Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

Galw'r Aelodau i drefn. 

Hoffwn hysbysu'r Cynulliad, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75, fod y Bil Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) wedi cael Cydsyniad Brehinol heddiw, a hwnnw, wrth gwrs, y Bil cyntaf i'w gyflwyno gan un o bwyllgorau'r Cynulliad yma sydd wedi derbyn Cydsyniad Brenhinol. 

Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni wedyn yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Cyllid, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Michelle Brown. 

We have worked closely with local authorities to improve the administration of non-domestic rates and rate relief and will continue to do so. The Minister for local government and I discussed this with local government leaders at the finance sub-group meeting this morning. 

Thank you for your response, Minister. There are some imaginative ways that rate relief is being used to make town centres better places to be. For example, in Flintshire, they've offered a rate reduction to businesses that give public access to their toilets. Another way that rate relief and the business rate system could be used is to incentivise the growth of job-creating businesses over those that don't, for instance by giving start-up businesses a rates-free period, or offering a discount to businesses in return for job creation. Do you agree with me that the business rates system should be reformed to strategically target the system to actively encourage new business investment and job creation? 

Thank you for raising the important issue of non-domestic rates this afternoon. In total, over £210 million of relief is being provided in 2019-20 to support businesses across Wales with their bills, and these reliefs are available to all eligible ratepayers, including those on the high street who meet the criteria. But, as you say, we have introduced an extra £23.6 million of support to enhance our high-street rate relief scheme, and that's been extended now for a further year into 2019-20. But I think one of the most important things that we have introduced is that additional £2.4 million to local authorities to offer that discretionary rate relief to businesses and other ratepayers. But I do think it's important that it does remain discretionary in the wider sense because local authorities are best placed to understand where the local pressures are and where the local opportunities to make a difference are. You've given an example already about the way in which Flintshire is using its rates to try and open up access to public toilets within the town centre. So, the whole point of it being discretionary is for local authorities to be agile and respond to local need. 

Minister, there's a difference between looking at something as a discretionary rate relief and something that, actually, should be hidden from public view. Within my own region, there seems to be some confusion about how this is awarded, with, I understand, two of the councils in my region proactively seeking out businesses that could benefit from this, advising them and then administering the mitigating monies quite straightforwardly. And, yet, another of them don't seem to be telling very many people about it—there's definitely a culture of businesses having to proactively themselves seek out whether this thing is available to them or not, and, as a result, in one particular council, only a third of those eligible for this relief are getting it. 

So, I wonder if you have any idea why Bridgend doesn't seem to be following what I hear is good practice in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff, to ensure that people in Bridgend get the benefits in the way you intended them to get. And if you don't have any idea why they're doing that, can you explain why not? Perhaps you could be discussing that in the sub-group meetings you're having. 

So, as I say, we had a meeting of the finance sub-group this morning, where I was able to thank local authorities for the work that they have done in terms of introducing the new schemes. As you say, you've given some examples where you believe that good work is happening. Swansea is one of those. I'll certainly take up the issue with the leader of Bridgend council to understand what the situation is there and to see if it does reflect the perception that there is not the promotion of the discretionary rate. 

Minister, with declining footfall to our Welsh shopping destinations continuing to cause a major headache for retailers, and with shop vacancy levels among the highest in the UK, we do need urgent action. I see you follow the Scottish Government on quite a bit of stuff, and campaigners in my area have approached me with the example of the Scottish Government, which has introduced a below-inflation increase in business rates. Does the Welsh Government acknowledge the tough times the retail industry is facing and what support will you be providing?

Welsh Government will always take decisions in terms of what’s best for people in Wales and for businesses in Wales, but we have a generous approach to rates relief in Wales. Our average rateable value is different to that in England and it will be different to that in Scotland. So, it’s important that we take the decisions in terms of rate relief that are right for Wales and that do reflect our Welsh context.

Our enhanced scheme this year goes significantly further than in previous years. We provide support to over 15,000 retail businesses across the country. It’s fully funded by the Welsh Government and provides support of up to £2,500 towards non-domestic rate bills for retail properties with a rateable value of up to £50,000. The scheme reduces rates bills to zero for retail properties with a retail value of up to £9,100. So, it certainly is a generous offer, but we have to remember that non-domestic rates, alongside council tax, play a really important part in allowing our local authorities to continue providing the kind of services on which we all rely.

Minister, the Welsh Labour Government has been proactive on the issue of high-street rate relief and it’s clear that a busy and productive high street is of fundamental importance to my constituency, including the towns of Blackwood, Risca, Newbridge, Crosskeys and many others across Islwyn.

Indeed, the First Minister, whilst Cabinet Secretary for finance, in December last year issued a statement announcing that the Welsh Government was extending the high-street rate relief scheme for a further year and extending the relief available through the scheme to businesses, with a further £2.4 million to be allocated to local authorities to provide additional discretionary rate relief for local businesses and other ratepayers. So, isn’t this yet further evidence that the Welsh Labour Government is on the side of local businesses?

It absolutely is, and I thank Rhianon Passmore for that contribution. Of course, our work on non-domestic rates is just part of a package of ways in which we support our regeneration of town centres and support our high streets in Wales.

Of course, we have our targeted regeneration investment programme, in which we’re investing capital funding of up to £100 million over a three-year period. That goes alongside the work that we’re doing in terms of promoting business improvement districts. So, in October, in my previous portfolio, I announced a further £262,000 funding for the development of an additional 10 business improvement districts, to add to the 13 that are already making a difference in town centres across Wales.

As outlined in our tax policy work plan, officials are working with local authority colleagues to review the use of their discretionary powers to apply council tax premiums and ensure the legislation is operating as intended.

Mi fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod naw o gynghorau Cymru wedi awgrymu datrysiad syml i'r broblem gynyddol o ail gartrefi yn cael eu heithrio rhag talu unrhyw fath o drethi o gwbl i'r pwrs cyhoeddus. Maen nhw'n dadlau fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru'r grym i addasu adran 66 Deddf Cyllid Llywodraeth Leol 1988 drwy ddeddfwriaeth eilradd. Yn sylfaenol, mae angen cael gwared ar faen prawf presennol, sy'n cael ei nodi yn adran 66, sy'n ymwneud ag unedau hunanddarpar, gan ei ddisodli efo egwyddor fod pob eiddo sydd wedi ei ddefnyddio fel eiddo domestig yn aros yn eiddo domestig waeth beth ydy ei ddefnydd. Ydych chi'n cytuno bod angen addasu'r Ddeddf yma, ac a fydd eich Llywodraeth chi yn bwrw ymlaen yn ddiymdroi i wneud hynny?

I've had exactly this conversation with local authority leaders in our finance sub-group this morning, where we were discussing this specific issue of concerns relating to individuals who decide to change the status of their property to move themselves out of council tax into non-domestic rates, where they could then potentially benefit from our rate relief schemes.

So, as you know, because we've had some discussions on this before and I know that you will be meeting with my officials with Llyr Gruffydd on 4 June to discuss the issue further, a working group of local authority practitioners has been set up to discuss the issue of council tax premiums and discounts and to consider the current position across Wales. There is a further meeting for early June, and I'd be more than happy again to meet with you after that meeting to discuss the findings of that. This is an issue that we are very alive to, and we're very keen to ensure that those who are able to pay council tax and who should be paying council tax certainly do so because, as I've outlined, it's extremely important in being able to support our local authorities to undertake all the work that we require them to do. But, we are absolutely alive to this issue and discussions have been had as recently as this morning.

Minister, it's legitimate to have a second home. However, it's only fair that you make a contribution to the community you're in, especially at times of restricted finances and housing shortage. We also need to ensure that we don't create perverse incentives for people to redesignate domestic dwellings. So, I think it is time to have a comprehensive look at this and just see how we can have a more consistent policy that sends the right messages to people that, if they are privileged enough to have a second home, then that comes with obligations.

I'd just like to reassure David Melding that this is something that we are looking very closely at. Of course, Wales is the only part of the UK that has introduced rules to allow local authorities to charge those premiums on second homes. We're gathering data at the moment to explore to what extent local authorities have charged premiums or applied discounts, which they're also able to do in respect of second homes. Of course, those discretionary powers really were brought in to help local authorities bring underused properties back into use and tackle issues of housing supply. They weren't particularly a revenue-raising power, but, nonetheless, any revenue raised by local authorities is clearly welcome.

HMRC has a clear set of rules to ensure that holiday homes only benefit from its more generous tax treatment when they are genuinely used as businesses, and their rules, which are tried and tested, say that the home has to be available 210 days a year to let and actually let for at least 105 days. Would there be any merit in officials at least considering whether that definition could be usefully imported to reduce the tax avoidance that clearly has been going on in this area?

In Wales, to qualify as self-catering accommodation, a dwelling must be available to be let for at least 140 days in a 12-month period, and it must actually be let for 70 days, and that definition was set out in the Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2010. I do think that it is timely to review those figures and certainly would look at the work that HMRC is doing in this area as well as a potential model, but all of this is very much in the mix as we have these discussions regarding rate relief particularly relating to second homes, holiday homes and so on.

Well, I'd like to add a third suggestion, not disagreeing with either of the first two. We've got a blanket rate relief scheme is the problem, and I don't believe houses should be part of a blanket rate relief scheme. So, why can't the Welsh Government exclude houses from rate relief and refuse to accept housing except in designated holiday villages as businesses so they would then have to pay the council tax on those buildings? It is something that annoys the vast majority of people in this room today that people are redesignating their second homes as holiday homes and getting away without paying any council tax.

We have been trying to secure evidence that properties have been transferred from the council tax list to non-domestic rating lists and have done so improperly. As yet, we haven't had evidence for that, but we understand certainly anecdotally that it's something that people perceive to be happening, and we have asked local authorities again as recently as this morning to provide us with the evidence. Some commitments were made at that meeting to provide that kind of evidence. In terms of designating holiday villages, that potentially could be adding a level of complexity to the issue, and I think it's something that we'd have to certainly think right through in terms of what that might mean for tourism and any impact it might have on the holiday market.

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.

Diolch Llywydd. Minister, can you provide an update on the resources and work plan of the Economic Intelligence Wales unit that now actually sits within the Development Bank of Wales, which of course will have a role to play on any future tax proposals?

Thank you very much for that question. Unfortunately, the Development Bank of Wales sits within the portfolio of the Minister for economy, so I'm unable to provide you with that update today, but I will certainly ensure that it is forthcoming as soon as possible.

