Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
19/03/2025Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio sydd gyntaf y prynhawn yma. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Llyr Gruffydd.
Good afternoon and welcome, all, to this Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. The first question is from Llyr Gruffydd.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am weithredu Ynni Cymru? OQ62481
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the implementation of Ynni Cymru? OQ62481
The Ynni Cymru team is working with the 32 smart local energy projects across Wales funded by this year’s £10 million capital grant fund and planning to open next year’s programme in April. Ynni Cymru is also working with existing community projects to improve their productivity through its optimisation programme.
Mae tîm Ynni Cymru yn gweithio gyda’r 32 o brosiectau ynni lleol clyfar ledled Cymru a ariennir gan y gronfa grant cyfalaf £10 miliwn eleni ac yn bwriadu agor rhaglen y flwyddyn nesaf ym mis Ebrill. Mae Ynni Cymru hefyd yn gweithio gyda phrosiectau cymunedol presennol i wella eu cynhyrchiant drwy eu rhaglen optimeiddio.
Thank you for that. The promise with Ynni Cymru, of course, is that it would take a lead in shaping the energy system to drive Wales towards meeting its net-zero targets. Now, what we're seeing in the real world is a swathe of private sector developers effectively taking the lead and flooding rural Wales with what I can only describe as speculative proposed developments. Do you know there are 126 proposed large-scale renewable projects in the pipeline by private companies at the minute, with a generation capacity of 40 GW, which is 25 times the current electricity demand in Wales? Now, one of these I've raised with you previously is Ynni Celyn. It's a proposal in Gwyddelwern in my region. It's a huge 4 GWh battery storage facility, only a few hundred metres from the village. That single project is proposed to cost as much as the electric arc furnace in Port Talbot. So, that's the scale we're talking about. And Ynni Celyn is only one of 79 large-scale battery energy storage systems or schemes currently in the pipeline in Wales. Now, would you agree with me, therefore, that the Governments in both Wales and Westminster need to take a greater control of the situation because, as things stand, it looks to me as if developers are ruling the roost on this one? And is it right that our rural communities are facing hundreds of speculative project applications without sufficient protection from what is, effectively, a free for all?
Diolch. Yr addewid gydag Ynni Cymru, wrth gwrs, yw y byddai’n arwain ar siapio’r system ynni er mwyn llywio Cymru tuag at gyflawni ei thargedau sero net. Nawr, yr hyn a welwn yn y byd go iawn yw llu o ddatblygwyr yn y sector preifat yn cymryd yr awenau i bob pwrpas ac yn gorlifo'r Gymru wledig â'r hyn na allaf ond ei ddisgrifio fel datblygiadau arfaethedig hapfasnachol. A wyddoch chi fod 126 o brosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy mawr arfaethedig ar y gweill gan gwmnïau preifat ar hyn o bryd, gyda chapasiti cynhyrchu o 40 GW, sydd 25 gwaith yn fwy na'r galw presennol am drydan yng Nghymru? Nawr, un prosiect o'r fath rwyf eisoes wedi'i godi gyda chi yw Ynni Celyn. Mae'n gynnig yng Ngwyddelwern yn fy rhanbarth i. Mae'n gyfleuster storio batri enfawr 4 GWh, ychydig gannoedd o fetrau yn unig o'r pentref. Cynigir y bydd yr un prosiect hwnnw’n costio cymaint â’r ffwrnais arc drydan ym Mhort Talbot. Felly, dyna'r raddfa rydym yn sôn amdani. Ac nid yw Ynni Celyn ond yn un o 79 o systemau neu gynlluniau storio ynni batri mawr sydd ar y gweill yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Nawr, a fyddech yn cytuno â mi, felly, fod angen i Lywodraethau Cymru a San Steffan gael mwy o reolaeth ar y sefyllfa, oherwydd, fel y saif pethau, ymddengys i mi mai'r datblygwyr sydd wrth y llyw? Ac a yw'n iawn fod ein cymunedau gwledig yn wynebu cannoedd o geisiadau prosiect hapfasnachol heb amddiffyniad digonol rhag sefyllfa lle mae pawb, i bob pwrpas, yn gwneud fel y mynno?
Well, I'm afraid we have a difference of opinion in terms of what Ynni Cymru was set up to do. Ynni Cymru was never going to be the vehicle for delivering large-scale energy projects across Wales. It's always been about smart local energy systems, and, actually, it's been very successful in delivering on those particular projects. Now, you know that I can't be drawn in to comment in particular on the Ynni Celyn proposed development to which you referred because of my responsibilities in respect of planning. But, ultimately, our energy system in the future is going to need investment by the private sector but also investment through bodies such as Ynni Cymru, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and Great British Energy, which, of course, will be an important part in the mix as well.
I think the most important thing here is that, when we do have a large proliferation of applications coming through, the planning system itself has to be absolutely sound, it has to give individuals and communities the opportunity to have their say, it has to weigh up properly the environmental impacts and the overall impacts on the communities affected. I do think that we have a robust planning system to look at those particular cases. But, as the question related to Ynni Cymru, I think that it has been tremendously successful in its early stages, and I think it is a testament to the good work that we did together through the co-operation agreement.
Wel, mae arnaf ofn fod gennym wahaniaeth barn o ran yr hyn y sefydlwyd Ynni Cymru i’w wneud. Nid oedd Ynni Cymru byth yn mynd i fod yn gyfrwng ar gyfer cyflawni prosiectau ynni ar raddfa fawr ledled Cymru. Mae bob amser wedi ymwneud â systemau ynni lleol clyfar, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn wrth gyflawni ar y prosiectau penodol hynny. Nawr, fe wyddoch na allaf wneud sylwadau penodol ar y datblygiad arfaethedig y cyfeirioch chi ato, Ynni Celyn, oherwydd fy nghyfrifoldebau cynllunio. Ond yn y pen draw, bydd angen buddsoddiad gan y sector preifat ar ein system ynni yn y dyfodol, ond hefyd buddsoddiad drwy gyrff fel Ynni Cymru, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru a Great British Energy, a fydd, wrth gwrs, yn rhan bwysig o'r cymysgedd hefyd.
Rwy'n credu mai'r peth pwysicaf yma yw, pan fydd gennym doreth o geisiadau yn cael eu cyflwyno, fod yn rhaid i'r system gynllunio ei hun fod yn gwbl gadarn, mae'n rhaid iddi roi cyfle i unigolion a chymunedau ddweud eu dweud, mae'n rhaid iddi bwyso a mesur yr effeithiau amgylcheddol yn iawn a'r effeithiau cyffredinol ar y cymunedau yr effeithir arnynt. Rwy'n credu bod gennym system gynllunio gadarn i edrych ar yr achosion penodol hynny. Ond gan fod y cwestiwn yn ymwneud ag Ynni Cymru, rwy'n credu ei fod wedi bod yn hynod lwyddiannus yn ei gamau cynnar, a'i fod yn dyst i’r gwaith da a wnaethom gyda’n gilydd drwy’r cytundeb cydweithio.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru i alluogi sefydliadau yn Nelyn i ddod yn fwy effeithlon o ran ynni? OQ62480
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on Welsh Government support to enable organisations in Delyn to become more energy efficient? OQ62480
Reducing demand and investing in energy efficiency measures remain the best ways to manage our future energy needs. The Welsh Government is supporting organisations to achieve this through the Welsh Government energy service, the Development Bank of Wales and a wide range of advice services.
Lleihau galw a buddsoddi mewn mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni yw'r ffyrdd gorau o hyd o reoli ein hanghenion ynni ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi sefydliadau i gyflawni hyn drwy wasanaeth ynni Llywodraeth Cymru, Banc Datblygu Cymru ac ystod eang o wasanaethau cynghori.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary.
I found out more first-hand recently about the real difference that things like Ynni Cymru schemes are making in my constituency, when I went back to visit Holywell Town Football Club once again. The Ynni Cymru funding for Holywell Town FC was mentioned previously by you in this Siambr. In practice, this funding will mean that the club will not only become self-sufficient in energy terms, but will bring much broader benefits for the club, from being able to sell energy back to the grid to creating more comfortable facilities for the whole community to use. They also include onsite a Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme that offers local placements in woodwork skills, providing opportunities, opening doors and, hopefully, helping change the lives of young people in the area. I have to say I'm incredibly grateful to the warm welcome that was shown to me by Tracey and all involved at Holywell Town FC, and I want to very much recognise on the record that they don't just give it their all on the pitch, but also go the extra mile, as the club is more than part of the community, it is the heart of the community. So, Cabinet Secretary, will you firstly join me in recognising all that the team at the club is doing and the difference they are making? And also, are you able to confirm that the Welsh Government is committed to continuing to support organisations like Holywell Town FC to benefit the environment, the economy and, of course, the community? Diolch.
Cefais wybod yn fwy uniongyrchol yn ddiweddar am y gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol y mae pethau fel cynlluniau Ynni Cymru yn ei wneud yn fy etholaeth i, pan euthum yn ôl i ymweld â Chlwb Pêl-droed Treffynnon unwaith eto. Rydych eisoes wedi crybwyll cyllid Ynni Cymru ar gyfer CPD Treffynnon yn y Siambr hon. Yn ymarferol, bydd y cyllid hwn yn golygu y bydd y clwb nid yn unig yn dod yn hunangynhaliol o ran ynni, ond bydd hefyd yn darparu buddion llawer ehangach i’r clwb, o allu gwerthu ynni yn ôl i’r grid i greu cyfleusterau mwy cyfforddus i’r gymuned gyfan eu defnyddio. Maent hefyd yn cynnwys cynllun Twf Swyddi Cymru+ ar y safle, sy’n cynnig lleoliadau lleol mewn sgiliau gwaith coed, gan ddarparu cyfleoedd, agor drysau, a helpu i newid bywydau pobl ifanc yr ardal, gobeithio. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn hynod ddiolchgar am y croeso cynnes a gefais gan Tracey a phawb yng Nghlwb Pêl-droed Treffynnon, a hoffwn gofnodi eu bod nid yn unig yn rhoi popeth ar y cae chwarae, ond hefyd yn mynd gam ymhellach, gan fod y clwb yn fwy na rhan o'r gymuned, mae'n galon i'r gymuned. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi, yn gyntaf, i gydnabod popeth y mae'r tîm yn y clwb yn ei wneud a'r gwahaniaeth y maent yn ei wneud? A hefyd, a allwch gadarnhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i barhau i gefnogi sefydliadau fel CPD Treffynnon er budd yr amgylchedd, yr economi, ac wrth gwrs, y gymuned? Diolch.
I'm really grateful for the question and I think that the work that Hollywell Town Football Club has done has been immense in terms of taking on the opportunities presented by Ynni Cymru. The project is already nearing completion. The money only went through a short period ago, and it's seeing the new smart LED lighting, air-source heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage and a smart building management system, and together those are expected then to reduce the costs of running the club by around 80 per cent. And all of that money now is able to be reinvested in grass-roots sports in the area, providing more opportunities for young people to get involved. And that's exactly the kind of project that we envisaged when Ynni Cymru began its work.
And it is a real testament to organisations across the length and breadth of Wales in terms of how quickly they've been able to mobilise to spend the money to make a difference, reducing their own costs, but then also reducing pressure on the grid and making sure that they're making their contribution on our journey towards net zero as well. I'm really pleased that we've been able to provide a further £10 million in the budget for the next financial year, and there will be a webinar for interested organisations, small businesses and others in April so that they can explore how they can make the most of that funding. In the last round, we had over 100 applications. We were able to support 32 of them, so it definitely shows that there is really strong demand for this kind of work.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn, ac rwy'n credu bod y gwaith y mae Clwb Pêl-droed Treffynnon wedi'i wneud wedi bod yn aruthrol yn achub ar y cyfleoedd a gyflwynwyd gan Ynni Cymru. Mae'r prosiect eisoes bron â bod wedi'i gwblhau. Dim ond yn ddiweddar y darparwyd yr arian, ac mae eisoes wedi arwain at y goleuadau LED clyfar newydd, pympiau gwres o'r aer, paneli solar, cyfleuster storio batri a system reoli adeiladau glyfar, a chyda'i gilydd, mae disgwyl i'r rheini leihau costau rhedeg y clwb oddeutu 80 y cant. Ac mae'r holl arian hwnnw bellach yn gallu cael ei ailfuddsoddi mewn chwaraeon llawr gwlad yn yr ardal, gan ddarparu mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc gymryd rhan. A dyna'n union y math o brosiect y gwnaethom ei ragweld pan ddechreuodd Ynni Cymru ei waith.
Ac mae'n dyst i sefydliadau ledled Cymru o ran pa mor gyflym y maent wedi gallu dod at ei gilydd i wario'r arian i wneud gwahaniaeth, i leihau eu costau eu hunain, ond hefyd i leihau'r pwysau ar y grid a sicrhau eu bod yn gwneud eu cyfraniad ar ein taith tuag at sero net. Rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu darparu £10 miliwn arall yn y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, a bydd gweminar yn cael ei chynnal ar gyfer sefydliadau, busnesau bach ac eraill sydd â ddiddordeb ym mis Ebrill fel y gallant archwilio sut y gallant wneud y gorau o'r cyllid hwnnw. Yn y rownd ddiwethaf, cawsom dros 100 o geisiadau. Rydym yn gallu cefnogi 32 ohonynt, felly mae hynny'n bendant yn dangos bod galw mawr iawn am y math hwn o waith.
Speaking at the November 2023 meeting of the cross-party group on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, Flintshire's domestic energy team—now a council service, but originally a partnership with the North Wales Energy Advice Centre at Mold, a charity—stated, 'A member of the team runs the ECO Flex scheme for us in partnership with Denbighshire council. It's useful to get a few councils together to run it for you. It's then possible to monitor the scheme and put the customer first. We're also bringing together an area base, bringing in owner-occupiers and private renters to try and combat issues in the wider area. This is a project that's working very well. This goes back to what local authorities are and can do, maximising the scheme. We'll take this back to our cabinet member meetings with the Welsh Local Government Association to share this good practice.' Learning from this, what action, if any, will you therefore take to introduce a cross-sector energy-efficient Wales programme for fuel-poor households on a regional basis across Wales?
Wrth siarad yng nghyfarfod y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dlodi tanwydd ac effeithlonrwydd ynni ym mis Tachwedd 2023, dywedodd tîm ynni domestig sir y Flint—sydd bellach yn un o wasanaethau'r cyngor, ond yn wreiddiol, yn bartneriaeth â Chanolfan Cyngor Ynni Gogledd Cymru yn yr Wyddgrug, elusen—fod 'aelod o’r tîm yn rhedeg cynllun ECO Flex ar ein cyfer mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor Sir Ddinbych. Mae'n ddefnyddiol dod ag ychydig o gynghorau ynghyd i'w redeg ar eich rhan. Mae'n bosibl monitro'r cynllun felly a rhoi'r cwsmer yn gyntaf. Rydym hefyd yn dod â sylfaen ardal ynghyd, gan ymgysylltu â pherchen-feddianwyr a rhentwyr preifat i geisio mynd i'r afael â materion yn yr ardal ehangach. Mae hwn yn brosiect sy'n gweithio'n dda iawn. Mae hyn yn mynd at wraidd beth yw awdurdodau lleol a'r hyn y gallant ei wneud, gan wneud y mwyaf o'r cynllun. Byddwn yn codi hyn yng nghyfarfodydd aelodau ein cabinet gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i rannu'r arferion da hyn.' Gan ddysgu o hyn, pa gamau, os o gwbl, y byddwch yn eu cymryd, felly, i gyflwyno rhaglen draws-sector arbed ynni Cymru ar gyfer cartrefi tlawd o ran tanwydd ar sail ranbarthol ledled Cymru?
I'm really grateful for that question and that example of a project that is really working well, and I think that what makes that project so successful is the collaborative working across boundaries that is taking place. And it really demonstrates as well the importance of good energy advice. So, we need to make sure that that advice is available to households, which it is through the Welsh Government Nest scheme, but also through the Welsh Government energy service. That supports the public sector and, actually, the services provided by that energy service are expected to generate more than £367 million through savings and power generation for the public sector as well. So, this certainly does show the value of good advice, both for the public sector and also for individual households. And I'll definitely take a closer look at the example that has been provided by Mark Isherwood this afternoon because it certainly sounds like something that should be built on.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn a'r enghraifft honno o brosiect sy'n gweithio'n dda iawn, ac rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n gwneud y prosiect hwnnw mor llwyddiannus yw'r gwaith cydweithredol a thrawsffiniol sy'n mynd rhagddo. Ac mae'n dangos hefyd pa mor bwysig yw cyngor da ar ynni. Felly, mae angen inni sicrhau bod y cyngor hwnnw ar gael i aelwydydd, ac mae ar gael drwy Gynllun Nyth Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hefyd drwy wasanaeth ynni Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae hynny'n cefnogi'r sector cyhoeddus, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae disgwyl i'r gwasanaethau a ddarperir gan y gwasanaeth ynni hwnnw gynhyrchu mwy na £367 miliwn drwy gynilion a thrwy gynhyrchu pŵer ar gyfer y sector cyhoeddus hefyd. Felly, mae hyn yn sicr yn dangos pa mor werthfawr yw cyngor da, i'r sector cyhoeddus a hefyd i gartrefi unigol. Ac yn sicr, byddaf yn edrych yn agosach ar yr enghraifft a ddarparwyd gan Mark Isherwood y prynhawn yma, gan fod hynny'n sicr yn swnio fel rhywbeth y dylid adeiladu arno.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Mark Isherwood.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson, Mark Isherwood.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, I'm going to start by looking at the facts. Fact 1: the UK Government's own website states,
'Economic growth is the number one mission of the government.'
Fact 2: the latest economic figures have shown that the economy actually shrank in January. Despite the goal of growth, the Chancellor's budget was clearly not a budget for growth at all, was it? I'll ask you therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what measures is the Welsh Labour Government taking to mitigate the damaging effects of their Westminster colleagues down the M4?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf am ddechrau drwy edrych ar y ffeithiau. Ffaith 1: mae gwefan Llywodraeth y DU ei hun yn nodi mai,
'Twf economaidd yw prif genhadaeth y llywodraeth.'
Ffaith 2: mae'r ffigurau economaidd diweddaraf wedi dangos bod yr economi mewn gwirionedd wedi crebachu ym mis Ionawr. Er gwaethaf y nod o dwf, mae'n amlwg nad oedd cyllideb y Canghellor yn gyllideb ar gyfer twf o gwbl, oedd hi? Gofynnaf i chi, felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn eu cymryd i liniaru effeithiau niweidiol eu plaid yn San Steffan ar ben arall yr M4?
I think it's well rehearsed now as to the very difficult set of circumstances that the UK Government found itself in when it took power after the long legacy of austerity on the part of the UK Government and billions of pounds of unfunded commitments. So, there is an awful lot of mess to clean up, and that sort of work doesn’t happen overnight, which is why the UK Government has quite rightly put a really, really strong focus on growth, despite the overall difficult economic context.
For our part, we’re working really closely with the UK Government to maximise the opportunities for growth. We see great potential through the UK Government’s industrial strategy, which I’m really glad identifies those sectors in Wales where we’re already excelling and where we already see potential for growth—for example, around advanced manufacturing, defence, semiconductors, the creative industries, fintech. These are all areas where we’re doing really well in Wales but also areas where we can grow. So, we’ll be working closely with the UK Government on that. We’ll be looking to extract as much investment as we can through the national wealth fund, and Great British Energy, and, of course, we’ve got our own investment summit, which the First Minister will be saying a little bit more about very shortly, which aims to bring investors from across the globe to Wales with propositions that we’re able to put in front of them for areas in which they can invest, in a place where we have a stable Government, where we have long-term plans for investment and we’re very clear about our economic credentials, which I think are—sorry, our environmental credentials—increasingly important to investors from overseas as well.
Credaf fod y set anodd iawn o amgylchiadau a wynebwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU pan ddaethant i rym ar ôl y gwaddol hir o gyni ar ran Llywodraeth y DU a biliynau o bunnoedd o ymrwymiadau heb eu hariannu wedi ei drafod yn helaeth. Felly, mae llanast mawr iawn i'w lanhau, ac nid yw'r math hwnnw o waith yn digwydd dros nos, a dyna pam fod Llywodraeth y DU, yn gywir ddigon, wedi rhoi pwyslais cryf iawn ar dwf, er gwaethaf y cyd-destun economaidd anodd cyffredinol.
O'n rhan ni, rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU i wneud y mwyaf o'r cyfleoedd ar gyfer twf. Rydym yn gweld potensial mawr drwy strategaeth ddiwydiannol Llywodraeth y DU, sydd, rwy'n falch o ddweud, yn nodi'r sectorau hynny yng Nghymru lle rydym eisoes yn rhagori a lle rydym eisoes yn gweld potensial ar gyfer twf—er enghraifft, mewn perthynas â gweithgynhyrchu uwch, amddiffyn, lled-ddargludyddion, y diwydiannau creadigol, technoleg ariannol. Mae'r rhain oll yn feysydd lle rydym yn gwneud yn dda iawn yng Nghymru, ond maent hefyd yn feysydd lle gallwn dyfu. Felly, byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar hynny. Byddwn yn ceisio sicrhau cymaint o fuddsoddiad ag y gallwn drwy'r gronfa gyfoeth wladol, a Great British Energy, ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym ein huwchgynhadledd fuddsoddi ein hunain, y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn sôn mwy amdani yn nes ymlaen, sy'n anelu at ddenu buddsoddwyr o bob cwr o'r byd i Gymru gyda chynigion y gallwn eu rhoi ger eu bron ar gyfer meysydd lle gallant fuddsoddi, mewn man lle mae gennym Lywodraeth sefydlog, lle mae gennym gynlluniau hirdymor ar gyfer buddsoddiad a lle rydym yn glir iawn ynglŷn â'n cryfderau economaidd, sydd, yn fy marn i—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, ein cryfderau amgylcheddol—yn fwyfwy pwysig i fuddsoddwyr o dramor hefyd.
Well, this UK Government inherited the fastest growing economy in the G7 and deficit levels at only 40 per cent of those inherited in 2010 by the UK Government—fact. Of course, we know why the economy has shrunk. Business confidence is low, and our small and medium-sized enterprises are now less likely to hire or invest. And, of course, a shrinking economy means lower tax revenues, which means less money to spend, without higher public expenditure, which will drive inflation and cost levels and impose cuts in the future. In fact, the latest KPMG report showed that businesses commented on pausing or paring back hiring plans due to the subdued economic outlook and rising payroll costs, coming despite the UK Labour Government inheriting the fastest growing economy in the G7. With the Chancellor set to deliver a mini-budget next week to try and correct the UK economy’s course, what action, if any, is the Welsh Government taking to push for a reversal of either the rise in employer national insurance contributions or the family farm tax to help restore business confidence and investment?
Wel, etifeddodd Llywodraeth y DU yr economi a dyfodd gyflymaf yn y G7 a lefelau diffyg a oedd yn 40 y cant o'r hyn a etifeddwyd yn 2010 gan Lywodraeth y DU—ffaith. Wrth gwrs, gwyddom pam fod yr economi wedi crebachu. Mae hyder busnes yn isel, ac mae ein mentrau bach a chanolig eu maint bellach yn llai tebygol o logi neu fuddsoddi. Ac wrth gwrs, mae economi sy'n crebachu yn golygu refeniw treth is, sy'n golygu llai o arian i'w wario, heb wariant cyhoeddus uwch, a fydd yn cynyddu chwyddiant a lefelau cost ac yn arwain at doriadau yn y dyfodol. Mewn gwirionedd, dangosodd adroddiad diweddaraf KPMG fod busnesau wedi gwneud sylwadau ar oedi neu gwtogi cynlluniau llogi oherwydd y rhagolygon economaidd gwan a chostau cynyddol o ran y gyflogres, sydd ar y ffordd er gwaethaf y ffaith bod Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi etifeddu’r economi sy’n tyfu gyflymaf yn y G7. Gyda’r Canghellor i gyhoeddi mini-gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf i geisio cywiro llwybr economi’r DU, pa gamau, os o gwbl, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i bwyso am wrthdroi naill ai’r cynnydd yng nghyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr neu'r dreth ar ffermydd teuluol er mwyn helpu i adfer hyder a buddsoddiad busnesau?
Well, I’ve been really interested in the Lloyds Bank 'Business Barometer', which came out earlier this week, and it showed the latest figures in Wales with a three points increase in business confidence in Wales, which I think is to be welcomed, and we’re certainly going in the right direction in terms of business confidence. So, I absolutely welcome that. I don’t want to speculate as to what the Chancellor might say on 26 March, but I know that my colleague the finance Minister has been in close contact with the UK Government, setting out the top priorities for Wales. We will look very carefully at what’s announced on 26 March.
Wel, mae gennyf gryn ddiddordeb ym 'Maromedr Busnes' Banc Lloyds, a gyhoeddwyd yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, ac roedd yn dangos y ffigurau diweddaraf yng Nghymru gyda chynnydd o dri phwynt mewn hyder busnes yng Nghymru, sydd i'w groesawu yn fy marn i, ac rydym yn sicr yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad iawn o ran hyder busnes. Felly, rwy'n croesawu hynny'n fawr. Nid wyf am ddyfalu beth y gallai'r Canghellor ei ddweud ar 26 Mawrth, ond gwn fod fy nghyd-Aelod, y gweinidog cyllid, wedi bod mewn cysylltiad agos â Llywodraeth y DU, yn nodi'r prif flaenoriaethau ar gyfer Cymru. Byddwn yn edrych yn ofalus iawn ar yr hyn a gyhoeddir ar 26 Mawrth.
Business confidence, as you indicate, is key, especially when Wales has the lowest wages per head, the highest unemployment per head, and so on. Already, we’re seeing BP and Equinor scaling back and halving investment in renewable energy, with focus being put on oil and gas instead. It’s clear that legacy industries are here for the long term, as we will, of course, be reliant on oil for many decades to come. But with these announcements scaling back funding for renewables, other than creating a task and finish group for offshore wind, what, if any, other steps is the Welsh Government taking to secure, for example, floating offshore wind developments?
Mae hyder busnes, fel y nodwch, yn allweddol, yn enwedig o ystyried mai yng Nghymru y mae'r cyflogau isaf y pen, y diweithdra uchaf y pen, ac ati. Rydym eisoes yn gweld BP ac Equinor yn lleihau ac yn haneru eu buddsoddiad mewn ynni adnewyddadwy, gyda'r pwyslais yn cael ei roi yn hytrach ar olew a nwy. Mae'n amlwg y bydd y diwydiannau etifeddol yma yn y tymor hir, gan y byddwn yn dibynnu ar olew am ddegawdau i ddod wrth gwrs. Ond gyda’r cyhoeddiadau hyn yn lleihau'r cyllid ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy, heblaw am greu grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar gyfer ynni gwynt ar y môr, pa gamau eraill, os o gwbl, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddenu, er enghraifft, datblygiadau ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr?
So, I was very pleased to attend an event sponsored by your colleague Sam Kurtz last night, which was there to launch the Milford Haven CO2 project, which will be really important in terms of taking businesses such as RWE on that decarbonisation journey. We’re working to impress upon the UK Government the importance of non-pipeline transfers of carbon capture. So, all of those things, I think, are really important, but really the message that came through in the event sponsored by Sam Kurtz last night was just the level of positivity that there is, and particularly so around the group that is looking at floating offshore wind. So, this is not a group about identifying what the broad opportunities are or telling us that floating offshore wind is a good thing and we should be pursuing this; this group is about how we make it happen. The ports group particularly is a sub-group underneath that, which is leading the way, quite rightly, because, obviously, the ports happen to be the ones where there will be investment first.
I think the level of positivity around the potential for floating offshore wind, and offshore wind more generally, is actually really positive. Again, I was with your colleague Sam Kurtz at the EmpowerCymru event just last week, and, again, that was bringing together all of those with an interest in renewable energy in Wales, and people who are keen to invest in Wales. And the positivity there, again, was huge. So, I think that people do see huge potential here in Wales, because they have a Government that is concentrating on improving the planning system. We’ve got the new infrastructure Act coming into force, and we’re also working really closely with our universities and colleges to make sure that those developers have the skills that they need. It does remind me of the first question that we had from Llyr Gruffydd earlier on today, which talked about the importance of having that balanced approach to planning, where we involve communities from the outset as well.
Roeddwn yn falch iawn o fynychu digwyddiad a noddwyd gan eich cyd-Aelod Sam Kurtz neithiwr, i lansio prosiect CO2 Aberdaugleddau, a fydd yn bwysig iawn i fynd â busnesau fel RWE ar y siwrnai ddatgarboneiddio honno. Rydym yn gweithio i bwysleisio wrth Lywodraeth y DU pa mor bwysig yw cludo carbon deuocsid heb ddefnyddio piblinell. Felly, credaf fod yr holl bethau hynny'n bwysig iawn, ond mewn gwirionedd, y neges a gafodd ei chyfleu yn y digwyddiad a noddwyd gan Sam Kurtz neithiwr oedd lefel yr agwedd gadarnhaol sydd yno, ac yn arbennig felly o ran y grŵp sy'n edrych ar ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr. Felly, nid nod y grŵp hwn yw nodi beth yw'r cyfleoedd bras neu ddweud wrthym fod ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr yn dda ac y dylem fod yn mynd ar drywydd hyn; mae a wnelo'r grŵp hwn â sut rydym yn gwneud i hyn ddigwydd. Mae'r grŵp porthladdoedd yn enwedig yn is-grŵp o dan hynny, sy'n arwain y ffordd, yn gywir ddigon, oherwydd yn amlwg, y porthladdoedd, yn digwydd bod, yw ble fydd y buddsoddiad yn cael ei wneud gyntaf.
Rwy'n credu bod lefel yr agwedd gadarnhaol ynghylch y potensial ar gyfer ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr, ac ynni gwynt ar y môr yn fwy cyffredinol, yn wirioneddol gadarnhaol. Unwaith eto, roeddwn gyda’ch cyd-Aelod Sam Kurtz yn nigwyddiad EmpowerCymru yr wythnos diwethaf, ac unwaith eto, fe wnaeth y digwyddiad hwnnw gynnull pawb sydd â diddordeb mewn ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru, a phobl sy’n awyddus i fuddsoddi yng Nghymru. Ac roedd yr agwedd gadarnhaol yno, unwaith eto, yn anferth. Felly, rwy'n credu bod pobl yn gweld potensial enfawr yma yng Nghymru, gan fod ganddynt Lywodraeth sy'n canolbwyntio ar wella'r system gynllunio. Mae’r Ddeddf seilwaith newydd yn dod i rym gennym, ac rydym hefyd yn gweithio’n agos iawn gyda’n prifysgolion a’n colegau i sicrhau bod gan y datblygwyr hynny y sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt. Mae'n fy atgoffa o'r cwestiwn cyntaf a gawsom gan Llyr Gruffydd yn gynharach heddiw, ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd cael yr ymagwedd gytbwys honno at gynllunio, lle rydym yn cynnwys cymunedau o'r cychwyn cyntaf hefyd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Cabinet Secretary has no doubt had conversations with her counterparts at a UK level in relation to the proposals for zonal pricing across the UK. What is the Welsh Government’s position on those proposals?
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, heb os, wedi cael sgyrsiau â’i swyddogion cyfatebol ar lefel y DU mewn perthynas â’r cynigion ar gyfer prisio parthol ledled y DU. Beth yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar y cynigion hynny?
So, I have had discussions with colleagues in the UK Government about their review of electricity market arrangements. In fact, just yesterday I was having discussions with the Minister, Michael Shanks, about this. So, currently, as colleagues will be aware, the UK Government is consulting on a range of options. So, it has maintained that commitment from the previous UK Government to review electricity market arrangements, with a view of delivering a lower cost system for customers. And a key approach of the REMA work at the moment is to explore what the options might be.
So, yes, one of the options being looked at is zonal pricing. Another option is a more large-scale reform of the current national pricing arrangements. The UK Government, yesterday in our meeting, was really, really clear that they haven’t decided on a particular option yet. There’s a lot more work to do in terms of those impact assessments. But we will be working closely with them, and our officials have been involved for quite some time with the UK Government on this.
From our part, we’re really keen to stress that, in Wales, we do have some industries that are still very high energy users, so we need to be very mindful of that. And these are businesses that can’t easily up and move to undertake their work elsewhere. But also, we’re really keen that the UK Government understands that, in Wales, there are a lot of people also facing fuel poverty. The overall aim of this, of course, is to deliver lower bills for people. But the UK Government hasn’t made a decision yet, and we’re keen to explore what the evidence is.
Rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau gyda chymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'u hadolygiad o drefniadau’r farchnad drydan. A dweud y gwir, cefais drafodaethau ddoe ddiwethaf gyda’r Gweinidog, Michael Shanks, ynglŷn â hyn. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, fel y bydd fy nghyd-Aelodau’n gwybod, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ymgynghori ar ystod o opsiynau. Felly, maent wedi cynnal yr ymrwymiad hwnnw gan Lywodraeth flaenorol y DU i adolygu trefniadau’r farchnad drydan, gyda’r bwriad o ddarparu system gost is i gwsmeriaid. Ac un elfen allweddol o waith yr Adolygiad o Drefniadau’r Farchnad Drydan ar hyn o bryd yw archwilio beth y gallai'r opsiynau fod.
Felly, ydy, mae prisio parthol yn un o'r opsiynau sy'n cael eu hystyried. Opsiwn arall yw diwygio'r trefniadau prisio cenedlaethol presennol ar raddfa fwy. Nododd Llywodraeth y DU yn glir iawn yn ein cyfarfod ddoe nad ydynt wedi penderfynu ar opsiwn penodol eto. Mae llawer mwy o waith i’w wneud o ran yr asesiadau effaith hynny. Ond byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda hwy, ac mae ein swyddogion wedi bod gweithio ar hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU ers peth amser.
O’n rhan ni, rydym yn awyddus iawn i bwysleisio, yng Nghymru, fod gennym rai diwydiannau sy’n dal i ddefnyddio llawer iawn o ynni, felly, mae angen inni fod yn ystyriol iawn o hynny. Ac mae'r rhain yn fusnesau na allant symud yn hawdd i wneud eu gwaith yn rhywle arall. Ond rydym hefyd yn wirioneddol awyddus i sicrhau bod Llywodraeth y DU yn deall, yng Nghymru, fod llawer o bobl hefyd yn wynebu tlodi tanwydd. Nod cyffredinol hyn, wrth gwrs, yw darparu biliau is i bobl. Ond nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwneud penderfyniad eto, ac rydym yn awyddus i archwilio beth yw’r dystiolaeth.
Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. The debate is very welcome, when we consider that, from both a domestic and industry perspective, energy pricing has presented a significant challenge for some time now.
When we look at zonal pricing in particular, the kinds of proposals do present a possible problem. Now, the principle of zonal pricing, and a zonal pricing system, where energy prices are set locally to reflect demand and generation level, is a good principle. But the Government may implement this system badly by creating multiple zones in Wales, which are merged, then, with high-energy demand areas, such as London and Birmingham, which then, actually, could increase bills for people in Wales. Now, Wales, of course, is an energy exporter, so households and businesses should feel the benefit of that through cheaper pricing. So, would the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that any future proposals should have a single Welsh zone?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae’r ddadl i’w chroesawu’n fawr, pan fyddwn yn ystyried, o safbwynt domestig a diwydiannol, fod prisiau ynni wedi cyflwyno her sylweddol ers peth amser bellach.
Pan edrychwn ar brisio parthol yn benodol, mae'r mathau o gynigion yn peri problem bosibl. Nawr, mae egwyddor prisio parthol, a system brisio parthol, lle caiff prisiau ynni eu gosod yn lleol i adlewyrchu galw a lefel cynhyrchu ynni, yn egwyddor dda. Ond efallai y bydd y Llywodraeth yn rhoi’r system hon ar waith yn wael drwy greu parthau lluosog yng Nghymru, sydd wedyn yn cael eu huno ag ardaloedd lle mae galw mawr am ynni, megis Llundain a Birmingham, a allai wedyn gynyddu biliau i bobl yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn allforiwr ynni, felly dylai aelwydydd a busnesau deimlo budd hynny drwy brisiau rhatach. Felly, a fyddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â mi y dylai unrhyw gynigion yn y dyfodol gynnwys un parth i Gymru?
I’d have to give that some thought, in terms of what, if any, unintended impacts there would be as a result of that, because I know the UK Government is intending on undertaking a range of modelling to look at what different parameters there should be for the zones. So, I’ll certainly give that some more consideration, but I can see that there might be some unintended consequences from that.
I’m keen, of course, that this does result in those lower bills that the UK Government is aiming for. But, as I say, there will be a period now of looking at various different models for what those zones might be like, and what the impacts might be. It is important, though, that zones make sense in Wales, so that people can understand why they are in a particular zone. And, again, these are some discussions that we had yesterday with the UK Government. And we’re keen to work very closely with them. I think there is a genuine intent on the part of the UK Government to ensure that we are properly and fully engaged with that. The conclusion of the policy development phase is expected around mid 2025. Obviously, we'll keep colleagues updated as things progress.
Byddai’n rhaid imi roi rhywfaint o ystyriaeth i hynny, a pha effeithiau anfwriadol, os o gwbl, a fyddai'n deillio o hynny, gan y gwn fod Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu cynnal llawer o waith modelu i edrych ar ba baramedrau gwahanol a ddylai fod ar waith ar gyfer y parthau. Felly, byddaf yn sicr yn rhoi rhagor o ystyriaeth i hynny, ond gallaf weld y gallai hynny arwain at rai canlyniadau anfwriadol.
Rwy’n awyddus, wrth gwrs, i hyn arwain at y biliau is y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn anelu atynt. Ond fel y dywedaf, bydd cyfnod nawr o edrych ar wahanol fodelau ar gyfer sut olwg a allai fod ar y parthau hynny, a beth y gallai’r effeithiau fod. Mae’n bwysig, serch hynny, fod y parthau'n gwneud synnwyr yng Nghymru, fel y gall pobl ddeall pam eu bod mewn parth penodol. Ac unwaith eto, dyma rai o'r trafodaethau a gawsom ddoe gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Ac rydym yn awyddus i weithio'n agos iawn gyda hwy. Rwy'n credu bod bwriad gwirioneddol ar ran Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau ein bod yn ymgysylltu’n briodol ac yn llawn â hynny. Disgwylir casgliad y cam datblygu polisi oddeutu canol 2025. Yn amlwg, byddwn yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'n cyd-Aelodau wrth i bethau symud ymlaen.
It’s important that we have that debate, and I think this is a debate that would be beneficial cross party in this particular sense, because we all want to see that exact same objective, which is to bring energy bills down for our constituents, but also as well for those businesses that operate in Wales. There is a fundamental principle here, and one that actually all of us should be quite familiar with when we are faced with some of those renewable energy developments, those large-scale renewable energy developments, in our constituencies, and that is that when energy is being produced on our doorstep, we should feel the direct benefit of that energy being produced, and one way of doing that is ensuring that energy bills are lower.
One of the bonuses, and I’m going to try and begin that process of convincing the Cabinet Secretary about a single Welsh zone, and one of the potential benefits of having a single Welsh zone would be that we would get that long-overdue investment in grid infrastructure. We know, in all our conversations around renewable energy projects and in large-scale industry, that the grid is the elephant in the room here. We don’t have a connection between north and south—there potentially is a way for us to get that focus from UK Government on that grid infrastructure here in Wales. But ultimately, what we actually do need here is security, security that would be provided by UK Government coming to a decision, because more delay creates that uncertainty for renewable energy investment, but also as well for industry investment. And I’m thinking in particular here about the electric arc furnace in Port Talbot. At the moment, we know there’s going to be increased energy demand there, but we also know as well that that means more costs for the site.
So, in those conversations with UK Government—and I’m grateful that the Cabinet Secretary is committed to keeping Members updated—is she able to ensure that Members across all sides of the Chamber are kept in the loop on those exact conversations, so that we as well can feed into it and then hopefully strengthen the Cabinet Secretary’s hand in those negotiations?
Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn cael y ddadl honno, a chredaf fod hon yn ddadl y byddai'n fuddiol ei chael ar sail drawsbleidiol yn yr ystyr benodol hon, gan fod pob un ohonom yn awyddus i wireddu'r union amcan hwnnw, sef gostwng biliau ynni i'n hetholwyr, ond hefyd i'r busnesau sy'n gweithredu yng Nghymru. Mae egwyddor sylfaenol yma, ac un y dylai pob un ohonom fod yn eithaf cyfarwydd â hi, mewn gwirionedd, pan fyddwn yn wynebu rhai o’r datblygiadau ynni adnewyddadwy hyn, y datblygiadau ynni adnewyddadwy mawr, yn ein hetholaethau, sef, pan fo ynni’n cael ei gynhyrchu ar garreg ein drws, y dylem deimlo budd uniongyrchol cynhyrchu'r ynni hwnnw, ac un ffordd o wneud hynny yw drwy sicrhau bod biliau ynni'n is.
Un bonws, ac rwy'n mynd i geisio dechrau'r broses o argyhoeddi Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet mewn perthynas â chael un parth i Gymru, ac un o fuddion posibl cael un parth i Gymru fyddai y byddem yn cael y buddsoddiad hirddisgwyliedig hwnnw yn seilwaith y grid. Yn ein holl sgyrsiau ynghylch prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy ac mewn diwydiant ar raddfa fawr, fe wyddom mai'r grid yw'r eliffant yn yr ystafell. Nid oes gennym gysylltiad rhwng gogledd a de—mae ffordd inni gael y ffocws hwnnw, o bosibl, gan Lywodraeth y DU ar seilwaith y grid yma yng Nghymru. Ond yn y pen draw, yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yma, mewn gwirionedd, yw diogelwch, diogelwch a fyddai’n cael ei ddarparu gan Lywodraeth y DU yn dod i benderfyniad, gan fod mwy o oedi yn creu ansicrwydd rhag buddsoddi mewn ynni adnewyddadwy, ond hefyd o ran buddsoddiad diwydiant. Ac rwy'n meddwl yn benodol yma am y ffwrnais arc drydan ym Mhort Talbot. Ar hyn o bryd, gwyddom y bydd galw uwch am ynni yno, ond gwyddom hefyd fod hynny'n golygu mwy o gostau i'r safle.
Felly, yn y sgyrsiau â Llywodraeth y DU—ac rwy’n ddiolchgar fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi ymrwymo i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau—a yw’n gallu sicrhau bod Aelodau ar bob ochr i’r Siambr yn cael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar yr union sgyrsiau hynny, fel y gallwn ninnau gyfrannu, a chefnogi Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gobeithio, yn y trafodaethau hynny?
Yes, I’m very keen to have conversations with colleagues on this particular issue. I do recognise, actually, that there’s a lot of cross-party interest. This was a piece of work that began under the previous UK Government. And I know that we all have an interest in delivering a lower cost system as well. So, I don’t see that this is a party political issue; it’s an issue that all colleagues will want to see delivered successfully. I think that’s fair to say.
I think those points about grid investment are absolutely critical as well. I hear about the importance of improved access to the grid and capacity in the grid every single day in this job. I play a slight game with myself: I see how far into the day I can get before somebody mentions the grid to me. It was quarter to nine this morning when I had my first reference to it. So, it is something that is absolutely at the top of people’s agendas, and quite rightly so.
I do welcome the work that the UK Government is doing on cleansing, if you like, the applications for the grid at the moment, removing those projects that simply are not going to come forward, and then moving those projects that are able to be brought forward up the list, to hopefully give them a sooner connection to the grid. I think that piece of work is welcome, but on its own it’s not going to solve the problem. So, we do need to improve capacity.
Ydw, rwy'n awyddus iawn i gael sgyrsiau gyda fy nghyd-Aelodau ynglŷn â'r mater penodol hwn. Rwy'n cydnabod, mewn gwirionedd, fod cryn dipyn o ddiddordeb trawsbleidiol. Roedd hwn yn waith a ddechreuodd o dan Lywodraeth flaenorol y DU. A gwn fod gan bob un ohonom ddiddordeb mewn darparu system gost is hefyd. Felly, ni chredaf fod hwn yn fater gwleidyddiaeth plaid; mae'n fater y bydd pob un o fy nghyd-Aelodau'n dymuno ei weld yn cael ei gyflawni'n llwyddiannus. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud hynny.
Rwy'n credu bod y pwyntiau ynglŷn â buddsoddi yn y grid yn gwbl hanfodol hefyd. Rwy'n clywed am bwysigrwydd gwella mynediad at y grid a chapasiti yn y grid bob dydd yn y swydd hon. Rwy'n chwarae gêm fach â mi fy hun: rwy'n gweld pa mor hwyr i mewn i'r diwrnod y gallaf gyrraedd cyn i rywun grybwyll y grid i mi. Roedd hi'n chwarter i naw y bore yma pan glywais y cyfeiriad cyntaf ato. Felly, mae'n rhywbeth sydd ar frig agendâu pobl, a hynny'n gywir ddigon.
Rwy'n croesawu'r gwaith y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud ar hidlo, os mynnwch, y ceisiadau ar gyfer y grid ar hyn o bryd, gan gael gwared ar brosiectau nad ydynt yn mynd i lwyddo, a symud y prosiectau y gellir bwrw ymlaen â hwy i fyny'r rhestr, yn y gobaith o'u cysylltu â'r grid yn gynt. Rwy'n credu bod y gwaith hwnnw i'w groesawu, ond ar ei ben ei hun, nid yw'n mynd i ddatrys y broblem. Felly, mae angen inni gynyddu capasiti.
3. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i ddiwygio'r system gynllunio er mwyn darparu ar gyfer mwy o bŵer i gymunedau lleol mewn penderfyniadau? OQ62461
3. What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to reform the planning system to allow for greater power for local communities in decision making? OQ62461
Greater power for local communities is about getting people engaged at the right time. Our proposals under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 ensure early engagement and ensure that this is continued through the process. We have also started a project on digital interaction with the local planning system looking at pre-application consultation.
Mae mwy o bŵer i gymunedau lleol yn golygu sicrhau bod pobl yn ymgysylltu ar yr adeg iawn. Mae ein cynigion o dan Ddeddf Seilwaith (Cymru) 2024 yn sicrhau ymgysylltiad cynnar ac yn sicrhau bod hyn yn parhau drwy gydol y broses. Rydym hefyd wedi cychwyn prosiect ar ryngweithio digidol gyda'r system gynllunio leol sy'n edrych ar ymgynghori cyn gwneud cais.
The planning system we have does not always work for communities. A prime example of this is what’s happening at Ffos-y-fran in Merthyr. Ffos-y-fran was the site of opencast coal mining until last year, but since the coaling stopped, the local community has been left looking at a dirty derelict site, where a void that’s been left filled with what’s likely contaminated water still is there. Now, some weeks ago, the company submitted a revised restoration plan, and that goes nowhere near what was promised to the community when the work began all those years ago. It would leave the contaminated lake unfilled, mounds of waste as they are, and a rock face jutting down to the water. Now, these plans would leave the site as not only derelict but dangerous. But the planning system, as always, favours the developer, not the people who are stuck living near the site looking at it every day. I realise that you can’t intervene directly in an application like this, but could you please tell me what plans the Government would have to change the system to stop situations like this arising again, and could we have a meeting, please, to discuss how something like this could be avoided in the future?
Nid yw'r system gynllunio sydd gennym bob amser yn gweithio i gymunedau. Enghraifft wych o hyn yw'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn Ffos-y-frân ym Merthyr Tudful. Roedd Ffos-y-frân yn safle mwyngloddio glo brig tan y llynedd, ond ers i'r mwyngloddio ddod i ben, mae'r gymuned leol wedi cael ei gadael yn edrych ar safle adfeiliedig a budr, lle mae gwagle sydd wedi'i lenwi â dŵr halogedig yn ôl pob tebyg yno o hyd. Nawr, rai wythnosau yn ôl, cyflwynodd y cwmni gynllun adfer diwygiedig, ac nid yw'n agos at yr hyn a addawyd i'r gymuned pan ddechreuodd y gwaith yr holl flynyddoedd yn ôl. Byddai'n gadael y llyn halogedig heb ei lenwi, twmpathau o wastraff fel y maent, ac wyneb y graig yn ymestyn i lawr i'r dŵr. Nawr, byddai'r cynlluniau hyn yn gadael y safle nid yn unig yn adfeiliedig ond yn beryglus. Ond mae'r system gynllunio, fel bob amser, yn ffafrio'r datblygwr, nid y bobl sy'n gorfod byw ger y safle yn edrych arno bob dydd. Rwy'n sylweddoli na allwch ymyrryd yn uniongyrchol mewn cais fel hwn, ond a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf, os gwelwch yn dda, pa gynlluniau a fyddai gan y Llywodraeth i newid y system er mwyn atal sefyllfaoedd fel hyn rhag codi eto, ac a allem gael cyfarfod i drafod sut y gellid atal rhywbeth fel hyn rhag digwydd yn y dyfodol?
I'm really grateful to Delyth Jewell for that and also, actually, for the work that I know that she did with my predecessor in this role around the Infrastructure (Wales) Act, which did lead to some real strengthening of the Act in terms of the role of communities, in particular, for example, the open-floor hearings, which might take place in future. There's a consultation paper that proposes that subordinate legislation would specify that hearings and inquiries undertaken as part of an examination would be broadcast online, and that is about increasing public accessibility to the examination. And also there was work that was done to bring the infrastructure Act really into a place that represents the modern system, because I know that lots of our Order consenting processes, which are replaced by the Act, such as the Electricity Act 1989 or the Harbours Act 1964, don't have any statutory requirements at all for pre-application consultation or engagement. So, I do think that the Infrastructure (Wales) Act will make a marked change in the improvements, and I know that a lot of that is due, and credit should be given to Delyth Jewell for the work that she did in this particular space.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Delyth Jewell am hynny a hefyd am y gwaith y gwn iddi wneud gyda fy rhagflaenydd yn y rôl hon ar Ddeddf Seilwaith (Cymru), a arweiniodd at gryfhau'r Ddeddf yn fawr o ran rôl cymunedau, yn enwedig, er enghraifft, y gwrandawiadau llawr agored, a allai ddigwydd yn y dyfodol. Mae papur ymgynghori sy'n cynnig y byddai is-ddeddfwriaeth yn nodi y byddai gwrandawiadau ac ymholiadau a gynhelir fel rhan o archwiliad yn cael eu darlledu ar-lein, ac mae a wnelo hynny â chynyddu hygyrchedd cyhoeddus yr archwiliad. A gwnaed gwaith hefyd i ddiweddaru'r Ddeddf seilwaith fel ei bod yn cynrychioli'r system fodern, gan y gwn nad oes gan lawer o'n prosesau cydsynio i Orchmynion, sy'n cael eu disodli gan y Ddeddf, megis Deddf Trydan 1989 neu'r Ddeddf Harbyrau 1964, unrhyw ofynion statudol ar gyfer yr holl ymgysylltu neu ymgynghori cyn ymgeisio. Felly, credaf y bydd Deddf Seilwaith (Cymru) yn gwneud newid amlwg yn y gwelliannau, a gwn fod y diolch am lawer o hynny i Delyth Jewell, a dylid rhoi clod iddi am y gwaith a wnaeth yn y maes penodol hwn.
As with many planning applications, there are many statutory consultees, utility companies, home owners, neighbouring properties, and any controversial applications can attract lobby groups who often put lots of time, energy and efforts into participating in the planning process. Unsurprisingly, most are inspired to take part because they wish to object. However, a simple objection is not enough, and however strong the opposition, the submissions have to be based on planning policy, but therein lies the problem. There is generally, within our communities, a genuine lack of understanding of planning policy in Wales, when you've got technical advice note 1, TAN 3, TAN 5—goodness knows how many TANs—and it does put local communities at a disadvantage when taking on wealthy developers on large schemes. Too many public inquiries or call-in appeals are lost because of the lack of planning and legal advice available, and, too often, schemes get the go-ahead because of very expensive barristers that are available to the developers but not the local community. What steps are you taking to ensure the voices of our community are taken more seriously, and will you consider a planning community contingency fund to allow this legal advice to be more readily available for all? Diolch.
Fel gyda llawer o geisiadau cynllunio, gall llawer o ymgyngoreion statudol, cwmnïau cyfleustodau, perchnogion tai, eiddo cyfagos, ac unrhyw geisiadau dadleuol ddenu grwpiau lobïo sy'n aml yn rhoi llawer o amser, egni ac ymdrech i gymryd rhan yn y broses gynllunio. Nid yw'n syndod fod y rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn cael eu hysbrydoli i gymryd rhan am eu bod yn dymuno gwrthwynebu. Fodd bynnag, nid yw gwrthwynebu yn unig yn ddigon, ac ni waeth pa mor gryf yw'r gwrthwynebiad, mae'n rhaid i'r ceisiadau fod yn seiliedig ar bolisi cynllunio, ond dyna ble mae'r broblem. Yn gyffredinol, yn ein cymunedau, mae diffyg dealltwriaeth o bolisi cynllunio yng Nghymru, pan fydd gennych nodyn cyngor technegol 1, TAN 3, TAN 5— dyn a ŵyr sawl TAN—ac mae'n rhoi cymunedau lleol dan anfantais wrth wrthwynebu datblygwyr cyfoethog ar gynlluniau mawr. Mae gormod lawer o ymholiadau cyhoeddus neu apeliadau galw i mewn yn cael eu colli oherwydd y diffyg cyngor cyfreithiol a chyngor cynllunio sydd ar gael, ac yn rhy aml, mae cynlluniau'n cael sêl bendith diolch i fargyfreithwyr drud iawn sydd ar gael i'r datblygwyr ond nid i'r gymuned leol. Pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod lleisiau ein cymuned yn cael eu cymryd o ddifrif, ac a wnewch chi ystyried cronfa gynllunio gymunedol wrth gefn i ganiatáu i'r cyngor cyfreithiol hwn fod ar gael yn haws i bawb? Diolch.
I'm very grateful for the question. Yes, it absolutely is the case that whilst decision makers have to take into account any relevant view on planning matters that are expressed by local residents and other third parties, local opposition or support for a proposal isn't on its own a reasonable ground for refusing or granting planning permission. Those objections or support have to be based on valid planning considerations, and I think that that is something that members of the public who don't have the background in planning—not many would—sometimes fail to fully be able to grapple with.
That's one of the reasons that we do fund Planning Aid Wales. That's there to support individuals and communities in terms of making their representations to the planning process, so that they're able to turn their valid concerns or valid support into arguments that align with valid planning considerations and are able to be considered in that space. So, I would absolutely recommend Planning Aid Wales to all colleagues. It's a really excellent free resource for communities, so that they're able to be supported in making those representations through the planning process.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn. Ydy, mae'n wir, er bod yn rhaid i benderfynwyr ystyried unrhyw safbwyntiau perthnasol a fynegir gan drigolion lleol a thrydydd partïon eraill ar faterion cynllunio, nid yw gwrthwynebiad neu gefnogaeth leol i gynnig yn unig yn sail resymol dros wrthod neu roi caniatâd cynllunio. Mae'n rhaid i'r gwrthwynebiadau neu'r gefnogaeth honno fod yn seiliedig ar ystyriaethau cynllunio dilys, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae aelodau'r cyhoedd nad oes ganddynt gefndir ym maes cynllunio—ac ni fyddai gan lawer—weithiau'n ei chael hi'n anodd ei ddeall.
Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod yn ariannu Cymorth Cynllunio Cymru. Mae yno i gefnogi unigolion a chymunedau i wneud sylwadau i'r broses gynllunio, fel eu bod yn gallu troi eu pryderon dilys neu gefnogaeth ddilys yn ddadleuon sy'n gydnaws ag ystyriaethau cynllunio dilys ac y gellir eu hystyried yn y cyswllt hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n sicr yn argymell Cymorth Cynllunio Cymru i bob un o fy nghyd-Aelodau. Mae'n adnodd rhagorol rhad ac am ddim i gymunedau, fel y gellir eu cefnogi i wneud y sylwadau hynny drwy'r broses gynllunio.
Last October I spoke in a Plenary debate on the Member's legislative proposal tabled by Heledd Fychan MS, and particularly relevant is an extension of a quarry that had community objections to it that went through despite that. The Cabinet Secretary has already explained why that can happen, but I think residents weren't helped by the fact that there's a need to strengthen 'Minerals Technical Advice Note (Wales) 1: Aggregates', MTAN 1, which has not been revised since it was first published by the Welsh Government in March 2004. And I think strengthening and updating MTAN 1 would have helped those residents in their opposition and would afford us an opportunity to improve protections through the existing local authority-based planning process for residents who live near quarries where those operations are looking to expand. So, would the Cabinet Secretary be willing to meet with me and other Senedd Members to explore this as an option and see if we can strengthen that process?
Fis Hydref diwethaf, siaradais mewn dadl yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ar gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod a gyflwynwyd gan Heledd Fychan AS, a'r hyn a oedd yn arbennig o berthnasol oedd y cais i ehangu chwarel a gafodd ei dderbyn er gwaethaf gwrthwynebiad y gymuned. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet eisoes wedi egluro pam y gall hynny ddigwydd, ond ni chredaf fod y trigolion wedi'u helpu gan y ffaith bod angen cryfhau 'Nodyn Cyngor Technegol Mwynau (Cymru) 1: Agregau’, MTAN 1, nad yw wedi’i ddiwygio ers ei gyhoeddi gyntaf gan Lywodraeth Cymru ym mis Mawrth 2004. Ac rwy'n credu y byddai cryfhau a diweddaru MTAN 1 wedi cynorthwyo'r trigolion hynny gyda'u gwrthwynebiad ac yn rhoi cyfle inni wella amddiffyniadau drwy brosesau cynllunio presennol awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer trigolion sy’n byw ger chwareli lle mae’r gweithrediadau hynny’n bwriadu ehangu. Felly, a fyddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn fodlon cyfarfod â mi ac Aelodau eraill o’r Senedd i archwilio hyn fel opsiwn ac i weld a allwn gryfhau’r broses honno?
I'm always happy to meet with colleagues on any topic on which they think a conversation would be useful. I would say I do recognise that MTAN 1 was published some time ago, but I think that the principles contained in it are still valid, and it does contain comprehensive planning policy, which is robust, about controlling the impacts of quarrying. And it should be read in conjunction with ‘Planning Policy Wales’, so it shouldn't be kept as a discrete document. ‘Planning Policy Wales’ itself is actually kept under regular review and that sets out the general policies for all mineral development, but of course I'm more than happy to have conversations with colleagues on this issue.
Rwy'n hapus bob amser i gyfarfod â chyd-Aelodau ar unrhyw bwnc y credant y byddai sgwrs yn ddefnyddiol yn ei gylch. Rwy'n cydnabod bod MTAN 1 wedi'i gyhoeddi beth amser yn ôl, ond rwy'n credu bod yr egwyddorion a gynhwysir ynddo yn dal i fod yn ddilys, ac mae'n cynnwys polisi cynllunio cynhwysfawr, sy'n gadarn, ynghylch rheoli effeithiau chwarela. A dylid ei ddarllen ar y cyd â 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru', felly ni ddylid ei gadw fel dogfen ar wahân. Mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' ei hun yn cael ei adolygu'n rheolaidd ac mae hwnnw'n nodi'r polisïau cyffredinol ar gyfer pob datblygiad mwynau, ond wrth gwrs rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael sgyrsiau gyda chyd-Aelodau ar y mater hwn.
4. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith prisiau parth ar brisiau trydan i ddefnyddwyr yng Nghymru? OQ62476
4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of zonal pricing on electricity prices for consumers in Wales? OQ62476
The UK Government has committed to work with the Welsh Government to understand how any potential reforms to electricity market arrangements could impact Welsh consumers. As a reserved matter, the UK Government is leading an impact assessment, which will be considered in the decision-making process.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i ddeall sut y gallai unrhyw ddiwygiadau posibl i drefniadau'r farchnad drydan effeithio ar ddefnyddwyr Cymru. Fel mater a gadwyd yn ôl, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn arwain asesiad effaith, a fydd yn cael ei ystyried yn y broses o wneud penderfyniadau.
We're only a few months away from a decision, aren't we? So, we do need clarity on the Welsh Government position, and I'm still not clear, despite the exchange you just had with Luke Fletcher. Do you accept the most independent analysis currently, which suggests that the current proposals, with Wales split into part of three zones, mostly dominated by high-demand English regions, would lead to higher prices in Wales? Do you accept the position of Octopus Energy and others that, if there was a Wales-specific zone, based on the Scottish likely experience, then that would lead to lower prices? You said that you're not convinced by that because of unintended consequences, so can you spell out what those unintended consequences, you believe, are?
Ychydig fisoedd sydd i fynd cyn i benderfyniad gael ei wneud. Felly, mae angen eglurder arnom ynghylch safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, ac nid wyf yn glir o hyd, er gwaethaf y pethau a ddywedoch chi wrth Luke Fletcher. A ydych chi'n derbyn y dadansoddiad mwyaf annibynnol ar hyn o bryd, sy'n awgrymu y byddai'r cynigion presennol, gyda Chymru wedi'u rhannu'n rhan o dri pharth, yn cael eu dominyddu gan ranbarthau lle mae'r galw'n uchel yn Lloegr, yn arwain at brisiau uwch yng Nghymru? A ydych chi'n derbyn safbwynt Octopus Energy ac eraill, pe bai parth penodol ar gyfer Cymru, yn seiliedig ar brofiad tebygol yr Alban, y byddai hynny'n arwain at brisiau is? Fe ddywedoch chi nad ydych chi wedi eich argyhoeddi o hynny oherwydd canlyniadau anfwriadol, felly a allwch chi nodi beth yw'r canlyniadau anfwriadol hynny, yn eich barn chi?
So, in my discussions with the UK Government, I did make the point, which I know has been made by colleagues, about some of the indicative models that have been shared. UK Government was very keen to impress that those are just some of many models. They haven't decided yet on which particular zonal pricing model would be taken forward, so there's a lot more work that the UK Government is doing at the moment looking at various different options for zonal pricing. We're not going to support zonal pricing that makes things more difficult for Welsh businesses, which makes things more difficult for energy users in the domestic setting. We're very keen that this delivers on what the UK Government wants to do, which is provide a lower cost system for our energy market here in the UK. So, we're working really closely. I can't comment on any particular proposals at the moment, because they simply are just indicative models that are one of many, and there will be other models that the UK Government is looking at. It hasn't fully developed those yet, so we're not able to have those conversations or understand what the consequences might be. But the points that Luke Fletcher has made this afternoon we’ll be absolutely sure to take up with colleagues in the UK Government as potential models that should be looked at, and we're keen, then, to explore what any unintended consequences might be. As I say, I'm keen that this is an ongoing discussion with colleagues, but we're simply not in the position at the moment to take a view on particular models, because they haven't been produced.
Yn fy nhrafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU, fe wneuthum y pwynt, y gwn iddo gael ei wneud gan gyd-Aelodau, am rai o'r modelau dangosol sydd wedi'u rhannu. Roedd Llywodraeth y DU yn awyddus iawn i ddweud mai dim ond rhai o lawer o fodelau yw'r rheini. Nid ydynt wedi penderfynu eto ar ba fodel prisio parthol y byddid yn bwrw ymlaen ag ef, felly mae llawer mwy o waith y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd yn edrych ar wahanol opsiynau gwahanol ar gyfer prisio parthol. Nid ydym yn mynd i gefnogi prisio parthol sy'n gwneud pethau'n anos i fusnesau yng Nghymru, sy'n gwneud pethau'n anos i ddefnyddwyr ynni mewn amgylchiadau domestig. Rydym yn awyddus iawn iddo gyflawni'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU eisiau ei wneud, sef darparu system cost is i'n marchnad ynni yma yn y DU. Felly, rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn. Ni allaf wneud sylwadau ar unrhyw gynigion penodol ar hyn o bryd, am mai modelau dangosol yn unig ydynt sy'n un o lawer, a bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn edrych ar fodelau eraill hefyd. Nid yw wedi datblygu'r rheini yn llawn eto, felly ni allwn gael y sgyrsiau hynny na deall beth y gallai'r canlyniadau fod. Ond byddwn yn sicr o godi'r pwyntiau y mae Luke Fletcher wedi'u gwneud y prynhawn gyda chymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU fel modelau posibl y dylid eu hystyried, ac rydym yn awyddus felly i archwilio beth a allai fod yn ganlyniadau anfwriadol. Fel y dywedais, rwy'n awyddus i hon fod yn drafodaeth barhaus gyda chyd-Aelodau, ond nid ydym mewn sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd i ffurfio barn ar fodelau penodol, am nad ydynt wedi'u cynhyrchu.
Cabinet Secretary, of course residents in mid and north Wales pay the highest standing charges of anywhere across the UK, so that in itself is unfair. But, of course, it's unfair because, very often, people perhaps use very little electricity, or no electricity at all, and still have to pay that standing charge. Now, Ofgem have been running a consultation, of course, on the introduction of a zero standing charge price energy cap variant. The closing date for this consultation is tomorrow, and I suggest that we do need to end this unfairness and the postcode lottery and ensure that people in my constituency and north Wales are not paying well above the price of other people in other parts of the country when it comes to a standing charge. So, can you set out what the Welsh Government's response was or is to that consultation, which is ending tomorrow, and, perhaps, any other conversations you've had with Ofgem and the UK Government regarding this issue?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, preswylwyr yng nghanolbarth a gogledd Cymru sy'n talu'r taliadau sefydlog uchaf yn unrhyw le ar draws y DU, felly mae hynny ynddo'i hun yn annheg. Ond wrth gwrs, mae'n annheg oherwydd, yn aml iawn, efallai mai ychydig iawn o drydan y bydd pobl yn ei ddefnyddio, neu ddim trydan o gwbl, ac mae'n dal i fod yn rhaid iddynt dalu'r tâl sefydlog hwnnw. Nawr, mae Ofgem wedi bod yn cynnal ymgynghoriad ar gyflwyno amrywiad cap ynni o bris tâl sefydlog sero. Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer yr ymgynghoriad hwn yw yfory, ac awgrymaf fod angen inni ddod â'r annhegwch hwn a'r loteri cod post i ben a sicrhau nad yw pobl yn fy etholaeth i a gogledd Cymru yn talu'n llawer uwch na phris pobl eraill mewn rhannau eraill o'r wlad o ran tâl sefydlog. Felly, a allwch chi nodi beth oedd neu beth yw ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw, sy'n dod i ben yfory, ac unrhyw sgyrsiau eraill a gawsoch gydag Ofgem a Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r mater hwn?
It's been the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice who has been leading particularly on this issue, and I know that she'd be happy to update Russell George on the discussions that she's been having. I know this has been an issue that has been debated a great deal in the Senedd. It's something that I know Jack Sargeant was leading on; we've had debates that have been sponsored by him in the Chamber as well. So, it's a long-standing issue that colleagues across the Senedd have been concerned about, so I am pleased that Ofgem is looking at this. As I say, Jane Hutt is leading on this, but I know that she'd be more than happy to provide you with an update.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol sydd wedi bod yn arwain yn benodol ar y mater hwn, a gwn y byddai'n hapus i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Russell George am y trafodaethau y mae hi wedi bod yn eu cael. Rwy'n gwybod bod hwn wedi bod yn fater a drafodwyd yn helaeth yn y Senedd. Mae'n rhywbeth y gwn fod Jack Sargeant wedi arwain arno; gwelsom ddadleuon a gefnogwyd ganddo yn y Siambr hefyd. Felly, mae'n fater hirsefydlog y mae cyd-Aelodau ar draws y Senedd wedi bod yn poeni amdano, felly rwy'n falch fod Ofgem yn edrych ar hyn. Fel y dywedaf, Jane Hutt sy'n arwain ar hyn, ond gwn y byddai hi'n fwy na pharod i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi.
I just want to go back to the current system that we've got for zonal pricing, where we've got a single national wholesale energy price set every half hour by the most expensive units of energy in the mix—obviously, that's gas—which ties all households to the activities of the fossil fuel companies. So, it seems to me that one of the consequences, whether unintended or not, of the current national system is that it suppresses generation to maintain an artificially high price to satisfy the fossil fuel companies. That seems to me the opposite of what we're supposed to be doing, which is the need to decarbonise swiftly to save the planet and export energy to Germany, for example, which would buy every single unit of electricity that we have. So, I want to understand why we are still having a conversation about the current system, when it's so not fit for purpose, and we need to ensure that we don't have such a system in the future, based, hopefully, on a one price for Wales.
Rwyf eisiau mynd yn ôl at y system gyfredol sydd gennym ar gyfer prisio parthol, lle mae gennym un pris ynni cyfanwerthol cenedlaethol wedi'i osod bob hanner awr yn ôl yr unedau ynni drutaf yn y cymysgedd—sef nwy, yn amlwg—sy'n cysylltu pob cartref â gweithgareddau'r cwmnïau tanwydd ffosil. Felly, mae'n ymddangos i mi mai un o ganlyniadau'r system genedlaethol bresennol, boed yn anfwriadol ai peidio, yw ei bod yn llesteirio cynhyrchiant er mwyn cynnal pris uchel artiffisial i fodloni'r cwmnïau tanwydd ffosil. Mae hynny i'w weld yn gwbl groes i'r hyn rydym i fod i'w wneud, sef yr angen i ddatgarboneiddio'n gyflym i achub y blaned ac allforio ynni i'r Almaen, er enghraifft, a fyddai'n prynu pob uned o drydan sydd gennym. Felly, rwyf am ddeall pam ein bod yn dal i gael sgwrs am y system gyfredol, pan fo mor anaddas i'r diben, ac mae angen inni sicrhau nad system felly a fydd gennym yn y dyfodol, yn seiliedig, gobeithio, ar un pris i Gymru.
This is something that the UK Government is leading on, precisely for the same reasons as described, in the sense of the current electricity market being one that was designed for an electricity system that was dominated by dispatchable fossil fuel generation assets. That's not the case anymore, it's not where we want to be, it's not where we're going in the future. The zonal pricing, as I say, is one of those options that is being looked at. The UK Government is also looking at reforming the national pricing arrangements; that's another option that it's looking at at the moment.
But I'm not sure what more I can add today beyond what the UK Government has said in terms of its plans and then those discussions that I've had with Michael Shanks. It really is about, now, the UK Government undertaking those impact assessments, providing some more detailed modelling on what zonal pricing might mean, and then we'll be able to engage in a bit more detail with those impact assessments and the potential models as well. But they have committed to work closely with us and to engage us fully on all those, and we'll take those opportunities, then, to make the cases when those moments arrive.
Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn arwain arno, am yr un rhesymau ag a ddisgrifiwyd, yn yr ystyr fod y farchnad drydan bresennol yn un a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer system drydan a oedd yn cael ei dominyddu gan asedau cynhyrchu tanwydd ffosil y gellir ei anfon. Nid yw hynny'n wir mwyach, nid yw lle rydym eisiau iddi fod, nid dyna lle rydym yn mynd yn y dyfodol. Mae'r prisio parthol, fel y dywedaf, yn un o'r opsiynau sy'n cael eu hystyried. Mae Llywodraeth y DU hefyd yn edrych ar ddiwygio'r trefniadau prisio cenedlaethol; dyna opsiwn arall y mae'n edrych arno ar hyn o bryd.
Ond nid wyf yn siŵr beth arall y gallaf ei ychwanegu heddiw y tu hwnt i'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i ddweud ynglŷn â'i chynlluniau a'r trafodaethau a gefais gyda Michael Shanks. Mae'n ymwneud â Llywodraeth y DU yn ymgymryd â'r asesiadau effaith hynny, gan ddarparu modelu mwy manwl ar yr hyn y gallai prisio parthol ei olygu, ac yna gallwn ymwneud ychydig yn fwy manwl â'r asesiadau effaith a'r modelau posibl hefyd. Ond maent wedi ymrwymo i weithio'n agos gyda ni ac i ymgysylltu'n llawn ar bob un ohonynt, ac felly, byddwn yn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd i gyflwyno'r achosion pan ddaw'r adegau hynny.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â gwella signal ffonau symudol yn Sir Fynwy? OQ62462
5. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government about improving mobile phone signal in Monmouthshire? OQ62462
Officials meet regularly with their counterparts in the UK Government and the mobile industry to discuss improving mobile coverage in Wales, including progress on delivery of the joint UK Government and industry funded shared rural network programme, which includes infrastructure in Monmouthshire.
Mae swyddogion yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â'u cymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU a'r diwydiant ffonau symudol i drafod gwella signal ffonau symudol yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cynnydd ar gyflawni'r rhaglen rhwydwaith gwledig cyffredin a ariennir gan Lywodraeth y DU a diwydiant, sy'n cynnwys seilwaith yn sir Fynwy.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Llangwm, a small village in Monmouthshire, is now known as the village with no signal, and residents have been suffering from a mobile signal blackspot, which affects their ability to run businesses as well as to conduct simple phone calls, there being no mobile signal for a mile either side of the village. Most concerningly, of course, it presents a danger when residents are looking to contact emergency services, with landlines also dropping out. Historically, there was a mast installed in a nearby village, and the community council and councillors are very keen to have one reinstalled again. Cabinet Secretary, in 2025 no area in Wales should be without a proper mobile signal, so can I please ask that you work alongside the UK Government and mention in those discussions alongside big service providers to try and rectify this potentially dangerous situation and improve mobile signal in Llangwm so that the residents can sleep at night, I suppose? Thank you. Diolch.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae Llangwm, pentref bychan yn sir Fynwy, bellach yn cael ei adnabod fel y pentref heb signal, ac mae trigolion wedi bod yn dioddef o fod heb signal ffonau symudol, sy'n effeithio ar eu gallu i redeg busnesau yn ogystal â gwneud galwadau ffôn syml, gan nad oes signal ffonau symudol am filltir y naill ochr a'r llall i'r pentref. Yn fwyaf pryderus, wrth gwrs, mae'n beryglus pan fydd trigolion am gysylltu â'r gwasanaethau brys, gyda llinellau tir hefyd yn colli signal. Yn hanesyddol, roedd mast wedi'i osod mewn pentref cyfagos, ac mae'r cyngor cymuned a'r cynghorwyr yn awyddus iawn i gael un wedi'i osod eto. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn 2025 ni ddylai unrhyw ardal yng Nghymru fod heb signal ffonau symudol priodol, felly a gaf fi ofyn i chi weithio ochr yn ochr â Llywodraeth y DU a sôn yn y trafodaethau hynny â darparwyr gwasanaeth mawr i geisio unioni'r sefyllfa hon a allai fod yn beryglus a gwella signal ffonau symudol yn Llangwm fel y gall y trigolion gysgu'n dawel. Diolch.
Yes, I'd be more than happy to have those discussions with both the UK Government and Mobile UK, which brings together the mobile providers, to try and rectify the situation. I know that data from Ofcom's latest 'Connected Nations' report shows that mobile coverage in Monmouthshire is broadly in line with coverage across Wales as a whole, so I think that's positive. But, of course, that's no comfort at all if you live in a community that doesn't have access. So, I'll be happy to ensure that my officials take that up immediately, to try and see what we can do to speed up a resolution for that.
Rwy'n hapus i gael y trafodaethau hynny gyda Llywodraeth y DU a Mobile UK, sy'n dod â'r darparwyr ffonau symudol at ei gilydd, i geisio unioni'r sefyllfa. Rwy'n gwybod bod data o adroddiad diweddaraf Ofcom 'Connected Nations' yn dangos bod y signal ffonau symudol yn sir Fynwy yn cyd-fynd yn gyffredinol â'r signal ledled Cymru gyfan, felly rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gadarnhaol. Ond wrth gwrs, nid yw hynny'n gysur o gwbl os ydych chi'n byw mewn cymuned heb signal. Felly, rwy'n hapus i sicrhau bod fy swyddogion yn mynd ar drywydd hynny ar unwaith, i geisio gweld beth y gallwn ei wneud i gyflymu datrysiad yn hynny o beth.
I'm grateful to Laura Anne Jones for raising this issue. Llangwm isn't the only village in Wales without broadband coverage and without mobile coverage, I can assure you; there are towns in my constituency where it is very difficult to make a mobile call, and this 20 years after Blair created Ofcom. At the time, we were told that Ofcom was going to be a fast-moving regulator, able to move with agility and clarity and foresight to be able to deliver for all of our constituents. What we see two decades later, of course, is an inability to make a telephone call on the main street of Ebbw Vale. So, what I would like the Welsh Government to do is to work with Ofcom, with the UK Government, to identify the parts of the country that simply don't have a mobile signal, or a sufficiently strong mobile signal, to complete a telephone call, in order to ensure that all parts of this country have the sort of mobile coverage that we were promised two decades ago.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Laura Anne Jones am godi'r mater hwn. Nid Llangwm yw'r unig bentref yng Nghymru heb gwmpas band eang a heb signal symudol, gallaf eich sicrhau; mae yna drefi yn fy etholaeth lle mae'n anodd iawn gwneud galwad ar ffôn symudol, a hyn 20 mlynedd ar ôl i Blair greu Ofcom. Ar y pryd, dywedwyd wrthym fod Ofcom yn mynd i fod yn rheoleiddiwr sy'n symud yn gyflym, yn gallu symud gydag ystwythder ac eglurder a rhagwelediad i allu cyflawni ar ran ein holl etholwyr. Yr hyn a welwn ddau ddegawd yn ddiweddarach yw anallu i wneud galwad ffôn ar brif stryd Glynebwy. Felly, hoffwn i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gydag Ofcom, gyda Llywodraeth y DU, i nodi'r rhannau o'r wlad nad oes ganddynt signal ffonau symudol, neu signal ffonau symudol digon cryf i gwblhau galwad ffôn, er mwyn sicrhau bod gan bob rhan o'r wlad y math o signal symudol a addawyd i ni ddau ddegawd yn ôl.
So, this is a matter for the UK Government, but, obviously, we're taking a strong interest in this, so we'll be ensuring that we do have those discussions, reflecting what colleagues have mentioned this afternoon.
I do know that outdoor 4G coverage from all four mobile networks across Wales is 80 per cent, so that's going to be difficult for those communities that don't receive that particular coverage. When listening to Alun Davies, I was thinking of a really innovative proposal that has been taken forward in Powys, which is where the council added some technology to their refuse collection trucks, which was able, then, to go about assessing what the mobile coverage was across the county. So, I thought that that was a particularly innovative way of trying to identify where the problem areas are and then to work alongside the UK Government and Mobile UK to address them. But, clearly, this is an issue that is extremely important to people across Wales, and we will work with the UK Government and Mobile UK.
Mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw hwn, ond yn amlwg, mae gennym ddiddordeb mawr ynddo, felly byddwn yn sicrhau ein bod yn cael y trafodaethau hynny, gan adlewyrchu'r hyn y mae cyd-Aelodau wedi'i grybwyll y prynhawn yma.
Rwy'n gwybod bod y ddarpariaeth 4G awyr agored gan bob un o'r pedwar rhwydwaith symudol ledled Cymru yn 80 y cant, felly bydd hynny'n anodd i'r cymunedau nad oes ganddynt y signal penodol hwnnw. Wrth wrando ar Alun Davies, roeddwn i'n meddwl am gynnig arloesol iawn sydd wedi'i ddatblygu ym Mhowys, lle mae'r cyngor wedi ychwanegu technoleg at eu lorïau casglu sbwriel, a allai fynd ati wedyn i asesu beth oedd y signal symudol ar draws y sir. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl bod honno'n ffordd arbennig o arloesol o geisio nodi ble mae'r mannau problemus a gweithio ochr yn ochr â Llywodraeth y DU a Mobile UK i fynd i'r afael â hwy. Ond yn amlwg, mae hwn yn fater sy'n hynod bwysig i bobl ledled Cymru, a byddwn yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU a Mobile UK.
6. Pa gamau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cymryd i sicrhau bod y sector twristiaeth a lletygarwch yng Ngogledd Cymru yn cael ei gefnogi a'i fod yn barod cyn tymor twristiaeth y gwanwyn? OQ62477
6. What steps has the Cabinet Secretary taken to ensure that the tourism and hospitality sector in North Wales is supported and prepared ahead of the spring tourism season? OQ62477
We support the tourism and hospitality sectors all year round. Visit Wales provides funding for tourism projects and improving local facilities. It also markets Wales as a destination to both consumers and the travel trade. North Wales features in the current 'hwyl' campaign, which has attracted significant media attention.
Rydym yn cefnogi'r sectorau twristiaeth a lletygarwch drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Mae Croeso Cymru yn darparu cyllid ar gyfer prosiectau twristiaeth a gwella cyfleusterau lleol. Mae hefyd yn marchnata Cymru fel cyrchfan i ddefnyddwyr a'r fasnach deithio. Mae gogledd Cymru yn ymddangos yn yr ymgyrch 'hwyl' bresennol, sydd wedi denu sylw sylweddol gan y cyfryngau.
As of 2024, 12.8 per cent of enterprises in north Wales were in tourism-related industries, the highest out of all the regions. Tourism is a vital industry that attracts many visitors to destinations such as the wonderful seaside town of Llandudno, gateway to Eryri, Betws-y-Coed, Llanrwst, Conwy and many more. One of the main reasons reported by all of our north Wales self-catering businesses was that customers are struggling with the cost of living. As a result of people having less disposable income, some businesses reported people staying fewer nights. This naturally causes concern for these businesses who have to meet the 182-day occupancy threshold. Does the Cabinet Secretary acknowledge that factors often outside of the control of self-catering businesses will impact the nights of occupancy numbers? And in order to show some support for this vital industry, will you review the decision to stipulate the minimum 182-day occupancy threshold?
Yn 2024, roedd 12.8 y cant o fentrau yng ngogledd Cymru mewn diwydiannau sy'n gysylltiedig â thwristiaeth, yr uchaf o'r holl ranbarthau. Mae twristiaeth yn ddiwydiant hanfodol sy'n denu llawer o ymwelwyr i gyrchfannau fel tref glan môr hyfryd Llandudno, y porth i Eryri, Betws-y-Coed, Llanrwst, Conwy a llawer mwy. Un o'r prif resymau a nodwyd gan ein holl fusnesau hunanddarpar yng ngogledd Cymru oedd bod cwsmeriaid yn cael trafferth gyda chostau byw. O ganlyniad i'r ffaith bod gan bobl lai o incwm gwario, dywedodd rhai busnesau fod pobl yn aros am lai o nosweithiau. Mae hyn yn naturiol yn achosi pryder i fusnesau sy'n gorfod bodloni'r trothwy deiliadaeth 182 diwrnod. A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cydnabod y bydd ffactorau sy'n aml y tu hwnt i reolaeth busnesau hunanddarpar yn effeithio ar niferoedd nosweithiau deiliadaeth? Ac er mwyn dangos cefnogaeth i'r diwydiant hanfodol hwn, a wnewch chi adolygu'r penderfyniad i ddynodi'r trothwy deiliadaeth isaf o 182 diwrnod?
Well, I've been looking very closely at the latest Office for National Statistics figures in relation to international passenger travel coming to Wales, and I'm really pleased to see that the figures from January to June 2024 were up 10 per cent on the previous year. So, I think that those things are moving in the right direction. And in-bound spend to Wales reached £203 million, so that was up 7 per cent on the previous year. So, I think that those figures are positive.
I also think that there's a lot that we do on behalf of the industry that the industry isn't necessarily sighted on, because a lot of it is about promoting Wales abroad. So, north Wales, for example, features really heavily in some work that we're doing with major online travel agents to ensure that north Wales is visible to consumers in the United States and Germany. We've even been working with a group called Marketing Manchester in the US, and, actually, that's about using Manchester as a gateway into north Wales. So, we're looking at taking every possible opportunity in terms of marketing Wales to the world.
I mean, I know that we have fundamental differences of opinion in relation to the 182 days, and I know that some colleagues have asked Welsh Government to review that. I think the view of the Welsh Government is very much that this is relatively new. We still don't know what the impact is because the Valuation Office Agency looks at occupancy rates on a two-year rolling programme, so we don't actually know what the impact has been just yet. And for that reason, the Cabinet Secretary for finance is really keen that the industry is focused on meeting the 182 days or considering what options are available, rather than considering what they might say in the event of a review of the 182 days, because he thinks that would be an unhelpful distraction from the work that's currently going on.
Wel, rwyf wedi bod yn edrych yn fanwl iawn ar ffigurau diweddaraf y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol mewn perthynas â theithio gan deithwyr rhyngwladol i Gymru, ac rwy'n falch iawn o weld bod y ffigurau rhwng mis Ionawr a mis Mehefin 2024 i fyny 10 y cant o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y pethau hyn yn symud i'r cyfeiriad cywir. A chyrhaeddodd gwariant i mewn i Gymru £203 miliwn, felly roedd hynny 7 y cant yn uwch o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y ffigurau hyn yn gadarnhaol.
Rwy'n credu hefyd fod yna lawer a wnawn ar ran y diwydiant nad yw'r diwydiant o reidrwydd yn ei ystyried, oherwydd mae llawer ohono'n ymwneud â hyrwyddo Cymru dramor. Felly, mae gogledd Cymru, er enghraifft, yn rhan fawr o'r gwaith a wnawn gydag asiantau teithio ar-lein mawr i sicrhau bod gogledd Cymru yn weladwy i ddefnyddwyr yn yr Unol Daleithiau a'r Almaen. Rydym hyd yn oed wedi bod yn gweithio gyda grŵp o'r enw Marketing Manchester yn yr Unol Daleithiau, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â defnyddio Manceinion fel porth i ogledd Cymru. Felly, rydym yn edrych ar fanteisio ar bob cyfle posibl i farchnata Cymru i'r byd.
Hynny yw, gwn fod ein barn yn wahanol iawn mewn perthynas â'r 182 diwrnod, a gwn fod rhai cyd-Aelodau wedi gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru adolygu hynny. Rwy'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn bendant o'r farn fod hyn yn gymharol newydd. Nid ydym yn gwybod eto beth yw'r effaith oherwydd mae Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio yn edrych ar gyfraddau deiliadaeth ar raglen dreigl dwy flynedd, felly nid ydym yn gwybod beth yw'r effaith hyd yma. Ac am y rheswm hwnnw, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid yn awyddus iawn i'r diwydiant ganolbwyntio ar gyrraedd y trothwy 182 diwrnod neu ystyried pa opsiynau sydd ar gael, yn hytrach nag ystyried yr hyn y byddent yn ei ddweud pe ceid adolygiad o'r 182 diwrnod, oherwydd mae'n credu y byddai hynny'n tynnu sylw oddi wrth y gwaith sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd.
7. Beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i wella cysylltedd band eang mewn cymunedau gwledig? OQ62479
7. What is the Government doing to improve broadband connectivity in rural communities? OQ62479
Responsibility for improving broadband rests with the UK Government. However, we have a strong track record of supporting rural communities to access fast, reliable broadband. Our most recent intervention brought full-fibre broadband to more than 44,000 premises and our grant scheme has provided a much-needed safety net.
Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am wella band eang. Fodd bynnag, mae gennym hanes cryf o gefnogi cymunedau gwledig i gael mynediad at fand eang cyflym a dibynadwy. Daeth ein hymyrraeth ddiweddaraf â band eang ffeibr llawn i fwy na 44,000 o adeiladau ac mae ein cynllun grant wedi darparu rhwyd ddiogelwch fawr ei hangen.
Diolch am yr ateb, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Wel, mi fyddwch chi, wrth gwrs, yn cofio storm Darragh ac effaith andwyol y storm honno ar nifer o'n cymunedau ni. Fe arweiniodd y storm at filoedd o aelwydydd a busnesau yn colli cysylltiadau ffôn a chysylltiadau â'r we. Yn eu plith oedd cymuned Llwyndyrys, a gollodd ei llinellau ffôn a Wi-Fi am dros dri diwrnod. Ers hynny, mae'r gymuned honno wedi adolygu'r isadeiledd ac wedi gweld bod y ceblau sydd yn rhedeg ar hyd polion mewn cyflwr bregus: maen nhw wedi cael eu pwytho drwy ganghennau'r coed ar ochr y ffordd. Y peryg ydy pan ddaw'r storm nesaf, y bydd y ceblau yma'n torri oherwydd y ffaith eu bod nhw wedi eu pwytho drwy ganghennau'r coed, ond yn amlwg, mae bron yn amhosibl mynd allan i drwsio cables yng nghanol storm. Felly, mi fyddai'n llawer gwell gwneud y gwaith diogelu a pharatoadol yma rhag blaen, ac mae hyn yn wir mewn cymunedau, wrth gwrs, ar draws Cymru. A wnewch chi, felly, siarad â Openreach i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gwneud y gwaith diogelu hwn dros yr haf er mwyn osgoi problemau pan ddaw'r tymor stormydd yn yr hydref?
Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. Well, you will, of course, remember storm Darragh and the detrimental impact of that storm on a number of our communities. The storm led to thousands of households and businesses losing phone connections and internet connections. Amongst them was Llwyndyrys, which lost its phone lines and Wi-Fi for over three days. Since then, that particular community has reviewed the infrastructure and has found that the cables that run along poles are in a very fragile state: they are woven through the branches of trees at the roadside. The danger is that when the next storm comes, these cables will break because of the fact that they are interwoven with tree branches, but, clearly, it's almost important to go out to fix the cables in the middle of a storm. So, it would be much better to do the safeguarding and preparatory work ahead of any storm, and that's true, of course, in communities across Wales. Will you, therefore, speak to Openreach to ensure that they are doing this safeguarding work over the summer months to avoid problems when the storm season comes in autumn?
Yes. It's a really important point in terms of readiness for future incidents of bad weather, so I'd be more than happy for my officials to have those discussions with Openreach in terms of what their plans are to make sure that they fix the roof while the sun is shining over the summer.
Gwnaf. Mae'n bwynt pwysig iawn ynghylch parodrwydd ar gyfer digwyddiadau tywydd garw yn y dyfodol, felly rwy'n fwy na pharod i fy swyddogion gael y trafodaethau hynny gydag Openreach ynglŷn â beth yw eu cynlluniau i sicrhau eu bod yn trwsio'r to tra bo'r haul yn tywynnu dros yr haf.
8. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i Faes Awyr Caerdydd? OQ62474
8. What support is the Welsh Government making available to Cardiff Airport? OQ62474
The most recent support the Welsh Government provided to Cardiff Airport was £42.6 million in rescue and restructuring grant funding, awarded in March 2021. The airport has now claimed the grant in full. Details of our investment in the airport to date can be found on the Welsh Government website.
Y cymorth diweddaraf a roddodd Llywodraeth Cymru i Faes Awyr Caerdydd oedd £42.6 miliwn mewn cyllid grant achub ac ailstrwythuro, a ddyfarnwyd ym mis Mawrth 2021. Mae'r maes awyr bellach wedi hawlio'r grant yn llawn. Mae manylion am ein buddsoddiad yn y maes awyr hyd yma i'w gweld ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I think we all know that there is potential for Cardiff Airport, but it's hardly the jewel in the crown yet. It hasn't seemed to improve much since it was acquired by your Government in 2013. But last summer, the Welsh Government announced a funding package of £205 million over the next decade for the airport, much to the concern of the likes of Bristol Airport and Birmingham and other airports, due to the damage that could happen to them. Now, whilst positive investment has to be welcomed, I think there's a valid concern as to where the money has come from. And I know that representations have been made to the Competition and Markets Authority, leading to many strong observations from the subsidy advice unit. Now, clearly, the private sector should be utilised to attract greater investment and growth to the airport, which would, in turn, free up more taxpayers' money to be spent on other areas in Wales that desperately need it. So, Cabinet Secretary, at a time when Government finances are already stretched, can I ask what steps are being taken by the Welsh Government to source outside private investment before such huge amounts of public money are funnelled into the airport once again?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwy'n credu ein bod i gyd yn gwybod bod potensial i Faes Awyr Caerdydd, ond go brin y gellid ei ystyried yn drysor eto. Nid yw'n ymddangos ei fod wedi gwella llawer ers iddo gael ei brynu gan eich Llywodraeth yn 2013. Ond yr haf diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru becyn cyllido o £205 miliwn dros y degawd nesaf ar gyfer y maes awyr, er mawr bryder i bobl fel Maes Awyr Bryste a Birmingham a meysydd awyr eraill, oherwydd y niwed a allai ddigwydd iddynt hwy. Nawr, er bod yn rhaid croesawu buddsoddiad cadarnhaol, rwy'n credu bod pryder dilys ynglŷn ag o ble y daw'r arian. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod sylwadau wedi'u gwneud i'r Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd, gan arwain at lawer o sylwadau cryf gan yr uned cyngor ar gymorthdaliadau. Nawr, yn amlwg, dylid defnyddio'r sector preifat i ddenu mwy o fuddsoddiad a thwf i'r maes awyr, a fyddai, yn ei dro, yn rhyddhau mwy o arian trethdalwyr i'w wario ar ardaloedd eraill yng Nghymru sydd ei angen yn daer. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ar adeg pan fo cyllid y Llywodraeth eisoes dan bwysau, a gaf i ofyn pa gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddod o hyd i fuddsoddiad preifat o'r tu allan cyn i symiau mor enfawr o arian cyhoeddus gael eu tywallt i mewn i'r maes awyr unwaith eto?
Well, I'm grateful for the question. The Competition and Markets Authority assessment of our proposed long-term investment in Cardiff Airport was published on 2 October. Colleagues will recall that I issued a written statement in response to that. So, I'm not going to be able to comment any more this afternoon because, as I set out in that written statement, we are taking the time that we need to give full consideration to the assessment of the CMA, and we remain open to refining our proposed programme of investment on the basis of that assessment, but I'm really keen to update colleagues as soon as we are able to, once we have decided on the best way forward.
Wel, rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cwestiwn. Cyhoeddwyd asesiad yr Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd o'n buddsoddiad hirdymor arfaethedig ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd ar 2 Hydref. Bydd cyd-Aelodau'n cofio fy mod wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig mewn ymateb i hynny. Felly, nid wyf yn mynd i allu gwneud sylwadau pellach y prynhawn yma oherwydd, fel y nodais yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig hwnnw, rydym yn cymryd yr amser sydd ei angen arnom i roi ystyriaeth lawn i asesiad yr Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd, ac rydym yn parhau i fod yn agored i fireinio ein rhaglen fuddsoddi arfaethedig ar sail yr asesiad hwnnw, ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i gyd-Aelodau cyn gynted ag y gallwn, pan fyddwn wedi penderfynu ar y ffordd orau ymlaen.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf bydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol. Cwestiwn cyntaf: Alun Davies.
The next item will be the questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. The first question is from Alun Davies.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar effaith y contract meddygaeth deulu newydd ar wasanaethau iechyd sylfaenol ym Mlaenau Gwent? OQ62471
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact of the new GP contract on primary health services in Blaenau Gwent? OQ62471
The general medical services contract agreement, which I announced in January and which will apply in Blaenau Gwent as elsewhere, has resulted in investment by the Welsh Government of over £52 million into GP services this year, which is the single biggest annual investment since the pandemic.
Mae cytundeb y contract gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol, a gyhoeddais ym mis Ionawr ac a fydd yn berthnasol ym Mlaenau Gwent fel mewn mannau eraill, wedi arwain at fuddsoddiad o dros £52 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn gwasanaethau meddygon teulu eleni, sef y buddsoddiad blynyddol mwyaf ers y pandemig.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for that response, and very much welcome both the new contract and the investment that the Welsh Government is making in primary healthcare services. But one of the more shocking aspects of the recent eHarley Street fiasco was the fact that both the Welsh Government and the health board made the point that, despite all of the service failures we'd seen with eHarley Street, the contract hadn't been breached. Now, that tells me not that eHarley Street were delivering good services, because we know they weren't, but that the contract isn't fit for purpose.
So, my question to you this afternoon, Cabinet Secretary, is twofold. First of all, can we ensure that the contract is fit for purpose and does guarantee basic primary care services for everybody who's a patient at a particular practice and in a particular area? But, secondly, it also tells me that the model that we've relied upon since Aneurin Bevan established the national health service, the independent practitioner, is no longer fit for purpose itself. It can no longer guarantee comprehensive access to primary care services across the face of the country, and that's been my experience the whole time I've been a Member here. So, will the Welsh Government look at those two aspects of the contract? First of all, guaranteeing minimum services to ensure that where we do have service failure, as we saw with eHarley Street, that that can be demonstrated, a breach of contract. And secondly, to look at a new model for primary care, so where the independent practitioner service doesn't exist or doesn't deliver the care we need, that there is an option with the Welsh Government and health boards to actually deliver primary care in a different way.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am yr ymateb hwnnw, ac yn croesawu'n fawr y contract newydd a'r buddsoddiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud mewn gwasanaethau gofal iechyd sylfaenol. Ond un o'r agweddau mwyaf syfrdanol ar ffiasgo eHarley Street yn ddiweddar oedd y ffaith i Lywodraeth Cymru a'r bwrdd iechyd wneud y pwynt, er gwaethaf yr holl fethiannau gwasanaeth a welsom gydag eHarley Street, nad oedd y contract wedi'i dorri. Nawr, nid yw hynny'n dweud wrthyf fod eHarley Street yn darparu gwasanaethau da, oherwydd fe wyddom nad oeddent, ond yn hytrach, nad yw'r contract yn addas i'r diben.
Felly, mae fy nghwestiwn i chi y prynhawn yma, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn ddeublyg. Yn gyntaf oll, a allwn ni sicrhau bod y contract yn addas i'r diben ac yn gwarantu gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol i bawb sy'n glaf mewn practis penodol ac mewn ardal benodol? Ond yn ail, mae hefyd yn dweud wrthyf nad yw'r model yr ydym wedi dibynnu arno ers i Aneurin Bevan sefydlu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, yr ymarferydd annibynnol, bellach yn addas i'r diben ei hun. Ni all warantu mynediad cynhwysfawr at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol ledled y wlad mwyach, a dyna fu fy mhrofiad ers imi fod yn Aelod yma. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru edrych ar y ddwy agwedd hynny ar y contract? Yn gyntaf oll, gwarantu isafswm o wasanaethau i sicrhau, lle mae gennym wasanaeth sy'n methu, fel y gwelsom gydag eHarley Street, y gellir dangos bod y contract wedi'i dorri. Ac yn ail, edrych ar fodel newydd ar gyfer gofal sylfaenol, fel bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru a byrddau iechyd opsiwn, lle nad yw'r gwasanaeth ymarferwyr annibynnol yn bodoli neu lle nad yw'n darparu'r gofal sydd ei angen arnom, i allu darparu gofal sylfaenol mewn ffordd wahanol.
Well, I'm grateful to the Member for raising these matters in the Chamber, as he has with me previously and outside the Chamber as well. I hope I can give him some assurance in my answer today. He knows, obviously, that health boards are responsible for managing the GMS contract with their practices, but the Welsh Government's role is, alongside that, to make sure the contract delivers what we want it to do.
Two years ago, we introduced a unified contract, as he will know, and alongside that a contract assurance framework to guide health boards in how they manage those contracts. And, to be clear, I expect a thorough process of due diligence to be carried out, and obviously for health boards to monitor the provision of those services through those established procedures. There are mandatory standards around the expectations of practices in place, but I have asked officials to look at the generally used contract processes, and that contract assurance framework that we put in place in 2023 to guide health boards in managing those contracts, to ensure that health boards have the levers they need to ensure the quality of the service that we want provided by practices. I don't want any unintended consequences from the way that the regulations are written, and I would want any areas that we might need to revisit in light of this experience to be looked at as soon as possible.
Wel, rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelod am godi'r materion hyn yn y Siambr, fel y mae wedi'i wneud gyda mi o'r blaen a'r tu allan i'r Siambr hefyd. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallaf roi rhywfaint o sicrwydd iddo yn fy ateb heddiw. Mae'n gwybod, yn amlwg, mai byrddau iechyd sy'n gyfrifol am reoli'r contract gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol gyda'u practisau, ond rôl Llywodraeth Cymru, ochr yn ochr â hynny, yw sicrhau bod y contract yn cyflawni'r hyn rydym eisiau iddo ei wneud.
Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, fe wnaethom gyflwyno contract unedig, fel y bydd yn gwybod, ac ochr yn ochr â hynny fframwaith sicrwydd contract i fod yn arweiniad i fyrddau iechyd ar sut y dylent reoli'r contractau hynny. Ac i fod yn glir, rwy'n disgwyl i broses drylwyr o ddiwydrwydd dyladwy gael ei chynnal, ac yn amlwg, i fyrddau iechyd fonitro darpariaeth y gwasanaethau hynny drwy'r gweithdrefnau sefydledig. Mae safonau gorfodol ynghylch disgwyliadau ymarfer ar waith, ond rwyf wedi gofyn i swyddogion edrych ar y prosesau contract a ddefnyddir yn gyffredinol, a'r fframwaith sicrwydd contract a roddwyd ar waith gennym yn 2023 i fod yn arweiniad i fyrddau iechyd ar broses reoli'r contractau hynny, er mwyn sicrhau bod gan fyrddau iechyd y dulliau sydd eu hangen arnynt i sicrhau ansawdd y gwasanaeth rydym am weld practisau'n ei ddarparu. Nid wyf am weld unrhyw ganlyniadau anfwriadol o'r ffordd y mae'r rheoliadau wedi'u hysgrifennu, a byddwn am edrych ar unrhyw feysydd y gallai fod angen inni ailedrych arnynt yng ngoleuni'r profiad hwn cyn gynted â phosibl.
Cabinet Secretary, it's very good news that the new GP contract has the support of GPs, but may I reiterate the concerns that the Member for Blaenau Gwent has already outlined? I would also say: the original contract was overwhelmingly rejected by GPs back in December, after that negotiation resumed and a new contract was brought forward, the British Medical Association says that it doubled the initial investment provided in the original offer. These contracts have a huge impact on primary care provision and retention and recruitment in Blaenau Gwent, but, for some reason, the Government held back half the investment that they could have given back in December, until GPs rejected that initial offering. I'm just wondering: why is that?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'n newyddion da iawn fod meddygon teulu'n cefnogi'r contract meddygon teulu newydd, ond a gaf i ailadrodd y pryderon y mae'r Aelod dros Flaenau Gwent eisoes wedi'u hamlinellu? Byddwn hefyd yn dweud: cafodd y contract gwreiddiol ei wrthod yn bendant gan feddygon teulu yn ôl ym mis Rhagfyr, ac ar ôl i'r negodi ailddechrau ac wedi i gontract newydd gael ei gyflwyno, mae Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain yn dweud ei fod wedi dyblu'r buddsoddiad cychwynnol a ddarparwyd yn y cynnig gwreiddiol. Mae'r contractau hyn yn cael effaith enfawr ar ddarpariaeth gofal sylfaenol a chadw a recriwtio ym Mlaenau Gwent, ond am ryw reswm, fe wnaeth y Llywodraeth ddal hanner y buddsoddiad y gallent fod wedi'i roi ym mis Rhagfyr yn ôl, nes i feddygon teulu wrthod y cynnig cychwynnol hwnnw. Pam y digwyddodd hynny?
The Member will recall that we had the election of a Government in Westminster more inclined to invest in public services. It's a simple matter of mathematics, I'm afraid, which should be obvious to the Member. And so, with that additional funding, we were able to bring further funding to the negotiation. But in addition to that funding, we were also able to negotiate with the BMA additional things that GPs would be able to deliver for us in return for that funding. So, one of the key things that we've been able to agree relates to the NHS app, so we can speed up the roll-out of an app, which will help patients, but also will end up helping GP practices as well.
So, I'm really pleased that we were able to find a way of resolving the discussions with GPs in a way that works both for Government, but for patients, critically, and for general practitioners. And one of the opportunities that we have in the months ahead, which answers the second point that Alun Davies put to me, is how we can work with GPs to develop a model across clusters that is more resilient, that has more secure foundations, so that we can provide more services in a community setting, which will benefit patients in not having to travel to hospital for diagnostics and so on, but will also benefit GP practices as well.
Bydd yr Aelod yn cofio ein bod wedi ethol Llywodraeth yn San Steffan a oedd yn fwy tueddol o fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae'n fater syml o fathemateg, mae arnaf ofn, a ddylai fod yn amlwg i'r Aelod. Ac felly, gyda'r cyllid ychwanegol hwnnw, gallem ddod ag arian pellach i'r negodi. Ond yn ogystal â'r cyllid hwnnw, gallem hefyd drafod pethau ychwanegol gyda Chymdeithas Feddygol Prydain y byddai meddygon teulu yn gallu eu cyflawni ar ein rhan yn gyfnewid am y cyllid hwnnw. Felly, mae un o'r pethau allweddol y gallasom gytuno arnynt yn ymwneud ag ap y GIG, fel y gallwn gyflymu'r broses o gyflwyno ap, a fydd yn helpu cleifion, ond a fydd hefyd yn helpu practisau meddygon teulu hefyd.
Felly, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu dod o hyd i ffordd o ddatrys y trafodaethau gyda meddygon teulu mewn ffordd sy'n gweithio i'r Llywodraeth, ond i gleifion, yn allweddol, ac i feddygon teulu. Ac un o'r cyfleoedd a gawn yn y misoedd i ddod, sy'n ateb yr ail bwynt a roddodd Alun Davies i mi, yw sut y gallwn weithio gyda meddygon teulu i ddatblygu model ar draws clystyrau sy'n fwy gwydn, ag iddo sylfeini mwy diogel, fel y gallwn ddarparu mwy o wasanaethau mewn lleoliad cymunedol, a fydd o fudd i gleifion am na fydd yn rhaid iddynt deithio i'r ysbyty ar gyfer diagnosteg ac yn y blaen, ond a fydd hefyd o fudd i bractisau meddygon teulu hefyd.
I wanted to ask you some similar questions to what Alun had asked about failures in GPs contracts locally that were highlighted by that fiasco. The private company, eHarley Street, may have given up the contracts for a number of GP practices in Blaenau Gwent, and indeed the Rhymney valley, but patients are still left in limbo. We know of some practices where the health board will be taking over the management of services from 1 April—that effects Bryntirion in Bargoed, for example—but at others enhanced monitoring is apparently going on. Patients though are still finding it difficult to get appointments, staff aren't getting the support they need, and many doctors, who were left being owed thousands of pounds by the company for shifts that they were never paid for, are still awaiting their money.
So, what discussions are you having, please, with the health board to ensure the necessary support is put in place to solve all of those issues, because this has been dragging on for such a long time? Even though it's not attracting the headlines anymore, it is still affecting people's lives.
Roeddwn eisiau gofyn cwestiynau tebyg i'r hyn a ofynnodd Alun am fethiannau mewn contractau meddygon teulu yn lleol a amlygwyd gan y ffiasgo hwnnw. Efallai fod y cwmni preifat, eHarley Street, wedi dychwelyd y contractau ar gyfer nifer o feddygfeydd ym Mlaenau Gwent, ac yng nghwm Rhymni yn wir, ond mae cleifion yn dal i gael eu gadael mewn limbo. Gwyddom am rai practisau lle bydd y bwrdd iechyd yn cymryd rheolaeth ar wasanaethau o 1 Ebrill—mae hynny'n effeithio ar wasanaeth Bryntirion ym Margoed, er enghraifft—ond mewn mewn eraill mae'n debyg fod monitro gwell yn digwydd. Er bod cleifion yn dal i'w chael hi'n anodd cael apwyntiadau, nid yw staff yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt, ac mae llawer o feddygon, y mae miloedd o bunnoedd yn ddyledus iddynt gan y cwmni am shifftiau na chawsant eu talu amdanynt, yn dal i aros am eu harian.
Felly, pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael, os gwelwch yn dda, gyda'r bwrdd iechyd i sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth angenrheidiol yn cael ei rhoi ar waith i ddatrys yr holl faterion hynny, oherwydd mae hyn wedi bod yn llusgo yn ei flaen ers amser hir? Er nad yw'n denu'r penawdau mwyach, mae'n dal i effeithio ar fywydau pobl.
That work, as I have reported on previously in the Chamber, is work that is subject to continuous ongoing monitoring now between the health board and the practices. As of 1 March, Brynmawr, Aberbeeg and Blaenavon medical practices are now being directly managed by the health board, and as the Member correctly says, from 1 April, that will apply to Bryntirion and Tredegar medical practice as well. Where there are matters that still require resolution, those will need to be pursued in the way they are currently by the health board.
Fel yr adroddais yn flaenorol yn y Siambr, mae hwnnw'n waith sy'n destun monitro parhaus nawr rhwng y bwrdd iechyd a'r practisau. O 1 Mawrth, mae meddygfeydd Bryn-mawr, Aber-bîg a Blaenafon bellach yn cael eu rheoli'n uniongyrchol gan y bwrdd iechyd, ac fel y dywed yr Aelod yn gywir, o 1 Ebrill, bydd hynny'n digwydd yn achos meddygfa Bryntirion a Thredegar hefyd. Lle mae materion sydd angen eu datrys o hyd, bydd angen mynd ar drywydd y rheini yn y ffordd y mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd.
2. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r effaith y bydd y system newydd ar gyfer ymateb i argyfwng yn ei chael ar ofal strôc? OQ62467
2. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact the new system for emergency response will have on stroke care? OQ62467
One of the reasons for the change in our performance framework is that the existing approach is encouraging a use of resources that doesn't work equitably. The changes to be delivered by the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are intended to improve experience and outcomes for all service users, including those with stroke symptoms.
Un o'r rhesymau dros y newid yn ein fframwaith perfformiad yw bod y dull presennol yn annog defnydd o adnoddau nad ydynt yn gweithio mewn modd cyfartal. Bwriad y newidiadau sydd i'w cyflawni gan Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Prifysgol Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru yw gwella profiad a chanlyniadau i bob defnyddiwr gwasanaeth, gan gynnwys y rhai sydd â symptomau strôc.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. We already know that stroke patients are at a disadvantage in getting emergency treatment. The research shows that patients wait on average an hour and a half between the first onset of symptoms and dialling 999. After an ambulance is requested, it can take many hours for an emergency response to arrive. While every stroke is different, recovery depends on early intervention. Without early care, the likelihood of lifelong disabilities increases. Not only does this have a huge impact on the individual and their families, but it also means that the NHS has to provide long-term support. From a purely financial point of view, it makes sense to provide early intervention, to say nothing of the moral and ethical imperatives. Cabinet Secretary, what consideration have you given to the creation of specialist stroke first responders in order to provide care while waiting for an ambulance?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod bod cleifion strôc dan anfantais wrth gael triniaeth frys. Mae'r ymchwil yn dangos bod cleifion yn aros awr a hanner ar gyfartaledd rhwng dechrau symptomau a deialu 999. Ar ôl gofyn am ambiwlans, gall gymryd oriau lawer i ymateb brys gyrraedd. Er bod pob strôc yn wahanol, mae adferiad yn dibynnu ar ymyrraeth gynnar. Heb ofal cynnar, mae'r tebygolrwydd o anableddau gydol oes yn cynyddu. Mae hyn nid yn unig yn cael effaith enfawr ar yr unigolyn a'u teuluoedd, mae hefyd yn golygu bod yn rhaid i'r GIG ddarparu cymorth hirdymor. O safbwynt ariannol pur, mae'n gwneud synnwyr i ddarparu ymyrraeth gynnar, heb sôn am y rheidrwydd moesol a moesegol. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa ystyriaeth a roddwyd gennych i greu ymatebwyr cyntaf arbenigol ar gyfer strôc i ddarparu gofal wrth aros am ambiwlans?
Thank you, Altaf Hussain, for that question. As he may recall from the discussion we had in the Chamber last week, under the current arrangements around 34 per cent of those people in the red calls who have breathing difficulties end up not being transported to hospital, whereas we know people in stroke absolutely do need specialist care in the way that he was alluding. So, that is actually very much at the heart of the changes that have been introduced. The group of clinicians and system leaders who helped formulate that new approach as part of the review took evidence both from the national clinical lead for stroke and the Stroke Association, to help shape the context for their discussions. He will maybe recall that, in my statement last week on the changes that are coming in in July for the red category, I said that I've asked for a rapid review of the amber category as well, over the course of the next two months, so before the new clinical model comes into place, so that the conclusions of that review, which will affect stroke patients and those suffering from suspected stroke, can be taken into account in advance of the new clinical model, which is due to come into place later this year.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Altaf Hussain. Fel y bydd efallai'n ei gofio o’r drafodaeth a gawsom yn y Siambr yr wythnos diwethaf, o dan y trefniadau presennol, nid yw oddeutu 34 y cant o’r bobl yn y galwadau coch sydd ag anawsterau anadlu yn cael eu cludo i’r ysbyty yn y pen draw, ond gwyddom fod gwir angen gofal arbenigol ar bobl sy’n cael strôc yn y ffordd a nododd. Felly, mae hynny'n ganolog yn y newidiadau sydd wedi'u cyflwyno. Rhoddwyd tystiolaeth gan yr arweinydd clinigol cenedlaethol ar gyfer strôc a’r Gymdeithas Strôc i'r grŵp o glinigwyr ac arweinwyr systemau a gynorthwyodd i lunio’r dull newydd hwnnw fel rhan o’r adolygiad i helpu i lunio’r cyd-destun ar gyfer eu trafodaethau. Efallai y bydd yn cofio, yn fy natganiad yr wythnos diwethaf ar y newidiadau a fydd yn cael eu cyflwyno ym mis Gorffennaf ar gyfer y categori coch, imi ddweud fy mod wedi gofyn am adolygiad cyflym o’r categori oren hefyd, dros y deufis nesaf, felly cyn i’r model clinigol newydd ddod i rym, fel y gellir ystyried casgliadau’r adolygiad hwnnw, a fydd yn effeithio ar gleifion strôc a’r rhai yr amheuir eu bod wedi cael strôc, cyn i’r model clinigol newydd ddod i rym yn nes ymlaen eleni.
Cwestiynau yn awr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Yn gyntaf, llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Joel James.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. First of all, the Welsh Conservatives spokesperson, Joel James.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, as you will know, studies have shown alarming rates of stress, depression and anxiety amongst the farming community. You will be well aware that, as a profession, it has some of the highest suicide rates in the country. It is an often brutal job, fuelled by isolation, long hours and harsh working conditions. Yet not only do our farmers have to contend with these conditions, they also have to deal with the almost never-ending conveyor belt of anti-rural and anti-farming legislation coming from your Labour Government. Not only has the Welsh Government cut the rural affairs budget by over 30 per cent in real terms, then doubled down on this with further cash cuts to the tune of £37.5 million, it has also taken away the ability of farmers to manage their land properly, has tried to blackmail them into giving up their land in return for financial subsidies, and you now fully support the UK Government's ruthless changes to agricultural property relief. I would argue that the Labour Party, both here in the Senedd and at Westminster, are fuelling the mental health crisis that is affecting the farming community. So, Minister, when will the Labour Party realise that pushing farmers to the brink of financial ruin and their own mental health collapse is not only going against your own legislation for improved health and well-being for future generations, but it's also risking the collapse of the rural economy and our food security? Thank you.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Llywydd. Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, mae astudiaethau wedi dangos cyfraddau brawychus o straen, iselder a gorbryder ymhlith y gymuned ffermio. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol iawn, fel proffesiwn, fod ganddo rai o’r cyfraddau hunanladdiad uchaf yn y wlad. Mae'n swydd sy'n aml yn greulon, sy'n llawn ynysigrwydd, oriau hir ac amodau gwaith caled. Ac eto, nid yn unig fod yn rhaid i’n ffermwyr ymdopi â’r amodau hyn, mae’n rhaid iddynt hefyd ymdopi â’r cludfelt bron yn ddiddiwedd o ddeddfwriaeth wrth-wledig a gwrth-ffermio gan eich Llywodraeth Lafur. Nid yn unig fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi torri dros 30 y cant ar y gyllideb materion gwledig mewn termau real, ac yna wedi ychwanegu at hyn gyda gwerth £37.5 miliwn o doriadau pellach, mae hefyd wedi cael gwared ar allu ffermwyr i reoli eu tir yn briodol, wedi ceisio eu blacmelio i ildio’u tir yn gyfnewid am gymorthdaliadau ariannol, ac rydych bellach yn llwyr gefnogi newidiadau didostur Llywodraeth y DU i ryddhad eiddo amaethyddol. Byddwn yn dadlau bod y Blaid Lafur, yma yn y Senedd ac yn San Steffan, yn hybu’r argyfwng iechyd meddwl sy’n effeithio ar y gymuned ffermio. Felly, Weinidog, pryd y bydd y Blaid Lafur yn sylweddoli bod gwthio ffermwyr at ymyl dinistr ariannol a dirywiad eu hiechyd meddwl eu hunain nid yn unig yn mynd yn groes i’ch deddfwriaeth eich hun ar gyfer gwella iechyd a llesiant i genedlaethau’r dyfodol, ond hefyd yn mentro chwalu'r economi wledig a’n diogeledd bwyd? Diolch.
Thank you very much, Joel James, for that very comprehensive question, covering many parts of different portfolios. But when it comes to my own portfolio, as the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, I want to say to all farmers out there that improving mental health and well-being continues to be a priority for the Welsh Government. We know that farmers face many challenges, including, as you mentioned, the uncertainty, isolation and loneliness, which can have a detrimental impact on their mental well-being. I met with many charities who are working in this space and receive funding from the Welsh Government at the Royal Welsh Show last year, and I intend to do the same again this year. It's very important, as it is with every part of my portfolio, to listen to people who have lived experience.
It is also essential that we do all we can to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining mental health, and physical health as well, supporting the help available and how to reach it. And I strongly encourage anyone experiencing stress or mental health issues to ask for help. The Welsh Government supports several important activities to aid mental health in rural communities, and this includes the Wales farm support group, which brings together farming charities to share knowledge and expertise.
Diolch, Joel James, am eich cwestiwn cynhwysfawr iawn, sy’n cwmpasu sawl rhan o sawl portffolio gwahanol. Ond o ran fy mhortffolio fy hun, fel y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, rwyf am ddweud wrth bob ffermwr fod gwella iechyd meddwl a llesiant yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Gwyddom fod ffermwyr yn wynebu llawer o heriau, gan gynnwys, fel y dywedoch chi, yr ansicrwydd, yr ynysigrwydd a’r unigrwydd, a all gael effaith andwyol ar eu lles meddyliol. Cyfarfûm â llawer o elusennau sy’n gweithio yn y maes hwn ac sy’n cael cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn Sioe Frenhinol Cymru y llynedd, ac rwy’n bwriadu gwneud yr un peth eto eleni. Fel gyda phob rhan o fy mhortffolio, mae'n bwysig iawn gwrando ar bobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd.
Mae hefyd yn hanfodol ein bod yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o bwysigrwydd cynnal iechyd meddwl, ac iechyd corfforol hefyd, gan gefnogi'r cymorth sydd ar gael a sut i gael mynediad ato. Ac rwy’n annog yn gryf unrhyw un sy’n wynebu straen neu broblemau iechyd meddwl i ofyn am gymorth. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi sawl gweithgaredd pwysig i gynorthwyo iechyd meddwl mewn cymunedau gwledig, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys grŵp cymorth ffermydd Cymru, sy’n dod ag elusennau ffermio ynghyd i rannu gwybodaeth ac arbenigedd.
Thank you, Minister. The tourism industry in Wales is extremely worried about the recent changes the Welsh Government have made with the introduction of a tourist tax. Although it may be considered by supporters to be a relatively small amount, actually it has a huge negative impact. It turns away potential customers, and it also makes it difficult for businesses to plan for the future, because they simply don't know how customers will react. The arbitrary 182-day minimum for self-catering letting is also a huge worry.
A recent survey by the Professional Association of Self Caterers has shown that 95 per cent of self-catering property owners now feel considerably more stressed about the profitability of their business in the future, and only 26 per cent of operators in Wales feel that they will hit the 182-day threshold this year. Reports from PASC regarding the mental health of operators makes for some difficult reading. Instead of business owners enjoying a happy and productive life, they are now suffering nervous breakdowns, living with constant worry about their bills, and they live with a blanket of anxiety and depression constantly over them, as they fear losing their businesses.
Minister, the Labour Party are directly responsible for this arbitrary 182-day minimum let target, and directly responsible for the detrimental health impact it is having on operators. What are you going to do about it?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae’r diwydiant twristiaeth yng Nghymru yn bryderus iawn am y newidiadau diweddar y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u gwneud gyda chyflwyno treth dwristiaeth. Er bod ei chefnogwyr o bosibl yn credu ei fod yn swm cymharol, mae iddi effaith negyddol enfawr. Mae’n troi darpar gwsmeriaid ymaith, ac mae hefyd yn ei gwneud yn anodd i fusnesau gynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol, oherwydd yn syml iawn, nid ydynt yn gwybod sut y bydd cwsmeriaid yn ymateb. Mae'r rheol fympwyol o 182 diwrnod ar gyfer llety hunanddarpar hefyd yn peri pryder enfawr.
Mae arolwg diweddar gan Gymdeithas Broffesiynol Hunanddarparwyr y DU wedi dangos bod 95 y cant o berchnogion llety hunanddarpar bellach yn teimlo cryn dipyn yn fwy o straen ynghylch proffidioldeb eu busnes yn y dyfodol, a dim ond 26 y cant o weithredwyr yng Nghymru sy’n teimlo y byddant yn cyrraedd y trothwy 182 diwrnod eleni. Mae adroddiadau gan Gymdeithas Broffesiynol Hunanddarparwyr y DU ynghylch iechyd meddwl gweithredwyr hefyd yn peri cryn bryder. Yn hytrach na bod perchnogion busnes yn mwynhau bywyd hapus a chynhyrchiol, maent bellach yn cael chwalfa nerfol, yn byw gyda phryder cyson am eu biliau, ac yn byw gyda blanced o orbryder ac iselder drostynt, am eu bod yn ofni colli eu busnesau.
Weinidog, y Blaid Lafur sy'n uniongyrchol gyfrifol am y lleiafswm mympwyol hwn o 182 diwrnod, ac sy'n uniongyrchol gyfrifol am yr effaith andwyol y mae’n ei chael ar iechyd gweithredwyr. Beth y bwriadwch ei wneud yn ei gylch?
Well, again, this is not my portfolio, the tourism levy. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to answer directly to that, other than to say, as I do with every policy that we introduce across the Welsh Government, that we do thorough consultations with our stakeholders, with people with lived experience, and that we take into account what people say. I would also say that, once again, we are absolutely committed to supporting people’s mental health and well-being across Wales. If anybody is in distress, please reach out to the services that are available.
I would also just like to mention something that is important to my portfolio, which is that we have two mental health strategies that are coming out in the next few months. The first one is going to be the suicide prevention and self-harm strategy. The crux of that, and the most important fundamental part of that, is the understanding and listening to people. Actually, this is something that’s very important to those parts of the rural community that you’re referring to. Then we’ll also have the mental health and well-being strategy, which is going to make it much easier for people to have that single-session conversation with somebody exactly when they need it.
So, these are the things that Welsh Labour, myself and the Welsh Government are focusing on to improve people’s access to the mental health support that they need when they need it.
Wel, unwaith eto, nid yw hyn yn fy mhortffolio i, yr ardoll dwristiaeth. Yn anffodus, ni fyddwn yn gallu ateb hynny'n uniongyrchol, oni bai am ddweud, fel y gwnaf gyda phob polisi a gyflwynwn ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, ein bod yn cynnal ymgynghoriadau trylwyr gyda’n rhanddeiliaid, gyda phobl â phrofiadau bywyd, a’n bod yn ystyried yr hyn y mae pobl yn ei ddweud. Byddwn hefyd yn dweud ein bod, unwaith eto, wedi llwyr ymrwymo i gefnogi iechyd meddwl a llesiant pobl ledled Cymru. Os oes unrhyw un mewn trallod, cysylltwch â'r gwasanaethau sydd ar gael.
Hefyd, hoffwn grybwyll rhywbeth sy’n bwysig i fy mhortffolio i, sef y ffaith y byddwn yn cyhoeddi dwy strategaeth iechyd meddwl yn yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf. Y gyntaf fydd y strategaeth atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio. Yr hyn sydd wrth wraidd hynny, a’r rhan allweddol bwysicaf o hynny, yw deall a gwrando ar bobl. A dweud y gwir, mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n bwysig iawn i'r rhannau hynny o'r gymuned wledig y cyfeiriwch atynt. Wedyn hefyd bydd gennym y strategaeth iechyd meddwl a lles, sy’n mynd i’w gwneud yn llawer haws i bobl gael y sgwrs un sesiwn honno gyda rhywun pan fydd ei hangen arnynt.
Felly, dyma'r pethau y mae Llafur Cymru, Llywodraeth Cymru a minnau'n canolbwyntio arnynt i wella mynediad pobl at y cymorth iechyd meddwl sydd ei angen arnynt pan fydd ei angen arnynt.
Thank you, Minister. Hopefully you'll be able to answer my next question. As you know, Wes Streeting, Labour’s health Secretary at Westminster, believes that mental health conditions have been overdiagnosed. Do you agree with this, or will you join me in condemning such ignorant remarks?
Diolch, Weinidog. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch ateb fy nghwestiwn nesaf. Fel y gwyddoch, mae Wes Streeting, Ysgrifennydd iechyd Llafur yn San Steffan, yn credu bod cyflyrau iechyd meddwl wedi cael eu gorddiagnosio. A ydych yn cytuno â hyn, neu a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i gondemnio sylwadau mor anwybodus?
Another political hit here, Joel, but I will answer it. I think that there's a huge awareness growing around mental health issues. I think that people need the support and the listening when they need it—no wrong door. I will also say, though, that I listen to many people, as I've already mentioned multiple times, who have lived experience. It's not always helpful to have a diagnosis and a label, and I think that when you see my mental health strategies, you'll see that that's very clearly come through in the co-production and the working across Government that we have done on this.
Ultimately, people just want to be able to see somebody when they want to see them, and it's not necessarily about the diagnosis. I don't think that people are being overdiagnosed with mental health conditions; I just think that people need more support, and I think that when they go and see somebody, they don't want to be put on a waiting list to have a conversation with somebody—they need that initial conversation and then to be signposted. I think that mental health can be very complex, but I also think it's a life-course approach—as we do with many of our policies across the Welsh Government. I think it's really important that we accept that you can have issues with your mental health and that you can recover, you can have issues with your physical health and you can recover, and both of them are often intertwined. So, that's what I would say in response to your question directly. Diolch yn fawr.
Ergyd wleidyddol arall yma, Joel, ond fe’i hatebaf. Rwy'n credu bod ymwybyddiaeth enfawr yn tyfu ynghylch materion iechyd meddwl. Rwy'n credu bod pobl angen cymorth a chlust i wrando pan fydd ei hangen arnynt—dim drws anghywir. Fe ddywedaf hefyd, serch hynny, fy mod yn gwrando ar lawer o bobl, fel y dywedais sawl gwaith eisoes, sydd â phrofiad bywyd. Nid yw bob amser yn ddefnyddiol cael diagnosis a label, a phan welwch fy strategaethau iechyd meddwl, fe welwch fod hynny'n amlwg iawn yn y cydgynhyrchu a'r gwaith trawslywodraethol a wnaethom ar hyn.
Yn y pen draw, mae pobl eisiau gweld rhywun pan fydd arnynt eisiau eu gweld, ac nid yw'n ymwneud o reidrwydd â'r diagnosis. Ni chredaf fod pobl yn cael eu gorddiagnosio â chyflyrau iechyd meddwl, dim ond fod angen mwy o gymorth ar bobl, a phan fyddant yn mynd i weld rhywun, nid wyf yn credu eu bod am gael eu rhoi ar restr aros i gael sgwrs â rhywun—mae angen y sgwrs gychwynnol honno arnynt, ac yna eu cyfeirio. Rwy'n credu y gall iechyd meddwl fod yn gymhleth iawn, ond rwy'n credu hefyd ei fod yn ddull cwrs bywyd—fel gyda llawer o’n polisïau ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn inni dderbyn y gallwch gael problemau gyda’ch iechyd meddwl ac y gallwch wella, y gallwch gael problemau gyda’ch iechyd corfforol ac y gallwch wella, a bod y ddau beth yn aml yn cydblethu. Felly, dyna y byddwn yn ei ddweud yn uniongyrchol mewn ymateb i'ch cwestiwn. Diolch yn fawr.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. This month is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. I'd like to pay tribute to Brain Tumour Research for their sterling work in this area and for their highly informative stall in Y Farchnad yesterday. They rightly highlighted that brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 and that research into these conditions is underfunded and suffers from a lack of policy prioritisation more generally.
This is especially apparent when it comes to accessing clinical trials in Wales, which can provide a vital source of hope for patients. Part of the problem simply relates to the acute paucity of trials based here in Wales, resulting in those who have the means travelling, often long distances, to participate in trials. This is compounded by low public awareness of the few trials that are held here, despite a strong appetite amongst patients to participate.
Could you explain, Cabinet Secretary, whether the Welsh Government has a strategy to boost clinical trials held in Wales? What are you doing in terms of outreach work to enhance awareness in the meantime? Would establishing a one-stop digital portal where patients can access the availability of such trials and register their interest in good time be an option worth exploring?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Llywydd. Mae'r mis hwn yn Fis Ymwybyddiaeth Tiwmor yr Ymennydd. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i Brain Tumour Research am eu gwaith rhagorol yn y maes hwn ac am eu stondin addysgiadol iawn yn y Farchnad ddoe. Fe wnaethant dynnu sylw’n gywir ddigon at y ffaith mai tiwmorau ar yr ymennydd yw'r canser sy'n lladd y nifer fwyaf o blant ac oedolion o dan 40 oed, a bod ymchwil i’r cyflyrau hyn wedi'i thanariannu a’u bod yn dioddef o ddiffyg blaenoriaethu polisi yn fwy cyffredinol.
Mae hyn yn arbennig o amlwg mewn perthynas â mynediad at dreialon clinigol yng Nghymru, a all fod yn ffynhonnell hanfodol o obaith i gleifion. Mae rhan o’r broblem yn ymwneud yn syml â phrinder dybryd o dreialon sydd wedi’u lleoli yma yng Nghymru, gan arwain at sefyllfa lle mai'r rheini sydd â modd i deithio, yn bell iawn yn aml, sy'n cymryd rhan mewn treialon. Gwaethygir hyn gan ymwybyddiaeth gyhoeddus isel o'r ychydig dreialon a gynhelir yma, er gwaethaf awydd cryf ymhlith cleifion i gymryd rhan.
A wnewch chi egluro, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a oes strategaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru i roi hwb i dreialon clinigol a gynhelir yng Nghymru? Beth a wnewch o ran gwaith allgymorth i wella ymwybyddiaeth yn y cyfamser? A fyddai sefydlu porth digidol un stop lle gall cleifion gael mynediad at dreialon o’r fath a chofrestru eu diddordeb mewn da bryd yn opsiwn gwerth ei archwilio?
The Member asks an important question. On a recent visit that I was able to make with Julie Morgan to the Velindre Cancer Centre, I was able to discuss with them the work that they do in relation to trials in Wales, but also participating and leading on trials that have an impact across the UK and indeed globally. It is important that we’re able to make sure that we bring all our resources as a health service in Wales to bear to support trials and to lead those trials whenever we possibly can do that.
The Welsh Government, via Health and Care Research Wales, does already facilitate research trial options for individuals in Wales in a range of areas. There is, in fact, a Health and Care Research Wales delivery hub that provides national-level support so that we can set up effectively studies so they provide opportunities for patients to take part and to do that as quickly as possible. The hub also provides a horizon-scanning function for all studies that are open across the UK, because where there are conditions that may not be particularly common, those trials may be in other parts of the UK.
I think that joined-up approach is really important, making sure that Wales is playing its part in making sure trials are provided and led from Wales, whenever we can do that, whenever we’ve got the expertise and skill set to do that, but also making sure that UK-wide set of trials is accessible is obviously important.
Mae’r Aelod yn gofyn cwestiwn pwysig. Ar ymweliad diweddar â Chanolfan Ganser Felindre gyda Julie Morgan, bûm yn trafod gyda hwy y gwaith a wnânt mewn perthynas â threialon yng Nghymru, ond hefyd y treialon y maent yn eu harwain ac yn cymryd rhan ynddynt sy’n cael effaith ledled y DU, a ledled y byd yn wir. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn gallu sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio ein holl adnoddau fel gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru i gefnogi treialon ac i arwain y treialon hynny pryd bynnag y gallwn.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru, drwy Ymchwil Iechyd a Gofal Cymru, eisoes yn hwyluso opsiynau treialon ymchwil ar gyfer unigolion yng Nghymru mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae hyb cyflawni gan Ymchwil Iechyd a Gofal Cymru sy’n darparu cymorth ar lefel genedlaethol fel y gallwn sefydlu astudiaethau’n effeithiol fel eu bod yn darparu cyfleoedd i gleifion gymryd rhan ac i wneud hynny cyn gynted â phosibl. Mae’r hyb hefyd yn darparu swyddogaeth sganio’r gorwel ar gyfer pob astudiaeth sydd ar agor ledled y DU, oherwydd ar gyfer cyflyrau nad ydynt efallai’n arbennig o gyffredin, gallai'r treialon hynny fod yn mynd rhagddynt mewn rhannau eraill o’r DU.
Rwy'n credu bod dull cydgysylltiedig yn wirioneddol bwysig, gan sicrhau bod Cymru’n chwarae ei rhan i sicrhau bod treialon yn cael eu darparu a’u harwain o Gymru, pryd bynnag y gallwn wneud hynny, pryd bynnag y bydd gennym yr arbenigedd a’r set sgiliau i wneud hynny, ond hefyd yn amlwg, mae'n bwysig sicrhau bod cyfres o dreialon ar gyfer y DU gyfan yn hygyrch.
The availability of specialist services is another area where rare and less survivable cancer patients in Wales are particularly disadvantaged. The All Wales Medical Genomics Service actually predates devolution, having been established in 1987, but it remains considerably underpowered compared to equivalent services in England. For example, the service here in Wales lacks a next-generation tumour sequencing service, which can test for several thousand mutations within each tumour, rather than the mere dozens that the existing technological capacity can manage. Moreover, as of the end of January, there was no set pathway to refer Welsh patients to Genomics England for more advanced treatment, despite ambitions to have one in place by Christmas of last year.
In fairness, the Cabinet Secretary has previously mentioned the Welsh Government intends to introduce a next-generation service in Wales to plug this gap. So, could he provide an update on when it is likely to be operational? And in the meantime, could he confirm whether there will be a bespoke pathway put in place to expedite referrals to Genomics England until a Welsh service is established?
Mae argaeledd gwasanaethau arbenigol yn faes arall lle mae cleifion canser prin a llai goroesadwy yng Nghymru o dan anfantais arbennig. Mae Gwasanaeth Genomeg Feddygol Cymru Gyfan yn rhagddyddio datganoli mewn gwirionedd, gan iddo gael ei sefydlu ym 1987, ond mae’n parhau i fod yn llawer rhy wan o gymharu â gwasanaethau cyfatebol yn Lloegr. Er enghraifft, nid oes gan y gwasanaeth yma yng Nghymru wasanaeth proffilio tiwmor gan ddefnyddio dilyniannu'r genhedlaeth nesaf, a all brofi am filoedd o fwtaniadau o fewn pob tiwmor, yn hytrach na dwsinau yn unig fel sy'n bosibl gyda chapasiti technolegol presennol. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, erbyn diwedd mis Ionawr, nid oedd unrhyw lwybr penodol i atgyfeirio cleifion o Gymru at Genomics England am driniaeth uwch, er gwaethaf yr uchelgais i gael un erbyn y Nadolig y llynedd.
A bod yn deg, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet eisoes wedi dweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cyflwyno gwasanaeth cenhedlaeth nesaf yng Nghymru i gau’r bwlch hwn. Felly, a allai roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynghylch pryd y mae'n debygol o fod yn weithredol? Ac yn y cyfamser, a allai gadarnhau y bydd llwybr pwrpasol yn cael ei roi ar waith i gyflymu atgyfeiriadau at Genomics England hyd nes y caiff gwasanaeth ei sefydlu yng Nghymru?
Actually, I think that genomics is an area where Wales has a very, very good track record in terms both of investment and of delivery. I think that would be a fair assessment, which I think genomics facilities in all parts of the UK would recognise. It is really important that we’re able to continue the progress that we’ve made. Genomic research and the application of research offers opportunities for faster and for more accurate diagnoses and treatments for individual patients as well. The Canolfan Iechyd Genomig Cymru, which was opened in 2023, which was funded by the Welsh Government, does provide a state-of-the-art facility for NHS Wales to work with industrial partners, which is quite often where the research is most successful, that joint collaborative research, and it’s also actually a very welcoming environment for patients. I think there is a range of ways in which the genomics offer in Wales is already very strong. Clearly, as the Member mentions, there is more that we plan to do, and that work is under way.
A dweud y gwir, credaf fod genomeg yn faes lle mae gan Gymru hanes da iawn o ran buddsoddi a chyflawni. Rwy'n credu y byddai hynny’n asesiad teg y byddai cyfleusterau genomeg ym mhob rhan o’r DU yn ei gydnabod. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn gallu parhau â'r cynnydd rydym wedi'i wneud. Mae ymchwil genomig a'r defnydd o ymchwil yn cynnig cyfleoedd ar gyfer diagnosis a thriniaethau cyflymach a mwy cywir i gleifion unigol hefyd. Mae Canolfan Iechyd Genomig Cymru, a agorwyd yn 2023, ac a ariannwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yn darparu cyfleuster o’r radd flaenaf i GIG Cymru weithio gyda phartneriaid diwydiannol, sef lle mae’r ymchwil yn aml yn fwyaf llwyddiannus, yr ymchwil gydweithredol honno, ac mae hefyd mewn gwirionedd yn amgylchedd croesawgar iawn i gleifion. Rwy'n credu bod yna amrywiaeth o ffyrdd y mae’r cynnig genomeg yng Nghymru eisoes yn gryf iawn. Yn amlwg, fel y mae’r Aelod yn ei grybwyll, mae gennym gynlluniau i wneud mwy, ac mae’r gwaith hwnnw ar y gweill.
Thank you for that response. It’s regrettable that we haven’t had a date as yet as to when the Welsh Government intends to introduce that next-generation genomics service, but we await and 'Watch this space', I presume, is the message.
Diolch am eich ymateb. Mae'n drueni nad ydym wedi cael dyddiad hyd yn hyn o ran pryd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cyflwyno'r gwasanaeth genomeg cenhedlaeth nesaf hwnnw, ond rydym yn aros, ac mae'n debyg mai'r neges yw 'Cawn glywed mwy yn y man'.
Yn anffodus, mae plant o dan hyd yn oed fwy o anfantais pan fo’n dod at ganser. Tra bo canser ymysg oedolion yn bennaf yn cael ei achosi gan ffactorau amgylcheddol, mae canser ymysg plant yn bennaf yn anghyffredin, neu mae llai o siawns ganddyn nhw o oroesi. Ond oherwydd diffyg gwasanaethau arbenigol yma yng Nghymru, mae bron i dri chwarter o gleifion yn gorfod teithio y tu hwnt i Gymru am o leiaf rhan o’u triniaeth, gyda rhai’n gorfod mynd mewn i ddyled er mwyn fforddio costau teithio a chostau llety.
Yn ogystal â hyn, mae adroddiad Archwilio Cymru wedi pwysleisio nad yw cynllun gwella canser y Llywodraeth yn ddigonol oherwydd y diffyg ystyriaeth i anghenion plant a phobl ifanc. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchiad o dueddiad ehangach lle mae plant yn dioddef canlyniadau cymharol gwaeth nag oedolion wrth ymgysylltu â’r system iechyd, yn enwedig o ran rhestrau aros. Un o ddyletswyddau pennaf cymdeithas ydy i warchod cenedlaethau’r dyfodol, ac, ar hyn o bryd, mae Cymru yn syrthio yn fyr yn hynny o beth. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i ystyried sefydlu cronfa er mwyn cefnogi costau teithio a llety cleifion canser ifanc sy’n gorfod teithio y tu hwnt i Gymru am driniaeth, ac i esbonio os ydy e’n credu bod angen datblygu strategaeth benodol canser i blant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru, fel sydd eisoes yn bodoli yn yr Alban?
Unfortunately, children are even more disadvantaged when it comes to cancer. Whilst cancer amongst adults is generally caused by environmental factors, cancer amongst children is mainly unusual, or they have less chance of survival. But because of an absence of specialist services here in Wales, almost three quarters of patients have to travel outside Wales for at least some of their treatment, with some having to go into debt in order to afford travel costs and accommodation costs.
