyn, ac rydych chi wedi gwneud sylwadau eisoes, diolch byth, ar yr adroddiad a ddatgelwyd y cyfeiriwyd ato yn y wasg wythnos neu ddwy yn ôl am y buddsoddiad o £30 miliwn yn Tata ar gyfer yr orsaf bŵer, felly gallaf adael yr un yna.
Ond cyfeiriasoch hefyd, yn eich ymateb i Caroline Jones, at y camau y mae angen eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r materion tariffau dur. Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud fel Llywodraeth i wthio'r rheini? Oherwydd mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n cyfleu'r neges hon i Lywodraeth y DU, a mannau eraill, i sicrhau y cymerir camau i ddiogelu ein diwydiant dur a phroffidioldeb ein diwydiant dur. Fel arall, byddwn yn gweld niwed yn cael ei wneud i'n diwydiant ni yma.
Can I thank the Member for his question, and the many questions he's asked on behalf of his constituents, and rightly so? He asks what I have done. I was in Washington last week. I had several meetings there, including meetings with British embassy staff. We worked through what needed to be done next. It's not clear, because the US Government can be unpredictable, if I can put it that way. It's been made clear many, many times to the US that, actually, steel from Wales and steel from the UK does not pose a threat to the American steel industry. Many of the products that we export to the States are not made in the States. All that will happen is the price will go up for the American consumer. What we are not clear about is what effect there will be in terms of tariffs. I know in Trostre, for example, that exports to the US are a very profitable part of that business, and it's not clear, actually, whether Trostre will still be able to continue to sell to the US, if only for the fact the US doesn't produce what Trostre produces. But, as I said earlier on, what's hugely important is that we don't see steel that was previously bound for the US market ending up in the European market, causing a drop in the price of steel. That inevitably would not help in terms of the long-term sustainability of our industry.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn, a'r cwestiynau lawer y mae wedi eu gofyn ar ran ei etholwyr, a hynny'n gwbl briodol? Mae'n gofyn beth ydw i wedi ei wneud. Roeddwn i yn Washington yr wythnos diwethaf. Cefais sawl cyfarfod yno, gan gynnwys cyfarfodydd gyda staff llysgenhadaeth Prydain. Gweithiwyd drwy'r hyn y mae angen ei wneud nesaf. Nid yw'n eglur, oherwydd gall fod yn anodd rhagweld yr hyn y bydd Llywodraeth yr Unol Daleithiau yn ei wneud, os caf ei roi felly. Fe'i gwnaed yn eglur droeon i'r Unol Daleithiau nad yw dur o Gymru na dur o'r DU yn peri bygythiad i ddiwydiant dur America mewn gwirionedd. Nid oes llawer o'r cynhyrchion yr ydym ni'n eu hallforio i'r Unol Daleithiau yn cael eu gwneud yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Y cwbl fydd yn digwydd yw y bydd y pris yn cynyddu i ddefnyddwyr America. Yr hyn nad ydym yn eglur yn ei gylch yw pa effaith fydd yna o ran tariffau. Gwn yn Nhrostre, er enghraifft, bod allforion i'r Unol Daleithiau yn rhan broffidiol iawn o'r busnes hwnnw, ac nid yw'n eglur, a dweud y gwir, pa un a fydd Trostre yn dal i allu parhau i werthu i'r Unol Daleithiau, oherwydd y ffaith nad yw'r Unol Daleithiau yn cynhyrchu'r hyn y mae Trostre yn ei gynhyrchu. Ond, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, yr hyn sy'n hynod bwysig yw nad ydym ni'n gweld dur a oedd ar ei ffordd i farchnad yr Unol Daleithiau yn flaenorol yn cyrraedd y farchnad Ewropeaidd nawr, gan achosi gostyngiad i bris dur. Mae'n anochel na fyddai hynny'n helpu o ran cynaliadwyedd hirdymor ein diwydiant.
Yes, First Minister, I think, when it comes to the threat of the US tariffs, all UK Governments need to be working together and speaking with one voice on this and actually improving efforts, not least in getting these city deal moneys flowing, because, obviously, part of that, for the Swansea bay city deal, is the steel innovation centre. I take some reassurance from your comments on the power station. I think we were all slightly confused by the comment that the decision would not be made on that until after you'd left as First Minister, so perhaps you can reassure us that this money from last year's budget will be released as soon as possible. If you can give us a date for that, rather than 'we are working together', I think all Tata workers would be far more reassured.
Ie, Prif Weinidog, rwy'n credu, pan ddaw hi i fygythiad tariffau'r Unol Daleithiau, bod angen i holl Lywodraethau'r DU weithio gyda'i gilydd a siarad ag un llais ar hyn a gwella ymdrechion, nid lleiaf o ran cael arian y dinas-ranbarthau hyn i lifo, oherwydd, yn amlwg, rhan o hynny, i fargen ddinesig bae Abertawe, yw'r ganolfan arloesedd dur. Cymeraf rywfaint o gysur o'ch sylwadau ar yr orsaf bŵer. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd wedi ein drysu braidd gan y sylw na fyddai'r penderfyniad yn cael ei wneud am hynny tan ar ôl i chi adael fel Prif Weinidog, felly efallai y gallwch chi ein sicrhau y bydd yr arian hwn o gyllideb y llynedd yn cael ei ryddhau cyn gynted â phosibl. Os gallwch chi roi dyddiad i ni ar gyfer hynny, yn hytrach na 'rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd', rwy'n credu y byddai holl weithwyr Tata yn llawer tawelach eu meddwl.
Nothing is on hold while I am the First Minister. As the Member can well imagine, I'm very keen to take decisions that help the people of Wales as quickly as possible. That is something that we intend to do once we're in a position to do so. With regard to Port Talbot, we ask people to judge us on what we've already done: the money that we've committed, the close working that we have had as a Government with Tata—not just in the UK but also in Mumbai as well. And she will have heard the joint statement that I read out in the Chamber that was made by both ourselves as a Government and by Tata.
Nid oes dim wedi ei ohirio tra fy mod i'n Brif Weinidog. Fel y gall yr Aelod yn hawdd ei ddychmygu, rwy'n awyddus iawn i wneud penderfyniadau sy'n helpu pobl Cymru mor gyflym â phosibl. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n bwriadu ei wneud cyn gynted ag y byddwn ni mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny. O ran Port Talbot, rydym ni'n gofyn i bobl ein barnu ni ar yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud eisoes: yr arian yr ydym ni wedi ei ymrwymo, y cydweithio agos yr ydym ni wedi ei gynnal fel Llywodraeth gyda Tata—nid yn unig yn y DU ond ym Mumbai hefyd. A bydd hi wedi clywed y datganiad ar y cyd a ddarllenais yn y Siambr a wnaed gennym ni fel Llywodraeth a chan Tata.
It was on the power plant that I wanted to ask further because, of course, I met with Tata and they said that they've obviously completed phase 1, but they've got three other stages to complete with regard to the replacement of the power plant, and we're talking here about US steel tariffs. Surely investment now is critical in the power plant in Port Talbot to ensure that we mitigate against any of the worst effects coming from those tariffs. So, I understand from their briefing that the heads of terms for the grant funding have not yet been agreed between you. Can you give us assurances that you will make that decision as soon as possible and that you will give us a clear outline as to when that decision will be made, so that progress can be put forward in Port Talbot on this particular scheme?
Ynghylch yr orsaf bŵer yr oeddwn i eisiau holi ymhellach oherwydd, wrth gwrs, cefais gyfarfod â Tata a dywedasant eu bod yn amlwg wedi cwblhau cam 1, ond mae ganddyn nhw dri cham arall i'w cwblhau o ran disodli'r orsaf bŵer, ac rydym ni'n sôn yn y fan yma am dariffau dur yr Unol Daleithiau. Siawns bod buddsoddi nawr yn hollbwysig yn yr orsaf bŵer ym Mhort Talbot i sicrhau ein bod ni'n lliniaru rhag unrhyw rai o'r effeithiau gwaethaf sy'n dod o'r tariffau hynny. Felly, rwy'n deall o'u briffio nad yw penawdau'r telerau ar gyfer y cyllid grant wedi eu cytuno rhyngoch eto. A allwch chi roi sicrwydd y byddwch chi'n gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw cyn gynted â phosibl ac y byddwch chi'n rhoi amlinelliad eglur i ni ynghylch pryd y bydd y penderfyniad hwnnw'n cael ei wneud, fel y gellir cyflymu'r cynnydd ym Mhort Talbot ar y cynllun penodol hwn?
The clear answer to that is 'yes'. Of course we want to make the decision as quickly as possible. Tata understand that as well, and she will have heard what was said as part of the joint statement that was issued between ourselves and Tata. I'm looking forward, of course, to the announcement when that can be done, and the drawing down of funding. Tata know that they have experienced a level of support, both financially and morally, from the Welsh Government. The situation is one of trust, and we want to make sure, of course, that we can make this announcement as quickly as possible.
'Gallaf' yw'r ateb amlwg i hynny. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni eisiau gwneud y penderfyniad cyn gynted â phosibl. Mae Tata yn deall hynny hefyd, a bydd hi wedi clywed yr hyn a ddywedwyd yn rhan o'r datganiad ar y cyd a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni a Tata. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen, wrth gwrs, at y cyhoeddiad pryd y gellir gwneud hynny, a darparu'r cyllid. Mae Tata yn gwybod eu bod nhw wedi cael lefel o gymorth, yn ariannol ac yn foesol, gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r sefyllfa yn un o ymddiriedaeth, ac rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr, wrth gwrs, y gallwn ni wneud y cyhoeddiad hwn mor gyflym â phosibl.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, ac rydw i'n galw ar arweinydd y tŷ i wneud y datganiad. Julie James.
The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the leader of the house to make the statement. Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to report to today's business. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport will make a statement on rail services and the south Wales metro shortly. And, later this afternoon, the Minister for Housing and Regeneration will make a statement on changes to the park homes commission rate. Additionally, the time allocated to the Counsel General's oral Assembly questions tomorrow has been reduced. Business for the next three weeks is shown on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae dau newid i'w hadrodd i fusnes heddiw. Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth yn gwneud datganiad ar wasanaethau rheilffyrdd a metro de Cymru cyn bo hir. Ac, yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, bydd y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio yn gwneud datganiad ar newidiadau i gyfradd comisiwn cartrefi parc. Hefyd, mae'r amser a neilltuwyd i gwestiynau Cynulliad llafar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol yfory wedi ei leihau. Dangosir busnes ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd i'w gweld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Leader of the house, could we have a statement from the public service Minister on the support and help that community councils and town councils have, and the guidance that the unitary authorities have in dealing with our town and community councils? In my own electoral region, I have a great difference in the level of community councils that are in the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf, and I find that, on each occasion, local authorities have a differing view on how they consult and how they engage with those community and town councils. It is really troubling to hear many community councillors say that they feel completely ignored and overlooked in what is the first rung in our democratic process. I'd be grateful to understand what role and what assistance and guidance central Government—in this instance, Welsh Government—give to the unitary authorities in Wales to make sure that there's a level playing field when it comes to that engagement and that consultation process on important announcements. Thank you.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a allem ni gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ar y gefnogaeth a'r cymorth sydd gan gynghorau cymuned a chynghorau tref, a'r canllawiau sydd gan yr awdurdodau unedol o ran ymdrin â'n cynghorau tref a chymuned? Yn fy rhanbarth etholiadol i fy hun, mae gen i wahaniaeth mawr yn y lefel o gynghorau cymuned sydd ym Mro Morgannwg, Caerdydd a Rhondda Cynon Taf, ac rwy'n canfod, ar bob achlysur, bod gan awdurdodau lleol wahanol farn ar sut y maen nhw'n ymgynghori a sut y maen nhw'n ymgysylltu â'r cynghorau cymuned a thref hynny. Mae'n peri gofid gwirioneddol clywed llawer o gynghorwyr cymuned yn dweud eu bod nhw'n teimlo eu bod yn cael eu hanwybyddu a'u diystyru'n llwyr ar yr hyn sy'n ris cyntaf ein proses ddemocrataidd. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar o gael deall pa swyddogaeth a pha gymorth a chanllawiau y mae'r Llywodraeth ganolog—Llywodraeth Cymru yn yr achos hwn—yn eu rhoi i'r awdurdodau unedol yng Nghymru i wneud yn siŵr y ceir chwarae teg pan ddaw i'r ymgysylltu hwnnw a'r broses ymgynghori honno ar gyhoeddiadau pwysig. Diolch.
Yes, the Cabinet Secretary is happily nodding away at you, and I think he's indicating he'll be more than happy to bring forward a statement on this.
Iawn, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn nodio'n hapus atoch chi, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn dweud y bydd yn fwy na pharod i gyflwyno datganiad ar hyn.
Could I ask for a Government debate to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Wales becoming a Fairtrade Nation? That's something that—. I think we were the first in the world to have that status, and it's something that I think we should celebrate as an Assembly. But it'd be good to celebrate it with a Government debate, because we're using Government time then, which is good, because it's on a Tuesday, which is good, because it will get people's attention, but because we can also then interweave into that debate other work that the Government does in its own outreach Wales in Africa work and supporting fair trade in the wider sense of the word. I am given to understand that the Government has cut the money that goes to fair trade in Wales, so we can explore that as well. That wouldn't be such a good side of it, but I think, on the whole, we want to celebrate that we have the tenth anniversary tomorrow of Wales becoming a Fairtrade Nation.
Secondly, can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health? I understand he's shortly to visit Welshpool hospital after the flooding, the very sudden flash flooding, that was had there about a week ago, and I want to thank those workers and medical staff and everyone who worked to overcome those difficulties. When the Cabinet Secretary returns, can we have at least a written statement from him about what experiences and lessons have been learned from that, particularly what resilience and planning may need to be applied for the future so that we can make sure—? You can't control the weather, but you can at least know the effect of such flash flooding and take that into account.
Finally, can I ask for perhaps an oral statement, I think, building on what the Cabinet Secretary just said earlier—sorry, the First Minister just said earlier—in questions around the future of the tidal lagoon in Swansea bay, something I know she is very interested in? We are hearing these very desperate rumours from Westminster of a lack of support at the UK Government level now for the tidal lagoon and some astonishingly ill-judged comments from Alun Cairns—ill-judged and completely incorrect, as it happens, in terms of his mathematics. If we can have a statement from the appropriate Minister—perhaps the First Minister himself—including a reference to the letter, which I have now seen, which he wrote today to Greg Clark—. And it would be good if that letter was now circulated, rather than by Twitter, directly to Assembly Members so that we can have a good look at it because, for the first time, I see an actual figure in this letter of £200 million offered by the Welsh Government. That has been rumoured in the past. I haven't seen it written down before. Certainly, as Chair of the Finance Committee, I haven't seen it in any budget papers before. An equity scheme, a co-financing scheme: a rather similar approach has been taken by the UK Government to Wylfa of course, in terms of building investment in energy infrastructure, and, of course, for the UK Government to come up with a contract for differences agreement similar to that for Hinkley Point C. All this is positive from the Welsh Government, but we need to understand how we can build this alternative approach now, which I'm sure will get support from all parts of this Assembly, as the Assembly has unanimously voted in favour of the principle of a tidal lagoon, subject to regulatory approval, as the letter does, in fact, say. What we really need is a Welsh-made plan B. This is a fantastic opportunity, not only for job creation, not only for energy generation in Swansea bay, but a technology that Wales can own and sell abroad and actually pioneer and take forward. I'm very much afraid that part of the reason that we're held back and not allowed to take this forward ourselves is that some people think that we should do what we're told and we shouldn't take the initiative in things like this. Well, I don't agree with that, and I think it's very appropriate that we have time here now to debate what an alternative plan could be: one made in Wales, one where we perhaps come as joint owners of such an idea as this, where we work with the company, with the private sector, but ultimately the people of Wales will also benefit then from the investment that the Welsh Government can do and bring the UK Government, perhaps shamefaced, but, at the end of the day, bring the UK Government to the table as well.
A gaf i ofyn am ddadl Llywodraeth i ddathlu degfed pen-blwydd Cymru yn genedl Masnach Deg? Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y—. Rwy'n credu mai ni oedd y cyntaf yn y byd i gael y statws hwnnw, ac mae'n rhywbeth yr wyf yn credu y dylem ni ei ddathlu fel Cynulliad. Ond byddai'n dda cael ei ddathlu â dadl Llywodraeth, oherwydd y byddwn ni'n defnyddio amser y Llywodraeth wedyn, sy'n beth da, gan ei fod ar ddydd Mawrth, sy'n beth da, oherwydd y bydd yn cael sylw pobl, ond oherwydd y gallwn ni hefyd gydblethu i'r ddadl honno y gwaith arall y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud yn ei gwaith allestyn drwy Cymru o Blaid Affrica, ac wrth gefnogi masnach deg yn ystyr ehangach y gair. Rwyf ar ddeall bod y Llywodraeth wedi torri'r arian sy'n cael ei roi i fasnach deg yng Nghymru, felly gallwn ni ymchwilio i hynny hefyd. Ni fyddai'r ochr honno mor dda, ond rwy'n credu, ar y cyfan, ein bod ni eisiau dathlu degfed pen-blwydd Cymru yn genedl Masnach Deg yfory.
Yn ail, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd? Rwy'n deall y bydd ef yn ymweld ag Ysbyty'r Trallwng cyn bo hir yn dilyn y llifogydd, y llifogydd fflach sydyn iawn, a ddigwyddodd yno ryw wythnos yn ôl, a hoffwn ddiolch i'r gweithwyr a'r staff meddygol hynny a phawb a oedd yn gweithio i oresgyn yr anawsterau hynny. Pan fydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn dychwelyd, a gawn ni o leiaf ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ganddo ynghylch pa brofiadau a gwersi a ddysgwyd o hynny, yn enwedig pa gydnerthedd a chynlluniau y byddai angen eu gweithredu ar gyfer y dyfodol er mwyn i ni allu gwneud yn siŵr—? Nid oes modd rheoli'r tywydd, ond mae modd gwybod effaith y fath fflachlifoedd o leiaf, a rhoi ystyriaeth i hynny.
Yn olaf, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad llafar efallai, rwy'n credu, gan adeiladu ar yr hyn y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet newydd ei ddweud—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, yr hyn y mae'r Prif Weinidog newydd ei ddweud—yn ystod cwestiynau ynghylch dyfodol y morlyn llanw ym Mae Abertawe, rhywbeth rwy'n gwybod y mae ganddi ddiddordeb mawr ynddo? Rydym ni'n clywed y sïon drwg iawn hyn o San Steffan am ddiffyg cefnogaeth ar lefel Llywodraeth y DU bellach ar gyfer y morlyn llanw a rhai sylwadau rhyfeddol o annoeth gan Alun Cairns—annoeth a chwbl anghywir, fel y mae'n digwydd, o ran ei mathemateg. Os gallwn ni gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog priodol—efallai y Prif Weinidog ei hun—gan gynnwys cyfeiriad at y llythyr, yr wyf erbyn hyn wedi'i weld, a ysgrifennodd heddiw i Greg Clark—. A byddai'n dda pe byddai'r llythyr hwnnw yn cael ei ddosbarthu nawr yn uniongyrchol i Aelodau'r Cynulliad, yn hytrach na drwy Twitter, er mwyn i ni edrych yn fanwl arno oherwydd, am y tro cyntaf, rwy'n gweld ffigur gwirioneddol o £200 miliwn yn y llythyr hwn a gynigir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae sôn wedi bod am hynny yn y gorffennol. Nid wyf wedi'i weld wedi'i ysgrifennu mewn du a gwyn o'r blaen. Yn sicr, fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid, dydw i ddim wedi ei weld mewn unrhyw bapurau cyllideb o'r blaen. Cynllun ecwiti, cynllun cyd-ariannu: mae dull gweddol debyg wedi ei gymryd gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer Wylfa wrth gwrs, o ran buddsoddi mewn seilwaith ynni, ac, wrth gwrs, i Lywodraeth y DU lunio contract gwahaniaethau, cytundeb tebyg i'r hwn ar gyfer Hinkley Point C. Mae hyn i gyd yn gadarnhaol o du Llywodraeth Cymru, ond mae angen inni ddeall sut y gallwn ni ddatblygu'r dull amgen hwn yn awr, a fydd yn cael ei gefnogi, rwy'n siŵr, gan bob ochr o'r Cynulliad hwn, gan fod y Cynulliad wedi pleidleisio yn unfrydol o blaid yr egwyddor o forlyn llanw, yn amodol ar dderbyn cymeradwyaeth reoliadol, fel y mae'r llythyr, mewn gwirionedd, yn ei ddweud. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom ni mewn gwirionedd yw cynllun B wedi ei wneud gan Gymru. Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych, nid yn unig i greu swyddi, nid yn unig ar gyfer cynhyrchu ynni ym Mae Abertawe, ond hefyd ar gyfer technoleg y gall Cymru ei hun ei gwerthu dramor ac mewn gwirionedd ei harloesi a'i symud ymlaen. Mae arnaf ofn fawr iawn mai rhan o'r rheswm ein bod ni'n cael ein cadw'n ôl ac na chaniateir i ni fwrw ymlaen â hyn ein hunain yw bod rhai pobl yn meddwl y dylem ni ufuddhau ac na ddylem gymryd yr awenau gyda phethau fel hyn. Wel, dydw i ddim yn cytuno â hynny, a chredaf ei bod yn briodol iawn fod gennym ni amser yma nawr i drafod yr hyn a allai fod yn gynllun amgen: un a wnaed yng Nghymru, un lle efallai y byddwn ni yn gyd-berchnogion ar syniad o'r fath, lle rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r cwmni, gyda'r sector preifat, ond bydd pobl Cymru ar eu hennill yn y pen draw, o'r buddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ond gan ddod â Llywodraeth y DU, efallai â'i phen yn isel, ond, ar ddiwedd y dydd, dod â Llywodraeth y DU at y bwrdd hefyd.
