Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

25/09/2024

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.

1. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio
1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i’r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Joyce Watson.

Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, and the first question is from Joyce Watson.

Economi Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru
The Economy of Mid and West Wales

1. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi'r economi leol yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ61563

1. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the local economy in Mid and West Wales? OQ61563

Our plan for supporting the economy across Wales is set out in our economic mission, namely ensuring a just transition to a green and productive economy, a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success, stronger partnerships for stronger regions, and the everyday economy and investing for growth.

Mae ein cynllun ar gyfer cefnogi’r economi ledled Cymru wedi’i nodi yn ein cenhadaeth economaidd, yn benodol i sicrhau pontio teg i economi werdd a chynhyrchiol, platfform i bobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant, partneriaethau cryfach ar gyfer rhanbarthau cryfach a’r economi bob dydd a buddsoddi ar gyfer twf.

Diolch, Cabinet Secretary. I've received recently correspondence from concerned constituents regarding the announcement of the closure of the Lloyd's Bank branch in Brecon early next year. And just like many other towns, other banks have closed, including HSBC and Barclays, in that area, leaving many constituents with a decreasing number of options to have the face-to-face interaction they would like from their bank. And that's particularly an issue for customers in rural areas who are unable to travel to a remaining branch. I do appreciate that banking is not a devolved issue and that this is a commercial decision taken by this bank and others. However, I do believe that you and your colleagues are committed to improving financial inclusion for our constituents. Cabinet Secretary, do you agree that the closure of branches can have an impact on that local economy in towns like Brecon, which rely on attracting people to their high streets?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Cefais ohebiaeth yn ddiweddar gan etholwyr pryderus ynghylch y cyhoeddiad y bydd cangen banc Lloyd's yn Aberhonddu yn cau yn gynnar y flwyddyn nesaf. Ac yn union fel llawer o drefi eraill, mae banciau eraill wedi cau, gan gynnwys HSBC a Barclays yn yr ardal honno, gan adael llawer o etholwyr â llai o opsiynau i ryngweithio wyneb yn wyneb â'r banc fel yr hoffent. Ac mae hynny'n broblem arbennig i gwsmeriaid mewn ardaloedd gwledig nad ydynt yn gallu teithio i gangen arall. Rwy'n sylweddoli nad yw bancio'n fater datganoledig a bod hwn yn benderfyniad masnachol a wnaed gan y banc hwn ac eraill. Fodd bynnag, credaf eich bod chi a'ch cyd-Aelodau wedi ymrwymo i wella cynhwysiant ariannol ar gyfer ein hetholwyr. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno y gall cau canghennau gael effaith ar yr economi leol mewn trefi fel Aberhonddu, sy’n dibynnu ar ddenu pobl i’w stryd fawr?

I'm very grateful to Joyce Watson for raising this important issue this afternoon. As she rightly recognises, it's not a devolved issue, but that doesn't mean it's not an issue that the Welsh Government isn't concerned about. And, indeed, we recently made our response to the Financial Conduct Authority's consultation on access to cash and, in that, we highlighted significant concerns about branch closures and the pace, at the moment, of the banking hub roll-outs, which we want to see increase significantly.

I do want to draw colleagues' attention to Link, which has been tasked with assessing the need for new banking services, and they do that following every bank closure that is announced, and they look at where the nearest bank is and so on, and then they do go on to make recommendations as to where those hubs should be. So, so far, they've identified a need for 11 banking hubs in Wales, including in the region that Joyce Watson represents, for example, in Welshpool. But I would encourage all colleagues to engage with Link if they have particular communities, such as Brecon, which they're particularly concerned about as being not well-served by the banking industry.

Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Joyce Watson am godi’r mater pwysig hwn y prynhawn yma. Fel y mae'n cydnabod yn gywir ddigon, nid yw'n fater datganoledig, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu ei fod yn fater nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn poeni amdano. Ac yn wir, yn ddiweddar, rhoesom ein hymateb i ymgynghoriad yr Awdurdod Ymddygiad Ariannol ar fynediad at arian parod, ac yn yr ymateb hwnnw, fe wnaethom nodi pryderon sylweddol ynghylch cau canghennau a chyflymder y broses o gyflwyno hybiau bancio ar hyn o bryd, gan fod arnom eisiau gweld hynny'n cyflymu'n sylweddol.

Hoffwn dynnu sylw fy nghyd-Aelodau at Link, sydd wedi cael y dasg o asesu’r angen am wasanaethau bancio newydd, ac maent yn gwneud hynny ar ôl pob cyhoeddiad y bydd banc yn cau, ac maent yn edrych ar ble mae’r banc agosaf ac ati, ac yna maent yn gwneud argymhellion ynghylch ble y dylai'r hybiau hynny fod. Felly, hyd yma, maent wedi nodi'r angen am 11 o hybiau bancio yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys yn y rhanbarth y mae Joyce Watson yn ei gynrychioli, er enghraifft, yn y Trallwng. Ond hoffwn annog pob un o'm cyd-Aelodau i ymgysylltu â Link os oes ganddynt gymunedau penodol fel Aberhonddu, y maent yn arbennig o bryderus yn eu cylch fel rhai nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu'n dda gan y diwydiant bancio.

Cabinet Secretary, one of the issues that I believe prevents growth in parts of mid Wales is the lack of commercial properties that are available for businesses to expand and move into. Some of these businesses have existed for many years and want to upscale and move to larger premises, and others are relatively new businesses that are struggling to find premises, particularly in the Newtown and Welshpool areas. So, this, I'd suggest, is a good problem, but one that I really do think needs to be resolved and supported by the Government. It's an issue that I've raised with some of your predecessors as well. One such company I visited over the summer, called Purus Energy. They specialise in manufacturing and supplying their own solar panel systems for properties that are unable to be connected to the grid. They really want to expand and they're working out of a largeish shed, if you like, at the moment. They need a purpose-built unit in order to expand and increase their business. So, Cabinet Secretary, I would be very grateful if you could perhaps set out what the Welsh Government is doing to support businesses in this particular area—businesses that want to grow and expand, but can't find premises? And what support can you provide them with?

Also, the offer, as well, is there, Minister, for you to come to mid Wales. I'm very happy to get a group of 10 or half a dozen people who are looking to move into new premises to speak with you so that they can outline their situation and perhaps help you and your officials to develop a more strategic plan, going forward.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, un o’r materion sy’n atal twf mewn rhannau o’r canolbarth yw’r diffyg eiddo masnachol sydd ar gael i fusnesau ehangu a symud i mewn iddynt. Mae rhai o’r busnesau hyn wedi bodoli ers blynyddoedd lawer ac yn awyddus i ehangu a symud i safleoedd mwy, ac mae eraill yn fusnesau cymharol newydd sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i eiddo, yn enwedig yn ardaloedd y Drenewydd a’r Trallwng. Felly, rwy'n awgrymu bod hon yn broblem dda, ond yn un rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol fod angen ei datrys a'i chefnogi gan y Llywodraeth. Mae'n fater a godais gyda rhai o'ch rhagflaenwyr hefyd. Ymwelais ag un cwmni o'r fath dros yr haf, sef Purus Energy. Maent yn arbenigo mewn gweithgynhyrchu a chyflenwi eu systemau paneli solar eu hunain ar gyfer eiddo na ellir eu cysylltu â'r grid. Maent yn awyddus iawn i ehangu ac maent yn gweithio mewn sied eithaf mawr, os mynnwch, ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen uned bwrpasol arnynt er mwyn ehangu a chynyddu eu busnes. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn yn fawr pe gallech chi nodi'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi busnesau yn y maes penodol hwn—busnesau sydd am dyfu ac ehangu, ond na allant ddod o hyd i eiddo? A pha gymorth y gallwch chi ei ddarparu iddynt?

Hefyd, mae’r cynnig yno, Weinidog, i chi ddod i ganolbarth Cymru. Rwy’n fwy na pharod i gael grŵp o 10 neu hanner dwsin o bobl, sy’n awyddus i symud i mewn i eiddo newydd, i siarad gyda chi fel y gallant ddisgrifio eu sefyllfa a'ch helpu chi a’ch swyddogion efallai i ddatblygu cynllun mwy strategol wrth symud ymlaen.

I'm really grateful for that question, and, as Russell George says, it is a good problem to have, but definitely one that we need to be working to resolve. So, the property that we are able to provide and identify does form part of our Wales economic offer, because the right site can be absolutely fundamental, as I think you've recognised, in terms of enabling businesses to locate here, but then also to expand their operations here in Wales. We do have a property infrastructure team in the Welsh Government, and that's responsible for the delivery of investment-ready employment sites and premises. So, those would include, for example, workshops, factories, offices, and so on, to support economic development. So, perhaps I'd ask the property infrastrucutre team to make contact with that particular business that you've made representations on behalf of this afternoon, to see if there's a way in which we can support them.

Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn, ac fel y dywed Russell George, mae’n broblem dda i’w chael, ond yn sicr, mae'n un y mae angen inni fod yn gweithio i’w datrys. Felly, mae'r eiddo y gallwn ei ddarparu a'i nodi yn rhan o'n cynnig economaidd i Gymru, gan y gall y safle cywir fod yn hollbwysig, fel y credaf eich bod wedi cydnabod, o ran galluogi busnesau i leoli eu hunain yma, ond wedyn hefyd i ehangu eu gweithrediadau yma yng Nghymru. Mae gennym dîm seilwaith eiddo yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac maent yn gyfrifol am ddarparu safleoedd cyflogaeth sy'n barod ar gyfer buddsoddiad. Felly, byddai’r rheini’n cynnwys, er enghraifft, gweithdai, ffatrïoedd, swyddfeydd, ac yn y blaen, i gefnogi datblygiad economaidd. Felly, efallai y gallwn ofyn i'r tîm seilwaith eiddo gysylltu â'r busnes penodol yr ydych wedi gwneud sylwadau ar eu rhan y prynhawn yma, i weld a oes ffordd y gallwn eu cefnogi.

13:35
Prosiect Porth Wrecsam
Wrexham Gateway Project

2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am brosiect Porth Wrecsam? OQ61569

2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Wrexham Gateway project? OQ61569

The Welsh Government is aligned with key partners in Wrexham to deliver this exciting project along Mold Road. Our shared ambitions of delivering an integrated public transport and active travel system and facilitating competitive international football in the north remain at the core of our involvement in the project.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid allweddol yn Wrecsam i gyflawni’r prosiect cyffrous hwn ar Ffordd yr Wyddgrug. Mae ein huchelgeisiau cyffredin i ddarparu system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig a theithio llesol a hwyluso pêl-droed rhyngwladol cystadleuol yn y gogledd yn parhau i fod yn ganolog i'n rhan yn y prosiect.

Thank you very much. That's really good to hear. The Wrexham Gateway project is something I've long supported because I do believe it could be truly transformational for our city. Working with local partners back in 2021, the Welsh Government invested £25 million, and the aim of the scheme was to regenerate the Mold Road area, as you referred to. It's absolutely a key corridor into Wrexham. Despite the significant setback in January 2023, when the Conservative UK Government, for a second time, rejected Wrexham's bid for levelling-up funding, the partnership adapted its plans to focus more on the western side of the scheme, as there was more of an opportunity in the immediate time to deliver tangible evidence of progress along the Mold Road. Frustratingly, there have been bumps in the road—for example, Wrexham AFC have had to delay the construction of a new Kop stand. And then we had a consultation, which was initiated by Transport for Wales, that finished at the end of the last year. But since that time, we've had very few updates. So, I'm grateful for the support of the Welsh Government, but I would like you to confirm your commitment to deliver this game-changing regeneration project in full, and I wonder if you could provide a timescale.

Diolch yn fawr. Mae'n dda iawn clywed hynny. Mae prosiect Porth Wrecsam yn rhywbeth yr wyf wedi'i gefnogi ers amser maith, gan y credaf y gallai fod yn wirioneddol drawsnewidiol i'n dinas. Gan weithio gyda phartneriaid lleol yn ôl yn 2021, buddsoddodd Llywodraeth Cymru £25 miliwn, a nod y cynllun oedd adfywio ardal Ffordd yr Wyddgrug, fel y nodwyd gennych. Mae'n goridor allweddol i Wrecsam. Er gwaethaf y rhwystr sylweddol ym mis Ionawr 2023, pan wrthododd Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU gais Wrecsam am gyllid ffyniant bro am yr eildro, addasodd y bartneriaeth ei chynlluniau i ganolbwyntio mwy ar ochr orllewinol y cynllun, gan fod mwy o gyfle ar y pryd i gyflwyno tystiolaeth bendant o gynnydd ar Ffordd yr Wyddgrug. Yn anffodus, cafwyd rhwystrau—er enghraifft, mae Clwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam wedi gorfod gohirio'r gwaith o adeiladu stand Kop newydd. Ac yna cawsom ymgynghoriad, a gychwynnwyd gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru, a ddaeth i ben ddiwedd y llynedd. Ond ers hynny, ychydig iawn o ddiweddariadau a gawsom. Felly, rwy'n ddiolchgar am gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hoffwn pe gallech gadarnhau eich ymrwymiad llawn i gyflawni'r prosiect adfywio trawsnewidiol hwn, a tybed a allwch ddarparu amserlen.

I'd be absolutely more than happy to reaffirm the Welsh Government's commitment to the project, and of course to recognise Lesley Griffiths's long-standing championing of this as well. Our enthusiasm for this is unquestionable. We do know that Wrexham AFC has explained that its intention is to have the stadium, including the new pitch and Kop stand, ready for the UEFA under-19 championships in the summer of 2026, with north Wales hosting this competition in the Football Association of Wales's one hundred and fiftieth anniversary year. So, it should be quite an event. The timeline is entirely feasible, we think, and we're more than happy to continue working alongisde partners to that important goal. I do know that the delay was on the basis of wanting to create a facility that is there for the commuinty all year round, which I think is also really, really positive.

More widely, the Wrexham Gateway project does continue at pace, with the functionality of the public transport interchange at Wrexham General station defined, and negotiations for delivery on the city centre side of the rail line are ongoing. It is difficult to be specific about the timing at this point, but the partnership in Wrexham does still remain very focused on delivering the project in its entirety.

Rwy'n fwy na pharod i ailddatgan ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i'r prosiect, ac wrth gwrs, i gydnabod y ffaith bod Lesley Griffiths wedi hyrwyddo hyn ers amser maith hefyd. Mae ein brwdfrydedd dros hyn yn ddiamau. Gwyddom fod Clwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam wedi egluro mai eu bwriad yw i'r stadiwm, gan gynnwys y cae newydd a'r stand Kop, fod yn barod ar gyfer pencampwriaethau dan-19 UEFA yn haf 2026, gyda gogledd Cymru yn cynnal y gystadleuaeth hon yn ystod blwyddyn canmlwyddiant a hanner Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru. Felly, dylai fod yn dipyn o ddigwyddiad. Mae'r amserlen yn gwbl gyraeddadwy, yn ein barn ni, ac rydym yn fwy na pharod i barhau i weithio ochr yn ochr â phartneriaid i gyflawni'r nod pwysig hwnnw. Gwn fod yr oedi wedi'i achosi gan y dyhead i greu cyfleuster sydd yno ar gyfer y gymuned drwy gydol y flwyddyn, sydd hefyd yn gadarnhaol iawn, yn fy marn i.

Yn ehangach, mae prosiect Porth Wrecsam yn parhau i ddatblygu'n gyflym, gyda gweithrediad y gyfnewidfa drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng ngorsaf Wrecsam Cyffredinol wedi’i diffinio, ac mae trafodaethau ar gyfer darpariaeth ar ochr canol y ddinas i’r rheilffordd yn parhau. Mae’n anodd bod yn benodol ynglŷn â’r amseru ar hyn o bryd, ond mae’r bartneriaeth yn Wrecsam yn dal i ganolbwyntio’n agos ar gyflawni’r prosiect yn ei gyfanrwydd.

It's my understanding from Wrexham council of good news that the Wrexham Gateway project should be secure, partly because of Welsh Government funding, partly because of the shared prosperity funding, which Wrexham did receive—almost £23 million out of over £126 million received in north Wales—and because this is a priority project for the north Wales growth deal and the ambition board. Hopefully, you can confirm that your understanding is also that this project is secure. But there is concern that the £20 million town fund allocation to Wrexham could be scrapped by the new UK Government, alongside that for Merthyr Tydfil, Cwmbran and Barry, and the £20 million announced by the previous UK Government for Rhyl, under it's long-term plan for towns, and the £160 million announced for the north-east Wales investment zone. So, I wonder if you can confirm what represenations you're making to colleagues in the UK Government to secure those projects, which mean so much to the organisations, businesses, councils and others involved with them in the region of north Wales.

Fy nealltwriaeth i gan gyngor Wrecsam yw mai'r newyddion da yw y dylai prosiect Porth Wrecsam fod yn ddiogel, yn rhannol oherwydd cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, yn rhannol oherwydd cyllid y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin a gafodd Wrecsam—bron i £23 miliwn o'r dros £126 miliwn a dderbyniwyd yn y gogledd—a chan fod hwn yn brosiect blaenoriaeth ar gyfer bargen twf gogledd Cymru a'r bwrdd uchelgais. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch gadarnhau mai eich dealltwriaeth chi hefyd yw bod y prosiect hwn yn ddiogel. Ond mae pryder y gallai’r dyraniad o £20 miliwn i Wrecsam o'r gronfa drefi gael ei ddileu gan Lywodraeth newydd y DU, ynghyd â'r dyraniadau ar gyfer Merthyr Tudful, Cwmbrân a’r Barri, a’r £20 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth flaenorol y DU ar gyfer y Rhyl, o dan eu cynllun hirdymor ar gyfer trefi, a’r £160 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer parth buddsoddi gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru. Felly, tybed a allwch gadarnhau pa sylwadau a wneir gennych i swyddogion Llywodraeth y DU i ddiogelu'r prosiectau hynny, sy'n golygu cymaint i'r sefydliadau, busnesau, cynghorau ac eraill sy'n gysylltiedig â hwy yn rhanbarth gogledd Cymru.

13:40

Well, I just begin by reiterating that we are very focused on delivering the project in its entirety, and critical to that is the £25 million that the Welsh Government was able to provide back in March 2021, which enables the project to move forward.

In terms of the town fund, I think that we all recognise that the funding that was announced by the UK Government is part of the black hole which is there at the moment, because there was never any real money attached to that. That said, it is important to recognise that this is an issue which I’ve brought up with Wales Office Ministers already, and my colleagues are also raising it with counterparts in the UK Government ahead of the UK Government’s autumn budget, which will be at the end of October, and I would expect it would be at that point when we will get the clarity that I know all colleagues are after.

Wel, hoffwn ddechrau drwy ailadrodd ein bod yn canolbwyntio’n agos ar gyflawni’r prosiect yn ei gyfanrwydd, ac mae’r £25 miliwn y llwyddodd Llywodraeth Cymru i’w ddarparu yn ôl ym mis Mawrth 2021 yn hollbwysig i hynny gan ei fod yn galluogi’r prosiect i symud yn ei flaen.

O ran y gronfa drefi, credaf fod pob un ohonom yn cydnabod bod y cyllid a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn rhan o’r twll du sydd yno ar hyn o bryd, gan nad oedd unrhyw arian gwirioneddol ynghlwm wrth hynny erioed. Wedi dweud hynny, mae'n bwysig cydnabod bod hwn yn fater a godais eisoes gyda Gweinidogion Swyddfa Cymru, ac mae fy nghyd-Aelodau hefyd yn ei godi gyda swyddogion cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU cyn cyllideb hydref Llywodraeth y DU, a fydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi ar ddiwedd mis Hydref, a bryd hynny, rwy'n disgwyl y cawn yr eglurder y gwn fod pob cyd-Aelod yn dymuno'i gael.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Llefarwyr y pleidiau nawr i holi cwestiynau i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Samuel Kurtz.

Party spokespeople now to ask questions of the Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, firstly, welcome to your new role. I look forward to working with you over the coming months, and I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you yesterday, so thank you for that. And while you are the third economy Secretary I’m shadowing this year, that is still no excuse for the latest employment statistics when Labour have been in charge for 25 years. These stats show little sign of change, painting a picture of lagging productivity, rising unemployment, and a level of economic inactivity at 27.2 per cent—over 5 percentage points higher than the UK average. Change—that was the one word that acted as the bedrock of the Labour Party’s victory earlier this year. So, what change do you bring to this portfolio? How are you going to change Wales’s economy for the better, getting more people into work and economically active?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn gyntaf, croeso i’ch rôl newydd. Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda chi dros y misoedd nesaf, a gwerthfawrogais y cyfle i gyfarfod â chi ddoe, felly diolch am hynny. Ac er mai chi yw’r trydydd Ysgrifennydd dros yr economi i mi ei gysgodi eleni, nid yw hynny’n esgus dros yr ystadegau cyflogaeth diweddaraf pan fo Llafur wedi bod wrth y llyw ers 25 mlynedd. Nid yw’r ystadegau hyn yn dangos fawr o arwydd o newid, gan baentio darlun o gynhyrchiant isel, diweithdra cynyddol, a lefel o anweithgarwch economaidd ar 27.2 y cant—dros 5 pwynt canran yn uwch na chyfartaledd y DU. Newid—dyna’r un gair a fu’n sylfaen i fuddugoliaeth y Blaid Lafur yn gynharach eleni. Felly, pa newid a wnewch chi yn y portffolio hwn? Sut y bwriadwch newid economi Cymru er gwell, a sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn cael gwaith ac yn economaidd weithgar?

Well, first of all, I will start off by thanking Sam Kurtz very much for the warm welcome to the role, and I do very much look forward to working with you, and, also, to meet with Luke Fletcher as well. I know that there will be plenty of times when we have differences in terms of, perhaps, pace and emphasis and so on, but also plenty of times where we have common ground that we can work on.

I will say, though, in relation to the Office for National Statistics labour force survey statistics, I think even the ONS has itself recognised that there are problems with that data. That’s why that data is no longer considered national statistics; they’re just a set of non-official statistics now, which I think is important to recognise. We do need to look more widely at a range of statistics, I think, which I think paint a much more positive picture of Wales’s performance.

It is my intention to seek a meeting with the chief statistician—the UK’s chief statistician—in order to discuss the moves to improve these statistics. I know there is a work stream in place at the moment, which our own Welsh chief statistician is involved with, to try and improve those statistics. But, as I say, at the moment, they’re not considered official statistics.

That said, the Welsh Government, under the new First Minister, has been really, really clear about the focus of direction. It’s about green growth, it’s about delivering change in a rapid way that makes a difference to people across Wales. And that’s why I think it’s so important that we have Jack Sargeant in his role, which will be looking particularly at apprenticeships, recognising the very important role of skills in terms of meeting the challenges of the future.

Wel, yn gyntaf oll, rwyf am ddechrau drwy ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Sam Kurtz am y croeso cynnes i’r rôl, ac edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda chi, ac at gyfarfod â Luke Fletcher hefyd. Gwn y bydd digon o adegau pan fydd gennym farn wahanol, o ran cyflymder a phwyslais ac yn y blaen efallai, ond digonedd o adegau hefyd pan fydd gennym dir cyffredin y gallwn weithio arno.

Hoffwn ddweud, serch hynny, mewn perthynas ag ystadegau'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol ar gyfer arolwg y gweithlu llafur, fy mod yn credu bod hyd yn oed y SYG ei hun wedi cydnabod bod problemau gyda’r data hwnnw. Dyna pam nad yw’r data hwnnw bellach yn cael ei ystyried yn ystadegau cenedlaethol; dim ond set o ystadegau answyddogol ydynt bellach, a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod hynny. Credaf fod angen inni edrych yn ehangach ar ystod o ystadegau, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn rhoi darlun llawer mwy cadarnhaol o berfformiad Cymru.

Fy mwriad yw ceisio cyfarfod â’r prif ystadegydd—prif ystadegydd y DU—er mwyn trafod y camau i wella’r ystadegau hyn. Gwn fod ffrwd waith ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd, y mae prif ystadegydd Cymru yn gweithio arni, i geisio gwella’r ystadegau hynny. Ond fel y dywedaf, ar hyn o bryd, nid ydynt yn cael eu hystyried yn ystadegau swyddogol.

Wedi dweud hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, o dan y Prif Weinidog newydd, wedi nodi ffocws y cyfeiriad yn glir iawn. Mae'n ymwneud â thwf gwyrdd, mae'n ymwneud â chyflawni newid cyflym sy’n gwneud gwahaniaeth i bobl ledled Cymru. A dyna pam y credaf ei bod mor bwysig fod gennym Jack Sargeant yn ei rôl, i edrych yn benodol ar brentisiaethau, gan gydnabod rôl bwysig iawn sgiliau i fynd i'r afael â heriau’r dyfodol.

Well, once you do have that meeting with the chief statistician, Cabinet Secretary, I’d welcome an oral or written statement from you on that. And it’s interesting that the Office for National Statistics is producing non-official statistics, and that’s an anomaly that I think needs to be ironed out, because it is clear that Wales needs an urgent plan to turn its economy around. While these statistics, official or not, give us a broad view, it’s important to remember that, behind every statistic, behind every number, is  a person—someone striving to contribute to our society, provide for their family and secure their future.

Now, I’ll have the privilege of attending the opening of Pembrokeshire College’s energy transition skills hub on Friday—a pioneering project, funded by Shell, that aims to equip our workforce with the skills, as you mentioned, needed for the jobs of tomorrow. Now, I urge you to visit west Wales and see not only the hub for yourself, but also all the potential projects in the pipeline, and how, if delivered, properly utilising a skilled local workforce and supply chains could be transformative for communities across Wales, because industry is chomping at the bit. It knows what it needs in terms of skills. It knows what it needs in terms of consenting and timelines to be able to deliver these projects and transform our communities. But does the Welsh Government get it? Do you and your department get how necessary it is to deliver these projects, and, if so, how are you helping to turn these opportunities into realities?

Wel, ar ôl ic hi gael y cyfarfod hwnnw gyda'r prif ystadegydd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, byddwn yn croesawu datganiad llafar neu ysgrifenedig gennych chi ar hynny. Ac mae’n ddiddorol fod y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn cynhyrchu ystadegau answyddogol, a dyna anomaledd y credaf fod angen ei ddatrys, gan ei bod yn amlwg fod angen cynllun brys ar Gymru i weddnewid ei heconomi. Tra bo'r ystadegau hyn, boed yn swyddogol ai peidio, yn rhoi golwg eang i ni, mae’n bwysig cofio, y tu ôl i bob ystadegyn, y tu ôl i bob rhif, fod yna unigolyn—rhywun sy’n ymdrechu i gyfrannu at ein cymdeithas, darparu ar gyfer eu teulu a diogelu eu dyfodol.

Nawr, fe gaf y fraint o fynychu agoriad hyb sgiliau trawsnewid ynni Coleg Sir Benfro ddydd Gwener—prosiect arloesol, a ariennir gan Shell, sydd â'r nod o arfogi ein gweithlu â'r sgiliau, fel y sonioch chi, sydd eu hangen ar gyfer swyddi yfory. Nawr, rwy'n eich annog i ymweld â gorllewin Cymru a gweld yr hyb drosoch chi eich hun, ond hefyd, yr holl brosiectau posibl sydd ar y gweill, a sut, o’u cyflawni, y gallai defnyddio gweithlu lleol medrus a chadwyni cyflenwi yn briodol fod yn drawsnewidiol i gymunedau ledled Cymru, gan fod y diwydiant ar bigau'r drain. Mae’n gwybod beth sydd ei angen arno o ran sgiliau. Mae’n gwybod beth sydd ei angen o ran cydsyniad ac amserlenni i allu cyflawni’r prosiectau hyn a thrawsnewid ein cymunedau. Ond a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall? A ydych chi a'ch adran yn deall pa mor angenrheidiol yw hi i gyflawni'r prosiectau hyn, ac os felly, sut ydych chi'n helpu i wireddu'r cyfleoedd hyn?

13:45

First of all, I’d say thank you very much for the invitation to join you on Friday. I’m sorry that I’m not able to, due to a previous engagement, but I was very grateful for the invitation and I will absolutely make a point of visiting at another point. Yesterday, we did have an opportunity to discuss, actually, the huge range of opportunities that there are in the area that you represent locally and that we’re able to support as a Welsh Government. I think that skills and apprenticeships are absolutely critical in terms of meeting the needs of businesses of the future, which is why it’s really important that we do the mapping work to understand where the skills are at the moment, but then also what the needs are of the future. Some of that will be around the new technologies that will be there for us to exploit in terms of net zero. You’ll probably be familiar with ‘Stronger, Fairer, Greener Wales', the net zero skills action plan. I think that is an absolutely critical document and an absolutely critical road map in terms of ensuring that we’re able to give businesses the skilled workers that they need for the future. I’ll just pay tribute to Vaughan Gething for the work that he did on that, because I think that that is really, really important. Also the policy statement, of course, on apprenticeships, which does set out a bit more detail about the strategic framework for the future of the apprenticeship programme as well. I think all of that’s important. All of our really important partnerships that we have with the further education sector and higher education sector more generally will be very important as well. This is about linking up, it’s about partnership, it’s about industry, academia, the Welsh Government, unions and, of course, UK Government working together. You see great examples of that happening already, but, absolutely, I’m keen to do more of that.

Yn gyntaf, hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr am y gwahoddiad i ymuno â chi ddydd Gwener. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf nad wyf yn gallu gwneud hynny oherwydd ymrwymiad blaenorol, ond roeddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn am y gwahoddiad a byddaf yn sicr yn dod i ymweld ar ryw adeg arall. Ddoe, cawsom gyfle i drafod yr ystod enfawr o gyfleoedd sydd i'w cael yn yr ardal a gynrychiolir gennych yn lleol ac y gallwn ei chefnogi fel Llywodraeth Cymru. Credaf fod sgiliau a phrentisiaethau yn gwbl hanfodol i ddiwallu anghenion busnesau’r dyfodol, a dyna pam ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig ein bod yn gwneud y gwaith mapio i ddeall ble mae’r sgiliau ar hyn o bryd, ond wedyn hefyd beth yw anghenion y dyfodol. Bydd rhywfaint o hynny’n ymwneud â’r technolegau newydd a fydd yno inni fanteisio arnynt o ran sero net. Mae’n debyg y byddwch yn gyfarwydd â ‘Cymru Gryfach, Decach a Gwyrddach’, y cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net. Credaf fod honno’n ddogfen gwbl hanfodol ac yn gynllun cwbl hanfodol o ran sicrhau ein bod yn gallu darparu'r gweithwyr medrus sydd eu hangen ar fusnesau ar gyfer y dyfodol. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i Vaughan Gething am y gwaith a wnaeth ar hynny, gan y credaf fod hynny’n wirioneddol bwysig. Hefyd, y datganiad polisi ar brentisiaethau, wrth gwrs, sy'n nodi rhagor o fanylion am y fframwaith strategol ar gyfer dyfodol y rhaglen brentisiaethau hefyd. Credaf fod hynny oll yn bwysig. Bydd pob un o’n partneriaethau hynod bwysig sydd gennym gyda’r sector addysg bellach a’r sector addysg uwch yn fwy cyffredinol yn bwysig iawn hefyd. Mae hyn yn ymwneud â chysylltu, mae'n ymwneud â phartneriaeth, mae'n ymwneud â diwydiant, y byd academaidd, Llywodraeth Cymru, undebau, ac wrth gwrs, Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd. Rydych chi'n gweld enghreifftiau gwych o hynny'n digwydd eisoes, ond yn sicr, rwy'n awyddus i wneud mwy o hynny.

Thank you, because it’s really important that we tie all these things together, as you rightly say. Because the cogs of the public sector turn so much slower than the cogs of the private sector, and if they’re looking to invest here in Wales and the Welsh Government isn’t open to business, then that investment will go elsewhere and we’ll miss those opportunities. Improving skills, job opportunities and long-term employment is one way of benefiting a community; another is actual community benefit funds, and I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Greenlink and MaresConnect interconnectors recently, two major projects linking the power grids of Wales and the Republic of Ireland, enabling the two-way flow of electricity between our nations. These companies are employing a cap-and-floor model, which strikes a balance between commercial incentives, appropriate risk mitigation for project developers, and targets excess revenue to reducing costs for consumers. That’s one mechanism, but, if we’re truly going to deliver the generational change needed to transform our communities where these projects will be located and improve the lives of the people of Wales, then there must be a proper strategic and comprehensive way to target community benefit funds. This must go beyond sponsored kits for local sports teams. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that these projects deliver meaningful, long-term community benefits, improving the lives and opportunities for people across Wales?

Diolch, oherwydd mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn clymu'r holl bethau hyn gyda'i gilydd, fel y dywedwch yn gywir ddigon. Gan fod cogiau'r sector cyhoeddus yn troi gymaint yn arafach na chogiau'r sector preifat, ac os ydynt yn bwriadu buddsoddi yma yng Nghymru ac nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn agored i fusnes, yna bydd y buddsoddiad hwnnw'n mynd i rywle arall, a byddwn yn colli'r cyfleoedd hynny. Mae gwella sgiliau, cyfleoedd gwaith a chyflogaeth hirdymor yn un ffordd o sicrhau budd i gymuned; un arall yw cronfeydd budd cymunedol, a chefais gyfle yn ddiweddar i gyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr o ryng-gysylltwyr Greenlink a MaresConnect, dau brosiect mawr sy'n cysylltu gridiau pŵer Cymru a Gweriniaeth Iwerddon, gan alluogi llif trydan dwy ffordd rhwng ein gwledydd. Mae'r cwmnïau hyn yn defnyddio model cap a therfyn isaf, sy'n sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng cymhellion masnachol, mesurau lliniaru risg priodol ar gyfer datblygwyr prosiectau, ac yn targedu refeniw dros ben er mwyn lleihau costau i ddefnyddwyr. Mae hwnnw'n un mecanwaith, ond os ydym o ddifrif am gyflawni'r newid dros genedlaethau sydd ei angen i drawsnewid ein cymunedau lle caiff y prosiectau hyn eu lleoli a gwella bywydau pobl Cymru, mae'n rhaid cael ffordd addas, strategol a chynhwysfawr o dargedu cronfeydd budd cymunedol. Mae'n rhaid i hyn fynd y tu hwnt i noddi citiau timau chwaraeon lleol. Felly, beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y prosiectau hyn yn sicrhau manteision cymunedol ystyrlon, hirdymor, gan wella bywydau a chyfleoedd i bobl ledled Cymru?

I’m grateful for the question and absolutely, along with you, recognise the importance of community benefits, and also I think recognise the importance of making sure that those are sustained into the future. So, it’s not, as you say, necessarily one-off small things but things that, actually, will have longevity as well. I am looking at our economic contract at the moment to explore whether we need to update that or perhaps make it more focused, so I will certainly consider the role of community benefits as I take forward that work.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich cwestiwn, ac fel chi, yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd buddion cymunedol, a hefyd yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd sicrhau bod y rheini'n cael eu cynnal yn y dyfodol. Felly, nid yw hyn o reidrwydd, fel y dywedwch, yn ymwneud â phethau bach unigol ond â phethau a chanddynt hirhoedledd hefyd. Rwy'n edrych ar ein contract economaidd ar hyn o bryd i archwilio a oes angen i ni ei ddiweddaru, neu efallai ei wneud yn fwy penodol, felly byddaf yn sicr yn ystyried rôl buddion cymunedol wrth imi fwrw ymlaen â’r gwaith hwnnw.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.

Diolch, Llywydd. Hefyd, fe wnaf i fachu ar y cyfle i groesawu’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i’r rôl newydd, ac am amser i gymryd ymlaen portffolio’r economi, gyda’r holl heriau sydd yn bodoli.

Thank you, Llywydd. I’ll also take the opportunity to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to this new role, and what a time to take on the economy portfolio, with all of the challenges that exist.

Now, that ONS release does continue a story, doesn’t it, no matter how you cut it? Low employment and high economic inactivity. I do accept that there are problems with that data. It’s one of the reasons why we need a Welsh-specific ONS, one that collects data specifically from a Welsh perspective across a number of different sectors. I’ve listened to the answers that you gave to Sam Kurtz, and skills and apprenticeships come across very clearly as a priority for yourself. It'd be good to understand what the other priorities are here now. So, it would be great for you to set out some of those priorities, as your predecessors have done previously, in exactly what we need to do to resolve the issues around the Welsh economy. It continues to be a bleak outlook.

Nawr, mae'r datganiad hwnnw gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn parhau â stori, onid yw, ni waeth sut y gwnewch ei ddehongli? Cyflogaeth isel ac anweithgarwch economaidd uchel. Rwy'n derbyn bod problemau gyda’r data hwnnw. Mae'n un o'r rhesymau pam fod angen SYG penodol i Gymru, un sy'n casglu data penodol o safbwynt Cymreig ar draws nifer o sectorau gwahanol. Rwyf wedi gwrando ar yr atebion a roesoch i Sam Kurtz, ac mae'n amlwg fod sgiliau a phrentisiaethau yn flaenoriaeth gennych. Byddai’n dda deall beth yw’r blaenoriaethau eraill sydd yma nawr. Felly, byddai’n wych pe gallech nodi rhai o’r blaenoriaethau hynny, fel y mae eich rhagflaenwyr wedi’i wneud yn flaenorol, o ran beth yn union y mae angen i ni ei wneud i ddatrys y problemau sy'n ymwneud ag economi Cymru. Tywyll yw'r rhagolygon o hyd.

I’m grateful for the question, and again for the welcome into post. It was really good to speak to you yesterday about your particular priorities and areas of expertise, recognising that we do have lots of areas that I’m sure we will work together on as well.

Just to say another word on the ONS statistics, in my previous role I had responsibility for statistics and I did issue a written statement to the Senedd, setting out the challenges around the labour force survey data. Nothing's really changed since then, but we can certainly provide a further update on the work that our team is doing with the ONS in order to refine that data. I think it basically comes down to a lack of respondents when invited to provide views, and I think that speaks to lots of things, such as the pressures that are already on people who are in employment or running businesses. And when you get a telephone call outside of work hours, you probably don't want to necessarily talk about that and that sort of thing. There are issues there in terms of trying to increase the number of people who respond. 

It is my intention to make a statement in the Senedd—I think it's either down for next week or the week after—where I will set out a whole range of priorities. But within that you can absolutely expect to hear more about apprenticeships, but also the importance of inward investment, the foundational economy, but then also our really important journey towards net zero and how we're supporting businesses on that journey too. 

Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich cwestiwn, ac eto am y croeso i'r swydd. Roedd yn dda iawn siarad gyda chi ddoe am eich blaenoriaethau penodol a’ch meysydd arbenigedd, gan gydnabod bod gennym lawer o feysydd y byddwn yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd arnynt hefyd rwy'n siŵr.

Os caf ddweud un peth arall am ystadegau’r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol, yn fy rôl flaenorol, roeddwn yn gyfrifol am ystadegau, a chyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig i’r Senedd, yn nodi’r heriau mewn perthynas â data arolwg y gweithlu. Nid oes unrhyw beth wedi newid ers hynny mewn gwirionedd, ond yn sicr, gallwn roi diweddariad pellach ar y gwaith y mae ein tîm yn ei wneud gyda'r SYG er mwyn mireinio'r data hwnnw. Credaf ei fod yn ymwneud yn y bôn â diffyg ymatebwyr pan gânt eu gwahodd i roi barn, a chredaf fod hynny oherwydd llawer o bethau, megis y pwysau sydd eisoes ar bobl sydd mewn cyflogaeth neu'n rhedeg busnesau. A phan gewch alwad ffôn y tu allan i oriau gwaith, mae'n debyg nad oes arnoch eisiau siarad am hynny a'r math hwnnw o beth o reidrwydd. Mae problemau yno o ran ceisio cynyddu nifer y bobl sy’n ymateb.

Fy mwriad yw gwneud datganiad yn y Senedd—credaf ei fod wedi'i drefnu ar gyfer yr wythnos nesaf neu'r wythnos wedyn—lle byddaf yn nodi ystod gyfan o flaenoriaethau. Ond yn y datganiad hwnnw gallwch ddisgwyl clywed mwy am brentisiaethau, a hefyd am bwysigrwydd mewnfuddsoddi, yr economi sylfaenol, ond wedyn hefyd ein taith wirioneddol bwysig tuag at sero net a sut rydym yn cefnogi busnesau ar y daith honno hefyd.

13:50

Of course, the problems with data collection only emphasise the need for a Welsh-specific body, because if we don't have the data to understand the problems within Wales, then how on earth do we expect to resolve those problems? I hope in the statement that you give to the Senedd that we'll see a promise for an industrial strategy. The situation calls for an industrial strategy doesn't it? That is evidently clear. And the lack of one over the last decade is precisely why we find ourselves in the situation we find ourselves in. Now, Tata crystallises this. I feel I'm living in a parallel universe, where what has happened in Port Talbot is acceptable. You know, we've just lost a critically important industrial capability without any visible resistance from UK Government, Labour or Tory. The UK is an outlier in how we've dealt with this. So, unless we get an industrial strategy that sets out the future direction of the Welsh economy, we'll keep coming back to this Chamber to deliver and hear the same old news. Being proactive and not reactive is key.

So, speaking to an industrial strategy for the moment, an important chapter would be skills. Now, a number of colleagues in the further education sector have raised concerns over the way in which current portfolios have been set up. Now, it appears to place less of an emphasis on the importance of apprenticeships, less of a focus on apprenticeships, with part of it in your department and another part of it, through Medr, being with the Minister for Further and Higher Education. So, is there a risk here of policy becoming disjointed? 

Wrth gwrs, nid yw’r problemau gyda chasglu data ond yn pwysleisio’r angen am gorff penodol i Gymru, oherwydd os nad oes gennym y data i ddeall y problemau yng Nghymru, sut ar y ddaear y gallwn ddisgwyl datrys y problemau hynny? Yn y datganiad a roddwch i’r Senedd, rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn addewid o strategaeth ddiwydiannol. Onid yw'r sefyllfa'n galw am strategaeth ddiwydiannol? Mae hynny’n amlwg. A diffyg un dros y degawd diwethaf yw'r union reswm pam ein bod yn y sefyllfa yr ydym ynddi. Nawr, mae Tata yn crisialu hyn. Rwy’n teimlo fel pe bawn yn byw mewn bydysawd cyfochrog, lle mae’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd ym Mhort Talbot yn dderbyniol. Hynny yw, rydym newydd golli gallu diwydiannol hollbwysig heb unrhyw wrthwynebiad amlwg gan Lywodraeth y DU, Llafur neu Dorïaidd. Mae'r DU yn eithriad o ran y ffordd y gwnaethom ymdrin â hyn. Felly, oni bai ein bod yn cael strategaeth ddiwydiannol sy'n nodi cyfeiriad economi Cymru ar gyfer y dyfodol, byddwn yn parhau i ddod yn ôl i'r Siambr hon i gyflwyno a chlywed yr un hen newyddion. Mae bod yn rhagweithiol ac nid yn adweithiol yn hollbwysig.

Felly, os caf sôn am strategaeth ddiwydiannol am funud, byddai sgiliau'n bennod bwysig. Nawr, mae nifer o gydweithwyr yn y sector addysg bellach wedi codi pryderon ynghylch y ffordd y mae'r portffolios presennol wedi'u trefnu. Nawr, ymddengys bod llai o bwyslais ar bwysigrwydd prentisiaethau, llai o ffocws ar brentisiaethau, gyda rhan o'r cyfrifoldeb yn eich adran chi a rhan arall, drwy Medr, gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch. Felly, a oes perygl yma i bolisi fod yn anghydlynol?

So, lots in that question. But I think I absolutely have to recognise the reference that you made to Tata, because, of course, the closure of blast furnace 4 and the remaining heavy-end assets at Port Talbot very shortly will bring to an end traditional steel making in Wales. And I just want to really recognise the enormity of that and what that means for both Port Talbot, but also the wider community and workforce as well, because there will be people who have worked there their entire working lives. So, it will be a very sombre time, I think. I'll make a further statement in due course, building on what the First Minister said about the support that Welsh Government will be putting in place and the work that we're doing in partnership both with the company, but also UK Government, and the unions and local authorities and others. So, I didn't want to let the moment pass without just recognising that. 

In terms of apprenticeships, of course, they will be important in our response to Tata as well. We need to ensure that people who are currently undertaking apprenticeships are able to complete those, but then also need to look ahead to the arc, what skills do we need. We need to start planning now, basically, to make sure that those people are ready to start in that employment. I don't think that the fact that apprenticeships is spread across Government in that kind of way is actually a negative thing. I think it just recognises how important apprenticeships are. So, Jack Sargeant will absolutely be taking the lead on all of this, but, of course, working closely in partnership with Vikki Howells in the FE space and HE, and then myself in my role as well. So, you know, we're a small team. We can work effectively together, and I don't think that the fact that more than one Minister has an interest in this is a bad thing. 

Felly, mae llawer yn eich cwestiwn. Ond credaf fod yn rhaid imi gydnabod y cyfeiriad a wnaethoch at Tata, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, bydd cau ffwrnais chwyth 4 a'r asedau trwm sy'n weddill ym Mhort Talbot cyn bo hir yn dod â chynhyrchiant dur traddodiadol i ben yng Nghymru. A hoffwn gydnabod pa mor anferthol yw hynny mewn gwirionedd, a beth y mae'n ei olygu i Bort Talbot, ond hefyd i'r gymuned ehangach a'r gweithlu hefyd, gan y bydd rhai pobl wedi gweithio yno ar hyd eu bywydau gwaith. Felly, credaf y bydd yn amser tywyll iawn. Byddaf yn gwneud datganiad pellach maes o law, gan adeiladu ar yr hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog ynglŷn â'r cymorth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu a'r gwaith a wnawn mewn partneriaeth â'r cwmni, ond gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd, a'r undebau ac awdurdodau lleol ac eraill. Felly, nid oeddwn am adael i’r foment fynd heibio heb gydnabod hynny.

O ran prentisiaethau, wrth gwrs, byddant yn bwysig yn ein hymateb i Tata hefyd. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod pobl sy’n ymgymryd â phrentisiaethau ar hyn o bryd yn gallu eu cwblhau, ond wedyn mae angen inni edrych ymlaen at yr arc hefyd, pa sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnom. Mae angen inni ddechrau cynllunio ar unwaith, yn y bôn, i sicrhau bod y bobl hynny’n barod i ddechrau yn y gwaith hwnnw. Ni chredaf fod y ffaith bod prentisiaethau wedi'u gwasgaru ar draws y Llywodraeth yn y ffordd honno'n beth negyddol, mewn gwirionedd. Credaf ei fod yn cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw prentisiaethau. Felly, bydd Jack Sargeant yn arwain ar hyn, ond wrth gwrs, fe fydd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth agos â Vikki Howells ym maes addysg bellach ac addysg uwch, ac yna gyda mi yn fy rôl innau hefyd. Felly, rydym yn dîm bach. Gallwn weithio’n effeithiol gyda’n gilydd, ac ni chredaf fod y ffaith bod gan fwy nag un Gweinidog ddiddordeb yn hyn yn beth drwg.

Of course, it's important that we don't fall into that silo-working element when looking at apprenticeships, because the effect of good policy on apprenticeships will have a positive effect on productivity. If I could turn to productivity, the figures we receive on a regular basis often show Wales struggling with productivity, often being at the bottom of those tables. Your predecessor highlighted improvements to productivity as a key priority, and he was right to do so. Is it safe to assume that improving productivity remains a key priority for you? And through what lens will you look at improvements to productivity, because, at the end of the day, what is the economy? At its base level, it's people, isn't it? What we should be aiming for is an economy that provides meaningful and fulfilling roles for those people and their lives. Any policies aimed at improving productivity should bear that in mind.

Wrth gwrs, mae'n bwysig nad ydym yn syrthio i'r elfen gwaith seilo wrth edrych ar brentisiaethau, gan y bydd effaith polisi da ar brentisiaethau yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar gynhyrchiant. Os caf droi at gynhyrchiant, mae’r ffigurau rheolaidd a gawn yn aml yn dangos bod Cymru’n cael trafferth gyda chynhyrchiant, gan ein bod yn aml ar waelod y tablau hynny. Amlygodd eich rhagflaenydd welliannau i gynhyrchiant fel blaenoriaeth allweddol, ac roedd yn iawn i wneud hynny. A yw'n ddiogel tybio bod gwella cynhyrchiant yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i chi? A thrwy ba lens y byddwch yn edrych ar welliannau i gynhyrchiant, oherwydd, yn y pen draw, beth yw'r economi? Ar ei lefel sylfaenol, pobl yw'r economi, onid e? Yr hyn y dylem fod yn anelu ato yw economi sy’n darparu rolau ystyrlon a boddhaus i’r bobl hynny a’u bywydau. Dylai unrhyw bolisïau sydd â’r nod o wella cynhyrchiant gadw hynny mewn cof.

13:55

I absolutely come from the same place as you on this. Improving productivity is not about making people work harder. It's about making sure that people work in the environments that they need in order to be productive, and also that the businesses that they work in are investing in the business itself, that we're investing in people's skills. In my previous role, I remember talking to the UK Government of the time on a number of occasions about the work that was being done by the London School of Economics growth commission, and also the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, both of which recognised that, if you are to grow the economy and if you are to become more productive, then you need to be investing in people—so, investing in skills—but then also investing in infrastructure, which is why capital investment is so important as well. So, I still maintain that those two things are absolutely really important, and I will be advocating for those, but I think also the work that we're doing on fair work is really important in the context that you've described as well, to make sure that people are valued in the workforce, have opportunities to progress, and have dignity in the workforce as well, which is also important.

Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ynglŷn â hyn. Nid yw gwella cynhyrchiant yn ymwneud â gwneud i bobl weithio’n galetach. Mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau bod pobl yn gweithio yn yr amgylcheddau sydd eu hangen arnynt er mwyn bod yn gynhyrchiol, a bod y busnesau y maent yn gweithio ynddynt yn buddsoddi yn y busnes ei hun, ein bod yn buddsoddi yn sgiliau pobl. Yn fy rôl flaenorol, rwy’n cofio siarad â Llywodraeth y DU ar y pryd ar sawl achlysur am waith gan gomisiwn twf Ysgol Economeg Llundain, a hefyd y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, ac roedd y ddau sefydliad yn cydnabod, os ydych chi am dyfu’r economi ac os ydych chi am ddod yn fwy cynhyrchiol, fod angen i chi fuddsoddi mewn pobl—felly, buddsoddi mewn sgiliau—ond buddsoddi mewn seilwaith hefyd, a dyna pam fod buddsoddiad cyfalaf mor bwysig hefyd. Felly, rwy'n dal i ddweud bod y ddau beth hynny'n wirioneddol bwysig, a byddaf yn dadlau drostynt, ond credaf hefyd fod y gwaith a wnawn ar waith teg yn wirioneddol bwysig yn y cyd-destun a ddisgrifiwyd gennych, i sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi yn y gweithlu, yn cael cyfleoedd i wneud cynnydd, a bod ganddynt urddas yn y gweithlu hefyd, sydd hefyd yn bwysig.

Hybiau Bancio yn Nwyrain De Cymru
Banking Hubs in South Wales East

3. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r sector bancio i sicrhau hybiau bancio yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ61561

3. How is the Welsh Government working with the banking sector to secure banking hubs in South Wales East? OQ61561

We continue to press Cash Access UK, which leads on the development of shared banking hubs, to increase the pace of these in Wales. A total of 81 have been opened across the UK so far. Fifteen more are soon to be announced, with Monmouth included within the list.

Rydym yn parhau i bwyso ar Cash Access UK, sy’n arwain ar ddatblygiad hybiau bancio a rennir, i gyflymu hyn yng Nghymru. Mae cyfanswm o 81 wedi eu hagor yn y DU hyd yma. Mae 15 arall i’w cyhoeddi cyn bo hir, gyda Threfynwy wedi’i chynnwys ar y rhestr.

Diolch am hynna.

Thank you for that.

Ystrad Mynach's branch of Barclays is the fifth branch in the county borough to have its closure announced in the last year, and this is a quiet crisis being seen across my region. If you go north to Bargoed, there is an absence of any bank branches or hubs, and the cash points in town are sometimes left completely empty of cash at the weekend, leaving residents with no way easily of getting hold of money, and that's been raised with me by community councillor Joshua McCarthy. When banks close their doors, it can isolate communities and individuals, so I'd ask what discussions you as a Welsh Government can have with banking and financial businesses about setting up more of these banking hubs after branches have left, and would you explore the opportunity of delivering additional services from banking hubs, like debt advice and digital inclusion training? Because, for all that we are encouraged to see that when banking moves online, yes, it's going to make it easier for most people to gain access to their money, because you can get it quickly from your phone, but, for those people who are digitally excluded, the gap gets wider and wider, so what can be done to make sure that they're not left further behind, please?

Cangen Barclays yn Ystrad Mynach yw’r bumed gangen yn y fwrdeistref sirol i gau yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ac mae hwn yn argyfwng tawel a welir ar draws fy rhanbarth. Os ewch i'r gogledd i Fargoed, nid oes unrhyw ganghennau banc neu hybiau, ac mae'r peiriannau arian yn y dref weithiau'n cael eu gadael yn hollol wag o arian dros y penwythnos, gan adael trigolion heb unrhyw ffordd hawdd o gael mynediad at arian parod, ac mae hynny wedi'i godi gyda mi gan y cynghorydd cymuned, Joshua McCarthy. Pan fydd banciau’n cau eu drysau, gall hynny ynysu cymunedau ac unigolion, felly hoffwn ofyn pa drafodaethau y gallwch chi fel Llywodraeth Cymru eu cael gyda busnesau ariannol a banciau ynghylch sefydlu mwy o’r hybiau bancio hyn ar ôl i ganghennau adael, ac a wnewch chi archwilio’r cyfle i ddarparu gwasanaethau ychwanegol mewn hybiau bancio, fel cyngor ar ddyledion a hyfforddiant cynhwysiant digidol? Oherwydd, er yr holl bethau da am weld bancio'n symud ar-lein, ydy, mae'n mynd i'w gwneud yn haws i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl gael mynediad at eu harian, gan y gallwch wneud hynny'n gyflym ar eich ffôn, ond i'r bobl sydd wedi'u hallgáu'n ddigidol, mae'r bwlch yn tyfu ac yn tyfu, felly beth y gellir ei wneud i sicrhau nad ydynt yn cael eu gadael ymhellach ar ôl, os gwelwch yn dda?

I'm very grateful for the question. I think the circumstances that you've described in Ystrad Mynach really are a microcosm of what's been happening across Wales in the sense that 376 bank branches have closed in Wales since January 2015. That's an absolutely critical loss, really, when you think about the way in which communities value those services. So, with only 183 bank and building society branches slated to be open by the end of 2025, the impacts, I think, on financial inclusion will be quite significant, and we all recognise, I think, that most vulnerable people, including older people and disabled people, will rely more heavily on physical banking provision. So, we absolutely will be pressing for more of those hubs to be coming here and to do so more quickly, but I would really encourage colleagues, as I said in my answer to Joyce Watson earlier, to get involved with making representations to LINK, so LINK will be able to hear your concerns about communities that are banking deserts in some places now, to be able to identify those places where those hubs are needed. It is of course a UK Government commitment as well to increase the banking hubs, so we'll be pressing them further on that as well.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn. Credaf fod yr amgylchiadau a ddisgrifiwyd gennych yn Ystrad Mynach yn ficrocosm o'r hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd ledled Cymru yn yr ystyr fod 376 o ganghennau banc wedi cau yng Nghymru ers mis Ionawr 2015. Mae honno'n golled gwbl ddifrifol, mewn gwirionedd, pan feddyliwch am werth y gwasanaethau hynny i gymunedau. Felly, gan y rhagwelir mai dim ond 183 o ganghennau banc a chymdeithasau adeiladu a fydd ar agor erbyn diwedd 2025, credaf y bydd yr effeithiau ar gynhwysiant ariannol yn eithaf sylweddol, a chredaf fod pob un ohonom yn cydnabod bod y rhan fwyaf o bobl agored i niwed, gan gynnwys pobl hŷn a phobl anabl, yn dibynnu mwy ar ddarpariaeth bancio wyneb yn wyneb. Felly, byddwn yn sicr yn pwyso am i fwy o'r hybiau hynny ddod yma ac i hynny ddigwydd yn gyflymach, ond hoffwn annog fy nghyd-Aelodau yn gryf, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i Joyce Watson yn gynharach, i wneud sylwadau i LINK, fel bod LINK yn gallu clywed eich pryderon ynglŷn â chymunedau sy'n amddifad o gyfleusterau bancio mewn rhai mannau ar hyn o bryd, er mwyn gallu nodi’r mannau lle mae angen yr hybiau. Wrth gwrs, mae'n ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth y DU hefyd i gynyddu'r nifer o hybiau bancio, felly byddwn yn pwyso ymhellach arnynt hwy yn ogystal mewn perthynas â hynny.

As my colleague, Delyth Jewell, rightly pointed out, bank closures are indeed of great concern to so many people across south-east Wales. The recent closure of the TSB bank in Cwmbran is just one in a long line of banks that are, indeed, closing in Wales between 2024 and 2025, including seven Lloyds and eight Halifaxes. Having worked for a bank myself, I completely understand that banks are, indeed, businesses, and with the majority of services now available online, high-street banks are often no longer cost-effective for many banks, and I accept that. However, there are still many transactions that constituents would rather discuss in person, particularly the older generation, as my colleague mentioned, who may not have access to online services, with so many scams taking place, as well as digital inclusion, which my colleague mentioned. 

Banking hubs are indeed a great way of combating issues surrounding the closures, as residents can pop into their local community spots, such as their post office, on the day that their bank is in the hub, and speak to a community banker in a private room about anything that they wish to discuss. So, in light of this positive alternative, given the different choices high-street banks are now facing with closures, can the Welsh Government commit to looking at further financial aid in this year's budget to boost banking hub support for the long-term benefit of constituents who may otherwise have to travel miles and miles for help? Thank you very much. 

Fel y nododd fy nghyd-Aelod, Delyth Jewell, yn gywir ddigon, mae cau banciau yn peri pryder mawr i gymaint o bobl ledled de-ddwyrain Cymru. Mae cau banc TSB yng Nghwmbrân yn ddiweddar yn un o gyfres hir o fanciau sy'n cau yng Nghymru rhwng 2024 a 2025, gan gynnwys saith banc Lloyds ac wyth banc Halifax. A minnau wedi gweithio i fanc fy hun, rwy'n deall yn llwyr fod banciau'n fusnesau, a chyda’r mwyafrif o wasanaethau ar gael ar-lein bellach, yn aml, nid yw cynnal banciau ar y stryd fawr yn gosteffeithiol i lawer o fanciau erbyn hyn, ac rwy’n derbyn hynny. Fodd bynnag, mae llawer o drafodiadau y byddai’n well gan etholwyr eu trafod wyneb yn wyneb, yn enwedig y genhedlaeth hŷn, fel y soniodd fy nghyd-Aelod, pobl heb fynediad at wasanaethau ar-lein, o bosibl, gyda chymaint o sgamiau’n digwydd, yn ogystal â chynhwysiant digidol, fel y crybwyllodd fy nghyd-Aelod.

Mae hybiau bancio yn ffordd wych o fynd i’r afael â’r problemau sy'n gysylltiedig â chau banciau, gan y gall trigolion alw i mewn i’w mannau cymunedol lleol, megis eu swyddfa bost, ar y diwrnod y mae eu banc yn yr hyb, a siarad â banciwr cymunedol mewn ystafell breifat am unrhyw beth yr hoffent ei drafod. Felly, yng ngoleuni’r dewis amgen cadarnhaol hwn, o ystyried y gwahanol ddewisiadau y mae banciau’r stryd fawr yn eu hwynebu bellach gyda chau canghennau, a all Llywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i edrych ar gymorth ariannol pellach yn y gyllideb eleni i hybu cymorth ar gyfer hybiau bancio er budd hirdymor etholwyr a allai orfod teithio milltiroedd lawer am gymorth fel arall? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

14:00

I'm grateful for the question and I recognise, as you do, the importance of those hubs and that they can provide a positive alternative. So, these are not things that the Welsh Government is either responsible for or funds directly, but we will absolutely be pressing for more of them to be coming to Wales. What we do do, though, is provide support to our credit unions here in Wales. So, £0.5 million a year is provided to support 13 community-based projects, and those do include the development of new credit union hubs, which will be held in community venue areas. There's a new one in the Cana centre in Aberdare, for example, run by Smart Money Cymru Community Bank. So, that's just one example, really, of ways in which we're supporting the credit unions to expand their offer here in Wales.

And I think a diverse way of accessing cash and information and advice is important. And the point earlier about ensuring that financial inclusion and advice is available to people is also important. So, signposting from these hubs to places where people can access more information about financial inclusion is really important. 

Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cwestiwn ac fel chi, rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd hybiau ac y gallant ddarparu dewis arall cadarnhaol. Felly, nid yw'r rhain yn bethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfrifol amdanynt neu'n eu hariannu'n uniongyrchol, ond byddwn yn sicr yn pwyso am i fwy ohonynt ddod i Gymru. Yr hyn a wnawn, serch hynny, yw rhoi cymorth i'n hundebau credyd yma yng Nghymru. Felly, darperir £0.5 miliwn y flwyddyn i gefnogi 13 o brosiectau cymunedol, ac mae'r rheini'n cynnwys datblygu hybiau undeb credyd newydd, a gaiff eu cynnal mewn lleoliadau cymunedol. Mae un newydd yng nghanolfan Cana yn Aberdâr, er enghraifft, sy'n cael ei rhedeg gan Fanc Cymunedol Smart Money Cymru. Felly, dim ond un enghraifft yw honno o'r ffyrdd y cefnogwn undebau credyd i ehangu eu cynnig yma yng Nghymru.

Ac rwy'n credu bod ffordd wahanol o gael gafael ar arian parod a gwybodaeth a chyngor yn bwysig. Ac mae'r pwynt cynharach ynglŷn â sicrhau bod cynhwysiant ariannol a chyngor ar gael i bobl hefyd yn bwysig. Felly, mae cyfeirio o'r canolfannau hyn i fannau lle gall pobl gael mwy o wybodaeth am gynhwysiant ariannol yn bwysig iawn. 

As you say, Cabinet Secretary, this is a problem right across Wales. For example, in Monmouthshire, eight high-street banks have closed over the past two years, including in Caldicot in my Newport East constituency. Our newly elected Labour MP for Monmouth, Catherine Fookes, campaigned long and hard before getting elected, and since, on these issues, and as you say, it is a shared responsibility with the Westminster Government. In that area of Severnside, Cabinet Secretary, we see rapidly growing populations where what were previously small villages are now small towns. So, I think that has to be recognised in terms of providing those high-street banking services where people live and where people need them. Is that an aspect of the overall picture that you recognise and that you will factor into your decision making?

Fel y dywedwch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae hon yn broblem ledled Cymru. Er enghraifft, yn sir Fynwy, mae wyth banc stryd fawr wedi cau dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, gan gynnwys yng Nghil-y-coed yn fy etholaeth i, Dwyrain Casnewydd. Bu ein AS Llafur newydd dros Fynwy, Catherine Fookes, yn ymgyrchu yn hir ac yn galed ar y materion hyn cyn cael ei hethol, ac ers hynny, ac fel y dywedwch, mae'n gyfrifoldeb a rennir gyda Llywodraeth San Steffan. Yn yr ardal honno yng Nglannau Hafren, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gwelwn boblogaethau sy'n tyfu'n gyflym lle mae'r hyn a arferai fod yn bentrefi bach yn drefi bach erbyn hyn. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid cydnabod hynny wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau bancio stryd fawr lle mae pobl yn byw a lle mae pobl eu hangen. A yw honno'n agwedd ar y darlun cyffredinol yr ydych chi'n ei gydnabod ac y byddwch chi'n ei hystyried wrth wneud penderfyniadau?

Yes, thank you very much for raising that. I think that that's really recognised by the movement behind the banking hubs, in the sense of the importance of them in communities right across Wales. I know that Catherine Fookes will be really pleased with the latest announcement around the Monmouth banking hub, which is one of the 15 that have been announced more recently. There are a number right across Wales, but we absolutely need to see more of them. And, in the context of the reduction in the number of banks, which I mentioned in my previous answer, where only 183 banks and buildings societies will be left open by the end of 2025, then we really do need to see these motoring ahead. So, we will do anything that we can to support and facilitate them, and obviously we're very pleased to see the UK Government's commitment to increase the number and pace as well.

Ie, diolch yn fawr iawn am godi hynny. Credaf fod hynny'n cael ei gydnabod yn fawr gan y mudiad y tu ôl i'r hybiau bancio, o ran eu pwysigrwydd mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd Catherine Fookes yn falch iawn o'r cyhoeddiad diweddaraf ynghylch hyb bancio Trefynwy, sy'n un o'r 15 a gyhoeddwyd yn fwy diweddar. Mae nifer ar draws Cymru, ond yn sicr, mae angen inni weld mwy ohonynt. Ac yng nghyd-destun y gostyngiad yn nifer y banciau, y soniais amdano yn fy ateb blaenorol, gyda dim ond 183 o fanciau a chymdeithasau adeiladau ar agor erbyn diwedd 2025, mae gwir angen inni weld y rhain yn datblygu'n gyflym. Felly, byddwn yn gwneud unrhyw beth a allwn i'w cefnogi a'u hwyluso, ac yn amlwg, rydym yn falch iawn o weld ymrwymiad Llywodraeth y DU i gynyddu'r nifer a hynny'n gyflym.

Sefydliadau Hyfforddiant Meddygol Newydd
New Medical Training Establishments

4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi eu cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ynghylch mesur gwerth economaidd creu sefydliadau hyfforddiant meddygol newydd mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru? OQ61559

4. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about assessing the economic value of creating new medical training establishments in different parts of Wales? OQ61559

I thank the Member for the question. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I are pleased that we have invested significantly in the development of the new north Wales medical school, which takes on its first students this month. The north Wales medical school provides the opportunity for those aspiring to be doctors in north Wales to study close to home. It is now important that we assess the success of the north Wales medical school.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a minnau'n falch ein bod wedi buddsoddi'n sylweddol yn natblygiad ysgol feddygol newydd gogledd Cymru, sy'n derbyn ei myfyrwyr cyntaf y mis hwn. Mae ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru yn rhoi cyfle i'r rhai sy'n dymuno bod yn feddygon yng ngogledd Cymru astudio'n agos at eu cartref. Mae'n bwysig nawr ein bod yn asesu llwyddiant ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru.