Well, Minister, surely the Economic Intelligence Wales unit will have a role to play on any future tax proposals, and therefore this unit is important to your portfolio as well. Effective economic intelligence is required to provide public policy makers with a proper foundation in order to ensure that policy measures taken by Government are targeted, impactful and properly understood. Ideally, this activity should be completed under one roof, and by an expert body. Wales has lacked this capacity for many years and it's still somewhat regrettable that it has taken so long for this capacity to finally now be put in place. However, the new Economic Intelligence Wales unit within the Development Bank of Wales will now be completing important work analysing the Welsh economy. As the Economic Intelligence Wales unit is so vital for tax policy, and therefore for your entire brief, Minister, could I please then ask you again what is the work plan of this unit going forward, and how do you anticipate this new unit impacting on your own proposals for tax in Wales for the future?

Well, I've had some discussions with regard to the impact of the work of the unit in terms of looking forward and identifying potential businesses at risk, so this is something that it does monitor frequently with regard to advising Welsh Government on the kinds of investments that it wants to take. The specific context I had those discussions in related to procurement, so ensuring that where Welsh Government is procuring, it is doing so with good knowledge about the sustainability, I suppose, of the businesses with which it's engaging.

Minister, what is vital, of course, is that Wales uses the new tax powers at its disposal to boost the Welsh economy, and the devolution of income tax powers, for example, presents, I think, an exciting new opportunity to support and grow the Welsh economy. As such, what research or modelling has the Welsh Government undertaken to assess the impact of changes to income tax rates here in Wales, on both tax revenue and, indeed, the performance of the Welsh economy as a whole. And, perhaps, going forward, this is something that the Economic Intelligence Wales unit could also be involved in.

Thank you for raising that. Welsh Government has done significant work, in conjunction with the chief economist and the Wales Centre for Public Policy, in terms of mapping out our current tax base and then looking at what the future of our tax base might look like in Wales, were we to undertake various interventions. There are various choices that we can make in terms of Welsh rates of income tax, but also in terms of growing our tax base, we need to be looking at how we use the levers at our disposal in the housing department, for example, in education, and how we attract the right kind of people into Wales who are going to be able to make a good, strong contribution to our economy through growing our tax base here.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Diolch, Llywydd. Mi wnaeth Deddf yr Alban 2016 baratoi'r ffordd at ddatganoli'r cyfrifoldeb dros 11 o fudd-daliadau i Lywodraeth yr Alban. Mae asiantaeth lles newydd wedi cael ei sefydlu yn yr Alban erbyn hyn. Mi wnaeth adroddiad diweddar gan Ganolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru adrodd y gallai datganoli elfennau o'r wladwriaeth les i Gymru ar yr un model â hynny rhoi hwb o ryw £200 miliwn i'r pwrs cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Mae o'n swm sylweddol iawn. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn cytuno efo'r dadansoddiad hwnnw gan y ganolfan llywodraethiant, ac os ydy hi, onid ydy hi felly yn flaenoriaeth i fwrw ymlaen i chwilio am y pwerau yma ar fyrder?

Well, as the First Minister set out in his letter to Leanne Wood earlier this month, he was keen to reassure that the report by the Wales Governance Centre will be taken into consideration as part of the work that we have already outlined in Plenary on 5 February, which relates to the process of considering the case for devolving the administration of parts of the welfare system. Of course, the First Minister has agreed that an early milestone in this process will be an assessment of the case for change by the Wales Centre for Public Policy, which will be undertaken as part of their work programme for 2019-20. And he's asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy to meet with Leanne Wood in her spokesperson role, and I understand that meeting is scheduled for next month.

And I was pleased, certainly after years of my party campaigning for the devolution of the administration of welfare, to hear positive sounds from Government, and I'm pleased that we are at a point where this is under consideration. But really the truth is that this is a no-brainer, especially when the report from the Wales Governance Centre made it clear that there are elements of welfare that you can safely predict, that there won't be fluctuation, or too much fluctuation, in coming years, where we can very confidently say that there is no real risk to the public purse in Wales. So, once again, maybe it's the case also that Welsh Government has decided to wait for a report from a committee in this Assembly, but of course we've had two committee reports already that have suggested that we move forward towards the devolution of welfare. Why is it that Government has not been able up to this point to even consider, and why is it that we should believe that you are willing now, when you have not been in the past, to take this hugely sensible step, which the evidence is now absolutely clear on, that we can look after the most vulnerable in Wales by doing this?

Clearly we would want to take an evidence-based approach to this issue so the more the evidence base grows, the more it helps us in terms of determining the way forward. But I think it is fair to say, as the paper to which you refer concludes, that the uncertainties that remain at this relatively early stage in consideration of the benefit that devolution of benefits could bring means the idea will be approached with justifiable trepidation. I think it is reasonable to take a cautious and informed approach to this particular issue, because there are potentially big risks there for the Welsh Government in terms of taking on various benefits.

Trepidation and caution, yes, but we're seeing evidence that is quite clear now that there could be a surplus of £200 million for the Welsh purse from doing this, and that is £200 million that can be used to mitigate the worst effects of austerity, which has been imposed by the Conservatives and, before them, the Liberal Democrats at Westminster. This is an opportunity that, thus far, Welsh Government has failed to grasp. Now, with the evidence that we have in front of us, and as we celebrate 20 years of devolution, is it not the time to say now that for the next 20 years we are going to be in a position, by taking these responsibilities confidently, of being able to mitigate and help the most vulnerable people in our societies in Wales, as they're doing in Scotland?

Of course, this isn't an issue that can be resolved very quickly, as I think the Member is suggesting it might be, because of course the report to which you referred in the first question refers to the so-called S-benefits, so the specific set of benefits that have been devolved to Scotland, and actually it's only now that the Scottish Government is in the very early stages of their journey to manage and integrate those benefits. So, I think the suggestion that this is something that could happen almost overnight is fanciful, but it is something that the Welsh Government is taking seriously and we look forward to working positively, I would hope, with Plaid Cymru and with other interested parties as we develop our thinking on this agenda.

The Minister for Housing and Local Government and I meet regularly to discuss a wide range of financial issues. Today, the Minister and I met with representatives of local government at the finance sub-group, where we discussed a range of matters including our investment in social housing.

Weinidog, o ran mynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd a hyrwyddo trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy, mae gan awdurdodau lleol rôl allweddol i'w chwarae, yn naturiol. O fewn y datganiad ar y gronfa trafnidiaeth leol yr wythnos diwethaf, dim ond ychydig o awdurdodau lleol a gafodd cyllid ar gyfer datblygu pwyntiau gwefru cyflym ar gyfer cerbydau trydan. Roeddwn i'n siomedig nad oedd unrhyw ddatblygiadau wedi'u henwi yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, na chwaith ym Mhen-y-bont, yn fy rhanbarth i. A ydych chi'n cytuno bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud mwy, ar y cyd ag awdurdodau lleol, i ddatblygu rhwydwaith ledled Cymru? A sut ydych chi'n mynd i gyflawni hynny?

Our budget plans, which were approved by the Assembly in January, provide for more than £375 million of capital investment in local government over 2019-20 and 2020-21. And as part of our mid-point review of the Welsh infrastructure investment plan, we agreed £78 million for the local transport fund over three years. So, I think it is important to recognise the level of support that is going into the transport agenda through local authorities.

Of course, in our budget agreement, we have a Plaid Cymru-Labour commitment to invest £2 million in electric charging points, and that work is under way. You would have heard from the transport Minister yesterday in the Assembly that, actually, that £2 million allows us to lever down even more funding to invest in this agenda. But, clearly, there is a momentum now, I think, building behind electric vehicles and we would want to capture that.

The Welsh Government's written statement on the final local government settlement for 2019-20 identified capital funding for local government in Wales, including general capital funding of £193 million, falling to £183 million in the following year, but including £20 million for the public highways refurbishment grant. We all know that adverse weather has had an impact on potholes across Wales, which, presumably, is a consideration in the Welsh Government's delivery of these funding sums, but what actual assessment has the Welsh Government carried out of the total level of pothole action need across Wales? And how will it ensure that the funding that is available is being targeted where it's needed most?

Well, I've recently had discussions with colleagues across Government about the balance that we strike between road and infrastructure maintenance, and then the investment that we might want to put into new infrastructure, because it is important that we take good care of the infrastructure that we already have. In terms of the level of funding that might be needed to deal with all of the potholes that we have across Wales at the moment, I would certainly explore that with my colleague with responsibility for that—the Minister for Economy and Transport.

More than £1.7 billion is being invested this Assembly term towards our 20,000 affordable homes target. The Minister for Housing and Local Government supports modular and prefabricated housing projects through the innovative housing, three-year, £90 million programme, currently in its third year and on track to deliver 2,000 new homes.

Minister, you may have seen that last week it was announced that Japan's biggest house builder will move into the UK housing market with immediate effect after striking a multi-million pound deal that will see it work with Homes England and Urban Splash to deliver thousands of new homes across England. The £90 million deal comprises of total new investment of £55 million into regeneration company Urban Splash's house development business. And it provides a significant boost to the UK's modular housing industry and will help to speed up production of much needed new homes. I just give this as an example of how government and the private sector can work together, and I just wonder if you are looking at some of these innovative ways, and perhaps you could have discussions with the Japanese provider as well, because I think Wales would be a great place to do business too. 

Well, the affordable housing supply review, which I announced in my previous portfolio, has recently reported. And, of course, it had a specific workstream looking at the potential of off-site manufacturing and modern methods of construction. And as a result of that, the off-site manufactured social homes for rent strategy will be formally consulted on shortly, and that's been developed in tandem with the Welsh housing sector and commercial providers. It will set out ministerial expectations for the design and the standard of manufactured homes. So, we're certainly keen to be working across the sectors in order to promote this particular agenda, because we believe that the investment that we're making through our innovative housing programme will help us to pinpoint potentially two or three types of modular housing and types of off-site manufacturing that will work best for the Welsh context, and then which we can scale up because, clearly, we want to see this kind of housing become mainstream, rather than a novelty project that we all get very excited about.

Not as far as Japan, but actually much more locally, I was very pleased, David, on Monday, to join housing Minister Julie James on a visit to a project led by Valleys to Coast and the modular building specialists Wernick Buildings, delivering eight new modular homes in Sarn and Tondu, after being awarded funding from Welsh Government's £90 million innovative housing grant and supported by Bridgend County Borough Council.

These homes, as David was saying, are made up of individual modules, pre-manufactured at Wernick's factory at Kenfig industrial estate—so, local jobs, local economic benefits—before being combined on site to make a whole house. It took at little as three weeks to produce these modules, arriving on site fully fixed with appliances, heating, electrics, substantially increasing the speed of housing delivery.