In addition to this, an Audit Wales report has emphasised that the Government's cancer improvement plan is insufficient because of the lack of consideration for the needs of children and young people. This is a reflection of a broader trend where children suffer comparatively worse outcomes than adults in engaging with the health service, particularly in terms of waiting lists. One of the main duties of society is to protect future generations, and, at the moment, Wales is falling short in that regard. So, can I ask the Cabinet Secretary to consider establishing a fund in order to support the travel and accommodation costs of young cancer patients who have to travel outside Wales for treatment, and to explain whether he believes that we need to develop a specific cancer strategy for children and young people in Wales, as is already in place in Scotland?
Diolch i’r Aelod am gwestiwn pwysig arall. O ran cwestiwn strategaeth benodol, dwi’n credu mai rhywbeth sy’n cael ei arwain yn glinigol yw’r penderfyniad hwnnw. Fy marn bersonol i yw nad diffyg strategaethau sydd gyda ni o ran y byd canser, ac mae angen sicrhau bod gwell cysylltiad rhwng yr holl weithgaredd sydd yn digwydd o ran canser plant, a chanser yn fwy cyffredinol hefyd. Rwy’n credu bod e’n anorfod ar un lefel bod elfen o deithio, yn enwedig, fel roedd yr Aelod yn cydnabod, lle mae rhai ffurfiau o ganser yn rhai sydd ddim yn codi’n aml iawn. Mae pobl hefyd yn teithio pellteroedd, yn cynnwys o Loegr, i ddod yma i Gymru am rai o’r triniaethau yna. Felly, mae’r berthynas honno yn un sydd wedi’i sefydlu. Byddwn i’n hoffi gweld mwy yn cael ei wneud yn lleol, wrth gwrs, ond mae elfen o hynny, rwy’n credu, yn anorfod.
Fe wnaeth e gyfeirio at adroddiad Audit Wales yn hyn o beth, ac rwyf wedi gwneud datganiad, wrth gwrs, yn sgil hynny, yn derbyn bod angen sicrhau bod arweiniad cliriach yn digwydd o ran y gwaith yn yr executive, i sicrhau bod y gofynion o’r system yn gliriach. Mae’r gwaith hynny nawr yn digwydd, a hefyd y bwrdd arweinyddiaeth rwyf wedi ei sefydlu ar draws yr holl raglenni, i sicrhau bod y rheini’n cydweithio mewn ffordd fwy effeithiol hefyd.
I thank the Member for another important question. In terms of the question of a specific strategy, I think that that is something that is led clinically, as a decision for clinicians. My personal view is that it’s not a lack of strategies that we have when it comes to cancer, and we have to ensure that there is better alignment in terms of all of the activity on cancer amongst children, and cancer more generally too. I think it’s inevitable on one level that there is an element of travel, as the Member acknowledges, where some forms of cancer are rarer. People travel from afar, including from England, to come to Wales for some treatments too. So, that relationship is an established one. I would like to see more being done locally, of course, but an element of that travel is inevitable.
He referred to the Audit Wales report in this regard, and I have made a statement as a result of that, accepting that we need to ensure that there is clearer guidance, in terms of the work of the executive, to ensure that the demands of the system are clearer. That work is now in train, and also the leadership board I’ve established across all of the programmes, to ensure that they collaborate more effectively as well.
3. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwella capasiti gofal iechyd yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ62470
3. How is the Welsh Government improving healthcare capacity in north Wales? OQ62470
Health boards are responsible for planning and delivering services to ensure there is sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the communities that they serve. In doing so, they'll need to consider a range of options to make best use of the available resources.
Mae byrddau iechyd yn gyfrifol am gynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau i sicrhau bod digon o gapasiti i ddiwallu anghenion y cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. Wrth wneud hynny, bydd angen iddynt ystyried ystod o opsiynau i wneud y defnydd gorau o'r adnoddau sydd ar gael.
As you will know, Cabinet Secretary, unfortunately the capacity of the health service in north Wales isn’t right, and that is why many patients do not get the level of service that they deserve, particularly in terms of our emergency department at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan. I know that this is a concern for you and the Welsh Government too. Now, one of the solutions that was proposed, over 12 years ago now, by the Welsh Government was the establishment of a brand new hospital in Rhyl, in order to take pressure off Glan Clwyd Hospital by having extra bed capacity and a new minor injuries unit. I understand that some progress is being made towards that, but one major concern about the progress being made is that the number of beds in the new facility has been drastically reduced from that which was originally envisaged, and this is in spite of the fact that the performance of Glan Clwyd Hospital, particularly in its emergency department, has further deteriorated over that 12-year period. Why is the Welsh Government supporting a proposal that is less ambitious, given that the pressures are more acute?
Fel y gwyddoch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn anffodus, nid yw capasiti’r gwasanaeth iechyd yn y gogledd yn ddigonol, a dyna pam nad yw llawer o gleifion yn cael y lefel o wasanaeth y maent yn ei haeddu, yn enwedig yn ein hadran achosion brys yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd ym Modelwyddan. Gwn fod hyn yn peri pryder i chi ac i Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd. Nawr, un o’r atebion a gynigiwyd, dros 12 mlynedd yn ôl bellach, gan Lywodraeth Cymru oedd sefydlu ysbyty newydd sbon yn y Rhyl, er mwyn lleddfu'r pwysau ar Ysbyty Glan Clwyd drwy gael gwelyau ychwanegol ac uned mân anafiadau newydd. Deallaf fod rhywfaint o gynnydd yn cael ei wneud tuag at hynny, ond un pryder mawr ynghylch y cynnydd sy’n cael ei wneud yw bod nifer y gwelyau yn y cyfleuster newydd yn llai o lawer na’r hyn a ragwelwyd yn wreiddiol, a hyn er bod perfformiad Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, yn enwedig yn ei adran achosion brys, wedi gwaethygu ymhellach dros y cyfnod o 12 mlynedd. Pam fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi cynnig sy’n llai uchelgeisiol, o ystyried bod y pwysau’n fwy acíwt?
Well, the question of capacity is important, and I think, in terms of the broad point which the Member makes, I’m sure the health board would recognise some of the challenges around capacity to which he is referring in his question. We’ve provided particular funds in order to tackle capacity challenges in a range of areas—so, a range of planned care areas, diagnostics, but also, specifically, in the way that his question was focused, in relation to reducing pressure on emergency departments as well. There has been progress, I think it’s fair to acknowledge, in relation to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Nobody would think that there isn’t further to go; clearly there is. But I think it’s important to acknowledge that there has been progress there.
In relation to the other proposal that he is referring to, that proposal is, at this point, being developed. So, I’m not in a position to comment on the detail of it, because we aren’t at that point in the process. But I’m confident that the health board will be putting together a proposal that reflects the current needs across north Wales and manages the pressures of demand on the one hand and resourcing on the other. And we will have a constructive discussion with the health board both about the proposal and how it’s taken forward quickly.
Wel, mae mater y capasiti yn bwysig, ac ar y pwynt cyffredinol y mae’r Aelod yn ei wneud, rwy’n siŵr y byddai’r bwrdd iechyd yn cydnabod rhai o’r heriau capasiti y mae’n cyfeirio atynt yn ei gwestiwn. Rydym wedi darparu cyllid penodol er mwyn mynd i'r afael â heriau capasiti mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd—felly, amrywiaeth o feysydd gofal a gynlluniwyd, diagnosteg, ond hefyd, yn benodol, yn y ffordd yr oedd ei gwestiwn yn nodi, o ran lleihau'r pwysau ar adrannau achosion brys hefyd. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg cydnabod bod cynnydd wedi bod mewn perthynas ag Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Ni fyddai unrhyw un yn meddwl nad oes mwy o ffordd i fynd; mae hynny'n amlwg. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod bod cynnydd wedi'i wneud.
Mewn perthynas â’r cynnig arall y cyfeiria ato, mae’r cynnig hwnnw'n cael ei ddatblygu ar hyn o bryd. Felly, nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i wneud sylwadau ar ei fanylion, gan nad ydym ar y pwynt hwnnw yn y broses. Ond rwy'n hyderus y bydd y bwrdd iechyd yn llunio cynnig sy'n adlewyrchu'r anghenion presennol ar draws y gogledd ac yn rheoli pwysau'r galw ar y naill law ac adnoddau ar y llaw arall. A byddwn yn cael trafodaeth adeiladol gyda'r bwrdd iechyd ynglŷn â'r cynnig a sut y bwrir ymlaen ag ef yn gyflym.
4. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi byrddau iechyd i sicrhau bod y targed llwybr lle’r amheuir canser 62 ddiwrnod yn cael ei gyrraedd yn gyson ar draws Cymru? OQ62466
4. How is the Welsh Government supporting health boards to ensure the 62-day suspected cancer pathway target is consistently met across Wales? OQ62466
Improving cancer outcomes and reducing cancer waiting times is a priority for this Government. We are investing in cancer services and working with the health boards, supported by the NHS executive, to drive sustainable improvement for cancer waiting times, through implementation of the national optimum pathways.
Mae gwella canlyniadau canser a lleihau amseroedd aros canser yn flaenoriaeth i’r Llywodraeth hon. Rydym yn buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau canser ac yn gweithio gyda’r byrddau iechyd, gyda chefnogaeth gweithrediaeth y GIG, i hybu gwelliant cynaliadwy ar gyfer amseroedd aros canser, drwy roi’r llwybrau optimaidd cenedlaethol ar waith.
Thank you for the response, Cabinet Secretary. I was contacted by a constituent who had received a devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. My constituent, having waited a total of 107 days for treatment, as opposed to the 62 intended under the suspected cancer pathway target, then discovered that she would need a mastectomy. She’s unsure to this day whether this might have been avoided had the target time been met. But after that incredibly mentally and physically challenging surgery, she was then told she’d suffered nerve damage as a result of the surgery and is now on another waiting list with an expected wait of two years for a second operation. When my constituent asked Swansea Bay University Health Board why she had had to wait 107 days rather than the target 62, she was told that it was down to, and I quote, bank holidays'. I’m sure you’ll agree with me, Cabinet Secretary, that that is a completely unacceptable response and a devastating situation for my constituent. Cancer doesn’t take bank holidays. So, how is the Welsh Government ensuring that all health boards are meeting that 62-day target, rather than hiding behind lame excuses, because lives are on the line?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Cysylltodd etholwr â mi a oedd wedi cael diagnosis dinistriol o ganser y fron. Yna, darganfu fy etholwr, ar ôl aros cyfanswm o 107 diwrnod am driniaeth, yn hytrach na’r 62 a fwriadwyd o dan y targed ar gyfer llwybr lle'r amheuir canser, y byddai angen mastectomi arni. Mae'n ansicr hyd heddiw a ellid bod wedi osgoi hyn pe bai'r amser targed wedi'i gyrraedd. Ond ar ôl llawdriniaeth hynod heriol yn feddyliol ac yn gorfforol, dywedwyd wrthi wedyn ei bod wedi dioddef niwed i'r nerfau o ganlyniad i'r llawdriniaeth a'i bod bellach ar restr aros arall gyda disgwyl y bydd rhaid iddi aros dwy flynedd am ail lawdriniaeth. Pan ofynnodd fy etholwr i Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe pam y bu’n rhaid iddi aros 107 o ddiwrnodau yn hytrach na’r targed o 62, dywedwyd wrthi mai'r rheswm am hynny oedd, 'gwyliau banc'. Rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fod hwnnw’n ymateb cwbl annerbyniol ac yn sefyllfa dorcalonnus i fy etholwr. Nid yw canser yn cymryd gwyliau banc. Felly, sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod pob bwrdd iechyd yn cyrraedd y targed 62 diwrnod hwnnw, yn hytrach na chuddio y tu ôl i esgusodion gwan, gan fod bywydau yn y fantol?
Well, I’m sorry to hear about the experience that your constituent has had. Clearly, that is not good enough. I’m not in a position to comment on the response from the health board, because I don’t know the context to what was said. What I know is that, in relation to breast cancer specifically, four health boards achieved the cancer waiting time target, including Swansea bay health board, which achieved a performance of over 80 per cent. Of course, we would want to see that even higher, but that is the situation at the moment. We have a national programme, which is supported by the NHS executive, to work with health boards and NHS trusts to recover cancer waiting time performance for the five cancers with the lowest performance rates.
I would say that, in relation to breast cancer, there is, in parts of Wales, an extremely strong track record, where health boards have been able to develop one-stop-shop approaches, and parts of his region will be served by such a facility. And we know that, in those areas it’s a much better experience for patients, because it’s a faster experience, frankly, but also it enables the health board to reach much, much higher levels of compliance, as much as 89 or 90 per cent, with the target. So, it’s more of that innovation in service delivery that we want to see, to make sure that women, like your constituent, don’t have to have that experience.
Wel, mae’n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad eich etholwr. Yn amlwg, nid yw hynny’n ddigon da. Nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i wneud sylwadau ar yr ymateb gan y bwrdd iechyd, gan nad wyf yn ymwybodol o gyd-destun yr hyn a ddywedwyd. Yr hyn rwy'n ei wybod, mewn perthynas â chanser y fron yn benodol, yw bod pedwar bwrdd iechyd wedi cyflawni’r targed amseroedd aros ar gyfer canser, gan gynnwys bwrdd iechyd bae Abertawe, a gyflawnodd berfformiad o dros 80 y cant. Wrth gwrs, hoffem pe bai hynny hyd yn oed yn uwch, ond dyna’r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd. Mae gennym raglen genedlaethol, a gefnogir gan weithrediaeth y GIG, i weithio gyda byrddau iechyd ac ymddiriedolaethau GIG i adfer perfformiad amseroedd aros ar gyfer y pum canser â’r cyfraddau perfformiad isaf.
Mewn perthynas â chanser y fron, cafwyd llwyddiannau mewn rhannau o Gymru, lle mae byrddau iechyd wedi gallu datblygu dulliau siop un stop, a bydd cyfleuster o’r fath yn gwasanaethu rhannau o’i ranbarth. Ac yn yr ardaloedd hynny, fe wyddom fod y profiad yn llawer gwell i gleifion, gan ei fod yn brofiad cyflymach, a dweud y gwir, ond hefyd, mae'n galluogi'r bwrdd iechyd i gyrraedd lefelau llawer, llawer uwch o gydymffurfiaeth â'r targed, cymaint ag 89 neu 90 y cant. Felly, rydym am weld rhagor o arloesedd o'r fath o ran darparu gwasanaethau, i sicrhau nad oes yn rhaid i fenywod, fel eich etholwr, gael y profiad hwnnw.
Rare cancers are less frequently diagnosed, but collectively they account for almost one in every five of all cancer diagnoses each year, and include gynaecological cancers, and some of the less survivable cancers, such as stomach and oesophageal cancers and blood cancers. The earlier diagnosis of these rare cancers will be critical to meeting the 62-day waiting time target. Last Friday, the Rare Cancers Bill, a private Member’s Bill, progressed through its Second Reading in the UK Parliament, and it hopes to make provision to incentivise research and investment into the treatment of rare types of cancer and for connected purposes. And so, while the focus of the Bill is England, its effects may be felt here in Wales, as so many patients do travel to England for their cancer treatment, as was mentioned earlier in discussion. So, has the Welsh Government given any consideration to the effects and the consequences for Wales if this Bill does become law?
Mae canserau prin yn cael eu diagnosio’n llai aml, ond gyda’i gilydd, dyna yw bron i un o bob pump o’r holl ddiagnosisau canser bob blwyddyn, ac maent yn cynnwys canserau gynaecolegol, a rhai o’r canserau llai goroesadwy, megis canserau’r stumog a chanser yr oesoffagws a chanserau’r gwaed. Bydd cael diagnosis cynharach o'r canserau prin hyn yn hanfodol er mwyn cyrraedd yr amser aros targed o 62 diwrnod. Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, aeth y Bil Canserau Prin, Bil Aelod preifat, drwy ei Ail Ddarlleniad yn Senedd y DU, ac mae’n gobeithio gwneud darpariaeth i gymell ymchwil a buddsoddiad i drin mathau prin o ganser ac at ddibenion cysylltiedig. Ac felly, er mai Lloegr yw ffocws y Bil, efallai y bydd ei effeithiau'n cael eu teimlo yma yng Nghymru, gan fod cymaint o gleifion yn teithio i Loegr i gael eu triniaeth ganser, fel y nodwyd yn gynharach yn y drafodaeth. Felly, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi unrhyw ystyriaeth i’r effeithiau a’r canlyniadau i Gymru os daw'r Bil hwn yn gyfraith?
Thank you for that important question. The Rare Cancers Bill was introduced, of course, as a private Member’s Bill, but the UK Government has confirmed its support for the legislation, as the Member obviously knows. A date for Committee Stage will be confirmed; it hasn’t yet been allocated. There has been correspondence between us—between the two Governments—in relation to the Bill, and there have been discussions at official level with Department for Health and Social Care counterparts on the potential implications and opportunities that might arise in the Bill. There is support for improving research into rare types of cancer here in Wales. We’ve agreed that officials will work closely to make sure there is a co-ordination and a join-up across the UK in relation to the objectives of the Bill.
I mentioned in my answer to Mabon ap Gwynfor the work of the Health and Care Research Wales delivery hub, but it’s also perhaps worth noting in the context of rare cancers specifically that Health and Care Research Wales has also recently appointed a research speciality lead for rare diseases, and their role is to increase and accelerate, frankly, the uptake of research across NHS Wales for rare diseases, including cancers.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn pwysig. Cyflwynwyd y Bil Canserau Prin, wrth gwrs, fel Bil Aelod preifat, ond mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cadarnhau ei chefnogaeth i’r ddeddfwriaeth, fel y mae’r Aelod yn amlwg yn gwybod. Bydd dyddiad ar gyfer y Cyfnod Pwyllgor yn cael ei gadarnhau; nid yw wedi'i nodi eto. Bu gohebiaeth rhyngom—rhwng y ddwy Lywodraeth—mewn perthynas â’r Bil, a chafwyd trafodaethau ar lefel swyddogol gyda swyddogion cyfatebol yn yr Adran Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ar y goblygiadau a’r cyfleoedd posibl a allai godi yn y Bil. Mae cefnogaeth i wella ymchwil i fathau prin o ganser yma yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi cytuno y bydd swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos i sicrhau y ceir cydlynu a chydgysylltu ledled y DU mewn perthynas ag amcanion y Bil.
Soniais yn fy ateb i Mabon ap Gwynfor am waith hyb cyflawni Ymchwil Iechyd a Gofal Cymru, ond efallai ei bod yn werth nodi hefyd yng nghyd-destun canserau prin yn benodol fod Ymchwil Iechyd a Gofal Cymru hefyd wedi penodi arweinydd arbenigedd ymchwil ar gyfer clefydau prin yn ddiweddar, a’u rôl yw cynyddu a chyflymu ymchwil ar draws GIG Cymru ar gyfer clefydau prin, gan gynnwys canserau.
Diolch i Tom Giffard am y cwestiwn yma, ond, yn anffodus, mae llawer gormod o enghreifftiau o etholwyr ddim yn derbyn triniaeth o fewn 62 diwrnod—y dyddiad disgwyliedig. Nid yn unig fod Tom wedi cyfeirio at etholwraig yn ei ardal o; rydw i yn llythrennol newydd dderbyn neges gan etholwraig o ardal Dinas Mawddwy a gafodd ddiagnosis o ganser yr ysgyfaint nôl ym mis Tachwedd. Mae hi'n parhau i aros am driniaeth ac fe gafodd hi wybod mai'r cam nesaf fydd radiotherapi, ond mae yna broblem gyda'r ffiniau. Fe gafodd hi ddealltwriaeth y byddai hi'n gorfod teithio i lawr i Singleton yn Abertawe o Ddinas Mawddwy, ond wedyn nad fyddai hynny'n bosib oherwydd ei bod hi'n byw yn ardal Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae ei bywyd hi yn llythrennol yn y fantol, gyda'r canser o bosib yn tyfu, a thrwy hyn mae'r awdurdodau iechyd yn cecru am bwy ddylai gymryd y cyfrifoldeb am ei thrin hi oherwydd ble mae hi'n byw. Mae hyn yn wir am nifer fawr o gleifion. Nawr, mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi dweud yn flaenorol fod y Llywodraeth wedi mynd i'r afael â'r loteri cod post yma, ond mae'n amlwg nad ydy hynny'n wir a bod cleifion yn dal i ddioddef oherwydd hyn. Ydy'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn credu bod sefyllfa fy etholwraig i yn dderbyniol, a pha gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd i atal hyn rhag digwydd?
Thank you to Tom Giffard for raising this question, but, unfortunately, there are far too many examples of constituents not receiving treatment within 62 days—the expected target. Tom referred to a constituent in his area, and I literally have just received a message from a constituent from the Dinas Mawddwy area who received a lung cancer diagnosis back in November. She continues to wait for treatment and she was told that the next step will be radiotherapy, but there is a problem with the boundaries. She understood that she would have to travel down to Singleton in Swansea from Dinas Mawddwy, but then that that wouldn't be possible because she lived in the Betsi Cadwaladr region. Her life is literally on the line, with the cancer perhaps growing and spreading while the health boards argue over who should take responsibility for her treatment because of where she lives. This is true of a number of patients. Now, the Cabinet Secretary has said previously that the Government has tackled the postcode lottery, but it is clear that that isn't the case, and patients are still suffering as a result. Does the Cabinet Secretary believe that the situation facing my constituent is acceptable, and what steps are being taken to prevent this from happening?
Wel, dwi ddim yn y sefyllfa i roi sylwadau penodol ar sefyllfa'r etholwraig. Dydy'r sefyllfa ddim yn dderbyniol yn y ffordd mae'r Aelod wedi disgrifio honno i fi. Os hoffai yrru llythyr ataf i gyda'r manylion, fe fyddwn i'n hapus iawn i edrych i mewn iddo fe.
Well, I'm not in a position to make specific comments on the position of the constituent. The situation doesn't sound acceptable from his description. If he could send me a letter with details, I would be happy to look into that.
5. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella amseroedd aros yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda? OQ62456
5. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve waiting times in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area? OQ62456
The Welsh Government has supported the health board to make improvements in waiting times with additional finance, direct intervention and support from the NHS executive. Improvements across planned care and children and adolescent mental health services in particular were recognised in the escalation announcement, which I made last week.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnogi’r bwrdd iechyd i wneud gwelliannau mewn amseroedd aros gyda chyllid ychwanegol, ymyrraeth uniongyrchol a chymorth gan weithrediaeth y GIG. Cydnabuwyd gwelliannau ar draws gofal a gynlluniwyd, a gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a phobl ifanc yn arbennig, yn y cyhoeddiad ar uwchgyfeirio a wneuthum yr wythnos diwethaf.
Cabinet Secretary, you may be aware that there has been a twelvefold increase in the number of children waiting more than a year for an autism assessment in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area. Indeed, over 1,000 children are waiting for a diagnosis in Pembrokeshire, and, as you know, while those children are waiting for a diagnosis, they are without the right support. Now, I was told, when my autism Bill was rejected by your party, that it wasn't required because measures were being brought in to improve things anyway. Clearly, that hasn't happened, and if my Bill had succeeded, then perhaps we wouldn't be in this position today. So, Cabinet Secretary, what urgent action is being given to Hywel Dda University Health Board to specifically target waiting lists for an autism diagnosis? And, in the meantime, what support are you offering families and local charities in the area so that some support is available for children and their families whilst they wait?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol y bu cynnydd deuddeg gwaith drosodd yn nifer y plant sy’n aros mwy na blwyddyn am asesiad awtistiaeth yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda. Yn wir, mae dros 1,000 o blant yn aros am ddiagnosis yn sir Benfro, ac fel y gwyddoch, tra bo'r plant hynny’n aros am ddiagnosis, nid ydynt yn cael y cymorth cywir. Nawr, dywedwyd wrthyf, pan wrthodwyd fy Mil awtistiaeth gan eich plaid, nad oedd ei angen gan fod mesurau'n cael eu cyflwyno i wella pethau beth bynnag. Yn amlwg, nid yw hynny wedi digwydd, a phe bai fy Mil wedi llwyddo, efallai na fyddem yn y sefyllfa hon heddiw. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gyfarwyddyd brys sy'n cael ei roi i Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda i dargedu rhestrau aros am ddiagnosis o awtistiaeth yn benodol? Ac yn y cyfamser, pa gymorth rydych chi'n ei gynnig i deuluoedd ac elusennau lleol yn yr ardal fel bod rhywfaint o gymorth ar gael i blant a’u teuluoedd tra byddant yn aros?
I thank the Member for that question. I recall the discussions around the Bill, and there was a good debate about whether we felt it would have achieved the objectives that were set. The point that he makes in this his question—[Interruption.] The point that he makes in his question is an important point—[Interruption.] The point he makes—
Diolch i’r Aelod am ei gwestiwn. Rwy’n cofio’r trafodaethau ynghylch y Bil, a chafwyd dadl dda ynglŷn ag a oeddem yn teimlo y byddai wedi cyflawni’r amcanion a osodwyd. Mae’r pwynt y mae’n ei wneud yn ei gwestiwn—[Torri ar draws.] Mae’r pwynt y mae’n ei wneud yn ei gwestiwn yn bwynt pwysig—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'r pwynt y mae’n ei wneud—
Can we avoid conversations across the Chamber, please? Let the Minister answer.
A gawn ni osgoi sgyrsiau ar draws y Siambr, os gwelwch yn dda? Gadewch i'r Gweinidog ateb.
I'm seeking to do justice to the Member's question. He will know that to my colleague the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being has announced a programme of support to reduce the waiting times for young people in relation to a range of diagnoses, including of autism. That has funding attached to it and it will benefit those waiting the longest. There is absolutely a recognition that that funding on its own will not meet the scale of the challenge in the system, including in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area. Alongside that, there needs to be a transformation of assessment and diagnosis more broadly. There is work under way. There was, I think, a very helpful summit at the end of last year around redesigning pathways to support assessment and diagnosis, and so, as those are able to be rolled out, we are confident that, across the system, there will be an improvement in waiting times. In the meantime, that funding is there to reduce the longest waits, and I hope that will benefit his constituents as it will other parts of Wales.
Rwy’n ceisio gwneud cyfiawnder â chwestiwn yr Aelod. Fe fydd yn gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, wedi cyhoeddi rhaglen gymorth i leihau’r amseroedd aros i bobl ifanc mewn perthynas ag ystod o ddiagnosisau, gan gynnwys awtistiaeth. Mae cyllid ynghlwm wrth hynny a bydd o fudd i’r rheini sy’n aros hiraf. Yn sicr, cydnabyddir na fydd y cyllid hwnnw ar ei ben ei hun yn ddigon i fynd i'r afael â maint yr her yn y system, gan gynnwys yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda. Ynghyd â hynny, mae angen trawsnewid trefniadau asesu a diagnosis yn fwy cyffredinol. Mae gwaith ar y gweill. Cafwyd uwchgynhadledd ddefnyddiol iawn ddiwedd y llynedd ynghylch ailgynllunio llwybrau i gefnogi asesu a diagnosis, ac felly, wrth i’r rheini allu cael eu cyflwyno, rydym yn hyderus, ar draws y system, y bydd gwelliant mewn amseroedd aros. Yn y cyfamser, mae’r cyllid hwnnw yno i leihau’r amseroedd aros hiraf, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny o fudd i’w etholwyr fel y bydd i rannau eraill o Gymru.
Mae cwestiwn 6 [OQ62464] wedi ei dynnu yn ôl. Cwestiwn 7, Peter Fox.
Question 6 [OQ62464] has been withdrawn. Question 7, Peter Fox.
7. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i leihau amseroedd aros i gleifion y mae arnynt angen llawdriniaeth orthopedig yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru? OQ62473
7. What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce waiting times for patients requiring orthopaedic surgery in south-east Wales? OQ62473
Improving access to healthcare and reducing waiting times is a priority for this Government. Health boards across south-east Wales are working hard to deliver good-quality and timely services, and we are taking clear and decisive action to reduce all waiting times, including orthopaedics.
Mae gwella mynediad at ofal iechyd a lleihau amseroedd aros yn flaenoriaeth i’r Llywodraeth hon. Mae byrddau iechyd ar draws y de-ddwyrain yn gweithio’n galed i ddarparu gwasanaethau amserol o ansawdd da, ac rydym yn cymryd camau clir a phendant i leihau’r holl amseroedd aros, gan gynnwys mewn orthopedeg.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. It's good to hear that it's a priority. Knee and hip replacements have been a constant issue for my constituents and I'm sure most Members here have had it raised with them. The wait from GP to clinician takes far too long, and that is even before the patient can join the waiting list, meaning that typically people are waiting up to three years before getting a knee or hip replacement, and this is devastating for them. Sadly, though, even after this wait, people are being called for operations only to have them cancelled the morning of the operation. One constituent I have has had this happen three times and, of course, she had to put arrangements in place for care and had to cancel. And that's constantly happening. We've heard this a few times. So, what action is the Welsh Government therefore taking to ensure that people do not have to suffer like this for years and face the emotional distress of last-minute cancellations?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae'n dda clywed ei fod yn flaenoriaeth. Mae ailosod pen-glin a chlun wedi bod yn fater sy'n codi'n gyson i fy etholwyr ac rwy'n siŵr ei fod wedi dod i sylw'r rhan fwyaf o'r Aelodau yma. Mae'r aros rhwng gweld meddyg teulu a gweld clinigydd yn cymryd llawer gormod o amser, a hynny hyd yn oed cyn i'r claf allu mynd ar y rhestr aros, sy'n golygu ei bod hi'n arferol i bobl orfod aros hyd at dair blynedd cyn cael pen-glin neu glun newydd, ac mae hyn yn ddinistriol iddynt. Yn anffodus, fodd bynnag, hyd yn oed ar ôl aros, caiff pobl eu galw i gael llawdriniaeth ddim ond i'w chanslo ar fore'r llawdriniaeth. Mae un o fy etholwyr wedi gweld hyn yn digwydd dair gwaith ac wrth gwrs, roedd yn rhaid iddi roi trefniadau ar waith ar gyfer gofal a bu'n rhaid iddi ganslo. Ac mae hynny'n digwydd yn gyson. Clywsom hyn sawl gwaith. Felly, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau nad oes rhaid i bobl ddioddef fel hyn am flynyddoedd ac wynebu'r trallod emosiynol yn sgil canslo munud olaf?
Well, people should not have to wait in pain for a long time to have their orthopaedic surgery. I absolutely agree with that. I would say that, in the south-east in particular, we've seen a 73 per cent reduction in the over two-year orthopaedic rates from its peak. But, clearly, that is a start; we need to go much further. And significant additional funding has been provided to the south-east region in relation to its longest waits, and that will support those patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery. I think that he's right to say that we need to make sure that there is a consistency in the offer, if you like, to patients. He will maybe recall from previous discussions in the Chamber that the planning guidance that I issued to the NHS before Christmas has very specific requirements in relation to orthopaedic targets, the numbers of procedures on a list, to ensure consistency across the piece. There is a very, very well established Getting It Right First Time-driven approach to efficiency in orthopaedic surgery, and we have to see that delivered consistently in all parts of Wales. There is far too much variation between practitioners and between sites.
Wel, ni ddylai pobl orfod aros mewn poen am amser hir i gael eu llawdriniaeth orthopedig. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â hynny. Yn y de-ddwyrain yn arbennig, gwelsom ostyngiad o 73 y cant yn y cyfraddau orthopedig dros ddwy flynedd o'r hyn ydoedd ar ei anterth. Ond yn amlwg, dechrau yw hynny; mae angen inni fynd yn llawer pellach. Ac mae cyllid ychwanegol sylweddol wedi'i ddarparu i ranbarth y de-ddwyrain ar gyfer yr amseroedd aros hiraf, a bydd hynny'n cefnogi'r cleifion hynny sy'n aros am lawdriniaeth orthopedig. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn iawn i ddweud bod angen inni wneud yn siŵr fod cysondeb yn y cynnig i gleifion. Efallai y bydd yn cofio o drafodaethau blaenorol yn y Siambr fod gan y canllawiau cynllunio a gyhoeddais i'r GIG cyn y Nadolig ofynion penodol iawn mewn perthynas â thargedau orthopedig, nifer y llawdriniaethau ar restr, er mwyn sicrhau cysondeb ym mhob man. Mae yna ddull sefydledig iawn o sicrhau effeithlonrwydd mewn llawfeddygaeth orthopedig, Ei Gael yn Iawn y Tro Cyntaf, ac mae'n rhaid inni weld hynny'n cael ei gyflawni'n gyson ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Mae llawer gormod o amrywio rhwng ymarferwyr a rhwng safleoedd.
I would like to ask about knee and hip replacement waiting times in the Aneurin Bevan health board area, Cabinet Secretary, and particularly on the transparency and clarity of information. So, on the NHS 111 Wales planned care website, with regard to trauma and orthopaedics at Aneurin Bevan, it tells us that the average wait time for a first out-patient appointment is 26 weeks; that 10 per cent of people are waiting 61 weeks or more—this is for a first out-patient appointment; the average waiting time to start treatment is 33 weeks; and 10 per cent of people are waiting 85 weeks or more. So, it doesn't break information down by type of surgery, and I think it would be much more helpful for patients and their families in terms of being able to plan and get on with their lives and knowing what to expect if they could, for example, with regard to a hip replacement, go on the website and find out, in terms of patients receiving hip replacements this week, when they were referred—how many weeks ago they were referred for treatment. I just think that, in terms of transparency and usefulness of information, we could do much better than what is currently on offer.
Rwyf eisiau gofyn am amseroedd aros am ben-glin a chlun newydd yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac yn enwedig am dryloywder ac eglurder y wybodaeth. Felly, ar wefan gofal wedi'i gynllunio GIG 111 Cymru, ar drawma ac orthopaedeg yn Aneurin Bevan, mae'n dweud wrthym mai'r amser aros ar gyfartaledd ar gyfer apwyntiad claf allanol cyntaf yw 26 wythnos; fod 10 y cant o bobl yn aros 61 wythnos neu fwy—hyn ar gyfer apwyntiad claf allanol cyntaf; yr amser aros cyfartalog i ddechrau triniaeth yw 33 wythnos; ac mae 10 y cant o bobl yn aros 85 wythnos neu fwy. Felly, nid yw'n dadansoddi gwybodaeth yn ôl math o lawdriniaeth, ac rwy'n credu y byddai'n llawer mwy defnyddiol i gleifion a'u teuluoedd allu cynllunio a bwrw ymlaen â'u bywydau a gwybod beth i'w ddisgwyl, mewn perthynas â chlun newydd er enghraifft, os gallent fynd ar y wefan a darganfod, o ran nifer y cleifion sy'n cael clun newydd yr wythnos hon, pryd y cawsant eu hatgyfeirio—sawl wythnos yn ôl y cawsant eu hatgyfeirio am driniaeth. O ran tryloywder a defnyddioldeb gwybodaeth, rwy'n credu y gallem wneud yn llawer gwell na'r hyn sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd.
I thank John Griffiths for that question. I agree with him, we can do better. I don't think it is good enough that it's just provided on a health board average basis. The information by specialty is generally provided, but the level of detail that he refers to is, of course, available to individual health boards. They have that information, which they can make available. I hope it gives him some reassurance to know that, in April, we'll be issuing refreshed guidance to the health boards for them to provide more detail on expected waits in their acceptance letters on an individualised basis, or to be able to signpost to web pages that have more detail in the way that he's describing on expected waits. They will then be able to tell patients their average waits by condition, such as knee surgery or hip surgery. This, obviously, will vary by health board and by complexity, so the information needs to come from health boards. But that information will be refreshed in the new guidance in April, and health boards should then be putting this level of detail on their own website and sharing that as well with GP partners.
Diolch i John Griffiths am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Rwy'n cytuno ag ef, gallwn wneud yn well. Nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn ddigon da ei fod yn cael ei ddarparu ar sail cyfartaledd y bwrdd iechyd yn unig. Darperir y wybodaeth yn ôl arbenigedd yn gyffredinol, ond mae'r lefel o fanylder y mae'n cyfeirio ato ar gael i fyrddau iechyd unigol, wrth gwrs. Mae ganddynt y wybodaeth honno, a gallant ei chyhoeddi. Rwy'n gobeithio ei bod yn rhoi rhywfaint o sicrwydd iddo wybod y byddwn yn cyhoeddi canllawiau wedi'u diweddaru i'r byrddau iechyd er mwyn iddynt ddarparu mwy o fanylion am amseroedd aros disgwyliedig yn eu llythyrau derbyn ar sail unigol, neu i allu cyfeirio at dudalennau gwe sydd â mwy o fanylion yn y ffordd y mae'n ei disgrifio ar amseroedd aros disgwyliedig. Yna byddant yn gallu dweud wrth gleifion am faint y bydd rhaid iddynt aros ar gyfartaledd yn ôl cyflwr, fel llawdriniaeth pen-glin neu lawdriniaeth clun. Yn amlwg, bydd hyn yn amrywio yn ôl bwrdd iechyd ac yn ôl cymhlethdod, felly mae angen i'r wybodaeth ddod gan fyrddau iechyd. Ond bydd y wybodaeth honno'n cael ei hadnewyddu yn y canllawiau newydd ym mis Ebrill, ac yna, dylai byrddau iechyd roi'r lefel hon o fanylder ar eu gwefan eu hunain a rhannu hynny hefyd gyda phartneriaid meddygon teulu.
8. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar effaith canslo cludiant rhwng y cartref a'r ysbyty, a ddarperir gan Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru, ar fyr rybudd i gleifion y mae angen iddynt fynd i apwyntiadau ysbyty? OQ62478
8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact of home-to-hospital transport provided by the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust being cancelled at short notice for patients needing to attend hospital appointments? OQ62478
There are times when a smallish number of non-emergency patient transport service journeys can't be accommodated. The service completed in excess of an astonishing 500,000 journeys to and from hospitals and clinics across Wales and the wider UK last year.
Mae yna adegau pan na ellir darparu nifer gweddol fach o deithiau gwasanaeth cludiant cleifion nad ydynt yn rhai brys. Cwblhaodd y gwasanaeth dros 500,000 o deithiau i ysbytai a chlinigau ledled Cymru a'r DU yn ehangach y llynedd.
Thank you. I apologise to my constituents having to raise this matter again with you, having raised it previously with your predecessor.
Now, according to the trust’s latest published annual report, the non-emergency patient transport service’s ambulatory transport performance has improved and been stable, as you’ve rightly pointed out. Increases in demand, in particular for renal patients, does impact on the amount of available resource for out-patient activity. The centre was to be re-rostered during 2024-25, which is expected to help with the increased demand, along with an ability to reconsider the performance metrics around how rosters are designed. However, on a regular basis now, Cabinet Secretary, I have constituents contact me advising that, at the very last minute, their non-emergency transport service has been cancelled. This leaves highly vulnerable and unwell residents frantically trying to find another way to reach their appointment. But also, too, it leaves the consultant often waiting for the patient who then doesn’t turn up, and they get told that they’ve failed an appointment. This cannot be right.
So, what steps can you take to work with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to at least see better communication, and just try and ensure that when someone has prepared themselves, an elderly person, ready for an appointment, to go for treatment or diagnosis, they’re not let down so badly in this way. Diolch.
Diolch. Rwy'n ymddiheuro i fy etholwyr am orfod codi'r mater hwn eto gyda chi, ar ôl ei godi o'r blaen gyda'ch rhagflaenydd.
Nawr, yn ôl yr adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf a gyhoeddwyd gan yr ymddiriedolaeth, mae perfformiad cludiant ambiwlans y gwasanaeth cludo cleifion mewn achosion nad ydynt yn rhai brys wedi gwella ac wedi bod yn sefydlog, fel y nodwyd gennych yn gywir ddigon. Mae cynnydd yn y galw, yn enwedig ar gyfer cleifion arennol, yn effeithio ar faint o adnoddau sydd ar gael ar gyfer gweithgarwch cleifion allanol. Roedd y ganolfan i gael ei hail-restru yn ystod 2024-25, a disgwylir i hynny helpu gyda'r galw cynyddol, ynghyd â'r gallu i ailystyried y metrigau perfformiad ynghylch sut y caiff rhestrau eu cynllunio. Fodd bynnag, yn rheolaidd nawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae gennyf etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi yn dweud bod eu gwasanaeth cludiant mewn achosion nad ydynt yn rhai brys wedi'i ganslo ar y funud olaf. Mae hyn yn gadael trigolion sy'n hynod agored i niwed ac sy'n sâl yn ceisio dod o hyd i ffordd arall o gyrraedd eu hapwyntiad. Ond hefyd, mae'n gadael y meddyg ymgynghorol yn aml yn aros am y claf nad yw'n cyrraedd, a dywedir wrthynt eu bod wedi methu apwyntiad. Ni all hyn fod yn iawn.
Felly, pa gamau y gallwch chi eu cymryd i weithio gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i weld gwell cyfathrebu o leiaf, a cheisio sicrhau nad ydynt yn cael cymaint o gam yn y ffordd hon. Diolch.
Well, I think it is reasonable to say that there are sometimes unexpected changes that—
Wel, rwy'n credu ei bod yn rhesymol dweud bod yna newidiadau annisgwyl weithiau—
This is happening a lot.
Mae hyn yn digwydd yn aml.
There are sometimes unexpected changes that would lead to cancellation at short notice. I think it’s also fair to say that this mostly happens when resources are having to be redirected where there is a more urgent demand elsewhere, and that’s often emergency ambulance service responses. Where there are consultations, the provision of transport is prioritised to those patients with the highest level of needs, so as she mentioned, renal patients, but also cancer patients when they’re travelling for life-sustaining treatments. WAST aims to give patients at least 24 hours' notice wherever they can and to try and provide support in terms of signposting to other providers, perhaps community transport providers. I think it’s important to bear in mind that out of the 0.5 million—500,000—journeys that are made each year, on a monthly basis, last year, the average number of cancellations that came from the service itself was running at around 600 a month, out of 500,000 patient journeys. Last year, more than 70,000 journeys, so almost 10 times as many, were cancelled on the day of travel by patients themselves. Now, the consequence of that is that that really does cause challenges in terms of rostering, so it’s a more complex picture, I think, than perhaps the question suggests, although I recognise it’s a question in good faith.
She asked about what’s happening to try and address some of these challenges. There’s a demand and capacity review under way this year. That will be completed later this year, 2025, and the expectation is that that will help to deliver some additional capacity to reflect the growth in patient volumes as the planned care activity increases across the system following our investment.
Weithiau mae yna newidiadau annisgwyl a fyddai'n arwain at ganslo ar fyr rybudd. Rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn deg dweud bod hyn yn digwydd yn bennaf pan fydd angen ailgyfeirio adnoddau lle mae mwy o alw brys mewn mannau eraill, ac mae hynny'n aml yn golygu ymatebion gwasanaeth ambiwlans brys. Lle mae ymgynghoriadau, mae'r ddarpariaeth gludiant yn cael ei blaenoriaethu i gleifion sydd â'r lefel uchaf o anghenion, felly fel y soniodd hi, cleifion arennol, ond hefyd cleifion canser pan fyddant yn teithio ar gyfer triniaethau cynnal bywyd. Nod Ymddiriedolaeth Gwasanaeth Ambiwlans Cymru yw rhoi o leiaf 24 awr o rybudd i gleifion lle bynnag y gallant ac i geisio darparu cymorth gyda chyfeirio at ddarparwyr eraill, darparwyr cludiant cymunedol o bosibl. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cofio, o'r 0.5 miliwn—500,000—o deithiau sy'n cael eu gwneud bob blwyddyn, yn fisol, y llynedd, roedd nifer cyfartalog y teithiau a ganslwyd gan y gwasanaeth ei hun oddeutu 600 y mis, o gyfanswm o 500,000 o deithiau cleifion. Y llynedd, cafodd mwy na 70,000 o deithiau, felly bron i 10 gwaith cymaint, eu canslo ar y diwrnod teithio gan gleifion eu hunain. Nawr, canlyniad hynny yw bod hynny'n sicr yn achosi heriau o ran rhestru, felly mae'n ddarlun mwy cymhleth, rwy'n meddwl, nag y mae'r cwestiwn yn ei awgrymu efallai, er fy mod yn cydnabod ei fod wedi ei ofyn yn ddiffuant.
Gofynnodd am beth sy'n digwydd i geisio mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r heriau hyn. Mae adolygiad galw a chapasiti ar y gweill eleni. Bydd hwnnw'n cael ei gwblhau yn ddiweddarach eleni, 2025, a'r disgwyliad yw y bydd hwnnw'n helpu i ddarparu rhywfaint o gapasiti ychwanegol i adlewyrchu'r twf yn niferoedd cleifion wrth i weithgaredd gofal a gynlluniwyd gynyddu ar draws y system yn dilyn ein buddsoddiad.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Russell George.
Finally, question 9, Russell George.
9. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod practisau cyffredinol gwledig yn cael digon o gyllid i sicrhau bod pawb yng Nghymru yn byw o fewn pellter rhesymol i bractis cyffredinol? OQ62459
9. How is the Welsh Government ensuring rural GP practices are funded adequately to ensure that everyone in Wales lives within a reasonable distance of a GP practice? OQ62459
I am of course aware of the challenges of delivering GP services to a dispersed rural patient population. Rurality is taken into account as part of the funding formula for practices, and our investment in multidisciplinary teams helps to support access to a wider group of health professionals, including nurses and pharmacists, to ensure care closer to home.
Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r heriau o ddarparu gwasanaethau meddygon teulu i boblogaeth cleifion gwledig sy'n wasgaredig. Mae natur wledig yn cael ei hystyried yn rhan o'r fformiwla ariannu ar gyfer practis, ac mae ein buddsoddiad mewn timau amlddisgyblaethol yn helpu i gefnogi mynediad at grŵp ehangach o weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol, gan gynnwys nyrsys a fferyllwyr, i sicrhau gofal yn nes at adref.
Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. Of course, you will know that some medical practices have more than one surgery location because they're trying to provide services to a very large geographical area, and that does bring an additional cost with it. Some rural practices are reporting to me that they can no longer run their practices viably under this existing model. So, I'm concerned that some practices may hand their contracts back to the health board, which, of course, would, in turn, bring additional concerns and costs. Now, when I raised this with you in a letter last month, you did respond to me about the additional funding the Welsh Government has provided to general practice. But I don't think your response really recognised the issue of rural practices. Funding models, I think, need to better recognise the distinct challenges of providing care rurally and allocate additional funding resources to support the higher costs of the complexities of running a surgery on split sites where there are no other medical services nearby as well in a very large geographical area. So, can you set out why this isn't adequately reflected in the funding formula and what plans do you have to address this?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod gan rai meddygfeydd fwy nag un lleoliad oherwydd eu bod yn ceisio darparu gwasanaethau i ardal ddaearyddol fawr iawn, a daw hynny â chost ychwanegol yn ei sgil. Mae rhai practisau gwledig yn adrodd wrthyf na allant redeg eu practisau'n hyfyw mwyach o dan y model presennol. Felly, rwy'n pryderu y gallai rhai practisau ddychwelyd eu contractau i'r bwrdd iechyd, a fydd, wrth gwrs, yn ei dro, yn arwain at bryderon a chostau ychwanegol. Nawr, pan godais hyn gyda chi mewn llythyr fis diwethaf, fe wnaethoch chi ymateb gan sôn am yr arian ychwanegol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i roi i ymarfer cyffredinol. Ond nid wyf yn credu bod eich ymateb yn cydnabod heriau practisau gwledig yn iawn. Rwy'n credu bod angen i fodelau ariannu gydnabod yn well yr heriau penodol o ddarparu gofal mewn ardaloedd gwledig a dyrannu adnoddau cyllido ychwanegol i gefnogi costau uwch y cymhlethdodau o redeg meddygfa ar safleoedd lluosog lle nad oes gwasanaethau meddygol eraill gerllaw yn ogystal ag mewn ardal ddaearyddol fawr iawn. Felly, a wnewch chi nodi pam nad yw hyn yn cael ei adlewyrchu'n ddigonol yn y fformiwla ariannu a pha gynlluniau sydd gennych i fynd i'r afael â hyn?
As I say, it is reflected in the funding formula. Rurality is one of a set of criteria; it isn't, obviously, the only criterion that is used to weight funding through the general medical services contract. He will also be aware that recognising some of the cost pressures on GP practices, both rural and otherwise, at the moment is part of the settlement of the funding—the contract negotiations, rather, this year, including a £23 million stabilisation payment to enable GP practices to address some of the additional cost pressures. Obviously, for rural practices, that will go to support some of the particular challenges that they face and that I acknowledge in the Member's question. I think part of the solution, as well, lies in the point I was making in response to Alun Davies's question earlier, which is delivering more services on a cluster footing, so to provide a greater resilience, if you like, and more flexibility for those practices, as he describes, which are sometimes providing services for more than one location. That would benefit the resilience of those practices, but also benefit his constituents and mine who are having to travel further than we would like to get some of the services that they need.
Fel y dywedaf, mae'n cael ei adlewyrchu yn y fformiwla ariannu. Mae natur wledig ardal yn un o set o feini prawf; nid dyma'r unig faen prawf a ddefnyddir i bwysoli cyllid trwy'r contract gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol. Fe fydd yn gwybod hefyd fod cydnabod rhai o'r pwysau cost ar bractisau meddygon teulu, gwledig ac fel arall, ar hyn o bryd yn rhan o setliad y cyllid—y negodiadau contract, yn hytrach, eleni, gan gynnwys taliad sefydlogi o £23 miliwn i alluogi practisau meddygon teulu i fynd i'r afael â pheth o bwysau costau ychwanegol. Yn amlwg, ar gyfer practisau gwledig, bydd hynny'n mynd i gefnogi rhai o'r heriau penodol a wynebant ac rwy'n eu cydnabod yng nghwestiwn yr Aelod. Rwy'n credu bod rhan o'r ateb hefyd yn y pwynt a wneuthum mewn ymateb i gwestiwn Alun Davies yn gynharach, sef darparu mwy o wasanaethau ar sail clwstwr, er mwyn darparu mwy o wytnwch, os mynnwch, a mwy o hyblygrwydd i'r practisau sydd weithiau'n darparu gwasanaethau ar gyfer mwy nag un lleoliad, fel y nodwyd ganddo. Byddai hynny o fudd i wytnwch y practisau hynny, ond hefyd o fudd i'w etholwyr ef a minnau sy'n gorfod teithio ymhellach nag yr hoffem i gael rhai o'r gwasanaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Eitem 3 sydd nesaf. Mae un cwestiwn amserol wedi ei dderbyn, a bydd hwnnw gan Sioned Williams.
Item 3 is next. There is one topical question that has been accepted, and the question will be asked by Sioned Williams.
1. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r effaith ar Gymru yn sgil diwygiadau Llywodraeth y DU i les? TQ1317
1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact that the UK Government's reforms to welfare will have on Wales? TQ1317
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn.
Thank you very much for your question.
Welsh Government will carefully consider the implications of proposed welfare reforms and respond to the consultation on the Green Paper to ensure that the voices of disabled people in Wales are heard.
Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried goblygiadau diwygiadau lles arfaethedig yn ofalus ac yn ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad ar y Papur Gwyrdd i sicrhau bod lleisiau pobl anabl yng Nghymru yn cael eu clywed.
Diolch. Now we have a UK Labour Government, are things different for some of the most vulnerable people in Wales? Are they different for the Welsh Government, who still have to fill in the holes that Westminster tears in the safety net that is meant to keep people in Wales from suffering hardship? We have higher rates of disabled people of working age than the UK average, and five of the UK's 10 local authorities with the highest rates of economic inactivity because of long-term illness. So, the impact of these unprecedented cuts to disability benefits on Wales will be devastating. Disability charities have called the plans immoral, unethical, short-sighted. Disability Wales said the £5 billion cuts
'will leave many disabled people in Wales considerably worse off'.
People on the personal independence payment could lose support of between £4,200 a year and £6,300 a year according to the Resolution Foundation. This cut to the income of Wales's poorest citizens is what you and your Government spent the last 14 years denouncing.
We've all heard Liz Kendall and our own First Minister yesterday defend this by trying to accentuate the positive, and we'd of course all welcome any reform that helps tackle the barriers that disabled people who are able and want to work face in finding and retaining employment. But for a Government always eager to emphasise that it listens to those with lived experience, which you've just reiterated again, the First Minister and the Government don't seem to be in listening mode. Are you really, Cabinet Secretary, as the Minister responsible for tackling poverty and supporting the rights of disabled people? The mental health charity, Mind, said that these cuts would exacerbate the mental health crisis. The Child Poverty Action Group said that it will undermine efforts to tackle child poverty. The Trussell Trust said that it will undermine Labour's promises to cut foodbank use. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said that it'll make it harder for people to qualify for support. Oxfam Cymru called on the Welsh Government to demand that their colleagues in Westminster tax the wealthiest to help combat poverty and inequality. The Bevan Foundation has said that the plans will have a huge and concerning impact on the 275,000 people in Wales receiving PIP. This raises challenges for the Welsh Government in terms of the need for additional intensive support for young people who will lose out on a large amount of benefits and then will be put at a further disadvantage if they don’t get that support.
We've seen part of the letter sent by the First Minister to Liz Kendall and heard her answers to the questions posed by Rhun ap Iorwerth yesterday. What wasn't clear was whether the Welsh Government had been consulted on these plans. What did you disagree with? What changes were asked for in that letter, and what changes were made? What impact assessment was shared, if any? Could you provide a clear answer on what your concerns were? And what assessment have you made as to the impact on people and the services you provide—the demand for welfare advice, for devolved grants and allowances such as the discretionary assistance fund, for social and health services? They're all going to be disproportionately higher in Wales than in England. So, do you agree also that additional resource is therefore needed for these services, which will obviously need to be higher than a Barnettised uplift? And will you be asking that from your partners in Westminster?
Finally, what contingency measures are you considering to mitigate the devastation that is soon to be unleashed by these cuts? Will you be setting up a ministerial task and finish group on welfare reform, as you did in 2015, to consider the actions needed by Welsh Government in response to the consequences of Westminster cuts to welfare? Diolch.
Diolch. Gan fod gennym Lywodraeth Lafur yn y DU bellach, a yw pethau'n wahanol i rai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru? A ydynt yn wahanol i Lywodraeth Cymru, sy'n dal i orfod llenwi'r tyllau y mae San Steffan yn eu creu yn y rhwyd ddiogelwch sydd i fod i gadw pobl yng Nghymru rhag dioddef caledi? Mae gennym gyfraddau uwch o bobl anabl o oedran gweithio na chyfartaledd y DU, a phump o'r 10 awdurdod lleol yn y DU sydd â'r cyfraddau uchaf o anweithgarwch economaidd oherwydd salwch hirdymor. Felly, bydd effaith y toriadau digynsail hyn i fudd-daliadau anabledd ar Gymru yn ddinistriol. Mae elusennau anabledd wedi galw'r cynlluniau'n anfoesol, yn ddiegwyddor, yn gibddall. Dywedodd Anabledd Cymru fod y toriadau o £5 biliwn yn golygu
'bod llawer o bobl anabl yng Nghymru gryn dipyn yn waeth eu byd'.
Gallai pobl ar y taliad annibyniaeth bersonol golli rhwng £4,200 y flwyddyn a £6,300 y flwyddyn o gymorth yn ôl y Resolution Foundation. Y toriad hwn i incwm dinasyddion tlotaf Cymru yw'r hyn rydych chi a'ch Llywodraeth wedi treulio'r 14 mlynedd diwethaf yn achwyn yn ei gylch.
Fe wnaeth pawb ohonom glywed Liz Kendall a'n Prif Weinidog ni yn amddiffyn hyn ddoe trwy geisio pwysleisio'r pethau cadarnhaol, ac wrth gwrs, fe fyddem yn croesawu unrhyw ddiwygio sy'n helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau y mae pobl anabl sy'n gallu ac eisiau gweithio yn eu hwynebu wrth ddod o hyd i waith a'i gadw. Ond i Lywodraeth sydd bob amser yn awyddus i bwysleisio ei bod yn gwrando ar y rhai sydd â phrofiad bywyd, rhywbeth rydych chi newydd ei ailadrodd eto, nid yw'n ymddangos bod Prif Weinidog Cymru a'r Llywodraeth yn gwrando. A ydych chi'n gwrando, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am fynd i'r afael â thlodi a chefnogi hawliau pobl anabl? Dywedodd yr elusen iechyd meddwl, Mind, y byddai'r toriadau hyn yn gwaethygu'r argyfwng iechyd meddwl. Dywedodd y Grŵp Gweithredu ar Dlodi Plant y bydd yn tanseilio ymdrechion i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Dywedodd Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell y bydd yn tanseilio addewidion Llafur i gwtogi'r defnydd o fanciau bwyd. Dywedodd Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree y bydd yn ei gwneud hi'n anos i bobl fod yn gymwys i gael cymorth. Galwodd Oxfam Cymru ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fynnu bod eu cymheiriaid yn San Steffan yn trethu'r bobl gyfoethocaf i helpu i frwydro yn erbyn tlodi ac anghydraddoldeb. Mae Sefydliad Bevan wedi dweud y bydd y cynlluniau yn cael effaith enfawr a phryderus ar y 275,000 o bobl yng Nghymru sy'n derbyn y taliad annibyniaeth personol. Mae hyn yn creu heriau i Lywodraeth Cymru o ran yr angen am gymorth dwys ychwanegol i bobl ifanc a fydd yn colli llawer iawn o fudd-daliadau ac yna'n wynebu anfantais bellach os na chânt y cymorth hwnnw.
Rydym wedi gweld rhan o'r llythyr a anfonwyd gan y Prif Weinidog at Liz Kendall ac wedi clywed ei hatebion i'r cwestiynau a ofynnwyd gan Rhun ap Iorwerth ddoe. Yr hyn nad oedd yn glir oedd pa un a ymgynghorwyd â Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch y cynlluniau hyn. Beth oeddech chi'n anghytuno ag ef? Pa newidiadau y gofynnwyd amdanynt yn y llythyr hwnnw, a pha newidiadau a wnaed? Pa asesiad effaith a gafodd ei rannu, os o gwbl? A allech chi roi ateb clir ynglŷn â beth oedd eich pryderon? A pha asesiad a wnaethoch ynglŷn â'r effaith ar bobl a'r gwasanaethau a ddarparwch—y galw am gyngor lles, am grantiau a lwfansau datganoledig fel y gronfa cymorth dewisol, ar gyfer gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ac iechyd? Maent i gyd yn mynd i fod yn gymharol uwch yng Nghymru nag yn Lloegr. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno hefyd fod angen adnoddau ychwanegol ar gyfer y gwasanaethau hyn y bydd angen iddo fod yn uwch na chodiad Barnett, yn amlwg? Ac a fyddwch chi'n gofyn am hynny gan eich partneriaid yn San Steffan?
Yn olaf, pa fesurau wrth gefn rydych chi'n eu hystyried i liniaru'r dinistr sydd i ddod yn fuan yn sgil y toriadau hyn? A fyddwch chi'n sefydlu grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen gweinidogol ar ddiwygio lles, fel y gwnaethoch chi yn 2015, i ystyried y camau sydd eu hangen ar Lywodraeth Cymru mewn ymateb i ganlyniadau toriadau San Steffan i les? Diolch.
Wel, diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiynau pwysig iawn.
Well, thank you very much for your very important questions.
Thank you for those questions. We will carefully consider the impact of the proposed welfare reforms on people in Wales, and we will provide a cross-Government response as well. You referred to the fact that the First Minister has written to the Department of Work and Pensions Secretary of State asking what analysis has been done or will be done on the differential impact of any proposed cuts in welfare in Wales compared to England.
It is important that we do all we can within our powers to support people in Wales, and we will continue to do so. We want to make sure that people who can work are able to find employment and receive the support that they need. But we absolutely agree that the social security system needs to ensure that it's effectively supporting people into work but offering an effective financial safety net for people who are unable to work. As I said, I've urged and I continue to urge disabled people and their organisations that support them in Wales to ensure that their voices are heard by responding to the consultation, which closes on 30 June. As you know, I chair a disability equality forum, and I will be holding a meeting with the forum to discuss this.
I'm very pleased, also, that the Equality and Social Justice Committee has produced a really important report, which you also, as a member of that committee, contributed to, 'Anything’s Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap'. But also I would say that it's important that the work that the disability rights taskforce has done in Wales has demonstrated our commitment to listening and collaborating with disabled people. So, it's a 10-year disabled people's rights plan that's going to be published very shortly. It aims to remove barriers and create long-term positive change for disabled people. And one point I would make—and I'm sure you would agree—is that we need to place the social model of disability at the core of the response to the UK Government's welfare reform proposals, but also at the core of our vision and response in Wales.
Diolch am y cwestiynau hynny. Byddwn yn mynd ati'n ofalus i ystyried effaith y diwygiadau lles arfaethedig ar bobl yng Nghymru, a byddwn yn darparu ymateb trawslywodraethol hefyd. Roeddech yn nodi bod y Prif Weinidog wedi ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn gofyn pa ddadansoddiad a wnaed neu a fydd yn cael ei wneud ar effaith wahaniaethol unrhyw doriadau arfaethedig i les yng Nghymru o'i gymharu â Lloegr.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn gwneud popeth a allwn o fewn ein pwerau i gefnogi pobl yng Nghymru, a byddwn yn parhau i wneud hynny. Rydym eisiau sicrhau bod pobl sy'n gallu gweithio yn gallu dod o hyd i waith a chael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt. Ond rydym yn cytuno'n llwyr fod angen i'r system nawdd cymdeithasol sicrhau ei bod yn cefnogi pobl i weithio yn effeithiol ond yn cynnig rhwyd ddiogelwch ariannol effeithiol i bobl nad ydynt yn gallu gweithio. Fel y dywedais, rwyf wedi annog ac rwy'n parhau i annog pobl anabl a'r sefydliadau sy'n eu cefnogi yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod eu lleisiau'n cael eu clywed drwy ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad, sy'n dod i ben ar 30 Mehefin. Fel y gwyddoch, rwy'n cadeirio fforwm cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl, a byddaf yn cynnal cyfarfod gyda'r fforwm i drafod hyn.
Rwy'n falch iawn hefyd fod y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol wedi llunio adroddiad pwysig iawn, ac rydych chi hefyd, fel aelod o'r pwyllgor hwnnw, wedi cyfrannu ato, 'Gellir Cyflawni Unrhyw Beth gyda'r Gefnogaeth Gywir: Mynd i'r Afael â'r Bwlch Cyflogaeth Anabledd'. Ond hefyd mae'n bwysig fod y gwaith y mae'r tasglu hawliau pobl anabl wedi'i wneud yng Nghymru wedi dangos ein hymrwymiad i wrando a chydweithio gyda phobl anabl. Felly, mae'n gynllun hawliau pobl anabl 10 mlynedd sy'n mynd i gael ei gyhoeddi'n fuan iawn. Ei nod yw cael gwared ar rwystrau a chreu newid cadarnhaol hirdymor i bobl anabl. Ac un pwynt yr hoffwn ei wneud—ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno—yw bod angen inni osod y model cymdeithasol o anabledd wrth wraidd yr ymateb i gynigion diwygio lles Llywodraeth y DU, ond hefyd wrth wraidd ein gweledigaeth a'n hymateb ni yng Nghymru.
Thank you, Sioned, for raising this issue. And thank you, Cabinet Minister; we will wait for the response. Cabinet Secretary, I welcome the move by the UK Government to tackle the ballooning welfare Bill. In one of the most widely trailed announcements in recent times, Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall came to the same conclusion as successive Conservative Secretaries of State, namely that action was desperately needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the welfare system and to restore fairness. As health-related benefits for people of working age reach a staggering £71 billion a year, far more than we spend on the police and defending our nation, it has been clear for some time that a reform is no longer optional. Cabinet Secretary, do you regret that the UK Government criticised and then abandoned Conservative plans only to have to reintroduce welfare reforms because they crashed the economy with their jobs tax and now have to fill the resulting financial black hole?
Diolch am godi'r mater hwn, Sioned. A diolch, Weinidog y Cabinet; rydym yn aros am yr ymateb. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n croesawu'r camau gan Lywodraeth y DU i fynd i'r afael â'r bil lles sy'n chwyddo fwyfwy. Yn un o'r cyhoeddiadau a gafodd fwyaf o sylw yn ddiweddar, daeth Rachel Reeves a Liz Kendall i'r un casgliad ag Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol Ceidwadol olynol, sef bod gwir angen gweithredu i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd hirdymor y system les ac i adfer tegwch. Wrth i fudd-daliadau sy'n gysylltiedig ag iechyd i bobl o oedran gweithio gyrraedd £71 biliwn y flwyddyn, llawer mwy nag a wariwn ar yr heddlu ac ar amddiffyn ein gwlad, mae wedi bod yn amlwg ers peth amser nad dewis yw diwygio mwyach. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n gresynu bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi beirniadu ac yna wedi cefnu ar gynlluniau'r Ceidwadwyr ac yna wedi gorfod ailgyflwyno diwygiadau lles am eu bod wedi chwalu'r economi gyda'u treth ar swyddi a'u bod bellach yn gorfod llenwi'r twll du ariannol sy'n deillio o hynny?
I think, in terms of crashing the economy, we know who did that, in terms of Liz Truss's time in power and 14 years—
Ar chwalu'r economi, rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwybod pwy a wnaeth hynny, a chyfnod Liz Truss mewn grym a 14 mlynedd—
Can I ask Members to stop shouting across the Chamber, so the Minister can answer?
A gaf i ofyn i'r Aelodau roi'r gorau i weiddi ar draws y Siambr, fel y gall y Gweinidog ateb?
—of austerity. But I absolutely thank you, of course, Altaf Hussain, for your important question. Can I say that, of course, we need to influence—[Interruption.] Obviously, we need to influence the response to this consultation on welfare reform. And what is important is that we do have a four nations inter-ministerial meeting with the UK Government Department for Work and Pensions—four nations. And it is four nations, so it will be Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, the UK Government. It's really important to get that four-nation engagement. It's been set up to discuss areas of mutual interest, such as how to reform the benefits system and to ensure that work always pays. This is where we can contribute in terms of the work that we've been doing to ensure that we can help address that gap, the disability employment gap, which we know exists. Of course, that's something where I think the work that we've done, particularly in terms of our employment support programmes, where we seek to establish a seamless and integrated employability support system, tailored towards fair work jobs—. We focus on those closest to the labour market, the short-term unemployed and redundant people.
We also, of course, employ five disabled people's employment champions, and they each bring lived experience and in-depth and practical understanding of the social model of disability. They are working, engaging with employers, employer representative organisations and trade unions across the public and private sector to promote recruitment, retention and progression of disabled people. Support for this has come from our disability rights taskforce, and, of course, they are helping us move forward in terms of our disabled people's rights plan, based on the social model of disability.
I think it is important that we look at some of the proposals in the announcements yesterday in relation to the opportunity of establishing a right-to-try principle, which would mean that work will not lead to reassessment, which, of course, causes great insecurity for disabled people. The intention is to legislate as soon as possible, so it can apply to the current system as well as the reformed system. I do note that, from many of the responses—concerned responses—from disability and social research organisations, there is a recognition that the right to try is important, so that—. And I think this was from the Bevan Foundation:
'And the proposal to clarify the work that claimants can undertake and guarantee that they can try a job without jeopardising their benefits should help to support people into work.'
But, of course, we are now in the process of engaging with, as I said—. It's important that we engage now not just with all of the disabled people's organisations that we already engage with, but look to the important Equality and Social Justice Committee report, publish our disabled people's rights plan for the next 10 years and engage with the UK Government constructively and proactively on these proposals.
—o gyni. Ond diolch am eich cwestiwn pwysig, Altaf Hussain. A gaf i ddweud bod angen inni ddylanwadu—[Torri ar draws.] Yn amlwg, mae angen inni ddylanwadu ar yr ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad hwn ar ddiwygio lles. A'r hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod yn cael cyfarfod rhyngweinidogol y pedair gwlad gydag Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau Llywodraeth y DU—y pedair gwlad. Ac mae'n bedair gwlad, felly Cymru, yr Alban, Gogledd Iwerddon a Lloegr, Llywodraeth y DU. Mae'n bwysig iawn cael yr ymgysylltiad pedair gwlad hwnnw. Fe'i sefydlwyd i drafod meysydd sydd o ddiddordeb i bawb, fel sut i ddiwygio'r system fudd-daliadau ac i sicrhau bod gwaith bob amser yn talu. Dyma lle gallwn gyfrannu gyda'r gwaith y buom yn ei wneud i sicrhau y gallwn helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r bwlch hwnnw, y bwlch cyflogaeth anabledd, y gwyddom ei fod yn bodoli. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n credu bod y gwaith a wnaethom, yn enwedig ar ein rhaglenni cymorth cyflogaeth, lle rydym yn ceisio sefydlu system cymorth cyflogadwyedd ddi-dor ac integredig, wedi'i theilwra tuag at swyddi gwaith teg—. Rydym yn canolbwyntio ar y rhai sydd agosaf at y farchnad lafur, pobl ddi-waith a di-waith yn fyrdymor.
Rydym hefyd yn cyflogi pum hyrwyddwr cyflogaeth pobl anabl, ac mae pob un ohonynt yn cyfrannu profiad bywyd a dealltwriaeth fanwl ac ymarferol o'r model cymdeithasol o anabledd. Maent yn gweithio, yn ymgysylltu â chyflogwyr, sefydliadau cynrychioli cyflogwyr ac undebau llafur ar draws y sector cyhoeddus a phreifat i hyrwyddo recriwtio, cadw a chynnydd pobl anabl. Mae cefnogaeth i hyn wedi dod gan ein tasglu hawliau pobl anabl, ac wrth gwrs, maent yn ein helpu i symud ymlaen gyda'n cynllun hawliau pobl anabl, yn seiliedig ar y model cymdeithasol o anabledd.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn edrych ar rai o'r cynigion yn y cyhoeddiadau ddoe mewn perthynas â'r cyfle i sefydlu egwyddor hawl i roi cynnig arni, a fyddai'n golygu na fydd gwaith yn arwain at ailasesu, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn achosi ansicrwydd mawr i bobl anabl. Y bwriad yw deddfu cyn gynted â phosibl, fel y gall fod yn berthnasol i'r system bresennol yn ogystal â'r system ddiwygiedig. Rwy'n nodi, o lawer o'r ymatebion—ymatebion pryderus—gan sefydliadau anabledd a sefydliadau ymchwil gymdeithasol, fod yna gydnabyddiaeth fod yr hawl i roi cynnig arni yn bwysig, fel bod—. Ac rwy'n credu mai Sefydliad Bevan a ddywedodd:
'A dylai'r cynnig i egluro'r gwaith y gall hawlwyr ei wneud a gwarantu y gallant roi cynnig ar wneud swydd heb beryglu eu budd-daliadau helpu i gefnogi pobl i gael gwaith.'