Diolch yn fawr. Symud ymlaen o'r ysgol feddygol i'r angen am ysgol ddeintyddol, ac mae adroddiad annibynnol a gafodd ei lansio yr wythnos diwethaf yn gwneud yr achos dros leoli ysgol ddeintyddol newydd i Gymru ym Mangor. Mae’r adroddiad yn amlinellu’r achos economaidd yn ogystal â’r holl resymau eraill clir sydd yna dros sefydlu ysgol ddeintyddol ym Mangor. Mae’r adroddiad yn dod i’r casgliad ar dudalen 26:

'Mae achos economaidd cryf dros leoli ysgol ddeintyddol ym Mangor.'

Mae o’n mynd ymlaen i ddweud:

‘Byddai ysgol ddeintyddol ym Mangor yn adeiladu ymhellach ar fuddsoddiadau pellgyrhaeddol diweddar gan ehangu’r ddarpariaeth hyfforddiant ym maes iechyd a gofal. Gall clwstwr o’r fath greu cyfleoedd newydd i gyfoethogi profiadau hyfforddiant ac academaidd, a hefyd i arloesi a datblygu cyfleoedd busnes newydd yn y maes.’

Felly, a wnewch chi drafod canfyddiadau’r adroddiad yma efo Gweinidogion eraill ac Aelodau eraill o’r Cabinet er mwyn ystyried yr effaith y byddai ysgol ddeintyddol yn ei gael ar economi’r ardal? Diolch.

Thank you very much. Moving on from the medical school to the need for a new dentistry school, and an independent report that was launched last week makes the case for locating a new school of dentistry for Wales in Bangor. The report outlines the economic case as well as all of the other clear reasons that there are in favour of establishing a school of dentistry in Bangor. The report comes to the conclusion on page 26 that

'There is a strong economic case for locating a dental school in Bangor.'

It goes on to say that:

'A dental school in Bangor would build further on recent far-reaching investments in expanding the provision of teaching in the health and care sector. Such a cluster can create new opportunities to enrich training and academic experiences, and to innovate and develop new business opportunities in the sector.'

So, will you discuss the findings of this report with other Ministers and other Members of the Cabinet to consider the impact that a school of dentistry would have on the economy of the area? Thank you.

14:05

Diolch yn fawr, Siân Gwenllian, for the question, and thank you for the work that you've done on the ‘Filling the Gaps’ report. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I met just this week to discuss the importance of the health sector for the economy and we are aware of the report, and I read with interest over the last few days, on page 26, the economic case, as you’ve set out, in the report.

With reference to and regard to the need for and proposal of a second dental school, particularly in north Wales, any such proposal must be led by the health board. It’s important that universities like Bangor University and Aberystwyth University help to develop those proposals and I’m actively encouraging those universities to do so. Any such proposal that comes forward in that manner will then be considered by Ministers and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, subject to funding being available, but I think your report, ‘Filling the Gaps’, does go some way towards helping to shape such a proposal.

Llywydd, more broadly, I’m very proud of the investment and the record of the Welsh Labour Government in terms of investing in education and training to support and sustain the health workforce across Cymru. The NHS has more people working in it now than ever before, and providing state-of-the-art training facilities like the north Wales medical school. The £3.5 million investment from this Government is an important first step in encouraging medical professionals to train, work and live in Wales, and this is not only beneficial to the students who get to explore everything our beautiful country has to offer; it’s vital for NHS recruitment. But also—as the Member rightly points out—it does help boost our local economy as well.

Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn, Siân Gwenllian, a diolch am y gwaith a wnaethoch ar adroddiad 'Filling the Gaps'. Cyfarfu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a minnau yr wythnos hon i drafod pwysigrwydd y sector iechyd i'r economi ac rydym yn ymwybodol o'r adroddiad, a dros y dyddiau diwethaf, darllenais yr achos economaidd, fel y nodwyd gennych, ar dudalen 26 o'r adroddiad gyda diddordeb.

Gan gyfeirio at yr angen a'r argymhelliad am ail ysgol ddeintyddol, yn enwedig yng ngogledd Cymru, rhaid i'r bwrdd iechyd arwain unrhyw gynnig o'r fath. Mae'n bwysig fod prifysgolion fel Prifysgol Bangor a Phrifysgol Aberystwyth yn helpu i ddatblygu'r argymhellion hyn ac rwy'n annog y prifysgolion i wneud hynny. Yna bydd unrhyw argymhelliad o'r fath a gyflwynir yn y modd hwnnw yn cael ei ystyried gan Weinidogion ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, yn amodol ar fod cyllid ar gael, ond credaf fod eich adroddiad, 'Filling the Gaps', yn mynd beth o'r ffordd tuag at helpu i lunio argymhelliad o'r fath.

Lywydd, yn fwy cyffredinol, rwy'n falch iawn o'r buddsoddiad a hanes Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru o fuddsoddi mewn addysg a hyfforddiant i gefnogi a chynnal y gweithlu iechyd ledled Cymru. Mae gan y GIG fwy o bobl yn gweithio ynddo nawr nag erioed o'r blaen, ac mae'n darparu cyfleusterau hyfforddi o'r radd flaenaf fel ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru. Mae'r buddsoddiad o £3.5 miliwn gan y Llywodraeth hon yn gam cyntaf pwysig i annog gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol i hyfforddi, gweithio a byw yng Nghymru, ac mae hyn nid yn unig yn fuddiol i'r myfyrwyr sy'n cael archwilio popeth sydd gan ein gwlad hardd i'w gynnig; mae'n hanfodol ar gyfer recriwtio i'r GIG. Ond hefyd—fel y mae'r Aelod yn gywir i'w nodi—mae'n helpu i roi hwb i'n heconomi leol hefyd.

Can I first of all congratulate Jack Sargeant on his new post? I’m certainly looking forward to seeing him thrive in his role in future months and years, I’m sure.

Minister, what struck me on hearing the question from Siân Gwenllian is some of the opportunities around the public and private partnership opportunities when it comes to investment in medical training establishments. I was actually in your constituency this week, meeting with Specsavers opticians, because it’s National Eye Health Week, and they shared with me some of the investment they’re making in training facilities in England, for optometrists and within ophthalmology as well, so I think there’s a real opportunity for those public-private partnerships to enhance training facilities here in Wales as well. So, I’d be keen to understand what collaboration can be undertaken with the private sector, do you think, here in Wales, so that as Welsh Government, you can work hand-in-hand with those companies and businesses to ensure we have top-quality training provided both, yes, by public sector training providers, but also by private sector training providers, to certainly help our economic supply chain as well? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

A gaf i longyfarch Jack Sargeant yn gyntaf ar ei swydd newydd? Rwy'n sicr yn edrych ymlaen at ei weld yn ffynnu yn ei rôl yn y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf, rwy'n siŵr.

Weinidog, yr hyn a'm trawodd wrth glywed y cwestiwn gan Siân Gwenllian yw rhai o'r cyfleoedd sydd ynghlwm wrth bartneriaeth gyhoeddus a phreifat i fuddsoddi mewn sefydliadau hyfforddiant meddygol. Roeddwn yn eich etholaeth yr wythnos hon, yn cyfarfod â'r optegwyr Specsavers, oherwydd mae'n Wythnos Genedlaethol Iechyd Llygaid, ac fe wnaethant rannu rhywfaint o'r buddsoddiad y maent yn ei wneud mewn cyfleusterau hyfforddi yn Lloegr, ar gyfer optometryddion ac mewn offthalmoleg hefyd, felly rwy'n credu bod cyfle gwirioneddol i'r partneriaethau cyhoeddus-preifat hynny wella cyfleusterau hyfforddi yma yng Nghymru hefyd. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i ddeall pa gydweithio y gellir ei wneud gyda'r sector preifat yma yng Nghymru yn eich barn chi, fel y gallwch chi, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, weithio law yn llaw â'r cwmnïau a'r busnesau hynny i sicrhau bod gennym hyfforddiant o'r radd flaenaf wedi'i ddarparu gan ddarparwyr hyfforddiant y sector cyhoeddus, ie, ond hefyd gan ddarparwyr hyfforddiant y sector preifat, yn sicr, i helpu ein cadwyn gyflenwi economaidd hefyd? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

I’m grateful to Sam Rowlands for the warm welcome and the question, and indeed I look forward to working with him in the future as well. And it’s always good to welcome Sam to Alyn and Deeside. I think I was last in Specsavers having my eye test locally, but I’m grateful for his support for the business in Alyn and Deeside.

When it comes to training, in general, and the training facilities in the private sector, I’m very keen for us to do everything we possibly can to work with both the public sector and the wonderful training providers we have in the higher education and further education sectors, but also with industry, which plays a key role in some of that, so whether that’s directly with businesses or indeed private training providers as well. And not just in the health sector, but across all sectors, we must do everything we can to make sure we have a skills programme that is ambitious, particularly around the green jobs and growth priorities. 

I know the Member was in the University of Manchester recently, looking at some of the programmes around healthcare and the opportunities around artificial intelligence and digitisation. I think this is a really exciting field, not just in healthcare, but across all Government portfolios, and I'm sure we'll be keen to see what more we can do in those spaces, and it'll be a conversation I'll pick up with both the Cabinet Secretary for the economy and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Sam Rowlands am y croeso cynnes a'r cwestiwn, ac yn wir edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gydag ef yn y dyfodol hefyd. Ac mae bob amser yn dda croesawu Sam i Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy. Rwy'n credu mai'r tro diwethaf imi fod yn Specsavers oedd pan gefais fy mhrawf llygaid yn lleol, ond rwy'n ddiolchgar am ei gefnogaeth i'r busnes yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy.

O ran hyfforddiant yn gyffredinol, a'r cyfleusterau hyfforddi yn y sector preifat, rwy'n awyddus iawn i ni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i weithio gyda'r sector cyhoeddus a'r darparwyr hyfforddiant gwych sydd gennym yn y sectorau addysg uwch ac addysg bellach, ond hefyd gyda diwydiant, sy'n chwarae rhan allweddol yn hynny, felly yn uniongyrchol gyda busnesau neu'n wir gyda darparwyr hyfforddiant preifat hefyd. Ac nid yn unig yn y sector iechyd, ond ar draws pob sector, mae'n rhaid inni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i sicrhau bod gennym raglen sgiliau sy'n uchelgeisiol, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â swyddi gwyrdd a'r blaenoriaethau twf. 

Rwy'n gwybod bod yr Aelod ym Mhrifysgol Manceinion yn ddiweddar yn edrych ar rai o'r rhaglenni sy'n ymwneud â gofal iechyd a'r cyfleoedd sy'n gysylltiedig â deallusrwydd artiffisial a digideiddio. Credaf fod hwn yn faes cyffrous iawn, nid yn unig mewn gofal iechyd, ond ar draws holl bortffolios y Llywodraeth, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwn yn awyddus i weld beth arall y gallwn ei wneud yn y pethau hynny, a bydd yn sgwrs y byddaf yn ei mynd ar ei thrywydd gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol.

14:10
Ardaloedd Menter
Enterprise Zones

5. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am effeithiolrwydd ardaloedd menter? OQ61548

5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the effectiveness of enterprise zones? OQ61548

Over several years, the Welsh Government-designated enterprise zones have continued to deliver against a challenging economic backdrop. Numerous jobs have been supported across the zones, while public sector investment has enabled a wide range of transformative projects across all eight zones.

Dros nifer o flynyddoedd, mae'r ardaloedd menter a ddynodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru wedi parhau i gyflawni yn erbyn cefndir economaidd heriol. Mae nifer o swyddi wedi cael eu cefnogi ar draws yr ardaloedd, ac mae buddsoddiad y sector cyhoeddus wedi galluogi ystod eang o brosiectau trawsnewidiol ar draws pob un o'r wyth ardal.

I thank the Minister for that response. In the 1980s, Wales had three zones: Milford, Delyn and, the largest in Britain, Swansea. Enterprise zones were criticised for most of the jobs created being displaced, often from other places in the area, and each job created cost £23,000. In 2012-13, several enterprise zones were designated, and in 2017-18, Port Talbot enterprise zone was set up. Choosing central Cardiff as a business area and Deeside as a manufacturing area, which were certain to succeed, meant the policy could be deemed a success. When is the Welsh Government going to review all the enterprise zones and publish a report outlining how they have performed?

Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb hwnnw. Yn yr 1980au, roedd gan Gymru dair ardal: Aberdaugleddau, Delyn a'r mwyaf ym Mhrydain, Abertawe. Beirniadwyd ardaloedd menter am ddadleoli'r rhan fwyaf o'r swyddi a gâi eu creu, o leoedd eraill yn yr ardal yn aml, ac fe gostiodd pob swydd a gafodd eu creu £23,000. Yn 2012-13, cafodd sawl ardal fenter eu dynodi, ac yn 2017-18, sefydlwyd ardal fenter Port Talbot. Roedd dewis canol Caerdydd fel ardal fusnes a Glannau Dyfrdwy fel ardal weithgynhyrchu, a oedd yn sicr o lwyddo, yn golygu y gellid ystyried bod y polisi yn llwyddiant. Pryd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i adolygu'r holl ardaloedd menter a chyhoeddi adroddiad yn amlinellu sut y maent wedi perfformio?

I'm very grateful for the question, and I think I would recognise the way in which Mike Hedges has categorised and described the enterprise zones of the 1980s. I know that he has big concerns about how they drew investment out from city centres and the impact that that had, and I think that that is entirely something that I would recognise. The current investment zone approach, though, is very different, in the sense that we've designated our enterprise zones to support key growth sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, ICT, energy and environment, and financial and professional services. So, they're not based around the retail sector, so displacement effects aren't going to be as they were in response to the 1980s designations.

But it is important to recognise that outside of Cardiff, and outside of Deeside—those key areas—there are significant improvements taking place, for example, the development of M-SParc in Anglesey, which is part of Bangor University, which is a really important success, and the work in Snowdonia, which has helped to elevate the site as one of choice for new low-carbon developments. Again, I think that's really important. And then when we look to the Haven waterway zone, work's ongoing there to deliver the Pembrokeshire food park, which will add value to local produce, provide new jobs and also help with UK food security. And turning to Ebbw Vale, for example, the enterprise zone there is now aligned to the Tech Valleys programme, and that's seen the development of the Thales technology campus, providing research solutions for cyber resilience. As I think I've said before, if anyone wants to have their mind blown, arrange a visit there, because the things that they're doing are absolutely incredible. And then further examples around Port Talbot, Bro Tathan and so on, as well. So, I think that you can prove and point to improvements, significant investment and exciting investment beyond Cardiff and Deeside.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn, ac rwy'n credu y byddwn yn cydnabod y ffordd y mae Mike Hedges wedi categoreiddio a disgrifio ardaloedd menter yr 1980au. Rwy'n gwybod bod ganddo bryderon mawr ynglŷn â sut y gwnaethant dynnu buddsoddiad allan o ganol dinasoedd a'r effaith a gafodd hynny, a chredaf fod hynny'n rhywbeth y byddwn yn ei gydnabod yn llwyr. Fodd bynnag, mae'r dull presennol o ddynodi parthau buddsoddi yn wahanol iawn, yn yr ystyr ein bod wedi dynodi ein hardaloedd menter i gefnogi sectorau twf allweddol, megis gweithgynhyrchu uwch, TGCh, ynni a'r amgylchedd, a gwasanaethau ariannol a phroffesiynol. Felly, nid ydynt yn seiliedig ar y sector manwerthu, felly ni fydd effeithiau dadleoli'n digwydd fel y gwelwyd mewn ymateb i ddynodiadau'r 1980au.

Ond mae'n bwysig cydnabod bod gwelliannau sylweddol yn digwydd y tu allan i Gaerdydd, a thu allan i Lannau Dyfrdwy—yr ardaloedd allweddol hynny—er enghraifft, datblygiad M-SParc ar Ynys Môn, sy'n rhan o Brifysgol Bangor, sy'n llwyddiant pwysig iawn, a'r gwaith yn Eryri, sydd wedi helpu i ddyrchafu'r safle fel un a ffafrir ar gyfer datblygiadau carbon isel newydd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig iawn. Ac yna pan edrychwn ar ardal dyfrffordd y ddau Gleddau, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo yno i ddarparu parc bwyd sir Benfro, a fydd yn ychwanegu gwerth at gynnyrch lleol, yn darparu swyddi newydd a hefyd yn helpu gyda diogeledd bwyd y DU. A chan droi at Lyn Ebwy, er enghraifft, mae'r ardal fenter yno bellach yn alinio â rhaglen y Cymoedd Technoleg, ac mae hynny wedi arwain at ddatblygiad campws technoleg Thales, gan ddarparu atebion ymchwil ar gyfer seiber-wytnwch. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, rwy'n credu, os oes unrhyw un eisiau cael agoriad llygad go iawn, trefnwch ymweliad â'r fan honno, oherwydd mae'r pethau a wnânt yn hollol anhygoel. Ac mae enghreifftiau pellach o gwmpas Port Talbot, Bro Tathan ac ati hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu y gallwch brofi a phwyntio at welliannau, buddsoddiad sylweddol a buddsoddiad cyffrous y tu hwnt i Gaerdydd a Glannau Dyfrdwy.

Cabinet Secretary, let me take you back to the Port Talbot waterfront enterprise zone. Your predecessor, many times, referred to established enterprise zones as a way to address the economic misfortunes of west Wales and the Valleys, but alas, we have yet to reap the benefits. Gross value added in my region remains one of the lowest in the UK, and while enterprise zones across Wales have had some success in safeguarding jobs, they have not had the dramatic impact we were promised over a decade ago. However, I'm deeply concerned about the future of Port Talbot enterprise zone. The massive job losses at Tata, one of the key anchors of the zone, are bound to have an impact. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what assessment have you made of the health of the enterprise zone and how will you work with the UK Government's Tata transition board to secure a lasting positive impact on the region's economic misfortunes?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gadewch imi fynd â chi yn ôl at ardal fenter glannau Port Talbot. Cyfeiriodd eich rhagflaenydd lawer gwaith at ardaloedd menter sefydledig fel ffordd o fynd i'r afael ag anawsterau economaidd gorllewin Cymru a'r Cymoedd, ond gwaetha'r modd, nid ydym wedi medi'r budd hyd yma. Mae gwerth ychwanegol gros yn fy rhanbarth yn parhau i fod ymysg yr isaf yn y DU, ac er bod ardaloedd menter ledled Cymru wedi cael peth llwyddiant yn diogelu swyddi, nid ydynt wedi cael yr effaith ddramatig a addawyd i ni dros ddegawd yn ôl. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n pryderu'n fawr am ddyfodol ardal fenter Port Talbot. Mae'r nifer enfawr o swyddi a gollir yn Tata, un o brif gwmnïau angori'r ardal, yn sicr o gael effaith. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa asesiad a wnaethoch chi o iechyd yr ardal fenter a sut y gwnewch chi weithio gyda bwrdd pontio Tata Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau effaith gadarnhaol barhaol ar anawsterau economaidd y rhanbarth?

The future of Port Talbot is absolutely critical, and despite the sad news at the moment and what that means for the workforce at Tata, I think that there is a really exciting and bright future for Port Talbot. You can see our long-term commitment in our acquisition of the former BP Chemicals site at Baglan Bay. That does present us with the opportunity to bring forward a major strategic development site, which then has the opportunity and the potential to help transform the region's economic base from heavy industry and the industries of the past to the industries of the future, such as high-value manufacturing and green energy production. It will also support net-zero opportunities in south-west Wales more widely and beyond. The Baglan high-value demonstrator centre aligns with the Welsh Government's work with Innovate UK, and I think that's just one example of the important work that we're doing in that space at the moment.

Mae dyfodol Port Talbot yn gwbl dyngedfennol, ac er y newyddion trist ar hyn o bryd a'r hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu i'r gweithlu yn Tata, rwy'n credu bod dyfodol cyffrous a disglair iawn i Bort Talbot. Gallwch weld ein hymrwymiad hirdymor yn y modd y gwnaethom gaffael hen safle BP Chemicals ym Mae Baglan. Mae hynny'n rhoi cyfle i ni gyflwyno safle datblygu strategol mawr, sydd wedyn yn creu cyfle a photensial i helpu i drawsnewid sylfaen economaidd y rhanbarth o ddiwydiant trwm a diwydiannau'r gorffennol i ddiwydiannau'r dyfodol, megis gweithgynhyrchu gwerth uchel a chynhyrchiant ynni gwyrdd. Bydd hefyd yn cefnogi cyfleoedd sero net yn ne-orllewin Cymru yn ehangach a thu hwnt. Mae canolfan arddangos gwerth uchel Baglan yn cyd-fynd â gwaith Llywodraeth Cymru gydag Innovate UK, ac un enghraifft yn unig yw honno o'r gwaith pwysig a wnawn yn y gofod hwnnw ar hyn o bryd.

14:15

I'd like to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to her new role, also. I'm glad she mentioned M-SParc and the brilliant work going on there in terms of incubating and encouraging the development of businesses in digital, low carbon and other sectors. I've been long convinced that we need something similar in the food production sector, and there's actually land identified as enterprise zone land that could be used for developing such a food production park. We have all the ingredients, if you like, on Ynys Môn to take such a food park forward—the food technology centre is brilliant in Llangefni; we have the tradition of food production, and we have smaller food production companies that are looking to grow and looking for a helping hand. Other Ministers have supported, in principle, looking at this. Will the Cabinet Secretary agree to help me, to work with investors to try to make this a reality? And will she meet with me to look at how we can finally, hopefully, take this forward, given that we do have, now, more partners coming on board?

Hoffwn groesawu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i'w rôl newydd hefyd. Rwy'n falch iddi sôn am M-SParc a'r gwaith gwych sy'n digwydd yno ar ddeori ac annog datblygiad busnesau yn y sectorau digidol, carbon isel ac eraill. Rwyf wedi bod yn argyhoeddedig ers tro fod angen rhywbeth tebyg arnom yn y sector cynhyrchu bwyd, ac mae yna dir wedi'i nodi fel tir ardal fenter y gellid ei ddefnyddio i ddatblygu parc cynhyrchu bwyd o'r fath. Mae gennym yr holl gynhwysion, os mynnwch, ar Ynys Môn i ddatblygu parc bwyd o'r fath—mae'r ganolfan technoleg bwyd yn wych yn Llangefni; mae gennym draddodiad o gynhyrchu bwyd, ac mae gennym gwmnïau cynhyrchu bwyd llai o faint sy'n awyddus i dyfu ac yn chwilio am help. Mae Gweinidogion eraill yn gefnogol i edrych ar hyn mewn egwyddor. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gytuno i fy helpu, i weithio gyda buddsoddwyr i geisio gwireddu hyn? Ac a wnaiff hi gyfarfod â mi i edrych ar sut y gallwn symud hyn ymlaen o'r diwedd, gobeithio, gan gofio bod gennym fwy o bartneriaid yn ein cefnogi bellach?

I'd be more than happy to meet with Rhun ap Iorwerth to talk in a bit more detail about this. I do remember, I think, a short debate that the Member championed in the Senedd quite some time ago, and even at that point, I think there was significant potential. But things have moved on since then and I think that's really encouraging. So, absolutely, I'm more than happy to have that meeting.

Rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â Rhun ap Iorwerth i siarad ychydig yn fanylach am hyn. Rwy'n credu fy mod yn cofio dadl fer a hyrwyddwyd gan yr Aelod yn y Senedd gryn dipyn o amser yn ôl, a hyd yn oed bryd hynny, roedd yna botensial sylweddol. Ond mae pethau wedi symud ymlaen ers hynny ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n galonogol iawn. Felly, yn sicr, rwy'n hapus iawn i gael y cyfarfod hwnnw.

Swyddi Gwyrdd mewn Trefi a Chymoedd ôl-ddiwydiannol
Green Jobs in Post-industrial Towns and Valleys

6. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i greu swyddi gwyrdd mewn trefi, a chymoedd ôl-ddiwydiannol fel y Rhondda? OQ61554

6. What plans does the Welsh Government have to create green jobs in post-industrial towns, and valleys like the Rhondda? OQ61554

There are enormous net-zero opportunities across Wales to support business growth and to develop new technologies. We recognise the importance of creating a pipeline of skilled and talented individuals, which was one of the seven key priorities within the net-zero skills action plan.

Mae cyfleoedd sero net enfawr ledled Cymru i gefnogi twf busnes ac i ddatblygu technolegau newydd. Rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd creu llif o unigolion medrus a thalentog, rhywbeth a oedd yn un o'r saith blaenoriaeth allweddol yn y cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net.

My constituency was vital during the industrial revolution, and it's no secret that, since that time, other than jobs in trades, we've really struggled with limited local employment, especially within the energy sector. Green jobs have the potential to turn this around. With an abundance of natural resources, such as the hydro project at Cambrian and wind turbines throughout the valley, along with the growing market for sustainable homes, we have significant untapped potential. How important is it to form partnerships between colleges, energy companies and housing associations to create the green jobs of the future? Additionally, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to encourage and facilitate these partnerships to ensure that Rhondda benefits from the green energy transition and job creation?

Roedd fy etholaeth yn allweddol yn ystod y chwyldro diwydiannol, ac nid yw'n gyfrinach ein bod ers hynny, ar wahân i swyddi mewn crefftau, wedi cael anhawster gwirioneddol gyda chyflogaeth leol gyfyngedig, yn enwedig yn y sector ynni. Mae gan swyddi gwyrdd botensial i wrthdroi hyn. Gyda digonedd o adnoddau naturiol, megis prosiect hydro Cambrian a thyrbinau gwynt ledled y cwm, ynghyd â'r farchnad gynyddol ar gyfer cartrefi cynaliadwy, mae gennym botensial sylweddol heb ei gyffwrdd. Pa mor bwysig yw ffurfio partneriaethau rhwng colegau, cwmnïau ynni a chymdeithasau tai i greu swyddi gwyrdd y dyfodol? Yn ogystal, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i annog a hwyluso'r partneriaethau hyn i sicrhau bod y Rhondda'n elwa o'r pontio i ynni gwyrdd a chreu swyddi?

I'm really grateful for the question and the opportunity to highlight the importance of green jobs and green growth for all parts of Wales, particularly those that have that very industrial heritage, because they can absolutely be at the forefront of the next wave of industry and that green and net-zero space. I think the work that we're doing through Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru will be really important in developing large-scale renewable energy projects, and crucially, retaining the benefits of those within our communities here in Wales and within the supply chains that we have here in Wales. And also, of course, the income from the projects, as they develop, will be retained here in Wales. I think that that is absolutely something to be really excited about in terms of the future and how we can continue reinvesting in our communities. And, of course, we've got Ynni Cymru supporting community energy projects, with £10 million of capital investment to support smart local energy projects. Of course, Ynni Cymru was part of our commitment with the co-operation agreement. So, we're continuing with both of those things. I think they're both really exciting. And when you put that into the context of the net-zero action plan, which I referred to earlier, which is all about skills from school right the way up to people who are looking to reskill following a previous career, I think that we are in very exciting territory.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn a'r cyfle i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd swyddi gwyrdd a thwf gwyrdd i bob rhan o Gymru, yn enwedig y rhai sydd â'r dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol iawn honno, oherwydd gallant fod ar y blaen yn y don nesaf o ddiwydiant a'r gofod gwyrdd a sero net hwnnw. Rwy'n credu y bydd y gwaith a wnawn trwy Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru yn bwysig iawn wrth ddatblygu prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy ar raddfa fawr, ac yn hollbwysig, wrth gadw buddion y rheini yn ein cymunedau yma yng Nghymru ac o fewn y cadwyni cyflenwi sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru. A hefyd, wrth gwrs, bydd yr incwm o'r prosiectau, wrth iddynt ddatblygu, yn cael ei gadw yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth i fod yn gyffrous iawn yn ei gylch ar gyfer y dyfodol a sut y gallwn barhau i ailfuddsoddi yn ein cymunedau. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym Ynni Cymru yn cefnogi prosiectau ynni cymunedol, gyda £10 miliwn o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf i gefnogi prosiectau ynni lleol clyfar. Wrth gwrs, roedd Ynni Cymru yn rhan o'n hymrwymiad gyda'r cytundeb cydweithio. Felly, rydym yn parhau â'r ddau beth hyn. Rwy'n credu eu bod yn gyffrous iawn. A phan fyddwch chi'n rhoi hynny yng nghyd-destun y cynllun gweithredu sero net, y cyfeiriais ato'n gynharach, sy'n ymwneud â sgiliau o'r ysgol yr holl ffordd at bobl sy'n awyddus i ailsgilio yn dilyn gyrfa flaenorol, rwy'n credu ein bod mewn man cyffrous iawn.

Annog Rhieni Plant Ifanc yn ôl i'r Gweithlu
Encouraging Parents of Young Children back into the Workforce

7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i annog rhieni plant ifanc yn ôl i'r gweithlu? OQ61572

7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage parents of young children back into the workforce? OQ61572

14:20

Thank you. Together with the Department for Work and Pensions, we have in place a comprehensive set of measures through our employability programmes and childcare offer to support parents back into work.

Diolch. Ynghyd â'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, mae gennym set gynhwysfawr o fesurau ar waith trwy ein rhaglenni cyflogadwyedd a'n cynnig gofal plant i gynorthwyo rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith.

Thank you, Minister, for that response. Getting parents back into the workforce is fundamental to a thriving economy. I know that you would agree with that. Last year, Oxfam found that over a quarter of Welsh respondents to its survey were spending over £900 a month on childcare costs, with 43 per cent saying that they hadn’t been able to pay other essential costs after paying for childcare.

Concerningly, over half of the respondents said that, after paying for childcare costs, it doesn’t make financial sense for them to go to work. This clearly has implications for the Welsh economy. Yes, the Welsh Government has support for children over the age of three. However, that is three years’ worth of childcare costs that Welsh parents are paying but English parents aren’t. With this in mind, Minister, what steps will the Government be taking to expand childcare support in Wales as a way to boost the Welsh economy?

Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae cael rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gweithlu yn allweddol i economi ffyniannus. Rwy'n gwybod y byddech chi'n cytuno â hynny. Y llynedd, canfu Oxfam fod dros chwarter y rhai a ymatebodd i'w harolwg o Gymru yn gwario dros £900 y mis ar gostau gofal plant, gyda 43 y cant yn dweud nad oeddent wedi gallu talu costau hanfodol eraill ar ôl talu am ofal plant.

Mae'n destun pryder fod dros hanner yr ymatebwyr wedi dweud nad yw'n gwneud synnwyr ariannol iddynt weithio, ar ôl talu am gostau gofal plant. Mae'n amlwg fod gan hyn oblygiadau i economi Cymru. Oes, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru gymorth i blant dros dair oed. Ond dyna werth tair blynedd o gostau gofal plant y mae rhieni Cymru yn eu talu ond nad yw rhieni o Loegr yn eu talu. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Weinidog, pa gamau y bydd y Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i ehangu cymorth gofal plant yng Nghymru fel ffordd o roi hwb i economi Cymru?

I thank Peter Fox for the supplementary question. I do agree with him that getting parents back into work is important to the Welsh economy. On the childcare offer, the childcare offer is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Social Care, who has heard what you have said today. But the Member will be aware of the childcare offer and the conversations that we have had, having engaged in the petitions process, airing some of these issues with the Welsh offer and the offer of the previous UK Government, and the concerns around the offer in England due to a lack of qualified staff.

So, Llywydd, I would refrain from entering into the field of my colleague's responsibilities, but I would just say that we are making sure that we train enough qualified staff in the field of childcare. I'm very proud of the commitment that we place, and the support that we place, to provide training and upskilling in this sector, particularly through our apprenticeship programme, with funding for work-based learning in childcare and play and development.

Presiding Officer, the importance of getting back into work—. Well, as a new Dad—and I think that Noa and his mum are in the Chamber this afternoon—I very much understand the pressures of balancing the responsibilities of being parents to a young child, but also the responsibilities in work as well.

I do think that it's really important that parents who are seeking to come back into work understand their rights and roles within the workplace. I know that our trade union partners do some great work in this field, making sure that their members understand their rights when returning, through this transition period, to work, and I would like to place on record my thanks to them for all that they do.

Diolch i Peter Fox am y cwestiwn atodol. Rwy'n cytuno ag ef fod cael rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith yn bwysig i economi Cymru. Ar y cynnig gofal plant, cyfrifoldeb y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol yw'r cynnig gofal plant, ac mae wedi clywed yr hyn a ddywedoch chi heddiw. Ond bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol o'r cynnig gofal plant a'r sgyrsiau a gawsom gan iddo gymryd rhan yn y broses ddeisebau, a gwyntyllu rhai o'r problemau hyn gyda chynnig Cymru a chynnig Llywodraeth flaenorol y DU, a'r pryderon ynghylch y cynnig yn Lloegr oherwydd diffyg staff cymwys.

Felly, Lywydd, rwy'n ymatal rhag camu i faes cyfrifoldebau fy nghyd-Aelod, ond rwyf am ddweud ein bod yn sicrhau ein bod yn hyfforddi digon o staff cymwys ym maes gofal plant. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ymrwymiad a roddwn, a'r gefnogaeth a roddwn, i ddarparu hyfforddiant ac uwchsgilio yn y sector hwn, yn enwedig drwy ein rhaglen brentisiaethau, gyda chyllid ar gyfer dysgu seiliedig ar waith mewn gofal plant a chwarae a datblygu.

Lywydd, mae pwysigrwydd dychwelyd i'r gwaith—. Wel, fel tad newydd—ac rwy'n credu bod Noa a'i fam yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma—rwy'n gwybod yn iawn am y pwysau o gydbwyso'r cyfrifoldeb o fod yn rhieni i blentyn ifanc â chyfrifoldebau gwaith.

Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod rhieni sy'n ceisio dychwelyd i'r gwaith yn deall eu hawliau a'u rolau yn y gweithle. Gwn fod ein partneriaid yn yr undebau llafur yn gwneud gwaith gwych yn y maes hwn, gan sicrhau bod eu haelodau'n deall eu hawliau wrth iddynt ddychwelyd i'r gwaith, drwy'r cyfnod pontio, a hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch iddynt am bopeth a wnânt.

Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8—Luke Fletcher.

Finally, question 8—Luke Fletcher.

Darpariaeth Prentisiaethau
Delivery of Appreticeships

8. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am ddarparu prentisiaethau yng Nghymru? OQ61577

8. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the delivery of apprenticeships in Wales? OQ61577

I thank Luke Fletcher for the question. One hundred and forty-three million pounds has been allocated to the apprenticeship programme this year, to deliver long-term economic benefits and strong career opportunities. Responsibility for the delivery of the apprenticeship programme transferred to Medr from 1 August. Medr data shows that 55,095 apprentices have started on the apprenticeship programme so far this Senedd term.

Diolch i Luke Fletcher am y cwestiwn. Mae £143 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau eleni, er mwyn sicrhau manteision economaidd hirdymor a chyfleoedd gyrfa cryf. Trosglwyddwyd y cyfrifoldeb o gyflwyno'r rhaglen brentisiaethau i Medr o 1 Awst. Mae data Medr yn dangos bod 55,095 o brentisiaid wedi dechrau ar y rhaglen brentisiaethau y tymor seneddol hwn hyd yma.

Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog.

Thank you for that answer, Minister.

Anecdotally, colleges are reporting an increase in individuals saying that they want to start college, as well as learners who are actually doing so. They are also reporting an increase in starts across all vocational areas. By contrast, UCAS reported back in July a significant participation challenge for Welsh universities, with the number of applicants from Wales dropping to a 15-year low.

So, does the Minister think that we are beginning to see a swing to more localised vocational training at college, and how does this influence the Welsh Government’s thinking around Medr? Does it, for example, envisage Medr funding following the learners?

Yn anecdotaidd, mae colegau'n nodi cynnydd yn nifer yr unigolion sy'n dweud eu bod am ddechrau yn y coleg, yn ogystal â dysgwyr sy'n gwneud hynny mewn gwirionedd. Maent hefyd yn nodi cynnydd yn y nifer sy'n dechrau ar draws pob maes galwedigaethol. Ar y llaw arall, adroddodd UCAS yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf am her sylweddol i brifysgolion Cymru o ran niferoedd ymgeiswyr, gyda nifer yr ymgeiswyr o Gymru yn gostwng i'r lefel isaf ers 15 mlynedd.

Felly, a yw'r Gweinidog yn credu ein bod yn dechrau gweld tuedd tuag at hyfforddiant galwedigaethol mwy lleol yn y colegau, a sut y mae hyn yn dylanwadu ar syniadau Llywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â Medr? A yw, er enghraifft, yn rhagweld y bydd cyllid Medr yn dilyn y dysgwyr?

I thank Luke Fletcher for the supplementary question. Can I thank him also for the work done by him and his co-chair, Hefin David, on the cross-party group for apprenticeships? I think that it's a valued cross-party group here in the Senedd. The responsibilities for Medr have now been transferred. So, they are in charge of all operational matters when it comes to apprentices, and we fully expect them and partners to deliver against our policy statement, which was set out in February of last year.

I am, perhaps, not surprised to see more learners go towards the vocational route. I'm very proud of the fact that that is the case. The Minister for Further and Higher Education oversees the responsibility of Medr, and will, I'm sure, consider what you've said today. They have, of course, outlined their strategic plan for consultation this week, and I'm sure they would have heard the Member's thoughts on whether the funding should follow that particular route.

But in terms of apprentices, Presiding Officer, you'll have no bigger supporter of apprenticeships in Wales than me. I'm very proud of this Welsh Government's record on apprenticeships—I should know, as a former apprentice myself. I think I'm the first responsible Minister for apprenticeships to follow that route. I'm incredibly proud of that, and I'm proud of the record we stand on. Apprenticeships will play a key role in meeting our green growth and jobs potential in Wales, and that's a priority set out by the First Minister, and a priority for this Government.

And I should say, Presiding Officer, I was pleased to see the announcement from the UK Government of a new growth and skills levy, to replace the existing levy, in the UK. I see this as a real opportunity for two Labour Governments working together on a reformed levy—one that works with Welsh businesses, one that works with Welsh training providers, and, importantly, one that works for Welsh apprentices. I look forward to engaging with UK Ministers on that matter, but also the Member on these matters going forward.

Diolch i Luke Fletcher am y cwestiwn atodol. A gaf i ddiolch iddo hefyd am y gwaith a wnaed ganddo ef a'i gyd-gadeirydd, Hefin David, yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar brentisiaethau? Credaf ei fod yn grŵp trawsbleidiol gwerthfawr yma yn y Senedd. Mae'r cyfrifoldebau am Medr bellach wedi cael eu trosglwyddo. Felly, maent yn gyfrifol am yr holl faterion gweithredol sy'n ymwneud â phrentisiaid, ac rydym yn disgwyl iddynt hwy a phartneriaid gyflawni yn erbyn ein datganiad polisi, a nodwyd ym mis Chwefror y llynedd.

Efallai nad wyf yn synnu gweld mwy o ddysgwyr yn dewis y llwybr galwedigaethol. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ffaith mai felly mae hi. Y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch sy'n goruchwylio cyfrifoldebau Medr, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn ystyried yr hyn a ddywedoch chi heddiw. Maent wedi amlinellu eu cynllun strategol ar gyfer ymgynghori yr wythnos hon, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddant wedi clywed syniadau’r Aelod ynglŷn ag a ddylai'r cyllid ddilyn y llwybr penodol hwnnw.

Ond ar brentisiaid, Lywydd, rwy'n llwyr gefnogi prentisiaethau yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch iawn o hanes y Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru gyda phrentisiaethau—dylwn wybod, fel cyn brentis fy hun. Credaf mai fi yw'r Gweinidog cyntaf â chyfrifoldeb dros brentisiaethau i fod wedi dilyn y llwybr hwnnw. Rwy'n hynod falch o hynny, ac rwy'n falch o'n cyflawniad. Bydd prentisiaethau'n chwarae rhan allweddol yn cyflawni ein potensial twf gwyrdd a swyddi yng Nghymru, ac mae honno'n flaenoriaeth a nodwyd gan y Prif Weinidog, ac yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon.

A dylwn ddweud, Lywydd, roeddwn yn falch o weld cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth y DU am ardoll twf a sgiliau newydd yn y DU, yn lle'r ardoll bresennol. Rwy'n gweld hwn fel cyfle go iawn i ddwy Lywodraeth Lafur gydweithio ar ardoll ddiwygiedig—un sy'n gweithio gyda busnesau Cymru, un sy'n gweithio gyda darparwyr hyfforddiant Cymru, ac yn bwysig, un sy'n gweithio i brentisiaid Cymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at ymgysylltu â Gweinidogion y DU ar y mater hwnnw, a chyda'r Aelod hefyd ar y materion hyn wrth symud ymlaen.

14:25

Diolch i'r Gweinidog, a diolch, hefyd, i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am y sesiwn yna.

I thank the Minister, and thanks also to the Cabinet Secretary for that question session.

2. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol
2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Carolyn Thomas.

The next item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. The first question is from Carolyn Thomas.

Gweithlu'r GIG
The NHS Workforce

1. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn annog pobl i ymuno â gweithlu'r GIG yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ61574

1. How is the Welsh Government encouraging people to join the NHS workforce in North Wales? OQ61574

In light of the global shortage of healthcare workers, all nations across the UK face workforce challenges. This impacts the length and breadth of Wales. In recognising the need for action, in January 2023, we published our national workforce implementation plan, which set out actions to improve recruitment and retention, including improving staff well-being.

Yng ngoleuni'r prinder byd-eang o weithwyr gofal iechyd, mae pob gwlad ledled y DU yn wynebu heriau gweithlu. Mae effeithiau hyn i'w gweld ar hyd a lled Cymru. Wrth gydnabod yr angen i weithredu, ym mis Ionawr 2023, fe wnaethom gyhoeddi ein cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol ar gyfer y gweithlu, sy'n nodi camau i wella recriwtio a chadw staff, gan gynnwys gwella lles staff.

Thank you for the answer, Minister. This month, thanks to Welsh Government investment support, the new North Wales Medical School at Bangor University has welcomed its first intake of students, which includes a mix of school leavers and graduate entrants. North Wales Medical School will grow over time to graduate up to 140 newly qualified doctors to join the NHS workforce each year, creating new pathways for students to achieve their dream of joining the medical profession, and, hopefully, making their homes in north Wales—beautiful north Wales—as we all want to see. Minister, do you agree that this is a fantastic example of the Welsh Government's commitment to encouraging those interested in a career in a healthcare to train, work and live here in Wales, in north Wales? And how do you intend to work with our new UK Labour colleagues in Westminster to help close the gaps in our health and social care sectors as well?

Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog. Y mis hwn, diolch i gymorth buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'r ysgol feddygaeth newydd, Ysgol Feddygaeth Gogledd Cymru, ym Mhrifysgol Bangor wedi croesawu ei myfyrwyr cyntaf, sy'n cynnwys cymysgedd o rai sy'n gadael ysgol a myfyrwyr graddedig. Bydd Ysgol Feddygaeth Gogledd Cymru yn tyfu dros amser i ddarparu gradd i hyd at 140 o feddygon newydd gymhwyso ymuno â gweithlu'r GIG bob blwyddyn, gan greu llwybrau newydd i fyfyrwyr wireddu eu breuddwyd o ymuno â'r proffesiwn meddygol, a gwneud eu cartref yng ngogledd Cymru—gogledd Cymru hardd—fel y mae pawb ohonom eisiau ei weld. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod hon yn enghraifft wych o ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i annog y rhai sydd â diddordeb mewn gyrfa mewn gofal iechyd i hyfforddi, gweithio a byw yma yng Nghymru, yng ngogledd Cymru? A sut y bwriadwch chi weithio gyda'n cymheiriaid Llafur newydd yn San Steffan i helpu i gau'r bylchau yn ein sectorau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol?

I thank the Member for that important question. The establishment of the new medical school in north Wales will, obviously, enable us to train more medical students here in Wales, but also will ensure that we can distribute training opportunities and, hopefully, the provision of well-qualified doctors right across Wales as well.

The experience that we offer students in Wales routinely tops league tables in terms of excellent student experience, and I think that's something that we can be proud of. And students also play a really important role in service delivery, through their placements across Wales as well. I think it's really important, as we've discussed already in the Chamber today, to maximise the benefit of the investment that we are making through employing and retaining newly qualified professionals. I think that the new medical school is good news for students, it's good news for the people of north Wales, and for Betsi Cadwaladr health board as well.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwn. Yn amlwg, bydd sefydlu'r ysgol feddygol newydd yng ngogledd Cymru yn ein galluogi i hyfforddi mwy o fyfyrwyr meddygol yma yng Nghymru, ond bydd hefyd yn sicrhau y gallwn ddosbarthu cyfleoedd hyfforddi a darparu meddygon â chanddynt gymwysterau da ledled Cymru hefyd, gobeithio.

Mae'r profiad a gynigiwn i fyfyrwyr yng Nghymru ar frig y tablau cynghrair yn rheolaidd o ran profiad rhagorol i fyfyrwyr, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn fod yn falch ohono. Ac mae myfyrwyr hefyd yn chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn darparu gwasanaethau, trwy eu lleoliadau ledled Cymru. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn, fel rydym eisoes wedi trafod yn y Siambr heddiw, i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y buddsoddiad a wnawn trwy gyflogi a chadw gweithwyr proffesiynol newydd gymhwyso. Rwy'n meddwl bod yr ysgol feddygol newydd yn newydd da i fyfyrwyr, mae'n newydd da i bobl gogledd Cymru, ac i fwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr hefyd.

The issue surrounding recruitment and retention is very much a non-political matter, and as a former employee of Betsi Cadwaladr, the line of 'Train. Work. Live.' in north Wales is nothing new in that regard, because it was always something that was spoken about. I'm pleased that the medical school will hopefully create inroads to achieving that, and that you can live and work in an environment where you earn as you learn, if you like. Because that's something that, essentially, was a big barrier in my early career in the NHS. It was actually the glass ceiling breaking in, and actually having training opportunities within the workforce.

But I’d just like to ask a question around the training and development of current staff within the NHS and what support and guidance you would give to health boards in that regard, because it is important to remember that seeking an educational alternative to some of these professions is not always financially equitable to do and it takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication. So, I’m keen to look at avenues that the Welsh Government can explore—an earn-as-you-learn development scheme internally within the NHS that can create more fluidity within the workforce, but then also have protected time for professionals so that they don’t become disillusioned within their careers and then, essentially, they’re not leaving the health service, so that 'Train. Work. Live.' can actually run deeper than just warm words. Thank you.

Mae'r broblem sy'n gysylltiedig â recriwtio a chadw staff yn fater anwleidyddol i raddau helaeth iawn, ac fel cyn-weithiwr ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, nid yw'r ymadrodd 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw' yng ngogledd Cymru yn newydd o gwbl yn hynny o beth, oherwydd roedd bob amser yn rhywbeth a gâi sylw. Rwy'n falch y bydd yr ysgol feddygol, gobeithio, yn creu ffyrdd o gyflawni hynny, ac y gallwch fyw a gweithio mewn amgylchedd lle rydych chi'n ennill wrth i chi ddysgu, os mynnwch. Oherwydd mae hynny'n rhywbeth a oedd, yn ei hanfod, yn rhwystr mawr yn fy ngyrfa gynnar yn y GIG. Mewn gwirionedd, y nenfwd gwydr yn torri i mewn ydoedd, a chael cyfleoedd hyfforddi o fewn y gweithlu.

Ond hoffwn ofyn cwestiwn ynglŷn â hyfforddi a datblygu staff presennol yn y GIG a pha gymorth ac arweiniad y byddech chi'n ei roi i fyrddau iechyd yn hynny o beth, oherwydd mae'n bwysig cofio nad yw ceisio dewis arall addysgol i rai o'r proffesiynau hyn bob amser yn deg yn ariannol ac mae'n galw am lawer o aberth ac ymroddiad. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i edrych ar lwybrau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu harchwilio—cynllun datblygu ennill-wrth-ddysgu yn fewnol o fewn y GIG a all greu mwy o hylifedd o fewn y gweithlu, a rhoi amser gwarchodedig i weithwyr proffesiynol hefyd fel nad ydynt yn cael eu dadrithio yn eu gyrfaoedd ac yn y bôn, fel nad ydynt yn gadael y gwasanaeth iechyd, fel bod 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw', yn gallu golygu mwy na geiriau cynnes yn unig. Diolch.

14:30

The 'Train. Work. Live.' campaign has been a very successful campaign, actually. I think that, last year, a total of 199 new GP trainees were recruited to schemes across Wales, which is a good number. I think the Member is right to say that it is important that we provide, as well as good training and education opportunities for healthcare professionals of all sorts to qualify, the addition of initially 80 new student training spaces in north Wales, increasing to 140. That will make a significant contribution to those overall numbers, and that’s in north Wales; there’s obviously been an expansion as well in south Wales.

But the Member is right to say that, critical, I think, both in terms of the provision of care and maintaining currency in terms of skills, are also those incentives that encourage people to stay in the health and care sectors, which is a critical priority for us. That does depend on being able to offer, as we do, an attractive package of ongoing training and education and a clear pathway from undergraduate to postgraduate training through that person’s career. So, I think that that commitment to retention—we now have a retention lead in each local health board area—with a planned dimension, in the workforce implementation plan, underpinned by that strong commitment to ongoing professional development and training, is really critical.

Mae ymgyrch 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw.' wedi bod yn ymgyrch lwyddiannus iawn, mewn gwirionedd. Y llynedd, rwy'n credu bod cyfanswm o 199 o feddygon teulu dan hyfforddiant newydd wedi’u recriwtio i gynlluniau ledled Cymru, sy’n nifer fawr. Credaf fod yr Aelod yn iawn i ddweud ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn darparu, yn ogystal â chyfleoedd hyfforddi ac addysg da i weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol o bob math gymhwyso, 80 o leoedd hyfforddi ychwanegol i fyfyrwyr newydd yn y gogledd i ddechrau, gan gynyddu i 140. Bydd hynny’n gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i'r niferoedd cyffredinol, a dim ond y gogledd yw hynny; mae'n amlwg fod cynnydd wedi bod yn y de hefyd.

Ond mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud mai'r hyn sydd hefyd yn hollbwysig, rwy'n credu, o ran darparu gofal a chynnal gwybodaeth gyfredol o ran sgiliau, yw'r cymhellion sy'n annog pobl i aros yn y sectorau iechyd a gofal, sy'n flaenoriaeth hollbwysig i ni. Mae hynny’n dibynnu ar allu cynnig, fel y gwnawn, pecyn deniadol o hyfforddiant ac addysg barhaus a llwybr clir o hyfforddiant israddedig i hyfforddiant ôl-raddedig drwy yrfa’r unigolyn. Felly, credaf fod yr ymrwymiad i gadw staff—mae gennym bellach arweinydd cadw staff ym mhob ardal bwrdd iechyd lleol—gyda dimensiwn wedi'i gynllunio, yn y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer y gweithlu, wedi'i ategu gan ymrwymiad cryf i ddatblygiad proffesiynol parhaus a hyfforddiant, yn hollbwysig.

Cynlluniau Teithio Byrddau Iechyd
Health Board Travel Plans

2. Faint o fyrddau iechyd sydd â chynlluniau teithio ar waith ar gyfer staff a chleifion, a beth yw’r trefniadau ar gyfer monitro ac adrodd ar y cynlluniau hyn? OQ61551

2. How many health boards have travel plans in place for both staff and patients, and how are these monitored and reported? OQ61551

Health boards in Wales have, since 2008, been required to have sustainable travel plans in place for patients and staff at their main hospital sites. Monitoring arrangements are in the hands of the health boards, and the plans are not submitted or monitored by Welsh Government officials.

Ers 2008, mae wedi bod yn ofynnol i fyrddau iechyd yng Nghymru fod â chynlluniau teithio cynaliadwy ar waith ar gyfer cleifion a staff yn eu prif ysbytai. Mae trefniadau monitro yn nwylo’r byrddau iechyd, ac nid yw’r cynlluniau’n cael eu cyflwyno na’u monitro gan swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru.

Thank you. Anyone who has tried parking at a hospital knows what a nightmare it can be, and the research also shows that, in most cases, the majority of staff at a hospital live within close distance and work within office hours, and yet drive. And we know that travel planning, when monitored and supported properly—which, it sounds from the answer, is not always the case at the moment—can be successful in reducing the number of people driving to hospital, which can then free up car parking spaces for visitors. We know that, in order to reach our broader climate change targets, we need to reduce the number of car journeys that are made, and last week’s Wales Net Zero 2035 report said that big employers like the NHS have a key part to play in incentivising walking, cycling and public transport for work journeys. So, what more can the health and care sectors do to make their contribution to tackling the climate emergency and to easing the congestion at hospital sites?

Diolch. Mae unrhyw un sydd wedi ceisio parcio mewn ysbyty yn gwybod pa mor hunllefus y gall fod, ac mae’r ymchwil hefyd yn dangos, yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, fod mwyafrif y staff mewn ysbyty yn byw o fewn pellter agos ac yn gweithio oriau swyddfa, ac eto’n gyrru. A gwyddom y gall cynllunio teithio, o'i fonitro a'i gefnogi'n iawn—nad yw'n digwydd bob amser ar hyn o bryd, yn ôl yr ateb—arwain at leihau nifer y bobl sy'n gyrru i'r ysbyty, a all wedyn ryddhau lleoedd mewn meysydd parcio i ymwelwyr. Er mwyn cyflawni ein targedau newid hinsawdd ehangach, gwyddom fod angen inni leihau nifer y teithiau a wneir mewn ceir, a dywedodd adroddiad Sero Net 2035 Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf fod gan gyflogwyr mawr fel y GIG ran allweddol i’w chwarae yn cymell cerdded, beicio a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar gyfer teithiau i'r gwaith. Felly, beth arall y gall y sectorau iechyd a gofal ei wneud i gyfrannu at y gwaith o fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd ac i leddfu’r tagfeydd ar safleoedd ysbytai?

I thank the Member for that question. I think what motivates his question is the contribution that the health service can make to the broader ambitions that we have as a country in relation to our net-zero goals and responding to the climate emergency. But I also think it's an important lens to apply to the sustainability of the health service itself and the behaviours that it can model, both to its staff and its patients, and to its partners more broadly.

As I said, since 2008, those requirements have been in place. We reaffirmed those in 2018 through a Welsh health circular, setting out the requirements on organisations to have those plans in place. Those requirements remain extant. I know that health boards are using a range of incentives to encourage staff to use active travel—so, bus pass schemes, cycle-to-work schemes, lift sharing, and so on. The decarbonisation strategic delivery plan for the NHS in Wales, which was launched three years ago, follows closely the guidance in the active travel plan for Wales, to make sure that active travel is factored into decision making, in particular in the context of new developments. But I think it is true to say, having made enquiries with health boards, that it is a variable picture in relation to the publication of those active travel plans. And I think, given the publication of the Welsh Government's active travel plan for Wales 2024-27, it's timely to issue a reminder to the organisation of the requirement to have plans. So, I have asked officials in my department to do that.

Diolch i’r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Credaf mai’r hyn sy’n sail i'w gwestiwn yw’r cyfraniad y gall y gwasanaeth iechyd ei wneud i’r uchelgeisiau ehangach sydd gennym fel gwlad mewn perthynas â’n nodau sero net ac ymateb i’r argyfwng hinsawdd. Ond credaf hefyd ei bod yn lens bwysig i'w defnyddio wrth edrych ar gynaliadwyedd y gwasanaeth iechyd ei hun a'r ymddygiadau y gall fodelu, i'w staff a'i gleifion, ac i'w bartneriaid yn fwy cyffredinol.

Fel y dywedais, ers 2008, mae’r gofynion hynny wedi bod ar waith. Fe wnaethom eu hailddatgan yn 2018 drwy gylchlythyr iechyd Cymru, a oedd yn nodi’r gofynion ar sefydliadau i roi’r cynlluniau hynny ar waith. Mae'r gofynion hynny'n parhau i fod yn berthnasol. Gwn fod byrddau iechyd yn defnyddio amrywiaeth o gymhellion i annog staff i ddefnyddio teithio llesol—felly, cynlluniau pasys bws, cynlluniau beicio i’r gwaith, rhannu ceir, ac ati. Mae’r cynllun cyflawni strategol ar gyfer datgarboneiddio GIG Cymru, a lansiwyd dair blynedd yn ôl, yn dilyn y canllawiau yn y cynllun teithio llesol i Gymru yn agos, i sicrhau bod teithio llesol yn cael ei ystyried wrth wneud penderfyniadau, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun datblygiadau newydd. Ond credaf ei bod yn deg dweud, ar ôl gwneud ymholiadau gyda'r byrddau iechyd, fod y darlun yn amrywio mewn perthynas â chyhoeddi’r cynlluniau teithio llesol hynny. Ac o ystyried cyhoeddiad cynllun teithio llesol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Cymru 2024-27, rwy'n credu ei bod yn amserol atgoffa’r sefydliad o’r gofyniad i fod â chynlluniau ar waith. Felly, rwyf wedi gofyn i swyddogion yn fy adran wneud hynny.

14:35

Cabinet Secretary, the lack of bus services to the Grange hospital continues to be a major issue for many of my constituents across south-east Wales. In 2023, it was announced that a new direct bus route would run between Blackwood and the hospital itself. But, some seven months later, the service was axed when the Welsh Government withdrew their funding. As I'm sure you're well aware, Cabinet Secretary, there are lots of issues with the Grange hospital, including lack of accessibility. This service was hugely beneficial to my constituents, particularly those who don't drive, or, indeed, following treatment, and now they're having to focus by enduring lengthy journeys involving multiple buses. So, Cabinet Secretary, do you agree with me that urgent improvements must be made immediately so that residents can indeed access the Grange, and what discussions have you had with the transport Secretary about addressing this issue, going forward? Thank you.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae’r diffyg gwasanaethau bws i ysbyty’r Faenor yn parhau i fod yn broblem fawr i lawer o fy etholwyr ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru. Yn 2023, cyhoeddwyd y byddai llwybr bws uniongyrchol newydd yn rhedeg rhwng Coed-duon a’r ysbyty ei hun. Ond oddeutu saith mis yn ddiweddarach, daeth y gwasanaeth i ben pan roddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y gorau i ddarparu cyllid. Fel y gwyddoch yn iawn, rwy'n siŵr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae llawer o broblemau'n codi gydag ysbyty’r Faenor, gan gynnwys diffyg hygyrchedd. Roedd y gwasanaeth hwn yn hynod fuddiol i fy etholwyr, yn enwedig y rheini nad ydynt yn gyrru, neu'n wir, yn dilyn triniaethau, a bellach, maent yn gorfod dioddef teithiau hir ar sawl bws. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod yn rhaid gwneud gwelliannau brys ar unwaith fel y gall trigolion gael mynediad at ysbyty'r Faenor, a pha drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda'r Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth ynglŷn â mynd i'r afael â'r mater, wrth symud ymlaen? Diolch yn fawr.

Well, the transport Secretary and I are of the same mind in relation to this. We both recognise how important it is to have bus services that enable families, communities to be connected to services, as well as to each other. I think the point that the Member makes highlights one of the challenges that we face in the current model that we have for the delivery of bus services, which I think, by any realistic measure, can be said to be broken and requires huge levels of public subsidy, without delivering really the public good that we need it to do. That is what lies behind the legislation that we plan to introduce to the Senedd, which will enable us to re-regulate the bus network in Wales, which will provide the opportunity for us to make sure that services are delivered where they are required, rather than where they are simply profitable for bus companies.

Wel, mae’r Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth a minnau'n gytûn ar hyn. Mae’r ddau ohonom yn cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw cael gwasanaethau bws sy’n galluogi teuluoedd, cymunedau i gysylltu â gwasanaethau, yn ogystal â’i gilydd. Credaf fod y pwynt y mae’r Aelod yn ei wneud yn tynnu sylw at un o’r heriau sy’n ein hwynebu yn ein model presennol ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau bysiau, y credaf y gellir dweud, drwy unrhyw fesur realistig, ei fod yn ffaeledig ac angen lefelau enfawr o gymhorthdal cyhoeddus, ac nad yw'n darparu'r budd cyhoeddus y mae angen iddo ei ddarparu. Dyna sydd wrth wraidd y ddeddfwriaeth y bwriadwn ei chyflwyno i’r Senedd, i'n galluogi i ailreoleiddio’r rhwydwaith bysiau yng Nghymru, gan roi cyfle inni sicrhau bod gwasanaethau’n cael eu darparu lle mae eu hangen, yn hytrach na lle maent yn broffidiol i gwmnïau bysiau.

I ddilyn ymlaen o gwestiwn Natasha—

Following on from Natasha's question—

—and not to rehearse the same argument, because the Grange is something that is not best served with some of the public transport links that have been there, and, obviously, that bus service that Natasha talked about was jettisoned after six months, could you go into a little bit more detail about what those discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for transport are looking like, and also what are your thoughts with regard to the bus Bill, when it comes along? How will the NHS feed into feasibility studies for where those routes need to be and how you need to link up hosptials across the south-east and across Wales to the bus service?

—a heb ailadrodd yr un ddadl, gan nad yw ysbyty'r Faenor yn cael ei wasanaethu'n dda gan rai o'r cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sydd wedi bod yno, ac yn amlwg, cafodd y gwasanaeth bws y soniodd Natasha amdano ei ddiddymu ar ôl chwe mis, a allech chi fanylu rhywfaint ar sut olwg sydd ar y trafodaethau gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, a hefyd beth yw eich barn am y Bil bysiau, pan ddaw? Sut y bydd y GIG yn cyfrannu at astudiaethau dichonoldeb ar gyfer ble mae angen i’r llwybrau hynny fod a sut y mae angen ichi gysylltu ysbytai ar draws y de-ddwyrain a ledled Cymru â’r gwasanaeth bysiau?

That's an important consideration. I think making sure that services to which the public need access are supported by provisions in the new legislation, obviously, is critical. I think there'll be an opportunity to discuss in more detail what that looks like when the legislation is brought forward. So, the Member may have to bear with us for a little while longer.

Mae honno’n ystyriaeth bwysig. Yn amlwg, rwy'n credu bod sicrhau bod gwasanaethau y mae'r cyhoedd angen mynediad atynt yn cael eu cefnogi gan ddarpariaethau yn y ddeddfwriaeth newydd yn hollbwysig. Credaf y bydd cyfle i drafod yn fanylach sut olwg fydd ar hynny pan fydd y ddeddfwriaeth yn cael ei chyflwyno. Felly, efallai y bydd yn rhaid i’r Aelod fod yn amyneddgar am ychydig bach eto.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau'r llefarwyr nawr. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, Sam Rowlands.

Questions from the spokespeople now. The Conservative spokesperson first of all, Sam Rowlands.

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, the First Minister has said that she's ready to use the private sector in the Welsh NHS. Are you ready?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud ei bod yn barod i ddefnyddio’r sector preifat yn GIG Cymru. A ydych chi'n barod?

Well, the Welsh Government has made use of private sector capacity for the common good, if you like, for many years. We recognise that the priority that the Government attaches to reducing waiting lists means that we will have to look at whatever options are available. I actually think that, in the long term, what we want to see is making sure that we have the level of innovation and learning from best practice within the public sector, but there have been times when we need to deploy private sector capacity to help us in those public goals.

Wel, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud defnydd o gapasiti’r sector preifat er lles pawb, os mynnwch, ers blynyddoedd lawer. Rydym yn cydnabod bod y flaenoriaeth y mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei rhoi i leihau rhestrau aros yn golygu y bydd yn rhaid inni edrych ar ba bynnag opsiynau sydd ar gael. Mewn gwirionedd, yn y tymor hir, rwy'n credu mai’r hyn yr hoffem ei wneud yw sicrhau bod gennym y lefel o arloesedd a dysgu o arferion gorau o fewn y sector cyhoeddus, ond mae adegau wedi bod pan fo angen inni ddefnyddio capasiti'r sector preifat i'n helpu gyda'r nodau cyhoeddus hynny.

Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary. As Welsh Conservatives, we have consistently called for greater partnership working with both the private and third sectors to, as you say, supplement and assist the NHS here in Wales, which sadly is creaking after a quarter of a century of Welsh Labour rule. So, I'm glad that you agree with a Welsh Conservative idea and have taken that on as well. As a new health Cabinet Secretary, I do hope we see a more cohesive and positive approach from you to utilising both the private and third sectors in order to support, as you say, those languishing waiting lists that we see here in Wales at the moment. In relation to those waiting lists, I didn’t get an answer yesterday from the First Minister on this issue. So, can you tell me what targets you’re setting for the reduction of those NHS waiting lists?

Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, rydym wedi galw’n gyson am fwy o waith partneriaeth gyda’r sector preifat a’r trydydd sector, fel y dywedwch, i ategu a chynorthwyo’r GIG yma yng Nghymru, sy'n gwegian ar ôl chwarter canrif o dan reolaeth Llafur Cymru. Felly, rwy'n falch eich bod yn cytuno ag un o syniadau'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ac wedi dechrau cefnogi hynny hefyd. Fel Ysgrifennydd newydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn ymagwedd fwy cydlynol a chadarnhaol gennych at ddefnyddio’r sector preifat a’r trydydd sector er mwyn cefnogi, fel y dywedwch, y rhestrau aros ofnadwy a welwn yma yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Mewn perthynas â’r rhestrau aros hynny, ni chefais ateb ddoe gan y Prif Weinidog ar y mater hwn. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf pa dargedau a osodir gennych ar gyfer lleihau rhestrau aros y GIG?

14:40

Well, just to be clear, I think the Member, if I may say, is somewhat wide of the mark if he thinks that I share the Conservative view on how to run the NHS. And to be clear, the principle that the Welsh Government has applied in making use of private sector capacity is that it shouldn’t be at the expense of the long-term capacity of the NHS, which is fundamentally different from the approach that Conservative Governments have taken in England over the last 14 years.