So, my question to the finance Minister is: with those 50 per cent faster production times, reducing costs, environmental impacts and disruption to local residents, how do we upscale that, beyond the innovation grants and so on? How do we get it to a scale where this is the mainstream normal pattern of housing construction?

I think part of the answer is in taking forward the recommendations of the affordable housing review and the work that I've just outlined to David Melding. There's work to do, I think, in terms of consumer expectations and consumer understanding of the benefits of modern methods of construction, and there's also work to do with the financial industry as well in terms of giving the certainty that they require in terms of being able to issue mortgages for these kinds of properties and so on, which will certainly stand the test of time.

You've given one great example of what's been achieved through the innovative housing programme. I was able to go and visit Wernick myself. I would advise or encourage any colleagues who have yet to see modern methods of construction in action to go along and see for themselves what's being achieved.

Just a couple more examples: we've got the extra-care facility in Aberaman that is being built using modular components being manufactured in Newtown, and that obviously saves time and cost over traditional on-site construction, and it allows construction year-round and so on. Also, we've got a number of schemes being built to the Tŷ Solar, homes as power stations and passive standards, and they all demonstrate very high energy efficiency in the building fabric. And also, there's smart integration of renewable energy and heat, reducing carbon emissions and reducing the energy bills of their occupiers. There are so many benefits to be realised from this exciting piece of work.

As I outlined in my written statement on 18 March, we continue to make progress with our programme of work to make council tax fairer. I am grateful to colleagues in local government and our other partners who are supporting this important work.

With recent increases in council tax in some local authority areas, I'm sure that that will be very welcome to very many individuals and their families who are already struggling financially. The council tax reduction scheme provides support for almost 300,000 households in Wales with their council tax bill. Making care leavers exempt from paying council tax up to the age of 25 does allow some concrete support to some of the most vulnerable people at the most vulnerable time in their lives. The advice that's being developed will of course be a very big help to those who are eligible. Will you, Minister, give a regular update on how the uptake of this scheme and other schemes is developing, just to make sure that we can help and assist where that might be needed in our own areas? 

Thank you very much for raising these important issues. I agree completely that awareness raising of the support that is available out there is absolutely crucial. We have a national council tax reduction scheme, as Joyce Watson said, and that maintains entitlement to support for low-income households. The Welsh Government is providing £244 million to reduce those council tax bills for some of the households across Wales who are struggling the most. Our decision to maintain those full entitlements ensures that around 300,000 vulnerable and low-income households in Wales continue to be protected from increases in their council tax bills, and, of course, of those, around 220,000 households will pay nothing at all. I was really delighted that we were able to ensure that council tax is no longer charged to care leavers up to the age of 25, and I'm really pleased with the leadership that local authorities showed in deciding to do this on a voluntary basis, because they saw the value that it could give. But I'd be more than happy to provide any updates that I can in terms of ensuring that people are getting the help that they are fully entitled to.

The council tax system is undeniably regressive. In Plaid Cymru’s last Assembly manifesto, we proposed reforming the system, which would have saved those in the lowest council tax bands up to £400 a year, and the policy would have seen anyone living in properties rated band A to D paying less. This redistribution of wealth would have been funded by those living in the most expensive properties. Do you not agree that, in the light of the latest damning figures on child poverty in Wales, showing that we're the only nation in the UK to see an increase in child poverty in the last year, that the time for talk on reform of council tax is over and that action in terms of the redistribution of wealth needs to be taken swiftly?

I point out, really, to the Member that there are actually very few properties in the top band, band I—so, only 5,400 of those across the whole of Wales—and those are unevenly distributed, so simply creating an additional upper band or a mansion tax, or some kind of additional tax on those particular properties without changes to the wider system would have limited benefits. So, we are looking at the wider system.

In October, we published a detailed update on reforms to local taxes and local government funding in Wales, and I intend to publish a further update on this in the autumn. But we are examining options for medium to longer term reform of local taxes to ensure that they are designed to best meet the needs of people in Wales. And we obviously will want to take a progressive and fair and transparent approach to local taxation, which provides funding for local services.

So, to give you a flavour of the kind of work we are undertaking, we are undertaking a substantial research project using external expertise to understand the impact of universal credit on the council tax reduction scheme, patterns of debt and rent arrears in Wales, and this research is essential in informing our legislation that supports council tax payers in the coming years. The Institute for Fiscal Studies is undertaking an in-depth assessment of the impact that the revaluation and rebanding exercise could have on Wales's domestic property tax base, if one were to be carried out, and, through this, we’ll be able to understand the viability of making the band structure more progressive. But we certainly can't do that without the kind of information that would allow us to take informed decisions.

Individual Ministers are responsible for budget monitoring and management within their own portfolios, but I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues throughout the year and receive monthly financial reports. The budgetary position is also monitored monthly by the executive committee of the Welsh Government.

Thank you very much for that, Minister, because as you have oversight of this, I'm sure you'll bear in mind that budget decisions are supposed to give regard to the principles of equality and, of course, bear in mind the 2050 target for 1 million Welsh speakers. So, can you tell me what discussions you've had with the Minister for Education about financial support for those who can deliver the new childcare qualification in non-maintained nursery settings through the medium of Welsh, particularly as those both seeking and delivering the qualifications are more likely to be women?

Thank you for raising that issue. Of course, equality and our responsibilities to people who choose to communicate through the medium of Welsh and also our obligations under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 are at the very heart of the discussions that we have with colleagues. I’ve been having my first round of budget bilaterals over the past weeks and I’m very clear and very careful to include issues of impact assessments in those discussions and also to be exploring how the well-being of future generations Act is informing decisions that individual Ministers are making, how they're responding to the climate emergency and also how they’re taking on board their responsibilities in terms of decarbonisation and biodiversity and so on. But I have not had any specific discussions regarding financial support for individuals who are participating in the childcare offer with the Minister. I will discuss with her whether it is a pressure that she’s identified within her budget.

Tynnwyd cwestiwn 7 [OAQ53901] yn ôl, felly cwestiwn 8—Delyth Jewell.

Whilst modest costs have been incurred to complete the statutory decision-making process, no funding has yet been allocated from reserves in the 2019-20 budget for construction of the M4 project. Funds are held in reserves pending the decision on whether to make the orders necessary for the project to proceed.

Thank you for that answer, Minister. If, as expected, the First Minister decides not to move ahead with the black route following your Government's declaration of a climate emergency, can you confirm that the money currently earmarked for the project—and I'm referring specifically to the money available through borrowing powers—will be available for use for alternative infrastructure projects? I'm looking for confirmation that it would be possible for Welsh Government to use these funds to invest in green transport projects, such as the south Wales metro and improving bus and train links all over the country?

I'm afraid I really can't be drawn into speculation on what the First Minister's response might be to the decision that he has to make regarding the M4 relief road and what may or may not happen to funding beyond that. The First Minister has set out that he will make the decision shortly. I know that he issued a written statement that set out his timescale for that, so further discussions, I think, would be more appropriate at a future date.

Surely, Minister, you are the finance Minister—. We on these benches, want to see an M4 relief road delivered as soon as possible, but if that's not going to happen, surely there's got to be a plan B in place. You, as the finance Minister, should be aware of what your plan B is.

With respect, I am not going to get drawn into any speculation on what the decision might be from the First Minister with regard to the M4 relief road.

Within the Minister for Economy and Transport’s portfolio alone, more than £600 million is being invested in transport infrastructure improvements, including the £135 million Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass and improvements to the A55 and A494.

Diolch i mi—diolch i chi am eich ateb, yn hytrach na diolch i fi am y cwestiwn. [Chwerthin.] Diolch i chi am eich ateb. Mae'n ddiddorol eich bod chi'n cyfeirio at Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, oherwydd mi wnaeth y Gweinidog, yn gynharach yr wythnos yma, gyhoeddi dyraniadau cronfa trafnidiaeth leol Cymru, sy'n gronfa o bron i £33 miliwn. Dim ond £3.6 miliwn sy'n cael ei ddyrannu i brojectau yng ngogledd Cymru, a fy nghwestiwn i, mewn gwirionedd, yw: oes yna bolisi gan y Llywodraeth o sicrhau bod cronfeydd fel hyn yn cael eu defnyddio mewn modd sy'n dod â budd i bob rhan o Gymru? 

All funds from the Welsh Government should be used in a way that recognises local need. So, it would be, I think, worth while looking back over the local transport fund and looking at funding that has been allocated over recent years. I'm sure that you will see significant funding to north Wales there. Obviously, we don't know which projects were submitted to that scheme as well, so I think that it's probably unfair to take an overview in terms of Welsh Government investment in north Wales based on just one bidding round.

But, again, within the Minister's portfolio, we have £20 million in the Menai Science Park, which is the first of its kind in Wales; we've got the new Wales and borders rail service, which will deliver more services on the Wrexham to Bidston line, direct services to Liverpool and also investment in stations; the new £18 million neonatal intensive care unit for north Wales at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd was opened in September; we're currently consulting with the public on our preferred option for the A494 River Dee bridge replacement; and, of course, the plans for the third Menai crossing continue to progress.

One of the reasons that cash often isn't allocated to different local authorities is, of course, the lack of proactivity in applications coming forward from those local authorities when Government funds are available for distribution. What work is the Welsh Government doing to make sure that local authorities and other partners do actually make the applications for funding when these cash funds are available? I do know that, sometimes, when the Welsh Government puts cash aside, it's not drawn down because there are insufficient applications that are actually made. So, what are you doing to work with local authorities to make sure that, where cash is available, you can get as much out of the door as possible?

We're certainly keen to work with local authorities to highlight what funding is available to them. Again, we had discussions at the finance sub-group this morning about the importance of grants. Also, there was a strong message to Welsh Government from local government about the importance of getting those grants out of the door as early as possible within the financial year.

Clearly, local authorities are very stretched at the moment. There are huge pressure and capacity issues across local government. But I think it's important that we make applying for grants and applying for Welsh Government funding as easy as possible for local authorities in order to ensure that it takes the least possible time and least possible resources away from their day-to-day responsibilities. 

Diolch i'r Gweinidog.

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Dai Lloyd. 

Wrth gwrs. Rŷn ni'n cydweithio â lot fawr o bartneriaid lleol a chenedlaethol i hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg ar draws rhanbarth Gorllewin De Cymru er mwyn gwireddu ein gweledigaeth 'Cymraeg 2050'.