Ond wrth gwrs, rydym wrthi nawr yn ymgysylltu â—. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ymgysylltu nawr, nid yn unig â'r holl sefydliadau pobl anabl yr ydym eisoes yn ymgysylltu â hwy, ond ein bod yn edrych ar adroddiad pwysig y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, yn cyhoeddi ein cynllun hawliau pobl anabl am y 10 mlynedd nesaf ac yn ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU yn adeiladol ac yn rhagweithiol ar y cynigion hyn.
One of the things we've seen over the last few decades, of course, is that, when the Conservatives have been in power in the UK, child poverty has increased, and, when Labour have been in power in the UK, child poverty has decreased. The rates of child poverty in Wales doubled during the 1980s and have been increasing constantly since 2010. So, we do need to address the issues of poverty in this country. Do you agree with me, Minister, that the way to address poverty in this country is not simply to respond to relatively short-term issues around public spending, but to set a clear objective of Government that we will eradicate poverty, that we will reduce inequality, and that all Government policy, whether here in Wales or in the United Kingdom, should be driven by that objective, and that is the test by which we will test all policies that come out of either Government: how will this impact poverty, how will this impact the most vulnerable and how will this impact the poorest and the weakest in society?
Un o'r pethau a welsom dros y degawdau diwethaf, wrth gwrs, yw, pan fydd y Ceidwadwyr wedi bod mewn grym yn y DU, fod tlodi plant wedi cynyddu, a phan fydd Llafur wedi bod mewn grym yn y DU, mae tlodi plant wedi gostwng. Dyblodd cyfraddau tlodi plant yng Nghymru yn ystod y 1980au ac maent wedi bod yn cynyddu'n gyson ers 2010. Felly, mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â phroblemau tlodi yn y wlad hon. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi, Weinidog, mai'r ffordd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi yn y wlad hon yw nid yn unig ymateb i faterion cymharol fyrdymor yn ymwneud â gwariant cyhoeddus, ond gosod amcan clir gan y Llywodraeth y byddwn yn dileu tlodi, y byddwn yn lleihau anghydraddoldeb, ac y dylai holl bolisi'r Llywodraeth, boed yma yng Nghymru neu yn y Deyrnas Unedig, gael ei yrru gan yr amcan hwnnw, a dyna'r prawf y byddwn yn ei ddefnyddio i brofi pob polisi a ddaw gan y naill Lywodraeth neu'r llall: sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar dlodi, sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed a sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar y tlotaf a'r gwannaf mewn cymdeithas?
Thank you for that, and thank you for restating the principles of this Welsh Labour Government, Alun Davies. Actually, in a short time I'm joining a four nations child poverty taskforce meeting, which has been called by the UK Government this afternoon, where I will be pressing these points in terms of tackling child poverty, and it's important that Senedd Members are aware of that. I think it is really important that we understand how it is that we can support those who can work, how we can support them into employment, and we know that that is a huge issue for many, as the Equality and Social Justice Committee pointed out—the title, ‘Anything's Achievable with the Right Support’. We need to make sure that we get the funding for the right support for employment programmes. We need to ensure there's an effective, safe financial safety net for people who are unable to work. That's got to be recognised. And we will be carefully considering the proposal for a new health element, which will provide additional financial support for people claiming universal credit who are unable to work.
Diolch am hynny, a diolch am ailddatgan egwyddorion y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yng Nghymru, Alun Davies. A dweud y gwir, mewn byr o dro, byddaf yn ymuno â chyfarfod tasglu tlodi plant y pedair gwlad, sydd wedi'i alw gan Lywodraeth y DU y prynhawn yma, lle byddaf yn gwneud y pwyntiau hyn ar fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant, ac mae'n bwysig fod Aelodau'r Senedd yn ymwybodol o hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn deall sut y gallwn gefnogi'r rhai sy'n gallu gweithio, sut y gallwn eu cefnogi i gael gwaith, ac rydym yn gwybod bod hwnnw'n fater enfawr i lawer, fel y nododd y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol—y teitl, 'Gellir Cyflawni Unrhyw Beth gyda'r Gefnogaeth Gywir'. Mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn cael yr arian ar gyfer y cymorth cywir ar gyfer rhaglenni cyflogaeth. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod rhwyd ddiogelwch ariannol effeithiol a diogel i bobl nad ydynt yn gallu gweithio. Rhaid i hynny gael ei gydnabod. A byddwn yn ystyried yn ofalus y cynnig ar gyfer elfen iechyd newydd, a fydd yn darparu cymorth ariannol ychwanegol i bobl sy'n hawlio credyd cynhwysol nad ydynt yn gallu gweithio.
Wel, dwi ddim yn gallu credu beth dwi'n ei glywed heddiw yma, i fod yn onest. Mae gennym ni fan hyn gangen o'r Blaid Lafur sydd wedi bod yn traethu am y materion yma ers degawdau, yn pwyntio'r bys at y Ceidwadwyr ac yn dweud mai nhw ydy'r rhai drwg, ac yn dweud bod y Ceidwadwyr wedi gorfodi pobl i dlodi, ac yn ymladd yn erbyn y Ceidwadwyr. Mae George Osborne ei hun wedi dweud na fuasai fo ddim wedi mynd mor bell â beth mae Rachel Reeves a Keir Starmer yn ei wneud yn San Steffan. Ond eto mae gyda ni Lafur yng Nghymru sydd mor llyweth, mor ddi-asgwrn cefn, yn gwrthod sefyll i fyny i'r bobl yma yn Llundain sy'n mynd i orfodi ein pobl ni yng Nghymru i mewn i dlodi—i mewn i dlodi eithafol. Rydym ni wedi clywed Save the Children yn dweud heddiw yn barod, os ydym ni'n meddwl bod tlodi plant mewn sefyllfa wael yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, mae'n mynd i fod yn waeth yn y flwyddyn, ddwy flynedd, dair blynedd nesaf, oherwydd eich penderfyniadau chi, eich Llywodraeth chi. Mae hyn yn mynd i fod ar eich ysgwyddau chi.
Roeddech chi'n sôn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, eich bod chi am wneud pob dim o fewn eich grym er mwyn mynd i'r afael â hyn. Byddwch chi'n gorfod gweithio o fewn cyllideb dynn iawn. Byddwch chi'n gorfod gwneud pob dim o fewn eich cyllideb chi, ac mae'r gyllideb yna yn barod yn cael ei stretsio i bwynt lle nad ydy o'n bosibl gweithredu pob dim.
Wel, rydym ni'n gwybod bod llymder, austerity, yr hyn ddaru i'r Ceidwadwyr yn ei wneud, wedi brynaru'r tir ar gyfer Farage, ar gyfer Reform a'u criw. Llymder sydd wedi achosi'r sefyllfa yma lle rydym ni'n gweld yr adain de eithafol rŵan yn codi, oherwydd ein bod ni'n gweld gwasanaethau yn cwtogi. Rŵan mae Llafur, Llafur yn Llundain, eich Llafur chi, yn mynd i orfodi mwy o lymder ar bobl Cymru. Bydd hwn yn gwthio mwy o bobl mewn i freichiau pobl fel Farage achos eu bod nhw mor anobeithiol.
Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni gael dealltwriaeth o effaith y polisi yma ar Gymru. Mae'n mynd i effeithio ar eich cyfaill chi drws nesaf. [Torri ar draws.] Mi ddof i at y cwestiwn; diolch. Mae'n mynd i effeithio ar iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Felly, pa asesiad ydych chi'n mynd ei wneud, ac sydd wedi'i wneud, o'r effaith ar gyllideb iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a sut bydd awdurdodau lleol, felly, yn ymdopi â'r toriadau yma?
Well, I can't believe what I'm hearing today, to be honest with you. Here, we have a branch of the Labour Party that has been going on and on about these issues for decades, pointing the finger at the Conservatives, saying that they are the enemy in all of this and that they force people into poverty. But George Osborne himself has said that he wouldn't have gone as far as Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer are doing in Westminster at the moment. Yet we have a Labour Party in Wales that is so servile, so lacking in backbone, that they will not stand up to these people in London who will force our people in Wales into poverty—into extreme poverty. We've heard Save the Children say today already that, if we think that child poverty is bad in Wales at the moment, it will get worse in the next year or two or three because of your decisions, your Government's decisions. This will be on your shoulders.
You mentioned, Cabinet Secretary, that you will do everything within your power in order to tackle and address this. Well, you will have to work within a very tight budget. You will have to do everything within your budget, and that budget is already stretched to the point that it's not possible to do everything.
Now, we know that austerity, what the Conservatives did, has prepared the ground for Farage, for Reform and that lot. It’s austerity that has caused this situation where we see the extreme right wing on the rise, because we're seeing services being cut. Now Labour, Labour in London, your Labour Party, is going to force more austerity on the people of Wales. This will push more and more people into the arms of those like Farage because they are losing all hope.
Now, we must have an understanding of the impact of this policy on Wales. It's going to impact your colleague next to you there. [Interruption.] I will come to a question. It's going to impact health and social care. So, what assessment will you make and has been made of the impact on the health and social care budget and how local authorities will cope with these cuts?
Diolch yn fawr, Mabon ap Gwynfor. You referred to the Conservatives; well, they, of course, left a dreadful legacy of 3 million people across the UK out of work for health reasons, and failing to tackle the root cause of economic activity. But it is important, as I said in answer to the questions today, that we do respond to these proposals, and that we engage with the disabled people's organisations, those who are affected by this, and that we contribute—and I've mentioned the four nations' ministerial meeting with the Department for Work and Pensions—and engage as well.
But can I go back? Just in terms of the assessment, you will know, and I will repeat, and you heard yesterday, that the First Minister wrote to the DWP Secretary of State, asking what analysis has been or will be done on the differential impact of any proposed cuts in welfare on Wales compared to England. In fact, yesterday, I recall she said she'd been in touch with No. 10 as well, to make those points. We need to make sure that we then work together, so that we can understand the impact of this, in terms of the people that we serve.
But I do want to also make one point that I think is very important. I've talked about the work that we're already doing in terms of our disabled employment champions and the fact that we have our disability rights taskforce. We have demonstrated our commitment to listening to and collaborating with disabled people and disabled people's organisations, and to look at all of those key issues that affect them: independent living, health, social care, employment and income, travel, children and young people. These were all workstreams that we worked on together, to listen to them, to work with them, to come up with recommendations for this Government.
And I think it is important, in terms of the needs of young people, for example, that we actually do have a young person's guarantee here in Wales. That young person's guarantee means that our young people who are under the age of 25 can have—. And we have those lower youth unemployment figures, which are really critical, compared to the rest of the UK—6 per cent compared to 11.5 per cent—because we have provided the job guarantee, supporting over 48,000 young people. It is about a job, training or an apprenticeship. So, I think the work we're already doing—and of course that is funded within our budget—will also ensure that we have a robust response to this. We want a compassionate, person-centred welfare system, but a welfare system that enables people who want to work to work. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Mabon ap Gwynfor. Roeddech chi'n cyfeirio at y Ceidwadwyr; wel, fe wnaethant hwy adael gwaddol echrydus o 3 miliwn o bobl ledled y DU yn ddi-waith am resymau iechyd, a methu mynd i'r afael ag achos sylfaenol anweithgarwch economaidd. Ond fel y dywedais wrth ateb y cwestiynau heddiw, mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ymateb i'r cynigion hyn, a'n bod yn ymgysylltu â sefydliadau pobl anabl, y rhai y mae hyn yn effeithio arnynt, a'n bod ni'n cyfrannu—ac rwyf wedi sôn am gyfarfod gweinidogol y pedair gwlad gyda'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau—ac yn ymgysylltu hefyd.
Ond a gaf i fynd yn ôl? O ran yr asesiad, fe fyddwch chi'n gwybod, ac fe wnaf ailadrodd, ac fe glywsoch chi ddoe, fod y Prif Weinidog wedi ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, yn gofyn pa ddadansoddiad a wnaed neu a fydd yn cael ei wneud ar effaith wahaniaethol unrhyw doriadau arfaethedig mewn lles ar Gymru o gymharu â Lloegr. Yn wir, ddoe, rwy'n cofio iddi ddweud ei bod wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â Rhif 10 hefyd, i wneud y pwyntiau hynny. Mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod wedyn yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd, fel y gallwn ddeall effaith hyn ar y bobl a wasanaethwn.
Ond rwyf hefyd eisiau gwneud un pwynt sy'n bwysig iawn yn fy marn i. Rwyf wedi siarad am y gwaith a wnawn eisoes gyda'n hyrwyddwyr cyflogaeth pobl anabl a'r ffaith bod gennym ein tasglu hawliau pobl anabl. Rydym wedi dangos ein hymrwymiad i wrando ar bobl anabl a sefydliadau pobl anabl a chydweithio â hwy, ac i edrych ar yr holl faterion allweddol sy'n effeithio arnynt: byw'n annibynnol, iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol, cyflogaeth ac incwm, teithio, plant a phobl ifanc. Roedd y rhain i gyd yn ffrydiau gwaith y buom yn gweithio arnynt gyda'n gilydd, i wrando arnynt, i weithio gyda hwy, i ddod o hyd i argymhellion ar gyfer y Llywodraeth hon.
Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig, o ran anghenion pobl ifanc er enghraifft, fod gennym y warant i bobl ifanc yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r warant i bobl ifanc yn golygu y gall ein pobl ifanc sydd o dan 25 oed gael—. Ac mae gennym y ffigurau diweithdra ieuenctid is hynny, sy'n wirioneddol allweddol, o'i gymharu â gweddill y DU—6 y cant o'i gymharu â 11.5 y cant—oherwydd ein bod wedi darparu'r warant swyddi, gan gefnogi dros 48,000 o bobl ifanc. Mae'n ymwneud â swydd, hyfforddiant neu brentisiaeth. Felly, rwy'n credu y bydd y gwaith a wnawn eisoes—ac sy'n cael ei ariannu o fewn ein cyllideb—hefyd yn sicrhau ein bod yn cael ymateb cadarn i hyn. Rydym eisiau system les dosturiol, sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn, ond system les sy'n galluogi pobl sydd eisiau gweithio i weithio. Diolch yn fawr.
I've been contacted by so many constituents, really concerned about this. I don't know what to tell them, and I don't know what to tell them the Welsh Government's position is, which is a sorry state of affairs, and shows that the partnership in power is nothing more than rhetoric. I know how different your comments would be if we still had a Conservative Government implementing these changes. And what I would like to know is: what is the Welsh Government's position on these changes? Now that you know the details, what will be in that letter to the UK Government? I hope there will be a letter. What do you disagree with, what are your concerns, and, also, what will you do about it?
Mae cymaint o etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi yn bryderus iawn ynglŷn â hyn. Nid wyf yn gwybod beth i’w ddweud wrthynt, ac nid wyf yn gwybod beth i ddweud wrthynt yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, sy’n warthus, ac sy’n dangos nad yw’r bartneriaeth mewn grym yn ddim mwy na rhethreg. Gwn pa mor wahanol fyddai eich sylwadau pe bai gennym Lywodraeth Geidwadol yn dal i wneud y newidiadau hyn. A’r hyn yr hoffwn ei wybod yw: beth yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar y newidiadau hyn? Gan eich bod yn gwybod y manylion bellach, beth fydd yn y llythyr at Lywodraeth y DU? Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd llythyr. Beth rydych chi'n anghytuno ag ef, beth yw eich pryderon, a hefyd, beth fyddwch chi'n ei wneud yn ei gylch?
Well, I think I've answered those questions more than once this afternoon. We've already raised this; the First Minister raised it before we'd even had the proposals yesterday. She raised it—[Interruption.]—she raised it—[Interruption.] If you want to see and respect the fact that we have a First Minister who raised these questions directly with our colleagues in the UK Government, and recognise the influence that our First Minister has—[Interruption.]—and that I will have—
Wel, rwy'n credu fy mod wedi ateb y cwestiynau hynny fwy nag unwaith y prynhawn yma. Rydym eisoes wedi codi hyn; cododd y Prif Weinidog y mater cyn inni hyd yn oed gael y cynigion ddoe. Fe’i cododd—[Torri ar draws.]—fe’i cododd—[Torri ar draws.] Os ydych am weld a pharchu’r ffaith bod gennym Brif Weinidog a gododd y cwestiynau hyn yn uniongyrchol gyda’n cyd-Aelodau yn Llywodraeth y DU, a chydnabod y dylanwad sydd gan ein Prif Weinidog—[Torri ar draws.]—ac a fydd gennyf—
Members need to allow the Cabinet Secretary to respond.
Mae angen i'r Aelodau ganiatáu i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ymateb.
—I'm sure, when I meet with this four nations inter-ministerial group with the UK Government. It won't just be myself as Cabinet Secretary; it will also include the Cabinet Secretary from the Scottish Government, who will also want to take the opportunity, as will the Ministers from Northern Ireland. This is important in terms of our responsibilities in Government.
But I do want to assure you that the most important point for me today is to say that I will be meeting with disabled people here in Wales, and talking to them about the impact. I will do the analysis, but also I look forward to responding to the really important Equality and Social Justice Committee, and I hope that you will be able to welcome the 10-year disabled people's rights plan. That's what our plan has been called. It's a disabled people's rights plan because we believe in the social model of disability. We want to remove the barriers to disabled people, and of course, those disabled people who want to enter work and need the support that we can give them, that's where we will play our part.
—rwy’n siŵr, pan fyddaf yn cyfarfod â grŵp rhyngweinidogol y pedair gwlad gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Nid fi yn unig a fydd yno fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet; bydd hefyd yn cynnwys Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet o Lywodraeth yr Alban, a fydd hefyd yn awyddus i achub ar y cyfle, fel y bydd y Gweinidogion o Ogledd Iwerddon. Mae hyn yn bwysig o ran ein cyfrifoldebau yn y Llywodraeth.
Ond hoffwn roi sicrwydd i chi mai'r pwynt pwysicaf i mi heddiw yw dweud y byddaf yn cyfarfod â phobl anabl yma yng Nghymru, ac yn siarad â hwy ynglŷn â'r effaith. Fe wnaf y dadansoddiad, ond edrychaf ymlaen hefyd at ymateb i’r Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol gwirioneddol bwysig, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch groesawu’r cynllun hawliau pobl anabl 10 mlynedd. Dyna'r enw a roddwyd ar ein cynllun. Mae'n gynllun hawliau pobl anabl am ein bod yn credu yn y model cymdeithasol o anabledd. Rydym am gael gwared ar y rhwystrau i bobl anabl, ac wrth gwrs, y bobl anabl hynny sydd am gael gwaith ac sydd angen y cymorth y gallwn ei roi iddynt, dyna lle byddwn yn chwarae ein rhan.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Ni chyflwynwyd unrhyw ddatganiad 90 eiliad.
No 90-second statements were submitted.
Felly, eitem 5 yw'r cynnig i atal Rheol Sefydlog 13.6 dros dro i ganiatáu cyfraniadau lluosog gan Aelodau unigol yn ystod eitem 6. A galwaf ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol, Heledd Fychan.
So, I'll move on to item 5, which is the motion to suspend Standing Order 13.6 to allow multiple contributions from individual Members during item 6. And I call on a member of the Business Committee to move the motion formally, Heledd Fychan.
Cynnig NNDM8858 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 33.6 a 33.8 yn:
Atal Rheol Sefydlog 13.6 dros dro i ganiatáu i'r Aelodau gyfrannu ar fwy nag un achlysur yn ystod y Ddadl Agored ar NDM8839 yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ddydd Mercher 19 Mawrth 2025.
Motion NNDM8858 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:
Suspends Standing Order 13.6 to allow Members to contribute on more than one occasion during the Open Debate on NDM8839 in Plenary on Wednesday 19 March 2025.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Y cynnig yw atal Rheol Sefydlog 13.6 dros dro. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to suspend Standing Order 13.6. Does any Member object? No. 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.
Ac eitem 6, dadl agored: a all ynni adnewyddadwy yn unig ddiwallu anghenion ynni Cymru? A galwaf ar Carolyn Thomas i agor y ddadl.
And that brings us to item 6, the open debate: can renewables alone meet the energy needs of Wales? And I call on Carolyn Thomas to open the debate.
Thank you. I'd like to thank the Business Committee for selecting this important topic as the Senedd's first open debate. I hope the question—can renewables alone meet the energy needs of Wales—will spark an in-depth discussion about the future of our energy sector here in Wales, and I look forward to hearing the ideas and contributions of Members from across the Chamber, and I may be coming out with some provocative ideas as well.
Wales has an abundance of natural elements—wave, wind and solar—that can create energy and power our homes. We can store it with batteries, by creating green hydrogen and by using interconnectors, moving it around to where it's needed and where the wind might be blowing. The cost of gas continues to rise rapidly and we rely on importing it at high cost, and we need to move away from harmful fossil fuels.
North Wales has the highest standing and unit energy charges in Great Britain, because of the network, I'm told. And the UK's energy charges are the highest of any developed nation, because we don't own and we rely on imports, yet we have three huge windfarms off the north Wales coast—that is our view out to sea. But how do we benefit from it? Is zonal charging the answer, as was raised earlier?
We need to achieve energy security for the people of Wales. That means an end to relying on foreign imports or fossil fuels and instead putting the focus on producing energy here in Wales for people at a fair price. At present, Wales is a net exporter of electricity. In 2022, it generated twice as much as it consumed and around a third of its generation currently comes from renewables, with the remaining coming from fossil fuels, mainly gas.
We need to tip the scales in favour of clean, green energy that benefits local people. More European and global businesses would like to invest in renewables in Wales, and we're seeing so many applications coming forward for onshore wind as well as many offshore solar farms, battery storage, and a proposal for a tidal lagoon, I heard, off Swansea bay, seeking UK and Welsh Government funding.
Developers demand that action is required to address key barriers, such as delays to planning applications, but often, policies clash. I hope that we will be designating a new national park in north Wales, but what does that mean for onshore wind and its infrastructure? Can it still be built? We need to restore peat, but are building onshore wind turbines in peatland areas, impacting on that. What takes precedence? We are in a nature as well as a climate emergency.
I raised issues on behalf of Mostyn docks, the birthplace of the Welsh windfarm. Planning issues raised by Natural Resources Wales were eventually overcome, and previously with Coleg Llandrillo in Rhyl, they wanted to go ahead with building a wind turbine maintenance engineering facility in Rhyl, but NRW said 'no'. Rhyl is classed as a flood-risk area. They were saying 'no' because of that, but we need skills for green energy to address climate change. Thankfully, it was overcome, because reason saw through.
There needs to be a joined-up strategy across Government departments that balances the costs and benefits of large-scale projects. The EU have passed a new law requiring solar installations on new commercial and public buildings, on every one undergoing a relevant renovation by 2027, on new residential buildings by 2029, and existing public buildings by 2030. Those are the targets that are being set for solar photovoltaics on every building. I'm told that Welsh Government sees mandatory photovoltaics as a blocker to innovation, but I'd like to know why. What sort of domestic energy policy innovation is being developed in Wales that PV would block? I don’t understand.
Diolch. Hoffwn ddiolch i’r Pwyllgor Busnes am ddewis y pwnc pwysig hwn fel dadl agored gyntaf y Senedd. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y cwestiwn—a all ynni adnewyddadwy yn unig ddiwallu anghenion ynni Cymru—yn sbarduno trafodaeth fanwl ynglŷn â dyfodol ein sector ynni yma yng Nghymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed syniadau a chyfraniadau Aelodau o bob rhan o’r Siambr, ac efallai y byddaf yn cynnig rhai syniadau heriol hefyd.
Mae gan Gymru doreth o elfennau naturiol—tonnau, gwynt a haul—a all greu ynni a phweru ein cartrefi. Gallwn ei storio gyda batris, drwy greu hydrogen gwyrdd a thrwy ddefnyddio rhyng-gysylltwyr, a'i symud o gwmpas i ble mae ei angen a lle gallai'r gwynt fod yn chwythu. Mae cost nwy yn parhau i godi’n gyflym ac rydym yn dibynnu ar ei fewnforio ar gost uchel, ac mae angen inni ymbellhau oddi wrth danwydd ffosil niweidiol.
Gogledd Cymru sydd â’r taliadau ynni sefydlog ac unedol uchaf ym Mhrydain, oherwydd y rhwydwaith, dywedir wrthyf. A thaliadau ynni'r DU yw'r uchaf mewn unrhyw wlad ddatblygedig, gan nad ydym yn berchen ar ynni ac yn dibynnu ar fewnforion, ac eto mae gennym dair fferm wynt enfawr oddi ar arfordir gogledd Cymru—dyna ein golygfa allan i'r môr. Ond sut rydym yn elwa ohono? Ai prisio parthol yw'r ateb, fel y crybwyllwyd yn gynharach?
Mae angen inni sicrhau diogeledd ynni i bobl Cymru. Mae hynny’n golygu diwedd ar ddibynnu ar fewnforion tramor neu danwydd ffosil, a chanolbwyntio yn hytrach ar gynhyrchu ynni yma yng Nghymru i bobl am bris teg. Ar hyn o bryd, mae Cymru yn allforiwr trydan net. Yn 2022, cynhyrchodd ddwywaith cymaint ag a ddefnyddiodd, ac mae oddeutu traean o’i chynhyrchiant yn dod o ynni adnewyddadwy ar hyn o bryd, gyda’r gweddill yn dod o danwydd ffosil, nwy yn bennaf.
Mae angen inni droi’r fantol o blaid ynni glân, gwyrdd sydd o fudd i bobl leol. Byddai mwy o fusnesau Ewropeaidd a byd-eang yn hoffi buddsoddi mewn ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn gweld cymaint o geisiadau yn cael eu cyflwyno ar gyfer ynni gwynt ar y tir yn ogystal â llawer o ffermydd solar ar y môr, storio batri, ac fe glywais am gynnig ar gyfer morlyn llanw oddi ar fae Abertawe, sy'n ceisio cyllid gan Lywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru.
Mae datblygwyr yn mynnu bod angen gweithredu i fynd i'r afael â rhwystrau allweddol, megis oedi yn y broses ceisiadau cynllunio, ond yn aml, mae polisïau'n gwrthdaro. Rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn dynodi parc cenedlaethol newydd yn y gogledd, ond beth y mae hynny’n ei olygu i ynni gwynt ar y tir a’i seilwaith? A ellir bwrw ymlaen i'w adeiladu? Mae angen inni adfer mawndiroedd, ond rydym yn adeiladu tyrbinau gwynt ar fawndiroedd, gan effeithio ar hynny. Beth sy'n cael blaenoriaeth? Rydym mewn argyfwng natur yn ogystal ag argyfwng hinsawdd.
Codais faterion ar ran dociau Mostyn, man geni'r fferm wynt yng Nghymru. Cafodd materion cynllunio a godwyd gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru eu goresgyn yn y pen draw, ac yn flaenorol gyda Choleg Llandrillo yn y Rhyl, roeddent am fynd ati i adeiladu cyfleuster peirianneg er mwyn cynnal a chadw tyrbinau gwynt yn y Rhyl, ond dywedodd CNC 'na'. Mae'r Rhyl wedi'i chategoreiddio'n ardal risg llifogydd. Roeddent yn dweud 'na’ oherwydd hynny, ond mae angen sgiliau arnom i ynni gwyrdd allu mynd i’r afael â'r newid hinsawdd. Diolch byth, fe gafodd ei oresgyn, am fod rheswm yn drech.
Mae angen strategaeth gydgysylltiedig ar draws adrannau’r Llywodraeth sy’n cydbwyso cost a budd prosiectau mawr. Mae'r UE wedi pasio deddf newydd sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i osod systemau solar ar adeiladau masnachol a chyhoeddus newydd, ar bob un sy'n destun gwaith adnewyddu perthnasol erbyn 2027, ar adeiladau preswyl newydd erbyn 2029, ac adeiladau cyhoeddus presennol erbyn 2030. Dyna'r targedau sy'n cael eu gosod ar gyfer systemau solar ffotofoltaig ar bob adeilad. Dywedir wrthyf fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried systemau solar ffotofoltaig gorfodol fel rhwystr i arloesi, ond hoffwn wybod pam. Pa fath o arloesedd polisi ynni domestig sy’n cael ei ddatblygu yng Nghymru y byddai systemau solar ffotofoltaig yn ei rwystro? Nid wyf yn deall.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
At present, the national grid cannot cope after years of underinvestment and is in need of major renewal, which will take years. A solar farm is being built at Saltney and they were told they couldn’t connect to the grid until 2038, but solar farm developers are quickly learning and incorporating battery storage as well. A north Wales council was told by Scottish Power, after 60 months of asking and waiting, that they couldn’t connect the solar panels on their sheltered accommodation to the grid and to their local network—it couldn’t cope—but they did get around it with battery storage. That’s what we need to be thinking about.
We must also recognise that an increase in the number of renewables and a move away from a reliance on gas will mean more visible infrastructure, including pylons and cables, in our countryside and on hilltops, as that is where the wind blows the most. We need to ensure that these communities impacted benefit from lower tariffs and the undergrounding of cables wherever possible.
The UK Government has looked to address this. They’ve announced a Bill on a discount scheme to ensure households near new or upgraded pylons will save up to £2,500 on bills over 10 years. Is that enough? And there will be legal requirements for communities to directly benefit from hosting grid infrastructure, to be introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Ynni Cymru has funded smart local energy projects, creating energy and using it where it’s needed, helping leisure and community centres, theatres and other public buildings with solar PV to create the energy, batteries to store where needed, low-energy lighting and electric-vehicle charging. That’s a proper little circular economy going on there, where it’s needed. And as the Cabinet Secretary explained earlier today, 32 out of 100 applications were successful for the Ynni Cymru grants, which goes to show the need is there if there’s more money. There is £10 million in the budget for next year, but can we get more in the pot from some of these large developers?
I also believe that the Crown Estate should be working for the benefit of people in Wales. Its functions in Wales should be completely devolved to a new body that has as its principal aim the reinvestment of all funds in Wales for the long-term benefit of the people of Wales, in the form of a sovereign wealth fund. Wales is the poorest constituent country of Great Britain, despite its abundance of natural resources. The current system sees a transfer of wealth from fees arising from the Crown Estate’s commercial activity in Wales to England—an illogical and bizarre outcome.
Renewable energy is also a hot topic for our public petitions process. As Chair of the Petitions Committee, I see people raising their concerns about detrimental environmental and local impacts from renewable energy projects and not seeing sufficient community benefits for their local area. The petitions process is not always the most appropriate channel to channel these concerns—we think something like the planning process may be the best way going forward—but it generates huge interest, which I think it great for our Senedd. They are calling for Welsh Government to follow Germany’s example and site solar panels near roads, railways and car parks and on commercial buildings, and those opposing wind and solar energy projects and battery storage facilities have raised this with us.
I firmly believe that, given time and investment, renewables alone can meet the energy needs of Wales and that our focus should be achieving that. I believe, personally, that carbon capture storage is an expensive white elephant, pushed by fossil fuel companies demanding public funding from our taxes, which they should be actually funding themselves. I heard from Eni. I spoke to them when they wanted Government funding to build a massive pipeline as part of the HyNet project. I asked, 'If you didn’t have the money from Government, would you fund it yourselves?' They said, 'Well, yes, because we’ve invested so much already.' We should be holding them to that.
The precious subsidy of billions of pounds going to carbon capture and storge should instead be going into grants for reducing our bills, keeping us warm, insulating our housing stock, sorting out leaky windows and roofs and inefficient boilers, and putting solar PV on our roofs. Carbon capture and storage is a technology that’s unproven. It’s failed in 10 out of 13 projects across the world, and has caused asphyxiation to residents when pipes have ruptured. It can also do massive environmental damage if leaked. Technology is developing, and the captured carbon dioxide could be turned into pellets for another project and reused.
I also simply do not accept that nuclear is in any way a renewable form of energy either. Not only because it relies upon finite materials, but also because it means passing on to our children and future generations the job of dealing with the toxic waste. It’s staggering to think about all the time and the billions of pounds that have already been wasted on nuclear projects across the UK that have still not been completed. It’s money that could have been spent investing in the deliverable climate-friendly energy production of the future and increasingly cheap and true renewable energy such as wind, solar, green hydrogen and tidal. We don’t have to look far to see them already here in Wales. And there are plans for more, whether it’s the Morlais tidal energy project, new offshore windfarms, or a possible north Wales or Swansea tidal barrage. These forms of truly renewable energy are making nuclear increasingly redundant.
To sum up, we need a more strategic approach and a clear vision for decarbonising the Welsh economy, ensuring community benefit, with lower tariffs and bills for our Welsh people. We need energy being produced at source to overcome difficulties obtaining grid connections and the Government needs to develop grants to help individual residents and communities reduce bill costs and develop green skills and a just transition. Thank you. I look forward to hearing contributions now.
Ar hyn o bryd, ni all y grid cenedlaethol ymdopi ar ôl blynyddoedd o danfuddsoddi ac mae angen ei adnewyddu’n sylweddol, a fydd yn cymryd blynyddoedd. Mae fferm solar yn cael ei hadeiladu yn Saltney, a dywedwyd wrthynt na allent gysylltu â'r grid tan 2038, ond mae datblygwyr ffermydd solar yn dysgu'n gyflym ac yn ymgorffori storio batri hefyd. Dywedodd Scottish Power wrth gyngor yn y gogledd, ar ôl 60 mis o ofyn ac aros, na allent gysylltu’r paneli solar ar eu llety gwarchod â’r grid ac â’u rhwydwaith lleol—ni allai ymdopi—ond fe ddaethant o hyd i ffordd o wneud hynny gyda storio batri. Dyna y mae angen inni fod yn meddwl amdano.
Mae’n rhaid inni gydnabod hefyd y bydd cynnydd yn nifer y mathau o ynni adnewyddadwy a symud oddi wrth ddibyniaeth ar nwy yn golygu seilwaith mwy gweladwy, gan gynnwys peilonau a cheblau, yn ein cefn gwlad ac ar fryniau, gan mai dyna ble mae’r gwynt yn chwythu fwyaf. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod y cymunedau yr effeithir arnynt yn elwa o dariffau is a bod ceblau'n cael eu gosod o dan y ddaear lle bo modd.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ceisio mynd i’r afael â hyn. Maent wedi cyhoeddi Bil ar gynllun disgownt i sicrhau y bydd cartrefi ger peilonau newydd neu beilonau sy'n cael eu huwchraddio yn arbed hyd at £2,500 ar filiau dros 10 mlynedd. A yw hynny'n ddigon? A bydd gofynion cyfreithiol i gymunedau elwa’n uniongyrchol o gynnal seilwaith grid, i’w cyflwyno drwy’r Bil Cynllunio a Seilwaith.
Mae Ynni Cymru wedi ariannu prosiectau ynni lleol clyfar, gan greu ynni a’i ddefnyddio lle mae ei angen, gan helpu canolfannau hamdden a chymunedol, theatrau ac adeiladau cyhoeddus eraill gyda systemau solar ffotofoltaig i greu ynni, batris i’w storio lle bo angen, goleuadau ynni isel a chyfleusterau gwefru cerbydau trydan. Dyna enghraifft wych o economi gylchol fach, lle mae ei hangen. Ac fel yr eglurodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gynharach heddiw, roedd 32 o bob 100 o geisiadau am grantiau Ynni Cymru yn llwyddiannus, sy’n dangos bod yr angen yno os oes mwy o arian. Mae £10 miliwn yn y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, ond a allwn gael mwy yn y pot gan rai o’r datblygwyr mawr hyn?
Rwyf hefyd yn credu y dylai Ystad y Goron fod yn gweithio er budd pobl Cymru. Dylai ei swyddogaethau yng Nghymru gael eu datganoli’n llwyr i gorff newydd sydd â phrif nod o ailfuddsoddi’r holl arian yng Nghymru er budd hirdymor pobl Cymru, ar ffurf cronfa gyfoeth sofran. Cymru yw'r wlad dlotaf ym Mhrydain, er gwaethaf ei thoreth o adnoddau naturiol. Mae’r system bresennol yn golygu bod y cyfoeth o ffioedd sy’n deillio o weithgarwch masnachol Ystad y Goron yng Nghymru yn cael ei drosglwyddo i Loegr—sefyllfa afresymol ac od.
Mae ynni adnewyddadwy hefyd yn bwnc llosg i'n proses ddeisebau cyhoeddus. Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, rwy’n gweld pobl yn codi eu pryderon ynglŷn ag effeithiau amgylcheddol a lleol niweidiol prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy sy'n dweud nad ydynt yn gweld manteision cymunedol digonol i’w hardal leol. Nid y broses ddeisebu yw’r ffordd fwyaf priodol bob amser o sianelu’r pryderon hyn—rydym yn credu efallai mai rhywbeth fel y broses gynllunio a allai fod y ffordd orau wrth symud ymlaen—ond mae’n ennyn diddordeb enfawr, sy’n wych ar gyfer ein Senedd. Maent yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddilyn esiampl yr Almaen a gosod paneli solar ger ffyrdd, rheilffyrdd a meysydd parcio ac ar adeiladau masnachol, ac mae’r rheini sy’n gwrthwynebu prosiectau ynni gwynt a solar a chyfleusterau storio batri wedi codi hyn gyda ni.
O gael amser a buddsoddiad, rwy'n credu'n gryf y gall ynni adnewyddadwy yn unig ddiwallu anghenion ynni Cymru ac y dylem ganolbwyntio ar gyflawni hynny. Yn bersonol, rwy'n credu bod dal a storio carbon yn eliffant gwyn drud, wedi’i hybu gan gwmnïau tanwydd ffosil sy'n mynnu cyllid cyhoeddus o’n trethi, y dylent fod yn ei ariannu eu hunain, mewn gwirionedd. Clywais gan Eni. Siaradais â hwy pan oeddent am gael cyllid gan y Llywodraeth i adeiladu piblinell enfawr fel rhan o brosiect HyNet. Gofynnais, 'Pe na baech yn cael yr arian gan y Llywodraeth, a fyddech yn ei ariannu eich hun?' 'Wel, byddem,' meddent, 'gan ein bod wedi buddsoddi cymaint yn barod.' Dylem fod yn eu dal at eu gair.
Yn hytrach, dylai’r cymhorthdal gwerthfawr gwerth biliynau o bunnoedd sy’n mynd tuag at ddal a storio carbon fynd at grantiau ar gyfer lleihau ein biliau, ein cadw’n gynnes, insiwleiddio ein stoc dai, atgyweirio ffenestri a thoeau sy’n gollwng a boeleri aneffeithlon, a gosod systemau solar ffotofoltaig ar ein toeau. Mae dal a storio carbon yn dechnoleg sydd heb ei phrofi. Mae wedi methu mewn 10 o 13 o brosiectau ar draws y byd, ac mae wedi achosi i drigolion fygu pan fydd pibellau wedi rhwygo. Gall hefyd wneud niwed amgylcheddol enfawr os yw'n gollwng. Mae technoleg yn datblygu, a gallai'r carbon deuocsid a ddaliwyd gael ei droi'n belenni ar gyfer prosiect arall a'i ailddefnyddio.
Nid wyf ychwaith yn derbyn bod ynni niwclear yn fath o ynni adnewyddadwy mewn unrhyw ffordd. Nid yn unig am ei fod yn dibynnu ar ddeunyddiau cyfyngedig, ond hefyd am ei fod yn golygu gadael y cyfrifoldeb o ymdrin â'r gwastraff gwenwynig i'n plant a chenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Mae’n syfrdanol meddwl am yr holl amser a’r biliynau o bunnoedd sydd eisoes wedi’u gwastraffu ar brosiectau niwclear ledled y DU sy'n dal heb eu cwblhau. Mae'n arian y gellid bod wedi'i wario'n buddsoddi mewn cynhyrchu ynni'r dyfodol sy'n gyfeillgar i'r hinsawdd ac ynni adnewyddadwy mwyfwy rhad a theilwng fel ynni gwynt, ynni solar, ynni hydrogen gwyrdd ac ynni'r llanw. Nid oes yn rhaid inni edrych yn bell i'w gweld yma yng Nghymru eisoes. Ac mae cynlluniau ar gyfer mwy, boed yn brosiect ynni llanw Morlais, yn ffermydd gwynt newydd ar y môr, neu'n forglawdd llanw posibl yng ngogledd Cymru neu Abertawe. Mae'r mathau hyn o ynni gwirioneddol adnewyddadwy yn golygu bod ynni niwclear yn dod yn fwyfwy diangen.
I grynhoi, mae arnom angen dull mwy strategol a gweledigaeth glir ar gyfer datgarboneiddio economi Cymru, gan sicrhau budd cymunedol, gyda thariffau a biliau is i bobl Cymru. Mae angen i ynni gael ei gynhyrchu wrth y ffynhonnell i oresgyn anawsterau o ran cael cysylltiad â'r grid ac mae angen i'r Llywodraeth ddatblygu grantiau i helpu trigolion unigol a chymunedau i leihau costau biliau a datblygu sgiliau gwyrdd a sicrhau pontio teg. Diolch. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed eich cyfraniadau nawr.
Thank you, Carolyn. So, I suppose, really, I could say, 'Can renewables alone meet the energy needs of Wales?' and I’ll say, ‘Not now, no’. Wales needs a reliable supply of energy, full stop. We’ve got an energy security crisis as we speak. That needs to be provided by the renewables we’ve already got, those that we’re already working towards obtaining, such as Awel y Môr, Morlais, as you’ve mentioned, and other renewable energy sources. But we also, let’s face facts, still need our gas. We still need LPG for some houses in our rural communities that just cannot access any other forms of energy. We still need log burners and oil.
I disagree with you about nuclear. Certainly, Virginia Crosbie, the previous Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn, worked really hard, and the UK Conservative Government saw considerable progress towards seeing a new nuclear power plant developed on Ynys Môn. We’ve also got Trawsfynydd, and there’s scope there for that to be part and parcel of this model. [Interruption.] You can intervene if you want, Rhun.
Diolch, Carolyn. Felly, mae'n debyg y gallwn ddweud, 'A all ynni adnewyddadwy yn unig ddiwallu anghenion ynni Cymru?' ac fe ddywedaf, 'Ddim ar hyn o bryd, na'. Mae ar Gymru angen cyflenwad dibynadwy o ynni a dyna ni. Mae gennym argyfwng diogeledd ynni ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen i'r ynni hwnnw gael ei ddarparu drwy'r prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy sydd gennym yn barod, y rhai rydym eisoes yn gweithio tuag atynt, megis Awel y Môr, Morlais, fel y nodoch chi, a ffynonellau ynni adnewyddadwy eraill. Ond gadewch inni wynebu ffeithiau, rydym angen ein nwy o hyd. Mae angen LPG arnom o hyd ar gyfer rhai tai yn ein cymunedau gwledig na allant gael mynediad at unrhyw fathau eraill o ynni. Mae angen llosgwyr coed ac olew arnom o hyd.
Rwy’n anghytuno â chi ynglŷn ag ynni niwclear. Yn sicr, bu Virginia Crosbie, cyn-Aelod Seneddol Ynys Môn, yn gweithio’n galed iawn, a gwnaeth Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU gynnydd sylweddol tuag at ddatblygu gorsaf ynni niwclear newydd ar Ynys Môn. Mae gennym orsaf Trawsfynydd hefyd, ac mae potensial yno i honno fod yn rhan bwysig o'r model hwn. [Torri ar draws.] Gallwch ymyrryd os mynnwch, Rhun.
You can carry on, Janet Finch-Saunders. Ignore mutterings.
Parhewch, Janet Finch-Saunders. Anwybyddwch unrhyw fwmian.
We introduced a new financing model, and even bought the Wylfa site. Eight months on now, under this new UK Labour Government, momentum on nuclear in Wylfa seems to have been lost. This Senedd, and indeed the Government, should send a clear message today to the UK Government that we need a clear update as to what steps they have taken to attract investment to Wylfa.
Fe wnaethom gyflwyno model ariannu newydd, ac fe wnaethom brynu safle Wylfa. Wedi wyth mis o dan Lywodraeth Lafur newydd y DU, ymddengys bod y momentwm ar ynni niwclear yn Wylfa wedi’i golli. Dylai’r Senedd hon, a'r Llywodraeth yn wir, anfon neges glir heddiw at Lywodraeth y DU fod angen diweddariad clir arnom o ba gamau y maent wedi’u cymryd i ddenu buddsoddiad i Wylfa.
I believe, just to get planning through, it could take 15 years. Hinkley and Sizewell are so far behind, and so over budget, taking years to build, and it’s costing, I think, £43 billion now, just for one plant. So, it could take 20 years, 25 years, to actually get operational, and billions of pounds of money that we don’t actually have. EDF are subsiding that build as well. Do you think that’s a barrier, going forward?
Rwy'n credu y gallai gymryd 15 mlynedd i gael caniatâd cynllunio yn unig. Mae Hinkley a Sizewell mor bell ar ei hôl hi, a thros gyllideb i'r fath raddau, yn cymryd blynyddoedd i’w hadeiladu, ac mae’n costio £43 biliwn nawr, rwy'n credu, ar gyfer un safle. Felly, gallai gymryd 20 mlynedd, 25 mlynedd, i ddod yn weithredol, a biliynau o bunnoedd o arian nad oes gennym. Mae EDF yn sybsideiddio'r gwaith adeiladu hwnnw hefyd. A ydych chi'n credu bod hynny'n rhwystr, wrth symud ymlaen?
Certainly, it’s not just about providing the energy, is it? It’s about providing the much-needed jobs on Ynys Môn. But anyway, I do believe we need to send a clear message today—
Yn sicr, mae’n ymwneud â mwy na darparu’r ynni'n unig. Mae a wnelo â darparu'r swyddi y mae eu hangen yn ddirfawr ar Ynys Môn. Ond beth bynnag, rwy'n credu bod angen inni anfon neges glir heddiw—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
Just on that point, it really is important to remember what happened here. There are different views on nuclear, but that project collapsed because of a Conservative UK Government failing to deliver it. And Carolyn’s quite right—it had taken such a long time to get to that point. That has all been undone, which makes it more and more important for us to be focusing on all those other aspects of how we can create jobs and generate energy at the same time, in a green way, whilst absolutely keeping an eye on what can be done on Wylfa. But it collapsed on the Tories’ watch.
Ar y pwynt hwnnw, mae'n wirioneddol bwysig cofio beth a ddigwyddodd yma. Mae safbwyntiau gwahanol ar ynni niwclear, ond methodd y prosiect hwnnw am fod Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU wedi methu ei gyflawni. Ac mae Carolyn yn llygad ei lle—fe gymerodd gymaint o amser i gyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw. Mae hynny oll wedi’i ddadwneud, sy’n ei gwneud yn bwysicach byth ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar yr holl agweddau eraill ar sut y gallwn greu swyddi a chynhyrchu ynni ar yr un pryd, mewn ffordd werdd, gan gadw llygad ar yr hyn y gellir ei wneud gydag Wylfa. Ond fe fethodd o dan y Torïaid.
It didn’t collapse on the Tories’ watch. It collapsed because we weren’t re-elected to actually carry on with the scheme. [Interruption.] No.
Alongside the baseload provided by nuclear, we can and should embrace renewable opportunities. With all the rivers and streams in Wales, we should be seeing small and micro hydro projects appearing across the nation. However, private investment into these schemes is being deterred because of the rug that Welsh Labour pulled from under those wanting these schemes to go ahead when they started charging business rates.
In January, Rhondda Cynon Taf council submitted planning applications for two hydroelectric schemes in Treforest. Such applications are inspirational and show what can be achieved across Wales. Details as to how the Welsh Government are co-operating with all authorities in Wales to bring forward new hydro schemes would be much appreciated.
There is huge potential with solar too. I do agree with you in terms of the buildings. I've got headteachers who have asked me in Aberconwy, 'Why can we not have solar panels on our roof? That would then give us a very cheap form of energy for the school'. But there's no enthusiasm from this Welsh Government or local authorities to allow those—[Interruption.] It's going to be fun, this.
Ni fethodd o dan y Torïaid. Fe fethodd am na chawsom ein hailethol i barhau â'r cynllun. [Torri ar draws.] Na.
Ochr yn ochr â’r cyflenwad sylfaenol o ynni a ddarperir gan ynni niwclear, fe allwn ac fe ddylem groesawu cyfleoedd ynni adnewyddadwy. Gyda’r holl afonydd a nentydd yng Nghymru, dylem weld prosiectau hydro bach a micro yn dechrau ledled y wlad. Fodd bynnag, mae buddsoddiad preifat yn y cynlluniau hyn yn cael ei atal am fod Llafur Cymru wedi tynnu'r tir o dan draed y rheini a oedd am i’r cynlluniau hyn fynd rhagddynt pan wnaethant ddechrau codi ardrethi busnes.
Ym mis Ionawr, cyflwynodd cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf geisiadau cynllunio ar gyfer dau gynllun hydrodrydanol yn Nhrefforest. Mae ceisiadau o'r fath yn ysbrydoledig ac yn dangos yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni ledled Cymru. Byddem yn gwerthfawrogi’n fawr y manylion ynghylch sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydweithredu â holl awdurdodau Cymru i gyflwyno cynlluniau ynni dŵr newydd.
Mae potensial enfawr gydag ynni solar hefyd. Rwy'n cytuno â chi ynglŷn â'r adeiladau. Mae gennyf benaethiaid sydd wedi gofyn i mi yn Aberconwy, 'Pam na allwn gael paneli solar ar ein to? Byddai hynny wedyn yn rhoi ffurf rad iawn o ynni i ni ar gyfer yr ysgol'. Ond nid oes unrhyw frwdfrydedd gan Lywodraeth Cymru nac awdurdodau lleol i ganiatáu—[Torri ar draws.] Mae hyn yn mynd i fod yn hwyl.
I was just going to propose that if there was some grant funding available from these big developers for the big projects, that could go towards community schemes such as putting solar PVs on our public buildings, towards homes maybe on a grant funding basis—that might work. Do you think that's a good idea?
Roeddwn yn mynd i gynnig, pe bai rhywfaint o arian grant ar gael gan y datblygwyr mawr hyn ar gyfer y prosiectau mawr, y gallai hwnnw fynd tuag at gynlluniau cymunedol fel gosod paneli solar ffotofoltaig ar ein hadeiladau cyhoeddus, tuag at gartrefi efallai ar sail arian grant—efallai y byddai hynny'n gweithio. A ydych chi'n credu bod hynny'n syniad da?
Yes, and do you agree with me, Carolyn, that all new housing should include solar panels on their roofs? I've seen two new estates go up recently—not a single solar panel on them. It's just a wasted opportunity.
Japan is requiring solar on new houses built by large-scale home builders after April 2025. What more can we do to see solar on all new properties in Wales? Solar will be compulsory for new public and commercial buildings larger than 250 sq m in the European Union, and the Institute for Applied Ecology has identified capacity for solar along roads, over car parks and in industrial areas in Germany. And I notice now that Japan, instead of using fence panels, are using solar panels. If we could get the skills in Wales—. Obviously, we need to upskill our workforce before any of this is achievable, but that's where our goal should be, that's where our ambition should be.
They need to be beside roads, railways and over car parks, not necessarily green fields. Beautiful rural areas from Ynys Môn to the Gwent levels are now considered by many people in the local community to be under threat from large open-scale fields covered in solar panels. They don't want that. There is a real risk that food production capacity will be hampered, increasing reliance on imports. Is that really what we want for rural Wales? The Welsh Government should pause applications for solar on farms. They need to undertake a review of solar and they need to develop a solar strategy.
We need to be more ambitious in terms of a tidal lagoon scheme. I know that there are lots of talks going ahead in north Wales and an ex-councillor that I know there has done a lot of work on this, but again, finding the difficulties of connecting with this Welsh Government. That's what devolution was always going to be about—that Ministers were more accessible. But those people that come up with good schemes are finding it problematic, and so we need to be more business minded as a Welsh Government in terms of the renewables.
We need to look at the opportunities out at sea. The progress made with wind is commendable. The UK actually leads this sector globally. Central to this is the professionalism with which the Crown Estate is run. Plaid Cymru, of course, want the organisation devolved and they have succeeded in getting a few local authorities to agree with them. [Interruption.] Anyway, thankfully the Welsh Labour Government are actually sensible in this approach because some things are best left. If it isn't broke, why try to fix it? Do they really think it's wise to set up another organisation in Wales that would, based on the cost of the management and board members in Scotland, cost over £0.5 million annually?
The Crown Estate is bringing forward leasing rounds faster than ever. Within one year of the agreements for the fourth round being signed, the fifth round had commenced, and the Crown Estate is spending millions on surveying our sea bed to ascertain which areas are most suitable for renewable schemes. Rather than devolve for the sake of devolving—. And let's be honest, Plaid would devolve anything and everything, because they want an independent Wales. What we should be doing is co-operating with the Crown Estate to create a national spatial—[Interruption.] Yes.
Ydw, ac a ydych chi'n cytuno, Carolyn, y dylai pob tŷ newydd gael paneli solar ar eu toeau? Rwyf wedi gweld dwy ystad newydd yn cael eu hadeiladu'n ddiweddar—dim un panel solar arnynt. Mae'n gyfle a wastraffwyd.
Mae Japan yn gwneud paneli solar ar dai newydd a godir gan gwmnïau adeiladu mawr yn ofynnol ar ôl mis Ebrill 2025. Beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i sicrhau bod paneli solar ar bob eiddo newydd yng Nghymru? Bydd ynni solar yn orfodol ar gyfer adeiladau cyhoeddus a masnachol newydd sy'n fwy na 250 metr sgwâr yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac mae'r Sefydliad Ecoleg Gymhwysol wedi nodi capasiti ar gyfer ynni solar ger ffyrdd, dros feysydd parcio ac mewn ardaloedd diwydiannol yn yr Almaen. Ac rwy'n sylwi nawr fod Japan, yn hytrach na defnyddio paneli ffens, yn defnyddio paneli solar. Pe gallem gael y sgiliau yng Nghymru—. Yn amlwg, mae angen inni uwchsgilio ein gweithlu cyn bod unrhyw ran o hyn yn gyraeddadwy, ond dylai hynny fod yn nod i ni, dylai fod yn uchelgais i ni.
Mae angen iddynt fod ger ffyrdd, rheilffyrdd a thros feysydd parcio, nid o reidrwydd mewn caeau gwyrdd. Mae llawer o bobl yn y gymuned leol bellach yn ystyried bod ardaloedd gwledig hardd o Ynys Môn i wastadeddau Gwent dan fygythiad gan gaeau mawr agored sydd wedi'u gorchuddio â phaneli solar. Nid oes arnynt eisiau hynny. Mae perygl gwirioneddol y bydd y capasiti i gynhyrchu bwyd yn cael ei lesteirio, gan gynyddu dibyniaeth ar fewnforion. Ai dyna ein dymuniad ar gyfer y Gymru wledig? Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru oedi ceisiadau ar gyfer ynni solar ar ffermydd. Mae angen iddynt gynnal adolygiad o ynni solar ac mae angen iddynt ddatblygu strategaeth ynni solar.
Mae angen inni fod yn fwy uchelgeisiol gyda chynllun morlyn llanw. Gwn fod llawer o sgyrsiau yn mynd rhagddynt yn y gogledd ac mae cyn-gynghorydd rwy'n ei adnabod yno wedi gwneud llawer o waith ar hyn, ond eto, yn ei chael hi'n anodd cysylltu â Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyna oedd datganoli bob amser yn mynd i fod—fod Gweinidogion yn fwy hygyrch. Ond mae'r bobl hynny sy'n llunio cynlluniau da yn ei chael hi'n anodd gwneud hynny, ac felly mae angen inni fod â mwy o ben busnes fel Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas ag ynni adnewyddadwy.
Mae angen inni edrych ar y cyfleoedd sydd i'w cael ar y môr. Mae'r cynnydd a wnaed gydag ynni gwynt i'w ganmol. Mae’r DU yn arwain y sector hwn yn fyd-eang. Yn ganolog i hyn mae proffesiynoldeb Ystad y Goron. Mae Plaid Cymru, wrth gwrs, am i’r sefydliad gael ei ddatganoli, ac maent wedi llwyddo i gael ambell awdurdod lleol i gytuno â hwy. [Torri ar draws.] Beth bynnag, diolch byth fod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn synhwyrol yn hyn o beth, gan ei bod yn well gadael rhai pethau i fod. Os nad yw wedi torri, pam ceisio ei drwsio? A ydynt yn credu o ddifrif ei bod hi'n ddoeth creu sefydliad arall yng Nghymru a fyddai, yn seiliedig ar gost rheolwyr ac aelodau'r bwrdd yn yr Alban, yn costio dros £0.5 miliwn y flwyddyn?
Mae Ystad y Goron yn cyflwyno rowndiau prydlesu yn gynt nag erioed. O fewn blwyddyn i lofnodi’r cytundebau ar gyfer y bedwaredd rownd, roedd y bumed rownd wedi dechrau, ac mae Ystad y Goron yn gwario miliynau ar arolygu gwely’r môr i ganfod pa ardaloedd sydd fwyaf addas ar gyfer cynlluniau ynni adnewyddadwy. Yn hytrach na datganoli er mwyn datganoli—. A gadewch inni fod yn onest, byddai Plaid Cymru yn datganoli unrhyw beth a phopeth, gan eu bod am i Gymru fod yn annibynnol. Yr hyn y dylem ei wneud yw cydweithredu ag Ystad y Goron i greu cynllun gofodol cenedlaethol—[Torri ar draws.] Iawn.
What do you have against Wales having control over its own natural resources?
Beth sydd gennych yn erbyn y syniad o Gymru yn cael rheolaeth dros ei hadnoddau naturiol ei hun?
At the end of the day, we are getting money in to Wales through the Crown Estate, so why would you—? Personally, I wouldn't be wanting to devolve it to this Welsh Labour Government.
Rather than devolving for the sake of devolving and putting the role Wales plays in the renewable revolution at risk, what we should be doing is co-operating with the Crown Estate to create a national spatial marine development plan for Wales. As the Senedd has heard me say before, such a plan would be like local development plans on land, and as such, we would see a detailed map of the sea bed created, making clear which projects can go where and where we can then have areas of protection for our nature recovery and our natural species.
I've talked about Morlais, but I'll just elaborate. Last month, they had fantastic news, as the Cydnerth project was approved. It will futureproof the Morlais tidal energy scheme by investing in its infrastructure, enabling the scheme's 18 MW grid capacity to increase, over time, to allow the full 240 MW. The expansion will create up to 230 new jobs and supply chain opportunities, cementing the region's position in the tidal energy sector. One of the key strengths of Morlais is the 'plug and play' model they've developed. For tidal stream energy to become commercially viable, developers need certainty.
Without Morlais, individual technology developers would have to navigate the complexities of planning permission, marine licensing, electricity grid connections, on their own. By securing these permissions in advance, Morlais have now removed many of the risks that could otherwise slow down or even deter investment in the sector. This means that developers can focus on innovation, scaling up their technology, rather than having to manage complex regulatory processes from scratch.
I hope that this Welsh Parliament and, indeed, the Welsh Government, can learn and encourage more plug and pay models like this. Indeed, there are several sites around Wales with similarly strong tidal currents, including St David's head, Bardsey island and parts of the Severn channel. I hope that I've managed to highlight that the opportunities for renewables in Wales are significant, and they should be developed alongside a baseload from nuclear. But right now, we are in an energy security crisis, and we do need our fossil fuels. Diolch.
Yn y pen draw, rydym yn cael arian i Gymru drwy Ystad y Goron, felly pam y byddech—? Yn bersonol, ni fyddwn am ei datganoli i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru.
Yn hytrach na datganoli er mwyn datganoli a pheryglu’r rôl y mae Cymru’n ei chwarae yn y chwyldro ynni adnewyddadwy, yr hyn y dylem ei wneud yw cydweithredu ag Ystad y Goron i greu cynllun datblygu morol gofodol cenedlaethol i Gymru. Fel y mae’r Senedd wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud o’r blaen, byddai cynllun o’r fath yn debyg i gynlluniau datblygu lleol ar y tir, ac fel y cyfryw, byddem yn gweld map manwl o wely’r môr yn cael ei greu, yn nodi’n glir pa brosiectau all fynd i ble, a ble y gallwn gael ardaloedd gwarchodaeth wedyn ar gyfer adfer natur a’n rhywogaethau naturiol.
Rwyf wedi sôn am Morlais, ond hoffwn ymhelaethu. Fis diwethaf, cawsant newyddion gwych, wrth i brosiect Cydnerth gael ei gymeradwyo. Bydd yn diogelu cynllun ynni'r llanw Morlais at y dyfodol drwy fuddsoddi yn ei seilwaith, gan alluogi capasiti grid 18 MW y cynllun i gynyddu, dros amser, i ganiatáu’r 240 MW llawn. Bydd yr ehangu'n creu hyd at 230 o swyddi newydd a chyfleoedd yn y gadwyn gyflenwi, gan ddiogelu lle'r rhanbarth yn y sector ynni llanw. Un o gryfderau allweddol Morlais yw'r model 'gosod a chwarae' y maent wedi'i ddatblygu. Er mwyn i ynni ffrwd lanw ddod yn fasnachol hyfyw, mae angen sicrwydd ar ddatblygwyr.
Heb Morlais, byddai’n rhaid i ddatblygwyr technoleg unigol ymdrin â chymhlethdodau caniatâd cynllunio, trwyddedu morol a chysylltiadau â'r grid trydan ar eu pen eu hunain. Drwy sicrhau’r caniatâd hwn ymlaen llaw, mae Morlais bellach wedi cael gwared â llawer o’r risgiau a allai arafu neu hyd yn oed atal buddsoddiad yn y sector fel arall. Mae hyn yn golygu y gall datblygwyr ganolbwyntio ar arloesi, gan ehangu eu technoleg, yn hytrach na gorfod ymdrin â phrosesau rheoleiddio cymhleth o'r dechrau.
Rwy'n gobeithio y gall Senedd Cymru, a Llywodraeth Cymru yn wir, ddysgu ac annog mwy o fodelau gosod a chwarae o'r fath. Yn wir, mae gan sawl safle o gwmpas Cymru gerhyntau llanw cryf tebyg, gan gynnwys Penmaen Dewi, Ynys Enlli a rhannau o afon Hafren. Rwy'n gobeithio fy mod wedi llwyddo i dynnu sylw at y cyfleoedd sylweddol ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru, a dylid eu datblygu ochr yn ochr â chyflenwad sylfaenol o ynni niwclear. Ond ar hyn o bryd, rydym mewn argyfwng diogeledd ynni, ac mae angen ein tanwyddau ffosil. Diolch.
This is a welcome debate. I think we saw in the previous session, in questions to the Cabinet Secretary for economy, the interest that the Chamber takes when it comes to energy. In particular—and Carolyn mentioned it in her opening remarks—the zonal pricing element of UK Government policy now actually does provide us, I think, with an opportunity to get this right and to actually do something that is going to benefit consumers and industry through cheaper electricity bills. But that's the important thing here: we need to get it right.
At the moment, the risk is that we'll see places in Wales paired with some of those high-energy-demand areas like London and Birmingham, which actually won't benefit people in Wales and we'll see energy bills being more expensive. So, I again would make the point that there is a need to maybe think about this in a bit more depth. I understand, of course, what potentially some of the unintended consequences might be that the Cabinet Secretary referred to of a Welsh-only zone, but I think it's important we have that discussion and get it right.
Jenny Rathbone, in her question to the Cabinet Secretary, raised a very important point, and that is that, when we look at the pricing of energy, having it pegged to fossil fuels, in our case gas, is restricting our ability to show the benefit of what renewable energy means for people when it comes to their energy bills. So, again, here comes an opportunity for us to get this right, but we really do need to get this right. But on, specifically, the renewable—
Mae hon yn ddadl i’w chroesawu. Rwy'n credu inni weld yn y sesiwn flaenorol, mewn cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi, y diddordeb sydd gan y Siambr mewn ynni. Yn benodol—a soniodd Carolyn am hyn yn ei sylwadau agoriadol—rwy'n credu bod elfen brisio parthol polisi Llywodraeth y DU yn rhoi cyfle i ni nawr i wneud pethau'n iawn ac i wneud rhywbeth a fydd o fudd i ddefnyddwyr a'r diwydiant drwy sicrhau biliau trydan rhatach. Ond dyna'r peth pwysig yma: mae angen inni wneud pethau'n iawn.
Ar hyn o bryd, y perygl yw y byddwn yn gweld lleoedd yng Nghymru yn cael eu paru â rhai o’r ardaloedd hynny lle mae galw mawr am ynni fel Llundain a Birmingham, na fyddant o fudd i bobl yng Nghymru, a byddwn yn gweld biliau ynni’n cynyddu. Felly, unwaith eto rwy'n gwneud y pwynt efallai fod angen meddwl am hyn yn fanylach. Rwy’n deall, wrth gwrs, beth y gallai rhai o’r canlyniadau anfwriadol y cyfeiriodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet atynt fod mewn parth Cymru yn unig, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig i ni gael y drafodaeth honno a’i chael yn iawn.
Cododd Jenny Rathbone, yn ei chwestiwn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, bwynt pwysig iawn, sef pan fyddwn yn edrych ar bris ynni, mae'r ffaith ei fod yn ddibynnol ar bris tanwydd ffosil, sef nwy yn ein hachos ni, yn cyfyngu ar ein gallu i ddangos budd yr hyn y mae ynni adnewyddadwy yn ei olygu i bobl yn eu biliau ynni. Felly, unwaith eto, dyma gyfle inni wneud pethau'n iawn, ond mae gwir angen inni wneud hyn yn iawn. Ond yn benodol, ar ynni adnewyddadwy—
Will you give way?
A wnewch chi ildio?
Yes, of course.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
Just building on that, I mean, one of the perverse things about the current system, which is a highly centralised system, is that what happens is, when demand in the centre, you know, reaches a certain level, then energy generation that is further away from that is actually switched off. So, they actually switch—. A renewable energy capacity that is generating in Wales is switched off rather than it being made available to local consumers at a cheaper price. It's absolutely bizarre. So, you know, effectively, the value of hundreds of millions of pounds of wasted energy generation, currently, because of the centralised system, isn't available to be used to the benefit of Welsh citizens.
I adeiladu ar hynny, hynny yw, un o'r pethau gwrthnysig am y system bresennol, sy'n system hynod ganolog, yw mai'r hyn sy'n digwydd, pan fydd y galw yn y canol yn cyrraedd lefel benodol, yw bod cynhyrchiant ynni sydd ymhellach i ffwrdd o hynny yn cael ei ddiffodd mewn gwirionedd. Felly, maent yn diffodd—. Mae capasiti ynni adnewyddadwy sy'n cynhyrchu yng Nghymru yn cael ei ddiffodd yn hytrach na'i fod ar gael i ddefnyddwyr lleol am bris rhatach. Mae'n hollol hurt. Felly, i bob pwrpas, nid yw gwerth cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd o gynhyrchiant ynni gwastraff ar gael i'w ddefnyddio er budd dinasyddion Cymru ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd y system ganolog.
Yes, I completely agree. I mean, again, it comes to the point that I was making about the need to actually address some of those structural issues within the energy system as well. I mean, the fact that you turn off renewable energy generation for extended periods of time just simply doesn't make sense. All that investment being wasted, and the fact that that energy, then, could have been given to people locally and at a cheaper price—it simply just doesn't make any sense.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Unwaith eto, mae'n dod i'r pwynt yr oeddwn yn ei wneud am yr angen i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion strwythurol hynny yn y system ynni hefyd. Nid yw'r ffaith eich bod chi'n diffodd cynhyrchiant ynni adnewyddadwy am gyfnodau estynedig o amser yn gwneud synnwyr. Mae'r holl fuddsoddiad yn cael ei wastraffu, a'r ffaith y gallai'r ynni hwnnw wedyn fod wedi cael ei roi i bobl yn lleol ac am bris rhatach—nid yw'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr.
Can I—?
A gaf i—?
Carolyn, of course.
Carolyn, wrth gwrs.
Can I just ask you, you know—? We're looking at zonal pricing, but already, in a way, we've got different prices, haven't we, with the standing charge that's paid—a really high standing charge—in north Wales? And then, you know, the unit price as well. So, I'm interested to know how we can do it, because we need to benefit the people that are impacted as well. So, I hope that we will be able to discuss this in the future and that decisions aren't going to be made for us, so that we can have input. And this is why I wanted to bring the debate today, you know, this afternoon, to you. So, I would be interested to know how we can have that communication going forward regarding that—an input into any discussions.
A gaf i ofyn i chi—? Rydym yn edrych ar brisio parthol, ond eisoes, mewn ffordd, mae gennym brisiau gwahanol, onid oes, gyda'r tâl sefydlog sy'n cael ei dalu—tâl sefydlog uchel iawn—yng ngogledd Cymru? A phris yr uned hefyd. Felly, mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod sut y gallwn ei wneud, oherwydd mae angen inni weld budd i'r bobl yr effeithir arnynt. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn gallu trafod hyn yn y dyfodol ac na chaiff penderfyniadau eu gwneud ar ein cyfer, ac y gallwn ni gael mewnbwn. A dyna pam roeddwn i eisiau dod â'r ddadl heddiw, y prynhawn yma. Felly, hoffwn wybod sut y gallwn gael cyfathrebu yn y dyfodol ynglŷn â hynny—mewnbwn mewn unrhyw drafodaethau.
Yes, and I hope the fact that we've spent the first four minutes of my contribution talking about zonal pricing and energy pricing is proof to the Cabinet Secretary that, of course, there is great interest in this and that there's a lot of scope here, I think, in terms of her negotiations with the UK Government to have conversations, not just within Government, but outside of Government, about how we get this right, and I look forward to those conversations. To be fair, the Cabinet Secretary has committed to keeping us updated with those conversations, so I look forward to that element of it.
Specifically on the renewable energy side of things, though, one of my concerns, I'll be honest, around seeing this debate being tabled is that we were going to hear the same sort of stuff being said time and time again. I mean, we heard it in the first contribution from Janet Finch-Saunders, we are likely going to hear it with other contributions as well. And that's us saying, 'Well, we need to do this, we need to do that' and so on. I think we need to move on from that now and say, 'Well, actually, how do we do the things that we say we need to do?', because that hasn't happened.