Yes, well, Simon Thomas, as usual, makes a number of very interesting points. I think the Fairtrade Nation anniversary is something that we hadn't overlooked. It's very important to celebrate it; I'm very happy to explore what we can do to bring forward an opportunity to do so. It's something we are all very proud of, and I completely take the point. I certainly am happy to look at how we can bring forward such an opportunity.
I'm sure that the Cabinet Secretary for health will want to update Members on the Welshpool hospital issues. I'll explore with him the best way of making sure that that update happens. I'm not entirely certain what the extent of that is, but I'm happy to explore how to do that with him.
On the tidal lagoon, I had the misfortune to overhear the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, this morning on Radio Wales, and I thought that his actions were disgraceful. I think, to quote a Cabinet Secretary colleague of mine, 'With friends like that, who needs enemies?', as he was still trying to claim that he was a friend of the lagoon. I think the UK Government's behaviour over this has been disgraceful. The Hendry report made it extremely plain how it could be taken forward. There is absolutely no excuse for falling back on erroneous figures and poor analogies. The idea that anyone had ever proposed a like-for-like comparison with Wylfa and that, somehow, if you put Wylfa Newydd on a different footing, the tidal lagoon necessarily falls, or that, indeed, any old investment in Wales will do, and if it's in Wales it must be quite close to each other so it doesn't really matter if one is in the north or the south, which is the overwhelming impression I was getting from what he was saying, simply isn't good enough.
We are extremely proud of what we have done to try and ensure that the tidal lagoon goes ahead. We will very seriously continue to do that. The First Minister made his opinion extremely plain, both in First Minister's questions and as a result of that. I will make sure that is distributed to all Members, either by placing it in the Library or some other means. It is available. It's a public letter. We're very pleased to be able to support the lagoon. We're very sad that such a letter has been necessary today. I will say, though, that of course we have not yet had a decision. What we have had is a load of leaked stuff and rumours and Secretaries of State going on the radio to say things, but we have actually not had any decision. So, I would very much hope that the outpouring of outrage, really, at the proposed decision will make them think again and that we can indeed have the right decision. But we are certainly very much behind it, and I will certainly explore what we can do to make sure that Members can express their views very forcibly on the subject.
Ie, wel, mae Simon Thomas, fel arfer, yn gwneud nifer o bwyntiau diddorol iawn. Rwy’n credu bod ein pen-blwydd yn Genedl Masnach Deg yn rhywbeth nad ydym ni wedi ei anghofio. Mae'n bwysig iawn ei ddathlu; rwy'n hapus iawn i ystyried beth y gallwn ei wneud i greu'r cyfle i wneud hynny. Mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni i gyd yn falch iawn ohono, ac rwy'n derbyn y pwynt yn llwyr. Rwy'n sicr yn hapus i edrych ar sut y gallwn ni gynnig cyfle o'r fath.
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd eisiau rhoi diweddariad i'r Aelodau ar faterion sy'n gysylltiedig ag ysbyty'r Trallwng. Fe wnaf innau edrych gydag ef ar y ffordd orau o wneud yn siŵr bod yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf honno yn cael ei chyflwyno. Dydw i ddim yn gwbl sicr beth yw graddau hynny, ond rwy'n hapus i archwilio sut i wneud hynny gydag ef.
O ran y morlyn llanw, cefais yr anffawd i ddigwydd clywed Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, Alun Cairns, y bore yma ar Radio Wales, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl bod yr hyn a wnaeth yn warthus. I ddyfynnu un o Ysgrifenyddion y Cabinet, 'â ffrindiau fel'na, pwy sydd angen gelynion?', wrth iddo dal i geisio honni ei fod ef yn gyfaill i'r lagŵn. Rwy'n credu bod ymddygiad Llywodraeth y DU yn y mater hwn wedi bod yn warthus. Roedd Adroddiad Hendry yn ei gwneud yn eithriadol o glir sut y gellid ei ddatblygu. Nid oes unrhyw esgus o gwbl ar gyfer droi yn ôl unwaith eto at ffigurau anghywir a chyfatebiaethau gwael. Mae'r syniad bod rhywun erioed wedi cynnig cymhariaeth debyg am debyg â Wylfa a, rywsut neu'i gilydd, os byddwch chi'n cynnwys Wylfa Newydd ar sail wahanol, yna bydd y morlyn llanw o reidrwydd yn syrthio, neu, yn wir, bydd unrhyw fath o fuddsoddiad yng Nghymru yn gwneud y tro, ac os yw yng Nghymru, mae'n rhaid bod y pethau hyn yn eithaf agos at ei gilydd ta beth, felly does dim ots wir os yw hyn yn y gogledd neu yn y de, sef yr argraff llethol a gefais o'r hyn yr oedd yn ei ddweud, nid yw hynny'n ddigon da.
Rydym ni'n hynod o falch o'r hyn yr ydym wedi'i wneud i geisio sicrhau bod y morlyn llanw yn mynd rhagddo. Byddwn ni'n parhau i wneud hynny o ddifrif calon. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi gwneud ei farn yn glir iawn, yn ystod y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ac o ganlyniad i hynny. Byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr y caiff ei ddosbarthu i'r holl Aelodau, naill ai drwy ei roi yn y Llyfrgell neu drwy ryw ddull arall. Mae ar gael. Mae'n llythyr cyhoeddus. Rydym ni'n falch iawn o allu cefnogi'r morlyn. Rydym ni'n drist iawn y bu angen llythyr o'r fath heddiw. Fe ddywedaf i, er hynny, wrth gwrs, nad ydym ni wedi cael penderfyniad o hyd. Yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi'i gael yw llwyth o bethau wedi'u gollwng, a sïon, ac Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol yn mynd ar y radio i ddweud pethau, ond mewn gwirionedd nid ydym ni wedi cael unrhyw benderfyniad. Felly, byddwn i'n gobeithio'n fawr iawn y bydd y dicter aruthrol a deimlir, mewn gwirionedd, tuag at y penderfyniad arfaethedig, yn gwneud iddynt feddwl ddwywaith ac y gallwn ni gael y penderfyniad iawn yn wir. Ond yn sicr rydym ni yn gefnogol iawn ohono, a byddaf i yn sicr yn archwilio yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud i wneud yn siŵr y gall Aelodau fynegi eu barn ar y pwnc yn rymus iawn.
Leader of the house, the Vale of Glamorgan Council is proposing to reshape youth services in my constituency, which could result in the loss of up to 30 trained part-time youth workers. I understand that there has been no direct consultation with the young people, the Vale youth forum, or the elected youth cabinet, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I also understand that the south Wales police commissioner hasn't been consulted in terms of the impacts on young people and prevention of crime. There has been no formal consultation with the trade unions representing the youth workers. I'd be grateful for a statement on this matter.
Arweinydd y tŷ, mae Cyngor Bro Morgannwg yn cynnig ail-strwythuro gwasanaethau ieuenctid yn fy etholaeth, a allai arwain at golli hyd at 30 o weithwyr ieuenctid rhan-amser hyfforddedig. Rwy'n deall na fu unrhyw ymgynghori â'r bobl ifanc yn uniongyrchol, Fforwm Ieuenctid y Fro, na chyda chabinet ieuenctid etholedig, yn unol â Chonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar hawliau'r plentyn. Rwy'n deall hefyd nad ydyn nhw wedi ymgynghori â chomisiynydd Heddlu De Cymru o ran yr effeithiau ar bobl ifanc ac atal troseddu. Ni chynhaliwyd unrhyw ymgynghoriad ffurfiol â'r undebau llafur sy'n cynrychioli gweithwyr ieuenctid. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar am ddatganiad ar y mater hwn.
Can I just say that I'm not aware of the circumstances surrounding that? I'd be very grateful if you'd share the circumstances with me, and I will explore what we can do once we have got the detail from you.
A gaf i ddweud nad ydwyf yn ymwybodol o'r amgylchiadau? Byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn pe byddech chi'n rhannu'r amgylchiadau â mi, ac fe fyddaf i'n ystyried beth y gallwn ni ei wneud unwaith y byddwch chi wedi rhoi'r wybodaeth honno i ni.
Nick Ramsay.
Nick Ramsay.
Hear, hear.
Clywch, clywch.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I—? [Laughter.] Thank you for your support, Oscar. Can I concur with the comments of Simon Thomas earlier, when he spoke about the importance of celebrating Wales's Fairtrade status and, I think, the tenth anniversary? It's not just Wales that has achieved Fairtrade status. Abergavenny achieved status as a Fairtrade Town 11 years ago. I went and helped cut the cake last year. So, could we also congratulate all those towns and settlements across Wales that are also doing their little bit to feed into the Welsh fair-trade agenda and to support the overall message? There's a lot of hard work going on out there.
Secondly, and finally, I recently—. Those of you who follow my Facebook will have seen that I attended a series of workshops at the Gwent Angling Society open day, which was established to encourage people in Monmouthshire and south-east Wales to take up angling and to realise the benefits of it. I learned a lot. I specifically learned how calming an activity it is. It's recognised now that it's very good for mental health issues and for those suffering from stress, which is of course central to mental health awareness this year. So, I wonder if we could have a statement—I'm not entirely sure which Minister it would be, potentially rural affairs. Could we have a statement from the Welsh Government about what they're doing to support activities such as angling, but not exclusively, which don't just have a well-being effect on people's physical health, but also on their mental health as well?
Diolch, Llywydd. A gaf i—? [Chwerthin.] Diolch i chi am eich cefnogaeth, Oscar. A gaf i gytuno â sylwadau Simon Thomas yn gynharach, pan soniodd am bwysigrwydd dathlu statws Masnach Deg Cymru, rwy'n credu, y degfed pen-blwydd? Nid Cymru'n unig sydd wedi cyflawni'r statws masnach deg. Enillodd y Fenni statws tref masnach deg 11 mlynedd yn ôl. Fe es i, a helpu i dorri'r gacen y llynedd. Felly, a gawn ni hefyd longyfarch y trefi a'r aneddiadau ledled Cymru sydd hefyd yn gwneud eu rhan i gyfrannu at agenda masnach deg Cymru a chefnogi'r neges yn gyffredinol? Mae llawer o waith caled yn digwydd dros y wlad.
Yn ail, ac yn olaf, yn ddiweddar—. Bydd y rhai ohonoch sy'n dilyn fy Facebook wedi gweld fy mod i wedi bod mewn cyfres o weithdai yn niwrnod agored Cymdeithas Bysgota Gwent, a sefydlwyd i annog pobl yn sir Fynwy a de-ddwyrain Cymru i ddechrau pysgota a gwireddu’r manteision. Dysgais i lawer. Yn benodol, dysgais ei fod yn weithgaredd sy'n gwneud i chi dawelu'ch meddwl. Cydnabyddir erbyn hyn ei fod yn dda iawn ar gyfer problemau iechyd meddwl ac ar gyfer y rhai sy'n dioddef o straen, sydd wrth gwrs yn ganolog i ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd meddwl eleni. Felly, tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad—dydw i ddim yn hollol siŵr pa Weinidog fyddai'n gwneud hyn, materion gwledig o bosibl. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru am yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud i gefnogi gweithgareddau fel pysgota, ond nid pysgota'n unig, sy'n cael effaith lesol ar iechyd corfforol pobl, ond hefyd ar eu hiechyd meddwl?
Of course I'm always very happy to congratulate every area of Wales that has made the effort to support fair trade. We're very proud to be a Fairtrade Nation, but of course it's impossible to be a Fairtrade Nation without the support of all of the little communities and voluntary groups and cities and towns—all sorts of communities across Wales—that come together to make that possible. I'm very happy to congratulate Abergavenny. There is a large list of other towns and communities that support it as well. And, as Simon Thomas also pointed out, it's an opportunity to buy very lovely goods, knowing that you're supporting a community of people who make those goods, who are being paid a fair wage, and they're getting a better deal, but it's also an opportunity to support the countries from which the goods come, by extending the hand of friendship and commerce to them. So, I'm more than happy to join with him in doing that, and, as I said to Simon Thomas, we'll explore an opportunity to have some sort of recognition of that celebration here in the Senedd.
In terms of angling, I'm very pleased to hear—I do not follow your Twitter account so closely, or your Facebook account so closely, that I'd noticed your visit to the anglers over the weekend, I'm afraid, but I'll chastise myself and pay more close attention in future. But of course the Member makes a very important point; a large number of outdoor activities, community activities and social activities are very beneficial to mental health. The Welsh Government is very cognisant of that, and it's very much part of our mental health strategy—that whole approach to mental health, including physical, community and social activities as an important part of that. The Member does a very good job in highlighting the efficacy of communities such as the angling community in supporting mental health projects of that sort.
Wrth gwrs, mae bob amser yn bleser gennyf longyfarch pob ardal yng Nghymru sydd wedi gwneud yr ymdrech i gefnogi masnach deg. Rydym ni'n falch iawn o fod yn Genedl Masnach Deg, ond wrth nid yw'n bosibl bod yn genedl Masnach Deg heb gefnogaeth pob un o'r cymunedau bach a grwpiau gwirfoddol a'r dinasoedd a'r trefi—pob math o gymunedau ledled Cymru—sy'n dod at ei gilydd i wneud hynny'n bosibl. Rwy'n hapus iawn i longyfarch y Fenni. Ceir rhestr fawr o drefi a chymunedau eraill sy'n ei gefnogi hefyd. Ac, fel y dywedodd Simon Thomas hefyd, mae'n gyfle i brynu nwyddau hyfryd iawn, gan wybod eich bod chi'n cefnogi cymuned o bobl sy'n gwneud y nwyddau hynny, sydd yn cael cyflog teg, ac yn cael bargen well, ond mae hefyd yn gyfle i gefnogi'r gwledydd o ble daw'r nwyddau, drwy estyn llaw o gyfeillgarwch a masnach iddyn nhw. Felly, rwy'n fwy na pharod i ymuno ag ef wrth wneud hynny, ac, fel y dywedais wrth Simon Thomas, byddwn yn chwilio am gyfle i gael rhyw fath o gydnabyddiaeth ar gyfer y dathliad hwnnw yma yn y Senedd.
O ran pysgota, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed hynny—dydw i ddim yn dilyn eich cyfrif Twitter mor agos â hynny, na'ch cyfrif Facebook ychwaith, fel y byddwn ni wedi sylwi ar eich ymweliad â physgotwyr dros y penwythnos, rwy'n ofni, ond byddaf yn fy ngheryddu fy hun ac yn rhoi sylw mwy manwl yn y dyfodol. Ond wrth gwrs mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn; mae nifer fawr o weithgareddau awyr agored, gweithgareddau cymunedol a gweithgareddau cymdeithasol yn fuddiol iawn i iechyd meddwl. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny, ac mae'n rhan bwysig iawn o'n strategaeth iechyd meddwl—bod ymagwedd gyfan tuag at iechyd meddwl, gan gynnwys gweithgareddau corfforol, cymunedol a chymdeithasol yn rhan bwysig o hynny. Mae'r Aelod yn gwneud gwaith da iawn wrth dynnu sylw at effeithiolrwydd cymunedau megis y gymuned bysgota i gefnogi prosiectau iechyd meddwl o'r fath.
Can I ask the leader of the house for an urgent statement? Following very much in the footsteps of Simon Thomas's excellent contribution, it's about the Swansea bay tidal lagoon. Obviously, the reports over the last few days, as you will be aware, are hugely disappointing. In Swansea, obviously, electrification of the main railway line is now dead—we've got to make do with diesel trains in the future, whereas diesel is being phased out everywhere else because of health concerns. As you would know, there's huge support locally for the development of this tidal lagoon in Swansea, not just because of the environmental benefits, but also in terms of the economic potential here for Swansea and the rest of Wales in becoming a world leader in the field. A failure by the UK Government to back this scheme, flying in the face of their own Government-commissioned report by Charles Hendry, which called it a no-brainer last year, would be yet another shameful betrayal of Wales.
Given that this is of such strategic importance to Swansea, and the rest of Wales, it is vital that the Welsh Government outlines clearly what it has done in recent days to respond to speculation that the scheme is floundering. I hear what the First Minister said earlier, and also your earlier reply, but I still think we do need an urgent statement, so we can truly explore what is going on. In addition to what has been said, has the Welsh Government been trying to facilitate meetings with the UK Government and the developers in recent days, for example? Because we need to know what contingency plans the Welsh Government has in place, and whether it is prepared to look at innovative models of delivering this scheme, as Simon Thomas said. The Welsh Government could look to use their capital borrowing powers to invest in the Swansea bay tidal lagoon, for example, instead of the expensive black route for the M4 relief road. By setting up a publicly owned Welsh energy company, it could bring this project alive themselves.
Three weeks ago, in the legislative consent motion vote here to approve losing powers in the EU withdrawal Bill, Labour were rejoicing and proud to be unionist, and placing their trust in a UK Conservative Government. Now, of course, the downside of not being in charge of your own destiny is that decisions that are damaging to you, damaging to Wales, happen. Another kick in the teeth, as the First Minister said. How many teeth as a nation have we got left? The Labour Welsh Government needs to show how committed it is to delivering this scheme. If the UK Government does decide to betray Wales, then we need to think of ways in which we can deliver it without them. So, will you commit to an urgent statement on this vital issue?
A gaf i ofyn i arweinydd y tŷ am ddatganiad brys? Yn dilyn ôl-troed cyfraniad ardderchog Simon Thomas i raddau helaeth, mae'n ymwneud â morlyn llanw Bae Abertawe. Yn amlwg, mae'r adroddiadau dros yr ychydig ddiwrnodau diwethaf, fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol, yn peri siom enfawr. Yn Abertawe, yn amlwg, mae trydaneiddio'r brif linell reilffordd yn awr yn farw—bydd yn rhaid inni ymdopi â threnau diesel yn y dyfodol, tra bod diesel yn dod i ben ym mhobman arall oherwydd pryderon iechyd. Fel y gwyddoch, mae cefnogaeth fawr yn lleol ar gyfer datblygu morlyn llanw yn Abertawe, nid yn unig oherwydd y manteision amgylcheddol, ond hefyd o ran y potensial economaidd ar gyfer Abertawe a gweddill Cymru i ddod yn arweinydd y byd yn y maes. Byddai methiant Llywodraeth y DU i gefnogi'r cynllun hwn, yn wyneb yr adroddiad gan Charles Hendry a gomisiynwyd gan y Llywodraeth ei hunan ac a alwodd y cynllun yn ddewis cwbl amlwg y llynedd, yn weithred warthus arall a fyddai'n bradychu Cymru.
