Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
26/03/2025Cynnwys
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 Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso i Gyfarfod Llawn heddiw. Y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai sydd gyntaf y prynhawn yma, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Carolyn Thomas.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, and the first question is from Carolyn Thomas.
1. Pa ystyriaeth y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i rhoi i eithrio llety lloches rhag gofynion y Ddeddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016? OQ62503
1. What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to making refuge accommodation exempt from requirements under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016? OQ62503

Thank you, Carolyn. The Welsh Government has commissioned independent research into refuge provision and the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 to ensure that all voices on this important issue are heard. This sits alongside the wider renting homes evaluation project. These projects are nearing completion, and I will consider their findings in detail when published.
Diolch, Carolyn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi comisiynu ymchwil annibynnol i ddarpariaeth llochesi a Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 er mwyn sicrhau bod pob llais ar y mater pwysig hwn yn cael ei glywed. Mae hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r prosiect gwerthuso rhentu cartrefi ehangach. Mae’r prosiectau hyn bron wedi’u cwblhau, a byddaf yn ystyried eu canfyddiadau’n fanwl pan gânt eu cyhoeddi.
During consultation, Welsh Women's Aid highlighted concerns such as there being a number of women who reside in refuges over six months, mostly due to the lack of appropriate move-on accommodation, and, therefore, who would be provided with the supported standard contract, which exacerbates issues such as bedblocking. This has a knock-on effect on financing, administration and, most importantly, safeguarding. How has research progressed in determining the impact of the changes on emergency refuge provision?
Yn ystod yr ymgynghoriad, nododd Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru bryderon megis y ffaith bod nifer o fenywod yn byw mewn llochesi am dros chwe mis, yn bennaf oherwydd diffyg llety camu ymlaen priodol, ac y byddent felly'n cael contract safonol â chymorth, sy’n gwaethygu materion fel blocio gwelyau. Mae hyn yn cael effaith ganlyniadol ar ariannu, gweinyddu, ac yn bwysicaf oll, diogelu. Sut y mae ymchwil wedi gwneud cynnydd ar bennu effaith y newidiadau ar ddarpariaeth llochesi brys?
Diolch, Carolyn. I understand the concerns being raised by Welsh Women's Aid, and my officials have already engaged extensively with them. But there is already significant scope to manage a supported standard contract in ways that do not apply to other renting home contracts. It's vital to ensure that the legislation is working to protect the interests of abuse survivors and to recognise the vital role refuges play in that. Independent evaluation of the Act exploring any impact on the refuge sector has been commissioned. This is nearing its final stages and, as I said, it's due to be published before the summer and I'll consider those findings then in detail and assess whether any further action needs to be taken.
Diolch, Carolyn. Rwy’n deall y pryderon sy’n cael eu codi gan Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru, ac mae fy swyddogion eisoes wedi ymgysylltu’n helaeth â hwy. Ond mae cryn dipyn o le i symud eisoes o ran rheoli contract safonol â chymorth mewn ffyrdd nad ydynt yn berthnasol i gontractau rhentu cartrefi eraill. Mae'n hanfodol sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth yn gweithio i ddiogelu buddiannau goroeswyr cam-drin ac i gydnabod y rôl hanfodol y mae llochesi yn ei chwarae yn hynny o beth. Mae gwerthusiad annibynnol o’r Ddeddf wedi’i gomisiynu i archwilio unrhyw effaith ar y sector llochesi. Mae hyn yn agosáu at ei gamau olaf, ac fel y dywedais, mae disgwyl iddo gael ei gyhoeddi cyn yr haf, a byddaf yn ystyried y canfyddiadau hynny'n fanwl bryd hynny ac yn asesu a oes angen cymryd unrhyw gamau pellach.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am gynigion Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer diwygio lesddaliad yng Nghymru, yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad diweddar gan Lywodraeth y DU am ddiwygio cyfunddaliad? OQ62506
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's proposals for reforming leasehold in Wales, following the UK Government's recent announcement of commonhold reform? OQ62506
Diolch, Vaughan. I am continuing to work closely with the UK Government on leasehold reform. I welcome the recently published White Paper, which sets out the UK Government’s vision for how commonhold could in future provide the viable alternative to leasehold in England and Wales that it always was intended to be.
Diolch, Vaughan. Rwy’n parhau i weithio’n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar ddiwygio cyfraith lesddaliad. Rwy'n croesawu'r Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar, sy’n nodi gweledigaeth Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â sut y gallai cyfunddaliad ddarparu dewis amgen hyfyw yn y dyfodol yn hytrach na lesddaliad yng Nghymru a Lloegr, fel ei fwriad gwreiddiol.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Following my short debate on leasehold reform, I note that officers are arranging a more detailed follow-up meeting. I do welcome, though, your recent written statement on commencing provisions on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, relating to enfranchisement and the right to manage. I remain interested in how the Welsh Government is working on proposals for Wales to reform leasehold, especially estate management fees and controls, ground rents and the window of opportunity that does exist to work with the UK Government following the White Paper on commonhold. Cabinet Secretary, can you tell me when you envisage being able to provide a further update on progress towards commonhold as a replacement for the iniquities of the current leasehold system and what you’re able to do to make sure that current leaseholders are aware of their changed rights given the continuing implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn dilyn fy nadl fer ar ddiwygio cyfraith lesddaliad, nodaf fod swyddogion yn trefnu cyfarfod dilynol manylach. Serch hynny, rwy'n croesawu eich datganiad ysgrifenedig diweddar ar gychwyn darpariaethau ar Ddeddf Diwygio Cyfraith Lesddaliad a Rhydd-ddaliad 2024, sy’n ymwneud â rhyddfreinio a’r hawl i reoli. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb o hyd yn y modd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio ar gynigion i Gymru ddiwygio cyfraith lesddaliad, yn enwedig mesurau a ffioedd rheoli ystadau, rhenti tir a’r cyfle sy'n bodoli i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn dilyn y Papur Gwyn ar gyfunddaliad. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf pryd y rhagwelwch y gallwch roi diweddariad pellach ar gynnydd tuag at gyflwyno cyfunddaliad yn lle anghyfiawnderau'r system lesddaliad bresennol, a beth y gallwch ei wneud i sicrhau bod lesddeiliaid presennol yn ymwybodol o’u hawliau newydd, o ystyried gweithrediad parhaus Deddf Diwygio Cyfraith Lesddaliad a Rhydd-ddaliad 2024?
Diolch, Vaughan. Our current focus is on implementing the 2024 Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act. This will bring many beneficial changes to leaseholders, including, to name but few, better rights to extend their lease or purchase their freehold, increasing transparency of service charges, scrapping the presumption that leaseholders will always pay their landlord's legal fees when challenging poor practice, and banning the use of leasehold for new houses. The Act also includes important new rights for freeholders on managed estates to challenge the reasonableness of charges and to apply to a tribunal to appoint a suitable manager to oversee the provision of services instead of an estate management company.
Implementation of the Act depends on the passage of a significant programme of subordinate legislation both by Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State, much of which will require further consultation. As I know the Member will know, this area is complex and highly technical, so we need to ensure that we do get the details right. The UK Government have announced that they will publish a draft leasehold and commonhold reform Bill in the second half of this year. This will implement the changes to commonhold set out in the recently published White Paper, as well as reform the outdated, unfair system of leasehold forfeiture, and address ground rents in existing leases. I can give you a commitment that I am exploring the opportunities open to us to make progress on these issues, where possible, with the UK Government in order to benefit those ambitious reforms here in Wales. I know our offices are arranging that meeting, and I look forward to discussing in more detail your ideas and concerns around this as well.
Diolch, Vaughan. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn canolbwyntio ar roi Deddf Diwygio Cyfraith Lesddaliad a Rhydd-ddaliad 2024 ar waith. Daw hyn â llawer o newidiadau buddiol i lesddeiliaid, gan gynnwys, i enwi ond ychydig, gwell hawliau i ymestyn eu les neu brynu eu rhydd-ddaliad, cynyddu tryloywder taliadau gwasanaeth, cael gwared ar y rhagdybiaeth y bydd lesddeiliaid bob amser yn talu ffioedd cyfreithiol eu landlord wrth herio arferion gwael, a gwahardd y defnydd o lesddaliad ar gyfer tai newydd. Mae’r Ddeddf hefyd yn cynnwys hawliau newydd pwysig i rydd-ddeiliaid ar ystadau a reolir i herio rhesymoldeb taliadau ac i wneud cais i dribiwnlys i benodi rheolwr addas i oruchwylio’r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau yn hytrach na chwmni rheoli ystadau.
Mae rhoi'r Ddeddf ar waith yn dibynnu ar hynt rhaglen sylweddol o is-ddeddfwriaeth gan Weinidogion Cymru a’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, a bydd angen ymgynghori pellach ar lawer o hynny. Fel y gwn y bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, mae’r maes hwn yn gymhleth ac yn dechnegol iawn, felly mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn cael y manylion yn gywir. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi y byddant yn cyhoeddi Bil diwygio lesddaliad a chyfunddaliad drafft yn ail hanner y flwyddyn hon. Bydd hyn yn rhoi’r newidiadau i gyfunddaliad a nodir yn y Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar ar waith, yn ogystal â diwygio’r system annheg, hen ffasiwn o fforffedu lesddaliad, a mynd i’r afael â rhenti tir mewn prydlesi presennol. Gallaf roi ymrwymiad i chi fy mod yn archwilio’r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael i ni, i wneud cynnydd ar y materion hyn, lle bo modd, gyda Llywodraeth y DU er mwyn sicrhau'r diwygiadau uchelgeisiol hynny yma yng Nghymru. Gwn fod ein swyddfeydd yn trefnu’r cyfarfod hwnnw, ac edrychaf ymlaen at drafod eich syniadau a’ch pryderon ynglŷn â hyn yn fwy manwl hefyd.
I've long campaigned against the injustices of leasehold properties, so of course I welcome the move to ending the outdated leasehold system and making commonhold the default tenure for new flats and properties. Thanks to the previous UK Conservative Government for introducing these reforms. These will give homeowners greater control over their properties, as well as putting an end to unfair practices and expensive costs imposed by third party landlords. One of the main challenges with a leasehold property is the escalating ground rent, insurance costs and management costs. Currently in Wales, it is estimated that 160,000 leaseholders pay ground rent. Until this reform is in place, they will continue to be subject to these disproportionate and unreasonable costs. On top of this, people living in leasehold properties have to deal with expensive service charges and other charges that can be put upon them at any time. Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how you are going to take this forward now in Wales? Really, this was raised before the UK Conservative Government actually brought in the reforms here, so it is vital that you actually really do get ahead of the game. We've too many leaseholders in Wales who are really suffering. Diolch.
Rwyf wedi ymgyrchu ers tro yn erbyn anghyfiawnderau eiddo lesddaliadol, felly rwy'n croesawu'r camau i ddod â’r system lesddaliad hen ffasiwn i ben a gwneud cyfunddaliad yn ddeiliadaeth ddiofyn ar gyfer fflatiau ac eiddo newydd. Diolch i Lywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol y DU am gyflwyno’r diwygiadau hyn. Bydd y rhain yn rhoi mwy o reolaeth i berchnogion tai dros eu heiddo, yn ogystal â rhoi diwedd ar arferion annheg a chostau drud a osodir gan landlordiaid trydydd parti. Un o’r prif heriau gydag eiddo lesddaliadol yw’r rhent tir, costau yswiriant a chostau rheoli cynyddol. Ar hyn o bryd yng Nghymru, amcangyfrifir bod 160,000 o lesddeiliaid yn talu rhent tir. Hyd nes y bydd y diwygiad hwn ar waith, byddant yn parhau i fod yn ddarostyngedig i'r costau anghymesur ac afresymol hyn. Ar ben hyn, mae’n rhaid i bobl sy’n byw mewn eiddo lesddaliadol ymdopi â thaliadau gwasanaeth drud a thaliadau eraill y gellir eu codi arnynt unrhyw bryd. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gadarnhau sut y bwriadwch fynd i'r afael â hyn yng Nghymru? Mewn gwirionedd, codwyd hyn cyn i Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU gyflwyno'r diwygiadau yma, felly mae'n hanfodol eich bod yn achub y blaen ar hyn. Mae gennym ormod o lesddeiliaid yng Nghymru sy’n dioddef yn wirioneddol. Diolch.
Diolch, Janet. As I said in my answer to Vaughan Gething, I'm really keen to explore the potential merit of these further reforms for Wales and have discussed my interest in working together on these important reforms, where appropriate, with the current UK Government Minister, Matthew Pennycook. I'm pleased that both his statement to Parliament in November and his foreword in the White Paper both acknowledge and reinforce the UK Government's appetite for working together to implement the important changes for the 2024 Act and towards future reform. So, I can assure the Member and the Senedd that I'm keen to explore those. You pointed to a number of areas where I think this will really benefit people here in Wales.
Diolch, Janet. Fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i Vaughan Gething, rwy’n awyddus iawn i archwilio rhinweddau posibl y diwygiadau pellach hyn i Gymru ac rwyf wedi trafod fy niddordeb mewn gweithio gyda’n gilydd ar y diwygiadau pwysig hyn, lle bo hynny'n briodol, gyda Gweinidog presennol Llywodraeth y DU, Matthew Pennycook. Rwy’n falch fod ei ddatganiad i Senedd y DU ym mis Tachwedd a’i ragair yn y Papur Gwyn yn cydnabod ac yn atgyfnerthu dyhead Llywodraeth y DU i gydweithio i roi’r newidiadau pwysig i Ddeddf 2024 ar waith a thuag at ddiwygio yn y dyfodol. Felly, gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod a’r Senedd fy mod yn awyddus i archwilio’r rheini. Fe dynnoch chi sylw at nifer o feysydd lle credaf y bydd hyn o fudd gwirioneddol i bobl yma yng Nghymru.
Galwaf nawr ar lefarwyr y pleidiau. Yn gyntaf, llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Altaf Hussain.
I now call on the party spokespeople. Firstly, the Conservative spokesperson, Altaf Hussain.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. On 5 March, the Local Government and Housing Committee, of which I was a member, inquiry into the role, governance and accountability of the community and town councils sector published its report. The committee recommended that the Welsh Government should work with local government to explore mechanisms to enable the town and community council sector to access support from local authority monitoring officers and HR services. What will the Welsh Government do to support struggling clerks to be better protected from bullying and harassment by town and community councillors?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ar 5 Mawrth, cyhoeddwyd adroddiad ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai, yr oeddwn yn aelod ohono, i rôl, llywodraethiant ac atebolrwydd y sector cynghorau tref a chymuned. Argymhellodd y pwyllgor y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda llywodraeth leol i archwilio mecanweithiau i alluogi’r sector cynghorau tref a chymuned i gael cymorth gan swyddogion monitro awdurdodau lleol a gwasanaethau adnoddau dynol. Beth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi clercod sy’n ei chael hi’n anodd i gael eu diogelu'n well rhag bwlio ac aflonyddu gan gynghorwyr tref a chymuned?
Diolch, Altaf. Thank you for the work that the local government committee has done on that piece of work in terms of town and community councils. It's really important, and it's an important part of the work that's gone, not just—. We've had a report also from other organisations who are looking into this. In that committee, where I gave evidence, one of the lines of questioning was on abuse, which is really, really important. And I think I'll just take the opportunity to say again, as I'm sure you will, Altaf, that there is no space in any of our town and community councils for any elected member or officer to face abuse. There are, obviously, opportunities for people to have training on that, and also to be able to speak out, which is really, really important.
Diolch, Altaf. Diolch am yr hyn y mae’r pwyllgor llywodraeth leol wedi’i wneud ar y gwaith hwnnw o ran cynghorau tref a chymuned. Mae'n wirioneddol bwysig, ac mae'n rhan bwysig o'r gwaith a wnaed, nid yn unig—. Rydym hefyd wedi cael adroddiad gan sefydliadau eraill sy'n ymchwilio i hyn. Yn y pwyllgor hwnnw, lle rhoddais dystiolaeth, roedd un o’r pynciau holi yn ymwneud â cham-drin, sy’n wirioneddol bwysig. Ac rwy'n credu fy mod am achub ar y cyfle i ddweud eto, fel rwy’n siŵr y gwnewch chithau, Altaf, nad oes lle yn unrhyw un o’n cynghorau tref a chymuned i unrhyw swyddog neu aelod etholedig wynebu camdriniaeth. Mae’n amlwg fod cyfleoedd i bobl gael hyfforddiant ar hynny, a hefyd i allu codi eu llais, sy’n wirioneddol bwysig.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Government set an initial target of building 20,000 new homes for social rent by 2026. Evidently, you have utterly failed to deliver enough social housing, building under 9,000 homes, which is less than half your target. As a result of the consistent lack of social housing in Wales to meet demand, homelessness has surged, with the number of households in temporary accommodation having increased by 75 per cent, from 3,729 to 6,447 households between 2021 and 2024. How does the Cabinet Secretary propose solving this national social housing crisis?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Gosododd Llywodraeth Cymru darged cychwynnol o adeiladu 20,000 o gartrefi rhent cymdeithasol newydd erbyn 2026. Yn amlwg, rydych chi wedi methu’n llwyr â darparu digon o dai cymdeithasol, gan adeiladu llai na 9,000 o gartrefi, sy’n llai na hanner eich targed. O ganlyniad i’r diffyg cyson o dai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru i ateb y galw, mae digartrefedd wedi cynyddu, gyda nifer yr aelwydydd mewn llety dros dro wedi cynyddu 75 y cant, o 3,729 i 6,447 o aelwydydd rhwng 2021 a 2024. Sut y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cynnig datrys yr argyfwng tai cymdeithasol cenedlaethol hwn?
