Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
02/10/2018Cynnwys
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 ar ein hagenda ni'r prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Michelle Brown.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Michelle Brown.
1. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o welliannau i amseroedd aros ysbytai ers iddo ddod yn Brif Weinidog? OAQ52698
1. What assessment has the First Minister made of improvements to hospital waiting times since he became First Minister? OAQ52698
Well, I'm pleased the Member acknowledges the improvement. I recognise there is more to do, which is why we have invested an additional £30 million this year to build on the progress made over the last two years and to reduce waiting times further by March 2019.
Wel, rwy'n falch bod yr Aelod yn cydnabod y gwelliant. Rwy'n cydnabod bod mwy i'w wneud, a dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi buddsoddi £30 miliwn ychwanegol eleni i adeiladu ar y cynnydd a wnaed dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf ac i leihau amseroedd aros ymhellach erbyn mis Mawrth 2019.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I'm sure you'd like to make that inference from my question, but, in your final speech to the Labour conference as First Minister, you made great play of saying that what you have achieved in Wales shows what Labour can do when in power. Perhaps you were caught up in your demob happiness, but you forgot to mention that, since becoming First Minister, the percentage of people waiting longer than four hours in accident and emergency has got worse, the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients starting treatment within the 30-day target has got worse, the number of urgent-route cancer patients starting treatment within the target 62 days has got worse, and the number of patients waiting longer than 26 weeks for treatment has also got worse. So, First Minister, don't you think that, rather than your record being a cause for celebration at what Labour can do for the UK, it's actually a stark warning of what Labour will do to the UK, given the opportunity?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n siŵr yr hoffech chi gymryd yr ystyr hwnnw o fy nghwestiwn, ond, yn eich araith olaf i gynhadledd y Blaid Lafur fel Prif Weinidog, gwnaethoch fôr a mynydd o ddweud bod yr hyn yr ydych chi wedi ei gyflawni yng Nghymru yn dangos yr hyn y gall Llafur ei wneud pan fydd mewn grym. Efallai eich bod chi wedi ymgolli yn eich hapusrwydd o ymadael, ond fe wnaethoch anghofio sôn, ers dod yn Brif Weinidog, bod canran y bobl sy'n aros mwy na phedair awr mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys wedi gwaethygu, bod nifer y cleifion canser diagnosis newydd yn dechrau triniaeth o fewn y targed o 30 diwrnod wedi gwaethygu, bod nifer y cleifion canser llwybr brys yn dechrau triniaeth o fewn y targed o 62 diwrnod wedi gwaethygu, ac mae nifer y cleifion sy'n aros mwy na 26 wythnos am driniaeth wedi gwaethygu hefyd. Felly, Prif Weinidog, onid ydych chi'n credu, yn hytrach na bod eich hanes yn achos i ddathlu'r hyn y gall Llafur ei wneud i'r DU, ei fod mewn gwirionedd yn rhybudd amlwg o'r hyn y bydd Llafur yn ei wneud i'r DU, o gael y cyfle?
Well, the number of people waiting over 36 weeks in July was 31 per cent lower than July of last year—52 per cent lower than the high point of August 2015. We expect continued improvement this year. The median waiting time in Wales has reduced from 10.9 weeks in September 2017 to 8.9 weeks in July of this year. We also continue to show significant improvements in diagnostic waits; performance continues to improve, even with the additional diagnostic test being reported from April 2018, with the number waiting over eight weeks at the end of July being 24 per cent lower than in July last year, and 82 per cent lower than the high of January 2014. Now, I could go on with more figures that show the improvement, but one thing I can say to her is that a Labour Government in Westminster would ensure that there are sufficient resources made available for the Welsh Government and also sufficient resources to turn around the dire performance of the NHS in England.
Wel, roedd nifer y bobl a fu'n aros dros 36 wythnos ym mis Gorffennaf 31 y cant yn is na mis Gorffennaf y llynedd—52 y cant yn is na'r nifer uchaf ym mis Awst 2015. Rydym ni'n disgwyl parhau i wella eleni. Mae'r amser aros canolrifol yng Nghymru wedi lleihau o 10.9 wythnos ym mis Medi 2017 i 8.9 wythnos ym mis Gorffennaf eleni. Rydym ni hefyd yn parhau i ddangos gwelliannau sylweddol o ran amseroedd aros diagnostig; mae perfformiad yn parhau i wella, hyd yn oed gyda'r prawf diagnostig ychwanegol yn cael ei adrodd o fis Ebrill 2018, ac roedd y nifer a fu'n aros dros wyth wythnos ar ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf 24 y cant yn is nag ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd, ac 82 y cant yn is na'r nifer uchaf ym mis Ionawr 2014. Nawr, gallwn barhau gyda mwy o ffigurau sy'n dangos y gwelliant, ond un peth y gallaf ei ddweud wrthi yw y byddai Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan yn sicrhau bod digon o adnoddau ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru a digon o adnoddau ar gael i weddnewid perfformiad echrydus y GIG yn Lloegr hefyd.
I'd like to just talk about the NHS in Wales—I didn't realise you were responsible for the one in England as well. Your figures do sound absolutely superb, First Minister, and I don't quarrel with the improvements, where the improvements are. However, of course, those improvements aren't universal. As you know, the £50 million that was given last year, a chunk of it had to be recouped, because health boards didn't meet the targets that they were set by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, to achieve those reductions in those key areas; another £30 million this year. How confident are you that that will be able to be spent wisely by the health boards, and how can you evidence that those who didn't spend it well last year and had to have it snatched back will be able to do something useful with it this year, to continue to make sure that reductions in waiting times, where they are seen, are universal and not just in pockets throughout Wales?
Hoffwn sôn ychydig am y GIG yng Nghymru—doeddwn i ddim yn sylweddoli eich bod chi'n gyfrifol am yr un yn Lloegr hefyd. Mae eich ffigurau yn swnio'n hollol wych, Prif Weinidog, ac nid wyf i'n dadlau gyda'r gwelliannau, lle ceir gwelliannau. Fodd bynnag, wrth gwrs, nid yw'r gwelliannau hynny yn gyffredinol. Fel y gwyddoch, y £50 miliwn a roddwyd y llynedd, bu'n rhaid adennill cyfran ohono oherwydd i fyrddau iechyd fethu â bodloni'r targedau a bennwyd ar eu cyfer gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, i sicrhau'r gostyngiadau hynny mewn meysydd allweddol; £30 miliwn arall eleni. Pa mor ffyddiog ydych chi y bydd modd i'r byrddau iechyd wario hwnnw'n ddoeth, a sut y gallwch chi brofi y bydd y rhai na wnaeth ei wario'n ddoeth y llynedd ac y bu'n rhaid ei gipio yn ôl oddi wrthynt yn gallu gwneud rhywbeth defnyddiol ag ef eleni, i barhau i wneud yn siŵr bod gostyngiadau i amseroedd aros, lle maen nhw i'w gweld, yn gyffredinol ac nid dim ond mewn pocedi ledled Cymru?
Well, that can be done through the development of the boards' three-year integrated medium-term plans. They are providing detailed capacity and demand profiles for this year, and they are required to show clear trajectories as to how they plan to continue to reduce waiting times for diagnostics and for treatment. In the longer term, of course, we do recognise the need to transform the way services are delivered, and that's why we've set up a £100 million fund to develop new ways of working.
Wel, gellir gwneud hynny trwy ddatblygu cynlluniau tymor canolig integredig tair blynedd y byrddau. Maen nhw'n darparu proffiliau capasiti a galw manwl ar gyfer y flwyddyn hon, ac mae'n ofynnol iddyn nhw ddangos llwybrau eglur o ran sut y maen nhw'n bwriadu parhau i leihau amseroedd aros ar gyfer diagnosteg ac ar gyfer triniaeth. Yn y tymor hwy, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n cydnabod yr angen i weddnewid y ffordd y mae gwasanaethau yn cael eu darparu, a dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi sefydlu cronfa o £100 miliwn i ddatblygu ffyrdd newydd o weithio.
First Minister, one of my constituents reported seeing 15 ambulances queuing outside a north Wales emergency department not long ago. This is the health board still under special measures, still under your Government's watch. That is 15 ambulances not available to help those desperately needing help elsewhere. This now seems to be the norm. What is your Government doing to address this situation in the north Wales region, and when will we finally see the impact of your special measures?
Prif Weinidog, dywedodd un o'm hetholwyr ei fod wedi gweld 15 o ambiwlansys yn ciwio y tu allan i adran achosion brys yn y gogledd heb fod ymhell yn ôl. Dyma'r bwrdd iechyd sy'n dal i fod yn destun mesurau arbennig, yn dal i fod o dan oruchwyliaeth eich Llywodraeth chi. Mae hynny'n 15 o ambiwlansys nad ydynt ar gael i helpu'r rhai sydd angen cymorth yn ddybryd mewn mannau eraill. Ymddengys mai hyn yw'r norm erbyn hyn. Beth mae eich Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa hon yn rhanbarth gogledd Cymru, a phryd y byddwn ni'n gweld effaith eich mesurau arbennig o'r diwedd?
I don't know where she's talking about, and, without any more details, it's difficult to comment. What I can say to her, of course, is we've seen, month on month, sustained improvements in ambulance response times. I can tell her that, in August, there were 89,419 attendances at Welsh accident and emergency departments. That's an average of 2,884 attendances per day. The vast majority of patients continue to receive timely care. And, in August, 80 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. There are of course times when A&E is busier than other times of year, and indeed other times in the week, but we see from the ambulance response times, and, of course, the performance in A&E, that the vast majority of people get treatment when they need it, at an appropriate time.
Nid wyf i'n gwybod am ble y mae hi'n sôn amdano, a heb ragor o fanylion, mae'n anodd cynnig sylwadau. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthi, wrth gwrs, yw ein bod ni wedi gweld gwelliannau parhaus, o fis i fis, i amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys. Gallaf ddweud wrthi, ym mis Awst, y bu 89,419 o ymweliadau ag adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys Cymru. Mae hynny'n 2,884 o ymweliadau y dydd ar gyfartaledd. Mae'r mwyafrif llethol o gleifion yn parhau i dderbyn gofal prydlon. Ac ym mis Awst, derbyniwyd, trosglwyddwyd neu rhyddhawyd 80 y cant o gleifion o fewn pedair awr. Wrth gwrs, ceir adegau pan fydd adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys yn brysurach nag adegau eraill o'r flwyddyn, ac ar adegau eraill yn ystod yr wythnos yn wir, ond rydym ni'n gweld o amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys, ac, wrth gwrs, y perfformiad mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, fod y mwyafrif llethol o bobl yn cael triniaeth pan fydd ei hangen arnynt, ar adeg briodol.
2. Beth yw gweledigaeth tymor hir Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer datblygu gwasanaethau bysiau yng nghefn gwlad? OAQ52656
2. What is the Welsh Government's long-term vision for the development of bus services in the countryside? OAQ52656
Wel, mae rhwydwaith bysiau cynaliadwy yn hanfodol i bobl sy’n byw mewn cymunedau gwledig. Byddwn ni’n gweithio, wrth gwrs, gyda’n partneriaid i ariannu gwasanaethau a chyfleusterau allweddol, a gwella mynediad atynt hefyd, wrth gwrs. Fel rhan o’r strategaeth honno, wrth gwrs, rŷm ni'n moyn sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwella'r system fysiau ac, wrth gwrs, mae yna gyfle dros y blynyddoedd nesaf, achos y ffaith bod gennym ni rym nawr dros fysiau, i greu deddfwriaeth er mwyn sicrhau nad yw'r problemau rŷm ni wedi eu gweld dros y blynyddoedd, lle mae cwmnïau yn cwympo wrth ei gilydd ac o achos hynny yn ffaelu cario ymlaen gyda gwasanaethau, yn digwydd yn y pen draw, a bod mwy o sicrwydd i bobl nid dim ond mewn ardaloedd gwledig ond trefol hefyd.
Well, a sustainable bus network is vital to people who live in rural communities, and we will, of course, work with our partners to fund and provide access to key services and facilities, to tackle road congestion, bus punctuality and air quality. As part of that strategy, we want to ensure that we improve the network, and there will be an opportunity over the ensuing years, because we now have the power over buses, to create legislation in order to ensure that the problems that we've seen over the years, where companies collapse and then aren't able to carry on with services, do not continue, and that we can give more assurance to people not just in rural areas but in urban areas too.
O blith pawb sydd yn defnyddio cludiant cyhoeddus, mae 80 y cant yn defnyddio bysiau. Mewn ardaloedd gwledig, fel rhannau o f'etholaeth i yn Arfon, nid oes trenau ar gael a mynd ar y bws ydy'r ffordd i bobl sydd heb geir deithio i'w gwaith ac i gyrraedd at wasanaethau hanfodol. Ond y gwir ydy, mae angen trawsnewid gwasanaethau bysiau gwledig, ac mae Plaid Cymru eisiau rhoi llawer mwy o rym i gynghorau lleol fel eu bod nhw'n gallu trefnu gwasanaethau addas, ar y cyd â chwmnïau bysus lleol. Mae yna rai cymunedau hefyd wedi datgan awydd i dreialu system integredig a fyddai'n cynnwys defnyddio cerbydau trydan a hydrogen i lenwi rhai o'r bylchau yn y gwasanaethau presennol. Pa gymorth ymarferol y gallwch chi fel Prif Weinidog ei roi tuag at gynlluniau peilot o'r math yna?
Of those using public transport, 80 per cent use buses. In rural areas, such as parts of my constituency in Arfon, there are no trains available, and the bus is the only option for people without cars to travel to work and to access crucial services. But the truth is that we need to transform bus services in rural areas, and Plaid Cymru wants to give far more power to local councils so that they can arrange appropriate services, in collaboration with local bus companies. There are some communities who have expressed a desire to have an integrated transport system, which would include using hydrogen and electric vehicles in order to fill some of the gaps in current services. So, what practical support can you as First Minister give for pilot schemes of that kind?
Wel, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n agored i weld pa fath o fìd fyddai'n dod o unrhyw awdurdod lleol. Un peth y byddwn i yn ei ddweud yw ei bod hi'n hollbwysig sicrhau bod yr awdurdodau'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd, achos, wrth gwrs, y gwir yw nad yw pobl ond yn teithio y tu fewn i un sir; maen nhw'n teithio o le i le. So, byddai'n hollbwysig sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau sydd yn mynd ar draws ffiniau yn cael yr un sylw â'r rheini sydd y tu fewn i sir hefyd. Ond, wrth gwrs, rŷm ni'n moyn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol a hefyd gyda chwmnïau bysiau er mwyn sicrhau bod y system yn fwy cynaliadwy yn y pen draw.
Well, of course, we are open to looking at bids that would come from local authorities. But one thing I would say is that it's all-important to ensure that local authorities collaborate with each other because the fact of the matter is that people don't just travel in one county; they travel from one to another. So, cross-boundary services should receive the same kind of attention as those in-county. But, of course, we wish to work with the local authorities and also the bus companies to ensure that the system is more sustainable ultimately.
There is a need, I think, to look at how rural bus services are delivered because they'll never be run commercially, of course. Now, Welsh Government and local authority operators, I believe, need to come together to form a partnership, and that partnership doesn't exist at the moment. Can Welsh Government take a leading role in forming such a partnership?
Mae angen, rwy'n credu, ystyried sut y mae gwasanaethau bysiau gwledig yn cael eu darparu oherwydd ni fyddant byth yn cael eu rhedeg yn fasnachol, wrth gwrs. Nawr, mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru a gweithredwyr awdurdod lleol, rwy'n credu, ddod at ei gilydd i ffurfio partneriaeth, ac nid yw'r bartneriaeth honno'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd. A all Llywodraeth Cymru chwarae rhan flaenllaw i ffurfio partneriaeth o'r fath?
Well, one of the difficulties, of course, is that we have seen bus companies collapse and, as a result, services see a break. Quite often, of course, they are reprovided by another provider. We have seen Arriva, for example, pull out of all of Ceredigion, in effect, despite the fact they operated the bus services there and, of course, new companies did come forward. But, again, there was uncertainty and, again, there was a potential gap in service. Now, we consulted, as he will know, last year on proposals that would strengthen the arrangements for the planning and delivery of local bus services in the future and, of course, we will need to look over the next few years at how we are able to ensure a continuity of service where that service is not subsidised and where, of course, the private operator can do however they want. Now, that clearly is not a sustainable model for the future, but now that we have the powers that we've asked for for so long over the bus network, there's an exciting opportunity to craft a more integrated and sustainable network in the future.
Wel, un o'r anawsterau, wrth gwrs, yw ein bod ni wedi gweld cwmnïau bysiau yn mynd i'r wal ac, o ganlyniad, ceir toriad mewn gwasanaethau. Yn aml iawn, wrth gwrs, cânt eu hail-ddarparu gan ddarparwr arall. Rydym ni wedi gweld Arriva, er enghraifft, yn tynnu allan o Geredigion gyfan, i bob pwrpas, er gwaethaf y ffaith eu bod nhw'n gweithredu'r gwasanaethau bysiau yno ac, wrth gwrs, daeth cwmnïau newydd ymlaen. Ond, unwaith eto, roedd ansicrwydd ac, unwaith eto, roedd bwlch posibl yn y gwasanaeth. Nawr, cynhaliwyd ymgynghoriad gennym y llynedd, fel y gwyr ef, ar gynigion a fyddai'n cryfhau'r trefniadau ar gyfer cynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau bws lleol yn y dyfodol ac, wrth gwrs, bydd angen i ni ystyried dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf sut y gallwn ni sicrhau parhad gwasanaeth lle nad oes cymhorthdal i'r gwasanaeth hwnnw a lle, wrth gwrs, y gall y gweithredwr preifat ei ddarparu ym mha fodd bynnag y mae'n dymuno. Nawr, mae'n amlwg nad yw hwnnw'n fodel cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol, ond nawr bod gennym ni'r pwerau yr ydym ni wedi gofyn amdanynt ers gymaint o amser dros y rhwydwaith bysiau, ceir cyfle cyffrous i lunio rhwydwaith mwy integredig a chynaliadwy yn y dyfodol.
The advances in technology have got huge potential to improve the passenger experience and improve the viability of buses. The Welsh Government have been funding the Bwcabus project in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, which has used a demand-responsive model to make public transport viable in smaller routes. That sort of approach, merged with app-based technology, has got huge potential. Anybody who's booked a taxi by an app knows that you can order a time, you can know the price, you know how long it's going to take. Would the First Minister look at how that sort of technology could be applied to buses right across Wales to make public transport a viable day-to-day option for people?
Ceir potensial enfawr i'r datblygiadau mewn technoleg wella profiad teithwyr a gwella dichonoldeb bysiau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ariannu'r prosiect Bwcabus yng Ngheredigion a sir Gaerfyrddin, sydd wedi defnyddio model sy'n ymateb i'r galw i wneud cludiant cyhoeddus yn ddichonol ar lwybrau llai. Ceir potensial mawr i'r math hwnnw o ddull, wedi ei gyfuno â thechnoleg ap. Mae unrhyw un sydd wedi archebu tacsi trwy ap yn gwybod y gallwch chi drefnu amser, y gallwch chi ddarganfod y pris, eich bod chi'n gwybod pa mor hir y mae'n mynd i'w gymryd. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ystyried sut y gellid cymhwyso'r math hwnnw o dechnoleg i fysiau ledled Cymru i wneud cludiant cyhoeddus yn ddewis ymarferol i bobl o ddydd i ddydd?
Yes, I do. In many rural areas, as the Member is right to say, Bwcabus has been hugely important in terms of being able to provide public transport where otherwise none would be made available. As we see technology develop, as he rightly says, then there is the opportunity to increase flexibility, to have a better idea of where demand is at particular times of day and, of course, for people to be sure that a bus will turn up when they need that bus. It's a blurring in some ways of the distinction between a bus service and a taxi service, in some parts of Wales. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as it creates that kind of flexibility, and I think he's absolutely right to say that, with technology now, there is ample opportunity for us to extend more flexible bus services into parts of Wales that perhaps haven't seen a bus service for many, many years.
Gwnaf, mi wnaf. Mewn llawer o ardaloedd gwledig, fel y mae'r Aelod yn ei ddweud yn gywir, mae Bwcabus wedi bod yn eithriadol o bwysig o ran gallu darparu cludiant cyhoeddus pan na fyddai ar gael fel arall. Wrth i ni weld technoleg yn datblygu, fel y dywed yn gywir, yna ceir cyfle i gynyddu hyblygrwydd, i gael gwell syniad o ble mae'r galw ar adegau penodol o'r dydd ac, wrth gwrs, i bobl fod yn siŵr y bydd bws yn cyrraedd pan fydd angen y bws hwnnw arnyn nhw. Mae'n cymylu mewn rhai ffyrdd y gwahaniaeth rhwng gwasanaethau bws a gwasanaeth tacsi, mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru. Nid yw hynny o reidrwydd yn beth gwael, gan ei fod yn creu'r math hwnnw o hyblygrwydd, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn llygad ei le i ddweud, gyda thechnoleg nawr, bod digon o gyfle i ni ymestyn gwasanaethau bws mwy hyblyg i rannau o Gymru efallai nad ydynt wedi gweld gwasanaeth bws ers blynyddoedd maith.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau, ac arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn gyntaf, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders, and the leader of the opposition first, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, do you believe that Natural Resources Wales is fit for purpose?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n credu bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn addas i'w ddiben?
Yes, I do.
Ydw, mi ydw i.
Well, let me remind you, First Minister, that this organisation is, of course, directly accountable to your Government. It's in receipt of £180 million of public money every year, yet they are responsible for a litany of failings, which have significant costs to the public purse. In just five years since its establishment, NRW have had their annual accounts qualified for three consecutive years, and they have undersold Welsh timber without a proper tendering process, resulting in a loss of £1 million to Welsh taxpayers. The public are calling for heads to roll. We need accountability. Has anyone at NRW actually been sacked for these failings?
Wel, gadewch i mi eich atgoffa chi, Prif Weinidog, bod y sefydliad hwn, wrth gwrs, yn atebol yn uniongyrchol i'ch Llywodraeth chi. Mae'n cael £180 miliwn o arian cyhoeddus bob blwyddyn, ac eto mae'n gyfrifol am lu o fethiannau, sydd wedi arwain at gostau sylweddol i'r pwrs cyhoeddus. Mewn dim ond pum mlynedd ers ei sefydlu, mae cyfrifon blynyddol Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi cael eu cymhwyso am dair blynedd yn olynol, ac maen nhw wedi gwerthu coed Cymru yn rhy rhad heb broses dendro briodol, gan arwain at golled o £1 filiwn i drethdalwyr Cymru. Mae'r cyhoedd yn galw am ddiswyddiadau. Mae angen atebolrwydd arnom ni. A oes unrhyw un yn Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi ei ddiswyddo am y methiannau hyn?
Well, he will know, of course, that the chair has gone, and the next step will be to appoint a new chair. He will know that there is a new chief executive, who has replaced somebody with huge experience, particularly as part of the court service, and it has been to do particularly with the issue of timber contracts, for which there is no rational explanation, and that is something that they have had to explain, in terms of what they plan to do particularly for the future. But I think it's wrong to say that the entire organisation, somehow, isn't fit for purpose. There is no problem, for example, with its permitting regime or the way that it does that, but there clearly has been an issue with timber.
Wel, bydd ef yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, bod y cadeirydd wedi mynd, a'r cam nesaf fydd penodi cadeirydd newydd. Bydd yn gwybod bod prif weithredwr newydd, sydd wedi disodli rhywun â phrofiad enfawr, yn enwedig yn rhan o'r gwasanaeth llysoedd, ac roedd yn ymwneud yn benodol â'r mater o gontractau coed, nad oes unrhyw esboniad rhesymegol iddo, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei egluro, o ran yr hyn y maen nhw'n bwriadu ei wneud yn y dyfodol yn arbennig. Ond credaf ei bod yn anghywir dweud nad yw'r sefydliad cyfan, rywsut, yn addas i'w ddiben. Nid oes unrhyw broblem, er enghraifft, gyda'i drefn drwyddedu na'r ffordd y mae'n gwneud hynny, ond mae'n amlwg y bu problem gyda choed.
Well, I put it to you, First Minister, there is a theme here, when it comes to holding public bodies to account, and that's a failure on your Government's part to completely make sure that bodies are held to account and are open and transparent. There is no denying that Natural Resources Wales's finances are a complete mess, and I know that this concern is actually shared by some of your own Assembly Members. Now, what concerns me and others is the impact this financial incompetence will have on our natural resources and the communities that actually depend upon them. Instead of focusing on implementing bans, such as the ban on shooting on NRW land, which actually harms the rural economy, your Government and NRW should be focusing on what it can deliver legally to protect our precious natural resources and the communities that actually rely on them. And instead of washing your hands of this, and given it appears that not one person at NRW has been sacked, the buck stops with you, your Government and your Minister. How is your Minister being held accountable for what's gone wrong?
Wel, awgrymaf i chi, Prif Weinidog, bod thema yma, pan ddaw i ddwyn cyrff cyhoeddus i gyfrif, a hynny yw methiant ar ran eich Llywodraeth chi i wneud yn gwbl siŵr bod cyrff yn cael eu dwyn i gyfrif a'u bod yn agored ac yn dryloyw. Ni ellir gwadu bod cyllid Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn llanastr llwyr, a gwn y rhennir y pryder hwn gan rai o'ch Aelodau Cynulliad eich hun. Nawr, yr hyn sy'n peri pryder i mi ac i eraill yw'r effaith y bydd yr anallu ariannol hwn yn ei chael ar ein hadnoddau naturiol a'r cymunedau sy'n dibynnu arnynt. Yn hytrach na chanolbwyntio ar weithredu gwaharddiadau, fel y gwaharddiad ar saethu ar dir Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, sydd mewn gwirionedd yn niweidio'r economi wledig, dylai eich Llywodraeth a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru fod yn canolbwyntio ar yr hyn y gall ei gyflawni o dan y gyfraith i ddiogelu ein hadnoddau naturiol gwerthfawr a'r cymunedau sy'n dibynnu arnynt. Ac yn lle golchi eich dwylo o hyn, ac o gofio ei bod ymddangos nad oes yr un un person yn Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi cael ei ddiswyddo, chi, eich Llywodraeth a'ch Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol yn y pen draw. Sut mae eich Gweinidog yn cael ei ddwyn i gyfrif am yr hyn sydd wedi mynd o'i le?
So, this is about pheasant shooting now, is it? So, we now understand what this appears to be about. What I can say to him is this: he gives the impression that the same personnel are in place as were there when the timber contracts were dealt with. That's not true. The chair is no longer there. The chief executive is still new in the job. She was appointed earlier this year, and she is somebody with extensive experience of working in public sector organisations. I can say that the Cabinet Secretary has received a clear commitment from the chief executive that she's fully committed to learning lessons—and the organisation will need to—and to making sure NRW makes the necessary improvements to do the right things in the right way. I can say that the chief executive has also given that assurance to the Public Accounts Committee, taking full responsibility for the organisation, and she has an enthusiasm to support staff to bring out the best in them.
Mae hyn yn ymwneud â saethu ffesantod nawr felly, ydy e? Rydym ni'n deall nawr yr hyn y mae'n ymddangos ei fod yn ymwneud ag ef, felly. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrtho yw hyn: mae'n rhoi'r argraff bod yr un personél yn eu swyddi ag yr oedd yno pan ymdriniwyd â'r contractau coed. Nid yw hynny'n wir. Nid yw'r cadeirydd yno mwyach. Mae'r prif weithredwr yn dal yn newydd yn y swydd. Fe'i penodwyd yn gynharach eleni, ac mae'n rhywun sydd â phrofiad helaeth o weithio mewn sefydliadau'r sector cyhoeddus. Gallaf ddweud bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi cael ymrwymiad eglur gan y prif weithredwr ei bod wedi ymrwymo'n llawn i ddysgu gwersi—a bydd angen i'r sefydliad—ac i wneud yn siŵr bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gwneud y gwelliannau angenrheidiol i wneud y pethau iawn yn y ffordd iawn. Gallaf ddweud bod y prif weithredwr wedi rhoi'r sicrwydd hwnnw i'r Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus hefyd, gan gymryd cyfrifoldeb llawn am y sefydliad, ac mae ganddi frwdfrydedd i gynorthwyo'r staff i gael y gorau allan ohonynt.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
The Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, as the ink begins to dry on last week's resignation letter, the focus is naturally shifting to the legacy you will leave behind: close to a quarter of our people and a third of our children in poverty; life expectancy in reverse and falling quicker than anywhere else in Europe; a flatlining economy, with Wales stuck in perpetuity at the bottom of the league table. Doesn't this epitomise your Government? A poverty of ambition that is the fundamental cause of the poverty of our people. Do you regret leaving behind an economy that even former communist countries are now outstripping?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, wrth i'r inc ddechrau sychu ar lythyr ymddiswyddiad yr wythnos diwethaf, mae'r pwyslais yn symud yn naturiol i'r etifeddiaeth y byddwch chi'n ei gadael ar eich ôl: yn agos at chwarter ein pobl a thraean o'n plant mewn tlodi; disgwyliad oes yn symud tuag at yn ôl ac yn gostwng ynghynt nag mewn unman arall yn Ewrop; economi sy'n ddi-fywyd, â Chymru'n sownd ar waelod y tabl cynghrair yn barhaus. Onid yw hyn yn nodweddiadol o'ch Llywodraeth chi? Tlodi mewn uchelgais sef yr achos sylfaenol am dlodi ein pobl. A ydych chi'n gresynu gadael economi y mae hyd yn oed y cyn-wledydd comiwnyddol yn rhagori arni erbyn hyn?
Well, first of all, can I welcome him—[Laughter.]—as leader of Plaid Cymru, in this, of course, his first question? He is the tenth party leader that I have faced across this Chamber, which tells you something about the success of the Welsh Labour Government in remaining in Government for that time.
Can I also pay tribute to his predecessor, Leanne Wood? Leanne is somebody with whom we—. Well, we tussled across this Chamber, and outside, but none of it was ever personal, and certainly I know she’s done a great deal for the position of women in politics in Wales, and I know she still has a great deal to offer our nation. [Applause.]
Let’s compare and contrast here. Unemployment is 3.8 per cent. That is lower than the UK average, and that was something that nobody could ever have thought would happen 10 or 15 years ago, but that is the reality of it. We’ve seen the highest figures, the best figures, for foreign direct investment for 30 years, with investment projects the length and breadth of Wales that have brought many, many jobs into Wales—and, importantly, high-skilled jobs as well, not jobs that are here because wage rates are low. If we look at education, what we have done in terms of supporting our students, what we have done in terms of raising standards in Welsh schools, introducing in the near future a Welsh curriculum that's tailored for Wales, having the right qualifications system for Wales, that is something that we are proud of. We have ensured that more and more money has gone into the health service, even as we’ve seen that money being diminished year after year after year by a Tory Government that is hellbent on austerity. So, I stand very proud by my record. The people of Wales, clearly, have an opinion on it, given the fact that I’ve been here for the past nine years.
Now, let’s focus on one thing he has said, which I think is fair to point out to him. He has said, I understand, that he wishes to cut taxes—9p in terms of income tax, getting rid of council tax, getting rid of business rates, and the replacement with another form of taxation. But I have to say to him that that is a £6 billion gap that would need to be found. So, what work—I’m not asking him a question, but it will be interesting to see what work has been done in order to make sure that his new proposals would plug what would be a very substantial gap.
Wel, yn gyntaf oll, a gaf i ei groesawu—[Chwerthin.]—fel arweinydd Plaid Cymru, gyda hwn, wrth gwrs, ei gwestiwn cyntaf? Ef yw'r degfed arweinydd plaid yr wyf i wedi ei wynebu ar draws y Siambr hon, sy'n dweud rhywbeth wrthych chi am lwyddiant Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru o ran aros mewn Llywodraeth am y cyfnod hwnnw.
A gaf i hefyd dalu teyrnged i'w ragflaenydd, Leanne Wood? Mae Leanne yn rhywun y gwnaethom ni—. Wel, cawsom frwydrau ar draws y Siambr hon a'r tu allan, ond nid oedd dim ohono erioed yn bersonol, a gwn yn sicr ei bod hi wedi gwneud llawer iawn dros sefyllfa menywod ym myd gwleidyddiaeth yng Nghymru, a gwn bod ganddi lawer iawn i'w gynnig i'n gwlad o hyd. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Gadewch i ni gymharu a chyferbynnu yn y fan yma. Mae diweithdra yn 3.8 y cant. Mae hynny'n is na chyfartaledd y DU, ac roedd yn rhywbeth na allai neb erioed wedi meddwl byddai'n digwydd 10 neu 15 mlynedd yn ôl, ond dyna'r gwir amdani. Rydym ni wedi gweld y ffigurau uchaf, y ffigurau gorau, ar gyfer buddsoddi uniongyrchol o dramor ers 30 mlynedd, gyda phrosiectau buddsoddi ar hyd a lled Cymru sydd wedi dod â llawer iawn o swyddi i Gymru—ac, yn bwysig, swyddi hynod fedrus hefyd, nid swyddi sydd yma oherwydd bod cyfraddau cyflog yn isel. Os edrychwn ni ar addysg, mae'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud o ran cynorthwyo ein myfyrwyr, yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud o ran codi safonau yn ysgolion Cymru, gan gyflwyno yn y dyfodol agos gwricwlwm i Gymru sydd wedi'i deilwra ar gyfer Cymru, cael y system gymwysterau iawn ar gyfer Cymru, mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n falch ohono. Rydym ni wedi sicrhau bod mwy a mwy o arian wedi mynd i mewn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd, hyd yn oed wrth i ni weld yr arian hwnnw yn cael ei leihau flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd sy'n gwbl benderfynol o gael cyni cyllidol. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o'r hyn yr wyf i wedi ei wneud. Mae gan bobl Cymru, yn amlwg, farn ar y mater, o gofio'r ffaith fy mod i wedi bod yma am y naw mlynedd diwethaf.
Nawr, gadewch i ni ganolbwyntio ar un peth y mae wedi ei ddweud, yr wyf i'n credu ei bod hi'n deg tynnu ei sylw ato. Mae wedi dweud, rwy'n deall, ei fod eisiau torri trethi—9c o ran treth incwm, cael gwared ar y dreth gyngor, cael gwared ar ardrethi busnes, a'u disodli gyda math arall o drethiant. Ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrtho fod hwnnw'n fwlch o £6 biliwn y byddai angen ei lenwi. Felly, pa waith—nid wyf yn gofyn cwestiwn iddo, ond bydd yn ddiddorol gweld pa waith sydd wedi ei wneud er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr y byddai ei gynigion newydd yn llenwi'r hyn a fyddai'n fwlch sylweddol iawn.
Let's agree, in the time that you have left, First Minister, on the terms of trade: I ask the questions and you give the answers. It's your record that's under the focus here. Now, maybe one—I don't know—of your proudest moments was the great unveiling ceremony, when an Aston Martin car was draped in a Welsh flag in front of the Welsh Government's offices in Cathays Park. Now, what you've been less enthusiastic about revealing is precisely how much public money was used in order to secure the company's investment. You were compelled to reveal the £5.8 million initial grant you gave by the information commissioner. It was literally dragged out of you, but you're now yet again refusing to say whether the company has had any additional money, or to confirm that you've underwritten some of Aston Martin's debt, despite the fact that the company has itself confirmed that in the prospectus for its forthcoming flotation. So, two questions, First Minister: doesn't the Welsh public have a right to know about how much public money is being given to private companies? And, secondly, why are we underwriting the debt of a company that is about to raise £5 billion on the London stock exchange?
Gadewch i ni gytuno, yn yr amser sydd gennych chi'n weddill, Prif Weinidog, ar y telerau masnach: fi sy'n gofyn y cwestiynau a chi sy'n rhoi'r atebion. Eich hanes chi sydd o dan sylw yn y fan yma. Nawr, efallai mai un—wn i ddim—o'ch achlysuron balchaf oedd y seremoni ddadorchuddio fawr, pan daenwyd baner Cymru dros gar Aston Martin o flaen swyddfeydd Llywodraeth Cymru ym Mharc Cathays. Nawr, yr hyn yr ydych chi wedi bod yn llai brwdfrydig am ei ddatgelu yw yn union faint o arian cyhoeddus a ddefnyddiwyd i sicrhau buddsoddiad y cwmni. Fe'ch gorfodwyd i ddatgelu'r grant cychwynnol o £5.8 miliwn a roesoch gan y comisiynydd gwybodaeth. Fe'i llusgwyd allan ohonoch chi yn llythrennol, ond rydych chi bellach yn gwrthod unwaith eto dweud pa un a yw'r cwmni wedi cael unrhyw arian ychwanegol, neu gadarnhau eich bod wedi gwarantu rhywfaint o ddyled Aston Martin, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod y cwmni ei hun wedi cadarnhau hynny yn y prosbectws ar gyfer ei gam o ymuno â'r gyfnewidfa stoc sydd ar fin digwydd. Felly, dau gwestiwn, Prif Weinidog: onid oes gan y cyhoedd yng Nghymru hawl i wybod faint o arian cyhoeddus sy'n cael ei roi i gwmnïau preifat? Ac, yn ail, pam ydym ni'n gwarantu dyled cwmni sydd ar fin codi £5 biliwn ar gyfnewidfa stoc Llundain?
So, he accuses me of a lack of ambition, and then he does down one of the biggest and most important investment projects Wales has ever had—750 jobs coming to Wales, a centre of excellence for electric technology for the Lagonda. And I can say to him that, in the real world, you cannot deal with businesses if you say to them, 'Every deal that we have with you we will reveal in public'. No-one will come here. No-one will come here. We will do as much as we can to make sure as much is in the public domain as possible, but if you're saying that, if you were First Minister, you would conduct negotiations in public and have a deal that was made public, no-one would come here. No-one would come here; they'd go elsewhere, where they feel that they could have more confidence in the Government.
And, secondly, I have to say this to him: it's hugely important for us in Wales to show that we can attract investment, not just because of the money we put on the table—Aston Martin were clear about that; they said that there were better financial packages available elsewhere. Aston Martin said that they were impressed by the passion and professionalism of the Welsh Government. That's what we do: show that passion, show that professionalism, and bring jobs into Wales.
Felly, mae'n fy nghyhuddo i o ddiffyg uchelgais, ac wedyn mae'n difrïo un o'r prosiectau buddsoddi mwyaf a phwysicaf a welodd Cymru erioed—750 o swyddi yn dod i Gymru, canolfan ragoriaeth ar gyfer technoleg trydan ar gyfer y Lagonda. A gallaf ddweud wrtho, yn y byd go iawn, na allwch chi ymdrin â busnesau os byddwch chi'n dweud wrthyn nhw, 'Byddwn yn datgelu pob cytundeb sydd gennym ni gyda chi yn gyhoeddus'. Ni fydd neb yn dod yma. Ni fydd neb yn dod yma. Byddwn yn gwneud cymaint ag y gallwn i wneud yn siŵr bod cymaint â phosibl yn y parth cyhoeddus, ond os ydych chi'n dweud, pe byddech chi'n Brif Weinidog, y byddech chi'n cynnal trafodaethau yn gyhoeddus ac yn cael cytundeb a fyddai'n cael ei gyhoeddi, ni fyddai neb yn dod yma. Ni fyddai neb yn dod yma; byddent yn mynd i rywle arall, lle maen nhw'n teimlo y gallen nhw fod â mwy o hyder yn y Llywodraeth.