Mae'n destun siom yn fy rhanbarth i fod cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot heb agor un ysgol gynradd Gymraeg newydd yn y sir ers ad-defnu'r llywodraeth leol ym 1996. Fyddech chi'n cytuno bod record cyngor Castell-nedd yn y maes yma wedi bod yn wan, a beth ydych chi'n ei wneud mewn partneriaeth gyda'r cyngor i newid y sefyllfa? 

Diolch. Wrth gwrs, mae gyda ni strategaeth mewn lle—cynlluniau strategol addysg Gymraeg, WESPs—ac mae hynny yn golygu ei bod hi'n ofynnol i bob un o'r awdurdodau lleol ar draws Cymru sicrhau eu bod nhw yn darparu mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ddysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Dwi'n falch o ddweud bod ysgol newydd yn mynd i—ysgol gynradd newydd yn mynd i agor yn ardal Neath Port Talbot, ac, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni'n awyddus iawn i weld cynnydd. Wrth gwrs, bydd hynny nawr yn cael ei drafod pan fyddwn ni'n gweld y WESPs newydd. Felly, bydd y strategaeth yna yn cael ei chyflwyno yn ystod y dyddiau nesaf i edrych ar beth rŷn ni'n bwriadu ei wneud dros y tymor hir.   

Weinidog, ddeufis yn ôl, wnes i ofyn i chi am eich 20 swyddog Cymraeg i fusnes a'ch llinell cymorth cyfieithu. Ateboch eich bod yn—quote—meddwl bod angen i ni wneud mwy o farchnata yn y maes hwn, ac rwy'n cytuno 100 y cant, yn arbennig yn fy rhanbarth i. Mae'n flwyddyn ariannol newydd, felly faint o waith newydd ydy'r swyddogion hynny'n ei wneud a sawl ymholiad newydd ydy'r llinell cymorth wedi'i gael o ganlyniad i farchnata gwell? 

Wel, un o'r pethau byddwn ni'n ei wneud yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf yw sicrhau bod adran Llywodraeth Cymru a swyddfa'r comisiynydd yn cydweithredu'n lot gwell i sicrhau bod pobl yn gwybod ble i fynd o ran y ddarpariaeth. Rŷn ni'n gobeithio bydd y llinell gyswllt yna—bydd mwy o bobl yn cael eu harwain at y llinell gyswllt yna a byddwn ni'n gweld wedyn well defnydd o'r llinell gyswllt yna yn y dyfodol. Ond jest yn dechrau mae'r sefyllfa yna. 

Credaf mai'r ffordd orau o gael plant i ddysgu'r Gymraeg yw dechrau'n ifanc. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu'r cymorth sy'n cael ei roi i Ti a Fi a Mudiad Meithrin yn Abertawe? 

Wel, diolch yn fawr, Mike, unwaith eto, am ddyfalbarhau a defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn y Siambr. Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n gweld bod mwy o ddarpariaeth o ran cael pobl i ddechrau eu haddysg nhw yn ifanc iawn, a dyna pam rŷn ni wedi rhoi £1 miliwn i ysgolion meithrin trwy Gymru i gyd. Wrth gwrs, rŷn ni'n cael trafodaethau gydag awdurdodau lleol, yn cynnwys Abertawe—a gydag ardaloedd eraill—i ddatblygu 14 cylch meithrin newydd. Mae yna sefyllfa arbennig yn Abertawe achos, yn draddodiadol, y cyngor sydd wedi bod yn darparu addysg meithrin yn yr ysgolion, ond rŷn ni yn gobeithio bydd y cynnig childcare newydd yn caniatáu i ni weld mwy o gynnydd yn y ffaith bydd mwy o ddarpariaeth o ran Ti a Fi. Dyna dwi'n meddwl yw'r llwybr i sicrhau bod pobl yn mynd ymlaen i wedyn ehangu a sicrhau eu bod nhw yn ymwneud ag addysg Gymraeg trwy yr ysgolion meithrin. 

Diolch yn fawr, Paul. Mae'r ymchwil sydd gyda ni yn dangos bod y gorllewin wedi cael ymweliadau cryf iawn dros y Pasg, ac, wrth gwrs, y mae'r gorllewin—a'r de-orllewin yn arbennig—yn rhan allweddol o farchnata yng nghynlluniau Croeso Cymru, yn arbennig yn y Deyrnas Unedig, yn Iwerddon, ac yn yr Almaen. Rŷn ni hefyd yn cefnogi partneriaid lleol er mwyn marchnata o fewn y rhanbarth ac o fewn Cymru.

Dwi'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog yn gwerthfawrogi pa mor bwysig mae twristiaeth i'n hetholaeth i, a dwi'n cytuno gyda fe, ar ôl gweld y ffigurau diweddar, mae'r ffigurau diweddar yn dangos bod busnesau yng ngorllewin Cymru wedi cael Pasg da. Fel bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn ymwybodol, roedd wythnos diwethaf yn Wythnos Twristiaeth Cymru, ac, fel rhan o'r dathliadau, fe ymwelais i â busnes ffantastig o'r enw Hampton Court Holiday Park yn sir Benfro. Fe welais i sut mae Peter Russ a'i deulu'n rhedeg busnes arbennig sy'n cynnig gwyliau cynhwysol i bobl anabl. Mae'r busnes yn edrych i ehangu, ond, yn anffodus, fe gymerodd y busnes rhyw 10 mlynedd, rhwng popeth, i gael caniatâd cynllunio. Nawr, mae'n bwysig ein bod ni i gyd yn gwneud popeth y gallwn ni i gefnogi busnesau fel hyn. Felly, all y Dirprwy Weinidog ddweud wrthym ni pa gefnogaeth benodol mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei rhoi i fusnesau twristiaeth sydd yn darparu ar gyfer pobl anabl?

Dwi'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Yn anffodus, medraf i wneud dim byd ynglŷn â hawliau cynllunio, ond, fel Aelod Cynulliad—yn hytrach na siarad fel Gweinidog am gwbl o frawddegau—dwi yn ymwybodol o'r pwysau sydd yna ynglŷn â chynllunio mewn parciau cenedlaethol ac ardaloedd o harddwch neilltuol. Ond beth fedraf i ei wneud ydy cynnig, os bydd o ar gael, ein bod ni'n dau'n ymweld â'r busnes yma fel medraf i gael sgwrs bersonol gyda nhw, gweld beth yw eu hanghenion nhw, adrodd yn ôl, a gweld beth allwn ni ei wneud ymhellach.

To slightly develop the theme that the Minister has already responded to Paul Davies about, a key market, of course, potentially, for tourism in west Wales and throughout the nation, are disabled people and their families. Building on the kind of business that Paul Davies has just referred to, what further steps can the Welsh Government take to ensure that we have the best possible information available to disabled people and their families as to what facilities are available in our communities? I'm thinking here of accommodation, but I'm also thinking of leisure activities that would be suitable. Are there steps, for example, that the Minister could take, working with organisations like Disability Wales, to ensure that we use their networks, both to make disabled people aware of the excellent opportunities that are available to them, but also to make sure that we make the best use of that market, when we bear in mind that, certainly within Wales, we know that one in six of our citizens has a disability of some kind?

Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Pan fyddwn ni yn cyllido datblygiadau twristiaeth, rydyn ni, wrth gwrs, yn annog datblygiadau sydd yn creu cyfle cyfartal i'w defnyddio, ond, gan fod y cwestiwn penodol yna wedi'i ofyn â chyfeiriad yn arbennig at Anabledd Cymru, rydw i'n fodlon iawn i gwrdd ag Anabledd Cymru ac i drafod y mater o geisio hyrwyddo gwyliau yng Nghymru i bobl gydag anghenion teithio neu anghenion anabl o unrhyw fath, oherwydd mae mwynhau tirwedd Cymru ar gyfer gwyliau'n bwysig i bawb yng Nghymru a'r tu fas ac i bawb o bob cyrhaeddiad ac o bob gallu. 

Does the Deputy Minister—? Does he believe it has been of benefit that west Wales has become more cost-competitive compared to overseas destinations, with a lower exchange rate since the EU referendum, and what proposals does he have to further capitalise on this at least potential advantage?

I'm not going to be drawn into discussing fiscal policy. I will confine myself to the tourism implications of international changes, and I think it is essential that we do market Wales, in terms of the offer, to every segment of the market. It is not just a cheap holiday. It's not just an expensive holiday. It's an appropriate choice for people of different levels of income so that they can enjoy appropriate accommodation and appropriate facilities.

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, there is a general consensus that Wales isn't doing enough to engage with its diaspora. There are likely tens of millions of people with Welsh ancestry living across the world, including over 10 million people in the US alone, according to a 2006 study. Better engaging our diaspora has the potential to increase Wales's profile, provide expertise, bring investment and boost exports. World leaders in engaging diaspora include New Zealand's Kea initiative and Scotland's Global Scot. Both exploit the expertise of diaspora communities to the benefit of local enterprises. Minister, will your soon-to-be-published 'Wales and the World' strategy include a specific action plan to better engage the Welsh diaspora, and do you agree with me that this should be Government led, although, of course working in conjunction with the excellent work currently undertaken by organisations such as GlobalWelsh?

Thank you. I think there's a recognition that we need to do more to engage our diaspora. I think that figure of 10 million is quite ambitious, and whether we'd be able to reach out to all 10 million people who have some kind of association with Wales is questionable. But I do think that the best people to tell our story are people who have a passion for our nation. We've looked already at the models of New Zealand and Scotland, and we've been looking at what they do in terms of best practice. So, we are looking at how and what the best model is in relation to our activities. But also, whilst recognising that, actually, there are other actors in this field already, we need to make sure that we're not stepping on each other's toes, so we respect each other's areas. But there are clear areas where the Welsh Government will need to be taking a lead and, of course, this will be referred to in the international strategy.

Thank you for your answer, Minister. Engaging the Welsh diaspora is also crucial in order to boost Wales's profile on the international stage, as you've alluded to. There is a meme currently doing the rounds online where a couple of Americans—I'm not going to try and do their accent, but they ask their friend whether he comes from England or Wales, and when he replies, 'Neither; I'm Welsh', they look confused and they ask him, 'So, is that in England or in Ireland?' Now, it's a joke, but it does reflect a sad truth, which is that Wales isn't as widely recognised as other nations of the British Isles. It's surely time that Wales became one of the most recognised substate nations in the world.

Your global strategy, therefore, has to include a plan to increase Welsh Government presence abroad from the current 15 offices in seven countries to many more. Will you commit to this? Smart solutions could be considered as part of this work, such as looking into co-locating with Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, and more needs to be done as well to bring high-profile major events to Wales. Hosting the Champions League Final in Cardiff was an unqualified success. So, will you give serious consideration to bringing the Commonwealth Games to Wales as soon as practicable, as well as looking at what other major cultural, industrial and diplomatic events could be attracted here?

