Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
17/01/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Y cwestiynau y prynhawn yma fydd gyntaf yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jenny Rathbone.
Good afternoon and welcome, all, to this Plenary meeting. The first item will be questions to the Minister for Climate Change, and the first question is from Jenny Rathbone.
1. Pa gynnydd y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud wrth weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar gyfleoedd i ddatgarboneiddio cartrefi? OQ60521
1. What progress has the Minister made in working with local authorities to maximise opportunities to decarbonise homes? OQ60521
Under the optimised retrofit programme, local authorities have received around £28 million. ORP supports a test-and-learn approach to decarbonise homes in the most efficient and cost-effective way. The net-zero carbon hwb was recently launched to help local authorities connect with industry players to share learnings and experiences.
O dan y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio, mae oddeutu £28 miliwn wedi'i ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol. Mae'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio yn cefnogi dull profi a dysgu o ddatgarboneiddio cartrefi yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithlon a chosteffeithiol. Lansiwyd yr hwb carbon sero net yn ddiweddar i helpu awdurdodau lleol i gysylltu â gweithredwyr y diwydiant i rannu profiadau a gwersi a ddysgwyd.
Thank you. Twenty-eight million pounds is a lot of money, but I appreciate that it doesn't go that far when you're talking about decarbonising homes. There are now several large windfarms operating in Wales, all generating community benefits, including, Pen y Cymoedd with its 78 turbines, generating a very welcome income for the 188,000 residents who live in that area. What analysis has the Government made of how the relevant local authorities have jumped on this opportunity to help the local community to decarbonise their homes by advising them on the best strategy for their individual properties?
Equally, in the same year, the ECO Flex scheme started, which gave local authorities another source of funding coming from the UK Government. I know that both Bristol, London, and many other English local authorities, have started bidding into the ECO Flex schemes and are, even now, actually having things happen. So, how many local authorities in Wales have used that funding to support local populations to decarbonise their homes? And how can we ensure that local authorities are really being proactive in meeting the target that was originally 2033 for social homes?
Diolch. Mae £28 miliwn yn llawer o arian, ond rwy’n sylweddoli nad yw’n mynd mor bell â hynny pan soniwch am ddatgarboneiddio cartrefi. Erbyn hyn, mae sawl fferm wynt fawr yn gweithredu yng Nghymru, pob un yn creu buddion cymunedol, gan gynnwys Pen y Cymoedd gyda’i 78 o dyrbinau, sy'n cynhyrchu incwm derbyniol iawn i’r 188,000 o drigolion sy’n byw yn yr ardal honno. Pa ddadansoddiad y mae’r Llywodraeth wedi’i wneud o sut mae’r awdurdodau lleol perthnasol wedi achub ar y cyfle hwn i helpu’r gymuned leol i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartrefi drwy eu cynghori ar y strategaeth orau ar gyfer eu heiddo unigol?
Yn yr un modd, yn yr un flwyddyn, dechreuodd cynllun ECO Flex, a roddodd ffynhonnell arall o gyllid i awdurdodau lleol gan Lywodraeth y DU. Gwn fod Bryste a Llundain, a llawer o awdurdodau lleol eraill yn Lloegr, wedi dechrau gwneud ceisiadau ar gyfer cynlluniau ECO Flex a’u bod yn gweld pethau’n digwydd yn barod. Felly, faint o awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru sydd wedi defnyddio’r cyllid hwnnw i gefnogi poblogaethau lleol i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartrefi? A sut y gallwn sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn mynd ati'n rhagweithiol iawn i gyrraedd y targed a osodwyd yn wreiddiol sef 2033 ar gyfer cartrefi cymdeithasol?
Yes, thank you, Jenny. So, we support local authorities to leverage Great Britain-wide capital funding into local communities by rolling out, as you say, the local authority Flex schemes associated with ECO4 and the Great British insulation scheme, which used to be called ECO+. They can publish a joint statement of intent for ECO4 and for the Great British insulation scheme and develop partnerships with both suppliers and installers. So, we’ve been supporting the local authorities to develop the statements and we’re encouraging the regional collaborations where these result in more efficient delivery, because they have to link together with the Welsh Energy Service surveys that we’ve been doing, and you know that we’ve been rolling out our community scheme to look at where energy efficiency is most needed and to try and take the fabric worst-first approach. So, we’ve been trying to make sure that, where they cross borders and stuff, there isn’t an invisible force field because you come to the edge of a local authority area, and that we actually do it as a community scheme where that’s appropriate.
The Nest advice service signposts the Great British insulation scheme and other initiatives, including things like the boiler upgrade scheme and the ECO4, as complementary schemes to Welsh Government-funded, demand-led schemes. So, we’re trying to get the new advice service to strengthen that and lead to a referral arrangement so that people understand that, having had one, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have the other, and you can do a combination one. Householders, owner-occupiers and those in social and private-rented homes can check eligibility and apply directly through the energy suppliers for that.
In terms of Pen y Cymoedd and other windfarms, and the very large community benefits packages that come out of those, those aren’t done through the local authorities, they’re done through community consortia. We’ve been working with the developer industry and I met with RenewableUK Cymru just before Christmas at the Celtic Manor, at their conference there, to discuss what more we could do for the community benefit schemes. There are some restrictions: you cannot use a community benefit scheme to simply reduce an energy bill, for example. That’s not allowed inside the rules. But there is absolutely nothing to stop you using a community benefit scheme to retrofit houses in order to make them more energy efficient. But it is a matter for the local community to come to that conclusion. So, what we’ve been doing is using, through Ynni Cymru and other initiatives, local enablers to get communities to come together to understand what’s possible and what the retrofit might bring and to use the community benefit schemes in those ways. Because all over Wales we have beautifully outfitted village halls and sports teams and all the rest of it—all of which are great things, but they haven’t got the longevity of some of the other schemes. I was very pleased that the developers were very happy and are developing something they call 'the gold-plated service', to put those kinds of initiatives into the community benefit schemes. But they would complement all this other funding—one doesn’t preclude the other.
Ie, diolch, Jenny. Felly, rydym yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i drosglwyddo cyllid cyfalaf a ddarparwyd ar gyfer Prydain gyfan i gymunedau lleol drwy gyflwyno, fel y dywedwch, y cynlluniau Flex awdurdodau lleol sy'n gysylltiedig ag ECO4 a chynllun inswleiddio Great British Insulation, a arferai gael ei alw'n ECO+. Gallant gyhoeddi datganiad o fwriad ar y cyd ar gyfer ECO4 ac ar gyfer cynllun inswleiddio Great British Insulation a datblygu partneriaethau gyda chyflenwyr a gosodwyr. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn cefnogi’r awdurdodau lleol i ddatblygu’r datganiadau, ac rydym yn annog cydweithio rhanbarthol lle mae hynny'n arwain at gyflawni mwy effeithlon, gan fod yn rhaid iddynt gysylltu â'r arolygon Gwasanaeth Ynni Cymru y buom ni yn eu gwneud, ac fe wyddoch ein bod wedi bod yn cyflwyno ein cynllun cymunedol i ganfod ble mae fwyaf o angen effeithlonrwydd ynni ac i geisio defnyddio dull gweithredu 'tai gwaethaf yn gyntaf'. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn ceisio sicrhau, lle maent yn croesi ffiniau ac ati, nad oes maes grym anweledig am eich bod yn cyrraedd ffin ardal awdurdod lleol, a'n bod yn gwneud hyn fel cynllun cymunedol lle bo hynny'n briodol.
Mae gwasanaeth cynghori Nyth yn cyfeirio at gynllun inswleiddio Great British Insulation a mentrau eraill, gan gynnwys pethau fel y cynllun uwchraddio boeleri ac ECO4, fel cynlluniau ategol i gynlluniau a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sy’n cael eu harwain gan y galw. Felly, rydym yn ceisio sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth cynghori newydd yn cryfhau hynny ac yn arwain at drefniant atgyfeirio fel bod pobl yn deall, ar ôl cael un, nad yw'n golygu na allwch gael y llall, ac y gallwch gael cyfuniad. Gall deiliaid tai, perchen-feddianwyr a’r rheini mewn cartrefi cymdeithasol a chartrefi rhent preifat wirio eu cymhwysedd a gwneud cais yn uniongyrchol drwy’r cyflenwyr ynni.
O ran Pen y Cymoedd a ffermydd gwynt eraill, a’r pecynnau mawr iawn o fuddion cymunedol a ddaw yn eu sgil, nid yw’r rheini’n cael eu gwneud drwy’r awdurdodau lleol, fe’u gwneir drwy gonsortia cymunedol. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’r diwydiant datblygwyr, a chyfarfûm â RenewableUK Cymru cyn y Nadolig yng ngwesty'r Celtic Manor, yn eu cynhadledd yno, i drafod beth arall y gallem ei wneud ar gyfer y cynlluniau budd cymunedol. Mae rhai cyfyngiadau: ni allwch ddefnyddio cynllun budd cymunedol i leihau bil ynni yn unig, er enghraifft. Ni chaniateir hynny o fewn y rheolau. Ond nid oes unrhyw beth o gwbl i'ch atal rhag defnyddio cynllun budd cymunedol i ôl-osod tai er mwyn eu gwneud yn fwy effeithlon o ran ynni. Ond mater i'r gymuned leol yw dod i'r casgliad hwnnw. Felly, drwy Ynni Cymru a mentrau eraill, rydym wedi bod yn defnyddio galluogwyr lleol i annog y cymunedau i ddod ynghyd i ddeall beth sy’n bosibl a beth y gallai’r gwaith ôl-osod ei gynnig ac i ddefnyddio’r cynlluniau budd cymunedol yn y ffyrdd hynny. Oherwydd ledled Cymru, mae gennym waith ardderchog wedi'i wneud ar neuaddau pentref a thimau chwaraeon a phopeth arall—mae hynny'n wych, ond nid oes ganddynt hirhoedledd rhywfaint o’r cynlluniau eraill. Roeddwn yn falch iawn fod y datblygwyr yn hapus iawn ac yn datblygu rhywbeth y maent yn ei alw'n ‘wasanaeth safon aur’, i roi’r mathau hynny o fentrau yn y cynlluniau budd cymunedol. Ond byddent yn ategu’r holl gyllid arall—nid yw’r naill yn atal y llall.
I refer Members to my declaration of interest in terms of property ownership, and I understand I'm not the only one who should be declaring. As you know, Minister, there are thousands—
Cyfeiriaf yr Aelodau at fy natganiad o fuddiant ynghylch perchnogaeth eiddo, a deallaf nad fi yw'r unig un a ddylai fod yn datgan. Fel y gwyddoch, Weinidog, mae miloedd—
You don't need to refer to other people's declarations; just refer to your own, please.
Nid oes angen ichi gyfeirio at ddatganiadau pobl eraill; cyfeiriwch at eich datganiadau eich hun, os gwelwch yn dda.
I seem to be the only Member at the moment, though, actually making these declarations.
As you know, Minister, there are thousands of empty properties that could be made into lovely homes. The Leasing Scheme Wales programme provides support to landlords entering the scheme, with additional funding to improve the decarbonisation of those privately rented homes. Now, only 16 local authorities have signed up over the last two financial years, and only 60 grants have been awarded—that's less than three a month. Property owners and, indeed, private landlords have made it very clear to me that they would happily refurb properties into homes and to include the decarbonisation scheme if they were helped by Welsh Government. Will you help to maximise the take-up of Leasing Scheme Wales and other ECO schemes available, and provide more funding as part of your recent increased funding in the budget to homeless prevention? Diolch.
Ond ymddengys mai fi yw'r unig Aelod, ar hyn o bryd, sy'n gwneud y datganiadau hyn.
Fel y gwyddoch, Weinidog, ceir miloedd o eiddo gwag y gellid eu troi’n gartrefi hyfryd. Mae rhaglen Cynllun Lesio Cymru yn rhoi cymorth i landlordiaid sy’n ymuno â’r cynllun, gyda chyllid ychwanegol i wella mesurau datgarboneiddio’r tai rhent preifat hynny. Nawr, dim ond 16 o awdurdodau lleol sydd wedi ymuno â'r cynllun dros y ddwy flynedd ariannol ddiwethaf, a dim ond 60 o grantiau a roddwyd—mae hynny'n llai na thri y mis. Mae perchnogion eiddo, ac yn wir, landlordiaid preifat wedi dweud wrthyf yn glir iawn y byddent yn fwy na pharod i adnewyddu eiddo'n gartrefi ac i gynnwys y cynllun datgarboneiddio pe baent yn cael cymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru. A wnewch chi helpu i sicrhau bod cynifer o bobl â phosibl yn manteisio ar Gynllun Lesio Cymru a chynlluniau ECO eraill sydd ar gael, a darparu mwy o gyllid fel rhan o’ch cynnydd diweddar mewn cyllid yn y gyllideb i atal digartrefedd? Diolch.
So, we've actually had a couple more authorities join Leasing Scheme Wales very recently. Of course, the very welcome uplift of the local housing allowance in April will really help, because the way that Leasing Scheme Wales works is that we guarantee the local housing amount for rent to the landlord. The landlord then hands over the property to the local authority, or to an RSL locally, and we run it as if it's a social home. It's a minimum of five years; we'd prefer the 10 or 15-year period, though, for obvious reasons. The landlord then gets back a house where they've had an income all the way through that period, but which comes back to them in a better state than when they gave it over. We very much want to encourage people to do that. I will say, Janet, that we have not yet got any indication at all whether the local housing allowance will be uplifted in April for one year or for more years, and that makes a real difference. So, actually, one of the biggest barriers we've got is not understanding whether the LHA will continue to rise with inflation, which would make it a lot more attractive, or whether, actually, it's going to get frozen again. So, that is a bit of a barrier. So, I'm currently working with the UK Government to try and get some clarity on that—there hasn't been, so if you can assist with that, that would be helpful.
Felly, mewn gwirionedd, mae dau awdurdod arall newydd ymuno â Chynllun Lesio Cymru yn ddiweddar iawn. Wrth gwrs, bydd y codiad calonogol iawn yn y lwfans tai lleol ym mis Ebrill yn gymorth mawr, gan mai'r ffordd y mae Cynllun Lesio Cymru yn gweithio yw drwy warantu swm y lwfans tai lleol ar gyfer rhent i’r landlord. Yna, mae’r landlord yn trosglwyddo’r eiddo i’r awdurdod lleol, neu i landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig lleol, ac rydym yn ei redeg fel pe bai’n gartref cymdeithasol. Mae'n isafswm o bum mlynedd; byddai'n well gennym gyfnod o 10 neu 15 mlynedd, serch hynny, am resymau amlwg. Yna, mae'r landlord yn cael tŷ yn ôl lle maent wedi cael incwm drwy gydol y cyfnod hwnnw, ond sy'n dod yn ôl iddynt mewn gwell cyflwr na phan gafodd ei drosglwyddo. Rydym yn awyddus iawn i annog pobl i wneud hynny. Janet, rwyf am ddweud nad ydym wedi cael unrhyw arwydd o gwbl eto a fydd y lwfans tai lleol yn cael ei godi ym mis Ebrill am flwyddyn neu am fwy o flynyddoedd, ac mae hynny’n gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, un o'r rhwystrau mwyaf sy'n ein hwynebu yw diffyg dealltwriaeth ynglŷn ag a fydd y lwfans tai lleol yn parhau i godi gyda chwyddiant, a fyddai'n ei wneud yn llawer mwy deniadol, neu a yw'n mynd i gael ei rewi unwaith eto. Felly, mae hynny’n dipyn o rwystr. Felly, rwy'n gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd i geisio rhywfaint o eglurder ar hynny—ni chafwyd unrhyw eglurder hyd yn hyn, felly os gallwch gynorthwyo gyda hynny, byddai hynny'n ddefnyddiol.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau i wella gorsaf drenau Rhiwabon? OQ60504
2. Will the Minister provide an update on plans to improve Ruabon railway station? OQ60504
Yes. Thank you to Ken Skates, who has been a consistent champion of Ruabon station, and we agree it has great potential, serving a wide area and is the rail gateway to the world heritage site at Pontcysyllte. We continue to press the UK Government for funding of the delivery of a new Access for All bridge at the station.
Iawn. Diolch i Ken Skates, sydd wedi bod yn hyrwyddwr cyson ar ran gorsaf Rhiwabon, ac rydym yn cytuno bod ganddi botensial mawr, gan ei bod yn gwasanaethu ardal eang ac fel porth ar gyfer trenau i safle treftadaeth y byd ym Mhontcysyllte. Rydym yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i ariannu’r gwaith o ddarparu pont Mynediad i Bawb newydd yn yr orsaf.
Thank you, Minister. I commend you for your perfect pronunciation of the world heritage site. As you know, the Welsh Government has worked incredibly hard, and you personally, to try to get the improvements necessary at Ruabon station. But, back in November, there was the announcement of six stations in Wales that will receive upgrades, and Ruabon was not amongst them. Could you identify the reasons why you believe Ruabon station has not yet benefited from the upgrades that so many passengers require of the station? Is it a problem with Network Rail or the UK Government, because I do understand that Transport for Wales has been pretty consistent in supporting the necessary works? Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog. Rwy'n eich canmol am eich ynganiad perffaith o enw'r safle treftadaeth y byd. Fel y gwyddoch, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithio’n anhygoel o galed, a chithau’n bersonol, i geisio gwneud y gwelliannau angenrheidiol yng ngorsaf Rhiwabon. Ond yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd, cafwyd cyhoeddiad am chwe gorsaf yng Nghymru a fydd yn cael eu huwchraddio, ac nid oedd Rhiwabon yn eu plith. A allech chi nodi’r rhesymau pam y credwch nad yw gorsaf Rhiwabon wedi elwa eto o’r gwaith uwchraddio y mae cymaint o deithwyr angen iddo fynd rhagddo yn yr orsaf? A yw’n broblem gyda Network Rail neu Lywodraeth y DU, gan y deallaf fod Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi cefnogi’r gwaith angenrheidiol yn gyson? Diolch.
Thank you for the question. I can confirm that Ruabon station is one of our top priorities for delivery in Wales through the UK Government's Access for All scheme. Transport for Wales are working closely with Network Rail on that, and a final outline design is due at the end of March. So, I think we're doing everything we can at our end. But I think the fact of the matter is just that the UK Government is not standing up for north Wales when it comes to key infrastructure investment. A new accessible bridge at Ruabon would make a significant difference there, but we can only take it forward if the UK Government funds it. Rail is not devolved to Wales; it is a UK responsibility, and I'm bound to ask what are all those Tory MPs in north Wales doing if they can't deliver funding for a modest investment like this. Now, thankfully, there is investment in rail in north Wales, but it's from the Welsh Labour Government. The majority of services at Ruabon are now operated using our new class 197 trains, which is a result of our £800 million investment in new fleets. But, again, we are worried that their performance could well be undermined by the UK Government, through Network Rail, cutting its maintenance budgets for the years ahead, which will directly impact on the reliability of trains and their ability to stick to the timetable. So, despite our efforts, there's a danger that's being undermined.
Now, the UK Government set out, through its union connectivity review, led by Lord Peter Hendy, a recommendation that we look at the whole north Wales corridor in terms of transport. And we've done that, and, just recently, Lord Burns and his north Wales transport commission published its detailed recommendations—some 60 recommendations. A number of those relating to rail are the responsibility of the UK Government, and we now want to work with the UK Government on a pipeline of schemes that can be funded, some by us, some by them, to improve transport across north Wales. And the recommended upgrade at Chester station, to allow five trains per hour, including an express service into north Wales, is a critical part of that.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Gallaf gadarnhau bod gorsaf Rhiwabon yn un o’n prif flaenoriaethau ar gyfer cyflawni yng Nghymru drwy gynllun Mynediad i Bawb Llywodraeth y DU. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio’n agos gyda Network Rail ar hynny, a disgwylir cynllun amlinellol terfynol ddiwedd mis Mawrth. Felly, credaf ein bod yn gwneud popeth a allwn yn ein pen ni. Ond credaf mai’r gwir amdani yw nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn cyflawni ar ran gogledd Cymru o ran buddsoddi mewn seilwaith allweddol. Byddai pont hygyrch newydd yn Rhiwabon yn gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol yno, ond ni allwn fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwnnw oni bai fod Llywodraeth y DU yn ei ariannu. Nid yw rheilffyrdd wedi’u datganoli i Gymru; maent yn gyfrifoldeb i’r DU, ac mae'n rhaid imi ofyn beth mae’r holl ASau Torïaidd hynny yng ngogledd Cymru yn ei wneud os na allant ddarparu cyllid ar gyfer buddsoddiad cymedrol o'r fath. Nawr, diolch byth, mae buddsoddiad yn cael ei wneud mewn rheilffyrdd yn y gogledd, ond mae'n cael ei wneud gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o'r gwasanaethau yn Rhiwabon bellach yn cael eu gweithredu gan ddefnyddio ein trenau dosbarth 197 newydd o ganlyniad i’n buddsoddiad o £800 miliwn mewn fflydoedd newydd. Ond unwaith eto, rydym yn poeni y gallai eu perfformiad gael ei danseilio'n hawdd gan Lywodraeth y DU, wrth i Network Rail dorri eu cyllidebau cynnal a chadw ar gyfer y blynyddoedd i ddod, a fydd yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar ddibynadwyedd trenau a’u gallu i gadw at yr amserlen. Felly, er gwaethaf ein hymdrechion, mae perygl fod hynny'n cael ei danseilio.
Nawr, mae Llywodraeth y DU, drwy ei hadolygiad o gysylltedd yr undeb, o dan arweiniad yr Arglwydd Peter Hendy, wedi nodi argymhelliad ein bod yn edrych ar goridor gogledd Cymru yn ei gyfanrwydd o ran trafnidiaeth. Ac rydym wedi gwneud hynny, ac yn ddiweddar, mae'r Arglwydd Burns a'i gomisiwn trafnidiaeth gogledd Cymru wedi cyhoeddi eu hargymhellion manwl—oddeutu 60 o argymhellion. Mae nifer o’r rheini sy’n ymwneud â rheilffyrdd yn gyfrifoldeb i Lywodraeth y DU, ac rydym yn dymuno gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfres o gynlluniau y gellir eu hariannu, rhai gennym ni, rhai ganddynt hwy, i wella trafnidiaeth ar draws gogledd Cymru. Ac mae'r gwaith uwchraddio a argymhellir yng ngorsaf Caer, i ganiatáu pum trên yr awr, gan gynnwys gwasanaeth cyflym i ogledd Cymru, yn rhan hollbwysig o hynny.
Thank you, Llywydd, for the opportunity to respond to the Deputy Minister's response there. I'm very disappointed to hear the Deputy Minister so easily forget that the UK Government has committed £1 billion of rail investment to north Wales. So, rather than standing there slating the lack of investment from the UK Government, there's £1 billion on the table, which will make such a difference to residents that I represent.
Specifically in relation to Ruabon station, the Deputy Minister will be aware, of course, that it is an important part of the north Wales metro, which you referenced, I guess, in your response to Ken Skates. But, of course, the north Wales metro currently has around £50 million earmarked from the Welsh Government, whereas the south Wales metro has around £700 million earmarked for it. So, I guess, if there was a real desire to see things improve in north Wales, there'd be a further commitment from Welsh Government to improve areas in north Wales with the metro. But, going back to Ruabon station specifically, I wonder, Deputy Minister, if you could outline which meetings you have been having with the UK Government to help see that investment accelerated at Ruabon station so that my residents and, in particular, people with disabilities will have easy access to the station.
Diolch am y cyfle i ymateb i ymateb y Dirprwy Weinidog yno, Lywydd. Rwy’n siomedig iawn o glywed y Dirprwy Weinidog yn anghofio mor hawdd fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymrwymo £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad mewn rheilffyrdd yng ngogledd Cymru. Felly, yn hytrach na sefyll yno'n cwyno am y diffyg buddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth y DU, mae £1 biliwn ar y bwrdd, a fydd yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth i'r trigolion rwy'n eu cynrychioli.
Yn benodol mewn perthynas â gorsaf Rhiwabon, bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, ei bod yn rhan bwysig o fetro gogledd Cymru, fel y nodwyd gennych yn eich ymateb i Ken Skates. Ond wrth gwrs, ar hyn o bryd, mae oddeutu £50 miliwn wedi'i glustnodi gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer metro gogledd Cymru, tra bo oddeutu £700 miliwn wedi'i glustnodi ar gyfer metro de Cymru. Felly, pe bai gwir awydd i weld pethau'n gwella yn y gogledd, byddai ymrwymiad pellach gan Lywodraeth Cymru i wella ardaloedd o ogledd Cymru gyda'r metro. Ond gan ddychwelyd at orsaf Rhiwabon yn benodol, Ddirprwy Weinidog, tybed a allech amlinellu pa gyfarfodydd rydych wedi bod yn eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU i helpu i gyflymu’r buddsoddiad yng ngorsaf Rhiwabon fel bod fy nhrigolion, ac yn enwedig, pobl ag anableddau yn cael mynediad hawdd i'r orsaf.
Well, I give Sam Rowlands top marks for brass neck there. Rail infrastructure is not devolved to Wales. It is the responsibility of the UK Government, and they simply are not delivering for Wales in general, and north Wales in particular. Now, he says that the Prime Minister has committed £1 billion for rail in north Wales through the electrification of the main line. Now, first of all, he hasn't, because he simply said it was an example of the sort of money that could be spent. Secondly, we'll remember their promise to electrify the railway line in south Wales, which they broke the promise of. So, I don't think we can put any store on that at all. And our cynicism can be further deepened by the fact that there is no preparatory work at all behind this eye-catching announcement. So, it's complete fantasy. Network Rail haven't done any preparation work. The Department for Transport hasn't done any preparation work. This is a fantasy that he is quite happy to latch onto for electioneering purposes, knowing full well it ain't gonna happen under this Government, and, in fact, some of the things that we have agreed with the Department for Transport are priorities, like the upgrade at Chester, which would bring help for north Wales passengers in the short term, simply are being ignored by the UK Government. So, I'm afraid, nice try, but not supported by the facts.
Wel, marciau llawn i Sam Rowlands am hyfdra. Nid yw seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi’i ddatganoli i Gymru. Mae'n gyfrifoldeb i Lywodraeth y DU, ac yn syml iawn, nid ydynt yn cyflawni dros Gymru yn gyffredinol, a gogledd Cymru yn benodol. Nawr, dywed fod Prif Weinidog y DU wedi ymrwymo £1 biliwn ar gyfer rheilffyrdd yn y gogledd drwy drydaneiddio’r brif linell reilffordd. Nawr, yn gyntaf oll, nid yw wedi gwneud hynny, gan mai'r unig beth a wnaeth oedd dweud bod hynny'n enghraifft o'r math o arian y gellid ei wario. Yn ail, byddwn yn cofio eu haddewid i drydaneiddio’r rheilffordd yn ne Cymru, addewid y gwnaethant ei dorri. Felly, ni chredaf y gallwn fod ag unrhyw hyder o gwbl yn hynny. Ac mae ein sinigiaeth yn dyfnhau ymhellach am nad oes unrhyw waith paratoi o gwbl y tu ôl i’r cyhoeddiad deniadol hwn. Felly, mae'n ffantasi llwyr. Nid yw Network Rail wedi gwneud unrhyw waith paratoi. Nid yw'r Adran Drafnidiaeth wedi gwneud unrhyw waith paratoi. Mae hon yn ffantasi y mae'n ddigon parod i'w defnyddio at ddibenion etholiadol, gan wybod yn iawn na fydd yn digwydd o dan y Llywodraeth hon, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae rhai o'r pethau yr ydym wedi cytuno arnynt gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth fel blaenoriaethau, fel y gwaith uwchraddio yng Nghaer, a fyddai’n darparu cymorth i deithwyr gogledd Cymru yn y tymor byr, yn cael eu hanwybyddu gan Lywodraeth y DU. Felly, mae arnaf ofn, ymgais lew, ond nid un a gefnogir gan y ffeithiau.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr heddiw, Natasha Asghar.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Natasha Asghar.
Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Deputy Minister, it might be a new year, but, as expected, the enormous level of anger, frustration and opposition to your costly 20 mph project continues to grow. Despite nearly 0.5 million people signing a petition to have the £33 million-venture axed, and countless protests taking place, including the one outside the Welsh Parliament here today, Labour Ministers are still refusing to do the right thing. Messages coming from Labour Ministers, particularly around enforcement and prosecution, have been, as my leader so perfectly put it, clear as mud. Presiding Officer, the Deputy Minister might try to blame the Welsh Conservatives for causing confusion over this policy—as he did last week—but the truth of the matter is the blame firmly lies at his door. Yet again, instead of accepting responsibility for his mistakes, the Deputy Minister points the blame elsewhere. Quite frankly, the roll-out of this vanity project has been nothing short of a shambolic process, with the Welsh Government continuing to cause complete confusion. So, Deputy Minister, being a new year, will you kick the new year off the right way and give the people of Wales what they want by rescinding this ridiculous 20 mph vanity project?
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Ddirprwy Weinidog, efallai ei bod yn flwyddyn newydd, ond yn ôl y disgwyl, mae lefel aruthrol y dicter, y rhwystredigaeth a’r gwrthwynebiad i’ch prosiect 20 mya costus yn parhau i dyfu. Er bod bron i 0.5 miliwn o bobl wedi llofnodi deiseb i ddiddymu'r fenter £33 miliwn, a phrotestiadau di-rif wedi'u cynnal, gan gynnwys yr un yma heddiw y tu allan i Senedd Cymru, mae Gweinidogion Llafur yn dal i wrthod gwneud y peth iawn. Mae'r negeseuon gan Weinidogion Llafur, yn enwedig ynghylch gorfodi ac erlyn, wedi bod, fel y dywedodd fy arweinydd mor berffaith, mor glir â mwd. Lywydd, efallai y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn ceisio beio’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig am beri dryswch ynghylch y polisi hwn—fel y gwnaeth yr wythnos diwethaf—ond y gwir amdani yw mai ef sydd ar fai. Unwaith eto, yn hytrach na derbyn cyfrifoldeb am ei gamgymeriadau, mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog yn taflu'r bai ar eraill. A dweud y gwir, mae cyflwyno’r prosiect porthi balchder hwn wedi bod yn broses hynod anhrefnus, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i achosi dryswch llwyr. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, a hithau’n flwyddyn newydd, a wnewch chi ddechrau'r flwyddyn newydd yn y ffordd iawn a rhoi’r hyn y mae pobl Cymru ei eisiau iddynt drwy ddiddymu'r prosiect porthi balchder 20 mya hurt?
Well, a happy new year to Natasha Asghar as well. I was reminded, listening to that, of the article in today's Nation.Cymru, which talks about the very high turnover of staff in the Conservative office. But the quote that really stuck out to me was about Andrew R.T. Davies—and I think it may apply to her as well—where an ex-staffer is quoted as saying he's not the
'kind of politician who's interested in getting practical policies worked up. What he loves most of all is having a go at the Welsh Government over issues like the 20mph speed limit'.
And I think that is spot on, and she has given exhibit A for the prosecution today.
As we discussed last week, there was cross-party support in this Senedd for taking a default speed limit approach. Rather than doing a street-by-street approach, which was not practical and much more expensive, the expert panel that we established recommended a whole-area approach, and that was supported in this Senedd, including by Laura Anne Jones, by Russell George and by a number of other Welsh Conservatives. [Interruption.] Now, Laura Anne Jones is trying to run away from the record but, if she looks at the motion she supported, it makes it very clear that it supported the approach of the Phil Jones report, which backed a default speed limit. And Laura Anne Jones is now telling the Chamber that I am misleading, which I am not, Llywydd, and I resent that; it's a matter of record.
Wel, blwyddyn newydd dda i Natasha Asghar hefyd. Cefais fy atgoffa, wrth wrando ar hynny, o’r erthygl ar Nation.Cymru heddiw, sy’n sôn am y trosiant uchel iawn o staff yn swyddfa’r Ceidwadwyr. Ond roedd y dyfyniad a arhosodd gyda mi yn ymwneud ag Andrew R.T. Davies—a chredaf y gallai fod yn berthnasol iddi hithau hefyd—lle dyfynnir cyn-aelod o staff yn dweud nad yw Andrew R.T. Davies
'y math o wleidydd sydd â diddordeb mewn llunio polisïau ymarferol. Yr hyn y mae'n ei garu yn fwy na dim yw ymosod ar Lywodraeth Cymru am faterion fel y terfyn cyflymder 20mya'.
A chredaf fod hynny'n hollol gywir, ac mae hi wedi arddangos hynny'n glir heddiw.
Fel y buom yn ei drafod yr wythnos diwethaf, cafwyd cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol yn y Senedd hon i fabwysiadu dull terfyn cyflymder diofyn. Yn hytrach na dull gweithredu fesul stryd anymarferol a drytach o lawer, argymhellodd y panel arbenigol a sefydlwyd gennym ddull gweithredu ardal gyfan, a chefnogwyd hynny yn y Senedd hon, gan gynnwys gan Laura Anne Jones, gan Russell George, a chan nifer o Geidwadwyr Cymreig eraill. [Torri ar draws.] Nawr, mae Laura Anne Jones yn ceisio dianc rhag y cofnod, ond pe bai'n edrych ar y cynnig a gefnogodd, mae’n dangos yn glir iawn ei fod yn cefnogi dull adroddiad Phil Jones, a oedd yn cefnogi terfyn cyflymder diofyn. Ac mae Laura Anne Jones yn dweud wrth y Siambr nawr fy mod yn camarwain, ac nid wyf yn gwneud hynny, Lywydd, ac mae hynny'n fy nigio; mae hyn wedi'i gofnodi.
Allow the Deputy Minister to respond.
Gadewch i’r Dirprwy Weinidog ymateb.
It is a matter of record—the approach taken in the recommendation of a motion in this Chamber, which was supported by the Conservatives, as it was supported by other parties. Now, we've moved on to the next phase of that, of working up the detail of that, and we have much rehearsed these arguments in this Chamber, and the position stands. We accept that the implementation of this in every community is not as it will end up being, I am sure, because local authorities will want to take advantage of four months of experience of living with the speed limit to revise some of the roads. So, for example, I was driving on the weekend in Cardiff, down Lloyd George Avenue, and I was surprised to see that Lloyd George Avenue is a 20 mph road. Now, the guidelines say that a street within 200m of housing would be expected to be 20 mph unless there was a good case otherwise. Now, of course, Lloyd George Avenue is within 200m of houses, and so you can see why, in a very literal interpretation of the guidance, that decision has been made. But, of course, there is a large hedge, there is a very wide pavement, there is a cycle lane. Now, from my point of view and of the sniff test that I've previously discussed, that would seem to me to be a prime candidate for revision, and there'll be examples like that across Wales, I'm sure. We want to get to a point where this policy settles down, where people get used to it. People are already driving slower, and as part of that process, there will be streets, of course, where councils will want to make changes, and that's as it should be. But that's a serious policy, that's a debate about implementation; it's not a debate about slogans, and it's not a debate about generating social media traffic, encouraged by Conservative colleagues in England.
Mae hyn wedi'i gofnodi—y dull gweithredu a ddefnyddiwyd yn dilyn argymhelliad mewn cynnig yn y Siambr hon, a gefnogwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr, fel y’i cefnogwyd gan bleidiau eraill. Nawr, rydym wedi symud ymlaen i'r cam nesaf yn hynny o beth, a gweithio ar y manylion, ac rydym wedi cael y dadleuon hyn sawl tro yn y Siambr, ac mae'r safbwynt yr un fath. Rydym yn derbyn nad yw hyn ar waith ym mhob cymuned fel y bydd ar waith yn y pen draw, mae’n siŵr, gan y bydd awdurdodau lleol yn awyddus i fanteisio ar bedwar mis o brofiad o fyw gyda’r terfyn cyflymder i adolygu rhai o’r ffyrdd. Felly, er enghraifft, roeddwn yn gyrru ar y penwythnos yng Nghaerdydd, ar Rodfa Lloyd George, ac roeddwn yn synnu wrth weld bod Rhodfa Lloyd George yn ffordd 20 mya. Nawr, mae'r canllawiau'n dweud y byddai disgwyl i stryd o fewn 200m i dai fod yn 20 mya oni bai fod achos da fel arall. Nawr, wrth gwrs, mae Rhodfa Lloyd George o fewn 200m i dai, ac felly gallwch weld pam, mewn dehongliad llythrennol iawn o’r canllawiau, y gwnaed y penderfyniad hwnnw. Ond wrth gwrs, ceir perth fawr, ceir palmant llydan iawn, ceir lôn feicio. Nawr, o'm rhan i a'r prawf synnwyr cyffredin a drafodais yn flaenorol, ymddengys i mi y byddai'r ffordd honno'n enghraifft berffaith o ffordd y dylid ei hadolygu, a bydd enghreifftiau o'r fath i'w cael ledled Cymru, rwy'n siŵr. Hoffem gyrraedd pwynt lle mae’r polisi hwn yn ymsefydlu, lle mae pobl yn dod i arfer ag ef. Mae pobl eisoes yn gyrru’n arafach, ac fel rhan o’r broses honno, bydd yna strydoedd, wrth gwrs, lle bydd cynghorau'n dymuno gwneud newidiadau, ac felly y dylai fod. Ond mae hwnnw'n bolisi difrifol, mae honno'n ddadl ynglŷn â gweithredu; nid yw’n ddadl am sloganau, ac nid yw’n ddadl am gynhyrchu traffig ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, wedi’i hannog gan Geidwadwyr yn Lloegr.
Wow. I don't even know where to begin with that, Deputy Minister. Firstly, I am fully aware that you have got a leadership contest happening amongst your party members. But for the record, you are the Deputy Minister of transport, not the Deputy Minister or Minister for human resources, God help our souls, so that's not going to be happening. For now, let me just carry on with transport, which is what we're here to discuss today.
Now, I was very disappointed about the answer that you just gave. Fear not, though, because the Labour Government has ordered a review into this disastrous 20 mph scheme. And which open-minded individual have they talked about leading this review? Unbelievably, Phil Jones, the same man who recommended the Welsh Government introduce this policy in the first place. You really couldn't make this up if you wanted to. This is simply a case of the Welsh Government marking its own homework when it comes to this policy. As far as I am concerned, we don't need a review. We need this policy scrapped, as we can already see the huge damage it's inflicting on Wales with a £9 billion blow to the economy, hampering people's livelihoods, damaging public transport networks and slowing down our emergency services. Regardless of what you're going to argue with me, Deputy Minister, it's the truth. But nevertheless, Deputy Minister, how on earth do you think this looks to the public—the public outside of this Chamber—that you've instructed a man who was instrumental in introducing this major policy, which has proved to be extremely controversial, to actually lead this review going forward?
Waw. Nid wyf yn gwybod ble i ddechrau gyda hynny, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Yn gyntaf, rwy'n gwbl ymwybodol fod gennych gystadleuaeth arweinyddiaeth ar y gweill ymhlith aelodau eich plaid. Ond ar gyfer y cofnod, chi yw’r Dirprwy Weinidog trafnidiaeth, nid y Dirprwy Weinidog na’r Gweinidog adnoddau dynol, Duw a'n helpo, felly nid yw hynny’n mynd i ddigwydd. Am y tro, gadewch imi barhau â thrafnidiaeth, sef yr hyn rydym yma i'w drafod heddiw.
Nawr, roeddwn yn siomedig iawn gyda'r ateb rydych newydd ei roi. Na phoener, serch hynny, gan fod y Llywodraeth Lafur wedi gorchymyn adolygiad o’r cynllun 20 mya trychinebus hwn. A pha unigolyn diduedd y maent wedi awgrymu y gallai arwain yr adolygiad hwn? Yn anghredadwy, Phil Jones, yr un dyn a argymhellodd y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno’r polisi hwn yn y lle cyntaf. Ni allech greu stori o'r fath pe baech yn ceisio. Mater yw hwn o Lywodraeth Cymru yn marcio ei gwaith cartref ei hun mewn perthynas â’r polisi hwn. Yn fy marn i, nid oes angen adolygiad arnom. Mae angen diddymu'r polisi hwn, gan y gallwn eisoes weld y niwed enfawr y mae’n ei wneud i Gymru, gydag ergyd o £9 biliwn i’r economi, gan amharu ar fywoliaeth pobl, niweidio rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac arafu ein gwasanaethau brys. Ni waeth beth yw eich dadl, Ddirprwy Weinidog, dyna'r gwir. Ond serch hynny, Ddirprwy Weinidog, sut ar y ddaear y credwch y mae hyn yn edrych i’r cyhoedd—y cyhoedd y tu allan i’r Siambr hon—eich bod wedi cyfarwyddo dyn a oedd yn allweddol wrth gyflwyno’r polisi pwysig hwn, sydd wedi bod yn hynod ddadleuol, i arwain yr adolygiad hwn wrth symud ymlaen?
Well, you are impugning the reputation of a highly regarded professional across the transport industry in the UK with no basis at all. So, for the record, Phil Jones did not recommend the policy to the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government's policy was set. We asked Phil Jones to look into how it would best be implemented, working with a range of stakeholders and the people who would be charged with making this work in practice, and the clear mission was to come up with something that was workable. And he spent over a year coming up with that report and it recommended a default approach, which was endorsed in principle by the Conservatives in this Senedd Chamber. [Interruption.] Now, as soon as we start—[Interruption.]—as soon as we start then looking at how this is implemented in practice, of course there are people who are going to be disagreeing with that and, of course, the Conservatives seize a chance to again inflame opinion and try and get some popularity to disguise the fact their Government in the UK has wrecked the UK economy. So, again we're having smoke and mirror tactics from the Conservative benches. They have no constructive suggestions of their own about how to tackle road safety. They have no constructive suggestions of their own of how to achieve modal shift. They have no constructive suggestions of their own how to reduce noise pollution in communities. And despite all her claims that this is a deeply unpopular policy, cars are driving slower, people are complying with the spirit of the new law. This is popular in many streets and, in fact, some streets that have been exempted and kept at 30 mph—there are people living on those streets who are making the case to their local authority to reduce them to 20 mph.
So, this is going to be a period of flex and flux, as we look at looking at the implementation and how we iron out any inconsistencies. That's a normal process for any large-scale change. It was always our intention—in fact, we announced it some time ago—that we review this as it went along. Local authorities have the power, at any time. In fact, Neath Port Talbot Council have already carried out a review of its roads in the light of experience, and we encourage others to do the same, just as we encourage members of the public to feed back to local authorities which roads they think need looking at again. This can be done in a sensible, measured, responsible way, but, as the quote from the ex-staffer said, this is not about getting practical policies worked up, this is about having a go at the Welsh Government—because that's all the Welsh Conservatives are able to do.
Wel, rydych yn taflu amheuaeth ar enw da gweithiwr proffesiynol uchel ei barch ar draws y diwydiant trafnidiaeth yn y DU a hynny heb unrhyw sail o gwbl. Felly, ar gyfer y cofnod, ni wnaeth Phil Jones argymell y polisi i Lywodraeth Cymru. Roedd polisi Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi'i osod. Gofynasom i Phil Jones edrych ar y ffordd orau o’i roi ar waith, gan weithio gydag amrywiaeth o randdeiliaid a’r bobl a fyddai’n gyfrifol am wneud i hyn weithio’n ymarferol, a’r genhadaeth glir oedd meddwl am rywbeth a oedd yn ymarferol. A threuliodd dros flwyddyn yn llunio'r adroddiad hwnnw, ac argymhellodd ddull diofyn, a gymeradwywyd mewn egwyddor gan y Ceidwadwyr yn Siambr y Senedd hon. [Torri ar draws.] Nawr, cyn gynted ag y byddwn yn dechrau—[Torri ar draws.]—cyn gynted ag y byddwn yn dechrau edrych wedyn ar sut y caiff hyn ei roi ar waith yn ymarferol, bydd rhai pobl yn anghytuno â hynny wrth gwrs, ac wrth gwrs, mae’r Ceidwadwyr yn bachu ar gyfle, unwaith eto, i gynhyrfu pobl a cheisio ennill rhywfaint o boblogrwydd i guddio’r ffaith bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi dinistrio economi’r DU. Felly, unwaith eto, rydym yn cael tactegau twyllodrus ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr. Nid oes ganddynt unrhyw awgrymiadau adeiladol ynglŷn â sut i fynd i'r afael â diogelwch ar y ffyrdd. Nid oes ganddynt unrhyw awgrymiadau adeiladol ar sut i newid dulliau teithio. Nid oes ganddynt unrhyw awgrymiadau adeiladol ynghylch sut i leihau llygredd sŵn mewn cymunedau. Ac er ei holl honiadau fod hwn yn bolisi hynod amhoblogaidd, mae ceir yn gyrru'n arafach, mae pobl yn cydymffurfio ag ysbryd y gyfraith newydd. Mae hyn yn boblogaidd ar lawer o strydoedd, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae rhai strydoedd wedi'u heithrio ac wedi'u cadw ar 30 mya—mae yna bobl yn byw ar y strydoedd hynny sy'n dadlau'r achos i'w hawdurdod lleol dros eu gostwng i 20 mya.
Felly, bydd hwn yn gyfnod o hyblygrwydd ac addasu, wrth inni edrych ar y ffordd y caiff ei roi ar waith a sut i gael gwared ar unrhyw anghysondebau. Mae honno'n broses arferol ar gyfer unrhyw newid ar raddfa fawr. Ein bwriad bob amser—a dweud y gwir, fe wnaethom ei gyhoeddi beth amser yn ôl—oedd adolygu hyn wrth iddo fynd rhagddo. Mae gan awdurdodau lleol bŵer i wneud hynny, ar unrhyw adeg. Mewn gwirionedd, mae Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot eisoes wedi cynnal adolygiad o’i ffyrdd yng ngoleuni profiad, ac rydym yn annog eraill i wneud yr un peth, yn union fel rydym yn annog aelodau’r cyhoedd i roi adborth i awdurdodau lleol ynghylch y ffyrdd y credant fod angen edrych arnynt eto. Gellir gwneud hyn mewn ffordd synhwyrol, bwyllog, gyfrifol, ond fel y dywedodd y dyfyniad gan y cyn-aelod o staff, nid yw hyn yn ymwneud â llunio polisïau ymarferol, mae'n ymwneud ag ymosod ar Lywodraeth Cymru—oherwydd dyna'r cyfan y gall y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ei wneud.
Right, Deputy Minister, once again let's go back to transport, because that's what we're here to do, not talk about human resources matters.
Now, you spoke about spirit. Let's talk about spirit now: what about the spirit of the 20 mph protesters that have been outside this particular Senedd in sun, rain, hail, you name it? How many times have you gone to meet them? None. Show me some spirit today, Deputy Minister, and go and speak to them today and see what the real view is on the ground, because you've been neglecting everyone who's opposed this so far and literally buried your head in the sand since this policy was introduced.
Now, coming back to my question. We all know that your blanket 20 mph project forms part of this Government's aggressive anti-motorist agenda. As well as the 20 mph speed limits, plans are also being drawn up to punish drivers further by congestion and road charges. And we now find that these anti-driver attacks aren't just coming from Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay, with your Labour colleagues in Monmouthshire County Council wanting to kick the boot in further. Hidden away, on page 42, to be precise, of the council's local transport plan, is the idea of reintroducing the tolls on the Severn bridge. They believe that this move will, and I quote now,
'reduce journeys to/from Bristol by private car and subsequently would reduce traffic on the M4 and M48.'
End quote. I believe this move would have a devastating impact on residents, businesses and drivers, and would be the final nail in the coffin for the Welsh economy. So, Deputy Minister, out of sheer interest, do you support the return of the tolls on the M4 Severn bridge, and will you put pressure on your Labour colleagues at the council to make sure that this horrendous idea is a non-starter from day one?
Iawn, Ddirprwy Weinidog, gadewch inni fynd yn ôl at drafnidiaeth, gan mai dyna rydym yma i'w wneud, nid sôn am faterion adnoddau dynol.
Nawr, fe sonioch chi am ysbryd. Gadewch inni sôn am ysbryd nawr: beth am ysbryd y protestwyr 20 mya sydd wedi bod y tu allan i'r Senedd hon yn yr haul, glaw, cenllysg, ym mhob tywydd? Sawl gwaith yr aethoch chi i gyfarfod â nhw? Dim unwaith. Dangoswch rywfaint o ysbryd i mi heddiw, Ddirprwy Weinidog, ac ewch i siarad â nhw heddiw a gweld beth yw’r farn go iawn ar lawr gwlad, gan eich bod wedi bod yn esgeuluso pawb sydd wedi gwrthwynebu hyn hyd yma ac wedi claddu eich pen yn y tywod yn llythrennol ers i'r polisi hwn gael ei gyflwyno.
Nawr, i ddod yn ôl at fy nghwestiwn. Gŵyr pob un ohonom fod eich prosiect 20 mya cyffredinol yn rhan o agenda wrth-fodurwyr ymosodol y Llywodraeth hon. Yn ogystal â'r terfynau cyflymder 20 mya, mae cynlluniau hefyd yn cael eu llunio i gosbi gyrwyr ymhellach gyda chynlluniau codi tâl am ddefnyddio ffyrdd a thaliadau atal tagfeydd. A gwelwn bellach nad gan Weinidogion Llafur ym Mae Caerdydd yn unig y daw’r ymosodiadau gwrth-yrwyr hyn, gydag awydd eich cyd-bleidwyr Llafur yng Nghyngor Sir Fynwy i gosbi gyrwyr ymhellach. Wedi'i guddio, ar dudalen 42 i fod yn fanwl gywir, o gynllun trafnidiaeth lleol y cyngor, ceir y syniad o ailgyflwyno'r tollau ar bont Hafren. Maent yn credu y bydd y newid hwn, a dyfynnaf,
'yn lleihau nifer y siwrneiau i/o Fryste mewn ceir preifat, a byddai hynny wedyn yn lleihau traffig ar yr M4 a'r M48.'
Diwedd y dyfyniad. Credaf y byddai’r newid hwn yn cael effaith ddinistriol ar drigolion, busnesau a gyrwyr, ac yn hoelen olaf yn arch economi Cymru. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, o ddiddordeb pur, a ydych chi'n cefnogi ailgyflwyno'r tollau ar bont Hafren yr M4, ac a wnewch chi roi pwysau ar eich cyd-bleidwyr Llafur yn y cyngor i sicrhau nad yw'r syniad erchyll hwn yn cael ei roi ar waith?
Well, heaven forbid the day arrives where Natasha Asghar finds herself as transport Minister, because she clearly has no grasp of the practicalities of how transport decisions are made.
We have a responsibility to set out a regional transport plan; every part of the country has to do that. As part of that, they have to look at a range of options and do an options appraisal—that's exactly what Monmouthshire council has done, as they are legally required to do, and as part of that, they look at a whole series of things that could be applied, and they concluded, in the case of this one, that it was not a desirable way to go forward. She knows that full well. There are no plans to reintroduce tolls on the Severn bridge. There never have been plans, and it was simply looking at all the options, as is responsible to do so, and they would be failing in their job of doing a proper assessment, had they not looked at those options.
Now, we can have a serious conversation about how we tackle congestion, how we reduce carbon emissions, how we reduce deaths on the road, or we can have knockabout, where everything is twisted and taken out of context in order to wind people up. Because Natasha Asghar and the Conservatives, I'm afraid, have nothing serious or constructive to say about transport in Wales. We simply get soundbites designed to mobilise dissent.
Now, in terms of the people who are protesting against the 20 mph speed limit, I completely understand this was never going to be a universally popular policy, as the other changes to roads policy, over the years, have not been. I was only reading the other day about the protests about the Belisha beacons that were introduced in the 1930s—protests as there were, and indeed death threats, to the transport Minister, Barbara Castle, who introduced the breathalyser, and about the protests of the seat belt law that was changed. And if you looked at those online, you will see very similar arguments that we are hearing today.
And so, of course, there are going to be people who do not like the idea of having to drive slower. We want to look at the impact it has on the people who live in streets, not just those people who drive through the streets, and this is an area where there has been consensus. We've had a number of Conservative Members making the case for 20 mph in their areas, and we've had the Conservative group here in the last Senedd endorsing the principle of a default approach. I'm afraid this Conservative group just simply wants to create headlines and distort the truth in order to get people worked up, and there is no basis in fact to it.
Wel, gobeithio i'r nefoedd na fydd Natasha Asghar byth yn Weinidog trafnidiaeth, gan ei bod yn amlwg nad oes ganddi unrhyw grap ar sut y caiff penderfyniadau trafnidiaeth eu gwneud yn ymarferol.
Mae gennym gyfrifoldeb i bennu cynllun trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol; mae'n rhaid i bob rhan o'r wlad wneud hynny. Yn rhan o hynny, mae’n rhaid iddynt edrych ar ystod o opsiynau a gwneud arfarniad o opsiynau—dyna’n union y mae cyngor sir Fynwy wedi’i wneud, fel y mae’n ofynnol iddynt ei wneud yn ôl y gyfraith, ac yn rhan o hynny, maent yn edrych ar gyfres gyfan o bethau y gellid eu rhoi ar waith, a daethant i'r casgliad yn yr achos hwn nad oedd yn ffordd ddymunol o fwrw ymlaen. Mae'n gwybod hynny'n iawn. Nid oes unrhyw gynlluniau i ailgyflwyno tollau ar bont Hafren. Ni fu cynlluniau erioed, ac roedd yn ymwneud ag edrych ar yr holl opsiynau, fel sy’n gyfrifol, a byddent yn methu yn eu cyfrifoldeb i gynnal asesiad cywir pe na baent wedi ystyried yr opsiynau hynny.
Nawr, gallwn gael sgwrs ddifrifol ynglŷn â sut yr awn i'r afael â thagfeydd, sut i leihau allyriadau carbon, sut i leihau marwolaethau ar y ffyrdd, neu gallwn gael anhrefn, lle mae popeth yn cael ei gamddehongli a'i dynnu allan o'i gyd-destun er mwyn cynhyrfu pobl. Oherwydd mae arnaf ofn nad oes gan Natasha Asghar a’r Ceidwadwyr unrhyw beth difrifol nac adeiladol i’w ddweud am drafnidiaeth yng Nghymru. Ni chawn unrhyw beth ond sylwadau bachog sydd wedi'u cynllunio i ysgogi gwrthdaro.
Nawr, o ran y bobl sy’n protestio yn erbyn y terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya, rwy’n deall yn llwyr nad oedd hwn byth yn mynd i fod yn bolisi poblogaidd gan bawb, dim mwy nag y bu’r newidiadau eraill i bolisi ffyrdd dros y blynyddoedd. Y diwrnod o’r blaen, roeddwn yn darllen am y protestiadau yn erbyn y goleuadau croesi Belisha a gyflwynwyd yn y 1930au—a'r protestiadau, ac yn wir, y bygythiadau i fywyd y Gweinidog trafnidiaeth, Barbara Castle, a gyflwynodd yr anadlennydd, a phrotestiadau yn erbyn y gyfraith gwregysau diogelwch a newidiwyd. A phe baech yn edrych ar y rheini ar-lein, byddech yn gweld dadleuon tebyg iawn i'r rhai a glywn heddiw.
Ac felly, wrth gwrs, bydd yna rai pobl nad ydynt yn hoffi'r syniad o orfod gyrru'n arafach. Rydym am edrych ar yr effaith y mae hynny’n ei chael ar y bobl sy’n byw ar strydoedd, nid yn unig y bobl sy’n gyrru ar y strydoedd, ac mae hwn yn faes lle cafwyd consensws. Rydym wedi cael nifer o Aelodau Ceidwadol yn dadlau’r achos dros 20 mya yn eu hardaloedd, a chawsom grŵp y Ceidwadwyr yma yn y Senedd ddiwethaf yn cymeradwyo egwyddor y dull diofyn. Mae arnaf ofn mai'r cyfan y mae grŵp y Ceidwadwyr am ei wneud yw creu penawdau ac ystumio'r gwirionedd er mwyn cynhyrfu pobl, ac nid oes unrhyw sail ffeithiol iddo.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Llywydd. Since October Transport for Wales has received a total of £236 million in additional funding. Now, the total figure of cuts made to the draft budget for 2024-25, compared with indicative budget figures, is just under £270 million, so there has been a significant shift in funding towards TfW. The Welsh Government's justification for this has been that the pandemic created a major shortfall in actual ticket sales compared with, in the term put forward by the Welsh Government, the 'ambitious' revenue projections underpinning KeolisAmey's bid for the TfW franchise in 2018. So, that information that led to those projections from KeolisAmey I think has significant public interest value, but when we submitted a freedom of information request for that information, we were told it's not currently held by the Welsh Government. So, could you, Minister, please explain why that is the case, and in the interests of transparency, would you commit to acquiring and publishing that information, please?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ers mis Hydref, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi cael cyfanswm o £236 miliwn mewn cyllid ychwanegol. Nawr, mae cyfanswm y toriadau a wnaed i’r gyllideb ddrafft ar gyfer 2024-25, o gymharu â ffigurau dangosol y gyllideb, ychydig yn llai na £270 miliwn, felly bu newid sylweddol yn y cyllid i Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Cyfiawnhad Llywodraeth Cymru am hyn yw bod y pandemig wedi creu diffyg sylweddol yn nifer y tocynnau sy'n cael eu gwerthu o gymharu, i ddefnyddio'r term a ddefnyddiwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, â’r rhagamcanion refeniw ‘uchelgeisiol’ a oedd yn sail i gais KeolisAmey ar gyfer masnachfraint Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn 2018. Felly, credaf fod gan yr wybodaeth a arweiniodd at y rhagamcanion gan KeolisAmey werth sylweddol o ran budd y cyhoedd, ond pan wnaethom gyflwyno cais rhyddid gwybodaeth am yr wybodaeth honno, dywedwyd wrthym nad yw'n cael ei chadw gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Felly, a allech chi esbonio pam, Weinidog, ac er budd tryloywder, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gaffael a chyhoeddi'r wybodaeth honno, os gwelwch yn dda?
Thank you for that. I think we've explained the underlying assumption of KeolisAmey's bid belonged to KeolisAmey. We simply do not have them, but our understanding is they had a very optimistic and ambitious set of assumptions based on a not unreasonable judgment that by introducing far more frequent and far more attractive trains, they would be able to dramatically increase passenger numbers. Now, that was not able to be put to the test because COVID came along, blew apart all those economic assumptions, and, indeed, resulted in KeolisAmey not being able to continue with the contract. So, you can say they were too optimistic in their figures, but, in a sense, it's a rather academic point, because COVID came along and made that all moot.
Now, of course, as a result of that, TfW's financial assumptions have had to be adjusted. We know the cost of building the metro and the so-called Cardiff Valleys line section, the CVL, has gone up, as indeed has every single construction project in the country because of materials and because of the cost of Brexit. So, there's obviously been an increased bill there that we've had to meet, and on top of that there is the gap in the accountancy underpinnings of the budget of TfW that was no longer there, and we had to fill it. Otherwise, we would have had to shut the railway, which wasn't a choice that we thought we could realistically make. So, we had to make that adjustment.
Diolch. Credaf ein bod wedi egluro mai KeolisAmey yn unig a ŵyr beth oedd y rhagdybiaethau a oedd yn sail i gais KeolisAmey. Yn syml, nid yw'r wybodaeth honno gennym, ond yn ôl ein dealltwriaeth, roedd ganddynt gyfres optimistaidd ac uchelgeisiol iawn o ragdybiaethau yn seiliedig ar syniad digon rhesymol y byddent, drwy gyflwyno trenau llawer amlach a llawer mwy deniadol, yn gallu cynyddu nifer y teithwyr yn sylweddol. Nawr, ni fu modd profi hynny gan i COVID gyrraedd, gan chwalu'r holl ragdybiaethau economaidd hynny, a chan arwain yn wir at fethiant KeolisAmey i barhau â'r contract. Felly, gallwch ddweud eu bod yn rhy optimistaidd yn eu ffigurau, ond ar un ystyr, mae'n bwynt academaidd braidd, oherwydd daeth COVID a gwneud hynny i gyd yn amherthnasol.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, o ganlyniad i hynny, bu’n rhaid addasu rhagybiaethau ariannol Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Gwyddom fod cost adeiladu’r metro a darn rheilffordd Cymoedd Caerdydd fel y’i gelwir wedi cynyddu, fel sy'n wir am bob prosiect adeiladu yn y wlad oherwydd deunyddiau ac oherwydd cost Brexit. Felly, mae'n amlwg ein bod wedi gorfod wynebu bil uwch, ac ar ben hynny, roedd bwlch yn seiliau cyfrifyddu cyllideb Trafnidiaeth Cymru nad oedd yno mwyach, a bu'n rhaid i ni ei lenwi. Fel arall, byddem wedi gorfod cau'r rheilffordd, nad oedd yn ddewis y credem y gallem ei wneud yn realistig. Felly, bu'n rhaid inni wneud yr addasiad hwnnw.
Thank you for that, Minister. I don't think it is just an academic question, because of this really significant effect it's had and the implications for the rest of the budget. So, I would press you again, please, to acquire and to publish that information. Now, in terms of what you've been setting out about the effect of the pandemic, I wouldn't dispute it. I don't think anyone here would dispute that, in so many ways, the way in which that affected transport would have been unexpected, largely. TfW was far from unique amongst UK rail operators in experiencing a decrease in passenger numbers because of lockdowns and other behavioural changes.
Where TfW does appear rather anomalous, though, is the level of Government funding it continues to receive to manage that fallout, when compared especially with other publicly owned rail franchises like ScotRail. Despite the fact that ScotRail passenger numbers experienced a bigger hit in absolute and proportional terms compared with TfW because of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has been able to reduce its spending on ScotRail by 11 per cent, and they say that that's because of continued recovery in passenger revenue. Can you explain why TfW is apparently so less cost-effective compared with similar franchises, and when do you expect those numbers to recover?
Now, I would say, Llywydd—I know I'm out of time—I support public investment in rail hugely. I'm just trying to find out where these discrepancies are and what can be done to address them. Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog. Ni chredaf mai cwestiwn academaidd yn unig yw hwn, oherwydd yr effaith sylweddol iawn y mae wedi'i gael a'r goblygiadau i weddill y gyllideb. Felly, hoffwn bwyso arnoch eto, os gwelwch yn dda, i gaffael a chyhoeddi'r wybodaeth honno. Nawr, ar yr hyn a nodwyd gennych am effaith y pandemig, ni fuaswn yn dadlau â hynny. Ni chredaf y byddai unrhyw un yma'n dadlau na fyddai’r ffordd yr effeithiodd hynny ar drafnidiaeth mewn cymaint o ffyrdd yn annisgwyl, i raddau helaeth. Roedd Trafnidiaeth Cymru ymhell o fod yn unigryw ymhlith gweithredwyr rheilffyrdd y DU wrth weld gostyngiad yn nifer y teithwyr oherwydd y cyfyngiadau symud a newidiadau eraill mewn ymddygiad.
Fodd bynnag, ymddengys bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn anomaledd o ran lefel y cyllid y mae’n parhau i’w gael gan y Llywodraeth i reoli canlyniadau hynny, o gymharu’n arbennig â masnachfreintiau rheilffyrdd eraill sy’n eiddo cyhoeddus fel ScotRail. Er bod niferoedd teithwyr ScotRail wedi cael ergyd fwy mewn termau absoliwt a chymesurol o gymharu â Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn sgil y pandemig, mae Llywodraeth yr Alban wedi gallu lleihau ei gwariant ar ScotRail 11 y cant, a dywedant fod hynny oherwydd adferiad parhaus mewn refeniw teithwyr. A allwch chi egluro pam fod Trafnidiaeth Cymru, i bob golwg, gymaint yn llai costeffeithiol o gymharu â masnachfreintiau tebyg, a phryd y disgwyliwch i’r niferoedd hynny godi i'r lefelau blaenorol?
Nawr, hoffwn dweud, Lywydd—gwn fod fy amser ar ben—fy mod yn cefnogi buddsoddiad cyhoeddus yn y rheilffyrdd yn frwd iawn. Rwy'n ceisio darganfod ble mae'r anghysondebau hyn a beth y gellir ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â nhw. Diolch.
Well, we're constantly challenging Transport for Wales on their performance and upon their budget numbers. That is an intense process that I’m part of, and also the board of TfW are empowered to do. It’s my understanding that their performance is not wildly out of kilter with the other franchise arrangements, which of course have all been handed back to the Department for Transport. So, the model of privatisation the Conservatives imposed on us has fallen apart, as indeed many people said at the time, and we see no humility again from the Conservatives. We’ve seen the failure of bus privatisation, which is leading to the cuts we’re seeing now. We’ve seen a failure of rail privatisation, which has seen the situation we’re facing, with lack of investment and poor performance and maintenance of the railway network.
I’m happy to look at the exact parallel that Delyth Jewell makes on ScotRail and to respond to her about that. That’s not my understanding of the situation, but I’ll pledge to find out more.
Wel, rydym yn herio Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gyson mewn perthynas â'u perfformiad a ffigurau eu cyllideb. Mae honno'n broses ddwys yr wyf yn rhan ohoni, ac mae bwrdd Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi'i rymuso i'w wneud. Yn ôl yr hyn rwy'n ei ddeall, nid yw eu perfformiad yn llawer gwaeth na'r trefniadau masnachfraint eraill, sydd wrth gwrs wedi cael eu trosglwyddo'n ôl i'r Adran Drafnidiaeth. Felly, mae'r model o breifateiddio y mae'r Ceidwadwyr wedi'i orfodi arnom wedi cwympo'n ddarnau, fel y dywedodd llawer o bobl ar y pryd, ac unwaith eto nid ydym wedi gweld unrhyw ostyngeiddrwydd gan y Ceidwadwyr. Rydym wedi gweld y camau i breifateiddio bysiau yn methu, sy'n arwain at y toriadau a welwn nawr. Rydym wedi gweld y camau i breifateiddio rheilffyrdd yn methu, sydd wedi arwain at y sefyllfa rydym yn ei hwynebu, gyda diffyg buddsoddiad, perfformiad gwael a gwaith cynnal a chadw gwael ar y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd.
Rwy'n hapus i edrych ar yr union gymhariaeth y mae Delyth Jewell yn ei wneud gyda ScotRail ac i ymateb iddi ynglŷn â hynny. Nid dyna fy nealltwriaeth i o'r sefyllfa, ond rwy'n ymrwymo i ddarganfod mwy.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr adolygiad diweddaraf o'r Mesur Teithio gan Ddysgwyr (Cymru)? OQ60526
3. Will the Minister provide an update on the latest review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure? OQ60526
Diolch. I'm currently reviewing a recommendations report based on the recent internal analysis and evaluation exercise and engagement with young people.
Diolch. Ar hyn o bryd rwy'n adolygu adroddiad argymhellion yn seiliedig ar yr ymarfer dadansoddi a gwerthuso mewnol diweddar a'r ymgysylltiad a gafwyd â phobl ifanc.
Mae'r Mesur yn rhoi dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol i wneud asesiad o anghenion teithio dysgwyr, ac mae'r Llywodraeth yn ystyried diogelwch fel rhan o'r anghenion hynny, ac mae'r canllawiau gweithredol yn awgrymu asesiadau risg o lwybrau cerdded lle bod hynny yn briodol. Y broblem yw dyw awdurdodau lleol ddim yn dehongli hynny fel gofyniad statudol, ac mae hynny yn broblem fawr, yn arbennig mewn ardal gwledig lle mae yna lawer iawn o blant yn gorfod cerdded i fannau casglu, yn aml iawn yn eithaf hir, ond hefyd ar hyd lonydd cul, ac, yn ystod y gaeaf, wrth gwrs, pan fo'n dywyll. Felly, fel rhan o'r adolygiad sydd wedi digwydd, ydy'r cwestiwn yma o sicrhau bod yna asesiadau risg, gan gynnwys o lwybrau cerdded, yn cael ei wneud yn ofyniad statudol, nid lleiaf, wrth gwrs, achos bod rhagflaenydd i chi, Edwina Hart, wedi dweud bod peidio â gwneud yr asesiadau risg yma yn dramgwydd yn erbyn Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn?
The Measure does impose a duty on local authorities to make an assessment of the transport needs of learners, and the Government considers safety as part of those needs, and the guidance does suggest risk assessments of the walking routes where that's appropriate. The problem is that local authorities don't interpret that as a statutory requirement, and that is a major problem, particularly in rural areas where many children do have to walk to gathering points, very often long distances, but also along narrow roads, and, during the winter, of course, when it's dark. So, as part of that review that has happened, is that question of ensuring that risk assessments are done, including of the walking routes, being made a statutory requirement, not least because one of your predecessors, Edwina Hart, said that not doing that risk assessment would be a breach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?
