Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd

Plenary - Fifth Senedd

15/10/2019

Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair. 

The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.

Prynhawn da, a shwmae i bawb? 

Good afternoon, and shwmae to everyone?

I'm almost tempted to say 'Shwmae, Senedd?', but I'll leave that for another day. [Laughter.]

Rwyf bron â chael fy nhemtio i ddweud 'Shwmae, Senedd?', ond mi wnaf adael hynny ar gyfer diwrnod arall. [Chwerthin.]

Felly, shwmae, bawb, y prynhawn yma?

So, shwmae, everybody, this afternoon?

1. Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog
1. Questions to the First Minister

Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mohammad Asghar. 

The first item on our agenda is questions to the First Minister. The first question is from Mohammad Asghar.

Staff Awdurdodau Lleol
Local Authority Staff

1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella amodau gwaith staff a gyflogir gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru? OAQ54508

1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve working conditions for staff employed by local authorities in Wales? OAQ54508

Wel, diolch am y cwestiwn, a diwrnod shwmae hapus i'r Aelod hefyd. Heddiw, rydym ni'n cael ein hannog i ddefnyddio ein Cymraeg, dim ots faint o Gymraeg sydd gennym ni, ac mae hon yn iaith i bawb. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you for the question, and a happy shwmae day to the Member too. Today, we are encouraged to use our Welsh language no matter how much Welsh we have. This is everybody’s language. Thank you very much.

Thank you for the question. Of course, the workforce partnership council provides a forum in which the Welsh Government, trade unions and employers come together to address issues of mutual concern. Direct working conditions in local government are a matter for collective bargaining between employers and their trade unions.

Diolch am y cwestiwn. Wrth gwrs, mae cyngor partneriaeth y gweithlu yn cynnig fforwm lle mae Llywodraeth Cymru, undebau llafur a chyflogwyr yn dod at ei gilydd i roi sylw i faterion o ddiddordeb cyffredin. Mae amodau gwaith uniongyrchol mewn llywodraeth leol yn fater ar gyfer cydfargeinio rhwng cyflogwyr a'u hundebau llafur.

Thank you, First Minister. The number of local government staff across Wales who took stress-related leave last year is 18 per cent higher than the previous two years. Caerphilly council saw 807 staff take stress-related leave last year, while in Merthyr Tydfil, the number was up more than triple, from 105 to 318. First Minister, do you share my concern at these figures, and what action will you take to reduce the pressure on council staff, which is seriously affecting their health and having consequences for the delivery of quality public services in south-east Wales?

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Mae nifer y staff llywodraeth leol ledled Cymru a gymerodd absenoldeb cysylltiedig â straen y llynedd 18 y cant yn uwch nag yn y ddwy flynedd flaenorol. Cymerodd 807 o staff yng nghyngor Caerffili absenoldeb cysylltiedig â straen y llynedd, ac ym Merthyr Tudful, roedd y nifer fwy na thair gwaith yn fwy, o 105 i 318. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n rhannu fy mhryder ynghylch y ffigurau hyn, a pha gamau y byddwch chi yn eu cymryd i leihau'r pwysau ar staff cyngor, sy'n effeithio'n ddifrifol ar eu hiechyd ac yn arwain at ganlyniadau i'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau cyhoeddus o ansawdd da yn y de-ddwyrain?

Well, Llywydd, I agree with the Member, of course, that stress is a matter to be taken seriously. I hope that, somewhere in those figures, there is a reflection of the work that we have done and which has been supported across the Assembly, to make people more willing to report when they feel that they are suffering from any form of mental ill-health, including stress. But the figures are also a clear reflection of austerity. Time after time, I've argued on the floor of the Assembly that austerity is not simply felt in our ability to fund public services, but it's felt in the lives of people who provide those public services. Those people have had their wages held down while demands on them have gone up, and it's unrealistic to assume that they can simply park all those pressures at the door and go into work as though those things were not happening in their lives. 

The Member asks what we can do to reduce the stress in the lives of public servants who work for local government, and the answer is to have a UK Government prepared to fund public services properly, so that those people have people alongside them so that their numbers aren't reduced, and they will be better able to cope with the impact in their own lives and to provide services of a quality that we know they are committed to doing. 

Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno â'r Aelod, wrth gwrs, bod straen yn fater i'w gymryd o ddifrif. Rwy'n gobeithio, rhywle yn y ffigurau hynny, bod adlewyrchiad o'r gwaith yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud ac a gefnogwyd ar draws y Cynulliad, i wneud pobl yn fwy parod i ddweud pan fyddant yn teimlo eu bod yn dioddef oherwydd unrhyw fath o salwch meddwl, gan gynnwys straen. Ond mae'r ffigurau hefyd yn adlewyrchiad eglur o gyni cyllidol. Dro ar ôl tro, rwyf i wedi dadlau ar lawr y Cynulliad nad yw cyni cyllidol yn cael ei deimlo yn ein gallu i ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn unig, ond mae'n cael ei deimlo ym mywydau pobl sy'n darparu'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hynny. Mae cyflogau'r bobl hynny wedi cael eu dal i lawr tra bo'r gofynion arnyn nhw wedi cynyddu, ac mae'n afrealistig tybio eu bod yn gallu gadael yr holl bwysau hynny wrth y drws a mynd i mewn i'r gwaith fel pe na fyddai'r pethau hynny'n digwydd yn eu bywydau.

Mae'r Aelod yn gofyn beth allwn ni ei wneud i leihau'r straen ym mywydau gweision cyhoeddus sy'n gweithio i lywodraeth leol, a'r ateb yw cael Llywodraeth y DU sy'n barod i ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn briodol, fel bod gan y bobl hynny bobl wrth eu hochrau fel nad yw eu niferoedd yn llai, ac y byddan nhw'n gallu ymdopi'n well â'r effaith yn eu bywydau eu hunain a darparu gwasanaethau o ansawdd y gwyddom eu bod yn ymroddedig i'w wneud.

Well, as you've said there, First Minister, we know that stress is increasingly becoming the reason for staff absenteeism in Welsh councils, and budget cuts initiated by Westminster, and passed on by this Labour Welsh Government, have led to significant job losses within our councils, meaning that staff are having to deliver the same service with less resource. Will you recognise that, in order to reduce the levels of stress on our local authority staff, the Welsh Government will need to provide sufficient funding to councils in the next budget round?

Wel, fel yr ydych chi wedi ei ddweud yn y fan yna, Prif Weinidog, rydym ni'n gwybod bod straen yn dod yn fwyfwy y rheswm am absenoldeb staff yng nghynghorau Cymru, ac mae toriadau cyllideb a roddwyd ar waith gan San Steffan, ac a basiwyd ymlaen gan y Llywodraeth Cymru Lafur hon, wedi arwain at golli swyddi sylweddol yn ein cynghorau, sy'n golygu bod staff yn gorfod darparu'r un gwasanaeth gyda llai o adnoddau. A wnewch chi gydnabod y bydd angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddarparu cyllid digonol i gynghorau yng nghylch nesaf y gyllideb er mwyn lleihau'r lefelau o straen ar ein staff awdurdodau lleol?

Well, Llywydd, funding local government has been a consistent priority for this Labour Government through the whole of this Assembly term and prior to that, too. But the Member recognises, I know, that, despite the point he makes, the money we have available to us is not the result of decisions that we make, that that money has to be stretched to provide services in the health service as well as local government, to do all the other things that we try to do as a Government, and for which Members around this Assembly Chamber every week stand up and advocate more investment in priorities that are close to their heart, that matter to local communities. We strain every sinew to put the maximum amount of money that is available to us as close to the front line as we can, in order to make sure that those services are of as high a quality as we can, and that the people who are challenged with providing them, that their welfare and well-being is protected as well. The single biggest constraint on our ability to do so is the fact that the amount of money available to us has gone down year after year after year, and will be lower in the next financial year than it was 10 years ago.

Wel, Llywydd, mae ariannu llywodraeth leol wedi bod yn flaenoriaeth gyson i'r Llywodraeth Lafur hon drwy gydol tymor y Cynulliad hwn a chyn hynny hefyd. Ond mae'r Aelod yn cydnabod, mi wn, er gwaethaf y pwynt y mae'n ei wneud, nad yw'r arian sydd gennym ar gael i ni yn ganlyniad o benderfyniadau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud, bod yn rhaid ymestyn yr arian hwnnw i ddarparu gwasanaethau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn ogystal â llywodraeth leol, i wneud yr holl bethau eraill yr ydym ni'n ceisio eu gwneud fel Llywodraeth, ac y mae Aelodau o amgylch y Siambr Cynulliad hon yn sefyll ar eu traed bob wythnos drostynt a hyrwyddo mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn blaenoriaethau sy'n agos at eu calonnau, sy'n bwysig i gymunedau lleol. Rydym ni'n gwneud ein gorau glas i roi'r swm mwyaf posibl o arian sydd ar gael i ni mor agos at y rheng flaen ag y gallwn, er mwyn sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau hynny o ansawdd mor uchel ag y gallwn ei sicrhau, a bod y bobl sy'n cael eu herio i'w darparu, bod eu lles a'u llesiant yn cael eu hamddiffyn hefyd. Y cyfyngiad unigol mwyaf ar ein gallu i wneud hynny yw'r ffaith bod y swm o arian sydd ar gael i ni wedi gostwng flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, ac y bydd yn is yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf nag yr oedd 10 mlynedd yn ôl.

13:35
Adfywio Tai
Housing Regeneration

2. Pa gymorth sydd ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer adfywio tai yng nghymoedd Ogwr? OAQ54534

2. What Welsh Government support is available for housing regeneration in the Ogmore valleys? OAQ54534

I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that. A series of programmes support local housing regeneration in Ogmore, including the Valleys taskforce empty homes grant scheme, social housing grant, Warm Homes, the Welsh housing quality standard, and the innovative housing programmes.

Diolchaf i Huw Irranca-Davies am hynna. Mae cyfres o raglenni yn cefnogi adfywio tai lleol yn Ogwr, gan gynnwys cynllun grant cartrefi gwag tasglu'r Cymoedd, grant tai cymdeithasol, Cartrefi Clyd, safon ansawdd tai Cymru, a'r rhaglenni tai arloesol.

I thank the First Minister for that answer. I'm sure he'll agree with me that, when empty properties stand empty not just for months, but year on year on year, they're a blight on communities—they drag them down economically, they damage efforts at regeneration, and they do contribute to an air of despond in communities and on streets. Like broken teeth, they can stand ragged and broken on our high streets and our side streets, and, sometimes, some of these streets have more broken teeth than others. Yet these could be decent, affordable homes, brought back fit to life, fit to live in, bringing communities back to life as well. So, if landlords and owners are willing to work with their local authority and local communities, we can repair those gaping holes and help regenerate those communities. We can bring the smile back to our streets. So, the empty homes grant and the empty property loans, and other schemes to help landlords and owners do this, are very welcome. And we also need councils to use their powers when that fails. But can I ask the First Minister, how can we make sure that communities are directly involved in these decisions as well? Rather than it being a top-down approach, or something driven by individual landlords or owners, or even by a very proactive local authority, how do we make sure, and would he support the idea, that local communities themselves should be involved in identifying the properties that could be brought back into use, and maybe, in a spatial way, helping the local authority to bring these properties back into use?

Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn cytuno â mi, pan fydd eiddo gwag yn sefyll yn wag nid yn unig am fisoedd, ond flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, eu bod nhw'n falltod ar gymunedau—maen nhw'n eu llusgo i lawr yn economaidd, maen nhw'n niweidio ymdrechion i adfywio, ac maen nhw'n cyfrannu at deimlad o anobaith mewn cymunedau ac ar strydoedd. Fel dannedd wedi torri, maen nhw'n gallu sefyll yn bigog a thoredig ar ein strydoedd mawr a'n strydoedd ochr, ac weithiau, mae gan rai o'r strydoedd hyn fwy o ddannedd wedi torri nag eraill. Eto i gyd, gallai'r rhain fod yn gartrefi fforddiadwy, gweddus, wedi eu hadfywio, yn addas i fyw ynddyn nhw, gan ddod â chymunedau yn ôl yn fyw hefyd. Felly, os yw landlordiaid a pherchnogion yn barod i weithio gyda'u hawdurdod lleol a chymunedau lleol, gallwn drwsio'r tyllau enfawr hynny a helpu i adfywio'r cymunedau hynny. Gallwn ddod â'r wên yn ôl i'n strydoedd. Felly, mae'r grant cartrefi gwag a'r benthyciadau eiddo gwag, a chynlluniau eraill i helpu landlordiaid a pherchnogion i wneud hyn, i'w croesawu'n fawr. Ac rydym ni angen hefyd i gynghorau ddefnyddio eu pwerau pan fydd hynny'n methu. Ond a gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog, sut gallwn ni wneud yn siŵr bod cymunedau yn cymryd rhan uniongyrchol yn y penderfyniadau hyn hefyd? Yn hytrach na'i fod yn ddull o'r brig i lawr, neu'n rhywbeth a ysgogir gan landlordiaid neu berchenogion unigol, neu hyd yn oed gan awdurdod lleol rhagweithiol iawn, sut ydym ni'n gwneud yn siŵr, ac a fyddai ef yn cefnogi'r syniad, y dylai cymunedau lleol eu hunain fod yn rhan o'r broses o nodi'r eiddo y gellid ailddechrau eu defnyddio, ac efallai, mewn ffordd ofodol, helpu'r awdurdod lleol i ailddechrau defnyddio'r eiddo hyn?

I thank the Member for those points. Of course, he is right that empty properties are not simply a wasted asset that could be put to good work, but they have an impact on all of those around them. It's why we decided to invest £10 million as a result of a Valleys taskforce work in bringing more empty homes back into use. And there are hundreds of empty houses in the Member's constituency that, potentially, will be able to benefit now from the scheme began in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and its success has allowed us to spread it elsewhere. The whole of the Valleys taskforce programme has been predicated on learning from the experience of local communities and taking the priorities that they put to us. There was a public engagement event held at Maesteg town hall, in the Member's constituency, at the start of the taskforce engagement, and empty properties were raised as one of the key themes by people who attended that event. Now, the taskforce has been back to the Ogmore, Llynfi and Garw valleys in recent times, and, once again, we were able to explain to people how the new grant will be available and could make a difference to an issue that they raised with us.

So, I completely agree with the point that Huw Irranca-Davies has made, about the need for local communities to be the eyes and ears of our efforts in this area. And I was reminded, Llywydd, in hearing the question, of a conversation that I had with Irish Republic officials about the operation of the vacant land tax in the Republic, where they had had an anxiety to begin with as to how vacant land would get onto the register that they had created, and in practice what has happened is that it is citizens who have turned out to be the eyes and ears of the register. People phone up the local authority, knowing now that there is a register to report to, to make sure that empty land is put on the register and can be put to better use. And I think using local communities and their intelligence on the ground, and their concern for empty properties, now that we have the new scheme, will be a vital source of information.

Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y pwyntiau yna. Wrth gwrs, mae'n iawn nad yw eiddo gwag yn ased gwastraff y gellid eu rhoi at waith da yn unig, ond maen nhw hefyd yn cael effaith ar bob un o'u hamgylch. Dyna pam y penderfynasom fuddsoddi £10 miliwn o ganlyniad i waith tasglu'r Cymoedd i ailddechrau defnyddio mwy o gartrefi gwag. Ac mae cannoedd o dai gwag yn etholaeth yr Aelod a fydd, o bosibl, yn gallu elwa nawr o'r cynllun a ddechreuodd yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, ac mae ei lwyddiant wedi caniatáu i ni ei ledaenu mewn mannau eraill. Seiliwyd holl raglen tasglu'r Cymoedd ar ddysgu o brofiad cymunedau lleol a chymryd y blaenoriaethau y maen nhw'n eu cyflwyno i ni. Cynhaliwyd digwyddiad ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd yn neuadd y dref Maesteg, yn etholaeth yr Aelod, ar ddechrau proses ymgysylltu'r tasglu, a chodwyd eiddo gwag fel un o'r themâu allweddol gan bobl a oedd yn bresennol yn y digwyddiad hwnnw. Nawr, mae'r tasglu wedi bod yn ôl i gymoedd Ogwr, Llynfi a Garw yn ddiweddar, ac, unwaith eto, roeddem ni'n gallu esbonio i bobl sut y bydd y grant newydd ar gael ac y gallai wneud gwahaniaeth i fater a godwyd ganddynt gyda ni.

Felly, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r pwynt y mae Huw Irranca-Davies wedi ei wneud, ynglŷn â'r angen i gymunedau lleol fod yn llygaid a chlustiau ein hymdrechion yn y maes hwn. A chefais fy atgoffa, Llywydd, o glywed y cwestiwn, am sgwrs a gefais gyda swyddogion Gweriniaeth Iwerddon ynglŷn â gweithrediad y dreth ar dir gwag yn y Weriniaeth, lle'r oedden nhw'n pryderu i ddechrau ynghylch sut y byddai tir gwag yn cyrraedd y gofrestr yr oedden nhw wedi ei chreu, ac yn ymarferol yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yw mai dinasyddion sydd wedi ymddangos fel llygaid a chlustiau'r gofrestr. Mae pobl yn ffonio'r awdurdod lleol, gan wybod bellach bod cofrestr i adrodd iddi, er mwyn sicrhau bod tir gwag yn cael ei roi ar y gofrestr ac y gellir gwneud defnydd gwell ohono. Ac rwy'n credu y bydd defnyddio cymunedau lleol a'u gwybodaeth ar lawr gwlad, a'u pryder ynghylch eiddo gwag, nawr bod gennym ni'r cynllun newydd, yn ffynhonnell hanfodol o wybodaeth.

Well, I'm very pleased to hear that there's a co-productive approach to this. I wonder what the local residents might say to the increase in the number of greenfield sites included in the local authority's replacement local development plan, including 19 hectares south of Pont Rhyd-y-cyff. On that, can you tell me what the Welsh Government's approach, now that it's recently declared a climate emergency—how its approach to a planning authority's view of greenfield sites may have changed? How are you influencing local authorities with that? And to help Huw Irranca Davies out with this, what thoughts have you given to Welsh Conservative policies of extending Help to Buy to first-time buyers to bring neglected houses back into the housing stock and create new homes alongside new-build homes?

Wel, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed bod agwedd gyd-gynhyrchiol at hyn. Tybed beth fyddai barn y trigolion lleol ar y cynnydd yn nifer y safleoedd maes glas sydd wedi eu cynnwys yng nghynllun datblygu lleol newydd yr awdurdod lleol, gan gynnwys 19 hectar i'r de o Bont Rhyd-y-cyff. Ar hynny, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf i beth yw dull gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru, gan ei bod wedi datgan argyfwng hinsawdd yn ddiweddar—sut y gallai ei hagwedd at farn awdurdod cynllunio ar safleoedd maes glas fod wedi newid? Sut ydych chi'n dylanwadu ar awdurdodau lleol yn hynny o beth? Ac i roi help llaw i Huw Irranca Davies gyda hyn, pa ystyriaethau ydych chi wedi eu rhoi i bolisïau'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig o ymestyn Cymorth i Brynu i brynwyr tro cyntaf er mwyn dychwelyd tai a esgeuluswyd yn ôl i'r stoc dai a chreu cartrefi newydd ochr yn ochr â chartrefi newydd sbon?

13:40

I thank the Member for those questions. It's always been the policy of the Welsh Government that brownfield sites should be the first priority in terms of redevelopment. But she asks me what I think the reaction of local residents will be, and I think what local residents will say is that more houses are needed in their areas for their families and for people who don't have the housing that they need, and most people recognise that the house that they themselves live in was once a greenfield site itself. So, actually when you talk to people about the housing needs that are there in local communities, what they recognise is that we are talking about their friends, their neighbours, their families and the need for us to invest in housing here in Wales. 

I read the 10-point plan that the Conservative Party published last week in relation to homelessness, and there are some useful ideas in there, which will be common between us, in making sure that the Vagrancy Act 1824 is repealed, and some other practical measures. I've no sense at all of not being willing to take good ideas wherever they come from, and I've always felt that housing is an issue that is largely shared across the floor of this Assembly as a priority for the people that we represent. 

Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau yna. Mae'n bolisi gan Lywodraeth Cymru erioed mai safleoedd tir llwyd ddylai fod y flaenoriaeth gyntaf o ran ailddatblygu. Ond mae'n gofyn i mi beth fydd ymateb trigolion lleol yn fy marn i, ac rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y bydd trigolion lleol yn ei ddweud yw bod angen mwy o dai yn eu hardaloedd ar gyfer eu teuluoedd ac ar gyfer pobl nad oes ganddyn nhw'r tai sydd eu hangen arnynt, ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn cydnabod y bu'r tŷ y maen nhw eu hunain yn byw ynddo yn safle maes glas ei hun ar un adeg. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, pan fyddwch chi'n siarad â phobl am yr anghenion tai sy'n bodoli mewn cymunedau lleol, yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei gydnabod yw ein bod ni'n siarad am eu ffrindiau, eu cymdogion, eu teuluoedd a'r angen i ni fuddsoddi mewn tai yma yng Nghymru.

Darllenais y cynllun 10 pwynt a gyhoeddwyd gan y Blaid Geidwadol yr wythnos diwethaf ynglŷn â digartrefedd, ac mae rhai syniadau defnyddiol yn hwnnw, a fydd yn gyffredin rhyngom, o ran sicrhau bod Deddf Crwydradaeth 1824 yn cael ei diddymu, a rhai mesurau ymarferol eraill. Does gen i ddim synnwyr o gwbl o beidio â bod yn barod i gymryd syniadau da o ble bynnag maen nhw'n dod, ac rwyf i wedi teimlo erioed bod tai yn fater a rennir ar draws llawr y Cynulliad hwn i raddau helaeth fel blaenoriaeth i'r bobl yr ydym ni'n eu cynrychioli.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Arweinwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price. 

Questions now from the party leaders. The Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price. 

Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the Labour Party manifesto in 2011 committed to requiring GPs to make surgeries more accessible to working people so they can access local GP services in the evenings and Saturday mornings. Can you please update Members on the progress the Welsh Labour Government has made to ensure that patients can access services at a time most convenient to them? 

Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ymrwymodd maniffesto'r Blaid Lafur yn 2011 i'w gwneud yn ofynnol i feddygon teulu wneud meddygfeydd yn fwy hygyrch i bobl sy'n gweithio fel y gallen nhw gael gafael ar wasanaethau meddygon teulu gyda'r nos ac ar foreau Sadwrn. A allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am y cynnydd y mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi ei wneud i sicrhau y gall cleifion gael gafael ar wasanaethau ar adeg sydd fwyaf cyfleus iddyn nhw?

Well, I can certainly tell the Member that there were extensive experiments that were carried out after that commitment and detailed discussions with the General Practitioners Committee Wales. What the experiments showed, unlike as we may have anticipated here, was that the use made by patients of extended hours surgeries was not at a level that we believed, in discussion with the GP workforce, justified the extra expense that had been committed to them—that there were better ways. That is the view of the GP community—that there were better ways to make sure that services were available, including through diversification of the workforce, including through all the things that we do to use community pharmacies. And having tried a series of experiments with opening hours later into the evening, at weekends, we now have a pattern agreed with the GP community in Wales. It's not perfect, it doesn't operate as we would want it everywhere, but it is the result of discussions with the profession that we have the pattern we have. 

Wel, gallaf ddweud wrth yr Aelod yn sicr y bu arbrofion helaeth a gynhaliwyd ar ôl yr ymrwymiad hwnnw a thrafodaethau manwl gyda Phwyllgor Meddygon Teulu Cymru. Yr hyn a ddangosodd yr arbrofion, yn wahanol i'r hyn a ragwelwyd gennym ni yn y fan yma o bosibl, oedd nad oedd y defnydd a wnaed gan gleifion o feddygfeydd oriau estynedig ar lefel yr oeddem ni'n credu, mewn trafodaeth â'r gweithlu meddygon teulu, oedd yn cyfiawnhau'r gost ychwanegol a ymrwymwyd ar eu cyfer—roedd ffyrdd gwell. Dyna farn y gymuned meddygon teulu—bod gwell ffyrdd o sicrhau bod gwasanaethau ar gael, gan gynnwys drwy arallgyfeirio'r gweithlu, gan gynnwys drwy'r holl bethau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud i ddefnyddio fferyllfeydd cymunedol. Ac ar ôl rhoi cynnig ar gyfres o arbrofion gydag oriau agor yn hwyrach gyda'r nos, ar benwythnosau, mae gennym ni batrwm y cytunwyd arno erbyn hyn gyda'r gymuned meddygon teulu yng Nghymru. Nid yw'n berffaith, nid yw'n gweithredu fel y byddem ni'n dymuno ym mhob man, ond canlyniad trafodaethau gyda'r proffesiwn yw bod gennym ni'r patrwm sydd gennym.

Well, let me go through the lack of progress that you have made, and you've admitted the lack of progress that you've made in detail. In terms even of core hours—core daily hours—last year showed a decline in the number of GP practices even being able to offer that within three health boards—Aneurin Bevan, Cwm Taf and Powys. Another aspect of your commitment focused on extending availability of appointments prior to 08:30 in the morning. No progress has been made on that, as almost four fifths of surgeries are not offering appointments before 08:30, and when it comes to evening appointments, not one surgery within Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf or Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health boards were open after 18:30 in the evening last year, and only 1 per cent of surgeries within Betsi Cadwaladr. Extending evening opening hours was meant to be achieved by the end of 2013 financial year, but two health boards have since completely scrapped their extended opening hours. Why make the promise at all when you failed to keep it so clearly? 

Wel, gadewch i mi fynd drwy'r diffyg cynnydd yr ydych chi wedi ei wneud, ac rydych chi wedi cyfaddef y diffyg cynnydd yr ydych chi wedi ei wneud yn fanwl. O ran oriau craidd hyd yn oed—oriau dyddiol craidd—dangosodd y llynedd ostyngiad i nifer y meddygfeydd teulu a oedd hyd yn oed yn gallu cynnig hynny mewn tri bwrdd iechyd—Aneurin Bevan, Cwm Taf a Phowys. Roedd agwedd arall ar eich ymrwymiad yn canolbwyntio ar ymestyn yr apwyntiadau sydd ar gael cyn 08:30 yn y bore. Ni wnaed unrhyw gynnydd ar hynny, gan nad yw bron i bedwar o bob pump o feddygfeydd yn cynnig apwyntiadau cyn 08:30, a phan ddaw'n fater o apwyntiadau gyda'r nos, nid oedd yr un feddygfa ym myrddau iechyd Caerdydd a'r Fro, Cwm Taf nag Abertawe Bro Morgannwg ar agor ar ôl 18:30 fin nos y llynedd, a dim ond 1 y cant o feddygfeydd yn Betsi Cadwaladr. Bwriadwyd ymestyn oriau agor gyda'r nos erbyn diwedd blwyddyn ariannol 2013, ond mae dau fwrdd iechyd wedi cael gwared ar eu horiau agor estynedig yn llwyr ers hynny. Pam gwneud yr addewid o gwbl pan wnaethoch chi fethu â'i gadw mewn modd mor amlwg?

13:45

The reason for making the commitment was because of our genuine concern to make appointments available to more people, particularly working people outside the normal working day. We have a number of experiments that we've attempted in that field. For example, we had an experiment in Cardiff and Newport that allowed people who lived outside those cities, but worked in them, to register with a Cardiff or Newport GP so that they could have a local appointment close to work, rather than having to give up half a day, for example, to have an appointment closer to home. The truth of the matter was that those experiments did not deliver the outcomes for patients that were originally anticipated. That's why we've had those further discussions with the GP profession itself; why we have invested in other ways in which patients can have access to healthcare. It's not simply a matter of going to the surgery. That's a pretty old-fashioned way of thinking about healthcare. We've diversified the ways in which people can get the help that they need, and we'll continue to do that. We are very keen that people should have as convenient an access as is possible to the healthcare that they need. Doing that exclusively at the GP practice, doing that exclusively by extending hours, may not be the most effective way of doing that, either for patients or for the professionals who provide that service. That's what the history of the experiments taught us.

