Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
03/06/2020Cynnwys
Contents
Mae hon yn fersiwn ddrafft o’r Cofnod sy’n cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd a’r cyfieithiad ar y pryd.
This is a draft version of the Record that includes the floor language and the simultaneous interpretation.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd drwy gynhadledd fideo am 10:58 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met by video-conference at 10:58 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn inni ddechrau, dwi eisiau nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Mae Cyfarfod Llawn a gynhelir drwy gynhadledd fideo yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog Senedd Cymru yn gyfystyr â thrafodion y Senedd at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw ac mae'r rhain wedi eu nodi ar yr agenda. Hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau fod Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn gymwys i'r cyfarfod yma, a'r cyfyngiadau amser o ran hyd cwestiynau a gaiff eu cymhwyso i'r cyfarfod hwn.
Hoffwn hefyd hysbysu'r Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75, fod y Ddeddf Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol (Ansawdd ac Ymgysylltu) (Cymru) 2020 wedi derbyn Cydsyniad Brenhinol ar 1 Mehefin. Hon, felly, yw Deddf gyntaf Senedd Cymru.
Welcome, all, to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to make a few points. A Plenary meeting held by video-conference in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament constitutes Senedd proceedings for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's Plenary meeting and these are noted on the agenda. I'd like to remind Members that Standing Orders relating to order in Plenary meetings apply to this meeting, as do the time limits on questions that will be applied to this meeting.
I would also wish to inform the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, that the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020 was given Royal Assent on 1 June. This is, therefore, the first Act of Senedd Cymru.
Yr eitem gyntaf y bore yma yw'r datganiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad busnes hwnnw—Rebecca Evans.
The first item this morning is the business statement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make the business statement—Rebecca Evans.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to today's agenda. The Minister for Education will make a statement this afternoon on an update to education provision, after which the Minister for Housing and Local Government will make a statement on homelessness. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae dau newid i'r agenda heddiw. Bydd y Gweinidog Addysg yn gwneud datganiad y prynhawn yma ar ddiweddariad i'r ddarpariaeth addysg, ac wedyn bydd y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol yn gwneud datganiad ar ddigartrefedd. 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 yn electronig.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
Thank you, Trefnydd.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan y Prif Weinidog ar goronafeirws. Galw ar y Prif Weinidog i wneud ei ddatganiad—Mark Drakeford.
The next item, therefore, is a statement by the First Minister on the coronavirus, and I call on the First Minister to make the statement—Mark Drakeford.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Unwaith eto, byddaf yn rhoi adroddiad i'r Senedd ar y camau diweddaraf wrth inni ymateb i'r argyfwng coronafeirws.
Wythnos diwethaf, daethom i ddiwedd y trydydd cyfnod o dair wythnos pryd mae'n rhaid inni adolygu'r cyfyngiadau sydd mewn lle. Byddaf yn amlinellu'r penderfyniadau a ddaeth i rym ar ddydd Llun, 1 Mehefin. Fel o'r blaen, fe wnaethom ystyried y dystiolaeth ddiweddaraf gan SAGE a chyngor Prif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru. Ar sail y dystiolaeth honno, rydym wedi cymryd camau gofalus tuag at lacio'r cyfnod clo er mwyn galluogi pobl i gwrdd â'i gilydd mewn amodau lle mae'r risg yn isel. Er bod y ffigurau yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad cywir, dydy hi ddim yn saff eto inni fynd ymhellach na hynny.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Once again, I will report to the Senedd on the latest steps that we have taken in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Last week, we completed the third three-week period where we are required to review the restrictions that are in place. I will outline the decisions that came into force on Monday, 1 June. As we have done previously, we took account of the latest Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies evidence and the advice of the Chief Medical Officer for Wales and, on the basis of that evidence, we have taken cautious steps in relaxing some restrictions in order to enable people to meet each other in conditions where the risk is low. Although the figures are moving in the right direction, it is not safe yet for us to go further than that.
Llywydd, as in previous weeks, I will cover matters in this statement not dealt with in the statements that follow from the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Housing and Local Government.
In my previous statement on 20 May, I drew attention to the impact of coronavirus on the Welsh Government's budget. The Minister for Finance and Trefnydd has set out the changes in the first supplementary budget published last week. This includes £2.4 billion to support the coronavirus response, including £750 million to fund our NHS and public services. We have funded more than 55,000 grants to businesses in Wales, at a cost of £660 million. These businesses are also benefitting from rates relief through the £1.4 billion package announced in March.
Llywydd, the Welsh Government's response has gone far beyond the sums provided by the UK Government, but we remain constrained by Treasury rules that limit our ability to respond to the crisis. The finance Minister will continue to press the case for greater flexibility to enable us to direct resources where they are needed the most.
And, of course, the Welsh Government will continue to make new allocations in response to the crisis. Our initial funding of £10 million helped more than 800 homeless people into housing since the lockdown began. It was an important moment in devolution, Llywydd, when the Minister for Housing and Local Government was able to identify a further £20 million to help ensure that no-one has to return to the streets here in Wales, and she will have more to say on that, I know, later in proceedings.
Last week, the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales announced funding of £65 million to ensure train services continue to operate on the Wales and borders network. This follows funding of £40 million confirmed in March, taking the total support to a maximum of £105 million. We will continue to ensure that vital public transport links are maintained.
Llywydd, I am pleased that the guidance that we published last week on safety in the workplace was endorsed by both the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. Last week also saw a meeting of the extended social partnership council, attended by representatives of the third sector and commissioners, as part of our partnership response.
Llywydd, I will turn now to the outcome of the three-week review concluded on Thursday, 28 May. The context is that coronavirus continues to present a cruel threat to health in Wales. Yesterday, the Office for National Statistics reported that, in all settings, up to 22 May, there were 2,122 deaths involving coronavirus in Wales. While these numbers are coming down, with patients in critical care beds, for example, reducing week by week, we remember the loss of each individual life, the families who are grieving them and the need for continued care and caution by us all.
Members will know that our coronavirus regulations must be reviewed every 21 days. The test we must apply is whether the restrictions on life in Wales are proportionate and necessary to protect public health. In applying this test, we must have regard to the advice of the chief medical officer and we also rely on the latest evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.
This is the third review, Llywydd, and I will summarise the process we have followed. First, we draw together a list of the potential options for easing restrictions, drawn from ideas generated within and beyond the Welsh Government, including the many suggestions we continue to receive from people right across Wales. That list is reduced for discussion and examination to a short list of options, and those are evaluated in detail against the questions set out in the framework document we published in April, including the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 principles. Our aim is to identify measures that have a positive impact and the least risk to public health. We are always mindful of the harms caused by the restrictions, not just directly through coronavirus, but in other ways, to public health and to people's social and economic well-being.
We have held discussions with the other Governments in the United Kingdom and the mayor of London over that three-week period in order to share ideas and analysis, to understand one another's approach and the evidence in each of our jurisdictions. Coherence does not mean taking an identical approach to lifting or, indeed, imposing restrictions. Each Government must be accountable for the balance of measures we decide to adopt.
Finally, we have considered the latest evidence about the transmission of the virus, which determines how much headroom there is for any easement without putting at risk the progress achieved so far. We concluded in Wales that the conditions allowed for some adjustments to the restrictions, but the very clear advice from both SAGE and the World Health Organization is to make only one change at a time and to monitor its impact.
We decided to give priority to enabling people to meet others, as separation from family and friends has been so hard for people over the past two months. In doing so, we responded to the clear message from people in Wales that the lack of human contact was the issue that mattered to them most. The evidence said that the safest way to do this was outdoors, where the virus survives for a much shorter length of time than it does within doors. Accordingly, people can now meet others from one other household in the open air in their local areas, provided that social distancing is maintained. This will also be possible for people in the shielded group, provided they observe the social distancing, and that will be even more essential, of course, for them.
Llywydd, we made some other, minor adjustments to enable students to return to further education colleges for the assessments that are essential for some to complete their courses and to enable weddings to take place where one of the couple is terminally ill. I've also signalled that non-essential businesses that are able to comply with the physical distancing duty can start to make preparations over the coming three weeks so that they would be in a position to reopen after 18 June, provided—and always provided—that the evidence at that time supports them in doing so.
Llywydd, we are already halfway through the first week of the next review period. We are starting to consider options for any further easements that may be possible at the end of the period, supported by the contact tracing system that started in earnest on Monday. We will continue to take cautious steps towards reducing the restrictions, in a collaborative, four-nations approach, protecting public health and responding to the priorities of people here in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
Llywydd, fel yn yr wythnosau blaenorol, byddaf yn rhoi sylw i faterion yn y datganiad hwn nad ydyn nhw'n cael sylw yn y datganiadau sy'n dilyn gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, y Gweinidog Addysg a'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol.
Yn fy natganiad blaenorol ar 20 Mai, tynnais sylw at effaith coronafeirws ar gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd wedi nodi'r newidiadau yn y gyllideb atodol gyntaf a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £2.4 biliwn i gynorthwyo'r ymateb i'r coronafeirws, gan gynnwys £750 miliwn i ariannu ein GIG a'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rydym ni wedi ariannu mwy na 55,000 o grantiau i fusnesau yng Nghymru, am gost o £660 miliwn. Mae'r busnesau hyn hefyd yn elwa ar ryddhad ardrethi drwy'r pecyn £1.4 biliwn a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mawrth.
Llywydd, mae ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru wedi mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i'r symiau a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU, ond rydym ni'n dal i fod yn gaeth i reolau'r Trysorlys sy'n cyfyngu ar ein gallu i ymateb i'r argyfwng. Bydd y Gweinidog cyllid yn parhau i bwyso am fwy o hyblygrwydd i'n galluogi i gyfeirio adnoddau i'r mannau lle mae eu hangen nhw fwyaf.
Ac, wrth gwrs, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i wneud dyraniadau newydd mewn ymateb i'r argyfwng. Cynorthwyodd ein cyllid cychwynnol o £10 miliwn fwy nag 800 o bobl ddigartref i mewn i dai ers dechrau'r cyfyngiadau symud. Roedd yn adeg bwysig o ran datganoli, Llywydd, pan oedd y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol yn gallu nodi £20 miliwn arall i helpu sicrhau nad oes yn rhaid i neb ddychwelyd i'r strydoedd yma yng Nghymru, a bydd ganddi fwy i'w ddweud am hynny, mi wn, yn nes ymlaen yn y trafodion.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Gweinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru gyllid o £65 miliwn i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau rheilffordd yn parhau i weithredu ar rwydwaith Cymru a'r gororau. Mae hyn yn dilyn cyllid o £40 miliwn a gadarnhawyd ym mis Mawrth, gan ddod â chyfanswm y cymorth i uchafswm o £105 miliwn. Byddwn yn parhau i sicrhau bod cysylltiadau cludiant cyhoeddus hanfodol yn cael eu cynnal.
Llywydd, rwy'n falch bod y canllawiau a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni yr wythnos diwethaf ar ddiogelwch yn y gweithle wedi cael eu cymeradwyo gan Gydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain a Chyngres yr Undebau Llafur. Yr wythnos diwethaf hefyd, cynhaliwyd cyfarfod y cyngor partneriaeth cymdeithasol estynedig, pryd yr oedd cynrychiolwyr y trydydd sector a chomisiynwyr yn bresennol, yn rhan o'n hymateb partneriaeth.
Llywydd, trof nawr at ganlyniad yr adolygiad tair wythnos a ddaeth i ben ddydd Iau, 28 Mai. Y cyd-destun yw bod coronafeirws yn parhau i fod yn fygythiad creulon i iechyd yng Nghymru. Ddoe, adroddodd y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol, ym mhob lleoliad, hyd at 22 Mai, bod 2,122 o farwolaethau yn ymwneud â coronafeirws yng Nghymru. Er bod y niferoedd hyn yn gostwng, gyda chleifion mewn gwelyau gofal critigol, er enghraifft, yn lleihau o wythnos i wythnos, rydym ni'n cofio colled pob bywyd unigol, y teuluoedd sy'n eu galaru nhw a'r angen parhaus i ni i gyd fod yn ofalus.
Bydd yr Aelodau yn gwybod bod yn rhaid adolygu ein rheoliadau coronafeirws bob 21 diwrnod. Y prawf y mae'n rhaid i ni ei ddefnyddio yw a yw'r cyfyngiadau ar fywyd yng Nghymru yn gymesur ac yn angenrheidiol i ddiogelu iechyd y cyhoedd. Wrth ddefnyddio'r prawf hwn, mae'n rhaid i ni ystyried cyngor y prif swyddog meddygol ac rydym ni hefyd yn dibynnu ar y dystiolaeth ddiweddaraf gan y Grŵp Cynghori Gwyddonol ar Argyfyngau.
Dyma'r trydydd adolygiad, Llywydd, a byddaf yn crynhoi'r broses yr ydym ni wedi ei dilyn. Yn gyntaf, rydym ni'n llunio rhestr o'r dewisiadau posibl ar gyfer llacio cyfyngiadau, sy'n deillio o syniadau a gynhyrchwyd o fewn ac y tu hwnt i Lywodraeth Cymru, gan gynnwys yr awgrymiadau niferus yr ydym ni'n parhau i'w cael gan bobl ledled Cymru gyfan. Mae'r rhestr honno'n cael ei byrhau ar gyfer trafodaeth ac archwiliad i restr fer o ddewisiadau, a chaiff y rheini eu gwerthuso'n fanwl yn erbyn y cwestiynau a nodir yn y ddogfen fframwaith a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni ym mis Ebrill, gan gynnwys egwyddorion Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015. Ein nod yw nodi mesurau sy'n cael effaith gadarnhaol ac yn arwain at y perygl lleiaf i iechyd y cyhoedd. Rydym ni bob amser yn ystyriol o'r niwed sy'n cael ei achosi gan y cyfyngiadau, nid yn unig drwy coronafeirws yn uniongyrchol, ond mewn ffyrdd eraill, i iechyd y cyhoedd ac i lesiant cymdeithasol ac economaidd pobl.
Rydym ni wedi cynnal trafodaethau gyda'r llywodraethau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig a maer Llundain yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw o dair wythnos er mwyn rhannu syniadau a dadansoddiadau, i ddeall dulliau ein gilydd a'r dystiolaeth ym mhob un o'n hawdurdodaethau. Nid yw cydlyniaeth yn golygu mabwysiadu'r un dull yn union o lacio nac, mewn gwirionedd, o gyflwyno cyfyngiadau. Mae'n rhaid i bob Llywodraeth fod yn atebol am gydbwysedd y mesurau yr ydym ni'n penderfynu eu mabwysiadu.
Yn olaf, rydym ni wedi ystyried y dystiolaeth ddiweddaraf o drosglwyddiad y feirws, sy'n pennu faint o hyblygrwydd sydd i unrhyw lacio heb beryglu'r cynnydd a wnaed hyd yma. Daethom i'r casgliad yng Nghymru bod yr amodau yn caniatáu rhai addasiadau i'r cyfyngiadau, ond y cyngor eglur iawn gan SAGE a Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd yw gwneud un newid ar y tro yn unig a monitro ei effaith.
Penderfynasom roi blaenoriaeth i alluogi pobl i gyfarfod ag eraill, gan fod gwahanu oddi wrth deulu a ffrindiau wedi bod mor anodd i bobl yn ystod y ddau fis diwethaf. Trwy wneud hynny, fe wnaethom ymateb i'r neges eglur gan bobl yng Nghymru mai diffyg cyswllt â phobl oedd y mater a oedd fwyaf pwysig iddyn nhw. Roedd y dystiolaeth yn dweud mai'r ffordd fwyaf diogel o wneud hyn oedd yn yr awyr agored, lle mae'r feirws yn goroesi am gyfnod llawer byrrach o amser nag y mae o dan do. Yn unol â hynny, gall pobl gyfarfod bellach a phobl eraill o un aelwyd arall yn yr awyr agored yn eu hardaloedd lleol, ar yr amod y cedwir pellter cymdeithasol. Bydd hyn hefyd yn bosibl i bobl yn y grŵp a warchodir, ar yr amod eu bod nhw'n cadw pellter cymdeithasol, a bydd hynny'n fwy hanfodol fyth, wrth gwrs, iddyn nhw.
Llywydd, fe wnaethom rai mân addasiadau eraill i alluogi myfyrwyr i ddychwelyd i golegau addysg bellach ar gyfer yr asesiadau sy'n hanfodol i rai allu cwblhau eu cyrsiau ac i alluogi priodasau i gael eu cynnal lle mae un o'r pâr yn angheuol wael. Rwyf i hefyd wedi cyfarwyddo y caiff busnesau nad ydyn nhw'n hanfodol sy'n gallu cydymffurfio â'r ddyletswydd cadw pellter corfforol ddechrau gwneud paratoadau dros y tair wythnos nesaf fel y byddan nhw mewn sefyllfa i ailagor ar ôl 18 Mehefin, ar yr amod—a bob amser ar yr amod—bod y dystiolaeth ar y pryd yn eu cefnogi i wneud hynny.
Llywydd, rydym ni eisoes hanner ffordd drwy wythnos gyntaf y cyfnod adolygu nesaf. Rydym ni'n dechrau ystyried dewisiadau ar gyfer unrhyw lacio pellach a allai fod yn bosibl ar ddiwedd y cyfnod, wedi eu cefnogi gan y system olrhain cyswllt a ddechreuodd o ddifrif ddydd Llun. Byddwn yn parhau i gymryd camau pwyllog tuag at leihau'r cyfyngiadau, mewn dull pedair gwlad, cydweithredol, gan ddiogelu iechyd y cyhoedd ac ymateb i flaenoriaethau pobl yma yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr.
Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies.
Leader of the opposition, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last Friday, as you've just mentioned, you took the decision to start easing the lockdown restrictions in Wales, and introduced the rule to allow people to visit their loved ones within a 5-mile radius while socially distancing. That rule may have been some comfort to those living in some areas, but this has also been met by many with anger and frustration in other areas, many of whom felt that the Welsh Government simply doesn't care about those who live in the more remote parts of the country. You said yourself that unfairness was inevitable. First Minister, given that you're keen to tell us that your policies are based on the latest scientific and medical advice available, where is the scientific and medical advice that you have received regarding this particular policy, and will you now put that scientific and medical advice in the public domain so that the people of Wales can understand how the Welsh Government has arrived at this specific decision?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ddydd Gwener diwethaf, fel yr ydych chi newydd sôn, gwnaed y penderfyniad gennych chi i ddechrau llacio'r cyfyngiadau symud yng Nghymru, gan gyflwyno'r rheol i ganiatáu i bobl ymweld â'u hanwyliaid o fewn radiws o 5 milltir gan gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Efallai fod y rheol honno wedi bod yn rhywfaint o gysur i'r rhai sy'n byw mewn rhai ardaloedd, ond mae llawer mewn ardaloedd eraill hefyd wedi ymateb gyda dicter a rhwystredigaeth i hyn, a llawer ohonyn nhw'n teimlo nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn poeni o gwbl am y rhai sy'n byw yn y rhannau mwy anghysbell o'r wlad. Dywedasoch eich hun bod annhegwch yn anochel. Prif Weinidog, gan eich bod chi'n awyddus i ddweud wrthym ni bod eich polisïau yn seiliedig ar y cyngor gwyddonol a meddygol diweddaraf sydd ar gael, ble mae'r cyngor gwyddonol a meddygol yr ydych chi wedi ei gael ynglŷn â'r polisi penodol hwn, ac a wnewch chi gyhoeddi'r cyngor gwyddonol a meddygol hwnnw nawr fel y gall pobl Cymru ddeall sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud y penderfyniad penodol hwn?
Llywydd, let me correct the leader of the opposition on something that he said, and I hope that neither he nor his colleagues will go on repeating something that is simply untrue: there is no rule about 5 miles in Wales. If there were a rule, that would have been in the regulations. There is guidance, a rule of thumb for people in Wales to understand what 'local' might mean, and I have repeatedly said that it is for people to, in a sensible way, interpret what 'local' means in their own individual geographies, because 'local' is inevitably different in a city like Cardiff, where 5 miles will take you to thousands of other households, and what it might mean in a rural part of Wales.
The scientific advice is about staying local, and we know that staying local is very important because it prevents the spread of the virus from one community to another. The 5-mile rule of thumb is there precisely to protect people in the further west and north of Wales from people from places where the virus has been in greater spread from travelling to those communities and bringing the virus with them. The leader of the opposition will know very well just how emphatic people in those localities have been about protecting them from visitors coming to those areas and putting them at risk. The 'stay local' message protects individuals and others, and the 5 mile guidance—and that's what it is; it is not a rule, it is guidance—is there to protect those communities in rural Wales from people otherwise believing that it was fine to travel in large numbers from outside those localities, and in order to avoid the distressing scenes that we have seen across our border where that sensible advice is not in place.
Llywydd, gadewch i mi gywiro arweinydd yr wrthblaid ar rywbeth a ddywedodd, a gobeithio na fydd ef na'i gyd-Aelodau yn parhau i ailadrodd rhywbeth nad yw'n wir o gwbl: nid oes unrhyw reol am 5 milltir yng Nghymru. Pe byddai rheol, byddai honno wedi bod yn y rheoliadau. Ceir canllaw, cyfarwyddyd bras i bobl yng Nghymru ddeall yr hyn y gallai 'lleol' ei olygu, ac rwyf i wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro mai cyfrifoldeb pobl yw dehongli, mewn ffordd synhwyrol, yr hyn y mae 'lleol' yn ei olygu yn eu daearyddiaeth unigol hwy eu hunain, gan ei bod yn anochel bod 'lleol' yn wahanol mewn dinas fel Caerdydd, lle bydd 5 milltir yn mynd â chi i filoedd o wahanol aelwydydd, a'r hyn y gallai ei olygu mewn rhan wledig o Gymru.
Y cyngor gwyddonol yw aros yn lleol, ac rydym ni'n gwybod bod aros yn lleol yn bwysig iawn gan ei fod yn atal y feirws rhag lledaenu o un gymuned i'r llall. Mae'r rheol 5 milltir fras yno am yr union reswm o ddiogelu pobl yn ngorllewin a gogledd pellach Cymru oddi wrth pobl o fannau lle mae'r feirws wedi lledaenu'n fwy rhag teithio i'r cymunedau hynny a dod â'r feirws gyda nhw. Bydd arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn gwybod yn iawn pa mor bendant y mae pobl yn yr ardaloedd hynny wedi bod ynglŷn â'u hamddiffyn rhag ymwelwyr sy'n dod i'r ardaloedd hynny a'u rhoi mewn perygl. Mae'r neges 'aros yn lleol' yn diogelu unigolion ac eraill, ac mae'r canllaw 5 milltir—a dyna beth yw ef; nid rheol yw hi, ond canllaw—yno i ddiogelu'r cymunedau hynny yng nghefn gwlad Cymru rhag pobl sy'n credu fel arall ei bod hi'n iawn teithio mewn niferoedd mawr o'r tu allan i'r ardaloedd hynny, ac er mwyn osgoi'r golygfeydd sy'n peri gofid yr ydym ni wedi eu gweld dros y ffin lle nad yw'r cyngor synhwyrol hwnnw yn cael ei roi.
Clearly, First Minister, this is very confusing for people, because you've just said that now this is a rule of thumb, so people will now not know whether they can travel 5, 10, 15 miles. It's a fact that this policy has upset thousands of people across Wales who are watching others reunite with loved ones whilst they have no option but to remain at home.
Now, First Minister, yesterday the health Minister warned some lockdown measures may have to be reintroduced in the winter depending on the prevalence of COVID-19 at that time, and whilst I appreciate that no door can be closed on future restrictions, the comments have made for very grim reading for many people across Wales. Of course, strategic planning must be considered to ensure that Wales is prepared for future lockdown restrictions in the winter months, and allocations must be set aside should Wales be in the position where the Welsh Government needs to reintroduce further lockdown measures. Therefore, can you confirm what financial modelling is currently taking place to ensure that Wales has learnt from this pandemic? Could you also tell us what allocations of funding the Welsh Government is setting aside in the event that there need to be further restrictions in the winter? And what lessons have already been learnt about Wales's response to a pandemic from this period that will inform the direction of travel for any future pandemic spikes?
Yn amlwg, Prif Weinidog, mae hyn yn ddryslyd iawn i bobl, gan eich bod chi newydd ddweud mai canllaw bras yw hwn nawr, felly ni fydd pobl yn gwybod bellach a ydyn nhw'n cael teithio 5, 10, 15 milltir. Mae'n ffaith fod y polisi hwn wedi peri gofid i filoedd o bobl ledled Cymru sy'n gwylio eraill yn aduno â'u hanwyliaid ond nad oes ganddyn nhw unrhyw ddewis heblaw aros gartref.
Nawr, Prif Weinidog, rhybuddiodd y Gweinidog iechyd ddoe y gallai fod yn rhaid ailgyflwyno rhai mesurau cyfyngiadau symud yn y gaeaf yn dibynnu ar gyffredinolrwydd COVID-19 bryd hynny, ac er fy mod i'n sylweddoli na ellir cau unrhyw ddrws ar gyfyngiadau yn y dyfodol, mae'r sylwadau wedi bod yn frawychus iawn i lawer o bobl ledled Cymru. Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid ystyried cynllunio strategol i sicrhau bod Cymru yn barod ar gyfer cyfyngiadau symud yn y dyfodol ym misoedd y gaeaf, ac mae'n rhaid rhoi dyraniadau o'r neilltu pe byddai Cymru yn y sefyllfa lle mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ailgyflwyno rhagor o gyfyngiadau symud. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau pa fodelu ariannol sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd i sicrhau bod Cymru wedi dysgu o'r pandemig hwn? A allech chi hefyd ddweud wrthym ni pa ddyraniadau cyllid y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu neilltuo os bydd angen mwy o gyfyngiadau yn y gaeaf? A pha wersi sydd eisoes wedi'u dysgu am ymateb Cymru i bandemig o'r cyfnod hwn a fydd yn llywio'r cyfeiriad teithio ar gyfer unrhyw gynnydd i achosion o'r pandemig yn y dyfodol?
Llywydd, I thank Paul Davies for those questions. It's important to remind people in Wales that while we believe we have passed, in almost all parts of Wales, the first peak of coronavirus infections, and have done so thanks to the enormous efforts of people across Wales, have done so while avoiding our health service being overwhelmed, that is no guarantee at all that unless we go on doing all the sensible things that we are doing that we might not have a second peak later in the year. Conditions in the autumn will be more favourable to the virus, which doesn't like sunlight and doesn't like the outdoors, but likes the indoors, the dark and the damp, and we will be in that part of the year as we move into the second part of the autumn. So, I agree with what Paul Davies has said about the need to use this opportunity to prepare, should we find ourselves in more difficult conditions in the second part of the year. And he will know that in our framework document, one of the tests we've applied to lifting the lockdown is, 'Could any measure be re-imposed should it turn out to have unforeseen adverse impacts?'
So, we are doing further modelling both on the disease itself, making sure, for example, that in terms of PPE we use the relatively stable position we are currently in to replenish our stocks, so that we would have material ready if it was needed in the autumn. Financial modelling is far more challenging, because the needs of businesses, of local government, of people who have been without work in Wales in this first coronavirus phase have been so urgent and so necessary. We have passed on all the money, the consequentials that we have received from the UK Government, as fast as we have been able to do so. There is no great pot of money sitting idle in the Welsh Government waiting for things that can happen in the second half of the year. Of course, the finance Minister maintains a reserve, as we would need in normal times, and our budget—the one that was passed in the Assembly in March—is modelled over a 12-month period. But if there were to be a second peak and we were to find ourselves back in the difficulties we've avoided so far, then the financial consequences of that would have to be navigated with further help from the UK Government.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Paul Davies am y cwestiynau yna. Mae'n bwysig atgoffa pobl yng Nghymru, er ein bod ni'n credu ein bod ni wedi mynd heibio'r uchafbwynt cyntaf o heintiadau coronafeirws yn bron i bob rhan o Gymru, ac wedi gwneud hynny diolch i ymdrechion aruthrol pobl ledled Cymru, wedi gwneud hynny gan osgoi pethau'n mynd yn drech na'n gwasanaeth iechyd, nid yw hynny'n ddim sicrwydd o gwbl na allem ni gael ail uchafbwynt yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn oni bai ein bod ni'n parhau i wneud yr holl bethau synhwyrol yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud. Bydd yr amodau yn yr hydref yn fwy ffafriol i'r feirws, nad yw'n hoffi golau'r haul ac nad yw'n hoffi'r awyr agored, ond sy'n hoffi'r tu mewn, y tywyllwch a'r lleithder, a byddwn yn y rhan honno o'r flwyddyn wrth i ni symud i ail ran yr hydref. Felly, rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn y mae Paul Davies wedi ei ddweud am yr angen i ddefnyddio'r cyfle hwn i baratoi, pe byddem ni'n canfod ein hunain mewn amodau mwy anodd yn ail ran y flwyddyn. A bydd ef yn gwybod mai un o'r profion yr ydym ni wedi'i gymhwyso i lacio'r cyfyngiadau symud yn ein dogfen fframwaith yw, 'A ellid ail-orfodi unrhyw fesur pe byddai'n cael effaith andwyol annisgwyl?'
Felly, rydym ni'n gwneud mwy o fodelu ar y clefyd ei hun, gan wneud yn siŵr, er enghraifft, o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol, ein bod ni'n defnyddio'r sefyllfa gymharol sefydlog yr ydym ni ynddi ar hyn o bryd i ailgyflenwi ein stociau, fel y byddai gennym ni ddeunydd yn barod pe byddai ei angen yn yr hydref. Mae modelu ariannol yn llawer anoddach, oherwydd mae anghenion busnesau, llywodraeth leol, pobl sydd wedi bod heb waith yng Nghymru yn y cyfnod coronafeirws cyntaf hwn wedi bod mor daer ac mor angenrheidiol. Rydym ni wedi trosglwyddo'r holl arian, y symiau canlyniadol yr ydym ni wedi eu derbyn gan Lywodraeth y DU, mor gyflym ag yr ydym ni wedi gallu gwneud hynny. Nid oes pot mawr o arian yn eistedd yn segur yn Llywodraeth Cymru yn aros am bethau a allai ddigwydd yn ail hanner y flwyddyn. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Gweinidog cyllid yn cadw cronfa wrth gefn, gan y byddai ei hangen arnom ni mewn cyfnodau arferol, ac mae ein cyllideb—yr un a basiwyd yn y Cynulliad ym mis Mawrth—wedi'i modelu dros gyfnod o 12 mis. Ond pe byddai ail uchafbwynt a phe byddem ni'n canfod ein hunain yn ôl yn yr anawsterau yr ydym ni wedi'u hosgoi hyd yma, yna byddai'n rhaid i ganlyniadau ariannol hynny gael eu llywio gyda chymorth pellach gan Lywodraeth y DU.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
First Minister, the criminal murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in the United States has re-ignited the debate around racism on both sides of the Atlantic. Do you agree that structural racism lies at the heart of this injustice, and if we truly believe that black lives matter that we have to acknowledge that and address it? And is that structural racism, in your view, one of the reasons we are seeing a much higher incidence of death from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as a result of COVID-19?
Prif Weinidog, mae llofruddiaeth droseddol George Floyd drwy law swyddogion yr heddlu yn yr Unol Daleithiau wedi ail-gynnau'r ddadl ynghylch hiliaeth ar y naill ochr a'r llall i Fôr yr Iwerydd. A ydych chi'n cytuno bod hiliaeth strwythurol wrth wraidd yr anghyfiawnder hwn, ac os ydym ni wir yn credu bod bywydau pobl dduon yn bwysig bod yn rhaid i ni gydnabod hynny a mynd i'r afael ag ef? Ac a yw'r hiliaeth strwythurol honno, yn eich barn chi, yn un o'r rhesymau pam yr ydym ni'n gweld nifer llawer uwch o farwolaethau mewn cymunedau pobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig o ganlyniad i COVID-19?
Llywydd, can I thank Adam Price for that question about one of the great issues of our day? Many Members will have seen that utterly distressing footage of the death of George Floyd; I think one of the most awful things that I remember ever having to look at. I was reminded in it—just to say one positive thing to begin with—of the very longstanding relationships that have existed between Wales and the black community in America, from the 1930s when Paul Robeson, that great singer and civil rights activist would visit Wales so regularly, speaking memorably in Mountain Ash in 1938 at an enormous gathering of people from south Wales in support of the Spanish civil war, and the people from Wales who went to fight there, right into the 1960s with the church in Birmingham, Alabama, which has a window paid for by people from Wales as part of our interest in the civil rights movement then. So, our interest in the black population and people from those communities in America goes back many, many decades, and I was forcefully reminded of that when I saw those awful pictures.
There is structural disadvantage for black people in America, but Adam Price is right for us not to simply think that it exists elsewhere. It exists in our own communities as well. And at the worst of it, it is straightforward racism, as the leader of Plaid Cymru has said—it is people deliberately behaving towards others on the basis of the colour of their skin. But there is disadvantage for people from those communities that is less overt than that—it is not racism in that deliberate sense, but it's embedded in the way that institutions operate and decisions get made. And the way that black people have clearly been adversely affected by the coronavirus crisis is, I think, just a vivid outcrop of those underlying structural disadvantages, and we've got to be able to grapple with them here in Wales, as they need to be grappled with elsewhere.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Adam Price am y cwestiwn yna am un o faterion pwysig ein hoes? Bydd llawer o Aelodau wedi gweld y lluniau cwbl ofnadwy hynny o farwolaeth George Floyd; rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau mwyaf ofnadwy yr wyf i'n cofio gorfod edrych arno erioed. Fe'm hatgoffwyd ynddo—dim ond i ddweud un peth cadarnhaol i ddechrau—am y berthynas hirsefydlog iawn sydd wedi bodoli rhwng Cymru a'r gymuned pobl dduon yn America, o'r 1930au pan fyddai Paul Robeson, y canwr a'r ymgyrchydd ardderchog hwnnw dros hawliau sifil yn ymweld â Chymru mor rheolaidd, gan siarad yn gofiadwy yn Aberpennar ym 1938 mewn cynulliad enfawr o bobl o dde Cymru i gefnogi rhyfel cartref Sbaen, a'r bobl o Gymru a aeth i ymladd yn y fan honno, hyd at y 1960au gyda'r eglwys yn Birmingham, Alabama, sydd â ffenestr y talwyd amdani gan bobl o Gymru yn rhan o'n diddordeb yn y mudiad hawliau sifil bryd hynny. Felly, mae ein diddordeb yn y boblogaeth pobl dduon a phobl o'r cymunedau hynny yn America yn mynd yn ôl ddegawdau lawer iawn, a chefais fy atgoffa'n rymus o hynny pan welais y lluniau erchyll hynny.
Ceir anfantais strwythurol i bobl dduon yn America, ond mae Adam Price yn iawn i ni beidio â meddwl mai dim ond mewn mannau eraill y mae'n bodoli. Mae'n bodoli yn ein cymunedau ni ein hunain hefyd. Ac ar y gwaethaf, mae'n hiliaeth syml, fel y mae arweinydd Plaid Cymru wedi'i ddweud—pobl yn ymddwyn yn fwriadol tuag at eraill ar sail lliw eu croen. Ond ceir anfantais i bobl o'r cymunedau hynny sy'n llai amlwg na hynny—nid hiliaeth ydyw yn yr ystyr fwriadol honno, ond mae'n rhan annatod o'r ffordd y mae sefydliadau'n gweithredu ac y mae penderfyniadau'n cael eu gwneud. Ac mae'r ffordd y mae'n amlwg bod pobl dduon wedi cael eu heffeithio'n andwyol gan argyfwng y coronafeirws, yn fy marn i, yn frigiad amlwg o'r anfanteision strwythurol sylfaenol hynny, ac mae'n rhaid i ni allu mynd i'r afael â nhw yma yng Nghymru, fel y mae angen mynd i'r afael â nhw mewn mannau eraill.
The Royal College of Nursing in Wales has said that the COVID work assessment tool introduced by NHS Wales, though welcomed, does not currently identify those workers from BAME backgrounds as being at a very high risk. Why is that, and will you work with them to get this right urgently? And will you also make sure that BAME voices are well represented in the work on building back better? In June of last year, the BBC reported that, of 170 recent appointments to public bodies by Welsh Ministers, fewer than six were from BAME backgrounds. Can you say how the situation has improved since then? And given that, according to the Wales Governance Centre, we in Wales have an incarceration rate that is more racially disproportionate than England, which itself is more racially disproportionate even than the United States, will you commit to a wide-ranging inquiry into the roots and remedies of structural racism and racial disadvantage here in Wales?
Mae Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol Cymru wedi dweud nad yw'r offeryn asesu gwaith COVID a gyflwynwyd gan GIG Cymru, er ei fod yn cael ei groesawu, yn nodi ar hyn o bryd bod y gweithwyr hynny o gefndiroedd pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig mewn perygl uchel iawn. Pam mae hynny'n wir, ac a wnewch chi weithio gyda nhw i gael hyn yn iawn ar frys? Ac a wnewch chi hefyd sicrhau bod lleisiau pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yn cael eu cynrychioli'n dda yn y gwaith ar adeiladu'n ôl yn well? Ym mis Mehefin y llynedd, adroddodd y BBC, o 170 o benodiadau diweddar i gyrff cyhoeddus gan Weinidogion Cymru, bod llai na chwech yn dod o gefndiroedd pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. A allwch chi ddweud sut y mae'r sefyllfa wedi gwella ers hynny? Ac o gofio bod gennym ni yng Nghymru, yn ôl Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru, gyfradd garcharu sy'n fwy anghyfartal o ran hil na Lloegr, sydd ei hun yn fwy anghyfartal o ran hil na'r Unol Daleithiau hyd yn oed, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i ymchwiliad eang i wreiddiau a chamau i unioni hiliaeth strwythurol ac anfantais hiliol yma yng Nghymru?
I thank Adam Price for all of those additional questions. The self-assessment tool that we have adopted for the NHS was led by the work of black clinicians in Wales. Professor Keshav Singhal—who I know Adam Price will have heard present the tool—was very clear when he did so that it was always going to be a work in progress, and that there would be more that could be learnt as it was implemented. And I know that he will be wanting to talk both with the RCN and with the British Medical Association and others who have developed other tools. But I am very comforted by the fact that, in Wales, our self-assessment tool was led by and actively informed by the direct front-line experience of black workers in the NHS here in Wales, looking at their everyday experience of being on the front line, and making sure that the self-assessment tool reflected all of that. I am very keen indeed that those voices go on being influential as we work our way beyond coronavirus, and the group that we have brought together under the chair of Judge Ray Singh will be an important part of that at this point, and there will be ways in which we can develop that further into the future.
Our record of appointing people from black and Asian minority communities to public appointments in Wales is not good enough. We had a root-and-branch review of our appointments process in the second half of last year, and we were on the point of introducing a radically different approach to those appointments when the coronavirus crisis struck. It's one of my ambitions to be able to bring that piece of work back to the front burner, from the back burner, as soon as we are able to in the crisis. Because we have to do better; we have to do better in relation to BAME populations, we have to do better in relation to people with disabilities. And we're by no means there, where we want to be, although we've done a little better in relation to gender equality in those areas too.
The work of the centre in looking at the experience of imprisonment in Wales is shocking on a whole range of fronts, and certainly shocking in relation to what it reveals about the treatment of black people in the criminal justice system. And there's wider evidence that with any system that has a choice between a helping and a controlling-type of response to behaviour, black people are more likely to find themselves clustered at the controlling end of things, whether that's in mental health or in the criminal justice system. I'll think about the point that Adam Price made at the end of his contribution, but I do want to agree with many of the important points that he's made this afternoon.
Diolchaf i Adam Price am yr holl gwestiynau ychwanegol yna. Arweiniwyd y dull hunanasesu a fabwysiadwyd gennym ni ar gyfer y GIG gan waith clinigwyr duon yng Nghymru. Roedd yr Athro Keshav Singhal—y gwn y bydd Adam Price wedi ei glywed yn cyflwyno'r offeryn—yn eglur iawn pan wnaeth hynny ei fod bob amser yn mynd i fod yn waith sy'n datblygu'n barhaus, ac y byddai mwy y gellid ei ddysgu wrth ei roi ar waith. A gwn y bydd eisiau siarad â'r Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol a chyda Chymdeithas Feddygol Prydain ac eraill sydd wedi datblygu offerynnau eraill. Ond rwy'n cael fy nghysuro'n fawr gan y ffaith bod ein dull hunanasesu yng Nghymru wedi cael ei arwain a'i hysbysu'n weithredol gan brofiad rheng flaen uniongyrchol gweithwyr duon yn y GIG yma yng Nghymru, gan edrych ar eu profiad beunyddiol o fod ar y rheng flaen, a gwneud yn siŵr bod yr offeryn hunanasesu yn adlewyrchu hynny i gyd. Rwy'n awyddus dros ben i'r lleisiau hynny barhau i fod yn ddylanwadol wrth i ni weithio ein ffordd y tu hwnt i'r coronafeirws, a bydd y grŵp yr ydym ni wedi ei ffurfio dan gadeiryddiaeth y Barnwr Ray Singh yn rhan bwysig o hynny ar hyn o bryd, a bydd ffyrdd y gallwn ni ddatblygu hynny ymhellach i'r dyfodol.
Nid yw ein hanes o benodi pobl o gymunedau pobl dduon ac Asiaidd lleiafrifol i benodiadau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru yn ddigon da. Cawsom adolygiad trwyadl o'n proses benodi yn ystod ail hanner y llynedd, ac roeddem ni ar fin cyflwyno dull hollol wahanol o ymdrin â'r penodiadau hynny pan darodd argyfwng y coronafeirws. Un o'm huchelgeisiau i yw gallu dod â'r darn hwnnw o waith yn ôl i'r amlwg, o'r cefndir, cyn gynted ag y gallwn ni yn yr argyfwng. Oherwydd mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn well; mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn well o ran poblogaethau pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn well o ran pobl ag anableddau. A dydyn ni ddim yno o bell ffordd, lle'r ydym ni eisiau bod, er ein bod ni wedi gwneud ychydig yn well o ran cydraddoldeb rhywiol yn y meysydd hynny hefyd.
Mae gwaith y ganolfan wrth edrych ar y profiad o garchar yng Nghymru yn arswydus mewn amrywiaeth eang o ffyrdd, ac yn sicr yn syfrdanol o ran yr hyn y mae'n ei ddatgelu am driniaeth pobl dduon yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol. A cheir tystiolaeth ehangach bod pobl dduon yn fwy tebygol o gael eu clystyru ym mhen rheoli pethau, gydag unrhyw system sydd â dewis rhwng ymateb i ymddygiad drwy helpu neu drwy reoli, boed hynny ym maes iechyd meddwl neu yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol. Byddaf yn meddwl am y pwynt a wnaeth Adam Price ar ddiwedd ei gyfraniad, ond hoffwn gytuno â llawer o'r pwyntiau pwysig y mae wedi eu gwneud y prynhawn yma.
Arweinydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.
Leader of the Brexit Party, Mark Reckless.
First Minister, could you confirm that the data show that five out of the 10 council areas that have had the highest prevalence of coronavirus in the UK are in Wales? Inquiries and their apportionment of responsibility will come in due course, but for your current planning, why do you think this is? Do you believe that the greater centralisation of healthcare and integration with social care in Wales may have been a factor that led to more patients being discharged into care homes where testing in Wales was less prevalent than in England?
Many people tell me that they do not consider the regulations now restricting movement in Wales to be reasonable and proportionate. Would you confirm that, if they are correct in that assessment, then the regulations made for Wales would not be lawful? You mentioned just now in your statement a necessity test as well as a proportionality test when reviewing regulations, please could you reconcile that with having removed a necessity test from the regulations in your third set of amendment regulations? Do you think that people are clear on the difference between those regulations, which may be legally binding, and your guidance, which is not, particularly when both have previously been described as 'rules'?
We have spoken before about the confusion engendered by your insistence on making Welsh rules just a little bit different from the UK Government rules applicable in England, further confusion is surely engendered by your constantly chopping and changing Welsh rules. When you put in the third set of amendment regulations that exercise must be 'local', you then said, in the accompanying guidance, that it would be a mistake to attempt to define 'local', as this would necessarily be different in rural Wales to Cardiff, although you gave the example of Porthcawl at 30 miles as being too far for Cardiff. Why then have you now made a complete about turn and defined 'local' as five miles? That may be the view from Pontcanna, but with belated stirrings of opposition from Conservative Members, do you recognise that your view has failed to command a consensus, and that your rules, whether purported to be law or guidance, will thus become increasingly ineffective?
Prif Weinidog, a allwch chi gadarnhau bod y data yn dangos bod pump o'r 10 ardal cyngor sydd â'r nifer uchaf o achosion o coronafeirws yn y DU yng Nghymru? Bydd ymchwiliadau a'u dosraniad o gyfrifoldeb yn dod maes o law, ond ar gyfer eich cynllunio presennol, beth ydych chi'n ei feddwl yw'r rheswm am hyn? A ydych chi'n credu y gallai'r ffaith fod gofal iechyd wedi'i ganoli mwy a mwy o integreiddiad â gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru fod wedi bod yn ffactor a arweiniodd at ryddhau mwy o gleifion i gartrefi gofal lle'r oedd y profi yng Nghymru yn llai cyffredin nag yn Lloegr?
Mae llawer o bobl yn dweud wrthyf i nad ydyn nhw'n meddwl bod y rheoliadau sy'n cyfyngu ar symud yng Nghymru nawr yn rhesymol a chymesur. A wnewch chi gadarnhau, os ydyn nhw'n gywir yn yr asesiad hwnnw, yna na fyddai'r rheoliadau a wnaed ar gyfer Cymru yn gyfreithlon? Soniasoch nawr yn eich datganiad am brawf angenrheidrwydd yn ogystal â phrawf cymesuredd wrth adolygu rheoliadau, a fyddech chi cystal â chysoni hynny â chael gwared ar brawf angenrheidrwydd o'r rheoliadau yn eich trydydd cyfres o reoliadau diwygio? A ydych chi'n meddwl bod pobl yn eglur ynghylch y gwahaniaeth rhwng y rheoliadau hynny, a allai rwymo o dan y gyfraith, a'ch canllawiau chi, nad ydyn nhw, yn enwedig pan ddisgrifiwyd y ddau fel 'rheolau' yn flaenorol?
Rydym ni wedi siarad o'r blaen am y dryswch a ysgogwyd gan y ffaith eich bod chi'n mynnu gwneud rheolau Cymru rhyw fymryn yn wahanol i reolau Llywodraeth y DU sy'n berthnasol yn Lloegr, does bosib nad oes dryswch pellach yn deillio o'r ffaith eich bod chi'n newid a diwygio rheolau Cymru yn gyson. Pan roesoch chi yn y drydedd gyfres o reoliadau diwygio bod yn rhaid i ymarfer corff fod yn 'lleol', yna dywedasoch, yn y canllawiau ategol, y byddai'n gamgymeriad ceisio diffinio 'lleol', gan y byddai hyn o reidrwydd yn wahanol yn y Gymru wledig i Gaerdydd, er i chi roi'r enghraifft bod Porthcawl, 30 milltir i ffwrdd, yn rhy bell o Gaerdydd. Pam felly ydych chi wedi gwneud tro pedol llwyr erbyn hyn ac wedi diffinio 'lleol' fel pum milltir? Efallai mai dyna'r safbwynt o Bontcanna, ond gyda'r awgrym o wrthwynebiad hwyr gan Aelodau Ceidwadol, a ydych chi'n cydnabod bod eich safbwynt wedi methu â sicrhau consensws, ac y bydd eich rheolau, pa un a honnir eu bod nhw'n gyfraith neu'n ganllawiau, yn dod yn fwyfwy aneffeithiol felly?
Well, Llywydd, the first point in the Member's contribution is a reasonable one. Why are council areas in Wales amongst those most affected? I think there are a number of reasons that, at this stage, we might suggest for that. It's very important to remember that those figures are very much a fact of how much testing goes on. The more testing there is, the more you discover, and there will be some places where more testing has been carried out and therefore prevalence looks greater, whereas, in fact, it's just a product of different testing regimes.
But what we know about the virus is that it attacks places where people are older, sicker, poorer and live close together, and Wales is over represented in all of those factors. And when those things all come together, as they do in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales, then it's probably—. It may not be the whole of the explanation, and there'll be more that we will learn. But it is part of the explanation as to why you see some concentrations in communities in Wales that would be in other league tables, in the same sorts of places of disadvantage and bearing the burden of the period of austerity that the Member so cheerfully championed in another part of his political life.
Well, I completely disagree with him and I think it's dangerous for him to start suggesting to people in Wales that regulations are not proper law. They are proper law; they are the law of Wales. Don't be misled by what anybody suggests to you in thinking that they're not; they are. And there is a very easy distinction between regulations and guidance, and the Government has never confused people. There are people who have sought to confuse people by saying that the five-mile limit is a rule, whereas I have always, from the very beginning, been very clear that it is a rule of thumb, it is guidance for people to interpret in their local geographies as to what 'local' might mean for them. And, as I explained to Paul Davies, one of the primary considerations for it was to make sure that we didn't get a huge cascade of people from outside the more sparsely populated areas of Wales travelling to those places, where coronavirus has been, thank goodness, in very modest circulation, and that we didn't see a flaring up of coronavirus in those places because people had travelled from their own localities and brought the virus with them.
Llywydd, very far from constantly chopping and changing, what the Welsh Government has done is to introduce very modest changes at the end of each three-week period. We are taking the most careful and cautious approach. We are slowly building up a new repertoire of things that people can safely do in the coronavirus context.
I think that that absolutely chimes with what people in Wales want us to do, far from the sort of suggestion I think the Member is making that people in Wales are champing at the bit to be allowed to go further and do more. What we learn is that people in Wales understand that this virus is by no means beaten. Its impact is felt every day in the deaths that we have to announce every single day from it, and our approach of taking one step at a time, doing it carefully and cautiously, and building things up in a way that goes on providing confidence to people in Wales that it is their health and their well-being that is at the front of everything we do, not only is it the right thing to do, but it chimes very powerfully with the way that people in Wales would like to see their Government operate.
Wel, Llywydd, mae'r pwynt cyntaf yng nghyfraniad yr Aelod yn un rhesymol. Pam mae ardaloedd cynghorau yng Nghymru ymhlith y rhai sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio fwyaf? Rwy'n credu bod nifer o resymau y gallem ni eu hawgrymu am hynny ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n bwysig iawn cofio bod y ffigurau hynny yn dibynnu i raddau helaeth ar faint o brofion sy'n cael eu cynnal. Y mwyaf o brofi a wneir, y mwyaf y byddwch chi'n eu darganfod, a bydd rhai mannau lle cynhaliwyd mwy o brofion ac felly mae nifer yr achosion yn edrych yn fwy, ond mewn gwirionedd, dim ond canlyniad gwahanol drefnau profi yw hynny.
Ond yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wybod am y feirws yw ei fod yn ymosod ar fannau lle mae pobl yn hŷn, yn salach, yn dlotach ac yn byw'n agos at ei gilydd, ac mae Cymru wedi ei gorgynrychioli yn yr holl ffactorau hynny. A phan fydd y pethau hynny i gyd yn dod at ei gilydd, fel y maen nhw yn rhai o ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig Cymru, yna mae'n debyg—. Efallai nad dyna'r esboniad cyfan, a bydd mwy y byddwn ni'n ei ddarganfod. Ond mae'n rhan o'r esboniad pam eich bod chi'n gweld rhai crynodiadau mewn cymunedau yng Nghymru a fyddai mewn tablau cynghrair eraill, yn yr un math o leoedd difreintiedig ac yn ysgwyddo baich y cyfnod o gyni cyllidol a hyrwyddwyd mor llon gan yr Aelod mewn rhan arall o'i fywyd gwleidyddol.
Wel, rwy'n anghytuno'n llwyr ag ef ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n beryglus iddo ddechrau awgrymu i bobl yng Nghymru nad yw rheoliadau yn gyfraith briodol. Maen nhw yn gyfraith briodol; dyna gyfraith Cymru. Peidiwch â chael eich camarwain gan yr hyn y mae unrhyw un yn ei awgrymu i chi wrth feddwl nad ydyn nhw; maen nhw. Ac mae gwahaniaeth hawdd iawn rhwng rheoliadau a chanllawiau, ac nid yw'r Llywodraeth erioed wedi drysu pobl. Ceir pobl sydd wedi ceisio drysu pobl drwy ddweud bod y terfyn pum milltir yn rheol, ond rwyf i wedi bod yn eglur iawn bob amser, o'r cychwyn cyntaf, ei bod yn gyfarwyddyd bras, canllaw ydyw i bobl ei ddehongli yn eu daearyddiaeth lleol o ran yr hyn y gallai 'lleol' ei olygu iddyn nhw. Ac, fel yr eglurais wrth Paul Davies, un o'r brif ystyriaethau iddo oedd gwneud yn siŵr na fyddem ni'n cael rhaeadr enfawr o bobl o'r tu allan i ardaloedd llai poblog Cymru yn teithio i'r lleoedd hynny, lle mae coronafeirws wedi bod, diolch byth, mewn cylchrediad cymedrol iawn, ac na fyddem ni'n gweld ymchwydd o coronafeirws yn y mannau hynny am fod pobl wedi teithio o'u hardaloedd eu hunain ac wedi dod â'r feirws gyda nhw.
Llywydd, ymhell iawn o newid a diwygio'n gyson, yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud yw cyflwyno newidiadau cymedrol iawn ar ddiwedd pob cyfnod o dair wythnos. Rydym ni'n dilyn y dull mwyaf gofalus a phwyllog. Rydym ni'n datblygu'n araf repertoire newydd o bethau y gall pobl eu gwneud yn ddiogel yng nghyd-destun y coronafeirws.
Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n cyd-fynd yn llwyr â'r hyn y mae pobl yng Nghymru eisiau i ni ei wneud, ymhell o'r math o awgrym yr wyf i'n credu y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud bod pobl yng Nghymru yn ysu i gael mynd ymhellach a gwneud mwy. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei ddarganfod yw bod pobl yng Nghymru yn deall nad yw'r feirws hwn wedi'i drechu o bell ffordd. Teimlir ei effaith bob dydd yn y marwolaethau y mae'n rhaid i ni eu cyhoeddi bob un dydd o'i herwydd, ac yn ogystal â'r ffaith mai ein dull o gymryd un cam ar y tro, gan ei wneud yn ofalus ac yn bwyllog, a datblygu pethau mewn ffordd sy'n parhau i roi hyder i bobl yng Nghymru mai eu hiechyd a'u lles sydd yn flaenllaw ym mhopeth yr ydym ni'n ei wneud, mae'n cyd-fynd yn rymus iawn â'r ffordd y byddai pobl yng Nghymru yn hoffi gweld eu Llywodraeth yn gweithredu.
First Minister, one of the consequences of the pandemic is the impact on the aviation industry. All employers in this industry have constructively engaged with trade unions on behalf of their workforces to manage these very difficult circumstances, to protect jobs and to protect skills for the future.
However, sadly, there is one employer who has been described as a 'commercial predator', who has not engaged in this particular way, and that is British Airways. You'll be aware of this, First Minister, that they employ 42,000 people across the UK, and they are proposing in the region of at least 12,000 redundancies. But in attempting to achieve this, their intention is, effectively, to make the entire workforce redundant, to remove 12,000 jobs, and to have 30,000 people who will then be employed on terms and conditions that could result in them having 60 or 70 per cent less pay than they get at the moment.
Now, this seems to be an opportunity—. What British Airways are doing is trying to seize an economic advantage on the back of COVID. In my constituency, British Avionics will be closing and 130 of 186 jobs are proposed to go, there are 30 of 169 jobs in Islwyn, and at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff in Cardiff Airport, 239 out of 546. So, 400 jobs all together. Now, the company knows that it is impossible to negotiate and to consult over 40,000 potential redundancies with 40,000 members in 45 days. The union has insisted that the proper and the moral and the ethical thing to do is to withdraw those notices.
Now, this is going to be the subject of an emergency question in Westminster today, but can I ask that the Welsh Government will give its full support to Unite the Union and all those workers in south Wales who are dependent on these jobs, and all those in Cardiff Airport, because of the linked industries, to actually protect them and to get British Airways do the decent thing—to stand up and to negotiate with its workers in a proper and ethical way to save jobs and skills for the future? First Minister, will you give that support and press the UK Government to do everything it can to support the aviation sector?
Prif Weinidog, un o ganlyniadau'r pandemig yw'r effaith ar y diwydiant awyrennau. Mae pob cyflogwr yn y diwydiant hwn wedi ymgysylltu yn adeiladol ag undebau llafur ar ran eu gweithluoedd i reoli'r amgylchiadau anodd iawn hyn, i ddiogelu swyddi ac i ddiogelu sgiliau ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Fodd bynnag, yn anffodus, ceir un cyflogwr sydd wedi cael ei ddisgrifio fel 'ysglyfaethwr masnachol', nad yw wedi ymgysylltu yn y ffordd arbennig hon, sef British Airways. Byddwch yn ymwybodol o hyn, Prif Weinidog, eu bod nhw'n cyflogi 42,000 o bobl ledled y DU, ac maen nhw'n cynnig oddeutu 12,000 o ddiswyddiadau o leiaf. Ond wrth geisio cyflawni hyn, eu bwriad, i bob pwrpas, yw gwneud y gweithlu cyfan yn ddi-waith, dileu 12,000 o swyddi, a chael 30,000 o bobl a fydd wedyn yn cael eu cyflogi ar delerau ac amodau a allai olygu eu bod nhw'n cael 60 neu 70 y cant yn llai o gyflog nag y maen nhw'n ei gael ar hyn o bryd.
Nawr, mae'n ymddangos bod hwn yn gyfle—. Yr hyn y mae British Airways yn ei wneud yw ceisio achub mantais economaidd ar gefn COVID. Yn fy etholaeth i, bydd British Avionics yn cau a chynigir y bydd 130 o 186 o swyddi yn cael eu colli, ceir 30 o 169 o swyddi yn Islwyn, ac yng ngwaith cynnal a chadw British Airways Caerdydd ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd, 239 allan o 546. Felly, 400 o swyddi i gyd. Nawr, mae'r cwmni'n gwybod ei bod hi'n amhosibl negodi ac ymgynghori dros 40,000 o ddiswyddiadau posibl gyda 40,000 o aelodau mewn 45 diwrnod. Mae'r undeb wedi mynnu mai'r peth priodol a'r peth moesol a moesegol i'w wneud yw tynnu'r hysbysiadau hynny yn ôl.
Nawr, bydd hyn yn destun cwestiwn brys yn San Steffan heddiw, ond a gaf i ofyn y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi ei chefnogaeth lawn i undeb Unite a'r holl weithwyr hynny yn ne Cymru sy'n ddibynnol ar y swyddi hyn, a phawb ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd, oherwydd y diwydiannau cysylltiedig, i'w diogelu nhw a chael British Airways i wneud y peth iawn—i sefyll yn gadarn a negodi gyda'i weithwyr mewn ffordd briodol a moesegol i achub swyddi a sgiliau ar gyfer y dyfodol? Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi roi'r gefnogaeth honno a phwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i wneud popeth o fewn ei gallu i gefnogi'r sector hedfan?
Llywydd, can I begin by agreeing with Mick Antoniw about the importance of the aviation sector here in Wales? The sector has some of the best employers in Wales—employers like Airbus, with such a strong history of working co-operatively with trade unions in the joint enterprise, which is making a success of those companies. I know that my colleague, Ken Skates has written directly to the other company that Mick Antoniw has highlighted, urging them to withdraw the measures that they have proposed at present to work collaboratively with the trade union that represents workers in there. Sensible companies know that complying simply with the letter of the law is not the best way to shape a future for those companies that brings their workforce with them—their single most important asset. Those were the terms in which the Minister for the economy has written to the company and I urge the UK Government to use whatever powers of persuasion they have as well to make sure that not just the letter of the law but the spirit and the ethic of the law, as Mick Antoniw said, is complied with here as well as.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddechrau drwy gytuno â Mick Antoniw am bwysigrwydd y sector hedfan yma yng Nghymru? Mae gan y sector rai o'r cyflogwyr gorau yng Nghymru—cyflogwyr fel Airbus, gyda hanes mor gryf o gydweithio ag undebau llafur yn y gyd-fenter, sy'n gwneud llwyddiant o'r cwmnïau hynny. Gwn fod fy nghyd-Weinidog, Ken Skates, wedi ysgrifennu yn uniongyrchol at y cwmni arall y mae Mick Antoniw wedi tynnu sylw ato, yn eu hannog nhw i dynnu'n ôl y mesurau y maen nhw wedi'u cynnig ar hyn o bryd i gydweithio â'r undeb llafur sy'n cynrychioli gweithwyr yn y fan honno. Mae cwmnïau doeth yn gwybod nad cydymffurfio'n syml â llythyren y ddeddf yn unig yw'r ffordd orau o lunio dyfodol ar gyfer y cwmnïau hynny sy'n dod â'u gweithlu gyda nhw—eu hased pwysicaf un. Yn y termau hynny y mae Gweinidog yr economi wedi ysgrifennu at y cwmni ac rwy'n annog Llywodraeth y DU i ddefnyddio pa bynnag bwerau perswadio sydd ganddyn nhw hefyd i wneud yn siŵr nad dim ond llythyren y ddeddf ond ysbryd a moeseg y ddeddf, fel y dywedodd Mick Antoniw, y cydymffurfir â nhw yma hefyd.
First Minister, I was pleased to hear you confirm again that the 5 miles referred to earlier is not a rule as such, because it is not just in rural areas that that is an issue, as you know; it is also an issue in many Valleys communities, including my own, where if that was rigorously adhered to, it would mean that someone couldn't go, for instance, from Cwmbran to Blaenavon to see their family, so I think that's a very important point. I wanted to ask about social distancing, because I am concerned that, as we go through this lockdown, there is a general erosion of people's response to the social distancing regulations generally. I'm seeing it in supermarkets, I'm hearing it from constituents in relation to employers, so I'd like to ask you what more we can do to re-emphasise to the public that we are nowhere near out of the woods on this pandemic yet, and that these matters, these rules, really, really matter, and people have to keep observing them. Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, roeddwn i'n falch o'ch clywed chi'n cadarnhau unwaith eto nad yw'r 5 milltir y cyfeiriwyd atyn nhw'n gynharach yn rheol fel y cyfryw, oherwydd nid dim ond mewn ardaloedd gwledig y mae hynny'n broblem, fel y gwyddoch; mae hefyd yn broblem mewn llawer o gymunedau yn y Cymoedd, gan gynnwys fy un i, lle, pe glynwyd at hynny'n llym, byddai'n golygu na allai rhywun fynd, er enghraifft, o Gwmbrân i Flaenafon i weld eu teulu, felly rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n bwynt pwysig iawn. Roeddwn i eisiau gofyn am gadw pellter cymdeithasol, oherwydd rwy'n pryderu, wrth i ni fynd drwy'r cyfyngiadau symud hyn, bod erydiad cyffredinol i ymateb pobl i'r rheoliadau cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn gyffredinol. Rwy'n ei weld mewn archfarchnadoedd, rwy'n ei glywed gan etholwyr o ran cyflogwyr, felly hoffwn ofyn i chi beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud i ail-bwysleisio i'r cyhoedd nad ydym ni'n agos o fod allan o berygl o ran y pandemig hwn eto, a bod y materion hyn, y rheolau hyn, yn wirioneddol bwysig, a bod yn rhaid i bobl barhau i'w dilyn. Diolch.
Thank you, Llywydd, and can I thank Lynne Neagle for making that point again? I believe that the vast majority of people in Wales still want to do the right thing and still do their best to do the right thing, and we mustn't see that fraying at the edges in a way that would lead to more people not complying with what we're asking them to, because we're not asking people to observe social distancing as some sort of penalty; we're asking people to do it because it genuinely protects them and protects other people. And this is a virulent disease; it lives for hours and hours on surfaces. You can be suffering from coronavirus yourself and not know that it's happening to you and you are infectious to other people, so you may feel fine and think, 'Well, what's the harm in me being closer to somebody?' Actually, you could be doing an enormous amount of harm unintentionally, but with really, really significant consequences.
So, we've all got a job to do, certainly I do and from the Government, but we all do, in reminding people that the simple things we ask people to do—keeping a 2m distance, observing hand hygiene, all those simple things. Collectively and cumulatively, these are the things that are making a difference. They really are saving lives and we need people to go on doing those things, because as I said in an earlier answer, every day, we have the sad, sad duty of having to announce the latest number of people who have died from this virus in different parts of Wales and we can all do more to help that not to happen.
Diolch, Llywydd, ac a gaf i ddiolch i Lynne Neagle am wneud y pwynt yna eto? Rwy'n credu bod y mwyafrif llethol o bobl yng Nghymru yn dal eisiau gwneud y peth iawn ac yn dal i wneud eu gorau i wneud y peth iawn, ac mae'n rhaid i ni beidio â gweld hynny'n dechrau treulio ar yr ymylon mewn ffordd a fyddai'n arwain at fwy o bobl ddim yn cydymffurfio â'r hyn yr ydym ni'n gofyn iddyn nhw ei wneud, oherwydd nid ydym ni'n gofyn i bobl gadw pellter cymdeithasol fel rhyw faith o gosb; rydym ni'n gofyn i bobl ei wneud gan ei fod wir yn eu diogelu ac yn diogelu pobl eraill. Ac mae hwn yn glefyd ffyrnig; mae'n byw am oriau ac oriau ar arwynebau. Gallwch fod yn dioddef o goronafeirws eich hun heb wybod ei fod yn digwydd i chi ac rydych chi'n heintus i bobl eraill, felly efallai y byddwch chi'n teimlo'n iawn ac yn meddwl, 'Wel, beth yw'r niwed i mi fod yn nes at rywun?' Mewn gwirionedd, gallech chi fod yn gwneud llawer iawn o niwed yn anfwriadol, ond gyda chanlyniadau sylweddol iawn, iawn.
Felly, mae gennym ni i gyd waith i'w wneud, mae gen i yn sicr a chan y Llywodraeth, ond mae gennym ni i gyd, o ran atgoffa pobl bod y pethau syml yr ydym ni'n gofyn i bobl eu gwneud—cadw pellter o 2m, sicrhau hylendid dwylo, yr holl bethau syml hynny. Gyda'i gilydd ac yn gronnol, dyma'r pethau sy'n gwneud gwahaniaeth. Maen nhw wir yn achub bywydau ac mae angen i bobl barhau i wneud y pethau hynny, oherwydd fel y dywedais mewn ateb cynharach, bob dydd, mae gennym ni'r ddyletswydd drist ofnadwy o orfod cyhoeddi'r nifer ddiweddaraf o bobl sydd wedi marw o'r feirws hwn mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru a gallwn ni i gyd wneud mwy i helpu i hynny beidio â digwydd.
Suzy Davies. The microphone is not working for Suzy. Can you try again, Suzy? Okay, I'll call Mohammad Asghar and we'll come back to you, Suzy. Mohammad Asghar.
Suzy Davies. Nid yw'r meicroffon yn gweithio i Suzy. A allwch chi roi cynnig arall arni, Suzy? Iawn, galwaf ar Mohammad Asghar ac fe ddown ni yn ôl atoch chi, Suzy. Mohammad Asghar.
Thank you, Presiding Officer, and thank you, First Minister, for your statement. I have been contacted by a number of dental practices in my region, who are concerned about the time frame proposed by the Chief Dental Officer for Wales to phase out in dentistry care. The proposal is to resume more face-to-face emergency care from 1 July, followed by routine check-ups in October and aerosol generating procedures, such as fillings and crowns, from January 2021. Private dentistry accounts for more than half of the dental services in Wales, and the number of practices that operate 100 per cent under the NHS is very low. Their financial viability depends either in part or entirely from payments received from patients undergoing AGPs. Other countries are allowing dentists to perform AGPs by using respiratory masks and other PPE. First Minister, will you look again at the timetable and what other countries are doing as a matter of urgency to ensure the financial viability of dentistry practices in Wales? And, secondly, you earlier mentioned BME casualties in Wales during this pandemic. I would like to know how many people, out of the 2,122 casualties you mentioned earlier, actually come from the BME community, which is, I understand, a pretty high number, and what measures you are going to take, at your Government level, to make sure that we stop it in future. Thank you.
Diolch, Llywydd, a diolch i chithau, Prif Weinidog, am eich datganiad. Mae nifer o bractisau deintyddol yn fy rhanbarth i wedi cysylltu â mi, sy'n poeni am yr amserlen a gynigiwyd gan Brif Swyddog Deintyddol Cymru i ailgyflwyno gofal deintyddol. Y cynnig yw ailddechrau mwy o ofal brys wyneb yn wyneb o 1 Gorffennaf ymlaen, ac yna archwiliadau rheolaidd ym mis Hydref a gweithdrefnau sy'n cynhyrchu aerosol, fel llenwadau a choronau, o fis Ionawr 2021. Deintyddiaeth breifat yw mwy na hanner y gwasanaethau deintyddol yng Nghymru, ac mae nifer y practisau sy'n gweithredu 100 y cant o dan y GIG yn isel iawn. Mae eu hyfywedd ariannol yn dibynnu naill ai'n rhannol neu'n gyfan gwbl ar daliadau a dderbynnir gan gleifion sy'n cael gweithdrefnau sy'n cynhyrchu aerosol. Mae gwledydd eraill yn caniatáu i ddeintyddion ddilyn gweithdrefnau sy'n cynhyrchu aerosol drwy ddefnyddio masgiau anadlu a chyfarpar diogelu personol arall. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi edrych eto ar yr amserlen a'r hyn y mae gwledydd eraill yn ei wneud fel mater o frys i sicrhau hyfywedd ariannol practisau deintyddol yng Nghymru? Ac, yn ail, soniasoch yn gynharach am salwch ymhlith pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yng Nghymru yn ystod y pandemig hwn. Hoffwn wybod faint o bobl, o'r 2,122 o'r rhai sydd wedi marw o'r salwch y soniasoch amdanyn nhw'n gynharach, sy'n dod o'r gymuned pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig mewn gwirionedd, sydd, yn ôl a ddeallaf, yn nifer eithaf uchel, a pha gamau ydych chi'n mynd i'w cymryd, ar lefel eich Llywodraeth, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n ei atal yn y dyfodol. Diolch.
Thank you, Llywydd. Shall I take the second of Mohammad Asghar's questions first? I don't have that figure in front of me, but we will have it, and I'm happy, of course, to share that with him. I know that he will have been taking an interest in the group chaired by Judge Ray Singh, and I know that he is personally acquainted with Professor Keshav Singhal and other leading clinicians who've contributed to the self-assessment tool that we are using in Wales. So, I want to give him an assurance that we are drawing on all the expertise we can find from within the community in Wales, as well as beyond, to try to make sure that we have measures in place to properly protect people from black and minority ethnic communities from the additional impact that this disease has on people from those important communities.
On the first point about dental practices, we will publish, Llywydd, the letter that the chief dental officer has provided to dental practices in Wales, setting out her three-stage plan for the reopening of dentistry in Wales. I know that she will remain in dialogue with the British Dental Association and other important interests in the dental profession in Wales. Of course we would like to see more dental activity being available—it's a very important part of what primary care provision in Wales offers to Welsh citizens. But there are some particular challenges in dental practice. You can't practice dentistry at a 2m distance, and aerosol procedures in particular carry a very high risk of the virus being carried from patients to dentists and from dentists to patients. So, the chief dental officer will continue to be in those discussions. We will publish her advice. We want more dentistry to happen in Wales, but we have to make sure that we do it in a way that protects the health and welfare of dental practitioners and their staff, as well as the people that they serve.
Diolch, Llywydd. A gaf i ateb yr ail o gwestiynau Mohammad Asghar yn gyntaf? Nid yw'r ffigur hwnnw gen i o fy mlaen, ond bydd gennym ni, ac rwy'n hapus, wrth gwrs, i rannu hwnnw gydag ef. Gwn y bydd wedi bod yn cymryd diddordeb yn y grŵp a gadeirir gan y Barnwr Ray Singh, a gwn ei fod yn adnabod yn bersonol yr Athro Keshav Singhal a chlinigwyr blaenllaw eraill sydd wedi cyfrannu at yr offeryn hunanasesu yr ydym ni'n ei ddefnyddio yng Nghymru. Felly, hoffwn roi sicrwydd iddo ein bod ni'n manteisio ar yr holl arbenigedd y gallwn ni ddod o hyd iddo o'r gymuned yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â thu hwnt, i geisio gwneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni fesurau ar waith i ddiogelu pobl o gymunedau pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yn briodol rhag yr effaith ychwanegol y mae'r clefyd hwn yn ei chael ar bobl o'r cymunedau pwysig hynny.
O ran y pwynt cyntaf am bractisau deintyddol, byddwn yn cyhoeddi, Llywydd, y llythyr y mae'r prif swyddog deintyddol wedi'i ddarparu i bractisau deintyddol yng Nghymru, gan nodi ei chynllun tri cham ar gyfer ailagor deintyddiaeth yng Nghymru. Gwn y bydd hi'n parhau i drafod gyda Chymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain a buddiannau pwysig eraill yn y proffesiwn deintyddol yng Nghymru. Wrth gwrs, hoffem weld mwy o weithgarwch deintyddol ar gael—mae'n rhan bwysig iawn o'r hyn y mae darpariaeth gofal sylfaenol yng Nghymru yn ei gynnig i ddinasyddion Cymru. Ond ceir rhai heriau penodol o ran ymarfer deintyddol. Ni allwch chi ymarfer deintyddiaeth o bellter o 2m, ac mae risg uchel iawn yn gysylltiedig â gweithdrefnau aerosol yn arbennig o ran trosglwyddo'r feirws o gleifion i ddeintyddion ac o ddeintyddion i gleifion. Felly, bydd y prif swyddog deintyddol yn parhau i fod yn y trafodaethau hynny. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi ei chyngor. Rydym ni eisiau i fwy o ddeintyddiaeth ddigwydd yng Nghymru, ond mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n ei wneud mewn ffordd sy'n diogelu iechyd a lles ymarferwyr deintyddol a'u staff, yn ogystal â'r bobl y maen nhw'n eu gwasanaethu.
First Minister, your Government announced on Sunday that the guidelines for people who've been told to shield were changing the following day. I'm aware that there's a lot of concern from people who were told to shield to protect their lives that these changes were brought forward with little warning and when the R rate is still high. This morning you will have received a letter from 32 health charities active in Wales, outlining their deep concerns about these changes. They want an explanation about the rationale for the sudden departure from existing guidelines. They ask that shielders are told directly about changes rather than finding out through a press statement, and they want the sector to be informed of changes in advance in the future, so that they can prepare. They request that you meet them to discuss their concerns. First Minister, will you do that?
Prif Weinidog, cyhoeddodd eich Llywodraeth ddydd Sul bod y canllawiau i bobl y dywedwyd wrthyn nhw am warchod yn newid y diwrnod canlynol. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod llawer o bryder ymhlith pobl y dywedwyd wrthyn nhw i warchod i ddiogelu eu bywydau bod y newidiadau hyn wedi eu cyflwyno heb fawr o rybudd a phan fo'r gyfradd R yn dal i fod yn uchel. Y bore yma, byddwch wedi cael llythyr gan 32 o elusennau iechyd sy'n weithredol yng Nghymru, yn amlinellu eu pryderon dwys am y newidiadau hyn. Maen nhw eisiau esboniad am y rhesymeg dros y newid sydyn o'r canllawiau presennol. Maen nhw'n gofyn i'r rhai sy'n gwarchod gael eu hysbysu'n uniongyrchol am newidiadau yn hytrach na darganfod trwy ddatganiad i'r wasg, ac maen nhw eisiau i'r sector gael ei hysbysu am newidiadau ymlaen llaw yn y dyfodol, fel ei fod yn gallu paratoi. Maen nhw'n gofyn i chi gyfarfod â nhw i drafod eu pryderon. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi hynny?
Llywydd, the chief medical officer will write to all people on the shielded list this week in Wales, setting out our advice to them for the coming period. Let's just be clear that what this is is advice. Nobody is instructing sheltered people to do anything that they do not feel comfortable in doing.
The medical advice from the four chief medical officers is that, at this time of year, when the virus is far, far less significant out of doors, we should have offered the opportunity to shielded people who wanted to go outside in carefully controlled conditions—to let them know that it is safe for them to do so if they choose to do so. But nobody is requiring any sheltered person to do anything that they do themselves not feel comfortable in doing.
The chief medical officer will set out his latest advice in a letter that will go to every shielded person in Wales. They remain very much at the top of our list of priorities, to make sure that we continue to offer them the best advice so that they stay safe and they stay well.
Let nobody forget that there is more than one harm from coronavirus, and being confined to your home with no prospect of being able to leave it comes with real harms as well to people's sense of well-being and other parts of their health. That is why the four chief medical officers came to the conclusion that they did, not because anybody wants to do anything that would harm sheltered people—of course not. But the advice to them is that if they feel confident and willing to do so, now they are able to take exercise out of doors and to meet one other household out of doors, in the right conditions, provided that is something that they themselves would choose to do.
Llywydd, bydd y prif swyddog meddygol yn ysgrifennu at bawb sydd ar y rhestr a warchodir yr wythnos hon yng Nghymru, gan nodi ein cyngor iddyn nhw ar gyfer y cyfnod sydd i ddod. Gadewch i ni fod yn eglur mai cyngor yw hwn. Nid oes neb yn cyfarwyddo pobl sy'n gwarchod i wneud unrhyw beth nad ydyn nhw'n teimlo'n gyfforddus yn ei wneud.
Y cyngor meddygol gan y pedwar prif swyddog meddygol, ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, pan fo'r feirws yn llawer iawn llai arwyddocaol yn yr awyr agored, yw y dylem ni fod wedi cynnig y cyfle i bob a warchodir a oedd eisiau mynd allan mewn amodau wedi'u rheoli'n ofalus—i roi gwybod iddyn nhw ei bod hi'n ddiogel iddyn nhw wneud hynny os ydyn nhw'n dewis gwneud hynny. Ond nid oes neb yn mynnu bod unrhyw berson sy'n gwarchod yn gwneud dim nad yw'n teimlo'n gyfforddus yn ei wneud.
Bydd y prif swyddog meddygol yn nodi ei gyngor diweddaraf mewn llythyr a fydd yn mynd at bob person a warchodir yng Nghymru. Maen nhw'n sicr yn dal i fod ar frig ein rhestr o flaenoriaethau, i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n parhau i gynnig y cyngor gorau iddyn nhw fel eu bod nhw'n cadw'n ddiogel ac yn cadw'n iach.
Ni ddylai neb anghofio bod mwy nag un niwed o'r coronafeirws, a bod cael eich cyfyngu i'ch cartref heb ddim gobaith o allu ei adael yn dod â niwed gwirioneddol hefyd i synnwyr pobl o les a rhannau eraill o'u hiechyd. Dyna pam y daeth y pedwar prif swyddog meddygol i'r casgliad a wnaethant, nid oherwydd bod unrhyw un eisiau gwneud unrhyw beth a fyddai'n niweidio pobl a warchodir—nage wrth gwrs. Ond y cyngor iddyn nhw yw os ydyn nhw'n teimlo'n hyderus ac yn barod i wneud hynny, eu bod nhw'n cael gwneud ymarfer corff yn yr awyr agored bellach a chyfarfod ag un aelwyd arall yn yr awyr agored, o dan yr amodau iawn, cyn belled â bod hynny'n rhywbeth y bydden nhw eu hunain yn dewis ei wneud.
First Minister, on 1 May you announced that the Welsh Government would fund an extra payment of £500 to social care workers in care homes and domiciliary care workers throughout Wales:
'This payment is designed to provide some further recognition of the value we attach to everything'
that social care workers do to
'support both our NHS and our wider society.'
My questions are: when will it be paid? How will it be paid? Is it a one-off payment or will it be added to wages? Will it be treated as wages and taxed, or treated as a gift and not taxed?
Prif Weinidog, fe wnaethoch gyhoeddi ar 1 Mai y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu taliad ychwanegol o £500 i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol mewn cartrefi gofal a gweithwyr gofal cartref ledled Cymru:
'Diben y taliad hwn yw rhoi cydnabyddiaeth bellach o’n gwerthfawrogiad am bopeth'
y mae gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol yn ei wneud i
'gefnogi ein GIG a’r gymdeithas ehangach.'
Dyma fy nghwestiynau i: pryd y bydd yn cael ei dalu? Sut y bydd yn cael ei dalu? Ai taliad untro ydyw neu a fydd yn cael ei ychwanegu at gyflogau? A fydd yn cael ei drin fel cyflog ac yn cael ei drethu, neu'n cael ei drin fel rhodd a ddim yn cael ei drethu?
Well, Llywydd, there will be answers to all of those questions, but those answers were contingent upon a reply from the UK Government to our plea to them to make this payment free of tax and free of national insurance contributions. It was deeply disappointing to receive a response from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on Monday declining to do that. That, of course, now means we will have to think through a whole series of issues to try to minimise the impact of that Treasury decision. It's not possible to answer all of Mike Hedges's questions this morning, because we had hoped that there was a different and far better solution.
We wanted our £500 to go directly to the people who we have identified for the contribution they have made, because they are amongst the least well-paid people in our workforce. We weren't asking the Treasury for money, we were simply asking them not to rob those people of the money that the Welsh Government was providing to them. Now, a significant amount of the money that the Welsh Government is still going to provide to those social care workers will end up not in their pockets but in the pockets of the Treasury.
We will have to reconsider a whole number of the questions that Mike Hedges has quite properly raised to try and find ways of mitigating that decision, but the real answer is that this shouldn't be subject to tax and it shouldn't be subject to national insurance, and then we wouldn't have to worry about finding ways of trying to make that impact less significant.
Wel, Llywydd, fe fydd atebion i'r holl gwestiynau yna, ond roedd yr atebion hynny yn amodol ar ateb gan Lywodraeth y DU i'n ple iddyn nhw wneud y taliad hwn yn rhydd o dreth ac yn rhydd o gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol. Siomedig iawn oedd cael ymateb gan yr Ysgrifennydd Ariannol i'r Trysorlys ddydd Llun yn gwrthod gwneud hynny. Mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn golygu bellach y bydd yn rhaid i ni roi ystyriaeth i amrywiaeth eang o faterion i geisio sicrhau bod effaith y penderfyniad hwnnw gan y Trysorlys cyn lleied â phosibl. Nid yw'n bosibl ateb holl gwestiynau Mike Hedges y bore yma, gan ein bod ni wedi gobeithio y byddai ateb gwahanol a llawer gwell.