Ac, yn ail, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud hyn wrtho: mae'n hynod bwysig i ni yng Nghymru ddangos y gallwn ni ddenu buddsoddiad, nid yn unig oherwydd yr arian yr ydym ni'n ei roi ar y bwrdd—roedd Aston Martin yn eglur ynghylch hynny; dywedasant fod gwell pecynnau ariannol ar gael mewn mannau eraill. Dywedodd Aston Martin bod angerdd a phroffesiynoldeb Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud argraff arnynt. Dyna'r ydym ni'n ei wneud: dangos yr angerdd hwnnw, dangos y proffesiynoldeb hwnnw, a dod â swyddi i Gymru.
The scandal of the answer that you've just given, First Minister, is that the company has put more information into the public domain than the Government, which is meant to be acting in the public interest.
Now, let's turn to Natural Resources Wales. You referred to the incoming chief executive. She's admitted serious failings at the organisation, which she attributed to incompetence—ineptitude, incompetence, but nothing more concerning. Yesterday, however, the Public Accounts Committee was told by the head of the UK Forest Products Association, David Sulman, that, in his view, and I quote,
'these actions were premeditated, deliberate, and made in full knowledge of the facts'.
'We really cannot believe,' he stated emphatically,
'that the actions we've seen...can simply be explained away by incompetence.'
One million pounds, First Minister, in Welsh public money has been lost, and the lead industry body is alleging dishonesty and deliberate malpractice by a public authority. Will you be asking that this matter is now referred to the police?
Sgandal yr ateb yr ydych chi newydd ei roi, Prif Weinidog, yw bod y cwmni wedi rhoi mwy o wybodaeth yn y parth cyhoeddus na'r Llywodraeth, sydd i fod i weithredu er budd y cyhoedd.
Nawr, gadewch i ni droi at Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Cyfeiriasoch at y prif weithredwr newydd. Mae hi wedi cyfaddef diffygion difrifol yn y sefydliad, a briodolwyd ganddi i anallu—anfedrusrwydd, anallu, ond dim sy'n peri mwy o bryder. Ddoe, fodd bynnag, hysbyswyd y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus gan bennaeth Cymdeithas Cynhyrchion Coedwig y DU, David Sulman, bod, yn ei farn ef, a dyfynnaf,
y camau hyn yn rhagfwriadol, yn fwriadol, ac fe'u gwnaed gyda gwybodaeth lawn o'r ffeithiau.
Allwn ni wir ddim credu, meddai'n bendant,
y gellir esbonio'r gweithredoedd yr ydym ni wedi eu gweld trwy eu priodoli'n syml i anallu.
Collwyd £1 miliwn, Prif Weinidog, o arian cyhoeddus Cymru, ac mae corff blaenllaw'r diwydiant yn honni anonestrwydd a chamarfer bwriadol gan awdurdod cyhoeddus. A fyddwch chi'n gofyn i'r mater hwn gael ei gyfeirio at yr heddlu nawr?
Well, I've seen no evidence that suggests the matter should be referred to the police, but of course the Cabinet Secretary will be fully aware of the situation. No-one can pretend that it's a good situation—of course not. He goes a step further and suggests there has been criminal activity. That's something we have to consider very carefully to see whether there's any evidence there, and, if there is, of course, then further action may need to be taken. So, we have, of course, the commitment by Natural Resources Wales's new chief executive. We will have a new chair in place. I have no doubt that there will be more that will need to be examined over the course of the next few weeks in order to provide the assurance that, in fairness, Members want to see, and particularly what the Government wants to see.
Wel, nid wyf i wedi gweld unrhyw dystiolaeth sy'n awgrymu y dylid cyfeirio'r mater ar yr heddlu, ond wrth gwrs bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gwbl ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa. Ni all neb esgus ei bod hi'n sefyllfa dda—nac ydy, wrth gwrs. Mae e'n mynd gam ymhellach ac yn awgrymu y bu gweithgarwch troseddol. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i ni ei ystyried yn ofalus iawn i weld a oes unrhyw dystiolaeth yno, ac, os oes, wrth gwrs, efallai y bydd angen cymryd camau pellach. Felly, mae gennym ni, wrth gwrs, yr ymrwymiad gan brif weithredwr newydd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Bydd gennym ni gadeirydd newydd yn y swydd. Nid oes gen i unrhyw amheuaeth y bydd mwy y bydd angen ei archwilio yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf er mwyn rhoi'r sicrwydd y mae Aelodau, er tegwch, eisiau ei weld, ac yn arbennig y mae'r Llywodraeth eisiau ei weld.
Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Gareth Bennett.
Leader of the UKIP group, Gareth Bennett.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, you're probably aware of a recent report from the future generations commissioner entitled 'Transport Fit for Future Generations'. [Interruption.] Thank you. On page 16 the report says that:
'Evidence consistently demonstrates that capacity increases on highway infrastructure generate more motorway trips, and generally, new capacity simply fills up over time, often leading to further congestion on the entire corridor/network.'
End of quote. The basic idea of the future generations office, and it's not a new idea, is simply that, the more roads that we build, the more cars use them, and we will ultimately end up back in the same situation that we were in in the first place, with clogged up, congested roads. I think at some point your Government will have to address the issue of how to get vehicles off the road as far as this can reasonably be achieved. For instance, at the moment lots of people are driving into offices to do jobs that they could probably do at home. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to encourage working from home in order to reduce pressure on Welsh road networks? Are you encouraging and incentivising companies and public sector organisations to allow more of their employees to work from home?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae'n debyg eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o adroddiad diweddar gan gomisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol o'r enw 'Trafnidiaeth Addas ar gyfer Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol'. [Torri ar draws.] Diolch. Ar dudalen 16, mae'r adroddiad yn dweud:
'Mae tystiolaeth yn dangos yn gyson bod cynyddu capasiti seilwaith priffyrdd yn arwain at fwy o deithiau ar y draffordd, ac yn gyffredinol, mae capasiti newydd, yn syml iawn, yn llenwi dros amser, ac yn aml yn arwain at dagfeydd pellach ar hyd yr holl goridor/rhwydwaith.'
Diwedd y dyfyniad. Syniad sylfaenol swyddfa cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac nid syniad newydd, mohono, yn syml, yw po fwyaf o ffyrdd y byddwn ni'n eu hadeiladu, y mwyaf o geir sy'n eu defnyddio, ac y byddwn ni yn y pen draw yn canfod ein hunain yn ôl yn yr un sefyllfa ag yr oeddem ni ynddi yn y lle cyntaf, gyda ffyrdd yn llawn tagfeydd. Credaf ar ryw adeg y bydd yn rhaid i'ch Llywodraeth roi sylw i'r mater o sut i gael cerbydau oddi ar y ffordd cyn belled ag y gellir cyflawni hyn yn rhesymol. Er enghraifft, ar hyn o bryd mae llawer o bobl yn gyrru i mewn i swyddfeydd i wneud swyddi y mae'n debyg y gallent eu gwneud gartref. Felly, beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i annog gweithio o gartref er mwyn lleihau'r pwysau ar rwydweithiau ffyrdd Cymru? A ydych chi'n annog ac yn cymell cwmnïau a sefydliadau sector cyhoeddus i ganiatáu i fwy o'u gweithwyr weithio o'u cartrefi?
Well, yes, I think that's true, because for many, many people it's perfectly possible to work at home, given the technology we have now, rather than having to come into an office in order to work. I'm sure that companies, and indeed we in the public sector as well, are looking at ways to ensure that people can deliver work at home. I know there are local authorities in Wales already doing this, and I know it's an issue that, as Welsh Government, we've been keen to encourage as well. Nevertheless, people will still have to travel and a balance always has to be struck between the transport infrastructure that we need and, of course, the environmental considerations that come with that. But, of course, we are investing in the south Wales metro. That's a huge, huge improvement proposed for south Wales. The same will be true further west and the same will be true further north, and now, of course, with control of the franchise, we will in time be able to deliver the kind of train network that the people of Wales should expect.
Wel, ydw, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n wir, oherwydd i lawer iawn o bobl mae'n berffaith bosibl gweithio gartref, o ystyried y dechnoleg sydd gennym ni erbyn hyn, yn hytrach na gorfod dod i mewn i swyddfa i weithio. Rwy'n siŵr bod cwmnïau, ac yn wir rydym ni yn y sector cyhoeddus hefyd, yn chwilio am ffyrdd o sicrhau y gall pobl gyflawni gwaith gartref. Gwn fod awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru eisoes yn gwneud hyn, a gwn ei fod yn fater yr ydym ni, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, wedi bod yn awyddus i'w annog hefyd. Serch hynny, bydd yn rhaid i bobl deithio o hyd ac mae'n rhaid sicrhau cydbwysedd bob amser rhwng y seilwaith trafnidiaeth sydd ei angen arnom ni ac, wrth gwrs, yr ystyriaethau amgylcheddol sy'n dod gyda hynny. Ond, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n buddsoddi ym metro de Cymru. Mae hwnnw'n welliant mawr, mawr a gynigir ar gyfer y de. Bydd yr un peth yn wir ymhellach i'r gorllewin a bydd yr un peth yn wir ymhellach i'r gogledd, a nawr, wrth gwrs, gyda rheolaeth dros y fasnachfraint, byddwn mewn amser yn gallu darparu'r math o rwydwaith rheilffyrdd y dylai pobl Cymru ei ddisgwyl.
Yes. I hear what you say about the south Wales metro, First Minister, but I believe there are possible doubts over the future funding of it, given your Government's commitment to the M4 relief road scheme. So, there may be some uncertainty over the south Wales metro. But, anyway, I don't want to go down that avenue today.
I suppose, ultimately, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and we have come to a state of virtual gridlock at rush hour in many areas of Wales. So, I would have to say that, whatever measures you are taking to encourage working from home, they don't seem to be having an appreciable effect.
Now, another pressure on road networks at certain specific times of the day is the school run, whereby parents pick up children and students from schools and colleges. I do sometimes wonder what effect your programme of school closures is having on the lengthening traffic jams. According to the school census results published by Statistics for Wales there are almost 300 fewer local authority schools than there were 10 years ago. That is an average of nearly 30 schools closing every year in Wales. First Minister, would you agree that Welsh Government policy has actually driven more people into their cars for the school run?
Ie. Rwy'n clywed yr hyn a ddywedwch am fetro de Cymru, Prif Weinidog, ond credaf fod amheuon posibl ynghylch ei ariannu yn y dyfodol, o ystyried ymrwymiad eich Llywodraeth i gynllun ffordd liniaru'r M4. Felly, mae'n bosibl y bydd rhywfaint o ansicrwydd ynghylch metro de Cymru. Ond, beth bynnag, nid wyf i eisiau mynd ar y trywydd hwnnw heddiw.
Mae'n debyg, yn y pen draw, mai wrth ei flas mae profi pwdin, ac rydym ni wedi dod i sefyllfa o dagfeydd llwyr yn ystod oriau brig mewn llawer o ardaloedd yng Nghymru. Felly, byddai'n rhaid i mi ddweud, pa bynnag fesurau yr ydych chi'n eu cymryd i annog gweithio gartref, mae'n ymddangos nad ydyn nhw'n cael effaith sylweddol.
Nawr, pwysau arall ar rwydweithiau ffyrdd ar rai adegau penodol o'r dydd yw'r adeg pan fydd rhieni yn casglu plant a myfyrwyr o ysgolion a cholegau. Rwyf i weithiau'n meddwl tybed pa effaith y mae eich rhaglen cau ysgolion yn ei chael ar y tagfeydd traffig cynyddol. Yn ôl canlyniadau cyfrifiad ysgol a gyhoeddwyd gan Ystadegau Cymru, ceir bron i 300 yn llai o ysgolion awdurdod lleol nag yr oedd yn bodoli 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae hynny bron i 30 o ysgolion yn cau bob blwyddyn ar gyfartaledd yng Nghymru. Prif Weinidog, a fyddech chi'n cytuno bod polisi Llywodraeth Cymru mewn gwirionedd wedi gyrru mwy o bobl i'w ceir i gasglu eu plant o'r ysgol?
That's a tenuous link. If he wants to he can go up and down the length and breadth of Wales, and he can see the new schools that have been built—primary schools, comprehensive schools. And they have replaced, yes—perhaps one school's been built to replace another three. But the facilities available at the new schools are fantastic.
It's always difficult when a community loses a school, of course it is, and these decisions have to be taken very, very carefully. He tried to give the impression that, somehow, the fact that there are 300 fewer schools means that, somehow, education has suffered as a result. I'd argue the exact opposite, and we can see it in the results we have from our young people. The reality is—. For example, if he goes to Ceredigion, he will see there many, many new schools that have been built. They replaced very, very small schools and they are wonderful facilities.
From my perspective, we in Wales will continue to build and refurbish schools, because that's the commitment we make to our children's education.
Mae hwnna'n gysylltiad disylwedd. Os yw'n dymuno, gall fynd i fyny ac i lawr ar hyd a lled Cymru, a gall weld yr ysgolion newydd sydd wedi eu hadeiladu—ysgolion cynradd, ysgolion cyfun. Ac maen nhw wedi disodli, ydyn—efallai yr adeiladwyd un ysgol i ddisodli tair arall. Ond mae'r cyfleusterau sydd ar gael yn yr ysgolion newydd yn wych.
Mae bob amser yn anodd pan fydd cymuned yn colli ysgol, wrth gwrs ei bod hi, ac mae'n rhaid gwneud y penderfyniadau hyn yn ofalus iawn, iawn. Ceisiodd roi'r argraff, rywsut, bod y ffaith bod 300 yn llai o ysgolion yn golygu, rywsut, bod addysg wedi dioddef o ganlyniad. Byddwn yn dadlau i'r gwrthwyneb yn llwyr, a gallwn ei weld yn y canlyniadau a gawn ni gan ein pobl ifanc. Y gwir amdani yw—. Er enghraifft, os aiff i Geredigion, bydd yn gweld bod llawer iawn o ysgolion newydd wedi eu hadeiladu. Fe wnaethant gymryd lle ysgolion bach iawn ac maen nhw'n gyfleusterau gwych.
O'm safbwynt i, byddwn ni yng Nghymru yn parhau i adeiladu ac ailwampio ysgolion, oherwydd dyna'r ymrwymiad yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i addysg ein plant.
Yes, I understand that the twenty-first century schools programme creates modernised school buildings and I'm certainly not—[Interruption.] I am certainly not—[Interruption.] I am certainly not—[Interruption.] Yes. I'm certainly not denigrating that. However, it does not necessarily create local schools. Indeed, the effect the programme has in some areas may be entirely the opposite. For example, the programme may create a modern school, but it may well be a school whose location forces more people to drive to school rather than walk to school, as they did before. What assurance can you give us that any new schools built using the twenty-first century schools programme will be genuinely local and, therefore, minimise the need for long car journeys by parents?
Ie, rwy'n deall bod rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain yn creu adeiladau ysgol wedi eu moderneiddio ac yn sicr nid wyf i'n—[Torri ar draws.] Yn sicr nid wyf i'n—[Torri ar draws.] Yn sicr nid wyf i'n—[Torri ar draws.] Ie. Yn sicr nid wyf i'n bychanu hynny. Fodd bynnag, nid yw o reidrwydd yn creu ysgolion lleol. Yn wir, gall yr effaith y mae'r rhaglen yn ei chael mewn rhai ardaloedd fod i'r gwrthwyneb yn llwyr. Er enghraifft, efallai y bydd y rhaglen yn creu ysgol fodern, ond efallai'n wir y bydd yn ysgol y mae ei lleoliad yn gorfodi mwy o bobl i yrru i'r ysgol yn hytrach na cherdded i'r ysgol, fel yr oeddent o'r blaen. Pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi i ni y bydd unrhyw ysgolion newydd sy'n cael eu hadeiladu trwy ddefnyddio rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain yn wirioneddol leol ac, felly, yn sicrhau bod yr angen am deithiau hir mewn car gan rieni cyn lleied â phosibl?
I'm not sure I follow his argument. Many of the new schools that have been built are, literally, a few miles away from the schools that they were built to replace. It's not a situation where children suddenly have to travel 10 miles to go to school where previously there was one on their doorstep.
We're proud of the fact that we in Wales have a commitment to building new schools, to refurbishing new schools. What is the point of keeping schools that are too small to be viable or schools that are in buildings that are very difficult, particularly for modern technology?
Yes, I've seen situations where people can be very concerned when a school that has been there for many, many, many years closes, but I've not yet come across anybody who has said, when they see a new school, that they'd like to go back to the old schools. What they see is a school that is a community facility, a school that offers all the best in terms of technology, offers wonderful teaching space, in a way that wasn't available in some of the older schools in Wales.
I don't know what he's trying to say here—whether we should not have new schools or that we should carry on with the same old buildings. For me, new schools mean better education for our pupils.
Nid wyf i'n siŵr fy mod i'n deall ei ddadl. Mae llawer o'r ysgolion newydd sydd wedi eu hadeiladu, yn llythrennol, ychydig filltiroedd i ffwrdd o'r ysgolion y cawsant eu hadeiladu i'w disodli. Nid yw'n sefyllfa lle mae plant yn gorfod teithio 10 milltir i fynd i ysgol yn sydyn lle'r oedd un ar garreg eu drws o'r blaen.
Rydym ni'n falch o'r ffaith bod gennym ni yng Nghymru ymrwymiad i adeiladu ysgolion newydd, i ailwampio ysgolion newydd. Beth yw'r pwynt o gadw ysgolion sy'n rhy fach i fod yn hyfyw neu ysgolion sydd mewn adeiladau sy'n anodd iawn, yn enwedig ar gyfer technoleg fodern?
Ydw, rwyf i wedi gweld sefyllfaoedd lle gall pobl fod yn bryderus iawn pan fydd ysgol sydd wedi bod yno ers blynyddoedd maith iawn yn cau, ond nid wyf i wedi cyfarfod neb eto sydd wedi dweud, pan fyddant yn gweld ysgol newydd, yr hoffent ddychwelyd i'r hen ysgolion. Yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei weld yw ysgol sy'n gyfleuster cymunedol, ysgol sy'n cynnig y gorau o ran technoleg, yn cynnig lle addysgu gwych, mewn ffordd nad oedd ar gael mewn rhai o'r ysgolion hŷn yng Nghymru.
Nid wyf i'n gwybod beth y mae'n ceisio ei ddweud yn y fan yma—pa un a ddylem ni beidio â chael ysgolion newydd neu ba un a ddylem ni barhau â'r un hen adeiladau. I mi, mae ysgolion newydd yn golygu addysg well i'n disgyblion.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y ddarpariaeth o gefnogaeth i bobl ddigartref yng ngogledd Cymru? OAQ52687
3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of homelessness support in north Wales? OAQ52687
Welsh Government funding has helped to prevent homelessness for nearly 18,000 households across Wales since our progressive legislation was introduced. That does include over 3,000 from north Wales. In addition, over £5.1 million has been provided to the north Wales authorities to support implementation of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 since April 2015.
Mae cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru wedi helpu i atal digartrefedd ar gyfer bron i 18,000 o aelwydydd ledled Cymru ers cyflwyno ein deddfwriaeth flaengar. Mae hynny'n cynnwys dros 3,000 o'r gogledd. Hefyd, darparwyd dros £5.1 miliwn i awdurdodau'r gogledd i gynorthwyo gweithrediad Deddf Tai (Cymru) 2014 ers mis Ebrill 2015.
Thank you, First Minister. However, I am becoming increasingly concerned at the rising numbers of those having to brave the elements without any accommodation, particularly so as we approach winter. In my own constituency of Aberconwy, there are a growing number of vulnerable people sleeping rough. A week last Friday, a constituent approached my office requiring emergency accommodation and rehabilitation support after not having settled at any accommodation for the past 12 months.
After receiving no practical help from the local authority for over four hours, while we looked after this individual in our office, we relied on the help of the wonderful Mrs Brenda Fogg of Hope Restored, a one-woman volunteer, who has a very kind heart. She actually ran out with blankets and food provisions. As of today, though, I am still awaiting some form of rehabilitation and accommodation from the local authorities for this individual.
First Minister, what steps are you taking to ensure that all local authorities are fulfilling their obligations to the homeless and rough-sleepers as per section 73 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014, to which this gentleman, and my constituent, is fully entitled?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n dod yn fwyfwy pryderus ynghylch y niferoedd cynyddol sy'n gorfod brwydro'r elfennau heb unrhyw lety, yn enwedig wrth i ni nesáu at y gaeaf. Yn fy etholaeth i fy hun yn Aberconwy, ceir nifer cynyddol o bobl agored i niwed sy'n cysgu ar y stryd. Wythnos i ddydd Gwener diwethaf, cysylltodd etholwr â'm swyddfa a oedd angen llety brys a chymorth adsefydlu ar ôl methu â setlo mewn unrhyw lety yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf.
Ar ôl derbyn dim cymorth ymarferol gan yr awdurdod lleol am dros bedair awr, tra ein bod yn gofalu am yr unigolyn hwn yn ein swyddfa, bu'n rhaid i ni ddibynnu ar gymorth y wraig ardderchog, Mrs Brenda Fogg, o Hope Restored, gwirfoddolwr un ddynes, sydd â chalon garedig iawn. Rhedodd allan gyda blancedi a bwyd. Hyd heddiw, fodd bynnag, rwy'n dal i ddisgwyl rhyw fath o adsefydlu a llety gan yr awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer yr unigolyn hwn.
Prif Weinidog, pa gamau ydych chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod pob awdurdod lleol yn cyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau i bobl ddigartref a'r rhai sy'n cysgu ar y stryd yn unol ag adran 73 Deddf Tai (Cymru) 2014, y mae gan y gŵr bonheddig hwn, a'm hetholwr i, hawl llawn iddynt?
Well, there has been a response, of course, to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee's report into rough-sleeping. We've set out our detailed reply to the 29 recommendations that were contained there.
It's got to be said that welfare reform and the austerity agenda continue to create further pressure on households and their access to affordable accommodation. Nevertheless, it's true to say that implementation of the legislation has been inconsistent, and we are working with the Welsh Local Government Association, the homelessness network and others to make further progress to improve outcomes and create greater consistency.
Wel, bu ymateb, wrth gwrs, i adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau ar gysgu ar y stryd. Rydym ni wedi amlinellu ein hateb manwl i'r 29 o argymhellion a gafodd eu cynnwys yn hwnnw.
Mae'n rhaid dweud bod diwygio lles a'r agenda cyni cyllidol yn parhau i greu rhagor o bwysau ar aelwydydd a'u modd i gael gafael ar lety fforddiadwy. Serch hynny, mae'n wir i ddweud bod gweithrediad y ddeddfwriaeth wedi bod yn anghyson, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, y rhwydwaith digartrefedd ac eraill i wneud cynnydd pellach i wella canlyniadau a chreu mwy o gysondeb.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the winter is fast approaching and forecasts suggest that this is going to be a bad one. You never seem to answer questions, and always blame it on Tory austerity. What assistance is your Government planning to give to local authorities and the agencies who are on the front line dealing with the rough-sleeping epidemic in Wales?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae'r gaeaf yn prysur agosáu, ac mae'r rhagolygon yn awgrymu bod hwn yn mynd i fod yn un gwael. Nid yw'n ymddangos eich bod chi byth yn ateb cwestiynau, a bob amser yn rhoi'r bai ar gyni cyllidol y Torïaid. Pa gymorth y mae eich Llywodraeth yn bwriadu ei roi i awdurdodau lleol a'r asiantaethau sydd ar y rheng flaen yn ymdrin â'r epidemig cysgu ar y stryd yng Nghymru?
Specific funding has been targeted for north Wales, and, in particular, Wrexham, to help to tackle the issue of increased rough sleeping in the area. We do expect to receive a proposal to deliver an innovative partnership approach that will include both statutory and third sector partners. So, the money is there, it's a question of getting the right project in place in order to assist those who need it.
Targedwyd cyllid penodol ar gyfer y gogledd, ac, yn enwedig, Wrecsam, er mwyn helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r mater o gysgu ar y stryd yn yr ardal. Rydym ni'n disgwyl cael cynnig i ddarparu dull partneriaeth arloesol a fydd yn cynnwys partneriaid statudol a thrydydd sector. Felly, mae'r arian yno, mae'n gwestiwn o gael y prosiect iawn ar waith er mwyn cynorthwyo'r rhai sydd ei angen.
4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'u cael gyda Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru o ran deddfwriaeth i hyrwyddo hawliau plant a phobl ifanc? OAQ52673
4. What discussions has the First Minister had with the Children’s Commissioner for Wales with regard to legislation to promote the rights of children and young people? OAQ52673
Children’s rights are already enshrined in Welsh law. Ministers have a legal duty to have due regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child when exercising any of their functions. All Ministers meet regularly with the children’s commissioner. Indeed, I am meeting with the commissioner next week to discuss her latest annual report.
Mae hawliau plant eisoes wedi eu hymgorffori yng nghyfraith Cymru. Mae'n ddyletswydd cyfreithiol ar Weinidogion i roi sylw dyledus i Gonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn wrth arfer unrhyw un o'u swyddogaethau. Mae'r holl Weinidogion yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â'r comisiynydd plant. Yn wir, byddaf yn cyfarfod â'r comisiynydd yr wythnos nesaf i drafod ei hadroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf.
Thank you, First Minister. You will be aware that, last week, we welcomed to the National Assembly Bruce Adamson, the children's commissioner for Scotland, who gave the first annual commemorative lecture in memory of your predecessor, Rhodri Morgan. Speaking about the Welsh legislation, Mr Adamson said this:
'There is so much that I like. I like the proactive approach to compliance, I think it gives stakeholders the opportunity to influence how children's rights are embedded in legislation and through policy making. But it is not full incorporation.'
In your meeting with the children's commissioner next week, First Minister, will you undertake to discuss with her if we may need to take further steps to fully incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, whether that be through an amendment to the existing Measure or, if necessary, to a more far-reaching, fully comprehensive incorporation? The issue, I think, is around, First Minister, the ability for the individual child to ensure that their rights are complied with and to have redress. So, I would be very grateful, First Minister, if you would discuss this with our children's commissioner and see if she feels there are further steps that should be taken.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, yr wythnos diwethaf, i ni groesawu i'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Bruce Adamson, comisiynydd plant yr Alban, a gyflwynodd y ddarlith goffa flynyddol gyntaf er cof am eich rhagflaenydd, Rhodri Morgan. Wrth siarad am ddeddfwriaeth Cymru, dywedodd Mr Adamson hyn:
Mae cymaint yr wyf i'n ei hoffi, rwy'n hoffi'r dull rhagweithiol o ymdrin â chydymffurfiad, rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhoi'r cyfle i randdeiliaid ddylanwadu ar sut y mae hawliau plant yn cael eu hymwreiddio mewn deddfwriaeth a thrwy lunio polisi, ond nid yw'n ymgorffori llawn.
Yn eich cyfarfod â'r Comisiynydd Plant yr wythnos nesaf, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i drafod â hi a oes angen i ni efallai gymryd camau pellach i ymgorffori'n llawn Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn, boed hynny trwy welliant i'r Mesur presennol neu, os oes angen, i ymgorffori mwy pellgyrhaeddol, cwbl gynhwysfawr? Mae'r broblem, rwy'n credu, Prif Weinidog, yn ymwneud â'r gallu i'r plentyn unigol sicrhau y cydymffurfir â'i hawliau ac i gamau unioni gael eu cymryd. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn, Prif Weinidog, pe gallech chi drafod hyn gyda'n comisiynydd plant ni a gweld a yw hi'n teimlo bod camau pellach y dylid eu cymryd.
Yes, I can give that assurance. We always look to learn from others, but there are sometimes unexpected consequences with full incorporation in areas where some legal problems can be created. That has to be balanced, of course, against the rights of the child and the convention itself, but I will discuss it—I'm sure she'll discuss it with me—in the course of this week to see if there's anything more that we can do to build on the commitment and the action we've already taken.
Gallaf, gallaf roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw. Rydym ni bob amser yn ceisio dysgu oddi wrth bobl eraill, ond weithiau ceir canlyniadau annisgwyl o ran ymgorffori llawn mewn meysydd lle gellir creu rhai problemau cyfreithiol. Mae'n rhaid cydbwyso hynny, wrth gwrs, â hawliau'r plentyn a'r confensiwn ei hun, ond byddaf yn ei drafod—rwy'n siŵr y gwnaiff hi ei drafod gyda mi—yn ystod yr wythnos hon i weld a oes unrhyw beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud i adeiladu ar yr ymrwymiad a'r camau yr ydym ni wedi eu cymryd eisoes.
On a similar point, actually, in the report on the Measure's section 1 compliance, Welsh Government stated that as a next step its intention is to:
'review our strategy to support and highlight the importance of participation by children and young people in decisions which affect them.'
I've raised before, similarly to Helen Mary, this disconnect between the Government policy and Assembly legislation, which should be made with due regard to article 12 amongst others, and the ability for public bodies that deliver that policy or legislation to observe or ignore article 12 as it suits them, which means that policy or legislative intentions can sometimes be diluted or fail altogether. Obviously, we know about some instances of voluntary observance, but they're the exception rather than the rule. Supporting and highlighting are all very well, but where expectation fails, legislation can step in. Do you think we might have reached that point now?
Ar bwynt tebyg, a dweud y gwir, yn yr adroddiad ar gydymffurfiad adran 1 y Mesur, nododd Llywodraeth Cymru mai ei bwriad fel cam nesaf yw:
adolygu ein strategaeth i gefnogi ac i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd cyfranogiad gan blant a phobl ifanc mewn penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio arnyn nhw.
Rwyf i wedi codi hyn o'r blaen, yn yr un modd â Helen Mary, yr anghysondeb hwn rhwng polisi'r Llywodraeth a deddfwriaeth y Cynulliad, a ddylai gael ei wneud gan roi sylw dyledus i erthygl 12 ymhlith eraill, a'r gallu i gyrff cyhoeddus sy'n darparu'r polisi hwnnw neu'r ddeddfwriaeth honno i arsylwi neu anwybyddu erthygl 12 fel sy'n gyfleus iddynt, sy'n golygu y gall bwriadau polisi neu ddeddfwriaethol weithiau gael eu gwanhau neu fethu'n llwyr. Yn amlwg, rydym ni'n gwybod am rai achosion o ufuddhau gwirfoddol, ond eithriad yw'r rhain yn hytrach na'r rheol. Mae cefnogi a thynnu sylw yn iawn, ond lle mae disgwyliad yn methu, gall deddfwriaeth gamu i mewn. A ydych chi'n credu efallai ein bod ni wedi cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw nawr?
I've not seen evidence of it, but I'm open, of course, to any evidence that the commissioner would want to produce in the course of this week to see whether there is evidence of a need to strengthen the commitment that we've already made, and I look forward to that conversation.
Nid wyf wedi gweld tystiolaeth o hynny, ond rwy'n agored, wrth gwrs, i unrhyw dystiolaeth yr hoffai'r comisiynydd ei gyflwyno yn ystod yr wythnos hon i weld a oes tystiolaeth o angen i atgyfnerthu'r ymrwymiad yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud eisoes, ac edrychaf ymlaen at y sgwrs honno.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am raglen goffa Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â chofio diwedd y rhyfel byd cyntaf? OAQ52667
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s commemorative programme in relation to the anniversary of the end of the first world war? OAQ52667
As we near the end of the first world war centenary, the focus of commemoration will inevitably be the armistice. We will join the other UK nations in marking the centenary with a national service of thanksgiving on 11 November. That service will be held at Llandaff cathedral.
Wrth i ni nesáu at ddiwedd canmlwyddiant y rhyfel byd cyntaf, mae'n anochel mai'r cadoediad fydd pwyslais y coffáu. Byddwn yn ymuno â gwledydd eraill y DU i nodi'r canmlwyddiant gyda gwasanaeth diolchgarwch cenedlaethol ar 11 Tachwedd. Bydd y gwasanaeth hwnnw'n cael ei gynnal yn eglwys gadeiriol Llandaf.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. As you will know, people across Wales have been coming together over the past four years to mark the centenary of the events of the first world war, and I want to pay tribute to your Government for its Cymru'n Cofio Wales Remembers programme, which I think has been exceptionally good and has helped to focus the attention of the nation on what are very important events in our history. That programme, of course, will come to an end as a result of the end of the first world war. What work are you doing to ensure that the legacy of that programme can continue and will you consider extending the opportunity to run, in particular, the website, which has been a very useful portal for commemoration of military events, well into the future and beyond the end of this centenary year?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, mae pobl ledled Cymru wedi bod yn dod at ei gilydd dros y pedair blynedd diwethaf i nodi canmlwyddiant digwyddiadau'r rhyfel byd cyntaf, a hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'ch Llywodraeth am ei rhaglen Cymru'n Cofio Wales Remembers, yr wyf i'n credu sydd wedi bod yn eithriadol o dda ac wedi helpu i ganolbwyntio sylw'r genedl ar yr hyn sy'n ddigwyddiadau pwysig iawn yn ein hanes. Bydd y rhaglen honno, wrth gwrs, yn dod i ben o ganlyniad i ddiwedd y rhyfel byd cyntaf. Pa waith ydych chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau y gall etifeddiaeth y rhaglen honno barhau ac a wnewch chi ystyried ymestyn y cyfle i redeg, yn benodol, y wefan, sydd wedi bod yn borth defnyddiol iawn ar gyfer coffáu digwyddiadau milwrol, ymhell i'r dyfodol, a thu hwnt i ddiwedd y canmlwyddiant hwn?
I can confirm that, last year, I agreed to continue the programme until 2020. The armistice was not the end, of course. We know that the Paris peace conference came and then the Treaty of Versailles, which led to the second world war, but there's a limit to how far we can go in terms of dealing with the legacy of the first world war. It's significant to Wales, of course, because there were two Welshmen involved—David Lloyd George and Billy Hughes. It is said they spoke Welsh to each other. I'm not quite sure, because Billy Hughes was brought up in London of Welsh parentage, I believe. But, anyway, it's hugely important because if young people are to understand the legacy of the first world war, then the legacy of the peace is clearly an important part of that, and how to get it wrong in terms of a peace treaty and how to create problems for the future. So, it will go to 2020. I can assure the Member that we are now considering the legacy of the programme, how the resources that have been developed can be used in the future, and how we avoid a situation where it comes to an end in 2020 and everything's forgotten. That's the last thing we want to see.
Gallaf gadarnhau fy mod i wedi cytuno y llynedd i barhau'r rhaglen tan 2020. Nid y cadoediad oedd y diwedd, wrth gwrs. Rydym ni'n gwybod y daeth cynhadledd heddwch Paris ac yna Cytundeb Versailles, a arweiniodd at yr ail ryfel byd, ond ceir terfyn i ba mor bell y gallwn ni fynd o ran ymdrin ag etifeddiaeth y rhyfel byd cyntaf. Mae'n arwyddocaol i Gymru, wrth gwrs, gan fod dau Gymro yn rhan ohono—David Lloyd George a Billy Hughes. Dywedir eu bod yn siarad Cymraeg â'i gilydd. Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr, oherwydd magwyd Billy Hughes yn Llundain o dras Gymreig, rwy'n credu. Ond, beth bynnag, mae'n eithriadol o bwysig oherwydd os yw pobl ifanc yn mynd i ddeall etifeddiaeth y rhyfel byd cyntaf, yna mae etifeddiaeth yr heddwch yn amlwg yn rhan bwysig o hynny, a sut i wneud pethau'n anghywir o ran cytundeb heddwch a sut i greu problemau ar gyfer y dyfodol. Felly, bydd yn para tan 2020. Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod ein bod ni'n ystyried etifeddiaeth y rhaglen nawr, sut y gellir defnyddio'r adnoddau a ddatblygwyd yn y dyfodol, a sut yr ydym ni'n osgoi sefyllfa lle mae'n dod i ben yn 2020 ac y mae popeth yn cael ei anghofio. Dyna'r peth olaf yr ydym ni eisiau ei weld.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gefnogaeth y GIG ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol? OAQ52678
6. Will the First Minister make a statement on NHS support for mental health services in the criminal justice system? OAQ52678
We do recognise that offenders have a higher prevalence of mental health issues than the general population, and we do work with a range of partners, including Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and police forces in Wales, to provide mental health support for people in the criminal justice system.
Rydym ni'n cydnabod bod problemau iechyd meddwl yn fwy cyffredin ymhlith troseddwyr na'r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o bartneriaid, gan gynnwys Carchardai a Gwasanaeth Prawf Ei Mawrhydi a heddluoedd yng Nghymru, i ddarparu cymorth iechyd meddwl i bobl yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. During my recent work with health services in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, I was very struck by the high incidences of mental health problems amongst people in parts of our criminal justice system, and I took particular interest in the amount of police time being taken up by the duty of care that they hold towards such vulnerable people. I know we have some incredible initiatives, actually, to help address this, like the clinical adviser project in the Gwent force police area, a model that is soon to be rolled out in the south Wales force area. But what further action can Welsh Government take to ensure places of sanctuary are provided for people with mental health issues that, in turn, can help to free up police resources for front-line policing?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Yn ystod fy ngwaith diweddar gyda gwasanaethau iechyd ym Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni, cefais fy nharo gan y nifer uchel o achosion o broblemau iechyd meddwl ymhlith pobl mewn rhannau o'n system cyfiawnder troseddol, a chymerais ddiddordeb arbennig mewn faint o amser yr heddlu a oedd yn cael ei gymryd gan y ddyletswydd o ofal sydd ganddyn nhw tuag at bobl agored i niwed o'r fath. Gwn fod gennym rai mentrau anhygoel, a dweud y gwir, i helpu i fynd i'r afael â hyn, fel y prosiect cynghorydd clinigol yn ardal heddlu Gwent, model a fydd yn cael ei gyflwyno yn ardal heddlu de Cymru yn fuan. Ond pa gamau eraill all Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd i sicrhau bod noddfeydd yn cael eu darparu ar gyfer pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl a all, yn eu tro, helpu i ryddhau adnoddau'r heddlu ar gyfer plismona rheng flaen?
Of course, policing is a non-devolved service; mental health provision is devolved. It's right to say in 2017 police powers were extended in order to assist people with mental health issues, and there is a great deal of collaborative working with the commissioners, with the police forces and also with the mental health crisis care concordat assurance group, and the regional mental health and criminal justice groups. We have made £7 million available annually since 2015-16 to improve provision for people who present in crisis. There is an advice centre that offers confidential support 24 hours a day as well.