Thank you. I do know that local authorities do take this very seriously, regardless of whether it’s a statutory responsibility or not. The approach that we’re trying to take here is to try and see the journey to school not simply as a stand-alone but as part of the wider way that we approach transport across our community. So, for example, we’re investing heavily in improvements to active travel routes for walking and cycling, we’re having enhancements through regular reviews and planning of future routes to make all pedestrians feel comfortable and safe to walk for short journeys. And most young people are making relatively short journeys to school.
There are of course issues there. I, some time ago now, went on a journey from his home village of Tumble to Maes y Gwendraeth school with some schoolchildren, carrying their bags and their guitar for them, on a fairly long walking trip along a path, and I must say my back was sore by the end of it. So, I’m very sympathetic to those people who are keen to have free bus travel when they’re very close to the threshold. The reality is that we simply do not have the money to put more money into school transport at a time when our whole bus network is under incredible pressure, and also, in franchising, we want to take again a whole-community approach to this. Over a quarter of school budgets are spent on the cost of running school buses. Those buses are then not available to the rest of the community for the rest of the day, and I think it makes far more sense for us, when we are looking at planning for franchising, that we look at the whole bus network for all people, including for school pupils, and we have a coherent network that runs for all passengers, rather than trying to silo it out. Now, that is part of the ongoing work that we’re doing as we prepare for the bus Bill, and we’ll be publishing a route-map towards franchising over the coming months.
We are close to a point where we can publish the learner travel Measure review, which has been a complex and long piece of work. And I think there's much that we can do there, even within the current system, and within the current funding, that can improve the school experience for young people. But I do want, rather than simply looking at school transport in isolation, to look at the broader problems we have about travel in Wales.
Diolch. Rwy'n gwybod bod awdurdodau lleol o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn, ni waeth a yw'n gyfrifoldeb statudol ai peidio. Y dull rydym yn ceisio ei fabwysiadu yma yw peidio ag edrych ar y daith i'r ysgol fel rhywbeth ar ei ben ei hun yn unig, ond yn hytrach fel rhan o'n hymagwedd ehangach tuag at deithio ar draws ein cymuned. Felly, er enghraifft, rydym yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn gwelliannau i lwybrau teithio llesol ar gyfer cerdded a beicio, rydym yn gweld gwelliannau drwy adolygiadau rheolaidd a chynllunio llwybrau yn y dyfodol i wneud i bob cerddwr deimlo'n gyfforddus ac yn ddiogel i gerdded pellteroedd byr. Ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl ifanc yn gwneud teithiau cymharol fyr i'r ysgol.
Wrth gwrs, mae yna broblemau yno. Beth amser yn ôl erbyn hyn, euthum ar daith o'i bentref genedigol ef, y Tymbl, i ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth gyda phlant ysgol, a chario eu bagiau a'u gitâr iddynt, ar daith gerdded weddol hir ar hyd llwybr, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod fy nghefn yn brifo erbyn diwedd y daith. Felly, rwy'n cydymdeimlo'n fawr â'r bobl sy'n awyddus i deithio am ddim ar fysiau pan fyddant yn agos iawn at y trothwy. Y gwir amdani yw nad oes gennym arian i roi mwy o arian tuag at gludiant i'r ysgol ar adeg pan fo ein rhwydwaith bysiau cyfan o dan bwysau anhygoel, a hefyd, wrth fasnachfreinio, rydym eisiau mabwysiadu agwedd cymuned gyfan tuag at hyn. Mae dros chwarter cyllidebau ysgolion yn cael eu gwario ar gost rhedeg bysiau ysgol. Nid yw'r bysiau hynny ar gael i weddill y gymuned am weddill y dydd, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwneud llawer mwy o synnwyr i ni, pan fyddwn yn edrych ar gynllunio ar gyfer masnachfreinio, ein bod yn edrych ar y rhwydwaith bysiau cyfan i bawb, gan gynnwys ar gyfer disgyblion ysgol, a sicrhau bod gennym rwydwaith cydlynol ar gyfer pob teithiwr, yn hytrach na cheisio gweithio mewn seilos. Nawr, mae hynny'n rhan o'r gwaith parhaus a wnawn wrth i ni baratoi ar gyfer y Bil bysiau, a byddwn yn cyhoeddi map llwybr tuag at fasnachfreinio dros y misoedd nesaf.
Rydym yn agos at bwynt lle gallwn gyhoeddi adolygiad y Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr, sydd wedi bod yn waith cymhleth a hir. Ac rwy'n credu bod llawer y gallwn ei wneud yno, hyd yn oed o fewn y system bresennol, ac o fewn y cyllid presennol, a all wella profiad yr ysgol i bobl ifanc. Ond yn hytrach nag edrych ar gludiant i'r ysgol ar ei ben ei hun, rwyf eisiau edrych ar y problemau ehangach sydd gennym mewn perthynas â theithio yng Nghymru.
Deputy Minister, it's been years now since the learner travel Measure review and recommendations were published and I have real concerns about the direction of travel that school transport is going in. And I reiterate the calls that Adam Price just made for risk assessments to be made about children going on buses, as well as the walk routes, particularly in rural areas. Whereas putting all children on public transport in urban areas might work and might suit, it won't suit all rural areas. And there simply aren't—. No. 1, there simply aren't enough buses for children to get on where you're seeing a wraparound where children are having to wait 45 minutes before school and after school to actually get on a bus, and that, of course, has safeguarding issues, waiting in the cold and the dark, as well as the other safeguarding issues attached to that. But it's essential that we get things in place by September. We cannot repeat the mess there was at the beginning of the last school year that made many parents and many children and young people very anxious because they didn't know how they were going to get to school. So, can you reassure this Senedd, today, that you will have things in place and you will actually address and bring the recommendations to the floor of the Senedd so we can debate it? Thank you.
Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae blynyddoedd wedi mynd heibio bellach ers cyhoeddi adolygiad ac argymhellion y Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr ac mae gennyf bryderon gwirioneddol am y cyfeiriad y mae cludiant i'r ysgol yn mynd iddo. Ac rwy'n ailadrodd y galwadau a wnaeth Adam Price i gynnal asesiadau risg mewn perthynas â phlant yn mynd ar fysiau, yn ogystal â'r llwybrau cerdded, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Er y gallai rhoi pob plentyn ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn ardaloedd trefol weithio ac er y gallai fod yn addas, ni fydd yn addas ar gyfer pob ardal wledig. Ac yn syml, nid oes—. Yn gyntaf, nid oes digon o fysiau i blant fynd arnynt lle rydych yn gweld gorgyffwrdd, lle mae plant yn gorfod aros 45 munud am fws cyn ac ar ôl yr ysgol, ac mae cwestiynau diogelu yn gysylltiedig â hynny wrth gwrs, aros yn yr oerfel a'r tywyllwch, yn ogystal â materion diogelu eraill sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny. Ond mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cael pethau yn eu lle erbyn mis Medi. Ni allwn ailadrodd y llanast a welwyd ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn ysgol ddiwethaf pan oedd llawer o rieni a llawer o blant a phobl ifanc yn bryderus iawn am nad oeddent yn gwybod sut roeddent yn mynd i gyrraedd yr ysgol. Felly, a allwch chi sicrhau'r Senedd hon heddiw y byddwch yn rhoi pethau yn eu lle ac y byddwch yn mynd i'r afael â'r argymhellion ac yn dod â nhw i lawr y Senedd fel y gallwn eu trafod? Diolch.
Well, I reject the characterisation of last September. In fact, a huge amount of work went on throughout last year, which I led, to make sure that the new arrangements that we had in place for the bus system did not adversely affect on school transport routes, and worked closely with the education Minister on making sure that was the case. And it went smoothly.
In terms of the dangers of travelling on public transport in rural areas, I'm not sure there's a great deal of evidence for that. In fact, Monmouthshire County Council have a very effective system that they are running for school transport and we are keen to work with them to learn from that and from the rest of Wales.
And in terms of the broader point, then I'd be very keen to get a practical set of recommendations from Laura Anne Jones that are affordable within the austerity budgets that we have been handed down from her Government that meet the challenges that we face. Because, otherwise, this is simply hot air.
Wel, nid wyf yn derbyn eich disgrifiad o fis Medi diwethaf. Yn wir, digwyddodd llawer iawn o waith drwy gydol y llynedd, o dan fy arweiniad i, i wneud yn siŵr nad oedd y trefniadau newydd a oedd gennym ar waith ar gyfer y system fysiau yn effeithio'n andwyol ar lwybrau cludiant i'r ysgol, a gweithiais yn agos gyda'r Gweinidog addysg i sicrhau hynny. Ac fe weithiodd popeth yn llyfn.
Ar beryglon teithio ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn ardaloedd gwledig, nid wyf yn siŵr fod llawer iawn o dystiolaeth ar gyfer hynny. Yn wir, mae gan Gyngor Sir Fynwy system effeithiol iawn y maent yn ei rhedeg ar gyfer cludiant i'r ysgol ac rydym yn awyddus i weithio gyda nhw i ddysgu o hynny a chan weddill Cymru.
Ac ar y pwynt ehangach, buaswn yn awyddus iawn i gael set ymarferol o argymhellion gan Laura Anne Jones sy'n fforddiadwy o fewn y cyllidebau cyni y mae ei Llywodraeth wedi'u trosglwyddo i ni ac sy'n goresgyn yr heriau sy'n ein hwynebu. Oherwydd fel arall, nid yw hyn yn ddim mwy na siarad gwag.
4. Pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud i sicrhau tai digonol a rhent teg i bobl Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl? OQ60528
4. What work has the Welsh Government undertaken to secure adequate housing and fair rent for the people of Bridgend and Porthcawl? OQ60528
Thank you very much for the question. I'm delighted to say that Bridgend County Borough Council has just joined the Welsh Government’s Leasing Scheme Wales. This is the £30 million programme providing grants to local authorities to secure and manage safe and affordable accommodation from the private sector, including properties that were previously empty.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud bod Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr newydd ymuno â Chynllun Prydlesu Cymru Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyma'r rhaglen £30 miliwn sy'n darparu grantiau i awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau a rheoli llety diogel a fforddiadwy gan y sector preifat, yn cynnwys eiddo a arferai fod yn wag.
Thank you, Minister. That's wonderful to hear. As you know, housing being one of the biggest concerns for people across Wales, the publication of the Welsh Government's Green Paper on housing adequacy and fair rents has been welcomed and has been said to be a huge step forward by many. As we know, there are many factors needed for securing a path towards adequate housing, including fair rents and affordability, and the Bevan Foundation and many others have always said that increasing the provision of social housing is vital.
So, I am pleased that, as part of the regeneration of Porthcawl, including shops and restaurants that you visited with us over the summer, community parks and toilets, a new primary school—it's a long list—I'm really pleased that, with the help of Welsh Government and Bridgend County Borough Council, land has been secured to ensure that, as part of the planned housing development, there'll be low-carbon housing, up to half of which will be singled out to be affordable, and social housing will be prioritised.
So, Minister, will you join with me in also welcoming this opportunity to reduce pressure on our social housing waiting lists, increase opportunities for young and new home owners to remain in Porthcawl near their families if they would like to, as well as help us meet all of our low-carbon social homes targets for Wales? Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Mae hynny'n wych i'w glywed. Fel y gwyddoch, o gofio mai tai yw un o'r pryderon mwyaf i bobl ledled Cymru, mae cyhoeddi Papur Gwyrdd Llywodraeth Cymru ar ddigonolrwydd tai a rhenti teg wedi cael ei groesawu ac mae llawer wedi dweud ei fod yn gam enfawr ymlaen. Fel y gwyddom, mae angen llawer o ffactorau i sicrhau llwybr tuag at dai digonol, gan gynnwys rhenti teg a fforddiadwyedd, ac mae Sefydliad Bevan a llawer o rai eraill wedi dweud bob amser fod cynyddu darpariaeth tai cymdeithasol yn hanfodol.
Felly, fel rhan o'r cynlluniau i adfywio Porthcawl, gan gynnwys siopau a bwytai y gwnaethoch ymweld â nhw gyda ni dros yr haf, parciau cymunedol a thoiledau, ysgol gynradd newydd—mae'n rhestr hir—rwy'n falch iawn, gyda chymorth Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, fod tir wedi'i gaffael i sicrhau, fel rhan o'r datblygiad tai arfaethedig, y bydd yna dai carbon isel, a bydd hyd at hanner y rheini'n cael eu clustnodi fel rhai fforddiadwy, a bydd tai cymdeithasol yn cael blaenoriaeth.
Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi hefyd ymuno â mi i groesawu'r cyfle hwn i leihau'r pwysau ar ein rhestrau aros tai cymdeithasol, i gynyddu cyfleoedd i berchnogion tai ifanc a newydd aros ym Mhorthcawl yn agos at eu teuluoedd os ydynt yn dymuno gwneud hynny, yn ogystal ag i helpu i gyrraedd ein holl dargedau cartrefi cymdeithasol carbon isel ar gyfer Cymru? Diolch.
Thank you very much, Sarah. I'm absolutely delighted to join you in welcoming the opportunity. Our priority is to deliver more truly affordable homes within the social sector and to deliver 20,000 additional social homes for rent. Working with partners in Bridgend County Borough Council, we're currently seeking a master planning consultancy to design the redevelopment of the wider Porthcawl area in public sector ownership. It really is a very exciting opportunity to deliver significant benefits to the community of Porthcawl. We had a very nice visit there, as I recollect, which I really enjoyed. We acquired the land just after that visit, actually, in 2023 to advance the use for housing. Working with the council, the aim is to obtain a planning permission in 2025 to deliver a mixed-use residential development, which will be around 900 dwellings, with 50 per cent of them being social and affordable. It's ambitious and challenging—we make no apology for that. We will work very closely with the council to make sure that the social housing is prioritised. We've allocated record levels of funding to the social housing grant to achieve this right across Wales, doubling the budget from 2020-21 to £300 million in 2022-23 and to £330 million in the current year, including £30 million for the transitional accommodation programme, and £325 million in 2024-25.
The latest statistical releases show that additional affordable housing of 3,369 affordable units was delivered across Wales, which is a 26 per cent increase on the previous year and the second highest total since the data was first recorded. So, I'm delighted that Bridgend will play a very pivotal part in achieving that target, and I think, actually, in regenerative language, if you like, the whole development is a really good example of what a mixed-use, including residential, development can do to completely transform an area and give local people the very high-quality housing that they both need and deserve, so I'm delighted to welcome that.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Sarah. Rwy'n falch iawn o ymuno â chi i groesawu'r cyfle. Ein blaenoriaeth yw darparu mwy o gartrefi gwirioneddol fforddiadwy yn y sector cymdeithasol a darparu 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol ychwanegol i'w rhentu. Gan weithio gyda phartneriaid yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, rydym ar hyn o bryd yn chwilio am ymgynghoriaeth uwchgynllunio i lunio ailddatblygiad ardal ehangach Porthcawl sy'n eiddo i'r sector cyhoeddus. Mae'n gyfle cyffrous iawn i sicrhau manteision sylweddol i gymuned Porthcawl. Rwy'n cofio inni gael ymweliad braf iawn yno a fwynheais yn fawr. Fe wnaethom gaffael y tir ychydig ar ôl yr ymweliad hwnnw yn 2023 i ddatblygu'r defnydd ar gyfer tai. Gan weithio gyda'r cyngor, y nod yw cael caniatâd cynllunio yn 2025 i gyflawni datblygiad preswyl defnydd cymysg, a fydd yn cynnwys oddeutu 900 o anheddau, gyda 50 y cant ohonynt yn dai cymdeithasol a fforddiadwy. Mae'n uchelgeisiol ac yn heriol—nid ydym yn ymddiheuro am hynny. Byddwn yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r cyngor i sicrhau bod y tai cymdeithasol yn cael blaenoriaeth. Rydym wedi dyrannu'r lefelau uchaf erioed o gyllid i'r grant tai cymdeithasol i gyflawni hyn ledled Cymru, gan ddyblu'r gyllideb o 2020-21 i £300 miliwn yn 2022-23 ac i £330 miliwn yn y flwyddyn gyfredol, gan gynnwys £30 miliwn ar gyfer y rhaglen llety trosiannol, a £325 miliwn yn 2024-25.
Mae'r datganiadau ystadegol diweddaraf yn dangos bod 3,369 o unedau fforddiadwy ychwanegol wedi'u darparu ledled Cymru, sy'n gynnydd o 26 y cant ar y flwyddyn flaenorol a'r ail gyfanswm uchaf ers dechrau cofnodi'r data. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn y bydd Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn chwarae rhan ganolog iawn wrth gyflawni'r targed hwnnw, ac rwy'n credu, mewn iaith adfywiol, os mynnwch, fod y datblygiad cyfan yn enghraifft dda iawn o'r hyn y gall datblygiad defnydd cymysg, gan gynnwys datblygiadau preswyl, ei wneud i drawsnewid ardal yn llwyr a darparu'r tai o ansawdd uchel iawn y mae pobl leol eu hangen ac yn eu haeddu, felly rwy'n falch iawn o groesawu hynny.
It's great to know about Bridgend; it is on the right track. Minister, Wales is in a housing crisis, with some 100,000 homes completely vacant. Your Government has consistently failed to meet house building targets, currently building less than half the amount of houses needed. You have recently cut £19 million from the empty homes scheme, mounting further pressure on councils to use hotels for temporary accommodation. Concerns have also been raised about the unintended consequences of a vacant land tax, which could hinder new developments. So, Minister, what action will you take to incentivise house building and to bring empty homes back into use to provide people in Wales with homes they desperately need?
Mae'n wych cael gwybod am Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr; mae ar y trywydd iawn. Weinidog, mae Cymru mewn argyfwng tai, gydag oddeutu 100,000 o gartrefi yn hollol wag. Mae eich Llywodraeth wedi methu cyrraedd targedau adeiladu tai yn gyson, gan adeiladu llai na hanner y tai sydd eu hangen ar hyn o bryd. Yn ddiweddar, rydych wedi torri £19 miliwn o'r cynllun cartrefi gwag, gan gynyddu pwysau pellach ar gynghorau i ddefnyddio gwestai ar gyfer llety dros dro. Mae pryderon hefyd wedi'u codi am ganlyniadau anfwriadol treth ar dir gwag, a allai rwystro datblygiadau newydd. Felly, Weinidog, pa gamau y byddwch chi'n eu cymryd i gymell pobl i adeiladu tai a dod â thai gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd i ddarparu cartrefi y mae eu gwir angen ar bobl yng Nghymru?
Well, I just simply don't recognise that characterisation. We exceeded our target by a considerable proportion at the end of the last Senedd term, and I've literally just read you the statistics showing us on target for this term, so I just—. Well, I mean it's just, basically, not fact based, what you've just said. So, I'll just read it to you again: the latest statistical release to show progress towards the 20,000 homes target was published on 7 November. The key statistic is that in 2022-23, 3,369 additional affordable housing units were delivered across Wales. This is a 26 per cent increase—693 units—on the previous year and the second highest total since data was ever recorded, which was in 2007-08. I think those facts speak for themselves, Llywydd.
Wel, yn syml, nid wyf yn cydnabod y disgrifiad hwnnw. Fe wnaethom ragori ar ein targed o gyfran sylweddol ar ddiwedd tymor diwethaf y Senedd, ac yn llythrennol rwyf newydd ddarllen yr ystadegau sy'n dangos ein bod ar y trywydd cywir ar gyfer y tymor hwn, felly rwy'n—. Wel, yn y bôn, nid yw'r hyn rydych newydd ei ddweud yn seiliedig ar ffeithiau. Felly, rwyf am ei ddarllen i chi eto: cyhoeddwyd y datganiad ystadegol diweddaraf i ddangos cynnydd tuag at y targed o 20,000 o gartrefi ar 7 Tachwedd. Yr ystadegyn allweddol yw bod 3,369 o unedau tai fforddiadwy ychwanegol wedi'u darparu ledled Cymru yn 2022-23. Dyna gynnydd o 26 y cant—693 o unedau—ar y flwyddyn flaenorol a'r ail gyfanswm uchaf ers dechrau cadw cofnodion data yn 2007-08. Rwy'n credu bod y ffeithiau hynny'n siarad drostynt eu hunain, Lywydd.
5. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gyflwyno gwaith ôl-osod mewn tai cymdeithasol? OQ60534
5. What is the Welsh Government doing to deliver retrofitting in social housing? OQ60534
Thank you very much, Jayne Bryant. The challenge to retrofit Welsh social homes is vast. We are supporting social housing landlords to understand their stock and the retrofit requirements to help us achieve the ambitious Welsh housing quality standard with programmes such as the optimised retrofit programme, through which £190 million has been allocated to date.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jayne Bryant. Mae'r her i ôl-osod cartrefi cymdeithasol Cymru yn enfawr. Rydym yn cefnogi landlordiaid tai cymdeithasol i ddeall eu stoc a'r gofynion ôl-osod i'n helpu i gyrraedd safon ansawdd tai uchelgeisiol Cymru gyda rhaglenni fel y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio, lle mae £190 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu hyd yma.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Housing associations across Wales are taking innovative action to tackle the climate emergency, including Pobl, Linc Cymru and Newport City Homes in my constituency. Whilst carbon savings are very welcome, I want to focus on the health and well-being benefits of those measures. The current cold temperatures and cost of energy bills once again highlight the importance of heated, well-insulated homes. Increasing the number of retrofitted homes across Wales will undoubtedly improve public health, yet not all residents are aware of the health benefits of retrofitting or what exactly the process might involve. The short-term disruption of building work can also be a deterrent for people offered work by their housing provider. Minister, what more can be done to engage residents in the decision-making process for retrofitting their homes, helping them to understand and take advantage of available support?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae cymdeithasau tai ledled Cymru yn cymryd camau arloesol i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd, gan gynnwys Pobl, Linc Cymru a Chartrefi Dinas Casnewydd yn fy etholaeth. Er bod arbedion carbon i'w croesawu, rwyf eisiau canolbwyntio ar fuddion iechyd a llesiant y mesurau hynny. Mae'r tymheredd oer cyfredol a chost biliau ynni unwaith eto yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd cael cartrefi sydd wedi'u gwresogi ac wedi'u hinswleiddio'n dda. Heb os, bydd cynyddu nifer y cartrefi a ôl-osodwyd ar draws Cymru yn gwella iechyd y cyhoedd, ond nid yw pob preswylydd yn ymwybodol o fanteision iechyd ôl-osod na beth yn union y gallai'r broses ei olygu. Gall tarfu tymor byr a achosir gan waith adeiladu hefyd fod yn rhwystr i bobl sy'n cael cynnig gwaith gan eu darparwr tai. Weinidog, beth arall y gellir ei wneud i gynnwys preswylwyr yn y broses o wneud penderfyniadau ar gyfer ôl-osod eu cartrefi, gan eu helpu i ddeall a manteisio ar y cymorth sydd ar gael?
It's an excellent question, Jayne. The underlying principle of both the Welsh quality housing standard and the optimised retrofit programme is to deliver improved social, economic and well-being outcomes for tenants and for their whole communities. We actively engage with and encourage social landlords to undertake clear, targeted stakeholder engagement to outline the benefits and successes of the retrofit work to date. The idea is that the social landlords, who we fund and who have selections of housing that they can look at, will be able to tech and test exactly what you've just said—how long does this take, what's the outcome, what is the disruption and how can we minimise it—with a view to, through the Warm Homes energy hub, giving advice out to people in other sectors for how to go about that and what the programmes are. And in answering Jenny Rathbone earlier, I spoke a little bit about the ECO programmes and the boiler replacement programme from the British Government, which we signpost through our Warm Homes scheme. Unfortunately, because of the way the programme works, I haven't been able to announce it yet, but I am hoping very shortly to announce the outcome of the new Warm Homes programme procurement. The websites are active already, to give that information. The information is real and practical, because it's coming out of the optimised retrofit programme, which has literally tested it out on homes and then on people living in those homes, to make sure that what's claimed for the tech actually comes out the other side.
We also pick up tech from the innovative housing programme, which has been running for seven years now, so that we are able to recommend to people things that we know work. We've tested these out; some products didn't do what they said, other products have been fantastic and we're able to roll those out. We're also able to roll them out into our new build programme, so that when we build our new housing, it is low carbon, highly energy efficient and brings all the health benefits.
Llywydd, if you don't mind indulging me for one second, I will say that I did meet a lady in Ammanford in Adam Price's constituency, actually, who had recently moved into one of the new low-carbon homes. Her son had been using inhalers for his asthma in very large quantities for a very long time. When I met her, she'd lived in that new social home for about four months and her son wasn't using an inhaler at all. So, that is the evidence of what happens if you live in a well-heated, well-insulated home. It has massive health and social benefits, as well as the energy efficiency and money benefits that it brings.
Cwestiwn ardderchog, Jayne. Egwyddor sylfaenol safon tai ansawdd Cymru a'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio yw sicrhau gwell canlyniadau cymdeithasol, economaidd a llesiant i denantiaid ac i'w cymunedau cyfan. Rydym yn mynd ati i ymgysylltu â landlordiaid cymdeithasol a'u hannog i ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid mewn modd clir, wedi'i dargedu, i amlinellu manteision a llwyddiannau'r gwaith ôl-osod hyd yma. Y syniad yw y bydd y landlordiaid cymdeithasol, yr ydym yn eu hariannu ac sydd â detholiadau o dai y gallant edrych arnynt, yn gallu ystyried technoleg a phrofi'n union beth rydych newydd ei ddweud—pa mor hir y mae hyn yn ei gymryd, beth yw'r canlyniad, faint o darfu y mae'n ei olygu a sut y gallwn ei leihau—gyda golwg ar roi cyngor i bobl mewn sectorau eraill, drwy hyb ynni Cartrefi Clyd, ynglŷn â sut i fynd ati i wneud hynny a beth yw'r rhaglenni. Ac wrth ateb Jenny Rathbone yn gynharach, siaradais ychydig am raglenni ECO a'r rhaglen newid boeleri gan Lywodraeth Prydain yr ydym yn cyfeirio pobl ati drwy ein cynllun Cartrefi Clyd. Yn anffodus, oherwydd y ffordd y mae'r rhaglen yn gweithio, nid wyf wedi gallu ei chyhoeddi eto, ond rwy'n gobeithio cyhoeddi canlyniad caffael y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd yn fuan iawn. Mae'r gwefannau eisoes yn weithredol, i ddarparu'r wybodaeth honno. Mae'r wybodaeth yn real ac yn ymarferol, oherwydd mae'n deillio o'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio, sydd wedi ei phrofi, yn llythrennol, ar gartrefi ac yna ar bobl sy'n byw yn y cartrefi hynny, i sicrhau bod yr hyn a honnir o ran y dechnoleg yn cael ei wireddu.
Rydym hefyd yn casglu gwybodaeth dechnolegol o'r rhaglen dai arloesol, sydd wedi bod ar y gweill ers saith mlynedd bellach, fel ein bod yn gallu argymell pethau y gwyddom eu bod yn gweithio i bobl. Rydym wedi profi'r rhain; nid oedd rhai cynhyrchion yn gwneud yr hyn a honnwyd, ond mae cynhyrchion eraill wedi bod yn wych ac rydym yn gallu cyflwyno'r rheini. Rydym hefyd yn gallu eu cyflwyno yn ein rhaglen adeiladu newydd, ac felly pan fyddwn yn adeiladu ein tai newydd, byddant yn dai carbon isel, yn effeithlon o ran eu defnydd o ynni ac yn cynnig yr holl fanteision iechyd.
Lywydd, os caf, hoffwn ddweud fy mod wedi cyfarfod â dynes yn Rhydaman yn etholaeth Adam Price, a oedd wedi symud yn ddiweddar i un o'r cartrefi carbon isel newydd. Roedd ei mab wedi bod yn gwneud defnydd helaeth o anadlyddion ar gyfer ei asthma ers amser maith. Pan gyfarfûm â hi, roedd hi wedi byw yn y cartref cymdeithasol newydd hwnnw ers tua phedwar mis ac nid oedd ei mab yn defnyddio anadlydd o gwbl. Felly, dyna'r dystiolaeth o'r hyn sy'n digwydd os ydych chi'n byw mewn cartref sydd wedi'i gynhesu'n dda ac wedi'i inswleiddio'n dda. Mae iddo fuddion iechyd a chymdeithasol enfawr, yn ogystal â'r manteision effeithlonrwydd ynni ac ariannol a ddaw yn ei sgil.
Minister, no-one can doubt that we need to make our social homes more sustainable and not just our social homes but our private homes as well, to make them carbon neutral, to make our homes warmer and to keep energy bills low for the people who live in them. Many of the social homes in my constituency are also in the national park and within conservation areas. These areas have very, very strict planning laws when it comes to altering external windows, external insulation and other energy efficiency measures. So, can you outline today, Minister, how you work with national parks and within conservation areas to make sure that everybody can benefit from the schemes that the Welsh Government is providing?
Weinidog, ni all unrhyw un wadu bod angen inni wneud ein cartrefi cymdeithasol yn fwy cynaliadwy, ac nid ein cartrefi cymdeithasol yn unig, ond ein cartrefi preifat hefyd, i'w gwneud yn garbon niwtral, i wneud ein cartrefi'n gynhesach ac i gadw biliau ynni'n isel i'r bobl sy'n byw ynddynt. Mae llawer o'r cartrefi cymdeithasol yn fy etholaeth hefyd yn ardal y parc cenedlaethol ac o fewn ardaloedd cadwraeth. Mae gan yr ardaloedd hyn ddeddfau cynllunio llym iawn a gyfer newid ffenestri allanol, inswleiddio allanol a mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni eraill. Felly, a allwch chi amlinellu heddiw, Weinidog, sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda pharciau cenedlaethol ac o fewn ardaloedd cadwraeth i sicrhau y gall pawb elwa o'r cynlluniau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu darparu?
Yes. It's an excellent question, because what we need to be able to do is find a solution for every type of house that we have in Wales, and that's very much what we've been trying to do. So, there's no point in a one-size-fits-all approach; we have seen the outcome of that. So, with the last iteration of the Welsh housing quality standard, for example, most homes, the vast majority of them—well up into the 90 per cent—have benefited from that, but there was a percentage of them that experienced really bad condensation and so on, because the one-size-fits-all approach just didn't match the kind of home that they had and wouldn't have worked in a conservation area, for example. So, the point of the ORP programme is to take every kind of house that we have and test out what can be done, working with our national parks and our planning authorities, for what is allowable, and to do it in a way that becomes a practical piece of advice for people who live in other tenures who can access it.
I've also been working with the Development Bank of Wales for some time to figure out a way that we can do a decent loans programme and, as I said in answer to Jenny Rathbone, also talking to some of the renewable generators across Wales about how their community asset programme—'community benefit programme', I should say, not 'asset programme'—could be used to help people understand what retrofit needs they have, particularly in areas like that, so that we can get a bespoke solution for each of those people. And in addition, what the optimised retrofit programme does is it skills a workforce that can do it, because even if you know what the solution is, it can be hard to find somebody who can actually do it. So, I'm very keen that the optimised retrofit programme produces a skilled workforce as well as the tech solutions that would help people in houses such as those.
Gallaf. Mae'n gwestiwn ardderchog, oherwydd yr hyn y mae angen inni allu ei wneud yw dod o hyd i ateb ar gyfer pob math o dŷ sydd gennym yng Nghymru, a dyna'n union y buom yn ceisio ei wneud. Felly, nid oes pwynt cael un dull sy'n addas i bawb; rydym wedi gweld canlyniadau hynny. Felly, gyda'r iteriad olaf o safon ansawdd tai Cymru, er enghraifft, mae'r rhan fwyaf o gartrefi, y mwyafrif helaeth ohonynt—ymhell dros 90 y cant—wedi elwa o hwnnw, ond roedd yna ganran ohonynt a oedd yn dioddef o lefelau gwael iawn o anwedd ac yn y blaen, oherwydd nid oedd y dull un ateb sy'n addas i bawb yn addas ar gyfer y math o gartref a oedd ganddynt ac ni fyddai wedi gweithio mewn ardal gadwraeth, er enghraifft. Felly, pwynt y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio yw cymryd pob math o dŷ sydd gennym a phrofi'r hyn y gellir ei wneud, gan weithio gyda'n parciau cenedlaethol a'n hawdurdodau cynllunio, i wneud yr hyn a ganiateir, a'i wneud mewn ffordd sy'n dod yn gyngor ymarferol i bobl sy'n byw mewn mathau eraill o ddeiliadaeth sy'n gallu cael mynediad ato.
Rwyf hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru ers peth amser i ddarganfod ffordd o sefydlu rhaglen fenthyciadau addas, ac fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Jenny Rathbone, rwyf hefyd wedi bod yn siarad â rhai o'r cynhyrchwyr ynni adnewyddadwy ledled Cymru ynglŷn â sut y gellid defnyddio eu rhaglen asedau cymunedol—'rhaglen budd cymunedol', dylwn ddweud, nid 'rhaglen asedau'—i helpu pobl i ddeall pa anghenion ôl-osod sydd ganddynt, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd felly, fel y gallwn gael ateb pwrpasol i bob un o'r bobl hynny. Ac yn ogystal, yr hyn y mae'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio yn ei wneud yw darparu sgiliau i weithlu sy'n gallu ei wneud, oherwydd hyd yn oed os ydych chi'n gwybod beth yw'r ateb, gall fod yn anodd dod o hyd i rywun a all ei wneud mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio yn cynhyrchu gweithlu medrus yn ogystal â'r atebion technoleg a fyddai'n helpu pobl mewn tai fel y rheini.
6. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella ansawdd dŵr ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro? OQ60499
6. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve water quality in Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ60499
Thank you for the question, Paul Davies. Preseli Pembrokeshire is home to 14 designated bathing waters, all achieving the highest classification of 'excellent'. It is also home to the Cleddau, a special area of conservation river known for its array of wildlife. Our approach focuses on multisector co-operation and nature-based solutions to improve water quality across the catchment.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Paul Davies. Mae Preseli Sir Benfro yn gartref i 14 o ddyfroedd ymdrochi dynodedig, gyda phob un yn cyflawni'r dosbarthiad uchaf sef 'rhagorol'. Mae hefyd yn gartref i'r Cleddau, afon ardal cadwraeth arbennig sy'n enwog am ei hamrywiaeth o fywyd gwyllt. Mae ein dull o weithredu yn canolbwyntio ar gydweithredu aml-sector ac atebion sy'n seiliedig ar natur i wella ansawdd dŵr ar draws y dalgylch.
Thank you for that response, Minister, and for the information that you've provided to me in correspondence this morning on the issues around the Cardigan waste water treatment works. Now, residents across Preseli Pembrokeshire continue to raise water pollution incidents and discharges from combined sewer overflows, highlighting the impact on the environment, but also the safety of water users. I know that there has been some investment from Dŵr Cymru in parts of my constituency, and there are projects that will be taking place over the next few months, which is, of course, welcome. But can you tell us what support the Welsh Government is offering to help expedite any improvement work in Pembrokeshire? And can you also tell us how the Welsh Government and, indeed, Natural Resources Wales are monitoring this work and holding Dŵr Cymru to account?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog, ac am yr wybodaeth a roesoch i mi mewn gohebiaeth y bore yma ar y materion sy'n ymwneud â gwaith trin dŵr gwastraff Aberteifi. Nawr, mae trigolion ar draws Preseli Sir Benfro yn parhau i godi digwyddiadau llygredd dŵr a gollyngiadau o orlifoedd carthffosiaeth gyfun, gan dynnu sylw at yr effaith ar yr amgylchedd, a diogelwch defnyddwyr dŵr hefyd. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhywfaint o fuddsoddiad wedi bod gan Dŵr Cymru mewn rhannau o fy etholaeth, ac mae yna brosiectau a fydd yn digwydd dros y misoedd nesaf, sydd i'w groesawu, wrth gwrs. Ond a allwch chi ddweud wrthym pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig i helpu i gyflymu unrhyw waith gwella yn sir Benfro? Ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym hefyd sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru, a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn wir, yn monitro'r gwaith hwn ac yn dwyn Dŵr Cymru i gyfrif?
Thank you very much. It's a very good question, and the answer is a little bit complex, because it involves us engaging all sectors that have a role to play. We've been doing that for some considerable time. I hope Paul Davies has noticed the Teifi demonstrator project that's happening. That is a very good example of the complexity of what we're trying to deal with, but also the solution-based outcomes we're looking at. That is a source-to-sea project on a river that engages all of the landowners all the way along, and all of the players, including the water companies, the agricultural landowners and other landowners, house builders, et cetera, to find a bespoke solution for each part of the river. The river has had to have some re-meandering as it's called, a great term, where hard old flood prevention measures have actually, we know now, narrowed the river and increased its flow and a number of things—and not just the Teifi, I'm talking more generally about rivers across Wales. It's pleasing to see such strong engagement from representatives from across a variety of sectors in getting to grips with that project, because what we're trying to do is figure out what works in a very practical way.
I do think it's important and I absolutely welcome the public scrutiny on this. It is something that we really need to have, and we need to have our feet held to the collective fire, if you like—if that's not a bad analogy for water—to make this happen. But I also think it's important to get the facts across. So, 98 per cent of designated bathing waters across Wales met the most stringent bathing water quality standards. In Preseli Pembrokeshire, all 14 bathing waters received the 'excellent' classification. That doesn't mean we couldn't even do better than that, because there have been discharges, as you say. But I just want to reassure people that it is safe to bathe in Preseli Pembrokeshire. You know very well, Paul, that's one of my favourite things to do, so I'm very personally invested in being able to do that. It's my absolute favourite spot, if I can manage to get a break, to sea bathe. It's fantastic, isn't it, to be able to do that.
But we are absolutely determined to work with all stakeholders across Wales to make sure that all of our SAC rivers get back into good conservation status by bringing to bear all of the levers that each sector of that complex web of people can do. The call has been, and people have answered it magnificently, not to point the finger at other sectors, but to see what your sector can do to contribute to this. So, the water company to see what it can do, farmers and the agricultural sector to see what they can do, house builders to see what they can do, everyone to play their part in making sure that their own industry and their contribution to water pollution is minimised and then turned around. I think we've got a very good process under way and, with any luck and the commitment that everyone has shown, the action plan will work and we will get that sorted. The Teifi will be an excellent demonstrator of how that works.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae'n gwestiwn da iawn, ac mae'r ateb ychydig yn gymhleth, oherwydd y gwir amdani yw ein bod yn ymgysylltu â phob sector sydd â rôl i'w chwarae. Rydym wedi bod yn gwneud hyn ers cryn dipyn o amser. Rwy'n gobeithio bod Paul Davies wedi sylwi ar brosiect arddangos Teifi sy'n mynd rhagddo. Mae hwnnw'n enghraifft dda iawn o gymhlethdod yr hyn rydym yn ceisio mynd i'r afael ag ef, ond hefyd y canlyniadau sy'n seiliedig ar atebion rydym yn edrych arnynt. Mae hwnnw'n brosiect o'r tarddiad i'r môr ar afon sy'n ymgysylltu â'r holl dirfeddianwyr ar hyd yr afon, a'r holl weithredwyr, gan gynnwys y cwmnïau dŵr, y tirfeddianwyr amaethyddol a pherchnogion tir eraill, adeiladwyr tai ac ati, i ddod o hyd i ateb pwrpasol ar gyfer pob rhan o'r afon. Bu'n rhaid newid peth ar ystum yr afon, lle gwyddom bellach fod hen fesurau atal llifogydd caled wedi culhau'r afon ac wedi cynyddu ei llif a nifer o bethau—ac nid afon Teifi yn unig, rwy'n siarad yn fwy cyffredinol am afonydd ledled Cymru. Mae'n braf gweld ymgysylltiad mor gryf gan gynrychiolwyr ar draws amrywiaeth o sectorau wrth fynd i'r afael â'r prosiect hwnnw, oherwydd rydym yn ceisio darganfod beth sy'n gweithio mewn ffordd ymarferol iawn.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cael gwaith craffu cyhoeddus ar hyn, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny'n fawr. Mae'n rhywbeth y mae gwir angen i ni ei gael, ac mae angen i ni gael ein dwyn i gyfrif ar y cyd i wneud i hyn ddigwydd. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig cyfleu'r ffeithiau hefyd. Felly, roedd 98 y cant o ddyfroedd ymdrochi dynodedig ledled Cymru yn cyrraedd y safonau ansawdd dŵr ymdrochi mwyaf llym. Ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro, derbyniodd pob un o'r 14 o ddyfroedd ymdrochi ddosbarthiad 'rhagorol'. Nid yw hynny'n golygu na allem wneud yn well na hynny hyd yn oed, oherwydd fe gafwyd gollyngiadau, fel y dywedwch. Ond rwyf eisiau sicrhau pobl ei bod hi'n ddiogel i ymdrochi ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro. Rydych chi'n gwybod yn iawn, Paul, mai dyna un o fy hoff bethau i'w gwneud, felly mae gennyf fuddsoddiad personol iawn mewn gallu gwneud hynny. Dyna fy hoff fan, os llwyddaf i gael seibiant, i ymdrochi yn y môr. Mae'n wych gallu gwneud hynny, onid yw?
Ond rydym yn gwbl benderfynol o weithio gyda'r holl randdeiliaid ledled Cymru i sicrhau bod ein holl afonydd ardaloedd cadwraeth arbennig yn dychwelyd i statws cadwraeth da drwy ddefnyddio'r holl ysgogiadau y gall pob sector o'r we gymhleth honno o bobl eu gwneud. Mae'r alwad wedi bod, ac mae pobl wedi ei hateb yn wych, nid pwyntio'r bys ar sectorau eraill, ond i weld beth y gall eich sector chi ei wneud i gyfrannu at hyn. Felly, y cwmni dŵr i weld beth y gall wneud, y ffermwyr a'r sector amaethyddol i weld beth y gallant hwy ei wneud, adeiladwyr tai i weld beth y gallant hwy ei wneud, pawb i chwarae eu rhan i sicrhau bod eu diwydiant eu hunain a'u cyfraniad at lygredd dŵr yn cael ei leihau ac yna'n cael ei wrthdroi. Rwy'n credu bod gennym broses dda iawn ar y gweill, a chyda lwc, a'r ymrwymiad y mae pawb wedi'i ddangos, bydd y cynllun gweithredu yn gweithio a byddwn yn datrys hynny. Bydd afon Teifi yn arddangos yn ardderchog sut mae hynny'n gweithio.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gynyddu argaeledd tai cymdeithasol yng Nghwm Cynon? OQ60497
7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the availability of social housing in Cynon Valley? OQ60497
Thank you for the question, Vikki Howells. This Government remains committed to delivering 20,000 homes for rent in the social sector this Senedd term. To support this commitment, record levels of funding have been provided through the social housing grant. Rhondda Cynon Taf has been allocated nearly £20 million, actually £19,975,226 to be precise, for social housing in 2023-24.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Vikki Howells. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn parhau i fod wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu 20,000 o gartrefi i'w rhentu yn y sector cymdeithasol yn y tymor seneddol hwn. Er mwyn cefnogi'r ymrwymiad hwn, darparwyd y lefelau uchaf erioed o gyllid drwy'r grant tai cymdeithasol. Dyrannwyd bron i £20 miliwn i Rondda Cynon Taf, sef £19,975,226 i fod yn fanwl gywir, ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yn 2023-24.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Trivallis housing association gave 10 RCT families an early Christmas present last year, presenting them with keys to newly renovated family homes. These empty properties had been brought back into use through the transitional accommodation capital programme, transforming these families' lives, but also improving communities by bringing derelict properties back into use. I know Trivallis are keen to scale up this work, so whilst appreciating the pressures upon Government finances, I'd be keen to know how Welsh Government is working with social landlords, councils and other partners to bring specifically empty properties back to life and provide warm, safe, quality homes.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Rhoddodd cymdeithas dai Trivallis anrheg Nadolig cynnar i 10 teulu yn Rhondda Cynon Taf y llynedd, gan gyflwyno allweddi i gartrefi teuluol a oedd newydd gael eu hadnewyddu. Cafodd y tai gwag hyn eu dwyn yn ôl i ddefnydd drwy'r rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro, gan drawsnewid bywydau'r teuluoedd hyn, a gwella cymunedau hefyd drwy ddod ag eiddo adfeiliedig yn ôl i ddefnydd. Rwy'n gwybod bod Trivallis yn awyddus i gynyddu'r gwaith hwn, felly, gan gadw'r pwysau ar gyllid y Llywodraeth mewn cof, hoffwn wybod sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n gweithio gyda landlordiaid cymdeithasol, cynghorau a phartneriaid eraill i roi bywyd newydd i eiddo gwag yn benodol a darparu cartrefi cynnes a diogel o ansawdd da.
Thank you very much for that question. It’s a really excellent one and it’s been great to see the Trivallis programme running out. As you rightly said, it’s part of the transitional accommodation capital programme that we established in 2022. The TACP programme, as it’s called—we love an acronym in the Welsh Government—provides funding to social landlords for a wide range of projects to deliver more homes at pace, and that includes, as you rightly say, Vikki, bringing void properties back into use. During the 2022-23 financial year, the programme provided funding to bring 374 voids, as they’re called, or empty properties, back into use to provide better quality, longer term accommodation for those currently living in poor-quality temporary accommodation. Applications to bring voids back into use are again being supported in this year, 2023-24. We work extensively with local authorities and registered social landlords to share good practice in relation to TACP, including the use of voids, and to support them to maximise available funding to bring forward good-quality homes at pace.
There are a number of other measures and funding packages in place to reduce the number of long-term empty homes in Wales. There’s £30 million, as I’ve said a couple of times in answer to other Members this afternoon, over the next five years for the leasing scheme Wales programme to support improvements to accommodation to bring them into the scheme, and an investment of £50 million is being made available to bring up to 2,000 long-term empty properties back into use through our empty homes grant scheme. The funding will accelerate our work to bring empty properties back into use and to complement our existing schemes. It does include nearly £43 million of recyclable funding we’ve provided to local authorities to enable them to provide interest-free property loans for landlords and home owners, for home improvements or to renovate empty properties and bring them back into use. Those loans have been used to bring around 1,850 units into use from empty properties across Wales and to improve around 1,700 occupied homes, which have now been brought up to standard.
And again, Llywydd, if you’ll indulge me for one second, I did meet a member of the public who’d taken advantage of those loans in your area, Vikki, a couple of years ago—I know you know the home owner in question—and not only had they got a home for themselves, but the entire street was lifted by it, and there was a real community feel to this empty home coming back into use, and taking away a blight on the street and replacing it with a lovely young family that had brought vibrancy to the community, and it was a joy to see. So, it really does work both for communities and for homes.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae'n un ardderchog ac mae wedi bod yn wych gweld rhaglen Trivallis yn mynd rhagddi. Fel y dywedoch chi'n gywir, mae'n rhan o'r rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro a sefydlwyd gennym yn 2022. Mae'r rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro yn darparu cyllid i landlordiaid cymdeithasol ar gyfer ystod eang o brosiectau i ddarparu mwy o gartrefi yn gyflym, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys dod ag eiddo gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd, fel y dywedwch, Vikki. Yn ystod blwyddyn ariannol 2022-23, darparodd y rhaglen gyllid i sicrhau bod 374 o unedau gwag, fel y'u gelwir, neu eiddo gwag, yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto i ddarparu llety mwy hirdymor o ansawdd gwell i'r rhai sy'n byw mewn llety dros dro o ansawdd gwael. Mae ceisiadau i ddod ag unedau gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd yn cael eu cefnogi eto eleni, 2023-24. Rydym yn gweithio'n helaeth gydag awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i rannu arferion da mewn perthynas â'r rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro, gan gynnwys defnyddio unedau gwag, ac i'w cefnogi i sicrhau'r cyllid mwyaf posibl i gyflwyno cartrefi o ansawdd da yn gyflym.
Mae nifer o fesurau eraill a phecynnau ariannu ar waith i leihau nifer y cartrefi gwag hirdymor yng Nghymru. Mae £30 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu i gynllun prydlesu Cymru dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, fel y dywedais un neu ddwy o weithiau wrth ymateb i Aelodau eraill y prynhawn yma, i gefnogi gwelliannau llety er mwyn iddynt gael eu cynnwys yn y cynllun, ac mae buddsoddiad o £50 miliwn ar gael i ddod â hyd at 2,000 eiddo gwag hirdymor yn ôl i ddefnydd drwy ein cynllun grant cartrefi gwag. Bydd y cyllid yn cyflymu ein gwaith i ddefnyddio eiddo gwag unwaith eto ac i ategu ein cynlluniau presennol. Mae'n cynnwys bron i £43 miliwn o gyllid ailgylchadwy a ddarparwyd gennym i awdurdodau lleol i'w galluogi i ddarparu benthyciadau eiddo di-log i landlordiaid a pherchnogion tai, ar gyfer gwelliannau i'r cartref neu adnewyddu eiddo gwag a'u defnyddio unwaith eto. Defnyddiwyd y benthyciadau hynny i ddod ag oddeutu 1,850 o unedau gwag ledled Cymru yn ôl i ddefnydd ac i wella tua 1,700 o gartrefi â feddiennir, sydd bellach yn cyrraedd y safon.
Ac unwaith eto, Lywydd, os caf, fe wneuthum gyfarfod ag aelod o'r cyhoedd a oedd wedi manteisio ar y benthyciadau hynny yn eich ardal chi ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl, Vikki—rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n adnabod y perchennog dan sylw—a chawsant gartref iddynt eu hunain, a chafodd y stryd gyfan ei gwella o ganlyniad i hynny, ac roedd yna ymdeimlad cymunedol go iawn wrth i'r cartref gwag hwn gael ei ddefnyddio unwaith eto, gan gael gwared ar falltod ar y stryd, a rhoi teulu ifanc hyfryd yn ei le a ddaeth â bywiogrwydd i'r gymuned, ac roedd yn bleser gweld hynny. Felly, mae'n gweithio ar gyfer cymunedau ac ar gyfer cartrefi.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
And finally, question 8, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am wasanaethau bws TrawsCymru? OQ60517
8. Will the Minister make a statement on TrawsCymru bus services? OQ60517
We continue to invest heavily in our TrawsCymru strategic bus network and we have funded new services, including cleaner, newer buses, simplified and more affordable ticketing and improved frequencies.
Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi'n helaeth yn rhwydwaith bysiau strategol TrawsCymru ac rydym wedi ariannu gwasanaethau newydd, gan gynnwys bysiau glanach, mwy newydd, tocynnau symlach a mwy fforddiadwy a gwasanaeth mwy mynych.
Diolch i’r Dirprwy Weinidog am yr ateb yna. Wel, mi fydd y Dirprwy Weinidog, dwi’n siŵr, yn ymwybodol fy mod i wedi bod yn codi achos y T2 a’r T3 yn gyson. Yn achos y T2, mae Garndolbenmaen wedi colli gwasanaeth gwerthfawr iawn, ac hefyd myfyrwyr ar hyd y ffordd yna sydd yn mynd i ddysgu yn Nolgellau. Yn achos y T3, rydyn ni wedi gweld llefydd fel Llanuwchllyn a Llandderfel yn colli allan ar gyswllt hollbwysig i bobl y gymuned yno. Rŵan, o edrych ar eich dogfen chi, 'National Transport Delivery Plan 2022 to 2027', o dan 'What we will deliver—Bus' ar dudalen 59, a dwi’n dyfynnu’n Saesneg, mae'n dweud:
I thank the Deputy Minister for that response. The Deputy Minister, I’m sure, will be aware that I’ve been raising the case of the T2 and T3 services regularly. In the case of the T2, Garndolbenmaen has lost a very valued service, and students across that route going to educational institutions in Dolgellau. In the case of the T3, we’ve seen places like Llanuwchllyn and Llandderfel losing out on a crucial connection for the people in the communities there. Now, in looking at your document, 'National Transport Delivery Plan 2022 to 2027', under 'What we will deliver—Bus' on page 59, and I quote in English, it says:
'Strategic approach to service design.... We will also consult on any future changes, with local authorities, and user groups before making major changes.'
'Dull strategol o ddylunio gwasanaethau.... Byddwn hefyd yn ymgynghori ag awdurdodau lleol a grwpiau defnyddwyr ynghylch unrhyw newidiadau yn y dyfodol cyn gwneud unrhyw newidiadau mawr.'
Wel, mae defnyddwyr y T2 a’r T3 o'r farn bod y newidiadau yna yn cyfrif fel newidiadau sylweddol, major changes, ond doedd yna ddim ymgynghoriad o gwbl efo trigolion lleol, defnyddwyr y bysus, nag unrhyw un arall ynghylch y newidiadau. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn ichi, a ydych chi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n iawn bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru ddim wedi ymgynghori efo defnyddwyr y bysus a’r cymunedau hynny, ac a wnewch chi edrych eto i sicrhau bod cymunedau Garndolbenmaen, Llanuwchllyn, Llandderfel ac eraill yn cael y gwasanaeth llawn yna sydd ei angen arnyn nhw?
Well, users of the T2 and T3 believe that those are major changes to the service, but there was no consultation whatsoever with bus users, people in the local community, or anyone else about these changes. So, can I ask you whether it’s right that Transport for Wales did not consult with bus users and those communities, and will you look again to ensure that the communities of Garndolbenmaen, Llanuwchllyn, Llandderfel and others do get that full service that they need?
Well, can I just first of all apologise to the people of Garndolbenmaen for the interruption that there has been in their bus service? TfW were working with Gwynedd Council for some two years, planning on changes to the network to provide better coverage, in fact, on the corridor between Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was decided to supplement the T2 with another service, the T22, which will in fact operate from the village and offer some similar journey times. Now, unfortunately, Gwynedd Council had real difficulty getting the operation up and running because the electric vehicles that were needed couldn’t be mobilised in time and the charging stations couldn't be got online. As a result of that, there's been a slight delay in the new T22 service coming online. In the meantime, the council had provided alternatives. I'm pleased to say that the new T22 will come into service on 12 February and will serve Garndolbenmaen on six return journeys a day between Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. It will also enhance the frequency on the common sections of the route between Caernarfon and Porthmadog to hourly. So, there have been some hiccups there, for which I do apologise. I hope people understand why that has happened. We have worked very closely with the council. I think it will produce a much better overall service for passengers and, hopefully, increase passenger numbers.
Wel, a gaf fi ymddiheuro yn gyntaf i bobl Garndolbenmaen am yr tarfu a fu ar eu gwasanaeth bysiau? Roedd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Chyngor Gwynedd am oddeutu dwy flynedd, yn cynllunio newidiadau i'r rhwydwaith i ddarparu gwasanaeth gwell ar y coridor rhwng Caernarfon a Blaenau Ffestiniog. Yn ogystal â T2, penderfynwyd cael gwasanaeth arall, y T22, a fydd mewn gwirionedd yn gweithredu o'r pentref ac yn cynnig amseroedd teithio tebyg. Nawr, yn anffodus, cafodd Cyngor Gwynedd anhawster gwirioneddol i roi'r cynlluniau ar waith am nad oedd modd defnyddio'r cerbydau trydan angenrheidiol mewn pryd a chael y mannau gwefru'n weithredol. O ganlyniad i hynny, cafwyd ychydig o oedi cyn i wasanaeth newydd T22 ddechrau. Yn y cyfamser, roedd y cyngor wedi darparu dewisiadau amgen. Rwy'n falch o ddweud y bydd gwasanaeth newydd T22 yn dod yn weithredol ar 12 Chwefror ac yn gwasanaethu Garndolbenmaen ar chwe thaith ddwyffordd y dydd rhwng Caernarfon, Porthmadog a Blaenau Ffestiniog. Bydd hefyd yn cynyddu amlder gwasanaethau ar rannau cyffredin y llwybr rhwng Caernarfon a Phorthmadog i bob awr. Felly, mae rhai problemau wedi bod yno, ac rwy'n ymddiheuro amdanynt. Rwy'n gobeithio bod pobl yn deall pam fod hynny wedi digwydd. Rydym wedi gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r cyngor. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn cynhyrchu gwasanaeth llawer gwell yn gyffredinol i deithwyr, a gobeithio y bydd yn cynyddu niferoedd teithwyr.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Gweinidog am yr eitem yna.
I thank the Deputy Minister and the Minister for that item.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, bydd y cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Janet Finch-Saunders.
We now move to item 2, questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. The first question is from Janet Finch-Saunders.
1. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i gefnogi myfyrwyr ysgol ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol? OQ60508
1. What steps is the Minister taking to support school students with additional learning needs? OQ60508
I'm deeply committed to delivering the ALN reforms that aim to enable learners with additional learning needs to have the right support and opportunity to reach their potential. That's why I have significantly increased ALN funding and protected this investment in the draft budget.
Rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n bendant i gyflawni'r diwygiadau ADY gyda'r nod o alluogi dysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol i gael y gefnogaeth a'r cyfle cywir i gyrraedd eu potensial. Dyna pam fy mod wedi cynyddu cyllid ADY yn sylweddol ac wedi diogelu'r buddsoddiad hwn yn y gyllideb ddrafft.
Thank you. You’ll recall that, last year, last summer, I raised the fact that my colleague shadow Minister Laura Anne Jones had accompanied me to Ysgol San Siôr, and they’re not the only school that have raised with me their concerns about there not being enough money for this ALN agenda.
The additional learning needs resource budget allocation has been slashed by 86 per cent from £25 million to £3.5 million. Simultaneously, in Conwy county, schools are having to continue operating despite the current year’s education budget being slashed by 5 per cent, a likely further cut in the education budget for 2024-25, and the local authority cabinet recently deciding to charge cash-strapped schools interest on bridging loans.
Our hard-working teachers in Aberconwy are being left with fewer resources to support children with ALN. Thanks to Senedd scrutiny here by these benches, we know the pressures facing our schools in delivering the new ALN system. So, what impact, as the Minister—and, indeed, as the leader-in-waiting, perhaps—do you think cuts to school budgets will have on the ability of schools to transition effectively from special educational needs to the new ALN system? Diolch.
Diolch. Fe gofiwch, y llynedd, yr haf diwethaf, fy mod wedi codi'r ffaith bod fy nghyd-Aelod, Gweinidog yr wrthblaid Laura Anne Jones wedi ymweld ag Ysgol San Siôr gyda mi, ac nid nhw yw'r unig ysgol sydd wedi lleisio eu pryderon wrthyf nad oes digon o arian ar gyfer yr agenda ADY.
Mae dyraniad y gyllideb ar gyfer adnoddau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol wedi'i dorri 86 y cant o £25 miliwn i £3.5 miliwn. Ar yr un pryd, yn sir Conwy, mae'n rhaid i ysgolion barhau i weithredu er bod cyllideb addysg y flwyddyn bresennol wedi'i thorri 5 y cant, a bod toriad pellach yn debygol yn y gyllideb addysg ar gyfer 2024-25, ac yn ddiweddar fe wnaeth cabinet yr awdurdod lleol benderfynu codi llog ar fenthyciadau pontio ysgolion sy'n brin o arian.
Mae gan ein hathrawon gweithgar yn Aberconwy lai o adnoddau i gefnogi plant ag ADY. Diolch i graffu gan y Senedd yma gan y meinciau hyn, rydym yn gwybod am y pwysau sy'n wynebu ein hysgolion wrth iddynt gyflwyno'r system ADY newydd. Felly, fel y Gweinidog—ac yn wir, fel y darpar arweinydd, efallai—pa effaith y credwch chi y bydd toriadau i gyllidebau ysgolion yn ei chael ar allu ysgolion i drosglwyddo'n effeithiol o anghenion addysgol arbennig i'r system ADY newydd? Diolch.
Teachers in her constituency will want to know that she has misread the Government’s draft budget. As I made clear in my opening response, we have in fact increased in previous years and protected in this budget the ALN investment. That is the actual position. Her point is misrepresenting the budget in that respect and I hope that she will accept that.
She makes a fair point about the pressures in schools in relation to the transition to the new additional learning needs reforms. You could even say that now is the point of maximum pressure, because schools are operating two systems: the new reforms that are coming in and the older reforms for older children. So, it is a time of pressure and there are young children presenting in schools with increasingly complex needs. That is why it’s been so important to be increasing the budget to facilitate the reforms over recent years, and that’s why it has been so important to protect that in this year’s budget.
She will know as well that we are undertaking a review of the approaches taken across Wales to allocating additional learning needs funding to schools. There is a level of variation between local authorities. You’d expect to see some variation, but we want to understand quite why that variation exists. I’ll be happy to share the conclusions of that review with the Chamber in due course.
Bydd athrawon yn ei hetholaeth am wybod ei bod wedi camddarllen cyllideb ddrafft y Llywodraeth. Fel y dywedais yn glir yn fy ymateb agoriadol, rydym wedi cynyddu buddsoddiad ADY mewn blynyddoedd blaenorol ac wedi ei ddiogelu yn y gyllideb hon. Dyna'r sefyllfa mewn gwirionedd. Mae ei phwynt yn camliwio'r gyllideb yn hynny o beth ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hi'n derbyn hynny.
Mae'n gwneud pwynt teg am y pwysau mewn ysgolion mewn perthynas â'r newid i'r diwygiadau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol newydd. Gallech ddweud hyd yn oed mai nawr yw'r pwynt lle mae'r pwysau ar ei fwyaf, oherwydd bod ysgolion yn gweithredu dwy system: y diwygiadau newydd sy'n dod i mewn a'r diwygiadau hŷn i blant hŷn. Felly, mae'n gyfnod o bwysau ac mae plant ifanc yn dod i'r ysgolion gydag anghenion cynyddol gymhleth. Dyna pam y mae wedi bod mor bwysig cynyddu'r gyllideb i hwyluso'r diwygiadau dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, a dyna pam y mae wedi bod mor bwysig diogelu hynny yn y gyllideb eleni.
Fe fydd hi'n gwybod hefyd ein bod yn cynnal adolygiad o'r dulliau ledled Cymru o ddyrannu cyllid anghenion dysgu ychwanegol i ysgolion. Mae yna lefel o amrywiaeth rhwng awdurdodau lleol. Fe fyddech chi'n disgwyl gweld rhywfaint o amrywiaeth, ond rydym eisiau deall yn iawn pam mae'r amrywio hwnnw'n bodoli. Rwy'n hapus i rannu casgliadau'r adolygiad hwnnw gyda'r Siambr maes o law.
Minister, Mark Isherwood and I have previously raised the holiday club support at Ysgol Pen Coch in Flintshire in questions to you here in the Senedd, and I was grateful for your intervention. It was an intervention that made a real difference to the students. Can I also thank the school, the parents at the school, Flintshire County Council and colleagues in the Welsh Government too for the innovative way in which they found a solution? It did make a real difference to the well-being of the students, I must say.
Minister, I'm seeking your support once again to ask that Welsh Government officials do have a further conversation with Flintshire colleagues and relevant stakeholders so that they can enable the school to have a year-round support hub and provide that year-round support for the students with those needs. Therefore, can I ask you to engage your officials, and ask them to speak with the council, speak with the relevant stakeholders, to discuss this further? It's an ambition shared by all colleagues who represent the Flintshire authority here in the Senedd. Diolch.
Weinidog, mae Mark Isherwood a minnau wedi codi cefnogaeth y clwb gwyliau yn Ysgol Pen Coch yn sir y Fflint yn y gorffennol mewn cwestiynau i chi yma yn y Senedd, ac roeddwn yn ddiolchgar am eich ymyrraeth. Roedd yn ymyrraeth a wnaeth wahaniaeth gwirioneddol i'r myfyrwyr. A gaf fi hefyd ddiolch i'r ysgol, y rhieni yn yr ysgol, Cyngor Sir y Fflint a chyd-Aelodau yn Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd am y ffordd arloesol y daethant o hyd i ateb? Fe wnaeth wahaniaeth go iawn i lesiant y myfyrwyr, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud.
Weinidog, rwy'n ceisio eich cefnogaeth unwaith eto i ofyn am sgwrs bellach rhwng swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a chydweithwyr yn sir y Fflint a rhanddeiliaid perthnasol fel y gallant alluogi'r ysgol i gael hyb cymorth drwy gydol y flwyddyn a darparu'r cymorth hwnnw drwy gydol y flwyddyn i'r myfyrwyr sydd â'r anghenion hynny. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i chi ymgysylltu â'ch swyddogion, a gofyn iddynt siarad â'r cyngor, siarad â'r rhanddeiliaid perthnasol, i drafod hyn ymhellach? Mae'n uchelgais a rennir gan bob un o'r cyd-Aelodau sy'n cynrychioli awdurdod sir y Fflint yma yn y Senedd. Diolch.
I thank Jack Sargeant for that supplementary question. He has, of course, raised Ysgol Pen Coch with me previously, and I'm glad that that opportunity created some ability to engage with the school in relation to the provision. I think he's right to say that the solution that they discovered was innovative. It's really important, isn't it, to try and find innovative approaches to all sorts of provision, right across Wales, and that can be an example to others as well. I'll be very happy to ask my officials to facilitate a further meeting between Ysgol Pen Coch and Flintshire County Council, to understand their position and any potential plans for a year-round support hub.
Diolch i Jack Sargeant am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw. Wrth gwrs, mae wedi dwyn Ysgol Pen Coch i fy sylw o'r blaen, ac rwy'n falch fod y cyfle hwnnw wedi creu gallu i ymgysylltu â'r ysgol mewn perthynas â'r ddarpariaeth. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn iawn i ddweud bod yr ateb a ganfuwyd ganddynt yn arloesol. Mae'n hynod o bwysig ceisio dod o hyd i ddulliau arloesol o ymdrin â phob math o ddarpariaeth ledled Cymru, a gall hynny fod yn esiampl i eraill hefyd. Rwy'n hapus iawn i ofyn i fy swyddogion drefnu cyfarfod pellach rhwng Ysgol Pen Coch a Chyngor Sir y Fflint, i ddeall eu safbwynt ac unrhyw gynlluniau posibl ar gyfer hyb cymorth drwy gydol y flwyddyn.
2. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi cynorthwywyr addysgu mewn ysgolion? OQ60498
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to support teaching assistants in schools? OQ60498
We are committed to continuing to enable teaching assistants to improve their skills and to help them to engage with professional learning. We are working closely with our partners to facilitate clearer learning pathways, including pathways to achieve the status of higher level teaching assistant.
Rydym wedi ymrwymo i barhau i alluogi cynorthwywyr addysgu i wella eu sgiliau a'u helpu i gymryd rhan mewn dysgu proffesiynol. Rydym yn gweithio'n agos gyda'n partneriaid i hwyluso llwybrau dysgu cliriach, gan gynnwys llwybrau i gyflawni statws cynorthwyydd addysgu lefel uwch.
I thank the Minister for his answer. We had a long discussion about this in committee this morning, about teaching assistants. But a lot of the teaching assistants who I speak to—. They are vital in delivering the new Curriculum for Wales, but a lot of them do say they don't get enough training on delivery of the curriculum or upskilling themselves to be able to help the teachers in the classroom. So, I'd be interested to know what the Welsh Government is doing to upskill our teaching assistants in the classroom, and educate them on the new curriculum and how they can best deliver that to the pupils in our classrooms.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ateb. Cawsom drafodaeth hir am hyn yn y pwyllgor y bore yma, am gynorthwywyr addysgu. Ond mae llawer o'r cynorthwywyr addysgu y siaradaf â nhw—. Maent yn hanfodol i gyflwyno'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru newydd, ond mae llawer ohonynt yn dweud nad ydynt yn cael digon o hyfforddiant ar gyflwyno'r cwricwlwm neu uwchsgilio eu hunain i allu helpu'r athrawon yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Felly, hoffwn wybod beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella sgiliau ein cynorthwywyr addysgu yn yr ystafell ddosbarth, a'u haddysgu am y cwricwlwm newydd a sut y gallant ei gyflwyno yn y ffordd orau i'r disgyblion yn ein hystafelloedd dosbarth.
I thank James Evans for that question. We did have, I thought, a very productive discussion in the committee this morning in relation to this. He will recall that I outlined to him how important this is to me. Can I also take the opportunity of thanking Unison, who presented me recently with the response to their survey, which sought to take the views of teaching assistants in relation to training generally, but training in relation to the curriculum specifically? As I mentioned this morning, we have introduced the new national entitlement to professional learning, which is an entitlement that teaching assistants have, as teachers have. That's probably a year in now, and there have been high levels of engagement with it, but we obviously want to promote that even further, in particular to teaching assistants. He will also be aware of the teaching assistant learning pathway, which is designed to support the professional learning of all teaching assistants, and he will know of the investment that we make every year into that pathway.