Diolch, Altaf. I think you highlighted some of the numbers there in terms of affordable homes. We know we need to build more homes. I can assure you that my focus is very much on building more homes here in Wales—more affordable homes. And we have a number of tools to do that with. I think it’s really important to remember that, this Senedd term, we have invested over £1.4 billion, with planned investment expected to take that to over £1.9 billion in social housing across Wales. So, that money is going into the system, and we are seeing that really take hold. We’ve got a record annual budget of £411 million for social housing in the next financial year, and that’s an additional £81 million compared to this year. So, there’s a lot going on. We’ve had some record-breaking years of building houses. We know, though, it costs more now to build a home than it did before the pandemic, when the target was first set. We know we have those challenges, but I can assure you that I, and the sector as a whole as well, are really, really committed to this, because one of the issues around the points you see around housing is the importance of supply. We have too many people in temporary accommodation, and we need to really focus on that, but we’ve got to do that with our supply as well. So, I can assure the Member and the Senedd that we are really, really focused on this.
Diolch, Altaf. Rwy'n credu ichi dynnu sylw at rai o'r ffigurau yno mewn perthynas â chartrefi fforddiadwy. Gwyddom fod angen inni adeiladu mwy o gartrefi. Gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi fy mod yn canolbwyntio ar adeiladu mwy o gartrefi yma yng Nghymru—mwy o gartrefi fforddiadwy. Ac mae gennym nifer o ddulliau gweithredu er mwyn gwneud hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn cofio, yn nhymor y Senedd hon, ein bod wedi buddsoddi dros £1.4 biliwn, gyda disgwyl i fuddsoddiad arfaethedig fynd â hynny i dros £1.9 biliwn mewn tai cymdeithasol ledled Cymru. Felly, mae’r arian hwnnw’n mynd i mewn i’r system, ac rydym yn gweld hynny’n gwreiddio'n dda. Mae gennym y gyllideb flynyddol uchaf erioed o £411 miliwn ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, ac mae hynny’n £81 miliwn yn ychwanegol o gymharu ag eleni. Felly, mae llawer yn digwydd. Rydym wedi cael rhai blynyddoedd lle mae mwy o dai nag erioed wedi'u hadeiladu. Serch hynny, fe wyddom ei bod yn costio mwy bellach i adeiladu cartref nag yr arferai ei gostio cyn y pandemig, pan osodwyd y targed gyntaf. Gwyddom fod gennym yr heriau hynny, ond gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi fy mod i, a’r sector cyfan hefyd, wedi llwyr ymrwymo i hyn, gan mai un o’r materion sy'n codi gyda’r pwyntiau a welwch mewn perthynas â thai yw pwysigrwydd cyflenwad. Mae gennym ormod o bobl mewn llety dros dro, ac mae angen inni ganolbwyntio ar hynny o ddifrif, ond mae’n rhaid inni wneud hynny gyda’n cyflenwad hefyd. Felly, gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod a’r Senedd ein bod yn canolbwyntio'n agos ar hyn.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Almost half of households are currently living in fuel poverty within Wales. According to the Bevan Foundation, it will take 136 years to eradicate fuel poverty at the current rate of delivery from the Warm Homes programme. It took the Welsh Government 20 years to help just 73,000 households. In just one day, their colleagues in Westminster removed vital fuel support from 0.5 million people in Wales by removing the winter fuel payment, undoing years of work by the Welsh Government. That’s nearly 30,000 households just in Swansea. Does the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that the UK Government has destroyed efforts to tackle fuel poverty in Wales? Will she consider restoring a Welsh winter fuel allowance, as proposed by the Welsh Conservatives?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae bron i hanner aelwydydd Cymru yn byw mewn tlodi tanwydd ar hyn o bryd. Yn ôl Sefydliad Bevan, bydd yn cymryd 136 o flynyddoedd i ddileu tlodi tanwydd ar gyfradd gyflawni gyfredol y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd. Cymerodd 20 mlynedd i Lywodraeth Cymru helpu dim ond 73,000 o aelwydydd. Mewn un diwrnod yn unig, fe wnaeth eu cymheiriaid yn San Steffan gael gwared â chymorth tanwydd hanfodol i 0.5 miliwn o bobl yng Nghymru drwy gael gwared ar daliad tanwydd y gaeaf, gan ddadwneud blynyddoedd o waith gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hynny bron yn 30,000 o gartrefi yn Abertawe yn unig. A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â mi fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi dinistrio ymdrechion i fynd i’r afael â thlodi tanwydd yng Nghymru? A wnaiff hi ystyried adfer lwfans tanwydd gaeaf Cymru, fel y cynigiwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig?
Diolch, Altaf. But I really do think that you’d have to—I think we’re all listening to what the Tories did here—think about what the UK Tory Government did last time, and it’s really, really hard to hear the word ‘destroyed’, because I think many people will have something to say about that and about some of the systems that were in place over 14 years of really, really difficult, challenging times.
I can tell you what we’re doing here. We’ve invested more than £30 million this year in the new Warm Homes Nest scheme to reduce the number of low-income households living in cold and damp homes. This scheme takes a fabric worst and low-carbon first approach to improving long-term energy efficiency in the least thermally efficient low-income households in Wales. It takes a two-pronged approach, through an advice service and through physically improving the homes of the fuel poor. And I think it’s really important that we have that advice service, which is independent as well, so it can be trusted by people in Wales, which I think is really important. But we are investing in this, and we’re trying to do it in a way that is sustainable for the future as well.
Diolch, Altaf. Ond rwy'n credu'n gryf y byddai’n rhaid i chi—rwy'n credu bod pob un ohonom yn gwrando ar yr hyn a wnaeth y Torïaid yma—feddwl am yr hyn a wnaeth Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU y tro diwethaf, ac mae’n anodd iawn clywed y gair ‘dinistrio’, gan y credaf y bydd gan lawer o bobl rywbeth i’w ddweud am hynny ac am rai o’r systemau a oedd ar waith dros 14 mlynedd wirioneddol anodd.
Gallaf ddweud wrthych beth rydym yn ei wneud yma. Rydym wedi buddsoddi mwy na £30 miliwn eleni yng nghynllun newydd Cartrefi Clyd Nyth i leihau nifer y cartrefi incwm isel sy’n byw mewn cartrefi oer a llaith. Mae’r cynllun hwn yn defnyddio dull y ffabrig gwaethaf a charbon isel yn gyntaf i wella effeithlonrwydd ynni hirdymor yn y cartrefi incwm isel lleiaf effeithlon yn thermol yng Nghymru. Mae’n defnyddio dull deublyg, drwy wasanaeth cynghori a thrwy wella cartrefi pobl mewn tlodi tanwydd yn ffisegol. Ac mae'n bwysig iawn fod gennym wasanaeth cynghori, sy’n annibynnol hefyd, fel y gall pobl yng Nghymru ymddiried ynddo, sy’n bwysig iawn yn fy marn i. Ond rydym yn buddsoddi yn hyn, ac rydym yn ceisio gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n gynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Speaking to local authority leaders across Wales, the local government settlement handed down to councils throughout Wales has simply not been sufficient. As a result, we are now seeing some very painful cuts being made or proposed, which will have wide and far-reaching consequences for our communities. The news from Labour in Westminster today confirms that austerity is here to stay.
More locally, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s plans to increase pitch hire fees by 75 per cent is an example of these devastating decisions. Indeed, a petition has been started to oppose this, with over 5,000 people signing it already. This proposal, if enacted, will ravage grass-roots teams at all ages across a wide range of sports. Those fees will have to be passed on by the clubs that use the council pitches, and many players or parents of players will be unable to afford increased subs and will have no choice but to withdraw from sport. With increased council tax bills landing on the doormats of houses this week, it’s a double whammy for those households. Make no mistake, some of the teams will fold as a result of this, sports will become the preserve of those with disposable income. Are you comfortable with that sort of thing happening as a result of Labour’s budgets in Westminster and Wales? And what kinds of conversations are you having with local authorities to alleviate that situation?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Llywydd. O siarad ag arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru, nid yw’r setliad llywodraeth leol a roddwyd i gynghorau ledled Cymru wedi bod yn ddigon. O ganlyniad, rydym bellach yn gweld toriadau poenus iawn yn cael eu gwneud neu eu cynnig, a fydd yn arwain at ganlyniadau eang a phellgyrhaeddol i’n cymunedau. Mae’r newyddion gan Lafur yn San Steffan heddiw yn cadarnhau bod cyni yma i aros.
Yn fwy lleol, mae cynlluniau Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili i gynyddu ffioedd llogi caeau chwarae 75 y cant yn enghraifft o'r penderfyniadau dinistriol hyn. Yn wir, mae deiseb wedi’i chychwyn i wrthwynebu hyn, gyda dros 5,000 o bobl eisoes wedi’i llofnodi. Bydd y cynnig hwn, os caiff ei ddeddfu, yn dinistrio timau ar lawr gwlad o bob oed ar draws ystod eang o chwaraeon. Bydd yn rhaid i’r ffioedd hynny gael eu trosglwyddo ymlaen gan y clybiau sy’n defnyddio caeau’r cyngor, a bydd llawer o chwaraewyr neu rieni chwaraewyr yn methu fforddio talu mwy a heb unrhyw ddewis ond rhoi'r gorau i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon. Gyda biliau trethi cyngor uwch yn dod drwy ddrysau cartrefi yr wythnos hon, mae'n ergyd ddwbl i'r aelwydydd hynny. Peidiwch â chamgymryd, bydd rhai o'r timau'n rhoi'r gorau iddi o ganlyniad i hyn, bydd chwaraeon yn dod yn rhywbeth i bobl ag incwm gwario yn unig. A ydych chi'n gyfforddus gyda’r math hwnnw o beth yn digwydd o ganlyniad i gyllidebau Llafur yn San Steffan a Chymru? A pha fath o sgyrsiau rydych chi'n eu cael gydag awdurdodau lleol i liniaru’r sefyllfa honno?
Diolch, Peredur. As you’ve heard me say, and my colleagues say as well, whilst we’ve had one of the best settlements under devolution, one budget isn’t going to change what we’ve been through for the last 14 years. I think that all local authorities understand that. They have had to make really, really difficult decisions. I speak to local authority leaders, chief executives and members very regularly. I go out and about to speak to them, to hear from them directly, which I think is really important, and I’m really grateful for all the work they’re doing and the honesty that they give and tell me what they’re experiencing as well. This is something that is a matter for local authorities themselves through their democratic processes, in terms of their consultation and the difficult decisions that they will still have to make. But let’s be clear that, before the settlement that we were able to pass on to local authorities this year, local authorities would have been expecting a flat cash settlement if we hadn’t had a UK Labour Government, and I think that’s a really important message.
Diolch, Peredur. Fel rydych wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud, a fy nghyd-Aelodau hefyd, er ein bod wedi cael un o'r setliadau gorau o dan ddatganoli, nid yw un gyllideb yn mynd i newid yr hyn rydym wedi bod drwyddo am y 14 mlynedd diwethaf. Rwy'n credu bod pob awdurdod lleol yn deall hynny. Maent wedi gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn. Rwy’n siarad ag arweinwyr, prif weithredwyr ac aelodau awdurdodau lleol yn rheolaidd iawn. Rwy'n mynd allan i siarad â hwy, i glywed ganddynt yn uniongyrchol, sy'n bwysig iawn yn fy marn i, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am yr holl waith a wnânt a'u gonestrwydd ac am sôn wrthyf am eu profiadau hefyd. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy’n fater i'r awdurdodau lleol eu hunain drwy eu prosesau democrataidd, o ran eu hymgynghori a’r penderfyniadau anodd y bydd yn rhaid iddynt eu gwneud o hyd. Ond gadewch inni fod yn glir, cyn y setliad y bu modd i ni ei drosglwyddo ymlaen i awdurdodau lleol eleni, byddai awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn disgwyl setliad arian gwastad pe na baem wedi cael Llywodraeth Lafur yn y DU, a chredaf fod honno’n neges wirioneddol bwysig.
Diolch yn fawr am yr ateb yna.
Thank you very much for that response.
If that wasn't bad enough, though, we are seeing leisure centre closures proposed across Wales. For example, in my region, two local authority leisure centres in Pontllanfraith and Cefn Fforest are facing closure. Denying our communities access to affordable sports will have grave consequences for the preventative health agenda over the longer term. It is going to exacerbate the growing problems our nation has with obesity and associated health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. It’ll also have short-term consequences for mental health and well-being, services that are chronically underfunded already, without added strain.
The Government’s priority should be to improve the health-related benefits system over the short term. Punitive cuts will push more people into poverty, especially disabled people. The cruel cuts announced to welfare will be disproportionately felt in Wales, as the nation has higher rates of disabled people of working age than the UK average. Five of the UK’s 10 local authorities with the highest rates of economic inactivity because of long-term illness are here in Wales. Has this Government worked with local authorities to undertake an impact assessment of what the nation’s health will look like with a reduction in community leisure services, and would it be a good idea if it hasn’t done so already?
Fel pe na bai hynny’n ddigon drwg, rydym yn gweld y bwriad i gau canolfannau hamdden ledled Cymru. Er enghraifft, yn fy rhanbarth i, mae dwy o ganolfannau hamdden yr awdurdod lleol ym Mhontllan-fraith a Chefn Fforest yn wynebu cael eu cau. Bydd atal mynediad i'n cymunedau at chwaraeon fforddiadwy yn arwain at ganlyniadau difrifol i'r agenda iechyd ataliol yn y tymor hwy. Mae’n mynd i waethygu’r problemau cynyddol sydd gan ein cenedl gyda gordewdra a chyflyrau iechyd cysylltiedig, fel diabetes math 2. Bydd hefyd yn arwain at ganlyniadau tymor byr i iechyd meddwl a lles, gwasanaethau sydd eisoes yn cael eu tanariannu’n ddifrifol, heb straen ychwanegol.
Dylai'r Llywodraeth roi blaenoriaeth i wella'r system fudd-daliadau sy'n gysylltiedig ag iechyd yn y tymor byr. Bydd toriadau cosbol yn gwthio mwy o bobl i dlodi, yn enwedig pobl anabl. Bydd y toriadau creulon a gyhoeddwyd i les yn cael eu teimlo’n anghymesur yng Nghymru, gan fod gan y genedl gyfraddau uwch o bobl anabl o oedran gweithio na chyfartaledd y DU. Mae pump o’r 10 awdurdod lleol yn y DU sydd â’r cyfraddau uchaf o anweithgarwch economaidd oherwydd salwch hirdymor yma yng Nghymru. A yw’r Llywodraeth hon wedi gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i gynnal asesiad effaith o sut olwg fydd ar iechyd y genedl gyda gostyngiad mewn gwasanaethau hamdden cymunedol, ac a fyddai’n syniad da os nad yw wedi gwneud hynny eisoes?
Diolch, Peredur. I know that leisure centres are important community assets and that people feel very passionately about them, as we all do. I know that in my own area, where we’re seeing one being built—actually a redoing of the old leisure centre—but I do appreciate that local authorities have had to make some really, really difficult decisions, as I’ve said. And you’re quite right that it’s important with the preventative agenda in terms of the health and well-being of our people here in Wales.
I think in terms of the benefits that you raised and the changes that are being put forward at a UK level, we are continuing our dialogue with the UK Government on the nature and scope of the proposed reforms of the sickness and disability benefit system. We have asked for an impact assessment to be done for the people of Wales, and we're continuing our discussions on the role and reform of the benefits system with the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions at the four nations inter-ministerial meetings.
Diolch, Peredur. Gwn fod canolfannau hamdden yn asedau cymunedol pwysig a bod pobl yn teimlo’n angerddol iawn amdanynt, fel pob un ohonom. Rwy'n gwybod hynny yn fy ardal fy hun, lle rydym yn gweld un yn cael ei hadeiladu—yr hen ganolfan hamdden yn cael ei hadnewyddu—ond rwy'n derbyn bod awdurdodau lleol wedi gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn, fel y dywedais. Ac rydych yn llygad eich lle fod hyn yn bwysig gyda'r agenda ataliol o ran iechyd a lles ein pobl yma yng Nghymru.
Ar y budd-daliadau a godoch chi a’r newidiadau sy’n cael eu cyflwyno ar lefel y DU, rydym yn parhau â’n deialog â Llywodraeth y DU ar natur a chwmpas y diwygiadau arfaethedig i’r system fudd-daliadau salwch ac anabledd. Rydym wedi gofyn am asesiad effaith ar gyfer pobl Cymru, ac rydym yn parhau â’n trafodaethau ynglŷn â rôl a diwygiadau i’r system fudd-daliadau gydag Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau Llywodraeth y DU yn y cyfarfodydd rhyngweinidogol rhwng y pedair gwlad.
Diolch yn fawr. Yesterday, we talked about and you had a statement on the fire service, and looking internally at the fire service. I’d like to look at something that is affecting the fire service at the moment. We’re in the midst of the dreaded grass-fire season, when firefighters risk their lives and communities are endangered due to the mindless actions of a minority. Over the recent weekend, firefighters dealt with 70 incidents in places like Rhiwderin, Caerphilly and Pen-rhys. Often, these fires are very difficult to control and if a strong breeze picks up they move faster than an adult can run. How is this Government ensuring that firefighters have the resources to combat grass fires? And also, what efforts are the Government making to ensure that the public are educated about the dangers of grass fires, in a bid to deter the culprits behind them?
Diolch yn fawr. Ddoe, buom yn trafod ac roedd gennych ddatganiad ar y gwasanaeth tân, ac edrych yn fewnol ar y gwasanaeth tân. Hoffwn edrych ar rywbeth sy’n effeithio ar y gwasanaeth tân ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yng nghanol tymor echrydus tanau glaswellt, pan fydd diffoddwyr tân yn mentro eu bywydau a chymunedau mewn perygl oherwydd gweithredoedd difeddwl nifer fach iawn o bobl. Dros y penwythnos diwethaf, bu diffoddwyr tân yn ymdrin â 70 o ddigwyddiadau mewn lleoedd fel Rhiwderyn, Caerffili a Phen-rhys. Yn aml, mae'r tanau hyn yn anodd iawn i'w rheoli ac os bydd gwynt cryf yn codi maent yn symud yn gyflymach nag y gall oedolyn redeg. Sut y mae’r Llywodraeth hon yn sicrhau bod gan ddiffoddwyr tân adnoddau i frwydro tanau glaswellt? A hefyd, pa ymdrechion y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu gwneud i sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn cael eu haddysgu am beryglon tanau glaswellt, mewn ymgais i atal y rheini sy'n gyfrifol amdanynt rhag eu cynnau?