Thank you. I think you're absolutely right that we need to raise the profile of Wales internationally. What is clear is that we are recognised in different markets very differently—so, areas where there is a big rugby tradition, we're pretty well known, but there are other areas and parts of the world where we have very little in terms of common historic background, and those are the areas that are much more difficult to access, which is why, I think, we do need to go back to diaspora. But also I think we do need to recognise we will not be able to do everything with a limited budget. So, part of what we do need to do in the international strategy is to recognise that we will need to focus and we can't do it all. Of course, we do have those 20 offices around the world at the moment. We need them to make sure that they are delivering in raising that profile, in landing inward investment, and, of course, they are currently, the vast majority of them, co-located with the FCO.

In terms of major events, yes, this is an opportunity always for us to get global attention onto our small nation. That has worked spectacularly well in terms of football in the past. Of course, if we want to attract these events, then there is a budget that goes with that. The Commonwealth Games is a pretty significant budget, so we do need to look at the restrictions we have in this age of austerity, but, of course, we shouldn't lack ambition. In the meantime, I think we've got to make sure that we take every opportunity—for example, in things like the Rugby World Cup in Japan—to really use that as a platform for us to bounce off and to really make sure that we are recognised globally, not just for sport, but also using that as an opportunity to increase inward investment. 

I'd like to turn now to trade links, which are, of course, crucial in order to secure Wales's economic health, especially in terms of exports. I noted with interest your recent trip to the United States, where you made the case for inward investment by selling Wales as an attractive place to do business. That was a welcome move. But I wonder whether your strategy of building trade links is not completely undermined by your Government's Brexit policy. We currently have the best possible trading relationship with the EU, including trade deals with third-party countries. Isn't remaining in the EU, or at least in the single market, absolutely crucial in order to avoid undoing everything you're trying to achieve with trade? And if so, how do you justify your Government's policy of wanting to leave both?

Thank you. Well, clearly, we have an ambition to increase inward investment, and that is difficult when investors don't know what that relationship with our largest market—500 million people—will be in the future. So, I think there is a break in terms of investment, although, if you look at the absolute figures, we are actually performing very well at the moment. But if you look at why people traditionally have come here, then, yes, they have come here as a launch pad, very often, to get access to that market of 500 million people. That's why we are slightly shifting our emphasis at the moment to really focus on exports, because that is significant; we've seen significant growth in that area in the past couple of years. So, we want to do more in that space. But also, what we'll be doing is to concentrate on those areas relating to inward investment that will not be impacted in quite such a significant way by Brexit. So, we need to take that into consideration when we look for where we are looking to focus in the new international strategy. 

Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Darren Millar. 

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Minister, can I ask you about the relationship between Wales and Japan? You've already hinted at the fact that we've got the Rugby World Cup coming up later this year. What action has the Welsh Government taken already to prepare for engagement during the Rugby World Cup in Japan?

We've already done some significant organisation. In fact, I am, later on this afternoon, meeting our official who is based out in Japan, who has come back to discuss this very issue. I think it's important that we recognise the long-established relationship that has been between Wales and Japanese companies that have been coming here and investing here for the past 30 years. We want that relationship to continue. I'm afraid we've seen Sony and Panasonic move their European headquarters from the United Kingdom already. So, those people who say it's not going to have an impact, I think you just need to look at that. But that's not to say that, actually, those relationships we have in Wales, where there is a real affinity and a love for Wales in Japan—the hiraeth society is quite famous. And one of the things we'll be doing, of course, is to see what we can do—. We're not waiting until the world cup; we are already bouncing into those markets now. I know that Lesley Griffiths is doing a huge amount of work in terms of promoting food and drink into Japan. So, those opportunities are there, and what we'll be doing now is to really work out exactly what we are trying to achieve during that period of the world cup, because this is a launch pad not just for Japan, but I think for the broader Asian community as well. 

You've already made mention of the fact that we have those opportunities later this year. We've got, of course, the UK-Japan Season of Culture, which is also coming up, including events that are going to be held here in Wales. One of the other things that we've got in common, of course, with Japan is that we're both nations with monarchs, and I'm sure you'd want to congratulate Emperor Naruhito and the Empress Masako on the Emperor's recent enthronement on the Chrysanthemum Throne, something that we on the Conservative benches welcome very much indeed. Will you take every opportunity to do what you can to work on the good relations that we've already got with the nation of Japan, given those historic links, given the major events that have taken place in Japan, and the sporting and other events that are coming up in the calendar this year? We know that in excess of 6,500 jobs in Wales are dependent on the Japanese investment that has come in, and we know that Japanese companies are still investing in the UK, in spite of some of the uncertainties around Brexit. We recently saw significant investment by Toyota and, indeed, Nissan in the UK. But Wales doesn't seem to getting dollops of that cash. So, can you tell us specifically, in terms of trade strategy with Japan, how are you going to make sure that Wales punches above its weight as it did under the Conservative Governments in the 1990s?

Thank you. Well, I think it was rather grand—the Emperor's installation—but I think what is important, though, is that we look to how we can build on those relationships, as you suggested. We have the Japanese ambassador coming to Wales for a two-day period in June. I'll be hosting a reception with him and entertaining also many of those Japanese companies that have made their homes here in Wales. I think we have to be realistic in terms of the trade relationships. You’ve got to remember that the EU has just signed a trade deal with Japan and we will have access to that trade deal for as long as we are a member of the European Union. But the moment we leave, then we will have to start developing our own trade relationship, and clearly when you’re negotiating a trade deal on behalf of 60 million people, it’s very different compared to negotiating a trade deal with 500 million other people. So, we do have to, I think, be realistic, but I think the fact that we have this long-established tradition and that we have those close relationships that have been built up over many years—. I know that there’s a real love for Conwy castle in north Wales amongst the Japanese, for example. So, there are great opportunities for us to, I think, exploit that relationship further, but more than anything to develop on the friendship between our two nations.

I'm very pleased to hear about the ambassadorial welcome that you're going to give later in June, because I think that these relationships are incredibly important to raising the profile of Wales, not just in Japan but in wider Asia and the world as you've already mentioned. You'll be aware that cherry trees are being planted across Wales at the moment, as part of the Japan-UK initiative. In fact, we're getting more cherry trees, as I understand it, than any other nation within the UK, in terms of our size.

One of the things that the Welsh Government has done historically to promote relationships between Wales and different nations around the world is to explore the whole idea of memoranda of understanding. I understand that the first one of these was signed with the Republic of Latvia a number of years back, but it does appear that those memoranda are not really being regarded much. I wonder whether this is a tool that you could use and usefully bring to the attention of the Japanese Government in terms of a way forward of promoting links between Wales and Japan and looking at those specific areas where we've got good relationships and working on those where we could have even better relationships going forward in the future. So, I would point you to the memorandum of understanding between Latvia and the Welsh Government as something that could be repeated with many other nations, including Japan, in the future. And will you also extend an invitation to the new Emperor to visit Wales at the earliest opportunity?

My goodness, we'll have to roll out the red carpet for that, won't we? But thank you very much. I think, in terms of memoranda of understanding, different nations like to use these in different ways. Some nations are very keen on these; others are not so keen and they would rather action plans. So, I think we've got to look for horses for courses, and see what works best for both our nations, rather than just run around and sign MoUs. If we are going to sign MoUs, I'm very keen to make sure that they are a delivery body rather than simply a friendship relationship. So, one of the key things that I'm really keen on doing is to focus and to get more out of things. So, I don't really want to go trotting around the world signing memoranda of understanding with every nation in the world. That will not be the approach that we'll be taking in the international strategy.

Thank you very much, Jayne. Making our communities more active continues to be a priority area and, indeed, is a responsibility for me as a champion for physical activity on behalf of the Welsh Government. Last year through Sport Wales we invested over £10.9 million in local authorities across Wales to support the development of community sport and active recreation and helping to meet local needs. I look forward to joining you on Saturday at a very important venue and wish Newport County well.

Diolch, Deputy Minister. I'm very pleased that you've mentioned Newport County AFC. Walk Newport in my constituency is an excellent example of the health and well-being benefits of active recreation. Organised and led by volunteers, they lead walks of varying difficulties across Newport and the wider area twice a week. With over 100 members, they arrange day trips and have been running successfully for many years. Participation in the group has had a hugely positive effect, addressing loneliness and social isolation and the physical health benefits are evident. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board refer cardiac patients to the group, helping people living with long-term health conditions keep active in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Groups like these really are invaluable and very much part of the preventative agenda. Sadly, the group has seen its small allocation of funding withdrawn, which has caused great concern. Could the Deputy Minister investigate what more can be done to ensure that groups like Walk Newport get the recognition and funding to continue?

Thank you for that supplementary. I have, indeed, joined a number of walking groups recently. I think the Treorchy strollers was the last one. Of course, it combines physical activity in a beautiful, natural environment—and as someone who walked the Gwent levels only the other Sunday, I know how important the environment in Newport is. So, at the risk of inviting myself everywhere, I will be very happy to meet with Walk Newport to discuss with them. We deliver, through our healthy ageing programme with Age Cymru, a programme to increase physical activity, especially among older people across Wales, and we are looking, in the Government, for refreshed guidelines from the chief medical officer on physical activity, which will indicate the importance of encouraging greater movement among the population. As I've said before in this Chamber, some 30 per cent of the population of Wales don't do anything—any physical activity, I mean—and I think it is important that we should both set an example and also encourage people.

Minister, I do hope you'll have the good grace to join me in congratulating Cardiff Metropolitan University football club, which is celebrating becoming the first university to reach the UEFA Europa League after an exciting play-off against Bala Town on Sunday—I do apologise—where they won 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out. This means that Cardiff Met will move into the preliminary rounds, joining clubs from Luxembourg, San Marino, the Faroe Islands, Andorra, Kosovo, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. I think the important point here is that it's a fantastic feat for a university club and will inspire many of the students at the university who are not elite sports people to take up some sport and get involved in active recreation. So, will you congratulate Cardiff Met?

Well, as the Assembly Member for Bala—although not a regular supporter of Bala Town, except on occasion—Bala Town have had their moment in Europe, as have Bangor City and others. But it is a great opportunity for Cardiff Met, and I do sincerely congratulate them. I benefit from living close to them when I'm here in Cardiff, and I do think it's important that we emphasise how the activity of sports science and the inspiration that is delivered from academic sports study permeates the whole of the university culture. There is an important issue, I think, in the life cycle here: that, very often, pupils of school age will be very active physically, but only those who get involved with clubs tend to continue their activity into the teenage years and student life. And I think it is important that we celebrate the culture of sporting success and the culture of successful clubs across our further and higher education system.