The targets that we’ve published in relation to waiting times are the targets that are in the public domain, against which we report on a monthly basis. The most recent figures, of course, came out last month. What I want to make sure is that we can, with a level of priority that this Government is attaching to reducing those waiting times, make better progress against the targets that we have already set. As the Member will have seen from the information published last week, there is a variable picture between health boards in relation to different measures, different services, and the challenge and, I think, the opportunity for us is to make sure that those parts of the organisation that need to do more to meet their targets are able to learn from those that are doing better. Each health board is doing well in some areas, and each health board has areas they need to work on. So, having that collaborative approach, that collaborative innovation, across the system, I think is a critical part of the solution.

Wel, i fod yn glir, credaf fod yr Aelod, os caf ddweud, yn anghywir os yw’n credu fy mod yn rhannu barn y Ceidwadwyr ar sut i redeg y GIG. Ac i fod yn glir, yr egwyddor y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i defnyddio wrth wneud defnydd o gapasiti’r sector preifat yw na ddylai hynny fod ar draul capasiti hirdymor y GIG, sy’n gwbl wahanol i’r dull a ddefnyddiwyd gan Lywodraethau Ceidwadol yn Lloegr dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf.

Y targedau a gyhoeddwyd gennym mewn perthynas ag amseroedd aros yw'r targedau sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd, ac rydym yn eu hadrodd yn fisol. Cyhoeddwyd y ffigurau diweddaraf fis diwethaf, wrth gwrs. Yr hyn yr hoffwn ei sicrhau, gyda'r lefel o flaenoriaeth y mae’r Llywodraeth hon yn ei rhoi i leihau’r amseroedd aros, yw y gallwn wneud gwell cynnydd yn erbyn y targedau a osodwyd gennym eisoes. Fel y bydd yr Aelod wedi’i weld o’r wybodaeth a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, mae'r darlun yn amrywio rhwng byrddau iechyd mewn perthynas â gwahanol fesurau, gwahanol wasanaethau, a’r her a'r cyfle i ni yw sicrhau bod y rhannau o'r sefydliad sydd angen gwneud mwy i gyflawni eu targedau yn gallu dysgu oddi wrth y rhai sy'n gwneud yn well. Mae pob bwrdd iechyd yn gwneud yn dda mewn rhai meysydd, ac mae gan bob bwrdd iechyd feysydd y mae angen iddynt weithio arnynt. Felly, mae cael dull cydweithredol, arloesi cydweithredol, ar draws y system, yn rhan allweddol o'r ateb yn fy marn i.

Yes and, as you say, that collaborative approach is really important, but, sadly, I don’t think we’ve seen it enough. And a live example I can give you is that, for glaucoma operations in Wrexham at the moment, patients there are waiting three years on a waiting list for a disease that clearly has a massive impact on their daily lives. If you live in Cheshire, it’s a four-week wait, just across the border, because the health trust there has a partnership arrangement with a private sector company to deliver those operations. A four-week wait in Cheshire, a three-year wait in Wrexham. So, there are huge opportunities.

In terms of those targets that we mentioned, as well, it is disappointing that it seems as though many of the targets that are in place are not worth the paper that they’re written on. And the consequences of those targets not being met seem to pretty weak, to say the very least. And it is remarkable, as we heard again yesterday from the First Minister about this collaboration between the Welsh and UK Governments on cutting waiting lists and working together, it is remarkable that it was so light on the detail of what the collaboration should look like, because you would agree, I’m sure, that cutting waiting lists is surely one of your top priorities here in Wales—it’s what the people of Wales want to see. So, why is it that there does not seem to be a concrete plan for cutting those waiting lists?

Ydy, ac fel y dywedwch, mae’r dull cydweithredol hwnnw’n wirioneddol bwysig, ond yn anffodus, ni chredaf ein bod wedi gweld digon ohono. Ac enghraifft fyw y gallaf ei rhoi i chi, ar gyfer llawdriniaethau glawcoma yn Wrecsam ar hyn o bryd, yw bod cleifion yno'n aros am dair blynedd ar restr aros ar gyfer clefyd sy'n amlwg yn cael effaith aruthrol ar eu bywydau bob dydd. Os ydych chi'n byw yn swydd Gaer, mae’n amser aros o bedair wythnos, dafliad carreg dros y ffin, gan fod gan yr ymddiriedolaeth iechyd yno drefniant partneriaeth gyda chwmni sector preifat i ddarparu'r llawdriniaethau hynny. Amser aros o bedair wythnos yn swydd Gaer, amser aros o dair blynedd yn Wrecsam. Felly, mae yna gyfleoedd enfawr.

O ran y targedau y soniasom amdanynt hefyd, mae'n siomedig nad yw llawer o'r targedau sydd yn eu lle yn werth y papur y maent wedi'u hysgrifennu arno. Ac ymddengys bod canlyniadau methiant i gyflawni'r targedau hynny yn eithaf gwan, a dweud y lleiaf. Ac mae'n rhyfeddol, wrth inni glywed eto ddoe gan y Prif Weinidog am y cydweithio rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU ar dorri rhestrau aros a gweithio ar y cyd, mae'n rhyfeddol ei fod mor brin o fanylion ynglŷn â sut olwg fydd ar y cydweithio, gan y byddech chi'n cytuno, rwy’n siŵr, fod torri rhestrau aros yn sicr yn un o’ch prif flaenoriaethau yma yng Nghymru—dyna mae pobl Cymru am ei weld. Felly, pam nad oes cynllun pendant, yn ôl pob golwg, ar gyfer lleihau'r rhestrau aros hynny?

Well, I think there is a plan for cutting those waiting lists. The point that the First Minister was making yesterday reflects the point that I have just made to the Member in my reply now, which is how important it is for the health service to look to best practice both within other parts of the organisation and also further afield, just as all the public services that we’re responsible for here in Wales take inspiration from best practice wherever that is. And the point that the First Minister was making was that where we have seen, in parts of NHS England in this particular case, successful strategies for supporting reductions in waiting lists—and, absolutely, targets aren’t being met in England either, but there are elements of progress—the question is how we can work together to learn from that. Some of those will work, perhaps, for us in Wales, and some of them will not, but I think having that collaborative approach, where we can learn from things that have worked, is just sensible.

Wel, rwy'n credu bod yna gynllun ar gyfer lleihau'r rhestrau aros hynny. Mae’r pwynt a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe yn adlewyrchu’r pwynt yr wyf newydd ei wneud i’r Aelod yn fy ateb nawr, sef ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd edrych ar arferion gorau mewn rhannau eraill o’r sefydliad a thu hwnt, yn union fel y caiff yr holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus yr ydym yn gyfrifol amdanynt yma yng Nghymru eu hysbrydoli gan arferion gorau, lle bynnag y bônt. A’r pwynt yr oedd y Prif Weinidog yn ei wneud oedd, lle rydym wedi gweld, mewn rhannau o GIG Lloegr yn yr achos penodol hwn, strategaethau llwyddiannus ar gyfer cefnogi lleihau rhestrau aros—ac yn sicr, nid yw targedau’n cael eu cyflawni yn Lloegr ychwaith, ond mae elfennau o gynnydd—y cwestiwn yw sut y gallwn weithio gyda'n gilydd i ddysgu o hynny. Bydd rhai o’r rheini’n gweithio i ni yng Nghymru, efallai, a bydd yna rai eraill na fyddant yn gweithio, ond rwy'n credu bod cael dull cydweithredol, lle gallwn ddysgu o bethau sydd wedi gweithio, yn gwneud synnwyr.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor. 

The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Wel, dwi am groesawu’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i’w rôl newydd unwaith eto, ac rydyn ni i gyd yn dymuno’n dda iddo fo wrth iddo fo ymdrechu i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau anferthol sydd o fewn y sector iechyd.

Wrth gwrs, Llywydd, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet presennol ydy’r chweched aelod o’r grŵp Llafur i ddal y portffolio iechyd ac, yn wir, y trydydd eleni. Ond er y chwyrligwgan yma o apwyntiadau gweinidogol, yr un ydy’r record iechyd o hyd. Mae pob Gweinidog neu Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ei dro, neu yn ei thro, wedi sôn am leihau'r rhestrau aros, a dŷn ni wedi clywed hwnna eto y prynhawn yma. Ond, yn y pen draw, maen nhw’n gadael y swydd gyda’r un rhestrau aros yna wedi cynyddu. Beth ydych chi am wneud yn wahanol?

Thank you very much, Llywydd. Well, I’d like to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to his new role once again, and we all wish him well as he seeks to tackle the huge challenges that exist within the health sector.

Of course, Llywydd, the current Cabinet Secretary is the sixth member of the Labour group to hold the health portfolio and, indeed, the third this year. But despite this merry-go-round of ministerial appointments, the record on health is the same. Every Minister or Cabinet Secretary in turn has talked about reducing waiting lists, and we’ve heard that again this afternoon. But, ultimately, they leave the job with the waiting lists having grown longer. So, what will you do differently?

Wel, rwy’n credu, os edrychwch chi ar y rhestrau aros hiraf o dan fy rhagflaenydd i, y Prif Weinidog, rŷn ni wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol iawn dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf, gyda chynnydd wrth gyrraedd y nod, gyda rhyw 67 y cant yn llai ar y rhestrau hwy nag oedd gyda ni ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Rydym ni wedi gweld dros y tri, pedwar mis diwethaf ein bod ni wedi colli’r cynnydd hwnnw. Felly, beth mae hynny’n dangos yw bod angen cynnydd cynaliadwy i’r dyfodol.

Felly, mae llawer o bethau yn y system yn barod i fynd i’r afael â hyn. Y peth cyntaf yw ffyrdd newydd, ffyrdd arloesol, o fynd i’r afael â rhai o’r heriau. Felly, rydym ni’n edrych ar beth yn fwy gallwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau bod defnydd o operating theatres yn fwy effeithiol, sut allwn ni greu clinigau er mwyn i lawdriniaethau llai cymhleth gael eu gwneud yn gyflymach, heb orfod aros dros nos, pa ddefnydd pellach gallwn ni ei wneud o AI, er enghraifft. Felly, mae enghreifftiau o arloesi yn y system yn barod. Beth rwyf i eisiau ei weld yw bod mwy a mwy o hynny yn digwydd. Rwyf wedi sôn yn barod am ba mor bwysig yw hi ein bod ni’n dysgu o lwyddiannau o fewn y system yn gyflymach, ein bod ni’n gallu gweld lle mae’r llwyddiannau a’u rhannu nhw, eu lledaenu nhw'n gynt nag yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo ei wneud yn y gorffennol.

Rydym ni hefyd wedi gweld—beth mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi bod yn dweud dros yr wythnosau diwethaf—cymaint o flaenoriaeth yw lleihau rhestrau aros nawr. Felly, mae hynny’n golygu bod ailflaenoriaethu o fewn y Llywodraeth yn dod yn sgil hynny. Ond, wrth wraidd yr holl waith yma, rwy’n credu, mae cydweithio gwell o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd a rhwng y gwasanaeth iechyd ac, er enghraifft, cynghorau lleol, ond partneriaid eraill hefyd.

Well, I think, if you look at the longest waiting lists under my predecessor, the First Minister, we’ve seen significant progress over the past two years, with progress in achieving the target, with 67 per cent fewer people on the longer waiting lists than there were two years ago. We've seen over the past three, four months that we've rowed back a little bit on that progress. So, what that demonstrates is that we need sustainable progress for the future.

So, there are many things in the system already to tackle this. The first is new, innovative ways to tackle some of the challenges. So, we're looking at what more we can do to ensure that we use operating theatres more effectively, how can we create clinics so that less complex surgery can be undertaken more swiftly, without overnight stays, what further use can be made of AI, for example. So, there is innovation in the system already. What I want to see is that we see more and more of that happening. I've already talked about how important it is that we learn from successes within the system more swiftly, that we can see where the successes are and then share them and spread them more swiftly than we’ve done in the past.

We've also seen—what the Prime Minister has been saying over the past few weeks—how much of a priority reducing waiting lists is now. So, that means that we’re reprioritising within Government as a result of that. But, at the heart of all that work, I think, is better collaboration within the health service and between the health service and, for example, local authorities, but other partners too.

14:45

Warm words, but the same outcome, I’m afraid, is what we’ll see. Now, the Darzi report states the failures in the English health system, a system that the Labour Minister Wes Streeting and his PM Keir Starmer say is broken and is the fault of the previous Tory Government. They say that they’ll take responsibility for fixing it. On every metric, the NHS is performing worse in Wales, yet here this Government denies any responsibility and blames everybody else, from health managers to the public, for various failings. So, instead of taking responsibility to fix this, instead of a statement to be scrutinised in the Senedd, we get a headline from the Labour Party conference that this Government plans to outsource its responsibility for the NHS to Westminster. We await the actual substance of the agreement with interest, but is this not simply a case of the Welsh Government abdicating responsibility? Does the Cabinet Secretary agree that this is an admission that 25 years of Labour in Government in Wales has been an abject failure when it comes to running our NHS?

Geiriau cynnes, ond yr hyn a welwn, mae arnaf ofn, yw'r un canlyniad. Nawr, mae adroddiad Darzi yn nodi'r methiannau yn system iechyd Lloegr, system y mae’r Gweinidog Llafur, Wes Streeting, a Phrif Weinidog y DU, Keir Starmer, yn dweud ei bod wedi torri ac mai'r Llywodraeth Dorïaidd flaenorol sydd ar fai am hynny. Dywedant y byddant yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am ei thrwsio. Ar bob metrig, mae’r GIG yn perfformio’n waeth yng Nghymru, ac eto, mae’r Llywodraeth hon yn gwadu unrhyw gyfrifoldeb ac yn beio pawb arall, o reolwyr iechyd i’r cyhoedd, am wahanol fethiannau. Felly, yn hytrach na chymryd cyfrifoldeb am drwsio'r system, yn hytrach datganiad i'w graffu yn y Senedd, cawn bennawd o gynhadledd y Blaid Lafur fod y Llywodraeth hon yn bwriadu allanoli ei chyfrifoldeb am y GIG i San Steffan. Arhoswn gyda diddordeb i weld manylion y cytundeb, ond onid yw hyn yn enghraifft o Lywodraeth Cymru yn ymwrthod â chyfrifoldeb? A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno mai cyfaddefiad yw hyn fod 25 mlynedd o Lafur mewn Llywodraeth yng Nghymru wedi bod yn fethiant enbyd o ran rhedeg ein GIG?

I think the Member’s rhetoric is getting rather ahead of the facts of this matter. I think, just to repeat, if he didn’t hear my response to the earlier question, what the First Minister announced in the conference was a different approach whereby I think, and I think the Member would agree with me, all aspects of the work that we are responsible for here in the Senedd should learn from good practice both in Wales and wherever else it can be found. The First Minister was describing a partnership approach so that we can do more of that in the future. There is no question, as I’ve made really clear in all the interviews I’ve given since I became the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, that we are all accountable for our roles and responsibilities within the Government and within the health service. Each of us has a different part to play, and each of us is responsible both for working with each other and being accountable for those outcomes.

Credaf fod rhethreg yr Aelod yn anwybyddu ffeithiau'r mater hwn. I ailadrodd, os na chlywodd fy ymateb i’r cwestiwn cynharach, rwy'n credu mai'r hyn a gyhoeddodd y Prif Weinidog yn y gynhadledd oedd dull gwahanol o weithredu, a chredaf y byddai’r Aelod yn cytuno â mi, y dylai pob agwedd ar y gwaith yr ydym yn gyfrifol amdano yma yn y Senedd ddysgu o arferion da yng Nghymru a lle bynnag arall y'i ceir. Roedd y Prif Weinidog yn disgrifio dull partneriaeth er mwyn inni allu gwneud mwy o hynny yn y dyfodol. Fel y nodais yn glir iawn yn yr holl gyfweliadau a wneuthum ers imi ddod yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod pob un ohonom yn atebol am ein rolau a’n cyfrifoldebau o fewn y Llywodraeth ac o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae gan bob un ohonom ran wahanol i’w chwarae, ac mae pob un ohonom yn gyfrifol am weithio gyda’n gilydd ac yn atebol am y canlyniadau hynny.

Mae’r problemau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd wedi bod, wrth gwrs, yn wybyddus ers blynyddoedd, gyda rhybuddion wedi cael eu rhoi o brinder meddygon teulu a phrinder nyrsys ac eraill yn y gweithlu ers degawd a mwy. Mae’r diffyg gweithredu ar y rhybuddion yn effeithio, felly, yn uniongyrchol ar les ac iechyd pobl bob dydd heddiw.

Ystyriwch hanes Rhythwyn Evans o ardal Tregaron. Bedair blynedd yn ôl, ar ôl cael ei ysbrydoli gan Gapten Tom, fe gododd Rhythwyn £50,000 yn ystod y pandemig i fwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda trwy gerdded o amgylch ei fyngalo. Rŵan, mae Rhythwyn yn derbyn gofal mewn gwely yn ysbyty Tregaron, ar yr union amser pan fo’r bwrdd yn ystyried cau y gwelyau yno. Mae hyn yn dilyn cau ward Dyfi yn Nhywyn, cau unedau mân anafiadau Llandrindod, Aberhonddu a Prince Philip yn Llanelli dros nos, ac wrth gwrs yn ystyried cau uned plant Bronglais, oll oherwydd diffyg nyrsys ac anallu staffio, ac yn gwbl groes i’ch rhethreg chi o ddarparu gofal yn agosach i adref. Felly, beth yn wahanol ydych chi am wneud i sicrhau bod gyda ni y gweithlu angenrheidiol mewn lle er mwyn sicrhau bod y cleifion yma yn derbyn gofal yn eu cymuned?

The problems in the health service have been known for years, of course, with warnings given of a shortage of GPs and a shortage of nurses and others in the workforce for a decade and more. The lack of action on these warnings has a direct impact, therefore, on the health and well-being of people on a daily basis today.

Consider the story of Rhythwyn Evans from Tregaron. Four years ago, having been inspired by Captain Tom, Rhythwyn raised £50,000 during the pandemic for the Hywel Dda health board by walking around his bungalow. Now, Rhythwyn is receiving care in a bed at Tregaron hospital, at the very time when the board is considering closing those beds there. This follows the closure of the Dyfi ward in Tywyn, closing the minor injury units in Llandrindod, Brecon and Prince Philip in Llanelli overnight, and considering closing the paediatric unit in Bronglais, all because of a shortage of nurses and an inability to staff these facilities, and quite contrary to your rhetoric of providing care closer to home. So, what will you do differently to ensure that we have the necessary workforce in place in order to ensure that these patients receive care in their community?

Wel, mae mwy o bobl yn gyflogedig gan y gwasanaeth iechyd nawr nag erioed. Mae'r ffigurau meddyg teulu yn gyson, ar ôl cynnydd sylweddol. Mae heriau recriwtio mewn mannau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd a gofal, fel sy'n wir ar draws y Deyrnas Gyfunol. Mae'r gwaith rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei wneud i recriwtio yn cael llwyddiannau. Mae gyda ni fwy o lefydd ar gyfer hyfforddi nyrsys eleni nag a gafodd eu llenwi llynedd. Dyw popeth ddim yn iawn. Dwi wedi cydnabod bod anghenion penodol. Ond mae gwaith gyda ni sydd yn dangos llwyddiant. Dyw e ddim wedi cyrraedd yr hyn rŷn ni eisiau ei weld ac mae heriau yn y system. Ond mae'n glir o'r drafodaeth rŷn ni wedi'i chael yn barod heddiw beth yw ein hymrwymiad ni fel Llywodraeth i sicrhau ein bod ni'n hyfforddi mwy o feddygon, hyfforddi mwy o nyrsys, recriwtio mwy o ddeintyddion a phobl broffesiynol eraill. Mae gwaith i'w wneud, ond mae cynlluniau gyda ni ar y gweill ar gyfer pob un o'r pethau hynny. 

Well, more people are employed by the health service now than ever before. The GP figures are consistent, after a significant increase. There are recruitment challenges in parts of the health and care service, as is the case across the United Kingdom The work that we've been doing to recruit is seeing success. We have more places now for nurse training than were filled last year. Everything isn't right. I have acknowledged that. I have acknowledged that there are specific needs. But we have seen successes in some of our work. We haven't reached where we want to and we've seen challenges in the system. But it's clear from the discussions that we've already had today what our commitment is as a Government in terms of training more doctors, training more nurses, recruiting more dentists and other healthcare professionals. There is work to do, but we do have plans in place for all of those things. 

14:50
Anghydraddoldebau Iechyd Meddwl
Mental Health Inequalities

3. Pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud o ran gweithredu argymhellion adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, sef 'Cysylltu’r dotiau: mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru'? OQ61567

3. What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Health and Social Care Committee’s 'Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales' report? OQ61567

We continue to make progress on the actions set out in our response to the recommendations in the committee report, and we will provide a full update to the committee early in 2025.

Rydym yn parhau i wneud cynnydd ar y camau gweithredu a nodir yn ein hymateb i’r argymhellion yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, a byddwn yn rhoi diweddariad llawn i’r pwyllgor yn gynnar yn 2025.

Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog. Yn ôl conffederasiwn y gwasanaeth iechyd, mae cyfraddau hunanladdiad mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig yng Nghymru rhwng dwy a thair gwaith yn uwch nag mewn ardaloedd breintiedig. Mae 61 y cant o oedolion Cymru yn dweud bod eu sefyllfa ariannol nhw yn cael effaith andwyol ar eu hiechyd meddwl. Yn syml, mae tlodi yn dinistrio bywydau, mae tlodi yn effeithio ar iechyd, mae tlodi yn lladd. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i daclo tlodi, sy'n effeithio ar iechyd cynifer yn ein gwlad ni ac yn arwain at nifer yn cymryd eu bywydau? Diolch yn fawr. 

Thank you very much, Minister. According to the NHS Confederation, the suicide rates in disadvantaged areas of Wales are between two and three times higher than they are in more privileged areas. Sixty-one per cent of adults in Wales say that their financial situation has a detrimental impact on their mental health. Quite simply, poverty destroys lives, poverty has an impact on health, and poverty kills. How is the Welsh Government going to tackle the poverty that impacts the health of so many in our nation and leads to many suicides? Thank you.

Thank you very much for the question. As with my predecessors, preventing suicide is a priority, and, as part of this, there is the new funding agreed for mental health, with additional funding for targeted support to this agenda, and this funding has transformed the infrastructure in Wales to prevent suicide and self-harm. This includes strengthening the local multisectoral partnership arrangements through regional co-ordinators and driving national action with our national suicide and self-harm prevention leads. In 2022, we also introduced the real-time suspected suicide surveillance in Wales to provide information to help partners to target prevention, ensure support is made available and to respond when needed. And, as part of developing our new suicide and self-harm prevention strategy, which is due to be delivered shortly, we are reviewing our governance arrangements to strengthen our ability to collect and analyse evidence in relation to suicide and self-harm. And to draw specifically on what you were asking about targeting people from particular backgrounds, we are also reviewing how we draw cross-Government and cross-sector partners together to help shape actions, including across health, housing, transport, education, social services, policing and custodial settings, welfare and employment. This is something that impacts communities and is something that Welsh Government takes incredibly seriously, and we are doing all that we can to tackle this. Diolch. 

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Fel i fy rhagflaenwyr, mae atal hunanladdiad yn flaenoriaeth, ac yn rhan o hyn, cytunwyd ar gyllid newydd ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, gyda chyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer cymorth wedi’i dargedu i'r agenda hon, ac mae’r cyllid hwn wedi trawsnewid y seilwaith yng Nghymru i atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cryfhau’r trefniadau partneriaeth amlsector lleol drwy gydgysylltwyr rhanbarthol a sbarduno gweithredu cenedlaethol gyda’n harweinwyr atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio cenedlaethol. Yn 2022 hefyd, fe wnaethom gyflwyno gwyliadwriaeth amser real hunanladdiad tybiedig yng Nghymru i ddarparu gwybodaeth i helpu partneriaid i dargedu mesurau atal, sicrhau bod cymorth ar gael ac ymateb pan fo angen. Ac fel rhan o ddatblygu ein strategaeth atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio newydd, sydd i’w chyflwyno cyn bo hir, rydym yn adolygu ein trefniadau llywodraethu i gryfhau ein gallu i gasglu a dadansoddi tystiolaeth mewn perthynas â hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio. A chan gyfeirio'n benodol at yr hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ofyn am dargedu pobl o gefndiroedd penodol, rydym hefyd yn adolygu sut y down â phartneriaid trawslywodraethol a thraws-sector ynghyd i helpu i lunio camau gweithredu, gan gynnwys ar draws iechyd, tai, trafnidiaeth, addysg, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, plismona a lleoliadau carcharu, lles a chyflogaeth. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n effeithio ar gymunedau ac yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru o ddifrif yn ei gylch, ac rydym yn gwneud popeth a allwn i fynd i'r afael ag ef. Diolch.

I too would be very interested to see what actions have been taken on the back of this report into these inequalities. I don't know if you're aware, Minister, but, in Aneurin Bevan health board, even if you're put on the NHS urgent list for mental health counselling, someone still has to wait months and months just for a telephone appointment for counselling, the alternative being to wait a further seven months for a face-to-face counselling session. Are you aware, Minister, that there seems to be a massive disparity across the Welsh health boards in terms of these waiting lists for counselling? And I'd be interested to know if you've begun to address this, because it's all very well talking about the importance of mental health, but how are you going to ensure that mental health counselling is getting the staff and the resources that it needs, particularly on the back of the success of '111 press 2'? Because the demand for these services is increasing, but it's very worrying that there doesn't seem to be the funding available to support that increase in demand, and people cannot afford to go private. Thank you. 

Byddai gennyf innau gryn ddiddordeb mewn gweld pa gamau a gymerwyd yn sgil yr adroddiad i’r anghydraddoldebau hyn. Nid wyf yn gwybod a ydych chi'n ymwybodol, Weinidog, ond ym mwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, hyd yn oed os cewch eich rhoi ar restr frys y GIG ar gyfer cwnsela iechyd meddwl, mae'n rhaid aros misoedd ar fisoedd am apwyntiad ffôn yn unig ar gyfer cwnsela, a'r dewis arall fyddai aros am saith mis arall am sesiwn gwnsela wyneb yn wyneb. A ydych chi'n ymwybodol, Weinidog, fod gwahaniaeth enfawr i'w weld rhwng byrddau iechyd Cymru o ran y rhestrau aros hyn ar gyfer cwnsela? A hoffwn wybod a ydych chi wedi dechrau mynd i'r afael â hyn, gan ei bod yn hawdd sôn am bwysigrwydd iechyd meddwl, ond sut ydych chi'n mynd i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau cwnsela iechyd meddwl yn cael y staff a'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnynt, yn enwedig yn dilyn llwyddiant '111 pwyso 2'? Oherwydd mae'r galw am y gwasanaethau hyn yn cynyddu, ond mae'n peri pryder nad yw'n ymddangos bod cyllid ar gael i gefnogi'r cynnydd yn y galw, ac ni all pobl fforddio mynd yn breifat. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you very much. Yes, as many people in this Chamber will know, because you were with me, I actually sat on the Health and Social Care Committee when we undertook this inquiry. I heard all of the evidence, and I'm really glad that I did, now being in this role in Welsh Government. To reiterate, really, we are absolutely committed to tackling the inequalities in access to and outcomes from mental health support, and our approach continues to be informed by the recommendations in that very report. As I mentioned as well, we have the mental health strategy coming; it is imminently coming. We had 370-plus responses to it—a huge amount came in, many of them reflecting what you said, absolutely, and that's why we're taking it very seriously in what we set out in the strategy with those targets, but also sharing that best practice across the health board. I'm very dismayed to hear this, though. I would welcome it if you would write to me afterwards so that I can look into this further with that specific health board. But I also wanted to say that the implementation of our final published strategy will take a rights-based approach to ensuring that everyone has the best mental health possible and that they will be able to get the right service at the right time. Diolch. 

Diolch. Do, fel y gŵyr llawer o bobl yn y Siambr, gan eich bod chi gyda mi, roeddwn yn aelod o'r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol pan gynhaliwyd yr ymchwiliad hwn gennym. Clywais yr holl dystiolaeth, ac rwy'n falch iawn am hynny, a minnau bellach yn y rôl hon yn Llywodraeth Cymru. I ailadrodd, rydym wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i fynd i'r afael â'r anghydraddoldebau o ran mynediad at gymorth iechyd meddwl a'i ganlyniadau, ac mae ein dull o weithredu yn parhau i gael ei lywio gan yr argymhellion yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Fel y soniais hefyd, mae gennym y strategaeth iechyd meddwl ar y ffordd; mae ar y ffordd yn fuan iawn. Cawsom dros 370 o ymatebion iddo—cawsom nifer enfawr, gyda llawer ohonynt yn adlewyrchu’r hyn a ddywedoch chi, yn sicr, a dyna pam ein bod o ddifrif yn ei gylch yn yr hyn a nodwyd gennym yn y strategaeth gyda’r targedau hynny, a rhannu arferion gorau ar draws y bwrdd iechyd. Mae clywed hyn yn peri pryder, serch hynny. Hoffwn pe gallech ysgrifennu ataf wedyn er mwyn imi allu ymchwilio ymhellach i hyn gyda’r bwrdd iechyd penodol hwnnw. Ond roeddwn am ddweud hefyd y bydd gweithrediad ein strategaeth derfynol gyhoeddedig yn mabwysiadu dull seiliedig ar hawliau o sicrhau bod gan bawb yr iechyd meddwl gorau posibl ac y byddant yn gallu cael y gwasanaeth iawn ar yr adeg iawn. Diolch.

14:55
Gwasanaethau Gofal Sylfaenol
Primary Care Services

4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am lefel y galw y mae gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn ei wynebu ers y pandemig? OQ61549

4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the demand levels faced by primary care services since the pandemic? OQ61549

Primary care services are busier than ever, delivering more advanced clinical services than before the pandemic across the various professions, fulfilling our commitment to bringing care closer to home. There are now around 2 million patient interactions each month, and we continue to monitor demand and support service delivery.

Mae gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn brysurach nag erioed, yn darparu gwasanaethau clinigol mwy datblygedig na chyn y pandemig ar draws y gwahanol broffesiynau, gan gyflawni ein hymrwymiad i ddod â gofal yn nes at adref. Erbyn hyn mae oddeutu 2 filiwn o ryngweithiadau cleifion bob mis, ac rydym yn parhau i fonitro'r galw a chefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau.

Primary care serves as the first point of access for many residents, leading to high demand, with record numbers since the pandemic. Members of the multidisciplinary teams, including care navigators, will face a challenging winter, with residents already reaching out to my office about difficulties booking appointments, especially during the eight o'clock rush. Although the majority of residents have no concerns or problems with the care they receive, their experience in trying to make appointments is falling short. What specific support can be provided to primary care staff to increase appointment availability? Does this include improved digital systems and, if so, how can we ensure that residents, particularly elderly residents, are supported in the transition to digital platforms? Additionally, what other measures are in place to prevent further bottlenecks as winter pressures continue to rise? 

Gofal sylfaenol yw’r pwynt mynediad cyntaf i lawer o drigolion, gan arwain at alw uchel, gyda niferoedd uwch nag erioed ers y pandemig. Bydd aelodau o’r timau amlddisgyblaethol, gan gynnwys llyw-wyr gofal, yn wynebu gaeaf heriol, gyda thrigolion eisoes yn cysylltu â fy swyddfa ynghylch anawsterau i drefnu apwyntiadau, yn enwedig yn ystod y rhuthr wyth o’r gloch. Er nad oes gan y rhan fwyaf o drigolion unrhyw bryderon neu broblemau gyda'r gofal y maent yn ei gael, mae eu profiad o geisio gwneud apwyntiadau yn anfoddhaol. Pa gymorth penodol y gellir ei ddarparu i staff gofal sylfaenol i gynyddu argaeledd apwyntiadau? A yw hyn yn cynnwys systemau digidol gwell, ac os felly, sut y gallwn sicrhau bod trigolion, yn enwedig trigolion oedrannus, yn cael eu cefnogi yn y newid i blatfformau digidol? Yn ogystal, pa fesurau eraill sydd ar waith i atal tagfeydd pellach wrth i bwysau’r gaeaf barhau i gynyddu?

Firstly, let me say I'm disappointed to hear of the experience that you're reporting that your constituents have had. It's obviously important that the public are able to have timely access to GP services. As the Member will know, the general medical services contract that governs GP services has been amended to improve access to GP services. That's now a part of the new contract, and it's a requirement for GP practices to have appropriate telephony and call handling systems in place—so, a mixed offer, addressing the point that the Member raised in her question about accessibility for all patients. And that should avoid, and it's intended to avoid, the need for people to call back multiple times.

So, that is now already a provision in the GP contract. I think there is a case for monitoring, clearly, given what you have been saying, for enhancing the monitoring, of those arrangements. On a self-reported basis, the practices tell us that about 97 per cent across Wales are complying with that, but I've asked my officials what more we can do to assure ourselves that the picture on the ground is as it should be, in accordance with the contract.  

You asked in particular about digital and the role that digital has to play in the future mix in terms of access to GPs. The NHS Wales digital app is being rolled out across Wales, as you know, and GP practices can actually use that to book appointments—routine appointments, effectively—for things like annual reviews for chronic conditions or ordering repeat medication. So, by doing that, it can free up other capacity for people to access appointments and reduce the number of phone calls that people have to make for that. So, it has a role to play, but it's part of a mixed offer. 

Finally, in terms of the support that we are giving as a Government, we have been investing our funding to enable staff to be taken on—additional capacity, effectively—and I think we can see the evidence of that in a number of practices where we have people supporting clinicians to deliver that access, and helping patients navigate the kind of care that they need, which quite often may well not be a visit to the doctor themselves. 

Yn gyntaf, gadewch imi ddweud fy mod yn siomedig o glywed am y profiad y nodwch fod eich etholwyr wedi'i gael. Mae'n amlwg yn bwysig fod y cyhoedd yn gallu cael mynediad amserol at wasanaethau meddygon teulu. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae’r contract gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol sy’n llywodraethu gwasanaethau meddygon teulu wedi’i ddiwygio i wella mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu. Mae hynny bellach yn rhan o'r contract newydd, ac mae'n ofynnol fod gan bractisau meddygon teulu systemau ffôn a thrin galwadau priodol ar waith—felly, cynnig cymysg, sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r pwynt a gododd yr Aelod yn ei chwestiwn ynghylch hygyrchedd i bob claf. A dylai hynny osgoi, a'r bwriad yw osgoi, yr angen i bobl ffonio'n ôl sawl gwaith.

Felly, mae hynny bellach yn ddarpariaeth yn y contract meddygon teulu. Credaf fod achos i'w gael dros fonitro, yn amlwg, o ystyried yr hyn rydych chi wedi bod yn ei ddweud, dros wella monitro'r trefniadau hynny. Ar sail hunangofnodedig, dywed y practisau wrthym fod oddeutu 97 y cant ledled Cymru yn cydymffurfio â hynny, ond rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y darlun ar lawr gwlad fel y dylai fod, yn unol â'r contract.

Fe ofynnoch chi'n benodol am dechnoleg ddigidol a’r rôl sydd gan dechnoleg ddigidol i’w chwarae yn y cymysgedd yn y dyfodol o ran mynediad at feddygon teulu. Mae ap digidol GIG Cymru yn cael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru, fel y gwyddoch, a gall practisau meddygon teulu ddefnyddio hwnnw i drefnu apwyntiadau—apwyntiadau rheolaidd, i bob pwrpas—ar gyfer pethau fel adolygiadau blynyddol ar gyfer cyflyrau cronig neu archebu meddyginiaeth reolaidd. Felly, trwy wneud hynny, gall ryddhau capasiti arall i bobl gael mynediad at apwyntiadau a lleihau nifer y galwadau ffôn y mae’n rhaid i bobl eu gwneud ar gyfer hynny. Felly, mae ganddo rôl i’w chwarae, ond mae’n rhan o gynnig cymysg.

Yn olaf, o ran y cymorth a ddarparwn fel Llywodraeth, rydym wedi bod yn buddsoddi ein cyllid i alluogi staff i gael eu cyflogi—capasiti ychwanegol, i bob pwrpas—a chredaf y gallwn weld tystiolaeth o hynny mewn nifer o bractisau lle mae gennym bobl yn cefnogi clinigwyr i ddarparu mynediad, ac yn helpu cleifion i lywio’r math o ofal sydd ei angen arnynt, nad yw, yn aml iawn, yn golygu ymweliad â’r meddyg eu hunain.

Cabinet Secretary, while the strains on GP services are well documented, the pressures being placed on community pharmacies are not often talked about. We are telling the public to choose well, to see a pharmacist before a GP, and a GP before A&E, but we're not following up that advice with adequate resources. As a result of the strain pharmacies find themselves under, many are considering a work-to-rule protest, only opening for the hours contracted by the NHS. This would be an understandable move yet a devastating blow for primary care and our entire NHS, especially as we move into cold and flu season. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what discussions have you had with the sector to ensure that they are properly resourced for the invaluable work they do for our NHS?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er bod y straen ar wasanaethau meddygon teulu wedi’i ddogfennu’n dda, ni sonnir yn aml am y pwysau sy’n cael ei roi ar fferyllfeydd cymunedol. Rydym yn dweud wrth y cyhoedd i ddewis yn dda, i weld fferyllydd cyn meddyg teulu, a meddyg teulu cyn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, ond nid ydym yn darparu adnoddau digonol i gefnogi'r cyngor hwnnw. O ganlyniad i'r straen ar fferyllfeydd, mae llawer yn ystyried protest gweithio yn ôl y rheolau, gan agor am yr oriau a gontractiwyd gan y GIG yn unig. Byddai hwn yn gam dealladwy ond eto’n ergyd ddinistriol i ofal sylfaenol a’n GIG cyfan, yn enwedig wrth inni wynebu'r tymor annwyd a ffliw. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda’r sector i sicrhau eu bod yn cael yr adnoddau priodol ar gyfer y gwaith amhrisiadwy y maent yn ei wneud i'n GIG?

15:00

Well, the Member will wish to know that the negotiations for contracts, including for GMS, but also for primary care providers, have started today, so we hope that they will go forward in a constructive way and enable that support to be provided. The Member is right to say that a critical way to ensure the resilience of primary care provision, which is so important, is that mixed model, and he is right to say that, in order for that mixed model to work, there needs to be sufficient resource and accessibility for those other points of access that we were touching on yesterday in the statement in relation to winter preparedness, the increasing importance of access to community pharmacies.

The figures I have in front of me suggest that there were over 20,000 common ailment service consultations at a pharmacy in Wales in each month of the last year, which is a very significant increase. And we have independent prescribing pharmacists now delivering around 11,000 consultations monthly, so we can start to see the shift in the direction of non-GP surgery provision. As I say, the negotiations for those new contracts have started today, and I hope they will reach a successful conclusion soon.

Wel, bydd yr Aelod am wybod bod y trafodaethau ar gontractau, gan gynnwys ar gyfer gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol, ond hefyd i ddarparwyr gofal sylfaenol, wedi dechrau heddiw, felly rydym yn gobeithio y byddant yn symud ymlaen mewn ffordd adeiladol ac yn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i'r cymorth hwnnw gael ei ddarparu. Mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud mai ffordd hanfodol o sicrhau gwytnwch y ddarpariaeth gofal sylfaenol, sydd mor bwysig, yw model cymysg, ac mae'n iawn i ddweud, er mwyn i'r model cymysg hwnnw weithio, fod angen digon o adnoddau a hygyrchedd i'r pwyntiau mynediad eraill y gwnaethom gyffwrdd arnynt ddoe yn y datganiad ar barodrwydd ar gyfer y gaeaf, a phwysigrwydd cynyddol mynediad at fferyllfeydd cymunedol.

Mae'r ffigurau sydd gennyf yn awgrymu bod dros 20,000 o ymgynghoriadau gwasanaeth anhwylderau cyffredin wedi digwydd mewn fferyllfa yng Nghymru ym mhob mis o'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf, sy'n gynnydd sylweddol iawn. Ac mae gennym fferyllwyr presgripsiynu annibynnol bellach yn darparu tua 11,000 o ymgynghoriadau bob mis, fel y gallwn ddechrau gweld y newid i gyfeiriad darpariaeth nad yw'n ddarpariaeth gan feddygfeydd meddygon teulu. Fel y dywedaf, mae'r trafodaethau ar gyfer y contractau newydd wedi dechrau heddiw, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn dod i ben yn llwyddiannus yn fuan.

Mae gofal sylfaenol yn ardal Caergybi wedi dioddef yn fawr ar ôl y pandemig, ac yn ystod y pandemig, achos mae hi yn mynd i fod yn bum mlynedd, o fewn ychydig ddyddiau rŵan, ers cwymp meddygfeydd Longford Road a Cambria—y bwrdd iechyd yn gorfod cymryd drosodd y ddau a ffurfio un feddygfa newydd. Ond mi wnaethom ni'r achos bryd hynny am yr angen am feddygfa newydd amlddisgyblaethol yng Nghaergybi, ac mewn egwyddor mi enillon ni'r ddadl honno'n gynnar iawn. Ond mae wedi cymryd tan rŵan, bum mlynedd ymlaen, i'r achos amlinellol strategol fynd o flaen bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, a dwi'n falch iawn ei fod o'n mynd o flaen y bwrdd iechyd yfory. Dwi'n hyderus y byddan nhw'n rhoi sêl bendith i'r rhan honno o'r cynllun. Dwi'n apelio, felly, ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i beidio ag oedi, i roi arwydd clir iawn bod y Llywodraeth yn barod i roi'r gefnogaeth ariannol i sicrhau bod hwn yn gallu mynd i'r camau nesaf, er mwyn gallu cael ei ddelifro yn gyflym, achos dydy pobl Caergybi a'r ardal yn haeddu dim llai.

Primary care in the Holyhead area has suffered a great deal following the pandemic, and also during the pandemic. It's going to be five years, within a few days now, since the closure of Longford Road and Cambria surgeries, with the health board having to take them over and create a single new surgery. But we made the case then on the need for a new multidisciplinary surgery in Holyhead, and in principle we won that debate very early on. But it's taken until now, five years hence, for the outline strategic case to go before the Betsi Cadwaladr board, and I'm very pleased that it is going before the health board tomorrow. I'm confident that they will give their blessing to that part of the plan. I appeal, therefore, to the Cabinet Secretary not to delay, to give a clear sign that the Government is willing to provide the financial support to ensure that this can proceed to the next stage, so that it can be delivered swiftly, because the people of Holyhead and the surrounding area deserve no less.

Rwy'n gwybod bod Hwb Iechyd Cybi wedi cael llwyddiant yn recriwtio meddygon teulu yn ddiweddar—mae hynny, wrth gwrs, i'w groesawu'n fawr iawn. Mae'r sefyllfa'n gallu bod yn heriol iawn, onid yw e, pan fo gapiau'n codi sydd yn anodd eu llenwi, ac mor bwysig yw hynny. Felly, gwnawn ni aros i weld beth ddaw allan o gyfarfodydd bwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, sydd yn digwydd yn hwyrach yr wythnos hon.

I know that Hwb Iechyd Cybi has been successful in recruiting GPs recently—that, of course, is to be greatly welcomed. The situation can be very challenging, can't it, when gaps appear that are difficult to fill, and that is so important. So, we'll wait to see what emerges from the meetings of the Betsi Cadwaladr board, which will be happening later this week.

Gofal Dwys
Intensive Care

5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi cleifion sydd wedi cael gofal dwys? OQ61571

5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support patients who have received intensive care? OQ61571

We published our policy approach to the care of critically ill patients in October 2021. We expect health boards in Wales to apply clinical guidance from the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the Intensive Care Society. The NHS executive’s relevant clinical network supports health boards to operationalise this guidance.

Fe wnaethom gyhoeddi ein dull polisi o ofalu am gleifion sy'n ddifrifol wael ym mis Hydref 2021. Rydym yn disgwyl i fyrddau iechyd yng Nghymru gymhwyso canllawiau clinigol gan y Gyfadran Meddygaeth Gofal Dwys a'r Gymdeithas Gofal Dwys. Mae rhwydwaith clinigol perthnasol gweithrediaeth y GIG yn cynorthwyo byrddau iechyd i weithredu'r canllawiau hyn.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity—very humbling, it was—to visit the fantastic ICUsteps support group in Abergavenny, and it was extremely moving. I didn't realise, until that point, the trauma of people who've gone through intensive care. It's an invaluable support group, and it's run by patients, relatives and healthcare professionals who have experienced ICU wards. They provide ongoing support for patients following their discharge from hospital. I think there are only a couple of these operating across Wales, and it's something I would certainly advocate, because these people valued it so, so much.

It's sad that the experience of being in ICU can be incredibly traumatising, as I said, for both patients and relatives, with many patients having no recollection of any of their experiences and having to face the difficulties of recovery. Some even told me that they contemplated taking their own lives. This is often exacerbated by poor communication down the line from GP to hospital, from hospital to hospital, and hospital ward to hospital ward, to GP. The whole trail of a lack of communication was something that came up many times for many people there. So, with this in mind, Cabinet Secretary, what consideration has the Welsh Government given to improving both mental health services and practical support for those who have experienced the trauma of ICU? I would encourage you to perhaps look into the ICUsteps support group—it's a fantastic support group.

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, cefais gyfle—fe wnaeth imi deimlo'n ostyngedig iawn—i ymweld â grŵp cefnogi gwych ICUsteps yn y Fenni, ac roedd yn hynod o emosiynol. Nid oeddwn yn sylweddoli, tan hynny, faint o drawma y mae pobl sydd wedi mynd drwy ofal dwys yn ei deimlo. Mae'n grŵp cymorth amhrisiadwy, ac mae'n cael ei redeg gan gleifion, perthnasau a gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol sydd wedi cael profiad o unedau gofal dwys. Maent yn darparu cefnogaeth barhaus i gleifion ar ôl iddynt gael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty. Rwy'n credu mai dim ond un neu ddau o'r rhain sy'n gweithredu ledled Cymru, ac mae'n rhywbeth y byddwn i'n sicr yn ei argymell, oherwydd roedd y bobl hyn yn ystyried bod y cymorth yn werthfawr iawn.

Mae'n drist fod y profiad o fod mewn uned gofal dwys yn gallu bod yn hynod drawmatig, fel y dywedais, i gleifion a pherthnasau, gyda llawer o gleifion heb unrhyw atgof o'u profiadau ac yn gorfod wynebu anawsterau adferiad. Dywedodd rhai wrthyf eu bod hyd yn oed wedi ystyried hunanladdiad. Mae hyn yn aml yn cael ei waethygu gan gyfathrebu gwael rhwng y meddyg teulu a'r ysbyty, o ysbyty i ysbyty, ac o ward ysbyty i ward ysbyty, i feddyg teulu. Roedd holl drywydd y diffyg cyfathrebu yn rhywbeth a gododd sawl gwaith i lawer o bobl yno. Felly, gyda hyn mewn golwg, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i wella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a chefnogaeth ymarferol i'r rhai sydd wedi profi trawma uned gofal dwys? Hoffwn eich annog efallai i edrych ar y grŵp cymorth ICUsteps—mae'n grŵp cymorth gwych.

15:05

Well, firstly, I'm sorry to hear the experience of those individuals as they reported it to the Member. I was not aware of the group to which the Member refers, and perhaps if you would be happy to write to me, I would make myself more familiar with the work that they do, and perhaps even meet with them.

In relation to the work that we can do at a national level to try and address the sorts of challenges that the Member is describing, I mentioned in my initial answer the role of the clinical networks that the NHS executive put in place, and the point of those is to try and standardise delivery on the basis of best practice across Wales in a range of different practice areas. There is a particular one that has been launched in relation to critical care, major trauma and emergency medicine, and that has developed a service specification for recovery after critical care, which all health boards should be working to. They've also established—mindful of the point that the Member is making about variation—a peer review programme that can help health boards to identify gaps in the kind of provision the Member is referring to, to then try and improve that service delivery. So, that work is work that we can do at a national level, through the executive, and there's an implementation and peer review programme that goes with that. There's doubtless more work to do, but I look forward to hearing more about the group that you mentioned.

Wel, yn gyntaf, mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad yr unigolion fel y gwnaethant ei nodi wrth yr Aelod. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r grŵp y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato, ac os byddech chi'n hapus i ysgrifennu ataf, efallai y gallwn ymgyfarwyddo â'r gwaith a wnânt, a chyfarfod â hwy o bosibl hyd yn oed.

O ran y gwaith y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel genedlaethol i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r mathau o heriau y mae'r Aelod yn eu disgrifio, soniais yn fy ateb cychwynnol am rôl y rhwydweithiau clinigol a roddwyd ar waith gan weithrediaeth y GIG, a phwynt y rheini yw ceisio safoni darpariaeth ar sail arferion gorau ledled Cymru mewn ystod o feysydd ymarfer gwahanol. Lansiwyd un rhwydwaith penodol mewn perthynas â gofal critigol, trawma a meddygaeth frys, ac mae hwnnw wedi datblygu manyleb gwasanaeth ar gyfer adferiad ar ôl gofal critigol, y dylai pob bwrdd iechyd ei ddilyn. Hefyd—gan gofio am y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am amrywiad—maent wedi sefydlu rhaglen adolygu cymheiriaid a all helpu byrddau iechyd i nodi bylchau yn y math o ddarpariaeth y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ati, i geisio gwella'r ddarpariaeth honno o wasanaethau yn sgil hynny. Felly, mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n waith y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel genedlaethol, drwy'r weithrediaeth, ac mae rhaglen weithredu ac adolygu cymheiriaid i fynd gyda hynny. Mae'n siŵr fod mwy o waith i'w wneud, ond edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am y grŵp y sonioch chi amdano.

Uned Mamau a Babanod Caer
Chester Mother and Baby Unit

6. Ar sail pa dystiolaeth y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru roi cefnogaeth i leoli uned mamau a babanod yng Nghaer ar gyfer teuluoedd o ogledd Cymru? OQ61560

6. Based on what evidence did the Welsh Government support the decision to locate a mother and baby unit in Chester for families from north Wales? OQ61560

The decision was made by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, which had responsibility for the commissioning of specialised services on behalf of health boards at the time. The assessment was made that the level of demand in north Wales was below the recommended minimum size for a mother and baby unit.

Cafodd y penderfyniad ei wneud gan Bwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru, a oedd yn gyfrifol am gomisiynu gwasanaethau arbenigol ar ran byrddau iechyd ar y pryd. Gwnaed yr asesiad fod lefel y galw yng ngogledd Cymru'n is na'r isafswm maint a argymhellir ar gyfer uned mamau a babanod.

Mae yna lawer o bryderon am y cynllun yma, a dwi'n grediniol bod yna well ffordd ymlaen na'r hyn sydd dan sylw. Mae'n ymddangos nad ydy dau wely am fod yn ddigon o ran ateb y galw. Mae yna ystadegau o 2018 yn dangos bod mamau wedi peidio mynd i unedau allan o ardal oherwydd pellter teithio a chael eu gwahanu o'u teuluoedd, ac wrth gwrs mae angen cefnogaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg. Mae oedi'n digwydd rŵan ar y cynllun Caer, sy'n rhoi cyfle i ni adlewyrchu, dwi'n credu, ar wir anghenion mamau a gwir anghenion teuluoedd yn y gogledd sydd angen cefnogaeth. Mae hyn yn cynnwys edrych ar y dystiolaeth, wrth gwrs, onid ydy? Ond dwi wedi holi a holi, ac mae'r modelu rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo a wnaed yn flaenorol, dydy hwnnw ddim wedi gweld golau dydd; dydw i ddim wedi'i weld o, a dwi wedi bod yn tyrchu'n hir iawn. Felly, a fedrwch chi gael gafael ar y modelu yma i'w rannu fo efo ni, ac a fedrwn ni gael sgwrs bellach ar sail dystiolaeth glir ynglŷn â'r cynllun? Diolch.

A great deal of concern has been expressed about this plan, and I believe that there is a better way forward than that which is currently being considered. It appears that two beds won't be sufficient in terms of meeting the demand. Statistics from 2018 demonstrate that mothers have not attended units out of the area because of the distance they would need to travel and they would be separated from their families, and of course Welsh-medium support is also needed. Delay is being seen now in the Chester plan, which gives us an opportunity to reflect, I believe, on the true needs of mothers and families in north Wales who do need support. This includes looking at the evidence, of course, doesn't it? But I have asked and asked again, and the modelling that you have mentioned that was undertaken previously, that hasn't seen the light of day; I haven't seen it, and I have been searching for it for a very long time. So, could you access this modelling, share it with us, and can we have a further conversation based on clear evidence about this plan? Thank you.

Thank you very much. As we know, up to 20 per cent of women experience a mental health problem in the perinatal period, and these can range from moderate to severe, and the most severe will require pathways that do not include in-patient treatment in a mother and baby unit. But in the role of commissioning specialised services on behalf of health boards, WHSSC at the time estimated that there would be demand for eight beds across Wales—two in north Wales and six in south Wales—and the recommended minimum number of beds to sustain a unit is six beds. As we discussed when we met—and I really appreciate that, because I know that you're extremely passionate about this, as am I—the statistics that you use from 2018, I believe things have very much changed since then, and I'm basing that on the fact that I've met with the people who deliver this service, and they do not believe that there is a requirement for any more than two at the moment.

However, I do take this very seriously and so, following your correspondence, I have engaged with officials, the NHS Wales joint commissioning committee, as they are now, and clinicians in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to explore the points that you have raised regarding the appropriateness of the Chester unit and to consider any potential alternatives. To inform any decisions about future provision, I have asked the JCC to undertake a comprehensive demand-and-capacity review of mother and baby unit provision in Wales as soon as possible. This will not only capture placements made within a mother and baby unit, but it will also include an assessment of where an in-patient placement was felt appropriate but did not happen, with a clear rationale of why this was the case, as you requested. The results of this work will be made available to you. And I also want to say that the JCC would also ensure that robust arrangements are in place to quality assure any placements that are made by Welsh residents. Diolch.

Diolch. Fel y gwyddom, mae hyd at 20 y cant o fenywod yn profi problem iechyd meddwl yn y cyfnod amenedigol, a gall y rhain amrywio o gymedrol i ddifrifol, a bydd angen llwybrau nad ydynt yn cynnwys triniaeth cleifion mewnol mewn uned mam a babanod. Ond yn y rôl o gomisiynu gwasanaethau arbenigol ar ran byrddau iechyd, roedd Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru ar y pryd yn amcangyfrif y byddai galw am wyth gwely ar draws Cymru—dau yng ngogledd Cymru a chwech yn y de—a'r isafswm o welyau a argymhellir i gynnal uned yw chwe gwely. Fel y gwnaethom drafod yn ein cyfarfod—ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny'n fawr, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n hynod o angerddol ynglŷn â hyn, fel finnau—mae'r ystadegau a ddefnyddiwch yn deillio o 2018, rwy'n credu bod pethau wedi newid yn fawr iawn ers hynny, ac rwy'n seilio hynny ar y ffaith fy mod i wedi cyfarfod â'r bobl sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwn, ac nid ydynt yn credu bod angen mwy na dau ar hyn o bryd.

Fodd bynnag, rwy'n rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i hyn ac felly, yn dilyn eich gohebiaeth, rwyf wedi ymgysylltu â swyddogion, cyd-bwyllgor comisiynu GIG Cymru, fel y maent ar hyn o bryd, a chlinigwyr ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i archwilio'r pwyntiau a godwyd gennych ynghylch priodoldeb uned Caer ac i ystyried unrhyw ddewisiadau posibl eraill. Er mwyn llywio unrhyw benderfyniadau ynghylch darpariaeth yn y dyfodol, rwyf wedi gofyn i'r cyd-bwyllgor gynnal adolygiad cynhwysfawr o alw a chapasiti y ddarpariaeth o unedau mamau a babanod yng Nghymru cyn gynted â phosibl. Bydd hyn nid yn unig yn nodi lleoliadau a wneir mewn uned mamau a babanod, ond bydd hefyd yn cynnwys asesiad o ble y teimlid bod lleoli cleifion yn fewnol yn briodol ond na ddigwyddodd hynny, gyda sail resymegol glir dros hynny, fel y gofynnoch chi. Bydd canlyniadau'r gwaith hwn ar gael i chi. Ac rwyf am ddweud hefyd y byddai'r cyd-bwyllgor yn sicrhau bod trefniadau cadarn ar waith yn ogystal i sicrhau ansawdd unrhyw leoliadau a wneir gan drigolion Cymru. Diolch.

15:10

Can I thank the Minister for that very full response, which I thought was very well considered? The one element of the response that you didn't refer to, which I was hoping that you would make mention of, was the fact that, whilst I appreciate that work has been done looking at the number of beds that might be required to serve the population in north Wales, we've always had a situation where the population, frankly, makes it difficult to sustain a mother and baby unit. I've known that for many years and, in fact, I can remember being on the health committee when we considered these matters in the past. However, on a cross-border basis, there clearly is a sufficient number of people, but it seems to me that every time there's cross-border provision needed, it's always on the other side of the border. And I just wonder whether there could be some collaboration with the various health organisations in the north-west of England to see whether there's a possibility of having a unit further across the north Wales coast, which might better serve those populations who are an incredible distance from Chester and for whom making a decision to go into a unit is already difficult, but may well be best for them, and then their needs are not being best represented by that significant distance.

A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb llawn hwnnw, a oedd yn ystyrlon iawn yn fy marn i? Un elfen o'r ymateb na wnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato, y gobeithiwn y byddech chi'n sôn amdano, oedd y ffaith, er fy mod yn derbyn bod gwaith wedi'i wneud ar edrych ar nifer y gwelyau y gallai fod eu hangen i wasanaethu'r boblogaeth yng ngogledd Cymru, ein bod bob amser wedi cael sefyllfa lle mae'r boblogaeth, a dweud y gwir, yn ei gwneud hi'n anodd cynnal uned mamau a babanod. Rwyf wedi gwybod hynny ers blynyddoedd lawer ac mewn gwirionedd, gallaf gofio bod ar y pwyllgor iechyd pan oeddem yn ystyried y materion hyn yn y gorffennol. Fodd bynnag, ar sail drawsffiniol, mae'n amlwg fod digon o bobl, ond mae'n ymddangos i mi bob tro y bydd angen darpariaeth drawsffiniol, mae honno bob amser ar yr ochr arall i'r ffin. A thybed a allai fod rhywfaint o gydweithio â'r gwahanol sefydliadau iechyd yng ngogledd-orllewin Lloegr i weld a oes unrhyw bosibilrwydd o gael uned ymhellach ar hyd arfordir gogledd Cymru, a allai wasanaethu'r poblogaethau hynny sy'n bell o Gaer yn well ac y mae gwneud penderfyniad ar eu cyfer i fynd i uned eisoes yn anodd, er efallai mai dyma'r penderfyniad gorau iddynt, ac nad yw eu hanghenion felly yn cael eu cynrychioli yn y ffordd orau gan y pellter sylweddol hwnnw.

Thank you very much, and this is also something that I discussed with Siân Gwenllian who raised this as well, about, 'Why can't we build it in north Wales and then we can commission the beds?' But, unfortunately, this is something that Chester have had in the works for a very, very long time and they are so far along in it now that it will be delivered, their unit, next year, regardless of whether or not Welsh Government commissions beds there. I take on board what you were saying, though, about the future and what we do with future services and how there may be an element of residents feeling like, 'Well, this always seems to be the case.' So, I will take that on board and look at what else is coming down the pipeline for the future.

But I also just wanted to say that the statistics that were quoted in 2018 were awful, and I believe that the reason why they're much lower now is because we've had investment in the community perinatal mental health teams, and also the development of the integrated care pathway, so that there's that preventative work. When I met with the women who are delivering this service in north Wales, they said that they're doing clinical audits now where they really go back through people's records, they sit down with women before they go in to give birth, they'll talk through their triggers with them, and all of these kinds of things, so it's the most supportive environment that they can possibly be in. And I'm hoping that the reason why we're seeing—. To be honest, there's not the need, and I don't want to wish for a need to fill those beds. So, I'm hoping that it's because of the work that's been done in the community, which, ideally, is where we want women and their babies to remain. Diolch.

Diolch, ac mae hyn hefyd yn rhywbeth a drafodais gyda Siân Gwenllian sydd wedi codi hyn hefyd, a, 'Pam na allwn ni ei adeiladu yng ngogledd Cymru ac yna gallwn gomisiynu'r gwelyau?' Ond yn anffodus, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Caer wedi bod yn cynllunio ar ei gyfer ers amser hir iawn ac maent wedi mynd gyn belled erbyn hyn fel y bydd eu huned yn cael ei chyflwyno y flwyddyn nesaf, ni waeth a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn comisiynu gwelyau yno ai peidio. Rwy'n ystyried yr hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ddweud, serch hynny, am y dyfodol a'r hyn a wnawn gyda gwasanaethau yn y dyfodol a sut y gallai fod yna elfen lle mae preswylwyr yn teimlo, 'Wel, mae hyn bob amser i'w weld yn digwydd.' Felly, byddaf yn ystyried hynny ac yn edrych ar beth arall sy'n mynd i godi ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Ond roeddwn i hefyd eisiau dweud bod yr ystadegau a ddyfynnwyd yn 2018 yn ofnadwy, ac rwy'n credu mai'r rheswm pam eu bod yn llawer is nawr yw oherwydd ein bod wedi gweld buddsoddiad yn y timau iechyd meddwl amenedigol cymunedol, a datblygiad y llwybr gofal integredig hefyd, fel bod y gwaith ataliol hwnnw'n digwydd. Pan gyfarfûm â'r menywod sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwn yng ngogledd Cymru, fe wnaethant ddweud eu bod yn cynnal archwiliadau clinigol nawr lle maent yn mynd yn ôl trwy gofnodion pobl, maent yn trafod gyda menywod cyn iddynt fynd i mewn i roi genedigaeth, byddant yn siarad am eu sbardunau gyda hwy, a'r holl fathau hyn o bethau, fel mai dyma'r amgylchedd mwyaf cefnogol y gallant fod ynddo. Ac rwy'n gobeithio mai'r rheswm pam ein bod yn gweld—. I fod yn onest, nid yw'r angen yno, ac nid wyf yn am weld angen i lenwi'r gwelyau hynny. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio mai'r rheswm am hynny yw'r gwaith sydd wedi'i wneud yn y gymuned, sef, yn ddelfrydol, lle rydym am i fenywod a'u babanod aros. Diolch.

Dynladdiadau a Gyflawnwyd gan Valdo Calocane
Manslaughters Committed by Valdo Calocane

7. Pa fesurau neu wersi y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu hystyried ar gyfer Cymru mewn ymateb i adolygiad diweddar y Comisiwn Ansawdd Gofal yn Lloegr i'r dynladdiadau a gyflawnwyd gan Valdo Calocane yn Swydd Nottingham? OQ61575

7. What measures or lessons will the Welsh Government consider for Wales in response to the Care Quality Commission's recent review in England into the manslaughters committed by Valdo Calocane in Nottinghamshire? OQ61575

Whilst this was a review of services in England, we are committed to learn from incidents to improve the quality and safety of mental health services, and we have invested over £2 million in the NHS executive to drive these improvements through our strategic programme for mental health.

Er mai adolygiad o wasanaethau yn Lloegr oedd hwn, rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddysgu o ddigwyddiadau i wella ansawdd a diogelwch gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, ac rydym wedi buddsoddi dros £2 filiwn yng ngweithrediaeth y GIG i ysgogi'r gwelliannau hyn drwy ein rhaglen strategol ar gyfer iechyd meddwl.

15:15

Thank you for the response, Minister, but unfortunately you will know all too well that there have been similar recommendations made regarding similar cases in Wales, such as those raised by a constituent of mine, Barry Topping-Morris. Barry worked within the NHS and revealed inadequate practices and poor risk assessment and discharge arrangements in a local mental health unit almost 20 years ago. He continues with his work to improve safety measures in mental health services, despite never receiving an apology for the dire consequences that speaking out had on his career at the time. He outlined this recently in a Nation.Cymru article about his experiences. Sadly, we do see these repeats of recommendations, and the emotional and financial cost, as well as the cost to lives and families, is devastating, because mental health services are just not able to address the concerns and recommendations. So, Minister, how will you ensure that Wales prioritises improvements in services for patients with mental health conditions, so that we do not see a repeat of the calls for these lessons to be learnt again in the future?

Diolch am yr ymateb, Weinidog, ond yn anffodus, fe fyddwch yn gwybod yn rhy dda fod argymhellion tebyg wedi'u gwneud ynghylch achosion tebyg yng Nghymru, fel y rhai a godwyd gan etholwr i mi, Barry Topping-Morris. Roedd Barry'n gweithio yn y GIG a datgelodd arferion annigonol a threfniadau asesu risg a rhyddhau gwael mewn uned iechyd meddwl leol bron i 20 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae'n parhau â'i waith ar wella mesurau diogelwch mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, er na chafodd ymddiheuriad erioed am y canlyniadau enbyd a gafodd codi llais ar ei yrfa ar y pryd. Amlinellodd hyn yn ddiweddar mewn erthygl Nation.Cymru am ei brofiadau. Yn anffodus, rydym yn gweld yr argymhellion hyn yn cael eu hailadrodd, ac mae'r gost emosiynol ac ariannol, yn ogystal â'r gost i fywydau a theuluoedd, yn ddinistriol, am nad yw'r gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn gallu mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a'r argymhellion. Felly, Weinidog, sut y byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod Cymru'n blaenoriaethu gwelliannau mewn gwasanaethau i gleifion â chyflyrau iechyd meddwl, fel na welwn ailadrodd y galwadau i'r gwersi hyn gael eu dysgu eto yn y dyfodol?

Thank you very much for that question, and I am terribly sorry to hear about your constituent. I do applaud and welcome anybody who is able to share their lived experience. What I would like to say is that I promise that it's making a difference. It is really making a difference, because the Welsh Government held a mental health ministerial summit in November 2023 on in-patient mental healthcare, and a second ministerial summit will be taking place now in November. The summit brought colleagues from NHS organisations across Wales together to discuss the challenges and to commit to firm plans for safety improvements and the long-term transformation of acute mental health care. And then we have recently consulted on our draft mental health and well-being strategy, which will set out those improvements over the next 10 years. But the really crucial part here is that on Tuesday 1 October, my colleague the Minister for Children and Social Care will be launching the single unified safeguarding review in Wales. This has received extra resource and clinical leadership, which will drive the change. The key part, which relates to your question, is that this process will remove the need for multiple reviews when any life is lost or significantly impacted through abuse, neglect or violence. And for every review, practitioner-led learning events and the use of what is being considered a world-leading Wales safeguarding repository will ensure targeted identification of learning and key themes. Because, as you said, there is not the time to go through each of these and the recommendations. That will also include those critical matters relating to mental health homicides. Diolch.

Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw, ac mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf glywed am eich etholwr. Rwy'n canmol ac yn croesawu unrhyw un sy'n gallu rhannu eu profiad personol. Yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ddweud yw fy mod yn addo ei fod yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Mae'n gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn, oherwydd cynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru uwchgynhadledd weinidogol iechyd meddwl ym mis Tachwedd 2023 ar ofal iechyd meddwl cleifion mewnol, a bydd ail uwchgynhadledd weinidogol yn cael ei chynnal nawr ym mis Tachwedd. Daeth yr uwchgynhadledd â chydweithwyr o sefydliadau'r GIG ledled Cymru ynghyd i drafod yr heriau ac i ymrwymo i gynlluniau cadarn ar gyfer gwelliannau diogelwch a thrawsnewid gofal iechyd meddwl acíwt yn y tymor hir. Ac yn ddiweddar, rydym wedi ymgynghori ar ein strategaeth iechyd meddwl a llesiant meddyliol drafft, a fydd yn nodi'r gwelliannau hynny dros y 10 mlynedd nesaf. Ond y rhan allweddol yma yw y bydd fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn lansio'r adolygiad diogelu unedig sengl ar gyfer Cymru yma ddydd Mawrth 1 Hydref. Mae hwn wedi cael adnoddau ychwanegol ac arweinyddiaeth glinigol, a fydd yn sbarduno'r newid. Y rhan allweddol, sy'n ymwneud â'ch cwestiwn, yw y bydd y broses hon yn dileu'r angen am adolygiadau lluosog pan fydd bywyd yn cael ei golli neu ei effeithio'n sylweddol gan gamdriniaeth, esgeulustod neu drais. Ac ar gyfer pob adolygiad, bydd digwyddiadau dysgu dan arweiniad ymarferwyr a'r defnydd o'r hyn sy'n cael ei hystyried yn storfa ddiogelu Cymru o'r radd flaenaf yn sicrhau bod dysgu a themâu allweddol yn cael eu nodi a'u targedu. Oherwydd, fel y dywedoch chi, nid oes amser i fynd trwy bob un o'r rhain a'r argymhellion. Bydd hynny hefyd yn cynnwys y materion allweddol sy'n gysylltiedig â lladdiadau iechyd meddwl. Diolch.

Darparu Gwasanaethau Iechyd ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro
Delivery of Health Services in Preseli Pembrokeshire

8. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella'r ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau iechyd ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro? OQ61543

8. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve the delivery of health services in Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ61543

I met the chair of the health board this week and discussed the health board's achievements, including the 80 per cent reduction in the number of patient pathways waiting over two years since March 2022, the improvements in mental health performance, and challenges related to fragile services, primary care and financial balance.

Cefais gyfarfod gyda chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd yr wythnos hon i drafod cyflawniadau'r bwrdd iechyd, yn cynnwys y gostyngiad o 80 y cant yn nifer y llwybrau cleifion sy'n aros dros ddwy flynedd ers mis Mawrth 2022, y gwelliannau yn y perfformiad iechyd meddwl, a heriau'n sy'n gysylltiedig â gwasanaethau bregus, gofal sylfaenol a balans ariannol.

Cabinet Secretary, I'm glad that you've mentioned waiting times, because one area of improvement that is very much needed is in relation to bone density scans, or DEXAs, as they're more commonly known, as constituents have contacted me to say that they have been waiting for over a year to receive their results. I appreciate that specialist scans can take some time to gather results and to be fully interpreted, but I'm sure you'll agree with me that a wait of over 12 months is just unacceptable. Patients awaiting results are understandably frustrated, and it's crucial that they get their results as quickly as possible. Therefore, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure that patients who are waiting for the results of their DEXA scan are not having to wait over a year for it, and what reassurances can you offer to patients that this is something that the Welsh Government will prioritise, going forward?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n falch eich bod wedi sôn am amseroedd aros, oherwydd mae un maes gwella sydd ei angen yn fawr yn ymwneud â sganiau mesur dwysedd esgyrn, neu sganiau DEXA fel y'u gelwir yn fwy cyffredin, gan fod etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi i ddweud eu bod wedi bod yn aros dros flwyddyn i gael eu canlyniadau. Rwy'n derbyn y gall sganiau arbenigol gymryd peth amser i gasglu canlyniadau a'u dehongli'n llawn, ond rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno bod aros dros 12 mis yn annerbyniol. Mae cleifion sy'n aros am ganlyniadau yn teimlo'n rhwystredig, a hynny'n ddealladwy, ac mae'n hanfodol eu bod yn cael eu canlyniadau cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw cleifion sy'n aros am ganlyniadau eu sgan DEXA yn gorfod aros dros flwyddyn amdanynt, a pha sicrwydd y gallwch ei gynnig i gleifion fod hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei flaenoriaethu yn y dyfodol?

I'm sorry to hear of the Member's constituents' experience of that, which is unacceptable. He will know the priority that this Government attaches to reducing waiting times. There are clear targets against which we expect health boards to perform, but the service is under incredible demand, and also the pressure of resources. But he will know from exchanges in the Chamber today, and over the course of the last week, just how important this is to us, and the fresh approaches that we are hoping to bring to it. There is, as I mentioned in an answer to a question earlier, some level of variability across Wales in relation to some of the waiting times targets. I would like to see less variability, and I would like to see a situation where if we had the best performance applied across all health boards across all measures, we would be making good progress towards our targets. But please give your constituents reassurance that we take this very seriously indeed.

Mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad etholwyr yr Aelod o hynny, ac mae'n annerbyniol. Bydd yn gwybod am y flaenoriaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei rhoi i leihau amseroedd aros. Ceir targedau clir yr ydym yn disgwyl i fyrddau iechyd berfformio yn eu herbyn, ond mae galw mawr am y gwasanaeth a phwysau o ran adnoddau hefyd. Ond fe fydd yn gwybod o'r trafodaethau yn y Siambr heddiw, ac yn ystod yr wythnos ddiwethaf, pa mor bwysig yw hyn i ni, a'r dulliau newydd y gobeithiwn eu cyflwyno. Fel y soniais mewn ateb i gwestiwn yn gynharach, mae yna lefel o amrywioldeb ledled Cymru mewn perthynas â rhai o'r targedau amseroedd aros. Hoffwn weld llai o amrywioldeb, a hoffwn weld sefyllfa lle byddem yn gwneud cynnydd da tuag at ein targedau pe baem yn cael y perfformiad gorau ar draws pob bwrdd iechyd. Ond rhowch sicrwydd i'ch etholwyr ein bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn.

15:20
3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Yr eitem nesaf fyddai eitem 3, ond does dim cwestiynau amserol heddiw. 

The next item would have been item 3, but no topical questions were accepted today. 

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Eitem 4, felly, yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf y prynhawn yma gan Julie Morgan. 

Item 4 is the 90-second statements, and the first statement this afternoon is from Julie Morgan. 

September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. In Wales, around 1,200 people are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer every year, and 470 people die. The five most common types are cervical, ovarian, endometrial, vaginal and vulval. Different gynaecological cancers have different symptoms. They can include bloating, pelvic pain and bleeding between periods. Some cancers can present late, such as ovarian cancer, with non-specific symtpoms. Despite the prevalence of these cancers in Wales, women often feel that they are not listened to by healthcare professionals. Symptoms can often be dismissed, underestimated and misdiagnosed, which can lead to cancers progressing unnecessarily. This was the experience of Claire O'Shea, who was misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome when, in fact, she had a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer. 

Claire's cancer diagnosis came two years after first raising her symptoms with her GP. The delay means that Claire now has incurable stage 4 cancer, which has spread to her lungs, liver and hip bone. Because of her own experiences and hearing those of other women, Claire has set up Claire's Campaign to promote change—a change to the culture of dismissing women's voices in healthcare settings, a change to the gender bias seen by many women when they raise concerns attributed to emotional or psychological issues, a change so that women are heard. Diolch.

Mis Medi yw Mis Ymwybyddiaeth Canser Gynaecolegol. Yng Nghymru, mae tua 1,200 o bobl yn cael diagnosis o ganser gynaecolegol bob blwyddyn, ac mae 470 o bobl yn marw. Y pum math mwyaf cyffredin yw ceg y groth, ofarïau, endometriaidd, y wain a'r fwlfa. Mae gan wahanol ganserau gynaecolegol symptomau gwahanol. Gallant gynnwys bol yn chwyddo, poen pelfis a gwaedu rhwng y mislif. Mae'n bosibl na fydd symptomau rhai canserau, fel canser yr ofarïau, yn ymddangos tan yn hwyr, neu fod y symptomau'n amhenodol. Er y ceir nifer o achosion o'r canserau hyn yng Nghymru, mae menywod yn aml yn teimlo nad yw gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol yn gwrando arnynt. Yn aml, gall symptomau gael eu hesgeuluso, eu diystyru a'u camddiagnosio, a gall hyn olygu bod y canser yn datblygu'n ddiangen. Dyma brofiad Claire O'Shea, a gafodd gamddiagnosis o syndrom coluddyn llidus pan oedd ganddi fath prin ac ymosodol o ganser y groth. 

Daeth diagnosis canser Claire ddwy flynedd ar ôl iddi sôn yn gyntaf wrth ei meddyg teulu am ei symptomau. Mae'r oedi'n golygu erbyn hyn fod gan Claire ganser cam 4 na ellir ei wella, ac mae wedi lledaenu i'w hysgyfaint, ei hafu ac asgwrn ei chlun. Oherwydd ei phrofiadau ei hun a chlywed am rai menywod eraill, mae Claire wedi sefydlu Ymgyrch Claire i hyrwyddo newid—newid i'r diwylliant o ddiystyru lleisiau menywod mewn lleoliadau gofal iechyd, newid i'r rhagfarn ar sail rhywedd a brofir gan lawer o fenywod pan fyddant yn mynegi pryderon a gaiff eu priodoli i faterion emosiynol neu seicolegol, newid fel bod menywod yn cael eu clywed. Diolch.

This year, Theatr na nÓg, rooted in the Valleys and based in Neath, celebrates its fortieth birthday. The organisation brings to life inspirational stories of Welsh characters who achieve the extraordinary, like their new play The Fight, about Cuthbert Taylor, a boxer from Merthyr Tydfil banned from the British boxing title due to the colour of his skin. Founded in the early 1980s to meet the needs of West Glamorgan communities, the company believes in accessible, high-quality live theatre for all.

Eleni, mae Theatr na nÓg, a sefydlwyd yn y Cymoedd a'i lleoli yng Nghastell-nedd, yn dathlu ei phen-blwydd yn 40 oed. Mae'r sefydliad yn dod â straeon ysbrydoledig am gymeriadau Cymreig sy'n cyflawni'r anghyffredin yn fyw, fel eu drama newydd The Fight, am Cuthbert Taylor, bocsiwr o Ferthyr Tudful a gafodd ei wahardd rhag ymgeisio am deitl bocsio Prydain oherwydd lliw ei groen. Wedi'i sefydlu ar ddechrau'r 1980au i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau Gorllewin Morgannwg, mae'r cwmni'n credu mewn theatr fyw hygyrch o ansawdd uchel i bawb.

Mae hanes Cymru, yr iaith Gymraeg a'n diwylliant yn eu holl amrywiaeth yn ganolog i'w cynyrchiadau, o sioeau ysgol i deithiau cenedlaethol.

Welsh history, the Welsh language and our culture in all of their diversity are central to their productions, from school shows to national tours.

In the last decade, they’ve expanded their reach with UK tours of TomEye of the Storm, a Welsh Shirley Valentine, and Operation Julie. And during the COVID pandemic, they produced online content, including a hit Welsh language Christmas song, 'Hwyl yr Ŵyl', and an Advent calendar for schools, safeguarding the jobs of 158 freelancers on 16 projects.

Throughout this time, the ethos has remained the same—the belief that people of all ages and backgrounds should be able to experience accessible, live theatre of the highest quality that has the power to excite and engage audiences of all ages with stories that have universal appeal. Over 1 million people have experienced a na nÓg production. Pen-blwydd hapus, Theatr na nÓg, may you continue to ignite the imagination of the nation. The people of Neath are indeed fortunate to have a company that's so successful, engaged and of high quality in their community. 

Yn ystod y degawd diwethaf, maent wedi ehangu eu cyrhaeddiad gyda theithiau yn y DU gyda TomEye of the Storm, Shirley Valentine Cymreig, ac Operation Julie. Ac yn ystod y pandemig COVID, fe wnaethant gynhyrchu cynnwys ar-lein, gan gynnwys cân Nadolig Gymraeg boblogaidd, 'Hwyl yr Ŵyl', a chalendr Adfent i ysgolion, gan ddiogelu swyddi 158 o weithwyr llawrydd ar 16 prosiect.

Drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn, mae'r ethos wedi parhau yr un fath—y gred y dylai pobl o bob oedran a chefndir allu cael profiad o theatr fyw hygyrch o'r ansawdd uchaf sydd â phŵer i gyffroi ac ennyn diddordeb cynulleidfaoedd o bob oed gyda straeon i apelio i bawb. Mae dros 1 filiwn o bobl wedi gweld cynhyrchiad na nÓg. Pen-blwydd hapus, Theatr na nÓg, a boed ichi barhau i danio dychymyg y genedl. Mae pobl Castell-nedd yn ffodus iawn o gael cwmni sydd mor llwyddiannus, ymroddedig ac o'r fath ansawdd uchel yn eu cymuned. 

I'd like to take the opportunity this afternoon to pay tribute to a very special person form Wrexham, who was tragically killed in Ukraine in August. Ryan Evans was working with Reuters news agency in Kramatorsk in the east of the country, just 16 miles from the front line, when the hotel in which he was staying was hit by a Russian missile. Ryan was a security adviser for Reuters, and was staying at the hotel with a team of fellow journalists. The strike injured many of his team, including, sadly, a Ukrainian cameraman who was left in a coma with life-changing injuries. 

As a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham, he is fondly remembered by staff and pupils alike. After leaving school, Ryan joined the Royal Welsh regiment at the age of 17, where he served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, rising to the rank of corporal. Upon leaving the armed forces in 2010, he started working as a close protection officer accompanying British diplomats on missions to many countries including Libya, Tunisia and Syria. More recently, as a close protection specialist, he accompanied journalists into some of the most hostile environments and war zones.

His last trip was one of over 20 that he'd made to Ukraine since the conflict began, always on a mission to ensure the utmost safety of his co-workers. Reuters paid tribute to Ryan, describing him as a world-class security operator. He'd worked extensively in Israel this year, as well as in Gaza and the West Bank, providing protection to journalists. He recently covered security for Reuters staff at the Paris Olympics and he was a trained paramedic, helping injured civilians on numerous occasions.

Sadly, Ryan leaves his widow, Kerrie, and four children, and I’m sure all of us at the Senedd would like to extend our deepest condolences to them and his wider family in their huge and painful loss.

Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle y prynhawn yma i dalu teyrnged i berson arbennig iawn o Wrecsam, a laddwyd yn Wcráin ym mis Awst. Roedd Ryan Evans yn gweithio gydag asiantaeth newyddion Reuters yn Kramatorsk yn nwyrain y wlad, 16 milltir yn unig o'r rheng flaen, pan gafodd y gwesty lle roedd yn aros ei daro gan daflegryn Rwsiaidd. Roedd Ryan yn gynghorydd diogelwch i Reuters, ac roedd yn aros yn y gwesty gyda thîm o gyd-newyddiadurwyr. Anafodd y ffrwydrad sawl un o'i dîm, gan gynnwys dyn camera Wcreinaidd a fu mewn coma gydag anafiadau a newidiodd ei fywyd. 

Fel cyn-ddisgybl yn Ysgol Morgan Llwyd yn Wrecsam, caiff Ryan ei gofio'n annwyl gan staff a disgyblion fel ei gilydd. Ar ôl gadael yr ysgol, ymunodd Ryan â chatrawd y Cymry Brenhinol yn 17 oed, lle bu'n gwasanaethu yn Irac yn ogystal ag Affganistan, gan godi i reng corporal. Ar ôl gadael y lluoedd arfog yn 2010, dechreuodd weithio fel swyddog amddiffyn agos gyda diplomyddion Prydeinig ar deithiau i lawer o wledydd gan gynnwys Libya, Tiwnisia a Syria. Yn fwy diweddar, fel arbenigwr ar amddiffyn agos, aeth gyda newyddiadurwyr i rai o'r parthau rhyfel mwyaf peryglus.

Roedd ei daith olaf yn un o dros 20 a wnaeth i Wcráin ers dechrau'r gwrthdaro, a'i brif flaenoriaeth bob amser oedd sicrhau diogelwch llwyr ei gydweithwyr. Talodd Reuters deyrnged i Ryan, gan ei ddisgrifio fel gweithredwr diogelwch o'r radd flaenaf. Roedd wedi gweithio'n helaeth yn Israel eleni, yn ogystal ag yn Gaza a'r Lan Orllewinol, gan ddarparu amddiffyniad i newyddiadurwyr. Yn ddiweddar, bu'n ymdrin â diogelwch i staff Reuters yng Ngemau Olympaidd Paris ac roedd yn barafeddyg hyfforddedig a wnaeth helpu sifiliaid wedi'u hanafu ar sawl achlysur.

Mae Ryan yn gadael gweddw, Kerrie, a phedwar o blant, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn y Senedd yn dymuno estyn ein cydymdeimlad dwysaf iddynt hwy a'i deulu ehangach yn eu colled enfawr a phoenus.

15:25
5. Cynnig i ddiwygio Rheolau Sefydlog: Cydsyniad mewn Perthynas â Biliau Senedd y DU
5. Motion to amend Standing Orders: Consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills

Y cynnig nesaf, o dan eitem 5, yw'r cynnig i ddiwygio Rheolau Sefydlog ar gydsyniad mewn perthynas â Biliau Senedd y DU. Dwi'n galw ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol. Darren Millar.

The next item, item 5, is a motion to amend Standing Orders on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills. I call on a member of the Business Committee to move the motion formally. Darren Millar.

Cynnig NDM8662 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 33.2:

1. Yn ystyried adroddiad y Pwyllgor Busnes, 'Diwygio Rheolau Sefydlog: Rheol Sefydlog 29.1 (Cydsyniad mewn Perthynas â Biliau Senedd y DU)', a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 18 Medi 2024.

2. Yn cymeradwyo'r cynnig i ddiwygio Rheol Sefydlog 29.1, fel y nodir yn Atodiad A i adroddiad y Pwyllgor Busnes.

Motion NDM8662 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 29.1 (Consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills)’, laid in the Table Office on 18 September 2024.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 29.1, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Mae'r cynnig wedi'i wneud yn ffurfiol, felly y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn.

The motion is moved formally. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? There is no objection, and therefore the motion is agreed.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

6. Dadl ar Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad—Pedwerydd adroddiad ar ddeg i’r Chweched Senedd o dan Reol Sefydlog 22.9
6. Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee Report—Fourteenth report to the Sixth Senedd under Standing Order 22.9

Eitem 6 sydd nesaf, dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, 'Y Pedwerydd adroddiad ar ddeg i’r Chweched Senedd o dan Reol Sefydlog 22.9'. Dwi'n galw ar aelod o'r pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Item 6 is next, a debate on the Standard of Conduct Committee report, 'Fourteenth report to the Sixth Senedd under Standing Order 22.9'. I call on a member of the committee to move the motion. Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Cynnig NDM8661 Hannah Blythyn

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn ystyried adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad—'Y Pedwerydd Adroddiad ar Ddeg i'r Chweched Senedd' a osodwyd gerbron y Senedd ar 18 Medi 2024 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 22.9.

2. Yn cymeradwyo’r argymhelliad yn yr adroddiad.

Motion NDM8661 Hannah Blythyn

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Considers the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee—'Fourteenth Report to the Sixth Senedd' laid before the Senedd on 18 September 2024 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9.

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. Fel aelod o'r Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, cynigiaf y cynnig yn ffurfiol.

Bu'r pwyllgor yn ystyried adroddiad y comisiynydd safonau mewn perthynas â chŵyn a wnaed yn erbyn Natasha Asghar AS ynghylch trydariad a oedd yn defnyddio iaith amwys ac anghywir wrth ddisgrifio y terfyn cyflymder 20 mya. Ystyriodd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad adroddiad y comisiynydd yn ofalus, ac mae ein hadroddiad yn nodi barn y pwyllgor ynghylch y gosb sy'n briodol yn yr achos hwn. Mae'r ffeithiau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r gŵyn a'r rhesymau dros argymhelliad y pwyllgor wedi eu nodi'n llawn yn adroddiad y pwyllgor.

Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i atgoffa Aelodau pa mor bwysig yw talu sylw manwl i argymhellion y pwyllgor hwn a chanfyddiadau'r comisiynydd safonau fel y maent yn ymwneud â dehongli'r cod ymddygiad a'r safonau a ddisgwylir gan Aelodau yn fwy cyffredinol.

Hoffwn hefyd atgoffa Aelodau am eu cyfrifoldeb personol wrth ystyried unrhyw fuddiannau posib cyn cymryd rhan ym musnes y pwyllgorau. Mae'n ddyletswydd ar Aelodau i ddatgan unrhyw fuddiannau perthnasol ac i esgusodi eu hunain o'r trafodon lle bo angen. Mae'r cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn gwahodd y Senedd i gymeradwyo argymhelliad y pwyllgor. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you, Llywydd. As a member of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion.

The committee considered the report of the standards commissioner in relation to a complaint made against Natasha Asghar MS regarding a tweet that used imprecise and inaccurate language when describing the 20 mph speed limit. The Standards of Conduct Committee considered the commissioner's report carefully, and our report sets out the committee's judgment as to the sanction that's appropriate in this case. The facts relating to the complaint and the committee's reasons for its recommendation are set out fully in the committee's report.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind Members of the importance of paying close attention to the recommendations of this committee and the findings of the standards commissioner as they relate to the interpretation of the code of conduct and the standards expected of Members more generally.

I would also like to remind Members of their personal responsibility regarding the consideration of any potential interests before participating in committee business. It is incumbent on Members to declare any relevant interest and, where necessary, to excuse themselves from proceedings. The motion tabled invites the Senedd to endorse the committee's recommendation. Thank you.

I can't quite believe that we're standing here today debating the use of the word 'blanket' when there are much bigger issues at hand to be dealing with. But hey-ho, here we are. Having sat on the standards committee, I know how hard all of the Members from various political parties, as well as the Chair, the clerks, work alongside the commissioner tirelessly looking into complaints in relation to Members. However, today, I, Natasha Asghar, solely and respectfully object to the ruling that I have breached three rules within the code of conduct. To say that I brought the Senedd into disrepute by using the word 'blanket', for me, is purely absurd.

Let me be abundantly clear to everyone today: from the get-go, I make no apology whatsoever for standing up for my constituents and residents across Wales when it comes to the Welsh Government's 20 mph speed limit policy. As I have said before, with 97 per cent of former 30 mph roads dropping to 20 mph as a result of this policy, it remains my opinion that this is a blanket approach. And that's just it, Presiding Officer: it's my opinion. That's what I'm trying to get across.

Ni allaf gredu ein bod yn sefyll yma heddiw yn trafod y defnydd o'r gair 'blanket' pan fo materion llawer mwy i ymdrin â hwy. Ond dyma ni. Ar ôl bod yn aelod o'r Pwyllgor Safonau, rwy'n gwybod pa mor galed y mae pob Aelod o'r gwahanol bleidiau gwleidyddol, yn ogystal â'r Cadeirydd, y clercod, yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â'r comisiynydd yn ddiflino i edrych ar gwynion mewn perthynas ag Aelodau. Fodd bynnag, heddiw, rwyf i, Natasha Asghar, yn datgan yn barchus fy ngwrthwynebiad llwyr i'r dyfarniad fy mod wedi torri tair rheol o fewn y cod ymddygiad. Mae dweud fy mod wedi dwyn anfri ar y Senedd drwy ddefnyddio'r gair 'blanket', i mi, yn hollol hurt.

Gadewch imi fod yn gwbl glir i bawb heddiw: o'r cychwyn cyntaf, nid wyf yn ymddiheuro o gwbl am sefyll dros fy etholwyr a phreswylwyr ledled Cymru ynghylch polisi terfyn cyflymder 20 mya Llywodraeth Cymru. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, gyda 97 y cant o hen ffyrdd 30 mya yn gostwng i 20 mya o ganlyniad i'r polisi hwn, rwy'n dal o'r farn mai dull cyffredinol, blanket, yw hwn. A dyna ni, Lywydd: dyna yw fy marn. Dyna rwy'n ceisio ei gyfleu.

I'm just going to—. Just for Members to be aware, of course, that the standards commissioner has—[Interruption.] Please, I don't want any comments from the side. The standards commissioner and the standards committee have said that the use of the term 'blanket' in the context of the 20 mph policy is imprecise and inaccurate, and that Members should think very carefully about using imprecise and inaccurate words to describe policies. I have, in fact, changed my own mind on the use of the word 'blanket'. I allowed it to be used in this Chamber for a number of months, but once the standards commissioner and the standards committee had ruled that it was an imprecise and inaccurate way of describing the 20 mph policy, I have changed my view and it is not correct to use it in that context in this Chamber any more. That is my view, and I am the Llywydd. I ask you all to respect my view on this, and the view of the standards committee, and I ask you to show that respect today, Natasha Asghar.

Rwy'n mynd i—. I'r Aelodau gael gwybod, wrth gwrs, mae'r comisiynydd safonau wedi—[Torri ar draws.] Os gwelwch yn dda, nid wyf am gael unrhyw sylwadau o'r ochr. Mae'r comisiynydd safonau a'r pwyllgor safonau wedi dweud bod defnyddio'r term 'blanket' yng nghyd-destun y polisi 20 mya yn amwys ac yn anghywir, ac y dylai Aelodau feddwl yn ofalus iawn am ddefnyddio geiriau amwys ac anghywir i ddisgrifio polisïau. Mewn gwirionedd, rwyf wedi newid fy meddwl fy hun ar y defnydd o'r gair 'blanket'. Fe wneuthum ganiatáu iddo gael ei ddefnyddio yn y Siambr am nifer o fisoedd, ond pan ddyfarnodd y comisiynydd safonau a'r pwyllgor safonau ei bod yn ffordd amwys ac anghywir o ddisgrifio'r polisi 20 mya, fe newidiais fy marn ac nid yw'n gywir ei ddefnyddio yn y cyd-destun hwnnw yn y Siambr mwyach. Dyna fy marn i, a fi yw'r Llywydd. Gofynnaf i chi i gyd barchu fy marn ar hyn, a barn y pwyllgor safonau, a gofynnaf i chi ddangos y parch hwnnw heddiw, Natasha Asghar.

15:30

That's fine. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I take my job incredibly seriously. I love my region of south-east Wales and have the utmost respect for the Welsh Parliament as an institution. Presiding Officer, I acknowledge the report, and, once again, as I said, thank the committee and standards commissioner for their time, but I do have to say that I do feel it within myself to be able to stand up against, for this particular policy, for this particular issue. It is something that I’m passionate about personally and professionally as well. So, I want everyone to remain and rest assured that I will continue to tirelessly campaign against this disastrous policy, regardless of others embarking on desperate attempts to stop me, and I hope to be able to move on from this and focus on my job, which I take incredibly seriously. Thank you.

Mae hynny'n iawn. Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n gyfan gwbl o ddifrif ynglŷn â fy swydd. Rwy’n caru fy rhanbarth, de ddwyrain Cymru, ac mae gennyf bob parch at Senedd Cymru fel sefydliad. Lywydd, rwy’n cydnabod yr adroddiad, ac unwaith eto, fel y dywedais, yn diolch i’r pwyllgor a’r comisiynydd safonau am eu hamser, ond mae’n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn teimlo bod y gallu gennyf i wrthwynebu'r polisi penodol hwn, y mater penodol hwn. Mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n teimlo'n angerddol amdano yn bersonol ac yn broffesiynol hefyd. Felly, rwyf am i bawb fod yn dawel eu meddyliau y byddaf yn parhau i ymgyrchu’n ddiflino yn erbyn y polisi trychinebus hwn, er gwaethaf ymdrechion enbyd gan eraill i fy atal, ac rwy'n gobeithio gallu symud ymlaen o hyn a chanolbwyntio ar fy swydd, yr wyf yn gyfan gwbl o ddifrif yn ei chylch. Diolch yn fawr.

Y Cadeirydd—. Dim y Cadeirydd, sori, aelod o'r pwyllgor i ymateb i'r ddadl.

The Chair—. Not the Chair, sorry; a member of the committee to reply to the debate.

Diolch yn fawr. Roeddwn i'n poeni yn fanna fod gen i job newydd. Mae'r Cadeirydd, wrth gwrs yn y Siambr.

Hoffwn i ddiolch i Natasha am ei sylwadau ac rwy'n nodi ei sylwadau hi. Mae'r adroddiad yn glir ac wedi ei gyflwyno gydag argymhellion trawsbleidiol, felly, dwi'n galw ar y Senedd i dderbyn yr argymhelliad hwnnw. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you. I was concerned there that I had a new job. The Chair, of course, is in the Chamber.

I'd like to thank Natasha for her comments and I do note them of course. Our report is clear and is presented with cross-party recommendations, so I call on the Senedd to accept the recommendation. Thank you.

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu?

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object?

Was there an objection? No objection.

A oedd gwrthwynebiad? Dim gwrthwynebiad.

Felly, mae'r adroddiad wedi ei dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: Terfynau cyflymder 20mya
7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: 20mph speed limits

Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Heledd Fychan, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Jane Hutt. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-dethol.

The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Heledd Fychan, and amdendment 2 in the name of Jane Hutt. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected.

Eitem 7 yw'r ddadl gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, a chredwch neu beidio, mae hon ar derfynau cyflymder 20 mya. Felly y ddadl i'w chyflwyno gan Natasha Asghar. Natasha Asghar.

Item 7 is the Welsh Conservatives' debate, and, believe it or not, this is on 20 mph speed limits. The debate is to be presented by Natasha Asghar. Natasha Asghar.

Cynnig NDM8667 Darren Millar

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn cydnabod bod y terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya wedi bod ar waith yng Nghymru ers dros flwyddyn.

2. Yn nodi:

a) y 469,571 o bobl a lofnododd ddeiseb y Senedd: ‘Rydym am i Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddymu'r gyfraith drychinebus ynghylch y terfyn cyflymder o 20mya’;

b) y Memorandwm Esboniadol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ei hun ar gyfer Gorchymyn Ffyrdd Cyfyngedig (Terfyn Cyflymder 20mya) (Cymru) 2022, lle nodwyd anfantais economaidd o hyd at £8.9 biliwn yn sgil yr amseroedd teithio hirach a fyddai’n gysylltiedig â'r polisi terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya;

c) sylwadau'r cyn-Ddirprwy Weinidog Trafnidiaeth y dylid bod wedi defnyddio mwy o synnwyr cyffredin wrth gyflwyno’r terfyn cyflymder 20mya yng Nghymru;

d) adroddiad monitro ansawdd aer Trafnidiaeth Cymru sy’n dangos, o ran hanner yr ardaloedd lle cynhaliwyd profion, y bu cynnydd mewn lefelau nitrogen deuocsid y tu mewn i’r parthau 20mya o'i gymharu â'r tu allan; ac

e) bod awdurdodau lleol Cymru wedi cael ceisiadau i newid miloedd o ffyrdd o 20mya yn ôl i 30mya.

3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru:

a) i ddiddymu'r terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya; a

b) i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol Cymru i gyflwyno dull wedi'i dargedu o bennu terfynau cyflymder o 20mya, sydd â chydsyniad pobl leol.

Motion NDM8667 Darren Millar

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the default 20mph speed limit has been in place in Wales for over one year.

2. Notes:

a) the 469,571 signatories to the Senedd petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law';

b) the Welsh Government’s own Explanatory Memorandum to The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 which identified an economic dis-benefit of up to £8.9 billion arising from longer journey times associated with the default 20mph speed limit policy;

c) the former Deputy Minister for Transport’s comments that ‘more common sense’ should have been used when implementing Wales’s 20mph speed limit;

d) Transport for Wales’s air quality monitoring report wherein half of tested areas saw rises in nitrogen dioxide levels inside 20mph zones compared with outside; and

e) Welsh local authorities have received requests for thousands of roads to revert from 20mph to 30mph.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) repeal the default 20mph speed limit; and

b) work with Welsh local authorities to deliver a targeted approach to 20mph speed limits with the consent of local people.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer; you did catch me slightly off-guard there. 

When I promised the people of Wales that I would stand up for their feelings and be their voice in the Senedd in my role as shadow transport Minister, I meant it—sometimes even to the point where it gets me into trouble, as you've all clearly seen. It’s been a year since the roll-out of this policy and, despite Labour Ministers telling us all that the people of Wales would eventually get used to it and that the uproar surrounding it was pretty much down to people just not liking it, I think we now know for sure that this was purely a firefighting move in an attempt to downplay public sentiment. I have said on multiple occasions that the anger and frustration towards the policy aren’t going anywhere. And this statement isn’t just my opinion; it is backed up by the fact that a recent YouGov poll has proven that seven out of 10 people still oppose the default 20 mph policy.

Now I would commend the Cabinet Secretary, the new Cabinet Secretary, on his renewed approach—a more pragmatic, sensible stance, with an emphasis on, and I quote him, common sense and taking the public with you, as opposed to telling them what they need to get used to. And whilst I was pleased to see a change in the draconian-style roll-out, including a listening programme to incorporate people’s views, much physical change is yet actually to come to fruition. Just shy of 500,000 signed a petition calling for the policy to be scrapped—the petition that broke all Senedd records and laid bare quite how unpopular this policy actually is. Never in the history of a Welsh Parliament—in fact, this Welsh Parliament—has a listening tour been ignited in Government as a result of such an unpopular, divisive policy, and I think that says it all.

This policy kick started a year of scandal and controversy and potentially the most out-of-touch series of events we’ve seen from Welsh Labour as of yet—£33 million to implement it and a £9 billion hit to the Welsh economy. In fact, this £9 billion figure, in theory, could have indeed footed the bill for the recent NHS staff pay rises and would have therefore helped alleviate this so-called £22 billion black hole that we haven’t stopped hearing about.

Cabinet Secretary, as a direct consequence of this policy over the last year, we have seen an entire village isolated from bus routes, delivery drivers having to work overtime, a record-breaking petition, a cycling race shortened and altered for the first time since its inception in 1981, 10,500 submissions to the councils for roads that should be changed back to being 30 mph, countless protests, and the list just does go on.

We have heard a lot about change since the Labour Party’s general election campaign in May 2024, but you’re going to need more than a tagline to see some change across Wales after 25 years of Welsh Labour around here. But this is just it: what the British people are about to be reminded of are things that the people of Wales have been living with for a quarter of a century and have seen exposed even more so in the past year. ‘You’ll own nothing and be happy’ is the phrase that comes to mind. People are expected to be happy with 20 mph and get used to these huge changes and costly policies when economic inactivity in Wales is the highest in the United Kingdom, educational outcomes in Wales are the lowest in the United Kingdom, the number of Welsh students going to university is indeed falling. One in four people are on waiting lists in Wales, and they are at an all-time high, with seven health boards indeed in special measures. You're constantly cash-strapped as a Government, yet £1.6 billion has been wasted on projects that have never reached the finish line under Labour's watch. Almost one third of children in Wales are living in poverty. Sadly, I could go on. Is this honestly a record the Welsh Labour Government can be proud of? If we continue like this for another 25 years, I sincerely dread to think what Wales is going to look like. Whether it's avoiding scrutiny by comparing Keir Starmer to Donald Trump, or passing the buck down the M4, this Government seriously, sadly, hates accountability.

In this case, the buck has been passed to our already overstretched councils to deal with, and we are yet to discover how the requests for road changes will be looked at, or how they will even come to a decision as to which roads need to be changed and which stay the same. So, Cabinet Secretary, a year on from the roll-out and people across Wales are feeling more disenfranchised than ever before, not listened to, and less inclined to engage with us as politicians on every single level. This is why I make no apology for promoting commonsense politics, 20 mph where it's needed—around schools, around hospitals, places of worship and high streets. It is regrettable that it has taken a public outcry on such a large scale for the guidance to be even looked at or changed, and also regrettable to think that this extra money and time wasted could have all been avoided had the public been consulted to start with on such a large-scale change.

So, as we look back on the year, and forward to the next, we are still eagerly awaiting the results of changes that we were told would make a difference. There is still time to make real change, as you put it, Cabinet Secretary. Give the people what they want, allow their voices to be at the forefront of this policy that affects their day-to-day lives, and please scrap this default 20 mph policy that has swept across Wales. Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd; fe wnaethoch chi fy nal yn ddiarwybod yno braidd.

Pan addewais i bobl Cymru y byddwn yn sefyll dros eu teimladau a bod yn llais iddynt yn y Senedd yn fy rôl fel Gweinidog yr wrthblaid dros drafnidiaeth, roeddwn yn ei olygu—weithiau, hyd yn oed i’r pwynt lle mae'n mynd â mi i drwbwl, fel y mae pob un ohonoch wedi'i weld. Mae blwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers cyflwyno’r polisi hwn, ac er bod Gweinidogion Llafur wedi dweud wrth bob un ohonom y byddai pobl Cymru yn dod i arfer ag ef yn y pen draw, a bod y cynnwrf o’i amgylch yn bennaf am nad oedd pobl yn ei hoffi a dim mwy na hynny, credaf ein bod bellach yn gwybod i sicrwydd mai dim ond ymdrech oedd hon i geisio diystyru teimladau'r cyhoedd. Rwyf wedi dweud ar sawl achlysur nad yw’r dicter a’r rhwystredigaeth tuag at y polisi yn mynd i unman. Ac nid fy marn i yn unig mo'r datganiad hwn; caiff ei ategu gan y ffaith bod arolwg barn diweddar gan YouGov wedi profi bod saith o bob 10 o bobl yn dal i wrthwynebu’r polisi 20 mya diofyn.

Nawr, rwy'n canmol Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet newydd, ar ei agwedd newydd—agwedd fwy pragmatig, synhwyrol, gyda phwyslais, ac rwy'n ei ddyfynnu ef, ar synnwyr cyffredin a mynd â'r cyhoedd gyda chi, yn hytrach na dweud wrthynt beth y mae angen iddynt ddod i arfer ag ef. Ac er fy mod yn falch o weld newid yn y dull llym o gyflwyno'r polisi, gan gynnwys rhaglen wrando i ymgorffori barn pobl, nid oes llawer o newid ymarferol wedi'i wneud eto. Llofnododd bron i 500,000 o bobl ddeiseb yn galw am ddileu’r polisi—y ddeiseb fwyaf erioed yn hanes y Senedd a ddangosodd mor amhoblogaidd yw’r polisi hwn. Nid oes unrhyw Lywodraeth yn hanes Senedd Cymru—y Senedd Cymru hon, mewn gwirionedd—wedi cynnal taith wrando o ganlyniad i bolisi mor amhoblogaidd ac ymrannol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny’n dweud y cyfan.

Rhoddodd y polisi hwn gychwyn ar flwyddyn o sgandal a dadlau, ac o bosibl, y gyfres o ddigwyddiadau fwyaf allan o gysylltiad a welsom gan Lafur Cymru hyd yma—£33 miliwn i’w roi ar waith, ac ergyd o £9 biliwn i economi Cymru. Mewn gwirionedd, gallai’r ffigur hwn o £9 biliwn, mewn theori, fod wedi talu am y codiadau cyflog diweddar i staff y GIG, a byddai felly wedi helpu i leihau'r twll du honedig o £22 biliwn y clywsom gymaint amdano.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i’r polisi hwn dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rydym wedi gweld pentref cyfan yn colli ei holl wasanaethau bws, gyrwyr dosbarthu nwyddau yn gorfod gweithio goramser, y ddeiseb fwyaf erioed, ras feicio yn cael ei byrhau a’i newid am y tro cyntaf ers ei sefydlu yn 1981, 10,500 o geisiadau i’r cynghorau ar gyfer ffyrdd y dylid eu newid yn ôl i 30 mya, protestiadau di-rif, ac mae’r rhestr yn mynd yn ei blaen.

Rydym wedi clywed cryn dipyn o sôn am newid ers ymgyrch etholiad cyffredinol y Blaid Lafur ym mis Mai 2024, ond bydd angen mwy na slogan arnoch i sicrhau newid ledled Cymru ar ôl 25 mlynedd o Lafur Cymru yma. Ond dyma ni: yr hyn y mae pobl Prydain ar fin cael eu hatgoffa ohono yw'r pethau y mae pobl Cymru wedi bod yn byw gyda hwy ers chwarter canrif ac wedi’u gweld yn cael eu hamlygu hyd yn oed yn fwy dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. 'Byddwch yn berchen ar ddim ac yn hapus' yw'r ymadrodd sy'n dod i fy meddwl. Disgwylir i bobl fod yn hapus gydag 20 mya a dod i arfer â'r newidiadau enfawr a'r polisïau costus hyn pan fo lefel anweithgarwch economaidd Cymru yn uwch nag yn unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig, canlyniadau addysgol Cymru yn is nag unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig, a nifer y myfyrwyr o Gymru sy'n mynd i'r brifysgol yn gostwng. Mae un o bob pedwar o bobl ar restrau aros yng Nghymru, ac maent ar eu lefelau uchaf erioed, gyda saith bwrdd iechyd yn destun mesurau arbennig. Rydych chi bob amser yn brin o arian fel Llywodraeth, ac eto mae £1.6 biliwn wedi'i wastraffu ar brosiectau nad ydynt erioed wedi cyrraedd y llinell derfyn o dan oruchwyliaeth Llafur. Mae bron i draean o blant Cymru yn byw mewn tlodi. Yn anffodus, gallwn fynd yn fy mlaen. A yw hon o ddifrif yn record y gall Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru fod yn falch ohoni? Os parhewn fel hyn am 25 mlynedd arall, mae arnaf ofn meddwl sut olwg fydd ar Gymru. Boed yn osgoi craffu drwy gymharu Keir Starmer â Donald Trump, neu drosglwyddo'r baich i lawr yr M4, mae’r Llywodraeth hon, yn anffodus, yn casáu atebolrwydd.

Yn yr achos hwn, mae’r baich wedi'i drosglwyddo i'n cynghorau sydd eisoes o dan bwysau, ac nid ydym wedi clywed eto sut y bydd y ceisiadau i newid ffyrdd yn cael eu hystyried, na sut y byddant hyd yn oed yn gwneud penderfyniadau ynghylch pa ffyrdd y mae angen eu newid a pha rai sydd i aros yr un fath. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, flwyddyn ar ôl cyflwyno'r polisi, mae pobl ledled Cymru yn teimlo'n fwy difreiniedig nag erioed, yn teimlo nad oes unrhyw un yn gwrando arnynt, ac yn llai tueddol o ymgysylltu â ni fel gwleidyddion ar bob lefel. Dyna pam nad wyf yn ymddiheuro am hyrwyddo gwleidyddiaeth synnwyr cyffredin, 20 mya lle mae ei angen—ger ysgolion, ger ysbytai, mannau addoli a strydoedd mawr. Mae’n drueni ei bod wedi cymryd gwrthwynebiad mor chwyrn gan y cyhoedd i newid neu hyd yn oed edrych ar y canllawiau, ac yn drueni meddwl hefyd y gallai’r arian ychwanegol hwn a’r holl amser a wastraffwyd fod wedi’i osgoi pe byddent wedi ymgynghori â’r cyhoedd o'r cychwyn ar newid mor fawr.

Felly, wrth inni edrych yn ôl ar y flwyddyn, ac ymlaen at y nesaf, rydym yn dal i aros yn eiddgar am ganlyniadau newidiadau y dywedwyd wrthym y byddent yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Mae amser o hyd i wneud newid gwirioneddol, fel y dywedoch chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rhowch yr hyn y mae arnynt ei eisiau i’r bobl, caniatewch i’w lleisiau arwain y polisi hwn sy’n effeithio ar eu bywydau bob dydd, ac os gwelwch yn dda, diddymwch y polisi 20 mya diofyn hwn sydd wedi ysgubo drwy Gymru. Diolch yn fawr.

15:35

Rwyf wedi dethol y ddau welliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, bydd gwelliant 2 yn cael ei ddad-ddethol. Dwi'n galw ar Peredur Owen Griffiths i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.

I have selected the two amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on Peredur Owen Griffiths to move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.

Gwelliant 1—Heledd Fychan

Dileu'r cyfan a rhoi yn ei le:

Cynnig bod y Senedd

1. Yn nodi:

a) bod y terfyn cyflymder rhagosodedig o 20mya wedi bod ar waith yng Nghymru ers dros flwyddyn; a

b) cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol flaenorol y Senedd ar gyfer cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder o 20mya yng Nghymru a phresenoldeb cynlluniau tebyg mewn cynghorau sy'n cael eu rhedeg gan y Ceidwadwyr yn Lloegr.

2. Yn credu, o'u gweithredu'n briodol ac yn rhesymegol, bod gan derfynau cyflymder 20mya rôl ddefnyddiol wrth wneud cymunedau'n fwy diogel a lleihau'r pwysau ar y GIG.

3. Yn gresynu at yr oedi gan Lywodraeth Cymru wrth weithredu ar welliant Plaid Cymru a gefnogir gan y Senedd, a fyddai wedi grymuso cymunedau ar unwaith i adolygu a gwneud eithriadau pellach yn ogystal ag adolygu'r canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol.

4. Yn cydnabod cryfder teimladau ar y mater hwn o ganlyniad i weithredu, ymgysylltu a chyfathrebu anghyson ynghylch y newidiadau.

5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio'n agos gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod yr adolygiad presennol yn mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon y gellir eu cyfiawnhau, a'i fod ag adnoddau digonol.

Amendment 1—Heledd Fychan

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd

1. Notes:

a) the default speed limit of 20mph has been in place in Wales for over a year; and

b) the previous cross-party support of the Senedd for the introduction of speed limits of 20mph in Wales and the presence of similar plans in councils run by the Conservatives in England.

2. Believes that, when implemented appropriately and rationally, 20mph speed limits have a useful role in making communities safer and reducing the pressure on the NHS.

3. Regrets the delay by the Welsh Government in acting on the Plaid Cymru amendment supported by the Senedd, which would have immediately empowered communities to review and make further exceptions as well as review the guidelines for local authorities.

4. Recognises the strength of feelings on this issue as a result of inconsistent action, engagement and communication regarding the changes.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to work closely with local authorities to ensure that the current review addresses the justified concerns, and that it is adequately resourced.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.

Amendment 1 moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. Dwi'n cynnig y gwelliant.

Thank you, Llywydd. I move the amendment.

The revisionism that has been going on during this debate is quite remarkable. After all, there was initial cross-party support for a movement towards 20 mph. This is not a new policy. 

Mae’r adolygiadaeth sydd wedi bod yn digwydd drwy'r ddadl hon yn eithaf rhyfeddol. Wedi’r cyfan, roedd cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol ar y cychwyn i'r newid i 20 mya. Nid yw hwn yn bolisi newydd.

It—. We've seen the photos.

Mae'n—. Rydym wedi gweld y lluniau.

Come on. Come on, Members. I can do better than a pantomime, please. Allow Peredur Owen Griffiths to continue.

Dewch. Dewch nawr, Aelodau. Gallaf wneud yn well na phantomeim, os gwelwch yn dda. Gadewch i Peredur Owen Griffiths barhau.

It has been implemented in places across Europe, and, as much as they won't want to mention it in their debate, it's been introduced in Conservative councils across England. Plaid Cymru, Labour and the Tories all agreed that more 20 mph roads were appropriate, would bring benefits, and we have realised those benefits. In the first three months of 2024, we've seen a significant reduction in road casualties on 20 mph roads across Wales. Serious injuries and fatalities dropped by 23 per cent, with the total number of people killed or seriously injured on 20 mph and 30 mph roads falling from 101 to 78, compared to last year. Even when including minor injuries, there's a 26 per cent overall reduction in casualties. This has saved our NHS a considerable amount of money. This marks the lowest quarterly figure for road casualties in Wales outside the COVID pandemic period. This shows the positive impact of these speed limits on public safety, our communities and our NHS.

However, what has gone wrong here is this Labour Government's implementation. I regret the way the implementation has happened and the divisive debate that has ensued. It has eroded trust in our relatively new democracy, and it is regrettable. There has been inconsistent implementation on which roads and areas have been impacted most by this policy. The public has legitimate concerns. As an aside, a question that was posed to me recently was why only 10 mph intervals in speed limits were there, and why 5 mph increments were not adopted. And that goes to the implementation of appropriate speed limits in appropriate places.

Understandably, there are strong feelings surrounding the issue because this Government has failed to properly consult and engage with people in Wales. By excluding the local voice from decisions regarding their communities, it was set up to be flawed. It is frustrating that there were such—

Mae wedi cael ei roi ar waith mewn mannau ledled Ewrop, ac er na fyddant yn dymuno sôn am hyn yn eu dadl, mae wedi’i gyflwyno mewn cynghorau Ceidwadol ledled Lloegr. Cytunodd Plaid Cymru, Llafur a’r Torïaid fod mwy o ffyrdd 20 mya yn briodol, y byddent yn darparu manteision, ac rydym wedi gwireddu’r manteision hynny. Yn ystod tri mis cyntaf 2024, rydym wedi gweld gostyngiad sylweddol mewn anafusion ar ffyrdd 20 mya ledled Cymru. Gostyngodd anafiadau difrifol a marwolaethau 23 y cant, gyda chyfanswm nifer y bobl a laddwyd neu a anafwyd yn ddifrifol ar ffyrdd 20 mya a 30 mya yn gostwng o 101 i 78, o gymharu â’r llynedd. Hyd yn oed wrth gynnwys mân anafiadau, ceir gostyngiad cyffredinol o 26 y cant yn nifer yr anafusion. Mae hyn wedi arbed swm sylweddol o arian i’n GIG. Dyma’r ffigur chwarterol isaf ar gyfer anafiadau ffyrdd yng Nghymru y tu allan i gyfnod pandemig COVID. Mae hyn yn dangos effaith gadarnhaol y terfynau cyflymder hyn ar ddiogelwch y cyhoedd, ein cymunedau a’n GIG.

Fodd bynnag, yr hyn sydd wedi mynd o’i le yma yw'r ffordd y mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur hon wedi rhoi hyn ar waith. Rwy'n gresynu at y ffordd y rhoddwyd hyn ar waith a’r ddadl ymrannol a ddilynodd. Mae wedi amharu ar ymddiriedaeth yn ein democratiaeth gymharol newydd, ac mae’n destun gofid. Mae'r polisi wedi'i roi ar waith yn anghyson o ran pa ffyrdd ac ardaloedd sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio fwyaf. Mae gan y cyhoedd bryderon dilys. Gofynnwyd i mi yn ddiweddar pam fod terfynau cyflymder yn cynyddu fesul 10 mya yn unig, a pham nad oes cynyddrannau 5 mya yn cael eu defnyddio. Ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â gweithredu terfynau cyflymder priodol yn y mannau priodol.

Yn ddealladwy, mae teimladau cryf yn gysylltiedig â'r mater am fod y Llywodraeth hon wedi methu ymgynghori ac ymgysylltu’n briodol â phobl Cymru. Drwy eithrio’r llais lleol o benderfyniadau ynglŷn â’u cymunedau, roedd y polisi bob amser yn mynd i fod yn ddiffygiol. Mae'n rhwystredig fod y fath—

Thank you. I appreciate what you're saying there, but, then, if you are so concerned about the implementation of this and that the Welsh Government didn't consult properly, why, then, did Plaid Cymru support the policy, knowing that there were issues with the implementation and not consulting with the people of Wales properly?

Diolch yn fawr. Rwy’n deall yr hyn a ddywedwch, ond felly, os ydych chi mor bryderus ynghylch ei weithrediad ac nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymgynghori’n briodol, pam felly y cefnogodd Plaid Cymru y polisi, gan wybod bod problemau gyda'i weithrediad, ac nad ymgynghorwyd yn briodol â phobl Cymru?

15:40

We supported the policy, but then we had the amendment here to say that we needed that consultation locally, and that has, eventually, been done. There was such—. The delay by the Welsh Government in acting on that Plaid Cymru amendment, supported by the Senedd, that empowered communities to review and make further exceptions, as well as a review of the guidelines for local authorities—. As usual, the Welsh Government works best when it does listen to Plaid Cymru. However, how much time, money and frustration would have been saved had Welsh Government acted on this amendment sooner?

We are now slowly moving forward in the right direction. The way the Conservatives have gone about this debate has been hostile and it has sought division. As we provide more voice to local communities to influence the policy in their area, we need to ensure our local authorities are properly resourced. This resource should enable collaboration between communities, local government and Welsh Government, so I urge the Welsh Government to work closely with our local authorities across Wales to ensure this review process is properly resourced and implemented for the benefit of the people of Wales. Diolch yn fawr.

Roeddem yn cefnogi’r polisi, ond wedyn cawsom y gwelliant yma i ddweud bod angen yr ymgynghoriad lleol, ac mae hynny, yn y pen draw, wedi digwydd. Roedd—. Mae’r oedi gan Lywodraeth Cymru cyn gweithredu ar y gwelliant hwnnw gan Blaid Cymru, a gefnogwyd gan y Senedd, gwelliant a oedd yn grymuso cymunedau i adolygu a gwneud eithriadau pellach, yn ogystal ag adolygiad o’r canllawiau ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol—. Fel arfer, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio orau pan fydd yn gwrando ar Blaid Cymru. Fodd bynnag, faint o amser, arian a rhwystredigaeth fyddai wedi’u harbed pe bai Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithredu ar y gwelliant hwn yn gynt?

Rydym bellach yn symud ymlaen yn araf i'r cyfeiriad cywir. Mae’r ffordd y mae’r Ceidwadwyr wedi ymdrin â'r ddadl hon wedi bod yn elyniaethus ac yn ymrannol. Wrth inni roi mwy o lais i gymunedau lleol ddylanwadu ar y polisi yn eu hardaloedd, mae angen inni sicrhau bod ein hawdurdodau lleol yn cael yr adnoddau priodol. Dylai’r adnoddau hyn alluogi cydweithio rhwng cymunedau, llywodraeth leol a Llywodraeth Cymru, felly rwy’n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i weithio’n agos gyda’n hawdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru i sicrhau bod y broses adolygu hon yn cael yr adnoddau priodol ac yn cael ei chynnal er budd pobl Cymru. Diolch yn fawr.

Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth i gynnig yn ffurfiol gwelliant 2. Ken Skates.  

I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to move formally amendment 2. Ken Skates.

Gwelliant 2—Jane Hutt

Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn cydnabod bod y terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya wedi bod mewn grym yng Nghymru ers dros flwyddyn.

2. Yn nodi:

a) y gostyngiad sylweddol mewn gwrthdrawiadau ac anafusion ers cyflwyno’r terfyn; a

b) y ffaith bod 469,571 o bobl wedi llofnodi deiseb y Senedd: ‘Rydym am i Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddymu’r gyfraith drychinebus ynghylch y terfyn cyflymder o 20mya’

c) y rhaglen gynhwysfawr o wrando a gynhaliwyd dros yr haf, gan ymgysylltu â phobl, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru yn ogystal â rhanddeiliaid allweddol;

d) y ffaith y bydd y gwaith monitro a gwerthuso parhaus yn casglu tystiolaeth o effeithiau’r polisi o ran yr economi, iechyd a’r amgylchedd;

e) y ffaith bod adroddiad monitro ansawdd aer Cam 1 Trafnidiaeth Cymru a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mai 2024 yn dangos nad oedd unrhyw effaith sylweddol ar ansawdd aer lleol hyd yma; ac

f) y gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei darparu i awdurdodau lleol Cymru sydd wedi derbyn ceisiadau i newid y terfyn i 30mya ar rai ffyrdd.

3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i barhau i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol Cymru er mwyn cyflawni terfynau cyflymder 20mya trwy ddull targedu, gan sicrhau bod y terfyn mewn grym ar y ffyrdd cywir ble mae pobl yn byw, yn gweithio ac yn chwarae.

Amendment 2—Jane Hutt

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the default 20mph speed limit has been in place in Wales for over one year.

2. Notes:

a) the significant reduction in collisions and casualties since the limit was introduced; and

b) the 469,571 signatories to the Senedd petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law';

c) the comprehensive listening programme carried out over the summer, engaging with people, business and communities across Wales as well as key stakeholders;

d) that ongoing monitoring and evaluation will evidence the economic, health and environmental impacts of the policy;

e) Transport for Wales’s phase 1 air quality monitoring report published in May 2024 showed no material effect on local air quality to date; and

f) the support the Welsh Government is providing to Welsh local authorities that have received requests for roads to revert to 30mph.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue supporting Welsh local authorities to deliver a targeted approach to 20mph speed limits, ensuring the limit is applied to the right roads where people live, work and play.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 2.

Amendment 2 moved.

Formally.

Yn ffurfiol.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Well, what do we know? We know that reaction time reduces with speed, that stopping distance lengthens with speed—read your highway code—that the higher the speed, the greater the damage to people and a motor vehicle, that road casualty figures have reduced following the introduction of the default 20 mph, that insurance companies are considering reducing premiums due to the reduced speed limit. According to data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, at traffic speeds of 30 mph to 40 mph, the risk of pedestrian deaths as a result of collision with a vehicle is over five times more than at speeds between 20 mph and 30 mph. There’s consensus among the people I talk to that 20 mph is a suitable speed limit on estate roads and through areas of terraced housing. This is a view strongly held by people who are living on these roads.

When I travel to my office in Morriston, it’s exactly one mile, but the sat nav tells me it will take five minutes, which is an average speed of 12 mph, as it did before the speed limit was reduced. Outside the motorway system, the road system consists of A roads, which are major roads intended to provide large-scale transport links within or between areas and unclassified roads, B roads that are roads intended to connect different areas and to feed traffic between A roads and smaller roads on the network, and unclassified or unnumbered roads, which are smaller roads intended to connect together unclassified roads with A and B roads, often linking housing estates or villages to the rest of the network. These are similar to minor roads on an ordnance survey map, and are sometimes known unofficially as C roads. Some of these roads are under 50m long. Unclassified roads are local roads intended for local traffic. The vast majority of roads in Britain—over 60 per cent of them—fall into this category. Areas of older terraced housing and council estates, or houses that don’t have a drive, mean that people cannot drive safely at over 20 mph. There’s parking on both sides of the road, as people seek to park near their home. Even with newer estates, where there are drives, cars still park on the road, especially where drives are very steep, having a significant slope, or for convenience.

Roads that are main roads, or A and B designated, should be dealt with on their merits, allowing 30 mph unless passing directly in front of an entrance to a school or a shopping area. Whilst individual councils will decide the speed limit on each road, I would hope councils will address these roads.

I was contacted by a constituent who lives in Manselton on a road that is already 20 mph. They accepted that a 20 mph speed limit is needed in residential areas and said that they did not wish for their road to go back to 30 mph, which it had not been for the last 20 years. The talk about 20 mph speed limits as a new invention, never been done before; if you go around areas—and I see people who represent, partly, Manselton—you will see, within Manselton, you’ll see in Hafod, that probably over half—well, actually, over half in Manselton, just under half in Hafod—were 20 mph before we had the movement to default.

But there are people who disagree. I was told by a 23-year-old that, as an experienced driver, he drove to the road conditions, and we should all drive to the road conditions, that we didn’t need speed limits of any kind, 20 mph, 30 mph, or anything. He would drive at the speed that was necessary, because he’d been driving for five years. But if conditions are the same for everyone, why do some vehicles travel at different speeds? I mean, the speed would be the same if everybody drove to the conditions.

My experience when I’ve discussed the issue with people objecting to 20 mph is that it’s usually for a road they do not live on; it’s for another road they drive on. While the default speed limit was previously 30 mph, many roads had the limit reduced to 20 mph, and there are also roads—remember the humps, chicanes, all these other traffic calming measures that existed solely to bring the speed limit down? And what are we seeing? We’re seeing traffic movement at junctions improved, and it’s become easier to cross the road, but certainly, in urban areas outside A and B roads, 20 mph is currently impossible on most of the road length.

What should happen? A full review of the A and B roads. This wouldn’t make them all return to 30 mph. Many such roads are not now 20 mph anyway. There are however roads that would benefit from an increase in speed. I’ve asked for the speed on Llangyfelach Road from Rheidol Avenue to Cwm Level lights to return to 30 mph. I’ve also asked for the Clydach Road from the Midland Hotel to Plas Cadwgan roundabout to return to 30 mph. These are the only two roads in Swansea East that I believe would benefit from a speed increase, as 20 mph is right for most urban roads, but it should not have been brought in for A and B roads at the same time it was brought in for urban roads.

But if you want to test it, have an area, you pick one of the areas you represent, and do away with the speed limits on the roads there. They say speed doesn’t matter, so do away with them. Suggest that, dare I say, Pembrokeshire does not have a speed limit and everybody can drive at 60 mph. Let’s see if you actually believe it.

Diolch, Lywydd. Wel, beth ydym ni'n ei wybod? Fe wyddom fod amser ymateb yn lleihau gyda chyflymder, fod pellter stopio yn ymestyn gyda chyflymder—darllenwch reolau'r ffordd fawr—po fwyaf yw’r cyflymder, y mwyaf yw’r difrod i bobl a cherbydau modur, fod ffigurau anafusion ar y ffyrdd wedi lleihau yn dilyn cyflwyno’r terfyn 20 mya diofyn, fod cwmnïau yswiriant yn ystyried lleihau premiymau oherwydd y terfyn cyflymder is. Yn ôl data gan y Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Atal Damweiniau, ar gyflymder traffig o 30 mya i 40 mya, mae’r risg o farwolaethau cerddwyr o ganlyniad i wrthdrawiad â cherbyd dros bum gwaith yn uwch nag ar gyflymderau rhwng 20 mya a 30 mya. Mae consensws ymhlith y bobl y siaradaf â hwy fod 20 mya yn derfyn cyflymder addas ar ystadau a thrwy ardaloedd o dai teras. Mae hon yn farn gref gan y bobl sy'n byw ar y ffyrdd hyn.

Pan fyddaf yn teithio i fy swyddfa yn Nhreforys, mae’n filltir union, ond mae’r sat nav yn dweud wrthyf y bydd yn cymryd pum munud, sef cyflymder cyfartalog o 12 mya, yn un fath â chyn i’r terfyn cyflymder gael ei ostwng. Y tu hwnt i'r system draffyrdd, mae'r system ffyrdd yn cynnwys ffyrdd A, sef ffyrdd mawr y bwriedir iddynt ddarparu cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth ar raddfa fawr o fewn neu rhwng ardaloedd a ffyrdd diddosbarth, ffyrdd B sy'n ffyrdd y bwriedir iddynt gysylltu gwahanol ardaloedd ac i fwydo traffig rhwng ffyrdd A a ffyrdd llai ar y rhwydwaith, a ffyrdd diddosbarth neu heb eu rhifo, sef ffyrdd llai y bwriedir iddynt gysylltu ffyrdd diddosbarth â ffyrdd A a B, sy'n aml yn cysylltu ystadau tai neu bentrefi â gweddill y rhwydwaith. Mae'r rhain yn debyg i isffyrdd ar fap arolwg ordnans, ac fe'u gelwir weithiau yn answyddogol yn ffyrdd C. Mae rhai o'r ffyrdd hyn o dan 50m o hyd. Mae ffyrdd diddosbarth yn ffyrdd lleol a fwriedir ar gyfer traffig lleol. Mae'r mwyafrif helaeth o ffyrdd ym Mhrydain—dros 60 y cant ohonynt—yn y categori hwn. Mae ardaloedd o dai teras hŷn ac ystadau cyngor, neu dai lle nad oes dreif, yn golygu na all pobl yrru'n ddiogel ar gyflymder o dros 20 mya. Mae ceir wedi'u parcio ar bob ochr i'r ffordd, wrth i bobl geisio parcio'n agos at eu cartrefi. Hyd yn oed gydag ystadau mwy newydd, lle mae dreifiau, mae ceir yn dal i barcio ar y ffordd, yn enwedig lle mae dreifiau'n serth iawn, lle mae llethrau sylweddol, neu er hwylustod.

Dylid ymdrin â ffyrdd sy’n brif ffyrdd, neu'n ffyrdd A a B dynodedig, yn eu rhinwedd eu hunain, gan ganiatáu 30 mya oni bai eu bod yn mynd heibio i fynedfa ysgol neu ardal siopa. Er mai mater i gynghorau unigol yw penderfynu ar y terfyn cyflymder ar bob ffordd, byddwn yn gobeithio y bydd cynghorau’n mynd i’r afael â’r ffyrdd hyn.

Cysylltodd etholwr â mi sy’n byw yn Nhrefansel ar ffordd sydd eisoes yn 20 mya. Roeddent yn derbyn bod angen terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya mewn ardaloedd preswyl, a dywedasant nad oeddent am i’w ffordd fynd yn ôl i 30 mya, ac nad oedd wedi bod felly ers 20 mlynedd. Mae sôn am derfynau cyflymder 20 mya fel pe baent yn rhywbeth newydd, nad yw erioed wedi’i wneud o’r blaen; os ewch chi o gwmpas ardaloedd—a gwelaf bobl sy'n cynrychioli, yn rhannol, Trefansel—fe welwch, yn Nhrefansel, yn yr Hafod, fod dros eu hanner mae'n debyg—wel, dros eu hanner yn Nhrefansel mewn gwirionedd, ychydig o dan eu hanner yn yr Hafod—yn 20 mya cyn inni gael y newid i'r terfyn diofyn.

Ond mae yna bobl sy'n anghytuno. Dywedwyd wrthyf gan ddyn 23 oed ei fod, fel gyrrwr profiadol, yn gyrru yn unol ag amodau’r ffyrdd, ac y dylai pob un ohonom yrru yn unol ag amodau’r ffyrdd, nad oedd arnom angen terfynau cyflymder o unrhyw fath, 20 mya, 30 mya, neu unrhyw beth. Byddai'n gyrru ar y cyflymder angenrheidiol, gan ei fod wedi bod yn gyrru ers pum mlynedd. Ond os yw'r amodau yr un peth i bawb, pam fod rhai cerbydau'n teithio ar gyflymder gwahanol? Hynny yw, byddai'r cyflymder yr un peth pe bai pawb yn gyrru yn unol â'r amodau.