In terms of new actions, we have prioritised access to crisis and out-of-hours care in the mental health transformation and innovation fund, and we've received proposals that include around £1 million to support a range of interventions, extending crisis care, liaison services and street triage. So, we will continue to work with the partners that we have in this field in order to make sure that people are steered away from the criminal justice system and towards a service that is more appropriate to them. It's something that I saw in the early 1990s, where people ended up in prison because quite often they had been long term in psychiatric hospitals, they left, they didn't get the support that they needed, they ended up in the criminal justice system, and that's a situation that clearly we want to avoid in the future.
Mae plismona, wrth gwrs, yn wasanaeth nad yw wedi ei ddatganoli; mae darpariaeth iechyd meddwl wedi ei datganoli. Mae'n iawn i ddweud yn 2017 yr ehangwyd pwerau'r heddlu er mwyn cynorthwyo pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl, a cheir llawer iawn o weithio ar y cyd gyda'r comisiynwyr, gyda'r heddluoedd a hefyd gyda'r grŵp sicrwydd concordat gofal argyfwng iechyd meddwl, a'r grwpiau iechyd meddwl a chyfiawnder troseddol rhanbarthol. Rydym ni wedi rhoi gwerth £7 miliwn ar gael bob blwyddyn ers 2015-16 i wella'r ddarpariaeth ar gyfer pobl sydd i'w gweld mewn argyfwng. Ceir canolfan gynghori sy'n cynnig cymorth cyfrinachol 24 awr y dydd hefyd.
O ran camau gweithredu newydd, rydym ni wedi blaenoriaethu mynediad at ofal argyfwng a'r tu allan i oriau yn y gronfa gweddnewid ac arloesi iechyd meddwl, ac rydym ni wedi derbyn cynigion sy'n cynnwys tua £1 filiwn i gynorthwyo amrywiaeth o ymyraethau, i ymestyn gofal argyfwng, gwasanaethau cyswllt a brysbennu ar y stryd. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'r partneriaid sydd gennym ni yn y maes hwn er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn cael eu llywio oddi wrth y system cyfiawnder troseddol a thuag at wasanaeth sy'n fwy priodol iddyn nhw. Mae'n rhywbeth a welais ddechrau'r 1990au, pan oedd pobl yn mynd i'r carchar oherwydd yn aml iawn roeddent wedi bod mewn ysbytai seiciatrig am gyfnod hir, gadawsant, ni chawsant y cymorth yr oedd ei angen arnynt, cyraeddasant y system cyfiawnder troseddol yn y pen draw, ac mae honno'n sefyllfa yr ydym ni'n amlwg eisiau ei hosgoi yn y dyfodol.
First Minister, in England, offenders with mental health problems are being referred to health services as part of community sentences, in an effort to steer them away from jails. Under a pilot scheme in five areas, psychologists and a panel comprising justice and health officials have been providing information to judges or magistrates to determine whether offenders should be required to receive treatment. A recent Ministry of Justice study found that when offenders were given a mental health treatment requirement as part of their sentence, they were significantly less likely to reoffend. Will the First Minister undertake to hold discussions with the Ministry of Justice about introducing a similar scheme in Wales, please?
Prif Weinidog, yn Lloegr, mae troseddwyr â phroblemau iechyd meddwl yn cael eu hatgyfeirio i wasanaethau iechyd yn rhan o ddedfrydau cymunedol, mewn ymdrech i'w llywio oddi wrth garchardai. O dan gynllun arbrofol mewn pum ardal, mae seicolegwyr a phanel yn cynnwys swyddogion cyfiawnder ac iechyd wedi bod yn darparu gwybodaeth i farnwyr neu ynadon i benderfynu ar ba un a ddylai fod yn ofynnol i droseddwyr gael triniaeth. Canfu astudiaeth ddiweddar gan y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder bod troseddwyr y rhoddwyd gofyniad triniaeth iechyd meddwl iddynt yn rhan o'u dedfryd yn llawer llai tebygol o ail-droseddu. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog addo cynnal trafodaethau gyda'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder ynghylch cyflwyno cynllun tebyg yng Nghymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
That's not a particularly new scheme. Schemes of that sort have been around for many, many years in terms of looking to deal with people for whom prison is not the appropriate response when they find themselves in the criminal justice system. Now, I don't know who funds those schemes, whether they are funded by the Ministry of Justice—and justice, of course, is not as yet devolved. But, clearly, we will always look at pilots elsewhere. As I say, it's not clear what these pilots are designed to do at the moment, nor is it clear who is funding them, but if there was funding available from the MOJ, well, of course, it's something that we'd like to look at.
Nid yw hwnnw'n gynllun arbennig o newydd. Mae cynlluniau o'r math yna wedi bod o gwmpas ers blynyddoedd maith iawn o ran ceisio ymdrin â phobl nad carchar yw'r ymateb priodol ar eu cyfer pan fyddant yn canfod eu hunain yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol. Nawr, nid wyf i'n gwybod pwy sy'n ariannu'r cynlluniau hynny, pa un a ydynt yn cael eu hariannu gan y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder—ac nid yw cyfiawnder, wrth gwrs, wedi ei ddatganoli hyd yn hyn. Ond, yn amlwg, byddwn bob amser yn edrych ar gynlluniau arbrofol mewn mannau eraill. Fel y dywedaf, nid yw'n eglur beth mae'r cynlluniau arbrofol hyn wedi eu cynllunio i'w wneud ar hyn o bryd, ac nid yw'n eglur ychwaith pwy sy'n eu hariannu, ond pe byddai cyllid ar gael gan y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder, wel, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhywbeth yr hoffem ni ei ystyried.
Clearly, there's a link between drug abuse and mental health problems, and, from research I've looked at today, it would cost about £500 million to deal with drug-related crime for the individuals involved here in the UK. Now, there are many arrest referral schemes, but the take-up for them is quite low. They do things like methadone maintenance programmes to reduce both illegal heroin and related crime; they have medically supervised detoxification and counselling services, as has been mentioned previously. Now, I know we don't have power over the criminal justice system here in Wales, although on these benches we would like to see that come here, so what are you doing in relation to trying to target resources at those who are dependent on drugs in our society?
I went out with police in Port Talbot only a few weeks ago, and most of the people that we went out to assess or to look at were on drugs, were on heroin. This is something that is around us every day. How are you getting to grips with these particular schemes and working with the UK Government to ensure that they're working here in Wales?
Yn amlwg, ceir cysylltiad rhwng camddefnyddio cyffuriau a phroblemau iechyd meddwl, ac, o waith ymchwil yr wyf i wedi edrych arno heddiw, byddai'n costio tua £500 miliwn i ymdrin â throseddu sy'n gysylltiedig â chyffuriau ar gyfer yr unigolion dan sylw yma yn y DU. Nawr, ceir llawer o gynlluniau atgyfeirio ar ôl arestio, ond mae'r nifer sy'n manteisio arnyn nhw yn eithaf isel. Maen nhw'n gwneud pethau fel rhaglenni cynnal methadon i leihau heroin anghyfreithlon a throseddau cysylltiedig; mae ganddyn nhw wasanaethau dadwenwyno â goruchwyliaeth feddygol a chwnsela, fel y soniwyd eisoes. Nawr, gwn nad oes gennym ni rym dros y system cyfiawnder troseddol yma yng Nghymru, er yr hoffem ni ar y meinciau hyn weld hynny'n dod yma, felly beth ydych chi'n ei wneud o ran ceisio targedu adnoddau at y rhai hynny sy'n ddibynnol ar gyffuriau yn ein cymdeithas?
Euthum allan gyda'r heddlu ym Mhort Talbot dim ond ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, ac roedd mwyafrif y bobl yr aethom ni allan i'w hasesu neu eu harchwilio ar gyffuriau, ar heroin. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sydd o'n cwmpas bob dydd. Sut ydych chi'n mynd i'r afael â'r cynlluniau penodol hyn ac yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gweithio yma yng Nghymru?
Well, tackling drug misuse is a complex issue. We've always seen it in terms of health rather than in terms of it being a crime. The suppliers and the dealers are criminals; the users are victims and they are people who need help through the health system rather than through the criminal justice system. We have, of course, the substance misuse strategy and the plans that are associated with that, and that guides what we are doing in terms of reducing the harm associated with substance misuse. In terms of misuse in prisons, well, the services are delivered in line with clinical guidance and with prison health teams.
We also have a programme called take home Naloxone that is provided to prisoners at the point of release within prisons across Wales. That's helped to target drug-related deaths in the community. Naloxone, of course, is a drug that reverses the effects of a heroin overdose or, indeed, morphine drugs and that family—overdoses of those drugs—and brings people back very quickly, in seconds, from a situation where perhaps they're in difficulty with breathing, particularly, and in danger of dying. So, being able to provide the immediate support for people to avoid dying of a drug overdose is the first step. Secondly, of course, the substance misuse strategy looks at moving people on, long term, away from the drugs that have captured their lives for many years.
Wel, mae mynd i'r afael â chamddefnyddio cyffuriau yn fater cymhleth. Rydym ni wedi ei ystyried erioed fel mater iechyd yn hytrach na'i fod yn drosedd. Mae'r cyflenwyr a'r gwerthwyr cyffuriau yn droseddwyr; mae'r defnyddwyr yn ddioddefwyr ac maen nhw'n bobl sydd angen cymorth drwy'r system iechyd yn hytrach na thrwy'r system cyfiawnder troseddol. Mae gennym ni, wrth gwrs, y strategaeth camddefnyddio sylweddau a'r cynlluniau sy'n gysylltiedig â honno, ac mae hynny'n llywio yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud o ran lleihau'r niwed sy'n gysylltiedig â chamddefnyddio sylweddau. O ran camddefnyddio mewn carchardai, wel, darperir y gwasanaethau yn unol â chanllawiau clinigol a chyda thimau iechyd carchardai.
Mae gennym ni raglen hefyd o'r enw cymryd adref Naloxone a ddarperir i garcharorion ar adeg eu rhyddhau mewn carchardai ledled Cymru. Mae hynny wedi helpu i dargedu marwolaethau cysylltiedig â chyffuriau yn y gymuned. Cyffur yw Naloxone, wrth gwrs, sy'n gwrthdroi effeithiau gorddosio ar heroin neu, yn wir, cyffuriau morffin a'r teulu hwnnw—gorddosau o'r cyffuriau hynny—ac mae'n dod â phobl yn ôl yn gyflym iawn, mewn eiliadau, o sefyllfa lle efallai y maen nhw'n cael anhawster i anadlu, yn arbennig, ac mewn perygl o farw. Felly, gallu darparu'r cymorth ar unwaith i bobl osgoi marw o orddos o gyffuriau yw'r cam cyntaf. Yn ail, wrth gwrs, nod y strategaeth camddefnyddio sylweddau yw symud pobl ymlaen, yn yr hirdymor, oddi wrth y cyffuriau sydd wedi rheoli eu bywydau am flynyddoedd lawer.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad ynghylch a yw Llywodraeth Cymru'n cefnogi refferendwm arall ar yr UE? OAQ52696
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on whether the Welsh Government supports a further EU referendum? OAQ52696
Well, if the Prime Minister is unable to secure agreement on the final terms of the UK’s exit from the EU, to my mind, there should be a general election. If there's no general election or if a general election throws up an inconclusive result, how else can the issue be resolved other than through a second referendum?
Wel, os nad yw Prif Weinidog y DU yn gallu sicrhau cytundeb ar delerau terfynol ymadawiad y DU â'r UE, dylai fod etholiad cyffredinol, yn fy marn i. Os nad oes etholiad cyffredinol neu os bydd etholiad cyffredinol yn cyflwyno canlyniad amhendant, sut arall y gellir datrys y mater heblaw drwy ail refferendwm?
It could be resolved by doing what you said in 2016, First Minister, when you said that you respected the result of the referendum—that you accepted the decision made by the people and would not work against the referendum result. Even in March this year, you said,
'I am not questioning Brexit—the UK is leaving the EU.'
Notwithstanding what you said before, isn't it clear, First Minister, from your answer today and your amendment tomorrow that you want to betray the democratic decision of the people of Wales?
Gellid ei ddatrys trwy wneud yr hyn a ddywedasoch yn 2016, Prif Weinidog, pan ddywedasoch eich bod chi'n parchu canlyniad y refferendwm—eich bod chi'n derbyn y penderfyniad a wnaed gan y bobl ac na fyddech chi'n gweithio yn erbyn canlyniad y refferendwm. Hyd yn oed ym mis Mawrth eleni, dywedasoch,
'Nid wyf yn cwestiynu Brexit—mae'r Deyrnas Unedig yn ymadael â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.'
Er gwaethaf yr hyn a ddywedasoch o'r blaen, onid yw'n eglur, Prif Weinidog, o'ch ateb heddiw a'ch gwelliant yfory eich bod chi eisiau bradychu penderfyniad democrataidd pobl Cymru?
Could I remind the Member that he sits on the benches of a party that, for eight years, demanded a second referendum on devolution. The 1997 referendum was not accepted by the Conservative Party, and in 2005 they ran on a manifesto promise of a second referendum, so the double standards here are absolutely breathtaking.
Let me move on to the point that he makes. How do you resolve the issue? If Britain leaves with no deal, are we really saying that the people have no right to express an opinion on that? Because nobody two years ago—not even him—said, 'A "no deal" Brexit is likely'. No-one said it. Everybody said—Nigel Farage said it, the Brexiteers said it—'Oh, it'll be the easiest negotiation in the world, we'll have a free trade agreement like that, the German car manufacturers will drive it, et cetera, et cetera.' You've heard me say it in this Chamber. But, surely, if there's no deal, people have a right to express a view as to what they think about that. They may say, 'Well, let's leave with no deal.' They may say that. They may say, 'Well, let's—
A gaf i atgoffa'r Aelod ei fod yn eistedd ar feinciau plaid a wnaeth, am wyth mlynedd, alw am ail refferendwm ar ddatganoli. Ni dderbyniwyd refferendwm 1997 gan y Blaid Geidwadol, ac fe wnaethant ymgeisio yn 2005 ar sail addewid maniffesto o ail refferendwm, felly mae'r safonau dwbl yma yn gwbl syfrdanol.
Gadewch i mi symud ymlaen at y pwynt y mae'n ei wneud. Sut ydych chi'n datrys y mater? Os bydd Prydain yn gadael heb gytundeb, a ydym ni wir yn dweud nad oes gan bobl unrhyw hawl i fynegi barn ar hynny? Oherwydd ni ddywedodd neb ddwy flynedd yn ôl—nid ef hyd yn oed, 'Mae Brexit "dim cytundeb" yn debygol'. Ni ddywedodd neb hynny. Dywedodd pawb—dywedodd Nigel Farage hyn, dywedodd cefnogwyr Brexit hyn—'O, y rhain fydd y trafodaethau hawddaf yn y byd, bydd gennym ni gytundeb masnach rydd ymhen dim, bydd gweithgynhyrchwyr ceir yr Almaen yn ei ysgogi, ac yn y blaen, ac yn y blaen.' Rydych chi wedi fy nghlywed i'n dweud yn y Siambr hon. Ond, does bosib, os nad oes cytundeb, nad oes gan bobl hawl i fynegi barn am yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei feddwl am hynny. Efallai y byddan nhw'n dweud, 'Wel, gadewch i ni adael heb gytundeb.' Efallai y byddan nhw'n dweud hynny. Efallai y byddan nhw'n dweud, 'Wel, gadewch i ni—
They voted to leave.
Fe wnaethant bleidleisio i adael.
Well, I'm not taking any advice from UKIP. Their current policy is a second referendum on devolution anyway without actually realising the irony in their comments. If people find themselves in a situation where a 'no deal' Brexit is all that is on the table, when nobody mentioned a 'no deal' Brexit two years ago, is it actually honest to say to people, 'Tough luck. Two years ago, you had your say on this. All right, this option wasn't discussed or wasn't on the table, but it's too bad because you've already expressed a view'? I don't think that's democracy. People surely should have the opportunity, whether—my preference—through a general election that would then throw up a decisive result, then that would mean that there would be no need for a referendum at that point, or, secondly, if the election was inconclusive, what's so bad about asking the people about this who took the decision in the first place?
Wel, nid wyf i'n cymryd unrhyw gyngor gan UKIP. Eu polisi presennol nhw yw ail refferendwm ar ddatganoli beth bynnag heb sylweddoli'r eironi yn eu sylwadau. Os bydd pobl yn canfod eu hunain mewn sefyllfa lle mai Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yw'r cwbl sydd ar y bwrdd, er na soniodd neb am Brexit 'dim cytundeb' ddwy flynedd yn ôl, a yw hi wir yn onest i ddweud wrth bobl, 'Anlwcus. Cawsoch leisio eich barn ar hyn ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Iawn, ni thrafodwyd y dewis hwn neu nid oedd ar y bwrdd, ond mae hynny'n anffodus oherwydd rydych chi eisoes wedi mynegi barn'? Nid wyf i'n meddwl mai democratiaeth yw hynny. Does bosib na ddylai pobl gael y cyfle, pa un a—fy newis i—trwy etholiad cyffredinol a fyddai'n cynnig canlyniad pendant wedyn, yna byddai hynny'n golygu na fyddai angen refferendwm ar yr adeg honno, neu, yn ail, pe byddai'r etholiad yn amhendant, beth sydd mor wael am ofyn i'r bobl am hyn, a wnaeth y penderfyniad yn y lle cyntaf?
Because you ignore what they tell you.
Gan eich bod chi'n anwybyddu'r hyn y maen nhw'n ei ddweud wrthych chi.
I'm still at a loss to understand exactly why the First Minister thinks that a conclusive general election—presumably with the Labour victory that he would want—would help his Government further 'Securing Wales' Future', which I am still assuming is the policy of the Welsh Government. Because if there is a majority Labour Government in any snap general election, we'll be leaving the single market and leaving the customs union, and the people would have absolutely no right to have a say on that question properly. So, even looking again at the question of time frames, presuming there is a general election in January, without extending article 50 that's two months—three months max—the Labour Government would have to negotiate our departure from the single market and customs union, which is, of course, precisely the policy of the current United Kingdom Government. So, rather than going through all of that nonsense, why can't the First Minister just say, 'Let the people decide, and let them decide now'?
Rwy'n dal i fod ar goll yn llwyr o ran deall pam yn union y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn credu y byddai etholiad cyffredinol â chanlyniad pendant—gyda'r fuddugoliaeth i Lafur y byddai'n dymuno ei gweld, rwy'n tybio—yn helpu ei Lywodraeth i 'Ddiogelu Dyfodol Cymru' ymhellach, sy'n dal i fod yn un o bolisïau Llywodraeth Cymru rwy'n tybio. Oherwydd os ceir Llywodraeth Lafur fwyafrifol mewn unrhyw etholiad cyffredinol dirybudd, byddwn yn gadael y farchnad sengl ac yn gadael yr undeb tollau, ac ni fyddai gan bobl unrhyw hawl o gwbl i gael lleisio eu barn ar y cwestiwn hwnnw yn briodol. Felly, hyd yn oed o edrych eto ar y cwestiwn o amserlenni, gan dybio y bydd etholiad cyffredinol ym mis Ionawr, heb ymestyn erthygl 50 mae hynny'n ddau fis—tri mis ar y mwyaf—a fyddai gan Lywodraeth Lafur i drafod ein hymadawiad â'r farchnad sengl a'r undeb tollau, sef, wrth gwrs, union bolisi Llywodraeth bresennol y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, yn hytrach na mynd drwy'r holl lol hwnnw, pam na all y Prif Weinidog ddweud, 'Gadewch i'r bobl benderfynu, a gadewch iddyn nhw benderfynu nawr'?
Well, the difficulty is this, isn't it: there's no deal on the table as yet. So, you'd be asking people to take a decision without knowing what the full consequences will be. I think they need to be fully informed—they weren't two years ago—of what the consequences would be. It would take just as long to organise a referendum.
To my mind, a general election would give an opportunity for the parties to set out their stalls in detail as to what they think Brexit should look like, and on that basis people can vote accordingly. If there is an inconclusive result, then, he's right: how else do you resolve the issue other than through asking the very same people who took the decision two years ago whether, in the full knowledge of what they know now, they want to go ahead?
The problem has always been this: two years ago, people were asked to vote for an idea—there was no plan: an idea—and people would interpret it in different ways. There are some in this Chamber who will interpret the vote in 2016 as a vote for any kind of Brexit, no deal or not. Others, like me, will interpret it as a vote for Brexit, but not on whatever terms get thrown at the UK. When we had our referendums for devolution, people could, if they wished, look at the document that would tell them exactly what would happen if they voted 'yes'. That didn't happen in 2016. So, surely, if we're in that situation where there's no deal, or a bad deal, people have the right to be able to express a view as to what they want to do. Just trust the people.
Wel, yr anhawster yw hyn, onid e: nid oes cytundeb ar y bwrdd eto. Felly, byddech chi'n gofyn i bobl wneud penderfyniad heb wybod beth fydd y canlyniadau llawn. Rwy'n credu bod angen eu hysbysu'n llawn—ni ddigwyddodd hynny ddwy flynedd yn ôl—o beth fyddai'r canlyniadau. Byddai'n cymryd yr un cyfnod o amser i drefnu refferendwm.
Yn fy marn i, byddai etholiad cyffredinol yn rhoi cyfle i'r pleidiau gyflwyno eu safbwyntiau yn fanwl ynghylch sut y maen nhw'n credu y dylai Brexit edrych, ac ar y sail honno, gall pobl bleidleisio yn unol â hynny. Os bydd canlyniad amhendant, yna, mae'n iawn: sut arall ydych chi'n datrys y mater heblaw drwy ofyn i union yr un bobl a wnaeth y penderfyniad ddwy flynedd yn ôl, a ydynt, gyda gwybodaeth lawn yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wybod nawr, yn dymuno bwrw ymlaen?
Y broblem erioed fu hyn: ddwy flynedd yn ôl, gofynnwyd i bobl bleidleisio dros syniad—nid oedd cynllun: syniad—a byddai pobl yn ei ddehongli mewn gwahanol ffyrdd. Ceir rhai yn y Siambr hon a fydd yn dehongli'r bleidlais yn 2016 fel pleidlais dros unrhyw fath o Brexit, cytundeb ai peidio. Bydd eraill, fel fi, yn ei dehongli fel pleidlais dros Brexit, ond nid ar ba bynnag delerau sy'n cael eu taflu at y DU. Pan gawsom ni ein refferenda ar ddatganoli, gallai pobl, os oedden nhw'n dymuno, edrych ar y ddogfen a fyddai'n dweud wrthyn nhw yn union beth fyddai'n digwydd pe byddent yn pleidleisio o blaid. Ni ddigwyddodd hynny yn 2016. Felly, does bosib, os ydym ni yn y sefyllfa honno lle nad oes cytundeb, neu fod cytundeb gwael, bod gan bobl hawl i allu mynegi barn ynglŷn â'r hyn y maen nhw'n dymuno ei wneud. Ymddiriedwch yn y bobl.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am baratoadau Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro ar gyfer y gaeaf? OAQ52664
8. Will the First Minister make a statement on Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's winter preparations? OAQ52664
The health board continues to report the best performance in Wales against unscheduled care targets, which should support resilience as we enter the difficult winter period. We have received its integrated winter delivery plan and provided tailored feedback to inform further enhancement of its plan.
Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn parhau i adrodd y perfformiad gorau yng Nghymru yn erbyn targedau gofal heb ei drefnu, a ddylai gefnogi cydnerthedd wrth i ni gychwyn ar gyfnod anodd y gaeaf. Rydym ni wedi derbyn ei gynllun cyflawni integredig ar gyfer y gaeaf ac wedi rhoi adborth wedi'i deilwra i lywio gwaith pellach i wella ei gynllun.
Thank you, First Minister. I appreciate that the day-to-day delivery of health service provision in Cardiff and Vale is the health board's responsibility, but there's a level of interaction between the Welsh Government and the health board. One of the key pinch points last year was the provision of beds within the hospitals within that area. What certainty can you give the people of Cardiff and Vale that there will be additional beds made available to deal with the excess pressures that undoubtedly will occur through the winter months?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n sylweddoli mai cyfrifoldeb y bwrdd iechyd yw gwneud y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau iechyd o ddydd i ddydd yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro, ond ceir lefel o ryngweithio rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r bwrdd iechyd. Un o'r prif bwyntiau o anhawster y llynedd oedd y ddarpariaeth o welyau yn yr ysbytai yn yr ardal honno. Pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi i bobl Caerdydd a'r Fro y bydd gwelyau ychwanegol ar gael i ymdrin â'r pwysau gormodol a fydd heb os yn digwydd yn ystod misoedd y gaeaf?
I am fully aware, as I stand here every week, that there is a level of accountability to Ministers in terms of questions that need to be answered. Preparations for the winter have been taking place throughout Wales and across organisational boundaries since last winter. There was a review of what happened last year: five key priorities have been collected and identified for delivery to support greater resilience next winter. We have now received integrated health and social care winter delivery plans from all the health boards, from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and from local authority partners. They align to the priorities, and officials were encouraged by the level of assurance provided by the local health and care system in Cardiff and the Vale, with a high number of actions already well-embedded or being implemented to strengthen winter delivery to local people.
Rwy'n gwbl ymwybodol, wrth i mi sefyll yn y fan yma bob wythnos, bod lefel o atebolrwydd i Weinidogion o ran cwestiynau y mae angen eu hateb. Mae paratoadau ar gyfer y gaeaf wedi bod yn cael eu gwneud ledled Cymru ac ar draws ffiniau sefydliadol ers y gaeaf diwethaf. Cynhaliwyd adolygiad o'r hyn a ddigwyddodd y llynedd: casglwyd a nodwyd pum blaenoriaeth allweddol ar gyfer darpariaeth i gynorthwyo mwy o gadernid y gaeaf nesaf. Rydym ni wedi derbyn cynlluniau cyflawni iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol integredig ar gyfer y gaeaf erbyn hyn gan yr holl fyrddau iechyd, Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru a chan bartneriaid awdurdod lleol. Maen nhw'n cyd-fynd â'r blaenoriaethau, a chalonogwyd swyddogion gan lefel y sicrwydd a ddarparwyd gan y system iechyd a gofal lleol yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro, gyda nifer fawr o gamau gweithredu eisoes wedi eu hymwreiddio'n dda neu'n cael eu rhoi ar waith i gryfhau darpariaeth y gaeaf i bobl leol.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Finally, question 9, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
9. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am fewnbwn Llywodraeth Cymru i gais y Grid Cenedlaethol i'r Arolygiaeth Gynllunio i adeiladu peilonau ar draws Ynys Môn? OAQ52702
9. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's input into the National Grid's application to the Planning Inspectorate to build pylons across Ynys Môn? OAQ52702
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gorff statudol ar gyfer projectau seilwaith o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol yng Nghymru. Fel rhan o’r prosesau, rydym ni wedi ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad cyn ymgeisio ac rydym yn ystyried y dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd fel rhan o’r cais gorchymyn caniatâd datblygu ar hyn o bryd.
The Welsh Government is a statutory body for nationally significant infrastructure projects in Wales. As part of the processes, we have responded to the pre-application consultation and we are currently considering the evidence presented for the development consent order application.
Mae'r cais wedi cael ei gyflwyno bellach, ond nid ydy'r grid, wrth gwrs, ers dechrau'r broses yma, ddim wedi ildio dim i'r pwysau gen i, yr Aelod Seneddol, y cyngor nac, yn bwysicach fyth, unfrydiaeth trigolion Ynys Môn y dylid tanddaearu, a chofiwch fod y Senedd yma wedi pleidleisio dros yr egwyddor o ffafrïo tanddaearu yn hytrach na gosod peilonau newydd. Mi ddywedasoch chi ym mis Ionawr y buasech chi’n atgoffa'r grid o hynny, felly, beth oedd eu hymateb nhw? Ond, yn bwysicach na hynny, a wnewch chi roi ymrwymiad i wthio i’r eithaf o Lywodraeth Cymru ar yr Arolygiaeth Gynllunio Prydeinig i sylweddoli bod barn ddemocrataidd y Senedd hon wedi cael ei datgan a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw barchu hynny? Ymhellach, efo’r awgrym bellach y gallai twnnel i roi ceblau o dan y Fenai gostio cymaint â £300 miliwn, onid ydy hi’n amlwg y byddai hi’n sgandal pe na bai’r arian, neu ran ohono, yn cael ei wario ar bont newydd i gario gwifrau a cherbydau, efo gweddill yr arian yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn tanddaearu?
That application has been submitted, but the grid, since the beginning of this process, haven't given an inch in response to the pressure from me, the Member of Parliament, the council or, more importantly, the unanimity of the people of Anglesey that we need to underground these cables, and let's recall that this Chamber favoured undergrounding rather than pylons and voted for that. You said in January that you'd remind the grid of that. So, what was their response? But, more importantly, will you give a commitment to push as much as possible as Welsh Government to ensure that the British Planning Inspectorate realises that the democratic views of this Parliament have been expressed, and that they must respect that? And, with a further suggestion that a tunnel that could put cables under the Menai could cost £300 million, isn't it clear that it would be a scandal if the money, or part of that money, weren't spent on a new bridge to carry cables and vehicles, with the rest being invested in undergrounding?
Mae hynny'n iawn. Rŷm ni, fel Llywodraeth, wrth gwrs, wedi gwneud y pwynt hwn i'r grid ei bod yn bwysig dros ben i ystyried pont newydd—trydedd bont ar draws y Menai—er mwyn sicrhau bod y ceblau’n gallu mynd ar y bont honno. Mae yna gytundeb ffurfiol wedi cael ei wneud rhyngom ni a’r grid i ystyried y ceblau hyn ac rwy’n credu y byddai’n rhywbeth a fyddai'n hollol synhwyrol os oes yna unrhyw broblem ymarferol ynglŷn â hynny. O achos y ffaith ein bod ni’n barti statudol, wrth gwrs y byddwn ni’n cymryd rhan yn arolygiad y gorchymyn caniatâd datblygu ei hun, a byddwn ni yn datblygu datganiad o dir cyffredin gyda’r grid ynglŷn â’r project ei hun. Ond, wrth gwrs, bydd y grid yn gwybod beth yw barn y Cynulliad hwn a barn pobl leol. Rydym ni fel Llywodraeth yn moyn sicrhau bod unrhyw impact ar yr ardal yn cael ei gadw’n impact bach a’r lleiaf sy’n bosib.
That is right. We, of course, as a Government have told the grid that it's extremely important to consider a third crossing—a third bridge over the Menai strait—in order to ensure that the cables can go on that bridge. There is a formal agreement between ourselves and the grid to consider these cables, and I would imagine that it would be a totally sensible thing to do if there is any practical problem in relation to that. Because we are a statutory party to this, we will be taking part in the development consent order inspection itself, and we will be looking to develop a statement of common ground with the grid about the project itself. But, of course, the grid knows the views of this Assembly and the views of local people. We, as a Government, want to ensure that any impact on the area is kept to a minimum.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes. Rydw i'n galw ar arweinydd y tŷ i wneud ei datganiad—Julie James.
The next item, therefore, 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 this week's business: today's statement on the findings of the independent and accelerated programme for amber review has been postponed and, instead, a statement on 'An Update on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis—our Approach in Wales' has been added. Draft business for the next few weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae dau newid i fusnes yr wythnos hon: gohiriwyd datganiad heddiw am ganfyddiadau'r rhaglen garlam annibynnol i adolygu galwadau melyn, ac yn hytrach ychwanegwyd datganiad ar 'Yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am broffylacsis cyn-gysylltiad—ein dull o weithio yng Nghymru'. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer yr ychydig wythnosau nesaf wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, y gellir ei weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Education on the current pay offer made by ColegauCymru to lecturers, please? Welsh Government publications have recognised that further education provides opportunities for individuals to build and fulfil their ambitions. The better people's skills, the better their chances of getting fair, secure and rewarding employment and the stronger the skills base is in Wales, the more chances we have of attracting new businesses and growing existing ones to improve prosperity. A constituent of mine claims that concerns about pay levels have led to many leaving their jobs for more lucrative employment, and shortages in applicants for positions requiring specific skills such as engineering and construction. Sorry—I think that is it. I haven't got the second side. So, basically, I need a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Education on the current pay offer to lecturers, please.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg ar y cynnig cyflog presennol i ddarlithwyr a wnaed gan ColegauCymru, os gwelwch yn dda? Mae cyhoeddiadau Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod bod addysg bellach yn cynnig cyfleoedd i unigolion feithrin a chyflawni eu huchelgeisiau. Gorau'n byd yw sgiliau pobl, gwell yw eu gobaith am gyflogaeth deg, sicr a boddhaol. A'r cryfaf yw'r sylfaen sgiliau yng Nghymru, y mwyaf o gyfleoedd sydd gennym o ddenu busnesau newydd yn ogystal â meithrin y rhai sy'n bodoli eisoes i wella ffyniant. Mae un o'm hetholwyr yn honni bod pryderon am lefelau cyflog wedi peri i lawer adael eu swyddi am gyflogaeth fwy proffidiol, a bod prinder ymgeiswyr am swyddi sy'n gofyn am sgiliau penodol, megis peirianneg ac adeiladu. Mae'n flin gennyf—dyna ni, rwy'n credu. Nid yw'r ail ochr gennyf. Felly, yn y bôn, rwyf eisiau gweld datganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Addysg ar y cynnig cyflog presennol i ddarlithwyr, os gwelwch yn dda.
Yes. I think there is a real issue here about the amount of money available to the Welsh Government to pay the terms and conditions that we'd like to, however, this Government has, of course, guaranteed parity for the FE lecturers with teachers and I know that the Cabinet Secretary has made that point very clearly in this Chamber on a number of occasions. I don't think she needs to do so again in a statement.
Ie. Rwy'n credu bod problem wirioneddol yma ynghylch y swm o arian sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru i dalu'r telerau ac amodau yr hoffem eu talu. Fodd bynnag, mae'r Llywodraeth hon, wrth gwrs, wedi sicrhau cydraddoldeb ar gyfer darlithwyr addysg bellach ac athrawon, a gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi amlygu'r pwynt hwnnw yn glir ar sawl achlysur yn y Siambr hon. Nid wyf yn credu y dylai orfod gwneud hynny eto mewn datganiad.
Arweinydd y tŷ, gwyddom, wrth gwrs, fod ymwelwyr rhyngwladol yn mynd i fod yn hanfodol bwysig i lwyddiant twristiaeth Cymru yn y dyfodol, ond mae yna nifer o feysydd allweddol y mae angen inni eu datblygu ymhellach os ydym am gyflawni'r twf cyson a dwys yr ydym i gyd am ei weld. Mae marchnata rhyngwladol Croeso Cymru a sut yr ydym yn targedu pobl, yn enwedig yn y marchnadoedd allweddol, yn un elfen bwysig, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, y cysylltiadau awyr uniongyrchol sydd ar gael o Gymru yn enwedig o Faes Awyr Caerdydd.
Yn ddiweddar, rydym ni wedi bod yn gweld bod nifer y teithwyr ar y llwybr uniongyrchol o Gaerdydd i Qatar yn codi, a bydd hyn, gobeithio, yn rhoi hyder i gwmnïau eraill a chryfhau'r achos dros gael cysylltiadau uniongyrchol i gyrchfannau allweddol eraill. Yn ddiweddar, hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae Maes Awyr Caerdydd wedi datgelu ei master plan am yr 20 mlynedd nesaf, ac yn gynharach eleni, fe wnaeth y prif weithredwr, Willie Walsh, sôn am ei obaith o ddatblygu gwasanaeth trawsatlantig, trawsiwerydd, o Faes Awyr Caerdydd.
Felly, gyda llawer i'w drafod yn y maes yma, a fyddai'r Llywodraeth yn cytuno i gyflwyno datganiad a fyddai'n canolbwyntio ar waith Croeso Cymru mewn marchnadoedd allweddol, a hefyd y gwaith sy'n digwydd, a'r cynlluniau pellach ynglŷn â datblygu cysylltiadau awyr uniongyrchol o Gymru? Diolch yn fawr.
Leader of the house, we know that international visitors will be crucially important to the success of Welsh tourism in future, but there are a number of key areas that we need to develop further if we are to deliver the sustained and intensive growth that we all wish to see. International marketing by Visit Wales, and how we target people, particularly in the key markets, is one important element and, of course, the direct air links that are available from Wales, particularly from Cardiff Airport.
Recently, we have seen that the number of travellers on the Cardiff to Qatar route is increasing, and this will hopefully give confidence to other providers and strengthen the case for having direct routes to other key destinations. Recently, too, Cardiff Airport has revealed its master plan for the next 20 years, and earlier this year, the chief executive, Willie Walsh, talked about his hope of developing a transatlantic service from Cardiff Airport.
So, with much to be discussed in this area, would the Government agree to bring forward a statement that would focus on the work of Visit Wales in key markets, and also the work that is ongoing, and the further plans for developing air links directly from Wales? Thank you.
Yes, this is an increasingly important area, particularly in the light of the difficulties we have over negotiating sensible arrangements for Brexit purposes. It's very important to this Government that we continue to make sure that Wales is very much open for business across the member states of the European Union, and across the world. The Minister is indicating to me that he's more than happy to bring a statement forward to that effect.
Ydy, mae'r maes hwn yn cynyddu yn ei bwysigrwydd, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni'r anawsterau yr ydym yn eu cael wrth drafod trefniadau synhwyrol ar gyfer Brexit. Mae'n bwysig iawn i'r Llywodraeth hon ein bod yn parhau i sicrhau bod Cymru yn agored iawn i fusnes gyda holl aelod-wladwriaethau'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac ar draws y byd. Mae'r Gweinidog yn tynnu fy sylw ei fod yn barod iawn i gyflwyno datganiad i'r perwyl hwnnw.
I was contacted a few days ago by a constituent from Rhiwbina, in my constituency of Cardiff North, about her four-year-old daughter, who has just been diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy. She was told initially that there were no junior EpiPens available at any pharmacies. So, she phoned every pharmacy in Cardiff and couldn't get one, but has since identified two in Swansea. So it's obviously a hugely concerning situation, and I believe the advice is to use an out-of-date EpiPen if you can't get one, but, of course, she has recently just been diagnosed, so she hasn't got any out-of-date EpiPens, and she needs a number of them to be at all the different places she goes. It is a very worrying situation, so she's asked me to raise it with the Welsh Government and to ask whether there could be an urgent statement to say what is to happen in this situation, with the shortage of stock.
And then the second issue I wanted to raise was: I went this morning to a celebration organised by the Hindu Council of Wales at the Gandhi statue, to mark the first anniversary of the statue being erected and also to mark the International Day of Peace. I wondered if it would be possible to have a statement about the importance of making school pupils, in particular, aware of the history of figures like Gandhi and what they've actually done, what contributions they've made, so that these statues can become alive to people, and particularly young people, in Cardiff.