In my discussions with teaching assistants and their representatives in relation to this, what has emerged is that the training that is available to professionals generally in relation to the curriculum is often targeted at and communicated to teachers but not to teaching assistants. So, in those discussions, I've already committed to looking again at how we promote, sometimes how we describe, the resources that are available, so that they are readily identifiable by teaching assistants as being something that they will benefit from as well as teachers. So, there are practical things that we can do in that way, and we have also been discussing how much more we can do to make sure that INSET days are deployed to provide training for teaching assistants alongside teachers. There is some good practice, but there is more that we can do. We can support schools to roll that out further, and I think that would be a very important priority.
Diolch i James Evans am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Cawsom drafodaeth gynhyrchiol iawn yn y pwyllgor y bore yma mewn perthynas â hyn. Fe fydd yn cofio fy mod wedi dweud wrtho pa mor bwysig yw hyn i mi. A gaf fi hefyd fanteisio ar y cyfle i ddiolch i Unsain, a gyflwynodd yr ymateb i'w harolwg i mi yn ddiweddar, arolwg a aeth ati i nodi barn cynorthwywyr addysgu mewn perthynas â hyfforddiant yn gyffredinol, ond hyfforddiant mewn perthynas â'r cwricwlwm yn benodol? Fel y soniais y bore yma, rydym wedi cyflwyno'r hawl genedlaethol newydd i ddysgu proffesiynol, sy'n hawl i gynorthwywyr addysgu, fel i athrawon. Mae'n debyg fod tua blwyddyn ers i hynny ddechrau, a gwelwyd lefelau uchel o gyfranogiad, ond yn amlwg, rydym eisiau hyrwyddo hynny hyd yn oed ymhellach, yn enwedig i gynorthwywyr addysgu. Fe fydd hefyd yn ymwybodol o'r llwybr dysgu i gynorthwywyr addysgu, sydd wedi'i gynllunio i gefnogi dysgu proffesiynol yr holl gynorthwywyr addysgu, ac fe fydd yn gwybod am y buddsoddiad a wnawn bob blwyddyn yn y llwybr hwnnw.
Yn fy nhrafodaethau gyda chynorthwywyr addysgu a'u cynrychiolwyr mewn perthynas â hyn, daeth yn amlwg fod yr hyfforddiant sydd ar gael i weithwyr proffesiynol yn gyffredinol mewn perthynas â'r cwricwlwm yn aml yn cael ei dargedu a'i gyfleu i athrawon ond nid i gynorthwywyr addysgu. Felly, yn y trafodaethau hynny, rwyf eisoes wedi ymrwymo i edrych eto ar sut rydym yn hyrwyddo, weithiau sut rydym yn disgrifio, yr adnoddau sydd ar gael, fel eu bod yn hawdd i gynorthwywyr addysgu eu hadnabod fel rhywbeth y byddant hwy, yn ogystal ag athrawon, yn elwa ohono. Felly, mae pethau ymarferol y gallwn eu gwneud yn y ffordd honno, ac rydym hefyd wedi bod yn trafod faint mwy y gallwn ei wneud i sicrhau bod diwrnodau hyfforddiant mewn swydd yn cael eu defnyddio i ddarparu hyfforddiant i gynorthwywyr addysgu ochr yn ochr ag athrawon. Mae yna rywfaint o ymarfer da, ond mae mwy y gallwn ei wneud. Gallwn gefnogi ysgolion i gyflwyno hynny ymhellach, a chredaf y byddai honno'n flaenoriaeth bwysig iawn.
Minister, teaching assistants, as we know, play a really important role in schools, and we also know that they often form very close relationships with children, often working with them on a one-to-one basis, which is crucial. Lots of teaching assistants tell me they absolutely love their jobs—working hard every day to improve the lives of our young people in Wales. Everyone agrees that they are valued as an integral part of the school workforce, and an important role as part of a high-quality education profession. Teaching assistants have long been highlighting concerns in relation to their roles in schools, though, so I'm pleased that, as part of the Welsh Government's social partnership approach, their concerns are currently being considered by a group made up of Welsh Government officials, local authorities, who employ teaching assistants, and education trade unions. I know, for example, that GMB and Unison—and I'm a member of both of those trade unions—have played a big part in this work. As you've identified, knowing your rights, Minister, and knowing the terms and conditions and your entitlements is crucial. You've launched this Hwb website, and I was wondering if you could give us an update on how that social partnership work is going, and also the engagement that you've had through that information on Hwb.
Weinidog, fel y gwyddom, mae cynorthwywyr addysgu yn chwarae rhan bwysig iawn mewn ysgolion, ac rydym hefyd yn gwybod eu bod yn aml yn ffurfio perthynas agos iawn â phlant, gan weithio'n aml gyda nhw ar sail un i un, sy'n hanfodol. Mae llawer o gynorthwywyr addysgu yn dweud wrthyf eu bod yn dwli ar eu swyddi—yn gweithio'n galed bob dydd i wella bywydau ein pobl ifanc yng Nghymru. Mae pawb yn cytuno eu bod yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi fel rhan annatod o weithlu'r ysgol, ac yn rôl bwysig fel rhan o broffesiwn addysg o ansawdd uchel. Mae cynorthwywyr addysgu wedi bod yn tynnu sylw at bryderon ers tro mewn perthynas â'u rolau mewn ysgolion, felly rwy'n falch fod eu pryderon, fel rhan o ddull partneriaeth gymdeithasol Llywodraeth Cymru, yn cael eu hystyried ar hyn o bryd gan grŵp sy'n cynnwys swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru, awdurdodau lleol sy'n cyflogi cynorthwywyr addysgu, ac undebau llafur y byd addysg. Er enghraifft, rwy'n gwybod bod GMB ac Unsain—ac rwy'n aelod o'r ddwy undeb—wedi chwarae rhan fawr yn y gwaith hwn. Fel y nodwyd gennych, mae gwybod eich hawliau, Weinidog, a gwybod y telerau a'r amodau a'ch hawliau yn hanfodol. Rydych chi wedi lansio'r wefan Hwb, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allech chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynglŷn â sut mae'r gwaith partneriaeth cymdeithasol hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo, a hefyd yr ymgysylltiad a gawsoch drwy'r wybodaeth ar Hwb.
I thank Sarah Murphy for that question. Can I actually echo the point that she made about how central teaching assistants are to the provision of education in our schools? They do incredible work. When I became Minister, I met early on with groups of teaching assistants, via both Unison and GMB, to discuss with them their first-hand experiences, and some of the concerns that, as Sarah Murphy said, they'd been sharing for some time. From those meetings, we developed a broad-based work programme to try and move forward some of the issues that they had been flagging, as I say, for some time.
There's a piece of work that has been led very substantially by teaching assistants themselves, working with heads, on job roles, to try and move to a position where there's a more common set of job roles across the 22 authorities in Wales. I thank the authorities that have engaged with them in that process as well. But alongside that, there's work on guidance in relation to deployment, guidance in relation to professional learning, a representation or a voice for teaching assistants on the governing bodies of schools, and I think, in each of these areas, we've been able to make quite substantial progress.
We had a meeting only yesterday of the social partners to discuss the progress, in particular, that had been done in relation to job roles, and I think it was, if I may say, an exemplar illustration of how you can make real strides forward to try to resolve some of these challenges when you're able to work in that open, collaborative, respectful way that social partnership provides. I look forward to completing this comprehensive work programme in the same way.
Diolch i Sarah Murphy am y cwestiwn. A gaf fi ategu'r pwynt a wnaeth am ba mor ganolog yw cynorthwywyr addysgu i ddarparu addysg yn ein hysgolion? Maent yn gwneud gwaith anhygoel. Yn fuan wedi i mi ddod yn Weinidog, cefais gyfarfod â grwpiau o gynorthwywyr addysgu, trwy Unsain a GMB, i drafod eu profiadau uniongyrchol â nhw, a rhai o'r pryderon a fu ganddynt ers peth amser, fel y dywedodd Sarah Murphy. O'r cyfarfodydd hynny, fe wnaethom ddatblygu rhaglen waith eang i geisio sicrhau cynnydd ar rai o'r materion roeddent wedi bod yn tynnu sylw atynt ers peth amser, fel rwy'n dweud.
Mae yna waith, dan arweiniad cynorthwywyr addysgu eu hunain i raddau helaeth, yn gweithio gyda phenaethiaid, ar rolau swydd, i geisio symud i sefyllfa lle ceir set fwy cyffredin o rolau swyddi ar draws y 22 awdurdod yng Nghymru. Diolch hefyd i'r awdurdodau sydd wedi ymwneud â nhw yn y broses honno. Ond ochr yn ochr â hynny, mae gwaith ar ganllawiau mewn perthynas â gweithredu, canllawiau mewn perthynas â dysgu proffesiynol, cynrychiolaeth neu lais i gynorthwywyr addysgu ar gyrff llywodraethu ysgolion, a chredaf ein bod, ym mhob un o'r meysydd hyn, wedi gallu gwneud cynnydd eithaf sylweddol.
Ddoe ddiwethaf cawsom gyfarfod i'r partneriaid cymdeithasol i drafod y cynnydd, yn arbennig, a wnaed mewn perthynas â rolau swyddi, ac os caf ddweud, rwy'n credu ei fod yn dangos yn glir sut y gallwch chi gymryd camau breision ymlaen i geisio datrys rhai o'r heriau hyn pan fyddwch chi'n gallu gweithio yn y ffordd agored, gydweithredol a pharchus sy'n bosibl drwy bartneriaeth gymdeithasol. Edrychaf ymlaen at gwblhau'r rhaglen waith gynhwysfawr hon yn yr un modd.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Laura Anne Jones.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, I recently read your piece in LabourList—a first for me, I must admit. But it had an interesting quote:
'Over time the funding spent on schools will increase as a percentage of the Welsh Government's budget. In fact, actually it builds on the work that I've already been doing.'
Minister, I did a double take when I read your quote. Was that just an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of your own Labour members or your failure in office? I would love to know what this work is that you're building on, because it sure isn't an increase in funding. The facts are clear: you have cut the education budget this year in cash terms by £56 million. In real terms, that represents a £140 million reduction, and this on top of a cash and real-terms cut last year.
Mark Drakeford as First Minister has failed to prioritise education, just like his predecessors. Will you now, on record, say that, if you were First Minister, you would, at the very least, drop these pet projects of blanket 20 mph and hundreds of millions of pounds spent on more politicians, and plough that money where it is needed, in our children's education in Wales?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, darllenais eich darn ar LabourList—y tro cyntaf i mi wneud, rhaid imi gyfaddef. Ond roedd ynddo ddyfyniad diddorol:
'Dros amser, bydd y cyllid sy'n cael ei wario ar ysgolion yn cynyddu fel canran o gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n adeiladu ar y gwaith y bûm yn ei wneud eisoes.'
Weinidog, fe gefais syndod pan ddarllenais eich dyfyniad. Ai ymgais i daflu llwch i lygaid eich aelodau Llafur eich hun yn unig oedd hynny neu eich methiant yn y swydd? Fe hoffwn yn fawr wybod beth yw'r gwaith rydych chi'n adeiladu arno, oherwydd yn sicr ddigon nid yw'n gynnydd mewn cyllid. Mae'r ffeithiau'n glir: rydych chi wedi torri £56 miliwn oddi ar y gyllideb addysg eleni yn nhermau arian parod. Mewn termau real, mae hwnnw'n ostyngiad o £140 miliwn, a hyn ar ben toriad yn nhermau arian parod ac mewn termau real y llynedd.
Mae Mark Drakeford fel Prif Weinidog Cymru wedi methu blaenoriaethu addysg, yn union fel ei ragflaenwyr. A wnewch chi ddweud ar goedd nawr, pe baech chi'n Brif Weinidog, y byddech chi fan lleiaf yn cael gwared ar hoff brosiectau fel y 20 mya cyffredinol a'r cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd a werir ar fwy o wleidyddion, a chyfeirio'r arian hwnnw at ble mae ei angen, ar addysg ein plant yng Nghymru?
Might I suggest the Member focus her scrutiny efforts on my current role as education Minister? Might I also suggest that she reads rather more closely what she’s been finding in LabourList? But I’m sure LabourList will be very pleased to hear the extent of their reach.
As she will know from the discussions we’ve had in the committee and elsewhere, the Government has protected, in the Welsh Government budget, the sums that go to schools, both in the very difficult set of choices that we had to make in relation to in-year reductions last year, and in relation to the choices we’ve had to make to deal with the pressures in the 2024-25 budget. She will know that the grants we pay to schools have retained their value in both of those years. Indeed, the approach that we are taking now, which is to make those grants more flexible, more easily deployed by schools, is intended to make them even more valuable, and put trust in the hands of local authorities and teachers about how best to reach the outcomes that we have as shared priorities with them.
A gaf fi awgrymu bod yr Aelod yn canolbwyntio ei hymdrechion craffu ar fy rôl bresennol fel Gweinidog addysg? A gaf fi awgrymu hefyd ei bod hi'n darllen yn fanylach yr hyn y mae hi wedi bod yn ei ganfod ar LabourList? Ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd LabourList yn falch iawn o glywed pa mor eang yw eu cyrhaeddiad.
Fel y bydd hi'n gwybod o'r trafodaethau a gawsom yn y pwyllgor ac mewn mannau eraill, yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'r Llywodraeth wedi diogelu'r symiau sy'n mynd i ysgolion, yn y set anodd iawn o ddewisiadau y bu'n rhaid inni eu gwneud mewn perthynas â gostyngiadau yn ystod y flwyddyn y llynedd, ac mewn perthynas â'r dewisiadau y bu'n rhaid inni eu gwneud i ymdopi â'r pwysau yng nghyllideb 2024-25. Fe fydd hi'n gwybod bod y grantiau a dalwn i ysgolion wedi cadw eu gwerth yn y ddwy flynedd fel ei gilydd. Yn wir, bwriad y dull a fabwysiadir gennym nawr, sef gwneud y grantiau hynny'n fwy hyblyg a haws eu defnyddio gan ysgolion, yw eu gwneud hyd yn oed yn fwy gwerthfawr, ac ymddiried yn yr awdurdodau lleol ac athrawon ynghylch y ffordd orau o gyflawni'r canlyniadau sydd gennym fel blaenoriaethau a rannwn gyda nhw.
Minister, on the back of consecutive years of education budget cuts, it is clear that you’re now trying to claim that there is extra money going into education via local government budgets. But the reality is that councils such as the Labour-run Monmouthshire, for example, are actually proposing to cut their education budget to the tune of nearly £1 million. We see similar cuts from Caerphilly County Borough Council and other councils across Wales. Your words simply don’t match the reality on the ground. The money that has been diverted to the local government budget, and promised to schools by you, is simply just going to plug the gaps from council cuts, which means there is absolutely no guarantee that money will get where it’s urgently needed in our schools. Minister, you claim there is an increase in funding to education. With the cuts at Senedd and council level, how will this equate to an increase in funding?
Weinidog, ar ôl blynyddoedd olynol o doriadau i'r gyllideb addysg, mae'n amlwg eich bod yn ceisio honni nawr fod arian ychwanegol yn mynd tuag at addysg drwy gyllidebau llywodraeth leol. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod cynghorau fel sir Fynwy sy'n cael ei redeg gan Lafur, er enghraifft, yn argymell torri bron i £1 filiwn oddi ar eu cyllideb addysg. Rydym yn gweld toriadau tebyg gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili a chynghorau eraill ar draws Cymru. Nid yw eich geiriau'n cyd-fynd â'r realiti ar lawr gwlad. Mae'r arian sydd wedi'i ddargyfeirio i gyllideb llywodraeth leol, ac a addawyd gennych chi i ysgolion, yn mynd i lenwi bylchau yn sgil toriadau cynghorau, sy'n golygu nad oes sicrwydd o gwbl y bydd arian yn cyrraedd lle mae ei angen ar frys yn ein hysgolion. Weinidog, rydych chi'n honni bod yna gynnydd mewn cyllid i addysg. Gyda'r toriadau ar lefel y Senedd a'r cynghorau, sut y bydd hyn yn gynnydd mewn cyllid?
I actually said that schools grants had been preserved, rather than increased, so let’s have some regard to what I actually said in response to your earlier questions. The truth is councils right across Wales, heads right across Wales, managing difficult budgets, will know what is at the heart of that, and it is the fact that we have a Conservative Government in Westminster handing out austerity budgets to us in Wales and other parts of the UK. They understand very well what is at the heart of this challenge. [Interruption.] There is no pulling the wool—there is no pulling the wool—over their eyes in the way that the Member is seeking to do. And she will know very well that, day in, day out, teachers are doing their best to manage very challenging budgets, and I commend them for that in very difficult circumstances. What we need is a Labour Government in Westminster prepared to invest in public services, as we do here in Wales.
Yr hyn a ddywedais mewn gwirionedd oedd fod grantiau ysgolion wedi cael eu cynnal, yn hytrach na'u cynyddu, felly gadewch inni roi sylw i'r hyn a ddywedais mewn ymateb i'ch cwestiynau cynharach. Y gwir amdani yw y bydd cynghorau ledled Cymru, penaethiaid ar draws Cymru sy'n rheoli cyllidebau anodd, yn gwybod beth sydd wrth wraidd hynny, sef bod gennym Lywodraeth Geidwadol yn San Steffan yn dosbarthu cyllidebau cyni i ni yng Nghymru a rhannau eraill o'r DU. Maent yn deall yn iawn beth sydd wrth wraidd yr her hon. [Torri ar draws.] Nid oes lluchio llwch—nid oes lluchio llwch—i'w llygaid yn y ffordd y mae'r Aelod yn ceisio ei wneud. Ac fe fydd hi'n gwybod yn iawn fod athrawon yn gwneud eu gorau o un diwrnod i'r llall i reoli cyllidebau heriol iawn, ac rwy'n eu canmol am hynny mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan sy'n barod i fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, fel y gwnawn ni yma yng Nghymru.
Yet, Minister, education standards have gone up in England significantly, haven't they, yet they've gone down in Wales, and the rest of the UK have all gone up, apart from Wales. Your time as education Minister can only be characterised by one word: failure. You now enter a leadership campaign promising the world, like in LabourList—I'll name-check them again—but, in reality, you have failed the next generation at every turn. Minister, I once again found myself perplexed by reading your leadership bid comments. You said, and I quote,
'Under my leadership, we will have unapologetically high expectations in education'.
And this is coming from a man who's presided over Wales's worst ever PISA results, the worst educational outcomes in the UK on record. Minister, this Labour Government has refused to apologise for decades of failure in education, which has put Wales on the bottom of every education league table. And, to make matters worse, you refuse to set a target for the next set of PISA results in three years' time, or even the one after, to be held accountable against. Minister, you risk our children and young people's future by failing to tackle the teacher recruitment crisis; you have failed to end violence in schools, in fact, letting it spiral out of control; you have failed ALN students by refusing to meet their demands, those that are deaf, those who have sight problems, those with speech and language issues, who are simply not getting what they need, and you know it. You have piled directive after directive, pressure after pressure on our teachers, on our schools, and have not followed it with the money to deliver. This may be your last education Minister questions. Can you, on record, say that you are genuinely proud of your record in office? Will you, as one of your potentially last acts as education Minister, finally commit to setting a target for the next set of PISA results, as part of your commitment to unapologetically high standards, and show some actual ambition to try and drag Wales up to at least the level of the rest of the UK, if not, hopefully, above?
Ac eto, Weinidog, mae safonau addysg wedi codi'n sylweddol yn Lloegr, onid ydynt, ond maent wedi gostwng yng Nghymru, ac mae gweddill y DU i gyd wedi codi, ar wahân i Gymru. Dim ond un gair y gellir ei ddefnyddio i ddisgrifio eich amser fel Gweinidog addysg: methiant. Rydych chi nawr yn dechrau ar ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth gan addo'r byd, fel yn LabourList—fe roddaf sylw iddynt eto—ond mewn gwirionedd, rydych chi wedi gwneud cam dro ar ôl tro â'r genhedlaeth nesaf. Weinidog, roeddwn mewn penbleth unwaith eto wrth ddarllen eich sylwadau yn eich cais am yr arweinyddiaeth. Fe wnaethoch chi ddweud,
'O dan fy arweinyddiaeth i, bydd gennym ddisgwyliadau uchel ar gyfer addysg ac nid ydym yn ymddiheuro am hynny'.
A hyn gan ddyn sydd wedi llywyddu dros ganlyniadau PISA gwaethaf Cymru erioed, y canlyniadau addysgol gwaethaf a gofnodwyd erioed yn y DU. Weinidog, mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur hon wedi gwrthod ymddiheuro am ddegawdau o fethiant mewn addysg, sydd wedi rhoi Cymru ar waelod pob tabl cynghrair addysgol. Ac i wneud pethau'n waeth, rydych chi'n gwrthod gosod targed ar gyfer y set nesaf o ganlyniadau PISA ymhen tair blynedd, neu hyd yn oed yr un ar ôl hynny, i'ch dwyn i gyfrif yn eu herbyn. Weinidog, rydych chi'n peryglu dyfodol ein plant a'n pobl ifanc drwy fethu mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng recriwtio athrawon; rydych chi wedi methu rhoi diwedd ar drais mewn ysgolion, gan adael iddo waethygu allan o reolaeth mewn gwirionedd; rydych chi wedi gwneud cam â myfyrwyr ADY drwy wrthod bodloni eu gofynion, y rhai sy'n fyddar, y rhai sydd â phroblemau gyda'u golwg, y rhai â phroblemau lleferydd ac iaith, nad ydynt yn cael yr hyn sydd ei angen arnynt, ac rydych chi'n gwybod hynny. Rydych chi wedi pentyrru cyfarwyddeb ar ben cyfarwyddeb, pwysau ar ben pwysau ar ein hathrawon, ar ein hysgolion, ac nid ydych wedi rhoi arian i ddilyn hynny er mwyn gallu cyflawni. Efallai mai dyma fydd eich cwestiynau olaf fel Gweinidog addysg. A allwch chi ddweud ar goedd eich bod yn wirioneddol falch o'ch cyflawniad yn y swydd? A wnewch chi, fel un o'ch gweithredoedd olaf fel Gweinidog addysg o bosibl, ymrwymo o'r diwedd i osod targed ar gyfer y set nesaf o ganlyniadau PISA, fel rhan o'ch ymrwymiad nad ydych chi'n ymddiheuro yn ei gylch i safonau uchel, a dangos rhywfaint o uchelgais go iawn i geisio llusgo Cymru i fyny i lefel gweddill y DU fan lleiaf, ac yn uwch, gobeithio?
Well, by the looks of the benches behind the Member, the fact that she's reading my speeches with quite such detail isn't doing her own leadership ambitions any good at all [Laughter.] She, as always, makes the comparison between Wales and England. England, Conservative England, in which schools are crumbling—in which schools are crumbling—which saw seven days lost to strikes last year, which has education spending lower than it is in Wales, which has the unit rate of free school meals lower than it is for Wales, which has—
Wel, wrth edrych ar y meinciau y tu ôl i'r Aelod, nid yw'r ffaith ei bod yn darllen fy areithiau mor fanwl yn gwneud unrhyw les i'w huchelgais ei hun i arwain. [Chwerthin.] Mae hi, fel bob amser, yn gwneud y gymhariaeth rhwng Cymru a Lloegr. Lloegr, Lloegr Geidwadol, lle mae ysgolion yn adfeilio—lle mae ysgolion yn adfeilio—a welodd saith diwrnod yn cael eu colli i streiciau y llynedd, sydd â gwariant addysg is nag yng Nghymru, sydd â chyfradd uned prydau ysgol am ddim is nag yng Nghymru, sydd wedi—
I allowed the Member to have a very long time to ask her question. I now need the Minister to be heard in his answer. Thank you, Minister.
Gadewais i'r Aelod gael amser hir iawn i ofyn ei chwestiwn. Nawr mae angen i'r Gweinidog gael ei glywed yn ei ateb. Diolch, Weinidog.
Llywydd, I'll begin again, if I may, because I don't think the benches opposite heard this: school buildings crumbling in England compared to Wales; strikes in England in schools for seven days, compared to two days in Wales; education spending lower in England than it is in Wales—[Interruption.]—absolutely; support for students lower in England than it is for Wales. In any of these measures, I would be embarrassed to be highlighting Conservative England to us as an example in Wales.
Lywydd, fe ddechreuaf eto, os caf, oherwydd nid wyf yn credu bod y meinciau gyferbyn wedi clywed hyn: adeiladau ysgol yn adfeilio yn Lloegr o gymharu â Chymru; streiciau yn Lloegr mewn ysgolion am saith diwrnod, o'i gymharu â dau ddiwrnod yng Nghymru; gwariant addysg sy'n is yn Lloegr nag yng Nghymru—[Torri ar draws.]—yn hollol; cymorth i fyfyrwyr sy'n llai yn Lloegr nag yng Nghymru. Ar unrhyw un o'r mesurau hyn, byddai gennyf gywilydd o dynnu sylw at Loegr Geidwadol fel esiampl i ni yng Nghymru.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Sioned Williams.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Llywydd. Bydd cyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud toriadau sylweddol i addysg ôl-16, gyda rhai o'r toriadau mwyaf amlwg i gyllid ar gyfer cefnogi myfyrwyr ôl-raddedig. Does dim dwywaith y bydd symud i system fenthyciadau yn unig ar gyfer myfyrwyr ôl-raddedig yn cynyddu lefelau angydraddoldeb o ran mynediad i addysg uwch, yn enwedig o ystyried bod myfyrwyr wedi eu bwrw yn hynod o galed gan yr argyfwng costau byw. Mae Undeb Cenedlaethol Myfyrwyr Cymru wedi clywed gan nifer o fyfyrwyr ôl-radd yng Nghymru sy'n dweud na fyddent wedi medru ymgymryd â'u hastudiaethau oni bai am yr elfen grant o'u cefnogaeth ariannol. Er enghraifft, dywedodd un myfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, sy'n rhiant sengl, na fyddai'n gallu astudio a chadw to uwchben ei phlentyn heb y grant. Dychwelodd y myfyriwr yma i'r brifysgol i ailsgilio ar gyfer gyrfa mewn treftadaeth, rhywbeth ddylai Cymru, fel cenedl ail gyfle, ei ddathlu a'i annog. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n cytuno bod addysg yn medru trawsnewid bywydau a helpu dileu tlodi dros genedlaethau. Sut ydych chi, felly, am liniaru effaith hyn ar ein myfyrwyr mwyaf disglair sy'n dod o'r cefndiroedd mwyaf difreintiedig? Ydych chi'n derbyn y bydd y toriadau yma'n cynyddu anghydraddoldeb economaidd-gymdeithasol o fewn mynediad at addysg uwch?
Thank you, Llywydd. The Welsh Government’s draft budget will make significant cuts to post-16 education, with some of the most prominent cuts to education being in funding for postgraduate studies. There is no doubt that moving to a loan-only system for postgraduate students will increase levels of inequality in terms of access to higher education, especially given that students have been hit extremely hard by the cost-of-living crisis. NUS Wales has heard from a number of postgraduate students in Wales who say that they would not have been able to undertake their studies if it were not for the grant element of their financial support. For example, one student at Cardiff University, who’s a single parent, said that she would not be able to study and keep a roof over her child’s head without the grant. This student returned to university to reskill for a career in heritage, something that Wales, as a second-chance nation, should celebrate and encourage. I know that you agree that education can transform lives and help eradicate poverty across generations. So, how are you going to mitigate the impact of this on our brightest students who come from the most disadvantaged backgrounds? And do you accept that these cuts will increase socioeconomic inequality in terms of access to higher education?
Wel, mae'r penderfyniadau yma'n rhai tu hwnt o anodd, ac mae'r her mae'r Aelod yn codi yn gwestiwn digon teg. Dydyn nhw ddim yn benderfyniadau hawdd i'w gwneud. Y dewis sydd gennym ni fel Gweinidogion yw sut ydyn ni'n mynd i ddefnyddio'r gyllideb brin sydd gyda ni a pha ffyrdd sy'n mynd i gael yr effaith fwyaf positif, fwyaf blaengar i gynyddu cydraddoldeb, ffyniant a llesiant ein cymunedau ni. A'r dewis y bu'n rhaid i fi wneud yn y cyd-destun hwn yw a fuaswn i'n parhau i gynnig grantiau i griw cymharol gyfyngedig o bobl ar ddiwedd siwrnai academaidd, neu a fuaswn i'n defnyddio'r arian hynny i sicrhau bod pob plentyn ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru yn cael y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen ar gyfer y sgiliau craidd hynny.
Ac o ran y pwynt mae'r Aelod yn gwneud o ran sicrhau bod gennym ni gymdeithas hafal â phob cyfle i unigolyn allu ffynnu, rŷn ni'n gwybod o'r dystiolaeth po gyntaf yn y siwrnai addysg rydych chi'n gwario'r arian hynny, y mwyaf positif mae'r effaith dros gwrs bywyd rhywun. Felly, dyna sydd wrth wraidd y penderfyniad rwyf wedi gorfod ei wneud i flaenoriaethu'r cyfnod tan 16 a defnyddio peth o'r arian o'r grantiau ôl-raddedig er mwyn gwneud hynny. Rŷn ni'n dal i gynnig y system fwyaf cefnogol ym Mhrydain i gefnogi graddedigion am y tro cyntaf, ac rŷn ni'n falch iawn o wneud hynny.
Well, these decisions are exceptionally difficult, and the challenge raised by the Member is fair. They are not easy decisions to make. The choice we have as Ministers is how we can use the scarce resources that we have and what will have the most positive, progressive impact in enhancing equality, prosperity and well-being within our communities, and the choice that I had to make in this context was to consider whether we would continue to provide grants to a relatively limited group of people at the end of an academic journey or whether we would use those funds to ensure that every child in every school in Wales gets the support that they need for those core skills.
And on the point that the Member makes in terms of ensuring that we have an equal society, providing every opportunity for individuals to prosper, we know from evidence that the earlier in the education journey that you spend that money, the more positive the impact will be over the course of one's life. So, that is what's at the core of the decision that I've had to make to prioritise the pre-16 sector and use some of the postgraduate grant funding in order to do that. We still offer the most supportive system in Wales in supporting first-time graduates, and we're very pleased to be doing that.
Diolch. Wrth gwrs, mae'r sgiliau uwch yna a'r angen i ailsgilio yn rhywbeth sy'n gyrru cau y bwlch, onid yw e, o ran anghydraddoldebau o ran y bwlch cyflogau, o ran y bwlch cyrhaeddiad, a hefyd ein heconomi ni yn y pen draw. Ac mae dadansoddiad y Llywodraeth ei hun yn dangos y bydd y toriadau i grantiau a bwrsariaethau ôl-raddedig yn cael effaith anghymesur ar grwpiau penodol o fewn cymdeithas, er enghraifft menywod sydd am astudio pynciau STEMM a hefyd siaradwyr Cymraeg. Dywedodd un myfyriwr sy'n dilyn cwrs MSc ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth, er enghraifft, na fyddai wedi medru cwrdd â chostau byw sylfaenol heb y fwrsariaeth yna gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Mae cyrsiau Meistr yn darparu'r sgiliau uwch yna sy'n hanfodol i ddatblygiad ein meysydd ni, ein sefydliadau ni ac, fel dywedais i, ein heconomi ni drwy arloesedd ac ymchwil, ac mae dileu'r bwrsariaethau sy'n cefnogi astudiaethau ôl-radd wedi eu haddysgu trwy'r Gymraeg hefyd yn tanseilio'r angen dybryd i sicrhau'r sgiliau Cymraeg yna ymhlith y rhai sy'n arwain o fewn ein gweithluoedd. Ydych chi'n derbyn bod y Llywodraeth, drwy gyflwyno'r toriadau hyn, yn debyg o ehangu'r bwlch cyflog rhywedd a thanseilio'r nod, efallai, yng nghynllun gweithredu 'Cymraeg 2050' o ddatblygu'r gweithlu cyfrwng Cymraeg, achos heb gefnogi myfyrwyr ôl-radd cyfrwng Cymraeg, pwy sy'n mynd i ddatblygu'r adnoddau a'r dechnoleg angenrheidiol sydd eu hangen arnom ni i gynyddu nifer y siaradwyr, cynyddu'r defnydd yna o'r Gymraeg a chreu amodau ffafriol i'r Gymraeg?
Thank you. Of course, those higher skills and the need to reskill is something that closes the equality gap in terms of wages and attainment, and also as regards our economy as well. And the Government's own analysis shows that the cuts to postgraduate grants and bursaries will have a disproportionate impact on specific groups within society. For example, women who want to study STEMM subjects and also Welsh speakers. One student who is pursuing an MSc course at Aberystwyth, for example, said that she would not have been able to meet basic living costs without the bursary from the Welsh Government.
Master's courses provide those advanced skills that are essential to the development of those fields or institutions and, as I said, our economy, through innovation and research. And the removal of those bursaries that support postgraduate studies taught through the medium of Welsh also undermines the urgent need to ensure Welsh language skills among those who lead within our workforces. Do you accept that, by introducing these cuts, the Government is likely to widen the gender pay gap and undermine the goal, perhaps, in the 'Cymraeg 2050' action plan to develop the Welsh-medium workforce, because if we don't support Welsh-medium postgraduate students, who is going to develop the necessary resources and technology that we need to increase the number of Welsh speakers, increase the use of the Welsh language and create favourable conditions for the Welsh language?
Wel, rwy'n deall pam mae'r Aelod yn gofyn y cwestiwn, ond fyddwn i ddim yn cytuno mai dyna yw effaith hyn. Mae'r bwrsariaethau yma'n rhai pwysig, ond maen nhw'n dod ar ben system o gefnogi myfyrwyr sydd gyda'r mwyaf cefnogol o unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol. Felly, mae hynny'n ystyriaeth bwysig yn hyn o beth—hynny yw, arian ychwanegol ar ben system sydd eisoes yn un sy'n gefnogol iawn ac yn un sy'n cyrraedd nifer prin iawn o bobl. Felly, yn yr un ffordd ag yr oeddwn i'n gorfod gwneud y penderfyniad o ran symud o grantiau i fenthyciadau ar gyfer ôl-raddedigion, yr un syniadaeth sydd wrth wraidd hwn.
Mae hi'n gofyn y cwestiwn, 'A ydy hyn yn cael effaith anghymesur?' Mae e os edrychwch chi ar y gronfa, ar y ffynhonnell hon o arian, ond fy nadl i fyddai os nad ydych chi'n blaenoriaethu'r blynyddoedd cynharach, mae hwnna'n mynd i gael effaith sy'n fwy anghymesur fyth. Felly, yn yr her sydd gennym ni, yn y broses sydd ohoni o gloriannu effaith un toriad yn erbyn toriad arall, fy mhenderfyniad i yw sicrhau ein bod ni'n blaenoriaethu'r blynyddoedd ysgol oherwydd ein bod ni'n gwybod pa mor bwysig yw'r rheini i allu cynnig cyfleoedd yn hwyrach mewn bywyd i bobl yn gyffredinol.
I understand why the Member asks the question, but I don't agree that that's the impact of this. These bursaries are important, but they are in addition to a student support system that is among the most generous of any part of the UK. So, that's an important consideration here. This is additional funding on top of a system that is already very supportive and reaches a small number of people. So, just as I had to make a decision in terms of moving from grants to loans for postgraduates, it's the same thinking that's behind this.
She asked the question as to whether this will have a disproportionate impact. Well, it will if you look at this particular source of funding, but my argument would be that if you do not prioritise those earlier years, then that will have an even more disproportionate impact. And therefore, given the challenge that we face and the process that we have of balancing the impact of one cut against another, my decision is to ensure that we prioritise school years, because we do know just how important they are in providing opportunities later in life to people generally.
3. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi plant ysgol i gymryd rhan yn y celfyddydau creadigol? OQ60533
3. How is the Welsh Government supporting school children to engage in the creative arts? OQ60533
The expectation of the Curriculum for Wales is that all learners develop their creativity, and expressive arts is one of the six mandatory areas. Both the Creative Learning through the Arts programme and the National Music Service give learners important opportunities to engage in the creative arts.
Disgwyliad y Cwricwlwm i Gymru yw bod pob dysgwr yn datblygu eu creadigrwydd, ac mae'r celfyddydau mynegiannol yn un o'r chwe maes gorfodol. Mae'r rhaglen Dysgu Creadigol drwy'r Celfyddydau a'r Gwasanaeth Cerddoriaeth Cenedlaethol yn rhoi cyfleoedd pwysig i ddysgwyr gymryd rhan yn y celfyddydau creadigol.
Diolch, Weinidog. As the chair of the Senedd's cross-party group on arts and health, I'm keen to raise awareness of the benefits that the arts can bring to health and well-being. That's, of course, for all ages, including children and young people. On a recent visit to the amazing Ballet Cymru, who are based in my constituency, I heard about their Duets programme. A unique scholarship programme, Duets is specifically designed to identify talent and open up progression pathways for young people who would not usually have that opportunity to access and engage with dance. The programme is delivered in partnership with primary schools, community dance organisations and freelance professionals. Ballet Cymru are now looking to expand the programme to more schools, supporting more young people to get involved in the creative industries. Minister, would you accept an invitation to visit a school delivering the Duets programme with Ballet Cymru and me so that you can see for yourself the brilliant work that they do with young people through the Duets programme?
Diolch, Weinidog. Fel cadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar y celfyddydau ac iechyd, rwy'n awyddus i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r manteision y gall y celfyddydau eu cynnig i iechyd a llesiant. Mae hynny ar gyfer pob oedran wrth gwrs, gan gynnwys plant a phobl ifanc. Ar ymweliad diweddar â Ballet Cymru sy'n sefydliad anhygoel ac wedi'i leoli yn fy etholaeth, clywais am eu rhaglen Duets. Rhaglen ysgoloriaeth unigryw yw Duets, wedi'i chynllunio'n benodol i adnabod talent ac agor llwybrau cynnydd i bobl ifanc na fyddent fel arfer yn cael cyfle i ymwneud â dawns. Cyflwynir y rhaglen mewn partneriaeth ag ysgolion cynradd, sefydliadau dawns cymunedol a gweithwyr llawrydd. Mae Ballet Cymru yn bwriadu ehangu'r rhaglen i fwy o ysgolion nawr, a chefnogi mwy o bobl ifanc i gymryd rhan yn y diwydiannau creadigol. Weinidog, a fyddech chi'n derbyn gwahoddiad i ymweld gyda mi ag ysgol sy'n cyflwyno'r rhaglen Duets gyda Ballet Cymru er mwyn i chi allu gweld drosoch eich hun y gwaith gwych y maent yn ei wneud gyda phobl ifanc drwy'r rhaglen Duets?
Well, can I thank the Member for the work that she has done—and has done for, I think, the entirety of her time in the Senedd—to promote the benefits of arts in health? It's an interest and a commitment that I share with her. It's great to hear about her visit to Ballet Cymru, and the Duets programme in particular, and I would be more than happy to visit Ballet Cymru with her and see the excellent work that they are doing with young people.
Wel, a gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am y gwaith y mae hi wedi'i wneud—ac wedi ei wneud dros ei holl amser yn y Senedd—ar hyrwyddo manteision y celfyddydau mewn iechyd? Mae'n ddiddordeb ac yn ymrwymiad rwy'n ei rannu gyda hi. Mae'n wych clywed am ei hymweliad â Ballet Cymru, a'r rhaglen Duets yn enwedig, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i ymweld â Ballet Cymru gyda hi a gweld y gwaith rhagorol y maent yn ei wneud gyda phobl ifanc.
Minister, National Theatre Wales plays a pivotal role in getting schoolchildren involved in theatre and the arts, which is an incredibly important sector. Some of the work that they do engage in with young people includes workshops, performance opportunities and projects within schools and universities. The overarching aim of this is to give young people opportunities to grow their confidence and to explore a future in the theatre or the arts sector—incredibly important work, as I'm sure you'll agree, Minister. However, National Theatre Wales has had its funding axed by 100 per cent and, as a result, there have been stark warnings that it will not be able to survive beyond April 2024. Minister, what assessment has the Welsh Government made about the impact that these cuts will have on schoolchildren accessing the creative arts and what will the Welsh Government be doing to bridge this gap? So, Minister, out of interest, do you support—? My apologies; that's it. [Laughter.]
Weinidog, mae National Theatre Wales yn chwarae rhan ganolog yn annog plant ysgol i gymryd rhan ym myd y theatr a'r celfyddydau, sy'n sector hynod o bwysig. Mae peth o'r gwaith y maent yn ei wneud gyda phobl ifanc yn cynnwys gweithdai, cyfleoedd perfformio a phrosiectau mewn ysgolion a phrifysgolion. Nod trosfwaol hyn yw rhoi cyfleoedd i bobl ifanc feithrin eu hyder ac archwilio dyfodol yn y theatr neu'r sector celfyddydau—gwaith hynod bwysig, fel y byddwch yn cytuno rwy'n siŵr, Weinidog. Fodd bynnag, mae 100 y cant o gyllid National Theatre Wales wedi ei dorri ac o ganlyniad, cafwyd rhybuddion clir na fydd yn gallu goroesi y tu hwnt i fis Ebrill 2024. Weinidog, pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r effaith y bydd y toriadau hyn yn ei chael ar fynediad plant ysgol at y celfyddydau creadigol a beth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i bontio'r bwlch hwn? Felly, Weinidog, o ddiddordeb, a ydych chi'n cefnogi—? Ymddiheuriadau; dyna fe. [Chwerthin.]
I know that the Deputy Minister will have considered very, very carefully all the implications of the challenging budget settlement, including the effects on the national theatre. There are many, many ways in which our young people are able to access a range of creative experiences both in theatre and, indeed, in other media—we just heard of an important contribution that Jayne Bryant was telling us about—and I think it's really important that schools are able to take advantage of a range of organisations and the services and facilities they provide, and it's really important from the perspective of access to experiences that, actually, many young people wouldn't otherwise have—so, a general benefit in terms of access to creativity and to learning, but that specific benefit of having the opportunity to be in a live theatre setting or a live music setting. Many of us will have taken that for granted over the years; I don't think we should. Many young people don't otherwise have access to those, so I'd like to thank all the organisations that support schools to do that.
Gwn y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog wedi ystyried yn ofalus iawn holl oblygiadau'r setliad cyllideb heriol, gan gynnwys yr effeithiau ar y theatr genedlaethol. Mae yna lawer iawn o ffyrdd y gall ein pobl ifanc fanteisio ar ystod o brofiadau creadigol yn y theatr, ac yn wir, mewn ffyrdd eraill—clywsom am gyfraniad pwysig yr oedd Jayne Bryant yn sôn wrthym amdano—a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod ysgolion yn gallu manteisio ar ystod o sefydliadau a'r gwasanaethau a'r cyfleusterau y maent yn eu darparu, ac mae'n bwysig iawn o safbwynt mynediad at brofiadau na fyddai llawer o bobl ifanc yn eu cael fel arall—felly, o fudd cyffredinol o ran mynediad at greadigrwydd ac at ddysgu, ond y budd penodol o gael cyfle i fod mewn lleoliad theatr fyw neu leoliad cerddoriaeth fyw. Bydd llawer ohonom wedi cymryd hynny'n ganiataol dros y blynyddoedd; nid wyf yn credu y dylem. Mae llawer o bobl ifanc yn cael eu hamddifadu o fynediad at y rheini fel arall, felly hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl sefydliadau sy'n cynorthwyo ysgolion i wneud hynny.
4. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i sicrhau nad yw'r toriadau addysg a nodir yng nghyllideb ddrafft y Llywodraeth yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar y plant mwyaf agored i niwed? OQ60500
4. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the education cuts set out in the Government's draft budget don't disproportionately impact the most vulnerable children? OQ60500
Mae cefnogi ein dysgwyr mwyaf agored i niwed a mynd i'r afael ag effeithiau tlodi ar gyrhaeddiad yn ganolog i genhadaeth ein cenedl. Mae ein cyllideb ddrafft yn ceisio diogelu cyllid i ysgolion ac i raglenni fel y grant datblygu disgyblion, gan sicrhau bod cymorth ar gael i'r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf.
Supporting our most vulnerable learners and tackling the impacts of poverty on attainment is central to our national mission. Our draft budget seeks to protect funding for schools and for programmes like the pupil development grant, ensuring support is available to those who need it most.
Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog. Rŷch chi'n gwybod yn well na neb yn y Senedd yma am impact toriadau difrifol i'r gyllideb. Yn dilyn y toriadau i'ch cyllideb chi, mae yna gonsýrn nawr am gyllido anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Wrth fod sôn am grantiau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn symud i gyllideb ehangach grantiau, dwi wedi clywed consýrn y bydd toriadau i'r grantiau pwysig yma. Fe wnaeth Laura Anne Jones a Peredur Owen Griffiths godi hyn gyda'r Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol cyn y Nadolig. Yn wir, fe gododd Peredur Owen Griffiths yr hen dric o guddio toriadau wrth symud i bot mwy oherwydd bod costau gweinyddol llai. A oes modd i chi, Weinidog, roi addewid na fydd toriadau i’r grantiau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, sydd mor bwysig i blant a theuluoedd?
Thank you for that response, Minister. You know better than anyone in this Senedd the impact that serious cuts to the budget will have. Following the cuts to your own budget, there is concern now about funding additional learning need. As there is talk of grants shifting to the broader grants budget pot, I have heard concern that cuts to these important grants in ALN will have an impact. Laura Anne Jones and Peredur Owen Griffiths raised this with the Minister for Finance and Local Government before Christmas. Indeed, Peredur Owen Griffiths raised the old trick of hiding cuts by moving to a larger pot so that administrative costs are cut. Minister, can you give us a pledge that there won't be cuts to the additional learning need grants that are so important to children and families?
Wel, fe wnaf i gymryd y cyfle i ddweud eto: does dim toriad i'r gyllideb honno.
Well, I will take the opportunity to state again that there is no cut to that budget.
Following on from that same theme, actually, and I won't rehearse everything Rhys said—. Basically, whilst we know—. The perceived £22.1 million, which was the perceived ALN cut, has now entered the reformed local authority education grant, and it's in theory to support ALN. With that in mind, Minister, can we be reassured, building on what Rhys said, that that £22.1 million dedicated to ALN as we knew it won't be lost within that reformed grant and diverted from its original purpose, to help those young people who have ALN? Is it your expectation that local authorities use all of that resource to implement your legislative changes? I'm just conscious of the pressure councils are going to be facing, as they have to potentially mobilise resources from many other sources. It's so important that that ALN allocation, wherever it sits, is used for its purpose.
Yn dilyn y thema honno, ac nid wyf am ailadrodd popeth a ddywedodd Rhys—. Yn y bôn, er y gwyddom—. Mae'r £22.1 miliwn canfyddedig, sef y toriad canfyddedig i ADY, bellach wedi mynd i mewn i'r grant addysg diwygiedig i awdurdodau lleol, ac mewn egwyddor, mae yno i gefnogi ADY. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, Weinidog, a gawn ni sicrwydd, gan adeiladu ar yr hyn a ddywedodd Rhys, na fydd y £22.1 miliwn a neilltuwyd ar gyfer ADY yn ôl ein dealltwriaeth, yn cael ei golli o fewn y grant diwygiedig hwnnw a’i ddargyfeirio o’i ddiben gwreiddiol, sef helpu pobl ifanc ag ADY? Ai eich disgwyliad yw bod awdurdodau lleol yn defnyddio’r holl arian hwnnw i roi eich newidiadau deddfwriaethol ar waith? Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r pwysau y mae cynghorau'n mynd i'w wynebu, wrth iddynt orfod defnyddio adnoddau o lawer o ffynonellau eraill o bosibl. Mae mor bwysig fod y dyraniad ADY hwnnw, lle bynnag y mae, yn cael ei ddefnyddio at ei ddiben priodol.
Yes, I'm certain it will be used for its purpose and I know that in a previous life I'm sure he would have welcomed the partnership approach and the collaborative approach that underpin the changes that we're making to these grants, so that we can work with authorities to deliver the outcomes that we both have in common as priorities. As I've said in my responses to many questions today, over £53.6 million is protected in the draft budget for next year, and I'm glad that that's the case. It's a very important priority for the Government. We've already discussed today the pressures on schools in relation to the reforms themselves. That's why protecting the budget and providing authorities the level of flexibility to deploy that, perhaps even more creatively or more innovatively than the current arrangements allow, is a really important way to focus on the outcomes that we are trying to achieve.
Ydw, rwy'n sicr y bydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio at ei ddiben priodol, ac mewn bywyd blaenorol, rwy'n siŵr y byddai wedi croesawu'r dull partneriaeth a'r dull cydweithredol sy'n sail i'r newidiadau a wnawn i'r grantiau hyn, fel y gallwn weithio gydag awdurdodau i gyflawni’r canlyniadau sy'n flaenoriaethau a rennir gennym. Fel y dywedais yn fy ymatebion i lawer o gwestiynau heddiw, mae dros £53.6 miliwn wedi’i ddiogelu yn y gyllideb ddrafft ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, ac rwy’n falch o hynny. Mae’n flaenoriaeth bwysig iawn i’r Llywodraeth. Rydym eisoes heddiw wedi trafod y pwysau ar ysgolion mewn perthynas â'r diwygiadau eu hunain. Dyna pam fod diogelu'r gyllideb a rhoi lefel o hyblygrwydd i awdurdodau ei defnyddio, hyd yn oed yn fwy creadigol neu arloesol nag y mae'r trefniadau presennol yn ei ganiatáu efallai, yn ffordd bwysig iawn o ganolbwyntio ar y canlyniadau y ceisiwn eu cyflawni.
The pressures on budgets because of the deeply unsatisfactory settlement from the UK Government is intense right across the UK and right across Welsh Government in every department. But one of the big successes that we have had is the focus in recent years on making sure that those pupils in those communities that face the greatest disadvantage have the right measures put in place to protect them, so things such as the joint work with Plaid Cymru on things such as free school meals, but the free school breakfast as well, for primary schools; the school essentials grant; the rise in the educational maintenance allowance; the assistance with school uniforms—all of these things really matter to constituents in some of the most disadvantaged situations within my community. So, can I just get his assurance that even when faced with really difficult choices across budgets at the moment, he will work with local education authorities to make sure that we can continue to line up those measures that will give that hand up to pupils and to families who face the greatest challenges?
Mae’r pwysau ar gyllidebau oherwydd y setliad hynod annigonol gan Lywodraeth y DU yn ddwys ledled y DU ac ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru ym mhob adran. Ond un o’r llwyddiannau mawr a gawsom yw’r ffocws yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf ar sicrhau bod disgyblion yn y cymunedau sy’n wynebu’r anfantais fwyaf yn cael y mesurau cywir wedi’u rhoi ar waith i’w diogelu, felly pethau fel y gwaith ar y cyd â Phlaid Cymru ar bethau fel prydau ysgol am ddim, ond y brecwast ysgol am ddim hefyd, ar gyfer ysgolion cynradd; y grant hanfodion ysgol; y cynnydd yn y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg; y cymorth gyda gwisg ysgol—mae'r holl bethau hyn yn wirioneddol bwysig i etholwyr yn rhai o'r sefyllfaoedd mwyaf difreintiedig yn fy nghymuned. Felly, a gaf fi ei sicrwydd, hyd yn oed wrth iddo wynebu dewisiadau anodd iawn ar draws cyllidebau ar hyn o bryd, y bydd yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau addysg lleol i sicrhau y gallwn barhau i lunio'r mesurau a fydd yn rhoi'r cymorth hwnnw i'r disgyblion a'r teuluoedd sy'n wynebu'r heriau mwyaf?
Yes, I will absolutely give that assurance to Huw Irranca-Davies. He makes very important points. If you look through the budget, despite horrendously difficult choices that we've had to make—and all Ministers have been in that situation—we've been able to protect the pupil development grant. We've been able to protect the school holiday enrichment programme. We've been able to protect the increased level of education maintenance allowance, as you were saying. We've been able to protect the increased level of the financial contingency fund, which further education colleges use to support learners who are eligible for free school meals. There have been other areas that have had to be cut in order to make these choices to protect these important elements in the budget, and I know, as he will, that our local authorities are doing all they can to try and find ways in which they themselves can protect the same cohort of learners, who will be having a very, very challenging time, and I give him the commitment that I will continue to work with our local authorities on that shared priority.
Gwnaf, yn sicr, fe roddaf y sicrwydd hwnnw i Huw Irranca-Davies. Mae'n gwneud pwyntiau pwysig iawn. Os edrychwch drwy'r gyllideb, er gwaethaf y dewisiadau ofnadwy o anodd y bu'n rhaid i ni eu gwneud—ac mae pob Gweinidog wedi bod yn y sefyllfa honno—rydym wedi gallu diogelu'r grant datblygu disgyblion. Rydym wedi gallu diogelu rhaglen gwella gwyliau’r haf. Rydym wedi gallu diogelu lefel uwch y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, fel roeddech chi'n dweud. Rydym wedi gallu diogelu lefel uwch y gronfa ariannol wrth gefn, y mae colegau addysg bellach yn ei defnyddio i gefnogi dysgwyr sy’n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Cafwyd meysydd eraill y bu’n rhaid eu torri er mwyn gwneud y dewisiadau hyn i ddiogelu’r elfennau pwysig hyn yn y gyllideb, ac rwy'n gwybod, fel gŵyr yntau, fod ein hawdurdodau lleol yn gwneud popeth a allant i geisio dod o hyd i ffyrdd y gallant hwy eu hunain ddiogelu'r un garfan o ddysgwyr, a fydd yn cael amser heriol iawn, ac rwy'n rhoi ymrwymiad iddo y byddaf yn parhau i weithio gyda’n hawdurdodau lleol ar y flaenoriaeth honno a rannwn.
Cwestiwn 5, Laura Anne Jones.
Question 5, Laura Anne Jones.
You have a question on the order paper, Laura Anne Jones—question 5.
Mae gennych gwestiwn ar y papur trefn, Laura Anne Jones—cwestiwn 5.
I need to see what question it is.
Mae angen imi weld pa gwestiwn ydyw.
I don't think you're ready to do your question. I'll move on and give somebody else the opportunity.
Ni chredaf eich bod yn barod i ofyn eich cwestiwn. Fe symudaf ymlaen, a rhoi cyfle i rywun arall.
Ni ofynnwyd cwestiwn 5 [OQ60525].
Question 5 [OQ60525] not asked.
Cwestiwn 6, Alun Davies.
Question 6, Alun Davies.
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i chi, Lywydd.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gymorth ariannol i fyfyrwyr addysg uwch ac addysg bellach yn y dyfodol? OQ60518
6. Will the Minister make a statement on future financial support for higher and further education students? OQ60518
Statutory student support remains available to eligible students commencing higher education in the academic year 2024-25. For younger learners in further education, we are maintaining our education maintenance allowance scheme at £40 per week and, for those over 19, our Welsh Government learning grant further education scheme at £1,500 a year.
Mae cymorth statudol i fyfyrwyr yn parhau i fod ar gael i fyfyrwyr cymwys sy’n dechrau addysg uwch yn ystod blwyddyn academaidd 2024-25. Ar gyfer dysgwyr iau mewn addysg bellach, rydym yn cadw ein cynllun lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg ar £40 yr wythnos, ac ar gyfer rhai dros 19 oed, cynllun grant dysgu addysg bellach Llywodraeth Cymru ar £1,500 y flwyddyn.
I'm grateful to the Minister for that response and, of course, it is fundamental to people's ability to partake in education and post-16 education that there is financial support available for them, and that goes to the heart of making education available as a real choice for everybody, including the poorest and most vulnerable students in the country. Will the Minister make a commitment this afternoon that he will continue to ensure that this area is protected, that the level of the EMA, which he has protected, will continue to be protected, and that future financial support will continue to be available for students to enable everybody, not just the richest, but the poorest people, to benefit from education?
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r Gweinidog am ei ymateb, ac wrth gwrs, mae’n hollbwysig i allu pobl i gymryd rhan mewn addysg ac addysg ôl-16 fod cymorth ariannol ar gael iddynt, ac mae hynny’n mynd at wraidd sicrhau bod addysg ar gael fel dewis real i bawb, gan gynnwys y myfyrwyr tlotaf a mwyaf agored i niwed yn y wlad. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo y prynhawn yma y bydd yn parhau i sicrhau bod y maes hwn yn cael ei ddiogelu, y bydd lefel y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, a ddiogelwyd ganddo, yn parhau i gael ei diogelu, ac y bydd cymorth ariannol yn parhau i fod ar gael i fyfyrwyr yn y dyfodol er mwyn galluogi pawb, nid y bobl gyfoethocaf yn unig, ond y bobl dlotaf, i elwa ar addysg?
Yes, we're very pleased to have been able to increase the education maintenance allowance, and as he will know, I don't need to remind him, in other parts of the UK, Conservative England have abolished that a long time ago. So, I think it's a very important way in which we can remove that extra pressure on students after the age of 16. We were hearing very clearly from people that people were making the choice not to go on to college or stay on at college because they couldn't afford to do that. So, I'm very proud that we've been able to do that, and we will maintain that.
I mentioned earlier a number of other ways in which we have been supporting students in my answer to Huw Irranca-Davies, and alongside EMA, of course, we have the financial contingency fund, which colleges draw on to be able to provide that extra support to learners who need some financial support. It's really important, as he says, that we make a reality of that promise that we made to young people that cost shouldn't be a barrier to study, and shouldn't be a barrier to success, and it's one of many ways in which we've been able to do that through the education budget.
Rydym yn falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu cynyddu'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, ac fel y bydd yn gwybod, nid oes angen imi ei atgoffa, mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, fod Lloegr Geidwadol wedi diddymu hwnnw ers amser maith. Felly, credaf ei bod yn ffordd bwysig iawn inni allu cael gwared ar y pwysau ychwanegol ar fyfyrwyr ôl-16. Roeddem yn clywed yn glir iawn gan bobl fod pobl yn gwneud y dewis i beidio â mynd i’r coleg neu aros yn y coleg am na allent fforddio gwneud hynny. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu gwneud hynny, a byddwn yn cynnal hynny.
Soniais yn gynharach am nifer o ffyrdd eraill y buom yn cefnogi myfyrwyr yn fy ateb i Huw Irranca-Davies, ac ochr yn ochr â'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg wrth gwrs, mae gennym y gronfa ariannol wrth gefn, y mae colegau’n ei defnyddio i allu darparu cymorth ychwanegol i ddysgwyr sydd angen cymorth ariannol. Mae'n wirioneddol bwysig, fel y dywed, ein bod yn gwireddu'r addewid a wnaethom i bobl ifanc na ddylai cost fod yn rhwystr i astudio, ac na ddylai fod yn rhwystr i lwyddiant, ac mae'n un o lawer o ffyrdd y gallasom wneud hynny drwy'r gyllideb addysg.
Minister, financial support for higher and further education students is not only vital, but is also an important tool to incentivise students to undertake studies that benefit the nation. For example, the bursaries provided to those studying a career in medicine can encourage students to enter the field. Minister, have you discussed with Cabinet colleagues the possibility of paying the tuition fees of all students who commit to serve in the Welsh NHS for a minimum of five years?
Weinidog, nid yn unig fod cymorth ariannol i fyfyrwyr addysg uwch ac addysg bellach yn hanfodol, mae hefyd yn ffordd bwysig o gymell myfyrwyr i ymgymryd ag astudiaethau sydd o fudd i’r genedl. Er enghraifft, gall y bwrsariaethau a ddarperir i'r rhai sy'n astudio gyrfa mewn meddygaeth annog myfyrwyr i ddod i mewn i'r maes. Weinidog, a ydych chi wedi trafod gyda chyd-Aelodau o'r Cabinet y posibilrwydd o dalu ffioedd dysgu’r holl fyfyrwyr sy’n ymrwymo i wasanaethu yn GIG Cymru am o leiaf bum mlynedd?
Well, as the Member will know, we already provide particular support for students who commit to serve in the NHS. We would always look at ways in which a joined-up approach across the Welsh Government's budget is able to meet our common ambitions, and I think the experience that we've had over the last few months of looking at very difficult budget choices has, I think, enabled Ministers to look very closely at that sense of 'one public sector, one public service', where funding in one area can support activity in another, and I think that is a very good way of proceeding.
Wel, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, rydym eisoes yn darparu cymorth arbennig i fyfyrwyr sy’n ymrwymo i wasanaethu yn y GIG. Byddem bob amser yn edrych ar ffyrdd y gall dull cydgysylltiedig ar draws cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru gyflawni'r uchelgeisiau a rennir gennym, a chredaf fod y profiad a gawsom dros yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf o edrych ar ddewisiadau cyllidebol anodd iawn wedi galluogi Gweinidogion i edrych yn fanwl iawn ar yr ymdeimlad o 'un sector cyhoeddus, un gwasanaeth cyhoeddus’, lle gall cyllid mewn un maes gefnogi gweithgarwch mewn maes arall, a chredaf fod honno’n ffordd dda iawn o symud ymlaen.
7. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o'r pwysau ariannol sy'n wynebu ysgolion yn y flwyddyn i ddod? OQ60516
7. What assessment has the Minister made of the financial pressures facing schools in the forthcoming year? OQ60516
We recognise the cost-of-living crisis is putting schools under significant pressure and that there are no easy answers to resolving these issues. We've prioritised protecting core front-line public services, including schools, through protecting the indicative rise for the local government settlement and prioritising funding that goes directly to schools.
Rydym yn cydnabod bod yr argyfwng costau byw yn rhoi ysgolion dan bwysau sylweddol ac nad oes atebion hawdd i ddatrys y materion hyn. Rydym wedi rhoi blaenoriaeth i ddiogelu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus rheng flaen craidd, gan gynnwys ysgolion, drwy ddiogelu’r cynnydd dangosol ar gyfer y setliad llywodraeth leol a blaenoriaethu cyllid sy’n mynd yn uniongyrchol i ysgolion.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb, Gweinidog.
Thank you for that response, Minister.
Within Mid and West Wales, the picture is bleak. As of November last year, current deficits—26 schools in Powys had financial problems, with a cumulative deficit of £3.5 million by March 2024, with the figure projected to be £7.9 million by March 2027. As I mentioned last week, expanding eligibility for the pupil development grant is one way we could think of addressing this funding, by providing more direct funding to schools. If students eligible for free school meals could continue to receive PDG funding for six more years, even if they lost their eligibility for free school meals, it would more equitably address the growing schools' budget crisis. I know you are protecting the PDG as it is at the moment, and I'm well aware of the budget challenges to the Welsh Government, but I wondered if you would consider expanding the PDG eligibility to more equitably tackle the escalating school deficit dilemma. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, mae'r darlun yn llwm. Ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, roedd diffygion presennol—roedd gan 26 o ysgolion ym Mhowys broblemau ariannol, gyda diffyg cronnol o £3.5 miliwn erbyn mis Mawrth 2024, a rhagwelir y bydd y ffigur yn £7.9 miliwn erbyn mis Mawrth 2027. Fel y soniais yr wythnos diwethaf, mae ehangu cymhwysedd ar gyfer y grant datblygu disgyblion yn un ffordd y gallem feddwl am fynd i’r afael â’r cyllid hwn, drwy ddarparu mwy o gyllid uniongyrchol i ysgolion. Pe bai modd i fyfyrwyr sy’n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim barhau i gael cyllid y grant datblygu disgyblion am chwe blynedd arall, hyd yn oed pe baent yn colli eu cymhwysedd i gael prydau ysgol am ddim, byddai hynny’n mynd i’r afael mewn ffordd decach â’r argyfwng cynyddol yng nghyllidebau ysgolion. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn diogelu'r grant datblygu disgyblion fel y mae ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r heriau cyllidebol i Lywodraeth Cymru, ond tybed a fyddech yn ystyried ehangu meini prawf cymhwysedd y grant datblygu disgyblion i fynd i'r afael mewn ffordd decach â'r dilema cynyddol mewn perthynas â diffyg ariannol ysgolion. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I thank Jane Dodds for that question. She will know from the discussions we've had in the Chamber today and previously that the challenge that the Government has faced has been to find the resources to meet our existing programmes of support and our existing commitments, and that in itself, in the punishing context of a reducing budget from the UK Government, has meant very, very challenging choices even to meet our existing commitments. So, whereas in ordinary times we would be looking for ways in which we can extend the support that we offer—PDG is one of those elements, but there are a range of others that I've listed in the Chamber today that we are making available through the education budget. In the current climate, it simply has not been possible to do more than meet the commitments that we already have, but we will always look for ways in which we can use the budget that we have to support those who need the most support, and I hope that she would recognise that, in many other ways, the education budget has been able to do that.
Diolch i Jane Dodds am ei chwestiwn. Fe fydd yn gwybod o’r trafodaethau rydym wedi’u cael yn y Siambr heddiw ac yn flaenorol mai’r her y mae’r Llywodraeth wedi’i hwynebu oedd dod o hyd i’r adnoddau i gyflawni ein rhaglenni cymorth presennol a’n hymrwymiadau presennol, ac mae hynny ynddo’i hun, yng nghyd-destun anodd cyllideb sy’n lleihau gan Lywodraeth y DU, wedi golygu dewisiadau heriol tu hwnt er mwyn cyflawni ein hymrwymiadau presennol hyd yn oed. Felly, er y byddem fel arfer yn edrych am ffyrdd y gallem ymestyn y cymorth a gynigiwn—mae'r grant datblygu disgyblion yn un o'r elfennau hynny, ond rydym yn darparu ystod o rai eraill a restrais yn y Siambr heddiw drwy’r gyllideb addysg. Yn yr hinsawdd sydd ohoni, yn syml iawn, ni fu’n bosibl gwneud mwy na chyflawni’r ymrwymiadau sydd gennym eisoes, ond byddwn bob amser yn edrych am ffyrdd o ddefnyddio’r gyllideb sydd gennym i gefnogi’r rhai sydd angen y cymorth mwyaf, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddai’n cydnabod, mewn llawer o ffyrdd eraill, fod y gyllideb addysg wedi gallu gwneud hynny.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau ar gyfer newidiadau i wyliau ysgol yng Nghymru? OQ60501
8. Will the Minister provide an update on plans for changes to school holidays in Wales? OQ60501
Proposals around the structure of the school year are subject to a public consultation that was published on 21 November last year and runs until 12 February this year.
Mae cynigion yn gysylltiedig â strwythur y flwyddyn ysgol yn destun ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus a gyhoeddwyd ar 21 Tachwedd y llynedd ac sy’n rhedeg tan 12 Chwefror eleni.
Thank you for the update, Minister. I'm sure you will acknowledge that there are deep challenges with education in Wales, and, as Laura Anne Jones pointed out earlier, some of the most recent PISA results being further evidence of that. What that points to, in my view, is the life chances of children across Wales being damaged because of those poorer educational outcomes, and it's going to take a huge endeavour to turn this system around, but instead of using every bit of energy possible to turn this system around, what we are presented with is some tinkering, trying to change the school holidays. Looking to change school holidays to try and improve educational outcomes doesn't seem to stack up. We know that much better performing European nations, like the Republic of Ireland and Estonia, who have outstanding education results, have significantly longer summer holidays than we do in Wales, with Estonia having around three months of summer holidays. That continued attempt to diverge from holidays in England—and I know you've mentioned how you felt it was embarrassing to look at English results, even though they are far more successful in terms of results and a more equitable education system than here in Wales. So, I wonder, Minister, could you convince me that your choice to look to consider changing the school holidays is not just you trying to tinker with things, and how are you actually going to tackle the real issues that our schools are facing?
Diolch am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, Weinidog. Rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn cydnabod bod heriau mawr gydag addysg yng Nghymru, ac fel y nododd Laura Anne Jones yn gynharach, mae rhai o'r canlyniadau PISA diweddaraf yn dystiolaeth bellach o hynny. Yr hyn y mae hynny’n ei ddangos, yn fy marn i, yw bod cyfleoedd bywyd plant ledled Cymru yn cael eu niweidio oherwydd y canlyniadau addysgol salach hynny, a bydd angen ymdrech enfawr i wyrdroi’r system, ond yn hytrach na defnyddio ein holl egni i wyrdroi’r system, yr hyn a wneir yw tincran, ceisio newid y gwyliau ysgol. Nid yw'n ymddangos bod ystyried newid gwyliau ysgol er mwyn ceisio gwella canlyniadau addysgol yn gwneud synnwyr. Fe wyddom fod gan wledydd Ewropeaidd sy’n perfformio’n llawer gwell, fel Gweriniaeth Iwerddon ac Estonia, sydd â chanlyniadau addysgol rhagorol, wyliau haf sylweddol hirach nag yng Nghymru, gydag Estonia'n cael oddeutu tri mis o wyliau haf. Yr ymgais barhaus honno i gael gwyliau gwahanol i Loegr—a gwn eich bod wedi dweud eich bod yn teimlo cywilydd wrth edrych ar ganlyniadau Lloegr, er eu bod yn llawer mwy llwyddiannus o ran canlyniadau a system addysg decach nag yma yng Nghymru. Felly, Weinidog, tybed a allech fy argyhoeddi nad ymgais i dincran gyda phethau'n unig yw eich dewis i ystyried newid gwyliau ysgol, a sut rydych chi'n mynd i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau gwirioneddol y mae ein hysgolion yn eu hwynebu?