Y rheswm am wneud yr ymrwymiad oedd oherwydd ein pryder gwirioneddol i sicrhau bod apwyntiadau ar gael i fwy o bobl, yn enwedig pobl sy'n gweithio, y tu allan i'r diwrnod gwaith arferol. Mae gennym ni nifer o arbrofion yr ydym ni wedi rhoi cynnig arnyn nhw yn y maes hwnnw. Er enghraifft, cawsom arbrawf yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd a oedd yn caniatáu i bobl a oedd yn byw y tu allan i'r dinasoedd hynny, ond a oedd yn gweithio ynddynt, gofrestru gyda meddyg teulu yng Nghaerdydd neu Gasnewydd fel y gallen nhw gael apwyntiad lleol yn agos i'r gwaith, yn hytrach na gorfod ildio hanner diwrnod, er enghraifft, i gael apwyntiad yn nes at eu cartref. Y gwir amdani oedd na wnaeth yr arbrofion hynny sicrhau'r canlyniadau i gleifion a ragwelwyd yn wreiddiol. Dyna pam y cawsom ni'r trafodaethau pellach hynny gyda'r proffesiwn meddygon teulu ei hun; pam yr ydym ni wedi buddsoddi mewn ffyrdd eraill lle gall cleifion gael mynediad at ofal iechyd. Nid mater o fynd i'r feddygfa yn unig yw hyn. Mae honno'n ffordd eithaf hen ffasiwn o feddwl am ofal iechyd. Rydym ni wedi amrywio'r ffyrdd y gall pobl gael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw, a byddwn ni'n parhau i wneud hynny. Rydym ni'n awyddus iawn y dylai pobl gael mynediad mor gyfleus â phosibl at y gofal iechyd sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Efallai nad gwneud hynny yn y feddygfa deulu yn unig, gwneud hynny drwy ymestyn oriau yn unig, yw'r ffordd fwyaf effeithiol o wneud hynny, naill ai i gleifion na'r gweithwyr proffesiynol sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw. Dyna wnaeth hanes yr arbrofion ei ddysgu i ni.

Patients who are seeking to access those services, who are unable to do so at a time that actually works for them, I think, may give a very, very different response to the one the First Minister has just given. But just to tease a little bit further his answer out: is he saying that part of the decision as to why you dropped this pledge was because it wasn't effective, not just in terms of its impact, but cost-effective, so the opportunity cost, the cost-effectiveness, of meeting the pledge was also a factor? Because what you said at the time, and I'm quoting your predecessor as First Minister here—. The previous First Minister said:

'There is no cost to extending GP opening hours. All that we are asking them to do is to re-jig their hours'. 

Now, my party has consistently argued one of the most effective ways to widen access to GP services is to have more GPs, and since you made this pledge about accessible hours, the number of GPs in Wales has gone down. No wonder you couldn't meet the pledge and then had to drop it.

Wouldn't you accept the need to adopt a policy of increasing GP training places to 200 a year, as the Royal College of General Practitioners has recommended, as part of a wider process of increasing our doctor numbers? In England, I noticed that—keen follower as I am of the Labour Party conference—you've committed to a 40 per cent increase in GP trainees. Isn't this another sign of Labour promising for England what it could already be doing here in Wales?

Rwy'n credu efallai y byddai cleifion sy'n ceisio cael mynediad at y gwasanaethau hynny, nad ydyn nhw'n gallu gwneud hynny ar adeg sy'n gweithio iddyn nhw mewn gwirionedd, yn rhoi ymateb gwahanol iawn, iawn i'r un y mae'r Prif Weinidog newydd ei roi. Ond er mwyn ymhelaethu rhyw fymryn pellach ar ei ymateb: a yw'n dweud mai rhan o'r penderfyniad pam y gwnaethoch chi gefnu ar yr addewid hwn oedd gan nad oedd yn effeithiol, nid yn unig o ran ei effaith ond yn gost-effeithiol, felly roedd cost y cyfle, cost-effeithiolrwydd cyflawni'r addewid hefyd yn ffactor? Oherwydd yr hyn a ddywedasoch ar y pryd, ac rwy'n dyfynnu eich rhagflaenydd fel Prif Weinidog yn y fan yma, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog blaenorol:

'Nid oes unrhyw gost i ymestyn oriau agor meddygon teulu. Y cyfan yr ydym yn gofyn iddynt ei wneud yw ailwampio eu horiau'.

Nawr, mae fy mhlaid i wedi dadlau'n gyson mai un o'r ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol o ehangu mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu yw cael mwy o feddygon teulu, ac ers i chi wneud yr addewid hwn am oriau hygyrch, mae nifer y meddygon teulu yng Nghymru wedi gostwng. Nid oes rhyfedd na allech chi gyflawni'r addewid cyn gorfod cefnu arno.

Oni fyddech chi'n derbyn yr angen i fabwysiadu polisi o gynyddu nifer y lleoedd hyfforddi meddygon teulu i 200 y flwyddyn, fel y mae Coleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol wedi ei argymell, yn rhan o broses ehangach o gynyddu nifer ein meddygon? Yn Lloegr, sylwais—dilynwr brwd fel yr wyf i o gynhadledd y Blaid Lafur—eich bod chi wedi ymrwymo i gynnydd o 40 y cant i nifer y meddygon teulu dan hyfforddiant. Onid yw hwn yn arwydd arall o Lafur yn addo i Loegr yr hyn y gallai fod yn ei wneud eisoes yma yng Nghymru?

Well, Llywydd, two points, really: one, it's very important indeed that we focus our attention not narrowly on GPs, but on the whole of the primary care clinical team. Services that are provided to patients rely on pharmacists, on physiotherapists, on occupational therapists. All those people are members of the primary care team. They are clinically as capable as a GP of providing directly for patients in almost 80 per cent of cases. And a one-eyed focus on what GPs provide simply doesn't reflect the way in which primary care today, and in the future, needs to be provided.

But the Member will be pleased to know that this is not a matter of Wales following where England intends to go; it is a matter of England following where we have been already because he will, I know, be pleased to know that the number of GP training places filled in Wales this year is the highest it has ever been. It's not at 200 yet, but it is going up, and has gone up very significantly in the last few years. So, we have filled 155 GP training places in Wales and that's the most we have ever done. That's the result of lots of activity that has gone on in the field itself by the Welsh Government. It's a matter to be celebrated, and in that sense I agree with the point that Adam Price was making, that investing in training and bringing more people into the profession is a way of securing the long-term future of the family doctor service, where GPs lead these wider teams of clinical professionals able to provide face-to-face services in the community. And I'm sure he'll welcome the fact that we are doing better than we ever have before in having GPs in training here in Wales.

Wel, Llywydd, dau bwynt, mewn gwirionedd: un, mae'n bwysig iawn yn wir ein bod ni'n hoelio ein sylw nid yn gul ar feddygon teulu, ond ar y tîm clinigol gofal sylfaenol cyfan. Mae gwasanaethau a ddarperir i gleifion yn dibynnu ar fferyllwyr, ar ffisiotherapyddion, ar therapyddion galwedigaethol. Mae'r holl bobl hynny yn aelodau o'r tîm gofal sylfaenol. Maen ganddyn nhw'r un gallu o safbwynt clinigol â meddyg teulu i ddarparu'n uniongyrchol ar gyfer cleifion mewn bron i 80 y cant o achosion. Ac nid yw pwyslais unllygeidiog ar yr hyn y mae meddygon teulu yn ei ddarparu yn adlewyrchu'r ffordd y mae angen darparu gofal sylfaenol heddiw, ac yn y dyfodol.

Ond bydd yr Aelod yn falch o wybod nad yw hwn yn fater o Gymru yn dilyn lle mae Lloegr yn bwriadu mynd; mae'n fater o Loegr yn dilyn lle'r ydym ni wedi bod eisoes gan y bydd, mi wn, yn falch o wybod mai nifer y lleoedd hyfforddi meddygon teulu a lenwyd yng Nghymru eleni yw'r uchaf erioed. Nid yw wedi cyrraedd 200 eto, ond mae'n cynyddu, ac mae wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol iawn yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Felly, rydym ni wedi llenwi 155 o leoedd hyfforddi meddygon teulu yng Nghymru a dyna'r mwyaf yr ydym ni erioed wedi ei wneud. Mae hynny o ganlyniad i lawer o weithgarwch sydd wedi digwydd yn y maes ei hun gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae'n fater i'w ddathlu, ac yn yr ystyr hwnnw rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt yr oedd Adam Price yn ei wneud, bod buddsoddi mewn hyfforddiant a dod â mwy o bobl i mewn i'r proffesiwn yn fodd o sicrhau dyfodol hirdymor y gwasanaeth meddyg teulu, lle mae meddygon teulu yn arwain y timau ehangach hyn o weithwyr proffesiynol clinigol sy'n gallu darparu gwasanaethau wyneb yn wyneb yn y gymuned. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn croesawu'r ffaith ein bod ni'n gwneud yn well nag erioed o'r blaen o ran cael meddygon teulu yn hyfforddi yma yng Nghymru.

13:50

Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, commuter satisfaction for train journeys in Wales stands at 71 per cent. As First Minister, are you satisfied that the people of Wales are getting the train services that they deserve?

Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae bodlonrwydd cymudwyr â theithiau ar drenau yng Nghymru yn 71 y cant. Fel Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n fodlon bod pobl Cymru yn cael y gwasanaethau trên y maen nhw'n eu haeddu?

I want to see train services in Wales improve further and faster, in line with the groundbreaking franchise that we negotiated. Transport for Wales has not been able to obtain the trains that they have ordered from companies at the speed that those companies promised. That means they have not had the rolling stock available in the first year in the way that was originally anticipated. But on 15 December this year, when the new timetable comes into effect, we will see 6,500 new places on trains in Wales, new services right across Wales, and people in Wales will see that the improvements that have started already will be accelerating fast from that day and into the rest of the franchise period.

Rwyf i eisiau gweld gwasanaethau trenau yng Nghymru yn gwella ymhellach ac yn gyflymach, yn unol â'r fasnachfraint arloesol a gytunwyd gennym. Nid yw Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi gallu cael y trenau y maen nhw wedi eu harchebu gan gwmnïau mor gyflym ag yr addawodd y cwmnïau hynny. Mae hynny'n golygu na fu'r cerbydau ar gael ganddyn nhw yn y flwyddyn gyntaf yn y ffordd a ragwelwyd yn wreiddiol. Ond ar 15 Rhagfyr eleni, pan roddir yr amserlen newydd ar waith, byddwn yn gweld 6,500 o leoedd newydd ar drenau yng Nghymru, gwasanaethau newydd ledled Cymru, a bydd pobl yng Nghymru yn gweld y bydd y gwelliannau sydd wedi dechrau eisoes yn cyflymu'n fawr o'r diwrnod hwnnw ac i mewn i weddill cyfnod y fasnachfraint.

First Minister, the big question commuters ask themselves each morning is not, 'Am I going to get a seat on a train?' but 'Am I going to be able to get onto this train, full stop?' Across the rail network in Wales there are posters proclaiming what is coming down the track with the promised changes to the network. In 2019, Transport for Wales have said there'll be more capacity on the Valleys lines, on-board infotainment launched, and that old Pacer trains will be phased out completely. I've raised this before—that, in order to increase capacity on the Valleys lines, Transport for Wales have actually brought back trains from the 1960s, and this week we hear that the old Pacer trains will not be phased out completely and that they will continue to run in 2020.

First Minister, now that we know that this promise has been broken—and we've heard earlier how you've broken promises in other areas—can you confirm—? [Interruption.] I can hear chuntering from your colleagues—. [Interruption.] I can hear chuntering from your colleagues, but you are responsible for train services here in Wales, and therefore can you confirm when these tired old trains will be finally taken off our tracks, or are you going to stick to the line that these things can't happen overnight?

Prif Weinidog, nid 'A wyf i'n mynd i gael sedd ar drên?' yw'r cwestiwn mawr y mae cymudwyr yn ei ofyn i'w hunain bob bore, ond 'A wyf i'n mynd i allu mynd ar y trên hwn o gwbl?' Ceir posteri ar draws y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru sy'n datgan yr hyn sy'n dod i lawr y trac gyda'r newidiadau a addawyd i'r rhwydwaith. Yn 2019, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi dweud y bydd mwy o gapasiti ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd, cyfleusterau gwybodaeth ac adloniant yn cael eu lansio, ac y bydd hen drenau Pacer yn cael eu diddymu yn gyfan gwbl. Rwyf i wedi codi hyn o'r blaen—er mwyn cynyddu capasiti ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi ailgyflwyno trenau o'r 1960au, ac rydym ni'n clywed yr wythnos hon na fydd yr hen drenau Pacer yn cael eu diddymu'n gyfan gwbl ac y byddan nhw'n parhau i redeg yn 2020.

Prif Weinidog, nawr ein bod ni'n gwybod bod yr addewid hwn wedi ei dorri—ac rydym ni wedi clywed yn gynharach sut yr ydych chi wedi torri addewidion mewn meysydd eraill—a allwch chi gadarnhau—? [Torri ar draws.] Gallaf glywed mwmian gan eich cyd-Aelodau—. [Torri ar draws.] Gallaf glywed mwmian gan eich cyd-Aelodau, ond chi sy'n gyfrifol am wasanaethau trenau yma yng Nghymru, ac felly a allwch chi gadarnhau pryd y bydd yr hen drenau blinedig hyn yn cael eu tynnu oddi ar ein cledrau o'r diwedd, neu a ydych chi'n mynd i lynu at y stori na all y pethau hyn ddigwydd dros nos?

I've already explained to the Member, Llywydd, that there will be a 10 per cent increase in capacity for service users from 15 December, that there will be 200 additional Sunday services here in Wales, which is a 45 per cent increase on current rates, and of course we want to see that new, modern accessible rolling stock made available here in Wales. It's why, Llywydd, I was very pleased last week to meet with the chief executive and the whole of the board of CAF, the manufacturing train company that has come and set up its manufacturing facility in Newport, who will be providing trains for Welsh passengers, on Welsh lines, as a result of the franchise that we have. I'm very pleased to say to Members here that, in that meeting with the whole of the board of that major company, they came to tell us how pleased they are with the development that's happened in Newport, at the state of the factory that they've been able to create, of the commitment of the workforce that they find here in Wales, and how much they are looking forward to seeing their trains operating on lines here in Wales. Trains made in Wales, running in Wales, that's what Welsh passengers will see.

Rwyf i eisoes wedi egluro i'r Aelod, Llywydd, y bydd cynnydd o 10 y cant i'r capasiti ar gyfer defnyddwyr gwasanaeth o 15 Rhagfyr ymlaen, y bydd 200 o wasanaethau ychwanegol ar y Sul yma yng Nghymru, sy'n gynnydd o 45 y cant ar y cyfraddau presennol, ac wrth gwrs rydym ni eisiau gweld y cerbydau newydd, modern a hygyrch hynny ar gael yma yng Nghymru. Dyna pam, Llywydd, yr oeddwn i'n falch iawn yr wythnos diwethaf o gyfarfod â phrif weithredwr a bwrdd cyfan CAF, y cwmni trenau gweithgynhyrchu sydd wedi dod a sefydlu ei gyfleuster gweithgynhyrchu yng Nghasnewydd, a fydd yn darparu trenau i deithwyr Cymru, ar reilffyrdd Cymru, o ganlyniad i'r fasnachfraint sydd gennym ni. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud wrth yr Aelodau yn y fan yma, yn y cyfarfod hwnnw gyda bwrdd cyfan y cwmni mawr hwnnw, y daethant i ddweud wrthym ni pa mor falch ydyn nhw gyda'r datblygiad sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghasnewydd, gyda chyflwr y ffatri y maen nhw wedi gallu ei chreu, gydag ymrwymiad y gweithlu y maen nhw'n ei ganfod yma yng Nghymru, a chymaint y maen nhw'n edrych ymlaen at weld eu trenau yn gweithredu ar reilffyrdd yma yng Nghymru. Trenau sy'n cael eu gwneud yng Nghymru, yn rhedeg yng Nghymru, dyna fydd teithwyr Cymru yn ei weld.

First Minister, it's not just delays and cancellations that are afflicting train users in Wales, but some trains are not even bothering to stop at the stations they are meant to. On Saturday, a train full of people suddenly found themselves in Pontypridd after the train ran straight from Cardiff without stopping at any of the advertised stops. Despite getting up to 52 per cent more per month in subsidy compared to Arriva, Transport for Wales's overall journey satisfaction is the same as Arriva. Train punctuality, ticket price and cleanliness satisfaction are all the same, and the level of crowding remains a significant concern, with 45 per cent dissatisfied with the level of crowding on the core Valleys lines. First Minister, is it simply the case that Transport for Wales are on the wrong track when it comes to delivering train services across Wales? So, what is your Government going to do so that people can finally have access to a train service that is fit for the twenty-first century?

Prif Weinidog, nid dim ond oedi a chanslo sy'n effeithio ar ddefnyddwyr trenau yng Nghymru, ond nid yw rhai trenau hyd yn oed yn trafferthu stopio yn y gorsafoedd y maen i fod i wneud. Ddydd Sadwrn, canfu llond trên o bobl eu hunain ym Mhontypridd yn sydyn ar ôl i'r trên redeg yn syth o Gaerdydd heb stopio yn unrhyw un o'r arosfannau a hysbysebwyd. Er ei fod wedi cael hyd at 52 y cant yn fwy y mis mewn cymhorthdal o'i gymharu ag Arriva, mae lefelau bodlonrwydd cyffredinol â theithiau Trafnidiaeth Cymru yr un fath ag Arriva. Mae prydlondeb trenau, pris tocynnau a boddhad â glendid i gyd yr un fath, ac mae lefel y gorlenwi'n parhau i fod yn bryder sylweddol, gyda 45 y cant yn anfodlon â lefel y gorlenwi ar reilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd. Prif Weinidog, a yw'n wir i ddweud bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar y trac anghywir o ran darparu gwasanaethau rheilffordd ledled Cymru? Felly, beth mae eich Llywodraeth yn mynd i'w wneud fel y gall pobl gael mynediad o'r diwedd at wasanaeth trenau sy'n addas ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain?

13:55

Well, Llywydd, the history of the last year demonstrates the legacy that Transport for Wales has had to pick up after the franchise that his party negotiated where there was no capacity at all within it for growth in passenger numbers, where rolling stock was run down and where the fleet that was passed on to Transport for Wales turned out not to be fit for the sort of service that we want to provide. Of course we want to see improvements, and the plan that we have and that Transport for Wales has, which will see those improvements happen from 15 December, will roll forward into next year and beyond, in order to make sure that people in Wales who are committed to a public transport solution to journey times here in Wales will have the service that they and we want to see.

Wel, Llywydd, mae hanes y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn dangos yr etifeddiaeth y bu'n rhaid i Trafnidiaeth Cymru ei fabwysiadu ar ôl y fasnachfraint a gytunwyd gan ei blaid ef lle nad oedd unrhyw gapasiti o gwbl ynddi ar gyfer twf i nifer y teithwyr, lle'r oedd cerbydau yn hen a lle chanfuwyd nad oedd y fflyd a drosglwyddwyd i Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn addas ar gyfer y math o wasanaeth yr ydym ni eisiau ei ddarparu. Wrth gwrs ein bod ni eisiau gweld gwelliannau, a bydd y cynllun sydd gennym ni ac sydd gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru, a fydd yn golygu bod y gwelliannau hynny'n digwydd o 15 Rhagfyr, yn parhau i'r flwyddyn nesaf a thu hwnt, er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl yng Nghymru sydd wedi ymrwymo i ateb trafnidiaeth cyhoeddus i amseroedd teithio yma yng Nghymru yn cael y gwasanaeth y maen nhw a ninnau eisiau ei weld.

Arweinydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.

Leader of the Brexit Party, Mark Reckless.

Diolch, Llywydd. You pronounced yesterday that Spain should be suspended from the EU, so I'd like to ask the First Minister about his position. The Welsh Government has a Minister for international relations, although these are not devolved, and it’s a socialist Prime Minister in Spain who asked us to respect the independent judicial decisions of their Supreme Court. Here, we're told by Labour Members that our Prime Minister should be sent to prison for contempt if he seeks to deliver on our EU referendum in ways of which our Supreme Court might not approve. Isn't it about time we backed our democracy and our referendum result by voting to leave the EU, rather than looking to overturn constitutional and judicial arrangements in Spain and the EU?

Diolch, Llywydd. Datganwyd gennych ddoe y dylai Sbaen gael ei gwahardd o'r UE, felly hoffwn holi'r Prif Weinidog am ei safbwynt. Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru Weinidog cysylltiadau rhyngwladol, er nad yw'r rhain wedi eu datganoli, a Phrif Weinidog sosialaidd yn Sbaen a ofynnodd i ni barchu penderfyniadau barnwrol annibynnol eu Goruchaf Lys. Yn y fan yma, dywedir wrthym gan Aelodau Llafur y dylid anfon ein Prif Weinidog ni yn y DU i'r carchar am ddirmyg os yw'n ceisio gweithredu ein refferendwm ar yr UE mewn ffyrdd efallai nad yw ein Goruchaf Lys yn eu cymeradwyo. Onid yw'n bryd i ni gefnogi ein democratiaeth a chanlyniad ein refferendwm drwy bleidleisio i adael yr UE, yn hytrach na cheisio gwrthdroi trefniadau cyfansoddiadol a barnwrol yn Sbaen a'r UE?

I'm not quite sure which point the Member is asking me to address in that. I'll start with his first point, although I'm reluctant always to be drawn into responsibilities which neither this institution nor I as its First Minister exercise. But I think it is rightly a matter of concern to any of us to see democratically elected politicians who have gone peacefully about their responsibilities, whose response is not dialogue and discussion but the use of the criminal law. And I think we're rightly concerned about that. If that was the main point of his question, then I've expressed my view on it. In relation to his points about Brexit, we've rehearsed those exhaustively here on the floor of the Assembly, and he’s aware of my position on that.

Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr pa bwynt y mae'r Aelod yn gofyn i mi roi sylw iddo yn hynny o beth. Dechreuaf gyda'i bwynt cyntaf, er fy mod i'n amharod bob amser i gael fy nhynnu i gyfrifoldebau nad yw'r sefydliad hwn na minnau fel ei Brif Weinidog yn eu harfer. Ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn fater o bryder i unrhyw un ohonom, yn gwbl briodol, gweld gwleidyddion a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd sy'n cyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau yn heddychlon, nad deialog a thrafodaeth yw eu hymateb ond defnyddio'r gyfraith droseddol. Ac rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n pryderu'n briodol am hynny. Os mai dyna oedd prif bwynt ei gwestiwn, yna rwyf i wedi mynegi fy marn arno. O ran ei bwyntiau ar Brexit, rydym ni wedi trafod y rheini'n gynhwysfawr ar lawr y Cynulliad, ac mae'n ymwybodol o'm safbwynt i ar hynny.

I thank the First Minister for his partial response. What is extraordinary is the number of people in this Chamber and beyond who look to and expect the European Union to intervene as if it were a supporter of democratic national self-determination, when the reality is it will no more welcome a vote on national independence in Catalonia than it did our vote on 23 June 2016.

I would associate myself with some of the remarks that the First Minister made initially, and I think it is the case that our constitutional arrangements have worked better in respect of Scotland and the referendum they held there, than Spain’s have in respect of Catalonia. Unfortunately, not all in the Scottish National Party agree with the legal and constitutional approach taken so far continuing. Some want an SNP Scottish Government not to bother with a second referendum and just declare independence; others think they should hold a second referendum without a second section 30 order from the UK Government. Ultimately, if a Scottish Government were to seek to hold such an illegal referendum, or perhaps a future Welsh Government, isn't prison for contempt ultimately our last line of constitutional defence?

Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ymateb rhannol. Yr hyn sy'n anhygoel yw nifer y bobl yn y Siambr hon a thu hwnt sy'n edrych i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ymyrryd ac yn disgwyl iddo wneud hynny fel pe byddai'n gefnogwr o hunan-benderfyniad democrataidd cenedlaethol, pan mewn gwirionedd na fydd yn croesawu pleidlais ar annibyniaeth genedlaethol yng Nghatalonia ddim mwy nag y gwnaeth groesawu ein pleidlais ni ar 23 Mehefin 2016.

Byddwn yn cysylltu fy hun â rhai o'r sylwadau a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog i ddechrau, a chredaf ei bod yn wir bod ein trefniadau cyfansoddiadol wedi gweithio'n well o ran yr Alban a'r refferendwm a gynhaliwyd ganddyn nhw yno, nag y mae Sbaen wedi ei wneud o ran Catalonia. Yn anffodus, nid yw pawb ym Mhlaid Genedlaethol yr Alban yn cytuno â'r dull cyfreithiol a chyfansoddiadol a ddilynwyd hyd yn hyn. Mae rhai eisiau i Lywodraeth SNP yr Alban beidio â thrafferthu gydag ail refferendwm a mynd ati i ddatgan annibyniaeth; mae eraill yn meddwl y dylen nhw gynnal ail refferendwm heb ail orchymyn adran 30 gan Lywodraeth y DU. Yn y pen draw, pe byddai Llywodraeth yr Alban yn ceisio cynnal refferendwm anghyfreithlon o'r fath, neu Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol o bosibl, onid yw'n wir mai carchar am ddirmyg yw ein rheng olaf o amddiffyniad cyfansoddiadol yn y pen draw?

Well, Llywydd, there are so many stretches in the argument that the Member has made that I lost my way in it very early on. As far the European Union is concerned, many of us in this Chamber, because of the history of our membership, do look to the European Union for protections in the environmental field, for protections for workers, for protections for citizens and consumers. Of course we do, because it is through our membership of the European Union that we enjoy today so many of those rights that otherwise would not have been afforded to us. But does that mean that we think that the European Union is perfect in every way? Of course not.

In the week leading up to the last referendum, I shared a platform with the leader of Plaid Cymru here, where we both spoke on the platform of 'remain to reform', and the reform agenda for the European Union is real amongst those of us who support the European Union. Of course it doesn't do everything in every way as we would wish to see it, but that does not mean at all that we would be prepared to turn our backs on the very real gains that Welsh citizens have had as a result of our membership of the European Union and which now are very significantly at risk.

Wel, Llywydd, mae cymaint o ddychymyg yn y ddadl y mae'r Aelod wedi ei gwneud fel fy mod i wedi colli fy ffordd ynddi yn gynnar iawn. Cyn belled ag y mae'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y cwestiwn, mae llawer ohonom ni yn y Siambr hon, oherwydd hanes ein haelodaeth, yn edrych i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd am amddiffyniadau yn y maes amgylcheddol, am amddiffyniadau i weithwyr, am amddiffyniadau i ddinasyddion a defnyddwyr. Wrth gwrs ein bod ni, oherwydd drwy ein haelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yr ydym ni'n mwynhau cynifer o'r hawliau hynny heddiw na fydden nhw fel arall wedi eu rhoi i ni. Ond a yw hynny'n golygu ein bod ni'n credu bod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn berffaith ym mhob ffordd? Nac ydy wrth gwrs.

Yn yr wythnos yn arwain at y refferendwm diwethaf, rhannais lwyfan gydag arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn y fan yma, pryd y siaradodd y ddau ohonom ni ar lwyfan 'aros i ddiwygio', ac mae'r agenda ddiwygio ar gyfer yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn bodoli ymhlith y rhai hynny ohonom ni sy'n cefnogi'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Wrth gwrs nid yw'n gwneud popeth ym mhob ffordd fel y byddem ni'n dymuno ei weld, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu o gwbl y byddem ni'n barod i droi ein cefnau ar yr enillion gwirioneddol y mae dinasyddion Cymru wedi eu cael o ganlyniad i'n haelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ac sydd mewn perygl sylweddol iawn erbyn hyn.

14:00
Brexit
Brexit

3. Pa drafodaethau am Brexit y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'u cael gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU yn ystod y mis diwethaf? OAQ54536

3. What discussions about Brexit has the First Minister had with the UK Prime Minister over the last month? OAQ54536

Llywydd, no such discussions have taken place with the Prime Minister over the last month.

Llywydd, nid oes unrhyw drafodaethau o'r fath wedi cael eu cynnal gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU yn ystod y mis diwethaf.

Does the First Minister share my concern that that shows a complete contempt for the people of Wales, for this institution and the Government that springs from it? Doesn't it show that the current Prime Minister is interested in England and in nowhere else? We know that the Conservative Party membership, if we believe the opinion polls, care more about Brexit than the union. And indeed, an essay question, I'm told, in Cardiff University now will soon be, 'Is the Conservative and Unionist Party still both of those things?' So, does he not agree that it shows contempt for this Government that the Prime Minister is not engaged with it? And does he also agree that the current constitutional settlement is broken? There needs to be a new relationship between the nations of these isles. We need to make sure that there is better and more equal respect, so that a Prime Minister of the UK cannot ignore the people of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the future.

A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn rhannu fy mhryder bod hynny'n dangos dirmyg llwyr tuag at bobl Cymru, y sefydliad hwn a'r Llywodraeth sy'n deillio ohono? Onid yw'n dangos bod gan Brif Weinidog presennol y DU ddiddordeb yn Lloegr ac nid mewn unman arall? Rydym ni'n gwybod bod aelodaeth y Blaid Geidwadol, os ydym ni'n credu'r polau piniwn, yn poeni mwy am Brexit na'r undeb. Ac yn wir, cwestiwn traethawd, rwy'n clywed, ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd yn fuan fydd, 'A yw'r Blaid Geidwadol ac Unoliaethol yn dal i fod y ddau beth hynny?' Felly, onid yw'n cytuno ei bod yn dangos dirmyg tuag at y Llywodraeth hon nad yw Prif Weinidog y DU yn ymgysylltu â hi? Ac a yw hefyd yn cytuno bod y setliad cyfansoddiadol presennol wedi torri? Mae angen cael perthynas newydd rhwng gwledydd yr ynysoedd hyn. Mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr bod parch gwell a mwy cyfartal, fel na all Prif Weinidog y DU anwybyddu pobl Cymru, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon yn y dyfodol.