Diolch, Peredur. Absolutely. It’s really worrying when we see these grass fires, and how quickly they take hold, I think, is quite incredible. The fire service do some work with young people in terms of raising awareness. I know that is something that they do, and I can make sure that’s shared with all Members here as well, to make sure they’re aware of all of that. I think it’s important that we do send a message to the public about how dangerous these fires are and how they can, as I say, rip through the land very quickly and become a danger to property and often life. I do have regular meetings with the Fire Brigades Union, the other unions involved, and also the chiefs and chairs of the fire and rescue services across Wales. We have a partnership forum meeting as well, so that is something that I can make sure is raised as well, and perhaps is one of our next agenda items.
Diolch, Peredur. Yn sicr. Mae’n peri cryn bryder pan welwn y tanau glaswellt hyn, ac mae'n anhygoel pa mor gyflym y byddant yn cydio. Mae'r gwasanaeth tân yn gwneud gwaith gyda phobl ifanc ar godi ymwybyddiaeth. Gwn fod hynny'n rhywbeth y maent yn ei wneud, a gallaf sicrhau bod hynny'n cael ei rannu â'r holl Aelodau yma hefyd, i sicrhau eu bod yn ymwybodol o hynny oll. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn anfon neges at y cyhoedd ynghylch pa mor beryglus yw'r tanau hyn a sut y gallant, fel y dywedaf, ledaenu dros y tir yn gyflym iawn a dod yn fygythiad i eiddo ac yn aml i fywydau. Rwy’n cael cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gydag Undeb y Brigadau Tân, yr undebau eraill sy’n gysylltiedig â hyn, a hefyd penaethiaid a chadeiryddion y gwasanaethau tân ac achub ledled Cymru. Mae gennym gyfarfod fforwm partneriaeth hefyd, felly mae hynny’n rhywbeth y gallaf sicrhau ei fod yn cael ei godi hefyd, ac efallai y bydd yn un o’n heitemau nesaf ar yr agenda.
3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar gynlluniau datblygu tai cymdeithasol ar gyfer Abertawe? OQ62489
3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on social housing development plans for Swansea? OQ62489
Diolch, Mike. Swansea’s three-year social housing grant programme is fully committed with grant funding supporting the delivery of 730 new homes. I am pleased Swansea’s allocation for 2024-25 is over £26 million, which is a £3 million increase when compared to 2023-24, and this is delivering vital homes in the city.
Diolch, Mike. Mae rhaglen grant tai cymdeithasol tair blynedd Abertawe wedi'i hymrwymo'n llawn gyda chyllid grant i gefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o 730 o gartrefi newydd. Rwy'n falch fod dyraniad Abertawe ar gyfer 2024-25 yn fwy na £26 miliwn, sy'n gynnydd o £3 miliwn o gymharu â 2023-24, ac mae'n darparu cartrefi hanfodol yn y ddinas.
Can I thank you for that answer? But there is a desperate need for social housing in Swansea. People needing social housing is now the largest reason for constituents contacting me, and many of those contacts are very sad; many are desperate. Swansea council is building council houses, but are unable to replicate the numbers built in the 1950s and 1960s. I’m speaking as someone who was a lucky recipient in moving into a 1960s council house. What discussion has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Westminster Government to allow borrowing for council housing developments to not count against the public sector borrowing requirement in the same way as financial transactions capital does not? There is a saleable asset against the borrowing so it balances, and there’s an income stream against it to pay what is effectively a mortgage for the properties. We desperately need to start building houses at the level of the 1950s and 1960s, and that would mean building thousands.
A gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich ateb? Ond mae taer angen tai cymdeithasol yn Abertawe. Yr angen am dai cymdeithasol yw’r prif reswm bellach pam fod etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi, ac mae llawer o’r hyn a ddywedant yn drist iawn; mae nifer yn anobeithio. Mae cyngor Abertawe yn adeiladu tai cyngor, ond ni allant efelychu'r niferoedd a adeiladwyd yn y 1950au a'r 1960au. Rwy'n siarad fel rhywun a oedd yn ddigon ffodus i gael symud i dŷ cyngor yn y 1960au. Pa drafodaeth y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi’i chael gyda Llywodraeth San Steffan i ganiatáu i fenthyca ar gyfer datblygiadau tai cyngor beidio â chyfrif yn erbyn gofyniad benthyca’r sector cyhoeddus yn yr un modd â chyfalaf trafodiadau ariannol? Mae ased gwerthadwy yn erbyn y benthyciad, felly mae'n mantoli, ac mae ffrwd incwm yn ei erbyn i dalu'r hyn sydd i bob pwrpas yn forgais ar gyfer yr eiddo. Mae taer angen inni ddechrau adeiladu tai ar lefel y 1950au a’r 1960au, a byddai hynny’n golygu adeiladu miloedd.
Diolch, Mike. As I said earlier, the Government's providing record levels of investment in social housing across Wales during this Senedd term, with that planned investment of over £1.9 billion. But, as I said, we still need to build more homes; I’m in no doubt about that. I was able to announce an additional £10 million this financial year to help kick-start the development of 16 new affordable housing schemes, which will lead to 238 new homes being built before the end of this Senedd term, and that’s including 30 homes at Brunel Wood in Swansea.
We are providing, as I say, those record levels of investment. There are no direct controls on the amount of borrowing local authorities can undertake. Borrowing decisions are made within the prudential framework for capital finance. However, the UK Government has a target for public sector net financial liabilities to be falling as a percentage of GDP by 2029-30. As this measure of debt covers the whole of the public sector, local authority borrowing does contribute to it. So, those discussions have been had. But, as I said, there’s a lot of progress that we are making in Swansea, but there is still a long way to go as well.
Diolch, Mike. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, mae’r Llywodraeth wedi darparu’r lefelau uchaf erioed o fuddsoddiad mewn tai cymdeithasol ledled Cymru yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon, gyda’r buddsoddiad arfaethedig o dros £1.9 biliwn. Ond fel y dywedais, mae angen inni adeiladu mwy o gartrefi o hyd; nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth gennyf am hynny. Llwyddais i gyhoeddi £10 miliwn ychwanegol yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon i helpu i roi hwb i’r gwaith o ddatblygu 16 o gynlluniau tai fforddiadwy newydd, a fydd yn arwain at adeiladu 238 o gartrefi newydd cyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys 30 o gartrefi yn Brunel Wood yn Abertawe.
Fel y dywedaf, rydym yn darparu'r lefelau uchaf erioed o fuddsoddiad. Nid oes unrhyw reolaethau uniongyrchol ar faint o fenthyca y gall awdurdodau lleol ei wneud. Gwneir penderfyniadau benthyca o fewn y fframwaith darbodus ar gyfer cyllid cyfalaf. Fodd bynnag, mae gan Lywodraeth y DU darged i rwymedigaethau ariannol net y sector cyhoeddus fod yn gostwng fel canran o gynnyrch domestig gros erbyn 2029-30. Gan fod y mesur hwn o ddyled yn cwmpasu’r sector cyhoeddus cyfan, mae benthyca awdurdodau lleol yn cyfrannu ato. Felly, mae’r trafodaethau hynny wedi’u cynnal. Ond fel y dywedais, rydym yn gwneud llawer o gynnydd yn Abertawe, ond mae llawer o ffordd i fynd o hyd hefyd.
We've just heard from Altaf Hussain that the Welsh Government obviously has a target of 20,000 social homes to be built across this Senedd term, but isn't even halfway there yet with a year to go until the elections; just 9,000 of those have been built so far. And quite unbelievably, I don't think the Welsh Government appreciates the scale of the challenge that's ahead of it to achieve that target because, unbelievably, I just heard the Minister mention a project for 13 homes in Swansea, which is nowhere near scratching the surface in terms of what's needed in terms of the number of social homes that need to be built across Wales.
Now, what I think is very important here is that we understand exactly the role of the former Minister Lee Waters, who's been drafted in to help you reach this target. I know that the way the Welsh Government is performing at the moment on all fronts needs all the help it can get, but it's not very clear exactly what it is that Lee Waters is doing chairing—
Rydym newydd glywed gan Altaf Hussain fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru darged o 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol i’w hadeiladu yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon wrth gwrs, ond nid yw hyd yn oed hanner ffordd yno eto gyda blwyddyn i fynd tan yr etholiadau; dim ond 9,000 o’r rheini sydd wedi’u hadeiladu hyd yn hyn. Ac yn gwbl anghredadwy, ni chredaf fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall maint yr her sydd o'i blaen i gyflawni'r targed hwnnw oherwydd, yn anghredadwy, rwyf newydd glywed y Gweinidog yn sôn am brosiect ar gyfer 13 o gartrefi yn Abertawe, nad yw'n agos at grafu'r wyneb o ran nifer y cartrefi cymdeithasol y mae angen eu hadeiladu ledled Cymru.
Nawr, yr hyn y credaf sy’n bwysig iawn yma yw ein bod yn deall yn union rôl y cyn Weinidog Lee Waters, sydd wedi’i alw i mewn i’ch helpu i gyrraedd y targed hwn. Gwn fod y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn perfformio ar hyn o bryd ym mhob maes yn golygu ei bod angen yr holl gymorth y gall ei gael, ond nid yw’n glir iawn beth yn union y mae Lee Waters yn ei wneud yn cadeirio—
May I remind the Member that the question is specifically about Swansea?
A gaf i atgoffa’r Aelod fod y cwestiwn yn ymwneud yn benodol ag Abertawe?
Yes, social housing in Swansea, absolutely, and we need to reach those targets across Wales, including in Swansea. So, can we understand exactly what it is that Lee Waters does? Because when my colleague Paul Davies asked yesterday, the Minister for Delivery said that he was not an expert, but a convenor. So, based on you being unable to reach that target so far across Wales, including in Swansea, what exactly is he convening?
Ydy, tai cymdeithasol yn Abertawe, yn hollol, ac mae angen inni gyrraedd y targedau hynny ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys yn Abertawe. Felly, a gawn ni wybod beth yn union y mae Lee Waters yn ei wneud? Oherwydd pan ofynnodd fy nghyd-Aelod Paul Davies ddoe, dywedodd y Gweinidog Cyflawni nad oedd yn arbenigwr, ond ei fod yn gynullydd. Felly, ar sail y ffaith nad ydych chi wedi gallu cyrraedd y targed hwnnw hyd yma ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys yn Abertawe, beth yn union y mae'n ei gynnull?
Diolch, Tom, and I'd just like to clarify as well in response to Mike Hedges' first question, as I said, Swansea's three-year social housing grant is fully committed, with grant funding supporting the delivery of 730 new homes and the allocation that they've had is over £26 million, which is a £3 million increase when compared to 2023-24. The project in Brunel Wood was because of an additional £10 million this financial year with 30 homes. That is not the only thing that we are doing in Swansea. I can say that in Swansea East, Riverside Wharf will see another 104 new homes for social rent and Brondeg House will see a development of 13 new homes. There are these things happening.
I'm very clear that we do need to build more homes. That is the focus of this Government; it's part of the First Minister's priorities as well. I've said that I've been able to put that extra money in. I've also been able to announce a £90 million low-interest loan for registered social landlords as well. So, there are lots of things happening in this area. One of those tools is the taskforce. That's not the only thing that's happening in this area; that's one of them. Lee Waters is leading and convening that group of people who are experts in their area. He has brought those together and they will be reporting shortly. A number of those people have expertise in this area, whether it's local government, whether it's from RSLs and others, and I think that is what they've been looking at, really trying to add value. And I look forward to receiving their recommendations next month, which obviously will be published and I'll make sure it's shared with Members.
Diolch, Tom, a hoffwn egluro hefyd mewn ymateb i gwestiwn cyntaf Mike Hedges, fel y dywedais, fod grant tai cymdeithasol tair blynedd Abertawe wedi'i ymrwymo'n llawn, gyda chyllid grant yn cefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o 730 o gartrefi newydd ac mae'r dyraniad y maent wedi'i gael yn fwy na £26 miliwn, sy'n gynnydd o £3 miliwn o gymharu â 2023-24. Roedd y prosiect yn Brunel Wood yn bosibl oherwydd £10 miliwn ychwanegol yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon gyda 30 o gartrefi. Nid dyna’r unig beth yr ydym yn ei wneud yn Abertawe. Gallaf ddweud y bydd datblygiad Riverside Wharf yn Nwyrain Abertawe yn darparu 104 yn ychwanegol o gartrefi rhent cymdeithasol newydd, a bydd 13 o gartrefi newydd yn cael eu darparu yn Tŷ Brondeg. Mae'r pethau hyn yn digwydd.
Rwy'n glir iawn fod angen inni adeiladu mwy o gartrefi. Dyna ffocws y Llywodraeth hon; mae'n rhan o flaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog hefyd. Rwyf wedi dweud fy mod wedi gallu darparu'r arian ychwanegol hwnnw. Rwyf hefyd wedi gallu cyhoeddi benthyciad llog isel o £90 miliwn ar gyfer landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig. Felly, mae llawer o bethau'n digwydd yn y maes hwn. Un o'r dulliau hynny yw'r tasglu. Nid dyna'r unig beth sy'n digwydd yn y maes; mae'n un ohonynt. Mae Lee Waters yn arwain ac yn cynnull y grŵp o bobl sy'n arbenigwyr yn eu maes. Mae wedi dod â’r rheini ynghyd, a byddant yn adrodd cyn bo hir. Mae gan nifer o'r bobl hynny arbenigedd yn y maes hwn, boed mewn llywodraeth leol, neu gan landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig ac eraill, ac rwy'n credu mai ar hynny y maent wedi bod yn edrych, a cheisio ychwanegu gwerth. Ac edrychaf ymlaen at gael eu hargymhellion y mis nesaf, a fydd yn amlwg yn cael eu cyhoeddi, a byddaf yn sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu rhannu â'r Aelodau.
Luke Fletcher.
Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I appreciate you allowing me in at late notice. Of course, we have this target for social housing and going through the process of building houses from scratch can be a very long process. One thing I'm interested in understanding, in the case of Swansea and outside of Swansea, is how the Government is looking at how we may be able to make it easier for local authorities to convert commercial properties into residential properties. For example, there are plenty of spaces out there above shops, multiple floors that would be ideal for one-bed and two-bed flats where we know we have a shortage of those particular residential needs. So, is there any scope from the Government's perspective to use some of this funding available for construction of social housing potentially to convert some of those commercial properties into residential properties for social housing?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy’n ddiolchgar i chi am ganiatáu imi gyfrannu ar fyr rybudd. Wrth gwrs, mae gennym y targed hwn ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol a gall mynd drwy’r broses o adeiladu tai o’r newydd fod yn broses hir iawn. Un peth yr hoffwn ei ddeall, yn achos Abertawe a thu allan i Abertawe, yw sut y mae'r Llywodraeth yn edrych ar sut y gallwn ei gwneud yn haws i awdurdodau lleol drosi eiddo masnachol yn eiddo preswyl. Er enghraifft, mae digon o ofod i'w gael uwchben siopau, lloriau lluosog a fyddai’n ddelfrydol ar gyfer fflatiau un ystafell wely a dwy ystafell wely lle gwyddom fod gennym brinder o’r anghenion preswyl penodol hynny. Felly, a oes unrhyw bosibilrwydd, o safbwynt y Llywodraeth, i ddefnyddio rhywfaint o'r cyllid hwn sydd ar gael ar gyfer adeiladu tai cymdeithasol i drosi peth o'r eiddo masnachol hwnnw yn eiddo preswyl ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol?
Diolch, Luke, and this is something I was actually discussing with a local authority yesterday when we were looking at properties above shops, and I think we've seen it work really well in some areas. There's still a lot more that I think we can do with that. It is very much part of what we're looking at. Just to say in terms of the empty homes grant that we have, Swansea's had 102 valid applications for the empty homes grant; 31 are approved, not yet completed; and 19 have been completed, so that's, again, a grant bringing vital homes back into use. So, we've got a number of ways to do that, and be assured that looking at empty properties above shops is very much part of that.
Diolch, Luke, ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y bûm yn ei drafod gydag awdurdod lleol ddoe mewn gwirionedd pan oeddem yn edrych ar eiddo uwchben siopau, a chredaf ein bod wedi gweld hynny'n gweithio'n dda iawn mewn rhai ardaloedd. Mae mwy o lawer y credaf y gallwn ei wneud â hynny o hyd. Mae'n rhan fawr iawn o'r hyn rydym yn edrych arno. Dylwn ddweud, o ran y grant cartrefi gwag sydd gennym, fod Abertawe wedi cael 102 o geisiadau dilys am y grant cartrefi gwag; mae 31 wedi'u cymeradwyo, ond heb eu cwblhau eto; ac mae 19 wedi'u cwblhau, felly mae hwnnw, unwaith eto, yn grant sy'n dod â chartrefi hanfodol yn ôl i ddefnydd. Felly, mae gennym nifer o ffyrdd o wneud hynny, a gallwch fod yn sicr fod edrych ar eiddo gwag uwchben siopau yn rhan fawr iawn o hynny.
4. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi lesddeiliaid nad ydynt yn gallu gwerthu eu cartrefi ac sy'n destun costau cynyddol lesddeiliaid? OQ62497
4. What is the Welsh Government doing to support leaseholders who are unable to sell their homes and are subject to increasing leaseholder costs? OQ62497
Diolch, Rhys. Reforming leasehold is a priority for this Government. We're working with the UK Government on these reforms, and our joint approach has already improved leaseholders’ rights. We're now working to implement the 2024 Act, including improvements to service charge transparency, allowing leaseholders to better scrutinise and challenge unfair costs.
Diolch, Rhys. Mae diwygio cyfraith lesddaliad yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon. Rydym yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar y diwygiadau hyn, ac mae ein dull o weithredu ar y cyd eisoes wedi gwella hawliau lesddeiliaid. Rydym bellach yn gweithio i weithredu Deddf 2024, gan gynnwys gwelliannau i dryloywder tâl gwasanaeth, gan ganiatáu i lesddeiliaid graffu a herio costau annheg yn well.
Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. You'll know that we receive countless e-mails from Victoria Wharf—you and your officials are copied into these e-mails—about the raised costs that Victoria Wharf residents are facing with regard to their service costs. Taylor Wimpey had promised these leaseholders that they would cover the increase in insurance costs due to the remedial work there. That hasn't happened; they've reneged on their promise, and I'm told that leaseholders were made to pay £25,000 with next to no notice at all. The increased financial burden is taking a huge toll on them. People are breaking down in tears in meetings. People feel trapped. People are in despair. This is far more than just a cladding issue. The leasehold system, as has been raised here before, belongs to history and is just fundamentally unfair and unjust. In fairness, residents praise your work and the work of your officials, but they really are at the end of their tether. I am worried that something will happen to one of these residents. Will you and your officials meet with some of the residents in Victoria Wharf, so you can better understand their situation? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod ein bod yn derbyn negeseuon e-bost di-ri o Victoria Wharf—rydych chi a'ch swyddogion yn cael eich copïo i'r e-byst hyn—am y costau uwch y mae trigolion Victoria Wharf yn eu hwynebu fel costau gwasanaeth. Roedd Taylor Wimpey wedi addo i'r lesddeiliaid hyn y byddent yn talu'r cynnydd mewn costau yswiriant oherwydd y gwaith adfer yno. Nid yw hynny wedi digwydd; maent wedi cefnu ar eu haddewid, a dywedwyd wrthyf fod lesddeiliaid wedi gorfod talu £25,000 heb y nesaf peth i ddim rhybudd. Mae'r baich ariannol cynyddol yn faich enfawr arnynt. Mae pobl yn crio mewn cyfarfodydd. Mae pobl yn teimlo'n gaeth. Mae pobl mewn anobaith. Mae hyn yn llawer mwy na mater cladin yn unig. Mae'r system lesddaliad, fel y nodwyd yma o'r blaen, yn perthyn i hanes ac yn sylfaenol annheg ac anghyfiawn. A bod yn deg, mae trigolion yn canmol eich gwaith a gwaith eich swyddogion, ond maent ar ben eu tennyn. Rwy'n poeni y bydd rhywbeth yn digwydd i un o'r trigolion hyn. A wnewch chi a'ch swyddogion gyfarfod â rhai o drigolion Victoria Wharf, er mwyn i chi allu deall eu sefyllfa yn well? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Rhys. I've seen reports in the news about the high service charges that your constituents have been grappling with, and the problems and distress that this has caused them. Our work to reform leasehold will help in situations such as these, by giving leaseholders access to more information about their charges, making it easier to challenge charges if they are unreasonable. As I said, we're working closely with the UK Government on the programme of work required to commence the 2024 Act, to ensure that the benefits it will bring will be felt here in Wales as soon as possible.
In terms of FirstPort, I met with managing agents, which included FirstPort, back in November, where I did urge them to act with full transparency and in the best interests of residents and leaseholders. I'll be meeting them again in the coming months, quite shortly, to impress upon them the urgency of progressing that work. Perhaps you could write to me in the first instance and we will follow that up in terms of the request.
Diolch yn fawr, Rhys. Rwyf wedi gweld adroddiadau yn y newyddion am y taliadau gwasanaeth uchel y mae eich etholwyr wedi bod yn ymrafael â hwy, a'r problemau a'r trallod y mae hyn wedi'i achosi iddynt. Bydd ein gwaith ar ddiwygio cyfraith lesddaliad yn helpu mewn sefyllfaoedd fel hyn, trwy roi mynediad i lesddeiliaid at fwy o wybodaeth am eu taliadau, gan ei gwneud hi'n haws herio taliadau os ydynt yn afresymol. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar y rhaglen waith sydd ei hangen er mwyn cychwyn Deddf 2024, i sicrhau y bydd y manteision a ddaw yn ei sgil yn cael eu teimlo yma yng Nghymru cyn gynted â phosibl.
Ar FirstPort, cyfarfûm ag asiantau rheoli, a oedd yn cynnwys FirstPort, yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd, lle gwneuthum eu hannog i weithredu gyda thryloywder llawn ac er budd gorau trigolion a lesddeiliaid. Byddaf yn cyfarfod â hwy eto yn y misoedd nesaf, yn eithaf fuan, i bwysleisio'r brys i fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwnnw. Efallai y gallech ysgrifennu ataf yn gyntaf ac awn ar drywydd y cais.
Cwestiwn 5, Janet Finch-Sanders.
Question 5, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Which question?
Pa gwestiwn?
Question 5.
Cwestiwn 5.
Oh, right. I had a supplementary on question 4.
O, iawn. Roedd gennyf gwestiwn atodol ar gyfer cwestiwn 4.
I called you for question 5.
Fe'ch gelwais ar gyfer cwestiwn 5.
So, I've missed the supplementary.
Felly, fe fethais y cwestiwn atodol.
We're on question 5.
Rydym ar gwestiwn 5.
I know, but I had a supplementary—
Rwy'n gwybod, ond roedd gennyf gwestiwn atodol—
Janet, question 5, please.
Cwestiwn 5, os gwelwch yn dda, Janet.
5. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am sut y mae cymdeithasau tai yn dyrannu tai yn Aberconwy? OQ62501
5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how housing associations allocate housing in Aberconwy? OQ62501
Diolch, Janet. Housing associations allocate housing based on the local allocations policy agreed with Conwy council. All local authorities are required to have a policy setting out how they intend to allocate housing, which should be published to ensure people in housing need are made aware of the services available to them.
Diolch, Janet. Mae cymdeithasau tai yn dyrannu tai yn seiliedig ar y polisi dyraniadau lleol y cytunwyd arno gyda chyngor Conwy. Mae'n ofynnol i bob awdurdod lleol gael polisi sy'n nodi sut y bwriadant ddyrannu tai, y dylid ei gyhoeddi i sicrhau bod pobl sydd angen tai yn ymwybodol o'r gwasanaethau sydd ar gael iddynt.
Of course, over the years, I've had to raise many times here the amount of spend in my own authority on temporary accommodation—over £4 million a year. We've got nearly 400 individuals currently living in temporary accommodation, and that can be hotels, bedsits, caravans. I've also raised that there are approximately 750 accommodation units over three sites owned by the Betsi Cadwaladr health board, at the Maelor, Ysbyty Gwynedd and Glan Clwyd. Most of these properties are uninhabitable, and I've been trying to work with housing associations to get all of this stock, so it can provide accommodation for nurses, junior doctors, or residents who are stuck in hotel rooms at the moment. It hasn't happened.
Recently, you'll be aware there's been an article where some nurses have been provided now with new homes, rather than locals who have been on temporary housing accommodation lists and the homeless. It just seems madness to me that you've got the chief exec and chair of the health board wanting to go ahead with the scheme, and also the registered social landlords. Will you please intervene in this project so we can get these 750 units back up to a housing quality standard and they can become viable homes for people to live in?
Wrth gwrs, dros y blynyddoedd, ar sawl achlysur yma rwyf wedi gorfod codi'r gwariant gan fy awdurdod fy hun ar lety dros dro—dros £4 miliwn y flwyddyn. Mae gennym bron i 400 o unigolion sy'n byw mewn llety dros dro ar hyn o bryd, a gall hynny gynnwys gwestai, fflatiau un ystafell, carafanau. Rwyf hefyd wedi nodi bod oddeutu 750 o unedau llety dros dri safle sy'n eiddo i fwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, yn ysbyty Maelor, Ysbyty Gwynedd a Glan Clwyd. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r eiddo'n fannau na ellir byw ynddynt, a bûm yn ceisio gweithio gyda chymdeithasau tai i gael yr holl stoc, fel y gall ddarparu llety i nyrsys, meddygon iau, neu breswylwyr sy'n gorfod aros mewn ystafelloedd gwesty ar hyn o bryd. Nid yw wedi digwydd.
Yn ddiweddar, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o erthygl lle darparwyd cartrefi newydd i nyrsys nawr, yn hytrach na phobl leol sydd wedi bod ar restrau llety dros dro a'r digartref. Mae'n ymddangos yn hurt fod gennych chi brif weithredwr a chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd eisiau bwrw ymlaen â'r cynllun, a hefyd y landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig. A wnewch chi ymyrryd yn y prosiect hwn fel y gallwn gael y 750 o unedau hyn yn ôl i safon ansawdd tai ac er mwyn iddynt allu ddod yn gartrefi i bobl allu byw ynddynt?
Diolch, Janet. Under the Housing Act 1996, local authorities are required to have an allocation scheme for determining priorities in allocated housing and each local authority should have its own published allocations policy available to local people to access.
In terms of the schemes that you raised, I would be very happy if you wrote to me, in the first instance, around that. I'm really interested in where there is public sector land that we can look at to build and seeing how I can help unlock some of that. So, I'd be really grateful if you could write to me, in the first instance, on that, Janet.
Diolch, Janet. O dan Ddeddf Tai 1996, mae'n ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol gael cynllun dyrannu ar gyfer pennu blaenoriaethau tai a ddyrennir a dylai fod gan bob awdurdod lleol ei bolisi dyraniadau cyhoeddedig ei hun ar gael i bobl leol allu ei weld.
Ar y cynlluniau a godwyd gennych, byddwn yn hapus iawn pe baech chi'n ysgrifennu ataf ynglŷn â hynny yn gyntaf. Hoffwn wybod lle mae tir sector cyhoeddus y gallwn ei ystyried ar gyfer adeiladu ac i weld sut y gallaf helpu i ddatrys peth o hynny. Felly, hoffwn i chi ysgrifennu ataf ar hynny'n gyntaf, Janet.
6. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn monitro’r gwaith o gyflawni safon ansawdd tai Cymru? OQ62530
6. How does the Welsh Government monitor the delivery of the Welsh housing quality standard? OQ62530
Diolch, Alun. The new Welsh housing quality standard requires social landlords to submit property-level data against each of the criteria on an annual basis. We will be publishing the first headline report on the new standard in autumn 2025.
Diolch, Alun. Mae safon ansawdd tai newydd Cymru yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i landlordiaid cymdeithasol gyflwyno data lefel eiddo yn erbyn pob un o'r meini prawf yn flynyddol. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r prif adroddiad cyntaf ar y safon newydd yn ystod yr hydref 2025.
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for that response. Visiting constituents over the last few weeks, I've been genuinely shocked at the quality of homes that people are expected to live in in some instances in my constituency. It's clear to me that whatever regulatory environment the Welsh Government has in place, it's not delivering for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people that I represent in Blaenau Gwent. We need to ensure that there is a consistency of quality standard offered by social landlords and the Welsh Government is actively and proactively ensuring that those standards are met.
I will be meeting a group of people tomorrow in my constituency who are living in homes where that quality standard is simply not being met. It is not fair that they, their families and young children are being brought up in homes that are simply not meeting any of our quality standards. I would ask the Cabinet Secretary if she would like to visit Blaenau Gwent—she would be very welcome to do that—but also to ensure that we have a regulatory environment in place that ensures that the standard is met consistently.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am yr ateb hwnnw. Wrth ymweld ag etholwyr dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, cefais fy synnu wrth weld ansawdd y cartrefi y mae disgwyl i bobl fyw ynddynt mewn rhai achosion yn fy etholaeth. Mae'n amlwg i mi, pa bynnag amgylchedd rheoleiddio sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar waith, nid yw'n cyflawni i rai o'r bobl dlotaf a mwyaf agored i niwed rwy'n eu cynrychioli ym Mlaenau Gwent. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod landlordiaid cymdeithasol yn cynnig safon ansawdd sy'n gyson a bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod y safonau hynny'n cael eu bodloni.
Byddaf yn cyfarfod â grŵp o bobl yfory yn fy etholaeth sy'n byw mewn cartrefi lle nad yw'r safon ansawdd honno'n cael ei bodloni. Nid yw'n deg eu bod hwy, eu teuluoedd a'u plant ifanc yn cael eu magu mewn cartrefi nad ydynt yn bodloni unrhyw un o'n safonau ansawdd. A hoffai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ymweld â Blaenau Gwent—byddai croeso mawr iddi wneud hynny—ond hefyd i sicrhau bod gennym amgylchedd rheoleiddio ar waith sy'n sicrhau bod y safon yn cael ei bodloni'n gyson.
Absolutely. Thank you for that, and I hope it goes well with your constituents tomorrow. I would be very happy, as I always am, to come and visit Blaenau Gwent.
In October 2023, we introduced that new standard. It saw the biggest changes to the housing standards for existing social homes in more than 20 years, to better reflect changes in the way people live and work and feel about their home. We've got a reporting of the standard now that addresses the concerns that were raised with the previous terminology of 'acceptable fails'. Homes are now going to be categorised as either passing the standard, receiving a conditional pass for items such as heritage and conservation reasons, a temporary fail, such as a tenant refusal or improvement work programmed in, and finally, a failure to meet the standard. The Welsh Government has committed £192 million of grant funding this financial year to social landlords towards the cost of achieving this standard. We know that there is a lot to do within this area, but it is really important that, as you said, people have the quality accommodation that they should expect here in Wales.
Yn sicr. Diolch am hynny, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pethau'n mynd yn dda gyda'ch etholwyr yfory. Fel bob amser, rwy'n hapus iawn i ymweld â Blaenau Gwent.
Ym mis Hydref 2023, fe wnaethom gyflwyno'r safon newydd. Arweiniodd at y newidiadau mwyaf i'r safonau tai ar gyfer cartrefi cymdeithasol sy'n bodoli'n barod ers dros 20 mlynedd, er mwyn adlewyrchu'n well y newidiadau yn y ffordd y mae pobl yn byw ac yn gweithio ac yn teimlo am eu cartref. Mae gennym drefn adrodd am y safon nawr sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a godwyd gyda'r derminoleg flaenorol o 'fethiannau derbyniol'. Mae cartrefi bellach yn mynd i gael eu categoreiddio naill ai fel rhai sy'n pasio'r safon, yn pasio'n amodol am resymau fel treftadaeth a chadwraeth, methu dros dro, fel gwrthodiad tenant neu waith gwella wedi'i raglennu, ac yn olaf, methiant i fodloni'r safon. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo £192 miliwn o gyllid grant yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon i landlordiaid cymdeithasol tuag at y gost o gyrraedd y safon hon. Gwyddom fod llawer i'w wneud yn y maes, ond mae'n bwysig iawn, fel y dywedoch chi, fod gan bobl lety o'r safon y dylent ei disgwyl yma yng Nghymru.
Cabinet Secretary, I'm really grateful for what you've just said. We are all supportive of the need to have minimum standards when it comes to publicly provided housing. The Welsh housing quality standard 2023 updated previous quality standards, but with vague requirements, such as a need for an attractive outdoor space and a property that is comfortable and promotes well-being. Cabinet Secretary, what does that even mean? The Bevan Foundation's report called 'Nowhere to call home: The shortage of social and community homes' highlights that social landlords are making the difficult decision to sell homes due to the cost of meeting the new quality standards. At a time when we can all appreciate that social housing stock can ill afford to be lost, how does the Welsh Government intend to balance the demands of meeting these idealistic quality standards whilst increasing the number of homes available for families to rent?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am yr hyn rydych chi newydd ei ddweud. Rydym i gyd yn cefnogi'r angen i gael safonau gofynnol ar gyfer tai a ddarperir yn gyhoeddus. Diweddarodd safon ansawdd tai Cymru 2023 safonau ansawdd blaenorol, ond gyda gofynion amwys, megis yr angen am ofod awyr agored deniadol ac eiddo sy'n gyfforddus ac sy'n hyrwyddo lles. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, beth yw ystyr hynny? Mae adroddiad Sefydliad Bevan o'r enw 'Dim unman i'w alw'n gartref: Prinder cartrefi cymdeithasol a chymunedol' yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod landlordiaid cymdeithasol yn gwneud y penderfyniad anodd i werthu cartrefi oherwydd y gost o fodloni'r safonau ansawdd newydd. Ar adeg pan all pawb ohonom ddeall na ellir fforddio colli stoc tai cymdeithasol, sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cydbwyso'r gofynion o fodloni'r safonau ansawdd idealistig hyn gan gynyddu nifer y cartrefi sydd ar gael i deuluoedd i'w rhentu ar yr un pryd?
I don't think it's idealistic at all. If you haven't had chance to see some of those new homes that are being built, I'd really recommend going to have a look at some of them to see how they are being built as homes fit for the future, such as having wider staircases, so that if, in the future, you have to have a stairlift put in, that is acceptable; having storage in your back garden, so having a shed is really important for people to be able to store items outside; and having a decent size garden as well. So, I would really recommend the Member having a look at some of those properties.
We will continue to work with the sector to explore viable funding solutions; it has been raised. We do need to foster across the sector a recognition that Government funding alone is not going to be enough to fully fund the challenge of decarbonisation, while recognising that grant funding must be part of the solution. The first step is to understand what the challenge is, and that's about having a real stock update on what that might mean. So, that's what the sector should be focused on at the moment. But I can assure the Member that we continue to work with the sector to explore those viable funding solutions.
Nid wyf yn meddwl ei fod yn idealistig o gwbl. Os nad ydych chi wedi cael cyfle i weld rhai o'r cartrefi newydd sy'n cael eu hadeiladu, rwy'n argymell eich bod yn mynd i edrych ar rai ohonynt i weld sut y cânt eu hadeiladu fel cartrefi sy'n addas ar gyfer y dyfodol, gyda grisiau mwy llydan, er enghraifft, fel bod modd gosod lifft risiau os bydd angen gwneud hynny yn y dyfodol; cael lle i storio pethau yn eich gardd gefn, gan fod cael sied yn bwysig iawn i bobl allu storio eitemau y tu allan; a chael gardd o faint gweddus hefyd. Felly, rwy'n argymell i'r Aelod edrych ar beth o'r eiddo.
Byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'r sector i archwilio atebion cyllido hyfyw; mae wedi cael ei godi. Mae angen inni feithrin cydnabyddiaeth ar draws y sector nad yw cyllid y Llywodraeth ar ei ben ei hun yn mynd i fod yn ddigon i ariannu her datgarboneiddio yn llawn, gan gydnabod bod rhaid i gyllid grant fod yn rhan o'r ateb. Y cam cyntaf yw deall beth yw'r her, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â chael diweddariad stoc go iawn ar yr hyn y gallai hynny ei olygu. Felly, dyna beth y dylai'r sector fod yn canolbwyntio arno ar hyn o bryd. Ond gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod ein bod yn parhau i weithio gyda'r sector i archwilio atebion ariannu posibl.
The delivery of the Welsh housing quality standard is having some unintended consequences. I've been campaigning with local councillors in Caerphilly, including Lindsay Whittle, Steve Skivens and Greg Ead, for more flexibility in how long it takes to turn properties around when they're controlled by the council. A freedom of information request revealed it took an average of 218 days to rent out an empty house in the borough, with an average of almost £10,000 spent on renovation works. They also discovered that on 13 December last year, 358 homes were vacant. Obviously, I agree completely, we need housing to be of a high, decent standard. At the same time, we can't leave vulnerable people sofa surfing or staying in unsafe temporary accommodation while they're waiting for houses to be available. Lots of the work that's undertaken is cosmetic in nature; it could be done while people are living in the house. So, could the Government look at introducing more flexibility in that kind of way to stop this from happening, please?
Mae cyflawni safon ansawdd tai Cymru yn cael canlyniadau anfwriadol. Rwyf wedi bod yn ymgyrchu gyda chynghorwyr lleol yng Nghaerffili, gan gynnwys Lindsay Whittle, Steve Skivens a Greg Ead, am fwy o hyblygrwydd o ran yr amser y mae'n ei gymryd i newid eiddo pan gaiff ei reoli gan y cyngor. Datgelodd cais rhyddid gwybodaeth ei bod wedi cymryd 218 diwrnod ar gyfartaledd i baratoi tai gwag yn y fwrdeistref i'w gosod, gyda chyfartaledd o bron i £10,000 yn cael ei wario ar waith adnewyddu. Fe wnaethant ddarganfod hefyd fod 358 o gartrefi yn wag ar 13 Rhagfyr y llynedd. Yn amlwg, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr, mae angen i dai fod o safon uchel, gweddus. Ar yr un pryd, ni allwn adael i bobl agored i niwed fynd o soffa i soffa neu aros mewn llety dros dro anniogel tra byddant yn aros i dai ddod ar gael. Mae llawer o'r gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud yn gosmetig ei natur; gellid ei wneud tra bod pobl yn byw yn y tŷ. Felly, a allai'r Llywodraeth edrych ar gyflwyno mwy o hyblygrwydd yn y ffordd honno i atal hyn rhag digwydd, os gwelwch yn dda?
Diolch, Delyth. I think it's really important, as I said in response to Alun Davies, to have good quality homes for people. We're talking about 'fit for human habitation' in terms of the standard, and I think that we really should be clear about that. There is flexibility within the system, and I do speak to RSLs and local authorities who often raise some of these issues, and my plea is to basically tell me what those properties are, because I understand from officials that there is flexibility within the system. If that is not the case, please let me know; I'd be really keen to see some examples. The examples I have seen have actually gone on to become homes, so it is working. Sometimes, it takes a bit longer than I would like, and I'm sure you would like as well, but I just put that to you, Delyth, and to other Members: if there are properties that you think have been turned down, please let me know.
Diolch, Delyth. Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Alun Davies, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn cael cartrefi o ansawdd da i bobl. Rydym yn siarad am 'addas i bobl breswylio ynddynt' o ran y safon, ac rwy'n credu y dylem fod yn glir am hynny. Mae hyblygrwydd o fewn y system, ac rwy'n siarad â landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig ac awdurdodau lleol sy'n aml yn codi rhai o'r materion hyn, ac rwy'n apelio arnynt yn y bôn i ddweud wrthyf lle mae'r eiddo hwnnw, oherwydd rwy'n deall gan swyddogion fod yna hyblygrwydd o fewn y system. Os nad yw hynny'n wir, rhowch wybod i mi; rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld enghreifftiau. Mae'r enghreifftiau a welais wedi cael eu troi'n gartrefi, felly mae'n gweithio. Weithiau, mae'n cymryd ychydig yn hirach nag yr hoffwn, ac y byddech chi'n ei hoffi hefyd rwy'n siŵr, ond rwy'n dweud hyn wrthych, Delyth, ac Aelodau eraill: os oes yna eiddo y credwch ei fod wedi'i wrthod, rhowch wybod i mi.
7. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi eu cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio ynghylch diwygio TAN 6 i hwyluso addasu adeiladau amaethoddol i fod yn gartrefi? OQ62515
7. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning about amending TAN 6 to facilitate converting agricultural buildings into homes? OQ62515
Diolch, Mabon. I have regular discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning on a wide range of housing matters. We have no current plans to amend TAN 6.
Diolch, Mabon. Rwy'n cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio ar ystod eang o faterion tai. Nid oes gennym unrhyw gynlluniau ar hyn o bryd i ddiwygio TAN 6.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am yr ateb yna. Mae yna nifer o etholwyr yn fy etholaeth i, ac yn wir ar draws y Gymru wledig, wedi addasu adeiladau amaethyddol i fod yn lletyau gwyliau, ac oherwydd rheolau TAN 6, mae'r amodau ar yr adeiladau yma'n eu cyfyngu nhw ar gyfer defnydd busnes yn unig. Rwy'n deall rhesymeg y rheol yn wreiddiol, sef i hyrwyddo mentergarwch a gweithgaredd economaidd gwledig, ac mae hynny yn rhywbeth i'w groesawu, ond pan fo'r tai yma'n dod ar werth, does yna ddim modd eu prynu fel anheddau byw. Mae gennym ni bâr ifanc, er enghraifft, sydd yn trio symud yn ôl i fro eu mebyd yn Eifionydd, ac yn awyddus i brynu tŷ yn un o'r pentrefi yno, ond mae yna amod ar yr aelwyd sydd yn eu hatal nhw rhag prynu'r tŷ fel annedd byw, oherwydd ei fod o'n flaenorol o dan ddefnydd amaethyddol. Ydych chi'n credu, yn yr argyfwng tai yma, bod angen hyblygrwydd ar yr amod, ac a wnewch chi edrych eto i mewn i hyn er mwyn cynyddu'r stoc dai gwledig?
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. A number of constituents in my constituency, and indeed across rural Wales, have converted agricultural buildings to be holiday accommodation, and because of TAN 6 rules, the conditions on these buildings limit them for business use only. I understand the rationale of the rule originally, in order to promote innovation and economic activity in rural areas, and that is something that I welcome, but when these homes come up for sale, they can't be bought as houses for families. We have a young couple who are trying to move back to their own areas in Eifionydd, and are eager to purchase a house in one of the villages there, but there is a condition on the property that prevents them from purchasing it because it had previously been under agricultural use. Do you think, given the housing crisis that we're facing, that we need some flexibility on this condition, and will you look into this once again in order to increase the housing stock in rural areas?
Diolch, Mabon. Rural communities should have sufficient good-quality housing, including affordable housing for local needs. 'Planning Policy Wales' and TAN 6 already state that planning authorities should seek to maximise the supply of affordable housing and work with delivery partners to achieve this. They set out policies that support a sustainable and vibrant rural community and economy. Welsh Government does recognise the need to increase the supply of affordable homes, as set out in 'Future Wales', and states that local planning authorities should explore all opportunities to achieve this. These policies are aimed at achieving vibrant rural areas with services to meet the needs of people living there. And I think that it is important to have a real focus as well on affordability in rural areas. If you'd like to write to me further on that as well, I'll look forward to perhaps sharing that with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning.
Diolch, Mabon. Dylai fod gan gymunedau gwledig ddigon o dai o ansawdd da, gan gynnwys tai fforddiadwy ar gyfer anghenion lleol. Mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' a TAN 6 eisoes yn nodi y dylai awdurdodau cynllunio geisio cael y cyflenwad mwyaf sy'n bosibl o dai fforddiadwy a gweithio gyda phartneriaid i gyflawni hyn. Maent yn nodi polisïau sy'n cefnogi cymuned ac economi wledig gynaliadwy a bywiog. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod yr angen i gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai fforddiadwy, fel y nodir yn 'Cymru'r Dyfodol', ac mae'n nodi y dylai awdurdodau cynllunio lleol archwilio pob cyfle i gyflawni hyn. Nod y polisïau hyn yw sicrhau bod ardaloedd gwledig yn fywiog gyda gwasanaethau i ddiwallu anghenion y bobl sy'n byw yno. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig canolbwyntio'n iawn hefyd ar fforddiadwyedd mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Os hoffech ysgrifennu ataf ymhellach ar hynny hefyd, edrychaf ymlaen at rannu hynny gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio.
I'm grateful to Mabon ap Gwynfor for pointing to TAN 6, because, of course, there are whole sections in TAN 6 around residential conversions, holiday conversions and farm diversification, which farms were asked to do to support those rural communities.
Cabinet Secretary, you'll know my views on the disastrous 182-day rule that this Government brought in, with support from Plaid Cymru, having a massive impact on our rural communities, because it's forcing those businesses, legitimate businesses, who don't quite meet that threshold, to pay significant levels of tax and therefore making them unviable businesses. So, whilst Mabon ap Gwynfor raised some important points, I guess one of the concerns might be the level of trust that these property owners may have in future changes from Welsh Government. So, will you commit today, Cabinet Secretary, in light of the guidance within TAN 6 and in light of some of the outcomes that are taking place as a result of the 182-day rule, to work with the Cabinet Secretary for economy, to review whether that 182-day rule is having such a negative impact on our rural communities and having an impact on the sustainability of some of those areas as well?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Mabon ap Gwynfor am gyfeirio at TAN 6, oherwydd mae adrannau cyfan yn TAN 6 ynglŷn ag addasiadau preswyl, addasiadau gwyliau ac arallgyfeirio ffermydd, y gofynnwyd i ffermydd eu gwneud i gefnogi'r cymunedau gwledig hynny.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fe fyddwch yn gwybod fy safbwyntiau ar y rheol 182 diwrnod drychinebus a gyflwynwyd gan y Llywodraeth hon gyda chefnogaeth Plaid Cymru, a'i heffaith enfawr ar ein cymunedau gwledig, oherwydd mae'n gorfodi'r busnesau hynny, busnesau cyfreithlon, sydd ychydig yn brin o gyrraedd y trothwy hwnnw, i dalu lefelau sylweddol o dreth ac felly'n eu gwneud yn fusnesau anhyfyw. Felly, er bod Mabon ap Gwynfor wedi codi rhai pwyntiau pwysig, mae'n debyg mai un o'r pryderon fyddai'r lefel o ymddiriedaeth a allai fod gan y perchnogion eiddo hyn mewn newidiadau gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yng ngoleuni'r canllawiau yn TAN 6 ac yng ngoleuni rhai o ganlyniadau'r rheol 182 diwrnod, i weithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi, i adolygu a yw'r rheol 182 diwrnod honno'n cael effaith negyddol o'r fath ar ein cymunedau gwledig ac yn cael effaith ar gynaliadwyedd rhai o'r ardaloedd hynny hefyd?
Diolch for that question, Sam. As I said, we have no current plans to amend TAN 6. I think you've raised some issues that I'm sure that we would be happy to get back to you on, if you want to put them also in writing. But I think that it's really important that we have an effective affordable housing plan for rural areas. 'Planning Policy Wales' requires each local planning authority to assess the need for such housing in their area and to set a target for its delivery in their LDP. Planning authorities are also required to develop housing policies to meet the challenges and particular circumstances evident in their areas, where they have the supporting evidence. I think that we do have a suite available to us at the moment, but I'm happy if you want to follow that up in writing, and I can share that with my Cabinet colleague.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Sam. Fel y dywedais, nid oes gennym unrhyw gynlluniau ar hyn o bryd i ddiwygio TAN 6. Rwy'n credu eich bod wedi codi rhai materion yr wyf yn siŵr y byddem yn hapus i gysylltu nôl â chi yn eu cylch, os gwnewch chi eu rhoi'n ysgrifenedig hefyd. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod gennym gynllun tai fforddiadwy effeithiol ar gyfer ardaloedd gwledig. Mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i bob awdurdod cynllunio lleol asesu'r angen am dai o'r fath yn eu hardal a gosod targed ar gyfer cyflawni yn eu cynllun datblygu lleol. Mae'n ofynnol i awdurdodau cynllunio hefyd ddatblygu polisïau tai i ateb yr heriau a'r amgylchiadau penodol sy'n amlwg yn eu hardaloedd, lle mae ganddynt dystiolaeth i ategu hynny. Rwy'n credu bod gennym gyfres ohonynt ar gael i ni ar hyn o bryd, ond rwy'n hapus os ydych chi am fynd ar drywydd hynny yn ysgrifenedig, a gallaf rannu hynny gyda fy nghyd-aelod o'r Cabinet.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Delyth Jewell.
And finally, question 8, Delyth Jewell.
8. Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael gyda'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig ynghylch y cymorth a roddir gan Lywodraeth Cymru i awdurdodau lleol i helpu i nodi safleoedd ôl-ddiwydiannol halogedig ger cartrefi? OQ62521
8. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs about the Welsh Government support provided to local authorities to help with the identification of contaminated post-industrial sites near homes? OQ62521
Diolch, Delyth. Our priority is to protect human health and the wider environment from any pollution risks associated with legacy industrial sites. The existing regulatory framework places a duty on local authorities and Natural Resources Wales to identify, investigate and, where necessary, remediate contaminated sites wherever they are found.
Diolch, Delyth. Ein blaenoriaeth yw diogelu iechyd pobl a'r amgylchedd ehangach rhag unrhyw risgiau llygredd sy'n gysylltiedig â safleoedd diwydiannol etifeddol. Mae'r fframwaith rheoleiddio presennol yn gosod dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i nodi, i archwilio, a lle bo angen, i adfer safleoedd halogedig lle bynnag y deuir o hyd iddynt.
I'm grateful for that answer—thank you very much—because we need to get to grips with this. Industry has shaped our landscapes in Wales, sometimes visibly, like with coal tips, but more hidden is that contamination that has seeped into the soil—the toxic sites left by landfill and chemical waste that was dumped by companies, sometimes decades ago. Tŷ Llwyd quarry in Caerphilly is one such site. But tracing those sites isn't always straightforward. A BBC investigation recently found that thousands of sites of suspected contamination have never been checked by local councils. Now, I know that councillors and campaigners near Tŷ Llwyd have long campaigned for increased monitoring, inspection and support. Surely we need a national policy to deal with this sinister legacy that's left by industry, because there is a risk to residents from sites where contamination is found. When it rains, pollution can be carried down the hills, into rivers and near people's homes. Our Valleys topography, the layout of the land, can leave us more exposed here. So, would you agree, please, with your colleagues, to a meeting to discuss this with me and other interested Members, about how we could tackle the situation nationally?
Diolch am yr ateb—diolch yn fawr—oherwydd mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â hyn. Mae diwydiant wedi siapio ein tirweddau yng Nghymru, weithiau'n weladwy, fel gyda thomenni glo, ond mae'r halogiad sydd wedi treiddio i'r pridd yn fwy cudd—y safleoedd gwenwynig a adawyd ar ôl gan wastraff tirlenwi a gwastraff cemegol a gafodd ei adael gan gwmnïau, ddegawdau yn ôl weithiau. Mae chwarel Tŷ Llwyd yng Nghaerffili yn un o'r safleoedd hyn. Ond nid yw olrhain y safleoedd hynny bob amser yn syml. Canfu ymchwiliad gan y BBC yn ddiweddar nad yw miloedd o safleoedd yr amheuir eu bod wedi'u halogi erioed wedi cael eu harchwilio gan gynghorau lleol. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod cynghorwyr ac ymgyrchwyr ger Tŷ Llwyd wedi ymgyrchu ers amser maith dros fwy o fonitro, arolygu a chymorth. Yn sicr, mae angen polisi cenedlaethol arnom i ymdrin â'r gwaddol sinistr hwn sy'n cael ei adael ar ôl gan ddiwydiant, oherwydd mae risg i drigolion o safleoedd lle caiff halogiad ei ganfod. Pan fydd hi'n bwrw glaw, gall llygredd gael ei gario i lawr y bryniau, i afonydd a ger cartrefi pobl. Gall topograffeg ein Cymoedd, patrwm y tir, ein gadael yn fwy agored yma. Felly, a wnewch chi gytuno, os gwelwch yn dda, gyda'ch cyd-Aelodau, i gyfarfod i drafod, gyda mi ac Aelodau eraill sydd â diddordeb, sut y gallem fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa yn genedlaethol?
Diolch, Delyth, and thank you for that question. I can see my colleague the Deputy First Minister is here as well. We've both heard that and we can follow that up as well. Just to say that every local authority in Wales already has a duty to identify contaminated land within their areas. They're also required to keep a register of contaminated sites. You referred to Tŷ Llwyd in particular, and obviously in accordance with the legislation and statutory guidance issued by Welsh Ministers, Caerphilly County Borough Council has assessed Tŷ Llwyd to determine its regulatory status. Its preliminary conclusion, based on the outputs of its draft assessment, is that the site does not meet the definition of 'contaminated land', but Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales are currently reviewing that draft assessment, and the council will consider their feedback before a conclusion is made on the site's regulatory status. A remediation options appraisal has been produced by the council and some of its recommendations are currently being implemented to reduce the escape of particular chemicals during wet weather. To assist the council with this work, in December, my colleague the Deputy First Minister approved a capital grant of up to £775,000 during the 2024-25 financial year to assist the council with this urgent work to reduce off-site pollution incidents. Alongside this, NRW are also developing an environmental permit relating to those discharges, which will be issued to the council to further improve the site's future management and reduce off-site impacts. But I'm sure that both myself and my colleague would be happy to follow up on this.