Roeddem ni eisiau i'n £500 fynd yn syth i'r bobl yr ydym ni wedi eu cydnabod am y cyfraniad y maen nhw wedi ei wneud, oherwydd maen nhw ymhlith y bobl sy'n cael y cyflog lleiaf yn ein gweithlu. Nid oeddem ni'n gofyn i'r Trysorlys am arian, dim ond gofyn yr oeddem ni iddyn nhw beidio â dwyn yr arian yr oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i'r bobl hynny oddi wrthyn nhw. Nawr, bydd swm sylweddol o'r arian y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i fynd i'w ddarparu i'r gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol hynny yn y pen draw nid yn eu pocedi nhw ond ym mhocedi'r Trysorlys.
Bydd yn rhaid i ni ailystyried nifer fawr o'r cwestiynau y mae Mike Hedges wedi eu codi yn gwbl briodol i geisio dod o hyd i ffyrdd o liniaru'r penderfyniad hwnnw, ond yr ateb gwirioneddol yw na ddylai hyn fod yn destun treth ac na ddylai fod yn destun yswiriant gwladol, ac wedyn ni fyddai'n rhaid i ni boeni am ddod o hyd i ffyrdd o geisio gwneud yr effaith honno'n llai sylweddol.
Just picking up on what you said earlier about dentistry, once we see the three-stage plan that the chief medical officer is going to be publishing, I hope we're going to be able to accelerate the timetable for resuming modern dentistry where we drill and fill tooth decay rather than, as at the moment, having to extract the tooth, which obviously can never be replaced. Obviously, this is very important to people's general health.
Otherwise, I would be wanting to look at small businesses that are completely reliant on being able to operate locally, and obviously the proceeds of their business stay locally as well—in particular, hairdressing. Nobody is going to die of not having a haircut, but for elderly people in particular, that social occasion of going to the hairdresser's can be a very, very important part of their engagement with the community. For example, the Headmistress salon, run by Alison Corria at the Maelfa in Llanedeyrn for over 40 years, has a very high number of elderly customers. She is very keen to restart as soon as she has permission to do so, and has been able to put in place all the restrictions that the NHBF guidance indicates, which I know the Government has been discussing with them. So—
Dim ond i ymateb i'r hyn a ddywedasoch yn gynharach am ddeintyddiaeth, ar ôl i ni weld y cynllun tri cham y bydd y prif swyddog meddygol yn ei gyhoeddi, rwy'n gobeithio ein bod ni'n mynd i allu cyflymu'r amserlen ar gyfer ailddechrau deintyddiaeth fodern lle'r ydym ni'n drilio ac yn llenwi pydredd dannedd yn hytrach na gorfod tynnu'r dant, fel sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd, na ellir byth cael un yn ei le yn amlwg, mae hyn yn bwysig iawn i iechyd cyffredinol pobl.
Fel arall, byddwn i eisiau edrych ar fusnesau bach sy'n gwbl ddibynnol ar allu gweithredu'n lleol, ac yn amlwg mae enillion eu busnesau yn aros yn lleol hefyd—yn enwedig trin gwallt. Nid oes neb yn mynd i farw o beidio â chael torri ei wallt, ond i bobl oedrannus yn arbennig, gall yr achlysur cymdeithasol hwnnw o fynd at y triniwr gwallt fod yn rhan bwysig iawn o'u hymgysylltiad â'r gymuned. Er enghraifft, mae gan siop trin gwallt Headmistress, sy'n cael ei rhedeg gan Alison Corria yn y Maelfa yn Llanedeyrn ers dros 40 o flynyddoedd, nifer fawr iawn o gwsmeriaid oedrannus. Mae'n awyddus iawn i ailgychwyn cyn gynted ag y bydd ganddi ganiatâd i wneud hynny, ac mae wedi gallu cyflwyno'r holl gyfyngiadau y mae canllawiau'r NHBF yn eu nodi, y gwn fod y Llywodraeth wedi bod yn eu trafod gyda nhw. Felly—
You need to come to a question now, Jenny.
Mae angen i chi ddod at gwestiwn nawr, Jenny.
So, I wondered if you could just tell us, if we're only going to be able to make one change at a time, as recommended by the WHO and SAGE, can we really afford to only make any change at three-week periods?
Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym ni, os mai dim ond un newid y byddwn ni'n gallu ei wneud ar y tro, fel yr argymhellir gan Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd a SAGE, a allwn ni wir fforddio i wneud unrhyw newid ar ôl pob cyfnod o dair wythnos yn unig?
Llywydd, thank you. The answer to the question at the end is that we don't have to wait for the end of a three-week period to make a change, and we've had examples during the crisis in which we've made changes between three-week intervals where there's been a compelling case to do so.
Llywydd, I want to agree and recognise what Jenny Rathbone has said about the wider importance of hairdressing. When I was the health Minister, I vividly remember a GP in a rural part of Wales saying to me that his best source of intelligence about people with the beginnings of dementia came from a local hairdresser in his community, because she was somebody who knew her clientele over 30 years. She spotted when people coming into her salon were not quite as on top of things as they once used to be, and she could make an informal, early sort of referral to the dementia service that he ran in his community. So, I absolutely understand what Jenny meant when she talked about the fact that it's more than just having a haircut. But we will consider hairdressing alongside everything else.
One of the real difficulties, Llywydd, that I have to try and explain to people is that there are so many aspects of life where individually you can make a case for reopening, and by themselves people make the case that this wouldn't materially add to the risk of coronavirus circulating—it'll only be a little marginal addition. The problem for the Government is you've got to add up all those marginal additions, and quite soon all those marginal additions turn out to be quite a significant risk. We have to weigh up, not simply dental practices or hairdressing or tennis playing or all the many things that people understandably have an interest in, and then come to a decision in the round.
We'll do that with dentistry as well. I know, as I said to Mohammad Asghar, that the chief dental officer in her discussions with the profession will want to bring things back on as quickly as possible, and of course her focus with the profession is on preventative dentistry. We want dentists not to have to drill or fill even, let alone extract. We want them working as the new contract rewards them: for making sure that young people grow up looking after their teeth in a way that means they don't need that sort of dentistry, other than in a minimum sort of way.
Llywydd, diolch. Yr ateb i'r cwestiwn ar y diwedd yw nad oes yn rhaid i ni aros tan ddiwedd cyfnod o dair wythnos i wneud newid, ac rydym ni wedi cael enghreifftiau yn ystod yr argyfwng lle'r ydym ni wedi gwneud newidiadau rhwng cyfnodau o dair wythnos lle bu achos cymhellol dros wneud hynny.
Llywydd, hoffwn gytuno a chydnabod yr hyn y mae Jenny Rathbone wedi ei ddweud am bwysigrwydd ehangach trin gwallt. Pan mai fi oedd y Gweinidog iechyd, rwy'n cofio'n eglur feddyg teulu mewn rhan wledig o Gymru yn dweud wrthyf i bod ei ffynhonnell orau o wybodaeth am bobl sy'n dechrau dioddef o ddementia yn dod gan siop trin gwallt leol yn ei gymuned, gan ei bod hi'n rhywun a oedd wedi adnabod ei chleientiaid dros 30 mlynedd. Roedd hi'n gweld pan nad oedd pobl a oedd yn dod i'w siop mor siŵr o'u pethau ag yr oedden nhw'n arfer bod, a gallai wneud ryw fath atgyfeiriad anffurfiol cynnar at y gwasanaeth dementia yr oedd ef yn ei redeg yn ei gymuned. Felly, rwy'n deall yn llwyr yr hyn yr oedd Jenny yn ei olygu pan roedd hi'n sôn am y ffaith ei fod yn fwy na dim ond torri gwallt. Ond byddwn yn ystyried trin gwallt ochr yn ochr â phopeth arall.
Un o'r anawsterau gwirioneddol, Llywydd, y mae'n rhaid i mi geisio ei egluro i bobl yw bod cymaint o agweddau ar fywyd lle gallwch chi wneud dadl unigol dros eu hailagor, ac ar eu pennau eu hunain mae pobl yn gwneud y ddadl na fyddai hyn yn ychwanegu'n sylweddol at y risg o coronafeirws yn cylchredeg—bydd yn fân ychwanegiad ymylol yn unig. Y broblem i'r Llywodraeth yw bod yn rhaid i chi adio'r holl ychwanegiadau ymylol hynny at ei gilydd, ac yn eithaf buan mae'r holl ychwanegiadau ymylol hynny yn diweddu fel bod yn risg eithaf sylweddol. Mae'n rhaid i ni bwyso a mesur, nid dim ond practisau deintyddol neu drin gwallt neu chwarae tenis neu'r holl bethau y mae pobl, yn ddealladwy, yn ymddiddori ynddyn nhw, ac yna gwneud penderfyniad cyffredinol.
Byddwn ni'n gwneud hynny gyda deintyddiaeth hefyd. Gwn, fel y dywedais wrth Mohammad Asghar, y bydd y prif swyddog deintyddol yn ei thrafodaethau gyda'r proffesiwn eisiau ailgyflwyno pethau cyn gynted a phosibl, ac wrth gwrs mae ei phwyslais gyda'r proffesiwn ar ddeintyddiaeth ataliol. Rydym ni eisiau i ddeintyddion beidio â gorfod drilio na llenwi hyd yn oed, heb sôn am dynnu. Rydym ni eisiau iddyn nhw weithio fel y mae'r contract newydd yn eu gwobrwyo: am wneud yn siŵr bod pobl ifanc yn tyfu i fyny gan ofalu am eu dannedd mewn ffordd sy'n golygu nad oes angen y math hwnnw o ddeintyddiaeth arnyn nhw, ac eithrio yn y ffordd leiaf posibl.
First Minister, you began this session by telling us a little bit about the methodology you used for introducing rules and regulations, and I'd like to raise the point that, as of 22 May, repeat breaches of coronavirus regulations can land you with a fine of £1,920. That came in under the fourth amendment to the coronavirus restriction regulations, through the made-affirmative procedure, which gives this Parliament 28 days to ratify that law or not. Now, these regulations were ready before the Whitsun break, before the legislation clock stopped. As you said earlier in this session, these are laws—laws made by the Executive, not the legislature—and they do impose a penalty. So, why aren't we debating them today instead of 17 June, just short of a month after they come into force as Government-made law?
Prif Weinidog, dechreuasoch y sesiwn hon drwy ddweud ychydig wrthym ni y dull a ddefnyddiwyd gennych chi i gyflwyno rheolau a rheoliadau, a hoffwn godi'r pwynt y gall achosion mynych o dorri rheoliadau coronafeirws, o 22 Mai, arwain at ddirwy o £1,920. Cyflwynwyd hynny o dan y pedwerydd gwelliant i'r rheoliadau cyfyngiadau coronafeirws, drwy'r weithdrefn a wnaed yn gadarnhaol, sy'n rhoi 28 diwrnod i'r Senedd hon gadarnhau'r gyfraith honno ai peidio. Nawr, roedd y rheoliadau hyn yn barod cyn toriad y Sulgwyn, cyn i'r cloc deddfwriaeth stopio. Fel y dywedasoch yn gynharach yn y sesiwn hon, deddfau yw'r rhain—deddfau a wneir gan y Weithrediaeth, nid y ddeddfwrfa—ac maen nhw'n gorfodi cosb. Felly, pam nad ydym ni'n eu trafod nhw heddiw yn hytrach na 17 Mehefin, ychydig yn llai na mis ar ôl iddyn nhw ddod i rym fel deddf a wnaed gan y Llywodraeth?
Well, Llywydd, they'll be debated within the rules that are set out for those things. We're not breaching those limits. I'm not trying to trivialise the point that the Member makes; it's really important. I completely agree with her that it is the legislature's responsibility to approve or not approve the changes that the Government proposes, and it's very important that the legislature has that opportunity. But we are providing that opportunity.
We wanted to bring a package of measures together so that the Senedd could look at them in that rounded way, because there are choices that have to be made, and, just as I said to Jenny Rathbone that it's the cumulative impact of different changes you have to think of, in some ways, it's the cumulative impact of all the changes to the law that Assembly Members will be interested in as well. So, it's not with any intention of not complying with the necessary and important requirement for Assembly Members to have the final say in these things that we've offered the timetable that we have; it's to bring together a series of changes that we are proposing, allowing Assembly Members to see them altogether and make their minds up as to whether or not they wish to support them, based on the totality of what the Government proposes.
Wel, Llywydd, byddan nhw'n cael eu trafod yn unol â'r rheolau sy'n bodoli ar gyfer y pethau hynny. Dydyn ni ddim yn torri'r terfynau hynny. Nid wyf i'n ceisio bychanu'r pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud; mae'n bwysig iawn. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â hi mai cyfrifoldeb y ddeddfwrfa yw cymeradwyo neu beidio â chymeradwyo'r newidiadau y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cynnig, ac mae'n bwysig iawn bod y ddeddfwrfa'n cael y cyfle hwnnw. Ond rydym ni yn cynnig y cyfle hwnnw.
Roeddem ni eisiau dod â phecyn o fesurau at ei gilydd fel y gallai'r Senedd edrych arnyn nhw yn y ffordd gynhwysfawr honno, gan fod dewisiadau y mae'n rhaid eu gwneud, ac, yn union fel y dywedais i wrth Jenny Rathbone mai effaith gronnol gwahanol newidiadau y mae'n rhaid i chi feddwl amdanyn nhw, mewn rhai ffyrdd, effaith gronnol yr holl newidiadau i'r gyfraith y bydd gan Aelodau'r Cynulliad ddiddordeb ynddyn nhw hefyd. Felly, nid gydag unrhyw fwriad o beidio â chydymffurfio â'r gofyniad angenrheidiol a phwysig i Aelodau'r Cynulliad gael y gair olaf yn y pethau hyn yr ydym ni wedi cynnig yr amserlen yr ydym wedi ei chynnig; mae er mwyn dod â chyfres o newidiadau yr ydym ni'n eu cynnig ynghyd, gan alluogi Aelodau'r Cynulliad i'w gweld gyda'i gilydd a phenderfynu a ydyn nhw eisiau eu cefnogi nhw ai peidio, ar sail cyfanrwydd yr hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei gynnig.
Alun Davies.
Alun Davies.
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, the overwhelming majority of people in Blaenau Gwent are fully supportive of the approach that you have taken and the Welsh Government have taken over the past few months, and they recognise the importance of continuing with a very cautious approach. I'm interested in understanding how you see this moving forward.
You said at a press conference that, with the trace and testing system now in place, there may be local lockdowns where there may be a local outbreak in terms of the disease moving forward. I wonder if you could explain how you see that working and whether you see the capacity for differential rules being applied in different parts of the country. I think that's something that will be of interest to a lot of people.
And, also, as we move forward over these few months, you've appointed Jeremy Miles to look at recovery from COVID and the impact of COVID. I very much agree with the point that Mick Antoniw made earlier in this session about the impact of job losses in the aviation sector, but we know that the overall economic impact will be most keenly felt in communities such as Blaenau Gwent. How do you see the work that Jeremy is undertaking in order to address those issues of the economic impact of COVID? We've had fantastic public support for keeping people safe through this infection. Now, how do we continue to keep people safe in terms of employment and jobs and the economy as we move forward into recovery?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae mwyafrif llethol y bobl ym Mlaenau Gwent yn gwbl gefnogol o'r dull yr ydych chi wedi ei fabwysiadu ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei fabwysiadu dros y misoedd diwethaf, ac maen nhw'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd parhau â dull gofalus iawn. Mae gen i ddiddordeb mewn deall sut yr ydych chi'n gweld hyn yn symud ymlaen.
Dywedasoch mewn cynhadledd i'r wasg ei bod hi'n bosibl, gyda'r system olrhain a phrofi ar waith erbyn hyn, y bydd cyfyngiadau symud lleol lle gallai fod achosion lleol o ran y clefyd yn y dyfodol. Tybed a allech chi egluro sut yr ydych chi'n gweld hynny'n gweithio ac a ydych chi'n gweld y gallu i wahanol reolau gael eu gweithredu mewn gwahanol rannau o'r wlad. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth a fydd o ddiddordeb i lawer o bobl.
A hefyd, wrth i ni symud ymlaen dros yr ychydig fisoedd hyn, rydych chi wedi penodi Jeremy Miles i edrych ar adferiad o COVID ac o effaith COVID. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r pwynt a wnaeth Mick Antoniw yn gynharach yn y sesiwn hon am effaith colli swyddi yn y sector hedfan, ond rydym ni'n gwybod y bydd yr effaith economaidd gyffredinol yn cael ei theimlo fwyaf mewn cymunedau fel Blaenau Gwent. Sut ydych chi'n gweld y gwaith y mae Jeremy yn ei wneud er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r materion hynny o effaith economaidd COVID? Rydym ni wedi cael cefnogaeth wych gan y cyhoedd i gadw pobl yn ddiogel drwy'r haint hwn. Nawr, sut yr ydym ni'n parhau i gadw pobl yn ddiogel o ran cyflogaeth a swyddi a'r economi wrth i ni symud ymlaen i adferiad?
Llywydd, can I thank Alun Davies for those really important questions? My colleague Vaughan Gething will provide further details of the roll-out of the test, trace and protect process over the first part of this week, and it does provide us—together with the Joint Biosecurity Centre that we hope to be members of, it will provide us with more fine-grained and local information about outbreaks of coronavirus. And it may well be that the best way in the future of trying to make sure that coronavirus doesn't spread again will be to have more local action. In normal public health infection controls, that is exactly what you would see. In much smaller outbreaks of measles or something like that, it would be a local action that would be put in place.
It isn't guaranteed to be like that. If there are measures being taken elsewhere that lead to a sudden and much more general surge in coronavirus, then we can't rule out the prospect that more significant measures on a wider scale might still be necessary. But we want to avoid that if we can in Wales, and one way will be to use the TTP and other sources of intelligence to try and hone our response in more local areas—
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Alun Davies am y cwestiynau gwirioneddol bwysig yna? Bydd fy nghyd-Weinidog, Vaughan Gething, yn rhoi rhagor o fanylion am gyflwyno'r broses profi, olrhain a diogelu yn ystod rhan gyntaf yr wythnos hon, ac mae yn rhoi i ni—ynghyd â'r Gyd-ganolfan Bioddiogelwch y gobeithiwn fod yn aelodau ohoni, bydd yn rhoi mwy o wybodaeth fanwl iawn a lleol i ni am achosion o coronafeirws. Ac mae'n ddigon posibl mai'r ffordd orau yn y dyfodol o geisio gwneud yn siŵr nad yw coronafeirws yn lledaenu unwaith eto fydd cael mwy o weithredu lleol. Mewn rheolaethau heintiau iechyd cyhoeddus arferol, dyna'n union y byddech chi'n ei weld. Mewn achosion llawer llai o'r frech goch neu rywbeth fel yna, gweithredu lleol fyddai'n cael ei roi ar waith.
Nid yw'n sicr o fod fel hynny. Os oes camau'n cael eu cymryd mewn mannau eraill sy'n arwain at ymchwydd sydyn a llawer mwy cyffredinol i coronafeirws, yna ni allwn ddiystyru'r posibilrwydd y gallai mesurau mwy sylweddol ar raddfa ehangach ddal i fod yn angenrheidiol. Ond rydym ni eisiau osgoi hynny os gallwn ni yng Nghymru, ac un ffordd fydd defnyddio profi, olrhain a diogelu a ffynonellau eraill o wybodaeth i geisio mireinio ein hymateb mewn ardaloedd mwy lleol—
Nick Ramsay—oh, sorry, First Minister.
Nick Ramsay—o, mae'n ddrwg gen i, Prif Weinidog.
Very quickly, because Alun Davies raised really important questions about recovery and life beyond coronavirus. This is a public health emergency, but it's an economic emergency as well. We have to chart our way through the coming months and continue to do those things that respond to the immediate emergency, but, after that, we will have to think absolutely seriously as to how we fashion a future for people that will be disrupted by the impact of coronavirus not just for those months, but for well beyond that, and that's the work that Jeremy Miles is leading.
Yn gyflym iawn, oherwydd fe gododd Alun Davies gwestiynau pwysig iawn am adferiad a bywyd y tu hwnt i coronafeirws. Argyfwng iechyd y cyhoedd yw hwn, ond mae'n argyfwng economaidd hefyd. Mae'n rhaid i ni lywio ein ffordd drwy'r misoedd sydd i ddod a pharhau i wneud y pethau hynny sy'n ymateb i'r argyfwng uniongyrchol, ond, ar ôl hynny, bydd yn rhaid i ni feddwl o ddifrif iawn am sut yr ydym ni'n llunio dyfodol i bobl y tarfwyd arnyn nhw gan effaith coronafeirws nid yn unig yn ystod y misoedd hynny, ond am ymhell y tu hwnt i hynny, a dyna'r gwaith y mae Jeremy Miles yn ei arwain.
First Minister, if I can ask you about two areas, firstly, briefly, I've been contacted by a constituent who is concerned that, as businesses come out of lockdown, there could be a number of issues that have developed over a long period of businesses being closed down, such as legionnaire's disease, for instance, that could generate subsequent public health issues. So, I wonder if you could tell me what advice and guidance is being given to businesses, or will be given to businesses, as the lockdown is lessened and people do return to work and their businesses.
Secondly, could you update us on what support is being made available for mental health services at this time during the pandemic? We know that the ongoing lockdown is resulting in mental health issues for many people—many of those in families, but particularly those living alone. And, of course, in the worst case scenarios this can lead to very severe problems, and even, in some cases, suicide. I wonder what data is being collected to monitor the mental health situation of people and what's being done to support those mental health services, including suicide prevention.
Prif Weinidog, os caf i eich holi am ddau faes, yn gyntaf, yn gryno, mae etholwr wedi cysylltu â mi sy'n pryderu, wrth i fusnesau ddod allan o'r cyfyngiadau symud, y gallai fod nifer o broblemau sydd wedi datblygu dros gyfnod hir o fusnesau ar gau, fel clefyd y llengfilwyr, er enghraifft, a allai greu problemau iechyd cyhoeddus dilynol. Felly, tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthyf i pa gyngor a chyfarwyddyd sy'n cael eu rhoi i fusnesau, neu a fydd yn cael eu rhoi i fusnesau, wrth i'r cyfyngiadau symud gael eu llacio ac i bobl ddychwelyd i'w gwaith ac i'w busnesau.
Yn ail, a allech chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni am ba gymorth sydd ar gael i wasanaethau iechyd meddwl ar yr adeg hon yn ystod y pandemig? Rydym ni'n gwybod bod y cyfyngiadau symud parhaus yn arwain at broblemau iechyd meddwl i lawer o bobl—llawer o'r rheini mewn teuluoedd, ond yn enwedig y rhai sy'n byw ar eu pennau eu hunain. Ac, wrth gwrs, yn y sefyllfaoedd gwaethaf gall hyn arwain at broblemau difrifol iawn, a hyd yn oed, mewn rhai achosion, hunanladdiad. Tybed pa ddata sy'n cael eu casglu i fonitro sefyllfa iechyd meddwl pobl a beth sy'n cael ei wneud i gynorthwyo'r gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl hynny, gan gynnwys atal hunanladdiad.
Llywydd, I thank Nick Ramsay for that. So, we published advice and guidance for businesses at the end of last week, having had it approved by the shadow social partnership council, and, as I said, I was very pleased that that advice was jointly endorsed by the TUC and the CBI in Wales. 'Keep Wales safe at work', the guidance is called, and there will be further, more sectorally specific guidance published as well. I will make sure that the specific point that Nick Ramsay has raised about things that may have built up while a business is closed that businesses need to think about and attend to—I'll go away and make an enquiry to make sure that the advice is covering that important issue.
On mental health services, Llywydd, more generally, the NHS is resuming some of its more normal activity. The number of beds that are free in our health service has fallen from 3,500 at its peak down to 1,700 today, and that's because more people are being admitted to hospital for non-COVID-related reasons. We've kept our mental health services going through the whole of this crisis, but we're able to resume more ordinary mental health services as well at this time. I think, last week, my colleagues Vaughan Gething and Kirsty Williams jointly announced further funding support for young people, particularly in families. I can give an assurance to Nick Ramsay, and other Members who take a close interest in it, that mental health has always been close to the top of the things that we have asked the health service to continue to do during the crisis and we are very keen indeed to strengthen the response that we're able to offer to those who have had mental health conditions specifically exacerbated by the experience of this awful illness.
Llywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i Nick Ramsay am hynna. Felly, cyhoeddwyd cyngor a chyfarwyddyd i fusnesau gennym ni ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf, ar ôl i'r cyngor partneriaeth cymdeithasol cysgodol eu cymeradwyo, ac, fel y dywedais, roeddwn i'n falch iawn bod y cyngor hwnnw wedi cael ei gymeradwyo ar y cyd gan y TUC a'r CBI yng Nghymru. 'Diogelu Cymru yn y gwaith' yw enw'r canllawiau, a bydd rhagor o ganllawiau mwy penodol i sectorau yn cael eu cyhoeddi hefyd. Byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr bod y pwynt penodol y mae Nick Ramsay wedi'i godi ynglŷn â phethau a allai fod wedi codi tra bod busnes wedi cau y mae angen i fusnesau feddwl amdanyn nhw a rhoi sylw iddyn nhw—byddaf yn mynd i ffwrdd ac yn gwneud ymholiad i wneud yn siŵr bod y cyngor yn ymdrin â'r mater pwysig hwnnw.
O ran gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, Llywydd, yn fwy cyffredinol, mae'r GIG yn ailddechrau rhai o'i weithgareddau mwy cyffredin. Mae nifer y gwelyau sy'n rhydd yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd wedi gostwng o 3,500 ar ei anterth i lawr i 1,700 heddiw, ac mae hynny oherwydd bod mwy o bobl yn cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty am resymau nad ydyn nhw'n ymwneud â COVID. Rydym ni wedi cadw ein gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl i fynd drwy'r argyfwng hwn i gyd, ond rydym ni'n gallu ailafael mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl mwy cyffredin hefyd ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n credu, yr wythnos diwethaf, bod fy nghyd-Weinidogion Vaughan Gething a Kirsty Williams wedi cyhoeddi ar y cyd rhagor o gymorth ariannol i bobl ifanc, yn enwedig mewn teuluoedd. Gallaf roi sicrwydd i Nick Ramsay, ac Aelodau eraill sy'n cymryd diddordeb mawr ynddo, bod iechyd meddwl bob amser wedi bod yn agos at frig y pethau yr ydym ni wedi gofyn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd barhau i'w gwneud yn ystod yr argyfwng ac rydym ni'n awyddus dros ben i gryfhau'r ymateb yr ydym ni'n gallu ei gynnig i'r rhai y mae eu cyflyrau iechyd meddwl wedi eu gwaethygu yn benodol gan brofiad y salwch erchyll hwn.
First of all, First Minister, will you join with me in issuing a note of caution to those people tempted to cut their own hair during the course of coronavirus, as I am an example of that? I'd just explain that to Members.
But two serious points: first of all, tennis. I've been asked why tennis is not yet permitted. And, secondly, I have, within 5 miles of my constituency, no fewer than eight beaches, which are very popular. Five of them would normally have Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeguard cover. Now, they're very grateful that they haven't seen the kind of mayhem that we've seen on some beaches in England—Durdle Door, of course, being one example. But the question I have is: what is the Welsh Government doing to make sure that people are aware of the fact that there's no lifeguard cover, when there normally would be at this time of year? And what information is being given to the public to make sure that they are safe, given the fact that that cover is not there?
Yn gyntaf oll, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i gyfleu nodyn o rybudd i'r bobl hynny a gaiff eu temtio i dorri eu gwallt eu hunain yn ystod cyfnod y coronafeirws, gan fy mod i'n enghraifft o hynny? Hoffwn esbonio hynny i'r Aelodau.
Ond dau bwynt difrifol: yn gyntaf oll, tenis. Gofynnwyd i mi pam nad yw tennis wedi'i ganiatáu eto. Ac, yn ail, mae gen i, o fewn 5 milltir i'm hetholaeth, ddim llai nag wyth traeth, sy'n boblogaidd iawn. Fel arfer, byddai gan bump ohonyn nhw wasanaethau achubwyr bywyd Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol y Badau Achub. Nawr, maen nhw'n ddiolchgar iawn nad ydyn nhw wedi gweld y math o anhrefn yr ydym ni wedi ei weld ar rai traethau yn Lloegr—Durdle Door, wrth gwrs, yn un enghraifft. Ond y cwestiwn sydd gennyf yw: beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn ymwybodol o'r ffaith nad oes unrhyw wasanaethau achubwyr bywyd, er y byddai fel rheol ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn? A pha wybodaeth sy'n cael ei rhoi i'r cyhoedd i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n ddiogel, o ystyried y ffaith nad yw'r ddarpariaeth honno ar gael?
I thank Carwyn Jones very much for his questions. Viewers to this will be, I think, believing that there was some collusion between him and Jenny Rathbone in her question urging the reopening of hairdressers in Wales.
But, to his serious points, on tennis, the point is this—I've answered it once already, Llywydd—that tennis can make a case for it by itself being capable of being reopened, being organised in a safe way. There are some challenges in tennis that people don't always think of in that. This virus can live on a tennis ball, and, when you play tennis, normally, certainly, a ball comes over the net and people pick it up and the person on the other side of the net picks the same ball up as well. So, it's not without its challenges to make tennis safe, but, even if it can be made safe, then, you know, gliding can be made safe, jet skiing can be made safe, bowling can be made safe. Many Members here will have received letters from different interests. What the Welsh Government has to do is to add up all those marginal extra risks and decide whether or not, in the round, that is a risk we are currently able to take. We decided last week that all the headroom that we have, more or less, was to be taken by allowing family and friends to see one another again, and we didn't feel that we could take the additional risk of opening up other parts of our normal life. We will continue to consider tennis alongside other outdoor sports as part of the current three-week review.
Llywydd, Carwyn Jones makes a very important point about lifeguard services and safety on beaches. Across the whole of the United Kingdom, the RNLI will only be operating 30 per cent of normal coverage this year because of the constraints that coronavirus has caused, and in Wales that means that there will only be 10 beaches in the whole of Wales that will have lifeguard cover, and that from 20 June to the beginning of September. So, it is very important to say to people, even people who live locally, even people who can get to the beach within 5 miles, that they will have to take particular extra care this year, because the help that would have been there normally, the supervision that would have been there normally to make sure that people can use the sea safely, will not be available in Wales in the way that it has been, and people will have to take very direct responsibility for making sure that they factor that into their plans, because safety will need to be their major consideration, and they won't have a fully operational RNLI service of the sort that we've all been so pleased to see in Wales over recent years.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i Carwyn Jones am ei gwestiynau. Bydd gwylwyr hyn, rwy'n meddwl, yn credu bod rhywfaint o gydgynllwynio rhyngddo ef a Jenny Rathbone yn ei chwestiwn yn annog ailagor siopau trin gwallt yng Nghymru.
Ond, ar ei bwyntiau difrifol, o ran tenis, y pwynt yw hyn—rwyf wedi ei ateb unwaith yn barod, Llywydd—y gall tenis wneud ei achos ei hun o fod yn gallu cael ei ailagor, o gael ei drefnu mewn modd ddiogel. Mae rhai heriau mewn tenis nad yw pobl bob amser yn meddwl amdanyn nhw yn hynny o beth. Gall y feirws hwn fyw ar bêl tenis, a, phan fyddwch chi'n chwarae tenis, fel arfer, yn sicr, mae pêl yn dod dros y rhwyd ac mae person yn ei chodi ac mae'r person ar yr ochr arall i'r rhwyd yn codi'r un bêl hefyd. Felly, nid yw gwneud tenis yn ddiogel heb ei heriau, ond, hyd yn oed os gellir ei wneud yn ddiogel, yna wyddoch chi, gall gleidio gael ei wneud yn ddiogel, gall sgïo jet gael ei wneud yn ddiogel, gall bowlio gael ei wneud yn ddiogel. Bydd llawer o'r Aelodau yma wedi derbyn llythyrau gan rai â gwahanol ddiddordebau. Yr hyn y mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ei wneud yw cyfrifo'r holl risgiau ymylol ychwanegol hynny a phenderfynu a yw hynny, yn gyffredinol, yn risg yr ydym ni'n gallu ei chymryd ar hyn o bryd. Fe wnaethom ni benderfynu yr wythnos diwethaf y byddai'r holl hyblygrwydd sydd gennym, fwy neu lai, yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ganiatáu i deulu a chyfeillion weld ei gilydd unwaith eto, ac nid oeddem ni'n teimlo y gallem ni gymryd y risg ychwanegol o agor rhannau eraill o'n bywyd arferol. Byddwn yn parhau i ystyried tenis gyda chwaraeon awyr agored eraill yn rhan o'r adolygiad tair wythnos presennol.
Llywydd, mae Carwyn Jones yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn am wasanaethau achubwyr bywyd a diogelwch ar draethau. Ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan, bydd Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol y Badau Achub yn gweithredu dim ond 30 y cant o'u gwasanaeth arferol eleni oherwydd y cyfyngiadau y mae'r coronafeirws wedi eu hachosi, ac yng Nghymru mae hynny'n golygu mai dim ond ar 10 traeth yng Nghymru gyfan y bydd gofal gan achubwr bywyd, a hynny o 20 Mehefin hyd at ddechrau mis Medi. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn i ddweud wrth bobl, hyd yn oed pobl sy'n byw yn lleol, hyd yn oed pobl sy'n gallu cyrraedd traeth o fewn 5 milltir, y bydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw gymryd gofal ychwanegol arbennig eleni, oherwydd ni fydd y cymorth a fyddai wedi bod yno fel arfer, yr oruchwyliaeth a fyddai wedi bod yno fel arfer i sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu defnyddio'r môr yn ddiogel, ar gael yng Nghymru yn y modd y bu o'r blaen, a bydd yn rhaid i bobl gymryd cyfrifoldeb uniongyrchol iawn dros sicrhau eu bod yn ystyried hynny yn eu cynlluniau, oherwydd bydd angen i ddiogelwch fod yn brif ystyriaeth iddyn nhw, ac ni fydd ganddyn nhw wasanaeth cwbl weithredol Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol y Badau Achub o'r math yr ydym ni i gyd wedi bod mor falch o'i weld yng Nghymru dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
I thank the First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiwn amserol. Mae'r cwestiwn amserol i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Weinidog, ac, yn gofyn y cwestiwn amserol, dwi'n galw ar Neil McEvoy.
The next item is the topical question. The topical question is to be answered by the Deputy Minister, and I call on Neil McEvoy to ask the question.
1. Yng ngoleuni'r digwyddiadau yn yr Unol Daleithiau, ar draws y byd a phrotestiadau yng Nghymru yn dilyn marwolaeth George Floyd, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru amlinellu ei pholisïau ar gydlyniant cymunedol? TQ441
1. In light of the events in the USA, across the world and protests in Wales following the death of George Floyd, will the Welsh Government outline its policies on community cohesion? TQ441
I thank the Member for the question. The death of George Floyd is a tragedy. The impacts of this case are felt globally, and Wales is not immune from racism. We must continue to confront it. Our community cohesion and equality and inclusion programme embeds close engagement with black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to foster good relations and to tackle race inequality in Wales.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae marwolaeth George Floyd yn drychineb. Caiff effeithiau'r achos hwn eu teimlo yn fyd-eang, ac nid yw Cymru yn rhydd rhag hiliaeth. Mae'n rhaid i ni barhau i'w wynebu. Mae ein rhaglen cydraddoldeb a chynhwysiant a chydlyniad cymunedol yn ymgorffori ymgysylltiad agos â chymunedau pobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig er mwyn meithrin cysylltiadau da a mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb hiliol yng Nghymru.
Thanks, Minister. I sit here today as the first Welsh-born person of colour to be elected to our national Parliament. My life experience has been the same as a lot of people with brown or black skin in Wales: violent attacks, wrongful arrest, racial slurs and negative stereotyping with the really clever middle-class racism that we encounter. Only last week, I had to correct a published article to tell them that I existed and that Wales's first ever then AM of colour, Dr Altaf Hussain, existed. And BBC Wales were at it again yesterday, in ignoring two Members of the Senedd of colour.
I think we've made progress, but have we really made the progress that we think we've made in terms of class and race? The professional side of the Senedd needs to be more representative of the Wales we live in. In our Parliament it's rare to see people of colour who are not in security, catering or cleansing. Maybe we should look back to the future. The Welsh National Party believes that Wales should have a constitution with a bill of rights, where we can all sign up to being Welsh and talk about what unites us. It doesn't matter where we're from, we can all choose to be Welsh. Our foremothers and forefathers in Tiger Bay showed the way in how to develop a multicultural, loving, harmonious society in the dock area, where my mother was brought up. So, will you support defining in law what it is to be Welsh in Wales through a constitution?
Before finishing, I must say that the murder of George Floyd was horrific. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy be social change throughout the world. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Gweinidog. Rwy'n eistedd yma heddiw fel y person croenliw cyntaf i'w eni yng Nghymru i gael ei ethol i'n Senedd genedlaethol. Mae fy mhrofiad bywyd wedi bod yr un fath â llawer o bobl â chroen brown neu ddu yng Nghymru: ymosodiadau treisgar, arestio ar gam, sarhad hiliol a stereoteipio negyddol gyda'r hiliaeth dosbarth canol hynod glyfar sy'n dod i'n rhan. Dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, roedd yn rhaid i mi gywiro erthygl a gyhoeddwyd i ddweud wrthyn nhw fy mod i'n bodoli a bod AC croenliw cyntaf erioed Cymru ar y pryd, sef Dr Altaf Hussain, yn bodoli. Ac roedd BBC Cymru wrthi eto ddoe, wrth anwybyddu dau aelod croenliw o'r Senedd.
Rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi gwneud cynnydd, ond a ydym ni wedi gwneud y cynnydd yr ydym yn credu ein bod ni wedi'i wneud o ran dosbarth a hil? Mae angen i ochr broffesiynol y Senedd fod yn fwy cynrychioliadol o'r Gymru yr ydym yn byw ynddi. Yn ein Senedd ni mae'n anghyffredin gweld pobl croenliw nad ydyn nhw'n gweithio ym meysydd diogelwch, arlwyo neu lanhau. Efallai y dylem ni edrych yn ôl i'r dyfodol. Mae Welsh National Party yn credu y dylai fod gan Gymru gyfansoddiad gyda bil o hawliau, sy'n golygu y gallwn ni i gyd gytuno i fod yn Gymry a siarad am yr hyn sy'n ein huno. Does dim gwahaniaeth o ble'r ydym ni'n dod, gallwn ni i gyd ddewis bod yn Gymry. Dangosodd ein cynfamau a'n cyndadau yn Tiger Bay y ffordd o ddatblygu cymdeithas amlddiwylliannol, gariadus a chytûn yn ardal y dociau, lle cafodd fy mam ei magu. Felly, a wnewch chi gefnogi diffinio yn y gyfraith yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu i fod yn Gymro yng Nghymru drwy gyfansoddiad?
Cyn gorffen, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod llofruddiaeth George Floyd yn erchyll. Gorffwysed mewn hedd, a gobeithio mai ei etifeddiaeth fydd newid cymdeithasol ledled y byd. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Neil McEvoy, and thank you for asking this question and for expressing it in such a direct and personal way, in terms of your own experiences and the experiences that you've shared with us today. I am reminded of the fact that, just over a year ago, in fact, we had our first debate on race in the Assembly, on tackling racism across Wales. What was good about that debate was it was a cross-party debate. We all signed up to that debate. But what is absolutely clear—and it's the responsibility of all political parties, of course, but particularly of the Welsh Government and, indeed, in terms of all the work that we've been doing in the last few weeks to tackle the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities and those who are on the front line, not just in the NHS, social care, but also many in all of the key worker posts. So that's why I'm very pleased that we have got this discussion today, the question from the leader of Plaid Cymru and the response from the First Minister making it clear that we're united to be appalled by the horror of the death of George Floyd last week.
I'm also very conscious of the fact that Vaughan Gething spoke up as the first black Minister of any of the UK's devolved Governments in 2013, speaking after posting his video online, calling on us all to unite. I respect the work of Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter, of course, spoke up and came together over the weekend. Indeed, I've just come this morning from a cross-party group, chaired by John Griffiths, on race, where we heard the details about the Welsh risk assessment tool, which has been mentioned already this morning, which was published and launched last week by the First Minister and the Minister for Health and Social Services. We are also, crucially, importantly, taking on board the socioeconomic issues, and I committed again this morning, as I did a few months ago, to a Wales race action plan.
Diolch yn fawr, Neil McEvoy, a diolch i chi am ofyn y cwestiwn hwn ac am ei fynegi mewn ffordd mor uniongyrchol a phersonol, o ran eich profiadau eich hun a'r profiadau yr ydych chi wedi eu rhannu gyda ni heddiw. Caf fy atgoffa o'r ffaith ein bod, ychydig dros flwyddyn yn ôl, wedi cael ein dadl gyntaf ar hil yn y Cynulliad, ar fynd i'r afael â hiliaeth ledled Cymru. Yr hyn a oedd yn dda am y ddadl honno oedd ei bod yn ddadl drawsbleidiol. Fe wnaethom ni i gyd ymrwymo i'r ddadl honno. Ond yr hyn sy'n gwbl glir—ac mae'n gyfrifoldeb ar bob plaid wleidyddol, wrth gwrs, ond yn enwedig ar Lywodraeth Cymru ac, yn wir, o ran yr holl waith yr ydym ni wedi bod yn ei wneud yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf i fynd i'r afael ag effaith anghyfartal COVID-19 ar gymunedau pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig a'r rhai sydd ar y rheng flaen, nid yn unig yn y GIG, gofal cymdeithasol, ond hefyd llawer yn yr holl swyddi gweithwyr allweddol. Felly dyna pam yr wyf i'n falch iawn ein bod ni'n cael y drafodaeth hon heddiw, y cwestiwn gan arweinydd Plaid Cymru a'r ymateb gan y Prif Weinidog yn ei gwneud hi'n glir ein bod ni'n unedig o ran bod wedi ein harswydo gan farwolaeth ddychrynllyd George Floyd yr wythnos diwethaf.
Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol iawn o'r ffaith bod Vaughan Gething wedi siarad fel y Gweinidog du cyntaf o unrhyw un o lywodraethau datganoledig y DU yn 2013, yn siarad ar ôl rhoi ei fideo ar-lein, gan alw ar bob un ohonom ni i uno. Rwy'n parchu gwaith Black Lives Matter. Fe wnaeth Black Lives Matter, wrth gwrs, ddweud eu barn a dod at ei gilydd dros y penwythnos. Yn wir, yr wyf newydd ddod y bore yma o grŵp trawsbleidiol, dan gadeiryddiaeth John Griffiths, ar hil, lle y clywsom y manylion am offeryn asesu risg Cymru, a grybwyllwyd eisoes y bore yma, a gyhoeddwyd ac a lansiwyd yr wythnos diwethaf gan y Prif Weinidog a'r Gweinidog Iechyd a'r Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Rydym hefyd, yn allweddol, yn bwysig, yn ystyried y materion economaidd-gymdeithasol, ac ymrwymais eto y bore yma, fel y gwnes i ychydig fisoedd yn ôl, i gynllun gweithredu ar hil i Gymru.
Mark Isherwood. Mark Isherwood. I can't seem to see him on my screen either, so he's no longer—
Mark Isherwood. Mark Isherwood. Nid yw'n ymddangos fy mod i'n gallu ei weld ar fy sgrin ychwaith, felly nid yw ef bellach—
I am there. Yes, I'm here.
Rwyf i yno. Ydw, rwyf i yma.
Yes, you are.
Ydych, mi ydych chi.
Sorry, my sound might have been off, but I am there.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, efallai fod y sŵn wedi ei droi i ffwrdd , ond rwyf i yno.
Yes. You carry on with your question now, Mark.
Ydych. Gallwch fynd ymlaen â'ch cwestiwn nawr, Mark.
Right. On hate crimes, ignorance and prejudice, there's some wonderful work, for instance in north Wales, NWAMI, Networking for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration, which recognises that the best way to tackle that is through integration, through engagement, through sharing together. They're doing some wonderful work during the pandemic delivering food parcels, particularly to members of the black, Asian and minority ethnic community who are isolating and who have dietary requirements due to medical or cultural needs. So, how can we better acknowledge the good work of organisations such as NWAMI and support that work, where it's often lost because it's soft as opposed to hard? It's engaging with people through cultural activities and celebration, and food, music and dance, alongside the more substantive solid projects that Welsh Government and others are also engaged with.
Iawn. O ran troseddau casineb, anwybodaeth a rhagfarn, ceir peth gwaith gwych, er enghraifft yn y gogledd, NWAMI, Networking for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration, sy'n cydnabod mai'r ffordd orau o fynd i'r afael â hynny yw drwy integreiddio, drwy ymgysylltu, drwy rannu gyda'n gilydd. Maen nhw'n gwneud gwaith gwych yn ystod y pandemig o ddosbarthu parseli bwyd, yn enwedig i aelodau o'r gymuned pobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig sy'n ynysu ac sydd â gofynion dietegol oherwydd anghenion meddygol neu ddiwylliannol. Felly, sut gallwn ni gydnabod gwaith da sefydliadau fel NWAMI yn well a chefnogi'r gwaith hwnnw, pan gaiff ei golli'n aml oherwydd ei fod yn feddal yn hytrach na chaled? Mae'n ymgysylltu â phobl drwy weithgareddau a dathliadau diwylliannol, a bwyd, cerddoriaeth a dawns, ar y cyd â'r prosiectau cadarn a mwy sylweddol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru ac eraill yn ymgysylltu â hwy hefyd.
Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood, and NWAMI, I know well of their work; we've discussed it. We talked about it in a forum recently, at a BAME meeting that was held, organised by the Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team and Race Council Cymru, who have organised many forums over the last few weeks. And the north Wales one, I particularly heard from NWAMI about their work in Bangor particularly relating to supporting the community—not just international students, but the community. And also, I've raised with Lesley Griffiths, the Minister, about the importance of recognising cultural needs in terms of our food box delivery, and this is very much reflected in the community cohesion that we've seen over the past few weeks.
So, NWAMI is an important force for good for progress and community cohesion in north Wales, alongside many of the other organisations that I've spoken to. In fact, over the last few weeks we've had virtual online forums; the Wales race forum has met twice; we've met with these regional groups, one in Newport that John Griffiths attended. But I think it's important that we recognise that we'd already put funding into hate crime projects: £480,000 from the EU transition fund, and those hate crime projects and, indeed, further funding of £350,000 for tackling racism in schools. We know that Show Racism the Red Card in schools has a huge impact on children's learning and understanding. And that work, already those organisations, third sector BAME organisations, and it always includes those at the grass-roots level because they have such an impact and they're doing the work, as you say, culturally, socially and meeting the needs of some of the most excluded parts of our community.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mark Isherwood, a NWAMI. Rwyf yn gyfarwydd iawn â'u gwaith; rydym wedi ei drafod. Buom yn siarad amdano mewn fforwm yn ddiweddar, mewn cyfarfod pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig a gynhaliwyd, wedi ei drefnu gan y Tîm cymorth Ieuenctid Ethnig a Race Council Cymru, sydd wedi trefnu nifer o fforymau dros yr wythnosau diwethaf. A'r un yn y gogledd, clywais yn arbennig gan NWAMI am eu gwaith ym Mangor yn enwedig ynghylch cefnogi'r gymuned—nid myfyrwyr rhyngwladol yn unig, ond y gymuned. A hefyd, rwyf wedi codi gyda Lesley Griffiths, y Gweinidog, ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd cydnabod anghenion diwylliannol o ran cyflenwi blychau bwyd, ac adlewyrchir hyn yn helaeth iawn yn y cydlyniad cymunedol yr ydym wedi ei weld yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf.
Felly, mae NWAMI yn rym pwysig er daioni ar gyfer cynnydd a chydlyniad cymunedol yn y gogledd, ynghyd â llawer o'r sefydliadau eraill yr wyf wedi siarad â nhw. Mewn gwirionedd, yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf rydym wedi cael rhith-fforymau ar-lein; mae fforwm hil Cymru wedi cyfarfod ddwywaith; rydym wedi cyfarfod â'r grwpiau rhanbarthol hyn, un yng Nghasnewydd yr oedd John Griffiths yn bresennol ynddo. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn cydnabod ein bod eisoes wedi rhoi arian i brosiectau troseddau casineb: £480,000 o gronfa bontio'r UE, a'r prosiectau troseddau casineb hynny ac, yn wir, cyllid pellach o £350,000 ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â hiliaeth mewn ysgolion. Gwyddom fod Dangos y Cerdyn Coch i Hiliaeth mewn ysgolion yn cael effaith enfawr ar ddysgu a dealltwriaeth plant. A'r gwaith hwnnw, sydd eisoes yn cael ei wneud gan y sefydliadau hynny, y trydydd sector a sefydliadau pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, ac mae bob amser yn cynnwys y rhai hynny ar lefel llawr gwlad oherwydd eu bod yn cael cymaint o effaith ac yn gwneud y gwaith, fel y dywedwch, yn ddiwylliannol, yn gymdeithasol a chan fodloni anghenion rhai o'r rhannau o'n cymuned sydd wedi'u hallgáu fwyaf.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog. Fe fyddwn ni nawr yn torri am awr cyn i'r sesiwn brynhawn gychwyn. Ac felly, fe ddaw'r darlledu i ben am y tro.
I thank the Deputy Minister. We will now break for an hour before afternoon session commences. And therefore, the broadcast should cease.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 12:18.
Plenary was suspended at 12:18.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 13:20 gyda’r Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 13:20 with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) in the Chair.
Well, we reconvene as our Plenary this afternoon, and the next item on our agenda is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services on coronavirus, COVID-19, and I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething.
Wel, rydym yn ailymgynnull ar gyfer ein cyfarfod llawn y prynhawn yma, a'r eitem nesaf ar ein hagenda yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar y coronafeirws, COVID-19, a galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Vaughan Gething.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Prynhawn da. Good afternoon.
Today’s statement will focus on providing Members with an update on restarting more NHS activity here in Wales. I am pleased to report that, while we are still supporting those that have coronavirus, the number of confirmed cases is falling, as are the numbers of people that have lost their lives in the pandemic. Yesterday, there were still 67 new confirmed cases reported by Public Health Wales, and the death figures were in single figures. However, each number was a person, and a tragic reminder of the need for care and caution from all of us, now and in the foreseeable future if we are to reduce the spread of the virus.
No-one should underestimate the importance of continuing to maintain our state of readiness if we are to see and cope with any future peaks of the virus. We still need to support people in our communities that need our health service for other reasons that are not COVID related. I approved the NHS Wales operating framework that was issued on 6 May. It describes four types of harm: direct harm from COVID itself; harm from an overwhelmed NHS and social care system, as we saw in Italy, for example; harm from reduction in non-COVID activity; and harm from wider societal actions, including the lockdown.
I recognise that we need to move slowly and cautiously. So, shorter term planning on quarterly cycles is important for our organisations to demonstrate that they can be agile and flexible. Being able to divert resources easily and quickly to adjust to the demand, between both COVID-19 and non-COVID essential service areas is crucial. While recognising all four potential harms, the quarter 1 plans are particularly aimed at progressively scaling up essential NHS activity, whilst also addressing the current demands of COVID-19. We all recognise that it's important to get essential services operating efficiently for those that need them, but in a safe and effective manner. The fact is that the threat of COVID-19 will be with us for some time to come.
The quarter 1 plans were all received as required on 18 May. They set out how our health boards and trusts are planning to deliver the range of essential services, including cancer, cardiac, ophthalmology and other services, often in new and innovative ways. Many organisations are working to re-zone their estate, to provide areas where staff and patients feel safe to undertake diagnostic tests and receive treatment. The use of additional independent sector hospitals has been helpful for some of those treatments. Health boards are currently reviewing the use of the available facilities to see how they might be used going forward. Our aim is for our healthcare system to rebalance within a more usual hospital environment. This work with the independent sector has been helpful, but we will of course need to review its use, which is being explored in the plans.
The majority of health boards have made arrangements to create additional field hospital capacity. It is a real positive that we should not lose sight of that we have not had to make significant use of field hospitals during the first peak of the virus. The plans reflect the need to review and re-assess as we move forward. A national review of field hospitals facilities during June will support this work.
There are still issues to be overcome as we move to upscale our essential services. Ensuring sufficient PPE, medicines, testing, staff and training will all be required, and this is what the plans outline. In addition, I have asked the NHS to continue to look at where it can make greater use of regional solutions, pooling resources and expertise to ensure patients receive the best care.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Prynhawn da.
Bydd y datganiad heddiw yn canolbwyntio ar roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau am ailddechrau mwy o weithgarwch y GIG yma yng Nghymru. Rwyf yn falch o ddweud, er ein bod yn dal i gefnogi'r rhai sydd â'r coronafeirws arnyn nhw, fod nifer yr achosion a gadarnhawyd yn gostwng, fel y mae nifer y bobl sydd wedi colli eu bywydau yn y pandemig. Ddoe, cadarnhawyd 67 o achosion newydd gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, ac roedd y ffigurau marwolaethau mewn ffigurau sengl. Fodd bynnag, roedd pob rhif yn unigolyn, ac yn atgof poenus o'r angen am ofal a phwyll gan bob un ohonom ni, nawr ac yn y dyfodol rhagweladwy os ydym ni eisiau lleihau lledaeniad y feirws.
Ni ddylai neb ddiystyru pwysigrwydd parhau i fod yn barod os ydym ni'n gweld unrhyw gynnydd yn y feirws yn y dyfodol ac eisiau ymdopi â hynny. Mae angen o hyd i ni gefnogi pobl yn ein cymunedau sydd angen ein gwasanaeth iechyd am resymau eraill nad ydynt yn gysylltiedig â COVID. Cymeradwyais fframwaith gweithredu GIG Cymru a gyhoeddwyd ar 6 Mai. Mae'n disgrifio pedwar math o niwed: niwed uniongyrchol o COVID ei hun; niwed gan y GIG a system gofal cymdeithasol wedi'u llethu, fel y gwelsom ni yn yr Eidal, er enghraifft; niwed yn sgil lleihad mewn gweithgarwch nad yw'n gysylltiedig â COVID; a niwed gan gamau gweithredu cymdeithasol ehangach, gan gynnwys y cyfyngiadau symud.
Rwy'n cydnabod bod angen i ni weithredu yn araf ac yn bwyllog. Felly, mae cynllunio tymor byrrach ar gylchoedd chwarterol yn bwysig er mwyn i'n sefydliadau ddangos y gallant fod yn ystwyth ac yn hyblyg. Mae gallu dargyfeirio adnoddau yn hawdd ac yn gyflym er mwyn addasu i'r galw, rhwng y gwasanaethau hanfodol yn ymwneud â COVID-19 â'r rhai nad ydynt yn ymwneud â COVID, yn hollbwysig. Gan gydnabod pob un o'r pedwar niwed posib, mae cynlluniau chwarter 1 wedi'u hanelu'n benodol at gynyddu gweithgarwch hanfodol y GIG yn raddol, gan fynd i'r afael â'r gofynion presennol sy'n deillio o COVID-19. Rydym ni i gyd yn cydnabod ei bod hi'n bwysig sicrhau bod gwasanaethau hanfodol yn gweithredu'n effeithlon i'r rhai sydd eu hangen, ond mewn ffordd ddiogel ac effeithiol. Y ffaith yw y bydd bygythiad COVID-19 gyda ni am beth amser eto.
Cafwyd cynlluniau chwarter 1 yn ôl y gofyn ar 18 Mai. Maent yn nodi sut y mae ein byrddau a'n hymddiriedolaethau iechyd yn bwriadu darparu'r amrywiaeth o wasanaethau hanfodol, gan gynnwys canser, y galon, offthalmoleg a gwasanaethau eraill, yn aml mewn ffyrdd newydd ac arloesol. Mae llawer o sefydliadau'n gweithio i aildrefnu eu hadeiladau, i ddarparu ardaloedd lle mae staff a chleifion yn teimlo y gellir cynnal profion diagnostig a chael triniaeth yn ddiogel. Mae defnyddio ysbytai ychwanegol yn y sector annibynnol wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer rhai o'r triniaethau hynny. Mae byrddau iechyd wrthi'n adolygu'r defnydd o'r cyfleusterau sydd ar gael i weld sut y gellid eu defnyddio yn y dyfodol. Ein nod yw i'n system gofal iechyd ail-gydbwyso o fewn amgylchedd ysbyty mwy arferol. Mae'r gwaith hwn gyda'r sector annibynnol wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol, ond wrth gwrs bydd angen i ni adolygu ei ddefnydd, sy'n cael ei archwilio yn y cynlluniau.
Mae'r rhan fwyaf o fyrddau iechyd wedi gwneud trefniadau i greu capasiti ychwanegol mewn ysbytai maes. Mae'n beth cadarnhaol iawn ac ni ddylem ni golli golwg ar y ffaith nad ydym ni wedi gorfod gwneud defnydd sylweddol o ysbytai maes yn ystod anterth cyntaf y feirws. Mae'r cynlluniau'n adlewyrchu'r angen i adolygu ac ailasesu wrth i ni gamu i'r dyfodol. Bydd adolygiad cenedlaethol o gyfleusterau ysbytai maes yn ystod mis Mehefin yn cefnogi'r gwaith hwn.
Mae problemau i'w goresgyn o hyd wrth inni ddechrau diweddaru ein gwasanaethau hanfodol. Bydd angen sicrhau bod digon o gyfarpar diogelu personol, meddyginiaethau, profion, staff a hyfforddiant ar gael, a dyma'r hyn y mae'r cynlluniau'n ei amlinellu. Yn ogystal, rwyf wedi gofyn i'r GIG barhau i ystyried lle y gall wneud mwy o ddefnydd o ddatrysiadau rhanbarthol, gan gronni adnoddau ac arbenigedd i sicrhau bod cleifion yn cael y gofal gorau.
However, out of this crisis, we have also been able to embrace innovation. There's much greater use of technology that has been deployed over the past 10 weeks. In the two-week period from 19 to 26 May there were 977 more remote consultations across the NHS using the new NHS Wales video consultation service. Using these new ways of working to the NHS, we can still do much more, with a growing proportion of consultations being able to be conducted virtually. Equally importantly, 97 per cent of patients and 85 per cent of clinicians rated this new way of working as 'excellent', 'really good', or 'good'. We've also seen a rise in the number of out-patient follow-ups that have been able to be conducted by telephone. That shows how, in our response to the pandemic, we're using existing tools and services to deliver care in more efficient ways. So, we're changing the way in which we're delivering services, and using our resources differently.
For example, Swansea Bay University Health Board established a health-board-wide centre to co-ordinate the flow of patients, including rapid discharge, community step-up, and any additional surge or super-surge capacity within their field hospitals. They also have an out-patient modernisation group planning the re-activation of services. And these are developing new models of care and ways of working that have been taken in response to COVID.
My officials will be meeting with each of the organisations over the next weeks to review their plans and support them to ensure implementation. The operating framework contained a number of commitments for the Welsh Government as enablers to support implementation. Examples of some of that action being taken forward include the digital priorities investment fund that I announced last September. It's been used to accelerate new digital programmes and initiatives. This includes the acceleration of video consultation across the whole of Wales, infrastructure and devices to enable remote working, and a new digital system for contact tracing, all of which have been rolled out in weeks. A programme to make Microsoft Teams and Office 365 available to all NHS staff, which started last autumn, has been compressed from three years to one. I will also bring forward a new digital system for use in intensive care units, a new digital platform for eye care, and accelerating an upgrade to our digital pathology services. The pace at which organisations have worked together to deploy new digital technologies has been impressive.
The Wales Critical Care and Trauma Network has developed draft advice on critical care during the next phase of the pandemic and restarting NHS services, alongside newly published guidance. There's an ongoing communications campaign being developed to encourage patients to access those essential services, and funding has been provided for the establishment of field hospitals, private sector capacity, and, indeed, our student workforce.
Using the feedback and review of quarter 1, we will move towards a continuing framework approach for quarter 2. This will include understanding the next steps in planning over the summer months and for winter contingency into quarter 3. I will of course keep Members updated on progress. I have also provided Members with more detail on quarter 1 plans in a written statement that I issued earlier today.
Monday this week saw the launch of our national NHS Wales test, trace and protect service. Contact tracing is an essential next step in our fight against COVID-19. It will help us to prevent transmission of the virus, protect the public, and quickly identify and take action to control clusters and outbreaks. The new national service began, as planned, on Monday 1 June. So, anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus in Wales will now be contacted and asked for the details of all the people they have had contact with while they have had symptoms.
As I have previously said, our approach is to build and grow our local contact tracing capacity. The reality is that a national plan will only work if we make full use of the existing local knowledge, skills and expertise that has been built up over many years within health protection teams in our local authorities and health boards. This partnership approach has enabled us to quickly bring together a Wales-wide workforce of over 600 contact tracers to start the new national service. Regional plans, jointly agreed by local government and health board partners, will enable us to rapidly scale up the workforce, if and when necessary. This follows a successful two-week pilot exercise across four health board regions in Wales. A key focus of the pilots was to ensure that staff received the high-quality training, guidance and support that they need to be able to do this highly important and challenging role effectively.
Since Sunday, Public Health Wales have reported 208 positive cases, all of which have been transferred to our contact tracing teams. Where appropriate, people have been interviewed and, on average, this is identifying a further three to four follow-up contacts per positive case. The early feedback also indicates that individuals contacted by our tracing teams are engaging positively. So far, the signs are encouraging, but we should not, and must never take the public support for granted. So, for now, the focus is on the next few weeks, within which we can make a difference, and to strike the right balance between all four areas of harm as we try and aim to help keep Wales safe.
Fodd bynnag, o'r argyfwng hwn, rydym ni hefyd wedi gallu cofleidio arloesedd. Mae llawer mwy o dechnoleg wedi'i defnyddio dros y 10 wythnos diwethaf. Yn y pythefnos rhwng 19 a 26 Mai, cafwyd 977 yn fwy o ymgynghoriadau o bell ar draws y GIG drwy ddefnyddio gwasanaeth ymgynghori fideo newydd GIG Cymru. Gan ddefnyddio'r ffyrdd newydd hyn o weithio i'r GIG, gallwn wneud llawer mwy o hyd, gyda modd cynnal cyfran gynyddol o ymgynghoriadau yn rhithwir. Yr un mor bwysig, nododd 97 y cant o gleifion ac 85 y cant o glinigwyr fod y ffordd newydd hon o weithio yn 'ardderchog', 'da iawn', neu'n 'dda'. Rydym ni hefyd wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y gwasanaethau dilynol y gellid eu cynnal i gleifion allanol dros y ffôn. Mae hynny'n dangos sut yr ydym ni, yn ein hymateb i'r pandemig, yn defnyddio offer a gwasanaethau sy'n bodoli eisoes i ddarparu gofal mewn ffyrdd mwy effeithlon. Felly, rydym ni'n newid y ffordd yr ydym ni'n darparu gwasanaethau, ac yn defnyddio ein hadnoddau'n wahanol.
Er enghraifft, sefydlodd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe ganolfan ar gyfer y bwrdd iechyd hwnnw yn ei gyfanrwydd i gydgysylltu'r llif cleifion, gan gynnwys rhyddhau cleifion yn gyflym, uwchgyfeirio cymunedol, ac unrhyw gapasiti ychwanegol o fewn eu hysbytai maes o ran ymchwydd neu ymchwydd sylweddol. Mae ganddyn nhw hefyd grŵp moderneiddio gwasanaethau i gleifion allanol sy'n cynllunio i ailgychwyn gwasanaethau. Ac mae'r rhain yn datblygu modelau gofal newydd a ffyrdd o weithio a fabwysiadwyd mewn ymateb i COVID.
Bydd fy swyddogion yn cyfarfod â phob sefydliad dros yr wythnosau nesaf i adolygu eu cynlluniau a'u cynorthwyo i sicrhau y cânt eu rhoi ar waith. Roedd y fframwaith gweithredu yn cynnwys nifer o ymrwymiadau i Lywodraeth Cymru fel y corff sy'n galluogi hyn fel modd o gefnogi'r broses weithredu. Ymysg peth o'r gweithredu hwnnw mae'r gronfa fuddsoddi mewn blaenoriaethau digidol a gyhoeddais fis Medi diwethaf. Fe'i defnyddiwyd i gyflymu rhaglenni a mentrau digidol newydd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cyflymu'r broses o gynnal ymgynghoriad fideo ledled Cymru, seilwaith a dyfeisiau i alluogi gweithio o bell, a system ddigidol newydd ar gyfer olrhain cysylltiadau, a gyflwynwyd i gyd mewn wythnosau. Mae rhaglen i sicrhau bod Microsoft Teams ac Office 365 ar gael i holl staff y GIG, a ddechreuodd yr hydref diwethaf, wedi'i chywasgu o dair blynedd i un. Byddaf hefyd yn cyflwyno system ddigidol newydd i'w defnyddio mewn unedau gofal dwys, adnodd digidol newydd ar gyfer gofal llygaid, a chyflymu'r broses o uwchraddio ein gwasanaethau patholeg digidol. Mae'r modd y mae sefydliadau wedi gweithio gyda'i gilydd mor gyflym i ddefnyddio technolegau digidol newydd wedi bod yn drawiadol.
Mae Rhwydwaith Gofal Critigol a Thrawma Cymru wedi datblygu cyngor drafft ar ofal critigol yn ystod y cam nesaf o'r pandemig ac yn ailddechrau gwasanaethau'r GIG, ynghyd â chanllawiau sydd newydd eu cyhoeddi. Mae ymgyrch gyfathrebu barhaus yn cael ei datblygu i annog cleifion i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau hanfodol hynny, a darparwyd arian ar gyfer sefydlu ysbytai maes, capasiti sector preifat, ac, yn wir, ein gweithlu myfyrwyr.
Gan ddefnyddio'r adborth a'r adolygiad o chwarter 1, byddwn yn symud tuag at ddull fframwaith parhaus ar gyfer chwarter 2. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys deall y camau nesaf yn y cynllunio dros fisoedd yr haf ac ar gyfer cynlluniau wrth gefn y gaeaf yn chwarter 3. Wrth gwrs, byddaf yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am y cynnydd. Rwyf hefyd wedi rhoi mwy o fanylion i'r Aelodau am gynlluniau chwarter 1 mewn datganiad ysgrifenedig a gyhoeddais yn gynharach heddiw.
Dydd Llun yr wythnos hon, lansiwyd ein gwasanaeth profi, olrhain a gwarchod cenedlaethol gyda GIG Cymru. Mae olrhain cyswllt yn gam nesaf hanfodol yn ein brwydr yn erbyn COVID-19. Bydd yn ein helpu i atal trosglwyddo'r feirws, diogelu'r cyhoedd, canfod achosion o'r haint a gweithredu'n gyflym i reoli clystyrau ac achosion. Dechreuodd y gwasanaeth cenedlaethol newydd, yn ôl y bwriad, ddydd Llun 1 Mehefin. Felly, cysylltir ag unrhyw un sydd wedi profi'n bositif am y coronafeirws yng Nghymru nawr gan ofyn am fanylion yr holl bobl y buont mewn cysylltiad â nhw pan oedd ganddyn nhw'r symptomau.
Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, ein dull ni o weithredu yw meithrin a chynyddu ein gallu i olrhain cysylltiadau'n lleol. Y gwir amdani yw na fydd cynllun cenedlaethol yn gweithio oni bai ein bod yn gwneud defnydd llawn o'r wybodaeth, y sgiliau a'r arbenigedd lleol sydd wedi'u datblygu dros flynyddoedd lawer o fewn timau diogelu iechyd yn ein hawdurdodau lleol a'n byrddau iechyd. Mae gweithio mewn partneriaeth fel hyn wedi ein galluogi i ddod â gweithlu o dros 600 o olrheinwyr cyswllt ynghyd drwy Gymru benbaladr i ddechrau'r gwasanaeth cenedlaethol newydd yn gyflym. Bydd cynlluniau rhanbarthol, a gytunir ar y cyd gan bartneriaid llywodraeth leol a byrddau iechyd, yn ein galluogi i gynyddu'r gweithlu'n gyflym, os a phan fydd angen. Mae hyn yn dilyn ymarfer arbrofol llwyddiannus pythefnos o hyd mewn pedwar rhanbarth bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru. Pwyslais allweddol y cynlluniau arbrofol oedd sicrhau bod staff yn cael yr hyfforddiant, y canllawiau a'r cymorth safonol sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i allu gwneud y swyddogaeth hynod bwysig a heriol hon yn effeithiol.
Ers dydd Sul, mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi nodi 208 o achosion cadarnhaol, ac mae pob un ohonyn nhw wedi'u trosglwyddo i'n timau olrhain cyswllt. Lle bo'n briodol, mae pobl wedi cael eu cyfweld ac, ar gyfartaledd, mae hyn yn dynodi tri neu bedwar o gysylltiadau dilynol pellach fesul achos cadarnhaol. Mae'r adborth cynnar hefyd yn dangos bod yr unigolion y cysylltwyd â nhw gan ein timau olrhain yn cymryd rhan yn gadarnhaol. Hyd yn hyn, mae'r arwyddion yn galonogol, ond ni ddylem ni, ac ni ddylem ni fyth gymryd y gefnogaeth gyhoeddus yn ganiataol. Felly, am y tro, canolbwyntir ar yr wythnosau nesaf, lle gallwn ni wneud gwahaniaeth, a chael y cydbwysedd cywir rhwng pob un o'r pedwar maes niwed wrth i ni geisio helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Thank you. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your statement, Minister. You'll be aware that the tragic situation in Welsh care homes has triggered the older people's commissioner to refer the Welsh Government to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She has highlighted delays to testing as a key concern.
On 16 May, you announced the expansion of testing to everybody in care homes. However, according to one local authority, there's a hope that their care homes, within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area, will be tested by 8 June. However, it has been described as an ambitious target. Why has it taken over three weeks since your announcement to test all care homes, to include our residents and care workers there? Do you also agree that this is made even more scandalous by the fact that patients were initially discharged from hospitals to care homes without any tests, putting many at risk?
And finally, Minister, will you explain why there is no COVID-19 monitoring or data being collected on those receiving social care in their own homes? This appears to me to be a forgotten part of our society, placing them and our own social care workers and domiciliary care workers at risk.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod y sefyllfa drasig yng nghartrefi gofal Cymru wedi sbarduno'r comisiynydd pobl hŷn i gyfeirio Llywodraeth Cymru at y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol. Mae wedi tynnu sylw at oedi wrth brofi fel pryder allweddol.
Ar 16 Mai, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi y byddai profion yn cael eu hehangu i bawb mewn cartrefi gofal. Fodd bynnag, yn ôl un awdurdod lleol, mae gobaith y caiff eu cartrefi gofal, o fewn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, eu profi erbyn 8 Mehefin. Fodd bynnag, fe'i disgrifiwyd fel targed uchelgeisiol. Pam y mae wedi cymryd dros dair wythnos ers eich cyhoeddiad i brofi pob cartref gofal, i gynnwys ein preswylwyr a'n gweithwyr gofal yno? A gytunwch chi hefyd fod y ffaith y cafodd cleifion eu rhyddhau o ysbytai i gartrefi gofal heb unrhyw brofion, gan roi llawer mewn perygl, yn gwneud hyn yn fwy gwarthus byth?
Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi egluro pam na chaiff data eu casglu na llygaid eu cadw ar y rhai sy'n derbyn gofal cymdeithasol yn eu cartrefi eu hunain o ran COVID-19? Mae hyn yn ymddangos i mi yn rhan anghofiedig o'n cymdeithas, gan eu rhoi nhw, ein gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol a'n gweithwyr gofal cartref ein hunain mewn perygl.
I thank the Member for the three questions, I think, but I'll start with the first point. It's really clear that we're not loose and misleading with our language: the older person's commissioner did not refer the Welsh Government to the human rights commission—she's had a conversation and she's clarified that she wants there to be a UK-wide look-back at the position in care homes across the UK, and, as the First Minister has indicated, and indeed as have I, we expect that there will be look-back inquiries and we'll be happy to co-operate with each of those official inquiries. And this Parliament, I would expect, will want its own exercise in looking back on lessons learned and decisions taken at the time.
So, on domiciliary care, on your final question, it's of particular concern to me and to the Deputy Minister. It's an area where we've already had access in terms of testing of key workers. And it's an area that is, I know, a regular concern to the Welsh Local Government Association as well, because we do recognise that there's an issue about transmission and how we protect people and that's often from people coming into that person's home. So, the staff themselves want the assurance that they're not, effectively, acting to provide coronavirus to the vulnerable people who they are helping to care for, and that's why they were always one of the key workers within our system, and, of course, there's now expanded access in terms of online bookings for the system of testing that we have available in Wales.
All care homes will be tested within the next two weeks. Some health boards think they may have that test within the next week to 10 days. Others will be slightly later, but, within the next two weeks, I expect all care homes, residents and staff to have been tested. That's a deliberate policy choice we made, and I actually think that the time that it will have taken to do so compares well with every other UK nation, including, of course, England just over the border, where I understand that about six in 10 care homes are yet to be tested. But, as I say, our expectation is that, within two weeks, all care homes in Wales will have been tested.
Another thing, on the final point that you made, that I need to respond to, is that symptomatic people should always have been tested before discharge from a hospital. There should always have been a current test for people to have left hospital. We moved to a position—which we acknowledged at the time was beyond the scientific advice and the advice of our chief medical officer about whether there was a scientific basis to do so—to test every person discharged into a care home, symptomatic or not, but that was specifically about making sure that there was confidence within the system, because we recognised that more harm could be caused if the whole system clogged up. In regular times, we discuss the harm that is caused to people who are not discharged effectively and quickly, and so this, I think, was a pragmatic measure and the right one to take. And I'm sure I'll have more time to re-discuss the past on other occasions, but I'm content that we are doing the right thing on the right evidence base in the here and now for the people of Wales.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y tri chwestiwn, rwy'n credu, ond dechreuaf gyda'r sylw cyntaf. Mae'n glir iawn nad ydym ni'n llac nac yn gamarweiniol gyda'n hiaith: ni wnaeth y comisiynydd pobl hŷn gyfeirio Llywodraeth Cymru at y Comisiwn Hawliau Dynol—mae hi wedi cael sgwrs ac mae hi wedi egluro ei bod hi eisiau gweld y sefyllfa mewn cartrefi gofal ledled y DU yn cael ei gwerthuso, ac, fel y nododd y Prif Weinidog, ac yn wir fel y gwneuthum i, rydym ni yn disgwyl cynnal ymchwiliadau gwerthuso a byddwn yn hapus i gydweithredu â phob un o'r ymchwiliadau swyddogol hynny. A bydd y Senedd hon, rwy'n tybio, eisiau cynnal ei hymarfer ei hun o ran ystyried y gwersi a ddysgwyd a'r penderfyniadau a wnaed ar y pryd.
Felly, o ran gofal cartref, o ran eich cwestiwn olaf, mae'n peri pryder penodol i mi ac i'r Dirprwy Weinidog. Mae'n faes y buom eisoes yn ymwneud ag ef o ran profi gweithwyr allweddol. Ac mae'n faes sydd, rwy'n gwybod, yn bryder rheolaidd i Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru hefyd, oherwydd yr ydym ni'n cydnabod bod problem o ran trosglwyddo a sut yr ydym yn amddiffyn pobl, a hynny'n aml yn sgil pobl yn dod i mewn i gartref yr unigolyn hwnnw. Felly, mae ar y staff eu hunain eisiau'r sicrwydd nad ydyn nhw, i bob pwrpas, yn gweithredu i drosglwyddo'r coronafeirws i'r bobl agored i niwed y maen nhw'n helpu i ofalu amdanynt, a dyna pam yr oedden nhw bob amser yn un o'r gweithwyr allweddol yn ein system, ac, wrth gwrs, mae mynediad ar-lein bellach ar gyfer y system o brofion sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru.
Bydd pob cartref gofal yn cael ei brofi o fewn y pythefnos nesaf. Mae rhai byrddau iechyd yn meddwl y gallan nhw gael y prawf hwnnw o fewn yr wythnos i 10 diwrnod nesaf. Bydd eraill ychydig yn hwyrach, ond, o fewn y pythefnos nesaf, disgwyliaf i bob cartref gofal, preswylwyr a staff gael eu profi. Dyna'r dewis polisi bwriadol a wnaethom ni, a chredaf mewn gwirionedd fod yr amser a gymer hi i wneud hynny'n cymharu'n dda â phob gwlad arall yn y DU, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, Lloegr dros y ffin, lle deallaf nad yw oddeutu chwech o bob 10 cartref gofal wedi cael eu profi eto. Ond fel y dywedais, rydym yn disgwyl, o fewn pythefnos, y bydd pob cartref gofal yng Nghymru wedi cael ei brofi.
Peth arall, o ran y sylw olaf a wnaethoch chi, y mae angen imi ymateb iddo, yw y dylai pobl â symptomau fod wedi cael prawf cyn cael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty bob tro. Dylai wastad fod prawf cyfredol wedi bod i bobl sydd wedi gadael yr ysbyty. Fe wnaethom ni symud i sefyllfa—a gydnabuwyd gennym ni ar y pryd y tu hwnt i gyngor gwyddonol a chyngor ein prif swyddog meddygol ynghylch a oedd sail wyddonol i wneud hynny—i brofi pawb a ryddheir i gartref gofal, pa un a oes symptomau ganddyn nhw neu beidio, ond roedd a wnelo hynny'n benodol â sicrhau bod hyder o fewn y system, gan ein bod yn cydnabod y gellid achosi mwy o niwed pe bai'r system gyfan wedi ei gorlwytho. Mewn cyfnod arferol, trafodwn y niwed a achosir i bobl nad ydynt yn cael eu rhyddhau'n effeithiol ac yn gyflym, ac felly roedd hyn, rwy'n credu, yn fesur pragmatig a phriodol. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd gennyf fwy o amser i ail-drafod y gorffennol ar achlysuron eraill, ond rwy'n fodlon ein bod yn gwneud y peth priodol ar y sail dystiolaeth gywir ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer pobl Cymru.
Thank you, Minister. I have to say, whilst you say this testing will take place within two weeks, you know the high figures that have been recorded here in north Wales, it's my opinion that if you were to suddenly test all homes, say within two or three days, we wouldn't just see our figures spike, we would see them skyrocket here.
Now, the testing centre here in Llandudno was opened on 29 April. According to an FOI that I submitted to the Betsi Cadwaladr board, only 258 nursing home and local authority workers were tested at the Llandudno site by 28 May. This actually works out, on average, as eight workers a day. There are criticisms about the testing centre not having much traffic going through it when there is mass testing still required here in the north. So, I would like your opinion on that. Why were so few critical workers seen in this centre last month? And what steps are you taking to monitor testing levels at all drive-through centres across Wales? I would like to see those figures reported.
Testing does remain troublesome here. As of 27 May, testing capacity was over 9,000 a day. On Monday, only 2,492 tests were undertaken. Why is all the testing capacity not being used, when we know out in our communities we have these people—vulnerable people—who need these tests? How can we therefore have confidence in test, trace and protect if the number of daily tests are only around 10 per cent of the 20,000 tests a day the Welsh Government has previously stated that contact tracing could require?
Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, er eich bod yn dweud y bydd y profion hyn yn digwydd o fewn pythefnos, gwyddoch am y ffigurau uchel sydd wedi'u cofnodi yma yn y gogledd, yn fy marn i, pe byddech yn profi pob cartref yn sydyn, dyweder o fewn dau neu dri diwrnod, ni fyddem yn gweld ein ffigurau'n cynyddu yn unig, byddem yn eu gweld yn saethu i fyny.
Nawr, agorwyd y ganolfan brofi yma yn Llandudno ar 29 Ebrill. Yn ôl cais rhyddid gwybodaeth a gyflwynais i fwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, dim ond 258 o weithwyr cartref nyrsio ac awdurdod lleol a brofwyd ar safle Llandudno erbyn 28 Mai. Mae hyn mewn gwirionedd yn cyfateb, ar gyfartaledd, i wyth gweithiwr y dydd. Mae beirniadaeth ynghylch y ffaith nad oes llawer o ddefnydd ar y ganolfan brofi pan fo hi'n dal yn angenrheidiol cynnal profion torfol yma yn y gogledd. Felly, hoffwn gael eich barn ar hynny. Pam y gwelwyd cyn lleied o weithwyr allweddol yn y ganolfan hon y mis diwethaf? A beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i fonitro faint o brofion a gynhelir ym mhob canolfan profi drwy ffenest y car drwy Gymru gyfan? Hoffwn weld y ffigurau hynny'n cael eu hadrodd.
Mae profi yn parhau'n drafferthus yn hyn o beth. O 27 Mai, gellid cynnal dros 9,000 o brofion bob dydd. Ddydd Llun, dim ond 2,492 o brofion a gynhaliwyd. Pam na ddefnyddir yr holl gapasiti sydd yna i brofi, pan wyddom ni yn ein cymunedau fod gennym ni'r bobl hyn—pobl sy'n agored i niwed—y mae angen y profion hyn arnynt? Sut y gallwn ni felly fod â ffydd mewn profi, olrhain a diogelu os nad yw nifer y profion beunyddiol yn ddim ond tua 10 y cant o'r 20,000 o brofion beunyddiol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud yn y gorffennol y byddid eu hangen i olrhain cysylltiadau?
I will deal with the final point first. Contact tracing could require up to 20,000 tests depending on where we are in terms of coming out of lockdown and the rate of the transmission spread. Trying to compare where we are now with what might happen months in the future is a pretty foolish place to get yourself into and it's not at all an honest way of describing where we are. And I just think, at a time when people are worried, to try to put out ideas and figures that are openly and undeniably misleading is incredibly irresponsible.
Ymdriniaf â'r sylw olaf yn gyntaf. Mae angen hyd at 20,000 o brofion i olrhain cysylltiadau, yn dibynnu ar le yr ydym ni arni o ran codi'r cyfyngiadau symud a chyfradd lledaeniad yr haint. Mae ceisio cymharu lle yr ydym ni arni nawr â'r hyn a allai ddigwydd fisoedd yn y dyfodol yn beth pur ffôl i geisio ei wneud ac nid yw'n ffordd onest o ddisgrifio'r sefyllfa sydd ohoni. Ac rwy'n credu, ar adeg pan fo pobl yn poeni, bod ceisio rhoi syniadau a ffigurau sy'n amlwg ac yn ddiymwad yn gamarweiniol, yn hynod anghyfrifol.
You're doing that.
Chi sy'n gwneud hynny.
On your figures on north Wales and care home testing, we're actually going through and seeing that north Wales has the highest per head testing ratio of any of the health board areas in the country. So, it's already got a higher testing level than anywhere else. But the good news about that is that whilst there are more people who are identified as having COVID-19, we're actually recognising that when it comes to the harm that's caused, in terms of hospital admissions and, indeed, then in terms of mortality rates, in mortality rates its the second lowest of the seven health boards in Wales, and that's good news for people in north Wales.