Well, actually, learning loss, which, as you know, refers to learners falling behind academically during school breaks, is actually more prevalent during the summer break compared to any other break, and there's a huge amount of evidence to do that. This is an education policy, and the focus that we have here is making sure that every young learner has the best possible education. There is clear evidence that the long summer break can be very challenging for many of our learners, including and in particular, perhaps, many from the least advantaged backgrounds. He tempts me once again to draw the comparison with England. Of the, I think, five or six authorities that have most recently moved to the model that the consultation document proposes, I think, from memory, that all but one of them are Conservative authorities. I assume they'd be persuaded, as we have, that there is merit in looking at this, because it supports their young people to get the best start in life.
Wel, mae colli dysgu, sydd, fel y gwyddoch, yn cyfeirio at ddysgwyr yn llithro ar ei hôl hi yn academaidd yn ystod gwyliau ysgol, yn fwy cyffredin yn ystod gwyliau'r haf o gymharu ag unrhyw doriad arall, ac mae llawer iawn o dystiolaeth dros wneud hynny. Polisi addysg yw hwn, a’r hyn rydym yn canolbwyntio arno yma yw sicrhau bod pob dysgwr ifanc yn cael yr addysg orau bosibl. Ceir tystiolaeth glir y gall gwyliau hir dros yr haf fod yn heriol iawn i lawer o’n dysgwyr, gan gynnwys, ac yn fwyaf arbennig efallai, llawer o ddysgwyr o'r cefndiroedd lleiaf breintiedig. Mae'n fy nhemtio unwaith eto i wneud y gymhariaeth â Lloegr. O’r pum neu chwe awdurdod sydd wedi newid yn fwyaf diweddar i’r model y mae’r ddogfen ymgynghori yn ei argymell, o'r hyn rwy'n ei gofio, rwy'n credu bod pob un ond un ohonynt yn awdurdodau Ceidwadol. Rwy’n cymryd y byddent yn cael eu perswadio, fel y cawsom ninnau, ei bod yn werth edrych ar hyn, gan ei fod yn cynorthwyo eu pobl ifanc i gael y dechrau gorau mewn bywyd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau amserol. Mae'r cyntaf heddiw i'w ateb gan Weinidog yr Economi, ac i'w ofyn gan Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The next item will be topical questions. The first this afternoon will be answered by the Minister for Economy, and asked by Rhun ap Iorwerth.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am unrhyw drafodaethau mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu cael mewn perthynas â dyfodol cwmni Gwynedd Shipping? TQ949
1. Will the Minister make a statement on any discussions the Welsh Government has had in relation to the future of the Gwynedd Shipping company? TQ949
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
My officials have been in dialogue with the business since reports emerged. They have also made contact with the administrators and union representatives representing some of the workforce, and are working closely with counterparts from the local authority, the Department for Work and Pensions and other agencies to support any affected workers.
Mae fy swyddogion wedi bod yn trafod â’r busnes ers i adroddiadau ddod i’r amlwg. Maent hefyd wedi cysylltu â’r gweinyddwyr a chynrychiolwyr undebau sy’n cynrychioli peth o’r gweithlu, ac maent yn gweithio’n agos gyda swyddogion cyfatebol o’r awdurdod lleol, yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau ac asiantaethau eraill i gefnogi unrhyw weithwyr yr effeithir arnynt.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ymateb yna. Mae hwn yn gwmni sydd yn weithredol ers 40 mlynedd. Dwi'n meddwl mai 40 mlynedd yn ôl i eleni y cafodd Gwynedd Shipping ei sefydlu, ac mae o wedi bod yn rhywbeth rydym ni'n falch ohono fo, o weld lorïau Gwynedd Shipping ar y rhwydwaith draffyrdd ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig a thu hwnt. Ac mi ddaeth y newydd yma, yn y dyddiau diwethaf, fod y cwmni mewn trafferth, fel ergyd fawr, a'r ergyd, wrth gwrs, yn cael ei theimlo drymaf gan y rheini sy'n cael eu taro'n uniongyrchol, y rhai sydd yn gweithio i'r cwmni.
Mae hi wedi bod yn anodd iawn, rhaid dweud, ceisio dod o hyd i wybodaeth ynglŷn â'r hyn oedd yn mynd ymlaen yn union. Mae hi wedi bod yn haws cael gwybodaeth drwy ffynonellau ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol—a dwi'n ddiolchgar i bobl sydd wedi bod yn agored drwy'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol, wedi cysylltu â fi yn sgil hynny. Dwi'n sicr ddim wedi llwyddo i gael gafael ar y cwmni yn uniongyrchol. Ac mae hi'n bwysig iawn, iawn, iawn, ar adeg fel hyn, fod cwmni yn bod mor agored â phosib ynglŷn â'i sefyllfa, ynglŷn â'r heriau y mae o yn eu wynebu, a hynny ar gyfer y gymuned yn ehangach, ond, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer y gweithwyr yn bennaf.
Thank you for that response. This is a company that's been operational for 40 years. I think it was 40 years ago this year that Gwynedd Shipping was established, and it's been something that we have taken pride in, in seeing Gwynedd Shipping lorries on the traffic network across the UK and beyond. And this news came, in the past few days, that the company was in difficulty, and that was a huge blow, and the blow was felt most by those who are directly affected, those working for the company.
It has been extremely difficult, I have to say, to try and find information about what was happening exactly. It's been easier to get information through sources on social media—and I'm grateful to those people who have been open on social media and have been in touch with me as a result of that. I certainly haven't managed to get hold of the company directly. And it is extremely important, at a time like this, that a company is as open as possible in terms of their situation and in terms of the challenges that they face, and that for the sake of the community more broadly, but also for the workforce particularly.
We've suffered jobs blow after jobs blow, of course, in my constituency—the loss of hundreds of jobs, of course, at the 2 Sisters plant in Llangefni the most recent and most well documented of those. But this, again, is a significant number of jobs. Again, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly how many, but we need to make sure that support goes now to those who find themselves without work. There are drivers in particular whose skills are very sought after; there are others working in the yard itself in Holyhead, others working on the administrative side, that will need that support too. So, can I ask the Minister what support is being put together, what package is being put together, to make sure that support is as strong as it can be for all those affected? We also need to learn what has happened here. What information does the Minister have about what led to this? Was the Government aware of pressures on the company? We need to hear now that all the different agencies are working together—I'm in contact with the council, of course—so that this other latest jobs blow on Ynys Môn is addressed and that work is found as quickly as possible for all those involved.
Rydym wedi dioddef ergyd ar ôl ergyd i swyddi yn fy etholaeth—colli cannoedd o swyddi, wrth gwrs, yn ffatri 2 Sisters yn Llangefni, oedd yr achos diweddaraf a gafodd y sylw mwyaf. Ond mae hyn, unwaith eto, yn nifer sylweddol o swyddi. Unwaith eto, mae'n anodd nodi faint yn union, ond mae angen inni sicrhau bod cymorth yn cael ei roi nawr i'r bobl sy'n colli eu gwaith. Mae galw mawr am sgiliau gyrwyr yn enwedig; mae eraill sy'n gweithio yn yr iard ei hun yng Nghaergybi, eraill sy'n gweithio ar yr ochr weinyddol, a fydd angen y cymorth hwnnw hefyd. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i’r Gweinidog pa gymorth sy’n cael ei baratoi, pa becyn sy’n cael ei baratoi, i sicrhau bod y cymorth mor gryf ag y gall fod i bawb yr effeithir arnynt? Mae angen inni ddysgu beth sydd wedi digwydd yma hefyd. Pa wybodaeth sydd gan y Gweinidog am yr hyn a arweiniodd at y sefyllfa hon? A oedd y Llywodraeth yn ymwybodol o'r pwysau ar y cwmni? Mae angen inni glywed nawr fod yr holl asiantaethau gwahanol yn cydweithio—rwyf mewn cysylltiad â’r cyngor, wrth gwrs—er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r ergyd ddiweddaraf hon i swyddi ar Ynys Môn, a bod modd dod o hyd i waith cyn gynted â phosibl i bawb yr effeithiwyd arnynt.
Thank you for the series of questions. I'll try and go through, as helpfully as I can, based on the information, which is limited from the Government's point of view as well. Because I saw the reports myself and I immediately asked officials what the position was. Unfortunately, the company hadn't been proactive in contacting the Government in advance, and we've yet to get significant amounts of information from the company and, indeed, the administrators. We understand that two of the businesses within the group have appointed administrators, affecting, as we understand it, the reported figure of 127 potential employees. And you're right, they're in a variety of jobs. Drivers are likely to be able to find alternative work; there's still a shortage in that sector of the economy. The challenge, though, will be, as you put it, the understanding of those people who may need more support to find alternative work. All of them will be living with real uncertainty, following the announcement that has been made, and the fact that I can't give clarity, I think, adds to the uncertainty. I'd like to be able to be much clearer about the contact between the Government, the DWP, the council and the company. We know that there are some trade union members there; it's not clear to us if there is recognition at the site. So, we are trying to work through all of those issues with both the company and, indeed, with the administrator.
In terms of the range of assistance that is available, our ReAct+ programme is the flexible programme that we offer. And in other job challenges in the past, where there have been significant unemployment events—you mentioned 2 Sisters; in south Wales, there have been others as well—what we have been able to do is to work constructively with the DWP and whichever local authority it is. That relationship is a good and practical and pragmatic one. For all of the differences we have on a political level with the UK Government, the DWP locally, I think, have always been responsive and willing partners in trying to help find people work, with the levers that they do have. What I will do is, as we get more information on how that's being pieced together, we'll be proactive about sharing that information with the public and, indeed, with the Member, about how and where that support is to be provided, if there is a need, to provide a jobs fair, and how we do that in a way that works best for the affected employees, to help them to secure alternative employment.
The more positive aspect, though, is that, whilst this is of course disappointing and will be distressing for people who face losing their employment, actually, activity within the port is somewhere we should see an increase in employment in the future. That's what we want to try to do, but that has to be balanced against, as I say, the very real concern that I'm sure a number of families are going to bed with each night until there is that clarity about the future.
Diolch am y gyfres o gwestiynau. Fe geisiaf eu hateb mor ddefnyddiol ag y gallaf yn seiliedig ar yr wybodaeth, sy'n gyfyngedig o safbwynt y Llywodraeth hefyd. Oherwydd gwelais yr adroddiadau fy hun, a gofynnais i fy swyddogion ar unwaith beth oedd y sefyllfa. Yn anffodus, nid oedd y cwmni wedi bod mynd ati'n rhagweithiol i gysylltu â’r Llywodraeth ymlaen llaw, ac rydym eto i gael gwybodaeth o faint sylweddol gan y cwmni, ac yn wir, y gweinyddwyr. Deallwn fod dau o’r busnesau yn y grŵp wedi penodi gweinyddwyr, gan effeithio, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallwn, ar y ffigur a adroddwyd o 127 o weithwyr posibl. Ac rydych yn iawn, maent mewn amrywiaeth o swyddi. Mae gyrwyr yn debygol o allu dod o hyd i swyddi eraill; mae prinder o hyd yn y sector hwnnw o'r economi. Yr her, fodd bynnag, fel y dywedwch, fydd deall pa bobl y gallai fod angen mwy o gymorth arnynt i ddod o hyd i waith arall. Bydd pob un ohonynt yn byw gydag ansicrwydd gwirioneddol yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad a wnaed, a chredaf fod y ffaith na allaf roi eglurder yn ychwanegu at yr ansicrwydd. Hoffwn allu bod yn llawer cliriach ynglŷn â’r cyswllt rhwng y Llywodraeth, yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, y cyngor a’r cwmni. Gwyddom fod rhai aelodau o undebau llafur yno; nid yw'n glir i ni a oes cydnabyddiaeth ar y safle. Felly, rydym yn ceisio gweithio drwy'r holl faterion hynny gyda'r cwmni, ac yn wir, gyda'r gweinyddwr.
Ar yr ystod o gymorth sydd ar gael, ein rhaglen ReAct+ yw’r rhaglen hyblyg rydym yn ei chynnig. A chyda heriau eraill o ran swyddi yn y gorffennol, lle cafwyd digwyddiadau diweithdra sylweddol—fe sonioch chi am 2 Sisters; yn ne Cymru, cafwyd digwyddiadau eraill hefyd—yr hyn y gallasom ei wneud yw gweithio'n adeiladol gyda'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau a'r awdurdod lleol. Mae'r berthynas honno'n un dda ac ymarferol a phragmatig. Er yr holl wahaniaethau sydd gennym ar lefel wleidyddol gyda Llywodraeth y DU, rwy'n credu bod yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn lleol bob amser wedi bod yn bartneriaid ymatebol a pharod wrth geisio helpu i ddod o hyd i swyddi i bobl, gyda’r ysgogiadau sydd ganddynt. Wrth inni gael mwy o wybodaeth ynglŷn â sut y caiff hynny ei roi at ei gilydd, fe fyddwn yn rhagweithiol ynghylch rhannu'r wybodaeth honno â'r cyhoedd, ac yn wir, gyda'r Aelod, ynglŷn â sut a ble y bydd y cymorth hwnnw'n cael ei ddarparu, darparu ffair swyddi os oes angen, a sut y gwnawn hynny yn y ffordd sy’n gweithio orau i’r gweithwyr yr effeithir arnynt, i’w helpu i ddod o hyd i swyddi eraill.
Er bod hyn yn siom wrth gwrs ac yn peri gofid i'r bobl sy'n wynebu colli eu gwaith, yr agwedd fwy cadarnhaol yw bod gweithgaredd o fewn y porthladd yn rhywle y dylem weld cynnydd mewn cyflogaeth yn y dyfodol. Dyna rydym am geisio ei wneud, ond fel y dywedaf, mae’n rhaid cydbwyso hynny â'r pryder gwirioneddol y bydd nifer o deuluoedd yn ei deimlo, rwy'n siŵr, wrth fynd i’w gwelyau bob nos hyd nes y cânt eglurder ynglŷn â'r dyfodol.
Of course, Gwynedd Shipping operate from two sites in north Wales, Holyhead and Deeside, as well as from Birkenhead, Belfast and Dublin. What is your understanding of why the company filed for administration when the company's strategic review of its latest annual results for the year to May 2022, posted last February, said, quote, its directors had a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, or will you be seeking and sharing this information? What is your understanding of unconfirmed reports that parts of the company are being taken over by another logistics firm, and that other local and regional hauliers were already offering some of the drivers work, or will you be seeking and sharing that information? And finally, given your comments about the DWP, what specific engagement have you and your officials had, or will you be having, with Jobcentre Plus and the DWP regarding help for those who are looking for alternative work or for retraining opportunities?
Wrth gwrs, mae Gwynedd Shipping yn gweithredu o ddau safle yng ngogledd Cymru, Caergybi a Glannau Dyfrdwy, yn ogystal ag o Benbedw, Belffast a Dulyn. Beth yw eich dealltwriaeth ynglŷn â pham y gwnaeth y cwmni gais gweinyddu pan ddywedai adolygiad strategol y cwmni o'i ganlyniadau blynyddol diweddaraf ar gyfer y flwyddyn hyd at fis Mai 2022, a bostiwyd fis Chwefror diwethaf fod gan ei gyfarwyddwyr ddisgwyliad rhesymol fod gan y cwmni adnoddau digonol i barhau mewn bodolaeth weithredol am y dyfodol rhagweladwy, neu a fyddwch chi'n gofyn am yr wybodaeth hon ac yn ei rhannu? Beth yw eich dealltwriaeth o adroddiadau heb eu cadarnhau fod cwmni logisteg arall yn cymryd meddiant ar rannau o’r cwmni, a bod cwmnïau cludo lleol a rhanbarthol eraill eisoes yn cynnig gwaith i rai o’r gyrwyr, neu a fyddwch yn gofyn am yr wybodaeth honno ac yn ei rhannu? Ac yn olaf, o ystyried eich sylwadau am yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, pa ymgysylltiad penodol a gawsoch chi a'ch swyddogion, neu y byddwch yn ei gael, â'r Ganolfan Byd Gwaith a'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau ynghylch cymorth i'r rhai sy'n chwilio am waith arall neu am gyfleoedd i ailhyfforddi?
In respect of the point about DWP, I think I've answered that already. We do work constructively alongside DWP. Locally, every time there has been a significant unemployment event, we have worked very constructively—and my officials are doing that now—together with DWP and the local authority.
On the other points about unconfirmed reports, that's the point—they're unconfirmed reports—and you wouldn't expect me to add to speculation here. What I will do is, as we get information that has not been made available to us thus far, I'll share it with Members, and, crucially, to want to provide some confidence for people that are concerned about their own futures, and will be worried about their own employment futures, to make sure that the opportunities to look for alternative work are made as easily and readily available to them as possible, and to make sure that, whether they approach the local authority, or the Welsh Government or the DWP, that we are working together to make sure that there is a 'no wrong door' approach and we get them to the point where they need to be able to go, to make sure they have the right support for them.
Ar y pwynt am yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, credaf fy mod wedi ateb hwnnw eisoes. Rydym yn gweithio'n adeiladol ochr yn ochr â'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau. Yn lleol, bob tro y cafwyd digwyddiad diweithdra sylweddol, rydym wedi gweithio’n adeiladol iawn—ac mae fy swyddogion yn gwneud hynny nawr—gyda’r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau a’r awdurdod lleol.
Ar y pwyntiau eraill ynglŷn ag adroddiadau heb eu cadarnhau, dyna'r pwynt—maent yn adroddiadau heb eu cadarnhau—ac ni fyddech yn disgwyl imi ychwanegu at y dyfalu. Yr hyn a wnaf, wrth inni gael gwybodaeth na fu ar gael i ni hyd yma, yw ei rhannu â’r Aelodau, ac yn hollbwysig, rwy'n awyddus i roi rhywfaint o hyder i bobl sy’n pryderu am eu dyfodol eu hunain, a'n poeni am ddyfodol eu cyflogaeth eu hunain, i sicrhau bod y cyfleoedd i chwilio am swyddi eraill ar gael mor hawdd â phosibl iddynt, ac i sicrhau, boed eu bod yn troi at yr awdurdod lleol, neu at Lywodraeth Cymru neu'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, ein bod yn gweithio gyda’n gilydd i sicrhau bod dull ‘dim drws anghywir’ ar waith a’n bod yn eu cynorthwyo i gyrraedd y pwynt y mae angen iddynt allu ei gyrraedd i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y cymorth cywir ar eu cyfer.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Y cwestiwn nesaf i'w ateb gan Ddirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth. Llyr Gruffydd i ofyn y cwestiwn.
Thank you, Minister. The next question is to be answered by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Llyr Gruffydd to ask the question.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad yn rhoi ymateb i argymhelliad unfrydol Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol y dylai fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru rôl ffurfiol yn y broses o benodi Cadeirydd newydd ar gyfer S4C? TQ950
2. Will the Minister make a statement responding to the unanimous recommendation of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee that the Welsh Government should have a formal role in the process of appointing a new Chair for S4C? TQ950
Thank you. The Welsh Government plays a part in the S4C board appointment process, with a senior Welsh Government official acting as a member of the appointment panel that then makes recommendations to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who appoints. I agree, however, that the Welsh Government should have a more formal, stronger role in this process.
Diolch. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn chwarae rhan yn y broses o benodi bwrdd S4C, gydag uwch swyddog o Lywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu fel aelod o’r panel penodi sydd wedyn yn gwneud argymhellion i’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, sy’n gwneud penodiadau. Rwy’n cytuno, fodd bynnag, y dylai fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru rôl fwy ffurfiol a chryfach yn y broses hon.
Diolch i chi am yr ymateb. Wrth gwrs, mae Plaid Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru yn gytûn ar y ffaith y dylai pwerau dros ddarlledu a chyfathrebu gael eu datganoli, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, dros S4C. Dylen nhw gael eu datganoli i'r Senedd yma. Mi fyddai hynny, wrth gwrs, yn sicrhau wedyn bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ran uniongyrchol i'w chwarae ym mhenodi cadeirydd newydd S4C. Ond mi fyddwn i'n hoffi, os caf i, Ddirprwy Weinidog, ychydig fwy o eglurder ynglŷn â sylwadau gafodd eu gwneud gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru wythnos diwethaf ar raglen Y Byd yn ei Le ar S4C. Mi ddywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol ei fod e wedi cael cyfarfod gyda chi wythnos diwethaf i drafod sefyllfa S4C, a'ch bod chi wedi methu dweud wrtho fe beth fyddech chi na Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud yn wahanol ynglŷn â sefyllfa S4C. Byddai diddordeb gyda fi i wybod os ydy hynny yn wir.
Ond a gaf i hefyd ofyn a wnaethoch chi achub ar y cyfle i ddefnyddio hwn fel enghraifft i wneud yr achos dros ddatganoli darlledu a chyfrifoldeb am S4C i Gymru? Ac yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, a wnaethoch chi ofyn yn benodol i sicrhau bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a chithau fel Dirprwy Weinidog, rôl mwy ystyrlon a mwy ffurfiol yn y broses o benodi cadeirydd newydd?
Thank you for that response. Of course, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government are agreed on the fact that powers over broadcasting and communications should be devolved, including responsibility for S4C. They should be devolved to this Senedd. That, of course, would ensure that the Welsh Government had a direct formal role in the appointment of a new chair for S4C. But I would like, Minister, a little more clarity on some comments made by the Secretary of State for Wales last week on Y Byd yn ei Le on S4C. The Secretary of State said that he had a meeting with you last week to discuss the situation at S4C, and that you had failed to tell him what you or the Welsh Government would have done differently about the situation in S4C. I would be interested to hear if that is the case.
But can I also ask whether you took the opportunity to use this as an example to make the case for the devolution of broadcasting and responsibility for S4C more specifically to Wales? And in that meeting, did you ask specifically to ensure that the Welsh Government, and you as Deputy Minister, would have a more meaningful and more formal role in the process of appointing a new chair?
Thank you for those supplementary questions, Llyr. There is a role, as I said, for us in the appointment of the chair, limited though it is, and in fact there was a recommendation arising from the Institute of Welsh Affairs on the current state of regulation and accountability for broadcasters in Wales, and one of the things that they recommended, actually, was that the UK Government should transfer some functions relating to the broadcasting from DCMS, through the BBC charter, either to Welsh Government or to an independent commissioner. Now, the UK Government haven’t taken that on board. Now, you’re quite right—we are, in working in partnership with Plaid Cymru through the co-operation agreement, looking at the devolution of broadcasting. We set up the expert panel last year, and we have had the report of the expert panel. At the moment, because of the consensus that we have, not just between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, but a kind of broader consensus, I think, across Wales that the current broadcasting and communications framework doesn’t meet Wales’s needs, that’s really why we’re in the process of these discussions. And the recommendations of that expert panel are now being considered and discussed, but particularly in the context of the financial position that Welsh Government currently finds itself in, which we dealt with at some length in committee this morning. So, that will be presented to Cabinet shortly, but I can guarantee and commit to you that we absolutely remain committed to a thriving, strong Welsh broadcasting environment that meets the needs of a modern Wales.
Now, in the meeting I had with the Secretary of State for DCMS and the Secretary of State for Wales last week—. It was, I think I should say, a very short meeting. It followed from the fact that I wrote to the Secretary of State for DCMS back in November, when the Capital Law report was first published, asking her, as the responsible Minister for S4C—because, whatever our ambitions for the devolution of broadcasting might be, it currently rests with the UK Government, and it is their responsibility—. So, I wrote to the Secretary of State for DCMS back in November and asked her what her intentions were and what the next steps were in relation to S4C in terms of the report and so on. And it wasn’t until 10 January that I actually got that meeting with her, and I asked her in that meeting for an update on the position regarding the challenging circumstances with S4C, and any timeline that she had for making decisions on the next steps.
Now, during the course of that meeting, the Secretary of State for Wales actually asked me if I thought that the chairman should be sacked. Now, frankly, I didn’t feel that it was appropriate for me to make that sort of judgment, with the limited information that I had available to me, and also on the basis of it not being a matter that is devolved to Wales. That is entirely the responsibility of the Secretary of State for DCMS. So, it did feel to me as though it was a kind of deflection from their responsibility to try to get somebody else to make a decision that they should be making.
As things have turned out, and over the course of events in the last 24 hours, of course, Rhodri Williams has indicated that he will not be putting himself forward for a second term for chairman of S4C. But I repeat what I said initially in my initial response to your question, Llyr: I do think that we should have a stronger role in terms of the appointments processes for S4C, in the same way that we do for the BBC—BBC Wales, that is—through the memorandum of understanding that we have with them. I think, if anything, what this does is it brings into sharp focus the fact that we need to have those further discussions with both the Secretary of State for DCMS and S4C about how we can take this forward in future.
Diolch am eich cwestiynau atodol, Llyr. Mae rôl gennym ni, fel y dywedais, yn y broses o benodi’r cadeirydd, er ei bod yn gyfyngedig, ac mewn gwirionedd, cafwyd argymhelliad gan y Sefydliad Materion Cymreig ar gyflwr presennol rheoleiddio ac atebolrwydd i ddarlledwyr yng Nghymru, ac un o'r pethau a argymhellwyd ganddynt mewn gwirionedd oedd y dylai Llywodraeth y DU drosglwyddo rhai o'r swyddogaethau sy'n ymwneud â darlledu o'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, drwy siarter y BBC, naill ai i Lywodraeth Cymru neu i gomisiynydd annibynnol. Nawr, nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi ystyried hynny. Nawr, rydych yn llygad eich lle—rydym ni, mewn partneriaeth â Phlaid Cymru drwy'r cytundeb cydweithio, yn edrych ar ddatganoli darlledu. Sefydlwyd y panel arbenigol gennym y llynedd, ac rydym wedi cael adroddiad y panel arbenigol. Ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd y consensws sydd gennym, nid yn unig rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Phlaid Cymru, ond math o gonsensws ehangach ledled Cymru, rwy'n credu, nad yw’r fframwaith darlledu a chyfathrebu presennol yn diwallu anghenion Cymru, dyna pam ein bod yn y broses o gynnal y trafodaethau hyn mewn gwirionedd. Ac mae argymhellion y panel arbenigol hwnnw bellach yn cael eu hystyried a’u trafod, ond yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun y sefyllfa ariannol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru ynddi ar hyn o bryd, y buom yn ei thrafod am beth amser yn y pwyllgor y bore yma. Felly, bydd hynny'n cael ei gyflwyno i'r Cabinet cyn bo hir, ond gallaf warantu ac rwy'n ymrwymo i chi ein bod yn gwbl ymrwymedig i amgylchedd darlledu Cymraeg ffyniannus, cryf sy'n diwallu anghenion Cymru fodern.
Nawr, yn y cyfarfod a gefais gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon ac Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf—. Rwy'n credu y dylwn ddweud ei fod yn gyfarfod byr iawn. Fe'i cynhaliwyd am i mi ysgrifennu at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd, pan gyhoeddwyd adroddiad Capital Law gyntaf, yn gofyn iddi, fel y Gweinidog a oedd yn gyfrifol am S4C—oherwydd, ni waeth beth yw ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer datganoli darlledu, ar hyn o bryd, Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am hynny, a’u cyfrifoldeb nhw yw—. Felly, ysgrifennais at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd yn gofyn iddi beth oedd ei bwriadau a beth oedd y camau nesaf mewn perthynas ag S4C o ran yr adroddiad ac yn y blaen. Ac ni chefais y cyfarfod hwnnw gyda hi tan 10 Ionawr, a gofynnais iddi yn y cyfarfod hwnnw am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa o ran yr amgylchiadau heriol gydag S4C, ac unrhyw amserlen a oedd ganddi ar gyfer gwneud penderfyniadau ar y camau nesaf.
Nawr, yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, gofynnodd Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru i mi a oeddwn yn credu y dylid diswyddo'r cadeirydd. Nawr, yn onest, nid oeddwn yn teimlo ei bod yn briodol imi wneud y math hwnnw o ddyfarniad, gyda’r wybodaeth gyfyngedig a oedd ar gael i mi, a hefyd ar y sail nad oedd yn fater sydd wedi’i ddatganoli i Gymru. Cyfrifoldeb yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon yw hynny'n gyfan gwbl. Felly, roedd yn teimlo i mi fel pe bai rhyw fath o wyro rhag eu cyfrifoldeb i geisio cael rhywun arall i wneud penderfyniad y dylent hwy fod yn ei wneud.
Fel y mae'n digwydd, a thros y 24 awr ddiwethaf, wrth gwrs, mae Rhodri Williams wedi nodi na fydd yn ymgeisio am ail dymor fel cadeirydd S4C. Ond ailadroddaf yr hyn a ddywedais yn wreiddiol yn fy ymateb cychwynnol i'ch cwestiwn, Llyr: credaf y dylem gael rôl gryfach o ran y prosesau penodi ar gyfer S4C, yn yr un ffordd ag y gwnawn gyda'r BBC—BBC Cymru, hynny yw—drwy'r memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth sydd gennym gyda nhw. Os rhywbeth, credaf mai’r hyn y mae hyn yn ei wneud yw tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod angen inni gael y trafodaethau pellach hynny gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon ac S4C ynglŷn â sut y gallwn fwrw ymlaen â hyn yn y dyfodol.
Dirprwy Weinidog, ar ôl darllen adroddiad Capital Law, roedd e'n glir i fi bod hon yn sefyllfa siomedig iawn, ac yn anghredadwy i wybod bod hwn yn digwydd yn S4C yng Nghymru. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod cyfrifoldeb am ddarlledu yn rhywbeth sydd yn gyfrifoldeb San Steffan, ac rydyn ni fel plaid yn credu mai dyna'r lle gorau amdano fe, ond dwi'n gwybod bod dadl yn digwydd am hynny. Ond fe wnaeth Llyr Gruffydd sôn am y rhaglen Y Byd yn ei Le, ac roeddwn i ar Y Byd yn ei Le hefyd ddydd Iau diwethaf, ac fe wnes i ddweud ar y rhaglen, ac rwy'n hapus i'w ddweud e eto, mai'r unig ffordd y mae hwn yn mynd i weithio—bod y cyfrifoldeb hwnnw yn San Steffan—yw bod DCMS yn cymryd diddordeb yn beth sydd yn digwydd i S4C. Ac roedd yn glir i mi, pan glywais y dystiolaeth gan Rhodri Williams yn y pwyllgor yr wythnos diwethaf, ei fod wedi gofyn am gyfarfod gyda Gweinidog DCMS ers pedair blynedd a heb gael cyfarfod â'r Gweinidog. Mae'n anghredadwy i'w glywed, ac mae'n fy ngwneud i'n grac a dweud y gwir.
Nawr dwi'n gwybod bod y pwyllgor hwn wedi gofyn am rôl ffurfiol i Lywodraeth Cymru o ran apwyntio'r cadeirydd newydd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig, ond dŷch chi wedi sôn yn barod am y rôl anffurfiol, os ŷch chi'n moyn, sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn yr apwyntiad newydd. Felly, allwch chi sôn mwy am natur y rôl honno a pha sgyrsiau ydych chi'n eu cael gyda DCMS a Swyddfa Cymru?
Deputy Minister, having read the Capital Law report, it was clear to me that this was very disappointing; it was incredible to think that this was going on within S4C in Wales. We know that responsibility for broadcasting is reserved to Westminster, and we as a party believe that that's where it sits best, but I know that there is a debate on that currently ongoing. But Llyr Gruffydd did mention the programme Y Byd yn ei Le, and I was on that programme too last Thursday, and I said on the programme, and I'm happy to repeat this, that the only way that this can work—for that responsibility to lie in Westminster—is for DCMS to take an interest in what's happening to S4C. And it was clear to me, when I heard evidence from Rhodri Williams in the committee last week, that he had been asking for a meeting with the Minister in DCMS for four years and hadn't got to meet the Minister. It was incredible to hear that, and it did make me angry to be honest.
Now we know that the committee has requested a formal role for the Welsh Government in the appointment of the new chair, and I think that's important, but you've already mentioned the informal role, if you like, that the Welsh Government currently has in the appointment. So, can you tell us more about the nature of that role and what conversations you're having with DCMS and the Wales Office?
Well, can I thank Tom Giffard for that question? And, yes, as I said in my original answer to Llyr Gruffydd, Welsh Government has very limited oversight of public appointments in broadcasting, and the role that we have with S4C is slightly different to the role that we have with BBC Wales.
So, it is not an informal role. We are a formal part of the appointments process, but we make recommendations to the Secretary of State for DCMS and it is the Secretary of State for DCMS that appoints. And that is the same for my role in terms of appointing chairs to public bodies in Wales that sit within my area of responsibility. So, officials will undertake the interview and the appointments process and then they submit recommendations to me, and it is my decision as to whether I accept those recommendations, and I appoint. And that is what happens with the appointment of the chair of S4C, and it is the decision of the Secretary of State for DMCS.
But I think this does shine a light on that process and I think the report that came out from the IWA, which I referenced just now, and the importance that we place on the role of S4C in Welsh society, puts it in a slightly different position. I think S4C and the Welsh Government, we are uniquely placed to have that greater role in S4C with or without the devolution of broadcasting as a formal policy position of the UK Government. There is a role—a greater role, I believe—that the Welsh Government could have within the appointments processes for S4C, because of that unique relationship that that channel has with Wales.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Tom Giffard am y cwestiwn? Ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol i Llyr Gruffydd, cyfyngedig iawn yw'r trosolwg sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar benodiadau cyhoeddus ym maes darlledu, ac mae'r rôl sydd gennym gydag S4C ychydig yn wahanol i'r rôl sydd gennym gyda BBC Cymru.
Felly, nid yw'n rôl anffurfiol. Rydym yn rhan ffurfiol o'r broses benodi, ond rydym yn gwneud argymhellion i Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yr Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, a'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol hwnnw sy'n penodi. Ac mae hynny yr un fath ar gyfer fy rôl i o ran penodi cadeiryddion i gyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru sydd o fewn fy maes cyfrifoldeb. Felly, bydd swyddogion yn ymgymryd â'r cyfweliad a'r broses benodi ac yna byddant yn cyflwyno argymhellion i mi, a fy mhenderfyniad i yw a wyf yn derbyn yr argymhellion hynny, ac rwy'n penodi. A dyna sy'n digwydd gyda phenodi cadeirydd S4C hefyd, a phenderfyniad yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yr Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon yw hwnnw.
Ond rwy'n credu bod hyn yn taflu goleuni ar y broses honno ac rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd gan y Sefydliad Materion Cymreig, y cyfeiriais ato nawr, a phwysigrwydd rôl S4C yng nghymdeithas Cymru, yn ei rhoi mewn sefyllfa ychydig yn wahanol. Rwy'n credu bod S4C a Llywodraeth Cymru mewn sefyllfa unigryw i gael rôl fwy yn S4C, gyda neu heb ddatganoli darlledu, fel safbwynt polisi ffurfiol gan Lywodraeth y DU. Mae yna rôl—rôl fwy, rwy'n credu—y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei chael o fewn y prosesau penodi ar gyfer S4C, oherwydd y berthynas unigryw sydd gan y sianel honno â Chymru.
I listened with great interest to the answers you gave to my colleague Llyr Gruffydd, and to Tom Giffard as well. Of course, you've talked about the need or the want for a stronger role in appointing a chair. What exactly does that mean? I have to say that a lot of the answers that were given to my colleague Llyr Gruffydd were quite vague, and I didn't hear any specific reference as to whether or not you, as a Deputy Minister, support the devolution of broadcasting. So, I'll ask a straightforward question: do you as the Deputy Minister support the devolution of broadcasting—yes or no?
Gwrandewais gyda diddordeb mawr ar yr atebion a roesoch i fy nghyd-Aelod Llyr Gruffydd, ac i Tom Giffard hefyd. Wrth gwrs, rydych chi wedi siarad am yr angen neu'r awydd am rôl gryfach wrth benodi cadeirydd. Beth yn union mae hynny'n ei olygu? Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod llawer o'r atebion a roddwyd i fy nghyd-Aelod Llyr Gruffydd yn eithaf amwys, ac ni chlywais unrhyw gyfeiriad penodol ynglŷn ag a ydych chi, fel Dirprwy Weinidog, yn cefnogi datganoli darlledu ai peidio. Felly, rwyf am ofyn cwestiwn syml: a ydych chi fel y Dirprwy Weinidog yn cefnogi datganoli darlledu—ydych neu nac ydych?
We have an agreement with Plaid Cymru: the co-operation agreement sets out quite clearly that there is a joint aspiration on the devolution of broadcasting. I can't be any clearer than what the co-operation agreement says.
The difference in the roles—and I think this is important—that we have with S4C and with the BBC is that we make joint decisions on the appointments to the board of BBC Wales. And I think there is a strong case, if not a stronger case, that we should have joint decision making with DCMS until or unless broadcasting is fully devolved; that we have the same arrangement with S4C as we currently have with BBC Wales; that we make joint decisions on the appointments of the board and of the chair of S4C, as we do with the BBC.
Mae gennym gytundeb gyda Phlaid Cymru: mae'r cytundeb cydweithio yn nodi'n hollol glir bod yna ddyhead ar y cyd ar ddatganoli darlledu. Ni allaf fod yn gliriach na'r hyn y mae'r cytundeb cydweithio yn ei ddweud.
Y gwahaniaeth yn y rolau—ac rwy'n credu bod hyn yn bwysig—sydd gennym ni gydag S4C a'r BBC yw ein bod yn gwneud penderfyniadau ar y cyd ar benodiadau i fwrdd BBC Cymru. Ac rwy'n credu bod achos cryf, os nad achos cryfach, y dylem gael gwneud penderfyniadau ar y cyd gyda'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon hyd nes, neu oni bai bod, darlledu'n cael ei ddatganoli'n llawn; bod gennym yr un trefniant gydag S4C ag sydd gennym gyda BBC Cymru ar hyn o bryd; ein bod yn gwneud penderfyniadau ar y cyd ar benodiadau'r bwrdd a chadeirydd S4C, fel y gwnawn gyda'r BBC.
I have to say that I do not support the devolution of broadcasting, and the Labour Party policy isn't to support the devolution of broadcasting, so I will not be supporting that until the policy changes. But within that context, I am very positive to hear what the Minister has been saying this afternoon, because we do need to have more accountability for broadcasting in this place. And I think the whole sorry saga with S4C has demonstrated the lack of interest that the DCMS actually has in S4C and in regulating broadcasting in Wales, and that does ask some very serious questions of the relationship, going forward.
So, I would be grateful if the Minister could look towards joint appointments with the DCMS, for not just the chair of S4C, but the board of S4C and other appointments, such as the board member of Ofcom, board member of the BBC, so that we're able to work on this collectively, across the United Kingdom, and to ensure that the interests of the people of Wales are actually represented, even if the DCMS is asleep at the wheel.
Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud nad wyf yn cefnogi datganoli darlledu, ac nid polisi'r Blaid Lafur yw cefnogi datganoli darlledu, felly ni fyddaf yn cefnogi hynny hyd nes y bydd y polisi'n newid. Ond o fewn y cyd-destun hwnnw, mae'n gadarnhaol iawn clywed yr hyn y mae'r Gweinidog wedi bod yn ei ddweud y prynhawn yma, oherwydd mae angen inni gael mwy o atebolrwydd am ddarlledu yn y lle hwn. Ac rwy'n credu bod yr holl saga druenus gydag S4C wedi dangos y diffyg diddordeb sydd gan yr Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon yn S4C ac mewn rheoleiddio darlledu yng Nghymru, ac mae hynny'n codi cwestiynau difrifol iawn am y berthynas, wrth symud ymlaen.
Felly, buaswn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Gweinidog edrych ar benodiadau ar y cyd gyda'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, nid yn unig ar gyfer cadeirydd S4C, ond bwrdd S4C a phenodiadau eraill, megis aelod bwrdd Ofcom, aelod bwrdd y BBC, fel y gallwn weithio ar hyn gyda'n gilydd, ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, ac er mwyn sicrhau bod buddiannau pobl Cymru yn cael eu cynrychioli mewn gwirionedd, hyd yn oed os nad oes diddordeb gan yr Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon.
Can I thank Alun Davies for that question? He's absolutely right, and, of course, Welsh Ministers do actually take the decision on appointments for the Welsh representative from Wales on Ofcom. And as I said, we do have joint decision making with the Secretary of State for DCMS on the appointments to BBC Wales. So, I think the situation that we have faced recently with S4C puts us in a much stronger position to say that that role with DCMS, in those appointments processes, with or without the full devolution of broadcasting—. I mean, that's not a prerequisite to that arrangement because we already have it with the BBC and with Ofcom, and I think that is a conversation that needs to be had as a matter of urgency with DCMS and with S4C.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Alun Davies am y cwestiwn hwnnw? Mae'n hollol gywir, ac wrth gwrs, mae Gweinidogion Cymru yn gwneud y penderfyniad ar benodi cynrychiolydd Cymreig o Gymru ar fwrdd Ofcom. Ac fel y dywedais, rydym yn gwneud penderfyniad ar y cyd gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros yr Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon mewn perthynas â'r penodiadau i BBC Cymru. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y sefyllfa a welsom yn ddiweddar gydag S4C yn ein rhoi mewn sefyllfa lawer cryfach i ddweud bod y rôl honno gyda'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, yn y prosesau penodi hynny, boed darlledu wedi'i ddatganoli'n llawn neu beidio—. Hynny yw, nid yw hynny'n rhagofyniad i'r trefniant hwnnw oherwydd rydym yn ei wneud eisoes gyda'r BBC a chydag Ofcom, ac rwy'n credu bod honno'n sgwrs y mae angen ei chael ar frys gyda'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon ac S4C.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you, Deputy Minister.
Does yna ddim datganiadau 90 eiliad yr wythnos yma.
There were no 90-second statements received this week.
Felly, yr eitem nesaf fydd y ddadl ar gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod, ar Fil ar sicrwydd hinsawdd i blant a phobl ifanc. Ac mae hwn i'w gyflwyno gan Delyth Jewell.
So, the next item will be the debate on a Member's legislative proposal, on a Bill on climate assurance for children and young people. And this is to be put forward by Delyth Jewell.
Cynnig NDM8370 Delyth Jewell
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi cynnig ar gyfer Bil ar sicrwydd hinsawdd i blant a phobl ifanc.
2. Yn nodi mai diben y Bil hwn fyddai:
a) diwygio Deddf Cwricwlwm ac Asesu (Cymru) 2021 i sicrhau bod y cwricwlwm ysgol yn cynnwys dealltwriaeth o ddifrifoldeb a brys yr argyfwng hinsawdd a'r argyfwng ecolegol fel cysyniad allweddol ar draws pob maes dysgu a phrofiad;
b) sicrhau bod y cwricwlwm yn adlewyrchu brys ac anghenraid mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a diogelu'r amgylchedd ecolegol;
c) sicrhau nad yw addysgu o'r fath wedi'i gyfyngu i bynciau traddodiadol sy'n cwmpasu'r maes hwn, ond wedi'i wreiddio ar draws pob maes dysgu a phrofiad;
d) cydnabod pwysigrwydd dysgu isganfyddol a hyrwyddo amgylchedd cynaliadwy lle y gall dysgu ddigwydd; ac
e) dechrau mynd i'r afael â phryder hinsawdd ymhlith plant a phobl ifanc.
Motion NDM8370 Delyth Jewell
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on climate assurance for children and young people.
2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:
a) amend the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 to ensure the school curriculum includes an understanding of the severity and urgency of the climate crisis and ecological emergency as a key concept across all areas of learning and experience;
b) ensure the curriculum reflects the urgency and necessity of tackling the climate crisis and protecting the ecological environment;
c) ensure that such teaching is not confined to traditional subjects that cover this area, but is embedded across all areas of learning and experience;
d) recognise the importance of subliminal learning and promote a sustainable environment in which learning can take place; and
e) begin to address climate anxiety amongst children and young people.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. It is my pleasure to present my plans for a climate assurance Bill. The climate and nature crises are amongst the most deadly challenges facing our world and our existence. Daily headlines make clear the severity of that crisis, graphs that are going the wrong way, temperature records being broken, and devastating wildfires and floods that threaten communities and lives. It's only reasonable that people would worry about this crisis. But record numbers of young people are so overwhelmed by anger and grief about the state of our planet that it's having a negative effect on their mental state. It's one of the hidden calamities of the climate crisis: this surge in anxiety and fear about this ever-present catastrophe that never gets resolved, but only deepens and gets more urgent.
Our brains find it difficult to deal with ongoing crises like this. A crisis is usually an intense moment in time, where things come to a head and get resolved. But the climate crisis is different, it is always there. And because of Government and global inaction, because of the selfishness and greed of big business, the urgent questions get deferred, the need for definitive action gets kicked down the road, and so, this seething intensity continues unabated, unaddressed, and people's brains go into boiling point. This eco-anxiety is so prevalent that Save the Children has found that 70 per cent of young people are worried about the world they will inherit. In a survey of 10,000 young people, across 10 countries, The Lancet found that 60 per cent were 'very' or 'extremely' worried about climate change. We risk passing on a planet that's been burnt, and a generation of people who've been burnt out with it.
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae'n bleser gennyf gyflwyno fy nghynlluniau ar gyfer Bil ar sicrwydd hinsawdd. Mae'r argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur ymhlith yr heriau mwyaf angheuol sy'n wynebu ein byd a'n bodolaeth. Mae penawdau dyddiol yn egluro difrifoldeb yr argyfwng hwnnw, graffiau sy'n dilyn y trywydd anghywir, tymereddau uwch nag erioed, a thanau gwyllt a llifogydd dinistriol sy'n bygwth cymunedau a bywydau. Nid yw ond yn rhesymol y byddai pobl yn poeni am yr argyfwng hwn. Ond mae'r niferoedd uchaf erioed o bobl ifanc yn cael eu llethu gymaint gan ddicter a galar am gyflwr ein planed fel ei fod yn cael effaith negyddol ar eu cyflwr meddyliol. Mae'n un o drychinebau cudd yr argyfwng hinsawdd: mae'r ymchwydd hwn mewn gorbryder ac ofn am y trychineb hollbresennol nad yw byth yn cael ei ddatrys yn dyfnhau ac yn tyfu'n fwyfwy dybryd.
Mae ein hymenyddiau yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi ag argyfyngau parhaus fel hyn. Mae argyfwng fel arfer yn foment ddwys mewn amser, lle mae pethau'n cyrraedd penllanw ac yn cael eu datrys. Ond mae'r argyfwng hinsawdd yn wahanol, mae bob amser yno. Ac oherwydd diffyg gweithredu gan lywodraethau ac yn fyd-eang, oherwydd hunanoldeb a thrachwant busnesau mawr, mae'r cwestiynau dybryd yn cael eu gohirio, mae'r angen am weithredu diffiniol yn cael ei gwthio o'r neilltu, ac felly, mae'r dwyster sy'n mudferwi'n parhau heb ei liniaru, ac mae ymenyddiau pobl yn cyrraedd berwbwynt. Mae'r eco-bryder hwn mor gyffredin nes bod Achub y Plant wedi canfod bod 70 y cant o bobl ifanc yn poeni am y byd y byddant yn ei etifeddu. Mewn arolwg o 10,000 o bobl ifanc, ar draws 10 gwlad, canfu The Lancet fod 60 y cant yn 'bryderus iawn' neu'n 'eithriadol o bryderus' am newid hinsawdd. Rydym mewn perygl o adael planed wedi'i llosgi, a chenhedlaeth o bobl wedi'u llethu.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
That is why addressing young people's concerns about the climate crisis has to be more mainstream in our curriculum. That is why we must address this anxiety with assurance, assurance that nobody is alone in struggling to cope with the intensity of this crisis, nor are they powerless in the face of that calamity.
I've been privileged, Dirprwy Lywydd, to work closely with the Royal College of Psychiatrists on this issue, and the college supports fully the plans I'm putting forward, and I've been able through them to speak to clinicians and professors who recognise the urgent need to change how we speak to young people about climate change. We shouldn't gaslight them into thinking it's not as bad as they fear, because it is. But recognising, legitimising that anger, and, yes, that grief about how they feel about what's being taken away from them before their eyes, that's so important, so that they can feel less alone. But at the same time, unequivocally, we must empower them to learn more about what's happening to tackle the crisis, not just in other parts of the world, but in their community, to find out more about groups like the youth climate ambassadors here in Wales, who give voice to young people's concerns, and to give children and young people the tools to get involved in or to form groups themselves.
So, this is what I'm proposing. Firstly, I'd want us to ensure that the curriculum includes an understanding of the urgency of the climate and nature crises across all areas of learning. I'd like to ensure that teaching isn't confined only to traditional subjects that cover this area, like geography and science, and that humanities subjects—psychology, creative writing—embed in their lessons an awareness of climate anxiety and a preparedness to tackle it. And I'd want to begin to address that anxiety amongst children and young people, including through greater guidance and support being given to teachers and schools about how to talk about these issues in a sensitive, productive way.
I support the Royal College of Psychiatrists' call for well-being provision being made to address climate grief. And there are already so many organisations that will, I know, be able to help as partners in this. Keep Wales Tidy's eco-schools programme is instilled with a sense of empowering young people, to arm them with tools to improve the environment. I know over 1,100 schools in Wales engaged with Keep Wales Tidy last year, and their training courses for teachers include carbon literacy, and linking eco work to the curriculum. Other organisations like Teach the Future and Oxfam can also lend expertise to develop these plans.
Dyna pam mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod mynd i'r afael â phryderon pobl ifanc am yr argyfwng hinsawdd yn fater mwy prif ffrwd yn ein cwricwlwm. Dyna pam mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â'r gorbryder hwn gyda sicrwydd, sicrwydd nad oes neb ar ei ben ei hun wrth iddynt ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi â dwyster yr argyfwng hwn, ac nad ydynt ychwaith yn ddi-rym yn wyneb y trychineb hwnnw.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, bûm yn ddigon ffodus i weithio'n agos gyda Choleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion ar y mater hwn, ac mae'r coleg yn cefnogi'r cynlluniau rwy'n eu cyflwyno yn llawn, a thrwyddynt, gallais siarad â chlinigwyr ac athrawon prifysgol sy'n cydnabod yr angen brys i newid sut y siaradwn â phobl ifanc am newid hinsawdd. Ni ddylem eu dibwyllo i feddwl nad yw mor ddrwg ag y maent yn ei ofni, oherwydd nid yw hynny'n wir. Ond mae cydnabod, dilysu'r dicter, a'r galar, ie, ynglŷn â sut maent yn teimlo am yr hyn sy'n cael ei ddwyn oddi arnynt o flaen eu llygaid, mae hynny mor bwysig, fel y gallant deimlo'n llai unig. Ond ar yr un pryd, yn ddiamwys, mae'n rhaid inni eu grymuso i ddysgu mwy am yr hyn sy'n digwydd i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng, nid yn unig mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd, ond yn eu cymuned, i ddarganfod mwy am grwpiau fel y llysgenhadon hinsawdd ieuenctid yma yng Nghymru, sy'n rhoi llais i bryderon pobl ifanc, ac i roi'r arfau i blant a phobl ifanc gymryd rhan mewn grwpiau neu i ffurfio grwpiau eu hunain.
Felly, dyna beth rwy'n ei gynnig. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn sicrhau bod y cwricwlwm yn cynnwys dealltwriaeth o'r brys sydd ynghlwm wrth yr argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur ar draws pob maes dysgu. Hoffwn sicrhau nad yw addysgu wedi'i gyfyngu'n unig i bynciau traddodiadol sy'n ymdrin â'r maes, fel daearyddiaeth a gwyddoniaeth, a bod y dyniaethau—seicoleg, ysgrifennu creadigol—yn ymgorffori ymwybyddiaeth o bryder hinsawdd yn eu gwersi a pharodrwydd i fynd i'r afael ag ef. A hoffwn ddechrau rhoi sylw i'r pryder ymhlith plant a phobl ifanc, gan gynnwys drwy roi mwy o arweiniad a chefnogaeth i athrawon ac ysgolion ynglŷn â sut i siarad am y materion hyn mewn ffordd sensitif a chynhyrchiol.
Rwy'n cefnogi galwad Coleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion am ddarpariaeth llesiant i fynd i'r afael â galar hinsawdd. A gwn fod cymaint o sefydliadau eisoes a all helpu fel partneriaid yn hyn o beth. Mae rhaglen eco-ysgolion Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus yn cynnwys ymdeimlad o rymuso pobl ifanc, i'w harfogi ag arfau i wella'r amgylchedd. Rwy'n gwybod bod dros 1,100 o ysgolion yng Nghymru wedi ymgysylltu â Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus y llynedd, ac mae eu cyrsiau hyfforddi i athrawon yn cynnwys llythrennedd carbon, a chysylltu gwaith eco â'r cwricwlwm. Gall sefydliadau eraill fel Teach the Future ac Oxfam rannu eu harbenigedd nhw hefyd i ddatblygu'r cynlluniau hyn.
A gallem hefyd ddysgu o ymddiriedolaethau natur Cymru, gan gynnwys Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gwent, sydd hefyd wedi fy ysbrydoli. Mae cymaint o grwpiau a phrosiectau i bobl ifanc gymryd rhan ynddynt, a gall hyn roi nerth anferthol i’n pobl ifanc.
A nerth sydd ei angen: nerth, sicrwydd, cadarnhad. Mae angen sicrwydd ar blant am sut byddem ni fel cymdeithas, ac fel dynoliaeth, yn gwarantu eu dyfodol nhw. Er mwyn diogelu iechyd ein pobl ifanc, ac iechyd ein planed, mae angen cynnig y sicrwydd hwn. Mae cyfle euraidd yma i ddefnyddio’r cwricwlwm newydd i ymbweru ein pobl ifanc, ac i gynnig gobaith iddynt yn wyneb yr heriau enfawr sy’n ymwneud â’r argyfwng hinsawdd. A dwi'n edrych ymlaen at glywed barn Aelodau eraill. Diolch.
And we could also learn from wildlife trusts in Wales, including the Gwent Wildlife Trust, which has also inspired me. There are so many groups and projects for young people to participate in, and this can give young people enormous strength.
And strength is what is needed: strength, assurance, confirmation. Children need assurance about how we as a society, and as humanity, would guarantee their future. In order to protect the health of our young people, and the health of our planet, this assurance needs to be offered. There is a golden opportunity here to use the new curriculum to empower our young people, and to offer them hope in the face of the huge challenges that are associated with the climate crisis. And I look forward to hearing the views of other Members. Thank you.
I think this is why we shouldn't be just teaching towards PISA results, isn't it? We want more rounded children, with a more rounded outlook.
I was once told that if children do not connect with the outdoors before the age of 12, they will not as an adult. And in recent years, many children have increasingly spent time indoors, entertained by a plethora of electronic devices and around-the-clock media. Parents worry about letting their children have independence to go off on their own to the park. It was very different when I grew up. We went out, often for the day, with no forms of communication, exploring the outside, playing in streams, the woods, making dens from hay bales in the field. That was it. Connecting with nature, combined with exercise, eases mental health and gives a sense of well-being. Growing up with it as a child—as my children did—makes you feel like it's your garden to be explored. It gives you confidence just to be out there to roam without fear, but with love, respect, fondness and a sense of well-being with nature. As an adult, then, it feels as natural to be outside as inside, and you then teach that to your own children. It's a cycle.
In the recent state of nature report, we have seen a 20 per cent decline in species abundance in Wales. Forty-two per cent of flowering plants have decreased across Wales, and 18 per cent of species are on the red list, threatened with extinction in Wales. Underpinning nature education is the idea that if the destruction is to be stopped, human beings must learn to care about it. Positive action does work. We have seen that with the decline in chlorofluorocarbons being released, and acid rain has fallen by 80 per cent compared to 1990 levels.
Children are far more aware now, and with COP28 being run by oil barons, and our Westminster Government providing 100 new oil licences, it is terrifying. But it should be more terrifying for adults to know what our children will have to face because of our generation. Children speak to me, saying it's presumed that it will be okay because young people understand and they will make the world better, but they say to me, 'It'll be too late then, it's up to you to do something about it now.' And we must.
At a recent climate action event, led by young people, I listened to their speeches and presentations. One young adult and member of the North Wales Wildlife Trust youth forum read out a letter from a friend. The person was unable to be present, but said how anxiety regarding the climate emergency was so overwhelming it made them extremely depressed. It's made it really anxious for them and they couldn't find a way out. It was really saddening to hear this. The person eventually overcame this anxiety by being part of the group of like-minded people, working together to help the environment. The group is for people aged between 11 and 24 who are passionate about learning about the environment and helping bring communities together to protect it. They run monthly sessions learning about nature, its threats and conservation, both marine and terrestrial, developing conservation skills that will be valuable in the green sector should they want to continue that, coming together to meet like-minded people, which is a wonderful positive action, working together. Diolch.
Rwy'n credu mai dyma'r rheswm pam na ddylem fod yn addysgu tuag at ganlyniadau PISA yn unig. Rydym eisiau i'n plant edrych ar y byd yn ei gyflawnder.
Dywedwyd wrthyf unwaith, os na fydd plant yn ffurfio cysylltiad â'r awyr agored cyn eu bod yn 12 oed, ni fyddant yn gwneud hynny fel oedolion. Ac yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae llawer o blant wedi treulio mwy a mwy o amser dan do, wedi'u diddanu gan lu o ddyfeisiau electronig a chyfryngau 24 awr y dydd. Mae rhieni'n poeni am adael i'w plant gael annibyniaeth i fynd i'r parc ar eu pen eu hunain. Roedd pethau'n wahanol iawn pan oeddwn i'n blentyn. Roeddem yn mynd allan, yn aml am y dydd, heb unrhyw fath o gyfathrebu, gan archwilio'r awyr agored, chwarae mewn nentydd, coedwigoedd, gwneud llochesau o bêls gwair yn y cae. Dyna sut oedd hi. Mae cysylltu â natur, ynghyd ag ymarfer corff, yn lleddfu iechyd meddwl ac yn rhoi ymdeimlad o lesiant. Mae tyfu i fyny gyda hynny yn blentyn—fel y gwnaeth fy mhlant i—yn gwneud i chi deimlo mai eich gardd chi yw hi i'w harchwilio. Mae'n rhoi hyder i chi fynd allan i grwydro heb ofn, ond gyda chariad, parch, hoffter ac ymdeimlad o lesiant gyda natur. Fel oedolyn felly, mae'n teimlo yr un mor naturiol i fod tu allan ag yw hi i fod tu mewn, ac rydych chi'n dysgu hynny i'ch plant eich hun. Mae'n gylch.
Yn yr adroddiad diweddar ar gyflwr natur, gwelsom ostyngiad o 20 y cant yn lefelau helaethrwydd rhywogaethau yng Nghymru. Mae 42 y cant o blanhigion blodeuol ledled Cymru wedi gweld gostyngiad, ac mae 18 y cant o rywogaethau ar y rhestr goch, mewn perygl o ddiflannu yng Nghymru. Yn sail i addysg natur, mae'r syniad, os ydym am atal dinistr, fod yn rhaid i bobl ddysgu gofalu amdano. Mae gweithredu cadarnhaol yn gweithio. Rydym wedi gweld hynny gyda'r lleihad yn y clorofflworocarbonau sy'n cael eu rhyddhau, ac mae glaw asid wedi gostwng 80 y cant o'i gymharu â lefelau 1990.
Mae plant yn llawer mwy ymwybodol nawr, a chyda COP28 yn cael ei redeg gan farwniaid olew, a'n Llywodraeth yn San Steffan yn darparu 100 o drwyddedau olew newydd, mae'n frawychus. Ond dylai fod yn fwy brawychus i oedolion wybod beth fydd yn rhaid i'n plant ei wynebu oherwydd ein cenhedlaeth ni. Mae plant yn siarad â mi, ac yn dweud bod yna ragdybiaeth y bydd hi'n iawn am fod pobl ifanc yn deall ac y byddant yn gwneud y byd yn well, ond maent yn dweud wrthyf, 'Bydd hi'n rhy hwyr erbyn hynny, rhaid i chi wneud rhywbeth am y peth nawr.' Ac mae'n wir.
Mewn digwyddiad gweithredu ar hinsawdd yn ddiweddar, a gâi ei arwain gan bobl ifanc, gwrandewais ar eu hareithiau a'u cyflwyniadau. Darllenodd un oedolyn ifanc ac aelod o fforwm ieuenctid Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gogledd Cymru lythyr gan ffrind. Nid oedd yr unigolyn yn gallu bod yn bresennol, ond dywedodd sut roedd gorbryder ynghylch yr argyfwng hinsawdd mor llethol fel ei fod yn gwneud iddynt deimlo'n hynod o isel. Mae'r sefyllfa wedi gwneud iddynt deimlo'n bryderus iawn ac ni allent ddod o hyd i ffordd allan. Roedd yn drist iawn clywed hyn. Yn y pen draw, llwyddodd yr unigolyn i oresgyn y gorbryder drwy fod yn rhan o grŵp o bobl o'r un anian, gan weithio gyda'i gilydd i helpu'r amgylchedd. Mae'r grŵp ar gyfer pobl rhwng 11 a 24 oed sy'n angerddol ynglŷn â dysgu am yr amgylchedd a helpu i ddod â chymunedau ynghyd i'w warchod. Maent yn cynnal sesiynau misol yn dysgu am natur, y bygythiadau a chadwraeth, morol a daearol, gan ddatblygu sgiliau cadwraeth a fydd yn werthfawr yn y sector gwyrdd pe byddent eisiau dilyn y trywydd hwnnw, gan ddod at ei gilydd i gyfarfod â phobl o'r un anian, sy'n weithred gadarnhaol wych, gan weithio gyda'i gilydd. Diolch.
Galwaf ar Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, Jeremy Miles.
I call on the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch am eich cynnig ar Fil ar newid hinsawdd mewn addysg. Y newid yn yr hinsawdd yw un o'r heriau mwyaf sy'n ein hwynebu fel rhan o'r gymuned fyd-eang. Er mwyn sicrhau Cymru wyrddach, decach a mwy llewyrchus mae gan bawb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, ran i'w chwarae wrth wthio am y newid tuag at ddyfodol carbon isel. Wrth adeiladu ein Cwricwlwm i Gymru a'n rhaglenni buddsoddi, ein nod yw creu system addysg uchelgeisiol ac arloesol, ac mae'n rhaid iddi fynd i'r afael â materion sy'n diffinio ein cenhedlaeth: datgarboneiddio a byw'n gynaliadwy. Mae lleisiau ein plant a'n pobl ifanc yn hanfodol i'r broses hon. Yn bennaf oll, mae hynny'n golygu gwrando arnyn nhw. Rydyn ni i gyd yn gwybod, o'n sgyrsiau gyda phlant a phobl ifanc, pa mor angerddol a phryderus y maen nhw yn teimlo ynghylch newid hinsawdd ac am sicrhau dyfodol gwell iddyn nhw eu hunain a chenedlaethau'r dyfodol.
Un o'r pedwar diben sydd wedi eu nodi yn y Ddeddf cwricwlwm ac asesu ac sydd wrth wraidd y cwricwlwm, yn ogystal â'r penderfyniadau y mae ysgolion yn eu gwneud, yw plant yn tyfu i fod yn ddinasyddion egwyddorol a gwybodus. Mae rhan o'r dyhead hwn wedi'i diffinio'n benodol mewn canllawiau statudol fel rhywbeth sy'n cefnogi dysgwyr i ddangos eu hymrwymiad i gynaliadwyedd y blaned. Dyna pam mae dysgu am y newid yn yr hinsawdd a'r amgylchedd wedi ei wneud yn orfodol yn y Cwricwlwm i Gymru. Mae'r datganiadau o'r hyn sy'n bwysig yn y dyniaethau a gwyddoniaeth a thechnoleg yn cyfeirio'n benodol nifer o weithiau at elfennau o'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur, ymateb i'r newid yn yr hinsawdd, a'r amgylchedd.
Mae hyn yn golygu ei bod eisoes yn ofynnol, yn gyfreithiol, rhoi sylw i newid hinsawdd ac ymateb i'r argyfwng hinsawdd yng nghwricwlwm ysgolion, nid dim ond ar un pwynt o'r daith drwy'r ysgol, ond bob cam o'r ffordd. Ac ar draws pob maes pwnc mae ysgolion yn cael eu grymuso a'u hannog i addysgu am y newid yn yr hinsawdd a'r amgylchedd drwy gyd-destunau dysgu o bob math, er mwyn ysbrydoli ac ennyn diddordeb dysgwyr. Cafodd cod 'yr hyn sy'n bwysig', sy'n cynnwys y gofynion hyn, ei gynllunio i sicrhau disgwyliadau gorfodol fel hyn. Ni fyddai gosod disgwyliadau ychwanegol ar wyneb y Ddeddf cwricwlwm ac asesu yn ychwanegu at yr hyn y mae'n ofynnol i ddysgwyr ei ddysgu eisoes. Ond fe allai greu dryswch, drwy osod gwahanol ofynion mewn gwahanol leoedd ar adeg pan ydw i wedi ymrwymo i symleiddio'r disgwyliadau gan ysgolion.
Er mwyn cefnogi ysgolion i gyflawni'r gofynion cyfreithiol gorfodol hyn, rŷn ni wedi comisiynu a datblygu adnoddau i gefnogi athrawon i gynllunio cwricwlwm sy'n cynnwys dysgu effeithiol am y newid yn yr hinsawdd a phwysigrwydd gweithredu. Mae hyn yn cynnwys adnoddau ar gyfer ysgolion sy'n ymwneud yn benodol â gorbryder ynghylch yr hinsawdd. Mae'r cynigion yn sôn am orbryder am y newid yn yr hinsawdd. Dwi'n gwybod bod effaith newid hinsawdd yn ofid i blant a phobl ifanc, ac, i rai, bydd hyn yn achosi gorbryder. Dyna pam mae rhoi sylw i iechyd meddwl ac ymateb i ystod o brofiadau, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n sbarduno gorbryder, unwaith eto, yn orfodol i bob ysgol.
Dwi am i blant a phobl ifanc gael eu cefnogi a'u helpu. Does neb yn dysgu'n iawn os ydyn nhw'n orbryderus neu'n cael trafferthion iechyd meddwl, ac mae'r cwricwlwm wedi'i gynllunio i arfogi dysgwyr i reoli hyn a gofyn am gymorth lle bo angen. Dwi wedi rhannu manylion gyda chi o'r blaen am ein rhaglenni addysg amgylcheddol eraill sy'n cael eu hariannu, megis Eco-Sgolion a Maint Cymru, sy'n gweithio gydag ysgolion a phobl ifanc i godi ymwybyddiaeth am y newid yn yr hinsawdd a phwysigrwydd amddiffyn y byd naturiol. Mae'r rhaglenni hyn yn annog plant a phobl ifanc i gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau sy'n gallu cael effaith gadarnhaol ar eu hamgylchedd lleol, fel gofalu am ardd yr ysgol neu ddefnyddio dulliau teithio llesol i gyrraedd yr ysgol. Mae rhoi'r cyfle i ddysgwyr newid rhywbeth yn eu cymuned leol yn gallu eu grymuso a chyfrannu at eu hiechyd a'u lles.
Mae 'Gweithredu ar Newid Hinsawdd: Strategaeth Ymgysylltu â’r Cyhoedd' yn sôn am bwysigrwydd cynnwys pobl—ac ie, pobl ifanc—wrth lunio polisi ar fynd i'r afael â'r newid yn yr hinsawdd. Mae lleisiau plant a phobl ifanc yn hynod o bwysig. Mae mentrau fel cynhadledd y partïon i bobl ifanc yn fy nghalonogi ac yn dod â phobl ifanc ynghyd o bob rhan o Gymru i drafod newid hinsawdd yn uniongyrchol gyda rhanddeiliaid a gwleidyddion.
I fod yn gwbl glir, dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr gyda'r bwriadau sydd y tu ôl i'r cynnig hwn. Dyna pam ein bod ni eisoes yn glir mewn deddfwriaeth fod yn rhaid i ysgolion addysgu dysgwyr am y newid yn yr hinsawdd, yr argyfwng hinsawdd a sut i ymateb iddo. Fyddai rhoi gofynion pellach ar ysgolion ddim yn ychwanegu at hyn. Dwi hefyd wedi amlinellu amrywiaeth o elfennau cymorth sydd ar waith i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn cyflawni'r gofynion cyfreithiol hyn ac i rymuso ein plant a'n pobl ifanc er mwyn creu dyfodol mwy gwyrdd i Gymru.