Diolch, Delyth, a diolch am y cwestiwn. Gallaf weld fy nghyd-Aelod, y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, yma hefyd. Mae'r ddau ohonom wedi clywed hynny a gallwn fynd ar ei drywydd hefyd. Mae gan bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru ddyletswydd eisoes i nodi tir halogedig yn eu hardaloedd. Mae'n ofynnol iddynt hefyd gadw cofrestr o safleoedd halogedig. Fe gyfeirioch chi at Dŷ Llwyd yn benodol, ac yn amlwg, yn unol â'r ddeddfwriaeth a'r canllawiau statudol a gyhoeddwyd gan Weinidogion Cymru, mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili wedi asesu Tŷ Llwyd i benderfynu ar ei statws rheoleiddiol. Ei gasgliad rhagarweiniol, yn seiliedig ar allbynnau ei asesiad drafft, yw nad yw'r safle yn bodloni'r diffiniad o 'dir halogedig', ond mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ac Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn adolygu'r asesiad drafft hwnnw, a bydd y cyngor yn ystyried eu hadborth cyn dod i gasgliad ar statws rheoleiddiol y safle. Mae'r cyngor wedi cynhyrchu arfarniad o opsiynau adfer ac mae rhai o'i argymhellion yn cael eu gweithredu ar hyn o bryd i leihau faint o gemegau penodol sy'n gollwng yn ystod tywydd gwlyb. Er mwyn cynorthwyo'r cyngor gyda'r gwaith hwn, ym mis Rhagfyr, cymeradwyodd fy nghyd-Aelod y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog grant cyfalaf o hyd at £775,000 yn ystod blwyddyn ariannol 2024-25 i gynorthwyo'r cyngor gyda'r gwaith brys hwn i leihau digwyddiadau llygredd oddi ar y safle. Ochr yn ochr â hyn, mae CNC hefyd yn datblygu trwydded amgylcheddol mewn perthynas â'r gollyngiadau hynny, a fydd yn cael ei rhoi i'r cyngor i wella rheolaeth y safle ymhellach yn y dyfodol a lleihau effeithiau oddi ar y safle. Ond rwy'n siŵr y byddwn i a fy nghyd-Aelod yn hapus i fynd ar ei drywydd.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig. Cwestiwn 1, Lesley Griffiths.
The next item will be the questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. The first question is from Lesley Griffiths.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am yr effaith y mae gwahardd cŵn bully XL wedi'i chael ar les cŵn yng Nghymru? OQ62523
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact the banning of XL bully dogs has had on the welfare of dogs in Wales? OQ62523

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on owners and keepers of animals to meet their welfare needs. We are in regular contact with our counterparts in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to mitigate negative impacts of the UK Government’s ban and to keep a close eye on developments.
Mae Deddf Lles Anifeiliaid 2006 yn gosod dyletswydd gofal ar berchnogion a cheidwaid anifeiliaid i ddiwallu eu hanghenion lles. Rydym mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â'n cymheiriaid yn Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig i liniaru effeithiau negyddol gwaharddiad Llywodraeth y DU ac i gadw llygad agos ar ddatblygiadau.
Thank you. It's now over a year since it became a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog without an exemption certificate, and whilst the ban was necessary for public safety after far too many tragic XL bully dog attacks, including fatal attacks, there was some concern about the impact that this would have, especially on the euthanasia of healthy dogs and also the abandonment of dogs. So, Cabinet Secretary, how many XL bully dogs with exemption certificates are there in Wales; how many have been euthanised since the legislation was brought in; how many are believed to be kept illegally; and what discussions have you had with the police regarding enforcement of the legislation?
Diolch. Mae dros flwyddyn bellach ers iddi gael ei gwneud yn drosedd i fod yn berchen ar gi bully XL heb dystysgrif eithrio, ac er bod y gwaharddiad yn angenrheidiol er diogelwch y cyhoedd ar ôl llawer gormod o ymosodiadau trasig gan gŵn bully XL, gan gynnwys ymosodiadau angheuol, roedd pryder am yr effaith y byddai hyn yn ei chael, yn enwedig ar ewthaneiddio cŵn iach a chŵn yn cael eu gadael. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, faint o gŵn bully XL sydd â thystysgrifau eithrio yng Nghymru; faint sydd wedi cael eu hewthaneiddio ers i'r ddeddfwriaeth gael ei chyflwyno; faint y credir eu bod yn cael eu cadw'n anghyfreithlon; a pha drafodaethau a gawsoch chi gyda'r heddlu ynglŷn â gorfodi'r ddeddfwriaeth?
Thank you very much, Lesley, and for your commitment on this as well. I can give you some of the data that you're seeking. We know that there were almost 3,000 applications for exemptions in Wales, and 16 applications for compensation as well. I don't have the figures on euthanasia, but perhaps I can come back to you. But you and I, and many others, will have visited some of the rescue centres and so on that were standing up their resources ready to actually deal with the implications of these significant figures here. And we also understand that some owners of seized dogs have also raised their concerns over making sure of the welfare of their animals, when they are taken in, that they're actually being looked after properly. But just to give you the confirmation, my officials are working very closely with the police and local authorities to ensure that they're doing the right thing and also that the welfare of the dogs isn't compromised, either, in this way forward. But that is a significant number of exemptions in Wales, and that will be repeated across England and Wales too. And we need to keep on working with the police, with the animal rescue and homing centres and so on, to make sure that we look after the implications of this and the welfare of the animals.
Diolch, Lesley, ac am eich ymrwymiad i hyn hefyd. Gallaf roi peth o'r data y gofynnoch chi amdani. Gwyddom fod bron i 3,000 o geisiadau am eithriadau wedi'u cyflwyno yng Nghymru, ac 16 o geisiadau am iawndal hefyd. Nid oes gennyf y ffigurau ar ewthaneiddio, ond efallai y gallaf ddod yn ôl atoch. Ond fe fyddwch chi a minnau, a llawer o bobl eraill, wedi ymweld â rhai o'r canolfannau achub ac yn y blaen a oedd yn paratoi adnoddau i ymdrin â goblygiadau'r ffigurau sylweddol hyn yma. Ac rydym hefyd yn deall bod rhai perchnogion cŵn y cymerwyd meddiant arnynt hefyd wedi codi pryderon ynghylch sicrhau lles eu hanifeiliaid, pan gânt eu cymryd, eu bod yn cael gofal priodol. Ond i roi cadarnhad i chi, mae fy swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r heddlu a'r awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau eu bod yn gwneud y peth iawn a hefyd nad yw lles y cŵn mewn perygl ychwaith yn y ffordd hon. Ond mae nifer sylweddol o eithriadau yng Nghymru, a bydd hynny'n cael ei ailadrodd ar draws Cymru a Lloegr hefyd. Ac mae angen inni barhau i weithio gyda'r heddlu, gyda'r canolfannau achub anifeiliaid ac yn y blaen, i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn gofalu am oblygiadau hyn a lles yr anifeiliaid.
2. Sut y mae cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau y gall yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet barhau i weithio tuag at y nod o gyrraedd sero net? OQ62527
2. How does the Welsh Government's budget ensure the Cabinet Secretary can continue to work towards the aim of reaching net zero? OQ62527
Thank you, Buffy. Our approach to tackling the climate emergency is led by evidence and is embedded right across the whole Cabinet. In every emissions sector, the relevant Cabinet Secretary is driving the actions needed and is ensuring that spending has the greatest impact in delivering our carbon budgets and reaching net zero by 2050.
Diolch, Buffy. Mae ein dull o fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd yn cael ei arwain gan dystiolaeth ac mae wedi'i ymgorffori ar draws y Cabinet cyfan. Ym mhob sector allyriadau, mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet perthnasol yn gyrru'r camau sydd eu hangen ac yn sicrhau bod gwariant yn cael yr effaith fwyaf wrth gyflawni ein cyllidebau carbon a chyrraedd sero net erbyn 2050.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Wales needs to focus on home-grown reliable green energy. I know some residents fear what a shift towards green energy might look like for their communities. Irresponsible calls from the UK Conservative leader that reaching net zero is impossible really doesn't help. But renewables don't have to mean covering fields with solar panels. It means projects like the Cambrian Lakeside hydro run by local resident Gareth Thomas, it means making homes greener with better insulation, heat pumps and rooftop solar—smart, sustainable and good for local communities. Housing association Beacon Cymru Group are already working with local colleges to ensure we have the green skills needed for the jobs these projects will create. How can the Welsh Government build on the leadership it has already shown to create more opportunities for young people and develop the workforce needed for proper green transition and reaching net zero? I'd like to invite you to the Rhondda to visit the Lakeside hydro scheme to see first-hand how projects like this can shape Wales's energy future.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae angen i Gymru ganolbwyntio ar ynni gwyrdd dibynadwy a gynhyrchir yn y wlad hon. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhai trigolion yn ofni beth fyddai oblygiadau newid i ynni gwyrdd i'w cymunedau. Nid yw galwadau anghyfrifol gan arweinydd Ceidwadol y DU fod cyrraedd sero net yn amhosibl yn helpu. Ond nid oes rhaid i ynni adnewyddadwy olygu gorchuddio caeau â phaneli solar. Mae'n golygu prosiectau fel prosiect hydro Cambrian Lakeside sy'n cael ei redeg gan breswylydd lleol, Gareth Thomas, ac mae'n golygu gwneud cartrefi'n wyrddach gyda gwell inswleiddio, pympiau gwres a phaneli solar ar y to—sy'n glyfar, yn gynaliadwy ac yn dda i gymunedau lleol. Mae cymdeithas dai Grŵp Beacon Cymru eisoes yn gweithio gyda cholegau lleol i sicrhau bod gennym y sgiliau gwyrdd sydd eu hangen ar gyfer y swyddi y bydd y prosiectau hyn yn eu creu. Sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru adeiladu ar yr arweinyddiaeth y mae eisoes wedi'i dangos i greu mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc a datblygu'r gweithlu sydd ei angen ar gyfer newid gwyrdd priodol a chyrraedd sero net? Hoffwn eich gwahodd i'r Rhondda i ymweld â chynllun hydro Lakeside i weld drosoch eich hun sut y gall prosiectau fel hyn siapio dyfodol ynni Cymru.
Thank you very much, Buffy. And do you know, it's so right that you focus on the potential here, the opportunities for jobs and skills for young people—and all ages, actually—that arise from committing to that net-zero target, and then driving at it, and then the sort of community initiatives that you're talking about as well, where it's really embedded in the local community and the advantages and the benefits are seen right there. But building on the response I gave to you initially that this is a cross-Government piece of work, I can tell you that Welsh Government is investing £144 million this year in apprenticeships throughout Wales, and one focus on those is the development of net-zero skills, so in things such as infrastructure projects, decarbonisation of housing and regulatory requirements. We've also got really valuable partnerships with social landlords as well, and also with higher and further education facilities, so driving forward expertise in hubs in energy efficiency, small-scale renewable, energy, community energy, offering training to young people, and reskilling others who wish to take advantage of this green transition. And also my colleague the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership is undertaking a review right now on green skills, alongside the Minister for Further and Higher Education. We want to grow this, including in construction and the built environment, as a sector that exemplifies core green skills.
And just finally, work is being done by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning with the built environment skills round-table, which included specific items on how to support this culture shift with more people coming into careers in the sector, and also working on workforce diversity as well, as we push towards this green revolution and zero carbon.
But you are right in saying—and by the way, I'll definitely take up your invitation to come and see the Lakeside hydro and the work of the Cambrian Village Trust hydro plant—very pleased to see it. It's a cracking example of locally generated renewable energy. But you're so right in saying that what we need to do here in the Senedd and in Welsh Government is recommit to actually driving towards net zero and seizing those opportunities, not to follow the backwards leadership of the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch who's now said it's impossible to meet, and we should throw it away.
Diolch, Buffy. Wyddoch chi, mae mor iawn eich bod chi'n canolbwyntio ar y potensial yma, y cyfleoedd ar gyfer swyddi a sgiliau i bobl ifanc—a phob oedran, mewn gwirionedd—sy'n deillio o ymrwymo i'r targed sero net, ac anelu tuag ato, ac yna'r math o fentrau cymunedol rydych chi'n siarad amdanynt hefyd, lle mae wedi gwreiddio yn y gymuned leol ac mae'r manteision a'r buddion i'w gweld yno. Ond gan adeiladu ar yr ymateb a roddais i chi ar y dechrau fod hwn yn waith trawslywodraethol, gallaf ddweud wrthych fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi £144 miliwn eleni mewn prentisiaethau ledled Cymru, ac un ffocws ar y rheini yw datblygu sgiliau sero net, felly mewn pethau fel prosiectau seilwaith, datgarboneiddio tai a gofynion rheoleiddio. Mae gennym hefyd bartneriaethau gwerthfawr iawn gyda landlordiaid cymdeithasol, a chyda chyfleusterau addysg uwch a phellach, felly bwrw ymlaen ag arbenigedd mewn hybiau mewn effeithlonrwydd ynni, ynni adnewyddadwy ar raddfa fach, ynni, ynni cymunedol, gan gynnig hyfforddiant i bobl ifanc, ac ailsgilio eraill sy'n dymuno manteisio ar y newid gwyrdd. Ac mae fy nghyd-Aelod y Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol yn cynnal adolygiad ar hyn o bryd o sgiliau gwyrdd, ochr yn ochr â'r Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch. Rydym am ddatblygu hyn, gan gynnwys yn y maes adeiladu a'r amgylchedd adeiledig, fel sector sy'n cynnig patrwm o sgiliau gwyrdd craidd.
Ac yn olaf, mae gwaith yn cael ei wneud gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio gyda'r ford gron ar sgiliau yr amgylchedd adeiledig, a oedd yn cynnwys eitemau penodol ar sut i gefnogi'r newid diwylliant hwn gyda mwy o bobl yn dod i yrfaoedd yn y sector, gan weithio ar amrywiaeth y gweithlu hefyd, wrth inni wthio tuag at y chwyldro gwyrdd a dim carbon.
Ond rydych chi'n iawn i ddweud—a chyda llaw, byddaf yn bendant yn derbyn eich gwahoddiad i ddod i weld gwaith hydro Lakeside a gwaith hydro Cambrian Village Trust—rwy'n falch iawn o'i weld. Mae'n enghraifft wych o ynni adnewyddadwy wedi'i gynhyrchu'n lleol. Ond rydych chi mor iawn yn dweud mai'r hyn sydd angen inni ei wneud yma yn y Senedd ac yn Llywodraeth Cymru yw ailymrwymo i yrru tuag at sero net a manteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny, nid dilyn arweinyddiaeth anflaengar arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Kemi Badenoch sydd bellach wedi dweud ei fod yn amhosibl ei wneud, ac y dylem gael gwared arno.
Cabinet Secretary, you're well aware of the issues in my constituency regarding the new wind farm developments and pylon developments across my constituency. Many of the people I speak to are very, very concerned about the industrialisation of mid Wales, our landscape being destroyed, our ecology being destroyed, and the rural way of life being destroyed, which will affect our tourism businesses and associated businesses across the patch. What I don't want to see, Cabinet Secretary, is my constituency put on the altar and sacrificed on the road to net zero to get to these targets. So, I want some cast-iron commitments from you that this Government will not sacrifice our rural communities in favour of your net-zero commitments. So, can you give me that assurance today that you'll stand with rural communities and not ride roughshod over them like other Cabinet Secretaries have done before you?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydych chi'n ymwybodol iawn o'r materion sy'n codi yn fy etholaeth gyda'r datblygiadau ffermydd gwynt newydd a datblygiadau peilonau ar draws fy etholaeth. Mae llawer o'r bobl rwy'n siarad â hwy yn bryderus iawn ynglŷn â diwydiannu canolbarth Cymru, y dinistr i'n tirwedd, ein hecoleg a'r ffordd wledig o fyw, a fydd yn effeithio ar ein busnesau twristiaeth a busnesau cysylltiedig ym mhob man. Yr hyn nad wyf am ei weld, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yw fy etholaeth yn cael ei haberthu ar allor y ffordd tuag at sero net a chyrraedd y targedau hyn. Felly, rwyf eisiau ymrwymiadau cadarn gennych na fydd y Llywodraeth hon yn aberthu ein cymunedau gwledig o blaid eich ymrwymiadau sero net. Felly, a allwch chi roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw i mi heddiw y byddwch chi'n sefyll gyda chymunedau gwledig ac nad ydych chi'n eu sathru dan draed fel y mae Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet eraill wedi'i wneud o'ch blaen?
So, the take-away comment from that, James, is that you don't want to see communities, and I quote,
'sacrificed on the road to net zero'—
echoes directly of your Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, in saying that it is impossible to reach net zero. This is a different position, I have to say, from the frontbench of the Conservatives over many, many years, where there has been cross-party consensus here that we should seize the opportunities of the drive to net zero for all our communities here in Wales.
Now, as you know, there was, actually, an innovation fund put forward—my thanks to the discussions that were had, of course, with the Liberal Democrat leader here in the Senedd—an innovation fund that was put forward in the budget that actually seeks to explore that undergrounding of cables more and to bottom out that. It was, of course—the funding that we put forward for that was—exactly the funding that you voted against on the Conservative benches in the budget.
Felly, yr hyn a ddeallaf o hynny, James, yw nad oes arnoch eisiau gweld cymunedau,
'yn cael eu haberthu ar y ffordd tuag at sero net'—
sy'n adlais uniongyrchol o’r hyn a ddywedodd eich arweinydd Ceidwadol, Kemi Badenoch, sef ei bod yn amhosibl cyrraedd sero net. Mae hwn yn safbwynt gwahanol, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, i fainc flaen y Ceidwadwyr ers blynyddoedd lawer, lle bu consensws trawsbleidiol yma y dylem achub ar gyfleoedd yr ymgyrch tuag at sero net ar gyfer ein holl gymunedau yma yng Nghymru.
Nawr, fel y gwyddoch, fe gynigiwyd cronfa arloesi—rwy'n ddiolchgar am y trafodaethau a gafwyd gydag arweinydd y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yma yn y Senedd—cronfa arloesi a gynigiwyd yn y gyllideb i geisio archwilio ymhellach y gwaith o osod ceblau o dan y ddaear ac i gael mwy o wybodaeth am hynny. Y cyllid hwnnw, wrth gwrs—y cyllid a gyflwynwyd gennym ar gyfer hynny—oedd yr union gyllid y pleidleisioch chi yn ei erbyn ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr yn y gyllideb.