On the Llandudno testing centre, I regularly have feedback from local resilience fora and other partners, including people representing staff and employers in the social care sector, and they've indicated for some time a significant improvement in access to testing and making use of the referral arrangements. They have been improved now further, with greater ease of access for the public as well as critical workers, who can all now book online to book their own test at a drive-through centre. So, we've made not just improvements in the lab capacity to undertake more tests, but access to those has improved.
O ran eich ffigurau ar gyfer profion yn y gogledd ac mewn cartrefi gofal, rydym ni mewn gwirionedd yn cloriannu ac yn gweld mai yn y gogledd y mae'r gymhareb fwyaf o ran profion y pen o holl ardaloedd byrddau iechyd y wlad. Felly, cafodd mwy o brofion eu cynnal yma eisoes nag mewn unrhyw le arall. Ond y newyddion da ynghylch hynny yw, er bod yna fwy o bobl a ddynodwyd fel rhai â COVID-19 arnyn nhw, rydym ni'n cydnabod, mewn gwirionedd, o ran y niwed sy'n cael ei achosi, o ran derbyniadau i ysbytai ac, yn wir, wedyn o ran cyfraddau marwolaeth, o ran cyfraddau marwolaeth dyma'r isaf ond un o'r saith bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru, ac mae hynny'n newyddion da i bobl yn y gogledd.
O ran canolfan brofi Llandudno, byddaf yn cael adborth yn rheolaidd gan fforymau cydnerthedd lleol a phartneriaid eraill, gan gynnwys pobl sy'n cynrychioli staff a chyflogwyr yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol, ac maen nhw wedi dweud ers cryn amser bod gwelliant sylweddol o ran gallu cael profion a defnyddio'r trefniadau atgyfeirio. Maen nhw wedi'u gwella ymhellach nawr, ac mae hi bellach yn haws i'r cyhoedd yn ogystal â gweithwyr allweddol gael prawf, gyda phob un ohonyn nhw bellach yn gallu mynd ar y we i archebu eu prawf eu hunain yn y ganolfan profi drwy ffenest y car. Felly, rydym ni wedi ei gwneud hi'n bosib nid yn unig i'r labordy gynnal mwy o brofion, ond ei gwneud hi'n haws cael y profion hynny.
Thank you. Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch. Rhun ap Iorwerth.
I'd like to return to something that—[Interruption].
Hoffwn ddychwelyd at rywbeth—[torri ar draws].
Sorry, Minister, I thought you'd finished.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Gweinidog, credais eich bod wedi gorffen.
No, I was talking then. A message came up saying my internet connection was unstable. I may have faded out for a second. I was just making the point—
Nac oeddwn, roeddwn i'n siarad ar y pryd. Daeth neges yn dweud bod fy nghysylltiad rhyngrwyd yn ansefydlog. Efallai fy mod wedi tewi am eiliad. Dim ond pwysleisio yr oeddwn i—
Right. Sorry, Rhun, I'll come back to you. Do you want to briefly finish, then, Minister?
Iawn. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Rhun, dof yn ôl atoch chi. A ydych chi eisiau gorffen yn fyr, felly, Gweinidog?
I was on my final point. The two to three thousand tests a day that we're undertaking now is a measure of the current need and demand that exists within our system, but we anticipate that that will increase as we move further out of lockdown, and, as there is more contact between people and greater need, we can actually follow up and test more people. It goes back to what I've said consistently—our test, trace and protect system requires a bigger infrastructure, and we're in a place now where we've got a much more significant capacity to be able to do so.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Roeddwn ar fy mhwynt olaf. Mae'r ddwy i dair mil o brofion yr ydym yn eu cynnal bob dydd nawr yn fesur o'r angen a'r galw presennol sy'n bodoli o fewn ein system, ond rhagwelwn y bydd hynny'n cynyddu wrth inni godi'r cyfyngiadau symud ymhellach, a chan fod mwy o gyswllt rhwng pobl a mwy o angen, gallwn fynd ar drywydd a phrofi mwy o bobl mewn gwirionedd. Daw hyn â ni'n ôl at yr hyn yr wyf wedi'i ddweud yn gyson—mae angen seilwaith mwy ar ein system profi, olrhain a diogelu, ac rydym ni mewn sefyllfa nawr lle mae gennym ni gapasiti llawer mwy sylweddol i allu gwneud hynny.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Thank you. We'll try again now then. Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch. Rhown gynnig arall arni nawr, felly. Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Now, Welsh Government has so far refused to recommend that people should wear face masks when out in public. The latest advice I could find from Welsh Government is that people could wear them if they want to, which isn't particularly useful, because people look to Government for leadership at times like this.
I must say, the evidence that I am seeing is getting much, much stronger on this. A major report in The Lancet this week found that the wearing of face masks could be a very useful contribution towards keeping infection rates low. The World Health Organization is absolutely saying that the use of masks isn't enough on its own, but saying wearing a mask can limit the spread of certain respiratory viral diseases, including coronavirus. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommends them. There was an interesting study from California and Taiwan at the end of May saying that the virus can remain infectious indoors for hours, and that
'measures designed to reduce aerosol transmission must be implemented,'—
and I'm quoting here—
'including universal masking'.
Some 50 countries, I think, now insist that people have to wear masks, at least in some situations—just on public transport in some countries, far more widespread in others. Now, they don't have the physical side effects, potentially, of a new drug say, or the mental health implications of lockdown, so surely, the burden of proof should be lower on this. And if it makes a contribution, then why not? Even if only part of a marginal-gains approach. So, will Government listen to that growing evidence and introduce clear guidelines actively encouraging the use of face covering?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru hyd yma wedi gwrthod argymell y dylai pobl wisgo mygydau wyneb pan fyddant allan yn gyhoeddus. Y cyngor diweddaraf y gallwn ddod o hyd iddo gan Lywodraeth Cymru yw y gallai pobl eu gwisgo os ydyn nhw'n dymuno, ac nid yw hynny'n arbennig o ddefnyddiol, gan fod pobl yn edrych at y Llywodraeth am arweiniad ar adegau fel hyn.
Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, mae'r dystiolaeth yr wyf yn ei gweld yn cryfhau fwyfwy ar hyn. Canfu adroddiad pwysig yn The Lancet yr wythnos hon y gallai gwisgo mygydau wyneb gyfrannu mewn modd defnyddiol iawn at gadw cyfraddau heintio yn isel. Mae Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd yn dweud yn bendant nad yw defnyddio mygydau yn ddigon ar ei ben ei hun, ond maen nhw yn dweud y gall gwisgo mwgwd gyfyngu ar ymlediad rhai clefydau feirysol anadlol, gan gynnwys y coronafeirws. Mae'r Ganolfan Rheoli ac Atal Clefydau yn yr Unol Daleithiau yn eu hargymell. Cafwyd astudiaeth ddiddorol yng Nghaliffornia a Taiwan ddiwedd mis Mai yn dweud y gall y feirws aros yn heintus mewn mannau dan do am oriau, a
bod yn rhaid gweithredu mesurau a luniwyd i leihau trosglwyddiad aerosol,—
ac rwy'n dyfynnu yn y fan yma—
gan gynnwys cymell pawb i wisgo mygydau.
Mae tua 50 o wledydd, rwy'n credu, bellach yn mynnu bod pobl yn gwisgo mygydau, mewn rhai sefyllfaoedd o leiaf—dim ond ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn rhai gwledydd, ac yn llawer mwy cyffredin mewn eraill. Nawr, nid oes iddynt y sgil-effeithiau corfforol, a geir o bosib gyda chyffur newydd dyweder, na goblygiadau'r cyfyngiadau symud i iechyd meddwl, felly heb os nac oni bai, dylai'r baich profi fod yn is. Ac os yw'n gwneud cyfraniad, yna pam ddim? Hyd yn oed pe bai dim ond manteision cyfyngedig iawn iddo. Felly, a wnaiff y Llywodraeth wrando ar y dystiolaeth gynyddol honno a chyflwyno canllawiau clir gan fynd ati i annog defnyddio gorchuddion wyneb?
Well, the guidance and decision making of the Government that you referred to, of course, relies on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton. He has reviewed the evidence, and the advice that is current in Wales comes from his advice and recommendations to us, and that is that there is limited benefit and that he is not in a position where the evidence is strong enough to recommend that people do wear masks in particular situations outside, of course, front-line care work as part of PPE.
When it comes to what might happen in the future, as I've said and will say on a number of occasions, where the evidence changes, we'll be happy to shift our position. And indeed, the chief medical officer will, of course, continue to review the evidence. In each of these—as we've seen on testing policy—it's possible that that evidence changes fairly rapidly.
We made three different choices on policy over a six-week period on care home testing because the evidence base had changed at a really rapid pace. And that's pretty disconcerting for the public, I know, but it's pretty disconcerting for decision makers as well. But if we're not prepared to be agile in decision making and being prepared to reconsider where we are as that evidence base firms up, then we won't be in the right position.
So, it is possible that there will be a change in the future, but the current advice from our chief medical officer is not to do so. But as I say, I wouldn't want to close off the reality that that advice could change and the chief medical officer's advice could change. At which point in time, of course, you would expect Ministers to make a different decision.
Wel, mae canllawiau a phenderfyniadau'r Llywodraeth y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio atyn nhw, wrth gwrs, yn dibynnu ar gyngor Prif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru, Dr Frank Atherton. Mae wedi adolygu'r dystiolaeth, ac mae'r cyngor cyfredol yng Nghymru yn dod o'i gyngor a'i argymhellion i ni, a hynny yw nad oes fawr o fudd ac nad yw yntau mewn sefyllfa lle mae'r dystiolaeth yn ddigon cryf i argymell bod pobl yn gwisgo mygydau mewn sefyllfaoedd penodol y tu allan i waith gofal rheng flaen, wrth gwrs, fel rhan o gyfarpar diogelu personol.
O ran yr hyn a allai ddigwydd yn y dyfodol, fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud ac y byddaf yn ei ddweud ar sawl achlysur, lle mae'r dystiolaeth yn newid, byddwn yn hapus i newid ein safbwynt. Ac yn wir, bydd y prif swyddog meddygol, wrth gwrs, yn parhau i adolygu'r dystiolaeth. Ym mhob un o'r sefyllfaoedd hyn—fel y gwelsom ni o ran y polisi profi—mae'n bosib i'r dystiolaeth honno newid yn eithaf cyflym.
Gwnaethom dri dewis polisi gwahanol dros gyfnod o chwe wythnos ynglŷn â phrofi mewn cartrefi gofal oherwydd bod y sail dystiolaeth wedi newid yn gyflym iawn. Ac mae hynny'n peri cryn anesmwythyd i'r cyhoedd, rwy'n gwybod, ond mae hefyd yn peri cryn anesmwythyd i'r rhai sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau hefyd. Ond os nad ydym ni'n barod i fod yn hyblyg wrth wneud penderfyniadau a bod yn barod i ailystyried lle yr ydym ni arni fel mae'r sylfaen dystiolaeth honno'n dod yn gynyddol amlycach, yna ni fyddwn yn y sefyllfa briodol.
Felly, mae'n bosib y bydd newid yn y dyfodol, ond y cyngor presennol gan ein prif swyddog meddygol yw peidio â gwneud hynny. Ond fel rwy'n dweud, ni fyddwn i eisiau gwadu'r realiti y gallai'r cyngor hwnnw newid ac y gallai cyngor y prif swyddog meddygol newid. Bryd hynny, wrth gwrs, byddech yn disgwyl i Weinidogion wneud penderfyniad gwahanol.
And I'd urge you to ask the chief medical officer to look at this. You say it might be something for the future, but when we're fighting coronavirus, the future is now in a way. What's going to happen with the pattern of the disease in Wales over the coming months can be affected by decisions that are taken now.
I've spent much of the past three months pushing for the best possible protection for front-line staff. You mentioned them, of course. I still need to do that. Maybe you could comment on reports of out-of-date PPE still being in use—masks expired in 2008 being seen by nurses with stickers underneath saying 'expiry 2016'. I'd be grateful for a copy of guidance on the process that's followed to decide when expired PPE is fit for re-issue.
Again, to finish, on that issue of the public wearing of masks—a homemade mask is much better than nothing. Of course, it means there's no impact then on PPE stock for key workers. No real cost either, so issues of equality are addressed in that. Worldwide, there are community schemes making masks, including groups in Wales. This is my mask, actually. This has travelled across the world. It was made by a friend in the United States—part of a community group making masks to give to others. Will you support a mask Cymru initiative urging more people to get involved in making masks, sharing simple templates and so on? This is something we can all do, bonding us as communities. We can even have competitions: who can make the best looking masks and that kind of thing. It contributes to the normalisation of the wearing of face coverings, and just perhaps, if the growing evidence is right, as I believe it is, it could save lives, too.
A byddwn i'n eich annog i ofyn i'r prif swyddog meddygol ystyried hyn. Rydych chi'n dweud y gallai fod yn rhywbeth ar gyfer y dyfodol, ond pan fyddwn ni'n ymladd y coronafeirws, nawr yw'r dyfodol mewn ffordd. Gall y penderfyniadau a wneir nawr effeithio ar yr hyn sy'n mynd i ddigwydd i batrwm y clefyd yng Nghymru dros y misoedd nesaf.
Rwyf wedi treulio llawer o'r tri mis diwethaf yn pwyso am y diogelu gorau posib i staff rheng flaen. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn amdanyn nhw, wrth gwrs. Mae angen imi wneud hynny o hyd. Efallai y gallech chi sôn am ar adroddiadau am gyfarpar diogelu personol yn dal i gael eu defnyddio y tu hwnt i ddyddiad terfyn eu hoes—nyrsys yn gweld mygydau â'u hoes wedi dod i ben yn 2008 gyda sticeri oddi tanyn nhw yn dweud 'defnyddiwch erbyn 2016'. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar am gopi o arweiniad ar y broses a ddilynir er mwyn penderfynu pryd y mae cyfarpar diogelu personol a ddaeth i ddiwedd ei oes yn addas ar gyfer ei ailddefnyddio.
Unwaith eto, i orffen, ar y mater hwnnw o'r cyhoedd yn gwisgo mygydau—mae mwgwd cartref yn llawer gwell na dim. Wrth gwrs, mae'n golygu nad oes unrhyw effaith wedyn ar gyflenwad cyfarpar diogelu personol i weithwyr allweddol. Dim cost gwirioneddol ychwaith, felly mae materion cydraddoldeb yn cael sylw yn hynny o beth. Ledled y byd, ceir cynlluniau cymunedol sy'n gwneud mygydau, gan gynnwys grwpiau yng Nghymru. Dyma fy mwgwd i, mewn gwirionedd. Mae hwn wedi teithio ar draws y byd. Fe'i gwnaed gan gyfaill yn yr Unol Daleithiau—rhan o grŵp cymunedol yn gwneud mygydau i'w rhoi i eraill. A wnewch chi gefnogi menter mygydau Cymru i annog mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan mewn gwneud mygydau, rhannu templedi syml ac ati? Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y gallwn ni i gyd ei wneud, gan ein huno fel cymunedau. Gallwn hyd yn oed gael cystadlaethau: pwy sy'n gallu gwneud y mygydau sy'n edrych orau a'r math yna o beth. Mae'n cyfrannu at normaleiddio gwisgo gorchuddion wyneb, ac efallai, os yw'r dystiolaeth gynyddol yn gywir, fel y credaf ei bod, gallai achub bywydau hefyd.
On your point about PPE, all of our PPE that is issued goes through a quality control process, including if the initial expiry dates mean that that PPE can still, no less, be used and used safely, because that is the test that we apply: have we got adequate PPE—adequate in terms of the protection that it provides, making sure that it's in date and appropriate for staff to use? And as you know, we're in the position where we have not just managed to resolve our own current PPE challenges for our front-line health and social care staff, but we've provided mutual aid in significant numbers to other UK countries, including England, and that's been the right thing to do.
So, we're in a good position on PPE compared to where we were just a matter of a few weeks ago. There's got to be a warning note on that, because as we move forward with the peak of the disease, it's entirely possible that there'll be more pressure on where we are as we ease and come out of lockdown and what might happen in the winter, and equally, demand in other parts of the world might mean that there's again greater competition for PPE supplies that we're acquiring, but again, I want to put on record my thanks to those Welsh companies that have created PPE for our front-line staff. There has been a tremendous response right across the country.
On your point about mask and face coverings, I think it's important because when people talk about masks, I think there's a lot of confusion about those being things that are the sort of grade you expect front-line health and care workers or others to raise, but I recognise you're making a point about face coverings, which are different. If the advice changed, then we'd of course need to think about how that would be, because I don't think the Government will be in a position to provide face coverings to every member of the public, but these are things that people can provide themselves. And it's actually important to remember that this is about protecting other people in case you have coronavirus. But the starting point is, if you're symptomatic, you shouldn't be out in public anyway: you should be self-isolating and getting tested.
If the advice changes, we'll of course need to consider what that means in terms of how those face coverings are provided and in what settings. So, like I say, going back to my first answer, if the evidence changes, if the advice changes, then the Government will be happy to explain that and to change our position because our aim, as ever, is to keep Wales safe.
O ran eich sylw am gyfarpar diogelu personol, mae ein cyfarpar diogelu personol a ddosberthir i gyd yn mynd trwy broses rheoli ansawdd, gan gynnwys enghreifftiau pan fo'r dyddiadau terfyn oes gwreiddiol yn golygu y gellir parhau i ddefnyddio'r cyfarpar diogelu personol, er gwaethaf hynny, a hynny yn ddiogel, oherwydd dyna'r maen prawf yr ydym yn ei ddefnyddio: a oes gennym ni gyfarpar diogelu personol digonol—digonol o ran y diogelwch y mae'n ei ddarparu, gan sicrhau nad yw wedi cyrraedd terfyn ei oes a'i fod yn briodol i staff ei ddefnyddio? Ac fel y gwyddoch chi, rydym ni mewn sefyllfa lle nid yn unig yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo i ddatrys yr heriau y mae ein staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol rheng flaen yn eu hwynebu o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol, ond rydym ni wedi darparu cyd-gymorth mewn niferoedd sylweddol i wledydd eraill y DU, gan gynnwys Lloegr, a dyna oedd y peth cywir i'w wneud.
Felly, rydym ni mewn sefyllfa dda o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol o'i chymharu â'r sefyllfa yr oeddem ni ynddi dim ond ychydig wythnosau yn ôl. Rhaid dweud hynny gyda pheth gochelgarwch, oherwydd wrth i ni symud ymlaen gyda'r clefyd ar ei anterth, mae'n gwbl bosib y bydd mwy o bwysau ar le yr ydym ni fel y byddwn ni'n llacio ac yn codi'r cyfyngiadau symud a'r hyn a allai ddigwydd yn y gaeaf, ac yn yr un modd, gallai'r galw mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd olygu bod yna fwy o gystadleuaeth am gyflenwadau cyfarpar diogelu personol yr ydym yn eu caffael, ond unwaith eto, hoffwn ddiolch ar goedd i'r cwmnïau hynny o Gymru sydd wedi creu cyfarpar diogelu personol ar gyfer ein staff rheng flaen. Cafwyd ymateb aruthrol ar hyd a lled y wlad.
O ran eich sylw am fygydau a gorchuddion wyneb, credaf ei fod yn bwysig oherwydd pan fydd pobl yn siarad am fygydau, rwy'n credu bod llawer o ddryswch ynglŷn â'r ffaith bod y rheini yn bethau o'r fath safon yr ydych yn disgwyl i weithwyr iechyd a gofal rheng flaen neu eraill eu crybwyll, ond rwy'n cydnabod eich bod yn sôn am orchuddion wyneb, sy'n wahanol. Petai'r cyngor yn newid, yna, wrth gwrs, byddai angen i ni ystyried sut y byddem yn adlewyrchu hynny, oherwydd nid wyf yn credu y bydd y Llywodraeth mewn sefyllfa i ddarparu gorchuddion wyneb i bob aelod o'r cyhoedd, ond mae'r rhain yn bethau y gall pobl eu darparu eu hunain. Ac mae'n bwysig cofio bod hyn yn ymwneud ag amddiffyn pobl eraill rhag ofn fod y coronafeirws arnoch chi. Ond y man cychwyn yw, os oes gennych chi symptomau, ni ddylech fod allan yn gyhoeddus beth bynnag: dylech chi fod yn hunanynysu a chael eich profi.
Os yw'r cyngor yn newid, wrth gwrs bydd angen i ni ystyried beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu o ran sut y darperir y gorchuddion wyneb hynny ac ym mha leoliadau. Felly, fel rwy'n dweud, gan fynd yn ôl at fy ateb cyntaf, os bydd y dystiolaeth yn newid, os yw'r cyngor yn newid, bydd y Llywodraeth yn hapus i egluro hynny ac i newid ein safbwynt oherwydd ein nod, fel erioed, yw cadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. Despite your assertion, what we saw this week was not a significant easing of lockdown. In reality, it is a minor change, because for the vast majority of people living in Wales, family will live more than 5 miles away. When announcing the changes, the First Minister said the decision to impose a general principle of not travelling more than 5 miles was based upon scientific evidence. So, Minister, will you publish that evidence? Has that evidence been peer reviewed? Minister, can you explain to my constituents unable to visit loved ones why it is perfectly okay for them to travel more than 5 miles to queue with strangers in a garden centre, but they can't travel to stand 2 metres apart from a family member or friend?
On Monday, you launched the young person's mental health toolkit, which recognises the enormous impact this pandemic is having on everybody's mental health, and the longer the restrictions last, the greater the impact they will have. I know that tackling this disease is a balancing act between the direct harms of COVID-19 versus the indirect harms. Minister, do you believe that you have struck the right balance in this instance?
Our path out of lockdown is contingent on track, trace and protect. However, it is currently taking too long for tests to be conducted. Minister, what steps are you taking to speed up the process and expand our testing capacity? Many activities will require a much wider, more streamlined testing regime, and we know that routine dental treatments can't start until next year, but surely, if we were to test dentists and patients and certify them COVID-free, then treatment could be undertaken. Without such a system in place, how will my constituent, the owner of a wedding dress shop, Elin Baker, conduct her business? She's using her spare time now and her facilities and her knowledge to make PPE for the NHS, so she's using her time wisely, but we must understand that wedding dresses have to be fitted, and they can't be fumigated, so does she have to wait until there is a vaccine before she can reopen?
And finally, Minister, the First Minister said on Monday that you can only make one change to measures every three weeks due to the scientific advice from SAGE and the World Health Organization. So, please can you confirm that this is the approach you are taking and will you outline how long you anticipate it will be before most lockdown measures are relaxed? Thank you.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Er gwaethaf eich haeriad, nid oedd yr hyn a welsom ni yr wythnos hon yn enghraifft o liniaru'r cyfyngiadau symud yn sylweddol. Mewn gwirionedd, newid bach ydyw, oherwydd i'r mwyafrif helaeth o bobl sy'n byw yng Nghymru, bydd teulu'n byw mwy na 5 milltir i ffwrdd. Wrth gyhoeddi'r newidiadau, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog fod y penderfyniad i osod egwyddor gyffredinol o beidio â theithio mwy na 5 milltir yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth wyddonol. Felly, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi gyhoeddi'r dystiolaeth honno? A yw'r dystiolaeth honno wedi'i hadolygu gan gymheiriaid? Gweinidog, a allwch chi egluro i'm hetholwyr nad ydynt yn gallu ymweld ag anwyliaid pam ei bod hi'n berffaith iawn iddynt deithio mwy na 5 milltir i giwio gyda dieithriaid mewn canolfan arddio, ond na allant deithio i sefyll 2 fetr oddi wrth aelod o'r teulu neu gyfaill?
Ddydd Llun, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi pecyn cymorth iechyd meddwl pobl ifanc, sy'n cydnabod yr effaith enfawr y mae'r pandemig hwn yn ei chael ar iechyd meddwl pawb, a po hwyaf y bydd y cyfyngiadau'n para, mwyaf fydd yr effaith a gânt. Gwn fod mynd i'r afael â'r clefyd hwn yn golygu cadw'r ddysgl yn wastad rhwng niwed uniongyrchol COVID-19 a niwed anuniongyrchol. Gweinidog, a gredwch eich bod wedi taro'r cydbwysedd cywir yn yr achos hwn?
Mae ein cynllun i godi'r cyfyngiadau symud yn dibynnu ar dracio, olrhain a diogelu. Fodd bynnag, mae'n cymryd gormod o amser ar hyn o bryd i gynnal profion. Gweinidog, beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i gyflymu'r broses ac ehangu ein gallu i brofi? Bydd llawer o'r gweithgareddau'n gofyn am drefn brofi lawer ehangach a symlach, a gwyddom na all triniaethau deintyddol arferol ddechrau tan y flwyddyn nesaf, ond siawns, pe baem yn profi deintyddion a chleifion ac yn ardystio nad yw'r haint arnyn nhw, yna gellid gwneud y driniaeth. Heb system o'r fath ar waith, sut y bydd fy etholwr, perchennog siop gwisgoedd priodas, Elin Baker, yn cynnal ei busnes? Mae hi'n defnyddio ei hamser hamdden nawr a'i chyfleusterau a'i gwybodaeth i wneud cyfarpar diogelu personol i'r GIG, felly mae hi'n defnyddio'i hamser yn ddoeth, ond mae'n rhaid inni ddeall bod rhaid ffitio ffrogiau priodas, ac nad oes modd eu mygdarthu, felly a oes rhaid iddi aros nes bod brechlyn ar gael cyn iddi allu ailagor?
Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, dywedodd Prif Weinidog Cymru ddydd Llun na allwch chi ond gwneud un newid i fesurau bob tair wythnos oherwydd y cyngor gwyddonol gan SAGE a Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd. Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau mai dyma'r dull yr ydych yn ei ddilyn ac a wnewch chi amlinellu pa mor hir yr ydych chi'n rhagweld y bydd hi cyn i'r rhan fwyaf o'r cyfyngiadau symud gael eu llacio? Diolch.
Perhaps I can start with that final point, because we've consistently said—and it's been in some of the papers that we've already published on the scientific evidence—I think we've been as open if not more open than any other Government in the UK on making available that evidence that we're receiving as Ministers—that advice—and then actually going out and making our decisions and taking accountability for them. I think it's really important that our advisers understand that we're taking responsibility as Ministers and really are taking their advice seriously. That includes this point about there being one significant intervention, and I want to be able to assess and understand its impact before including a further significant intervention as well. And that's why it would be entirely cavalier and wholly wrong for me to try to forecast when lockdown will end and life will return to normal as we knew it in February this year. I think the public are wise to that and recognise that those sorts of artificial deadlines don't provide the sort of reassurance that they are looking for and it's much better to be honest and honest about the level of uncertainty that we are dealing with.
Within each review, when we conduct a review of our lockdown regulations, we'll consider what we're doing, we'll then confirm we're doing that and as I say, the regular publications and advice that we're receiving will continue to be made available to help inform the public, to maintain the essential trust that we need as well. And I do think one significant change that we made this time around in—. People can go out and meet as long as they adhere to social distancing, expanding that and giving some shape to travel, because in the previous period, we had quite a lot of criticism from a range of people, in particular those representing valleys and rural areas, that telling people to simply exercise their judgment on what was local wasn't really working. And in providing a 5 mile default as a rule of thumb, as the First Minister set out from the moment he introduced the new easements, I think it's given some shape to that without it being a hard rule, because that would not have taken account of the different circumstances that some people live within, so I think we have done the right thing, and the rationale for staying local is about containing and not spreading the virus. If we removed restrictions for people to travel around the country, then I think there would be enough people in Wales who would act in such a way that you would start to see parts of the country—beauty spots and others—having larger numbers of people in a way that none of us should want to see or encourage. So, I think we're doing the right thing in maintaining a 'stay local' message and you'll see that that's not inconsistent with the messages from Scotland and Northern Ireland and, indeed, the leader of Bournemouth council herself has said that she wants the same approach in England.
On our testing speed, that's improving all the time; on the reopening of dentistry, the letter to the chief dental officer will be published; I'll provide a short written statement so that Members are notified on when that is available. I don't think that you're suggesting that you just certifying people as COVID free is necessarily as simple as that sounds. It tells you what the position is at the time someone has had the test, and so I don't think that's necessarily a helpful way forward.
On your constituent, who is a wedding dress maker, as we know, most weddings aren't taking place, and so actually, there isn't business for her in her normal business and that's because of the reality that people go to weddings and mix with other people. I had a great time on my wedding day, but you certainly couldn't have a wedding like that at this point in time.
Then finally, on the balance of harms, you'll have seen that balance of harms in the difficult decision that the education Minister's made today. Balancing the harm that lockdown causes by schools being closed, needing and wanting to return in a way that is as safe as possible and not just in doing that, but thinking about an entirely different way of managing the school day, and recognising that not providing education to more children until the start of September would cause harm to those children for their future educational prospects, and the greatest harm would be to our most vulnerable children and their families. So, we're always having to balance the different harms that come from coronavirus, that come from the lockdown, and we'll continue to see the difficult balance being struck by Welsh Ministers as we continue to keep Wales safe.
Efallai y gallaf ddechrau gyda'r sylw olaf yna, oherwydd rydym ni wastad wedi dweud—ac mae hyn wedi ei gynnwys yn rhai o'r papurau yr ydym ni eisoes wedi'u cyhoeddi ar y dystiolaeth wyddonol—rwy'n credu y buom ni mor agored os nad yn fwy agored nag unrhyw Lywodraeth arall yn y DU o ran darparu'r dystiolaeth yr ydym ni Weinidogion yn ei chael—y cyngor hwnnw—ac yna bwrw iddi mewn gwirionedd a gwneud ein penderfyniadau a bod yn atebol amdanynt. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn bod ein hymgynghorwyr yn deall ein bod ni'n cymryd cyfrifoldeb fel Gweinidogion ac yn cymryd eu cyngor o ddifrif. Mae hynny'n cynnwys y sylw hwn ynglŷn â bod un ymyriad sylweddol, ac rwyf eisiau asesu a deall ei effaith cyn cynnwys ymyriad sylweddol arall hefyd. A dyna pam y byddai'n hollol anghyfrifol ac yn gwbl anghywir i mi geisio darogan pryd y bydd y cyfyngiadau symud yn dod i ben ac y bydd bywyd yn dychwelyd i'r hyn yr oedd ym mis Chwefror eleni. Rwy'n credu bod y cyhoedd yn ddoeth yn hynny o beth ac yn cydnabod nad yw'r mathau hynny o derfynau amser artiffisial yn rhoi'r math o sicrwydd y maent yn chwilio amdano ac mae'n llawer gwell bod yn onest ac yn onest ynghylch faint yr ansicrwydd yr ydym yn ymdrin ag ef.
O fewn pob adolygiad, pan fyddwn yn cynnal adolygiad o'n rheoliadau ynghylch y cyfyngiadau symud, byddwn yn ystyried yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud, byddwn wedyn yn cadarnhau ein bod yn gwneud hynny ac fel rwy'n dweud, byddwn yn parhau i hysbysu'r cyhoedd o'r cyhoeddiadau a'r cyngor rheolaidd yr ydym yn eu cael fel modd o'u cynorthwyo, i gynnal yr ymddiriedaeth hanfodol sydd ei angen arnom ni hefyd. Ac rwyf yn credu bod un newid sylweddol a wnaethom ni y tro hwn yn—. Gall pobl fynd allan a chwrdd ar yr amod eu bod yn cadw pellter cymdeithasol, ehangu hynny a diffinio rhyw gymaint ar deithio, oherwydd yn y cyfnod blaenorol, cawsom gryn dipyn o feirniadaeth gan amrywiaeth o bobl, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n cynrychioli'r cymoedd ac ardaloedd gwledig, nad oedd dweud wrth bobl am ddefnyddio eu crebwyll ar yr hyn oedd yn lleol yn gweithio mewn gwirionedd. Ac wrth ddarparu 5 milltir fel rheol gyffredinol, fel y nododd y Prif Weinidog o'r funud y cyflwynodd y rheolau newydd, credaf ei fod wedi rhoi peth pendantrwydd i hynny heb iddi fod yn rheol gadarn, oherwydd ni fyddai hynny wedi ystyried yr amgylchiadau gwahanol y mae rhai pobl yn byw ynddynt, felly credaf ein bod wedi gwneud y peth iawn, ac mae'r rhesymeg dros aros yn lleol yn ymwneud â chyfyngu'r feirws ac atal ei ledaeniad. Pe baem yn dileu cyfyngiadau er mwyn i bobl deithio o amgylch y wlad, rwy'n credu bod digon o bobl yng Nghymru a fyddai'n gweithredu yn y fath fodd fel y byddech yn dechrau gweld pobl yn heidio i rannau o'r wlad—mannau prydferth a llecynnau eraill—mewn modd na fyddai'r un ohonom ni eisiau ei weld na'i annog. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwneud y peth iawn wrth gadw neges 'aros yn lleol' a byddwch yn gweld nad yw hynny'n anghyson â'r negeseuon o'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon ac, yn wir, mae arweinydd Cyngor Bournemouth ei hun wedi dweud ei bod eisiau gweld yr un dull yn Lloegr.
O ran pa mor gyflym yr ydym ni'n profi, mae hynny'n gwella drwy'r amser; o ran ailddechrau gwasanaethau deintyddiaeth, caiff y llythyr at y prif swyddog deintyddol ei gyhoeddi; byddaf yn darparu datganiad ysgrifenedig byr er mwyn rhoi gwybod i'r Aelodau pryd y bydd ar gael. Nid wyf yn credu eich bod yn awgrymu bod dim ond ardystio nad oes COVID ar bobl o reidrwydd mor syml ag y mae hynny'n ymddangos. Mae'n dweud wrthych beth yw'r sefyllfa ar yr adeg y mae rhywun wedi cael y prawf, ac felly dydw i ddim yn credu bod hynny o reidrwydd yn ffordd ddefnyddiol o weithredu.
O ran eich etholwraig, sy'n gwneud ffrogiau priodas, fel y gwyddom ni, nid yw'r rhan fwyaf o briodasau'n cael eu cynnal, ac felly, mewn gwirionedd, nid oes busnes iddi hi yn ei busnes arferol ac mae hynny oherwydd y ffaith bod pobl yn mynd i briodasau ac yn cymysgu â phobl eraill. Cefais amser gwych ar fy niwrnod priodas, ond yn sicr ni allech gael priodas fel honno ar hyn o bryd.
Yna, yn olaf, o ran cydbwyso niweidiau, byddwch wedi gweld y cydbwyso hwnnw ar niweidiau yn y penderfyniad anodd a wnaeth y Gweinidog Addysg heddiw. Mae cydbwyso'r niwed y mae'r cyfyngiadau symud yn ei achosi drwy gau ysgolion, yr angen a'r awydd i ddychwelyd mewn modd mor ddiogel â phosib ac nid dim ond wrth wneud hynny, ond wrth feddwl am ffordd hollol wahanol o reoli'r diwrnod ysgol, a chydnabod y byddai peidio â darparu addysg i fwy o blant nes dechrau Medi yn achosi niwed i'r plant, a byddai'r niwed mwyaf i'r plant mwyaf agored i niwed a'u teuluoedd. Felly, rydym ni bob amser yn gorfod cydbwyso'r gwahanol niweidiau sy'n dod o'r coronafeirws, sy'n dod o'r cyfyngiadau symud, a byddwn yn parhau i weld Gweinidogion Cymru yn gwneud y gwaith anodd o ddal y ddysgl yn wastad wrth i ni barhau i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Thank you. Dawn Bowden.
Diolch. Dawn Bowden.
Okay, thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Sorry, I had to unmute.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. One of the things I'd like to say was that I'm very grateful for the continued briefings and updates that we get—Members of the Senedd and the Members of Parliament across my area—for meeting both the health boards and getting the regular information from them. I think it probably is worth placing on record again our thanks to everybody that's working in the NHS and doing absolutely amazing, amazing things during this pandemic. Without in any way being complacent, I've been really pleased to see the number of people actually being discharged from hospital having fully recovered from COVID, and seeing that the capacity in hospitals across my area, including in ICUs—actually coping quite well. However, what does remain a concern for me is the high levels of infections across Merthyr Tydfil and RCT, and that seems to be in direct contrast to what's happening across the rest of Wales. Now, we know that in Merthyr and RCT we have lots of terraced streets and families living close to each other, and that may well be considered as one of the reasons for the high levels of infections, as I think the First Minister alluded to in response to questions on his statement this morning. But it's also true that other Valleys communities and some of our inner city areas also have terraced houses and families living close together and don't seem to have the same levels of infections there. Now, anecdotally we've heard reports—
Iawn, Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, roedd yn rhaid i mi droi fy meicroffon ymlaen.
Diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad. Un o'r pethau yr hoffwn ei ddweud oedd fy mod yn ddiolchgar iawn am y sesiynau briffio a diweddaru parhaus yr ydym yn eu cael—Aelodau o'r Senedd ac Aelodau o Senedd y DU yn fy ardal—am gyfarfod â'r byrddau iechyd a chael yr wybodaeth reolaidd ganddynt. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth rhoi ar gof a chadw unwaith eto ein diolch i bawb sy'n gweithio yn y GIG ac yn gwneud pethau anhygoel, rhyfeddol yn ystod y pandemig hwn. Heb fod yn hunanfodlon mewn unrhyw ffordd, rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o weld nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty wedi gwella'n llwyr o COVID, a gweld bod y capasiti mewn ysbytai ar draws fy ardal, gan gynnwys mewn unedau gofal dwys—yn ymdopi'n eithaf da mewn gwirionedd. Fodd bynnag, yr hyn sy'n parhau'n bryder i mi yw'r cyfraddau sylweddol o heintiau ym Merthyr Tudful a Rhondda Cynon Taf, ac mae hynny'n ymddangos yn gwbl groes i'r hyn sy'n digwydd yng ngweddill Cymru. Nawr, gwyddom fod gennym ni lawer o strydoedd teras a theuluoedd yn byw yn agos at ei gilydd ym Merthyr a Rhondda Cynon Taf, ac mae'n ddigon posib yr ystyrir hynny'n un o'r rhesymau dros y niferoedd sylweddol o heintiau, fel y cyfeiriodd y Prif Weinidog ato, mi gredaf, wrth ymateb i gwestiynau am ei ddatganiad y bore yma. Ond mae hefyd yn wir fod gan gymunedau eraill yn y Cymoedd a rhai o'n hardaloedd canol dinas dai teras a theuluoedd yn byw'n agos at ei gilydd ac nid yw'n ymddangos bod ganddyn nhw'r un niferoedd o heintiau yn y mannau hynny. Nawr, rydym ni wedi clywed straeon anecdotaidd—
Can you come to your question, please? Thank you.
A allwch chi ddod at eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda? Diolch.
We've heard reports of people not respecting social distancing in some areas, but I'd like to know if there is something more that's going on in these communities? And I'd be grateful if you could advise what work the Government's epidemiologists are doing to try to establish if, in fact, there is anything other than behaviours going on in these communities which is keeping infection levels so relatively high.
Rydym ni wedi clywed adroddiadau am bobl yn peidio â pharchu gofynion cadw pellter cymdeithasol mewn rhai ardaloedd, ond hoffwn wybod a oes rhywbeth mwy yn digwydd yn y cymunedau hyn? A byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech chi ddweud pa waith y mae epidemiolegwyr y Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i geisio sefydlu a oes unrhyw beth arall, mewn gwirionedd, heblaw am ymddygiad yn y cymunedau hyn sy'n cadw cyfradd yr heintio mor gymharol uchel.
Thank you for the question, Dawn, and it is a matter of fact—to put this in some context—that whilst the peak of the epidemic is different in different parts of Wales, it is a fact that the Aneurin Bevan, Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board areas have had a higher incidence in terms of per-head infections, and the harm that has been caused and, in turn, the mortality rates—Cwm Taf Morgannwg area has a higher mortality rate than any other health board area in Wales. So, it is a matter of obvious concern. But you're right to point out that there are other communities with similar physical and geographical characteristics, and we don't fully understand yet from our epidemiologists the exact reasons why this is different within RCT and Merthyr, because even the points about the physical health and well-being of the communities that are served—well, they're not so radically different from lots of other Valleys communities, but we do see a materially different level of an infection. So, we are still looking at that as we're looking and learning across the whole pandemic.
I do want to provide more information, not just on where we are, but what we think we need to advise people to do. But I think the starting point is that everyone should take seriously the social distancing messages. The guidance is there to help people to stick to the rules, to make clear what is allowed and within the rules and the spirit of the rules that we've created, and they'll also help people understand what isn't, and to recognise that this is about preventing harm to those people and their families and their communities and people they may never meet. If people don't follow the guidance that we've provided and don't—. In the overwhelming majority of Wales, we had really high levels of agreement with and support for those rules, and we all need to stick with it because the ONS figures this week show over 2,100 deaths in Wales, and there are still deaths every day. So, no-one should think that we can go back to normal and behave as if this never happened. We'll have months and months of difficult behaviour when we'll ask people to be self-disciplined, because if we don't, if we see coronavirus take off again, we'll see many thousands more people being harmed by coronavirus. And, again, the fantastic commitment we've had from our whole NHS and the people recovered now—we're going to need to call on those people even more, and I don't think we should press their commitment beyond that. It's up to us to make our own choices, each one of us, as to how will we all play our part in keeping Wales safe.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Dawn, ac mae'n ffaith—i roi hyn mewn rhyw gyd-destun—er bod uchafbwynt yr epidemig yn wahanol mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, mae'n ffaith bod ardaloedd Byrddau Iechyd Aneurin Bevan, Caerdydd a'r Fro a Chwm Taf wedi cael mwy o achosion y pen o ran heintiau, a'r niwed sydd wedi'i achosi ac, yn ei dro, y cyfraddau marwolaethau—mae gan ardal Cwm Taf Morgannwg gyfradd marwolaethau uwch nag unrhyw ardal Bwrdd Iechyd arall yng Nghymru. Felly, mae'n fater o bryder amlwg. Ond rydych chi'n iawn i nodi bod gan gymunedau eraill nodweddion ffisegol a daearyddol tebyg, ac nid ydym ni eto wedi cael ar ddeall yn iawn gan ein hepidemiolegwyr yr union resymau pam y mae hyn yn wahanol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf a Merthyr, oherwydd hyd yn oed y sylwadau am iechyd a lles corfforol y cymunedau sy'n cael eu gwasanaethu—wel, dydyn nhw ddim mor wahanol i lawer o gymunedau eraill y Cymoedd, ond rydym ni yn gweld cyfradd heintio sylweddol wahanol. Felly, rydym yn dal i edrych ar hynny wrth i ni arsylwi ar y pandemig yn ei gyfanrwydd a dysgu ohono.
Rwyf eisiau rhoi mwy o wybodaeth, nid yn unig am le yr ydym ni arni, ond am yr hyn y credwn y mae angen i ni gynghori pobl i'w wneud. Ond rwy'n credu mai'r man cychwyn yw y dylai pawb gymryd y negeseuon cadw pellter cymdeithasol o ddifrif. Mae'r canllawiau yno i helpu pobl i gadw at y rheolau, i egluro beth sy'n cael ei ganiatáu ac o fewn y rheolau ac ysbryd y rheolau yr ydym ni wedi'u creu, a byddant hefyd yn helpu pobl i ddeall yr hyn nad yw'n cael ei ganiatáu, ac i gydnabod bod hyn yn ymwneud ag atal niwed i'r bobl hynny a'u teuluoedd a'u cymunedau a phobl na fyddant efallai byth yn eu cyfarfod. Os nad yw pobl yn dilyn y canllawiau a ddarparwyd gennym ni ac nad ydynt—. Ym mhob rhan o Gymru yn ddieithriad bron, roedd gennym ni gryn gytundeb â'r rheolau a chefnogaeth sylweddol iddynt, ac mae angen i bob un ohonom ni lynu wrthynt oherwydd mae ffigurau'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yr wythnos hon yn dangos dros 2,100 o farwolaethau yng Nghymru, a cheir marwolaethau o hyd bob dydd. Felly, ni ddylai neb feddwl y gallwn ni ddychwelyd i sut yr oedd pethau ac ymddwyn fel petai hyn heb ddigwydd erioed. Bydd misoedd a misoedd o ymddygiad anodd yn ein hwynebu pan fyddwn yn gofyn i bobl fod yn hunan-ddisgybledig, oherwydd os na fyddwn ni, os gwelwn y coronafeirws yn dechrau lledaenu'n gyflym eto, byddwn yn gweld miloedd lawer mwy o bobl yn cael eu niweidio gan y coronafeirws. Ac, unwaith eto, yr ymrwymiad gwych yr ydym ni wedi'i gael gan ein holl wasanaeth iechyd gwladol a'r bobl sydd nawr wedi gwella—bydd angen i ni alw ar y bobl hynny hyd yn oed yn fwy, ac nid wyf yn credu y dylem ni bwyso eu hymrwymiad y tu hwnt i hynny. Mae'n rhaid i ni wneud ein dewisiadau ein hunain, pob un ohonom ni, o ran sut y byddwn i gyd yn gwneud ein rhan yn cadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Thank you. Mark Isherwood.
Diolch. Mark Isherwood.
I can't hear him.
Ni allaf ei glywed.
We need to unmute Mark's mike.
Mae angen i ni droi meicroffon Mark ymlaen.
I've done it. Can you hear me?
Rwyf wedi gwneud hynny. Allwch chi fy nghlywed i?
Yes, go on, you can speak now.
Gallwn, ewch ymlaen, gallwch siarad nawr.
Thank you. I thought it was automatic, apologies.
Nursing homes are receiving a temporary fee increase for adult social care placements, but this excludes health board-funded placements. With regard to continuing healthcare funding, Care Forum Wales has highlighted that nursing homes in north Wales are disadvantaged by comparison with elsewhere. How do you, therefore, respond to sector concern that although continuing healthcare-funded residents have even more complex needs, there's been no mention of an uplift related to COVID-19?
In England dental practices are allowed to reopen from 8 June, provided strict criteria have been met before aerosol generating procedures can be performed. In Wales no provision has been made for dental practices to be allowed to do this. How, therefore, do you respond to the north Wales dental surgeons who tell me that unless you change tack, dental services and the livelihoods of thousands of hard-working and committed professionals in Wales will be destroyed?
Diolch. Roeddwn yn meddwl ei fod yn awtomatig, ymddiheuriadau.
Mae cartrefi nyrsio yn cael cynnydd tâl dros dro ar gyfer lleoliadau gofal cymdeithasol i oedolion, ond nid yw hyn yn cynnwys lleoliadau a ariennir gan y bwrdd iechyd. O ran cyllid gofal iechyd parhaus, mae Fforwm Gofal Cymru wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod cartrefi nyrsio yn y gogledd o dan anfantais o'u cymharu â mannau eraill. Sut ydych chi, felly, yn ymateb i bryder y sector, er bod gan drigolion sy'n cael cyllid ar gyfer gofal iechyd parhaus anghenion mwy cymhleth fyth, ni fu sôn am gynnydd yn gysylltiedig â COVID-19?
Yn Lloegr, caniateir i bractisau deintyddol ailagor o 8 Mehefin, ar yr amod bod meini prawf caeth wedi'u bodloni cyn y gellir cynnal triniaethau sy'n ymwneud â chynhyrchu aerosol. Yng Nghymru, ni wnaed unrhyw ddarpariaeth i ganiatáu i bractisau deintyddol wneud hyn. Sut, felly, ydych chi'n ymateb i lawfeddygon deintyddol yn y gogledd sy'n dweud wrthyf, oni newidiwch chi'r rheolau, y bydd gwasanaethau deintyddol a bywoliaeth miloedd o weithwyr proffesiynol ymroddedig ac ymrwymedig yng Nghymru yn cael eu dinistrio?
Thank you. On the two questions—on nursing home fees, we have regular dialogue, as a Government, with Care Forum Wales. We've had that dialogue in the regular engagement that I and officials have had about improving testing, and that's now in a much better place for the residential care sector in particular. And the Deputy Minister, Julie Morgan, meets with Care Forum Wales on a regular basis each week. So, there is regular dialogue and opportunities for Care Forum Wales to raise concerns they have, in addition to not just the Deputy Minister but, of course, in the regular dialogue they have with officials as well. So, we'll continue to review—[Interruption.]
Diolch. O ran y ddau gwestiwn—ynglŷn â ffioedd cartrefi nyrsio, rydym ni'r Llywodraeth yn trafod yn rheolaidd â Fforwm Gofal Cymru. Buom yn trafod hynny yn yr ymwneud rheolaidd rhyngof i a swyddogion ynglŷn â gwella'r broses o brofi pobl, ac mae hynny bellach mewn gwell sefyllfa o lawer i'r sector gofal preswyl yn arbennig. Ac mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog, Julie Morgan, yn cyfarfod â Fforwm Gofal Cymru yn rheolaidd bob wythnos. Felly, mae trafodaethau a chyfleoedd rheolaidd i Fforwm Gofal Cymru godi pryderon, yn ogystal â'r Dirprwy Weinidog, ond, wrth gwrs, yn y drafodaeth reolaidd a gânt gyda swyddogion hefyd. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i adolygu—[torri ar draws.]
Sorry, could somebody put Mr Isherwood's mike off? We're not having heckling or intervening on questions, sorry. Vaughan Gething.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, a wnaiff rhywun ddiffodd meicroffon Mr Isherwood? Nid ydym yn derbyn tarfu ar gwestiynau na thorri ar eu traws, mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Vaughan Gething.
We'll continue to talk with them about what's possible as we continue to review what we're able to do across the whole of our response to the pandemic. As I've said in answer to questions earlier, if the evidence changes, we'll be happy to change the position we're in and, of course, the way that we use the resources available to us.
On the position about dentistry in England, it's not quite as simple as reported. I think the impression was given earlier this week that there was going to be a wholesale opening of dentistry in England, and that isn't quite the case there. We've had direct advice from the chief dental officer in Wales. She's written out to every dental practice to indicate how we'll want to restart safely more dental activity.
But it is a point about safely restarting dental activity, because there is a risk to both the patient and the person working in very close proximity to them. Just as we've had to balance all of the risks, the harms and the evidence that we have in the difficult decision the education Minister has made today about a different form of schools' operation for four weeks for the end of this school year, we have to think about the balance of risks for people working in dentistry. I would not want to try to place the opportunity to make money ahead of seeing a range of our dental professionals losing their lives if we're taking a cavalier approach. That's why the professional advice of the chief dental officer is so important. As I said earlier, we'll continue to be guided by the evidence, and I will be making public her letter and her advice to dentists across Wales.
Byddwn yn parhau i siarad â nhw am yr hyn sy'n bosib wrth i ni barhau i adolygu'r hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud wrth ymateb i'r pandemig. Fel y dywedais wrth ateb cwestiynau'n gynharach, os bydd y dystiolaeth yn newid, byddwn yn fwy na pharod i newid y sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi ac, wrth gwrs, y ffordd yr ydym yn defnyddio'r adnoddau sydd ar gael i ni.
O ran y sefyllfa ynghylch deintyddiaeth yn Lloegr, nid yw mor syml ag yr adroddwyd amdani. Credaf y rhoddwyd yr argraff yn gynharach yr wythnos hon y byddai gwasanaethau deintyddiaeth yn agor ar raddfa eang yn Lloegr, ac nid yw hynny'n hollol gywir. Rydym ni wedi cael cyngor uniongyrchol gan y prif swyddog deintyddol yng Nghymru. Mae wedi ysgrifennu at bob practis deintyddol i egluro sut yr ydym ni eisiau ailddechrau gweithgarwch deintyddol yn ddiogel.
Ond mae a wnelo hynny ag ailddechrau gweithgarwch deintyddol yn ddiogel, oherwydd mae perygl i'r claf a'r unigolyn sy'n gweithio'n agos iawn ato. Yn union fel y bu'n rhaid i ni gydbwyso'r holl risgiau, y niwed a'r dystiolaeth sydd gennym ni yn y penderfyniad anodd y mae'r Gweinidog Addysg wedi'i wneud heddiw ynghylch ffurf wahanol ar weithrediad ysgolion am bedair wythnos erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ysgol hon, rhaid inni feddwl am gydbwysedd y risgiau i bobl sy'n gweithio ym maes deintyddiaeth. Ni fyddwn i eisiau rhoi'r cyfle i wneud arian o flaen gweld ystod o'n gweithwyr deintyddol proffesiynol yn colli eu bywydau os ydym yn mynd ati mewn modd di-hid. Dyna pam mae cyngor proffesiynol y Prif Swyddog deintyddol mor bwysig. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, byddwn yn parhau i gael ein harwain gan y dystiolaeth, a byddaf yn cyhoeddi ei llythyr a'i chyngor i ddeintyddion ledled Cymru.
Minister, last month, you announced that care workers in Wales would receive a £500 bonus payment for their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now become apparent that the sum will be liable for income tax and national insurance deductions, meaning the actual sum people earning over the personal allowance will receive will be £360, not £500. Plaid Cymru believes that this bonus payment should not be taxed and that it should be extended to all care home workers, including cleaning staff and kitchen staff.
Minister, the carers who heard your announcement last month may have made plans to spend that £500 already on a well-deserved holiday after all of this is over or to pay overdue bills. Does the Welsh Government regret not being open about the fact that this bonus payment would be taxed when you announced it on International Workers' Day?
Gweinidog, fis diwethaf, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi y byddai gweithwyr gofal yng Nghymru yn cael taliad bonws o £500 am eu cyfraniad yn ystod pandemig COVID-19. Mae wedi dod yn amlwg erbyn hyn y bydd angen tynnu treth incwm ac yswiriant gwladol o hynny, sy'n golygu mai'r swm gwirioneddol y bydd pobl sy'n ennill dros y lwfans personol yn ei gael fydd £360, nid £500. Nid yw Plaid Cymru yn credu y dylid trethu'r taliad bonws hwn ac y dylid ei gynnig i bob gweithiwr cartref gofal, gan gynnwys staff glanhau a staff cegin.
Gweinidog, mae'n bosib bod y gofalwyr a glywodd eich cyhoeddiad y mis diwethaf wedi gwneud cynlluniau i wario'r £500 hwnnw eisoes ar wyliau haeddiannol wedi i hyn i gyd ddod i ben neu i dalu biliau hwyr. A yw'n edifar gan Lywodraeth Cymru na fuont yn agored ynghylch y ffaith y cai'r taliad bonws hwn ei drethu pan wnaed y cyhoeddiad gennych chi ar ddiwrnod rhyngwladol y gweithwyr?
I think there are two things—the first is that the Welsh Government was never in a position to give a guarantee that it would not be taxed. We made clear publicly that we wanted the UK Government to agree not to tax this so it could be treated, as Mike Hedges said earlier, as a gift, not as a taxable payment. They've done that in the past in extraordinary circumstances—for example, it was a welcome move on behalf of the UK Government not to tax the hardship payments that some councils were able to make during the recent flooding that we saw. I find it deeply disappointing that the UK Government have decided to apply tax to this payment.
The Welsh Government made direct representations, not just public statements, to the UK Government, and they've now responded by saying that they expect to make a tax deduction. That's a decision for the UK Government. I think that they should reconsider, they should think again, to make sure that what is essentially a low-paid, largely female workforce should get the full £500. But it's a matter for the UK Government to decide whether it's more important to them to take tax out of this payment or to do the right thing by our care workers. I hope they do the right thing.
Rwy'n credu bod dau beth—y cyntaf yw nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru erioed mewn sefyllfa i roi gwarant na fyddai'n cael ei drethu. Gwnaethom yn glir yn gyhoeddus ein bod eisiau i Lywodraeth y DU gytuno i beidio â threthu hyn fel y gellid ei drin, fel y dywedodd Mike Hedges yn gynharach, fel rhodd, nid fel taliad trethadwy. Maen nhw wedi gwneud hynny yn y gorffennol o dan amgylchiadau eithriadol—er enghraifft, roedd yn gam a oedd i'w groesawu ar ran Llywodraeth y DU i beidio â threthu'r taliadau caledi yr oedd rhai cynghorau'n gallu eu gwneud yn ystod y llifogydd a welsom yn ddiweddar. Rwy'n siomedig dros ben bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi penderfynu trethu'r taliad hwn.
Bu Llywodraeth Cymru yn pwyso'n uniongyrchol ar Lywodraeth y DU, nid yn gwneud datganiadau cyhoeddus yn unig, ac maen nhw bellach wedi ymateb drwy ddweud eu bod yn disgwyl gwneud didyniad treth. Penderfyniad i Lywodraeth y DU yw hynny. Credaf y dylent ailystyried, dylent ailfeddwl, er mwyn sicrhau y dylai'r hyn sydd yn ei hanfod yn weithlu isel ei gyflog, sy'n fenywaidd yn bennaf, gael y £500 llawn. Ond mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw penderfynu a yw'n bwysicach iddynt gymryd treth o'r taliad hwn neu wneud y peth iawn i'n gweithwyr gofal. Gobeithio y gwnânt y peth iawn.
Minister, we've heard some reference today to the health service increasingly addressing non-COVID conditions, and the quarter 1 plans, I know, are to be submitted shortly. But I know that the cancer charities, for example, remain very concerned that we're not seeing the consultations, the diagnosis, the detection and early treatment of these very serious cancer conditions, which are all too prevalent, that should be taking place. So, I just wonder exactly how Welsh Government is working with the cancer charities, the health boards, the health sector generally, to make sure that that return to dealing with these non-COVID conditions, as would have taken place prior to the pandemic, is taking place comprehensively and consistently across Wales, while at the same time, obviously, balancing the treatment of the ongoing pandemic, as has to happen.
Gweinidog, rydym ni wedi clywed cyfeiriad heddiw at y gwasanaeth iechyd yn mynd i'r afael yn gynyddol ag amgylchiadau nad oes a wnelon nhw â COVID, ac mae cynlluniau chwarter 1, rwy'n gwybod, i'w cyflwyno'n fuan. Ond rwy'n gwybod bod yr elusennau canser, er enghraifft, yn dal yn bryderus iawn nad ydym ni yn gweld yr ymgynghoriadau, y diagnosis, y canfod a'r driniaeth gynnar o'r cyflyrau canser hynod ddifrifol hyn, sydd yn llawer rhy gyffredin, a ddylai fod yn digwydd. Felly, tybed sut yn union y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r elusennau canser, y byrddau iechyd, y sector iechyd yn gyffredinol, i sicrhau bod dychwelyd i ymdrin â'r achosion hyn nad oes a wnelon nhw â COVID, fel y byddai wedi digwydd cyn y pandemig, yn digwydd yn gynhwysfawr ac yn gyson ledled Cymru, ac ar yr un pryd, wrth gwrs, yn cydbwyso'r ymdriniaeth â'r pandemig, fel sy'n gorfod digwydd.
Thank you for the question. It's one of the concerns that I've had and expressed for a number of weeks now, that a range of our urgent care services that have remained open haven't seen people going into them, partly because people have been more frightened of going into a healthcare facility than the symptoms or concerns they would have had. Six months previously, people would have been more likely to go and seek help or advice from a health professional. It's also the case that we discover a range of cancers when people attend for a different reason. For all of those appointments and attendances that are not taking place, there's a risk not just of the direct harm someone understands may well be taking place but other harm that gets discovered.
We are now starting to see a recovery in those numbers of people attending. I indicated some of this yesterday in the press conference and I've referred to it in the written statement as well. However, we've also seen a welcome change in referring behaviour as well, so the more people that are attending, the more people are being referred, for example, through primary care. We saw a fall off in the referrals, we're now starting to see a recovery.
In the statements that have been made on the quarter 1 plans, we're also in the position where we're seeing diagnostic services recovering. We're looking to see a return to endoscopy services. That's going to be difficult because there's going to be large amount of demand going into those services, but we are starting to see a staid recovery.
And in the regional plans I referred to, cancer services are a very obvious area where there'd need to be co-operation over more than one health board area. We already deliver cancer services over more than one health board area on a regular basis. We'll need to see more of that in terms of planning our recovery. And in terms of working with the cancer charities, I'm due to see the cancer alliance before the end of this month, I believe.
But this is part of our broader programme, and if I could just make a separate point, which is that in a range of areas we're having to think about how we do things differently. A good example outside the cancer ward of having to do things differently because there's still a risk is the way that we've re-engineered our diabetic retinopathy service for people who are pregnant. So, pregnant women who are diabetic are at a particular risk of suffering harm to their sight. We've now got a new pathway that's been rolled out to make sure that we're able to provide that service, otherwise significant and permanent harm could have been caused to their sight. So, we're already going through this, and in each area of activity, not just in cancer services, having to redesign our services and aim that at how we do the greatest good to avoid the greatest amount of harm being caused.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae'n un o'r pryderon y bu gennyf ac rwyf wedi ei fynegi ers sawl wythnos bellach, nad yw pobl wedi defnyddio ein gwasanaethau gofal brys sydd wedi aros ar agor, yn rhannol oherwydd y bu pobl yn fwy ofnus o fynd i gyfleuster gofal iechyd na'r symptomau neu'r pryderon y byddent wedi'u cael. Chwe mis ynghynt, byddai pobl wedi bod yn fwy tebygol o fynd i ofyn am gymorth neu gyngor gan weithiwr iechyd proffesiynol. Mae hefyd yn wir ein bod yn darganfod ystod o ganserau pan fydd pobl yn mynychu am reswm gwahanol. Ar gyfer pob un o'r apwyntiadau a'r ymweliadau hynny nad ydynt yn digwydd, mae perygl nid yn unig o'r niwed uniongyrchol y mae rhywun yn ei ddeall sy'n gallu digwydd ond niwed arall sy'n cael ei ddarganfod.
Rydym ni nawr yn dechrau gweld cynnydd yn y niferoedd hynny o bobl sy'n mynd i'r cyfleusterau. Soniais rywfaint am hyn ddoe yn y gynhadledd i'r wasg ac rwyf wedi cyfeirio ato yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig hefyd. Fodd bynnag, rydym ni hefyd wedi gweld newid sy'n cael ei groesawu o ran atgyfeirio hefyd, felly po fwyaf o bobl sy'n mynd, mwyaf o bobl sy'n cael eu hatgyfeirio, er enghraifft, drwy ofal sylfaenol. Gwelsom gwymp yn nifer y bobl a gawsant eu hatgyfeirio, ond erbyn hyn rydym yn dechrau gweld adferiad.
Yn y datganiadau a wnaed ar gynlluniau chwarter 1, rydym ni hefyd yn y sefyllfa lle yr ydym ni'n gweld gwasanaethau diagnostig yn gwella. Ein bwriad yw bod gwasanaethau endosgopi yn ail-gychwyn. Mae hynny'n mynd i fod yn anodd oherwydd bydd llawer iawn o alw am y gwasanaethau hynny, ond rydym yn dechrau gweld adferiad graddol.
Ac yn y cynlluniau rhanbarthol y cyfeiriais atyn nhw, mae gwasanaethau canser yn faes amlwg iawn lle y byddai angen cydweithredu dros fwy nag un ardal bwrdd iechyd. Rydym ni eisoes yn darparu gwasanaethau canser dros fwy nag un ardal bwrdd iechyd yn rheolaidd. Bydd angen i ni weld mwy o hynny o ran cynllunio ein hadferiad. Ac o ran gweithio gyda'r elusennau canser, rwy'n disgwyl gweld y cynghrair canser cyn diwedd y mis hwn, rwy'n credu.
Ond mae hyn yn rhan o'n rhaglen ehangach, ac os caf wneud sylw yng nghyswllt rhywbeth arall, sef ein bod, mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd, yn gorfod meddwl am sut yr ydym yn gwneud pethau'n wahanol. Enghraifft dda y tu allan i'r ward ganser o orfod gwneud pethau'n wahanol oherwydd bod risg o hyd yw'r ffordd yr ydym wedi ail-gynllunio ein gwasanaeth retinopatheg diabetig i bobl sy'n feichiog. Felly, mae menywod beichiog sydd â diabetes mewn perygl penodol o ddioddef niwed i'w golwg. Mae gennym ni bellach ffordd newydd o'u trin a gyflwynwyd i sicrhau y gallwn ni ddarparu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw, fel arall gallai niwed sylweddol a pharhaol fod wedi'i achosi i'w golwg. Felly, rydym ni eisoes yn ymateb i hyn, ac ym mhob maes gweithgarwch, nid yn unig mewn gwasanaethau canser, gan orfod ailgynllunio ein gwasanaethau mewn modd fydd yn gwneud y lles mwyaf er mwyn osgoi achosi'r niwed mwyaf.
Minister, I've suffered a dental abscess during the lockdown. I'm told that it could well return; it happens frequently after people have had the antibiotics. It's non-urgent, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. So, the fact that it may not be properly treated until January 2021 obviously directly affects me, but we're being written to by many patients and many, many dentists—and I'm sure all Members would agree with this—and I do urge further consideration of the plan. And I do completely accept that it needs to be considered very carefully, but the British Dental Association, in response to the recent hints, has said—I quote—there's 'great, growing demand' for swifter action before January 2021. That's non-emergency treatments. And it has also said, and I quote:
'There are very good, robust policies in place to make sure patients and the team are protected.'
So, can we look at this with great care? Because I think the initial plan has come under a lot of comment and probably does need some careful review, and I hope the British Dental Association will be fully involved in that.
Gweinidog, rwyf wedi dioddef crawniad deintyddol yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud. Dywedir wrthyf bod posibilrwydd cryf y gallai ddychwelyd; mae'n digwydd yn aml ar ôl i bobl gael y gwrthfiotigau. Nid mater brys mohono, felly ni allaf ond byw mewn gobaith. Felly, mae'r ffaith na chaiff ei drin yn briodol tan fis Ionawr 2021 yn amlwg yn effeithio'n uniongyrchol arnaf, ond mae llawer o gleifion a llawer, llawer o ddeintyddion yn ysgrifennu atom ni—ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob aelod yn cytuno â hyn—ac rwyf yn annog ystyried y cynllun ymhellach. Ac rwyf yn derbyn yn llwyr fod angen ei ystyried yn ofalus iawn, ond mae Cymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain, mewn ymateb i'r awgrymiadau diweddar, wedi dweud fod galw mawr, cynyddol am weithredu'n gyflymach cyn Ionawr 2021. Hynny yw triniaethau nad ydynt yn rhai brys. Ac maen nhw hefyd wedi dweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
Mae polisïau cadarn, rhagorol ar waith i sicrhau y caiff y cleifion a'r tîm eu diogelu.
Felly, a allwn ni edrych ar hyn yn ofalus iawn? Oherwydd rwy'n credu y bu sylwadau dirifedi ynghylch y cynllun cychwynnol ac mae'n debyg bod angen ei adolygu'n ofalus, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Cymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain yn cymryd rhan lawn yn hynny.
Well, I'd be very happy to make sure that the Government and the professional leadership provided by our chief dental officer maintains the regular dialogue that we do have with the British Dental Association here in Wales. I think we should, again, accelerate the reform of the way we deliver dental services to have a greater focus on doing the greatest amount of good with the resource we have available. I would, as would the chief dental officer, want to return to having a greater amount of dental activity sooner rather than later, but it's got to be in a safe manner, and that's where we are. So, whilst I will be clear and transparent in publishing her current advice to dental professionals in Wales, if there's a further update in that ongoing dialogue, then I'll be happy to keep Members updated and to give that undertaking. And if there's any further change in the way we're able to do that and the pace that we're able to do that in keeping patients and dental professionals safe, then I'll happily make sure that all Members are informed of that at the same time.
Wel, fe fyddwn i'n hapus iawn i wneud yn siŵr bod y Llywodraeth a'r arweiniad proffesiynol a ddarperir gan ein prif swyddog deintyddol yn parhau â'r trafodaethau rheolaidd hynny yr ydym yn eu cael gyda Chymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain yma yng Nghymru. Unwaith eto, rwy'n credu y dylem ni gyflymu'r broses o ddiwygio'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n darparu gwasanaethau deintyddol er mwyn canolbwyntio mwy ar wneud y gorau o'r adnoddau sydd ar gael i ni. Rwyf i, a'r prif swyddog deintyddol, yn dymuno dychwelyd i gael mwy o weithgarwch deintyddol yn gynt, yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach, ond mae'n rhaid iddo fod mewn ffordd ddiogel, a dyna'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi. Felly, er y byddaf yn glir ac yn dryloyw wrth gyhoeddi ei chyngor presennol i weithwyr deintyddol proffesiynol yng Nghymru, os bydd diweddariad pellach yn y drafodaeth barhaus honno, yna byddaf yn fwy na pharod i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau ac i wneud hynny. Ac os oes unrhyw newid pellach yn y ffordd y gallwn ni wneud hynny a pha mor gyflym y gallwn ni wneud hynny i gadw cleifion a gweithwyr deintyddol proffesiynol yn ddiogel, yna byddaf yn hapus iawn i sicrhau bod yr holl Aelodau'n cael gwybod am hynny ar yr un pryd.
Minister, just two points: I'm very pleased that the Welsh Government made the announcement that it would test all residents and staff in care homes. My own health board indicates that they expect to complete theirs in this area by the end of this week.
However, I am concerned about the retesting scenario, because there are situations where some tests have come back positive, because they were asymptomatic, and therefore there are residents and staff who did not demonstrate signs or symptoms of COVID-19 but have proved positive through the testing. And there could be a situation where other Members of staff, therefore, could also, as a consequence, prove positive in the future and therefore put more residents at risk. So, can you provide a detailed update as to when retesting for care home staff in particular would be available to ensure that, as they go in and out of the homes, they're not taking the virus back in with them, being asymptomatic?
Can I also concur on the situation with dentists? I'm sure, as David Melding highlighted, we all have received correspondence regarding dentistry. I know, under Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, that the dentists took very special measures, so they're already well-versed in safe practices in relation to dealing with patients. But I also accept the responsibilities you have to ensure the safety of the staff in the dentist practices as well.
Gweinidog, dim ond dau bwynt: rwy'n falch iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud y cyhoeddiad y byddai'n profi'r holl breswylwyr a'r staff mewn cartrefi gofal. Mae fy mwrdd iechyd fy hun yn dangos eu bod yn disgwyl cwblhau eu rhai nhw yn y maes hwn erbyn diwedd yr wythnos hon.
Fodd bynnag, rwyf yn pryderu am y sefyllfa o ran ailbrofi, oherwydd ceir sefyllfaoedd lle mae rhai profion wedi dod yn ôl yn gadarnhaol, am eu bod yn asymptomatig, ac felly ceir preswylwyr a staff nad oeddent yn dangos arwyddion na symptomau COVID-19 ond sydd wedi profi'n gadarnhaol drwy'r profion. A gallai fod sefyllfa lle y gallai aelodau eraill o'r staff, o ganlyniad i hynny, brofi'n bositif yn y dyfodol gan roi mwy o breswylwyr mewn perygl. Felly, a wnewch chi roi diweddariad manwl ynghylch pryd y gellid dechrau ailbrofi staff cartrefi gofal yn arbennig i sicrhau, wrth iddynt fynd i mewn ac allan o'r cartrefi, nad ydynt yn mynd â'r feirws yn ôl i mewn gyda nhw, gan eu bod yn asymptomatig?
A gaf i hefyd gytuno ar y sefyllfa gyda deintyddion? Rwy'n siŵr, fel yr amlygodd David Melding, ein bod i gyd wedi cael gohebiaeth ynglŷn â deintyddiaeth. Gwn, o dan glefyd Creutzfeldt-Jakob, fod y deintyddion wedi cymryd camau arbennig iawn, felly maen nhw eisoes yn hyddysg mewn arferion diogel o ran ymdrin â chleifion. Ond rwyf hefyd yn derbyn y cyfrifoldebau sydd gennych i sicrhau diogelwch y staff yn y practis deintyddol hefyd.
Well, the point on dentistry is understood and, of course, from my own position as a constituency Member, I've got people who will want to access dental services. Actually, we have struggled in the past to get people to take up those services in the way that we would want them to, and it's another point about the way that children and young people actually behave together and our ability to intervene earlier to actually inculcate good habits about dental hygiene. So, I do take seriously the points that Members from a range of parties have made, both here but also outside this setting, about the desire and the benefit from restarting dental services. So, I'm not ignoring or brushing that to one side; I am genuinely taking it seriously.
On your point about retesting in care homes: I expect, before the end of the completion of the initial phase, to have advice about the period of time within which retesting will take place and what that retesting programme will look like, so we don't end up with a position when, in three months' time, there's another head of steam to retest people in the care home sector, but we have a regular and understandable programme. And I then have to balance that with the need that we'll need to maintain and protect capacity within our testing programme to do that, and still to make sure that we have sufficient capacity to make sure that contact tracing isn't compromised as well. Because I certainly wouldn't want our new NHS Wales test, trace, protect service to be compromised in some way. But, equally, we need to make sure we're balancing the risks that are run in all parts of the service. That's why the increase in lab capacity to more than 9,500 we've seen take place is such good news; it allows us to have those choices, to not be constrained by capacity. But I need to see the evidence, to see the advice, and, as soon as that's available, I'll be happy to inform not just the Member but all Members of what that means and what our expectation is for retesting to take place for staff and residents in the care home sector.
Wel, mae'r sylw ynglŷn â deintyddiaeth yn ddealladwy ac, wrth gwrs, o'm rhan fy hun yn Aelod etholaeth, mae gen i bobl a fydd eisiau defnyddio gwasanaethau deintyddol. A dweud y gwir, rydym ni wedi cael trafferth yn y gorffennol i gael pobl i fanteisio ar y gwasanaethau hynny yn y ffordd y byddem yn dymuno iddyn nhw wneud, ac agwedd arall yw arferion plant a phobl ifanc mewn gwirionedd a'n gallu i ymyrryd yn gynharach i annog arferion da ynghylch hylendid deintyddol. Felly, rwyf yn cymryd o ddifrif y pwyntiau y mae Aelodau o wahanol bleidiau wedi'u gwneud, yma ond hefyd y tu allan i'r lleoliad hwn, am yr awydd a'r budd a gafwyd o ailgychwyn gwasanaethau deintyddol. Felly, dydw i ddim yn anwybyddu nac yn diystyru hynny; rwyf yn wirioneddol yn ei gymryd o ddifrif.
O ran eich sylw am ailbrofi mewn cartrefi gofal: cyn diwedd y cyfnod cychwynnol, disgwyliaf gael cyngor am y cyfnod o amser y byddir yn ailbrofi o'i fewn a sut beth fydd y rhaglen ailbrofi honno, felly ni fydd sefyllfa gennym ni, ymhen tri mis, lle bydd pwl arall o ailbrofi pobl yn y sector cartrefi gofal, ond bod gennym ni raglen reolaidd a dealladwy. Ac yna mae'n rhaid i mi gydbwyso hynny â'r rheidrwydd y bydd angen i ni gynnal a diogelu capasiti o fewn ein rhaglen brofi i wneud hynny, a dal i wneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni ddigon o gapasiti i wneud yn siŵr nad yw olrhain cyswllt yn cael ei beryglu hefyd. Oherwydd yn sicr ni fyddwn i eisiau peryglu gwasanaeth newydd profi, olrhain, diogelu GIG Cymru. Ond, yn yr un modd, mae angen i ni sicrhau ein bod yn cydbwyso'r risgiau sy'n bodoli ym mhob rhan o'r gwasanaeth. Dyna pam y mae'r cynnydd a welsom ni yng nghapasiti labordai i gynnal mwy na 9,500 o brofion yn newyddion mor dda; mae'n caniatáu inni gael y dewisiadau hynny, i beidio â chael ein cyfyngu gan gapasiti. Ond mae angen i mi weld y dystiolaeth, i weld y cyngor, a, chyn gynted ag y bydd y rheini ar gael, byddaf yn falch o hysbysu nid yn unig yr Aelod ond yr holl Aelodau am yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu a'n disgwyliad o ran ailbrofi staff a phreswylwyr yn y sector cartrefi gofal.
Helen Mary Jones. No.
Helen Mary Jones. Na.
Helen Mary is silenced.
Nid yw meicroffon Helen Mary yn agored.
Can we—can somebody help Helen Mary? We can't hear her. Can somebody help her to unmute the mike, please? No. Can I leave Helen? I will come back to you, Helen, unless—have you got your mike open now? No. Okay, I'll come back to you. Jack Sargeant.
A allwn ni—a wnaiff rhywun helpu Helen Mary? Ni allwn ei chlywed hi. A all rhywun ei helpu i droi ei meicroffon ymlaen, os gwelwch yn dda? Na. A gaf i adael Helen? Dof yn ôl atoch, Helen, oni bai—a yw eich meicroffon yn agored nawr? Nac ydy. Iawn, dof yn ôl atoch chi. Jack Sargeant.
Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Llywydd. Minister, coronavirus, the need for isolation and the financial toll that residents across Wales are paying will, of course, have a huge impact on their mental health. Now, news that 1,700 patients were wrongly discharged in north Wales fills nobody with the confidence that services in north Wales are all that they should be. Now, I understand that there are currently huge pressures on our NHS, but this is obviously not good enough. Residents in north Wales need to have the confidence in services.
Minister, we have all been suffering a mental health pandemic long before COVID-19. So, not just as parliamentarians and Governments, but as human beings, we need to do more. Minister, what can you say to my constituents to reassure them that the lessons are being learned and that those affected are given the support they need as a matter of urgency?
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, bydd y coronafeirws, yr angen i ynysu a'r doll ariannol y mae trigolion ledled Cymru yn ei thalu yn cael effaith enfawr, wrth gwrs, ar eu hiechyd meddwl. Nawr, nid yw newyddion bod 1,700 o gleifion wedi'u rhyddhau mewn camgymeriad yn y gogledd yn rhoi hyder i neb fod gwasanaethau yn y gogledd yn union fel y dylent fod. Nawr, rwy'n deall bod pwysau enfawr ar ein GIG ar hyn o bryd, ond mae'n amlwg nad yw hyn yn ddigon da. Mae angen i drigolion yn y gogledd gael ffydd mewn gwasanaethau.
Gweinidog, rydym ni i gyd wedi bod yn dioddef o bandemig iechyd meddwl ymhell cyn COVID-19. Felly, nid dim ond fel seneddwyr a Llywodraethau, ond fel bodau dynol, mae angen i ni wneud mwy. Gweinidog, beth allwch chi ei ddweud wrth fy etholwyr i roi sicrwydd iddynt fod gwersi'n cael eu dysgu a bod y rhai yr effeithir arnynt yn cael y gefnogaeth y mae arnynt ei hangen fel mater o frys?
I think it's a point I've dealt with before, but it's entirely a fair point for the Member to raise in this setting as well, about the mistake, and it was a mistake, that was made in discharging people when they should not have been. The health board in north Wales are recovering that, because the guidance that we provided to every health board I thought was very clear that mental health services are essential services and should continue throughout the pandemic.
And there's this broader point—and it's part, again, of the point that was raised earlier in questions about the different harms that are caused by coronavirus, and one of the harms, in keeping us physically alive and in saving lives, is that we will undoubtedly have seen harm caused to people's mental health and well-being. So, there'll be more demand coming into each tier of our services, so the tier 0 and tier 1 services, where they're relatively low level, will undoubtedly see more demand, just as will other areas where there's more significant demand.
That's why myself and the education Minister made our announcement on providing more resource for children and young people, and it's why I'll continue to keep on looking at the mental health issues being raised not just in the children and young people committee, and may get raised in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee tomorrow, but to make sure that the extra infrastructure we've put in place to test and to check that mental health services are still functioning and dealing with need continues in place. We bought more beds at the start of this pandemic for the highest level of need; I have made more money available through the budget. So, I can assure Jack Sargeant that not just the treatment end, but the point about the conversation we have about mental health in this country, going back to, 'It's okay to say you're not okay'—it's really important that we do that as well in the way we live our own lives with the people around us, and what we say and how we act in public as well.
Rwy'n credu ei fod yn sylw yr wyf wedi ymdrin ag ef o'r blaen, ond mae'n sylw cwbl deg i'r Aelod ei godi yn y fan yma hefyd, am y camgymeriad, ac fe roedd yn gamgymeriad, a wnaethpwyd wrth ryddhau pobl pan na ddylid bod wedi gwneud hynny. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn y gogledd yn gwella hynny, oherwydd roedd y canllawiau a ddarparwyd gennym ni i bob bwrdd iechyd yn fy marn i yn glir iawn bod gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn wasanaethau hanfodol ac y dylent barhau drwy'r pandemig.
Ac mae yna agwedd ehangach yn hyn o beth—ac mae'n rhan, unwaith eto, o'r sylw a wnaethpwyd yn gynharach mewn cwestiynau am y niwed gwahanol sy'n cael ei achosi gan y coronafeirws, ac un o'r niweidiau, wrth ein cadw'n fyw yn gorfforol ac wrth achub bywydau, yw y byddwn yn ddiau wedi gweld niwed yn cael ei achosi i iechyd meddwl a lles pobl. Felly, bydd mwy o alw ar bob haen o'n gwasanaethau, felly mae'r gwasanaethau haen 0 a haen 1, sy'n rhai lefel gymharol isel, yn ddi-os yn gweld mwy o alw, yn union fel y bydd meysydd eraill lle mae galw mwy sylweddol.
Dyna pam y bu i mi a'r Gweinidog addysg wneud ein cyhoeddiad ynghylch darparu mwy o adnoddau i blant a phobl ifanc, a dyna pam y byddaf yn parhau i edrych ar y materion iechyd meddwl sy'n cael eu codi nid yn unig yn y pwyllgor plant a phobl ifanc, ac a fydd efallai'n cael sylw yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon yfory, ond i wneud yn siŵr bod y seilwaith ychwanegol yr ydym ni wedi'i roi ar waith i brofi a gwirio bod gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn dal i weithredu ac yn ymdrin ag angen, yn dal ar gael. Fe wnaethom ni brynu mwy o welyau ar ddechrau'r pandemig hwn ar gyfer yr angen mwyaf posib; rwyf wedi darparu mwy o arian drwy'r gyllideb. Felly, gallaf sicrhau Jack Sargeant nad dim ond yr agweddau yn ymwneud â thriniaeth, ond yr agwedd sydd gennym ni ynghylch y sgwrs yr ydym ni'n ei chael am iechyd meddwl yn y wlad hon, mynd yn ôl at y geiriau, 'mae'n iawn dweud nad ydych chi'n iawn'—mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn gwneud hynny hefyd yn y ffordd yr ydym yn byw ein bywydau ein hunain gyda'r bobl o'n hamgylch, a'r hyn yr ydym yn ei ddweud a sut yr ydym yn gweithredu yn gyhoeddus hefyd.
Thank you. We'll try Helen Mary Jones again.
Diolch. Rhown gynnig ar Helen Mary Jones eto.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. So, I'm very sorry, Minister, but I am unsilenced again. [Laughter.] If I may take you back to the issue with regard to shielding that was raised earlier with the First Minister by my colleague Delyth Jewell, I hope that the Welsh Government will be able to provide the 32 organisations that have written to you concerned about the way that announcement was made and asking for more clarity—I hope that you'll be able to provide them with a fuller answer than the First Minister was able to provide to Delyth Jewell this afternoon.