I'm sure that the Minister will agree with me that one of the biggest challenges is to encourage women and girls to carry on participating in physical activity, particularly, as he's just said in his response to David Melding, after leaving school age. Amongst that group, women from minority ethnic communities are particularly vulnerable and often particularly excluded. Will the Minister undertake today to have some further discussions with the Minister for equalities to see what more can be done to encourage local authority facilities to actively promote the participation of women and girls from minority communities? I would also, in that context, suggest that there is a continuation of provision of women-only facilities for some activities, such as swimming, because for some women from some of those communities it isn't possible for them culturally to participate when there are men present? I think this is particularly important in the context of providing appropriate changing facilities, as well, since there is an increasing tendency to have open facilities, which, while those might be beneficial for families, may not be suitable for women, particularly women who have particular reasons to protect their bodily privacy.

Thank you for that. I'm very happy to formally agree that we should meet to discuss this issue specifically, but I'm pleased to say that, among the major sports that we promote, netball, which is an activity mainly, but not wholly, pursued by girls and women, is the fourth major sport that we fund. And, therefore, I think it is essential that we should always provide for gender equality to the extent that we can in participation in sports. That is partly through encouraging women's rugby and women's football, but also encouraging, indeed, separate opportunities for people to participate at a time convenient and suitable and acceptable to them, and we will pursue this discussion and, no doubt, we will both report back to you.

The Welsh Government recognises cultural engagement impacts positively on well-being and seeks to increase the availability of the cultural offering through various means, including supporting engagement with communities locally and on the heritage and culture that are important to activity in the region.

Diolch. After the Welsh Government commissioned a feasibility study on a national football museum, I said here two years ago that the people of north Wales deserve to have a Welsh national football museum on their doorstep. As I'd also said in the previous Assembly here,  

'Wrexham has an excellent local museum...But people in north Wales can only visit one of the seven free-entry National Museum Wales sites within a realistic 60-mile radius travelling distance, whereas people in Cardiff and Swansea can visit six.'

In supporting a national football museum in Wrexham, I also referred to the illustrious history of Wrexham's Racecourse,

'where the first international match was played in Wales; where the oldest international ground in the world is located; where the Football Association of Wales was formed; and home to...one of the world’s oldest football clubs'

—Wrexham AFC. You issued a statement 12 days ago in writing on the future priorities relating to the feasibility studies on a sport museum and contemporary art gallery, and although the supporter-owned Wrexham football club had previously called for a national football museum to be located within the Racecourse, you stated the consultants' report,

'concluded that developing new facilities at Wrexham Museum would be the best option to... showcase...our football heritage',

and that,

'The realisation...lies not...with the Welsh Government and discussions have now begun with the key partners.'

You also referred to a recommendation by the consultants that this be done in partnership with National Museum Wales/Amgueddfa Cymru. So, I'll cut to my question—I'm sorry I've gone on for so long—how will the involvement of National Museum Wales, in your view, work out? Are you proposing that this becomes part of the National Museum Wales or it's a partner arm's-length organisation? And how will this impact on the physical provision within Wrexham museum—a great museum, but quite small in size? So, are you considering relocation or enlargement, or how might you address this?

The intention is that there should be a strong sporting museum in Wrexham. The question of its location is a matter for discussion with the existing Wrexham museum and the Wrexham local authority. Those discussions are still continuing. What I'm keen to ensure is that the sporting activity of Wales is represented in the regions of Wales. So, in north Wales, it would be in Wrexham. There is, I think, an opportunity for further celebration of sporting heritage in St Fagans, apart from the national museum, but the relationship that I envisage, and it's with the agreement of the national museum, should be a relationship where the national museum at its seven or eight sites, if we include Treforest, relate to the regional and local museums in support of their activity and that, when we have national collections, the museums are of sufficient quality—and this applies particularly to contemporary art as much as to sport artefacts—the galleries and museums are of sufficient standard to be able to receive the national collection. And that will require further investment. So, I am still continuing to develop our action plan in relation to both a sport museum and a contemporary art museum in a way that ensures that there will be a distributive model that will work to enable as many people in Wales as possible to see the national treasures.

I have regular meetings with the Minister for Education where we discuss issues relating to Welsh-medium education. Ensuring the provision of Welsh-medium courses within universities is a key priority for the Welsh Government, and the role of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is, of course, vital in securing this aim.

I'm grateful to the Minister for her answer, and I'd associate myself with what she says about the role of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. It's beginning to deliver a transformation. However, I have had brought to my notice by an individual constituent—and I won't even mention the university concerned because this young person is concerned about being exposed—that when she raised the possibility of undertaking part of a course through the medium of Welsh, she was met with a really unhelpful and dismissive attitude, and it was perfectly possible for her to do that because there was a tutor available who could have delivered part of that course. This reflects a concern that has been raised with me by others that there are some parts of our universities that are still culturally resistant to this and that they don't see the provision of courses through the medium of Welsh, particularly perhaps in non-traditional subjects, as something that's for them. What further steps can the Minister take, working with the Minister for Education and obviously with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol but also with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to help challenge the remains of this negative and, I think, now very much a minority culture within some of our universities and to emphasise that there is nothing for a university to lose and everything for it to gain by making this provision available?

Thank you. I think you're absolutely right that there has been a transformation as a result of the establishment of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, but it's still fairly new, and so that cultural embeddedness really still needs to deliver. It is delivering very significantly in terms of modules in certain specific subjects, but you're right that there are pockets where that is proving more difficult than others. What we will continue to do, of course, is to work through the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, which receives a significant sum of money, because, actually, this is not just about the courses they do; it's about their opportunity to live and work and speak in Welsh. And what we have found is that there is this huge drop-off that comes the moment people leave their Welsh-language schools. So, unless we provide that opportunity to continue, even if it's just on a modular basis, which the Member recognises—we're not talking about complete courses here—. I think that has to be a step that we keep progressing, but I will undertake to discuss that further with the education Minister.

Students from the age of three to 18 are taught through the medium of Welsh. They learn all the technical words through the medium of Welsh and therefore they don't know the technical words in English. It's not that they can't speak English, but the technical words are words that are specific to the subjects—they only know the Welsh versions of them. Will you work with the education Minister and Welsh universities to produce a road map to increase the number of subjects available in Welsh universities through the medium of Welsh, especially in those very popular subjects that every university runs?

Already there has been a huge increase, so we're up to about 6,800 students now who are already studying part of their degree through the medium of Welsh. Of course, what we've done is to enhance the offer beyond higher education now; it's going into further education, which I think is essential. But what's important also—. I think there is a debate to be had in terms of the technical language and making sure that people understand and have a bilingual understanding of the technical terms. I think that is a discussion that does need to be had, particularly if people, of course, are going on to study in non-Welsh universities, so they will need to be equipped with that. But what is important, I think, is that we continue down this path that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has been delivering, but let's have a look now at how they can deliver in the further education sector.

Wales and Turkey enjoy a cordial relationship focused on education, trade and cultural links. The Turkish ambassador to the UK visited Wales in the new year, and last week we received a delegation from the Turkish ministry of education.

Thank you, Minister, for that. You'll be aware that Imam Sis, a Kurdish citizen now residing in Wales, has been on hunger strike for 157 days. I know you're aware of it because I know that the community much appreciates the private visit that you made to talk to him. But I wonder what progress, if any, has been made on persuading the Turkish Government to end the total isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, which is the reason why Imam Sis is heading for taking his own life in the cause that he feels so passionately about. As this is not a devolved matter—foreign affairs are largely the responsibility of the UK Government and the UK Parliament—have you been ascertain what the local MP, Jessica Morden, has been able to do in the UK Parliament, and what Jeremy Hunt's response has been to the plight of our citizen, which I know is a cause for huge concern amongst my constituents and many other people's?

Thank you. We are, of course, extremely concerned about the condition of Imam Sis, and that's why, a few weeks ago, I wrote to the Foreign Secretary asking him to consider the situation and the concerns that were expressed here in the Assembly. Of course, we do recognise that foreign affairs is a reserved area, but it is important, when people feel strongly about a particular area, that we can communicate that to the Foreign Secretary. We did that. I still haven't had a response from the Foreign Secretary on that matter, but what I can report to you is that I know that the UK Government raised the Öcalan case with the Turkish authorities and the Turkish ambassador last week. I know that Öcalan has had access to lawyers, on 2 May, and that was the first time in a number of years that that has happened, but he's also asked the hunger strikers not to continue to the point that it threatened their health or they risked death. So, we are extremely concerned about the situation with Imam Sis.

I'm sure, like me, you'll want to thank the UK Government for raising concerns about human rights abuses in Turkey. You've quite rightly said that this is a non-devolved matter, but one thing about Turkey is that we've obviously got a significant Turkish diaspora here in Wales, and I think it is important that we use the opportunities that are there in terms of those links with the Turkish diaspora and their links back home to promote positive relationships with Turkey, where Wales can have a positive impact on social attitudes in that country. So, can I ask you what work you and your officials are doing with the Turkish diaspora in particular in order to promote those civil society links, in order to change some of the attitudes towards human rights and other matters in Turkey that perhaps don't fit with our social values here in Wales?

Thank you. Well, I spoke initially about the fact that we are focused on education, trade and cultural links with Turkey. Turkey is indeed the country where we send—. It's the eleventh biggest export market for us, so it's not an insignificant nation in that sense. Of course, we are keen to ensure that we continue our dialogue with civil society, and that visit by the Turkish ambassador also meant that he was able to go and speak to and visit some Turkish companies that have been based here and have invested here in Wales.

Japan remains a key trade partner for Wales and it is important that Welsh companies can continue to trade with Japan in the future. The Welsh Government continues to assess and monitor the impact of the economic partnership on Wales.  

I thank the Minister for that reply, and I'm sure she'll agree with me that it is important that we conclude a successor agreement to the EU agreement as soon as possible when we leave. She said earlier in response to Darren Millar that it's easier to create a trade deal when you've got 450 million people than it is with 50 million. I'm not sure there's any historical evidence to justify that assertion, but what is incontestably true is that it's easier to conclude a deal if you're negotiating on behalf of one country than 28 countries, as the progress of the EU-Canada trade agreement certainly demonstrated.