Thank you for your proposal on a climate assurance Bill in education. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing us as a global community. In order to ensure a greener, fairer, more prosperous Wales, everyone in Wales, including our children and young people, have a part to play in pushing for the change towards a low-carbon future. As we build our Curriculum for Wales and our investment programme, our intention is to create an ambitious and innovative education system, and it has to tackle issues that define our generation: decarbonsiation and living sustainably. The voices of our children and young people are crucial to that process. Mainly, that means listening to them. We all know, from our conversations with children and young people, just how passionate and concerned they are about climate change and about securing a better future for themselves and future generations.
One of the four aims set out in the curriculum and assessment Act and at the heart of the curriculum, in addition to the decisions that schools make, is that children become principled and informed citizens. Part of this aspiration is specifically defined in statutory guidance as something that supports learners in demonstrating their commitment to the sustainability of the planet. That's why learning about climate change and the environment is mandatory in the Curriculum for Wales. The 'what matters' statements in the humanities and science and technology make specific reference on a number of occasions to elements on the climate and nature emergency, responding to climate change, and the environment.
This means that it's already a legal requirement to address climate change and to respond to the climate emergency in school curriculums. It's not just at one point of the journey through education, but along the whole journey. And across all subject areas, schools are empowered and encouraged to educate about climate change and the environment through educational contexts of all kinds, in order to inspire and garner the interest of learners. The 'what matters' code, which includes these requirements, was planned to ensure mandatory requirements such as these. Setting additional expectations on the face of the curriculum and assessment Act would not add to what is required for learners to learn already. But it could create confusion by setting different requirements in different places at a time when I am committed to simplifying the expectations placed on schools.
In order to support schools in delivering the required legal requirements, we have commissioned resources to support teachers to plan a curriculum that includes effective learning about climate change and the importance of action. This includes resources for schools that relate specifically to climate anxiety. The proposals talk about anxiety in terms of climate change. I know that the impact of climate change is a concern for children and young people, and, for some, this will lead to anxiety. And that's why addressing mental health and responding to a range of experiences, including those that actually exacerbate anxiety, are, again, a requirement for all schools.
I want children and young people to be supported and helped. Nobody learns properly if they are anxious or have mental health problems, and the curriculum is planned to empower learners to manage this and to ask for support where necessary. I have shared details with you in the past about our other environmental education programmes that are funded, such as Eco-Schools and the Size of Wales, which work with schools and young people in order to raise awareness about climate change and the importance of safeguarding the natural world. These programmes encourage children and young people to participate in activities that can have a positive impact on their local environment, such as caring for the school garden or using active travel methods to get to school. Providing opportunities for learners to change something in their local communities can empower them and contribute to their health and well-being.
'Climate Action Wales: Public Engagement Strategy' talks about including young people, particularly young people, in forming policy on tackling climate change. The voices of children and young people are crucially important and initiatives such as the conference of the parties for young people do encourage me and bring young people from all parts of Wales together to discuss climate change directly with stakeholders and politicians.
To be entirely clear, I agree entirely with the principles underpinning this proposal. That's why we are quite clear in legislation that schools do have to educate learners about climate change, the climate emergency and how to respond to it. Placing further requirements on schools wouldn't add to this. I have also outlined a range of support elements that are in place to ensure that schools deliver these legal requirements and to empower our children and young people in order to create a greener future for Wales.
Galwaf ar Delyth Jewell i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Delyth Jewell to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch i Carolyn yn gyntaf.
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I thank Carolyn first of all.
Thank you, Carolyn. You reminded us of the importance of outdoor learning and connecting with nature. You reminded us as well about the dire statistics that relate to species decline, I think focusing all our minds on why it's so important that we have this hope of change. As you said, if the devastation is to be stopped, human beings must learn to care about it. That's exactly it. Thank you so much for sharing that with us and sharing your thoughts.
Diolch yn fawr, Carolyn. Fe wnaethoch ein hatgoffa o bwysigrwydd dysgu yn yr awyr agored a chysylltu â natur. Fe wnaethoch chi ein hatgoffa hefyd am yr ystadegau enbyd sy'n ymwneud â dirywiad rhywogaethau, ac rwy'n credu eich bod wedi canolbwyntio ein meddyliau i gyd ar pam ei bod mor bwysig ein bod yn obeithiol am newid. Fel y dywedoch chi, os ydym am atal y dinistr, mae'n rhaid i bobl ddysgu malio amdano. Yn hollol. Diolch yn fawr iawn am rannu hynny gyda ni a rhannu eich syniadau.
Diolch hefyd i'r Gweinidog am ei ymateb. Ie, y sialens o ran newid hinsawdd a sut dŷn ni'n ymateb iddo fe fydd yn diffinio ein cenhedlaeth. Dwi'n cytuno gyda chi'n llwyr. A diolch hefyd am osod sut mae'r cwricwlwm yn ffocysu ar gefnogi'n pobl ifanc. Mae e'n beth da bod dysgu am newid hinsawdd yn orfodol, ac mae'r adnoddau sydd ar gael yn barod am orbryder am newid hinsawdd i'w croesawu yn sicr. Buaswn i'n dal yn hoffi gweld y Llywodraeth yn canoli hyn, efallai, ychydig yn fwy. Mae'r gwaith sydd yna mor gadarnhaol.
Rwy'n gwybod y byddwn ni efallai'n anghytuno am—. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi wedi dweud ar y diwedd nad ydych chi eisiau rhoi mwy o ofynion ar ysgolion. Rwy'n gweld y safbwynt yna'n sicr. Y rheswm pam buaswn i eisiau i hyn gael—dwi ddim yn siŵr sut i ddweud y ferf 'to package' yn Gymraeg—ei roi at ei gilydd fel rhywbeth canolog yw er mwyn dangos ac er mwyn sbarduno'r bobl ifanc yna sydd yn poeni cymaint am newid hinsawdd, sydd gyda gorbryder, i weld ei fod e'n rhywbeth sydd yn signal i ddangos iddyn nhw fod y Llywodraeth wir yn cydnabod ac eisiau dangos y sbardun yna iddyn nhw.
Mae poeni am yr argyfwng hinsawdd, wrth gwrs, yn ymateb rhesymol, synhwyrol, ond os ydyn ni'n gweld newid hinsawdd fel rhywbeth sydd yn ddiwrthdro, ysgubol, mi fydd yr argyfwng yn ysgubo drosom ni. Byddwn yn cael ein boddi drwy ddiffyg gweithredu a diffyg cred yn ein gallu i newid pethau. Felly, mae yna falans bregus sydd angen ei ffeindio rhwng yr angen i gydnabod a chyfiawnhau'r pryder mae pobl ifanc yn ei deimlo am newid hinsawdd a'r angen i roi gobaith iddyn nhw fod newid yn bosibl, a sicrwydd nad ydyn nhw ar eu pennau eu hunain yn y frwydr hon.
Buaswn i jest eisiau diolch eto, Dirprwy Lywydd, i'r Gweinidog ac i Carolyn am gymryd rhan yn y ddadl. Buaswn i eisiau dweud ar y diwedd—ar gyfer unrhyw bobl ifanc sydd yn gwrando ar y ddadl, nawr neu yn y dyfodol—mae eich lleisiau chi yn bwysig. Rŷn ni yn y Senedd yma yn eu clywed nhw a dŷn ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr—. Dŷn ni'n deall pam eu bod nhw'n poeni ond mae yna wastad obaith a dŷn ni yn gallu newid pethau ar gyfer dyfodol gwell. Diolch yn fawr.
I also thank the Minister for his response. Yes, the climate change challenge and how we respond to that is what will define our generation. I agree entirely with you. And thank you also for setting out how the curriculum does focus on supporting our young people. It is a good thing that learning about climate change is mandatory and the resources that are available already about climate anxiety are to be welcomed, certainly. I'd like to still see the Government centralising this more, perhaps. The work that's there is very positive.
I know we may disagree about the fact that—. You said at the end that you don't want to impose more requirements on schools. I do see that viewpoint, certainly. The reason why I would like to see this being—I'm not sure how to say the verb 'to package' in Welsh—put together in a central package is in order to show and inspire young people who are so concerned about climate change and will suffer from anxiety to see that it's something that shows them that the Government does recognise and wants to show that action to them.
Climate anxiety is a sensible and reasonable response, but if we see it as something that is inevitable we will be drowned by a lack of action and a lack of belief in our ability to change things. So there is a delicate balance that needs to be found between recognising and justifying the concern that young people feel about climate change and the need to give them hope that change is possible, and an assurance that they are not alone in this battle.
I'd just like to thank again, Dirprwy Lywydd, the Minister and Carolyn for taking part in this debate. I'd like to say at the end to any young people who are listening to this debate now or in the future that your voices are important and we in the Senedd do hear them and we want to ensure—. We understand why they are concerned, but there's always hope and we can change things for a better future. Thank you.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi'r cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Felly, gohirir y bleidlais ar yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to note the proposal. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. We will therefore defer voting on this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Lesley Griffiths, a gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn enw Mabon ap Gwynfor. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths, and amendments 2 and 3 in the name of Mabon ap Gwynfor. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected.
Eitem 6 heddiw yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Galwaf ar Gareth Davies i wneud y cynnig.
Item 6 this afternoon is the Welsh Conservatives debate: healthcare inspection and funding. I call on Gareth Davies to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8452 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi Adroddiad Blynyddol Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru 2022-2023.
2. Yn gresynu bod yr adroddiad:
a) yn amlygu risgiau yn ymwneud â gofal brys, pryderon staffio, llif gwael cleifion a hygyrchedd apwyntiadau;
b) yn datgan bod oedi yn aml o ran rhyddhau cleifion oherwydd prinder staff gofal cymdeithasol a gweithwyr cymdeithasol i asesu anghenion rhyddhau; ac
c) heb ddod o hyd i dystiolaeth fod mentrau Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud gwahaniaeth clir a sylweddol i wasanaethau ar y rheng flaen.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) dileu toriadau a wnaed i Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yng nghyllideb ddrafft 2024-2025, ac ehangu eu cylch gwaith i ymchwilio i gwynion;
b) sefydlu amserlen gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ar gyfer archwilio'r bron i 60 y cant o wasanaethau gofal iechyd nad ydynt wedi'u harolygu yn ystod y 5 mlynedd diwethaf;
c) sicrhau bod y cynnydd canlyniadol Barnett llawn o 20 y cant ar gyfer iechyd yn cael ei wario ar GIG Cymru; a
d) cyflwyno cynllun sylweddol ar gyfer y gweithlu gydag ad-daliad ffioedd dysgu ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal iechyd sy'n aros yng Nghymru am bum mlynedd ar ôl eu hastudiaethau.
Motion NDM8452 Darren Millar
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales Annual Report 2022-2023.
2. Regrets that the report:
a) highlighted risks relating to emergency care, staffing concerns, poor patient flow and the accessibility of appointments;
b) states that there are often delays in patient discharges due to shortages in social care staff and social workers to assess discharge needs; and
c) did not find evidence of Welsh Government initiatives making a clear and significant difference to services at the front line.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) scrap cuts made to Healthcare Inspectorate Wales in the 2024-2025 draft budget, and expand their remit to investigate complaints;
b) establish a timetable with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales for the inspection of the nearly 60 per cent of healthcare services that have not been inspected in the last 5 years;
c) ensure the full Barnett consequential 20 per cent uplift for health is spent on the Welsh NHS; and
d) bring forward a substantial workforce plan with a tuition fee refund for healthcare workers that stay in Wales for five years after their studies.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Deputy Llywydd. I'm pleased to be opening this debate and I move the Welsh Conservatives' motion, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. But I'm sure we would all rather be discussing the state of our NHS in Wales with more positive news. The healthcare inspectorate report has illuminated some pretty dismal findings, and a lot of reflection by the Welsh Government is needed as a result of this, because this report couldn't be clearer that the current strategies are not working.
I would also like to express on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives our opposition to plans to cut Healthcare Inspectorate Wales made in the 2024-2025 draft budget. This report highlights, if anything, the need to expand the remit of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, introduce a complaints investigation procedure and establish a timetable for the inspection of nearly 60 per cent of Welsh healthcare services that have not been inspected in the last five years, which is, frankly, shocking. I must also make clear that making cuts to Healthcare Inspectorate Wales is dreadful optics for the Welsh Government as it currently looks like a Government that has lost control of any ability to run a functioning health service, so has instead turned to reducing transparency and restricting the ability of the public to assess the performance of the health service.
We know the statistic that has been repeated in this Chamber time after time, but I will remind anyone who may have forgotten: over 25,000 people in Wales waiting two years or more for treatment, compared to 227 individuals waiting the same amount of time in England. The Labour Government receives £1.20 for every £1 spent on the NHS—how many times have you heard that—in England, yet the Welsh Government spends only £1.05 for every £1 spent in England. The new budget sees this set to decrease yet further.
Every single Welsh NHS health board is currently in some form of enhanced monitoring or special measures; my own health board, Betsi Cadwaladr, is just one example. When these figures are put to the Welsh Government, we hear the same wooden and perfunctory responses: the lack of funding from the UK Government and that initiatives are in place to address these problems. Again, how many times have we heard that?
Perhaps the most damning finding in this report, and the most depressing, is that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales did not find any evidence of Welsh Government initiatives
'making a clear and significant difference to services at the front line'.
Clearly, enhanced scrutiny inspections and a better complaints procedure are imperative, particularly in the aftermath of the regrettable Channon family case, and my colleague Russell George has continually scrutinised the Welsh Government and Swansea Bay University Health Board's failures.
Some may recall the scathing remarks expressed in the foreword to the 2022-23 report by Alun Cairns—not the Member of Parliament. This latest report sadly shows precious little improvement, with many areas that have continued to deteriorate. The shocking lack of inspections of Welsh health facilities needs addressing urgently and that's why we are calling for an urgent timetable to be drawn up to ensure these facilities meet the standard expected. We also want to see the full Barnett consequential 20 per cent uplift for health actually being spent on its intended recipient, the Welsh NHS. The Welsh Government should reverse its plans for real-terms cuts to the Welsh NHS and, perhaps, reroute the cash that they've planned to throw away on 36 more politicians and other vanity schemes, like the 20 mph roll-out, when our NHS is in dire straits. If the Government were really serious about saving lives, the money spent on vanity schemes would be spent on our NHS.
We need to hear something new from the Welsh Government. Their 75 per cent target for those with a suspected cancer to be seen and start treatment within 62 days has never been met; one in five people in Wales is on an NHS waiting list; and failures in social care are leading to bottlenecks in hospital wards as patients fit to be discharged are being kept in valuable bed space, an issue that the Welsh Government has been aware of for a considerable amount of time. We now know for certain that progress isn't being made and our situation gets more dire each year, and the Welsh people deserve better. And it brings me great sadness that a lot of my remarks are depressing today, but that's the current state of affairs, unfortunately, Minister.
But to close, Deputy Llywydd, the Welsh Government's strategies need radical rethinking and the proposals that the Welsh Conservatives have put forward will move our NHS in that direction, and I look forward to hearing the contributions of other Members during this debate this afternoon. Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o agor y ddadl hon ac rwy'n cyflwyno cynnig y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Ond rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n well gennym i gyd fod yn trafod cyflwr ein GIG yng Nghymru gyda newyddion mwy cadarnhaol. Mae adroddiad yr arolygiaeth gofal iechyd wedi amlygu canfyddiadau go ddiflas, ac mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried yn ddwys o ganlyniad i hyn, oherwydd ni allai'r adroddiad hwn fod yn gliriach nad yw'r strategaethau presennol yn gweithio.
Ar ran y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig hefyd, hoffwn fynegi ein gwrthwynebiad i gynlluniau i dorri Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru a wnaed yng nghyllideb ddrafft 2024-2025. Os yw'r adroddiad hwn yn amlygu unrhyw beth, mae'n dangos yr angen i ehangu cylch gwaith Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru, cyflwyno gweithdrefn ymchwilio i gwynion a sefydlu amserlen ar gyfer arolygu bron i 60 y cant o wasanaethau gofal iechyd yng Nghymru nad ydynt wedi'u harolygu yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, sy'n syfrdanol a dweud y gwir. Rhaid imi ddweud yn glir hefyd fod gwneud toriadau i Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yn gwneud i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych yn wael iawn gan ei bod ar hyn o bryd yn edrych fel Llywodraeth sydd wedi colli rheolaeth ar unrhyw allu i redeg gwasanaeth iechyd gweithredol, a'i bod yn lle hynny wedi troi at leihau tryloywder a chyfyngu ar allu'r cyhoedd i asesu perfformiad y gwasanaeth iechyd.
Rydym yn gwybod yr ystadegyn sydd wedi cael ei ailadrodd yn y Siambr hon dro ar ôl tro, ond rwyf am atgoffa unrhyw un a allai fod wedi anghofio: mae dros 25,000 o bobl yng Nghymru yn aros dwy flynedd neu fwy am driniaeth, o'i gymharu â 227 o unigolion sy'n aros yr un faint o amser yn Lloegr. Mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur yn derbyn £1.20 am bob £1 a werir ar y GIG—sawl gwaith y clywsoch chi hynny—yn Lloegr, ac eto dim ond £1.05 y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wario am bob £1 a werir yn Lloegr. Mae'r gyllideb newydd yn mynd i leihau hyn ymhellach eto.
Ar hyn o bryd mae pob un o fyrddau iechyd GIG Cymru yn destun monitro uwch neu fesurau arbennig o ryw fath neu'i gilydd; un enghraifft yn unig yw fy mwrdd iechyd fy hun, Betsi Cadwaladr. Pan fydd y ffigurau hyn yn cael eu hadrodd wrth Lywodraeth Cymru, rydym yn clywed yr un ymatebion prennaidd a di-hid: y diffyg cyllid gan Lywodraeth y DU a bod mentrau ar waith i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau hyn. Unwaith eto, sawl gwaith y clywsom hynny?
Efallai mai'r canfyddiad mwyaf damniol yn yr adroddiad hwn, a'r mwyaf digalon, yw'r ffaith na ddaeth Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru o hyd i unrhyw dystiolaeth fod mentrau Llywodraeth Cymru
'yn gwneud gwahaniaeth clir a sylweddol i wasanaethau rheng flaen'.
Yn amlwg, mae gweithdrefnau cwyno ac arolygiadau craffu gwell yn hanfodol, yn enwedig yn sgil achos anffodus teulu Channon, ac mae fy nghyd-Aelod, Russell George, wedi craffu'n barhaus ar fethiannau Llywodraeth Cymru a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe.
Efallai y bydd rhai yn cofio'r sylwadau brathog a fynegwyd yn y rhagair i adroddiad 2022-23 gan Alun Cairns—nid yr Aelod Seneddol. Yn anffodus, nid yw'r adroddiad diweddaraf hwn yn dangos fawr iawn o welliant, gyda llawer o feysydd wedi parhau i ddirywio. Mae angen mynd i'r afael â'r diffyg brawychus o arolygiadau o gyfleusterau iechyd Cymru ar frys, a dyna pam ein bod yn galw am lunio amserlen frys i sicrhau bod y cyfleusterau hyn yn cyrraedd y safon ddisgwyliedig. Rydym hefyd eisiau sicrhau bod y cynnydd o 20 y cant yn swm canlyniadol Barnett ar gyfer iechyd yn cael ei wario ar y sawl y bwriadwyd iddo ei dderbyn, sef GIG Cymru. Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru wrthdroi ei chynlluniau ar gyfer toriadau mewn termau real i GIG Cymru, ac o bosibl, ailgyfeirio'r arian y maent wedi cynllunio i'w wastraffu ar 36 yn fwy o wleidyddion a chynlluniau porthi balchder eraill, fel cyflwyno 20 mya, pan fo ein GIG mewn trafferth enbyd. Pe bai'r Llywodraeth yn wirioneddol o ddifrif ynghylch achub bywydau, byddai'r arian sy'n cael ei wario ar gynlluniau porthi balchder yn cael ei wario ar ein GIG.
Mae angen inni glywed rhywbeth newydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Nid yw eu targed o 75 y cant i'r rhai yr amheuir bod canser arnynt gael eu gweld a dechrau eu triniaeth o fewn 62 diwrnod erioed wedi cael ei gyrraedd; mae un o bob pump o bobl yng Nghymru ar restr aros GIG; ac mae methiannau mewn gofal cymdeithasol yn arwain at dagfeydd ar wardiau ysbytai gan fod cleifion sy'n ffit i gael eu rhyddhau yn cael eu cadw mewn gofod gwely gwerthfawr, mater y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ymwybodol ohono ers cryn amser. Rydym bellach yn gwybod i sicrwydd nad oes cynnydd yn cael ei wneud ac mae ein sefyllfa'n mynd yn fwy enbyd bob blwyddyn, ac mae'r Cymry'n haeddu gwell. Ac mae'n peri tristwch mawr i mi fod llawer o fy sylwadau yn ddigalon heddiw, ond dyna'r sefyllfa bresennol, yn anffodus, Weinidog.
Ond i gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae angen ailfeddwl strategaethau Llywodraeth Cymru mewn modd radical a bydd y cynigion y mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi'u cyflwyno yn symud ein GIG i'r cyfeiriad hwnnw, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed cyfraniadau Aelodau eraill yn ystod y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Rwyf wedi dethol y tri gwelliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths.
I have selected the three amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services to move formally amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths.
Gwelliant 1—Lesley Griffiths
Dileu popeth ar ôl is-bwynt 2b) a rhoi yn ei le:
Yn gwerthfawrogi gwaith pwysig AGIC ac yn nodi'r heriau a amlygwyd.
Yn cydnabod y sefyllfa ariannol heriol ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n parhau i flaenoriaethu gofal rheng flaen a gofynion staffio ein GIG.
Yn nodi bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio gyda darparwyr gofal iechyd gan ddefnyddio arolygiadau i ddysgu a gwella.
Amendment 1—Lesley Griffiths
Delete all after sub-point 2b) and replace with:
Appreciates the important work of HIW and notes the challenges identified.
Recognises the challenging financial position across the Welsh Government which continues to prioritise frontline care and staffing requirements in our NHS.
Notes the Welsh Government continues to work with healthcare providers using inspections to learn and improve.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Galwaf ar Mabon ap Gwynfor i gyflwyno gwelliannau 2 a 3, a gyflwynwyd yn ei enw ei hun.
I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to move amendments 2 and 3, tabled in his name.
Gwelliant 2—Mabon ap Gwynfor
Ym mhwynt 3, dileu is-bwynt c), a rhoi yn ei le:
gwneud cais ffurfiol i Lywodraeth y DU am adolygiad cynhwysfawr o Fformiwla Barnett i sicrhau cyllid teg ar gyfer pob maes cyllideb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol;
Amendment 2—Mabon ap Gwynfor
In point 3, delete sub-point c), and replace with:
formally request from the UK Government a comprehensive review of the Barnett Formula to ensure fair funding for all budget areas in Wales, including health and social care;
Gwelliant 3—Mabon ap Gwynfor
Ychwanegu is-bwynt newydd ar ddiwedd pwynt 3:
cynyddu nifer y prentisiaethau gradd sydd ar gael yn y sector gofal iechyd i roi mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc ymuno â'r proffesiwn ac aros yng Nghymru i weithio.
Amendment 3—Mabon ap Gwynfor
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 3:
increase the availability of degree apprenticeships in the healthcare sector to provide greater opportunities for young people to enter the profession and remain in Wales to work.
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 2 a 3.
Amendments 2 and 3 moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dwi'n falch iawn i gynnig gwelliannau ar gyfer y cynnig yma gan y Ceidwadwyr.
Wel, ar y wyneb, mae'n anodd anghytuno â sylwedd y cynnig yma—wrth gwrs ein bod ni am wyrdroi toriadau i gyllideb yr HIW, wrth gwrs ein bod ni am weld gwella yn effeithlonrwydd gweithredol HIW ac am weld cynnydd pellach yng nghyllideb yr NHS. Ond mae yna eliffant yn y Siambr hon, un nad ydy'r Ceidwadwyr na Llafur am fynd i'r afael ag o, sef y ffaith ei fod yn amhosib cael yr NHS deinamig, gwydn a gweithrediadol yr ydym ni oll am ei weld heb ein bod ni'n gweld ailwampio sylfaenol o fformiwla Barnett, sydd yn golygu bod Cymru yn cael ei thanariannu'n flynyddol. Heb y gydnabyddiaeth onest hon, mae arnaf i ofn fod sylwedd y cynnig Ceidwadol heddiw yn colli pob hygrededd.
Yn gyntaf, gan fod y pot o arian sy'n cael ei neilltuo i Gymru yn flynyddol yn sefydlog, hynny ydy yn fixed, byddai cynnig y Ceidwadwyr yn golygu trosglwyddo arian i ffwrdd o wasanaethau cymdeithasol a fyddai, yn ei dro, yn gwaethygu'r sefyllfa ymhellach, gyda mwy o arian yn cael ei wario ar wasanaethau rheng flaen, yn hytrach nag ar wasanaethau ataliol.
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm very pleased to move the amendments to this Conservative motion.
Well, on the face of it, it's difficult to disagree with the substance of this motion—of course we want to overturn cuts to the HIW budget, of course we want to see improved efficiency of HIW and to see further increases in the NHS budget. But there is an elephant in this Chamber, one that neither the Conservatives nor Labour want to address, namely the fact that it is impossible to get the dynamic, resilient and operational NHS that we all want to see without seeing a fundamental reform of the Barnett formula, which means that Wales is underfunded on an annual basis. Without that honest recognition, then I'm afraid that the substance of the Conservative motion today loses all credibility.
First of all, as the pot of money allocated to Wales annually is fixed, the Conservative motion would mean transferring funding away from social services, which would, in turn, exacerbate the situation further, with more funding being spent on front-line services, rather than on preventive services.
Perhaps if the Conservatives were willing to commit to strengthening Wales's ability to make substantive adjustments to the block grant through the further devolution of taxation and borrowing powers, they would have far more credibility on this matter. But they're not. So they haven't.
Secondly and most importantly, while it's true that Wales does receive proportionally more per head in funding compared to England, this is based on the minimum floor recommended by the Holtham commission back in 2010, which, even at the time, the commission recognised was the absolute bare minimum solution to prevent Wales from falling further below the lowest of all the estimates of relative needs—and I quote. Since then, we've had 14 years of Tory-driven austerity and the COVID pandemic, the aftershocks of which will be keenly felt for years to come. We also have a population that has the oldest median age of all the UK nations, which is ageing at a faster rate than the UK average and which has a proportionally higher prevalence of long-term sickness rates. As numerous academics and experts have conclusively concluded, therefore, the current funding model from Westminster simply doesn't cater for Wales's societal needs. There's a good reason why the Tories haven't been upfront about the limitations of the Barnett formula, because it would involve confronting the reality that Westminster consistently gives Wales a raw deal. It would also entail them owning up to the responsibility of their party—
Efallai pe bai'r Ceidwadwyr yn fodlon ymrwymo i gryfhau gallu Cymru i wneud addasiadau sylweddol i'r grant bloc drwy ddatganoli pwerau trethu a benthyca ymhellach, byddai'r hyn sydd ganddynt i'w ddweud ar y mater yn llawer mwy credadwy. Ond nid ydynt yn fodlon gwneud hynny. Felly, nid yw'n fwy credadwy.
Yn ail ac yn bwysicaf oll, er ei bod yn wir fod Cymru'n derbyn mwy y pen ar gyfartaledd o gymharu â Lloegr, mae hyn yn seiliedig ar y cyllid gwaelodol a argymhellwyd gan gomisiwn Holtham yn ôl yn 2010, a gâi ei gydnabod gan y comisiwn, hyd yn oed ar y pryd, ei fod yn isafswm llwyr i atal Cymru rhag disgyn ymhell islaw'r isaf o'r holl amcangyfrifon o anghenion cymharol—ac rwy'n dyfynnu. Ers hynny, rydym wedi cael 14 mlynedd o gyni wedi'i ysgogi gan y Torïaid a phandemig COVID, a bydd yr ôl-gryniadau'n cael eu teimlo'n fawr am flynyddoedd i ddod. Mae gennym hefyd boblogaeth â'r oedran canolrifol hynaf o holl wledydd y DU, ac sy'n heneiddio ar gyfradd gyflymach na chyfartaledd y DU gyda lefelau uwch yn gyfartalog o gyfraddau salwch hirdymor. Fel y mae nifer o academyddion ac arbenigwyr wedi casglu felly, nid yw'r model cyllido presennol o San Steffan yn darparu ar gyfer anghenion cymdeithasol Cymru. Mae yna reswm da pam nad yw'r Torïaid wedi bod yn agored ynglŷn â chyfyngiadau fformiwla Barnett, oherwydd byddai'n golygu wynebu'r realiti fod San Steffan bob amser yn gwneud cam â Chymru. Byddai hefyd yn golygu y byddai'n rhaid iddynt gyfaddef cyfrifoldeb eu plaid—
Would you give way?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
—for the catastrophic legacy of austerity that has had a clearly detrimental impact on public health across the UK. Mark.
—am waddol trychinebus cyni sy'n amlwg wedi cael effaith niweidiol ar iechyd y cyhoedd ledled y DU. Mark.
Do you recognise that, at the time of the Scottish referendum on independence, which, of course, you took a different view to myself on, the leaders of the UK Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties pledged to retain the Barnett formula as an offer to the Scottish population because, obviously, they do relatively better out of it than we do, and that's what's holding back all the UK national parties at UK level?
A ydych chi'n cydnabod, adeg refferendwm yr Alban ar annibyniaeth, refferendwm roedd gennych chi farn wahanol i fy un i yn ei gylch wrth gwrs, fod arweinwyr pleidiau Ceidwadol, Llafur a Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol y DU wedi addo cadw fformiwla Barnett fel cynnig i boblogaeth yr Alban oherwydd, yn amlwg, maent yn gwneud yn gymharol well ohoni na ni, ac mai dyna sy'n dal holl bleidiau cenedlaethol y DU yn ôl ar lefel y DU?
No, I don't accept that. I accept the fact that Scotland is doing better out of that than Wales, but we need to see a reform of the Barnett formula for the reasons I'm listing here now, because we're not funded properly in order to fund our NHS here in Wales.
In contrast to the Conservatives, the Welsh Government has, at least in words, echoed our call for a review of the Barnett formula on the basis of societal need. But, as has often been the case with this Government, when it comes to the systemic unfairness of Wales's treatment by Westminster, the tone of these words is not always matched by urgency of deed. It's all well and good to point to the intransigence of the Tory Government, but what about the deafening silence of the UK Labour leader on practically anything that's related to Wales, let alone the specific issue of fair funding? If Labour Members here were truly motivated to improve the poor lot we currently receive, they would be lobbying Keir Starmer relentlessly to make reviewing the Barnett formula a key priority for an incoming Labour Government. But instead, all we're hearing is the wishful thinking that Starmer will somehow turn out to be a passionate Keynesian when in office, which is, obviously, contrary to every facet of his leadership so far, from pledging not to turn on the spending taps to parroting Tory fantasy economic thinking that growth can somehow be conjured up without investing in our dilapidated public service. And today we heard Rachel Reeves signalling that she won't raise corporation tax either.
Nac ydw, nid wyf yn derbyn hynny. Rwy'n derbyn y ffaith bod yr Alban yn gwneud yn well ohoni na Chymru, ond mae angen inni weld diwygio fformiwla Barnett am y rhesymau rwy'n eu rhestru yma nawr, am nad ydym yn cael ein cyllido'n iawn i ariannu ein GIG yma yng Nghymru.
Yn wahanol i'r Ceidwadwyr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, o leiaf mewn geiriau, wedi adleisio ein galwad am adolygu fformiwla Barnett ar sail angen cymdeithasol. Ond fel sydd wedi digwydd yn aml gyda'r Llywodraeth hon, ar annhegwch systemig y ffordd y caiff Cymru ei thrin gan San Steffan, nid oes brys i weithredu i gyd-fynd â chywair y geiriau hyn bob amser. Un peth yw tynnu sylw at ddiffyg tryloywder y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd, ond beth am dawelwch byddarol arweinydd Llafur y DU ar unrhyw beth bron iawn sy'n gysylltiedig â Chymru, heb sôn am fater penodol ariannu teg? Pe bai Aelodau Llafur yma o ddifrif yn cael eu cymell i wella'r fargen wael a gawn ar hyn o bryd, byddent yn lobïo Keir Starmer yn ddi-baid i wneud adolygu fformiwla Barnett yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i Lywodraeth Lafur newydd. Ond yn lle hynny, y cyfan a glywn yw'r gobaith ofer y bydd Starmer rywsut yn frwd ei gefnogaeth i egwyddorion Keynesaidd pan yn y swydd, sydd, yn amlwg, yn groes i bob agwedd ar ei arweinyddiaeth hyd yn hyn, o addo i beidio â newid ei farn ar y ffrydiau gwario i efelychu meddwl economaidd ffantasïol Torïaidd y gellir creu twf o ddim rywsut heb fuddsoddi yn ein gwasanaeth cyhoeddus adfeiliedig. A heddiw clywsom Rachel Reeves yn dynodi na fydd hi'n codi treth gorfforaeth ychwaith.
Ac mae'n dweud cymaint, onid ydy o, nad ydy'r un o'r ddau ymgeisydd ar gyfer arweinyddiaeth cangen Cymru o'r Blaid Lafur wedi ymrwymo i alw am adolygu'r fformiwla ariannu a rhoi pwysau ar eu harweinydd Keir Starmer i ymrwymo i hyn. Trwy gyflwyno ein gwelliant, felly, mae Plaid Cymru unwaith eto yn dangos mai dim ond ni sydd o ddifrif ynghylch ariannu tecach i Gymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys nid yn unig cadw doniau yr unigolion hynny sydd yn astudio yma yng Nghymru, ond hefyd ymhelaethu'r cyfleon sydd ar gael i'n pobl ifanc er mwyn gweithio yn yr NHS, fel y clywn yn y ddadl arall y prynhawn yma sydd yn cael ei harwain gan Blaid Cymru.
Mae pobl Cymru yn galw allan am gyfle i flaguro a chwarae eu rhan i ddatblygu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gorau posib a fydd yn ateb gofynion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain ac yn galw ar i San Steffan roi'r adnoddau angenrheidiol er mwyn medru cyflawni hyn. Fel Aelodau etholedig, mae gennym ni ddyletswydd i ymateb. Drwy gefnogi ein gwelliant heddiw, fe allwch chithau ddangos eich bod chi'n gwrando arnyn nhw a hefyd yn mynnu cael cyfiawnder ariannol i Gymru er mewn ein galluogi i ddarparu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gorau posib. Diolch am eich amynedd.
And it tells you so much, doesn't it, that not one of the candidates for the leadership of the Wales branch of the Labour Party has committed to calling for a review of the funding formula and putting pressure on their leader Keir Starmer to commit to that. By introducing our amendment, therefore, Plaid Cymru, once again, is showing that it is only us who are serious about fairer funding for Wales. This includes not only keeping the skills of those individuals studying here in Wales, but also expanding the opportunities available to our young people to work in the NHS, as we will hear in a later debate this afternoon that will be led by Plaid Cymru.
The people of Wales are crying out for an opportunity to develop and to play their part in developing the best possible health service that will meet the requirements of the twenty-first century and are calling on Westminster to give the necessary resources in order to deliver this. As elected Members, we have a duty to respond. By supporting our amendment today, you too can show that you are listening to them and insisting on financial justice for Wales in order to enable us to provide the best possible health service. Thank you for your patience.
I would like to thank Healthcare Inspectorate Wales for not only their annual report, but all the hard work they undertake to ensure patient safety. Sadly, as our motion alludes to, cuts to HIW's budget will undermine this work and add to the growing deficit of inspection work. Nearly two in three healthcare services have not been inspected in the past five years, and without such vital inspections, who knows what patient safety issues are going unaddressed?
It is only through the diligent work of inspection teams related to the maternity service at Swansea Bay University Health Board that wider failings got addressed. Who knows what would have happened had HIW not investigated patient concerns? We do know that when the health board looked into the care provided to Gethin Channon and his parents, Sian and Robert Channon, they ignored many of the findings. Nearly a year and a half after the health board received a report that highlighted serious failings and with around 300 incidents being investigated, HIW has reported on the dire state of maternity services at Swansea bay. It still took Welsh Government two months to act upon HIW's findings. But at least action was finally taken.
With 17 per cent of Welsh hospitals and a staggering 73 per cent of Welsh general practitioner practices never being inspected, who knows what other patient safety scandals are going unnoticed? What is clear from HIW's latest annual report is that the Welsh Government initiatives to improve patient care are not having any impact at all. We can't rely on ministerial diktat to improve patient care, nor can we allow safety concerns to go unaddressed. We need a properly funded and fully staffed healthcare inspectorate to ensure that services are safe and meet the needs of patients, not those providing them.
One in five of the people in Wales is on a waiting list for NHS treatment, and many of us are waiting longer than two years for treatment. Despite spending more per head on NHS care than in other parts of the UK, our outcomes are much worse. We can't rely upon the Welsh Government nor senior leadership at health boards to ensure safe and timely treatment without being forced to, which is why HIW's work is so vital to our NHS. Yet, Welsh Ministers want to cut the service rather than expand it. We can't allow the short-term financial priorities of this current Welsh Government to undermine the inspection regime.
Sadly, when dealing with health issues, things will go wrong, but it is essential that we ensure that any failings are not systemic. That is why HIW provides the assurance that when service provision is not up to standard, action will be taken. And it is our duty as Members of this Senedd to ensure that HIW is equipped to do its job. I urge you to support our motion this afternoon and put pressure on Welsh Government Ministers to properly resource our healthcare and inspection regime.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru nid yn unig am eu hadroddiad blynyddol, ond hefyd am yr holl waith caled y maent yn ei wneud i sicrhau diogelwch cleifion. Yn anffodus, fel y mae ein cynnig yn ei nodi, bydd toriadau i gyllideb AGIC yn tanseilio'r gwaith hwn ac yn ychwanegu at brinder cynyddol o waith arolygu. Nid yw bron i ddau o bob tri gwasanaeth gofal iechyd wedi cael eu harolygu yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, a heb archwiliadau mor hanfodol, pwy a ŵyr pa broblemau diogelwch cleifion sydd heb gael sylw?
Dim ond trwy waith diwyd timau arolygu yn gysylltiedig â'r gwasanaeth mamolaeth ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe yr aethpwyd i'r afael â methiannau ehangach. Pwy a ŵyr beth fyddai wedi digwydd pe na bai AGIC wedi ymchwilio i bryderon cleifion? Pan edrychodd y bwrdd iechyd ar y gofal a ddarparwyd i Gethin Channon a'i rieni, Sian a Robert Channon, fe wyddom eu bod wedi anwybyddu llawer o'r canfyddiadau. Bron i flwyddyn a hanner ar ôl i'r bwrdd iechyd gael adroddiad a amlygodd fethiannau difrifol a chyda thua 300 o ddigwyddiadau'n cael eu hymchwilio, mae AGIC wedi adrodd ar gyflwr enbyd gwasanaethau mamolaeth ym Mae Abertawe. Cymerodd ddau fis, er hynny, i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu ar ganfyddiadau AGIC. Ond o leiaf fe gymerwyd camau gweithredu o'r diwedd.
Gydag 17 y cant o ysbytai Cymru a 73 y cant o bractisau meddygon teulu Cymru byth yn cael eu harchwilio, pwy a ŵyr pa sgandalau diogelwch cleifion eraill sydd heb eu nodi? Yr hyn sy'n amlwg o adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf AGIC yw nad yw cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i wella gofal cleifion yn cael unrhyw effaith o gwbl. Ni allwn ddibynnu ar ddictad gweinidogol i wella gofal cleifion, ac ni allwn ganiatáu i bryderon diogelwch fod heb eu datrys. Mae angen arolygiaeth gofal iechyd wedi'i hariannu a'i staffio'n llawn arnom i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau'n ddiogel ac yn diwallu anghenion cleifion, nid y rhai sy'n eu darparu.
Mae un o bob pump o bobl Cymru ar restr aros am driniaeth GIG, ac mae llawer ohonom yn aros am fwy na dwy flynedd am driniaeth. Er ein bod yn gwario mwy y pen ar ofal y GIG na rhannau eraill o'r DU, mae ein canlyniadau'n llawer gwaeth. Ni allwn ddibynnu ar Lywodraeth Cymru nac uwch arweinwyr byrddau iechyd i sicrhau triniaeth ddiogel ac amserol heb eu gorfodi gwneud hynny, a dyna pam mae gwaith AGIC mor hanfodol i'n GIG. Ac eto, mae Gweinidogion Cymru eisiau cwtogi'r gwasanaeth yn hytrach na'i ehangu. Ni allwn ganiatáu i flaenoriaethau ariannol tymor byr y Llywodraeth bresennol hon yng Nghymru danseilio'r gyfundrefn arolygu.
Yn anffodus, wrth ymdrin â materion iechyd, fe fydd pethau'n mynd o chwith, ond mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn sicrhau nad yw unrhyw fethiannau'n systemig. Dyna pam mae AGIC yn rhoi sicrwydd y bydd camau gweithredu'n cael eu cymryd pan nad yw darpariaeth gwasanaeth yn cyrraedd y safon. Ac mae'n ddyletswydd arnom ni fel Aelodau o'r Senedd hon i sicrhau bod AGIC wedi ei gyfarparu i wneud ei waith. Rwy'n eich annog i gefnogi ein cynnig y prynhawn yma a rhoi pwysau ar Weinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu adnoddau priodol i'n cyfundrefn gofal iechyd ac arolygu.
There is a health crisis right across the UK, not just in Wales. All evidence shows this has worsened over the last 14 years since the start of austerity and cuts to public services. The Welsh Government's budget in 2024-25 will be £3 billion lower than it would have been had it grown in line with the economy since 2010.
We can't look at the NHS in isolation: all public services across the UK are facing unprecedented pressures under the current cost-of-living crisis. We know that one in five councils in England are looking at bankruptcy, yet the Tories in Westminster seems set on making matters worse, with the autumn statement leaving Wales £1.3 billion worse off in real terms than expected at the time of the 2021 spending review. Devolution means that different choices and decisions are taken based on the need of people in Wales. The Welsh Labour Government will always invest in and protect health and social care and spends 8 per cent more on health and a massive 43 per cent more on social care than in England. And you can't separate them, really. And this October, the Welsh Government announced a package of changes to increase their funding to NHS Wales this year. Its budget will increase by an additional £425 million, despite pressures on all service areas. I believe it will be the wrong decision, as the Conservatives are suggesting, to move funding away from the health service itself and instead spend it on inspectorate services.
The austerity being imposed upon us means tough decisions like this are being made right across the Welsh Government, and priority must be given to front-line services. The Welsh Government has recommend—[Interruption.] Sorry, I will give way. Sorry.
Mae yna argyfwng iechyd ar draws y DU, nid yng Nghymru yn unig. Mae'r holl dystiolaeth yn dangos bod hyn wedi gwaethygu dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf ers dechrau cyni a thoriadau i wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Bydd cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2024-25 £3 biliwn yn is nag y byddai wedi bod pe bai wedi tyfu yn unol â'r economi ers 2010.
Ni allwn edrych ar y GIG ar ei ben ei hun: mae pob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ledled y DU yn wynebu pwysau digynsail yn yr argyfwng costau byw presennol. Fe wyddom fod un o bob pum cyngor yn Lloegr yn edrych ar fethdaliad, ac eto mae'n ymddangos bod y Torïaid yn San Steffan yn benderfynol o wneud pethau'n waeth, gyda datganiad yr hydref yn golygu bod Cymru £1.3 biliwn yn waeth ei byd mewn termau real na'r disgwyl adeg yr adolygiad o wariant yn 2021. Mae datganoli'n golygu bod dewisiadau a phenderfyniadau gwahanol yn cael eu gwneud ar sail anghenion pobl yng Nghymru. Bydd Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru bob amser yn diogelu ac yn buddsoddi mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ac yn gwario 8 y cant yn fwy ar iechyd a 43 y cant yn fwy ar ofal cymdeithasol nag yn Lloegr. Ac ni allwch eu gwahanu. Ac ym mis Hydref eleni, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru becyn o newidiadau i gynyddu eu cyllid i GIG Cymru eleni. Bydd ei gyllideb yn cynyddu £425 miliwn yn ychwanegol, er gwaethaf pwysau ar bob maes gwasanaeth. Rwy'n credu y byddai symud cyllid oddi wrth y gwasanaeth iechyd ei hun a'i wario ar wasanaethau arolygu yn lle hynny, fel y mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn ei awgrymu, yn benderfyniad anghywir.
Mae'r cyni sy'n cael ei orfodi arnom yn golygu bod penderfyniadau anodd fel hyn yn cael eu gwneud ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae'n rhaid rhoi blaenoriaeth i wasanaethau rheng flaen. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi argymell—[Torri ar draws.]—Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, fe wnaf ildio. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.
I'm grateful for that, Carolyn. Don't you see the inspectorate is an integral part of the health operation and health service here in Wales, given that you represent an area that's had so many disasters in the provision of health services, especially mental health provision? The health inspectorate is a vital part of the fabric required to test the system and make sure it's safe and secure for both patients and staff. Don't you accept that?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Carolyn. Onid ydych chi'n gweld bod yr arolygiaeth yn rhan annatod o weithgarwch iechyd a'r gwasanaeth iechyd yma yng Nghymru, o gofio eich bod yn cynrychioli ardal sydd wedi cael cymaint o drychinebau gyda darparu gwasanaethau iechyd, yn enwedig y ddarpariaeth iechyd meddwl? Mae'r arolygiaeth iechyd yn rhan hanfodol o'r ffabrig sydd ei angen i brofi'r system a sicrhau ei bod yn saff ac yn ddiogel i gleifion a staff. Onid ydych yn derbyn hynny?
I will respond to that—I think it's more important to invest in the services, as Welsh Government is doing, by investing in the '111 press 2' service, which I will go on to mention now. [Interruption.] If I can just carry on.
The Welsh Government has recognised that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, like others across the public sector, will have to think carefully about how to focus limited resources over the next year, as every agency is having to do across the public sector. They will be one of many organisations taking a share of the pain caused by the hole in our budget. The report from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales recognises the challenges our health service faces, but as the First Minister highlighted yesterday, the report also shows the progress being made, with new initiatives making a real difference, such as the '111 press 2' service for mental health, the urgent primary care centres, and the same-day emergency care provision in our hospitals. There's much work being done.
The report also reminds us how important the Welsh Government's workforce plan will be in meeting staffing challenges going forward, as pressures on the service continue to rise. As well as cuts, service pressures are continuing to rise year upon year. Improving both recruitment and retention within the NHS workforce will be key going forward. This is why Wales didn't cut the NHS bursary in 2017, like England did. We have carried on providing the NHS bursary, and provide a social work bursary in Wales.
The Welsh Government has also increased the NHS training and education budget for nine years in a row, because Welsh Labour understands the importance of investing in the NHS workforce of the future. In 2023-24, the budget increased by a further 8 per cent. In north Wales, the commitment to recruit into the workforce is clear. We have a new medical school and dental academy in Bangor, new training places for social care workers, and pathways to continuing education and development—[Interruption.] No, I'm running out of time. And new allied health professionals training places at Wrexham university, including nurses, paramedics, ambulance training and physiotherapists, which is really welcome. Despite all the challenges the NHS faces and huge budgeting pressures that have been inflicted on Wales by Westminster, we should be recognising the progress being made and the incredible people who keep the health service running day in, day out. And we need to stop attacking the health service, because day in, day out—[Interruption.]—day in, day out, great service is being provided to our residents in Wales every day. Thank you.
Fe wnaf ymateb i hynny—rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysicach buddsoddi yn y gwasanaethau, fel y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud, trwy fuddsoddi yn y gwasanaeth '111 pwyso 2', y byddaf yn mynd ymlaen i'w grybwyll nawr. [Torri ar draws.] Os caf barhau.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cydnabod y bydd yn rhaid i Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru, fel eraill ar draws y sector cyhoeddus, feddwl yn ofalus ynglŷn â sut i roi ffocws i adnoddau cyfyngedig dros y flwyddyn nesaf, fel y mae'n rhaid i bob asiantaeth ei wneud ar draws y sector cyhoeddus. Byddant yn un o nifer o sefydliadau sy'n cymryd cyfran o'r boen a achosir gan y twll yn ein cyllideb. Mae'r adroddiad gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yn cydnabod yr heriau y mae ein gwasanaeth iechyd yn eu hwynebu, ond fel yr amlygodd y Prif Weinidog ddoe, mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn dangos y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud, gyda chynlluniau newydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn, megis gwasanaeth '111 pwyso 2' ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, y canolfannau gofal sylfaenol brys, a'r ddarpariaeth gofal argyfwng yr un diwrnod yn ein hysbytai. Mae llawer o waith yn cael ei wneud.
Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn ein hatgoffa pa mor bwysig fydd cynllun gweithlu Llywodraeth Cymru wrth ymateb i heriau staffio yn y dyfodol, wrth i'r pwysau ar y gwasanaeth barhau i gynyddu. Yn ogystal â thoriadau, mae'r pwysau ar y gwasanaeth yn parhau i gynyddu o flwyddyn i flwyddyn. Bydd gwella recriwtio a chadw staff yng ngweithlu'r GIG yn allweddol wrth symud ymlaen. Dyna pam na wnaeth Cymru dorri bwrsariaeth y GIG yn 2017, fel y gwnaeth Lloegr. Rydym wedi parhau i ddarparu bwrsariaeth y GIG, ac yn darparu bwrsariaeth gwaith cymdeithasol yng Nghymru.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd wedi cynyddu cyllideb hyfforddiant ac addysg y GIG am naw mlynedd yn olynol, oherwydd bod Llafur Cymru yn deall pwysigrwydd buddsoddi yng ngweithlu'r GIG yn y dyfodol. Yn 2023-24, cynyddodd y gyllideb 8 y cant arall. Yng ngogledd Cymru, mae'r ymrwymiad i recriwtio i'r gweithlu yn glir. Mae gennym ysgol feddygol ac academi ddeintyddol newydd ym Mangor, lleoedd hyfforddi newydd i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, a llwybrau at addysg a datblygiad parhaus—[Torri ar draws.] Na, rwy'n brin o amser. A lleoedd hyfforddi newydd i weithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd ym mhrifysgol Wrecsam, gan gynnwys nyrsys, parafeddygon, hyfforddiant ambiwlans a ffisiotherapyddion, sy'n galonogol iawn. Er gwaethaf yr holl heriau y mae'r GIG yn eu hwynebu a'r pwysau cyllidebol enfawr a achoswyd gan San Steffan, dylem gydnabod y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud a'r bobl anhygoel sy'n cadw'r gwasanaeth iechyd i redeg o ddydd i ddydd. Ac mae angen inni roi'r gorau i ymosod ar y gwasanaeth iechyd, oherwydd o un diwrnod i'r llall—[Torri ar draws.]—o un diwrnod i'r llall, darparir gwasanaeth gwych i'n trigolion yng Nghymru bob dydd. Diolch.
Isn't it a good job that we have the Welsh Conservatives here to scrutinise and challenge the failing health service in Wales? So, we know that the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales website lists 1,572 healthcare services in Wales. Of those, 660 services have never even been inspected, and 342 services have not been inspected since 2018, five years ago. During the last financial year, HIW's team of investigators undertook 178 pieces of inspection and assurance work; 41 of those pieces of work were quality checks. Only 137 onsite inspections took place, meaning that HIW scarcely has the capacity to inspect 10 per cent of facilities annually. And it gets worse. Of the 95 NHS hospitals in Wales, 16 have never been inspected, and 18 have not been inspected in the last five years. At least 86 per cent of NHS GP practices have not been inspected in the last five years, and 73 per cent have never been inspected.
Why does this matter? Well, it matters to me, actually, because, for many years, we had a very good watchdog and patient support system with the community health councils, on which I was actually proud to serve a four-year term. They would make on-call visits and, really, people respected them as an organisation. But what happened? Perhaps they were doing too good a job, and they were dumbed down, actually, with a lack of funding and a review of their service.
It's important also because HIW inspect NHS services and regulate independent healthcare providers against a range of standards, policies, guidance and regulations, to highlight areas requiring improvement. In 2022-23, HIW carried out 19 acute hospital inspections across Wales. And shockingly, the organisation had to use its immediate assurance process in 58 per cent of those inspections—that is, 11 out of 19. As they state themselves, this is a highly concerning figure and demonstrates that, at present, acute—acute—in-patient healthcare carries the highest level of risk in services across Wales.
In May 2022, they designated the emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd—Betsi board—as being a service requiring significant improvement, SRSI, which is a service with the most significant levels of risk. And I remember that report, and I remember it stating that equipment was dirty in the units. So, I ask this Chamber to consider what would be the situation in these medical facilities today should HIW not have brought those to our attention in their reports. Bearing in mind that they do not have enough capacity to regularly inspect all medical and care facilities in Wales and the genuinely impactful nature of the organisation's work, the cut of £25,000 to their budget for 2024-25 is both illogical and is not based on, really, any good evidence.
Minister, I would be grateful if you could clarify whether HIW have made it clear to you themselves how much money they would need to ensure that all facilities at some stage can be investigated and checked against. If I was running a health service, I would want to know that these areas and various different delivery places were actually giving the best quality service, and, over the last two or three years, we've heard the opposite. So, I would be wanting more and more and more inspections and I certainly wouldn't be looking to cut their budget.
When there is such pressure, it is unsurprising that inspections continue to note low levels of compliance with mandatory training for staff. We know the serious staffing crisis across the Welsh NHS. The team we have there—. And if you're watching, anybody, thank you for all you do in our health service, and I know that you do it against a background of sheer exhaustion, pressure and, in some cases, some governance issues that really need to be sorted. For example, it is because of a lack of staff that the opening hours of Llandudno minor injury unit have not been extended. Wales has an NHS workforce strategy, yet we rely too much on agency staff. How do you think I feel when one of my constituents comes and tells me they are very loyal to the health board, they work very long long hours, however, people can skip over from the border and earn more money per hour than they do?
You could also help to entice more staff by taking measures such as offering a tuition fee refund for healthcare workers that stay in Wales for five years after their studies, offering degree apprenticeships to healthcare careers in the Welsh NHS, and offering jobs at specific hospitals rather than health-board-wide.
Onid yw'n dda fod gennym y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yma i graffu a herio'r gwasanaeth iechyd sy'n methu yng Nghymru? Fe wyddom fod gwefan Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yn rhestru 1,572 o wasanaethau gofal iechyd yng Nghymru. O'r rheini, nid yw 660 o wasanaethau erioed wedi cael eu harolygu hyd yn oed, ac nid yw 342 o wasanaethau wedi'u harolygu ers 2018, bum mlynedd yn ôl. Yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, cynhaliodd tîm archwilwyr AGIC 178 darn o waith arolygu a sicrwydd; roedd 41 o'r darnau hynny o waith yn wiriadau ansawdd. Dim ond 137 o arolygiadau ar y safle a gynhaliwyd, sy'n golygu prin fod gallu gan AGIC i arolygu 10 y cant o gyfleusterau bob blwyddyn. Ac mae'n gwaethygu. O'r 95 o ysbytai'r GIG yng Nghymru, nid yw 16 erioed wedi cael eu harolygu, ac nid yw 18 wedi cael eu harolygu yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf. Nid yw o leiaf 86 y cant o bractisau meddygon teulu y GIG wedi cael eu harolygu yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, ac nid yw 73 y cant erioed wedi cael eu harolygu.
Pam mae hyn yn bwysig? Wel, mae'n bwysig i mi oherwydd, am flynyddoedd lawer, roedd gennym gorff gwarchod da iawn a system cefnogi cleifion gyda'r cynghorau iechyd cymuned, ac roeddwn yn falch iawn o wasanaethu ar un ohonynt am dymor o bedair blynedd. Byddent yn gwneud ymweliadau ar alwad ac roedd pobl yn eu parchu fel sefydliad. Ond beth a ddigwyddodd? Efallai eu bod yn gwneud gwaith rhy dda, a chawsant eu llesteirio gan ddiffyg cyllid ac adolygiad o'u gwasanaeth.
Mae'n bwysig hefyd oherwydd bod AGIC yn arolygu gwasanaethau'r GIG ac yn rheoleiddio darparwyr gofal iechyd annibynnol yn erbyn ystod o safonau, polisïau, canllawiau a rheoliadau, i dynnu sylw at feysydd y mae angen eu gwella. Yn 2022-23, cynhaliodd AGIC 19 o arolygiadau mewn ysbytai acíwt ledled Cymru. Ac yn frawychus, roedd yn rhaid i'r sefydliad ddefnyddio ei broses sicrwydd diymdroi mewn 58 y cant o'r arolygiadau hynny—hynny yw, 11 allan o 19. Fel y maent yn datgan eu hunain, mae hwn yn ffigur pryderus iawn ac mae'n dangos, ar hyn o bryd, mai gofal iechyd i gleifion mewnol acíwt—acíwt—sydd â'r lefel uchaf o risg mewn gwasanaethau ledled Cymru.
Ym mis Mai 2022, fe wnaethant ddynodi bod yr adran frys yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd—bwrdd Betsi —yn wasanaeth sydd angen ei wella'n sylweddol, sef gwasanaeth sydd â'r lefelau risg mwyaf sylweddol. Ac rwy'n cofio'r adroddiad hwnnw, ac rwy'n ei gofio'n datgan bod offer yn fudr yn yr unedau. Felly, gofynnaf i'r Siambr hon ystyried beth fyddai'r sefyllfa yn y cyfleusterau meddygol hyn heddiw pe na bai AGIC wedi dwyn y rheini i'n sylw yn eu hadroddiadau. Gan gofio nad oes ganddynt ddigon o gapasiti i archwilio'r holl gyfleusterau meddygol a gofal yng Nghymru yn rheolaidd a natur wirioneddol ddylanwadol gwaith y sefydliad, mae'r toriad o £25,000 i'w cyllideb ar gyfer 2024-25 yn afresymol ac nid yw'n seiliedig ar unrhyw dystiolaeth dda mewn gwirionedd.
Weinidog, hoffwn pe gallech egluro a yw AGIC wedi dweud yn glir wrthych eu hunain ar ryw adeg faint o arian y byddai ei angen arnynt i sicrhau y gellir archwilio a gwirio yr holl gyfleusterau. Pe bawn i'n rhedeg gwasanaeth iechyd, buaswn eisiau gwybod bod y lleoedd hyn ac amryw o leoedd darparu gwahanol yn rhoi gwasanaeth o'r ansawdd gorau mewn gwirionedd, a thros y ddwy neu dair blynedd diwethaf, fe glywsom y gwrthwyneb. Felly, buaswn eisiau mwy a mwy o arolygiadau ac yn sicr ni fuaswn yn ystyried torri eu cyllideb.
Pan fydd pwysau o'r fath, nid yw'n syndod fod arolygiadau'n parhau i nodi lefelau isel o gydymffurfio â hyfforddiant gorfodol i staff. Rydym yn gwybod am yr argyfwng staffio difrifol ar draws GIG Cymru. Y tîm sydd gennym yno—. Ac os ydych chi'n gwylio, unrhyw un, diolch i chi am bopeth rydych chi'n ei wneud yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd, a gwn eich bod yn ei wneud yn erbyn cefndir o flinder a phwysau mawr, ac mewn rhai achosion, problemau llywodraethu y mae gwir angen eu datrys. Er enghraifft, diffyg staff yw'r rheswm pam nad yw oriau agor uned mân anafiadau Llandudno wedi cael eu hymestyn. Mae gan Gymru strategaeth gweithlu'r GIG, ac eto rydym yn dibynnu gormod ar staff asiantaeth. Sut rydych chi'n meddwl rwy'n teimlo pan ddaw un o fy etholwyr ataf a dweud wrthyf eu bod yn deyrngar iawn i'r bwrdd iechyd, eu bod yn gweithio oriau hir iawn, ond fod pobl yn gallu taro draw dros y ffin ac ennill mwy o arian yr awr na nhw?
Gallech helpu i ddenu mwy o staff hefyd drwy weithredu mesurau, megis cynnig ad-daliad ffioedd dysgu i weithwyr gofal iechyd sy'n aros yng Nghymru am bum mlynedd ar ôl eu hastudiaethau, cynnig gradd-brentisiaethau ar gyfer gyrfaoedd gofal iechyd yn y GIG yng Nghymru, a chynnig swyddi mewn ysbytai penodol yn hytrach nag ar sail bwrdd iechyd.
Janet, can you conclude now, please?
Janet, a wnewch chi orffen nawr, os gwelwch yn dda?
Okay. So, while Wales has an NHS workforce strategy and an NHS workforce implementation plan, it lacks a comprehensive NHS workforce plan such as the one developed for England under the UK Conservative Government.
Anyway, I would like to record my thanks to HIW for being our platform for patient voices, and, Minister, please, if there's one thing I would ask you to do, it's to make sure that you have enough funding. Despite all these moans and groans about not enough money coming forward, please make sure you have enough funding to allow these inspections to go ahead. Diolch yn fawr.
O'r gorau. Felly, er bod gan Gymru strategaeth gweithlu'r GIG a chynllun gweithredu gweithlu'r GIG, nid oes ganddi gynllun gweithlu cynhwysfawr ar gyfer y GIG fel yr un a ddatblygwyd ar gyfer Lloegr o dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU.
Beth bynnag, hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i AGIC am fod yn llwyfan i leisiau cleifion, ac os gwelwch yn dda, Weinidog, os oes un peth yr hoffwn ofyn i chi ei wneud, sicrhewch fod gennych ddigon o gyllid. Er yr holl gwyno am nad oes digon o arian yn cael ei gyflwyno, gwnewch yn siŵr fod gennych ddigon o gyllid i ganiatáu i'r arolygiadau hyn ddigwydd. Diolch yn fawr.
It's important that we have debates like this, isn't it, focusing on the healthcare system, and I'm sure this won't be the last one. Today's focus is entirely appropriate as the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales's annual report demonstrates that it does an incredibly important job, scrutinising and assessing the safety of healthcare services that we all rely on. We heard in questions to the First Minister yesterday how important their work is, but also how much more there is to do, with so many health settings that haven't been inspected over many years. With this in mind, and as we heard yesterday as well as today, it's incredibly disappointing that the Welsh Government have chosen to propose cuts to the health inspectorate in this year's budget. I genuinely believe this is a retrograde step and a false economy, especially at a time when our health service is struggling so much.
I would strongly encourage the Government to reconsider this proposed cut, ensuring that the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales can continue its work to ensure that the people of Wales get the healthcare service that they deserve. Scrutiny may be uncomfortable, but it's a necessity. Without it, how do you ensure continuous improvement?
Dirprwy Lywydd, we will all know too well the various pressures and shortcomings within all facets of health provision. Be it the lack of social care provision and unmet need, to GP practices facing such pressures that they are forcing practitioners out of the system, to colossal ambulance waiting times and huge waiting lists for treatment, the inspectorate is critical to drive the improvements needed.
The HIW annual report gives an honest assessment, which praises where praise is due, but exposes poor practice or systemic failure. It was pleasing to note—not that I doubted it—that the staff treat patients with dignity and respect. This was especially noted at the Grange hospital in my constituency in its last report, a reflection I completely agree with. I rarely hear of negative comments about our NHS staff. They do their very best at all times in the face of great pressure. We see, though, in the annual report, that patients continue to struggle to obtain appointments and often experience anxiety and stress as a result, and our inboxes clearly support this. The stress of not knowing if and when you can see a doctor has an emotional toll, and, as the report says,
'can further impact their ability to cope with health issues and make informed decisions about their care.'
The shortcomings of our health service are certainly not down to our staff, but direct results of a series of institutional failures. This is particularly true at the Grange University Hospital, where the HIW report found that responses from patients about their care were mixed, including negative comments about waiting times and personal protective equipment, but positive comments about staff. We also know that staff at the hospital had concerns, and the report found that they complained about the lack of space and assessment areas, which was impacting patient safety. Also, there was an inadequate level of staff and a lack of appropriate training. While these comments are never good to hear, I am glad that we have Health Inspectorate Wales there to expose these issues and concerns, as, without their findings, would we see the improvement we so desperately need? I doubt it.
It is clear that Labour's prioritising of the wrong things has left our health service vulnerable and lacking resilience. Increased moneys to health in this year's budget are welcome, but let's be clear: this will not suddenly undo the consequences of historical underfunding. Dirprwy Lywydd, the motion raises a series of incredibly important issues that we must agree to if we are to save our NHS and get it off its current trajectory. Thank you.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n cael dadleuon fel hyn sy'n canolbwyntio ar y system gofal iechyd, ac rwy'n siŵr nad hon fydd yr olaf. Mae'r ffocws heddiw yn gwbl briodol gan fod adroddiad blynyddol Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yn dangos ei fod yn gwneud gwaith hynod o bwysig, yn asesu ac yn craffu ar ddiogelwch gwasanaethau gofal iechyd y mae pawb ohonom yn dibynnu arnynt. Clywsom mewn cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ddoe pa mor bwysig yw eu gwaith, ond hefyd faint mwy sydd i'w wneud, gyda chymaint o leoliadau iechyd sydd heb gael eu harolygu ers nifer o flynyddoedd. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, ac fel y clywsom ddoe yn ogystal â heddiw, mae'n hynod siomedig fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dewis argymell toriadau i'r arolygiaeth iechyd yn y gyllideb eleni. Rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol fod hwn yn gam tuag yn ôl ac yn economi ffug, yn enwedig ar adeg pan fo'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn ei chael hi mor anodd.
Hoffwn annog y Llywodraeth yn gryf i ailystyried y toriad arfaethedig hwn, gan sicrhau y gall Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru barhau â'i waith i sicrhau bod pobl Cymru yn cael y gwasanaeth gofal iechyd y maent yn ei haeddu. Gall craffu fod yn anghyfforddus, ond mae'n angenrheidiol. Hebddo, sut mae sicrhau gwelliant parhaus?
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rydym i gyd yn gwybod yn rhy dda am y pwysau a'r diffygion amrywiol ym mhob agwedd ar y ddarpariaeth iechyd. Boed yn ddiffyg darpariaeth gofal cymdeithasol ac angen nas diwallwyd, yn bractisau meddygon teulu sy'n wynebu'r fath bwysau fel eu bod yn gorfodi ymarferwyr allan o'r system, neu'n amseroedd aros hirfaith am ambiwlansys a rhestrau aros enfawr am driniaeth, mae'r arolygiaeth yn hanfodol i ysgogi'r gwelliannau sydd eu hangen.
Mae adroddiad blynyddol AGIC yn rhoi asesiad gonest, sy'n canmol lle mae lle i ganmol, ond yn datgelu arferion gwael neu fethiant systemig. Braf oedd nodi—nid fy mod yn amau hynny—fod y staff yn trin cleifion gydag urddas a pharch. Yn ei adroddiad diwethaf, nodwyd hyn yn arbennig yn ysbyty'r Faenor yn fy etholaeth i, ac mae'n sylw rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr ag ef. Anaml y clywaf sylwadau negyddol am staff ein GIG. Maent yn gwneud eu gorau bob amser yn wyneb pwysau mawr. Fodd bynnag, yn yr adroddiad blynyddol, gwelwn fod cleifion yn parhau i'w chael hi'n anodd cael apwyntiadau ac yn aml yn profi pryder a straen o ganlyniad, ac mae ein mewnflychau'n ategu hyn yn glir. Mae'r straen o beidio â gwybod os a phryd y gallwch weld meddyg yn straen emosiynol, ac fel y dywed yr adroddiad, gall
'effeithio ymhellach ar eu gallu i ymdopi â materion iechyd a gwneud penderfyniadau gwybodus am eu gofal.'
Yn sicr, nid ein staff sy'n gyfrifol am y diffygion yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd, ond yn hytrach, deilliant yn uniongyrchol o gyfres o fethiannau sefydliadol. Mae hyn yn arbennig o wir yn Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor, lle canfu adroddiad AGIC fod ymatebion gan gleifion am eu gofal yn gymysg, gan gynnwys sylwadau negyddol am amseroedd aros a chyfarpar diogelu personol, ond sylwadau cadarnhaol am staff. Rydym hefyd yn gwybod bod gan staff yn yr ysbyty bryderon, a chanfu'r adroddiad eu bod yn cwyno am y diffyg gofod a mannau asesu, a oedd yn effeithio ar ddiogelwch cleifion. Hefyd, roedd yno lefel annigonol o staff a diffyg hyfforddiant priodol. Er nad yw'r sylwadau hyn byth yn dda i'w clywed, rwy'n falch fod gennym Arolygiaeth Iechyd Cymru yno i ddatgelu'r problemau a'r pryderon, oherwydd, heb eu canfyddiadau, a fyddem yn gweld y gwelliant y mae cymaint o'i angen arnom? Rwy'n amau hynny.