Gan fod hyn mor strategol bwysig i Abertawe, a gweddill Cymru, mae'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn amlinellu'n glir yr hyn y mae wedi ei wneud yn y dyddiau diwethaf i ymateb i sïon bod y cynllun yn ymbalfalu. Clywaf yr hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach, a hefyd eich ateb yn gynharach, ond rwy'n dal i feddwl bod angen i ni gael datganiad brys, fel y gallwn ni edrych yn fanwl ac o ddifrif ar yr hyn sy'n mynd ymlaen. Yn ychwanegol at yr hyn sydd wedi'i ddweud, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ceisio hwyluso cyfarfodydd â Llywodraeth y DU a datblygwyr yn y dyddiau diwethaf, er enghraifft? Oherwydd, mae angen inni wybod pa gynlluniau wrth gefn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu sefydlu, ac a yw'n barod i edrych ar fodelau arloesol i gyflawni'r cynllun hwn, fel y dywedodd Simon Thomas. Gallai Llywodraeth Cymru geisio defnyddio ei phwerau benthyca cyfalaf i fuddsoddi ym morlyn llanw Bae Abertawe, er enghraifft, yn hytrach na dilyn llwybr du drud ar gyfer ffordd liniaru'r M4. Drwy sefydlu cwmni ynni Cymru sy'n eiddo cyhoeddus, gallai'r Llywodraeth ei hun gael y prosiect hwn yn ôl ar ei draed.
Dair wythnos yn ôl, yn y bleidlais cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol yma i gymeradwyo colli pwerau ym Mil ymadael yr UE, roedd y Llafur yn hapus ac yn falch o fod yn unoliaethol, ac yn gosod ei hymddiriedaeth yn Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU. Nawr, wrth gwrs, anfantais o beidio â bod yn gyfrifol am eich tynged eich hun yw bod penderfyniadau sydd yn niweidiol i chi, yn niweidiol i Gymru, yn digwydd. Cic arall yn y dannedd, fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog. Faint o ddannedd sydd gennym ni ar ôl fel cenedl? Mae angen i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru ddangos pa mor ymrwymedig yw hi i gyflawni'r cynllun hwn. Os bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn penderfynu bradychu Cymru, yna mae angen inni feddwl am ffyrdd y gallwn ni ei gyflawni hebddyn nhw. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i ddatganiad brys ar y mater hollbwysig hwn?
Well, I think I agreed with at least part of Dai Lloyd's speech on the subject of the tidal lagoon. I'm not entirely certain it was well placed in the business statement, Llywydd, but as I've said—
Wel, rwy'n credu i mi gytuno â rhan o araith Dai Lloyd ar y morlyn llanw o leiaf. Dydw i ddim yn siŵr iawn mai'r datganiad busnes oedd y lle iawn ar ei chyfer, Llywydd, ond fel rwy'n dweud—
I was generous.
Roeddwn i'n hael.
We will explore an opportunity to make sure the Senedd has the opportunity to express its very heartfelt views on this. I would, however, just say that, of course, as far as I'm aware, as I stand here, no actual decision has been made. We have had a series of leaks and trials and so on. I seriously hope that the UK Government has noted the appalling reception that its trial has had, and I therefore very much hope that they will come to their senses and make the decision that the Hendry report asked them to make. And I hope the benches opposite me are listening—because I know that they also support the project—and will be putting some pressure on their own Government in the UK to make the right decision.
So, they haven't made it yet, as far as I'm aware. I very much hope that they will not make that decision and that they will come to their senses. However, if we do have that decision then, of course, we will be in a position to act, and the letter sets out the fact that we are already making it extremely plain that we want this project to go ahead and that it's important to the people of Wales. As I said earlier, if a set of circumstances are good enough for Hinkley, then they ought to be good enough for Wales as well.
Byddwn yn chwilio am gyfle i wneud yn siŵr bod y Senedd yn cael y cyfle i fynegi ei safbwyntiau dwys iawn ar hyn. Byddwn i, fodd bynnag, yn dweud, wrth gwrs, hyd y gwn i, wrth imi sefyll yma, nad oes unrhyw benderfyniad gwirioneddol wedi'i wneud. Rydym ni wedi cael cyfres o ollyngiadau a threialon ac ati. Rwy'n mawr obeithio bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi nodi'r croeso oer iawn y mae'r treial hwn wedi'i gael, ac felly rwy'n mawr obeithio y byddan nhw'n dod at eu coed ac yn gwneud y penderfyniad y mae'r adroddiad Hendry wedi gofyn iddyn nhw ei wneud. A gobeithio bod y meinciau gyferbyn â mi yn gwrando ar hyn—oherwydd gwn eu bod hefyd yn cefnogi'r prosiect—ac y byddan nhw'n rhoi rhywfaint o bwysau ar eu Llywodraeth eu hunain yn y DU i wneud y penderfyniad iawn.
Felly, dydyn nhw ddim wedi gwneud y penderfyniad eto, hyd y gwn i. Rwy'n mawr obeithio na fyddan nhw'n gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw ac y byddan nhw'n callio. Fodd bynnag, os daw'r penderfyniad hwnnw maes o law, wedyn wrth gwrs, byddwn ni mewn sefyllfa i gymryd camau, ac mae'r llythyr yn nodi'r ffaith ein bod ni eisoes yn ei gwneud hi'n eithriadol o glir ein bod ni eisiau i'r prosiect hwn fynd yn ei flaen a'i fod yn bwysig i bobl Cymru. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, os yw set o amgylchiadau yn ddigon da ar gyfer Hinkley, yna dylent fod yn ddigon da ar gyfer Gymru hefyd.
The decisive vote in the Irish Republic last week to repeal the eighth amendment and overturn a near-total ban on abortion I think has been widely welcomed. I think it was really a momentous occasion, but it does highlight the fact that Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK and really almost the only place in Europe where abortion is not legal except in very extreme circumstances. I know that we have debated here in this Chamber about access to NHS abortions for Northern Ireland women in Wales, but does the leader of the house think there is any case for a debate about how we can ensure that Northern Ireland women are able to get access to abortions in the way that we are able to here? I know there are tricky devolution issues, but does the leader of the house have a view on how we could possibly express our view in this Chamber?
Rwy'n credu y bu croeso eang i'r bleidlais benderfynol yng Ngweriniaeth Iwerddon yr wythnos diwethaf i ddiddymu'r wythfed diwygiad a gwrthdroi'r gwaharddiad llwyr bron ar erthyliad. Credaf mewn gwirionedd ei fod yn achlysur pwysig iawn, ond mae'n amlygu'r ffaith mai Gogledd Iwerddon yw'r unig le yn y DU ac yn wir bron yr unig le yn Ewrop lle nad yw erthyliad yn gyfreithiol ac eithrio mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol iawn. Gwn ein bod wedi trafod yma yn y Siambr hon fynediad at erthyliadau i fenywod Gogledd Iwerddon drwy'r GIG yng Nghymru, ond a yw arweinydd y tŷ yn credu bod unrhyw achos ar gyfer dadl ynghylch sut y gallwn ni sicrhau bod menywod Gogledd Iwerddon yn gallu cael mynediad at erthyliadau yn yr un ffordd ag y gallwn ni yma? Rwy'n gwybod bod materion datganoli cymhleth yno, ond a oes gan arweinydd y tŷ farn ar sut y gallem fynegi ein barn yn y Siambr hon o bosibl?
Yes. The Cabinet Secretary for health has made it very plain that we have arrangements in place to ensure that women who do need to leave where they live and come to Wales in order to secure an abortion in the sad circumstances that they find themselves in—that that remains available. I'm very pleased that he's made that extremely plain, but clearly that's not optimal and people need the support of their families and of their communities around them as well. I'm afraid I think that the deal that the UK Government has done with the DUP means that any likelihood of us being able to secure change in terms of the devolution settlements overall and to have an evening of the playing field there is very unlikely at this point in time, but here in Wales we are very happy—and I'm pleased, as I said, that the Cabinet Secretary has reiterated this—to ensure that women who do need our medical assistance can get it.
I will just pay tribute to the campaigners on the eighth amendment in southern Ireland. I was very pleased to see that go through. I was a little startled—Llywydd, forgive me, I don't know this from my own understanding as I haven't had the chance to look at up—but I was startled to hear one of the campaigners saying that they had other things to do and that apparently the constitution of the Republic of Ireland says that a woman's place is better in the home, and she felt sure that they would now be able to get that amended as well. I'm appalled to find that it does say that, if that's true, and I hope that they'll be able to bring forward that amendment very shortly as well.
Ydw. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd yn ei gwneud yn glir iawn bod gennym drefniadau ar waith i sicrhau bod menywod sydd angen gadael y lle y maen nhw'n byw ynddo a dod i Gymru i gael erthyliad pan fyddant yn canfod eu hunain yn yr amgylchiadau trist hynny—bod y trefniadau hynny'n parhau i fod ar gael. Rwy'n falch iawn ei fod wedi gwneud hynny'n glir iawn, ond yn amlwg nid yw'r sefyllfa honno yn ddelfrydol, ac mae angen i bobl gael cefnogaeth eu teuluoedd a'u cymunedau o'u cwmpas hefyd. Yn anffodus, rwy'n credu bod y fargen a wnaed rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a'r DUP yn golygu bod unrhyw debygolrwydd y byddwn ni'n gallu sicrhau newid yn y setliadau datganoli yn gyffredinol, i gael chwarae teg yno yn annhebygol iawn ar hyn o bryd, ond yma yng Nghymru, rydym yn hapus iawn—ac rwy'n falch, fel y dywedais, fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi ailadrodd hyn—i sicrhau y gallwn gynnig cymorth meddygol i fenywod sydd ei angen.
Gadewch i mi dalu teyrnged i ymgyrchwyr ar yr wythfed diwygiad yn ne Iwerddon. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o weld hynny'n llwyddo. Roeddwn i'n synnu—Llywydd, maddeuwch imi, nid fy ngwybodaeth i fy hunan yw hyn gan nad wyf wedi cael y cyfle i ymchwilio i'r peth—ond cefais fy synnu i glywed un o'r ymgyrchwyr yn dweud fod ganddynt bethau eraill i'w gwneud yn awr, a bod cyfansoddiad Gweriniaeth Iwerddon yn dweud mai yn y cartref y mae lle'r fenyw, a'i bod hi'n teimlo'n siŵr y bydden nhw nawr yn gallu diwygio hynny hefyd. Rwy'n gresynu i glywed fod y cyfansoddiad yn cynnwys y fath beth, os yw hynny'n wir, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallant ddwyn y diwygiad hwnnw yn ei flaen yn fuan iawn hefyd.
Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on the work of the NHS counter fraud service within Wales? The former chief executive of the NHS counter fraud service has claimed that the NHS in Wales could be losing up to £200 million a year through fraud and that not enough is being done to tackle it. Last year, the service in Wales recovered just under £350,000, which is peanuts, really. Can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary on whether he agrees with the former chief executive about the scale of fraud in the Welsh NHS and what action he intends to take to address this issue, please?
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd ar waith gwasanaeth atal twyll yn y GIG yng Nghymru? Mae'r cyn-Brif Weithredwr gwasanaeth atal twyll yn y GIG wedi honni y gallai'r GIG yng Nghymru golli hyd at £200 miliwn y flwyddyn drwy dwyll ac nad oes digon yn cael ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â hynny. Y llynedd, roedd y gwasanaeth yng Nghymru yn adennill ychydig o dan £350,000, sy'n biso drwy bach yn y môr, mewn gwirionedd. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar ba un a yw'n cytuno â'r cyn-Brif Weithredwr ynghylch graddau'r twyll yn GIG Cymru a pha gamau y mae'n bwriadu eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â hyn, os gwelwch yn dda?
It's a very important issue, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary has seen the report in question. I think that the Member would be very well placed to ask him a question during oral Assembly questions to understand exactly what he's taking forward in the light of that report.
Mae'n fater pwysig iawn, a gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi gweld yr adroddiad dan sylw. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n briodol i'r Aelod ofyn cwestiwn yn ystod cwestiynau llafar y Cynulliad i gael deall beth yn union y mae'n ei wneud yng ngoleuni'r adroddiad hwnnw.
Over recess, we saw the company Lush come out to support the Spy Cops campaign, which is a campaign to uncover the fact that many police officers, emanating from the 1980s to this day, were infiltrating campaign groups here in Wales and across the UK, impregnating women and having sexual relationships with women without them knowing that this was the case. Now, I wanted to understand what the Welsh Government's view is on this and whether you support me in expanding the inquiry to the rest of the UK—I understand that there is a judicial review to try and involve Northern Ireland—and also to expand the public inquiry to full disclosure. Because, at the moment, we simply do not know the extent to which this has affected Welsh life. I know that there are campaigners called 'Lisa Jones' and 'Deborah'—these are false names to protect their anonymity—who have had severe problems on a personal level as a result of these relationships with police officers. Now, this campaign is not to try and undermine the whole of the police force, and I think that needs to be made clear. But I also think that the most important issue here is that women's lives have been severely violated, and we should all be concerned about this and about, potentially, the news that we currently do not know about some Welsh stories in this regard. So, I would welcome a statement from Welsh Government to give support to those women who have been affected and support to the campaign.
Yn ystod y toriad, gwelsom y cwmni Lush yn mynegi ei gefnogaeth i'r ymgyrch Spy Cops, sef ymgyrch i ddatgelu'r ffaith bod llawer o swyddogion yr heddlu, yn y 1980au hyd heddiw, yn treiddio i grwpiau ymgyrchu yma yng Nghymru a ledled y DU, yn cael merched yn feichiog ac yn cael perthynas rhywiol â merched heb iddynt wybod bod hyn yn wir. Nawr, roeddwn i eisiau deall beth yw barn Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn ac a ydych chi'n fy nghefnogi wrth ymestyn yr ymchwiliad i weddill y DU—rwyf ar ddeall bod adolygiad barnwrol i geisio cynnwys Gogledd Iwerddon—a hefyd i ymestyn yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i ddatgeliad llawn. Oherwydd, ar hyn o bryd, nid ydym yn gwybod i ba raddau y mae hyn wedi effeithio ar fywyd Cymru. Gwn fod ymgyrchwyr o'r enw 'Lisa Jones' a 'Deborah'—ffugenwau yw'r rhain i'w cadw'n anhysbys—sydd wedi cael problemau difrifol ar lefel bersonol o ganlyniad i'r perthnasoedd hyn â swyddogion yr heddlu. Nawr, nid bwriad yr ymgyrch hon yw ceisio tanseilio'r heddlu cyfan, ac rwy'n credu bod angen gwneud hynny'n glir. Ond rwyf i hefyd yn credu mai'r mater pwysicaf yma yw bod bywydau menywod wedi'u heffeithio'n ddifrifol, a dylai pob un ohonom fod yn pryderu am hyn ac, o bosib, am y newyddion nad ydym yn gwybod am rai o'r straeon o Gymru yn hyn o beth ar hyn o bryd. Felly, byddwn i'n croesawu datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r menywod hynny sydd wedi dioddef a chefnogi'r ymgyrch.
Yes, we were all absolutely appalled when this news started to break a few years ago about some of these clandestine operations. One can only imagine the trauma that somebody goes through to discover that their partner isn't at all who they thought they were and that the whole of their lives, really, has been a sham. It's an outrageous way for any police force to behave in any country, never mind a democracy. I do not have the words to express how outraged I am about it. I'd be more than happy to explore with my Cabinet Secretary colleague for public services whether or not there are any outstanding issues in Wales and keep Assembly Members updated. If Bethan Sayed has any particular information she thinks would be helpful in that, we'd be very glad to have it.
Ie, roeddem ni i gyd wedi ein brawychu pan ddechreuodd y newyddion am y gweithrediadau cudd hyn ddod i'r amlwg ychydig o flynyddoedd yn ôl. Ni ellir dychmygu'r trawma y mae rhywun yn mynd trwyddo wrth ddarganfod nad yw ei bartner y person y dywedodd yr oedd o gwbl a bod ei fywyd cyfan, wedi bod yn gelwydd llwyr mewn gwirionedd. Mae'n ffordd warthus i unrhyw heddlu ymddwyn mewn unrhyw wlad, heb sôn am mewn democratiaeth. Nid oes gen i eiriau i fynegi pa mor ddig yr wyf i am y peth. Byddwn i'n fwy na pharod i ymchwilio gyda fy nghyd-Aelod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros wasanaethau cyhoeddus p'un a oes unrhyw faterion nad ydyn nhw wedi dod i'r amlwg yng Nghymru a sicrhau bod Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn cael y newyddion diweddaraf. Os oes gan Bethan Sayed unrhyw wybodaeth benodol y mae hi'n credu y byddai o gymorth yn hynny o beth, byddem yn falch iawn o'i chael.
Leader of the house, might we make some time to debate the national survivor engagement framework? The purpose of the framework is to ensure that survivors of violence against women are able to inform and influence Government work related to domestic abuse and sexual violence. The consultation closed in May. When the Government publishes its response, it would be good to have a question-and-answer session here in this Chamber. I'm sure that some Members will have seen and heard Germaine Greer's attention-seeking views on rape that were reported in the news last week. Comments like that, in my opinion, are dangerous, not least because they can damage and demoralise and undermine survivor engagement, but more importantly, at a time when people may need support, she is taking away from them, by her comments, if they are shared, the understanding and dignity that has already been removed from them. So, the national framework does aim to do exactly the opposite of what she tried to do, and that is to empower women to shape and guide the Government policies that affect them. So, I hope that we can make some time to have a reasoned debate while at the same time absolutely condemning that type of conversation here in Wales—in my opinion, just to draw attention to herself rather than serve any meaningful purpose whatsoever.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gawn ni amser am ddadl ar y fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer ymgysylltu â goroeswyr? Diben y fframwaith yw sicrhau bod y rhai sydd wedi goroesi trais yn erbyn menywod yn gallu llywio a dylanwadu ar waith y Llywodraeth yn ymwneud â cham-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol. Daeth yr ymgynghoriad i ben ym mis Mai. Pan fydd y Llywodraeth yn cyhoeddi ei hymateb, byddai'n dda cael sesiwn holi ac ateb yma yn y Siambr hon. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd rhai Aelodau wedi gweld a chlywed barn Germaine Greer a oedd yn ceisio denu sylw ar drais rhywiol a adroddwyd yn y newyddion yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae sylwadau fel hynny, yn fy marn i, yn beryglus, oherwydd gallan nhw niweidio a digalonni a thanseilio ymgysylltiad goroeswr, ond yn bwysicach, ar adeg pan fo angen cymorth ar bobl, mae hi'n tynnu oddi arnynt, drwy ei sylwadau, drwy eu rhannu, y ddealltwriaeth a'r urddas sydd eisoes wedi ei dynnu oddi arnynt. Felly, nod y fframwaith cenedlaethol yw gwneud yn gwbl i'r gwrthwyneb i'r hyn y ceisiodd hithau ei wneud, sef grymuso menywod i lywio ac arwain y polisïau Llywodraeth sy'n effeithio arnyn nhw. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ni neilltuo rhywfaint o amser i gael dadl resymegol ac ar yr un pryd, condemnio'r math hwnnw o drafodaeth yma yng Nghymru—yn fy marn i, dim ond i dynnu sylw at ei hun yn hytrach nag unrhyw ddiben ystyrlon o gwbl.