Fy mhrofiad i wrth drafod y mater gyda phobl sy'n gwrthwynebu 20 mya yw bod hynny fel arfer mewn perthynas â ffordd nad ydynt yn byw arni; mae'n ymwneud â ffordd arall y maent yn gyrru arni. Er mai 30 mya oedd y terfyn cyflymder diofyn blaenorol, gostyngwyd y terfyn cyflymder ar lawer o ffyrdd i 20 mya, ac mae ffyrdd eraill hefyd—a ydych chi'n cofio'r twmpathau, y rhwystrau igam-ogamu, yr holl fesurau arafu traffig eraill a oedd yn bodoli er mwyn gostwng y terfyn cyflymder? A beth a welwn? Rydym yn gweld symudiad traffig ar gyffyrdd yn gwella, ac mae wedi dod yn haws croesi’r ffordd, ond yn sicr, mewn ardaloedd trefol y tu hwnt i ffyrdd A a B, mae 20 mya yn amhosibl ar hyn o bryd ar y rhan fwyaf o'r ffordd.

Beth a ddylai ddigwydd? Adolygiad llawn o ffyrdd A a B. Ni fyddai hyn yn gwneud i bob un ohonynt newid yn ôl i 30 mya. Mae yna lawer o ffyrdd o'r fath nad ydynt yn 20 mya ar hyn o bryd beth bynnag. Fodd bynnag, mae rhai ffyrdd a fyddai'n elwa o gynnydd yn y cyflymder. Rwyf wedi gofyn am godi'r terfyn cyflymder ar Heol Llangyfelach o Rodfa Rheidol i oleuadau Cwm Level yn ôl i 30 mya. Rwyf hefyd wedi gofyn am godi'r terfyn ar Ffordd Clydach o Westy'r Midland i gylchfan Plas Cadwgan yn ôl i 30 mya. Dyma’r unig ddwy ffordd yn Nwyrain Abertawe y credaf y byddent yn elwa o gynnydd mewn cyflymder, gan fod 20 mya yn iawn ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o ffyrdd trefol, ond ni ddylai fod wedi’i gyflwyno ar gyfer ffyrdd A a B ar yr un pryd ag y cafodd ei gyflwyno ar gyfer ffyrdd trefol.

Ond os ydych chi am ei brofi, dewiswch ardal, dewiswch un o'r ardaloedd rydych chi'n eu cynrychioli, a diddymwch y terfynau cyflymder ar y ffyrdd yno. Maent yn dweud nad yw cyflymder yn bwysig, felly cewch wared arnynt. Awgrymwch, mentraf ddweud, na ddylai fod terfyn cyflymder gan sir Benfro, a bod pawb yn cael gyrru ar 60 mya. Gadewch inni weld a ydych chi wir yn credu hynny.

15:45

I’m pleased to be taking part in this debate this afternoon. It’s now over a year since the 20 mph was introduced in September last year. Perhaps we should take a moment to reflect and recollect the events of the past year since the law was introduced, and I’m happy to give you a summary.

The policy was the brainchild of the former climate change Minister Lee Waters, who’s in the Chamber this afternoon, who's admitted that mistakes were made and a more commonsense approach was needed. We’ve also heard from the First Minister that the way the 20 mph law was implemented created problems, in her own words. The new Cabinet Secretary for transport acknowledged that some roads should never have been changed to 20 mph. And we know from the Welsh Government’s own research that the policy will cost the Welsh economy £9 billion. And of course, the nearly 0.5 million petition signatures calling for the default 20 mph to be repealed. A YouGov poll found that 70 per cent of Welsh people opposed the 20 mph speed limit change. So, if the policy has no support from the Welsh public and lacks support from a cohort of Welsh Government Ministers, why continue to save face, clinging to this policy that no-one, including those who oversaw its introduction, agrees was a success from its beginning in this Chamber to its roll-out across the country?

The impact on businesses across Wales has been severe. We know from the tourism barometer that tourists are being put off travelling and staying in Wales because of the 20 mph speed limit change. Deliveries are taking longer; emergency service response times are poorer, if they could get any poorer; and bus services have been disrupted, including an Arriva Cymru service in my consistency that had to remove stops from its route to maintain punctuality—the most notable one being the Tweedmill factory outlet in St Asaph. I'm pleased that's to be restored, but there are still other bus stops that remain excluded from the bus timetable for only this reason, and that was quoted by Arriva Buses Wales themselves. So, 20 mph is but one of a series of Welsh Government policies that are holding Wales’s economic prosperity 'sausage', or should I say 'hostage'?

From 20 mph to the tourism tax—[Laughter.] It took a minute. From 20 mph to the tourism tax, to slashing business rates relief, the Welsh Government behaves as if it’s deliberately trying to sabotage the Welsh economy. The forecasted £9 billion that the 20 mph policy will cost the Welsh economy is hardly in keeping with Keir Starmer’s plan for growth.

Rwy’n falch o gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma. Mae dros flwyddyn wedi bod bellach ers i'r terfyn 20 mya gael ei gyflwyno ym mis Medi y llynedd. Efallai y dylem gymryd eiliad i fyfyrio ac i gofio digwyddiadau’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf ers cyflwyno’r ddeddfwriaeth, ac rwy’n hapus i roi crynodeb i chi.

Syniad y cyn-Weinidog newid hinsawdd, Lee Waters, sydd yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma, oedd y polisi, ac mae wedi cyfaddef bod camgymeriadau wedi’u gwneud a bod angen dull sy'n defnyddio mwy o synnwyr cyffredin. Rydym hefyd wedi clywed gan y Prif Weinidog fod y ffordd y cafodd y ddeddfwriaeth 20 mya ei rhoi ar waith wedi creu problemau, yn ei geiriau ei hun. Cydnabu'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet newydd dros drafnidiaeth na ddylai rhai ffyrdd byth fod wedi cael eu newid i 20 mya. A gwyddom o waith ymchwil Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun y bydd y polisi yn costio £9 biliwn i economi Cymru. Ac wrth gwrs, y bron i 0.5 miliwn o lofnodion ar y ddeiseb yn galw am ddileu'r terfyn 20 mya diofyn. Canfu arolwg barn gan YouGov fod 70 y cant o Gymry yn gwrthwynebu’r newid i’r terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya. Felly, os nad yw'r polisi yn ennyn unrhyw gefnogaeth gan y cyhoedd yng Nghymru ac nad oes iddo gefnogaeth gan garfan o Weinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru, pam parhau i arbed wyneb, gan lynu wrth y polisi hwn nad oes unrhyw un, gan gynnwys y rheini a'i cyflwynodd, yn cytuno ei fod yn llwyddiant o'i ddechreuad yn y Siambr hon i'w gyflwyniad ledled y wlad?

Mae’r effaith ar fusnesau ledled Cymru wedi bod yn ddifrifol. Gwyddom o’r baromedr twristiaeth fod twristiaid yn llai awyddus i deithio ac i aros yng Nghymru oherwydd y newid i’r terfyn cyflymder 20 mya. Mae'n cymryd mwy o amser i ddosbarthu nwyddau; mae amseroedd ymateb y gwasanaethau brys yn waeth, os yw hynny'n bosibl; ac amharwyd ar wasanaethau bysiau, gan gynnwys gwasanaeth Arriva Cymru yn fy etholaeth, y bu'n rhaid iddo gael gwared ar arosfannau oddi ar ei lwybr er mwyn cynnal prydlondeb—yr un mwyaf nodedig oedd siop ffatri Tweedmill yn Llanelwy. Rwy'n falch fod y ffordd honno yn cael ei newid yn ôl, ond mae arosfannau bysiau eraill yn dal i fod wedi'u heithrio o'r amserlen bysiau am y rheswm hwn, a nodwyd hynny gan Bysiau Arriva Cymru eu hunain. Felly, nid yw 20 mya ond yn un o gyfres o bolisïau Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n dal ffyniant economaidd Cymru 'sausage’, neu a ddylwn i ddweud 'hostage', yn wystl?

O 20 mya i’r dreth dwristiaeth—[Chwerthin.] Cymerodd funud. O 20 mya i’r dreth dwristiaeth, i dorri rhyddhad ardrethi busnes, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymddwyn fel pe bai’n ceisio difrodi economi Cymru yn fwriadol. Go brin fod y £9 biliwn y rhagwelir y bydd y polisi 20 mya yn ei gostio i economi Cymru yn cyd-fynd â chynllun Keir Starmer ar gyfer twf.

Will you take an intervention?

A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?

How much does the Welsh economy get affected by accidents on roads that slow traffic down? As somebody who spent an hour travelling along the A4234 yesterday, I have a personal interest.

I ba raddau y mae damweiniau ar ffyrdd sy'n arafu traffig yn effeithio ar economi Cymru? Fel rhywun a dreuliodd awr yn teithio ar yr A4234 ddoe, mae gennyf ddiddordeb personol.

I wouldn’t have those figures at hand, but maybe if you liaise with your local health board, Mike, down in Swansea then they might be able to enlighten you with some more figures around that, but I don't have them on me, unfortunately, so I wouldn't be giving you an accurate answer there. 

The former Minister for climate change also claimed previously that the default 20 mph would reduce pollution where there is smoother driving behaviour, but the evidence demonstrates that the opposite is true, with air quality sensors detecting an increase in nitrogen emissions at 50 per cent of locations. Local authorities have received thousands of requests to revert 20 mph roads back to 30 mph, but the requests are not being met. The new guidance from the Welsh Government issued to local authorities provided false hope that there would be a more commonsense approach, and this has not been forthcoming. Still, only 0.6 per cent of roads in Denbighshire are exempt from the 20 mph speed limit, and I have raised this in the Senedd and with Denbighshire County Council, but there appears to be no intention of making the exemptions that people want. I've put that partially down to the political make-up of the council these days, and then also the complexities of navigating the Welsh Government's guidance on that. So, I think it's two-fold in many ways in that respect.

So, the initial consultation back in March 2022 that rejected 20 mph was ignored, feedback from trials was ignored, the research from Belfast showing a poor evidential base was ignored, and the 0.5 million people who signed the petition to repeal 20 mph were, indeed, ignored. People do not like having their freedoms restricted in the name of keeping them, and despite the First Minister making clear that her relationship with Sir Keir Starmer is as close to Donald Trump, they certainly share the same nanny-stateist mindset. If the First Minister is serious about being a listening Government, I'd advise that she should listen to the 70 per cent of Welsh people and repeal this damaging unpopular policy, rather than just PR stunts. Thank you very much, and I look forward to hearing the rest of the debate. Thank you. 

Nid yw’r ffigurau hynny gennyf wrth law, ond efallai, pe byddech yn cysylltu â’ch bwrdd iechyd lleol, Mike, i lawr yn Abertawe, efallai y gallent roi mwy o ffigurau i chi ynghylch hynny, ond nid ydynt wrth law gennyf, yn anffodus, felly ni fyddwn yn rhoi ateb cywir i chi ar hynny.

Honnodd y cyn Weinidog newid hinsawdd yn gynt hefyd y byddai’r terfyn 20 mya diofyn yn lleihau llygredd lle mae pobl yn gyrru'n fwy llyfn, ond mae’r dystiolaeth yn dangos bod y gwrthwyneb yn wir, gyda synwyryddion ansawdd aer yn canfod cynnydd mewn allyriadau nitrogen mewn 50 y cant o leoliadau. Mae awdurdodau lleol wedi cael miloedd o geisiadau i newid ffyrdd 20 mya yn ôl i 30 mya, ond nid yw'r ceisiadau'n cael eu derbyn. Roedd y canllawiau newydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru a gyhoeddwyd i awdurdodau lleol yn rhoi gobaith ffug y byddai dull synnwyr cyffredin yn cael ei ddefnyddio, ac nid yw hyn wedi digwydd. Er hynny, dim ond 0.6 y cant o ffyrdd yn sir Ddinbych sydd wedi’u heithrio o’r terfyn cyflymder 20 mya, ac rwyf wedi codi hyn yn y Senedd a chyda Chyngor Sir Ddinbych, ond ymddengys nad oes unrhyw fwriad i wneud yr eithriadau y mae pobl am eu gweld. Credaf fod hynny’n rhannol oherwydd cyfansoddiad gwleidyddol y cyngor y dyddiau hyn, ac yna hefyd y cymhlethdodau o ran deall canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar hynny. Felly, credaf ei fod yn ddeublyg mewn sawl ffordd yn hynny o beth.

Felly, anwybyddwyd yr ymgynghoriad cychwynnol yn ôl ym mis Mawrth 2022 a wrthododd y terfyn 20 mya, anwybyddwyd adborth o dreialon, anwybyddwyd yr ymchwil o Belfast a ddangosai sylfaen dystiolaeth wael, ac yn wir, anwybyddwyd y 0.5 miliwn o bobl a lofnododd y ddeiseb i ddileu'r terfyn 20 mya. Nid yw pobl yn hoffi cael cyfyngiadau ar eu rhyddid yn enw eu cadw, ac er i’r Prif Weinidog nodi’n glir fod ei pherthynas â Syr Keir Starmer yr un mor agos â chyda Donald Trump, maent yn sicr yn rhannu’r un meddylfryd ynghylch gwladwriaeth faldodus. Os yw’r Prif Weinidog o ddifrif am fod yn Llywodraeth sy’n gwrando, byddwn yn ei chynghori y dylai wrando ar y 70 y cant o bobl Cymru, a diddymu’r polisi amhoblogaidd a niweidiol hwn, yn hytrach na gwneud styntiau cysylltiadau cyhoeddus yn unig. Diolch yn fawr, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed gweddill y ddadl. Diolch.

15:50

Llywydd, I've believed for a long time, and still believe, that a default 20 mph policy is the right one, and I believe that the Welsh Government was right to introduce it, and the review is also the correct thing to do. And following that review, I am sure some adjustments will be made, reflecting the views of local people as to which roads should revert back to 30 mph, and obviously we will see the outcome of that exercise in short order.

I do think, Llywydd, that it's fairly extraordinary that we've heard from two Welsh Conservative Members with very little—in fact, I'm not sure any—mention of road safety. It's so obviously important, isn't it, that a policy introduced primarily to improve road safety should be viewed and examined in the light of what's happened since in terms of road safety? But obviously there are some inconvenient facts there, in the post-implementation experience, as far as the Welsh Conservatives are concerned.

So, we have two quarters of data now, post implementation of the default 20 mph limit, compared to the similar period before commencement, which shows lower speeds, fewer casualties and reduced vehicle damage claims. That's some pretty strong evidence, I would suggest, in terms of the success of the policy in lowering speed, preventing accidents and reducing deaths and casualties. So, in Wales then, for that six-month period following roll-out, compared to the previous period before commencement, taking 20 and 30 mph roads together, we see casualties reduce from 1,191 to 840—a fall of 29 per cent. And, at the same time, casualties on other roads also reduced, which I think speaks to the experience in Bristol and Brighton, for example, where they found that having extensive 20 mph speed limits reduced speed generally, because it changes driver behaviour generally on all roads, with the obvious benefits that follow from that. 

It is extraordinary, isn't it, that we've heard virtually nothing around that post-implementation experience in terms of road safety, in terms of deaths, casualties and collisions from the Welsh Conservatives? I'm sure that people following this debate today, and what we've heard from the Welsh Conservatives up to this point today, will be struck by the lack of mention of what may be seen by many as inconvenient facts for those Welsh Conservatives.

When it comes to some of the financial aspects, Llywydd, we know from esure, the insurance company—we all know that insurance companies are hard-headed, they operate in that real world of finances and financial advantage for those that are in business, to make a profit—they are reducing policy premiums by some £50 for those of their customers who are in these extensive 20 mph limit areas. It's estimated that if 20 mph was rolled out right across the UK in the way that it has been in Wales, that would result in some £1.4 billion-worth of savings for motorists who would be affected in that way. In Wales, that would result in savings of tens of millions of pounds. I give way.

Lywydd, rwyf wedi credu ers tro, ac rwy'n dal i gredu, mai polisi 20 mya diofyn yw’r un cywir, a chredaf fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn iawn i’w gyflwyno, ac mai cynnal yr adolygiad hefyd yw’r peth cywir i’w wneud. Ac yn dilyn yr adolygiad hwnnw, rwy’n siŵr y bydd rhai addasiadau’n cael eu gwneud, gan adlewyrchu barn pobl leol ynghylch pa ffyrdd a ddylai newid yn ôl i 30 mya, ac yn amlwg, byddwn yn gweld canlyniad yr ymarfer hwnnw cyn bo hir.

Lywydd, rwy'n credu ei bod yn eithaf rhyfeddol ein bod wedi clywed gan ddau Aelod o'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig heb fawr ddim sôn—yn wir, dim o gwbl o bosibl—am ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd. Mae mor amlwg ei bod yn bwysig, onid yw, fod polisi a gyflwynwyd yn bennaf er mwyn gwella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd yn cael ei ystyried a'i archwilio yng ngoleuni'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd ers hynny o ran diogelwch ar y ffyrdd? Ond yn amlwg, mae rhai ffeithiau anghyfleus yno i'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig o ran yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd ar ôl iddo gael ei gyflwyno.

Felly, mae gennym ddau chwarter o ddata bellach, yn dilyn cyflwyno'r terfyn diofyn o 20 mya, o gymharu â’r cyfnod tebyg cyn ei gyflwyno, sy’n dangos cyflymderau is, llai o anafusion a llai o hawliadau difrod i gerbydau. Rwy'n awgrymu bod honno'n dystiolaeth eithaf cryf o lwyddiant y polisi i ostwng cyflymder, atal damweiniau a lleihau marwolaethau ac anafusion. Felly, yng Nghymru, ar gyfer y cyfnod o chwe mis ar ôl ei gyflwyno, o gymharu â'r cyfnod blaenorol cyn ei gyflwyno, gan gymryd ffyrdd 20 a 30 mya gyda'i gilydd, gwelwn nifer yr anafusion yn gostwng o 1,191 i 840—gostyngiad o 29 y cant. Ac ar yr un pryd, gostyngodd nifer yr anafusion ar ffyrdd eraill hefyd, yn debyg i'r profiad ym Mryste a Brighton, er enghraifft, lle canfuwyd bod cael terfynau cyflymder o 20 mya ar raddfa fawr yn lleihau cyflymder yn gyffredinol, gan eu bod yn newid ymddygiad gyrwyr yn gyffredinol ar yr holl ffyrdd, gyda'r manteision amlwg yn sgil hynny.

Onid yw'n rhyfeddol nad ydym wedi clywed fawr ddim gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wrth drafod gweithrediad y polisi ynglŷn â diogelwch ar y ffyrdd, ynglŷn â marwolaethau, anafusion a gwrthdrawiadau? Rwy’n siŵr y bydd pobl sy’n dilyn y ddadl hon heddiw a’r hyn a glywsom gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig hyd yma heddiw, yn synnu at y diffyg sôn am yr hyn y gallai gael ei weld gan lawer yn ffeithiau anghyfleus i’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig hynny.

O ran rhai o’r agweddau ariannol, Lywydd, gwyddom gan esure, y cwmni yswiriant—gŵyr pob un ohonom fod cwmnïau yswiriant yn bengaled, maent yn gweithredu ym myd real cyllid a mantais ariannol i’r rhai sydd mewn busnes, i wneud elw—eu bod yn lleihau premiymau polisi oddeutu £50 i gwsmeriaid sydd yn yr ardaloedd terfyn 20 mya estynedig hyn. Pe bai'r terfyn 20 mya yn cael ei gyflwyno ledled y DU yn y ffordd y'i cyflwynwyd yng Nghymru, amcangyfrifwyd y byddai hynny'n arwain at werth oddeutu £1.4 biliwn o arbedion i fodurwyr yr effeithir arnynt yn y ffordd honno. Yng Nghymru, byddai hynny’n arwain at arbedion o ddegau o filiynau o bunnoedd. Rwy'n ildio.

15:55

Thank you, John Griffiths. I do appreciate you accepting the intervention. You speak about insurances. We've had thousands of people across Wales who have received tickets, and as a consequence of those tickets, points. I'm sure you can appreciate when you're talking about insurance claims, one thing that I think, Presiding Officer, a lot of people fail to understand is that insurance companies, if you have points on your licence, will never lower your rate, it will only go up. So, there are thousands of people across Wales who have got tickets for going over the 20 mph limit, however that may be. But talking about insurances coming down is not going to be evident for so many people across Wales because they're only going to go up.

Diolch, John Griffiths. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich bod wedi derbyn yr ymyriad. Rydych chi'n sôn am yswiriant. Rydym wedi cael miloedd o bobl ledled Cymru sydd wedi cael dirwyon, a phwyntiau o ganlyniad i'r dirwyon hynny. Rwy’n siŵr y gallwch ddeall, pan fyddwch chi'n sôn am hawliadau yswiriant, un peth y credaf, Lywydd, nad yw llawer o bobl yn ei ddeall yw na fydd cwmnïau yswiriant, os oes gennych bwyntiau ar eich trwydded, byth yn gostwng eich premiwm, ni fydd ond yn codi. Felly, mae miloedd o bobl ledled Cymru sydd wedi cael dirwyon am yrru uwchlaw'r terfyn 20 mya, sut bynnag y digwyddodd hynny. Ond nid yw sôn am bremiymau yswiriant yn gostwng yn mynd i ddigwydd i gynifer o bobl ledled Cymru, gan mai cynyddu'n unig a wnânt.

Well, that's a pretty extraordinary intervention, really, isn't it? People right across Wales and right across the UK break all sorts of speed limits, unfortunately, and of course they face the consequences when it comes to the law of the land and insurance premiums. Obviously, that's the case generally for speed limits. We expect people to observe the law and observe speed limits, and I would hope that the Members opposite would expect the same sort of behaviour also.

Could I just close, Llywydd, by mentioning the need for enforcement and greater enforcement, and we will see that as we proceed, coming to the points that the Member has just mentioned? Of course we expect compliance with speed limits. I would like to mention one of my constituents, Clare Kenney who lives on Caerleon Road in Newport. In the section of the road that she lives on, there is a 20 mph limit. She has asked for greater enforcement, because when monitoring took place, it showed that there was a reduction in speed, which was very welcome, but that there were still motorists exceeding that 20 mph limit, and she rightly expects the enforcement that at least some of the Members opposite seem to object to. She wants her children to be able to walk to school safely, to be able to play safely and for elderly people and more vulnerable people on that stretch of Caerleon Road, where there are shops, bus stops and housing right up onto the road, to be able to live their lives with the greater road safety that 20 mph delivers. So, I mentioned that example because, although there will be this review that we all know about, Llywydd, we must maintain that 20 mph limit on those roads where that road safety benefit has been delivered and must be delivered as we move forward.

Wel, onid oedd hwnnw'n ymyriad eithaf rhyfeddol? Mae pobl ledled Cymru a ledled y DU gyfan yn torri pob math o derfynau cyflymder, yn anffodus, ac wrth gwrs, maent yn wynebu’r canlyniadau o ran y gyfraith a phremiymau yswiriant. Yn amlwg, dyna'r sefyllfa yn gyffredinol, ar gyfer terfynau cyflymder. Rydym yn disgwyl i bobl gydymffurfio â'r gyfraith a chadw at derfynau cyflymder, a byddwn yn gobeithio y byddai’r Aelodau gyferbyn yn disgwyl yr un math o ymddygiad hefyd.

A gaf i gloi, Lywydd, drwy sôn am yr angen am orfodi a mwy o orfodi, a byddwn yn gweld hynny wrth inni symud ymlaen, gan ddod at y pwyntiau y mae’r Aelod newydd eu crybwyll? Wrth gwrs, rydym yn disgwyl i bobl gydymffurfio â therfynau cyflymder. Hoffwn sôn am un o fy etholwyr, Clare Kenney, sy’n byw ar Heol Caerllion yng Nghasnewydd. Ar y rhan o'r ffordd y mae hi'n byw, mae yna gyfyngiad 20 mya. Mae wedi gofyn am fwy o orfodi, oherwydd pan gynhaliwyd gwaith monitro, dangosodd fod gostyngiad mewn cyflymder, a oedd i’w groesawu’n fawr, ond fod modurwyr yn dal i yrru uwchlaw'r terfyn 20 mya, ac mae’n gwbl briodol ei bod yn disgwyl y gorfodi yr ymddengys bod o leiaf rai o'r Aelodau gyferbyn yn ei wrthwynebu. Mae am i’w phlant allu cerdded i’r ysgol yn ddiogel, gallu chwarae’n ddiogel ac am i'r henoed a phobl fwy agored i niwed ar y rhan honno o Heol Caerllion, lle mae siopau, arosfannau bysiau a thai yn agos iawn at y ffordd, allu byw eu bywydau gyda'r gwell diogelwch ffyrdd a ddaw yn sgil 20 mya. Felly, soniais am yr enghraifft honno oherwydd, er y bydd yr adolygiad hwn y gŵyr pob un ohonom amdano yn cael ei gynnal, Lywydd, mae'n rhaid inni gadw'r terfyn 20 mya ar y ffyrdd lle ceir budd o ran diogelwch ffyrdd, ac mae’n rhaid iddo barhau wrth inni symud ymlaen.

Determined to pursue its road safety policies, the Welsh Government ignored all inconvenient evidence to the contrary. It dismissed the authoritative independent 20 mph research study published by the UK Department for Transport in November 2018, which found that the speed at which people drive is influenced more by the look and feel of the road rather than whether a 20 or 30 mph limit is in place, and that there was no significant safety outcome in terms of collisions and casualties in residential areas based on the post-implementation data. Following this, they also dismissed the 2022 study from Queen's University Belfast, Edinburgh University and the University of Cambridge that found that reducing speed limits from 30 to 20 mph had little impact on road safety. They claimed in September—

A hithau'n benderfynol o ddilyn ei pholisïau diogelwch ffyrdd, anwybyddodd Llywodraeth Cymru bob tystiolaeth anghyfleus i’r gwrthwyneb. Diystyrodd yr astudiaeth ymchwil annibynnol awdurdodol ar 20 mya a gyhoeddwyd gan Adran Drafnidiaeth y DU ym mis Tachwedd 2018, a ganfu fod gwedd a theimlad y ffordd yn dylanwadu mwy ar gyflymder pobl wrth yrru na pha un a oes terfyn 20 neu 30 mya ar waith, ac nad oedd canlyniad diogelwch sylweddol o ran gwrthdrawiadau ac anafusion mewn ardaloedd preswyl ar sail y data a gasglwyd ar ôl cyflwyno terfyn. Yn dilyn hyn, fe wnaethant hefyd ddiystyru astudiaeth yn 2022 gan Brifysgol y Frenhines, Belfast, Prifysgol Caeredin a Phrifysgol Caergrawnt, a ganfu nad oedd gostwng terfynau cyflymder o 30 i 20 mya yn cael fawr o effaith ar ddiogelwch ffyrdd. Fe wnaethant honni ym mis Medi—

You keep misrepresenting the Northern Ireland Belfast study, which was not based on a set of 30 mph roads. It was based on a set of existing 20 mph roads, and what they said is an area-wide speed limit, like the one we introduced, would be more effective, which is what we've done. You keep misclaiming what this report says.

Rydych chi'n parhau i gamgyfleu astudiaeth Belfast o Ogledd Iwerddon, nad oedd yn seiliedig ar set o ffyrdd 30 mya. Roedd yn seiliedig ar set o ffyrdd 20 mya a oedd yn bodoli'n barod, a'r hyn a ddywedasant yw y byddai terfyn cyflymder ardal gyfan, fel yr un a gyflwynwyd gennym ni, yn fwy effeithiol, sef yr hyn rydym ni wedi’i wneud. Rydych chi'n parhau i gamgyfleu'r hyn y mae'r adroddiad hwnnw'n ei ddweud.

16:00

They found that reducing speed limits from 30 mph to 20 mph had little impact on road safety. You dismissed that.

They claimed in September 2023 that, in Spain, which already had 20 mph as their default position, deaths and accidents had fallen despite the Spanish interior Minister having stated the preceding January that, comparing the figures for 2022 with 2019, the last pre-pandemic year without mobility restrictions there, 2022 represented more deaths than in 2019, and that, when it comes to cyclists, the number of fatalities also increased. Although subsequent road accident data for Spain during 2023 did show a slight decrease in fatalities, this was a reduction of just three for the whole of 2022. And vulnerable users, including motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists, experienced a 9 per cent rise in fatalities.

To say that the indiscriminate 20 mph speed limit has been unpopular would be an understatement. As we know, 469,571 people signed the Senedd petition, 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law', the largest petition in the Senedd's history, and Welsh local authorities have received requests for thousands of roads to revert from 20 mph to 30 mph. A separate petition, launched in Buckley, Flintshire, the north Wales 20 mph pilot area, reached nearly 86,000 signatures. A survey of North Wales Live readers found that just 12 per cent of respondents support Labour's plans to change the default speed limit in residential areas to 20 mph, with 88 per cent opposing the plans.

When the Welsh Government's 20 mph default speed limits were put to the people in September 2023, opposition was 61 per cent. Just two months later in December 2023, a YouGov ITV Wales poll found that opposition had risen to 70 per cent. With the one-year anniversary of implementation of the 20 mph legislation in Wales approaching, a YouGov poll last month showed that seven in 10 Welsh people still opposed this.

In June, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales issued a written statement in which he said that new road collision data shows that casualties have reduced on roads since the introduction of the new 20 mph speed limits in September last year. What he didn't say was that the new data he quoted for the last three months of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022, actually showed that, even with the limited exceptions to the default 20 mph limits applied by local authorities acting in accordance with Welsh Government exceptions criteria, the number of people killed or seriously injured on 20 mph roads had risen by 800 per cent, from under 5 per cent to 36 per cent of the total, whilst the number killed or seriously injured on 30 mph roads had fallen by 88 per cent, from 49 per cent to just 5 per cent of the total, with the number of motorcyclists and cyclists killed or seriously injured both increasing. Further, overall road casualties had increased by over 13 per cent.

Although the Welsh Government has called recent figures showing a 17 per cent fall in people killed or seriously injured on 20 mph and 30 mph roads in the first six months after the limit was introduced encouraging, they failed to mention that the number killed or seriously injured on 20 mph roads had risen from 4 per cent to 34 per cent of the total, despite their repeated assurances that 20 mph roads would provide a sanctuary of safety, whilst the number on 30 mph roads had fallen from 47 per cent to just 6 per cent of the total. And they failed to mention that the overall number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads has increased by 10 per cent.

Before the default 20 mph limit came into force, I warned that switching 30 mph limits to 20 mph limits would transfer the share of road casualties from one to the other, whilst also displacing drivers, and therefore road casualties, onto the wider road network, and this data demonstrates that this is happening.

Canfuwyd nad oedd gostwng terfynau cyflymder o 30 mya i 20 mya yn cael fawr o effaith ar ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd. Fe wnaethoch chi ddiystyru hynny.

Roeddent yn honni ym mis Medi 2023, yn Sbaen, a oedd eisoes ag 20 mya fel eu sefyllfa ddiofyn, fod marwolaethau a damweiniau wedi gostwng er bod Gweinidog mewnol Sbaen wedi nodi y mis Ionawr blaenorol, o gymharu ffigurau 2022 â rhai 2019, y flwyddyn olaf cyn y pandemig heb gyfyngiadau symud yno, fod 2022 wedi gweld mwy o farwolaethau nag yn 2019, ac roedd nifer y marwolaethau mewn perthynas â beicwyr wedi codi hefyd. Er bod data damweiniau ffordd dilynol ar gyfer Sbaen yn ystod 2023 wedi dangos gostyngiad bach yn nifer y marwolaethau, gostyngiad o dri yn unig ydoedd  ar gyfer 2022 gyfan. Ac mae defnyddwyr bregus, gan gynnwys beicwyr modur, cerddwyr a beicwyr, wedi gweld cynnydd o 9 y cant yn nifer y marwolaethau.

Byddai dweud bod y terfyn cyflymder diwahân o 20 mya wedi bod yn amhoblogaidd yn danddatganiad. Fel y gwyddom, llofnododd 469,571 o bobl ddeiseb y Senedd, 'Rydym am i Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddymu’r gyfraith drychinebus ynghylch y terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya', y ddeiseb fwyaf yn hanes y Senedd, ac mae awdurdodau lleol Cymru wedi cael ceisiadau i filoedd o ffyrdd gael eu newid yn ôl o 20 mya i 30 mya. Cyrhaeddodd deiseb ar wahân, a lansiwyd yn Bwcle, sir y Fflint, ardal beilot 20 mya gogledd Cymru, bron i 86,000 o lofnodion. Canfu arolwg o ddarllenwyr North Wales Live mai dim ond 12 y cant o'r ymatebwyr sy'n cefnogi cynlluniau Llafur i newid y terfyn cyflymder diofyn mewn ardaloedd preswyl i 20 mya, gydag 88 y cant yn gwrthwynebu'r cynlluniau.

Pan ofynnwyd i'r bobl am eu barn am derfynau cyflymder diofyn 20 mya Llywodraeth Cymru ym mis Medi 2023, roedd y gwrthwynebiad yn 61 y cant. Ddeufis yn ddiweddarach ym mis Rhagfyr 2023, canfu arolwg barn YouGov ITV Cymru fod y gwrthwynebiad wedi codi i 70 y cant. Gyda bron flwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers rhoi'r ddeddfwriaeth 20 mya mewn grym yng Nghymru, dangosodd arolwg barn YouGov fis diwethaf fod saith o bob 10 o Gymry yn dal i wrthwynebu hyn.

Ym mis Mehefin, cyhoeddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru ddatganiad ysgrifenedig lle dywedodd fod data newydd ar wrthdrawiadau ar y ffordd yn dangos bod nifer yr anafusion wedi gostwng ers cyflwyno'r terfynau cyflymder newydd o 20 mya ym mis Medi y llynedd. Yr hyn na ddywedodd oedd bod y data newydd a ddyfynnwyd ganddo ar gyfer tri mis olaf 2023, o'i gymharu â'r un cyfnod yn 2022, yn dangos, hyd yn oed gyda'r eithriadau cyfyngedig i'r terfynau diofyn o 20 mya a osodwyd gan awdurdodau lleol sy'n gweithredu yn unol â meini prawf eithriadau Llywodraeth Cymru, fod nifer y bobl a gafodd eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol ar ffyrdd 20 mya wedi codi 800 y cant, o lai na 5 y cant i 36 y cant o'r cyfanswm, tra bo'r nifer a gafodd eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol ar ffyrdd 30 mya wedi gostwng 88 y cant, o 49 y cant i ddim ond 5 y cant o'r cyfanswm, gyda nifer y beicwyr modur a beicwyr a gafodd eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol yn cynyddu. At hynny, roedd cyfanswm yr anafusion ffyrdd wedi cynyddu dros 13 y cant.

Er bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi galw ffigurau diweddar yn dangos gostyngiad o 17 y cant yn nifer y bobl a gafodd eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol ar ffyrdd 20 mya a 30 mya yn y chwe mis cyntaf ar ôl i'r terfyn gael ei gyflwyno yn galonogol, ni wnaethant sôn bod y nifer a gafodd eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol ar ffyrdd 20 mya wedi codi o 4 y cant i 34 y cant o'r cyfanswm, er gwaethaf eu sicrwydd dro ar ôl tro y byddai ffyrdd 20 mya yn darparu hafan o ddiogelwch, tra bo'r nifer ar ffyrdd 30 mya wedi gostwng o 47 y cant i ddim ond 6 y cant o'r cyfanswm. Ac ni wnaethant sôn bod cyfanswm y bobl sy'n cael eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol ar ein ffyrdd wedi cynyddu 10 y cant.

Cyn i'r terfyn diofyn o 20 mya ddod i rym, rhybuddiais y byddai newid o derfynau cyflymder 30 mya i derfynau 20 mya yn trosglwyddo cyfran yr anafusion ffyrdd o'r naill i'r llall, gan symud gyrwyr, ac felly nifer yr anafusion ffyrdd, i'r rhwydwaith ffyrdd ehangach, ac mae'r data hwn yn dangos bod hyn yn digwydd.

I think, a year on, it's fair to say that the 20 mph policy has been much criticised, but it's a policy that is succeeding in achieving its outcomes. The data so far shows that average speeds are down, as we said they would. Collisions on all roads are at their lowest since the COVID lockdowns. Casualties are down by 32 per cent, which is the single most effective road safety intervention that has been made. And lives have been saved: six fewer deaths in the first six months compared to the year before.

The Conservatives say that the policy has been disastrous. I think that these are results that we can be proud of. Has our approach been perfect? No, it has not. I commend the Cabinet Secretary for all his work in the last six months to engage with communities and to apply common sense where it is needed. Once that process is complete, I hope that the police can start to enforce those areas where speeds are not coming down, and that we can all get behind the message that on streets where people and traffic mix, it should be a little bit slower and a whole lot better.

I am interested in the Conservatives’ plan to scrap the speed limit and in their alternative. Natasha Asghar says that 20 mph should apply on roads where there is a large pedestrian activity, such as outside busy places of worship, schools, playgrounds and high streets, hospitals, or places where other vulnerable road users may be encountered—and she confirms that from her position. They call that a commonsense approach, whereas the approach supported by two-thirds of Senedd Members is characterised as draconian.

So, let’s compare their approach and our approach. The Tories say that the speed limit should be 20 mph outside hospitals. Our guidance says that 20 mph should apply within 100m of hospitals. The Tories favour 20 mph outside schools and playgrounds. The guidance says that 20 mph should apply within 100m of any educational setting. So far, so good. The Tories support 20 mph on high streets. The guidance says that we expect streets within 100m of retail premises to be 20 mph. The Tories want 20 mph outside places of worship and places where other vulnerable road users may be encountered. Our guidance says that 20 mph is appropriate close to community centres, which includes churches, and within 100m of residential premises.

So, there is no difference of substance. The difference is purely about politics. It’s purely about opportunism. Support for 20 mph in this Chamber started with a Conservative. It was David Melding who did the running originally, with the support of Tory colleagues. When we brought the report of the expert taskforce to the Senedd, which recommended that we take a default speed limit approach—

Flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud bod y polisi 20 mya wedi cael ei feirniadu'n fawr, ond mae'n bolisi sy'n llwyddo i gyflawni ei ganlyniadau. Mae'r data hyd yma yn dangos bod cyflymderau cyfartalog wedi gostwng, fel y dywedasom y byddent yn ei wneud. Mae gwrthdrawiadau ar bob ffordd ar eu lefel isaf ers cyfyngiadau symud COVID. Mae nifer yr anafusion i lawr 32 y cant, sef yr ymyrraeth diogelwch ffyrdd fwyaf effeithiol sydd wedi'i gwneud. Ac mae bywydau wedi cael eu hachub: chwe marwolaeth yn llai yn y chwe mis cyntaf o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol.

Mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn dweud bod y polisi wedi bod yn drychinebus. Rwy'n credu bod y rhain yn ganlyniadau y gallwn fod yn falch ohonynt. A yw ein strategaeth wedi bod yn berffaith? Nac ydyw. Rwy'n canmol Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei holl waith yn ystod y chwe mis diwethaf i ymgysylltu â chymunedau a defnyddio synnwyr cyffredin lle mae ei angen. Pan fydd y broses honno wedi'i chwblhau, rwy'n gobeithio y gall yr heddlu ddechrau gorfodi yn yr ardaloedd lle nad yw cyflymderau'n gostwng, ac y gallwn i gyd gefnogi'r neges y dylai pethau fod ychydig yn arafach ac yn llawer gwell ar strydoedd lle mae pobl a thraffig yn cymysgu.

Mae gennyf ddiddordeb yng nghynllun y Ceidwadwyr i gael gwared ar y terfyn cyflymder a'u dewis amgen. Dywed Natasha Asghar y dylid gosod 20 mya ar ffyrdd lle mae llawer o bobl yn cerdded, megis y tu allan i addoldai prysur, ysgolion, meysydd chwarae a strydoedd mawr, ysbytai, neu fannau lle gellid dod ar draws defnyddwyr ffyrdd bregus eraill—ac mae hi'n cadarnhau hynny o'i sedd. Maent yn galw hynny'n ddull synnwyr cyffredin, tra bo'r dull a gefnogwyd gan ddwy ran o dair o Aelodau'r Senedd yn cael ei ddisgrifio fel dull rhy llym.

Felly, gadewch i ni gymharu eu dull hwy a'n dull ni. Dywed y Torïaid y dylai'r terfyn cyflymder fod yn 20 mya y tu allan i ysbytai. Dywed ein canllawiau ni y dylid gosod 20 mya o fewn 100m i ysbytai. Mae'r Torïaid yn ffafrio 20 mya y tu allan i ysgolion a meysydd chwarae. Mae'r canllawiau ni'n dweud y dylid gosod 20 mya o fewn 100m i unrhyw leoliad addysgol. Da iawn, cyn belled. Mae'r Torïaid yn cefnogi 20 mya ar y stryd fawr. Mae'r canllawiau ni'n dweud ein bod yn disgwyl i strydoedd o fewn 100m i safleoedd manwerthu fod yn 20 mya. Mae'r Torïaid eisiau 20 mya y tu allan i addoldai a mannau lle gellir dod ar draws defnyddwyr ffyrdd bregus eraill. Mae ein canllawiau ni'n dweud bod 20 mya yn briodol yn agos at ganolfannau cymunedol, sy'n cynnwys eglwysi, ac o fewn 100m i safleoedd preswyl.

Felly, nid oes gwahaniaeth o ran sylwedd. Mae'r gwahaniaeth yn ymwneud â gwleidyddiaeth yn unig. Mae'n ymwneud ag oportiwnistiaeth noeth. Dechreuodd y gefnogaeth i 20 mya yn y Siambr hon gyda Cheidwadwr. David Melding a ymgyrchodd amdano'n wreiddiol, gyda chefnogaeth cyd-Aelodau Torïaidd. Pan ddaethom ag adroddiad y tasglu arbenigol i'r Senedd, a argymhellodd y dylem osod terfyn cyflymder diofyn—

16:05

Will you take an intervention?

A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?

Let me make some progress. It had the support of the Tory leader at that time, and the bulk of the Tory MSs. It was only when they sensed an opportunity to turn this into a wedge issue that they changed their position. They now say that they want to scrap the law that has resulted in a 32 per cent fall in casualties. Darren. 

Gadewch imi wneud rhywfaint o gynnydd. Cafodd gefnogaeth arweinydd y Torïaid bryd hynny, a'r rhan fwyaf o'r Aelodau Torïaidd. Dim ond pan wnaethant synhwyro cyfle i droi hwn yn destun cynnen y gwnaethant newid eu safbwynt. Maent yn dweud nawr eu bod am gael gwared ar y gyfraith sydd wedi arwain at gwymp o 32 y cant yn nifer yr anafusion. Darren. 

I'm very grateful to you for taking the intervention. I was the policy director at the time that these matters were discussed, and I can assure you that it has never been the policy of the Welsh Conservative Party to support default 20 mph speed limits. What had been the case was that, in certain communities, members of the public were asking for 20 mph to be the default in their estates, and there were some occasions where that was supported by individual MSs.

I campaigned for 20 mph speed limits outside a couple of local schools in my own constituency, but I have never voted for default 20 mph speed limits. Some of the Members on these benches voted to support a pilot proceeding in order that they could be better informed about whether this was the right approach. And of course, when the evidence was published on the outcome of those pilots, they made it clear that that was not something that they supported—

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Fi oedd y cyfarwyddwr polisi pan drafodwyd y materion hyn, a gallaf eich sicrhau nad yw erioed wedi bod yn bolisi gan y Blaid Geidwadol Gymreig i gefnogi terfynau cyflymder diofyn 20 mya. Yr hyn a ddigwyddodd oedd bod aelodau o'r cyhoedd mewn rhai cymunedau yn gofyn am wneud 20 mya yn ddiofyn ar eu hystadau, ac roedd rhai achlysuron lle cefnogwyd hynny gan Aelodau unigol.

Ymgyrchais dros derfynau cyflymder 20 mya y tu allan i un neu ddwy o ysgolion lleol yn fy etholaeth fy hun, ond nid wyf erioed wedi pleidleisio dros derfynau cyflymder diofyn 20 mya. Pleidleisiodd rhai o'r Aelodau ar y meinciau hyn o blaid gweld cynllun peilot yn mynd rhagddo er mwyn iddynt gael gwell gwybodaeth i weld ai dyma'r dull cywir o weithredu. Ac wrth gwrs, pan gyhoeddwyd y dystiolaeth ar ganlyniad y treialon hynny, fe wnaethant yn glir nad oedd hynny'n rhywbeth yr oeddent yn ei gefnogi—

Thank you. Lee Waters to continue.

Diolch. Lee Waters i barhau.

It's a matter of public record that the 20 mph taskforce report, which came to this Chamber and had the support of the bulk of Conservative Members—excluding Darren Millar—recommended a default speed limit approach, and that was supported by two thirds of the Members of this Senedd, including a number of the Conservatives who are here today. That is a matter of fact.

You are now saying that you want to scrap the law, even though I can see no discernible difference between your alternative and ours. You want all the signs that you said we wasted money on to be pulled down. You say the legal orders that councils have worked hard to put in place should be ripped up. And instead of having one simple process to cover a whole area, they want to see a brand new legal order for every street—so, a new traffic regulation order for every road where there's a school, hospital, place of worship, playground, high street, and place where other vulnerable road users may be encountered. Each of these orders, Llywydd, would have to be drafted afresh, each one consulted on, each one passed through a separate process. And bear in mind, these cost £15,000 each—[Interruption.

Mae wedi'i gofnodi'n gyhoeddus fod adroddiad y tasglu 20 mya, a ddaeth i'r Siambr hon ac a gafodd gefnogaeth y rhan fwyaf o'r Aelodau Ceidwadol—ac eithrio Darren Millar—yn argymell dull terfyn cyflymder diofyn, a chefnogwyd hynny gan ddwy ran o dair o Aelodau'r Senedd hon, gan gynnwys nifer o'r Ceidwadwyr sydd yma heddiw. Mae honno'n ffaith.

Rydych chi nawr yn dweud eich bod chi eisiau cael gwared ar y ddeddfwriaeth, er na allaf weld unrhyw wahaniaeth amlwg rhwng eich dewis chi a'n hun ni. Rydych chi eisiau i'r holl arwyddion y dywedoch chi ein bod wedi gwastraffu arian arnynt gael eu tynnu i lawr. Rydych chi'n dweud y dylai'r gorchmynion cyfreithiol y mae cynghorau wedi gweithio'n galed i'w rhoi ar waith gael eu taflu ymaith. Ac yn lle cael un broses syml i gwmpasu ardal gyfan, maent eisiau gweld gorchymyn cyfreithiol newydd sbon ar gyfer pob stryd—felly, gorchymyn rheoleiddio traffig newydd ar gyfer pob ffordd lle mae ysgol, ysbyty, man addoli, maes chwarae, stryd fawr, a man lle gellid dod ar draws defnyddwyr ffyrdd bregus eraill. Byddai'n rhaid drafftio pob un o'r gorchmynion hyn o'r newydd, Lywydd, ymgynghori ar bob un, pasio pob un trwy broses ar wahân. A chofiwch, mae'r rhain yn costio £15,000 yr un—[Torri ar draws.]  

16:10

I can't hear the contribution. Can we hear it in its detail and in full, please? Lee Waters. 

Ni allaf glywed y cyfraniad. A gawn ni ei glywed yn ei fanylder ac yn llawn, os gwelwch yn dda? Lee Waters. 

They want a new road traffic regulation order on all of these roads, at £15,000 each, and they say that we're the ones wasting money. Far from a bonfire of regulations, their commonsense approach is a confetti cannon of red tape splurged across Wales. The real difference between us is that we are putting saving lives before politics. The real difference is that we have not set out to confuse or mislead. The real difference is we've not been dishonest or demonstrated moral turpitude, as the standards commissioner has found against the spokesperson for the Conservatives. And the real difference is, because of our approach, casualties are down by 32 per cent. This Christmas, Llywydd, there will be families who get to sit down together, around the dinner table, that would not have been able to had the Conservatives succeeded in blocking the change. That's the difference between us.

Maent eisiau gorchymyn rheoleiddio traffig ffyrdd newydd ar bob un o'r ffyrdd hyn, sef £15,000 yr un, ac maent yn dweud mai ni yw'r rhai sy'n gwastraffu arian. Ymhell o fod yn goelcerth o reoliadau, mae eu dull synnwyr cyffredin yn ganon conffeti o fiwrocratiaeth wedi ei gwasgaru ledled Cymru. Y gwahaniaeth go iawn rhyngom yw ein bod ni'n rhoi achub bywydau o flaen gwleidyddiaeth. Y gwahaniaeth go iawn yw nad ydym ni wedi mynd ati i geisio drysu neu gamarwain. Y gwahaniaeth go iawn yw nad ydym ni wedi bod yn anonest nac wedi dangos ysgelerder moesol, fel y mae'r comisiynydd safonau wedi ei ganfod yn erbyn llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr. A'r gwahaniaeth go iawn, oherwydd ein dull ni o weithredu, yw bod nifer yr anafusion i lawr 32 y cant. Y Nadolig hwn, Lywydd, bydd yna deuluoedd yn cael eistedd gyda'i gilydd o amgylch y ford ginio, na fyddai wedi gallu gwneud hynny pe bai'r Ceidwadwyr wedi llwyddo i rwystro'r newid. Dyna'r gwahaniaeth rhyngom.

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

The default 20 mph speed limit across the majority of residential roads in Wales has faced some of the most significant criticism to legislation I have ever witnessed. What was intended to improve road safety and reduce emissions has instead sparked widespread frustration, condemnation and opposition from the public, our local businesses and local authorities. Thirty-three million pounds has been spent on its implementation, which, as you can imagine, has angered those who feel that these moneys should have instead gone into our failing health service, or into our education budgets to fund the woeful shortage of teachers. 

One of the fundamental issues with its implementation was the distinct lack of consultation and engagement with those it would be affecting, i.e. our motorists, our carers, our workers, our residents, our emergency services, and, of course, our local transport systems. Such is the reputation of this very flawed legislation, there are now reports that visitors are in decline, for fear that they could be fined or gain points on their licence. And if you don't believe me, speak to the hospitality industry, who keep being asked, even before people make bookings, and then sometimes people are cancelling those bookings.

In defence of this policy coming forward, the then Minister Lee Waters passed the buck of responsibility for doing it to our local authorities charged with amending the road speeds and the appropriate signage. I don't condone this, but many of these signs were defaced or vandalised, such was the anger and frustration from people who have never ever engaged in any criminal activity.

Some of the problems relayed to me by constituents are that they, when sticking to the limit, are being aggressively tailgated by very frustrated drivers trying to navigate the constant changes in speed limit. I've got a road in Aberconwy that is 60 mph, then 40 mph, then 20 mph, then 60 mph, and people are really finding it difficult. Some are even ignoring the new restrictions, raising concerns that adherence to Welsh law is in decline, and that roads may be becoming more dangerous. There is even now doubt around whether the supposed reduction in emissions has happened, and that they have actually increased, due to many driving at a lower gear ratio. So, I might ask the Welsh Government: what have you done about this?

In north Wales, the 4 bus route between Bangor and Holyhead requires an extra 11 minutes in each direction, while buses 14 and 15, between Llysfaen and Conwy, need an extra five minutes each way. Indeed, Arriva have had to alter some bus routes in Aberconwy, causing a mountainside village to be completely cut off from the main bus route. 

Only last week, I highlighted to the Cabinet Secretary for transport that this legislation has a shocking reputation across the UK. In May, the Cabinet Secretary made a statement explaining that guidance was needed for which roads needed to be exempt, and that he would be supporting local authorities in doing that. The reports the next day in the media were 'Cabinet u-turn', or something, on this policy. Well, that was wrong. However, we are a year on from its implementation, and, despite the warm words from Ken Skates, we still have a default 20 mph on many of our roads.

The Welsh Government have already admitted the policy was badly implemented, and we are now in a situation where over 10,000 requests have been received by our hard-pressed local authorities up and down Wales, with over 1,500 stretches of road to be changed, yet nothing is being done. The petition opposing the policy has become the most signed in the history of this Senedd, reaching 469,571, and signatures are still going on there. A £34 million policy forced unwillingly on Welsh motorists will now see another £5 million spent to revert roads incorrectly changed to 20 mph, with councils across Wales that are already on their knees financially forced to clean up the mess left behind by you, Lee Waters, and by this Welsh Government. It's even left one ex-Minister's reputation in tatters, forcing him to resign from the post following the shocking backlash of the policy. You've even come out saying that the Welsh Government's messaging following the u-turn is completely botched, explaining that motorists are saying, 'It's all changing in September, so we don't need to bother even sticking to 20 mph.'

It is time for change, Members, and, anybody watching, you'll note that people are coming back in—

Mae'r terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20 mya ar draws y rhan fwyaf o ffyrdd preswyl yng Nghymru wedi wynebu peth o'r feirniadaeth fwyaf sylweddol i ddeddfwriaeth a welais erioed. Mae'r hyn a fwriadwyd i wella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd a lleihau allyriadau wedi sbarduno rhwystredigaeth, condemniad a gwrthwynebiad eang gan y cyhoedd, ein busnesau lleol ac awdurdodau lleol. Gwariwyd £33 miliwn ar ei weithredu, sydd, fel y gallwch ddychmygu, wedi gwylltio'r rhai sy'n teimlo y dylai'r arian hwnnw fod wedi mynd i'n gwasanaeth iechyd aflwyddiannus, neu i'n cyllidebau addysg i ariannu'r prinder truenus o athrawon. 

Un o'r problemau sylfaenol gyda'i weithredu oedd y diffyg ymgynghori ac ymgysylltu â'r rhai y byddai'n effeithio arnynt, h.y. ein modurwyr, ein gofalwyr, ein gweithwyr, ein preswylwyr, ein gwasanaethau brys, ac wrth gwrs, ein systemau trafnidiaeth lleol. Cymaint yw amhoblogrwydd y ddeddfwriaeth ddiffygiol hon, bellach fe geir adroddiadau fod niferoedd ymwelwyr yn gostwng, rhag ofn y gallent gael dirwy neu gael pwyntiau ar eu trwydded. Ac os nad ydych chi'n fy nghredu, siaradwch â'r diwydiant lletygarwch, y gofynnir iddynt yn gyson, hyd yn oed cyn i bobl drefnu gwyliau, ac mae pobl weithiau'n canslo'r archebion hynny.

Er mwyn amddiffyn y polisi hwn wrth symud ymlaen, trosglwyddodd y Gweinidog ar y pryd, Lee Waters, y cyfrifoldeb dros ei wneud i'n hawdurdodau lleol a gafodd y gwaith o ddiwygio cyflymder y ffyrdd a'r arwyddion priodol. Nid wyf yn cymeradwyo hyn, ond difwynwyd neu fandaleiddiwyd nifer o'r arwyddion hyn, cymaint oedd dicter a rhwystredigaeth pobl nad ydynt erioed wedi cymryd rhan mewn unrhyw weithgaredd troseddol.

Rhai o'r problemau a glywais gan etholwyr yw eu bod, wrth lynu at y terfyn cyflymder, yn cael gyrwyr rhwystredig, sy'n ceisio ymgodymu â'r newidiadau cyson yn y terfyn cyflymder, yn gyrru'n agos ac yn ymosodol y tu ôl iddynt. Mae gennyf ffordd yn Aberconwy sy'n 60 mya, yna'n 40 mya, yna'n 20 mya, yna'n 60 mya, ac mae pobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn. Mae rhai hyd yn oed yn anwybyddu'r cyfyngiadau newydd, gan godi pryderon fod lefelau cydymffurfio â chyfraith Cymru'n dirywio, ac y gallai ffyrdd fynd yn fwy peryglus. Mae yna amheuaeth nawr hyd yn oed a yw'r gostyngiad a ragdybiwyd mewn allyriadau wedi digwydd, a'u bod wedi cynyddu mewn gwirionedd, am fod llawer yn gyrru mewn gêr is. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru: beth ydych chi wedi'i wneud ynglŷn â hyn?

Yng ngogledd Cymru, mae llwybr bws 4 rhwng Bangor a Chaergybi angen 11 munud ychwanegol i bob cyfeiriad, tra bod angen pum munud ychwanegol ar fysiau 14 a 15 rhwng Llysfaen a Chonwy. Yn wir, mae Arriva wedi gorfod newid rhai llwybrau bysiau yn Aberconwy, gan beri i bentref ochr mynydd gael ei ddatgysylltu'n llwyr oddi ar y prif lwybr bysiau. 

Yr wythnos diwethaf, nodais wrth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth fod enw drwg iawn i'r ddeddfwriaeth hon ar draws y DU. Ym mis Mai, gwnaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad yn egluro bod angen canllawiau ar gyfer pa ffyrdd yr oedd angen eu heithrio, ac y byddai'n cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i wneud hynny. Y diwrnod canlynol yn y cyfryngau gwelwyd pennawd yn nodi bod y Cabinet wedi gwneud tro pedol, neu rywbeth, ar y polisi hwn. Wel, roedd hynny'n anghywir. Fodd bynnag, mae blwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers ei roi mewn grym, ac er gwaethaf y geiriau cynnes gan Ken Skates, mae gennym 20 mya diofyn ar lawer o'n ffyrdd o hyd.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi cyfaddef bod y ffordd y cafodd y polisi ei weithredu yn wael, ac rydym bellach mewn sefyllfa lle mae dros 10,000 o geisiadau wedi mynd at ein hawdurdodau lleol sydd dan bwysau ar hyd a lled Cymru, gyda dros 1,500 darn o ffordd i'w newid, ac eto nid oes dim yn cael ei wneud. Y ddeiseb sy'n gwrthwynebu'r polisi yw'r un sydd wedi cael y nifer fwyaf o lofnodion yn hanes y Senedd hon, gan gyrraedd 469,571, ac mae llofnodion yn dal i gael eu hychwanegu. Bydd polisi gwerth £34 miliwn sy'n cael ei orfodi'n ar fodurwyr Cymru nawr yn gweld £5 miliwn arall yn cael ei wario i droi ffyrdd a newidiwyd yn anghywir i 20 mya yn ôl, gyda chynghorau ledled Cymru sydd eisoes ar eu gliniau'n ariannol yn cael eu gorfodi i glirio'r llanast a adawyd ar ôl gennych chi, Lee Waters, a chan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hyd yn oed wedi gadael enw da un cyn-Weinidog yn yfflon, gan ei orfodi i ymddiswyddo o'r swydd yn dilyn adwaith brawychus i'r polisi. Rydych chi hyd yn oed wedi dweud bod negeseuon Llywodraeth Cymru yn dilyn y tro pedol yn llanast llwyr, gan egluro bod modurwyr yn dweud, 'Mae'r cyfan yn newid ym mis Medi, felly nid oes angen inni drafferthu cadw at 20 mya.'

Mae'n bryd newid, Aelodau, ac unrhyw un sy'n gwylio, fe fyddwch chi'n sylwi bod pobl yn dod yn ôl i mewn—

16:15

Janet, you need to conclude now, please.

Janet, mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.

—on the Labour and Plaid benches, but they've been largely absent during most of this—

—ar feinciau Llafur a Phlaid Cymru, ond maent wedi bod yn absennol i raddau helaeth yn ystod y rhan fwyaf o hyn—

Janet, you need to conclude, please. 

Janet, mae angen i chi orffen, os gwelwch yn dda. 

Yes. It is time for change and for a slick, quick, commonsense rollback, thereby allowing our motorists a choice and the freedom to enjoy their liberty.

Iawn. Mae'n bryd newid ac yn bryd cefnu ar hyn yn sydyn a chyda synnwyr cyffredin, gan ganiatáu dewis i'n modurwyr a hawl i fwynhau eu rhyddid.

I implore you to vote with us today. Together, we can reverse the current direction of travel and get Wales back moving. Diolch. 

Rwy'n erfyn arnoch i bleidleisio gyda ni heddiw. Gyda'n gilydd, gallwn wyrdroi'r cyfeiriad teithio presennol a chael Cymru yn ôl i symud. Diolch. 

We carried out a speed limit review when I was a cabinet member in Flintshire. You have to do them so often because of new developments, accidents and petitions, local petitions. It took about five years to do, drawing up plans, consulting, writing and advertising legal notices, putting all the signs in place and working through the anomalies, because you do get anomalies. With any major speed limit review, there are anomalies and variables to be worked through afterwards, which could be based on further challenges with accident data and character of the road. 

There is no appetite for local authorities, who are the highway authority, to scrap the 20 mph, which has been in place a year, and to start again. They just haven't got the resources. I stand by the north-east Wales authorities who said that the initial guidelines were too strict, limiting what could be made up to 30 mph, a point I made time and time again over, trying to resolve it. They had to evidence that a route is not used by walkers and cyclists, but the Welsh Government criteria did not define how many walkers and cyclists, which they felt they needed. And I felt at the time Welsh Government should have listened to the concerns of local authorities, as they are the delivery bodies of the legislation. So, if they say there is an issue, Welsh Government needs to work with them to resolve the issues at the early stages, as it's happening. 

It's the local authorities who must deal with the liability of their decisions, based on interpretation of the legislation. It needs to be as clear as possible should there be a challenge if there's an accident, or if residents question why there is not a similar restriction in the area that they live in. The density of 20 houses within 1 km is too high and needs to be removed, going forward. This was recently agreed by Welsh Government officials and the 20 mph task group, as well as other stakeholders at meetings I attended.

The roll-out of 20 mph and the density issue has been a particular concern in north-east Wales, where there is a lot of inter-urban connectivity and ribbon developments of houses along these arterial routes, which are an issue. You can travel from one town centre to another with the speed limit continually being at 20 mph because of the density of houses built along the road. That's the case from Buckley to Mold, which is why we have a lot of complaints from Buckley. This has also caused an issue for bus timetable compliance in the region, and a return to 30 mph for some of the arterial routes will be welcomed by the industry. We also need to include some roads that haven't been made 20 mph, and I feel they should be. 

Fe wnaethom gynnal adolygiad o'r terfyn cyflymder pan oeddwn yn aelod cabinet yn sir y Fflint. Mae'n rhaid i chi eu gwneud bob hyn a hyn oherwydd datblygiadau newydd, damweiniau a deisebau, deisebau lleol. Cymerodd tua phum mlynedd i'w wneud, llunio cynlluniau, ymgynghori, ysgrifennu a hysbysebu hysbysiadau cyfreithiol, rhoi'r holl arwyddion ar waith a gweithio trwy'r anghysonderau, oherwydd fe gewch chi anghysonderau. Gydag unrhyw adolygiad mawr o derfyn cyflymder, mae anghysonderau a newidynnau i weithio drwyddynt, a allai fod yn seiliedig ar heriau pellach gyda data damweiniau a natur y ffordd. 

Nid oes unrhyw awydd i weld awdurdodau lleol, sef yr awdurdodau priffyrdd, yn cael gwared ar yr 20 mya a fu'n weithredol ers blwyddyn, a dechrau eto. Nid oes ganddynt yr adnoddau. Rwy'n sefyll gydag awdurdodau gogledd ddwyrain Cymru a ddywedodd fod y canllawiau cychwynnol yn rhy llym, gan gyfyngu ar yr hyn y gellid ei godi i 30 mya, pwynt a wneuthum dro ar ôl tro, a cheisio ei ddatrys. Roedd yn rhaid iddynt ddangos tystiolaeth nad yw llwybr yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan gerddwyr a beicwyr, ond nid oedd meini prawf Llywodraeth Cymru yn diffinio faint o gerddwyr a beicwyr, a theimlent fod angen hynny arnynt. Ac roeddwn i'n teimlo ar y pryd y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod wedi gwrando ar bryderon awdurdodau lleol, gan mai hwy yw cyrff cyflawni'r ddeddfwriaeth. Felly, os ydynt hwy'n dweud bod problem, mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda hwy i ddatrys y problemau ar y camau cynnar, wrth iddo ddigwydd. 

Yr awdurdodau lleol sy'n gorfod ymdrin ag atebolrwydd am eu penderfyniadau, yn seiliedig ar ddehongliad o'r ddeddfwriaeth. Mae angen iddo fod mor glir â phosibl pe bai her os oes damwain, neu os yw trigolion yn cwestiynu pam nad oes cyfyngiad tebyg yn yr ardal y maent yn byw ynddi. Mae dwysedd o 20 o dai o fewn 1 km yn rhy uchel ac mae angen cael gwared arno wrth symud ymlaen. Cytunwyd ar hyn yn ddiweddar gan swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a'r grŵp gorchwyl 20 mya, yn ogystal â rhanddeiliaid eraill mewn cyfarfodydd a fynychais.

Mae'r broses o gyflwyno 20 mya a'r mater dwysedd wedi bod yn bryder arbennig yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, lle mae llawer o gysylltedd rhwng dinasoedd a datblygiadau rhuban o dai ar hyd y llwybrau prifwythiennol hyn, sy'n broblem. Gallwch deithio o un canol tref i'r llall gyda'r terfyn cyflymder yn parhau i fod yn 20 mya oherwydd y dwysedd tai a adeiladwyd ar hyd y ffordd. Dyna fel y mae rhwng Bwcle a'r Wyddgrug, a dyna pam y mae gennym lawer o gwynion o Bwcle. Mae hyn hefyd wedi achosi problem o ran cydymffurfiaeth ag amserlenni bysiau yn y rhanbarth, a bydd y diwydiant yn croesawu newid yn ôl i 30 mya ar rai o'r llwybrau prifwythiennol. Mae angen i ni hefyd gynnwys rhai ffyrdd nad ydynt wedi cael eu gwneud yn rhai 20 mya, ac rwy'n teimlo y dylent fod. 

16:20

Will you take an intervention, Carolyn? You list many of the complexities there about local authorities trying to navigate some of the guidance, and obviously there's a disparity between local authorities, and obviously resources is an issue that you've highlighted as well. Would it just be easier if we scrapped it and just went back to 30 mph, because all those complexities would just fade away?