Ychydig ddyddiau yn ôl cysylltodd etholwr o Riwbeina, yn fy etholaeth i yng Ngogledd Caerdydd, â mi i sôn am ei merch pedair oed sydd newydd gael diagnosis o alergedd difrifol i gnau daear. Dywedwyd wrthi i ddechrau nad oedd unrhyw EpiPens i'r ifanc ar gael mewn unrhyw fferyllfa. Ffoniodd bob fferyllfa yng Nghaerdydd heb unrhyw lwc. Ond ers hynny mae wedi dod o hyd i ddwy fferyllfa yn Abertawe. Yn amlwg, dyma sefyllfa sy'n peri pryder aruthrol. Rwy'n credu mai'r cyngor yw, os nad ydych yn gallu dod o hyd i EpiPen, eich bod yn defnyddio hen un, ond, wrth gwrs, gan mai dim ond yn ddiweddar y cafodd ddiagnosis, does ganddi hi ddim hen EpiPens, ac mae angen nifer ohonynt arni ar gyfer yr holl lefydd gwahanol y mae'n mynd iddynt. Mae'n sefyllfa sy'n peri pryder mawr, a gofynnodd i mi grybwyll y mater gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, ac i ofyn a oes modd gwneud datganiad brys i ddweud beth sy'n digwydd yn y sefyllfa hon, gyda'r diffyg stoc.
Yr ail fater yr oeddwn am ei grybwyll oedd: y bore 'ma, es i ddathliad a drefnwyd gan Gyngor Hindŵ Cymru, yn ymyl cerflun Gandhi, i ddathlu blwyddyn ers gosod y cerflun, yn ogystal â nodi Diwrnod Heddwch Rhyngwladol. Tybed a oes modd cael datganiad am bwysigrwydd sicrhau bod disgyblion ysgol, yn benodol, yn ymwybodol o hanes enwogion fel Gandhi a'r hyn a gyflawnwyd ganddynt a'u cyfraniadau, fel bod y cerfluniau hyn yn dod yn fyw yn nychymyg pobl Caerdydd, yn enwedig yr ifanc.
Yes, well, on the very important matter of the EpiPens, we are aware of the current limited availability of EpiPen products in the UK. It's a global issue, and one we're working with the UK Government and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to address. Whilst the availability of EpiPen products is indeed currently limited, alternative adrenaline auto-injectors continue to be available, and the manufacturers are working with the supply chains to increase UK supplies. Last Friday, the MHRA issued detailed guidance to healthcare professionals on actions to be taken to ensure there are adequate supplies of adrenaline auto-injectors in the UK to meet current demand. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services will make a written statement in the coming days, setting out the detail of the mitigating actions being put in place, in light of the importance placed on it, and the Member raising it today in the business statement. But any patient unable to obtain supplies of an EpiPen should speak to their clinician without delay about using an alternative adrenaline auto-injector device, to ensure that they are safely covered—especially in the light of the tragic case that has been in the news recently.
In terms of the statement around the statue and the celebration, yes, I'm very happy to work with the Cabinet Secretary for Education to make sure that we can, either one of us, bring something forward about the importance of historic peace figures, especially in the light of the end of the first world war celebrations, and a number of other things, to make sure that the statues are interactive. The Member will know that I am very keen on having QR codes and so on put on statues, so that they come to life as we go around, and we can certainly look into that.
Ie, wel, o ran mater pwysig yr EpiPens, rydym yn ymwybodol o brinder cynnyrch EpiPen yn y DU ar y funud. Mae'n fater byd-eang, ac rydym yn cydweithio â Llywodraeth y DU, yn ogystal â'r Asiantaeth Rheoleiddio Meddyginiaethau a Chynhyrchion Gofal Iechyd, yr MHRA, i'w ddatrys. Er bod cynnyrch EpiPen, yn wir, yn brin ar hyn o bryd, mae chwistrellwyr adrenalin awtomatig amgen yn parhau i fod ar gael, ac mae'r cynhyrchwyr yn cydweithio â'r cadwyni cyflenwi i gynyddu'r cyflenwad yn y DU. Ddydd Gwener ddiwethaf, cyhoeddwyd canllawiau manwl gan yr MHRA i weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol ynglŷn â'r hyn y dylent ei wneud i sicrhau bod y cyflenwadau o chwistrellwyr adrenalin awtomatig yn y DU yn ddigon i ateb y galw presennol. Bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn gwneud datganiad ysgrifenedig yn ystod y dyddiau nesaf, gan nodi manylion y gwaith sydd wedi'i wneud i liniaru hyn, oherwydd pwysigrwydd y mater, ac oherwydd bod yr Aelod wedi codi'r mater heddiw yn y datganiad busnes. Ond, dylai unrhyw glaf sy'n methu â chael gafael ar gyflenwad o EpiPen siarad ar unwaith â'i glinigydd ynghylch defnyddio dyfais chwistrellu adrenalin awtomatig amgen, er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn ddiogel—yn enwedig yn dilyn yr achos trasig a fu yn y newyddion yn ddiweddar.
O ran y datganiad ynglŷn â'r cerflun a'r dathliadau, ydw, rwy'n hapus iawn i weithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg i sicrhau y gallwn ni, y naill neu'r llall, gyflwyno rhywbeth ynghylch pwysigrwydd enwogion hanesyddol sy'n sefyll dros heddwch, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni’r dathliadau i nodi diwedd y rhyfel byd cyntaf, a nifer o bethau eraill, i sicrhau bod y cerfluniau hyn yn rhyngweithiol. Mae'r Aelod yn gwybod fy mod yn awyddus iawn i roi codau QR ac ati ar gerfluniau, fel eu bod yn dod yn fyw wrth inni symud o gwmpas. Yn sicr, gallwn edrych ar hynny.
Can I call for a single statement on the roll-out of smart meters in Wales? Tomorrow, I'm actually hosting an event with Smart Energy GB, a drop-in event between 11.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. in Dining Room 1, and I encourage Members to go along to celebrate International Coffee Day, but also to find out how many cups of coffee your constituents could make through their energy saving, but also, more seriously, to update Members on the smart meter roll-out and share specific constituency and regional smart meter installation figures.
We know that during the summer there was some adverse media coverage of smart meters, and claims that they will only save consumers £11 a year on average. Of course, that's only a 2020 saving; the anticipatory savings are much greater. The UK Government's cost-benefit analysis says that, taking all costs into account, the net benefit of the roll-out is around £6 billion, and households will save both by using energy more efficiently, and as a result of a smart energy system that is cheaper to run. The provision of in-home displays will enable people to measure their expenditure in pounds and pence, and therefore save in their domestic use, and the alternative, of course, is a more expensive analogue grid. Finally, of course, they allow greater flexibility in the utilisation of renewable energy. Given those points, I therefore hope that the Welsh Government will continue to be supportive and provide a statement on their involvement with and a position on the roll-out of smart meters in Wales, as they go forward.
A gaf i alw am ddatganiad unigol ar gyflwyno mesuryddion clyfar yng Nghymru? Yfory, byddaf yn cynnal digwyddiad gyda Smart Energy GB, lle bydd modd galw i mewn yn Ystafell Giniawa 1 rhwng 11.00 a.m. ac 1.30 p.m. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i ddod yno i ddathlu Diwrnod Coffi Rhyngwladol, ac i ddarganfod sawl cwpan o goffi y gallai eich etholwyr eu darparu drwy arbed ynni, ond hefyd, yn fwy difrifol, i roi'r diweddaraf i'r Aelodau am gyflwyno mesuryddion clyfar ac i rannu ffigurau gosod mesuryddion clyfar mewn etholaethau a rhanbarthau penodol.
Gwyddom y cafwyd rhai sylwadau andwyol ar y cyfryngau am fesuryddion clyfar dros yr haf, a'r honiadau na fydd defnyddwyr yn arbed mwy na £11 y flwyddyn ar gyfartaledd. Wrth gwrs, arbediad ar gyfer 2020 yn unig yw hynny; mae'r arbedion a ragwelir yn fwy o lawer. Mae dadansoddiad cost a budd Llywodraeth y DU yn dweud, o ystyried yr holl gostau, y bydd y budd net o'u cyflwyno oddeutu £6 biliwn, a bydd aelwydydd yn gwneud arbedion trwy ddefnyddio ynni'n fwy effeithlon a hefyd o ganlyniad i system ynni glyfar sy'n rhatach i'w rhedeg. Bydd darparu sgriniau mewn cartrefi yn galluogi pobl i fesur eu gwariant mewn punnoedd a cheiniogau, ac felly byddant yn gwneud arbedion o ran eu defnydd domestig, a'r dewis arall, wrth gwrs, yw grid analog sydd yn ddrytach. Yn olaf, maent yn caniatáu mwy o hyblygrwydd o ran defnyddio ynni adnewyddadwy. O ystyried y pwyntiau hyn, gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fod yn gefnogol ac yn darparu datganiad ar eu cyfraniad a'u safbwynt o ran cyflwyno mesuryddion clyfar yng Nghymru, wrth iddynt symud ymlaen.
Well, I think the Member's done an extremely good job himself of setting out the value of smart meters, and of advertising his event tomorrow. The Member will also know that I am very keen on knowing how much energy I spend making coffee, as I am rather fond of it, so I'll be sure to make sure to pop along to his event tomorrow, to ensure that we have good attendance there.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod ei hun wedi gwneud gwaith arbennig o dda yn nodi gwerth mesuryddion clyfar, ac yn hysbysebu ei ddigwyddiad yfory. Bydd yr Aelod hefyd yn gwybod fy mod yn awyddus iawn i weld faint o ynni yr wyf yn ei wario wrth wneud coffi, gan fy mod yn eithaf hoff ohono, felly byddaf yn siŵr o alw draw yn y digwyddiad yfory, i sicrhau bod gennym bresenoldeb da yno.
A oes modd derbyn datganiad am y sefyllfa efo addysg feddygol ym Mangor—diweddariad, hynny yw? Mae etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi yn gofyn a oes modd gwneud cais eleni ar gyfer astudio'r cwrs israddedig mewn meddygaeth ym Mhrifysgol Bangor o 2019 ymlaen. Mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yng ngoleuni'r cyhoeddiad yn gynharach eleni ynglŷn â'r bartneriaeth rhwng prifysgolion Bangor a Chaerdydd i ddarparu addysg feddygol. Mae yna nifer o fyfyrwyr lleol yn awyddus iawn i wybod a fyddan nhw yn gallu ymgymryd â rhan o'u hyfforddiant ym Mangor yn 2019. Nid ydy hynny'n glir ar hyn o bryd, er mai dyna oedd yr addewid. Felly, byddai datganiad i'r perwyl hwnnw, i glirio hynny i fyny, yn ddefnyddiol iawn. Diolch yn fawr.
Ac a gaf fi ofyn hefyd am ddatganiad, neu wybodaeth, gan y Llywodraeth am bolisi cynllunio Cymru? Pryd fyddwch chi'n debygol o gyhoeddi hwn? A hefyd, a gawn ni ddiweddariad am nodyn technegol 20 am yr iaith Gymraeg? Fe soniwyd dros yr haf y gallai'r Llywodraeth yma fod yn wynebu her gyfreithiol ynglŷn â'r canllaw yma. A oes yna newid barn wedi bod gan y Llywodraeth am TAN 20?
Ac yn olaf, ychydig fisoedd yn ôl, fe ddywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ynni, Cynllunio a Materion Gwledig ei bod hi'n barod i adolygu'r angen am arolygaeth gynllunio ar wahân i Gymru, ac y byddem yn trafod hyn ymhellach. A gawn ni ddatganiad, felly, am safbwynt y Llywodraeth ynglŷn â chreu arolygaeth gynllunio i Gymru, os gwelwch yn dda? Diolch.
Is it possible to have a statement on the situation on medical education in Bangor—an update, that is? Constituents are contacting me asking whether it is possible to apply for an undergraduate course in medicine in Bangor University from 2019 onwards. Of course, this is in the light of the announcement earlier this year about the partnership between Bangor and Cardiff universities to deliver medical education. A number of local students are very eager to find out whether they can undertake some of their training in Bangor from 2019 onwards. That isn’t clear at present, although that was the pledge that was made. So, a statement to clear that up would be most useful. Thank you very much.
Also, may I ask for a statement, or some information, from the Government on the Wales planning policy? When are you likely to announce this or publish this? And also, can we have an update on TAN 20, as regards the Welsh language? Over the summer, it was said that this Government could be facing a legal challenge on this. Has the Government had a change of view on TAN 20?
And finally, a few months ago, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs stated that she was willing to review the need for a separate planning inspectorate for Wales, and that we would be discussing this further. Please can we have a statement as regards the Government's stance on the creation of a planning inspectorate for Wales? Thank you.
Thank you for those three important issues. The Cabinet Secretary is indicating to me that both of the updates you're talking about will be available by the end of this year, and she'll be bringing them forward once they are available.
In terms of the medical education in Bangor, I'm not sure which of us it should be, but I'll make sure that somebody writes to you with an update on that, and that can be made available to all Members.
Diolch i chi am y tri mater pwysig hynny. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn tynnu fy sylw at y ffaith y bydd y ddau ddiweddariad y soniwyd amdanynt gennych ar gael erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn, ac y bydd yn eu cyflwyno pan fyddant ar gael.
O ran yr addysg feddygol ym Mangor, nid wyf yn siŵr pwy ddylai, ond byddaf yn sicrhau bod un ohonom yn ysgrifennu atoch gyda'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am hynny, a bod yr wybodaeth ar gael i bob Aelod.
Leader of the house, I'd like to ask for two statements. Last week, I sponsored a briefing on Mind Cymru's big mental health survey. The survey gathered the experiences of over 500 people across Wales who accessed primary care in the past 12 months. It raised some important trends, and Mind Cymru are looking to collate further evidence and data this year. Separate research published by Mind found that mental health now accounts for 40 per cent of all general practitioner appointments in Wales. So, further to this research, can we have a statement on mental health and primary care services in Wales?
Secondly, some Members may have seen the item on ITV Wales news last week that they did on a football team run by Newport County Association Football Club for people living with mental health conditions. Playing football and being part of the team has transformed the lives of those taking part, and I'm delighted that my colleagues Jack Sargeant and John Griffiths will be joining me tonight to watch County play, to find out more about the work that they do to support people in the local community. So, leader of the house, can we have a statement on how Welsh Government can work with organisations like sports clubs and how they can help people with mental health conditions?
Arweinydd y tŷ, hoffwn ofyn am ddau ddatganiad. Yr wythnos diwethaf, noddais bapur briffio am arolwg iechyd meddwl mawr Mind Cymru. Casglodd yr arolwg brofiadau dros 500 o bobl hyd a lled Cymru a ddefnyddiodd ofal sylfaenol yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf. Amlygwyd rhai tueddiadau pwysig, ac mae Mind Cymru yn bwriadu coladu tystiolaeth a data pellach eleni. Mewn ymchwil ar wahân a gyhoeddwyd gan Mind, gwelwyd bod iechyd meddwl bellach yn gyfrifol am 40 y cant o holl apwyntiadau meddygon teulu yng Nghymru. Felly, yn sgil y gwaith ymchwil hwn, a gawn ni ddatganiad ar wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol ac iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru?
Yn ail, efallai bydd rhai Aelodau wedi gweld yr eitem ar newyddion ITV Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf am dîm pêl-droed sy'n cael ei redeg gan glwb pêl-droed Sir Casnewydd ar gyfer pobl sy'n byw gyda chyflyrau iechyd meddwl. Mae chwarae pêl-droed a bod yn rhan o'r tîm wedi trawsnewid bywydau'r rhai sy'n cymryd rhan, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod fy nghyd-Aelodau Jack Sargeant a John Griffiths am ymuno â mi heno i wylio'r Sir yn chwarae, er mwyn darganfod mwy am y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud i gefnogi pobl yn y gymuned leol. Felly, arweinydd y tŷ, a gawn ddatganiad ar sut y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda sefydliadau megis clybiau chwaraeon a sut y gallent helpu pobl â chyflyrau iechyd meddwl?
Thank you for that. We absolutely agree that sport and physical activity has a very positive impact on mental health and well-being, and it's why prevention is a key theme in our 'Together for Mental Health' strategy, which was published in 2012. That absolutely does include a focus on non-clinical support. We're very keen to maximise opportunities to support people with a vast array of non-clinical community services that offer real health and well-being benefits, including participation in sport and physical activity. Indeed, I had the opportunity to visit a project, Down to Earth, in Rebecca Evans's constituency only last week, which focuses on building sustainable homes to improve mental health. There are some really startling clinical results associated with it.
The healthy and active fund, launched in July by the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, aims to support initiatives that improve both physical and mental health. It's a partnership between Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Public Health Wales and delivers in an integrated way the Welsh Government commitments to introduce a well-being bond and a challenge fund for sport. Phase 1 of the HAF was to support projects that strengthen and develop community assets, with a £5 million fund available to invest over three years. The fund opens for expressions of interest this month with a view to successful projects starting delivery in April of next year. And on 1 October we announced the mental health social prescribing pilot. Mind Cymru and the British Red Cross have been awarded a total of £1.351 million—I think that says; sorry, Llywydd, my eyesight is not what it should be, and I haven't got my glasses with me, but a large amount of millions of pounds—to deliver projects across Wales. [Laughter.] The types of interventions that are delivered could include provision of community-based well-being activities, such as walking groups, arts and crafts et cetera.
I commend the Member on her interest in sport. I'm pleased to say that in Swansea we've had a little bit of an uplift in our sporting outlook as well. And I know myself that even just going to watch can have a beneficial impact on mental health. So, I commend the Member for her interest in the activity.
Diolch i chi am hynny. Rydym yn cytuno'n llwyr fod chwaraeon ac ymarfer corff wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol iawn ar iechyd meddwl a lles, a dyna'r rheswm pam mae atal yn un o themâu allweddol ein strategaeth 'Law yn llaw at Iechyd Meddwl' a gyhoeddwyd yn 2012. Yn sicr, mae honno'n cynnwys pwyslais ar gymorth nad yw'n gymorth clinigol. Rydym yn awyddus iawn i fanteisio'n llwyr ar y cyfleoedd i roi cymorth i bobl drwy amrywiaeth eang o wasanaethau cymunedol nad ydynt yn rhai clinigol, rhai sy'n cynnig buddion gwirioneddol i iechyd a lles, gan gynnwys cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon ac ymarfer corff. Yn wir, yr wythnos diwethaf ces gyfle i ymweld â phrosiect, Down to Earth, yn etholaeth Rebecca Evans, sy'n canolbwyntio ar adeiladu cartrefi cynaliadwy i wella iechyd meddwl. Mae'r canlyniadau clinigol sy'n gysylltiedig â'r prosiect yn ddigon i synnu rhywun.
Bwriad y gronfa iach ac egnïol, a lansiwyd ym mis Gorffennaf gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a'r Gweinidog ar gyfer Twristiaeth, Diwylliant a Chwaraeon, yw cefnogi mentrau sy'n gwella iechyd corfforol a meddyliol. Partneriaeth rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru, Chwaraeon Cymru, ac Iechyd y Cyhoedd Cymru ydyw, ac mae'n cyflawni ymrwymiadau Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno bond lles a chronfa her ar gyfer chwaraeon, a hynny mewn modd integredig. Cam 1 y gronfa oedd cefnogi prosiectau sy'n cryfhau ac yn datblygu asedau cymunedol, gyda £5 miliwn i'w fuddsoddi dros dair blynedd. Y mis hwn, bydd y gronfa yn agor i ddatganiadau o ddiddordeb, gyda'r bwriad o weld y prosiectau llwyddiannus yn cychwyn darparu ym mis Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf. Ar 1 Hydref, cyhoeddwyd cynllun peilot presgripsiynu cymdeithasol iechyd meddwl. Dyfarnwyd cyfanswm o £1.351 miliwn i Mind Cymru a'r Groes Goch Brydeinig—rwy'n credu ei fod yn dweud hynny; mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Llywydd, nid yw fy ngolwg yn dda iawn, a does dim sbectol gyda mi yma, ond mae'n swm mawr o filiynau o bunnoedd—i gyflawni prosiectau ar draws Cymru. [Chwerthin.] Gallai'r mathau o ymyriadau gynnwys darparu gweithgareddau lles wedi lleoli yn y gymuned, megis grwpiau cerdded, celf a chrefft, ac ati.
Rwy'n cymeradwyo’r Aelod am ei diddordeb mewn chwaraeon. Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod ein rhagolygon chwaraeon wedi gwella ychydig yn Abertawe hefyd. Gwn fy hun fod hyd yn oed gwylio'n unig yn ddigon i gael effaith fuddiol ar iechyd meddwl. Felly, cymeradwyaf yr Aelod am ei diddordeb yn y gweithgaredd.
Leader of the house, I'd like to ask for two statements today. Firstly, I'd welcome an update from Welsh Government on discussions around the banning of the third-party sale of dogs and cats. There's a large body of evidence and public opinion in favour of introducing the so-called Lucy's law, due to concerns around health and well-being. With changes proposed in England that would bring in a partial ban, there is an opportunity for us to go beyond this and introduce a really rigorous humane law that would stop third-party sales altogether.
Secondly, I'd like to place on record my congratulations to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service for holding on to their UK title for extrication at the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation Challenge 2018, held in Roald Dahl Plass, the weekend just gone. I and my colleague Jenny Rathbone had the pleasure of watching them prepare for that a few weeks ago, during the summer recess, and it really was a sight to behold. I'm sure you would join with me also in wishing them all the very best for the world challenge in a few weeks' time. The challenges our fire and rescue personnel have to meet in order to ensure public safety and well-being are ever-changing. So, will there be an opportunity to debate in Government time how we can ensure they receive the support they need to carry on their excellent work?
Arweinydd y tŷ, hoffwn ofyn am ddau ddatganiad heddiw. Yn gyntaf, byddwn yn croesawu diweddariad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r trafodaethau ar wahardd gwerthu cŵn a chathod gan drydydd parti. Mae llawer o dystiolaeth a'r farn gyhoeddus o blaid cyflwyno cyfraith Lucy, fel y'i gelwir, o ganlyniad i bryderon am iechyd a lles. Gyda'r newidiadau arfaethedig i gyflwyno gwaharddiad rhannol yn Lloegr, dyma gyfle i ni achub y blaen ar hyn a chyflwyno cyfraith drugarog wirioneddol drwyadl a fyddai'n cael gwared ar werthu gan drydydd parti yn gyfan gwbl.
Yn ail, hoffwn gofnodi fy llongyfarchiadau i Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru am ddal eu gafael ar deitl pencampwyr her achub y DU yn ystod Her Sefydliadau Achub y DU 2018, a gynhaliwyd yn Roald Dahl Plass dros y penwythnos diwethaf. Ces i a fy nghyd-Aelod Jenny Rathbone y pleser o'u gwylio'n paratoi ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, yn ystod egwyl yr haf, ac roedd yn dipyn o beth. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn awyddus i ymuno â mi wrth ddymuno'n dda iddynt oll yn ystod her y byd ymhen ychydig wythnosau. Mae'r heriau y mae staff tân ac achub yn eu hwynebu i sicrhau diogelwch a lles y cyhoedd yn newid trwy'r amser. Felly, a fydd cyfle i gael dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar sut y gallwn sicrhau eu bod yn derbyn y cymorth angenrheidiol i barhau gyda'u gwaith rhagorol?
Yes, I was privileged to have a quick chat with some of the personnel involved in setting up the exhibition last week. I was offered the opportunity to be rescued from a vehicle, but unfortunately my diary wouldn't permit me to do it. I was a bit disappointed by it, but anyway—. [Laughter.] I'm extremely happy to wish them all the best for the world challenge in a few weeks' time. It's a fun way to demonstrate the excellence of the service and some of the challenges that they meet. I'm absolutely happy to congratulate them on hosting such a prestigious event and pay tribute to everyone involved. It was a great performance by south Wales, as Vikki Howells has said. They won the overall awards for casualty extrication and for rope rescue and were placed third in water rescue—by far the best performance all round. I absolutely want to wish them the very best of luck at the forthcoming world challenge in South Africa.
Unlike other public sector organisations, they set their own budgets here in Wales. They're unique in that respect. We don't directly fund and control the level of funding they levy from the constituent local authorities. But they do such a great job, and I think, all joking aside, it is an excellent way to showcase and to allow the personnel of the fire and rescue service to showcase how really very good they are. This isn't just excellence in a competition, this is actually excellence on the side of the road when they're helping people, and the speed with which they perform saves lives. So, I'm very, very happy to commend them.
In terms of the animal welfare regulations that Vikki Howells raised, the Cabinet Secretary made an oral statement back in June, and has committed to an investigation of third-party sellers in Wales. Work is ongoing with stakeholders to gather information on the issues and we will be looking at options for the way forward in due course. But it is worth remembering that we've already introduced a number of animal welfare measures well before England, which include the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) Wales Regulations 2014, the Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015 and the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010, and the Cabinet Secretary is working hard with stakeholders to see what we can do to build on that.
Do, ces y fraint o gael sgwrs sydyn gyda rhai o'r personél a fu'n gosod yr arddangosfa yr wythnos diwethaf. Ces gyfle i gael fy achub o gerbyd, ond yn anffodus nid oedd fy nyddiadur yn caniatáu imi wneud hynny. Roeddwn yn siomedig braidd, ond ta waeth —. [Chwerthin.] Byddwn wrth fy modd yn dymuno'n dda iddynt yn ystod her y byd ymhen ychydig wythnosau. Dyma ffordd hwyliog o arddangos rhagoriaeth y gwasanaeth yn ogystal â rhai o'r heriau y maent yn eu hwynebu. Rwy'n hapus iawn i'w llongyfarch am gynnal digwyddiad mor fawreddog ac i dalu teyrnged i bawb a fu'n rhan o'r digwyddiad. Cafwyd perfformiad gwych gan Dde Cymru, fel y dywedodd Vikki Howells. Enillwyd y gwobrau cyffredinol am ryddhau cleifion ac am achub â rhaffau, a dod yn drydydd wrth achub mewn dŵr—y perfformiad gorau o bell ffordd. Hoffwn ddymuno'r gorau iddynt yn ystod yr her byd sydd ar y gweill yn Ne Affrica.
Yn wahanol i sefydliadau sector cyhoeddus eraill, yma yng Nghymru maent yn gosod eu cyllidebau eu hunain. Maen nhw'n unigryw yn hynny o beth. Nid ydym yn rheoli'r nawdd yn uniongyrchol, nac ychwaith yn rheoli lefel y nawdd y maent yn ei gasglu gan yr awdurdodau lleol cyfansoddol. Ond maent yn gwneud gwaith gwych, ac rwy'n credu, yn wirioneddol, fod hon yn ffordd ardderchog o arddangos, a chaniatáu i bersonél y Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub arddangos, pa mor arbennig ydynt. Nid rhagoriaeth mewn cystadleuaeth yn unig mo hyn, ond dyma ragoriaeth wirioneddol ar ochr y ffordd, pan fyddant yn helpu pobl, ac mae eu cyflymder wrth berfformio yn achub bywydau. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn, iawn i'w cymeradwyo.
O ran y rheoliadau lles anifeiliaid a godwyd gan Vikki Howells, gwnaed datganiad llafar gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ôl ym mis Mehefin, ac mae wedi ymrwymo i ymchwilio i werthwyr trydydd parti yng Nghymru. Mae'r gwaith gyda rhanddeiliaid i gasglu gwybodaeth am y materion yn parhau, a byddwn yn edrych ar yr opsiynau ar gyfer bwrw ymlaen yn y man. Ond mae'n werth cofio ein bod eisoes wedi cyflwyno nifer o fesurau lles anifeiliaid ymhell cyn Lloegr, gan gynnwys Rheoliadau Lles Anifeiliaid (Bridio Cŵn) Cymru 2014, Rheoliadau Microsglodynnu Cŵn (Cymru) 2015, a Rheoliadau Lles Anifeiliaid (coleri electronig) (Cymru) 2010, ac mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gweithio'n galed gyda'r rhanddeiliaid i weld sut y gallwn ychwanegu at hynny.
I would like a statement as to when the Welsh Government were aware of the accidents in the cooling ponds involving weapons-grade plutonium at Hinkley Point A in the 1960s. When was the Government aware of this?
Hoffwn ddatganiad ynglŷn â phryd oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol o ddamweiniau ym mhyllau oeri Hinkley Point A, a oedd yn ymwneud â phlwtoniwm gradd arfau, yn y 1960au. Ers pryd y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ymwybodol o hyn?
I think the Member needs to write in to the Cabinet Secretary for an answer to that.
Credaf fod angen i'r Aelod ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet er mwyn cael ateb i hynny.
Diolch i arweinydd y tŷ.
Thank you, leader of the house.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid ar y gyllideb ddrafft 2019-20, ac rwy'n galw ar yr Ysgrifennydd i wneud ei ddatganiad—Mark Drakeford.
The next item, therefore, is the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, and it's a statement on the draft budget for 2019-20. I call on the Cabinet Secretary, Mark Drakeford.
Diolch, Llywydd. Today I lay the Welsh Government’s draft budget before the National Assembly.
In 2010, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced an emergency budget in which he said that what he called necessary sacrifices would lead to debt falling and a balanced budget by the end of Parliament in 2015. The sacrifices, Llywydd, go on, but the sunny uplands of economic success have moved to 2025 and beyond. Never has the need for a UK Government to abandon the failed polices of austerity been more urgent as the darkening shadow of Brexit looms over this draft budget. The chief economist’s analysis, also published today, shows that Brexit already costs every person in Wales and the United Kingdom up to £400. This Welsh Government’s unremitting efforts to protect front-line services are carried out against those headwinds and those of shrinking budgets and escalating demand.
Llywydd, if the funding available to Wales had simply stood still at its 2010 value, not rising by a single penny, the budget before Members today would have £800 million more to care for older people, to help children get the best possible start in life, to protect our environment and to invest in the future of our economy. If the budget had grown in line with the economy since 2010, simply taking a static share of the national cake, today’s budget would have £4 billion more to invest. And if it had moved in line with the growth in public expenditure, something achieved over the 50 years prior to 2010, the budget in front of Members would be £6 billion higher for those essential purposes. Little wonder, then, that this has been the most difficult budget round yet. As well as the dual challenges of rising costs and spending constraints, our hard-pressed public services face the challenges of rising inflation, unfunded pay pressures and the UK Government’s unilateral decision to change public sector pension funding, transferring a further £300 million of unplanned costs on to Welsh public services.
Llywydd, the failure of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer to initiate a comprehensive spending review means that I have no budget with which I can plan beyond 2019-20. As a result, today, I am able only to publish a one-year revenue plan, for 2019-20 only, and capital plans for only the next two financial years.
Now, in line with the new procedures introduced last year by the National Assembly, I set out today the major building blocks of the budget—where the money comes from and how it will be allocated to Government departments. Later this month, the Welsh Government will publish detailed spending plans, explaining how individual portfolio Ministers intend to deploy the resources available to them.
This draft budget, Llywydd, builds on the plans we published last year and reflects the second year of the two-year budget agreement between the Government and Plaid Cymru. I would like to thank Steffan Lewis for the constructive discussions, which have continued since the agreement was reached. Building on the measures previously agreed, we will now provide additional capital of £2.75 million to upgrade the Urdd camps at Glan-llyn and Llangrannog. The draft budget also includes £5 million in capital to take forward the results of feasibility studies agreed in earlier discussions. I look forward to joint consideration of those reports between our two parties as they become available.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwyf heddiw yn gosod cyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru gerbron y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.
Yn 2010, cyflwynodd Canghellor y Trysorlys ar y pryd gyllideb frys pryd y dywedodd y byddai'r hyn a alwodd yn aberth angenrheidiol yn arwain at ddyled yn gostwng a chyllideb gytbwys erbyn diwedd y Senedd yn 2015. Mae'r aberthu, Llywydd, yn parhau, ond mae'r ucheldiroedd heulog o lwyddiant economaidd wedi symud i 2025 a thu hwnt. Ni fu erioed angen a mwy o frys i Lywodraeth y DU roi'r gorau i bolisïau cyni cyllidol a fethodd wrth i gysgod cynyddol Brexit daflu ei dywyllwch dros y gyllideb ddrafft hon. Mae dadansoddiad y prif economegydd, sydd hefyd wedi'i gyhoeddi heddiw, yn dangos bod Brexit eisoes yn costio hyd at £400 i bob person yng Nghymru ac yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae Llywodraeth bresennol Cymru yn ymdrechu'n ddiflino i ddiogelu gwasanaethau rheng flaen yn wyneb y gwyntoedd croes hynny, a chyllidebau sy'n crebachu a galw cynyddol.
Llywydd, pe na fyddai'r cyllid sydd ar gael i Gymru heb gynyddu dim yn ei werth ers 2010, heb godi yr un geiniog, byddai'r gyllideb gerbron Aelodau heddiw yn cynnwys £800 miliwn yn fwy i ofalu am bobl hŷn, i helpu plant i gael y dechrau gorau posibl mewn bywyd, i ddiogelu ein hamgylchedd ac i fuddsoddi yn nyfodol ein heconomi. Pe byddai'r gyllideb wedi tyfu yn unol â'r economi ers 2010, â ninnau'n cymryd yr un rhan yn union o'r gacen genedlaethol, byddai'r gyllideb heddiw yn cynnwys £4 biliwn yn fwy i'w fuddsoddi. A phe byddai wedi cynyddu yn unol â'r twf mewn gwariant cyhoeddus, rhywbeth a gyflawnwyd dros y 50 mlynedd cyn 2010, byddai'r gyllideb o flaen yr Aelodau £6 biliwn yn fwy ar gyfer y dibenion hanfodol hynny. Nid yw'n syndod, felly, mai hwn fu'r cylch cyllideb anoddaf hyd yma. Yn ogystal â'r heriau deublyg o gostau cynyddol a chyfyngiadau ar wariant, mae ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sydd o dan bwysau yn wynebu heriau cynyddol chwyddiant sy'n cynyddu, pwysau o ran cyflogau heb eu hariannu a phenderfyniad unochrog Llywodraeth y DU i newid arian pensiwn y sector cyhoeddus, gan drosglwyddo £300 miliwn bellach o gostau annisgwyl i wasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru.
Llywydd, mae methiant y Canghellor presennol i gychwyn adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant yn golygu nad oes gennyf unrhyw gyllideb y gallaf gynllunio gyda hi y tu hwnt i 2019-20. O ganlyniad, heddiw, ni allaf gyhoeddi dim ond cynllun refeniw blwyddyn, ar gyfer 2019-20 yn unig, a chynlluniau cyfalaf ar gyfer dim ond y ddwy flynedd ariannol nesaf.
Nawr, yn unol â'r gweithdrefnau newydd a gyflwynwyd y llynedd gan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, eglurais heddiw brif elfennau'r gyllideb—o ble y daw yr arian a sut y caiff ei ddyrannu i adrannau y Llywodraeth. Yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi cynlluniau gwariant manwl, gan esbonio sut y mae Gweinidogion portffolio unigol yn bwriadu defnyddio'r adnoddau sydd ar gael iddyn nhw.
Mae'r gyllideb ddrafft hon, Llywydd, yn adeiladu ar y cynlluniau a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni y llynedd ac yn adlewyrchu ail flwyddyn y cytundeb cyllideb dwy flynedd rhwng y Llywodraeth a Phlaid Cymru. Hoffwn ddiolch i Steffan Lewis am y trafodaethau adeiladol, sydd wedi parhau ers llunio'r cytundeb. Gan adeiladu ar y mesurau a gytunwyd yn flaenorol, byddwn nawr yn darparu cyfalaf ychwanegol o £2.75 miliwn i uwchraddio gwersylloedd yr Urdd yng Nglan-llyn a Llangrannog. Mae'r gyllideb ddrafft hefyd yn cynnwys £5 miliwn mewn cyfalaf i ddatblygu canlyniadau yr astudiaethau dichonoldeb y cytunwyd arnynt mewn trafodaethau cynharach. Edrychaf ymlaen at ystyried yr adroddiadau hynny ar y cyd rhwng ein dwy blaid pan fyddant ar gael.
Llywydd, I now turn to the major building blocks of this budget, beginning with the fiscal decisions that are now made in Wales. I said last year that I intended to raise landfill disposals tax in line with inflation. As a result, the rates for 2019-20 will stand at £91.35 per tonne for the standard rate, £2.90 for the lower rate, while the unauthorised rate rises to £137.
In last year’s budget, I set the rates and bands for land transaction tax, making it the most progressive tax for people buying and selling property anywhere in the United Kingdom. I said then that I had heard and understood the calls for stability from the sector. With that in mind, and because of the deep uncertainty surrounding Brexit, I have decided to leave rates and band unchanged for 2019-20. As was the case last year, however, should the Chancellor of the Exchequer make changes to stamp duty land tax in the UK autumn budget, I will review the position here in Wales.
Llywydd, this is the first ever budget in which a Welsh finance Minister has responsibility for setting the Welsh rates of income tax. Under the terms of the fiscal framework, 2019‑20 will be a transition year in which Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs undertakes important new administrative responsibilities for Wales. My party made a commitment in our 2016 manifesto not to raise income tax rates in Wales during this Assembly term. We did so, Llywydd, because we are acutely aware of the impact that austerity has had on so many Welsh families. I confirm today that the Welsh Government will not increase income tax rates in Wales in 2019-20, fulfilling that commitment and contributing to an orderly implementation of the new responsibilities that are now discharged here in Wales.
The careful management of our tax powers requires accurate forecasting. I thank the Bangor Business School for its important work in independently scrutinising and assuring the forecasts produced by the Welsh Government. In 2019-20, Welsh rates of income tax are forecast to contribute over £2 billion to the Welsh budget. Landfill disposals tax is expected to raise £40 million and land transaction tax £285 million. The significant rise in forecast revenues from landfill disposals tax is best attributed to the accurate collection now possible as a result of having our own Welsh Revenue Authority. In its first six months, the WRA has collected more than £100 million to support Welsh public services and has made, I believe, an outstandingly successful start as an important institution here in a devolved Wales.
Following close consultation with the Finance Committee, I announced in July the longer term forecasting arrangements to which we are committed by the terms of the fiscal framework. Starting next year, with the 2020-21 budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility will produce independent forecasts of revenues from the devolved taxes for the Welsh Government's budget process, and these forecasts will of course be shared with Assembly Members.
Llywydd, I turn now to another important devolved revenue stream: non-domestic rates. We consulted over the summer on proposals to reduce the amount of non-domestic rates revenue lost every year through avoidance. It cannot be right that the efforts of the considerable majority, who abide by the rules and make their contribution, are undercut by a minority intent on exploiting or abusing the system. On 16 October, I will announce the outcome of the consultation and the actions we will take to reduce rates avoidance in Wales in time to be in place for next year's budget.