But, very specifically—and I hope you'll take this opportunity to reassure people—is it the case, Minister, that those people who have been advised to shield will continue to receive the support services that they currently receive? I'm thinking of things like the food boxes, the supermarket slots. I don't know if other Members have been, but I've certainly been contacted by constituents who've been left a little bit confused as to whether they will continue to get those services and for how long. So, I hope, Minister, you'll take the opportunity to reassure them this afternoon.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Felly, mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf, Gweinidog, ond nid wyf wedi fy nhawelu mwyach. [Chwerthin.] Os caf fynd â chi'n ôl at y mater o ran gwarchod a godwyd yn gynharach gyda'r Prif Weinidog gan fy nghyd-Aelod Delyth Jewell, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu rhoi i'r 32 o sefydliadau sydd wedi ysgrifennu atoch yn pryderu am y ffordd y cafodd y cyhoeddiad hwnnw ei wneud, ac yn gofyn am fwy o eglurder—gobeithio y gallwch chi roi ateb llawnach iddyn nhw nag y gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog ei roi i Delyth Jewell y prynhawn yma.
Ond, yn benodol iawn—a gobeithio y byddwch yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i dawelu meddyliau pobl—a yw'n wir, Gweinidog, y bydd y bobl hynny sydd wedi cael cyngor i warchod eu hunain yn parhau i gael y gwasanaethau cymorth y maen nhw yn eu cael ar hyn o bryd? Rwy'n meddwl am bethau fel y blychau bwyd, amseroedd penodol yn yr archfarchnadoedd. Nid wyf yn gwybod a yw Aelodau eraill wedi profi hyn, ond yn sicr mae etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi sydd mewn peth dryswch ynghylch pa un a fyddant yn parhau i gael y gwasanaethau hynny ac am ba hyd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio, Gweinidog, y byddwch chi'n manteisio ar y cyfle i dawelu eu meddyliau y prynhawn yma.
It may be worth me putting on record that the announcement about shielding came on the back of advice from the chief medical officer. So, this wasn't a case where I decided that I wanted to change the category and so I made a choice to do that without any evidence or advice. We did think we were going to be in a position to make a unified announcement with other UK countries, and then the time frame for that shifted. The announcement in England was made on a Saturday night, when I had expected that it might have been made later. We certainly would have been able to make it on a Sunday afternoon. That was my expectation, and we'd have had not just Saturday getting ready, but then the whole of Sunday to speak with stakeholders, including people in local government—not just local government, of course, but the healthcare professions caring for people, and a range of others—to indicate that a change was on its way and to set out what it was.
When the English announcement was, effectively, made through a newspaper article that went online on Saturday night, and I had an unusual and unexpected telephone call on my Saturday evening to tell me that that had gone out, I then had a pretty straight choice to make, both of which are messy. The first was to try to go as planned and to make an announcement in the second half of the Sunday, which would have meant that inevitably we'd have had questions about what we were doing through the first half of the Sunday, and I think that would have put us in a farcical position where, despite us telling stakeholders to get ready for an announcement, we'd be telling the press, 'No comment. We haven't got anything to say', and that would have been ridiculous. By that point there already would have been uncertainty from shielded people, their families and friends, as well as people providing care and support for them in Wales, as to whether or not we were going to make an announcement in Wales. So, I made the decision—and, again, it was my decision to do this—that we should make our announcement on the Sunday morning. It's not ideal to make that announcement by press release when the written statement wasn't available and completed until later in the day. As I say, it was messy, but it was my judgment that that was the right thing to do, rather than to spend the morning explaining why we weren't going to do anything or avoiding questions.
I'd prefer it, as we review the shielding category and the support provided to them across the UK, not just in Wales, that we're able to do that by open conversation between chief medical officers and indeed the four health departments, and I know that's a view shared by colleagues in other parts of the UK. For shielded people in Wales, the chief medical officer will be writing directly. There are letters being printed that will start to go out from tomorrow. They'll hear directly from him about the future of the shielded category. People can expect that shielding to take place for at least a further couple of months. He'll set out the details of that, and he'll also be taking the press conference tomorrow to speak directly to the public, but Members can expect to see a copy of the letter that will be going out to your constituents as well. I'll make sure that's provided to you as it's ready and signed off. We did that previously. You can expect to see that again, because Members in constituencies and regions of all parties can expect there to be contact from your constituents asking what is happening. So, I think it's important that you see the text of that letter.
To your point about the support, as I have made clear on a number of occasions, and I'm happy to do so now on the record in the Senedd, the only change made is that shielded people are now advised they can go out, if they wish to, to exercise and to see one other household at a social distance. That is the only change that we're making—so, seeing people outside, being able to go outside for exercise. All other measures are in place, so we're saying to shielded people, 'Do not go and do your own shopping. Don't go into a shop to do that.' We're saying to shielded people, 'If you can't work from home, don't go into a workplace with other people, because the risks in terms of being in an indoor environment are still significant'. That means, of course, that we continue to provide that additional support in terms of food, so, both priorities for supermarket deliveries, those people that are taking the food boxes, that support is still available, and including other things like medicines delivery as well. So, all that support remains in place, but, for shielded people, the ability to go outside now, whereas the advice had previously been not to go outside for exercise outside your own home, that's changed, and I think that's a significant matter for shielded people. But we may need to revisit that. If we get into winter months, into the autumn, we may be in a position where that advice needs to change again, and it reinforces my point that we're a long way from being at the end of coronavirus.
Efallai ei bod yn werth i mi nodi bod y cyhoeddiad am warchod wedi dod yn dilyn cyngor gan y prif swyddog meddygol. Felly, nid oedd hwn yn achos lle penderfynais fy mod i eisiau newid y categori ac felly gwneud hynny heb unrhyw dystiolaeth na chyngor. Roeddem yn credu ein bod yn mynd i fod mewn sefyllfa i wneud cyhoeddiad unedig gyda gwledydd eraill y DU, ond yna newidiodd yr amserlen ar gyfer hwnnw. Gwnaethpwyd y cyhoeddiad yn Lloegr ar nos Sadwrn, pan oeddwn yn disgwyl y byddai wedi bod yn hwyrach. Byddem yn sicr wedi gallu ei wneud ar brynhawn Sul. Dyna oedd fy nisgwyliad, a byddem wedi cael nid yn unig dydd Sadwrn i fod yn barod, ond wedyn dydd Sul i gyd i siarad â rhanddeiliaid, gan gynnwys pobl mewn llywodraeth leol—nid llywodraeth leol yn unig, wrth gwrs, ond y galwedigaethau gofal iechyd sy'n gofalu am bobl, ac amrywiaeth o rai eraill—i nodi bod newid ar y ffordd ac i nodi beth ydoedd.
Pan wnaethpwyd y cyhoeddiad yn Lloegr, i bob pwrpas, drwy erthygl papur newydd a aeth ar-lein nos Sadwrn, a chefais alwad ffôn anarferol ac annisgwyl ar nos Sadwrn i ddweud wrthyf fod hynny wedi ei gyhoeddi, yna cefais ddewis eithaf amlwg i'w wneud, ac roedd y ddau ddewis yn anniben. Y cyntaf oedd ceisio gweithredu yn ôl y bwriad a gwneud cyhoeddiad yn ail hanner dydd Sul, a fyddai wedi golygu'n anorfod y byddem wedi cael cwestiynau am yr hyn yr oeddem yn ei wneud yn ystod hanner cyntaf y Sul, ac rwy'n credu y byddai hynny wedi ein rhoi mewn sefyllfa chwerthinllyd lle, er i ni ddweud wrth randdeiliaid i baratoi ar gyfer cyhoeddiad, byddem yn dweud wrth y wasg, 'Dim sylw. Nid oes gennym unrhyw beth i'w ddweud', a byddai hynny wedi bod yn chwerthinllyd. Erbyn hynny, byddai ansicrwydd eisoes wedi bod ymhlith pobl a warchodir, eu teuluoedd a'u ffrindiau, yn ogystal â phobl sy'n darparu gofal a chymorth iddyn nhw yng Nghymru, ynghylch pa un a oeddem am wneud cyhoeddiad yng Nghymru ai peidio. Felly penderfynais-ac, unwaith eto, fy mhenderfyniad i oedd gwneud hyn-y dylem wneud ein cyhoeddiad fore'r dydd Sul. Nid yw'n ddelfrydol gwneud y cyhoeddiad hwnnw drwy ddatganiad i'r wasg pan nad oedd y datganiad ysgrifenedig ar gael a heb ei gwblhau tan yn ddiweddarach yn y dydd. Fel y dywedais, roedd yn anniben, ond fy marn i oedd mai dyna oedd y peth cywir i'w wneud, yn hytrach na threulio'r bore yn esbonio pam nad oeddem yn mynd i wneud unrhyw beth ac osgoi cwestiynau.
Byddai'n well gennyf i, wrth i ni adolygu'r categori gwarchod a'r gefnogaeth a roddir iddyn nhw ledled y DU, nid dim ond yng Nghymru, ein bod yn gallu gwneud hynny drwy sgwrs agored rhwng prif swyddogion meddygol ac yn wir y pedair adran iechyd, a gwn fod hynny'n farn a rennir gan gydweithwyr mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU. Ar gyfer y bobl a warchodir yng Nghymru, bydd y prif swyddog meddygol yn ysgrifennu'n uniongyrchol. Mae llythyrau'n cael eu hargraffu a byddant yn dechrau cael eu hanfon yfory. Byddant yn clywed yn uniongyrchol ganddo am ddyfodol y categori gwarchod. Gall pobl ddisgwyl i'r gwarchod hynny ddigwydd am o leiaf ychydig fisoedd eto. Bydd yn nodi manylion hynny, a bydd hefyd yn arwain y gynhadledd i'r wasg yfory i siarad yn uniongyrchol â'r cyhoedd, ond gall yr Aelodau ddisgwyl gweld copi o'r llythyr a fydd yn mynd i'ch etholwyr hefyd. Byddaf yn sicrhau bod hynny'n cael ei ddarparu i chi gan ei fod yn barod ac wedi'i gymeradwyo. Gwnaethom ni hynny o'r blaen. Gallwch ddisgwyl gweld hynny eto, oherwydd gall Aelodau mewn etholaethau a rhanbarthau o bob plaid ddisgwyl i etholwyr gysylltu i ofyn beth sy'n digwydd. Felly, rwy'n credu ei fod yn bwysig eich bod yn gweld testun y llythyr hwnnw.
O ran eich pwynt am y cymorth, fel yr wyf wedi egluro ar sawl achlysur, ac rwy'n falch o wneud hynny yn awr ar gofnod yn y Senedd, yr unig newid a wnaed yw bod pobl a warchodir bellach yn cael gwybod y gallant fynd allan, os ydyn nhw'n dymuno, i wneud ymarfer corff ac i weld un teulu arall gan gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Dyna'r unig newid yr ydym yn ei wneud-felly, gweld pobl y tu allan, mynd allan i wneud ymarfer corff. Mae pob mesur arall yn ei le, felly rydym ni'n dweud wrth unigolion a warchodir, 'Peidiwch â mynd i wneud eich siopa eich hunan. Peidiwch â mynd i mewn i siop i wneud hynny.' Rydym ni'n dweud wrth unigolion a warchodir, 'Os na allwch chi weithio o gartref, peidiwch â mynd i weithle gyda phobl eraill, oherwydd mae'r risgiau o fod mewn amgylchedd dan do yn dal yn sylweddol'. Mae hynny'n golygu, wrth gwrs, ein bod yn parhau i ddarparu'r cymorth ychwanegol hwnnw o ran bwyd, felly, y blaenoriaethau ar gyfer dosbarthu archfarchnadoedd, y bobl hynny sy'n mynd â'r bocsys bwyd, mae'r cymorth hwnnw ar gael o hyd, ac mae'n cynnwys pethau eraill fel darparu meddyginiaethau hefyd. Felly, mae'r cymorth hwnnw i gyd yn dal ar waith, ond, ar gyfer unigolion a warchodir, y gallu i fynd allan nawr, y cyngor o'r blaen oedd i beidio â mynd allan ar gyfer ymarfer corff y tu allan i'ch cartref eich hun, mae hynny wedi newid, ac rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n fater pwysig i unigolion a warchodir. Ond efallai y bydd angen i ni ailedrych ar hynny. Os bydd hyn yn mynd i mewn i fisoedd y gaeaf, yn yr hydref, efallai y byddwn mewn sefyllfa lle bydd angen i'r cyngor hwnnw newid eto, ac mae'n atgyfnerthu fy mhwynt ein bod yn bell o fod yn gweld diwedd y coronafeirws.
Minister, I listened to that answer to Helen Mary and I have to say it always seems to be someone else's communication problem, doesn’t it? Let's go back to the £500 for the carers. I heard the First Minister's response to Mike Hedges, which I thought was disingenuous, and I heard your response to Delyth Jewell. So, are you telling me that either the Welsh Government did not know that, under UK law, wages are taxed in accordance with earning levels and therefore that £500 would be taxed, or are you telling me that the Welsh Government wanted the Chancellor to give it as a gift but you hadn't bothered to ask him before you made the announcement?
Finally, can you clarify to everybody who will get this payment? Because, on 28 May, you told me that all care home workers who work in a privately funded care home—i.e. a care home that does not take any state-aided people—would not get that £500. So, when we say that all care workers in Wales will get it, that is actually, technically, as my understanding is from my conversation with you on 28 May, incorrect, and I would be very grateful for your clarification because when we use the words 'privately funded', we have to remember that this is a lot of Welsh people who are just scraping by on the last of their savings to get into a private care home. They don't have a lot of money, their staff won't have much money.
Gweinidog, fe wnes i wrando ar yr ateb yna i Helen Mary ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud ei fod bob amser yn ymddangos mai problem cyfathrebu rhywun arall ydyw, onid yw? Gadewch i ni fynd yn ôl i'r £500 ar gyfer gofalwyr. Clywais ymateb y Prif Weinidog i Mike Hedges, a oedd yn annidwyll yn fy marn i, a chlywais eich ymateb i Delyth Jewell. Felly, a ydych yn dweud wrthyf naill ai nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwybod, o dan gyfraith y DU, fod cyflogau'n cael eu trethu yn unol â lefelau ennill ac felly y byddai'r £500 hynny yn cael ei drethu, neu a ydych yn dweud wrthyf fod Llywodraeth Cymru eisiau i'r Canghellor ei roi fel rhodd, ond nad oeddech wedi trafferthu gofyn iddo cyn i chi wneud y cyhoeddiad?
Yn olaf, a allwch chi egluro i bawb pwy fydd yn cael y taliad hwn? Oherwydd, ar 28 Mai, dywedoch chi wrthyf na fyddai'r holl weithwyr cartrefi gofal sy'n gweithio mewn cartref gofal a ariennir yn breifat—hynny yw cartref gofal nad yw'n derbyn unrhyw bobl sy'n cael cymorth gan y wladwriaeth—yn cael y £500 hwnnw. Felly, pan ydym yn dweud y bydd yr holl weithwyr gofal yng Nghymru yn ei gael, mae hynny, yn dechnegol, fel y deallaf o'm sgwrs â chi ar 28 Mai, yn anghywir, a byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn am eich eglurhad oherwydd pan ddefnyddiwn y geiriau 'wedi'u hariannu'n breifat', rhaid i ni gofio bod hyn yn golygu bod llawer o Gymry yn byw ar eu cynilion olaf i fynd i gartref gofal preifat. Nid oes ganddyn nhw lawer o arian, ni fydd gan eu staff lawer o arian.
Well, the final details of who is going to receive the payment will be announced when we've finalised the negotiations with employers and trade unions, which I understand are near final, so you will hear that in the coming days, and I think it'll provide the clarity that you're looking for, Angela.
In terms of the tax on the £500, it's always been a UK decision. We did make representations through officials in advance about the taxable treatment of it, and we wrote directly to make representations. It was also raised by the finance Minister in conversation as well. So it's a matter for the UK Government to decide whether or not this money should be given as a gift, and it was their choice to apply tax to it. I still think it's the right thing for them to reconsider and to not apply tax to the £500 for social care workers. I'll be disappointed, as I'm sure other Members across other parties will be, if the UK Government don't reconsider taking tax from this money so it doesn't go directly into the pockets of relatively low-paid women workers and instead goes into the Treasury. I think that would—. Frankly, it wouldn't be a good look for the UK Government, and they're not expecting to have this money, so it essentially would be a tax windfall for the Treasury, and I just think that a windfall from social care workers to the Treasury is absolutely not the place where the UK Treasury should be. It's within their gift to make sure that tax isn't applied and again I urge them to do so.
In terms of the shielding, well, it's a matter of fact what happened with shielding. It's not a matter of saying it's someone else's—. It's a matter of fact that that is what happened. I've been able to work really constructively with health Ministers across other Governments, with the unionist health Minister in the multiparty Government in Northern Ireland, the SNP health Minister in Scotland and, indeed, the Conservative Cabinet health Minister in England, but there are times where we don't always agree. We're grown up about that. There are times where what each of us does affects the other; this was one of those occasions. So it's simply a matter of fact. We were not expecting an announcement on shielding in England to be made through a newspaper column on Saturday night, but that is what happened.
Wel, bydd y manylion terfynol ynglŷn â phwy sy'n mynd i gael y taliad yn cael eu cyhoeddi pan fyddwn wedi cwblhau'r trafodaethau gyda chyflogwyr ac undebau llafur, sydd, yn ôl yr hyn yr wyf yn ei ddeall, yn derfynol, felly byddwch yn clywed hynny yn y dyddiau nesaf, ac rwy'n credu y bydd yn rhoi'r eglurder yr ydych chi'n chwilio amdano, Angela.
O ran y dreth ar yr £500, mae hynny wedi bod yn benderfyniad i'r DU erioed. Gwnaethom gyflwyno sylwadau drwy swyddogion ymlaen llaw ynglŷn â'r driniaeth o ran treth, ac fe wnaethom ni ysgrifennu yn uniongyrchol i gyflwyno sylwadau. Fe'i codwyd hefyd gan y Gweinidog cyllid mewn sgyrsiau. Felly, mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw penderfynu a ddylid rhoi'r arian hwn fel rhodd ai peidio, a'u dewis hwy oedd gosod treth arno. Rwy'n dal i gredu mai'r peth iawn iddyn nhw ei wneud yw ailystyried a pheidio â gosod treth ar y £500 ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol. Byddaf yn siomedig, fel rwy'n siŵr y bydd Aelodau eraill ar draws y pleidiau eraill, os na fydd Llywodraeth y DU yn ailystyried cymryd treth o'r arian hwn fel nad yw'n mynd yn uniongyrchol i bocedi menywod sy'n gweithio am gyflog cymharol isel ond yn hytrach yn mynd i'r Trysorlys. Rwy'n credu y byddai hynny—. A dweud y gwir, ni fyddai'n sefyllfa dda i Lywodraeth y DU fod ynddi, ac nid ydyn nhw'n disgwyl cael yr arian hwn, felly byddai yn ei hanfod yn ffawdelw treth i'r Trysorlys, ac yn sicr nid wyf yn credu dylai Trysorlys y DU fod yn cael ffawdelw o ofalwyr gofal cymdeithasol. Mae'r pŵer ganddyn nhw i sicrhau nad yw treth yn cael ei gosod ac unwaith eto rwy'n eu hannog i wneud hynny.
O ran y gwarchod, wel, mae beth ddigwyddodd ynglŷn â gwarchod yn fater o ffaith. Nid yw'n fater o ddweud mai—. Mae'n ffaith mai dyna a ddigwyddodd. Rwyf wedi gallu gweithio'n adeiladol iawn gyda Gweinidogion iechyd ar draws llywodraethau eraill, gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd unoliaethol yn y Llywodraeth amlbleidiol yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, Gweinidog iechyd yr SNP yn yr Alban ac, yn wir, Gweinidog iechyd y Cabinet Ceidwadol yn Lloegr, ond mae adegau pryd nad ydym ni bob amser yn cytuno. Rydym ni'n aeddfed ynghylch hynny. Mae yna adegau pan fydd yr hyn y mae pob un ohonom yn ei wneud yn effeithio ar y llall; roedd hyn yn un o'r achlysuron hynny. Felly yn syml, mae'n ffaith. Nid oeddem yn disgwyl cyhoeddiad ar warchod yn Lloegr i gael ei gyhoeddi drwy golofn papur newydd nos Sadwrn, ond dyna a ddigwyddodd.
Mick Antoniw.
Mick Antoniw.
I can't hear Mick. I can't lip read, either.
Nid wyf yn clywed Mick. Nid wyf yn gallu darllen gwefusau ychwaith.
No. We're not getting—. Can somebody assist Mr Antoniw? There we are.
Na. Nid ydym yn cael—. A all rhywun gynorthwyo Mr Antoniw? Dyna ni.
How's that? Is that okay?
Sut mae hwn? A yw hwn yn iawn?
There we are. Start again.
Dyna ni. Dechreuwch eto.
Minister, there are many consequences of coronavirus, not just the disease. We've discussed the associated consequences of lockdown, such as mental health. The one I want to raise, though, is the increased risk in respect of gambling addiction. You will be familiar, Minister, I would have thought, with the case of Chris Bruney, who was a 25-year-old who lost £119,000 in five days. He was then offered by the gambling company a bonus of £400. He took his own life, and the company has just been fined. Now that was just one of the examples pre-coronavirus.
Of course, what we have now is a captive market in respect of online gambling, and the March data alone for 2020 indicates that virtual betting increased by 40 per cent, poker by 38 per cent and, of those who placed more than one bet, online betting increased by 88 per cent, online poker 53 per cent and, of course, there are many other similar data as well. I suspect the April figures will show even higher levels of online gambling participation, leading to the public health risks that had been identified before the lockdown. I'm wondering, Minister, if you could let us know whether this is something that you've discussed with the chief medical officer. If not, will you discuss it with the chief medical officer to see what we can actually do to prepare for what I suspect is going to be a significant increase in problems associated with online gambling addiction, and it will be a legacy that we will have to deal with as we come out of coronavirus?
Gweinidog, mae llawer o effeithiau i'r coronafeirws, nid y clefyd yn unig. Rydym wedi trafod effeithiau sy'n gysylltiedig â chyfyngiadau symud, megis iechyd meddwl. Fodd bynnag, yr un yr wyf eisiau ei godi yw'r risg gynyddol o ran dibyniaeth ar gamblo. Byddwch yn gyfarwydd, Gweinidog, am wn i, ag achos Chris Bruney, a oedd yn 25 mlwydd oed a gollodd £119,000 mewn pum diwrnod. Yna cafodd gynnig bonws o £400 gan y cwmni gamblo. Cymerodd ei fywyd ei hun, ac mae'r cwmni newydd gael dirwy. Nawr roedd hynny'n un o'r enghreifftiau cyn y coronafeirws.
Wrth gwrs, yr hyn sydd gennym nawr yw marchnad gaeth o ran gamblo ar-lein, ac mae data mis Mawrth yn unig ar gyfer 2020 yn dangos bod betio rhithwir wedi cynyddu 40 y cant, pocer 38 y cant ac, o'r rhai a oedd yn gosod mwy nag un bet, cynyddodd betio ar-lein 88 y cant, 53 y cant ar gyfer pocer ar-lein ac wrth gwrs, roedd llawer o ddata eraill oedd yn debyg hefyd. Dwi'n tybio y bydd ffigurau mis Ebrill yn dangos lefelau uwch fyth o gamblo ar-lein, gan arwain at y risgiau iechyd cyhoeddus a nodwyd cyn y cyfyngiadau symud. Tybed, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi roi gwybod i ni a yw hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydych wedi ei drafod gyda'r prif swyddog meddygol. Os nad ydych, a wnewch ei drafod gyda'r prif swyddog meddygol i weld beth y gallwn ei wneud mewn gwirionedd i baratoi ar gyfer yr hyn sy'n mynd i fod yn gynnydd sylweddol yn y problemau sy'n gysylltiedig â dibyniaeth ar gamblo ar-lein, a bydd yn waddol y bydd yn rhaid i ni ymdrin ag ef wrth inni ddod allan o'r coronafeirws?
I think it's a point well made, actually, by the Member, and I recognise his longstanding and continuing interest in the real public health harms caused by gambling. I don't think now is the time to go into the division of powers that exist, but we do still need to understand what that means and we do understand that there has been a significant increase in online gambling, as the Member sets out. So, I will definitely take it up specifically with the chief medical officer about where we are and what that means in terms of not just our understanding of the harms caused now, but what that means for the future. If more people are spending more time on online gambling, there's no guarantee—in fact, we'd expect that it would be not the case that those people will disappear and stop online gambling in exactly the same numbers as we progress out of the lockdown. We could be talking about longer term challenges in terms of the addiction that gambling sadly is for some people. So, I'll happily take it up with the chief medical officer, and I'm happy to undertake to write to the Member in due course.
Rwy'n credu bod pwynt yr Aelod yn un da, ac rwy'n cydnabod y diddordeb sydd ganddo ers tro, ac y mae ganddo o hyd, yn y niwed gwirioneddol y mae gamblo yn ei wneud i iechyd y cyhoedd. Nid wyf yn credu mai nawr yw'r amser i fanylu ynglŷn â sut mae pwerau wedi eu rhannu ar hyn o bryd, ond mae yn dal angen i ni ddeall beth mae hynny'n ei olygu ac rydym yn deall y bu cynnydd sylweddol mewn gamblo ar-lein, fel y mae'r Aelod yn ei nodi. Felly, byddaf yn sicr yn ei godi'n benodol gyda'r Prif Swyddog Meddygol, ynghylch lle yr ydym ni arni a beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu, nid yn unig o ran ein dealltwriaeth o'r niwed a achosir nawr, ond o ran yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu yn y dyfodol. Os yw mwy o bobl yn treulio mwy o amser yn gamblo ar-lein, does dim sicrwydd—yn wir, byddem yn disgwyl na fyddai'r bobl hynny yn diflannu ac yn rhoi'r gorau i gamblo ar-lein yn yr union niferoedd wrth i ni symud allan o'r cyfyngiadau symud. Gallem fod yn sôn am heriau tymor hwy o ran pobl yn mynd yn gaeth i gamblo yn anffodus. Felly, byddaf yn fodlon ei godi gyda'r Prif Swyddog Meddygol, ac rwy'n fodlon ymrwymo i ysgrifennu at yr Aelod maes o law.
Thank you. And finally, Neil McEvoy.
Diolch. Ac yn olaf, Neil McEvoy.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, in terms of COVID, you say that you've followed scientific advice continuously. I wouldn't agree with that, actually, but you say that you've relied on science. So, there's a proposal to dump 780,000 tonnes of mud from outside Hinkley Point nuclear power station into the waters just outside Cardiff, 1 mile off the coast. Now, scientists tell us that they're convinced—and they've said it on the record—they are convinced that the mud contains plutonium. So, in terms of you being the health Minister and also the AM for southern Cardiff, will you support the scientists' call to test the mud for plutonium, because it has never been tested for that? Diolch.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, o ran COVID, rydych chi'n dweud eich bod wastad wedi dilyn cyngor gwyddonol. Ni fyddwn i'n cytuno â hynny, mewn gwirionedd, ond rydych chi'n dweud eich bod wedi dibynnu ar wyddoniaeth. Felly, mae yna gynnig i waredu 780,000 o dunelli o fwd o du allan i orsaf bŵer niwclear Hinkley Point i mewn i'r dyfroedd ychydig y tu allan i Gaerdydd, un filltir oddi ar yr arfordir. Nawr, mae gwyddonwyr yn dweud wrthym eu bod yn argyhoeddedig—ac maen nhw wedi dweud hynny ar goedd—maen nhw wedi'u hargyhoeddi bod y mwd yn cynnwys plwtoniwm. Felly, a chithau'n Weinidog Iechyd a hefyd yr AC dros Dde Caerdydd, a wnewch chi gefnogi galwad y gwyddonwyr i brofi'r mwd am blwtoniwm, am nad yw erioed wedi cael ei brofi am hynny? Diolch.
As the Member knows, I'm here to answer questions as the health Minister in the Welsh Government. I'm very well aware of my responsibilities for the constituency that I've had the privilege to be directly elected to represent twice to this Parliament. And as the Member knows, there is plenty of scientific evidence and advice around the removal and transfer of mud within an estuary environment, and I recall the spiky conversation the Member had in the Chamber with Alun Davies, who actually had spent some time looking at this during his time before the Assembly, as it then was, and indeed during his time as the environment Minister. And the Member is taking the view of some scientists rather than the accepted scientific consensus.
So, Lesley Griffiths, as the Minister with some responsibility in this area, will be guided by the scientific advice that she receives. It's a matter for Natural Resources Wales, though, of course, as you know, to understand that science and decide what to do in the granting of licences. And I think trying to return to a scare story over nuclear mud at a time when we're dealing with a pandemic that is far from finished is entirely the wrong thing to do when it comes to questions to the health Minister about where we are with this once-in-a-century event. But, no doubt, Mr McEvoy will continue to make his own choices.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, rwyf yma i ateb cwestiynau yn rhinwedd fy swydd yn Weinidog Iechyd yn Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'm cyfrifoldebau ar gyfer yr etholaeth yr wyf wedi cael y fraint o gael fy ethol yn uniongyrchol i'w chynrychioli ddwywaith yn y senedd hon. Ac fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae digon o dystiolaeth a chyngor gwyddonol ynglŷn â symud a throsglwyddo mwd mewn aberoedd, a chofiaf y sgwrs bigog a gafodd yr Aelod yn y Siambr gydag Alun Davies, a oedd wedi treulio rhywfaint o amser yn edrych ar hyn yn ystod ei amser ger bron y Cynulliad, fel yr oedd bryd hynny, ac yn wir yn ystod ei gyfnod yn Weinidog yr Amgylchedd. Ac mae'r Aelod yn dilyn barn rhai gwyddonwyr yn hytrach na'r consensws gwyddonol a dderbyniwyd.
Felly, bydd Lesley Griffiths, y Gweinidog sydd â rhywfaint o gyfrifoldeb yn y maes hwn, yn cael ei harwain gan y cyngor gwyddonol a gaiff. Mater i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, fodd bynnag, wrth gwrs, fel y gwyddoch chi, yw deall y wyddoniaeth honno a phenderfynu beth i'w wneud wrth roi trwyddedau. Ac rwy'n credu bod ceisio dychwelyd at stori frawychus am fwd niwclear ar adeg pan rydym ni'n ymdrin â phandemig sydd ymhell o fod ar ben yn beth hollol anghywir i'w wneud o ran holi'r Gweinidog Iechyd ynglŷn â lle yr ydym ni arni o ran y digwyddiad unwaith mewn canrif hwn. Ond, yn ddiau, bydd Mr McEvoy yn parhau i wneud ei ddewisiadau ei hun.
That's an outrageous comment, Minister—outrageous.
Mae hynny'n sylw gwarthus, Gweinidog—gwarthus.
Thank you. Thank you, Minister, for that.
Diolch. Diolch, Gweinidog, am hynny.
We now move on to item 5 on our agenda, which is a statement by the Minister for Education and an update on the education provision. So, I call on the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
Symudwn ymlaen nawr at eitem 5 ar ein hagenda, sef datganiad gan y Gweinidog Addysg a'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddarpariaeth addysg. Felly, galwaf ar y Gweinidog Addysg, Kirsty Williams.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and good afternoon, colleagues. The response to COVID-19 has been a profound challenge for the whole of the education community. Our schools and colleges have already stepped up in the defence against COVID, establishing provision for children of critical workers and for vulnerable children, and managing remote learning on an unprecedented scale with astonishing pace. Once again, I want to thank the education professionals as a whole, and especially those who've supported the operation of the hubs, for their dedication, professionalism and hard work over this period.
The Government has today published a paper from its COVID-19 technical advisory group, representing the latest understanding of the virus with respect to children and education. I am satisfied that there is now space and opportunity to increase operations. To this end, I have made the decision that schools and pupil referral units should plan to increase their operations from 29 June. This gives schools, and indeed parents, three and a half weeks to continue preparing for the next phase of education. And it also provides the time needed for governing bodies and councils to progress the necessary statutory actions.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a phrynhawn da, gyd-Aelodau. Mae'r ymateb i COVID-19 wedi bod yn her enfawr i'r gymuned addysg gyfan. Mae ein hysgolion a'n colegau eisoes wedi camu i'r adwy yn erbyn COVID, gan sefydlu darpariaeth ar gyfer plant gweithwyr hanfodol a phlant sy'n agored i niwed, a rheoli dysgu o bell ar raddfa nas gwelwyd erioed o'r blaen gyda chyflymder rhyfeddol. Unwaith eto, hoffwn ddiolch i'r gweithwyr addysg proffesiynol yn gyffredinol, ac yn enwedig i'r rhai sydd wedi cefnogi gweithredu'r hybiau, am eu hymroddiad, eu proffesiynoldeb a'u gwaith caled dros y cyfnod hwn.
Mae'r Llywodraeth heddiw wedi cyhoeddi papur gan ei grŵp cynghori technegol ar COVID-19, sy'n cynrychioli'r ddealltwriaeth ddiweddaraf o'r feirws mewn cysylltiad â phlant ac addysg. Rwy'n fodlon bod lle a chyfle bellach i gynyddu gweithgarwch. I'r perwyl hwn, rwyf wedi gwneud y penderfyniad y dylai ysgolion ac unedau cyfeirio disgyblion gynllunio i gynyddu eu gweithgarwch o 29 Mehefin. Mae hyn yn rhoi tair wythnos a hanner i ysgolion, ac yn wir i rieni, barhau i baratoi ar gyfer y cam nesaf o ran addysg. Ac mae hefyd yn rhoi'r amser sydd ei angen ar gyrff llywodraethu a chynghorau i ddatblygu'r camau statudol angenrheidiol.
Almost all learners will have the opportunity to attend their school. I am describing this as a chance to work together for pupils so that they can check in, catch up and prepare for the summer and September. I recognise that for some learners who are shielding this contact may need to be via digital means.
I am also proposing that schools open for an extra week, ending on the 27 July, and this week’s holiday will be redistributed to the autumn term. This allows schools more contact time before the summer and gives an extra break in what is likely to be a very long and challenging autumn term.
In practice, I would expect schools accommodating reduced numbers of learners each day according to their own individual capacity, whilst ensuring appropriate social distancing is in place. It is expected that this will mean no more than a third of pupils present at any one time, although I recognise that some schools may not be able to reach this level of operation.
During this time, I would expect schools to use this period to support the health and well-being of learners and their staff, and that should be their foremost priority; check in with learners and support them in their preparedness for learning and consider next steps for learning as appropriate; to test the operations ready for the autumn term; and to continue to build the confidence of families in the very careful approach that we are taking. This is an opportunity for both learners and staff to prepare and get used to the new normal as it will look in September.
For the foreseeable future, learners will experience a blend of face-to-face and online learning. In the autumn, I expect that schools will have to continue to accommodate all learners who can attend at a reduced time to allow for social distancing. And when they are in school, it will feel very different, with staggered arrivals, departures and breaks, with far more time being spent outdoors, weather permitting, and in much smaller classes. However, I expect them to enjoy secure, dedicated time with teachers and classmates that they know well.
Decision makers, whether you are a Minister, a parent or a headteacher, always have to balance risks. In this current period, all of us have to think about the possibilities of direct and indirect harm. I have made the decision to increase operations before the summer holidays for a number of key reasons. Waiting until September would mean that most children would not have stepped foot in a school for at least 23 weeks, and I believe that this would be to the detriment of their development, their learning and their well-being. I am convinced that it is only by returning to their own schools that we will see increased attendance from our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
It allows us to make the most of the warm weather and sunlight, which has an important impact in combating transmission of the virus. It ensures that test, trace and protect will have been in place for a month and will continue to expand. And I can confirm that school staff will be a priority group in our new antibody testing programme, starting with staff who have currently been working in our hubs. And, crucially, the evolving science tells us that an autumn spike in the virus is a very real possibility. We could be losing even more learning time, and it would be made even worse without this period that I’m planning for today.
It is, of course, critical that schools have the proper support to operate at this time, and we're working with councils and schools to get all the necessary hygiene stock, safety measures and cleaning regimes in place. Next week, I will publish guidance to support schools in operating under these new conditions, and to support learning. The guidance will be revised and updated over the summer to help schools prepare for the autumn, in light of these experiences.
For further education, from 15 June, colleges and work-based learning providers will begin to reopen for face-to-face learning for a limited group of students and learners. My officials have worked with colleges and training providers to agree priority groups of learners who will be included in this initial phase of reopening, focusing on those who need to return to their college or training centre in order to continue to progress in their learning. This includes learners who need to carry out practical assessments to complete their qualifications, and those students who need extra support and guidance to stay on track and to stay in education.
Guidance for childcare providers will also be published in the next week, supporting them to increase the numbers of children in attendance alongside schools.
For schools, we now have over three weeks to continue planning, and to continue to get ready, and to continue, crucially, to focus on safety and well-being. We will work with the profession to ensure that they are supported both now and into the autumn. Headteachers will have the opportunity to work with their staff in schools to prepare fully for pupils. It also provides the time needed for governing bodies and councils to progress the necessary statutory actions and risk assessments to support staff and pupils to return.
I acknowledge that this is and continues to be a very worrying period for us all. I know that many will feel apprehensive. But I want to say we have not rushed this work or this decision. The three-and-a-half-week period before the next phase also gives me time to keep watch on developments elsewhere, and provides further check-in points to review evidence, and to watch the successful roll-out of testing and tracing.
This is the best practical option that meets my five principles. Working together, I know that we will secure equity and excellence for pupils as they check in, catch up, and prepare for summer and September.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Bydd bron pob un dysgwr yn cael cyfle i fynychu ei ysgol. Rwy'n disgrifio hyn fel cyfle i gydweithio ar gyfer disgyblion er mwyn iddyn nhw allu dod i'r ysgol, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi ar gyfer yr haf a mis Medi. Rwy'n cydnabod y gallai bod angen i rai dysgwyr a warchodir ddefnyddio ddulliau digidol.
Rwyf hefyd yn cynnig bod ysgolion yn agor am wythnos ychwanegol, gan gau ar 27 Gorffennaf, ac y bydd yr wythnos hon o wyliau yn cael ei throsglwyddo i dymor yr hydref. Mae hyn yn caniatáu mwy o amser cyswllt i ysgolion cyn yr haf ac yn rhoi egwyl ychwanegol yn nhymor yr hydref sy'n debygol o fod yn hir ac yn heriol.
Yn ymarferol, byddwn yn disgwyl i ysgolion gymryd nifer llai o ddysgwyr bob dydd yn dibynnu ar eu capasiti unigol eu hunain, gan sicrhau y cedwir pellter cymdeithasol priodol. Disgwylir y bydd hyn yn golygu na fydd mwy na thraean o'r disgyblion yn bresennol ar unrhyw un adeg, er fy mod yn cydnabod ei bod hi'n bosib na fydd rhai ysgolion yn gallu gweithredu yn y modd hwn.
Yn y cyfnod hwn, byddwn yn disgwyl i ysgolion ddefnyddio'r amser i gefnogi iechyd a lles dysgwyr a'u staff, a dyna ddylai fod eu blaenoriaeth bennaf; trafod gyda'r dysgwyr a'u cynorthwyo i fod yn barod ar gyfer dysgu ac ystyried y camau dysgu nesaf fel y bo'n briodol; i brofi'r gweithrediadau yn barod ar gyfer tymor yr hydref; a pharhau i feithrin hyder teuluoedd yn y modd gofalus iawn yr ydym yn ei ddilyn. Mae hwn yn gyfle i ddysgwyr a staff baratoi a dod i arfer â'r sefyllfa 'normal newydd' fel y bydd ym mis Medi.
Yn y dyfodol rhagweladwy, bydd dysgwyr yn cael cyfuniad o ddysgu wyneb yn wyneb ac ar-lein. Yn yr hydref, disgwyliaf y bydd yn rhaid i ysgolion barhau i ddarparu ar gyfer yr holl ddysgwyr sy'n gallu bod yn bresennol am lai o amser er mwyn cadw pellter cymdeithasol. A phan fyddant yn yr ysgol, bydd yn teimlo'n wahanol iawn, gydag amser cyrraedd, amser gadael ac amseroedd chwarae ar adegau gwahanol, gyda llawer mwy o amser yn cael ei dreulio yn yr awyr agored, pan fydd y tywydd yn caniatáu, ac mewn dosbarthiadau llawer llai. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n disgwyl iddyn nhw fwynhau amser diogel, pwrpasol gydag athrawon a chyd-ddisgyblion y maen nhw'n eu hadnabod yn dda.
Mae'n rhaid i'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau, boed yn Weinidog, yn rhiant neu'n bennaeth, gydbwyso risgiau bob amser. Yn y cyfnod presennol hwn, mae'n rhaid i bob un ohonom ni ystyried y posibiliadau o niwed uniongyrchol ac anuniongyrchol. Rwyf wedi gwneud y penderfyniad i gynyddu gweithrediadau cyn gwyliau'r haf am nifer o resymau allweddol. Byddai aros tan fis Medi yn golygu na fyddai'r rhan fwyaf o blant wedi tywyllu ysgol ers o leiaf 23 wythnos, a chredaf y byddai hyn yn niweidiol i'w datblygiad, i'w dysgu ac i'w lles. Rwy'n argyhoeddedig mai dim ond drwy ddychwelyd i'w hysgolion eu hunain y byddwn yn gweld mwy o bresenoldeb gan ein plant mwyaf agored i niwed a difreintiedig.
Mae'n caniatáu inni fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y tywydd cynnes a'r heulwen, sy'n cael effaith bwysig o ran brwydro i atal trosglwyddo'r feirws. Mae'n sicrhau y bydd y system profi, olrhain a diogelu wedi bod ar waith am fis ac y bydd yn parhau i ehangu. A gallaf gadarnhau y bydd staff ysgol yn grŵp â blaenoriaeth yn ein rhaglen profi gwrthgyrff newydd, gan ddechrau gyda staff sydd wedi bod yn gweithio yn ein hybiau ar hyn o bryd. Ac, yn hollbwysig, mae'r wyddoniaeth sy'n esblygu yn dweud wrthym fod cynnydd sydyn o ran y feirws yn yr hydref yn bosibilrwydd real iawn. Gallem fod yn colli hyd yn oed mwy o amser dysgu, a byddai hyd yn oed yn waeth heb y cyfnod hwn yr wyf yn ei gynllunio heddiw.
Wrth gwrs, mae'n hanfodol bod gan ysgolion y gefnogaeth briodol i weithredu ar hyn o bryd, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda chynghorau ac ysgolion i gael yr holl stoc hylendid angenrheidiol, mesurau diogelwch a chyfundrefnau glanhau yn barod. Yr wythnos nesaf, byddaf yn cyhoeddi canllawiau i gynorthwyo ysgolion i weithredu o dan yr amodau newydd hyn, ac i gefnogi dysgu. Bydd y canllawiau'n cael eu hadolygu a'u diweddaru dros yr haf er mwyn helpu ysgolion i baratoi ar gyfer yr hydref, yng ngoleuni'r profiadau hyn.
Ar gyfer addysg bellach, o 15 Mehefin, bydd colegau a darparwyr dysgu seiliedig ar waith yn dechrau ailagor ar gyfer dysgu wyneb yn wyneb i grŵp cyfyngedig o fyfyrwyr a dysgwyr. Mae fy swyddogion wedi gweithio gyda cholegau a darparwyr hyfforddiant i gytuno ar grwpiau blaenoriaeth o ddysgwyr a fydd yn cael eu cynnwys yn y cyfnod ailagor cychwynnol hwn, gan ganolbwyntio ar y rhai y mae angen iddyn nhw ddychwelyd i'w coleg neu eu canolfan hyfforddi er mwyn parhau i wneud cynnydd gyda'u dysgu. Mae hyn yn cynnwys dysgwyr y mae angen iddyn nhw gynnal asesiadau ymarferol i gwblhau eu cymwysterau, a'r myfyrwyr hynny sydd angen cymorth a chyfarwyddyd ychwanegol i aros ar y trywydd iawn ac i aros mewn addysg.
Bydd canllawiau ar gyfer darparwyr gofal plant hefyd yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn ystod yr wythnos nesaf, gan eu cynorthwyo i gynyddu nifer y plant sy'n mynychu ochr yn ochr ag ysgolion.
Ar gyfer ysgolion, mae gennym ni dros dair wythnos bellach i barhau i gynllunio, ac i barhau i fod yn barod, ac yn hanfodol, i barhau i ganolbwyntio ar ddiogelwch a lles. Byddwn yn gweithio gyda'r proffesiwn i sicrhau y cânt eu cefnogi nawr ac yn yr hydref. Bydd penaethiaid yn cael y cyfle i weithio gyda'u staff mewn ysgolion i baratoi'n llawn ar gyfer disgyblion. Mae hefyd yn rhoi'r amser sydd ei angen ar gyrff llywodraethu a chynghorau i ddatblygu'r camau statudol angenrheidiol a'r asesiadau risg er mwyn cynorthwyo staff a disgyblion i ddychwelyd.
Rwy'n cydnabod bod hwn yn gyfnod pryderus iawn i ni i gyd, ac mae hynny'n parhau. Gwn y bydd llawer yn teimlo'n bryderus. Ond rwyf eisiau dweud nad ydym ni wedi rhuthro'r gwaith hwn na'r penderfyniad hwn. Mae'r cyfnod tair wythnos a hanner cyn y cyfnod nesaf hefyd yn rhoi amser i mi gadw golwg ar ddatblygiadau mewn mannau eraill, a rhoi cyfleoedd gwirio pellach i adolygu'r dystiolaeth, ac i wylio'r gwaith o gyflwyno'r rhaglen profi ac olrhain yn llwyddiannus.
Dyma'r dewis ymarferol gorau sy'n bodloni fy mhum egwyddor. Drwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, rwy'n gwybod y byddwn yn sicrhau tegwch a rhagoriaeth i ddisgyblion wrth iddyn nhw ddod i'r ysgol, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi ar gyfer yr haf a mis Medi.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Thank you. Suzy Davies.
Diolch. Suzy Davies.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. And thank you to you, as well, Minister; I think there will be many—children, not least—across Wales who have been looking forward to an announcement of this kind. And can I just associate myself with the remarks that you made for all our teachers and families, and, of course, support staff who've helped work in the hubs as well as at home during this period?
I just wanted to ask you this: if we look at countries across western Europe where lockdown was imposed roughly the same time as in the UK, lifting lockdown is being done differently in different countries and, actually, within some of those countries. And on the face of it, the same actions don't always produce the same consequences, as between these regions, beyond the obvious that isolation limits the spread of the virus. Even so, their way forward, almost entirely, has been to open in a phased way in year groups. So, what has happened to allow you to be satisfied that there is space and opportunity to increase operations? And why have you proceeded to do this by application of a three-weekly cycle for a third of the school population, rather than that more popular year-group approach? And in so doing, how have you weighted factors such as emotional well-being and loss of learning against the primary concern of limiting the spread of the virus in the community?
The success of this approach, of course, is going to depend on community confidence, and I do welcome your remarks on protecting staff and children who remain vulnerable, so that no-one will be punished for not taking up the offer of school attendance. But will your guidance to schools include ascertaining which children don't want to go back to school? Can you tell us what a three-weekly cycle actually means? Is this going to be extended to the foundation phase, for three to five-year-olds—in which case, will non-school settings be affected? And will key workers' children be able to attend their own school five days a week along with vulnerable learners, or will they still have to go to hubs?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A diolch i chi hefyd, Gweinidog; rwy'n credu y bydd llawer—plant yn enwedig— ar draws Cymru wedi bod yn edrych ymlaen at gyhoeddiad o'r math hwn. Ac a gaf i gytuno â'r sylwadau a wnaethoch chi ynghylch ein holl athrawon a theuluoedd, ac, wrth gwrs, staff cymorth sydd wedi helpu i weithio yn yr hybiau yn ogystal â gweithio gartref yn ystod y cyfnod hwn?
Roeddwn eisiau gofyn hyn i chi: os edrychwn ar wledydd ar draws Gorllewin Ewrop lle y gorfodwyd cyfyngiadau symud tua'r un adeg ag yn y DU, mae codi'r cyfyngiadau yn digwydd mewn modd gwahanol mewn gwahanol wledydd ac, mewn gwirionedd, o fewn rhai o'r gwledydd hynny. Ac ar yr wyneb, nid yw'r un gweithredoedd bob amser yn arwain ar yr un canlyniadau, rhwng y rhanbarthau hyn, heblaw am y ffaith amlwg fod ynysu yn cyfyngu ar ledaeniad y feirws. Er hynny, eu ffordd nhw ymlaen, bron yn gyfan gwbl, fu agor yn raddol mewn grwpiau blwyddyn. Felly, beth sydd wedi digwydd i'ch bodloni bod lle a chyfle i gynyddu gweithrediadau? A pham ydych chi wedi mynd ati i wneud hyn drwy gyflwyno cylch tair wythnos i draean o'r boblogaeth ysgolion, yn hytrach na'r dull mwy poblogaidd hwnnw o weithredu mewn grwpiau blwyddyn? Ac wrth wneud hynny, sut ydych chi wedi pwysoli ffactorau megis lles emosiynol a cholli dysgu o'u cymharu â'r prif bryder o gyfyngu lledaeniad y feirws yn y gymuned?
Bydd llwyddiant y dull hwn, wrth gwrs, yn dibynnu ar hyder y gymuned, ac rwy'n croesawu eich sylwadau am ddiogelu staff a phlant sy'n dal yn agored i niwed, fel na fydd neb yn cael ei gosbi am beidio â manteisio ar y cynnig i fynychu'r ysgol. Ond a fydd eich arweiniad i ysgolion yn cynnwys y gwaith o ganfod pa blant nad ydynt eisiau dychwelyd i'r ysgol? A allwch ddweud wrthym beth y mae cylch tair wythnos yn ei olygu mewn gwirionedd? A fydd hyn yn cael ei ymestyn i'r cyfnod sylfaen, ar gyfer plant rhwng tair a phump oed—ac os felly, a gaiff hyn effaith ar leoliadau nad ydynt yn ysgolion? Ac a fydd plant gweithwyr allweddol yn gallu mynychu eu hysgolion eu hunain bum diwrnod yr wythnos ynghyd â dysgwyr sy'n agored i niwed, neu a fyddant yn gorfod parhau i fynd i hybiau?
Thank you very much. I'll do my best to try and cover the multiple questions that Suzy Davies has asked. Key worker children will be able to attend their own schools, for the same hours that they are currently attending their hub schools. And that is the same for vulnerable children who already have an entitlement—they will do that now in their home school, when we move to the next phase at the end of June.
With regard to those families, I respect that each family will make a decision based on a number of factors, and what is right for them, and I respect families in their ability to do just that. If a family, for whatever reason, decides not to take up the opportunity of a check-in, then we will respect that and nobody will be fined, nor will attendance form part of any measurement of school performance either. I think that's important to say to teachers.
We do know that, at the moment, there are 4,000 children who themselves are in receipt of a shielding letter. Not all of those children will be of school age, and our advice to those children is that those children should not take up this opportunity of a check-in, and our expectation is that their needs will be met in a different way. And for those parents who are in receipt of a shielding letter, again, our advice would be that their children should not necessarily take up the offer, although it's a matter for them to weigh up. But again, they will not be disadvantaged—the check-in will happen in a different way for those children also.
What's been really important for me is the principle of equity and recognising that all children have an equal opportunity, and although it would be in some ways logistically simpler to have year groups, that means that, for some children, they would not have set foot in a school, as I said, for a considerable length of time and I believe that is detrimental to them.
We are moving very cautiously and, as I said, we will severely limit the number of children who can be on site at any one time. Our expectations are that classes will be very, very small, with a dedicated member of staff. And I need to make it very clear to Members, as I have hopefully to parents earlier today, that this in no way resembles school going back to normal. So, children will not be doing a full week in school, attending school every day— they will be allocated check-in slots for them to do that.
Now, in terms of ascertaining the level of demand, I would expect headteachers in this next three and a half weeks to be contacting parents to ascertain which parents will take up the offer of check-ins for their students and then be able to plan accordingly to ensure that numbers are kept to a manageable-to-safe level. I think it is important that all children have the opportunity to check in with their teachers, that all children's learning can be assessed at this point and that all families can be helped for the next phase of education.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fe wnaf fy ngorau i geisio ymdrin â'r cwestiynau lluosog y mae Suzy Davies wedi'u gofyn. Bydd plant gweithiwr allweddol yn gallu mynychu eu hysgolion eu hunain, am yr un oriau ag y maen nhw'n mynychu eu hysgolion hyb ar hyn o bryd. Ac mae hynny'n wir ar gyfer plant agored i niwed y mae ganddyn nhw hawl eisoes—byddant yn gwneud hynny nawr yn eu hysgol gartref, pan symudwn at y cam nesaf ddiwedd mis Mehefin.
O ran y teuluoedd hynny, rwy'n parchu'r ffaith y bydd pob teulu'n gwneud penderfyniad ar sail nifer o ffactorau, a'r hyn sy'n iawn iddyn nhw, ac rwy'n parchu teuluoedd a'u gallu i wneud yr union beth hwnnw. Os bydd teulu, am ba reswm bynnag, yn penderfynu peidio â manteisio ar y cyfle i blentyn ddod i'r ysgol, yna byddwn yn parchu hynny ac ni fydd neb yn cael dirwy, ac ni fydd presenoldeb yn rhan o unrhyw fesur o berfformiad ysgol ychwaith. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig i'w ddweud wrth athrawon.
Rydym yn gwybod, ar hyn o bryd, bod 4,000 o blant sydd eu hunain wedi cael llythyr gwarchod. Ni fydd pob un o'r plant hynny o oedran ysgol, a'n cyngor i'r plant hynny yw na ddylai'r plant hynny fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddod i'r ysgol, a'n bod yn disgwyl y bydd eu hanghenion yn cael eu diwallu mewn ffordd wahanol. Ac i'r rhieni hynny sy'n cael llythyr gwarchod, unwaith eto, ein cyngor ni yw na ddylai eu plant o anghenraid fanteisio ar y cynnig, er mai mater iddyn nhw yw pwyso a mesur. Ond unwaith eto, ni fyddant o dan anfantais—bydd y broses o ddod i'r ysgol yn digwydd mewn ffordd wahanol i'r plant hynny hefyd.
Yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn bwysig iawn i mi yw'r egwyddor o degwch a chydnabod bod pob plentyn i gael cyfle cyfartal, ac er y byddai mewn rhai ffyrdd yn symlach yn logistaidd i gael grwpiau blwyddyn, mae hynny'n golygu, i rai plant, na fyddent wedi tywyllu ysgol, fel y dywedais, ers amser maith a chredaf fod hynny'n niweidiol iddyn nhw.
Rydym yn symud yn ofalus iawn ac, fel y dywedais, byddwn yn cyfyngu'n ddifrifol ar nifer y plant a all fod ar y safle ar unrhyw un adeg. Rydym yn disgwyl i'r dosbarthiadau fod yn rhai bach iawn, gydag aelod o staff penodol. Ac mae angen imi ei gwneud yn glir iawn i Aelodau, fel y gwnes i, gobeithio, i rieni yn gynharach heddiw, nad yw hyn yn debyg o gwbl i ysgol yn dychwelyd i'r sefyllfa arferol. Felly, ni fydd plant yn gwneud wythnos lawn yn yr ysgol, yn mynychu'r ysgol bob dydd—byddant yn cael amseroedd penodol i fynychu er mwyn iddyn nhw wneud hynny.
Nawr, o ran canfod faint o alw sydd yna, byddwn yn disgwyl i benaethiaid yn y tair wythnos a hanner nesaf gysylltu â rhieni i weld pa rieni fydd yn derbyn y cynnig i'w myfyrwyr ddod i'r ysgol ar adegau penodol ac yna byddant yn gallu cynllunio'n unol â hynny i sicrhau nad yw'r niferoedd yn fwy na'r hyn sy'n ddiogel i'w rheoli. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig bod pob un plentyn yn cael y cyfle i drafod gyda'i athro, bod modd asesu dysgu'r holl blant ar yr adeg hon ac y gellir helpu'r holl deuluoedd ar gyfer y cam nesaf o ran addysg.
Thank you for that. I think there's a serious point here about parental confidence, and I suppose one way that you could help improve that is by helping them understand, for example, how any adults in school hubs across Wales have been tested and with what returns, and whether there are any plans for testing asymptomatic adults in schools during the phased return, and also whether there's going to be some extra funding here for schools to implement the social distancing and hygiene measures, and for councils to provide sufficient school transport provision to comply with those same requirements.
I think there's also a question about consistency of application of the existing guidance across the whole of Wales. This is something I've raised with you before. If some children are still not going to be going to school and two thirds of those who do will still be getting their learning at home, I think we could do with some reassurance really on how you've been following councils and schools over this period to ascertain that the guidance that you've provided has been followed consistently across Wales.
Diolch am hynny. Credaf fod pwynt difrifol yma am hyder rhieni, ac mae'n debyg mai un ffordd y gallech helpu i wella hynny yw drwy eu helpu i ddeall, er enghraifft, sut y profwyd unrhyw oedolion mewn hybiau ysgol ledled Cymru a pha ganlyniadau a gafwyd, ac a oes unrhyw gynlluniau ar gyfer profi oedolion asymptomatig mewn ysgolion yn ystod y cyfnod o ddychwelyd fesul cam, a hefyd a fydd rhywfaint o gyllid ychwanegol yma i ysgolion weithredu'r mesurau cadw pellter cymdeithasol a hylendid, ac i gynghorau ddarparu digon o gludiant ysgol i gydymffurfio â'r un gofynion.
Rwy'n credu bod cwestiwn hefyd ynglŷn â chysondeb y broses o weithredu'r canllawiau presennol ar draws Cymru gyfan. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf wedi ei godi gyda chi o'r blaen. Os na fydd rhai plant yn mynd i'r ysgol o hyd, a bydd dwy ran o dair o'r rhai sy'n gwneud hynny yn dal i gael eu dysgu gartref, rwy'n credu bod angen rhywfaint o sicrwydd arnom ni mewn gwirionedd ynghylch sut yr ydych chi wedi bod yn dilyn cynghorau ac ysgolion dros y cyfnod hwn i gadarnhau y dilynwyd y canllawiau yr ydych chi wedi'u darparu yn gyson ledled Cymru.
Firstly, I think it's really important that we have a testing, tracing and protect regime that is robust to support the safe next stage of educational operations. You'll be aware that SAGE papers made it very clear that, in opening up schools to more pupils, testing and tracing had to be in place. We will have a month of the testing and tracing regime here in Wales before additional children will be going into school. That gives us the confidence that that system is up and running and is robust.
With regard to antibody testing, we will be including teaching and educational staff who've been working in our hubs to undergo antibody testing. That will be able to enhance our understanding of how—if there are any—the disease works in a school, childcare setting. The latest figures that I saw is that the vast majority of tests that have been carried out on those working in educational institutions have come back as negative. We have had some cases but, of course, it is impossible to know whether that person acquired the virus within their workplace or whether they acquired it when they were in their local supermarket or when they were having, potentially, other interactions. What we do know is that children are very, very, very rarely the index case in any provision of the disease—very, very rare indeed that they have passed that disease, the virus, on to anybody else. And, of course, all teachers are currently eligible—as is the Welsh general public now—for testing, and we will take further advice as to how routine testing should happen, but the TTP regime is absolutely crucial to us.
With regard to checking what is happening at the moment, we have a number of ways in which we are doing that. Parentkind recently did an independent survey of parents. Eighty-four per cent of Welsh parents said they were satisfied with the support that they had received from their children's schools. Obviously, there is a continued road here for local education authorities. Their job of supporting their schools hasn't gone away, neither has the role of regional school improvement services.
We have asked regional school improvement services to begin a methodical way of looking at practice at the moment. Their first report will be published on 19 June, and then we would expect that report to follow on a regular basis to ascertain the levels of engagement and the nature of the engagement of online learning, and that will report at regular intervals so that we can have assurance as to what schools are doing. Estyn have already begun work on good practice guides, looking at how the system has responded to the emergency and ensuring that best practice is understood and spread as we move forward.
Can I just say that I think schools have moved with tremendous speed to embrace new ways of learning? That will continue to develop, because what we are facing is a prolonged period of education where there will be a mixture of online learning and face-to-face contact. But all the evidence suggests that online learning is greatly enhanced when that can be supported by regular face-to-face sessions.
Yn gyntaf, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn bod gennym ni drefn brofi, olrhain a diogelu sy'n gadarn i gefnogi'r cyfnod nesaf o weithrediadau addysgol. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod papurau SAGE wedi ei gwneud hi'n glir iawn, wrth agor ysgolion i fwy o ddisgyblion, bod yn rhaid profi ac olrhain. Bydd gennym ni fis o'r drefn profi ac olrhain yma yng Nghymru cyn y bydd plant ychwanegol yn mynd i'r ysgol. Mae hynny'n rhoi hyder inni fod y system honno ar waith ac yn gadarn.
O ran profi gwrthgyrff, byddwn yn cynnwys staff addysgu ac addysgol sydd wedi bod yn gweithio yn ein hybiau ar gyfer profion gwrthgyrff. Gall hynny wella ein dealltwriaeth o sut—os oes rhai—mae'r clefyd yn gweithio mewn ysgol, lleoliad gofal plant. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf a welais yn dangos bod y mwyafrif helaeth o'r profion sydd wedi'u cynnal ar y rhai sy'n gweithio mewn sefydliadau addysgol wedi dod yn ôl yn negyddol. Rydym wedi cael rhai achosion ond, wrth gwrs, mae'n amhosib gwybod a gafodd yr unigolyn hwnnw'r feirws yn y gweithle neu a gafodd ei heintio pan oedd yn ei archfarchnad leol neu pan oedd, o bosib, yn rhyngweithio mewn ffordd arall. Yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wybod yw mai anaml iawn, iawn, y mae plant yn trosglwyddo'r clefyd mewn unrhyw fodd—mae'n annhebygol iawn eu bod wedi trosglwyddo'r clefyd hwnnw, y feirws, i unrhyw un arall. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae pob athro yn gymwys ar hyn o bryd—felly hefyd y cyhoedd yng Nghymru—i gael eu profi, a byddwn yn cymryd cyngor pellach ynglŷn â sut y dylid cynnal profion rheolaidd, ond mae'r drefn profi, olrhain a diogelu yn gwbl hanfodol inni.
O ran gwirio'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym ni rydym ni'n gwneud hynny mewn sawl ffordd. Yn ddiweddar, gwnaeth Parentkind arolwg annibynnol o rieni. Dywedodd 84 y cant o rieni Cymru eu bod yn fodlon gyda'r gefnogaeth yr oedden nhw wedi ei gael gan ysgolion eu plant. Yn amlwg, mae trefn yma i awdurdodau addysg lleol barhau â hi. Nid yw eu gwaith o gefnogi eu hysgolion wedi diflannu, na'r rhan sydd gan y gwasanaethau gwella ysgolion rhanbarthol i'w chwarae ychwaith.
Rydym ni wedi gofyn i wasanaethau rhanbarthol gwella ysgolion ddechrau dull trefnus o edrych ar arferion ar hyn o bryd. Bydd eu hadroddiad cyntaf yn cael ei gyhoeddi ar 19 Mehefin, ac yna byddem yn disgwyl adroddiad dilynol rheolaidd i ganfod faint o ymgysylltu sydd yna a natur y broses o ymgysylltu â dysgu ar-lein, a bydd hwnnw'n adroddiad rheolaidd er mwyn inni gael sicrwydd ynghylch yr hyn y mae ysgolion yn ei wneud. Mae Estyn eisoes wedi dechrau gweithio ar ganllawiau arfer da, gan edrych ar sut y mae'r system wedi ymateb i'r argyfwng a sicrhau bod arferion gorau yn cael eu deall a'u lledaenu wrth i ni symud ymlaen.
A gaf i ddweud fy mod yn credu bod ysgolion wedi symud gyda chyflymder aruthrol i gofleidio ffyrdd newydd o ddysgu? Bydd hynny'n parhau i ddatblygu, oherwydd yr hyn sy'n ein hwynebu yw cyfnod estynedig o addysg lle bydd cymysgedd o ddysgu ar-lein a chyswllt wyneb yn wyneb. Ond mae'r holl dystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod dysgu ar-lein yn gwella'n fawr pan ellir cefnogi hynny â sesiynau wyneb yn wyneb rheolaidd.
Mae gen i amheuon mawr ynglŷn ag ailagor ysgolion ddiwedd Mehefin. Mae'n rhy gynnar. Mi fydd llawer o rieni ac athrawon a phlant a phobl ifanc yn bryderus hefyd. Dydy'r gyfundrefn profi ac olrhain ddim mewn lle eto. Dydyn ni ddim yn gwybod yn iawn sut mae'r feirws yma yn gweithredu—sut mae o'n trosglwyddo rhwng plant a rhwng plant ac oedolion. Dwi'n credu bydd ennyn hyder teuluoedd ei bod hi'n ddiogel hyd yn oed i grwpiau bach o blant i ddychwelyd cyn yr haf yn dasg anodd iawn.
Mi oeddem ni ym Mhlaid Cymru wedi awgrymu cynllun arall, cynllun fyddai yn golygu newid patrwm y tymhorau, peidio ailagor yr ysgolion ym Mehefin a Gorffennaf, ac wedyn, dim ond os oedd hi'n saff, i ailagor yn raddol ac i grwpiau bychain o blant o ganol Awst ymlaen, pan, erbyn hynny gobeithio, fyddai gennym ni well darlun o'r hyn sy'n digwydd efo'r feirws. Hoffwn i wybod pam wnaethoch chi ddim mynd efo'r cynllun hwnnw, achos dwi'n deall ei fod o wedi bod yn cael ei drafod.
O ran agor i bob disgybl—ac rydych wedi bod yn trafod hynny rŵan—mae'r undebau, fel y gwyddoch chi, o blaid agor i flynyddoedd 6, 10 a 12 fel blaenoriaeth. Rydym ni wedi trafod hyn, ac mae gen i gydymdeimlad efo'ch safbwynt chi o gynnig cyfle i bob disgybl fedru siecio i mewn. Sut ydych chi'n mynd i ofyn i ysgolion roi'r cyfle hwnnw? Ac a fyddwch chi'n annog ysgolion i chwilio'n benodol am y plant hynny, am y bobl ifanc hynny, sydd ddim wedi bod yn cyfranogi o'r gwersi ar-lein neu o'r dysgu ar-lein, ac sydd ddim wedi bod yn cynnal cyswllt rheolaidd efo'r ysgolion? A fyddwch chi'n annog blaenoriaeth ar gyfer y grŵp penodol yna o blant?
I have grave doubts about the reopening of schools at the end of June. It's too soon. Many parents and teachers, as well as children and young people, will also be concerned. The test and trace system is not in place as of yet. We don't know quite how this virus works and how it transmits between children and from children to adults. And I think garnering the confidence of families that it's safe even for small groups of children to return before the summer will be a very difficult task indeed.
We in Plaid Cymru had suggested an alternative plan, a plan which would have meant a change to the pattern of school terms: not reopening in June and July, and then, only if it was safe to do so, to gradually reopen for small groups of children from mid August onwards. By that time, hopefully, we would have a better picture of what is happening with this virus. I would like to know why you didn't take up that plan, because I do understand that it had been discussed.
In terms of opening for all pupils—and you've just been discussing that—the unions, as you know, are in favour of opening for years 6, 10 and 12 as a priority. We have discussed this, and I do have some sympathy with your stance in terms of offering an opportunity for all pupils to check in. How are you going to ask schools to provide that opportunity? And will you be encouraging schools to look specifically for those children and young people who haven't been engaging in online learning, and who haven't been maintaining a regular contact with schools? Will you be encouraging prioritisation for that particular group of children?
Can I thank Siân Gwenllian for her questions? She'll have to forgive me, I don't recall her discussing an August return with me in our weekly meetings, but she is right to suggest that we had explored the possibility of ending the summer term early and starting the new academic year in August. There were many attractions to that particular scheme. Firstly, making the most of the summer months, whereas I said earlier, we know that the sunlight and the better weather and the ability to have children outside and to better ventilate school buildings is easier to do during the summer months, and it would have allowed even more time for the TTP regime to bed in.
This was discussed with all our union colleagues—headteacher unions, teacher unions and support staff unions. We would have broken up that autumn term into a set number of periods to create natural breaks. But actually, every single union rejected that opportunity. And given the fact that this, of course, would be a profound change to the terms and conditions of our teaching staff, we can only move forward with such a profound change if that is done with the consent of our professionals, and their consent was not there. So, it was a good offer, but I believe what we've come forward with today shares many of the similar opportunities: it allows for the bedding in of testing and tracing for an entire month; it allows us to make the most of learning opportunities in the summer; it provides us with a natural break to reflect on our practice during the six-week summer holidays; and allows us to put in a little extra break—a fire break—in the autumn term when, potentially, things could be becoming difficult once again. And that's how we have decided to proceed.
I think it's important in recognising that it's very difficult to identify which children's education is more important than other people's education. For older children, it's not simply a question of identifying exam groups—different schools have different patterns of exams. There are some children who currently find themselves in year 8 who would begin their GCSE courses in the autumn. There are children who will be sitting unit 1 of their GCSE exams. So, there's a whole variety of exam classes—it's not simply the ones that Siân Gwenllian had outlined, and I think it's absolutely right, in terms of year 6, that they have an opportunity to say goodbye to their teachers and to their schools before they move on to high school. But in terms of curriculum, actually, they've come to the end of their curriculum before they move on to the next stage of their education. I received many overtures from teaching professionals that said that year 5 should take priority over year 6.
What we are doing is ensuring that every child has an opportunity to check in with their teachers, to catch up with what has been going on in their lives, how things have been, how things have been at home, how learning has gone for them, what has been difficult, what's been easy, do they have the facilities that they need in terms of the kit and equipment to allow them to learn, and what are the next phases that they need to work on over the summer and in preparation for September.
And when we think that we could have been asking some very young children to go back in September, when they haven't set foot in a classroom for over 23 weeks, that's a big ask of a small child, and also, that classroom is going to look very different to what it would look like the last time they were in it, and the operation of their school is going to look very different from the last time they were in it. This allows us to have a phased return to be able to slowly introduce our children to what education is going to look like, going forward, and that's why we need to take the opportunity of doing so before the end of the summer term.
A gaf i ddiolch i Siân Gwenllian am ei chwestiynau? Bydd yn rhaid iddi faddau i mi, nid wyf yn cofio iddi drafod dychwelyd ym mis Awst gyda mi yn ein cyfarfodydd wythnosol, ond mae hi'n gywir yn awgrymu ein bod wedi ymchwilio i'r posibilrwydd o ddod â thymor yr haf i ben yn gynnar a dechrau'r flwyddyn academaidd newydd ym mis Awst. Roedd llawer o atyniadau i'r cynllun penodol hwnnw. Yn gyntaf, gwneud y gorau o fisoedd yr haf, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, rydym yn gwybod bod heulwen a'r tywydd gwell a'r gallu i gael plant y tu allan ac awyru adeiladau ysgolion yn haws yn ystod misoedd yr haf, a byddai wedi caniatáu hyd yn oed mwy o amser i'r gyfundrefn profi, olrhain a diogelu ymwreiddio.
Trafodwyd hyn gyda phob un o'n cydweithwyr yn yr undebau—undebau penaethiaid, undebau athrawon ac undebau staff cymorth. Byddem wedi torri tymor yr hydref hwnnw yn nifer penodol o gyfnodau i greu toriadau naturiol. Ond mewn gwirionedd, gwrthododd pob un undeb y cyfle hwnnw. Ac o ystyried y ffaith y byddai hyn, wrth gwrs, yn newid sylweddol i delerau ac amodau ein staff addysgu, ni allwn ond symud ymlaen gyda newid mor ddirfawr os gwneir hynny gyda chydsyniad ein gweithwyr proffesiynol, ac ni chafwyd eu cydsyniad. Felly, roedd yn gynnig da, ond credaf fod yr hyn a gyflwynwyd gennym ni heddiw yn rhannu llawer o'r cyfleoedd tebyg: mae'n caniatáu i'r rhaglen profi ac olrhain ymwreiddio dros fis cyfan; mae'n ein galluogi i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar gyfleoedd dysgu yn yr haf; mae'n rhoi toriad naturiol i ni i fyfyrio ar ein hymarfer yn ystod y chwe wythnos o wyliau haf; ac yn caniatáu inni roi ychydig o doriad ychwanegol—saib—yn nhymor yr hydref pan allai pethau fod yn anodd unwaith eto, o bosib. A dyna sut yr ydym ni wedi penderfynu bwrw ymlaen.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig cydnabod ei bod hi'n anodd iawn nodi addysg pa blant sy'n bwysicach nag addysg pobl eraill. I blant hŷn, nid dim ond mater o nodi grwpiau arholiadau ydyw—mae gan ysgolion gwahanol batrymau arholiadau gwahanol. Byddai rhai plant sydd ym mlwyddyn 8 ar hyn o bryd yn dechrau eu cyrsiau TGAU yn yr hydref. Mae yna blant a fydd yn sefyll uned 1 eu harholiadau TGAU. Felly, mae amrywiaeth eang o ddosbarthiadau arholiadau—nid dim ond y rhai y mae Siân Gwenllian wedi'u hamlinellu, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n gwbl briodol, o ran blwyddyn 6, eu bod yn cael cyfle i ffarwelio â'u hathrawon a'u hysgolion cyn iddyn nhw symud ymlaen i'r ysgol uwchradd. Ond o ran y cwricwlwm, mewn gwirionedd, maen nhw wedi dod i ddiwedd eu cwricwlwm cyn iddyn nhw symud ymlaen i gyfnod nesaf eu haddysg. Cefais nifer o sylwadau gan weithwyr addysgu proffesiynol a oedd yn dweud y dylai blwyddyn 5 gymryd blaenoriaeth dros flwyddyn 6.
Yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud yw sicrhau bod pob un plentyn yn cael cyfle i drafod gyda'i athro, i gael y newyddion diweddaraf ynghylch yr hyn a fu'n digwydd yn eu bywydau, sut y bu pethau, sut y bu pethau gartref, sut y bu'r dysgu, beth sydd wedi bod yn anodd, beth sydd wedi bod yn hawdd, a oes ganddyn nhw y cyfleusterau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw o ran y pecyn a'r offer i ganiatáu iddyn nhw ddysgu, a beth yw'r camau nesaf y mae angen iddyn nhw weithio arnyn nhw dros yr haf ac wrth baratoi ar gyfer mis Medi.
A phan ystyriwn ni y gallem fod wedi bod yn gofyn i rai plant ifanc iawn fynd yn ôl ym mis Medi, heb iddyn nhw dywyllu'r ystafell ddosbarth ers dros 23 o wythnosau, mae hynny'n ofyn mawr i blentyn bach, a hefyd, mae'r ystafell ddosbarth honno'n mynd i edrych yn wahanol iawn o'i chymharu â'r tro diwethaf yr oedden nhw ynddi, a bydd eu hysgol yn gweithio mewn ffordd wahanol iawn i'r tro diwethaf yr oedden nhw ynddi. Mae hyn yn caniatáu i ni ddychwelyd fesul cam er mwyn gallu cyflwyno ein plant yn araf i'r hyn y bydd addysg yn y dyfodol, a dyna pam y mae angen i ni gymryd y cyfle i wneud hynny cyn diwedd tymor yr haf.
Mae hi'n hanfodol, wrth gwrs, nad oes yr un plentyn yn cael ei adael ar ôl a bod pob plentyn yn cael yr addysg orau posib o dan yr amgylchiadau presennol. Mae'n hathrawon ni wedi bod yn hyblyg iawn ac yn gwneud gwaith arbennig, ond ydych chi'n hyderus bod pob plentyn yn ymgysylltu efo'u haddysg? Oes gan bob plentyn ddyfais, band-eang, gofod i weithio ynddo fo a digon o gefnogaeth er mwyn cymryd rhan yn eu gwersi? A sut ydych chi'n mynd i osod disgwyliadau cadarn i bob awdurdod lleol a phob ysgol bod rhaid i ddysgu o bell fod yn rhan greiddiol o'n system addysg ni i'r dyfodol, ddim jest yn ystod cyfnod y coronafeirws, ond mi fydd yna ddisgwyliadau i addysg newid yn sylweddol yn sgil y cwricwlwm newydd, er enghraifft, efo llawer iawn o bwyslais ar ddefnyddio technoleg? Ydych chi'n credu ar hyn o bryd bod yna ddigon yn cael ei wneud i fireinio a datblygu dysgu o bell, gan gynnwys ffrydio gwersi'n fyw? Dydw i ddim yn siŵr ydy hwnna'n digwydd yn gyson ar draws Cymru.
A gaf i jest droi'n olaf at Fil y cwricwlwm? Fedrwch chi gadarnhau wrthym ni pa bryd y bydd y drafft yn cael ei gyhoeddi? Dwi'n deall bod hyn ar fin digwydd ond dwi'n deall hefyd bod yna fygythiad i'r arfer o drochi plant ifanc yn y Gymraeg oherwydd y geiriad fydd ar wyneb y Bil, ac mi fyddai hynny'n ergyd drom iawn i'r nod miliwn o siaradwyr. Fedrwch chi ymrwymo felly i newid y cymal yma cyn cyhoeddi'r fersiwn drafft o Fil y cwricwlwm? Diolch.
It's crucial, of course, that no child is left behind and that every child gets the best possible education under the current circumstances. Our teachers have been very flexible indeed and have done excellent work, but are you confident that every child is engaging with his or her education? Does every child have a device, access to broadband, a space to work in and sufficient support in order to participate in learning? And how are you going to place robust expectations on all local authorities and all schools that remote learning does have to be a core part of our education system for the future, not just during this coronavirus period, but there will be expectations that education should change substantially in light of the new curriculum, for example, with a great deal of emphasis on using technology? So, do you believe at present that enough is being done to polish and refine remote learning, including streaming lessons live? Now, I'm not sure if that's happening consistently across Wales at the moment.
If I can just turn finally to the curriculum Bill, can you confirm to us when the draft will be published? I'm given to understand that this is about to happen, but I also understand that there's some threat to the practice of immersing young children in the Welsh language because of the wording on the face of the Bill, and that would be a very grave blow to the target of a million Welsh speakers. So, can you commit to changing this clause before the publication of the draft curriculum Bill? Thank you.
Well, Siân Gwenllian is right: this period has certainly led to a real boost to developing everybody's digital competence skills—children, teachers, indeed, Members of the Senedd. We're all, I'm sure, much more digitally competent today than we were 10 weeks ago even though some of us, from time to time, still struggle with our mute buttons.
It is a real concern to me that everybody has an opportunity to be able to learn online. That's why the Member will be aware of the financial support that we have put in place to address the digital exclusion of pupils. To date, as a result of direct support from the Welsh Government, some 10,849 Wi-Fi units have been distributed. That is support that has been made available across and utilised by all 22 local authorities, and requests for additional support keep coming in and we are meeting those requests.
With regard to repurposed devices, I can say that we have issued licences for some 8,966 devices. Those are devices being distributed across 14 local authorities that have benefited from the Welsh Government's central arrangements, but the actual total number of devices that have been lent out is higher than that because some local authorities very proactively gave those devices out at the very beginning of the crisis, and so have not necessarily availed ourselves. So, we know that a significant amount of support has been made available with regard to digital exclusion. And that's why, Siân, we do need everybody to have a check in or at least give people the opportunity of a check in because, you're right, I cannot guarantee you that every child has been engaging in their learning, and that might be for a whole variety of reasons, whether that be digital exclusion, whether that be because mums and dads are working very hard from home and are struggling to be able to provide that support. For some, the motivation of not being amongst their classmates might be very difficult. And that's exactly why we do have to not pick year groups, but actually provide an opportunity for all students to be seen by their teachers so these discussions can be had so we can find out what's been going on in children's lives; we can find out why maybe they have not been engaging and what we all need to do to support them better.
Live lessons are a matter for individual practitioners and schools. Welsh Government has provided guidance on how practitioners can do that safely and appropriately, so they may be able to do that and I can assure the Member that there is nothing in the forthcoming curriculum Bill that prevents or undermines the practice of immersion; indeed, the very opposite: for the first time there will be a legal underpinning to the practice of immersion.
Wel, mae Siân Gwenllian yn iawn: mae'r cyfnod hwn yn sicr wedi bod yn hwb gwirioneddol i ddatblygu sgiliau cymhwysedd digidol pawb—plant, athrawon, yn wir, Aelodau'r Senedd. Rydym ni i gyd, rwy'n siŵr, yn llawer mwy cymwys yn ddigidol heddiw nag yr oeddem ni 10 wythnos yn ôl er bod rhai ohonom ni, o bryd i'w gilydd, yn dal i frwydro gyda'n botymau distewi.
Mae'n bwysig iawn i mi fod pawb yn cael cyfle i ddysgu ar-lein. Dyna pam y bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol o'r cymorth ariannol yr ydym ni wedi'i roi i fynd i'r afael ag allgáu digidol disgyblion. Hyd yma, o ganlyniad i gymorth uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mae tua 10,849 o unedau wi-fi wedi cael eu dosbarthu. Mae hynny'n gymorth a ddarparwyd ac a ddefnyddiwyd gan bob un o'r 22 awdurdod lleol, ac fe barheir i wneud ceisiadau am gymorth ychwanegol ac rydym yn bodloni'r ceisiadau hynny.
O ran dyfeisiau sydd wedi'u haddasu at ddibenion gwahanol, gallaf ddweud ein bod wedi rhoi trwyddedau ar gyfer tua 8,966 o ddyfeisiau. Mae'r rheini'n ddyfeisiau sy'n cael eu dosbarthu ar draws 14 o awdurdodau lleol sydd wedi elwa ar drefniadau canolog Llywodraeth Cymru, ond mae cyfanswm nifer y dyfeisiau sydd wedi'u benthyca yn uwch na hynny gan fod rhai awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn rhagweithiol iawn wrth ddyrannu'r dyfeisiau hynny ar ddechrau'r argyfwng, ac felly nid ydynt o anghenraid wedi manteisio ar hyn. Felly, gwyddom fod cryn dipyn o gymorth wedi'i ddarparu o ran allgáu digidol. A dyna pam, Siân, mae angen i bawb ddod i'r ysgol neu o leiaf gael y cyfle i ddod i'r ysgol oherwydd, rydych chi'n iawn, ni allaf eich sicrhau bod pob plentyn wedi bod yn dysgu, a gallai hynny fod am amryw byd o resymau, boed hynny'n allgáu digidol, boed hynny am fod mamau a thadau yn gweithio'n galed iawn o gartref ac yn cael trafferth i ddarparu'r gefnogaeth honno. I rai, gallai'r cymhelliant o beidio â bod ymhlith eu cyd-ddisgyblion fod yn anodd iawn. A dyna'n union pam y mae'n rhaid i ni beidio â dewis grwpiau blwyddyn, ond mewn gwirionedd rhoi cyfle i'r holl fyfyrwyr weld eu hathrawon fel y gellir cael y trafodaethau hyn fel y gallwn ni ddarganfod beth sydd wedi bod yn digwydd ym mywydau plant; gallwn ddarganfod pam nad ydynt wedi bod yn ymgysylltu, a'r hyn y mae angen i ni i gyd ei wneud i'w cefnogi'n well.