Galwaf y nawr ar lefarwyr y pleidiau. Ac yn gyntaf, llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Janet Finch-Saunders.
I now call on the party spokespeople. First of all, the Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Thank you. The Marine Conservation Society’s latest 'State of our beaches' report makes for alarming reading. And it has to be said, Cabinet Secretary, that, since I first came here, I’ve raised concerns about our marine environment. So, despite declaring a climate crisis, despite declaring a nature crisis, and despite Wales being second in the world for recycling rates, there has been a 4 per cent increase in the average amount of litter found on our beaches.
Now, in terms of nature recovery, the kinds of plastics and things found there, ingested by birds and sea mammals and everything, are just not being addressed by you as a Government. England has seen a 2.2 per cent decrease. There were 120 litter items per 100m of beach surveyed, 175 glass bottles collected. Whilst I’m sure you will join with me in praising the 1,073 people who volunteered to survey Welsh beaches and also to thank the Marine Conservation Society for their invaluable work, what steps are you really taking, as the Minister with responsibility for this, to help combat this marine litter, but also, more importantly, to support our marine environment?
Diolch. Mae adroddiad 'State of our beaches' diweddaraf y Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol yn frawychus. Ac mae'n rhaid dweud, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fy mod i, ers imi ddod yma gyntaf, wedi codi pryderon am ein hamgylchedd morol. Felly, er ein bod wedi datgan argyfwng hinsawdd, er ein bod wedi datgan argyfwng natur, ac er bod Cymru yn ail yn y byd gyda'i chyfraddau ailgylchu, bu cynnydd o 4 y cant ar gyfartaledd o ran faint o sbwriel a geir ar ein traethau.
Nawr, mewn perthynas ag adfer natur, nid yw’r mathau o blastigau ac ati a geir yno, sy’n cael eu llyncu gan adar a mamaliaid y môr, yn cael sylw gennych chi fel Llywodraeth. Bu gostyngiad o 2.2 y cant yn Lloegr. Roedd 120 eitem o sbwriel fesul 100m o draeth a arolygwyd, a chasglwyd 175 o boteli gwydr. Er fy mod yn siŵr y gwnewch chi ymuno â mi i ganmol y 1,073 o bobl a wirfoddolodd i arolygu traethau Cymru a hefyd i ddiolch i’r Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol am eu gwaith amhrisiadwy, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd, fel y Gweinidog â chyfrifoldeb am hyn, i helpu i frwydro yn erbyn y sbwriel morol hwn, ond hefyd, yn bwysicach, i gefnogi ein hamgylchedd morol?
Janet, thank you for that question, but I refute entirely the suggestion that Welsh Government is doing nothing on this. In fact, what we are doing is putting funding in place for Keep Wales Tidy to drive forward initiatives, not only on the beaches but in local communities all across Wales.
In the budget, which your benches voted against, we’re also supporting, of course—as I have individually been out there, as many Members in this Senedd Chamber will have been out there as well, from the Siambr, on the beach cleaning and supporting—the work of the Marine Conservation Society. And that’s where I would agree with you absolutely on the work of the MCS and Keep Wales Tidy, funded by Welsh Government, and many other myriad organisations, not only to clean up the local environments and deal with the problems of litter, but also to, by example, demonstrate to others individual responsibility as well, which is something we’ve talked about before. It’s what Government can do, what the third sector can do, sometimes with our support, and what individuals can do.
It's also, by the way, individual policy areas. So, we’re still the only place here within the UK that actually has a collection system for plastic fisheries netting. So, we collect it in Wales and we recycle it. So, we’re doing an enormous amount within this area—and I think we should encourage all those partners out there: statutory agencies, voluntary agencies, and everybody who contributes to this—as well as the money that we put in from Welsh Government, because littering is simply unacceptable and the plastic waste and the microplastics are really polluting our environment.
Janet, diolch am eich cwestiwn, ond rwy'n gwrthod yr awgrym nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud dim ar hyn. Mewn gwirionedd, rydym yn darparu cyllid i Cadwch Gymru’n Daclus fwrw ymlaen â mentrau, nid yn unig ar y traethau, ond mewn cymunedau lleol ledled Cymru.
Yn y gyllideb, y pleidleisiodd eich meinciau yn ei herbyn, rydym hefyd yn cefnogi—gan fy mod wedi bod allan yno fy hun, fel y bydd llawer o Aelodau yn Siambr y Senedd wedi bod allan hefyd yn glanhau traethau ac yn cefnogi—gwaith y Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol. A dyna ble rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ynglŷn â gwaith y Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol a Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus, a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a nifer fawr o sefydliadau eraill, nid yn unig i lanhau'r amgylcheddau lleol a mynd i'r afael â phroblemau taflu sbwriel, ond hefyd, drwy esiampl, i ddangos cyfrifoldeb fel unigolion i eraill hefyd, sy'n rhywbeth rydym wedi siarad amdano o'r blaen. Mae a wnelo â'r hyn y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud, yr hyn y gall y trydydd sector ei wneud, weithiau gyda'n cymorth ni, a'r hyn y gall unigolion ei wneud.
Mae a wnelo hefyd, gyda llaw, â meysydd polisi unigol. Felly, ni yw'r unig le yma yn y DU o hyd sydd â system gasglu ar gyfer rhwydi plastig o bysgodfeydd. Felly, rydym yn eu casglu yng Nghymru ac rydym yn eu hailgylchu. Rydym yn gwneud llawer iawn yn y maes hwn—ac rwy'n credu y dylem annog yr holl bartneriaid sydd allan yno: asiantaethau statudol, asiantaethau gwirfoddol, a phawb sy'n cyfrannu at hyn—yn ogystal â'r arian a ddarparwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, gan fod taflu sbwriel yn gwbl annerbyniol ac mae'r gwastraff plastig a'r microblastigau yn llygru ein hamgylchedd yn fawr.
Thank you. You seemed a bit surprised there that I said that you didn’t take the marine environment seriously, and it’s fair to say that, two years ago, Lord Deben, in the climate change report, actually said that more needed to be done by this Government in terms of the marine environment.
Now one obvious solution is clear when considering that drinks-related litter was found on 99 per cent of beach surveys. Glass bottles were not found on the majority. We know, as of last November, that the Welsh Labour Government has failed yet again. It was the last year of the last Senedd term that I won I think it was a Member's legislative proposal to bring forward a deposit-return scheme, and look, here we are now, and we are no further forward. We know that you’ve failed again to co-operate with the UK Labour Government on a shared concern—on this occasion, the deposit-return scheme. Despite supermarket bosses claiming that your decision will cause cross-border chaos, despite British Glass warning that including glass will increase the use of plastic packaging, you do nothing, and, despite knowing that 91 per cent of beach cleans record plastic bottles and lids, you're still delaying the introduction of the DRS scheme in Wales. Do you agree with the Marine Conservation Society—because I do—that Welsh Government should now bring forward a DRS without fail and without falling behind the October 2027 deadline set for the DRS in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Diolch. Roeddech i'ch gweld yn synnu pan ddywedais nad oeddech o ddifrif ynghylch yr amgylchedd morol, ac mae'n deg dweud bod yr Arglwydd Deben wedi dweud, ddwy flynedd yn ôl yn yr adroddiad newid hinsawdd, fod angen i'r Llywodraeth hon wneud mwy ar yr amgylchedd morol.
Nawr, mae un ateb amlwg o gofio bod sbwriel sy'n gysylltiedig â diodydd wedi’i ganfod mewn 99 y cant o arolygon traethau. Ni chafwyd hyd i boteli gwydr yn y rhan fwyaf ohonynt. Ers mis Tachwedd, fe wyddom fod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi methu unwaith eto. Yn y flwyddyn olaf o dymor y Senedd ddiwethaf, enillais gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod, rwy'n credu, i gyflwyno cynllun dychwelyd ernes, ac edrychwch, dyma ni nawr, ac nid ydym wedi mynd gam ymhellach. Gwyddom eich bod wedi methu unwaith eto â chydweithredu â Llywodraeth Lafur y DU ar bryder cyffredin—y tro hwn, y cynllun dychwelyd ernes. Er bod penaethiaid archfarchnadoedd yn honni y bydd eich penderfyniad yn achosi anhrefn trawsffiniol, er gwaethaf y rhybudd gan British Glass y bydd cynnwys gwydr yn cynyddu’r defnydd o becynnu plastig, nid ydych yn gwneud unrhyw beth, ac er y gwyddoch fod 91 y cant o ddigwyddiadau glanhau traethau yn cofnodi poteli a chaeadau plastig, rydych chi'n dal i ohirio cyflwyno’r cynllun dychwelyd ernes yng Nghymru. A ydych chi'n cytuno â’r Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol—oherwydd rwyf fi'n cytuno â hwy—y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno cynllun dychwelyd ernes yn ddi-ffael ac yn unol â'r terfyn amser o fis Hydref 2027 a osodwyd ar gyfer y cynllun dychwelyd ernes yn Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon?
Do you know, yes, I do? We need to bring forward this DRS scheme, which goes beyond recycling, rapidly. Does the frontbench spokesman agree with the MCS that that should include glass reuse? Because you used to believe that. That is not, I understand, the position that some of your frontbench colleagues have been advocating. Now, we say that we are second in the world on recycling, and we now need to go beyond recycling and go into reuse of glass. Is that still the position of the frontbench spokesman? Does she agree with the MCS, and every other environmental—[Interruption.]—and every—[Interruption.]—and every—[Interruption.]—and every—[Interruption.]—and every other environmental organisation that is urging the Welsh Government to proceed with DRS, including glass? Do you?
Wyddoch chi beth, ydw, rwy'n cytuno? Mae angen inni gyflwyno'r cynllun dychwelyd ernes hwn, sy'n mynd y tu hwnt i ailgylchu, ar fyrder. A yw llefarydd y fainc flaen yn cytuno â'r Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol y dylai hynny gynnwys ailddefnyddio gwydr? Oherwydd roeddech chi'n arfer credu hynny. Rwy'n deall nad dyna yw'r safbwynt y mae rhai o’ch cyd-Aelodau ar y fainc flaen wedi bod yn ei hyrwyddo. Nawr, rydym yn dweud ein bod yn ail yn y byd o ran ailgylchu, a bod angen inni fynd y tu hwnt i ailgylchu nawr a dechrau ailddefnyddio gwydr. Ai dyna safbwynt llefarydd y fainc flaen o hyd? A yw'n cytuno â’r Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol, a phob sefydliad amgylcheddol arall—[Torri ar draws.]—a phob—[Torri ar draws.]—a phob—[Torri ar draws.]—a phob—[Torri ar draws.]—a phob sefydliad amgylcheddol arall sy’n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i fwrw ymlaen â’r cynllun dychwelyd ernes, gan gynnwys gwydr? Ydych chi?
I believe—
Rwy'n credu—
Do you?
Ydych chi?
Let me finish.
Gadewch imi orffen.
Do you?
Ydych chi?
I believe—
Rwy'n credu—
First of all, it's questions to the Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary should answer the questions, and not necessarily ask questions back. And there'll be no conversations—[Interruption.]—and there'll be no conversation between the two Members. Let's have the questions, please.
Yn gyntaf oll, cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yw'r rhain. Dylai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ateb y cwestiynau, ac nid gofyn cwestiynau yn ôl o reidrwydd. Ac ni fydd unrhyw sgyrsiau—[Torri ar draws.]—ac ni fydd unrhyw sgyrsiau rhwng y ddau Aelod. Gadewch inni gael y cwestiynau, os gwelwch yn dda.
Yes, exactly. Move over. Move over, Huw—I'll come and sit there.
So, I believe—[Interruption.] I believe, I honestly do believe, that what makes good policy, what makes good legislation, and, even more, what makes a better politician, is that you listen to the industry, you listen to the science. So, as far as I'm concerned, our position is right on this.
Ie, yn union. Symudwch draw. Symudwch draw, Huw—fe ddof i eistedd yno.
Felly, rwy'n credu—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol mai'r hyn sy’n gwneud polisi da, yr hyn sy’n gwneud deddfwriaeth dda, a hyd yn oed ymhellach, mai'r hyn sy’n gwneud gwleidydd da, yw eich bod yn gwrando ar y diwydiant, eich bod yn gwrando ar y wyddoniaeth. Felly, o'm rhan i, mae ein safbwynt ar hyn yn gywir.
What? What position?
Beth? Pa safbwynt?
So, anyway—. So, Deputy First Minister, you informed the Senedd's climate change committee that introducing a bespoke scheme in Wales would lead to an increase in costs, and that you have planned for that. You also said that any additional resources needed to implement the scheme will be considered in the budget rounds for future years. So, at a time when the economy is shrinking, your Chancellor is cutting cash to the old and the vulnerable, and you are increasing taxation on family farms, employers and employees, do you not actually think it is wise now, in order to save some money, but also to save our planet—? Will you co-operate with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to deliver a DRS, instead of trying to go down the more costly route of trying to go it alone? I certainly wouldn't advise that.
Felly, beth bynnag—. Felly, Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog, fe ddywedoch chi wrth bwyllgor newid hinsawdd y Senedd y byddai cyflwyno cynllun pwrpasol yng Nghymru yn arwain at gynnydd mewn costau, a’ch bod wedi cynllunio ar gyfer hynny. Fe ddywedoch chi hefyd y bydd unrhyw adnoddau ychwanegol sydd eu hangen i roi’r cynllun ar waith yn cael eu hystyried yn y cylchoedd cyllidebol ar gyfer y blynyddoedd i ddod. Felly, ar adeg pan fo’r economi’n crebachu, pan fo'ch Canghellor yn torri arian i’r henoed a'r bregus, a phan ydych chi'n cynyddu trethiant ar ffermydd teuluol, cyflogwyr a gweithwyr, onid ydych yn credu ei bod yn ddoeth nawr, er mwyn arbed rhywfaint o arian, ond hefyd i achub ein planed—? A wnewch chi gydweithredu â Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon i gyflwyno cynllun dychwelyd ernes, yn hytrach na cheisio torri eich cwys fwy costus eich hun? Yn sicr, ni fyddwn yn cynghori hynny.
Got it. Dirprwy Lywydd, I now understand. It's for a DRS, but not for a DRS with reuse with glass. That's very, very clear. What the frontbench spokesman, Janet, wants us to do is fall in line with the England approach—. Bear in mind that Scotland wants to do what we want to do, and Northern Ireland will follow, and England eventually as well. What she wants us to do is proceed on a recycle DRS and to walk back from the position that was consulted on three years ago, in a four-nation consultation, where DRS with glass was the basis of the consultation. The Conservative Government at that point walked away from it, decided they would go their own way. It was regrettable, I have to say, because, ultimately, you and I know that the cost of heating glass that is broken, shattered into pieces, and making it into a new bottle means heating it up to 1,500 to 1,800 degrees. On that basis, if we're serious about the climate emergency and decarbonisation, we need reuse with glass, not just recycling with glass. So, it's for and against; I think I've understood the position now.
The pertinent question was: when can we actually get on with introducing it? I think that's a valid question. It's of regret that we can't move forward on a four-nation basis, as originally agreed and consulted on four years ago. But we are closely engaged with the UK Government, and are currently, even before the consultation, engaging with key stakeholders—I've spoken at several events myself—actually working with them to show how this can work within a UK context and that Wales can actually show the leadership that we rightly have prided ourselves on previously. So, we will work ahead. We'll do it in a collaborative way, Dirprwy Lywydd and Janet. The consultation will be landing shortly as well, and we will introduce this as soon as practically possible, for the good of the people of Wales, and, actually, to show leadership that I am utterly convinced will be followed by the other nations of the UK in rapid order.
Iawn. Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n deall nawr. Maent o blaid cynllun dychwelyd ernes, ond nid cynllun dychwelyd ernes sy'n cynnwys ailddefnyddio gwydr. Mae hynny'n glir iawn. Yr hyn y mae llefarydd y fainc flaen, Janet, am inni ei wneud yw gwneud yr un fath â Lloegr—. Cofiwch fod yr Alban am wneud yr hyn rydym ni am ei wneud, a bydd Gogledd Iwerddon yn dilyn, a Lloegr yn y pen draw hefyd. Yr hyn y mae hi am inni ei wneud yw bwrw ymlaen â chynllun dychwelyd ernes ailgylchu ac anwybyddu'r safbwynt yr ymgynghorwyd arno dair blynedd yn ôl, mewn ymgynghoriad pedair gwlad, lle'r oedd cynllun dychwelyd ernes gyda gwydr yn sail i'r ymgynghoriad. Ar y pwynt hwnnw, cefnodd y Llywodraeth Geidwadol arno, gan benderfynu y byddent yn mynd eu ffordd eu hunain. Roedd hynny'n destun gofid, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, oherwydd yn y pen draw, rydych chi a minnau’n gwybod bod cost gwresogi gwydr sydd wedi torri, wedi chwalu’n deilchion, a’i droi yn botel newydd yn golygu ei gynhesu i 1,500 i 1,800 gradd. Ar y sail honno, os ydym o ddifrif am yr argyfwng hinsawdd a datgarboneiddio, mae angen inni ailddefnyddio gyda gwydr, nid ailgylchu â gwydr yn unig. Felly, maent o blaid ac yn erbyn; rwy'n credu fy mod wedi deall eu safbwynt bellach.