Yes, I think Joyce Watson makes a very good point, as she always does speak up for the survivors of these sorts of outrages. We will continue our ambitious plan to improve the response to all victims of abuse and to ensure that, across all our public services, there are highly skilled, prepared professionals, ready and able to offer survivors the help and support they need. We put survivors at the very centre of our response to all domestic violence, sexual violence and other crimes of violence, and I think it's very important that we do so. So, whilst not taking away—I understand that Germaine Greer was expressing her own view of her own experience and, fortunately for me, I didn't hear what she had to say, but we've learned very much through our extensive survivor engagement work that survivors respond to the experience very differently and in very different ways, and, for many, it has very long-term and serious consequences, as Joyce Watson pointed out. I think it's very important to take that on board.
Only this week I met with the police and crime commissioner—our previous colleague—Jeff Cuthbert, to discuss with him what was happening in Gwent on the review of rape cases that's currently ongoing. He was assuring me that they are very keen to make sure that all sides in the review of rape trials are properly represented, both the victims and survivors and, indeed, of course, that justice is served to those accused of rape and before conviction. I was very reassured by their holistic approach to that, and I've had several discussions with my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services around what we're doing in this regard as well. So, I think Joyce Watson makes a very important point, and we will be giving it very careful consideration in our forthcoming victim strategy.
Ie, rwy'n credu bod Joyce Watson yn gwneud pwynt da iawn, gan ei bod hi bob amser yn siarad ar ran goroeswyr y mathau hyn o warth. Byddwn yn parhau â'n cynllun uchelgeisiol i wella'r ymateb i holl ddioddefwyr cam-drin a sicrhau bod gweithwyr proffesiynol medrus iawn, yn ein holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus, sy'n barod ac yn gallu cynnig y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen ar goroeswyr. Rydym yn rhoi goroeswyr yn ganolbwynt ein hymateb i bob trais domestig, trais rhywiol a throseddau eraill o drais, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn i ni wneud hynny. Felly, heb dynnu i ffwrdd—rwy'n deall bod Germaine Greer yn mynegi ei barn ei hun o'i phrofiad ei hun ac, yn ffodus i mi, ni chlywais yr hyn yr oedd ganddi i'w ddweud, ond rydym ni wedi dysgu llawer iawn trwy ein gwaith ymgysylltu helaeth â goroeswr bod goroeswyr yn ymateb i'r profiad yn wahanol iawn ac mewn ffyrdd gwahanol iawn, ac, i lawer, mae iddo ganlyniadau tymor hir a difrifol iawn, fel y nododd Joyce Watson. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ystyried hynny.
Yr wythnos hon, fe wnes i gyfarfod â'r comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu—ein cyd-Aelod blaenorol—Jeff Cuthbert, i drafod ag ef beth oedd yn digwydd yng Ngwent o ran yr adolygiad sy'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd o achosion o drais rhywiol. Yr oedd yn fy sicrhau eu bod yn awyddus iawn i wneud yn siŵr bod cynrychiolaeth briodol ar bob ochr o'r adolygiad o dreialon trais rhywiol, y dioddefwyr a'r goroeswyr ac, yn wir, wrth gwrs, y cyflawnir cyfiawnder i'r rhai sydd wedi'u cyhuddo o drais rhywiol a chyn euogfarn. Cefais fy nghalonogi gan eu dull cyfannol o wneud hynny, ac rwyf i wedi cael nifer o drafodaethau â fy nghyd-Aelod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus ynghylch yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yn hyn o beth hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod Joyce Watson yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn, a byddwn yn ei ystyried yn ofalus iawn yn ein strategaeth dioddefwr sydd ar ddod.
I call for a Welsh Government statement on the issue of electrical safety and older people in Wales. At an Assembly event last November, over six months ago, the only charity dedicated to reducing and preventing damage, injuries and deaths caused by electricity, Electrical Safety First, launched their report, 'How can we keep older people in Wales safe?' With more than half of accidental house fires in Wales caused by electricity, their report found that older people are significantly more at risk than other age groups when it comes to electrical fires in the home. Older people represent over a third of electrical fire casualties, with people aged over 80 at least four times more likely than other age groups to have been a casualty in these fires. The number of people aged 80 or over is expected to double by 2035, with an estimated 50,000 people aged over 65 living with dementia. The majority of older people in Wales—about 80 per cent—own their own homes, most of which will be older housing stock that has never had an electrical safety fire check. Based on the research, the report makes a number of recommendations, the first of which is a call on the Welsh Government for a scheme delivering free five-yearly annual home electrical safety checks for people aged over 80, regardless of property tenure. However, they said that since they launched their report they have not seen any further progress made by the Welsh Government in addressing the issue and ensuring that it's a priority to reduce the number of older people affected by fires caused by electricity in Wales. Given their evidence-based concern, I hope that you will agree that a statement from the Welsh Government should be forthcoming.
Galwaf am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y mater o ddiogelwch trydanol a phobl hŷn yng Nghymru. Mewn digwyddiad Cynulliad fis Tachwedd diwethaf, dros chwe mis yn ôl, lansiodd yr unig elusen sy'n ymdrin â lleihau ac atal niwed, anafiadau a marwolaethau yn sgil trydan, Electrical Safety First, eu hadroddiad, 'Sut gallwn ni gadw pobl hŷn yng Nghymru yn ddiogel?' Mae mwy na hanner y tanau damweiniol yng Nghymru wedi'u hachosi gan drydan, a chanfu'r adroddiad fod pobl hŷn yn sylweddol fwy tebygol na grwpiau oedran eraill o ddioddef tân trydan yn y cartref. Mae pobl hŷn yn cyfrif am dros draean o'r anafiadau yn sgil tân trydan, ac mae pobl dros 80 oed o leiaf pedair gwaith yn fwy tebygol na'r grwpiau oedran eraill o gael eu hanafu yn y tanau hyn. Disgwylir i nifer y bobl 80 oed neu hŷn ddyblu erbyn 2035, gyda rhyw 50,000 o bobl dros 65 oed yn byw â dementia. Mae mwyafrif y bobl hŷn yng Nghymru—rhyw 80 y cant—yn berchen ar eu cartrefi eu hunain, a'r rhan fwyaf o'r rhain yn stoc tai hŷn nad ydyn nhw erioed wedi cael archwiliad tân diogelwch trydanol. Ar sail yr ymchwil, mae'r adroddiad yn gwneud nifer o argymhellion, ac mae'r cyntaf yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru am gynllun sy'n cyflawni archwiliadau diogelwch trydanol yn y cartref am ddim bob pum mlynedd i bobl dros 80 oed, ni waeth pa ddeiliadaeth eiddo sydd ganddynt. Fodd bynnag, fe wnaethon nhw ddweud ers lansio eu hadroddiad nad ydynt wedi gweld unrhyw gynnydd arall gan Lywodraeth Cymru i roi sylw i'r mater a sicrhau ei fod yn flaenoriaeth i leihau nifer y bobl hŷn y mae tanau trydanol yn effeithio arnynt yng Nghymru. O ystyried eu pryder sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch yn cytuno y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno datganiad.
Thank you for that. It's obviously a very important point. We've just announced the appointment of the new older person's commissioner, actually, and I'm sure the new commissioner will be taking a keen interest in this as well. The responsibility is spread amongst a number of Cabinet colleagues, so I will ensure that there's a co-ordinated response and we'll write to the Member with where the Welsh Government is at on that very important point.
Diolch ichi am hynny. Mae'n amlwg yn bwynt pwysig iawn. Rydym ni newydd gyhoeddi penodiad y comisiynydd pobl hŷn newydd, mewn gwirionedd, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd gan y comisiynydd newydd ddiddordeb mawr yn hyn hefyd. Mae'r cyfrifoldeb wedi'i rannu rhwng nifer o gyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet, felly byddaf yn sicrhau y ceir ymateb cydgysylltiedig a byddwn yn ysgrifennu at yr Aelod yn nodi'r sefyllfa yn Llywodraeth Cymru o ran y pwynt pwysig iawn hwnnw.
Last week, a woman who wanted help with her mother's personal independence payment assessment came to see me. The mother, a domestic abuse survivor, suffers from a range of conditions sustained as a result of a violent attack by her partner back in 2009. She's arthritic, she's got a range of skin conditions, internal organ problems, having been viciously attacked by a hammer and a Stanley knife and left for dead. Understandably, she also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Now, she was shouted at by a member of Capita's staff when trying to arrange a home visit for this PIP assessment. Capita has now accepted that a home visit is necessary, but they're unable to provide a suitable time around existing medical appointments, and if this next visit doesn't happen, then the PIP payments, the payments she is expecting, she faces losing.
Now, the callous and cruel nature of the benefits system is undeniable, and when you face such harrowing stories in your constituency surgery, you can see the human face of that tragedy first hand. It's not the way for a woman who has been treated in this way to be treated by the state. The devolution of welfare would allow the Welsh Government to mitigate many of the problems associated with this callous system. So, could the leader of the house therefore bring forward a debate or a statement on what can be done by this Government to alleviate the awful pain and suffering brought about by the current welfare system?
I have a second issue as well, and that's in relation to the Wales Governance Centre report out today, published with the University of South Wales, on the state of prisons in Wales. It concluded that the safety and state of prisons here is significantly worse than those in England, and, in fact, the number of recorded self-harm incidents and prison assaults in Wales has increased at a higher rate than in prisons in England since 2010, and there were more prison disturbances at HMP Parc in 2016 and 2017 than at any other prison in Wales and England. Thousands of prison officer posts have been cut, they face real-terms reduction in wages, and now staff and offenders are being put in danger as a result. Decisions about the Welsh prison estate should be taken in Wales and this evidence makes that clear. So, will the leader of the house bring forward a debate on the prison estate in Wales and how the Welsh Government can ensure that citizens who work as prison staff, or who are housed as offenders, are able to work or serve their sentences in a safe environment?
Yr wythnos diwethaf, daeth menyw a oedd eisiau cymorth ag asesiad taliad annibyniaeth personol ei mam i fy ngweld i. Mae'r fam, sydd wedi goroesi cam-drin domestig, yn dioddef amryw o gyflyrau parhaus o ganlyniad i ymosodiad treisgar gan ei phartner yn ôl yn 2009. Mae arthritis arni, mae ganddi amrywiaeth o gyflyrau croen, problemau â'i horganau mewnol, ar ôl dioddef ymosodiad treisgar â morthwyl a chyllell Stanley a'i gadael i farw. A hawdd yw deall ei bod hi hefyd yn dioddef o anhwylder straen wedi trawma.
Nawr, gwnaeth aelod o staff Capita weiddi arni wrth geisio trefnu ymweliad cartref ar gyfer yr asesiad PIP hwn. Mae Capita wedi derbyn bod angen ymweliad cartref erbyn hyn, ond nid ydyn nhw'n gallu rhoi amser addas oherwydd apwyntiadau meddygol sydd ganddi eisoes, ac os na fydd yr ymweliad nesaf hwn yn digwydd, mae'n bosibl y bydd hi'n colli'r taliadau annibyniaeth personol, y taliadau y mae hi'n disgwyl eu cael.
Nawr, ni ellir gwadu natur greulon a dideimlad y system fudd-daliadau, a phan fyddwch yn clywed hanesion dirdynnol o'r fath yn eich cymhorthfa yn eich etholaeth chi, gallwch chi weld wyneb dynol y trychineb hwnnw'n drosoch eich hun. Nid hon yw'r ffordd y dylai'r wladwriaeth drin merch sydd wedi ei thrin yn y ffordd hon. Byddai datganoli lles yn galluogi Llywodraeth Cymru i liniaru llawer o'r problemau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r system ddideimlad hon. Felly, a wnaiff arweinydd y tŷ gyflwyno dadl neu ddatganiad ar beth y gall y Llywodraeth hon ei wneud i liniaru'r boen ofnadwy a'r dioddefaint a ddaw yn sgil y system lles bresennol?
Mae gen i ail fater hefyd, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud ag adroddiad Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, gyda Phrifysgol De Cymru, ar gyflwr carchardai yng Nghymru. Daeth i'r casgliad bod diogelwch a chyflwr carchardai yma yn waeth o lawer na'r rhai yn Lloegr, ac, yn wir, mae nifer yr achosion o hunan-niweidio ac ymosodiadau carchar a gofnodwyd yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu ar gyfradd uwch nag mewn carchardai yn Lloegr ers 2010, ac roedd mwy o helbulon carchar yn HMP Parc yn 2016 a 2017 nag mewn unrhyw garchar arall yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Mae miloedd o swyddi swyddogion carchar wedi'u dileu, maen nhw'n wynebu gostyngiad mewn cyflogau mewn termau real, ac mae staff a throseddwyr yn agored i berygl o ganlyniad i hyn. Dylai penderfyniadau ar gyflwr carchardai yng Nghymru gael eu gwneud yng Nghymru ac mae'r dystiolaeth hon yn gwneud hynny'n glir. Felly, a wnaiff arweinydd y tŷ gyflwyno dadl ar gyflwr carchardai yng Nghymru a sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau bod dinasyddion sy'n gweithio fel staff carchardai, neu'r rhai sydd wedi'u dal yn droseddwyr, yn gallu gweithio neu dreulio'u dedfrydau mewn amgylchedd diogel?
Yes, on that second one, I think we'd be very glad to bring forward a debate on the state of prisons as a result of that report. Those of us who have prisons in our constituencies, and I'm one of them, know very well from visiting what the conditions are like and what the problems are. It's long been our Government's ambition to have criminal justice devolved to Wales and one of the very real reasons for that is, actually, that the sentencing policies currently pursued by the UK Government are producing many of the issues that Leanne Wood draws attention to. It's not just what happens to people once they're in prison; it's why they're in prison in the first place and whether that's at all efficacious and what the purpose in a modern democracy of locking up quite so many young working-class men actually is.
And, to use very unparliamentary language, don't even get me started on the position of women in prisons, because that's a whole other debate as well. I think my Cabinet Secretary colleague and I have had many a discussion on this and would be more than happy to have that debate, because there are a range of issues contributing to the deleterious situation we find in our prisons, particularly the privatised Parc prison. So, I have a lot of sympathy with that and we have a lot to discuss here in the Welsh Government about the ragged edge of the devolution settlement and the difficulties that that's making in terms of what we can and can't do at the moment and why we need to have the devolution settlement sorted out in that regard.
In terms of the constituent with the complex PIP problems, my heart goes out to her. I have a surgery full of people who have similar problems very frequently. There's no doubt at all that the austerity programme pursued by the current UK Government is causing untold misery for individuals right across Britain, including in Wales. I disagree with her about the devolution of welfare. I think one of the sole purposes of the UK is for the redistribution of wealth from the south-east and London. It's a shame that it's currently in the hands of a Tory Government who have no such purpose. I'm not sure that administering a system that's appalling with very little of the money and empathy in it would actually ameliorate it very much. The Welsh Government has done an enormous amount, such as we can, to assist people, and I have some sympathy with why it seems attractive to do that and I have a lot of sympathy with the people who are caught up in the system. But I do urge the UK Government to stop its austerity programme because I believe that that political choice is very much at the heart of the discrimination that people with disabilities find themselves in in the UK today.
Ie, o ran yr ail un, rwy'n credu y byddem ni'n falch iawn o gyflwyno dadl ar gyflwr carchardai o ganlyniad i'r adroddiad hwnnw. Mae'r rheiny ohonom sydd â charchardai yn ein hetholaethau, ac rwyf i'n un ohonynt, yn gwybod yn iawn am gyflwr carchardai a'u problemau o ymweld â nhw. Bu'n uchelgais ers tro byd gan ein Llywodraeth i ddatganoli cyfiawnder troseddol i Gymru ac un o'r rhesymau gwirioneddol dros hynny yw, mewn gwirionedd, bod y polisïau dedfrydu a arferir gan Lywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd yn arwain at lawer o'r problemau hynny y mae Leanne Wood yn tynnu sylw atyn nhw. Nid yw'n ymwneud dim ond â beth sy'n digwydd i bobl pan fyddan nhw'n mynd i'r carchar; mae'n ymwneud â pham maen nhw yn y carchar yn y lle cyntaf ac a yw hynny'n gwbl effeithiol, a beth yw diben, mewn democratiaeth fodern, carcharu cymaint o ddynion ifanc dosbarth gweithiol mewn gwirionedd.
Ac, i ddefnyddio iaith anseneddol iawn, peidiwch â hyd yn oed dechrau sôn am sefyllfa menywod mewn carchardai, oherwydd dadl arall yw honno. Rwy'n credu bod fy nghyd-Aelod Ysgrifennydd Cabinet a fi wedi cael llawer o drafodaethau ynghylch hyn a byddwn i'n fwy na pharod i gael y ddadl honno, oherwydd bod amrywiaeth o faterion sy'n cyfrannu at y sefyllfa niweidiol a welir yn ein carchardai, yn arbennig yng ngharchar y Parc sydd wedi'i breifateiddio. Felly, mae gen i lawer o gydymdeimlad tuag at hynny ac mae gennym ni lawer i'w drafod yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch yr amwysedd o ran y setliad datganoli a'r anawsterau y mae hynny'n eu cyflwyno o ran yr hyn y gallwn ni ac na allwn ni ei wneud ar hyn o bryd a pham mae angen i ni gytuno ar y setliad datganoli yn hynny o beth.
O ran yr etholwr â phroblemau cymhleth gyda'r taliad annibyniaeth personol, rwy'n teimlo'n fawr iawn drosti. Mae gen i gymhorthfa yn llawn o bobl â phroblemau tebyg yn aml iawn. Nid oes dim amheuaeth o gwbl bod y rhaglen gyni y mae Llywodraeth bresennol y DU yn ei dilyn yn achosi dioddefaint difesur i unigolion ledled Prydain, gan gynnwys yng Nghymru. Rwy'n anghytuno â hi ynghylch datganoli lles. Rwy'n credu mai un o unig ddibenion y DU yw ailddosbarthu cyfoeth o'r de-ddwyrain a Llundain. Mae'n drueni mai Llywodraeth Dorïaidd sy'n gyfrifol amdano ar hyn o bryd ac nad oes ganddi unrhyw ddiben o'r fath. Nid wyf yn sicr a fyddai gweinyddu system warthus ag ychydig iawn o'r arian a'r empathi ynddi yn lleddfu'r sefyllfa ryw lawer, mewn gwirionedd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud llawer iawn, hyd eithaf ein gallu, i helpu pobl, ac mae gen i rywfaint o gydymdeimlad â pham mae'n ymddangos yn ddeniadol gwneud hynny ac mae gen i lawer o gydymdeimlad â phobl sydd wedi'u dal yn y system. Ond rwyf i'n annog Llywodraeth y DU i roi'r gorau i'w rhaglen gyni oherwydd fy mod i'n credu bod y dewis gwleidyddol hwnnw wrth wraidd y gwahaniaethu y mae pobl ag anableddau yn ei ddioddef yn y DU heddiw.
Firstly, can I request an update on Welsh Government action to help people working for Virgin Media? It has been reported in the South Wales Evening Post that employees have been refused time off to attend job tests and to attend job interviews, despite the fact that their jobs are seriously under threat. Has the Welsh Government taskforce been given access to Virgin Media and an opportunity to talk to the staff there in order to give them support? A loss of almost 800 jobs anywhere is bound to have a major effect on the local economy.
The second question I have is: have the Welsh Government any plans to implement immigration checks in the NHS in Wales? To refuse treatment to cancer sufferers and children would be massively inhumane. To fail to treat people who have highly contagious diseases would be a danger to each and every one of us living in Wales. So, can the Government give an assurance they're not intending to go down the direction of the NHS in England?
Yn gyntaf, a gaf i ofyn am ddiweddariad ar gamau gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu pobl sy'n gweithio i Virgin Media? Adroddwyd yn South Wales Evening Post bod amser wedi'i wrthod i weithwyr i fynychu profion gwaith ac i chyfweliadau am swyddi, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod eu swyddi o dan fygythiad difrifol. A yw tasglu Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael mynediad at Virgin Media a chyfle i siarad â'r staff yno i roi cymorth iddynt? Mae colli bron i 800 o swyddi unrhyw le yn sicr o gael effaith fawr ar yr economi leol.