Llywydd, I agree with Carwyn Jones that it is surely remarkable, now having been in office for a number of months, that the Prime Minister has failed to call a single meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee plenary. When Mrs May was Prime Minister, she held such a plenary here in Cardiff. The new Prime Minister, having embarked on his imperial tour of England, Wales and Scotland then, has never been seen since.

The point that the Member makes about the need for new relationships—better, equal, respectful relationships—lies at the heart of a document that the Welsh Government has published, and which I will make a statement on later this afternoon. Because that seeks to entrench those arrangements so that they are not at the whim of an individual, so that one Prime Minister respects them and the next Prime Minister takes no notice of them.

Given the state of our relationships with the European Union, given the fact that there are clear and significant devolved responsibilities at stake in those discussions, it is utterly remarkable that the JMC has not been called together, despite requests from me and from Nicola Sturgeon that that should take place. And it is, I'm sorry to say, a sign of the way in which the current Prime Minister is prepared to neglect fundamentally important responsibilities about the future of the United Kingdom, while he pursues instead the various chimeras that he has put in front of us in relation to a future arrangement with the European Union.

Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno â Carwyn Jones ei bod hi'n sicr yn rhyfeddol, ar ôl bod yn y swydd ers nifer o fisoedd erbyn hyn, bod Prif Weinidog y DU wedi methu â galw un cyfarfod llawn o Gyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion. Pan yr oedd Mrs May yn Brif Weinidog y DU, cynhaliodd gyfarfod llawn o'r fath yn y fan yma yng Nghaerdydd. Nid yw Prif Weinidog newydd y DU, ar ôl cychwyn ar ei daith imperialaidd o amgylch Lloegr, Cymru a'r Alban bryd hynny, erioed wedi cael ei weld ers hynny.

Mae'r pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am yr angen am berthynas newydd—perthynas well, gyfartal a pharchus—wrth wraidd dogfen y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei chyhoeddi, ac y byddaf yn gwneud datganiad arni yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma. Oherwydd mae honno'n ceisio ymwreiddio'r trefniadau hynny fel nad ydyn nhw ar fympwy unigolyn, fel bod un Prif Weinidog y DU yn eu parchu ac nad yw Prif Weinidog nesaf y DU yn cymryd unrhyw sylw ohonynt.

O ystyried cyflwr ein perthynas â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, o ystyried y ffaith bod cyfrifoldebau datganoledig eglur a sylweddol yn y fantol yn y trafodaethau hynny, mae'n gwbl ryfeddol nad yw Cydbwyllgor y Gweinidogion wedi cael ei alw ynghyd, er gwaethaf ceisiadau gennyf i a chan Nicola Sturgeon y dylai hynny ddigwydd. Ac mae'n ddrwg gen i ddweud ei fod yn arwydd o'r ffordd y mae Prif Weinidog presennol y DU yn barod i esgeuluso cyfrifoldebau sylfaenol bwysig ynghylch dyfodol y Deyrnas Unedig, tra ei fod yn hytrach yn mynd ar drywydd y gwahanol fathau o freuddwydion gwrach y mae wedi eu rhoi o'n blaenau o ran trefniant gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y dyfodol.

I heard the references to contempt. What about contempt for the views of the people of Wales who voted to leave the European Union and the neglect that your Government has shown to supporting the UK Government's efforts to deliver on the outcome of that referendum by supporting the UK Prime Minister in delivering Brexit by 31 October? And I have to say, what sort of advice would you be able to give the UK Prime Minister about Brexit, given that your party has got at least three positions on the matter? On the one hand, you've got Jeremy Corbyn's position, which seems to be, 'Let's have a general election, then a referendum, and I'll tell you how to campaign once we've gotten there.' On the other hand, you've got the Welsh Government's position, which seems to be, at least it was last week, that there should be a referendum and then you will campaign to remain, no matter what sort of deal a Jeremy Corbyn Government might bring back from Brussels. And you also, of course, have a division within the Welsh Government, with Jeremy, on your front bench—the other Jeremy, if we can call him that—your Brexit Minister, who has made it quite clear that his view is that there ought to be a referendum before the next general election. So, what position does the Welsh Government and the Labour Party actually have on Brexit, and how on earth do you think that that's useful in any sort of conversation you might have with the UK Prime Minister?

Clywais y cyfeiriadau at ddirmyg. Beth am ddirmyg tuag at farn pobl Cymru a bleidleisiodd i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a'r esgeulustod y mae eich Llywodraeth chi wedi ei ddangos i gefnogi ymdrechion Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni canlyniad y refferendwm hwnnw trwy gefnogi Prif Weinidog y DU i gyflawni Brexit erbyn 31 Hydref? Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, pa fath o gyngor fyddech chi'n gallu ei roi i Brif Weinidog y DU ar Brexit, o gofio bod gan eich plaid o leiaf dri safbwynt ar y mater? Ar y naill law, mae gennych chi safbwynt Jeremy Corbyn, sef, mae'n ymddangos, 'Gadewch i ni gael etholiad cyffredinol, yna refferendwm, a dywedaf wrthych chi sut i ymgyrchu ar ôl i ni gyrraedd y fan honno.' Ar y llaw arall, mae gennych chi safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n ymddangos, yr wythnos diwethaf o leiaf, i bob golwg, y dylid cynnal refferendwm ac yna byddwch yn ymgyrchu i aros, ni waeth pa fath o gytundeb y gallai Llywodraeth Jeremy Corbyn ddychwelyd ag ef o Frwsel. Ac mae gennych chi raniad hefyd, wrth gwrs, o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda Jeremy, ar eich mainc flaen—y Jeremy arall, os cawn ni ei alw'n hynny—eich Gweinidog Brexit, sydd wedi ei gwneud yn gwbl eglur mai ei farn ef yw y dylai fod refferendwm cyn yr etholiad cyffredinol nesaf. Felly, beth yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru a'r Blaid Lafur ar Brexit mewn gwirionedd, a sut ar wyneb y ddaear ydych chi'n credu bod hynny'n ddefnyddiol mewn unrhyw fath o sgwrs y gallech chi ei chael gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU?

14:05

Llywydd, for months and months after the referendum of 2016, the Welsh Government worked with Plaid Cymru here to put forward a way of leaving the European Union that would have defended our economy and jobs. We published it in 'Securing Wales' Future'. It was predicated on leaving the European Union, but it showed a way of doing it that would not have sacrificed Welsh jobs, Welsh firms and Welsh communities. For month after month, we attempted to persuade the UK Government to agree with that prospectus, and it was only when it became completely clear that there was no chance at all of persuading the UK Government of a form of Brexit that would have defended Welsh interests that we decided that it was no longer possible to go on credibly advocating for that position.

The way in which we respect people who voted to leave the European Union—and it is very important to respect people who take a different point of view on this most divisive issue—the way that we respect those people's view is to say that the time has come when the decision should go back into their hands and the hands of other citizens. There is nothing disrespectful in a democracy about saying to people that we would like them to have the opportunity to resolve this highly divisive matter. And our policy as a Welsh Government has been clear since the early summer: the decision should go back into the hands of citizens. When that chance comes, the Welsh Government will campaign to remain. And we do that as well out of respect for people who take a different view from us, because we have come to the conclusion, from everything that we have seen, that there is no deal better than the deal we have now, which is the deal we have through membership of the European Union. That is the best way in which Welsh families and Welsh futures can be best fashioned. We will make that case, and we will make it in a way that is respectful, both of people who want to remain in the European Union and people who take a different view. But you don't respect people by not telling them the honest position that you have come to, and everything that I have seen leads me to that conclusion—difficult as it can be in some places, where people don't agree, but I'm not prepared to go out and say to people in Wales anything other than the truth as I see it. Other people will have other truths, and a referendum will allow them to express their view as well. That's why we have reached the position we have, and I think it is respectful of all views that exist on this matter.

Llywydd, am fisoedd a misoedd ar ôl refferendwm 2016, gweithiodd Llywodraeth Cymru gyda Phlaid Cymru yn y fan yma i gyflwyno ffordd o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a fyddai wedi amddiffyn ein heconomi a'n swyddi. Fe'i cyhoeddwyd gennym yn 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru'. Roedd yn seiliedig ar adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ond yn dangos ffordd o wneud hynny na fyddai wedi aberthu swyddi yng Nghymru, cwmnïau Cymru a chymunedau Cymru. Am fis ar ôl mis, ceisiasom berswadio Llywodraeth y DU i gytuno â'r prosbectws hwnnw, a dim ond pan ddaeth yn gwbl eglur nad oedd unrhyw siawns o gwbl o bersawdio Llywodraeth y DU o ffurf ar Brexit a fyddai wedi amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru y gwnaethom ni benderfynu nad oedd yn bosibl parhau i hyrwyddo'r safbwynt hwnnw gyda hygrededd mwyach.

Y ffordd yr ydym ni'n parchu pobl a bleidleisiodd i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd—ac mae'n bwysig iawn parchu pobl sy'n arddel gwahanol safbwynt ar y mater hynod rwygol hwn—y ffordd yr ydym ni'n parchu safbwynt y bobl hynny yw dweud bod yr amser wedi dod pan ddylai'r penderfyniad ddychwelyd i'w dwylo nhw ac i ddwylo dinasyddion eraill. Nid oes unrhyw beth yn amharchus mewn democratiaeth ynghylch dweud wrth bobl yr hoffem iddyn nhw gael y cyfle i ddatrys y mater hynod rwygol hwn. Ac mae ein polisi ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn eglur ers dechrau'r haf: dylai'r penderfyniad ddychwelyd i ddwylo dinasyddion. Pan ddaw'r cyfle hwnnw, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgyrchu i aros. Ac rydym ni'n gwneud hynny hefyd gyda pharch at bobl sy'n arddel gwahanol safbwynt i ni, oherwydd rydym ni wedi dod i'r casgliad, o bopeth yr ydym ni wedi ei weld, nad oes unrhyw gytundeb gwell na'r cytundeb sydd gennym ni nawr, sef y cytundeb sydd gennym ni drwy aelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Dyna'r ffordd orau y gellir sicrhau dyfodol teuluoedd Cymru a dyfodol Cymru. Byddwn yn dadlau'r achos hwnnw, a byddwn yn ei ddadlau mewn ffordd sy'n barchus, tuag at bobl sydd eisiau aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a phobl sydd â barn wahanol. Ond nid ydych chi'n parchu pobl trwy beidio â dweud wrthyn nhw beth yw'r safbwynt onest yr ydych chi wedi ei fabwysiadu, ac mae popeth yr wyf i wedi ei weld yn fy arwain at y casgliad hwnnw—anodd fel y mae'n gallu bod mewn rhai lleoedd, lle nad yw pobl yn cytuno, ond nid wyf i'n barod i fynd allan a dweud wrth bobl yng Nghymru unrhyw beth heblaw'r gwir fel yr wyf i'n ei weld. Bydd gan bobl eraill wirioneddau eraill, a bydd refferendwm yn caniatáu iddyn nhw fynegi eu barn hwythau hefyd. Dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi mabwysiadu'r safbwynt sydd gennym ni, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn parchu'r holl safbwyntiau sy'n bodoli ar y mater hwn.

Blaenoriaethau Gwario ar gyfer Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni
Spending Priorities for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am flaenoriaethau gwario Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni? OAQ54537

4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's spending priorities for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ54537

I thank the Member for that. We are committed to investing in public services, businesses and communities across Wales, including Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. In Merthyr, we have invested over £2 million through the social housing grant in the current financial year, £225 million for improvements to Prince Charles Hospital, and we have committed £42.5 million to band B of the twenty-first century schools programme.

Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna. Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys ym Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni. Ym Merthyr, rydym ni wedi buddsoddi dros £2 filiwn drwy'r grant tai cymdeithasol yn y flwyddyn ariannol bresennol, £225 miliwn ar gyfer gwelliannau yn Ysbyty'r Tywysog Siarl, ac rydym ni wedi ymrwymo £42.5 miliwn i fand B rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I know that a number of those core priorities are important to the well-being of my constituents, particularly in the areas of health, housing and social care, but can I focus my supplementary question on the needs of the local economy? We know that there has recently been some bad economic news about job losses in the town, but I also know of companies that continue to recruit and have plans for expansion. So, for example, we saw recently the opening of Sharp Clinical Services in Rhymney last week. General Dynamics Land Systems UK is now recruiting more staff, and we see the success of major tourist attractions like BikePark Wales and Rock UK. And in each of those cases, Welsh Government has been a big help in delivering investment and jobs in my constituency. But with some of the economic uncertainties that we're currently facing, would you agree that Welsh Government investment in our transport network, including the completion of the dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road from Dowlais to Hirwaun, the new bus station now under construction in Merthyr Tydfil, reregulation of bus services and investing in the rail and metro system, must be amongst Welsh Government's spending priorities, because it's those transport solutions that will be the vital underpinning of the economy of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, and the wider Valleys communities?

Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Gwn fod nifer o'r blaenoriaethau craidd hynny'n bwysig i les fy etholwyr, yn enwedig ym meysydd iechyd, tai a gofal cymdeithasol, ond a gaf i ganolbwyntio fy nghwestiwn atodol ar anghenion yr economi leol? Rydym ni'n gwybod y bu rhywfaint o newyddion economaidd drwg yn ddiweddar am golli swyddi yn y dref, ond gwn hefyd am gwmnïau sy'n parhau i recriwtio ac sydd â chynlluniau i ehangu. Felly, er enghraifft, agorwyd Sharp Clinical Services yn Rhymni yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae General Dynamics Land Systems UK bellach yn recriwtio mwy o staff, a gwelwn lwyddiant atyniadau twristaidd mawr fel BikePark Wales a Rock UK. Ac ym mhob un o'r achosion hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gymorth mawr i sicrhau buddsoddiad a swyddi yn fy etholaeth i. Ond gyda rhywfaint o'r ansicrwydd economaidd sy'n ein hwynebu ar hyn o bryd, a fyddech chi'n cytuno bod buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn ein rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth, gan gynnwys cwblhau'r gwaith o ddeuoli ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd o Ddowlais i Hirwaun, yr orsaf fysiau newydd sy'n cael ei hadeiladu ym Merthyr Tudful erbyn hyn, ail-reoleiddio gwasanaethau bysiau a buddsoddi yn y system rheilffyrdd a metro ymhlith blaenoriaethau gwario Llywodraeth Cymru, oherwydd yr atebion trafnidiaeth hynny fydd y sail hanfodol i economi Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni, a chymunedau ehangach y Cymoedd?

14:10

Llywydd, of course Dawn Bowden is right that investment in infrastructure is fundamental to a modern and successful economy. That's why we are so committed to making sure that we get maximum value out of the current round of EU funding programmes, with everything that that will do for Merthyr and Rhymney. We are going to spend £21.1 million to improve the Merthyr railway line, we're going to spend £19.5 million to improve the Rhymney line, and all of that comes from the 2014-20 EU funding programme. Alongside transport infrastructure of that sort, we need a digital infrastructure, and that's why we're investing £7.6 million in the superfast broadband infrastructure for the constituency that the Member represents.

The economy is, of course, fundamental to the future of the constituency. We have mobilised all the help that we can for those companies that find themselves in difficulty, but as we've said on the floor of the Assembly before, every week in Wales thousands of jobs are lost but thousands of jobs are created, and Merthyr Tydfil particularly has been a place in recent years where the economy has been thriving and, with support from the Welsh Government, will go on doing so into the future.

Llywydd, wrth gwrs bod Dawn Bowden yn iawn bod buddsoddi mewn seilwaith yn hanfodol i economi fodern a llwyddiannus. Dyna pam yr ydym ni mor ymrwymedig i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cael y gwerth gorau posibl o rownd bresennol rhaglenni ariannu'r UE, gyda phopeth y bydd hynny'n ei wneud i Ferthyr a Rhymni. Rydym ni'n mynd i wario £21.1 miliwn i wella rheilffordd Merthyr, rydym ni'n mynd i wario £19.5 miliwn i wella rheilffordd Rhymni, ac mae hynny i gyd yn dod o raglen ariannu 2014-20 yr UE. Ynghyd â seilwaith trafnidiaeth o'r math hwnnw, mae angen seilwaith digidol arnom ni, a dyna pam yr ydym ni'n buddsoddi £7.6 miliwn yn y seilwaith band eang cyflym iawn ar gyfer yr etholaeth y mae'r Aelod yn ei chynrychioli.

Mae'r economi, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol i ddyfodol yr etholaeth. Rydym ni wedi sicrhau'r holl gymorth y gallwn ei roi i'r cwmnïau hynny sy'n eu canfod eu hunain mewn trafferthion, ond fel yr ydym ni wedi ei ddweud ar lawr y Cynulliad o'r blaen, collir miloedd o swyddi bob wythnos yng Nghymru ond mae miloedd o swyddi yn cael eu creu, ac mae Merthyr Tudful yn arbennig wedi bod yn fan yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf lle mae'r economi wedi bod yn ffynnu, a chyda chymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru bydd yn parhau i wneud hynny yn y dyfodol.

First Minister, concerns have been raised that your Government has decided to cut spending on the free swimming initiative by £1.5 million from next April. As a result, some people aged over 60 may not be able to access their usual session and may need to pay a subsidised amount for swimming sessions. Given the health and recreation benefits of free swimming for over-60s, how will you ensure that these benefits will continue to be enjoyed, especially by people living in deprived areas and communities such as Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? Thank you.

Prif Weinidog, mae pryderon wedi cael eu mynegi bod eich Llywodraeth wedi penderfynu torri gwariant ar y fenter nofio am ddim £1.5 miliwn o fis Ebrill nesaf ymlaen. O ganlyniad, efallai na fydd rhai pobl dros 60 oed yn gallu cael mynediad at eu sesiwn arferol ac efallai y bydd angen iddyn nhw dalu swm cymorthdaledig am sesiynau nofio. O ystyried manteision iechyd a hamdden nofio am ddim i bobl dros 60 oed, sut y gwnewch chi sicrhau y bydd y manteision hyn yn parhau i gael eu mwynhau, yn enwedig gan bobl sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd a chymunedau difreintiedig fel Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni? Diolch.

Llywydd, the Member may know that the most recent analysis of the free swimming scheme demonstrated that only 6 per cent of the population over 60 in Wales was taking advantage of free swimming. So, 94 per cent of the potential population were getting no benefit from it at all. That is why we have agreed with Sport Wales a new approach through local authorities to providing free swimming, which is explicitly directed to ensure that people in less well-off communities will have more opportunities to enjoy free swimming than in the past. That does involve some reform of the programme, but if you have a programme that is reaching only 6 per cent of its intended audience—if that isn't grounds for reform, I really don't know what would be.

Llywydd, efallai fod yr Aelod yn gwybod bod y dadansoddiad diweddaraf o'r cynllun nofio am ddim wedi dangos mai dim ond 6 y cant o'r boblogaeth dros 60 oed yng Nghymru oedd yn manteisio ar nofio am ddim. Felly, nid oedd 94 y cant o'r boblogaeth bosibl yn cael unrhyw fudd ohono o gwbl. Dyna pam ein bod ni wedi cytuno ar ddull newydd gyda Chwaraeon Cymru trwy awdurdodau lleol o ddarparu nofio am ddim, sydd wedi ei gyfeirio'n benodol at sicrhau y bydd pobl mewn cymunedau llai cefnog yn cael mwy o gyfleoedd i fwynhau nofio am ddim nag yn y gorffennol. Mae hynny'n golygu diwygio rhywfaint ar y rhaglen, ond os oes gennych chi raglen sy'n cyrraedd dim ond 6 y cant o'i chynulleidfa arfaethedig—os nad yw honno'n sail ar gyfer diwygio, nid wyf i'n gwybod beth fyddai.

Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, after the Plaid Cymru conference, what assessment have you made of the financial impact that—?

Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ar ôl cynhadledd Plaid Cymru, pa asesiad ydych chi wedi ei wneud o'r effaith ariannol y mae—?

You need to ask the question on the order paper. 

Mae angen i chi ofyn y cwestiwn ar y papur trefn.

Ask the question on the order paper—the question you've tabled.

Gofynnwch y cwestiwn ar y papur trefn—y cwestiwn a gyflwynwyd gennych.

You need to read out the question you've tabled; that wasn't the question you tabled.

Mae angen i chi ddarllen y cwestiwn yr ydych chi wedi ei gyflwyno; nid dyna'r cwestiwn a gyflwynwyd gennych chi.

Effaith Ariannol Annibyniaeth
The Financial Impact of Independence

5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o'r effaith ariannol y byddai annibyniaeth o weddill y DU yn ei chael ar Gymru? OAQ54510

5. What assessment has the First Minister made of the financial impact that independence from the rest of the UK would have on Wales? OAQ54510

I thank the Member for that question. In 2017-18, the gap between taxes raised in Wales and public spending for the benefit of Welsh people stood at £13.7 billion. That gap is filled through our membership of the United Kingdom.

Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna. Yn 2017-18, £13.7 biliwn oedd y bwlch rhwng trethi a godwyd yng Nghymru a gwariant cyhoeddus er budd pobl Cymru. Mae'r bwlch hwnnw'n cael ei lenwi drwy ein haelodaeth o'r Deyrnas Unedig.

I thank you for that, First Minister. Given that the UK national debt is around £2 trillion, which, of course, is not an English-only debt—. So, with one in 20 people in the UK living in Wales, that would make Wales's share of that debt £100 billion, with a daily interest of £7 million. Does this not make the case for independence a little less desirable than that which was espoused so jubilantly in Swansea's Grand Hotel?

Diolchaf i chi am hynna, Prif Weinidog. O gofio mai oddeutu £2 driliwn yw dyled genedlaethol y DU, nad yw, wrth gwrs, yn ddyled i Loegr yn unig—. Felly, gydag un o bob 20 o bobl yn y DU yn byw yng Nghymru, byddai hynny'n gwneud cyfran Cymru o'r ddyled honno yn £100 biliwn, gyda llog dyddiol o £7 miliwn. Onid yw hyn yn gwneud y ddadl dros annibyniaeth ychydig yn llai dymunol na'r hyn a arddelwyd mewn ffordd mor orfoleddus yng Ngwesty'r Grand yn Abertawe?

14:15

Well, Llywydd, what the Member does is to identify one in what would be a much larger and even more complicated pattern that would have to be addressed were Wales to be independent from the rest of the United Kingdom. The answer I gave originally shows the gap that is currently filled through UK resources here in Wales. There are fiscal transfers between the UK and Wales worth £4,000 per head of the Welsh population every year. That money would have to be found from somewhere. But the questions are not for me to answer, Llywydd. The questions are to be answered by those people who make this proposition, and, if they expect their proposition to be taken seriously, then they will be expected to provide serious answers to these questions.

Wel, Llywydd, yr hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud yw nodi un peth yn yr hyn a fyddai'n batrwm llawer mwy a mwy cymhleth fyth y byddai'n rhaid mynd i'r afael ag ef pe byddai Cymru'n annibynnol ar weddill y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae'r ateb a roddais yn wreiddiol yn dangos y bwlch sy'n cael ei lenwi ar hyn o bryd drwy adnoddau'r DU yma yng Nghymru. Ceir trosglwyddiadau cyllidol rhwng y DU a Chymru gwerth £4,000 y pen o boblogaeth Cymru bob blwyddyn. Byddai'n rhaid dod o hyd i'r arian hwnnw o rywle. Ond nid fy lle i yw ateb y cwestiynau, Llywydd. Cyfrifoldeb y rhai sy'n gwneud y cynnig hwn yw ateb y cwestiynau, ac, os ydyn nhw'n disgwyl i'w cynnig gael ei gymryd o ddifrif, yna bydd disgwyl iddyn nhw gynnig atebion difrifol i'r cwestiynau hyn.

Well, it's an interesting question by Dave Rowlands. I could hear supporters of Welsh independence clamouring that they don't care about the financial impact of independence: they just want their country back. Well, where have we heard that—[Interruption.] Where have we heard that before? [Interruption.] First Minister, your own statistics—[Interruption.] 

Wel, mae'n gwestiwn diddorol gan Dave Rowlands. Gallwn glywed cefnogwyr annibyniaeth Cymru yn gweiddi'n frwd nad ydyn nhw'n poeni am effaith ariannol annibyniaeth: maen nhw eisiau eu gwlad yn ôl. Wel, ble'r ydym ni wedi clywed hynny— [Torri ar draws.] Ble'r ydym ni wedi clywed hynny o'r blaen? [Torri ar draws.] Prif Weinidog, mae eich ystadegau chi eich hun—[Torri ar draws.]

You're making it up, aren't you?

Rydych chi'n adrodd stori ffug, onid ydych chi?

You don't need to listen to people—[Interruption.]—not on their feet. You carry on to ask your question.

Nid oes angen i chi wrando ar bobl—[Torri ar draws.]—nad ydyn nhw ar eu traed. Ewch ymlaen i ofyn eich cwestiwn.

I'm surprised they weren't more worked up listening to the original question, but there we are. First Minister, isn't the reality of the situation—? You gave some very good statistics there, but isn't the reality of the situation that, day-by-day, Wales is steadily growing increasingly financially autonomous as a part of the United Kingdom, and, when it comes to tax devolution and borrowing powers, increasingly so? We've come a long way, and, in fact, I don't think, 20 years ago, people would have imagined that the Assembly would have the powers that we do today.

But the important issue now—aside from grand issues of independence, the important issue is for us to get on with the job of using the tools in the toolbox, as your predecessor, Carwyn Jones, and, before him, Rhodri Morgan, used to say, and get on with making Wales a more prosperous place. So, would you agree with me that the important thing is to keep tax in Wales competitive, to keep income tax low, to make sure that borrowing powers are used wisely so that, at the end of the day, we have more money for public services in Wales so we can get on with the job of making Wales a more prosperous and, ultimately, a more independent part of the United Kingdom?

Rwy'n synnu nad oedden nhw wedi eu cythruddo'n fwy wrth wrando ar y cwestiwn gwreiddiol, ond dyna ni. Prif Weinidog, onid gwirionedd y sefyllfa—? Rhoesoch rai ystadegau da iawn yn y fan yna, ond onid gwirionedd y sefyllfa, o ddydd i ddydd, yw bod Cymru'n tyfu'n raddol i fod yn gynyddol annibynnol yn ariannol fel rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig, a, phan ddaw'n fater o ddatganoli trethi a phwerau benthyg, yn gynyddol felly? Rydym ni wedi dod yn bell, ac, mewn gwirionedd, nid wyf i'n credu, 20 mlynedd yn ôl, y byddai pobl wedi dychmygu y byddai gan y Cynulliad y pwerau sydd gennym ni heddiw.

Ond y mater pwysig nawr—ar wahân i faterion mawr annibyniaeth, y mater pwysig yw i ni fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o ddefnyddio'r offer sydd yn y blwch offer, fel yr oedd eich rhagflaenydd, Carwyn Jones, ac, o'i flaen ef, Rhodri Morgan, yn arfer ei ddweud, a bwrw ati i wneud Cymru yn fwy llewyrchus. Felly, a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi mai'r peth pwysig yw cadw treth yng Nghymru yn gystadleuol, cadw treth incwm yn isel, sicrhau bod pwerau benthyca yn cael eu defnyddio'n ddoeth fel bod gennym ni, yn y pen draw, fwy o arian ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru fel y gallwn ni fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o wneud Cymru yn fwy llewyrchus ac, yn y pen draw, yn rhan fwy annibynnol o'r Deyrnas Unedig?

Well, Llywydd, my view has always been that the right way to use the fiscal devolution that we now have is within a UK fiscal framework, and that was a proposal that Plaid Cymru announced only this week. So, in that ecumenical sense of this afternoon, just as I agreed with some things in the paper provided by the Conservative party on homelessness, I agreed with what Plaid Cymru said about the need for a UK fiscal framework. But our prosperity is best secured, I believe, through continued membership of the United Kingdom and continued membership of the European Union. Both of those factors, I think, work to Wales's advantage and I think that our prosperity is best secured by continuing membership of both.

Wel, Lywydd, fy marn i erioed yw mai'r ffordd gywir o ddefnyddio'r datganoli cyllidol sydd gennym ni erbyn hyn yw o fewn fframwaith cyllidol y DU, ac roedd hwnnw'n gynnig a gyhoeddwyd gan Blaid Cymru dim ond yr wythnos hon. Felly, yn yr ystyr eciwmenaidd honno y prynhawn yma, yn union fel y cytunais â rhai pethau yn y papur a ddarparwyd gan y Blaid Geidwadol ar ddigartrefedd, cytunais â'r hyn a ddywedodd Plaid Cymru am yr angen am fframwaith cyllidol ar gyfer y DU. Ond rwy'n credu mai'r ffordd orau o sicrhau ein ffyniant yw drwy barhau i fod yn aelod o'r Deyrnas Unedig a pharhau i fod yn aelod o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Credaf fod y ddau ffactor hyn yn gweithio er mantais Cymru a chredaf mai'r ffordd orau o sicrhau ein ffyniant yw sicrhau aelodaeth barhaus o'r ddau.