A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad, Carolyn? Rydych chi'n rhestru llawer o'r cymhlethdodau ynghylch awdurdodau lleol sy'n ceisio llywio drwy'r canllawiau, ac yn amlwg mae gwahaniaeth rhwng awdurdodau lleol, ac yn amlwg mae adnoddau yn fater y tynnoch chi sylw ato hefyd. Oni fyddai'n haws pe byddem yn cael gwared arno a newid yn ôl i 30 mya, oherwydd byddai'r cymhlethdodau hynny i gyd yn diflannu?

No, that's—. No. I did say it's a complex issue. It took five years when we did a speed limit review locally, so it would just take too much time to start again, so we need to work with what we have now.

So, a local road that is outside riding for the disabled, there's a blind summit—they would like to have 20 mph there, but it doesn't hit the criteria, because they don't have street lights or the density of houses. So, there are some roads that need to actually be included in the 20 mph, so that needs to be looked at as part of the guidelines going forward, and flexibility. It's the same in Tywyn and by Alyn Waters.

This is now a crucial time. The Welsh Government needs to work with all local authorities—. I think I've got time to take another intervention.

Na, mae hynny—. Na fyddai. Dywedais ei fod yn fater cymhleth. Cymerodd bum mlynedd pan wnaethom adolygiad terfyn cyflymder yn lleol, felly byddai'n cymryd gormod o amser i ddechrau eto, felly mae angen inni weithio gyda'r hyn sydd gennym nawr.

Felly, ffordd leol sydd y tu allan i leoliad marchogaeth i'r anabl, lle mae yna gopa anweladwy—fe hoffent gael 20 mya yno, ond nid yw'n bodloni'r meini prawf, am nad oes ganddynt oleuadau stryd na'r dwysedd tai. Felly, mae angen cynnwys rhai ffyrdd yn yr 20 mya mewn gwirionedd, felly mae angen edrych ar hynny fel rhan o'r canllawiau wrth symud ymlaen, a hyblygrwydd. Mae'r un peth yn wir yn Nhywyn ac wrth Ddyfroedd Alun.

Mae'n adeg dyngedfennol. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda phob awdurdod lleol—. Rwy'n credu bod gennyf amser i dderbyn ymyriad arall.

Okay. Thank you very much, Carolyn, because I'm intrigued by your thinking that north-east Wales has got one single set of problems, because, looking at the statistics, Conwy has 149 roads where they've queried it, and then Flintshire has 956, and I just think the difference in two very similar areas has something to do with the competency of the local authority concerned and the amount of effort they've put into analysing what makes for sensible solutions.

O'r gorau. Diolch yn fawr, Carolyn, oherwydd mae gennyf ddiddordeb yn yr hyn a ddywedwch, fod gan ogledd-ddwyrain Cymru un set o broblemau, oherwydd, o edrych ar yr ystadegau, mae gan Conwy 149 o ffyrdd y maent wedi codi cwestiynau yn eu cylch, ac mae gan sir y Fflint 956, ac rwy'n credu bod gan y gwahaniaeth mewn dwy ardal debyg iawn rywbeth i'w wneud â chymhwysedd yr awdurdod lleol dan sylw a faint o ymdrech a wnaethant i ddadansoddi beth sy'n ddatrysiadau synhwyrol.

Can I just come in? Can I just come in? You're saying competency—thank you. That's not fair, okay. I've worked with highway officers as a cabinet member, and in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Flintshire, highway officers need to have black and white legislation for them, as I said, should there be an accident there, so they can stand behind this black and white legislation, it's clear to them, such as—. Like planning officers as well, they need to have black and white guidelines. And they were concerned about applying that flexibility to it, which maybe some areas have. So, Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire, they do have this inter-urban connectivity and a lot of density of houses, so, if that criteria of density is removed, it will make it a lot easier.

This is now a crucial time. The Welsh Government needs to work with our local authorities to reassure highway officers that there has been a change and flexibility can be applied, with those authorities that are concerned about their liability or flexibility, based on the character of the roads—under the old highway legislation, you could make some exceptions, based on the character of the road—as they go through this critical period—

A gaf i ddod i mewn? A gaf i ddod i mewn? Rydych chi'n dweud cymhwysedd—diolch. Nid yw hynny'n deg. Rwyf wedi gweithio gyda swyddogion priffyrdd fel aelod cabinet, ac yn Wrecsam, sir Ddinbych, sir y Fflint, mae angen i swyddogion priffyrdd gael deddfwriaeth mewn du a gwyn ar eu cyfer, fel y dywedais, pe bai damwain yno, fel y gallant sefyll y tu ôl i'r ddeddfwriaeth ddu a gwyn honno, a'i bod hi'n glir iddynt, fel—. Fel swyddogion cynllunio hefyd, mae angen iddynt gael canllawiau mewn du a gwyn. Ac roeddent yn poeni am gymhwyso'r hyblygrwydd hwnnw iddo, y gallai rhai ardaloedd fod wedi'i wneud. Felly, Wrecsam, sir y Fflint a sir Ddinbych, mae ganddynt gysylltedd rhyng-drefol a llawer o ddwysedd tai, felly, os yw'r maen prawf dwysedd yn cael ei ddileu, bydd yn ei gwneud hi'n llawer haws.

Mae hon bellach yn adeg dyngedfennol. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol i dawelu meddyliau swyddogion priffyrdd fod newid wedi bod ac y gellir cymhwyso hyblygrwydd, gyda'r awdurdodau sy'n pryderu am eu hatebolrwydd neu eu hyblygrwydd, yn seiliedig ar natur y ffyrdd—o dan hen ddeddfwriaeth priffyrdd, gallech wneud rhai eithriadau'n seiliedig ar natur y ffordd—wrth iddynt fynd drwy'r adeg dyngedfennol hon—

I have given you some additional time for the interventions.

Rwyf wedi rhoi peth amser ychwanegol i chi ar gyfer yr ymyriadau.

—I will sum up now—assessing roads—I took two interventions—that have been put forward—

—fe wnaf grynhoi nawr—asesu ffyrdd—cymerais ddau ymyriad—sydd wedi eu cyflwyno—

I've given you additional time for those interventions.

Rwyf wedi rhoi amser ychwanegol i chi ar gyfer yr ymyriadau hynny.

—thank you—for exemptions based on local knowledge and bus industry knowledge. Thank you.

—diolch—am eithriadau yn seiliedig ar wybodaeth leol a gwybodaeth y diwydiant bysiau. Diolch.

Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru, Ken Skates.

I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'd like to begin by thanking the Conservatives for bringing forward this debate today. And whilst we've tabled several Government amendments, I would like to reiterate to the Conservatives what I said in response to questions last week, and that is that I don't think that we're too far apart on this issue, the only difference being that we have a different route to ensure that we have the right speeds in the right places.

This policy was brought in to make places safer, and police data clearly and unequivocally shows that collisions on 20 mph and 30 mph roads have reduced since the introduction of 20 mph, the lowest on record outside the COVID pandemic period. Now, it's only been in place for a year, and there is some way to go, and I anticipate numbers may fluctuate, but I think it's encouraging to see that things are moving in the right direction. And if Members are in any doubt of the figures, then I invite the relevant committee here in the Senedd to conduct an assurance review of them. And Dirprwy Lywydd, as many Members have already said today, every casualty reduced makes a real difference, and I would hope that all Members in this Chamber agree that any policy that saves lives is a good thing.

Now, highlighted by today's debate, it does continue to divide opinion. I accept that. Members and I had the opportunity to acknowledge the petition back in May this year in response to the Petitions Committee debate, and I'll repeat what I said then to everyone that has signed the petition: I can guarantee that we are listening. Earlier this year, I announced a three-phase plan for 20 mph, which included a national listening programme, and over the summer we engaged with people, businesses and communities right across Wales to share views particularly on roads that should retain the 20 mph limit and which should revert back to 30 mph. Members have identified that more than 10,000 people have identified routes that should change, and this input has been vital in shaping the next steps.

Now, following completion of the first two phases of our plan, the listening programme and working in partnership with councils, we've now entered the third phase: making changes on the ground. Our updated guidance acknowledges that 20 mph is suitable where people regularly mix with motorised traffic, including in built-up residential areas and near schools and hospitals. For main roads that service strategic routes, a 30 mph limit can be set, provided it's safe to do so. So, our revised guidance introduces a framework to support councils to make more balanced decisions, and if councils decide to adjust speed limits on specific roads, they'll commence the process of the statutory traffic regulation orders, providing another opportunity for public engagement, and this will ensure that decisions remain transparent, and that communities continue to be involved in these local choices at every stage. We've also made, as Members are aware, funding available to support local authorities to make changes, and we'll continue to support them through this process.

It's worth saying that new 20 mph limits are being introduced across England and Scotland as well. Now, things could have been done differently, and this was never going to be an easy policy to implement. It's led to the biggest step change in road safety for a generation, and we'll continue to monitor the long-term trend to evaluate the economic health and environmental impacts of the policy. This will include a five-year evaluation, providing a process evaluation report by 2025, a mid-term evaluation report by April 2027, and a final impact evaluation report by 2029. Now, the international evidence is clear: lower speeds save lives. There are fewer collisions, fewer deaths and fewer severe injuries, reducing the devastation to individuals and their families. But, as with all policies, we know that there is more that we can do. We have listened, and we have worked together. Now, over the next few months, we'll begin to see changes ensuring that the right speeds are set on the right roads, continuing to make Wales's roads safer for everyone, whilst keeping the economy moving and communities connected.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r Ceidwadwyr am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon heddiw. Ac er ein bod wedi cyflwyno sawl gwelliant gan y Llywodraeth, hoffwn ailadrodd i'r Ceidwadwyr yr hyn a ddywedais mewn ymateb i gwestiynau yr wythnos diwethaf, sef nad wyf yn credu ein bod yn rhy bell ar wahân ar y mater hwn, a'r unig wahaniaeth yw bod gennym lwybr gwahanol tuag at sicrhau bod gennym y cyflymderau cywir yn y mannau cywir.

Cyflwynwyd y polisi hwn i wneud lleoedd yn fwy diogel, ac mae data'r heddlu'n dangos yn glir ac yn ddiamwys fod nifer y gwrthdrawiadau ar ffyrdd 20 mya a 30 mya wedi gostwng ers cyflwyno 20 mya, y lefel isaf erioed heblaw am gyfnod y pandemig COVID. Nawr, blwyddyn yn unig sydd wedi mynd heibio ers iddo ddod yn weithredol, ac mae rhywfaint o ffordd i fynd, ac rwy'n rhagweld y gallai'r ffigurau amrywio, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn galonogol gweld bod pethau'n symud i'r cyfeiriad cywir. Ac os yw'r Aelodau'n amau'r ffigurau, rwy'n gwahodd y pwyllgor perthnasol yma yn y Senedd i gynnal adolygiad sicrwydd ohonynt. A Ddirprwy Lywydd, fel y mae llawer o'r Aelodau eisoes wedi dweud heddiw, mae pob un anaf yn llai yn gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol, ac rwy'n gobeithio bod pob Aelod yn y Siambr hon yn cytuno bod unrhyw bolisi sy'n achub bywydau yn beth da.

Nawr, fel y gwelwyd yn y ddadl heddiw, mae'n parhau i rannu barn. Rwy'n derbyn hynny. Cafodd yr Aelodau a minnau gyfle i gydnabod y ddeiseb yn ôl ym mis Mai eleni mewn ymateb i ddadl y Pwyllgor Deisebau, ac fe wnaf ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedais bryd hynny wrth bawb sydd wedi llofnodi'r ddeiseb: gallaf sicrhau ein bod yn gwrando. Yn gynharach eleni, cyhoeddais gynllun tri cham ar gyfer 20 mya, a oedd yn cynnwys rhaglen wrando genedlaethol, a thros yr haf fe wnaethom ymgysylltu â phobl, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru i rannu safbwyntiau, yn enwedig ar ffyrdd a ddylai gadw'r terfyn 20 mya a'r rhai a ddylai newid yn ôl i 30 mya. Mae Aelodau wedi nodi bod mwy na 10,000 o bobl wedi nodi llwybrau a ddylai newid, ac mae'r mewnbwn hwn wedi bod yn hanfodol wrth lunio'r camau nesaf.

Nawr, ar ôl cwblhau dau gam cyntaf ein cynllun, y rhaglen wrando a gweithio mewn partneriaeth â chynghorau, rydym bellach wedi dechrau ar y trydydd cam: gwneud newidiadau ar lawr gwlad. Mae ein canllawiau sydd wedi'u diweddaru yn cydnabod bod 20 mya yn addas lle mae pobl yn cymysgu'n rheolaidd â thraffig modur, gan gynnwys mewn ardaloedd preswyl adeiledig a ger ysgolion ac ysbytai. Ar gyfer prif ffyrdd sy'n gwasanaethu llwybrau strategol, gellir gosod terfyn o 30 mya, ar yr amod ei bod yn ddiogel gwneud hynny. Felly, mae ein canllawiau diwygiedig yn cyflwyno fframwaith i gefnogi cynghorau i wneud penderfyniadau mwy cytbwys, ac os bydd cynghorau'n penderfynu addasu terfynau cyflymder ar ffyrdd penodol, byddant yn dechrau ar broses y gorchmynion rheoleiddio traffig statudol, gan roi cyfle arall i ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd, a bydd hyn yn sicrhau bod penderfyniadau'n parhau i fod yn dryloyw, a bod cymunedau'n parhau i fod yn rhan o'r dewisiadau lleol hyn ar bob cam. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, rydym hefyd wedi rhyddhau cyllid i gynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol i wneud newidiadau, a byddwn yn parhau i'w cefnogi trwy'r broses hon.

Mae'n werth dweud bod terfynau 20 mya newydd yn cael eu cyflwyno ar draws Lloegr a'r Alban hefyd. Nawr, gallai pethau fod wedi cael eu gwneud yn wahanol, ac nid oedd hwn byth yn mynd i fod yn bolisi hawdd i'w weithredu. Mae wedi arwain at y newid mwyaf mewn diogelwch ffyrdd ers cenhedlaeth, a byddwn yn parhau i fonitro'r duedd hirdymor i werthuso effeithiau iechyd economaidd ac amgylcheddol y polisi. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys gwerthusiad pum mlynedd, gan ddarparu adroddiad gwerthuso prosesau erbyn 2025, adroddiad gwerthuso canol tymor erbyn mis Ebrill 2027, ac adroddiad gwerthuso effaith terfynol erbyn 2029. Nawr, mae'r dystiolaeth ryngwladol yn glir: mae cyflymderau is yn achub bywydau. Ceir llai o wrthdrawiadau, llai o farwolaethau a llai o anafiadau difrifol, gan leihau'r dinistr i unigolion a'u teuluoedd. Ond fel gyda phob polisi, rydym yn gwybod bod mwy y gallwn ei wneud. Rydym wedi gwrando ac rydym wedi gweithio gyda'n gilydd. Nawr, dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf, byddwn yn dechrau gweld newidiadau i sicrhau bod y cyflymderau cywir yn cael eu gosod ar y ffyrdd cywir, gan barhau i wneud ffyrdd Cymru'n fwy diogel i bawb, gan gadw'r economi i symud a chysylltu cymunedau ar yr un pryd.

16:25

Cabinet Secretary, will you take an intervention from Darren Millar?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad gan Darren Millar?

I'm very grateful for your taking the intervention, Cabinet Secretary. I know we have our differences on many matters, but one of the things that we also need the Welsh Government to look at in terms of road safety is the speed limits on the trunk road network. We do have many areas where there are inappropriate speed limits, with the speed limit being far too fast; I've raised many of them in this Chamber with you and your predecessors in the past, but there seems to just be no action to address them. Why is it that you force local authorities to comply with very short timescales to react to changing limits on these default roads, but you're not using the same passion and energy as a Welsh Government to get to grips with the inappropriate speeds on your trunk roads?

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi am dderbyn yr ymyriad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwy'n gwybod bod gennym farn wahanol ar lawer o faterion, ond un o'r pethau y mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych arno hefyd o ran diogelwch ffyrdd yw'r terfynau cyflymder ar y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd. Mae gennym lawer o ardaloedd lle ceir cyfyngiadau cyflymder amhriodol, gyda'r terfyn cyflymder yn llawer rhy gyflym; rwyf wedi nodi llawer ohonynt yn y Siambr hon gyda chi a'ch rhagflaenwyr yn y gorffennol, ond mae'n ymddangos nad oes unrhyw gamau i fynd i'r afael â hwy. Pam ydych chi'n gorfodi awdurdodau lleol i gydymffurfio â therfynau amser byr iawn i ymateb i gyfyngiadau sy'n newid ar y ffyrdd diofyn hyn, ond nad ydych chi'n dangos yr un angerdd ac egni fel Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r cyflymderau amhriodol ar eich cefnffyrdd?

Well, can I thank Darren Millar for the point that he's made and welcome the fact that a Conservative is pushing for safer speeds on our roads, lower speeds, where appropriate? I can guarantee Members that once this particular policy area is settled, the attention of our officials will then switch swiftly to ensuring that the right speeds on our trunk road network are in place, and that will include those communities that Darren Millar has raised concerns about in recent months. 

Dirprwy Lywydd, thank you for the opportunity to respond to this debate.

Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Darren Millar am y pwynt y mae wedi'i wneud a chroesawu'r ffaith bod Ceidwadwr yn pwyso am gyflymder mwy diogel ar ein ffyrdd, cyflymder is, lle bo hynny'n briodol? Pan fydd y maes polisi penodol hwn wedi'i gyflawni, gallaf sicrhau'r Aelodau y bydd sylw ein swyddogion wedyn yn troi'n gyflym at sicrhau bod y cyflymderau cywir ar waith ar ein rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd, a bydd hynny'n cynnwys y cymunedau y mae Darren Millar wedi codi pryderon yn eu cylch yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf. 

Ddirprwy Lywydd, diolch am y cyfle i ymateb i'r ddadl hon.

Galwaf ar Peter Fox i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Peter Fox to reply to the debate.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you, everybody who has contributed today. As I said in other contributions in this Chamber about this and other things, leadership requires the ability to admit when things are wrong. Decision makers have to be honest and find solutions to put things right, and, fair play, people have acknowledged that they've got this wrong, but we need to now put it right. The simple truth is this whole thing has been handled poorly. As we've heard, almost 0.5 million people told us so and signed a petition, the largest petition in the Senedd's history. And we've heard from Natasha, in opening this debate, that we can't ignore people, and she will continue to stand up against this policy, as she's done all the way through. Anger and frustration, she says, still remain, and we can feel that. We can feel it in the Chamber today. Seven out 10 people still oppose the policy, and she reminded us of that petition of 500,000 plus people, the £33 million-worth of investment, the implications for the economy, and how other wasteful projects have happened in the same vein.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i chi, bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu heddiw. Fel y dywedais mewn cyfraniadau eraill yn y Siambr am hyn a phethau eraill, mae arweinyddiaeth yn galw am y gallu i gyfaddef pan fo pethau'n anghywir. Mae'n rhaid i'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau fod yn onest a dod o hyd i atebion i gywiro pethau, a chwarae teg, mae pobl wedi cydnabod eu bod wedi gwneud hyn yn y ffordd anghywir, ond mae angen inni ei gywiro nawr. Y gwir syml yw bod yr holl beth wedi'i drin yn wael. Fel y clywsom, dywedodd bron i 0.5 miliwn o bobl hynny wrthym ac arwyddo deiseb, y ddeiseb fwyaf yn hanes y Senedd. Ac rydym wedi clywed gan Natasha, wrth agor y ddadl hon, na allwn anwybyddu pobl, a bydd hi'n parhau i wrthwynebu'r polisi hwn, fel y mae hi wedi'i wneud o'r dechrau. Mae dicter a rhwystredigaeth, meddai, yn parhau, a gallwn deimlo hynny. Gallwn ei deimlo yn y Siambr heddiw. Mae saith o bob 10 o bobl yn dal i wrthwynebu'r polisi, ac fe wnaeth ein hatgoffa ynglŷn â'r ddeiseb o 500,000 a mwy o bobl, y gwerth £33 miliwn o fuddsoddiad, y goblygiadau i'r economi, a sut y mae prosiectau gwastraffus eraill wedi digwydd yn yr un modd.

Peredur supports 20 mph and suggested that a reduction in accidents has happened. He gave us several statistics. We've heard lots of statistics today, often contradicting each other. But he went on to criticise the Labour Government's handling, and I think we can all agree with that, that there was poor consultation. Sam Kurtz intervened and asked, 'Why did Plaid Cymru support a policy when they knew the consultation hadn't taken place and it would fail?' We didn't really get a successful answer to that.

Mike Hedges spoke of stopping distances, et cetera, and the importance of those, and that there may be a benefit in insurance premiums. That was challenged, as we heard, later on. And we agree with Mike. Everybody agrees in this Chamber that 20 mph should be in place on those residential streets. Nobody disagrees with that and never have, as I recall. But the key issue is around the default. And we agree, though, that roads should be dealt with on their merits.

Gareth Davies pointed out the need to take a moment to reflect, to remind us of the past and how Ministers acknowledged things weren't handled well. He pointed out the impact on our tourism and our business services and how the new guidance gave false hope because nothing is actually seen to be happening on the ground.

John Griffiths supports the policy, as he's done many times before, and supported a need for a review, recognising again that there were issues, but pointed out that road safety didn't seem to be important to the Conservatives. Well, that is absolute rubbish. It certainly is. He believes the policy is a success.

Mark Isherwood said the Welsh Government ignored all of the credible data, dismissed research from Belfast, Cambridge and Spain. We need to rescind this law. He gave compelling evidence and data, again contradicting many of the other things we've heard here. And I welcome what the Cabinet Secretary said at the end, about perhaps needing a committee to review the data and get to the bottom of this.

Lee Waters, a year ago, and much has been criticised, but he says the data says that casualties are down and six lives have been saved. He acknowledged it hasn't been perfect. But then he went on—and this is often the case in here—to conflate 20 mph with the default. And there are two different things. None of us are unhappy with 20 mph in appropriate places, in zones, as was played out. The issue we had was the fact it was levelled as a default across 97 per cent of all 30 mph roads. I was putting 20 mph limits in around schools years ago, and many other authorities have done that, and that's what's happened in England. Many 20 mph zones, where appropriate, but they didn't slap a default on everywhere else in their counties, and that's the contentious bit. So, it's very easy to conflate, to misconstrue the situation and our argument, when the real issue for us is the fact it was a default. And Darren clarified our position, and I welcome his clarity on that.

Janet Finch-Saunders, on this she's faced more anger than anything she has ever experienced. On the money wasted, she expressed the anger of constituents and the huge pressure now our councils. Carolyn pointed out that speed limit reviews take an awful long time, and they throw up anomalies, and suggested that councils haven't got the appetite to do more and can't afford to revert this policy. But she recognised that some roads being reverted would be welcome. And we need to work with what we've got, she suggests.

Cabinet Secretary, I thank you for your approach in the way you've addressed this situation. You recognise very clearly, even though you have to be careful how you talk about this, that things haven't been done that well, and I welcome some of the steps you are trying to make to put it right. I think, though, we believe the right way would be to rescind it and go back to doing something more sensible in the first place. But you were encouraged by progress. You acknowledged that there is a difference of opinion. You pointed out the three-phase plan that you have, and pointed out that England and Scotland have 20 mph zones. But they haven't got the 20 mph defaults—I go back to this conflation—and we welcome this longer term evaluation. Sadly, though, when we hear that, it sounds like we're not going to be rescinding anything.

So, Members, it's time to move on. None of us in this place are against 20 mph speed limits. I've said that again. We've all said it. Everybody's saying it. They are effective in addressing road safety in targeted areas, and the areas we all recognise. I have said from the outset that the Government could have achieved so much more by working with local councils, local politicians and local communities, using £33 million to help roll out more 20 mph zones where those local communities needed them. This policy has become a huge obstacle, and it was unnecessary.

Darren pointed out the issue of trunk road speed limits, and I'll point out an example of that. One very pertinent example is in my constituency, affecting the A48 trunk road running through Chepstow, which was dropped to 20 mph overnight, and now we're told we've got to wait 18 months before this can be reversed. This demonstrates how ridiculous this policy has become, and we need pragmatism, a pragmatic Government that can recognise it's done things wrong, revert things back to how they used to be, accept this and put it down to experience, and let us move on. Deputy Llywydd, the Welsh Government now needs to admit they got it wrong, repeal the default speed limit, and work with Welsh local authorities to deliver a targeted approach to implementing appropriate speed limits.

Mae Peredur yn cefnogi 20 mya ac wedi awgrymu bod gostyngiad wedi bod yn nifer y damweiniau. Rhoddodd nifer o ystadegau i ni. Rydym wedi clywed llawer o ystadegau heddiw, ac yn aml maent yn gwrth-ddweud ei gilydd. Ond aeth ymlaen i feirniadu'r ffordd yr aeth y Llywodraeth Lafur ati i roi hyn ar waith, a chredaf y gall pob un ohonom gytuno â hynny, fod yr ymgynghori'n wael. Ymyrrodd Sam Kurtz a gofyn, 'Pam y cefnogodd Plaid Cymru bolisi pan oeddent yn gwybod nad oedd yr ymgynghoriad wedi'i gynnal ac y byddai'n aflwyddiannus?' Ni chawsom ateb synhwyrol i hynny mewn gwirionedd.

Soniodd Mike Hedges am bellteroedd stopio, ac ati, a'u pwysigrwydd, ac y gallai fod budd mewn premiymau yswiriant. Cafodd hynny ei herio, fel y clywsom yn nes ymlaen. Ac rydym yn cytuno â Mike. Mae pawb yn y Siambr yn cytuno y dylai 20 mya fod ar waith ar y strydoedd preswyl hynny. Nid oes unrhyw un erioed wedi anghytuno â hynny, yn ôl yr hyn a gofiaf. Ond mae'r mater allweddol yn ymwneud â'r elfen ddiofyn. Ac rydym yn cytuno, serch hynny, y dylid ymdrin â ffyrdd yn eu rhinwedd eu hunain.

Tynnodd Gareth Davies sylw at yr angen i gymryd eiliad i fyfyrio, i’n hatgoffa o’r gorffennol a sut y cydnabu Gweinidogion nad oedd pethau wedi'u rhoi ar waith yn dda. Tynnodd sylw at yr effaith ar ein twristiaeth a’n gwasanaethau busnes a sut roedd y canllawiau newydd yn rhoi gobaith ffug gan nad oes unrhyw beth i'w weld yn digwydd ar lawr gwlad.

Mae John Griffiths yn cefnogi’r polisi, fel y mae wedi’i wneud droeon o’r blaen, a chefnogodd yr angen am adolygiad, gan gydnabod unwaith eto fod problemau, ond tynnodd sylw at y ffaith nad oedd diogelwch ffyrdd yn bwysig i'r Ceidwadwyr yn ôl pob golwg. Wel, mae hynny'n nonsens llwyr. Mae'n credu bod y polisi yn llwyddiant.

Dywedodd Mark Isherwood fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi anwybyddu’r holl ddata credadwy, gan wfftio ymchwil o Belfast, Caergrawnt a Sbaen. Mae angen inni ddileu'r gyfraith hon. Rhoddodd dystiolaeth gymhellol a data, a oedd unwaith eto'n gwrth-ddweud llawer o'r pethau eraill a glywsom yma. Ac rwy'n croesawu'r hyn a ddywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar y diwedd, fod angen pwyllgor, o bosibl, i adolygu’r data a mynd at wraidd hyn.

Lee Waters, flwyddyn yn ôl, ac mae llawer wedi'i feirniadu, ond dywed fod y data'n dangos bod nifer yr anausion wedi gostwng a chwe bywyd wedi'u hachub. Roedd yn cydnabod nad yw pethau wedi bod yn berffaith. Ond yna aeth yn ei flaen—ac mae hyn yn aml yn digwydd yn y fan hon—i gyfuno 20 mya â'r terfyn diofyn. Ac mae dau beth gwahanol yma. Nid oes yr un ohonom yn anfodlon ar 20 mya mewn mannau priodol, mewn parthau, fel y dywedwyd. Y broblem oedd gennym oedd y ffaith ei fod wedi'i gyflwyno fel terfyn diofyn ar 97 y cant o'r holl ffyrdd 30 mya. Roeddwn yn gosod terfynau 20 mya o gwmpas ysgolion flynyddoedd yn ôl, ac mae llawer o awdurdodau eraill wedi gwneud hynny, a dyna sydd wedi digwydd yn Lloegr. Llawer o barthau 20 mya, lle bo'n briodol, ond ni wnaethant gyflwyno terfyn diofyn ym mhobman arall yn eu siroedd, a dyna'r darn cynhennus. Felly, mae'n hawdd iawn cyfuno'r ddau beth, camgyfleu'r sefyllfa a'n dadl ni, ond mai'r broblem go iawn i ni yw'r ffaith ei fod yn derfyn diofyn. Ac eglurodd Darren ein safbwynt, ac rwy'n croesawu ei eglurhad ar hynny.

Janet Finch-Saunders, mae hi wedi wynebu mwy o ddicter ar hyn nag unrhyw beth y mae erioed wedi'i brofi. Ar yr arian a wastraffwyd, mynegodd ddicter etholwyr a’r pwysau enfawr sydd ar ein cynghorau bellach. Tynnodd Carolyn sylw at y ffaith bod adolygiadau o derfynau cyflymder yn cymryd amser maith, ac maent yn creu anomaleddau, ac awgrymodd nad oes gan gynghorau'r awydd i wneud mwy ac na allant fforddio dad-wneud y polisi hwn. Ond roedd yn cydnabod y byddai newid rhai ffyrdd yn ôl i'w groesawu. Ac mae'n awgrymu bod angen inni weithio gyda'r hyn sydd gennym.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, diolch am eich ffordd o fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa hon. Rydych chi'n cydnabod yn glir iawn, er bod yn rhaid ichi fod yn ofalus sut rydych chi'n siarad am hyn, nad yw pethau wedi’u gwneud cystal ag y gallent fod wedi'u gwneud, ac rwy'n croesawu rhai o’r camau rydych chi'n ceisio’u cymryd i’w unioni. Serch hynny, credwn mai'r ffordd iawn fyddai dileu'r polisi a mynd yn ôl i wneud rhywbeth mwy synhwyrol yn y lle cyntaf. Ond fe'ch calonogwyd gan gynnydd. Roeddech yn cydnabod bod yna wahaniaeth barn. Fe sonioch chi am y cynllun tri cham sydd gennych, a nodi bod gan Loegr a’r Alban barthau 20 mya. Ond nid oes ganddynt derfyn 20 mya diofyn—unwaith eto, mae hyn yn ymwneud â chyfuno'r ddau beth—a chroesawn y gwerthusiad tymor hwy hwn. Yn anffodus, fodd bynnag, pan fyddwn yn clywed hynny, mae'n ymddangos na fyddwn yn dileu unrhyw beth.

Felly, Aelodau, mae’n bryd symud ymlaen. Nid oes yr un ohonom yn y lle hwn yn erbyn terfynau cyflymder 20 mya. Rwyf wedi dweud hynny eto. Mae pob un ohonom wedi dweud hynny. Mae pawb yn dweud hynny. Maent yn effeithiol o ran mynd i’r afael â diogelwch ar y ffyrdd mewn ardaloedd a dargedir, a’r ardaloedd y mae pob un ohonom yn eu cydnabod. Rwyf wedi dweud o’r cychwyn cyntaf y gallai’r Llywodraeth fod wedi cyflawni cymaint mwy drwy weithio gyda chynghorau lleol, gwleidyddion lleol a chymunedau lleol, gan ddefnyddio £33 miliwn i helpu i gyflwyno mwy o barthau 20 mya lle roedd eu hangen ar y cymunedau lleol hynny. Mae'r polisi hwn wedi dod yn rhwystr enfawr, ac roedd yn ddiangen.

Tynnodd Darren sylw at fater terfynau cyflymder ar gefnffyrdd, a nodaf enghraifft o hynny. Mae un enghraifft berthnasol iawn yn fy etholaeth i, sy’n effeithio ar gefnffordd yr A48 sy’n rhedeg drwy Gas-gwent, a ostyngodd i 20 mya dros nos, a bellach, dywedir wrthym fod yn rhaid inni aros 18 mis cyn y gellir gwrthdroi hyn. Mae'n dangos pa mor chwerthinllyd yw’r polisi hwn bellach, ac mae arnom angen pragmatiaeth, Llywodraeth bragmatig a all gydnabod ei bod wedi gwneud pethau’n anghywir, newid pethau yn ôl i’r ffordd yr arferent fod, derbyn hyn a dysgu ohono, a gadewch inni symud ymlaen. Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru gyfaddef eu bod wedi gwneud camgymeriad, diddymu’r terfyn cyflymder diofyn, a gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol Cymru i ddarparu dull wedi’i dargedu o gyflwyno terfynau cyflymder priodol.

16:35

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.] Yes, there is objection, and therefore I'll defer voting on this item until voting time.

Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.

Voting deferred until voting time.

8. Dadl Plaid Cymru: Blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru
8. Plaid Cymru Debate: Welsh Government priorities

Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Jane Hutt, 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 Jane Hutt, and amendments 2 and 3 in the name of Darren Millar. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected.

Eitem 8 heddiw yw dadl Plaid Cymru ar flaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru. Galwaf ar Rhun ap Iorwerth i wneud y cynnig.

Item 8 today is the Plaid Cymru debate on the Welsh Government's priorities. I call on Rhun ap Iorwerth to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM8665 Heledd Fychan

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi datganiad blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru.

2. Yn gresynu:

a) wedi 25 mlynedd o lywodraethu, na allai Llywodraeth Lafur ddiweddaraf Cymru nodi blaenoriaethau pobl Cymru heb 'ymarfer gwrando' a gychwynnwyd gan y Prif Weinidog; a

b) fod cerrig milltir, targedau a dyddiadau cyflawni yn absennol o ddatganiad blaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog.

3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:

a) pennu amserlen ar gyfer lleihau rhestrau aros y GIG;

b) cyhoeddi cynllun cyflawni sy'n seiliedig ar yr ystod o 'flaenoriaethau’r bobl', yn cynnwys, ond heb fod yn gyfyngedig i, gerrig milltir, targedau, a dyddiadau cyflawni;

c) cyflwyno Rhaglen Lywodraethu a Rhaglen Deddfwriaethol wedi'i diweddaru; a

d) anrhydeddu ei egwyddor 'partneriaeth mewn grym' drwy ddefnyddio'r holl sianeli rhynglywodraethol i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU am gyllid teg, datganoli Ystad y Goron ac i ddatganoli cyfiawnder yn llawn.

Motion NDM8665 Heledd Fychan

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Welsh Government's statement of priorities.

2. Regrets:

a) that after 25 years in government, the latest Welsh Labour Government could not identify the priorities of the people of Wales without conducting the 'listening exercise' initiated by the First Minister; and

b) that any milestones, targets and delivery dates are absent from the First Minister's statement of priorities.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) set a timetable for reducing NHS waiting lists;

b) publish a delivery plan based on the range of 'people’s priorities', including, but not limited to, milestones, targets, and delivery dates;

c) introduce an updated Programme for Government and Legislative Programme; and

d) honour its 'partnership in power' principle by using all intergovernmental channels to press on the UK Government for fair funding, devolution of the Crown Estate and the full devolution of justice.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch o galon, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae'r ddadl yma wedi cael ei chyflwyno gan Blaid Cymru am reswm syml, i bwysleisio wrth Lywodraeth Cymru nad ydy sefydlu blaenoriaethau a dweud wrthym ni fod ganddyn nhw flaenoriaethau yn ddigon ynddo fo'i hun heb fod yna strategaeth sydd yn gallu sicrhau gweithredu, neu o leiaf rhoi gobaith i ni o weld gweithredu.

Mi gawsom ni haf o wrando gan y Prif Weinidog, a'r cyfaddefiad, dwi'n cymryd, fod eu rhagflaenwyr hi ddim wedi bod yn gwrando, ac mi ddaeth y Prif Weinidog yn ôl i'r Senedd yr wythnos diwethaf a chyhoeddi, i bob pwrpas, yr hyn sydd yn eithaf amlwg i bawb, sef bod pobl Cymru yn anhapus efo rhestrau aros hir sy'n tyfu yn fisol yn yr NHS, bod canlyniadau addysg yn mynd am yn ôl, a bod yr economi yn tanberfformio. Lle fuodd Llywodraethau wedi eu harwain gan Lafur am 25 mlynedd?

Mae yna'r ymdeimlad cynyddol yma bod yna fethiant gan y Llywodraeth yma i sylweddoli'r angen am gynlluniau a pholisïau i drawsnewid mewn meysydd polisi allweddol. Mae'r problemau yn ddigon amlwg i bawb: 20 y cant o boblogaeth Cymru yn disgwyl am driniaeth; diwydiannau allweddol yn crebachu; dur, fel rydyn ni'n gwybod, wedi cael ergyd mor enfawr; economi Cymru yn parhau i lusgo tu ôl i wledydd eraill y Deyrnas Unedig; y canlyniadau PISA diweddaraf yn dangos dirywiad pellach yn ein safonau addysg; prifysgolion Cymru yn ei chael hi'n fwy a mwy anodd cael dau ben llinyn ynghyd. Mae'r rhain yn faterion rydyn ni angen gweld atebion a chynigion am atebion newydd ar eu cyfer nhw. Ond mae'n bryderus, o ystyried hynny, ei bod hi wedi cymryd cyfnod o wrando dros gyfnod yr haf i'r Llywodraeth dderbyn ac i ddygymod efo'r gwir, sy'n amlwg i bobl Cymru, ac mae'n gwneud i rywun feddwl os ydyn nhw wedi bod yn talu sylw o gwbl i bryderon pobl Cymru—pryderon rydyn ni, wrth gwrs, wedi bod yn eu lleisio dro ar ôl tro, dros y blynyddoedd.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. This debate has been tabled by Plaid Cymru for a simple reason, to emphasise to the Welsh Government that establishing priorities and telling us that they have priorities isn't enough in and of itself, without a strategy that can ensure implementation, or at least give us some hope of seeing implementation.

We saw a listening exercise over the summer by the First Minister, and the admission, I assume, that her predecessors hadn't been listening, and the First Minister came back to the Senedd last week and announced, to all intents and purposes, what is quite obvious to everyone, that the people of Wales are unhappy with lengthy waiting lists that are growing longer every month in the NHS, that education outcomes are moving backwards, and that the economy is underperforming. Where have Labour-led Governments been for 25 years?

There is that increasing feeling here that there is a failure by this Government to understand the need for plans and policies to transform things in key policy areas. The problems are obvious to everyone: 20 per cent of the Welsh population are waiting for treatment; key industries are shrinking; steel, as we know, has suffered such a grievous blow; the Welsh economy continues to drag behind that of other nations of the UK; the latest PISA results show a further decline in our education standards; Welsh universities are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet. These are issues where we need to see solutions and proposals for new solutions. But it is worrying, given that, that it took a listening exercise over the summer for the Government to accept and to come to terms with the truth, which is apparent to the people of Wales, and it makes one wonder whether they have been paying any heed to the concerns of the people of Wales—concerns that we, of course, have been voicing time and time again over recent years.

It's fair to say that there was quite a bit of cynicism about what exactly the purpose was of the listening exercise embarked upon by the First Minister this summer. It's good to listen, as a point of principle, of course, and we should always be listening, but the First Minister signalling that her predecessors hadn't been listening? That's one useful admission, perhaps, but in the absence of her own ideas, what exactly was she consulting on? 

But let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it could help to sharpen minds about the practical steps required for a change of direction, to demonstrate that the First Minister was indeed serious about overseeing a refreshed approach in Government, which would be music to the ears of so many Welsh voters who have rightly concluded that the business-as-usual approach of Labour over so many years is simply not an option now.

Sadly, though, I think that business as usual is precisely what we have been given again. The all-too-familiar tendencies, I'm afraid, of Labour in power in Wales are writ large over every facet of the statement that was made last week. Problems being listed, yes, but without any real notion of new solutions. Vague pronouncements at best that plans are being developed for an unspecified point in the future. Milestones, timescales and targets for delivery are conspicuously absent.

And we also see these bad habits on full display in the Government's amendments to the debate motion today: a

'commitment to set out in due course'

the relevant details on how priorities will be delivered. And, you know, such a lack of vision and urgency as to how to get to grips with the major issues of the day would be damning even for a party newly established in Government, but from a party that's been in power for a quarter of a century and which owes so much of its success to a Welsh electorate that are desperate now to see change, it is pretty inexcusable. And need I remind Ministers that it's 18 months only until the end of this Senedd, and our opportunity afterwards, of course, to have real change?

A word on co-operation. I was reading back the Record of the Senedd yesterday, and the First Minister said to me,

'I just wonder whether you actually want us to work together',

that is, Welsh Government and UK Government. Listen, I've been actively calling on the First Minister of Wales to use the leverage that she says she has in order to try to get the UK Government and Keir Starmer—I think, is that No. 26, 27—to work with Welsh Government and enable decisions to be taken. On child poverty, as Sioned Williams, my colleague, mentioned yesterday, Eluned Morgan believes she has as much clout with Donald Trump as she has with Keir Starmer—her words, not mine. And perhaps the Counsel General would like to comment on that. Does she agree with that take on how little influence Welsh Government actually has?

But we need a Welsh Government that is willing to put up the arguments constructively, and not to accept, 'No, no, no', every time when it comes to Wales. That's what led yesterday to the dropping of the equalities legislation, that Labour on the UK level weren't willing to play ball or support it. That's what has led to the failure to move forward on the Crown Estate, the failure to move forward on the devolution of justice to Wales, the failure on so many levels to bring forward a notion of fair funding, making sure that we get our fair share of HS2, and so on. Instead, we have this totally ambiguous plan, unveiled a few days ago, of co-operation on health. No detail whatsoever. Apparently, we're to teach England from our broken NHS dental service how they can move forward, and we get something else. I'm not sure what that 'something else' is. We need more than that. We need to know what the plan is specifically there on the Welsh NHS. 

Mae'n deg dweud bod cryn dipyn o sinigiaeth ynghylch beth yn union oedd pwrpas yr ymarfer gwrando a gynhaliwyd gan y Prif Weinidog yr haf hwn. Mae'n dda gwrando, fel pwynt o egwyddor, wrth gwrs, a dylem fod yn gwrando bob amser, ond y Prif Weinidog yn nodi nad oedd ei rhagflaenwyr wedi bod yn gwrando? Mae hynny'n gyfaddefiad defnyddiol, efallai, ond yn absenoldeb ei syniadau ei hun, ar beth yn union y bu'n ymgynghori?

Ond gadewch inni roi mantais yr amheuaeth iddi. Efallai y gallai helpu i fireinio meddyliau ynglŷn â'r camau ymarferol sydd eu hangen i newid cyfeiriad, i ddangos bod y Prif Weinidog o ddifrif ynglŷn â goruchwylio dull gweithredu newydd yn y Llywodraeth, a fyddai’n cael croeso mawr gan gynifer o bleidleiswyr Cymru sydd wedi dod i'r casgliad cywir nad yw agwedd 'busnes fel arfer' Llafur ers cynifer o flynyddoedd yn opsiwn bellach.

Yn anffodus, serch hynny, credaf mai busnes fel arfer yw’r union beth a roddwyd i ni eto. Mae arnaf ofn fod tueddiadau cyfarwydd Llafur mewn grym yng Nghymru i'w gweld yn amlwg ym mhob agwedd ar y datganiad a wnaed yr wythnos diwethaf. Cafodd problemau eu rhestru, do, ond heb unrhyw syniad gwirioneddol o atebion newydd. Datganiadau amwys ar y gorau fod cynlluniau’n cael eu datblygu ar gyfer adeg amhenodol yn y dyfodol. Mae'n nodedig nad oes unrhyw gerrig milltir, amserlenni na thargedau wedi'u crybwyll.

Ac rydym hefyd yn gweld yr arferion drwg hyn yn cael eu harddangos yng ngwelliannau'r Llywodraeth i'r cynnig heddiw:

'ymrwymiad...i ddarparu, maes o law'

y manylion perthnasol am sut y bydd y blaenoriaethau'n cael eu cyflawni. A byddai'r fath ddiffyg gweledigaeth a brys o ran sut i fynd i’r afael â phrif faterion y dydd yn ddamniol hyd yn oed i blaid sydd newydd ddechrau mewn Llywodraeth, ond gan blaid sydd wedi bod mewn grym am chwarter canrif ac sy'n ddyledus am gymaint o'i llwyddiant i etholwyr Cymru sy'n ysu bellach am newid, mae'n eithaf anfaddeuol. Ac a oes angen imi atgoffa'r Gweinidogion mai 18 mis yn unig sydd ar ôl tan ddiwedd y Senedd hon, a'n cyfle wedyn, wrth gwrs, i gael newid go iawn?

Gair am gydweithredu. Bûm yn darllen Cofnod y Senedd ddoe, a dywedodd y Prif Weinidog wrthyf,

'Meddwl ydw i tybed a ydych chi wir yn awyddus i ni weithio gyda'n gilydd,

hynny yw, Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU. Gwrandewch, rwyf wedi bod yn galw’n frwd ar Brif Weinidog Cymru i ddefnyddio’r dylanwad y dywed sydd ganddi er mwyn ceisio gwneud i Lywodraeth y DU a Keir Starmer—credaf mai rhif 26 neu 27 oedd hwnnw—i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a galluogi penderfyniadau i gael eu gwneud. O ran tlodi plant, fel y soniodd Sioned Williams, fy nghyd-Aelod, ddoe, mae Eluned Morgan yn credu bod ganddi gymaint o ddylanwad ar Donald Trump ag sydd ganddi ar Keir Starmer—ei geiriau hi, nid fy ngeiriau i. Ac efallai yr hoffai’r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wneud sylw ar hynny. A yw'n cytuno â'r farn honno ynglŷn â chyn lleied o ddylanwad sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn gwirionedd?

Ond mae angen Llywodraeth Cymru arnom sy'n fodlon cyflwyno'r dadleuon yn adeiladol, a pheidio â derbyn, 'Na, na, na', bob tro mewn perthynas â Chymru. Dyna a arweiniodd at roi'r gorau i'r ddeddfwriaeth cydraddoldeb ddoe, am nad oedd Llafur ar lefel y DU yn fodlon cydweithredu na’i chefnogi. Dyna sydd wedi arwain at y methiant i symud ymlaen ar Ystad y Goron, y methiant i symud ymlaen ar ddatganoli cyfiawnder i Gymru, y methiant ar gynifer o lefelau i gyflwyno'r syniad o ariannu teg, sicrhau ein bod yn cael ein cyfran deg o HS2, ac ati. Yn hytrach, mae gennym y cynllun cwbl amwys hwn, a ddatgelwyd ychydig ddyddiau yn ôl, ar gyfer cydweithredu ar iechyd. Dim manylion o gwbl. Yn ôl pob tebyg, rydym i fod i ddysgu Lloegr o wasanaeth deintyddol ffaeledig ein GIG sut y gallant symud ymlaen, a chawn ninnau rywbeth arall. Nid wyf yn siŵr beth yw'r 'rhywbeth arall' hwnnw. Mae angen mwy na hynny arnom. Mae angen inni wybod beth yn benodol yw’r cynllun ar gyfer GIG Cymru.

Felly, i ddod â ni nôl yn fan hyn at fwriad gwreiddiol y ddadl, beth ydy pwrpas cael blaenoriaethau amwys heb unrhyw ymdrech i gynnig llwybr i ni ar gyfer cyflawni? Y gwir ydy bod geiriau gwag a diffyg cyfeiriad y Llywodraeth Lafur yma yn y Senedd, fel gwelsom ni gan ddatganiad y Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf, wedi ein harwain ni i ryw fath o dir neb, onid ydy, mewn cymaint o feysydd sydd o bwysigrwydd enfawr i bobl Cymru. Drwy gefnogi'r cynnig yma, mi allai'r Llywodraeth ddangos eu bod nhw yn gallu derbyn eu bod nhw ar y trywydd anghywir mewn nifer o feysydd allweddol, achos mae'n amlwg ein bod ni, a bod ganddyn nhw hefyd yr ystwythder i newid cyfeiriad, er cyn lleied o amser sydd ganddyn nhw ar ôl yn y Senedd yma i wneud hynny. Gadewch inni ddechrau heddiw. Os nad ydy'r Llywodraeth yn gallu gwneud hynny a phrofi bod y syniadau ganddyn nhw, yr uchelgais, y tân yn eu boliau i wneud y mwyaf o beth sydd gan ddatganoli i’w gynnig, mae’n hen bryd iddyn nhw gamu i’r naill ochr ar gyfer y rheini sydd yn barod i wneud hynny.

So, to bring us back to the original intention of this debate, what is the purpose of having ambiguous priorities without any attempt to offer us a route towards delivery? The truth is that empty rhetoric and a lack of direction from this Labour Government in the Senedd, as we saw in the First Minister's statement last week, have led us into some sort of no-man's land in so many different areas that are hugely important to the people of Wales. By supporting this motion, the Government could show that they can accept that they are on the wrong track in many key areas, because it's clear that they are, and that they also have the agility to change direction, despite how little time they have left in this Senedd to do that. Let us start today. If the Government can’t do that and prove that it has the ideas, the ambition, that fire in their belly to make the most of what devolution has to offer, it’s about time that they stepped to one side for those who are willing to do that.

16:45

Rwyf wedi dethol y tri gwelliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol. Galwaf ar y Darpar Gwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Cyflawni i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1.

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 Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery to move formally amendment 1.

Gwelliant 1—Jane Hutt

Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi datganiad blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru.

2. Yn cefnogi ffocws y Llywodraeth ar flaenoriaethu’r bobl ac yn cymeradwyo’r blaenoriaethau fel y’u nodwyd gan y Prif Weinidog.

3. Yn nodi ymhellach ymrwymiad y Prif Weinidog i ddarparu, maes o law, ragor o fanylion am sut y bydd y blaenoriaethau yn cael eu cyflawni.

4. Yn cymeradwyo ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth i:

a) iechyd da—lleihau amseroedd aros yn y Gwasanaeth Iechyd, gan gynnwys ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, a gwella mynediad at ofal cymdeithasol a gwella gwasanaethau iechyd menywod;

b) swyddi gwyrdd a thwf—creu swyddi gwyrdd i sicrhau bod teuluoedd ar eu hennill, mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a diogelu natur, a chyflymu penderfyniadau cynllunio i dyfu economi Cymru;

c) cyfle i bob teulu—hybu safonau yn ein hysgolion a'n colegau, a darparu rhagor o gartrefi ar gyfer y sector rhent cymdeithasol; a

d) cysylltu cymunedau—trawsnewid ein rheilffyrdd a darparu gwell rhwydwaith bysiau, trwsio ein ffyrdd, a grymuso cymunedau lleol i benderfynu ar y terfyn cyflymder 20mya.

Amendment 1—Jane Hutt

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Welsh Government's statement of priorities.

2. Supports the Government’s focus on the people’s priorities and endorses the priorities as set out by the First Minister.

3. Further notes the First Minister’s commitment to set out in due course further detail of how the priorities will be delivered.

4. Commends the Government’s commitment to:

a) iechyd da—cutting NHS waiting times, including for mental health, bettering access to social care, and improving services for women’s health;

b) green jobs and growth—creating green jobs to make families better off, tackle the climate crisis and protect nature, and accelerating planning decisions to grow our Welsh economy;

c) opportunity for every family—boosting standards in our schools and colleges, and providing more homes for social rent; and

d) connecting communities—transforming our railway and delivering a better bus network, fixing our roads, and empowering local communities to make choices on 20mph.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.

Amendment 1 moved.

Member
Julie James 16:45:31
Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery

Formally.

Yn ffurfiol.

Galwaf ar Mark Isherwood i gynnig gwelliannau 2 a 3, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar.

I call on Mark Isherwood to move amendments 2 and 3, tabled in the name of Darren Millar.

Gwelliant 2—Darren Millar

Ychwanegu is-bwynt newydd ar ddiwedd pwynt 2:

nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwrando ar y cannoedd o filoedd o bensiynwyr yng Nghymru a fydd yn cael eu heffeithio'n andwyol gan doriadau Llywodraeth y DU i daliadau tanwydd gaeaf;

Amendment 2—Darren Millar

Insert new sub-point at end of point 2:

that the Welsh Government is not listening to the hundreds of thousands of pensioners in Wales who will be adversely affected by UK Government cuts in winter fuel payments;

Gwelliant 3—Darren Millar

Dileu is-bwynt 3(d) a rhoi yn ei le:

anrhydeddu ei egwyddor 'partneriaeth mewn grym' drwy ddefnyddio'r holl sianeli rhynglywodraethol i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU am symiau canlyniadol o HS2 i Gymru ac i fwrw ymlaen â thrydaneiddio prif reilffordd gogledd Cymru;

Amendment 3—Darren Millar

Delete sub-point 3(d) and replace with:

honour its 'partnership in power' principle by using all intergovernmental channels to press on the UK Government for consequentials from HS2 for Wales and to proceed with the electrification of the north Wales main line;

Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 2 a 3.

Amendments 2 and 3 moved.

There is much in this motion to commend it. Clearly, it is regrettable that, after 25 years in Government, this Labour Welsh Government could not identify the priorities of the people of Wales without conducting the listening exercise initiated by the First Minister, and any milestones, targets and delivery dates are absent from her statement of priorities. But of course, we’re used to that. It’s also absolutely right to call on the Welsh Government to set a timetable for reducing NHS waiting lists, publish a delivery plan based on the people’s priorities, including but not limited to milestones, targets, and delivery dates, and introduce an updated programme for government and legislative programme. However, considering that Plaid Cymru has propped up most Labour Welsh Governments since 1999, voted for many of their draconian policies—such as 20 mph—and also continually calls for further powers for a Government that fails to best utilise the powers it already has, this motion seems somewhat, dare I say, hypocritical at best.

The motion is right, however, to highlight the mammoth waiting lists in NHS Wales. Last week, waiting times figures in Wales showed another increase in people waiting on NHS waiting lists—nearly 800,000 procedures now on those waiting lists, and in excess of 600,000 people in Wales waiting to have one or two of those procedures. Two-year waits have increased again for the third consecutive month to 23,418 in Wales, compared with only 120 in England, with 50 times the population. The then health Minister, now First Minister, promised to eliminate these waits by March 2023 but failed to meet that target. The number waiting over a year for any appointment is now 160,000, but given that Wales has a population of just over 3 million people, this reflects very badly on the Welsh Government’s stewardship. Only 48.2 per cent of red calls, the most serious, received emergency ambulance response within eight minutes in July, and performance against the 62-day target for people starting cancer treatment was just 56.7 per cent. These waiting lists are likely to get worse this winter because the Welsh Government is not listening to the hundreds of thousands of fuel-poor pensioners in Wales who will be adversely affected by the Labour UK Government’s cuts in winter fuel payments. I move amendment 2 accordingly.

The previous First Minister waxed lyrical during the general election campaign about the benefits for Wales that two Labour Governments at each end of the M4 would bring to Wales and the influence that Welsh Labour would have. However, as previously referred to elsewhere today, the new First Minister recently likened her influence on Keir Starmer to her influence on Donald Trump. Notwithstanding this, the Welsh Government could use their claimed inter-governmental channels to press the UK Government for consequentials from HS2 for Wales, and to proceed with the electrification of the north Wales main rail line. I move amendment 3 accordingly, although having been a Member here last time there were Labour Governments in both London and Cardiff, I do not hold my hopes high.

It is at least fortunate that the absence of partnership in power led the now Secretary of State for Wales to reject calls by the Welsh Government to be given control of policing and adult criminal justice, and that Labour’s manifesto for the UK general election did not include this, beyond stating that it would explore the devolution of probation and youth justice. On prevention and rehabilitation programmes, from residential women’s centres to youth intervention programmes, the former UK Government led and the Welsh Government followed. Policing in Scotland and Northern Ireland are devolved matters there, but for reasons of history, geography and population, and with crime patterns operating on a cross-border east-west basis, the situation in Wales is entirely different. Unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, Wales has a heavily populated cross-border area with England, with an estimated 95 per cent or more of crime in north Wales operating on a cross-border east-west basis and almost none on an all-Wales basis. The people of Wales, therefore, deserve better than Welsh Government time and resource being given to a crude power grab for its own sake.

This Labour Welsh Government boasts about its policies and legislation whilst failing to monitor and evaluate their implementation. They claim to care whilst presiding over a public sector in Wales that is free to bully, blame, threaten and punish both vulnerable people and principled staff whistleblowers who dare to raise problems or expose maladministration. This has not changed during my more than two decades as a Member here, leaving those in greatest need only with a complaints system that fails them. Only a change in Welsh Government will establish the accountability without which effective Government cannot exist.

Mae llawer i’w gymeradwyo yn y cynnig hwn. Yn amlwg, mae’n drueni na allai Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru, ar ôl 25 mlynedd mewn Llywodraeth, nodi blaenoriaethau pobl Cymru heb gynnal yr ymarfer gwrando a gynhaliwyd gan y Prif Weinidog, ac mae unrhyw gerrig milltir, targedau a dyddiadau cyflawni yn absennol o'i datganiad o flaenoriaethau. Ond wrth gwrs, rydym wedi hen arfer â hynny. Mae hefyd yn gwbl briodol galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i osod amserlen ar gyfer lleihau rhestrau aros y GIG, cyhoeddi cynllun cyflawni sy'n seiliedig ar flaenoriaethau’r bobl, gan gynnwys ond heb fod yn gyfyngedig i gerrig milltir, targedau, a dyddiadau cyflawni, a chyflwyno rhaglen lywodraethu wedi'i diweddaru a rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol. Fodd bynnag, o ystyried bod Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn cynnal y rhan fwyaf o Lywodraethau Llafur Cymru ers 1999, wedi pleidleisio dros lawer o’u polisïau llym—fel 20 mya—a hefyd yn galw’n barhaus am bwerau pellach i Lywodraeth sy’n methu gwneud y defnydd gorau o’r pwerau sydd ganddi eisoes, mae'r cynnig hwn yn ymddangos braidd yn rhagrithiol ar y gorau, mentraf ddweud.

Fodd bynnag, mae’r cynnig yn iawn i dynnu sylw at y rhestrau aros anferthol yn GIG Cymru. Yr wythnos diwethaf, dangosodd ffigurau amseroedd aros yng Nghymru gynnydd arall yn y bobl sy’n aros ar restrau aros y GIG—bron i 800,000 o driniaethau bellach ar y rhestrau aros hynny, a thros 600,000 o bobl yng Nghymru yn aros i gael un neu ddwy o’r triniaethau hynny. Mae amseroedd aros dwy flynedd wedi cynyddu eto am y trydydd mis yn olynol i 23,418 yng Nghymru, o gymharu â dim ond 120 yn Lloegr, gyda 50 gwaith y boblogaeth. Addawodd y Gweinidog iechyd ar y pryd, sydd bellach yn Brif Weinidog, ddileu’r amseroedd aros hyn erbyn mis Mawrth 2023, ond methodd gyflawni'r targed hwnnw. Mae’r nifer sy’n aros dros flwyddyn am unrhyw apwyntiad bellach yn 160,000, ond o ystyried mai poblogaeth o ychydig dros 3 miliwn o bobl sydd gan Gymru, mae hyn yn adlewyrchu’n wael iawn ar stiwardiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Dim ond 48.2 y cant o alwadau coch, y mwyaf difrifol, a gafodd ymateb ambiwlans brys o fewn wyth munud ym mis Gorffennaf, a dim ond 56.7 y cant oedd y perfformiad yn erbyn y targed 62 diwrnod ar gyfer pobl yn dechrau triniaeth ganser. Mae’r rhestrau aros hyn yn debygol o waethygu y gaeaf hwn am nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwrando ar y cannoedd o filoedd o bensiynwyr tlawd o ran tanwydd yng Nghymru a fydd yn cael eu heffeithio’n andwyol gan doriadau Llywodraeth Lafur y DU i daliadau tanwydd y gaeaf. Rwy'n cynnig gwelliant 2 yn unol â hynny.

Yn ystod ymgyrch yr etholiad cyffredinol, fe fu'r Prif Weinidog blaenorol yn canu clodydd y manteision y byddai dwy Lywodraeth Lafur ar bob pen i’r M4 yn eu darparu i Gymru a’r dylanwad y byddai gan Lafur Cymru. Fodd bynnag, fel y dywedwyd eisoes heddiw, yn ddiweddar, cymharodd y Prif Weinidog newydd ei dylanwad ar Keir Starmer â’i dylanwad ar Donald Trump. Er gwaethaf hyn, gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio eu sianeli rhynglywodraethol honedig i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU am gyllid canlyniadol yn sgil HS2 i Gymru, ac i fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o drydaneiddio prif linell reilffordd gogledd Cymru. Rwy'n cynnig gwelliant 3 yn unol â hynny, er, a minnau'n Aelod yma y tro diwethaf y cafwyd Llywodraethau Llafur yn Llundain a Chaerdydd, nid wyf yn dal fy ngwynt.

Mae’n ffodus, o leiaf, fod absenoldeb partneriaeth mewn grym wedi arwain Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru i wrthod galwadau gan Lywodraeth Cymru am reolaeth dros blismona a chyfiawnder troseddol oedolion, ac nad oedd maniffesto Llafur ar gyfer etholiad cyffredinol y DU yn cynnwys hyn, y tu hwnt i ddatgan y byddai’n archwilio datganoli’r gwasanaeth prawf a chyfiawnder ieuenctid. Ar raglenni atal ac adsefydlu, o ganolfannau preswyl i fenywod i raglenni ymyrraeth ieuenctid, roedd Llywodraeth flaenorol y DU yn arwain a Llywodraeth Cymru'n dilyn. Mae plismona yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon yn faterion datganoledig yno, ond am resymau'n ymwneud â hanes, daearyddiaeth a phoblogaeth, a chyda phatrymau troseddu yn gweithredu ar sail drawsffiniol dwyrain-gorllewin, mae’r sefyllfa yng Nghymru yn gwbl wahanol. Yn wahanol i’r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, mae gan Gymru ardal drawsffniol â phoblogaeth fawr gyda Lloegr, gydag amcangyfrif o 95 y cant neu fwy o droseddau yng ngogledd Cymru'n gweithredu ar sail drawsffiniol dwyrain-gorllewin, a'r nesaf peth i ddim ar sail Cymru gyfan. Mae pobl Cymru, felly, yn haeddu gwell na gweld amser ac adnoddau Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael eu rhoi i ymgyrch ddigywilydd i gipio grym er ei fwyn ei hun.

Mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn brolio am ei pholisïau a’i deddfwriaeth ond yn methu monitro a gwerthuso’r modd y cânt eu rhoi ar waith. Maent yn honni eu bod yn malio wrth oruchwylio sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru sy’n rhydd i fwlio, beio, bygwth a chosbi pobl agored i niwed a staff egwyddorol sy’n meiddio chwythu’r chwiban a chodi problemau neu ddatgelu camweinyddu. Nid yw hyn wedi newid yn ystod fy nau ddegawd a mwy fel Aelod yma, gan adael y rhai sydd â’r angen mwyaf heb ddim mwy na system gwynion sy’n gwneud cam â hwy. Dim ond newid yn Llywodraeth Cymru a fydd yn sefydlu’r atebolrwydd na all Llywodraeth effeithiol fodoli hebddo.

16:50

Mae'n siomedig, onid ydy, ein bod ni wedi cael datganiad yr wythnos diwethaf gan Brif Weinidog oedd yn honni gwrando sydd ddim yn gallu bod yma ar ddadl ynglŷn â’r blaenoriaethau hynny. Fawr o wrando, ddywedwn i. Ers blynyddoedd bellach, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud nad yw Cymru na’r Senedd hon yn derbyn y cyllid y dylem fod yn ei dderbyn gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Mi ydyn ni, wrth gwrs, yn cytuno efo hynny fel plaid ac wedi galw dro ar ôl tro ar Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i ddarparu cyllid teg i Gymru. Hyd at yr etholiad cyffredinol eleni, roedd yn ymddangos ei bod hi’n flaenoriaeth gan y Llywodraeth hon i sicrhau cyllid teg i Gymru. Yn wir, faint o weithiau clywson ni a phobl Cymru gan y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru pa mor wahanol fyddai pethau unwaith roedd yna Lywodraeth Llafur yma ac yn San Steffan? Mi ddechreuodd hynna newid yn ystod yr etholiad, heb os.

It's disappointing, isn't it, that we had a statement last week from a First Minister who was saying that she was listening who isn't present to listen to a debate on those priorities. There's precious listening there. For several years, the Welsh Government has been saying that Wales and this Senedd don't receive the funding that we should be receiving from the UK Government. We agree with that as a party and have called time and time again on the UK Government to provide fair funding for Wales. Up until the general election this year, it appeard that it was to be a priority of this Government to ensure fair funding for Wales. Indeed, how many times did we and the people of Wales hear from the Labour Party in Wales how different things would be once there was a Labour Government here and in Westminster? That started to change during the election, certainly. 

Let's remind ourselves of what the then Minister for finance, Rebecca Evans, said in a letter to the UK Government last November, as the then Conservative Chancellor finalised the UK's autumn statement. She called then for fair funding for Wales, as well as significant investment by the UK Government, including for coal-tip safety and rail infrastructure.

What's happened since then? A common theme from yesterday's debate when we asked, 'What's changed in recent weeks?' In the four priorities outlined last week and that appear in the amendment put forward by Labour today, where does fair funding for Wales appear? Why are you proposing to delete that element from our motion? Where is the demand for the £20 million towards remediation of coal tips? It was previously the view of the Welsh Government that refusing to do so was indefensible. Is that still the case? Can we have that confirmation? Because we very much doubt that, during the Labour Party's data grab, which was otherwise known as a listening exercise, funding didn't come up as a major concern for the people of Wales. I doubt that coal-tip safety did not come up, that people don't feel that that £20 million still needs to be delivered by the UK Government.

For priorities to mean something, there has to be intent to exhaust every possible avenue to ensure they are achievable. Rhun ap Iorwerth was right to criticise the third point in the motion put forward as a replacement one by the Welsh Government:

'notes the First Minister’s commitment to set out in due course further detail of how the priorities will be delivered.'

There hasn't been an election in Wales. You've been in Government since 2021 here and for 25 years. Why can't we know how these priorities will be delivered right now?