Will she agree with me that trade with Japan is very important, particularly for the automotive industry, because there was a 25 per cent increase in the demand for British-made cars in Japan last year? As the British economy is doing pretty well internationally, there is every reason to expect that we will be able to increase our trade with Japan significantly. The latest GDP figures for the UK show 0.5 per cent growth, business investment up 0.5 per cent and manufacturing growth up 2.2 per cent, compared with 0.4 per cent in the EU, and the German Government has recently slashed its growth forecast for this year from 2.1 per cent to 0.5 per cent, so outside the EU, and trading with the 85 per cent of the global economy that is not in the EU, offers us the best chance for Britain to succeed in the future.

Well, we hark back to this continual bleat that we hear: 'Let's go and make these trade deals with people all round the world.' The fact is that 50 per cent of our exports go to the EU. You cannot—[Interruption.] In trade in goods, in Wales, it's about 50 per cent, which is different from the UK, which is about 40 per cent.

I think what is important is that we understand that you cannot simply sign these trade agreements overnight. Sometimes they take years and years and years to develop, as we know from the attempt by the United States to make a trade deal with the European Union. So we know that this is going to be extremely difficult, and we know that we are likely to get a better deal as a member of a group where you can buy and sell goods with 500 million people.

Now, I think what's important is that we don't lose faith and we don't lose hope. I think we have got a strong relationship with the Japanese, and we need to build on that and make sure that we develop those bilateral relationships to continue with the investment that we hope that they will continue to make in our country, but also that we take the opportunity to increase our exports to Japan, and that's certainly something we hope we'll be doing during the world cup.

Earlier in the question session, people were highlighting the Rugby World Cup in Japan and the long-established trade links that we have with Japan, Minister. What benchmarks have you set for success with the various missions that will be going out on the back of the world cup to Japan? Rather than just measuring it in cups of coffee and Welsh cakes drunk, it is important that we can measure true success when the world cup finishes, and that the profile of Wales and the penetration of the Japanese market is far greater than when the world cup began.

I think you're absolutely right. What we need to see is some really hard delivery figures. That's why I'm having a meeting immediately after this to discuss with our representative who is out in Japan and who's come back to Wales to have discussions on this, to really work out exactly what it is we're trying to land as a result of this opportunity, this one-off opportunity we have, to expose our nation on an international stage. I don't think we should limit ourselves to Japan. I think there's an opportunity for us to show ourselves more broadly in the far east. I think, if you look at benchmarks for success, I would certainly hope to see at the end that we would increase the amount of food and drink, for example, that we're able to export. And of course we're looking, in particular, to see if we can open the lamb market there and that we can really bounce into that market on the back of that.

Thank you very much, Minister.

Item 3 on the agenda this afternoon are questions to the Assembly Commission. The first question this afternoon will be answered by the Llywydd. Janet Finch-Saunders.

Mae'n bleser gweld Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn cael ei hadeiladu o'n cwmpas yn y bae yma. Yr wythnos nesaf, caiff yr arddangosfa celf, dylunio a thechnoleg ei chynnal yn y Senedd, ac yno hefyd bydd aelodau o Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru yn hyrwyddo eu gwaith nhw drwy'r wythnos. Bydd cyfle i ymwelwyr ddysgu am waith y Cynulliad a thynnu llun yn y Siambr yma yn ystod yr wythnos. Bydd pafiliwn y dysgwyr yn defnyddio'r Pierhead. Ac os caf i gymryd y cyfle i ddymuno’n dda i'r Urdd ac i'r holl bobl ifanc hynny fydd yn cystadlu ac yn cymryd rhan yma yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd ym Mae Caerdydd yr wythnos nesaf. 

Diolch yn fawr. I think that's the first time I've asked a question in this Assembly where I really felt the need not to ask a supplementary because you've actually addressed many of the points.

But I would also like to endorse the thanks and congratulations to everybody taking part. Obviously, this is the heart of the Urdd Eisteddfod next week, with this institution of Welsh democracy becoming the home for the art, design and technology exhibition. And I think it's fantastic to note that over 100,000 visitors will be here, many frequenting this building, and will learn about the work we undertake.

The question I was going to ask, anyway: given that the Eisteddfod coincides with the 20-year anniversary, what consideration has the Commission given to commemoration in the presence of the event in the Senedd, such as through exploring the possibility of retaining an art exhibition or inviting attendees to perhaps create a piece of creative work that could actually then be put on display here? Diolch.

Diolch am y cyfraniad yna a'r cwestiwn o ran beth yw hirhoedledd presenoldeb yr Urdd wedi digwyddiadau'r wythnos nesaf. Fe fydd yna gynnwrf yr wythnos nesaf ym Mae Caerdydd. Fe fydd yna bobl ifanc o bob cwr o Gymru, o bob etholaeth yng Nghymru, yn cystadlu ac yn cymryd rhan yma, ac mae hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr iawn. A dwi'n gobeithio y bydd cymaint o Aelodau â phosibl yn gallu gweld hynny ar waith hefyd. Ond, wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni'n sicrhau bod y cyhoedd sy'n ymweld â'n Senedd ni yma, efallai am y tro cyntaf hyd yn oed, yn cael y cyfle i ddysgu rhywfaint am y gwaith, yr hyn rŷm ni wedi'i gyflawni dros yr 20 mlynedd ddiwethaf wrth inni fod yn cydnabod hyn. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i ni gofio bod gwersyll yr Urdd drws nesaf i ni yn barhaol fan hyn hefyd, ac mae aelodau o'r Urdd wastad yn cael eu croesawu yma i'r Senedd—eu Senedd nhw—fel pawb o bobl ifanc Cymru.

Thank you. Question 2, which is to be answered by the Commissioner Siân Gwenllian. Dai Lloyd.

Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Mae'r Swyddfa Gyflwyno yn gwirio pob dogfen a osodir. Os na ddarparwyd fersiwn dwyieithog o'r ddogfen, bydd aelod o'r staff yn cysylltu i ofyn a oes fersiwn ar gael. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 15.4, fe ganiateir i ddogfennau gael eu gosod yn uniaith os nad yw'n briodol o dan yr amgylchiadau, neu yn rhesymol ymarferol i ddarparu fersiwn ddwyieithog. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ddarostyngedig i'r Rheol Sefydlog hon.

Wrth gasglu'r ystadegau ar gyfer yr adroddiad blynyddol ar gynllun ieithoedd swyddogol y Comisiwn y llynedd, fe welwyd nad oedd cyfran sylweddol o'r dogfennau sy'n cael eu gosod gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn cael eu gosod yn ddwyieithog. Memoranda esboniadol oedd y rhan fwyaf o'r dogfennau yma, a'r rheswm dros beidio â'u cyflwyno'n ddwyieithog yn ôl y Llywodraeth oedd nad oedd yn ymarferol gallu gwneud hynny. Doeddwn i ddim yn hapus efo hynny, ac yn rhinwedd fy swydd fel y Comisiynydd â chyfrifoldeb am ieithoedd swyddogol, mi wnes i ysgrifennu at y Pwyllgor Busnes am arweiniad pellach. Ac fe ofynnodd y Pwyllgor Busnes i swyddogion drafod y mater. Cyfarfu swyddogion Comisiwn y Cynulliad â swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru ym mis Mawrth. Yn ystod y cyfarfod, trafodwyd sut y byddai modd i Lywodraeth Cymru wella nifer y dogfennau a osodir yn ddwyieithog, a'r posibilrwydd o bennu targedau ar gyfer y cynnydd hwn, gyda'r nod yn y pen draw o gyflwyno'u holl ddogfennau yn ddwyieithog.

Diolch yn fawr i'r Comisiynydd am ei hymateb. Cefndir y cwestiwn hwn yw bod y Gweinidog iechyd a'i adran wedi gosod rheoliadau ar gyfer rhoi dyletswyddau o ran y Gymraeg ar ddarparwyr gofal iechyd sylfaenol, yn ogystal â memorandwm esboniadol, yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 9 Mai eleni. Roedd y memorandwm esboniadol a osodwyd yn uniaith Saesneg. Mae hyn yn syfrdanol yn fy marn i, yn enwedig o ystyried pwnc y ddogfen. Roedd aelodau'r pwyllgor materion cyfansoddiadol yn rhannu fy mhryderon am hyn, a byddwn ni'n ysgrifennu at y Llywodraeth i rannu'r pryderon hynny. Rydw i hefyd wedi derbyn cyngor gan Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg, sydd fwy neu lai yn cadarnhau bod y Llywodraeth yn torri safon yn yr achos yma. Os nad ydy'r Llywodraeth yn meddwl ei bod yn rhesymol i sicrhau y gallwn ni fel Aelodau sy'n cynrychioli'r cyhoedd weld dogfen o'r math yma yn Gymraeg, pa gamau pellach all y Comisiwn eu cymryd i sicrhau nad oes modd i'r Llywodraeth weithredu'n groes i ysbryd y Ddeddf ieithoedd swyddogol ac i'w safonau iaith ei hunan wrth gyflwyno busnes gerbron y Cynulliad hwn?

Diolch yn fawr i Dai Lloyd am y cwestiwn atodol yna ac am dynnu sylw at y broblem yma. Yn y lle cyntaf, gaf i ddweud fy mod i yn rhannu eich siomedigaeth chi fod y Llywodraeth wedi methu â darparu fersiwn Gymraeg o'r memorandwm esboniadol i'r rheoliadau penodol yma yn ymwneud â'r Gymraeg mewn gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol pan osodwyd y memorandwm? Dydy o ddim yn cydymffurfio ag ysbryd y cynllun. Dwi yn deall bod swyddogion y Comisiwn wedi mynd yn ôl i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth a oedd bwriad i ddarparu fersiwn ddwyieithog o'r memorandwm, a chafwyd cadarnhad nad oedd bwriad i ddarparu fersiwn Gymraeg.

Mae'r Comisiwn yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth Cymru barchu hawl ein Haelodau i weithio yn eu dewis iaith, a dydy hi ddim yn bosib i Aelodau arddel y dewis hwnnw wrth baratoi at drafodion os nad ydy'r dogfennau arwyddocaol o'r fath ar gael. Dŷn ni'n disgwyl hefyd i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno dogfennau yn y ddwy iaith ar yr un pryd. Nid yw'n dderbyniol i'r sawl sy'n dymuno darllen dogfennau yn Gymraeg orfod aros yn hirach—yn hir iawn weithiau—ar gyfer y fersiwn Gymraeg.