Yr ail gwestiwn sydd gen i yw: a oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw fwriad i gynnal archwiliadau mewnfudo yn y GIG yng Nghymru? Byddai gwrthod triniaeth i ddioddefwyr canser a phlant yn aruthrol o greulon. Byddai methu â thrin pobl sydd â chlefydau hynod o heintus yn berygl i bob un ohonom ni sy'n byw yng Nghymru. Felly, a wnaiff y Llywodraeth roi sicrwydd nad yw'n bwriadu dilyn yr un cyfeiriad â'r GIG yn Lloegr?
Yes, on that second one, the Cabinet Secretary for health has made it more than plain that we have absolutely no intention at all of charging for any treatment or care received in Wales for any asylum seeker, including those who have failed to get leave to remain. Welsh Government guidance to NHS Wales sets that out very clearly, and I applaud that policy for the reasons that Mike Hedges set out very succinctly there.
In terms of Virgin Media, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, I know, is meeting very soon with Virgin Media senior management to further discuss the plans for closure, the reasons behind the decision, and to offer what support we can to help reverse the decision if at all possible. The taskforce stands ready to support any affected staff if we're not able to reverse that decision. Officials have held recent meetings with both Virgin Media management and employer representatives to assess the current situation and offer assistance where at all appropriate. The collective consultation period, I understand, started on 23 May and will run for a minimum of 45 days. A counter-proposal from the employee representatives aimed at keeping the site open will be considered as part of this, and the Welsh Government has afforded assistance to the employee side in order to help put that counter-proposal together.
Ie, o ran yr ail bwynt, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd wedi ei gwneud yn fwy na phlaen nad oes gennym unrhyw fwriad o gwbl i godi tâl am unrhyw driniaeth na gofal y bydd unrhyw geisiwr lloches yn ei dderbyn yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys y rhai sydd wedi methu â chael caniatâd i aros. Mae canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru i GIG Cymru yn nodi hynny'n glir iawn, ac rwy'n cymeradwyo'r polisi hwnnw am y rhesymau y mae Mike Hedges wedi'u nodi'n gryno iawn yno.
O ran Virgin Media, gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, yn cyfarfod yn fuan iawn ag uwch reolwyr Virgin Media i drafod y cynlluniau i gau'r cwmni, y rhesymau dros y penderfyniad, a chynnig unrhyw gymorth y gallwn i helpu i wrthdroi'r penderfyniad os yn bosibl. Mae'r tasglu yn barod i gefnogi unrhyw aelodau staff yr effeithir arnynt os nad ydym yn gallu gwrthdroi'r penderfyniad hwnnw. Mae swyddogion wedi cynnal cyfarfodydd yn ddiweddar â rheolwyr Virgin Media a chynrychiolwyr y cyflogwyr i asesu'r sefyllfa bresennol a chynnig cymorth os yw'n briodol. Rwyf ar ddeall y dechreuodd y cyfnod ymgynghori ar y cyd ar 23 Mai ac y bydd yn para am o leiaf 45 diwrnod. Bydd gwrthgynnig gan gynrychiolwyr y gweithwyr â'r nod o gadw'r safle ar agor yn cael ei ystyried yn rhan o hyn, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi cymorth i ochr y gweithwyr er mwyn helpu i lunio'r gwrthgynnig hwnnw.
We debated the mud from outside Hinkley Point nuclear power station two weeks ago but we didn't get answers to some really serious questions. So, I want to pose again a question about the testing. In Kosovo, when mud was suspected of being radioactive, they tested using alpha spectrometry, gamma spectrometry and also plasma mass spectrometry. And yet, as to the mud that will be dumped not far from this building—and people 10 miles in-land will be breathing in particles from that mud; that's the scientific evidence that we've been given—why was it only tested using gamma spectrometry? And why on earth won't this Government direct Natural Resources Wales to retest the mud using the three methods that they use in other parts of the world when they suspect that mud is contaminated?
Fe wnaethom ni drafod y mwd o'r tu allan i atomfa Hinkley Point bythefnos yn ôl, ond chawson ni ddim atebion i rai cwestiynau difrifol iawn. Felly, rwyf eisiau gofyn cwestiwn unwaith eto am y profion. Yn Kosovo, pan oedd amheuaeth bod mwd yn ymbelydrol, roeddent yn ei brofi gan ddefnyddio sbectrometreg alffa, sbectrometreg gama a hefyd sbectrometreg màs plasma. Ac eto, ynghylch y mwd a gaiff ei wagu nid nepell o'r adeilad hwn—ac y bydd pobl mewn cwmpas o 10 milltir ar y tir mawr yn anadlu gronynnau o'r mwd hwnnw; dyna’r dystiolaeth wyddonol yr ydym ni wedi ei chael—pam mai dim ond â sbectrometreg gama y cafodd ei brofi? A pham ar y ddaear na wnaiff y Llywodraeth hon gyfarwyddo Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i ailbrofi’r mwd gan ddefnyddio’r tri dull a ddefnyddir mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd pan fyddant yn amau bod mwd yn halogedig?
The Member brought this up with the Cabinet Secretary for rural affairs and the environment when she was here in the Chamber the week before recess, and they had a very comprehensive conversation between the two of them in which all of those issues were well covered.
Soniodd yr Aelod am hyn wrth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr amgylchedd a materion gwledig pan oedd hi yma yn y Siambr yr wythnos cyn y toriad, ac fe gafodd y ddau ohonyn nhw sgwrs gynhwysfawr iawn gan roi sylw manwl i’r holl faterion hynny.
Can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport on road safety? The leader of the house may be aware that this week is glaucoma awareness week and rates of glaucoma in Wales are pretty significant. Around 38,000 people in Wales suffer from glaucoma, with about 19,000 of those cases being undiagnosed and many of those cases will not be diagnosed until at least 40 per cent of peripheral vision has been lost. A number of Assembly Members sat on a simulator today to experience what it's like to have glaucoma as a driver, and I have to say, it's pretty unsafe. I think everybody crashed the car by the end of their time on the simulator. So, clearly, this is a big problem. I do know that the Welsh Government has a road safety framework. It doesn't mention in there the need for people to have regular eye tests. I know that I've written to the Cabinet Secretary in the past and that he's displayed on some of the roadside signs the need to have eye tests, but can I ask for a statement on the road safety framework, because I do think it needs to be refreshed with reference to eye tests in there so that we can make sure that our roads are as safe as possible?
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth am ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd? Efallai y bydd arweinydd y tŷ yn ymwybodol bod yr wythnos hon yn wythnos ymwybyddiaeth o glawcoma ac mae cyfraddau glawcoma yng Nghymru yn eithaf uchel. Mae tua 38,000 o bobl yng Nghymru yn dioddef o glawcoma, ac nid yw tua 19,000 o'r achosion hynny wedi cael diagnosis a bydd llawer o'r achosion hynny’n mynd heb ddiagnosis hyd nes y bydd o leiaf 40 y cant o olwg ymylol wedi’i golli. Eisteddodd nifer o Aelodau'r Cynulliad ar efelychydd heddiw i brofi sut beth yw bod â glawcoma os ydych chi'n yrrwr, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, mae'n eithaf anniogel. Rwy'n credu bod pawb wedi cael damwain car erbyn diwedd eu cyfnod ar yr efelychydd. Felly, yn amlwg, mae hyn yn broblem fawr. Rwy’n gwybod fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru fframwaith diogelwch ffyrdd. Nid yw hwnnw’n sôn am yr angen i bobl gael profion llygaid yn rheolaidd. Rwy’n gwybod fy mod wedi ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn y gorffennol a’i fod ef wedi arddangos ar rai o'r arwyddion wrth ymyl y ffordd bod angen cael profion llygaid, ond a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad am y fframwaith diogelwch ffyrdd, oherwydd rwyf wir yn credu bod angen ei adnewyddu i gyfeirio at brofion llygaid fel y gallwn ni wneud yn siŵr bod ein ffyrdd mor ddiogel â phosibl?
The Cabinet Secretary is indicating to me that he's happy to work with our colleague the Cabinet Secretary for health to bring forward something as a result of the issues that the Member raises.
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn awgrymu imi ei fod yn hapus i weithio gyda’n cyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, i gyflwyno rhywbeth o ganlyniad i'r materion y mae'r Aelod yn eu crybwyll.
Diolch i arweinydd y tŷ.
Thank you, leader of the house.
Yr eitem nesaf felly yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ar y gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd a metro de Cymru. Rwy'n galw ar yr Ysgrifennydd i wneud ei ddatganiad—Ken Skates.
The next item is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport on rail services and the south Wales metro. I call on the Cabinet Secretary to make his statement—Ken Skates.
Diolch, Llywydd. I commend you to my written statement issued to Members yesterday. I am pleased to announce, following the completion of the statutory standstill period for the procurement of the operator and delivery partner for the Wales and borders rail service and south Wales metro, that Welsh Government has completed the formal contractual agreement and awarded the contract to KeolisAmey.
We are at a historic point for rail service provision and our partnership will revolutionise our rail network, bringing about transformational improvements to communities and people the length and breadth of Wales, and of course its borders. Our new rail service contract will focus on the heart of communities, ensuring services are accessible to all, with increased frequency of services, improved facilities and connecting people with jobs, health and leisure.
We have recently published our economic action plan. The people of Wales are a central focus of the interventions contained within the plan, supporting them to lead secure, healthy and rewarding lives, whether it’s connecting them to employment and other opportunities through quality infrastructure, equipping them with the skills they need, or supporting our economic foundations. KeolisAmey share this vision. They have demonstrated their commitment to bringing best practice in rail and light rail operations to Wales, investing in infrastructure, rolling stock and staff, and harnessing technology to deliver for the people, communities and economies of Wales.
I'd like to take this opportunity to personally thank staff at Transport for Wales and all those involved in the process in this truly remarkable example of a cross-Government approach to procurement. Transport for Wales will be responsible for managing the rail services on our behalf, and delivering our investment in rail and metro infrastructure, and together they will deliver this new transformative rail service that Wales can be proud of over the next 15 years.
Diolch, Llywydd. Tynnaf eich sylw at fy natganiad ysgrifenedig a gyhoeddwyd i’r Aelodau ddoe. Rwy’n falch o gyhoeddi, ar ôl cwblhau’r cyfnod segur statudol ar gyfer caffael gweithredwr a phartner darparu ar gyfer gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd Cymru a'r gororau a metro de Cymru, bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cwblhau’r cytundeb contract ffurfiol ac wedi dyfarnu’r contract i KeolisAmey.
Mae hwn yn gyfnod hanesyddol i ddarpariaeth gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd a bydd ein partneriaeth yn chwyldroi ein rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd, gan ddod â gwelliannau trawsnewidiol i gymunedau a phobl ar hyd a lled Cymru, ac wrth gwrs, y gororau. Bydd ein contract newydd ar gyfer y gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd yn canolbwyntio ar galon cymunedau, gan sicrhau bod gwasanaethau’n hygyrch i bawb, a bod gwasanaethau ar gael yn amlach, y cyfleusterau’n well a’n bod yn cysylltu pobl â swyddi, iechyd a hamdden.
Yn ddiweddar rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi ein cynllun gweithredu economaidd. Mae pobl Cymru yn ganolog i’r ymyriadau yn y cynllun, ac mae’n eu cefnogi i fyw bywydau diogel, iach a boddhaus, boed hynny drwy eu cysylltu â gwaith a chyfleoedd eraill drwy gyfrwng seilwaith o ansawdd, eu harfogi gyda'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt, neu gefnogi ein sylfeini economaidd. Mae KeolisAmey yn rhannu'r weledigaeth hon. Maen nhw wedi dangos eu hymrwymiad i ddod â’r arferion gorau o ran gweithrediadau rheilffyrdd a rheilffyrdd ysgafn i Gymru, buddsoddi mewn seilwaith, cerbydau a staff, a defnyddio technoleg i ddarparu ar gyfer pobl, cymunedau ac economi Cymru.
Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch yn bersonol i staff Trafnidiaeth Cymru ac i bawb sy'n rhan o'r broses yn yr enghraifft hynod hon o ddull caffael trawslywodraethol. Trafnidiaeth Cymru fydd yn gyfrifol am reoli’r gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd ar ein rhan, ac am ddarparu ein buddsoddiad yn seilwaith y rheilffyrdd a'r metro, a gyda'i gilydd byddant yn darparu’r gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd trawsnewidiol newydd hwn y gall Cymru fod yn falch ohono dros y 15 mlynedd nesaf.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement, and I should also thank him for the briefing events that you put on yesterday afternoon and this morning, which were extremely helpful, so I thank you for that?
The awarding of the new rail franchise represents a multibillion pound opportunity and I, like you, Cabinet Secretary, want to make sure that every Welsh person benefits from that investment. I've yet to see the exact breakdown of how much has been invested by the Welsh Government and how much has been invested by the operator. I appreciate I may have missed this information in recent days, but I'd be grateful if you could outline the details of the funding profile of how much the Welsh Government and how much the operator will be investing in each year of the contract.
The contractor's relationship with Network Rail, of course, is crucial, and I'm wondering what alliance will be formed between the franchise operator and Network Rail. I wonder if you can outline what structures are going to be put in place to ensure there's a close working relationship between Network Rail and the contractor in the day-to-day running of the network, and, of course, with Transport for Wales as well.
I was particularly pleased to see the commitment in regard to 4G and 5G roll-out, with masts along the track, and I suppose that provides an example of the question I just asked with regard to Network Rail being responsible for one area, and the operator—the other, of course, Network Rail, owning the land around the track. And with regard to the improved mobile infrastructure, how will that dovetail with the Welsh Government's mobile action plan?
I do want to ask you about accessibility of toilets on trains. Of course, we know of the new legislation coming into force by 2020, and that some train companies are trying to get around the legislation on old Pacer trains by locking train toilets. I appreciate you've made some statements in this regard, but I would be interested in hearing from you, Cabinet Secretary, your views on how we guard against the unintended consequences of the persons with reduced mobility legislation, and a strong statement from you with regard to disability access to toilets on trains would be welcome.
And finally, could I ask you, Cabinet Secretary, to agree to a couple of points: to publish, in partnership, of course, with Transport for Wales and KeolisAmey, the opportunities that make clear to small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales every commercial opportunity over the coming years that the franchise presents; to provide updates on what additional measures Transport for Wales are taking to advertise the financial opportunities that the franchise represents; and, finally, to publish specific Welsh Government targets for the percentage of work won on this scheme by Welsh firms going forward? Thank you, Presiding Officer.
A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ddatganiad? Dylwn hefyd diolch iddo am eich digwyddiadau briffio brynhawn ddoe a bore heddiw, a oedd yn hynod o ddefnyddiol, felly diolch ichi am hynny.
Mae dyfarnu'r fasnachfraint rheilffyrdd newydd yn cynrychioli cyfle gwerth biliynau a biliynau o bunnoedd ac rwyf fi, fel chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod pawb yng Nghymru’n elwa ar y buddsoddiad hwnnw. Nid wyf eto wedi gweld manylion faint yn union y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei fuddsoddi a faint mae’r gweithredwr wedi'i fuddsoddi. Rwy’n sylweddoli imi efallai beidio â sylwi ar yr wybodaeth hon yn y dyddiau diwethaf, ond byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech chi amlinellu manylion y proffil ariannu o ran faint fydd Llywodraeth Cymru a faint fydd y gweithredwr yn ei fuddsoddi ym mhob blwyddyn y contract.
Mae perthynas y contractwr â Network Rail, wrth gwrs, yn hollbwysig, ac rwy’n meddwl tybed sut gynghrair a ffurfir rhwng gweithredwr y fasnachfraint a Network Rail. Tybed a allwch chi amlinellu pa strwythurau a gaiff eu rhoi ar waith i sicrhau bod perthynas waith agos rhwng Network Rail a'r contractwr i gynnal y rhwydwaith o ddydd i ddydd, ac, wrth gwrs, gyda Thrafnidiaeth Cymru yn ogystal.
Roeddwn yn arbennig o falch o weld yr ymrwymiad o ran cyflwyno 4G a 5G, gyda mastiau ar hyd y trac, ac mae’n debyg bod hynny’n enghraifft o’r cwestiwn yr wyf newydd ei ofyn o ran bod Network Rail yn gyfrifol am un agwedd, a’r gweithredwr—y llall, wrth gwrs, Network Rail, sy'n berchen ar y tir o amgylch y rheilffordd. Ac o ran y gwell seilwaith symudol, sut fydd hynny'n cydweddu â chynllun gweithredu symudol Llywodraeth Cymru?
Buaswn yn hoffi gofyn ichi am hygyrchedd toiledau ar drenau. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n gwybod am y ddeddfwriaeth newydd a fydd yn dod i rym erbyn 2020, a bod rhai cwmnïau trenau’n ceisio ymdopi â'r ddeddfwriaeth ar hen drenau Pacer drwy gloi toiledau'r trenau. Rwy’n sylweddoli eich bod wedi gwneud rhai datganiadau yn hyn o beth, ond byddai gennyf ddiddordeb clywed gennych chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, eich barn ynglŷn â sut rydym ni'n gochel rhag canlyniadau anfwriadol y ddeddfwriaeth ar bobl gydag anawsterau symud, a byddai datganiad cadarn gennych chi ynghylch hygyrchedd toiledau ar drenau i bobl anabl yn cael ei groesawu.
Ac yn olaf, a gaf i ofyn ichi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, i gytuno ag un neu ddau o bwyntiau: i gyhoeddi, mewn partneriaeth, wrth gwrs, gyda Thrafnidiaeth Cymru a KeolisAmey, y cyfleoedd sy’n dangos yn glir i fusnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru yr holl gyfleoedd masnachol dros y blynyddoedd nesaf y bydd y fasnachfraint yn eu cyflwyno; i ddarparu diweddariadau ynglŷn â beth arall mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hysbysebu’r cyfleoedd ariannol fydd yn dod yn sgil y fasnachfraint; ac, yn olaf, i gyhoeddi targedau penodol Llywodraeth Cymru o ran canran y gwaith a enillir ar y cynllun hwn gan gwmnïau yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol? Diolch, Llywydd.
Can I thank the Member for his questions and for welcoming the announcement that took place yesterday, and the details of the new Wales and borders franchise? We made sure through the scoring process of the procurement exercise that everybody in all parts of Wales and, indeed, the borders area, benefited from the new franchise arrangements. The scoring system was such that it ensured that the bidders were keen to demonstrate how they were going to bring transformative change to all parts of the Wales and borders area.
I think the Member is right to highlight the importance of a number of very significant issues that have been highlighted in recent times, including accessibility and toilets. I can confirm that every toilet on all of the trains will be PRM compliant by the time that they need to be. It's absolutely essential that lower emission PRM toilets are incorporated on all of the trains that will be operating and the ODP has given a very, very clear guarantee that that will happen. The First Minister earlier stated that £15 million will be made available for accessibility at stations across Wales for people who are of limited mobility. There are a number of stations that I know of personally, including my own station of Ruabon, that do not have step-free access, or additional access to step-only access. That will be resolved in the coming franchise arrangements. Every station within the metro area will also be step-free accessible. And in terms of toilets, there will be additional toilets on stations within the metro network to ensure that, for the solution within the core Valleys lines network, no passenger will have to wait more than 14 minutes in order to gain access to a universal access toilet.
The Member raises other important points regarding procurement opportunities for SMEs. We're in the process at the moment of engaging as many Welsh-based companies and borderland companies as possible in the process of identifying infrastructure development partner opportunities to ensure that we capture maximum opportunity for Welsh-based companies. In addition, Transport for Wales, of course, has been set up as a not-for profit-organisation. In the future, it's our anticipation that Transport for Wales will be able to let additional services on a not-for-profit basis to more Welsh companies, and it's also our expectation in the future that Transport for Wales will be able to take on additional responsibilities for other forms of transport management and infrastructure delivery—again being able, in doing so, to award more contracts for Welsh SMEs.