I stand in solidarity today with the imprisoned Catalan Democrats, and perhaps, from the comments we heard earlier, the Brexit Party would like to lock me up for what I'm about to say, but I'll risk it—[Interruption.] I'll risk it anyway. I find it always rather depressing when a fellow Welshman like David Rowlands shows such lack of confidence and such a low opinion of Wales and its potential, presumably believing that other countries smaller than Wales are inherently better than us, which is clearly not the case. The truth of the matter, is it not, is that the people of Wales are waking up to the possibility, just perhaps, that we can't afford not to be independent anymore.

You mentioned the fiscal gap: I'll draw your attention to the report by the Wales Governance Centre that said that this fiscal gap, which isn't correct as it is, is no reflection—is no reflection—on an independent Wales, but is instead a reflection of how the UK doesn't work for Wales now. The question is why Wales's economy is suffering as it is now. And would the First Minister agree with me that the way to build up confidence in what we can achieve as a nation is to have a constitutional convention, looking openly at the potential of independence for Wales, in co-operation and partnership with other countries, and looking at what we can achieve, rather than showing the staggering lack of confidence that the unionists in this Chamber show time and time again?

Rwy'n sefyll mewn undod heddiw gyda Democratiaid Catalwnia a garcharwyd, ac efallai, o'r sylwadau a glywsom yn gynharach, yr hoffai Plaid Brexit fy rhoi dan glo am yr hyn yr wyf i ar fin ei ddweud, ond fe'i mentraf—[Torri ar draws.] Fe'i mentraf beth bynnag. Rwyf i bob amser yn ei chael hi braidd yn ddigalon pan fydd cyd-Gymro fel David Rowlands yn dangos y fath ddiffyg hyder a barn mor isel am Gymru a'i photensial, gan gredu, mae'n debyg, bod gwledydd eraill llai na Chymru yn gynhenid well na ni, sy'n amlwg ddim yn wir. Y gwir amdani, onid yw, yw bod pobl Cymru yn effro i'r posibilrwydd, dim ond efallai, na allwn ni fforddio peidio â bod yn annibynnol mwyach.

Crybwyllwyd y bwlch cyllidol gennych: tynnaf eich sylw at yr adroddiad gan Ganolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru a ddywedodd nad yw'r bwlch cyllidol hwn, nad yw'n gywir fel y mae, yn adlewyrchiad o gwbl—yn adlewyrchiad o gwbl—ar Gymru annibynnol, ond yn hytrach yn adlewyrchiad o sut nad yw'r DU yn gweithio i Gymru ar hyn o bryd. Y cwestiwn yw pam mae economi Cymru yn dioddef fel y mae ar hyn o bryd. Ac a fyddai'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi mai'r ffordd o fagu hyder yn yr hyn y gallwn ni ei gyflawni fel cenedl yw cael confensiwn cyfansoddiadol, gan edrych yn agored ar botensial annibyniaeth i Gymru, mewn cydweithrediad a phartneriaeth â gwledydd eraill, ac edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ni ei gyflawni, yn hytrach na dangos y diffyg hyder syfrdanol y mae'r unoliaethwyr yn y Siambr hon yn ei ddangos dro ar ôl tro?

14:20

Well, Llywydd, it's not a matter of confidence at all; it's a matter of political choice. Now, the Member has his political preference, as does his party, and that's absolutely legitimate and of course there will be a campaign for that, but there are other possibilities for Wales as well. And, in the paper that we will discuss later this afternoon, I have set out the future for Wales as this Government and this party would see it. And it is not a matter of confidence; it is a matter about how people are able to articulate different possibilities for the future. For me, Wales's future is best secured as a successful member of both a successful United Kingdom and a successful European Union. I believe that both unions are right for Wales. Let's have the debate—the debate is the nature of politics, and of course we should have it.

In the document that we will talk about later, we propose, as the twentieth point of 20, that there should be a constitutional convention. I believe that the focus of the constitutional convention should be how to make the UK work better in the future—how to make sure that the UK goes on being a successful entity in which Wales plays its successful part. But, if you have a constitutional convention, and particularly if you have one that involves citizens, as well as those people who currently play a part in it, then there'll be that opportunity for people to contribute their ideas, to debate alternative propositions. To go back to the point that the Member made at the start: debate, discussion and democratic resolution is the right way to resolve these matters.

Wel, Llywydd, nid yw'n fater o hyder o gwbl; mae'n fater o ddewis gwleidyddol. Nawr, mae gan yr Aelod ei ddewis gwleidyddol, ac felly hefyd ei blaid, ac mae hynny'n gwbl deg ac wrth gwrs bydd ymgyrch dros hynny, ond mae posibiliadau eraill i Gymru hefyd. Ac, yn y papur y byddwn ni'n ei drafod yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, rwyf i wedi nodi'r dyfodol i Gymru fel y byddai'r Llywodraeth hon a'r blaid hon yn ei weld. Ac nid mater o hyder ydyw; mae'n fater o sut y gall pobl fynegi gwahanol bosibiliadau ar gyfer y dyfodol. I mi, y ffordd orau o sicrhau dyfodol Cymru yw fel aelod llwyddiannus o Deyrnas Unedig lwyddiannus ac Undeb Ewropeaidd llwyddiannus. Credaf fod y ddau undeb yn iawn i Gymru. Gadewch inni gael y ddadl—y ddadl yw natur gwleidyddiaeth, a dylem ni ei chael, wrth gwrs.

Yn y ddogfen y byddwn ni'n siarad amdani yn ddiweddarach, rydym ni'n cynnig, fel yr ugeinfed pwynt o 20, y dylid cael confensiwn cyfansoddiadol. Credaf mai pwyslais y confensiwn cyfansoddiadol ddylai fod sut i wneud i'r DU weithio'n well yn y dyfodol—sut i sicrhau bod y DU yn parhau i fod yn endid llwyddiannus y mae Cymru'n chwarae ei rhan lwyddiannus ynddi. Ond, os oes gennych chi gonfensiwn cyfansoddiadol, ac yn enwedig os oes gennych chi un sy'n cynnwys dinasyddion, yn ogystal â'r bobl hynny sy'n chwarae rhan ynddo ar hyn o bryd, yna bydd y cyfle hwnnw ar gael i bobl gyfrannu eu syniadau, i ddadlau dros gynigion eraill. I fynd yn ôl at y pwynt a wnaeth yr aelod ar y dechrau: dadl, trafodaeth a phenderfyniad democrataidd yw'r ffordd iawn o ddatrys y materion hyn.

Amcangyfrifon Diweddaraf y Boblogaeth
The Latest Population Projections

6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am effaith amcangyfrifon diweddaraf y boblogaeth ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru? OAQ54558

6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact of the latest population projections on Welsh public services? OAQ54558

Llywydd, the Office for National Statistics will publish the latest national population projections on Monday of next week, 21 October. Previous projections suggested a modest increase in the overall Welsh population but faster growth amongst older people, with impacts on a range of public services, including health, social care and housing.

Llywydd, bydd y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn cyhoeddi'r amcanestyniadau poblogaeth cenedlaethol diweddaraf ddydd Llun yr wythnos nesaf, 21 Hydref. Roedd amcanestyniadau blaenorol yn awgrymu cynnydd cymedrol i boblogaeth Cymru yn gyffredinol ond twf cyflymach ymhlith pobl hŷn, gydag effeithiau ar amrywiaeth o wasanaethau cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol a thai.

Well, the First Minister will know that any projections to be published next week could easily be falsified if we had the misfortune to elect a Labour Government in the near future, because, at the Labour Party conference, the Labour Party voted, in effect, to abolish all effective control of immigration. In particular, they set themselves against any future form of immigration control based on quotas, caps, targets or incomes, and promised to get rid of the current rules that restrict access to accommodation and the national health service for many immigrants— also to get rid of the 'no recourse to public funds' policy that prevents some immigrants from claiming benefits.

He will remember that when the Blair Government decided to allow unrestricted immigration from eastern Europe, after countries like Poland and Hungary were allowed to join the EU, Len McCluskey, the leader of Unite, said in 2016 that the effect of that was that it was a

'gigantic experiment at the expense of ordinary workers'

and led to

'sustained pressure on living standards'

and a systematic attempt to hold down wages and cut the costs of social protection for working people. So, is the First Minister saying that he is now in favour of continuing that massive experiment, which Len McCluskey says is against the interests of working people? Isn't the truth of the matter that the Labour Party, in the frantic pursuit to have migrant votes, has actually abandoned the working classes of Britain—in particular, the white working class?

Wel, bydd y Prif Weinidog yn gwybod y gellid ffugio unrhyw amcanestyniadau a gyhoeddir yr wythnos nesaf yn hawdd pe byddem ni'n ddigon anffodus i ethol Llywodraeth Lafur yn y dyfodol agos, oherwydd, yng nghynhadledd y Blaid Lafur, pleidleisiodd y Blaid Lafur, i bob pwrpas, i ddiddymu pob rheolaeth effeithiol o fewnfudo. Yn arbennig, fe wnaethon nhw osod eu hunain yn erbyn unrhyw ffurf o reolaeth fewnfudo yn y dyfodol yn seiliedig ar gwotâu, capiau, targedau neu incymau, ac addawsant i gael gwared ar y rheolau presennol sy'n cyfyngu ar fynediad at lety a'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol i lawer o fewnfudwyr—a hefyd cael gwared ar y polisi 'dim hawl i arian cyhoeddus' sy'n atal rhai mewnfudwyr rhag hawlio budd-daliadau.

Bydd yn cofio pan benderfynodd Llywodraeth Blair ganiatáu mewnfudo anghyfyngedig o ddwyrain Ewrop, ar ôl caniatáu i wledydd fel Gwlad Pwyl a Hwngari ymuno â'r UE, dywedodd Len McCluskey, arweinydd Unite, yn 2016 mai effaith hynny oedd ei fod yn

arbrawf enfawr ar draul gweithwyr cyffredin

ac wedi arwain at

bwysau parhaus ar safonau byw

ac ymgais systematig i gadw cyflogau i lawr a thorri costau diogelwch cymdeithasol i bobl sy'n gweithio. Felly, a yw'r Prif Weinidog yn dweud ei fod bellach o blaid parhau â'r arbrawf enfawr hwnnw, y mae Len McCluskey yn dweud ei fod yn erbyn buddiannau pobl sy'n gweithio? Onid y gwir yw bod y Blaid Lafur, yn yr ymgais wyllt i ennill pleidleisiau ymfudwyr, wedi cefnu ar ddosbarthiadau gweithiol Prydain—yn enwedig, y dosbarth gweithiol gwyn?

Well, I think the final remark that the Member made is deeply, deeply offensive, and he ought to think about that. If I was—. If I thought there was any chance, I would ask him to withdraw it. It really, really has no part to play on the floor of this Assembly.

His—. I'll agree with the very first thing he said, and there's nothing else that he said that I could agree with. Of course population projections are not forecasts; they don't attempt to predict the future, they simply look to see what the future could be like on previous trends. I simply do not share the Member's, to my mind, deeply prejudiced set of views about people who we have been lucky enough to attract from other parts of the world to come and make their futures part of our future here. Our public services depend on them, our communities are richer for them being here, and I look forward to a future in which Wales goes on welcoming people from elsewhere and makes them know that they are valued members of our nation and the communities that make it up.

Wel, rwy'n credu bod y sylw olaf a wnaeth yr Aelod yn hynod o sarhaus, ac y dylai feddwl am hynny. Pe byddwn i—. Pe byddwn i'n credu bod unrhyw siawns, byddwn yn gofyn iddo ei dynnu yn ôl. Yn wirioneddol nid oes ganddo unrhyw ran i'w chwarae ar lawr y Cynulliad hwn.

Mae ei—. Cytunaf â'r peth cyntaf un a ddywedodd, ac nid oes unrhyw beth arall a ddywedodd y gallwn i gytuno ag ef. Wrth gwrs, nid rhagolygon yw amcanestyniadau poblogaeth; dydyn nhw ddim yn ceisio darogan y dyfodol, y cwbl maen nhw'n ei wneud yw edrych i weld sut y gallai'r dyfodol fod ar sail tueddiadau blaenorol. Yn syml, nid wyf i'n rhannu cyfres o safbwyntiau, hynod ragfarnllyd yn fy marn i, yr Aelod ar bobl yr ydym ni wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus i'w denu o rannau eraill o'r byd i ddod i wneud eu dyfodol nhw yn rhan o'n dyfodol ni. Mae ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn dibynnu arnyn nhw, mae ein cymunedau yn gyfoethocach oherwydd eu bod nhw yma, ac edrychaf ymlaen at ddyfodol lle mae Cymru'n parhau i groesawu pobl o fannau eraill ac yn gadael iddyn nhw wybod eu bod yn aelodau gwerthfawr o'n gwlad a'r cymunedau sy'n ei ffurfio.

14:25
Y Comisiwn Seilwaith Cenedlaethol
The National Infrastructure Commission

7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith y Comisiwn Seilwaith Cenedlaethol? OAQ54515

7. Will the First Minister provide an update on the work of the National Infrastructure Commission? OAQ54515

Llywydd, the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales will publish its first annual report on 27 November, as previously indicated. 

Llywydd, bydd Comisiwn Seilwaith Cenedlaethol Cymru yn cyhoeddi ei adroddiad blynyddol cyntaf ar 27 Tachwedd, fel y nodwyd yn flaenorol.

Thank you for your answer, First Minister. Two years ago, we were told by the Welsh Government then that the objectives of the commission would be to analyse, advise and make recommendations on Wales's longer term strategic economic and environment infrastructure needs over a three or five to 30-year period. I am pleased that some commissioners have now been appointed, but it does seem that little else has been produced or achieved. A scoping paper, we're told, will be available later this year. That's almost two years after the establishment of the commission. And a state of the nation paper won't be available before 2022. It seems to me that, certainly until recently, all we've had is one member of staff working out of a Welsh Government office. Do you believe that the commission has the correct resources to carry out its work, and when will we see some tangible evidence of progress?

Diolch am eich ateb, Prif Weinidog. Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru wrthym ni mai amcanion y Comisiwn fyddai dadansoddi, cynghori a gwneud argymhellion ynghylch anghenion seilwaith strategol economaidd ac amgylcheddol tymor hwy Cymru dros gyfnod o dair neu bum mlynedd i 30 mlynedd. Rwy'n falch bod rhai comisiynwyr wedi eu penodi erbyn hyn, ond mae'n ymddangos nad oes fawr ddim arall wedi cael ei gynhyrchu na'i gyflawni. Dywedir wrthym y bydd papur cwmpasu ar gael yn ddiweddarach eleni. Mae hynny bron i ddwy flynedd ar ôl sefydlu'r comisiwn. Ac ni fydd papur cyflwr y genedl ar gael cyn 2022. Mae'n ymddangos i mi mai'r unig beth yr ydym ni wedi ei gael, yn sicr, tan yn ddiweddar, yw un aelod o staff sy'n gweithio allan o swyddfa Llywodraeth Cymru. A ydych chi'n credu bod gan y comisiwn yr adnoddau priodol i wneud ei waith, a phryd byddwn ni'n gweld tystiolaeth wirioneddol o gynnydd?

Well, Llywydd, the resources available—the staffing resources available—to the commission have increased in recent times. The letter that the Minister, Julie James, sent to Russell George on 16 September sets out the increased research capacity that the commission will need as its work develops. I thought that the report that the committee provided was a useful report. I thought the way in which Russell George set out its conclusions in his letter to Julie James on 14 August was a constructive way of looking to improve the work of the commission in the future, and I hope that the Member will agree that the Minister's reply on 16 September was in the same spirit.

The first annual report of the national infrastructure commission was always scheduled for November of this year—there's no surprise in that. We have always followed the committee's advice in saying that reports would be published every three years after that, so 2022 ought not to come as a surprise to anybody either. We will also review the operation of the commission before the elections in 2021. But all of that is a matter of public record, Llywydd—all of that has always been the way in which the commission has been described, confirmed in the Minister's letter of September, in which she responded positively to other aspects of the committee's work, particularly in looking at ways in which the remit of the commission can be expanded to take in aspects of housing within its remit.

Wel, Llywydd, mae'r adnoddau sydd ar gael—yr adnoddau staffio sydd ar gael—i'r comisiwn wedi cynyddu yn y cyfnod diweddar. Mae'r llythyr a anfonodd y Gweinidog, Julie James, at Russell George ar 16 Medi yn nodi'r capasiti ymchwil cynyddol y bydd y comisiwn ei angen wrth i'w waith ddatblygu. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod yr adroddiad a ddarparodd y pwyllgor yn adroddiad defnyddiol. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod y modd y cyflwynodd Russell George ei gasgliadau yn ei lythyr at Julie James ar 14 Awst yn ffordd adeiladol o geisio gwella gwaith y comisiwn yn y dyfodol, a gobeithiaf y bydd yr Aelod yn cytuno bod ateb y Gweinidog ar 16 Medi yn yr un ysbryd.

Trefnwyd adroddiad blynyddol cyntaf y comisiwn seilwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer mis Tachwedd eleni o'r cychwyn—nid oes unrhyw syndod yn hynny. Rydym ni wedi dilyn cyngor y pwyllgor bob amser trwy ddweud y byddai adroddiadau'n cael eu cyhoeddi bob tair blynedd ar ôl hynny, felly ni ddylai 2022 fod yn syndod i neb ychwaith. Byddwn hefyd yn adolygu gweithrediad y comisiwn cyn yr etholiadau yn 2021. Ond mae hynny i gyd yn fater o gofnod cyhoeddus, Llywydd—dyna'r ffordd y mae'r comisiwn wedi ei ddisgrifio erioed, a gadarnhawyd yn llythyr y Gweinidog ym mis Medi, pan ymatebodd yn gadarnhaol i agweddau eraill ar waith y pwyllgor, yn enwedig o ran edrych ar ffyrdd y gellir ehangu cylch gwaith y comisiwn i gynnwys agweddau ar dai o fewn ei gylch gwaith.

Tasglu'r Cymoedd
The Valleys Taskforce

8. Sut y bydd y Rhondda'n elwa o Dasglu'r Cymoedd? OAQ54529

8. How will the Rhondda benefit from the Valleys Taskforce? OAQ54529

I thank the Member for that. Amongst the benefits accrued to the Rhondda through the work of the Valleys taskforce are the Valleys to Work bus pilot, helping people in the Rhondda to get into work, and access to the £10 million to bring empty homes back into use across the taskforce area.

Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna. Ymhlith y manteision a gronnwyd i'r Rhondda trwy waith tasglu'r Cymoedd y mae'r cynllun arbrofol O'r Cymoedd i'r Gwaith, sy'n helpu pobl yn y Rhondda i gael gwaith, a mynediad at y £10 miliwn i ailddechrau defnyddio cartrefi gwag ar draws ardal y tasglu.

Of course, buses and housing are what you should be providing anyway. The last time I pointed out the lack of investment in the Rhondda to you, you mentioned the Skyline project as something that could boost the local economy. Now, this is something that I would support; it chimes with the notion of communities taking control of local land and their own destiny, which was the basis of my paper 'A Greenprint for the Valleys', which I published eight years ago. There are, however, some barriers to progressing what has the potential to be a very exciting project, and this was evidenced during the event that was held recently in the Pierhead building. The obvious question relates to funding, so can you tell me today what money the Welsh Government is providing, or intends to provide, to facilitate the Skyline project in the Rhondda? More important, however, is the unwillingness of Natural Resources Wales as landowners to be enablers for this project. At the moment, they look like their role is one of procrastination and obstruction. So, will you instruct this Welsh Government department to get behind this project as a matter of urgency to support it with practical actions, so that your warm words on this matter can actually mean something?

Wrth gwrs, bysiau a thai yw'r hyn y dylech chi fod yn ei ddarparu beth bynnag. Y tro diwethaf i mi dynnu eich sylw at y diffyg buddsoddiad yn y Rhondda, soniasoch am brosiect Skyline fel rhywbeth a allai roi hwb i'r economi leol. Nawr, mae hwn yn rhywbeth y byddwn i'n ei gefnogi; mae'n cyd-fynd â'r syniad o gymunedau yn cymryd rheolaeth dros dir lleol a'u tynged eu hunain, sef sail fy mhapur 'Cynllun Gwyrdd i'r Cymoedd', a gyhoeddais wyth mlynedd yn ôl. Fodd bynnag, ceir rhai rhwystrau i ddatblygu'r hyn sydd â'r potensial i fod yn brosiect cyffrous iawn, a gwelwyd tystiolaeth o hyn yn ystod y digwyddiad a gynhaliwyd yn ddiweddar yn adeilad y Pierhead. Mae'r cwestiwn amlwg yn ymwneud ag ariannu, felly a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf i heddiw pa arian y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu, neu'n bwriadu ei ddarparu, i hwyluso prosiect Skyline yn y Rhondda? Yn bwysicach na hynny, fodd bynnag, yw amharodrwydd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru fel tirfeddianwyr i fod yn alluogwyr ar gyfer y prosiect hwn. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'n ymddangos bod eu swyddogaeth yn un o oedi a rhwystro. Felly, a wnewch chi gyfarwyddo'r adran hon o Lywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi'r prosiect hwn fel mater o frys i'w gefnogi gyda chamau ymarferol, fel y gall eich geiriau gwresog ar y mater hwn olygu rhywbeth mewn gwirionedd?

14:30

Well, I thank the Member for drawing our attention to the Skyline project again, and I share her enthusiasm for it. I enjoyed the opportunity to be at the Pierhead, and I particularly enjoyed the chance to go to Blaenrhondda in August, and to meet people directly involved in the Skyline project there, to go and see for myself some of the places that they hope to bring within its scope, and to hear from them what they thought the immediate next steps for them would be. And they did mention NRW to me, so Leanne Wood is absolutely fairly drawing attention to that aspect of the Skyline's work. 

I offered them a further meeting later this year, if the work that they were engaged in didn't come to fruition in the way that they wanted. They were content at that moment to continue with the efforts that they themselves were making to resolve some of the obstacles that they saw in their path. But I said to them then, and I'm very happy to repeat it again today, that if they reach a point where they feel their own efforts are not succeeding in unblocking some of the barriers, as they saw it, to progress, I'm very happy to meet them again, and I'm very happy to work with other Ministers here to make sure that we do whatever we can to help that very exciting project to come to fruition. 

Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am dynnu ein sylw at brosiect Skyline eto, ac rwy'n rhannu ei brwdfrydedd hi yn ei gylch. Mwynheais i'r cyfle i fod yn y Pierhead, a mwynheais yn arbennig y cyfle i fynd i Flaenrhondda ym mis Awst, a chyfarfod â phobl sy'n cymryd rhan uniongyrchol ym mhrosiect Skyline yn y fan honno, i fynd i weld drosof fy hun rhai o'r lleoedd y maen nhw'n gobeithio eu cwmpasu, a chlywed ganddyn nhw yr hyn yr oedden nhw'n ei feddwl byddai'r camau nesaf uniongyrchol iddyn nhw. Ac fe wnaethon nhw sôn am Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wrthyf i, felly mae Leanne Wood yn gwbl deg i dynnu sylw at yr agwedd honno ar waith y Skyline.

Cynigiais gyfarfod arall iddyn nhw yn ddiweddarach eleni, pe na fyddai'r gwaith yr oedden nhw'n cymryd rhan ynddo yn dwyn ffrwyth yn y ffordd yr oedden nhw'n dymuno. Roedden nhw'n fodlon ar y pryd i barhau â'r ymdrechion yr oedden nhw eu hunain yn eu gwneud i ddatrys rhai o'r rhwystrau yr oedden nhw'n yn eu gweld ar y ffordd. Ond dywedais wrthyn nhw bryd hynny, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i'w ailadrodd eto heddiw, os byddan nhw'n cyrraedd pwynt lle maen nhw'n teimlo nad yw eu hymdrechion eu hunain yn llwyddo i glirio rhai o'r rhwystrau, yn eu tyb nhw, i symud ymlaen, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â nhw eto, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i weithio gyda Gweinidogion eraill yma i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gwneud yr hyn a allwn ni i helpu'r prosiect cyffrous iawn hwnnw i ddwyn ffrwyth.

2. Cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Brexit (mewn perthynas â'i gyfrifoldebau fel 'swyddog cyfreithiol')
2. Questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister (in respect of his 'law officer' responsibilities)

Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol ar ei gyfirfoldebau fel swyddog cyfreithiol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Bethan Sayed. 

The next item is question to the Counsel General on his responsibilities as law officer, and the first question is from Bethan Sayed. 

Maint yr Ystâd Carchardai yng Nghymru
The Size of the Prison Estate in Wales

1. Pa sylwadau cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u gwneud ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch maint yr ystâd carchardai yng Nghymru? OAQ54520

1. What legal representations has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government relating to the size of the prison estate in Wales? OAQ54520

I have not made any legal representations on the size of the prison estate in Wales myself.

Nid wyf wedi gwneud unrhyw sylwadau cyfreithiol ynghylch maint yr ystad carchardai yng Nghymru fy hun.

Sorry, I was just struggling to hear. You said you haven't—

Mae'n ddrwg gen i, roeddwn i'n ei chael hi'n anodd clywed. Fe wnaethoch chi ddweud nad ydych—

I haven't myself made any representations in relation to that. 

Nid wyf wedi gwneud unrhyw sylwadau yn gysylltiedig â hynny.

Okay. I'm just asking in relation to the Queen's Speech, as we heard this week that there is going to be a movement by the UK Government to extend sentencing in the UK, and, of course, the Ministry of Justice has still not shelved plans for a supersized prison in south Wales. They may have shelved the Port Talbot plan, but the south Wales superprison plan has not been shelved. In light of the announcement with regard to sentencing that may bring this idea back on track, would you be able to make representations, in your capacity, to the UK Government to understand what their propositions are, and whether we would be able to have any input here in Wales, as we were not afforded that when they previously floated the idea of the Port Talbot superprison?

Iawn. Rwyf i ond yn gofyn o ran Araith y Frenhines, gan ein bod wedi clywed yr wythnos hon y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn symud i ymestyn dedfrydau yn y DU, ac wrth gwrs, nid yw'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder eto wedi rhoi'r gorau i gynlluniau ar gyfer carchar enfawr yn ne Cymru. Efallai eu bod wedi rhoi'r gorau i gynllun Port Talbot, ond nid yw cynllun uwch-garchar de Cymru wedi'i ddileu. Yng ngoleuni'r cyhoeddiad ynghylch dedfrydu a allai roi'r syniad hwn ar ben ffordd eto, a fyddech chi'n gallu cyflwyno sylwadau, yn rhinwedd eich swydd, i Lywodraeth y DU er mwyn deall beth yw eu cynigion, ac a fyddem ni'n gallu cael unrhyw fewnbwn yma yng Nghymru, gan na chawsom ni hynny pan wnaethon nhw grybwyll syniad uwch-garchar Port Talbot yn flaenorol?

I thank the Member for that supplementary question. I, too, saw the proposals made in the Queen's Speech yesterday. I'm afraid I take the entire event yesterday as something of a political stunt in the broader context of the situation in which the Government finds itself. But on the substantive point the Member makes about the prison estate in Wales, and the possibility, as she refers, of the Baglan development in particular, she will recall that, following the issues with that proposed development, the Welsh Government issued a written statement in April of last year, indicating that we wouldn't facilitate any further prison development in Wales without meaningful discussion with the Ministry of Justice about the future estate, and that any new prison development in Wales should give due regard to the needs of Wales and should be done in full collaboration and co-operation with the Welsh Government. 

I do understand that the Ministry of Justice may be pursuing sites for a new male prison in south Wales. However, we haven't had yet any further details in relation to that, but we have been pressing for those details to be provided, and we will continue to do so. But I reassure the Member that the principles set out in the statement of 6 April remain the Government's position. 

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw. Gwelais i'r cynigion a gafodd eu gwneud yn Araith y Frenhines ddoe hefyd. Mae arnaf i ofn fy mod yn dehongli’r digwyddiad cyfan ddoe fel tipyn o stỳnt wleidyddol yng nghyd-destun ehangach y sefyllfa y mae'r Llywodraeth ynddi. Ond ar y prif bwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am yr ystad carchardai yng Nghymru, a'r posibilrwydd, fel y cyfeiria hi ato, o ddatblygiad Baglan yn benodol, bydd hi'n cofio, yn dilyn y problemau gyda'r datblygiad arfaethedig hwnnw, i Lywodraeth Cymru gyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig ym mis Ebrill y llynedd, yn nodi na fyddem ni'n hwyluso unrhyw ddatblygiad pellach i garchardai yng Nghymru heb drafodaeth ystyrlon â'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder ynglŷn ag ystad y dyfodol, ac y dylai unrhyw ddatblygiad carchar newydd yng Nghymru roi sylw dyledus i anghenion Cymru ac y dylid ei wneud mewn cydweithrediad llawn â Llywodraeth Cymru.