I think we do need a clearer sense of direction or strategy from Welsh Government about what exactly it is that we're trying to achieve with energy policy. Now, of course, we've got the central principle, which is decarbonising Wales and decarbonising the economy. That's all well and good, great, but perhaps we need to start thinking a bit deeper now. You know, what are we going to do with the fact, for example, that Wales is an energy exporter? How does that play into our energy policy and energy strategy going forward? And to be fair to Welsh Government, I mean, resources are really restricted. You know, we've heard again in the previous contribution, and in Carolyn's contribution, about all these different projects that are out there—the Swansea bay tidal lagoon; we've talked about hydrogen, nuclear. But to be fair to Welsh Government, the Government can't step in on every single one of these projects. So, I actually think there's merit in perhaps a wider conversation about, 'Well, what do we want to specialise in? What do we really want to focus on?' Do we want to focus on offshore wind, for example, and make the investments there and become the first movers when it comes to offshore wind generation and all the benefits that come with that on the international stage? Do we want to focus on hydrogen? There's great potential for hydrogen, specifically in west Wales, with the projects that are in the pipeline there, as well as the pipeline that would go down the M4 corridor, which actually would have an impact, then, on places like Port Talbot, where we could then explore some offshoots like hydrogen steel, as an example. So, I think there is a case, actually, in us actually thinking about, 'Well, do we want to specialise in something? Do we want Wales to be known for a specific type of energy generation and development of that technology?' I would be interested to hear the Members' views.
Looking at the time, I'll stick to talking about the community benefit of energy, because the reality is that we do need to bring communities along with us on this point. We see it time and time again in our local constituencies, when projects are brought forward for that large-scale energy generation, they're often met with a lot of local opposition. I think we can actually meet people halfway in some cases. I think where we're looking at some of the community funds that are available—and we've done some work on this in the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee—where some community funds are available, perhaps we should be a bit more strategic about how we use that money, and use that money to actually resolve some of the other issues we have in society. So, for example, retrofitting housing, making houses warmer, better insulation, and putting the solar panels on the roofs of houses to help, again, bring down energy bills for people is, I think, perhaps one of those solutions that we can find. [Interruption.] Yes, Joyce.
Ie, ac rwy'n gobeithio bod y ffaith ein bod wedi treulio pedair munud cyntaf fy nghyfraniad yn sôn am brisio parthol a phrisio ynni yn brawf i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fod diddordeb mawr yn hyn a bod llawer o gyfle yma yn ei thrafodaethau â Llywodraeth y DU i gael sgyrsiau, nid yn unig o fewn y Llywodraeth, ond y tu allan i'r Llywodraeth, ynglŷn â sut i wneud hyn yn iawn, ac edrychaf ymlaen at y sgyrsiau hynny. I fod yn deg, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi ymrwymo i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni am y sgyrsiau hynny, felly edrychaf ymlaen at yr elfen honno.
Yn benodol ar yr ochr ynni adnewyddadwy i bethau fodd bynnag, un o fy mhryderon, a bod yn onest, ynglŷn â gweld y ddadl hon yn cael ei chyflwyno yw ein bod yn mynd i glywed yr un math o bethau yn cael eu dweud dro ar ôl tro. Hynny yw, fe'i clywsom yn y cyfraniad cyntaf gan Janet Finch-Saunders, mae'n debyg y byddwn yn ei glywed mewn cyfraniadau eraill hefyd, sef ein bod ni'n dweud, 'Wel, mae angen inni wneud y peth hwn, mae angen inni wneud y peth arall' ac yn y blaen. Rwy'n credu bod angen inni symud ymlaen o hynny nawr a dweud, 'Ssut mae gwneud y pethau y dywedwn fod angen inni eu gwneud?', oherwydd nid yw hynny wedi digwydd.
Rwy'n credu bod angen ymdeimlad cliriach o gyfeiriad neu strategaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â beth yn union y ceisiwn ei gyflawni gyda pholisi ynni. Nawr, mae gennym yr egwyddor ganolog, sef datgarboneiddio Cymru a datgarboneiddio'r economi. Digon teg, ond efallai fod angen inni ddechrau meddwl ychydig yn ddyfnach nawr. Beth a wnawn gyda'r ffaith, er enghraifft, fod Cymru'n allforiwr ynni? Beth yw rhan hynny yn ein polisi ynni a'n strategaeth ynni yn y dyfodol? Ac i fod yn deg â Llywodraeth Cymru, mae cyfyngiadau mawr ar adnoddau. Clywsom eto yn y cyfraniad blaenorol, ac yng nghyfraniad Carolyn, am yr holl brosiectau gwahanol sydd ar gael—morlyn llanw bae Abertawe; rydym wedi siarad am hydrogen, niwclear. Ond i fod yn deg â Llywodraeth Cymru, ni all y Llywodraeth gamu i'r adwy ar bob un o'r prosiectau hyn. Felly, rwy'n credu y byddai sgwrs ehangach yn fuddiol efallai, yn gofyn 'Beth yr hoffem arbenigo ynddo? Beth rydym ni eisiau canolbwyntio o ddifrif arno?' A ydym am ganolbwyntio ar wynt ar y môr, er enghraifft, a gwneud y buddsoddiadau yno a dod yn symudwyr cyntaf gyda chynhyrchu gwynt ar y môr a'r holl fanteision sy'n dod gyda hynny ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol? A ydym eisiau canolbwyntio ar hydrogen? Mae potensial mawr i hydrogen, yn enwedig yng ngorllewin Cymru, gyda'r prosiectau sydd ar y gweill yno, yn ogystal â'r biblinell a fyddai'n mynd i lawr coridor yr M4, a fyddai'n cael effaith wedyn ar leoedd fel Port Talbot, lle gallem archwilio rhai sgil-gynhyrchion fel dur hydrogen, er enghraifft. Felly, rwy'n credu bod achos dros feddwl, 'A ydym eisiau arbenigo mewn rhywbeth? A ydym am i Gymru gael ei hadnabod am fath penodol o gynhyrchiant ynni a datblygu'r dechnoleg honno?' Hoffwn glywed barn yr Aelodau.
O edrych ar yr amser, fe gadwaf at siarad am fudd cymunedol ynni, oherwydd y gwir amdani yw bod angen inni ddod â chymunedau gyda ni ar y pwynt hwn. Rydym yn ei weld dro ar ôl tro yn ein hetholaethau lleol, pan fydd prosiectau'n cael eu cyflwyno ar gyfer cynhyrchu ynni ar raddfa fawr, maent yn aml yn wynebu llawer o wrthwynebiad lleol. Rwy'n credu y gallwn gyfarfod â phobl hanner ffordd mewn rhai achosion. Lle rydym yn edrych ar beth o'r arian cymunedol sydd ar gael—ac rydym wedi gwneud gwaith ar hyn ym Mhwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig—lle mae cronfeydd cymunedol ar gael, efallai y dylem fod ychydig yn fwy strategol ynglŷn â sut y defnyddiwn yr arian hwnnw, a'i ddefnyddio i ddatrys rhai o'r materion eraill sydd gennym mewn cymdeithas. Felly, er enghraifft, mae ôl-osod tai, gwneud tai'n gynhesach, gwell insiwleiddio, a rhoi paneli solar ar doeau tai i helpu, unwaith eto, i ostwng biliau ynni i bobl, yn un o'r atebion y gallwn eu canfod. [Torri ar draws.] Ie, Joyce.
When we talk about panels—and I absolutely agree that we should put them on buildings—I think there's an opportunity here to make use of grants to businesses so that when businesses apply for grants to extend their business, we put alongside that a requirement that that is a capital bid to put solar panels on it. I'm mindful here of covering a rural community. So, very often we give grants to businesses operating in those rural communities; they could be farms, they could be other buildings that go up, and there's a real opportunity, in my view, that you put alongside the success of that grant a focus on actually putting in some green energy solutions. And that will do many things. It will help the business to have really cheap energy to run their production, particularly in rural areas, and farming, I think, is a really good example of that, and also, perhaps, to run their vehicles, their cars, their other equipment. So, we're getting better use of the public funds that are going into that, because it's public money, at the end of the day, when you give a grant, and also better solutions for the people who require that help.
Pan fyddwn yn siarad am baneli—ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr y dylem eu rhoi ar adeiladau—rwy'n credu bod cyfle yma i wneud defnydd o grantiau i fusnesau fel ein bod, pan fydd busnesau'n gwneud cais am grantiau i ymestyn eu busnes, yn gosod gofyniad ochr yn ochr â hynny fod hwnnw'n gais cyfalaf i roi paneli solar arno. Rwy'n meddwl yma am gymuned wledig. Felly, yn aml iawn rydym yn rhoi grantiau i fusnesau sy'n gweithredu yn y cymunedau gwledig hynny; gallent fod yn ffermydd, gallent fod yn adeiladau eraill sy'n cael eu codi, ac mae cyfle go iawn, yn fy marn i, ichi osod ffocws ochr yn ochr â llwyddiant y grant ar roi atebion ynni gwyrdd i mewn. A bydd hynny'n gwneud llawer o bethau. Bydd yn helpu'r busnes i gael ynni rhad iawn i redeg eu cynhyrchiant, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ac mae ffermio'n enghraifft dda iawn o hynny, a hefyd, efallai, i redeg eu cerbydau, eu ceir, eu hoffer arall. Felly, rydym yn cael gwell defnydd o'r arian cyhoeddus sy'n mynd i mewn i hynny, oherwydd arian cyhoeddus ydyw yn y pen draw, pan fyddwch chi'n rhoi grant, a hefyd atebion gwell i'r bobl sydd angen yr help hwnnw.
Yes, and I think that one of the best things about the fact that we can help businesses generate their own energy on-site or domestic properties generate energy on their own site is that, actually, we're insulating them as well from some of the price shocks that we've seen over the last couple of years. I know of a couple of businesses, not just in my region but outside of my region as well, who have high energy demand in manufacturing, some of them in food and drink, that would have benefited massively and would have liked to have seen some form of grant or some form of support from Government to be able to generate their own energy to offset their energy bill prices. As we know, energy pricing has been one of the largest overheads of business over the last couple of years; we haven't done enough to address issues around that.
Again, I'm looking at the time, Llywydd. I'll end just by saying that I was slightly confused about the comment made by Janet Finch-Saunders when it came to the Crown Estate and the sensible approach of Welsh Government, because last time I checked, Welsh Government supposedly support the devolution of the Crown Estate. If only UK Government would come along with Welsh Government on that journey.
When it comes to the community fund that I mentioned and using them in a better way, well, the sovereign wealth fund that we could have from the devolution of the Crown Estate I think is really important as well in terms of addressing some of those wider issues within society. And we, again, could look at retrofitting. We could also look at the skills agenda, because, again, in delivering a lot of the renewable energy projects that we want to deliver, we need the people within Wales to have the skills to be able then to work on sites of that nature. So, on that note, Llywydd, I'll end. Diolch.
Ie, ac rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau gorau am y ffaith y gallwn helpu busnesau i gynhyrchu eu ynni eu hunain ar y safle neu eiddo domestig yn cynhyrchu ynni ar eu safle eu hunain yw ein bod yn eu hinswleiddio hefyd rhag rhai o'r siociau prisiau a welsom dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Rwy'n gwybod am un neu ddau o fusnesau, nid yn unig yn fy rhanbarth i ond y tu allan i fy rhanbarth hefyd, sydd â galw uchel am ynni mewn gweithgynhyrchu, rhai ohonynt mewn bwyd a diod, a fyddai wedi elwa'n enfawr ac a fyddai wedi hoffi gweld rhyw fath o grant neu ryw fath o gymorth gan y Llywodraeth i allu cynhyrchu eu hynni eu hunain i wrthbwyso eu biliau ynni. Fel y gwyddom, mae pris ynni wedi bod yn un o'r gorbenion busnes mwyaf dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf; nid ydym wedi gwneud digon i fynd i'r afael â phethau'n ymwneud â hynny.
Unwaith eto, rwy'n edrych ar yr amser, Lywydd. Fe wnaf orffen drwy ddweud fy mod ychydig yn ddryslyd ynglŷn â'r sylw a wnaed gan Janet Finch-Saunders am Ystad y Goron ac ymagwedd synhwyrol Llywodraeth Cymru, oherwydd y tro diwethaf imi edrych, roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi datganoli Ystad y Goron. O na bai Llywodraeth y DU yn dod gyda Llywodraeth Cymru ar y daith honno.
Ar y gronfa gymunedol y soniais amdani a'u defnyddio mewn ffordd well, wel, rwy'n credu bod y gronfa gyfoeth sofran y gallem ei chael o ddatganoli Ystad y Goron yn bwysig iawn hefyd i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion ehangach hynny mewn cymdeithas. Ac unwaith eto, fe wnaethom edrych ar ôl-osod. Gallwn edrych hefyd ar yr agenda sgiliau, oherwydd, unwaith eto, i gyflawni llawer o'r prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy yr ydym am eu cyflawni, mae angen i bobl yng Nghymru gael sgiliau i allu gweithio ar safleoedd o'r natur honno. Felly, ar y nodyn hwnnw, Lywydd, fe ddof i ben. Diolch.
I'm really pleased that Carolyn Thomas's motion on how we meet the energy needs of Wales has been chosen as our very first topic for the open debate, and I think it's already been a really worthwhile and thoughtful discussion of what is a complex and timely issue. Only recently we've seen the impact that being dependent on the global price of fossil fuels can have on our households and on our businesses, and that's why having a reliable and green source of energy is absolutely crucial for our energy security, and it's fundamental to the future stability of our economy and our wider society.
We've set the vision for Wales to transition to a net-zero energy system in a way that generates greater benefits to our economy and our society than the system that we have today, and an essential element of this is the transition to and the scaling up of renewable energy. So, we've set the ambition for Wales to host enough renewable energy to meet our electricity consumption by 2035, and then to keep pace with the growth in demand thereafter. And this is a really ambitious target, because we know that demand for electricity is set to grow significantly as our homes, our transport, and our businesses and industrial processes shift away from fossil fuels. We also know that we'll need a range of technologies to meet this target. We'll need more onshore wind, more solar, and we need to continue to see the rapid deployment of offshore renewables, both wind and tidal.
The First Minister has made the green energy revolution a priority. In the last six months alone 10 developments, generating over 459 MW, have received approval. That's enough to power 230,000 homes in Wales. So, we're absolutely in the delivery zone. We are making things happen. As other colleagues have set out, Welsh Government can't do all of this by itself. We definitely need the input from the private sector. So, that's why we're establishing an environment that is conducive to development, but one where we can keep the benefits in Wales, and where our communities have a say. So, those are some of the reasons why we've streamlined the planning process, and we've provided additional resources to consenting bodies. I've also set up the offshore wind task and finish group to identify the actions that we need to take to secure lasting economic benefits for Wales from the considerable opportunities that offshore wind affords us.
But we also know that our future energy system in Wales can't rely solely on renewable energy, and we've been working with the UK Government to deliver the ambition for clean power by 2030. The analysis that the National Energy Systems Operator, NESO, has undertaken shows that, similar to our target, we can deliver enough renewables to meet our needs, but we also need dispatchable capacity for when renewable sources can't generate enough supply for times of extreme peak demand. So, on Monday I was really delighted to visit SAE Renewables and their 120 MW battery storage project in Newport, and this facility has the potential to provide a pivotal role in managing peak demand by storing renewably generated electricity to be dispatched onto the grid when needed. The NESO analysis has shown the requirement for a considerable increase in storage to help manage a renewable-based energy system.
I don't accept the charge, which has been made this afternoon, that we're not accessible to the renewables industry. I would say it's quite the opposite. Welsh Government spends a huge amount of time engaging with the renewables sector, and our door is always open. If I can't go and visit and meet organisations and developers myself, then I make sure that officials meet very quickly with them. Another assertion I have to push back on this afternoon is around support for Morlais. Morlais is a brilliant project. Welsh Government has taken an £8 million equity stake in that, so I think it's important to recognise that these projects happen because of Welsh Government support, either financial support or the supportive environment that we try and provide through planning, but also ensuring that organisations and businesses have the skills they need to develop.
Rwy'n falch iawn fod cynnig Carolyn Thomas ar sut yr awn ati i ddiwallu anghenion ynni Cymru wedi'i ddewis fel ein pwnc cyntaf ar gyfer y ddadl agored, ac rwy'n credu ei bod eisoes wedi bod yn drafodaeth wirioneddol werth chweil a meddylgar am fater cymhleth ac amserol. Yn ddiweddar gwelsom yr effaith y gall bod yn ddibynnol ar bris byd-eang tanwydd ffosil ei chael ar ein cartrefi ac ar ein busnesau, a dyna pam y mae cael ffynhonnell ynni ddibynadwy a gwyrdd yn hollol hanfodol ar gyfer ein diogeledd ynni, ac mae'n hanfodol i sefydlogrwydd ein heconomi a'n cymdeithas ehangach yn y dyfodol.
Rydym wedi gosod y weledigaeth i Gymru bontio i system ynni sero net mewn ffordd sy'n creu mwy o fanteision i'n heconomi a'n cymdeithas na'r system sydd gennym heddiw, ac elfen hanfodol o hyn yw pontio i ynni adnewyddadwy a'i ehangu. Felly, rydym wedi gosod yr uchelgais i Gymru gynhyrchu digon o ynni adnewyddadwy i ddiwallu ein defnydd o drydan erbyn 2035, ac yna i gadw i fyny â'r twf yn y galw wedi hynny. Ac mae hwn yn darged uchelgeisiol iawn, oherwydd gwyddom y bydd y galw am drydan yn tyfu'n sylweddol wrth i'n cartrefi, ein trafnidiaeth, a'n busnesau a'n prosesau diwydiannol symud oddi wrth danwydd ffosil. Rydym hefyd yn gwybod y bydd angen amrywiaeth o dechnolegau arnom i gyrraedd y targed hwn. Bydd angen mwy o wynt ar y tir, mwy o solar, ac mae angen inni barhau i weld ynni adnewyddadwy ar y môr, yn ynni gwynt ac ynni'r llanw, yn cael ei roi ar waith yn gyflym.
Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi gwneud y chwyldro ynni gwyrdd yn flaenoriaeth. Yn ystod y chwe mis diwethaf yn unig mae 10 datblygiad, sy'n cynhyrchu dros 459 MW, wedi cael cymeradwyaeth. Mae hynny'n ddigon i bweru 230,000 o gartrefi yng Nghymru. Felly, rydym yn bendant yn cyflawni. Rydym yn gwneud i bethau ddigwydd. Fel y mae cyd-Aelodau eraill wedi nodi, ni all Llywodraeth Cymru wneud hyn i gyd ar ei phen ei hun. Mae angen mewnbwn gan y sector preifat arnom yn bendant. Felly, dyna pam ein bod yn sefydlu amgylchedd sy'n ffafriol i ddatblygiad, ond un lle gallwn gadw'r manteision yng Nghymru, a lle mae gan ein cymunedau lais. Felly, dyna rai o'r rhesymau pam ein bod wedi symleiddio'r broses gynllunio, ac rydym wedi darparu adnoddau ychwanegol i gyrff sy'n cydsynio. Rwyf hefyd wedi sefydlu'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar wynt ar y môr i nodi'r camau y mae angen inni eu cymryd i sicrhau buddion economaidd parhaol i Gymru o'r cyfleoedd sylweddol y mae gwynt ar y môr yn eu rhoi inni.
Ond rydym hefyd yn gwybod na all ein system ynni yn y dyfodol yng Nghymru ddibynnu ar ynni adnewyddadwy yn unig, ac rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni'r uchelgais ar gyfer pŵer glân erbyn 2030. Mae'r dadansoddiad y mae'r Gweithredwr Systemau Ynni Cenedlaethol, NESO, wedi'i wneud yn dangos, yn debyg i'n targed ni, y gallwn ddarparu digon o ynni adnewyddadwy i ddiwallu ein hanghenion, ond mae angen capasiti anfon ar gyfer adegau pan na all ffynonellau adnewyddadwy gynhyrchu digon o gyflenwad ar gyfer adegau o alw brig eithafol. Felly, ddydd Llun roeddwn yn falch iawn o ymweld â SAE Renewables a'u prosiect storio batri 120 MW yng Nghasnewydd, ac mae gan y cyfleuster hwn botensial i ddarparu rôl ganolog wrth reoli'r galw brig trwy storio trydan a gynhyrchir yn adnewyddadwy i'w anfon i'r grid pan fo angen. Mae'r dadansoddiad NESO wedi dangos y gofyniad am gynnydd sylweddol mewn capasiti storio i helpu i reoli system ynni adnewyddadwy.
Nid wyf yn derbyn y cyhuddiad a wnaed y prynhawn yma nad ydym yn hygyrch i'r diwydiant ynni adnewyddadwy. Byddwn i'n dweud mai'r gwrthwyneb sy'n wir. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn treulio llawer iawn o amser yn ymgysylltu â'r sector ynni adnewyddadwy, ac mae ein drws bob amser ar agor. Os na allaf fynd i ymweld a chyfarfod â sefydliadau a datblygwyr fy hun, rwy'n sicrhau bod swyddogion yn cyfarfod â hwy'n gyflym iawn. Mae honiad arall y mae'n rhaid i mi wthio nôl arno y prynhawn yma yn ymwneud â chefnogaeth i Morlais. Mae Morlais yn brosiect gwych. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd cyfran ecwiti o £8 miliwn ynddo, felly rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod bod y prosiectau hyn yn digwydd oherwydd cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, naill ai cymorth ariannol neu'r amgylchedd cefnogol y ceisiwn ei ddarparu trwy gynllunio, ond gan sicrhau hefyd fod gan sefydliadau a busnesau y sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt i'w datblygu.
Thank you. The Welsh Government's made very good progress working with local authorities to develop a set of local energy plans to map out, in detail, demand and supply at a local level. I wonder if you could update us on progress to covering the whole of Wales with those local energy plans. And there was a commitment as well to develop a national energy plan by the end of last year. Can you update us on where we're at with that as well, please?
Diolch. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud cynnydd da iawn wrth weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i ddatblygu set o gynlluniau ynni lleol i fapio, yn fanwl, y galw a'r cyflenwad ar lefel leol. Tybed a allech chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni am y cynnydd tuag at gynnwys Cymru gyfan yn y cynlluniau ynni lleol hynny. Ac roedd ymrwymiad hefyd i ddatblygu cynllun ynni cenedlaethol erbyn diwedd y llynedd. A allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynglŷn â ble rydym arni gyda hynny hefyd, os gwelwch yn dda?
So, we do have, now, full coverage, in terms of those local energy plans, and I think that really makes Wales the envy of other parts of the UK, and we are certainly working to ensure that our national plan is aligned to the plans that we've set out through our planning process and so on, to make sure that the two things are complementary. I think that the regional approach has to be considered as well, to explore what more we could be doing in the future through corporate joint committees, in terms of understanding their potential role in this space in future as well. So, I think there's an awful lot more we can be doing in this space, but in terms of our local plans, I do think that now we are in a good space, and that is because of the good work that we've been doing with our local government partners, who are absolutely committed to this particular agenda as well.
As we're fundamentally changing the way that we generate and use energy, we have co-commissioned the NESO to develop the strategic spatial energy plan. The aim of that plan is to develop the least-cost system to meet net zero, and that's important for all of us, to ensure that we have an efficient system that takes into account the cost of generation, but also our wider spatial priorities, including nature restoration, and that speaks to the point that's just been made by Lee Waters. So, whilst we will see big changes in Wales, we also know that we'll still need that dispatchable power from gas power generation. But what we want to see in Wales is the investment that will support the decarbonisation of those facilities, and that's why we've consulted on our approach to carbon capture, usage and storage in Wales, and we agree with the Climate Change Committee that CCUS is a necessity in our future, and that's why our approach provides a clear framework that does support CCUS, but—this is the important part—only in situations where it contributes to decarbonisation.
We also want to see investment in low-carbon hydrogen in Wales, and we have some fantastic innovation in hydrogen deployment going on across Wales, including hydrogen home trials and our hydrogen hubs in north and south Wales. Hydrogen will have an important part to play in decarbonising industry and other key hard-to-decarbonise sectors, and we want to attract that investment to Wales. We want to see—
Mae'r cynlluniau ynni lleol hynny gennym yn llawn, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gwneud rhannau eraill o'r DU yn eiddigeddus ohonom, ac rydym yn sicr yn gweithio i sicrhau bod ein cynllun cenedlaethol yn cyd-fynd â'r cynlluniau a nodwyd gennym trwy ein proses gynllunio ac yn y blaen, i wneud yn siŵr fod y ddau beth yn cyd-fynd. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid ystyried y dull rhanbarthol hefyd, i archwilio beth arall y gallem ei wneud yn y dyfodol trwy gyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig, a deall eu rôl bosibl yn y gofod hwn yn y dyfodol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod llawer mwy y gallwn ei wneud yn y gofod hwn, ond o ran ein cynlluniau lleol, rwy'n credu ein bod mewn lle da bellach, ac mae hynny oherwydd y gwaith da y buom yn ei wneud gyda'n partneriaid llywodraeth leol, sydd wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i'r agenda benodol hon hefyd.
Gan ein bod yn newid yn sylfaenol y ffordd yr awn ati i gynhyrchu a defnyddio ynni, rydym wedi cyd-gomisiynu NESO i ddatblygu'r cynllun ynni gofodol strategol. Nod y cynllun hwnnw yw datblygu'r system gost leiaf i gyrraedd sero net, ac mae hynny'n bwysig i bob un ohonom, er mwyn sicrhau bod gennym system effeithlon sy'n ystyried cost cynhyrchu, a'n blaenoriaethau gofodol ehangach yn ogystal, gan gynnwys adfer natur, ac sy'n cyd-fynd â'r pwynt a wnaed nawr gan Lee Waters. Felly, er y byddwn yn gweld newidiadau mawr yng Nghymru, rydym hefyd yn gwybod y bydd angen y pŵer anfon o gynhyrchiant pŵer nwy o hyd. Ond yr hyn rydym am ei weld yng Nghymru yw'r buddsoddiad a fydd yn cefnogi datgarboneiddio'r cyfleusterau hynny, a dyna pam ein bod wedi ymgynghori ar ein dull o ddal, defnyddio a storio carbon yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn cytuno â'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd fod dal, defnyddio a storio carbon yn anghenraid yn ein dyfodol, a dyna pam y mae ein dull o weithredu yn darparu fframwaith clir sy'n cefnogi dal, defnyddio a storio carbon, ond—dyma'r rhan bwysig—dim ond mewn sefyllfaoedd lle mae'n cyfrannu at ddatgarboneiddio.
Rydym hefyd eisiau gweld buddsoddiad mewn hydrogen carbon isel yng Nghymru, ac mae gennym arloesi gwych yn digwydd ym maes defnyddio hydrogen ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys treialon cartrefi hydrogen a'n hybiau hydrogen yng ngogledd a de Cymru. Bydd gan hydrogen ran bwysig i'w chwarae wrth ddatgarboneiddio diwydiant a sectorau allweddol eraill sy'n anodd eu datgarboneiddio, ac rydym am ddenu'r buddsoddiad hwnnw i Gymru. Rydym eisiau gweld—
Sorry, it took a second for me just to process what you said about CCUS. You said only when it can be shown to be contributing towards carbon reduction. But, of course, you could argue that none of it does, because carbon is still being produced.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, fe gymerodd eiliad imi brosesu'r hyn a ddywedoch chi am ddal, defnyddio a storio carbon. Dim ond pan ellir dangos ei fod yn cyfrannu tuag at leihau carbon meddech chi. Ond wrth gwrs, fe allech chi ddadlau nad oes dim ohono'n gwneud hynny, oherwydd mae carbon yn dal i gael ei gynhyrchu.
So, the consultation that I put out—I think it was back in November—set out our proposed policy approach. The consultation is now closed, and we're considering those responses. But the consultation was very much about only using this technology in circumstances where it leads to decarbonisation. So, we know that there are some sectors that are very hard to decarbonise—the production of cement, for example. Now, cement is a foundational substance that we will need for investment in infrastructure and so on. And if we want cement for the infrastructure, then we have to do it in a way that leads to it being decarbonised. So, that's an example of one of the hard-to-decarbonise sectors.
Mae'r ymgynghoriad a gyhoeddais—yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd, rwy'n credu—yn nodi ein dull polisi arfaethedig. Mae'r ymgynghoriad bellach ar gau, ac rydym yn ystyried yr ymatebion hynny. Ond roedd yr ymgynghoriad yn ymwneud â defnyddio'r dechnoleg hon mewn amgylchiadau lle mae'n arwain at ddatgarboneiddio yn unig. Felly, fe wyddom fod yna rai sectorau sy'n anodd iawn eu datgarboneiddio—cynhyrchu sment, er enghraifft. Nawr, mae sment yn sylwedd sylfaenol y bydd ei angen arnom ar gyfer buddsoddi mewn seilwaith ac yn y blaen. Ac os ydym eisiau sment ar gyfer y seilwaith, mae'n rhaid inni ei wneud mewn ffordd sy'n arwain at ei ddatgarboneiddio. Felly, dyna enghraifft o un o'r sectorau sy'n anodd eu datgarboneiddio.
Cement is used for concrete, but we now have technologies coming forward where you can use cement-free concrete. There's a factory just been built in Wrexham. To do carbon capture and storage, you're going to have to build big facilities at the side of new ones, and to build those factories at the side, the chimneys to capture carbon, is going to take a lot of planning and a lot of infrastructure build, and will take time. And then in some instances, such as with HyNet, they're going to have to build a pipe, which will go through communities—I think that one's 32 km long—to connect with the other one. So, that's going to release carbon as well. Again, it's releasing carbon to build, and then to put the pipe in is going to have an impact as well with carbon. So, is that part of working it all out, regarding the carbon being produced? Is that part of the calculations—all that building work—as well?
Defnyddir sment ar gyfer concrit, ond erbyn hyn mae gennym dechnolegau'n datblygu lle gallwch ddefnyddio concrit di-sment. Mae ffatri newydd gael ei hadeiladu yn Wrecsam. I ddal a storio carbon, rhaid ichi adeiladu cyfleusterau mawr wrth ochr rhai newydd, ac mae adeiladu'r ffatrïoedd hynny wrth eu hochr, y simneiau i ddal carbon, yn mynd i gymryd llawer o gynllunio a llawer o adeiladu seilwaith, a bydd yn cymryd amser. Ac yna mewn rhai achosion, fel gyda HyNet, maent yn mynd i orfod adeiladu pibell, a fydd yn mynd trwy gymunedau—rwy'n meddwl bod honno'n 32 km o hyd—i gysylltu â'r llall. Felly, mae hynny'n mynd i ryddhau carbon hefyd. Unwaith eto, mae'n rhyddhau carbon i adeiladu, ac yna mae rhoi'r bibell i mewn yn mynd i gael effaith hefyd gyda charbon. Felly, a yw hynny'n rhan o weithio'r cyfan allan, a'r carbon sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu, a yw hynny—yr holl waith adeiladu—yn rhan o'r cyfrifiadau yn ogystal?
Just yesterday, we had the launch in the Senedd of the Milford Haven carbon dioxide project, and that looks at how RWE can decarbonise its operations through the use of carbon capture and storage, but their model very much looks towards non-pipeline solutions. So, at the moment, we're working to seek commitments from the UK Government in relation to those non-pipeline approaches, which would be the priority in that particular area, and we hope to have a response to the UK Government from its call to evidence on this very shortly.
So, just moving on to wanting to see the transition that accelerates growth in Wales and also brings new jobs and opportunities for future operations, this really is about maintaining that benefit here in Wales. Our policies have long supported an approach where energy infrastructure is developed with communities, and it does explicitly favour local ownership. That's why I'm pleased that we've already achieved our local ownership target of 1 GW by 2030 and we want to achieve at least 1.5 GW of locally owned renewable energy generation by 2035. We also recognise that individual businesses and households have their role to play and the opportunity to benefit from renewable energy on their premises. Through our building regulations, we do have a requirement for homes and non-domestic properties to reduce their carbon emissions in future, and we will look to increase that in future years.
Ddoe, lansiwyd prosiect carbon deuocsid Aberdaugleddau yn y Senedd ac mae hwnnw'n edrych ar sut y gall RWE ddatgarboneiddio ei weithrediadau trwy ddefnyddio dal a storio carbon, ond mae eu model yn edrych i raddau helaeth ar atebion nad ydynt yn biblinellau. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn gweithio i geisio ymrwymiadau gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â dulliau nad ydynt yn biblinellau, a fyddai'n flaenoriaeth yn yr ardal honno, ac rydym yn gobeithio cael ymateb i Lywodraeth y DU i'w galwad am dystiolaeth ar hyn yn fuan iawn.
Felly, i symud ymlaen at fod eisiau gweld y trawsnewid sy'n cyflymu twf yng Nghymru a dod â swyddi a chyfleoedd newydd ar gyfer gweithrediadau yn y dyfodol, mae hyn yn ymwneud â chynnal y budd hwnnw yma yng Nghymru. Ers amser, mae ein polisïau wedi cefnogi dull lle mae seilwaith ynni'n cael ei ddatblygu gyda chymunedau, ac mae'n ffafrio perchnogaeth leol yn benodol. Dyna pam rwy'n falch ein bod eisoes wedi cyflawni ein targed perchnogaeth leol o 1 GW erbyn 2030 a'n bod am gyflawni o leiaf 1.5 GW o gynhyrchiant ynni adnewyddadwy mewn perchnogaeth leol erbyn 2035. Rydym hefyd yn cydnabod bod gan fusnesau unigol ac aelwydydd eu rôl i'w chwarae a'r cyfle i elwa o ynni adnewyddadwy ar eu safleoedd. Trwy ein rheoliadau adeiladu, mae gennym ofyniad i gartrefi ac eiddo annomestig leihau eu hallyriadau carbon yn y dyfodol, a byddwn yn ceisio cynyddu hynny yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.
You mentioned the 1 GW local ownership target, but alongside that, in 2020, you brought forward a policy that said that every renewable project in Wales must include an element of local ownership. Can you give us a sense of how successful you have been in that regard? What proportion, roughly, of renewable projects have had a proportion of local ownership since the introduction of the policy five years ago?
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y targed perchnogaeth leol o 1 GW, ond ochr yn ochr â hwnnw, yn 2020, fe wnaethoch chi gyflwyno polisi a oedd yn dweud bod yn rhaid i bob prosiect adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru gynnwys elfen o berchnogaeth leol. A allwch chi roi syniad i ni pa mor llwyddiannus y buoch chi gyda hynny? Pa gyfran, yn fras, o brosiectau adnewyddadwy sydd wedi cael cyfran o berchnogaeth leol ers cyflwyno'r polisi bum mlynedd yn ôl?
Unfortunately, I don't have those figures at my fingertips, but I'll certainly make sure that I do update Adam Price on that as soon as I can, because, as I said, local ownership is very much something that we've explicitly favoured for a long time.
I'm wondering how generous the Llywydd is going to be in terms of—
Yn anffodus, nid oes gennyf y ffigurau hynny ar flaenau fy mysedd, ond fe wnaf yn siŵr fy mod yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Adam Price ar hynny cyn gynted ag y gallaf, oherwydd, fel y dywedais, mae perchnogaeth leol yn rhywbeth yr ydym wedi'i ffafrio'n fawr ers amser maith.
Rwy'n meddwl tybed pa mor hael y bydd y Llywydd o ran—
I'm feeling extremely generous this afternoon, so you carry on until you've run out of things to say.
Rwy'n teimlo'n hynod o hael y prynhawn yma, felly parhewch hyd nes eich bod wedi rhedeg allan o bethau i'w dweud.
Well—
Wel—
Okay, be careful what I wish for—be careful what I wish for. Okay. You carry on until I say so.
Iawn, mae'n well imi fod yn ofalus. O'r gorau. Parhewch hyd nes y byddaf i'n dweud.
Okay. So, I'll carry on, but I won't refer to things that I've already talked about during oral questions this afternoon, because I know that, in questions this afternoon, we did have quite a thorough discussion about Ynni Cymru, for example. But I would want to draw attention to the work of the Development Bank of Wales. They are piloting a loan scheme to support households in Wales to decarbonise their home, which I think is really positive. And colleagues will be very familiar with the work that we're doing through Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru as well to try and ensure that we make the most of our Welsh Government land assets and explore how we can de-risk, if you like, the opportunities for investment on the Welsh Government estate by ensuring that sites are ready to go and that we maximise the value that we keep in Wales. And Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru have already been doing consultations about what communities would see as acceptable in terms of community benefits, because we think that we can take a fresh approach to community benefits in that space. And there's some thinking to do about whether that is the specific very local community or if there are benefits that we would want to see Wales-wide from a Wales-owned company. So, all of those things are exciting developments going on at the moment.
And of course, we've got an opportunity to deliver green jobs. The regional energy strategies have identified over 200,000 new jobs all across our regions from the investment opportunities. The work on the local area planning, which we talked about earlier, has now identified the projects and the actions that we need to take in order to deliver those jobs in every single local area. So, again, that's really exciting stuff.
So, in addition to jobs, bringing the lowest cost energy will also be crucial as we tackle fuel poverty and ensure a sustainable economy. And we are acting now, so the things that I've talked about are actions that we're taking now. We're delivering on the ground to ensure that current and future generations benefit from the investment that's required. And also, through our approach to the management of our natural resources, we also want to ensure that we address both the climate and the nature emergencies facing Wales.
O'r gorau. Felly, fe wnaf barhau, ond nid wyf am gyfeirio at bethau y siaradais amdanynt eisoes yn ystod y cwestiynau llafar y prynhawn yma, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod, mewn cwestiynau y prynhawn yma, ein bod wedi cael trafodaeth eithaf trylwyr am Ynni Cymru, er enghraifft. Ond rwyf am dynnu sylw at waith Banc Datblygu Cymru. Maent yn treialu cynllun benthyciadau i gefnogi aelwydydd yng Nghymru i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartref, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn gadarnhaol iawn. A bydd cyd-Aelodau'n gyfarwydd iawn â'r gwaith a wnawn drwy Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru yn ogystal i geisio sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud y gorau o'n hasedau tir Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn archwilio sut y gallwn ddad-risgio, os mynnwch, y cyfleoedd i fuddsoddi ar ystad Llywodraeth Cymru drwy sicrhau bod safleoedd yn barod i fynd a'n bod yn gwneud y mwyaf o'r gwerth yr ydym yn ei gadw yng Nghymru. Ac mae Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru eisoes wedi bod yn cynnal ymgynghoriadau ar yr hyn y byddai cymunedau'n ei weld yn dderbyniol o ran buddion cymunedol, oherwydd credwn y gallwn fabwysiadu agwedd newydd tuag at fanteision cymunedol yn y gofod hwnnw. Ac mae angen meddwl ai'r gymuned leol benodol iawn a olygir neu a oes manteision y byddem am eu gweld ledled Cymru gan gwmni sy'n eiddo i Gymru. Felly, mae'r holl bethau hyn yn ddatblygiadau cyffrous sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd.
Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym gyfle i ddarparu swyddi gwyrdd. Mae'r strategaethau ynni rhanbarthol wedi nodi dros 200,000 o swyddi newydd ar draws ein rhanbarthau o'r cyfleoedd buddsoddi. Mae'r gwaith ar gynlluniau ardal leol, y buom yn sôn amdanynt yn gynharach, bellach wedi nodi'r prosiectau a'r camau y mae angen inni eu cymryd er mwyn darparu'r swyddi hynny ym mhob ardal leol. Felly, unwaith eto, mae hynny'n rhywbeth cyffrous iawn.
Felly, yn ogystal â swyddi, bydd dod â'r ynni cost isaf hefyd yn hanfodol wrth inni fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a sicrhau economi gynaliadwy. Ac rydym yn gweithredu nawr, felly mae'r pethau y siaradais amdanynt yn gamau yr ydym yn eu cymryd nawr. Rydym yn cyflawni ar lawr gwlad i sicrhau bod cenedlaethau'r presennol a'r dyfodol yn elwa o'r buddsoddiad sydd ei angen. A hefyd, drwy ein dull o reoli ein hadnoddau naturiol, rydym hefyd am sicrhau ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a'r argyfwng natur sy'n wynebu Cymru.
In 2015, I and other members of the then environment committee visited Baden-Württemberg. I think Llyr Gruffydd was one of them. And amongst the wonderful community energy schemes we saw, we visited a tiny village outside Freiburg of maybe 300 or 400 citizens at the most. They had 50,000 customers for the renewable energy they were generating from wind, hydro, solar and biomass. That simply isn't possible under the regulations that we are still living under. It is made super difficult for any small enterprise to get going along those lines. And we saw it in other villages as well, where there were hydro schemes and other ways in which we could be addressing this. So, we are a very long way from where we need to be on that front. But it is ironic that, nevertheless, despite all of those efforts at a community level, Germany has been unable to turn off its coal-fired power stations. Because it turned off all its nuclear power stations after Chernobyl—for very good reasons—it simply isn’t able to turn off its coal-fired power stations unless it can source really significant areas of energy to keep its industry going.
Yn 2015, fe ymwelais i ac aelodau eraill o'r pwyllgor amgylchedd ar y pryd â Baden-Württemberg. Rwy'n meddwl bod Llyr Gruffydd yn un ohonynt. Ac ymhlith y cynlluniau ynni cymunedol gwych a welsom, fe wnaethom ymweld â phentref bach y tu allan i Freiburg gydag oddeutu 300 neu 400 o ddinasyddion ar y mwyaf. Roedd ganddynt 50,000 o gwsmeriaid ar gyfer yr ynni adnewyddadwy yr oeddent yn ei gynhyrchu o wynt, dŵr, solar a biomas. Nid yw hynny'n bosibl o dan y rheoliadau yr ydym ni'n dal i fyw oddi tanynt. Mae'n cael ei wneud yn anodd iawn i unrhyw fenter fach ddechrau ar hyd y llinellau hynny. Ac fe welsom hynny mewn pentrefi eraill hefyd, lle roedd cynlluniau hydro a ffyrdd eraill y gallem fynd i'r afael â hyn. Felly, rydym yn bell iawn o ble mae angen inni fod ar hynny. Ond er gwaethaf yr holl ymdrechion ar lefel gymunedol, mae'n eironig nad yw'r Almaen wedi gallu diffodd ei gorsafoedd pŵer glo. Oherwydd ei fod wedi diffodd ei holl orsafoedd pŵer niwclear ar ôl Chernobyl—am resymau da iawn—nid yw'n gallu diffodd ei gorsafoedd pŵer glo oni all ddod o hyd i feysydd ynni sylweddol iawn i gadw ei ddiwydiant i fynd.
I went on a visit just a few weeks ago with Llyr and the committee to Stuttgart and we had a meeting with EnBW, who are looking to do the Mona windfarm off north Wales, actually. I was very interested to hear that they are looking at putting solar PV on all new builds going forward and they’ve actually invested in the grid as well. So, they have got plans in place to rapidly change things, which was really interesting, and I think we do have a lot to learn from other countries that are doing this, progressing forward, and I still would like to know why we’re not doing it here in Wales, putting solar PV on buildings.
Euthum ar ymweliad ychydig wythnosau yn ôl gyda Llyr a'r pwyllgor i Stuttgart a chawsom gyfarfod gydag EnBW, sy'n awyddus i wneud fferm wynt Mona oddi ar ogledd Cymru, mewn gwirionedd. Roedd yn ddiddorol clywed eu bod yn edrych ar roi paneli solar ffotofoltaig ar bob adeilad newydd yn y dyfodol ac maent wedi buddsoddi yn y grid hefyd. Felly, mae ganddynt gynlluniau ar waith i newid pethau'n gyflym, a oedd yn ddiddorol iawn, ac rwy'n credu bod gennym lawer i'w ddysgu gan wledydd eraill sy'n gwneud hyn, a chamu ymlaen, a hoffwn wybod pam nad ydym ni'n ei wneud yma yng Nghymru, a rhoi paneli solar ffotofoltaig ar adeiladau.
Okay, thank you for that. I think the point I wanted to make is referring back to the discussion we had earlier about zonal pricing systems and the way in which they suppress enterprise, because there’s a price set on the most expensive, gas. When the wind is blowing hard, a lot of the arrays are told to close down, because they don’t want to be having to pay them for energy that they don’t think can be consumed in this country. But it’s blindingly obvious that we could be increasing our exports of energy if we had a different system, and we really do need to adjust that.
One of the ways in which we can achieve net zero is through the conservation of energy, and I think it’s one of the ways in which Wales has been very successful, and I want to give a big shout out to the sustainable energy institute attached to the architecture faculty at Cardiff University, who have certainly been one of the main drivers of the net zero energy building schemes that we now have, using timber-framed construction built in factories and that then are very, very quick to be erected, without all the problems you get with weather.
So, I think that there are two things I want to see from the UK Government. One is that they’ve got to revise their building regulations, because they are still allowing the big six house builders to build rubbish housing that is going to then dump onto the people who are going to have to take out mortgages to buy these places; they’re going to then have to retrofit the net-zero adaptations to enable them to not have to spend so much money on energy. So, every time I hear Keir Starmer or Angela Rayner talking about these wonderful 1.5 million homes they’re going to build in the south-east of England, I feel like screaming, because it is a disaster and it's a rip-off for people who would desperately like to have their own home and are going to have to live in a home that is substandard in terms of energy conservation.
The second thing I’d like to see UK Government do, and this is one for Rachel Reeves, is to reverse the disastrous decision by George Osborne in 2015 to abolish tax incentives for the private sector for renewable energy, because it really did close down a pipeline of capital to generate much more activity in this field.
I want to thank Rebecca and Lee for highlighting the local energy plans, because I was still wondering what Cardiff Council was getting up to, and I just quickly looked up Cardiff Council’s one. It’s obviously just hot off the press, because the space at the beginning for the foreword just says ‘a note from councillor’. [Laughter.] But nevertheless, despite all that, I’m sure excellent work has gone on, and the executive summary has some really interesting facts. Their overview is that Cardiff’s net-zero future could be achieved with the equivalent of 12 Lamby Way solar farms—and, for those of you not from Cardiff, Lamby Way is our recycling centre—and there are plans to build a large solar farm on this floodplain—an excellent idea, we've been talking about it for many, many years, and I can't quite understand why we haven't done it yet—as well as the equivalent of 115,000 domestic roofs with PV. This very much interests me, because I'm astonished that people who own their own homes, who decide that the roof needs re-tiling, don't put solar panels on their roofs. These are people who, in most cases, own their home outright, so they have the money to do it, and why are they not doing it? This is a conversation I've had with lots of people. 'Why have you got the roofers up there and you haven't got the solar panels going on on the south-facing roof?'
Iawn, diolch am hynny. Rwy'n credu mai'r pwynt roeddwn eisiau ei wneud yw cyfeirio'n ôl at y drafodaeth a gawsom yn gynharach am systemau prisio parthol a'r ffordd y maent yn llesteirio menter, oherwydd mae pris wedi'i osod ar y drutaf, nwy. Pan fydd y gwynt yn chwythu'n galed, dywedir wrth lawer o'r araeau i gau, oherwydd nid ydynt eisiau gorfod eu talu am ynni nad ydynt yn meddwl y gellir ei ddefnyddio yn y wlad hon. Ond mae'n hollol amlwg y gallem fod yn cynyddu ein hallforion ynni pe bai gennym system wahanol, ac mae angen inni addasu hynny.
Un o'r ffyrdd y gallwn gyflawni sero net yw trwy arbed ynni, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn un o'r ffyrdd y mae Cymru wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn, ac rwyf am ganmol y sefydliad ynni cynaliadwy sy'n gysylltiedig â'r gyfadran pensaernïaeth ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, sydd yn sicr wedi bod yn un o brif yrwyr y cynlluniau adeiladu ynni sero net sydd gennym nawr, gan ddefnyddio adeiladwaith ffrâm bren wedi'i adeiladu mewn ffatrïoedd ac y mae modd eu codi wedyn yn gyflym iawn, heb yr holl broblemau a gewch gyda'r tywydd.
Felly, rwy'n credu fy mod am weld dau beth gan Lywodraeth y DU. Un yw bod yn rhaid iddynt adolygu eu rheoliadau adeiladu, oherwydd maent yn dal i ganiatáu i'r chwe chwmni adeiladu mawr adeiladu tai gwael sy'n mynd i fod yn faich ar y bobl sy'n mynd i orfod cael morgeisi i brynu'r llefydd hyn; yna bydd yn rhaid iddynt ôl-osod yr addasiadau sero net i'w galluogi i beidio â gorfod gwario cymaint o arian ar ynni. Felly, bob tro y clywaf Keir Starmer neu Angela Rayner yn siarad am y 1.5 miliwn o gartrefi gwych y byddant yn eu hadeiladu yn ne-ddwyrain Lloegr, rwy'n teimlo fel sgrechian, oherwydd mae'n drychineb ac mae'n gwneud cam â phobl a fyddai wrth eu bodd yn cael eu cartref eu hunain ac sy'n mynd i orfod byw mewn cartref is na'r safon o ran arbed ynni.
Yr ail beth yr hoffwn weld Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud, ac un ar gyfer Rachel Reeves yw hyn, yw gwrthdroi penderfyniad trychinebus George Osborne yn 2015 i ddileu cymhellion treth i'r sector preifat ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy, gan fod hynny wedi cau piblinell o gyfalaf i gynhyrchu llawer mwy o weithgaredd yn y maes hwn.
Rwyf am ddiolch i Rebecca a Lee am dynnu sylw at y cynlluniau ynni lleol, oherwydd roeddwn yn dal i feddwl beth oedd Cyngor Caerdydd yn ei wneud, ac fe edrychais yn gyflym ar un Cyngor Caerdydd. Mae'n amlwg ei fod newydd ei gyhoeddi, oherwydd mae'r gofod ar y dechrau ar gyfer y rhagair yn dweud 'nodyn gan y cynghorydd'. [Chwerthin.] Ond serch hynny, rwy'n siŵr fod gwaith ardderchog wedi'i wneud, ac mae'r crynodeb gweithredol yn cynnwys ffeithiau diddorol iawn. Eu trosolwg yw y gellid cyflawni dyfodol sero net Caerdydd gyda'r hyn sy'n cyfateb i 12 fferm solar Ffordd Lamby—ac i'r rhai ohonoch nad ydych yn dod o Gaerdydd, Ffordd Lamby yw ein canolfan ailgylchu—ac mae cynlluniau i adeiladu fferm solar fawr ar y gorlifdir hwn—syniad ardderchog, rydym wedi bod yn siarad amdano ers blynyddoedd lawer, ac ni allaf ddeall yn iawn pam nad ydym wedi ei wneud eto—yn ogystal â'r hyn sy'n cyfateb i 115,000 o doeau domestig gyda phaneli solar ffotofoltaig. Mae hyn o ddiddordeb mawr i mi, oherwydd rwy'n synnu nad yw pobl sy'n berchen ar eu cartrefi eu hunain, sy'n penderfynu bod angen ail-deilsio'r to, yn rhoi paneli solar ar eu toeau. Dyma bobl sydd, yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, yn berchen ar eu cartref, felly mae ganddynt arian i'w wneud, a pham nad ydynt yn ei wneud? Mae hon yn sgwrs a gefais gyda nifer o bobl. 'Pam fod gennych dowyr i fyny yno ac nad oes gennych baneli solar yn cael eu gosod ar y to sy'n wynebu'r de?'
[Inaudible.]—to put solar on all new houses and they said it's because it's going to make the unit price too expensive for people. Most people have a mortgage they pay over many years, so adding an extra £20,000 on to a house's sale price, or £10,000, when it's a big mortgage, is worth it in the end, because it will be soon paid back, surely. What do you think? Is that something you would think about?
[Anghlywadwy.]—i osod systemau solar ym mhob tŷ newydd, ac roeddent yn dweud mai'r rheswm am hynny yw y bydd yn gwneud pris yr uned yn rhy ddrud i bobl. Mae gan y rhan fwyaf o bobl forgais y maent yn ei dalu dros nifer o flynyddoedd, felly mae ychwanegu £20,000 at bris gwerthu tŷ, neu £10,000, pan fo’n forgais mawr, yn werth chweil yn y diwedd, gan y bydd yn sicr o gael ei dalu’n ôl cyn bo hir. Beth yw eich barn chi? A yw hynny'n rhywbeth y byddech yn meddwl amdano?
I appreciate that some people are mortgaged to the hilt and they can't take on any more, but I'm not talking about—. There are plenty of people—. About 40 per cent of people own their home outright, and so it is very interesting to understand why people aren't doing what is the blindingly obvious, because the payback can be achieved within 10 years, particularly with the rise and rise of energy prices, fossil fuel prices. That is the right thing to do both for the environment and for their pocket.
Cardiff is beginning to think about combined heat and power. I don't know how many years Celsa has been in operation, but we are finally now getting combined heat and power for a lot of the homes in what used to be called Tiger Bay and are around here. I'm sure many of you will have seen all the building works going on, and that is all to do with the combined heat and power, and that's absolutely to be welcomed. But it's taken this long.
I forgot to say at the very beginning of my remarks that I need to refer Members to my declaration of interests, because I am a supporter of Awel Aman Tawe, I'm an investor in that, for which I get a small remuneration, and also my partner is an adviser to Bute Energy, which is, obviously, one of the larger companies operating with a view to developing renewable energy across Wales.
The issue, going back to the zonal pricing, as well as the community energy challenge we have, is that we have to be able to explain to people that this isn't just good for the planet, this is good for all of us in terms of it's going to cost a lot less, as long as we can ensure that we can prove that. So, it is absolutely vital that we get this zonal pricing scheme right, so that people, when they're complaining about the disruption caused by the erection of renewable energy, can see that there are going to be benefits for them, both by joining community energy schemes in their local areas, as well as being able to be certain of getting a much better price for their energy in Wales, because we are going to be a major contributor to renewable energy, which will benefit the whole of Britain and could also improve our balance in terms of imports/exports.
I'm very glad that we now have all 22 local authority signed up to local energy schemes. So, well done to Rebecca for that, because we can now scrutinise that and try and find out exactly what they're doing. One of the frustrations I've had in Cardiff has been the lack of any ambition to put solar panels on schools, because the answer was always, 'The schools are not in occupation in the summer when the sun is shining the most', but that's misunderstanding the problem, because with batteries, obviously, you can sell it to the grid at any time, whether you need the energy there that day or not. So, to my knowledge, the only solar panels that have been put on schools in Cardiff are the ones that are on the four Catholic schools—St Illtyd's Catholic High School, Mary Immaculate High School, Corpus Christi Catholic High School and St Patrick's RC Primary School—because they joined the Egni solar co-operative, which is part of Awel Aman Tawe.
I think Awel Aman Tawe is a really fantastic example of a co-operative that works, because, based in the Aman valley, it started with putting solar panels onto seven local community centres and making them more viable, but since then, it's installed dozens of solar and wind projects across south Wales and beyond. It's about to launch a rolling £30 million share offer for installing rooftop solar across Wales and England. So, well done, Awel Aman Tawe. One of the most important things is that any profits generated are reinvested into future developments and education programmes, and we certainly must have these education programmes, so that people can understand why we need to engage with this. I see I've run out of time, Presiding Officer, so I will sit down now. Thank you.
Rwy’n sylweddoli bod morgeisi rhai pobl yn ddrud iawn ac na allant fenthyg rhagor, ond nid wyf yn sôn am—. Mae digon o bobl—. Mae oddeutu 40 y cant o bobl yn berchen ar eu cartrefi'n gyfan gwbl, ac felly mae'n ddiddorol iawn deall pam nad yw pobl yn gwneud yr hyn sy'n gwbl amlwg, gan y gellir gwneud yr arian yn ôl o fewn 10 mlynedd, yn enwedig gyda chynnydd prisiau ynni, prisiau tanwydd ffosil. Dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud i'r amgylchedd ac i'w pocedi.
Mae Caerdydd yn dechrau meddwl am wres a phŵer cyfunedig. Nid wyf yn gwybod ers sawl blwyddyn y mae Celsa wedi bod yn gweithredu, ond o'r diwedd, rydym bellach yn cael gwres a phŵer cyfunedig i lawer o'r cartrefi yn yr ardal a arferai gael ei galw'n Tiger Bay, yn yr ardal hon. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd llawer ohonoch wedi gweld yr holl waith adeiladu sy'n mynd rhagddo, ac mae'n ymwneud â gwres a phŵer cyfunedig, ac mae hynny i'w groesawu'n llwyr. Ond mae wedi cymryd mor hir â hyn.
Anghofiais ddweud ar ddechrau fy sylwadau fod angen imi gyfeirio’r Aelodau at fy natganiad o fuddiannau, gan fy mod yn cefnogi Awel Aman Tawe, rwy’n un o'r buddsoddwyr, ac rwy’n cael taliad bach am hynny, a hefyd mae fy mhartner yn gynghorydd i Bute Energy, sydd, yn amlwg, yn un o’r cwmnïau mwy sy’n gweithredu gyda'r bwriad o ddatblygu ynni adnewyddadwy ledled Cymru.
I fynd yn ôl at y prisiau parthol, y broblem yn ogystal â'r her sydd gennym o ran ynni cymunedol, yw bod yn rhaid inni allu egluro i bobl nid yn unig fod hyn yn dda i'r blaned, ond fod hyn yn dda i bob un ohonom gan y bydd yn costio llawer llai, cyhyd ag y gallwn sicrhau y gallwn brofi hynny. Felly, mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn cael y cynllun prisio parthol hwn yn iawn, fel bod pobl, pan fyddant yn cwyno am y tarfu a achosir gan y gwaith o adeiladu systemau ynni adnewyddadwy, yn gallu gweld y bydd manteision iddynt, drwy ymuno â chynlluniau ynni cymunedol yn eu hardaloedd lleol, yn ogystal â gallu bod yn sicr o gael pris llawer gwell am eu hynni yng Nghymru, gan ein bod yn mynd i fod yn gyfrannwr mawr o ran ynni adnewyddadwy, a fydd o fudd i Brydain gyfan, a gallai hefyd wella ein cydbwysedd mewnforion/allforion.
Rwy'n falch iawn fod pob un o'r 22 awdurdod lleol bellach wedi ymuno â chynlluniau ynni lleol. Felly, da iawn i Rebecca am hynny, gan y gallwn graffu ar hynny nawr, a cheisio darganfod beth yn union y maent yn ei wneud. Un o’r rhwystredigaethau a deimlais yng Nghaerdydd yw’r diffyg uchelgais i roi paneli solar ar ysgolion, oherwydd yr ateb bob amser oedd, ‘Nid yw’r ysgolion mewn defnydd yn yr haf pan fo’r haul yn tywynnu fwyaf’, ond mae hynny'n camddeall y mater, oherwydd gyda batris, yn amlwg, fe allwch werthu'r trydan i'r grid unrhyw bryd, pa un a oes angen yr ynni hwnnw arnoch yno y diwrnod hwnnw ai peidio. Felly, hyd y gwn i, yr unig baneli solar sydd wedi’u gosod ar ysgolion yng Nghaerdydd yw’r rhai sydd ar y pedair ysgol Gatholig—Ysgol Uwchradd Gatholig Sant Illtyd, Ysgol Uwchradd Mair Ddihalog, Ysgol Uwchradd Gatholig Corpus Christi ac Ysgol Gynradd Gatholig Padrig Sant—gan iddynt ymuno â menter gydweithredol ynni solar Egni, sy’n rhan o Awel Aman Tawe.
Rwy'n credu bod Awel Aman Tawe yn enghraifft wirioneddol wych o fenter gydweithredol sy’n gweithio, oherwydd, wedi’i lleoli yn nyffryn Aman, dechreuodd drwy osod paneli solar ar saith canolfan gymunedol leol a’u gwneud yn fwy hyfyw, ond ers hynny, mae wedi gosod dwsinau o brosiectau solar a gwynt ar draws de Cymru a thu hwnt. Mae ar fin lansio cynnig cyfranddaliadau treigl gwerth £30 miliwn ar gyfer gosod systemau solar ar doeau ar draws Cymru a Lloegr. Felly, da iawn, Awel Aman Tawe. Un o’r pethau pwysicaf yw bod unrhyw elw a gynhyrchir yn cael ei ailfuddsoddi mewn datblygiadau a rhaglenni addysg yn y dyfodol, ac yn sicr, mae’n rhaid inni gael y rhaglenni addysg hyn, fel y gall pobl ddeall pam fod angen inni wneud hyn. Rwy'n gweld bod fy amser ar ben, Lywydd, felly rwyf am eistedd. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i Carolyn Thomas am gyflwyno'r cynnig yma heddiw. Fel Aelod o'r Senedd dros Ynys Môn, mi allwch chi ddychmygu fy mod i'n optimistaidd iawn ynglŷn â'r potensial sy'n cael ei gynnig i ni drwy ynni adnewyddol.
Mae gennym ni hen, hen, hen hanes o gynhyrchu a defnyddio ynni adnewyddol yn Ynys Môn. Dwi'n meddwl bod y cofnodion am y melinau gwynt cyntaf yn Ynys Môn yn mynd yn ôl i rywbeth fel 1303 yn Niwbwrch. Ac, wrth gwrs, yn y ddeunawfed a'r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg, mi oedd yna dwf mawr, mawr yn natblygiad melinau gwynt ar draws yr ynys, bob un yn gallu gweld y llall fel eu bod nhw'n gallu penderfynu pa bryd i roi'r hwyliau i fyny, ac yn y blaen, a hynny wedi cael ei yrru gan sychder, yn golygu bod y melinau dŵr ddim yn gweithio cystal ag y buon nhw a'r corn laws ac ati yn cynyddu pris grawn. Ac mi welsom ni ar yr ynys werth cynhyrchu'r ynni a defnyddio'r ynni yna ein hunain. A beth welsom ni dros amser oedd twf tanwydd ffosil a melinau'n cael eu gyrru gan stêm wedi'u gyrru gan lo yn tynnu'r angen am y defnydd yna o ynni adnewyddol yn lleol yn Ynys Môn. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna lot o wersi yn hynny i ni o ran annibyniaeth ynni: edrych ar beth ydy'n hanghenion ni ein hunain a thrio diwallu'r anghenion hynny ein hunain.
Heddiw, mae gennym ni'r fersiynau modern o dyrbinau gwynt. Fe wnaf i ddatgan budd bod un o'r tair fferm wynt ar Ynys Môn wedi'i datblygu'n rhannol ar dir sy'n perthyn i fy nheulu i. Ond, mae yna gymaint mwy, wrth gwrs, erbyn hyn, ar draws yr ynys, lle rydyn ni'n gallu gweld y posibiliadau. Mae Morlais sydd wedi cael ei grybwyll yn barod yn gynllun dwi'n falch iawn ohono fo oherwydd ei arloesedd yn y modd mae o'n cynhyrchu ynni, ond hefyd fel model o gynhyrchu a datblygu sector newydd fel menter gymdeithasol. Mae'n fodel, onid ydy, ar gyfer sut y dylem ni fod yn datblygu pethau. Ynni gwynt môr: mae yna gymaint o fudd all ddod i'n cymunedau ni o ddatblygu porthladd Caergybi fel hwb ar gyfer y genhedlaeth nesaf o ffermydd gwynt môr. Gwynt môr yn arnofio ydy'r genhedlaeth nesaf eto, wedyn, yn fwy ac yn bellach o'r tir.
Os ydym ni'n edrych ar Gymru'n ehangach, mae yna dechnolegau eraill, wrth gwrs. Dwi'n cymryd diddordeb mawr yn y cynlluniau cafodd eu trafod yr wythnos yma ar gyfer moryd yr afon Hafren. Na, wnaeth y lagŵn yn Abertawe ddim gweithio ac mae'n drueni bod Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi methu â gweld y cyfle amlwg a oedd yn y fan honno, ond gadewch i ni edrych ar beth mae modd ei wneud ym moryd yr afon Hafren rŵan. Mae hydrogen yn faes mae gen i ddiddordeb mawr ynddo fo a chynhyrchiant hydrogen gwyrdd, ac o bosib canfod hydrogen o dan ein tir ni yng Nghymru. Beth rydyn ni'n ei weld yn fan hyn ydy bod yna dirwedd amrywiol iawn, iawn, iawn.
Fy apêl i mewn dadl fel hyn ydy arnom ni fel Senedd i roi pwysau ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod gennym ni gynllun cenedlaethol, strategaeth genedlaethol, ar sut i wneud yn fawr o'r cyfleon. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna sawl haen i'r hyn y dylem ni fod yn ei weld mewn strategaeth o'r fath—hynny ydy, beth ydy'r blaenoriaethau fel sectorau ynni adnewyddol? Dwi wedi crybwyll rhai ohonyn nhw yn y fan hon. Beth ydyn ni'n meddwl ydy ein cryfderau ni? Sut ydyn ni am wneud yn fawr o'r cryfderau hynny? Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud yn fawr o'r cyfleon hynny? Ble mae buddsoddiad cyhoeddus angen mynd i mewn, un ai ohono'i hun neu fel modd i annog rhagor o fuddsoddiad gan y sector preifat ac yn y blaen? Rydyn ni angen adnabod hynny. Rydyn ni angen adnabod beth sydd yn ein siwtio ni fel gwlad.
Mae solar yn enghraifft, reit? Nid dim ond pa fath, ond sut rydyn ni’n defnyddio’r gwahanol ddulliau o gynhyrchu ynni. Mae ‘arloesedd’ yn air sydd wedi cael ei ddefnyddio lot heddiw. Mae solar yn faes lle mae yna gymaint y gallwn ni ei wneud drwy arloesi. Roedd Jenny Rathbone yn cyfeirio at bethau cwbl amlwg fel gwneud yn siŵr bod ysgolion, pob adeilad cyhoeddus, wedi cael eu gorchuddio efo cymaint o baneli solar ag sy’n bosibl, a phob maes parcio cyhoeddus wedi cael eu gorchuddio efo paneli solar, a fyddai’n rhoi to ar gyfer pan fydd hi’n bwrw a chynhyrchiant pan fydd hi’n braf.
Mae yna gynlluniau ar y gweill yn Ynys Môn ar hyn o bryd sy’n dangos sut yn union i beidio â gwneud solar. Mi soniodd Jenny Rathbone eto am y syniad o ddatblygu ar ardal ddiwydiannol yng Nghaerdydd. Mae’r syniad o roi paneli solar ar filoedd o erwau o dir amaethyddol, tir amaethyddol mewn ardal oedd mor gynhyrchiol bod angen 50 o felinau gwynt er mwyn malu ei grawn hi mewn hanes—. Pam byddem ni eisiau tynnu’r tir yna allan o ddefnydd cynhyrchiant bwyd, creu hagrwch mewn ardal sy’n ddibynnol ar dwristiaeth a chreu drwgdeimlad efo’r boblogaeth wrth wneud hynny, pan allem ni fod yn ateb ein hanghenion solar ni mewn ffyrdd mwy arloesol? Ie, toeau, ond hefyd ochrau ffyrdd, ffensys sydd yn baneli solar ac yn y blaen. Mae angen inni fod yn symud yn llawer cyflymach hyd yn oed nag y gwnaeth Carolyn Thomas gyfeirio ato yn Ewrop rŵan—targedau o fewn rhyw bedair blynedd i fynnu cael solar ar dai preifat. Wel, mae angen symud ymlaen heddiw.
Mae angen pwysleisio wrth bobl pa mor fuan mae modd cael y buddsoddiad yn ôl. Dwi wedi buddsoddi fy arian fy hun mewn system gymharol fach ar fy nghartref fy hun. Y prif gymhelliad oedd chwarae fy rhan yn amgylcheddol, ond, bydd, mi fydd o wedi talu amdano’i hun o fewn rhyw saith mlynedd. Fe wnes i ychwanegu un rhan newydd at y system sy'n golygu bod ynni solar yn cynhesu dŵr y tŷ i gyd, ac mae hynny’n talu amdano’i hun mewn blwyddyn. Wel, siawns y dylem ni fod yn gallu bod yn arwain pobl i’w helpu nhw i wneud y penderfyniadau yma eu hunain. Felly—[Torri ar draws.] Sori, Carolyn, wrth gwrs.
Thank you very much to Carolyn Thomas for putting forward this motion today. As the Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn, you might imagine that I feel very optimistic about the potential offered to us through renewable energy.
We have a long, long, long-standing history of generating and using renewable energy on Ynys Môn. I think that the reports of the first windmills in Ynys Môn go back to something like 1303 in Newborough. And, of course, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there was this huge growth in the development of windmills across the island, with each one able to see the next so that they could decide when to put the sails up and so on, and that was driven by drought, which meant that the watermills didn't work as well as they used to, and the corn laws and so on increasing the price of grain. And we saw on the island the value of generating energy and using that energy ourselves. And what we saw over a period of time was the growth of fossil fuels and mills being driven by steam, driven by coal, taking away the need for that use of renewable energy on a local basis on Ynys Môn. I think there are many lessons to be learned from that for us in terms of energy independence: looking at what our own needs are and trying to fulfil those needs ourselves.
Today, we have the modern versions of wind turbines. I will declare an interest that one of the three windfarms on Ynys Môn were developed partly on land that's owned by my family. But, there is so much more, of course, by now, across the island, where we can see the possibilities. Morlais, which has been mentioned already, is a scheme that I'm very proud of because of its innovation in the way that it generates energy, but also as a model of developing a new sector as a social enterprise. It's a model for how we should be developing things in future. Offshore wind energy: there are so many possible benefits for our communities from developing the port of Holyhead as a hub for the next generation of offshore windfarms. Floating offshore wind is the next generation again, then, larger and further away from land.
If we look at Wales more broadly, there are other technologies, of course. I take a great deal of interest in the proposals that were discussed this week for the Severn estuary. No, the Swansea lagoon didn't proceed and it's a shame that the UK Government failed to see the clear potential there, but let us look at what can be done in the Severn estuary now. An area where I have a great deal of interest is hydrogen and green hydrogen generation, and possibly finding hydrogen under our own land here in Wales. What we're seeing here is that there is a very, very, very varied landscape.
My appeal in a debate such as this one is for us as a Senedd to be urging the Welsh Government to ensure that we do have a national plan, a national strategy, on how to maximise the benefits of the opportunities. I think there are several layers to what we should be seeing in such a strategy, such as, what are the priorities in terms of the renewable energy sectors? I've mentioned some of them already. What do we think our strengths are? How will we maximise those strengths? How will the Welsh Government ensure that we maximise those opportunities? Where does public investment need to go in, either in and of itself or as a way to pump prime further investment by the private sector? We need to identify those opportunities. We need to identify what suits us as a nation.