In terms of the work that the operation and development partner will be undertaking with Network Rail, there will be collaborative work taking place with Network Rail, but it will also be on the basis of work being undertaken on a collaborative basis with Transport for Wales as well. I'm pleased that Wales will be represented on the Network Rail national board by a member from Wales itself, ensuring that Wales has a voice on the Network Rail board. I think everybody would acknowledge in the Chamber that, in recent times, the Welsh rail network has not received the sort of infrastructure funding that it should rightly expect. I hope that in the next round, the next control period, that will be addressed, and certainly having Welsh representation on the board at Network Rail will be of assistance.
In terms of the roll-out of new technology, KeolisAmey have designed the roll-out of improved Wi-Fi, the installation of new masts, in line with our Superfast Cymru and mobile interventions to ensure that they don't duplicate them, but instead that we have seamless pathways from train to station to train in terms of Wi-Fi. I'm confident that given the investment that KeolisAmey are looking at placing within new and emerging technologies we will be able to see every train providing free access to Wi-Fi in the coming years. This will be a transformational franchise arrangement, and I'm keen to ensure that we maximise opportunities, not just for the businesses of today but also for new businesses who will be able to look at opportunities where there are new stations.
Now, one of the key benefits for many rural communities of this franchise agreement is the promise that has been made to invest in station buildings and in the landscaping of stations and in bringing stations back into use where they are currently not in use, and that could provide huge opportunities, particularly in rural communities, for new business start-ups at stations. I think many of us could point to a huge number of stations within the 247 station slab that exists on the Wales and borders network where there are opportunities to open up space to new businesses, whether it be in retail, whether it be in hospitality, whether it be in business design or creative industries. There are huge opportunities, and I'm particularly pleased to see a strong focus by the operator and development partner on that potential business area.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiynau ac am groesawu'r cyhoeddiad a wnaethpwyd ddoe, ynghyd â manylion masnachfraint newydd Cymru a'r gororau? Gwnaethom yn siŵr drwy broses sgorio’r ymarfer caffael bod pawb ym mhob rhan o Gymru ac, yn wir, yn ardal y gororau, yn elwa o’r trefniadau masnachfraint newydd. Roedd y system sgorio yn sicrhau bod y cynigwyr yn awyddus i ddangos sut yr oeddent yn mynd i drawsnewid pob rhan o ardal Cymru a'r gororau.
Rwy’n credu bod yr Aelod yn iawn i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd nifer o faterion pwysig iawn a amlygwyd yn ddiweddar, gan gynnwys hygyrchedd a thoiledau. Gallaf gadarnhau y bydd pob toiled ar bob trên yn cydymffurfio â rheoliadau PRM erbyn yr amser gofynnol. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod toiledau PRM allyriadau is wedi’u cynnwys ar yr holl drenau a fydd yn gweithredu ac mae’r ODP wedi rhoi sicrwydd clir iawn, iawn y bydd hynny'n digwydd. Dywedodd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach y bydd £15 miliwn ar gael ar gyfer hygyrchedd mewn gorsafoedd ledled Cymru ar gyfer pobl sydd ag anawsterau symud. Rwy’n gwybod yn bersonol am nifer o orsafoedd, gan gynnwys fy ngorsaf fy hun, Rhiwabon, lle nad oes mynediad heb risiau, neu fynediad ychwanegol i fynediad grisiau yn unig. Caiff hynny ei unioni yn y trefniadau masnachfraint sydd ar droed. Bydd pob gorsaf yn ardal y metro hefyd yn hygyrch heb risiau. Ac o ran toiledau, bydd toiledau ychwanegol ar orsafoedd o fewn y rhwydwaith metro i sicrhau, ar gyfer y datrysiad o fewn rhwydwaith craidd rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd, na fydd unrhyw deithiwr yn gorfod aros mwy na 14 munud cyn gallu defnyddio toiled mynediad cyffredinol.
Mae'r Aelod yn codi pwyntiau pwysig eraill ynghylch cyfleoedd caffael i fusnesau bach a chanolig. Rydym yn y broses ar hyn o bryd o ymgysylltu â chynifer â phosibl o gwmnïau o Gymru a’r gororau yn y broses o ganfod cyfleoedd ar gyfer partneriaid datblygu seilwaith i sicrhau ein bod yn creu’r cyfle mwyaf posibl i gwmnïau o Gymru. Yn ogystal, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, wedi'i sefydlu yn fudiad dielw. Yn y dyfodol, ein disgwyliad yw y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gallu gosod gwasanaethau ychwanegol ar sail nid-er-elw i fwy o gwmnïau Cymru, ac rydym hefyd yn disgwyl yn y dyfodol y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gallu cymryd cyfrifoldebau ychwanegol dros fathau eraill o reoli trafnidiaeth a darparu seilwaith—ac eto’n gallu, wrth wneud hynny, dyfarnu mwy o gontractau i fusnesau bach a chanolig Cymru.
O ran y gwaith y bydd y partner gweithredu a datblygu yn ei wneud gyda Network Rail, bydd gwaith ar y cyd yn digwydd gyda Network Rail, ond bydd hefyd ar sail gweithio ar y cyd â Thrafnidiaeth Cymru yn ogystal. Rwy’n falch y caiff Cymru ei chynrychioli ar fwrdd cenedlaethol Network Rail gan aelod o Gymru ei hun, sy’n sicrhau y bydd gan Gymru lais ar fwrdd Network Rail. Rwy’n credu y byddai pawb yn cydnabod yn y Siambr nad yw rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd Cymru, yn ddiweddar, wedi cael y math o ariannu seilwaith y byddai’n deg ei ddisgwyl. Rwy’n gobeithio yn y cylch nesaf, y cyfnod rheoli nesaf, y caiff hynny ei unioni, ac yn sicr bydd cynrychiolaeth o Gymru ar fwrdd Network Rail o gymorth.
O ran cyflwyno technoleg newydd, mae KeolisAmey wedi cynllunio proses i gyflwyno gwell Wi-Fi, gosod mastiau newydd, yn unol â'n rhaglen Cyflymu Cymru a'n hymyriadau ffonau symudol i sicrhau nad ydynt yn eu dyblygu, ond yn hytrach bod gennym ni gyswllt di-dor o drên i orsaf i drên o ran Wi-Fi. Rwy’n hyderus o gofio’r buddsoddiad y mae KeolisAmey yn bwriadu ei wneud mewn technolegau newydd y byddwn yn gallu gweld pob trên yn darparu mynediad Wi-Fi am ddim yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Bydd y trefniant hwn gan y fasnachfraint yn un trawsnewidiol, ac rwy’n awyddus i sicrhau ein bod yn cynyddu'r cyfleoedd, nid dim ond i fusnesau heddiw ond hefyd i fusnesau newydd a fydd yn gallu edrych ar gyfleoedd lle mae gorsafoedd newydd.
Nawr, un o fanteision allweddol y cytundeb masnachfraint hwn i lawer o gymunedau gwledig yw’r addewid a wnaethpwyd i fuddsoddi mewn adeiladau gorsafoedd ac mewn tirlunio gorsafoedd ac mewn ailddechrau defnyddio gorsafoedd lle nad ydynt ar hyn o bryd yn cael eu defnyddio, a gallai hynny ddarparu cyfleoedd enfawr, yn enwedig mewn cymunedau gwledig, i fusnesau newydd mewn gorsafoedd. Rwy’n credu y gallai llawer ohonom ni gyfeirio at nifer enfawr o orsafoedd o fewn y slab gorsafoedd 247 sy'n bodoli ar rwydwaith Cymru a'r gororau lle ceir cyfleoedd i agor lle i fusnesau newydd, boed hynny ym maes adwerthu, boed mewn lletygarwch, boed mewn dylunio busnes neu’r diwydiannau creadigol. Mae cyfleoedd di-ri, ac rwy’n arbennig o falch o weld pwyslais cryf gan y gweithredwr a'r partner datblygu ar y maes busnes posibl hwnnw.
I'll start, if I can, by referring to what the First Minister said earlier today in suggesting that Plaid Cymru somehow is doing Wales's rail down. I think we're all excited about the prospect of hopefully getting some more decent trains at some point. I have no doubt that KeolisAmey have put together a very impressive bid, and I congratulate them on landing this lucrative deal. So, is it—[Interruption.]
Rwy’n mynd i ddechrau, os caf, drwy gyfeirio at yr hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach heddiw i awgrymu rywsut bod Plaid Cymru wedi gwneud tro gwael â rheilffyrdd Cymru. Rwy’n meddwl ein bod i gyd yn llawn cyffro am y posibilrwydd o gael trenau mwy gweddus, gobeithio, ar ryw adeg. Nid oes gennyf amheuaeth bod KeolisAmey wedi llunio cynnig trawiadol iawn, ac rwy’n eu llongyfarch am sicrhau’r fargen broffidiol hon. Felly, ai—[Torri ar draws.]
There's no opportunity for an intervention, so the Member doesn't need to take it as an intervention.
Does dim cyfle am ymyriad, felly does dim angen i’r Aelod ei gymryd fel ymyriad.
So, Plaid Cymru doing Wales's rail down—the context is quite important here. It's successive Labour and Conservative UK Governments that have done Wales's rail down: the Conservatives, who've recently rowed back on electrification; 13 years of Labour Governments before them that failed to get any electrification done, north, south, east or west; a Labour Government—I think I'm right—that left us with the laughable zero-growth Arriva franchise—laughable, that is, if it wasn't so serious for the thousands of Valleys lines commuters squeezing onto trains, day after day, or north-south travellers sitting on trains for five hours that are really best suited for half-hour or hour-long journeys. So, yes, we're all excited about the prospect of new, fresher trains. I was on the enterprise and business committee in the last Assembly when we considered, in great detail, the dire straits—the dire state, actually—of the current rail system that we have in Wales. Passengers know that it's about time we had better trains, because they've seen pictures of what they have in other countries—they've been on holiday and they've travelled on trains more suited to this century rather than the middle of the last. So, I would urge the Government to be realistic in your expectations about how grateful people should be for what we have now, or what is being promised after suffering the service that they have done for so long.
Now, reading sections of the statement issued by you yesterday—and we're grateful for that statement—there's an element of sadness in many ways. The quality of the franchise deal is very, very important. The last franchise deal left us wanting for so much. We were told 15 years ago that we were having trains that weren't fit for the twenty-first century—we've still got those trains now. Even now we're told that one in every 20 journeys, for some years to come, will continue to be serviced by the current rusty, battered, out-of-date rolling stock that we currently have—[Interruption.] Well, you can clarify that, but 95 per cent travelling on new trains in a few years, you say—that still leaves one in 20 on the very old twentieth-century rolling stock that we currently have. You're having to wait until 2020, still, to have power supply charging points on trains, we were told in the statement yesterday. And again, one in 20 journeys won't have that basic necessity.
It was really important to learn from the mistakes of the last franchise and make sure that they weren't replicated this time around, and I'm not entirely convinced, yet, that those lessons have been learnt. You stated in your statement that onboard catering remains a key feature of services on the Wales and borders network. Anyone travelling north-south will tell you—apart from the one train a day, one northwards and one to the south, that has proper buffet facilities—anybody travelling on the usual trains, north-south, will tell you that the trains aren't suitable for those long journeys—five-hour journeys on trains suitable for short hops. I got on the train in Bodorgan—I would urge anybody to get on the train in Bodorgan, it's a station in a field in the middle of Anglesey; I feel very proud of our little station, but it's a good two and a half or three hours until we get a cup of tea served. And I remember asking Arriva, 'Why doesn't the tea trolley come on until Shrewsbury?', and the answer I got was, 'Because the franchise agreement said that the tea trolley shouldn't come on until Shrewsbury.' So, getting that franchise agreement right is absolutely vital. So, when you say that, in the new all-singing, all-dancing franchise deal,
'As a minimum, provision will be of the same level as that currently available',
that fills me with dread about my journeys from—. This is from your statement; I'm quoting from your statement yesterday. That fills people with dread, because people want to use the train more for north-south journeys, and people are looking for a better service. Being told that current provision of things like a cup of tea, a glass of water, on a five-hour journey shouldn't be too much to ask for in the twenty-first century.
Let me ask for your thoughts, also, on the role of the new system for bringing Wales together. Public transport isn't just about moving people from A to B. Surely, our new, visionary rail system for Wales should be about, effectively, bringing A and B closer together, building a network that ties different parts of Wales together. I see very little in that list of improvements that was published yesterday that shows us that we are creating here a genuine Wales-wide rail system. Of course there are improvements—I see the increase in train numbers on certain routes, on many different routes, and improvements for commuters, and new trains—and that's great, but where is the creation of the all-Wales rail system?
On the profit element, picking up on comments made by Leanne Wood earlier on, rail shouldn't have been privatised in the way that it was, but it is privatised. What I'm looking to see is real public control of the money that flows through the rail system. Could you give us more assurances about how we tie in improved performance, which we hopefully will get from the new operator, with how the money gained from that new performance will actually be driven back into the rail network? Those are the kinds of clarifications that we need now. We lost control of rail; rail became a cash cow. Companies were able to profit—still are able to profit. We need to make sure that this is watertight, and I'm still not quite yet hearing that this is total public control of rail in Wales.
On the question of not-for-profit rail operators, the First Minister said earlier, 'Well, we can't do it. The law says that we cannot have a public rail system.' What we can have, of course, and we investigated this in the last—[Interruption.] Thank you for the suggestion that I have a few seconds left. We looked in the committee in the last Assembly at the prospect of creating a not-for-profit vehicle, which certainly is allowable under legislation. Can you tell me, as a final question, what efforts Government made to look at the prospect of finding, developing, sourcing a vehicle for delivering rail not for profit? If you tried and failed, why did you still put it in your manifestos that you wanted a not-for-profit system? If you didn't try at all, well, what on earth were you doing, putting it in your manifestos? I'll leave it there. Thank you, Llywydd.
Felly, Plaid Cymru yn gwneud tro gwael â rheilffyrdd Cymru—mae’r cyd-destun yn eithaf pwysig yma. Llywodraethau olynol Llafur a Cheidwadol y DU sydd wedi gwneud tro gwael â rheilffyrdd Cymru: y Ceidwadwyr, sydd yn ddiweddar wedi camu'n ôl ar drydaneiddio; 13 blynedd o Lywodraethau Llafur cyn hynny a fethodd â gwneud dim trydaneiddio, gogledd, de, dwyrain neu orllewin; Llywodraeth Lafur—rwy’n meddwl fy mod yn iawn—a’n gadawodd â masnachfraint chwerthinllyd Arriva heb unrhyw dwf o gwbl—chwerthinllyd, hynny yw, pe na bai mor ddifrifol i filoedd o gymudwyr rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd sydd wedi’u gwasgu ar drenau, ddydd ar ôl dydd, neu deithwyr o’r gogledd i’r de sy’n eistedd am bump awr ar drenau sydd wir yn fwyaf addas i siwrneiau hanner awr neu awr. Felly, ydym, rydym ni i gyd yn llawn cyffro am y posibilrwydd o drenau newydd, mwy ffres. Roeddwn ar y pwyllgor menter a busnes yn y Cynulliad diwethaf pan fuom yn ystyried, yn fanwl iawn, sefyllfa enbyd—cyflwr enbyd, a dweud y gwir—y system rheilffyrdd presennol sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru. Mae teithwyr yn gwybod ei bod hi'n hen bryd inni gael trenau gwell, oherwydd maen nhw wedi gweld lluniau o'r hyn sydd ganddyn nhw mewn gwledydd eraill—maen nhw wedi bod ar wyliau ac maen nhw wedi teithio ar drenau sy’n addas i’r ganrif hon yn hytrach na chanol y ganrif ddiwethaf. Felly, byddwn yn annog y Llywodraeth i fod yn realistig yn eich disgwyliadau ynghylch pa mor ddiolchgar y dylai pobl fod am yr hyn sydd gennym yn awr, neu’r hyn sy'n cael ei addo ar ôl iddyn nhw ddioddef y gwasanaeth presennol ers cyhyd.
Nawr, wrth ddarllen rhannau o’r datganiad a gyhoeddwyd gennych chi ddoe—ac rydym ni'n ddiolchgar am y datganiad hwnnw—mae elfen o dristwch mewn llawer ffordd. Mae ansawdd y fargen fasnachfraint yn bwysig iawn, iawn. Nid oedd y fargen fasnachfraint ddiwethaf yn ddigon da am lawer o resymau. Dywedwyd wrthym 15 mlynedd yn ôl ein bod yn cael trenau nad oeddent yn addas ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain—mae’r trenau hynny’n dal i fod gennym ni heddiw. Hyd yn oed nawr rydym yn cael clywed y bydd un o bob 20 o deithiau, am rai blynyddoedd i ddod, yn dal i gael eu gwasanaethu gan yr hen gerbydau rhydlyd, tolciog sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd—[Torri ar draws.] Wel, gallwch egluro hynny, ond rydych chi'n sôn am 95 y cant yn teithio ar drenau newydd ymhen ychydig flynyddoedd—mae hynny’n dal i adael un o bob 20 ar y cerbydau hen iawn o’r ugeinfed ganrif sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd. Rydych chi'n dal i orfod aros tan 2020, i gael cyflenwad pŵer i wefru ar drenau, dywedodd y datganiad ddoe wrthym. Ac, unwaith eto, ni fydd gan un o bob 20 siwrnai yr anghenraid sylfaenol hwnnw.
Roedd yn bwysig iawn dysgu o gamgymeriadau’r fasnachfraint diwethaf a gwneud yn siŵr nad oeddent yn cael eu dyblygu y tro hwn, ac nid wyf yn gwbl argyhoeddedig, eto, bod y gwersi hynny wedi cael eu dysgu. Dywedasoch yn eich datganiad fod arlwyo ar y trenau’n dal i fod yn un o nodweddion allweddol gwasanaethau ar rwydwaith Cymru a'r gororau. Bydd unrhyw un sy'n teithio o’r gogledd i’r de yn dweud wrthych—ar wahân i’r un trên y dydd, un tua'r gogledd ac un tua'r de, sydd â chyfleusterau bwffe priodol—bydd unrhyw un sy'n teithio ar y trenau arferol, o’r gogledd i’r de, yn dweud wrthych nad yw’r trenau’n addas i’r teithiau hir hynny—pump awr yn teithio ar drenau sy’n addas i deithiau byr iawn. Es ar y trên ym Modorgan—byddwn yn annog unrhyw un i fynd ar y trên ym Modorgan, mae'n orsaf mewn cae yng nghanol Ynys Môn; rwy'n teimlo'n falch iawn o’n gorsaf fach ni, ond mae'n ddwy awr a hanner dda neu’n dair awr cyn inni gael cynnig paned o de. Ac rwy’n cofio gofyn i Arriva, 'Pam nad yw’r troli te’n dod ymlaen tan Amwythig?' a'r ateb a gefais oedd, 'gan fod y cytundeb masnachfraint yn dweud na ddylai’r troli te ddod ymlaen tan Amwythig.' Felly, mae cael y cytundeb masnachfraint yn iawn yn gwbl hanfodol. Felly, pan ddywedwch chi, yn y fargen fasnachfraint newydd sbon danlli hon,
'Bydd lefel y gwasanaeth yn cadw o leiaf at ei lefel bresennol',
mae hynny’n codi arswyd arnaf am fy siwrneiau o—. Mae hyn yn eich datganiad; rwy’n dyfynnu o'ch datganiad ddoe. Mae hynny'n codi arswyd ar bobl, oherwydd hoffai pobl ddefnyddio mwy ar y trenau ar gyfer teithiau rhwng y gogledd a'r de, ac mae pobl yn chwilio am wasanaeth gwell. Cael gwybod bod y ddarpariaeth bresennol o bethau fel cwpanaid o de, gwydraid o ddŵr, ar daith pum awr; ddylai hynny ddim bod yn ormod i ofyn amdano yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain.