Rwyf i'n deall y gall y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder fod yn ystyried safleoedd ar gyfer carchar newydd i ddynion yn ne Cymru. Fodd bynnag, nid ydym ni wedi cael unrhyw fanylion pellach eto o ran hynny, ond rydym ni wedi bod yn pwyso am ddarparu'r manylion hynny, a byddwn ni'n parhau i wneud hynny. Ond rwyf i yn sicrhau'r Aelod bod y Llywodraeth yn parhau i fod â'r egwyddorion a nodwyd yn y datganiad ar 6 Ebrill.

There is a real crisis, I think, in terms of the secure estate in Wales. There's always a focus on large male prisons, but there's no focus at all on the nature of the estate, and the way in which particularly women and young offenders are treated within the system. Now, this is an area where we have an entirely broken settlement, where the devolution settlement prevents both the United Kingdom Government and the Welsh Government delivering any coherent or holistic policy. So, it's a matter of absolute importance that we're able, first of all, of course, to secure the devolution of these matters to enable this place to plan a system more effectively, but, more importantly, and more urgently, possibly, to ensure that we have the facilities in this country to enable women and young offenders to be held properly in secure accommodation, where that is necessary, but also to receive the services that they require in order to promote rehabilitation within that. None of those exist at the moment within Wales. Is it possible, Counsel General, for you to use your office in order to promote this case with the Ministry of Justice and to ensure that we are able to deliver holistic policy in this field?

Rwy'n credu bod argyfwng gwirioneddol o ran yr ystad ddiogeledd yng Nghymru. Mae sylw bob amser ar garchardai mawr i ddynion, ond nid oes sylw o gwbl ar natur yr ystad, a'r ffordd y caiff menywod a throseddwyr ifanc yn arbennig eu trin o fewn y system. Nawr, mae hwn yn faes lle mae gennym ni setliad sydd wedi'i chwalu'n llwyr, lle mae'r setliad datganoli yn atal Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig a Llywodraeth Cymru rhag cyflawni unrhyw bolisi cydlynol neu gyfannol. Felly, mae'n hanfodol bwysig ein bod yn gallu, yn gyntaf, wrth gwrs, sicrhau bod y materion hyn yn cael eu datganoli er mwyn galluogi'r lle hwn i gynllunio system yn fwy effeithiol, ond, yn bwysicach, ac yn fwy taer, o bosibl, i sicrhau bod gennym ni'r cyfleusterau yn y wlad hon i alluogi menywod a throseddwyr ifanc i gael eu cynnal yn briodol mewn llety diogel, lle mae hynny'n angenrheidiol, ond hefyd i gael y gwasanaethau y mae eu hangen arnyn nhw er mwyn hybu adsefydlu o fewn hynny. Nid oes yr un o'r rheini'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd yng Nghymru. A yw'n bosibl, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, ichi ddefnyddio'ch swydd er mwyn hyrwyddo'r achos hwn gyda'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder a sicrhau ein bod yn gallu cyflwyno polisi cyfannol yn y maes hwn?

14:35

I thank the Member for that question. With regard to the matter of the devolution of the justice system, he will know, of course, that the Commission on Justice in Wales intends to report next week, and we look forward very much to hearing what conclusions they have reached in relation to this. He will know from his own engagement with the commission that this is a matter that they have, obviously, been exploring. He will also know, of course, that the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip published the female offending and youth justice blueprints, which he of course was also engaged on in his time in Government, which seek to develop, despite the devolution settlement, innovative ways of allying the services that Welsh Government can provide with the interventions that the UK Government make. And, obviously, the focus of that is on diverting people away from the criminal justice system and supporting them in a holistic and rehabilitative way.

In relation to the point he makes about female prisoners, there is no female prison in Wales, as he obviously knows, and we do not want one. Welsh women need a safe and secure facility that is fit for purpose, whilst allowing them to maintain contact with families, and in particular with their children, where that is the case. The Welsh Government has welcomed the MOJ's plans to trial five new residential centres as part of their female offending strategy, and has already made a strong case for ensuring that at least one of those proposed centres is located here in Wales.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna. O ran datganoli'r system gyfiawnder, bydd ef yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, bod y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru yn bwriadu cyflwyno adroddiad yr wythnos nesaf, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at glywed pa gasgliadau y maen nhw wedi'u cyrraedd o ran hyn. Bydd yn ymwybodol o'i ymgysylltiad ei hun â'r comisiwn fod hwn yn fater y maen nhw, yn amlwg, wedi bod yn ei archwilio. Bydd hefyd yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, fod y Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip wedi cyhoeddi glasbrintiau troseddu gan fenywod a chyfiawnder ieuenctid, y bu ef hefyd yn ymwneud â nhw, wrth gwrs, yn ystod ei gyfnod mewn Llywodraeth, sydd yn ceisio datblygu, er gwaethaf y setliad datganoli, ffyrdd arloesol o gyfuno'r gwasanaethau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu darparu â'r ymyriadau y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn eu gwneud. Ac, yn amlwg, pwyslais hynny yw ailgyfeirio pobl oddi wrth y system cyfiawnder troseddol a'u cefnogi mewn ffordd gyfannol ac adsefydlol.

O ran y pwynt y mae'n ei wneud am garcharorion benywaidd, nid oes carchar i fenywod yng Nghymru, fel y mae'n amlwg yn gwybod, ac nid ydym ni eisiau un. Mae angen cyfleuster diogel ar fenywod Cymru sy'n addas at y diben, ac ar yr un pryd yn caniatáu iddyn nhw gadw mewn cysylltiad â theuluoedd, ac yn enwedig â'u plant, pan fo hynny'n wir. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi croesawu cynlluniau'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder i dreialu pum canolfan breswyl newydd yn rhan o'u strategaeth troseddwyr benywaidd, ac mae eisoes wedi cyflwyno achos cryf dros sicrhau bod o leiaf un o'r canolfannau arfaethedig hynny wedi'i lleoli yma yng Nghymru.

Y Cynllun Bathodyn Glas
The Blue Badge Scheme

2. Pa gyngor cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i ddarparu i Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â phriodoldeb y canllawiau a roddir i awdurdodau lleol ar y cynllun bathodyn glas? OAQ54531

2. What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government in relation to the appropriateness of the guidance issued to local authorities on the blue badge scheme? OAQ54531

The Welsh Government keeps the guidance it issues on a range of matters under review. There is, of course, a debate scheduled tomorrow, to discuss the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee inquiry into the blue badge scheme in Wales, and the Government looks forward to hearing Members' views.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i adolygu y canllawiau y mae'n eu cyhoeddi ar amrywiaeth o faterion. Wrth gwrs, mae dadl wedi'i threfnu yfory, i drafod ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau i gynllun y Bathodyn Glas yng Nghymru, ac mae'r Llywodraeth yn edrych ymlaen at glywed barn yr Aelodau.

Thank you for that. Well, notwithstanding any debate, I've had constituents saying that, while the guidance issued by the Welsh Government on the blue badge scheme says that it supports the social model, they find that the legislation is medically focused and is inconsistently applied. In Neath Port Talbot, for example, we find that the council have insisted on evidence being provided by a hospital consultant, even though the applicants aren't under the care of a consultant. Do you accept, therefore, that the current situation is a mess and that your guidance and legislation in this area is lacking?

Diolch am hynny. Wel, er gwaethaf unrhyw ddadl, mae etholwyr wedi dweud wrthyf i, er bod y canllawiau a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gynllun y Bathodyn Glas yn dweud eu bod yn cefnogi'r model cymdeithasol, bod y ddeddfwriaeth â phwyslais meddygol, yn eu barn nhw, a'i bod yn cael ei chymhwyso'n anghyson. Yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, er enghraifft, mae'r cyngor wedi mynnu bod meddyg ymgynghorol ysbyty yn darparu tystiolaeth, er nad yw'r ymgeiswyr o dan ofal meddyg ymgynghorol. A ydych chi'n derbyn, felly, bod y sefyllfa bresennol yn llanastr a bod eich arweiniad a'ch deddfwriaeth yn y maes hwn yn ddiffygiol?

I thank the Member for that supplementary question. The matters that he refers to are, of course, matters that are very live in the consideration both of the committee and in relation to which a number of its recommendations apply. I know that the Minister for Economy and Transport has been engaging with the committee in relation to a number of those recommendations on an iterative basis. And I reiterate that we look forward to hearing what Members have to say in the debate tomorrow, and my colleague will respond in relation to that point.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Mae'r materion y mae e'n cyfeirio atyn nhw, wrth gwrs, yn faterion sy'n cael eu hystyried gan y pwyllgor yn bresennol ac y mae nifer o'i argymhellion yn berthnasol iddyn nhw. Gwn i fod Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth wedi bod yn ymgysylltu â'r Pwyllgor ynghylch nifer o'r argymhellion hynny ar sail reolaidd. Ac fe ddywedaf eto ein bod yn edrych ymlaen at glywed yr hyn sydd gan Aelodau i'w ddweud yn y ddadl yfory, a bydd fy nghyd-Aelod yn ymateb ynglŷn â'r pwynt hwnnw.

I recognise, Counsel General, that many of these matters under consideration are matters for the departmental Minister rather than for you, but my concern is the ability of the Welsh Government to ensure that its policy is followed across the face of the country. Because one of the issues that's just been raised by the Plaid Cymru Member for South Wales West—which I have faced in my constituency myself—is that the local authority concerned simply does not deliver the policy as it's set out by the Welsh Government. In terms of your role as Counsel General, do you provide, or have you provided, any advice to Ministers, or to others, about how they can ensure that the policy as determined by this place, as determined by the Welsh Government, is actually delivered fairly and consistently across the whole country?

Rwy'n cydnabod, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, bod llawer o'r materion hyn sy'n cael eu hystyried yn faterion i'r Gweinidog adrannol yn hytrach nag i chi, ond fy mhryder i yw gallu Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod ei pholisi'n cael ei ddilyn ledled y wlad. Oherwydd un o'r materion sydd newydd gael ei godi gan Aelod Plaid Cymru dros Dde-orllewin Cymru—yr wyf wedi'i wynebu yn fy etholaeth fy hun—yw nad yw'r awdurdod lleol dan sylw yn cyflawni'r polisi fel y mae wedi'i nodi gan Lywodraeth Cymru. O ran eich swydd chi fel Cwnsler Cyffredinol, a ydych chi'n darparu, neu a ydych chi wedi darparu, unrhyw gyngor i Weinidogion, neu i eraill, ynghylch sut y gallan nhw sicrhau bod y polisi fel y mae wedi'i bennu gan y lle hwn, fel y mae wedi'i bennu gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yn cael ei gyflawni'n deg ac yn gyson ledled y wlad gyfan?

I hesitate to assert the convention, which I know that the Member understands applies, about the nature of advice given in relation to these matters. Of course, the question of our competence is one that is very live for me, and, whilst part of my responsibility as Counsel General is to ensure that we always act within our competence, I also take it to be the case that we should also act to the fullest extent of our competence, and I can assure him that those considerations are very much uppermost in my mind in responding to these sets of issues. 

Rwy'n petruso cyn mynnu'r confensiwn, yr wyf yn ymwybodol bod yr Aelod yn deall ei fod yn berthnasol, ynghylch natur y cyngor a roddir o ran y materion hyn. Wrth gwrs, mae cwestiwn ein cymhwysedd ni yn un yr wyf yn ymwybodol iawn ohono, ac, er mai rhan o fy nghyfrifoldeb i fel Cwnsler Cyffredinol yw sicrhau ein bod bob amser yn gweithredu o fewn ein gallu, rwyf yn cymryd hefyd y dylem ni weithredu hyd eithaf ein cymhwysedd, a gallaf ei sicrhau ef bod yr ystyriaethau hynny'n flaenllaw iawn yn fy meddwl wrth ymateb i'r setiau hyn o faterion.

14:40
Y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru
The Commission on Justice in Wales

3. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am waith y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru? OAQ54513

3. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the work of the Commission on Justice in Wales? OAQ54513

The Commission on Justice in Wales is due to publish its report on Thursday 24 October, and I look forward to reading the report.

Y disgwyl yw y bydd y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru yn cyhoeddi ei adroddiad ddydd Iau 24 Hydref, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ddarllen yr adroddiad.

Diolch. The Commission on Justice in Wales has published its recommendation regarding the law council for Wales. Its intended aims are to be commended, especially the promoting of assisting students in their education and training as future practitioners. The details of the proposed council highlight that it will help Welsh law schools to provide their students with the necessary education and training to thrive in practice. Now, according to UCAS, this academic year 890 undergraduate students from Wales started law courses across the UK. For example, universities such as Chester, Birmingham and Bristol are key centres for students who then go on to practice in Wales. Will you clarify whether the commission will have an influence on education and practice outside of Wales, and, if not, explain whether you accept that this is potentially negative news for awareness of Welsh law that does need addressing? 

Diolch. Mae'r Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru wedi cyhoeddi ei argymhelliad ynghylch Cyngor Cyfraith Cymru. Mae'r nodau a fwriedir ganddo i'w cymeradwyo, yn enwedig hybu cynorthwyo myfyrwyr yn eu haddysg a'u hyfforddiant fel ymarferwyr y dyfodol. Mae manylion y cyngor arfaethedig yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith y bydd yn helpu ysgolion cyfraith Cymru i roi'r addysg a'r hyfforddiant angenrheidiol i'w myfyrwyr er mwyn iddyn nhw ffynnu wrth ymarfer. Nawr, yn ôl UCAS, yn y flwyddyn academaidd hon, dechreuodd 890 o fyfyrwyr israddedig o Gymru ar gyrsiau cyfraith ledled y DU. Er enghraifft, mae prifysgolion fel Caer, Birmingham a Bryste yn ganolfannau allweddol i fyfyrwyr sy'n mynd ymlaen i ymarfer yng Nghymru. A wnewch chi egluro a fydd y comisiwn yn dylanwadu ar addysg ac ymarfer y tu allan i Gymru, ac, os na, esboniwch a ydych chi'n derbyn y gallai hyn fod yn newyddion negyddol o ran ymwybyddiaeth o gyfraith Cymru y mae angen ymdrin â hi?

Well, as I say, in relation to the particular recommendations that the commission will be making, we await to see what those recommendations are. I think it would be inappropriate to prejudge the work of an independent commission in that sense. She makes an important point about where students study the law and where they end up practising. She'll also know, I think, that Welsh law schools teach law to students from all over the UK and across the world. So, this is a matter where people study inside and outside Wales and practice in a number of settings.

But the point in relation to familiarity with Welsh law, which I know is at the heart of her question, is one which I'm very seized of, not least given the discussion we've had elsewhere and in this Chamber on other occasions in relation to the accessibility of Welsh law generally, and certainly in discussions I've had with the law schools, since my appointment as Counsel General, I have sought to look for opportunities to impress upon them how important it is to ensure that Welsh law plays its full part in the syllabus and prospectus of university courses, not, as it were, solely from the point of view of constitutional aspects but also the substantive law. And, as we here legislate more and more, I'm confident that the proportion of law taught in law schools in Wales that Welsh law represents will increase.   

Wel, fel y dywedaf i, o ran yr argymhellion penodol y bydd y comisiwn yn eu gwneud, rydym ni'n aros i weld beth yw'r argymhellion hynny. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n amhriodol rhagfarnu gwaith comisiwn annibynnol o ran hynny. Mae hi'n gwneud pwynt pwysig ynghylch lle mae myfyrwyr yn astudio'r gyfraith a lle maen nhw'n ymarfer yn y pen draw. Mae hi hefyd yn gwybod, rwy'n credu, bod ysgolion cyfraith Cymru yn addysgu'r gyfraith i fyfyrwyr o bob rhan o'r DU a ledled y byd. Felly, mae hwn yn fater lle mae pobl yn astudio y tu mewn a'r tu allan i Gymru ac yn ymarfer mewn nifer o leoliadau.

Ond mae'r pwynt ynglŷn â bod yn gyfarwydd â chyfraith Cymru, sydd, y gwn i, wrth wraidd ei chwestiwn, yn un yr wyf i'n ymwybodol iawn ohono, yn enwedig o ystyried y drafodaeth a gawsom ni mewn mannau eraill ac yn y Siambr hon ar adegau eraill o ran hygyrchedd cyfraith Cymru yn gyffredinol, ac yn sicr mewn trafodaethau yr wyf i wedi'u cael ag ysgolion y gyfraith, ers fy mhenodi'n Gwnsler Cyffredinol, rwyf i wedi ceisio chwilio am gyfleoedd i dynnu eu sylw at ba mor bwysig yw hi i sicrhau bod cyfraith Cymru yn chwarae ei rhan lawn yn y maes llafur a phrosbectws cyrsiau Prifysgol, nid, fel petai, o safbwynt agweddau cyfansoddiadol yn unig, ond hefyd y gyfraith sylwedd. Ac, wrth i ni ddeddfu yma fwyfwy, rwy'n hyderus y bydd y gyfran o'r gyfraith sy'n cael ei haddysgu yn ysgolion y gyfraith yng Nghymru y mae cyfraith Cymru yn ei chynrychioli yn cynyddu.

Both the Counsel General and I, of course, gave evidence to the commission during its consideration, and, like you, I look forward to hearing its report next week. There is a fundamental issue at stake here with its work, of course, and that is about the nature of the settlement within the United Kingdom. We have addressed issues during First Minister's questions and during this session of questions to you already on these matters. Do you agree with me that it is important that, in Wales, as we look towards developing our own jurisdiction and to ensure that we have access to law as a social justice issue, but also a coherent statute book in terms of constitutional law, we look across the world for examples of how that is being achieved?

I and other Members were fortunate enough to visit Jerusalem earlier in the year and to meet with a former chief justice of Israel, where he explained how the Israeli jurisdiction grew out of the British jurisdiction following the secession of the UK mandate in Palestine, and was able to develop a jurisdiction over time of its own and take on additional powers and additional responsibilities as time grew. It appears to me that that's a very good model for Wales and a very good model that we may be able to follow.

Without prejudging the report of the commission next week, Counsel General, I'd be grateful if you could ensure that Members would have an early opportunity to debate these matters, and also ensure that we have a richer appreciation of how a Welsh jurisdiction will help us to achieve our ambitions for social justice but also ensure that we have a more coherent United Kingdom at the end of this process. 

Wrth gwrs, rhoddodd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a minnau dystiolaeth i'r comisiwn wrth iddo gael ei ystyried, ac, yn debyg i chi, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at glywed ei adroddiad yr wythnos nesaf. Mae mater sylfaenol yn y fantol yma gyda'i waith, wrth gwrs, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â natur y setliad o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig. Rydym ni wedi mynd i'r afael â materion yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ac yn ystod y sesiwn hon o gwestiynau i chi eisoes ar y materion hyn. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi ei bod yn bwysig, yng Nghymru, wrth inni edrych tuag at ddatblygu ein hawdurdodaeth ein hunain a sicrhau ein bod yn gallu defnyddio’r gyfraith fel mater o gyfiawnder cymdeithasol, ond hefyd llyfr statud cydlynol o ran cyfraith gyfansoddiadol, ein bod yn edrych ledled y byd ar gyfer enghreifftiau o sut y mae hynny'n cael ei gyflawni?

Roeddwn i ac Aelodau eraill yn ddigon ffodus i ymweld â Jerwsalem yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn ac i gyfarfod â chyn brif ustus Israel, lle yr eglurodd sut y tyfodd awdurdodaeth Israel o awdurdodaeth Prydain yn dilyn ymwahaniad mandad y DU yn Palestina, ac roedd yn gallu datblygu awdurdodaeth ei hun dros amser a chymryd pwerau ychwanegol a chyfrifoldebau ychwanegol wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen. Mae'n ymddangos i mi fod hwnnw'n fodel da iawn i Gymru ac yn fodel da iawn y gallwn ni ei ddilyn o bosibl.

Heb ragfarnu adroddiad y comisiwn yr wythnos nesaf, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe gallech chi sicrhau bod aelodau'n cael cyfle cynnar i drafod y materion hyn, a sicrhau hefyd bod gennym werthfawrogiad cyfoethocach o sut y bydd awdurdodaeth i Gymru yn ein helpu ni i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, ond hefyd i sicrhau bod gennym ni Deyrnas Unedig sy'n fwy cydlynol ar ddiwedd y broses hon.

Well, I thank the Member for that question. I will be interested in discussing further with him his reflections on the meeting and discussions he had with the former chief justice of Israel. In my capacity as Counsel General, I've looked into the question of jurisdiction with interest, and discussed in Scotland and Northern Ireland how their arrangements work and differ from ours here. I do think that the report of the Commission on Justice in Wales will operate partly as a catalyst for a richer set of discussions in this institution than perhaps we would have had to embrace in the past about questions in relation to criminal justice, broadly, and how that sits within the devolution settlement. And, in particular, the point that the Member makes about the question of jurisdiction arrangements into the future, I obviously don't wish to prejudge anything that the commission may say, but these are very important issues for us as the body of Welsh law continues to expand as we do our work.

Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna. Bydd gennyf i ddiddordeb mewn trafod ymhellach gydag ef ei fyfyrdodau ar y cyfarfod a'r trafodaethau a gafodd gyda chyn brif ustus Israel. Yn rhinwedd fy swydd fel Cwnsler Cyffredinol, rwyf wedi ystyried mater awdurdodaeth â diddordeb, ac wedi trafod yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon sut mae eu trefniadau nhw'n gweithio a sut y maen nhw'n wahanol i'n rhai ni yma. Rwy'n credu y bydd adroddiad y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru yn gweithredu'n rhannol fel catalydd ar gyfer cyfres fwy cyfoethog o drafodaethau yn y sefydliad hwn nag efallai y byddem ni wedi gorfod ei derbyn yn y gorffennol ynglŷn â chwestiynau ynghylch cyfiawnder troseddol, yn fras, a sut mae hynny'n rhan o'r setliad datganoli. Ac, yn benodol, y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am fater trefniadau awdurdodaeth i'r dyfodol, yn amlwg nid wyf am ragfarnu unrhyw beth y gallai'r Comisiwn ei ddweud, ond mae'r rhain yn faterion pwysig iawn i ni gan fod corff cyfraith Cymru yn parhau i ehangu wrth i ni gyflawni ein gwaith.

14:45
Terfynau Cyflymder Diogel
Safe Speed Limits

4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cynnal gyda'i gyd-Weinidogion yn y Cabinet ynghylch datblygu cynigion deddfwriaethol i sicrhau terfynau cyflymder diogel ledled Cymru? OAQ54514

4. What discussions has the Counsel General had with Cabinet colleagues about developing legislative proposals to deliver safe speed limits across Wales? OAQ54514

The First Minister announced in May that we support 20 mph as the default speed limit in built-up areas and we have established, as a Government, a task and finish group to provide recommendations on how to implement this, including potential changes to legislation.

Cyhoeddodd y Prif Weinidog ym mis Mai ein bod yn cefnogi 20 mya fel y terfyn cyflymder diofyn mewn ardaloedd adeiledig ac rydym ni wedi sefydlu, fel Llywodraeth, grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen i ddarparu argymhellion ar sut i weithredu hyn, gan gynnwys newidiadau posibl i ddeddfwriaeth.

Thank you. Well, I, for one, on behalf of my constituents in Aberconwy, was really pleased to hear the First Minister make that commitment because it's a big issue in my mailbox currently.

Welsh Government guidance 'Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales' has a major influence, obviously, on speed-limit decisions when considering the provision of a speed limit or modifications in a rural area. Highway authorities are supposed to consider 12 distinct factors. I myself have published a report that highlights that almost all considerations seem to be focused primarily on the numbers and types of collisions when they happen. Now, due to a lack of reported collisions, countless winding rural roads are currently stuck with dangerous speed limits. The First Minister has, in correspondence to me, advised that some of my work will be considered as part of a review of guidance, but I am concerned that progress will only be achieved by legalisation of the factors to be considered on setting local speed limits in Wales. Would you be willing to liaise with your Cabinet colleagues, and indeed the First Minister, to assess the potential implication of legalisation of the guidance?

Diolch. Wel, rwyf i, ar ran fy etholwyr yn Aberconwy, yn falch iawn o glywed y Prif Weinidog yn gwneud yr ymrwymiad hwnnw gan ei fod yn fater pwysig yn fy mlwch negeseuon ar hyn o bryd.

Mae canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru 'Pennu Terfynau Cyflymder Lleol yng Nghymru' yn cael dylanwad mawr, yn amlwg, ar benderfyniadau ar derfynau cyflymder wrth ystyried darparu terfyn cyflymder neu addasiadau mewn ardal wledig. Mae awdurdodau'r priffyrdd i fod i ystyried 12 ffactor penodol. Rwyf i fy hun wedi cyhoeddi adroddiad sy'n tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod bron pob ystyriaeth, mae'n ymddangos, yn canolbwyntio'n bennaf ar y niferoedd a'r mathau o wrthdrawiadau pan fyddant yn digwydd. Oherwydd diffyg yn y nifer o wrthdrawiadau sy'n cael eu hadrodd, mae ffyrdd gwledig troellog rhif y gwlith yn gaeth i derfynau cyflymder peryglus. Mae'r Prif Weinidog, mewn gohebiaeth ataf i, wedi dweud y bydd rhywfaint o fy ngwaith yn cael ei ystyried yn rhan o adolygiad o'r canllawiau, ond rwy'n bryderus mai dim ond drwy gyfreithloni'r ffactorau i'w hystyried ynghylch pennu terfynau cyflymder lleol yng Nghymru y bydd modd cyflawni cynnydd. A fyddech chi'n barod i gysylltu â'ch cyd-Weinidogion yn y Cabinet, ac yn wir â'r Prif Weinidog, i asesu goblygiadau posibl cyfreithloni'r canllawiau?

Well, I thank the Member for that supplementary question. I'm always happy to co-operate with my colleagues in Government in relation to these matters and, indeed, every other relevant matter.

The taskforce has now met, I think, on two occasions to investigate the evidence that I know she will wish us, as a Government, to take into account, and has begun to identify the range of matters that she alludes to in her questions. The recommendations of that group, which will cover this ground, will be presented to the Minister and the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport before summer recess next year, and I'm sure those considerations will be uppermost in their minds.

Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Rwyf i bob amser yn hapus i gydweithredu â fy nghyd-Weinidogion yn y Llywodraeth ynghylch y materion hyn ac, yn wir, â phob mater perthnasol arall.

Mae'r tasglu bellach wedi cyfarfod, rwy'n credu, ar ddau achlysur i ymchwilio i'r dystiolaeth y gwn i y bydd hi'n dymuno i ni, fel Llywodraeth, ei hystyried, ac rydym ni wedi dechrau nodi'r amryw o faterion y mae hi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw yn ei chwestiynau. Bydd argymhellion y grŵp hwnnw, a fydd yn cwmpasu'r maes hwn, yn cael eu cyflwyno i'r Gweinidog ac i Ddirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth cyn toriad yr haf y flwyddyn nesaf, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr ystyriaethau hynny flaenaf yn eu meddyliau.

3. Datganiad a Chyhoeddiad Busnes
3. Business Statement and Announcement

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud ei datganiad. Rebecca Evans.

The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call the Trefnydd to make the statement. Rebecca Evans.

Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's business: tomorrow's short debate on the importance of animal welfare to promote Wales's image has been withdrawn. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement that can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Diolch, Llywydd. Mae un newid i fusnes yr wythnos hon: tynnwyd yn ôl y ddadl fer yfory ar bwysigrwydd lles anifeiliaid i hyrwyddo delwedd Cymru. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w gweld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfodydd sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.

Can I call for two statements from the Welsh Government? The first one is from the Minister for Health and Social Services, and it's in relation to secondary breast cancer and awareness of secondary breast cancer. The thirteenth of October, last Sunday, marked Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day, and I don't know if you're familiar with details about secondary breast cancer, but the reality is that there are thousands of people in Wales who are living with secondary breast cancer and, unfortunately, many of those will have experienced significant delays in diagnosis. According to statistics, it suggests that about one in three patients have to visit their GP more than three times in order to secure a diagnosis; one in four have expressed concerns about access to treatment; and one in three are not allocated a clinical nurse specialist, even once they've been diagnosed. So, clearly there needs to be some action on this front, and it would be good to have a statement from the Welsh Government about what action is being taken in order to address those particular concerns.

Can I also call for a statement from the Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs in relation to Old Colwyn's sea defences? I know that I've raised this matter on many occasions over the years in this Chamber, but you'll be aware that Conwy County Borough Council are trying to revisit the situation and to evaluate the current state of those sea defences. They have warned that the sea defences are at risk of catastrophic collapse. We know that those sea defences are right alongside the A55 and the north Wales railway line, and, in addition, they protect a significant part of the sewerage network in the Old Colwyn area. I think it's absolutely essential that we get to grips with the issue that is there in Old Colwyn, so that we can have those sea defences properly reinforced rather than the patch repairs that are done on an occasional basis by the local authority at the moment. I know that the budget round is coming up, and I think that may give scope for a big infrastructure project in places like Old Colwyn in order to protect that part of the coastline from collapse. I wonder whether we could have a statement on the readiness of the Welsh Government to address this particular problem in my constituency.