Solar is an example, right? Not just in terms of what kind of solar, but how we use the different methods of energy generation. ‘Innovation’ is a word that’s been used a great deal today. Solar is an area where there is so much that we can do through innovation. Jenny Rathbone referred to things that are completely obvious, such as ensuring that schools, every public building, indeed, are covered with as many solar panels as possible, and every public car park is covered with solar panels, which would provide a roof when it rains and would generate energy when it’s sunny.
There are plans afoot on Ynys Môn at the moment that demonstrate how not to do solar. Jenny Rathbone mentioned the possibility of developing on industrial land in Cardiff. The idea of installing solar panels on thousands of acres of agricultural land, agricultural land in an area that was so productive that it needed 50 windmills in order to process the grain historically—. Why would we want to take that land out of food production, create a blemish on the landscape in an area that depends on tourism and generate ill will locally, when we could be meeting our solar needs in more innovative ways? Yes, roofs, but also by the sides of roads, fences that are also solar panels and so on. We need to be moving far more quickly than even Carolyn Thomas referred to in Europe now—targets within four years to demand solar installation on private homes. Well, we need to make progress today on that.
We need to emphasise to people how quickly you can have that investment returned. I’ve invested my own money in a relatively small system on my own home. The main incentive was to play my own part environmentally, but, yes, it will have paid for itself within seven years or so. I added one new part to the system that means that solar energy heats all the water in the house, and that pays for itself in a year. Well, surely we should be able to lead people to help them to make these decisions themselves. So—[Interruption.] Sorry, Carolyn, of course.
I agree with you regarding solar; we should be putting it on buildings, on urban land rather than agricultural land, but developers will develop, do you agree, where it's easiest and where it's cheapest? That's why it's happening on our green fields. So, do you agree that maybe we need that national plan, a strategy going forward, so that it happens not on our agricultural land?
Rwy'n cytuno â chi ynglŷn â systemau solar; dylem fod yn eu gosod ar adeiladau, ar dir trefol yn hytrach na thir amaethyddol, ond bydd datblygwyr yn datblygu, a ydych chi'n cytuno, yn y mannau hawsaf a rhataf? Dyna pam ei fod yn digwydd ar ein tir glas. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno efallai fod angen y cynllun cenedlaethol hwnnw arnom, strategaeth wrth symud ymlaen, fel nad yw'n digwydd ar ein tir amaethyddol?
Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr. Mi soniodd y Gweinidog, dwi’n credu, am yr angen i glymu’r cynllunio a’r nod o ran cynhyrchiant ynni. Mae angen i’r cyfan glymu at ei gilydd, a pheidio â gwneud miloedd o erwau o dir amaethyddol ym Môn y lle hawsaf a rhataf i wneud solar. Extraction ydy hyn—cwmnïau mawr o’r tu allan i Gymru yn gwneud elw mawr oddi ar ein cymunedau ein hunain. Mi ofynnais i un cwmni pam eu bod nhw’n dewis tir amaethyddol ym Môn. Ie, am ei bod hi’r ffordd rataf iddyn nhw ei wneud o. Fe ofynnais i wedyn, 'Dewch ag un budd i mi o ddefnyddio’r tir da amaethyddol yma ar gyfer fferm solar', a’r ateb a gefais i oedd, 'Llai o draffig amaethyddol.' Mae’r traffig amaethyddol yna’n cynnal swyddi amaethyddol. Mae’r swyddi amaethyddol yna yn cynnal cymunedau gwledig. Mae'r cymunedau gwledig yna yn creu gwead ein gwlad ni, yn ei gwneud hi yr hyn ydy hi. Felly, mae angen i ni fod gymaint mwy arloesol. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni gofio pwy sydd wrth wraidd unrhyw gynlluniau rydyn ni'n eu datblygu: pobl Cymru a chymunedau Cymru ydy hynny. Mae eisiau cofio beth ydy'r budd rydyn ni ei angen iddyn nhw.
Mae cysylltedd ynni'n gorfod bod yn rhan o strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Nid cysylltu yn y ffordd ratach, ond cysylltu mewn ffordd sydd yn adnabod yr angen i ddod â phobl efo ni. Nid gosod peilonau ar draws Cymru, neu drwy Ddyffryn Tywi, neu ar draws Ynys Môn, ydy'r ffordd i annog pobl i ddod efo ni ar y daith adnewyddol yma. Ond gwneud y buddsoddiadau, rhannu'r gost ar draws defnyddwyr ynni yn gyffredinol, er mwyn gwneud y buddsoddiad lle allwn ni mewn tanddaearu, ac yn y blaen. Dwi'n cadw llygad ar y cloc.
Mae yna gyfleon enfawr o'n blaenau ni. Mae'r economi yn gallu ennill, cymunedau'n gallu ennill, pan ydyn ni'n ei wneud o yn iawn, a'r amgylchedd hefyd. Rydyn ni'n gwneud hyn. Rydyn ni eisiau llawer, llawer, llawer, llawer mwy o ynni yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Dyna pam mae'r drafodaeth ar niwclear yn y cyd-destun gwyrdd yn un bwysig i'w chael. Hynny ydy, diwallu'r anghenion enfawr yna sydd yn mynd i ddatblygu mewn blynyddoedd i ddod. Dyna pam mae'r drafodaeth honno yn un economaidd ac amgylcheddol mewn llefydd fel Ynys Môn.
Ond mae yna gymaint o haenau i hyn. Arweiniad gan Lywodraeth, strategaeth gan Lywodraeth sy'n bwysig, ac mewn dadl fel heddiw, sydd yn fath newydd o ddadl yma yn y Senedd, beth rydyn ni eisiau ydy gwneud yn siŵr bod y Llywodraeth yn clywed y themâu sy'n codi yma: angen am strategaeth, angen am arloesedd ac angen gwneud yn fawr ar y cyfleoedd sydd gennym ni fel gwlad yn y maes ynni.
I agree entirely. The Cabinet Secretary, I believe, mentioned the need to tie in the planning and the objective in terms of energy generation. It all needs to be dovetailed, and ensure that thousands of acres of agricultural land on Ynys Môn are not the easiest and cheapest place to install solar. That's extraction—major corporations from outwith Wales making a huge profit out of our communities. I asked one company why they chose agricultural land on Ynys Môn. Yes, that it was the cheapest way for them to do it. But then I asked, 'Well, give me one benefit of using this good agricultural land for a solar farm', and the answer I received was, 'Less agricultural traffic.' That agricultural traffic supports agricultural jobs. Those agricultural jobs sustain rural communities. Those rural communities are the warp and weft of our nation and make it what it is. So, we need to be so much more innovative. And we need to remember, of course, who is at the heart of any plans and developments: the people and communities of Wales. We need to remember what the benefits are for them.
Energy connectivity needs to be part of the Welsh Government's strategy, too. Not connecting in the cheapest way but connecting in a way that recognises the need to bring people with us. Not installing pylons across Wales or through the Tywi valley or across Ynys Môn. That's not the way to encourage people to come with us on this journey. But to make those investments to share the cost across energy users more generally, to make the investment where we can in undergrounding, and so on. I'm keeping an eye on the clock.
But there are huge opportunities in front of us. The economy can benefit. Communities can benefit when we do it in the right way, and the environment too can benefit. We're doing this. We'll need so, so, so much more energy in the years to come. That's why the discussion on nuclear in the green context is an important one to have. That is, meeting those huge future needs that will develop in coming years. That's why that discussion is an economic one and an environmental one in places such as Ynys Môn.
But there are so many layers to this. What's important is leadership from the Government, a strategy from the Government. In a debate like today's, which is a new kind of debate in the Senedd, what we need to do is to ensure that the Government hears these common themes that arise: the need for a strategy, a need for innovation, a need to maximise the opportunities that we have in terms of energy.
Firstly, can I welcome the introduction of this longer debate format? I hope this will continue. Secondly, I would like to thank Carolyn Thomas for bringing this debate forward. I think we've had a very good debate so far, and I hope people will think that after I've given my contribution.
The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind power and hydropower. We're in early days. If you compare to steam, for example, it took almost 200 years from the first steam being produced to James Watt producing something that was efficient. Bioenergy and geothermal power is significant in other countries.
I do not consider nuclear power a renewable power source. Nuclear energy requires mining uranium, which is obviously a non-renewable source. I have other criticisms of nuclear power, but I'll just leave it at that.
Renewable energy installations can be large or small and are suitable for both urban and rural areas. Renewable energy is often deployed together with further electrification. There are several benefits. Electricity can provide heat and power and it can be used to power vehicles. The aim is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources in order to slow and eventually stop climate change. Climate change is caused mostly by greenhouse gas emissions, and this is having a serious effect on the environment and on weather patterns.
Look at steam power. It developed slowly over a period of several hundred years, progressing through expensive and fairly limited devices in the early seventeenth century to useful pumps in the 1700s to Watt’s improved steam engines in the late eighteenth century—260 years from the start to getting the improved version.
I'm going to look at each form of renewable energy in turn now. First, solar power. Solar power is not new, in the sense that it dates before the Christian era, when mirrors were used to light fires. Today we have solar powered heating and powerful electric vehicles. Today we capture sunlight to produce useful electricity. Solar energy involves using radiation from the sun. It can produce heat, and that heat can be used to generate electricity. It is carbon free and does not produce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar energy is created by the nuclear fusion in the sun's core, and we get the benefit of it. Solar panels rely on sunlight. They only generate electricity during daytime, when sunlight is shining on them. Solar panels create no harmful gases, so they are environmentally friendly. If the sun is shining on a solar panel, you are able to use the electricity for your own power needs, reducing your electricity bill, and any excess can be sold to the grid. If it is cloudy, they are less effective and at night they don't generate any electricity at all.
We also have solar farms, which are large areas of land covered with thousands of solar panels that generate electricity. As Rebecca Evans is aware, because she and I share one, there is one near Morriston Hospital that generates electricity that is used in the hospital. So it travels a very short distance. It's local generation. I'm a big fan of local generation. Some solar farms have fixed solar panels that always face the same direction. Some have moving panels that turn so they always directly face the sun. This helps them generate as much electricity as possible from direct sunlight. Solar farms also have batteries that store energy so they can keep providing electricity when there's no direct sunshine. The sun heats the earth even when there is no direct sunshine. If it didn't, we wouldn't be able to live here.
Yn gyntaf, a gaf i groesawu'r ddadl ffurf hirach hon? Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hyn yn parhau. Yn ail, hoffwn ddiolch i Carolyn Thomas am gyflwyno’r ddadl hon. Rwy'n credu ein bod wedi cael dadl dda iawn hyd yma, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pobl yn dal i feddwl hynny ar ôl i mi wneud fy nghyfraniad.
Y mathau o ynni adnewyddadwy a ddefnyddir fwyaf yw ynni solar, ynni gwynt ac ynni dŵr. Mae'n ddyddiau cynnar. Os cymharwch hyn â stêm, er enghraifft, roedd bron i 200 mlynedd rhwng cynhyrchu'r stêm cyntaf a James Watt yn cynhyrchu rhywbeth a oedd yn effeithlon. Mae bio-ynni a phŵer geothermol yn bwysig iawn mewn gwledydd eraill.
Nid wyf yn ystyried ynni niwclear yn ffynhonnell ynni adnewyddadwy. Mae ynni niwclear yn golygu gorfod cloddio am wraniwm, sy'n amlwg yn ffynhonnell anadnewyddadwy. Rwy'n feirniadol o ynni niwclear am resymau eraill, ond fe'i gadawaf ar hynny am y tro.
Gall gosodiadau ynni adnewyddadwy fod yn fawr neu'n fach, ac maent yn addas ar gyfer ardaloedd trefol a gwledig. Mae ynni adnewyddadwy yn aml yn cael ei ddefnyddio ynghyd â thrydaneiddio pellach. Mae iddo nifer o fanteision. Gall trydan ddarparu gwres a phŵer a gellir ei ddefnyddio i bweru cerbydau. Y nod yw i ffynonellau ynni adnewyddadwy gymryd lle tanwydd ffosil er mwyn arafu, ac yn y pen draw, atal newid hinsawdd. Achosir newid hinsawdd yn bennaf gan allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr, ac mae hyn yn cael effaith ddifrifol ar yr amgylchedd ac ar batrymau tywydd.
Edrychwch ar bŵer stêm. Datblygodd yn araf dros gyfnod o gannoedd o flynyddoedd, gan symud ymlaen drwy ddyfeisiadau drud a gweddol gyfyngedig ar ddechrau'r ail ganrif ar bymtheg i bympiau defnyddiol yn y 1700au i injans stêm gwell Watt ar ddiwedd y ddeunawfed ganrif—260 mlynedd o'r dechrau i gael y fersiwn well.
Rwy'n mynd i edrych ar bob math o ynni adnewyddadwy yn eu tro nawr. Yn gyntaf, pŵer solar. Nid yw pŵer solar yn newydd, yn yr ystyr ei fod wedi'i ddefnyddio ers cyn Crist, pan ddefnyddiwyd drychau i gynnau tanau. Heddiw, mae gennym systemau gwresogi a bwerwyd gan ynni solar a cherbydau trydan pwerus. Heddiw, rydym yn dal golau'r haul i gynhyrchu trydan defnyddiol. Mae ynni solar yn golygu defnyddio ymbelydredd o'r haul. Gall gynhyrchu gwres, a gellir defnyddio'r gwres hwnnw i gynhyrchu trydan. Mae'n ddi-garbon, ac nid yw'n cynhyrchu allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr.
Caiff ynni solar ei greu gan yr ymasiad niwclear yng nghraidd yr haul, ac rydym yn cael budd ohono. Mae paneli solar yn dibynnu ar olau'r haul. Dim ond yn ystod y dydd y maent yn cynhyrchu trydan, pan fydd golau'r haul yn tywynnu arnynt. Nid yw paneli solar yn creu unrhyw nwyon niweidiol, felly maent yn ecogyfeillgar. Os yw'r haul yn tywynnu ar banel solar, gallwch ddefnyddio'r trydan ar gyfer eich anghenion pŵer eich hun, gan leihau eich bil trydan, a gellir gwerthu unrhyw ynni dros ben i'r grid. Os yw'n gymylog, maent yn llai effeithiol, ac yn y nos, nid ydynt yn cynhyrchu unrhyw drydan o gwbl.
Mae gennym ffermydd solar hefyd, sef ardaloedd mawr o dir wedi’u gorchuddio â miloedd o baneli solar sy’n cynhyrchu trydan. Fel y gŵyr Rebecca Evans, gan ei bod hi a minnau’n rhannu un, mae un ger Ysbyty Treforys sy’n cynhyrchu trydan sy’n cael ei ddefnyddio yn yr ysbyty. Felly, mae'n teithio pellter byr iawn. Cynhyrchiant lleol ydyw. Rwy'n gefnogwr brwd i gynhyrchiant ynni lleol. Mae gan rai ffermydd solar baneli solar sefydlog sydd bob amser yn wynebu'r un cyfeiriad. Mae gan rai baneli symudol sy'n troi fel eu bod bob amser yn wynebu'r haul yn uniongyrchol. Mae hyn yn eu helpu i gynhyrchu cymaint o drydan â phosibl o olau haul uniongyrchol. Hefyd, mae gan ffermydd solar fatris sy'n storio ynni fel y gallant barhau i ddarparu trydan pan nad oes golau uniongyrchol. Mae'r haul yn cynhesu'r ddaear hyd yn oed pan nad oes heulwen uniongyrchol. Pe na bai'n gwneud hynny, ni fyddem yn gallu byw yma.
So, where next? Japan has developed transparent solar panels that can use UV light to generate electricity. These panels could be an energy-efficient replacement for windows and they would generate electricity 24 hours a day. Research in America has contributed to designing solar panels that can take heat energy from infrared radiation from the sun, which would also work 24 hours a day. So, we've got a way to go, but we're going in the right direction.
On wind turbines, wind is a growing source of reliable and clean energy around the world, and a crucial part of the journey to net zero. It has been used for thousands of years. In 200 BC, wind-powered water pumps were being integrated in China and windmills have been used throughout the world, including in the middle east, Europe and Britain.
In Denmark, wind power was an important part of decentralised electrification in the first quarter of the twentieth century. By 1908, there were 72 wind-driven electric generators from 5 kW to 25 kW. Major progress took place in 1978, which is less than 50 years ago, when the world's first multi-megawatt wind turbines were constructed. It pioneered many of the technologies used in modern wind turbines. Especially important was the wing construction, and it used help from German aeronautical specialists. The power plant that was capable of delivering 2 MW had tubular towers, pitch-controlled wings and three blades. That looks familiar.
Danish commercial wind power development stressed incremental improvements to capacity and efficiency, based on extensive serial production of turbines, and the practical consequence of this was that all commercial wind turbines use a lightweight three-blade upwind design. Offshore wind power began to expand beyond fixed-bottom shallow water turbines in the first decades of the 2000s. The world's first operational deep-water large capacity floating wind turbine became operational off Norway in 2009. That's 15 years ago.
Two myths exist about wind turbines. The first is that they're very noisy. They click when they come on but otherwise they are silent. They want them to be silent because they want to turn the wind energy into electrical energy; they don't want to turn it into noise. The second is that they are a bird graveyard. I've visited several windfarms and I've never seen a dead bird.
Turning to tidal lagoons, the Swansea bay tidal lagoon is a potentially groundbreaking renewable energy project located in Swansea. It's designed to be the world's first energy-generating tidal lagoon with a capacity of 320 MW, capable of powering approximately 120,000 houses for 120 years. The lagoon features underwater turbines and aims to contribute significantly to the UK's energy strategy, providing a sustainable energy source while helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Unfortunately, the short-sightedness of the Conservative Government stopped it happening. We know tidal lagoons are renewable and sustainable. Tidal energy is generated by the gravitational forces of the moon and sun, making it a consistent source of power. It's very predictable. Unlike wind and solar energy, tidal patterns are predictable, allowing for reliable energy generation. Tidal information is produced several years into the future, but it can be produced for the lifetime of a tidal lagoon. People know when the tide is going to come in and out.
There's low environmental impact. Tidal energy systems typically have a minimal impact on the environment compared to fossil fuels. There are no greenhouse gases during operation. They have a long lifespan. Tidal energy infrastructure such as turbines and barrages can have an operational life exceeding 50 years. We're not quite sure how long they can go. On energy efficiency, tidal lagoon plants can achieve high efficiency rates, converting a significant portion of kinetic energy from the tide into electrical energy.
We need improved battery technology. The future battery developments could include graphene-based, aluminium air, magnesium iron, calcium iron, zinc air, quantum dot batteries, lithium sulphur batteries, sodium iron batteries, silicon anode batteries, solid-state batteries. I don't know which one of these will be the most successful, or if any other battery technology will to be invented. Can I just give you a comparison with videos? Remember Betamax, followed by VHS, followed by Blu-ray, followed by downloads? Now, we have on demand. I think the same is going to happen with batteries. What we are waiting for is a big jump in battery technology. That will be a major advance.
We are in the early years of development of renewable energy. Some will be more successful than others. Key to the development of new renewable energy will be the efficient collection of ultraviolet infrared radiation of the sun, the development of a large number of tidal lagoons, the creation of local energy provision. The grid was developed to produce electricity at a power station and distribute it. The ability of the grid to accept energy from businesses and individuals is a huge technological success. We have the capacity to generate electricity everywhere, with all areas becoming self-sufficient or nearly self-sufficient. Too many communities want someone else to generate their energy.
Finally, the key is battery technology—there are a lot of possibilities. Improving storage and the ability to provide a cheap storage facility is the most important future development. The alternative is much of the earth becoming uninhabitable. Finally, we are in the early years of the development of renewable energy. The comparison I use is with rail. When it started, I'm sure there were people saying it was quicker by horse, but as it developed, we had improvements available at speed. I expect renewable energy to do the same.
Felly, ble nesaf? Mae Japan wedi datblygu paneli solar tryloyw a all ddefnyddio golau UV i gynhyrchu trydan. Gallai'r paneli hyn fod yn ddewis ynni-effeithlon yn lle ffenestri, a byddent yn cynhyrchu trydan 24 awr y dydd. Mae ymchwil yn America wedi cyfrannu at ddylunio paneli solar a all ddal ynni gwres o ymbelydredd isgoch o'r haul, a fyddai hefyd yn gweithio 24 awr y dydd. Felly, mae gennym dipyn o ffordd i fynd, ond rydym yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad cywir.
Ar dyrbinau gwynt, mae gwynt yn ffynhonnell gynyddol o ynni dibynadwy a glân ledled y byd, ac yn rhan hanfodol o'r daith at sero net. Mae wedi cael ei ddefnyddio ers miloedd o flynyddoedd. Yn 200 CC, cafodd pympiau dŵr wedi'u pweru gan wynt eu hintegreiddio yn Tsieina, ac mae melinau gwynt wedi cael eu defnyddio ledled y byd, gan gynnwys yn y dwyrain canol, Ewrop a Phrydain.
Yn Nenmarc, roedd ynni gwynt yn rhan bwysig o drydaneiddio datganoledig yn chwarter cyntaf yr ugeinfed ganrif. Erbyn 1908, roedd 72 o eneraduron trydan gwynt a chanddynt gapasiti rhwng 5 kW a 25 kW. Cafwyd cynnydd mawr ym 1978, lai na 50 mlynedd yn ôl, pan adeiladwyd tyrbinau gwynt aml-megawat cyntaf y byd. Paratôdd hynny y ffordd ar gyfer llawer o'r technolegau a ddefnyddir mewn tyrbinau gwynt modern. Roedd y gwaith o adeiladu'r adenydd yn arbennig o bwysig, a chafodd gymorth gan arbenigwyr awyrenegol o'r Almaen. Roedd gan yr orsaf bŵer a oedd yn gallu darparu 2 MW dyrau tiwbaidd, adenydd y gellid rheoli eu goleddf a thri llafn. Mae'n edrych yn gyfarwydd iawn.
Pwysleisiodd datblygiad ynni gwynt masnachol Denmarc welliannau cynyddrannol i gapasiti ac effeithlonrwydd, yn seiliedig ar fasgynhyrchu tyrbinau, a chanlyniad ymarferol hyn oedd bod pob tyrbin gwynt masnachol yn defnyddio cynllun tri llafn ysgafn a wynebai'r gwynt. Dechreuodd ynni gwynt ar y môr ehangu y tu hwnt i dyrbinau dŵr bas gwaelod sefydlog yn negawdau cyntaf y 2000au. Daeth tyrbin gwynt arnofiol dŵr dwfn gweithredol capasiti mawr cyntaf y byd yn weithredol oddi ar Norwy yn 2009. Mae hynny 15 mlynedd yn ôl.
Mae dau fyth yn bodoli am dyrbinau gwynt. Y cyntaf yw eu bod yn swnllyd iawn. Maent yn clicio pan ddônt ymlaen, ond fel arall, maent yn dawel. Maent am iddynt fod yn dawel am eu bod am iddynt droi ynni'r gwynt yn ynni trydanol; nid ydynt am ei droi yn sŵn. Yr ail yw eu bod yn lladd adar. Rwyf wedi ymweld â sawl fferm wynt, ac nid wyf erioed wedi gweld aderyn marw.
Gan droi at fôr-lynnoedd llanw, mae morlyn llanw bae Abertawe yn brosiect ynni adnewyddadwy yn Abertawe sydd â'r potensial i fod yn arloesol. Fe'i cynlluniwyd i fod yn forlyn llanw cyntaf y byd sy'n cynhyrchu ynni, gyda chapasiti o 320 MW, a'r gallu i bweru oddeutu 120,000 o dai am 120 mlynedd. Mae'r morlyn yn cynnwys tyrbinau tanddwr, a'i nod yw cyfrannu'n sylweddol at strategaeth ynni'r DU, gan ddarparu ffynhonnell o ynni cynaliadwy a helpu i leihau allyriadau carbon ar yr un pryd.
Yn anffodus, cafodd ei atal gan ddiffyg gweledigaeth y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. Gwyddom fod môr-lynnoedd llanw yn adnewyddadwy ac yn gynaliadwy. Mae ynni'r llanw yn cael ei gynhyrchu gan rymoedd disgyrchiant y lleuad a'r haul, sy'n golygu ei bod yn ffynhonnell gyson o bŵer. Mae'n rhagweladwy iawn. Yn wahanol i ynni gwynt a solar, mae patrymau'r llanw yn rhagweladwy, sy'n galluogi cynhyrchiant ynni dibynadwy. Cynhyrchir gwybodaeth am y llanw ar gyfer sawl blwyddyn i'r dyfodol, ond gellir ei chynhyrchu ar gyfer oes morlyn llanw. Mae pobl yn gwybod pryd y bydd y llanw'n mynd a dod.
Mae ei effaith amgylcheddol yn isel. Mae systemau ynni'r llanw fel arfer yn cael effaith fach iawn ar yr amgylchedd o gymharu â thanwydd ffosil. Nid oes unrhyw nwyon tŷ gwydr yn cael eu cynhyrchu yn ystod eu gweithrediad. Mae ganddynt oes hir. Gall seilwaith ynni'r llanw fel tyrbinau a morgloddiau gael bywyd gweithredol o fwy na 50 mlynedd. Nid ydym yn siŵr pa mor hir y gallant bara. O ran effeithlonrwydd ynni, gall môr-lynnoedd llanw gyflawni cyfraddau effeithlonrwydd uchel, gan drosi cyfran sylweddol o ynni cinetig o'r llanw yn ynni trydanol.
Mae angen gwell technoleg batri arnom. Gallai datblygiadau batris yn y dyfodol gynnwys batris graffîn, alwminiwm aer, magnesiwm haearn, calsiwm haearn, sinc aer, batris dot cwantwm, batris lithiwm sylffwr, batris haearn sodiwm, batris anod silicon, batris cyflwr solet. Nid wyf yn gwybod pa un o'r rhain a fydd fwyaf llwyddiannus, neu a fydd unrhyw dechnoleg batris arall yn cael ei dyfeisio. A gaf i roi cymhariaeth â fideos i chi? A ydych chi'n cofio Betamax, yna VHS, yna Blu-ray, ac yna lawrlwythiadau? Bellach, mae gennym fideo ar alw. Rwy'n credu bod yr un peth yn mynd i ddigwydd gyda batris. Rydym yn aros am naid fawr mewn technoleg batris. Bydd hwnnw’n gam mawr ymlaen.
Rydym ym mlynyddoedd cynnar datblygiad ynni adnewyddadwy. Bydd rhai mathau'n fwy llwyddiannus nag eraill. Yn allweddol i ddatblygiad ynni adnewyddadwy newydd fydd casglu ymbelydredd isgoch uwchfioled yr haul yn effeithlon, datblygu nifer fawr o fôr-lynnoedd llanw, creu darpariaeth ynni leol. Datblygwyd y grid i gynhyrchu trydan mewn gorsaf bŵer a'i ddosbarthu. Mae gallu’r grid i dderbyn ynni gan fusnesau ac unigolion yn llwyddiant technolegol aruthrol. Mae gennym y gallu i gynhyrchu trydan ym mhobman, gyda phob ardal yn dod yn hunangynhaliol neu bron yn hunangynhaliol. Mae gormod o gymunedau am i rywun arall gynhyrchu eu hynni.
Yn olaf, yr elfen allweddol yw technoleg batris—mae llawer o bosibiliadau. Gwella storio a'r gallu i ddarparu cyfleuster storio rhad yw'r datblygiad pwysicaf ar gyfer y dyfodol. Y dewis arall yw bod llawer o'r ddaear yn dod yn anghyfannedd. Yn olaf, rydym ym mlynyddoedd cynnar datblygiad ynni adnewyddadwy. Y gymhariaeth rwy'n hoffi ei defnyddio yw'r rheilffyrdd. Pan ddechreuodd, rwy'n siŵr fod rhai pobl yn dweud bod mynd ar geffyl yn gyflymach, ond wrth iddo ddatblygu, daeth gwelliannau'n gyflym. Rwy'n disgwyl i'r un peth ddigwydd gydag ynni adnewyddadwy.
I'm grateful to Mike for that tour of the technology horizon, both currently and in the near future. I think if I can summarise most of the contributions we've had so far, really, I think we can answer the exam question that we've been set by Carolyn Thomas: yes, Wales can; Wales can achieve an all-renewable energy position, eliminating fossil fuels completely from our total energy usage, and without recourse to nuclear power either. And that's largely because we're a windy country, both onshore and off, so we have access to that very mature technology. But also photovoltaics, of course, has got to the point where solar works perfectly well in Wales as well.
We have some additional advantages to get there earlier, possibly, than other countries because of our unique geography, and so we can solve one of the problems, the core problem of intermittency—the dunkelflaute, as they call it in Germany—which is what you do in those dark, windless periods when neither solar nor wind power can meet demand. Well, we have lakes in mountains in Wales, so we have exceptional storage capacity, and not just batteries, which are still an emerging and experimental technology; we have natural batteries in Dinorwig and Ffestiniog, and possibly we're going to add to that at some point soon with the Glyn Rhonwy project—massive storage capacity there.
And also, as we've heard in a number of contributions, across our extensive coastline we have a remarkable potential—almost unique. There are few other places with the tidal potential that we have, and it's a source of renewable power that is predictable. So, you put those together, you solve the intermittency problem. And it's not just us saying that. We look at the National Energy System Operator projections for 2050, when the UK is set, according to their projections, to reach net zero—from renewable sources in Wales's case—and they predict total energy need in Wales of 41 TWh per year, and total energy production from renewable sources of 71 TWh. And indeed, if you add the bit of production that is halfway between Devon and Wales—and I think we can take half of that, can't we—it's over 80 TWh. So, 100 per cent more renewable energy produced by 2050 in Wales compared to our energy consumption. The future looks pretty positive if we realise our potential.
I think the question is how do we get there. There are different pathways, and I think's it's useful, in having that conversation, to go back to one of the original pioneering papers by Amory Lovins, one of the great thinkers of sustainable energy and the founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He wrote a paper in 1976 setting out what he called the hard and the soft energy paths. The hard path he described was relying on complex, large-scale electricity generation technologies, distributed through high-voltage grids using institutional machinery that confers power on centralised bureaucracies in corporate oligopolies while marginalising citizens. It kind of sounds familiar, and he had a particular view. The hard path emphasised scale, standardisation, centralised control. The soft path prioritised, yes, energy efficiency—we've already heard reference to that in Wales's case—but also, distributed renewable energy, so community scale, locally tailored energy systems, local ownership, community ownership, and greater citizen control and community involvement.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Mike am y daith honno ar hyd y gorwel technolegol, ar hyn o bryd ac yn y dyfodol agos. Os caf grynhoi'r rhan fwyaf o'r cyfraniadau rydym wedi'u cael hyd yma, rwy'n credu y gallwn ateb y cwestiwn arholiad a osodwyd i ni gan Carolyn Thomas: mae Cymru'n gallu; gall Cymru gyrraedd sefyllfa ynni gwbl adnewyddadwy, gan gael gwared â thanwyddau ffosil yn gyfan gwbl o’n holl ddefnydd o ynni, a heb droi at ynni niwclear ychwaith. A'r rheswm am hynny yn bennaf yw ein bod yn wlad wyntog, ar y tir ac ar y môr, felly mae gennym fynediad at y dechnoleg aeddfed honno. Ond mae technoleg solar ffotofoltaig, wrth gwrs, wedi cyrraedd y pwynt lle mae technoleg ynni solar yn gweithio'n hollol iawn yng Nghymru hefyd.
Mae gennym rai manteision ychwanegol i gyrraedd yno’n gynt, o bosibl, na gwledydd eraill oherwydd ein daearyddiaeth unigryw, ac felly gallwn ddatrys un o’r problemau, sef problem graidd ysbeidioldeb—y dunkelflaute, fel y maent yn ei alw yn yr Almaen—sef yr hyn a wnewch yn y cyfnodau tywyll, di-wynt hynny pan na all ynni solar na gwynt fodloni’r galw. Wel, mae gennym lynnoedd ym mynyddoedd Cymru, felly mae gennym gapasiti storio eithriadol, ac nid o ran batris yn unig, sy’n dal i fod yn dechnoleg ddatblygol ac arbrofol; mae gennym fatris naturiol yn Ninorwig a Ffestiniog, a byddwn yn ychwanegu at hynny cyn bo hir o bosibl gyda phrosiect Glyn Rhonwy—capasiti storio enfawr yno.
A hefyd, fel y clywsom mewn nifer o gyfraniadau, ar hyd ein harfordir helaeth, mae gennym botensial rhyfeddol—bron yn unigryw. Prin yw’r lleoedd eraill sydd â’r potensial sydd gennym ni gydag ynni'r llanw, ac mae’n ffynhonnell ynni adnewyddadwy sy’n rhagweladwy. Felly, os rhowch y rheini at ei gilydd, rydych chi'n datrys problem ysbeidioldeb. Ac nid ni yn unig sy'n dweud hynny. Edrychwn ar amcanestyniadau'r Gweithredwr Systemau Ynni Cenedlaethol ar gyfer 2050, pan fydd y DU, yn ôl eu hamcanestyniadau, yn cyrraedd sefyllfa sero net—o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy yn achos Cymru—ac maent yn rhagweld y bydd cyfanswm yr angen am ynni yng Nghymru yn 41 TWh y flwyddyn, a chyfanswm yr ynni a gynhyrchir o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy yn 71 TWh. Ac yn wir, os ychwanegwch yr ychydig gynhyrchiant sydd hanner ffordd rhwng Dyfnaint a Chymru—ac rwy'n credu y gallwn gymryd hanner hynny, oni allwn—mae'n fwy na 80 TWh. Felly, 100 y cant yn fwy o ynni adnewyddadwy yn cael ei gynhyrchu erbyn 2050 yng Nghymru o gymharu â’n defnydd o ynni. Mae'r dyfodol yn edrych yn eithaf cadarnhaol os gwireddwn ein potensial.
Y cwestiwn yw sut y gallwn gyrraedd yno. Mae gwahanol lwybrau, ac o gael y sgwrs honno, byddai'n ddefnyddiol mynd yn ôl at un o’r papurau arloesol gwreiddiol gan Amory Lovins, un o feddylwyr mawr ynni cynaliadwy a sylfaenydd y Rocky Mountain Institute. Ysgrifennodd bapur ym 1976 yn nodi'r hyn a alwai'n llwybrau ynni caled a meddal. Roedd y llwybr caled a ddisgrifiodd yn dibynnu ar dechnolegau cynhyrchu trydan cymhleth, ar raddfa fawr, wedi'u dosbarthu drwy gridiau foltedd uchel gan ddefnyddio peiriannau sefydliadol sy'n rhoi pŵer i fiwrocratiaethau canolog mewn oligopolïau corfforaethol, gan ymyleiddio dinasyddion. Mae'n swnio'n gyfarwydd iawn, ac roedd ganddo farn benodol. Roedd y llwybr caled yn pwysleisio graddfa, safoni, rheolaeth ganolog. Roedd y llwybr meddal yn blaenoriaethu, ie, effeithlonrwydd ynni—rydym eisoes wedi clywed cyfeirio at hynny yn achos Cymru—ond hefyd, dosbarthu ynni adnewyddadwy, felly ar raddfa gymunedol, systemau ynni wedi'u teilwra'n lleol, perchnogaeth leol, perchnogaeth gymunedol, a mwy o reolaeth gan ddinasyddion a chyfranogiad cymunedol.
You've seen across Europe different countries following, you know, different paths. So, essentially, in Denmark and in Germany, they've followed a much softer path. So, you've got, you know—. Nearly half of Denmark's renewable energy capacity is community owned, or co-operatively owned. In Germany, the Energiewende, the energy transition, is very much influenced by soft-path thinking. And you've got 40 per cent of renewable energy capacity, with over 60 per cent of wind energy in Germany not owned by corporations, but by individual farmers or communities. France: very much a hard path, based on nuclear. The UK: a hard path—the Central Electricity Generating Board privatised, but still, really, an incredibly centralised system. The hard path—for a period, the dash for gas, and now a hard path, but using renewable and nuclear.
I think the problem for me with the hard path is the issue of energy justice. So, with a hard path, the benefits and the costs are unevenly distributed, if you like. The benefits are very much with the owners of capital. They make huge profits. The same companies that—. I mean, you know, downstairs, in our car charging, it's BP Pulse. The same companies that were running the fossil fuels are now basically carving up, in many cases, renewables. Making the profits, and yet the community is having to bear the costs, in terms of landscape impact. I've had e-mails only today from constituents who can't sleep because of warrants that are being issued by Green GEN to build pylons across their land et cetera. So, the costs are—. And the costs are particularly concentrated in particular areas like Wales, which has renewable energy, but yet we don't get the benefit.
So, I think that there's a question here for us: which path do we want to follow? And I think that, in terms of onshore, really, if you think of Wales's energy needs, we're locked into this hard-path UK system, but really we should be following that sort of Nordic model of a softer path onshore—community scale and community owned. So, taking the community with us, so that people can see the benefits rather than following the extractive economy model that we've had a bitter experience with in Wales for too long. And if we want to choose that soft path, there are things that we can do. We could provide permitted development rights to make it easier to get community scale and community-owned developments. We could set limits on developments in terms of their scale and density, so that we could prevent the sort of corporate green rush that we're seeing. The figures are quite incredible. At the moment, applications are in for 700 turbines in Wales, and 46,000 acres of solar and battery storage development across Wales. It's not the people of Wales that are going to make most of the benefit from that. So, we could mandate solar on roofs, as we've said. We could use those local energy area plans, couldn't we, actually, in a concerted way, to develop that kind of soft path?
I think there's a possibility of a hybrid approach. I think, in terms of offshore, we could accept the need for and support large-scale development there. So, you could have that soft community-scale path onshore, but in offshore, in terms of tidal lagoons, in terms of floating wind, in terms of energy islands—. Belgium and Denmark are building a fixed energy island; we could do that off the coast of Wales in that sort of larger scale development. And actually, we could create a synergy between the large-scale developments—even better if we have a public stake in them, by the way, and, also, we devolve the Crown Estate so we can get the revenue from them, even if they are, in some cases, privately owned. You could create, as Carolyn Thomas said, a sovereign wealth fund that then invested in the community-scale local energy developments onshore, so you could create synergies between the two systems. I think that's the kind of vision that could work well for Wales, and I think we need to detach ourselves from the UK path, which is very much corporate-driven, centralised, and is not always going to deliver the best benefits to our citizens.
Ar draws Ewrop, rydych chi wedi gweld gwahanol wledydd yn dilyn llwybrau gwahanol. Felly, yn y bôn, yn Nenmarc ac yn yr Almaen, maent wedi dilyn llwybr llawer meddalach. Felly, mae gennych chi, wyddoch chi—. Mae bron i hanner capasiti ynni adnewyddadwy Denmarc yn eiddo i'r gymuned, neu'n eiddo cydweithredol. Yn yr Almaen, mae'r Energiewende, y trawsnewidiad ynni, yn cael ei ddylanwadu'n fawr gan feddwl llwybr meddal. Ac mae gennych 40 y cant o gapasiti ynni adnewyddadwy, gyda dros 60 y cant o ynni gwynt yn yr Almaen nad yw'n eiddo i gorfforaethau, ond i ffermwyr neu gymunedau unigol. Ffrainc: llwybr caled iawn, yn seiliedig ar niwclear. Y DU: llwybr caled—mae'r Bwrdd Cynhyrchu Trydan Canolog wedi'i breifateiddio, ond eto, mewn gwirionedd, yn system anhygoel o ganolog. Y llwybr caled—am gyfnod, y rhuthr am nwy, a nawr, llwybr caled, ond gan ddefnyddio ynni adnewyddadwy a niwclear.
Rwy'n credu mai'r broblem i mi gyda'r llwybr caled yw mater cyfiawnder ynni. Felly, gyda llwybr caled, mae'r manteision a'r costau wedi'u dosbarthu'n anwastad, os mynnwch. Mae'r manteision i berchnogion cyfalaf i raddau helaeth. Maent yn gwneud elw enfawr. Yr un cwmnïau sydd—. Hynny yw, i lawr y grisiau, BP Pulse sy'n gwefru ein ceir. Yn y bôn, mae'r un cwmnïau a oedd yn rhedeg tanwydd ffosil, mewn llawer o achosion bellach yn rhannu'r ysbail o ynni adnewyddadwy. Yn gwneud yr elw, ac eto mae'r gymuned yn gorfod talu'r costau, o ran effaith ar y dirwedd. Heddiw ddiwethaf, cefais e-byst gan etholwyr nad ydynt yn gallu cysgu oherwydd gwarantau sy'n cael eu cyhoeddi gan Green GEN i adeiladu peilonau ar draws eu tir ac ati. Felly, mae'r costau—. Ac mae'r costau'n fwy dwys mewn ardaloedd penodol fel Cymru, sydd ag ynni adnewyddadwy, ond eto nid ydym yn cael y budd.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod cwestiwn yma i ni: pa lwybr yr hoffem ei ddilyn? Ac ar y tir, os meddyliwch am anghenion ynni Cymru, rydym wedi ein cloi i mewn i system galed yn y DU, ond mewn gwirionedd dylem fod yn dilyn y math o fodel Nordig a llwybr meddalach ar y tir—ar raddfa gymunedol ac yn eiddo i'r gymuned. Felly, mynd â'r gymuned gyda ni, fel y gall pobl weld y manteision yn hytrach na dilyn y model economi echdynnol y cawsom brofiad chwerw ohono yng Nghymru ers gormod o amser. Ac os ydym am ddewis y llwybr meddal, mae yna bethau y gallwn eu gwneud. Gallwn ddarparu hawliau datblygu a ganiateir i'w gwneud hi'n haws cael datblygiadau ar raddfa gymunedol ac yn eiddo i'r gymuned. Gallwn osod terfynau ar ddatblygiadau o ran eu maint a'u dwysedd, fel y gallwn atal y math o ruthr gwyrdd corfforaethol a welwn. Mae'r ffigurau'n anhygoel. Ar hyn o bryd, mae ceisiadau ar gyfer 700 o dyrbinau yng Nghymru, a 46,000 erw o ddatblygiad solar a storio batri ledled Cymru. Nid pobl Cymru sy'n mynd i wneud y budd mwyaf o hynny. Felly, gallem wneud paneli solar ar doeau'n orfodol, fel y dywedwyd. Gallwn ddefnyddio cynlluniau ynni ardal leol, oni allwn, mewn ffordd gydgysylltiedig, i ddatblygu'r math hwnnw o lwybr meddal?
Rwy'n credu bod dull hybrid yn bosibl. Ar y môr, gallem dderbyn yr angen am ddatblygiad ar raddfa fawr yno, a'i gefnogi. Felly, gallech gael y llwybr meddal ar raddfa gymunedol ar y tir, ond ar y môr, gyda môr-lynnoedd llanw, gyda gwynt arnofiol, gydag ynysoedd ynni—. Mae Gwlad Belg a Denmarc yn adeiladu ynys ynni sefydlog; gallem wneud hynny oddi ar arfordir Cymru mewn datblygiad ar raddfa fwy o'r math hwnnw. Ac mewn gwirionedd, gallem greu synergedd rhwng y datblygiadau ar raddfa fawr—a gorau oll os oes gennym gyfran gyhoeddus ynddynt, gyda llaw, a datganoli Ystad y Goron fel y gallwn gael y refeniw ohonynt, hyd yn oed os ydynt, mewn rhai achosion, yn eiddo preifat. Gallech greu cronfa gyfoeth sofran, fel y dywedodd Carolyn Thomas, a fyddai'n buddsoddi wedyn yn y datblygiadau ynni lleol ar raddfa gymunedol ar y tir, fel y gallech greu synergeddau rhwng y ddwy system. Rwy'n credu mai dyna'r math o weledigaeth a allai weithio'n dda i Gymru, ac rwy'n credu bod angen inni ddatgysylltu ein hunain o lwybr y DU, sy'n cael ei yrru gan agwedd gorfforaethol, ganoledig, ac nad yw bob amser yn mynd i ddarparu'r manteision gorau i'n dinasyddion.
I'm very pleased to follow that very thoughtful speech by Adam Price, and I too agree that the answer to the question of, 'Can Wales alone meet our needs through renewable energy?' is self-evidently, 'Yes, it can.' We do not need nuclear for baseload, we need innovation. I don't agree with the Government's equivocal position that we need blue hydrogen as a transition for industry, or carbon capture and storage for the production of concrete. These are delaying tactics—delaying tactics advanced by the fossil fuel industry because of enormous economic vested interests. I think one of the most depressing things over the last few years is how this agenda has been set back. We've seen yesterday the right in the UK following the right in the US in turning its face against net zero as an achievable goal, with Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, saying it was not achievable and it would damage the economy. Well, that is just simply not factually true; it is achievable. She may not want to confront what is involved in achieving it.
And in terms of damaging the economy, I don't think people are facing up to the scale and the pace of the change coming at us and the economic impact that's going to have. I think it was back in 2007 that Lord Stern produced his review for the Treasury in which he said that unless we got carbon emissions down to net zero, then the annual economic damage to our economy would be a 5 per cent—5 per cent—drop in GDP every single year. Now, that's not a recession, that's an ongoing economic depression if we fail to get carbon emissions under control. So, when we hear the leader of the Conservative Party saying that it's economically damaging to get to net zero, it is ignorant of the facts and it is irresponsible of the science and the failure to face up to what the world's scientific community is saying loud and clear. When scientists, who are cautious types, use the word 'catastrophic' to describe the climate change coming at us—. That's what the UN panel on climate change says—we face catastrophic climate change. Now, let's each of us think of what 'catastrophic' looks like in the communities we represent.
Now, I know tackling climate change is a very complex political science issue as well as a climate science one, and we don't think enough about the fusion of the two. Change is difficult, and there are trade-offs, and there are people who don't want land to be used for solar, and those people who don't want pylons near where they live, but that's, in part, because we're not projecting to them an honest conversation of what not doing anything looks like. Because catastrophic climate change in each of our communities is going to be devastating for the economy and the society and the future of our communities. Janet Finch-Saunders is tutting. Do you know, I've sat through so many speeches of hers calling for us, when we're going to the Conference of the Parties, to take bold action, stand up for the nature emergency, and there's this cognitive dissonance, this profound disconnect between what that means in the abstract and what it means in practice, and that's what I find depressing about this debate. We are not facing up to the scale, the pace and the severity of not confronting this at the scale that we need to.
Now, there are real challenges here, and we've seen a number of them in recent years. There's the issue that we need to confront about jobs. We are closing down industries that are large employers but enormous carbon polluters: that is an adverse impact on our economy in the short term, and a very real and significant one, and we shouldn't dismiss it. We don't have a good enough story of the just transition that we talk about in the abstract. We don't have a plan for a just transition. So, when we do say, 'Your factory, your coal mine can't get permission to go ahead', we don't have an alternative, and one of the paradoxes, I think, one of the things holding us back from a just transition, is the skills we need to get us that just transition—the retrofitting of the houses for energy efficiency, the creation of the wind turbines. We don't have the skills for it, and yet we are facing a pushback because we are getting rid of jobs, and there is a mismatch here that Governments everywhere are not facing up to and strategically planning and preparing for. And there's no excuse, we know it's coming, the science is clear, we know the adverse effects, and we're not planning for it. And we're going to face a severe backlash, because the science ain't going to get any easier, and the short-term impacts are not going to get any tamer. The scientific community has said we're not going to face linear change, we're going to face peaks and troughs here. We're going to have sudden crises, we're going to have droughts, we're going to have storms, we're going to have deaths, we're going to have huge economic disruption. We know it, it's happening already. It's going to get more intense. Why are we not confronting what this means for our policies?
The Welsh Government's progress on local energy plans is fantastic and deserves significant credit, and also credit to the Institute of Welsh Affairs that started this work back in 2019 with its report where it set out a practical road map and started the work in Swansea on local area planning. And we've had really good reports from the Wales net-zero commission, set up in the agreement with Plaid Cymru, which told us what we need to be doing by 2035. The National Infrastructure Commission as well, in 2023, published its recommendations. So, there's no excuse here. We know what we need to do. It's just hard. It's hard, and it's going to be expensive in the short term, but we also know—let this record of this debate be there for futures to search with artificial intelligence—we know it's coming, we know it's going to happen. So, when this is being searched in 50 years' time, let us not pretend we didn't know it, we just didn't want to face up to it. We didn't want to face down the farming community who didn't want to cut emissions and cut pollution, we didn't want to face up to the large investors and the large corporations who told us it was too expensive and too difficult, we didn't want to face down the alternative right who, through their culture wars and their populism, told us it's easier to divide and have wedge issues. These are all choices that we've all made and we need to own them.
There are some real complex issues that we face, not least around the grid, around public acceptability, around skills that we have to plan for and we have to confront. And Adam Price was absolutely spot on in his point about ownership, and this is the other bit we don't talk enough about. I want Wales to embrace the opportunities that this transition to a sustainable economy brings us, and there are real opportunities. But also, the gains should not leak out of Wales and go elsewhere. So, it's very hard to enthusiastically make a case for a development and face down genuine local opposition when the benefits of that scheme are going to be the Canadian teachers' fund or the Swedish Government, or the German Government, who are all heavily investing in green energy schemes in this country and we are not. And this is why I think the UK Government's creation of GB Energy is absolutely the right way forward, and it needs to scale up and invest in that with confidence. But as ever, Wales is going to get shafted, if we're not careful, by the natural resources that we have being exploited by others, and we have to suck up the short-term consequences of doing so. And we mustn't let that happen.
But let me finish, Llywydd, by just repeating the urgency point to colleagues. The pace at which we are willing to move, the equivocation that all parts of this Chamber are putting into contributions of 'Yes, but—' is not equal to the level of the challenge that we face.
Rwy'n falch iawn o ddilyn yr araith feddylgar honno gan Adam Price, ac rwyf hefyd yn cytuno mai'r ateb i'r cwestiwn, 'A all Cymru ar ei phen ei hun ddiwallu ein hanghenion drwy ynni adnewyddadwy?' yn amlwg, yw 'Gall.' Arloesedd sydd ei angen arnom ar gyfer cyflenwad sylfaenol, nid niwclear. Nid wyf yn cytuno â safbwynt amwys y Llywodraeth fod angen hydrogen glas fel ffordd i ddiwydiant bontio, neu ddal a storio carbon ar gyfer cynhyrchu concrit. Tactegau oedi yw'r rhain—tactegau oedi a gyflwynwyd gan y diwydiant tanwydd ffosil oherwydd y buddiannau economaidd enfawr i'r diwydiant hwnnw. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau mwyaf digalon dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf yw'r ffordd y mae'r agenda hon wedi'i gwthio'n ôl. Ddoe, fe welsom y dde yn y DU yn dilyn y dde yn yr Unol Daleithiau gan droi ei hwyneb yn erbyn sero net fel nod cyraeddadwy, gyda Kemi Badenoch, arweinydd y Blaid Geidwadol, yn dweud nad oedd yn gyraeddadwy ac y byddai'n niweidio'r economi. Wel, nid yw hynny'n wir yn ffeithiol; mae'n gyraeddadwy. Efallai nad yw eisiau wynebu'r hyn sy'n gysylltiedig â'i gyflawni.
Ac o ran niweidio'r economi, nid wyf yn credu bod pobl yn wynebu maint a chyflymder y newid sy'n dod tuag atom a'r effaith economaidd y bydd hynny'n ei chael. Rwy'n credu mai yn ôl yn 2007 y cynhyrchodd yr Arglwydd Stern ei adolygiad ar gyfer y Trysorlys lle dywedodd, oni bai ein bod yn cael allyriadau carbon i lawr i sero net, y byddai'r niwed economaidd blynyddol i'n heconomi yn ostyngiad o 5 y cant—5 y cant—mewn cynnyrch domestig gros bob blwyddyn. Nawr, nid enciliad mo hynny, ond dirwasgiad economaidd parhaus os methwn gael allyriadau carbon dan reolaeth. Felly, pan glywn arweinydd y Blaid Geidwadol yn dweud bod cyrraedd sero net yn niweidiol yn economaidd, mae'n dangos anwybodaeth o'r ffeithiau ac mae'n anghyfrifol o ran y wyddoniaeth a'r methiant i wynebu'r hyn y mae cymuned wyddonol y byd yn ei ddweud yn uchel ac yn glir. Pan fydd gwyddonwyr, sy'n bobl ofalus, yn defnyddio'r gair 'catastroffig' i ddisgrifio'r newid hinsawdd sy'n dod tuag atom—. Dyna beth y mae panel y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar newid hinsawdd yn ei ddweud—rydym yn wynebu newid hinsawdd catastroffig. Nawr, gadewch i bob un ohonom feddwl sut beth fyddai 'catastroffig' yn y cymunedau a gynrychiolwn.
Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod mynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd yn fater gwyddoniaeth wleidyddol cymhleth iawn yn ogystal â mater gwyddoniaeth hinsawdd, ac nid ydym yn meddwl digon am uniad y ddau. Mae newid yn anodd, ac mae yna gyfaddawdu, ac mae yna bobl nad ydynt eisiau i dir gael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer solar, a phobl nad ydynt eisiau peilonau'n agos i ble maent yn byw, ond mae hynny'n rhannol am nad ydym yn cyfleu trafodaeth onest iddynt ynglŷn â sut olwg sydd ar beidio â gwneud unrhyw beth. Oherwydd mae newid hinsawdd catastroffig ym mhob un o'n cymunedau yn mynd i fod yn ddinistriol i'r economi a'r gymdeithas a dyfodol ein cymunedau. Mae Janet Finch-Saunders yn twt-twtian. Wyddoch chi, rwyf wedi eistedd trwy gymaint o areithiau ganddi yn galw arnom, pan fyddwn ni'n mynd i Gynhadledd y Partïon, i roi camau beiddgar ar waith, i sefyll dros yr argyfwng natur, ac mae yna anghysondeb gwybyddol, datgysylltiad dwfn rhwng yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu yn haniaethol a'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu yn ymarferol, a dyna rwy'n ei ystyried yn ddigalon am y ddadl hon. Nid ydym yn wynebu maint, cyflymder a difrifoldeb peidio â mynd i'r afael â hyn ar y raddfa y mae angen inni ei wneud.
Nawr, mae heriau gwirioneddol yma, ac rydym wedi gweld nifer ohonynt yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â mater swyddi. Rydym yn cau diwydiannau sy'n gyflogwyr mawr ond yn llygrwyr carbon enfawr: mae'n effaith andwyol ar ein heconomi yn y tymor byr, ac yn un real ac arwyddocaol iawn, ac ni ddylem ei ddiystyru. Nid oes gennym stori ddigon da am y pontio teg y siaradwn amdano'n haniaethol. Nid oes gennym gynllun ar gyfer pontio teg. Felly, pan fyddwn ni'n dweud, 'Ni chaiff eich ffatri, eich pwll glo ganiatâd i fwrw ymlaen', nid oes gennym ateb amgen, ac un o'r paradocsau, un o'r pethau sy'n ein dal yn ôl rhag pontio teg, yw'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen i sicrhau ein bod yn cael pontio teg—ôl-osod tai er mwyn arbed ynni, creu tyrbinau gwynt. Nid oes gennym sgiliau i'w gwneud, ac eto rydym yn gweld gwrthwynebiad am ein bod yn cael gwared ar swyddi, ac mae anghysondeb yma nad yw Llywodraethau ym mhob man yn ei wynebu ac yn cynllunio'n strategol ac yn paratoi ar ei gyfer. Ac nid oes unrhyw esgus, rydym yn gwybod ei fod yn dod, mae'r wyddoniaeth yn glir, rydym yn gwybod am yr effeithiau niweidiol, ac nid ydym yn cynllunio ar ei gyfer. Ac rydym yn mynd i wynebu adlach ddifrifol, oherwydd nid yw'r wyddoniaeth yn mynd i fynd yn haws, ac nid yw'r effeithiau tymor byr yn mynd i leihau. Mae'r gymuned wyddonol wedi dweud nad ydym yn mynd i wynebu newid llinol, rydym yn mynd i wynebu uchafbwyntiau a chafnau yma. Fe gawn argyfyngau sydyn, fe gawn sychder, fe gawn stormydd, fe gawn farwolaethau, fe gawn aflonyddwch economaidd enfawr. Rydym yn gwybod hynny, mae'n digwydd eisoes. Mae'n mynd i fynd yn fwy dwys. Pam nad ydym yn wynebu'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu i'n polisïau?
Mae cynnydd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gynlluniau ynni lleol yn wych ac yn haeddu cryn glod, a chlod hefyd i'r Sefydliad Materion Cymreig a ddechreuodd y gwaith hwn yn ôl yn 2019 gyda'i adroddiad lle gosododd fap ffordd ymarferol a dechreuodd y gwaith yn Abertawe ar gynlluniau ardal leol. Ac rydym wedi cael adroddiadau da iawn gan gomisiwn sero net Cymru, a sefydlwyd yn y cytundeb gyda Phlaid Cymru, ac a ddywedodd wrthym beth sydd angen inni ei wneud erbyn 2035. Cyhoeddodd y Comisiwn Seilwaith Cenedlaethol ei argymhellion hefyd, yn 2023. Felly, nid oes unrhyw esgus yma. Fe wyddom beth sydd angen inni ei wneud. Mae'n anodd. Mae'n anodd, ac mae'n mynd i fod yn ddrud yn y tymor byr, ond rydym hefyd yn gwybod—gadewch i'r cofnod o'r ddadl hon fod yno ar gyfer y dyfodol i'w chwilio gan ddeallusrwydd artiffisial—fe wyddom ei fod yn dod, fe wyddom ei fod yn mynd i ddigwydd. Felly, pan fydd hyn yn cael ei chwilio mewn 50 mlynedd, gadewch inni beidio ag esgus nad oeddem yn gwybod, nid oeddem eisiau ei wynebu, dyna i gyd. Nid oeddem am wynebu'r gymuned ffermio nad oedd eisiau torri allyriadau a lleihau llygredd, nid oeddem am wynebu'r buddsoddwyr mawr a'r corfforaethau mawr a ddywedodd wrthym ei fod yn rhy ddrud ac yn rhy anodd, nid oeddem am wynebu'r dde amgen a ddywedodd wrthym, trwy eu rhyfeloedd diwylliannol a'u poblyddiaeth, ei bod hi'n haws creu rhwygiadau a chael problemau ymrannol. Mae'r rhain i gyd yn ddewisiadau y mae pawb ohonom wedi'u gwneud ac mae angen inni eu perchnogi.
Mae yna faterion cymhleth yr ydym yn eu hwynebu, yn enwedig yn gysylltiedig â'r grid, ynghylch derbynioldeb y cyhoedd, ynghylch sgiliau y mae'n rhaid inni gynllunio ar eu cyfer ac y mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â hwy. Ac roedd Adam Price yn hollol iawn yn ei bwynt am berchnogaeth, a dyma'r darn arall nad ydym yn siarad digon amdano. Rwyf am i Gymru gofleidio'r cyfleoedd y mae'r pontio i economi gynaliadwy yn eu cyflwyno i ni, ac mae yna gyfleoedd go iawn. Ond hefyd, ni ddylai'r enillion ollwng allan o Gymru a mynd i rywle arall. Felly, mae'n anodd iawn gwneud achos brwdfrydig dros ddatblygiad ac wynebu gwrthwynebiad lleol gwirioneddol pan fydd manteision y cynllun hwnnw'n mynd i gronfa athrawon Canada neu Lywodraeth Sweden, neu Lywodraeth yr Almaen, sydd oll yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn cynlluniau ynni gwyrdd yn y wlad hon, a ninnau heb fod yn gwneud hynny. A dyna pam rwy'n credu mai creu GB Energy gan Lywodraeth y DU yw'r ffordd iawn ymlaen, ac mae angen iddi ehangu a buddsoddi yn hynny gyda hyder. Ond fel erioed, mae Cymru'n mynd i gael cam os nad ydym yn ofalus, wrth i'r adnoddau naturiol sydd gennym gael eu hecsbloetio gan eraill, gan ein gadael i oddef canlyniadau byrdymor gwneud hynny. Ac ni ddylem adael i hynny ddigwydd.
Ond gadewch imi orffen, Lywydd, drwy ailadrodd y pwynt pwysig i fy nghyd-Aelodau. Nid yw'r cyflymder yr ydym yn barod i symud arno, yr amwysedd y mae pob rhan o'r Siambr yn ei roi mewn cyfraniadau 'Ie, ond—' yn gyfartal â lefel yr her a wynebwn.
Mae yna gymaint dwi'n cytuno gyda fe. Beth fyddwn i yn gwthio’n ôl ychydig bach arno fe, wrth gwrs, yw bod yn rhaid inni fynd â phobl gyda ni ar y siwrnai yma, ac mae'n ffin denau rhwng gwthio’n galed a thynnu pobl tu ôl i ni. Ac ar adegau, dwi'n meddwl bod yn rhaid inni fod yn bragmatig yn hynny o beth. Ond dwi'n cytuno 100 y cant ynglŷn â maint yr her a maint yr ymateb sydd ei angen. A gadewch inni atgoffa ein hunain ble rŷn ni: 34 y cant o holl drydan Cymru sydd yn cael ei gynhyrchu o ynni adnewyddadwy ar hyn o bryd. Mae hynny i fyny o 27 y cant yn 2022, ond, wrth gwrs, fel rŷn ni'n gwybod, mae'n dibyniaeth ni lawer, lawer yn rhy drwm ar danwydd ffosil, yn enwedig nwy, wrth gwrs, gyda gweithfeydd mawr mewn llefydd fel Penfro a Chei Connah yn ganolog i hynny.
Ac mae hynny'n dod nôl at y pwyntiau sydd wedi cael eu gwneud ynglŷn â’r dewis yma rhwng y llwybr caled a'r llwybr meddal. A dwi yn teimlo, er efallai y gallwn ni reidio dau geffyl mewn gwahanol gyd-destunau—ar y tir ac yn y môr—heb ein bod ni'n gweld y shift sylfaenol yma i ffwrdd o'r model hub and spoke lle rŷn ni'n cael y canolfannau yma sydd yn cynhyrchu lot fawr o ynni, sydd yn cael ei gyfleu yn aneffeithiol ac yn aneffeithlon iawn ar draws y wlad, gyda transmission loss ac yn y blaen, ac yn y blaen—heb ein bod ni'n symud i fodel sydd yn fwy o ryw fath o rwydwaith gwe pry cop, lle mae yna lawer mwy o gynhyrchiant yn digwydd ar raddfa lai mewn mwy o lefydd—sydd yn gyfundrefn llawer mwy resilient, gyda llaw, achos os oes peth o'r wifrynnau yna yn mynd lawr, wel, mae gyda chi'r cysylltedd a'r rhyngddibyniaeth i allu pwyso ar eraill i gynhyrchu; yn y model hub and spoke, os oes un o'r canolfannau mawr yn mynd lawr, mae hanner y wlad yn mynd mas; mae'n rhaid inni gael y sifft benderfynol yna yn y grid, i bob pwrpas, oherwydd y grid yw'r broblem, yn ei hanfod, fan hyn—dydyn ni ddim yn mynd i gyrraedd y nod rŷn ni'n awyddus i'w gyrraedd. Ac wrth gwrs y rhwystredigaeth arall inni fan hyn yw dyw'r grid ddim wedi ei ddatganoli. Felly, fe allwn ni gael y dadleuon yma mor aml â rŷn ni eisiau, ond heb fod y symudiad decisive yna yn dod o gyfeiriad Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig a'r Grid Cenedlaethol, yna rŷn ni'n mynd i fod yn nofio yn erbyn y llif yn rhy aml o lawer.
There's so much that I agree with. What I would push back on a little is that we do have to take people with us on this journey, and it's a narrow line between pushing hard and dragging people with us. And at times, I think we have to be pragmatic in that regard. But I agree 100 per cent on the scale of the challenge and the response that's required. And let's remind ourselves of where we are: 34 per cent of all Welsh electricity is produced from renewable energy at the moment. That's up from 27 per cent in 2022, but, of course, as we know, our reliance is far too great on fossil fuels, particularly gas, of course, with major plants in places like Pembroke and Connah's Quay being central to that.
And that comes back to the points that have been made on this choice between the hard path and the soft path. And I do feel, although we can perhaps ride two horses in different contexts—offshore and onshore—if we don't see that fundamental shift away from the hub-and-spoke model, where we have these major centres that produce a great deal of energy that is then distributed ineffectively and inefficiently across the country, with transmission loss and so on and so forth—unless we move to a model that is more of a spiderweb network, where there is far more production happening at a lower rate in more places—which is a far more resilient system, by the way, because if some of those elements go down, then you do have that connectivity and the interdependency to rely on others to produce; in the hub-and-spoke model, if one of the major centres goes down, half the country is down; we do have to have that decisive shift in the grid, to all intents and purposes, because the grid is essentially the problem here—we're not going to achieve the aim that we all want to achieve. And the other major frustration for us here is that the grid is not devolved. So, we can have these debates as often as we like, but unless there is that decisive shift coming from the UK Government and the National Grid, then we are going to be swimming against the tide far too often.
Nawr, mae yna gyfleon, wrth gwrs. Mae yna beryglon, fel rŷn ni wedi'i glywed. Ond yr hyn sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd, dwi'n ofni, yw sefyllfa lle mae yna gwmnïau lu—cwmnïau rhyngwladol mawr—yn glanio yn ddisymwth ar gymunedau ar hyd a lled Cymru, yn chwilio am ganiatadau i ddatblygu'r projectau mawr yma, rhai ohonyn nhw'n addas, rhai ohonyn nhw yn gwbl anaddas, yn fy marn i. A'r hyn gewch chi wedyn, wrth gwrs, yw cymunedau yn adweithio i hynny—cymunedau sydd efallai yn cael eu brawychu ac sydd yn taro nôl. Problem y gyfundrefn yw hwnna, sy'n creu y gwrthdaro yma, a dyw e ddim, wrth gwrs, yn rhywbeth rŷn ni eisiau ei weld. Mae yna 126—. Wnes i gyfeirio at yr ystadegau yma yn gynharach. Mae yna 126 o brojectau ynni adnewyddadwy gyda'r National Energy Systems Operator ar hyn o bryd—hynny yw, yn geisiadau gan y sector ynni am gysylltiadau i'r grid cenedlaethol yma yng Nghymru. Maen nhw'n brojectau o bwys, hynny yw projectau arwyddocaol—nid projectau bychan, felly, fel ynni cymunedol, ffermydd solar bach, ffermydd gwynt bychan ac yn y blaen, ac nid projectau chwaith, wrth gwrs, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed, sy'n mynd i ddiwallu anghenion lleol, ond projectau o bwys cenedlaethol sydd angen cysylltiad i is-orsaf, wrth gwrs, er mwyn wedyn allforio y trydan yna ar linellau foltedd uchel 400 kV neu 132 kV—yr extraction yma roedden ni'n sôn amdano fe, neu'n clywed amdano fe, yn gynharach.
Nawr, mae cyfanswm allbwn arfaethedig y cynlluniau yma yw 40 GW, sydd tua 25 gwaith anghenion trydan Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Felly, pe baem ni'n llwyddo i ddadgarboneiddio ein heconomi ni yn llwyr a symud tuag at gyfundrefn ynni, trafnidiaeth a gwresogi carbon sero, yna pe bai'r rheini i gyd yn dod i fwcl, mi fydden ni â mwy na digon ar ein plât. Ond diffyg rheoleiddio, dwi'n teimlo, diffyg cynllun, diffyg cydlynu, sy'n agor y drws i hyn. Mae llawer o'r dechnoleg hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn newydd—storio trydan batri yn un ohonyn nhw sydd yn dod yn fwyfwy cynhennus mewn sawl cymuned. Dyw'r drefn rheoleiddio ddim yn ddigonol i gwrdd â scale a nifer y projectau sy'n dod ymlaen. A dyna, i raddau, dwi'n teimlo, yw pam rŷn ni'n gweld cymaint o brojectau yn cael eu twlu i mewn i'r pot gan y cwmnïau yma; hynny yw, rhyw fath o speculative punt yw nifer o'r rhain, yn aml iawn. Mae yna 79 o brojectau storio batri mawr wedi gwneud cais i'r Grid Cenedlaethol yma yng Nghymru, mewn un ffurf neu'r llall, ar hyn o bryd. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw yn cynhyrchu trydan ar yr un safle ac yn storio'r trydan, ond mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw—dros 40—yn brojectau storio yn unig. Fe wnes i sôn gynnau fod un ohonyn nhw, jest un—Ynni Celyn, yn fy rhanbarth i—yn mynd i gostio mwy neu lai yr un faint â'r buddsoddiad yn yr electric arc furnace ym Mhort Talbot, ym mhentref bach Gwyddelwern, sydd â chwpl o gannoedd o bobl yn byw ynddo fe. Beth rŷn ni'n ei weld yw Klondike newydd. Mae yna gold rush yn digwydd o flaen ein llygaid ni, ac mae yna gwmnïau yn heidio i mewn i'r cymunedau yma yn chwilio am eu cyfle i wneud arian mawr yn sydyn iawn. Ac rŷn ni nôl, wrth gwrs, i diriogaeth y glo a'r llechi, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed gan ambell i gyfraniad y prynhawn yma. Felly, mae angen i'r prosesau cynllunio a rheoleiddio ac mae angen i'r polisi Llywodraeth gadw lan gyda hyn, neu, fel rŷn ni'n gwybod, y cymunedau, ar ddiwedd y dydd, fydd yn adweithio ac wedyn, wrth gwrs, mi fyddwn ni i gyd yn colli'r frwydr o safbwynt symudiad tuag at fwy o ynni adnewyddadwy.
Mi bigaf i lan ar y pwynt a wnaethpwyd pan oedd Luke yn siarad ynglŷn â chronfeydd cymunedol. Mae gennym ni, yn ardal Clocaenog, brofiad yn sir Ddinbych ac ardaloedd o sir Conwy o flynyddoedd mawr o ynni gwynt a phrojectau yn darparu cronfeydd cymunedol. Dwi wedi cael pobl yn dod ataf i nawr yn dweud yn blwmp ac yn blaen, 'Rŷn ni wedi rhedeg mas o bethau i ofyn amdanyn nhw', ac mae hwnna'n gadael blas cas; mae e'n gadael rhywbeth ym mol pobl sy'n teimlo, 'Rŷn ni wedi cael ein prynu ychydig, fan hyn, gan y cronfeydd yma.' Nawr, peidiwch â fy nghael i'n rong, maen nhw wedi gwneud gwaith da, llawer o'r buddsoddiadau yma, ond dwi yn teimlo bod yr amser wedi dod, fel awgrymwyd, nid i brynu pethau ond i fuddsoddi mewn pobl, mewn sgiliau, mewn mentrau cymunedol, mewn rhywbeth fydd yn gadael legasi llawer mwy cyfoethog a llawer mwy adeiladol, os liciwch chi, o safbwynt creu cymunedau mwy cydnerth i fedru, efallai, cymryd mwy o reolaeth o'u dyfodol eu hunain. Jenny.