Gadewch imi ofyn am eich barn, hefyd, am gyfraniad y system newydd ar gyfer dod â Chymru ynghyd. Nid symud pobl o A i B yw unig swyddogaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Does bosib na ddylai ein system rheilffyrdd newydd, flaengar ar gyfer Cymru fod yn seiliedig, yn y bôn ar ddod ag A a B yn nes at ei gilydd, gan adeiladu rhwydwaith sy'n clymu gwahanol rannau o Gymru at ei gilydd. Ychydig iawn yr wyf yn ei weld yn y rhestr honno o welliannau a gyhoeddwyd ddoe sy’n dangos inni ein bod yn creu system rheilffyrdd go iawn i Gymru gyfan. Wrth gwrs ceir gwelliannau—rwy’n gweld y cynnydd yn nifer y trenau ar lwybrau penodol, ar lawer o wahanol lwybrau, a gwelliannau i gymudwyr, a threnau newydd—ac mae hynny'n wych, ond ble mae creu system rheilffyrdd i Gymru gyfan?
O ran elw, i ddilyn y sylwadau a wnaeth Leanne Wood yn gynharach, ni ddylid bod wedi preifateiddio’r rheilffyrdd fel y digwyddodd, ond maen nhw wedi’u preifateiddio. Yr hyn yr hoffwn i ei weld yw rheolaeth gyhoeddus go iawn dros yr arian sy'n llifo drwy’r system reilffyrdd. A allech roi mwy o sicrwydd inni ynglŷn â sut yr ydym ni'n cyfuno perfformiad gwell, yr ydym yn gobeithio ei gael gan y gweithredwr newydd, â sut yn union y caiff yr arian a gawn ni o’r perfformiad newydd hwnnw ei ailfuddsoddi yn y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd? Dyna’r mathau o eglurhad sydd eu hangen arnom ni nawr. Gwnaethom golli rheolaeth dros y rheilffyrdd; aeth y rheilffyrdd yn beiriant pres. Roedd cwmnïau’n gallu gwneud elw—maent yn dal i allu gwneud elw. Mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod hyn yn hollol ddiogel, ac rwy’n dal i aros i glywed bod hyn yn rheolaeth gyhoeddus lwyr dros y rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru.
O ran gweithredwyr rheilffyrdd nid-er-elw, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach, 'Wel, ni allwn ei wneud. Mae'r gyfraith yn dweud na allwn ni gael system rheilffyrdd gyhoeddus.' Yr hyn y gallwn ei gael, wrth gwrs, a gwnaethom ymchwilio i hyn y tro diwethaf—[Torri ar draws.] Diolch am yr awgrym mai dim ond ychydig eiliadau sydd gennyf ar ôl. Buom yn edrych yn y pwyllgor yn y Cynulliad diwethaf ar y posibilrwydd o greu cyfrwng nid-er-elw, sy'n sicr yn rhywbeth a ganiateir o dan y ddeddfwriaeth. A allwch chi ddweud wrthyf, fel cwestiwn olaf, pa ymdrechion a wnaeth y Llywodraeth i edrych ar y posibilrwydd o ddarganfod, datblygu, ceisio cyfrwng i ddarparu rheilffyrdd nid-er-elw? Os gwnaethoch chi geisio a methu, pam rhoi yn eich maniffestos yr hoffech chi gael system nid-er-elw? Os na wnaethoch chi geisio o gwbl, wel, beth ar y ddaear yr oeddech yn ei wneud, yn ei roi yn eich maniffestos? Fe adawaf bethau fel yna. Diolch, Llywydd.
Can I thank the Member for his questions and his contribution? I think it's fair to say that his message was somewhat inconsistent with the message given earlier from the leader of his party, in terms of welcoming the franchise agreement. I should just point out that the new arrangements were described earlier this afternoon by the leader of Plaid Cymru as 'second rate'.
It's clear that the position of Plaid Cymru, with regard to letting this franchise, is such that they would have been in no other position, were they in power, other than to continue with the current franchise arrangements, because it is simply—[Interruption.] Because it is simply not possible to ensure that a public body is able to run the current rail network as it stands in law. We tried to change that law, as every party recognises. It could have been the case—a not-for-profit organisation could have won the contract if they had bid, but none did, and we clearly would still prefer nationalisation. However, within the straitjacket in which we operate, we believe that this is, by far, the best deal that could have been struck.
Indeed, Members of Plaid Cymru signed up to a report not long ago that stated that, if we were to reach the point that we're at today, we would have achieved heroic ambition. We've done that, and in having that position—one that is so intransigent as to not recognise that we need to be pragmatic with regard to the award of the rail franchise—it suggests that the only way forward for Plaid Cymru would have been to continue with the current arrangements, and the price of that would have been enormous: 16 per cent higher in terms of subsidies. So, the price that Plaid would have paid over the course of 15 years would have amounted to more than £300 million in addition: 16 per cent more. We're going to save 16 per cent as a consequence of the agreement that we've reached, and there would have been a continuation of the poor services that Members have already highlighted and, of course, the accumulation, annually, of profits of more than £28 million. That's a fact, if you'd continued with the current arrangements, and that's the only place you could have gone to, based on your current argument.
If Plaid Cymru can't welcome our having delivered what their own Members described as a heroic ambition, then surely—surely—there should be some recognition of the enormous benefits that will come to Wales as a consequence of this new franchise: £800 million more on rolling stock; £194 million more on stations; half-price tickets for 16 to 18-year-olds; half of the trains built in Wales. I think it's time to just recognise that, sometimes, we do deliver. We do deliver and we have done. We have delivered an excellent franchise arrangement for the people of Wales.
Profits were raised as an issue earlier, and by the Member now. The profit of 3 per cent was mentioned earlier, and 2.9 per cent. Well, if you look at what Arriva have been making in terms of profits: pre-tax profits in recent times have reached as much as 18.6 per cent; post-tax profits, 6.9 per cent; dividends of £20 million being paid to the parent company; just £3 million invested in—[Interruption.]
We did not sign that contract. That was not a Labour—. That was a non-departmental public body. They got it wrong. They got it wrong, and I'm on record on numerous occasions saying that they got it wrong. I wish those on that side of the Chamber would admit that they've been quick to criticise the way that we've gone about procuring this exercise on numerous occasions, but now is the time to be contrite because we have got it right for the people of Wales.
And in terms of the operator and development partner making a profit, well, it's interesting, because Keolis and Amey both have excellent track records in delivery. If you look at customer satisfaction, actually the two best performing networks at the moment in the UK, in terms of customer satisfaction, are the docklands light railway and the Manchester metro system—both operated by Keolis. And in terms of Amey: an excellent track record, as the Member should know, because one of the organisations that they work for is the Plaid-run Isle of Anglesey council.
In terms of quality, and the Member is absolutely right to say that it's all about the quality of provision—I'll forgive him for not having read all of the brief, because there is a substantial amount of information in there—but he said that people will have to ride on rusting rolling stock that we have now. The statement said that every train is going to be replaced, and that 95 per cent of all passenger journeys will be based on brand-new rolling stock by 2023. [Interruption.] No, the Member said we will still be operating rusting rolling stock that we have now. [Interruption.] No.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiynau ac am ei gyfraniad? Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n deg dweud bod ei neges yn anghyson braidd â’r neges a roddwyd yn gynharach gan arweinydd ei blaid, o ran croesawu'r cytundeb masnachfraint. Dylwn nodi bod arweinydd Plaid Cymru wedi disgrifio’r trefniadau newydd yn gynharach y prynhawn yma yn rhai ‘eilradd’.
Mae'n amlwg mai sefyllfa Plaid Cymru, o ran gosod y fasnachfraint hon, yw na fydden nhw wedi bod mewn unrhyw sefyllfa, pe baen nhw mewn grym, i wneud dim ond parhau â’r trefniadau masnachfraint presennol, oherwydd yn syml—[Torri ar draws.] Oherwydd yn syml nid yw'n bosibl sicrhau bod corff cyhoeddus yn gallu cynnal y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd presennol yn ôl y gyfraith. Rydym ni wedi ceisio newid y gyfraith honno, fel y mae pob plaid yn ei gydnabod. Gallai fod wedi digwydd—gallai mudiad nid-er-elw fod wedi ennill y contract pe baen nhw wedi gwneud cynnig, ond ni ddigwyddodd hynny, ac yn amlwg byddai gwladoli'n dal i fod yn well gennym. Fodd bynnag, o fewn y cyfyngiadau yr ydym yn gweithredu oddi mewn iddynt, rydym ni'n credu mai hon, o bell ffordd, oedd y fargen orau y gellid bod wedi ei tharo.
Yn wir, ymrwymodd Aelodau Plaid Cymru i adroddiad yn ddiweddar a oedd yn dweud, pe baem ni yn cyrraedd y pwynt lle’r ydym ni heddiw, y byddem ni wedi cyflawni uchelgais arwrol. Rydym ni wedi gwneud hynny, ac o fod â’r safbwynt hwnnw—un sydd mor ddi-ildio nes nad ydynt yn cydnabod bod angen inni fod yn bragmatig o ran dyfarnu'r fasnachfraint rheilffyrdd—mae'n awgrymu mai'r unig ffordd ymlaen i Blaid Cymru fyddai wedi bod i barhau gyda’r trefniadau presennol, a byddai pris hynny wedi bod yn enfawr: 16 y cant yn uwch o ran cymorthdaliadau. Felly, byddai Plaid, dros 15 mlynedd, wedi talu pris sy’n cyfateb i fwy na £300 miliwn ychwanegol: 16 y cant yn fwy. Rydym ni'n mynd i arbed 16 y cant o ganlyniad i'r cytundeb yr ydym ni wedi’i daro, a byddai’r gwasanaethau gwael y mae Aelodau eisoes wedi sôn amdanynt wedi parhau ac, wrth gwrs, bydd dros £28 miliwn o elw yn cronni bob blwyddyn. Mae hynny'n ffaith, pe baech chi wedi parhau gyda'r trefniadau presennol, a dyna’r unig beth y gallech fod wedi ei wneud, yn seiliedig ar eich dadl bresennol.
Os na all Plaid Cymru groesawu’r ffaith ein bod wedi cyflawni’r hyn a ddisgrifiodd eu Haelodau eu hunain yn uchelgais arwrol, yna does bosib—does bosib—na ddylai fod rhyw gydnabyddiaeth o'r manteision enfawr a ddaw i Gymru o ganlyniad i'r fasnachfraint newydd hon: £800 miliwn yn fwy ar gerbydau; £194 miliwn yn fwy ar orsafoedd; tocynnau hanner pris i bobl ifanc 16 i 18 mlwydd oed; hanner y trenau’n cael eu hadeiladu yng Nghymru. Rwy’n meddwl ei bod hi'n bryd cydnabod ein bod, weithiau, yn llwyddo. Rydym ni yn llwyddo ac rydym ni wedi llwyddo. Rydym ni wedi llwyddo i gyflawni trefniant masnachfraint ardderchog ar gyfer pobl Cymru.
Codwyd elw fel mater yn gynharach, a gan yr Aelod nawr. Roedd sôn am elw o 3 y cant yn gynharach, a 2.9 y cant. Wel, os edrychwch chi ar yr hyn y mae Arriva wedi bod yn ei wneud o ran elw: mae’r elw cyn treth yn ddiweddar wedi cyrraedd cymaint â 18.6 y cant; elw ar ôl treth, 6.9 y cant; talu difidendau o £20 miliwn i'r rhiant gwmni; buddsoddi dim ond £3 miliwn mewn—[Torri ar draws.]
Nid ni a lofnododd y contract hwnnw. Nid Llafur—. Corff cyhoeddus anadrannol oedd hwnnw. Gwnaethant gamgymeriad. Gwnaethant gamgymeriad, ac rwyf ar goedd droeon yn dweud eu bod wedi gwneud camgymeriad. Hoffwn pe bai’r rheini ar yr ochr honno i'r Siambr yn cyfaddef eu bod wedi bod yn barod iawn i feirniadu'r ffordd yr ydym ni wedi mynd ati i gaffael yr ymarfer hwn ar sawl achlysur, ond nawr yw'r amser i edifarhau oherwydd rydym ni wedi cyflawni hyn dros bobl Cymru.
Ac o ran y gweithredwr a'r partner datblygu’n gwneud elw, wel, mae'n ddiddorol, oherwydd mae gan Keolis ac Amey ill dau hanes rhagorol o ran cyflawni. Os edrychwch chi ar fodlonrwydd cwsmeriaid, yn wir, y ddau rwydwaith sy’n perfformio orau ar hyn o bryd yn y DU, o ran boddhad cwsmeriaid, yw rheilffordd ysgafn y dociau a system fetro Manceinion—Keolis sy’n gweithredu’r ddau. Ac o ran Amey: hanes rhagorol, fel y dylai’r Aelod wybod, oherwydd un o'r sefydliadau y maent yn gweithio iddynt yw Cyngor Ynys Môn o dan reolaeth Plaid.
O ran ansawdd, ac mae’r Aelod yn hollol gywir i ddweud bod ansawdd y ddarpariaeth yn hollbwysig—gwnaf faddau iddo am beidio â bod wedi darllen y briff i gyd, oherwydd mae llawer iawn o wybodaeth yno—ond dywedodd y bydd yn rhaid i bobl deithio ar y cerbydau rhydlyd sydd gennym ni nawr. Roedd y datganiad yn dweud bod pob trên yn mynd i gael ei ddisodli, ac y bydd 95 y cant o’r holl deithiau teithwyr yn cael eu gwneud ar gerbydau newydd sbon erbyn 2023. [Torri ar draws.] Na, dywedodd yr Aelod y byddwn yn dal i weithredu cerbydau rhydlyd sydd gennym nawr. [Torri ar draws.] Na.
Four years.
Pedair blynedd.
No. We will be replacing the units that currently operate on the north-south main line. We're going to be moving to freshly refitted and refurbished Mark 4 trains. Why? Well, because during the consultation process—and 1,300 people and organisations participated in that process—we were told that that much-valued service needed to be enhanced in terms of journey times and in terms of the quality of provision. And so, as a consequence, the bidders went out to look for the best rolling stock solutions. The Mark 4 is a class leader in terms of comfort. It is recognised as being one of the best trains in terms of passenger comfort and so, for that reason, they will be refitted and brought into use as soon as possible.
In terms of the new trains that will be operating, actually, the new diesel multiple units will be operating not in 2023-24, as the Member has just called across the Chamber. In north Wales, which I know the Member is very keen to see benefit from this exercise—. North Wales will be the first area to benefit from the new DMUs in 2022, and in terms of the north-south service that, again, the Member has referred to on a number of occasions, not only are we going to be maintaining the current service level, we are going to be improving it with bidirectional services.
The Member also said that the onboard catering offer is currently insufficient, and I agree. That's why I said that, as a minimum, provision should be maintained at the same level everywhere, and improved wherever possible. So, as a consequence, what the successful bidder has promised to do is to improve the catering offer on the service that the Member identified. But it's not just that service: the catering offer will be improved across the Wales and borders network. It's absolutely crucial that passengers expect a higher level of comfort, and a greater degree of catering offer. They wouldn't have got that if we had maintained the current franchise agreement, which is what the leader of Plaid Cymru would have to do, but they will get it with our franchise agreement.
And in terms of transport bringing people closer together, there are many examples of how people are going to be brought closer together in this. Transport for Wales will be a national not-for-profit organisation tasked with maintaining an oversight of the current franchise agreement and making sure that there are improvements in the network, carried out at speed and to budget. But in terms of some of the examples of how people are going to be brought closer together, from this December there'll be new services; there'll be changes introduced in 2019; and there'll be 22 per cent more Sunday mileage operations from 2019. Cardiff Central to Bridgend: a perfect example of how we can bring people closer together. There's going to be a consistent four-train-per-hour solution from 2019. I could go on. The list is there, ready for Members to see, if they wish. Every single service improvement demonstrates how we are uniting the country better, bringing people closer together and bringing people closer to their places of work more speedily as well.
In terms of profit, the Member is right, profit does need to be reinvested wherever, whenever possible. We are capping the profit margins of the operator and development partner, and all excess will be reinvested back into the network. We're going to be monitoring the performance of the operator, and we're also going to be looking at using break clauses as a means to ensure that they deliver against the proposals that they've outlined in their procurement bid.
In terms of the not-for-profit question—whether a not-for-profit organisation could operate the rail services—again, I must stress that there was nothing preventing a not-for-profit organisation from bidding. Unfortunately, one did not—[Interruption.] We were encouraging one, and indeed, it was in our manifesto. That's why we were encouraging a not-for-profit organisation. Sadly, none came forward.
The key point here, Llywydd, is the interest of passengers. That is what matters most, and we are delivering a first-class franchise arrangement for the people of Wales.
Na. Byddwn yn disodli’r unedau sydd ar waith ar hyn o bryd ar y brif reilffordd o’r gogledd i'r de. Rydym yn mynd i ddechrau defnyddio trenau Marc 4 sydd wedi’u hailosod a’u hadnewyddu. Pam? Wel, oherwydd yn ystod y broses ymgynghori—ac roedd 1,300 o bobl a sefydliadau wedi cymryd rhan yn y broses honno—dywedwyd wrthym fod angen gwella’r gwasanaeth gwerthfawr hwnnw o ran amseroedd teithio ac o ran ansawdd y ddarpariaeth. Ac felly, o ganlyniad, aeth y cynigwyr i chwilio am y cerbydau gorau i ddatrys y sefyllfa. Mae’r Marc 4 yn arweinydd dosbarth o ran cysur. Fe’i cydnabyddir fel un o'r trenau gorau o ran cysur teithwyr ac felly, am y rheswm hwnnw, byddant yn cael eu hailosod a byddwn yn dechrau eu defnyddio cyn gynted â phosibl.
O ran y trenau newydd a fydd yn gweithredu, a dweud y gwir, bydd yr unedau lluosog disel newydd yn gweithredu nid yn 2023-24, fel y mae’r Aelod newydd ddweud ar draws y Siambr. Yn y gogledd, y gwn y mae'r Aelod yn awyddus iawn i’w weld yn elwa o’r ymarfer hwn—. Gogledd Cymru fydd yr ardal gyntaf i elwa o’r unedau lluosog disel newydd yn 2022, ac o ran y gwasanaeth rhwng y gogledd a'r de y mae’r Aelod, eto, wedi cyfeirio ato ar sawl achlysur, nid yn unig y byddwn yn cynnal y lefel gwasanaeth bresennol, byddwn yn ei gwella gyda gwasanaethau i’r ddau gyfeiriad.
Dywedodd yr Aelod hefyd fod y cynnig arlwyo ar y trenau’n annigonol ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy’n cytuno. Dyna pam yr wyf wedi dweud, fel isafswm, y dylid cynnal y ddarpariaeth ar yr un lefel ym mhob man, a'i gwella lle bo hynny'n bosibl. Felly, o ganlyniad, yr hyn y mae’r cynigydd llwyddiannus wedi addo ei wneud yw gwella'r cynnig arlwyo ar y gwasanaeth a nodwyd gan yr Aelod. Ond nid dim ond y gwasanaeth hwnnw: caiff y cynnig arlwyo ei wella ar draws rhwydwaith Cymru a'r gororau. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod teithwyr yn disgwyl teithiau mwy cysurus, a gwell cynnig arlwyo. Ni fyddent wedi cael hynny pe baem wedi cadw’r cytundeb masnachfraint cyfredol, sef yr hyn y byddai’n rhaid i arweinydd Plaid Cymru ei wneud, ond byddant yn ei gael gyda’n cytundeb masnachfraint ni.
Ac o ran trafnidiaeth yn dod â phobl yn nes at ei gilydd, mae llawer o enghreifftiau o sut y bydd hyn yn dod â phobl yn nes at ei gilydd. Bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn fudiad nid-er-elw cenedlaethol sy'n gyfrifol am oruchwylio’r cytundeb masnachfraint presennol a gwneud yn siŵr bod gwelliannau i’r rhwydwaith yn cael eu gwneud yn gyflym ac o fewn y gyllideb. Ond o ran rhai o'r enghreifftiau o sut y bydd hyn yn dod â phobl yn nes at ei gilydd, o fis Rhagfyr eleni ymlaen bydd gwasanaethau newydd; cyflwynir newidiadau yn 2019; a bydd 22 y cant yn fwy o filltiroedd ar ddydd Sul o 2019 ymlaen. Caerdydd Canolog i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr: enghraifft berffaith o sut y gallwn ni ddod â phobl yn nes at ei gilydd. Bydd datrysiad cyson pedwar-trên-yr-awr o 2019 ymlaen. Gallwn roi rhagor o enghreifftiau. Mae’r rhestr yno, yn barod i Aelodau ei gweld, os ydynt yn dymuno. Mae pob un gwelliant i’r gwasanaeth yn dangos sut yr ydym yn uno’r wlad yn well, yn dod â phobl yn nes at ei gilydd ac yn dod â phobl yn nes at eu mannau gwaith yn gyflymach yn ogystal.