Mae'n amlwg fod blaenoriaethu'r pethau anghywir gan Lafur wedi gadael ein gwasanaeth iechyd yn agored i niwed a heb fod yn ddigon cadarn. Croesewir mwy o arian i iechyd yn y gyllideb eleni, ond gadewch inni fod yn glir: ni fydd hyn yn dadwneud canlyniadau tanariannu hanesyddol dros nos. Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'r cynnig yn nodi cyfres o faterion hynod o bwysig y mae'n rhaid inni gytuno arnynt os ydym am achub ein GIG a'i dynnu oddi ar ei drywydd presennol. Diolch.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Eluned Morgan.
I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan.
Llywydd, I want to start by welcoming Healthcare Inspectorate Wales's annual report, and thanking everyone in the organisation for the huge amount of inspection and assurance work they do every year. Of course, it will be disappointing to HIW that the budget will be reduced, but it was a political decision to focus funding on front-line services. I recognise absolutely the important role that HIW play in ensuring safety and quality for patients. I would suggest that Members read the report, because it states very clearly in the report, and I will read it out:
'We visited all Health Boards and Trusts where inpatient care is provided.'
So, they do get to all of the health boards and trusts. That is clearly stated, and you should read the report before throwing stones. Thank you.
Lywydd, rwyf am ddechrau drwy groesawu adroddiad blynyddol Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru, a diolch i bawb yn y sefydliad am y gwaith arolygu a sicrwydd y maent yn ei wneud bob blwyddyn. Wrth gwrs, fe fydd hi'n siom i AGIC fod y gyllideb yn cael ei lleihau, ond penderfyniad gwleidyddol oedd canolbwyntio cyllid ar wasanaethau rheng flaen. Rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr y rôl bwysig y mae AGIC yn ei chwarae yn sicrhau diogelwch ac ansawdd i gleifion. Hoffwn awgrymu bod yr Aelodau'n darllen yr adroddiad, oherwydd mae'n nodi'n glir iawn yn yr adroddiad, ac fe wnaf ei ddarllen:
'Gwnaethom ymweld â phob bwrdd iechyd ac ymddiriedolaeth lle y caiff gofal cleifion mewnol ei ddarparu.'
Felly, maent yn cyrraedd yr holl fyrddau iechyd ac ymddiriedolaethau. Nodir hynny'n glir, a dylech ddarllen yr adroddiad cyn taflu cerrig. Diolch.
It doesn't say that they visited every facility. You've just said it engages with every health board. That doesn't mean that it's visiting every building, does it?
Nid yw'n dweud eu bod wedi ymweld â phob cyfleuster. Rydych chi newydd ddweud ei fod yn ymgysylltu â phob bwrdd iechyd. Nid yw hynny'n golygu ei fod yn ymweld â phob adeilad.
It says:
'We visited all Health Boards and Trusts'—
Mae'n dweud:
'Gwnaethon ymweld â phob bwrdd iechyd ac ymddiriedolaeth'—
Visited all health boards and trusts—not buildings.
Ymweld â phob bwrdd iechyd ac ymddiriedolaeth—nid adeiladau.
—'where inpatient care is provided.'
I think that's—[Interruption.] I think that's clear enough, and I think people should accept what they have written in their report. Now, the report and its findings show the pressures and challenges that our NHS faces, and I would like to remind Members that the NHS undertakes 2 million contacts with the public in Wales every month, in a population of 3 million, and a vast majority of the public receive a very good service.
Now, these pressures and challenges are present in every part of the United Kingdom, all the year round. As we all know, the NHS has changed massively since it was set up 75 years ago. It's continually evolving to meet demand for its services and the changing nature of healthcare itself. Now, today, we live longer lives but we tend to have more complex healthcare needs. So, we have to accept, I think, that the era of the paternal health service is over. Today's NHS has to be a partnership between the service, the healthcare professional and the individual, each working together to improve outcomes.
We've also seen greater collaboration between health boards, local authorities and the independent sector to improve and enhance current service provision to ensure our NHS is fit for our future generations. That's why Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the reports it produces are so important. They help us to understand where we should place our focus and where we need to work with HIW and the NHS to improve and to share best practice in the provision of healthcare.
—'lle y caiff gofal cleifion mewnol ei ddarparu.'
Rwy'n meddwl bod hynny—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n ddigon clir, ac rwy'n credu y dylai pobl dderbyn yr hyn y maent wedi'i ysgrifennu yn eu hadroddiad. Nawr, mae'r adroddiad a'i ganfyddiadau yn dangos y pwysau a'r heriau y mae ein GIG yn eu hwynebu, a hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau fod y GIG yn cyflawni 2 filiwn o gysylltiadau â'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru bob mis, mewn poblogaeth o 3 miliwn, ac mae mwyafrif helaeth o'r cyhoedd yn cael gwasanaeth da iawn.
Nawr, mae'r pwysau a'r heriau hyn yn bresennol ym mhob rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Fel y gwyddom i gyd, mae'r GIG wedi newid yn aruthrol ers iddo gael ei sefydlu 75 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae'n esblygu'n barhaus i ateb y galw am ei wasanaethau a natur newidiol gofal iechyd ei hun. Nawr, heddiw, rydym yn byw bywydau hirach ond rydym yn tueddu i fod ag anghenion gofal iechyd mwy cymhleth. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni dderbyn, rwy'n credu, fod oes y gwasanaeth iechyd tadol ar ben. Mae'n rhaid i'r GIG heddiw fod yn bartneriaeth rhwng y gwasanaeth, y gweithiwr gofal iechyd proffesiynol a'r unigolyn, gyda phob un yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i wella canlyniadau.
Hefyd, rydym wedi gweld mwy o gydweithio rhwng byrddau iechyd, awdurdodau lleol a'r sector annibynnol i wella ac ymestyn y ddarpariaeth bresennol o wasanaethau i sicrhau bod ein GIG yn addas ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Dyna pam mae Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru a'r adroddiadau y mae'n eu cynhyrchu mor bwysig. Maent yn ein helpu i ddeall lle dylem roi ein ffocws a lle mae angen inni weithio gydag AGIC a'r GIG i wella a rhannu arferion gorau wrth ddarparu gofal iechyd.
Will the Minister take an intervention?
A wnaiff y Gweinidog dderbyn ymyriad?
No, if you don't mind, I'll make some progress. I'm happy for you to come in a bit later. You can save all your interventions up and bring them all in a bit later.
Now, such a focused approach based on evidence from HIW and other sources, I think, is more essential than ever, due to the current extremely challenging economic and financial outlook. As you'll know, as a result of inflationary pressures, the Welsh budget in 2024-25 will be worth £1.3 billion less, in real terms, than when it was set in 2021. And you'll be aware that we have directed, in the Welsh Government, money from all other parts of the Government to shore up the NHS. All parts of the NHS across the UK are struggling financially.
I was disappointed, however, that there wasn't recognition in HIW's report of the considerable efforts that have been made to take pressure off. So, the 111 service, 70,000 patients a month diverted; the '111 press 2' service, 6,000 people making use of that call centre; 13 new urgent primary care centres, making sure that 20,000 patients a month are diverted from those emergency care centres; and 23 same-day emergency care centres, making sure that 5,000 people a month do not go through the front doors of emergency departments. So, all of that, had we not had that in place, would have meant additional pressure.
Llywydd, the work that HIW does, ultimately, helps to underpin the planning of future services in the NHS. I think it's probably worth just correcting a few points, that healthcare students, for example, in receipt of the NHS Wales bursary are not required to pay tuition fees, and they are entitled to a bursary for living costs if they are studying in Wales. And they have to commit, as a result of that, to working in Wales for two years after graduation.
I issued the NHS planning framework on 18 December, and this sets out the priorities, and there is a focus to help NHS organisations as they prepare their three-year plans. The planning framework is underpinned by the national programmes, which, in turn, have been developed in response to many of the issues identified in the HIW annual report, including accessibility, workforce, flow and discharge.
Now, I just want to take accessibility as an example. Patient feedback has shown an appreciation for a blended model of access to GPs, whether through telephone consultations, digital software, or face-to-face appointments. And whilst an appointment is ultimately down to the clinical judgment of a GP, it is important that we listen to patients and their request for a choice of method to consult with their GP. We also need to acknowledge that ongoing high demand for GP services can make it difficult to get an appointment. We know that 1.5 million people consistently access primary care services across Wales each month, but I think the noise around access to GP services and the 8.00 a.m. bottleneck has decreased significantly in volume since the new GP contract was introduced last April. And I think it was very interesting to note that the concerns that had been raised with HIW were up until March 2023, which was, of course, before that contract was pinned down. Data from the past year also shows that, on average, around 80,000 people don't attend their appointments each month, so we've been working to encourage people to help improve access to GPs by attending all appointments or cancelling appointments if they can no longer make them.
Na, os nad oes ots gennych, hoffwn wneud rhywfaint o gynnydd. Rwy'n hapus ichi ymyrryd yn nes ymlaen. Gallwch gadw eich holl ymyriadau a'u gwneud gyda'i gilydd yn nes ymlaen.
Nawr, credaf fod dull gweithredu â ffocws o’r fath, sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth gan AGIC a ffynonellau eraill, yn fwy hanfodol nag erioed, oherwydd y rhagolygon economaidd ac ariannol hynod heriol presennol. Fel y gwyddoch, o ganlyniad i bwysau chwyddiant, bydd cyllideb Cymru yn 2024-25 yn werth £1.3 biliwn yn llai mewn termau real na phan gafodd ei gosod yn 2021. Ac fe fyddwch yn gwybod ein bod wedi cyfarwyddo arian, yn Llywodraeth Cymru, o bob rhan arall o’r Llywodraeth i gefnogi'r GIG. Mae pob rhan o'r GIG ledled y DU mewn trafferthion ariannol.
Roeddwn yn siomedig, fodd bynnag, nad oedd cydnabyddiaeth yn adroddiad AGIC o’r ymdrechion sylweddol a wnaed i leddfu'r pwysau. Felly, y gwasanaeth 111, 70,000 o gleifion y mis wedi'u hailgyfeirio; y gwasanaeth '111 pwyso 2', 6,000 o bobl yn defnyddio'r ganolfan alwadau honno; 13 o ganolfannau gofal sylfaenol brys newydd, sy'n sicrhau bod 20,000 o gleifion y mis yn cael eu hailgyfeirio o'r canolfannau gofal brys; a 23 o ganolfannau gofal argyfwng yr un diwrnod, sy'n sicrhau nad oes 5,000 o bobl y mis yn mynd drwy ddrysau adrannau achosion brys. Felly, byddai'r cyfan hyn, pe na bai ar waith gennym, wedi golygu pwysau ychwanegol.
Lywydd, mae’r gwaith y mae AGIC yn ei wneud, yn y pen draw, yn helpu i ategu’r gwaith o gynllunio gwasanaethau’r dyfodol yn y GIG. Credaf ei bod yn werth cywiro ychydig o bwyntiau, mae'n debyg, er enghraifft, y ffaith nad yw’n ofynnol i fyfyrwyr gofal iechyd sy’n cael bwrsari GIG Cymru dalu ffioedd dysgu, ac mae ganddynt hawl i fwrsari ar gyfer costau byw os ydynt yn astudio yng Nghymru. Ac mae'n rhaid iddynt ymrwymo, o ganlyniad i hynny, i weithio yng Nghymru am ddwy flynedd ar ôl graddio.
Cyhoeddais fframwaith cynllunio’r GIG ar 18 Rhagfyr, ac mae hwn yn nodi’r blaenoriaethau, gan ganolbwyntio ar helpu sefydliadau’r GIG wrth iddynt baratoi eu cynlluniau tair blynedd. Mae’r fframwaith cynllunio wedi’i ategu gan y rhaglenni cenedlaethol, sydd, yn eu tro, wedi’u datblygu mewn ymateb i lawer o’r materion a nodwyd yn adroddiad blynyddol AGIC, gan gynnwys hygyrchedd, gweithlu, llif cleifion a rhyddhau cleifion.
Nawr, hoffwn ystyried hygyrchedd fel enghraifft. Mae adborth cleifion wedi dangos gwerthfawrogiad o fodel cyfunol o fynediad at feddygon teulu, boed hynny drwy ymgynghoriadau dros y ffôn, meddalwedd digidol, neu apwyntiadau wyneb yn wyneb. Ac er bod apwyntiad yn ymwneud â barn glinigol meddyg teulu yn y pen draw, mae'n bwysig ein bod yn gwrando ar gleifion a'u cais am fodd o ddewis dull o ymgynghori â'u meddyg teulu. Mae angen inni gydnabod hefyd y gall galw sylweddol parhaus am wasanaethau meddygon teulu ei gwneud yn anodd cael apwyntiad. Gwyddom fod 1.5 miliwn o bobl yn defnyddio gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn gyson ledled Cymru bob mis, ond credaf fod y sŵn ynghylch mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu a'r dagfa am 8.00 a.m. wedi lleihau’n sylweddol ers cyflwyno’r contract meddygon teulu newydd fis Ebrill diwethaf. A chredaf ei bod yn ddiddorol iawn nodi bod y pryderon a godwyd gydag AGIC wedi'u codi hyd at fis Mawrth 2023, cyn i'r contract hwnnw ddod yn weithredol wrth gwrs. Mae data o’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf hefyd yn dangos, ar gyfartaledd, nad yw oddeutu 80,000 o bobl yn mynychu eu hapwyntiadau bob mis, felly rydym wedi bod yn gweithio i annog pobl i helpu i wella hygyrchedd meddygon teulu drwy fynychu pob apwyntiad neu ganslo apwyntiadau os na allant eu mynychu.
Maes allweddol arall sydd wedi cael sylw gan HIW yw gwella llif cleifion mewn ysbytai, ac rŷn ni wedi datblygu menter genedlaethol gyda chymorth £25 miliwn o gyllid yn ychwanegol. Mae pwyslais penodol ar ddechrau cynllunio i ryddhau cleifion o'r adeg pan fyddan nhw'n cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty a gweithredu ar sail gartref yn gyntaf nawr yn rhan o'r strategaeth ymhob bwrdd iechyd. Mae'r gwaith yn cael ei gefnogi gan y data newydd sydd bellach yn cael ei gasglu ar gyfer hyd arhosiad ac oedi mewn llwybrau gofal. Y byrddau iechyd a'r byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol sy'n gyfrifol am y cynlluniau gweithredu.
Trydedd esiampl yw gwneud yn siŵr bod gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn fwy hygyrch. Mae mwy na 38,000 o bobl wedi defnyddio'r llinell '111 pwyso 2' newydd ar gyfer gwasanaeth cymorth iechyd meddwl brys, ac rŷn ni hefyd wedi ymestyn gwasanaethau cymorth hwylus fel therapi gwybyddol ymddygiadol ar-lein, llinell gymorth anhwylderau bwyta Beat, a gwasanaethau gwrando a chyngor CALL 24/7. Byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi ein strategaeth iechyd meddwl newydd cyn bo hir, a dwi'n gwybod bod Lynne Neagle, sy'n gwrando ar hyn o bryd, yn brysur yn gweithio ar hynny ar hyn o bryd.
Nawr, dwi eisiau cloi drwy sôn am gylch gwaith HIW. Byddai ehangu'r cylch gwaith i gynnwys ymchwilio i gwynion ddim yn ddefnydd da o adnoddau ar adeg pan fo'n rhaid i ni wneud y mwyaf o'r cyllid a'r capasiti sydd gennym ni. Mae proses gadarn ar gael eisoes i ddelio—[Torri ar draws.]
Another key area that has received attention from HIW is improving patient flow in hospitals, and we've developed a national initiative with an additional £25 million in funding. There is specific emphasis on starting to plan to discharge patients from the time when they are admitted to hospital and operating on a home-first basis now as part of the strategy in every health board. The work is supported by the new data that is now gathered on the length of stay and delays in care pathways. The health boards and the regional partnership boards are responsible for the action plans.
A third example is ensuring that mental health services are more accessible. More than 38,000 people have used the '111 press 2' service for urgent mental health support services, and we've also extended accessible support services such as online cognitive behavioural therapy, the Beat eating disorder helpline, and CALL 24/7 listening and advice services. We'll be publishing our new mental health strategy before long, and I know that Lynne Neagle, who's listening now, is busily working on that currently.
Now, I want to close by talking about the remit of HIW. Expanding the remit to include investigating complaints would not be a good use of resources at a time when we have to make the best use of the funding and capacity that we have. There is already a robust process to deal—[Interruption.]
She is well out of her time, so I was going to remind the Minister that she's due to finish.
Mae ei hamser wedi hen ddod i ben, felly roeddwn yn mynd i atgoffa'r Gweinidog y dylai ddirwyn i ben.
Sori. Mae proses gadarn ar gael eisoes i ddelio â chwynion NHS Cymru—proses sydd wedi'i nodi mewn rheoliadau. Mae adroddiad blynyddol HIW yn chwarae rhan allweddol o ran nodi lle mae angen gwella. Byddaf i'n parhau i weithio gyda fy swyddogion a'r NHS i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n dysgu o'r materion sy'n cael sylw yn yr adroddiad blynyddol, a'n bod ni'n dal ati i weithio gyda'n gilydd i adeiladu NHS addas ar gyfer y dyfodol, sy'n cael ei drysori gan bobl Cymru.
Sorry. There is already a robust process for dealing with NHS Wales complaints—a process that has been set out in regulations. HIW's annual report does play a key part in terms of noting where improvements are needed. I will continue to work with my officials and the NHS to ensure that we do learn from the issues that are given attention in the annual report, and that we continue to collaborate to build an appropriate NHS for the future that is treasured by the people of Wales.
Galwaf ar Russell George i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Russell George to reply to the debate.
Can I thank Members who have taken part in our debate this afternoon? The HIW annual report highlighted some significant areas of concern, which were a part of the subject of our debate today and our motion. Most significantly, I thought, the report stated that HIW 'did not find evidence' of Welsh Government initiatives
'making a clear and significant difference to services at the front line.'
Well, that is a significant statement to make. Andrew R.T. Davies raised this with the First Minister in questions yesterday, and the First Minister's response to that, I thought, was dismissive. The First Minister suggested that Andrew had taken this somehow out of context. Well, it wasn't taken out of context; it was there, a quotation, directly cited, lifted from the report, and also front and centre of the report: it was in the chair's foreword, so a significant, key part of HIW's findings.
Further, I did feel as well that there was, perhaps, an insinuation from the First Minister and from Carolyn Thomas today that, somehow, a body that's there to investigate and monitor health services is somehow less of an important body. That is not the case at all, because HIW is a body that has a significant role to play in making sure that our health services are safe and patients receive good care. And what could be more important?
Now, also, of significant concern to us is the cut in funding to the body that has a vital role to play to keep patients safe. We, as Welsh Conservatives, don't simply put in our motion that we're unhappy that a body has had its funding cut for no reason at all; we do that, and we've debated this today with good reason, because we're also aware that a staggering 60 per cent of healthcare services have not been inspected in the last five years. Sixty per cent of services, healthcare services, not being inspected in the last five years. Janet Finch-Saunders, in her contribution, dug into that detail and set out exactly what sat underneath that heading.
Our motion today also asked for the expansion of HIW and to increase their remit to investigate complaints as well. Well, why is that the case? The situation at the moment is, when somebody has a concern or a complaint against a body, they have to go to the body first, to the body that they're making a complaint against, to investigate, and only then—only then—would they be able to go to the ombudsman—[Interruption.]
A gaf fi ddiolch i’r Aelodau sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn ein dadl y prynhawn yma? Amlygodd adroddiad blynyddol AGIC rai meysydd pwysig sy'n destun pryder a oedd yn rhan o destun ein dadl heddiw a’n cynnig. Yn fwyaf arwyddocaol, yn fy marn i, roedd yr adroddiad yn nodi bod AGIC 'heb ddod o hyd i dystiolaeth' fod mentrau Llywodraeth Cymru
'yn gwneud gwahaniaeth clir a sylweddol i wasanaethau ar y rheng flaen'.
Wel, mae hwnnw’n ddatganiad sylweddol i’w wneud. Cododd Andrew R.T. Davies hyn gyda’r Prif Weinidog yn ystod y cwestiynau ddoe, ac roedd ymateb y Prif Weinidog i hynny, yn fy marn i, yn ddiystyriol. Awgrymodd y Prif Weinidog fod Andrew wedi tynnu hyn o’i gyd-destun rywsut. Wel, ni chafodd ei dynnu o'i gyd-destun; roedd yno, dyfyniad uniongyrchol yn yr adroddiad, a hefyd ar gychwyn yr adroddiad: roedd yn rhagair y cadeirydd, felly yn rhan arwyddocaol ac allweddol o ganfyddiadau AGIC.
Ymhellach, roeddwn yn teimlo hefyd fod ensyniad, efallai, gan y Prif Weinidog a Carolyn Thomas heddiw fod corff sydd yno i archwilio a monitro gwasanaethau iechyd yn gorff llai pwysig rywsut. Nid yw hynny’n wir o gwbl gan fod AGIC yn gorff a chanddo rôl sylweddol i’w chwarae yn sicrhau bod ein gwasanaethau iechyd yn ddiogel a bod cleifion yn cael gofal da. A beth a allai fod yn bwysicach?
Hefyd, mae’r toriad mewn cyllid i’r corff sydd â rôl hanfodol i’w chwarae i gadw cleifion yn ddiogel yn peri pryder sylweddol i ni. Nid ydym, fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, yn nodi yn ein cynnig heb unrhyw reswm o gwbl ein bod yn anhapus fod corff wedi cael toriad yn ei gyllid; rydym yn gwneud hynny, ac rydym wedi dadlau hyn heddiw gyda rheswm da, oherwydd ein bod hefyd yn ymwybodol nad yw 60 y cant o wasanaethau gofal iechyd wedi cael eu harolygu yn y pum mlynedd diwethaf, sy'n syfrdanol. Mae 60 y cant o wasanaethau, gwasanaethau gofal iechyd, heb gael eu harolygu yn y pum mlynedd diwethaf. Yn ei chyfraniad, archwiliodd Janet Finch-Saunders y manylion a nodi beth yn union sydd y tu ôl i'r pennawd hwnnw.
Roedd ein cynnig heddiw hefyd yn gofyn am ehangu AGIC a chynyddu eu cylch gorchwyl i gynnwys ymchwilio i gwynion hefyd. Wel, pam hynny? Y sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, pan fydd gan rywun bryder neu gŵyn yn erbyn corff, yw bod yn rhaid iddynt fynd at y corff yn gyntaf, at y corff y maent yn gwneud cwyn yn ei erbyn, i ymchwilio, a dim ond wedyn—dim ond wedyn—y gallant fynd at yr ombwdsmon—[Torri ar draws.]
Russ, will you give way?
Russ, a wnewch chi ildio?
Yes, I will. Yes.
Gwnaf, fe wnaf. Iawn.
Do you agree with me, on that point—and I know the Minister was making some comments there—a lot of my constituents feel that, when they make complaints to health boards directly, it feels like the health board are marking their own homework, sometimes, and actually don't fully investigate the complaints properly that are actually put forward to the health boards?
A ydych chi'n cytuno, ar y pwynt hwnnw—a gwn fod y Gweinidog wedi gwneud rhai sylwadau yno—fod llawer o fy etholwyr yn teimlo, pan fyddant yn gwneud cwynion i fyrddau iechyd yn uniongyrchol, ei fod yn teimlo fel pe bai'r bwrdd iechyd yn marcio eu gwaith cartref eu hunain weithiau, ac nad ydynt yn ymchwilio'n llawn i'r cwynion sy'n cael eu cyflwyno i'r byrddau iechyd?
This is the—. Did you want to make an intervention, Minister?
Dyma'r—. A oeddech am ymyrryd, Weinidog?
Am I allowed to make an intervention?
A oes hawl gennyf i wneud ymyriad?
Yes. You are allowed to make interventions, Minister, if you wish to, and it's up to the Member whether to accept it or not.
Oes. Fe gewch wneud ymyriadau, Weinidog, os dymunwch, a dewis yr Aelod yw eu derbyn ai peidio.
I accept it.
Rwy'n ei dderbyn.
So, within the report, within the HIW report, it's very clear that, actually, a lot of the work is all risk based, and some of it is based on what they hear from the public. There is a whistleblowing facility, where people can go directly to HIW, and that informs whether they go in. And if they get lots of complaints about one place, then they're more likely to go and inspect. So, I do suggest you read the HIW report before bringing it to—[Interruption.] Well, make sure you do, because you would know about the whistleblowing opportunities, if you'd read it.
Felly, yn yr adroddiad, yn adroddiad AGIC, mae'n amlwg iawn, mewn gwirionedd, fod llawer o'r gwaith yn seiliedig ar risg, ac mae rhywfaint ohono'n seiliedig ar yr hyn a glywant gan y cyhoedd. Ceir cyfleuster chwythu'r chwiban, lle gall pobl fynd yn uniongyrchol at AGIC, ac mae hynny'n pennu a ydynt yn archwilio. Ac os cânt lawer o gwynion am un lle, maent yn fwy tebygol o fynd i arolygu. Felly, awgrymaf eich bod yn darllen adroddiad AGIC cyn dod ag ef i—[Torri ar draws.] Wel, sicrhewch eich bod yn gwneud hynny, gan y byddech yn gwybod am y cyfleoedd i chwythu'r chwiban pe baech wedi'i ddarllen.
Thank you for the two interventions, and I'll address the Minister's in a moment, but I agree with James Evans in terms of his comments. It's very difficult, isn't it, when you've got a patient with a concern who raises an issue with the very body that they've got the concern with. But that's what I'm suggesting: I'm suggesting that the public services ombudsman does not have the capacity to take patients' concerns seriously and investigate adequately. That's why I'm suggesting that HIW expands its remit in that regard, and I'll come on to the Minister's comments in a moment. But, to me, HIW do have the expertise, and they have the expertise to investigate individual complaints, I would suggest; they have that ability to do that, if they have that remit to do that and the funding to do that as well.
And this is where I'll take Altaf Hussain's comments, and bring in the Minister's intervention as well. Altaf Hussain mentioned, of course, the case of the Channon family, the Channon family who raised concerns with Swansea Bay University Health Board, after their own son was born with brain damage following complications during birth. The family were informed, of course, by the Welsh Government officials, that a review had taken place and that no concerns were identified, and then it emerged that no review had actually taken place at all. Well, the Channon family's case exemplifies exactly the consequences of what happens when NHS organisations abuse the trust that has been placed in them to investigate, address and resolve patients' complaints and concerns surrounding some of the services that they provide. And the HIW report, I think, vindicates what the Channon family were saying. And if whistleblowing is working so well, why didn't it work so well in the case of the Channon family? So, this is what I would suggest today, in my comments back to the Minister's comments about whistleblowing: I don't think we have an adequate whistleblowing policy, or a whistleblowing facility that adequately works to address the needs that we're referring to today.
We also, I would say, suggest as well—. There were quite a few comments as well from other Members—Carolyn Thomas and Mabon ap Gwynfor—in terms of funding, and I won't spend too much time on that, but our motion also addresses that today. We, as Welsh Conservatives, would of course spend the full allocation from central Government that's earmarked for health on health, and that is a political decision that's been made here, to divert that funding away into other areas. And I'm not—. I'm just looking at what else I wanted to say.
And the other comment I'd make in closing, Deputy Presiding Officer, is that there seems to be an element from what the Minister was saying today, and it touches on what the First Minister and Carolyn Thomas said yesterday, that it seems to be as if, somehow, HIW is separate and sits outside of the health service. But I would suggest—
Diolch am y ddau ymyriad, a rhoddaf sylw i ymyriad y Gweinidog yn y man, ond rwy'n cytuno â sylwadau James Evans. Mae'n anodd iawn, onid yw, pan fydd gennych glaf â phryder sy'n codi mater gyda'r union gorff y maent yn bryderus yn ei gylch. Ond dyna rwy’n ei awgrymu: rwy'n awgrymu nad oes gan yr ombwdsmon gwasanaethau cyhoeddus allu i fod o ddifrif ynghylch pryderon cleifion ac i archwilio’n ddigonol. Dyna pam rwy'n awgrymu bod AGIC yn ehangu eu cylch gwaith yn hynny o beth, a dof at sylwadau’r Gweinidog mewn eiliad. Ond i mi, mae gan AGIC yr arbenigedd, fel y mae ganddynt arbenigedd i archwilio cwynion unigol, buaswn yn awgrymu; mae ganddynt allu i wneud hynny, os cânt ei wneud yn rhan o'u cylch gwaith a’r cyllid i wneud hynny hefyd.
A dyma lle rwyf am drafod sylwadau Altaf Hussain, a chynnwys ymyriad y Gweinidog hefyd. Soniodd Altaf Hussain, wrth gwrs, am achos teulu Channon, a gododd bryderon gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe, ar ôl i’w mab gael ei eni â niwed i’r ymennydd yn dilyn cymhlethdodau yn ystod ei enedigaeth. Dywedodd swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru wrth ei deulu fod adolygiad wedi’i gynnal ac na nodwyd unrhyw bryderon, ac yna daeth yn amlwg na chynhaliwyd unrhyw adolygiad o gwbl mewn gwirionedd. Wel, mae achos teulu Channon yn enghraifft berffaith o ganlyniadau’r hyn sy’n digwydd pan fydd sefydliadau’r GIG yn camddefnyddio’r ymddiriedaeth a roddwyd ynddynt i archwilio, mynd i’r afael a datrys cwynion a phryderon cleifion ynghylch rhai o’r gwasanaethau y maent yn eu darparu. A chredaf fod adroddiad AGIC yn cyfiawnhau’r hyn roedd teulu Channon yn ei ddweud. Ac os yw chwythu'r chwiban yn gweithio cystal, pam na weithiodd yn achos teulu Channon? Felly, dyma'r hyn y buaswn yn ei awgrymu heddiw, yn fy sylwadau mewn ymateb i sylwadau'r Gweinidog am chwythu'r chwiban: ni chredaf fod gennym bolisi chwythu'r chwiban digonol, na chyfleuster chwythu'r chwiban sy'n gweithio'n ddigonol i fynd i'r afael â'r anghenion y cyfeiriwn atynt heddiw.
Hoffem ddweud hefyd, awgrymu—. Cafwyd cryn dipyn o sylwadau hefyd gan Aelodau eraill—Carolyn Thomas a Mabon ap Gwynfor—am gyllid, ac nid wyf am dreulio gormod o amser ar hynny, ond mae ein cynnig hefyd yn mynd i’r afael â hynny heddiw. Byddem ni, fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn gwario’r dyraniad llawn gan y Llywodraeth ganolog a glustnodwyd ar gyfer iechyd ar iechyd, ac mae hwnnw’n benderfyniad gwleidyddol a wnaed yma, i ddargyfeirio’r cyllid tuag at feysydd eraill. Ac nid wyf—. Rwy'n edrych ar beth arall roeddwn am ei ddweud.
A’r sylw arall yr hoffwn ei wneud i gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, yw ei bod yn ymddangos bod elfen o’r hyn roedd y Gweinidog yn ei ddweud heddiw, ac mae’n cyffwrdd â’r hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog a Carolyn Thomas ddoe, sef ei bod yn ymddangos fel pe bai AGIC, rywsut, ar wahân a'r tu allan i'r gwasanaeth iechyd. Ond carwn awgrymu—
It's independent. It's independent.
Mae'n annibynnol. Mae'n annibynnol.
It's independent—that's not the point I was—[Interruption.] The Minister is saying, from her position, that it's independent, but the point that I was coming on to make, Minister, is that you shouldn't see the separation, with HIW sitting over here and the health service there; HIW is part of the health service in terms of it being integral, an important part of the health service.
Mae'n annibynnol—nid dyna'r pwynt roeddwn—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'r Gweinidog yn dweud, o'i sedd, ei fod yn annibynnol, ond y pwynt roeddwn am ei wneud, Weinidog, yw na ddylech weld y gwahaniad, gydag AGIC fan hyn a'r gwasanaeth iechyd fan draw; mae AGIC yn rhan o’r gwasanaeth iechyd, yn rhan annatod, yn rhan bwysig o’r gwasanaeth iechyd.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, I will.
Gwnaf.
I think one of the concerns about HIW's lack of independence is that, of course, elsewhere in the UK, inspectorates can place organisations into special measures without seeking permission from Ministers, which gives the opportunity for political interference. That isn't the case here in Wales. We've seen delays in organisations like the Betsi Cadwaladr health board being placed in and out, like the hokey cokey, of special measures at the whim of Ministers in an inappropriate way. That's the sort of political interference that we're fed up of, frankly, in north Wales. We want to see the independent inspectorate having the opportunity to sort that out.
Credaf mai un o’r pryderon ynghylch diffyg annibyniaeth AGIC yw y gall arolygiaethau mewn mannau eraill yn y DU, wrth gwrs, wneud sefydliadau yn destun mesurau arbennig heb ofyn am ganiatâd Gweinidogion, sy’n rhoi cyfle i ymyrryd yn wleidyddol. Nid yw hynny'n wir yma yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi gweld oedi mewn sefydliadau fel bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr wrth gyflwyno a diddymu mesurau arbennig, fel yr hoci coci, ar fympwy Gweinidogion mewn ffordd amhriodol. Dyna'r math o ymyrryd gwleidyddol y cawsom lond bol arno yng ngogledd Cymru a dweud y gwir. Rydym am weld yr arolygiaeth annibynnol yn cael cyfle i fynd i'r afael â hynny.
Thank you, Darren. Our motion is on the order paper today. I do hope that Members will support the motion on the order paper, because what we want to see is adequate resources for HIW put in place not only to make sure that they can adequately investigate and monitor health services effectively across Wales, but also to expand their remit to take on patients' concerns and complaints seriously, because at the end of the day we need to make sure that if there are problems—and there will be problems in the health service—when we do find those problems they are addressed and then we learn lessons from those problems as well. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Darren. Mae ein cynnig ar y papur trefn heddiw. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau’n cefnogi’r cynnig ar y papur trefn, gan mai'r hyn rydym am ei weld yw adnoddau digonol yn cael eu darparu ar gyfer AGIC nid yn unig i sicrhau eu bod yn gallu archwilio a monitro gwasanaethau iechyd yn effeithiol ac yn ddigonol ledled Cymru, ond hefyd, i ehangu eu cylch gorchwyl i roi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i bryderon a chwynion cleifion, oherwydd yn y pen draw, mae angen inni sicrhau, os oes problemau—ac fe fydd problemau'n codi yn y gwasanaeth iechyd—pan ddown o hyd i’r problemau hynny, y rhoddir sylw iddynt, a'n bod yn dysgu gwersi o'r problemau hynny yn ogystal. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Felly, gohiriaf y bleidlais ar yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Lesley Griffiths, a gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn enw Darren Millar. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths, and amendments 2 and 3 in the name of Darren Millar. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected.
Eitem 7 heddiw yw dadl Plaid Cymru ar brentisiaethau. Galwaf ar Luke Fletcher i wneud y cynnig.
Item 7 this afternoon is the Plaid Cymru debate on apprenticeships. I call on Luke Fletcher to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8451 Luke Fletcher
Cynnig bod y Senedd hon:
1. Yn nodi:
a) bod tua 80 y cant o gwmnïau bach yng Nghymru wedi cael trafferth recriwtio yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf oherwydd prinder sgiliau;
b) y bwlch sgiliau ar draws sectorau economaidd yng Nghymru a amlinellwyd mewn Arolygon Sgiliau Cyflogwyr yn ddiweddar; ac
c) targed Llywodraeth Cymru i greu 125,000 o brentisiaethau pob oed erbyn diwedd tymor presennol y Senedd.
2. Yn gresynu:
a) mai llai na thraean o darged Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi'i gyflawni, dros hanner ffordd drwy dymor presennol y Senedd;
b) y bydd gostyngiad amcangyfrifedig o 24.5 y cant mewn cyllid ar gyfer rhaglen brentisiaethau Llywodraeth Cymru, a fydd yn arwain at 10,000 yn llai o brentisiaethau yn dechrau yn 2024-25; ac
c) bod Llywodraeth Cymru, o ganlyniad i ostyngiadau cyllid, yn methu yn ei chenhadaeth economaidd i gefnogi pobl ifanc i sicrhau dyfodol uchelgeisiol yng Nghymru.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) sefydlu model ariannu hirdymor cynaliadwy ar gyfer prentisiaethau;
b) diystyru cyflwyno ffioedd dysgu ar gyfer gradd-brentisiaethau yng Nghymru; ac
c) comisiynu gwerthusiad annibynnol o ddichonoldeb cyrraedd ei tharged ar gyfer prentisiaethau pob oed erbyn 2026.
Motion NDM8451 Luke Fletcher
To propose that this Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) that approximately 80 per cent of small firms in Wales struggled to recruit in the past 12 months due to skills shortages;
b) the skills gap across economic sectors in Wales outlined in recent Employer Skills Surveys; and
c) the Welsh Government’s target to create 125,000 all-age apprenticeships by the end of the current Senedd term.
2. Regrets:
a) that over halfway through the current Senedd term, less than a third of the Welsh Government’s target has been achieved;
b) the estimated 24.5 per cent reduction in funding for the Welsh Government’s apprenticeship programme which will result in 10,000 fewer apprenticeship starts in 2024-25; and
c) that as a result of funding reductions, the Welsh Government is failing its economic mission to back young people to achieve ambitious futures in Wales.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) establish a sustainable long-term funding model for apprenticeships;
b) rule out the introduction of tuition fees for degree apprenticeships in Wales; and
c) commission an independent evaluation of the feasibility of meeting its target for all-age apprenticeships by 2026.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We table this debate not just because of our own concerns, but also the concerns that have been shared with us by the further education sector, students as well as the wider business sector, concerns that Members can see from the open letter signed by 60 employers. Apprenticeships are very obviously not just an education issue; they're an economic one as well.
Apprenticeships are consistently highlighted by all of us in this Chamber as a priority. No matter the speaker—Plaid, Tory, Labour, Lib Dem—all of us can agree on the need to build on what we already have. That's why I think these cuts are particularly jarring, more so because the economy Minister himself identified it as a priority within his economy strategy—priority 2, a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success. We knew the strategy was thin on the ground in terms of detail, but I don't think anyone was expecting just a week later the biggest cut to apprenticeships since the beginning of devolution, completely undermining the economy Minister's own strategy.
This also happened on the back of the Government briefing the FE sector to expect a 3 per cent cut, 10,000 fewer apprenticeship starts, a 50 per cent reduction in new starts. That's potentially what we are facing. Cardiff and Vale College group highlighted very clearly to us the impact of the proposed cuts, estimating that the total economic loss of the proposed cuts in the worst-case scenario could be up to a potential lifetime loss of £406.8 million. In its more conservative estimate, it could be a potential lifetime cost of £296.5 million.
Let's break that down a bit. The construction industry, a key net zero and reskilling sector, crucial as we move towards green industries, is expected to see one of the worst cuts after the health sector. Nearly 10 per cent of apprenticeship starts are in engineering, and another 12 per cent are in construction. Overall, 24.6 per cent of GVA loss will be in this sector. That's a potential lifetime loss of £99.9 million in the worst-case scenario, or £73.1 million under a more conservative estimate.
The professional scientific and technical activity sector, another critical sector for net zero, has the third largest loss, a potential lifetime cost of £69.6 million in the worst case, and a £50.7 million lifetime cost under a conservative estimate. This represents 17.1 per cent of all losses. No matter how you cut it, the current proposed cut will have potentially a devastating impact.
These cuts, of course, couldn't be proposed at a worse time, a time when we know that 80 per cent of small firms in Wales cite a skills shortage as a barrier to recruitment. That should be an indication to the Government that demand is only going to increase for starters. There’s been no reduction in demand for new apprenticeship starts, with Welsh Government data actually showing an increase in apprenticeship starts in the first half of 2022-23 compared to the same period a year earlier. ColegauCymru actually expect an increase in demand from employers in 2023-24, which, if it could be supported, reflects well on the outlook for the Welsh economy.
I’ll beat the Minister and Labour Members to it: what would be cut? Where’s the alternative budget? We know, of course, the effect of the loss of EU structural funds. We debated it yesterday afternoon. The sector recognises it. The apprenticeship levy needs assessing. We know that Wales currently loses out because of it. We’d love to see the books in their full detail, line by line, but we can’t. We aren’t given that level of detail, even though we’ve asked for it. As an opposition party, our role isn’t to do the job of Government for them, especially without the Government resources and access to information. Our role is definitely, though, to come here and to highlight decisions that the Government makes, and the impacts, to encourage the Government to go back and find another way. That is scrutiny.
We understand, of course, the difficulties and pressures on the Welsh Government’s budget, but we need to be retaining our young people, creating career opportunities and reskilling, providing future generations with these skills and careers, especially with an ageing population here in Wales, especially with the challenge of migration of young people, especially with the skills gap. We need the Government to think again.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I move this motion to the Senedd, and I look forward to all Members’ contributions.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rydym yn cyflwyno’r ddadl hon nid yn unig oherwydd ein pryderon ein hunain, ond hefyd y pryderon a rannwyd gyda ni gan y sector addysg bellach, myfyrwyr yn ogystal â’r sector busnes ehangach, pryderon y gall Aelodau eu gweld o’r llythyr agored a lofnodwyd gan 60 o gyflogwyr. Yn amlwg, nid mater addysg yn unig yw prentisiaethau; maent yn fater economaidd hefyd.
Mae prentisiaethau’n cael sylw cyson gan bob un ohonom yn y Siambr fel blaenoriaeth. Ni waeth pwy yw'r siaradwr—Plaid Cymru, y Torïaid, Llafur, y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol—gall pob un ohonom gytuno ar yr angen i adeiladu ar yr hyn sydd gennym yn barod. Dyna pam y credaf fod y toriadau hyn yn arbennig o ysgytwol, yn fwy felly gan fod Gweinidog yr economi ei hun wedi nodi hyn fel blaenoriaeth yn ei strategaeth ar gyfer yr economi—blaenoriaeth 2, platfform i bobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant. Roeddem yn gwybod bod y strategaeth yn brin o fanylion, ond ni chredaf fod unrhyw un yn disgwyl, wythnos yn unig yn ddiweddarach, y toriad mwyaf i brentisiaethau ers dechrau datganoli, gan danseilio strategaeth Gweinidog yr economi ei hun yn llwyr.
Digwyddodd hyn hefyd ar ôl i’r Llywodraeth friffio’r sector addysg bellach i ddisgwyl toriad o 3 y cant, 10,000 yn llai o brentisiaethau newydd, gostyngiad o 50 y cant mewn prentisiaethau newydd. Dyna, o bosibl, sy’n ein hwynebu. Nododd grŵp Coleg Caerdydd a’r Fro effaith y toriadau arfaethedig yn glir iawn i ni, gan amcangyfrif y gallai cyfanswm colled economaidd y toriadau arfaethedig, yn y senario waethaf, fod yn golled oes bosibl o hyd at £406.8 miliwn. Yn ei amcangyfrif mwy ceidwadol, gallai fod yn gost oes bosibl o £296.5 miliwn.
Gadewch inni ddadansoddi hynny. Mae disgwyl i’r diwydiant adeiladu, sector sero net ac ailsgilio allweddol, sy’n hollbwysig wrth inni symud tuag at ddiwydiannau gwyrdd, wynebu un o’r toriadau gwaethaf ar ôl y sector iechyd. Mae bron i 10 y cant o brentisiaethau sy’n cychwyn ym maes peirianneg, ac mae 12 y cant arall ym maes adeiladu. Yn gyffredinol, bydd 24.6 y cant o golled o werth ychwanegol gros yn y sector hwn. Mae hynny'n golled oes bosibl o £99.9 miliwn yn y senario waethaf, neu £73.1 miliwn o dan amcangyfrif mwy ceidwadol.
Y sector gweithgarwch gwyddonol a thechnegol proffesiynol, sector hollbwysig arall ar gyfer sero net, sydd â’r golled fwyaf ar ôl y ddau faes hynny, cost oes bosibl o £69.6 miliwn yn y senario waethaf, a chost oes o £50.7 miliwn o dan amcangyfrif ceidwadol. Mae hyn yn 17.1 y cant o'r holl golledion. Ni waeth sut yr edrychwch chi ar hyn, gallai'r toriad arfaethedig presennol gael effaith ddinistriol.
Wrth gwrs, ni ellid cynnig y toriadau hyn ar adeg waeth, adeg pan wyddom fod 80 y cant o gwmnïau bach yng Nghymru yn dweud bod prinder sgiliau yn rhwystr i recriwtio. Dylai hynny fod yn arwydd i’r Llywodraeth mai dim ond cynyddu y bydd y galw am brentisiaid newydd. Ni fu unrhyw ostyngiad yn y galw am brentisiaethau newydd, ac mae data Llywodraeth Cymru yn dangos cynnydd mewn gwirionedd yn nifer y prentisiaethau newydd a gychwynnodd yn hanner cyntaf 2022-23 o gymharu â’r un cyfnod flwyddyn yn gynt. Mae ColegauCymru yn disgwyl cynnydd yn y galw gan gyflogwyr yn 2023-24, sy'n adlewyrchu’n dda ar y rhagolygon ar gyfer economi Cymru pe bai modd darparu ar ei gyfer.
Rwyf am achub y blaen ar y Gweinidog a'r Aelodau Llafur: beth fyddai’n cael ei dorri? Ble mae'r gyllideb amgen? Fe wyddom, wrth gwrs, am effaith colli cronfeydd strwythurol yr UE. Buom yn trafod hynny brynhawn ddoe. Mae’r sector yn ei gydnabod. Mae angen asesu'r ardoll brentisiaethau. Gwyddom fod Cymru ar ei cholled o’i herwydd ar hyn o bryd. Byddem wrth ein boddau'n gweld manylion llawn y llyfrau, fesul llinell, ond ni allwn wneud hynny. Ni roddwyd y lefel honno o fanylder i ni, er inni ofyn amdani. Fel gwrthblaid, nid gwneud gwaith y Llywodraeth ar eu rhan yw ein rôl ni, yn enwedig heb adnoddau’r Llywodraeth a mynediad at wybodaeth. Yn bendant, er hynny, ein rôl yw dod yma a thynnu sylw at benderfyniadau y mae’r Llywodraeth yn eu gwneud, a’r effeithiau, er mwyn annog y Llywodraeth i fynd yn ôl a dod o hyd i ffordd arall. Dyna yw craffu.
Rydym yn deall yr anawsterau a’r pwysau ar gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru wrth gwrs, ond mae angen inni gadw ein pobl ifanc, creu cyfleoedd gyrfa ac ailsgilio, gan ddarparu’r sgiliau a’r gyrfaoedd hyn i genedlaethau’r dyfodol, yn enwedig gyda phoblogaeth sy’n heneiddio yma yng Nghymru, yn enwedig gyda her pobl ifanc yn mudo, yn enwedig gyda'r bwlch sgiliau. Mae angen i’r Llywodraeth feddwl eto.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n gwneud y cynnig hwn i'r Senedd, ac edrychaf ymlaen at holl gyfraniadau'r Aelodau.
Rwyf wedi dethol y tri gwelliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol. Galwaf ar Weinidog yr Economi i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths.
I have selected the three amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. I call on the Minister for Economy to formally move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths.
Gwelliant 1—Lesley Griffiths
Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) bod busnesau bach ledled Cymru yn cael mynediad at ystod o gymorth cyflogaeth, sgiliau a busnes a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gwrdd â heriau recriwtio mewn marchnad lafur gyfnewidiol ac yn amgylchedd twf isel y DU;
b) y bwlch sgiliau sy'n bodoli mewn sectorau economaidd yng Nghymru a amlinellwyd mewn Arolygon Sgiliau Cyflogwyr diweddar; ac yn croesawu pwyslais Llywodraeth Cymru ar gymorth wedi'i dargedu yn y meysydd hynny, gan gynnwys cyllid ar gyfer cyfrifon dysgu personol;
c) targed Llywodraeth Cymru i greu 125,000 o brentisiaethau pob oed erbyn diwedd tymor presennol y Senedd, a'r effaith y mae'r toriadau i gyllideb Cymru, colli arian yn lle'r cronfeydd Ewropeaidd a'r chwyddiant uchaf erioed yn ei chael ar gyllidebau busnes a chyhoeddus sy'n ofynnol i gyflawni yn erbyn amcangyfrifon a osodwyd cyn y sawl ysgytwad economaidd sydd wedi dod i'r amlwg ers 2021; a
d) bod toriadau i gyllideb Cymru, colli arian a addawyd yn lle cronfeydd yr UE a chwyddiant uchel tu hwnt wedi tanseilio cenhadaeth economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru, a goblygiadau hyn i bobl ifanc a'u gallu i gyflawni dyfodol uchelgeisiol yng Nghymru.
2. Yn croesawu:
a) bod Llywodraeth Cymru, erbyn hanner ffordd drwy dymor presennol y Senedd, wedi ymrwymo dros £400m mewn prentisiaethau; a
b) yr ymrwymiad i ddiogelu ansawdd darpariaeth prentisiaethau ar adeg o ostyngiad mewn cyllidebau, ac yn cydnabod y risgiau hirdymor sy'n gysylltiedig â lleihau ystyriaethau ansawdd er mwyn cynyddu nifer y prentisiaethau a gyflwynir.
3. Yn nodi y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn:
a) parhau i flaenoriaethu cyllid ar gyfer prentisiaethau yn erbyn cefndir o bwysau ariannol difrifol;
b) cefnogi prentisiaethau gradd yng Nghymru; ac
c) gweithio gyda'r rhwydwaith prentisiaethau i sicrhau'r canlyniadau gorau posibl.
Amendment 1—Lesley Griffiths
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) that small businesses across Wales access a range of Welsh Government-funded employment, skills and business support to meet recruitment challenges in a volatile labour market and low growth UK environment;
b) the skills gap that exists in economic sectors in Wales outlined in recent Employer Skills Surveys; and welcomes the Welsh Government’s emphasis on targeted support in those areas, including funding for personal learning accounts;
c) the Welsh Government’s target to create 125,000 all-age apprenticeships by the end of the current Senedd term and the impact cuts to the Welsh budget, the loss of European replacement funds and record inflation has on the business and public budgets required to deliver against estimates set prior to the multiple economic shocks which have emerged since 2021; and
d) that cuts to Wales’s budget, the loss of promised EU replacement funds and soaring inflation has undermined the Welsh Government’s economic mission and the implications this has for young people and their ability to achieve ambitious futures in Wales.
2. Welcomes:
a) that halfway through the current Senedd term, the Welsh Government has committed in excess of £400m in apprenticeships; and
b) the commitment to protecting the quality of apprenticeship delivery at a time of falling budgets and recognises the long term risks associated with reducing quality considerations in order to increase the number of apprenticeships delivered.
3. Notes the Welsh Government will:
a) continue to prioritise funding for apprenticeships against a backdrop of severe financial pressure;
b) support degree apprenticeships in Wales; and
c) work with the apprenticeship network to secure the best possible delivery outcomes.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Galwaf ar Paul Davies i gynnig gwelliannau 2 a 3 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar.
I call on Paul Davies to move amendments 2 and 3, tabled in the name of Darren Millar.
Gwelliant 2—Darren Millar
Ym mhwynt 3, cynnwys is-bwynt newydd ar ôl is-bwynt (a) ac ailrifo yn unol â hynny:
ehangu prentisiaethau, yn enwedig i lefel gradd, i fynd i'r afael â phrinder sgiliau mewn sectorau craidd gan gynnwys gofal iechyd, ynni adnewyddadwy a thechnoleg ddigidol;
Amendment 2—Darren Millar
In point 3, insert new sub-point after sub-point (a) and renumber accordingly:
expand apprenticeships, especially to degree level, to tackle skill shortages in core sectors including healthcare, renewable energy and digital technology;
Gwelliant 3—Darren Millar
Ym mhwynt 3, cynnwys is-bwynt newydd ar ôl is-bwynt (a), ac ailrifo yn unol â hynny:
caniatáu ar gyfer pwyntiau mynediad hyblyg ar gyfer prentisiaethau gradd, gan gydnabod cyrhaeddiad addysgol blaenorol unigolyn;
Amendment 3—Darren Millar
In point 3, insert as new sub-point after sub-point (a), and renumber accordingly:
allow for flexible entry points for degree apprenticeships, recognising an individual’s prior educational attainment;
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 2 a 3.
Amendments 2 and 3 moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the amendments tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar.
The Member for South Wales West has given a good overview of the current situation facing apprenticeship providers and the impact that the proposed cuts in the Welsh Government’s draft budget will have on the sector, and I echo a lot of the points that he has raised. As we all know, apprenticeships are a vital part of the education and skills agenda. They help build a skilled workforce and enhance the employability of learners. And they’re agents for social change, too—they offer the opportunity for people to upskill, reskill and develop work-based skills as they learn. And so the Welsh Government was right to establish a commitment to apprenticeships by setting a target to create 125,000 all-age apprenticeships by the end of the current Senedd term.
Over the years, there has been a lot of talk about the need for parity of esteem between academic and vocational education, so setting a priority to deliver apprenticeships sent a strong statement of support of them, and the valuable role they have in supporting the Welsh economy. And I know from my discussions with providers, businesses and learners in my own constituency just how transformative an apprenticeship can be. Businesses regularly highlight the positive impact that apprenticeships have on their workforce, and the impact on learners is transformational. For example, Sara Rees, who is an apprentice at Hywel Dda University Health Board, has had the opportunity to observe a surgical procedure and attend theatre, and then follow the patient’s progress first-hand, which has given her valuable insight and experience in the field. She believes that apprenticeships are an excellent opportunity, whether you are coming straight from school, a parent, or changing your career path, as it gives you security, experience and the support to reach your end goal. And she is right. We must not lose sight of the fact that apprenticeships are making a huge impact on lives like Sara’s right across Wales.
In November, the Welsh Government set out its renewed economic mission, and one of the four bullet points of that mission was an emphasis on supporting key sectors to grow and prioritising young people. And yet at the same time significant cuts are being proposed to the flagship apprenticeship programme, which we know will reduce opportunities for thousands of young people. The National Training Federation for Wales has made it clear that the cuts to the apprenticeship programme will have a huge impact on the Welsh Government’s young person’s guarantee, and the Welsh Government’s priority economic sectors. Indeed, they confirm that the number of apprenticeships in Wales will drop from 20,000 to 10,000 in 2024-25, which is a huge drop of 50 per cent. And as we’ve already heard, they joined FSB Wales, CBI Wales, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Make UK and ColegauCymru in writing an open letter to the First Minister stressing how the cuts to the apprenticeship programme will undermine the new economic mission and cut the talent pipeline for employers. I join these organisations, as well as providers, businesses and learners across Wales, in calling on the Welsh Government to rethink its proposed cut before it's too late.
The motion also calls on the Welsh Government to establish a sustainable, long-term funding model for apprenticeships, which I believe should come off the back of a review of the funding landscape for apprenticeships, and an honest, national conversation about how the Welsh Government plans to deliver apprenticeships in the future. The sector needs support and providers need to be able to plan and map out their delivery over the longer term, and so I hope the Welsh Government will commit to an independent review as called for in the motion.
Finally, I want to briefly touch on degree apprenticeships. My party's amendment seeks to add to the Plaid Cymru motion by adding a point to expand apprenticeships in core sectors and also ensure that there's more flexibility in accessing degree apprenticeships so that there can be a recognition of a student's prior learning. I believe the system needs to be much more open to recognising the value that prior learning has, and as a result there should be more flexibility in accessing degree apprenticeships. We should be opening doors and expanding access where possible.
In closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, I again echo many of the views already expressed about the decision to cut funding for apprenticeships and urge the Minister to rethink his decision. I understand that Government finances are tight and there is a pressure from all sectors for support right now. However, given the Welsh Government's recent renewed economic mission and the priority that has been given to providing skills and apprenticeships by this particular Welsh Government, the decision to cut funding for apprenticeships is completely out of kilter with the Welsh Government's own policy objectives. I remind Members that the budget process is far from over and there is time for changes to be made, so I urge the Welsh Government to listen to the sector, listen to businesses and listen to learners. I urge Members to support our amendments.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n cynnig y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod, Darren Millar.
Mae’r Aelod dros Orllewin De Cymru wedi rhoi trosolwg da o’r sefyllfa bresennol sy’n wynebu darparwyr prentisiaethau a’r effaith y bydd y toriadau arfaethedig yng nghyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei chael ar y sector, ac rwy'n adleisio llawer o’r pwyntiau a wnaeth. Fel y gŵyr pob un ohonom, mae prentisiaethau’n rhan hanfodol o’r agenda addysg a sgiliau. Maent yn helpu i adeiladu gweithlu medrus a gwella cyflogadwyedd dysgwyr. Ac maent yn gyfrwng ar gyfer newid cymdeithasol, hefyd—maent yn cynnig cyfle i bobl uwchsgilio, ailsgilio a datblygu sgiliau seiliedig ar waith wrth iddynt ddysgu. Ac felly, roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn iawn i sefydlu ymrwymiad i brentisiaethau drwy osod targed i greu 125,000 o brentisiaethau pob oed erbyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon.
Dros y blynyddoedd, cafwyd llawer o sôn am yr angen am barch cydradd rhwng addysg academaidd a galwedigaethol, felly roedd nodi blaenoriaeth i ddarparu prentisiaethau yn ddatganiad cryf o gefnogaeth iddynt, a’r rôl werthfawr sydd ganddynt yn cefnogi Cymru. Ac o fy nhrafodaethau â darparwyr, busnesau a dysgwyr yn fy etholaeth fy hun, rwy'n gwybod pa mor drawsnewidiol y gall prentisiaeth fod. Mae busnesau’n tynnu sylw’n rheolaidd at yr effaith gadarnhaol y mae prentisiaethau’n ei chael ar eu gweithlu, ac mae’r effaith ar ddysgwyr yn drawsnewidiol. Er enghraifft, mae Sara Rees, sy’n brentis ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, wedi cael cyfle i arsylwi ar lawdriniaeth a mynychu’r theatr, a dilyn cynnydd y claf yn uniongyrchol, sydd wedi rhoi mewnwelediad a phrofiad gwerthfawr iddi yn y maes. Mae’n credu bod prentisiaethau yn gyfle gwych, boed eich bod yn dod yn syth o’r ysgol, yn rhiant, neu’n newid eich llwybr gyrfa, gan eu bod yn rhoi sicrwydd, profiad a chymorth i chi allu cyrraedd eich nod terfynol. Ac mae'n llygad ei lle. Mae'n rhaid inni beidio â cholli golwg ar y ffaith bod prentisiaethau’n cael effaith enfawr ar fywydau pobl fel Sara ledled Cymru.
Ym mis Tachwedd, amlinellodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei chenhadaeth economaidd newydd, ac un o bedwar pwynt bwled y genhadaeth honno oedd pwyslais ar gynorthwyo sectorau allweddol i dyfu a blaenoriaethu pobl ifanc. Ac eto, ar yr un pryd, mae toriadau sylweddol yn cael eu hargymell i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau flaenllaw, a gwyddom y bydd hynny'n cyfyngu ar gyfleoedd i filoedd o bobl ifanc. Mae Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru wedi dweud yn glir y bydd y toriadau i’r rhaglen brentisiaethau yn cael effaith enfawr ar warant Llywodraeth Cymru i bobl ifanc, a sectorau economaidd blaenoriaethol Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn wir, maent yn cadarnhau y bydd nifer y prentisiaethau yng Nghymru yn gostwng o 20,000 i 10,000 yn 2024-25, sy’n ostyngiad enfawr o 50 y cant. Ac fel y clywsom eisoes, fe wnaethant ymuno â Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru, CBI Cymru, y Sefydliad Siartredig Personél a Datblygu, Make UK a ColegauCymru i ysgrifennu llythyr agored at y Prif Weinidog yn pwysleisio sut y bydd y toriadau i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau yn tanseilio'r genhadaeth economaidd newydd ac yn torri llif talent i gyflogwyr. Rwy'n ymuno â’r sefydliadau hyn, yn ogystal â darparwyr, busnesau a dysgwyr ledled Cymru, i alw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ailystyried y toriad arfaethedig cyn ei bod yn rhy hwyr.
Mae’r cynnig hefyd yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sefydlu model ariannu cynaliadwy hirdymor ar gyfer prentisiaethau, y credaf y dylai ddod yn sgil adolygiad o’r dirwedd ariannu ar gyfer prentisiaethau, a sgwrs genedlaethol onest ynglŷn â sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu darparu prentisiaethau yn y dyfodol. Mae angen cymorth ar y sector, ac mae angen i ddarparwyr allu cynllunio a mapio eu darpariaeth yn fwy hirdymor, ac felly rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i adolygiad annibynnol, fel y gelwir amdano yn y cynnig.
Yn olaf, hoffwn sôn yn gryno am radd-brentisiaethau. Mae gwelliant fy mhlaid yn ceisio ychwanegu at gynnig Plaid Cymru drwy ychwanegu pwynt i ehangu prentisiaethau mewn sectorau craidd a hefyd i sicrhau bod mwy o hyblygrwydd o ran mynediad at radd-brentisiaethau fel y gellir cydnabod addysg flaenorol myfyriwr. Credaf fod angen i’r system fod yn llawer mwy agored i gydnabod gwerth dysgu blaenorol, ac o ganlyniad, dylai fod mwy o hyblygrwydd o ran mynediad at radd-brentisiaethau. Dylem fod yn agor drysau ac yn ehangu mynediad lle bo modd.
I gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, unwaith eto rwy'n adleisio llawer o'r safbwyntiau a fynegwyd eisoes ynghylch y penderfyniad i dorri cyllid ar gyfer prentisiaethau ac yn annog y Gweinidog i ailystyried ei benderfyniad. Rwy'n deall bod cyllid y Llywodraeth yn dynn a bod pwysau gan bob sector am gymorth ar hyn o bryd. Fodd bynnag, o ystyried cenhadaeth economaidd newydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ddiweddar a’r flaenoriaeth a roddwyd gan y Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru i ddarparu sgiliau a phrentisiaethau, mae’r penderfyniad i dorri cyllid ar gyfer prentisiaethau yn gwbl groes i amcanion polisi'r Llywodraeth ei hun. Rwy'n atgoffa'r Aelodau fod proses y gyllideb ymhell o fod ar ben, a bod amser i wneud newidiadau, felly rwy'n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i wrando ar y sector, gwrando ar fusnesau a gwrando ar ddysgwyr. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi ein gwelliannau.
I mentioned in an intervention on this matter last week, I think it was, that I'd had meetings with Viv Buckley of Bridgend College. I also have had briefings and discussions with ColegauCymru in the run-up to this. I think all of us in this Senedd Chamber recognise, and have spoken about already in the first few contributions, the importance of good apprenticeships, particularly in communities like my own, where many young people, male and female now increasingly, will go on to see apprenticeships as the route to good careers, long careers in well-paid jobs. That's the route they increasingly choose, often in concert with support being given by local employers, training providers and also Bridgend College.
I note the letter that every Member of the Senedd has had from the NTFW and ColegauCymru in advance of today's debate, in which they recognise the investment that has gone in to apprenticeships in Wales. Indeed, they recognise the success of that, particularly the investment—I think it's £400 million plus that the Welsh Government has invested in the first few years of this Senedd term—and the ambitions that we have for it. But in so doing, I have to say they also—as colleagues have already said—urge the Welsh Government to reconsider and look for that transition funding. Because what they note, of course, Minister, is that we've lost that European funding that underpinned all of this, and that is the hard reality. I cannot stand here honestly with integrity as a Member of this Senedd and simply say to the Minister, faced with all the cuts that we currently have across every budget area, 'Just dig deeper, Minister, just find the additional money that was promised that we would have when the European money disappeared and we would have all this money to Wales.' Where is it? The answer is it isn't there, it hasn't been given to us.
But we have additional complications as well that we do need to be honest and frank about. It's not only the loss of the European funding, it's also the loss of the ability to control our own apprenticeships here in Wales. The apprenticeship levy is an absolute travesty. Because we know that we can deliver these apprenticeships well in Wales, we have a track record of doing it, but we've been curtailed by a desire of the UK Government to say, 'No, we have control of that'.
All of these things play into, and are in addition to, the cost inflation that we've seen and the budgetary pressures on the Welsh Government and the overall budget statement, which doesn't come just from this year, but year after year after year, to really, really—. We often call them difficult decisions, but they're impossible decisions. Now, I actually get where the NTFW an ColegauCymru are coming from on this. They are effectively putting their case, and I want the Minister to respond to a couple of the scenarios that they paint in a moment, and they're doing that, but I think it's incumbent, then, upon us, because we are not ColegauCymru and we are not NTFW—we speak on behalf of those youngsters who want to get into apprenticeships, and actually the people of all ages who want to get into apprenticeships—to say, 'How do we do this when faced with this?' But we are either of parties that are in government or of parties that aspire to be, one day, in government, in which case, looking at these budgets as they go through every committee in this Senedd at the moment, somebody is going to have to come up with something remarkable as these go through committees, and somebody is going to have to give solutions to the Minister, not to do with an independent review, an independent commission and so on—we know what the problems are; we absolutely know what the problems are—but, actually, to come up with some ideas and some solutions that say, 'Well, if we're going to fund them at the same level that we have done for the first three years, then something else is going to have to give.' We have to be honest about that—genuinely honest about it—and I look forward to those who are sitting on the relevant committees coming up with that.
But let me just say in brief, Minister, that some of the scenarios painted by ColegauCymru suggest that because of looking forward in the year ahead—the year ahead immediately—because they'll have to actually show preference to people who are already in apprenticeship routes, that could well mean a significant drop-off, a huge drop-off, in new apprenticeships for next year. What would your response be to that? The other thing is: because of the focus of Welsh Government on construction, engineering, health and social care, then other areas might well see a drop-off as well, because the money can only be spread so far, of course. So, I'd welcome that, but other responses to—he'll have seen the briefing from ColegauCymru as well, but responses to their genuine concerns and what this could mean for the year ahead.
But let's be quite frank, and I'm aware that I've run out of time, this is on the track record of big investment over the first two or three years of this Government—over £400 million. But the scale of the challenge we have is not an apprenticeship-only challenge. Some of us went outside yesterday and we met with junior doctors. We are meeting, day by day, with homelessness charities; we are meeting, day by day, with everybody who is saying, quite rightly, that theirs is a priority area—so is apprenticeships. I have to say that the hard reality of this is that we need the money given to us to actually run these things, and then we will do it. At the moment, I would ask for the assurance from the Minister that he will work intensely and constructively with all of the training providers and the colleges in Wales to get us through the 12 months ahead in good shape, meaning that we can get back, in future, with a Government at a UK level that decides it's worth investing in these matters and across our budgets, supplementing our budget, so we can get back on a level kilter again.
Soniais mewn ymyriad ar y mater hwn yr wythnos diwethaf, rwy'n credu, fy mod wedi cael cyfarfodydd gyda Viv Buckley o Goleg Penybont. Rwyf hefyd wedi cael sesiynau briffio a thrafodaethau gyda ColegauCymru cyn y ddadl hon heddiw. Credaf fod pob un ohonom yn Siambr y Senedd yn cydnabod, ac wedi crybwyll eisoes yn yr ychydig gyfraniadau cyntaf, pa mor bwysig yw prentisiaethau da, yn enwedig mewn cymunedau fel fy un i, lle bydd llawer o bobl ifanc, gwrywaidd a benywaidd i raddau mwy a mwy, yn mynd ymlaen i weld prentisiaethau fel llwybr at yrfaoedd da, gyrfaoedd hir mewn swyddi sy'n talu'n dda. Dyna'r llwybr y maent yn ei ddewis i raddau mwy a mwy, yn aml gyda chymorth a roddir gan gyflogwyr lleol, darparwyr hyfforddiant, a Choleg Penybont.