Llywydd, I also to intend to consult over the next 12 monthson proposals to remove charitable rate relief from independent schools and private hospitals in Wales, placing them on an equal footing with their public sector counterparts in respect of the payment of those rates. State schools and hospitals pay non-domestic rates on properties they occupy, as do a wide range of other public sector organisations. That makes an important contribution to the cost of vital local services delivered in our communities. Others should do the same.
Llywydd, trof yn awr at brif elfennau'r gyllideb hon, gan ddechrau gyda'r penderfyniadau cyllidol sy'n cael eu gwneud ar hyn o bryd yng Nghymru. Dywedais y llynedd fy mod i'n bwriadu codi'r dreth gwarediadau tirlenwi yn unol â chwyddiant. O ganlyniad, bydd y cyfraddau ar gyfer 2019-20 yn £91.35 y dunnell ar gyfer y gyfradd safonol, £2.90 ar gyfer y gyfradd is, gyda'r gyfradd anawdurdodedig yn codi i £137.
Yng nghyllideb y llynedd, sefydlais y cyfraddau a'r bandiau ar gyfer treth trafodiadau tir, gan ei gwneud hi y dreth fwyaf blaengar ar gyfer pobl sy'n prynu a gwerthu eiddo mewn unrhyw le yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Dywedais bryd hynny fy mod i wedi clywed a deall y galwadau am sefydlogrwydd gan y sector. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, ac oherwydd yr ansicrwydd dwfn ynghylch Brexit, rwyf wedi penderfynu gadael cyfraddau a'r band yn ddigyfnewid ar gyfer 2019-20. Fel y llynedd, fodd bynnag, pe byddai Canghellor y Trysorlys yn gwneud newidiadau i dreth dir y dreth stamp yng nghyllideb hydref y DU, byddaf yn adolygu'r sefyllfa yma yng Nghymru.
Llywydd, dyma'r gyllideb gyntaf erioed lle mae Gweinidog Cyllid o Gymru yn gyfrifol am bennu cyfraddau treth incwm ar gyfer Cymru. O dan delerau'r fframwaith cyllidol, bydd 2019‑20 yn flwyddyn bontio pryd y bydd Cyllid a Thollau ei Mawrhydi yn ymgymryd â chyfrifoldebau gweinyddol newydd pwysig i Gymru. Gwnaeth fy mhlaid ymrwymiad yn ein maniffesto yn 2016 i beidio â chodi cyfraddau treth incwm yng Nghymru yn ystod tymor y Cynulliad hwn. Gwnaethom hynny, Llywydd, oherwydd ein bod ni'n ymwybodol iawn o'r effaith y cafodd cyni ar gymaint o deuluoedd Cymru. Gallaf gadarnhau heddiw na fydd y Llywodraeth yn cynyddu'r cyfraddau treth incwm yng Nghymru yn 2019-20, gan gyflawni'r ymrwymiad hwnnw a chyfrannu at weithrediad trefnus y cyfrifoldebau newydd hynny sydd bellach yn cael eu cyflawni yma yng Nghymru.
Mae rheoli ein pwerau treth yn ofalus yn ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol rhagweledigaeth gywir. Diolch i Ysgol Fusnes Bangor am ei gwaith pwysig wrth graffu'n annibynnol a sicrhau'r rhagolygon a gynhyrchwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Yn 2019-20, rhagwelir y bydd cyfraddau treth incwm Cymru yn cyfrannu dros £2 biliwn at gyllideb Cymru. Disgwylir i'r dreth gwarediadau tirlenwi godi £40 miliwn a'r dreth trafodiadau tir £285 miliwn. Priodolir y cynnydd sylweddol yn y rhagolygon refeniw o dreth gwarediadau tirlenwi orau i'r casgliadau cywir sydd bellach yn bosibl oherwydd bod gennym ni ein hawdurdod sef Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru ein hunain erbyn hyn. Yn ei chwe mis cyntaf, mae ACC wedi casglu mwy na £100 miliwn i gefnogi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru ac wedi cael dechreuad, yn fy marn i, eithriadol o lwyddiannus fel sefydliad pwysig yma mewn Cymru ddatganoledig.
Ar ôl ymgynghori'n ofalus gyda'r Pwyllgor Cyllid, cyhoeddais ym mis Gorffennaf y rhagolygon trefniadau tymor hwy yr ydym ni'n ymrwymedig iddynt yn unol â thelerau'r fframwaith cyllidol. Gan ddechrau y flwyddyn nesaf, gyda chyllideb 2020-21, bydd y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn cynhyrchu rhagolygon annibynnol o refeniw o drethi datganoledig ar gyfer proses cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, a bydd y rhagolygon hyn wrth gwrs yn cael eu rhannu gydag Aelodau'r Cynulliad.
Llywydd, trof yn awr at ffrwd refeniw datganoledig pwysig arall: ardrethi annomestig. Buom yn ymgynghori dros yr haf ar gynigion i leihau faint o refeniw ardrethi annomestig a gollir bob blwyddyn oherwydd bod pobl yn osgoi eu talu. Nid yw hi'n iawn bod ymdrechion y mwyafrif sylweddol, sy'n cadw at y rheolau ac yn gwneud eu cyfraniad, yn cael eu tanseilio gan leiafrif sy'n benderfynol o gamfanteisio ar neu gamddefnyddio'r system. Ar 16 Hydref, byddaf yn cyhoeddi canlyniad yr ymgynghoriad a'r hyn y byddwn yn ei wneud i leihau cyfraddau osgoi yng Nghymru mewn pryd i fod yn weithredol ar gyfer cyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf.
Llywydd, rwyf hefyd yn bwriadu ymgynghori dros y 12 mis nesaf ar gynigion i ddileu rhyddhad ardrethi elusennol oddi ar ysgolion annibynnol ac ysbytai preifat yng Nghymru, gan eu rhoi ar yr un telerau â'u cymheiriaid yn y sector cyhoeddus o ran talu'r trethi hynny. Mae ysgolion ac ysbytai'r wlad yn talu ardrethi annomestig ar eiddo y maen nhw yn ei ddefnyddio, fel y mae ystod eang o sefydliadau sector cyhoeddus eraill. Mae hynny'n gwneud cyfraniad pwysig at gost gwasanaethau lleol hanfodol sy'n cael eu darparu yn ein cymunedau. Dylai eraill wneud yr un fath.
I also intend to consult, Llywydd, in order to bring forward measures as soon as possible to exempt care leavers in Wales from paying council tax until they are 25. Many local authorities already do this, using discretionary powers. I believe that this should apply right across Wales and intend to legislate accordingly.
Now, Members will be aware that the fiscal framework that was agreed in December 2016 included a commitment that a 105 per cent multiplier should be applied to all Barnett consequentials. That has resulted already in an extra £90 million for Wales, and £71 million of that is reflected in this budget.
Finally in this section dealing with how revenue is raised for the budget, I turn to the use of reserves. I explained to the Assembly last year that I intended to make maximum possible use of the new Wales reserve. Thanks to the close co-operation of my ministerial colleagues, I was able to take that reserve into the current financial year at very near its maximum of £350 million. As a result, I have been able to increase the planned draw-down from the reserve in 2019-20 from £75 million, as originally intended, to £125 million, releasing an additional £50 million for public services here in Wales.
Llywydd, protecting front-line services from the worst impacts of austerity continues to be at the heart of the budget of this Labour Government, and that includes, of course, the national health service. In July, the Prime Minister announced additional funding for the NHS in England to mark the seventieth anniversary of the health service. The headline claimed substantial extra funding for Wales. But, as we have learnt, it was always necessary to look beyond those headlines. We still do not know, Llywydd—the Treasury is still unable to tell us—exactly how much extra money Wales will receive.
But this we do know: that almost half the money has already been spent by the UK Government before it even reached our borders. It must fund pay awards and pension changes—decisions made in Westminster and not in Wales. Nevertheless, taken together with the increase already planned, this draft budget now provides more than £0.5 billion additional for the health and social care system, to provide services for Welsh citizens and to support our long-term plan for a healthier Wales.
Llywydd, this Government recognises the pressures local authorities are facing, and we continue to do all we can to shield them from the worst effects of austerity. At the time of the final budget passed by this National Assembly in January this year, local authorities were facing a 1 per cent cash reduction in funding in the revenue support grant for next year—equivalent to a £43 million reduction. We have worked hard during the preparation of this budget to reduce that gap by more than £28 million, so that it now stands at less than £15 million in 2019-20.
At the same time, we have been able to restore funding to a number of grants and have made a series of other funding decisions from which local government will benefit, which together add up to £84 million. This approach is exemplified through the £13.4 million this budget restores to the early intervention, prevention and support grant. We have also listened carefully to stakeholders about the future of the grant and I can confirm this afternoon that it will appear in this budget as two grants, separating the housing-related elements from the remainder. Further details about these new arrangements will be available to Members tomorrow.
Llywydd, addressing child poverty is a key commitment across this Government. This budget contains a package of £12.5 million to tackle child poverty in Wales. This includes £2 million additional funding to expand the discretionary assistance fund, which is struggling to meet demand, largely as a result of the UK Government’s draconian programme of welfare cuts. That is money that goes directly to the poorest families here in Wales. It also contains more than £3 million to maintain and double the pupil development grant access scheme to help parents meet the everyday costs associated with sending their children to school. Here in Wales, we will provide £7 million additional funding as we move to provide thousands more children with free school meals.
Llywydd, I turn now to capital expenditure. The draft budget before Members today includes both revenue and capital additions to each departmental expenditure limit for 2019-20, including allocations over and above those announced in May of this year alongside the Wales infrastructure investment plan. I now set out the departmental expenditure limits across the Welsh Government.
As a result of today's draft budget, the total health and social services main expenditure group now stands at £8.2 billion, an increase of £330 million on previously published plans, including an additional £287 million for the health and social care system, and an extra £41 million in capital to support NHS improvements and the modernisation of the ambulance fleet.
The total local government and public services MEG stands at £5.4 billion, an increase of £123 million, including an additional £35 million in capital in support of the social housing grant, and £20 million for a local authority road refurbishment programme as part of £60 million over three years to repair the damage associated with a harsh winter and this year's hot summer.
The economy and transport MEG stands at £1.3 billion, an increase of £129 million, including capital funding of £26 million next year as part of a £78 million package for the local transport fund, and £10 million next year for the Tech Valleys programme.
The education MEG stands at £1.9 billion, an increase of £68 million, including more than £30 million additional funding for schools and a doubling of investment, as I said, in the PDG access fund.
The energy, planning and rural affairs MEG stands at £364 million, an increase of £34 million, including an extra £17 million in our waste programme, through a combination of both revenue and capital, and it will allow the Cabinet Secretary concerned to maintain funding for national park authorities across Wales.
Llywydd, as we move through these uncertain times and as the financial difficulties deepen, this Government remains committed to do everything we can to help our public services meet the very real challenges they face today. This is a bread-and-butter budget, focused on sustaining the fabric of Welsh life and using every source of revenue and capital available to us in order to do so. I commend it to Members this afternoon.
Rwyf hefyd yn bwriadu ymgynghori, Llywydd, er mwyn cyflwyno mesurau cyn gynted â phosib i eithrio'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal yng Nghymru rhag talu'r dreth gyngor tan y byddant yn 25 oed. Mae llawer o awdurdodau lleol eisoes yn gwneud hyn, gan ddefnyddio pwerau disgresiwn. Credaf y dylai hyn fod yn berthnasol ledled Cymru ac rwy'n bwriadu deddfu'n unol â hynny.
Nawr, bydd yr Aelodau yn ymwybodol bod y fframwaith cyllidol y cytunwyd arno ym mis Rhagfyr 2016 yn cynnwys ymrwymiad y dylai lluosydd o 105 y cant gael ei gymhwyso i holl symiau canlyniadol Barnett. Mae hynny wedi arwain eisoes at £90 miliwn yn ychwanegol ar gyfer Cymru, ac mae £71 miliwn o hynny yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn y gyllideb hon.
Yn olaf yn yr adran hon sy'n ymdrin â sut y caiff refeniw ei godi ar gyfer y gyllideb, trof at y defnydd o gronfeydd wrth gefn. Eglurais wrth y Cynulliad y llynedd fy mod i'n bwriadu gwneud y defnydd mwyaf posibl o gronfa wrth gefn newydd Cymru. Diolch i gydweithrediad agos fy nghyd-Weinidogion, roeddwn yn gallu trosglwyddo'r gronfa wrth gefn honno i'r flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol yn agos iawn at ei huchafswm o £350 miliwn. O ganlyniad, rwyf wedi gallu cynyddu'r swm arfaethedig y bwriedir ei ddefnyddio o'r gronfa wrth gefn yn 2019-20 o £75 miliwn, fel y bwriadwyd yn wreiddiol, i £125 miliwn, gan ryddhau £50 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru.
Llywydd, mae diogelu gwasanaethau rheng flaen rhag effeithiau gwaethaf cyni yn parhau i fod wrth wraidd cyllideb y Llywodraeth Lafur hon, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys, wrth gwrs, y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol. Ym mis Gorffennaf, cyhoeddodd Prif Weinidog y DU gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer y GIG yn Lloegr i nodi dengmlwyddiant a thrigain y gwasanaeth iechyd. Honnodd y pennawd y byddai arian ychwanegol sylweddol ar gyfer Cymru. Ond, fel yr ydym wedi dysgu, roedd angen edrych y tu hwnt i'r penawdau hynny bob amser. Nid ydym yn gwybod eto, Llywydd—mae'r Trysorlys yn dal i fethu â dweud wrthym ni—yn union faint o arian ychwanegol a gaiff Cymru.
Ond dyma'r hyn yr ydym yn ei wybod: bod bron hanner yr arian eisoes wedi'i wario gan Lywodraeth y DU cyn iddo hyd yn oed gyrraedd ein ffiniau. Mae'n rhaid i'r arian hwnnw ariannu dyfarniadau cyflog a newidiadau pensiwn—penderfyniadau a wneir yn San Steffan ac nid yng Nghymru. Serch hynny, yn ogystal â'r cynnydd a gynlluniwyd eisoes, mae'r gyllideb ddrafft hon bellach yn darparu mwy na £0.5 biliwn yn ychwanegol ar gyfer y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, i ddarparu gwasanaethau ar gyfer dinasyddion Cymru ac i gefnogi ein cynllun hirdymor ar gyfer Cymru iachach.
Llywydd, mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn cydnabod y pwysau y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei wynebu, ac rydym yn parhau i wneud popeth y gallwn ni i'w gwarchod rhag effeithiau gwaethaf cyni. Pan gytunwyd ar y gyllideb derfynol a basiwyd gan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol hwn ym mis Ionawr eleni, roedd awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu gostyngiad ariannol o 1 y cant mewn cyllid yn y grant cynnal refeniw ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf—sy'n cyfateb i ostyngiad o £43 miliwn. Rydym ni wedi gweithio'n galed wrth baratoi'r gyllideb hon i leihau'r bwlch hwnnw gan fwy na £28 miliwn, ac felly mae'n llai na £15 miliwn bellach yn 2019-20.
Ar yr un pryd, rydym ni wedi gallu adfer arian i nifer o grantiau ac wedi gwneud cyfres o benderfyniadau ariannu eraill y bydd llywodraeth leol yn elwa arnynt, sydd gyda'i gilydd yn £84 miliwn. Mae hyn i'w weld yn y £13.4 miliwn y bydd y gyllideb hon yn ei adfer i'r grant ymyrraeth gynnar, atal a chymorth. Rydym ni hefyd wedi gwrando'n ofalus ar randdeiliaid ynghylch dyfodol y grant a gallaf gadarnhau y prynhawn yma y bydd yn ymddangos yn y gyllideb hon fel dau grant, gan wahanu'r elfennau sy'n gysylltiedig â thai oddi wrth y gweddill. Bydd manylion pellach am y trefniadau newydd hyn ar gael i Aelodau yfory.
Llywydd, mae mynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yn ymrwymiad allweddol i'r Llywodraeth hon. Mae'r gyllideb hon yn cynnwys pecyn o £12.5 miliwn i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £2 miliwn yn ychwanegol i ehangu'r gronfa cymorth dewisol, sy'n cael anhawster i ateb y galw, i raddau helaeth o ganlyniad i raglen lem Llywodraeth y DU o doriadau lles. Dyna'r arian sydd yn mynd yn uniongyrchol at y teuluoedd tlotaf yng Nghymru. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys mwy na £3 miliwn i gynnal a dyblu y grant cynllun mynediad datblygiad disgybl i helpu rhieni i dalu am gostau bob dydd sy'n gysylltiedig ag anfon eu plant i'r ysgol. Yma yng Nghymru, byddwn yn darparu £7 miliwn yn ychwanegol wrth i ni ymdrechu i ddarparu prydau ysgol am ddim i filoedd mwy o blant.
Llywydd, trof yn awr at wariant cyfalaf. Mae'r gyllideb ddrafft sydd gerbron yr Aelodau heddiw yn cynnwys ychwanegiadau refeniw a chyfalaf i bob terfyn gwariant adrannol ar gyfer 2019-20, gan gynnwys dyraniadau ychwanegol i'r rhai a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mai eleni ochr yn ochr â'r cynllun buddsoddi yn seilwaith Cymru. Rwyf nawr yn nodi'r terfynau gwariant adrannol ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru.
O ganlyniad i gyllideb ddrafft heddiw, mae cyfanswm prif grŵp gwariant iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol bellach yn £8.2 biliwn, sef cynnydd o £330 miliwn ar gynlluniau a gyhoeddwyd yn flaenorol, gan gynnwys £287 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a £41 miliwn ychwanegol mewn cyfalaf i gefnogi gwelliannau yn y GIG a moderneiddio'r fflyd ambiwlans.
Cyfanswm prif grŵp gwariant llywodraeth leol a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ar hyn o bryd yw £5.4 biliwn, cynnydd o £123 miliwn, gan gynnwys £35 miliwn yn ychwanegol mewn cyfalaf i gefnogi'r grant tai cymdeithasol, a £20 miliwn ar gyfer rhaglen atgyweirio ffyrdd awdurdodau lleol yn rhan o £60 miliwn dros dair blynedd i drwsio'r difrod sy'n gysylltiedig â gaeaf garw a haf poeth eleni.
Cyfanswm prif grŵp gwariant yr economi a thrafnidiaeth ar hyn o bryd yw £1.3 biliwn, cynnydd o £129 miliwn, gan gynnwys cyllid cyfalaf o £26 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf yn rhan o becyn £78 miliwn ar gyfer y gronfa drafnidiaeth leol, a £10 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf ar gyfer rhaglen y Cymoedd Technoleg.
Cyfanswm prif grŵp gwariant addysg yw £1.9 biliwn, cynnydd o £68 miliwn, gan gynnwys mwy na £30 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer ysgolion a dyblu'r buddsoddiad, fel y dywedais, yng nghronfa mynediad y grant amddifadedd disgyblion.
Cyfanswm y prif grŵp gwariant ynni, cynllunio a materion gwledig yw £364 miliwn, cynnydd o £34 miliwn, gan gynnwys £17 miliwn yn ychwanegol yn ein rhaglen gwastraff, drwy gyfuniad o arian refeniw a chyfalaf, a bydd yn caniatáu i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet barhau i allu cyllido awdurdodau parciau cenedlaethol ar draws Cymru.
Llywydd, wrth inni symud drwy'r cyfnod ansicr hwn ac wrth i anawsterau ariannol ddyfnhau, mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i helpu ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i ateb yr heriau gwirioneddol y maen nhw yn eu hwynebu heddiw. Cyllideb bara menyn y w hon, yn canolbwyntio ar gynnal gwead bywyd Cymru a defnyddio pob ffynhonnell o refeniw a chyfalaf sydd ar gael inni er mwyn gwneud hynny. Fe'i cymeradwyaf i'r Aelodau y prynhawn yma.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today, presenting his bread-and-butter budget? Perhaps more basic labels are a sign of things to come. If he is successful in his bid for the top job later this year, perhaps we can expect a beer-and-sandwiches budget in future. The anecdotes go on.
A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ddatganiad heddiw, gan gyflwyno ei gyllideb bara menyn? Efallai fod labeli mwy sylfaenol yn arwydd o bethau i ddod. Os bydd yn llwyddiannus yn ei gais am y brif swydd yn ddiweddarach eleni, efallai y gallwn ni ddisgwyl cyllideb cwrw a brechdanau yn y dyfodol. Mae'r anecdotau yn parhau.
Can I also thank the finance Secretary and his staff, actually, for the briefing earlier today? It's always helpful in the budget-setting process, when time is limited. I should also thank you, of course, Cabinet Secretary, for the usual clamour of austerity. Where would we be without it, particularly on these benches? [Assembly Members: 'Oh.'] And to set—[Interruption.] And to set—[Interruption.] And to set the record straight—[Interruption.] And to set the record straight—[Interruption.] And to set the record straight, recent data on the shares of gross value added by the Office for National Statistics have shown that England is actually the only nation in the UK that has substantially reduced its deficit per capita, equivalent to £158 per person. Meanwhile, Wales has 27 times more borrowing per person, with a deficit of £4,251 per person. The UK Government is set to deliver a surplus budget for the first time since 2001, a £112 billion drop in borrowing since the financial crisis, but the Welsh deficit fell by just £2 billion in the same time. Doesn't that mean that it has been left almost entirely to England to close the budget deficit, and is that right? Can that possibly be right? So, rather than—[Interruption.] Rather than—[Interruption.] Rather than the usual—[Interruption.] Rather than the usual harsh words about austerity, perhaps you should look a little bit closer to home about what we're doing in Wales to deal with the financial problems that this country was left with by a previous Government.
Of course, a key change to this budget is the fact that, from April next year, the Welsh Government will be in total control of approximately £5 billion of revenue generated from taxes, or a third of its current combined spending. So, to coin the words of Harry S. Truman, the buck truly will stop here. Alongside land transaction tax and landfill disposal tax, the Welsh Government will also have income tax-varying powers, as we were told, from April 2019. And can I welcome the Cabinet Secretary's commitment not to increase income tax in Wales before the next Assembly election? I must say I don't think that this is an entirely selfless decision on the part of the Welsh Labour Government. To increase taxes at the same time as we face the uncertainty of Brexit, and when the Welsh economy is still underperforming in relation to other parts of the UK, would be, at best, counterproductive and, at worst, disastrous for the Welsh economy, not to mention Welsh Labour's election prospects, of course.
I must ask the question, though—and the Cabinet Secretary was quite clear on this—can we assume that, if Welsh Labour were to form the Government after 2021, then we can expect pretty sharp increases in income tax at the various rates, and, if so, by how much? I think the people of Wales do deserve an answer to that.
As we know, there are risks with varying taxes; I know the Cabinet Secretary would agree with that himself. The Welsh Government-commissioned Welsh tax base report notes that
'there would likely be some behavioural response from...taxpayers'
should Welsh Government change income tax rates. This seems to be in stark contract to some of the assertions of the Welsh Government before Finance Committee that changes to taxation would not affect migration rates, so some clarity on that aspect of future tax policy would be appreciated. And I do support the Cabinet Secretary's decision to keep income tax rates as they are over the next couple of years, as we weather some of the storms that we're going to be facing.
If I can turn to the other taxes, the veteran taxes, if I can call them that, and the unusually good news about landfill disposal tax, now forecast to deliver £40 million to the Welsh budget rather than the original—£20 million, I think, was the original forecast. I suspect, Cabinet Secretary, you're right in your assessment that rather than waste tourism having gone through the roof over the past year—I haven't seen lorries of waste traversing up and down the M4 and the A55 in any greater quantities than they were before—the difference probably is due to the Welsh Revenue Authority collecting taxes over a smaller base and possibly doing so with the enthusiasm of youth. Whatever the reason—and perhaps there are lessons for tax collection across the border—it's important that Wales keeps this dividend, and I will also make that case strongly, as I believe you will as well.
Looking at the figures for the land disposal tax's bigger sister, the land transaction tax, it does look as though the opposite has been the case and there has been some drop-off in the amounts that were predicted to be collected for that tax, particularly at the higher rates. Could it be that the Welsh Conservative warnings about the effect of increasing rates at the higher end of this tax have come to pass? Now, I don't expect the Cabinet Secretary to rush to confirm this, at least not before 11 December, but if he could shed some light on this rather murky area, that would be illuminating to all of us. And, on the matter of reviewing those bands, the door should definitely be left open, particularly if there are changes to the English stamp duty land tax regime that deals with very high-end transactions by foreign nationals, although I do appreciate that the number of Russian oligarchs living in Blaenau Gwent is probably rather limited. Don't look this way, Minister Emeritus. [Laughter.]
A gaf i hefyd ddiolch i'r Ysgrifennydd dros gyllid a'i staff, a dweud y gwir, am y sesiwn briffio yn gynharach heddiw? Mae bob amser yn ddefnyddiol yn y broses o osod cyllideb, pan fo amser yn brin. Dylwn hefyd ddiolch i chi, wrth gwrs, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am y dwndwr arferol am gyni. Ble byddem ni hebddo, yn enwedig ar y meinciau hyn? [Aelodau'r Cynulliad: 'O.'] Ac i egluro—[Torri ar draws.] Ac i egluro—[Torri ar draws.] Ac i egluro'r sefyllfa—[Torri ar draws.] Ac i egluro'r sefyllfa—[Torri ar draws.] Ac i egluro'r sefyllfa, mae data diweddar ar gyfranddaliadau gwerth gros a ychwanegwyd gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn dangos mai Lloegr mewn gwirionedd yw'r unig wlad yn y DU sydd wedi lleihau'n sylweddol ei diffyg fesul pen, sy'n cyfateb i £158 y person. Yn y cyfamser, mae cyfradd fenthyca Cymru 27 gwaith yn fwy y pen, gyda diffyg o £4,251 y person. Mae Llywodraeth y DU ar fin darparu cyllideb warged am y tro cyntaf ers 2001, gostyngiad o £112 biliwn mewn benthyca ers yr argyfwng ariannol, ond gostyngodd y diffyg yng Nghymru dim ond gan £2 biliwn yn yr un cyfnod. Onid yw hynny'n golygu y'i gadawyd hi bron yn gyfan gwbl i Loegr i unioni'r diffyg yn y gyllideb, ac a yw hynny'n briodol? Does bosib fod hynny'n briodol? Felly, yn hytrach na—[Torri ar draws.] Yn hytrach na—[Torri ar draws.] Yn hytrach nag yn ôl yr arfer — [Torri ar draws.] Yn hytrach na'r geiriau llym arferol am gyni, efallai y dylech chi edrych ychydig yn nes gartref ynglŷn â beth ydym ni'n ei wneud yng Nghymru i ymdrin â'r problemau ariannol y gadawyd y wlad hon ynddyn nhw gan Lywodraeth flaenorol.
Wrth gwrs, newid allweddol yn y gyllideb hon yw'r ffaith, o fis Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf, y bydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru reolaeth lwyr dros gyfanswm o tua £5 biliwn o refeniw a gynhyrchir o drethi, neu draean o'i gwariant cyfunol presennol. Felly, fel y dywedodd Harry S. Truman, dyma ble yn wir y mae'r cyfrifoldeb yn gorwedd. Ochr yn ochr â'r dreth trafodiadau tir a'r dreth gwarediadau tirlenwi, bydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru y pwerau hefyd i amrywio treth incwm, fel y dywedwyd wrthym ni, o fis Ebrill 2019 ymlaen. Ac a gaf i groesawu ymrwymiad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i beidio â chynyddu treth incwm yng Nghymru cyn etholiad nesaf y Cynulliad? Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud nad wyf yn credu bod hwn yn benderfyniad hollol anhunanol ar ran Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru. Byddai cynyddu trethi ar yr un pryd ag yr ydym ni'n wynebu ansicrwydd Brexit, a phan fo economi Cymru yn dal yn tangyflawni o'i gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r DU, ar y gorau, yn wrthgynhyrchiol ac, ar y gwaethaf, yn drychinebus i economi Cymru, heb sôn am ragolygon etholiadol Llafur Cymru, wrth gwrs.
Mae'n rhaid imi ofyn y cwestiwn, fodd bynnag—ac roedd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ddigon clir ar hyn—a gawn ni dybio, pe byddai Llafur Cymru yn ffurfio Llywodraeth ar ôl 2021, yna y gallem ni ddisgwyl cynnydd eithaf sylweddol yn y dreth incwm ar y gwahanol gyfraddau, ac os felly, gan faint? Credaf fod pobl Cymru yn haeddu ateb i hynny.
Fel y gwyddom ni, mae yna beryglon i amrywio trethi; Rwy'n gwybod y byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â hynny ei hun. Mae adroddiad sylfaen treth Cymru a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn nod ei bod
'yn debygol y byddai peth ymateb ymddygiadol gan...drethdalwyr'
pe byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn newid cyfraddau treth incwm. Ymddengys bod hyn mewn gwrthgyferbyniad llwyr i rai o haeriadau Llywodraeth Cymru cyn y Pwyllgor Cyllid na fyddai newidiadau i drethi yn effeithio ar gyfraddau mudo, felly byddai rhywfaint o eglurder ar yr agwedd honno ar bolisi treth y dyfodol yn cael ei werthfawrogi. Ac rwyf yn cefnogi penderfyniad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i gadw cyfraddau treth incwm fel ag y maen nhw yn ystod y flwyddyn neu ddwy nesaf, wrth inni wynebu rhai o'r stormydd y byddwn ni yn eu hwynebu.
Os caf i droi at y trethi eraill, y trethi hynafol, os gallaf eu galw'n hynny, a'r newyddion da anarferol am dreth gwarediadau tirlenwi, y rhagwelir y bydd bellach yn darparu £40 miliwn i gyllideb Cymru yn hytrach na'r— £20 miliwn, mi gredaf, oedd y rhagolygon gwreiddiol. Rwy'n amau, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, eich bod yn gywir yn eich asesiad, yn hytrach na bod twristiaeth gwastraff wedi cynyddu y tu hwnt i bob rheswm yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf—nid wyf wedi gweld lorïau llawn gwastraff yn tramwyo'r M4 a'r A55 mewn unrhyw niferoedd mwy nag yr oeddent o'r blaen—bod y gwahaniaeth yn fwy na thebyg oherwydd i Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru gasglu trethi dros sylfaen lai ac o bosibl yn gwneud hynny gyda brwdfrydedd ieuenctid. Beth bynnag fo'r rheswm—ac efallai fod gwersi i'w dysgu o ran casglu trethi ar draws y ffin—mae'n bwysig bod Cymru yn cadw'r difidend hwn, a byddaf hefyd yn dadlau'r achos hwnnw yn gryf, fel y credaf y byddwch chithau yn ei wneud hefyd.
Wrth edrych ar y ffigurau ar gyfer chwaer fawr treth gwarediadau tir, y dreth trafodiadau tir, ymddengys bod y gwrthwyneb wedi digwydd ac y bu peth lleihad yn y symiau y rhagwelwyd y byddai'n cael eu casglu ar gyfer y dreth, yn arbennig ar y cyfraddau uwch. Tybed a yw rhybuddion y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig am yr effaith o gynyddu cyfraddau ar ben uchaf y dreth hon wedi dod yn wir? Nawr, nid wyf yn disgwyl i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ruthro i gadarnhau hyn, o leiaf nid cyn 11 Rhagfyr, ond pe gallai daflu rhywfaint o oleuni ar y maes gweddol niwlog hwn, byddai hynny'n darparu eglurder i bob un ohonom ni. Ac, o ran adolygu'r bandiau hynny, dylid yn sicr ystyried gwneud hynny, yn enwedig os oes newidiadau yng nghyfundrefn treth dir y dreth stamp yn Lloegr sy'n ymdrin â thrafodiadau uwchraddol iawn gan wladolion tramor, er fy mod i'n sylweddoli nad oes llawer, mae'n debyg, o oligarchiaid Rwsiaidd yn byw ym Mlaenau Gwent. Peidiwch ag edrych y ffordd yma, Gweinidog Emeritws. [Chwerthin.]
Okay. Turning to the all-important spending commitments, I welcome the news that the NHS is the top priority for the Welsh Government. I’m glad that the Welsh Conservative message has finally hit home after years of us saying—and Angela Burns saying—that the NHS should be properly funded, and not just in cash terms as in the past but in real terms that mean the proper protection of the health budget that we need to see. The NHS is the people’s priority and it should be ours as politicians too. If I can ask you about the seventieth anniversary NHS cash injection that has been promised in England, have you had discussions with the Treasury about what this will mean for Wales in terms of consequentials? The same question applies to the extra funding for social care, which it appears the UK Government is committing across the border. If we don’t know until pretty late what the sums are then surely it will make it difficult to make the most of that money in the coming financial year, when we would like to see it implemented.
If I can turn to your comment on transport and motorists across Wales, we'll welcome the additional—I think it was £60 million that you pledged in funding for roads over a three-year cycle. I think we're all aware of the problems that local roads are facing and the shortage of funding in local authority gaps to deal with the problem. Two questions relating to this: will this extra cash be ring-fenced for roads, and, if local authorities are facing cuts to their RSG, which we know they inevitably are, then how will you ensure that road budgets will not be cut elsewhere and you will not, effectively, be giving with one hand and taking with the other?
You mentioned the fiscal framework. Along with you, I warmly welcome the apparent uplift in the Welsh budget due to that. It was limited, admittedly, but it's better than the position that we were in before, and I think it's to be welcomed that that agreement between you and the UK Government is now delivering for Wales and delivering—albeit modest in the early stages, it is delivering an uplift that will stand the Welsh budget and Welsh economy in better stead in the future. I'm delighted to hear of the success of that.
I'm also delighted to hear the announcement with regard to care leavers and removing them from council tax, putting that on a statutory footing. That is to be warmly welcomed, a great decision. I'm a little bit more concerned about your proposal to remove charitable rate relief from independent schools and private hospitals, not that I either attended an independent school or have private healthcare, I should point out. However, I would point out that my concern is more in relation to the state sector, because we know full well that the private sector takes some of the strain that otherwise might be borne by the state sector—[Interruption.] Well, it does. And, in that case, I just want to ask: what consultation are you having with that sector before finalising this decision to make sure that there will not be unforeseen consequences? I think that's important.
If I could just move to close by talking about the broader point about today’s budget—. It's called 'A Budget to Build a Better Wales', the latest in many titles we've had in many budgets over the years, which haven't always delivered exactly what they promised. There’s very little indication of how these draft budget proposals fit in with the Welsh Government’s programme for government, its longer term strategy, or indeed the future generations legislation, which we are all supposed to be paying great heed to. Now, I appreciate that planning has been complicated by the Brexit timetable leading up to next March and also, as you said, this is phase 2 of a two-year budget-setting process, but a budget should be more than just a tidying-up exercise; it should set out a pathway to the future and it should provide vision and ideas. Some more details on the development of the metro, for instance, and infrastructure projects would be welcome—and also the possibility of a north Wales metro as well.
Now, perhaps, after 20 years in Government, a degree of malaise may well have set in or perhaps, Cabinet Secretary, you are holding back—[Interruption.] I wasn't looking at you, Alun. Perhaps you are holding back some of your best ideas until December; that's understandable. Whatever the reason, I think we would all appreciate more of a long-term plan and less of a knee-jerk reaction to spending pressures. That’s going to be particularly important in dealing with pressing issues, such as social care.
So, in conclusion, Presiding Officer, whilst Welsh Conservatives welcome aspects of this budget, such as the funding for the NHS and our transport infrastructure—those are much needed and to be welcomed—there are some very big question marks over this budget, this bread-and-butter budget, as you called it, which is on offer today, and I think the big question is: will it really be followed by jam tomorrow?
Iawn. Gan droi at yr ymrwymiadau gwario hollbwysig, rwy'n croesawu'r newyddion bod y GIG yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n falch bod pobl yn dechrau gwrando ar neges y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig â ninnau'n dweud ers blynyddoedd—ac Angela Burns yn dweud—y dylid ariannu'r GIG yn briodol, nid yn unig mewn termau arian parod fel yn y gorffennol ond yn mewn termau real sy'n golygu diogelu'r gyllideb iechyd yn briodol yn y modd y mae angen inni ei weld. Mae'r GIG yn flaenoriaeth i'r bobl a ddylai fod yn flaenoriaeth i ni'r gwleidyddion hefyd. Os caf i ofyn i chi am y chwistrelliad ariannol a addawyd yn Lloegr i ddathlu dengmlwyddiant a thrigain y GIG, a ydych chi wedi cael trafodaethau gyda'r Trysorlys ynghylch beth fydd hyn yn ei olygu i Gymru o ran symiau canlyniadol? Mae'r un cwestiwn yn berthnasol i'r arian ychwanegol ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol, yr ymddengys bod Llywodraeth y DU yn ei ymrwymo ar draws y ffin. Os nad ydym ni'n gwybod tan yn weddol hwyr beth yw'r symiau yna bydd hynny yn sicr yn ei gwneud hi'n anodd gwneud y mwyaf o'r arian hwnnw yn y flwyddyn ariannol sydd i ddod, pryd yr hoffem ni ei weld yn cael ei ddefnyddio.
Os caf droi at eich sylw am drafnidiaeth a modurwyr ledled Cymru, byddwn yn croesawu—credaf mai £60 miliwn a addawyd yn ychwanegol gennych chi i ariannu ffyrdd dros gyfnod o dair blynedd. Credaf ein bod i gyd yn ymwybodol o'r problemau sy'n wynebu ffyrdd lleol a'r diffyg arian yng nghyllidebau bylchog awdurdodau lleol i ymdrin â'r broblem. Dau gwestiwn yn ymwneud â hyn: a fydd yr arian ychwanegol hwn yn cael ei glustnodi ar gyfer ffyrdd, ac os yw awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu toriadau yn eu grant cynnal refeniw, y gwyddom yn anochel eu bod, yna sut gwnewch chi sicrhau na chaiff cyllidebau ffyrdd eu torri mewn mannau eraill, ac na fyddwch chi, i bob pwrpas, yn rhoi ag un llaw ac yn cymryd â'r llall?
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y fframwaith cyllidol. Ynghyd â chithau, rwy'n falch iawn o weld y cynnydd ymddangosiadol yng nghyllideb Cymru oherwydd hynny. Roedd yn gyfyngedig, mae'n rhaid cyfaddef, ond mae'n well na'r sefyllfa yr oeddem ni ynddi o'r blaen, ac rwy'n credu bod angen croesawu'r ffaith fod y cytundeb hwnnw rhyngoch chi a Llywodraeth y DU bellach yn cyflawni dros Gymru ac yn darparu—er ar radd fechan yn y camau cynnar, mae'n sicrhau'r cynnydd a fydd yn rhoi cyllideb Cymru ac economi Cymru ar dir cadarnach yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n falch iawn o glywed am y llwyddiant hwnnw.