Now, there are opportunities, of course. There are risks, as we've heard. But what we have at the moment, I fear, is a situation where there are multiple companies—large multinational companies—who are just landing on communities uninvited across Wales, looking for consent to develop these major projects, some of them appropriate, and some of them entirely inappropriate, in my view. And what you will then have is communities reacting to that—communities who are perhaps frightened by those developments and hit back. And that's a regime problem that creates that conflict, and of course it isn't something that we want to see. There are 126—. I referred to these statistics earlier. There are 126 renewable energy projects with the National Energy Systems Operator at the moment—so, they are applications from the energy sector for connection to the national grid here in Wales. They are major projects, significant projects—not small-scale projects like community energy or small solar farms or small windfarms, and neither are they projects, as we've heard, that are going to meet local need, but they are nationally important projects that need connectivity to a substation, then, to export that electricity on high voltage 400 kV or 132 kV lines—this extraction that we heard about earlier.
Now, the total proposed output of these schemes is 40 GW, which is 25 times the electricity needs of Wales at the moment. So, if we succeeded in decarbonising our economy entirely and moved towards an energy, transport and heating system that was zero carbon, if all that were achieved, we would have more than enough available to us. But I think it's a lack of regulation, a lack of planning and a lack of co-ordination that opens the door to this. Much of the technology, of course, is new—battery storage, of course, is one that is becoming more and more of an issue in many communities. The regulatory system is not adequate to meet the scale and number of projects being brought forward. And that, to an extent, is why we are seeing so many projects being thrown into the pot by these companies; it's a speculative punt, in many cases. There are 79 projects for major battery storage that have applied to the National Grid here in Wales in one form or another. Some of them produce electricity on the same site and store it, but most of them—over 40—are simply storage projects. And I mentioned earlier that one of them, just one of them—Ynni Celyn in my region—is going to cost more or less as much as the investment in the electric arc furnace in Port Talbot, in the small village of Gwyddelwern, where a few hundred people live. What we're seeing is a new Klondike. There's a gold rush happening before our eyes, and there are companies rushing into these communities, looking for their opportunity to make a great deal of money very, very quickly. And we're back into the territory of coal and slate, of course, as we've heard in several contributions this afternoon already. So, the planning processes, the regulatory processes and the policy of Government need to keep up with all of this, or, as we know, the communities, at the end of the day, will react, and then we will all lose that battle in terms of the shift towards more renewable energy.
I will pick up on a point made when Luke was talking about community funds. Now, in the Clocaenog area, we have experience in Denbighshire and areas of Conwy of many years of wind energy and projects providing community benefits, and I've had people coming to me saying quite clearly, 'We've run out of things to ask for', and that leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth, that people feel that they've been bought off, to an extent, here. Now, don't get me wrong, they've done very good work. Many of the investments have been positive, but I do think that the time has come, as has been suggested, not to buy things but to invest in people, to invest in skills, to invest in community enterprise, in something that will leave a far richer legacy and something that will be far more constructive, if you like, in terms of creating more resilient communities in order to take greater control of their own futures. Jenny.
I was very interested to hear what you said about the Clocaenog project and people thinking that they've run out of things to ask for. This takes us back to the role of local authorities, because you can't expect the town council or the village community council to be saying, 'Right, this is how we're going to decarbonise all the housing in the area.' You've got to have some leadership, surely, from the local authority to say, 'Yes, we are generating this much community benefit money, now we need to have a bigger plan.' And that is one of the weaknesses of this situation. So, local authorities have got to step up to the plate. You cannot expect ordinary citizens to know, 'This is how you are going to develop renewable energy.' This is a new technology.
Roedd gennyf ddiddordeb mawr yn yr hyn a ddywedoch chi am brosiect Clocaenog a phobl yn meddwl eu bod wedi rhedeg allan o bethau i ofyn amdanynt. Mae hyn yn mynd â ni'n ôl at rôl awdurdodau lleol, oherwydd ni allwch ddisgwyl i'r cyngor tref neu gyngor cymuned y pentref ddweud, 'Iawn, dyma sut rydym ni'n mynd i ddatgarboneiddio'r holl dai yn yr ardal.' Mae'n rhaid i chi gael arweinyddiaeth gan yr awdurdod lleol i ddweud, 'Ydym, rydym yn cynhyrchu cymaint â hyn o arian budd cymunedol, nawr mae angen inni gael cynllun mwy.' A dyna un o wendidau'r sefyllfa hon. Felly, mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol gamu i'r adwy. Ni allwch ddisgwyl i ddinasyddion cyffredin wybod, 'Dyma sut rydych chi'n mynd i ddatblygu ynni adnewyddadwy.' Mae hon yn dechnoleg newydd.
Indeed, and that's why I feel sometimes that some of these large multinational companies are running rings around us here in Wales when it comes to these kinds of things. And one of the questions I ask some of these companies—. When they talk about, 'Do you have any suggestions about where we could invest our community fund?', well, the first question I ask them is, 'Well, look, tell me first: what percentage of your projected profit is this?' Tumbleweed. It's a question that they don't want to answer. Now, that's not to belittle the fact, of course, that they do in other ways create jobs and bring in investment et cetera, et cetera, but it really does feel—. It's that whole extractive thing. There's a feeling that, you know, where is the real community stake in this? Where is the real buy-in from the community? And we're just not seeing it.
Yn wir, a dyna pam rwy'n teimlo weithiau bod rhai o'r cwmnïau rhyngwladol mawr hyn yn rhedeg cylchoedd o'n cwmpas ni yma yng Nghymru gyda'r mathau hyn o bethau. Ac un o'r cwestiynau rwy'n ei ofyn i rai o'r cwmnïau hyn—. Pan fyddant yn dweud, 'A oes gennych chi unrhyw awgrymiadau ynglŷn â ble gallem fuddsoddi ein cronfa gymunedol?', y cwestiwn cyntaf rwy'n ei ofyn iddynt yw, 'Wel, edrychwch, dywedwch wrthyf yn gyntaf: pa ganran o'ch elw rhagamcanol yw hyn?' Distawrwydd. Mae'n gwestiwn nad ydynt eisiau ei ateb. Nawr, nid yw hynny'n diystyru'r ffaith eu bod yn creu swyddi mewn ffyrdd eraill ac yn dod â buddsoddiad ac ati, ond mae'n teimlo mewn gwirionedd—. Yr holl beth echdynnol hwnnw. Mae yna deimlad, wyddoch chi, o ble mae'r gyfran gymunedol go iawn yn hyn? Ble mae'r ymrwymiad go iawn gan y gymuned? Ac nid ydym yn ei weld.
Dydyn ni ddim yn ei weld e. Felly, ie, mae angen cymysgedd o brojectau mawr a bach, ac mae Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn benthyg ei hun yn berffaith ar gyfer hynny, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed. Ond adeiladau cyhoeddus—dwi wedi gweld cynlluniau ysgolion unfed ganrif ar hugain sy'n dweud eu bod nhw'n mynd i gwrdd â safonau BREEAM, ac rŷch chi'n gweld y darluniau yma gan gynllunwyr sy'n dangos paneli solar ac yn y blaen; chwe mis lawr y lein, wrth gwrs, 'O, mae'r gost wedi mynd lan. Mae'n rhaid inni dynnu rhywbeth mas', ac, yn sydyn iawn, dyw'r adeilad ddim yn edrych tamaid yn debyg i'r hyn welais i yn yr ymgynghoriad fuodd, efallai. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni drio symud o fanna hefyd. Ond, ar ddiwedd y dydd, mae'n rhaid i'n cymunedau ni ddod yn gyntaf yn yr hafaliad yma.
Ac mae'n rhaid inni gymryd ysbrydoliaeth gan bobl fel Ynni Ogwen, Ynni Padarn Peris. Mae yna mwy y gall ein cymunedau ni ei wneud, ac nid dim ond ar scale bach hefyd, achos mae Morlais yn enghraifft, onid yw e, o'r hyn all ddigwydd ar scale lawer, lawer mwy ond yng nghyd-destun mentergarwch cymunedol a mentergarwch cymdeithasol. Felly, mae angen reset pan fo'n dod i'r meddylfryd yma—symud oddi wrth yr hub and spoke i symud tuag at rywbeth sy'n llawer haws i'w hymgorffori o fewn ein cymunedau ni ond sydd hefyd yn llawer mwy resilient pan fo'n dod i sicrhau bod y ddarpariaeth yna yn un gynaliadwy.
We're just not seeing it. So, yes, we need a mix of large-scale and small-scale projects, and of course Wales lends itself perfectly to that, as we've already heard. But public buildings—I've seen twenty-first century school plans that say that they're going to meet BREEAM standards, and you see the designs showing solar panels and so on; six months down the line, of course, 'Well, the cost has gone up. We have to remove something', and, all of a sudden, the building looks nothing like what I saw in the consultation that was held. So, we need to try to move away from that too. But, at the end of the day, our communities must come first in this equation.
And we must take inspiration from people such as Ynni Ogwen, Ynni Padarn Peris. There is more that our communities could do, and not just at a small scale, because Morlais is an example, isn't it, of what can happen at a far greater scale, but in the context of a community initiative and a social enterprise. So, we need a reset when it comes to this mindset; we need to move away from the hub and spoke towards something that is far easier to incorporate into our communities but is also far more resilient when it comes to ensuring that the provision is sustainable.
Joyce Watson is the last speaker I have as having asked to speak before I ask Carolyn Thomas to respond. So, Joyce Watson.
Joyce Watson yw'r siaradwr olaf sydd gennyf sydd wedi gofyn am gael siarad cyn imi ofyn i Carolyn Thomas ymateb. Felly, Joyce Watson.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'm really pleased to take part, and I thank those who brought this debate here today. I referred to us, before, moving towards a third industrial revolution, the first being steam, then gas, then renewables, but I wonder whether we're actually going back to the first revolution, where the power was all naturally produced in the first place.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n falch iawn o gymryd rhan, a diolch i'r rhai a gyflwynodd y ddadl hon yma heddiw. Nodais yn flaenorol ein bod yn symud tuag at drydydd chwyldro diwydiannol, y cyntaf oedd stêm, yna nwy, ac ynni adnewyddadwy wedyn, ond tybed a ydym mewn gwirionedd yn mynd yn ôl at y chwyldro cyntaf, lle roedd y pŵer i gyd yn cael ei gynhyrchu'n naturiol yn y lle cyntaf.
I think I'm right in saying that, for the first time ever, renewable energy, mainly wind and solar power, generated most of Britain's electricity last year. At the same time, according to the Severn Estuary Commission, whose report hit the headlines today, demand for electricity in the UK is likely to more than double by 2050. So, they are the parameters, really, for this discussion this afternoon. It's clear, and everybody agrees, that there is a case for more renewables: the environmental benefits, of course, greater energy security, economic investment, and renewable sources generate electricity more cheaply than gas-powered stations.
So, if we look at the environmental benefits, they have been mentioned several times today, but it's the decarbonisation of the way that we get our energy and also it can be the environmental benefits of—and it's been discussed—having your energy produced and delivered locally.
The energy security is pretty clear; the fact that our energy has shot through the roof is all down to the insecurity of our energy supplies as they currently are. And the economic investment is multilayered in terms of training, in terms of jobs, and in terms of reinvesting the gains from producing green energy directly into those communities. But we have to be clear here—and I heard what Llyr said—we have to be clear about investing in how we produce the energy. It is pretty certain that we're going to need more green energy much more quickly than it's currently being produced. Somebody will have to invest in that to make it happen, and it's also clear that the finances of the UK are not in a place, necessarily, to fund that, but GB Energy will be coming online.
We also know, if you look at the analysis that's been done by Rystad, that, by 2030, it will be 10 times cheaper to generate electricity from solar power than it will be from gas. So, that's another huge thing to think about, going forward. But the scale of investment, the development and the technology will lead to greater benefits in the end. And I've already mentioned Great British Energy; others have mentioned Ynni Cymru here in Wales, and we do need to benefit, but what are the benefits, really? Well, if you look at the displacement of people over the last year, it's greater than it's ever been, and partly as a consequence of climate change. I heard those figures yesterday. Now, if people can't live where they are and they start moving—and this was a point that Lee started to make earlier on—then we're going to have another additional layer that is coming down the track in how are we going to be able to help people. Are people prepared to help people if they're displaced? And if we carry on producing energy in the way that we are—if you like, accelerating the change in the weather patterns—that is going to happen pretty quickly, and you don't have to go very far—you only have to look at Europe at the moment; it's on our doorstep, when you look at the fires that have been raging in Greece, in France, in Italy, and then the consequential flooding that happens as well. Some of those places are becoming uninhabitable now in the way that people used to inhabit them. So, there's urgency behind this.
We have to make some choices, which is what I'm coming to. So, it will mean that we have to build pylons; it will mean that we'll have to have interconnectors; it will mean that we'll have electric cars and insulation in our properties and our new homes. We can't rely on one single supply. We need a mix of all of these things. We have to be honest with people when we say that these choices aren't there and that they won't have to be made. But I also agree that they must not be made over people's heads either; the community should be involved in those decisions, and also gain as a consequence of that happening close by to them.
We do here, as we all know, have the least energy-efficient houses, certainly in the UK, if not in Europe, and a lot of our houses are over 100 years in age. That does mean, and the Government has invested in it, that we have to decarbonise some of that housing stock and we have to insulate the existing housing stock. Many people have said here today that we have to, when we're building new housing, put some parameters around them to ensure that we're not building in the same problems that we're already trying to deal with, because they're there in the ground at the moment, and Jenny alluded to that.
Rwy'n credu fy mod yn iawn i ddweud, am y tro cyntaf erioed, mai ynni adnewyddadwy, ynni gwynt a solar yn bennaf, a gynhyrchodd y rhan fwyaf o drydan Prydain y llynedd. Ar yr un pryd, yn ôl Comisiwn Aber Afon Hafren, y mae ei adroddiad wedi cyrraedd y penawdau heddiw, mae'r galw am drydan yn y DU yn debygol o fwy na dyblu erbyn 2050. Felly, dyna'r paramedrau, mewn gwirionedd, ar gyfer y drafodaeth hon y prynhawn yma. Mae'n amlwg, ac mae pawb yn cytuno, fod achos dros fwy o ynni adnewyddadwy: y manteision amgylcheddol wrth gwrs, mwy o ddiogeledd ynni, buddsoddiad economaidd, a bod ffynonellau adnewyddadwy yn cynhyrchu trydan yn rhatach na gorsafoedd nwy.
Felly, os edrychwn ar y manteision amgylcheddol, maent wedi cael eu crybwyll sawl gwaith heddiw, ond datgarboneiddio'r ffordd y cawn ein hynni a hefyd, manteision amgylcheddol—ac mae wedi cael ei drafod—cael eich ynni wedi'i gynhyrchu a'i ddarparu'n lleol.
Mae'r diogeledd ynni'n eithaf clir; mae'r ffaith bod ein biliau ynni wedi saethu trwy'r to yn deillio o ansicrwydd ein cyflenwadau ynni fel y maent ar hyn o bryd. Ac mae'r buddsoddiad economaidd yn amlhaenog o ran hyfforddiant, o ran swyddi, ac o ran ailfuddsoddi'r enillion o gynhyrchu ynni gwyrdd yn uniongyrchol i'r cymunedau hynny. Ond mae'n rhaid inni fod yn glir yma—a chlywais beth a ddywedodd Llyr—mae'n rhaid inni fod yn glir ynglŷn â buddsoddi yn y ffordd y cynhyrchwn yr ynni. Mae'n eithaf sicr y bydd angen mwy o ynni gwyrdd yn llawer cyflymach nag y caiff ei gynhyrchu ar hyn o bryd. Bydd yn rhaid i rywun fuddsoddi yn hynny i wneud iddo ddigwydd, ac mae hefyd yn amlwg nad yw cyllid y DU o reidrwydd mewn sefyllfa i ariannu hynny, ond bydd GB Energy yn dod yn rhan o'r peth.
Rydym hefyd yn gwybod, os edrychwch chi ar y dadansoddiad a wnaed gan Rystad, y bydd yn 10 gwaith rhatach i gynhyrchu trydan o ynni solar nag y bydd o nwy. Felly, dyna beth enfawr arall i feddwl amdano ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ond bydd maint y buddsoddiad, y datblygiad a'r dechnoleg yn arwain at fwy o fanteision yn y diwedd. Ac rwyf eisoes wedi sôn am Great British Energy; mae eraill wedi sôn am Ynni Cymru yma yng Nghymru, ac mae angen inni gael budd, ond beth yw'r buddion, mewn gwirionedd? Wel, os edrychwch ar ddadleoliad pobl dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae'n fwy nag erioed, ac yn rhannol o ganlyniad i newid hinsawdd. Clywais y ffigurau hynny ddoe. Nawr, os na all pobl fyw lle maent a'u bod yn dechrau symud—ac roedd hwn yn bwynt y dechreuodd Lee ei wneud yn gynharach—rydym yn mynd i gael haen ychwanegol arall sy'n dod i lawr y lôn o sut ydym ni'n mynd i allu helpu pobl. A yw pobl yn barod i helpu pobl os cânt eu dadleoli? Ac os ydym yn parhau i gynhyrchu ynni yn y ffordd y gwnawn—gan gyflymu'r newid yn y patrymau tywydd, os mynnwch—mae hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd yn eithaf cyflym, ac nid oes rhaid i chi fynd yn bell iawn—dim ond edrych ar Ewrop ar hyn o bryd sydd angen ichi ei wneud; mae ar garreg ein drws, pan edrychwch ar y tanau yng Ngwlad Groeg, yn Ffrainc, yn yr Eidal, ac yna'r llifogydd sy'n digwydd yn sgil hynny hefyd. Mae rhai o'r lleoedd hynny'n dod yn anghyfannedd nawr yn y ffordd yr arferai pobl fyw ynddynt. Felly, mae brys y tu ôl i hyn.
Mae'n rhaid inni wneud rhai dewisiadau, a dyna beth rwy'n dod ato. Felly, bydd yn golygu bod yn rhaid inni adeiladu peilonau; bydd yn golygu y bydd yn rhaid inni gael rhyng-gysylltwyr; bydd yn golygu y bydd gennym geir trydan ac inswleiddio yn ein heiddo a'n cartrefi newydd. Ni allwn ddibynnu ar un cyflenwad yn unig. Mae angen cymysgedd o'r holl bethau hyn. Mae'n rhaid inni fod yn onest gyda phobl pan fyddwn yn dweud nad yw'r dewisiadau hyn yno ac na fydd yn rhaid eu gwneud. Ond rwy'n cytuno hefyd na ddylid eu gwneud dros bennau pobl ychwaith; dylai'r gymuned fod yn rhan o'r penderfyniadau hynny, ac elwa o ganlyniad i gael hynny'n digwydd yn agos atynt.
Fel y gwyddom, gennym ni yma y mae'r tai lleiaf effeithlon o ran eu defnydd o ynni, yn y DU yn sicr, os nad yn Ewrop, ac mae llawer o'n tai dros 100 oed. Mae hynny'n golygu, ac mae'r Llywodraeth wedi buddsoddi ynddo, fod yn rhaid inni ddatgarboneiddio peth o'r stoc dai honno ac mae'n rhaid inni inswleiddio'r stoc dai bresennol. Mae llawer o bobl wedi dweud yma heddiw fod yn rhaid i ni, pan fyddwn yn adeiladu tai newydd, osod paramedrau i sicrhau nad ydym yn adeiladu'r un problemau i mewn ag yr ydym yn ceisio mynd i'r afael â hwy eisoes, am eu bod yno yn y ddaear ar hyn o bryd, a chyfeiriodd Jenny at hynny.
Yes. Well, I think we are in a better place than in England, certainly on that front, but we do have to decarbonise very large numbers of our homes, and, as you say, many of them are 100 years old and they're stone built and very difficult to retrofit. But do you therefore agree with me that we need to put a lot more money into the Warm Homes programme, particularly area-based schemes, so that we can get a lot more of the poorest communities retrofitted and then releasing money for them to spend on other things? Obviously, I see the Cabinet Secretary for finance is with us in the room, so I think this is something—. I wondered if you'd agree that we really do need to invest much more money in that.
Ie. Wel, rwy'n credu ein bod mewn lle gwell nag yn Lloegr, yn sicr o ran hynny, ond mae'n rhaid inni ddatgarboneiddio nifer fawr iawn o'n cartrefi, ac fel y dywedwch, mae llawer ohonynt yn 100 oed ac yn adeiladau carreg ac yn anodd iawn i'w hôl-osod. Ond a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi felly fod angen inni roi llawer mwy o arian tuag at y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd, yn enwedig cynlluniau'n seiliedig ar ardal, fel y gallwn gael llawer mwy o'r cymunedau tlotaf wedi'u hôl-osod a rhyddhau arian iddynt ei wario ar bethau eraill wedyn? Yn amlwg, rwy'n gweld bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid gyda ni yn yr ystafell, felly rwy'n credu bod hyn yn rhywbeth—. Roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a fyddech chi'n cytuno bod angen inni fuddsoddi llawer mwy o arian yn hynny.
I think it goes without saying that we definitely have to put some more money into Warm Homes, and it isn't just about the carbon, by their not having to burn more fuel to keep them warm; it's also about a level of justice for those people and a human right to live in a warm home and not have to heat just one room in an old home because they can't afford the electricity. So, there's a much wider impact from simply warming up a home.
We've looked at many things here today. I've brought in the displacement of people. We really need to seriously think about that. We've heard about transition, and I do live in Pembrokeshire. We can't turn the tap off overnight, because people would become pretty destitute if their jobs disappeared overnight, but we do need a just transition, but a transition that is timely too, not one that goes on and on and on.
We do need to invest more in the skills, Jenny, as well, and the grid. Who owns the grid? We all know who owns the grid. What do we do about it? What do we do about the distribution of the energy that we're all hoping that we will produce, and who will own that distribution network? Those are key questions that we have to ask. Those are key questions that we'll have to find the solutions for, because what I've heard a lot of in the room is that we don't actually want to export our energy—that's what I understood from Plaid and maybe I've got that wrong—but it seems a very odd thing to me that if you can produce surplus energy and export it, but at the same time make some money to reinvest in your country, why wouldn't you?
Afraid dweud bod yn rhaid inni roi mwy o arian i mewn i Cartrefi Clyd, ac mae'n ymwneud â mwy na'r carbon yn unig, gan nad oes rhaid iddynt losgi mwy o danwydd i'w cadw'n gynnes; mae hefyd yn ymwneud â lefel o gyfiawnder i'r bobl hynny a hawl ddynol i fyw mewn cartref cynnes a pheidio â gorfod gwresogi un ystafell yn unig mewn hen gartref am na allant fforddio'r trydan. Felly, mae yna effaith lawer mwy eang na chynhesu cartref yn unig.
Rydym wedi edrych ar lawer o bethau yma heddiw. Soniais am ddadleoli pobl. Mae angen inni feddwl o ddifrif am hynny. Clywsom am bontio, ac rwy'n byw yn sir Benfro. Ni allwn droi'r tap i ffwrdd dros nos, oherwydd byddai pobl yn eithaf diymgeledd pe bai eu swyddi'n diflannu dros nos, ond mae angen pontio teg, ond pontio sy'n amserol hefyd, nid un sy'n mynd ymlaen ac ymlaen ac ymlaen.
Mae angen inni fuddsoddi mwy yn y sgiliau, Jenny, a'r grid. Pwy sy'n berchen ar y grid? Rydym i gyd yn gwybod pwy sy'n berchen ar y grid. Beth a wnawn am hynny? Beth a wnawn am ddosbarthu'r ynni y mae pawb ohonom yn gobeithio y byddwn yn ei gynhyrchu, a phwy fydd yn berchen ar y rhwydwaith dosbarthu hwnnw? Mae'r rhain yn gwestiynau allweddol y mae'n rhaid inni eu gofyn. Mae'r rhain yn gwestiynau allweddol y bydd yn rhaid inni ddod o hyd i'r atebion iddynt, oherwydd clywais lawer o sôn yn yr ystafell nad ydym eisiau allforio ein hynni—dyna beth a ddeallais gan Blaid Cymru ac efallai fy mod wedi cael hynny'n anghywir—ond mae'n ymddangos yn beth rhyfedd iawn i mi, os gallwch chi gynhyrchu ynni dros ben a'i allforio, a gwneud rhywfaint o arian i'w ailfuddsoddi yn eich gwlad ar yr un pryd, pam na fyddech chi'n gwneud hynny?
I've had two requests for additional contributions. I've agreed the two: Lee Price—. 'Lee Price', that's the combination of the two. [Laughter.] Lee Waters.
Rwyf wedi cael dau gais am gyfraniadau ychwanegol. Rwyf wedi cytuno i'r ddau: Lee Price—. 'Lee Price', dyna gyfuniad o'r ddau. [Chwerthin.] Lee Waters.
What a horrific image that is, Presiding Officer. I just wanted to take advantage of the novelty of our rules for this debate to come in just to respond to two really important points that Joyce Watson made in her contribution. First on the issue of the displacement of people, I think this is an underdiscussed point. We're all seeing and feeling the impact of a backlash to the large movement of people because of wars and because of economic forces. That is going to be nothing compared to the climate-based migration and asylum we're going to see as a result of uninhabitable lands that we know is baked in because of already existing climate change in the atmosphere. We're not on course to meet 2050 across the globe, so this is coming at us and it is going to make far more people move northwards and move towards Europe and the UK, and that is going to cause huge social unrest and dislocation. That's going to happen. So, that is a further reason why we need to make sure that we mitigate this as quickly as possible. All other things are not equal; there is rapid change coming at us.
And to Joyce Watson's second really important point, which is about the increasing electricity demand that we face, there are two different visions of future energy demand. There are those like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who want to use plentiful energy, as they see it, to send us off to Mars for having wrecked the planet here, and power flying cars. And that is a view on the techno right, who have all sorts of fantastical ideas of using energy to do more things. And then there are views like in this very thought-provoking book by Professor Gareth Wyn Jones, based on his Nation.Cymru lecture here at the Senedd some months ago, who makes the point that, actually, as a planet, we need to get by on less energy, because the ecological impact of producing more and more and more is going to be catastrophic to our biodiversity, and that simply will not support human life. Even if technology manages to find a way to produce all this extra energy, the ecosystem will not be able to support it. And I think we don't talk enough about using less energy. It's often said that the cheapest form of energy is the energy not used; it's energy conservation. [Interruption.] I'm happy to give way to Jenny Rathbone.
Am ddelwedd ofnadwy, Lywydd. Roeddwn eisiau manteisio ar newydd-deb ein rheolau ar gyfer y ddadl hon i ddod i mewn i ymateb i ddau bwynt pwysig iawn a wnaeth Joyce Watson yn ei chyfraniad. Yn gyntaf ar fater dadleoli pobl, rwy'n credu bod hwn yn bwynt nad yw wedi cael ei drafod. Rydym i gyd yn gweld ac yn teimlo effaith adlach o ganlyniad i lawer o bobl yn symud oherwydd rhyfeloedd ac oherwydd grymoedd economaidd. Ni fydd hynny'n ddim o'i gymharu â'r mudo a'r ceisio lloches yn seiliedig ar yr hinsawdd a welwn o ganlyniad i diroedd y gwyddom eisoes y byddant yn anghyfannedd oherwydd newid hinsawdd sydd eisoes yn digwydd yn yr atmosffer. Nid ydym ar y trywydd iawn i gyflawni targedau 2050 ledled y byd, felly mae hyn yn dod tuag atom ac mae'n mynd i wneud i lawer mwy o bobl symud tua'r gogledd a symud tuag at Ewrop a'r DU, ac mae hynny'n mynd i achosi aflonyddwch cymdeithasol enfawr. Mae hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd. Felly, dyna reswm pellach pam y mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn lliniaru hyn cyn gynted â phosibl. Nid yw pob peth arall yn gyfartal; mae newid cyflym yn dod tuag atom.
Ac i ail bwynt pwysig iawn Joyce Watson, sy'n ymwneud â'r galw cynyddol am drydan a wynebwn, ceir dwy weledigaeth wahanol o'r galw am ynni yn y dyfodol. Mae yna rai fel Elon Musk a Jeff Bezos, sydd eisiau defnyddio digon o ynni, fel y maent yn ei weld, i'n hanfon i Mars ar ôl dryllio'r blaned yma, a phweru ceir hedfan. A dyna farn ar y dde technegol, sydd â phob math o syniadau ffantastig ynghylch defnyddio ynni i wneud mwy o bethau. Ac yna mae yna safbwyntiau fel yn y llyfr hwn sy'n ysgogi'r meddwl gan yr Athro Gareth Wyn Jones, yn seiliedig ar ei ddarlith Nation.Cymru yma yn y Senedd rai misoedd yn ôl, sy'n gwneud y pwynt fod angen inni fyw ar lai o ynni fel planed, oherwydd mae effaith ecolegol cynhyrchu mwy a mwy a mwy yn mynd i fod yn gatastroffig i'n bioamrywiaeth, ac ni fydd hynny'n cefnogi bywyd dynol. Hyd yn oed os yw technoleg yn llwyddo i ddod o hyd i ffordd o gynhyrchu'r holl ynni ychwanegol, ni fydd yr ecosystem yn gallu ei gefnogi. Ac rwy'n credu nad ydym yn siarad digon am ddefnyddio llai o ynni. Dywedir yn aml mai'r math rhataf o ynni yw'r ynni nas defnyddir; arbed ynni. [Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n hapus i ildio i Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you very much. I was just looking at Dŵr Cymru's zero-energy plans. Only 3 per cent of rainfall is consumed, so we allow it to go into the sewage system, where it then has to be treated and then pumped back into people's lives. So, there's a huge change that's got to happen in the way we value and manage water, because at the moment, we're absolutely hopeless at it.
Diolch. Roeddwn i'n edrych ar gynlluniau di-ynni Dŵr Cymru. Dim ond 3 y cant o'r glawiad sy'n cael ei yfed, felly rydym yn caniatáu iddo fynd i'r system garthffosiaeth, lle mae'n rhaid ei drin a'i bwmpio'n ôl i mewn i fywydau pobl. Felly, mae'n rhaid cael newid enfawr yn y ffordd rydym yn gwerthfawrogi ac yn rheoli dŵr, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn hollol anobeithiol am wneud hynny.
Absolutely. Just to briefly conclude, we have huge waste; we have huge resource waste and I think the vision Joyce Watson described, which, accurately, is what we're currently heading towards, of just extra consumption, is not sustainable. It's not that it's just undesirable; it simply will not be able to be sustained. And we should be thinking and arguing very carefully about how we reduce energy use, how we increase innovation and efficiency, before we start looking to produce extra generation.
Yn hollol. I gloi'n fyr, mae gennym wastraff enfawr; mae gennym wastraff adnoddau enfawr ac rwy'n credu nad yw'r hyn a ddisgrifiwyd yn gywir gan Joyce Watson, a'r hyn yr anelwn tuag ato ar hyn o bryd, sef defnydd ychwanegol yn unig, yn gynaliadwy. Nid nad yw'n ddymunol; yn syml iawn, ni fydd modd ei gynnal. A dylem fod yn meddwl ac yn dadlau'n ofalus iawn ynglŷn â sut rydym yn lleihau'r defnydd o ynni, sut rydym yn cynyddu arloesedd ac effeithlonrwydd, cyn inni ddechrau ceisio cynhyrchu cynhyrchiant ychwanegol.
I'm very grateful, Llywydd, to use this parliamentary innovation. I just wanted to respond particularly to Lee Waters's earlier important reminder of the importance of urgency. I thoroughly agree with him there, and I'm an accelerationist—you know, I think that we need to move far faster than we are. I think, when thinking about these two models, as I describe them, the soft and the hard, the corporate versus the community scale and community owned, often, the argument is used, especially by the corporate sector, that, 'We are the only game in town if you want to get there rapidly.' Now, there are reasons why the way that we currently design the system, of course, which is based all around complex corporate large-scale investments, why they're able to make that argument, but the evidence points in a different direction. So, when we look at countries where there is very substantial local ownership, we've seen those countries arrive at far faster energy transitions, particularly the Nordic countries, for example. So, I think, if we want to be urgent, then actually we need to detach ourselves from the corporate models, and we need to do it ourselves. And then you align local ownership, local support, and you actually get there quicker, because any of the opposition that is there, concerns et cetera, you lose that. So, I think there's a strong case for us pivoting to the kind of model that's been more successful precisely because we need to get there earlier.
In terms of this question on export, I think, absolutely, if we have an energy abundance, then why not export, but you should start with designing your local energy system around your local needs. Particularly, this issue has arisen in Scandinavia recently, where they've had very low energy prices, and interconnectors have threatened to drive the energy price up, because the owners of the companies would rather sell into Germany and get a far—. So, you've got to base your energy design in local ownership and local needs, and then, in a fair way, in a way that actually delivers benefits to your own communities, then look at energy export.
I think it was very striking, in the context of the zonal pricing discussion that we had earlier, to look at the different voices of the corporate sector. So, Octopus Energy, kind of socially minded, saying, 'Look, absolutely, go for zonal pricing, so that you can share the benefit of locally abundant renewable energy with local people.' The corporate renewable sector say, 'No, don't do that. Don't do that because that ruins our financial model, because we base it on predictability of price.' Those corporate renewable companies are not fundamentally driven by local need and delivering local benefit; they're basically based around their balance sheet. So, we need to listen to the voices of the likes of Octopus Energy and build that kind of softer path, rather than the corporate model that, I think, takes us down a dead end.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn, Lywydd, am gael defnyddio'r elfen seneddol newydd hon. Roeddwn i eisiau ymateb yn arbennig i'r hyn y gwnaeth Lee Waters ein hatgoffa ohono'n gynharach, sef pwysigrwydd brys. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr ag ef, ac rwy'n gyflymwr—rwy'n credu bod angen inni symud yn llawer cyflymach nag a wnawn. Wrth feddwl am y ddau fodel, fel rwy'n eu disgrifio, y meddal a'r caled, y corfforaethol yn erbyn y raddfa gymunedol a pherchnogaeth gymunedol, yn aml, defnyddir y ddadl, yn enwedig gan y sector corfforaethol, 'Dim ond ni sydd, os ydych chi am gyrraedd yno'n gyflym.' Nawr, mae yna resymau pam y mae'r ffordd y cynlluniwn y system ar hyn o bryd, sy'n seiliedig ar fuddsoddiadau corfforaethol cymhleth ar raddfa fawr, pam eu bod yn gallu gwneud y ddadl honno, ond mae'r dystiolaeth yn pwyntio i gyfeiriad gwahanol. Felly, pan edrychwn ar wledydd lle ceir perchnogaeth leol sylweddol iawn, rydym wedi gweld y gwledydd hynny'n cyrraedd trawsnewidiadau ynni llawer cyflymach, yn enwedig y gwledydd Nordig, er enghraifft. Felly, os ydym am frysio, mae angen inni ddatgysylltu ein hunain oddi wrth y modelau corfforaethol, ac mae angen inni ei wneud ein hunain. Ac yna rydych chi'n alinio perchnogaeth leol, cefnogaeth leol, ac rydych chi'n cyrraedd yno'n gyflymach, oherwydd byddwch yn colli unrhyw wrthwynebiad sydd yno, pryderon ac ati. Felly, rwy'n credu bod achos cryf dros droi at y math o fodel sydd wedi bod yn fwy llwyddiannus yn union am fod angen inni gyrraedd yno yn gynharach.
O ran y cwestiwn ar allforio, yn hollol, os oes gennym ddigonedd o ynni, yna pam ddim allforio, ond dylech ddechrau gyda llunio eich system ynni leol o amgylch eich anghenion lleol. Yn benodol, mae'r mater hwn wedi codi yn Sgandinafia yn ddiweddar, lle mae eu prisiau ynni wedi bod yn isel iawn, ac mae rhyng-gysylltwyr wedi bygwth gyrru'r pris ynni i fyny, oherwydd byddai'n well gan berchnogion y cwmnïau werthu i'r Almaen a chael—. Felly, mae'n rhaid i chi seilio eich cynllun ynni ar berchnogaeth leol ac anghenion lleol, mewn ffordd deg, mewn ffordd sy'n darparu buddion i'ch cymunedau eich hun, ac edrych ar allforio ynni wedyn.
Yng nghyd-destun y drafodaeth ar brisio parthol a gawsom yn gynharach, rwy'n credu ei bod yn drawiadol iawn edrych ar wahanol leisiau'r sector corfforaethol. Felly, mae Octopus Energy, gyda rhyw fath o feddwl cymdeithasol, yn dweud, 'Edrychwch, yn hollol, ewch am brisio parthol, fel y gallwch chi rannu budd ynni adnewyddadwy helaeth lleol gyda phobl leol.' Mae'r sector ynni adnewyddadwy corfforaethol yn dweud, 'Na, peidiwch â gwneud hynny. Peidiwch â gwneud hynny oherwydd mae hynny'n difetha ein model ariannol, oherwydd rydym yn ei seilio ar ragweladwyedd pris.' Nid yw'r cwmnïau ynni adnewyddadwy corfforaethol hynny'n cael eu gyrru'n sylfaenol gan angen lleol a chyflawni budd lleol; maent yn seiliedig yn y bôn ar eu mantolen. Felly, mae angen inni wrando ar leisiau pobl fel Octopus Energy ac adeiladu'r math hwnnw o lwybr meddalach, yn hytrach na'r model corfforaethol sy'n mynd â ni ar hyd lôn bengaead.
Carolyn Thomas nawr sy'n ymateb i'r ddadl yna. Carolyn.
Carolyn Thomas now to reply to that debate. Carolyn.
I'd like to just thank everybody who has taken part today in this debate. It's really wide-ranging, isn't it? It covers so much, and I think it's been really important. I'm going to try and sum up as best as I can.
We need to act quickly. We have an energy security crisis. We have lots of big developers coming along now with lots of planning applications, and a lot of these big companies are reaping the rewards, as has been said. We need to make sure that we bring the community along with us, and hopefully we can make sure that we have more community-owned energy schemes, more community investment and community benefit, with lower bills, maybe, as well.
We also need to consider the impact on the climate, as was raised by Lee. If we don't, it could be catastrophic to our climate, to our nature. One in eight houses in Wales are at risk of flooding, but there's also that global impact as well on people. It needs to be a just transition, making sure we bring people with us and making sure that the skills are in place as well. I was very interested, like Janet and others, in making sure we have solar PV on all buildings, on houses, going forward. I'd like the Welsh Government to take that forward, to really look at that again, incorporating it in. Other countries, other European countries, are doing it now. Joyce said, when we give grants to businesses, why don't we make sure—it's public money—that they invest in solar and renewable energy?
Having energy costs pegged to gas just seems wrong as well. We should be trying to get to renewable energy. Just switching to gas is wrong. And also turning off our renewable energy when we could be making sure it's available to local people as well in local schemes; that really needs to be looked at.
We need a strategy, I think, as well. We've discussed so many different elements today. We need a national strategy going forward, and to work with GB Energy so that we've got a strategy that is the best for Wales, for Welsh people, and working with GB Energy, making sure it fits in. There is a national energy plan, as the Cabinet Secretary said, but I'm not sure whether that's the same thing.
Looking at building regulations was mentioned, for new houses that are being built, to make sure that they're up to a good standard, because we don't want to be retrofitting those in the future, which is really important. And we need to invest in the Warm Homes fund for people with existing houses that aren't up to standard, so that we can invest and just help people locally get their energy bills down, have warm homes and invest in solar.
To finish up, a lot has been said today. ‘Can renewables alone meet the energy needs of Wales?’ was my question at the start of this. Adam and Lee say, yes, they can. I believe we do have an abundance of natural energy here. We've got our mountains, we've got our lakes, we've got the sea, we've got wind. We do have sun sometimes, and we need to be capturing that for the benefit of our climate, of our Welsh people, of our residents, bringing those bills down and acting as quickly as possible. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon heddiw. Mae'n eang iawn, onid yw? Mae'n cwmpasu cymaint, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn. Rwy'n mynd i geisio crynhoi cystal ag y gallaf.
Mae angen inni weithredu'n gyflym. Mae gennym argyfwng diogeledd ynni. Mae gennym lawer o ddatblygwyr mawr yn ymddangos nawr gyda llawer o geisiadau cynllunio, ac mae llawer o'r cwmnïau mawr hyn yn medi'r enillion, fel y dywedwyd. Mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn dod â'r gymuned gyda ni, a gobeithio y gallwn wneud yn siŵr fod gennym fwy o gynlluniau ynni sy'n eiddo i'r gymuned, mwy o fuddsoddiad cymunedol a budd cymunedol, gyda biliau is hefyd o bosibl.
Mae angen inni ystyried yr effaith ar yr hinsawdd, fel y nododd Lee. Os nad ydym yn gwneud hynny, gallai fod yn gatastroffig i'n hinsawdd, i'n natur. Mae un o bob wyth tŷ yng Nghymru mewn perygl o ddioddef llifogydd, ond mae yna effaith fyd-eang ar bobl hefyd. Mae angen iddo fod yn bontio teg, gan wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn dod â phobl gyda ni a gwneud yn siŵr fod y sgiliau yn eu lle hefyd. Roedd gennyf ddiddordeb mawr, fel Janet ac eraill, mewn gwneud yn siŵr fod gennym baneli solar ffotofoltaig ar bob adeilad, ar dai, yn y dyfodol. Hoffwn i Lywodraeth Cymru fwrw ymlaen â hynny, ac edrych ar hynny eto, gan ei ymgorffori. Mae gwledydd eraill, gwledydd Ewropeaidd eraill, yn gwneud hynny nawr. Meddai Joyce, pan fyddwn yn rhoi grantiau i fusnesau, pam na wnawn yn siŵr—mae'n arian cyhoeddus—eu bod yn buddsoddi mewn ynni solar ac ynni adnewyddadwy?
Mae cael costau ynni wedi'u cysylltu â nwy i'w weld yn anghywir hefyd. Dylem geisio cyrraedd ynni adnewyddadwy. Mae newid i nwy yn anghywir. A hefyd diffodd ein hynni adnewyddadwy pan allem fod yn gwneud yn siŵr ei fod ar gael i bobl leol hefyd mewn cynlluniau lleol; mae gwir angen edrych ar hynny.
Mae angen strategaeth arnom hefyd. Rydym wedi trafod cymaint o wahanol elfennau heddiw. Mae angen strategaeth genedlaethol arnom ar gyfer y dyfodol, a gweithio gyda GB Energy fel bod gennym y strategaeth orau i Gymru, i'r Cymry, a gweithio gyda GB Energy, gan wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cyd-fynd â hi. Mae yna gynllun ynni cenedlaethol, fel y dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond nid wyf yn siŵr a yw hwnnw yr un peth.
Soniwyd am edrych ar reoliadau adeiladu, ar gyfer tai newydd sy'n cael eu hadeiladu, i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cyrraedd safon dda, oherwydd nid ydym am fod yn ôl-osod y rheini yn y dyfodol, sy'n bwysig iawn. Ac mae angen inni fuddsoddi yn y gronfa Cartrefi Clyd ar gyfer pobl sydd â thai nad ydynt yn cyrraedd y safon ar hyn o bryd, fel y gallwn fuddsoddi a helpu pobl yn lleol i gael eu biliau ynni i lawr, i gael cartrefi cynnes a buddsoddi mewn ynni solar.
I orffen, mae llawer wedi'i ddweud heddiw. 'A all ynni adnewyddadwy yn unig ddiwallu anghenion ynni Cymru?' oedd fy nghwestiwn ar ddechrau hyn. Mae Adam a Lee yn dweud y gall. Rwy'n credu bod gennym ddigonedd o ynni naturiol yma. Mae gennym ein mynyddoedd, mae gennym ein llynnoedd, mae gennym y môr, mae gennym wynt. Mae gennym haul weithiau, ac mae angen inni ddal y pethau hynny er budd ein hinsawdd, pobl Cymru, ein trigolion, a dod â'r biliau i lawr a gweithredu cyn gynted â phosibl. Diolch.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
Daw hynny â'r ddadl agored heddiw i ben. Diolch yn fawr, Carolyn a phawb.
That brings today's open debate to a close. Thank you very much, Carolyn and everyone.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Jane Hutt, a gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn enw Heledd Fychan. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-dethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Jane Hutt, and amendments 2 and 3 in the name of Heledd Fychan. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected.
Eitem 7 heddiw yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, yswyriant gwladol cyflogwyr. Galwaf ar Mark Isherwood i wneud y cynnig.
Item 7 today is the Welsh Conservatives debate, employer national insurance. I call on Mark Isherwood to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8857 Paul Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi cynnydd Llywodraeth y DU i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, sy'n dod i rym ar gyfer y flwyddyn dreth 2025-26.
2. Yn cydnabod yr effaith niweidiol y bydd y cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn ei chael ar elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud sylwadau ar frys i Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau y bydd elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru sy'n darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu cynnwys yn niffiniad Llywodraeth y DU o gyflogeion y sector cyhoeddus a ddiffiniwyd gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol ac, o ganlyniad, y byddant yn cael eu had-dalu am y cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr.
Motion NDM8857 Paul Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions, coming into effect for the 2025-26 tax year.
2. Recognises the detrimental impact the increase to employer national insurance contributions will have on Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations delivering public services will be included in the UK Government’s definition of ONS-defined public sector employees and will be as a result reimbursed for the rise in employer national insurance contributions.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch. I'm pleased to open this debate on a motion that seeks to address a matter that presents a clear and present danger to people and services across Wales. We also support the amendments tabled by Plaid Cymru, but nonetheless urge them to vote for the original motion rather than see Labour's spoiler amendment voted on before their own.
Let's be real. Gordon Brown was the architect of austerity. The 2008 financial crash was not made in Downing Street. However, Labour's policies gave us the biggest bust. Speaking here in 2004, I warned the economic reality is that Wales is living on the never-never, and if Gordon Brown keeps increasing public spending faster than economic growth, as more than a short-term measure, there will be a day of reckoning for us all. That is why the International Monetary Fund criticised the Treasury's approach to public finances and called for fiscal consolidation, meaning spending cuts or tax increases, in 2005.
In 2010, the UK coalition Government inherited the biggest peacetime budget deficit in a century, double any previous deficits and the largest of any major economy. They therefore had to perform a delicate balancing act, both managing this down and avoiding far higher cuts being imposed by those funding Government debt, mindful that numbers in severe poverty had risen by nearly 800,000 under Labour, with child poverty in Wales having reached the highest level in the UK before the financial crash in 2008, at 32 per cent. Now we have Rachel Reeves, whose debt-driving, tax-hiking, job-destroying budget remains the No. 1 barrier to economic growth and the No. 1 domestic contributor to cost-of-living increases. It's back to the future with Labour.
Across Wales, charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations play an absolutely crucial role in delivering the public services that the most vulnerable in society depend upon. Labour's cruel decision to increase their employer national insurance contributions will have a detrimental impact on them and their work with individuals and families from the ground up, delivering key services that improve lives whilst also reducing demand on statutory services.
I've repeatedly raised how the significant hike in national insurance announced in the UK Government's autumn budget will impact the service delivery of charities and community organisations, and asked what is being done by the Welsh Government to mitigate this. To date, the finance Secretary has stated that this is a matter for the UK Government, which is why our motion calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to address this.
Diolch. Rwy'n falch o agor y ddadl hon ar gynnig sy'n ceisio mynd i'r afael â mater sy'n creu perygl clir i bobl a gwasanaethau ledled Cymru. Rydym hefyd yn cefnogi'r gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd gan Blaid Cymru, ond yn eu hannog serch hynny i bleidleisio dros y cynnig gwreiddiol yn hytrach na gweld gwelliant difäol Llafur yn cael ei dderbyn cyn eu gwelliant eu hunain.
Gadewch inni wynebu'r peth: Gordon Brown oedd pensaer cyni. Nid yn Stryd Downing y cafodd cwymp ariannol 2008 ei greu. Fodd bynnag, polisïau Llafur a roddodd y chwalfa fwyaf i ni. Wrth siarad yma yn 2004, rhybuddiais mai'r realiti economaidd yw bod Cymru'n byw ar ddyled barhaus, ac os byddai Gordon Brown yn parhau i gynyddu gwariant cyhoeddus yn gyflymach na thwf economaidd, fel mwy na mesur tymor byr, fe ddoi'n ddydd o brysur bwyso arnom i gyd. Dyna pam y beirniadodd y Gronfa Ariannol Ryngwladol ddull y Trysorlys o drin cyllid cyhoeddus a galwodd am gydgrynhoi cyllidol, sy'n golygu toriadau gwariant neu godiadau treth, yn 2005.
Yn 2010, etifeddodd Llywodraeth glymblaid y DU y diffyg cyllidebol mwyaf mewn cyfnod o heddwch ers canrif, dwbl unrhyw ddiffygion blaenorol a'r mwyaf mewn unrhyw economi fawr. Felly, bu'n rhaid iddynt gyflawni gweithred gydbwyso ofalus, gan reoli hyn i lawr ac osgoi toriadau llawer uwch gan y rhai sy'n ariannu dyled y Llywodraeth, gan gofio bod niferoedd y bobl mewn tlodi difrifol wedi cynyddu bron i 800,000 o dan Lafur, gyda thlodi plant yng Nghymru wedi cyrraedd y lefel uchaf yn y DU cyn y cwymp ariannol yn 2008, ar 32 y cant. Nawr mae gennym Rachel Reeves, y mae ei chyllideb sy'n gyrru dyled, codi trethi a dinistrio swyddi yn parhau i fod y rhwystr mwyaf i dwf economaidd a'r cyfrannwr domestig mwyaf at gynyddu costau byw. Yn ôl i'r dyfodol yw hi gyda Llafur.
Ledled Cymru, mae elusennau, sefydliadau nid-er-elw a mudiadau gwirfoddol yn chwarae rôl hollol hanfodol yn darparu'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y mae'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas yn dibynnu arnynt. Bydd penderfyniad creulon Llafur i gynyddu cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn cael effaith niweidiol arnynt hwy a'u gwaith gydag unigolion a theuluoedd o'r gwaelod i fyny, yn darparu gwasanaethau allweddol sy'n gwella bywydau gan leihau'r galw ar wasanaethau statudol ar yr un pryd.
Rwyf wedi codi dro ar ôl tro sut y bydd y cynnydd sylweddol i yswiriant gwladol a gyhoeddwyd yng nghyllideb hydref Llywodraeth y DU yn effeithio ar ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau elusennau a sefydliadau cymunedol, ac wedi gofyn beth sy'n cael ei wneud gan Lywodraeth Cymru i liniaru hyn. Hyd yma, mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid wedi datgan mai mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw hwn, a dyna pam y mae ein cynnig yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i fynd i'r afael â hyn.
The finance Secretary has also responded to attacks on his own Welsh budget by asking us what we would cut to protect funding for vital third sector services, refusing to recognise that the false economies in his budget will create additional demand on public services that will more than swallow up any funding increases he has given them. This is dumb economics.
In response to this debate, the Wales Council for Voluntary Action have stated they're deeply concerned about the impact of increased employer national insurance contributions on voluntary sector organisations across Wales. Many of these organisations, they say, already face significant financial pressures and this increase threatens to put additional strain on their resources and potentially jeopardise vital services delivered to communities. They have strongly urged both the UK and Welsh Governments to recognise the invaluable role the voluntary sector plays, especially in partnership with public services. They believe it is critical for voluntary organisations delivering public services to be treated equitably and included in any financial support measures, ensuring they are not disproportionately disadvantaged by these policy changes.
Cancer care charity Tenovus have called the rise in national insurance contributions 'devastating' and urged Welsh Ministers to mitigate the impact. Mental health and addiction charity Adferiad told me that this will cost them £600,000 a year and, without mitigation, they will have to let staff go and reduce services. Shelter Cymru state that this will increase the costs of housing support and homelessness prevention providers by £117,000 in the first six months alone, directly impacting staffing and their ability to prevent homelessness.
The Carers Trust's recent report 'National reach, local impact' highlights the need for assurances of uplifts to contracts for local authority, health board and regional partnership board carer services commissioned from charitable local carer services in order to meet the increased cost of employer national insurance contributions, where they estimate that the combined additional cost to their local care organisations in Wales of meeting these is around £300,000 in 2025-26.
The 16 charitable hospices in Wales operating in every Welsh health board are having to consider significant cuts, which would leave huge gaps in provision for the communities they serve that the health boards will not be able to replace. They provide essential care to more than 20,000 children and adults in Wales affected by terminal and life-limiting illnesses each year and provide a huge cost saving for the NHS, with over two-thirds of hospice care delivered through charitable fundraising, rising to over 85 per cent for children's hospices. However, every hospice in Wales is forecasting a deficit for this financial year.
A survey by Hospice UK found that over 20 per cent of Welsh hospices are reducing the number of in-patient beds or wider hospice services, and that 90 per cent agreed that cost-of-living pressures are highly likely to result in reduced support being available to the wider system, such as hospitals and care homes. They state they urgently need £5.9 million in-year funding to cover the impact of NHS pay rises on hospice staffing costs if they're to safeguard the immediate future of hospice services in Wales and the vital care they provide, pending a longer-term sustainable arrangement.
They welcome the additional £3 million in recurring funding announced in the Welsh Government's draft budget, but added that this figure cannot be described as sustainable, considering it will quickly be cancelled out by national insurance and minimum wage increases of £1.8 million, and the expected impact on hospice staffing costs of future 'Agenda for Change' increases. Support for Welsh hospices with national insurance and minimum wage increases is therefore essential, recognising their key role in providing key services to the public sector and local communities.
Our motion therefore calls on this Senedd to recognise the detrimental impact the increase to employer national insurance contributions will have on Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations, and calls on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to address this before further damage is done. It is all well and good for the Welsh Government amendment to state they've made, and will continue to make, representations to the UK Government, who we were told they'd be working hand in glove with, but this has been ineffective, and we need to see urgent, determined and transparent and accountable action now. Diolch yn fawr.
Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid hefyd wedi ymateb i ymosodiadau ar ei gyllideb ei hun yng Nghymru drwy ofyn i ni beth y byddem yn ei dorri i ddiogelu cyllid ar gyfer gwasanaethau hanfodol y trydydd sector, gan wrthod cydnabod y bydd yr economïau ffug yn ei gyllideb yn creu galw ychwanegol ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus a fydd yn mwy na llyncu unrhyw gynnydd ariannol y mae wedi'i roi iddynt. Economeg dwp yw hon.
Mewn ymateb i'r ddadl hon, mae Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru wedi dweud eu bod yn bryderus iawn am effaith cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ar sefydliadau'r sector gwirfoddol ledled Cymru. Mae llawer o'r sefydliadau hyn yn dweud eu bod eisoes yn wynebu pwysau ariannol sylweddol ac mae'r cynnydd hwn yn bygwth rhoi straen ychwanegol ar eu hadnoddau ac o bosibl yn peryglu gwasanaethau hanfodol a ddarperir i gymunedau. Maent wedi annog Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU yn gryf i gydnabod y rôl amhrisiadwy y mae'r sector gwirfoddol yn ei chwarae, yn enwedig mewn partneriaeth â gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Maent yn credu ei bod yn hanfodol i sefydliadau gwirfoddol sy'n darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gael eu trin yn gyfartal a'u cynnwys mewn unrhyw fesurau cymorth ariannol, gan sicrhau nad ydynt dan anfantais anghymesur gan y newidiadau polisi hyn.
Mae'r elusen gofal canser Tenovus wedi galw'r cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol yn 'ddinistriol' ac wedi annog Gweinidogion Cymru i liniaru'r effaith. Dywedodd yr elusen iechyd meddwl a dibyniaeth Adferiad wrthyf y bydd hyn yn costio £600,000 y flwyddyn iddynt, a heb fesurau lliniarol, bydd yn rhaid iddynt adael i staff fynd a lleihau gwasanaethau. Dywed Shelter Cymru y bydd hyn yn arwain at gynnydd o £117,000 yng nghostau darparwyr cymorth tai ac atal digartrefedd yn ystod y chwe mis cyntaf yn unig, gan effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar staffio a'u gallu i atal digartrefedd.
Mae adroddiad diweddar yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr, 'Cyrhaeddiad cenedlaethol, effaith leol', yn tynnu sylw at yr angen am sicrwydd o godiadau i gontractau ar gyfer gwasanaethau gofalwyr awdurdodau lleol, byrddau iechyd a byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol a gomisiynir gan wasanaethau gofalwyr lleol elusennol er mwyn talu'r gost gynyddol o gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, lle maent yn amcangyfrif bod y gost ychwanegol gyfunol i'w sefydliadau gofal lleol yng Nghymru o dalu'r rhain oddeutu £300,000 yn 2025-26.
Mae'r 16 hosbis elusennol yng Nghymru sy'n gweithredu ym mhob bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru yn gorfod ystyried toriadau sylweddol, a fyddai'n gadael bylchau enfawr yn y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer y cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu na fydd y byrddau iechyd yn gallu eu cau. Maent yn darparu gofal hollbwysig i fwy na 20,000 o blant ac oedolion yng Nghymru yr effeithir arnynt gan salwch angheuol a salwch sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd bob blwyddyn ac yn darparu arbediad cost enfawr i'r GIG, gyda dros ddwy ran o dair o ofal hosbis yn cael ei ddarparu drwy godi arian elusennol, gan godi i dros 85 y cant yn achos hosbisau plant. Fodd bynnag, mae pob hosbis yng Nghymru yn rhagweld diffyg ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Canfu arolwg gan Hospice UK fod dros 20 y cant o hosbisau Cymru yn lleihau nifer y gwelyau cleifion mewnol neu wasanaethau hosbis ehangach, a bod 90 y cant yn cytuno bod pwysau costau byw yn debygol iawn o arwain at lai o gymorth i'r system ehangach, fel ysbytai a chartrefi gofal. Maent yn dweud bod angen £5.9 miliwn o gyllid bob blwyddyn arnynt ar frys i dalu am effaith codiadau cyflog y GIG ar gostau staffio hosbisau os ydynt am ddiogelu dyfodol uniongyrchol gwasanaethau hosbis yng Nghymru a'r gofal hollbwysig y maent yn ei ddarparu, oni cheir trefniant cynaliadwy mwy hirdymor.
Maent yn croesawu'r £3 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid rheolaidd a gyhoeddwyd yng nghyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru, ond yn ychwanegu na ellir disgrifio'r ffigur hwn fel cynaliadwy, o ystyried y bydd yn cael ei ganslo'n gyflym gan yswiriant gwladol a chynnydd isafswm cyflog o £1.8 miliwn, ac effaith ddisgwyliedig cynnydd yr 'Agenda ar gyfer Newid' ar gostau staffio hosbisau yn y dyfodol. Felly, mae cefnogi hosbisau Cymru gydag yswiriant gwladol a'r cynnydd isafswm cyflog yn hanfodol, gan gydnabod eu rôl allweddol yn darparu gwasanaethau allweddol i'r sector cyhoeddus a chymunedau lleol.
Felly, mae ein cynnig yn galw ar y Senedd hon i gydnabod yr effaith niweidiol y bydd y cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn ei chael ar elusennau, sefydliadau nid-er-elw a mudiadau gwirfoddol Cymru, ac yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i roi camau brys ar waith i fynd i'r afael â hyn cyn i niwed pellach gael ei wneud. Un peth yw i welliant Llywodraeth Cymru ddweud eu bod wedi gwneud sylwadau, ac y byddant yn parhau i wneud sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU, y dywedwyd wrthym y byddent yn gweithio law yn llaw â hwy, ond mae hyn wedi bod yn aneffeithiol, ac mae angen inni weld camau pendant a thryloyw ac atebol ar frys. Diolch yn fawr.
Rwyf wedi dethol y tri gwelliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn ei henw hi.
I have selected three amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to move amendment 1, tabled in her own name.
Gwelliant 1—Jane Hutt
Dileu popeth ar ol pwynt 1 a rhoi yn ei le:
Yn cydnabod:
a) nad yw yswiriant gwladol wedi'i ddatganoli:
b) bod elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru yn poeni am effaith cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr; ac
c) bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud sylwadau, a bydd yn parhau i wneud sylwadau, i Lywodraeth y DU ar ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru ynghylch cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr.
Amendment 1—Jane Hutt
Delete all after point 1 and replace with
Recognises that:
a) national insurance is not devolved;
b) Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions; and
c) the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations about employer national insurance contributions.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Galwaf ar Heledd Fychan i gynnig gwelliannau 2 a 3 yn ei henw hi.
I call on Heledd Fychan to move amendments 2 and 3 tabled in her name.
Gwelliant 2—Heledd Fychan
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ôl pwynt 2 ac ailrifo yn unol â hynny:
Yn gresynu at:
a) y bwriad i ddyrannu ad-daliadau’r Trysorlys i wasanaethau cyhoeddus craidd ar sail Fformiwla Barnett, a fyddai’n gadael Cymru yn wynebu diffyg o gymharu â Lloegr; a
b) y diffyg eglurder ynghylch swm llawn y costau i wasanaethau cyhoeddus craidd yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i’r newidiadau hyn, lai na mis cyn dechrau’r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf ac ar ôl i gyllideb Cymru gael ei phasio.
Amendment 2—Heledd Fychan
Add as new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets:
a) the intention to allocate Treasury reimbursements to core public services on the basis of the Barnett Formula, which would leave Wales facing a shortfall compared to England; and
b) the lack of clarity as to the full extent of costs to core public services in Wales as a result of these changes, less than a month before the start of the next financial year and after the passing of the Welsh budget.
Gwelliant 3—Heledd Fychan
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud galwadau brys ar Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod costau cynnydd yng nghyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr i wasanaethau cyhoeddus craidd yng Nghymru yn cael eu talu’n llawn gan Drysorlys y DU.
Amendment 3—Heledd Fychan
Add as new point at the end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that the costs of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services in Wales are covered in full by the UK Treasury.
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 2 a 3.
Amendments 2 and 3 moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Yn amlwg, mae yna bryder mawr yn y Siambr hon ynglŷn â'r newidiadau hyn. Dyna pam y gwnaethom ni, fis Tachwedd, gyflwyno dadl Plaid Cymru ar y mater hwn, a dydyn ni heb newid ein barn o gwbl. Mi oedden ni'n pwysleisio, adeg hynny, faint o effaith mae'n mynd i'w gael ar gymaint o sectorau gwahanol, ar gymaint o bobl, ar gymaint o wasanaethau. Ac yn amlwg, mi ddaeth hynny hefyd drosodd yn glir yn ystod craffu ar y gyllideb, efo cymaint o bwyllgorau yn nodi eu pryder nhw o ran y newid hwn o ran yswiriant gwladol.
Felly, dwi'n gobeithio ein bod ni'n gallu bod yn unedig fel Senedd bod hwn yn newid sy'n mynd i effeithio'n fawr ar Gymru, bod hwn yn newid sy'n mynd i effeithio ar gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, a dyna pam dwi yn siomedig o weld gwelliant y Llywodraeth heddiw. Ydy, mae'n cydnabod bod elusennau, cwmnïau nid er elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol yn poeni, ond byddwn i'n gobeithio bod Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn poeni'n ddirfawr am hyn, yn arbennig oherwydd, hyd yn oed lle bydd yna ad-daliad, bydd y fformiwla Barnett yn cael ei ddefnyddio. Rydym ni wedi clywed gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg na fydd hyn yn ddigonol, na fydd hyn y swm yn ei gyfanrwydd yr ydym ni ei angen. Felly, mae yna ddiffyg yn mynd i fod, ac mae hyn yn mynd i effeithio ar gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru.
Yn amlwg, yn gynharach heddiw, mi wnaeth Sioned Williams gyflwyno cwestiwn amserol ynglŷn â'r newidiadau lles, rhywbeth hefyd sy'n mynd i adael twll a bwlch yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, os byddwch chi'n gweithredu er mwyn rhoi'r gefnogaeth i'r rheini sydd dirfawr angen cefnogaeth yn ein cymunedau ni. Felly, os ydych chi'n ystyried beth sy'n mynd i ddigwydd o ran yswiriant gwladol a'r newidiadau lles, mae'n sefyllfa ddifrifol iawn.a
Byddwn i hefyd yn dadlau, o ran yr elusennau, cwmnïau nid er elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol, nid dim ond poeni, maen nhw'n barod yn gorfod torri gwasanaethau. Maen nhw'n torri swyddi. Dwi'n gwybod am bobl sydd wedi gweithio am flynyddoedd lawer yn fy nghymuned i, yn cefnogi'r bobl fwyaf bregus, wedi gorfod cefnogi mwy o lawer o bobl oherwydd y polisïau llymder rydym ni wedi'u gweld yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf yma, ac mae eu gwasanaethau nhw dan straen aruthrol yn barod. Os ydy'r gwasanaethau yna yn crebachu a bod yna fwy o alw, mae hon yn sefyllfa ddifrifol dros ben.
Mae'n sefyllfa sy'n mynd i gael effaith eithriadol ar gymaint o bobl yn ein cymunedau ni, a dwi eisiau gweld mwy o weithredu gan y Llywodraeth na'r hyn rydym ni'n ei weld. Dydy llythyru ddim yn ddigon. Dydy gwneud galwadau ddim yn ddigon. Mae angen inni fod yn unedig, a hefyd fod yn onest o ran y bwlch a'r effaith y bydd o'n ei chael ar yr arian sydd ar gael i ni. Oherwydd y tu hwnt i benawdau'r gyllideb, mae'n rhaid inni ddechrau gofyn faint o'r arian hwnnw fydd yn gorfod mynd tuag at gadw'r gwasanaethau fel y maen nhw. Felly, mae hi'n broblem ddifrifol.
Felly, dwi yn ddiolchgar ein bod ni'n cyfle i gael y drafodaeth yma heddiw. Yn amlwg, mae gwelliannau Plaid Cymru yn mynd â'r cynnig yn bellach, a'r galwadau yn bellach, o ran y Llywodraeth. Yr hyn dydyn ni ddim yn ei wybod eto, wrth gwrs, ydy, beth ydy gwir gost y newid hwn i Gymru. Mi fyddai hi'n dda gwybod yn ymateb y Llywodraeth heddiw os oes yna fwy o waith wedi'i wneud o ran hynny, mwy o ddealltwriaeth o ran yr effaith, a hefyd ddeall os ydych chi wedi asesu pa wasanaethau fydd yn crebachu a ddim yn gallu parhau. Faint o swyddi sy'n cael eu colli yn y sectorau hollol hanfodol yma oherwydd y newid hwn? Dwi'n gobeithio, fel roeddwn i'n dweud ar ddechrau'r cyfraniad hwn, y gallwn ni uno fel Senedd, ond hefyd ein bod ni'n gallu herio rhai o'r penderfyniadau niweidiol hyn. Mae yna wasanaethau yn mynd i gael eu colli ar yr union adeg lle mae yna mwy o bobl, yn anffodus, yn mynd i fod angen y gefnogaeth ganddynt.
Clearly, there is huge concern in this Chamber about these changes. That's why, in November, we brought forward a Plaid Cymru debate on this very issue, and we haven't changed our view one bit. We emphasised at that point how much of an impact this was going to have on so many different sectors, on so many different people, on so many different services. That came through very clearly during the scrutiny of the budget, with so many committees noting their own concerns about this change to national insurance contributions.
So, I very much hope that we can be united as a Senedd that this is a change that will have a great impact on Wales, that this is a change that will have an impact on the Welsh Government's budget, and that's why I am disappointed to see the Government's amendment today. Yes, it recognises that charities and not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned, but I would've hoped that the Welsh Government would also be very concerned about this, particularly because, even where there is a repayment, the Barnett formula will be used to calculate it. We've heard from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language that this is not going to be sufficient, that it is not going to cover the entire cost. So, there will be a deficit, and this is going to have an impact on the Welsh Government's budget.
Clearly, earlier today, Sioned Williams asked a topical question on changes to welfare, another issue that's going to leave a gap in the Welsh Government's budget, if you actually act in order to support those people who so badly need our support in our communities. So, if you consider what's likely to happen in terms of national insurance and the proposed changes to welfare, then the situation is very grave indeed.
I would also argue, in terms of the charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations, that it's not just concern they're experiencing, they're already having to cut services. They are cutting jobs. I know about people who have worked for many years in my own community, supporting the most vulnerable people, who have had to support more and more people because of the austerity policies that we've seen in recent years, and their services are under huge pressures already. If those services shrink and there is greater demand for them, then this is a very serious situation indeed.
It is a situation that will have an immense impact on so many people in our communities, and I want to see more action from the Government than we're currently seeing. Corresponding simply isn't enough. Making calls is not enough. We have to be united, and we have to be honest in terms of the funding gap and the impact that it will have on the funding available to us. Beyond the headlines of the budget, we have to start asking how much of that money will have to be used in order to maintain current service levels. So, it is a very grave problem.
So, I'm grateful that we're having an opportunity to have this debate today. Clearly, the Plaid Cymru amendments do take the motion further and make further demands on Government. What we don't know as of yet, of course, is what the true cost of this change will be for Wales. It would be good to hear in the Government's response today if more work has been done on that issue, if there's a greater understanding in terms of the impact, and also we need to understand whether you've assessed which services will be affected and won't be able to continue. How many jobs are to be lost in these crucial sectors because of this change? I very much hope, as I said at the beginning of this contribution, that we can unite as a Senedd, but also that we can challenge some of these damaging decisions. There are services that will be lost at the very time when more and more people, unfortunately, will need that support from them.
Today's debate is one that we simply shouldn't be having. Once upon a time, we had a shadow Chancellor that promised that they wouldn't raise taxes on working people. In fact, I'll quote her directly when she said,
'we certainly will not be increasing...income tax or national insurance'.
Well, what happened the second the shadow chancellor became the Chancellor? You guessed it, national insurance contributions were increased, putting additional costs on businesses, leading to a slowdown in the number of jobs available and resulting in lower wages in people's pockets. Who was it that said Labour just don't know what they're doing on the economy? The poverty that the Labour Party cry crocodile tears about is literally the result of their own actions and they won't take a shred of responsibility for it. They claimed there was an economic black hole in their inheritance, but that wasn't true either. The Office for Budget Responsibility literally couldn't find it. Yet more Labour mistruths to justify their socialist agenda.