A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru? Mae'r un cyntaf gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac mae'n ymwneud â chanser eilaidd y fron ac ymwybyddiaeth o ganser eilaidd y fron. Roedd y trydydd ar ddeg o Hydref, ddydd Sul diwethaf, yn nodi Diwrnod Ymwybyddiaeth Canser Eilaidd y Fron, ac nid wyf yn gwybod a ydych chi'n gyfarwydd â manylion ynghylch ganser eilaidd y fron, ond y gwir yw bod miloedd o bobl yng Nghymru yn byw gyda chanser eilaidd y fron, ac, yn anffodus, bydd llawer o'r rheini wedi profi oedi sylweddol o ran cael diagnosis. Yn ôl ystadegau, mae'n awgrymu bod yn rhaid i un o bob tri chlaf ymweld â'u meddyg teulu fwy na theirgwaith er mwyn sicrhau diagnosis; mae un o bob pedwar wedi mynegi pryderon am y gallu i gael triniaeth; ac nid yw nyrs glinigol arbenigol yn cael ei neilltuo i un o bob tri, hyd yn oed ar ôl iddyn nhw gael diagnosis. Felly, yn amlwg mae angen gweithredu yn y maes hwn, a byddai'n dda cael datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â pha gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon penodol hynny.

A gaf i hefyd alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig o ran amddiffynfeydd môr Hen Golwyn? Gwn fy mod wedi codi'r mater hwn droeon dros y blynyddoedd yn y Siambr hon, ond byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy yn ceisio ailedrych ar y sefyllfa a gwerthuso cyflwr presennol yr amddiffynfeydd môr hynny. Maen nhw wedi rhybuddio bod yr amddiffynfeydd môr mewn perygl o ddymchwel yn llwyr. Rydym ni'n ymwybodol bod yr amddiffynfeydd môr hynny'n union wrth ochr yr A55 a rheilffordd gogledd Cymru, a hefyd maen nhw'n diogelu rhan sylweddol o'r rhwydwaith carthffosiaeth yn ardal Hen Golwyn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â'r mater sydd yno yn Hen Golwyn, fel y gallwn ni gael yr amddiffynfeydd môr hynny'n wedi'u hatgyfnerthu'n iawn yn hytrach na'r atgyweiriadau dros dro a wneir yn achlysurol gan yr awdurdod lleol ar hyn o bryd. Gwn fod cylch y gyllideb ar ddod, ac rwy'n credu y gallai hynny roi cyfle ar gyfer prosiect seilwaith mawr mewn lleoedd fel Hen Golwyn er mwyn diogelu'r rhan honno o'r morlin rhag dymchwel. Tybed a allem ni gael datganiad am barodrwydd Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem arbennig hon yn fy etholaeth i?

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.

14:50

Thank you, Darren Millar, for raising those issues this afternoon. On the first, relating to secondary breast cancer and the particular concerns that have been raised in terms of delays in diagnosis, access to treatment and of course access to a clinical nurse specialist, I will ask the health Minister to write to you outlining the Welsh Government's action on each of those areas.FootnoteLink

The Old Colwyn sea defences—I know that you've raised this a number of times over the years. Can I ask you to write to the environment Minister with your specific concerns, particularly relating to the sewage line and so forth, so that she can consider that?

Diolch, Darren Millar, am godi'r materion hynny y prynhawn yma. O ran y cyntaf, sy'n ymwneud â chanser eilaidd y fron a'r pryderon penodol a godwyd o ran oedi cyn cael diagnosis, cael gafael ar driniaeth, a chael gafael ar, wrth gwrs, nyrs glinigol arbenigol, gofynnaf i'r Gweinidog Iechyd ysgrifennu atoch chi yn amlinellu camau gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru ar bob un o'r meysydd hynny.FootnoteLink

Amddiffynfeydd môr Hen Golwyn—gwn eich bod chi wedi codi hyn sawl gwaith yn ystod y blynyddoedd. A gaf i ofyn i chi ysgrifennu at Weinidog yr Amgylchedd gyda'ch pryderon penodol, yn enwedig o ran y llinell garthion ac yn y blaen, fel y gall hi ystyried hynny?

The first matter I want to raise today concerns Barclays Bank's decision to take away the ability of its customers to use the Post Office to access their accounts. For people in some of the communities that I represent, this has caused great concern after the recent closure of Barclays Bank branches in the Rhondda. Indeed, the ability of customers to use the Post Office following the closure of the local Barclays branch was cited by senior management within the bank as a means of softening the blow when they closed those branches. Barclays are putting profit before the people who have stood loyally by them over many, many years. What happens when other banks follow suit and cut their ties with the Post Office network as well? This would jeopardise personal banking in isolated areas of the country, and it would jeopardise the sustainability of the Post Office branches. So can you tell me what representations have been made by this Government, or what representations can be made by the Welsh Government on this matter?

I want to express my deep concern at events in Catalonia. Nine Catalan leaders were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison for having the temerity to represent in a peaceful and democratic manner the wishes of the people who elected them. I can scarcely believe that this is happening in Europe and in 2019. It is shocking that a so-called modern democracy could act in such an authoritarian way. It is shocking that the international community, and especially fellow European Governments, have been largely silent on this matter, and it is shocking that the UK press coverage has been so unsympathetic to the Catalan politicians.

So I wish to express solidarity with the imprisoned politicians and others, and in particular the Speaker, Carme Forcadell, who has been incarcerated for 18 months without trial and now faces another 11 years in prison away from her children and her grandchildren. Her crime? As Llywydd, she just allowed the debate to be held. So I want to express solidarity with the Catalan people who remain steadfast in their determination to achieve independence. Their courage in the face of such horrific state brutality and violence remains an inspiration.

Now, I'm not aware that the Welsh Government has issued a statement on this matter. It's not possible to be a bystander on a question like this. Will you therefore agree to allocate time this week for a Government-backed debate on this grave injustice that is happening so close to home?

Mae'r mater cyntaf yr wyf i am ei godi heddiw'n ymwneud â phenderfyniad Banc Barclays i ddileu gallu ei gwsmeriaid i ddefnyddio Swyddfa'r Post i fynd at eu cyfrifon. I bobl yn rhai o'r cymunedau yr wyf i yn eu cynrychioli, mae hyn wedi achosi pryder mawr ar ôl cau canghennau banc Barclays yn y Rhondda yn ddiweddar. Yn wir, cyfeiriodd uwch reolwyr yn y banc at allu cwsmeriaid i ddefnyddio Swyddfa'r Post ar ôl i gangen leol Barclays gau, fel ffordd o leddfu'r ergyd pan gaewyd y canghennau hynny ganddyn nhw. Mae Barclays yn blaenoriaethu elw dros y bobl sydd wedi eu cefnogi yn ffyddlon dros flynyddoedd lawer. Beth fydd yn digwydd pan fydd banciau eraill yn dilyn eu hesiampl ac yn torri eu cysylltiadau â'r rhwydwaith Swyddfeydd Post hefyd? Byddai hyn yn peryglu bancio personol mewn ardaloedd ynysig o'r wlad, a byddai'n peryglu cynaliadwyedd canghennau Swyddfa'r Post. Felly, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthyf i ba sylwadau sydd wedi'u cyflwyno gan y Llywodraeth hon, neu pa sylwadau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu cyflwyno ar y mater hwn?

Hoffwn i fynegi fy mhryder mawr am ddigwyddiadau yng Nghatalonia. Dedfrydwyd naw arweinydd Catalanaidd i rhwng naw a 13 o flynyddoedd yn y carchar am fod mor eofn â chynrychioli mewn modd heddychlon a democrataidd ddymuniadau'r bobl a'u hetholodd. Prin y gallaf gredu bod hyn yn digwydd yn Ewrop ac yn 2019. Mae'n warthus y gallai democratiaeth fodern, honedig, weithredu mewn ffordd mor awdurdodol. Mae'n warthus bod y gymuned ryngwladol, ac yn enwedig cyd-Lywodraethau Ewropeaidd, wedi bod yn dawedog ar y mater hwn i raddau helaeth, ac mae'n frawychus bod sylw'r wasg yn y DU wedi bod mor ddigydymdeimlad â gwleidyddion Catalonia.

Felly, rwy'n dymuno mynegi undod â'r gwleidyddion a garcharwyd ac eraill, ac yn arbennig y llefarydd, Carme Forcadell, sydd wedi ei charcharu am 18 mis heb brawf ac sydd bellach yn wynebu 11 mlynedd arall yn y carchar oddi wrth ei phlant a'i hwyrion a'i wyresau. Ei throsedd? Fel Llywydd, y cyfan y gwnaeth hi oedd caniatáu i'r ddadl gael ei chynnal. Felly rwyf am fynegi undod â phobl Catalonia sy'n dal i fod yn gadarn yn eu penderfyniad i sicrhau annibyniaeth. Mae eu dewrder yn wyneb y fath greulondeb erchyll a thrais gan y wladwriaeth yn parhau i fod yn ysbrydoliaeth.

Nawr, nid wyf i'n ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ar y mater hwn. Nid yw'n bosibl bod yn un sy'n sefyll gerllaw ar gwestiwn fel hwn. A wnewch chi felly gytuno i neilltuo amser yr wythnos hon ar gyfer dadl a gefnogir gan y Llywodraeth ar yr anghyfiawnder difrifol hwn sy'n digwydd mor agos atom ni?

Thank you very much. On the first issue, where you expressed concern over Barclays Bank not allowing their customers to use the Post Office for their banking needs, obviously we would share those concerns, because as you say, when banks decide to pull out of communities, we're regularly told that it won't have an impact on those individuals because they can use the local post office. And if the Minister hasn't yet made representations on that matter, I will ensure that we do so.FootnoteLink FootnoteLink

I think that the First Minister set out our approach in relation to the Catalan issue during his First Minister’s question time this afternoon. He said that as a general rule he is and Welsh Government is reluctant to be drawn into matters that aren't the responsibility of Welsh Government or of this institution, but took the opportunity to say that we are rightly concerned about the imprisonment of democratically elected representatives, and we would certainly be of the view that it is political dialogue and political discourse that should be the way forward.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. O ran y mater cyntaf, pan wnaethoch chi fynegi pryder ynghylch Banc Barclays yn peidio â chaniatáu i'w gwsmeriaid ddefnyddio Swyddfa'r Post ar gyfer eu hanghenion bancio, mae'n amlwg ein bod yn rhannu'r pryderon hynny, oherwydd fel y dywedwch chi, pan fo banciau'n penderfynu tynnu allan o gymunedau, dywedir yn rheolaidd wrthym ni na fydd yn cael effaith ar yr unigolion hynny oherwydd y gallan nhw ddefnyddio'r swyddfa bost leol. Ac os nad yw'r Gweinidog wedi cyflwyno sylwadau ar y mater hwnnw eto, byddaf yn sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud hynny.FootnoteLink FootnoteLink

Rwy'n credu i'r Prif Weinidog amlinellu ein hagwedd at fater Catalonia yn ystod sesiwn holi'r Prif Weinidog y prynhawn yma. Dywedodd ei fod, fel rheol gyffredinol, yn amharod i gael ei dynnu i mewn i faterion nad ydyn nhw yn gyfrifoldeb ar Lywodraeth Cymru na'r sefydliad hwn, ond manteisiodd ar y cyfle i ddweud ein bod yn pryderu'n briodol am garcharu cynrychiolwyr a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd, a byddem ni yn sicr o'r farn mai deialog wleidyddol a thrafodaeth wleidyddol ddylai fod y ffordd ymlaen.

14:55

I wanted to raise the matter of constituents who are having difficulty getting their ears syringed without having to pay considerable sums of money. They've got blocked ears through a build-up of ear wax and when they have been to their GP surgeries, they've been told that this facility no longer exists at their GPs and they've been referred to private businesses who are charging them as much as £95.

This is not the first time that this matter has been raised in the Assembly, because nearly three years ago Vaughan Gething, the health Minister, issued a statement saying that ear syringing is provided through the NHS and no-one should expect to have to pay for this service. So, given that this has been happening in more than one surgery, I just wondered if we could have a further statement from the health Minister to clarify whether the Welsh Government has changed their policy, and if not, what action is going to be taken in discussion with the health boards to ensure that this very basic service—being able to hear—is available as part of the NHS.

Roeddwn am godi mater etholwyr sy'n cael anhawster i gael chwistrellu eu clustiau heb orfod talu symiau sylweddol o arian. Mae eu clustiau wedi blocio â chwyr clust a phan fyddan nhw'n ymweld â'u meddygfeydd, maen nhw'n cael gwybod nad yw'r cyfleuster hwn yn bodoli bellach gyda'u meddygon teulu ac maent yn cael eu hatgyfeirio at fusnesau preifat sy'n codi cymaint â £95.

Nid dyma'r tro cyntaf i'r mater hwn gael ei godi yn y Cynulliad, oherwydd ymron i dair blynedd yn ôl cyhoeddodd Vaughan Gething, y Gweinidog iechyd, ddatganiad yn dweud bod chwistrellu clustiau yn cael ei ddarparu drwy'r GIG ac na ddylai neb ddisgwyl gorfod talu am y gwasanaeth hwn. Felly, o ystyried bod hyn wedi bod yn digwydd mewn mwy nag un feddygfa, tybed a allem ni gael datganiad pellach gan y Gweinidog iechyd i egluro a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi newid ei pholisi, ac os na, pa gamau sy'n mynd i gael eu cymryd mewn trafodaeth â'r Byrddau Iechyd i sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth sylfaenol iawn hwn—sef gallu clywed—ar gael fel rhan o'r GIG.

Thank you very much to Jenny Rathbone for raising that issue and there's been no change in terms of Welsh Government’s approach. Wax management is provided through the NHS in Wales and nobody should be expected to have to pay for those services. It's not explicitly part of the GP contract and, as such, some GPs have traditionally provided services whereas others have simply referred all of their patients with ear wax symptoms to hospital ear, nose and throat departments. And if a GP practice doesn't provide a wax management service, the practice should refer the patient to the health board's ear care nurse specialist. I will ask the health Minister to consider how we can recommunicate that to health boards so that there’s no confusion among GPs about their responsibilities for wax management.

Diolch yn fawr i Jenny Rathbone am godi'r mater hwnnw ac ni fu unrhyw newid o ran dull gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru. Darperir rheolaeth cwyr drwy'r GIG yng Nghymru ac ni ddylid disgwyl i neb dalu am y gwasanaethau hynny. Nid yw'n rhan benodol o'r contract meddygon teulu ac, fel y cyfryw, mae rhai meddygon teulu wedi darparu gwasanaethau'n draddodiadol tra bod eraill wedi cyfeirio pob un o'u cleifion â symptomau cwyr clust i adrannau clust, trwyn a gwddf yr ysbyty. Os nad yw meddygfa yn darparu gwasanaeth rheoli cwyr, dylai'r practis gyfeirio'r claf at nyrs gofal y glust y bwrdd iechyd. Byddaf yn gofyn i'r Gweinidog iechyd ystyried sut y gallwn ail-gyfleu hynny i'r byrddau iechyd fel nad oes unrhyw ddryswch ymhlith meddygon teulu ynghylch eu cyfrifoldebau o ran rheoli cwyr.

If I could endorse the sentiments raised by the Member for Cardiff Central, I too have come across this in the Vale of Glamorgan, where surgeries have not so much withdrawn the service, but when their equipment has become antiquated and dilapidated, they haven't replaced that equipment and therefore they say that they cannot perform the procedure at the surgery. And the point that the organiser made to the Assembly just now in her response, that you can get thrown into the system of the local health board making arrangements and referred to the hospital, surely this is the very thing that the First Minister was talking about, which was developing more community-based solutions so that people don't go into the acute sector to have these basic problems sorted. It has to be done and I would hope that that communication between you and the health Secretary will reinforce what the Government expects.

Two things if I could ask from you today, organiser: one is Tomlinsons Dairies Ltd, which has gone into administration. I'm speaking in my role as spokesperson on rural affairs for the Conservative group on this particular issue. Whilst it is deeply, deeply troubling for the workers, the farmer-suppliers and everyone involved with this major employer in the area and production facility that it has gone into administration, it is slightly disappointing that a statement hasn't been forthcoming to date from the Welsh Government over what support is being afforded to the facility, and importantly what the Welsh Government knew about the precarious situation this dairy found itself in.

If press reports are to be believed, Welsh Government has been involved in a turn-around plan at this facility for 18 months, and yet, overnight, obviously supplies were withdrawn or suppliers were instructed not to send their supply in and employees were left in a very precarious situation with little or no information, as well as obviously substantial sums of money—I believe in excess of £5 million has been pumped in by the Welsh Government to support the expansion of the facility. So, it is very important on a number of fronts that a statement is forthcoming. In the immediacy that statement should deal with what support is there for the workers at the facility and the farmer-suppliers, but secondly, there should be clarification as to the level of involvement the Welsh Government had with this key facility in north-east Wales, which was a key supplier of Welsh milk. And as I understand it, in the short term, that milk now is going to be branded British milk, because, obviously, there aren't facilities to produce Welsh milk in the area at the moment, as Arla have indicated in the e-mail to Members today.

Secondly, I would hope that the organiser will make time available in Government time so that we can have a debate—a debate on the need for a general election, organiser. The First Minister said that we needed a general election in response to the first question today. You are very often organising debates so that this Assembly can speak with one voice. I would hope that Members around this Chamber want to speak with one voice and say that it's a matter of urgency that we have a general election and that you will commit to bringing forward a Government debate so that we can endorse the creation of an environment for a general election so that the Conservatives can endorse what we want to do for the country, with a manifesto that will be supported by the people the length and breadth of Wales and beyond.

Os gallaf ategu'r teimladau a fynegwyd gan yr Aelod dros Ganol Caerdydd, rwyf innau hefyd wedi dod ar draws hyn ym Mro Morgannwg, lle nad yw meddygfeydd wedi tynnu'r gwasanaeth yn ôl, ond yn hytrach pan fo'u hoffer wedi mynd yn hen ffasiwn ac yn dirywio, nid ydynt wedi adnewyddu'r offer hwnnw ac felly maent yn dweud na allant gyflawni'r weithdrefn yn y feddygfa. A'r pwynt a wnaeth y Trefnydd i'r Cynulliad gynnau yn ei hymateb, y gallwch chi gael eich taflu i mewn i system y byrddau iechyd lleol sy'n gwneud trefniadau a chyfeirio at yr ysbyty, onid dyma'r union beth yr oedd y Prif Weinidog yn sôn amdano, sef datblygu atebion mwy cymunedol fel nad yw pobl yn mynd i'r sector acíwt i ymdrin â'r problemau sylfaenol hyn. Mae'n rhaid gwneud hynny, a byddwn yn gobeithio y bydd y cyfathrebu hwnnw rhyngoch chi a'r Ysgrifennydd Iechyd yn atgyfnerthu'r hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei ddisgwyl.

Rwyf am ofyn dau beth os caf heddiw, Trefnydd: un yw Tomlinsons Dairies Ltd, sydd wedi mynd i ddwylo'r gweinyddwyr. Rwy'n siarad yn fy swyddogaeth fel y llefarydd ar faterion gwledig ar ran y grŵp Ceidwadol ar y mater penodol hwn. Er bod hyn yn peri gofid mawr i'r gweithwyr, i'r ffermwyr-gyflenwyr ac i bawb sy'n ymwneud â'r cyflogwr mawr hwn yn yr ardal a'r cyfleuster cynhyrchu sydd wedi mynd i ddwylo'r gweinyddwyr, mae braidd yn siomedig nad oes datganiad wedi'i wneud hyd yma gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynghylch pa gymorth sy'n cael ei roi i'r cyfleuster, ac yn bwysig hefyd, beth oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwybod am y sefyllfa fregus y llaethdy hwn.

Os credwn yr adroddiadau yn y wasg, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â chynllun newid yn y cyfleuster hwn ers 18 mis. Ac eto i gyd, dros nos, yn amlwg cafodd cyflenwadau eu tynnu'n ôl neu cafodd cyflenwyr gyfarwyddyd i beidio ag anfon eu cyflenwad i mewn ac roedd gweithwyr yn cael eu gadael mewn sefyllfa fregus gydag ychydig neu ddim gwybodaeth, yn ogystal â symiau sylweddol o arian yn amlwg. Rwy'n credu bod dros £5 miliwn wedi cael ei roi i mewn gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi ehangu'r cyfleuster. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn, mewn sawl cyfeiriad, bod datganiad yn dod i law. Yn uniongyrchol, dylai'r datganiad hwnnw ymdrin â pha gymorth sydd ar gael i'r gweithwyr yn y cyfleuster a'r rhai sy'n cyflenwi'r ffermwyr, ond yn ail, dylid cael eglurhad o ran faint o ymwneud a fu rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r cyfleuster allweddol hwn yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, a oedd yn gyflenwr allweddol o laeth Cymru. Ac yn ôl a ddeallaf, yn y tymor byr, bydd y llaeth hwnnw nawr yn cael ei frandio'n llaeth Prydeinig, oherwydd, yn amlwg, nid oes cyfleusterau i gynhyrchu llaeth o Gymru yn yr ardal ar hyn o bryd, fel y nododd Arla yn yr e-bost at yr Aelodau heddiw.

Yn ail, byddwn yn gobeithio y bydd y Trefnydd yn sicrhau bod amser ar gael yn amser y Llywodraeth fel y gallwn gael dadl—dadl ar yr angen am etholiad cyffredinol, Trefnydd. Dywedodd y Prif Weinidog fod angen etholiad cyffredinol mewn ymateb i'r cwestiwn cyntaf heddiw. Rydych yn aml iawn yn trefnu dadleuon fel y gall y Cynulliad hwn siarad ag un llais. Byddwn yn gobeithio bod yr Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn dymuno siarad ag un llais a dweud ei bod yn fater o frys inni gael etholiad cyffredinol ac y byddwch yn ymrwymo i gyflwyno dadl gan y Llywodraeth fel y gallwn gymeradwyo creu amgylchedd i gynnal etholiad fel y gall y Ceidwadwyr gefnogi'r hyn yr ydym am ei wneud dros y wlad, gyda maniffesto a gefnogir gan bobl ar hyd a lled Cymru a thu hwnt.

15:00

I thank Andrew R.T. Davies for raising those issues. On the second, of course, I remind Andrew that he has an opportunity every Wednesday afternoon to bring forward debates of his liking.

But I will return to the wax management issue that he mentioned at the start of his contribution. A wax management task and finish group was set up in 2018, and that agreed a draft national integrated pathway for the safe and effective management of ear wax. The Welsh Government is currently working with key stakeholders to consider the draft pathway and ensure that it does provide for consistent patient outcomes across Wales. That pathway, then, will be considered by the Minister once the evidence has properly been analysed by policy officials, but, of course, if Members have experiences locally that they'd like to share with the Minister ahead of his consideration of that, I know he'd be keen to hear those experiences.

In relation to Tomlinsons Dairies Ltd, of course we are fully committed to the Welsh dairy industry and are very saddened by the news of the closure of Tomlinsons Dairies Ltd. It is the case that we've worked closely with the company and its stakeholders during the past 18 months to seek to resolve the ongoing business issues, and that support revolved around trade negotiations with the business and its stakeholders, and also supported the sale of an on-site packaging company to support the stability of the overall business. We've also worked very closely with the Development Bank of Wales by introducing additional support through the turnaround restructure options, which the Development Bank of Wales offers.

We are working with Wrexham local authority to help all staff who have been affected, and have set up an immediate taskforce to respond to the redundancy situation at the company. We're also fully supportive of all dairy farmers affected by the closure and we're in discussion with the farming unions and other stakeholders to consider the support that is required at this difficult time.

Diolch i Andrew R.T. Davies am godi'r materion hynny. Ar yr ail fater, wrth gwrs, gallaf atgoffa Andrew ei fod yn cael cyfle bob prynhawn Mercher i gyflwyno dadleuon o'i ddymuniad.

Ond yn ôl at y mater rheoli cwyr y soniodd amdano ar ddechrau ei gyfraniad. Sefydlwyd grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen rheoli cwyr yn 2018, a chytunwyd ar lwybr integredig cenedlaethol drafft ar gyfer rheolaeth ddiogel ac effeithiol o gwyr clust. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid allweddol ar hyn o bryd i ystyried y llwybr drafft a sicrhau ei fod yn darparu ar gyfer canlyniadau cyson i gleifion ledled Cymru. Bydd y llwybr hwnnw, wedyn, yn cael ei ystyried gan y Gweinidog ar ôl i'r dystiolaeth gael ei dadansoddi'n briodol gan swyddogion polisi, ond, wrth gwrs, os caiff yr Aelodau brofiadau lleol yr hoffent eu rhannu gyda'r Gweinidog cyn iddo ystyried hynny, gwn y byddai'n awyddus i glywed am y profiadau hynny.

O ran Tomlinsons Dairies Ltd, wrth gwrs rydym yn llwyr ymroddedig i ddiwydiant llaeth Cymru ac yn drist iawn am y newyddion am gau Tomlinsons Dairies Ltd. Mae'n wir ein bod wedi gweithio'n agos â'r cwmni a'i randdeiliaid yn ystod y 18 mis diwethaf i geisio datrys y materion busnes parhaus, a bod y gefnogaeth yn ymwneud â thrafodaethau masnach gyda'r busnes a'i randdeiliaid, a hefyd wedi cefnogi gwerthiant cwmni pecynnu ar y safle i gefnogi sefydlogrwydd y busnes yn gyffredinol. Rydym hefyd wedi gweithio'n agos iawn â Banc Datblygu Cymru drwy gyflwyno cymorth ychwanegol drwy'r opsiynau ailstrwythuro, a gynigir gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru.

Rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdod lleol Wrecsam i helpu'r holl staff yr effeithiwyd arnynt, ac wedi sefydlu tasglu ar unwaith i ymateb i'r sefyllfa ddiswyddo yn y cwmni. Rydym hefyd yn gwbl gefnogol i'r holl ffermwyr llaeth y mae cau'r cwmni'n effeithio arnynt ac rydym wrthi'n trafod gyda'r undebau ffermio a rhanddeiliaid eraill i ystyried y cymorth sydd ei angen ar yr adeg anodd hon.

Dwi am ofyn am ddatganiad ar ddyfodol y sector prosesu bwyd yng Nghymru yn ehangach. Rŷn ni wedi clywed am drafferthion Tomlinsons, wrth gwrs, a goblygiadau hynny, a hynny'n dod prin 18 mis ar ôl colli Arla yn Llandyrnog hefyd. Mae yna issues, felly, o safbwynt prosesu llaeth. Ond, wrth gwrs, mi glywon ni wythnos diwethaf hefyd am Randall Parker Foods yn Llanidloes, fydd bellach ddim yn prosesu cig eidion. Mae hynny'n mynd i arwain at oblygiadau difrifol i nifer o'r cynhyrchwyr, mewn sector, wrth gwrs, sydd eisoes mewn sefyllfa anodd iawn. Felly, mae yna gwestiynau, dwi'n meddwl, ynglŷn â'r rôl a'r lle a'r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael i'r sector prosesu bwyd yn ehangach yng Nghymru. Oherwydd os ydyn ni o ddifrif ynglŷn â datblygu economi fwyd hyfyw, a brand bwyd Cymreig gwerthfawr, mae'n rhaid inni gael y prosesyddion yna er mwyn ein cynorthwyo ni i gyflawni'r nod yna.

Dwi'n noddi yfory dathliad o fwyd a diod Cymreig. Mae'n Ddiwrnod Bwyd y Byd yfory, ac mae'n gyfle inni ddathlu yr hyn sydd gennym ni. Ond wrth inni weld colli prosesyddion fel hyn, wrth gwrs, mae e'n tanseilio’r sector ac yn tanseilio'r cyfle sydd gennym ni i adeiladau economi cefn gwlad ar gefn y sector hwnnw. Felly, byddwn i'n disgwyl bod gan y Llywodraeth, gobeithio, gyfle i wneud datganiad i amlinellu sut y mae hi'n gweld cyfle i dyfu'r sector ac i gefnogi'r sector yn y cyfnod anodd yma. 

Gaf i hefyd ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Prif Weinidog ynglŷn â'r honiadau bod y Gweinidog materion gwledig wedi torri'r cod gweinidogol drwy ymyrryd, yn ei rôl fel Gweinidog, gydag achos yn ymwneud ag etholwr, er bod hynny y tu hwnt i'w chyfrifoldebau portffolio hi fel Gweinidog? Honiadau ŷn nhw, ond, wrth gwrs, dwi'n poeni bod yna ddim digon o dryloywder fan hyn. Dwi ddim yn gwybod a ydy'r Prif Weinidog wedi cynnal ymchwiliad neu beidio. Mae angen inni wybod hynny. Ac mae e unwaith eto, dwi'n meddwl, yn codi'r cwestiwn ynglŷn â pha mor addas yw hi mai'r Prif Weinidog sydd yn arwain ar brosesau fel hyn. Onid yw hi'n amser nawr, fel y mae nifer ohonom ni wedi awgrymu yn y gorffennol, y dylid bod yna ryw gorff neu unigolyn yn allanol i'r Llywodraeth yn ymchwilio i mewn i faterion fel hyn—ac yn dal i ddod ag adroddiad i'r Prif Weinidog, fel mai'r Prif Weinidog sy'n gwneud y penderfyniad terfynol, ond mae angen yr elfen hyd braich yma mewn achosion o'r fath, fyddai'n dod â gwell tryloywder? Dwi ddim yn meddwl ei bod hi'n iawn mai'r Prif Weinidog sydd yn farnwr, yn rheithgor ac yn ddienyddiwr, a buaswn i'n gofyn am ddatganiad, er eglurder yn yr achos penodol yma, ond hefyd ynglŷn ag unrhyw fwriad sydd gan y Llywodraeth, efallai, i ddiwygio'r broses. 