Rwyf hefyd wrth fy modd o glywed y cyhoeddiad o ran y rhai sy'n gadael gofal a'u heithrio o'r dreth gyngor, gan roi sail statudol i hynny. Mae hynny i'w groesawu yn fawr, penderfyniad gwych. Rwyf ychydig yn fwy pryderus am eich cynnig i ddileu'r rhyddhad ardrethi elusennol oddi wrth ysgolion annibynnol ac ysbytai preifat, nid fy mod i wedi mynychu ysgol annibynnol ac nid oes gennyf ofal iechyd preifat, dylwn ddweud. Fodd bynnag, dylwn ddweud bod fy mhryder yn ymwneud yn fwy â sector y wladwriaeth, oherwydd rydym yn gwybod yn iawn bod y sector preifat yn cario rhywfaint o'r baich y byddai sector y wladwriaeth yn ei ysgwyddo fel arall— [Torri ar draws.] Wel, mae yn gwneud hynny. Ac, felly, dim ond eisiau gofyn wyf i: sut ydych chi'n ymgynghori â'r sector hwnnw cyn penderfynu ar hyn yn derfynol i wneud yn siŵr na fydd canlyniadau annisgwyl? Credaf fod hynny'n bwysig.
Os caf i gloi drwy sôn am y sylw ehangach am gyllideb heddiw —. Fe'i gelwir yn 'Gyllideb i Adeiladu Cymru Well', y diweddaraf mewn llawer o deitlau yr ydym ni wedi eu cael mewn nifer o gyllidebau dros y blynyddoedd, nad ydyn nhw bob tro wedi cyflawni yn union yr hyn a addawsant. Ychydig iawn o sôn sydd yna ynghylch sut y mae'r cynigion cyllideb ddrafft hyn yn cyd-fynd â rhaglen lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru, ei strategaeth tymor hwy, nac yn wir, deddfwriaeth cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, y mae pob un ohonom ni i fod i roi sylw gofalus iddi. Nawr, rwy'n sylweddoli bod cynllunio wedi ei gymhlethu gan yr amserlen Brexit hyd at fis Mawrth nesaf a hefyd, fel y dywedasoch, cam 2 o broses pennu cyllideb dwy flynedd yw hon, ond dylai cyllideb fod yn fwy na dim ond ymarfer tacluso; dylai nodi llwybr ar gyfer y dyfodol a dylai ddarparu gweledigaeth a syniadau. Byddai'n dda cael mwy o fanylion ar ddatblygiad y metro, er enghraifft, a'r prosiectau seilwaith—a hefyd y posibilrwydd o fetro gogledd Cymru hefyd.
Nawr, efallai, ar ôl 20 mlynedd mewn Llywodraeth, efallai fod rhywfaint o anniddigrwydd neu efallai, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, eich bod yn dal yn ôl—[Torri ar draws.] Nid oeddwn yn edrych arnoch chi, Alun. Efallai eich bod yn dal rhai o'ch syniadau gorau yn ôl tan fis Rhagfyr; mae hynny'n ddealladwy. Beth bynnag yw'r rheswm, rwy'n credu y byddem ni i gyd yn gwerthfawrogi mwy o gynllun hirdymor a llai o ymateb difeddwl i bwysau gwario. Mae hynny'n mynd i fod yn arbennig o bwysig wrth ymdrin â materion dybryd, megis gofal cymdeithasol.
Felly, i gloi, Llywydd, tra bo'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn croesawu agweddau ar y gyllideb hon, fel y cyllid i'r GIG a'n seilwaith trafnidiaeth—mae angen dirfawr am yr agweddau hynny ac maen nhw i'w croesawu—mae amheuon tra sylweddol ynglŷn â'r gyllideb hon, y gyllideb bara menyn hon, fel y gwnaethoch ei galw, sy'n cael ei chynnig heddiw, ac rwy'n credu mai'r cwestiwn mawr yw: a fydd jam yn dilyn yfory mewn gwirionedd?
Hoffwn i ddiolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am ei ddatganiad heddiw. Dyma'r wythfed gyllideb yn olynol sydd yn cael ei phennu yn y lle hwn yn wyneb polisi llymdra Llywodraeth San Steffan, ac mae'n bwysig cadw hynny mewn cof wrth i ni ddechrau ar y gwaith o graffu. Mae cymdeithas a lles pobl yn dioddef yn enfawr oherwydd penderfyniad cwbl ddiangen a chalon-galed y Torïaid yn Llundain i barhau â thoriadau i wariant cyhoeddus, er bod pob darn o dystiolaeth yn dangos yn glir bod y polisi'n methu hyd yn oed wrth ei fesur gyda'i resymeg troedig ei hun. Nid yw'r economi'n tyfu ar yr un raddfa â gwledydd datblygedig eraill oherwydd nid yw arian yn cael ei fuddsoddi. Yr oll rydym yn ei gael yw toriadau ar ôl toriadau am resymau ideolegol yn hytrach na pholisi wedi'i selio ar synnwyr cyffredin economaidd, ac mae'r sefyllfa ond am waethygu. Mae hyd yn oed Nick Ramsay wedi sôn am y stormydd a'r ansicrwydd sydd i ddod, ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynny wedi bod yn amlwg ers y bleidlais i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn 2016. Wrth gwrs, nid oes gan yr wrthblaid yn San Steffan ddim yr atebion sydd eu hangen chwaith. Nid ydym ni'n mynd i greu iwtopia sosialaidd ar yr ynysoedd yma drwy adael y farchnad sengl Ewropeaidd a'r undeb tollau. Wrth gwrs, beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud fel cenedl yw defnyddio'r arfau sydd gyda ni ac i fynnu mwy o arfau economaidd er mwyn tyfu ein heconomi ein hunain, ac, yn y pen draw, Llywydd, adeiladu cenedl annibynnol er mwyn rhoi terfyn ar reolaeth Dorïaidd dros ein gwlad ni am byth.
Felly, dyna’r cefndir i’r gyllideb hon. Wrth gwrs, hon yw ail flwyddyn y cytundeb cyllideb gwerth bron i £0.25 biliwn dros ddwy flynedd rhwng Plaid Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym yn falch iawn o weld bod rhai o’r mesurau yn rhoi hwb i sectorau pwysig yn barod. Am y tro cyntaf erioed, bydd myfyrwyr meddygol yn gallu gwneud cais i astudio rhan o’u gradd yn y gogledd—£7 miliwn yn refeniw. Bydd hyn yn hwb i fyfyrwyr o Gymru sydd eisiau cymhwyso yno ac yn gam pwysig tuag at wella'r sefyllfa o ran diffyg meddygon, sydd yn arwain at amseroedd aros hir, diffyg gwasanaethau lleol, ac yn rhoi straen ar y gweithwyr NHS sy’n gorfod llenwi’r bylchau.
Roeddwn yn falch o weld y Brexit portal yn cael ei lansio’r wythnos diwethaf—ar ôl peth oedi, mae’n rhaid i mi nodi. Bydd hwn yn adnodd gwerthfawr i fusnesau Cymreig o ran eu helpu nhw i baratoi at ymadawiad y Deyrnas Gyfunol â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae meysydd eraill sy’n elwa o’r cytundeb yn cynnwys iechyd meddwl, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn flaenoriaeth i Blaid Cymru—£40 miliwn dros y ddwy flynedd—addysg uwch a phellach, £40 miliwn; yr iaith Gymraeg, £10 miliwn; a’r sector celfyddydau, £4.4 miliwn. O ran gwariant cyfalaf, mae’r gwaith yn mynd rhagddo ar y ganolfan iechyd integredig yn Aberteifi, ac rwy’n edrych ymlaen at fynd i weld y safle pan fydd cynhadledd Plaid Cymru yn cael ei chynnal yn y dref y penwythnos hwn. Yn ogystal, mae gwaith yn cael ei wneud i wella’r briffordd rhwng y de a’r gogledd, ac mae astudiaethau dichonoldeb ar brosiectau eraill ar y ffordd, fel sydd wedi cael ei nodi gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet y prynhawn yma.
Wrth gwrs, nid ydym ni, ar y meinciau yma, yn cytuno â phopeth sydd yn y gyllideb, sef pam, wrth gwrs, y byddwn ni'n ymatal ar y bleidlais. Y gwir yw bod angen mesurau pellgyrhaeddol er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r segurdod economaidd y mae ein gwlad wedi bod ynddo am ddegawdau, yn hytrach na phapuro dros y craciau. Rydym ni yn arddel sefydlu comisiwn isadeiledd gyda phwerau i godi arian sylweddol er mwyn buddsoddi yn ein hisadeiledd er mwyn sbarduno twf a chreu gwaith. Rwy’n falch o allu croesawu'r cyhoeddiad heddiw bod arian y grant early intervention, prevention and support yn cael ei warchod, yn ogystal â’r sicrwydd bod camau’n cael eu cymryd i atal sectorau penodol rhag colli mas. Mae Plaid Cymru yn falch ein bod wedi diogelu cyllid Supporting People fel rhan o hyn. Ond mae’n rhaid i mi ddweud fy mod i wedi siomi i glywed eich bod yn bwrw ymlaen gyda'r newidiadau i'r cynllun cinio am ddim i blant. Rwy'n derbyn y bydd nifer uwch yn gymwys, ond mae'n destun pryder mawr bod rhai teuluoedd yn wynebu colli'r hawl i ginio am ddim. A allaf i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth edrych eto ar hyn a newid y cynlluniau, yn enwedig os oes newyddion da i ddod o gyllideb Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn y dyfodol?
Hoffwn i orffen trwy ofyn ambell i gwestiwn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Yn gyntaf, rwy'n llongyfarch awdurdod refeniw Cymru ar ei lwyddiant yn codi mwy o arian o ran landfill disposal tax nag oedd y rhagolygon yn awgrymu. A gaf i ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod yr arian yma'n aros yng Nghymru ac nad yw'r Trysorlys yn ceisio ei gymryd nôl i Lundain? Rhan bwysig o gyfrifoldeb trethiant yw bod y Llywodraeth yn cael y budd o lwyddiant, felly, byddai'n warthus pe bai Trysorlys y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn awr yn ceisio cosbi Cymru am ei llwyddiant ei hunan—nid eu harian nhw yw e, wedi'r cyfan.
Yn ail, a yw'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gallu rhoi manylion ynglŷn â beth yw cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru o ran buddsoddi'r arian maen nhw'n ei gael ar ffurf financial transactions? A ydych chi wedi ystyried a allai'r arian hwn, sydd angen cael ei fuddsoddi mewn mentrau sy'n rhoi elw ar fuddsoddiad, gael ei ddefnyddio er mwyn bwrw ymlaen gyda morlyn llanw yn Abertawe, er enghraifft, a phrojectau o'r fath? Rwy'n falch hefyd i weld, erbyn hyn, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynyddu tâl ar gyfer doctoriaid a nyrsys—rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn galw amdano ers tro byd—ond, a all yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddweud a oes cynlluniau i godi tâl i weithwyr eraill yn y sector gyhoeddus? Mae etholwyr wedi bod yn cysylltu â fi, ac rwy'n siŵr gydag Aelodau eraill, er enghraifft, i ddweud bod y sefyllfa yn y sector addysg bellach yn argyfyngus yn dilyn degawd o gynnydd tâl islaw chwyddiant, a bod hyn yn effeithio ar safon byw'r unigolion sydd yn gweithio yn y sector yna.
Hefyd, mae pryder mawr am yr effaith y caiff unrhyw doriadau i lywodraeth leol ar wasanaethau anstatudol. Mae’r gwasanaethau hyn yn cynnwys canolfannau hamdden a chlybiau cymunedol sydd â rhan bwysig i’w chwarae yn cadw pobl yn iach ac atal problemau iechyd. Sut mae toriadau fel hyn yn cyd-fynd ag amcanion y Llywodraeth o ran ceisio atal problemau iechyd cyn iddyn nhw godi yn y lle cyntaf? Rydym ni’n gwario mwy a mwy ar drin anhwylderau iechyd ond llai a llai ar atal y problemau hyn rhag codi yn y lle cyntaf. Hoffwn i glywed sylwadau'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ar y mater hwn.
I orffen, rwy'n croesawu'r bwriad i dynnu ymadawyr gofal allan o'r system dreth gyngor hyd at 25 mlwydd oed ar hyd a lled Cymru. A fydd angen newidiadau statudol cyfreithiol i wneud hyn, neu a fydd hyn yn rhywbeth a all gael ei wneud yn o fuan? Hefyd, rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad ynglŷn â statws elusennol trethol ysgolion preifat ac ysbytai preifat. Eto, a fydd angen newidiadau cyfreithiol i sicrhau bod y polisi yna'n cael ei wireddu neu a ydy'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gweld hyn yn rhywbeth a all gael ei weithredu'n weddol fuan? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'd like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today. This is the eighth budget, consecutively, that's been made in this place in the face of the austerity policies of the Westminster Government, and it's important that we bear that in mind as we start the scrutiny process. Society and people are suffering greatly because of the totally unnecessary and hard-hearted decisions taken by the Tories in Westminster to continue with cuts to public expenditure, despite all evidence showing clearly that the policy is failing, even measuring it against its own stomach-churning philosophy. The economy is not growing at the same rate as other economies because we are not investing. We are just seeing cuts upon cuts for ideological reasons, rather than a policy based on common-sense economics, and the situation is only going to get worse. Even Nick Ramsay has talked about the storms and uncertainty to come, and, of course, that has been clear since the vote to leave the European Union in 2016. Of course, the opposition in Westminster doesn't have the necessary solutions either. We are not going to create a socialist utopia on these islands by leaving the single market and the customs union. Of course, what we need to do as a nation is use the tools that we have and to insist that we have more economic tools at our disposal in order to grow our own economy and, ultimately, Llywydd, to build an independent nation in order to put an end to Tory control of our nation once and for all.
So, that's the background to this budget. Of course, this is the second year of the budgetary agreement, worth almost £0.25 billion over two years, between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government, and we are very pleased to see that some of these steps are giving a boost to important sectors already. For the very first time, medical students will be able to apply to study part of their degree in north Wales—that's £7 million in revenue. This will be a boost to Welsh students who want to qualify there and will be an important step in improving the situation in terms of a shortage of doctors, which is leading to long waiting times and an absence of local services, and is placing strain on the NHS workforce that has to fill those gaps.
I was pleased to see the Brexit portal being launched last week—after some delay, I have to note. This will be a valuable resource for Welsh businesses to help them to prepare for the UK's exit from the European Union. Other areas that benefit from the agreement include mental health, which, of course, is a Plaid Cymru priority—£40 million over two years—higher and further education, £40 million; the Welsh language, £10 million; and the arts sector, £4.4 million. In terms of capital expenditure, work is proceeding on the integrated health centre in Cardigan, and I look forward to visiting the site when the Plaid Cymru conference is held in that town this weekend. Also, work is being done to improve the route between north and south, and feasibility studies are being held on other projects, and those are in the pipeline, as was noted by the Cabinet Secretary earlier this afternoon.
Of course, on these benches, we don't agree with everything in the budget, which, of course, is why we will abstain on the vote. The truth is that we need far-reaching measures in order to tackle the economic slumber that our nation has been in for decades, rather than papering over the cracks. We are in favour of establishing an infrastructure commission with the powers to raise significant funds in order to invest in our infrastructure to encourage growth and create jobs. I'm pleased to be able to welcome the announcement today that the early intervention, prevention and support grant is to be safeguarded, as well as an assurance that steps are being taken to prevent specific sectors from losing out. Plaid Cymru is pleased that we safeguarded the Supporting People as part of this. But I have to say that I was disappointed to hear that you are proceeding with changes to the free school lunches for children programme. I accept that a higher number will qualify, but it's a cause of great concern that some families do face losing the right to free school meals. May I ask the Government to look again at this issue and to change its proposals, particularly if there is good news to come from the UK Government budget in the near future?
I would like to conclude by asking a few questions of the Cabinet Secretary. First of all, I congratulate the Welsh Revenue Authority for their success in raising more funds in terms of landfill disposal tax than the forecasts had predicted. May I ask the Cabinet Secretary what steps the Welsh Government will take to ensure that this funding does remain in Wales and that the Treasury doesn't try to claw it back to London? An important part of responsibility for taxation is that the Government gets the benefit of its success, so it would be a disgrace if the UK Treasury were to try to punish Wales for its own success. This is not their money, after all.
Secondly, can the Cabinet Secretary give us some details on the Welsh Government's plans in terms of investing the funds it receives in terms of financial transactions? Have you considered whether this funding, which needs to be invested in initiatives that provide an advance on investment, could be used in order to proceed with a Swansea bay tidal lagoon and similar projects, for example? I'm also pleased to see now that the Welsh Government has increased salaries for doctors and nurses—something that Plaid Cymru has been calling for for some time—but, could the Cabinet Secretary tell me whether there are any plans to raise the salaries of other workers in the public sector? Constituents have been in touch with me—and other Members, I'm sure—to say that the situation in the FE sector is critical, following a decade of below-inflation salary rises, and that this is having an impact on the standard of living of individuals working in that sector.
There's also great concern about the impact that any cuts to local government may have on non-statutory services. These services include leisure centres and community clubs that play an important role in keeping people healthy and preventing health problems. How will cuts like this accord with the Government's own objectives in terms of preventative steps before people become ill? We are spending more and more on treating illness, but less and less on preventing these problems from arising in the first place. I'd like to hear the Cabinet Secretary's comments on those issues.
To conclude, I welcome the intention to withdraw care leavers from the council tax system until they reach 25 years of age the length and breadth of Wales. Will there need to be some statutory or legal changes in order to achieve this, or is this something that can be done relatively swiftly? I also welcome the statement on the taxation charitable status of private schools and hospitals. Again, will there need to be any changes in the law to ensure that that policy is delivered, or does the Cabinet Secretary see this as something that can be implemented relatively swiftly? Thank you.
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for giving me advance sight of the main details of the budget. The Cabinet Secretary is a safe pair of hands, but that may largely be because he's constrained by the straitjacket of the block grant on the one hand, and by the limited nature of tax devolution to Wales and his own personal abnegation in failing to use the income tax powers for reasons that I fully understand and approve of in this financial year. So, although he's described this as a bread-and-butter budget, actually, what we're talking about here is more the crumbs that fall from the table than the slice of bread and butter—or perhaps bread and dripping would be a better description of it—that he mentioned. And that's no criticism of the Cabinet Secretary at all. I genuinely do think he is a safe pair of hands and has managed his task with great clarity and ability.
Indeed, we see some of the benefits of that, as mentioned in the statement—his ability in negotiating the fiscal framework, for example, with the chief secretary has produced some financial benefits for us that are much valued: £90 million, as the statement says, and £71 million in this financial year. He's to be congratulated, and I think has been congratulated, by all sides of this house on the way in which he handled those negotiations.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am roi golwg ymlaen llaw imi o brif fanylion y gyllideb. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn bâr diogel o ddwylo, ond efallai fod hynny i raddau helaeth oherwydd ei fod wedi'i rwystro gan gaethiwed y grant bloc ar y naill law, a chan natur gyfyngedig datganoli trethi i Gymru a'i ymwrthodiad personol ei hun o ran methu â defnyddio'r pwerau treth incwm am resymau yr wyf i'n eu deall yn llwyr ac yn eu cymeradwyo yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Felly, er ei fod wedi disgrifio hon fel cyllideb bara menyn, mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n sôn amdano yn y fan yma yw'r briwsion sy'n disgyn o'r bwrdd yn hytrach na'r dafell o fara menyn—neu efallai y byddai bara a diferion saim yn well disgrifiad ohono—y cyfeiriodd ati. Ac nid yw hynny'n unrhyw feirniadaeth o Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet o gwbl. Rwyf wir yn credu ei fod yn bâr diogel o ddwylo ac mae wedi llwyddo i wneud ei dasg gyda llawer iawn o eglurder a gallu.
Yn wir, rydym ni'n gweld rhai o fuddion hynny, fel y crybwyllwyd yn y datganiad—mae ei allu i negodi'r fframwaith cyllidol, er enghraifft, gyda'r Prif Ysgrifennydd, wedi cynhyrchu rhai buddion ariannol i ni a werthfawrogir yn fawr: £90 miliwn, fel y mae'r datganiad yn ei nodi, a £71 miliwn yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae'n rhaid ei longyfarch, a chredaf ei fod wedi ei longyfarch, o bob ochr i'r tŷ hwn ar y ffordd yr ymdriniodd â'r trafodaethau hynny.
I also think that the Cabinet Secretary has done a good job in coping with the reduction of 1 per cent, the cash reduction, in the RSG to 2019-20, and managing to reduce the gap by £28 million to only £15 million. That remaining £15 million is obviously going to lead to problems to deal with, but, nonetheless, I do think that the Cabinet Secretary's ability to try to square the circle that he's faced with is producing those dividends.
I also approve strongly of some of the other elements that he mentioned in his statement, in particular, the child poverty agenda and the increased number of schoolchildren who qualify for free school meals. And I also support his decision on the early intervention, prevention and support grant to increase the amount paid and also to split it into two, because there has undoubtedly been a great, disconcerting period for those who think, having moved from a kind of hypothecated budget into one where these different grants are lumped together, that some people might lose out and get less than they otherwise would have done. So, I think that is a sensible move to slow down the process of change, and that will be warmly welcomed, I think, throughout Wales.
We can also, of course, welcome the increased spending on health. It's a fact that everybody is aware of that health inflation is higher than inflation nationally, and the needs of the population are going to increase with an increased ageing population and a lower number of people in active work. So, the cost of financing this is going to be an increasing problem in years to come. That's partly, I suppose, the increasing amounts that are available due to the UK Government's decision to increase the amount of money spent on the health service through its seventieth anniversary fund, but I don't think we should shower them with compliments on their achievement, because in the current financial year, the UK Government is only going to increase spending by 3.6 per cent, which is 0.1 per cent less than the average increase in health spending since 1948. So, actually, it's just more of the same and treading water rather than an unexpected bonus on top of everything else. The health Secretary said that the health and social services MEG is now £8.2 billion for 2019-20, so health is becoming an even bigger component of the Welsh Government's budget. The £330 million extra for this financial year is, of course, very welcome—although, as he rightly said, what's given on one hand is partly taken away on the other and about half the budget is already earmarked by the UK Government.
But the real elephant in the room here is not so much the funding available, but the continuing inability of many health boards to be able to manage their own budgets properly, and we've seen, this year, that there's a £360 million rolling deficit, which is up from £253 million in the previous year. Hywel Dda and Betsi Cadwaladr, in particular, are actually not improving to the extent that we would expect. The sums of money involved here, of course, are huge: Hywel Dda, £70 million to the beginning of April this year in deficit, and Betsi Cadwaladr up from £30 million to £36 million. So, against this background, the Cabinet Secretary has an unenviable task, I think, in trying to balance the books.
The environment budget this year hasn't suffered the cuts that it did last year. That's to be welcomed. Although, of the £34 million increase, £17 million, a half of it, is going to be spent on various waste projects, which would not be a priority of mine, because—and this is nothing to do with the issue of global warming in itself—I simply can't see the point of spending £17 million on sorting waste and being able to take out the plastic in Costa Coffee cups, for example, when the UK accounts for only about 2 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions, even if we accept the link between carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. Twenty-five per cent of all the plastic waste that is collected in the EU is exported to the far east and other places where their control measures are far inferior to what we have in this country and, indeed, in Europe generally. So, what we're actually doing is making the problem worse by collecting all this material and then exporting it to countries that throw it into rivers and landfill elsewhere. So, we're not actually contributing to the solution of the problem, even if you accept that there is a problem in the first place. So, that would certainly not be a priority of mine.
But the background mantra, of course, as always, is austerity. But, I think we should remind ourselves that this period of austerity—to which the Cabinet Secretary's statement itself actually gives the lie, because he refers to the inability of the Chancellor to meet his targets of deficit reduction on a serial basis. In 2007-08, the national debt stood at about £780 billion. This morning, at 10.15 a.m., I looked at the national debt clock, and it was £2 trillion or more. So, you can hardly describe this as a period of austerity when the Government has been running record deficits. I'm afraid it's a reality of life that if you don't live within your means, then suddenly the money runs out, and that's the problem with socialist Governments always, of course—that they run out of other people's money to spend.
The Labour Party under its current leadership has been a great admirer of President Chávez and President Maduro in Venezuela. Well, Venezuela this year has 1 million per cent inflation and they're now, instead of exporting oil, exporting people. So, the idea that you can carry on spending as though there's no tomorrow, forever and a day, is, of course, against the laws of nature and reality. Were we not constrained in the way that we are financially in Wales, as if John McDonnell, perish the thought, were ever to become the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom, he really would be able to follow the example of Venezuela, and then I think the Welsh Government would be in a pickle indeed. Then they would discover what the true meaning of austerity is.
At the end of the day, over a period of time, you have to balance the books and, in an inadequate way and a limited way, that's what the Conservative Government has been trying to do. If the Government had borrowed even more money, then the debt burden and its financing burden would have been even greater. This year, over £50 billion is going to be spent on debt interest, and even though the Bank of England has bought up a significant part of Government debt—therefore, in a sense, it's paying money to itself—we're still talking about £4-odd billion that could be spent on front-line services that is going in debt interests to third parties. So, eventually, as I say, you run out of money.
And, in due course, the Welsh Government will have the freedom and the discretion to use the devolved tax powers that it has. I hope it will use those not simply to push up the tax burden, but actually to try to transform the Welsh economy into an enterprise economy by reducing taxes and hence encouraging investment, encouraging enterprise, encouraging people to come and live in and work in Wales so that—what we all know we need to do—we can raise the tax base by raising the amount of wealth that is created in the Welsh economy in general. So, it's a choice that we will have to make in due course. It's been postponed now until the next Assembly. But, like Nick Ramsay, I hope that the Welsh Government, if it is going to prepare for being in Government in a few years' time, will actually change its approach to an enterprise economy and realise, at the end of the day, the wealth that is created is created by the people, not by Government. Governments spend money, but they can't spend it if it's not created.
Credaf hefyd fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi gwneud gwaith da o ran ymdopi â'r gostyngiad o 1 y cant, sef y gostyngiad arian parod, yn y grant cynnal refeniw i 2019-20, a llwyddo i leihau'r bwlch gan £28 miliwn i ddim ond £15 miliwn. Mae'r £15 miliwn sy'n weddill yn amlwg yn mynd i arwain at broblemau i ymdrin â nhw, ond, serch hynny, rwy'n credu bod gallu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i geisio sgwario'r cylch y mae'n rhaid iddo ei wynebu yn cynhyrchu'r enillion hynny.
Rwy'n cymeradwyo'n gryf hefyd rai o'r elfennau eraill y cyfeiriodd atyn nhw yn ei ddatganiad, yn arbennig, yr agenda tlodi plant a'r cynnydd yn nifer y plant ysgol sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Ac rwyf hefyd yn cefnogi ei benderfyniad ar y grant ymyrraeth gynnar, atal a chymorth i gynyddu'r swm a delir a hefyd i'w rannu'n ddau, oherwydd bu cyfnod anesmwyth iawn, yn ddi-os, i'r rhai hynny sy'n credu, ar ôl symud o ryw fath o gyllideb sydd wedi'i neilltuo i un lle caiff y grantiau gwahanol hyn eu trin gyda'i gilydd, y gallai rhai pobl fod ar eu colled a chael llai nag y byddent wedi ei gael fel arall. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n symudiad doeth i arafu'r broses o newid, a bydd croeso cynnes i hynny, rwy'n credu, ledled Cymru.
Gallwn hefyd, wrth gwrs, groesawu'r cynnydd mewn gwariant ar iechyd. Mae'n ffaith fod pawb yn ymwybodol bod chwyddiant iechyd yn uwch na chwyddiant yn genedlaethol, a bod anghenion y boblogaeth yn mynd i gynyddu gyda phoblogaeth sy'n heneiddio a llai o bobl mewn gwaith egnïol. Felly, mae cost ariannu hyn yn mynd i fod yn broblem gynyddol yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Mae hynny'n rhannol, mae'n debyg, yn sgil y symiau cynyddol sydd ar gael oherwydd penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i gynyddu faint o arian a warir ar y gwasanaeth iechyd drwy ei chronfa pen-blwydd deg a thrigain, ond nid wyf i'n credu y dylem ni eu canmol nhw'n ormodol ar eu llwyddiant, oherwydd yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol, dim ond gan 3.6 y cant y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn mynd i gynyddu'r gwariant, sy'n 0.1 y cant yn llai na'r cynnydd cyfartalog mewn gwariant ar iechyd ers 1948. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n fwy o aros yn yr unfan yn hytrach na'i fod yn fonws annisgwyl ar ben popeth arall. Dywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd dros iechyd bod y Prif Grŵp Gwariant ar gyfer iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol bellach yn £8.2 biliwn ar gyfer 2019-20, felly mae iechyd yn dod yn rhan fwy fyth o gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r £330 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon, wrth gwrs, i'w groesawu'n fawr—er, fel y dywedodd yn gywir, mae'r hyn a roddir ag un llaw yn rhannol yn cael ei gymryd gan y llall ac mae tua hanner y gyllideb eisoes wedi'i glustnodi gan Lywodraeth y DU.
Ond yr hyn nad ydym ni'n ei drafod yn y fan yma yw, nid yn gymaint y cyllid sydd ar gael, ond anallu parhaus llawer o fyrddau iechyd i allu rheoli eu cyllidebau eu hunain yn briodol, ac rydym wedi gweld, eleni, bod diffyg parhaus o £360 miliwn, sydd wedi cynyddu o £253 miliwn yn y flwyddyn flaenorol. Nid yw Hywel Dda a Betsi Cadwaladr yn enwedig, ddim mewn gwirionedd yn gwella i'r graddau y byddem yn ei ddisgwyl. Mae'r symiau o arian sydd dan sylw yn y fan yma, wrth gwrs, yn enfawr: Hywel Dda, £70 miliwn mewn diffyg hyd at ddechrau mis Ebrill eleni, a Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cynyddu o £30 miliwn i £36 miliwn. Felly, yn erbyn y cefndir hwn, mae gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dasg anodd iawn, rwy'n credu, wrth geisio mantoli'r cyfrifon.
Nid yw'r gyllideb amgylcheddol eleni wedi dioddef y toriadau a wnaeth y llynedd. Mae hynny i'w groesawu. Er bod hanner y cynnydd o £34 miliwn, sef £17 miliwn ohono, yn mynd i gael ei wario ar wahanol brosiectau gwastraff, na fyddai'n flaenoriaeth i mi, oherwydd—ac nid oes a wnelo hyn â'r mater cynhesu byd-eang ei hun—ni allaf weld y pwynt o wario £17 miliwn ar ddidoli gwastraff a gallu tynnu'r plastig o gwpanau Costa Coffee, er enghraifft, pan fo'r DU yn cyfrif am ddim ond tua 2 y cant o allyriadau carbon deuocsid, hyd yn oed os ydym ni'n derbyn y cysylltiad rhwng allyriadau carbon deuocsid a chynhesu byd-eang. Mae pump ar hugain y cant o'r holl wastraff plastig sy'n cael ei gasglu yn yr UE yn cael ei allforio i'r dwyrain pell a lleoedd eraill lle mae eu mesurau rheoli yn llawer mwy israddol na'r hyn sydd gennym ni yn y wlad hon ac, yn wir, yn Ewrop yn gyffredinol. Felly, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud mewn gwirionedd yw gwneud y broblem yn waeth drwy gasglu'r holl ddeunydd hwn ac yna ei allforio i wledydd sy'n ei daflu i afonydd a safleoedd tirlenwi mewn mannau eraill. Felly, nid ydym ni mewn gwirionedd yn cyfrannu at ateb y broblem, hyd yn oed os ydych chi'n derbyn bod problem yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, yn sicr, ni fyddai hynny yn flaenoriaeth i mi.
Ond y mantra yn y cefndir, wrth gwrs, fel bob amser, yw cyni. Ond, rwy'n credu y dylem ni atgoffa ein hunain bod hwn yn gyfnod o gyni—y mae datganiad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ei hun mewn gwirionedd yn nodi'r anwiredd, oherwydd mae'n cyfeirio at anallu'r Canghellor i gyrraedd ei dargedau i leihau'r diffyg ar sail gyfresol. Yn 2007-08, roedd y ddyled genedlaethol oddeutu £780 biliwn. Y bore yma, am 10.15 a.m., edrychais ar y cloc dyled cenedlaethol, ac roedd yn £2 triliwn neu fwy. Felly, prin y gallwch chi ddisgrifio hwn fel cyfnod o gyni pan fo'r Llywodraeth wedi bod â diffygion mwy nag erioed o'r blaen. Mae arnaf ofn ei bod yn realiti bywyd os nad ydych yn byw o fewn eich modd, yna'n sydyn mae'r arian yn dod i ben, a dyna'r broblem gyda Llywodraethau sosialaidd bob amser, wrth gwrs—nid oes ganddynt ddigon o arian pobl eraill i'w wario.
Mae'r Blaid Lafur o dan ei harweinyddiaeth bresennol wedi bod yn edmygydd mawr o'r Arlywydd Chávez ac Arlywydd Maduro yn Venezuela. Wel, mae gan Venezuela eleni chwyddiant o 1 miliwn y cant ac maen nhw bellach, yn hytrach nag allforio olew, yn allforio pobl. Felly, mae'r syniad y gallwch chi barhau i wario fel pe na fyddai yfory, am byth, wrth gwrs, yn erbyn rheolau natur a realiti. Pe na fyddem ni wedi ein cyfyngu yn y modd yr ydym ni yn ariannol yng Nghymru, fel pe byddai John McDonnell, Duw â'n gwaredo, yn dod yn Ganghellor y Trysorlys yn y Deyrnas Unedig ar unrhyw adeg, y byddai mewn gwirionedd yn gallu dilyn esiampl Venezuela, yna, rwy'n credu y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru mewn picil gwirioneddol. Yna bydden nhw'n darganfod beth yw gwir ystyr cyni.
Yn y pen draw, dros gyfnod o amser, mae'n rhaid i chi fantoli'r cyfrifon ac, mewn ffordd annigonol ac mewn ffordd gyfyngedig, dyna beth y mae'r Llywodraeth Geidwadol wedi bod yn ceisio ei wneud. Pe byddai'r Llywodraeth wedi benthyg hyd yn oed mwy o arian, yna byddai baich y ddyled a'r baich cyllido wedi bod hyd yn oed yn fwy. Eleni, mae dros £50 biliwn yn mynd i gael ei wario mewn llog ar ddyledion, ac er bod Banc Lloegr wedi prynu rhan sylweddol o ddyled y Llywodraeth—felly, ar un ystyr, mae'n talu arian iddo'i hun—rydym ni'n dal i siarad am ryw £4 biliwn a allai gael ei wario ar wasanaethau rheng flaen sy'n mynd fel llog ar ddyled i drydydd partïon. Felly, yn y pen draw, fel y dywedaf, nid oes gennych chi arian ar ôl.
A, maes o law, bydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru y rhyddid a'r disgresiwn i ddefnyddio'r pwerau trethi datganoledig sydd ganddi. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn defnyddio'r rheini nid yn unig i gynyddu'r baich trethi, ond mewn gwirionedd i geisio gweddnewid economi Cymru yn economi fenter drwy ostwng trethi ac felly annog buddsoddiad, annog menter, annog pobl i ddod i fyw a gweithio yng Nghymru fel y gallwn ni—yr hyn yr ydym ni i gyd yn gwybod y dylem ni ei wneud—godi sylfaen y dreth drwy gynyddu faint o gyfoeth a grëir yn economi Cymru yn gyffredinol. Felly, mae'n ddewis y bydd yn rhaid inni ei wneud maes o law. Mae wedi'i ohirio nawr tan y Cynulliad nesaf. Ond, fel Nick Ramsay, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, os yw hi'n mynd i baratoi ar gyfer bod mewn Llywodraeth ymhen ychydig o flynyddoedd, mewn gwirionedd yn newid ei hagwedd at economi fenter ac yn sylweddoli, yn y pen draw, bod cyfoeth sy'n cael ei greu yn cael ei greu gan bobl, nid gan Lywodraeth. Mae llywodraethau yn gwario arian, ond nid ydyn nhw'n gallu ei wario os nad yw'n cael ei greu.
I want to welcome the Cabinet Secretary's draft budget today, designed to sustain the fabric of Welsh life, and welcome the Cabinet Secretary's clear commitment to supporting our public services, embracing new tax powers and responsibilities. At the Assembly Finance Committee last week, we received a briefing from the Welsh Treasury and HMRC about the new Welsh rates of income tax that will come into force next April. I support your proposals for devolved taxes with this draft budget, noting, as I did earlier this year, that you've made land transaction tax the most progressive tax in the UK, which I very much welcome. And I'm sure you'll acknowledge and agree, as I do, with the IPPR Commission on Economic Justice's recent report, and support its recommendations about tax, and the need to spread wealth and ownership across our economy.
I think it is important to recognise that, after eight and a half years of unnecessary and damaging austerity and deep cuts to our public services, you've shown clearly how you have used our budget to help make Wales a fairer place. As a result, you have given a wide package of public investment in health, social care, housing and transport. But this couldn't have been done without the fact that you secured £90 million as a result of the fiscal framework, which you negotiated, and the use of £125 million out of our Welsh reserves. And that is a decision you have to make, showing your determination to fund those bread-and-butter key public services in Wales, which we so cherish, and the people of Wales require.
I welcome the increase of £0.5 billion to the Welsh NHS, reaffirming your policy to support health and social care, benefiting local government, including the £50 million for social care. And I just would say and question whether that shows that the Welsh Government is still funding far in excess in relation to funding for social care in England, particularly in integrating health and social care.
On capital, I welcome the £35 million for the social housing grant, demonstrating the Welsh Government's commitment to ensuring that we have affordable and social housing for people in housing need. But I'd like to clarify the allocation of financial transactions allocations, because, earlier this year, I welcomed the Welsh Government's funding for credit unions, following the recent update in the Wales infrastructure plan announcements. We've already seen the benefits of using financial transaction capital in this way, promoting social justice, supporting our credit unions, helping them to meet the challenging capital asset ratio requirements, to underpin the viability of credit unions in Wales. And I hope this will continue.
I'd also like to raise the issue of the impact of Brexit on your budget this year. Independent research now brings the Brexit bill to £500 million a week, and rising, and your statement has highlighted the chief economist's analysis, showing the impact of Brexit on people and households in Wales. Can you confirm that we have to use allocations from our constrained budget to meet the costs of Brexit to our public purse? For the £50 million European Union transition fund, and the cost of Welsh Government engagement, at every level—political, and official—what is the impact of Brexit on all those whom we support and serve in Wales, highlighting the negative effect on your budget making and responsibilities?
I want to conclude with a question about wider powers. You have embraced your new powers, as outlined today. We have a fiscal framework—you've negotiated, you've managed resources, both revenue and capital, in a way Nye Bevan would have welcomed, in the way that you recognise priorities and needs, as the hallmark of socialism, and the fact that you've been able to do that, against the backdrop of eight and a half years of that lost £4 billion budget that could be going into our public services. But I'd like, finally, for you to update me on negotiations for the powers that we need to support our economy, and are supported cross party, through the Silk commission, and indeed now the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, looking at air passenger duty, which should be devolved to Wales, has been devolved to Scotland and has been devolved to Northern Ireland. What is the progress, Cabinet Secretary, on those negotiations? Diolch.