Mae gwersi byw yn fater i ymarferwyr ac ysgolion unigol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu canllawiau ar sut y gall ymarferwyr wneud hynny'n ddiogel ac yn briodol, felly efallai y byddant yn gallu gwneud hynny a gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod nad oes dim yn y Bil cwricwlwm sydd ar y gweill sy'n atal neu'n tanseilio'r arfer o drochi; yn wir, i'r gwrthwyneb: am y tro cyntaf bydd sail gyfreithiol i'r arfer o drochi.
I was disappointed that this came after rather than before the press statement earlier, but nonetheless I would like to welcome this statement from the education Secretary, and that we are going to see at least some reopening of schools. Unlike Siân Gwenllian, I would have preferred it to be earlier rather than later but it's happening and I welcome that, and I'd like to thank the education Secretary for her work to bring that about. You were very frank, I felt, in your remarks earlier that it was the unions that prevented what sounded like your preferred sort of option of opening schools in early to mid August. Could I also clarify whether the unions were also influential in the decision of when to give back this additional week to be worked late in July? Wouldn't it have been better perhaps for parents and pupils if that week had been over the coming few weeks when only online opportunities were available, rather than being an additional week that will be missed now in the autumn term? I wouldn't like, though, for that question to be interpreted as anti-union or at all criticising the Minister for the engagement she has had with the unions. Clearly, if the unions are able to bring their members with them, it is pragmatic and sensible to work with them to try to get more teachers back to work and to come back in a more positive, participative and supportive way. That's to be welcomed. Can I, though, also ask: has she considered the interests of parents and pupils within that as well, because they're also clearly very important stakeholders within this?
Overall, I think what she says about bringing all the children back at least for some education strikes me as having merits. She mentioned the equality aspect of that, but the supporting online learning and meeting physically as well, clearly, that will have benefits: checking on children, knowing where children are, being able to signpost and intervene where appropriate, and to support that online learning with some physical contact for all does seem positive.
Can I just finally clarify the situation in terms of roughly a third of pupils returning was what the written statement said? I think you said just now that it was no more than a third of pupils. Similarly, the reference to their capacity, their own individual capacity for schools, and I think in a written statement: schools may need time to reach this level of operation. I think that was then changed to: schools may not be able to reach that level of operation. Clearly, it's for the Minister to update written statements and give the verbal version, which is, of course, the record and I appreciate it, but I just wonder, though, does that suggest that that area is one of some controversy? Did she have questions at her statement earlier that led to any change of mind or emphasis on that? And she mentioned more the schools that might find it difficult to get up that level operation, are there other schools where they may feel that they can operate safely with rather more pupils than a third, and will she give schools discretion on that side of the equation as well as the other? Thank you very much.
Roeddwn yn siomedig fod hwn wedi dod ar ôl yn hytrach na chyn y datganiad i'r wasg yn gynharach, ond serch hynny, hoffwn groesawu'r datganiad hwn gan yr Ysgrifennydd Addysg, a'n bod yn mynd i weld o leiaf rhywfaint o ailagor ysgolion. Yn wahanol i Siân Gwenllian, byddai'n well gennyf i petai hynny'n gynharach yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach ond mae'n digwydd ac rwy'n croesawu hynny, a hoffwn ddiolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Addysg am ei gwaith i sicrhau hynny. Roeddech yn onest iawn, fe deimlais, yn eich sylwadau'n gynharach, pan ddywedsoch chi mai'r undebau a rwystrodd yr hyn a oedd yn swnio fel eich dewis cyntaf, sef agor ysgolion yng nghanol mis Awst. A gaf i hefyd fod yn glir a oedd yr undebau hefyd yn ddylanwadol wrth benderfynu pryd y dylid rhoi'r wythnos ychwanegol hon sydd i'w gweithio'n hwyr yng Ngorffennaf yn ôl? Oni fyddai wedi bod yn well efallai i rieni a disgyblion pe bai'r wythnos honno wedi bod yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf pan nad oedd ond cyfleoedd ar-lein ar gael, yn hytrach na'i bod yn wythnos ychwanegol a gaiff ei cholli nawr yn nhymor yr Hydref? Ni fyddwn yn hoffi, fodd bynnag, i'r cwestiwn hwnnw gael ei ddehongli fel un yn erbyn yr undebau nac fel beirniadaeth o'r Gweinidog am ymgysylltu â'r undebau. Yn amlwg, os yw'r undebau'n gallu cael cefnogaeth eu haelodau, mae'n bragmatig ac yn synhwyrol gweithio gyda nhw i geisio cael mwy o athrawon yn ôl i'r gwaith ac i ddychwelyd mewn ffordd fwy cadarnhaol, cyfranogol a chefnogol. Mae hynny i'w groesawu. Fodd bynnag, a gaf i hefyd ofyn: a yw hi wedi ystyried buddiannau rhieni a disgyblion hefyd, oherwydd maen nhw hefyd yn amlwg yn rhanddeiliaid pwysig iawn yn hyn i gyd?
Yn gyffredinol, credaf fod yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud am ddod â'r holl blant yn ôl o leiaf i gael rhywfaint o addysg yn fy nharo fel cynllun sydd â rhinweddau. Soniodd am yr agwedd o gydraddoldeb yn hynny, ond o ran cefnogi dysgu ar-lein a chyfarfod yn gorfforol hefyd, yn amlwg bydd manteision i hynny: cadw llygad ar blant, gwybod lle mae plant, gallu cyfeirio ac ymyrryd pan fo'n briodol, ac mae cefnogi dysgu ar-lein gyda pheth cyswllt corfforol i bawb yn ymddangos yn gadarnhaol.
Yn olaf a gaf i gadarnhau'r hyn y mae'r datganiad ysgrifenedig yn ei ddweud sef bod tua thraean o'r disgyblion yn dychwelyd? Credaf ichi ddweud nawr nad oedd yn fwy na thraean o'r disgyblion. Yn yr un modd, mae cyfeiriad at eu capasiti, eu capasiti unigol eu hunain ar gyfer ysgolion, a chredaf mewn datganiad ysgrifenedig: efallai y bydd angen amser ar ysgolion i allu gweithredu yn y modd hwn. Rwy'n credu i hynny gael ei newid wedyn i: efallai na fydd ysgolion yn gallu gweithredu yn y modd hwnnw. Yn amlwg, mater i'r Gweinidog yw diweddaru datganiadau ysgrifenedig a rhoi'r fersiwn lafar, sef y cofnod, wrth gwrs, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny, ond tybed, serch hynny, a yw hynny'n awgrymu bod y pwnc hwnnw'n un dadleuol? A gwestiynwyd ei datganiad yn gynharach a arweiniodd at unrhyw newid meddwl neu bwyslais ar hynny? A soniodd am fwy o ysgolion a allai ei chael hi'n anodd gweithredu yn y modd hwnnw, a oes ysgolion eraill sy'n teimlo y gallant weithredu'n ddiogel gyda mwy o ddisgyblion na thraean, ac a wnaiff hi roi rhyddid i ysgolion ar ddwy ochr yr hafaliad i arfer eu doethineb? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you for that, Mr Reckless. With regard to his disappointment that I had not done this earlier, I do not feel that it would have been safe to do this earlier. As I said, the SAGE advice was very, very clear, we need to have a TTP regime up and running before we could see more children accessing education. That TTP system has only began this week and I was not prepared to see more children going back to school until that system had been up and running and had been tested. So, that's why we haven't gone back any earlier. It's also very interesting to read the SAGE advice—the independent SAGE group, actually—that said the difference between children returning on 1 June and the difference between children returning on 15 June sees a halving of the likelihood of a child contracting the virus. We're going back even later, which is in line with the very cautious and careful approach that Welsh Government is taking to all of the unlocking measures, and that's based on, as I said, SAGE advice, which subsequently, I think, is in the public domain.
With regard to the extra week, I'm proposing to extend the term by a week to grasp that opportunity of learning during the summer, because, as I said earlier, we know that that gives us the best opportunity to have face-to-face. We're coming to the end of the academic year; that additional week means that we can make the most of this opportunity and maximise the amount of face-to-face contact children can have with their teachers this side of the summer. With regard to an additional week in October, I have taken that decision to reallocate that week. I have done so, again, because as was discussed at length yesterday I think by the health Minister, we are increasingly concerned about the pattern of the disease in the autumn. I hope to goodness, my goodness me, there is nobody—and I'm sure we're all the same—nobody wants to see a resurgence of the virus in the autumn. It's too early to tell whether that will happen, but there is—. The advice that we're getting is that we could well see a return. Therefore, having a natural fire break and prioritising face-to-face contact now, when we know we can do it, as opposed to additional lost face-to-face contact time in the autumn, is an important part of my strategy. Also, it's a very long term anyway, and it just gives us the opportunity to create a natural fire break at a time when the disease may—and my goodness me, we all hope not—but may begin to show itself again.
With regard to the size—sorry. There's no controversy. I just get picky and once it's all out in print and given out to people, sometimes I just change my words and I prefer a different word, Mr Reckless. That's my prerogative as a Minister. Sometimes I just want to change my words, but it's certainly not done out of any controversy. What we're trying to do is recognise that Welsh education is massively diverse. You know, we have some schools that have 40 pupils in, and we've got some schools that have got a lot of pupils in, and we have to trust in our headteachers and our local education authorities, to make sure that there is enough flexibility to reflect the very, very different nature of our schools. We also have to accept about the availability of workforce. We know, and our recommendation and our advice is, that a teacher that is in receipt of a shielding letter should not return to the physical workplace. There are things that they can do at home and online to support learning, but they should not be in the workplace. So, we have to have some flexibility in the system. The third is the maximum amount of children that we would want to see. But, again, we have to have some flexibility and we have to rely on the discretion of individual headteachers and governing bodies of how it will work in their environment, as long as that is working within the national context and the framework that we will have set out to them. But we have to recognise that Welsh education is diverse, and individual school buildings and settings may be more easy to manage than others, and we have to recognise that as a very practical response to the situation. One size is not going to fit all.
Diolch am hynny, Mr Reckless. O ran ei siom nad oeddwn wedi gwneud hyn yn gynharach, nid wyf yn teimlo y byddai wedi bod yn ddiogel gwneud hyn yn gynharach. Fel y dywedais, roedd Cyngor SAGE yn glir iawn, mae angen inni gael trefn i'w defnyddio ar gyfer yr holl waith cyn y gallem ni weld mwy o blant yn cael addysg. Dim ond yr wythnos hon y mae'r system wedi dechrau, ac nid oeddwn yn barod i weld mwy o blant yn mynd yn ôl i'r ysgol nes y bu'r system honno ar waith ac wedi cael ei phrofi. Felly, dyna pam nad ydym ni wedi mynd yn ôl yn gynharach. Mae hefyd yn ddiddorol iawn darllen cyngor SAGE—grŵp annibynnol SAGE, mewn gwirionedd—a oedd yn dweud bod y gwahaniaeth rhwng plant yn dychwelyd ar 1 Mehefin a phlant yn dychwelyd ar 15 Mehefin yn haneru'r tebygolrwydd y bydd plentyn yn cael y feirws. Rydym yn mynd yn ôl hyd yn oed yn hwyrach, sy'n unol â'r ymagwedd ofalus iawn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei chymryd tuag at bob un o'r mesurau llacio, ac mae hynny'n seiliedig ar gyngor SAGE, fel y dywedais, sy'n hysbys i'r cyhoedd erbyn hyn, rwy'n credu.
O ran yr wythnos ychwanegol, rwy'n bwriadu ymestyn y tymor gan roi wythnos ychwanegol i fachu ar y cyfle hwnnw i ddysgu yn ystod yr haf, oherwydd, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, gwyddom fod hynny'n rhoi'r cyfle gorau inni gael cyfarfodydd wyneb yn wyneb. Rydym ni'n dod i ddiwedd y flwyddyn academaidd; mae'r wythnos ychwanegol honno'n golygu y gallwn ni fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfle hwn a sicrhau cymaint â phosib o gyfleoedd i gael cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb rhwng plant a'u hathrawon yr ochr hon i'r haf. O ran wythnos ychwanegol ym mis Hydref, rwyf wedi gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw i ailddyrannu'r wythnos honno. Rwyf wedi gwneud hynny, eto, oherwydd fel y trafodwyd yn hirfaith ddoe, mi gredaf gan y Gweinidog Iechyd, rydym yn pryderu fwyfwy am batrwm y clefyd yn yr hydref. Rwy'n gobeithio o ddifri, nid oes neb—ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod i gyd yr un fath—nid oes neb eisiau gweld y feirws yn cynyddu eto yn yr hydref. Mae'n rhy gynnar i ddweud a fydd hynny'n digwydd, ond mae—. Y cyngor yr ydym yn ei gael yw ei bod yn ddigon posib y gwelwn y feirws yn dychwelyd. Felly, mae cael egwyl naturiol a blaenoriaethu cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb nawr, a ninnau'n gwybod y gallwn ni ei wneud, yn hytrach na cholli amser cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb ychwanegol yn yr hydref, yn rhan bwysig o'm strategaeth. Hefyd, mae'n dymor hir iawn beth bynnag, ac mae'n rhoi'r cyfle i ni greu egwyl naturiol ar adeg pan allai'r clefyd—ac rydym i gyd yn gobeithio na fydd—ddechrau amlygu ei hun eto.
O ran maint—mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Does dim dadl. Rwy'n aml yn hollti blew ac unwaith y bydd popeth mewn print ac yn cael ei roi i bobl, weithiau byddaf yn newid fy ngeiriau gan fy mod yn hoffi gair gwahanol, Mr Reckless. Dyna fy hawl fel Gweinidog. Weithiau rwyf eisiau newid fy ngeiriau, ond yn sicr nid yw oherwydd unrhyw beth dadleuol. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud yw cydnabod bod addysg Gymraeg yn hynod amrywiol. Wyddoch chi, mae gennym ni rai ysgolion sydd â 40 o ddisgyblion ynddyn nhw, ac mae gennym ni rai ysgolion sydd â llawer o ddisgyblion ynddyn nhw, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ymddiried yn ein penaethiaid a'n hawdurdodau addysg lleol i wneud yn siŵr bod digon o hyblygrwydd i adlewyrchu natur wahanol iawn ein hysgolion. Rhaid inni dderbyn hefyd na fydd y gweithlu o bosib ar gael yn llawn. Gwyddom, a'n hargymhelliad a'n cyngor ni yw na ddylai athro sy'n cael llythyr gwarchod ddychwelyd i'r gweithle ffisegol. Mae pethau y gallant eu gwneud gartref ac ar-lein i gefnogi dysgu, ond ni ddylen nhw fod yn y gweithle. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni gael rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd yn y system. Y traean yw'r nifer fwyaf o blant y byddem eisiau eu gweld. Ond, unwaith eto, mae'n rhaid i ni gael rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd a rhaid i ni ddibynnu ar ddoethineb penaethiaid a chyrff llywodraethu unigol o ran sut y bydd yn gweithio yn eu lleoliad nhw, cyn belled â bod hynny'n gweithio o fewn y cyd-destun cenedlaethol a'r fframwaith y byddwn wedi'i osod iddyn nhw. Ond mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod bod addysg Gymraeg yn amrywiol, ac y gall adeiladau a lleoliadau ysgolion unigol fod yn haws i'w rheoli nag eraill, a rhaid inni gydnabod hynny fel ymateb ymarferol iawn i'r sefyllfa. Nid yw un ateb yn addas i bob sefyllfa.
Thank you. I'll now call Lynne Neagle, as Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee. Lynne Neagle.
Diolch. Galwaf nawr ar Lynne Neagle, Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg. Lynne Neagle.
Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you, Minister, for your statement. Like many people, I want to take some time to digest it and the associated documents before giving a considered and measured response to it, but I did just want to say that one of the huge concerns for me in this pandemic is that most of our children are largely unseen and hidden. So, the opportunity for welfare checks for our children, and the opportunity to touch base with teachers, is, I think, something that I, personally, would welcome.
I've got some specific questions. I wonder if you could say a bit more about how social distancing is going to work in practice. You referred to guidance that is going to be issued next week. Can you say whether that is going to be—how prescriptive that guidance is going to be? I think that would be helpful to know.
You said in response to Suzy Davies that what tipped you towards having all children back rather than specific year groups, which is what had been discussed previously, was the fact that you wanted an equality-based approach and for all children and young people to be seen. Can you just confirm that that was the only thing that tipped the balance in favour of having all children back?
I'd also be interested to know to what extent children's rights have been a factor in this decision. I'd like to know whether there's been a children's rights impact assessment done on this, as I have asked throughout this process, really.
I'd like to ask what the key things or triggers are that might lead to a rethink on this or to prevent this happening on the timescale that you've set out. Would that be a change in the R value? What would be the factors you would consider?
Just finally from me, I think this lockdown has been traumatic for all of us, but for no-one more so than our children, really. How will you ensure that schools are well prepared for managing and supporting what could be a lot of very traumatised children, when they do eventually come back? Of course, there is also the issue of the well-being of our schools' staff as well. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad. Fel llawer o bobl, mae arnaf eisiau cymryd rhywfaint o amser i ddarllen y ddogfen ynghyd a'r dogfennau cysylltiedig cyn rhoi ymateb ystyriol a phwyllog iddo, ond roeddwn eisiau dweud mai un o'r pryderon mawr i mi yn y pandemig hwn yw bod y rhan fwyaf o'n plant yn anweledig a chudd i raddau helaeth. Felly, mae'r cyfle i gael archwiliadau lles i'n plant, a'r cyfle i gysylltu â'r athrawon yn uniongyrchol, yn rhywbeth y byddwn i, yn bersonol, yn ei groesawu, rwy'n credu.
Mae gennyf rai cwestiynau penodol. Tybed a wnewch chi ddweud ychydig mwy ynghylch sut y mae cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn mynd i weithio'n ymarferol. Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at ganllawiau a gyhoeddir yr wythnos nesaf. A allwch chi ddweud a fydd hynny'n digwydd—faint o gyfarwyddyd fydd yn y canllawiau hynny? Rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol gwybod hynny.
Fe ddywedsoch chi mewn ymateb i Suzy Davies mai'r hyn a'ch arweiniodd at gael yr holl blant yn ôl yn hytrach na grwpiau blwyddyn penodol, sef yr hyn a drafodwyd o'r blaen, oedd y ffaith eich bod eisiau cael dull o weithredu sy'n seiliedig ar gydraddoldeb a bod pob plentyn a pherson ifanc yn cael ei weld. A wnewch chi gadarnhau mai dyna oedd yr unig beth a oedd yn troi'r fantol o blaid cael pob plentyn yn ôl?
Byddwn â diddordeb hefyd mewn cael gwybod i ba raddau y mae hawliau plant wedi bod yn ffactor yn y penderfyniad hwn. Hoffwn wybod a wnaed asesiad o'r effaith ar hawliau plant ynghylch hyn, fel yr wyf wedi bod yn gofyn drwy gydol y broses hon, mewn gwirionedd.
Hoffwn ofyn beth yw'r pethau allweddol neu'r sbardunau a allai arwain at ailfeddwl ynghylch hyn neu at atal hyn rhag digwydd yn yr amserlen yr ydych wedi'i gosod. Ai newid yng ngwerth yr 'R' fyddai hynny? Beth fyddai'r ffactorau y byddech chi yn eu hystyried?
Yn olaf gennyf fi, rwy'n credu bod y cyfyngiadau symud wedi bod yn drawmatig i bob un ohonom ni, ond i neb mwy felly nag i'n plant, mewn gwirionedd. Sut y byddwch yn sicrhau bod ysgolion wedi'u paratoi'n dda ar gyfer rheoli a chefnogi'r hyn a allai fod yn llawer o blant sydd wedi dioddef trawma mawr, pan fyddant yn dod yn ôl yn y pen draw? Wrth gwrs, mae yna hefyd fater o les staff ein hysgolion hefyd. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, Lynne. Yes, we will publish operational guidance next week. That is being finalised—we are still consulting with our local education authorities, teaching unions and the groups that we have established to make sure that that guidance is as good as it needs to be, and that work is ongoing. It will cover all of the operational issues that are associated with the check-in sessions being made available for children.
I agree with her: one of the things that keeps me awake at night is vulnerable children. Despite the very best efforts of local authorities and individual teachers, and we have seen since the Easter holidays an increase in the number of vulnerable children attending school, it is not at a level that I feel comfortable with. Evidence would suggest that vulnerable children are more likely to go into school if it is their own school and it's in their own community. Therefore, an important consideration in the decision that I have taken is to get more vulnerable children back.
This can be a particular issue around some of our children with additional learning needs. Although children with additional learning needs have been able to access our hubs they've had an entitlement to, often that has not been—in reality, that has not been available, because for some children that's an alien environment, an environment they don't feel safe, secure and comfortable in. Often, those hubs, quite understandably, are staffed on a rota basis. The staff change, you know, all the time, and, again, that can be deeply unsettling for some children.
The ability for pupils to go back into their own school, in a building and an environment that is familiar to them, with individuals who are familiar to them, hopefully will be able to relieve some of the pressure that, undoubtedly, there has been on some families, for whom the hub situation—even though it's been an entitlement, they haven't felt able to utilise that entitlement because it hasn't met the needs of their children. I think, again, that's why this is an important step forward in making sure that more vulnerable children can access this support.
Children's rights are absolutely important and it was a difficult decision to be able to say that some children's education was more important than others', and some children's entitlement should be different to others'. This allows us to ensure that everybody is given the opportunity on an equal footing.
Lynne, you're right to say that all of the decisions that I have outlined today are caveated in ensuring that the virus allows us to make these changes. So, again, that's an important part of the next three and a half weeks in terms of making sure that the restrictions that have already been eased don't lead to not only an increase in R but the number of hospital admissions and levels of infection, and also the robustness of the TTP regime as well.
So, as I said in my statement, we will use these three and a half weeks to make sure that the decision that we have outlined today can actually go ahead. And if I am not satisfied, then I will say so.
Diolch, Lynne. Byddwn, byddwn yn cyhoeddi canllawiau gweithredol yr wythnos nesaf. Mae hynny'n cael ei gwblhau—rydym yn dal i ymgynghori â'n hawdurdodau addysg lleol, undebau athrawon a'r grwpiau yr ydym wedi'u sefydlu i sicrhau bod y canllawiau hynny cystal ag y mae angen iddyn nhw fod, ac mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n parhau. Bydd yn ymdrin â'r holl faterion gweithredol sy'n gysylltiedig â'r sesiynau dod i'r ysgol sy'n cael eu darparu i blant.
Rwy'n cytuno â hi: un o'r pethau sy'n fy nghadw'n effro yn y nos yw plant agored i niwed. Er gwaethaf ymdrechion gorau awdurdodau lleol ac athrawon unigol, ac ers gwyliau'r Pasg, rydym ni wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y plant agored i niwed sy'n mynd i'r ysgol, ac nid wyf yn teimlo'n gyfforddus â'r niferoedd. Mae tystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod plant sy'n agored i niwed yn fwy tebygol o fynd i'r ysgol os mai hi yw eu hysgol nhw a'i bod hi yn eu cymuned nhw. Felly, un ystyriaeth bwysig yn y penderfyniad yr wyf wedi'i wneud yw cael mwy o blant sy'n agored i niwed yn ôl.
Gall hyn fod yn fater penodol sy'n ymwneud â rhai o'n plant sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Er bod plant sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol wedi gallu mynd i'n hybiau y mae ganddyn nhw hawl iddyn nhw, yn aml nid yw hynny wedi bod—mewn gwirionedd, nid yw wedi bod ar gael, oherwydd i rai plant mae'n amgylchedd estron, amgylchedd nad ydyn nhw'n teimlo'n ddiogel ac yn gyfforddus ynddo. Yn aml, mae'r hybiau hynny, yn ddigon dealladwy, yn cael eu staffio ar sail rota. Mae'r staff yn newid, wyddoch chi drwy'r amser, ac, unwaith eto, gall hynny fod yn gythryblus iawn i rai plant.
Bydd y gallu i ddisgyblion fynd yn ôl i'w hysgolion eu hunain, mewn adeilad ac amgylchedd sy'n gyfarwydd iddyn nhw, gydag unigolion sy'n gyfarwydd iddyn nhw, gobeithio yn lliniaru rhywfaint ar y pwysau sydd, yn ddi-os, wedi bod ar rai teuluoedd, y mae'r sefyllfa o ran hybiau—er ei fod yn hawl, nid ydyn nhw wedi teimlo eu bod yn gallu defnyddio'r hawl honno oherwydd nad yw wedi diwallu anghenion eu plant. Rwy'n credu, unwaith eto, dyna pam y mae hwn yn gam pwysig ymlaen o ran gwneud yn siŵr bod plant mwy agored i niwed yn gallu cael y cymorth hwn.
Mae hawliau plant yn hollbwysig ac roedd yn benderfyniad anodd dweud bod addysg rhai plant yn bwysicach nag addysg eraill, ac y dylai hawliau rhai plant fod yn wahanol i hawliau eraill. Mae hyn yn ein galluogi i sicrhau bod pawb yn cael cyfle cyfartal.
Lynne, rydych chi'n iawn i ddweud bod yr holl benderfyniadau yr wyf wedi'u hamlinellu heddiw yn dibynnu ar a yw'r feirws yn ein galluogi ni i wneud y newidiadau hyn. Felly, unwaith eto, mae hynny'n rhan bwysig o'r tair wythnos a hanner nesaf o ran gwneud yn siŵr nad yw'r cyfyngiadau sydd eisoes wedi cael eu llacio yn arwain nid yn unig at gynnydd yn y rhif 'R' ond at nifer y derbyniadau i'r ysbyty a lefelau'r haint, a hefyd at gadernid y drefn o brofi, olrhain a diogelu.
Felly, fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad, byddwn yn defnyddio'r tair wythnos a hanner hyn i wneud yn siŵr y gall y penderfyniad yr ydym ni wedi'i amlinellu heddiw fynd rhagddo mewn gwirionedd. Ac os nad wyf yn fodlon, yna dywedaf hynny.
Thank you. Darren Millar. No, sorry. We need to unmute. There you go, try again.
Diolch. Darren Millar. Na, mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Mae angen inni droi eich meicroffon ymlaen. Dyna chi, rhowch gynnig arall arni.
Can I thank you for your statement today, Minister? I think many people will be very pleased that schools are going to be reopening. Can I just ask for a little bit more clarification in terms of the under-fives, and particularly those children that are nursery-aged children in school-based nurseries? What provision is going to be in place for them under these arrangements?
And secondly, one area that you didn't provide an update on today was in terms of Welsh universities. Many students feel that they're getting a very rough deal from universities in return for their tuition fees at the moment. Obviously, for a significant time now, they've been doing their courses through distance learning. I took the opportunity to have a look on the Open University website today and for an equivalent of a full year's worth of education in the Open University, it would cost just over £2,000 for that, whereas Welsh universities are still charging the £9,000 rate. Is that something that you're hoping to be able to address in the future? I know that you've given financial support for universities, but you haven't for students as yet.
A gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich datganiad heddiw, Gweinidog? Rwy'n credu y bydd llawer o bobl yn falch iawn bod ysgolion yn ailagor. A gaf i ofyn am ychydig mwy o eglurhad o ran y plant dan bump oed, ac yn enwedig y rheini sy'n blant oedran meithrin mewn meithrinfeydd a leolir mewn ysgolion? Pa ddarpariaeth fydd ar gael iddyn nhw o dan y trefniadau hyn?
Ac yn ail, un maes na wnaethoch chi roi diweddariad amdano heddiw oedd prifysgolion Cymru. Mae llawer o fyfyrwyr yn teimlo eu bod yn cael bargen wael iawn gan brifysgolion am eu ffioedd dysgu ar hyn o bryd. Yn amlwg, am gyfnod sylweddol nawr, maen nhw wedi bod yn gwneud eu cyrsiau drwy ddysgu o bell. Manteisiais ar y cyfle i gael golwg ar wefan y Brifysgol Agored heddiw ac am rywbeth sy'n cyfateb i werth blwyddyn lawn o addysg yn y Brifysgol Agored, byddai'n costio ychydig dros £2,000 am hynny, ond mae prifysgolion Cymru yn dal i godi £9,000. A yw hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydych chi'n gobeithio mynd i'r afael ag ef yn y dyfodol? Rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi rhoi cymorth ariannol i brifysgolion, ond nid ydych chi wedi gwneud hynny ar gyfer myfyrwyr hyd yn hyn.
With regard to our very youngest children, I know that this is a particular area of concern to many people because of the ability for our very youngest learners to understand the concept of social distancing. You can have a conversation with older children and they can understand what they can and can't do; the natural instincts of our very youngest learners are to be together, and that can be really challenging.
I think what's really important to say is that, over the last 10 weeks, we have amassed a lot of experience in how to minimise the risk in those scenarios. It's important to remember that a quarter of our schools have been open for the last 10 weeks to children of all ages, as have our childcare providers for even younger children. So, we've been able to learn from that experience about how you can manage risk effectively. But I recognise that it is incredibly difficult to explain to a four-year-old how to social distance. Therefore, there are practical ways in which you can minimise their interaction.
So, first of all, we'll be keeping children in very small groups, so not in their traditional classes but in very small groups with a dedicated member of staff. We will be giving advice and guidance, for instance, on resources and the sharing of resources. But without a shadow of a doubt, Darren, it's really challenging for those children. But we've looked at international examples of how that has managed, and I have to say that we know that those children are least at risk. So, the irony is the ones that can do the least social distancing, the evidence would suggest they're least at risk. But we have experience of how we can manage that process and minimise the risk as much as possible. And as I said, with regard to child minding and childcare, further guidance will be issued next week.
With regard to universities, just like your colleague in the Westminster Government, I have no plans to reduce fee levels here at Welsh universities.
O ran ein plant ieuengaf, gwn fod hwn yn faes sy'n peri pryder penodol i lawer o bobl oherwydd gallu ein dysgwyr ieuengaf i ddeall y cysyniad o gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Gallwch gael sgwrs gyda phlant hŷn a gallant ddeall yr hyn y cânt ac na chânt ei wneud; greddf naturiol ein dysgwyr ieuengaf oll yw bod gyda'i gilydd, a gall hynny fod yn heriol iawn.
Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig iawn i'w ddweud yw ein bod, dros y 10 wythnos diwethaf, wedi magu llawer o brofiad ynglŷn â sut i leihau'r risg yn y sefyllfaoedd hynny. Mae'n bwysig cofio bod chwarter o'n hysgolion wedi bod ar agor am y 10 wythnos diwethaf i blant o bob oed, felly hefyd ein darparwyr gofal plant ar gyfer plant hyd yn oed yn iau. Felly, rydym ni wedi gallu dysgu o'r profiad hwnnw ynglŷn â sut y gallwch chi reoli risg yn effeithiol. Ond rwy'n cydnabod ei bod yn anhygoel o anodd esbonio i blentyn pedair oed sut i gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Felly, mae ffyrdd ymarferol i leihau eu rhyngweithio.
Felly, yn gyntaf oll, byddwn yn cadw plant mewn grwpiau bach iawn, felly nid yn eu dosbarthiadau traddodiadol ond mewn grwpiau bach iawn gydag aelod penodol o staff. Byddwn yn rhoi cyngor ac arweiniad, er enghraifft, ar adnoddau a rhannu adnoddau. Ond heb rithyn o amheuaeth, Darren, mae'n heriol iawn i'r plant hynny. Ond rydym wedi edrych ar enghreifftiau rhyngwladol o'r ffordd y mae hynny wedi llwyddo, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud ein bod yn gwybod mai'r plant hynny sydd leiaf tebygol o fod mewn perygl. Felly, yr eironi yw ar gyfer y rhai sydd leiaf tebygol o gadw pellter cymdeithasol, byddai'r dystiolaeth yn awgrymu mai nhw sydd leiaf tebygol o fod mewn perygl. Ond mae gennym ni brofiad o sut y gallwn ni reoli'r broses honno a lleihau'r risg gymaint â phosibl. Ac fel y dywedais, o ran gwarchod plant a gofal plant, cyhoeddir mwy o ganllawiau yr wythnos nesaf.
O ran prifysgolion, yn union fel eich cydweithiwr yn Llywodraeth San Steffan, nid oes gennyf gynlluniau i ostwng ffioedd yma ym mhrifysgolion Cymru.
Thank you. Helen Mary Jones.
Diolch. Helen Mary Jones.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. If I can take you, Minister, to post-16 education—
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Os caf fynd â chi, Gweinidog, at addysg ôl-16—
No, sorry, Helen. We're still having problems with your mike. Let's try again.
Na, mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Helen. Rydym ni'n dal i gael problemau gyda'ch meicroffon. Gadewch i ni roi cynnig arall arni.
How's that?
Beth am hwn?
That's better, thank you.
Dyna welliant, diolch.
Thank you. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. With regard to—I'll take you to post-16 education, if I may, Minister. With regard to the arrangements for colleges of further education, can you confirm that some of those students who will be able to return will be students taking vocational courses who will need to take practical examinations in order to be able to complete their qualifications?
If I can then take you to the university sector, what further discussions have you had with regard to the UK Government acting as the Government for England's decision to cap the number of students coming from English universities to Welsh universities? This will obviously have potential resource implications for universities that will already be stretched, and have you yet been able to consider how the Welsh Government might respond?
Diolch. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. O ran—af â chi i addysg ôl-16, os caf i, Gweinidog. O ran y trefniadau ar gyfer colegau addysg bellach, a wnewch chi gadarnhau y bydd rhai o'r myfyrwyr hynny a fydd yn gallu dychwelyd, yn fyfyrwyr sy'n dilyn cyrsiau galwedigaethol y bydd angen iddyn nhw sefyll arholiadau ymarferol er mwyn gallu cwblhau eu cymwysterau?
Os gallaf fynd â chi wedyn i'r sector prifysgolion, pa drafodaethau pellach ydych chi wedi'u cael ynghylch penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithredu fel Llywodraeth Lloegr i roi uchafswm ar nifer y myfyrwyr sy'n dod o brifysgolion Lloegr i brifysgolion Cymru? Yn amlwg, bydd gan hyn oblygiadau posibl o ran adnoddau i brifysgolion a fydd eisoes dan bwysau, ac a ydych chi wedi ystyried eto sut tybed y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymateb?
Okay. First of all, with regard to FE colleges, I'll repeat what I said in my statement: further education colleges will open for more face-to-face teaching on 15 June. That is slightly earlier, because, in discussions with the college principals, ColegauCymru and the unions, they think they can move more quickly to do that. And she is absolutely right, in agreeing some priorities, that group of students to whom Helen Mary Jones referred are a priority. So, these are the one set of learners—this is the one large set of learners for whom we have not been able to come to an alternative way of allowing them to complete their course with a grade. So, we've been able to do it for mostly everybody else, but this group of learners need to demonstrate their technical competence to gain their qualification—and rightly so. If you're thinking about gas fitters or builders, they need that technical certificate and we want to make sure they have an opportunity to complete, so they are indeed the priority for colleges to get that work done so that they can complete their qualification and move on to next steps.
With regard to higher education and student number controls, we agree that the situation that HE finds itself in means that we have to introduce student number controls. Indeed, it's been agreed by the sector that this is one important way in which we can inject an element of stability at a very, very challenging time for the sector.
What came as a surprise, having agreed that we would all introduce some student number controls, and I would do that in Wales with our institutions, was to find, then, that the approach that England was taking was not simply to introduce student number controls for their own institutions, but actually to apply that to other jurisdictions, which I think is highly regrettable and is not necessary, because we intend to act to introduce stability here in Wales. We do not want to see our universities behave in a way that destabilises either each other within Wales or destabilises other institutions; we need to work together on this. And it is highly, highly regrettable that this has happened. You will be aware that I wrote to the Minister last week, as did counterparts in Northern Ireland and in Scotland. I spoke to the Minister on Monday morning, and the Government was not prepared to change its mind, which is a source of regret to me.
HEFCW have been carrying out the consultation for us on how student number controls would work in the Welsh context. That consultation came to conclusion on 1 June. I think we're on 3 June now, so I'm awaiting a report from HEFCW as a result of their conversation, and then we will make announcements for Wales. But it is regrettable, because there was an agreement between both Governments that we would act to introduce student number controls. We could have provided the stability within our own nations. We did not need to encroach and extend student number controls to institutions outside our own nations, and it's a source of regret to me that we find ourselves in this situation. But I will reflect on HEFCW's consultation and make an announcement as soon as I am able.
Iawn. Yn gyntaf, o ran colegau addysg bellach, ailadroddaf yr hyn a ddywedais yn fy natganiad: bydd colegau addysg bellach yn agor ar gyfer mwy o ddysgu wyneb yn wyneb ar 15 Mehefin. Mae hynny ychydig yn gynharach, oherwydd, mewn trafodaethau gyda phenaethiaid y colegau, ColegauCymru a'r undebau, maen nhw'n credu y gallant symud yn gyflymach i wneud hynny. Ac mae hi'n hollol iawn, wrth gytuno ar rai blaenoriaethau, mae'r grŵp hwnnw o fyfyrwyr y cyfeiriodd Helen Mary Jones ato yn flaenoriaeth. Felly, dyma'r un garfan o ddysgwyr—dyma'r un garfan fawr o ddysgwyr nad ydym ni wedi gallu dod i hyd i ffordd arall o ganiatáu iddyn nhw gwblhau eu cyrsiau gyda gradd. Felly, rydym ni wedi gallu gwneud hyn i bawb arall fwy neu lai, ond mae angen i'r grŵp hwn o ddysgwyr ddangos eu cymhwysedd technegol i ennill eu cymhwyster—ac mae hynny'n briodol. Os ystyriwch chi osodwyr nwy neu adeiladwyr, mae angen y dystysgrif dechnegol honno arnyn nhw ac rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n cael cyfle i gwblhau eu cwrs, felly nhw yw'r flaenoriaeth o ran y gwaith y mae'n rhaid i golegau ei wneud er mwyn iddyn nhw allu cwblhau eu cymhwyster a symud ymlaen i'r camau nesaf.
O ran addysg uwch a rheoli nifer y myfyrwyr, rydym yn cytuno bod y sefyllfa y mae addysg uwch ynddi yn golygu bod yn rhaid inni gyflwyno dull o reoli nifer y myfyrwyr. Yn wir, mae'r sector wedi cytuno bod hyn yn un ffordd bwysig o gyflwyno elfen o sefydlogrwydd ar adeg heriol iawn i'r sector.
Yr hyn a oedd yn syndod, ar ôl cytuno y byddem i gyd yn cyflwyno rhywfaint o reoli o ran nifer y myfyrwyr, a byddaf yn gwneud hynny yng Nghymru gyda'n sefydliadau, oedd canfod wedyn, mai'r ymagwedd a oedd gan Loegr oedd nid yn unig i gyflwyno rheolaethau ar nifer myfyrwyr eu sefydliadau eu hunain, ond i weithredu hynny ar draws awdurdodau eraill, sydd yn fy marn i yn anffodus iawn ac yn ddiangen, oherwydd rydym yn bwriadu gweithredu i gyflwyno sefydlogrwydd yma yng Nghymru. Nid ydym eisiau gweld ein prifysgolion yn ymddwyn mewn ffordd sy'n ansefydlogi ei gilydd yng Nghymru nac yn ansefydlogi sefydliadau eraill; mae angen inni weithio gyda'n gilydd ar hyn. Ac mae'n hollol anffodus bod hyn wedi digwydd. Byddwch yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog yr wythnos diwethaf, fel y gwnaeth swyddogion cyfatebol yng Ngogledd Iwerddon ac yn yr Alban. Siaradais â'r Gweinidog fore Llun, ac nid oedd y Llywodraeth yn barod i newid ei meddwl, sy'n destun gofid i mi.
Mae CCAUC wedi bod yn cynnal ymgynghoriad i ni ar sut y byddai'r rheolaethau ar nifer y myfyrwyr yn gweithio yng nghyd-destun Cymru. Daeth yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw i ben ar 1 Mehefin. Rwy'n credu mai 3 Mehefin yw'r dyddiad nawr, felly rwy'n aros am adroddiad gan CCAUC o ganlyniad i'w sgwrs, ac yna byddwn yn gwneud cyhoeddiadau ar gyfer Gymru. Ond mae'n destun gofid, oherwydd roedd cytundeb rhwng y ddwy Lywodraeth y byddem yn gweithredu i gyflwyno rheolaethau ar nifer myfyrwyr. Gallem fod wedi darparu'r sefydlogrwydd o fewn ein gwledydd ein hunain. Nid oedd angen inni dresmasu ac ymestyn rheolaethau ar nifer y myfyrwyr i sefydliadau y tu allan i'n gwledydd ein hunain, ac mae'n destun gofid i mi ein bod yn y sefyllfa hon. Ond byddaf yn myfyrio ar ymgynghoriad CCAUC ac yn gwneud cyhoeddiad cyn gynted ag y gallaf.
Minister, I would like to welcome the pragmatism of your decision today. This is a virus that could be with us for a year or two or even more, and we simply can't deprive our young people of face-to-face education for that length of time. But this is a staggered return, which needs to be done safely, so I'd like to ask you for a little more detail on how you're working with teachers to ensure that they feel safe within the classroom environment, and also with the cleaning staff in schools as well, to ensure that they have sufficient time and sufficient resources to clean the school environment thoroughly.
Secondly, I'd like to ask for a little more detail around school transport, how you intend to ensure that pupils comply with social distancing measures when they are on school transport, and also, if there will be any additional costs to local authorities in terms of putting on extra buses, how those costs are intended to be met.
My final question is on free school meals, and, with this staggered return, there will obviously be some pupils who will be present in the school environment, while others are home at different times. How will you ensure that all families access the provision to free school meal entitlement, whether that is within the school setting or if they are at home?
Gweinidog, hoffwn groesawu natur ymarferol eich penderfyniad heddiw. Mae hwn yn feirws a allai fod gyda ni am flwyddyn neu ddwy neu hyd yn oed fwy, ac ni allwn ni amddifadu ein pobl ifanc o addysg wyneb yn wyneb am gyfnod mor hir â hynny. Ond mae hwn yn ddull o ddychwelyd fesul grŵp, ac mae angen ei wneud yn ddiogel, felly hoffwn ofyn i chi am ychydig mwy o fanylion ynghylch sut yr ydych yn gweithio gydag athrawon i sicrhau eu bod yn teimlo'n ddiogel yn yr ystafell ddosbarth, a hefyd gyda'r staff glanhau mewn ysgolion yn ogystal, er mwyn sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw ddigon o amser a digon o adnoddau i lanhau amgylchedd yr ysgol yn drylwyr.
Yn ail, hoffwn ofyn am ychydig mwy o fanylion ynghylch cludiant i'r ysgol, sut y bwriadwch sicrhau bod disgyblion yn cydymffurfio â mesurau cadw pellter cymdeithasol pan fyddant yn cael eu cludo i'r ysgol, a hefyd, os bydd unrhyw gostau ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol o ran darparu bysiau ychwanegol, sut y bwriedir talu'r costau hynny.
Mae a wnelo fy nghwestiwn olaf â phrydau ysgol am ddim, a gyda'r dull hwn o ddychwelyd fesul grŵp, mae'n amlwg y bydd rhai disgyblion yn bresennol yn amgylchedd yr ysgol, tra bo eraill gartref ar wahanol adegau. Sut byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod pob teulu'n cael y ddarpariaeth o brydau ysgol am ddim, boed hynny o fewn yr ysgol neu gartref?
Thank you, Vikki. One of the reasons why we are taking three and a half weeks—we've explored some of the public health reasons about why we need to give ourselves more time, but one of the other very important reasons is that we need to give time for our school staff to implement this system and to provide training to headteachers, teachers and those who have a responsibility for maintaining our schools on how to do this safely. We simply cannot expect to make an announcement today and have everything in place that is safe on Monday, so we do need to use this time to make sure that the appropriate training is in place. I want to assure Vikki that, when we talk about consultations with unions, that includes the GMB and Unison, who represent the staff, and they have been fully involved in the discussions. So, that's one of the practical reasons why we have to have a gap in between an announcement and that announcement actually being put into practice, so that we can exactly do what Vikki says: make sure the training and the resources are put in place. And we continue to work with local authorities around what practical and financial assistance we can offer as a Welsh Government in terms of those hygiene practices and the supplies that schools will need.
As I said, we will publish guidance next week on how that should work, and that includes guidance around transport to schools. Obviously, where at all able, parents should walk, scoot, cycle, but, you know, my own children have a 25-mile one-way journey to school. It's not possible to scoot or walk that distance. So, many families will be reliant on school transport, and, again, we're working with our local authorities. It is one of those really wicked, wicked problems that we have to overcome. But we can't have a counsel of despair. Vikki, you're absolutely right; this could be with us for a considerable period of time. Doing nothing and hoping that it might be better isn't really an option; we've got to grapple with these issues and we've got to find safe and sustainable solutions to transport, and we will continue to have those discussions.
With regard to FSM, local authorities continue to do an amazing job in supporting FSM families in a variety of ways—everything from direct food deliveries through to vouchers or to cash. We will need to make sure that that is managed appropriately over the four weeks without something that is too bureaucratic, because we don't want a situation where somebody is in for a day, but their payment stops and they're not in for the rest of the week. So, we have to be pragmatic around how we do this. Indeed, one of the considerations an individual school may look at is whether people attend on a half-day basis, and, therefore, allowing that gap in the middle of the day. But we are very aware that we do not want to have a bureaucratic process that means that individual families or children could lose out on their entitlement.
Local authorities continue to report to us that they are supporting more families than ever. If you can imagine, usually, you have to be in school to receive your free school meal, and sometimes children aren't attending, or perhaps, for whatever reason, they don't want to utilise that within the school setting—for whatever reason. We're actually supporting more children and more families than we would when schools are operating as normal, and that support, I would reiterate, will be available over the summer break. We're also extending some support for students that are in FE colleges and looking to provide some financial support around FSM entitlement for some FE learners as well.
Diolch, Vikki. Un o'r rhesymau rydym yn cymryd tair wythnos a hanner—rydym ni wedi archwilio rhai o'r rhesymau iechyd cyhoeddus ynghylch pam y mae angen i ni roi mwy o amser i ni ein hunain, ond un o'r rhesymau pwysig iawn eraill yw bod angen i ni roi amser i staff ein hysgolion roi'r system hon ar waith a darparu hyfforddiant i benaethiaid, athrawon a'r rhai sydd â chyfrifoldeb am gynnal ein hysgolion ar sut i wneud hyn yn ddiogel. Ni allwn ddisgwyl gwneud cyhoeddiad heddiw a chael popeth yn ei le yn ddiogel ddydd Llun, felly mae angen i ni ddefnyddio'r amser hwn i wneud yn siŵr bod yr hyfforddiant priodol ar waith. Rwyf eisiau sicrhau Vikki, pan rydym yn sôn am ymgynghoriadau gydag undebau, fod hynny'n cynnwys y GMB ac Unsain, sy'n cynrychioli'r staff, a'u bod wedi cael eu cynnwys yn llawn yn y trafodaethau. Felly, dyna un o'r rhesymau ymarferol pam mae'n rhaid i ni gael bwlch rhwng cyhoeddiad a gweithredu'r cyhoeddiad hwnnw, fel y gallwn ni wneud yn union yr hyn y mae Vikki yn ei ddweud: sicrhau bod yr hyfforddiant a'r adnoddau yn cael eu rhoi yn eu lle. Ac rydym yn parhau i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ynghylch pa gymorth ymarferol ac ariannol y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu cynnig o ran yr arferion hylendid hynny a'r cyflenwadau y bydd eu hangen ar ysgolion.
Fel y dywedais, byddwn yn cyhoeddi canllawiau yr wythnos nesaf ar sut y dylai hynny weithio, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys canllawiau ynghylch trafnidiaeth i ysgolion. Yn amlwg, os yn bosib, dylai rhieni gerdded, gyrru sgwter, beicio, ond, mae gan fy mhlant fy hun daith 25 milltir un ffordd i'r ysgol. Dydy hi ddim yn bosib mynd ar sgwter na cherdded y pellter yna. Felly, bydd llawer o deuluoedd yn dibynnu ar gludiant i'r ysgol ac, unwaith eto, rydym yn gweithio gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol. Mae'n un o'r problemau anodd y mae'n rhaid i ni eu goresgyn. Ond allwn ni ddim ildio. Vikki, rydych chi'n hollol gywir; gallai hyn fod gyda ni am gyfnod sylweddol o amser. Nid yw gwneud dim a gobeithio y gallai fod yn well yn ddewis mewn gwirionedd; mae'n rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn ac mae'n rhaid i ni ddod o hyd i atebion diogel a chynaliadwy i drafnidiaeth, a byddwn yn parhau i gael y trafodaethau hynny.
O ran prydau ysgol am ddim, mae awdurdodau lleol yn parhau i wneud gwaith anhygoel yn cefnogi teuluoedd prydau ysgol am ddim mewn amrywiaeth o ffyrdd—popeth o ddosbarthu bwyd yn uniongyrchol i dalebau neu i arian parod. Bydd angen i ni wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n cael ei reoli'n briodol dros y pedair wythnos heb rywbeth sy'n rhy fiwrocrataidd, oherwydd dydym ni ddim eisiau sefyllfa lle mae rhywun mewn am ddiwrnod, ond mae eu taliad yn peidio a dydyn nhw ddim mewn am weddill yr wythnos. Felly, rhaid i ni fod yn ymarferol o ran sut y gwnawn hyn. Yn wir, un o'r ystyriaethau y gallai ysgol unigol ei ystyried yw a yw pobl yn mynychu fesul hanner diwrnod, ac felly, yn caniatáu'r bwlch hwnnw yng nghanol y dydd. Ond rydym yn ymwybodol iawn nad ydym ni eisiau proses fiwrocrataidd sy'n golygu y gallai teuluoedd unigol neu blant golli allan ar eu hawl.
Mae awdurdodau lleol yn dal i ddweud wrthym eu bod yn cefnogi mwy o deuluoedd nag erioed. Os gallwch ddychmygu, fel arfer, mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn yr ysgol i gael eich cinio ysgol am ddim, ac weithiau nid yw plant yn mynychu, neu efallai, am ba bynnag reswm, nad ydynt eisiau defnyddio hynny o fewn yr ysgol—am ba reswm bynnag. Mewn gwirionedd, rydym ni'n cefnogi mwy o blant a mwy o deuluoedd nag a fyddem ni pan fydd ysgolion yn gweithredu fel arfer, a bydd y gefnogaeth, rwy'n ailadrodd, ar gael dros wyliau'r haf. Rydym ni hefyd yn ymestyn rhywfaint o gefnogaeth i fyfyrwyr sydd mewn colegau addysg bellach ac yn ceisio darparu rhywfaint o gymorth ariannol o ran hawl rhai dysgwyr addysg bellach i gael prydau ysgol am ddim hefyd.
Thank you. I am going to call a few more. We have come to the allotted time, but I do want now just a question from Members, and, if your question's already been asked, then please don't re-ask it. Rhianon Passmore.
No, sorry—you need to unmute your mike. There you go.
Diolch. Rwyf yn mynd i alw ychydig yn rhagor. Rydym ni wedi dod at yr amser sydd wedi'i neilltuo, ond rwyf yn dymuno cael cwestiwn gan aelodau'n awr, ac, os gofynnwyd eich cwestiwn eisoes, yna peidiwch â'i ofyn eto. Rhianon Passmore.
Na, mae'n ddrwg gennyf—mae angen i chi droi eich meicroffon ymlaen. Dyna chi.
Right, sorry. Thank you. Will the Minister provide an update on the impact of COVID-19 on the completion of statutory assessments for children and young people with additional learning needs? Many local education authority staff continue to be vired across the different departments to provide the professional capacity to work with our most vulnerable children, so will the Minister therefore indicate her willingness to provide further guidance and support in the statutory assessment area if and when needed, and will the Minister consider further the use of virtual assessment tools in order that provisions and critical milestones are not lost, so our most vulnerable ALN children are nurtured for the future?
Iawn, mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Diolch. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynglŷn ag effaith COVID-19 ar gwblhau asesiadau statudol ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol? Mae llawer o staff awdurdodau addysg leol yn parhau i gael eu trosglwyddo ar draws y gwahanol adrannau er mwyn darparu'r gallu proffesiynol i weithio gyda'r plant sydd fwyaf agored i niwed, felly a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatgan pa mor barod yw hi felly i ddarparu arweiniad a chymorth pellach yn yr ardal asesu statudol os a phan fydd angen, ac a wnaiff y Gweinidog ystyried ymhellach y defnydd o offer asesu rhithwir fel na fydd darpariaeth a cherrig milltir allweddol yn cael eu colli, fel bod ein plant ADY sydd mwyaf agored i niwed yn cael eu meithrin ar gyfer y dyfodol?
Deputy Presiding Officer, it's a 'yes' to both of those things, and I will report back to Rhianon Passmore as we consider the points that she's made.
Dirprwy Lywydd, yr ateb i'r ddau beth hynny yw 'gwnaf', ac adroddaf yn ôl i Rhianon Passmore wrth i ni ystyried y sylwadau y mae wedi'u gwneud.
Minister, please forgive me if my question cuts across what has already been asked, but my video today has been very glitchy. I wondered if you—. First of all, I'd like to thank you for your statement, and I wondered if you could give me an outline of what will be taught in years 10 and 12. I understand that the WJEC and Qualifications Wales have said that parts of the curriculum might be dropped. Is this correct? If so, can you confirm that the integrity of the curriculum can be maintained, and that teachers in those years won't waste time teaching units that will be dropped during the phased return? And finally, could you confirm when you asked the regional consortia and local councils to undertake this monitoring work?
Gweinidog, maddeuwch i mi os yw fy nghwestiwn yn torri ar draws yr hyn sydd wedi'i ofyn eisoes, ond rwyf wedi bod yn cael trafferthion gyda fy fideo heddiw. Roeddwn yn meddwl tybed a ydych chi—. Yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn ddiolch i chi am eich datganiad, a tybed a allech chi roi amlinelliad i mi o'r hyn a addysgir ym mlynyddoedd 10 a 12. Rwy'n deall bod CBAC a Chymwysterau Cymru wedi dweud y gallai rhannau o'r cwricwlwm gael eu gollwng. A yw hyn yn gywir? Os felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau y gellir cynnal cyfanrwydd y cwricwlwm, ac na fydd athrawon yn y blynyddoedd hynny yn gwastraffu amser yn addysgu unedau a fydd yn cael eu gollwng wrth ddychwelyd yn raddol? Ac yn olaf, a allech chi gadarnhau pryd y gwnaethoch chi ofyn i'r consortia rhanbarthol a chynghorau lleol ymgymryd â'r gwaith monitro hwn?
Certainly, Angela, I can confirm that Qualifications Wales and the WJEC are already beginning to try and ascertain what an ongoing period of disruption to education—the impact that that will have on the next exam series. You're right; they are actively considering what would be appropriate in terms of elements that would traditionally be carried out, and how that would impact the next year's exams—so, for instance, whether it is necessary to have all the usual levels of coursework associated with the qualification, and, rather than focusing on coursework, focusing on teaching time ready for the actual external exam at the end of it. So, those considerations are ongoing and will need to be clearly communicated to those staff and those students ahead of time, and that work is ongoing at the moment.
I'm sorry, I've lost my train of thought now. What was the second question, Angela, sorry?
Yn sicr, Angela, gallaf gadarnhau bod Cymwysterau Cymru a CBAC eisoes yn dechrau ceisio canfod beth yw cyfnod parhaus o darfu ar addysg—yr effaith a gaiff hynny ar y gyfres nesaf o arholiadau. Rydych chi yn llygad eich lle; maen nhw wrthi'n ystyried beth fyddai'n briodol o ran elfennau a fyddai'n draddodiadol yn cael eu cyflawni, a sut y byddai hynny'n effeithio ar arholiadau'r flwyddyn nesaf—felly, er enghraifft, a oes angen cael yr holl waith cwrs arferol sy'n gysylltiedig â'r cymhwyster, ac yn hytrach na chanolbwyntio ar waith cwrs, canolbwyntio ar yr amser addysgu yn barod ar gyfer yr arholiad allanol ar y diwedd. Felly, mae'r ystyriaethau hynny'n cael sylw ar hyn o bryd a bydd angen eu cyfleu'n glir i'r staff a'r myfyrwyr hynny cyn pryd, ac mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd.
Mae'n ddrwg gen i, rydw i wedi colli rhediad fy meddwl. Beth oedd yr ail gwestiwn, Angela, mae'n ddrwg gen i?
I wanted to know if—
Roeddwn eisiau gwybod os—
Oh, the regional consortia—yes.
O, y consortia rhanbarthol—ie.
—teachers will—. And the regional consortia and when they had to look at it, yes.
—bydd athrawon—. A'r consortia rhanbarthol a phryd oedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw edrych arno, ie.
Yes. So, I can't remember the exact date that we gave those instructions to the regional consortia, but their first report is due to be published on 19 June.
Ie. Felly, ni allaf gofio'r union ddyddiad y rhoesom ni'r cyfarwyddiadau hynny i'r consortia rhanbarthol, ond disgwylir i'w hadroddiad cyntaf gael ei gyhoeddi ar 19 Mehefin.
Mewn perthynas â'r cwestiwn gwnaeth Siân Gwenllian ei ofyn yn gynharach ynglŷn â'r Bil cwricwlwm, ble mae'r dystiolaeth sy'n cefnogi bod gwneud y Saesneg yn statudol ar wyneb y Bil yn y cyfnod sylfaen yn cryfhau addysg Cymraeg? Ble mae'r dystiolaeth yna? Ac o ystyried y pryderon mae'ch cyn-gydweithiwr Aled Roberts, fel Comisiynydd yr Iaith Gymraeg, wedi'u lleisio eisoes, a wnewch chi dynnu'r cymal arfaethedig allan o'r Bil cyn ei gyflwyno ddydd Gwener?
In relation to the question raised by Siân Gwenllian earlier on the curriculum Bill, where's the evidence that supports the fact that making English statutory on the face of the Bill in the foundation phase strengthens Welsh-medium education? Where is the evidence for that? And given the concerns that your former colleague Aled Roberts, as Welsh Language Commissioner, has raised already, will you remove the proposed clause from the Bill before bringing it forward on Friday?
Well, Dai, the Bill is not structured in a way that—. English is on the face of the Bill for all stages of education, and the Bill treats English and Welsh in exactly the same way. The Bill also allows for English to be disapplied in those settings where immersion is well understood to be the appropriate way in which Welsh language skills can be acquired by our very youngest students. What I want out of our curriculum is for more of our students to leave their statutory period of education as bilingual citizens of Wales, and there is nothing in the Bill that prevents that from happening. As I said, conversely, it actually allows for a statutory underpinning of the immersion process by allowing English to be disapplied in those settings.
I think there is an issue here about the content of a curriculum, the linguistic status of a school and the medium of tuition within the school. I would suggest to the Member that those are three different things, and what the curriculum Bill concentrates on is the curriculum. It does not focus on the medium of tuition, nor does it focus on the language category of an individual school.
Wel, Dai, nid yw'r Bil wedi'i strwythuro mewn ffordd sy'n—. Mae'r Saesneg ar wyneb y Bil ar gyfer pob cyfnod addysg, ac mae'r Bil yn trin y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg yn yr un ffordd yn union. Mae'r Bil hefyd yn caniatáu i'r Saesneg gael ei datgymhwyso yn y lleoliadau hynny lle deallir yn dda bod trochi yn ffordd briodol i'n myfyrwyr ieuengaf gaffael sgiliau Cymraeg. Yr hyn y mae arnaf ei eisiau o'n cwricwlwm yw i fwy o'n myfyrwyr adael eu cyfnod addysg statudol yn ddinasyddion dwyieithog yng Nghymru, ac nid oes unrhyw beth yn y Mesur sy'n atal hynny rhag digwydd. Fel y dywedais, i'r gwrthwyneb, mae mewn gwirionedd yn caniatáu sail statudol i'r broses drochi drwy ganiatáu i'r Saesneg gael ei datgymhwyso yn y lleoliadau hynny.
Rwy'n credu bod mater yma ynglŷn â chynnwys cwricwlwm, statws ieithyddol ysgol a chyfrwng yr addysgu o fewn yr ysgol. Byddwn yn awgrymu i'r aelod fod y rheini'n dri pheth gwahanol, a'r hyn y mae'r Bil cwricwlwm yn canolbwyntio arno yw'r cwricwlwm. Nid yw'n canolbwyntio ar y cyfrwng addysgu nac yn canolbwyntio ar gategori iaith ysgol unigol.
Thank you very much, Minister, for your excellent statement. I'm really, really pleased that we are going to be offering all students some opportunity to be in school some of the time for at least four weeks before the August break. I absolutely agree with you that vulnerable and disadvantaged students are very unlikely to turn up at anything other than their very own local school, and so this is really good news for them.
Given that we haven't got over the pandemic yet, it seems to me that this ought to be a golden era of outdoor education, because this is the best way of not spreading coronavirus amongst students and staff. So I just wondered what role the regional consortia will play in promoting excellence in outdoor education and assisting those schools that don't have particularly stimulating outdoor provision to make amendments to improve on that.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad rhagorol. Rwy'n falch iawn, iawn y byddwn yn cynnig rhywfaint o gyfle i bob myfyriwr fod yn yr ysgol peth o'r amser am o leiaf bedair wythnos cyn toriad mis Awst. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi fod myfyrwyr difreintiedig ac sy'n agored i niwed yn annhebygol o fynychu unrhyw beth heblaw am eu hysgol leol eu hunain, ac felly mae hyn yn newyddion da iawn iddyn nhw.
O gofio nad yw'r pandemig drosodd eto, mae'n ymddangos i mi y dylai hwn fod yn oes aur o addysg awyr agored, oherwydd dyma'r ffordd orau o beidio â lledaenu'r coronafeirws ymhlith myfyrwyr a staff. Felly roeddwn yn meddwl tybed pa ran fyddai i'r consortia rhanbarthol o ran hybu rhagoriaeth mewn addysg awyr agored a chynorthwyo'r ysgolion hynny nad oes ganddyn nhw ddarpariaeth awyr agored arbennig o ysgogol i wneud gwelliannau i wella ar hynny.
Well, the Member is absolutely correct, one of the reasons why we need to take advantage of the summer months is because we can have more of our teaching done outside, and that's one of the reasons why we've taken the decision that we have.
With regard to her points on promoting excellence in outdoor education, we're working with a range of stakeholders to ensure that resources and good practice are available to practitioners. Certainly, just prior to the pandemic, I had a meeting with Natural Resources Wales around the role that they could play as a statutory agency here in Wales to support this agenda, and we will work with a number of agencies to get best practice out there to schools. Your point is well made, and I will go back to ensure that that happens.
Wel, mae'r Aelod yn hollol gywir, un o'r rhesymau pam y mae angen inni fanteisio ar fisoedd yr haf yw oherwydd y gallwn ni wneud mwy o'n haddysgu y tu allan, a dyna un o'r rhesymau pam yr ydym wedi gwneud y penderfyniad a wnaethom ni.
O ran ei sylwadau ar hybu rhagoriaeth mewn addysg awyr agored, rydym yn gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o randdeiliaid i sicrhau bod adnoddau ac arferion da ar gael i ymarferwyr. Yn sicr, ychydig cyn y pandemig, cefais gyfarfod â Chyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ynglŷn â'r hyn y gallent ei wneud fel asiantaeth statudol yma yng Nghymru i gefnogi'r agenda hon, a byddwn yn gweithio gyda nifer o asiantaethau i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn defnyddio'r arferion gorau. Mae eich sylw yn un da, a byddaf yn sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd.
Thank you, and finally, Nick Ramsay.
Diolch, ac yn olaf, Nick Ramsay.
Sorry, I was using the mouse that doesn't work. [Laughter.]
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, I wonder if you could just give us a little bit more information about the education of the under-fives that you mentioned earlier in answer to Darren Millar. I think you said that it's impossible to really adhere to social distancing with that sort of age group, and I think you mentioned that it was probably easier to divide them into small groups. It strikes me that some nurseries in urban areas are much smaller, there is much less space and so they may find that much more difficult to do than nurseries in rural areas. I wonder if any of that has been looked at or considered.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, roeddwn i'n defnyddio'r llygoden sydd ddim yn gweithio. [Chwerthin.]
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, tybed a allech chi roi ychydig mwy o wybodaeth i ni am addysg y rhai dan bump oed y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdanyn nhw yn gynharach wrth ateb Darren Millar. Rwy'n credu eich bod wedi dweud ei fod yn amhosib glynu mewn gwirionedd at ymbellhau cymdeithasol gyda'r math hwnnw o grŵp oedran, ac rwy'n credu eich bod wedi sôn ei bod hi'n debygol ei bod hi'n haws eu rhannu'n grwpiau bach. Mae'n ymddangos i mi fod rhai meithrinfeydd mewn ardaloedd trefol yn llawer llai, bod llawer llai o ofod ac felly efallai eu bod yn ei chael hi'n llawer anos gwneud hynny na meithrinfeydd mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Tybed a edrychwyd ar neu a ystyriwyd unrhyw ran o hynny.
Thank you, Nick. In publishing guidance next week, obviously that is the national context in which we expect operators, institutions and settings to operate, but as I said in answer to Mr Reckless earlier, I have to accept that one size does not fit all and we have to rely on the professional discretion and the professionalism of setting leaders and individual headteachers. If we're thinking about private childcare, that may need—and we all have to accept that it may lead to some variation in the numbers that are back and the ability of individual settings to respond. And I think that whilst often as politicians we like things to be very neat, uniform and tidy—it appeals to our natures—in this circumstance, we have to have some flexibility to recognise, as you've just said, individual buildings and settings can do things in different ways, and we have to recognise that.
Diolch, Nick. Wrth gyhoeddi'r canllawiau yr wythnos nesaf, yn amlwg dyna'r cyd-destun cenedlaethol yr ydym yn disgwyl i ddarparwyr, sefydliadau a lleoliadau weithredu ynddo, ond fel y dywedais wrth ateb Mr Reckless yn gynharach, rhaid i mi dderbyn nad yw un ateb yn addas i bob sefyllfa a rhaid i ni ddibynnu ar grebwyll proffesiynol a phroffesiynoldeb arweinwyr lleoliadau a phenaethiaid unigol. Os ydym yn meddwl am ofal preifat i blant, efallai y bydd angen hynny—ac mae'n rhaid i bob un ohonom ni dderbyn y gallai arwain at rywfaint o amrywiad yn y niferoedd sy'n dychwelyd ac yng ngallu lleoliadau unigol i ymateb. Ac rwy'n credu, er ein bod ni fel gwleidyddion yn aml yn hoffi i bethau fod yn dwt, yn unffurf ac yn daclus—mae'n apelio at ein natur—yn y sefyllfa hon, mae'n rhaid i ni gael rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd i gydnabod, fel rydych chi newydd ei ddweud, y gall adeiladau a lleoliadau unigol wneud pethau mewn ffyrdd gwahanol, ac mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod hynny.
Thank you very much, Minister. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog. Diolch.
Item 6 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government on homelessness, and I call on the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James.
Eitem 6 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar ddigartrefedd, a galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol, Julie James.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Preventing and ending homelessness in all its forms is a priority for this Government. Ensuring no-one was left without accommodation and support during this emergency made that priority all the more urgent. In March, at the start of the lockdown, I took early action to provide an additional £10 million of funding and clear guidance on how people should be sheltered and supported. I am proud of our response in Wales; the decisive and compassionate action taken by Welsh Government and local authorities, in partnership with health, third sector, registered social landlords and voluntary organisations, to bring people in from the streets has undoubtedly saved lives.
Our collective efforts have made sure that everyone was included in the measures designed to protect people and communities. More than 800 people have been provided emergency accommodation and support since the lockdown began. Many were previously sleeping on our streets, others were destitute because they had no recourse to public funds, and many were hidden homeless, living precariously as sofa surfers or in unsuitable temporary accommodation.
Local authorities have supported people facing homelessness into safe and stable accommodation, perhaps for the first time in their lives, and have helped people to start to build trust in services they have never, or rarely, engaged with before, and all in just a few short weeks. The response to this emergency has brought us closer together in many ways, recognising our shared common purpose, but also closer to achieving our vision of making homelessness in Wales rare, brief and non-repeated.
We are acutely aware that providing temporary accommodation is not ending homelessness. It does provide us with a unique opportunity to harness the creativity, innovation, collaboration and willingness to work differently to make a long-term, sustainable and fundamental change to homelessness services in Wales. It also provides us with a unique opportunity to transform people’s lives.
We cannot fall back from the huge progress we have made. We must work to ensure that people facing homelessness continue to be protected from the virus, that they are included in any continued or new public health protection measures introduced, and that no-one is forced to return to the streets or any other form of homelessness. I announced last week additional funding of up to £20 million, revenue and capital, to support the next phase of our response to homelessness in the context of COVID-19.
We are asking every local authority in Wales to prepare a phase 2 plan that sets out how they will ensure that no-one need return to the street, focusing on innovation, building and re-modelling to transform the accommodation offer across Wales. I have today published a framework document to set clear expectations and assist local authorities and their partners in developing their phase 2 plans. The framework document is based firmly on the recommendations I received from the homelessness action group just before lockdown. I am once again very grateful for their expert input and their ongoing engagement in this work.
We are not just asking others to reform the way they work; we are reforming our ways of working as well. We have gained enormously from the close working with local authorities that my officials have been undertaking during this first phase. I know authorities have positively welcomed the closer engagement and support; it has helped to quickly identify and resolve issues, and is informing better policy development. We intend to learn and build on this closer working in the next phase, assisting in the development of the plans, and ensuring we can quickly begin to implement them from July onwards.
This support will also include a series of engagement events to support local authorities and their partners. I took part in the launch event last week and was heartened by the positive response, and to hear of the innovative, multi-agency work and planning already under way in some areas across Wales.
Our collective aim is to ensure that everyone we have brought in to temporary accommodation is supported into long-term accommodation. This requires a collective effort. As I have said on many occasions, homelessness is not solely a housing issue; it is a public service issue and requires a cross-public service response. We aim to transform our whole approach to homelessness provision so that those who present as homeless each and every day experience a system focused on real prevention.
In this next phase, I expect to see creativity, partnership and a willingness to invest in these programmes, which will bring long-term savings and benefits to our public services, as well as the potential to transform the lives of the people involved. Innovation, remodelling and building must form the bedrock of how we address, prevent and end homelessness for good in Wales.
I set out last year in our revised homelessness strategy our aim to move away from temporary accommodation solutions and to adapt a rapid rehousing approach—adopt, I should say, a rapid rehousing approach. We have an opportunity to move more quickly to implement this strategy. In this next phase, we are asking local authorities to commit to and plan how to rapidly move away from the use of night shelters and floor space and approaches where significant resource, particularly from the voluntary sector, is required to support people sleeping rough.
We are asking that they prioritise rapid rehousing and long-term plans, backed up by better quality emergency provision. Our focus is on quickly supporting people back into permanent housing, providing high-quality and dignified interim options and being clear that street services are prioritised for professional assertive outreach focused on resolving homelessness. This next phase is not only about ensuring no-one need return to sleeping rough, but is also about transformation.
This plan is rightly ambitious. It challenges us all to think, plan and work differently. The new investment I have announced to support this plan clearly reflects our commitment as Welsh Government to lead and invest in what we believe in. It will also require local authorities and their partners to invest, using existing funding and grants, and leverage borrowing. This is investment for the long term.
The last few weeks have shown us how much greater than the sum of our parts we can be when we work together. I am truly excited about the opportunity we have before us. It will be a challenge, but based on what we have achieved together thus far, I am confident that we can now make a significant step change towards achieving our goal of ending homelessness in Wales. Diolch.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae atal a rhoi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd o bob math yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon. Er mwyn sicrhau na fyddai neb wedi ei adael heb lety a chefnogaeth yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn roedd y flaenoriaeth honno yn fater o hyd yn oed mwy o frys. Ym mis Mawrth, ar ddechrau'r cyfyngiadau symud, cymerais gamau cynnar i ddarparu £10 miliwn o arian ychwanegol a chanllawiau clir ynghylch sut y dylid gwarchod a chefnogi pobl. Rwy'n falch o'n hymateb yng Nghymru; mae'r camau pendant a thosturiol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol wedi eu cymryd, mewn partneriaeth ag iechyd, y trydydd sector, landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a sefydliadau gwirfoddol, i ddod â phobl i mewn o'r strydoedd yn ddiau wedi achub bywydau.
Mae ein hymdrechion ar y cyd wedi sicrhau bod pawb wedi eu cynnwys yn y mesurau a gynlluniwyd i amddiffyn pobl a chymunedau. Mae dros 800 o bobl wedi cael llety a chymorth brys ers dechrau'r cyfyngiadau symud. Yn flaenorol, roedd llawer yn cysgu ar ein strydoedd, roedd eraill yn ddiymgeledd gan nad oedd hawl ganddyn nhw i gael arian cyhoeddus, ac roedd llawer yn ddigartref cudd, yn byw yn ansefydlog fel syrffwyr soffa neu mewn llety dros dro anaddas.
Mae awdurdodau lleol wedi cefnogi pobl sy'n wynebu digartrefedd i fyw mewn llety diogel a sefydlog, efallai am y tro cyntaf yn eu bywydau, ac wedi helpu pobl i ddechrau ymddiried mewn gwasanaethau nad ydyn nhw erioed, neu ddim ond prin iawn, wedi ymgysylltu â nhw o'r blaen, a hynny i gyd mewn dim ond ychydig o wythnosau byr. Mae'r ymateb i'r argyfwng hwn wedi ein tynnu yn nes at ein gilydd mewn sawl ffordd, gan gydnabod ein pwrpas cyffredin cytûn, ond hefyd yn agosach at gyflawni ein gweledigaeth o wneud digartrefedd yng Nghymru yn brin, dim ond am gyfnod byr a heb gael ei ailadrodd.
Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn nad yw darparu llety dros dro yn rhoi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd. Mae yn rhoi cyfle unigryw i ni harneisio'r creadigrwydd, yr arloesedd, y cydweithredu a'r parodrwydd i weithio mewn modd gwahanol er mwyn gwneud newid hirdymor, cynaliadwy a sylfaenol i wasanaethau digartrefedd yng Nghymru. Mae hefyd yn rhoi cyfle unigryw i ni weddnewid bywydau pobl.
Ni allwn lithro yn ôl o'r cynnydd enfawr yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud. Mae'n rhaid i ni weithio i sicrhau bod pobl sy'n wynebu digartrefedd yn parhau i gael eu hamddiffyn rhag y feirws, eu bod nhw wedi eu cynnwys mewn unrhyw fesurau diogelu iechyd y cyhoedd a fydd yn parhau neu rai newydd a fydd yn cael eu cyflwyno, ac nad oes unrhyw un yn cael ei orfodi i ddychwelyd i'r strydoedd nac unrhyw fath arall o ddigartrefedd. Cyhoeddais yr wythnos diwethaf gyllid ychwanegol o hyd at £20 miliwn, refeniw a chyfalaf, i gefnogi cam nesaf ein hymateb i ddigartrefedd yng nghyd-destun COVID-19.
Rydym yn gofyn i bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru baratoi cynllun cam 2 sy'n nodi sut y bydd yn sicrhau nad oes angen i neb ddychwelyd i'r stryd, gan ganolbwyntio ar arloesi, adeiladu ac ailfodelu er mwyn gweddnewid y cynnig llety ledled Cymru. Heddiw, rwyf i wedi cyhoeddi dogfen fframwaith i bennu disgwyliadau clir a chynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol a'u partneriaid i ddatblygu eu cynlluniau cam 2. Mae'r ddogfen fframwaith wedi ei seilio yn gadarn ar yr argymhellion a gefais gan y grŵp gweithredu ar ddigartrefedd ychydig cyn y cyfyngiadau symud. Rwyf i unwaith eto yn ddiolchgar iawn am eu cyfraniad arbenigol a'u hymgysylltiad parhaus â'r gwaith hwn.
Nid dim ond yn gofyn i eraill ddiwygio'r ffordd y maen nhw'n gweithio yr ydym ni; rydym ni'n diwygio ein ffyrdd ninnau o weithio hefyd. Rydym ni wedi elwa'n fawr iawn ar y cydweithio agos a fu rhwng fy swyddogion ac awdurdodau lleol yn ystod y cam cyntaf hwn. Rwy'n gwybod bod awdurdodau wedi croesawu'n gadarnhaol yr ymgysylltiad agosach a'r cymorth; mae wedi helpu i nodi a datrys problemau yn gyflym, ac mae'n llywio datblygiad polisi gwell. Rydym yn bwriadu dysgu ac adeiladu ar y gwaith agosach hwn yn y cam nesaf, gan helpu i ddatblygu'r cynlluniau, a sicrhau y gallwn ni ddechrau eu rhoi ar waith yn gyflym o fis Gorffennaf ymlaen.
Bydd y cymorth hwn yn cynnwys cyfres o ddigwyddiadau ymgysylltu hefyd i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol a'u partneriaid. Cymerais ran yn y digwyddiad lansio yr wythnos diwethaf a chefais fy nghalonogi gan yr ymateb cadarnhaol, a chlywed am y gwaith a'r cynllunio arloesol, amlasiantaeth sydd eisoes ar y gweill mewn rhai ardaloedd ledled Cymru.
Ein nod ar y cyd yw sicrhau bod pawb yr ydym ni wedi rhoi llety dros dro iddyn nhw yn cael cymorth i lety hirdymor. Mae hyn yn gofyn am ymdrech ar y cyd. Fel yr wyf wedi ei ddweud droeon, nid mater tai yn unig yw digartrefedd; mae'n fater gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ac mae'n galw am ymateb ar draws y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Ein nod yw gweddnewid ein hymagwedd gyfan at ddarpariaeth digartrefedd fel bod y rhai sy'n cyflwyno eu hunain fel pobl ddigartref bob dydd yn cael profiad o system sy'n canolbwyntio ar atal gwirioneddol.
Yn y cam nesaf hwn, rwyf i'n disgwyl gweld creadigrwydd, partneriaeth a pharodrwydd i fuddsoddi yn y rhaglenni hyn, a fydd yn cyflwyno arbedion a manteision hirdymor i'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, yn ogystal â'r potensial i weddnewid bywydau'r bobl dan sylw. Mae'n rhaid i arloesi, ailfodelu ac adeiladu fod yn sylfaen i'r ffordd yr ydym yn ymdrin â digartrefedd, yn ei atal ac yn rhoi terfyn arno yng Nghymru.
Nodais y llynedd yn ein strategaeth digartrefedd ddiwygiedig, ein nod o symud i ffwrdd o atebion llety dros dro ac addasu dull ailgartrefu cyflym—mabwysiadu, ddylwn i ddweud, dull ailgartrefu cyflym. Mae gennym ni gyfle i symud yn gyflymach i weithredu'r strategaeth hon. Yn y cam nesaf hwn, rydym yn gofyn i awdurdodau lleol ymrwymo i, a chynllunio sut i symud yn gyflym oddi wrth y defnydd o lochesi nos a lle ar lawr a dulliau lle mae angen adnoddau sylweddol, yn enwedig gan y sector gwirfoddol, i gefnogi pobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd.
Rydym yn gofyn iddyn nhw flaenoriaethu cynlluniau ailgartrefu cyflym a hirdymor, wedi eu hategu gan ddarpariaeth frys o ansawdd gwell. Rydym yn canolbwyntio ar roi cymorth cyflym i bobl fynd yn ôl i dai parhaol, gan ddarparu dewisiadau dros dro urddasol o ansawdd uchel a bod yn glir bod gwasanaethau stryd yn cael eu blaenoriaethu ar gyfer allgymorth grymusol proffesiynol sy'n canolbwyntio ar ddatrys digartrefedd. Mae'r cam nesaf hwn yn ymwneud â mwy na dim ond sicrhau nad oes angen i neb ddychwelyd i gysgu ar y stryd, mae hefyd yn ymwneud â gweddnewid.
Mae'r cynllun hwn yn uchelgeisiol iawn, a hynny'n briodol. Mae'n ein herio ni i gyd i feddwl, cynllunio a gweithio'n wahanol. Mae'r buddsoddiad newydd yr wyf i wedi ei gyhoeddi i gefnogi'r cynllun hwn yn adlewyrchu ein hymrwymiad ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru i arwain a buddsoddi yn yr hyn yr ydym ni'n credu ynddo. Bydd hefyd yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol a'u partneriaid fuddsoddi, gan ddefnyddio cyllid a grantiau presennol, a benthyca trosoledd. Buddsoddiad ar gyfer y tymor hir yw hyn.
Mae'r ychydig wythnosau diwethaf wedi dangos i ni gymaint yn fwy na'n rhannau unigol y gallwn ni fod pan fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd. Rwyf i'n llawn cyffro ynghylch y cyfle sydd gennym ger ein bron. Bydd yn her, ond ar sail yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei gyflawni gyda'n gilydd hyd yma, rwyf i'n ffyddiog y gallwn ni newid yn sylweddol erbyn hyn i gyflawni ein nod o roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd yng Nghymru. Diolch.
Can I start by placing on record the Welsh Conservative Party's appreciation of the progress that's been made in ending, to all intents and purposes, rough-sleeping? We're pleased that this has been very successful in Wales, with 800 people now moved into temporary accommodation. Many of them would have been on the streets. And I note also that similar progress has been made in England. I make this remark just to remind everyone that even in a deep crisis, new ways of thinking, and new priorities, and new forms of compassion come to the surface. And this is certainly one, and I'm pleased that we can say in Wales that we have genuine achievements to build upon.
My first question is that I just want to look at the issue of arrears and evictions, because, unfortunately, once evictions are made permissible in law again, which may happen this month or it may happen in the autumn depending on the decision taken by the Master of the Rolls, of course, this could cause a considerable increase in homelessness and even people going back to the streets. A Tenant Participation Advisory Service survey published last week, Minister, found that two thirds of private renters knew where to go to get help if they had problems with arrears, while only a quarter of social tenants knew where to go for that sort of support and information. So, I would ask you to look at this, because it is a bit curious that the deficiency is so heavy in terms of social tenants, and you would have expected them to be more aware of the sources of help.