I want to ask for a statement on the future of the food processing sector more broadly in Wales. We’ve heard about the difficulties of Tomlinsons, of course, and the implications of that, and that comes barely 18 months after the loss of Arla in Llandyrnog too. There are issues, therefore, in terms of milk processing. But we heard last week, of course, about Randall Parker Foods in Llanidloes, which will now not be processing beef, and that is going to have serious implications for many producers in a sector that is already in a very difficult situation. So, there are questions about the role and the support available for the food processing sector more broadly in Wales. Because if we are serious about developing a viable food economy and a Welsh food brand that’s of value, then we have to have those processors in place in order to assist us to achieve that aim.

I, tomorrow, will be sponsoring a celebration of Welsh food and drink. It’s World Food Day tomorrow, and it’s an opportunity for us to celebrate what we have. But as we see the loss of processors like this, of course, it undermines the sector and undermines the opportunities that we have to build the rural economy on the back of that sector. So, I would expect the Government, hopefully, to have an opportunity to make a statement to outline how it sees the opportunities to grow, develop and support that sector in this difficult period.

May I also ask for a statement from the First Minister on the claims that the rural affairs Minister has broken the ministerial code by intervening, in her ministerial role, in a case related to a constituent, although that was beyond her portfolio responsibilities as Minister? They are claims, of course, but I am concerned that there isn’t sufficient transparency here. I don’t know whether the First Minister has carried out an inquiry or not. We need to know that. And once again, it does raise a question as to how appropriate it is that the First Minister should lead on processes such as this. Isn’t it now time, as many of us have suggested in the past, that there should be an external body or individual outwith Government inquiring into these issues—still bringing a report to the First Minister so that the First Minister should make the final decision, but we need that arm’s-length element in cases such as this that would bring greater transparency? I don’t think it’s right that the First Minister is judge, jury and executioner, and I would call for a statement, for clarity on this particular case, but also on any intention that the Government has to reform the process.

15:05

Well, Llyr Gruffydd is right that the food and drink industry is very much one of the jewels in the crown of our economy here in Wales, and I know that the Minister works extremely hard to provide the best possible support for the food and drink sector and that the importance of food processing is very much understood, especially with the challenges we face with Brexit. Of course, the Minister is here to hear your comments, and she will certainly take that into consideration in terms of considering when and how to best update the Assembly on the work that is being done in the food and drink sector here in Wales.

The second point in relation to the ministerial code—of course, the Member will be aware that there is a process that is set out, and the process is under way, and I wouldn't be able to say any more at this point today.

Wel, mae Llŷr Gruffydd yn iawn fod y diwydiant bwyd a diod yn wir yn un o berlau ein heconomi yma yng Nghymru, a gwn fod y Gweinidog yn gweithio'n eithriadol o galed i roi'r gefnogaeth orau bosibl i'r sector bwyd a diod a bod pwysigrwydd prosesu bwyd yn cael ei ddeall yn iawn, yn enwedig gyda'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu gyda Brexit. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Gweinidog yma i glywed eich sylwadau, a bydd yn sicr yn ystyried hynny o ran ystyried pryd a sut i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Cynulliad am y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud yn y sector bwyd a diod yma yng Nghymru.

Yr ail bwynt mewn cysylltiad â'r cod gweinidogol—wrth gwrs, bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol bod proses wedi'i phennu, ac mae'r broses ar waith, ac ni allwn ddweud rhagor ar hyn o bryd heddiw.

Can I add Swansea East as one of those places where people are getting referred to private practices to get their ears syringed—and Port Talbot? It's an all-Wales problem and, perhaps, one that needs addressing fairly rapidly.

I've got two requests for statements. The first one is: teachers in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot did not get their pay award at the end of September. I have chased this around lots of different places, including the councils, ERW and the Minister for Education. I am told that this is because the Welsh Government have not released the money for the award and not confirmed that the award, which has been made in England, is going to be paid in Wales. I don't know whether that's right or not, but that's what I've been told, so there is obviously confusion out there. So, can I request an urgent Government statement providing an update on the paying of this year's—2019-20—teachers' pay award?

The second statement I'm requesting is a statement to be made on the health delivery plans, such as the diabetes delivery plan and the cancer delivery plan. Again, I am told that the current plans finish in 2020 and there are concerns that they're going to end. I have no belief for a moment that they're going to end and that we'll have no continuation of the plan, but there's nervousness amongst some of the people involved that could be put to bed, as it were, if the Welsh Government can start making statements on those that are coming to an end in 2020.

A allaf ychwanegu Dwyrain Abertawe fel un o'r lleoedd hynny lle mae pobl yn cael eu cyfeirio at feddygfeydd preifat i gael chwistrellu eu clustiau— a Phort Talbot? Mae'n broblem i Gymru gyfan ac, efallai, yn un y mae angen mynd i'r afael â hi'n eithaf cyflym.

Mae gennyf ddau gais am ddatganiadau. Yr un cyntaf yw na chafodd athrawon yn Abertawe a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot eu dyfarniad cyflog ddiwedd mis Medi. Rwyf wedi ceisio ymateb i hyn mewn llawer o wahanol leoedd, gan gynnwys y cynghorau, ERW a'r Gweinidog Addysg. Dywedir wrthyf mai'r rheswm am hyn yw nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhyddhau'r arian ar gyfer y dyfarniad a heb gadarnhau bod y dyfarniad, a wnaed yn Lloegr, yn mynd i gael ei dalu yng Nghymru. Nid wyf yn gwybod a yw hynny'n iawn ai peidio, ond dyna'r hyn a ddywedwyd wrthyf. Felly, mae'n amlwg bod dryswch ynglŷn â hyn. Felly, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad brys gan y Llywodraeth yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynglŷn â thalu am ddyfarniad cyflog athrawon 2019-20?

Yr ail ddatganiad rwy'n gofyn amdano yw datganiad i'w wneud am y cynlluniau cyflawni iechyd, fel y cynllun cyflawni ar gyfer diabetes a'r cynllun cyflawni ar gyfer canser. Unwaith eto, dywedir wrthyf fod y cynlluniau presennol yn gorffen yn 2020 a bod pryderon eu bod yn mynd i ddod i ben. Nid wyf yn credu am funud eu bod yn mynd i ddod i ben ac na fydd y cynllun yn parhau, ond mae yna nerfusrwydd ymysg rhai o'r bobl sy'n cymryd rhan y gellid ei dawelu, os gall Llywodraeth Cymru ddechrau gwneud datganiadau ar y rhai sydd yn dod i ben yn 2020.

Thank you to Mike Hedges for that contribution. I can confirm that there will be a statement very, very shortly regarding the teachers' pay award 2019. Of course, once implemented, any changes to teachers' pay for 2019-20 will be backdated to 1 September. So, I would expect that there will be a statement, either today or tomorrow, in respect of that.

Again, Mike Hedges is right that most major health condition delivery plans come to an end in December 2020, and we are currently developing the approach and the proposals for the successor arrangements to improve the quality of care for major conditions, such as cancer and diabetes. And the Minister for Health and Social Services does expect to make a written statement outlining the future approach before the end of the year.

Diolch i Mike Hedges am y cyfraniad hwnnw. Gallaf gadarnhau y bydd datganiad yn fuan iawn ynghylch dyfarniad cyflog 2019 i athrawon. Wrth gwrs, unwaith y caiff ei weithredu, bydd unrhyw newidiadau i dâl athrawon ar gyfer 2019-20 yn cael eu hôl-ddyddio i 1 Medi. Felly, byddwn yn disgwyl y bydd datganiad, naill ai heddiw neu yfory, ynglŷn â hynny.

Unwaith eto, mae Mike Hedges yn iawn fod y rhan fwyaf o'r cynlluniau cyflawni ar gyfer y prif gyflyrau iechyd yn dod i ben ym mis Rhagfyr 2020, ac rydym wrthi'n datblygu'r dull gweithredu a'r cynigion ar gyfer y trefniadau olynol i wella ansawdd y gofal ar gyfer y prif gyflyrau fel canser a diabetes. Ac mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn disgwyl gwneud datganiad ysgrifenedig yn amlinellu'r dull gweithredu yn y dyfodol cyn diwedd y flwyddyn.

May I ask for a statement from the Minister for Housing and Local Government on the links between poor housing and poor physical and mental health? A recent joint report by Public Health Wales, Community Housing Cymru and the Building Research Establishment states that poor-quality housing costs the NHS in Wales more than £95 million a year in treatment costs. Please, could we have a statement from the Minister on what action she is taking, in conjunction with the Minister for Health and Social Services, to improve the quality of existing homes in Wales in view of the findings contained in this report, please?

A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar y cysylltiadau rhwng tai gwael ac iechyd corfforol a meddyliol gwael? Mae adroddiad ar y cyd yn ddiweddar gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru a'r Sefydliad Ymchwil Adeiladu yn datgan bod tai o ansawdd gwael yn costio mwy na £95 miliwn y flwyddyn i'r GIG yng Nghymru mewn costau triniaeth. Os gwelwch yn dda, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog am y camau y mae'n eu cymryd, ar y cyd â'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, i wella ansawdd cartrefi sy'n bodoli eisoes yng Nghymru yng ngoleuni'r canfyddiadau a geir yn yr adroddiad hwn?

I know that there's a great deal of work going on in this area across Government, where we do recognise that housing does play a very important role in terms of people's physical and mental health. One example would be the additional funding that is going through the regional partnership boards, and that is about taking a housing-led approach to social services and health issues, and I think that's a really exciting piece of work. Of course, the Minister has recently said a bit more about the work that we would do in terms of retrofitting, because we know the importance of retrofitting homes not only for carbon reasons, but also in terms of ensuring people have warm and safe homes to live in. But I know that the Minister will write to you with an update on what we're doing in the wider context.

Gwn fod llawer iawn o waith yn digwydd yn y maes hwn ar draws y Llywodraeth, lle'r ydym yn cydnabod bod gan dai ran bwysig iawn i'w chwarae o ran iechyd corfforol a meddyliol pobl. Un enghraifft fyddai'r arian ychwanegol sy'n mynd drwy'r byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol, ac mae a wnelo hynny â chymryd dull gweithredu a arweinir gan dai tuag at wasanaethau cymdeithasol a materion iechyd, a chredaf fod hwnnw'n ddarn o waith gwirioneddol gyffrous. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Gweinidog wedi dweud ychydig mwy yn ddiweddar am y gwaith y byddem yn ei wneud o ran ôl-osod, oherwydd gwyddom mor bwysig yw ôl-osod cartrefi nid yn unig am resymau carbon, ond hefyd o ran sicrhau bod gan bobl gartrefi cynnes a diogel i fyw ynddynt. Ond rwy'n gwybod y bydd y Gweinidog yn ysgrifennu atoch gyda'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud yn y cyd-destun ehangach.

15:10

With regard to my first issue, you may have seen a very good article on WalesOnline in the last few days about the fact that Gwent Police were accused of covering up for a police officer who was domineering, controlling and physically abusive to several women who were also police officers. He was only given a warning, he wasn't arrested, the system protected him and not the women, and normal procedures were not followed. In fact, the women said that it was a boys' club and they closed ranks around themselves. Of course, the women are taking legal action now, but, unfortunately, they have to crowdfund because they're not rich enough to be able to fight the system. I'm wondering if we can have a debate in Government time on the Government's priorities in relation to domestic abuse, but also in relation to how you're dealing with the police in this regard, because of course you can't comment on legal action, but you can of course comment on the wider issue of how we can encourage the police and the police and crime commissioners to take these complaints seriously when they come to their attention.

My second request is for a statement from the Welsh Government on your support for asylum seekers in Wales. I've got two cases I'm sure you're aware of as well, Trefnydd, with regard to Otis Bolamu and also Michael Gebredikan—I hope I've said that right. One is from Congo, and you will know that he was detained over Christmas, who's having an appeal hearing tomorrow, and the other is from Eritrea, and if he's deported to Germany, where his family is, he may be then deported back to Eritrea. The UK don't currently deport there because they don't know what the situation is with regard to the support for asylum seekers there when they do arrive back, but we're continually seeing these propositions coming to us, with very vulnerable people being potentially sent back to terrifying situations. I would hope that the First Minister's comments earlier would echo how we in this Chamber should be supporting those people who need our support, and not vilifying them and pitting them against poor people in our society. At the end of the day, they need our support, and I would urge Welsh Government to bring forward a debate so that we can ensure that Wales is the nation of sanctuary that we purport to be.

O ran fy mater cyntaf, efallai eich bod wedi gweld erthygl dda iawn ar WalesOnline yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf am y ffaith bod Heddlu Gwent wedi'u cyhuddo o guddio sefyllfa swyddog heddlu a oedd yn ymddwyn yn ormesol, yn gor-reoli nifer o fenywod a oedd hefyd yn swyddogion yr heddlu, ac yn cam-drin rhai yn gorfforol. Dim ond rhybudd a gafodd, ni chafodd ei arestio. Roedd y system yn ei warchod ef ac nid y menywod, ac ni ddilynwyd y gweithdrefnau arferol. Yn wir, dywedodd y menywod mai clwb bechgyn ydoedd a chodwyd mur o dawelwch o amgylch eu hunain. Wrth gwrs, mae'r menywod yn cymryd camau cyfreithiol yn awr, ond, yn anffodus, mae'n rhaid iddynt ddefnyddio arian torfol oherwydd nad ydynt yn ddigon cyfoethog i allu ymladd y system. Tybed a allwn gael dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar flaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth mewn cysylltiad â cham-drin yn y cartref, ond hefyd o ran sut yr ydych yn ymdrin â'r heddlu yn hyn o beth. Ni allwch, wrth gwrs, wneud sylwadau ar gamau cyfreithiol, ond gallwch sôn am y mater ehangach o sut y gallwn annog yr heddlu a'r comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu i gymryd y cwynion hyn o ddifrif pan fyddant yn dod i'w sylw.

Fy ail gais yw datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â'ch cefnogaeth i geiswyr lloches yng Nghymru. Mae gennyf ddau achos yr wyf yn siŵr eich bod chi yn ymwybodol ohonyn nhw hefyd, Trefnydd, o ran Otis Bolamu a Michael Gebredikan—rwy'n gobeithio fy mod i wedi ynganu hynny'n iawn. Mae un yn dod o Congo, a byddwch yn gwybod iddo gael ei gadw dros y Nadolig, ac mae'n cael gwrandawiad apêl yfory, a'r llall yn dod o Eritrea, ac os yw'n cael ei alltudio i'r Almaen, lle mae ei deulu, efallai y bydd yn cael ei alltudio'n ôl i Eritrea. Nid yw'r DU yn alltudio pobl yno ar hyn o bryd gan nad ydynt yn gwybod beth yw'r sefyllfa o ran y cymorth i geiswyr lloches yno pan gyrhaeddant yn ôl. Ond gwelwn y cynigion hyn yn dod ar ein traws yn barhaus, gyda phobl cwbl ddiamddiffyn o bosibl yn cael eu hanfon yn ôl i sefyllfaoedd brawychus. Byddwn yn gobeithio y byddai sylwadau'r Prif Weinidog yn gynharach yn adleisio'r ffordd y dylem ni yn y Siambr hon fod yn cefnogi'r bobl hynny y mae arnynt angen ein cefnogaeth, a pheidio â'u difrïo a'u cymharu â phobl dlawd yn ein cymdeithas. Yn y pen draw, mae arnynt angen ein cefnogaeth, a byddwn yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno dadl er mwyn inni allu sicrhau bod Cymru yn genedl noddfa fel yr ydym yn honni ein bod ni.

Thank you, Bethan, for raising these issues. I will certainly discuss with the Minister responsible, actually, for both of these issues in terms of when we can best provide an update on the work that Welsh Government is doing in terms of domestic abuse, but specifically, really, how we're working with the police forces in order to do that. I know that work is ongoing, for example, in terms of training for trauma-informed approaches and so on, which are so important when dealing with people who have been through very, very difficult experiences.

And, again, I'll have the same conversation about the support that we are giving to asylum seekers, because it is important that we are that nation of sanctuary that we purport to be. I know Welsh Government, for its part, is doing a huge amount to try and make that a reality, and make people feel that they are welcomed here when they come here. We recognise again, very similarly, that lots of people who have sought sanctuary with us have been through extremely difficult circumstances, which many of us couldn't even begin to imagine. And I'm familiar with the cases that you described; I saw Otis just a couple of weekends ago, as I know you did as well. I know that he is particularly grateful for the support that he's had from the community in Swansea and beyond.

Diolch, Bethan, am godi'r materion hyn. Byddaf yn sicr yn cael trafodaeth gyda'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol ar y ddau fater hyn, o ran pryd y gallwn roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud o ran cam-drin domestig, ac yn benodol, sut yr ydym yn gweithio gyda'r heddlu er mwyn gwneud hynny. Gwn fod gwaith yn mynd rhagddo, er enghraifft, o ran hyfforddiant ar gyfer dulliau gweithredu sy'n seiliedig ar drawma ac ati, sy'n bwysig iawn wrth ymdrin â phobl sydd wedi profi profiadau anodd iawn.

Ac unwaith eto, mi fydda i'n cael yr un sgwrs am y gefnogaeth yr ydym ni'n ei rhoi i geiswyr lloches, oherwydd mae'n bwysig ein bod ni, mewn gwirionedd, yn genedl noddfa, fel yr honnwn ein bod ni. Rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru, o'i rhan hi, yn gwneud llawer iawn i geisio gwireddu hynny, ac yn gwneud i bobl deimlo bod croeso iddyn nhw yma pan fyddan nhw'n dod yma. Rydym yn cydnabod eto, yn yr un modd, fod llawer o bobl sydd wedi ceisio noddfa gyda ni wedi bod trwy amgylchiadau hynod o anodd, na all llawer ohonom hyd yn oed ddechrau eu dychmygu. Ac rwy'n gyfarwydd â'r achosion a ddisgrifiwyd gennych; gwelais Otis ychydig benwythnosau'n ôl, fel y gwn y gwnaethoch chithau hefyd. Gwn ei fod yn arbennig o ddiolchgar am y gefnogaeth y mae wedi'i chael gan y gymuned yn Abertawe a thu hwnt.

Over the summer, my office was inundated by residents who were upset by Stagecoach's decision to scrap the no. 25 bus service from Caerphilly to Cardiff via Thornhill crematorium and the University Hospital Wales, and merge it into an existing much longer and much more inconvenient route for residents in Caerphilly. Despite a number of residents' petitions, Stagecoach scrapped the service in September, and we held meetings with Stagecoach throughout September and October, and eventually persuaded them to reintroduce an hourly service from Caerphilly to the Heath, and also to the Thornhill crematorium, which mirrored the old no. 25 route, but it was an hourly not a two-hourly service. It's going to be trialled from January for six months, and we urge residents to use that service as much as possible, but the key issue here is that Stagecoach were able to make these unpopular decisions because they were commercial decisions. With that in mind, would the Trefnydd consider a statement or a debate in Government time on reforming bus services to make them more user-friendly to residents who need these services, and not just use them on a commercial basis?

Dros yr haf, galwodd trigolion di-ri heibio i'm swyddfa a oedd wedi cynhyrfu oherwydd penderfyniad Stagecoach i gael gwared ar y gwasanaeth bws rhif 25 o Gaerffili i Gaerdydd heibio amlosgfa Thornhill ac Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru, a'i gyfuno â rhai sydd eisoes yn bodoli sy'n llawer hirach a llawer mwy anghyfleus i drigolion Caerffili. Er gwaethaf nifer o ddeisebau gan drigolion, cafodd y gwasanaeth ei ddiddymu gan Stagecoach ym mis Medi. Cynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd gyda Stagecoach drwy gydol mis Medi a mis Hydref, ac yn y pen draw fe'u darbwyllwyd i ailgyflwyno gwasanaeth bob awr o Gaerffili i'r Mynydd Bychan, a hefyd i amlosgfa Thornhill, a oedd yn adlewyrchu'r hen lwybr Rhif 25, ond bob awr oedd y gwasanaeth ac nid bob dwy awr. Mae'n mynd i gael ei dreialu o fis Ionawr am chwe mis, ac rydym yn annog trigolion i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaeth hwnnw gymaint â phosibl. Ond y mater allweddol yma yw bod Stagecoach wedi gallu gwneud y penderfyniadau amhoblogaidd hyn am eu bod yn benderfyniadau masnachol. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, a fyddai'r Trefnydd yn ystyried datganiad neu ddadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar ddiwygio gwasanaethau bysiau i'w gwneud yn fwy hwylus i drigolion sydd angen y gwasanaethau hyn, ac nid i'w defnyddio ar sail fasnachol yn unig?

15:15

Thank you, Hefin David, for that question. I know that your constituents will be particularly grateful for the work that you've done in terms of getting that replacement service. Even though it doesn't return the service to an hourly service, it certainly, I think, would be very welcome that you've made that effort on their behalf.

In terms of the problems you describe, they're very much the result of the failed deregulation of the bus industry, which has made it very difficult to have a service in Wales that meets the needs of people in Wales, which is one of the reasons why the proposals in the upcoming legislation that the Minister with responsibility for transport is leading on will be so important and I know that, in due course, he will be updating Members of the Assembly on those proposals within the legislation.

Diolch, Hefin David, am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Gwn y bydd eich etholwyr yn arbennig o ddiolchgar am y gwaith yr ydych wedi'i wneud i gael y gwasanaeth newydd hwnnw. Er nad yw'r gwasanaeth yn mynd i fod yn wasanaeth bob awr, yn sicr, credaf fod yr ymdrech honno a wnaethoch ar eu rhan i'w chroesawu'n fawr.

O ran y problemau yr ydych yn eu disgrifio, maent yn bendant yn ganlyniad i ddadreoleiddio aflwyddiannus ar y diwydiant bysiau, sydd wedi'i gwneud yn anodd iawn cael gwasanaeth yng Nghymru sy'n diwallu anghenion pobl Cymru, sef un o'r rhesymau pam mae'r cynigion yn y ddeddfwriaeth arfaethedig y mae'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am drafnidiaeth yn ei harwain mor bwysig. A gwn y bydd, maes o law, yn rhoi'r diweddaraf i Aelodau'r Cynulliad ar y cynigion hynny sydd o fewn y ddeddfwriaeth.

Minister, I note with great concern the UK Government's decision to increase the Public Works Loan Board interest rate by a full 1 per cent—in fact, moving from 1.8 per cent to 2.8 per cent with immediate effect. This has the effect to take away the ability of local councils to borrow at a lower rate than that provided by private lenders and will inevitably lead to councils having to reassess their business plans, with possible cancellation of projects in order to continue funding current projects, as well as giving grave concern for delivering infrastructure and front-line projects at all. Would you, Minister, or the First Minister, make a statement on the Welsh Government's position in regard to this announcement?

Gweinidog, sylwaf gyda chryn bryder ar benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i gynyddu cyfradd llog y Bwrdd Benthyciadau Gwaith Cyhoeddus o 1 y cant llawn—symudiad yn wir, o 1.8 y cant i 2.8 y cant ar unwaith. Mae hyn yn effeithio ar allu cynghorau lleol i fenthyca ar gyfradd is na'r hyn a ddarperir gan fenthycwyr preifat a bydd yn sicr o beri i'r cynghorau orfod ailasesu eu cynlluniau busnes, gyda'r posibilrwydd o ganslo prosiectau er mwyn parhau i ariannu prosiectau cyfredol, yn ogystal ag achosi pryder difrifol o ran darparu seilwaith a phrosiectau rheng flaen o gwbl. A fyddech chi, Gweinidog, neu'r Prif Weinidog, yn gwneud datganiad am safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru mewn cysylltiad â'r cyhoeddiad hwn?

Well, our position is that this is a retrograde move and it makes things even more difficult for local authorities and is particularly concerning now because business cases for all kinds of things that local authorities have been planning on—for example, regeneration activities, social housing and other investment—will now need to be reassessed again in light of this development, in terms of trying to explore what is affordable locally and what they're able to plan for. But these are concerns that I will certainly be raising. 

Wel, ein safbwynt ni yw bod hwn yn gam yn ôl, ac mae'n gwneud pethau'n anodd iawn i awdurdodau lleol ac yn peri pryder arbennig nawr. Oherwydd bydd angen ailasesu achosion busnes dros bob math o bethau y mae awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn cynllunio ar eu cyfer—er enghraifft, gweithgareddau adfywio, tai cymdeithasol a buddsoddiad arall nawr eto—yng ngoleuni'r datblygiad hwn, o ran ceisio archwilio'r hyn sy'n fforddiadwy yn lleol a'r hyn y gallant gynllunio ar ei gyfer. Ond mae'r rhain yn bryderon y byddaf yn sicr yn eu codi.

Minister, I'm sure you would have been delighted on Saturday night to receive the news that the Cory brass band have again become the national champions of Great Britain, that they've now completed a grand slam of major brass band titles held in the same year, a feat achieved on only two previous occasions, one of which was theirs, and that this confirms their position now as the No. 1 brass band for the thirteenth consecutive year. I wonder if you think it would be appropriate for the Government to host an event in this Assembly to commemorate these incredible world champion ambassadors for Wales.

And the second point, Minister, is this: they are shortly off to America, to be followed by South Korea. I wonder if there could be a statement from Welsh Government to outline the way in which these cultural ambassadors for Wales can be connected with the Welsh Government's own ambitions in terms of promoting Welsh economic interests abroad, in countries like America and South Korea. And perhaps my final request is that I think it would be great if Welsh Government wrote on behalf of this entire Chamber to congratulate the entire brass band and all those from across south Wales who actually work and support the band on this stunning success.

Gweinidog, rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi wedi bod wrth eich bodd nos Sadwrn o glywed y newyddion bod band pres Cory wedi dod yn bencampwyr cenedlaethol Prydain Fawr unwaith eto, a'u bod bellach wedi cwblhau camp lawn o deitlau bandiau pres mawr a gynhaliwyd yn yr un flwyddyn , camp a gyflawnwyd ar ddau achlysur blaenorol yn unig, unwaith ganddyn nhw eu hunain, a bod hyn yn cadarnhau eu safle nawr fel y band pres Rhif 1 am y drydedd flwyddyn ar ddeg yn olynol. Tybed a ydych o'r farn y byddai'n briodol i'r Llywodraeth gynnal digwyddiad yn y Cynulliad hwn i ddathlu'r llysgenhadon rhyfeddol hyn dros Gymru?

A'r ail bwynt, Gweinidog, yw hyn: yn fuan, byddant yn teithio i America, ac yna i Dde Korea. Tybed a oes modd cael datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i amlinellu'r modd y gall y llysgenhadon diwylliannol hyn dros Gymru fod yn gysylltiedig ag uchelgeisiau Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun o ran hyrwyddo buddiannau economaidd Cymru dramor, mewn gwledydd fel America a De Korea. A'm cais olaf, efallai, yw y byddai'n wych petai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ysgrifennu ar ran y Siambr gyfan hon i longyfarch y band pres cyfan a phawb o bob rhan o dde Cymru sy'n gweithio ac yn cefnogi'r band ar y llwyddiant ysgubol hwn.

Thank you, Mick Antoniw. Welsh Government will certainly join you in congratulating the Cory Band for being the best in the world for 13 years, which is a heck of an achievement, isn't it? I know that the Minister and I—the Minister with responsibility for music and I—will have a discussion about how we can best mark that incredible achievement here in the Assembly and also explore how we can better use these amazing cultural ambassadors that we have. 

Diolch, Mick Antoniw. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicr yn ymuno â chi i longyfarch Band y Cory am fod y gorau yn y byd am 13 mlynedd, sy'n dipyn o gamp, onid yw? Gwn y bydd y Gweinidog a minnau—y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am gerddoriaeth a minnau—yn cael trafodaeth am y ffordd orau y gallwn nodi'r cyflawniad anhygoel hwnnw yma yn y Cynulliad a hefyd ystyried sut y gallwn ddefnyddio'r llysgenhadon diwylliannol rhyfeddol hyn yn well.