Hoffwn groesawu cyllideb ddrafft Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet heddiw, sydd wedi'i chynllunio i gynnal ffabrig bywyd Cymru, ac rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad clir Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i gefnogi ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a chwmpasu'r pwerau a'r cyfrifoldebau newydd am drethi. Ym Mhwyllgor Cyllid y Cynulliad yr wythnos diwethaf, cawsom sesiwn friffio gan Drysorlys Cymru a Chyllid a Thollau EM am y cyfraddau newydd ar gyfer treth incwm yng Nghymru a ddaw i rym fis Ebrill nesaf. Rwy'n cefnogi eich cynigion ar gyfer trethi datganoledig gyda'r gyllideb ddrafft hon, ac rwy'n nodi, fel y gwnes i yn gynharach eleni, eich bod wedi sicrhau mai'r dreth trafodiadau tir yw'r dreth fwyaf blaengar yn y DU, a chroesawaf hynny'n fawr iawn. Ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cydnabod ac yn cytuno, fel yr wyf i, ag adroddiad diweddar yr IPPR Commission on Economic Justice, ac yn cefnogi ei argymhellion am dreth, a'r angen i ledaenu cyfoeth a pherchnogaeth ar draws ein heconomi.
Credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod, ar ôl wyth mlynedd a hanner o gyni diangen a niweidiol a thoriadau dwfn yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, eich bod wedi dangos yn glir sut yr ydych wedi defnyddio ein cyllideb i helpu i wneud Cymru yn lle tecach. O ganlyniad, rydych wedi rhoi pecyn eang o fuddsoddiad cyhoeddus mewn iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol, tai a thrafnidiaeth. Ond ni ellid fod wedi gwneud hyn oni bai eich bod wedi sicrhau £90 miliwn o ganlyniad i'r fframwaith cyllidol, a negodwyd gennych, a'r defnydd o £125 miliwn o gronfeydd wrth gefn Cymru. Ac mae hwnnw'n benderfyniad y mae'n rhaid ichi ei wneud, gan ddangos eich bod yn bendant yn eich bwriad i ariannu'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus allweddol hynny ar lawr gwlad yng Nghymru, sydd mor bwysig i ni, ac sy'n ofynnol i bobl Cymru.
Rwy'n croesawu'r cynnydd o £0.5 biliwn i GIG Cymru, sy'n ailddatgan eich polisi i gefnogi iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, sydd o fudd i lywodraeth leol, gan gynnwys y £50 miliwn ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol. A byddwn i ond yn dweud ac yn cwestiynu a yw hynny'n dangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i ariannu llawer gormod o'i gymharu â'r cyllid ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol yn Lloegr, yn enwedig wrth integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.
O ran cyfalaf, croesawaf y £35 miliwn ar gyfer y grant tai cymdeithasol, sy'n dangos ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod gennym dai cymdeithasol a fforddiadwy ar gyfer pobl sydd angen tai. Ond hoffwn egluro'r dyraniad o ddyraniadau trafodiadau ariannol, oherwydd, yn gynharach eleni, croesawais gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer undebau credyd, yn dilyn y diweddariad yn ddiweddar i gyhoeddiadau cynllun seilwaith Cymru. Rydym eisoes wedi gweld y manteision o ddefnyddio cyfalaf trafodiadau ariannol yn y modd hwn, gan hybu cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, cefnogi ein hundebau credyd, eu helpu i fodloni'r gofynion cymhareb asedau cyfalaf heriol, i ategu dichonoldeb undebau credyd yng Nghymru. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hyn yn parhau.
Hoffwn hefyd godi'r mater o effaith Brexit ar eich cyllideb eleni. Mae ymchwil annibynnol bellach yn dweud bod bil Brexit yn £500 miliwn yr wythnos, ac yn cynyddu, ac mae eich datganiad chi wedi amlygu dadansoddiad y prif economegydd, a oedd yn dangos effaith Brexit ar bobl ac aelwydydd yng Nghymru. A allwch chi gadarnhau bod yn rhaid inni ddefnyddio dyraniadau o'n cyllideb gyfyngedig i dalu am gostau Brexit i'n pwrs cyhoeddus? Ar gyfer cronfa pontio'r Undeb Ewropeaidd o £50 miliwn, a chost ymgysylltiad Llywodraeth Cymru, ar bob lefel—gwleidyddol, a swyddogol—beth yw effaith Brexit ar y rheini i gyd yr ydym yn eu cefnogi a'u gwasanaethu yng Nghymru, gan dynnu sylw at yr effaith negyddol ar y broses o lunio eich cyllideb a'ch cyfrifoldebau?
Rwyf eisiau cloi gyda chwestiwn am bwerau ehangach. Rydych wedi croesawu eich pwerau newydd, fel yr amlinellwyd heddiw. Mae gennym fframwaith cyllidol—yr ydych chi wedi'i negodi, rydych chi wedi rheoli adnoddau, refeniw a chyfalaf, mewn modd y byddai Nye Bevan wedi'i groesawu o ran y ffordd yr ydych yn cydnabod blaenoriaethau ac anghenion, fel dilysnod sosialaeth, a'r ffaith eich bod wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny yn erbyn cefndir o wyth mlynedd a hanner o'r gyllideb goll honno o £4 biliwn a allai fod yn mynd i'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Ond, yn olaf, hoffwn pe gallech roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf imi ar y trafodaethau ar y pwerau y mae eu hangen arnom i gefnogi ein heconomi, ac a gefnogir yn drawsbleidiol drwy Gomisiwn Silk, ac yn wir bellach y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig, gan ystyried tollau teithwyr awyr, a ddylai gael eu datganoli i Gymru, sydd wedi eu datganoli i'r Alban ac sydd wedi'u datganoli i Ogledd Iwerddon. Beth yw'r cynnydd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ran y trafodaethau hynny? Diolch.
I think this is a very skilful budget, under very difficult circumstances. We all have to note the £800 million that might have been available if we'd managed to maintain the amount of money that could have been expected in line with inflation, if the UK Government wasn't continuing to stick with this austerity programme, which is causing so much pain to so many of our citizens. I think those of us on these benches are particularly distressed at the rise in child poverty that has occurred since 2010. So, I particularly welcome the amount of money you've set aside for enabling more children to take advantage of free school meals. The £7 million across Wales is very important and also the extra over £3 million to maintain the pupil deprivation grant to enable families who are struggling to continue to enable their children to access education in the same way as everybody else.
I'm not surprised that, on the Conservative benches, Nick Ramsay questions the validity of removing the charitable status of private schools and hospitals, but I think it's really important that we have a level playing field, particularly as the training of teachers, nurses and doctors is done by the state on behalf of our citizens, and many of them are then poached by the private schools and hospitals who don't make any contribution to the training of these invaluable individuals. So, it's absolutely right and proper that they should make a proper contribution to the cost of the people they benefit from.
I do not share Nick Ramsay's anxiety that in a future Welsh Labour Government we will use our income tax raising powers. Scotland hasn't used them and they've had them since 1999. So, there's no particular reason to assume that that would be something that would genuinely be open to the Welsh Government, because it's so easy for people who would be able to simply go across the frontier to England in order to avoid these taxes. I'm much more interested in how we can improve the collection of land transaction taxes, because those are things that can't be avoided.
I'm interested in the money that the Cabinet Secretary has set aside both for capital investment in our waste disposal, as well as the income aspect of it, because I recently visited the Cardiff recycling centre to look at the amount of money that can be made out of properly recycling. Aluminium, for example, has a very high price at the moment; cardboard, a lesser price, but even so, it's a very valuable contribution to mitigating the cost of collecting people's waste. We absolutely have to continue to adhere to the principles of reduce, re-use, recycle. So, I'm wondering if you could say a bit more about the £15 million capital to improve our recycling ability, and whether you envisage that being carried out by a consortium of local authorities, rather than each local authority having to provide for their own, because it seems to me that's one of the ways in which can do these things more efficiently.
You will be aware, Cabinet Secretary, that there was a well-attended lobby at lunch time demanding that £20 per person be spent on improving our cycling routes. So, in line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and our obligations under that, I'd be grateful if you could indicate how you think that the additional money you are setting aside for both filling in potholes, which is incredibly important to anybody who cycles, but also for local transport plans, as well as active travel, how those three aspects are joining up improving the number of people who are able to benefit from cycling and walking without the threat of being run over.
Anyway, I congratulate you on your draft budget and look forward to exploring the detail further.
Rwy'n credu bod hon yn gyllideb fedrus iawn, dan amgylchiadau anodd iawn. Mae'n rhaid inni i gyd nodi'r £800 miliwn a allai fod wedi bod ar gael pe byddem wedi llwyddo i gynnal y swm o arian y gellid bod wedi ei ddisgwyl yn unol â chwyddiant, pe na fyddai Llywodraeth y DU yn parhau i gadw at y rhaglen gyni hon, sy'n achosi cymaint o boen i gynifer o'n dinasyddion. Rwy'n credu bod y rheini ohonom ar y meinciau hyn yn arbennig o ofidus am y cynnydd mewn tlodi plant sydd wedi digwydd ers 2010. Felly, rwy'n croesawu yn arbennig y swm o arian yr ydych chi wedi'i neilltuo i alluogi mwy o blant i fanteisio ar brydau ysgol am ddim. Mae'r £7 miliwn ar draws Cymru yn bwysig iawn a hefyd dros £3 miliwn ychwanegol i gynnal y grant amddifadedd disgyblion i alluogi teuluoedd sy'n ei chael yn anodd parhau i alluogi eu plant i gael addysg yn yr un modd â phawb arall.
Nid wyf yn synnu, ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr, fod Nick Ramsay yn cwestiynu dilysrwydd dileu statws elusennol ysgolion ac ysbytai preifat. Ond credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod gennym chwarae teg, yn arbennig gan y cynhelir hyfforddiant athrawon, nyrsys a meddygon gan y wladwriaeth ar ran ein dinasyddion, ac mae llawer ohonyn nhw wedyn yn cael eu potsio gan yr ysgolion a'r ysbytai preifat sydd ddim yn gwneud unrhyw gyfraniad at hyfforddiant yr unigolion amhrisiadwy hyn. Felly, mae'n gwbl iawn a phriodol y dylen nhw wneud cyfraniad priodol at gost y bobl y maen nhw'n elwa ohonynt.
Nid wyf yn rhannu pryder Nick Ramsay y byddwn yn defnyddio ein pwerau i godi treth incwm mewn Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn y dyfodol. Nid yw'r Alban wedi defnyddio'r pwerau hynny ac maen nhw wedi bod ganddyn nhw ers 1999. Felly, nid oes rheswm penodol dros dybio y byddai hynny'n rhywbeth a fyddai'n wirioneddol agored i Lywodraeth Cymru, oherwydd mae mor hawdd i bobl allu mynd ar draws y ffin i Loegr er mwyn osgoi'r trethi hyn. Mae gennyf lawer mwy o ddiddordeb mewn sut y gallwn wella'r broses o gasglu trethi trafodiadau tir, oherwydd mae'r rheini yn bethau na ellir eu hosgoi.
Mae gennyf ddiddordeb yn yr arian y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi'i neilltuo ar gyfer buddsoddiad cyfalaf i waredu ein gwastraff, yn ogystal â'r agwedd o ran incwm, oherwydd ymwelais yn ddiweddar â chanolfan ailgylchu Caerdydd i edrych ar y swm o arian y gellir ei godi o ailgylchu'n briodol. Mae pris alwminiwm, er enghraifft, yn uchel iawn ar hyn o bryd; mae pris cardfwrdd yn llai, ond er hynny, mae'n gyfraniad gwerthfawr iawn at leddfu'r gost o gasglu gwastraff pobl. Yn sicr, mae'n rhaid inni barhau i gadw at yr egwyddorion o leihau, ailddefnyddio, ailgylchu. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ddweud ychydig mwy am y £15 miliwn o arian cyfalaf i wella ein gallu i ailgylchu, ac a ydych chi'n rhagweld y bydd hynny'n cael ei gyflawni gan gonsortiwm o awdurdodau lleol, yn hytrach na bod pob awdurdod lleol yn gorfod darparu ar gyfer eu hunain, oherwydd ymddengys i mi fod honno'n un ffordd o wneud y pethau hyn yn fwy effeithlon.
Byddwch yn ymwybodol, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, y bu lobi amser cinio lle'r oedd llawer o bobl yn bresennol ac yn mynnu bod £20 y pen yn cael ei wario ar wella ein llwybrau beicio. Felly, yn unol â Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015, a'n rhwymedigaethau o dan y ddeddf honno, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech nodi sut yr ydych chi'n credu bod yr arian ychwanegol yr ydych chi'n ei neilltuo ar gyfer llenwi tyllau yn y ffyrdd, sy'n eithriadol o bwysig i unrhyw un sy'n beicio, ond hefyd ar gyfer cynlluniau trafnidiaeth lleol, yn ogystal â theithio llesol, sut y mae'r tair elfen hynny yn cydgysylltu i wella nifer y bobl sy'n gallu cael budd o feicio a cherdded heb y bygythiad o gael eu taro gan gerbyd.
Beth bynnag, rwy'n eich llongyfarch ar eich cyllideb ddrafft ac yn edrych ymlaen at ei harchwilio'n fanylach.
Obviously, you made references—repeated to death—on austerity. What concerns did you raise when the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development issued a warning about the rise in the UK budget deficit in January 2004? Keynesian economics is often presented as an alternative to austerity. I don't know where your personal economics lie, but certainly your colleagues have quoted Keynes on a number of occasions. Of course, Keynes stated that deficit spending during a downturn as a tool of economic policy requires deficits outside a downturn to be avoided or at least kept low, to a percentage of GDP lower than the nominal growth rate, thereby enabling the debt-to-GDP ratio to fall. What concern, therefore, did you express when, instead, by delivering a policy then called 'an end to boom and bust', and increasing the deficit faster than the growth rate of the economy outside a downturn, the pre-2010 UK Government broke the economic cycle and handed a poisoned chalice to successor UK Governments? As every debtor knows, you can't start reducing debt until you’ve brought your expenditure below your income. Essentially if post-2010 UK Governments had reduced the deficit more quickly, there would have been bigger cuts, wouldn't there? But if they reduced it more slowly, exposing us to economic shocks, we'd have risked bigger cuts being imposed by the UK's creditors. Instead, Welsh Government budgets have been rising in real terms since 2016-17 by nearly £1 billion.
In your statement you refer to an additional £287 million for the health and social care system. Could you clarify the interaction between that and the breakdown, given the statement by local government in Wales that many of the services they provide, particularly social services, are preventative services that reduce pressures on the NHS? So, what consideration have you given to the financial benefit of thinking of those budgets in a preventative interrelationship?
Of course, spending public money is not just about how much is spent, but also how well it's spent. What consideration have you given, or are you giving, to the amount of spending per head available to the 22 local authorities? As I understand it, currently Monmouthshire is lowest, receiving £585 less per head than the highest, but even if you look to north Wales: Wrexham, eighteenth with £339 less; Flintshire, nineteenth, with £368 less per head than the best funded. We need to be looking at this, do we not, in the context of impact, because this funding formula has existed for almost two decades? I think it was 2000-01 when it was introduced to tackle inequalities, to tackle prosperity gaps, and yet those same inequalities and prosperity gaps still exist in the same areas. So, should we not be targeting this a little bit smarter in terms of budget decisions?
How do you respond to the voluntary sector leaders who told me last Friday that we now need preventative budgets that deliver real change? They asked, 'Why not invest in what works rather than always looking to do something differently, in real co-design and co-delivery, rather than consultation after design from above, which is still the norm, and commissioning to deliver top-down programmes, which, again, is still the norm?' How do you respond to the Auditor General for Wales who, in July's report, 'Guide to Welsh Public Finances', said:
'Co-production involves a recognition of the positive assets that individuals and communities offer public services. These can dwarf the limited financial resources available to the public sector. There is a challenge for public services to understand and work with those resources alongside the financial resources that are typically included in budgets'?
Now, you've personally made many statements showing your own commitment to that agenda, but it ain't happening, finance Secretary. Out there still is too much top-down decision making and protection of internal budgets at the cost of front-line services, with a consequent extra cost to statutory front-line services. How, therefore, are you ensuring delivery of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 Part 2 code of practice, which puts in place a system where people are full partners in the design and operation of care and support, giving people clear and unambiguous rights and responsibilities? That is what the legislation says, but still it isn't happening, and the consequence of that is that millions are being spent poorly rather than engaging with the body public in Wales and delivering smart.
Finally, on the reference you made to the early intervention, prevention and support programme, and the separation that we know the Housing Matters Wales campaigners have been calling for, but they've been calling for more than that, haven't they, Cabinet Secretary? They've been calling for ring-fencing, and they've been calling for the separated grant to specially protect Supporting People. So will the ring fence now be restored, and will the Supporting People budget be specifically protected as the campaign calls for? Thank you.
Yn amlwg, fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio—dro ar ôl tro hyd syrffed —at gyni. Pa bryderon a godoch chi pan rybuddiodd Y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd ynghylch y cynnydd yn niffyg cyllideb y DU ym mis Ionawr 2004? Cyflwynir economeg Keynes yn aml fel dewis amgen i gyni. Nid wyf yn gwybod beth yw natur eich economeg bersonol chi, ond yn sicr mae eich cyd-Aelodau wedi dyfynnu Keynes ar sawl achlysur. Wrth gwrs, dywedodd Keynes er mwyn gwario mewn sefyllfa o ddiffyg yn ystod cyfnod o ddirywiad economaidd fel offeryn polisi economaidd y mae'n rhaid osgoi diffygion y tu allan i gyfnod o ddirywiad neu o leiaf eu cadw'n isel, i ganran o'r cynnyrch domestig gros sy'n is na beth bynnag yw'r gyfradd twf. Fe fyddai hyn yn galluogi'r gymhareb rhwng diffyg a chynnyrch domestig gros i leihau. Pa bryder, felly, a wnaethoch chi ei fynegi pan gyflwynodd Llywodraeth y DU cyn 2010 bolisi a elwid bryd hynny yn 'ddiwedd ffyniant a methiant', gan gynyddu'r diffyg yn gyflymach na chyfradd twf yr economi y tu allan i gyfnod o ddirywiad? Oherwydd hyn fe dorrodd Llywodraeth y DU cyn 2010 y cylch economaidd a chyflwyno cwpan gwenwyn i Lywodraethau'r DU a fyddai'n ei holynu. Fel y gŵyr pob dyledwr, ni allwch chi ddechrau lleihau dyled nes y bydd eich gwariant yn llai na'ch incwm. Yn y bôn pe bai Llywodraethau'r DU ar ôl 2010 wedi lleihau'r diffyg yn gyflymach, yna fe fyddai'r toriadau wedi bod yn llymach oni fyddent? Ond pe bai nhw wedi ei leihau yn arafach, gyda'r perygl o achosi ysgytiadau economaidd, fe fyddai perygl i doriadau llymach gael eu gorfodi gan gredydwyr y DU. Yn lle hynny, mae cyllidebau Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynyddu bron £1 biliwn mewn termau real ers 2016-17.
Yn eich datganiad, rydych chi'n cyfeirio at £287 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. A allech chi egluro'r rhyngweithio rhwng hynny a'r dadansoddiad, o ystyried y datganiad gan lywodraeth leol yng Nghymru bod llawer o'r gwasanaethau y maen nhw'n eu darparu, yn enwedig gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, yn wasanaethau ataliol sy'n lleihau'r pwysau ar y GIG? Felly, a ydych chi wedi ystyried y budd ariannol o feddwl am y cyllidebau hynny mewn cyd-destun rhyngberthynas ataliol?
Wrth gwrs, mae sôn am wario arian cyhoeddus yn golygu nid yn unig faint sy'n cael ei wario ond a yw'n cael ei wario'n dda. A ydych chi wedi ystyried neu'n ystyried ar hyn o bryd maint y gwariant y pen sydd ar gael i'r 22 awdurdod lleol? Fel rwy'n ei gweld hi, ar hyn o bryd sir Fynwy yw'r isaf, sy'n cael £585 y pen yn llai na'r uchaf. Ond os edrychwch chi ar y Gogledd hyd yn oed: Wrecsam, yn ddeunawfed gyda £339 yn llai; sir y Fflint yn bedwaredd ar bymtheg gyda £368 y pen yn llai na'r un a ariennir orau. Fe ddylem ni fod yn edrych ar hyn, oni ddylem ni, yng nghyd-destun effaith, oherwydd mae'r fformiwla ariannu hon wedi bodoli ers bron i ddau ddegawd? Rwy'n credu mai yn 2000-01 y'i cyflwynwyd i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau, i fynd i'r afael â gwahaniaethau mewn ffyniant, ac eto mae'r un anghydraddoldebau a'r gwahaniaethau ffyniant yn dal i fodoli yn yr un ardaloedd. Felly, oni ddylem ni dargedu hyn yn fwy craff o ran penderfyniadau ynghylch cyllidebu?
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i arweinwyr y sector gwirfoddol a ddywedodd wrthyf ddydd Gwener diwethaf fod arnom ni angen yn awr gyllidebau ataliol a fyddai'n cyflawni newid gwirioneddol? Fe ofynnon nhw, 'Pam ddim buddsoddi mewn rhywbeth sy'n gweithio yn hytrach na cheisio gwneud rhywbeth yn wahanol o hyd, gan gyd-gynllunio a chyd-ddarparu yng ngwir ystyr hynny, yn hytrach nag ymgynghori oddi uchod ar ôl dylunio, sef y drefn arferol o hyd, a chomisiynu i ddarparu rhaglenni o'r brig i lawr, sef unwaith eto, y drefn arferol o hyd?' Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru a ddywedodd yn adroddiad mis Gorffennaf, 'Canllaw i Gyllid Cyhoeddus Cymru':
'Mae cyd-gynhyrchu yn ymwneud â chydnabod yr asedau cadarnhaol y mae unigolion a chymunedau yn eu cynnig i wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Gall y rhain wneud i'r adnoddau ariannol cyfyngedig sydd ar gael i'r sector cyhoeddus ymddangos yn bitw iawn. Mae her yn wynebu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i ddeall a gweithio gyda'r adnoddau hynny ochr yn ochr â'r adnoddau ariannol sydd wedi'u cynnwys fel arfer mewn cyllidebau'?
Rydych yn bersonol wedi gwneud nifer o ddatganiadau sy'n dangos eich ymrwymiad i'r agenda honno, ond does dim byd yn digwydd, Ysgrifennydd dros gyllid. Mae gormod o benderfyniadau o'r brig i lawr yn digwydd ynghyd ag amddiffyn cyllidebau mewnol ar draul gwasanaethau rheng flaen, sy'n golygu cost ychwanegol i'r gwasanaethau rheng flaen statudol. Sut, felly, ydych chi'n sicrhau y bydd cod ymarfer Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 Rhan 2 yn cael ei gyflawni, cod sy'n rhoi ar waith system lle mae pobl yn bartneriaid llawn wrth lunio a gweithredu gofal a chymorth, ac sy'n rhoi hawliau a chyfrifoldebau clir a diamwys i bobl? Dyma ddywed y ddeddfwriaeth, ond nid yw wedi digwydd hyd yn hyn, a chanlyniad hynny yw bod miliynau'n cael eu gwario'n wael yn hytrach nag ein bod yn ymgysylltu gyda'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru a darparu'n ddoeth.
Yn olaf, o ran y cyfeiriad a wnaethoch chi at y rhaglen ymyrraeth gynnar, atal a chymorth, a'r gwahanu y gwyddom fod ymgyrchwyr Materion Tai Cymru yn galw amdano, ond maen nhw wedi bod yn galw am fwy na hynny, onid ydyn nhw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet? Maen nhw wedi bod yn galw am neilltuo arian, ac maen nhw wedi bod yn galw am y grant ar wahân i ddiogelu Cefnogi Pobl yn arbennig. Felly a fydd y drefn neilltuo yn cael ei hadfer yn awr, ac a fydd cyllideb Cefnogi Pobl yn cael ei diogelu'n benodol yn unol â dymuniad yr ymgyrch? Diolch.
Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Finance's statement and the draft budget. As austerity continues, the amount of money needed to run our public services to the level the public want is not being provided. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will agree with me that austerity is not an economic policy but a political direction of travel. The Conservatives at Westminster want to reduce public expenditure and roll back state provision of services. And as the Cabinet Secretary said earlier today, that £4 billion to £6 billion are missing from our budget. What a different budget we'd have today with that extra £4 billion to £6 billion. I think that everybody would leave here much happier than we will.
I think that Neil Hamilton made a very interesting point—live within your means. Can I just say, the key point is: increase your means? That's called economic growth. What we've had is stagnation and, as such, we haven't increased it. That's why the deficit's gone up—it's because growth has been at best sluggish, at worst non-existent.
I have three questions for the Cabinet Secretary. One on transaction capital: has the Tory Westminster Government given any indication on changing the rules on its use? If not, can it be used as replacement capital for economic development support to private companies, and thus increase the discretionary capital expenditure available to the Welsh Government for things such as new schools, which everybody in this Chamber welcomes?
Secondly, is there any indication that the borrowing limit will be increased? Will bonds be made available? Whilst they would not be mine and I'm sure not the Cabinet Secretary's choice of means of borrowing, because they tend to be more expensive, what they've done and why local authorities like them—. You don't want to use them, but what you want them to do is to keep the public works loan board's lending levels low. When the public works lending board pushed their rates up, what happened was that we saw that people started looking at bonds, and all of a sudden the public works loan board's costs came down quite considerably. I think that this is really important.
Finally can I raise primary health, secondary health and social services expenditure? The auditor general, in about 2015, produced a report on medical interventions that do no good to the patient, estimated at that time at several hundred million pounds. This did not include expenditure where the operation was successful, but following hospitalisation, when the individual was no longer able to look after themselves and ended up in a nursing home.
The late Dr Julian Tudor Hart, who many of us knew, with others, identified expenditure on such things as reducing slightly raised blood pressure, which does no good in terms of health, but it's actually expensive. And can I remind the finance Cabinet Secretary, while health Secretary, you reported, on more than one occasion, on the different intervention rates for the removal of tonsils between two areas in the same health board. So, it's not a difference between health boards—it's basically the difference between two surgeons. You're twice as likely to have your tonsils removed in one than the other.
The Royal College of General Practitioners regularly identify the relative reduction in primary care expenditure. And I have concerns about the fact that secondary care takes priority over primary care. The Nuffield Foundation produced research showing that productivity in hospitals in Wales, in terms of patient-per-doctor intervention, had reduced between 2003 and 2013.
Social care is under huge pressure, especially elderly care and support for children. I understand that support for children has gone up by 100 per cent over the last 10 years. And we also know that elderly care is continuing to increase. Many of us think it's a good thing—we all want to live longer, don't we? But it does come with a cost, and that is falling, almost exclusively, on local authorities.
I'm very pleased that from being a lone voice supporting improving health by dealing with factors such as obesity and smoking that lead to ill health, there is now a lot of support for preventative action. In fact, we had Steffan Lewis talking about preventative action earlier, and I hope we'll get more people talking about preventative action. Having somebody in hospital being operated on, in many cases, is a sign of failure, not success. The sign of success is them not ending up there in the first place. I think our aim has got be to increase health rather than increase health expenditure or health interventions.
So, I welcome the budget, I think that it's the best that can be done. Could we have the £4 billion to £6 billion we should have? And then both the Cabinet Secretary and most Members in this room will be very, very happy. We're not going to get that, and under very difficult circumstances, I commend the Cabinet Secretary for his budget.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwy'n croesawu datganiad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r gyllideb ddrafft. Wrth i gyni barhau, nid yw'r swm o arian sydd ei angen i redeg ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus fel mae'r cyhoedd yn ei ddymuno yn cael ei ddarparu. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â mi nad yw cyni yn bolisi economaidd ond yn gyfeiriad gwleidyddol. Mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn San Steffan eisiau cwtogi gwariant cyhoeddus a chyfyngu ar y gwasanaethau y mae'r wladwriaeth yn eu darparu. Ac fel y dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gynharach heddiw, mae £4 biliwn i £6 biliwn ar goll o'n cyllideb ni. Mor wahanol fyddai'r gyllideb heddiw gyda £4 biliwn i £6 biliwn yn ychwanegol. Rwy'n credu y byddai pawb yn gadael y lle hwn yn hapusach o lawer nag y byddwn ni.
Rwy'n credu bod Neil Hamilton wedi gwneud pwynt diddorol iawn—torri'r gôt yn ôl y brethyn. A gaf i ddweud, mai'r pwynt allweddol yw cynyddu eich incwm? Twf economaidd yw’r enw ar hyn. Yr hyn a gawsom ni yw diffyg twf, ac o'r herwydd, nid ydym ni wedi ei gynyddu. Dyna pam mae'r diffyg wedi cynyddu—oherwydd bod twf wedi bod yn araf ar y gorau, ac ar y gwaethaf yn sefyll yn llonydd.
Mae gennyf i dri chwestiwn ar gyfer Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Un ynglŷn â chyfalaf trafodiadau: a yw Llywodraeth Dorïaidd San Steffan wedi rhoi unrhyw awgrym ynghylch newid y rheolau o ran ei ddefnyddio? Os nad ydynt, a ellir ei ddefnyddio fel cyfalaf newydd ar gyfer cymorth datblygu economaidd i gwmnïau preifat, ac felly cynyddu'r gwariant cyfalaf dewisol sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer pethau megis ysgolion newydd, y mae pawb yn y Siambr hon yn ei groesawu?
Yn ail, a oes unrhyw awgrym y caiff y terfyn benthyca ei gynyddu? A fydd bondiau ar gael? Er na fyddwn i nac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet rwy'n sicr yn eu dewis fel dull o fenthyca, oherwydd maen nhw'n tueddu i fod yn ddrutach; yr hyn y maen nhw wedi ei wneud, a'r rheswm pam mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu hoffi—. Nid ydych chi eisiau eu defnyddio nhw, ond yr hyn yr ydych chi eisiau iddyn nhw ei wneud yw cadw benthyciadau y bwrdd benthyciadau gwaith cyhoeddus yn isel. Pan gynyddodd y bwrdd benthyciadau gwaith cyhoeddus ei gyfraddau, yr hyn a ddigwyddodd oedd i bobl ddechrau edrych ar fondiau, ac yn gyflym iawn daeth costau'r bwrdd benthyciadau gwaith cyhoeddus i lawr yn sylweddol. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn bwysig iawn.
Yn olaf a gaf i grybwyll y mater o iechyd sylfaenol, iechyd eilaidd a gwariant y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol? Oddeutu’r flwyddyn 2015 fe luniodd yr archwilydd cyffredinol adroddiad ar ymyriadau meddygol nad ydynt yn gwneud unrhyw les i'r claf, a'r gost a amcangyfrifwyd oedd sawl can miliwn o bunnoedd. Nid oedd hyn yn cynnwys gwariant pan oedd y llawdriniaeth yn llwyddiannus, ond gwariant yn dilyn cyfnod yn yr ysbyty pan nad oedd yr unigolyn yn gallu edrych ar ôl ei hunan mwyach ac wedi symud i gartref nyrsio.
Canfu'r diweddar Ddoctor Julian Tudor Hart, a oedd yn gyfarwydd i lawer ohonom ni, gydag eraill, y caiff arian ei wario ar bethau fel lleihau pwysedd gwaed oedd dim ond wedi codi ychydig, sy'n gwneud dim lles o ran iechyd, ond sydd mewn gwirionedd yn ddrud. Ac a gaf i atgoffa Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid, pan oeddech chi'n Ysgrifennydd Iechyd, fe sonioch chi ar fwy nag un achlysur, am y gwahanol gyfraddau ymyrryd a gafwyd ar gyfer tynnu tonsiliau mewn dwy ardal o fewn yr un bwrdd iechyd. Felly, nid gwahaniaeth rhwng byrddau iechyd a geir—yn y bôn gwahaniaeth rhwng dau lawfeddyg a geir. Rydych chi ddwywaith mwy tebygol o gael tynnu eich tonsiliau mewn un lle na lle arall.
Mae Coleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol yn nodi'n rheolaidd y gostyngiad cymharol mewn gwariant gofal sylfaenol. Ac rwy'n pryderu bod gofal eilaidd yn cael blaenoriaeth dros ofal sylfaenol. Cyflwynodd Sefydliad Nuffield ymchwil yn dangos bod cynhyrchiant mewn ysbytai yng Nghymru, o ran sawl claf y mae un meddyg yn eu trin, wedi gostwng rhwng 2003 a 2013.
Mae gofal cymdeithasol o dan bwysau enfawr, yn enwedig gofal yr henoed a chymorth ar gyfer plant. Rwy'n deall bod cymorth ar gyfer plant wedi cynyddu cant y cant dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf. Ac fe wyddom ni hefyd fod gofal yr henoed yn parhau i gynyddu. Mae llawer ohonom ni o’r farn ei fod yn beth da—rydym ni i gyd eisiau byw'n hirach, onid ydym? Ond mae costau ynghlwm â hynny, sydd bron i gyd yn disgyn ar ysgwyddau awdurdodau lleol.
Rwy'n falch iawn i weld, ar ôl imi fod yn llais unig yn yr anialwch yn cefnogi gwella iechyd drwy ymdrin â ffactorau fel gordewdra ac ysmygu, sy'n arwain at iechyd gwael, fod llawer o gefnogaeth bellach i weithredu ataliol. Yn wir, roedd Steffan Lewis yn sôn am gamau gweithredu ataliol yn gynharach, a gobeithiaf y bydd mwy o bobl yn sôn am weithredu ataliol. Mae cael rhywun yn yr ysbyty o dan lawdriniaeth mewn nifer o achosion yn arwydd o fethiant nid llwyddiant. Arwydd o lwyddiant fyddai iddynt beidio â bod yno yn y lle cyntaf. Rwy'n credu mai'r nod y dylem ni ymgyrraedd ato yw gwella iechyd yn hytrach na chynyddu gwariant iechyd neu driniaethau iechyd.
Felly, rwy'n croesawu'r gyllideb, rwy'n credu mai dyma'r gorau y gellir ei wneud. A gawn ni'r £4 biliwn i £6 biliwn y dylem ei gael? Byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a'r rhan fwyaf o'r Aelodau yn yr ystafell hon yn hapus iawn, iawn. Nid ydym yn mynd i gael hwnnw, ac o dan amgylchiadau anodd iawn, rwy'n cymeradwyo Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei gyllideb.
Thank you very much for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. I wonder if you could help me out, please, when I'm asking some questions about education and the relationship between the education main expenditure group and some of the other department expenditure lines? Obviously, it's very pleasing to see the £60 million extra for education. It still falls a little short of the £100 million that we were expecting for school standards over the period, but I also see there's £30 million additional funding for schools. The majority, of course, of schools' core funding comes from local authorities, though. I have to say, within my own region, when I'm visiting schools and actually other services, the two main complaints I get about funding are schools specifically—so it's not education generally but schools specifically—and social care, which actually Mike Hedges has picked up on as well.
I can see that there's been an increase in the local government and public spending MEG, but, of course, that's not just the RSG and it doesn't explain either where schools' core funding is within that £123 million and how that can be protected, whilst at the same time avoiding ring fencing. It's particularly important, I think, because, of course, when the Welsh Government in the last Assembly proclaimed that it had obviously added extra money for school protection, the majority of that money actually came from local government, which was already being squeezed, rather than from the central education budget.
So, if you can explain to me a little bit about how schools' core funding is being looked after in that growth, I'd be very pleased, particularly because the primary legislation that deals with the funding formulas, if you like, for school funding are 20 years old now, and even the regulations beneath that are eight years old. So, there's a wider question for me, perhaps for another day, about whether that whole structure needs looking at anyway.
The relationship with the Welsh language budget and the Welsh language education budget—obviously, we've had an announcement fairly recently of a capital increase, but bearing in mind that the Welsh Government's emphasis is going to be now on Welsh language education, not just Welsh-medium education—although we all note the difficulties there with getting young people involved in teachers' training for that—where are the Welsh language aspirations, shall we say, met? Because there was no reference to Welsh language in any of the speech that you gave today.
Finally, the relationship with the health budget—it's obviously very pleasing to see some growth there, but as teachers and staff in schools are being asked to take on more responsibility regarding looking after children's pastoral requirements, their mental health in particular, does that increase in the health budget have a tiny little piece carved out, even if it's not formally, for improving school budgets, and would that count towards a school's core budget or would it be considered as an exterior income stream, if I can put it like that? Because obviously I'd be worried that, if there's any money going from health that then finds its way into the RSG where it gets no protection, it could get lost, despite the benevolent decision to use health spending to help schools improve the well-being of young people. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Tybed a allech chi fy helpu, pan fyddaf yn gofyn rhai cwestiynau ynghylch addysg a'r berthynas rhwng y prif grŵp gwariant addysg a rhai o linellau gwariant adrannau eraill? Yn amlwg, mae'n braf iawn gweld y £60 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer addysg. Mae e dal yn llai na'r £100 miliwn yr oeddem yn ei ddisgwyl ar gyfer safonau ysgolion dros y cyfnod, ond gwelaf hefyd bod £30 miliwn o arian ychwanegol ar gyfer ysgolion ar gael. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o gyllid craidd ysgolion, wrth gwrs, yn dod gan awdurdodau lleol, er y mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yn fy rhanbarth fy hun, pan fyddaf yn ymweld ag ysgolion a gwasanaethau eraill, y ddau brif gŵyn a glywaf o ran ariannu yw ysgolion yn benodol—nid addysg yn gyffredinol ond ysgolion yn benodol—a gofal cymdeithasol, y mae Mike Hedges wedi cyfeirio ato hefyd.
Gallaf weld y bu cynnydd yn y prif grŵp gwariant llywodraeth leol a gwariant cyhoeddus, ond, wrth gwrs, nid dim ond y grant cynnal refeniw yw hynny ac nid yw'n egluro ychwaith ble mae cyllid craidd ysgolion o fewn y £123 miliwn hwnnw a sut y gellir ei ddiogelu, gan osgoi trefn neilltuo ar yr un pryd. Mae'n arbennig o bwysig, rwy'n credu, oherwydd pan gyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru yn y Cynulliad diwethaf ei bod wedi ychwanegu mwy o arian ar gyfer amddiffyn ysgolion, mewn gwirionedd daeth y rhan fwyaf o'r arian hwnnw o lywodraeth leol, a oedd eisoes o dan bwysau, yn hytrach nag o'r gyllideb addysg ganolog.