We do need to know why Welsh Labour now support austerity, because that's the reality of the vote last week. I cannot imagine that Welsh Labour would have voted the way that you did last week around the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance if it had been a Conservative UK Government doing so. Why are you not fighting for fair funding for Wales? What has the new UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer—we'll add to the number count—said when the Welsh Government have approached him, or haven't you even bothered to try and influence? The meek acceptance of the insufficient lot we receive from Westminster therefore typifies the lack of drive at the heart of this Government. We've been calling for targets and measures for years; that's the least the people of Wales deserve. We need a Welsh Government that will stand up for Wales now that we have a UK Labour Government.

There is a danger of underdelivering on what they purport to be their priorities, and it's difficult to envisage how further erosion of resources as a result of UK Labour's austerity agenda can lead to any improvement. So, more than anything, I would like to know, in the Government's response today, how will you propose to deliver fair funding for Wales? Why has it been deleted from the motion? Can you confirm that fair funding for Wales and fighting for Wales is still a priority for this Welsh Government? Because it doesn't seem so.

Gadewch inni atgoffa ein hunain o’r hyn a ddywedodd y Gweinidog cyllid ar y pryd, Rebecca Evans, mewn llythyr at Lywodraeth y DU fis Tachwedd diwethaf, wrth i Ganghellor y Ceidwadwyr ar y pryd gwblhau datganiad hydref y DU. Galwodd bryd hynny am gyllid teg i Gymru, yn ogystal â buddsoddiad sylweddol gan Lywodraeth y DU, gan gynnwys ar gyfer diogelwch tomenni glo a'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd.

Beth sydd wedi digwydd ers hynny? Thema gyffredin o'r ddadl ddoe pan wnaethom ofyn, 'Beth sydd wedi newid yn yr wythnosau diwethaf?' Yn y pedair blaenoriaeth a amlinellwyd yr wythnos diwethaf ac sy’n ymddangos yn y gwelliant a gyflwynwyd gan Lafur heddiw, ble mae'r cyfeiriad at gyllid teg i Gymru? Pam eich bod yn cynnig dileu’r elfen honno o’n cynnig? Ble mae'r galw am yr £20 miliwn tuag at adfer tomenni glo? Roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn arfer bod o'r farn fod gwrthod gwneud hynny’n anamddiffynadwy. A yw hynny'n wir o hyd? A allwn gael y cadarnhad hwnnw? Oherwydd yn ystod ymgyrch gasglu data'r Blaid Lafur, a elwid gennych yn ymarfer gwrando, rydym yn amau'n gryf na chododd cyllid fel pryder pwysig i bobl Cymru. Rwy’n amau na chododd diogelwch tomenni glo, nad yw pobl yn teimlo bod angen i Lywodraeth y DU ddarparu’r £20 miliwn hwnnw bellach.

Er mwyn i flaenoriaethau olygu rhywbeth, mae'n rhaid bod bwriad i ddihysbyddu pob llwybr posibl i sicrhau eu bod yn gyraeddadwy. Roedd Rhun ap Iorwerth yn iawn i feirniadu trydydd pwynt y cynnig diwygiedig a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru:

'nodi...ymrwymiad y Prif Weinidog i ddarparu, maes o law, ragor o fanylion am sut y bydd y blaenoriaethau yn cael eu cyflawni.'

Nid oes etholiad wedi bod yng Nghymru. Rydych chi wedi bod mewn Llywodraeth ers 2021 yma ac ers 25 mlynedd. Pam na chawn ni wybod nawr sut y bydd y blaenoriaethau hyn yn cael eu cyflawni?

Mae angen inni wybod pam mae Llafur Cymru bellach yn cefnogi cyni, gan mai dyna realiti’r bleidlais yr wythnos diwethaf. Ni allaf ddychmygu y byddai Llafur Cymru wedi pleidleisio fel y gwnaethoch chi yr wythnos diwethaf ynghylch diddymu lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf pe bai Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU wedi gwneud hynny. Pam nad ydych chi'n ymladd dros gyllid teg i Gymru? Beth y mae Prif Weinidog newydd y DU, Keir Starmer—fe wnawn ni ychwanegu at y cyfrif—wedi’i ddweud pan fo Llywodraeth Cymru wedi trafod hyn gydag ef, neu a ydych chi heb hyd yn oed drafferthu i geisio dylanwadu arno? Mae derbyn y cyllid annigonol a gawn gan San Steffan yn ddiachwyn felly'n nodweddiadol o’r diffyg ysgogiad sydd wrth wraidd y Llywodraeth hon. Rydym wedi bod yn galw am dargedau a mesurau ers blynyddoedd; dyna'r lleiaf y mae pobl Cymru yn ei haeddu. Mae arnom angen Llywodraeth Cymru a fydd yn sefyll o blaid Cymru nawr fod gennym Lywodraeth Lafur yn y DU.

Mae perygl o dangyflawni ar yr hyn y maent yn honni yw eu blaenoriaethau, ac mae'n anodd rhagweld sut y gall colli rhagor o adnoddau o ganlyniad i agenda cyni Llafur y DU arwain at unrhyw welliant. Felly, yn fwy na dim, hoffwn wybod, yn ymateb y Llywodraeth heddiw, sut rydych chi'n cynnig darparu cyllid teg i Gymru? Pam fod hynny wedi'i ddileu o’r cynnig? A allwch chi gadarnhau bod sicrhau cyllid teg i Gymru ac ymladd dros Gymru yn dal i fod yn flaenoriaethau i Lywodraeth Cymru? Oherwydd nid yw'n ymddangos eu bod.

16:55

It's easy to take for granted the positives of what's been achieved over 25 years of the Senedd. Here's a selection: the right to buy ended; investment in energy-efficient homes, new schools, classrooms and outdoor learning areas; investment in community facilities; the all-Wales coastal path; free school breakfasts and universal free school meals; scrapping school league tables; free bus passes for over 60-year-olds; investment in rail; free prescriptions and free hospital parking; the UK's first carrier bag charge and the third best in the world at recycling, capturing the material to be reused in Wales, growing the industry and creating energy; the Welsh language; the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015; and nature-friendly policies.

The election of Eluned Morgan as Wales's new First Minister has brought with it a welcome opportunity for the Welsh Government to refocus its political priorities for the remainder of the Senedd term. Combined with the election of a UK Labour Government, here in Wales we now have a valuable window of opportunity to make the most of these circumstances to renew our commitments to the Welsh public and get to work unleashing the potential of our country.

As chair of the cross-party group on public transport, the area of policy that I think provides the most exciting and abundant opportunities working across Government is, indeed, public transport. A successful public transport system can bring Wales wide-ranging social benefits. We've just had announcements to increase rail services in north Wales by 50 per cent, and thanks to Wales's own rail company, Transport for Wales's investment of £800 million, capacity has increased by 40 per cent, with more rolling stock due next year. Affordable, efficient and high-quality public transport can have a hugely positive effect in the fight against climate change by removing the need that many have to travel around by car, leading to significant reductions in carbon emissions.

In a world in which social isolation is becoming an increasing problem, public transport acts as a catalyst for social inclusion, connecting communities and providing groups most at risk of isolation with the opportunity to get out and about. It also opens up development, networking and economic opportunities that can lead to sustainable economic growth, putting money in people's pockets—[Interruption.] I give way. 

Mae'n hawdd cymryd yr hyn sydd wedi'i gyflawni dros 25 mlynedd y Senedd yn ganiataol. Dyma ddetholiad: daeth yr hawl i brynu i ben; buddsoddiad mewn cartrefi effeithlon o ran ynni, ysgolion newydd, ystafelloedd dosbarth a mannau dysgu awyr agored; buddsoddiad mewn cyfleusterau cymunedol; llwybr arfordir Cymru gyfan; brecwastau ysgol am ddim a chinio ysgol am ddim i bawb; cael gwared ar dablau cynghrair ysgolion; pasys bws am ddim i bobl dros 60 oed; buddsoddiad mewn rheilffyrdd; presgripsiynau am ddim a pharcio am ddim mewn ysbytai; y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i godi tâl am fagiau siopa a’r drydedd wlad orau yn y byd am ailgylchu, dal y deunydd i’w ailddefnyddio yng Nghymru, a thyfu’r diwydiant a chreu ynni; yr iaith Gymraeg; Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015; a pholisïau cyfeillgar i natur.

Mae ethol Eluned Morgan yn Brif Weinidog newydd Cymru wedi darparu cyfle i’w groesawu i Lywodraeth Cymru ailffocysu ei blaenoriaethau gwleidyddol am weddill tymor y Senedd. Ynghyd ag ethol Llywodraeth Lafur yn y DU, yma yng Nghymru, mae gennym gyfle gwerthfawr nawr i wneud y gorau o’r amgylchiadau hyn i adnewyddu ein hymrwymiadau i’r cyhoedd yng Nghymru a mynd ati i ryddhau potensial ein gwlad.

Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, y maes polisi y credaf ei fod yn darparu’r cyfleoedd mwyaf cyffrous a helaeth i weithio ar draws y Llywodraeth, yn wir, yw trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Gall system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus lwyddiannus ddarparu manteision cymdeithasol helaeth i Gymru. Rydym newydd gael cyhoeddiadau y bydd gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd yn y gogledd yn cynyddu 50 y cant, a diolch i gwmni rheilffyrdd Cymru, buddsoddiad o £800 miliwn gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru, mae capasiti wedi cynyddu 40 y cant, gyda mwy o gerbydau i ddod y flwyddyn nesaf. Gall trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fforddiadwy, effeithlon o ansawdd uchel gael effaith hynod gadarnhaol yn y frwydr yn erbyn newid hinsawdd drwy gael gwared ar yr angen y mae llawer yn ei deimlo i deithio mewn ceir, gan arwain at ostyngiadau sylweddol mewn allyriadau carbon.

Mewn byd lle mae ynysigrwydd cymdeithasol yn dod yn broblem gynyddol, mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn gatalydd ar gyfer cynhwysiant cymdeithasol, gan gysylltu cymunedau â'i gilydd a rhoi cyfle i'r grwpiau sy'n wynebu'r perygl mwyaf o deimlo’n ynysig i fynd allan a symud o gwmpas. Mae hefyd yn agor cyfleoedd datblygu, rhwydweithio ac economaidd a all arwain at dwf economaidd cynaliadwy, gan roi arian ym mhocedi pobl—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n ildio.

I agree with your final point about the importance of public transport. We've seen more bus routes cut in Wales than any other part of the UK, so do you think that is a record of success of this Government?

Rwy'n cytuno â’ch pwynt olaf ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Rydym wedi gweld mwy o lwybrau bysiau’n cael eu torri yng Nghymru nag unrhyw ran arall o’r DU, felly a ydych chi'n credu bod hynny’n enghraifft o lwyddiant y Llywodraeth hon?

It's tricky for Wales, because we have a lot of rural areas, don't we? In England, there are densities of populations, so it's far easier. I know we need to do more, and people in Wales rely on bus transport, so I'm just hoping, going forward—. I'm just going to touch on this now, okay?

We've talked about social isolation—buses and public transport open up networking and economic opportunities and sustainable economic growth, putting money in people's pockets. We don't have to look far to see the positive results of investment in affordable, high-quality public transport across Europe; from Luxembourg to Malta and from France to Estonia, Governments are beginning to reap the long-term rewards of investment in world-class public transport systems. The rewards come back, don't they?

It's for these reasons that I'm delighted to see that connecting communities through transformed public transport and fixing our roads is one of the four key priorities that Eluned Morgan has committed to driving forward. As a former deputy leader of a county council and cabinet member for transportation, I know how important well-maintained roads and highways are, as well. Whether we're using a bicycle, bus, car or walking, everyone benefits from well-maintained services and pavements free from potholes, which have sadly become a ubiquitous feature of Britain, following 14 years of Conservative Government funding cuts.

The Welsh Government's upcoming bus Bill and the removal of the Thatcherite ban on municipal bus companies will give communities a direct say over bus services and routes. As has been the case across Europe, public transport is uniquely positioned to provide a renaissance of development of connectivity, which also acts as a vital weapon in the fight against climate change, inequality, social isolation and the cost of living. I'm checking to see how many minutes or seconds I've got left to respond to Mabon.

With the bus Bill going forward, and the amount of funding that we have got, I am hoping that, working together with our communities and local authorities, we will be making sure that we have got bus timetables that work for our local communities, and making sure that we use the funding that we have got in the best way possible, working with operators and, hopefully, working with local authorities, so that they can become transport operators themselves and run their own municipal bus companies. But, working cross-border with the UK Government, making sure that we get money in, to have funding for delivering this. Thank you.

Mae'n anodd i Gymru, gan fod gennym lawer o ardaloedd gwledig, onid oes? Yn Lloegr, ceir ardaloedd lle mae'r boblogaeth yn ddwys, felly mae'n llawer haws. Gwn fod angen inni wneud mwy, a bod pobl yng Nghymru yn dibynnu ar drafnidiaeth bysiau, felly rwy'n gobeithio, wrth symud ymlaen—. Rwy'n mynd i sôn am hyn yn gyflym nawr, iawn?

Rydym wedi crybwyll ynysigrwydd cymdeithasol—fod bysiau a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn agor cyfleoedd rhwydweithio ac economaidd a thwf economaidd cynaliadwy, gan roi arian ym mhocedi pobl. Nid oes angen inni edrych yn bell i weld canlyniadau cadarnhaol buddsoddi mewn trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fforddiadwy o ansawdd uchel ledled Ewrop; o Lwcsembwrg i Malta ac o Ffrainc i Estonia, mae Llywodraethau'n dechrau medi manteision hirdymor buddsoddi mewn systemau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus o safon fyd-eang. Mae'r gwobrau'n dod yn ôl, onid ydynt?

Am y rhesymau hyn, rwy'n falch iawn o weld bod cysylltu cymunedau drwy drawsnewid trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac atgyweirio ein ffyrdd yn un o'r pedair blaenoriaeth allweddol y mae Eluned Morgan wedi ymrwymo i fwrw ymlaen â hwy. Fel cyn ddirprwy arweinydd cyngor sir ac aelod cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, gwn pa mor bwysig yw ffyrdd a phriffyrdd sy’n cael eu cynnal a’u cadw’n dda. Boed ein bod yn defnyddio beic, bws, car neu'n cerdded, mae pawb yn elwa o wasanaethau a phalmentydd sydd wedi’u cynnal a’u cadw’n dda heb dyllau yn y ffyrdd, sydd wedi dod yn nodwedd hollbresennol o Brydain, yn anffodus, yn sgil 14 mlynedd o doriadau i gyllid gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol.

Bydd Bil bysiau Llywodraeth Cymru sydd ar y ffordd, a chael gwared ar waharddiad Thatcher ar gwmnïau bysiau sy'n eiddo i gynghorau yn rhoi llais uniongyrchol i gymunedau dros wasanaethau a llwybrau bysiau. Fel sydd wedi digwydd ledled Ewrop, mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn sefyllfa unigryw i ddarparu adfywiad o ran datblygu cysylltedd, sydd hefyd yn gweithredu fel arf hanfodol yn y frwydr yn erbyn newid hinsawdd, anghydraddoldeb, ynysigrwydd cymdeithasol a chostau byw. Rwy'n edrych i weld faint o funudau neu eiliadau sydd gennyf ar ôl i ymateb i Mabon.

Gyda’r Bil bysiau yn mynd rhagddo, a’r swm o arian sydd gennym, gan weithio gyda’n cymunedau a’n hawdurdodau lleol, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn sicrhau bod gennym amserlenni bysiau sy’n gweithio i’n cymunedau lleol, ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio’r cyllid sydd gennym yn y ffordd orau bosibl, gan weithio gyda gweithredwyr, a chydag awdurdodau lleol, gobeithio, fel y gallant ddod yn weithredwyr trafnidiaeth eu hunain a rhedeg eu cwmnïau bysiau eu hunain. Ond gan weithio’n drawsffiniol gyda Llywodraeth y DU, a sicrhau ein bod yn cael arian i mewn, yn cael y cyllid i gyflawni hyn. Diolch yn fawr.

17:00

What should be our priorities? What is change? Well, I would start with delivery, and it would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity to call on the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy to focus on delivery and set targets for the Welsh economy when she sets out her priorities over the next few weeks. In the last economic plan set out by a predecessor, we saw no targets whatsoever—nothing to measure delivery. Now, at best, this is simply dodging scrutiny, and, at worst, it signals a rudderless Government. So, if successive economy Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers refuse to set targets, how can we assess whether Welsh Government policy is working or having the desired impact.

Now, in fairness, early Welsh Government got it right. They set targets for the economy, such as targets for productivity, narrowing the gap with the rest of the UK to 90 per cent. Now, that was at a time when they didn’t have any real power to effect change. But, of course, that isn’t the case anymore. There are things that the Welsh Government can do, and targets should be reflective of that change.

There is no denying that the picture painted of the Welsh economy isn’t a positive one, but it requires us to demonstrate that we are serious about getting out of this quagmire. Now, targets go some way in signalling that intention.

Beth ddylai ein blaenoriaethau fod? Beth sy'n newid? Wel, hoffwn ddechrau gyda chyflawni, a byddwn yn esgeulus i beidio â manteisio ar y cyfle i alw ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi i ganolbwyntio ar gyflawni a gosod targedau ar gyfer economi Cymru pan fydd hi'n nodi ei blaenoriaethau dros yr wythnosau nesaf. Yn y cynllun economaidd diwethaf a nodwyd gan ragflaenydd, ni welsom unrhyw dargedau o gwbl—dim byd i fesur cyflawniad. Nawr, ar ei orau, mae hyn osgoi craffu, ac ar ei waethaf, mae'n arwydd o Lywodraeth ddigyfeiriad. Felly, os bydd Gweinidogion ac Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet olynol dros yr economi yn gwrthod gosod targedau, sut y gallwn asesu a yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio neu'n cael yr effaith a ddymunir?

Nawr, er tegwch, fe wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru wneud pethau'n iawn yn y dyddiau cynnar. Fe wnaethant osod targedau ar gyfer yr economi, megis targedau ar gyfer cynhyrchiant, gan leihau'r bwlch rhyngom a gweddill y DU i 90 y cant. Nawr, roedd hynny ar adeg pan nad oedd ganddynt bŵer go iawn i greu newid. Ond wrth gwrs, nid yw hynny'n wir bellach. Mae yna bethau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu gwneud, a dylai targedau adlewyrchu'r newid hwnnw.

Nid oes modd gwadu nad yw'r darlun a baentiwyd o economi Cymru yn un cadarnhaol, ond mae'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol inni ddangos ein bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â chodi allan o'r gors hon. Nawr, mae targedau'n mynd rywfaint o ffordd i ddynodi'r bwriad hwnnw.

Pan fo’n dod at iechyd, yr unig gysondeb yr ydym ni wedi’i weld o’r Llywodraeth yma ydy ei methiant llwyr i gyrraedd unrhyw dargedau a thorri addewidion. Mae’r Llywodraeth wedi bod yn wych yn generadu penawdau ynghylch cael gwared ar restrau aros dwy flynedd a blwyddyn o hyd. Mae pobl yn darllen y penawdau yna ac yn gwbl gegrwth tra’n aros blynyddoedd am driniaeth.

Mae’r ymdrechion i wella ar y cyfraddau trychinebus o ddiagnosis a thriniaeth ganser wedi methu yn llwyr. Yn y cyfamser, mae adroddiad diwethaf gan Archwilio Cymru yn dangos bod pob awdurdod iechyd yn torri’r ddyletswydd i fantoli’r gyllideb ac, yn wir, fod y rhelyw wedi methu â gwneud hynny dros y tair blynedd diwethaf.

When it comes to health, the only consistency that we've seen from this Government is its utter failure to achieve any targets and to turn its back on its pledges. The Government has been great at generating headlines on eradicating two-year waiting lists and one-year waiting lists, and people read those headlines and are left open-mouthed as they wait years for treatment.

Efforts to improve disastrous diagnosis and cancer treatment targets have failed entirely. The recent report by Audit Wales shows that every health authority is breaking its duty to balance its budget and, indeed, that most have failed to do so over the past three years. 

I have absolutely no doubt that the First Minister is sincere about her wish to see the NHS put back on its feet. It is something that every single one of us in this Chamber wants to see happen as soon as possible. But you can’t build effective governance on good intentions alone. That’s why, when the Government unveiled supposedly fresh approaches to old problems, as was the case last week, it’s difficult not to feel an intense degree of frustration. We have been here before, and we know how it ends.

And without this relentless focus on actually translating warm words of intent into tangible action and outcomes, the inevitable consequence is a complete loss of authority, to the extent that we are now in a position whereby the Government is outsourcing the management of healthcare to Westminster. As my colleague Rhun ap Iorwerth rightly stated, it’s nothing short of a complete dereliction of responsibility and a betrayal of what devolution has meant to deliver for Wales.  

Finally, there is one glaring absence in this Government’s priorities, with no reference whatsoever to one of the biggest and most immediate challenges facing us today—that of the care sector. The care sector is too often viewed as the cinderella service, compared to the health service, and this Government’s priorities underline that completely. Both are intrinsically linked and, for one sector to succeed, it depends on the other. There is clearly no value set on the work of unpaid carers, who make up 10 per cent of the population, and whose work is valued at over £8 billion in Wales—money that this Government would otherwise have to find, if not for these carers. Until this Government properly recognises the importance of the care sector, then any programme of government can have no credibility.

Nid oes gennyf unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl fod y Prif Weinidog yn ddiffuant ynghylch ei dymuniad i weld y GIG yn cael ei roi yn ôl ar ei draed. Mae'n rhywbeth y mae pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon eisiau ei weld yn digwydd cyn gynted â phosibl. Ond ni allwch adeiladu llywodraethiant effeithiol ar fwriadau da yn unig. Dyna pam, pan ddadorchuddiodd y Llywodraeth ddulliau newydd honedig o ymdrin â hen broblemau, fel a ddigwyddodd yr wythnos diwethaf, mae'n anodd peidio â theimlo cryn rwystredigaeth. Rydym wedi bod yma o'r blaen, ac fe wyddom sut y mae'n gorffen.

A heb y ffocws di-baid hwn ar drosi geiriau cynnes o fwriad yn weithredu a chanlyniadau diriaethol, y canlyniad anochel yw colli awdurdod yn llwyr, i'r graddau ein bod bellach mewn sefyllfa lle mae'r Llywodraeth yn allanoli rheolaeth ar ofal iechyd i San Steffan. Fel y dywedodd fy nghyd-Aelod, Rhun ap Iorwerth, nid yw'n ddim llai na chefnu'n llwyr ar gyfrifoldeb a bradychu'r hyn yr oedd datganoli i fod i'w gyflawni i Gymru.  

Yn olaf, mae un absenoldeb amlwg ym mlaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth hon, heb unrhyw gyfeiriad o gwbl at un o'r heriau mwyaf a mwyaf uniongyrchol sy'n ein hwynebu heddiw—sef y sector gofal. Mae'r sector gofal yn cael ei ystyried yn rhy aml fel y gwasanaeth sinderela, o'i gymharu â'r gwasanaeth iechyd, ac mae blaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth hon yn tanlinellu hynny'n llwyr. Mae'r ddau wedi'u cysylltu'n anochel ac er mwyn i un sector lwyddo, mae'n dibynnu ar y llall. Mae'n amlwg nad oes gwerth wedi'i osod ar waith gofalwyr di-dâl, sy'n 10 y cant o'r boblogaeth, ac y mae eu gwaith yn werth dros £8 biliwn yng Nghymru—arian y byddai'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth hon ddod o hyd iddo fel arall, heblaw am y gofalwyr hyn. Hyd nes y bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd y sector gofal yn iawn, ni all fod unrhyw hygrededd i unrhyw raglen lywodraethu.

Nododd y Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf fod codi safonau mewn addysg yn flaenoriaeth iddi. Ond, mewn gwirionedd, doedd dim angen iddi deithio o gwmpas Cymru na bod yn rhyw fath o Mystic Meg i ddod i’r casgliad hwnnw. Ac, ar ôl degawdau o fethiannau yn y maes hwn gan Lywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru, un ar ôl y llall, dylai hyn fod wedi bod yn amlwg beth bynnag.

Brynhawn yma, dwi eisiau mynd ar ôl canlyniadau PISA 2022 a methiant llwyr y Llywodraeth o ran cyrraedd eu targedau recriwtio ar gyfer athrawon yng Nghymru, sydd ill dau yn tanlinellu'r heriau sylweddol sy'n wynebu'r sector addysg yma yng Nghymru. Fe welodd Cymru, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed droeon yn y Siambr, yn 2022, y canlyniadau PISA gwaethaf erioed, gan syrthio'n is na gwledydd eraill y Deyrnas Gyfunol ac yn is na'r cyfartaledd rhyngwladol. A dweud y gwir, mae ein perfformiad mewn mathemateg, gwyddoniaeth a darllen wedi bod yn gostwng ers 2018, ac ar gyflymder fwy nag yng ngwledydd eraill y Deyrnas Gyfunol. Mae adroddiad yr IFS yn ddiweddar yn rhoi dadansoddiad cynhwysfawr inni o ganlyniadau PISA yng Nghymru, sy'n dangos na ellir priodoli'r sgoriau is hyn i lefelau tlodi uwch yn unig. Yn wir, mae plant difreintiedig yn Lloegr yn sgorio tua 30 pwynt yn uwch ar gyfartaledd na'u cymheiriaid yma yng Nghymru. Yn Lloegr, mae plant difreintiedig naill ai'n uwch neu'n debyg i'r cyfartaledd ar gyfer pob plentyn yng Nghymru, waeth beth yw eu cefndir cymdeithasol. Ac mae'n drist nodi bod y perfformiad isaf i ddisgyblion difreintiedig ar draws holl wledydd y Deyrnas Gyfunol bron yn gyfan gwbl yma yng Nghymru.

Mae'n werth nodi hefyd fod gwariant fesul disgybl yn debyg yng Nghymru a Lloegr, sy'n dangos nad buddsoddiad ariannol yn unig yw'r prif achos. Mae hyn yn dangos yn glir fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn dinistrio cyfleoedd bywyd cymaint o'n pobl ifainc ni. Mae'r gostyngiad mewn safonau addysg yn amlwg yn fater mae'r Llywodraeth wedi gwybod amdano ers blynyddoedd lawer, a dyma ni, ar ôl gweld dirywiad pellach, yn gorfod gofyn y cwestiwn: a oes gyda chi, fel Llywodraeth, ateb i'r heriau sy’n wynebu addysg yng Nghymru? A oes gyda chi strategaeth i fynd i'r afael â nhw? Mae'n amlwg, o graffu ar eich record ddiweddar, eich bod chi wedi methu'r prawf.

The First Minister noted last week that raising standards in education was one of her priorities. But, truth be told, she didn't have to travel around Wales or be some kind of Mystic Meg to come to that conclusion. And, after decades of failure in this area by the Labour Welsh Government, one after another, this should have been obvious.

This afternoon, I want to discuss the 2022 PISA results and the Government's total failure to hit its recruitment targets for teachers in Wales, which together underline the significant challenges facing the education sector here in Wales. As we've heard time and time again in the Siambr, in 2022, Wales saw the worst PISA results ever, falling below the level of other nations in the UK and below the international average. Truth be told, our performance in mathematics, science and reading has been deteriorating since 2018, and at a greater rate than the other UK nations. The recent IFS report provides a comprehensive analysis of the PISA results in Wales, which demonstrates that these lower scores in Wales can't be solely attributed to higher levels of poverty. Indeed, children from disadvantaged backgrounds in England score around 30 points more on average than their contemporaries here in Wales. In England, the performance of children from disadvantaged backgrounds is either above or similar to the average level of every child in Wales, regardless of their social background. And it's sad to note that the lowest performance level amongst pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds across all UK nations is seen almost entirely here in Wales. 

It's also worth noting that spend per pupil is similar in Wales and England, which shows that financial investment is not the only factor. This demonstrates clearly that the Welsh Government is destroying the life chances of so many of our young people. The decline in educational standards is obviously a matter that the Government has known about for many years, yet, here we are, after seeing further decline, having to ask this question: do you, as a Government, have a response to the challenges facing education in Wales? Do you have a strategy to tackle the decline? It's clear, from scrutinising your recent record, that you have failed that test.

I now want to move on quickly to teacher recruitment. Recruitment of teachers, especially in priority subjects, is yet another area where we see the same old failed delivery and mismanagement from Welsh Government come to the fore. It was only yesterday that we read about a school in Monmouthshire, Caldicot School, packing in 60 pupils in a mathematics class because of the shortage of specialist teachers—no fault to the school, but it's the way Welsh Government are failing the next generation of children. 

In the 2021-22 ITE intake, in only one of the eight priority subjects was the target met and, overall, the number recruited was far below the set target by almost 300 teachers. In physics alone, the target was 61 students, but, unfortunately, we only saw three becoming trained in physics last year. So, it's clear that more needs to be done to attract teachers into priority subject areas.

Rwyf eisiau symud ymlaen yn gyflym nawr at recriwtio athrawon. Mae recriwtio athrawon, yn enwedig mewn pynciau â blaenoriaeth, yn faes arall eto lle gwelwn yr un hen gyflawni aflwyddiannus a chamreoli gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Ddoe ddiwethaf, fe wnaethom ddarllen am ysgol yn sir Fynwy, Ysgol Cil-y-coed, yn pacio 60 disgybl i ddosbarth mathemateg oherwydd prinder athrawon arbenigol—dim bai ar yr ysgol, ond dyma'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud cam â'r genhedlaeth nesaf o blant. 

Yn y garfan addysg gychwynnol athrawon ar gyfer 2021-22, dim ond un o'r wyth pwnc â blaenoriaeth a welodd y targed yn cael ei gyrraedd ac yn gyffredinol, roedd y nifer o athrawon a recriwtiwyd 300 islaw'r targed a osodwyd. Mewn ffiseg, roedd y targed yn 61 o fyfyrwyr, ond dim ond tri a gafodd eu hyfforddi mewn ffiseg y llynedd. Felly, mae'n amlwg fod angen gwneud mwy i ddenu athrawon i feysydd pwnc â blaenoriaeth.

Felly, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn absenoldeb targedau a cherrig milltir clir ar wella canlyniadau PISA a chyrraedd targedau recriwtio athrawon, mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n cael, wrth Lywodraeth Cymru, gynllun gweithredu gyda thargedau clir, gyda cherrig milltir penodol, gydag amserlen gyraeddadwy, hefyd, achos mae disgyblion a rhieni yng Nghymru yn haeddu llawer, llawer gwell na hyn. Ac os nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i ddelifro, fe alla i addo i chi hyn: bydd Plaid Cymru, yn 2026, yn barod i wella safonau a lefelau cyrhaeddiad ein plant ni yng Nghymru.

So, Dirprwy Lywydd, in the absence of clear milestones and targets in terms of improving PISA results, and hitting the recruitment targets for teachers, it's vital that we have, from the Welsh Government, an action plan with clear targets in place, with specific milestones set out and with an achievable timescale, because pupils and parents in Wales deserve far, far better than this. And if the Welsh Government isn't prepared to deliver, I can promise you this: Plaid Cymru, in 2026, will be ready to improve and raise standards and attainment levels for children in Wales.

17:05

By putting iechyd da first on the list of priorities, Eluned Morgan's Government has clearly recognised the importance of improving our performance in health, fully realising that this is the biggest challenge to reduce the waiting lists for procedures that can only occur in a hospital setting. Twenty three thousand waiting for more than two years is far too long, and we need to break this down by health board to understand where and for what procedure the problem lies. Many of these requests for secondary care are for diagnostic services, where GPs are not sure whether the issue the patient has brought to them is routine and easily addressed in primary care, or whether there is something more concerning going on. Clearly, in doctors' minds, there is always the possibility of cancer or some other really serious issue. Early identification is always the most important thing for a good outcome and for recovery.

Clearly, anyone who needs an operation that can only be done in a hospital requires them to have a bed to recuperate in, and that involves health and social services working together on speeding up the process for getting people out of hospital whose medical treatment no longer requires them to be in hospital. A great deal of work has been done on improving the number of community nursing teams that are available. We had three pilots just before COVID struck, and we've now got 62 district nursing teams operating in our communities. I've seen at first hand just how effective they are at ensuring that people can be assessed for ongoing health needs in their own home, which is much better and clearer on their needs than if you were trying to assess them in hospital.

This is a really complicated issue, and that is why it's absolutely right that we should be sharing good practice across our borders. We can't simply be blind to what's going in other parts of the country, and as long as we're working with people whose aim is to maintain a public health service, I'm very happy to do that. What we didn't want to do was work with the Tories whose only objective was to privatise the national health service, but, unless we improve our national health service, then we are going to be faced by people voting with their feet. And we have to work with individual people, all our staff, many of whom are exhausted as a result of COVID and drained of additional resources. We have a very challenging situation, but we need to recognise that situation and ensure that we're doing something about it, because otherwise people get very frustrated and will want an even more radical change than I know Plaid is assuming. We have to face down the anger and frustration that was expressed in the general election, with so many people in 13 constituencies voting Plaid as their second choice—excuse me, Reform as their second choice—because this indicates that there is a genuine frustration with the rationing that's been going on over the last 14 years, and people need hope that there is going to be change. And I am positive that we are going to get rapid change. There's already been quite a lot of change from the UK Government, and we're going to see a lot more.

Drwy roi iechyd da yn gyntaf ar y rhestr flaenoriaethau, mae Llywodraeth Eluned Morgan wedi cydnabod yn glir pa mor bwysig yw gwella ein perfformiad ym maes iechyd, gan sylweddoli'n llawn mai dyma'r her fwyaf i leihau'r rhestrau aros am driniaethau a all ddigwydd mewn lleoliad ysbyty yn unig. Mae'r ffaith bod 23,000 yn aros am fwy na dwy flynedd yn llawer rhy hir, ac mae angen i ni ei ddadansoddi fesul bwrdd iechyd i ddeall ble ac ar gyfer pa driniaethau y ceir problemau. Mae llawer o'r ceisiadau hyn am ofal eilaidd ar gyfer gwasanaethau diagnostig, lle nad yw meddygon teulu yn siŵr a yw'r mater y mae'r claf wedi'i godi yn rhywbeth cyffredin y gellir mynd i'r afael ag ef yn hawdd mewn gofal sylfaenol, neu a oes rhywbeth mwy pryderus yn digwydd. Yn amlwg, ym meddyliau meddygon, mae yna bob amser berygl o ganser neu broblem ddifrifol arall. Ei ganfod yn gynnar yw'r peth pwysicaf bob amser ar gyfer canlyniad da ac adferiad.

Yn amlwg, mae unrhyw un sydd angen llawdriniaeth na ellir ond ei wneud mewn ysbyty angen gwely iddynt wella ynddo, ac mae hynny'n golygu iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i gyflymu'r broses o gael pobl allan o'r ysbyty pan nad yw eu triniaeth feddygol yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol iddynt fod yn yr ysbyty mwyach. Gwnaed llawer iawn o waith ar wella nifer y timau nyrsio cymunedol sydd ar gael. Roedd gennym dri chynllun peilot cyn i COVID daro, ac erbyn hyn mae gennym 62 o dimau nyrsys ardal yn gweithredu yn ein cymunedau. Rwyf wedi gweld o lygad y ffynnon pa mor effeithiol ydynt yn sicrhau bod modd asesu pobl ar gyfer anghenion iechyd parhaus yn eu cartref eu hunain, sy'n llawer gwell a chliriach ynghylch eu hanghenion na phe baech chi'n ceisio eu hasesu yn yr ysbyty.

Mae hwn yn fater cymhleth iawn, a dyna pam ei bod yn hollol briodol inni rannu arferion da ar draws ein ffiniau. Ni allwn fod yn ddall i'r hyn sy'n digwydd mewn rhannau eraill o'r wlad, a chyn belled â'n bod ni'n gweithio gyda phobl sydd â'r nod o gynnal gwasanaeth iechyd cyhoeddus, rwy'n hapus iawn i wneud hynny. Yr hyn nad oeddem am ei wneud oedd gweithio gyda'r Torïaid y mae eu hunig amcan yn ymwneud â phreifateiddio'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, ond oni bai ein bod yn gwella ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, byddwn yn wynebu pobl yn pleidleisio gyda'u traed. Ac mae'n rhaid inni weithio gyda phobl unigol, ein holl staff, y mae llawer ohonynt wedi llwyr ymlâdd o ganlyniad i COVID a hynny heb unrhyw adnoddau ychwanegol. Mae gennym sefyllfa heriol iawn, ond mae angen inni gydnabod y sefyllfa honno a sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud rhywbeth am y peth, oherwydd fel arall mae pobl yn mynd yn rhwystredig iawn a byddant eisiau newid mwy radical hyd yn oed fel y gwn fod Plaid Cymru yn ei dybio. Mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â'r dicter a'r rhwystredigaeth a fynegwyd yn yr etholiad cyffredinol, gyda chymaint o bobl mewn 13 etholaeth yn pleidleisio dros Blaid Cymru fel eu hail ddewis—esgusodwch fi, dros blaid Reform fel eu hail ddewis—oherwydd mae hyn yn dangos bod rhwystredigaeth wirioneddol gyda'r dogni sydd wedi bod yn digwydd dros y 14 mlynedd ddiwethaf, ac mae pobl angen gobaith y bydd yna newid. Ac rwy'n hyderus y byddwn yn cael newid cyflym. Cafwyd cryn dipyn o newid yn barod gan Lywodraeth y DU, ac rydym yn mynd i weld llawer mwy.

17:10

When she set out her priorities, the First Minister said she would build a fairer, greener and more prosperous nation, a Wales where every young person can feel happy and hopeful for the future. Well, if that's the case, the Welsh Government must set out, as our motion makes clear, detailed plans and targets to make that happen, and we need to see a demonstration of the actual power in this so-called partnership in power with the UK Labour Government, and nowhere more than in its efforts to tackle child poverty, which, of course, are central to these stated aims—a Wales where every young person can feel happy and hopeful for the future.

Pan nododd ei blaenoriaethau, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog y byddai'n adeiladu cenedl decach, wyrddach a mwy llewyrchus, Cymru lle gall pob person ifanc deimlo'n hapus ac yn obeithiol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Wel, os felly, fel y mae ein cynnig yn ei wneud yn glir, mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru nodi cynlluniau a thargedau clir a manwl i wneud i hynny ddigwydd, ac mae angen inni weld arddangosiad o'r pŵer yn y bartneriaeth o bŵer honedig hon gyda Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, ac yn enwedig yn ei hymdrechion i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn ganolog i'r nodau datganedig hyn—Cymru lle y gall pob person ifanc deimlo'n hapus ac yn obeithiol ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Yn fy nghyfle olaf i holi’r Prif Weinidog blaenorol, gofynnais iddo a fyddai Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn galw ar ei chwaer Lywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan, a oedd newydd ei hethol, i gael gwared ar y cap ar fudd-daliadau a'r terfyn dau blentyn. Pan wnes i hynny, roedd yr anhrefn o fewn Llafur yng Nghymru yn golygu bod ein cenedl ni heb Weinidog oedd â chyfrifoldeb dros dlodi plant. Fe wnes i gyfeirio at adroddiad gan Brifysgol Loughborough a oedd yn dangos bod mwy na 65,000 o blant yng Nghymru yn cael eu heffeithio'n uniongyrchol gan y polisi hwn. Ond y cyfan a gawsom gan y cyn Brif Weinidog oedd ailadrodd agwedd Keir Starmer fod twf economaidd yn hanfodol mewn perthynas â sut y dylid mynd i’r afael â thlodi plant.

Wel, wrth gwrs, mae twf economaidd yn hanfodol i greu mwy o gyfoeth, ond dyw twf ddim o reidrwydd yn arwain at degwch economaidd-gymdeithasol. Ac mae twf, wrth gwrs, hefyd yn cymryd amser, tra bod bron i un o bob tri phlentyn yng Nghymru yn byw mewn tlodi a dim targedau tlodi plant statudol. A nawr mae gan Gymru Brif Weinidog arall. Galwais ar Eluned Morgan, pan gafodd ei hethol, i roi trechu tlodi plant ar frig yr agenda ac i sicrhau mai ei cham cyntaf oedd adfer targed i roi terfyn ar dlodi plant.

In my final opportunity to question the previous First Minister, I asked him whether the Labour Welsh Government would be calling on its newly elected sister Labour Government in Westminster to abolish the benefits cap and the two-child limit. When I did so, the chaos within Labour in Wales meant that Wales was left without a Minister with responsibility for child poverty. I referred to a report by Loughborough University that demonstrated that more than 65,000 children in Wales are directly impacted by this policy. But all we saw from the former First Minister was him repeating Keir Starmer's stance that economic growth was crucial in terms of how we should tackle child poverty.

Well, of course, economic growth is crucial to generating additional wealth, but growth does not necessarily lead to socioeconomic fairness. And growth, of course, also takes time, whilst one in three children in Wales are living in poverty and there are no statutory targets on child poverty. And now Wales has another First Minister. I called on Eluned Morgan, when she was elected, to put tackling child poverty at the top of the agenda and to ensure that her first step was to restore the target for eradicating child poverty.

Currently, the Welsh Government's child poverty strategy infamously contains no targets and, as such, has been roundly criticised by the children’s commissioner, the Senedd's Equality and Social Justice Committee and numerous children’s organisations and anti-poverty groups in Wales.

When the target was dropped by the Welsh Government in 2016, it was stated that this was because UK Government policies made the target unachievable. They had said that their ability to reduce child poverty in Wales was, and I quote,

'clearly dependent on actions taken by the UK Government'.

But now we have a new Government who are promising delivery. Eluned Morgan is going to be, in her words, when she addressed us here on her election in August, 'a leader focused on delivery', and she's even got a delivery Minister in case her Cabinet need reminding that their job involves delivering. So, you'd think, therefore, that targets could be quite useful to measure that delivery. But when I asked if those child poverty targets would be reinstated, because, thankfully, the Tories are now history, and with them, you'd expect, their cruel and failed austerity measures, like the benefit cap and two-child limit, I have been told by the First Minister to take it up my with MP.

Perhaps the delivery Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and the First Minister should listen to the words of Chris Birt, an associate director in the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, who was head of the Scottish First Minister's policy and delivery unit. He knows a thing or two about tackling child poverty, and he told the Equality and Social Justice Committee, when we were scrutinising the draft child poverty strategy, that one of the things that is key to a successful strategy is delivery. You need to know what are the actions in it, how they'll be measured. Because, otherwise, how will we know if they're working? He gave the committee such valuable insight into how the statutory targets in Scotland and the target-driven overall child poverty approach there works. And he also reminded us that one of the main barriers to making progress on tackling child poverty is the decisions of politicians. The Welsh Government have made a decision not to set statutory targets, a decision not to call on the Labour UK Government to scrap the cap, a decision not to prioritise feeding all children from low-income families in our secondary schools, a decision not to ensure the poorest children are fed in the school holidays.

I've spoken on this issue more times than I can remember during my short time as a Member of the Senedd, because it's absolutely vital to ensuring Wales's prosperity. Because this inequality we've all become so used to is not only morally repugnant, but it's also disastrous for our nation. The flimsy rhetoric we've heard so far doesn't constitute a plan for ensuring a fair and prosperous Wales for all its citizens. We need concrete action, demonstrable progress—  

Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw strategaeth tlodi plant Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnwys unrhyw dargedau ac o'r herwydd, cafodd ei beirniadu'n hallt gan y comisiynydd plant, Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol y Senedd a nifer o sefydliadau plant a grwpiau gwrthdlodi yng Nghymru.

Pan gafodd y targed ei ollwng gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2016, nodwyd mai'r rheswm am hynny oedd bod polisïau Llywodraeth y DU yn gwneud y targed yn anghyraeddadwy. Roeddent yn dweud bod eu gallu i leihau tlodi plant yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,

'yn amlwg yn dibynnu ar gamau a gymerwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU'.

Ond nawr mae gennym Lywodraeth newydd sy'n addo cyflawni. Yn ei geiriau hi, yn ei hanerchiad i ni yma wrth gael ei hethol ym mis Awst, bydd Eluned Morgan yn 'arweinydd sy'n canolbwyntio ar gyflawni', ac mae ganddi Weinidog cyflawni hyd yn oed rhag ofn bod angen atgoffa ei Chabinet fod eu gwaith yn ymwneud â chyflawni. Fe fyddech chi'n meddwl, felly, y gallai targedau fod yn eithaf defnyddiol i fesur y cyflawniad hwnnw. Ond pan ofynnais a fyddai'r targedau tlodi plant yn cael eu hadfer, oherwydd bod y Torïaid yn hanes bellach, diolch byth, a'u mesurau cyni creulon ac aflwyddiannus, fel y cap ar fudd-daliadau a'r terfyn dau blentyn gyda hwy, byddech yn disgwyl, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog wrthyf am godi'r mater gyda fy Aelod Seneddol.

Efallai y dylai'r Gweinidog cyflawni, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a'r Prif Weinidog wrando ar eiriau Chris Birt, cyfarwyddwr cyswllt yn Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree, a oedd yn bennaeth uned polisi a chyflawni Prif Weinidog yr Alban. Mae'n gwybod un neu ddau o bethau am fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant, a dywedodd wrth y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, pan oeddem yn craffu ar y strategaeth tlodi plant ddrafft, mai un o'r pethau sy'n allweddol i strategaeth lwyddiannus yw cyflawniad. Mae angen i chi wybod beth yw'r camau gweithredu ynddi, sut y byddant yn cael eu mesur. Oherwydd, fel arall, sut y gallwn ni wybod eu bod yn gweithio? Rhoddodd gipolwg gwerthfawr i'r pwyllgor ar sut y mae'r targedau statudol yn yr Alban a'r dull o weithredu cyffredinol ar dlodi plant sy'n cael ei yrru gan dargedau yno yn gweithio. Ac fe'n hatgoffodd hefyd mai un o'r prif rwystrau i wneud cynnydd ar fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yw penderfyniadau gwleidyddion. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi penderfynu peidio â gosod targedau statudol, wedi penderfynu peidio â galw ar Lywodraeth Lafur y DU i gael gwared ar y cap, wedi penderfynu peidio â blaenoriaethu bwydo pob plentyn o deuluoedd incwm isel yn ein hysgolion uwchradd, wedi penderfynu peidio â sicrhau bod y plant tlotaf yn cael eu bwydo yn ystod gwyliau'r ysgol.

Rwyf wedi siarad ar y mater hwn fwy o weithiau nag y gallaf ei gofio yn ystod fy amser byr fel Aelod o'r Senedd, oherwydd mae'n gwbl hanfodol i sicrhau ffyniant Cymru. Oherwydd mae'r anghydraddoldeb yr ydym i gyd wedi dod mor gyfarwydd ag ef nid yn unig yn atgas yn foesol, ond mae hefyd yn drychinebus i'n cenedl. Nid yw'r rhethreg simsan a glywsom hyd yma yn gynllun ar gyfer sicrhau Cymru deg a llewyrchus i'w holl ddinasyddion. Mae angen gweithredu pendant, cynnydd amlwg—  

17:15

—and targets by which we can measure the delivery of real change.

—a thargedau inni allu mesur cyflawniad newid go iawn.

Galwaf ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Cyflawni, Julie James.

I call on the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, Julie James.

Member
Julie James 17:19:11
Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to thank everyone for their contributions this afternoon. As always, I have insufficient time to answer each point in detail, but, as always, I will try to address the general themes.

Last week, in her first Plenary and her first FMQs, the First Minister set out the priorities of this Government, reflecting that those priorities were the priorities of the people of Wales, as has been acknowledged by many of the speakers this afternoon. The First Minister made it clear that these were shaped by conversations held over the summer, and will shape what we as a Government will focus on over the last 18 months of this Senedd term, building on the considerable achievements that we have already accomplished, as set out by my colleague Carolyn Thomas, amongst others. As the First Minister said, it's important that we listen to everyone and not just those with the loudest voices. This ensures that we can focus on what matters most to the people of Wales. So, I want to thank everyone involved in that listening exercise. This is why, over the next 18 months, we will prioritise the practical changes we can make to continue to improve our NHS, our economy, our schools and our communities. We will set out in due course more detail on how we will be delivering on those priorities and commit to providing regular updates to the Senedd on the progress of those. We know this will require a whole-Government effort, which is why it is important that we make sure our resources are effectively directed to the delivery of these priority areas.

The First Minister has already stated that she will hold a Cabinet session each month specifically focused on delivery, and that my role as the Minister for delivery is designed to provide additional capacity to bring people together to find innovative and creative ways to drive that delivery in the short time we have left. Without delay, that work has already begun.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has, in his first week, met with the NHS chair to set out the Government's priorities and expectations. He also attended the ministerial cancer summit, hearing about improvements to cancer outcomes. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning launched a consultation last week seeking views on the new infrastructure consent regime, enabling local communities to better understand decisions that affect them.

Over the summer, we saw progress with strong exam results in the top grades across a range of subjects, and last week the Cabinet Secretary for Education announced the roll-out of free school meals to all primary school pupils had been delivered ahead of schedule, providing over 30 million additional meals since its launch—something we owe to the co-operation agreement and an alliance of progressive parties across this Chamber, something we should remember when we're thinking about the way forward.

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government has written to local authorities and registered social landlords to re-emphasise the need to explore every option to deliver more affordable social homes for rent. This includes looking at how a range of funding streams are utilised to deliver more homes and maximising opportunities through acquisitions amongst other measures.

As we've heard only this afternoon, the Cabinet Secretary for transport has been listening to the concerns over the 20 mph default speed limit, and as a result has updated the guidance to local authorities on how and where these speed limits should be implemented. 

The former Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office made a statement in July on our progress towards delivering the programme for government and the legislative programme, and we will continue to keep the Senedd updated on progress.

Dirprwy Lywydd, there are, of course, a large number of ongoing programmes delivering both the programme for government and the legislative programme, which I simply do not have time to go into this afternoon, but I do not want to leave the Senedd under any illusion that we are not delivering business as usual as well as focusing on the priorities for the last 18 months of the Senedd term.

Just recently, this Welsh Labour Government announced an inflation-busting pay deal for public sector workers: more money in the pocket of workers, something we're really proud to have delivered. These are real examples of a Cabinet that is getting on with the work of Government, acting on what the people of Wales have told us, and focusing on delivery that will positively impact on their lives. We look forward to working with the new UK Government to repair and strengthen devolution, as highlighted in the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales report. 

I just want to reassure Plaid Cymru colleagues in particular, because I think the Conservatives are beyond reassurance on this point, that actually, just the change of tone has been extraordinary. A Cabinet colleague of mine who is in the room with us has characterised it very simply: if there was £100 due to us under the Barnett formula under the Tories, they would spend three months trying to get £10 off it, or £20 if they could; they wouldn't just passport it. We have a Government now that just passports it, and what a difference that's made already: just one simple difference, without changing the formula, just a change of tone and attitude. I can attest in my own job what a difference that's already made. It shouldn't be underestimated what happens when you have people who are like-minded trying to deliver the same things, even if the system that they're working in doesn't really work.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb am eu cyfraniadau y prynhawn yma. Fel bob amser, nid oes gennyf ddigon o amser i ateb pob pwynt yn fanwl, ond fel bob amser, rwyf am geisio mynd i'r afael â'r themâu cyffredinol.

Yr wythnos diwethaf, yn ei Chyfarfod Llawn cyntaf a'i sesiwn gwestiynau cyntaf, nododd y Prif Weinidog flaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth hon, gan nodi mai blaenoriaethau pobl Cymru oedd y blaenoriaethau hynny, fel y mae llawer o'r siaradwyr wedi cydnabod y prynhawn yma. Gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog yn glir fod y rhain wedi'u siapio gan sgyrsiau a gynhaliwyd dros yr haf, a bydd yn siapio'r hyn y byddwn ni fel Llywodraeth yn canolbwyntio arno dros y 18 mis olaf o dymor y Senedd hon, gan adeiladu ar y cyflawniadau sylweddol a gyflawnwyd gennym eisoes, fel y nodwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Carolyn Thomas, ymhlith eraill. Fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog, mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n gwrando ar bawb ac nid dim ond y rhai sydd â'r lleisiau mwyaf croch. Mae hyn yn sicrhau y gallwn ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn sydd bwysicaf i bobl Cymru. Felly, hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a gymerodd ran yn yr ymarfer gwrando. Dyna pam, dros y 18 mis nesaf, y byddwn yn blaenoriaethu'r newidiadau ymarferol y gallwn eu gwneud i barhau i wella ein GIG, ein heconomi, ein hysgolion a'n cymunedau. Maes o law, byddwn yn nodi mwy o fanylion ar sut y byddwn yn cyflawni'r blaenoriaethau hynny ac yn ymrwymo i ddarparu diweddariadau rheolaidd i'r Senedd ar gynnydd y rheini. Rydym yn gwybod y bydd hyn yn galw am ymdrech Llywodraeth gyfan, a dyna pam ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn sicrhau bod ein hadnoddau'n cael eu cyfeirio'n effeithiol at gyflawni'r meysydd blaenoriaeth hyn.

Mae'r Prif Weinidog eisoes wedi datgan y bydd yn cynnal sesiwn Cabinet bob mis sy'n canolbwyntio'n benodol ar gyflawniad, a bod fy rôl fel Gweinidog cyflawni wedi'i chynllunio i ddarparu capasiti ychwanegol i ddod â phobl ynghyd i ganfod ffyrdd arloesol a chreadigol o ysgogi cyflawniad yn yr amser byr sydd gennym ar ôl. Heb oedi, mae'r gwaith hwnnw eisoes wedi dechrau.

Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, yn ei wythnos gyntaf, wedi cyfarfod â chadeirydd y GIG i nodi blaenoriaethau a disgwyliadau'r Llywodraeth. Hefyd, mynychodd yr uwchgynhadledd weinidogol ar ganser, gan glywed am welliannau i ganlyniadau canser. Lansiodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio ymgynghoriad yr wythnos diwethaf i ofyn am safbwyntiau ar y gyfundrefn cydsyniad seilwaith newydd, i alluogi cymunedau lleol i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o'r penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio arnynt.

Dros yr haf, gwelsom gynnydd gyda chanlyniadau arholiadau cryf yn y graddau uchaf ar draws ystod o bynciau, a'r wythnos diwethaf cyhoeddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg fod cyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim i bob disgybl ysgol gynradd wedi'i gyflawni yn gynt na'r disgwyl, gan ddarparu dros 30 miliwn o brydau bwyd ychwanegol ers ei lansio—rhywbeth y gallwn ddiolch amdano i'r cytundeb cydweithio a chynghrair o bleidiau blaengar ar draws y Siambr hon, rhywbeth y dylem ei gofio pan fyddwn yn meddwl am y ffordd ymlaen.

Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai a Llywodraeth Leol wedi ysgrifennu at awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i ailbwysleisio'r angen i archwilio pob opsiwn i ddarparu mwy o gartrefi cymdeithasol fforddiadwy i'w rhentu. Mae hyn yn cynnwys edrych ar sut y mae amrywiaeth o ffrydiau ariannu yn cael eu defnyddio i ddarparu mwy o gartrefi a gwneud y mwyaf o gyfleoedd drwy gaffaeliadau ymhlith mesurau eraill.

Fel y clywsom y prynhawn yma, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth wedi bod yn gwrando ar y pryderon ynghylch y terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20 mya, ac o ganlyniad mae wedi diweddaru'r canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol ar sut a ble y dylid gweithredu'r terfynau cyflymder hyn. 

Gwnaeth cyn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid, y Cyfansoddiad a Swyddfa'r Cabinet ddatganiad ym mis Gorffennaf ar ein cynnydd tuag at gyflawni'r rhaglen lywodraethu a'r rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol, a byddwn yn parhau i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd ar gynnydd.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, ceir nifer fawr o raglenni parhaus sy'n cyflawni'r rhaglen lywodraethu a'r rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol nad oes gennyf amser i roi sylw iddynt y prynhawn yma, ond nid wyf am i'r Senedd fod o dan unrhyw gamargraff nad ydym yn cyflawni busnes fel arfer yn ogystal â chanolbwyntio ar y blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y 18 mis olaf o dymor y Senedd hon.

Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd y Llywodraeth Lafur hon gytundeb cyflog sy'n llawer uwch na chwyddiant i weithwyr y sector cyhoeddus: mwy o arian ym mhoced gweithwyr, rhywbeth yr ydym yn falch iawn o fod wedi'i gyflawni. Dyma enghreifftiau go iawn o Gabinet sy'n bwrw ymlaen â gwaith y Llywodraeth, sy'n gweithredu ar yr hyn y mae pobl Cymru wedi'i ddweud wrthym, ac sy'n canolbwyntio ar gyflawniad a fydd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar eu bywydau. Edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda Llywodraeth newydd y DU i atgyweirio a chryfhau datganoli, fel y nodwyd yn adroddiad y Comisiwn Annibynnol ar Ddyfodol Cyfansoddiadol Cymru. 

Rwyf am roi sicrwydd i gyd-Aelodau Plaid Cymru yn enwedig, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod y Ceidwadwyr y tu hwnt i sicrwydd ar y pwynt hwn, fod y newid cywair wedi bod yn rhyfeddol. Mae cyd-Aelod i mi yn y Cabinet sydd yn yr ystafell gyda ni wedi ei ddisgrifio'n syml iawn: pe bai £100 yn ddyledus i ni trwy fformiwla Barnett o dan y Torïaid, byddent yn treulio tri mis yn ceisio cael £10 wedi'i dynnu oddi arno, neu £20 os gallent; ni fyddent yn ei drosglwyddo'n uniongyrchol. Mae gennym Lywodraeth nawr sy'n ei drosglwyddo'n uniongyrchol, ac am wahaniaeth y mae hynny eisoes wedi'i wneud: un gwahaniaeth syml, heb newid y fformiwla, dim ond newid cywair ac agwedd. Gallaf dystio yn fy swydd fy hun i'r gwahaniaeth y mae hynny eisoes wedi'i wneud. Ni ddylid tanbrisio'r hyn sy'n digwydd pan fydd gennych bobl o'r un meddylfryd yn ceisio cyflawni'r un pethau, hyd yn oed os nad yw'r system y maent yn gweithio ynddi yn gweithio'n arbennig o dda.

17:20

Would you take an intervention?

A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?

Would you say then that you're like-minded on the two-child benefit cap?

A fyddech chi'n dweud felly eich bod chi o'r un meddylfryd ynglŷn â'r cap dau blentyn ar fudd-daliadau?

Well, I haven't seen the whole of the budget yet, so I'm not in a position to say. I do take the point you make, of course—we'd all like to see some changes, but you have to see the whole thing, the whole picture, and I'm just reporting to you what it feels like already. The change inside the Government is palpable and real. I still remember the scars as skills Minister that I faced over the apprenticeship levy, when the £110 million we should have had in Wales was reduced to -£11 million as a result of skilful manipulation of the Barnett formula. You should not underestimate the difference that that kind of policy can really make. The renewed inter-government relationships, the memorandum of understanding on the Sewel convention, an updated fiscal framework, restored decision making over post-EU structural funds to the Welsh Government, and actively exploring the devolution of youth justice and probation are amongst the many things that we are currently discussing. On HS2, we will continue to work with the UK Government to ensure a fair approach to the application of Barnett in relation to rail funding. We would welcome a review of comparability with the Department of Transport and of the Network Rail investment pipeline processes, for example.

We've always said we would support the electrification of the north Wales main line, and I’d just like to add, as an aside, since I come from there, also of the main line to Swansea, but our focus must be on the immediate rail priorities for north Wales and elsewhere in Wales and our partners across the border. Network Rail received no formal remit or funding from the previous administration at Westminster for development work for the electrification of the north Wales main line. Contrast that with what we recently confirmed—a massive boost in rail capacity for people, businesses and communities in north Wales, to be delivered in 2026. We will work closely with the UK Government to develop an agreed pipeline of rail infrastructure enhancements across Wales, including improvements for north Wales via the Wales rail board.

There are many other examples that I could use. We've already started to work very closely with the UK Government, for example, on how we can deliver a better system for social house building. There are many, many things we can do together to help the industry come together, because it's not just about planning and money—it is actually about an attitude towards building that makes a real difference on the ground, and there is a real difference, as I hope everyone in this Senedd understands, between, for example, houses for social rent and affordable housing. To have a Government that actually gets that difference at the UK level makes a substantial difference to the way we can deliver here in Wales.

Dirprwy Lywydd, the Government is committed to delivering for the people of Wales. The priorities will guide us and, as a Government, we will ensure that we continue to be laser focused on building a Wales that belongs to us all. Diolch.

Wel, nid wyf wedi gweld y gyllideb gyfan eto, felly nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i ddweud. Rwy'n derbyn y pwynt a wnewch, wrth gwrs—byddem i gyd yn hoffi gweld rhai newidiadau, ond mae'n rhaid i chi ei weld yn ei gyfanrwydd, y darlun llawn, ac rwyf ond yn dweud wrthych sut y mae'n teimlo'n barod. Mae'r newid o fewn y Llywodraeth yn amlwg ac yn real. Rwy'n dal i gofio'r creithiau a gefais fel Gweinidog sgiliau dros yr ardoll prentisiaethau, pan gafodd y £110 miliwn y dylem fod wedi'i gael yng Nghymru ei ostwng i -£11 miliwn o ganlyniad i drafod medrus ar fformiwla Barnett. Ni ddylech fychanu'r gwahaniaeth y gall y math hwnnw o bolisi ei wneud mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r cysylltiadau rhynglywodraethol newydd, y memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth ar gonfensiwn Sewel, fframwaith cyllidol wedi'i ddiweddaru, adfer y broses o wneud penderfyniadau ynghylch cronfeydd strwythurol ôl-UE i Lywodraeth Cymru, a mynd ati i archwilio datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid a'r gwasanaeth prawf ymhlith y nifer o bethau yr ydym yn eu trafod ar hyn o bryd. Ar HS2, byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau dull teg o gymhwyso Barnett mewn perthynas â chyllid rheilffyrdd. Byddem yn croesawu adolygiad o gymaroldeb gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth a phrosesau llif buddsoddi Network Rail, er enghraifft.

Rydym bob amser wedi dweud y byddem yn cefnogi trydaneiddio prif reilffordd gogledd Cymru, ac rwyf am ychwanegu'r brif reilffordd i Abertawe wrth fynd heibio hefyd, gan fy mod yn dod oddi yno, ond rhaid i'n ffocws fod ar y blaenoriaethau rheilffyrdd uniongyrchol ar gyfer gogledd Cymru a mannau eraill yng Nghymru a'n partneriaid dros y ffin. Ni dderbyniodd Network Rail unrhyw gylch gwaith ffurfiol nac arian gan y weinyddiaeth flaenorol yn San Steffan ar gyfer gwaith ar ddatblygu trydaneiddio prif reilffordd gogledd Cymru. Cyferbynnwch hynny â'r hyn a gadarnhawyd gennym ni yn ddiweddar—hwb enfawr yn y capasiti rheilffyrdd i bobl, busnesau a chymunedau yng ngogledd Cymru, i'w gyflawni yn 2026. Byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU i ddatblygu llif o welliannau seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi'u cytuno ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys gwelliannau i ogledd Cymru drwy fwrdd rheilffyrdd Cymru.

Mae llawer o enghreifftiau eraill y gallwn eu defnyddio. Rydym eisoes wedi dechrau gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU, er enghraifft, ar sut y gallwn ddarparu gwell system ar gyfer adeiladu tai cymdeithasol. Mae yna lawer iawn o bethau y gallwn eu gwneud gyda'n gilydd i helpu'r diwydiant i ddod ynghyd, oherwydd mae'n ymwneud â mwy na chynllunio ac arian yn unig—mae'n ymwneud ag ymagwedd tuag at adeiladu sy'n gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn ar lawr gwlad, ac mae yna wahaniaeth gwirioneddol, fel y gobeithiaf fod pawb yn y Senedd hon yn ei ddeall, rhwng tai rhent cymdeithasol a thai fforddiadwy, er enghraifft. Mae cael Llywodraeth sy'n deall y gwahaniaeth hwnnw ar lefel y DU yn gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i'r ffordd y gallwn gyflawni yma yng Nghymru.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'r Llywodraeth wedi ymrwymo i gyflawni ar ran pobl Cymru. Bydd y blaenoriaethau yn ein harwain ac fel Llywodraeth, byddwn yn sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i ganolbwyntio'n bendant iawn ar adeiladu Cymru sy'n perthyn i bob un ohonom. Diolch.

17:25

A galwaf ar Rhun ap Iorwerth i ymateb i'r ddadl.

And I call on Rhun ap Iorwerth to reply to the debate.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i bob un sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl yma heddiw yma, ac i'r Gweinidog am ymateb. Mae siaradwr ar ôl siaradwr wedi mynd â ni, dwi'n meddwl, drwy’r dystiolaeth eithaf clir sy'n disgrifio’r diffyg cynllun, y diffyg cyfeiriad, gan y Llywodraeth, ac, fel y dywedais i yn gynharach, apêl ydy'r cynnig yma ar Weinidogion Llafur i gydnabod yr angen am gynllun a'r angen am newid cyfeiriad. Mae llefarwyr ar y meinciau yma wedi gallu manylu ar y gwahanol feysydd polisi. Rydym ni'n wynebu heriau gwirioneddol sydd yn mynnu ymateb brys, ac, er bod pobl Cymru yn ysu am newid—dwi'n siŵr o hynny—ac yn tyfu yn eu rhwystredigaeth wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen, gwell hwyr na hwyrach, felly gadewch i ni weld beth ydy'r cynlluniau.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to everyone who’s contributed to this debate this afternoon, and to the Minister for her response. I think speaker after speaker has taken us through the clear evidence that sets out a lack of a plan and a lack of direction from Government. As I said earlier, this motion is an appeal to Labour Ministers to acknowledge the need for a plan and the need for a change of direction. Spokespeople on these benches have been able to highlight different policy areas. We are facing very real challenges, which require an urgent response, and, although the people of Wales are desperate for change—I'm sure about that—and are becoming more and more frustrated as time passes, better late than never, so let us see what those plans are.