And, also, can I refer to the recent calls by Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru in terms of evictions—I think you may have had sight of this—that we need in Wales a national plan to tackle evictions? Not all the levers can be controlled by us because of the changes in law, but we're going to have to deal with this. And they're calling for a repayment plan for arrears, spread over two years, so we have a plan that can help people in that situation. And then, if landlords sign up to that sort of scheme of spreading payments for two years, there would be no evictions. It does seem to me as quite a constructive way forward, but I think we would like to know what is your current evaluation of where we will be in terms of evictions, and whether we are likely to see some extension of the current moratorium for instance.
A gaf i ddechrau trwy gofnodi gwerthfawrogiad Plaid y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig o'r cynnydd a wnaed wrth roi terfyn, i bob pwrpas, ar gysgu ar y stryd? Rydym ni'n falch y bu hyn yn llwyddiannus iawn yng Nghymru, gydag 800 o bobl wedi eu symud i lety dros dro erbyn hyn. Byddai llawer ohonyn nhw wedi bod ar y stryd. Ac rwy'n sylwi hefyd bod cynnydd tebyg wedi ei wneud yn Lloegr. Rwyf yn gwneud y sylw hwn er mwyn atgoffa pawb, hyd yn oed mewn argyfwng taer, fod ffyrdd newydd o feddwl, a blaenoriaethau newydd, a mathau newydd o dosturi yn dod i'r amlwg. Ac mae hwn yn sicr yn un, ac rwy'n falch ein bod ni yng Nghymru yn gallu dweud bod gennym ni lwyddiannau gwirioneddol i ddatblygu arnyn nhw.
Fy nghwestiwn cyntaf yw fy mod i'n dymuno ystyried y mater o ôl-ddyledion a throi allan, oherwydd, yn anffodus, pan fydd y caniatâd cyfreithiol i droi pobl allan yn dychwelyd, a all ddigwydd y mis hwn neu a all ddigwydd yn yr hydref yn dibynnu ar benderfyniad Meistr y Rholiau, wrth gwrs, gallai hyn arwain at gynnydd sylweddol mewn digartrefedd ac at bobl yn dychwelyd i'r strydoedd hyd yn oed. Canfu arolwg Gwasanaeth Ymgynghorol Cyfranogiad Tenantiaid a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, Gweinidog, fod dwy ran o dair o rentwyr preifat yn gwybod ble i fynd i gael cymorth pe byddai ganddyn nhw broblemau ôl-ddyledion, ond mai dim ond chwarter y tenantiaid cymdeithasol oedd yn gwybod ble i fynd am y math hwnnw o gymorth a gwybodaeth. Felly, gofynnaf i chi edrych ar hyn, gan ei bod yn rhyfedd braidd bod y diffyg mor sylweddol o safbwynt tenantiaid cymdeithasol, a byddech chi wedi disgwyl iddyn nhw fod yn fwy ymwybodol o'r ffynonellau cymorth.
A, hefyd, a gaf i gyfeirio at alwadau diweddar gan Sefydliad Tai Siartredig Cymru o ran troi allan—rwy'n credu eich bod chi efallai wedi gweld hyn—bod angen cynllun cenedlaethol arnom ni yng Nghymru i fynd i'r afael â throi allan? Ni allwn ni reoli'r holl ysgogiadau oherwydd y newidiadau yn y gyfraith, ond bydd yn rhaid i ni ymdrin â hyn. Ac maen nhw'n galw am gynllun ad-dalu ar gyfer ôl-ddyledion, wedi ei ymestyn dros ddwy flynedd, felly mae gennym ni gynllun a all helpu pobl yn y sefyllfa honno. Ac yna, os bydd landlordiaid yn cytuno i'r math hwnnw o gynllun i wasgaru taliadau dros ddwy flynedd, ni fyddai unrhyw droi allan. Mae'n ymddangos i mi yn ffordd eithaf adeiladol ymlaen, ond rwy'n credu yr hoffem ni gael gwybod beth yw eich gwerthusiad presennol chi o beth fydd y sefyllfa o ran troi allan, ac a ydym ni'n debygol o weld rhywfaint o estyniad i'r moratoriwm presennol er enghraifft.
Thank you, David, and I very much value the cross-party way we've been able to work in this regard. I do think that the plan for Wales is one that we broadly share across all parties in Wales, and that's one of the reasons we've been able to do what we've been able to do because we've been collaborative across all sectors. And it does really prove what we can do when we work together.
But there are some concerns. Obviously, rent arrears is one of them. One of the things that I agreed with our social housing partners in Wales when we agreed the rent policy for social housing in Wales—seems like a decade ago but was only actually about 13 weeks ago—was that they would not evict people into homelessness for rent arrears or any other thing. We'd just started to put that plan in action when the lockdown came. We are continuing to work with our registered social landlords and our councils to make sure that that plan stays in place. And as part of that plan, what we will be doing is ensuring that any tenant who faces rent arrears and would be facing an eviction path as a result of that—and there are various complexities in the law I know you're well familiar with, but there's a mandatory ground for eviction, and so on; some complexities I won't go into here—that we work with those tenants, in a pre-action protocol, so that, before any eviction processes can be contemplated, a full understanding of that person's financial circumstances are undertaken and what their ability to repay any arrears looks like and what their ability to sustain their tenancy looks like, and any help that can be given with that, including in certain circumstances for social landlords in Wales write-off of the rent arrears in particular individual circumstances. I want to emphasise that that's not a blanket policy, for obvious public policy reasons, but we want to understand how each individual has ended up where they've ended up, and to understand what support they would need to get back into credit. And that would of course include repayment over two years, and so on—I agree that that's certainly amongst the mix of things that would need to be looked at.
You're quite right, of course, in saying that we await the Master of the Rolls' decision on whether that pre-action protocol will be put in place for private sector rent evictions. We've made our views very clear to the UK Government, and I remain very hopeful that that will be a course of action that will occur. And, in any event, we will be working very hard with our registered landlords here in Wales—as you know, we have a very good relationship with them, and we're in contact with them in a way that is unique; because of Rent Smart Wales, we know who everybody is—to put a voluntary pre-action protocol in place, even if the court doesn't put a mandatory one in place, so that the vast majority of tenants will receive that service anyway.
I was very interested to hear what you said about not understanding sources of support. I'm quite surprised by that—I'd like to see where that came from. And we'd certainly like to take that up with our councils and registered social landlords, because it's very much part of the way that we oversee their activity—that they provide that kind of targeted tenant support, that should mean that their tenants do know where that support comes from. So, I'd be really grateful to have a look in more detail at the information you have there, to find out what we can do to put that right.
Diolch, David, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'n fawr y ffordd drawsbleidiol yr ydym ni wedi gallu gweithio yn hyn o beth. Rwyf i yn credu bod y cynllun i Gymru yn un yr ydym ni'n ei rannu'n fras ar draws pob plaid yng Nghymru, a dyna un o'r rhesymau yr ydym ni wedi gallu gwneud yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi gallu ei wneud oherwydd ein bod ni wedi cydweithio ar draws pob sector. Ac mae wir yn profi yr hyn yr ydym ni'n gallu ei wneud trwy weithio gyda'n gilydd.
Ond mae rhai pryderon. Yn amlwg, mae ôl-ddyledion rhent yn un ohonyn nhw. Un o'r pethau yr oeddwn i'n cytuno â'n partneriaid tai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru pan wnaethom ni gytuno ar y polisi rhenti ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru—mae'n teimlo fel degawd yn ôl ond dim ond rhyw 13 wythnos yn ôl oedd hi—oedd na fydden nhw'n troi pobl allan i fod yn ddigartref oherwydd ôl-ddyledion rhent nac unrhyw beth arall. Roeddem ni newydd ddechrau rhoi'r cynllun hwnnw ar waith pan ddaeth y cyfyngiadau symud. Rydym ni'n dal i weithio gyda'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a'n cynghorau i sicrhau bod y cynllun hwnnw'n parhau i fod ar waith. Ac yn rhan o'r cynllun hwnnw, yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ei wneud yw sicrhau bod unrhyw denant sy'n wynebu ôl-ddyledion rhent ac a fyddai'n wynebu llwybr troi allan o ganlyniad i hynny—ac mae amryw o gymhlethdodau yn y gyfraith yr wyf i'n gwybod eich bod yn gyfarwydd â nhw, ond mae yna sail orfodol ar gyfer troi allan, ac yn y blaen; rhai cymhlethdodau, ni fyddaf yn mynd i fanylder yn y fan yma—ein bod ni'n gweithio gyda'r tenantiaid hynny, mewn protocol cyn gweithredu, er mwyn sicrhau, cyn y gellir ystyried unrhyw brosesau troi allan, y sicrheir dealltwriaeth lawn o amgylchiadau ariannol y person hwnnw a beth yw ei allu i ad-dalu unrhyw ôl-ddyledion a beth yw ei allu i gynnal y denantiaeth, ac unrhyw gymorth y gellir ei roi yn hynny o beth, gan gynnwys, o dan rai amgylchiadau, i landlordiaid cymdeithasol yng Nghymru ddileu'r ôl-ddyledion rhent yn arbennig mewn amgylchiadau penodol unigol. Hoffwn i bwysleisio nad yw hynny'n bolisi cyffredinol, am resymau amlwg yn ymwneud â pholisi cyhoeddus, ond rydym ni'n dymuno deall sut y mae pob unigolyn wedi cyrraedd y sefyllfa y maen nhw ynddi, a deall pa gymorth y byddai ei angen arno i ddychwelyd i gredyd. A byddai hynny, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys ad-dalu dros ddwy flynedd, ac yn y blaen—rwy'n cytuno bod hynny'n sicr ymhlith y cymysgedd o bethau y byddai angen eu hystyried.
Rydych chi yn llygad eich lle, wrth gwrs, wrth ddweud ein bod ni'n aros am benderfyniad Meistr y Rholiau ynghylch a fydd y protocol cyn gweithredu hwnnw yn cael ei roi ar waith ar gyfer achosion troi allan yn y sector preifat. Rydym ni wedi mynegi ein barn yn glir iawn i Lywodraeth y DU, ac rwy'n dal yn obeithiol iawn y bydd hynny'n gam gweithredu a fydd yn digwydd. A, beth bynnag, byddwn yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda'n landlordiaid cofrestredig yma yng Nghymru—fel y gwyddoch chi, mae gennym ni berthynas dda iawn â nhw, ac rydym ni mewn cysylltiad â nhw mewn ffordd sy'n unigryw; oherwydd Rhentu Doeth Cymru, rydym ni'n gwybod pwy yw pawb—i roi protocol cyn gweithredu gwirfoddol ar waith, hyd yn oed os nad yw'r llys yn rhoi un gorfodol ar waith, fel y bydd y mwyafrif helaeth o denantiaid yn cael y gwasanaeth hwnnw beth bynnag.
Yr oedd yn ddiddorol iawn clywed yr hyn a ddywedasoch chi am beidio â deall ffynonellau cymorth. Rwy'n synnu braidd at hynny—hoffwn i weld o ble y daeth hynny. Ac yn sicr, hoffem ni godi hynny gyda'n cynghorau a'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig, oherwydd mae'n sicr yn rhan bwysig o'r ffordd yr ydym yn goruchwylio eu gweithrediadau—eu bod nhw'n darparu'r math hwnnw o gymorth tenantiaid wedi ei dargedu, a ddylai olygu bod eu tenantiaid yn gwybod o ble y mae'r cymorth hwnnw yn dod. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn o gael golwg manylach ar yr wybodaeth sydd gennych chi yn y fan yna, i gael gwybod beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i unioni'r sefyllfa.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. It's from TPAS Cymru, the survey, which I think had 500 respondents—it was quite a high number. But I can certainly give you that reference.
I wonder if I could just clarify the expenditure position, and I do this simply so that we can have a full understanding. I'm not in any way sceptical that the resources won't match the ambition, because I genuinely think there is a determination to see the end of rough-sleeping and homelessness. But you made an announcement in early March of an increase of £10 million, and then last week another increase of £10 million, so the total amount of additional expenditure that's been announced during the lockdown now stands at a total of £20 million. I think sometimes you talk about £10 million here and then an additional £20 million, and I think the First Minister nearly slipped into this when he was talking in terms of £30 million more being spent. But I think the actual figure of the envelope is £20 million. If not, could you clarify that? The UK Government, in making similar increases in expenditure—and I'm not going to get into a comparison; it's very difficult to make it—have emphasised that they're aiming for a 37 per cent increase in revenue spending on support services for vulnerable tenants, and that's going to be a key way of keeping those in emergency accommodation at the moment, as they move into more stable housing, keeping them in that situation so they don't fall back and then end up in the streets again. I just wondered if you have a similar view.
And I welcome the phase 2 plans that now are going to be required from local authorities, and the emphasis on a rapid rehousing approach. I think that is right. But can I also point to a call by the National Residential Landlords Association, where they commend the Newport scheme, which offers six months' guaranteed rental and any repairs to be undertaken if landlords sign up to schemes where homeless people would be put into their property. And they're saying that perhaps we could make that a national plan. And it does seem that the Newport scheme has worked very well, and may be a very constructive way forward that uses the resources of the private sector, which are so extensive in providing rental accommodation, as we know.
Diolch i chi am yr ateb yna, Gweinidog. Gan Wasanaeth Ymgynghorol Cyfranogiad Tenantiaid Cymru y mae'r arolwg, a gafodd 500 o ymatebion rwy'n credu—roedd yn nifer eithaf uchel. Ond yn sicr gallaf i roi'r cyfeiriad hwnnw i chi.
Tybed a gaf i egluro'r sefyllfa o ran gwariant, ac rwy'n gwneud hyn yn syml er mwyn i ni allu ei deall yn llawn. Nid wyf i'n amau o gwbl na fydd yr adnoddau yn cyfateb i'r uchelgais, oherwydd fy mod i wirioneddol yn credu bod penderfyniad i weld terfyn ar gysgu ar y stryd a digartrefedd. Ond fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddiad ddechrau mis Mawrth ynghylch cynnydd o £10 miliwn, ac yna yr wythnos diwethaf cynnydd arall o £10 miliwn, felly mae cyfanswm y gwariant ychwanegol sydd wedi ei gyhoeddi yn ystod cyfnod y cyfyngiadau symud yn cyfateb i gyfanswm o £20 miliwn erbyn hyn. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n sôn weithiau am £10 miliwn yn fan yma ac yna £20 miliwn ychwanegol, ac rwy'n credu bod y Prif Weinidog bron wedi syrthio i hyn pan oedd yn siarad yn nhermau £30 miliwn yn fwy yn cael ei wario. Ond rwy'n credu mai ffigur gwirioneddol y cyllid yw £20 miliwn. Os nad dyna ydyw, a wnewch chi egluro hynny? Mae Llywodraeth y DU, wrth wneud cynnydd tebyg mewn gwariant—ac nid wyf i'n mynd i ddechrau cymharu; mae'n anodd iawn gwneud hynny—wedi pwysleisio eu bod nhw'n gweithio tuag at gynnydd o 37 y cant mewn gwariant refeniw ar wasanaethau cymorth i denantiaid agored i niwed, a bydd honno'n ffordd allweddol o gadw'r rhai sydd mewn llety brys ar hyn o bryd, wrth iddyn nhw symud i dai mwy sefydlog, a'u cadw nhw yn y sefyllfa honno fel nad ydyn nhw'n syrthio'n ôl ac yna'n mynd yn ôl ar y stryd. Roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a oes gennych chi farn debyg.
Ac rwy'n croesawu'r cynlluniau cam 2 y bydd yn rhaid i awdurdodau lleol eu llunio bellach, a'r pwyslais ar ddull ailgartrefu cyflym. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n iawn. Ond a gaf i hefyd nodi galwad gan Gymdeithas Genedlaethol y Landlordiaid Preswyl, pan eu bod yn cymeradwyo cynllun Casnewydd, sy'n cynnig rhent gwarantedig o chwe mis ac unrhyw atgyweiriadau sydd i'w gwneud os bydd landlordiaid yn cofrestru i gynlluniau lle byddai pobl ddigartref yn cael llety yn eu heiddo. Ac maen nhw'n dweud efallai y gallem ni wneud hynny yn gynllun cenedlaethol. Ac mae yn ymddangos bod cynllun Casnewydd wedi gweithio yn dda iawn, ac y gall fod yn ffordd adeiladol iawn ymlaen sy'n defnyddio adnoddau'r sector preifat, sydd mor helaeth wrth ddarparu llety i'w rentu, fel y gwyddom.
Yes, thank you. So, on the expenditure, sorry if there is some confusion, but there are two lots of £10 million revenue—so, the £10 million original revenue spend, and then an additional £10 million revenue spend in this second phase. But there's also £10 million of capital. So, it's £30 million, if you include the capital—£20 million revenue and £10 million capital. So, I think that's where the confusion is coming from. So, it's a £30 million envelope, but £20 million of it is revenue, just to be really clear. We are expecting—. The reason for the mix is because the capital leverages, other schemes and the revenue, obviously, provide support for borrowing and a number of other schemes. So, we deliberately put the mix in play. So, I hope that does clarify that.
Obviously, when we see the plans coming forward, we'll be able to work more closely with local authorities and other partners at exactly how that funding will be working, but we wanted to make sure that they could plan, knowing that there was support for that in place and that that wouldn't be a barrier to making the plans in the first place.
In terms of other routes, yes, I'm aware of the Newport scheme—I absolutely commend it. We will be looking to roll out several of those schemes right across Wales. We've also been running a scheme in a couple of local authorities where we take over a private rented house for five years, promising the landlord the local housing allowance for that whole period and then returning the house to them in the condition in which we received it or better.
Sorry, I got muted for some reason.
Ie, diolch i chi. Felly, o ran y gwariant, mae'n ddrwg gen i os oes rhywfaint o ddryswch, ond mae dau swm o £10 miliwn o refeniw—felly, y £10 miliwn o wariant refeniw gwreiddiol, ac wedyn £10 miliwn o wariant refeniw ychwanegol yn yr ail gam hwn. Ond mae £10 miliwn o gyfalaf hefyd. Felly, mae'n £30 miliwn, os ydych chi'n cynnwys y cyfalaf—£20 miliwn o refeniw a £10 miliwn o gyfalaf. Felly, rwy'n credu mai dyna ble mae'r dryswch yn codi. Felly, mae'n amlen gwerth £30 miliwn, ond mae £20 miliwn o hynny yn refeniw, i fod yn gwbl glir. Rydym ni'n disgwyl—. Y rheswm am y cymysgedd yw bod y cynlluniau cymorth cyfalaf, cynlluniau eraill a'r refeniw, yn amlwg, yn darparu cymorth ar gyfer benthyca a nifer o gynlluniau eraill. Felly, fe aethom ni ati yn fwriadol i ddefnyddio'r gymysgedd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod hynna'n egluro hynny.
Yn amlwg, pan fyddwn yn gweld y cynlluniau yn cael eu cyflwyno, byddwn yn gallu gweithio'n agosach gydag awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid eraill ar sut yn union y bydd yr arian hwnnw yn gweithio, ond roeddem ni'n awyddus i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gallu cynllunio, gan wybod bod cymorth ar gael ar gyfer hynny ac na fyddai hynny yn rhwystr rhag gwneud y cynlluniau yn y lle cyntaf.
O ran llwybrau eraill, ydw, rwy'n ymwybodol o gynllun Casnewydd—rwy'n ei gymeradwyo yn llwyr. Byddwn yn ceisio cyflwyno nifer o'r cynlluniau hynny ledled Cymru gyfan. Rydym ni hefyd wedi bod yn rhedeg cynllun mewn un neu ddau o awdurdodau lleol lle'r ydym ni'n meddiannu tŷ rhent preifat am bum mlynedd, gan addo i'r landlord y lwfans tai lleol am y cyfnod cyfan hwnnw ac yna dychwelyd y tŷ iddo yn y cyflwr y cawsom ef neu'n well.
Sori, cefais i fy ngwneud yn fud am ryw reswm.
No, you're okay. Carry on.
Na, rydych chi'n iawn. Ewch ymlaen.
I was just going to say, that would be very much part of the mix and we expect that kind of thing to feature in the plans as we go forward.
Roeddwn i ar fin dweud, byddai hynny yn sicr yn rhan o'r gymysgedd ac rydym ni'n disgwyl y bydd y math hwnnw o beth yn ymddangos yn y cynlluniau wrth i ni symud ymlaen.
Okay, thank you. Delyth Jewell.
Iawn, diolch. Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We also welcome the announcement—
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rydym ninnau hefyd yn croesawu'r cyhoeddiad—
Sorry, we can't hear you. Sorry. Can somebody sort Delyth's mike out, please? Try again.
Sori, dydyn ni ddim yn eich clywed chi. Mae'n ddrwg gen i. A all rhywun helpu Delyth gyda'i meic, os gwelwch yn dda? Trïwch eto.
Can you hear me now?
Ydych chi'n gallu fy nghlywed i nawr?
Yes, fine.
Ydym, yn iawn.
We welcome the announcement about eradicating homelessness. I think one of the positives that could come from this crisis is the realisation that housing is a right for life and not just an emergency stop during a pandemic. I would also really welcome the constructive way that you've worked, Minister, across parties in approaching this crisis. The crisis has also shown that homelessness has been a political choice, not an inevitability. No more can anyone be criticised for saying that 10-year plans to end homelessness are an insulting ambition.
Now some may balk at the sums of money that we're talking about, but I'd say to them, and I'm sure you'd agree with me on this, Minister, that this investment will lead to considerable savings for our public services—you referred to that in your statement—and not to mention a better life for countless people in the future. I would ask, Minister, if you wish you had perhaps allocated the sums to ending homelessness a lot sooner.
But, looking to the future, it seems that the private rented sector is likely to see an increase in demand, where Rightmove is saying that the demand for lettings is up 22 per cent. Now, that is presumably largely in England, where the restrictions are not as severe, but this may, of course, result in the temptation for landlords to evict current occupants or persuade them to leave so that they could put the rent up for other tenants. So, could you confirm, Minister, whether you'll be extending the no-eviction period of taking no further action, to prevent this further after we have continued to focus on prevention of homelessness? I appreciate what you've just said to David Melding, but I just wonder if you could confirm how long you hope that support will be in place and, indeed, that that will be something that won't be time limited.
Rydym ni'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiad ynghylch dileu digartrefedd. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau cadarnhaol a allai ddeillio o'r argyfwng hwn yw sylweddoli bod tai yn hawl am oes, nid dim ond rhywbeth brys dros dro yn ystod pandemig. Rwyf i hefyd yn croesawu'n fawr y ffordd adeiladol yr ydych chi wedi gweithio, Gweinidog, ar draws y pleidiau wrth fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hwn. Mae'r argyfwng wedi dangos hefyd bod digartrefedd wedi bod yn ddewis gwleidyddol, nid yn rhywbeth anochel. Ni all neb gael ei feirniadu mwyach am ddweud bod cynlluniau 10 mlynedd i roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd yn uchelgais sarhaus.
Nawr bydd rhai efallai yn petruso ynghylch y symiau o arian yr ydym ni'n sôn amdanyn nhw, ond byddwn i'n dweud wrthyn nhw, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno â mi yn hyn o beth, Gweinidog, y bydd y buddsoddiad hwn yn arwain at arbedion sylweddol i'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus—fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at hynny yn eich datganiad—heb sôn am y bywyd gwell i bobl ddirifedi yn y dyfodol. Hoffwn i ofyn, Gweinidog, a ydych chi'n gresynu na wnaethoch chi dyrannu'r symiau i roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd ynghynt o lawer.
Ond, wrth edrych i'r dyfodol, mae'n ymddangos y bydd y sector rhentu preifat yn debygol o weld cynnydd yn y galw, wrth i Rightmove ddweud bod y galw am osodiadau wedi cynyddu gan 22 y cant. Nawr, rwy'n cymryd mai yn Lloegr y mae hynny yn bennaf, lle nad yw'r cyfyngiadau mor ddifrifol, ond gall hyn, wrth gwrs, arwain at demtasiwn i landlordiaid droi allan meddianwyr presennol neu eu perswadio i adael er mwyn iddyn nhw allu cynyddu'r rhent i denantiaid eraill. Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau, Gweinidog, a fyddwch chi'n ymestyn y cyfnod dim troi allan o beidio â chymryd camau pellach, er mwyn atal hyn ymhellach ar ôl i ni barhau i ganolbwyntio ar atal digartrefedd? Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi yr hyn yr ydych chi newydd ei ddweud wrth David Melding, ond tybed a wnewch chi gadarnhau am ba hyd yr ydych yn gobeithio y bydd y cymorth hwnnw ar gael ac, yn wir, y bydd hynny'n rhywbeth na fydd â chyfyngiad amser iddo.
Yes, obviously, what the crisis has done is it has made it possible for us to do things that we would always have wanted to do, but it has made it possible to do it in ways that we wouldn't have been able to access. So, for example, in some areas in Wales, we've taken over private sector bed-and-breakfasts or hotels or student accommodation that wasn't needed because of the crisis, which wouldn't have been available to us in 'ordinary circumstances'. So, what we've done is we've made the best of a terrible situation and we've capitalised on some of those opportunities, and that's allowed us to things much more quickly than would ever have been possible in normal circumstances. But you're right—it has proved that it can be done, and what it's done is it's proved to everyone that it can be done. And so people are very determined, and I feel sure that they will be able to put the plans forward for the next phase because we now know that it can be done. It's not just theoretical, and that makes a huge difference. So, I'm very optimistic that we will be able to work in that collaborative way right across the piece.
In terms of the prevention from evictions—in terms of the legal prevention from evictions—I'm currently considering with my officials extending the three-month period that we currently have. There's a possibility of extending it under the coronavirus Act and the regulations. Obviously that's in the context of the pandemic. So, we're looking to extend it while the pandemic carries on, because that's basis of those powers, and, in the meantime, of course, we're looking at the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill that we want to get through, if at all possible, in this Senedd term, which would put that in for the longer term. But it does require the two, and it's not possible, as I understand it, to extend the coronavirus regulations once the pandemic is over. So, it's just not possible to do that. So, we hope that we can get the amendment Bill through in time for that not to have a gap in it, but we have to do both of those things simultaneously. And I'm sure we'll get a lot of collaboration from the Senedd in doing that as well. I know that there's a shared agenda there, too.
And then, in terms of the private sector, as I say, we've a range of actions going on with private sector landlords. But you will know from our conversations that we're very dependent on the UK Government making sure that the local housing allowance does not go back down to where it was before, because, in that case, people will not be able to afford an average accommodation in most places in Wales, and that's made a significant difference to the market forces that you mentioned as part of that.
Ie, yn amlwg, yr hyn y mae'r argyfwng wedi ei wneud yw ei gwneud yn bosibl i ni wneud pethau y byddem ni wedi dymuno eu gwneud erioed, ond y mae wedi ei gwneud yn bosibl i wneud hynny mewn ffyrdd na fyddem ni wedi gallu eu gwneud. Felly, er enghraifft, mewn rhai ardaloedd yng Nghymru, rydym ni wedi meddiannu llety gwely a brecwast neu westai neu lety i fyfyrwyr yn y sector preifat nad oedd eu hangen oherwydd yr argyfwng, na fyddai wedi bod ar gael i ni o dan 'amgylchiadau arferol'. Felly, rydym ni wedi gwneud y gorau o sefyllfa ofnadwy ac rydym ni wedi manteisio ar rai o'r cyfleoedd hynny, ac mae hynny wedi ein galluogi i wneud pethau llawer ynghynt nag a fyddai wedi bod yn bosibl o dan amgylchiadau arferol. Ond rydych chi'n iawn—y mae wedi profi y gellir ei wneud, a'r hyn y mae wedi ei wneud yw profi i bawb y gellir ei wneud. Ac felly mae pobl yn benderfynol iawn, ac rwy'n teimlo'n sicr y byddan nhw'n gallu cyflwyno'r cynlluniau ar gyfer y cam nesaf oherwydd ein bod ni'n gwybod erbyn hyn y gellir ei wneud. Nid damcaniaeth yn unig ydyw, ac mae hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr. Felly, rwy'n obeithiol iawn y byddwn ni'n gallu gweithio yn y ffordd gydweithredol honno drwyddi draw.
O ran atal achosion o droi allan—o ran atal yn gyfreithiol achosion o droi allan—ar hyn o bryd rwy'n ystyried gyda fy swyddogion ymestyn y cyfnod tri mis sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd. Mae posibilrwydd ei ymestyn o dan y Ddeddf coronafeirws a'r rheoliadau. Mae'n amlwg bod hynny yng nghyd-destun y pandemig. Felly, rydym ni'n gobeithio ei ymestyn tra bydd y pandemig yn parhau, gan mai dyna sail y pwerau hynny, ac, yn y cyfamser, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n edrych ar y Bil Rhentu Cartrefi (Diwygio) (Cymru) yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei gyflwyno, os yn bosibl, yn y tymor Senedd hwn, a fyddai'n rhoi hynny ar waith yn y tymor hwy. Ond mae yn gofyn am y ddau, ac nid yw'n bosibl, yn ôl yr hyn yr wyf i'n ei ddeall, ymestyn y rheoliadau coronafeirws pan fydd y pandemig ar ben. Felly, nid yw'n bosibl gwneud hynny. Felly, rydym ni'n gobeithio y gallwn ni gyflwyno'r diwygiad i'r Bil mewn pryd er mwyn peidio â chael bwlch yn hynny o beth, ond mae'n rhaid i ni wneud y ddau beth hynny ar yr un pryd. Ac rwy'n siŵr y cawn ni lawer o gydweithrediad gan y Senedd wrth wneud hynny hefyd. Rwy'n gwybod bod agenda ar y cyd yn y fan honno hefyd.
Ac yna, o ran y sector preifat, fel y dywedais, mae gennym ni amryw o gamau gweithredu ar y gweill gyda landlordiaid sector preifat. Ond byddwch chi'n gwybod o'n sgyrsiau ein bod ni'n dibynnu'n fawr iawn ar Lywodraeth y DU yn gwneud yn siŵr nad yw'r lwfans tai lleol yn mynd yn ôl i ble yr oedd o'r blaen, oherwydd, yn yr achos hwnnw, ni fydd pobl yn gallu fforddio llety cyfartalog yn y rhan fwyaf o leoedd yng Nghymru, ac mae hynny wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i rymoedd y farchnad y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdanyn nhw yn rhan o hynny.
Thank you for that, Minister. A further issue I wanted to raise was the support that's offered to people with no recourse to public funds. Now, that status is a legacy of Tony Blair's attempt to appease the Daily Mail all those years ago, and it has left a long and bloody legacy. We know that Shelter Cymru and others have been writing about the problems it's caused migrant women since at least 2010. Now, unfortunately that status is still in place, and people with no recourse to public funds have been unable to access universal credit, the furlough scheme and other support services. So, could you assure us, Minister, that your measures to end homelessness will not ignore the plight of that group of people.
And, finally, I'd like to ask about the more general long-term lessons that we can learn from this pandemic. We know that poorer communities have been hit harder by the crisis. And one reason we can probably surmise about this is the closer proximity of houses in poorer areas, the risk of overcrowding and, of course, poorer conditions of the houses making underlying health conditions more prevalent. Minister, will you be looking at changes to the planning system in the near future to address these factors so that future housing estates can be made pandemic proof?
Diolch am hynna, Gweinidog. Mater arall yr oeddwn i'n dymuno ei godi oedd y cymorth sy'n cael ei gynnig i bobl nad oes ganddyn nhw hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus. Nawr, mae'r statws hwnnw yn etifeddiaeth ymgais Tony Blair i dawelu'r Daily Mail flynyddoedd yn ôl, ac mae wedi gadael etifeddiaeth hir a gwaedlyd. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod Shelter Cymru ac eraill wedi bod yn ysgrifennu am y problemau y mae wedi eu hachosi i fenywod mudol ers o leiaf 2010. Nawr, yn anffodus mae'r statws hwnnw ar waith o hyd, ac nid yw pobl nad oes ganddyn nhw hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus wedi gallu cael credyd cynhwysol, y cynllun ffyrlo na gwasanaethau cymorth eraill. Felly, a wnewch chi roi sicrwydd i ni, Gweinidog, na fydd eich mesurau chi i roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd yn anwybyddu sefyllfa'r grŵp hwnnw o bobl.
Ac, yn olaf, hoffwn i ofyn am y gwersi hirdymor mwy cyffredinol y gallwn eu dysgu o'r pandemig hwn. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod yr argyfwng wedi effeithio'n fwy garw ar gymunedau tlotach. Ac un o'r rhesymau y gellir eu tybio dros hyn, mae'n debyg, yw bod tai mewn ardaloedd tlotach yn nes at ei gilydd, y risg o orlenwi ac, wrth gwrs, cyflwr gwaeth y tai yn arwain at gyflyrau iechyd sylfaenol i fod yn fwy cyffredin. Gweinidog, a fyddwch chi'n ystyried newidiadau i'r system gynllunio yn y dyfodol agos er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r ffactorau hyn fel y gall ystadau tai yn y dyfodol gael eu gwneud yn ddiogel rhag pandemig?
So, on the recourse to public funds, Delyth, you'll know that we've already written to the UK Government regarding the changes required to ensure that nobody is returned to the streets, including people with no recourse to public funds. We, of course, have housed and supported people with no recourse to public funds, as a result of the public health legislation that the pandemic has allowed us to act under. So, in order to protect public health, we have to able to protect individuals and, therefore, we have the power to do it.
Again, once the pandemic is over, we will not be able to use that legislation, and so it is imperative that the UK Government look at that. We've emphasised two things: the common humanity of that and the need to treat everybody as a human being; and secondly, actually, if you really wanted to do it on a financial basis, there just aren't very many people—you're not talking about very much money and that makes it all the worse if people won't consider doing it. So, anything that any individual Member of the Senedd or party in the Senedd wants to do to back us up in writing to the UK Government, I'd very much welcome that. I know that we've discussed that previously, and I would very much like to be able to do that.
And then, in terms of the rest of it, there are three bits on the supply side. So, on the state of the current housing market, you'll know that we've worked very hard on the Welsh housing quality standard, and that was thought to be impossible when we put it in place, and indeed we've met it, and even in the pandemic we've managed to get to the target that we had. We are changing Part L, as they're called, building regulations, and they'll be coming in front of the Senedd soon, so that new build is built like that. And then there's a huge issue about retrofit in the private sector. So, we will be addressing that.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has meant that we will lose some of the legislation and statutory instruments that we were hoping to bring forward in this Assembly term. I am very happy to work with all parties to make sure that we can put anything that we can all agree on in all manifestos so that officials can carry on working on it in the full knowledge that whoever forms the next Welsh Parliament Government will want to take that forward, and that will give some certainty to that piece of work.
Felly, o ran yr hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus, Delyth, byddwch chi'n gwybod ein bod ni eisoes wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r newidiadau sydd eu hangen i sicrhau nad oes neb yn dychwelyd i'r strydoedd, gan gynnwys pobl nad oes ganddyn nhw hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus. Rydym ni, wrth gwrs, wedi rhoi llety a chymorth i bobl nad oes ganddyn nhw hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus, o ganlyniad i'r ddeddfwriaeth iechyd cyhoeddus y mae'r pandemig wedi caniatáu i ni weithredu oddi tano. Felly, er mwyn diogelu iechyd y cyhoedd, mae'n rhaid i ni allu amddiffyn unigolion ac, felly, mae gennym ni'r pŵer i wneud hynny.
Unwaith eto, pan fydd y pandemig ar ben, ni fyddwn yn gallu defnyddio'r ddeddfwriaeth honno, ac felly mae'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth y DU yn edrych ar hynny. Rydym ni wedi pwysleisio dau beth: dyngarwch cyffredin hynny a'r angen i drin pawb fel bod dynol; ac yn ail, mewn gwirionedd, pe byddech chi'n dymuno yn wirioneddol ei wneud ar sail ariannol, nid oes llawer iawn o bobl—nid ydych chi'n sôn am lawer iawn o arian ac mae hynny'n ei wneud yn waeth fyth os na fydd pobl yn ystyried ei wneud. Felly, byddwn i'n croesawu yn fawr iawn unrhyw beth y mae unrhyw Aelod unigol o'r Senedd neu blaid yn y Senedd yn dymuno ei wneud i'n cefnogi ni drwy ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi trafod hynny o'r blaen, a hoffwn i allu gwneud hynny yn fawr iawn.
Ac yna, o ran y gweddill, mae yna dair elfen ar yr ochr gyflenwi. Felly, o ran cyflwr y farchnad dai bresennol, rydych chi'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi gweithio'n galed iawn ar safon ansawdd tai Cymru, a chredwyd bod hynny'n amhosibl pan wnaethom ni ei roi ar waith, ac yn wir rydym ni wedi ei gyrraedd, a hyd yn oed yn ystod y pandemig, rydym ni wedi llwyddo i gyrraedd y targed a oedd gennym ni. Rydym ni'n newid Rhan L, fel y'i gelwir, rheoliadau adeiladu, a byddan nhw'n cael eu cyflwyno gerbron y Senedd yn fuan, fel bod adeiladau newydd yn cael eu hadeiladu yn y modd hwnnw. Ac yna mae problem enfawr ynghylch ôl-osod yn y sector preifat. Felly, byddwn yn mynd i'r afael â hynny.
Yn anffodus, yn sgil y pandemig byddwn yn colli rhywfaint o'r ddeddfwriaeth a'r offerynnau statudol yr oeddem ni'n gobeithio eu cyflwyno yn ystod y tymor Cynulliad hwn. Rwyf i'n fodlon iawn gweithio gyda phob plaid i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu rhoi unrhyw beth y gallwn ni i gyd gytuno arno ym mhob maniffesto fel y gall swyddogion barhau i weithio arno gan wybod yn iawn y bydd y sawl sy'n ffurfio Llywodraeth nesaf Senedd Cymru yn dymuno bwrw ymlaen â hynny, a bydd hynny yn rhoi rhywfaint o sicrwydd i'r darn hwnnw o waith.
Thank you for your statement, Minister, and I welcome the plans to end homelessness. But, Minister, can you confirm that the plans will apply to everyone who is homeless during this pandemic, and not just those who are in emergency accommodation?
I have been speaking to veterans' groups in recent weeks who are concerned that many homeless veterans are falling through the cracks because they are simply sofa surfing. Obviously, this is not ideal from a public health perspective in this current pandemic. Minister, will you liaise with groups, such as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, to ensure that all homeless veterans are provided long-term accommodation?
If there are any positives to come out of this pandemic, ending rough sleeping surely has to be at the very top of the list. Of course, if we are to tackle homelessness in a lasting and meaningful way, we have to move to a functioning housing market as quickly as possible. So, Minister, what discussions have you had with public health officials about the safest way to restore a functioning housing market in Wales?
Also, may I ask, what assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact COVID-19 is having on future housing supply, and what steps, if any, are you taking to mitigate them?
We can't return to the pre-pandemic housing market until a vaccine is in place, but we can make adjustments to make building, buying and selling homes as safe as is possible. Social distancing will have an impact on the speed with which new homes can be built, so, have you discussed with house builders in Wales ways to offset the delays, such as operating multiple sites at once to accommodate the workforce?
The virus is also impacting the rental market, with many landlords unable to find tenants for their properties, or not receiving rental income due to tenants being out of work. So, what consideration have you given to waiving council tax on empty properties for the duration of this pandemic?
And finally, Minister, local government employees have a key role to play as contact tracers as part of the Welsh Government's track, trace and protect scheme. Are you confident that this new role will not leave shortages in other areas, particularly environmental health? Thank you.
Diolch i chi am eich datganiad, Gweinidog, ac rwy'n croesawu'r cynlluniau i roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd. Ond, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi gadarnhau y bydd y cynlluniau yn berthnasol i bawb sy'n ddigartref yn ystod y pandemig hwn, ac nid y rhai sydd mewn llety brys yn unig?
Rwyf i wedi bod yn siarad â grwpiau cyn-filwyr yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf sy'n pryderu bod llawer o gyn-filwyr digartref yn syrthio drwy'r rhwyd gan mai syrffio soffa y maen nhw. Yn amlwg, nid yw hyn yn ddelfrydol o safbwynt iechyd y cyhoedd yn ystod y pandemig presennol hwn. Gweinidog, a wnewch chi gysylltu â grwpiau, fel Cymdeithas y Milwyr, Morwyr, Awyrenwyr a'u Teuluoedd, i sicrhau y darperir llety hirdymor i'r holl gyn-filwyr digartref?
Os oes unrhyw bethau cadarnhaol i ddeillio o'r pandemig hwn, mae'n rhaid bod rhoi terfyn ar gysgu ar y stryd ar frig y rhestr. Wrth gwrs, os ydym ni am fynd i'r afael â digartrefedd mewn ffordd barhaol ac ystyrlon, mae'n rhaid i ni symud i farchnad dai weithredol cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, Gweinidog, pa drafodaethau ydych chi wedi eu cael gyda swyddogion iechyd y cyhoedd ynglŷn â'r ffordd fwyaf diogel o adfer marchnad dai weithredol yng Nghymru?
Hefyd, a gaf i ofyn pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud o'r effaith y mae COVID-19 yn ei chael ar y cyflenwad tai yn y dyfodol, a pha gamau, os o gwbl, ydych chi'n eu cymryd i'w lliniaru?
Ni allwn ni ddychwelyd i'r farchnad dai a oedd gennym ni cyn y pandemig nes bydd brechlyn ar gael, ond fe allwn ni wneud addasiadau i sicrhau bod prosesau adeiladu, prynu a gwerthu tai mor ddiogel â phosibl. Bydd cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn cael effaith ar ba mor gyflym y gellir adeiladu cartrefi newydd, felly, a ydych chi wedi trafod gydag adeiladwyr tai yng Nghymru ffyrdd o wrthbwyso'r oedi, fel gweithredu nifer o safleoedd ar yr un pryd i ddarparu ar gyfer y gweithlu?
Mae'r feirws yn effeithio ar y farchnad rentu hefyd, wrth i lawer o landlordiaid fethu â dod o hyd i denantiaid ar gyfer eu heiddo, neu ddim yn cael incwm rhent oherwydd bod tenantiaid yn ddi-waith. Felly, pa ystyriaeth ydych chi wedi ei rhoi i hepgor y dreth gyngor ar eiddo gwag drwy gydol cyfnod y pandemig hwn?
Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, mae gweithwyr llywodraeth leol yn chwarae rhan allweddol wrth olrhain cysylltiad yn rhan o gynllun tracio, olrhain a diogelu Llywodraeth Cymru. A ydych chi'n ffyddiog na fydd y swyddogaeth newydd hon yn arwain at brinder mewn meysydd eraill, yn enwedig iechyd yr amgylchedd? Diolch.
Thank you for that series of questions. I'll do my best to cover them all. Certainly we do not want to leave any group of people out, and we have been very successful in not doing so during the first stage of the homelessness action that we have taken. As I said very specifically in my statement, the number of people that we've housed includes people who were not rough sleeping but who were in very precarious accommodation—temporary accommodation if you like, 'sofa surfers' as they're known.
We don't have information on the number of veterans included because we don't collect it in that way, but we're not aware that there are any people left out from that, and we have been running a campaign to make sure that people who are sofa surfing recognise themselves as homeless and come forward. And we've been very deliberately doing that in order to make sure that we don’t face a deluge at the end of the pandemic. And we have had a steady stream of people coming forward to receive help throughout this crisis. It wasn’t a fixed number at the beginning who then got housed—we've had people presenting on a daily basis throughout the pandemic that we've been able to accommodate as a result of working so closely and in collaboration with a number of partners, including our local authorities—well, primarily our local authorities. I mean, those include veterans, of course, but they include other people presenting: victims of domestic abuse, people who are displaced by family or a relationship breakdown and a number of other things—the things that cause homelessness in the first place. Those things have continued throughout the pandemic and our partners have stepped up to the plate of providing accommodation for all of those groups, I can assure you, including veterans. And, of course, we do work very closely with a number of veterans' groups. My colleague, Hannah Blythyn, is the Minister for the armed forces and she has a range of very regular meetings with a series of veterans groups, and I myself have met a fair number of them as well; we're very concerned to understand the specific circumstances.
In terms of the housing supply, it is at this point in time possible to move in Wales if you need to do so because of any emergency circumstances or if, for example, your sale would fall through if you did not. I've answered a very large number of enquiries from people who haven't understood that, so I'd just like to make that very clear. In the next phase of review—so, as you know, we review the regulations every three weeks and we begin to work on them the second the last review is over—we're looking to see what else we can do in the housing market around things like being able to view empty properties, allow people who want to find a tenant for an empty property to do that and so on. We're going, probably, I think—well, the review's underway, so it's impossible to say for sure—but we're probably, I think, going to stop short of allowing people to view tenanted or occupied properties for obvious reasons, as there have been a number of issues across the border with that. But I take your point, Caroline. Obviously, we want the market to work.
I'm also very concerned for renters who find themselves in circumstances where they can't afford their rent any longer and they would like to find somewhere else that they may be able to afford, to be able to facilitate that as soon as we possibly can. And I'll take this opportunity to say that, throughout this crisis, we've worked very hard with all our social landlords to make sure that they turn around what are called 'voids', so empty properties, as fast as possible to make sure that they're available for permanent housing for people who need that housing, whether they're coming through the homelessness stream or because they're tenants who are looking to move to different and more suitable accommodation. So, we've certainly been doing that.
In terms of the housing supply, again, construction has been allowed as long as you're able to socially distance throughout this period and much construction has gone on. We certainly have seen a lot of social residential house landlords, so RSLs and councils continue with their house building and we know that a number of SMEs continue to build for that market because that gives them a cashflow that they would otherwise not have had and we've been encouraging that. I'm very happy to do that. And, of course, we speak very regularly to the house builders associations around their needs in this crisis and how we can keep that part of the market going.
And then, in terms of our route out of this crisis, of course, all of you will have heard me talk about the need to ensure a green housing-led recovery and we're very keen to do that to make sure that we build the social housing that we need for the future in Wales so that we make sure that homelessness is, indeed, rare, brief and unrepeated.
Diolch i chi am y gyfres yna o gwestiynau. Byddaf i'n gwneud fy ngorau i ymdrin â nhw i gyd. Yn sicr, nid ydym ni'n dymuno hepgor unrhyw grŵp o bobl, ac rydym ni wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn wrth beidio â gwneud hynny yn ystod cam cyntaf y camau digartrefedd yr ydym ni wedi eu cymryd. Fel y dywedais yn benodol iawn yn fy natganiad, mae nifer y bobl yr ydym ni wedi rhoi llety iddyn nhw yn cynnwys pobl nad oedden nhw'n cysgu ar y stryd, ond a oedd mewn llety ansefydlog iawn—llety dros dro, 'syrffwyr soffa' fel y'u gelwir.
Nid oes gennym ni wybodaeth am nifer y cyn-filwyr sydd wedi eu cynnwys gan nad ydym ni'n ei chasglu yn y ffordd honno, ond nid ydym ni'n ymwybodol o unrhyw bobl sydd wedi eu hepgor o hynny, ac rydym ni wedi bod yn cynnal ymgyrch i sicrhau bod pobl sy'n syrffio soffa yn cydnabod eu bod yn ddigartref ac yn cyflwyno eu hunain. Ac rydym ni wedi bod yn gwneud hynny yn fwriadol iawn er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr nad ydym ni'n wynebu nifer llethol ar ddiwedd y pandemig. Ac rydym ni wedi cael llif cyson o bobl yn cyflwyno'u hunain i gael cymorth drwy gydol cyfnod yr argyfwng hwn. Nid oedd hi'n nifer sefydlog ar y dechrau a oedd wedyn yn cael llety—mae pobl wedi bod yn cyflwyno'u hunain yn ddyddiol drwy gydol y pandemig ac rydym ni wedi gallu rhoi llety iddyn nhw o ganlyniad i weithio mor agos ac ar y cyd â nifer o bartneriaid, gan gynnwys ein hawdurdodau lleol—wel, ein hawdurdodau lleol yn bennaf. Hynny yw, mae'r bobl hynny yn cynnwys cyn-filwyr, wrth gwrs, ond maen nhw'n cynnwys pobl eraill sy'n cyflwyno eu hunain: dioddefwyr cam-drin domestig, pobl sy'n cael eu dadleoli o ganlyniad i deulu neu berthynas yn chwalu a nifer o bethau eraill—y pethau sy'n arwain at ddigartrefedd yn y lle cyntaf. Mae'r pethau hynny wedi parhau drwy gydol y pandemig ac mae ein partneriaid wedi camu i'r adwy o ran darparu llety ar gyfer yr holl grwpiau hynny, gallaf eich sicrhau, gan gynnwys cyn-filwyr. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni yn gweithio yn agos iawn gyda nifer o grwpiau cyn-filwyr. Fy nghyd-Aelod, Hannah Blythyn, yw Gweinidog y lluoedd arfog, ac mae hi'n cael amrywiaeth o gyfarfodydd rheolaidd iawn gyda llawer o grwpiau cyn-filwyr, ac rwyf i fy hun wedi cwrdd â nifer ohonyn nhw hefyd; rydym ni'n ofalus iawn i ddeall yr amgylchiadau penodol.
O ran y cyflenwad tai, mae'n bosibl ar hyn o bryd i symud yng Nghymru os oes angen i chi wneud hynny oherwydd unrhyw amgylchiadau brys neu os, er enghraifft, na byddai eich trefniant gwerthu yn digwydd pe na byddech yn gwneud hynny. Rwyf i wedi ateb llawer iawn o ymholiadau gan bobl nad ydyn nhw wedi deall hynny, felly hoffwn i nodi hynny yn glir iawn. Yng ngham nesaf yr adolygiad—felly, fel y gwyddoch chi, rydym ni'n adolygu'r rheoliadau bob tair wythnos ac rydym ni'n dechrau gweithio arnyn nhw yr eiliad y mae'r adolygiad diwethaf ar ben—rydym ni'n edrych i weld beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud yn y farchnad dai o ran pethau fel gallu mynd i weld eiddo gwag, caniatáu i bobl sy'n dymuno chwilio am denant ar gyfer eiddo gwag wneud hynny ac yn y blaen. Byddwn ni, mae'n debyg, rwy'n credu—wel, mae'r adolygiad ar y gweill, felly mae'n amhosibl dweud yn bendant—ond byddwn ni fwy na thebyg, rwy'n credu, yn aros cyn caniatáu i bobl weld eiddo sydd â thenantiaid neu sydd wedi eu meddiannu, a hynny am resymau amlwg, gan y bu nifer o broblemau dros y ffin yn hynny o beth. Ond rwy'n derbyn eich pwynt, Caroline. Yn amlwg, rydym ni'n awyddus i'r farchnad weithio.
Rwyf i hefyd yn poeni'n fawr am bobl sy'n rhentu sy'n canfod eu hunain mewn amgylchiadau lle nad ydyn nhw'n gallu fforddio eu rhent mwyach ac sy'n dymuno chwilio am rywle arall y gallan nhw ei fforddio, ein bod yn gallu hwyluso hynny cyn gynted ag y gallwn. Ac rwy'n manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddweud, drwy gydol yr argyfwng hwn, ein bod ni wedi gweithio yn galed iawn gyda phob un o'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n troi yr hyn a elwir yn 'unedau gwag', felly eiddo gwag, cyn gynted â phosibl er mwyn sicrhau eu bod nhw ar gael fel tai parhaol i bobl y mae angen y tai hynny arnyn nhw, pa un a ydyn nhw'n dod trwy'r ffrwd ddigartrefedd neu oherwydd eu bod nhw'n denantiaid sy'n ystyried symud i lety gwahanol, mwy addas. Felly, rydym ni yn sicr wedi bod yn gwneud hynny.
O ran y cyflenwad tai, unwaith eto, mae gwaith adeiladu wedi ei ganiatáu cyn belled â'ch bod chi'n gallu cadw pellter cymdeithasol drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn ac mae llawer o waith adeiladu wedi parhau. Rydym ni yn sicr wedi gweld llawer o landlordiaid tai preswyl cymdeithasol, felly mae landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a chynghorau yn parhau i adeiladu eu tai ac rydym ni'n gwybod bod nifer o fusnesau bach a chanolig yn parhau i adeiladu ar gyfer y farchnad honno oherwydd bod hynny'n rhoi llif arian parod iddyn nhw na fydden nhw wedi ei gael fel arall, ac rydym ni wedi bod yn annog hynny. Rwy'n hapus iawn i wneud hynny. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n siarad yn rheolaidd iawn â'r cymdeithasau adeiladwyr tai ynghylch eu hanghenion yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn a sut y gallwn ni gadw'r rhan honno o'r farchnad yn gweithredu.
Ac yna, o ran ein llwybr allan o'r argyfwng hwn, wrth gwrs, bydd pob un ohonoch chi wedi fy nghlywed i'n siarad am yr angen i sicrhau adferiad gwyrdd wedi ei arwain gan dai ac rydym ni'n awyddus iawn i wneud hynny i sicrhau ein bod ni'n adeiladu'r tai cymdeithasol sydd eu hangen arnom ni ar gyfer y dyfodol yng Nghymru fel ein bod yn sicrhau bod digartrefedd yn wirioneddol anghyffredin, dim ond am gyfnod byr ac nad yw'n cael ei ailadrodd.
Minister, as you know, the committee that I chair, the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee has taken a particular interest in rough sleeping and Welsh Government policy. Indeed, we've done two reports in this Assembly, one at the end of last year on specialist services with regard to mental health and substance misuse, and one the year before more generally. So, having given that priority and focus to rough sleeping as a committee, it's very pleasing indeed to see this progress at a time of crisis, as you've stated, and it does show that even in the midst of responding to such a crisis, it is possible to salvage some positives from the general misery, as it were, and it's really, really important to do that to show that there is some room for optimism. So, I do think that you and Welsh Government deserve a lot of congratulations for this funding and this policy, working together with key partners such as the local authorities, the health sector, the third sector, registered social landlords and voluntary organisations. I think it really has been a team effort and I think that, again, reflects one of the challenges and more positive responses through the pandemic, which has seen organisations, communities and sectors pulling together for the common good, recognising the scale of the progress that we need to make and the challenge that we face. So, it really is very, very good to see all of that. As a community, we were looking—
Gweinidog, fel y gwyddoch chi, mae'r pwyllgor yr wyf i'n ei gadeirio, y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau wedi cymryd diddordeb arbennig mewn cysgu ar y stryd a pholisi Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn wir, rydym ni wedi llunio dau adroddiad yn y Cynulliad hwn, un ddiwedd y llynedd ar wasanaethau arbenigol o ran iechyd meddwl a chamddefnyddio sylweddau, ac un mwy cyffredinol y flwyddyn gynt. Felly, ar ôl rhoi'r flaenoriaeth honno a'r pwyslais hwnnw i gysgu ar y stryd fel pwyllgor, mae'n braf iawn gweld y cynnydd hwn ar adeg o argyfwng, fel yr ydych chi wedi ei nodi, ac mae'n dangos, hyd yn oed wrth ymateb i argyfwng o'r fath, ei bod hi'n bosibl cael rhai pethau cadarnhaol o'r trallod cyffredinol, fel petai, ac mae'n wirioneddol bwysig gwneud hynny i ddangos bod rhyw lygedyn o obaith. Felly, rwy'n credu eich bod chi a Llywodraeth Cymru yn haeddu llongyfarchiadau mawr am y cyllid hwn a'r polisi hwn, gan weithio gyda phartneriaid allweddol fel yr awdurdodau lleol, y sector iechyd, y trydydd sector, landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a mudiadau gwirfoddol. Rwy'n credu y bu'n ymdrech tîm wirioneddol ac rwy'n credu bod hynny, unwaith eto, yn adlewyrchu un o'r heriau a'r ymatebion mwy cadarnhaol drwy'r pandemig, sydd wedi arwain at sefydliadau, cymunedau a sectorau yn cyd-dynnu er lles y bobl, gan gydnabod maint y cynnydd y mae angen i ni ei wneud a'r her yr ydym ni'n ei hwynebu. Felly, mae'n wirioneddol dda gweld hynny i gyd. Fel cymuned, roeddem ni'n gobeithio—
Could you come to a question, please?
A wnewch chi ddod at gwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda?
Could I just say—I will, Dirprwy Lywydd—as a committee, we're looking for that sort of preventative approach—housing first. We met with the action group, and we were looking for the sort of corporation rights that—[Inaudible.]—achieve. So, what I'd really like to know in terms of follow-up planning and to avoid slipping back, because people in Newport tell me they're so pleased to see the progress made, but are obviously very concerned that we don't see any slipping back, we know that we're going to have an economic crisis and we're going to have great difficulties with public spending, Minister. So, in looking at how we avoid any slippage and, as the saying goes, build, act better for the future, are you really looking at the scale of those economic and public spending issues that we're going to face, and are you confident that, with your announcements, with a new approach, with the funding, we will be able to sustain the progress made?
A gaf i ddweud—gwnaf, Dirprwy Lywydd—fel pwyllgor, rydym ni'n gobeithio am y math hwnnw o ddull ataliol—tai yn gyntaf. Fe wnaethom ni gyfarfod â'r grŵp gweithredu, ac roeddem ni'n chwilio am y math o hawliau corfforaethol sy'n—[Anghlywadwy.]—cyflawni. Felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn i ei wybod yn fawr o ran cynllunio dilynol ac osgoi llithro'n ôl, oherwydd mae pobl yng Nghasnewydd yn dweud wrthyf i eu bod nhw mor falch o weld y cynnydd sydd wedi ei wneud, ond eu bod nhw'n poeni'n fawr, yn amlwg, nad ydym ni'n gweld unrhyw lithro yn ôl, rydym ni'n gwybod ein bod ni'n mynd i gael argyfwng economaidd a'n bod ni'n mynd i gael anawsterau mawr o ran gwariant cyhoeddus, Gweinidog. Felly, wrth ystyried sut yr ydym ni'n osgoi unrhyw lithriant ac, yn ôl y dywediad, adeiladu, gweithredu'n well ar gyfer y dyfodol, a ydych chi'n ystyried o ddifrif faint y problemau economaidd a gwariant cyhoeddus a fydd yn ein hwynebu, ac a ydych chi'n hyderus, gyda'ch cyhoeddiadau, gyda dull newydd, gyda'r cyllid, y byddwn ni'n gallu cynnal y cynnydd a wnaed?
Yes, John, I'm very happy to say that, because of the extraordinary amount of work that we've been able to do in the collaborative way that the committee had recommended in the first place and we've now seen go into action as a result of accepting the recommendations of the housing action group—I know you had a good conversations with those as well as the committee—that I'm very confident that we will be able to do it, because people have seen what's possible and they are re-energised in knowing that it can be done if we all work together. And, as we come out of this pandemic, we will want to look at economic stimulus and so on and you heard me talking about a green housing-led recovery, and we can do that.
I haven't been able to answer all the questions I've been asked today from all Members as Members had a large number of questions; it's just good to see the enthusiasm. One of the things that we're very keen to do, for example, is make sure that using modern methods of construction, as it's called, with Welsh timber and Welsh supply chains, we can put up houses that we know work because they came through our innovative housing programmes, so they're tried and tested; beautiful carbon-neutral houses that are really quick to construct, constructed in small plants that employ local people across Wales, so it provides employment—high-skilled employment, good employment. It also provides housing, it also provides a use for our forests, it provides a way of sustainable forestry, which is good. It pushes every button you can think of and, of course, it provides the housing that we need to ensure that people have secure accommodation going forward into the future, and that that accommodation is not only secure, it's also beautiful and carbon neutral. What's not to like?
So, I am absolutely sure that we can do this and I am sure about that because all of our partners believe it too and have bought into that process, and there's a consensus across this Senedd. So, actually, together, we really are greater than the sum of our parts, and I really do think we will be able to do this in the future.
Ydw, John, rwy'n hapus iawn i ddweud, oherwydd y gwaith aruthrol yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo i'w wneud yn y ffordd gydweithredol yr oedd y pwyllgor wedi ei hargymell yn y lle cyntaf, ac rydym ni bellach wedi ei gweld ar waith o ganlyniad i dderbyn argymhellion y grŵp gweithredu ar dai—gwn eich bod chi wedi cael sgyrsiau da â nhw yn ogystal â'r pwyllgor—fy mod i'n hyderus iawn y byddwn ni'n gallu ei wneud, oherwydd mae pobl wedi gweld yr hyn sy'n bosibl ac maen nhw wedi cael eu grymuso o'r newydd o wybod y gellir ei wneud os byddwn ni i gyd yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd. Ac, wrth i ni ddod allan o'r pandemig hwn, byddwn ni eisiau ystyried ysgogiad economaidd ac yn y blaen ac fe wnaethoch chi fy nghlywed i'n sôn am adferiad gwyrdd wedi ei arwain gan dai, a gallwn ni wneud hynny.
Nid wyf i wedi gallu ateb yr holl gwestiynau y mae pob Aelod wedi eu gofyn i mi heddiw gan fod llawer iawn o gwestiynau gan yr Aelodau; mae'n braf gweld y brwdfrydedd. Un o'r pethau yr ydym ni'n awyddus iawn i'w wneud, er enghraifft, yw gwneud yn siŵr y gallwn ni, trwy ddefnyddio dulliau adeiladu modern, fel y'u gelwir, gyda phren o Gymru a chadwyni cyflenwi yng Nghymru, godi tai yr ydym ni'n gwybod eu bod nhw'n gweithio oherwydd eu bod nhw wedi dod trwy ein rhaglenni tai arloesol, felly profwyd eu bod nhw'n llwyddiannus; tai carbon niwtral hardd y gellir eu hadeiladu'n gyflym iawn, sy'n cael eu hadeiladu mewn gweithfeydd bach sy'n cyflogi pobl leol ledled Cymru, felly mae'n darparu cyflogaeth—cyflogaeth sgiliau uchel, cyflogaeth dda. Mae hefyd yn darparu tai, mae hefyd yn darparu defnydd i'n coedwigoedd, mae'n darparu ffordd o gyflawni coedwigaeth gynaliadwy, sy'n beth da. Mae'n gwthio pob botwm y gallwch chi feddwl amdano ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n darparu'r tai sydd eu hangen arnom ni i sicrhau bod gan bobl lety diogel wrth symud ymlaen i'r dyfodol, a bod y llety hwnnw nid yn unig yn ddiogel, ond hefyd yn hardd ac yn garbon niwtral. Beth sydd i'w wrthwynebu?
Felly, rwy'n hollol siŵr y gallwn ni wneud hyn ac rwy'n siŵr o hynny gan fod ein holl bartneriaid yn credu hynny hefyd ac maen nhw wedi ymrwymo i'r broses honno, a cheir consensws ar draws y Senedd hon. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, gyda'n gilydd, rydym ni wir yn fwy na'n rhannau unigol, ac rwyf i wir yn credu y byddwn ni'n gallu gwneud hyn yn y dyfodol.
Thank you for the statement. I would like to place on record my thanks to our local authority, Conwy County Borough Council for their partnership working and immense support given to our homeless here in Aberconwy. We have seen residential units placed in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay to house our very vulnerable homeless and rough sleepers, and they've carried it out in such a speedy manner during this pandemic emergency.
However, I must agree with the Salvation Army that a focus must also be on tackling the reasons why people become homeless in the first instance. So, my questions are: will our local authorities be able to apply for some of the £20 million funding to support proposals for targeting causes of homelessness, as part of your announced phase 2 plans, and also, as the National Residential Landlords Association have highlighted, there are many situations where tenants are now facing huge commitments and struggles to afford their housing. Will you clarify if these current restrictions will not prevent them from sourcing and indeed moving into affordable accommodation at this time?
Diolch am y datganiad. Hoffwn i gofnodi fy niolch i'n hawdurdod lleol ni, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy am eu gwaith partneriaeth a'r gefnogaeth aruthrol a roddwyd i'n pobl ddigartref yma yn Aberconwy. Rydym ni wedi gweld unedau preswyl yn cael eu lleoli yn Llandudno a Bae Colwyn i ddarparu llety i'n pobl ddigartref ac sy'n cysgu ar y stryd sy'n hynod agored i niwed, ac maen nhw wedi ei wneud mewn modd mor gyflym yn ystod argyfwng y pandemig hwn.
Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhaid i mi gytuno â Byddin yr Iachawdwriaeth bod yn rhaid canolbwyntio hefyd ar fynd i'r afael â'r rhesymau pam mae pobl yn mynd yn ddigartref yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, fy nghwestiynau i yw: a fydd ein hawdurdodau lleol yn gallu gwneud cais am rywfaint o'r £20 miliwn o gyllid i gefnogi cynigion ar gyfer targedu achosion digartrefedd, yn rhan o'ch cynlluniau cam 2 a gyhoeddwyd, a hefyd, fel y mae Cymdeithas Genedlaethol y Landlordiaid Preswyl wedi tynnu sylw ato, ceir llawer o sefyllfaoedd lle mae tenantiaid yn wynebu ymrwymiadau ac anawsterau enfawr erbyn hyn i fforddio eu tai. A wnewch chi egluro na fydd y cyfyngiadau presennol hyn yn eu hatal rhag cael gafael ar lety fforddiadwy, ac, yn wir, symud i mewn iddo ar yr adeg hon?
Yes. All the councils have worked really hard and Conwy is a good example but all the local authorities have worked in collaboration with us. There are innovative methods right across Wales for getting people into decent accommodation. Some of that is temporary, but it's good temporary accommodation. But, obviously, what we need to do now is work to get people into secure, long-term accommodation that they can afford and that they can sustain. And that involves us working with all partners, including support partners. So, that means working with mental health services and substance abuse services and tenancy support services, welfare and support services, and so on, maximising people's income, making sure they have the skills necessary to sustain a tenancy. Four walls and a ceiling is not enough; we all have furniture in our houses and curtains and carpets and stuff like that. People need to have all of the things they need to support themselves in accommodation. And so what's been shown is that that can be done. We can do that, we can wrap the services around them, we can make sure that people come together to support them. And the phase 2 plans that we're asking local authorities to look at look at all of those things, including the support necessary to make people able to sustain those tenancies, and that includes an assessment of their ability to pay for particular types of accommodation, and what needs to be done to maximise that.
You heard me saying earlier that I very much hope the UK Government will keep the local housing allowance level at where it is. The Minister for social services, Thérèse Coffey, did say in one of the meetings I attended that that would be done, but I'd really like to see that confirmed more widely, because that would give people a lot of hope that they would continue to be able to afford it. And then, as you heard me say, Janet, in terms of being able to move to something if you really do find you can't afford where you are, we've been working very hard with people to turn around voids, to make sure that those properties are available, and to make sure that that can happen. In the next phase of the review of the lockdown measures, we are looking to make sure that people can move to empty properties. There's obviously a big problem with viewing properties that are tenanted or occupied, but if they're empty then we're looking to make sure that we free that up as rapidly as possible. I'll just take this point to emphasise the point I made earlier, which is that it is, of course, and always has been, possible to move if circumstances are such that it's an essential move and can't be delayed.
Gwnaf. Mae'r holl gynghorau wedi gweithio'n galed iawn ac mae Conwy yn enghraifft dda ond mae'r holl awdurdodau lleol wedi gweithio mewn cydweithrediad â ni. Ceir dulliau arloesol ledled Cymru gyfan i gael pobl i mewn i lety addas. Dros dro yw rhywfaint o'r llety hwnnw, ond mae'n llety dros dro da. Ond, yn amlwg, yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud nawr yw gweithio i gael pobl i mewn i lety diogel, hirdymor y gallan nhw ei fforddio ac y gallan nhw ei gynnal. Ac mae hynny'n golygu gweithio gyda'n holl bartneriaid, gan gynnwys partneriaid cymorth. Felly, mae hynny'n golygu gweithio gyda gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a gwasanaethau camddefnyddio sylweddau a gwasanaethau cymorth tenantiaid, gwasanaethau lles a chymorth, ac yn y blaen, gan sicrhau bod gan bobl gymaint o incwm â phosibl, a gwneud yn siŵr bod ganddyn nhw'r sgiliau angenrheidiol i gynnal tenantiaeth. Nid yw pedair wal a nenfwd yn ddigon; mae gennym ni i gyd ddodrefn yn ein tai a llenni a charpedi a phethau felly. Mae angen i bobl gael yr holl bethau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i gynnal eu hunain mewn llety. Ac felly yr hyn a ddangoswyd yw y gellir gwneud hynny. Gallwn ni wneud hynny, gallwn ni drefnu'r gwasanaethau o'u cwmpas, gallwn ni wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn dod at ei gilydd i'w cefnogi. Ac mae'r cynlluniau cam 2 yr ydym ni'n gofyn i awdurdodau lleol eu hystyried yn ystyried yr holl bethau hynny, gan gynnwys y cymorth sydd ei angen i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn gallu cynnal y tenantiaethau hynny, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys asesiad o'u gallu i dalu am fathau penodol o lety, a'r hyn y mae angen ei wneud i sicrhau bod y gallu hwnnw cystal ag y gall fod.
Fe wnaethoch chi fy nghlywed i'n dweud yn gynharach fy mod i'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn cadw lefel y lwfans tai lleol lle y mae. Fe wnaeth y Gweinidog gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, Thérèse Coffey, ddweud yn un o'r cyfarfodydd yr es i iddo y byddai hynny'n cael ei wneud, ond hoffwn i weld hynny'n cael ei gadarnhau yn ehangach, oherwydd byddai hynny yn rhoi llawer o obaith i bobl y bydden nhw'n parhau i allu ei fforddio. Ac yna, fel y gwnaethoch chi fy nghlywed i'n dweud, Janet, o ran gallu symud i rywbeth os ydych chi wir yn canfod na allwch chi fforddio lle'r ydych chi, rydym ni wedi bod yn gweithio yn galed iawn gyda phobl i drwsio unedau gwag, i wneud yn siŵr bod yr eiddo hynny ar gael, ac i wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n gallu digwydd. Yng ngham nesaf yr adolygiad o'r cyfyngiadau symud, ein nod yw gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn gallu symud i eiddo gwag. Mae problem fawr, yn amlwg, o ran mynd i weld eiddo sydd â thenantiaid neu sydd wedi eu meddiannu, ond os ydyn nhw'n wag, yna rydym ni'n ceisio gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n rhyddhau hynny cyn gynted â phosibl. Hoffwn ddefnyddio'r pwynt hwn i bwysleisio'r pwynt y gwnes i'n gynharach, sef y bu'n bosibl o'r cychwyn, wrth gwrs, symud os yw amgylchiadau yn golygu ei bod yn hanfodol symud ac na ellir ei oedi.
Minister, thank you for your statement today. I've just got some questions around the finer details of what you're able to extrapolate from the data that you do have. For example, are you seeing any unexpected trends or links in terms of characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010, in terms of those who are currently homeless in Wales? Are there any regional variations that stand out to you in terms of the geography of Wales, too? And, finally, in terms of the duration of the homelessness that we are seeing, what sort of data is emerging around whether the homelessness is mostly on a short or a long-term basis, because, clearly, there are lessons that we can learn from examining the data in such detail?
Gweinidog, diolch am eich datganiad heddiw. Mae gen i rai cwestiynau ynghylch manylion yr hyn yr ydych chi'n gallu ei dynnu o'r data sydd gennych chi. Er enghraifft, a ydych chi'n gweld unrhyw dueddiadau neu gysylltiadau annisgwyl o ran nodweddion sydd wedi'u gwarchod o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010, o ran y rhai sy'n ddigartref yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd? A oes unrhyw amrywiadau rhanbarthol sy'n amlwg i chi o ran daearyddiaeth Cymru hefyd? Ac, yn olaf, o ran hyd y digartrefedd yr ydym ni'n ei weld, pa fath o ddata sy'n dod i'r amlwg o ran a yw digartrefedd yn fyrdymor neu'n hirdymor yn bennaf, oherwydd, yn amlwg, ceir gwersi y gallwn ni eu dysgu o archwilio'r data mor fanwl?
Thank you, Vikki. We don't have all of the data in quite the way that you suggest, but I can tell you what we do know. So, first of all, the range of people who are homeless is huge. So, we have people who are only recently homeless because of recent family breakdown or domestic violence incidents or some other such, and there are others who have been homeless for a very long time and have entrenched problems and have come into services for the first time ever. As I said in my statement, we need to capitalise on the fact that they now have had contact with those services and we have been able to engage with them, and we can keep them engaged, and that's been a huge step forward. Previously when working with homeless people, it might take as much as nine months for our dedicated outreach worker to make a trust bond with that person so that they will come in and accept services, and we've been able to accelerate that process for nearly everyone. We do have one or two people who we have not been able to reach, but all of those have dedicated outreach workers working with them with a view to making that happen.
One of the characteristics that I can easily tell you about, though, is that homelessness is associated with poverty, because if you have a family or relationship break-up and you're not poor, then you can find yourself another house. So, it is associated most obviously with economic deprivation. And that's what we need to do: we need to make sure that people have their income maximised, that they have access to the right kind of support for maximising that income and getting back into work where that's an issue, or maintaining their work where that's an issue, because being made homeless can mean that you lose your job, which, of course, makes the situation much worse. So, we have worked very hard with a range of charities and third sector organisations and our social landlords and our private landlords to maximise that kind of support, to make sure that people can sustain their tenancy and therefore maximise their economic ability. As I say, we have wraparound services. I've always said that homelessness is not just about housing, it's about all the other services, and I'm absolutely delighted with the way that those services have come together in this crisis to work. In our summit last week we had contributions from people from all of those services and they were all saying how much they had learned from the collaboration that has been possible and how much they're looking forward to taking that forward.
So, I have a real sense that this is now possible and that people recognise it. So, I really do think that this time we will be able to make a difference in Wales and make sure that homelessness is rare, brief and unrepeated.
Diolch, Vikki. Nid yw'r holl ddata gennym ni yn yr union ffordd yr ydych chi'n ei hawgrymu, ond gallaf i ddweud wrthych chi yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wybod. Felly, yn gyntaf oll, mae'r amrywiaeth o bobl sy'n ddigartref yn enfawr. Felly, mae gennym ni bobl sy'n ddigartref dim ond yn ddiweddar oherwydd chwalfa deuluol ddiweddar neu ddigwyddiadau trais yn y cartref neu rywbeth tebyg arall, ac mae eraill sydd wedi bod yn ddigartref ers amser maith ac sydd â phroblemau sydd wedi ymwreiddio ac sydd wedi dod i wasanaethau am y tro cyntaf erioed. Fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad, mae angen i ni fanteisio ar y ffaith eu bod nhw wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â'r gwasanaethau hynny bellach a'n bod ni wedi gallu ymgysylltu â nhw, ac y gallwn ni barhau i ymgysylltu a nhw, ac mae hwnnw wedi bod yn gam enfawr ymlaen. Yn y gorffennol, wrth weithio gyda phobl ddigartref, gallai gymryd cymaint â naw mis i'n gweithiwr allgymorth penodedig greu cysylltiad o ymddiriedaeth â'r unigolyn hwnnw er mwyn iddo ddod i mewn a derbyn gwasanaethau, ac rydym ni wedi gallu cyflymu'r broses honno i bron pawb. Mae gennym ni un neu ddau o bobl nad ydym ni wedi gallu eu cyrraedd, ond mae gan bob un ohonyn nhw weithwyr allgymorth penodedig yn gweithio gyda nhw gyda'r bwriad o gyflawni hynny.
Fodd bynnag, un o'r nodweddion y gallaf i ddweud wrthych chi amdano yn hawdd yw bod digartrefedd yn gysylltiedig â thlodi, oherwydd os oes gennych chi deulu neu berthynas sy'n chwalu ac nad ydych chi'n dlawd, yna gallwch chi ddod o hyd i dŷ arall i'ch hun. Felly, mae'n gysylltiedig yn fwyaf amlwg ag amddifadedd economaidd. A dyna'r hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud: mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr bod incwm pobl mor fawr â phosibl, eu bod nhw'n cael y math cywir o gymorth i sicrhau'r incwm mwyaf posibl hwnnw a dychwelyd i'r gwaith pan fo hynny'n broblem, neu gynnal eu gwaith pan fo hynny'n broblem, oherwydd gall mynd yn ddigartref olygu eich bod chi'n colli eich swydd, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn gwneud y sefyllfa yn waeth o lawer. Felly, rydym ni wedi gweithio yn galed iawn gydag amrywiaeth o elusennau a sefydliadau trydydd sector a'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol a'n landlordiaid i sicrhau bod cymaint a phosibl o'r math hwnnw o gymorth, i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn gallu cynnal eu tenantiaeth ac felly sicrhau bod eu gallu economaidd gymaint â phosibl. Fel y dywedais, mae gennym ni wasanaethau cofleidiol. Rwyf i wedi dweud erioed nad yw digartrefedd yn ymwneud â thai yn unig, mae'n ymwneud â'r holl wasanaethau eraill, ac rwyf i wrth fy modd gyda'r ffordd y mae'r gwasanaethau hynny wedi dod at ei gilydd yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn i weithio. Yn ein huwchgynhadledd yr wythnos diwethaf, cawsom ni gyfraniadau gan bobl o'r holl wasanaethau hynny ac roedden nhw i gyd yn dweud cymaint yr oedden nhw wedi ei ddysgu o'r cydweithio a fu'n bosibl a faint y maen nhw'n edrych ymlaen at fwrw ymlaen â hynny.
Felly, mae gen i deimlad gwirioneddol bod hyn yn bosibl bellach a bod pobl yn cydnabod hynny. Felly, rwyf i wir yn credu y byddwn ni'n gallu gwneud gwahaniaeth yng Nghymru y tro hwn a gwneud yn siŵr bod digartrefedd yn anghyffredin, am gyfnod byr a heb ei ailadrodd.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I have to say that, as the chair of the cross-party group on the armed forces and cadets, I was a little bit disappointed that in your earlier response to a question on veterans you suggested that the Welsh Government was not collecting data regarding those who've been rehomed during the pandemic and what proportion of those are people from the veteran community. You'll be aware that there's a great deal of good work being done by organisations like Alabaré and their homes for veterans here in Wales. They've got a home just down the road from me here in Colwyn Bay, and they're prepared to do even more, provided they know where the need actually lies.
So, can I ask what work will you do with local authorities now in order to try to track what proportion of those that are currently in temporary accommodation are people from the veteran community, in order that you can engage further with the good organisations like Alabaré that are out there that want to do more and are simply looking for the places in which they can develop these sorts of facilities that they've already established so successfully elsewhere?
Diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar y lluoedd arfog a'r cadetiaid, fy mod i'n siomedig braidd i chi awgrymu yn eich ateb cynharach i gwestiwn am gyn-filwyr nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn casglu data ar y rhai sydd wedi cael eu hailgartrefu yn ystod y pandemig a pha gyfran o'r rhain sy'n bobl o'r gymuned o gyn-filwyr. Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod llawer iawn o waith da yn cael ei wneud gan sefydliadau fel Alabaré a'u cartrefi i gyn-filwyr yma yng Nghymru. Mae ganddyn nhw gartref i lawr y ffordd nepell oddi wrtha i yma ym Mae Colwyn, ac maen nhw'n barod i wneud mwy eto, cyn belled â'u bod nhw'n gwybod ble mae'r angen mewn gwirionedd.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn pa waith y byddwch chi'n ei wneud gydag awdurdodau lleol nawr i geisio olrhain pa gyfran o'r rhai sydd mewn llety dros dro ar hyn o bryd sy'n bobl o'r gymuned o gyn-filwyr, fel y gallwch chi ymgysylltu ymhellach â'r sefydliadau da fel Alabaré sydd ar gael ac sy'n dymuno gwneud mwy ac sy'n chwilio am y mannau lle gallan nhw ddatblygu'r mathau hyn o gyfleusterau y maen nhw eisoes wedi eu sefydlu mor llwyddiannus mewn mannau eraill?
Yes, Darren, I'm very happy to work with them. Actually, local authorities already work with a large range of veteran organisations, and, as I said, Hannah has met with a very large number of them. I myself have met with a slightly smaller number of them. So, we're very happy to engage and signpost people to the help that veteran support agencies can supply. And that's a huge range, as you know and as I know. There's a huge range of support, from counselling and collaborative support to simply friendship, to actual accommodation, to a full range of mental health, substance abuse and so on support. So, I'm very grateful to that particular section of the third sector that provides that support.
Local authorities are signposting people who are eligible for that support to them, it's just that we don't centrally collect the data. So, I don't want you to think that we don't care, because we do care, it's just that we haven't seen any need to centrally collect how many people that is. I expect if you asked the local authorities they would know individually. I'm happy to investigate whether it's an easy thing for us to do. I would be reluctant to divert resource into it, but if it's something that we could do relatively easily, I'm certainly happy to look into that. It's just not something we've done centrally at the moment.
Ydw, Darren, rwy'n hapus iawn i weithio gyda nhw. A dweud y gwir, mae awdurdodau lleol eisoes yn gweithio gydag amrywiaeth eang o sefydliadau cyn-filwyr, ac, fel y dywedais, mae Hannah wedi cyfarfod â llawer iawn ohonyn nhw. Rwyf i fy hun wedi cyfarfod â nifer rhyw fymryn yn llai ohonyn nhw. Felly, rydym ni'n hapus iawn i ymgysylltu a chyfeirio pobl at y cymorth y gall asiantaethau cymorth i gyn-filwyr ei ddarparu. Ac mae honno'n amrywiaeth enfawr, fel y gwyddoch chi ac fel y gwn i. Ceir amrywiaeth eang iawn o gymorth, o gwnsela a chymorth gydweithredol i ddim mwy na chyfeillgarwch, llety, ystod lawn o gymorth iechyd meddwl, camddefnyddio sylweddau ac yn y blaen. Felly, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r rhan benodol honno o'r trydydd sector sy'n darparu'r cymorth hwnnw.
Mae awdurdodau lleol yn cyfeirio pobl sy'n gymwys i dderbyn y cymorth hwnnw ato, ond nid ydym ni'n casglu'r data yn ganolog. Felly, nid wyf i eisiau i chi feddwl nad oes ots gennym ni, oherwydd mae ots gennym ni, ond nid ydym ni wedi gweld unrhyw angen i gasglu'n ganolog faint o bobl yw hynny. Rwy'n disgwyl pe baech chi'n gofyn i'r awdurdodau lleol y bydden nhw'n gwybod yn unigol. Rwy'n hapus i ymchwilio a yw'n beth hawdd i ni ei wneud. Byddwn yn gyndyn o ddargyfeirio adnoddau iddo, ond os yw'n rhywbeth y gallem ni ei wneud yn gymharol hawdd, rwy'n sicr yn fodlon ymchwilio i hynny. Ond nid yw'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud yn ganolog ar hyn o bryd.
I welcome the opportunity to contribute today, and I welcome very much what the Minister has said in her two statements. The COVID crisis has been hard, but there are also many wins, and the temporary eradication of homelessness is one of them.
Local authorities and the third sector have responded brilliantly in very, very challenging circumstances. I note the initial investment of £10 million and now a further investment of £20 million through revenue, taking the total to £30 million. This is most welcome.