Nodaf y llythyr y mae pob Aelod o’r Senedd wedi’i gael gan Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru a ColegauCymru cyn y ddadl heddiw, lle maent yn cydnabod y buddsoddiad a wnaed mewn prentisiaethau yng Nghymru. Yn wir, maent yn cydnabod llwyddiant hynny, yn enwedig y buddsoddiad—y £400 miliwn a mwy, rwy'n credu, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i fuddsoddi yn ystod ychydig flynyddoedd cyntaf tymor y Senedd hon—a’r uchelgeisiau sydd gennym ar ei gyfer. Ond wrth wneud hynny, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud eu bod hefyd—fel y mae cyd-Aelodau eisoes wedi nodi—yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ailystyried a chwilio am y cyllid pontio hwnnw. Oherwydd yr hyn a nodant, Weinidog, yw ein bod wedi colli’r cyllid Ewropeaidd a oedd yn sail i hyn oll, a dyna realiti caled y sefyllfa. Ni allaf sefyll yma mewn difrif calon fel Aelod o’r Senedd hon a dweud wrth y Gweinidog, yn wyneb yr holl doriadau sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd ar draws pob maes cyllideb, ‘Cloddiwch yn ddyfnach, Weinidog, dewch o hyd i’r arian ychwanegol yr addawyd y byddem yn ei gael pan fyddai'r arian Ewropeaidd yn diflannu, ac a fyddai ar gael i Gymru.' Ble mae'r arian hwnnw? Yr ateb yw nad yw yno, nid yw wedi'i roi i ni.
Ond mae gennym gymhlethdodau ychwanegol hefyd y mae angen inni fod yn onest yn eu cylch. Nid y cyllid Ewropeaidd yn unig a gollwyd, ond y gallu hefyd i reoli ein prentisiaethau ein hunain yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r ardoll brentisiaethau'n drychineb llwyr. Oherwydd gwyddom y gallwn ddarparu’r prentisiaethau hyn yn dda yng Nghymru, mae gennym hanes o wneud hynny, ond rydym wedi cael ein llesteirio gan awydd Llywodraeth y DU i ddweud, 'Na, ni sy'n rheoli hynny’.
Mae’r holl bethau hyn yn ychwanegol at, ac yn gysylltiedig â'r chwyddiant mewn costau a welsom a’r pwysau cyllidebol ar Lywodraeth Cymru a datganiad y gyllideb yn gyffredinol, nad yw’n dod eleni yn unig, ond flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, i—. Rydym yn aml yn eu galw'n benderfyniadau anodd, ond maent yn benderfyniadau amhosibl. Nawr, rwy'n deall safbwynt Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru a ColegauCymru ar hyn. Maent yn dadlau eu hachos i bob pwrpas, ac rwyf am i’r Gweinidog ymateb i un neu ddau o’r senarios y maent yn eu disgrifio mewn eiliad, ac maent yn gwneud hynny, ond credaf ei bod yn ddyletswydd arnom felly, gan nad ColegauCymru na Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru ydym ni—rydym yn siarad ar ran y bobl ifanc sy'n dymuno dechrau prentisiaethau, ac mewn gwirionedd, y bobl o bob oed sy'n dymuno dechrau prentisiaethau—i ddweud, 'Sut mae ei wneud pan ydym yn wynebu hyn?' Ond rydym naill ai'n aelodau o bleidiau sydd mewn llywodraeth neu bleidiau sy’n dyheu am fod yn llywodraeth rhyw ddydd, ac felly, wrth edrych ar y cyllidebau hyn wrth iddynt fynd drwy bob pwyllgor yn y Senedd ar hyn o bryd, mae rhywun yn mynd i orfod meddwl am rywbeth rhyfeddol wrth i’r rhain fynd drwy bwyllgorau, ac mae rhywun yn mynd i orfod rhoi atebion i’r Gweinidog, atebion nad ydynt yn ymwneud ag adolygiad annibynnol, comisiwn annibynnol ac yn y blaen—gwyddom beth yw’r problemau; gwyddom yn iawn beth yw'r problemau—ond mewn gwirionedd, i feddwl am syniadau ac atebion sy'n dweud, 'Wel, os ydym yn mynd i'w hariannu ar yr un lefel ag y buom yn eu hariannu am y tair blynedd gyntaf, bydd yn rhaid i rywbeth arall fynd.' Mae'n rhaid inni fod yn onest am hynny—yn wirioneddol onest—ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld y bobl ar y pwyllgorau perthnasol yn gwneud hynny.
Ond gadewch imi ddweud yn gryno, Weinidog, fod rhai o'r senarios a ddisgrifiwyd gan ColegauCymru yn awgrymu, wrth edrych ymlaen at y flwyddyn i ddod—y flwyddyn hon sydd o'n blaenau—gan y bydd yn rhaid iddynt ddangos ffafriaeth i bobl sydd eisoes ar lwybrau prentisiaeth, gallai hynny olygu gostyngiad sylweddol, gostyngiad enfawr, mewn prentisiaethau newydd ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Beth fyddai eich ymateb i hynny? Y peth arall yw: oherwydd ffocws Llywodraeth Cymru ar adeiladu, peirianneg, iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, mae’n bosibl iawn y bydd gostyngiad mewn meysydd eraill, gan mai dim ond cyn belled y gellir gwasgaru’r arian, wrth gwrs. Felly, buaswn yn croesawu hynny, ond ymatebion eraill i—fe fydd wedi gweld y papur briffio gan ColegauCymru hefyd, ond ymatebion i'w pryderon gwirioneddol a'r hyn y gallai hyn ei olygu ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod.
Ond gadewch inni fod yn gwbl onest, ac rwy'n ymwybodol fod fy amser ar ben, mae hyn yn sgil hanes blaenorol o fuddsoddiad mawr dros ddwy neu dair blynedd gyntaf y Llywodraeth hon—dros £400 miliwn. Ond mae'r her sylweddol sy'n ein hwynebu yn ymwneud â mwy na phrentisiaethau'n unig. Aeth rhai ohonom allan ddoe a chyfarfod â meddygon iau. Rydym yn cyfarfod, o ddydd i ddydd, ag elusennau digartrefedd; rydym yn cyfarfod, o ddydd i ddydd, â phawb sy'n dweud, yn gwbl briodol, fod eu maes nhw'n faes blaenoriaeth—mae prentisiaethau yn un hefyd. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud mai realiti caled hyn yw bod angen inni gael yr arian i redeg y pethau hyn, ac yna fe'i gwnawn. Ar hyn o bryd, carwn ofyn am sicrwydd gan y Gweinidog y bydd yn gweithio’n galed ac yn adeiladol gyda phob un o’r darparwyr hyfforddiant a’r colegau yng Nghymru i’n tywys yn dda drwy’r 12 mis sydd i ddod, gan olygu y gallwn ddychwelyd, yn y dyfodol, gyda Llywodraeth ar lefel y DU sy'n penderfynu ei bod yn werth buddsoddi yn y materion hyn ac ar draws ein cyllidebau, gan ychwanegu at ein cyllideb, fel y gallwn fod yn ôl ar dir gwastad unwaith eto.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
I thank Huw for the intervention and we share the urgency, absolutely, which is why we want this debate to be heard this afternoon. But it is difficult for us, as opposition parties, despite us asking, time and time again, to come up with alternative budget cuts without us seeing the line-for-line detail that we need. When we have that, we can engage in a proper debate about priorities, but this, for us, is certainly a priority, as I'm sure you share.
Diolch i Huw am yr ymyriad ac rydym yn rhannu'r brys, yn bendant, a dyna pam ein bod am i'r ddadl hon gael ei chlywed y prynhawn yma. Ond er i ni ofyn dro ar ôl tro, mae'n anodd i ni fel gwrthbleidiau awgrymu toriadau cyllidebol amgen heb inni weld y manylion fesul llinell wariant sydd eu hangen arnom. Pan allwn wneud hynny, gallwn gymryd rhan mewn dadl briodol am flaenoriaethau, ond mae hyn, i ni, yn sicr yn flaenoriaeth, fel y mae i chi, rwy'n siŵr.
Mae fy nghyfraniad y prynhawn yma yn un sydd yn bwriadu tynnu sylw at yr effaith y bydd y toriadau i brentisiaethau yn ei chael ar y sector iechyd, ar y gweithlu iechyd ac, yn arbennig, ar ein cymunedau gwledig. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r prentisiaid sy’n dechrau ar eu cwrs yng Nghymru pob blwyddyn yn gysylltiedig â'r sector iechyd a gwasanaethau gofal; mae hyn yn cynnwys ryw 43 y cant o’r holl brentisiaethau sy'n cael eu cynnig.
Gallai toriadau yn y gyllideb arwain at ostyngiad o tua 10,000 o brentisiaethau yn dechrau’r flwyddyn nesaf—gostyngiad o tua 50 y cant—a bydd effeithiau hyn, fel rwyf wedi ei grybwyll eisoes, i’w teimlo yn arbennig yn y sector iechyd a'r sector gofal. Mae prentisiaethau yn y sector iechyd a gofal yn darparu hyfforddiant arbenigol ar gyfer rolau hanfodol mewn gofal cymdeithasol, gofal cartref, gofal iechyd clinigol a llawer mwy. Mewn sector sydd eisoes yn gweiddi am gymorth yn wyneb blynyddoedd o doriadau, mae cwtogi ar brentisiaethau’n mynd i gael effaith andwyol ar gynllunio’r gweithlu a recriwtio a hyfforddiant i'r dyfodol.
My contribution this afternoon is one that intends to draw attention to the impact that these cuts are going to have on the health sector and its workforce, and particularly on our rural communities. The largest number of apprentices starting their courses in Wales every year are associated with the health and care services sector; this includes about 43 per cent of all of the apprenticeships that are offered.
The cuts in the budget could lead to a reduction of around 10,000 apprenticeships starting next year—a reduction of around 50 per cent—and the effects of this, as I've just mentioned, will be felt especially in the health and care sector. Apprenticeships in the health and care sector provide specialist training for essential roles in social care, home care, clinical healthcare and many other areas. In a sector that is already crying out for support in the face of years of cuts, cuts to apprenticeship funding is going to have a detrimental impact on workforce planning, recruitment and training for the future.
Healthcare workers' salaries are lower in Wales than in any other part of these islands, and we know that our healthcare workers are leaving to work and train where there is better pay, better working conditions and access to better training opportunities. And this at a time, for example, in August 2023, when the Welsh NHS was already facing 4,300 staff vacancies. Now, what is the Welsh Government's plan to rectify this? And what does the future of the NHS Wales workforce look like under this Government?
Well, the looming crisis in apprenticeships in health and social care highlights a wider issue: that this Government is not creating enough opportunities for our young people to stay in their communities or to contribute to their local economies. This is all of particular concern in the kinds of rural and coastal communities that I represent in Mid and West Wales. The impact of this drastic cut in apprenticeships on our rural communities will be particularly significant—another blow to rural households and businesses already disproportionately squeezed by the current cost-of-living crisis. Fifty per cent of total apprenticeship starts, annually, are outside the M4 corridor. Here, apprenticeships provide a vital means of accessing work and training where other opportunities to do so are scarce. It's a way into employment for those who often find it difficult through the traditional education-based route.
So, the proposed cuts to the apprenticeship programme budget will also disproportionately impact the kinds of smaller firms that are the backbone of our rural economy. Statistics from the Federation of Small Businesses today show that small and medium-sized enterprises are less likely to host apprenticeships in comparison with medium-sized companies, and as we all know, SMEs make up the vast majority of businesses in rural Wales. So, without the right kinds of Government support, these firms will find it far more difficult to offer on-the-job training. This in turn will limit young people's ability to find training and employment opportunities and thereby stay in and contribute to their local communities.
Mae cyflogau gweithwyr gofal iechyd yn is yng Nghymru nag mewn unrhyw ran arall o'r ynysoedd hyn, ac rydym yn gwybod bod ein gweithwyr gofal iechyd yn gadael i weithio a hyfforddi lle ceir gwell cyflog, gwell amodau gwaith a mynediad at well cyfleoedd hyfforddi. A hyn ar adeg, er enghraifft, ym mis Awst 2023, pan oedd GIG Cymru eisoes yn wynebu 4,300 o swyddi gwag. Nawr, beth yw cynllun Llywodraeth Cymru i unioni hyn? A sut olwg sydd ar ddyfodol gweithlu GIG Cymru o dan y Llywodraeth hon?
Wel, mae'r argyfwng sydd ar y gorwel mewn prentisiaethau ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn tynnu sylw at fater ehangach: nad yw'r Llywodraeth hon yn creu digon o gyfleoedd i'n pobl ifanc aros yn eu cymunedau na chyfrannu at eu heconomïau lleol. Mae hyn i gyd yn bryder arbennig yn y mathau o gymunedau gwledig ac arfordirol rwy'n eu cynrychioli yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru. Bydd effaith y toriad llym i brentisiaethau ar ein cymunedau gwledig yn arbennig o arwyddocaol—ergyd arall i aelwydydd a busnesau gwledig sydd eisoes dan bwysau anghymesur oherwydd yr argyfwng costau byw presennol. Mae 50 y cant o gyfanswm y prentisiaethau newydd bob blwyddyn y tu allan i goridor yr M4. Yma, mae prentisiaethau'n darparu ffordd hanfodol o gael mynediad at waith a hyfforddiant lle mae cyfleoedd eraill i wneud hynny'n brin. Mae'n ffordd i mewn i gyflogaeth i rai sy'n aml yn ei chael hi'n anodd gwneud hynny drwy'r llwybr addysg traddodiadol.
Felly, bydd y toriadau arfaethedig i gyllideb y rhaglen brentisiaethau hefyd yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar y mathau o gwmnïau llai sy'n asgwrn cefn i'n heconomi wledig. Mae ystadegau'r Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach heddiw yn dangos bod mentrau bach a chanolig yn llai tebygol o gynnal prentisiaethau o'u cymharu â chwmnïau canolig eu maint, ac fel y gwyddom i gyd, busnesau bach a chanolig yw'r mwyafrif helaeth o fusnesau yng nghefn gwlad Cymru. Felly, heb y mathau cywir o gefnogaeth gan y Llywodraeth, bydd y cwmnïau hyn yn ei chael hi'n llawer anos cynnig hyfforddiant yn y gwaith. Bydd hyn yn ei dro yn cyfyngu ar allu pobl ifanc i ddod o hyd i gyfleoedd hyfforddi a chyflogaeth a thrwy hynny i aros yn eu cymunedau lleol a chyfrannu atynt.
I orffen, felly, gaf i ofyn a ydy'r Llywodraeth wedi cynnal unrhyw fath o asesiad i ganfod pa effaith y byddai'r toriadau hyn yn ei gael ar ardaloedd gwledig? Os na, wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo heddiw i'r gwaith hwnnw gael ei wneud?
Yn olaf, mae'r hyn sy’n digwydd gyda phrentisiaethau yn dangos, unwaith eto, nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn ddigon ymwybodol o'r heriau gwirioneddol sy'n effeithio ar ein cymunedau gwledig. Rwy'n galw arno fe y prynhawn yma i ddatblygu strategaeth i fynd i'r afael â hyn.
To close, therefore, could I ask whether the Government has conducted any sort of assessment to determine the effect that these cuts will have on rural areas? If not, will the Minister commit today to doing that work?
Finally, what's happening with apprenticeships shows, once again, that the Government is not aware enough of the genuine challenges facing our rural communities. I call on him this afternoon to develop a strategy to tackle this issue.
I thank Plaid for tabling this important debate today. It's really important that we discuss this, as our apprenticeship sector is now in a perilous state. For a Government that agrees with the Conservatives that offering apprenticeships is not only important but is essential, as not everyone is academic, as has already been mentioned today—it is also important for our economy and our future economy in Wales.
Improving skills is meant to be at the heart of the Welsh Government economic strategy, yet, as a result of the funding cut, the sector is forecasting 10,000 fewer apprenticeship starts next year. To put this into context, the latest available figures show that there were around 20,000 new apprenticeship starts in 2021—that's a 50 per cent reduction in new starters. The proposed cuts to the apprenticeship budget in the 2024-25 draft budget are equivalent to 25 per cent in cuts—equivalent to £35 million. These brutal cuts are on top of the £17.5 million already cut from apprenticeships by this Labour Government. The sector have warned that the fall in apprenticeships will disproportionately impact young people and women, and in 2021-22, over half of apprentices were female. Whether it be normal apprenticeships or degree apprenticeships, we are so far behind our neighbours in England and Scotland that it's almost, quite frankly, embarrassing. This is a real failure by this inadequate Government, and from a Minister that wishes to become First Minister of our country. It's extremely worrying, as the Member for Mid and West Wales, Cefin Campbell, has just said, that these Labour cuts will hit the health and social care sector the hardest—health and public service apprenticeships make up nearly 45 per cent of all apprenticeships—at a time when we're crying out for more workforce, Minister, in the NHS, particularly in social care. This Labour Government should be putting investment into ensuring we're plugging these gaps so we can unblock the system, get people out of their hospital beds quicker and back into the community. Not doing so will only exacerbate the current problems we are facing.
When you couple this with the further education cuts, it paints a bleak picture for the next generation of workers. We have already seen the Welsh Government abandon its manifesto pledge of creating 125,000 new apprenticeships by the end of the Senedd term. To reach the new, smaller target there would need to be 84,760 new apprenticeships by 2026. This would mean there need to be 42,308 new apprenticeships a year, almost double what has been reached in February 2022 and April 2023. On this downward trajectory, this is clearly just not going to happen. We are about to see numbers dramatically dropping, if you're honest, Minister, aren't we?
The national federation of Wales warns that the cuts threaten hundreds of jobs in the work-based learning sector, and this is just truly worrying stuff. On the one hand, Welsh Labour claim to be serious about investing in future generations and skills, yet, on the other, we see them pull the ladder of opportunity that apprenticeships offer and cut them to the bone. It is vital that this cut not only be reversed, but be invested in so we can truly see an apprenticeship revolution take off here in Wales. So, I hope this Plaid debate today wakes up the Government to the reality of the consequences of cutting apprenticeships in Wales and the chaos that they are about to unleash on the sector if they don't reverse these damaging cuts. So, I really urge everybody to vote for the motion and our amendments today. Thank you.
Diolch i Blaid Cymru am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon heddiw. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn trafod hyn, gan fod ein sector prentisiaethau bellach mewn cyflwr peryglus. I Lywodraeth sy'n cytuno â'r Ceidwadwyr fod cynnig prentisiaethau nid yn unig yn bwysig ond yn hanfodol, gan nad yw pawb yn academaidd, fel sydd eisoes wedi ei grybwyll heddiw—mae hefyd yn bwysig i'n heconomi a'n heconomi yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol.
Mae gwella sgiliau i fod yn rhan ganolog o strategaeth economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru, ond eto, o ganlyniad i'r toriad mewn cyllid, mae'r sector yn rhagweld y bydd 10,000 yn llai o brentisiaethau newydd yn dechrau y flwyddyn nesaf. Er mwyn rhoi hyn yn ei gyd-destun, mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf sydd ar gael yn dangos bod tua 20,000 o brentisiaethau newydd wedi dechrau yn 2021—dyna ostyngiad o 50 y cant mewn dechreuwyr newydd. Mae'r toriadau arfaethedig i'r gyllideb brentisiaethau yng nghyllideb ddrafft 2024-25 yn doriad o 25 y cant—sy'n cyfateb i £35 miliwn. Daw'r toriadau creulon hyn ar ben y £17.5 miliwn sydd eisoes wedi'i dorri i brentisiaethau gan y Llywodraeth Lafur hon. Mae'r sector wedi rhybuddio y bydd y gostyngiad mewn prentisiaethau yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar bobl ifanc a menywod, ac yn 2021-22, roedd dros hanner y prentisiaid yn fenywod. Boed yn brentisiaethau arferol neu'n radd-brentisiaethau, rydym mor bell y tu ôl i'n cymdogion yn Lloegr a'r Alban nes ei fod bron iawn yn embaras a bod yn onest. Mae'n fethiant gwirioneddol ar ran y Llywodraeth anghymwys hon, ac ar ran Gweinidog sy'n dymuno dod yn Brif Weinidog ein gwlad. Mae'n destun pryder mawr, fel y mae'r Aelod dros Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, Cefin Campbell, newydd ddweud, fod y toriadau Llafur hyn yn mynd i daro'r sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn galetach na dim—prentisiaethau iechyd a gwasanaeth cyhoeddus yw bron i 45 y cant o'r holl brentisiaethau—ar adeg pan fo taer angen mwy o weithlu yn y GIG, Weinidog, yn enwedig mewn gofal cymdeithasol. Dylai'r Llywodraeth Lafur hon fuddsoddi i sicrhau ein bod yn cau'r bylchau hyn a dadflocio'r system, a chael pobl allan o'u gwelyau ysbyty yn gyflymach ac yn ôl i'r gymuned. Bydd peidio â gwneud hynny'n gwaethygu'r problemau sy'n ein hwynebu ar hyn o bryd.
Pan gysylltwch hyn â'r toriadau i addysg bellach, mae'n creu darlun llwm ar gyfer y genhedlaeth nesaf o weithwyr. Rydym eisoes wedi gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi'r gorau i'w haddewid maniffesto o greu 125,000 o brentisiaethau newydd erbyn diwedd tymor y Senedd. Er mwyn cyrraedd y targed newydd llai, byddai angen 84,760 o brentisiaethau newydd erbyn 2026. Byddai hyn yn golygu bod angen 42,308 o brentisiaethau newydd y flwyddyn, bron i ddwbl yr hyn a gyrhaeddwyd ym mis Chwefror 2022 a mis Ebrill 2023. Ar y trywydd tuag i lawr, mae'n amlwg nad yw hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd. A bod yn onest, Weinidog, rydym ar fin gweld niferoedd yn gostwng yn ddramatig, onid ydym?
Mae ffederasiwn cenedlaethol Cymru yn rhybuddio bod y toriadau'n bygwth cannoedd o swyddi yn y sector dysgu seiliedig ar waith, ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n peri pryder gwirioneddol. Ar y naill law, mae Llafur Cymru yn honni eu bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â buddsoddi yng nghenedlaethau'r dyfodol a sgiliau, ond ar y llaw arall, rydym yn eu gweld yn tynnu'r cyfle y mae prentisiaethau'n ei gynnig yn ôl ac yn eu torri i'r asgwrn. Mae'n hanfodol fod y toriad hwn nid yn unig yn cael ei wrthdroi, ond bod yna fuddsoddi ynddynt er mwyn inni allu gweld chwyldro prentisiaethau yn dechrau yma yng Nghymru. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y ddadl hon gan Blaid Cymru heddiw yn deffro'r Llywodraeth i realiti canlyniadau torri prentisiaethau yng Nghymru a'r anhrefn y maent ar fin ei hachosi i'r sector os na fyddant yn gwrthdroi'r toriadau niweidiol hyn. Felly, rwy'n annog pawb i bleidleisio dros y cynnig a'n gwelliannau ni heddiw. Diolch.
Rwyf i wedi gweld a'm llygad fy hunan ar ymweliad i gwmni JES Group ym Mhort Talbot y balchder a'r sgiliau sy'n gallu dod yn sgil prentisiaethau. Roedd yn brofiad gwirioneddol drawiadol gweld cwmni lleol llwyddiannus yn datblygu rhaglen brentisiaethau arloesol sy'n rhoi cyfleon lleol i bobl leol, a'r manteision i'r cwmni, i'r prentisiaid ac i'r gymuned yn gwbl amlwg. Ac, wrth gwrs, fel ŷn ni wedi clywed, mae prentisiaethau yn gallu bod yn llwybr effeithiol ar gyfer symudedd cymdeithasol a modd o ddianc o fagl tlodi amlgenhedlaeth, yn enwedig mewn cymunedau difreintiedig lle mae lefelau uwch o anghydraddoldeb croestoriadol.
Mae'r pryderon ynghylch y toriadau arfaethedig i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau a'r effaith anghymesur y bydd hyn yn ei gael ar grwpiau sydd eisoes dan anfantais yn rhai mae'n rhaid eu hystyried o ddifrif, ac yn rhai y mae Plaid Cymru yn eu gwrthwynebu. Mae yna bryderon am ddyfodol colegau sy'n helpu hyfforddi prentisiaid mewn cymunedau difreintiedig, pryderon am ddiswyddiadau, pryderon am golli cyrsiau ac arbenigedd hyfforddi a chyfleon ar gyfer pobl nid yn unig i wella eu bywydau ond hefyd i gyflenwi sgiliau y mae mawr eu hangen ar gyflogwyr lleol.
Felly, sut mae’r penderfyniad hwn yn ystyried ‘sylw dyledus’ i ddyletswydd economaidd-gymdeithasol Gweinidog yr Economi? Achos mae'r data yn rhoi darlun clir i ni o'r anghydraddoldeb a fydd yn cael ei greu gan doriadau i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau. Fel rŷn ni wedi clywed, mae 36 y cant o brentisiaethau yn y sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a 43 y cant o’r prentisiaethau newydd sy’n dechrau mewn gofal iechyd a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.
Ac, wrth gwrs, mae mwyafrif gweithlu y sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn fenywaidd ac maen nhw'n dueddol o fod dros 25 oed. Mae 59 y cant o'r holl brentisiaethau sy'n cael eu dechrau yn cael eu dechrau gan fenywod. Felly, pan fyddwn ni'n sôn am y gostyngiad yna o 50 y cant yn nifer y prentisiaethau newydd sy’n dechrau, dyw hyn ddim wedi’i wasgaru’n gyfartal ar draws grwpiau demograffig. Mae hyn yn mynd i daro menywod sydd eisoes yn wynebu rhwystrau cyflogaeth a bylchau cyflog rhywedd, gan waethygu anghydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau.
Yn yr un modd, oherwydd bod cyfran sylweddol o brentisiaethau yn y sector gofal iechyd, a bod prentisiaid yn tueddu i fod dros 25 oed—fel y dywedais i, mae 56 y cant o’r rhai sy’n dechrau prentisiaethau dros 25 oed beth bynnag—mae’r toriadau hyn, felly, yn mynd i ddileu cyfleoedd i nifer o bobl hŷn sy’n edrych i ailsgilio, uwchsgilio, efallai wedi colli swyddi oherwydd newidiadau economaidd neu ddiwydiannol—rŷn ni’n wynebu'r rheini yn yr ardal dwi’n ei chynrychioli gyda’r newyddion sy’n edrych fel ei fod e’n mynd i dorri yfory gyda Tata—neu’n atal y rhai hefyd sydd wedi gorfod gadael y gweithlu yn sgil cyfrifoldebau gofal plant, neu gyfrifoldebau gofal eraill, rhag wedyn ddychwelyd drwy ailsgilio. O gofio nad yw’r genhadaeth economaidd yn sôn o gwbl am ddysgwyr sy’n oedolion neu ailsgilio, rhaid gofyn faint o flaenoriaeth yw’r grŵp yma i’r Llywodraeth.
Ym mis Ebrill, bydd Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru yn cael ei ddiddymu a bydd ei swyddogaethau, sy'n cynnwys darpariaeth prentisiaethau, yn cael eu trosglwyddo i’r Comisiwn Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil. Dŷn ni ddim wedi cael datganiad eto gan y Llywodraeth ar flaenoriaethau y corff newydd, na manylion o ddyraniadau cyllid penodol, er rŷn ni'n deall y bydd cyllido ar gyfer gradd-brentisiaethau yn cael eu hamlinellu yn llythyr cyllido’r comisiwn.
Mae gwelliant y Llywodraeth yn datgan y bydd yn cefnogi gradd-brentisiaethau, ond rŷch chi, Weinidog, wedi datgelu mewn llythyr at y Pwyllgor Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig nad oes trosglwyddiadau’n cael eu gweithredu o'r MEG economi fel rhan o gyllideb ddrafft 2024-25 i gefnogi gradd-brentisiaethau. A doedd y Gweinidog addysg y bore yma yn y pwyllgor ddim yn gallu rhoi gwybod a oes yna ddyraniad cyllid ar gyfer gradd-brentisiaethau o fewn ei ddyraniad e ar gyfer CCAUC neu'r comisiwn newydd heb y trosglwyddiad. Wnewch chi roi gwybod i ni, felly, pam nad ydych chi’n trosglwyddo arian o'ch cyllideb chi fel y gwnaethoch y llynedd, o gofio bod gradd-brentisiaethau, wrth roi’r cyfle yna i gyfuno gweithio ac astudio’n rhan amser yn y brifysgol, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu’r ffioedd dysgu yn llawn, yn cynnig llwybr mor bwysig i bobl sy'n edrych i ailsgilio neu uwchsgilio neu geisio gwella eu cyfleon?
Fel rŷn ni wedi clywed gan bawb, mae’r prentisiaethau yn cynnig cyfle unigryw i bobl o gefndiroedd economaidd gymdeithasol difreintiedig, yn rhoi cyfle i ennill arian wrth ddysgu, yn llwybr sy’n newid bywyd, yn arwain nid yn unig at yrfa well, ond hefyd at adeiladu cyfalaf diwylliannol, rhwydweithiau pwysig, cysylltiadau cyflogaeth na fyddai ar gael i lawer o’r bobl hyn fel arall.
Ac o’i ystyried wedyn y toriadau eraill dŷn ni wedi clywed amdanyn nhw—ac mi wnes i sôn amdanyn nhw yn fy nghwestiynau i’r Gweinidog addysg y prynhawn yma—o ran addysg bellach ac addysg uwch, mae’r toriadau hyn wedyn i brentisiaethau fydd yn effeithio yn anghymesur ar bobl sydd angen cyfle, nid cyfyngiadau ar eu gallu i fyw'n dda ac i fyw'n gydradd. Mae'r penderfyniadau hyn yn anghydnaws gyda'r dyhead yna i greu Cymru deg.
I have seen with my own eyes, during a visit to the JES Group company in Port Talbot, the pride and skills that can be derived from an apprenticeship. It was a genuinely striking experience to see a local successful company develop an innovative and successful apprenticeship programme that provides local opportunities to local people. The benefits for the company, for the apprentices, and for the community were very apparent. And, of course, as we've heard, apprenticeships can be an effective route for social mobility and a means of escaping the multigenerational poverty trap, particularly in disadvantaged communities, where there are higher levels of intersectional inequality.
The concerns over the cuts to the apprenticeship programme and the disproportionate impact that this will have on already disadvantaged groups need to be considered seriously, and are ones that Plaid Cymru opposes. There are concerns about the future of colleges that help to train apprentices in disadvantaged communities, concerns regarding redundancies and concerns regarding the loss of courses, training expertise and opportunities for people not only to improve their lives but also to supply skills that are greatly needed by local employers.
So, how does this decision give 'due regard' to the socioeconomic duty of the Minister for Economy? Because the data paint a clear picture of the inequality that will be created by cuts to the apprenticeships programme. As we've heard, 36 per cent of apprenticeships are in the health and social care sector, and 43 per cent of new apprenticeships that are started are in healthcare and public services.
And, of course, the majority of the workforce in the health and social care sector is predominantly female and they tend to be over 25 years old. Fifty-nine per cent of all apprenticeships that are started are started by women. So, when we talk about that 50 per cent reduction in the number of new apprenticeships starting, this is not spread evenly across demographic groups. It's going to hit women who are already facing barriers to employment and gender pay gaps, thereby exacerbating gender inequality.
Similarly, because a significant proportion of apprenticeships are in the healthcare sector, and apprentices tend to be over 25 generally—as I said, 56 per cent of those who start apprenticeships are over 25 anyway—these cuts are going to eliminate opportunities for many older people who are looking to reskill, upskill and who may have lost their jobs due to economic or industrial changes—and we face those in the area that I represent, with the news that looks like it’s going to break tomorrow with Tata—or prevent those who have had to leave the workforce due to childcare responsibilities, or other caring responsibilities, from returning through reskilling. Bearing in mind that the economic mission makes no mention of adult learners or reskilling, we must ask how much of a priority this group is for the Government.
In April, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales will be abolished and its functions, which include the provision of apprenticeships, will be transferred to the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research. We have not yet received a statement from the Government on the priorities of the new body, or details about the specific funding allocations, although we understand that there will be funding for degree apprenticeships outlined in the commission's funding letter.
The Government’s amendment says that it will support degree apprenticeships, but you have stated, Minister, in a letter to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, that there will be no transfers made from the economy MEG as part of the 2024-25 draft budget to support degree apprenticeships. And the Minister for education this morning in the committee was unable to confirm whether there is a funding allocation for degree apprenticeships within the allocation for HEFCW or the new commission without the transfer. Will you let us know, therefore, why you are not transferring money from your budget as you did last year, bearing in mind that degree apprenticeships, in providing an opportunity to combine working with part-time study at university, and with the Welsh Government fully funding the tuition fees, offer such an important route for people looking to reskill or upskill or try to improve their job opportunities?
As we’ve heard from everyone, apprenticeships offer unique opportunities for young people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to earn money while learning, a life-changing pathway, leading not only to a career, but also to the building of cultural capital, important networks and employment contacts that would not otherwise be available to many of these young people otherwise.
And given the other cuts we’ve heard about—and I mentioned them in my questions to the education Minister—in terms of FE and HE, these cuts to apprenticeships will have a disproportionate impact on people who need an opportunity, not restrictions on their ability to live well and to live equally. These decisions are incompatible with the desire to create a fair Wales.
Diolch, Llywydd. Presiding Officer, I’m always glad to hear the passionate support for apprenticeships in debates in this Senedd. It’s particularly gratifying as the number of politicians who have been former apprentices is particularly quite low, and, as a proud former apprentice myself, you have heard me on many occasions, Presiding Officer, say before that some professions are overrepresented in politics in this very place, and we desperately need more former apprentices, from a range of trades, to diversify this place and many other institutions.
Llywydd, my apprenticeship was in engineering, and thousands of others are taking up apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing in my constituency of Alyn and Deeside. Airbus alone trained 4,000 apprentices in the last decade and, in Broughton, I’m proud to say that 70 per cent of UK senior management in Airbus in Broughton started their careers as apprentices. Now, these skills developed during the term of an apprenticeship will of course be vital to Airbus, they’ll be of course vital to the businesses that have other apprenticeship schemes, but they’re also vital to building the Welsh economy, and, no matter how many times Members try to talk Wales down, we really do sit on the edge of opportunity here in Cymru.
The race to net zero requires the development of a green economy, and the Minister and Welsh Government colleagues are right to focus on apprenticeships that can deliver in these skills. Presiding Officer, I recently had the opportunity to speak to the policy team at the Institute of Physics, and they really underscored this point when they told me that physics-related apprenticeships can play a vital and an important part in tackling the skills gap, but also, whilst we do that, bold solutions are needed.
And apprenticeships can work, they do work, and, it's right, they are needed. They're needed at the forefront of the new economy, from green energy to the nuclear industry, to electrical engineering, construction, digital—all of these trades that we've spoken about already. And I'd always want more investment in apprenticeships. In fact, I find it difficult to find anyone more passionate or perhaps more qualified to speak in these debates. But, Presiding Officer, we have to understand that, like all spending, spending on apprenticeships has been damaged. It's been damaged by the failures of Westminster, it's been damaged by the failures of the UK Conservative Government. Apprenticeship funding, like other funding for other services, is paying the price of Liz Truss, it is paying the price of the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, now in crashing and damaging our economy, and it is paying the price of the constant chaos, the constant failure—
Diolch. Lywydd, rwyf bob amser yn falch o glywed y gefnogaeth angerddol i brentisiaethau mewn dadleuon yn y Senedd hon. Mae'n arbennig o foddhaol gan fod nifer y gwleidyddion sydd wedi bod yn gyn brentisiaid yn arbennig o isel, ac fel cyn brentis balch fy hun, Lywydd, rydych wedi fy nghlywed droeon yn dweud o'r blaen fod rhai proffesiynau wedi eu gorgynrychioli mewn gwleidyddiaeth yn y lle hwn, ac mae taer angen mwy o gyn brentisiaid, o ystod o feysydd, i amrywio'r lle hwn a llawer o sefydliadau eraill.
Lywydd, roedd fy mhrentisiaeth i mewn peirianneg, ac mae miloedd o bobl eraill yn cyflawni prentisiaethau mewn gweithgynhyrchu uwch yn fy etholaeth, Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy. Hyfforddodd Airbus ei hun 4,000 o brentisiaid yn y degawd diwethaf, ac ym Mrychdyn, rwy'n falch o ddweud bod 70 y cant o uwch reolwyr y DU yn Airbus ym Mrychdyn wedi dechrau eu gyrfaoedd fel prentisiaid. Nawr, bydd y sgiliau hyn a ddatblygir yn ystod tymor prentisiaeth yn hanfodol i Airbus wrth gwrs, byddant yn hanfodol i'r busnesau sydd â chynlluniau prentisiaeth eraill, ond maent hefyd yn hanfodol i adeiladu economi Cymru, ac ni waeth sawl gwaith y mae Aelodau'n ceisio lladd ar Gymru, rydym yn sefyll ar drothwy cyfle yma yng Nghymru.
Mae'r ras i sero net yn galw am ddatblygu economi werdd, ac mae'r Gweinidog a chyd-Aelodau yn Llywodraeth Cymru yn iawn i ganolbwyntio ar brentisiaethau a all gyflwyno'r sgiliau hyn. Lywydd, cefais gyfle yn ddiweddar i siarad â'r tîm polisi yn y Sefydliad Ffiseg, ac fe wnaethant gadarnhau'r pwynt hwn yn gryf pan wnaethant ddweud wrthyf y gall prentisiaethau sy'n gysylltiedig â ffiseg chwarae rhan hanfodol a phwysig yn mynd i'r afael â'r bwlch sgiliau, ond hefyd, wrth inni wneud hynny, mae angen atebion beiddgar.
Ac fe all prentisiaethau weithio, maent yn gweithio, ac mae'n iawn, mae eu hangen. Mae eu hangen ar y blaen yn yr economi newydd, o ynni gwyrdd i'r diwydiant niwclear, i beirianneg drydanol, adeiladu, digidol—yr holl feysydd hyn y buom yn siarad amdanynt eisoes. A hoffwn weld mwy o fuddsoddiad bob amser mewn prentisiaethau. Mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i unrhyw un sy'n fwy angerddol neu efallai'n fwy cymwys i siarad yn y dadleuon hyn. Ond Lywydd, mae'n rhaid inni ddeall, fel pob gwariant, fod gwariant ar brentisiaethau wedi cael ei niweidio. Mae wedi cael ei niweidio gan fethiannau San Steffan, mae wedi cael ei niweidio gan fethiannau Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU. Mae cyllid prentisiaethau, fel cyllid arall ar gyfer gwasanaethau eraill, yn talu pris Liz Truss, mae'n talu pris y Prif Weinidog, Rishi Sunak, nawr yn chwalu a difrodi ein heconomi, ac mae'n talu pris yr anhrefn cyson, y methiant cyson—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Of course.
Wrth gwrs.
Thank you. Would you not agree with me that we should all be rather grateful for the sake of our constituents that the very same Prime Minister that you have mentioned promised to get inflation down, and he has well and truly done that?
Diolch. Oni fyddech chi'n cytuno y dylem i gyd fod yn ddiolchgar er budd ein hetholwyr fod yr un Prif Weinidog ag y gwnaethoch chi ei grybwyll wedi addo gostwng chwyddiant, a'i fod o ddifrif wedi gwneud hynny?
Janet, I mentioned two Prime Ministers within that, and I reflect on Liz Truss's small premiership, where she absolutely crashed the economy. The reason we're having this very debate now about the difficulties we find ourselves in is because of that Conservative Prime Minister. [Interruption.] I'll take another intervention if the Member wants one.
Janet, soniais am ddau Brif Weinidog o fewn hynny, ac rwy'n meddwl am gyfnod byr Liz Truss fel Prif Weinidog, pan chwalodd hi'r economi'n llwyr. Y rheswm pam ein bod ni'n cael y ddadl hon nawr am yr anawsterau a wynebwn yw oherwydd ei chyfnod hi fel Prif Weinidog Ceidwadol. [Torri ar draws.] Fe dderbyniaf ymyriad arall os yw'r Aelod eisiau un.
I'm prepared to make an intervention if the Member for Alyn and Deeside allows me; it's very kind of him to do so. One of the key issues that has eaten away at budgets across the western hemisphere is inflation, not the premiership of Liz Truss, but inflation caused by the invasion of the Ukraine and the debts that we have to pay following COVID support.
Rwy'n barod i wneud ymyriad os yw'r Aelod dros Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy yn caniatáu i mi; mae'n garedig iawn i wneud hynny. Un o'r materion allweddol sydd wedi erydu cyllidebau ar draws hemisffer y gorllewin yw chwyddiant, nid prif weinidogaeth Liz Truss, ond chwyddiant a achosir gan yr ymosodiad ar Wcráin a'r dyledion y mae'n rhaid inni eu talu yn sgil cymorth COVID.
I'm grateful to Sam Kurtz for making the intervention. I must say, to stand here in the Senedd with a straight face and say that it is nothing to do with the premiership of Liz Truss is very brave and is dishonest, perhaps, of the Member, but fair play to him. What I should say though is the constant, consistent failure—. We are paying the price of the consistent failure—of chaos—in the delivery of growth, which is the hallmark of the Government in Westminster, and, Presiding Officer, the loss of funding to Wales. It's right that we are aware of the loss of funding to Wales, particularly the EU replacement funds, taken by the Conservative Government. That money could well have been spent to fund apprenticeships in Wales. And the Conservative spokesperson says about a national honest conversation; perhaps he should have that conversation with his colleagues as well, because those rules specifically forbid the use of funds on Wales-wide programmes, and yet the Tories cheered on that situation back in 2021 and they do the same today.
I see I'm running out of time, Presiding Officer, so I will wrap up here. But I'll say to our Plaid colleagues as well across the Chamber, in their discussions, the spokesperson for Plaid said in his opening contribution that it wasn't his job to do the job of Government; well, I agree, actually, it's not his job to do that, but what his job is to do, and it's his party's job, is to offer a serious alternative to the Welsh public of the Welsh Government. And I think if they're honest in their assessment today, you haven't had that and that Welsh public haven't had that. But, thankfully, Presiding Officer—and I will finish on this—with what I've said, the good news is, Presiding Officer, that Keir Starmer wants to support the return of the EU funding to Wales and the decision-making powers to Wales. So, once again, the answer is very clear for members of the public: if you want to support a Wales-wide apprenticeship programme, then, when the polls come, you should and must vote Labour.
Diolch i Sam Kurtz am yr ymyriad. Rhaid imi ddweud, mae'r Aelod, drwy sefyll yma yn y Senedd gydag wyneb syth a dweud nad yw'n ddim i'w wneud â phrif weinidogaeth Liz Truss, yn ddewr iawn ac yn anonest, efallai, ond chwarae teg iddo. Yr hyn y dylwn ei ddweud serch hynny yw bod methiant cyson, parhaus—. Rydym yn talu'r pris am fethiant cyson—am anhrefn—i gyflawni twf, sy'n nodweddu'r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, a cholli cyllid i Gymru. Mae'n iawn ein bod yn ymwybodol o golli cyllid i Gymru, yn enwedig cronfeydd yn lle cyllid yr UE, a gymerwyd gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. Mae'n ddigon posibl y gallai'r arian hwnnw fod wedi cael ei wario i ariannu prentisiaethau yng Nghymru. Ac mae llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn sôn am sgwrs genedlaethol onest; efallai y dylai gael y sgwrs honno gyda'i gyd-bleidwyr hefyd, oherwydd mae'r rheolau hynny yn benodol yn gwahardd defnyddio arian ar raglenni ledled Cymru, ac eto fe wnaeth y Torïaid gefnogi'r sefyllfa honno yn ôl yn 2021 ac maent yn gwneud yr un peth heddiw.
Rwy'n gweld fy mod yn brin o amser, Lywydd, felly rwyf am orffen yma. Ond fe ddywedaf wrth ein cyd-Aelodau Plaid Cymru hefyd ar draws y Siambr, yn eu trafodaethau, fod llefarydd Plaid Cymru wedi dweud yn ei gyfraniad agoriadol nad ei waith ef oedd gwneud gwaith y Llywodraeth; wel, rwy'n cytuno mewn gwirionedd, nid ei waith ef yw gwneud hynny, ond ei waith ef, a gwaith ei blaid yw cynnig dewis arall difrifol yn lle Llywodraeth Cymru i'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru. Ac os ydynt yn onest yn eu hasesiad heddiw, rwy'n credu nad ydych chi wedi cael hynny ac nad yw'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru wedi cael hynny. Ond diolch byth, Lywydd—ac rwyf am orffen gyda hyn—gyda'r hyn rwyf wedi'i ddweud, y newyddion da, Lywydd, yw bod Keir Starmer eisiau cefnogi dychwelyd cyllid yr UE i Gymru a'r pwerau gwneud penderfyniadau i Gymru. Felly, unwaith eto, mae'r ateb yn glir iawn i'r cyhoedd: os ydych chi am gefnogi rhaglen brentisiaethau ledled Cymru, pan ddaw'r etholiad, fe ddylech, ac mae'n rhaid i chi bleidleisio dros Lafur.
I'd like to briefly speak on Plaid Cymru's call for a sustainable funding model for apprenticeships. We're looking at an in-year Welsh Government budget cut of £17.5 million. There is a deep context behind this, and that is the European structural funds top-up that went towards the apprenticeship scheme here in Wales. That is now lost and is going to have a devastating effect. The Welsh Government knew that the European structural funds would be withdrawn and they committed to replacing this with £18 million from reserves. Where has that money gone? Why aren't we seeing it now? So, what we are actually going to see isn't just a Welsh Government £17.5 million cut, it is a £38 million reduction between the apprenticeship scheme's contract years of 2023-24 and 2024-25. It feels as though the Welsh Government are hiding behind their budget narrative, as it doesn't factor these structural fund losses. The real scale of the issue at hand here is much more significant and there are real concerns about transparency here. The Welsh Government has to ensure that contract values are being made available and this messaging is clear.
In reality, over several budgets and supplementary budgets, we have actually seen a continual chipping away of the apprenticeship budget to support other Welsh Government priorities; this is despite the Welsh Government's manifesto promise and the economy Minister's recent economic mission aims. But this has been masked by the fact that there have been potential European structural funds to top up contract values and offset any reductions.
Until recently, the commitment to 125,000 apprenticeships was all go. Providers were being informed that the Welsh Government's commitment to its apprenticeships target stood. And then, all of a sudden, there was a massive u-turn. There is a requirement to continue funding these apprenticeships, but there is expected to be insufficient funding available in the contract year 2024-25 to allow for the level of starts initially expected; this is why we're looking at 10,000 fewer apprenticeship starts. Welsh Government needs to commit to ensuring the contract value for 2024-25 is as high as the contract value for 2023-24, as we suggested previously. It is these contract values that really matter and that apprenticeship providers will be considering. There's a real lack of long-term thinking and any critical evaluation of the impacts of these decisions. Where will the proposed reduction in funding hit hardest?
This is why Plaid Cymru is calling for a long-term sustainable funding model for this scheme. Allocations on a one-year basis don't provide the certainty and clarity needed by businesses, learners and educators alike. This short-term thinking and uncertainty is not going to maximise the impact of apprenticeship schemes. Diolch yn fawr.
Hoffwn siarad yn fyr am alwad Plaid Cymru am fodel ariannu cynaliadwy ar gyfer prentisiaethau. Rydym yn edrych ar doriad cyllideb o fewn y flwyddyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru o £17.5 miliwn. Mae cyd-destun dwfn y tu ôl i hyn, sef yr ychwanegiad i gronfeydd strwythurol Ewropeaidd a aeth tuag at y cynllun prentisiaethau yma yng Nghymru. Mae hynny bellach wedi ei golli a bydd yn cael effaith ddinistriol. Roedd Llywodraeth Cymru'n gwybod y byddai'r cronfeydd strwythurol Ewropeaidd yn cael eu tynnu'n ôl ac fe wnaethant ymrwymo i roi £18 miliwn o gronfeydd wrth gefn yn ei le. I ble'r aeth yr arian hwnnw? Pam nad ydym yn ei weld nawr? Felly, yr hyn a welwn mewn gwirionedd yw toriad o £17.5 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sy'n ostyngiad o £38 miliwn rhwng blynyddoedd contract y cynllun prentisiaeth sef 2023-24 a 2024-25. Mae'n teimlo fel pe bai Llywodraeth Cymru'n cuddio y tu ôl i'w naratif cyllidebol, gan nad yw'n cynnwys y colledion hyn o'r gronfa strwythurol. Mae gwir raddfa'r mater dan sylw yn llawer mwy arwyddocaol ac mae pryderon gwirioneddol ynghylch tryloywder. Mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru sicrhau bod gwerthoedd contractau ar gael i'w gweld a bod y negeseuon hyn yn glir.
Mewn gwirionedd, dros nifer o gyllidebau a chyllidebau atodol, rydym wedi gweld y gyllideb brentisiaethau'n cael ei herydu'n gyson i gefnogi blaenoriaethau eraill Llywodraeth Cymru; gwnaed hyn er gwaethaf addewid maniffesto Llywodraeth Cymru a nodau cenhadaeth economaidd Gweinidog yr economi yn ddiweddar. Ond cafodd ei guddio gan y ffaith bod yna bosibilrwydd o gronfeydd strwythurol Ewropeaidd i ychwanegu at werthoedd contract a gwrthbwyso unrhyw ostyngiadau.
Hyd nes yn ddiweddar, roedd yna ymrwymiad gwirioneddol i 125,000 o brentisiaethau. Roedd darparwyr yn cael gwybod bod ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i'w tharged prentisiaethau yn sefyll. Ac yna, yn sydyn, cafwyd tro pedol enfawr. Ceir gofyniad i barhau i ariannu'r prentisiaethau hyn, ond ni ddisgwylir y bydd digon o gyllid ar gael ym mlwyddyn gontract 2024-25 i ganiatáu ar gyfer y lefel o brentisiaethau newydd a ddisgwylid yn wreiddiol; dyna pam ein bod yn edrych ar 10,000 yn llai o brentisiaethau'n dechrau. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i sicrhau bod gwerth y contract ar gyfer 2024-25 mor uchel â gwerth y contract ar gyfer 2023-24, fel yr awgrymwyd gennym yn flaenorol. Y gwerthoedd contract hyn sy'n bwysig mewn gwirionedd ac y bydd darparwyr prentisiaethau yn eu hystyried. Gwelwyd diffyg meddwl hirdymor ac unrhyw werthusiad beirniadol o effeithiau'r penderfyniadau hyn. Ble bydd y gostyngiad arfaethedig mewn cyllid yn taro galetaf?
Dyna pam mae Plaid Cymru yn galw am fodel ariannu hirdymor cynaliadwy ar gyfer y cynllun hwn. Nid yw dyraniadau ar sail un flwyddyn yn darparu'r sicrwydd a'r eglurder sydd eu hangen ar fusnesau, dysgwyr ac addysgwyr fel ei gilydd. Nid yw meddwl tymor byr ac ansicrwydd o'r fath yn mynd i sicrhau'r effaith orau o gynlluniau prentisiaeth. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. It sounds like we're all agreed on something—that is, that apprenticeships are like gold dust; we just need more. And in my view, we would benefit from them being really focused in on the climate emergency. We here in Wales are blessed with a wealth of resources when it comes to renewable energy and we need to capitalise on this. Let's look at one example that many of us have spoken about in this Siambr. Over the past few months, there has been considerable progress made in achieving long-term capacity for floating offshore wind in the Celtic sea—FLOW. However, such progress can only be moved forward with a strategic workforce growth plan, which has to include a slew of apprenticeships.
Experts state that 10,000 new jobs are needed to manufacture just 1 GW of floating offshore wind. That means an estimated 20,000 new jobs will be created by future Celtic sea offshore wind, creating a real need for programmes that will allow us to train the up-and-coming workforce. If we are to be serious about achieving our net-zero targets, then it is fundamentally important that we push for the development of the right skills needed for the green energy sector.
I was, therefore, pleased to see that the Welsh Government has recognised the important role that apprenticeships can play as part of their net-zero skills action plan, but I am concerned about the potential impact that the proposed cuts to the apprenticeship programme will have on this ability to train our new workforce. If we are serious about tackling the climate crisis, then we must ensure that there are no more cuts that impact on the progress of the net-zero skills action plan. We are running out of time. We can't emphasise enough how important it is that we make the switch to green energy now—not tomorrow or the day after, but right now.
The United Kingdom Conservative Government has shown how little they care about the climate crisis, but we here in Wales can do more, but we have to do it at speed and at scale. Apprenticeships in renewable energy are already a possibility. For instance, the offshore wind energy company Ørsted already have a well-established apprenticeship scheme for wind turbine technicians, as well as providing funds for STEM-related training and skills, but the clock is ticking and we need action. We need to lay down a realistic and sustainable action plan that details the types of policies we can develop for skills delivery and workforce development, and apprenticeships are the backbone of the workforce that's needed. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Mae'n swnio fel pe baem i gyd yn gytûn ar rywbeth—hynny yw, fod prentisiaethau fel llwch aur; mwy ohono sydd ei angen. Ac yn fy marn i, byddem yn elwa o'u bod yn canolbwyntio'n fawr ar yr argyfwng hinsawdd. Rydym ni yma yng Nghymru wedi ein bendithio â chyfoeth o adnoddau ynni adnewyddadwy ac mae angen inni fanteisio ar hyn. Gadewch inni edrych ar un enghraifft y mae llawer ohonom wedi siarad amdani yn y Siambr hon. Dros yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf, gwnaed cynnydd sylweddol ar gyflawni capasiti hirdymor gwynt alltraeth arnofiol yn y môr Celtaidd. Fodd bynnag, dim ond gyda chynllun twf strategol ar gyfer y gweithlu y gellir gwneud cynnydd o'r fath, ac mae'n rhaid i hynny gynnwys llu o brentisiaethau.
Dywed arbenigwyr fod angen 10,000 o swyddi newydd i gynhyrchu dim ond 1 GW o wynt alltraeth arnofiol. Mae hynny'n golygu y bydd tua 20,000 o swyddi newydd yn cael eu creu gan wynt alltraeth y môr Celtaidd yn y dyfodol, gan greu angen gwirioneddol am raglenni a fydd yn ein galluogi i hyfforddi'r gweithlu sy'n datblygu. Os ydym am fod o ddifrif ynglŷn â chyflawni ein targedau sero net, mae'n hanfodol bwysig ein bod yn pwyso am ddatblygu'r sgiliau cywir sydd eu hangen ar gyfer y sector ynni gwyrdd.
Roeddwn yn falch felly o weld bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cydnabod y rôl bwysig y gall prentisiaethau ei chwarae yn rhan o'u cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net, ond rwy'n pryderu am yr effaith bosibl y bydd y toriadau arfaethedig i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau'n ei chael ar y gallu i hyfforddi ein gweithlu newydd. Os ydym o ddifrif am fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau na cheir mwy o doriadau sy'n effeithio ar gynnydd y cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net. Rydym yn brin o amser. Ni allwn bwysleisio digon pa mor bwysig yw hi ein bod yn gwneud y newid i ynni gwyrdd nawr—nid yfory na'r diwrnod wedyn, ond nawr.
Mae Llywodraeth Geidwadol y Deyrnas Unedig wedi dangos cyn lleied y maent yn poeni am yr argyfwng hinsawdd, ac fe allwn ni yma yng Nghymru wneud mwy, ond mae'n rhaid inni ei wneud yn gyflym ac ar raddfa fawr. Mae prentisiaethau mewn ynni adnewyddadwy eisoes yn bosibilrwydd. Er enghraifft, mae gan y cwmni ynni gwynt alltraeth Ørsted gynllun prentisiaeth hirsefydledig eisoes ar gyfer technegwyr tyrbinau gwynt, ac maent hefyd yn darparu arian ar gyfer hyfforddiant a sgiliau sy'n gysylltiedig â STEM, ond mae'r cloc yn tician ac mae angen gweithredu. Mae angen inni osod cynllun gweithredu realistig a chynaliadwy sy'n manylu ar y mathau o bolisïau y gallwn eu datblygu ar gyfer cyflwyno sgiliau a datblygu'r gweithlu, a phrentisiaethau yw asgwrn cefn y gweithlu sydd ei angen. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I just wanted to make a short contribution. As Jack Sargeant quite rightly said, there's plenty of support for apprenticeships in this Chamber on a cross-party basis, and I think it's great to hear so many people sharing their enthusiasm for ensuring that we have got people going into apprenticeships and that that pipeline isn't cut off or restricted in some way. We know how important they are to the Welsh economy, and I'm afraid that when you do cut apprenticeship funding, it has knock-on effects elsewhere, which could cause costs to the public purse in Wales and may cost the Welsh Government dearly.
I know that in Conwy and Denbighshire, where we have had very many apprenticeships—many thousands, in fact—since 2019, there would be a real serious impact on those businesses that rely on those skills that those apprenticeships are learning. And as has been said by others in this Chamber, the impact on our healthcare sector and our public sector also should not be overlooked, because at the end of the day, we need to make sure that we have people with the skills that the Welsh workforce will need in the future. The fact is that there have been, just in Conwy and Denbighshire alone, over 800 apprenticeships in the healthcare and public sector parts of the apprenticeship programmes, just in the first three quarters of last year alone.
We know also that demand for apprenticeships has been increasing. It has not been decreasing. The Welsh Government has tried to suggest that it's been decreasing in previous years, and that's why it made cuts to the budget in those years, but of course demand is increasing. More and more people are becoming aware of apprenticeship opportunities. There are more apprenticeship programmes that people can link themselves into. And that's why I don't think it's a good idea to cut this apprenticeship budget. I don't think it's a very good long-term view to have. I think it will have catastrophic consequences for the Welsh economy. And particularly when you consider that elsewhere in the UK, investment in apprenticeships has actually been growing.
Just in 2021, the UK Government allocated a further £200 million to apprenticeships. In the budget, just last year, a further £50 million was allocated to pilots of apprenticeships, to drive the UK economy forward, including in engineering and manufacturing. So, we have this situation where elsewhere in the UK investment in apprenticeships is going up, whereas in Wales we seem to be rowing back from apprenticeships, in spite of their growing popularity. And it will have a catastrophic impact on our economy, because if we don't have the skilled workforce that we need, we won't be attracting the inward investment, we won't be having the new businesses starting up that need those skills, and we'll have those skills gaps, particularly in our national health service, our care workforce, and the public sector, which so desperately depend on these things as well.
So, I'd like to see the Welsh Government looking again at the way it prioritises its budget. Everyone keeps saying, 'Where are you going to find this money?' We know the Welsh Government has spent a huge sum of money already on things that it didn't necessarily have to do, that it could have deprioritised. We mentioned 20 mph zones and changing speed limits for one of them. You didn't have to do that. This is something, I think, that is a much more important thing and ought to have been prioritised in a much better way. So, I would urge the Welsh Government to look again at the budgets. Just in the Grŵp Llandrillo Menai college alone, we know that the cuts next year, the impact of those cuts will be in excess of £5 million, with hundreds of apprentices no longer able to take up those apprenticeship opportunities, and it's a real retrograde step. So, I urge you, Minister, to look again within your department, see where you're focusing your resources, and I'm sure that you'll find lots of wasteful places from where you could divert resources to this budget line.
Hoffwn wneud cyfraniad byr. Fel y dywedodd Jack Sargeant, yn gwbl briodol, mae llawer o gefnogaeth i brentisiaethau yn y Siambr hon ar sail drawsbleidiol, a chredaf ei bod yn wych clywed cymaint o bobl yn rhannu eu brwdfrydedd dros sicrhau bod pobl yn dechrau prentisiaethau ac nad yw'r llif hwnnw'n cael ei dorri neu ei atal mewn rhyw ffordd. Fe wyddom pa mor bwysig ydynt i economi Cymru, a phan fyddwch yn torri cyllid i brentisiaethau, mae arnaf ofn fod hynny'n cael effeithiau canlyniadol mewn mannau eraill, a allai achosi costau i bwrs y wlad yng Nghymru, ac a allai gostio’n ddrud i Lywodraeth Cymru.
Yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych, lle rydym wedi cael llawer iawn o brentisiaethau—miloedd lawer mewn gwirionedd—ers 2019, rwy'n gwybod y byddai effaith wirioneddol ddifrifol ar y busnesau sy’n dibynnu ar y sgiliau y mae’r prentisiaethau hyn yn eu dysgu. Ac fel y dywedwyd gan eraill yn y Siambr hon, ni ddylid diystyru’r effaith ar ein sector gofal iechyd a’n sector cyhoeddus ychwaith, oherwydd yn y pen draw, mae angen inni sicrhau bod gennym bobl sy'n meddu ar y sgiliau y bydd eu hangen ar weithlu Cymru yn y dyfodol. Y gwir amdani yw bod dros 800 o brentisiaethau yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych yn unig yn rhannau gofal iechyd a sector cyhoeddus y rhaglenni prentisiaeth, a hynny yn ystod tri chwarter cyntaf y llynedd yn unig.
Gwyddom hefyd fod y galw am brentisiaethau wedi bod yn cynyddu. Nid yw wedi bod yn lleihau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ceisio awgrymu ei fod wedi bod yn lleihau yn y blynyddoedd blaenorol, a dyna pam y gwnaeth doriadau i’r gyllideb yn y blynyddoedd hynny, ond wrth gwrs, mae’r galw'n cynyddu. Mae mwy a mwy o bobl yn dod yn ymwybodol o gyfleoedd prentisiaeth. Ceir mwy o raglenni prentisiaeth y gall pobl eu dilyn. A dyna pam nad wyf yn credu bod torri’r gyllideb brentisiaethau'n syniad da. Nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn safbwynt hirdymor da i'w gael. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn arwain at ganlyniadau trychinebus i economi Cymru. Ac yn enwedig pan ystyriwch fod buddsoddiad mewn prentisiaethau mewn mannau eraill yn y DU wedi bod yn tyfu mewn gwirionedd.
Yn 2021 yn unig, dyrannodd Llywodraeth y DU £200 miliwn arall i brentisiaethau. Yn y gyllideb y llynedd, dyrannwyd £50 miliwn arall i gynlluniau peilot prentisiaethau, i gryfhau economi’r DU, gan gynnwys ym maes peirianneg a gweithgynhyrchu. Felly, mae gennym sefyllfa lle mae buddsoddiad mewn prentisiaethau yn cynyddu mewn mannau eraill yn y DU, ond yng Nghymru, ymddengys ein bod yn tynnu'n ôl ar brentisiaethau, er gwaethaf eu poblogrwydd cynyddol. A bydd hynny'n cael effaith drychinebus ar ein heconomi, oherwydd os nad oes gennym y gweithlu medrus sydd ei angen arnom, ni fyddwn yn denu'r mewnfuddsoddiad, ni fydd busnesau newydd sydd angen y sgiliau hynny yn dechrau, a bydd gennym fylchau sgiliau, yn enwedig yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, ein gweithlu gofal, a'r sector cyhoeddus, sy'n dibynnu gymaint ar y pethau hyn hefyd.
Felly, hoffwn weld Llywodraeth Cymru yn edrych eto ar y ffordd y mae'n blaenoriaethu ei chyllideb. Mae pawb yn dweud o hyd, 'Ble rydych chi'n mynd i ddod o hyd i'r arian hwn?' Gwyddom fod Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi gwario swm enfawr o arian ar bethau nad oedd yn rhaid iddi eu gwneud, pethau y gallai fod wedi’u dadflaenoriaethu. Fe wnaethom grybwyll y parthau 20 mya a newid terfynau cyflymder yn un ohonynt. Nid oedd yn rhaid ichi wneud hynny. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn llawer pwysicach a dylai fod wedi'i flaenoriaethu mewn ffordd lawer gwell. Felly, hoffwn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i edrych eto ar y cyllidebau. Yng ngholeg Grŵp Llandrillo Menai yn unig, fe wyddom y bydd effaith y toriadau y flwyddyn nesaf yn fwy na £5 miliwn, gyda channoedd o brentisiaid yn methu manteisio ar y cyfleoedd prentisiaeth hynny mwyach, ac mae’n gam yn ôl go iawn. Felly, rwy’n eich annog, Weinidog, i edrych eto o fewn eich adran, gweld lle rydych yn canolbwyntio eich adnoddau, ac rwy’n siŵr y dowch o hyd i lawer o fannau gwastraffus lle gallech ddargyfeirio adnoddau i’r gyllideb hon.
I believe the Welsh Government has a strong record in terms of developing apprenticeship programmes here in Wales, and it really is very concerning that we're now in a position where some of that progress will be weakened. And as Huw Irranca-Davies and Jack Sargeant said, it is very much a result of UK Government austerity, their failure to replace European funding as promised, the apprenticeship levy, and their general approach to austerity. Of course, this will have consequences here in Wales, and we've heard about some of those already in this debate today.
I know that, locally for me, Coleg Gwent anticipate offering around 100 fewer new apprenticeship places from September of this year. Much of their apprenticeship provision is in the area of manufacturing, engineering and construction, so local employers will see a decline in availability of places in those sectors. I also know that the college has been working hard with numerous employers who want to grow apprenticeships in, for example, digital, hospitality and health, and those sectors will now have to wait until further funding becomes available to grow apprenticeships in a way that they and the college would like to see.
I'm also aware of training providers who particularly focus on disengaged young people through apprenticeships and training, and, in doing so, help us tackle the number of young people not in employment, education or training. Of course, that is vital work that is at the heart of our social justice agenda here in Wales, as well as helping to meet the future needs of our economy, in terms of available skills and available employees.
I also think there is work to be done in terms of existing apprenticeships, in terms of the way that we structure them and the content. I hear many people talk about the 14-19 agenda, and I know the economy Minister works with the education Minister on these matters. Sometimes, young people at 14, who want a more vocational experience, do not have the opportunities and the choice available to them that they would wish to have, and they sometimes continue in school when they would like to go to the local FE college, for example. And as a result of not having the choices that they would prefer, they disengage, they don't go along to school as often as they should, and then sometimes, when they go to the college, when they are 16 and they can start vocational courses at the college, they find that they do not meet the required numeracy and literacy skills, because of that disengagement from age 14. So, I do think we need to join up better, in terms of schools and FE colleges, to give better choice and better quality to our young people.
And I also hear a lot of people mentioning that they think the balance is not always right in apprenticeships, for example, those in health and social care, in terms of the hands on, learning by doing elements, as opposed to the more academic aspects. They believe that to be work ready for employers, and to be better engaged with their own education and training experience, it would be better if it was more orientated towards that hands on, learning by doing approach.
So, I do think there are issues around the apprenticeships that we have, of course there are, and they could be strengthened in different ways, but, ultimately, until we get that UK Labour Government working with our Government here in Wales, moving away from that really disabling austerity agenda that's doing so much damage, we won't be in a position to do what so many of us in the Chamber would like to see us doing in terms of apprenticeships and so much else. So, the sooner that UK Labour Government comes, the better.
Credaf fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru hanes cryf o ddatblygu rhaglenni prentisiaeth yma yng Nghymru, ac mae'n destun cryn bryder ein bod bellach mewn sefyllfa lle bydd rhywfaint o'r cynnydd hwnnw'n cael ei wanhau. Ac fel y dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies a Jack Sargeant, mae hynny, i raddau helaeth iawn, yn ganlyniad i gyni Llywodraeth y DU, eu methiant i ddarparu cyllid yn lle cyllid Ewropeaidd fel yr addawyd, yr ardoll brentisiaethau, a’u hymagwedd gyffredinol at gyni. Wrth gwrs, bydd canlyniadau i hyn yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym eisoes wedi clywed am rai o’r rheini yn y ddadl hon heddiw.
Yn lleol i mi, rwy'n gwybod bod Coleg Gwent yn rhagweld y bydd yn cynnig oddeutu 100 yn llai o leoedd prentisiaeth newydd o fis Medi eleni. Mae llawer o'u darpariaeth prentisiaethau ym maes gweithgynhyrchu, peirianneg ac adeiladu, felly bydd cyflogwyr lleol yn gweld gostyngiad yn y lleoedd a fydd ar gael yn y sectorau hynny. Rwy'n gwybod hefyd fod y coleg wedi bod yn gweithio’n galed gyda nifer o gyflogwyr sydd am dyfu prentisiaethau mewn meysydd fel technoleg ddigidol, lletygarwch ac iechyd, er enghraifft, a bydd yn rhaid i’r sectorau hynny aros nawr hyd nes y bydd cyllid pellach ar gael i dyfu prentisiaethau yn y ffordd y byddent hwy a'r coleg am ei gweld.
Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol o ddarparwyr hyfforddiant sy'n canolbwyntio'n arbennig ar bobl ifanc sydd wedi ymddieithrio drwy brentisiaethau a hyfforddiant, ac wrth wneud hynny, maent yn ein helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r nifer o bobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant. Wrth gwrs, mae hwnnw’n waith hanfodol sy'n cael lle canolog yn ein hagenda cyfiawnder cymdeithasol yma yng Nghymru, a bydd yn ein helpu i ddiwallu anghenion ein heconomi yn y dyfodol, o ran y sgiliau sydd ar gael a’r gweithwyr sydd ar gael.