Wales is a community of communities, and one community in Wales is the Catalan community. I welcome the comments made earlier by the First Minister expressing concern about what is happening in Barcelona and also what happened in Madrid in locking up democratically elected politicians. I support the call for a debate on what is happening in Catalunya and I'd like the Government to seriously consider this. But I'd like you to go further and express support for the Catalan community living in Wales and the people of Catalunya at this present time, because politicians out there have been jailed for keeping their democratically elected promises. There were 113 civilians injured yesterday at Barcelona airport, where they were fired upon by police and Guardia Civil, I believe. So, could we have a Government statement on these matters, please?

Cymuned o gymunedau yw Cymru, ac un gymuned yng Nghymru yw cymuned Catalonia. Rwy'n croesawu'r sylwadau a wnaed yn gynharach gan y Prif Weinidog yn mynegi pryder am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn Barcelona a hefyd yr hyn a ddigwyddodd ym Madrid o ran cloi gwleidyddion a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd. Rwy'n cefnogi'r alwad am ddadl ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd yng Nghatalonia, a hoffwn i'r Llywodraeth ystyried hyn o ddifrif. Ond hoffwn ichi fynd ymhellach a mynegi cefnogaeth i'r gymuned Gatalaneg sy'n byw yng Nghymru a phobl Catalonia ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd bod gwleidyddion wedi cael carchar am gadw addewidion a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd. Roedd 113 o sifiliaid wedi'u hanafu ddoe ym maes awyr Barcelona, lle saethwyd atynt gan yr heddlu a Guardia Civil, rwy'n credu. Felly, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar y materion hyn, os gwelwch yn dda?

15:20

I certainly join others in putting on record Welsh Government support for the Catalan community here in Wales, because we have a long history of close relationships with Catalonia and obviously we want to see that continue. We enjoy some really positive international links through the European networks that we share, and around a third of Spanish-owned companies in Wales are headquartered in Catalonia. So, we do have these close important cultural links but also close and important economic links as well.

Yn sicr, ymunaf ag eraill i gofnodi cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i'r gymuned Gatalaneg yma yng Nghymru, oherwydd mae gennym hanes hir o berthynas agos â Chatalonia ac yn amlwg rydym am weld hynny'n parhau. Rydym yn mwynhau cysylltiadau rhyngwladol gwirioneddol gadarnhaol drwy'r rhwydweithiau Ewropeaidd yr ydym yn eu rhannu, ac mae tua thraean o'r cwmnïau yng Nghymru sy'n eiddo i Sbaen â'u pencadlys yng Nghatalonia. Felly, mae'r cysylltiadau diwylliannol pwysig hyn yn agos, ond hefyd mae cysylltiadau economaidd agos a phwysig.

Can I call for two statements? Firstly, on the INTERREG Ireland-Wales 2014-20 programme, which, as you know, encourages regions to work together to address common economic, environmental and social challenges. In Wales, the two INTERREG regions are north Wales, with a population of just over 696,000, and west Wales, with 630,000—so, not dissimilar populations. But I've been given a freedom of information response from the Welsh European Funding Office, which says that there were 62 projects submitted but only 19 of these involved a north Wales partner, and only 12 were led by an organisation based in Wales. And, of 18 projects approved, only five had a north Wales partner—sorry, included a north Wales partner—and only two were led by a north Wales partner. So, only 28 per cent of projects approved included a partner in north Wales; only 11 per cent led by a north Wales partner. I call for a statement to reflect concern raised with me—it isn't my concern, although I do have concern if the answer is the wrong answer—that potential INTERREG projects have not necessarily received the support and engagement in north Wales that they have elsewhere, because I know that demand in north Wales, potentially, should be equal at least to that in west Wales.

Secondly, could I call for a Welsh Government statement on its developing revised policy on fuel poverty in light of two new reports? A report on 3 October from the Auditor General for Wales said that the number of households in fuel poverty in Wales had fallen since 2008, but the Welsh Government had missed its targets. It said that the causes of fuel poverty are complex, that Welsh Government have spent £249 million on its Warm Homes programme to reduce fuel poverty, but identified tensions between trying to eradicate carbon emissions from domestic housing and prioritising efforts and funding on fuel-poor households, which tend to use less energy, and made a series of recommendations to the Welsh Government, including lessons learnt from the failure to meet the current targets set in 2010, linking fuel poverty schemes with other work to tackle the underlying cause of fuel poverty, and considering how fuel poverty schemes could prevent costs in other service areas and contribute to wider policy goals.

And, secondly, in this context, the report on 7 October from the Bevan Foundation, which said that, although the Welsh Government had made some progress in reducing fuel poverty over the last decade, it noted that the richest households had benefited most. In 2008, of the 70 per cent richest households, over 83,000 were estimated to be living in fuel poverty, and that that's now 75 per cent lower, whereas the bottom 10 tenth, poorest, households have only seen a drop of 25 per cent. So, we now have only 21,000 of the richest households and 92,000 of the poorest households, perhaps, as they said, providing

'an indication as to why the Welsh Government has failed in its target to eradicate fuel poverty',

and proposing that, in future, the fuel poverty targets should instead be focused on the poorest households rather than simply across the piste. I call for a statement accordingly.

A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad? Yn gyntaf, ynghylch y rhaglen INTERREG Iwerddon-Cymru 2014-20, sydd, fel y gwyddoch, yn annog rhanbarthau i gydweithio i fynd i'r afael â heriau economaidd, amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol cyffredin. Yng Nghymru, y ddau ranbarth INTERREG yw gogledd Cymru, gyda phoblogaeth o ychydig dros 696,000, a gorllewin Cymru, gyda 630,000—felly, nid poblogaethau annhebyg. Ond rwyf wedi cael ymateb rhyddid gwybodaeth gan Swyddfa Cyllid Ewropeaidd Cymru, sy'n dweud bod 62 o brosiectau wedi'u cyflwyno, ond dim ond 19 o'r rhain oedd yn cynnwys partner o Ogledd Cymru, a dim ond 12 a arweiniwyd gan sefydliad yng Nghymru. Ac, o blith 18 o brosiectau a gymeradwywyd, dim ond pump oedd â phartner yng ngogledd Cymru—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, a oedd yn cynnwys partner o'r gogledd—a dim ond dau oedd yn cael eu harwain gan bartner yng ngogledd Cymru. Felly, dim ond 28 y cant o'r prosiectau a gymeradwywyd oedd yn cynnwys partner yng ngogledd Cymru; dim ond 11 y cant a arweiniwyd gan bartner yng ngogledd Cymru. Galwaf am ddatganiad i adlewyrchu'r pryder a godwyd gyda mi— nid fy mhryder i ydyw, er fy mod yn pryderu os yw'r ateb yn ateb anghywir—nad yw prosiectau posibl o dan INTERREG o reidrwydd wedi cael y cymorth a'r ymrwymiad yn y gogledd sydd ganddynt mewn mannau eraill, oherwydd gwn y dylai'r galw yn y gogledd, o bosibl, fod yr un fath o leiaf ag y mae yng ngorllewin Cymru.

Yn ail, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru am y modd y mae'n datblygu polisi diwygiedig ar dlodi tanwydd yng ngoleuni dau adroddiad newydd? Dywedodd adroddiad ar 3 Hydref gan Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru fod nifer yr aelwydydd mewn tlodi tanwydd yng Nghymru wedi gostwng ers 2008, ond bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu ei thargedau. Dywedodd fod achosion tlodi tanwydd yn gymhleth, bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwario £249 miliwn ar ei rhaglen cartrefi clyd i leihau tlodi tanwydd, ond wedi nodi tensiynau rhwng ceisio dileu allyriadau carbon o dai domestig a blaenoriaethu ymdrechion a chyllid ar aelwydydd tanwydd-dlawd, sy'n tueddu i ddefnyddio llai o ynni. Hefyd gwnaed cyfres o argymhellion i Lywodraeth Cymru, gan gynnwys gwersi a ddysgwyd o'r methiant i gyrraedd y targedau presennol a osodwyd yn 2010, gan gysylltu cynlluniau tlodi tanwydd â gwaith arall i fynd i'r afael ag achos gwaelodol tlodi tanwydd, ac ystyried sut y gallai cynlluniau tlodi tanwydd atal costau mewn meysydd gwasanaeth eraill a chyfrannu at nodau polisi ehangach.

Ac, yn ail, yn y cyd-destun hwn, yr adroddiad ar 7 Hydref gan Sefydliad Bevan, a ddywedodd, er bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud rhywfaint o gynnydd o ran lleihau tlodi tanwydd dros y ddegawd ddiwethaf, nododd mai'r aelwydydd cyfoethocaf oedd wedi elwa fwyaf. Yn 2008, o'r 70 y cant o aelwydydd cyfoethocaf, amcangyfrifwyd bod dros 83,000 yn byw mewn tlodi tanwydd, a bod hynny bellach 75 y cant yn is, tra mai dim ond 25 y cant o ostyngiad a welwyd yng ngwaelod y 10 degfed, y tlotaf, o gartrefi. Felly, erbyn hyn dim ond 21,000 o'r aelwydydd cyfoethocaf a 92,000 o'r aelwydydd tlotaf sydd, fel y dywedasant, yn darparu

arwydd o'r rheswm pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu yn ei tharged i ddileu tlodi tanwydd,

ac yn cynnig, yn y dyfodol, y dylid canolbwyntio'r targedau tlodi tanwydd ar yr aelwydydd tlotaf yn hytrach nag yn gyffredinol. Galwaf am ddatganiad yn unol â hynny.

On the first issue, regarding the INTERREG projects and particularly the number of INTERREG projects that have been supported in north Wales, perhaps Mark Isherwood would write to me with the information that he was giving this afternoon in the Chamber and I'll be able to look at that and also perhaps then advise on work that has been done to support and promote projects in the north Wales region.

On the second issue of fuel poverty, Welsh Government is very familiar with the two reports that you have referred to, and we are considering those reports alongside the consideration that we're giving to the way forward in terms of our approach to tackling fuel poverty.

O ran y mater cyntaf, ynghylch prosiectau INTERREG ac yn enwedig nifer y prosiectau INTERREG a gefnogwyd yn y gogledd, efallai y gallai Mark Isherwood ysgrifennu ataf gyda'r wybodaeth yr oedd yn ei rhoi'r prynhawn yma yn y Siambr a byddaf yn gallu edrych ar hynny a hefyd efallai wedyn roi cyngor ar y gwaith sydd wedi'i wneud i gefnogi a hyrwyddo prosiectau yn rhanbarth gogledd Cymru.

O ran yr ail fater sy'n ymwneud â thlodi tanwydd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfarwydd iawn â'r ddau adroddiad yr ydych wedi cyfeirio atynt, ac rydym yn ystyried yr adroddiadau hynny ynghyd â'r ystyriaeth yr ydym yn ei rhoi i'r ffordd ymlaen o ran ein dull ni o fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd.

15:25

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Trefnydd, last year, the Children, Young People and Education Committee produced a report on perinatal mental health. The excellent work that they produced had a very positive response from the Welsh Government, and I know the Welsh Government have taken action on some of those recommendations. However, one of those major recommendations was the introduction of a mother and baby unit, and we seem to have no actual progress on that particular recommendation. Now, last week, we all, across this Chamber, recognised World Mental Health Day on Thursday, but here we have a situation where we still need to take action to address the mother and baby unit in perinatal mental health. Can we have a statement from the Minister for health to actually see the progress being made on those recommendations, and particularly on a mother and baby mental health unit?

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Trefnydd, y llynedd, lluniwyd adroddiad gan y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar iechyd meddwl amenedigol. Cafwyd ymateb cadarnhaol iawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'r gwaith rhagorol a gynhyrchwyd ganddyn nhw, ac rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd camau ar rai o'r argymhellion hynny. Er hynny, un o'r argymhellion pwysicaf ynddo oedd sefydlu uned mam a'i baban, ac nid yw'n ymddangos ein bod wedi gweld unrhyw gynnydd gwirioneddol ynglŷn â'r argymhelliad penodol hwnnw. Nawr, yr wythnos diwethaf, roeddem ni i gyd, ar draws y Siambr hon, yn nodi Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd ddydd Iau. Ond mae gennym sefyllfa yma lle mae angen inni  weithredu o hyd i fynd i'r afael â mater iechyd meddwl amenedigol o ran unedau mam a'i baban. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd i weld y cynnydd mewn gwirionedd a wneir ynglŷn â'r argymhellion hynny, ac yn benodol ar uned iechyd meddwl mam a'i baban?

Thank you, David Rees. I will certainly ask the health Minister to write to you with an update, but I can confirm that we are committed and remain committed to establishing a unit as a matter of priority, and that work is being led by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee.FootnoteLink The implementation of such a specialised service is complex, and it must take into account factors such as location, suitability of premises and workforce capacity. But the management group has been working with Swansea Bay University Health Board to develop a business case for a six-bedded mother and baby unit to be hosted in the region.

There is concern, I know, that there might be a length of time before that unit might be open; I think that the indicative planning set out by the health board indicates a timescale of being operational by summer 2021. So, as a result of that, Welsh Government officials are working with the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee and Swansea Bay to explore options for an interim solution or to see if there are ways that we can accelerate that planning, and those discussions are being taken forward as a matter of urgency.

Diolch, David Rees. Fe fyddaf yn siŵr o ofyn i'r Gweinidog iechyd ysgrifennu atoch chi gyda'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, ond fe allaf i gadarnhau ein bod ni wedi ymrwymo ac yn parhau'n ymrwymedig i sefydlu uned fel mater o flaenoriaeth, a bod y gwaith hwnnw'n cael ei arwain gan Bwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru.FootnoteLink Mae gweithredu gwasanaeth mor arbenigol yn gymhleth, ac mae'n rhaid i hynny ystyried ffactorau fel lleoliad, addasrwydd safleoedd a chapasiti'r gweithlu. Ond mae'r grŵp rheoli wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe i ddatblygu achos busnes ar gyfer uned mam a'i baban gyda chwe gwely i'w leoli yn y rhanbarth.

Mae pryder, rwy'n gwybod, y gallai fod cryn amser cyn bod modd agor yr uned honno; credaf fod y cynllunio dangosol a bennwyd gan y bwrdd iechyd yn dangos amserlen a fydd yn weithredol erbyn haf 2021. Felly, o ganlyniad i hynny, mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Phwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru a Bae Abertawe i ddod o hyd i opsiynau ar gyfer datrysiad dros dro neu i chwilio am ffyrdd y gallwn ni gyflymu'r cynllunio hwnnw, ac mae'r trafodaethau hynny'n cael eu datblygu ar frys.

4. Gorchymyn Deddf Daliadau Amaethyddol 1986 (Amrywio Atodlen 8) (Cymru) 2019
4. The Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (Variation of Schedule 8) (Wales) Order 2019

Item 4 on the agenda is the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (Variation of Schedule 8) (Wales) Order 2019, and I call on the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to move the motion—Lesley Griffiths.

Eitem 4 ar yr agenda yw Gorchymyn Deddf Daliadau Amaethyddol 1986 (Amrywio Atodlen 8) (Cymru) 2019, ac rwy'n galw ar Weinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig i gynnig y cynnig—Lesley Griffiths.

Cynnig NDM7158 Rebecca Evans

Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru; yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:

Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Orchymyn Deddf Daliadau Amaethyddol 1986 (Amrywio Atodlen 8) (Cymru) 2019 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 24 Medi 2019.   

Motion NDM7158 Rebecca Evans

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales; in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

Approves that the draft The Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (Variation of Schedule 8) (Wales) Order 2019 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 24 September 2019.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move the motion. The statutory instrument before you enables the Welsh Government to bring forward revisions to the legislation governing agricultural tenancies. Updating Schedule 8 to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 will bring legislation in line with modern day farming practices. Members are being asked to agree to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (Variation of Schedule 8) (Wales) Order 2019. By agreeing this revision, Welsh Government will amend and update the 1986 Act to allow the application of manure, fertiliser, soil improvers and digestate to tenanted land in Wales. It will also amend the Act to disallow the spreading of third-party manure on a tenanted holding. Making these amendments will assist biosecurity on farms by contributing to the prevention of disease transfer between holdings.

I would also like to bring to Members' notice that this SI is part of a suite of three SIs, the other two being made under negative procedure: the Agriculture (Calculation of Value for Compensation) (Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2019 and the Agriculture (Model Clauses for Fixed Equipment) (Wales) Regulations 2019. Both have been laid in the Assembly for the statutory 21 days, with a coming into force date of 1 November 2019. Bringing the three SIs forward together will remove complexity and ambiguity for the sector. The agricultural tenancy sector makes up almost 30 per cent of land farmed in Wales, so it is essential legislation is in place to ensure these businesses can be as efficient and effective as possible.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n cynnig y cynnig. Mae'r offeryn statudol sydd ger eich bron yn galluogi Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno diwygiadau i'r ddeddfwriaeth sy'n llywodraethu tenantiaethau amaethyddol. Bydd diweddaru Atodlen 8 Deddf Daliadau Amaethyddol 1986 yn dod â deddfwriaeth yn unol ag arferion ffermio cyfoes. Gofynnir i'r Aelodau gytuno ar Orchymyn Deddf Daliadau Amaethyddol 1986 (Amrywio Atodlen 8) (Cymru) 2019. Drwy gytuno ar y diwygiad hwn, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn diwygio ac yn diweddaru Deddf 1986 i ganiatáu ar gyfer gwasgaru tail, gwrtaith, deunyddiau gwella pridd a gweddillion treuliad anaerobig ar dir yng Nghymru. Bydd hefyd yn diwygio'r Ddeddf i wahardd taenu tail trydydd parti ar ddaliad sydd â thenantiaid. Bydd gwneud y diwygiadau hyn yn cynorthwyo bioddiogelwch ar ffermydd drwy gyfrannu at atal clefydau rhag cael eu trosglwyddo rhwng daliadau.

Hoffwn i hefyd hysbysu'r Aelodau fod yr offeryn statudol hwn yn rhan o gyfres o dri offeryn statudol, a bod y ddau arall yn cael eu gwneud o dan y weithdrefn negyddol: Rheoliadau Amaethyddiaeth (Cyfrifo Gwerth am Iawndal) (Dirymu) (Cymru) 2019 a Deddf Amaethyddiaeth (Model Cymalau ar gyfer Offer Sefydlog) (Cymru) 2019. Gosodwyd y rheoliadau hyn gerbron y Cynulliad am yr 21 diwrnod statudol, gyda dyddiad dod i rym ar 1 Tachwedd 2019. Bydd cyflwyno'r tri offeryn statudol hyn gyda'i gilydd yn cael gwared ar gymhlethdod ac amwysedd i'r sector. Mae'r sector tenantiaeth amaethyddol yn cyfrif am bron 30 y cant o'r tir sy'n cael ei ffermio yng Nghymru. Felly mae'n hanfodol bod deddfwriaeth ar waith i sicrhau bod y busnesau hyn yn gallu bod mor effeithlon ac effeithiol â phosibl.

I have no speakers for the debate. Therefore, the proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Nid oes gennyf i unrhyw siaradwyr ar gyfer y ddadl. Felly, y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

5. Datganiad gan y Prif Weinidog: Polisi Cyfansoddiadol
5. Statement by the First Minister: Constitutional Policy

We now move to item 5, which is a statement by the First Minister on constitutional policy, and I call on the First Minister, Mark Drakeford.

Rydym yn symud at eitem 5 nawr, sef datganiad gan y Prif Weinidog ar bolisi cyfansoddiadol, ac rwy'n galw ar y Prif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Carwn wneud datganiad ar bolisi cyfansoddiadol Llywodraeth Cymru. Ar ddydd Iau 10 Hydref, fe gyhoeddwyd ein dogfen bolisi newydd 'Diwygio ein Hundeb: Cydlywodraethu yn y Deyrnas Unedig'.

Pan ddaeth y Prif Weinidog newydd i Gaerdydd ym mis Gorffennaf, dywedais wrtho fod Brexit yn bygwth dyfodol yr undeb. Dywedais fod yr undeb dan fygythiad mwy difrifol nag ar unrhyw adeg yn fy mywyd i. Ond, o ran ymateb gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, mae dim ond tawelwch. Dyma pam yr ydym ni'n cyhoeddi'r ddogfen newydd hon. Os nad yw Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i barod i gymryd hwn o ddifri, mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud. Rydym ni'n credu mewn Cymru gref o fewn Deyrnas Unedig gref. Felly, rydym ni'n galw am ddiwygiad sylfaenol, sef newid sefydliadau, prosesau a diwylliant y Deyrnas Unedig. 

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I wish to make a statement on the constitutional policy of the Welsh Government. On Thursday 10 October, we published our new policy document, ‘Reforming our Union: Shared Governance in the UK’.

When the new Prime Minister came to Cardiff in July, I told him that Brexit represented a threat to the future of the union. I said that the union was under greater threat than at any time in my lifetime. But, in terms of the response by the UK Government, there is just silence. That’s why we are publishing this new document. If the UK Government is not prepared to give this issue serious thought, the Welsh Government must do so. We believe in a strong Wales within a strong United Kingdom. So, we are calling for fundamental reform, namely reform of the institutions, processes and culture of the United Kingdom.

And, Dirprwy Lywydd, there can be no question, I think, that Brexit poses a fundamental threat to the governance of the UK. But there is so little evidence of any serious thinking on this by the UK Government itself. That is why the Welsh Government is setting out our proposals for the fundamental reform that is required.

We propose a fundamental recasting of the way in which sovereignty is conceptualised in the United Kingdom; an entrenched constitutional settlement, with reform of the Sewel convention to secure much greater clarity in the relations between the UK Parliament and the devolved legislatures. And we call for a reformed upper House of Parliament, with a membership, largely or wholly elected, that takes into account the multinational character of the union. So far as the devolved administrations are concerned, we argue that the allocation of governmental responsibilities within the UK should be based on the principle of subsidiarity; that relationships between the four Governments should be based on a partnership of equals in a spirit of mutual respect; and that there must be a root-and-branch reform of the existing inter-governmental mechanisms, including improved dispute resolution procedures and parity of participation in the way those mechanisms operate. We call for the involvement of devolved administrations in forming the UK Government’s policy on international relations and trade, and for fair funding across the four UK nations.

Dirprwy Lywydd, all of these proposals are based on a conception of the United Kingdom as a voluntary association of nations that co-operate together to advance our common interests. So, we are fundamentally concerned with how the UK as a whole should be governed, based on a recognition of our mutual interdependence. That requires a degree of shared governance. But the arrangements for that shared governance have to be radically reformed if we are to be able to serve our citizens well. And we must stop making ad hoc adjustments to individual settlements without regard to the wider UK context.

Dirprwy Lywydd, this is a time when traditional constitutional conventions and understandings are breaking down. So, in this document, we repeat our call for a constitutional convention to address the issues, with particular consideration of the future relationship between the devolved institutions on the one hand and Westminster and Whitehall on the other. Such a convention should not, we say, be confined to those who work already within these systems. It must be amplified and informed by the collective voice of citizens as well. And such a convention would need to consider, at this time of potential constitutional fracture, whether it is now right to move towards a written or codified constitution for the United Kingdom.

So, Dirprwy Lywydd, we are putting an ambitious agenda on the table. If the United Kingdom is to survive the challenges thrown up by the debate around Brexit, this is a debate we cannot avoid. I know that, here in the Senedd, there are Members who already recognise the seriousness of this challenge and the seriousness with which it needs to be approached. And of course, I welcome hearing all Members' views on these issues.

Ac nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth yn fy marn i, Dirprwy Lywydd, fod Brexit yn fygythiad sylfaenol i lywodraethu'r Deyrnas Unedig. Ond prin iawn yw'r dystiolaeth fod Llywodraeth y DU ei hun yn rhoi unrhyw ystyriaeth ddifrifol i hynny. Dyna pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn amlinellu ein cynigion ni ar gyfer y diwygio sylfaenol sy'n angenrheidiol.

Rydym yn cynnig gweddnewidiad sylfaenol i'r cysyniad o sofraniaeth yn y Deyrnas Unedig; setliad cyfansoddiadol di-syfl, gyda diwygiad o gonfensiwn Sewel i sicrhau llawer mwy o eglurder yn y berthynas rhwng Senedd y DU a'r deddfwrfeydd datganoledig. Ac rydym yn galw am ddiwygio Tŷ uwch y Senedd, gydag aelodaeth, a gaiff ei hethol yn bennaf neu'n gyfan gwbl, sy'n ystyried cymeriad amlwladol yr Undeb. O ran y gweinyddiaethau datganoledig, rydym yn dadlau y dylai'r ffordd y dyrennir cyfrifoldebau llywodraethol yn y DU fod yn seiliedig ar egwyddor sybsidiaredd; y dylai'r berthynas rhwng y pedair Llywodraeth fod yn seiliedig ar bartneriaeth gydradd mewn ysbryd o barch cyffredin; a bod yn rhaid diwygio'r mecanweithiau rhynglywodraethol presennol yn gyfan gwbl, gan gynnwys gwella gweithdrefnau i ddatrys anghydfod a chydraddoldeb o ran cyfranogi yn y ffordd y mae'r mecanweithiau hynny'n gweithio. Rydym yn galw am gynnwys gweinyddiaethau datganoledig wrth lunio polisi Llywodraeth y DU ar gysylltiadau rhyngwladol a masnach, ac am gyllido teg ar draws pedair gwlad y Deyrnas Unedig.

Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r cynigion hyn i gyd yn seiliedig ar y cysyniad o'r Deyrnas Unedig fel cymdeithas wirfoddol o genhedloedd sy'n cydweithio i hyrwyddo ein buddiannau cyffredin. Felly, ein hystyriaeth sylfaenol ni yw'r ffordd y dylid llywodraethu'r DU gyfan, yn seiliedig ar gydnabod ein cyd-ddibyniaeth. Mae hynny'n gofyn am rywfaint o lywodraethu ar y cyd. Ond mae'n rhaid diwygio'r trefniadau yn sylfaenol ar gyfer y cyd-lywodraethu hwnnw er mwyn gallu gwasanaethu ein dinasyddion yn dda. Ac mae'n rhaid inni roi'r gorau i wneud addasiadau ad hoc i setliadau unigol heb ystyried cyd-destun ehangach y DU.

Dirprwy Lywydd, mae hwn yn gyfnod o chwalu confensiynau a dealltwriaethau cyfansoddiadol traddodiadol. Felly, yn y ddogfen hon, rydym yn ailadrodd ein galwad ni am gonfensiwn cyfansoddiadol i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn, gydag ystyriaeth benodol o'r berthynas yn y dyfodol rhwng y sefydliadau datganoledig ar y naill law a San Steffan a Whitehall ar y llaw arall. Ni ddylai confensiwn o'r fath, yn ein barn ni, gael ei gyfyngu i'r rhai sy'n gweithio o fewn y systemau hyn eisoes. Bydd yn rhaid ei ehangu a'i lywio gan lais torfol y dinasyddion hefyd. A byddai angen i gonfensiwn o'r fath ystyried, yn y cyfnod hwn o hollt cyfansoddiadol posibl, ai'r peth iawn fyddai symud nawr tuag at gyfansoddiad ysgrifenedig neu un sydd wedi ei godio ar gyfer y Deyrnas Unedig.

Felly, Dirprwy Lywydd, rydym ni'n rhoi agenda uchelgeisiol ar y bwrdd. Os yw'r Deyrnas Unedig am oroesi'r heriau a godir gan y ddadl ynghylch Brexit, mae hon yn ddadl na allwn ni ei hosgoi. Rwy'n gwybod, yma yn y Senedd, fod yna Aelodau sydd eisoes yn cydnabod difrifoldeb yr her hon a pha mor ddifrifol yw'r angen i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Ac wrth gwrs, rwy'n croesawu clywed barn yr holl Aelodau ynglŷn â'r materion hyn.

15:35

Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

But, Llywydd, let me make this final point: the format of this document is important. We want to stimulate an urgent debate, but we do not claim to have all the answers. So what we have put forward is a set of propositions, and we want the UK Government, and of course others, to engage with them. It is the proper purpose of politics to argue out competing propositions and different views of our futures. In this document, we say, 'Here is our version of how that future should be saved.' To others here in Wales and in other parts of the United Kingdom, we say, 'Please let that debate begin.' Diolch yn fawr.

Ond, Llywydd, gadewch imi wneud y pwynt olaf hwn: mae fformat y ddogfen hon yn bwysig. Rydym ni'n awyddus i ysgogi dadl frys, ond nid ydym yn honni bod yr atebion i gyd yn ein meddiant. Felly, yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei gyflwyno yw cyfres o gynigion, ac rydym yn awyddus i Lywodraeth y DU, ac i eraill wrth gwrs, ymgymryd â'r gwaith o ymdrin â nhw. Gwir ddiben gwleidyddiaeth yw dadlau ynghylch cynigion cystadleuol a gwahanol safbwyntiau am ein dyfodol ni. Yn y ddogfen hon, fe ddywedwn ni, 'Dyma ein fersiwn ni o sut y dylid achub y dyfodol hwnnw.' Ac i eraill yma yng Nghymru ac mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig, fe ddywedwn ni, 'Gadewch inni ddechrau ar y ddadl honno.' Diolch yn fawr.