I've spoken before in this Chamber about my own experience of sofa surfing and its long-term effects on my life, so I'm so glad to see that your intention is to do all that you can to keep those 800-plus people in accommodation of some sort. It's clear from statistics and waiting lists that there just aren't enough homes to go around. However, COVID might have presented an opportunity to occupy empty B&Bs and student accommodation.
Can I ask you what your plans are for ensuring adequacy of supply once the economy opens back up? Your latest statement proclaims that you want to see creativity, partnership and a willingness to invest in these programmes. Are creativity and partnership not already embedded in this type of service?
The human cost of homelessness is huge, but the preventative spend implications of getting this right will reap rewards across local government, health and the police. I particularly liked your input on sustainable house building—
Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i gyfrannu heddiw, ac rwy'n croesawu'n fawr iawn yr hyn y mae'r Gweinidog wedi ei ddweud yn ei dau ddatganiad. Mae argyfwng COVID wedi bod yn anodd, ond ceir llawer o fuddugoliaethau hefyd, ac mae rhoi terfyn dros dro ar ddigartrefedd yn un ohonyn nhw.
Mae awdurdodau lleol a'r trydydd sector wedi ymateb yn wych o dan amgylchiadau anodd dros ben. Rwy'n nodi'r buddsoddiad cychwynnol o £10 miliwn a buddsoddiad arall o £20 miliwn nawr drwy refeniw, gan arwain at gyfanswm o £30 miliwn. Mae hyn i'w groesawu'n fawr.
Rwyf i wedi siarad o'r blaen yn y Siambr hon am fy mhrofiad fy hun o syrffio soffas a'i effeithiau hirdymor ar fy mywyd, felly rwyf i mor falch o weld mai eich bwriad yw gwneud popeth yn eich gallu i gadw'r 800 a mwy o bobl mewn llety o ryw fath. Mae'n eglur o ystadegau a rhestrau aros nad oes digon o gartrefi i bawb. Fodd bynnag, efallai bod COVID wedi cyflwyno cyfle i feddiannu sefydliadau gwely a brecwast gwag a llety myfyrwyr.
A gaf i ofyn i chi beth yw eich cynlluniau ar gyfer sicrhau cyflenwad digonol ar ôl i'r economi agor unwaith eto? Mae eich datganiad diweddaraf yn nodi eich bod chi eisiau gweld creadigrwydd, partneriaeth a pharodrwydd i fuddsoddi yn y rhaglenni hyn. Onid yw creadigrwydd a phartneriaeth eisoes wedi eu hymwreiddio yn y math hwn o wasanaeth?
Mae cost ddynol digartrefedd yn enfawr, ond bydd goblygiadau gwariant ataliol cael hyn yn iawn yn dwyn ffrwyth ar draws llywodraeth leol, iechyd a'r heddlu. Roeddwn i'n hoffi yn arbennig eich sylw ar adeiladu tai cynaliadwy—
Can I ask you to come to a question, please?
A gaf i ofyn i chi ddod i gwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda?
I've just asked two questions—
Rwyf i newydd ofyn dau gwestiwn—
Well, I think that's fine, then. Thank you. We'll ask the Minister to comment. You're over your time. Thank you. Minister, can you respond, please?
Wel, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n iawn, felly. Diolch. Gofynnwn i'r Gweinidog ymateb. Mae eich amser ar ben. Diolch. Gweinidog, a wnewch chi ymateb, os gwelwch yn dda?
Daeth y Llywydd i'r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Yes, just on the funding, just to be clear: it's £20 million revenue—£10 million in the first place, £10 million in this tranche—and £10 million in capital, and that's additional to the money that we always put into the housing and homelessness services. So, I don't want you to think that that's all there is; that's additional money that goes with the money that we already invest. So, that a substantial sum of money overall.
On the supply side, you're absolutely right, Mandy, the human cost of it is enormous, and there but for the grace of God go all of us, quite frankly. So, we are very keen to make sure that people stay in accommodation. We are working very hard with local authorities—that's what the phase 2 plans will be about. Some of them have people in 'temporary' accommodation that's a lot less temporary and will be able to sustain that for quite some time. But you're quite right that some of them have it in sectors that are empty at the moment, but will obviously want to go back to their core group of clientele once the lockdown comes out. And we're working very hard with those local authorities to make sure that we have move-on accommodation properly. I'm also very anxious, as a result of the housing action group's recommendations, to ensure that move-on isn't something that has to happen more than once, so that people don't have to move lots of times because that's very destabilising. So, we're working very hard to make sure that they can either move straight into secure accommodation or, at the very worst-case scenario, once more.
The other thing is, as I'm sure you heard me saying earlier, we are now working very hard to make sure that we can put up these modern methods of construction—beautiful housing—that came out of our innovative housing programme. It is astonishing how fast that housing can go up. My colleague Jeremy Miles and I recently visited a field hospital that Swansea has put up, and the extent of that and how that was done in 17 weeks has really been inspirational in telling us what we can do in the future to build really decent accommodation that we'd all be proud to be in, as fast as we can go, to make sure that those people get the homes that you and I would both be proud to live in.
Iawn, o ran y cyllid, i fod yn glir: mae'n £20 miliwn o refeniw—£10 miliwn yn y lle cyntaf, £10 miliwn yn y gyfran hon—a £10 miliwn o gyfalaf, ac mae hynny'n ychwanegol at yr arian yr ydym ni bob amser yn ei gyfrannu i wasanaethau tai a digartrefedd. Felly, nid wyf i am i chi feddwl mai dyna'r cyfan sydd ar gael; arian ychwanegol yw hynny sy'n ategu'r arian yr ydym ni'n ei fuddsoddi eisoes. Felly, mae hynny'n swm sylweddol o arian yn gyffredinol.
O ran cyflenwad, rydych chi'n hollol gywir, Mandy, mae cost ddynol y peth yn enfawr, ac yno ond er gras Duw yr ydym ni i gyd yn mynd, a bod yn gwbl onest. Felly, rydym ni'n awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod pobl yn aros mewn llety. Rydym ni'n gweithio yn galed iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol—dyna y bydd cynlluniau cam 2 yn ymwneud ag ef. Mae gan rai ohonyn nhw bobl mewn llety 'dros dro' sy'n llawer llai dros dro a byddan nhw'n gallu cynnal hynny am gryn amser. Ond rydych chi'n llygad eich lle bod rhai ohonyn nhw yn ei gael mewn sectorau sy'n wag ar hyn o bryd, ond byddan nhw yn amlwg yn awyddus i fynd yn ôl at eu grŵp craidd o gwsmeriaid ar ôl i'r cyfyngiadau symud ddod i ben. Ac rydym ni'n gweithio yn galed iawn gyda'r awdurdodau lleol hynny i wneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni lety priodol i symud ymlaen iddo. Rwyf i hefyd yn awyddus iawn, o ganlyniad i argymhellion y grŵp gweithredu ar dai, i sicrhau nad yw symud ymlaen yn rhywbeth sy'n gorfod digwydd mwy nag unwaith, fel nad oes rhaid i bobl symud sawl gwaith oherwydd bod hynny'n peri ansefydlogrwydd mawr. Felly, rydym ni'n gweithio yn galed iawn i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw naill ai yn gallu symud yn syth i lety diogel neu, yn y sefyllfa waethaf oll, unwaith eto.
Y peth arall yw, fel yr wyf i'n siŵr y gwnaethoch chi fy nghlywed i'n dweud yn gynharach, rydym ni'n gweithio'n galed iawn yn awr i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gallu sefydlu'r dulliau modern hyn o adeiladu—tai hardd—a ddeilliodd o'n rhaglen dai arloesol. Mae'n rhyfeddol pa mor gyflym y gall tai gael eu hadeiladu. Yn ddiweddar, fe wnaeth fy nghyd-Aelod Jeremy Miles a minnau ymweld ag ysbyty maes y mae Abertawe wedi ei godi, ac mae maint hwnnw a'r modd y gwnaed hynny mewn 17 wythnos wedi bod yn ysbrydoliaeth wirioneddol o ran dweud wrthym ni beth y gallwn ni ei wneud yn y dyfodol i adeiladu llety gwirioneddol briodol y byddem ni i gyd yn falch o fod ynddo, cyn gynted ag y gallwn ni, i wneud yn siŵr bod y bobl hynny yn cael y cartrefi y byddech chi a mi yn falch o fyw ynddyn nhw.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Felly, yr eitem nesaf yw'r Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Coronafeirws) 2020, a dwi'n galw ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i gyflwyno'r cynnig—Julie Morgan.
The next item, therefore, is the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, and I call on the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services to move the motion—Julie Morgan.
Cynnig NDM7327 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o'r Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Coronafeirws) 2020 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 6 Mai 2020.
Motion NDM7327 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 6 May 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. These regulations have been developed to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on adult social care in three main ways. Firstly, they address the potential need for expansion of the sector by allowing the speedy establishment of emergency provision under the aegis of statutory commissioners of social care in a variety of settings. Secondly, they address the potential need to ease the recruitment of staff by relaxing some of the evidence-holding requirements currently on providers. And thirdly, they permit care homes, with the approval of the regulator, to bring currently unoccupied rooms into use as shared bedrooms.
The changes apply to adult residential settings and adult domiciliary support services only. To deliver the first purpose, certain services, created specifically to respond to COVID-19, are exempted from registration with Care Inspectorate Wales. They may be established more quickly and in a wider range of premises than would be possible for a regulated service. As they will not have a regulator's oversight, only services delivered by or on behalf of commissioners of care and support, local authorities and local health boards, with providers who are already registered with Care Inspectorate Wales or the Care Quality Commission, are eligible. Commissioners will be responsible for the quality of care and support provided and can be inspected in this regard by the regulator, Care Inspectorate Wales or Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. This is an important safeguard for anyone cared for on a temporary basis by these services.
The second purpose relates to holding of evidence about new staff members. Presently, regulations contain detailed requirements regarding evidence on matters such as qualifications. As the circumstances of the pandemic may make it difficult to source the full range of evidence, the amendment allows these requirements to be discharged by providing as much evidence as is reasonably practicable. The requirement to make checks remains unaltered, and the evidence must still be made available to the regulator as normal. The changes do not affect the requirements around holding evidence from the Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
Finally, the third purpose relates to the sharing of rooms. Current residents should never feel pressured to share a room, so the amendment only allows a care home to bring rooms that are currently unoccupied into use as additional shared rooms. Approval will rest with Care Inspectorate Wales and will always be considered with regard to the best interests of the residents.
These changes are short term, responsive to the current emergency and will be reversed in a measured way that gives the sector time to adjust as soon as it is responsible to do so. So, I ask Members to support the motion.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae'r Rheoliadau hyn wedi eu datblygu i liniaru effeithiau y coronafeirws ar ofal cymdeithasol i oedolion mewn tair prif ffordd. Yn gyntaf, maen nhw'n mynd i'r afael â'r angen posibl i ehangu'r sector drwy ganiatáu i ddarpariaeth frys gael ei sefydlu'n gyflym dan nawdd comisiynwyr statudol gofal cymdeithasol mewn amrywiaeth o leoliadau. Yn ail, maen nhw'n mynd i'r afael â'r angen posibl i hwyluso trefniadau recriwtio staff trwy lacio rhai o'r gofynion sy'n ymwneud â thystiolaeth sydd ar ddarparwyr ar hyn o bryd. Ac yn drydydd, maen nhw'n caniatáu i gartrefi gofal, gyda chymeradwyaeth y rheoleiddiwr, roi defnydd i ystafelloedd nad ydyn nhw wedi eu meddiannu ar hyn o bryd, fel ystafelloedd gwely a rennir.
Mae'r newidiadau yn berthnasol i leoliadau preswyl i oedolion a gwasanaethau cymorth cartref i oedolion yn unig. Er mwyn cyflawni'r diben cyntaf, mae rhai gwasanaethau, a grëwyd yn benodol i ymateb i COVID-19, wedi eu heithrio rhag cael eu cofrestru gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru. Mae'n bosibl iddyn nhw gael eu sefydlu'n gyflymach ac mewn ystod ehangach o safleoedd nag a fyddai'n bosibl ar gyfer gwasanaeth rheoleiddiedig. Gan na fydd ganddyn nhw oruchwyliaeth rheoleiddiwr, dim ond gwasanaethau a ddarperir gan neu ar ran comisiynwyr gofal a chymorth, awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd lleol, gyda darparwyr sydd eisoes wedi cofrestru gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru neu'r Comisiwn Ansawdd Gofal, sy'n gymwys. Comisiynwyr fydd yn gyfrifol am ansawdd y gofal a'r cymorth a ddarperir, a gellir eu harolygu yn hyn o beth gan y rheoleiddiwr, Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru neu Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru. Mae hyn yn gam diogelu pwysig i unrhyw un sy'n derbyn gofal dros dro gan y gwasanaethau hyn.
Mae'r ail ddiben yn ymwneud â chadw tystiolaeth ynghylch aelodau newydd o staff. Ar hyn o bryd, mae rheoliadau yn cynnwys gofynion manwl ynghylch tystiolaeth yn ymwneud â materion megis cymwysterau. Oherwydd y gallai amgylchiadau'r pandemig ei gwneud yn anodd cael gafael ar yr ystod lawn o dystiolaeth, mae'r diwygiad yn caniatáu i'r gofynion hyn gael eu cyflawni trwy ddarparu cymaint o dystiolaeth ag sy'n rhesymol ymarferol. Nid yw'r gofyniad i gynnal gwiriadau wedi newid, ac mae'n rhaid i'r dystiolaeth barhau i fod ar gael i'r rheoleiddiwr fel arfer. Nid yw'r newidiadau yn effeithio ar y gofynion sy'n ymwneud â chadw tystiolaeth o wiriadau'r Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd.
Yn olaf, mae'r trydydd diben yn ymwneud â rhannu ystafelloedd. Ni ddylai preswylwyr presennol deimlo dan bwysau i rannu ystafell, felly mae'r gwelliant dim ond yn caniatáu i gartref gofal roi defnydd i ystafelloedd nad ydyn nhw wedi eu meddiannu ar hyn o bryd, fel ystafelloedd ychwanegol a rennir. Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru fydd yn eu cymeradwyo a byddan nhw'n yn cael eu hystyried bob amser er budd pennaf y preswylwyr.
Mae'r newidiadau hyn yn rhai tymor byr, sy'n ymatebol i'r argyfwng presennol, a byddan nhw'n cael eu gwrthdroi mewn ffordd bwyllog sy'n rhoi amser i'r sector addasu cyn gynted ag y bo'n gyfrifol gwneud hynny. Felly, gofynnaf i'r Aelodau gefnogi'r cynnig.
Some of the premises that could be used for emergency residential services may be unlikely to meet the standard required to register with Care Inspectorate Wales under the 2016 Act. So, what assurances can you give me that the providers fitting the exception will be subject to appropriate regulation and inspection?
Also, according to CIW, they are not undertaking routine inspections, and, when the pandemic is over, will not be considering retrospective actions. So, how will this impact on the safety of residents and the identification of wilful neglect or, indeed, deliberate harm?
Now, as you know, Minister, some services are experiencing difficulties with recruitment, retention, equipment and funding. So, have you considered the negative impact new premises could have on existing problems?
During the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, it was noted that the regulations do not appear to apply to the private sector that is not providing services for the public sector. Another question: why is that the case?
And finally, a respondent to the consultation urged that pre-employment checks were essential to safeguarding individuals. What assessment has been made of the risk of relaxing these rules and can you confirm that regulation 7 will not undermine the legal requirement that adults agree to share a room and such a move may be consistent with their well-being? Thank you.
Mae'n bosibl y bydd rhai o'r safleoedd y gellid eu defnyddio ar gyfer gwasanaethau preswyl brys yn annhebygol o fodloni'r safon sy'n ofynnol i gofrestru gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru o dan Ddeddf 2016. Felly, pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi i mi y bydd y darparwyr sy'n bodloni'r eithriad yn destun rheoleiddio ac arolygu priodol?
Hefyd, yn ôl Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru, nid yw'n ymgymryd ag arolygiadau rheolaidd, a phan ddaw'r pandemig i ben, ni fydd yn ystyried camau gweithredu ôl-weithredol. Felly, sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar ddiogelwch preswylwyr a chamau i nodi esgeulustod bwriadol neu, yn wir, niwed bwriadol?
Nawr, fel y gwyddoch chi, Gweinidog, mae rhai gwasanaethau yn cael anawsterau o ran recriwtio, cadw, offer a chyllid. Felly, a ydych chi wedi ystyried yr effaith negyddol y gallai safleoedd newydd ei chael ar y problemau presennol?
Yn ystod cyfarfod y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad, nodwyd nad yw'n ymddangos bod y rheoliadau yn berthnasol i'r sector preifat nad yw'n darparu gwasanaethau i'r sector cyhoeddus. Cwestiwn arall: pam felly?
Ac yn olaf, anogodd ymatebwr i'r ymgynghoriad fod gwiriadau cyn cyflogi yn hanfodol i ddiogelu unigolion. Pa asesiad sydd wedi ei wneud o'r risg o lacio'r rheolau hyn ac a allwch chi gadarnhau na fydd rheoliad 7 yn tanseilio'r gofyniad cyfreithiol bod oedolion yn cytuno i rannu ystafell ac y gallai cam o'r fath fod yn gyson â'u lles? Diolch.
Deputy Minister to respond to the debate—or the contribution.
Y Dirprwy Weinidog i ymateb i'r ddadl—neu i'r cyfraniad.
I'd like to thank Janet Finch-Saunders for those comments, and I'd just like to reiterate that these are temporary measures that are taken in an emergency situation. They will not be permanent measures, and the points that she made have all been carefully considered.
In terms of one of the last points she made, about whether it applies to private provision, I'd like to inform her that the provision around shared rooms applies to private, local authority and third sector adult care homes equally. So, they do apply to private provision. Also, the easements around holding evidence apply to the appointment of private, third sector and local authority domiciliary and residential care staff, and the only distinction is made in relation to emergency COVID-19 provision. Here, we considered it absolutely essential that there be statutory oversight of the provision. Private providers can deliver the commissioned provision. So, I hope that's cleared that up about the private provision.
I would like also to emphasise, in terms of the people who are being recruited, that they are still subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks. The responsibility is on the care home owner to ensure that suitable people are recruited. But I think the Member will accept that, in these extraordinary circumstances, there has to be a degree of flexibility to ensure that we are able to expand the provision if we have to in order to cope with this extraordinarily difficult time.
Hoffwn i ddiolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am y sylwadau yna, a hoffwn i ailadrodd mai mesurau dros dro yw'r rhain i'w rhoi ar waith mewn argyfwng. Ni fyddan nhw'n fesurau parhaol, ac mae pob un o'r pwyntiau a wnaeth wedi eu hystyried yn ofalus iawn.
O ran un o'r pwyntiau diwethaf a wnaeth, ynghylch a yw'n berthnasol i ddarpariaeth breifat, hoffwn i roi gwybod iddi fod y ddarpariaeth o ran rhannu ystafelloedd yn berthnasol i gartrefi gofal i oedolion preifat, awdurdodau lleol a'r trydydd sector fel ei gilydd. Felly, maen nhw yn berthnasol i ddarpariaeth breifat. Hefyd, mae'r hawddfreintiau sy'n ymwneud â thystiolaeth yn berthnasol i'r broses o benodi staff gofal cartref a phreswyl preifat, awdurdodau lleol a'r trydydd sector, a'r unig wahaniaeth yw'r hyn a wneir o ran darpariaeth frys COVID-19. Yma, roeddem ni o'r farn ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol bod y ddarpariaeth yn cael ei goruchwylio'n statudol. Gall darparwyr preifat ddarparu'r ddarpariaeth a gomisiynir. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny wedi egluro hynny ynghylch y ddarpariaeth breifat.
Hoffwn i hefyd bwysleisio, o ran y bobl sy'n cael eu recriwtio, eu bod yn dal yn destun gwiriadau'r Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd. Mae'r cyfrifoldeb ar berchennog y cartref gofal i sicrhau bod pobl addas yn cael eu recriwtio. Ond rwy'n credu y bydd yr Aelod yn derbyn, o dan yr amgylchiadau eithriadol hyn, fod yn rhaid cael rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu ehangu'r ddarpariaeth os bydd yn rhaid i ni er mwyn ymdopi â'r cyfnod eithriadol o anodd hwn.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
I thank the Deputy Minister.
The proposal, then, is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Yes, I can see an objection, and therefore I'll defer the vote on this until voting time.
Y cynnig, felly, yw derbyn y cynnig. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, gallaf weld gwrthwynebiad, ac felly byddaf yn gohirio'r bleidlais ar hyn tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliannau 1 a 2 yn enw Rebecca Evans, a gwelliannau 3 a 4 yn enw Siân Gwenllian. Os derbynnir gwelliant 2, caiff gwelliant 3 ei ddad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendments 1 and 2 in the name of Rebecca Evans, and amendments 3 and 4 in the name of Siân Gwenllian. If amendment 2 is agreed amendment 3 will be deselected.
Y ddadl nesaf yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar ymchwiliad annibynnol i COVID-19. Dwi'n galw ar Paul Davies i gyflwyno'r cynnig. Paul Davies.
The next item is the Welsh Conservatives debate, an independent COVID-19 inquiry. I call on Paul Davies to move the motion. Paul Davies.
Cynnig NDM7328 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn galw am ymchwiliad annibynnol wedi'i arwain gan farnwr a benodir gan y Senedd, i'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymdrin â'r pandemig Covid-19, i'w gychwyn ar ddyddiad priodol, pan fydd y pandemig o dan reolaeth, ac i'w gwblhau cyn etholiad nesaf Senedd Cymru.
Motion NDM7328 Darren Millar
To propose that the Senedd:
Calls for an independent, Welsh Parliament appointed, judge-led inquiry into the Welsh Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, to be commenced at an appropriate date, when the pandemic is under control, and to be concluded prior to the next Welsh Parliament election.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. Our motion is clear: we're calling for an independent, Welsh Parliament-appointed, judge-led inquiry into the Welsh Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The people of Wales will continue to have many questions about what happened throughout this pandemic, how prepared Wales has been for it, and the Welsh Government's decisions and actions in response to the pandemic. As the Welsh Government has now started easing lockdown restrictions in Wales, it's time to start considering the way in which those questions should be asked and answered. Even more importantly, it's absolutely critical that lessons are learned from the COVID-19 pandemic should this Government or future Governments be faced with a pandemic like this in the future. Therefore, given restrictions are now starting to be eased, it's appropriate for us now to consider how that public inquiry must look and how it must operate.
Now, I appreciate that Senedd committees are already considering their own inquiries into COVID-19 and the impact it has had on their committee subject areas, and Welsh Government Ministers have been called to answer questions on their portfolio areas. However, given the sheer impact that COVID-19 has had on families and communities across Wales, I believe it's only appropriate that a full public inquiry is launched, led by an independent judge appointed by the Senedd, not the Welsh Government.
We must make it crystal clear to the people of Wales that this inquiry will be open and transparent and that actions will be accounted for. The appointment of an independent judge will send a statement that this institution is committed to accountability, and this inquiry quite simply deserves the authority that a senior judge would command. Indeed, when the process gets to the stage where hearings are under way, a Queen's Counsel and their team would have the most appropriate skills to conduct questioning in a fair, inquisitorial manner. For that reason, we will be opposing amendment 1, which simply deletes the point that a public inquiry should be judge-led, because it should be judge-led, and appointed by the Senedd rather than the Welsh Government. I believe that the people of Wales deserve for this inquiry to be conducted with the highest level of transparency and authority that it can. We cannot afford to allow the Welsh Government to dictate direction or agenda, and therefore I fail to see anything unreasonable and untoward in calling for the inquiry to be led by a judge that has been appointed independent of the Government that it would be examining.
Now, I appreciate that there will be expectations that a public inquiry must be done rapidly, and that's why we need to start seeing some of the groundwork starting to take place. Members may be aware of the recent letter in the Financial Times written by a group of Lords, which called for cross-party dialogue and consensus on the terms of reference of the UK's inquiry into COVID-19. Well, I'm calling for those discussions to start taking place here in Wales, and I hope that, in a spirit of openness and accountability, all political parties will wish to be part of this dialogue. The First Minister has said in principle that he's happy to confirm the Welsh Government's support for a public inquiry at the right time, and that's a welcome step forward. We can now build on that consensus and start to think about how that inquiry can come about. So, I hope, in responding to this debate, the Welsh Government will tell us a bit more about their thinking about when this inquiry can start to take place. I don't think it's entirely unreasonable that we consider some of the timescales for when the people of Wales can expect to hear some answers to the questions they have over the handling of matters relating to COVID-19 in Wales.
Llywydd, we are calling for findings to be made available before the next Welsh parliamentary elections next year. Ultimately, the people of Wales should have the opportunity to listen to the evidence and draw their own conclusions from the inquiry—and they can have their say—and, more importantly, to be able to hold current Government Ministers to account at next year's election. For that very reason, we cannot support amendment 2, which simply aims to remove the need for findings to be made available before the next Welsh parliamentary elections. We must show the world that, here in Wales, we will not shy away from asking tough questions and getting tough answers. The people of Wales have the right to be as informed as possible at the next election, and we must at least attempt to give them the answers they are looking for, so that they can go to the ballot box as informed as possible.
Now, amendment 4 calls for the inquiry to be commenced in parallel with the UK Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm happy to see that take place, and therefore we will be supporting this amendment, but we mustn't lose sight of that, here in Wales, we also have an opportunity to take the lead on this, and we should take it.
Members will all, rightly, have their views on the systemic issues that may be considered in the terms of reference of the inquiry. I believe this inquiry should be wide ranging and look at all Welsh Government COVID-19 policy decisions throughout this time. For example, it's absolutely critical that the public inquiry considers the Welsh Government's strategy for handling the care home sector in Wales. We know that, despite repeated pleas from Care Forum Wales and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, the Welsh Government was slow in testing care home residents and staff here in Wales.
Now it's thought that a quarter of coronavirus deaths in Wales have been related to care home residents, and yet it wasn't until 22 April that the health Minister decided to test symptomatic care home residents and those returning from hospital to care homes as well as symptomatic care home workers. Following that, on 2 May, the Welsh Government then announced that all staff and residents of care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus would be tested following the latest scientific evidence, which showed that testing should be extended in care homes to manage any outbreaks. That then changed again and, by 6 May, Welsh Government confirmed that it would start the blanket testing of care homes, but this time only to those care homes where there were over 50 beds. With an average of 33 beds per care home in Wales, this announcement meant that much smaller care homes were left without blanket testing until nearly two weeks later, when Welsh Government eventually rolled out testing to all care home residents and staff. So, that's just one example, and I'm sure that, throughout the course of today's debate, Members will contribute their own ideas, based on the correspondence and feedback that they've received from their own constituents.
The important point that I do want to make is that the inquiry should be a wide-ranging exercise that looks at all issues and evidence. Members will have received correspondence from constituents on a range of COVID-19 policies, with serious questions on how Welsh Government programmes and decisions have affected their lives, and the inquiry must scrutinise all areas of policy in order for those answers to be given. Concerns around issues such as testing and the supply and distribution of personal protective equipment are all very valid areas of inquiry that must be addressed. We know from the Royal College of Nursing Cymru that there is a lack of consistency and guidance for PPE use and delivery at a local health board level. Indeed, a recent RCN survey showed that, during this pandemic, 74 per cent of nursing staff raised concerns about PPE and over half of nursing staff have felt pressured to care for a patient without adequate protection as outlined in the current PPE guidance.
It's these systemic issues that must be brought to light and fully examined by a public inquiry. Therefore, in closing, Llywydd, I hope that Members will support our motion today and that we can start to move forward and set the groundwork for that inquiry. The people of Wales need and deserve answers, and we must commit to a process that gives them just that. Diolch.
Diolch, Llywydd, ac rwy'n cynnig y cynnig sydd wedi'i gyflwyno yn enw fy nghydweithiwr, Darren Millar. Mae ein cynnig yn glir: rydym ni'n galw am ymchwiliad annibynnol, dan arweiniad barnwr ac wedi'i benodi gan Senedd Cymru, i'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymdrin â phandemig COVID-19. Bydd cwestiynau niferus gan bobl Cymru yn parhau ynghylch yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn ystod y pandemig hwn, pa mor barod y bu Cymru amdano, a phenderfyniadau a chamau gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru mewn ymateb i'r pandemig. Gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru bellach wedi dechrau llacio cyfyngiadau symud yng Nghymru, mae'n bryd i ddechrau ystyried sut y dylid holi ac ateb y cwestiynau hynny. Yn bwysicach byth, mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod gwersi'n cael eu dysgu o bandemig COVID-19 pe bai'r Llywodraeth hon neu Lywodraethau'r dyfodol yn wynebu pandemig fel hwn yn y dyfodol. Felly, gan fod cyfyngiadau'n dechrau cael eu llacio erbyn hyn, mae'n briodol inni ystyried yn awr sut i fwrw ymlaen a gweithredu'r ymchwiliad cyhoeddus hwnnw.
Nawr, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod pwyllgorau'r Senedd eisoes yn ystyried eu hymchwiliadau eu hunain i COVID-19 a'r effaith a gafodd ar feysydd pwnc eu pwyllgorau, ac mae Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u galw i ateb cwestiynau ar feysydd eu portffolio. Fodd bynnag, o ystyried yr effaith aruthrol y mae COVID-19 wedi'i chael ar deuluoedd a chymunedau ledled Cymru, credaf ei bod yn briodol lansio ymchwiliad cyhoeddus llawn, o dan arweiniad barnwr annibynnol wedi'i benodi gan y Senedd, nid Llywodraeth Cymru.
Rhaid inni ei gwneud yn hollol glir i bobl Cymru y bydd yr ymchwiliad hwn yn agored ac yn dryloyw a bod modd rhoi cyfrif am y camau gweithredu. Bydd penodi barnwr annibynnol yn datgan bod y sefydliad hwn wedi'i ymrwymo i atebolrwydd, a bod yr ymchwiliad hwn, yn syml iawn, yn haeddu'r awdurdod y byddai gan uwch farnwr. Yn wir, pan fydd y broses yn cyrraedd y cam lle mae gwrandawiadau ar y gweill, byddai gan Gwnsler y Frenhines a'i dîm y sgiliau mwyaf priodol i holi'r cwestiynu mewn modd teg a chwilfrydig. Am y rheswm hwnnw, byddwn ni'n gwrthwynebu gwelliant 1, sy'n dileu'r pwynt y dylai ymchwiliad cyhoeddus gael ei arwain gan farnwr, oherwydd fe ddylai gael ei arwain gan farnwr, a'i benodi gan y Senedd yn hytrach na Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwyf i o'r farn bod pobl Cymru yn haeddu gweld yr ymchwiliad hwn yn cael ei gynnal gan ddefnyddio'r lefel uchaf bosibl o dryloywder ac awdurdod. Ni allwn fforddio gadael i Lywodraeth Cymru bennu cyfeiriad nac agenda, ac felly ni allaf weld unrhyw beth afresymol nac anffafriol wrth alw i'r ymchwiliad gael ei arwain gan farnwr sydd wedi'i benodi'n annibynnol ar y Llywodraeth y byddai'n ei harchwilio.
Nawr, rwy'n sylweddoli y bydd disgwyl i ymchwiliad cyhoeddus gael ei gynnal yn gyflym, a dyna pan mae angen inni ddechrau gweld rhywfaint o'r gwaith paratoi yn dechrau. Efallai fod yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol o'r llythyr diweddar yn y Financial Times wedi'i ysgrifennu gan grŵp o Arglwyddi, a alwodd am ddeialog a chonsensws trawsbleidiol ar gylch gorchwyl ymchwiliad y DU i COVID-19. Wel, rwy'n galw ar y trafodaethau hynny i ddechrau yma yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n gobeithio, mewn ysbryd agored ac atebol, y bydd pob plaid wleidyddol yn dymuno bod yn rhan o'r ddeialog hon. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud, mewn egwyddor, ei fod yn hapus i gadarnhau cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i ymchwiliad cyhoeddus ar yr adeg gywir, ac mae hwnnw'n gam ymlaen i'w groesawu. Gallwn ni yn awr ddatblygu'r consensws hwnnw a dechrau meddwl sut y gall yr ymchwiliad hwnnw ddigwydd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl hon, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn dweud ychydig mwy wrthym am eu syniadau o ran pryd y gall yr ymchwiliad hwn ddechrau. Ni chredaf ei bod yn afresymol inni ystyried rhai o'r amserlenni y gall pobl Cymru ddisgwyl cael clywed atebion i'w cwestiynau am y modd yr ymdriniwyd â materion sy'n ymwneud â COVID-19 yng Nghymru.
Llywydd, rydym ni'n gofyn bod y canfyddiadau ar gael cyn etholiadau seneddol Cymru y flwyddyn nesaf. Yn y pen draw, dylai pobl Cymru gael y cyfle i wrando ar y dystiolaeth a dod i'w casgliadau eu hunain o ran yr ymchwiliad—a gallan nhw ddweud eu dweud—ac, yn bwysicach, allu dwyn Gweinidogion presennol y Llywodraeth i gyfrif yn yr etholiad y flwyddyn nesaf. Am yr union reswm hwnnw, ni allwn gefnogi gwelliant 2, sy'n ceisio dileu'r angen bod y canfyddiadau ar gael cyn etholiadau Seneddol nesaf Cymru. Rhaid dangos i'r byd na fyddwn ni, yma yng Nghymru, yn petruso rhag gofyn cwestiynau anodd a chael atebion anodd. Mae gan bobl Cymru yr hawl i fod mor wybodus â phosibl yn yr etholiad nesaf, a rhaid inni o leiaf geisio darparu ar eu cyfer yr atebion y maen nhw'n eu ceisio, fel y gallan nhw fynd i'r blwch pleidleisio mor wybodus â phosibl.
Nawr, mae gwelliant 4 yn galw bod yr ymchwiliad yn cael ei gychwyn ochr yn ochr â'r modd y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymdrin â phandemig COVID-19. Rwy'n hapus i weld hynny'n digwydd, ac felly byddwn ni'n cefnogi'r gwelliant hwn. Ond ni ddylem golli golwg ar hynny, ac yma yng Nghymru mae cyfle hefyd i arwain ar hyn, a dylem gymryd y cyfle hwnnw.
Yn briodol, bydd gan bob Aelod ei farn ynghylch y materion systemig y bydd modd eu hystyried yng nghylch gorchwyl yr ymchwiliad. Rwy'n credu y dylai cwmpas yr ymchwiliad hwn fod yn eang a dylai edrych ar holl benderfyniadau polisi COVID-19 Llywodraeth Cymru drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn. Er enghraifft, mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yn ystyried strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer ymdrin â'r sector cartrefi gofal yng Nghymru. Fe wyddom, er gwaethaf apeliadau gan Fforwm Gofal Cymru a Chomisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn araf yn cynnal profion ar breswylwyr a staff cartrefi gofal yma yng Nghymru.
Nawr, y gred yw bod chwarter y marwolaethau oherwydd coronafeirws yng Nghymru wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â phreswylwyr cartrefi gofal. Ac eto i gyd bu'n rhaid aros tan 22 Ebrill cyn bod y Gweinidog Iechyd yn penderfynu profi preswylwyr cartrefi gofal oedd â symptomau a'r rhai a oedd yn dychwelyd o'r ysbyty i gartrefi gofal, yn ogystal â gweithwyr cartref gofal oedd â symptomau. Yn dilyn hynny, ar 2 Mai, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y byddai holl staff a phreswylwyr cartrefi gofal oedd ag achosion coronafeirws yn cael eu profi gan ddilyn y dystiolaeth wyddonol ddiweddaraf, a oedd yn dangos y dylai'r profion mewn cartrefi gofal gael eu hymestyn i reoli unrhyw achosion. Newidiodd hynny eto wedyn, ac erbyn 6 Mai, cadarnhaodd Llywodraeth Cymru y byddai'n dechrau cynnal profion yn gyffredinol mewn cartrefi gofal, ond y tro hwn dim ond i'r cartrefi gofal hynny lle'r oedd dros 50 o welyau. Gyda chyfartaledd o 33 gwely yng nghartrefi gofal Cymru, roedd y cyhoeddiad hwn yn golygu bod y cartrefi gofal llai o faint wedi cael eu gadael heb brofion tan bythefnos yn ddiweddarach, pan gyflwynodd Llywodraeth Cymru yn y pen draw brofion i holl breswylwyr a staff cartrefi gofal. Felly, dim ond un enghraifft yw honno, ac rwy'n siŵr, yn ystod y ddadl heddiw, y bydd yr Aelodau'n cyfrannu eu syniadau eu hunain, yn seiliedig ar yr ohebiaeth a'r adborth y maen nhw wedi'u cael gan eu hetholwyr eu hunain.
Y pwynt pwysig yr wyf i'n dymuno ei wneud yw y dylai'r ymchwiliad fod yn ymarfer eang ei gwmpas sy'n edrych ar bob mater a thystiolaeth. Bydd yr Aelodau wedi cael gohebiaeth gan etholwyr ar amrywiaeth o bolisïau COVID-19, gyda chwestiynau difrifol o ran y ffordd y mae rhaglenni a phenderfyniadau Llywodraeth Cymru wedi effeithio ar eu bywydau, ac mae'n rhaid i'r ymchwiliad graffu ar bob maes polisi er mwyn darparu'r atebion hynny. Mae pryderon ynghylch materion fel profi a chyflenwi a dosbarthu cyfarpar diogelu personol yn feysydd ymchwil dilys iawn y mae'n rhaid mynd i'r afael â nhw. Dywedwyd wrthym gan Goleg Brenhinol Nyrsys Cymru fod diffyg cysondeb ac arweiniad o ran defnyddio a darparu cyfarpar diogelu personol ar lefel byrddau iechyd lleol. Yn wir, dangosodd arolwg diweddar gan Goleg Brenhinol y Nyrsys, fod 74 y cant o'r staff nyrsio, yn ystod y pandemig hwn, wedi codi pryderon ynghylch cyfarpar diogelu personol a bod dros hanner y staff nyrsio wedi teimlo dan bwysau i ofalu am glaf heb y diogelwch digonol a amlinellwyd yn y canllawiau cyfarpar diogelu personol presennol.
Y materion systemig hyn yw'r rhai y mae'n rhaid eu hamlygu a'u harchwilio'n llawn gan ymchwiliad cyhoeddus. Felly, i gloi, Llywydd, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cefnogi ein cynnig heddiw ac y gallwn ni ddechrau symud ymlaen a gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer yr ymchwiliad hwnnw. Mae angen atebion ar bobl Cymru ac maen nhw'n eu haeddu, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ymrwymo i broses sy'n rhoi'r union beth hwnnw iddyn nhw. Diolch.
Dwi wedi dewis y pedwar gwelliant i'r cynnig. Os bydd gwelliant 2 yn cael ei dderbyn, yna bydd gwelliant 3 yn cael ei ddad-ddethol. Dwi'n galw ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol i gyflwyno gwelliannau 1 a 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans—Jeremy Miles.
I have selected the four amendments to the motion. If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be deselected. I call on the Counsel General to move formally amendments 1 and 2, tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans—Jeremy Miles.
Gwelliant 1—Rebecca Evans
Dileu 'wedi'i arwain gan farnwr a benodir gan y Senedd'.
Amendment 1—Rebecca Evans
Delete 'Welsh Parliament appointed, judge-led'.
Gwelliant 2—Rebecca Evans
Dileu 'ac i'w gwblhau cyn etholiad nesaf Senedd Cymru'.
Amendment 2—Rebecca Evans
Delete 'and to be concluded prior to the next Welsh Parliament election'.
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 1 a 2.
Amendments 1 and 2 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Yn ffurfiol. Ac felly dwi'n galw nawr ar Adam Price i gyflwyno gwelliannau 3 a 4, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Siân Gwenllian—Adam Price.
Formally. I therefore call on Adam Price to move amendments 3 and 4, tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian—Adam Price.
Gwelliant 3—Siân Gwenllian
Dileu 'ac i'w gwblhau' a rhoi yn ei le 'ac i adroddiad cychwynnol ar ei ganfyddiadau gael ei gyflwyno'.
Amendment 3—Siân Gwenllian
Delete ‘and to be concluded’ and replace with ‘and for an initial report on its findings to be presented’.
Gwelliant 4—Siân Gwenllian
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn galw am gychwyn ymchwiliad annibynnol yn cydredeg, wedi'i arwain gan farnwr, i'r modd y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymdrin â'r pandemig Covid-19.
Amendment 4—Siân Gwenllian
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls for an independent judge-led inquiry to be commenced in parallel, into the UK Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 3 a 4.
Amendments 3 and 4 moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. The need for a COVID inquiry is not in question in today's debate. What the motion and the amendments that have been tabled are trying to do is to establish the answers to other questions about the nature of the inquiry: who will appoint it, who will chair it, when will it begin, when will it produce its findings? And alongside the 'who' and the 'when' there is the question of how, and specifically whether this should be a full, statutory public inquiry.
Now, starting with the 'who', the Government has put an amendment down that strikes out 'Welsh Parliament appointed, judge-led'. Now, I'm not sure if its objection is to 'Welsh Parliament appointed', or 'judge-led', or both. Now, I understand, formally, since the passing of the Inquiries Act 2005, it's Governments that establish statutory inquiries, but I think the spirit of the motion is the proposition that there needs to be the kind of cross-party dialogue that Paul Davies referred to and was referenced in the FT letter around the terms of reference for the inquiry. If you like, there needs to be public consensus for there to be public confidence that the inquiry will be both thorough and independent. So, I would invite the Government today to commit to engaging in that kind of dialogue with opposition parties, but also more widely with the public and with relevant stakeholders on the terms of reference of the inquiry.
We think that, given the gravity of what is to be investigated and the sheer scale of suffering involved, this needs to be a statutory public inquiry with powers to compel the production of documents, to take evidence on oath and require statements from witnesses, in a similar way to the Grenfell Tower inquiry. That kind of inquisitorial process requires the skills and experience of a senior judge to chair it. And the search for that chair needs to begin immediately, if it has not already begun, which brings us on then to the question of timing.
It takes, on average, four to six months to establish a public inquiry, which is why the work does need to begin now in establishing it if evidence sessions are to begin this year. That's because there's a need for a lot of preliminary work in collating documents and statements, et cetera, so that informed questions can be asked by the Queen's Counsel's team that would act on behalf of the inquiry.
A full report from a genuinely comprehensive statutory inquiry, of course, will take time to finalise. That's in large part because of the complexity of the inquiry's subject matter in this case, but also the wide range of people from which the inquiry will need to hear. The inquiry needs to create the time and the space to hear the voices from all those that have been affected. In that sense, this will be an inquiry unlike any other in our nation's history and, of course, it will need to be informed by a parallel inquiry to be held at the UK level.
But some questions are urgent, and I think it would be right to adopt the kind of phased approach that has been followed in the case of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, with an interim report produced before the end of this Senedd term setting out the facts of what happened, how well prepared we were, who knew and did what in relation to the early response to the pandemic, and what the interim conclusions are on what needs to be done differently in the future.
We've made our own contribution as a party to that vital learning process today in publishing a report on the Welsh Government's response so far, written by the general practitioner and public health consultant, Dr Camilla Ducker. We will certainly face another pandemic at some point, and we may be grappling with this one for many years to come. An early inquiry will help us to do both more effectively, and I urge the Government to establish it today without any further delay.
Diolch, Llywydd. Nid oes amheuaeth ynghylch yr angen am ymchwiliad COVID yn y ddadl heddiw. Yr hyn y mae'r cynnig a'r gwelliannau sydd wedi'u cyflwyno yn ceisio ei wneud yw dod o hyd i'r atebion i gwestiynau eraill ynghylch natur yr ymchwiliad: pwy fydd yn ei benodi, pwy fydd yn ei gadeirio, pryd y bydd yn dechrau, pryd y bydd yn cyflwyno ei ganfyddiadau? Yn ogystal â'r 'pwy a'r 'pryd', mae cwestiwn ynghylch sut, ac yn benodol, a ddylai hyn fod yn ymchwiliad cyhoeddus statudol a llawn.
Nawr, gan ddechrau gyda'r 'pwy', mae'r Llywodraeth wedi cyflwyno gwelliant sy'n dileu 'dan arweiniad barnwr wedi'i benodi gan Senedd Cymru'. Nawr, nid wyf i'n siŵr a yw'n wrthwynebiad i 'wedi'i benodi gan Senedd Cymru', neu i 'dan arweiniad barnwr', neu i'r ddau. Nawr, rwy'n deall, yn ffurfiol, ers pasio Deddf Ymchwiliadau 2005, mai Llywodraethau sy'n sefydlu ymchwiliadau statudol. Ond rwy'n credu mai ysbryd y cynnig yw bod angen math o ddeialog drawsbleidiol y cyfeiriodd Paul Davies ati ac y cyfeiriodd llythyr yr FT ati ynghylch cylch gorchwyl yr ymchwiliad. Os mynnwch, mae angen consensws cyhoeddus er mwyn rhoi hyder i'r cyhoedd y bydd yr ymchwiliad yn drylwyr ac yn annibynnol. Felly, rwy'n gwahodd y Llywodraeth heddiw i ymrwymo i ymwneud â'r math hwnnw o ddeialog gyda'r gwrthbleidiau, ond hefyd yn ehangach gyda'r cyhoedd a gyda rhanddeiliaid perthnasol ynglŷn â chylch gorchwyl yr ymchwiliad.
Ein barn ni, o gofio difrifoldeb yr ymchwiliad a'r dioddefaint cysylltiedig, yw bod angen i hwn fod yn ymchwiliad cyhoeddus statudol â phwerau i gymell cynhyrchu dogfennau, cymryd tystiolaeth ar lw a gofyn am ddatganiadau gan dystion, mewn ffordd debyg i ymchwiliad Tŵr Grenfell. Mae proses ymchwilgar o'r fath yn gofyn am sgiliau a phrofiad uwch farnwr i'w chadeirio. Ac mae angen dechrau chwilio am y Cadeirydd hwnnw ar unwaith, os nad yw eisoes wedi dechrau, sy'n ein harwain wedyn at gwestiwn amseru.
Mae'n cymryd pedwar i chwe mis, ar gyfartaledd, i sefydlu ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, a dyna pam mae angen dechrau'r gwaith i'w sefydlu nawr os yw'r sesiynau tystiolaeth i ddechrau eleni. Mae hynny oherwydd bod angen llawer o waith rhagarweiniol i goladu dogfennau a datganiadau, ac ati, fel bod modd i dîm Cwnsel y Frenhines ofyn cwestiynau gwybodus a fyddai'n gweithredu ar ran yr ymchwiliad.
Bydd adroddiad llawn gan ymchwiliad statudol gwirioneddol gynhwysfawr, wrth gwrs, yn cymryd amser i'w gwblhau. Mae hynny i raddau helaeth oherwydd cymhlethdod pwnc yr ymchwiliad yn yr achos hwn, ond hefyd o ran yr amrywiaeth eang o bobl y bydd angen i'r ymchwiliad wrando arnyn nhw. Mae angen i'r ymchwiliad greu'r amser a'r lle i glywed lleisiau pawb yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw. Yn hynny o beth, bydd hwn yn ymchwiliad sy'n wahanol i unrhyw un arall yn hanes ein cenedl ac, wrth gwrs, bydd angen iddo gael ei lywio gan ymchwiliad cyfochrog sydd i'w gynnal ar lefel y DU.
Ond mae rhai cwestiynau yn rhai brys, ac rwy'n credu y byddai'n briodol mabwysiadu'r math o ddull gweithredu graddol a gafodd ei ddilyn yn achos ymchwiliad Tŵr Grenfell. Bydd angen adroddiad interim wedi'i gynhyrchu cyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon yn nodi ffeithiau'r hyn a ddigwyddodd, pa mor barod yr oeddem ni, pwy oedd yn gwybod a phwy a wnaeth beth o ran yr ymateb cynnar i'r pandemig, a beth yw'r casgliadau interim ar yr hyn y mae angen ei wneud yn wahanol yn y dyfodol.
Rydym ni wedi gwneud ein cyfraniad ein hunain fel plaid i'r broses ddysgu hanfodol honno heddiw wrth gyhoeddi adroddiad ar ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru hyd yn hyn, wedi'i ysgrifennu gan y meddyg teulu ac ymgynghorydd iechyd y cyhoedd, Dr Camilla Ducker. Yn sicr fe fyddwn yn wynebu pandemig arall ar ryw adeg, ac efallai y byddwn yn ymdopi â'r un hwn am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod. Bydd ymchwiliad cynnar yn ein helpu ni i wneud y ddau yn fwy effeithiol, ac rwy'n annog y Llywodraeth i'w sefydlu heddiw heb unrhyw oedi pellach.
The past months have been a testament to the sheer grit and tenacity of the people of Wales and, in particular, to the many who've been prepared to put themselves in harm's way for the greater good, and I would like to send my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them. This is the first truly global pandemic for over a century, since Spanish flu hit the world as the first world war was drawing to a close, and although our globally connected world is very different, a deep desire to be with family and friends, to operate a social network, remains a driver of humankind.
The advent of technology has been a significant help, but we are also a less-constrained people who are not used to such Government restrictions on our liberties. Tough decisions have been made, but we must assess and learn from those decisions. We must share best practice and conduct a full and honest analysis of where things went wrong, what was done well and how things may change the next time this happens. And this is why we must have a truly independent judge-led inquiry. Our legacy will be to put in place the protections for our children and our children's children.
The first question that should be addressed by an inquiry is whether the lockdown was imposed at the right time. Many of the decisions had to be dictated by the Westminster Government as our border is so porous and this virus swept through the United Kingdom. However, some decisions were within the Welsh Government powers. The review should look at whether the Stereophonics concert at the Millennium Stadium should have gone ahead. This event brought tens of thousands of people into the city centre. Whilst the Wales versus Scotland six nations game was postponed, it was only done at the last minute after, again, many fans had travelled from other parts of Wales and from Scotland.
But more generally, what lessons can be learned from lockdown? Should we look at different localised lockdown? Is the 2m social distancing rule the most appropriate? How have those that are shielding found the process? Did our food chain hold up? If not, why not? And how, oh how, did care homes get so overlooked in the rush to protect our NHS?
The inquiry will need to look at whether there was adequate provision and use of PPE throughout the crisis. We'd want the inquiry to look at whether there was enough supply across the board, to all health boards, local authorities, private, public and mixed-residency care homes. The inquiry should assess if the best use was made of the PPE and whether there was adequate training provided to both purchasing organisations and front-line staff, and indeed the inquiry needs to review the definition of 'front-line staff'. Who can deny that pharmacies have been on the front line? Yet their PPE provision was a mess: unco-ordinated, poorly thought out, difficult to access. As time progresses, we appear to be in a better position on PPE, but there were clear deficiencies. Some organisations only had 24 hours' stock left. We need to review stocks, manufacturing options and access to PPE, and whether we have enough to support any further pandemics or further peaks.
One of our other major areas of concern has been the testing situation here in Wales, and this is a key area for any inquiry. The World Health Organization said at the very outset that the key message is 'test, test and test'. And this is a message that I and my colleagues in the Welsh Conservatives have always supported. Testing is one of the most important elements in both stemming the spread of coronavirus and helping countries ease out of lockdown.
What is the virus? Where is it? Where did it originate from? How did it leap boundaries? What effect is it having on different people? Does it mutate? What can kill it? What can protect us from it? Why? Why? Why? They're questions we've not yet thought to ask let alone answer. A comprehensive testing regime will provide data to enable us to answer some of these questions, but testing in Wales has been catastrophically bad.
Targets were set, denied and dropped. The health Minister and Public Health Wales had different ambitions and goals. I have called from outset of the crisis for the Welsh Government to have a dedicated and accountable testing team, led by an individual with significant logistics experience. The inquiry needs to look at the scale of the challenge and the capabilities of Public Health Wales to deliver. The inquiry should look at what exactly happened with the missing 5,000 tests per day. Did Roche have an agreement with PHW or were they just at a preliminary discussion stage? We need clarity as to whether the Welsh Government did ever have a formal deal or whether the claims of the First Minister were completely accurate.
The inquiry must focus on why the head of Public Health Wales, before an Assembly committee no less, repeatedly denied knowledge of the 9,000 test target before writing to the committee later to clarify her comments. The inquiry should review why the 15 per day testing limit for local authorities was imposed and lifted only after the Welsh Government's rapid review on 18 April found it may have depressed demand. Was this the right course of action? What was the thinking behind the limit? Should routine testing have started before 18 March? Were international factors a contributory factor, as claimed by Welsh Government? Were logistical experts from the military deployed early enough? Should testing centres have been closed on bank holidays? I welcome the Welsh Government's u-turn on 2 May, but too little, too late.
Why were care homes ignored despite the warnings? Why were staff and residents not routinely tested? Did we have enough laboratory capacity? Why didn't Welsh Government utilise available labs faster? Why did it take days for tests from north and west Wales to be processed? How should the notification process be streamlined? The list goes on, but we need to look at testing seriously. And the inquiry needs to also look at data collection because, under pressure—
Mae'r misoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn dyst i benderfyniad a dycnwch pobl Cymru ac, yn arbennig, i'r nifer fawr sydd wedi bod yn barod i roi eu hunain mewn perygl er gwell, a hoffwn i ddiolch o galon i bob un ohonyn nhw. Dyma'r pandemig cyntaf gwirioneddol fyd-eang mewn mwy na chanrif, ers i ffliw Sbaen daro'r byd wrth i'r rhyfel byd cyntaf dynnu at ei derfyn, ac er bod ein byd ni sydd wedi'i gysylltu'n fyd-eang, yn wahanol iawn, mae'r awydd dwfn i fod gyda theulu a ffrindiau, i weithredu rhwydwaith cymdeithasol, yn parhau i ysgogi'r ddynoliaeth.
Mae dyfodiad technoleg wedi bod yn gymorth sylweddol, ond rydym hefyd yn bobl sydd wedi ein cyfyngu'n llai, ac nid ydym yn gyfarwydd â chyfyngiadau o'r fath gan y Llywodraeth ar ein hawliau. Mae penderfyniadau anodd wedi'u gwneud, ond rhaid inni asesu'r penderfyniadau hynny a dysgu oddi wrthynt. Rhaid rhannu arferion gorau a chynnal dadansoddiad llawn a gonest o ble'r aeth pethau o chwith, beth a gafodd ei wneud yn dda a sut y gallai pethau newid y tro nesaf y bydd hyn yn digwydd. A dyna pam mae'n rhaid inni gael ymchwiliad gwirioneddol annibynnol wedi'i arwain gan farnwr. Ein hetifeddiaeth fydd rhoi'r mesurau diogelu ar waith i'n plant ac i blant ein plant.
Y cwestiwn cyntaf y dylid ei ofyn mewn ymchwiliad yw a gafodd y cyfyngiadau symud eu gorfodi ar yr adeg iawn. Roedd yn rhaid i lawer o'r penderfyniadau gael eu pennu gan Lywodraeth San Steffan gan fod ein ffin mor dreiddadwy a bod y feirws hwn wedi llifo drwy'r Deyrnas Unedig. Fodd bynnag, roedd rhai penderfyniadau o fewn pwerau Llywodraeth Cymru. Dylai'r adolygiad ystyried a ddylid bod wedi caniatáu i gyngerdd y Stereophonics yn Stadiwm y Mileniwm gael ei gynnal. Daeth degau o filoedd o bobl i ganol y ddinas yn sgil y digwyddiad hwn. Er bod gêm y chwe gwlad, Cymru yn erbyn yr Alban, wedi'i gohirio, dim ond ar y funud olaf oedd hynny, unwaith eto, ar ôl i lawer o gefnogwyr deithio o rannau eraill o Gymru ac o'r Alban.
Ond yn fwy cyffredinol, pa wersi y gallwn ni eu dysgu o'r cyfyngiadau symud? A ddylem ni edrych ar gyfyngiadau symud lleol gwahanol? Ai'r rheol cadw pellter cymdeithasol o 2m yw'r un fwyaf priodol? Beth yw profiad y rhai sydd wedi bod yn gwarchod eu hunain? A wnaeth ein cadwyn fwyd ni ymdopi? Os na, pam? A sut, o sut, y cafodd cartrefi gofal eu hanwybyddu yn y brys i ddiogelu ein GIG?
Bydd angen i'r ymchwiliad ystyried a oedd digon o ddarpariaeth a defnydd o gyfarpar diogelu personol drwy gydol yr argyfwng. Byddem ni eisiau i'r ymchwiliad ystyried a oedd digon o gyflenwad yn gyffredinol, ar gyfer pob bwrdd iechyd, awdurdod lleol, cartref gofal preifat, cyhoeddus a gofal preswyl cymysg. Dylai'r ymchwiliad asesu a oedd y defnydd gorau wedi ei wneud o'r cyfarpar diogelu personol ac a oedd hyfforddiant digonol wedi'i ddarparu i sefydliadau prynu a staff rheng flaen, ac yn wir mae angen i'r ymchwiliad adolygu diffiniad 'staff rheng flaen'. Pwy all wadu bod fferyllfeydd wedi bod ar y rheng flaen? Ac eto, roedd eu darpariaeth cyfarpar diogelu personol yn llanast: dim cydlyniant, dim llawer o feddwl y tu ôl iddi, ac yn anodd ei chyrchu. Wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen, mae'n ymddangos ein bod mewn gwell sefyllfa o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol, ond roedd diffygion amlwg. Dim ond 24 awr o stoc oedd gan rai sefydliadau ar ôl. Mae angen inni adolygu stociau, opsiynau gweithgynhyrchu a mynediad at gyfarpar diogelu personol, ac a oes gennym ddigon i gynnal unrhyw bandemig pellach neu gyfnodau pellach o gynnydd.
Un o'n prif feysydd eraill sy'n peri pryder yw'r sefyllfa o ran profi yma yng Nghymru, ac mae hwn yn faes allweddol ar gyfer unrhyw ymchwiliad. Dywedodd Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd ar y cychwyn cyntaf mai'r neges allweddol yw 'profi, profi a phrofi '. Ac mae hon yn neges yr wyf i a fy nghyd-Aelodau yn y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi'i chefnogi erioed. Mae profi yn un o'r elfennau pwysicaf o ran mynd i'r afael ag ymlediad coronafeirws a helpu gwledydd i lacio'r cyfyngiadau symud.
Beth yw'r feirws? Ble mae e? O ble y tarddodd? Sut y neidiodd ef ffiniau? Pa effaith y mae'n ei gael ar wahanol bobl? Ydy e'n newid ac yn datblygu? Beth all ei ladd? Beth all ein diogelu rhagddo? Pam? Pam? Pam? Dyna gwestiynau nad ydym ni wedi ystyried eu gofyn eto heb sôn am eu hateb. Bydd system brofi gynhwysfawr yn darparu data i'n galluogi ni i ateb rhai o'r cwestiynau hyn, ond mae profi yng Nghymru wedi bod yn warthus.
Cafodd targedau eu gosod, eu gwadu a'u gollwng. Roedd gan y Gweinidog iechyd ac Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru uchelgeisiau a nodau gwahanol. Ers dechrau'r argyfwng rwyf wedi galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gael tîm profi pwrpasol ac atebol, dan arweiniad unigolyn sydd â phrofiad sylweddol o logisteg. Mae angen i'r ymchwiliad edrych ar faint yr her a gallu Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i gyflawni. Dylai'r ymchwiliad edrych ar beth yn union ddigwyddodd gyda'r 5,000 o brofion coll bob dydd. A oedd gan Roche gytundeb ag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru neu a oedden nhw ond mewn cyfnod o drafod rhagarweiniol? Mae angen eglurder ynghylch a oedd gan Lywodraeth Cymru fargen ffurfiol erioed ynteu a oedd honiadau'r Prif Weinidog yn gwbl gywir.
Rhaid i'r ymchwiliad ganolbwyntio ar y rheswm pam, gerbron un o bwyllgorau'r Cynulliad, y gwadodd Pennaeth Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn gyson unrhyw wybodaeth am y targed prawf 9,000 cyn ysgrifennu at y pwyllgor yn ddiweddarach i egluro ei sylwadau. Dylai'r ymchwiliad adolygu pam y gorfodwyd y cyfyngiad o 15 prawf y diwrnod ar awdurdodau ac yna ei godi dim ond ar ôl i adolygiad cyflym Llywodraeth Cymru ar 18 Ebrill nodi y gallai fod wedi lleihau'r galw. Ai hwn oedd y cam cywir? Beth oedd y syniad y tu ôl i'r terfyn? A ddylai profion fod wedi'u dechrau yn rheolaidd cyn 18 Mawrth? A oedd ffactorau rhyngwladol yn ffactor cyfrannol, fel yr oedd Lywodraeth Cymru wedi'i honni? A gafodd arbenigwyr logistaidd o'r fyddin eu defnyddio yn ddigon cynnar? A ddylai canolfannau profi fod wedi cau ar wyliau banc? Rwy'n croesawu tro pedol Llywodraeth Cymru ar 2 Mai, ond roedd yn fater o beidio gwneud digon mewn pryd.
Pam y cafodd cartrefi gofal eu hanwybyddu er gwaethaf y rhybuddion? Pam na chafodd staff a phreswylwyr eu profi'n rheolaidd? A oedd gennym ddigon o gapasiti labordai? Pam na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio'r labordai a oedd ar gael yn gynt? Pam y cymerodd ddiwrnodau i brosesu profion o'r Gogledd a'r Gorllewin? Sut y dylai'r broses hysbysu gael ei symleiddio? Mae'r rhestr yn ddiddiwedd, ond mae angen i ni ystyried profi o ddifrif. Ac mae angen i'r ymchwiliad edrych hefyd ar gasglu data oherwydd, dan bwysau—
Angela Burns, you're now over time. If you can bring your contribution to a conclusion.
Angela Burns, rydych chi dros amser erbyn hyn. Os gallwch chi ddod â'ch cyfraniad i ben.
Thank you very much indeed, Llywydd. I just want to say there's so much for this inquiry to have a look at. It's vital that we learn the lessons going forward. This will not be the last pandemic we have to face in Wales. We need that legacy to protect Wales, our children and their children.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Rwyf i eisiau dweud bod cymaint i'r ymchwiliad hwn ei ystyried. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n dysgu'r gwersi wrth symud ymlaen. Nid hwn fydd y pandemig olaf y bydd yn rhaid inni ei wynebu yng Nghymru. Mae angen yr etifeddiaeth honno arnom ni i amddiffyn Cymru, ein plant ni a'u plant nhw.
I absolutely support an inquiry, but I want to first put on record and pay tribute to all those front-line workers who did keep us safe, and who we'll be relying on in the immediate and foreseeable future to carry on doing that work. And I think it's also right to put on record that people have complied with the restrictions that have been placed on them in a way that they would never have expected, and neither would we ever have expected to have asked them to do that.
Whilst I do agree that we need a review or a public inquiry, whichever form that takes, into the handling of this COVID-19 pandemic; I agree that it will help and guide us through the possibility of dealing with another pandemic in the future, and also continuing to deal with this one, but where I probably differ from the ask that is in front of us this afternoon is: where do we start that inquiry from and where do we end it? Because, quite clearly, that is hugely important.
I think we have to start it by looking at the national pandemic plan that was in place and then was dropped by the Tory Government. As a consequence of that happening, we have seen many, many statements, by many, many experts, across the piece, saying that the UK was really not well placed whatsoever to deal with any pandemic. And in fact, we did see accusations from Tory Ministers, saying that there was an overreaction and that there was too much money being spent on Westminster officials preparing such a plan, and that they dropped that initial planning. Now that has a consequence; it has a consequence for all of the UK, and that is why I bring it to attention here today.
I think we need to also look at public health experts from Johns Hopkins University, where they ranked every single country worldwide and their preparedness for a pandemic. And they stated that, after a decade of Tory austerity, the UK was the second to last of 195 countries, with the last one being the US. All these things are relevant because they all lock on to how prepared we were. So it's fairly obvious that, whilst I agree that we need an inquiry, we need an all-encompassing inquiry. If we just focus on Wales alone, we won't reveal the real and the urgent need to understand the causes, and neither by ignoring all of those aspects—and some of them have been mentioned here today—will we get the proper answers.
We need to look at the very early statement on herd immunity that was made by Boris Johnson. Undoubtedly, that herd immunity, and that failure to lock down very early, was given to his key adviser. And had we have locked down much earlier, that indeed would have helped. Had Wales gone it alone and decided to lock down way ahead of the UK Government, I can't imagine for one minute that we would have had UK Government giving us the finances that we would have needed to support the businesses if we had gone alone. So, whilst I understand that—. Angela Burns has given a list of some of the things that we could have done all on our own; one of the things we clearly could not have done on our own, without UK Treasury support, was ask people to furlough their staff.
Again, on PPE, I'm reminded to look at the consignment that came from Turkey, and the 400,000 pieces of PPE that were returned back. I'm certain that some of that would have been heading to Wales. And there was a grand statement—we can all remember seeing it on the tv and being much relieved that there was some PPE coming our way, only for it to be put back on the plane because there was an absolute failure to test whether, in the first place, it would be of any use. It was absolutely useless. So I think what we need to do here is remind ourselves very clearly of all the failures, to look at and understand how and why they happened, and then—and only then—when we've got an all-encompassing inquiry that looks at all the aspects, do we move forward. That is my view, and that is why I will not be supporting this today in the way that is written.
We can also—
Rwy'n cefnogi ymchwiliad yn llwyr, ond yn gyntaf rwyf eisiau cofnodi a thalu teyrnged i'r holl weithwyr rheng flaen hynny sydd wedi bod yn ein cadw ni'n ddiogel, ac y byddwn ni'n dibynnu arnyn nhw yn y dyfodol agos a'r dyfodol rhagweladwy, i barhau i wneud y gwaith hwnnw. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn iawn cofnodi bod pobl wedi cydymffurfio â'r cyfyngiadau a roddwyd arnynt mewn ffordd na fydden nhw wedi'i disgwyl erioed, ac na fyddem ni erioed wedi disgwyl gofyn iddyn nhw wneud hynny.
Rwy'n cytuno bod angen adolygiad neu ymchwiliad cyhoeddus arnom, ar ba bynnag ffurf, i'r ymdriniaeth o'r pandemig hwn o COVID-19; rwy'n cytuno y bydd yn ein helpu ac yn ein harwain drwy'r posibilrwydd o ymdrin â phandemig arall yn y dyfodol, a hefyd barhau i ymdrin â hyn. Ond rwy'n mynd i ofyn rhywbeth gwahanol o ran yr hyn sydd ger ein bron y prynhawn yma: ble rydym ni'n dechrau'r ymchwiliad hwnnw a ble rydym yn ei ddwyn i ben? Oherwydd, yn ddigon amlwg, mae hynny'n hynod o bwysig.
Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ei ddechrau drwy edrych ar y cynllun pandemig cenedlaethol a oedd ar waith ac yna a gafodd ei ollwng gan y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd. O ganlyniad i hynny, rydym wedi gweld llawer iawn o ddatganiadau, gan lawer iawn o arbenigwyr, yn gyffredinol, yn dweud nad oedd y DU mewn gwirionedd mewn sefyllfa dda i ymdrin ag unrhyw bandemig. Ac mewn gwirionedd, gwelsom gyhuddiadau gan Weinidogion Torïaidd, yn dweud bod gorymateb a bod gormod o arian yn cael ei wario ar swyddogion San Steffan a oedd yn paratoi ar gyfer cynllun o'r fath, a'u bod wedi gollwng y cynllunio cychwynnol hwnnw. Nawr mae gan hynny ganlyniad; mae ganddo ganlyniad i'r DU gyfan, a dyna pam rwyf yn tynnu sylw ato yma heddiw.
Rwy'n credu bod angen inni hefyd edrych ar arbenigwyr iechyd cyhoeddus o Brifysgol Johns Hopkins, lle'r oeddent wedi gosod pob gwlad ledled y byd yn ôl eu parodrwydd ar gyfer pandemig. Ac fe wnaethon nhw ddatgan, ar ôl degawd o gyni gan y Torïaid, mai'r DU oedd yr olaf ond un o 195 gwlad, a'r wlad olaf oedd yr Unol Daleithiau. Mae'r holl bethau hyn yn berthnasol gan eu bod i gyd yn gysylltiedig â pha mor barod yr oeddem ni. Felly mae'n weddol amlwg, er fy mod yn cytuno bod angen ymchwiliad arnom, bod angen ymchwiliad hollgynhwysol. Os ydym yn canolbwyntio ar Gymru yn unig, ni fyddwn yn datgelu'r angen dwys a gwirioneddol i ddeall yr achosion, ac ni chawn ni'r atebion priodol drwy anwybyddu pob un o'r agweddau hynny—ac mae rhai ohonyn nhw wedi cael eu crybwyll yma heddiw.
Mae angen edrych ar y datganiad cynnar iawn ar imiwnedd torfol a wnaed gan Boris Johnson. Yn ddiamau, cafodd imiwnedd torfol, a'r methiant hwnnw i gyfyngu symudiadau yn gynnar iawn, ei roi i'w gynghorwyr allweddol. Pe baem ni wedi cyfyngu symudiadau yn gynharach o lawer, byddai hynny'n wir wedi bod o gymorth. Petai Cymru wedi mynd yn ei blaen a phenderfynu cyfyngu symudiadau ymhell o flaen Lywodraeth y DU, ni allaf ddychmygu am un funud y byddai Llywodraeth y DU wedi rhoi'r arian angenrheidiol i ni gefnogi'r busnesau petaem ni wedi mynd ar ein pen ein hun. Felly, er fy mod yn deall hynny—. Mae Angela Burns wedi rhoi rhestr o rai o'r pethau y gallem ni fod wedi'u gwneud ar ein pen ein hun yn llwyr; un o'r pethau y byddem ni yn amlwg wedi methu ei wneud ar ein pen ein hun, heb gefnogaeth Trysorlys y DU, oedd gofyn i bobl rhoi eu staff ar ffyrlo.
Eto, o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol, rwy'n cael fy atgoffa i ystyried y llwyth a ddaeth o Dwrci, a'r 400,000 darn o gyfarpar diogelu personol a gafodd ei ddychwelyd. Rwy'n sicr y byddai rhywfaint ohono wedi bod ar ei ffordd i Gymru. A chafwyd datganiad mawreddog—gall pob un ohonom gofio ei weld ar y teledu a bod yn falch iawn bod rhywfaint o gyfarpar diogelu personol ar ei ffordd atom, dim ond iddo gael ei roi'n ôl ar yr awyren oherwydd bod methiant llwyr i brofi a fyddai, yn y lle cyntaf, o unrhyw ddefnydd. Roedd yn gwbl ddiwerth. Felly rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud yn y fan hon yw ein hatgoffa ein hunain yn glir iawn o'r holl fethiannau, edrych ar sut a pham y maen nhw wedi digwydd, ac yna—a dim ond bryd hynny—pan fydd gennym ni ymchwiliad hollgynhwysol sy'n ystyried yr holl agweddau, y byddwn ni'n symud ymlaen. Dyna fy marn i, a dyna pam na fyddaf yn cefnogi hyn heddiw yn y ffordd y mae wedi'i ysgrifennu.
Gallwn ni hefyd —
You need—. You're out of time now, Joyce Watson.
Mae angen i chi—. Nid oes gennych chi amser, nawr, Joyce Watson.
Thank you.
Diolch.
David Rowlands. David Rowlands. Are you able to—? No, we're not able to hear you at this point. I'll come back to you, David, and I'll call Russell George.
David Rowlands. David Rowlands. A ydych chi'n gallu—? Na, nid ydym yn gallu eich clywed chi ar hyn o bryd. Dof yn ôl atoch chi, David, a galwaf ar Russell George.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I'm going to focus my remarks, if I can, today on the impact of the pandemic on Welsh businesses and the Welsh economy. I think, on the whole, the four Governments of the United Kingdom have worked well together, coping with the challenges of the pandemic, but I think where the issue is, is while we started well together, I find it so disappointing that we're easing the lockdown at a different pace. And for me, this creates more problems, I think, than solutions. It puts Welsh businesses at a specific disadvantage to our, of course, neighbours in England.
And for me, it would, of course, have been preferable if the whole of the UK could have been acting in a unified way because the difference in approach is only going to serve, I think, to compound the confusion and frustration of businesses, particularly those located along the border, and many of us here this afternoon will be representing those kinds of constituencies. I think any public inquiry will have to look at how different approaches and timescales in terms of business support have affected businesses each side of the border. I think of a couple of examples—of Hafren Furnishers in my own constituency and how their competitors, effectively, across the border can operate and they can't.
And there's another example, Presiding Officer, in the difference in restrictions on general aviation in Wales, where restrictions have been lifted in England but not in Wales. And this means that general aviation pilots who have based their aircraft at the mid Wales airport in Welshpool—. Some of the people who use that airport will have to use aircraft on English airfields, and that actually might happen permanently, and, of course, that's the worry for the airport and for me. So, I think we must trust businesses to make judgments for themselves and in their ability to comply with social distancing measures.
Perhaps turning to some other issues as well, the economic resilience fund I'm sure will be a lifeline to many businesses, but I just don't think that money is getting to those businesses quickly enough now, and I hope that the Minister responding today will perhaps be able to tell us how many businesses have been able to receive their funding to date from that fund.
And I'm also aware that there's an issue with local authorities across Wales—some have been giving their business rate grants much quicker than others. So, I think any public inquiry has also got to look at the difference in approach between different local authorities across Wales, because getting that money quickly to businesses, as some local authorities have done—including mine, which did it very well—is going to be a big advantage to those businesses, but not so in other parts of Wales.
So, I do think, as well, with a number of measures now—we're talking about a public inquiry in the future—I certainly think there are gaps that need to be filled now and I think it's also essential that the economic resilience fund, its next phase, is brought forward from the 29 June date particularly. And I do think that there are specific areas of business support that still need to be addressed, which I'll go through briefly: the recently self-employed; smaller sole traders; business owners who don't employ anyone else, but pay themselves dividends, who are not limited companies; and certainly a long-term package for the tourism sector. We've seen that in other parts of the UK, but not here in Wales. So, I think that'll have to be part of a public inquiry as well. And, of course, business rate support for those businesses that are part of a larger complex.
So, as we look to the future, I think it will also be incumbent on the Welsh Government to provide an ongoing package of support that isn't limited to the current lockdown. And while I appreciate we're in extraordinary times, I think the Welsh Government needs to do far more to kick-start the Welsh recovery now. Otherwise, I think Welsh businesses and the Welsh economy is going to be at a significant disadvantage. So, I think any public inquiry has got to look at how we're handling business support now in comparison, certainly, to other parts of the United Kingdom.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Rwy'n mynd i ganolbwyntio fy sylwadau heddiw, os gallaf i, ar effaith y pandemig ar fusnesau Cymru ac economi Cymru. Rwy'n credu, ar y cyfan, bod pedair Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi cydweithio'n dda, gan ymdopi â heriau'r pandemig. Ond er i ni ddechrau'n dda gyda'n gilydd, mae problem wedi codi ac mae mor siomedig i mi ein bod yn llacio'r cyfyngiadau symud ar gyflymder gwahanol. I mi, mae hyn yn creu mwy o broblemau, rwy'n credu, nag atebion. Mae'n rhoi busnesau Cymru dan anfantais benodol i'n cymdogion yn Lloegr, wrth gwrs.
Ac i mi, byddai wedi bod yn well pe bai'r DU gyfan wedi bod yn gweithredu mewn ffordd unedig, oherwydd, yn fy marn i, mae'r gwahaniaeth rhwng y dulliau gweithredu yn mynd i ddwysáu dryswch a rhwystredigaeth busnesau, yn enwedig y rhai sydd wedi'u lleoli ar hyd y ffin, a bydd nifer ohonom ni yma heddiw yn cynrychioli etholaeth o'r fath. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn rhaid i unrhyw ymchwiliad cyhoeddus ystyried sut mae gwahanol ddulliau ac amserlenni o ran cymorth busnes wedi effeithio ar fusnesau bob ochr y ffin. Gallaf feddwl am rai enghreifftiau—Hafren Furnishers yn fy etholaeth i a sut mae eu cystadleuwyr, ar draws y ffin i bob pwrpas, yn gallu gweithredu ac ni allant hwy.
Ac mae yna enghraifft arall, Llywydd, yn y gwahaniaeth mewn cyfyngiadau ar weithrediadau hedfan gyffredinol yng Nghymru, lle mae cyfyngiadau wedi'u codi yn Lloegr ond nid yng Nghymru. Ac mae hyn yn golygu bod peilotiaid hedfanaeth gyffredinol sydd wedi lleoli eu hawyrennau ym maes awyr Canolbarth Cymru yn y Trallwng—. Bydd yn rhaid i rai o'r bobl sy'n defnyddio'r maes awyr hwnnw ddefnyddio awyrennau ar feysydd awyr yn Lloegr, a gallai hynny ddigwydd yn barhaol, ac, wrth gwrs, dyna'r pryder i'r maes awyr ac i mi. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ymddiried mewn busnesau i wneud penderfyniadau drostyn nhw eu hunain ac o ran eu gallu i gydymffurfio â mesurau cadw pellter cymdeithasol.
Gan droi at rai materion eraill hefyd, rwy'n siŵr y bydd y gronfa cadernid economaidd yn achubiaeth i lawer o fusnesau, ond nid wyf yn credu bod arian yn cyrraedd y busnesau hynny'n ddigon cyflym nawr,. Rwy'n gobeithio y gall y Gweinidog a fydd yn ymateb heddiw ddweud wrthym ni faint o fusnesau sydd wedi llwyddo i gael eu cyllid hyd yma o'r gronfa honno.
Ac rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd bod yna broblem gydag awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru—mae rhai wedi bod yn rhoi eu grantiau ardrethi busnes yn llawer cyflymach nag eraill. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i unrhyw ymchwiliad cyhoeddus hefyd ystyried y gwahaniaeth yn y dull o weithredu rhwng gwahanol awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru. Oherwydd mae cael yr arian hwnnw'n gyflym i fusnesau, fel y mae rhai awdurdodau lleol wedi'i wneud—gan gynnwys fy un i, a oedd wedi’i wneud yn dda iawn—yn mynd i fod o fantais fawr i'r busnesau hynny, ond nid felly mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru.
Felly, rwy'n credu, hefyd, gyda nifer o fesurau nawr— rydym ni'n sôn am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yn y dyfodol—yn sicr, rwy'n credu bod bylchau sydd angen eu llenwi ac rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn hanfodol bod cam nesaf y gronfa cadernid economaidd yn cael ei symud ymlaen o'r dyddiad o 29 Mehefin yn enwedig. Ac rwy'n credu bod yna feysydd penodol o gymorth busnes y mae dal angen mynd i'r afael â nhw, a byddaf i'n mynd drwyddynt yn fyr: y bobl hunan-gyflogedig diweddar; masnachwyr unigol llai; perchenogion busnes nad ydyn nhw'n cyflogi unrhyw un arall, ond sy'n talu eu hunain mewn difidendau, nad ydyn nhw'n gwmnïau cyfyngedig; ac yn sicr, pecyn hirdymor ar gyfer y sector twristiaeth. Rydym wedi gweld hynny mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, ond nid yma yng Nghymru. Felly, rwy'n credu y bydd yn rhaid i hynny fod yn rhan o ymchwiliad cyhoeddus hefyd. Ac, wrth gwrs, cymorth ardrethi busnes i'r busnesau hynny sy'n rhan o safle ehangach.
Felly, gan edrych i'r dyfodol, rwy'n credu hefyd y bydd yn ddyletswydd ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu pecyn parhaus o gymorth nad yw'n gyfyngedig i'r cyfyngiadau symud presennol. Ac er fy mod i'n gwerthfawrogi ein bod ni mewn cyfnod anghyffredin, rwy'n credu bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud llawer mwy i roi hwb i adferiad Cymru nawr. Fel arall, rwy'n credu y bydd busnesau Cymru ac economi Cymru dan anfantais sylweddol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i unrhyw ymchwiliad cyhoeddus ystyried sut rydym ni'n ymdrin â chymorth busnes nawr o'i gymharu, yn sicr, â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig.
Can I say, first of all, I don't oppose the idea of an inquiry? I think it's inevitable. There will be questions that will need to be asked, some questions that will need to be answered. I think that's true of all the Governments within the UK. So, I've no objection to the thrust of the motion, but I do question very much that this is not the way to do it.
First of all, as far as I'm aware, this Parliament has no power to instigate an Inquiries Act 2005 inquiry, which is what I think Members have suggested they wanted. Nor do I believe that the fact that it's in the hands of this Parliament makes it less, or more independent, rather, than if it was in the hands of the Government. The independence of the inquiry is ensured by the judge or the person who leads the inquiry, not who sets it up in the first place. There would need to be a vote on the terms and conditions, there would need to be a vote on the way the inquiry is set up, and there'd be a vote on who is the chair of the inquiry. So, I don't think it's actually realistic or sensible for it to be formally in the hands of this Parliament, although I take the point that there may well need to be discussion in the future between parties as to how it might work.
Can I say, first of all, let's face it, this debate is not about having an inquiry? This debate is about making and scoring political points today. I could equally sit here and say, 'Well, yes we want to know why it is that the UK Government was so slow in preventing people from coming into the country? Why introduce the 14-day quarantine rule that's now falling apart? Why it is that travelling 260 miles if you're a special adviser is fine and another 60 miles to test your eyesight if you're driving? Why is it, for example, that across the UK, or in England rather, there was a 100,000 tests a day target that was dropped, because it wasn't reached? And even then it included tests, of course, that had been sent out and not actually carried out.' All manner of questions that might be answered there. That is for the future.
But let me focus, having made those points, on the legal aspects here and perhaps some practical ones. This is not the time to start preparing for an inquiry. We're in the middle of a crisis. You don't want officials looking at setting up an inquiry at the same time as we're dealing with the worst crisis that any of us has ever faced. Now is just not the time to start looking at setting up an inquiry into something that hasn't even finished. You have to bear in mind that it is possible—we hope not, but it is possible—that we may see a second spike in October. We may well still be dealing with this at Christmas time. There is no way that an inquiry can be set up to report by March on this issue, even if it started today because—. Adam Price mentioned the Grenfell inquiry. Well, that began it's work on 4 June 2018. It took it 16 months just to produce preliminary findings for phase one. It took several months to set up. These things don't happen overnight; they take a long, long time to set up and a long, long time to put the process in place and a long time to hear all the evidence. There is no prospect at all of a public inquiry reporting before March. Something slipshod might, but a public inquiry won't do it. No inquiry that would do the work that Members have asked for could possibly report by that time. So, I think it's worth making that point.
As far as the Conservative motion is concerned, well, unless you're prepared to postpone the elections to some unspecified date, then there is no way of guaranteeing that there would be findings in place by March. No rational judge will take on board an inquiry like this when they're being told, 'You must submit your evidence and produce a report in, effectively, two months.' It's just not going to happen. So, let's be realistic: this is not the way. Although there will be an inquiry at some point—I don't dispute that—there is no way that this will be done or could be done before March.