Credaf hefyd fod gwaith i’w wneud mewn perthynas â phrentisiaethau presennol, a'r ffordd rydym yn eu strwythuro a’r cynnwys. Clywaf lawer o bobl yn sôn am yr agenda 14-19, a gwn fod Gweinidog yr economi yn gweithio gyda’r Gweinidog addysg ar y materion hyn. Weithiau, nid yw pobl ifanc 14 oed, sy'n dymuno cael profiad mwy galwedigaethol, yn cael y cyfleoedd a’r dewis y byddent yn dymuno'u cael, ac weithiau maent yn parhau yn yr ysgol pan fyddent yn hoffi mynd i’r coleg addysg bellach lleol, er enghraifft. Ac o ganlyniad i fethu cael y dewisiadau y byddent yn eu ffafrio, maent yn ymddieithrio, nid ydynt yn mynd i'r ysgol mor aml ag y dylent, ac yna weithiau, pan fyddant yn mynd i'r coleg, pan fyddant yn 16 oed ac yn gallu dechrau cyrsiau galwedigaethol yn y coleg, maent yn gweld nad oes ganddynt y sgiliau rhifedd a llythrennedd gofynnol, oherwydd yr ymddieithrio o'r adeg pan oeddent yn 14 oed. Felly, rwy'n credu bod angen i ni gysylltu’n well, yr ysgolion a cholegau addysg bellach, i roi gwell dewis a gwell ansawdd i'n pobl ifanc.
Ac rwyf hefyd yn clywed llawer o bobl yn dweud eu bod yn credu nad yw'r cydbwysedd bob amser yn iawn mewn prentisiaethau, er enghraifft, y rhai ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, o ran yr elfennau ymarferol a dysgu drwy wneud, o gymharu â'r agweddau mwy academaidd. Er mwyn bod yn barod i weithio i gyflogwyr, ac i ymgysylltu’n well â’u profiad addysg a hyfforddiant eu hunain, maent yn credu y byddai’n well pe byddent yn canolbwyntio mwy ar y dull ymarferol, dysgu drwy wneud hwnnw.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod materion yn codi ynghylch y prentisiaethau sydd gennym, wrth gwrs, a gallent gael eu cryfhau mewn gwahanol ffyrdd, ond yn y pen draw, hyd nes y cawn Lywodraeth Lafur y DU yn gweithio gyda'n Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru, a symud oddi wrth yr agenda gyni wirioneddol gyfyngol sy'n gwneud cymaint o niwed, ni fyddwn mewn sefyllfa i wneud yr hyn yr hoffai cymaint ohonom yn y Siambr ein gweld yn ei wneud mewn perthynas â phrentisiaethau a chymaint o bethau eraill. Felly, gorau po gyntaf y cawn Lywodraeth Lafur yn y DU.
Gweinidog yr Economi nawr, Vaughan Gething.
The Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething.
Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you to Members for their contributions from across the Chamber in this debate. There's much to agree upon, in terms of the value of apprenticeships. The challenge, though, is: what does the Government do with the challenges that we face in having a budget that balances? UK Government choices and high inflation mean that our budget next year is now worth £1.3 billion less compared with the figures originally set out by the Chancellor two years ago. Or, to put that another way, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, last year, had £1.2 billion to run all of their services—midwives, health visitors, local practice, community services, and a range of hospitals—and we have lost more than their entire budget from the Welsh Government budget. In addition to that, the loss of EU replacement funds means that we are £375 million a year worse off, or to put it another way, the entire revenue budget of Caerphilly council. That is the gap that we have to make up.
Now, I've heard much about the impact of these Tory cuts—a brave effort from one Tory to say that they aren't her cuts at all. We haven't heard much about whether, for example, health and local government should be budget priorities for the Welsh Government. That has a consequence. We haven't heard anything about which areas should be cut to protect apprenticeships. The levelling-up funds, which we have talked about a little today, specifically forbid local authorities from pooling money together for these sorts of all-Wales programmes, even those with the value, the purpose and the support around this Chamber like apprenticeships.
It's worth bearing in mind how much we used European funds: over £200 million in the last round of European funds were spent on supporting apprenticeships. That isn't a sum of money to find easily in most circumstances, never mind nearly 14 years deep into austerity. Despite those UK Government cuts, we'll continue to invest in quality apprenticeships to provide both our young people, and indeed as part of our all-age programme, successful futures for our apprentices.
In the first two full financial years of this Senedd term, this Welsh Government invested £273 million in apprenticeships. Last year, we invested £147 million in apprenticeships—the highest figure spent in any single year. We've committed over £400 million to apprenticeships in this Senedd term already. I have been clear that painful decisions have been taken within the economy budget. Within that budget, I chose to prioritise apprenticeships, and that in itself has consequences for every other area of my budget. We talked about those in front of the culture committee today: the reality that protecting that spend in relative terms has real consequences everywhere else. But I did that because I believe that investment in apprenticeships does help to build stronger careers, to earn more in work and offer progression. That's why this does remain the biggest individual spend priority within my departmental budget. We will invest £138 million next year in apprenticeships for the long-term benefits and careers that they deliver. That means painful choices for other budget lines that have been reduced.
Apprenticeship starts over the whole of this term will at least be at the same level as in the last entire Senedd term. We continue to focus on those sectors where we know apprenticeship opportunities will make the greatest difference. They will still continue to support our young person's guarantee, helping young people at the start of their careers, and businesses will still be able to recruit apprentices to find opportunities to develop their own staff. It will though, honestly, mean fewer apprenticeship opportunities, especially in those areas that have not been identified as priorities. I recognise what Jane Dodds said about a key priority area in the transition to net zero. So, we'll continue to prioritise sectors where we believe we can make the biggest difference.
Our recognised strengths in Wales and our growth potential continues to make Wales a great place to invest. Our economic priorities build on our reputation as a stable Government that businesses can work with and plan with. Despite pressures on our budgets, we will continue to invest in those sectors and skills that will drive growth and economic renewal, and that includes continuing to invest in our degree apprenticeship programme, with the new rail engineer programme starting in January this year, and construction coming on stream in this September. [Interruption.] I'll give way.
Diolch, Lywydd, a diolch i’r Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau o bob rhan o’r Siambr yn y ddadl hon. Mae llawer i gytuno arno, o ran gwerth prentisiaethau. Yr her, serch hynny, yw: beth mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud â’r heriau sy’n ein hwynebu wrth fantoli'r gyllideb? Mae dewisiadau Llywodraeth y DU a chwyddiant uchel yn golygu bod ein cyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf bellach yn werth £1.3 biliwn yn llai o gymharu â’r ffigurau a osodwyd yn wreiddiol gan y Canghellor ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Neu i roi hynny mewn ffordd arall, roedd gan Cwm Taf Morgannwg, y llynedd, £1.2 biliwn i redeg eu holl wasanaethau—bydwragedd, ymwelwyr iechyd, practisau lleol, gwasanaethau cymunedol, ac ystod o ysbytai—ac rydym wedi colli gwerth mwy na’u cyllideb gyfan o gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, mae colli'r arian a oedd i fod i gael ei ddarparu yn lle cyllid yr UE yn golygu ein bod £375 miliwn y flwyddyn yn waeth ein byd, neu o'i roi mewn ffordd arall, cyllideb refeniw gyfan cyngor Caerffili. Dyna’r bwlch y mae'n rhaid i ni ei lenwi.
Nawr, rwyf wedi clywed llawer am effaith y toriadau Torïaidd hyn—ymdrech ddewr gan un Tori i ddweud nad ei thoriadau hi mohonynt o gwbl. Nid ydym wedi clywed llawer ynglŷn ag a ddylai iechyd a llywodraeth leol, er enghraifft, fod yn flaenoriaethau cyllidebol i Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae canlyniad i hynny. Nid ydym wedi clywed unrhyw beth ynglŷn â pha feysydd y dylid eu torri i ddiogelu prentisiaethau. Mae’r cronfeydd ffyniant bro, y buom yn sôn ychydig amdanynt heddiw, yn gwahardd awdurdodau lleol yn benodol rhag cyfuno arian ar gyfer y mathau hyn o raglenni Cymru gyfan, hyd yn oed y rhai sydd â gwerth, diben a chefnogaeth o amgylch y Siambr hon, fel prentisiaethau.
Mae'n werth cofio faint o ddefnydd roeddem yn ei wneud o arian Ewropeaidd: gwariwyd dros £200 miliwn yn y rownd ddiwethaf o gronfeydd Ewropeaidd ar gefnogi prentisiaethau. Nid yw hwnnw'n swm o arian hawdd ei ganfod ar y gorau, heb sôn am ar ôl bron i 14 mlynedd o gyni. Er gwaethaf y toriadau gan Lywodraeth y DU, byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn prentisiaethau o safon i ddarparu dyfodol llwyddiannus i’n pobl ifanc, ac yn wir, fel rhan o’n rhaglen bob oed, i’n holl brentisiaid.
Yn ystod dwy flynedd ariannol lawn gyntaf tymor y Senedd hon, buddsoddodd Llywodraeth Cymru £273 miliwn mewn prentisiaethau. Y llynedd, fe wnaethom fuddsoddi £147 miliwn mewn prentisiaethau—y ffigur uchaf a wariwyd mewn unrhyw flwyddyn. Rydym eisoes wedi ymrwymo dros £400 miliwn i brentisiaethau yn nhymor y Senedd hon. Rwyf wedi dweud yn glir fod penderfyniadau anodd wedi’u gwneud yng nghyllideb yr economi. O fewn y gyllideb honno, dewisais flaenoriaethu prentisiaethau, ac mae hynny ynddo’i hun yn arwain at ganlyniadau i bob maes arall yn fy nghyllideb. Buom yn sôn amdanynt gerbron y pwyllgor diwylliant heddiw: y realiti fod diogelu’r gwariant hwnnw mewn termau cymharol yn arwain at ganlyniadau real ym mhobman arall. Ond fe wneuthum hynny am fy mod yn credu bod buddsoddi mewn prentisiaethau yn helpu i adeiladu gyrfaoedd cryfach, i gael swyddi sy'n talu'n well ac i gynnig cyfle i gamu ymlaen yn eich gyrfa. Dyna pam mai dyma'r flaenoriaeth unigol fwyaf o hyd o ran gwariant yn fy nghyllideb adrannol. Byddwn yn buddsoddi £138 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf mewn prentisiaethau ar gyfer y buddion hirdymor a’r gyrfaoedd y maent yn eu darparu. Mae hynny'n golygu dewisiadau anodd ar gyfer cyllidebau eraill sydd wedi'u lleihau.
Bydd nifer y prentisiaethau sy'n dechrau yn ystod y tymor cyfan hwn o leiaf ar yr un lefel ag yn nhymor cyfan diwethaf y Senedd. Rydym yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar y sectorau lle gwyddom y bydd cyfleoedd prentisiaeth yn gwneud y gwahaniaeth mwyaf. Byddant yn parhau i gefnogi ein gwarant i bobl ifanc, gan helpu pobl ifanc ar ddechrau eu gyrfaoedd, a bydd busnesau'n dal i allu recriwtio prentisiaid i ddod o hyd i gyfleoedd i ddatblygu eu staff eu hunain. Yn onest, fodd bynnag, fe fydd yn golygu llai o gyfleoedd prentisiaeth, yn enwedig yn y meysydd nad ydynt wedi’u nodi fel blaenoriaethau. Rwy’n cydnabod yr hyn a ddywedodd Jane Dodds am faes blaenoriaeth allweddol wrth bontio i sero net. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i flaenoriaethu sectorau lle credwn y gallwn wneud y gwahaniaeth mwyaf.
Mae ein cryfderau cydnabyddedig yng Nghymru a’n potensial ar gyfer twf yn parhau i wneud Cymru yn lle gwych i fuddsoddi ynddo. Mae ein blaenoriaethau economaidd yn adeiladu ar ein henw da fel Llywodraeth sefydlog y gall busnesau weithio gyda hi a chynllunio gyda hi. Er gwaethaf y pwysau ar ein cyllidebau, byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi yn y sectorau a’r sgiliau a fydd yn ysgogi twf ac adfywio economaidd, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys parhau i fuddsoddi yn ein rhaglen radd-brentisiaethau, gyda’r rhaglen peirianwyr rheilffyrdd newydd yn dechrau ym mis Ionawr eleni, ac adeiladu yn dechrau ym mis Medi eleni. [Torri ar draws.] Fe ildiaf.
Thank you for taking the intervention. Thank you. You talked about budget pressures and the fact that the UK Government isn't funding Wales properly. If Labour were to get into power in Westminster in the next election, would Keir Starmer give Wales fair funding, and will you commit to putting pressure on a UK Labour Government to give Wales the fair funding we need in order to fund these projects?
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Diolch. Fe sonioch chi am bwysau ar y gyllideb a’r ffaith nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn ariannu Cymru’n briodol. Pe bai Llafur yn dod i rym yn San Steffan yn yr etholiad nesaf, a fyddai Keir Starmer yn rhoi cyllid teg i Gymru, ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo i roi pwysau ar Lywodraeth Lafur y DU i roi’r cyllid teg sydd ei angen arnom yng Nghymru er mwyn ariannu’r prosiectau hyn?
I'll come back to future apprenticeship funding—I'm very pleased you've made the point. I do, though, want to turn to deal with some of the other points made in the debate.
Jack Sargeant was absolutely right, the UK Government designed out the ability of the Welsh Government to take part in all-Wales apprenticeship programmes. They knew that would mean that the apprenticeship programme would be broken. I'm glad Huw Irranca-Davies mentioned the apprenticeship levy. The finance Minister at the time received one note—it was Mark Drakeford at the time—that there would be a sum coming in with the apprenticeship levy. The problem is, £9 million more was taken out of Wales. Introducing the apprenticeship levy took £9 million out of Wales. Let's hear nothing from the Tories or their apologists that stand by the apprenticeship levy as a success—it is a cost to Wales.
It has been suggested we should have a sustainable long-term funding model. I'd like to have that; it's an aspiration for the long term. However, the reality of further round upon round of UK Government austerity means we can't do that. In the final year of the current three-year funding settlement, we have no certainty of our funding beyond that. We have no idea what will come from the UK Government budget in March. It may not be good news. We expect the UK Government to undertake a multi-year spending review to provide us with long-term certainty. However, we don't have details of whether that will be the case.
To deal with the point around the gap in contract values, it is roughly £40 million. If we were to make up that gap for apprenticeship providers, that is more than the combined budget of Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales. We could close both organisations and still not meet the gap to meet current contract values. Nobody but nobody should give the Tories a free pass on breaking referenda promises, on breaking manifesto promises, on breaking promises made within this Chamber. This is the direct consequence of Tory broken promises; the direct consequence of Wales having less say over less money. And it is rank hypocrisy in this Chamber, and through the media, for Tory Members to complain about the fact that we can't spend more money in this area, whilst being cheerleaders for a UK-Government approach that is taking money out of Wales—more than £1.3 billion less than two years ago, the loss of revenue from EU funds the size of the entire Caerphilly council revenue budget. That is what they have done, and yet, still, they want us to be cheerleaders for Wales having less say over less money. This Government will not do that.
In contrast, UK Labour have committed that, if we form the next UK Labour Government, the budgets and the powers will be restored where they belong: to this Welsh Government, to this Senedd. I am personally committed to restoring a national apprenticeship programme; this Government remains committed to apprenticeships for our economic future. I'll be proud to be able to do so with the pace that I think our country deserves, when we have the funding we deserve as well.
Dof yn ôl at gyllid prentisiaethau ar gyfer y dyfodol—rwy'n falch iawn eich bod wedi gwneud y pwynt. Fodd bynnag, hoffwn ymdrin â rhai o’r pwyntiau eraill a wnaed yn y ddadl.
Roedd Jack Sargeant yn llygad ei le, cafodd Llywodraeth y DU wared ar allu Llywodraeth Cymru i gymryd rhan mewn rhaglenni prentisiaeth Cymru gyfan. Roeddent yn gwybod y byddai hynny’n golygu y byddai’r rhaglen brentisiaethau'n doredig. Rwy'n falch fod Huw Irranca-Davies wedi crybwyll yr ardoll brentisiaethau. Derbyniodd y Gweinidog cyllid ar y pryd—Mark Drakeford—un nodyn, sef y byddai swm yn cael ei ddarparu gyda’r ardoll brentisiaethau. Y broblem yw bod Cymru wedi colli £9 miliwn. Mae Cymru wedi colli £9 miliwn yn sgil cyflwyno’r ardoll brentisiaethau. Ni ddylem wrando ar y Torïaid na’r rhai sy'n eu hamddiffyn sy’n dal i ddweud bod yr ardoll brentisiaethau'n llwyddiant—mae’n gost i Gymru.
Awgrymwyd y dylem gael model ariannu hirdymor cynaliadwy. Hoffwn gael hynny; mae'n ddyhead ar gyfer y tymor hir. Fodd bynnag, mae realiti rownd ar ôl rownd o gyni pellach gan Lywodraeth y DU yn golygu na allwn wneud hynny. Ym mlwyddyn olaf y setliad cyllido tair blynedd presennol, nid oes gennym unrhyw sicrwydd o’n cyllid y tu hwnt i hynny. Nid oes gennym unrhyw syniad beth a ddaw o gyllideb Llywodraeth y DU ym mis Mawrth. Efallai na fydd yn newyddion da. Rydym yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth y DU gynnal adolygiad o wariant amlflwyddyn i roi sicrwydd hirdymor i ni. Fodd bynnag, nid oes gennym unrhyw fanylion ynglŷn ag a fydd hynny'n digwydd.
I ymdrin â’r pwynt ynghylch y bwlch yng ngwerth contractau, mae oddeutu £40 miliwn yn fras. Pe baem yn llenwi’r bwlch hwnnw ar gyfer darparwyr prentisiaethau, mae hynny’n fwy na chyllideb gyfunol Amgueddfa Cymru a Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru. Gallem gau'r ddau sefydliad, a byddem yn dal i fethu llenwi'r bwlch presennol yng ngwerth contractau. Ni ddylai unrhyw un roi rhwydd hynt i’r Torïaid dorri addewidion refferenda, i dorri addewidion maniffesto, i dorri addewidion a wnaed yn y Siambr hon. Dyma ganlyniad uniongyrchol y Torïaid yn torri eu haddewidion; y canlyniad uniongyrchol lle mae gan Gymru lai o lais dros lai o arian. Ac mae'n rhagrithiol i Aelodau Torïaidd gwyno yn y Siambr hon ac yn y cyfryngau na allwn wario mwy o arian yn y maes hwn, gan ganmol dull Llywodraeth y DU sy'n mynd ag arian o Gymru ar yr un pryd—mwy na £1.3 biliwn yn llai na ddwy flynedd yn ôl, colli refeniw o gronfeydd yr UE sy'n gyfwerth â chyllideb refeniw gyfan cyngor Caerffili. Dyna maent wedi’i wneud, ac eto, maent yn dal i fod eisiau inni ganmol y ffaith bod gan Gymru lai o lais dros lai o arian. Nid yw'r Llywodraeth hon yn mynd i wneud hynny.
Mewn cyferbyniad, os byddwn yn Llywodraeth Lafur nesaf y DU, mae Llafur y DU wedi ymrwymo y bydd y cyllidebau a’r pwerau’n cael eu rhoi yn ôl lle dylent fod: gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda’r Senedd hon. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n bersonol i adfer rhaglen brentisiaethau genedlaethol; mae’r Llywodraeth hon yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i brentisiaethau ar gyfer ein dyfodol economaidd. Byddaf yn falch o allu gwneud hynny ar y cyflymder y credaf fod ein gwlad yn ei haeddu, a phan fydd gennym y cyllid rydym yn ei haeddu.
Luke Fletcher, nawr, i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Luke Fletcher to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank all Members who contributed in the debate. I think, actually, what was reinforced in the debate was something that we all already knew to be true, which is that, across the parties, we all accept the importance of apprenticeships. And I hope, actually, the Minister realises that on the apprenticeship agenda, he has a number of allies across the Chamber. Some of us won't be nominating him for First Minister, but on this agenda, he has allies indeed.
Huw Irranca touched on some key points, I think: EU funding and the apprenticeship levy. On EU funding, it highlights the debate we had yesterday: the need for fairness in funding for Wales, which we aren't seeing right now. And there's the issue with the levy, of course, needing to be addressed, as the Minister referenced, with Wales losing as a result of the levy not working via the Barnett formula. You also touched on the need for difficult conversations, and I agree.
The Minister asked what's a Government to do. Well, I'd start, perhaps, with a willingness to engage with opposition parties on the budget process a bit more, and a bit more transparently. You know, I spoke about allies here. One idea, potentially, is if we were all to work on a way forward as a Senedd—as a Senedd, highlight the priorities that we wish to see in the budget, a sort of 'one Wales' budget in a time of fiscal crisis. That is a personal thought, Llywydd, but it was building much on what Huw Irranca set out and the difficult conversations that we're going to need to have. The more those conversations are open, the more that we have—each and every one of us—the data, the information to be able to have those difficult conversations, I think the better.
A key thing that a number of Members touched on was the cross-sector effect of apprenticeship cuts. We've talked in the budget process so far about priority areas. The Conservative amendments actually touch on this in the sense that we talked in the budget process about health being a priority area. Well, cuts to apprenticeships will negatively affect the health portfolio in the sense that we're seeing cuts to apprenticeships in health and social care. So, if the logic follows that health is a priority, then surely that also would mean the support for apprenticeships within health and social care should also be a priority. I think it was Darren Millar, actually, who pointed out that policy cuts in this particular area will have negative effects in other areas, therefore costs in other areas, only then snowballing into other problems.
If we aren't careful, if we don't play this right, then we are, I think, talking about a serious gamble, and a costly gamble at that. We'll stifle our ability to transition to net zero. We'll stifle our ability to achieve our ambitions in the new tech sectors—the semiconductor sector just an example. And we'll have further failed to deliver public services to the standards we all want to see. I do try to avoid dramatic language, Llywydd, but all signs point to this cut having a devastating impact not just in the apprenticeship area specifically, but across all sectors of our economy and across all portfolios within the Government.
I'd thank again all Members for their contributions. I hope this is actually the start of us being able to work together on this particular agenda; as I said, the Minister has allies in this particular area. So, I move the motion, I hope Members will support it, and I hope Members will also be supporting the Conservative amendments in this case as well. Diolch.
Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch i’r holl Aelodau a gyfrannodd at y ddadl. Rwy'n credu mai’r hyn a atgyfnerthwyd yn y ddadl oedd rhywbeth roedd pob un ohonom eisoes yn gwybod ei fod yn wir, sef bod pob un ohonom, ar draws y pleidiau, yn derbyn pwysigrwydd prentisiaethau. A gobeithio bod y Gweinidog yn sylweddoli bod ganddo nifer o gynghreiriaid ar draws y Siambr ar yr agenda brentisiaethau. Ni fydd rhai ohonom yn ei enwebu i fod yn Brif Weinidog, ond ar yr agenda hon, mae ganddo gynghreiriaid yn wir.
Rwy'n credu bod Huw Irranca wedi crybwyll rhai pwyntiau allweddol: cyllid yr UE a’r ardoll brentisiaethau. Ar gyllid yr UE, mae’n tynnu sylw at y ddadl a gawsom ddoe: yr angen am gyllid teg i Gymru, nad ydym yn ei weld ar hyn o bryd. Ac mae angen mynd i'r afael â'r ardoll, wrth gwrs, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, gan fod Cymru ar ei cholled o ganlyniad i'r ffaith nad yw'r ardoll yn gweithio drwy fformiwla Barnett. Fe sonioch chi hefyd am yr angen am sgyrsiau anodd, ac rwy'n cytuno.
Gofynnodd y Gweinidog beth y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud. Wel, buaswn yn dechrau, efallai, gyda pharodrwydd i ymgysylltu ychydig bach mwy â’r gwrthbleidiau ar broses y gyllideb, ac mewn ffordd ychydig yn fwy tryloyw. Wyddoch chi, soniais am gynghreiriaid yma. Un syniad, o bosibl, yw pe bai pob un ohonom yn gweithio ar ffordd ymlaen fel Senedd—fel Senedd, tynnu sylw at y blaenoriaethau y dymunwn eu gweld yn y gyllideb, rhyw fath o gyllideb 'Cymru’n un’ mewn cyfnod o argyfwng cyllidol. Fy marn bersonol i yw hynny, Lywydd, ond roedd yn adeiladu ar yr hyn a nododd Huw Irranca a'r sgyrsiau anodd y bydd angen i ni eu cael. Gorau oll po fwyaf agored y bydd y sgyrsiau hynny, po fwyaf o ddata, o wybodaeth a fydd gennym—pob un ohonom—i allu cael y sgyrsiau anodd hynny.
Un peth allweddol y soniodd nifer o’r Aelodau amdano oedd effaith draws-sector y toriadau i brentisiaethau. Rydym wedi siarad ym mhroses y gyllideb hyd yma am feysydd blaenoriaeth. Mae gwelliannau’r Ceidwadwyr yn cyfeirio at hyn yn yr ystyr inni sôn ym mhroses y gyllideb am iechyd fel maes blaenoriaeth. Wel, bydd toriadau i brentisiaethau yn cael effaith negyddol ar y portffolio iechyd yn yr ystyr ein bod yn gweld toriadau i brentisiaethau ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Os yw’r rhesymeg yn dilyn, felly, fod iechyd yn flaenoriaeth, mae’n siŵr y byddai hynny'n golygu y dylai cymorth i brentisiaethau ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol fod yn flaenoriaeth hefyd. Rwy'n credu mai Darren Millar a nododd y bydd toriadau polisi yn y maes penodol hwn yn cael effeithiau negyddol ar feysydd eraill, ac felly'n arwain at gostau mewn meysydd eraill, ac yn troi wedyn yn broblemau eraill.
Os nad ydym yn ofalus, os nad ydym yn gwneud hyn yn iawn, credaf ein bod yn sôn am gambl ddifrifol, a gambl gostus ar hynny. Byddwn yn mygu ein gallu i drosglwyddo i sero net. Byddwn yn mygu ein gallu i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau yn y sectorau technoleg newydd—un enghraifft yw'r sector lled-ddargludyddion. A byddwn wedi methu darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i'r safonau yr hoffai pob un ohonom eu gweld. Rwy'n ceisio osgoi defnyddio iaith ddramatig, Lywydd, ond mae pob arwydd y bydd y toriad hwn yn cael effaith ddinistriol nid yn unig ym maes prentisiaethau yn benodol, ond ar draws pob sector yn ein heconomi ac ar draws pob un o bortffolios y Llywodraeth.
Hoffwn ddiolch eto i’r holl Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau. Gobeithio mai dyma'r dechrau, mewn gwirionedd, i allu gweithio gyda'n gilydd ar yr agenda benodol hon; fel y dywedais, mae gan y Gweinidog gynghreiriaid yn y maes hwn. Felly, rwy'n gwneud y cynnig, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau’n ei gefnogi, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cefnogi gwelliannau’r Ceidwadwyr yn yr achos hwn hefyd. Diolch.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, mae yna wrthwynebiad. Felly fe wnawn ni adael y pleidleisiau tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. We will therefore defer voting until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Dyma ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai fod tri Aelod yn dymuno i fi ganu'r gloch, awn ni'n syth i'r pleidleisiau.
Y bleidlais gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw'r bleidlais ar eitem 5, y ddadl ar gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod: Bil ar sicrwydd hinsawdd i blant a phobl ifanc. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Delyth Jewell. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 22, 17 yn ymatal, 13 yn erbyn, ac felly mae'r bleidlais yna wedi ei chymeradwyo.
That brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, we will proceed directly to the vote.
The first vote this afternoon is on item 5, the debate on a Member's legislative proposal: a Bill on climate assurance for children and young people. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Delyth Jewell. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 22, 17 abstentions and 13 against, and therefore the motion is agreed.
Eitem 5. Dadl ar Gynnig Deddfwriaethol gan Aelod – Bil ar sicrwydd hinsawdd i blant a phobl ifanc: O blaid: 22, Yn erbyn: 13, Ymatal: 17
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 5. Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal – A Bill on climate assurance for children and young people: For: 22, Against: 13, Abstain: 17
Motion has been agreed
Y bleidlais nesaf fydd y bleidlais ar eitem 6, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Rwy'n galw am bleidlais felly ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 14, neb yn ymatal, 38 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.
The next vote will be on item 6, the Welsh Conservatives debate on healthcare inspection and funding. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 14, no abstentions, 38 against. Therefore the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 14, Yn erbyn: 38, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Healthcare inspection and funding. Motion without amendment: For: 14, Against: 38, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, bydd gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn cael eu dad-ddethol. Agor y bleidlais ar welliant 1. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal, felly dwi'n defnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn y gwelliant. Ac felly, mae'r gwelliant wedi'i drechu, gyda 26 pleidlais o blaid a 27 yn erbyn.
The next vote is on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. Open the vote on amendment 1. Close the vote. The vote is tied, and I exercise my casting vote against the amendment. Therefore the amendment is not agreed, by 26 votes in favour to 27 against.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Healthcare inspection and funding. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Amendment has been rejected
Gwelliant 2 fydd nesaf, yn enw Mabon ap Gwynfor. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 38, neb yn ymatal, 14 yn erbyn, ac felly mae gwelliant 2 wedi'i gymeradwyo.
We'll now move to amendment 2, tabled in the name of Mabon ap Gwynfor. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 38, no abstentions, 14 against, therefore amendment 2 is agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Mabon ap Gwynfor: O blaid: 38, Yn erbyn: 14, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Healthcare inspection and funding. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Mabon ap Gwynfor: For: 38, Against: 14, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Gwelliant 3 fydd nesaf, yn enw Mabon ap Gwynfor. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 52, neb yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Mae gwelliant 3 wedi'i dderbyn.
We'll move now to amendment 3, tabled in the name of Mabon ap Gwynfor. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 52, no abstentions, none against. Amendment 3 is agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Gwelliant 3, cyflwynwyd yn enw Mabon ap Gwynfor: O blaid: 52, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Healthcare inspection and funding. Amendment 3, tabled in the name of Mabon ap Gwynfor: For: 52, Against: 0, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio, felly, yw'r bleidlais nesaf.
We will now vote on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM8452 fel y'i diwygiwyd
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi Adroddiad Blynyddol Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru 2022-2023.
2. Yn gresynu bod yr adroddiad:
a) yn amlygu risgiau yn ymwneud â gofal brys, pryderon staffio, llif gwael cleifion a hygyrchedd apwyntiadau;
b) yn datgan bod oedi yn aml o ran rhyddhau cleifion oherwydd prinder staff gofal cymdeithasol a gweithwyr cymdeithasol i asesu anghenion rhyddhau; ac
c) heb ddod o hyd i dystiolaeth fod mentrau Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud gwahaniaeth clir a sylweddol i wasanaethau ar y rheng flaen.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) dileu toriadau a wnaed i Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yng nghyllideb ddrafft 2024-2025, ac ehangu eu cylch gwaith i ymchwilio i gwynion;
b) sefydlu amserlen gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ar gyfer archwilio'r bron i 60 y cant o wasanaethau gofal iechyd nad ydynt wedi'u harolygu yn ystod y 5 mlynedd diwethaf;
c) gwneud cais ffurfiol i Lywodraeth y DU am adolygiad cynhwysfawr o Fformiwla Barnett i sicrhau cyllid teg ar gyfer pob maes cyllideb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol;
d) cyflwyno cynllun sylweddol ar gyfer y gweithlu gydag ad-daliad ffioedd dysgu ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal iechyd sy'n aros yng Nghymru am bum mlynedd ar ôl eu hastudiaethau; ac
e) cynyddu nifer y prentisiaethau gradd sydd ar gael yn y sector gofal iechyd i roi mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc ymuno â'r proffesiwn ac aros yng Nghymru i weithio.
Motion NDM8452 as amended
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales Annual Report 2022-2023.
2. Regrets that the report:
a) highlighted risks relating to emergency care, staffing concerns, poor patient flow and the accessibility of appointments;
b) states that there are often delays in patient discharges due to shortages in social care staff and social workers to assess discharge needs; and
c) did not find evidence of Welsh Government initiatives making a clear and significant difference to services at the front line.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) scrap cuts made to Healthcare Inspectorate Wales in the 2024-2025 draft budget, and expand their remit to investigate complaints;
b) establish a timetable with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales for the inspection of the nearly 60 per cent of healthcare services that have not been inspected in the last 5 years;
c) formally request from the UK Government a comprehensive review of the Barnett Formula to ensure fair funding for all budget areas in Wales, including health and social care;
d) bring forward a substantial workforce plan with a tuition fee refund for healthcare workers that stay in Wales for five years after their studies; and
e) increase the availability of degree apprenticeships in the healthcare sector to provide greater opportunities for young people to enter the profession and remain in Wales to work.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 12, neb yn ymatal, 40 yn erbyn, felly mae'r cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio wedi'i wrthod.
Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 12, no abstentions, 40 against, therefore the motion as amended is not agreed.
Eitem 6. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Arolygu ac ariannu gofal iechyd. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 12, Yn erbyn: 40, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Healthcare inspection and funding. Motion as amended: For: 12, Against: 40, Abstain: 0
Motion as amended has been rejected
Mae'r pleidleisiau nesaf ar ddadl Plaid Cymru ar brentisiaethau. Mae'r bleidlais gyntaf ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Luke Fletcher. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 12, neb yn ymatal, 40 yn erbyn. Mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.
The next votes are on the Plaid Cymru debate on apprenticeships. The first vote is on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Luke Fletcher. Open the vote. In favour 12, no abstentions, 40 against. The motion is therefore not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Prentisiaethau. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 12, Yn erbyn: 40, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Apprenticeships. Motion without amendment: For: 12, Against: 40, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Gwelliant 1 fydd nesaf, ac os derbynnir gwelliant 1, bydd gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn cael eu dad-ddethol. Felly, pleidlais ar welliant 1, yn enw Lesley Griffiths. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal, ac felly dwi'n defnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn gwelliant 1. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 yn cael ei drechu o 26 pleidlais o blaid i 27 pleidlais yn erbyn.
We will now vote on amendment 1. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. I call for a vote on amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is tied, and therefore I exercise my casting vote against amendment 1. Therefore, amendment 1 is not agreed, with 26 in favour and 27 against.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Prentisiaethau. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Apprenticeships. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths.: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Amendment has been rejected
Gwelliant 2 fydd nesaf, yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Mae'r bleidlais yn gyfartal, felly dwi'n defnyddio fy mhleidlais fwrw yn erbyn gwelliant 2. Mae'r bleidlais yn cael ei threchu o 26 pleidlais i 27 yn erbyn. Felly, gwelliant 2 wedi cwympo.
We now move to amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is tied. I exercise my casting vote against amendment 2, which is not agreed. Twenty-six in favour and 27 against. Amendment 2 therefore falls.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Prentisiaethau. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gan fod nifer y pleidleisiau yn gyfartal, defnyddiodd y Llywydd ei phleidlais fwrw yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 6.20(ii).
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Apprenticeships. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar: For: 26, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).
Amendment has been rejected
Gwelliant 3 sydd nesaf, yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 25, neb yn ymatal, 27 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r gwelliant wedi'i wrthod.
We move to amendment 3, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 25, no abstentions, 27 against. Therefore, the amendment is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Prentisiaethau. Gwelliant 3, cyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar: O blaid: 25, Yn erbyn: 27, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Apprenticeships. Amendment 3, tabled in the name of Darren Millar: For: 25, Against: 27, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
Felly, mae hynny'n golygu bod yr holl welliannau a'r cynnig wedi'u gwrthod a does dim byd wedi'i gymeradwyo o dan yr eitem yna. Dyna ddiwedd ar ein cyfnod pleidleisio ni, ac awn ni ymlaen gyda'r ddadl fer.
Therefore, all amendments and the motion were not agreed, and so nothing is agreed under this particular item. That concludes voting time, and we will now move on to the short debate.
Os gwnaiff Aelodau yn y Siambr adael yn dawel, mae'r ddadl fer heddi i'w chyflwyno gan Gareth Davies.
If Members who are leaving the Chamber could do so quietly, we will move to the short debate and I call Gareth Davies.
Gareth Davies, you can start the short debate.
Gareth Davies, gallwch ddechrau'r ddadl fer.
Diolch, Llywydd. Today I'm going to talk about social care in Wales and discuss the merits of different remedies available that can alleviate some of the challenges in what is a complex sector with many complex problems. I intend to give a minute of my time to my colleague James Evans.
I'd like to begin by acknowledging the time that tens of thousands of people across Wales give to care for others, whether social care in a professional capacity or whether unpaid support for others, including parents or children. There is a near unanimous view that social care in Wales is still in the midst of a crisis, with 100 per cent of NHS leaders surveyed agreeing with this assessment in 2022. And whilst I appreciate that many of these challenges are not unique to Wales, this debate, I hope, will shed light on some of the most challenging issues in social care. Importantly, though, this debate will give Senedd Members an opportunity to discuss solutions to some of these problems.
Diolch, Lywydd. Heddiw, rwy'n mynd i siarad am ofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru a thrafod rhinweddau gwahanol atebion sydd ar gael a all liniaru rhai o'r heriau mewn sector cymhleth sydd â llawer o broblemau cymhleth. Rwy'n bwriadu rhoi munud o fy amser i fy nghyd-Aelod James Evans.
Hoffwn ddechrau drwy gydnabod yr amser y mae degau o filoedd o bobl ledled Cymru yn ei roi i ofalu am eraill, boed yn ofal cymdeithasol mewn rôl broffesiynol neu'n gymorth di-dâl i eraill, gan gynnwys rhieni neu blant. Ceir barn bron yn unfrydol fod gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru yn dal i fod yng nghanol argyfwng, gyda 100 y cant o arweinwyr y GIG a arolygwyd yn cytuno â'r asesiad hwn yn 2022. Ac er fy mod yn derbyn bod llawer o'r heriau hyn heb fod yn unigryw i Gymru, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y ddadl hon yn taflu goleuni ar rai o'r materion mwyaf heriol ym maes gofal cymdeithasol. Ond yn bwysig, bydd y ddadl hon yn rhoi cyfle i Aelodau'r Senedd drafod atebion i rai o'r problemau hyn.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Some of the issues impacting social care in Wales that I would like to touch on this afternoon are recruitment and workforce retention, and an improved relationship between NHS trusts and the social care sector. I sent Members a document with some recent figures that highlight some of the pressures on the social care sector at the moment. Workforce retention is particularly poor in the social care sector with a particularly high staff turnover. There are varying reasons for this but, chiefly, broadly low pay in the social care sector leaves carers feeling undervalued. We often see that care workers leave the profession for alternative employment that pays a very similar wage but inevitably comes with less responsibility. Many care workers are undervalued for this reason and they have to work unsociable hours with pay that is the same as for a supermarket worker. Why would someone want to remain in the care sector with the burden of responsibilities looking after another person's welfare when that isn't reflected in the social care pay, when you consider the responsibilities that they have in comparison to other low-paid sectors?
The options for career progression can also be low, with most caring roles offering no real route to progress. Fair pay that reflects the work that those in the care sector do, along with good working conditions, will go a long way to ensuring that care workers feel like they are being compensated for their labour.
A study conducted by Oxfam in 2020 showed that 68 per cent of adults in Wales think that care work is not valued highly enough by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government has introduced a real living wage for social care workers, which we support, with an uplift to £10.90 per hour. This realistically is a bare minimum and is a wake-up call that more Government money will not fix this issue alone, but, with the right investment model, the industry would be paying a fair wage. I would like to see more investment in early education, which creates 2.5 times as many jobs as the same investment in construction and yields greater tax returns. Spend on social security benefits also decreases as it enables parents to work more hours without state assistance.
The burden on the NHS is also reduced significantly when we have a successful, functioning social care system. Currently, we are still seeing bottlenecks forming in hospital wards where patients are not being discharged when they are medically fit to be discharged, as the appropriate care cannot be procured at home. People are therefore taking up valuable bed space in hospitals, which costs the taxpayer more money and causes delays for patients who need the bed space more.
A particular avenue that I think should be explored in order to aid recruitment into the social care sector is utilising the transferrable skills possessed by unpaid care workers. By current census data, there are 310,000 unpaid care workers in Wales, and should they choose a career in the currently unattractive care sector, there is no acknowledgement of their caring responsibilities outside of a professional setting. I think that these transferrable skills should be acknowledged and honed in a professional setting with something akin to a fast-track care training scheme for those with unpaid personal caring experience.
The announcement of the draft budget by the Welsh Government did cause concern, with a predicted £646 million funding gap in social services. The Welsh Local Government Association has said that councils were facing record levels of demand in both children's and adults' services.
There are many other factors very much involved that are intertwined with the health service, such as prevention. 'A Healthier Wales' and general public awareness of healthier eating will lead to the prevention of many social care issues that could have been avoided. An overall move towards a healthier Wales will lower the rates of obesity and heart disease, and will relieve pressure on social care significantly. Figures from 2021 show that 62 per cent of people in Wales are overweight or obese, which significantly increases the likelihood of the need for obese individuals to require care, or bariatric patients, as they're referred to in healthcare settings.
To close, Deputy Presiding Officer, people who provide care and support for others, including parents, unpaid carers and the childcare and social care workforce, form an invisible network that holds society together. It is important that we recognise the importance of care work in society and the importance of the industry, and recognise the crisis first and adopt solutions to these problems. Thank you very much.
Rhai o'r materion sy'n effeithio ar ofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru yr hoffwn eu crybwyll y prynhawn yma yw recriwtio a chadw gweithlu, a pherthynas well rhwng ymddiriedolaethau'r GIG a'r sector gofal cymdeithasol. Anfonais ddogfen at yr Aelodau gyda ffigurau diweddar sy'n tynnu sylw at beth o'r pwysau ar y sector gofal cymdeithasol ar hyn o bryd. Mae lefelau cadw staff yn y gweithlu yn arbennig o wael yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol gyda throsiant staff arbennig o uchel. Mae yna resymau amrywiol am hyn ond yn bennaf, mae cyflogau isel yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol yn golygu bod gofalwyr yn teimlo nad ydynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi. Rydym yn aml yn gweld bod gweithwyr gofal yn gadael y proffesiwn i waith arall sy'n talu cyflog tebyg iawn ond sy'n anochel yn cynnwys llai o gyfrifoldeb. Mae llawer o weithwyr gofal yn teimlo nad ydynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi am y rheswm hwn ac mae'n rhaid iddynt weithio oriau anghymdeithasol gyda chyflog sydd yr un fath ag i weithiwr archfarchnad. Pam y byddai rhywun eisiau aros yn y sector gofal gyda'r baich cyfrifoldeb o ofalu am les rhywun arall pan nad yw hynny'n cael ei adlewyrchu yn y tâl gofal cymdeithasol, pan ystyriwch y cyfrifoldebau sydd ganddynt o gymharu â sectorau eraill lle mae cyflogau'n isel?
Gall yr opsiynau ar gyfer camu ymlaen mewn gyrfa fod yn brin hefyd, gyda'r rhan fwyaf o rolau gofalu heb fod yn cynnig llwybr go iawn ar gyfer camu ymlaen. Bydd cyflog teg sy'n adlewyrchu'r gwaith y mae'r rhai yn y sector gofal yn ei wneud, ynghyd ag amodau gwaith da, yn cyfrannu'n helaeth at sicrhau bod gweithwyr gofal yn teimlo eu bod yn cael tâl iawn am eu llafur.
Dangosodd astudiaeth a gyflawnwyd gan Oxfam yn 2020 fod 68 y cant o oedolion yng Nghymru yn credu nad yw gwaith gofal yn cael ei werthfawrogi'n ddigonol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyflwyno cyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, gan ei godi i £10.90 yr awr, ac rydym yn cefnogi hynny. Yn realistig, lleiafswm pur yw hwn ac mae'n rhybudd na fydd rhagor o arian gan y Llywodraeth yn datrys y mater ar ei ben ei hun, ond gyda'r model buddsoddi cywir, byddai'r diwydiant yn talu cyflog teg. Hoffwn weld mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn addysg gynnar, sy'n creu 2.5 gwaith cymaint o swyddi â'r un buddsoddiad mewn adeiladu ac yn cynhyrchu mwy o enillion treth. Mae gwariant ar fudd-daliadau nawdd cymdeithasol hefyd yn gostwng am ei fod yn galluogi rhieni i weithio mwy o oriau heb gymorth gwladwriaethol.
Mae'r baich ar y GIG hefyd yn cael ei leihau'n sylweddol pan fydd gennym system gofal cymdeithasol lwyddiannus a gweithredol. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn dal i weld tagfeydd yn ffurfio mewn wardiau ysbyty lle nad yw cleifion yn cael eu rhyddhau pan fyddant yn ffit yn feddygol i gael eu rhyddhau, am na ellir cael y gofal priodol gartref. Mae pobl felly'n mynd â gofod gwely gwerthfawr mewn ysbytai, sy'n costio mwy o arian i'r trethdalwr ac yn achosi oedi i gleifion y mae mwy o angen gwely arnynt.
Un llwybr arbennig y credaf y dylid ei archwilio er mwyn cynorthwyo recriwtio i'r sector gofal cymdeithasol yw defnyddio'r sgiliau trosglwyddadwy sydd gan weithwyr gofal di-dâl. Yn ôl data cyfredol y cyfrifiad, mae 310,000 o weithwyr gofal di-dâl yng Nghymru, ac os ydynt yn dewis gyrfa yn y sector gofal sy'n anatyniadol ar hyn o bryd, ni cheir cydnabyddiaeth i'w cyfrifoldebau gofalu y tu allan i leoliad proffesiynol. Rwy'n credu y dylid cydnabod a mireinio'r sgiliau trosglwyddadwy hyn mewn lleoliad proffesiynol gyda rhywbeth tebyg i gynllun hyfforddiant gofal llwybr cyflym i'r rhai sydd â phrofiad personol o ofal di-dâl.
Roedd cyhoeddi'r gyllideb ddrafft gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn peri pryder, gyda bwlch cyllid a ragwelir o £646 miliwn yn y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Mae Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru wedi dweud bod cynghorau yn wynebu'r lefelau uchaf erioed o alw mewn gwasanaethau i blant ac i oedolion.
Mae yna lawer o ffactorau eraill sy'n gysylltiedig ac sy'n cydblethu â'r gwasanaeth iechyd, fel atal. Bydd 'Cymru Iachach' ac ymwybyddiaeth gyffredinol y cyhoedd o fwyta'n iachach yn arwain at atal llawer o broblemau gofal cymdeithasol y gellid bod wedi'u hosgoi. Bydd symudiad cyffredinol tuag at Gymru iachach yn gostwng cyfraddau gordewdra a chlefyd y galon, a bydd yn lleihau'r pwysau ar ofal cymdeithasol yn sylweddol. Mae ffigurau o 2021 yn dangos bod 62 y cant o bobl yng Nghymru dros eu pwysau neu'n ordew, sy'n cynyddu'n sylweddol y tebygolrwydd y bydd unigolion gordew angen gofal, neu gleifion bariatrig, fel y cyfeirir atynt mewn lleoliadau gofal iechyd.
I orffen, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae pobl sy'n darparu gofal a chymorth i eraill, gan gynnwys rhieni, gofalwyr di-dâl a'r gweithlu gofal plant a gofal cymdeithasol, yn ffurfio rhwydwaith anweledig sy'n dal cymdeithas gyda'i gilydd. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd gwaith gofal yn y gymdeithas a phwysigrwydd y diwydiant, ac yn cydnabod yr argyfwng yn gyntaf a mabwysiadu atebion i'r problemau hyn. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'd like to thank Gareth Davies for bringing this short debate to the Chamber today, because we all know the link that social care has to actually relieve the pressures on our wider health service here in Wales. We all know that there are far too many people sitting in our hospitals with delayed transfers of care between our hospitals and the care system, and it's something that I wanted to raise today, because I know that many of my constituents are actually stuck in hospitals and haven't got the care packages that they need to come back home or back into the community. So, I'd be very interested to hear from the Deputy Minister today what plans the Welsh Government have got to address those delayed transfers of care, because if we can do that, it would take so much pressure off our accident and emergency departments and, actually, get those people who are waiting outside A&E departments into them and into the care that they need in our hospitals.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Gareth Davies am gyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon i'r Siambr heddiw, gan ein bod i gyd yn gwybod am y cysylltiad rhwng gofal cymdeithasol â lleddfu'r pwysau ar ein gwasanaeth iechyd ehangach yma yng Nghymru. Rydym i gyd yn gwybod bod llawer gormod o bobl yn eistedd yn ein hysbytai gydag oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal rhwng ein hysbytai a'r system ofal, ac mae'n rhywbeth roeddwn am ei godi heddiw, oherwydd gwn fod llawer o fy etholwyr yn gaeth mewn ysbytai ac nad oes ganddynt y pecynnau gofal sydd eu hangen arnynt i ddod yn ôl adref neu ddychwelyd i'r gymuned. Felly, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn clywed gan y Dirprwy Weinidog heddiw pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael ag oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal, oherwydd os gallwn wneud hynny, byddai'n tynnu cymaint o bwysau oddi ar ein hadrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ac yn cael y bobl sy'n aros y tu allan i adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys i mewn iddynt ac at y gofal sydd ei angen arnynt yn ein hysbytai.
Galwaf ar Ddirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i ymateb i'r ddadl—Julie Morgan.
I call on the Deputy Minister for Social Services to reply to the debate—Julie Morgan.
Diolch am y cyfle i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Thank you for the opportunity to reply to this debate.
I'd like to thank my colleague the Member for the Vale of Clwyd for putting forward this important subject today and, also, for stressing the importance of the care system to society as a whole. I'm deeply committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens, and those who care for them, are able to lead healthy and fulfilled lives, achieving what matters to them.
As a Government, supporting our most vulnerable people is our top priority, and I am proud of our track record in prioritising investment in services that will support them. For example, we continue to protect and, indeed, increase the local government settlement, with a 3.1 per cent increase proposed for the next financial year. This includes funding within the local government revenue settlement to meet the cost of the real living wage for social care workers. Gareth acknowledged in his speech that he does support the introduction of the real living wage for social care workers, and I thank him for his recognition of how important that is.
We have shown committed leadership in protecting services for our more vulnerable groups in Wales, and this—
Hoffwn ddiolch i fy nghyd-Aelod yr Aelod dros Ddyffryn Clwyd am gyflwyno'r pwnc pwysig hwn heddiw a hefyd am bwysleisio pwysigrwydd y system ofal i gymdeithas gyfan. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n ddwfn i sicrhau bod ein dinasyddion mwyaf agored i niwed, a'r rhai sy'n gofalu amdanynt, yn gallu byw bywydau iach a chyflawn, gan gyflawni'r hyn sy'n bwysig iddynt.
Fel Llywodraeth, cefnogi ein pobl fwyaf agored i niwed yw ein prif flaenoriaeth, ac rwy'n falch o'n hanes o flaenoriaethu buddsoddiad mewn gwasanaethau a fydd yn eu cefnogi. Er enghraifft, rydym yn parhau i ddiogelu, ac yn wir i gynyddu'r setliad llywodraeth leol, gyda chynnydd o 3.1 y cant yn cael ei gynnig ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cyllid o fewn y setliad refeniw i lywodraeth leol i dalu cost y cyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol. Cydnabu Gareth yn ei araith ei fod yn cefnogi cyflwyno'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, a diolch iddo am gydnabod pwysigrwydd hynny.
Rydym wedi dangos arweinyddiaeth ymroddedig wrth ddiogelu gwasanaethau ar gyfer ein grwpiau mwy agored i niwed yng Nghymru, a—
Deputy Minister, will you take an intervention from Gareth?
Ddirprwy Weinidog, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad gan Gareth?
Whereas the real living wage is supported by me and the Welsh Conservative group, it's also incumbent, I think, on us to look at other ideas across the career of a social care worker, in terms of training and feeling valued in those roles so that the pay, then, does complement a good career that can attract people into the workforce, so that they feel like it is a rewarding career and that there is career progression and glass ceiling breaking, as I've alluded to with you on many occasions.
Er bod y cyflog byw gwirioneddol yn cael ei gefnogi gennyf fi a grŵp y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, mae hefyd yn ddyletswydd arnom, rwy'n credu, i edrych ar syniadau eraill ar draws gyrfa gweithiwr gofal cymdeithasol, o ran hyfforddiant a theimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi yn y rolau hynny fel bod y cyflog wedyn yn ategu gyrfa dda a all ddenu pobl i'r gweithlu, fel eu bod yn teimlo ei bod yn yrfa werth chweil a bod modd camu ymlaen yn yr yrfa honno a thorri nenfwd gwydr, fel y nodais ar sawl achlysur.
Yes. Thank you very much. Again, I agree with that point, and, as you know, we have set up the social care fair work forum, which has produced proposals for progression within the social care field and we have actually consulted on those proposals. But that is obviously a very important point.
So, as you said, Gareth, in your contribution, the social care workforce is a great priority for us in the Welsh Government, and we have invested significant funding in the sector, in addition to the local government revenue settlement, in order to develop a sustainable social care workforce. For example, we've given £34.4 million to local authorities through the workforce and sustainable services grant; £13 million across regions to support workforce development and training through the Social Care Wales workforce development programme administered by Social Care Wales, which is also Welsh Government funded; and £10 million, over three years, investment in the social worker bursary to make the social work degree financially attainable and to attract people to an attractive career, and we have already seen a rise in the number of people applying to social work courses because of the bursary, so I think that is good progress there.
In addition to this, we continue to protect investment that will build community capacity to enable vulnerable people to live and stay well at home, and that is our aim—for vulnerable people to live and stay well at home. Some examples of that: the £146 million regional integration fund, the RIF, is supporting 187 projects providing integrated health and care services in our communities. These projects and services work with our most vulnerable people to enable them to live as independently as possible in the community, helping to prevent the need for hospital admission or to help them return home quickly if they've needed hospital care. And many of those projects are specifically geared towards that.
Since 2022, we're providing an additional £12 million over three years to improve neurodevelopmental services, and also, from 2022, we've invested £42 million to deliver much-needed support to unpaid carers. I know that Gareth mentioned unpaid carers specifically in his contribution, and they do hold the whole system together, and I think we all acknowledge that. We're also investing capital funds, via the integration and rebalancing capital fund, to support the development of integrated health and care community hubs, ensuring that people have easier access to information, care and support within their own localities. This capital fund is also supporting the development of not-for-profit residential care facilities across Wales, and I'm sure that the Member of the Senedd for the Vale of Clwyd would be interested to hear—or, I'm sure, he knows—that we've recently agreed funding of over £7 million for the development of a 56-bedroom residential home on the Croes Atti site in Flint to provide residential care and integrated care services for older people in Flintshire, and I'm looking forward to visiting this site very soon.
Further to this, we must not forget our commitment to supporting our wider community delivery partners within the third sector, without whom many vulnerable people would feel isolated and unable to achieve what matters to them. The regional integration fund is investing over £23.7 million in this crucial sector, along with the £9.3 million that we will be investing next year via our five-year sustainable social services third sector grant.
I've been working this winter very closely with my colleague the Minister for Health and Social Services, and she has also invested an additional £8.4 million to build community capacity and increase community nursing at weekends, including for those people who are on end-of-life care pathways. I know, in his contribution, James Evans specifically mentioned people who were waiting in hospital and who were medically fit to go home. That is one of our highest priorities, because, obviously, it's very damaging for people to stay in hospital when they are medically fit and able to go. And we have worked very closely on this issue, working with local authorities and building up the partnership. In fact, we had a meeting today of our care action committee, so I can assure you that this is one of our highest priorities.
We have carried out really extensive work across the health and social care sector to try to get swift discharge from hospital in order to prevent further deterioration. Health boards and local authorities have been formally reporting on their pathways of care delays, and we've now got a much more specific way of reporting on the pathway of care delays and we're now able to take a much more focused approach in order to tackle delays. As a result, we have made significant progress, I would say, in already reducing the number of people waiting to go home or to go on to their next stage of care, and we're expecting more figures very soon that I think will show that we're on the right trajectory, that we are going the right way and numbers are coming down. So, these are just a few examples of the work we're doing to support what we know are some of the most vulnerable people in Wales.
However, over the last 30 years the population of Wales has grown by 8 per cent, or 232,000 people. The population is also ageing, with the number of people aged over 65 increasing by 35 per cent, from 493,000 to 666,000, and we do expect this trend to continue. For that reason, we do have ambitious plans to do more in order to ensure we have a sustainable and effective health and care system for the future.
The expert group report, which came about as a result of the co-operation agreement with our partners in Plaid Cymru, 'Towards a National Care and Support Service for Wales', tells us, as does the evaluation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, that the fundamental aims and principles of the legislation that we've got in place are still relevant and are still very widely supported. So, we have therefore been working very closely with a wide range of stakeholders to develop the foundations of a national care service for Wales that will help to improve the consistency and quality of social care services across Wales and support more effective implementation of the Act. I think, as I've said, that the legislation, the Act, is absolutely fine, but we have still a long way to go in terms of the implementation.
So, to set the foundations for achieving the aims of the Act and moving us towards a national care and support service, we are implementing a major programme of improvement and transformation that includes the launch of a national commissioning framework for care and support services, establishing a national office for care and support services, the elimination of profit from the care of children and young people who are looked after, strengthening and supporting our workforce, strengthening partnership working across health and social care and developing an integrated community health and care system, and building capacity and capability to support our most vulnerable children and young people to be cared for closer to home.
With the support of our co-operation agreement partners, our commitment to developing a national care service will help to improve and standardise social care systems and practice across Wales and ensure our services are high quality, consistent and truly person centred, supporting people to achieve what matters to them. This will, in turn, strengthen the contribution social care can make to our regional and local partnership arrangements that bring local authorities, health boards and the third sector together to plan and develop integrated community services that help people achieve what matters to them.
So, once again, I thank Gareth Davies for the opportunity to respond to his debate and to reiterate my ongoing commitment to supporting our most vulnerable people and to share just some of the plans of what we're planning to do to further strengthen social and community-based care in Wales.
Ie. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Unwaith eto, rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt hwnnw, ac fel y gwyddoch, rydym wedi sefydlu'r fforwm gwaith teg ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol, sydd wedi cynhyrchu argymhellion ar gyfer camu ymlaen o fewn y maes gofal cymdeithasol ac rydym wedi ymgynghori ar yr argymhellion hynny mewn gwirionedd. Ond mae'n amlwg yn bwynt pwysig iawn.
Felly, fel y dywedoch chi yn eich cyfraniad, Gareth, mae'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol yn flaenoriaeth fawr i ni yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym wedi buddsoddi cyllid sylweddol yn y sector, yn ogystal â'r setliad refeniw llywodraeth leol, er mwyn datblygu gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol cynaliadwy. Er enghraifft, rydym wedi rhoi £34.4 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol drwy'r grant gweithlu a gwasanaethau cynaliadwy; £13 miliwn ar draws rhanbarthau i gefnogi datblygu a hyfforddi'r gweithlu drwy raglen datblygu gweithlu Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru a weinyddir gan Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru, sydd hefyd yn cael ei hariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru; a buddsoddiad o £10 miliwn, dros dair blynedd, yn y fwrsariaeth i weithwyr cymdeithasol i wneud y radd gwaith cymdeithasol yn gyraeddadwy yn ariannol ac i ddenu pobl i yrfa ddeniadol, ac rydym eisoes wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y bobl sy'n gwneud cais i ddilyn cyrsiau gwaith cymdeithasol oherwydd y fwrsariaeth, felly rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gynnydd da.
Yn ogystal â hyn, rydym yn parhau i ddiogelu buddsoddiad a fydd yn meithrin gallu cymunedol i alluogi pobl fregus i fyw ac aros yn iach gartref, a dyna ein nod—i bobl fregus fyw ac aros yn iach gartref. Rhai enghreifftiau o hynny: mae'r gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol gwerth £146 miliwn yn cefnogi 187 o brosiectau sy'n darparu gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal integredig yn ein cymunedau. Mae'r prosiectau a'r gwasanaethau hyn yn gweithio gyda'n pobl fwyaf agored i niwed i'w galluogi i fyw mor annibynnol â phosibl yn y gymuned, gan helpu i atal yr angen i fynd i'r ysbyty neu i'w helpu i ddychwelyd adref yn gyflym os oes angen gofal ysbyty arnynt. Ac mae llawer o'r prosiectau hynny wedi'u targedu'n benodol tuag at hynny.
Ers 2022, rydym yn darparu £12 miliwn ychwanegol dros dair blynedd i wella gwasanaethau niwroddatblygiadol, a hefyd, o 2022, rydym wedi buddsoddi £42 miliwn i ddarparu cymorth mawr ei angen i ofalwyr di-dâl. Rwy'n gwybod bod Gareth wedi sôn am ofalwyr di-dâl yn benodol yn ei gyfraniad, ac maent yn dal y system gyfan at ei gilydd, ac rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn cydnabod hynny. Rydym hefyd yn buddsoddi arian cyfalaf, drwy'r gronfa gyfalaf integreiddio ac ailgydbwyso, i gefnogi datblygiad hybiau cymunedol iechyd a gofal integredig, gan sicrhau bod pobl yn cael mynediad haws at wybodaeth, gofal a chymorth yn eu hardaloedd eu hunain. Mae'r gronfa gyfalaf hon hefyd yn cefnogi datblygiad cyfleusterau gofal preswyl nid-er-elw ledled Cymru, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai gan yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Ddyffryn Clwyd ddiddordeb mewn clywed—neu mae'n gwybod, rwy'n siŵr—ein bod wedi cytuno ar gyllid o dros £7 miliwn yn ddiweddar ar gyfer datblygu cartref preswyl 56 ystafell wely ar safle Croes Ati yn y Fflint i ddarparu gofal preswyl a gwasanaethau gofal integredig i bobl hŷn yn sir y Fflint, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymweld â'r safle hwn yn fuan iawn.
Yn ogystal â hyn, rhaid inni beidio ag anghofio ein hymrwymiad i gefnogi ein partneriaid cyflawni cymunedol ehangach yn y trydydd sector, y byddai llawer o bobl agored i niwed yn teimlo'n ynysig hebddynt ac yn methu cyflawni'r hyn sy'n bwysig iddynt. Mae'r gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol yn buddsoddi dros £23.7 miliwn yn y sector hanfodol hwn, ynghyd â'r £9.3 miliwn y byddwn yn ei fuddsoddi y flwyddyn nesaf drwy ein grant trydydd sector i wasanaethau cymdeithasol cynaliadwy dros bum mlynedd.
Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn y gaeaf hwn gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac mae hi hefyd wedi buddsoddi £8.4 miliwn ychwanegol i adeiladu capasiti cymunedol a chynyddu nyrsio cymunedol ar benwythnosau, gan gynnwys i bobl sydd ar lwybrau gofal diwedd oes. Yn ei gyfraniad, gwn fod James Evans wedi sôn yn benodol am bobl a oedd yn aros yn yr ysbyty ac a oedd yn ffit yn feddygol i fynd adref. Dyna un o'n blaenoriaethau uchaf, oherwydd yn amlwg, mae'n niweidiol iawn i bobl aros yn yr ysbyty pan fyddant yn ffit yn feddygol ac yn gallu mynd. Ac rydym wedi gweithio'n agos iawn ar y mater, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ac adeiladu'r bartneriaeth. Yn wir, cawsom gyfarfod heddiw o'n pwyllgor gweithredu gofal, felly gallaf eich sicrhau mai dyma un o'n blaenoriaethau uchaf.
Rydym wedi gwneud gwaith helaeth iawn ar draws y sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i geisio sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu rhyddhau'n gyflym o'r ysbyty er mwyn atal dirywiad pellach. Mae byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn adrodd yn ffurfiol ar oedi mewn llwybrau gofal, ac erbyn hyn mae gennym ffordd lawer mwy penodol o adrodd ar oedi mewn llwybrau gofal ac rydym bellach yn gallu edrych yn llawer mwy penodol er mwyn mynd i'r afael ag oedi. O ganlyniad, rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol eisoes ar leihau nifer y bobl sy'n aros i fynd adref neu fynd ymlaen i'w cam nesaf o ofal, ac rydym yn disgwyl mwy o ffigurau yn fuan iawn y credaf y byddant yn dangos ein bod ar y trywydd iawn, ein bod yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad iawn a bod y niferoedd yn gostwng. Felly, dim ond ychydig enghreifftiau'n unig yw'r rhain o'r gwaith a wnawn i gefnogi'r hyn y gwyddom eu bod yn rhai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru.
Fodd bynnag, dros y 30 mlynedd diwethaf mae poblogaeth Cymru wedi tyfu 8 y cant, neu 232,000 o bobl. Mae'r boblogaeth hefyd yn heneiddio, gyda nifer y bobl dros 65 oed wedi cynyddu 35 y cant, o 493,000 i 666,000, ac rydym yn disgwyl i'r duedd hon barhau. Am y rheswm hwnnw, mae gennym gynlluniau uchelgeisiol i wneud mwy er mwyn sicrhau bod gennym system iechyd a gofal sy'n gynaliadwy ac yn effeithiol ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Mae adroddiad y grŵp arbenigol, a ddaeth yn sgil y cytundeb cydweithio â'n partneriaid ym Mhlaid Cymru, 'Tuag at Wasanaeth Gofal a Chymorth Cenedlaethol i Gymru', yn dweud wrthym, fel y mae'r gwerthusiad o Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, fod nodau ac egwyddorion sylfaenol y ddeddfwriaeth sydd gennym yn dal i fod yn berthnasol ac yn dal i gael eu cefnogi'n eang iawn. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn gydag ystod eang o randdeiliaid i ddatblygu sylfeini gwasanaeth gofal cenedlaethol i Gymru a fydd yn helpu i wella cysondeb ac ansawdd gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol ledled Cymru a chefnogi gweithredu'r Ddeddf yn fwy effeithiol. Fel y dywedais, rwy'n credu bod y ddeddfwriaeth, y Ddeddf, yn hollol iawn, ond mae gennym ffordd bell i fynd o hyd o ran y gweithredu.
Felly, er mwyn gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer cyflawni nodau'r Ddeddf a'n symud tuag at wasanaeth gofal a chymorth cenedlaethol, rydym yn gweithredu rhaglen bwysig o welliant a newid sy'n cynnwys lansio fframwaith comisiynu cenedlaethol ar gyfer gwasanaethau gofal a chymorth, sefydlu swyddfa genedlaethol ar gyfer gwasanaethau gofal a chymorth, dileu elw o ofal plant a phobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal, cryfhau a chefnogi ein gweithlu, cryfhau gweithio mewn partneriaeth ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol a datblygu system iechyd a gofal cymunedol integredig, ac adeiladu capasiti a gallu i gefnogi ein plant a'n pobl ifanc mwyaf agored i niwed i gael gofal yn nes at adref.
Gyda chefnogaeth ein partneriaid cytundeb cydweithio, bydd ein hymrwymiad i ddatblygu gwasanaeth gofal cenedlaethol yn helpu i wella a safoni systemau ac ymarfer gofal cymdeithasol ledled Cymru ac yn sicrhau bod ein gwasanaethau o ansawdd uchel, yn gyson ac yn canolbwyntio'n bendant iawn ar yr unigolyn, gan gefnogi pobl i gyflawni'r hyn sy'n bwysig iddynt. Bydd hyn, yn ei dro, yn cryfhau'r cyfraniad y gall gofal cymdeithasol ei wneud i'n trefniadau partneriaeth rhanbarthol a lleol sy'n dod ag awdurdodau lleol, byrddau iechyd a'r trydydd sector ynghyd i gynllunio a datblygu gwasanaethau cymunedol integredig i helpu pobl i gyflawni'r hyn sy'n bwysig iddynt.
Felly, unwaith eto, diolch i Gareth Davies am y cyfle i ymateb i'w ddadl ac i ailadrodd fy ymrwymiad parhaus i gefnogi ein pobl fwyaf agored i niwed ac i rannu rhai yn unig o'r cynlluniau ar gyfer yr hyn y bwriadwn ei wneud i gryfhau gofal cymdeithasol a chymunedol yng Nghymru ymhellach.
Diolch yn fawr am eich amser heddiw.
Thank you very much for your time today.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog. A daw hynny â busnes heddiw i ben.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. And that brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:19.
The meeting ended at 18:19.