Felly, byddwn yn falch iawn petai chi'n gallu egluro i mi sut y mae cyllid craidd ysgolion yn cael ei warchod yn y twf hwnnw, yn enwedig gan fod y ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol sy'n ymwneud â fformiwlâu cyllid ar gyfer ariannu ysgolion yn 20 mlwydd oed bellach, ac y mae hyd yn oed y rheoliadau o dan hynny yn wyth mlwydd oed. Felly, mae'n gwestiwn ehangach i mi, efallai ar gyfer diwrnod arall, ynghylch a oes angen edrych ar y strwythur cyfan hwnnw beth bynnag.
Y berthynas gyda chyllideb yr iaith Gymraeg a chyllideb addysg Gymraeg—yn amlwg, cawsom gyhoeddiad yn weddol ddiweddar am gynnydd cyfalaf, ond o gofio bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn awr yn mynd i roi pwyslais ar y Gymraeg ym myd addysg, nid ar addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg yn unig—er ein bod ni i gyd yn ymwybodol o'r holl anawsterau a geir wrth geisio cael pobl ifanc i hyfforddi'n athrawon gyda hynny mewn golwg—ble caiff y dyheadau o ran yr iaith Gymraeg eu cyflawni oherwydd ni chafwyd unrhyw gyfeiriad at y Gymraeg yn unrhyw ran o'r araith a draddodoch chi heddiw.
Yn olaf, y berthynas gyda'r gyllideb iechyd—mae hi'n amlwg yn braf iawn gweld rhywfaint o dwf yn hynny o beth, ond gan fod gofyn ar athrawon a staff mewn ysgolion i gymryd mwy o gyfrifoldeb o ran edrych ar ôl anghenion bugeiliol y plant, eu hiechyd meddwl yn benodol, a fydd rhan fach o'r cynnydd hwnnw yn y gyllideb iechyd yn cael ei neilltuo, hyd yn oed os nad yw mewn modd ffurfiol, ar gyfer gwella cyllidebau ysgol? A fyddai hynny'n cyfrif tuag at gyllideb graidd yr ysgol neu a fydd yn cael ei ystyried yn ffrwd incwm allanol, os gallaf ei fynegi fel yna? Oherwydd yn amlwg byddwn yn pryderu petai unrhyw arian yn cael ei dynnu oddi wrth iechyd ac wedyn yn mynd i mewn i'r grant cynnal refeniw lle nad yw'n ddiogel o gwbl. Gallai fynd ar goll er gwaethaf y penderfyniad caredig i ddefnyddio gwariant iechyd i helpu ysgolion i wella llesiant pobl ifanc. Diolch.
In the continuing difficult financial landscape, Cabinet Secretary, can I welcome your statement, which I think is certainly as good as we could expect in the current circumstances? There's certainly lots to absorb and comment on, but I want to just briefly focus on three areas, if I may. And forgive me if I am repeating some of the points that have already been covered, but I guess that there will be reiterations, so bear with me.
Firstly, Cabinet Secretary, as others have said, you've acknowledged the impacts that austerity have on the social fabric of our communities across Wales and that they cannot be underestimated. In constituencies like mine, I see it every single day and something has to change. So, after these long-wasted years of austerity, and given that the UK Government now seems to have found the magic money tree to fund the fiasco that is Brexit, do you see any signs that the Chancellor will acknowledge the need for a change in direction in order to meet the calls for more investment to help our public services? Because, as a Welsh Government, much of what you deliver must come via these budgets, and it's based on our 2016 manifesto, so it's important that we continue to deliver on those promises.
My second point relates to the Supporting People programme, which has not just been supported by Plaid Cymru but by many Members on these benches, including me, many of us who have taken a keen interest in and campaigned for the financial support that we offer to many vulnerable groups through this programme. So, I'm very pleased with your announcement of £13.4 million to the early intervention, prevention and support grant and the establishment of the two grants, separating housing out from the others. Can I join others in asking whether you can now confirm that this will result in ring-fenced support to those often in the most desperate need of housing and housing support, so that Welsh Government priorities for the most vulnerable will be delivered in the way that your Government intended it to?
And finally, it's very clear that if we are to continue transforming our health and care services, then we must invest in preventative, community and primary care services, and we cannot allow artificial and organisational barriers to impede the funding and delivery of services that we need. So, I'm pleased that your announcement is looking at health and social care in the round, because we should be looking at more innovative ways of funding both health and social care services to ensure that current and future demand can be met. So, can you also assure me that the budget process will continue to drive the integration and innovation between health and social care, ensuring that those vital care services can continue to be delivered in our communities?
Yn yr hinsawdd ariannol anodd sydd ohoni, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn groesawu eich datganiad, sy'n bendant cystal ag y gallem ddisgwyl o dan yr amgylchiadau presennol. Yn sicr y mae llawer o bethau i'w hystyried er mwyn gwneud sylwadau arnyn nhw, ond rwyf am ganolbwyntio'n gryno ar dri maes, os gallaf i. A maddeuwch imi os byddaf yn ailadrodd rhai o'r pwyntiau sydd eisoes wedi'u trafod, ond rwy'n tybio y bydd ailadrodd, felly byddwch yn amyneddgar gyda mi.
Yn gyntaf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel y dywedodd eraill, rydych chi wedi cydnabod yr effeithiau y mae cyni yn ei gael ar wead cymdeithasol ein cymunedau ledled Cymru ac ni ddylid eu diystyru. Mewn etholaethau fel fy un i, rwy'n ei weld bob dydd ac y mae'n rhaid i rywbeth newid. Felly, ar ôl y blynyddoedd hir hyn a wastraffwyd oherwydd cyni, ac o ystyried bod Llywodraeth y DU bellach wedi dod o hyd i'r goeden arian hud i ariannu'r traed moch a elwir yn Brexit, a welwch chi unrhyw arwydd y bydd y Canghellor yn cydnabod yr angen am newid cyfeiriad er mwyn ateb y galw am fwy o fuddsoddi i helpu ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus? Oherwydd fel Llywodraeth Cymru, y mae'n rhaid i lawer o'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddarparu ddod drwy'r cyllidebau hyn, ac y mae'n seiliedig ar ein maniffesto yn 2016, felly y mae'n bwysig ein bod yn parhau i gyflawni'r addewidion hynny.
Mae fy ail bwynt yn ymwneud â'r rhaglen Cefnogi Pobl, sydd wedi ei chefnogi nid yn unig gan Blaid Cymru ond gan lawer o Aelodau ar y meinciau hyn, gan gynnwys fi fy hun; llawer ohonom ni wedi dangos diddordeb brwd ac ymgyrchu dros y cymorth ariannol a gynigiwn i lawer o grwpiau sy'n agored i niwed drwy'r rhaglen hon. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn eich bod wedi cyhoeddi y bydd £13.4 miliwn yn mynd tuag at y grant atal, cymorth ac ymyriadau cynnar, ac y bydd dau grant yn cael eu sefydlu a fydd yn gwahanu tai oddi wrth y lleill. A gaf i ymuno ag eraill i ofyn a allwch chi gadarnhau nawr y bydd hyn yn arwain at gymorth wedi ei neilltuo i'r rhai hynny sydd yn aml ag angen enbyd am dai a chymorth tai, er mwyn cyflawni blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y rhai sydd fwyaf agored i niwed yn y modd yr oedd eich Llywodraeth yn bwriadu ei wneud?
Ac yn olaf, mae hi'n glir iawn os ydym i barhau i weddnewid ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal yna mae'n rhaid inni fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol, cymunedol ac ataliol. Ac ni allwn ni ganiatáu i rwystrau artiffisial a sefydliadol i amharu ar y gwaith o ariannu a darparu'r gwasanaethau y mae eu hangen arnom ni. Felly, rwy'n falch bod eich cyhoeddiad yn ystyried iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn eu cyfanrwydd, oherwydd fe ddylem ni edrych ar ffyrdd mwy arloesol o ariannu gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol er mwyn sicrhau y gellir bodloni'r galw heddiw ac yn y dyfodol. Felly, a wnewch chi hefyd sicrhau y bydd y broses gyllidebu yn parhau i gymell integreiddio ac arloesi rhwng iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, gan sicrhau y bydd y gwasanaethau gofal hanfodol hynny yn parhau i gael eu darparu yn ein cymunedau?
I welcome the draft budget and congratulate the Cabinet Secretary on producing this budget in the ninth year of austerity, because I think we all know how families, particularly families with children, have struggled these last few years. So, I particularly welcome the help for children and families that many Members have referred to today—school meals and school uniforms. It is so difficult for families to cope with the demands and this is real practical help, and I do appreciate the fact that the Cabinet Secretary has made these improvements. Again, along with the others, I welcome the fact that all care leavers will now not pay the council tax until they are 25 years old, and I congratulate those local authorities who have used their discretionary powers to bring this in earlier, because I think this does show foresight and shows care for children who have been under the care of the state. Cardiff Council, my local authority, is one of those that has used the discretionary powers to do this.
I wanted to mention a few other points that I particularly welcome. I welcome the restoring of the funding for the national parks, because I think the national parks are so important for us here in Wales, and I think we all know that health is so linked with being able to enjoy the environment. A visit to a national park is maybe as good as a visit to a doctor, and I'm sure Mike Hedges would approve of that. [Laughter.]
I also wanted to mention—it's a small amount of money, but I think it's very important—the improvements to Llangrannog and Glan-llyn. One of my grandchildren is actually at one of those establishments now as we speak, and I know how many children have such a huge benefit from them. I think it's an absolutely fantastic experience for children to go there, so I welcome the fact that they are going to have these opportunities.
I wanted, finally, to ask the Cabinet Secretary about how the Welsh mutual investment model is going, which I believe was actually created by my colleague Jane Hutt, when she was the finance Minister, to fund the building of the new Velindre? I know the Cabinet Secretary will be aware that there's now planning permission for the new Velindre in the Top Meadows in Whitchurch, with access through Asda, and the negotiations are ongoing, but we will end up with a brand-new cancer hospital linked with much more treatment for cancer patients in the community, and I think we are all very pleased and proud that this is going to happen. So, could he say how the Welsh mutual investment model is being developed?
Rwy'n croesawu'r gyllideb ddrafft a llongyfarchiadau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar lunio'r gyllideb hon yn y nawfed flwyddyn o gyni, oherwydd rwy'n credu y gwyddom ni i gyd pa mor anodd mae hi wedi bod i deuluoedd, yn enwedig teuluoedd gyda phlant, dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Felly, rwy'n croesawu yn arbennig y cymorth ar gyfer plant a theuluoedd y mae llawer o Aelodau wedi cyfeirio ato heddiw—prydau ysgol a gwisg ysgol. Mae hi mor anodd i deuluoedd ymdopi ag anghenion ac mae hwn yn gymorth ymarferol gwirioneddol, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r ffaith bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi gwneud y gwelliannau hyn. Unwaith eto, ochr yn ochr â'r Aelodau eraill, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith na fydd y bobl hynny sy'n gadael gofal nawr yn talu'r dreth gyngor hyd nes y byddan nhw yn 25 oed, a llongyfarchiadau i'r awdurdodau lleol hynny sydd wedi defnyddio eu pwerau disgresiwn i gyflwyno hyn yn gynharach, oherwydd mae hyn, yn fy marn i, yn dangos rhagddarbodaeth a gofal am blant sydd wedi bod yng ngofal y wladwriaeth. Mae Cyngor Caerdydd, fy awdurdod lleol, yn un o'r rhai a ddefnyddiodd y pwerau disgresiwn i wneud hyn.
Roeddwn eisiau sôn am ychydig o bwyntiau eraill yr wyf yn eu croesawu'n arbennig. Rwy'n croesawu adferiad y cyllid ar gyfer y parciau cenedlaethol, oherwydd bod y parciau cenedlaethol mor bwysig, yn fy marn, i ni yma yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn gwybod bod cysylltiad cryf rhwng iechyd a'r gallu i fwynhau'r amgylchedd. Mae ymweliad â pharc cenedlaethol efallai cystal ag ymweliad â meddyg, ac rwy'n siŵr byddai Mike Hedges yn cymeradwyo hynny. [Chwerthin.]
Hefyd, roeddwn i eisiau sôn am—mae'n swm bach o arian, ond mae'n bwysig iawn, rwy'n credu—y gwelliannau i Langrannog a Glan-llyn. Mae un o fy wyrion mewn gwirionedd yn un o'r sefydliadau hynny ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n gwybod bod cynifer o blant yn cael cymaint o fudd oddi wrthyn nhw. Credaf ei fod yn brofiad hollol wych i blant fynd yno, felly rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith y byddan nhw'n cael y cyfleoedd hyn.
Roeddwn eisiau, yn olaf, gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sut mae'r model buddsoddi cydfuddiannol yn mynd rhagddo yng Nghymru, a gafodd ei greu, rwy'n credu, mewn gwirionedd gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Jane Hutt, pan mai hi oedd y Gweinidog dros gyllid, i gyllido'r gwaith o adeiladu'r Felindre newydd? Rwy'n gwybod y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol bod caniatâd cynllunio ar gyfer y Felindre newydd yn Top Meadows yn yr Eglwys Newydd, gyda mynediad drwy Asda, ac mae'r trafodaethau'n parhau, ond bydd gennym ni yn y pen draw ysbyty canser newydd sbon gyda llawer mwy o driniaeth ar gyfer cleifion canser yn y gymuned, a chredaf ei bod ni'n hapus iawn ac yn falch bod hyn yn mynd i ddigwydd. Felly, a allai ddweud sut mae'r model buddsoddi cydfuddiannol yn cael ei ddatblygu yng Nghymru?
Y Gweinidog cyllid i ymateb i'r ddadl—yr Ysgrifennydd cyllid, mae'n ddrwg gen i.
The Minister for finance to reply to the debate—or rather the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, I apologise.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Well, an enormous number of detailed questions. I thank Members very much for their close engagement with the budget statement this afternoon and, of course, I look forward to the period of detailed scrutiny that the budget will now receive. Just to say again, Llywydd, that we are following the two-stage process in the budget. A number of questions that Members have raised will become clearer in three weeks' time when we lay the budget at below-MEG level. I’ll do my best to answer as many questions as I can as briefly as I can.
Nick Ramsay began by asking, 'Where would we be without austerity and Brexit?' and, on cue, my colleague Julie James returns—because she gave him the answer loud and clear: we’d all be a lot better off; that’s where we would be without austerity and Brexit. He quoted Harry Truman to us. I’ll just remind him of something else Harry Truman said: society will be judged by how it treats its weakest members. And that’s what this budget is all about. It is about taking the resources that we have, constrained as they are, and then investing those resources where they will make the greatest impact in the lives of those people who depend the most upon the services that public authorities provide.
Let me thank the Member for what he said in welcoming what we are doing in relation to care leavers and for the recognition that he gave to the impact of the fiscal framework, which he has always taken a very close interest in. Let me answer a few of the specific questions that he raised. As far as the £60 million that is announced in the budget for road surface repair, it is indeed ring-fenced. It’ll go through a specific grant. It has no impact on the RSG because, as Nick Ramsay will see when more detail is available, it’s capital that we are providing in that £60 million grant rather than the revenue that goes through the RSG. He made a point about future income tax rates. All parties will be able to set out proposals in manifestos in advance of the next Assembly elections as to how the powers that are available to the Assembly would be used were they to get their hands on them.
And, as to his questions about a more detailed sense of the budget, that will come when we lay part 2 of the process, in three weeks’ time. We will have an opportunity, I hope, to talk about social care. I hear a rumour that the Chancellor intends to publish a Green Paper on social care on the same day as he announces his budget on 29 October, but we were told that that Green Paper would be there last year; we were told it would be here in the summer; now we’re told it’ll be here on 29 October. Well, wouldn’t it be good if that turned out to be the case?
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Wel, nifer enfawr o gwestiynau manwl. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Aelodau am eu sylwadau manwl am ddatganiad y gyllideb y prynhawn yma ac, wrth gwrs, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at y craffu manwl a wneir yn awr ar y gyllideb nawr. Dim ond i ddweud unwaith eto, Llywydd, ein bod yn dilyn y broses dau gam yn y gyllideb. Bydd nifer o gwestiynau a holwyd gan Aelodau yn dod yn gliriach ymhen tair wythnos pan fyddwn ni'n gosod y gyllideb ar lefel sy'n is na'r prif grŵp gwariant. Byddaf yn gwneud fy ngorau i ateb cynifer o gwestiynau ag y gallaf, mor gryno ag y gallaf.
Dechreuodd Nick Ramsay drwy ofyn, 'ble byddem ni heb gyni a Brexit?' ac, mewn ymateb, atebodd fy nghyd-Aelod Julie James—oherwydd fe roddodd hi'r ateb iddo yn glir iawn: byddem ni i gyd yn llawer gwell ein byd; dyna ble byddem ni heb gyni a Brexit. Dyfynnodd eiriau Harry Truman i ni. Fe hoffwn ei atgoffa o rywbeth arall a ddywedodd Harry Truman: caiff cymdeithas ei barnu yn ôl sut mae'n trin ei haelodau gwannaf. A dyna beth yw prif ddiben y gyllideb hon. Mae a wnelo hi â defnyddio'r adnoddau sydd gennym ni, er mor gyfyng ydyn nhw, a buddsoddi yr adnoddau hyn wedyn yn y meysydd y byddan nhw'n cael yr effaith fwyaf ar fywydau'r bobl hynny sy'n dibynnu fwyaf ar y gwasanaethau a ddarperir gan awdurdodau cyhoeddus.
Gadewch i mi ddiolch i'r Aelod am yr hyn a ddywedodd wrth groesawu'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud ynglŷn â'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal ac am y gydnabyddiaeth a roddodd i effaith y fframwaith cyllidol, y mae bob amser wedi dangos diddordeb mawr ynddo. Gadewch imi ateb rhai o'r cwestiynau penodol a ofynnodd. O ran y £60 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd yn y gyllideb ar gyfer atgyweirio arwyneb ffyrdd, mae wedi eu neilltuo yn wir. Bydd yn rhan o grant penodol. Nid yw'n effeithio dim ar y grant cynnal refeniw oherwydd, fel y bydd Nick Ramsay yn gweld pan fydd mwy o fanylion ar gael, cyfalaf rydym ni'n ei ddarparu yn y £60 miliwn hwnnw yn hytrach na refeniw sydd yn mynd drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw. Gwnaeth sylw am gyfraddau treth incwm yn y dyfodol. Bydd pob plaid yn gallu gosod cynigion mewn maniffestos cyn etholiadau nesaf y Cynulliad ynghylch sut y byddent yn defnyddio'r pwerau sydd ar gael i'r Cynulliad pe baent yn y sefyllfa i wneud hynny.
Ac, o ran ei gwestiynau am ragor o fanylion am y gyllideb, fe ddaw hyn pan fyddwn ni'n gosod rhan 2 y broses, ymhen tair wythnos. Bydd gennym ni gyfle, gobeithio, i sôn am ofal cymdeithasol. Rwy'n clywed si ar led fod y Canghellor yn bwriadu cyhoeddi Papur Gwyrdd ar ofal cymdeithasol ar yr un diwrnod ag y bydd yn cyhoeddi ei gyllideb ar 29 Hydref, ond yr hyn a ddywedwyd wrthym ni oedd y byddai'r Papur Gwyrdd yn cael ei gyhoeddi y llynedd; dywedwyd wrthym ni y byddai yma yn yr haf; bellach, dywedir wrthym ni y caiff ei gyhoeddi ar 29 Hydref. Wel, oni fyddai'n dda pe byddai hynny'n digwydd?
A gaf i ddweud wrth Steffan Lewis fy mod i'n gwerthfawrogi beth ddywedodd ef am y cyd-destun rŷm ni'n ei wynebu pan oeddem ni'n creu'r gyllideb yma? Mae yn gyd-destun anodd dros ben. Wrth gwrs, mae Steffan Lewis yn awgrymu y bydd annibyniaeth yr ateb i'r pethau yma yng Nghymru. Nid wyf yn meddwl ein bod ni'n mynd i gytuno â hynny ar ochr y Llywodraeth.
Ar beth ddywedodd ef am free school meals, nid wyf cweit yn deall, a dweud y gwir. Rŷm ni'n mynd i roi mwy o arian i mewn i'r gyllideb. Bydd nifer fawr o blant yn cael bwyd am ddim yn ein hysgolion ni drwy'r arian rŷm ni'n ei roi, ac rŷm ni'n mynd i roi beth rydw i wedi clywed Kirsty Williams yn ei alw'n cohort protection. Os ŷch chi'n dechrau o dan y rheoliadau sydd gyda ni yn awr, rŷch chi'n mynd i aros o dan y system yna nes eich bod chi'n mynd lan i'r ysgol uwchradd neu nes eich bod chi'n dod i ben ar eich amser yn ein hysgolion.
Rydw i'n gwerthfawrogi beth ddywedodd Steffan Lewis hefyd am LDT a'r arian rŷm ni wedi llwyddo i dynnu mewn yn y chwarter gyntaf o'r flwyddyn ariannol bresennol. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydw i'n cytuno â beth ddywedodd ef: arian i Gymru yw hwnnw, nid arian i fynd yn ôl i'r Trysorlys. Y rheswm pam rydw i'n dweud hynny yw ein bod ni'n tynnu'r arian i mewn, rydw i'n meddwl, achos y gwaith y mae'r WRA yn ei wneud, gan ganolbwyntio ar y sefyllfa yng Nghymru a llwyddo i gael yr arian i mewn fel yna.
Rŷm ni'n ymwybodol o addysg bellach, ond, wrth gwrs, nid ydyn nhw wedi dod i ben â'r trafodaethau ar sut maen nhw'n mynd i gyflogi staff yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Jest i ddweud, i ddechrau, ar beth ddywedodd Steffan, bydd yn rhaid inni newid y gyfraith i fod yn glir, ledled Cymru, fod care leavers wedi eu tynnu mas o'r dreth gyngor, ac mae'r un peth, rydw i'n meddwl, yn mynd i ddigwydd os ydym ni'n bwrw ymlaen â beth ddywedais i am ysgolion ac ysbytai preifat, ond rŷm ni'n mynd i fynd mas i siarad â phobl am beth rŷm ni'n ei awgrymu.
May I say that I appreciate what Steffan Lewis had to say about the context that we faced as we drew up this particular budget? It is an extremely difficult context. Of course, Steffan Lewis suggests that independence would be the solution to all of these issues. I don’t think that we can agree on that on the Government side of the Chamber.
In terms of what he said on free school meals, I don’t quite understand his comments, if truth be told. We’re going to provide greater funding. Very many pupils will qualify for free school meals in our schools as a result of this funding, and we are going to provide cohort protection, as Kirsty Williams has described it. If you start under the regulations that we currently have, then you will retain that system until you go to secondary school or until you conclude your time in school.
I appreciate what Steffan Lewis had to say about LDT and the funds that we have been able to draw in in the first quarter of the current financial year, and of course I agree with what he said: this is money for Wales, not money that should go back to the Treasury, and the reason I say that is because we are drawing funding in, in my view, because of the work that the WRA is doing, focusing on the situation in Wales and succeeding in bringing in those funds in that way.
We are aware of issues in further education, but they haven’t concluded their discussions on staff in the next financial year. Just to say, in terms of what Steffan had to say, we will have to make changes to the law so that we have clarity across Wales, that care leavers will be withdrawn from liability for council tax, and I think the same is true if we do proceed with the proposals I made on private schools and hospitals, but we will need to consult with people on our proposals in those areas.
Turning to what Neil Hamilton said, I thank him too for what he said about the fiscal framework and those aspects of the draft budget, the free school meals and the treatment of the mega grant that he welcomed as well. I didn't agree with him, of course, on what he said on the £15 million in relation to waste capital. I think that will be money very well spent. We know that if we are able to invest in some new, state-of-the-art equipment local authorities will be able to recycle things that, today, they can't. Today, they go to landfill. With the new equipment in place, those local authorities will be able to do more in this field. That was the persuasive case that my colleague, Lesley Griffiths, put to me during the budget preparation period, and I've been very glad to be able to recognise the strength of the case that she made. Mr Hamilton quoted a figure from the period when Gordon Brown was Chancellor, and pointed out that, when Gordon Brown was Chancellor, he was reducing the deficit year after year, and then pointed to the fact that it had ballooned out of control under the current Conservative performance, but he then tried to say that this was the result of a socialist experiment; I did lose my ability to follow his argument there. But where he gets it wrong is the point that Mike Hedges made: for Neil Hamilton, all expenditure is essentially wasteful, whereas, if you believe in the socialist way of doing things, expenditure is an investment. It creates the conditions in which the economy can expand, and, when the economy expands, so there is a greater flow of revenues in from that expanded economy, and that's the way in which you are able to create a benign cycle rather than the cut-your-way-to-success that we've been offered since 2010 and which has so transparently failed to deliver.
Jane Hutt made a very important reference to the IPPR report and what it tells us about how fair taxation can improve economic performance across the UK economy. I'm very grateful to her for what she said about Nye Bevan. Bevan said that the language of priorities is the religion of socialism, and, in this budget, you see our effort to align the expenditure that we have with the priorities that matter to us most here in Wales. I'm grateful to Jane for drawing attention to the £35 million we are able to replace in the social housing grant. It's one of the things I'm most pleased about in the budget, that we will be able to sustain the investment we make as a Government in that most important thing of providing decent housing for families across Wales who today find themselves living in circumstances that none of us would be prepared to regard as satisfactory in our own lives.
There is financial transaction capital reflected in the budget, but there will be more, I hope, at the final budget stage. I'm working closely with my colleague, the water-throwing Ken Skates—sorry, I'm sure he was trying not to draw attention to that—[Laughter.]—to bring forward a series of financial transaction capital ideas that his department is particularly developing in an innovative way. We are having to use our own budget for the EU transition fund, but we have been able to put £140 million of financial transaction capital into the Welsh investment bank, which is being used particularly to support businesses through the EU exit.
On negotiations on powers for air passenger duty, I'm afraid I've only got bad news to report to colleagues. It is very good that the Welsh Affairs Select Committee has announced its inquiry into this, because it will allow us to make our case yet again as to why Wales should not be uniquely disadvantaged in not being allowed to have air passenger duty devolved to us, but I have a letter from the Secretary of State for Wales addressed to the First Minister only a few days ago, and, once again, the Secretary of State for Wales tells us that he cannot support this idea because he's more worried about England and about the impact of it there—by the way, an impact that independent reports that we have supplied to him tell him does not exist. But he is more worried about his responsibilities to Bristol than he is about his responsibilities to Wales, and that is very deeply disappointing.
Gan droi at yr hyn a ddywedodd Neil Hamilton, diolch iddo hefyd am yr hyn a ddywedodd am y fframwaith cyllidol ac am yr agweddau hynny ar y gyllideb ddrafft, y prydau ysgol am ddim a sut yr ymdriniwyd â'r grant sylweddol y mae ef hefyd yn ei groesawu. Doeddwn i ddim yn cytuno ag ef, wrth gwrs, ar yr hyn a ddywedodd am y £15 miliwn ynglŷn â chyfalaf gwastraff. Rwy'n credu y bydd hynny'n arian a gaiff ei wario'n ddoeth iawn. Rydym yn gwybod pe byddem yn gallu buddsoddi mewn offer modern newydd, yno byddai'r awdurdodau lleol yn gallu ailgylchu pethau na allan nhw eu hailgylchu heddiw. Heddiw, maen nhw'n mynd i safleoedd tirlenwi. Gyda'r offer newydd ar waith, bydd yr awdurdodau lleol hynny yn gallu gwneud mwy yn y maes hwn. Dyna oedd yr achos argyhoeddiadol a gyflwynodd fy nghyd-Aelod, Lesley Griffiths, i mi yn ystod y cyfnod paratoi cyllideb, ac rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o allu cydnabod cryfder y ddadl a wnaeth hi. Roedd Mr Hamilton yn dyfynnu ffigur o gyfnod pan oedd Gordon Brown yn Ganghellor, a thynnodd sylw at y ffaith, pan oedd Gordon Brown yn Ganghellor, ei fod yn lleihau'r diffyg o flwyddyn i flwyddyn, ac wedyn tynnodd sylw at y ffaith ei fod wedi chwyddo allan o reolaeth o dan berfformiad presennol y Ceidwadwyr, ond ceisiodd wedyn ddweud bod hyn o ganlyniad i arbrawf sosialaidd; fe gollais fy ngallu i ddilyn ei ddadl bryd hynny. Ond yr hyn y mae'n anghywir yn ei gylch yw'r sylw a wnaeth Mike Hedges: i Neil Hamilton, mae pob gwariant yn wastraffus yn y bôn, ond, os ydych yn credu mewn ffordd sosialaidd o wneud pethau, mae gwariant yn fuddsoddiad. Mae'n creu'r amodau y gall yr economi ehangu ynddyn nhw, a phan fydd yr economi yn ehangu, bydd felly mwy o refeniw yn llifo o'r economi ehangach honno, a dyna'r ffordd y byddwch yn gallu creu cylch cadarnhaol yn hytrach na chwtogi-eich-ffordd-i-lwyddiant sydd wedi bod yn cael ei gynnig inni ers 2010 ac sydd wedi methu i gyflawni fel sydd i'w weld yn glir.
Gwnaeth Jane Hutt gyfeiriad pwysig iawn at adroddiad y Sefydliad Ymchwil Polisi Cyhoeddus a'r hyn y mae'n ei ddweud wrthym ni am sut y gall trethu teg wella perfformiad economaidd ym mhob rhan o economi'r DU. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn iddi am yr hyn a ddywedodd am Nye Bevan. Dywedodd Bevan mai iaith blaenoriaethau yw crefydd sosialaeth, ac, yn y gyllideb hon, fe welwch chi ein hymdrech i alinio'r gwariant sydd gennym ni â'r blaenoriaethau pwysicaf i ni yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Jane am dynnu sylw at y £35 miliwn y gallwn ni ei rhoi yn ôl yn y grant tai cymdeithasol. Dyma un o'r pethau rwy'n fwyaf balch ohono yn y gyllideb, y byddwn ni'n gallu cynnal y buddsoddiad a wnawn ni fel Llywodraeth yn y peth pwysicaf hwnnw o ddarparu tai safonol i deuluoedd ledled Cymru sy'n canfod eu hunain yn byw mewn amgylchiadau na fyddai unrhyw un ohonom ni yn barod i'w hystyried yn foddhaol yn ein bywydau ein hunain.
Caiff cyfalaf trafodion ariannol ei adlewyrchu yn y gyllideb, ond bydd mwy, gobeithio, yng ngham terfynol y gyllideb. Rwy'n gweithio'n agos gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, y dyn sy'n taflu dŵr, Ken Skates—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, rwy'n siŵr ei fod yn ceisio peidio â thynnu sylw at hynny—[Chwerthin.]—i gyflwyno cyfres o syniadau cyfalaf am drafodion ariannol y mae ei adran ef yn enwedig yn eu datblygu mewn ffordd arloesol. Rydym ni'n gorfod defnyddio ein cyllideb ein hunain ar gyfer cronfa bontio ymadael â'r UE, ond rydym ni wedi gallu rhoi £140 miliwn o gyfalaf trafodion ariannol ym manc buddsoddi Cymru, sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio i gefnogi busnesau drwy'r broses o adael yr UE yn arbennig.
O ran y trafodaethau am bwerau dros dollau teithwyr awyr, mae arnaf ofn mai dim ond newyddion drwg sydd gennyf i'w hadrodd i gyd-Aelodau. Mae'n dda iawn bod y Pwyllgor Dethol ar faterion Cymreig wedi cyhoeddi ei ymchwiliad i hyn, oherwydd bydd yn caniatáu inni gyflwyno ein hachos eto pam na ddylai Cymru fod o dan yr anfantais unigryw o beidio â chael tollau teithwyr awyr wedi'u datganoli i ni, ond mae gennyf lythyr oddi wrth Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru at sylw Prif Weinidog Cymru a anfonwyd dim ond ambell ddiwrnod yn ôl, ac, unwaith eto, mae Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yn dweud wrthym ni na all gefnogi'r syniad hwn gan ei fod yn poeni mwy am Loegr ac am effaith hyn yno—gyda llaw, effaith y mae adroddiadau annibynnol yr ydym ni wedi eu rhoi iddo yn dweud wrtho nad yw'n bodoli. Ond mae'n poeni mwy am ei gyfrifoldebau i Fryste nag y mae am ei gyfrifoldebau i Gymru, ac mae hynny'n siomedig iawn iawn.
Very briefly, Llywydd, if you don't mind—I've got a minute to respond to just a few selected points from what other Members have raised. In what Jenny Rathbone said, let me focus on what she said on active travel. We announced £60 million earlier in the year, £10 million this year, £20 million next year, and £30 million the year after, directly for active travel. But the £78 million local transport fund and the £60 million for road repair, plus what we're doing on clean air and the money we're providing to local authorities in capital and revenue to improve traffic in that way—all of those will, I believe, contribute to our active travel agenda.
Mark Isherwood told us about Maynard Keynes and, of course, Keynes is a counter-cyclical way of dealing with the economy, not as his Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne carried out his responsibilities. He always seemed to me to be like a medieval doctor, really: you bled the patient and, when the patient showed even greater signs of illness, the only answer was to bleed the patient some more. That's exactly the opposite of Keynesian economics. I'm sure it must feel to some Members like I have been standing here for more than a decade, but Mr Isherwood's questions of how I responded to something that was said in 2004—. It was a finance Minister well beyond my own time who was responsible for that. I share, however, what he said on co-production; there's a long way still to go, and it is for our public services to mobilise the human capital that comes from users of services, alongside the financial capital that they have, to make a real difference.
Mike Hedges asked me a series of specific questions. The Treasury has changed the rules in relation to financial transaction capital in England. They are not, as yet, able to tell us how those changed rules apply here in Wales. I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury asking to extend our borrowing capacity in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review and we are well on our way, now, to having bond-issuing powers here in Wales.
Suzy Davies's questions about education and Welsh-medium education will emerge more clearly in the second part of the budget, but I can tell her that amongst the education aspects are £15 million in a new specific grant that will go directly to schools from my colleague Kirsty Williams's budget, together with £9 million to deal with sixth-form funding and £9 million to sustain the grant for minority ethnic achievement.
On the funding formula, a number of Members have asked me about the funding formula in local authorities and in education. I say to them what I say to my colleagues in local government: if anybody can bring me an improved formula on which local authorities are agreed, they will find me very receptive to that. As yet, they've never been able to meet that challenge. Can I say to Dawn Bowden that, if there is any sign of change in the 29 October budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to austerity, we will use every penny of that, as we did last year, to invest in preventative services and, as she said, to make sure that organisational barriers do not stand in the way of achieving best outcomes for patients and for social care user services? My colleague Vaughan Gething and I have met twice during this budget round to reaffirm this Government's determination to use the resources we have to invest in the social care and health system in the round. As Members will see the detail of the budget, they will see that reflected in it.
Finally, Llywydd, to respond to Julie Morgan's points, going to Llangrannog is a Welsh rite of passage that many of us across this Chamber will have experienced in our own lives and in the lives of others and I'm very glad that, working with Eluned Morgan, we've been able to find some additional money to upgrade the facilities both there and at Glanllyn.
As far as the mutual investment model is concerned, we now have complete clearance from Eurostat and the ONS. Our model has been featured in a recent United Nations handbook, advising countries around the world as to how to design a model of this sort, and I was pleased to see the reference that the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, made to building on the Welsh mutual investment model in the Scottish Government's plans to expand the level of capital available for important public purposes there too.
We are well on our way in relation to Velindre. There are planning issues to resolve. There are clinical design issues to resolve. But we are determined that the model will be there to support that very important development for cancer services across south-east Wales.
Yn fyr iawn, Llywydd, os yw'n iawn gennych—mae gennyf funud i ymateb i ychydig o bwyntiau wedi eu dethol o'r hyn y mae Aelodau eraill wedi codi. Yn yr hyn a ddywedodd Jenny Rathbone, gadewch i mi ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn a ddywedodd am deithio llesol. Rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi £60 miliwn yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn, £10 miliwn eleni, £20 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf, a £30 miliwn y flwyddyn wedyn, yn uniongyrchol ar gyfer teithio llesol. Ond bydd y gronfa drafnidiaeth leol o £78 miliwn a'r £60 miliwn ar gyfer atgyweirio ffyrdd, yn ogystal â'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud ynglŷn ag aer glân a'r arian yr ydym ni'n ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol mewn cyfalaf a refeniw i wella traffig yn y ffordd honno—bydd pob un ohonyn nhw, rwy'n credu, yn cyfrannu at ein hagenda teithio llesol.
Soniodd Mark Isherwood wrthym ni am Maynard Keynes ac, wrth gwrs, mae Keynes yn ffordd gwrth-gylchol o ddelio gyda'r economi, nid fel y cyflawnodd Canghellor y Trysorlys, George Osborne, ei gyfrifoldebau. Mae wastad wedi ymddangos i mi fel meddyg canoloesol, mewn gwirionedd: roeddech yn arfer gwaedu'r claf a, pan fyddai'r claf yn dangos hyd yn oed mwy o arwyddion salwch, yr unig ateb oedd gwaedu'r claf ychydig mwy. Dyna'r gwrthwyneb yn llwyr i economeg Keynes. Rwy'n siŵr ei bod hi'n teimlo i rai Aelodau y bûm i'n sefyll yn y fan yma ers mwy na degawd, ond mae cwestiynau Mr Isherwood o ran sut yr ymatebais i rywbeth a ddywedwyd yn 2004—. Gweinidog cyllid ymhell y tu hwnt i fy nghyfnod fy hun a oedd yn gyfrifol am hynny. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd am gyd-gynhyrchu; mae llawer eto i'w wneud, ac mae'r cyfrifoldeb ar ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i ddefnyddio'r cyfalaf dynol a ddaw o ddefnyddwyr gwasanaethau, ochr yn ochr â'r cyfalaf ariannol sydd ganddyn nhw, i wneud gwahaniaeth go iawn.
Gofynnodd Mike Hedges gyfres o gwestiynau penodol imi. Mae'r Trysorlys wedi newid y rheolau yng nghyswllt cyfalaf trafodion ariannol yn Lloegr. Ni allan nhw, hyd yn hyn, ddweud wrthym ni sut mae'r rheolau diwygiedig hynny yn berthnasol i Gymru. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at Brif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys yn gofyn am ymestyn ein cyfanswm benthyca yn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant sydd ar y gweill, ac rydym ni ar ein ffordd, bellach, i gael pwerau cyhoeddi bondiau yma yng Nghymru.
Daw cwestiynau Suzy Davies am addysg, ac addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, yn fwy amlwg yn ail ran y gyllideb, ond gallaf ddweud wrthi fod £15 miliwn ymysg yr agweddau addysg, mewn grant penodol newydd a roddir yn uniongyrchol i ysgolion o gyllideb fy nghyd-Aelod Kirsty Williams, ynghyd â £9 miliwn i fynd tuag at gyllido dosbarthiadau chweched a £9 miliwn i gynnal y grant cyflawniad lleiafrifoedd ethnig.
O ran y fformiwla ariannu, mae nifer o Aelodau wedi gofyn imi am y fformiwla