Fel y dywedais i, dwi eisoes wedi ysgrifennu at y Pwyllgor Busnes am hyn ac rwy'n deall bod y trafodaethau rhwng swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a Chomisiwn y Cynulliad, ar gais y Pwyllgor Busnes, wedi bod yn rhai positif. Ond, er hynny, mae'r achos penodol yma yn awgrymu bod angen cymryd rhagor o gamau eto, ac mi fyddaf i'n gofyn i swyddogion edrych ar ba gamau pellach allwn ni eu cymryd.

Thank you. Question 3 is to be answered by Commissioner David Rowlands. Huw Irranca-Davies.

I must admit, when I first considered this question, I had a startling image of a whole cortege of Granvilles turning up outside with their baskets fully laden, but of course these are purpose-built vehicles. The Commission agrees that they have a potential for reducing the impact of delivery vehicles in an urban environment, particularly for the so-called 'last mile' section of a delivery. In keeping with this, I'm pleased to report that we already use a cycle courier service for the transport of documents across Cardiff. In addition, I can confirm that we have spoken to our most frequently used delivery courier about the possibility of using cargo bikes, but given the distance from their depot and their need to remain economically competitive, this is not a feasible option for them at this present time. However, we shall keep this situation under review with them and all our suppliers.

I really welcome that answer and the optimism that lies within it. As you will know, David, these cargo bikes are not some strange little niche area, they're actually in many of the European capital cities now. They've become a fundamental part of that last-mile delivery within cities and urban areas. They don't have to deal with parking tickets. They don't have to deal with problems of congestion. As long as there is a good cycle infrastructure, they can get places faster than delivery vans and so on. So, I wonder if I could, with that note of encouragement that I've just heard, ask the Commission to work with Welsh Government—and I notice our Minister for active travel is here as well—to look at the potential combined between the Commission and Welsh Government to support a growth in cargo bike deliveries across Cardiff—Cathays Park to here, to the fifth floor, and the Commission's work as well—and see if we can build that economic case that will cause either an independent provider or, perhaps, the first Welsh co-operative of cargo bikes here in Cardiff to start that delivery mechanism going within our capital city. 

Well, I noted in the papers and in the background to this you mentioned a lorry turning up outside the gates with one single parcel in the back, and I actually, by coincidence, witnessed that myself and it did seem a very lonely parcel and a huge lorry, I can assure you. But, of course, that was probably at the end of the delivery schedule that the lorry had. But I can assure you that we are exploring all ways of encouraging couriers and delivery companies to look further into the possibility of delivering, particularly, as we said, on that last mile, and we will keep on. We're in constant contact with those who deliver to the estate and have indicated to them that, should they contemplate initiating such a service in the future, we would be very interested in being involved in such a service. 

Nid yn unig un parsel yn troi i fyny mewn fan, ond yn aml iawn mae yna un aelod o staff neu un—

Forgive me, Llyr. I missed the first part of that. 

Nid dim ond un parsel yn troi i fyny mewn cerbyd, ond yn aml iawn mae yna unigolion yn troi i fyny mewn cerbydau, boed yn staff neu Aelodau yma hefyd. A gaf i ofyn, felly, yng ngoleuni'r ffaith bod y Cynulliad yma wedi datgan argyfwng newid hinsawdd, fod y Comisiwn yn edrych ar bolisïau cludiant ehangach yn y lle yma ac yn gwneud mwy i annog mentrau sydd nid yn unig yn annog Aelodau i ddefnyddio dulliau mwy amgylcheddol-gyfeillgar o drafnidiaeth ond hefyd mwy o ymdrech i sicrhau ein bod ni'n rhannu cerbydau pan fo cyfle i wneud hynny?

Yes, I'm sure that, in questioning in the past, we've indicated that the Commission does take these matters very seriously. Obviously, with the provision of parking for bikes et cetera, that's one of the things that we've been looking at and, of course, again, we're looking at the fact of installing electric charging points; as soon as the spaces become available, we'll be exploiting that as well. So, the Commission is very much committed to reducing the carbon footprint of this Assembly in general terms.

Thank you. And question 4—Helen Mary Jones—which will be answered by the Llywydd. 

Mae'r Comisiwn wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod aelodau'r cyhoedd yn ddiogel wrth ddod i ystad y Cynulliad. Rhan hanfodol o wireddu'r ymrwymiad yma yw cynnal adolygiadau parhaus o'r gweithdrefnau diogelwch i sicrhau eu bod yn ein galluogi i gael cydbwysedd rhwng ein dymuniad i groesawu'r cyhoedd ar yr ystad a'n dyletswydd i gadw pawb yn ddiogel a sicrhau y gall busnes y Cynulliad barhau heb ymyrraeth. 

Well, I'm grateful to the Llywydd for that answer and, obviously, there is a balance to be made between safety and security and access, but the Llywydd will be aware of an incident on 1 May this year, when there was a very good-natured and very cheerful demonstration by climate change protesters outside this building, just as this Chamber was debating whether or not we would adopt the policy of a climate change emergency. Those protestors then wished to come in to view the debate from the public gallery. The public gallery at the time was largely empty, and many of them were refused admittance to the building. I am not in a position to establish this one way or the other, but it was certainly the impression of some of those people that whether or not they were admitted depended on their appearance, on whether they were perceived to be respectable. Now, I have to tell the Llywydd that some of the people who were allowed in were women who had gone to Greenham Common with me in the 1980s and would be anything but respectable, where I'm sure that some of the younger people who were excluded were quite possibly very respectable citizens. 

But lighthearted comments apart, I am concerned that we should not be making generalisations. I do not understand why there was any fear that those people who were not admitted would have been any kind of risk. The gallery was almost entirely empty, they had come to make representations to this place about a matter that this place was debating. I, and certainly other Members on this bench, feel that it's highly unfortunate that they weren't admitted, and I'd seek the Commission's assurance that, if there is any policy that if you're protesting one minute, you can't become a member of the public observing the proceedings the next, that policy will be changed.

Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rydw i'n cofio'r achlysur. Wrth gwrs, fe wnaeth rhai Aelodau ddwyn sylw at y ffaith ar y dydd fod yna brotestwyr sydd hefyd yn aelodau o'r cyhoedd yn awyddus i ddod mewn yn ystod y drafodaeth yna a bod yr oriel gyhoeddus â digon o le ynddi i bobl fedru gwneud hynny.

Fel y nodais i yn yr ateb cychwynnol, mae hyn yn fater o gydbwysedd, wrth gwrs, rhwng materion diogelwch a'r angen i ganiatáu i bobl Cymru fedru ymweld â ni ac i wneud hynny'n ddiogel, ac i fedru gwrando ar ein trafodaethau ni fan hyn. Mae yna god ymddygiad clir i ymwelwyr, ac un sy'n ymdrin hefyd â phrotestiadau. Mae'r cod yn nodi, er mwyn sicrhau diogelwch, mai dim ond chwe chynrychiolydd o grŵp protest sy'n cael bod y tu mewn i'r adeilad ar unrhyw adeg. O ganlyniad, yn yr achos yma, cafodd chwe chynrychiolydd fynediad i'r ystad, ond ni roddwyd mynediad i weddill y grŵp, fel ŷch chi wedi nodi yn eich cwestiwn.

Ar yr achlysur yma, yn ystod y trafodaethau, fe wnaethpwyd penderfyniad strategol i ganiatáu mwy o brotestwyr i ddod mewn i'r Neuadd, ond, wrth gwrs, mi oedd hynny wrth i'r prynhawn fynd yn ei flaen a'r ddadl wedi'i chwblhau.

Mae profiad yr hyn a ddigwyddodd y diwrnod hwnnw—y ffaith bod nifer o Aelodau wedi dwyn ein sylw ni at yr hyn a oedd yn digwydd a nawr eich cwestiwn chi—. Rydyn ni wedi—rydw i wedi gofyn am adolygiad o'r polisi fel y mae'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd, ac fe fydd y Comisiwn yn edrych ar hynny maes o law. A gaf i ofyn i chi, fel Aelodau yn y Siambr yma, ddwyn i sylw'r Comisiynwyr o'ch pleidiau chi'ch hunain yr hyn ŷch chi'n credu sydd yn gydbwysedd iawn i'w daro wrth inni fod yn adolygu'r polisi yma?

Os caf i eich sicrhau chi, Helen Mary Jones, rŷm ni'n gwneud hynny—rŷm ni'n gwneud ein gwaith o ran diogelwch mewn ffordd sydd yn trin pawb yn gyfartal, ac rŷm ni, byddwn i'n dweud, ar y cyfan, yn weddol o lwyddiannus yn cydbwyso hynny rhwng diogelwch a chaniatáu i bawb fedru ymweld â'n Senedd ni fan hyn. Os ydyn ni wedi ei gael e'n anghywir yn y gorffennol, yna mae'n rhaid inni ddysgu o'r profiad hynny, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at drafod y materion yma ymhellach, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau ein bod ni'n lle diogel—yn lle diogel i bobl ymweld ag ef, yn ogystal ag i ni'n hunain a'n staff, ond hefyd ein bod ni'n lle sy'n agored, a bod ein horiel gyhoeddus ni mor llawn ag y gallith hi fod ar bob achlysur posib.

Thank you for the remarks you've made so far, Presiding Officer. It seems to me that as there was absolutely no breach of the law when all of the protests took place in London earlier that week, it seemed absurd to assume that just because they were from Extinction Rebellion there was going to be, in some way, a breach of the peace.

One of the things we don't have in this Parliament that they have in the UK Parliament is the right of Members to have personal visitors, because I tried to ask the security people to allow me to invite several members who I knew personally, who are members of my constituency, to be allowed to attend the debate. That was not granted—firmly, they said, 'No, we've been told that only six people can come in and they've already been allowed in.'

I'm glad you've agreed to invite us to comment on this particular Standing Order, but it seems to me that our commitment has to be to make this Parliament as open as possible, and those who are protesting on the steps probably have an interest in the debate that's occurring on that matter.

Yes, absolutely. Just to reiterate, the current policy is that where there is a protest, six people from that protest are allowed into the Assembly to either have a conversation with whoever they need to have a conversation or to attend any debate here. The number six is in the policy—it's not related to Extinction Rebellion or any protest group, or anybody from anywhere in Wales who is protesting on our steps. But, obviously, we'll learn from the experience and I invite you again to make sure that the Commissioners here who represent you are fully informed of how you want us to strike the balance appropriately in the future.

Thank you.

Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is the topical questions, and the topical question this afternoon will be answered by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip. Leanne Wood. 

At the faith communities forum this morning, the First Minister highlighted the Welsh Government's consideration of the definition of Islamophobia. We're in discussions with Scottish Government, with a view to adopting the definition. Those of us in positions of power need to stand up for people being stigmatised or abused.