O ran elw, mae'r Aelod yn gywir, mae angen ailfuddsoddi elw lle bynnag a phryd bynnag y bo'n bosibl. Rydym yn capio elw’r gweithredwr a'r partner datblygu, a chaiff pob gormodedd ei ailfuddsoddi yn y rhwydwaith. Byddwn yn monitro perfformiad y gweithredwr, a byddwn hefyd yn edrych ar ddefnyddio cymalau toriad fel modd o sicrhau eu bod yn cyflawni yn erbyn y cynigion y maent wedi eu hamlinellu yn eu cynnig caffael.
O ran y cwestiwn nid-er-elw—a allai mudiad nid-er-elw weithredu’r gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd—unwaith eto, rhaid imi bwysleisio nad oedd dim i atal mudiad nid-er-elw rhag ymgeisio. Yn anffodus, ni wnaeth un—[Torri ar draws.] Roeddem yn annog un, ac yn wir, roedd hynny yn ein maniffesto. Dyna pam yr oeddem yn annog mudiad nid-er-elw. Yn anffodus, ni ddaeth un ymlaen.
Y pwynt allweddol yma, Llywydd, yw budd y teithwyr. Dyna sydd bwysicaf, ac rydym yn darparu trefniant masnachfraint o'r radd flaenaf i bobl Cymru.
Well, perhaps I ought to point out that those wonderful trains that Rhun ap Iorwerth referred to on the continent were probably paid for by the billions of pounds Britain has poured into Europe over the last 40 years.
But, to move on, can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for this statement, which gives a comprehensive overview of what the new franchise is expected to deliver over the coming years? I must say, there are some mouthwatering promises that should silence even the most critical of commentators. Enhancements to stations, rolling stock and vastly increased timetables augur well for the future of rail travel in Wales and the borders. The competitive dialogue process certainly seems to be justified by the commitments you have extracted from the winning franchisee.
We are, of course, very aware of aspirations as opposed to outcomes, so it is gratifying to know that you've put in place clauses allowing you to terminate contracts at the five and 10-year stage if the franchisee does not deliver as envisaged. There are many improvements to services' frequency and times that, together with the increased capacity provided by new and more numerous units of rolling stock, should provide the quality of service so desperately needed to improve passenger satisfaction.
There is just one note of disappointment, as a Member for south Wales, and that is, although you speak of extra services, better rolling stock and rail improvements to the Ebbw Vale line, there remains the notable omission of a commitment to a rail link into Newport. When I questioned Arriva Trains with regard to why this link could not be achieved, they indicated that the line was at full capacity with the service to Cardiff. Will the Cabinet Secretary indicate whether the new improvements to the Ebbw Vale line will at long last create enough capacity for this desperately needed Newport connection? Thank you.
Wel, efallai y dylwn nodi ei bod yn debygol y talwyd am y trenau gwych hynny y cyfeiriodd Rhun ap Iorwerth atynt ar y cyfandir â’r biliynau o bunnoedd y mae Prydain wedi’u harllwys i mewn i Ewrop dros y 40 mlynedd diwethaf.
Ond, i symud ymlaen, a gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am y datganiad hwn, sy'n rhoi trosolwg cynhwysfawr o'r hyn y disgwylir i’r fasnachfraint newydd ei gyflawni dros y blynyddoedd nesaf? Rhaid imi ddweud, ceir rhai addewidion deniadol iawn a ddylai tawelu hyd yn oed y sylwebyddion mwyaf beirniadol. Mae gwelliannau i orsafoedd a cherbydau ac amserlenni llawer iawn mwy yn argoeli'n dda i ddyfodol teithio ar y rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru a'r gororau. Mae’n sicr yn ymddangos bod modd cyfiawnhau'r broses ddeialog gystadleuol o edrych ar yr ymrwymiadau yr ydych chi wedi’u sicrhau gan y masnachfreiniwr buddugol.
Rydym, wrth gwrs, yn ymwybodol iawn o ddyheadau yn hytrach na chanlyniadau, felly mae'n braf gwybod eich bod wedi cynnwys cymalau sy'n caniatáu ichi derfynu contractau ar ôl pump a 10 mlynedd os nad yw gweithredwr y fasnachfraint yn darparu fel y rhagwelwyd. Ceir llawer o welliannau i amlder ac amseroedd gwasanaethau a ddylai, ynghyd â’r cynnydd mewn capasiti a ddarperir gan gerbydau newydd a mwy niferus, ddarparu gwasanaeth o’r ansawdd y mae ei ddirfawr angen i wella boddhad teithwyr.
Dim ond un nodyn o siom, fel Aelod o’r de, a hwnnw yw, er eich bod yn sôn am wasanaethau ychwanegol, gwell cerbydau a gwelliannau i reilffordd Glynebwy, un peth sy’n dal i fod yn amlwg wedi’i hepgor yw ymrwymiad i gyswllt rheilffordd i Gasnewydd. Pan holais Trenau Arriva pam na ellid cyflawni’r cyswllt hwn, dywedasant fod y rheilffordd yn llawn gyda'r gwasanaeth i Gaerdydd. A all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddweud a fydd y gwelliannau newydd i reilffordd Glynebwy o’r diwedd yn creu digon o gapasiti ar gyfer y cyswllt â Chasnewydd y mae ei ddirfawr angen? Diolch.
Can I thank the Member for his contribution, for his questions and for warmly welcoming the announcement, and can I thank him for on previous occasions also welcoming the process by which we have procured the Wales and borders franchise operator, that being competitive dialogue?
I think it's an interesting example of how, in carrying out an innovative and creative approach, we have been able to showcase to the rest of the UK how perhaps procurement of rail contracts should be carried out in the future. Up until now, the way that franchises have been let has been such that Governments have sent out a big transit van of specifications and then bidders have come back with a price, and that means of going about procuring a contractor has led to bidders being incentivised to just give the lowest cost return and, in doing so, often to provide an unsustainable provision. As a consequence, we've seen the failure of franchise arrangements across the UK. What we've done is turned that on its head and through a process of having a funding envelope and entering into competitive dialogue we've said to bidders: 'This is the envelope; this is the maximum sum of money available; what can you do for it?' And then we've stretched and stretched in order to ensure that we get the best possible arrangements, and I think that's why we've been able to extract such a positive deal for people the length and breadth of Wales.
The Member is absolutely right about rolling stock needing to improve. More than 140 new trains will be provided for the network and, of course, more than half of those will be built in Wales. Every single one of the 247 stations will receive an upgrade. It's quite a fact, actually, that, in the current franchise arrangement over the last 15 years, we believe that approximately £600,000 has been spent on stations. In contrast, the figure will be £194 million in the next franchise—quite a contrast, and I think that again demonstrates why the previous franchise arrangement was unfit, whereas the current arrangements that we've agreed are superb for passengers and communities alike.
I'm pleased to be able to say to the Member that the South Wales Argus's campaign for Ebbw Vale to Newport services has been successful, and Members have achieved what they have wished to do over many years because within the franchise arrangement there will be a train per hour operating between Ebbw Vale and Newport. It's something that many people during the consultation exercise said they needed, they wanted, and I'm pleased that we've been able to provide it.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gyfraniad, am ei gwestiynau ac am roi croeso cynnes i'r cyhoeddiad, ac a gaf i ddiolch iddo am groesawu ar achlysuron blaenorol hefyd y broses yr ydym ni wedi’i defnyddio i gaffael gweithredwr masnachfraint Cymru a’r gororau, sef deialog gystadleuol?
Rwy’n meddwl ei bod yn enghraifft ddiddorol o sut, drwy ddefnyddio dull creadigol ac arloesol, rydym ni wedi gallu dangos i weddill y DU sut efallai y dylid caffael contractau rheilffyrdd yn y dyfodol. Cyn hyn, mae masnachfreintiau wedi cael eu gosod drwy i Lywodraethau anfon fan fawr o fanylebau ac wedyn bod cynigwyr wedi dod yn ôl gyda phris, ac nid yw’r ffordd honno o fynd ati i gaffael contractwr wedi cymell cynigwyr i wneud dim mwy na chynnig y gost isaf bosibl ac, felly, byddent yn aml yn darparu darpariaeth anghynaladwy. O ganlyniad, rydym ni wedi gweld methiant trefniadau masnachfraint ledled y DU. Rydyn ni wedi troi hynny ar ei ben a drwy broses o ddarparu amlen ariannu ac ymrwymo i ddeialog gystadleuol, rydym ni wedi dweud wrth gynigwyr: 'Dyma’r amlen; dyma’r swm mwyaf o arian sydd ar gael; beth allwch chi ei wneud ag ef?' Ac yna rydym ni wedi ymestyn ac ymestyn er mwyn sicrhau y cawn ni'r trefniadau gorau posibl, ac rwy’n meddwl mai dyna pam ein bod ni wedi gallu taro bargen mor gadarnhaol i bobl ar hyd a lled Cymru.
Mae'r Aelod yn hollol gywir bod angen gwella cerbydau. Darperir dros 140 o drenau newydd ar gyfer y rhwydwaith ac, wrth gwrs, caiff mwy na hanner y rheini eu hadeiladu yng Nghymru. Caiff pob un o'r 247 o orsafoedd eu huwchraddio. Mae'n dipyn o ffaith, a dweud y gwir, ein bod yn credu bod oddeutu £600,000 wedi'i wario ar orsafoedd yn y trefniant masnachfraint presennol dros y 15 mlynedd diwethaf. Ar y llaw arall, bydd y ffigur yn £194 miliwn yn y fasnachfraint nesaf—tipyn o gyferbyniad, ac rwy’n meddwl bod hynny'n dangos unwaith eto pam yr oedd y trefniant masnachfraint blaenorol yn anaddas, tra bod y trefniadau presennol yr ydym ni wedi cytuno arnynt yn wych i deithwyr a chymunedau fel ei gilydd.
Rwy’n falch o allu dweud wrth yr Aelod bod ymgyrch y South Wales Argus ar gyfer gwasanaethau o Lynebwy i Gasnewydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus, a bod yr Aelodau wedi cyflawni’r hyn y maent wedi dymuno ei wneud ers blynyddoedd lawer oherwydd o fewn y trefniant masnachfraint bydd un trên bob awr yn gweithredu rhwng Glynebwy a Chasnewydd. Mae'n rhywbeth y dywedodd llawer o bobl yn ystod yr ymarfer ymgynghori fod ei angen arnynt, fod ei eisiau arnynt, ac rwy’n falch ein bod wedi gallu ei ddarparu.
I warmly welcome this announcement. I think it's very positive and very exciting and will bring great benefits to Wales. I certainly welcome the method of procurement, which I think will result in a more passenger-focused service, and I congratulate the Cabinet Secretary on his achievement.
I just want to welcome particularly a certain—. I welcome the emphasis on introducing electric trains and the commitment to sourcing this from renewable sources—50 per cent from within Wales; I think that is a great step forward—and also the use of the tri-mode trains, which will minimise disruption on the Valleys lines.
My constituents in Cardiff North are always complaining about not being able to get on the trains or the trains being so crowded that they find the journey is very difficult, so I'm really pleased that there are going to be, I think it's 45 per cent, more seats in the peak morning travel time. So, I think that will be a huge help to my constituents in Cardiff North.
I'm also very pleased about the new stations that are being proposed. There's a new station being proposed called the Gabalfa station. Now, that is not exactly where I had expected it to be, and it's actually in Llandaff North ward. I welcome it, but I wondered if the Cabinet Secretary had any information about how a decision was made about where exactly to site it, because it's not exactly where I thought it would be, and whether that is set in stone as well. We certainly need a station in that area, but I think there would be benefits to it being in a slightly different place.
I was also very interested to see that there are plans to develop a metro spur link to Velindre cancer centre, which is something that I've been very keen to see, because, obviously, with the increasing numbers of people who are using the services of Velindre, particularly due to an ageing population, the more public transport we can get that's going straight into Velindre in this way, I think, will be ideal. So, I wondered if the Cabinet Secretary could provide any more details on the plans for the cross-Government working on this, which is referred to in his statement yesterday.
Lastly, I'd like to support your call for the Welsh Government to take on responsibility for the inter-city franchise between Wales and the rest of the UK.
Croesawaf y cyhoeddiad hwn yn fawr iawn. Rwy’n meddwl ei fod yn gadarnhaol iawn ac yn gyffrous iawn a bydd yn dod â manteision mawr i Gymru. Yn sicr, rwy’n croesawu’r dull caffael; rwy’n meddwl y bydd yn arwain at wasanaeth sy'n canolbwyntio mwy ar y teithwyr, ac rwy’n llongyfarch Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar ei lwyddiant.
Hoffwn roi croeso arbennig i un—. Rwy’n croesawu’r pwyslais ar gyflwyno trenau trydan a’r ymrwymiad i gael y trydan o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy—50 y cant oddi mewn i Gymru; rwy’n meddwl bod hynny'n gam mawr ymlaen—a hefyd defnyddio trenau tri-moddol, a fydd yn lleihau amhariadau ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd.
Mae fy etholwyr yng Ngogledd Caerdydd bob amser yn cwyno nad ydynt yn gallu mynd ar y trenau neu fod y trenau mor orlawn nes bod y daith yn anodd iawn, felly rwy’n falch iawn y bydd, rwy’n meddwl, 45 y cant yn fwy o seddau yn y cyfnod prysur yn y bore. Felly, rwy’n meddwl y bydd hynny’n help mawr i'm hetholwyr yng Ngogledd Caerdydd.
Rwyf hefyd yn falch iawn am y gorsafoedd newydd a gynigir. Mae gorsaf newydd wedi’i chynnig o’r enw gorsaf Gabalfa. Nawr, nid yw honno yn union lle’r oeddwn wedi disgwyl iddi fod; a dweud y gwir, mae hi yn ward Gogledd Llandaf. Rwy’n ei chroesawu, ond tybed a oedd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi cael unrhyw wybodaeth ynglŷn â sut y penderfynwyd ble yn union i’w lleoli, oherwydd nid yw'n union yn lle y meddyliais i y byddai, ac a yw hynny wedi’i gadarnhau hefyd. Yn sicr mae angen gorsaf yn yr ardal honno, ond rwy’n meddwl y byddai o fantais ei rhoi mewn lle ychydig yn wahanol.
Roedd hefyd yn ddiddorol iawn gweld bod cynlluniau i ddatblygu cyswllt cangen metro â chanolfan canser Felindre, sy'n rhywbeth yr wyf wedi bod yn awyddus iawn i’w weld, oherwydd, yn amlwg, gan fod niferoedd cynyddol o bobl yn defnyddio gwasanaethau'r Felindre, yn enwedig gan fod y boblogaeth yn heneiddio, rwy’n meddwl y byddai darparu mwy o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sy'n mynd yn syth i Felindre fel hyn yn ddelfrydol. Felly, tybed a allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi mwy o fanylion am y cynlluniau ar gyfer y gwaith trawslywodraethol ynglŷn â hyn, y cyfeirir ato yn ei ddatganiad ddoe.
Yn olaf, hoffwn ategu eich galwad ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gymryd cyfrifoldeb am y fasnachfraint rhwng dinasoedd rhwng Cymru a gweddill y DU.
Can I thank Julie Morgan for her questions and again for warmly welcoming the announcement?
I'm also delighted that the preferred bidder was able to bring forward very ambitious plans for reducing carbon emissions—a reduction of 25 per cent in the next five years—and, probably more importantly, the promise that 100 per cent of the electric to be used on the electrification of services will be renewable, and that 50 per cent will be sourced from Wales. With the tri-mode trains, with our battery-operated trains, I think we're demonstrating that Wales is trailblazing as the providers of twenty-first century electrification. Until recently, it's always been assumed that you can only electrify by installing a huge number of pylons, cables everywhere, but, actually, that's not the case. It was recently highlighted in the Welsh Affairs Select Committee's report that the potential of hydrogen and battery-operated trains today is enormous. Some countries, to be fair, have been operating those sorts of technological improvements for many years—Japan, for example, have been using that sort of technology for over a decade—but few in the UK. So, I'm delighted that Wales will be at the forefront of using renewable energy, using a new form of electrification, and trailblazing in that way.
I'm also pleased, as the Member highlighted, that we'll see a significant increase in capacity. I think the staggering fact that there will be a 65 per cent increase in the size of the fleet across the Wales and borders network and the metro area shows that there is huge, huge potential to meet now the expected passenger growth, which is currently standing at around about 74 per cent by 2030. So, clearly, what the bidder, what KeolisAmey, have provided within their procurement bid meets passenger expectations in terms of demand for seats.
In terms of the siting of new stations, well, this was carried out on the basis of the availability of land and property and the potential to integrate with other forms of transport—buses, active travel, strategic park and ride—and also the need to integrate with strategic land planning for new developments and, of course, the need to be positioned in strategically important areas for people to be able to gain access to them from home and from work. I'm happy to discuss further the siting of the particular station that the Member has highlighted, but the Member is absolutely right in pointing to the spur that will serve Velindre, that this is a great example of the integration of public services with public transport.
In terms of cross-Government working, I'm keen to continue dialogue with my colleagues, particularly in local government and in health and in planning, to ensure that, where there is social infrastructure being created, it matches perfectly the transport infrastructure that is also being planned for those areas.
A gaf i ddiolch i Julie Morgan am ei chwestiynau ac unwaith eto am roi croeso cynnes i'r cyhoeddiad?
Rwyf innau’n falch iawn bod y cynigiwr a ffefrir wedi gallu cyflwyno cynlluniau uchelgeisiol iawn ar gyfer lleihau allyriadau carbon—gostyngiad 25 y cant yn y pum mlynedd nesaf—ac, yn fwy na thebyg yn bwysicach, yr addewid y bydd 100 y cant o’r trydan i’w ddefnyddio i drydaneiddio gwasanaethau’n adnewyddadwy, ac y bydd 50 y cant ohono’n dod o Gymru. Gyda’r trenau tri-moddol, gyda’n trenau batri, rwy’n meddwl ein bod yn dangos bod Cymru yn arloesol fel darparwyr trydaneiddio i’r unfed ganrif ar hugain. Tan yn ddiweddar, y dyb erioed oedd mai’r unig ffordd o drydaneiddio fyddai drwy osod nifer enfawr o beilonau, ceblau ym mhobman, ond, a dweud y gwir, nid yw hynny'n wir. Yn ddiweddar tynnwyd sylw yn adroddiad y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig bod potensial trenau pŵer hydrogen a batri heddiw yn enfawr. Mae rhai gwledydd, a bod yn deg, wedi bod yn gweithredu’r mathau hynny o welliannau technolegol ers blynyddoedd lawer—mae Japan, er enghraifft, wedi bod yn defnyddio'r math hwnnw o dechnoleg ers dros ddegawd—ond ychydig iawn yn y DU. Felly, rwy’n falch iawn y bydd Cymru ar flaen y gad o ran defnyddio ynni adnewyddadwy, defnyddio ffurf newydd ar drydaneiddio, ac arloesi yn y ffordd honno.
Rwyf hefyd yn falch, fel y nododd yr Aelod, y byddwn yn gweld cynnydd sylweddol mewn capasiti. Rwy’n meddwl bod y ffaith syfrdanol y bydd cynnydd o 65 y cant ym maint y fflyd ar draws rhwydwaith Cymru a'r gororau a'r ardal fetro yn dangos potensial mawr iawn, iawn nawr i gwrdd â’r twf disgwyliedig yn nifer y teithwyr, sydd ar hyn o bryd o gwmpas 74 y cant erbyn 2030. Felly, yn