And we hear a lot from them, don't we, about their inheritance? But what inheritance did they really get? They inherited the highest growth in the G7 from the last Conservative Government and they've managed to lose all that progress in eight short months. In January, the economy shrank under Labour, while the economies of comparable countries across the world grew. We know that higher taxes lead to economic disaster; we get that, but they don't get it and the results speak for themselves. That's why Labour's national insurance rise—the one that they promised that they would never do—is so damaging. And it doesn't just damage businesses and our economy, it's damaging our charities too. The rise in national insurance is estimated to cost the third sector a whopping £1.4 billion. Think about the impact that that will have on the services on which so many people across the country rely. Some of our poorest, some of our sickest, some of our least fortunate people will lose out. Crucial community campaigns will see cutbacks and those that need the support that only charities can provide will literally have to go without.
The leader of the opposition in the UK Parliament, Kemi Badenoch, asked the Prime Minister earlier today whether he would exempt hospices, or even just children's hospices, from his jobs tax. The Prime Minster shamefully refused. Ordering his Labour MPs to block it, forcing that tax on children's hospices. Llywydd, we should never let Labour lecture anyone about social justice ever again. That's why we have tabled this motion today—to back those businesses that will literally go bust, to back those workers who will see their wages depressed, to back those without work but looking for it, who will see the jobs market shrink, to back those charities that provide essential services on which people rely in their time of utmost need, and to back those that need charities because none of us know when it will be us that needs them ourselves. Labour's jobs tax is a kick in the teeth for all those groups and more. It's time we shelved it and shelved the shower of a Labour Government too.
Mae'r ddadl heddiw yn un na ddylem fod yn ei chael. Ar un adeg, roedd gennym ganghellor yr wrthblaid a addawodd na fyddent yn codi trethi ar bobl sy'n gweithio. A dweud y gwir, fe'i dyfynnaf yn uniongyrchol pan ddywedodd,
'yn sicr ni fyddwn yn cynyddu...treth incwm nac yswiriant gwladol'.
Wel, beth a ddigwyddodd yr eiliad y daeth canghellor yr wrthblaid yn Ganghellor? Cywir, fe gynyddwyd cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, gan roi costau ychwanegol i fusnesau, gan arwain at arafu nifer y swyddi sydd ar gael a chyflogau is ym mhocedi pobl. Pwy ddywedodd nad yw Llafur yn gwybod beth a wnânt ar yr economi? Mae'r tlodi y mae'r Blaid Lafur yn crio dagrau crocodeil drosto yn llythrennol yn deillio o'u gweithredoedd eu hunain ac ni wnânt dderbyn unrhyw gyfrifoldeb amdanynt. Roeddent yn honni eu bod wedi etifeddu twll du economaidd, ond nid oedd hynny'n wir ychwaith. Ni allodd y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol ddod o hyd iddo. Rhagor o anwireddau Llafur i gyfiawnhau eu hagenda sosialaidd.
Ac fe glywn lawer ganddynt am yr hyn a etifeddwyd ganddynt, oni wnawn? Ond beth a etifeddwyd mewn gwirionedd? Fe wnaethant etifeddu'r twf uchaf yn y G7 gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol ddiwethaf ac maent wedi llwyddo i golli'r holl gynnydd hwnnw mewn cwta wyth mis. Ym mis Ionawr, crebachodd yr economi o dan Lafur, tra bod economïau gwledydd tebyg ledled y byd wedi tyfu. Gwyddom fod trethi uwch yn arwain at drychineb economaidd; rydym yn deall hynny, ond nid ydynt hwy'n ei ddeall ac mae'r canlyniadau'n siarad drostynt eu hunain. Dyna pam y mae cynnydd yswiriant gwladol Llafur—yr un y gwnaethant addo na fyddent byth yn ei wneud—mor niweidiol. Ac nid yn unig ei fod yn niweidio busnesau a'n heconomi, mae'n niweidio ein helusennau hefyd. Amcangyfrifir y bydd y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol yn costio £1.4 biliwn i'r trydydd sector. Meddyliwch am yr effaith y bydd hynny'n ei chael ar y gwasanaethau y mae cymaint o bobl ledled y wlad yn dibynnu arnynt. Bydd rhai o'n bobl dlotaf, rhai o'n pobl fwyaf sâl, rhai o'n pobl leiaf ffodus ar eu colled. Bydd ymgyrchoedd cymunedol hanfodol yn gweld toriadau ac mae'r rhai sydd angen y gefnogaeth na all neb ond elusennau ei darparu yn llythrennol yn gorfod mynd hebddi.
Gofynnodd arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn Senedd y DU, Kemi Badenoch, i Brif Weinidog y DU yn gynharach heddiw a fyddai'n eithrio hosbisau, neu hyd yn oed hosbisau plant yn unig, o'i dreth ar swyddi. Yn gywilyddus, fe wrthododd y Prif Weinidog. Gorchmynnodd ei ASau Llafur i'w flocio, gan orfodi'r dreth honno ar hosbisau plant. Lywydd, ni ddylem adael i Lafur bregethu am gyfiawnder cymdeithasol byth eto. Dyna pam ein bod wedi cyflwyno'r cynnig hwn heddiw—i gefnogi'r busnesau a fydd yn llythrennol yn mynd yn fethdalwyr, i gefnogi'r gweithwyr a fydd yn gweld eu cyflogau'n lleihau, i gefnogi'r rhai heb waith ond sy'n chwilio amdano, a fydd yn gweld y farchnad swyddi'n crebachu, i gefnogi'r elusennau sy'n darparu gwasanaethau hanfodol y mae pobl yn dibynnu arnynt pan fyddant fwyaf o'u hangen, ac i gefnogi'r rhai sydd angen elusennau am nad oes unrhyw un ohonom yn gwybod pryd y bydd eu hangen arnom ni ein hunain. Mae treth Llafur ar swyddi yn gic yn y dannedd i'r holl grwpiau hynny a mwy. Mae'n bryd inni gael ei gwared arni a chael gwared ar Lywodraeth Lafur ddiwerth hefyd.
Well, this is a breathtakingly cynical motion by the Conservatives, and it started in classic form by Mark Isherwood, who, again, blamed everything on Gordon Brown and then went on to quote one of his own speeches from 2004. One thing I would say about Mark Isherwood, after 20 years in this Chamber, is that he is consistent at least. The record shows that, in the term of the last Conservative Government, austerity was a political choice. Every year, spending fell in real terms, per person, every single year between 2010 and 2020, unlike other Western economies, whereas the crash that he referred to in 2008 is recognised as a global slump. So, nice try, but the economists simply do not recognise the picture you paint.
Now, I do have some sympathy with the arguments about national insurance contributions. I think it's the wrong tax to be raising, and I regret the fact that other taxes have been ruled out, and this is then left as one of the few remaining that can be used. I don't think it's the right call. But, there is a significant deficit in public spending. Now, every few weeks, we get calls from the Conservatives in this Chamber to spend more money on various programmes, and they never tell us how they will fund it. So, let me ask them this: the 40 per cent rise in the capital investment in the NHS in this year's UK budget, where would you raise the money for that from? If not from national insurance contributions, where from? You have no answer. The £235 million of extra capital in the Welsh Government budget that the finance Secretary has announced: where would they get that from if not from national insurance? And they have no answer, because their position is utterly incoherent and entirely opportunistic, and completely at odds with their own record.
And if any of you have put yourself through the discomfort of reading Simon Hart's diaries, which, I must say, I have done on your behalf, the decision to call the general election at the time it was was a very cynical one, made in the full knowledge of the hole that was being left for an incoming Government. He goes on to say, in fact, that the prisons were about to collapse. They knew the mess they were leaving behind. And it may be that, as they say, the OBR said that they couldn't find a black hole, and that's simply because the assumptions that the Conservative Chancellor made for that budget, on which the OBR based its forecast, were completely unrealistic, and the Resolution Foundation has said that, had a Conservative Chancellor returned, they would have had to find £20 billion to fill in the spending that had been committed.
So, I'll take no lectures from the Conservative benches on national insurance taxes. They've left an awful mess. They left threadbare public services. This Government's inherited a rotten economy. I don't think they've made the correct choice on which tax to increase, but a tax they had to increase, and we continue to face tough times. And they'd have more credibility with the public, who wiped them out in Wales at the general election, if they acknowledged their own legacy.
Wel, mae hwn yn gynnig syfrdanol o sinigaidd gan y Ceidwadwyr, ac fe ddechreuodd yn y ffordd glasurol gan Mark Isherwood, sydd, unwaith eto, yn beio popeth ar Gordon Brown ac aeth ati wedyn i ddyfynnu un o'i areithiau ei hun yn 2004. Un peth y byddwn i'n ei ddweud am Mark Isherwood, ar ôl 20 mlynedd yn y Siambr hon, yw ei fod o leiaf yn gyson. Mae hanes yn dangos bod cyni'n ddewis gwleidyddol yn nhymor y Llywodraeth Geidwadol ddiwethaf. Bob blwyddyn, gostyngodd gwariant y pen mewn termau real bob blwyddyn rhwng 2010 a 2020, yn wahanol i economïau eraill y Gorllewin, a chydnabyddir bod y cwymp y cyfeiriodd ato yn 2008 yn wasgfa fyd-eang. Felly, ymgais dda, ond nid yw'r economegwyr yn cydnabod y darlun a baentiwyd gennych.
Nawr, mae gennyf rywfaint o gydymdeimlad â'r dadleuon am gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol. Nid wyf yn credu mai dyma'r dreth gywir i'w chodi, ac rwy'n gresynu at y ffaith bod trethi eraill wedi'u diystyru, a chaiff hon ei gadael ar ôl fel un o'r ychydig rai sy'n weddill y gellir eu defnyddio. Nid wyf yn meddwl mai hon a ddylai fod wedi'i dewis. Ond mae diffyg sylweddol mewn gwariant cyhoeddus. Nawr, bob ychydig wythnosau, cawn alwadau gan y Ceidwadwyr yn y Siambr hon i wario mwy o arian ar wahanol raglenni, ac nid ydynt byth yn dweud wrthym sut y byddant yn eu hariannu. Felly, gadewch imi ofyn hyn iddynt: y cynnydd o 40 y cant yn y buddsoddiad cyfalaf yn y GIG yng nghyllideb y DU eleni, o ble y byddech chi'n codi'r arian ar gyfer hynny? Os nad o gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, o ble? Nid oes gennych ateb. Y £235 miliwn o gyfalaf ychwanegol yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru y mae'r Ysgrifennydd cyllid wedi'i gyhoeddi: o ble y byddent yn cael hwnnw os nad o yswiriant gwladol? Ac nid oes ganddynt ateb, oherwydd mae eu safbwynt yn gwbl anghydlynol ac yn hollol oportiwnistaidd, ac yn gwbl groes i'r hyn a wnaethant hwy eu hunain.
Ac os oes unrhyw un ohonoch wedi rhoi eich hun trwy'r anghysur o ddarllen dyddiaduron Simon Hart, fe wneuthum hynny ar eich rhan, ac roedd y penderfyniad i alw'r etholiad cyffredinol ar y pryd yn un sinigaidd iawn, wedi'i wneud gan wybod yn iawn am y twll a oedd yn cael ei adael i Lywodraeth newydd. Mae'n mynd ymlaen i ddweud, mewn gwirionedd, fod y carchardai ar fin methu'n llwyr. Roeddent yn gwybod am y llanast a adawent ar ôl. Ac efallai fod y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol wedi dweud na allent ddod o hyd i dwll du, fel roeddent yn dweud, a'r rheswm syml am hynny yw oherwydd bod y rhagdybiaethau a wnaeth y Canghellor Ceidwadol ar gyfer y gyllideb honno, ac y seiliodd y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol eu rhagolwg arnynt, yn gwbl afrealistig, ac mae'r Resolution Foundation wedi dweud, pe bai Canghellor Ceidwadol wedi dychwelyd, y byddent wedi gorfod dod o hyd i £20 biliwn i lenwi'r gwariant a oedd wedi'i ymrwymo.
Felly, nid wyf am wrando ar unrhyw bregethau oddi ar y meinciau Ceidwadol ar drethi yswiriant gwladol. Maent wedi gadael llanast ofnadwy. Fe wnaethant adael gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi'u torri at yr asgwrn. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi etifeddu economi bydredig. Nid wyf yn credu eu bod wedi gwneud y dewis cywir o ran pa dreth i'w chynyddu, ond roedd yn rhaid iddynt gynyddu rhyw dreth, ac rydym yn parhau i wynebu amseroedd anodd. A byddai iddynt fwy o hygrededd yn llygad y cyhoedd, a gafodd wared arnynt o Gymru yn yr etholiad cyffredinol, pe baent yn cydnabod eu gwaddol eu hunain.
I thank Lee for being one of the only Labour Members here to defend their terrible record. I thank you, Lee, for actually standing up for your decision. There is no better example as to how little idea Labour have about economic growth than this rise in national insurance. Throughout the general election, and subsequently, we heard from Sir Keir Starmer that he wants to see economic growth, yet we've heard no details as to how he was to achieve this, and what little action has been taken has been completely counterproductive and counterintuitive. Not only was this rise in employer national insurance a blatant breach of a manifesto commitment, it's a direct tax on growth, preventing many small businesses from employing new staff or increasing existing staff's wages. Our businesses have been battling a cost-of-doing-business crisis for too long, and now they have been slapped with this tax on growth. How does this make any sense? I've said it before: growth is not a policy in and of itself. We all want growth, of course we do, but it can only be achieved through sound economic policy—something both Labour Governments on either end of the M4 clearly struggle with.
Dirprwy Lywydd, this tax hike affects every sector in society, as we've heard—our healthcare practices, our businesses, charities, our key care providers who work closely with those local authorities. As we all know, the majority of businesses in Wales are SMEs, who simply will not be able to afford to expand, thanks to this economically illiterate policy. Many of our SMEs are on very tight profit margins and just about making ends meet. Farmers, freight businesses and hospitality businesses in particular will struggle. There really is no reason today for Labour colleagues here not to support this motion. It's sad that they're not going to be listening to what we're trying to say. It is as clear as day that this tax hike is having a detrimental impact not just on businesses, but also on charities and, as we've heard, not-for-profit organisations, as well as many other voluntary organisations. We've heard in the Chamber how local authorities already are pressed for finances, and they will feel the effect of this tax hike. We are told there is money coming from central Government to make up for this, but it's still not clear how much. And, of course, our local authorities deal with the private companies who are fundamental in delivering statutory services, like social care, like domiciliary care. Their national insurance increases will end up being passed down through increased cost to our councils and, ultimately, to hard-working families across Wales through council tax increases. That's how it goes around. There’s only one set of money.
I know the First Minister is very keen on avoiding responsibility and trying to claim she is not responsible for what Keir Starmer does. But, as I and others have said, the Welsh Government has a duty to stand up to bad policy making in Westminster and to advocate for the people of Wales, something this Labour Government failed to do with HS2, failed to do with the winter fuel payments, and also, as we heard recently, with the tax hike on farmers. Now, Dirprwy Lywydd, this Labour Government was far too happy to try and criticise every last decision the previous Westminster Government made, but it's far too happy to stay quiet now that it is politically inconvenient. Voting for our motion today will send a clear message to the people of Wales that this Parliament is not happy with this blatant manifesto breach and it wants the Welsh Government to stand up to the UK Government and call out this direct attack on Welsh citizens, not-for-profit organisations, charities and small businesses. Thank you.
Diolch i Lee am fod yn un o'r unig Aelodau Llafur yma i amddiffyn eu methiannau. Diolch i chi, Lee, am sefyll dros eich penderfyniad. Nid oes enghraifft well o gyn lleied o syniad sydd gan Lafur am dwf economaidd na'r cynnydd hwn i yswiriant gwladol. Trwy gydol yr etholiad cyffredinol, ac wedi hynny, clywsom gan Syr Keir Starmer ei fod eisiau gweld twf economaidd, ond nid ydym wedi clywed unrhyw fanylion ynglŷn â sut y bwriadai gyflawni hyn, ac mae'r ychydig gamau sydd wedi'u cymryd wedi bod yn gwbl wrthgynhyrchiol ac yn groes i synnwyr cyffredin. Nid yn unig y mae'r cynnydd hwn i yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn torri ymrwymiad maniffesto, mae'n dreth uniongyrchol ar dwf, sy'n atal llawer o fusnesau bach rhag cyflogi staff newydd neu gynyddu cyflogau staff presennol. Mae ein busnesau wedi bod yn brwydro yn erbyn argyfwng costau gwneud busnes ers gormod o amser, a nawr maent yn wynebu'r dreth hon ar dwf. Sut y mae hyn yn gwneud unrhyw synnwyr? Rwyf wedi ei ddweud o'r blaen: nid yw twf yn bolisi ynddo'i hun. Rydym i gyd eisiau twf wrth gwrs, ond trwy bolisi economaidd cadarn yn unig y gellir ei gyflawni—rhywbeth y mae'r ddwy Lywodraeth Lafur ar y naill ochr a'r llall i'r M4 yn amlwg yn cael trafferth ei ddeall.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'r codiad treth hwn yn effeithio ar bob sector mewn cymdeithas, fel y clywsom—ein practisau gofal iechyd, ein busnesau, ein helusennau, ein darparwyr gofal allweddol sy'n gweithio'n agos gyda'r awdurdodau lleol hynny. Fel y gwyddom i gyd, mae'r mwyafrif o fusnesau yng Nghymru yn fusnesau bach a chanolig, ac ni fyddant yn gallu fforddio ehangu, diolch i'r polisi economaidd anllythrennog hwn. Mae maint elw llawer o'n busnesau bach a chanolig yn fach iawn ac ond yn ymwneud â chael dau ben llinyn ynghyd. Bydd ffermwyr, busnesau cludo nwyddau a busnesau lletygarwch yn enwedig yn cael trafferth. Nid oes unrhyw reswm heddiw i gyd-Aelodau Llafur yma beidio â chefnogi'r cynnig hwn. Mae'n drist nad ydynt yn mynd i wrando ar yr hyn y ceisiwn ei ddweud. Mae mor amlwg â'r dydd fod y codiad treth hwn yn cael effaith niweidiol nid yn unig ar fusnesau, ond ar elusennau hefyd ac fel y clywsom, ar sefydliadau nid-er-elw, yn ogystal â llawer o fudiadau gwirfoddol eraill. Fe glywsom yn y Siambr sut y mae awdurdodau lleol eisoes dan bwysau yn ariannol, a byddant yn teimlo effaith y codiad treth hwn. Dywedir wrthym fod arian yn dod gan y Llywodraeth ganolog i wneud iawn am hyn, ond nid yw'n glir faint o hyd. Ac wrth gwrs, mae ein hawdurdodau lleol yn ymdrin â'r cwmnïau preifat sy'n hollbwysig ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau statudol, fel gofal cymdeithasol, fel gofal cartref. Bydd eu cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol yn cael ei drosglwyddo trwy fwy o gostau i'n cynghorau ac yn y pen draw, i deuluoedd gweithgar ledled Cymru trwy godi'r dreth gyngor. Dyna sut y mae'n mynd o gwmpas. Dim ond un set o arian sy'n bodoli.
Rwy'n gwybod bod y Prif Weinidog yn awyddus iawn i osgoi cyfrifoldeb ac yn ceisio honni nad yw hi'n gyfrifol am yr hyn y mae Keir Starmer yn ei wneud. Ond, fel y dywedais i ac eraill, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddyletswydd i wrthsefyll polisïau gwael yn San Steffan ac i ddadlau dros bobl Cymru, rhywbeth y methodd y Llywodraeth Lafur hon ei wneud gyda HS2, methodd ei wneud â thaliadau tanwydd y gaeaf, ac fel y clywsom yn ddiweddar, methodd ei wneud gyda'r codiad treth ar ffermwyr. Nawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, roedd y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yn llawer rhy hapus i geisio beirniadu pob penderfyniad a wnaed gan Lywodraeth flaenorol San Steffan, ond mae'n llawer rhy hapus i aros yn dawel nawr ei bod hi'n wleidyddol anghyfleus. Bydd pleidleisio dros ein cynnig heddiw yn anfon neges glir i bobl Cymru nad yw'r Senedd hon yn hapus â'r modd amlwg y cafodd y maniffesto ei dorri a'i bod eisiau i Lywodraeth Cymru wrthwynebu Llywodraeth y DU a beirniadu'r ymosodiad uniongyrchol hwn ar ddinasyddion Cymru, sefydliadau nid-er-elw, elusennau a busnesau bach. Diolch.
Yn ôl Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru, sef y corff aelodaeth cenedlaethol ar gyfer mudiadau gwirfoddol, mae 84 y cant o fudiadau yn pryderu am eu gallu i fforddio'r cynnydd mewn yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, mae 34 y cant yn dweud eu bod yn ystyried lleihau nifer eu staff llawn amser, ac mae 14 y cant yn ystyried dirwyn eu gwasanaethau i ben. Ac mi fyddai gan hynny oblygiadau pellgyrhaeddol i rai o bobl fwyaf bregus ein cymdeithas. Dwi wedi bod yn tynnu sylw at y problemau sydd yn wynebu dau o fudiadau yn fy etholaeth i, sef Antur Waunfawr a GISDA, ar ôl iddyn nhw gysylltu efo'u pryderon. Mae yna lawer mwy wedi cysylltu ers hynny. Mae gwasanaethau cymorth tai wedi bod yn mynegi eu gofidiau hefyd. Dyma sector sydd yn cefnogi rhai o'r trigolion mwyaf bregus yn ein cymdeithas ni, pobl sydd yn wynebu colli eu cartref, pobl sy'n byw mewn llety dros dro cwbl anaddas am lawer rhy hir, a merched sydd yn ffoi rhag camdriniaeth a thrais yn y cartref. Dyma'r bobl fydd yn cael eu heffeithio gan y cynnydd yma.
Er bod yna groeso i'r cynnydd o £21 miliwn yn y grant cymorth tai, mi ddywedodd tystion wrth y Pwyllgor Tai a Llywodraeth Leol yn ddiweddar fod diffygion ariannol sylweddol yn wynebu'r sector ledled Cymru. Mi ddywedodd Cymorth Cymru fod y cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol yn peri risg i gynaliadwyedd gwasanaethau ac y gallai arwain at ddiswyddiadau neu at gontractau yn cael eu rhoi yn ôl. Mi ddywedodd Platfform, pe bai prosiectau cymorth tai yn dod i ben, byddai'n rhaid i bob person sy'n cael cymorth droi at wasanaethau statudol sy'n cael eu cynnal gan awdurdodau lleol, ac rydyn ni'n gwybod pa mor heriol fyddai dod o hyd i arian ar gyfer hynny.
Dyna pam mae ein gwelliant ni yn gresynu at y bwriad i ddyrannu ad-daliadau'r Trysorlys i wasanaethau cyhoeddus craidd ar sail fformiwla Barnett. Mi fyddai hynny'n gadael Cymru yn wynebu diffyg o gymharu â Lloegr. Mae ein gwelliant ni hefyd yn gresynu at y diffyg eglurder ynghylch y swm fydd yn dod i lywodraeth leol, a hynny lai na mis cyn dechrau'r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf ac ar ôl i gyllideb Cymru gael ei phasio. Felly, mi rydyn ni yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud pob dim posibl rŵan i alw ar Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i sicrhau bod costau'r cynnydd yn cael eu talu'n llawn gan Drysorlys y Deyrnas Unedig. Ac yn ogystal â hyn, mae'r trydydd sector angen gwybod ar frys pa arian sydd ar gael iddyn nhw er mwyn lliniaru effaith y cynnydd yswiriant gwladol ar y gwasanaethau hanfodol y maen nhw'n eu darparu.
Rŵan, dwi'n deall bod llymder y Torïaid wedi creu problem i'r Llywodraeth Lafur, a dwi yn cytuno efo Lee Waters—nid cynyddu yswiriant gwladol ydy'r ateb. Dylid diwygio'r system drethi a chreu system decach. Dylai'r rhai efo'r ysgwyddau llydan dalu mwy. Dyna'r ffordd ymlaen, nid cynyddu yswiriant gwladol, sydd am waethygu problemau i'r union bobl y dylem ni fod yn eu cefnogi yn llawn.
According to the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, which is the national membership body for voluntary organisations, 84 per cent of such organisations are concerned about their ability to afford the increase in employer national insurance contributions, 34 per cent report that they are considering decreasing the number of full-time staff, while 14 per cent are considering winding up their services. And this would have far reaching implications for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. I've been drawing attention to the problems facing two organisations in my constituency, namely Antur Waunfawr and GISDA, after they got in touch to voice their concerns. There are many more who've contacted me since then. Housing support services have been expressing their concerns, and this is a sector that supports some of the most vulnerable people in our society, such as those people who face losing their homes, those who live in temporary accommodation that is completely inappropriate for far too long, and also women taking refuge from abuse and violence in their home. These are the people who will be impacted by this increase.
Although the increase of £21 million in the housing support grant is welcome, witnesses told the Local Government and Housing Committee recently that significant financial deficits face the sector across Wales. Cymorth Cymru told us that the increase in national insurance contributions poses a risk to the sustainability of services and could lead to redundancies or to contracts being returned. And Platfform said that, if housing support projects were to come to an end, then every person in receipt of support would have to turn to statutory services that are provided by local authorities, and we know how challenging it would be to find funds to meet that demand.
And that's why our amendment does regret the intention to allocate Treasury reimbursements to core public services on the basis of the Barnett formula. That would leave Wales facing a shortfall compared to England. And our amendment also regrets the lack of clarity as to the full extent of the costs to local government, less than a month before the start of the next financial year and after the passing of the Welsh budget. Therefore, we do call on the Welsh Government to do everything it can do now to call upon the UK Government to ensure that the cost of the increases to employer NI contributions will be covered in full by the UK Treasury. And moreover, the third sector must be informed as a matter of urgency of what funding will be available to it to mitigate the impact of increased national insurance contributions on the vital services that it provides.
Now, I understand that Conservative austerity has created a problem for the Labour Government, and I do agree with Lee Waters that increasing national insurance contributions isn't the answer. The taxation system should be reformed to create a fairer system. Those with the broader shoulders should pay more. That's the way forward, not increasing national insurance contributions, which will deteriorate and exacerbate the problems for those people we should be supporting in full.
The increase in employer national insurance contributions from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent this year in April, announced by the Chancellor, is an absolute disgrace. It has caused great concern for employers, small businesses, non-profit organisations and charities, as well as many local authorities. And I have to say, Jane Hutt, I have always held you in such high regard, but you've done it again:
'Delete all after point 1 and replace with
'Recognises that:
'a) national insurance is not devolved;'
What a weak and poor cop-out. And that you recognise
'Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions'.
And you recognise that
'the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations'
about the NI. But nothing whatsoever about the increases to the pay bill for our public authorities, and, very importantly, our hard-working private sector employers. And then, of course, the cop-out you've done again as regards the cuts to welfare benefits. Little wonder that now you are being referred to as 'the really nasty party'. While measures have been put in place to help shield some of the very smallest microbusinesses, such as the employment allowance, the UK Labour Government's budget has heavily leaned on smaller businesses, and at a time when they are really, really vulnerable. This increase also comes at a time when businesses have such low confidence in the economy here in Wales. This is mirrored by the latest gross domestic product data, which showed only a small increase of less than 0.2 per cent in the three months leading up to January 2025. Wales, we know, has the lowest employment rate in the UK, at 70 per cent; and the highest number of young people not in education, training or employment; the highest business rates in Great Britain, with the multiplier for businesses of all sizes in Wales set to increase to 56.8 per cent in April 2025-26; and the second lowest business survival rate in the UK. You can sigh, but you cannot hide or deny what you are doing to Wales and its business sector. This is extremely concerning and shows that the increase in employer NI will only add further stress and impact to an already struggling economic and business environment in Wales.
This impact will also be felt by the Welsh third sector. A leading Welsh charity has warned it will have to pay an extra £250,000 a year due to the increased national insurance contributions. That isn't very charitable of this Welsh Government, is it? The cancer care charity, Tenovus, gave evidence to the Finance Committee at the start of this year, noting that this increase will be 'devastating', and they were urging UK Ministers to reconsider, or for the Welsh Government to mitigate the impact in some way. This follows a very weak and pathetic statement from the First Minister when challenged by my colleague Darren Millar last week: oh, that they'd had informal discussions with the UK Labour Government about this. Well, I'm sorry, I don't believe it. I would love to see some correspondence where the First Minister has actually really, genuinely shown concern for the people of Wales.
In evidence from the Finance Committee scrutiny session, they outlined that the additional cost from the increase in employer's NI for the following organisations: NHS directly employed, £112 million; local government, £77 million; teachers, £33 million; fire and rescue services, an additional £4 million. It's just not acceptable. Without reassurance of an uplift to these charitable organisations, the possibility increases that we're going to see some of these charities now go under. It is for this reason that I and my fellow Welsh Conservatives—and women—are calling on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that these sectors are reimbursed and reassured. The impacts of the increase will also be felt by those who work in the medical field—GPs, care homes—
Mae'r cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr o 13.8 y cant i 15 y cant eleni ym mis Ebrill, a gyhoeddwyd gan y Canghellor, yn gywilyddus. Mae wedi achosi pryder mawr i gyflogwyr, busnesau bach, sefydliadau nid-er-elw ac elusennau, yn ogystal â llawer o awdurdodau lleol. Ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, Jane Hutt, rwyf bob amser wedi bod â pharch mawr tuag atoch, ond rydych chi wedi ei wneud eto:
'Dileu popeth ar ôl pwynt 1 a rhoi yn ei le
'Yn cydnabod:
'a) nad yw yswiriant gwladol wedi'i ddatganoli;'
Am esgus gwan a gwael. A'ch bod yn cydnabod
'bod elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru yn poeni am effaith cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr'.
Ac rydych chi'n cydnabod
'bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud sylwadau, a bydd yn parhau i wneud sylwadau, i Lywodraeth y DU ar ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru'
ynglŷn â'r yswiriant gwladol. Ond dim byd o gwbl am y cynnydd i'r bil cyflog i'n hawdurdodau cyhoeddus, ac yn bwysig iawn, ein cyflogwyr sector preifat gweithgar. Ac yna, wrth gwrs, yr esgus gennych eto ynghylch y toriadau i fudd-daliadau lles. Nid yw'n syndod eich bod bellach yn cael eich galw'n 'y blaid gas'. Er bod mesurau wedi'u rhoi ar waith i helpu i warchod rhai o'r microfusnesau lleiaf, fel y lwfans cyflogaeth, mae cyllideb Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi pwyso'n helaeth ar fusnesau llai, ac ar adeg pan fônt yn wirioneddol agored i niwed. Daw'r cynnydd hwn hefyd ar adeg pan fo hyder busnesau mor isel yn yr economi yma yng Nghymru. Caiff hyn ei adlewyrchu gan y data cynnyrch domestig gros diweddaraf, a ddangosodd gynnydd bach o lai na 0.2 y cant yn y tri mis cyn mis Ionawr 2025. Fe wyddom mai Cymru sydd â'r gyfradd gyflogaeth isaf yn y DU, sef 70 y cant; a'r nifer uchaf o bobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn addysg, hyfforddiant na chyflogaeth; yr ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain, gyda'r lluosydd ar gyfer busnesau o bob maint yng Nghymru yn cynyddu i 56.8 y cant ym mis Ebrill 2025-26; a'r ail gyfradd oroesi isaf i fusnesau yn y DU. Gallwch ochneidio, ond ni allwch guddio na gwadu'r hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud i Gymru a'i sector busnes. Mae hyn yn hynod bryderus ac yn dangos y bydd y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ond yn ychwanegu straen ac effaith bellach ar amgylchedd economaidd a busnes sydd eisoes yn ei chael hi'n anodd yng Nghymru.
Bydd yr effaith hon i'w theimlo gan drydydd sector Cymru hefyd. Mae elusen flaenllaw yng Nghymru wedi rhybuddio y bydd yn rhaid iddi dalu £250,000 ychwanegol y flwyddyn oherwydd y cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol. Nid yw hynny'n elusengar iawn ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru. Rhoddodd yr elusen gofal canser, Tenovus, dystiolaeth i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn hon, yn nodi y bydd y cynnydd hwn yn 'ddinistriol', ac roeddent yn annog Gweinidogion y DU i ailystyried, neu i Lywodraeth Cymru liniaru'r effaith mewn rhyw ffordd. Daw hyn yn sgil datganiad gwan a phathetig iawn gan y Prif Weinidog pan gafodd ei herio gan fy nghyd-Aelod Darren Millar yr wythnos diwethaf: o, eu bod wedi cael trafodaethau anffurfiol gyda Llywodraeth Lafur y DU am hyn. Wel, mae'n ddrwg gennyf, nid wyf yn credu hynny. Hoffwn weld gohebiaeth lle mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi dangos pryder go iawn am bobl Cymru.
Mewn tystiolaeth yn sesiwn graffu'r Pwyllgor Cyllid, amlinellwyd cost ychwanegol y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr i'r sefydliadau canlynol: cyflogeion uniongyrchol y GIG, £112 miliwn; llywodraeth leol, £77 miliwn; athrawon, £33 miliwn; gwasanaethau tân ac achub, £4 miliwn ychwanegol. Nid yw'n dderbyniol. Heb sicrwydd o arian ychwanegol i'r sefydliadau elusennol hyn, mae'r posibilrwydd yn cynyddu y gwelwn rai o'r elusennau hyn yn methu. Am y rheswm hwn y galwaf i a fy nghyd-Aelodau Ceidwadol Cymreig ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd ati ar frys i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod y sectorau hyn yn cael ad-daliad a sicrwydd. Bydd effeithiau'r cynnydd hefyd i'w deimlo gan y rhai sy'n gweithio yn y maes meddygol—meddygon teulu, cartrefi gofal—
You need to conclude now, please, Janet.
Mae angen ichi ddirwyn i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda, Janet.
—and hospices. It is simply unacceptable that any of these organisations, any of these businesses that I've mentioned, are now being asked to pay for this. Does the Cabinet Secretary not agree that there is a significant and strong call for greater clarity and reassurance regarding reimbursement for employer NI contributions?
—a hosbisau. Mae'n annerbyniol fod gofyn bellach i unrhyw un o'r sefydliadau hyn, unrhyw un o'r busnesau y soniais amdanynt, dalu am hyn. Onid yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno bod yna alwad gref a sylweddol am fwy o eglurder a sicrwydd ynglŷn ag ad-daliad am gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr?
Janet, you need to conclude, please.
Janet, mae angen ichi orffen, os gwelwch yn dda.
And frankly, as I said, it just gets worse by the day, since your Labour Government became the UK Government in Westminster.
Ac yn onest, fel y dywedais, mae'n gwaethygu bob dydd, ers i'ch Llywodraeth Lafur ddod yn Lywodraeth y DU yn San Steffan.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, y Trefnydd a’r Prif Chwip, Jane Hutt.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt.
Diolch yn fawr. I'm very pleased to respond to this debate and to take the opportunity, as I'm sure we all would around this Chamber, to celebrate and acknowledge the role of the third sector—I think we all have done so today—in Wales and Welsh life. And we're proud of the relationship that we have with the sector. This year actually marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of our unique third sector scheme. And it's because of our scheme that the Welsh Government has well-developed relationships and routes by which the third sector can raise their concerns directly—directly with me, as they did during our recent third sector partnership council meeting. This is the way in which we have engaged with the third sector, have that open, honest relationship so that stakeholders can feed back to me, to us and to Welsh Government and colleagues any issues and concerns, as well as opportunities that lay ahead.
And, of course, we recognise that a sustainable third sector means better support for those most in need, as is their ability to respond to both demands on their services and unexpected financial pressures. So, we recognise—of course we recognise, and we've stated that quite clearly—that changes by the UK Government to national insurance contributions have caused concern. And, Dirprwy Lywydd, during the third sector partnership council that I was chairing last month, specific concerns across the sectors were raised with me about the impact of national insurance rises on the public sector, who commission services from the third sector. Now, it is important to put on the record as well today, in this debate, that the UK Government recognised the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why it has more than doubled the employment allowance to £10,500, meaning that more than half of employers with national insurance contribution liabilities will either see no change or will gain overall in 2025.
But because we recognise the concerns raised, not just at the third sector council, clearly, but in representations made and in debates in this Chamber, we recognised that we needed to also engage on this directly with the UK Government, because everyone in this Chamber is clearly aware that national insurance is not devolved. And that's why our Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury regarding both the allocation of this funding and the additional costs for employers of contracted services that deliver on behalf of the public sector. And of course he reiterated these concerns when he met with the Chief Secretary on 27 February. He was clear that the UK Government should fully fund Welsh public sector employer national insurance contributions in the same way as English public services. And in addition, the First Minister raised her concerns directly with the Chancellor in writing, and then when she met with the Chancellor last month, in February, regarding the anticipated allocation of funding for public service employees.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n falch iawn o ymateb i'r ddadl hon ac i fanteisio ar y cyfle, fel y bydd pawb ohonom o amgylch y Siambr, rwy'n siŵr, i ddathlu a chydnabod rôl y trydydd sector—rwy'n credu ein bod i gyd wedi gwneud hynny heddiw—yng Nghymru a bywyd Cymru. Ac rydym yn falch o'r berthynas sydd gennym â'r sector. Eleni, mae'n 25 mlynedd ers lansio ein cynllun trydydd sector unigryw. Ac oherwydd ein cynllun, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru gysylltiadau a llwybrau sydd wedi'u datblygu'n dda lle gall y trydydd sector godi eu pryderon yn uniongyrchol—yn uniongyrchol gyda mi, fel y gwnaethant yn ystod ein cyfarfod diweddar o gyngor partneriaeth y trydydd sector. Dyma'r ffordd rydym wedi ymgysylltu â'r trydydd sector, a chael y berthynas agored, onest honno fel y gall rhanddeiliaid fwydo'n ôl i mi, i ni ac i Lywodraeth Cymru a chyd-Aelodau unrhyw broblemau a phryderon, yn ogystal â chyfleoedd yn y dyfodol.
Ac wrth gwrs, rydym yn cydnabod bod trydydd sector cynaliadwy yn golygu gwell cefnogaeth i'r rhai sydd fwyaf o'i angen, fel y mae eu gallu i ymateb i'r galw am eu gwasanaethau a phwysau ariannol annisgwyl. Felly, rydym yn cydnabod—wrth gwrs ein bod yn cydnabod, ac rydym wedi datgan hynny'n glir—fod newidiadau gan Lywodraeth y DU i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol wedi achosi pryder. Ddirprwy Lywydd, yn ystod cyngor partneriaeth y trydydd sector yr oeddwn yn ei gadeirio fis diwethaf, codwyd pryderon penodol ar draws y sectorau am effaith cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol ar y sector cyhoeddus sy'n comisiynu gwasanaethau gan y trydydd sector. Nawr, mae'n bwysig cofnodi heddiw hefyd, yn y ddadl hon, fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cydnabod yr angen i ddiogelu'r busnesau a'r elusennau lleiaf, a dyna pam ei bod wedi mwy na dyblu'r lwfans cyflogaeth i £10,500, sy'n golygu na fydd mwy na hanner y cyflogwyr sydd â rhwymedigaethau cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol naill ai'n gweld unrhyw newid neu ar eu hennill yn gyffredinol yn 2025.
Ond oherwydd ein bod yn cydnabod y pryderon a godwyd, nid yn unig yng nghyngor y trydydd sector, yn amlwg, ond mewn sylwadau a wnaed ac mewn dadleuon yn y Siambr hon, rydym wedi cydnabod bod angen inni ymgysylltu'n uniongyrchol ar hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU, oherwydd mae pawb yn y Siambr yn amlwg yn ymwybodol nad yw yswiriant gwladol wedi ei ddatganoli. A dyna pam yr ysgrifennodd ein Hysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg at Brif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys ynglŷn â dyraniad y cyllid hwn a'r costau ychwanegol i gyflogwyr gwasanaethau dan gontract sy'n darparu ar ran y sector cyhoeddus. Ac wrth gwrs, fe ailadroddodd y pryderon hyn pan gyfarfu â'r Prif Ysgrifennydd ar 27 Chwefror. Roedd yn glir y dylai Llywodraeth y DU ariannu cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr sector cyhoeddus Cymru yn llawn yn yr un modd â gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Lloegr. Ac yn ogystal, cododd Prif Weinidog Cymru ei phryderon yn uniongyrchol gyda'r Canghellor yn ysgrifenedig, ac yna pan gyfarfu â'r Canghellor fis diwethaf, ym mis Chwefror, ynglŷn â'r dyraniad disgwyliedig o gyllid i weithwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.
Diolch for taking the intervention. You say that representation has been made by the Welsh Government to ensure that the public sector are fully covered for the increase in national insurance contributions. You mention how smaller charities were being thought of. Has the Welsh Government made any representation about the larger charities, people like Women's Aid, people like Tenovus? Have you made any representation about them? We know, and you recognise in your amendment, the impact it's going to have on the work that they do to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Have you made any representations about the larger charities?
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Rydych chi'n dweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud sylwadau i sicrhau bod y sector cyhoeddus yn cael y cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol wedi'i dalu'n llawn. Rydych chi'n sôn sut y câi elusennau llai eu hystyried. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyflwyno unrhyw sylwadau am yr elusennau mwy, pobl fel Women's Aid, pobl fel Tenovus? A ydych chi wedi gwneud unrhyw sylwadau amdanynt hwy? Fe wyddom, ac rydych chi'n cydnabod yn eich gwelliant, yr effaith y bydd yn ei chael ar y gwaith y maent hwy yn ei wneud i ddiogelu'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. A ydych chi wedi gwneud unrhyw sylwadau am yr elusennau mwy?
[Inaudible.]—representations have been made, I've already outlined, by the finance Cabinet Secretary and the First Minister across the board, but I also would say that, in response to your question, the UK Government has confirmed it will provide funding to public sector employers to cover the increased costs of employer national insurance contributions, which is important in terms of those bodies that are also commissioning services from the third sector, and, importantly, that the UK Government has confirmed it will provide funding using the official Office for National Statistics definition of a public sector employer, and we are in discussions with the UK Government on how that funding will be calculated. But our initial estimate of the additional national insurance cost to devolved public sector employers in Wales is £253 million.
So, I want to also say, Dirprwy Lywydd, that national insurance is one challenge that has been raised in the debate today, but, of course, I was aware through the third sector partnership council of broader issues facing the sector, like an increased demand for their services, fundraising challenges, and they have been reflected upon today, as well as recruitment and retention of both staff and volunteers. And I do want to report back to the Senedd that this is something where we are strengthening our relationship with the third sector, and last month the Cabinet agreed a revised funding code of practice for the third sector, which sits under our statutory third sector scheme. This is our powers and responsibilities that we are addressing. Now, that revised code recognises the importance of multi-year funding—really important to the third sector—and the importance of ensuring full cost recovery. So, this code will be published next month and will shape our funding relationship with the sector for years to come.
Dirprwy Lywydd, across my portfolio, in line with the code, I increased budget lines by 3 per cent for 2025-26, and I've provided multi-year funding where possible. An example of that grant funding awarded to the third sector will be to deliver the single advice fund services, and this will be a three-year period from April 2025 to March 2028, and will make a total of £36 million available to those key advice services, helping people in need and across a range of circumstances and characteristics. So, I'd like to take the opportunity to encourage all public sector bodies to adopt the code of funding for the third sector, and I'm sure you will be raising that in your engagement with the public sector as well.
And the Welsh Government continues to invest in the sector into areas such as Newid, which aims to provide the sector with digital skills, Tempo Time Credits, encouraging volunteering, community asset loan fund. And also let's recognise that Third Sector Support Wales supports 40,000 third sector organisations. [Interruption.] A very quick intervention, if that is coming—
[Anghlywadwy.]—mae sylwadau wedi'u gwneud, rwyf eisoes wedi nodi, gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid a'r Prif Weinidog ar draws y bwrdd, ond rwyf am ddweud hefyd, mewn ymateb i'ch cwestiwn, fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cadarnhau y bydd yn darparu cyllid i gyflogwyr sector cyhoeddus i dalu am gostau cynyddol cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, sy'n bwysig i'r cyrff sydd hefyd yn comisiynu gwasanaethau gan y trydydd sector, ac yn bwysig, fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cadarnhau y bydd yn darparu cyllid gan ddefnyddio diffiniad swyddogol y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol o gyflogwr sector cyhoeddus, ac rydym mewn trafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar sut y bydd y cyllid hwnnw'n cael ei gyfrifo. Ond ein hamcangyfrif cychwynnol o gost ychwanegol yswiriant gwladol i gyflogwyr y sector cyhoeddus datganoledig yng Nghymru yw £253 miliwn.
Felly, rwyf am ddweud hefyd, Ddirprwy Lywydd, fod yswiriant gwladol yn un her a godwyd yn y ddadl heddiw, ond wrth gwrs, roeddwn yn ymwybodol drwy gyngor partneriaeth y trydydd sector o faterion ehangach sy'n wynebu'r sector, fel galw cynyddol am eu gwasanaethau, heriau codi arian, ac maent wedi cael eu hystyried heddiw, yn ogystal â recriwtio a chadw staff a gwirfoddolwyr. Ac rwyf am adrodd yn ôl i'r Senedd fod hyn yn rhywbeth lle rydym yn cryfhau ein perthynas â'r trydydd sector, a'r mis diwethaf cytunodd y Cabinet ar god ymarfer cyllido diwygiedig ar gyfer y trydydd sector, sy'n dod o dan ein cynllun statudol ar gyfer y trydydd sector. Mae'n mynd i'r afael â'n pwerau a'n cyfrifoldebau. Nawr, mae'r cod diwygiedig hwnnw'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd cyllid aml-flwyddyn—sy'n bwysig iawn i'r trydydd sector—a phwysigrwydd sicrhau bod costau'n cael eu hadennill yn llawn. Felly, bydd y cod hwn yn cael ei gyhoeddi fis nesaf a bydd yn siapio ein perthynas ariannu â'r sector am flynyddoedd i ddod.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, ar draws fy mhortffolio, yn unol â'r cod, cynyddais linellau cyllideb 3 y cant ar gyfer 2025-26, ac rwyf wedi darparu cyllid aml-flwyddyn lle bo modd. Enghraifft o'r cyllid grant a ddyfarnwyd i'r trydydd sector fydd darparu gwasanaethau'r gronfa gynghori sengl, a bydd hwn yn gyfnod o dair blynedd rhwng mis Ebrill 2025 a mis Mawrth 2028, a bydd cyfanswm o £36 miliwn ar gael i'r gwasanaethau cynghori allweddol hynny, i helpu pobl mewn angen ac ar draws ystod o amgylchiadau a nodweddion. Felly, hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle i annog yr holl gyrff sector cyhoeddus i fabwysiadu'r cod cyllido ar gyfer y trydydd sector, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n codi hynny yn eich ymgysylltiad â'r sector cyhoeddus hefyd.
Ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fuddsoddi yn y sector mewn meysydd fel Newid, sydd â'r nod o ddarparu sgiliau digidol i'r sector, Credydau Amser Tempo, sy'n annog gwirfoddoli, y gronfa benthyciadau asedau cymunedol. A hefyd gadewch inni gydnabod bod Cefnogi Trydydd Sector Cymru yn cefnogi 40,000 o sefydliadau'r trydydd sector. [Torri ar draws.] Ymyriad cyflym iawn, os yw'n dod—
Thank you. We've heard a lot of representations from you in terms of the representations you have made to the UK Government around the importance of them funding the increase in national insurance for both the public and the third sector. We were, of course, told, weren't we, in the general election that two Labour Governments would work together in the interests of Wales, but yet, you've outlined a £0.25 billion bill that the Welsh Government has been left to pick up. Is that partnership really delivering for Wales?
Diolch. Clywsom lawer o sylwadau gennych am y sylwadau a gyflwynwyd gennych i Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch pa mor bwysig yw hi eu bod yn ariannu'r cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol i'r cyhoedd a'r trydydd sector. Dywedwyd wrthym yn yr etholiad cyffredinol y byddai dwy Lywodraeth Lafur yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd er budd Cymru, ond eto, rydych chi wedi nodi bil o £0.25 biliwn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wynebu. A yw'r bartneriaeth honno'n cyflawni i Gymru mewn gwirionedd?
I think the time has come for me to actually address some of the opening remarks made by Mark Isherwood at this point. I have to say, after 14 years of austerity, leaving us with this black hole, Mark Isherwood chose to rewrite history rather than using this as an opportunity to genuinely challenge and scrutinise—which is quite right—the ways in which we are addressing—[Interruption.] I won't take an intervention from you, Mark, no; I'm sure you're going to respond. To the very point that you made, Tom, about us engaging with the UK Government, the Conservatives crashed the economy, left that £22 billion black hole. And thank you, Lee Waters, thank you for correcting the record; thank you for, again, reminding us all in this Chamber of the mess that the Tories knew that they were leaving—the mess that they knew that they were leaving. That was their legacy. Have you forgotten the strikes? Have you forgotten, under your management—? And when the Labour UK Government came in, they uplifted the public sector pay over and above inflation, and it was our First Minister who was able to announce that when she became First Minister. And also the UK Government has helped us deliver a £1.6 billion budget for 2025-26, which you failed to support. You are failing—. You failed to support the third sector, which we are now supporting in our way.
So, we will continue to work with our third sector partners, as we have over the years, to deal with pressures, build a sustainable sector, support people across Wales, engage with the UK Government in terms of the pressures—
Rwy'n credu bod yr amser wedi dod imi fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r sylwadau agoriadol a wnaed gan Mark Isherwood ar y pwynt hwn. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, ar ôl 14 mlynedd o gyni, a'n gadawodd gyda'r twll du hwn, fe ddewisodd Mark Isherwood ailysgrifennu hanes yn hytrach na defnyddio hyn fel cyfle i herio a chraffu go iawn—sy'n hollol iawn—ar y ffyrdd yr awn i'r afael â—[Torri ar draws.] Ni wnaf dderbyn ymyriad gennych, Mark, na; rwy'n siŵr eich bod chi'n mynd i ymateb. I'r union bwynt a wnaethoch chi, Tom, amdanom ni'n ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU, chwalodd y Ceidwadwyr yr economi, a gadawodd dwll du o £22 biliwn. A diolch, Lee Waters, diolch am gywiro'r cofnod; diolch unwaith eto am ein hatgoffa ni i gyd yn y Siambr o'r llanast y gwyddai'r Torïaid eu bod yn ei adael—y llanast y gwyddent eu bod yn ei adael. Dyna oedd eu gwaddol. A ydych chi wedi anghofio'r streiciau? A ydych chi wedi anghofio, o dan eich rheolaeth—? A phan ddaeth Llywodraeth Lafur y DU i mewn, fe wnaethant godi cyflogau'r sector cyhoeddus yn uwch na chwyddiant, a gallodd ein Prif Weinidog ni gyhoeddi hynny pan ddaeth yn Brif Weinidog. A hefyd mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ein helpu i ddarparu cyllideb o £1.6 biliwn ar gyfer 2025-26, y gwnaethoch chi fethu ei chefnogi. Rydych chi'n methu—. Fe wnaethoch chi fethu cefnogi'r trydydd sector, ac rydym ni'n ei gefnogi nawr yn ein ffordd ni.
Felly, byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'n partneriaid trydydd sector, fel y gwnaethom dros y blynyddoedd, i ymdopi â phwysau, adeiladu sector cynaliadwy, cefnogi pobl ledled Cymru, ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU ar y pwysau—
Cabinet Secretary, I've given you additional time for the interventions.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf wedi rhoi amser ychwanegol i chi ar gyfer yr ymyriadau.
—recognising their role, but also to say, in conclusion, I'm happy to support both amendments tabled by Plaid Cymru in line with the response to the issues raised in the debate today.
—gan gydnabod eu rôl, ond hefyd os caf ddweud, i gloi, rwy'n hapus i gefnogi'r ddau welliant a gyflwynwyd gan Blaid Cymru yn unol â'r ymateb i'r materion a godwyd yn y ddadl heddiw.
Galwaf ar James Evans i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on James Evans to reply to the debate.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to thank everyone who has talked in our very important debate today on national insurance rises; the jobs tax, as I like to call it, which has been imposed by the Labour Party.
Mark Isherwood opened this debate with a very comprehensive opening, as we've come to expect from the Member. And he outlined how Gordon Brown was the architect of austerity, and this all started under Gordon Brown. And we can all remember back to 2010, Liam Byrne, can't we? They all don't like to hear it, but there was no money left. And it is back to the future with Labour, isn't it? Pay more, get less; that's what you get with Labour.
Mark Isherwood, as well as other Members, highlighted the impact that the national insurance rise is going to have on the third sector—and I know from all the organisations I meet from the health side of the portfolio just how this is going to impact them. And I know, Mark Isherwood, the champion you've been on social justice matters in this Chamber, and all the charities that are going to be affected there.
You did talk about the Welsh Government's budget and the bonkers economics that the Welsh Government is having here, because they're not funding the national insurance rises and the pressures this is putting on our systems. You—[Interruption.] Do you want to make an intervention, Mike?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi siarad yn ein dadl hynod bwysig heddiw ar y codiadau i yswiriant gwladol; y dreth ar swyddi, fel rwy'n hoffi ei galw, a osodwyd gan y Blaid Lafur.
Agorodd Mark Isherwood y ddadl gydag agoriad cynhwysfawr iawn, fel y daethom i'w ddisgwyl gan yr Aelod. Ac amlinellodd sut oedd Gordon Brown yn bensaer cyni, a dechreuodd hyn i gyd o dan Gordon Brown. A gallwn i gyd gofio'n ôl i 2010, Liam Byrne, oni allwn? Nid ydynt yn hoffi ei glywed, ond nid oedd arian ar ôl. Ac yn ôl i'r dyfodol yw hi gyda Llafur, onid e? Talu mwy, cael llai; dyna beth a gewch gan Lafur.
Nododd Mark Isherwood, fel y gwnaeth Aelodau eraill, yr effaith y bydd y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol yn ei chael ar y trydydd sector—ac rwy'n gwybod gan yr holl sefydliadau rwy'n cyfarfod â hwy o ochr iechyd y portffolio sut y mae hyn yn mynd i effeithio arnynt hwy. Ac rwy'n gwybod, Mark Isherwood, cymaint a wnaethoch i hyrwyddo materion cyfiawnder cymdeithasol yn y Siambr hon, a'r holl elusennau yr effeithir arnynt.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru a'r economeg hurt sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yma, am nad ydynt yn ariannu'r codiadau yswiriant gwladol a'r pwysau y mae hyn yn ei roi ar ein systemau. Rydych—[Torri.] A ydych chi eisiau gwneud ymyriad, Mike?
I'm not allowed to, because I haven't been here, but I—
Ni chaf wneud hynny, am nad wyf i wedi bod yma, ond rwy'n—
Oh, well, there we are, then. [Laughter.]
And Mark Isherwood listed a number of charities: Tenovus, Adferiad, Shelter Cymru, Carers Trust, and all of them raising the issues about the higher national insurance costs and the pressures that, actually, these rises are going to have on our wider NHS system, because they save an awful lot of money for the NHS and this is going to impact them.
Heledd quite eloquently outlined her concerns and her party's concerns about these proposals. Like Mark, she outlined her concerns about the changes, and our parties stand together on this matter—that this is a cruel tax imposed by Labour on our charities and on the hard-working people of this country. And she also highlighted that charities are having to make cuts now. It's not cuts for the future; these people are reducing services now. We can have warm words from the Government, but, without action, we're going to see these public services leaving us.
Tom Giffard raised the comments made by the now Chancellor when she was shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, saying she wasn't going to raise taxes on working people. It's like the same promises they made to farmers, isn't it, that they weren't going to make any changes there. I'm sorry, Labour lied to the electorate and they're going to be punished for it at future elections. He highlighted that the UK Conservative Government left our country a growing economy and it took Labour to crash our economy, and they're pushing to another financial crisis. And he also highlighted all the millions of people that work across the country who are going to be impacted by these changes.
And then, Lee Waters, the former Deputy First Minister, made his intervention about the spending cuts that the Conservative Government had to make. And, as I made the point earlier, we would not have had to make those difficult decisions, would we, if his party had been a bit better with financial control back before 2010. And he said, 'Where would the Conservatives find the money to actually make some of the changes we'd like?' Well, I'll tell you what to do: why don't you move aside and let a party that wants to fix Wales come in? And we'll soon tell you how we'll make the changes to Wales. And he also mentioned Simon Hart's book. I can say it was about as good a read as listening to his podcast, but there we go. [Interruption.] Peter Fox—. I don't think he'll like to hear that.
Peter Fox highlighted about how important it is, how having a stable economy supports our public services across Wales, and especially your experience, Peter, within local government, and the impact this is going to have on local government. And what will happen is our local government and councils across Wales will end up pushing this tax on to working people in the form of rising council tax. That's why we on these benches want to have referendums on council tax, to make sure that we don't push more taxes onto working people. But he also mentioned about the businesses and other charities that are going to be affected by this.
Siân Gwenllian made some very powerful notes about the 34 per cent of charities reducing staff across Wales and the 14 per cent of charities that are already winding up services. That should frighten all of us in this Chamber. Those charities do a phenomenal job, and actually losing those services is going to impact. She said about the impact on charities in her constituency, and especially the impact on housing. I think that's a huge issue that is being missed here, about those vulnerable people across Wales, and especially, as she mentioned, those women fleeing domestic violence and those charities that support them with housing. I think we can't miss that.
Janet Finch-Saunders, you said—you always give us a passionate speech, don't you, Janet—how this national insurance rise is a disgrace. I don't disagree with you. This is a disgrace. It's a tax on jobs and a tax on working people, and we cannot allow it to happen. And you are right, Janet, Labour is the nasty party now, and they are going to be found out for doing that and the damage they're doing by making more people unemployed. Isn't it so ironic? They're changing the benefits system, but they're going push more people into that system by this national insurance rise. And also the findings of the Finance Committee that we still haven't had answers from the Government on issues like education, our NHS, and our wider public services—something the Government has yet to see. And as you say, it does get worse by the day.
And then the Trefnydd gave her speech. I, like you, Trefnydd, welcome and thank the third sector for all they're doing. But it's a shame today, isn't it, that the Government is not supporting us on these proposals, because you only have to take a trip down memory lane, don't you? It wasn't that long ago that this Welsh Labour Government was very happy to support motions and amendments bashing the UK Government on reserved matters. It's a change; they seem to have got a bit of amnesia and don't actually remember what happened in the past. One thing that you failed to mention, Trefnydd, was the pressure that this is putting on our NHS, something that's very important to me and other Members, the pressure this is putting on our dentists and our GPs and our wider health services across Wales, something which I don't think this Labour Government understands. And then the Trefnydd went into the usual political arguments—
O, wel, dyna ni, felly. [Chwerthin.]
A rhestrodd Mark Isherwood nifer o elusennau: Tenovus, Adferiad, Shelter Cymru, Carers Trust, a phob un ohonynt yn codi'r problemau gyda'r costau yswiriant gwladol uwch a'r pwysau y bydd y cynnydd yn ei roi ar ein system GIG ehangach, am eu bod yn arbed llawer iawn o arian i'r GIG ac mae hyn yn mynd i effeithio arnynt hwy.
Amlinellodd Heledd ei phryderon hi a phryderon ei phlaid am y cynigion hyn. Fel Mark, amlinellodd ei phryderon am y newidiadau, ac mae ein pleidiau'n sefyll gyda'i gilydd ar y mater hwn—fod hon yn dreth greulon a osodwyd gan Lafur ar ein helusennau ac ar bobl weithgar y wlad hon. A thynnodd sylw hefyd at y ffaith bod elusennau'n gorfod gwneud toriadau nawr. Nid toriadau ar gyfer y dyfodol; mae'r bobl hyn yn lleihau gwasanaethau nawr. Gallwn gael geiriau cynnes gan y Llywodraeth, ond heb weithredu, fe welwn y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hyn yn ein gadael.
Cododd Tom Giffard y sylwadau a wnaed gan y Canghellor pan oedd hi'n ganghellor yr wrthblaid, Rachel Reeves, yn dweud nad oedd hi'n mynd i godi trethi ar bobl sy'n gweithio. Mae'n debyg i'r addewidion a wnaethant i ffermwyr, onid yw, nad oeddent yn mynd i wneud unrhyw newidiadau yno. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, mae Llafur wedi dweud celwydd wrth yr etholwyr ac fe gânt eu cosbi am wneud hynny mewn etholiadau yn y dyfodol. Tynnodd sylw at y ffaith bod Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU wedi gadael ein gwlad yn economi a oedd yn tyfu ac mai Llafur a chwalodd ein heconomi, ac maent yn gwthio tuag at argyfwng ariannol arall. Ac fe dynnodd sylw hefyd at yr holl filiynau o bobl sy'n gweithio ledled y wlad yr effeithir arnynt gan y newidiadau hyn.
Ac yna, fe wnaeth Lee Waters, y cyn-Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog, ei ymyriad am y toriadau gwariant y bu'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth Geidwadol eu gwneud. Ac fel y nodais yn gynharach, ni fyddem wedi gorfod gwneud y penderfyniadau anodd hynny pe bai ei blaid ef wedi bod ychydig yn well gyda'i rheolaeth ariannol yn ôl cyn 2010. Ac meddai, 'Ble y byddai'r Ceidwadwyr yn dod o hyd i'r arian i wneud rhai o'r newidiadau yr hoffem eu gweld?' Wel, fe ddywedaf wrthych beth i'w wneud: pam na wnewch chi symud o'r neilltu a gadael i blaid sydd eisiau trwsio Cymru i ddod i mewn? Ac fe ddywedwn wrthych chi'n fuan sut y gwnawn y newidiadau i Gymru. A soniodd hefyd am lyfr Simon Hart. Gallaf ddweud ei fod yn ddeunydd darllen cystal â gwrando ar ei bodlediad, ond dyna ni. [Torri ar draws.] Tynnodd Peter Fox—. Nid wyf yn meddwl y bydd yn hoffi clywed hynny.
Tynnodd Peter Fox sylw at ba mor bwysig ydyw, sut y mae cael economi sefydlog yn cefnogi ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru, ac yn enwedig eich profiad chi, Peter, mewn llywodraeth leol, a'r effaith y bydd hyn yn ei chael ar lywodraeth leol. A beth fydd yn digwydd yw y bydd ein llywodraeth leol a'n cynghorau ledled Cymru yn y pen draw yn gwthio'r dreth hon ymlaen i bobl sy'n gweithio ar ffurf treth gyngor uwch. Dyna pam ein bod ni ar y meinciau hyn eisiau cael refferenda trethi cyngor, i wneud yn siŵr nad ydym yn gwthio mwy o drethi ar bobl sy'n gweithio. Ond soniodd hefyd am y busnesau ac elusennau eraill sy'n mynd i gael eu heffeithio gan hyn.
Fe wnaeth Siân Gwenllian bwyntiau pwerus iawn am y 34 y cant o elusennau sy'n lleihau nifer eu staff ledled Cymru a'r 14 y cant o elusennau sydd eisoes yn dirwyn gwasanaethau i ben. Dylai hynny ddychryn pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon. Mae'r elusennau hynny'n gwneud gwaith anhygoel, ac mae colli'r gwasanaethau'n mynd i gael effaith. Nododd yr effaith ar elusennau yn ei hetholaeth, ac yn enwedig yr effaith ar dai. Rwy'n credu bod honno'n broblem enfawr sy'n cael ei cholli yma, am y bobl fregus ledled Cymru, ac yn enwedig, fel y soniodd, y menywod sy'n ffoi rhag trais domestig a'r elusennau sy'n eu cefnogi gyda thai. Ni allwn golli hynny.
Janet Finch-Saunders, fe ddywedoch chi—rydych chi bob amser yn rhoi araith angerddol i ni, onid ydych, Janet—sut y mae'r cynnydd hwn i yswiriant gwladol yn gywilyddus. Nid wyf yn anghytuno â chi. Mae'n gywilyddus. Mae'n dreth ar swyddi a threth ar bobl sy'n gweithio, ac ni allwn ganiatáu iddo ddigwydd. Ac rydych chi'n iawn, Janet, Llafur yw'r blaid gas nawr, ac fe fydd pobl yn gweld y niwed a wnânt trwy wneud mwy o bobl yn ddi-waith. Onid yw mor eironig? Maent yn newid y system fudd-daliadau, ond maent yn mynd i wthio mwy o bobl i mewn i'r system honno yn sgil y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol. A hefyd canfyddiadau'r Pwyllgor Cyllid ein bod yn dal heb gael atebion gan y Llywodraeth ar faterion fel addysg, ein GIG, a'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ehangach—rhywbeth nad yw'r Llywodraeth wedi'i weld eto. Ac fel rydych chi'n dweud, mae'n gwaethygu bob dydd.
Ac yna fe wnaeth y Trefnydd ei haraith. Fel chithau, Drefnydd, rwy'n croesawu ac yn diolch i'r trydydd sector am bopeth a wnânt. Ond mae'n drueni heddiw, onid yw, nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn ein cefnogi ar y cynigion hyn, oherwydd nid oes ond angen ichi edrych yn ôl. Nid yw mor bell yn ôl â hynny pan oedd y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yn hapus iawn i gefnogi cynigion a gwelliannau yn rhoi celpen i Lywodraeth y DU ar faterion a gadwyd yn ôl. Am newid; mae'n ymddangos eu bod wedi cael amnesia ac nad ydynt yn cofio beth a ddigwyddodd yn y gorffennol. Un peth y methoch chi sôn amdano, Drefnydd, oedd y pwysau y mae hyn yn ei roi ar ein GIG, rhywbeth sy'n bwysig iawn i mi ac i Aelodau eraill, y pwysau y mae hyn yn ei roi ar ein deintyddion a'n meddygon teulu a'n gwasanaethau iechyd ehangach ledled Cymru, rhywbeth nad wyf yn credu bod y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yn ei ddeall. Ac yna dechreuodd y Trefnydd ar y dadleuon gwleidyddol arferol—
James, you need to conclude now, please.
James, mae angen ichi orffen nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.
—yes, I'll conclude now, Deputy Presiding Officer—the arguments against our party and our record in Government. I'm proud of the record that the Conservatives had, and I always think, when they start attacking you, it’s because they're losing the arguments. Two Governments working together, 26 years in power—I'm afraid to say the game is up. It's time to fix Wales, and there's only one party in here who can fix that, and that's the Welsh Conservatives.
—iawn, fe ddof i ben nawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd—y dadleuon yn erbyn ein plaid a'n cyflawniad fel Llywodraeth. Rwy'n falch o gyflawniad y Ceidwadwyr, ac rwy'n meddwl bob amser, pan fyddant yn dechrau ymosod arnoch chi, mae'n dangos eu bod yn colli'r ddadl. Dwy Lywodraeth yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd, 26 mlynedd mewn grym—mae arnaf ofn fod y gêm ar ben. Mae'n bryd trwsio Cymru, a dim ond un blaid yma sy'n gallu ei thrwsio, sef y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Gohirir y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
A dyma ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai fod tri Aelod yn dymuno imi ganu'r gloch, symudaf yn syth i'r cyfnod pleidleisio.
And that brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will move directly to voting time.
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
I know, I'm just getting my screen up, Lee.
Rwy'n gwybod, rwy'n dod at fy sgrin, Lee.
Galwaf am bleidlais ar eitem 7, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, yn enw Paul Davies. 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, 36 yn erbyn. Felly, mae’r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.
I call for a vote on item 7, the Welsh Conservatives debate, and I call for a vote on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Paul Davies. If the motion is not agreed, we will then vote on the amendments tabled to the motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 14, no abstentions, 36 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Yswiriant Gwladol y Cyflogwr. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 14, Yn erbyn: 36, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives debate - Employer National Insurance. Motion without amendment: For: 14, Against: 36, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar welliant 1, yn enw Jane Hutt. Os gwrthodir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol. Agor y bleidlais. Cau’r bleidlais. O blaid 26, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei dderbyn.
I now call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 26, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Yswiriant Gwladol y Cyflogwr. Gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives debate - Employer National Insurance. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 26, Against: 24, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Cafodd gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol.
Amendment 2 deselected.
Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar welliant 3 yn enw Heledd Fychan. Agor y bleidlais. Cau’r bleidlais. O blaid 49, neb yn ymatal, un yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 3 wedi ei dderbyn.
I now call for a vote on amendment 3 in the name of Heledd Fychan. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 49, no abstentions, and one against. Therefore, amendment 3 is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Yswiriant Gwladol y Cyflogwr. Gwelliant 3, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan: O blaid: 49, Yn erbyn: 1, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives debate - Employer National Insurance. Amendment 3, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan: For: 49, Against: 1, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio.
I now call for a vote on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM5981 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi cynnydd Llywodraeth y DU i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, sy'n dod i rym ar gyfer y flwyddyn dreth 2025-26.
2. Yn cydnabod:
a) nad yw yswiriant gwladol wedi'i ddatganoli:
b) bod elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru yn poeni am effaith cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr; ac
c) bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud sylwadau, a bydd yn parhau i wneud sylwadau, i Lywodraeth y DU ar ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac elusennau, cwmnïau nid-er-elw a sefydliadau gwirfoddol Cymru ynghylch cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud galwadau brys ar Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod costau cynnydd yng nghyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr i wasanaethau cyhoeddus craidd yng Nghymru yn cael eu talu’n llawn gan Drysorlys y DU.
Motion NDM5981 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions, coming into effect for the 2025-26 tax year.
2. Recognises that:
a) national insurance is not devolved;
b) Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions; and
c) the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations about employer national insurance contributions.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that the costs of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services in Wales are covered in full by the UK Treasury.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau’r bleidlais. O blaid 36, neb yn ymatal, 14 yn erbyn. Felly, mae’r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn.
Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 36, no abstentions, 14 against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Yswiriant Gwladol y Cyflogwr. Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio: O blaid: 36, Yn erbyn: 14, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives debate - Employer National Insurance. Motion as amended: For: 36, Against: 14, Abstain: 0
Motion as amended has been agreed
A daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben. Diolch yn fawr.
And that brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:42.
The meeting ended at 18:42.