I'd urge the Conservatives in the Assembly not to play politics with this. We've seen their MPs doing it—another letter yesterday. Believe me that went down badly. Time and time again, I've heard people say, 'What's it got to do with them?' and 'Why are they focusing on that and not on dealing with the virus?' If they want to write again, that's up to them. But, believe me, it's doing them no good at all.
The second issue is—I look at time, Llywydd—if there's going to be an inquiries Act inquiry alone in Wales, it has to be at least concurrent with one running in the UK. Bear in mind that I don't think there's the power, even on the part of the Welsh Government, to compel witnesses who are outside of the devolved sphere: the police, the Border Agency, all those people that any Welsh inquiry would want to hear from, but who may decide, on instruction from London, not to give evidence, and there's nothing that we could do about it. It's inevitable, to my mind, for there to be the fullest possible picture, that there at least has to be concurrence between an inquiry in England or the UK and in Wales at the same time in order to get the kind of answers that people would want.
So, for me, I have to say, there is no prospect of getting any kind of findings by March, even if such an inquiry could begin, miraculously, tomorrow. What is important is that, of course, there's transparency. What is important is that there is at some point an inquiry—I don't dispute that—but it has to be a full, proper inquiry and not some kind of rushed kangaroo court, because the people of Wales deserve no less.
A gaf i ddweud, yn gyntaf oll, nad oes gennyf i wrthwynebiad i'r syniad o ymchwiliad? Rwy'n credu na ellir osgoi hynny. Fe fydd yna gwestiynau y mae'n rhaid eu gofyn, a rhai cwestiynau y bydd angen ateb arnyn nhw. Rwyf i o'r farn fod hynny'n wir am bob un o lywodraethau'r DU. Felly, nid oes gennyf i unrhyw wrthwynebiad i gyfeiriad y cynnig, ond rwy'n amau'n gryf iawn nad hon yw'r ffordd iawn o wneud hynny.
Yn gyntaf, hyd y gwn i, nid oes gan y Senedd hon mo'r gallu i gychwyn ymchwiliad o dan Ddeddf Ymchwiliadau 2005, sef yr hyn yr wyf i'n credu i'r Aelodau awgrymu eu bod yn ei ddymuno. Ac nid wyf i'n credu ychwaith fod y ffaith ei fod yn nwylo'r Senedd hon yn ei gwneud yn llai, nac yn fwy annibynnol, nag y byddai pe bai yn nwylo'r Llywodraeth. Diogelir annibyniaeth yr ymchwiliad gan y barnwr neu'r sawl sy'n arwain yr ymchwiliad, nid y sawl sy'n ei sefydlu yn y lle cyntaf. Fe fyddai angen pleidlais ar y telerau a'r amodau, fe fyddai angen pleidlais ar y ffordd y byddai'r ymchwiliad yn cael ei sefydlu, ac fe fyddai yna bleidlais ar bwy fyddai cadeirydd yr ymchwiliad. Felly, nid wyf i'n credu ei bod hi'n realistig nac yn synhwyrol i hyn fod yn ffurfiol yn nwylo'r Senedd hon, er fy mod i'n derbyn y pwynt ei bod hi'n bosibl iawn y bydd angen trafodaeth yn y dyfodol rhwng y pleidiau o ran sut y gallai hyn weithio.
A gaf i ddweud, yn gyntaf oll, rhaid wynebu hyn, nad dadl mo hon am gael ymchwiliad? Dadl yw hon heddiw ar gyfer gwneud a sgorio pwyntiau gwleidyddol. Fe allwn innau hefyd eistedd yn y fan hon a dweud, 'Wel, ydym, rydym yn awyddus i wybod pam oedd Llywodraeth y DU mor gyndyn i atal pobl rhag dod i mewn i'r wlad? Pam cyflwyno'r rheol cwarantin o 14 diwrnod sy'n ymddatod ar hyn o bryd? Pam mae'n iawn teithio 260 milltir os ydych chi'n gynghorydd arbennig a 60 milltir arall i roi prawf ar eich llygaid os ydych chi'n gyrru? Pam, er enghraifft, ledled y DU, neu yn Lloegr yn hytrach, y cafwyd targed dyddiol o 100,000 o brofion a gafodd ei ollwng, oherwydd na chafodd y targed hwnnw ei gyrraedd? A hyd yn oed wedyn roedd hwnnw'n cynnwys profion, wrth gwrs, a oedd wedi cael eu hanfon allan ond na chafodd eu cwblhau mewn gwirionedd.' Mae pob math o gwestiynau sy'n gofyn am atebion. Ar gyfer y dyfodol y mae hynny.
Ond gadewch imi ganolbwyntio, ar ôl gwneud y pwyntiau hynny, ar yr agweddau cyfreithiol yn y cyswllt hwn a rhai ymarferol efallai. Nid dyma'r amser i ddechrau paratoi ar gyfer ymchwiliad. Rydym ynghanol argyfwng. Nid yw'n syniad da i swyddogion fod yn ystyried sefydlu ymchwiliad ar yr un pryd ag ymdrin â'r argyfwng gwaethaf a wynebodd unrhyw un ohonom erioed. Nid dyma'r amser i ddechrau ystyried sefydlu ymchwiliad i rywbeth nad yw wedi dod i ben hyd yn oed. Mae'n rhaid ichi gadw mewn cof ei bod yn bosibl—rydym ni'n gobeithio nad felly, ond mae'n bosibl—y gwelwn ni ail benllanw ym mis Hydref. Mae'n ddigon posibl y byddwn ni'n dal i ymdrin â hyn adeg y Nadolig. Ni ellir sefydlu ymchwiliad i adrodd erbyn mis Mawrth ar y mater hwn, hyd yn oed pe byddai hwnnw'n dechrau heddiw oherwydd—. Fe soniodd Adam Price am ymchwiliad Grenfell. Wel, fe ddechreuodd hwnnw ar ei waith ar 4 Mehefin 2018. Fe gymerodd 16 mis i lunio dim ond canfyddiadau rhagarweiniol i gam un. Fe gymerodd sawl mis i'w sefydlu. Nid yw'r pethau hyn yn digwydd dros nos; maen nhw'n cymryd amser maith iawn i'w sefydlu ac amser maith iawn i roi'r broses yn ei lle ac amser maith i glywed yr holl dystiolaeth. Nid oes gobaith o gwbl y bydd ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yn adrodd yn ôl cyn mis Mawrth. Gellid cael rhywbeth ffwrdd â hi, ond nid ymchwiliad cyhoeddus. Ni allai unrhyw ymchwiliad a fyddai'n cyflawni'r hyn y gofynnodd yr Aelodau amdano gyflwyno adroddiad erbyn hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth gwneud y pwynt hwnnw.
O ran cynnig y Ceidwadwyr, wel, oni bai eich bod yn barod i ohirio'r etholiadau tan ddyddiad amhenodol, yna nid oes modd gwarantu y byddai'r canfyddiadau gyda ni erbyn mis Mawrth. Ni fyddai'r un barnwr rhesymol yn ystyried llywio ymchwiliad fel hwn pan fyddai rhywun y dweud wrtho, 'Bydd yn rhaid ichi gyflwyno eich tystiolaeth a llunio adroddiad mewn dau fis, i bob pwrpas.' Ni wnaiff hynny ddigwydd. Gadewch inni fod yn realistig: nid hon yw'r ffordd iawn. Er y cynhelir ymchwiliad rywbryd—nid wyf i'n amau hynny—nid oes unrhyw ffordd o allu gwneud hynny cyn mis Mawrth.
Fe fyddwn i'n annog y Ceidwadwyr yn y Cynulliad i beidio â chwarae gwleidyddiaeth yn hyn o beth. Rydym wedi gweld eu ASau nhw'n gwneud hynny—llythyr arall ddoe. Fe aeth hynny i lawr yn wael, credwch chi fi. Dro ar ôl tro, rwyf wedi clywed pobl yn dweud, 'Beth sydd a wnelo hyn â nhw?' a 'Pam maen nhw'n canolbwyntio ar hynny ac nid ar ymdrin â'r feirws?' Os ydyn nhw'n dymuno ysgrifennu eto, wel eu busnes nhw yw hynny. Ond, credwch chi fi, ni wna hynny unrhyw les o gwbl iddyn nhw.
Yr ail fater yw—rwy'n edrych ar y cloc, Llywydd—os bydd ymchwiliad o dan y Ddeddf Ymchwiliadau yng Nghymru yn unig, yna bydd yn rhaid iddo fod yn cydredeg ag ymchwiliad sy'n digwydd yn y DU. Cofiwch, nid wyf yn credu bod y pŵer yn bodoli, hyd yn oed ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, i orfodi tystion o'r tu allan i'r meysydd datganoledig: yr heddlu, yr Asiantaeth Ffiniau, yr holl bobl hynny y byddai unrhyw ymchwiliad yng Nghymru yn awyddus i glywed ganddyn nhw, ond a fyddai'n gallu penderfynu, ar gyfarwyddyd o Lundain, i beidio â rhoi tystiolaeth, ac ni fyddai dim y gallem ni ei wneud yn ei gylch. Mae'n anochel, yn fy marn i, er mwyn cael y darlun llawnaf posibl, fod yn rhaid cael ymchwiliadau yn cydredeg yn Lloegr neu'r DU ac yng Nghymru ar yr un pryd er mwyn cael y math o atebion y byddai pobl yn awyddus i'w clywed.
Felly, i mi, mae'n rhaid dweud, nid oes gobaith cael unrhyw fath o ganfyddiadau erbyn mis Mawrth, hyd yn oed pe gallai ymchwiliad o'r fath ddechrau yfory nesaf, trwy ryw ryfedd wyrth. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig, wrth gwrs, yw tryloywder. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw bod ymchwiliad yn cael ei gynnal ar ryw adeg—nid wyf i'n amau hynny—ond mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn ymchwiliad llawn a phriodol ac nid yn rhyw fath o lys cangarŵ ar ras, oherwydd nid yw pobl Cymru yn haeddu dim llai na hyn.
I thank the Conservative Party for bringing this very important debate to Plenary, and can I echo the comments made by both Joyce Watson and Angela Burns with regard to front-line staff and the work that they've done throughout this coronavirus epidemic? We are not talking about an inquiry into their behaviour; we're talking about an inquiry into the behaviour of the Governments of the UK.
It is important to show the public that we're willing—to use that hackneyed phrase beloved by politicians—to learn lessons. We support this motion and hope the Senedd shows the maturity to accept that an inquiry is needed, not as a finger-pointing exercise, but a true attempt at finding what was done well—and there were many things which were—but to accept that there were many other things which could have been done better not just by the Welsh Government, but also by the UK Government.
It is vitally important that we do not make the same mistakes the next time round, and science tells us there will be other such crises. Throughout this crisis, it has often been quoted that these are unprecedented times. Well, this is not actually true—there have been warnings as recent as 2016. The World Health Organization warned that a SARS-related coronavirus would be the likely cause of a future epidemic. They urged Governments to plan for diagnostic tests and to develop vaccines. Yet nothing was done. We in the UK failed to put in place plans to ensure that all agencies of the NHS were equipped with the necessary protection it would need.
It is unfortunate that politics seems to have raised its ugly head in some aspects of the handling of this crisis. The apparent desire in the devolved Governments to assert their own authority seemed at times to be a ploy to exploit shortcomings of the UK Government, rather than acting uniformly across the nations. Sometimes it seemed there was a Welsh Government attempt to rebuild Offa's Dyke from the Welsh side rather than to act as a Government supposedly committed to the union.
The warnings are there: these pandemics will happen again, and possibly sooner rather than later, which makes it fundamentally important that there is a root-and-branch examination of why we were so poorly prepared despite the warnings. Much of the responsibility for this must lie with the UK Government, but there are many areas where we in Wales also failed.
It must be obvious to all that the country, indeed any country, will not be able to instigate a total lockdown in the form we have, indeed are witnessing, on a regular basis. The economic costs are far too high. The youth of this country will be paying for this pandemic in higher taxes for years, maybe decades, to come. These pandemics will have to be countered in some other way.
It is a fact that it's only through science that we shall be able to avoid the catastrophic consequences of pandemics on such a global scale. Given that here in Wales we have some of the best facilities for research in these areas in the world, we need the Welsh Government to commit to funding these institutions and to put as much pressure on the UK Government to provide funds on a UK-wide basis so that we in Wales can remain in the forefront of such research.
Llywydd, science, not lockdowns, is the only answer to viral pandemics.
Rwy'n diolch i'r Blaid Geidwadol am ddod â'r ddadl bwysig iawn hon i'r cyfarfod llawn, ac a gaf i adleisio'r sylwadau a wnaeth Joyce Watson ac Angela Burns ynglŷn â staff rheng flaen a'r gwaith y maen nhw wedi ei wneud drwy gydol yr epidemig coronafeirws hwn? Nid ydym yn sôn am ymchwiliad i'w hymddygiad nhw; rydym yn sôn am ymchwiliad i ymddygiad llywodraethau'r DU.
Mae'n bwysig inni ddangos i'r cyhoedd ein bod ni'n barod—a defnyddio'r ystrydeb honno y mae'r gwleidyddion yn hoff ohoni—i ddysgu gwersi. Rydym ni'n cefnogi'r cynnig hwn ac yn gobeithio y bydd y Senedd yn dangos aeddfedrwydd i gydnabod yr angen am ymchwiliad, nid ar gyfer pwyntio bys, ond i geisio dod o hyd i'r hyn a wnaed yn effeithiol—ac roedd yna lawer o bethau—ond i dderbyn bod llawer o bethau eraill y gellid bod wedi eu gwneud yn well nid yn unig gan Lywodraeth Cymru , ond gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig hefyd.
Mae'n hanfodol bwysig nad ydym ni'n gwneud yr un camgymeriadau y tro nesaf, ac mae gwyddoniaeth yn dweud wrthym y bydd argyfyngau o'r fath eto. Drwy gydol yr argyfwng hwn, dywedwyd lawer gwaith mae amseroedd digynsail yw'r rhain. Wel, nid yw hyn yn wir mewn gwirionedd—fe gafwyd rhybuddion mor ddiweddar â 2016. Rhybuddiodd Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd mai coronafeirws sy'n gysylltiedig â SARS a fyddai achos tebygol epidemig yn y dyfodol. Roedden nhw'n annog llywodraethau i gynllunio i gael profion diagnostig a datblygu brechlynnau. Ac eto ni wnaed dim am hynny. Fe wnaethom ni yn y DU fethu â rhoi cynlluniau ar waith i sicrhau bod holl asiantaethau'r GIG wedi cael eu harfogi â'r diogelwch angenrheidiol y byddai ei angen arnynt.
Mae'n anffodus bod gwleidyddiaeth ar ei gwaethaf wedi ymddangos mewn rhai agweddau ar y ffordd yr ymdriniwyd â'r argyfwng hwn. Roedd yr awydd ymddangosiadol yn y Llywodraethau datganoledig i fynnu eu hawdurdod eu hunain, ar brydiau, yn ymddangos fel ystryw i elwa ar ddiffygion Llywodraeth y DU, yn hytrach na gweithredu gydag unffurfiaeth ledled y gwledydd. Weithiau, roedd yn ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio ailgodi Clawdd Offa o ochr Cymru yn hytrach na gweithredu fel Llywodraeth ymrwymedig i'r Deyrnas Unedig.
Mae'r rhybuddion yno: fe fydd pandemigau fel hyn yn digwydd eto, ac o bosibl yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach, sy'n golygu ei bod yn sylfaenol bwysig y bydd yna archwiliad o'r bôn i'r brig ynghylch pam roeddem ni mor gyndyn i baratoi er gwaethaf y rhybuddion. Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am hynny i raddau helaeth, ond mae yna lawer o feysydd lle'r ydym ni yng Nghymru hefyd wedi bod yn wan.
Mae'n rhaid ei bod hi'n amlwg i bawb na all y wlad, unrhyw wlad mewn gwirionedd, roi cyfyngiadau symud llwyr yn y modd sydd gennym ni nawr, fel yr ydym ni'n tystio iddo, ar sail reolaidd. Mae'r costau economaidd yn rhy uchel o lawer. Bydd ieuenctid y wlad hon yn talu am y pandemig hwn mewn trethi uwch am flynyddoedd i ddod, am ddegawdau efallai. Bydd yn rhaid gwrthweithio'r pandemigau hyn mewn rhyw ffordd arall.
Mae'n ffaith mai dim ond trwy wyddoniaeth y byddwn ni'n gallu osgoi canlyniadau trychinebus pandemigau ar raddfa mor fyd-eang. O gofio bod gennym ni yma yng Nghymru rai o'r cyfleusterau gorau yn y byd ar gyfer ymchwil yn y meysydd hyn, mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i ariannu'r sefydliadau hynny a rhoi pwysau ar Lywodraeth y DU i ddarparu cyllid ledled y DU fel y gallwn ni yng Nghymru aros ar flaen y gad ym maes ymchwil o'r fath.
Llywydd, gwyddoniaeth, ac nid cyfyngiadau symud, yw'r unig ateb i bandemigau feirysol.
[Inaudible.]
[Anhyglyw.]
Mark Isherwood, can you just wait a minute? Yes, you can start now, Mark.
Mark Isherwood, a wnewch chi aros am eiliad? Iawn, fe gewch chi ddechrau nawr, Mark.
Thank you. Last week, Vaughan Gething stated that the Welsh Government's position on managing coronavirus was overwhelmingly supported by members of the public, so, let me burst their bubble by quoting from some of the hundreds of e-mails I've received stating otherwise. The scene was set at the start of lockdown by people in isolation stating that they had next to no information from the Welsh Government; it was all coming from Westminster, and that Mr Drakeford, quote, needed to get his finger out.
Welsh Women's Aid wrote to the Deputy Minister that services providing violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence support across Wales are in urgent need of ring-fenced emergency funding. Despite previous correspondence, they said that this has not yet been provided. Yesterday, they told committee that the funding announced so far was existing funds.
Hourglass Cymru, formerly Action on Elder Abuse, wrote stating that they're facing a crisis due to the levels of support they're being asked to provide. Responding to the Welsh Government's call for temporary cycle lanes and pavement widening, Guide Dogs Cymru and RNIB Cymru wrote that any unexpected new element within the street environment has the potential to put them at risk.
When I raised RNIB Cymru's concern that blind or partially sighted people are having difficulty getting their groceries, the rural affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, replied that they will only be allowed priority if they're identified as shielding.
Bed and breakfast businesses wrote, 'Rebecca Evans, if we don't get the top-up grant, then our business will cease to trade. I'm grossly insulted by the remarks that Ken Skates has made, essentially dismissing us as insignificant, unimportant, unreal businesses that are playing at making a living.'
And, sadly,
'Ken Skates's lack of action is providing fuel to the argument against devolution.'
Holiday let businesses wrote that the guidance from the Welsh Government is not only unfair, but clearly discriminates against holiday letting businesses. There was no consultation with the industry, and that, sadly, a marked lack of confidence is building in the Welsh Government response.
A holiday park business wrote, 'These are desperate times and I'm pleading for the future of my business. I submitted an urgent written question to the First Minister on 30 April asking him to respond to calls by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association Ltd for a specific plan to support tourism businesses in Wales. Other than the holding response, no reply has yet been received.'
Dental practices wrote that England, Ireland and Scotland have commenced planning for reopening of dental practices with strict new protocols, and that there is no reason why Welsh dental practices should not be reopening as soon as they are fully prepared.
A nursing home, which wrote, 'I have grave concern regarding how the access to PPE and health hygiene products in the care sector has been handled and continues to be farcically managed', subsequently wrote stating that five residents had suffered COVID-19-related deaths and that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board had so far contributed not a single penny towards the COVID-19 crisis.
A constituent wrote,
'I have a friend who was due to have his kidney removed early April—cancer—and it was put off. He's still waiting and now very unwell. Despite two requests, my wife can't get a scan or x-ray for something that may well be serious.'
Veterinary practices wrote that the veterinary profession has so far been overlooked. The Welsh Government announced £6.3 for hospices, but it's receiving £12 million consequential funding from the UK Government's commitment to fund hospices in England, and hospices wrote,
'We still don't know how the Welsh Government will allocate the additional £5.7 million, but it looks very unlikely that it'll be passed on. Should the crisis last much longer, then hospices will be struggling'.
Recent emails have included,
'We, like most involved in hospitality and tourism in Wales were dismayed by Mark Drakeford's announcement, which offers little hope to our already severely damaged sector.'
'My English estate agent colleagues are now super busy, hugely helping the economy, while we in north Wales are still in lockdown. We could easily open with social distancing measures.'
'The response from the First Minister has been weak, confused and definitely Cardiff and South Wales based',
and,
'It is frightening enough to be living through this pandemic, but the shambolic management and politicisation of the crisis by Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething, et cetera, is criminal.'
All actual quotes. By seeking to emasculate our motion today, the Welsh Government is simply showing that they still haven't got it.
Diolch. Wythnos diwethaf, fe ddywedodd Vaughan Gething fod safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar reoli coronafeirws yn cael ei gefnogi gan fwyafrif llethol y cyhoedd,. Felly, gadewch i mi ddryllio eu camargraffiadau nhw drwy ddyfynnu o rai o'r cannoedd o negeseuon e-bost a anfonwyd ata i sy'n dweud yn wahanol. Ar ddechrau'r cyfyngiadau symud, gosodwyd yr olygfa gan bobl wedi'u hynysu yn dweud nad oedd nemor ddim gwybodaeth yn dod oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru; roedd y cyfan yn dod o San Steffan, a bod angen i Mr Drakeford, rwy'n dyfynnu, dynnu'r ewinedd o'r blew.
Ysgrifennodd Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru at y Dirprwy Weinidog i fynegi bod angen neilltuo arian ar frys i wasanaethau sy'n darparu cymorth ledled Cymru mewn achosion o drais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol. Er gwaethaf gohebiaeth flaenorol, roedden nhw'n dweud na chafodd hwnnw ei ddarparu hyd yma. Ddoe, dywedasant wrth y pwyllgor mai arian sy'n bodoli eisoes yw'r arian a gyhoeddwyd hyd yn hyn.
Ysgrifennodd Hourglass Cymru, sef yr hen Gweithredu ar Gam-drin Pobl Hŷn, i fynegi eu bod nhw'n wynebu argyfwng oherwydd maint y gefnogaeth y gofynnir iddyn nhw ei darparu. Wrth ymateb i alwad Llywodraeth Cymru am lonydd beicio dros dro a lledu palmentydd, ysgrifennodd Cŵn Tywys Cymru ac RNIB Cymru y gallai unrhyw elfen newydd annisgwyl ar y strydoedd eu rhoi nhw mewn perygl.
Pan godais i bryder RNIB Cymru fod pobl ddall neu rannol ddall yn cael trafferth wrth gael eu negeseuon bwyd, atebodd y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig, Lesley Griffiths, mai dim ond y rhai a nodir fel unigolion a warchodir sy'n cael blaenoriaeth.
Ysgrifennodd busnesau gwely a brecwast, 'Rebecca Evans, os na chawn ni'r grant atodol, fe fydd ein busnes ni'n dod i ben. Mae'r sylwadau a wnaeth Ken Skates yn rhai sarhaus ac yn ein diystyru ni, yn y bôn, fel busnesau di-nod, dibwys sy'n chwarae ennill bywoliaeth'.
Ac, yn anffodus,
'Mae diffyg gweithredu gan Ken Skates yn cefnogi'r ddadl yn erbyn datganoli'.
Ysgrifennodd busnesau llety gwyliau i ddweud bod canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru nid yn unig yn annheg, ond yn gwahaniaethu'n glir yn erbyn busnesau llety wyliau. Ni chafwyd unrhyw ymgynghori â'r diwydiant, ac, yn anffodus, mae ganddynt ddiffyg hyder amlwg yn ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru.
Ysgrifennodd busnes parc gwyliau, 'Mae'r rhain yn ddyddiau blin ac rwy'n ymbil dros ddyfodol fy musnes i. Fe wnes i gyflwyno cwestiwn ysgrifenedig brys i'r Prif Weinidog ar 30 Ebrill yn gofyn iddo ymateb i alwadau gan y British Holiday & Home Parks Association Ltd am gynllun arbennig i gefnogi busnesau twristiaeth yng Nghymru. Ar wahân i'r ymateb dros dro, ni chafwyd ateb hyd yn hyn'.
Ysgrifennodd practisau deintyddol i fynegi bod Lloegr, Iwerddon a'r Alban wedi dechrau cynllunio ar gyfer ailagor practisau deintyddol gyda phrotocolau newydd llym, ac nad oes unrhyw reswm pam na ddylid ailagor practisau deintyddol Cymru cyn gynted ag y byddan nhw wedi paratoi yn llawn.
Cartref nyrsio, a ysgrifennodd, 'Rwy'n pryderu'n ddirfawr ynglŷn â sut yr ymdriniwyd ag argaeledd cyfarpar diogelu personol a chynhyrchion hylendid iechyd yn y sector gofal ac mae'n dal i gael ei reoli'n chwerthinllyd,' ac ysgrifennodd eto i ddweud bod pump o'r trigolion wedi marw oherwydd COVID-19 ac nad oedd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cyfrannu'r un ddimai goch hyd yma tuag at yr argyfwng COVID-19.
Ysgrifennodd etholwr,
'Mae gen i gyfaill a oedd i fod cael tynnu ei aren ddechrau mis Ebrill—oherwydd canser—ac fe gafodd hynny ei ohirio. Mae'n dal i ddisgwyl ac mae'n wael iawn erbyn hyn. Er gwneud dau gais, ni all fy ngwraig gael sgan na phelydr-x ar gyfer rhywbeth a allai fod yn ddifrifol'.
Ysgrifennodd practisau milfeddygol fod y proffesiwn milfeddygol wedi cael ei esgeuluso hyd yma. Cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru £6.3 ar gyfer hosbisau, ond mae'n derbyn £12 miliwn o arian canlyniadol o ymrwymiad Llywodraeth y DU i ariannu hosbisau yn Lloegr, ac fe ysgrifennodd hosbisau,
'Nid ydym o hyd yn gwybod sut y gwnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ddyrannu'r £5.7 miliwn ychwanegol, ond mae'n ymddangos yn annhebygol iawn y caiff hwnnw ei drosglwyddo. Pe byddai'r argyfwng yn para llawer mwy, yna fe fydd yr hosbisau mewn trafferthion'.
Mae e-byst diweddar yn cynnwys y canlynol.
'Fe'n siomwyd ni, fel y rhan fwyaf yn y diwydiant lletygarwch a thwristiaeth yng Nghymru, gan gyhoeddiad Mark Drakeford, nad ydyw'n cynnig fawr ddim gobaith i'n sector ni sydd eisoes wedi gweld difrod mawr'.
'Mae fy nghydweithwyr i sy'n gwerthu tai yn Lloegr yn hynod brysur erbyn hyn, ac yn helpu llawer iawn ar yr economi, tra ein bod ni yn y Gogledd yn parhau i fod â chyfyngiadau symud. Fe allem ni agor yn hawdd gyda mesurau ymbellhau cymdeithasol'.
'Gwan fu ymateb y Prif Weinidog, a dryslyd, ac yn sicr yn canolbwyntio ar Gaerdydd a'r De',
a,
'Mae'n ddigon brawychus i fod yn byw drwy'r pandemig hwn, ond mae'r llanast a wnaeth Mark Drakeford a Vaughan Gething a'r lleill wrth reoli a gwleidyddoli'r argyfwng yn droseddol'.
Pob un o'r rhain yn ddyfyniadau gwirioneddol. Drwy geisio dirymu ein cynnig ni heddiw, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dangos nad ydyn nhw byth yn wir wedi dirnad y sefyllfa.
Gaf i ddweud i ddechrau ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn, dwi'n meddwl, cael y balans yn iawn yn ein sgrwtini rhwng edrych ar beth sydd wedi digwydd yn ystod y pandemig yma ac edrych ymlaen ar y camau sy'n dal angen eu datblygu er mwyn gwarchod y cyhoedd. Dwi wedi clywed rhai'n awgrymu eto heddiw beth bynnag sydd wedi digwydd, pa bynnag gamgymeriadau gafodd eu gwneud gan Lywodraethau, wel, dyna ni, mi gawn ni ofyn hynny rywbryd eto; canolbwyntiwch yn unig ar beth all gael ei wneud rŵan.
May I say at the outset that it's very important that we strike the right balance in our scrutiny between looking at what has happened during this pandemic and looking forward at the steps that still need to be developed in order to safeguard the public. I've heard some suggesting again today that whatever has happened and whatever mistakes were made by Government, well, there we go, we can ask those questions at some other point; let's just focus on what can be done now.
Yn gyntaf, mae'r rhai sydd yn gwneud sylw fel yna, dwi'n meddwl, yn amlwg yn cymryd yn ganiataol y bydd yna ymchwiliad, ac mi fydd yna, fel y dywedodd Adam Price yn gynharach, does yna ddim cwestiwn ynglŷn â'r angen am ymchwiliad. A dweud y gwir, mi fydd angen ymchwiliadau ar sawl lefel. Ond, dwi ddim yn meddwl bod modd gwahanu cweit mor hawdd â hynny yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd efo beth sydd ar ôl i'w ddysgu a beth sydd ar ôl i'w wneud. Y cynharaf dŷn ni'n gallu dysgu rhai gwersi, y gorau, achos mae'r pandemig yn parhau ac mi fydd efo ni am sbel; mae'r risg yn dal yn sylweddol ac mi fydd am sbel. Mae yna sôn, wrth gwrs, am o leiaf ail begwn o'r pandemig yn y misoedd i ddod, a dyna pam y gwnaeth Plaid Cymru gynnig wythnosau yn ôl erbyn hyn y dylai'r gwaith ar sefydlu ymchwiliad wedi'i arwain gan farnwr ddechrau ar unwaith, a bod gwerth gwirioneddol i hynny, yn ychwanegol wrth gwrs at y gwaith sgrwtini dŷn ni'n ei wneud fel Senedd.
Yr awgrym gan y Llywodraeth, yr awgrym gafodd ei wneud gan y Prif Weinidog heddiw, oedd y buasai barnwr a'i dîm yn mynd o dan draed rywsut, yn cael yn y ffordd, yn amharu ar y gwaith ymarferol o frwydro pandemig. Dwi'n ddigon hyderus y byddai tîm ymchwil yn gallu gweithredu mewn ffordd sydd nid yn unig ddim yn ymyrryd efo'r gwaith, ond fyddai'n gallu helpu yn yr hir dymor drwy gael gwybodaeth real-time o beth sy'n digwydd.
Does neb yn awgrymu bod sgrwtini ganddon ni yn cael yn ffordd y gwaith o ddelio efo'r pandemig; mae sgrwtini yn bwysig. Mi fyddai ymchwiliad o'r math yr ŷm ni'n sôn amdano yn gallu cynnig canllawiau ar gyfer unrhyw bandemig arall; hefyd, dim cweit mewn real time yn y ffordd dŷn ni'n ei wneud o fel Senedd, ond i amserlen llawer, llawer tynnach nag y mae'r Llywodraeth i weld yn dymuno'i weld yn digwydd, ac y byddai yna adborth yn dod yn ôl ar gyfer tonnau neu peaks hwyrach o'r pandemig yma.
Mi fyddai angen, wrth gwrs, ymchwiliadau i fethiannau hysbys iawn Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn rhedeg ochr yn ochr efo heddiw. Dwi'n gobeithio cawn ni gefnogaeth i welliant 4 yn enw Siân Gwenllian heddiw, sy'n gwneud y pwynt hwnnw, ond sôn ydyn ni fan hyn am edrych ar ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru, yn benodol, yn ogystal â'r cydlynu sydd wedi bod rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, a Whitehall. Dŷn ni ym Mhlaid Cymru, fel dŷn ni wedi clywed, wedi comisiynu a chyhoeddi gwaith ymchwil yn barod sy'n adnabod nifer fawr o gwestiynau eithaf sylfaenol, ac mae rhai o'r rheini yn berthnasol er mwyn dysgu gwersi o fewn y pandemig ar gyfer peaks eraill. Os oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu â dysgu gwersi o operation Cygnus yn 2016 cyn dechrau'r pandemig yma, ydyn nhw o leiaf yn gallu dangos eu bod nhw wedi dysgu ohonyn nhw erbyn rŵan?
Mi fydd angen gwybod pa effaith a gafodd teithio rhyngwladol i mewn i Gymru ar ddechrau’r pandemig yma er mwyn gwybod pa effaith all hynny gael ar ail don bosib, pan fydd teithio rhyngwladol wedi dechrau mwy yn sicr nag y mae o ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen dysgu o'r arafwch oedd yna i godi'r lefel risg er mwyn gallu ymateb yn gynt y tro nesaf. Mae yna dystiolaeth glir bod lockdown wedi ei alw yn rhy hwyr; mi all fod angen galw lockdown eto yn y dyfodol, a'r tro yma, byddai angen gwneud yn gynt. Mi allai'r mathau yna o benderfyniadau fod angen eu gwneud o fewn misoedd, felly mae pobl angen hyder bod gwersi wedi cael eu dysgu'n barod.
Mi benderfynodd Llywodraeth Cymru i beidio dilyn rhai o ganllawiau mwyaf sylfaenol y WHO. Dŷn ni angen gwybod pam, a phryd maen nhw'n meddwl mai canllawiau'r WHO ydy'r rhai i'w dilyn, a phryd dŷn nhw ddim. Nid er mwyn gallu pwyntio'r bys rywbryd yn y dyfodol pell, ond er mwyn gallu dysgu gwersi rŵan. Mae yna gwestiynau am strategaeth gyfathrebu'r Llywodraeth am sut i roi hyder i bobl mewn prosesau rhannu PPE, er enghraifft; hynny ydy, hyd yn oed os ydy'r Llywodraeth yn hyderus, 'Ydyn, dŷn ni wedi dysgu gwersi o'r dyddiau cynnar,' mae yna fudd go iawn mewn rhoi'r hyder yna i'r cyhoedd, ac wrth gwrs i weithwyr allweddol. Mi allwn i fynd ymlaen; y pethau byr dymor rydyn ni eisiau atebion iddyn nhw ydy'r rheina. Pan ddaw hi i'r tymor canolig a'r hir dymor, wrth gwrs, mae'r rhestr o gwestiynau yn llawer, llawer hirach: beth aeth o'i le efo profi? Beth aeth o'i le efo PPE a'r paratoi am bandemig o'r math yma ac ati?
Dŷn ni angen ymchwiliad wedi'i arwain gan farnwr. Dŷn ni angen iddo fo ddechrau cyn gynted â phosibl. Dŷn ni angen iddo fo adrodd yn ôl mewn ffyrdd interim yn fuan er mwyn dysgu gwersi yn fuan, er y bydd ymchwiliad llawn, wrth gwrs, yn cymryd hirach, a dyna pam cyflwyno gwelliant 3 heddiw. Mae angen ymrwymiad digwestiwn y Llywodraeth, dwi'n meddwl, i hynny, er mwyn rhoi, fel dwi'n dweud, hyder i'r cyhoedd.
Well, first of all, those who make those comments clearly take it for granted that there will be an inquiry, and as Adam Price said earlier, there is no question of the need for such an inquiry; indeed, we will need inquiries at a number of different levels, but I don't think that we can make that separation quite that easily between what's happened and the lessons that need to be learned and what needs to be in for the future. The earlier that we can learn some lessons, then the better it will be, because the pandemic goes on and it will be with us for quite some time. The risk is still significant, and it will remain so. There's talk of at least another peak of the pandemic, a second peak, and that's why Plaid Cymru proposed weeks ago that work on the establishment of an inquiry, a judge-led inquiry, should commence immediately and there was real value to that in addition, of course, to the scrutiny work that we as a Senedd are doing.
The suggestion from Government and the suggestion made by the First Minister today was that a judge and his team would be in the way and would get in the way of the practical work of fighting the pandemic. Now, I am confident that a research team could work, or an inquiry team could work in a way that not only wouldn't interfere, but could help in the long term by providing real-time information on what's happening.
No-one is suggesting that our scrutiny is getting in the way of dealing with the pandemic; scrutiny is important. An inquiry of the kind that we're talking about could provide guidance for any further pandemic, and also, not quite in real time as we are doing at the Senedd, but to a far tighter timetable than the Government seems to wish to be put in place, and that there would be feedback for later peaks of this pandemic.
We of course would need inquiries into well-known failings by the UK Government running alongside this and hopefully, we will get support for amendment 4 in the name of Siân Gwenllian that makes that point, but we are talking here about looking at the response of the Welsh Government, specifically, as well as the co-ordination between Welsh Government and Whitehall. We in Plaid Cymru, as you've already heard, had commissioned research already that has identified many quite fundamental questions, and some of these are pertinent in order to learn lessons within the pandemic to deal with other peaks. If the Welsh Government has failed to learn lessons from operation Cygnus in 2016 before the beginning of this pandemic, can they at least show that they have learnt from those now?
We will need to know what impact international travel into Wales at the beginning of the pandemic had in order to know what impact that could have on a second possible peak, where international travel will be happening more than it is at the moment. We need to learn from the slowness in raising the risk level. There is clear evidence that lockdown was called too late, and we may need to call lockdown again in the future and we would need to do that sooner. Those kinds of decisions may have to be made within months, so people do need to have confidence that lessons have been learnt.
The Welsh Government decided not to follow some of the most fundamental guidance of WHO. We need to know why, and when do they think the WHO guidance is to be followed and when it isn't, not in order to be able to point the finger at some point in the future, but to learn lessons now. There are questions about the communication strategy of the Government and how we give people confidence in PPE processes, for example; even if the Government is confident, 'Yes, we've learnt lessons from those early days,' there is real benefit in giving the public that confidence too, and of course, our key workers. I could go on. Those are things we want to look at in the short term. When we look at the mid term and the longer term, then the list of questions will be far longer: what went wrong with testing? What went wrong with PPE in the preparations for a pandemic of this kind?
We need an inquiry. It needs to be judge-led. We need it to commence as soon as possible. We need it to report back in an interim fashion soon so that we can learn lessons, although a full inquiry, of course, will take longer, and that's why we have tabled amendment 3 today. We do need an unquestioning commitment from Government to that, in order to give the public confidence.
There has to be an independent public inquiry. We owe it to those who have died and to the front-line staff who have put their lives on the line in this crisis. But, I believe that that has to be on a four-nation basis, albeit with a thorough examination of handling in Wales, as all the key initial decisions were taken on a four-nation basis. As the First Minister has said on numerous occasions, we went into this lockdown together and we want to come out of it together as best as we can, and then we should learn the lessons together too.
The first question any public inquiry should address is why the lockdown didn't happen sooner. Those pictures of the Cheltenham Festival will remain totemic in the public's mind for years to come. As Angela Burns has said, in Wales, we had a major Stereophonics concert, and in Gwent, a major rugby game between the Dragons and Benetton just days before lockdown. We could see what was happening in the rest of Europe, and clearly, a change of direction did take place, but I believe too late. These and other questions do deserve answers, and real answers at that, and not the kind we are used to seeing Matt Hancock provide at the daily press briefings.
We are a long way from being ready to start the work of a proper inquiry. The focus today, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future needs to be on saving lives, minimising the impact of COVID-19 on our communities and safely introducing a new normal into all our lives. By any measure, we are a long way from that happening. I will, therefore, not be supporting the Tory motion today, which could not have been more brazen in its politics if it was written in blue crayon and stamped with a blue rosette. By identifying the next election as the deadline for reporting, you are saying, in simple terms, you want to make this a political bun fight, not a genuine learning exercise that will save lives. To divert attention from those people battling the pandemic now by getting them into public inquiry territory now, when the pandemic is still claiming lives, would be grossly irresponsible. It would be akin to grounding the Spitfires and Hurricanes in the middle of the Battle of Britain in order to discuss flight training for future pilots.
Yes, there are things we can learn as we go along, and the Assembly committees have a vital role to play in scrutinising the COVID response on an ongoing basis. I am pleased that both the committees I sit on are committed to doing that in a vigorous way. There is no sense to my mind that anyone is running from scrutiny. Indeed, I urge the Welsh Government to listen carefully to the views of committees, and genuinely embrace our recommendations as a real opportunity to add value and improve the Welsh Government response.
One of the only sensible things Dominic Cummings has ever said is that he made mistakes every day during this crisis. And so, yes, there will have been mistakes in Wales, too, and we must learn from them. But, there has not been one moment in this pandemic where I have doubted for one second even that the Welsh Government has the safety of my constituents and everyone else in Wales as their very top priority. That is not something any serious person could say about the UK Government, and I think we should see this motion today for what it is—a desperate attempt to distract from that. Thank you.
Mae'n rhaid cael ymchwiliad cyhoeddus sy'n annibynnol. Mae'n ddyletswydd arnom oherwydd y rhai a fu farw ac i'r staff rheng flaen sydd wedi rhoi eu bywydau yn y fantol yn yr argyfwng hwn. Ond, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i hynny fod ar sail y pedair gwlad, gan gynnwys archwiliad trwyadl o'r ymdriniaeth yng Nghymru, ac oherwydd i'r holl benderfyniadau cychwynnol allweddol gael eu gwneud ar sail y pedair gwlad. Fel y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud droeon, fe ddechreuwyd ar y cyfyngiadau symud ar yr un pryd ac mae eisiau inni ddod â'r cyfyngiadau hynny i ben gyda'n gilydd os oes modd, ac yna fe ddylem ddysgu'r gwersi gyda'n gilydd hefyd.
Y cwestiwn cyntaf y dylai unrhyw ymchwiliad cyhoeddus edrych arno yw pam na ddigwyddodd y cyfyngiadau symud yn gynharach. Fe fydd y lluniau hynny o ŵyl Cheltenham wedi eu serio ar feddyliau'r cyhoedd am flynyddoedd i ddod. Fel y dywedodd Angela Burns, yng Nghymru, roedd gennym gyngerdd mawr gan y Stereophonics, ac yng Ngwent, gêm rygbi fawr rhwng y Dreigiau a Benetton ychydig ddyddiau cyn y cyfyngiadau symud. Roeddem yn gallu gweld yr hyn a oedd yn digwydd yng ngweddill Ewrop, ac mae'n amlwg bod newid cyfeiriad wedi digwydd, ond yn rhy hwyr yn fy marn i. Mae'r cwestiynau hyn a rhai eraill yn haeddu atebion, ac atebion gwirioneddol o ran hynny, nid y math yr ydym ni'n gyfarwydd â gweld Matt Hancock yn eu rhoi yn y sesiynau briffio dyddiol i'r wasg.
Rydym ni ymhell i ffwrdd o fod yn barod i gynnal ymchwiliad priodol. Mae angen canolbwyntio heddiw, yfory ac yn y dyfodol rhagweladwy ar achub bywydau, gan leihau effaith COVID-19 ar ein cymunedau a chyflwyno normalrwydd newydd yn ddiogel yn ein bywydau ni i gyd. Yn ôl unrhyw fesur, rydym ymhell i ffwrdd o sicrhau hynny. Nid wyf i, felly, am gefnogi cynnig y Torïaid heddiw, na allasai fod yn fwy digywilydd yn ei wleidyddiaeth pe byddai wedi ei ysgrifennu mewn geiriau glas a'i selio â rhosglwm glas. Drwy nodi'r etholiad nesaf fel dyddiad cau ar gyfer cyflwyno adroddiad, rydych chi'n dweud, yn syml, eich bod chi'n dymuno gwneud hon yn frwydr wleidyddol, ac nid yn ymarfer dysgu gwirioneddol a fydd yn achub bywydau. Fe fyddai tynnu sylw oddi wrth y bobl hynny sy'n brwydro yn erbyn y pandemig ar hyn o bryd drwy eu cael nhw i mewn i sefyllfa o ymchwiliad cyhoeddus nawr, wrth i'r pandemig barhau i fod yn angheuol, yn resynus o anghyfrifol. Fe fyddai'n debyg i gadw awyrennau Spitfire a Hurricane ar y ddaear ynghanol y Battle of Britain ar gyfer trafod cynlluniau hyfforddiant peilotiaid i'r dyfodol.
Oes, mae yna bethau y gallwn ni eu dysgu wrth fynd ymlaen, ac mae gan bwyllgorau'r Cynulliad swyddogaeth hanfodol wrth graffu ar yr ymateb i'r COVID ar sail barhaus. Rwy'n falch fod y ddau bwyllgor yr wyf i arnyn nhw wedi ymrwymo i wneud hynny mewn ffordd egnïol. Nid oes dim synnwyr yn fy meddwl i fod unrhyw un yn ffoi rhag craffu. Yn wir, rwy'n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i wrando'n ofalus ar farn y pwyllgorau, ac anwesu ein hargymhellion ni'n wirioneddol fel cyfle i ychwanegu gwerth a gwella'r ymateb gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Un o'r unig bethau synhwyrol a ddywedodd Dominic Cummings erioed oedd ei fod ef wedi gwneud camgymeriadau'n ddyddiol yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn. Ac felly, do, fe fu camgymeriadau yng Nghymru hefyd, ac mae'n rhaid inni ddysgu oddi wrthyn nhw. Ond nid oes un foment wedi bod yn y pandemig hwn y bu i mi amau am eiliad hyd yn oed nad prif flaenoriaeth Llywodraeth Cymru oedd diogelwch fy etholwyr i a phawb arall yng Nghymru. Nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth y gallai neb ei ddweud mewn difrif am Lywodraeth y DU, ac rwy'n credu y dylem weld y cynnig hwn heddiw am yr hyn ydyw—ymgais ryfygus i dynnu sylw oddi wrth hynny. Diolch.
Y Cwnsel Cyffredinol, Jeremy Miles. Dyna ni, Jeremy Miles.
I call on the Counsel General, Jeremy Miles. There we go, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Llywydd. Gaf i ddechrau gan fod yn gwbl ddiamwys ar y cwestiwn canolog wrth wraidd y cynnig? Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi sefydlu ymchwiliad cyhoeddus ac annibynnol a fydd yn gallu edrych ar sut yr ydyn ni ac eraill wedi ymateb i'r pandemig hwn. Mae'r amgylchiadau mae pob un ohonom ni wedi bod yn byw trwyddyn nhw yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf mor arwyddocaol fel y bydd hynny yn gwbl briodol ac yn angenrheidiol.
Mae coronafeirws wedi effeithio ar bob rhan o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol a'r byd i gyd mewn gwahanol ffyrdd. Does dim amheuaeth bod gwersi i'w dysgu, pethau y gallwn ni eu gwella, a chamau y gallwn ni eu cymryd i ddiogelu pobl yma yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol.
Y flaenoriaeth bresennol, wrth gwrs, yw inni ganolbwyntio ar ymateb i'r argyfwng, ac rwy'n achub ar y cyfle i danlinellu ein neges i bobl Cymru. Fe wnaeth y Prif Weinidog gyhoeddi canlyniad ein hadolygiad un diwrnod ar hugain ddiweddaraf ddydd Gwener. Rŷn ni'n gwybod pa mor bwysig yw hi i bobl Cymru allu cwrdd â'u ffrindiau a'u teulu, ac rŷn ni'n gwybod mai ychydig iawn o sgôp sydd i lacio'r cyfyngiadau. Rydyn ni wedi dewis llacio'r cyfyngiadau yn ofalus i ganiatáu mwy o ymweliadau lleol, gan ddefnyddio ardal o 5 milltir fel canllaw i bobl allu dechrau gweld ffrindiau a theulu unwaith eto.
Thank you, Llywydd. May I start by being entirely unambiguous from the central question at the heart of the motion? The Welsh Government does support the establishment of an independent public inquiry that would look at how we and others have responded to this pandemic. The circumstances that each and every one of us has lived through over the past few months are so significant that that would be entirely appropriate and entirely necessary.
Coronavirus has affected all parts of the UK and the whole world in different ways, and there is no doubt that there are lessons to be learnt, things that we can improve, and steps that we can take to safeguard people here in Wales for the future.
The current priority, of course, is to focus on responding to the crisis, and I would take this opportunity to highlight our message to the people of Wales. The First Minister announced the outcome of our 21-day review on Friday. We know how important it is for the people of Wales to meet their family and friends, and we know that there is very little scope to relax the restrictions. We have chosen to relax those restrictions carefully to allow more local visits, using an area of 5 miles as a guideline for people to start to see friends and family once again.
Llywydd, we are still, in many ways, in the early stages of this outbreak. Until we have effective therapies and, in time, we hope, an effective vaccine, our focus must be on dealing with the coronavirus as a public health emergency.
The motion notes that the point for any inquiry is not now, and people who would give evidence to an inquiry are entirely focused on handling the current emergency, and I expect that will be the case for some time yet. We know, from the experience of other pandemics, that it may well be into next year before we can say with confidence that the worst is behind us; that remains to be seen as we debate today.
I am proud of the way that the Welsh Government is, and has, responded, and I am grateful to the people of Wales for their response. In any number of ways, this crisis has brought out the best in people in all our communities as they face this adversity together. But there are, of course, lessons to be learned and areas to improve, and we are taking steps within Welsh Government to do that from day to day and from week to week as we keep focused on responding to the crisis.
Llywydd, there is a need for an independent inquiry to be set up. It should happen at the right time, and these are the key principles that should guide us as we establish it: an inquiry will be most effective in understanding events and the actions taken, if it involves all the UK administrations. This pandemic has affected all parts of the UK, and many decisions have been taken across the four nations. A great deal of the response to the pandemic has rightly been managed at a UK level and has involved many others alongside Governments, so it's important that there is a co-ordinated approach to the inquiry into the handling, by the UK Government, the devolved Governments and others. We would hope that could be achieved, but if not, then we would obviously accept an inquiry limited to events and actions in Wales. And, of course, the Senedd will continue to scrutinise the Welsh Government and its ongoing actions to deal with the crisis, as it has today, and I know that Members will understand why I won't address each of the specific points made about actions taken during the debate.
The leadership of the inquiry should be agreed between all parts of the UK. It must not be imposed on, or by, any of us. We agree the inquiry should be independent. I want to be clear that we are not opposed, in principle, to a judge-led inquiry, but it does require discussions with others and it does bring with it some constraints. Some parties have called for an epidemiologist to lead any future inquiry, and this is a matter for consideration over the coming months.
The person chosen to lead the inquiry will rightly want to be involved in setting its terms. These should consider Government but others, also, so that it looks at the response in the round. The inquiry will need to respect the devolved competence of this Senedd and of each part of the UK. It should start, report and conclude at the times when it can most effectively undertake its task of investigation and scrutiny. We should not seek to predetermine when that can be today.
Crucial to the issue of timing will be the need to take account of the ongoing crisis management. As we move from summer to winter, we may well be dealing with a further peak and with other winter pressures, and I know that Members will agree that those working on the front line will need, of course, to be able to do their work unimpeded by other pressures. Equally, the inquiry will deserve the fullest attention from those giving evidence to it, and I would anticipate that the person leading the inquiry will want to give consideration to an approach that enables that.
Turning briefly to the original motion, I have set out the principles we believe should guide the establishment of an inquiry. Our amendments are consistent with these, and I invite Members to support them. While we agree with the premise of the amendments in Siân Gwenllian's name, it is impossible for the Government to support them today, because they prescribe timings for the inquiry to report and specify the leadership, and it is too early to be so prescriptive. We must first seek to agree a UK-wide approach and then give the independent inquiry leadership our support in due course.
Llywydd, rydym yn parhau i fod, mewn llawer ffordd, yn nyddiau cynnar yr achos hwn o coronafeirws. Hyd nes y cawn ni feddyginiaethau effeithiol ac, ymhen amser, gobeithio, frechlyn effeithiol, fe fydd yn rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar ymdrin â choronafeirws fel argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus.
Mae'r cynnig yn nodi nad yn awr yw'r amser i gynnal unrhyw ymchwiliad, a bod y bobl a fyddai'n rhoi tystiolaeth i ymchwiliad yn canolbwyntio'n llwyr ar ymgodymu â'r argyfwng presennol, ac rwy'n disgwyl y bydd hynny'n wir am gryn amser eto. Fe wyddom ni, o brofiad pandemigau eraill, ei bod yn ddigon posibl y byddwn wedi cyrraedd y flwyddyn nesaf cyn inni allu dweud gyda hyder ein bod wedi cefnu ar y gwaethaf; ond amser a ddengys wrth inni drafod heddiw.
Mae'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymateb, ac wedi gwneud hynny, yn destun balchder i mi ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i bobl Cymru am eu hymateb nhw. Mewn nifer o ffyrdd, mae'r argyfwng hwn wedi ennyn y gorau ym mhobl pob un o'n cymunedau ni wrth iddyn nhw wynebu'r adfyd hwn gyda'i gilydd. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna wersi i'w dysgu a meysydd i'w gwella, ac rydym yn cymryd camau o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud hynny o ddydd i ddydd ac o wythnos i wythnos wrth ganolbwyntio ar ymateb i'r argyfwng.
Llywydd, mae angen sefydlu ymchwiliad annibynnol. Fe ddylai hwnnw ddigwydd ar yr amser priodol, a dyma'r egwyddorion allweddol a ddylai fod yn ein tywys ni wrth ei sefydlu: bydd ymchwiliad yn fwyaf effeithiol o ran deall y digwyddiadau a'r camau a gymerwyd, pe bai'n cynnwys holl weinyddiaethau'r DU. Mae'r pandemig hwn wedi effeithio ar bob rhan o'r DU, a gwnaed llawer o benderfyniadau ledled y pedair gwlad. Mae llawer o'r ymateb i'r pandemig wedi ei reoli, a hynny'n briodol, ar lefel y DU, ac mae wedi cynnwys nifer o bobl eraill ynghyd â Llywodraethau. Felly mae'n bwysig inni gael dull cydgysylltiedig o ymdrin â'r ymchwiliad, gan Lywodraeth y DU, gan y Llywodraethau datganoledig ac eraill. Fe fyddem ni'n gobeithio y gellid cyflawni hynny, ond os na, fe fyddem ni'n amlwg yn bodloni ar ymchwiliad sy'n gyfyngedig i ddigwyddiadau a chamau gweithredu yng Nghymru. Ac, wrth gwrs, bydd y Senedd yn parhau i graffu ar Lywodraeth Cymru a'i chamau gweithredu parhaus i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng, fel y gwnaeth heddiw, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd yr Aelodau'n deall pam nad wyf yn bwriadu rhoi sylw i bob un o'r pwyntiau penodol a wnaed am y camau a gymerwyd yn ystod y ddadl.
Fe ddylid cytuno ar arweinyddiaeth yr ymchwiliad rhwng holl weinyddiaethau'r DU. Ni ddylai gael ei orfodi ar, na chan, neb ohonom ni. Rydym yn cytuno y dylai'r ymchwiliad fod yn un annibynnol. Rwy'n awyddus i fod yn glir nad ydym ni'n gwrthwynebu, o ran egwyddor, unrhyw ymchwiliad wedi ei lywio gan farnwr, ond mae hynny'n gofyn am drafodaethau gydag eraill ac mae'n dod gydag ambell i gyfyngiad yn ei sgil. Mae rhai pleidiau wedi galw am gael epidemiolegydd i lywio unrhyw ymchwiliad yn y dyfodol, ac mae hwn yn fater i'w ystyried yn ystod y misoedd nesaf.
Bydd yr unigolyn a ddewisir i arwain yr ymchwiliad yn awyddus iawn i fod â rhan yn y gwaith o bennu'r telerau. Fe ddylai'r rhain ystyried Llywodraeth ond agweddau eraill hefyd, fel bod ystyriaeth yn cael ei rhoi i'r ymateb yn ei gyfanrwydd. Bydd angen i'r ymchwiliad barchu cymhwysedd datganoledig y Senedd hon a phob rhan o'r DU. Fe ddylai ddechrau, adrodd a dod i gasgliad yn yr amserau y gall ymgymryd â'i waith o ymchwilio a chraffu yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol. Ni ddylem geisio rhagbennu heddiw pryd y gallai hynny fod.
Yn hanfodol i fater amseru fydd yr angen i ystyried y broses barhaus o reoli argyfwng. Wrth i'r haf droi'n aeaf, mae'n bosibl iawn y byddwn ni'n ymdrin â phenllanw arall a phwysau eraill oherwydd y gaeaf, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd yr Aelodau yn cytuno y bydd angen i'r rhai sy'n gweithio ar y rheng flaen, wrth gwrs, allu gwneud eu gwaith heb gael eu llesteirio gan bwysau eraill. Yn yr un modd, fe fydd yr ymchwiliad yn haeddu'r sylw llawnaf gan y rhai sy'n rhoi tystiolaeth iddo, ac rwy'n rhagweld y bydd y sawl sy'n arwain yr ymchwiliad yn dymuno ystyried dull gweithredu sy'n caniatáu hynny.
Gan droi'n fyr at y cynnig gwreiddiol, rwyf wedi nodi'r egwyddorion, yn ein barn ni, a ddylai dywys y broses o sefydlu ymchwiliad. Mae ein gwelliannau ninnau'n gyson â'r rhain, ac rwy'n gwahodd yr Aelodau i'w cefnogi nhw. Er ein bod ni'n cytuno â diben y gwelliannau yn enw Siân Gwenllian, mae'n amhosibl i'r Llywodraeth eu cefnogi heddiw, gan eu bod nhw'n pennu amserau ar gyfer adroddiad yr ymchwiliad a phenodi'r arweinyddiaeth, ac mae'n rhy gynnar i fod mor gyfarwyddol. Mae'n rhaid inni geisio cytuno yn gyntaf ar ddull sy'n cynnwys y DU gyfan a rhoi arweiniad wedyn i'r ymchwiliad annibynnol maes o law.
Janet Finch-Saunders to respond to the debate.
Janet Finch-Saunders i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Diolch, Llywydd. The pandemic is coming at a huge cost to Wales. Two thousand one hundred and twenty-two individuals have sadly lost their lives to date, and the situation is far from being under control, or even contained. One only needs to look no further than here in north Wales, which has 635.7 confirmed cases per 100,000 of population, with many more tests required. Constituents reasonably question whether the Welsh Government has done everything possible to support them.
Yes, we face unprecedented circumstances, but in a true and healthy democracy, the measures taken by this Government must be open to transparency and scrutiny. That is clear from listening to some of the contributions to this important debate. Angela Burns—lack of PPE, failure to protect the most vulnerable in our care homes, a chaotic testing regime, lack of data collection. Russ George on the problems facing our businesses with mixed messaging, confusion around financial support and the immense damage to our local economy.
Testing has been and continues to be shambolic. Despite the Government's own targets of 5,000 and 9,000 tests per day, we are still only managing 2,492; seriously delayed testing of our symptomatic care home residents and those returning from hospital to care homes, with symptomatic care home workers causing huge risk; and then the scandal of the universal testing announcement for care homes only made on 16 May, despite many obvious calls, from us even, for this to come sooner to protect our most vulnerable. Sadly, they have been failed.
A constituent of mine, 94 years old, falling, breaking their hip, going into Glan Clwyd, where she sadly contracted COVID-19 and has since passed away. Others pressured into signing 'do not attempt CPR' forms. Cancer charities concerned that Wales is not opening up COVID-19-free cancer centres as is happening in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thirteen thousand shielding letters for our most vulnerable going to the wrong address. Misleading Welsh Government announcements: £40 million for adult social care on 17 April—reality: this is only related to local authority-commissioned adult social care. A £500 bonus for care staff announced on 1 May—reality: not all working in the social care sector will receive this, and those who do will see this reduced through tax and impact on benefits, the Welsh Government not having done its homework on this before announcing it. An announcement on 6 May of £26 million to support our small charities—still great uncertainty as to how this will be allocated and to whom. The Welsh Government is also responsible for mixed messaging on education, self-isolation and support for businesses.
I would stress that we will reject the amendment by the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd. Her amendment and suggestions to remove 'Welsh Parliament appointed, judge-led' speaks volumes and shows up an absolute fear of scrutiny and independent challenge. Such a desire to remove the actual target set indicates a sheer inability to accept judgment. Too often in this Senedd, in my time as a Member, over the past nine years, serious inquiries have been previously commissioned, yet they have never been delivered. Now, with such a global emergency, requiring strong, transparent leadership from this Government in Wales, the only way to seek truth and honest answers is by no less than an independent, Welsh Parliament-appointed, judge-led inquiry, and this, in all fairness, must be delivered before the Senedd elections next May. As has been said earlier in this debate, those who've sadly lost their lives, and their families, those who've worked hard in our social care and the NHS and other services across Wales—they deserve it. At the end of the day, from an independent inquiry will come the transparency that we all seek, and I would ask and plead with the Welsh Labour Government not to shirk away from the greatest responsibility that they hold, and that is to allow absolute scrutiny and challenge. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae cost enfawr i'r pandemig yng Nghymru. Mae dwy fil, un cant a dau ddeg dau o unigolion wedi colli eu bywydau hyd yn hyn, yn anffodus, ac mae'r sefyllfa ymhell o fod dan reolaeth, neu wedi ei ffrwyno hyd yn oed. Nid oes angen i neb edrych ymhellach nag yma yn y Gogledd, sydd ag 635.7 o achosion i bob 100,000 o'r boblogaeth, gyda llawer mwy o brofion yn angenrheidiol. Mae etholwyr gyda phob rheswm yn amau a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud popeth sy'n bosibl i'w cefnogi nhw.
Ydym, rydym yn wynebu amgylchiadau na welwyd eu tebyg o'r blaen, ond mewn democratiaeth wirioneddol ac iach, mae'n rhaid i'r mesurau a gymerir gan y Llywodraeth hon fod yn agored i dryloywder a chraffu. Mae hynny'n amlwg o wrando ar rai o'r cyfraniadau i'r ddadl bwysig hon. Angela Burns—diffyg cyfarpar diogelu personol, methiant i ddiogelu'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cartrefi gofal ni, trefn brofi afreolus, diffyg casglu data. Russ George ar y problemau sy'n wynebu ein busnesau ni gyda negeseuon cymysglyd, dryswch ynghylch cymorth ariannol a'r difrod enfawr i'n heconomi leol.
Mae'r profi wedi bod yn annibendod ac mae'n parhau i fod felly. Er gwaethaf targedau'r Llywodraeth ei hunan o 5,000 a 9,000 o brofion y dydd, dim ond 2,492 yr ydym ni'n llwyddo i'w cwblhau; oedi difrifol wrth brofi ein preswylwyr mewn cartrefi gofal sy'n symptomatig a'r rhai sy'n dychwelyd o'r ysbyty i gartrefi gofal, gyda gweithwyr cartref gofal sy'n symptomatig yn achosi risg enfawr; ac yna sgandal y cyhoeddiad ynglŷn â phrofi cyffredinol ar gyfer cartrefi gofal a wnaed ddim ond ar 16 Mai, a hynny er gwaethaf llawer o alwadau amlwg, gennym ni hyd yn oed, fod angen i hyn ddigwydd yn gynt er mwyn diogelu'r rhai sydd fwyaf agored i niwed. Yn anffodus, maen nhw wedi cael eu siomi.
Torrodd un o'm hetholwyr i, a oedd yn 94 oed, ei chlun wrth syrthio a mynd i mewn i Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, lle daliodd hi'r COVID-19 ac fe gollodd hi'r dydd wedi hynny. Roedd eraill dan bwysau i lofnodi ffurflenni 'peidiwch ag adfywio'. Roedd elusennau canser yn pryderu nad yw Cymru yn agor canolfannau canser sy'n rhydd o COVID-19, fel sy'n digwydd yn Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon. Anfonwyd tair mil ar ddeg o lythyrau i'r unigolion a warchodir sydd fwyaf agored i niwed i'r cyfeiriadau anghywir. Cyhoeddiadau camarweiniol gan Lywodraeth Cymru: £40 miliwn ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol i oedolion ar 17 Ebrill—y gwirionedd: nid yw hyn ond yn ymwneud â gofal cymdeithasol i oedolion a gomisiynir gan yr awdurdod lleol yn unig. A £500 o fonws i staff gofal a gyhoeddwyd ar 1 Mai—y gwirionedd: ni fydd pawb sy'n gweithio yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol yn cael y bonws hwn, ac fe fydd y rhai sy'n ei gael yn ei weld yn lleihau drwy drethiant a'i effaith ar fudd-daliadau, am nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud ei gwaith cartref yn hyn o beth cyn ei gyhoeddi. Cyhoeddiad ar 6 Mai o £26 miliwn i gefnogi ein helusennau bach—mae ansicrwydd mawr o hyd ynghylch sut y bydd hyn yn cael ei ddyrannu ac i bwy. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn gyfrifol am anfon negeseuon cymysg ynglŷn ag addysg, hunanynysu a chymorth i fusnesau.
Rwyf am bwysleisio y byddwn ni'n gwrthod y gwelliant gan y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd. Mae ei gwelliant a'i hawgrymiadau i hepgor 'A benodir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac a arweinir gan farnwr' yn dweud y cwbl ac yn arwydd o ymgais i gilio'n llwyr oddi wrth graffu a her annibynnol. Mae'r awydd i ddileu'r targed gwirioneddol a bennwyd yn dangos anallu llwyr i dderbyn cael eu barnu. Yn rhy aml yn y Senedd hon, yn fy amser i'n Aelod yma, dros y naw mlynedd diwethaf, mae ymchwiliadau difrifol wedi cael eu comisiynu cyn hyn, ond ni chawsant erioed eu cwblhau. Yn awr, gydag argyfwng byd-eang fel hwn, sy'n gofyn am arweiniad cryf a thryloyw gan y Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru, yr unig ffordd o geisio'r gwirionedd a chael atebion gonest yw dim llai nag ymchwiliad annibynnol, a benodir gan y Senedd, ac a arweinir gan farnwr, ac mae'n rhaid i hwn, iddo fod yn deg, gael ei gyflwyno cyn yr etholiadau i'r Senedd fis Mai nesaf. Fel y dywedwyd yn gynharach yn y ddadl hon, mae'r rhai sydd, yn anffodus, wedi colli eu bywydau, a'u teuluoedd nhw, y rhai sydd wedi gweithio'n galed ym meysydd gofal cymdeithasol a'r GIG a gwasanaethau eraill ledled Cymru—maen nhw'n haeddu hynny. Yn y pen draw, bydd ymchwiliad annibynnol yn cynnig y tryloywder yr ydym ni i gyd yn ei geisio, ac rwy'n gofyn ac yn ymbil ar Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru i beidio ag osgoi'r cyfrifoldeb mwyaf sydd ganddyn nhw, sef rhoi cyfle i graffu a herio hyd yr eithaf. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Is there an objection? Is there an objection to agreeing the motion without amendment? [Objection.] Yes, I think I can see an objection—or hear it, anyway. I couldn't quite work out who was making it. But I hear an objection, so we'll defer the vote until the voting time, which is now.
Y cynnig yw a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio. A oes yna wrthwynebiad? A oes yna wrthwynebiad i gytuno ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, rwy'n credu y gallaf i weld gwrthwynebiad—neu ei glywed, beth bynnag. Nid oeddwn i'n gallu gweld yn hollol pwy oedd yn gwrthwynebu. Ond rwy'n clywed gwrthwynebiad, ac felly fe fyddwn ni'n gohirio'r bleidlais tan y cyfnod pleidleisio, sy'n dod nawr.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Felly, fe wnawn ni gynnal y pleidleisiau nawr. Fel y nodir ar yr agenda, cynhelir y pleidleisiau heddiw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11. Caiff pob grŵp gwleidyddol enwebu un Aelod o'r grŵp i fod â'r un nifer o bleidleisiau ag sydd o Aelodau'r grŵp. Yn achos grŵp gwleidyddol sydd â rôl weithredol, bydd gan yr enwebydd yr un nifer o bleidleisiau ag sydd o Aelodau'r grŵp hwnnw, ynghyd ag unrhyw Aelodau eraill o'r Llywodraeth. Bydd Aelodau nad ydynt yn perthyn i grŵp neu grwpiad yn pleidleisio drostynt eu hunain. Byddaf yn cynnal y bleidlais drwy alw'r gofrestr.
Felly, mae'r bleidlais gyntaf ar y Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Coronafeirws) 2020. Felly, y bleidlais gyntaf ar y rheoliadau hynny. Ar ran y grŵp Llafur a'r Llywodraeth, Jayne Bryant, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 30 pleidlais?
Therefore, we will move to voting time. As indicated on the agenda, today's votes will be conducted in accordance with Standing Order 34.11. Each political group may nominate one Member of the group to carry the same number of votes as there are Members. A nominee will carry the same number of votes as there are Members of that group, plus any other Members of the Government. Members who do not belong to a group or grouping will vote for themselves. I will conduct the vote by roll call.
So, the first vote is on the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020. The first vote is on those regulations. On behalf of the Labour group and the Government, Jayne Bryant, how do you cast your 30 votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Ar ran y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 11 pleidlais?
On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, how do you cast your 11 votes?
Abstain.
Ymatal.
Ar ran Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch naw pleidlais?
On behalf of Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, how do you cast your nine votes?
O blaid.
In favour.
O blaid. Ar ran Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch pedair pleidlais?
In favour. On behalf of the Brexit Party, Mark Reckless, how do you cast your four votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Gareth Bennett.
Gareth Bennett.
In favour.
O blaid.
Neil McEvoy.
Neil McEvoy.
O blaid.
In favour.
Canlyniad, felly, y bleidlais yw bod 45 o blaid, 11 yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i dderbyn.
The result of the vote, therefore, is 45 in favour, 11 abstentions, none against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Cynhaliwyd y bleidlais ar NDM7327 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11.
Vote on NDM7327 held in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.
Jayne Bryant ar ran Grŵp Llafur a’r Llywodraeth: O blaid (30)
Darren Millar ar ran Grŵp y Ceidwadwyr: Yn Ymatal (11)
Siân Gwenllian ar ran Grŵp Plaid Cymru: O blaid (9)
Mark Reckless ar ran Grŵp Plaid Brexit: O blaid (4)
Gareth Bennett – Annibynnol: O blaid
Neil McEvoy - Annibynnol: O blaid
Jayne Bryant on behalf of the Labour Group and the Government: For (30)
Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative Group: Abstain (11)
Siân Gwenllian on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group: For (9)
Mark Reckless on behalf of the Brexit Party Group: For (4)
Gareth Bennett – Independent: For
Neil McEvoy - Independent: For
Derbyniwyd y cynnig.
Motion agreed.
Y bleidlais nesaf yw'r bleidlais ar ddadl y Ceidwadwyr ar ymchwiliad annibynnol i COVID-19. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Ar ran y grŵp Llafur a'r Llywodraeth, Jayne Bryant, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 30 pleidlais?
The next vote is on the Conservatives' debate on an independent inquiry into COVID-19. I call for a vote on the motion unamended, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. On behalf of the Labour group and the Government, Jayne Bryant, how do you cast your 30 votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Ar ran y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 11 pleidlais?
On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, how do you cast your 11 votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Ar ran Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch naw pleidlais?
On behalf of Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, how do you cast your nine votes?
Yn erbyn.
Against.
Mark Reckless, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch pedair pleidlais dros Blaid Brexit?
Mark Reckless, how do you cast your four votes on behalf of the Brexit Party?
In favour.
O blaid.
Gareth Bennett.
Gareth Bennett.
In favour.
O blaid.
Neil McEvoy.
Neil McEvoy.
O blaid.
In favour.
Canlyniad y bleidlais yna, ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, yw bod 17 o blaid, neb yn ymatal, 39 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.
The result of the vote on the motion unamended is that there were 17 in favour, no abstentions, and 39 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Cynhaliwyd y bleidlais ar NDM7328 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11.
Vote on NDM7328 held in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.
Jayne Bryant ar ran Grŵp Llafur a’r Llywodraeth: Yn erbyn (30)
Darren Millar ar ran Grŵp y Ceidwadwyr: O blaid (11)
Siân Gwenllian ar ran Grŵp Plaid Cymru: Yn erbyn (9)
Mark Reckless ar ran Grŵp Plaid Brexit: O blaid (4)
Gareth Bennett – Annibynnol: O blaid
Neil McEvoy - Annibynnol: O blaid
Jayne Bryant on behalf of the Labour Group and the Government: Against (30)
Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative Group: For (11)
Siân Gwenllian on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group: Against (9)
Mark Reckless on behalf of the Brexit Party Group: For (4)
Gareth Bennett – Independent: For
Neil McEvoy - Independent: For
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig.
Motion not agreed.
Symud felly i bleidlais ar welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans. Grŵp Llafur a'r Llywodraeth, Jayne Bryant, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 30 pleidlais?
We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. On behalf of the Labour group and Government, Jayne Bryant, how do you cast your 30 votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 11 pleidlais?
On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, how do you cast your 11 votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch naw pleidlais?
On behalf of Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, how do you cast your nine votes?
Yn erbyn.
Against.
Mark Reckless, Plaid Brexit, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'r pedair pleidlais?
Mark Reckless, on behalf of the Brexit Party, how do you cast your four votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Gareth Bennett.
Gareth Bennett.
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Neil McEvoy.
Neil McEvoy.
Yn erbyn.
Against.
Y canlyniad, felly, i'r bleidlais ar welliant 1 yw bod 30 o blaid, neb yn ymatal, 26 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r gwelliant wedi ei dderbyn.
The result of the vote on amendment 1 is that there are 30 in favour, no abstentions, 26 against. Therefore, the amendment is agreed.
Cynhaliwyd y bleidlais ar welliant 1 i NDM7238 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11.
Vote on amendment 1 to NDM7238 held in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.
Jayne Bryant ar ran Grŵp Llafur a’r Llywodraeth: O blaid (30)
Darren Millar ar ran Grŵp y Ceidwadwyr: Yn erbyn (11)
Siân Gwenllian ar ran Grŵp Plaid Cymru: Yn erbyn (9)
Mark Reckless ar ran Grŵp Plaid Brexit: Yn erbyn (4)
Gareth Bennett – Annibynnol: Yn erbyn
Neil McEvoy - Annibynnol: Yn erbyn
Jayne Bryant on behalf of the Labour Group and the Government: For (30)
Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative Group: Against (11)
Siân Gwenllian on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group: Against (9)
Mark Reckless on behalf of the Brexit Party Group: Against (4)
Gareth Bennett – Independent: Against
Neil McEvoy - Independent: Against
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment agreed.
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar welliant 2, ac os caiff gwelliant 2 ei dderbyn, bydd gwelliant 3 yn cael ei ddad-ddethol. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar welliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans. Ar ran grŵp Llafur a'r Llywodraeth, Jayne Bryant, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 30 pleidlais?
The next vote is on amendment 2, and if amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be deselected. I call for a vote on amendment 2, tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. On behalf of the Labour group and Government, Jayne Bryant, how do you cast your 30 votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar, eich 11 pleidlais.
On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, how do you cast your 11 votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch naw pleidlais?
On behalf of Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, how do you cast your nine votes?
Yn erbyn.
Against.
Mark Reckless, Plaid Brexit, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch pedair pleidlais?
Mark Reckless, on behalf of the Brexit Party, how do you cast your four votes?
Abstain.
Ymatal.
Gareth Bennett.
Gareth Bennett.
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Neil McEvoy.
Neil McEvoy.
Yn erbyn.
Against.
Canlyniad y bleidlais yna yw: o blaid 30, pedwar yn ymatal, yn erbyn 22. Ac felly, mae gwelliant 2 wedi ei dderbyn. Mae gwelliant 3 felly yn cael ei ddad-ddethol.
The result of that vote is that there were 30 in favour, four abstentions, 22 against. And therefore, amendment 2 is agreed and amendment 3 is deselected.
Cynhaliwyd y bleidlais ar welliant 2 i NDM7238 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11.
Vote on amendment 2 to NDM7238 held in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.
Jayne Bryant ar ran Grŵp Llafur a’r Llywodraeth: O blaid (30)
Darren Millar ar ran Grŵp y Ceidwadwyr: Yn erbyn (11)
Siân Gwenllian ar ran Grŵp Plaid Cymru: Yn erbyn (9)
Mark Reckless ar ran Grŵp Plaid Brexit: Ymatal (4)
Gareth Bennett – Annibynnol: Yn erbyn
Neil McEvoy - Annibynnol: Yn erbyn
Jayne Bryant on behalf of the Labour Group and the Government: For (30)
Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative Group: Against (11)
Siân Gwenllian on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group: Against (9)
Mark Reckless on behalf of the Brexit Party Group: Abstain (4)
Gareth Bennett – Independent: Against
Neil McEvoy - Independent: Against
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant.
Cafodd gwelliant 3 ei ddad-ddethol.
Amendment agreed.
Amendment 3 deselected.
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar welliant 4, sydd wedi ei gyflwyno yn enw Siân Gwenllian. Ar welliant 4,felly, grŵp Llafur a'r Llywodraeth, Jayne Bryant, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 30 pleidlais?
The next vote is on amendment 4, tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Amendment 4, on behalf of the Labour group and Government, Jayne Bryant, how do you cast your 30 votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 11 pleidlais?
On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, how do you cast your 11 votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Siân Gwenllian, ar ran Plaid Cymru, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch naw pleidlais?
Siân Gwenllian, on behalf of Plaid Cymru, how do you cast your nine votes?
O blaid.
In favour.
Mark Reckless, Plaid Brexit, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch pedair pleidlais?
Mark Reckless, on behalf of the Brexit Party, how do you cast your four votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Gareth Bennett.
Gareth Bennett.
Against.
Yn erbyn.
Neil McEvoy.
Neil McEvoy.
O blaid.
In favour.
Mae'r bleidlais yna wedi'i chwblhau a'r canlyniad yw bod 21 o blaid, neb yn ymatal, 35 yn erbyn. Ac felly, nid yw gwelliant 4 wedi ei dderbyn.
That vote is therefore completed and the result is that there were 21 in favour, no abstentions and 35 against. And therefore, amendment 4 is not agreed.
Cynhaliwyd y bleidlais ar welliant 4 i NDM7238 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11.
Vote on amendment 4 to NDM7238 held in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.
Jayne Bryant ar ran Grŵp Llafur a’r Llywodraeth: Yn erbyn (30)
Darren Millar ar ran Grŵp y Ceidwadwyr: O blaid (11)
Siân Gwenllian ar ran Grŵp Plaid Cymru: O blaid (9)
Mark Reckless ar ran Grŵp Plaid Brexit: Yn erbyn (4)
Gareth Bennett – Annibynnol: Yn erbyn
Neil McEvoy - Annibynnol: O blaid
Jayne Bryant on behalf of the Labour Group and the Government: Against (30)
Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative Group: For (11)
Siân Gwenllian on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group: For (9)
Mark Reckless on behalf of the Brexit Party Group: Against (4)
Gareth Bennett – Independent: Against
Neil McEvoy - Independent: For
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant.
Amendment not agreed.
Dwi'n galw nawr, felly, am bleidlais ar y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd.
I therefore call for a vote on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM7238 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn galw am ymchwiliad annibynnol i'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymdrin â'r pandemig Covid-19, i'w gychwyn ar ddyddiad priodol, pan fydd y pandemig o dan reolaeth.
Motion NDM7238 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
Calls for an independent inquiry into the Welsh Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, to be commenced at an appropriate date, when the pandemic is under control.
Ac felly, ar ran y grŵp Llafur a'r Llywodraeth, Jayne Bryant, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 30 pleidlais?
On behalf of the Labour group and Government, Jayne Bryant, how do you cast your 30 votes?
In favour.
O blaid.
Y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'ch 11 pleidlais?
The Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, how do you cast your 11 votes?
Against.
Yn erbyn.
A Phlaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'r naw pleidlais?
And Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian, how do you cast your nine votes?
O blaid.
In favour.
Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless, sut ydych chi'n bwrw'r pedair pleidlais?
The Brexit Party, Mark Reckless, how do you cast your four votes?
Abstain.
Ymatal.
Gareth Bennett.
Gareth Bennett.
In favour.
O blaid.
Neil McEvoy.
Neil McEvoy.
Abstain.
Ymatal.
Canlyniad y bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio, felly, yw bod 40 0 blaid, fod neb yn ymatal, fod 11 yn erbyn. Ac felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn. A dyna ni'n dod at ddiwedd ein canlyniad—[Torri ar draws.]
The result of the vote on the motion as amended is there were 40 in favour, no abstentions, 11 against. And therefore, the motion as amended is agreed. And that brings us to the end—[Interruption.]
Yes, Mark Isherwood. Not 'Isherwood', sorry. Mark Reckless.
Ie, Mark Isherwood. Nid 'Isherwood', rwy'n ymddiheuro. Mark Reckless.
We abstained on that vote. I said we abstained. I'm slightly unsure how that was summed up.
Fe wnaethom ni ymatal yn y bleidlais honno. Rwyf ychydig yn ansicr o ran sut y cafodd hynny ei grynhoi.
Yes, okay. If I read it out incorrectly in my haste to bring matters to a close, I apologise. Let me just re-read the vote, and it reads that 40 were in favour, five abstained, 11 were against. And therefore, the motion is approved. I apologise if I read it out incorrectly previously.
Ie, iawn. Os wnes i ei ddarllen yn anghywir yn fy mrys i ddirwyn materion i ben, rwy'n ymddiheuro. Gadewch imi ailddarllen y bleidlais, ac mae'n darllen bod 40 o blaid, pump wedi atal eu pleidlais, ac 11 yn erbyn. A chan hynny, derbyniwyd y cynnig. Rwy'n ymddiheuro os wnes i ei ddarllen yn anghywir gynnau.
Cynhaliwyd y bleidlais ar NDM7238 fel y'i diwygiwyd yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 34.11.
Vote on NDM7238 as amended held in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.
Jayne Bryant ar ran Grŵp Llafur a’r Llywodraeth: O blaid (30)
Darren Millar ar ran Grŵp y Ceidwadwyr: Yn erbyn (11)
Siân Gwenllian ar ran Grŵp Plaid Cymru: O blaid (9)
Mark Reckless ar ran Grŵp Plaid Brexit: Ymatal (4)
Gareth Bennett – Annibynnol: O blaid
Neil McEvoy - Annibynnol: Ymatal
Jayne Bryant on behalf of the Labour Group and the Government: For (30)
Darren Millar on behalf of the Conservative Group: Against (11)
Siân Gwenllian on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group: For (9)
Mark Reckless on behalf of the Brexit Party Group: Abstain (4)
Gareth Bennett – Independent: For
Neil McEvoy - Independent: Abstain
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd.
Motion as amended agreed.
Felly, diolch i bawb am eich cyfraniad i'r cyfarfod yma o'r Senedd heddiw, a phob dymuniad da i chi. Rŷm ni'n dod â'r cyfarfod i ben.
Thank you for your contributions to this meeting of the Senedd today, and I wish you all well. That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:00.
The meeting ended at 18:00.