I'd hoped to have been presenting this motion to the new First Minister. It's a response to her statement on her priorities, after all. I wanted her to hear and respond, in fact, to those concerns of ours that the ambiguity of the statement that she has given us about her priorities is a major problem. Instead, the Minister for delivery responded. The Government's own motion, of course, admits she has nothing to oversee the delivery of yet. 'We'll set out, in due course, further details of how priorities will be delivered' is what we have been told. We had a list of meetings that had taken place, descriptions of some things that had already happened. We've heard that there has been a change of tone. I hope that doesn't mean something more comfortable, because I want there to be a good relationship between Welsh Government and UK Government, and I actively encourage that, but I want a tough, constructive challenge always from Welsh Government to UK Government, and that's what it doesn't feel as if we are getting currently.

Even now, on the lack of planning, on the lack of a clear programme, three and a half years into the life of this Senedd, all we have is, on health, for example, a promise to cut waiting times—well, we know we need to cut waiting times—a better women’s health service—I know we need that; Delyth Jewell is such a champion on that—better access to social care—yes, we know that needs to happen. But there's no outline even, essentially, of how that is going to be done. So, we won't be supporting the 'delete all' motion that’s been put forward by the Labour Government, essentially saying, 'It's all in hand', because it's not in hand. The evidence that all of our constituents feel suggests, clearly, that it's not in hand. The Conservatives: we'll agree with their first amendment, that Welsh Government, it says, isn't hearing the extent to which the winter fuel payment cut is hitting pensioners. There is one delivery that Labour can be proud of there—an idea put forward by the Conservatives to cut the winter fuel payment, delivered by Labour in Government. We won't, though, support the second Conservative amendment, which removes our call for fair funding for Wales. Why the Conservatives would actively want to remove a call for fair funding for the people that they represent, you will have to ask them.

For the second time this year, we're holding to account a new First Minister for Wales. Time is short—an admission of that in the concluding comments of the Minister for delivery. Now, on the bright side, time is short because an election is just over 18 months away, bringing the possibility of real change. Plaid Cymru will be asking people to trust us to deliver on our vision for Wales, as the other parties here will. But of course, the truth is that every month that people spend on a waiting list, every month lost in improving education standards, every month of a lack of dynamism in Government on the economy, is bad for the communities and bad for the constituencies that all of us represent. So, support our motion today and say it really is time for a new direction, a clear plan, targets, measurable—it's time for action.

Roeddwn i wedi gobeithio cyflwyno'r cynnig hwn i'r Prif Weinidog newydd. Wedi'r cyfan, mae'n ymateb i'w datganiad ar ei blaenoriaethau. Roeddwn eisiau iddi glywed ac ymateb, mewn gwirionedd, i'r pryderon sydd gennym fod amwysedd y datganiad y mae hi wedi'i roi i ni am ei blaenoriaethau yn broblem fawr. Yn hytrach, fe ymatebodd y Gweinidog cyflawni. Mae cynnig y Llywodraeth ei hun, wrth gwrs, yn cyfaddef nad oes ganddi unrhyw beth i oruchwylio ei gyflawniad eto. '[Byddwn] yn nodi... maes o law, ragor o fanylion am sut y bydd blaenoriaethau'n cael eu cyflawni' yw'r hyn a ddywedwyd wrthym. Cawsom restr o gyfarfodydd a oedd wedi eu cynnal, disgrifiadau o rai pethau a oedd eisoes wedi digwydd. Clywsom fod newid cywair wedi bod. Rwy'n gobeithio nad yw hynny'n golygu rhywbeth mwy cyffyrddus, oherwydd rwyf am weld perthynas dda rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU, ac rwy'n annog hynny'n weithredol, ond rwyf am gael her anodd, adeiladol bob amser gan Lywodraeth Cymru i Lywodraeth y DU, ac nid yw'n teimlo fel pe baem yn cael hynny ar hyn o bryd.

Hyd yn oed nawr, ar y diffyg cynllunio, ar ddiffyg rhaglen glir, dair blynedd a hanner i mewn i oes y Senedd hon, y cyfan sydd gennym, ar iechyd er enghraifft, yw addewid i dorri amseroedd aros—wel, fe wyddom fod angen inni dorri amseroedd aros—gwasanaeth iechyd menywod gwell—rwy'n gwybod bod angen hynny arnom; mae Delyth Jewell yn gymaint o hyrwyddwr i hynny—gwell mynediad at ofal cymdeithasol—fe wyddom fod angen i hynny ddigwydd. Ond yn y bôn, nid oes unrhyw amlinelliad hyd yn oed o sut y caiff hynny ei wneud. Felly, ni fyddwn yn cefnogi'r cynnig 'dileu popeth' a gyflwynwyd gan y Llywodraeth Lafur, sy'n dweud i bob pwrpas, 'Mae'r cyfan ar y gweill', oherwydd nid yw ar y gweill. Mae'r dystiolaeth y mae pob un o'n hetholwyr yn ei theimlo yn awgrymu, yn amlwg, nad yw ar y gweill. Y Ceidwadwyr: rydym yn cytuno â'u gwelliant cyntaf, nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru, meddai, yn clywed cymaint y mae torri taliadau tanwydd y gaeaf yn taro pensiynwyr. Mae un cyflawniad y gall Llafur fod yn falch ohono yno—syniad a gyflwynwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr i dorri taliad tanwydd y gaeaf, wedi'i gyflawni gan Lafur mewn grym. Fodd bynnag, ni fyddwn yn cefnogi ail welliant y Ceidwadwyr, sy'n dileu ein galwad am gyllid teg i Gymru. Fe fydd yn rhaid i chi ofyn i'r Ceidwadwyr pam y byddent yn awyddus i gael gwared ar alwad am gyllid teg i'r bobl y maent yn eu cynrychioli.

Am yr eildro eleni, rydym yn dwyn Prif Weinidog newydd i Gymru i gyfrif. Mae amser yn brin—cyfaddefiad o hynny yn sylwadau clo'r Gweinidog cyflawni. Nawr, ar yr ochr olau, mae amser yn brin am fod etholiad ychydig dros 18 mis i ffwrdd, gan greu posibilrwydd o newid go iawn. Bydd Plaid Cymru yn gofyn i bobl ymddiried ynom i gyflawni ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer Cymru, fel y bydd y pleidiau eraill yma yn ei wneud. Ond wrth gwrs, y gwir amdani yw bod pob mis y mae pobl yn ei dreulio ar restr aros, pob mis a gollir i wella safonau addysg, pob mis o ddiffyg egni yn y Llywodraeth ar yr economi, yn ddrwg i'r cymunedau ac yn ddrwg i'r etholaethau y mae pob un ohonom yn eu cynrychioli. Felly, cefnogwch ein cynnig heddiw a dywedwch ei bod hi o ddifrif yn bryd cael cyfeiriad newydd, cynllun clir, targedau mesuradwy—mae'n bryd gweithredu.

17:30

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.] Yes, there are objections. I will therefore defer voting until voting time.

Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.

Voting deferred until voting time.

9. Cyfnod Pleidleisio
9. Voting Time

A daw hynny â ni at y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai bod tri Aelod yn dymuno i mi ganu'r gloch, symudaf yn syth i'r cyfnod pleidleisio. Felly, mae'r bleidlais gyntaf ar eitem 7, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Os gwrthodir y cynnig, byddwn yn pleidleisio ar y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 14, neb yn ymatal, 37 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.

That brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will proceed directly to voting time. The first vote is on item 7, the Welsh Conservatives' debate. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendments tabled to the motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 14, no abstentions, and 37 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.

Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Terfynau cyflymder 20mya. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 14, Yn erbyn: 37, Ymatal: 0

Gwrthodwyd y cynnig

Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits. Motion without amendment: For: 14, Against: 37, Abstain: 0

Motion has been rejected

Galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 1 nawr, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 10, neb yn ymatal, 41 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei wrthod.

I now call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 10, no abstentions, 41 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is not agreed.

Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Terfynau cyflymder 20mya. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan: O blaid: 10, Yn erbyn: 41, Ymatal: 0

Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant

Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan: For: 10, Against: 41, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected

Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar welliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 27, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 2 wedi ei dderbyn.

I now call for a vote on amendment 2, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 27, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, amendment 2 is agreed.

Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Terfynau cyflymder 20mya. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0

Derbyniwyd y gwelliant

Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 27, Against: 24, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio.

I now call for a vote on the motion as amended.

Cynnig NDM8667 fel y'i diwygiwyd:

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn cydnabod bod y terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya wedi bod mewn grym yng Nghymru ers dros flwyddyn.

2. Yn nodi:

a) y gostyngiad sylweddol mewn gwrthdrawiadau ac anafusion ers cyflwyno’r terfyn; a

b) y ffaith bod 469,571 o bobl wedi llofnodi deiseb y Senedd: ‘Rydym am i Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddymu’r gyfraith drychinebus ynghylch y terfyn cyflymder o 20mya’

c) y rhaglen gynhwysfawr o wrando a gynhaliwyd dros yr haf, gan ymgysylltu â phobl, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru yn ogystal â rhanddeiliaid allweddol;

d) y ffaith y bydd y gwaith monitro a gwerthuso parhaus yn casglu tystiolaeth o effeithiau’r polisi o ran yr economi, iechyd a’r amgylchedd;

e) y ffaith bod adroddiad monitro ansawdd aer Cam 1 Trafnidiaeth Cymru a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mai 2024 yn dangos nad oedd unrhyw effaith sylweddol ar ansawdd aer lleol hyd yma; ac

f) y gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei darparu i awdurdodau lleol Cymru sydd wedi derbyn ceisiadau i newid y terfyn i 30mya ar rai ffyrdd.

3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i barhau i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol Cymru er mwyn cyflawni terfynau cyflymder 20mya trwy ddull targedu, gan sicrhau bod y terfyn mewn grym ar y ffyrdd cywir ble mae pobl yn byw, yn gweithio ac yn chwarae.

Motion NDM8667 as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the default 20mph speed limit has been in place in Wales for over one year.

2. Notes:

a) the significant reduction in collisions and casualties since the limit was introduced; and

b) the 469,571 signatories to the Senedd petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law';

c) the comprehensive listening programme carried out over the summer, engaging with people, business and communities across Wales as well as key stakeholders;

d) that ongoing monitoring and evaluation will evidence the economic, health and environmental impacts of the policy;

e) Transport for Wales’s phase 1 air quality monitoring report published in May 2024 showed no material effect on local air quality to date; and

f) the support the Welsh Government is providing to Welsh local authorities that have received requests for roads to revert to 30mph.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue supporting Welsh local authorities to deliver a targeted approach to 20mph speed limits, ensuring the limit is applied to the right roads where people live, work and play.

Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 27, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn.

Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 27, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.

17:35

Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Terfynau cyflymder 20mya. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0

Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd

Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits. Motion as amended: For: 27, Against: 24, Abstain: 0

Motion as amended has been agreed

Byddwn nawr yn pleidleisio ar eitem 8, dadl Plaid Cymru. Galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Os gwrthodir y cynnig, byddwn yn pleidleisio ar y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 10, neb yn ymatal, 41 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.

We will now move to a vote on item 8, the Plaid Cymru debate. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendments tabled to the motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 10, no abstentions, 41 against. Therefore the motion is not agreed. 

Eitem 8. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 10, Yn erbyn: 41, Ymatal: 0

Gwrthodwyd y cynnig

Item 8. Plaid Cymru Debate - Welsh Government priorities. Motion without amendment: For: 10, Against: 41, Abstain: 0

Motion has been rejected

Galwaf am bleidlais nawr ar welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 27, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei dderbyn a gwelliannau 2 a 3 wedi eu dad-ddethol. 

I now call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 27, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed and amendments 2 and 3 have been deselected.

Eitem 8. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0

Derbyniwyd y gwelliant

Item 8. Plaid Cymru Debate - Welsh Government priorities. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 27, Against: 24, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Cafodd gwelliannau 2 a 3 eu dad-ddethol.

Amendments 2 and 3 deselected.

Felly, galwaf yn awr am bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio. 

Therefore, I now call for a vote on the motion as amended. 

Cynnig NDM8665 fel y'i diwygiwyd:

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi datganiad blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru.

2. Yn cefnogi ffocws y Llywodraeth ar flaenoriaethu’r bobl ac yn cymeradwyo’r blaenoriaethau fel y’u nodwyd gan y Prif Weinidog.

3. Yn nodi ymhellach ymrwymiad y Prif Weinidog i ddarparu, maes o law, ragor o fanylion am sut y bydd y blaenoriaethau yn cael eu cyflawni.

4. Yn cymeradwyo ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth i:

a) iechyd da—lleihau amseroedd aros yn y Gwasanaeth Iechyd, gan gynnwys ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, a gwella mynediad at ofal cymdeithasol a gwella gwasanaethau iechyd menywod;

b) swyddi gwyrdd a thwf—creu swyddi gwyrdd i sicrhau bod teuluoedd ar eu hennill, mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a diogelu natur, a chyflymu penderfyniadau cynllunio i dyfu economi Cymru;

c) cyfle i bob teulu—hybu safonau yn ein hysgolion a'n colegau, a darparu rhagor o gartrefi ar gyfer y sector rhent cymdeithasol; a

d) cysylltu cymunedau—trawsnewid ein rheilffyrdd a darparu gwell rhwydwaith bysiau, trwsio ein ffyrdd, a grymuso cymunedau lleol i benderfynu ar y terfyn cyflymder 20mya.

Motion NDM8665 as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Welsh Government's statement of priorities.

2. Supports the Government’s focus on the people’s priorities and endorses the priorities as set out by the First Minister.

3. Further notes the First Minister’s commitment to set out in due course further detail of how the priorities will be delivered.

4. Commends the Government’s commitment to:

a) iechyd da—cutting NHS waiting times, including for mental health, bettering access to social care, and improving services for women’s health;

b) green jobs and growth—creating green jobs to make families better off, tackle the climate crisis and protect nature, and accelerating planning decisions to grow our Welsh economy;

c) opportunity for every family—boosting standards in our schools and colleges, and providing more homes for social rent; and

d) connecting communities—transforming our railway and delivering a better bus network, fixing our roads, and empowering local communities to make choices on 20mph.

Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 27, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn.

Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 27, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed. 

Eitem 8. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0

Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd

Item 8. Plaid Cymru Debate - Welsh Government priorities. Motion as amended: For: 27, Against: 24, Abstain: 0

Motion as amended has been agreed

That brings voting to an end. We now have a short debate, so if Members are leaving, please do so quietly. 

Daw hynny â'r pleidleisio i ben. Nawr, mae gennym ddadl fer, felly os oes Aelodau'n gadael, gwnewch hynny'n dawel. 

10. Dadl Fer: Diwedd y gân yw'r geiniog: Sut all datganoli greu economi lewyrchus i weithwyr ac i Gymru?
10. Short Debate: It’s the economy stupid!: How can devolution make it work for workers and Wales?

Symudaf yn awr i'r ddadl fer a galwaf ar Hannah Blythyn i siarad am y pwnc a ddewiswyd ganddi. Hannah.

We'll move on now to the short debate, and I call on Hannah Blythyn to speak on the topic that she has chosen. Hannah.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I say at the outset that I'd like to give a minute of my time to Mike Hedges and to Luke Fletcher?

I'm bringing forward this short debate at a time when we know that the economy right across the UK faces many challenges—a perfect storm fanned by the flames of economic austerity, a global pandemic and the ensuing cost-of-living crisis. The facts and the stats certainly speak for themselves, but Wales and workers were feeling the pinch of a toxic combination of slow growth, high inequality and the steady erosion of workplace rights long before the cost-of-living crisis struck. Unfettered capitalism letting the markets manage themselves and the rolling back of workers' rights is not the vehicle for achieving dignity at work and greater prosperity for our people and places. We need an economic system that empowers people, not exploits them. We need to use every lever available to us to unlock the economic potential of our communities and our country.

The reality is that the major macroeconomic levers are outwith the power of the Welsh Government and this place, and the fiscal truth is that we need greater financial firepower to make and maintain sustainable and substantial investments in our communities. So, I could have used this debate to call for fairer funding for Wales or the devolution of the Crown Estate, which could be a game-changer and begin transformational change. But, as the saying goes, politics is the art of the possible, and I'll focus today on what we can do with the devolved levers we do have to help make our economy work better for workers and for Wales, from planning to procurement and taking the next steps when it comes to our social partnership approach, training for the jobs not just of today but tomorrow, teaching not just new skills but providing the opportunity to reskill throughout your working life, and for experience to be better passed on from one generation to the next with the potential for a phased path to retirement, alongside supporting the workers of the future. Technological change is transforming workplaces, and those with the fewest skills are most at risk from things like artificial intelligence. So, we need to work with the trade unions to ensure that both the green and technological transitions happen with the workforce not to them. After all, there can be no environmental justice without economic and social justice too.

Whilst recognising the need for protections and processes within the planning system, there must be more that we can do to better use planning to enable economic development that has social, economic and environmental value. Whether that is a streamlined system for projects that fulfil certain criteria or strengthen expectations and accountability around social value and community benefits, we need a greater return on private investment in places and for the people that live in them. And what else can we do with the tax-raising powers we do have in Wales? Some non-domestic rates to newer possibilities, can they better offer a means to incentivise and drive local economies?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac a gaf i ddweud ar y dechrau yr hoffwn roi munud o fy amser i Mike Hedges ac i Luke Fletcher?

Rwy'n cyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon ar adeg pan wyddom fod yr economi ledled y DU yn wynebu llawer o heriau—storm berffaith wedi ei chymell gan fflamau cyni economaidd, pandemig byd-eang a'r argyfwng costau byw yn sgil hynny. Mae'r ffeithiau a'r ystadegau yn sicr yn siarad drostynt eu hunain, ond roedd Cymru a gweithwyr yn teimlo pwysau cyfuniad gwenwynig o dwf araf, lefelau uchel o anghydraddoldeb a'r erydu cyson i hawliau'r gweithle ymhell cyn i'r argyfwng costau byw daro. Nid cyfalafiaeth ddilyffethair sy'n gadael i'r marchnadoedd reoli eu hunain a chyfyngu ar hawliau gweithwyr yw'r cyfrwng ar gyfer sicrhau urddas yn y gwaith a mwy o ffyniant i'n pobl a'n lleoedd. Mae angen system economaidd arnom sy'n grymuso pobl, nid eu hecsbloetio. Mae angen i ni ddefnyddio pob ysgogiad sydd ar gael i ni i ddatgloi potensial economaidd ein cymunedau a'n gwlad.

Y gwir amdani yw bod y prif ysgogiadau macro-economaidd y tu hwnt i rym Llywodraeth Cymru a'r lle hwn, a'r gwir cyllidol yw bod angen mwy o bŵer ariannol arnom i wneud ac i gynnal buddsoddiadau cynaliadwy a sylweddol yn ein cymunedau. Felly, gallwn fod wedi defnyddio'r ddadl hon i alw am gyllid tecach i Gymru neu ddatganoli Ystad y Goron, a allai sicrhau newid sylfaenol a dechrau newid trawsnewidiol. Ond fel y dywed yr hen air, celfyddyd yr hyn sy'n bosibl yw gwleidyddiaeth, ac rwyf am ganolbwyntio heddiw ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud gyda'r ysgogiadau datganoledig sydd gennym i helpu i wneud i'n heconomi weithio'n well i weithwyr ac i Gymru, o gynllunio i gaffael a chymryd y camau nesaf gyda'n dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol, hyfforddiant ar gyfer swyddi yfory yn ogystal â heddiw, gan ddysgu nid yn unig sgiliau newydd, ond darparu cyfle i ailsgilio drwy gydol eich bywyd gwaith, ac i brofiad gael ei drosglwyddo'n well o un genhedlaeth i'r nesaf gyda photensial ar gyfer llwybr graddol i ymddeoliad, ochr yn ochr â chefnogi gweithwyr y dyfodol. Mae newid technolegol yn trawsnewid gweithleoedd, a'r rhai â'r lleiaf o sgiliau sy'n wynebu'r risg fwyaf yn sgil pethau fel deallusrwydd artiffisial. Felly, mae angen inni weithio gyda'r undebau llafur i sicrhau bod y trawsnewidiad gwyrdd a thechnolegol yn digwydd gyda'r gweithlu ac nid iddynt. Wedi'r cyfan, ni ellir cael cyfiawnder amgylcheddol heb gyfiawnder economaidd a chymdeithasol hefyd.

Gan gydnabod yr angen am amddiffyniadau a phrosesau o fewn y system gynllunio, rhaid bod mwy y gallwn ei wneud i ddefnyddio cynllunio'n well er mwyn galluogi datblygu economaidd ag iddo werth cymdeithasol, economaidd ac amgylcheddol. Boed yn system symlach ar gyfer prosiectau sy'n cyflawni meini prawf penodol neu gryfhau disgwyliadau ac atebolrwydd am werth cymdeithasol a buddion cymunedol, rydym angen mwy o elw ar fuddsoddiad preifat mewn lleoedd ac ar gyfer y bobl sy'n byw ynddynt. A beth arall y gallwn ei wneud gyda'r pwerau codi trethi sydd gennym yng Nghymru? Rhai ardrethi annomestig i bosibiliadau mwy newydd, a allant gynnig ffordd well o gymell ac ysgogi economïau lleol?

It is understandable to want to attract inward investment to Wales, but it's best done in a way that is anchored in our communities. Too many times we have witnessed major names coming here in receipt of public money, only to up sticks, sometimes within the decade. And whilst we naturally want to create as many decent jobs as possible, it must be about the quality of those jobs, not simply the quantity. Public money should not go to companies who do not align their own principles with the Welsh Government’s position on fair work. The economic contract has evolved, but in my view, it could and should go much further. Any organisation receiving public funds should, as a minimum, be committed to paying at least the real living wage, offer all of their workers contracted hours should they want them, and allow access to trade unions and promote trade union membership.

Dirprwy Lywydd, there is much I could cover on this topic this afternoon, but as this is a short debate, I’m going to focus the remainder of my contribution on the role of public procurement, because I know the economy Secretary is a big fan of procurement, like myself, and also on the power of the public sector to effect broad economic change and the potential of a community wealth-building approach to economic development and regeneration in Wales.

The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 was the first piece of primary legislation on procurement in Wales, and I should probably declare an interest at this point, as the Member who took through that legislation. But when the procurement part of that law is enacted, it will mean that public bodies will be required to carry out socially responsible procurement, putting environmental, social, economic and cultural well-being at the heart of Wales's annual procurement spend. That presents a huge shift from how procurement has been traditionally viewed, through the lens of bureaucracy and the financial bottom-line, to procurement as a means to achieve shared prosperity. Public sector-led procurement has the opportunity to shape and influence so many of the activities that our public services deliver, and ensure that public spending reaps maximum local, economic, social and environmental benefit.

We know that public finances are under severe pressure, but arguably, in times of economic challenge and fiscal restraint, the power of procurement becomes even more important. We need to make sure that every pound spent on public service provision and procuring goods and services reaps maximum value and benefit. The public sector is central, not just as simply providing the services that we all depend upon, but as a key economic driver. It's where we get the most leverage around fair work and delivering provision in a way that brings broader benefits. Welsh Government's programme for government commits to exploring where services and contracts can sustainably and affordably be brought back into a strengthened public sector.

We need a clear trajectory or time frame for how this aspiration could be achieved, to reach a point in Wales where the public sector is the primary provider of public services. That is as it should be, and actually, it's not ideological, it is moral, but it's also economic common sense. Again, the social partnership and public procurement Act sets out actions that contracting authorities must take in relation to the outsourcing of services, and there is a new provision around a public workforce clause. But I firmly believe that we need a significant shift to insourcing, and by working in partnership with employers and trade unions, a sensible starting point would be a collective agreement to no further outsourcing, because the reality of outsourcing is that it will nearly always be about profit, not about people. And paying and treating people better is positive for productivity, good for growth, and enables investment in our town and community centres, by providing economic security, stability and improved spending power in those often smaller independent businesses that are the linchpin of local life.

The health of public services is intrinsically linked to the wealth of our nation. A strong public sector and the role, for example, that health institutions play as local employers mean that they have potential as engines of economic growth. If we keep on walking the same economic path, we will keep on ending up at the same destination. Traditional economic development practice and developer-led regeneration are failing to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of our age. Community wealth building is an emerging people-centred approach to local economic development that redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people. It can focus on fair employment and just labour markets, making financial power work for local places, plural ownership of the economy, socially productive use of land and property, and progressive procurement of goods and services.

Community wealth building often has so-called anchor institutions at its core, organisations that have an important presence and a place, usually through a combination of being large employers, the largest purchasers of goods and services in the area, controlling large areas of land and having relatively fixed assets. Examples include things like local authorities, health boards, universities, trade unions, large local businesses and, perhaps, the combined activities of the community and voluntary sector and housing associations. They can create anchor networks to maximise the power of the public purse and growth that is equitable. Many of the structures we have already legislated for here in Wales could potentially offer a means to facilitate a new approach to regional and local economic development and the regeneration of our towns and community centres, building on our Transforming Towns and 'town centre first' approach, but creating meaningful mechanisms and networks of people who truly shape the places they live and work in.

These anchor institutions could be the major cultural assets that we are rightly proud of here in Wales, and I need look no further than on my own doorstep in Delyn for the prime example of Theatr Clwyd. The theatre is currently undertaking a £50 million redevelopment, thanks in no small part to our Welsh Government. In 2016, their turnover was £4.6 million and they employed 60 company members with an economic impact in north-east Wales calculated at £7.2 million. Current turnover is £7.6 million, with 153 company members, and by the time the development is completed next year, they will have close to 250 core employees, with the economic impact likely to grow to over £20 million a year in north-east Wales. They have also taken over county music services, the only producing house in the UK to deliver music education, and put the local supply chain as a top priority. In addition, the development in Mold also intends to become carbon neutral with air-source heating, solar panels and rainwater harvesting being installed.

I spoke at a conference on community wealth building a few years ago in Preston, and what struck me then was how many of the principles of this approach align with the Welsh approach of partnership, recognising that collective working is not only more effective, but means that more of us have a say and a stake in the matters that impact us and, importantly, on seeking successful and sustainable solutions for change. It's time to take that next step and put those principles not just into practice, but bring about practical outcomes.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I want to end today where I began, and that is with the trade union movement. I declare an interest as a very proud trade union member. In fact, I often say that I was made in the trade union movement. Trade unions are a force for good for workplaces and for Wales as a whole. Whilst we have legislated in Wales for social partnership, I'm sure you'll agree that that has to be the starting point, not the finish line. We can go beyond the letter of the law, involving worker voice in shaping broader policy, improving public services and boosting businesses and local economies. The UK Government's new deal for workers implemented in full will not only be the biggest proactive change in a generation when it comes to employment rights, it will provide a renewed and strengthened platform for our social partnership approach in Wales.

But it's also not how we approach economic investment and development that needs to change; I think the way we talk about the economy does too. We often hear talk about growth, but growth for who? And when we talk about the economy, we need to talk more about work. After all, work is the foundation of our economy, our communities and our country. So, despite the challenging context, there still remains a real opportunity to work together so that devolution really makes the economy work for workers and Wales. Diolch.

Mae'n ddealladwy fod pobl eisiau denu mewnfuddsoddiad i Gymru, ond mae'n well gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sydd wedi'i hangori yn ein cymunedau. Yn rhy aml, fe welsom enwau mawr yn dod yma i gael arian cyhoeddus, a diflannu oddi yma wedyn, weithiau o fewn y degawd. Ac er ein bod yn naturiol eisiau creu cymaint o swyddi gweddus â phosibl, mae'n rhaid iddo ymwneud ag ansawdd y swyddi hynny, nid eu nifer yn unig. Ni ddylai arian cyhoeddus fynd i gwmnïau nad yw eu hegwyddorion eu hunain yn cyd-fynd â safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar waith teg. Mae'r contract economaidd wedi esblygu, ond yn fy marn i, fe allai ac fe ddylai fynd ymhellach o lawer. Dylai unrhyw sefydliad sy'n derbyn arian cyhoeddus ymrwymo o leiaf i dalu'r cyflog byw go iawn, cynnig oriau contract i'w holl weithwyr os ydynt eu heisiau, a chaniatáu mynediad at undebau llafur a hyrwyddo aelodaeth o undebau llafur.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae llawer y gallwn ei gynnwys ar y pwnc hwn y prynhawn yma, ond gan mai dadl fer yw hon, rwy'n mynd i ganolbwyntio gweddill fy nghyfraniad ar rôl caffael cyhoeddus, oherwydd gwn fod Ysgrifennydd yr economi yn frwd ei gefnogaeth i gaffael, fel finnau, a phŵer y sector cyhoeddus i sicrhau newid economaidd eang a photensial datblygu economaidd ac adfywio drwy adeiladu cyfoeth cymunedol yng Nghymru.

Deddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2023 oedd y ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol gyntaf ar gaffael yng Nghymru, ac mae'n debyg y dylwn ddatgan buddiant ar y pwynt hwn, fel yr Aelod a gyflwynodd y ddeddfwriaeth honno. Ond pan gaiff rhan gaffael y ddeddfwriaeth honno ei deddfu, bydd yn golygu y bydd yn ofynnol i gyrff cyhoeddus ymgymryd â chaffael cyfrifol yn gymdeithasol, gan roi lles amgylcheddol, cymdeithasol, economaidd a diwylliannol wrth wraidd gwariant caffael blynyddol Cymru. Mae hwnnw'n newid enfawr o'r ffordd y câi caffael ei weld yn draddodiadol, trwy lens biwrocratiaeth a'r llinell sylfaen ariannol, i gaffael fel modd o sicrhau ffyniant cyffredin. Mae cyfle i gaffael a arweinir gan y sector cyhoeddus siapio a dylanwadu ar gymaint o'r gweithgareddau y mae ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn eu cyflawni, a sicrhau bod gwariant cyhoeddus yn arwain at y budd lleol, economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol mwyaf posibl.

Rydym yn gwybod bod cyllid cyhoeddus dan bwysau difrifol, ond gellir dadlau mewn cyfnod o her economaidd a chyfyngu cyllidol, fod pŵer caffael hyd yn oed yn bwysicach. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod pob punt a werir ar ddarparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a chaffael nwyddau a gwasanaethau yn sicrhau'r gwerth a'r budd mwyaf. Mae'r sector cyhoeddus yn ganolog, nid yn unig i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau yr ydym i gyd yn dibynnu arnynt, ond fel sbardun economaidd allweddol. Dyma lle y cawn fwyaf o ddylanwad ar waith teg a chyflenwi darpariaeth mewn ffordd sy'n sicrhau manteision ehangach. Mae rhaglen lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i archwilio lle y gellir dod â gwasanaethau a chontractau yn ôl yn gynaliadwy ac yn fforddiadwy i sector cyhoeddus cryfach.

Mae angen llwybr clir neu amserlen ar gyfer sut y gellid cyflawni'r dyhead hwn, er mwyn cyrraedd pwynt yng Nghymru lle mae'r sector cyhoeddus yn brif ddarparwr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Dyna fel y dylai fod, ac mewn gwirionedd, nid yw'n ideolegol, mae'n foesol, ond mae hefyd yn synnwyr cyffredin economaidd. Unwaith eto, mae'r Ddeddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus yn nodi camau y mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau contractio eu cymryd mewn perthynas ag allanoli gwasanaethau, a cheir darpariaeth newydd yn gysylltiedig â chymal gweithlu cyhoeddus. Ond credaf yn gryf fod angen newid sylweddol arnom i fewnoli, a thrwy weithio mewn partneriaeth â chyflogwyr ac undebau llafur, man cychwyn synhwyrol fyddai cytundeb ar y cyd i beidio ag allanoli ymhellach, oherwydd realiti allanoli yw y bydd bron bob amser yn ymwneud ag elw, nid pobl. Ac mae talu a thrin pobl yn well yn gadarnhaol i gynhyrchiant, yn dda i dwf, ac yn galluogi buddsoddiad yn ein canolfannau trefol a chymunedol, trwy ddarparu sicrwydd economaidd, sefydlogrwydd a gwell pŵer gwario yn y busnesau annibynnol hynny sy'n aml yn llai o faint ac yn echelbin i fywyd lleol.

Mae iechyd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi'i gysylltu'n anochel â chyfoeth ein gwlad. Mae sector cyhoeddus cryf a'r rôl, er enghraifft, y mae sefydliadau iechyd yn ei chwarae fel cyflogwyr lleol yn golygu bod ganddynt botensial fel peiriannau twf economaidd. Os ydym yn parhau i gerdded yr un llwybr economaidd, byddwn yn parhau i gyrraedd yr un cyrchfan. Mae arferion datblygu economaidd traddodiadol ac adfywio dan arweiniad datblygwyr yn methu mynd i'r afael â heriau economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol ein hoes. Mae adeiladu cyfoeth cymunedol yn ddull newydd sy'n canolbwyntio ar bobl o ddatblygu economi leol ac sy'n ailgyfeirio cyfoeth yn ôl i'r economi leol, ac yn rhoi rheolaeth a buddion yn nwylo pobl leol. Gall ganolbwyntio ar gyflogaeth deg a marchnadoedd llafur teg, gan wneud i bŵer ariannol weithio i leoedd lleol, perchnogaeth luosog ar yr economi, defnydd cymdeithasol cynhyrchiol o dir ac eiddo, a modd blaengar o gaffael nwyddau a gwasanaethau.

Yn aml mae gan adeiladu cyfoeth cymunedol sefydliadau angori fel y'u gelwir wrth ei wraidd, sefydliadau sydd â phresenoldeb pwysig a lle, fel arfer trwy gyfuniad o fod yn gyflogwyr mawr, prynwyr mwyaf nwyddau a gwasanaethau yn yr ardal, rheoli rhannau mawr o dir a meddu ar asedau cymharol sefydlog. Mae enghreifftiau'n cynnwys pethau fel awdurdodau lleol, byrddau iechyd, prifysgolion, undebau llafur, busnesau mawr lleol, ac, efallai, gweithgareddau cyfunol y sector cymunedol a gwirfoddol a chymdeithasau tai. Gallant greu rhwydweithiau angori i gynyddu pŵer y pwrs cyhoeddus a thwf sy'n deg. Gallai llawer o'r strwythurau yr ydym eisoes wedi deddfu ar eu cyfer yma yng Nghymru gynnig modd i hwyluso dull newydd o ddatblygu economi ranbarthol a lleol ac adfywio ein trefi a'n canolfannau cymunedol, gan adeiladu ar ein dull Trawsnewid Trefi a 'chanol y dref yn gyntaf', ond gan greu mecanweithiau ystyrlon a rhwydweithiau o bobl sydd o ddifrif yn siapio'r lleoedd y maent yn byw ac yn gweithio ynddynt.

Gallai'r sefydliadau angori hyn gynnwys yr asedau diwylliannol mawr yr ydym yn briodol falch ohonynt yma yng Nghymru, ac nid oes angen imi edrych ymhellach na fy stepen ddrws fy hun yn Delyn i weld enghraifft wych Theatr Clwyd. Ar hyn o bryd mae'r theatr yn cyflawni ailddatblygiad gwerth £50 miliwn, diolch i raddau helaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Yn 2016, roedd eu trosiant yn £4.6 miliwn ac roeddent yn cyflogi 60 o aelodau yn y cwmni gydag effaith economaidd yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru o £7.2 miliwn. Y trosiant presennol yw £7.6 miliwn, gyda 153 o aelodau yn y cwmni, ac erbyn i'r datblygiad gael ei gwblhau y flwyddyn nesaf, bydd ganddynt bron i 250 o weithwyr craidd, gyda'r effaith economaidd yn debygol o dyfu i dros £20 miliwn y flwyddyn yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru. Maent hefyd wedi dod â'r gwasanaethau cerddoriaeth sirol o dan eu rheolaeth, yr unig dŷ cynhyrchu yn y DU i ddarparu addysg cerddoriaeth, ac wedi rhoi'r gadwyn gyflenwi leol yn brif flaenoriaeth. Yn ogystal, mae'r datblygiad yn yr Wyddgrug hefyd yn bwriadu dod yn garbon niwtral gyda systemau gwres o'r aer, paneli solar a chynaeafu dŵr glaw yn cael eu gosod.

Siaradais mewn cynhadledd ar adeiladu cyfoeth cymunedol ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl yn Preston, a'r hyn a'm trawodd bryd hynny oedd faint o egwyddorion y dull hwn o weithredu sy'n cyd-fynd â dull partneriaeth Cymru, gan gydnabod bod cydweithio nid yn unig yn fwy effeithiol, ond yn golygu bod mwy ohonom yn cael dweud ein dweud, a chyfran yn y materion sy'n effeithio arnom, ac yn bwysig, ar geisio atebion llwyddiannus a chynaliadwy ar gyfer newid. Mae'n bryd cymryd y cam nesaf a rhoi'r egwyddorion hynny ar waith, a sicrhau canlyniadau ymarferol.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwyf am ddod i ben heddiw lle y dechreuais, a hynny gyda mudiad yr undebau llafur. Rwy'n datgan buddiant fel aelod balch o undeb llafur. A dweud y gwir, rwy'n aml yn dweud fy mod wedi cael fy nghreu yn y mudiad undebau llafur. Mae undebau llafur yn rym er daioni i weithleoedd ac i Gymru gyfan. Er ein bod wedi deddfu yng Nghymru ar gyfer partneriaeth gymdeithasol, rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno mai man cychwyn yw hwnnw, nid y llinell derfyn. Gallwn fynd y tu hwnt i lythyren y gyfraith, gan gynnwys llais gweithwyr wrth lunio polisi ehangach, gwella gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a rhoi hwb i fusnesau ac economïau lleol. Bydd bargen newydd Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer gweithwyr wedi'i weithredu'n llawn yn cynrychioli'r newid rhagweithiol mwyaf mewn cenhedlaeth o ran hawliau cyflogaeth, a bydd hefyd yn darparu llwyfan newydd a chryfach ar gyfer ein dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol yng Nghymru.

Ond hefyd mae angen newid mwy na'n hymagwedd at fuddsoddi a datblygu economaidd; rwy'n credu bod angen newid y ffordd y siaradwn am yr economi  hefyd. Rydym yn aml yn clywed sôn am dwf, ond twf i bwy? A phan fyddwn yn siarad am yr economi, mae angen inni siarad mwy am waith. Wedi'r cyfan, gwaith yw sylfaen ein heconomi, ein cymunedau a'n gwlad. Felly, er gwaethaf y cyd-destun heriol, mae cyfle gwirioneddol o hyd i gydweithio fel bod datganoli o ddifrif yn gwneud i'r economi weithio i weithwyr a Chymru. Diolch.

17:45

I suppose I'll make a declaration here: I'm about to rejoin Unite. A lot of the work that they've been doing around the steelworkers has brought me back into the fold in that sense, but also the work they're undertaking now in giving representation to the hospitality workers across the UK. Obviously, back in the day, when I was in hospitality, I was a member of Unite, so I'll be looking to rejoin to support that effort.

I have to say I agree with a lot of the stuff that's been said already: inward investment and the way in which we do it has to change. We're in a situation right now where we give money away to multinational companies, and we see, then, what happens down the line. In Bridgend, you've got Ford, you've got Biomet now more recently, all upping sticks after receiving Government money. The same can be said for Tata, as well: Government money has been given to Tata, and we're still losing 2,800 jobs directly in Tata, and potentially then 10,000 if you account for the job losses within the supply chain.

The one thing I would add—and I talk about this a lot—is this: the economy, what is it about? It's about people, and that's what we should be focusing on. Wales won't be an economic superpower. We're not going to be rivalling the likes of the US and China in a traditional sense, and that's completely fine. But if we start measuring what is of value to the people in our economy—so, whether they have a fulfilling life and work in jobs that they actually enjoy, whether they have disposable income and have a life that they can enjoy—you'll find quite quickly that the rankings, worldwide, of global economies changes, it almost flips. The G7 is no longer the G7; the G7 is further down the list because of the lack of focus on people.

So, I agree with a lot that's been said already, but I think the way in which we measure economic success has to change. We have to be more people focused and we have to start thinking about how we measure happiness, how we measure fulfilment within the economy, because that is the real test of whether an economy is actually delivering for people on the ground.

Mae'n debyg y dylwn wneud datganiad yma: rwyf ar fin ailymuno ag Unite. Mae llawer o'r gwaith a wnaethant gyda'r gweithwyr dur wedi dod â mi'n ôl i'r gorlan yn yr ystyr honno, ond hefyd y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud nawr ar roi cynrychiolaeth i'r gweithwyr lletygarwch ledled y DU. Yn amlwg, o'r blaen, pan oeddwn yn y maes lletygarwch, roeddwn yn aelod o Unite, felly rwy'n bwriadu ailymuno i gefnogi'r ymdrech honno.

Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn cytuno â llawer o'r pethau sydd wedi'u dweud eisoes: mae'n rhaid i fewnfuddsoddiad a'r ffordd yr ydym yn ei wneud newid. Rydym mewn sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd lle rydym yn rhoi arian i gwmnïau rhyngwladol, a gwelwn wedyn beth sy'n digwydd yn nes ymlaen. Ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, mae gennych Ford, mae gennych Biomet nawr yn fwy diweddar yn gadael ar ôl derbyn arian y Llywodraeth. Gellir dweud yr un peth am Tata, hefyd: rhoddwyd arian Llywodraeth i Tata, ac rydym yn dal i golli 2,800 o swyddi yn uniongyrchol yn Tata, a 10,000 wedyn o bosibl, os cyfrwch chi'r colledion swyddi yn y gadwyn gyflenwi.

Yr un peth y byddwn i'n ei ychwanegu—ac rwy'n sôn llawer am hyn—yw: yr economi, beth yw ei bwrpas? Mae'n ymwneud â phobl, a dyna beth y dylem fod yn canolbwyntio arno. Ni fydd Cymru'n un o'r gwledydd mwyaf pwerus yn y byd yn economaidd. Nid ydym yn mynd i fod yn cystadlu â gwledydd fel yr Unol Daleithiau a Tsieina mewn ystyr draddodiadol, ac mae hynny'n hollol iawn. Ond os dechreuwn fesur beth sydd o werth i'r bobl yn ein heconomi—felly, a oes ganddynt fywyd a gwaith boddhaus mewn swyddi y maent yn eu mwynhau, a oes ganddynt incwm gwario a bywydau y gallant eu mwynhau—fe welwch chi'n eithaf cyflym fod safleoedd economïau byd-eang yn newid, mae bron â bod yn troi ar ei ben. Nid yw'r G7 bellach yn G7; mae'r G7 ymhellach i lawr y rhestr oherwydd y diffyg ffocws ar bobl.

Felly, rwy'n cytuno â llawer sydd wedi'i ddweud eisoes, ond rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i'r ffordd yr ydym yn mesur llwyddiant economaidd newid. Mae'n rhaid inni ganolbwyntio mwy ar bobl ac mae'n rhaid inni ddechrau meddwl sut rydym yn mesur hapusrwydd, sut rydym yn mesur boddhad o fewn yr economi, oherwydd dyna'r prawf go iawn sy'n dangos a yw economi yn cyflawni go iawn i bobl ar lawr gwlad.

17:50

Can I also add that I'm a very proud trade unionist?

Thank you, Hannah Blythyn, for giving me a minute in this debate. I agree with everything you've just said. We've had a growth in exploitative contracts, not just zero-hour contracts, but many with low guaranteed hours, sometimes as few as five or eight per week, at the minimum wage—visit a high street near you. We've also seen the privatisation and contracting out of key services such as homecare. If the private contractors can make a profit by doing a function cheaper, then it must be based on either reduced conditions of service of the employees or reduced hours of the employees; there's no other way of doing it cheaper. No company with exploitative terms or conditions of service should have Welsh Government financial support. That really is important.

The second thing I'll say is that Welsh Government funded bodies and local authorities should, at the end of contracts, look to bring contracted-out services back in house. And finally, I will say that—and I wrote about this recently—the number of companies that have come to Wales for five or 10 years, had substantial Government grants and then walked away again is a disgrace.

A gaf i hefyd ychwanegu fy mod i'n undebwr llafur balch iawn?

Diolch i chi, Hannah Blythyn, am roi munud i mi yn y ddadl hon. Rwy'n cytuno â phopeth rydych chi newydd ei ddweud. Rydym wedi cael twf mewn contractau ecsbloetiol, nid yn unig contractau dim oriau, ond llawer gydag oriau gwarantedig isel, weithiau cyn lleied â phump neu wyth awr yr wythnos, ar yr isafswm cyflog—ewch i stryd fawr yn agos atoch chi. Rydym hefyd wedi gweld preifateiddio ac allanoli contractau gwasanaethau allweddol fel gofal cartref. Os gall y contractwyr preifat wneud elw drwy wneud swyddogaeth yn rhatach, rhaid ei fod yn seiliedig naill ai ar amodau gwasanaeth mwy cyfyngedig i'r gweithwyr neu lai o oriau i'r gweithwyr; nid oes unrhyw ffordd arall o'i wneud yn rhatach. Ni ddylai unrhyw gwmni sydd â thelerau neu amodau gwasanaeth ecsbloetiol gael cymorth ariannol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hynny'n bwysig iawn.

Yr ail beth a ddywedaf yw y dylai cyrff a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol, ar ddiwedd contractau, geisio dod â gwasanaethau a roddwyd ar gontract allanol yn ôl yn fewnol. Ac yn olaf, rwyf am ddweud—ac ysgrifennais am hyn yn ddiweddar—fod y nifer o gwmnïau sydd wedi dod i Gymru am bump neu 10 mlynedd, wedi cael grantiau sylweddol gan y Llywodraeth ac yna wedi gadael yn warthus.

Galwaf ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio i ymateb i'r ddadl—Rebecca Evans.

I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning to reply to the debate—Rebecca Evans.

Thank you very much, and thank you to Hannah Blythyn for raising this short debate today on the importance of economic growth and workers' rights. In my new ministerial role, I'm really clear on the need to utilise cross-Government powers in the economy space. We need to think openly and creatively to maximise economic growth opportunities, and I think that really came through strongly in everything that Hannah was saying, particularly about how we use all the levers that we have and how we use them well to deliver real change. The economy impacts on all areas of our lives and it is important to consider how we utilise our levers as a Government to spread wealth and to tackle some of the deep-rooted causes of economic inactivity. We can take important steps within our devolved powers to ensure that wealth distribution covers all regions and is of benefit to all workers.

I'll be making an oral statement on 8 October and that will set out how we are focusing on economic growth and working closely with the UK Government to help maximise opportunities in Wales. And this, of course, will include how we go about delivering on the First Minister's priorities on growing our economy and green jobs. We have to be clear on where we're building from and that's why I do agree with the position of the Chancellor, who has brought a much-needed focus to the need to develop growth based on the strong, secure foundations of stability, investment and reform and forged through a new partnership with the private sector.

We have faced over a decade of austerity from a Conservative Government, but now we do need to take on the challenges to kick-start growth and to ensure stability and sustainability for the longer term. Having a UK Labour Government will aid the delivery of our economic mission and our four national priority areas: just and green prosperity; a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success; stronger partnerships with stronger regions and the everyday economy; and investing in growth. These priorities remain the bedrock of our approach and they do align with the UK Government's mission-based approach.

At the core of our delivery strengths in Wales are our partnerships and our regions. Economic growth and a focus on workers' rights can only be achieved in partnership—ourselves, the UK Government, the private sector, the public sector and trade unions working together. And obviously, I want to pay tribute to Hannah for the absolutely leading role that she's played in this space for many years, and, of course, to declare my own interest here as a member of Unison and Unite.

We know that locally rooted leadership is important because it means that decisions taken over investment and services are informed by regional and local priorities. Our regional economic frameworks help to bring together partners to agree a clear approach. Our commitment, through corporate joint committees, which embeds powers around economic well-being, will help regions to work together to be more responsive to local needs and challenges, and to understand the potential that makes each place unique. That's why we'll go on investing in long-term partnerships capable of linking innovation and skills to better pay and well-being. In sectors like aerospace, the creative industries and energy, our partnerships have built lasting careers that support stronger family finances in many of our communities.

Diolch yn fawr, a diolch i Hannah Blythyn am gyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon heddiw ar bwysigrwydd twf economaidd a hawliau gweithwyr. Yn fy rôl weinidogol newydd, rwy'n glir iawn ynghylch yr angen i ddefnyddio pwerau trawslywodraethol mewn perthynas â'r economi. Mae angen inni feddwl yn agored ac yn greadigol er mwyn manteisio i'r eithaf ar gyfleoedd twf economaidd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny wedi dod drwodd yn gryf ym mhob dim a ddywedodd Hannah, yn enwedig am y modd y defnyddiwn yr holl ysgogiadau sydd gennym a sut mae eu defnyddio'n dda i gyflawni newid go iawn. Mae'r economi yn effeithio ar bob rhan o'n bywydau ac mae'n bwysig ystyried sut rydym yn defnyddio ein dulliau fel Llywodraeth i ledaenu cyfoeth a mynd i'r afael â rhai o achosion dwfn anweithgarwch economaidd. Gallwn gymryd camau pwysig o fewn ein pwerau datganoledig i sicrhau bod dosbarthiad cyfoeth yn cynnwys pob rhanbarth ac o fudd i bob gweithiwr.

Byddaf yn gwneud datganiad ar lafar ar 8 Hydref a bydd hwnnw'n nodi'r ffordd y canolbwyntiwn ar dwf economaidd a gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU i helpu i wneud y mwyaf o gyfleoedd yng Nghymru. A bydd hyn, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys y ffordd yr awn ati i gyflawni blaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog ar dyfu ein heconomi a swyddi gwyrdd. Mae'n rhaid inni fod yn glir ble rydym yn adeiladu ohono a dyna pam rwy'n cytuno â safbwynt y Canghellor, sydd wedi dod â ffocws mawr ei angen i'r angen i ddatblygu twf yn seiliedig ar sylfeini cadarn a diogel sefydlogrwydd, buddsoddiad a diwygio, a'i ffurfio drwy bartneriaeth newydd gyda'r sector preifat.

Rydym wedi wynebu dros ddegawd o gyni gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol, ond nawr mae angen inni wynebu'r heriau i sbarduno twf a sicrhau sefydlogrwydd a chynaliadwyedd yn y tymor hwy. Bydd cael Llywodraeth Lafur yn y DU yn helpu i gyflawni ein cenhadaeth economaidd a'n pedwar maes blaenoriaeth cenedlaethol: ffyniant teg a gwyrdd; llwyfan i bobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant; partneriaethau cryfach gyda rhanbarthau cryfach a'r economi bob dydd; a buddsoddi mewn twf. Mae'r blaenoriaethau hyn yn parhau i fod yn sail i'n dull gweithredu ac maent yn cyd-fynd â dull gweithredu Llywodraeth y DU sy'n seiliedig ar genhadaeth.

Wrth wraidd ein cryfderau cyflawni yng Nghymru mae ein partneriaethau a'n rhanbarthau. Dim ond mewn partneriaeth y gellir cyflawni twf economaidd a ffocws ar hawliau gweithwyr—ni ein hunain, Llywodraeth y DU, y sector preifat, y sector cyhoeddus ac undebau llafur yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd. Ac yn amlwg, rwyf am dalu teyrnged i Hannah am y rôl flaengar iawn y mae hi wedi'i chwarae yn y gofod hwn ers blynyddoedd lawer, a datgan buddiant personol yma fel aelod o Unison ac Unite.

Gwyddom fod arweinyddiaeth wedi'i gwreiddio'n lleol yn bwysig oherwydd mae'n golygu bod penderfyniadau a wneir ynglŷn â buddsoddi a gwasanaethau yn cael eu llywio gan flaenoriaethau rhanbarthol a lleol. Mae ein fframweithiau economaidd rhanbarthol yn helpu i ddod â phartneriaid ynghyd i gytuno ar ddull clir o weithredu. Bydd ein hymrwymiad, trwy gyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig, sy'n gwreiddio pwerau o gwmpas lles economaidd, yn helpu rhanbarthau i weithio gyda'i gilydd i fod yn fwy ymatebol i anghenion a heriau lleol, ac i ddeall y potensial sy'n gwneud pob lle yn unigryw. Dyna pam y byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn partneriaethau hirdymor sy'n gallu cysylltu arloesedd a sgiliau â chyflog gwell a llesiant. Mewn sectorau fel awyrofod, y diwydiannau creadigol ac ynni, mae ein partneriaethau wedi adeiladu gyrfaoedd parhaol sy'n cefnogi trefniadau ariannol teuluol cryfach mewn nifer o'n cymunedau.

Our Business Wales and Development Bank of Wales services provide sustainable, effective support and finance, and our services for small businesses are close enough to understand local economies and the needs of entrepreneurs, and are big enough to make an impact. This is helping to bring ambitions to life and fuelling possibilities for people, businesses and communities across Wales. Our new local government finance Act helps to modernise both our non-domestic rates and our council tax systems, and it establishes a series of changes to improve the tax systems, making them fairer and work better for the future needs of Wales, by ensuring that local taxes reflect economic circumstances more regularly.

As the global economy changes, we will maximise our devolved powers, clearly demonstrating that we are a pro-business and pro-worker country, underpinned by a reputation for, and a commitment to, fair work and well-being. I think that this came through really strongly in Luke Fletcher’s contribution this afternoon. Our approach as a country that is committed to a well-being economy has to really mean something.

So, we are working with Governments such as Canada and New Zealand as part of the WEGo group—that’s the network of well-being Governments group—to understand the key priorities for a well-being economy. We want to position Wales as a leading nation in our approach, and to innovate and place a specific focus on the role of business, place and people to meet a range of needs.

A key part of our well-being economy is our focus on fair work and social partnership, and that’s why our Welsh way of social partnership working has led to the development—and I don’t need to tell Hannah Blythyn this—of our new social partnership and public procurement Act, in which she was so instrumental. This offers significant potential to cement our social partnership in Wales by putting a duty on public bodies to engage with trade unions when they are setting out what they will do to comply with the well-being of future generations Act.

Our social partnership approach is underpinned by the benefits of employers and trade unions, working as partners in a spirit of collaboration, shared commitment and mutual respect. This benefits employers as well as trade unions, and I think that that came through really strongly in Mike Hedges’s contribution, particularly when he was talking about zero-hours contracts and so on.

A good relationship with a trade union can help a business with safety issues, so that fewer days are lost as a result of work-related injuries and occupational illnesses. It can also help to organise training and learning and development, including access to the Wales union learning fund, and it can be a vital factor in contributing to a more engaged and productive workforce. For those reasons and others, we encourage all employers to work in social partnership, for their benefit and that of their workforces. This includes using our economic contract to encourage trade union access.

We are working with the UK Government to deliver the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, through the delivery of Labour’s transformative new deal for working people. We are pleased by the UK Government’s clear commitments to introducing an employment rights Bill, covering areas such as the banning of exploitative zero-hours contracts; to guarantee basic rights at work from day one; and to ensure stronger enforcement through establishing a new fair work agency. These measures will make work fairer, safer and more secure for all, and are critical to a healthy, functioning and productive labour market and economy. The employment rights Bill will impose legally enforceable rights and duties on many areas that we have been trying to promote and encourage in Wales through our more limited devolved powers.

Community wealth building can actively involve people in shaping the economy, particularly as we consider the need for a just transition, and for anchor institutions to realise opportunities within local economic development, and to address the climate emergency. We want to prioritise spending Welsh money in Wales, supporting Welsh companies wherever possible—companies that employ people and provide jobs and training in a local supply chain. When we spend Welsh taxpayers’ money, it should support our local workforce and go into improving people’s lives and opportunities. The new suite of procurement legislation that is now being brought in illustrates the biggest change in 30 years in terms of procurement, and it does provide us with lots more opportunities in this space.

Our approach to the foundational economy offers the chance to strengthen the foundational economy and shorten our supply chains to support direct goods or services we buy, including to maximise procurement opportunities to enable local employment opportunities. Some specific examples include through NHS Wales, where we've been able to integrate foundational economy and social value criteria into their procurement decision-making process. And because of this approach, Welsh businesses have secured an additional £40 million of expenditure, which had previously leaked out of Wales. We've also connected local contractors with registered social landlords to help deliver the optimised retrofit programme. And we supported a group of five registered social landlords to identify over 500 local contractors, which they were not previously aware of, and many of them have gone on to secure additional work. 

We'll continue to look at ways to support businesses where we have mainstreamed foundational economy principles into Business Wales delivery. Two expos will be delivered this autumn—the first took place in Swansea this month, and the next will be in Llandudno on 2 October. Through the expos, we have gathered future contract pipelines amounting to nearly £40 billion, and the events are enabling local businesses to engage directly with contracting authorities to find out how they can win work.

Social businesses are also an important and dynamic component of the Welsh economy. They deliver jobs closer to home where communities need them. Social businesses work actively to address local issues through trading, and then reinvest the income that they earn into the things that matter to them. Social Business Wales continues to support the development of social enterprises to add to the make-up of our local economic approaches.

To conclude the debate, I'd like to highlight that there are already leading practices here in Wales across fair work, procurement and partnership, which are helping to empower employers and workers' rights. Of course, there is more that we can do together, and we will continue to do that. There are significant opportunities now to align with the UK Government to strengthen working conditions in Wales. Our economic mission will continue to form the platform of our delivery across Government, and with partners, to meet the challenges of the current and future economy.

Mae ein gwasanaethau Busnes Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru yn darparu cymorth a chyllid cynaliadwy, effeithiol, ac mae ein gwasanaethau ar gyfer busnesau bach yn ddigon agos i ddeall economïau lleol ac anghenion entrepreneuriaid, ac yn ddigon mawr i gael effaith. Mae hyn yn helpu i ddod ag uchelgeisiau'n fyw a thanio posibiliadau i bobl, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru. Mae ein Deddf cyllid llywodraeth leol newydd yn helpu i foderneiddio ein trethi annomestig a'n systemau treth gyngor, ac mae'n sefydlu cyfres o newidiadau i wella'r systemau trethi, gan eu gwneud yn decach ac i weithio'n well ar gyfer anghenion Cymru yn y dyfodol, drwy sicrhau bod trethi lleol yn adlewyrchu amgylchiadau economaidd yn fwy rheolaidd.

Wrth i'r economi fyd-eang newid, byddwn yn gwneud y mwyaf o'n pwerau datganoledig, gan ddangos yn glir ein bod yn wlad sydd o blaid busnes ac o blaid y gweithiwr, yn seiliedig ar enw da am waith teg a llesiant, ac ymrwymiad iddynt. Rwy'n credu bod hyn wedi dod drwodd yn gryf iawn yng nghyfraniad Luke Fletcher y prynhawn yma. Mae'n rhaid i'n dull o weithredu fel gwlad sydd wedi ymrwymo i economi llesant olygu rhywbeth go iawn.

Felly, rydym yn gweithio gyda Llywodraethau fel Canada a Seland Newydd fel rhan o grŵp Rhwydwaith Llywodraethau'r Economi Llesiant i ddeall y blaenoriaethau allweddol ar gyfer economi llesiant. Rydym am hyrwyddo Cymru fel cenedl sy'n arwain yn ein dull o weithredu, ac arloesi a gosod ffocws penodol ar rôl busnes, lle a phobl i ddiwallu ystod o anghenion.

Rhan allweddol o'n heconomi llesiant yw ein ffocws ar waith teg a phartneriaeth gymdeithasol, a dyna pam y mae ein ffordd Gymreig o weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol wedi arwain at ddatblygu—ac nid oes angen imi ddweud hyn wrth Hannah Blythyn—ein Deddf partneriaeth gymdeithasol a chaffael cyhoeddus newydd yr oedd hi'n rhan mor allweddol o'i datblygu. Mae hon yn cynnig potensial sylweddol i gryfhau ein partneriaeth gymdeithasol yng Nghymru drwy roi dyletswydd ar gyrff cyhoeddus i ymgysylltu ag undebau llafur pan fyddant yn nodi'r hyn y byddant yn ei wneud i gydymffurfio â Deddf llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.

Mae ein dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol yn seiliedig ar fuddion cyflogwyr ac undebau llafur, yn gweithio fel partneriaid mewn ysbryd o gydweithrediad, cyd-ymrwymiad a pharch at ei gilydd. Mae hyn o fudd i gyflogwyr yn ogystal ag undebau llafur, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny wedi dod drwodd yn gryf iawn yng nghyfraniad Mike Hedges, yn enwedig pan oedd yn sôn am gontractau dim oriau ac yn y blaen.

Gall perthynas dda gydag undeb llafur helpu busnes gyda materion diogelwch, fel bod llai o ddyddiau'n cael eu colli o ganlyniad i anafiadau cysylltiedig â gwaith a salwch galwedigaethol. Gall hefyd helpu i drefnu hyfforddiant a dysgu a datblygu, gan gynnwys mynediad at gronfa ddysgu undebau Cymru, a gall fod yn ffactor hanfodol i gyfrannu at weithlu mwy ymgysylltiedig a chynhyrchiol. Am y rhesymau hynny ac eraill, rydym yn annog pob cyflogwr i weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol, er eu budd hwy a lles eu gweithluoedd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys defnyddio ein contract economaidd i annog mynediad at undeb llafur.

Rydym yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni'r uwchraddiad mwyaf i hawliau gweithwyr ers cenhedlaeth, drwy gyflawni cytundeb newydd trawsnewidiol Llafur i bobl sy'n gweithio. Rydym yn falch o ymrwymiad clir Llywodraeth y DU i gyflwyno Bil hawliau cyflogaeth, i gwmpasu meysydd fel gwahardd contractau dim oriau ecsbloetiol; gwarantu hawliau sylfaenol yn y gwaith o'r diwrnod cyntaf; ac i sicrhau gorfodaeth gryfach drwy sefydlu asiantaeth gwaith teg newydd. Bydd y mesurau hyn yn gwneud gwaith yn decach, yn fwy sicr ac yn fwy diogel i bawb, ac maent yn hanfodol i farchnad lafur ac economi iach, weithredol a chynhyrchiol. Bydd y Bil hawliau cyflogaeth yn gosod hawliau a dyletswyddau y gellir eu gorfodi'n gyfreithiol ar lawer o feysydd y buom yn ceisio eu hyrwyddo a'u hannog yng Nghymru drwy ein pwerau datganoledig mwy cyfyngedig.

Gall adeiladu cyfoeth cymunedol gynnwys pobl yn weithredol wrth siapio'r economi, yn enwedig wrth inni ystyried yr angen am bontio teg, ac i sefydliadau angori wireddu cyfleoedd datblygu economaidd lleol, a mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd. Rydym am flaenoriaethu gwario arian Cymru yng Nghymru, gan gefnogi cwmnïau o Gymru lle bynnag y bo modd—cwmnïau sy'n cyflogi pobl ac sy'n darparu swyddi a hyfforddiant mewn cadwyn gyflenwi leol. Pan fyddwn yn gwario arian trethdalwyr Cymru, dylai gefnogi ein gweithlu lleol a mynd tuag at wella bywydau a chyfleoedd pobl. Mae'r ystod newydd o ddeddfwriaeth gaffael sydd bellach yn cael ei chyflwyno yn dangos y newid mwyaf mewn 30 mlynedd ym maes caffael, ac mae'n rhoi llawer mwy o gyfleoedd i ni yn y gofod hwn.

Mae ein dull o weithredu ar yr economi sylfaenol yn cynnig cyfle i gryfhau'r economi sylfaenol a byrhau ein cadwyni cyflenwi i gefnogi nwyddau uniongyrchol neu wasanaethau a brynir gennym, gan gynnwys gwneud y mwyaf o gyfleoedd caffael i alluogi cyfleoedd cyflogaeth lleol. Mae rhai enghreifftiau penodol yn cynnwys trwy GIG Cymru, lle rydym wedi gallu integreiddio meini prawf yr economi sylfaenol a gwerth cymdeithasol yn eu proses o wneud penderfyniadau caffael. Ac oherwydd y dull hwn, mae busnesau Cymru wedi sicrhau £40 miliwn o wariant ychwanegol, a oedd wedi ei golli o Gymru yn flaenorol. Rydym hefyd wedi cysylltu contractwyr lleol â landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i helpu i gyflawni'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio. Ac fe wnaethom gefnogi grŵp o bum landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig i nodi dros 500 o gontractwyr lleol, nad oeddent yn ymwybodol ohonynt yn flaenorol, ac mae llawer ohonynt wedi mynd ymlaen i gael gwaith ychwanegol. 

Byddwn yn parhau i edrych ar ffyrdd o gefnogi busnesau lle rydym wedi prif ffrydio egwyddorion yr economi sylfaenol yn narpariaeth Busnes Cymru. Bydd dau expo yn cael eu cynnal yr hydref hwn—digwyddodd y cyntaf yn Abertawe y mis hwn, a bydd y nesaf yn Llandudno ar 2 Hydref. Drwy'r digwyddiadau expo, rydym wedi casglu llif o gontractau gwerth bron i £40 biliwn i gyd ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac mae'r digwyddiadau'n galluogi busnesau lleol i ymgysylltu'n uniongyrchol ag awdurdodau contractio i ddarganfod sut y gallant gael gwaith.

Mae busnesau cymdeithasol hefyd yn elfen bwysig a deinamig o economi Cymru. Maent yn darparu swyddi yn agosach at adref lle mae eu hangen ar gymunedau. Mae busnesau cymdeithasol yn gweithio i fynd i'r afael â materion lleol trwy fasnachu, ac yna'n ailfuddsoddi'r incwm y maent yn ei ennill yn y pethau sy'n bwysig iddynt. Mae Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru yn parhau i gefnogi datblygiad mentrau cymdeithasol i ychwanegu at gyfansoddiad ein dulliau economaidd lleol.

I gloi'r ddadl, hoffwn dynnu sylw at arferion blaenllaw yma yng Nghymru eisoes o ran gwaith teg, caffael a phartneriaeth, sy'n helpu i rymuso hawliau cyflogwyr a gweithwyr. Wrth gwrs, mae mwy y gallwn ei wneud gyda'n gilydd, a byddwn yn parhau i wneud hynny. Mae cyfleoedd sylweddol nawr i alinio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar gryfhau amodau gwaith yng Nghymru. Bydd ein cenhadaeth economaidd yn parhau i fod yn llwyfan i'n cyflawniad ar draws y Llywodraeth, a chyda phartneriaid, i ateb heriau'r economi heddiw ac yn y dyfodol.

18:00

Diolch, bawb. Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.

Thank you, all. That brings today's proceedings to a close.

Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:02.

The meeting ended at 18:02.