Y cwestiwn perthnasol oedd: pryd y gallwn fwrw ymlaen â'i gyflwyno? Credaf fod hwnnw’n gwestiwn dilys. Mae'n destun gofid na allwn symud ymlaen ar sail pedair gwlad, fel y cytunwyd yn wreiddiol ac yr ymgynghorwyd arno bedair blynedd yn ôl. Ond rydym yn ymgysylltu'n agos â Llywodraeth y DU, ac ar hyn o bryd, hyd yn oed cyn yr ymgynghoriad, yn ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid allweddol—rwyf wedi siarad mewn sawl digwyddiad fy hun—ac yn gweithio gyda hwy i ddangos sut y gall hyn weithio yng nghyd-destun y DU, ac y gall Cymru ddangos yr arweiniad yr ydym wedi bod yn briodol falch ohono yn y gorffennol. Felly, byddwn yn gweithio rhag blaen. Byddwn yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd gydweithredol, Ddirprwy Llywydd a Janet. Bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn dod i ben cyn bo hir hefyd, a byddwn yn cyflwyno hyn cyn gynted ag sy’n ymarferol bosibl, er lles pobl Cymru, ac mewn gwirionedd, i ddangos yr arweiniad rwy'n gwbl argyhoeddedig y bydd cenhedloedd eraill y DU yn ei ddilyn yn ddi-oed.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae Cymru wedi wynebu nifer cynyddol o lifogydd dinistriol, sydd wedi cael effaith ofnadwy ar gymunedau ac ar fusnesau. Nawr, er bod perchnogion tai yn elwa o’r cynllun yswiriant Flood Re, mae busnesau yn parhau i fod heb eu diogelu. Yn aml, maen nhw’n wynebu premiums wrth geisio cael yswiriant, ac mae’r diwydiant yn cario ymlaen i ddadlau nad ydy e’n ymarferol i ymestyn cynllun o’r fath i fusnesau. Mae nifer cynyddol o fusnesau yn gorfod cau.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnaethoch chi gydnabod y mater hwn, a dywedoch chi y byddech chi’n cwrdd ag yswirwyr i drafod cynllun yswiriant llifogydd ar gyfer busnesau. A allwch chi gadarnhau, plîs, os ydych chi yn gweld ffordd realistig ymlaen i ehangu yswiriant llifogydd i fusnesau, a pha ymrwymiadau penodol y byddwch chi’n ceisio eu cael o’r diwydiant, ar ran y busnesau sydd mewn perygl?
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Wales has faced an increasing number of devastating floods, which have had a terrible impact on communities and businesses. Now, while home owners are benefiting from the Flood Re insurance scheme, businesses remain unprotected. Often, they face premiums when trying to obtain cover, and the industry continues to argue that it is not practical to extend such a scheme to businesses. An increasing number of businesses are facing closure.
Now, last week, you acknowledged this pressing issue, and you said that you would meet with insurers to discuss a flood insurance scheme focused on businesses. Now, could you confirm whether you see a realistic way forward to expand flood insurance to businesses, and what specific commitments would you seek to obtain from the industry on behalf of the businesses at risk?
Thank you. I think this is worth raising with insurers, and I will be meeting, in fairly short order—I can’t remember the exact date—with the ABI, the Association of British Insurers, to discuss this and other matters, including the existing Flood Re scheme, but also to look at whether or not there is some scope to explore some way in which we can also provide provision for private businesses, commercial operators as well, because they are not within the current Flood Re scheme.
Now, 'I don’t know' is the answer. I think we have to have those discussions with the insurers, first of all. I know that when the Flood Re scheme was brought in originally—and, crikey, I was there at the time with the late John Prescott when he discussed and argued the case with insurers—they always look to, of course, their own liabilities, and they expect, quite rightly, that, if they’re going to provide something like Flood Re for households, Government will step up and put the requisite investment in on their part as well. So, they’re not going to do it without knowing that we’re going to step up.
So, I genuinely am pleased, and can say to the ABI and their members, that we’re doing our part. We have record investment, and have had that for the last three years, and we’ll keep that momentum going on the scale of investment we will do. And I think that, on that basis—and I’m sure they listen to what we say here within the Siambr as well—when I meet with them, I’ll want to discuss this with them as well. I can’t tell you the parameters yet, but I think we need to explore this with the insurance industry.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth codi hyn gydag yswirwyr, a byddaf yn cyfarfod, cyn bo hir—ni allaf gofio'r union ddyddiad—gyda Chymdeithas Yswirwyr Prydain i drafod hyn a materion eraill, gan gynnwys cynllun presennol Flood Re, ond hefyd i weld a oes lle i archwilio rhyw ffordd y gallwn sicrhau darpariaeth hefyd ar gyfer busnesau preifat, gweithredwyr masnachol yn ogystal, gan nad ydynt yn rhan o gynllun presennol Flood Re.
Nawr, 'nid wyf yn gwybod' yw'r ateb. Mae'n rhaid inni gael y trafodaethau hynny gyda’r yswirwyr, yn gyntaf oll. Pan gyflwynwyd cynllun Flood Re i ddechrau—a mawredd, roeddwn yno ar y pryd gyda'r diweddar John Prescott pan fu'n trafod ac yn dadlau'r achos gydag yswirwyr—maent bob amser yn ystyried eu rhwymedigaethau eu hunain wrth gwrs, ac maent yn disgwyl, yn gwbl briodol, os ydynt yn mynd i ddarparu rhywbeth fel Flood Re ar gyfer aelwydydd, y bydd y Llywodraeth yn camu i'r adwy ac yn darparu'r buddsoddiad angenrheidiol ar eu rhan hefyd. Felly, nid ydynt yn mynd i'w wneud heb wybod ein bod yn mynd i gamu i'r adwy.
Felly, rwy'n wirioneddol falch, a gallaf ddweud wrth Gymdeithas Yswirwyr Prydain a'u haelodau, ein bod yn chwarae ein rhan. Mae ein buddsoddiad yn uwch nag erioed, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn wir am y tair blynedd diwethaf, a byddwn yn cadw’r momentwm hwnnw i fynd o ran maint ein buddsoddiad. Ac ar y sail honno—ac rwy'n siŵr eu bod yn gwrando ar yr hyn a ddywedwn yma yn y Siambr—pan fyddaf yn cyfarfod â hwy, byddaf am drafod hyn gyda hwy hefyd. Ni allaf ddweud wrthych beth yw'r paramedrau eto, ond rwy'n credu bod angen inni archwilio hyn gyda'r diwydiant yswiriant.
Ocê, diolch am hynna. I droi nawr at yr effaith seicolegol sy’n cael ei adael ar ôl ar ôl llifogydd, mae pobl sydd wedi eu heffeithio gan lifogydd yn aml yn dioddef gyda gorbryder, trawma, ac mae rhai pobl wedi datblygu cyflyrau iechyd difrifol. Awgryma ymchwil gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Lloegr fod pobl sy’n profi llifogydd y tu mewn i’w cartrefi nhw saith gwaith yn fwy tebygol o ddatblygu iselder, gorbryder neu PTSD o fewn blwyddyn. Os ydy’r dŵr yn codi uwchben metr, mae’r risg o iselder yn cynyddu 15 gwaith, gorbryder 10 gwaith, a PTSD 18 gwaith.
Nawr, o ystyried y dystiolaeth gynyddol o effaith llifogydd ar iechyd meddwl, a’r straen mae hyn yn ei roi ar unigolion a’r gwasanaeth iechyd, pa asesiad mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud o’r effaith seicolegol ac emosiynol sy’n cael ei achosi gan lifogydd ar gymunedau, a pha gymorth penodol sy’n cael ei roi i helpu pobl sy’n delio gyda trawma, yn enwedig plant?
Okay, thank you for that. Turning now to the psychological impact left in the wake of a flood, people who have been affected by flooding often suffer from anxiety and trauma, and some people have developed serious health conditions. Research by Public Health England suggests that people who experience flooding inside their homes are up to seven times more likely to develop depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder within a year. If flood waters rise above a metre, the risk of depression increases 15 times, anxiety 10 times, and PTSD 18 times.
Now, in light of the growing evidence around the impact of flooding on mental health, and the stress that this places on individuals and the NHS, what assessment has the Welsh Government undertaken regarding the psychological and emotional impact of flooding on communities, and what specific support is given to people who are dealing with the trauma, particularly children?
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn hwn.
Thank you very much for this question.
We haven’t carried out an assessment, but that’s not to say we’re not very cognisant of the effect this has on mental health and well-being, particularly if you have properties that are regularly flooded, that used to be one in 100 but now are happening three times in 10 years. And we’ve seen it ourselves; we’ve spoken with the residents affected. So, I don’t think we need to do that sort of assessment—a classic desk-based assessment or whatever—to know that it is impacting people. What we do need to make sure is that we’ve got the platforms, the resources, available to actually help people who are worried about the impact of flooding and then it affects their wider mental health and well-being. A couple of ways in which we can do that. One is making sure that we have the broad mental health support available within each community, but the other thing, specifically, is the work of the flood forum here within Wales. We’re pleased that, in some communities that are particularly highly affected, we’ve managed to lever in some additional funding to maintain their presence in specific communities.
There’s a wider question going forward about how the flood forum—. And I know a lot of these people. I’ve known them for years and years, and the good work they do, because they are in there in the communities, they work with the communities and, in some ways, hold the hand and put an arm around the shoulders of people. We’re keen to explore with them what more can be done, going forward, and we’re undertaking that work, because I think that’s a very specific way then, as well, in respect of specifically flooding and the risk of flooding, that they can have somebody to go to and say, ‘I’m really worried about this. How can we help? What can we do?’ Part of that, I have to say, as well, is community resilience. It’s the ability of strong communities to come together and support each other, because that will undoubtedly improve the well-being and resilience of those communities—that an individual doesn’t feel that they’re alone.
Nid ydym wedi cynnal asesiad, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu nad ydym yn ymwybodol iawn o'r effaith y mae hyn yn ei chael ar iechyd meddwl a lles, yn enwedig os oes gennych eiddo sy'n dioddef llifogydd yn rheolaidd, a arferai fod yn un mewn 100 ond sydd bellach yn digwydd deirgwaith mewn 10 mlynedd. Ac rydym wedi'i weld ein hunain; rydym wedi siarad â'r trigolion yr effeithiwyd arnynt. Felly, ni chredaf fod angen inni wneud y math hwnnw o asesiad—asesiad desg traddodiadol neu beth bynnag—i wybod bod hyn yn effeithio ar bobl. Yr hyn y mae angen inni ei sicrhau yw bod y platfformau a'r adnoddau ar gael i helpu pobl sy'n poeni am effaith llifogydd ac sydd wedyn yn effeithio ar eu hiechyd meddwl a'u lles yn fwy cyffredinol. Mae un neu ddwy o ffyrdd y gallwn wneud hynny. Un yw sicrhau bod gennym y cymorth iechyd meddwl eang ar gael ym mhob cymuned, ond y llall, yn benodol, yw gwaith y fforwm llifogydd yma yng Nghymru. Rydym yn falch, mewn rhai cymunedau yr effeithir arnynt yn arbennig o wael, ein bod wedi llwyddo i ddenu rhywfaint o arian ychwanegol i gynnal eu presenoldeb mewn cymunedau penodol.
Mae cwestiwn ehangach wrth symud ymlaen ynglŷn â sut y mae'r fforwm llifogydd—. Ac rwy'n adnabod llawer o'r bobl hyn. Rwyf wedi eu hadnabod ers blynyddoedd maith, a’r gwaith da a wnânt, gan eu bod yno yn y cymunedau, maent yn gweithio gyda’r cymunedau, ac mewn rhai ffyrdd, yn dal dwylo ac yn rhoi braich am ysgwyddau pobl. Rydym yn awyddus i archwilio gyda hwy beth arall y gellir ei wneud, wrth symud ymlaen, ac rydym yn cyflawni’r gwaith hwnnw, gan y credaf fod honno’n ffordd benodol iawn hefyd o ran llifogydd yn benodol a’r perygl o lifogydd, y gallant gael rhywun i fynd atynt ac i ddweud, 'Rwy’n poeni’n ofnadwy am hyn. Sut y gallwn helpu? Beth y gallwn ei wneud?' Rhan o hynny, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yw gwytnwch cymunedol. Mae a wnelo hyn â gallu cymunedau cryf i ddod ynghyd a chefnogi ei gilydd, gan y bydd hynny heb os yn gwella llesiant a gwytnwch y cymunedau hynny—nad yw unigolion yn teimlo eu bod ar eu pen eu hunain.
Diolch am hynny. Mae hynny’n union beth roeddwn i’n mynd i ofyn i chi amdano yn fy nghwestiwn olaf achos, pan fydd llifogydd yn digwydd, pobl ar lawr gwlad fel arfer yw'r bobl gyntaf i ymateb. Fel rydych chi newydd sôn, rydyn ni wedi gweld cymunedau yn dod at ei gilydd i helpu rhai mewn angen, ond does dim wastad system strwythuredig yma a does dim system strwythuredig dros Gymru. Mae hyn yn aml yn golygu bod pobl sydd â bwriad da yn rhoi eu hunain mewn perygl, fel roedd un o’n Haelodau ni, Heledd Fychan, wedi tynnu sylw ato yr wythnos diwethaf. Yn ystod y stormydd ym mis Chwefror, bu’n rhaid i rai pobl atal pobl eraill rhag mynd i helpu achos y perygl eithafol. Mae angen system ffurfiol o fforymau llifogydd yng Nghymru—grwpiau sy’n cael eu harwain, fel rydych chi’n dweud, yn y gymuned, lle mae trigolion a gwirfoddolwyr yn cael eu hyfforddi i ddeall risg, lle mae cynlluniau argyfwng ar gael, i gael eu grymuso. Felly, a fyddwch chi’n ymrwymo i sefydlu fforwm llifogydd Cymru yn gyffredinol fanna, i sicrhau bod pob cymuned sy’n cael ei heffeithio yn cael ei pharatoi yn well, yn cael yr hyfforddiant, yn cael ei datblygu, fel cynlluniau argyfwng lleol, ac y byddan nhw’n gallu gwneud hynny eu hunain? Ac yn olaf—mae’n flin gen i, Dirprwy Lywydd—sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu bwrw ymlaen gydag argymhellion Comisiwn Seilwaith Cenedlaethol Cymru ar wella gwytnwch cymunedau sy’n cael eu heffeithio gan lifogydd? Diolch.
Thank you for that. That's exactly what I was going to ask you about in my last question, because, when floods do occur, the people on the ground are often the first to respond. As you’ve mentioned, we’ve seen communities come together to help those in need, but there isn’t always a structured system in place, and there isn’t one across Wales. This often means that well-intentioned people often put themselves at risk, as one of our Members, Heledd Fychan, pointed out last week. During the storms in February, people had to prevent other people from going to help because of the extreme danger. We need a formal system of flood forums in Wales, community-led groups, as you said, where residents and volunteers are trained to understand risk, are equipped with emergency plans and are empowered. So, will you commit to establishing a Welsh flood forum generally, to ensure that all communities affected are better prepared, are trained and are able to develop their own local emergency plans? And finally—I’m sorry, Deputy Presiding Officer—how does the Welsh Government intend to proceed with the recommendations of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales on improving community flood resilience? Thank you.
On the latter point, there are many recommendations in there, and we take that report very seriously, and we will respond in detail to how we’ll take this forward. On the point on the national flood forum and whether there should be a Welsh national flood forum, I think you’re posing the right question and it’s good to air it here within this Siambr, but can I suggest there might be different ways forward? One of the key things that we know from years and years of this situation getting worse, as global warming has affected the climate and we’re seeing more dumps of this weather, is that it’s not necessarily to establish fairly rigid structures imposed on communities but actually to build the resilience in the community. I think the flood forums have a role to play within this. Where we’ve seen them work most successfully is where they not only come in to a community but they then actually build the capacity within that community to also be resilient itself. Now, sometimes, a flood forum presence will need to be maintained. In others, the community actually steps up itself and becomes the flood forum for that area.
So, I think there are different ways of unpacking this. We are quite interested in this because we think, as we have the increasing propensity now to deluges and then droughts, we need to build that capacity within communities. And there is a role for the flood forum as we know it; we’re just trying to explore what would be the best model, as opposed to saying to every community, 'Your solution is, "Here’s a gang of people who will come in and they’ll help do stuff for you."' It’ll be interesting to turn that the other way around and say, 'Here’s how we can actually support you as well to be much more resilient yourself.' And I’ve seen this work, where communities themselves establish their groups of resilience community flood forums as well.
Ar y pwynt olaf, mae llawer o argymhellion yno, ac rydym yn rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i'r adroddiad, a byddwn yn ymateb yn fanwl i sut y byddwn yn bwrw ymlaen â hyn. Ar y pwynt ar y fforwm llifogydd cenedlaethol ac a ddylid cael fforwm llifogydd cenedlaethol i Gymru, credaf eich bod yn gofyn y cwestiwn cywir, ac mae'n dda ei wyntyllu yma yn y Siambr hon, ond a gaf i awgrymu y gallai fod ffyrdd gwahanol ymlaen? Un o’r pethau allweddol a wyddom o flynyddoedd a blynyddoedd o’r sefyllfa hon yn gwaethygu, wrth i gynhesu byd-eang effeithio ar yr hinsawdd ac wrth inni weld mwy o achosion o’r tywydd hwn, yw bod angen nid o reidrwydd sefydlu strwythurau gweddol gadarn ar gyfer cymunedau, ond adeiladu gwytnwch yn y gymuned. Rwy'n credu bod gan y fforymau llifogydd ran i'w chwarae yn hyn o beth. Lle rydym wedi eu gweld yn gweithio'n fwyaf llwyddiannus yw lle maent nid yn unig yn dod i mewn i gymuned ond lle maent wedyn yn adeiladu'r capasiti yn y gymuned honno i fod yn wydn ei hun hefyd. Nawr, weithiau, bydd angen cynnal presenoldeb fforwm llifogydd. Mewn eraill, mae'r gymuned ei hun yn camu i'r adwy ac yn dod yn fforwm llifogydd ar gyfer yr ardal honno.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod gwahanol ffyrdd o feddwl am hyn. Mae gennym gryn ddiddordeb yn y mater gan ein bod yn credu, oherwydd y tueddiad cynyddol nawr i gael cyfnodau o ddilyw ac o sychder, fod angen inni feithrin y capasiti hwn o fewn cymunedau. Ac mae rôl i’r fforwm llifogydd ar ei ffurf bresennol; rydym yn ceisio archwilio beth fyddai'r model gorau, yn hytrach na dweud wrth bob cymuned, 'Eich ateb yw, "Dyma griw o bobl a fydd yn dod i mewn, a byddant yn eich cynorthwyo i wneud pethau."' Bydd yn ddiddorol troi hynny o gwmpas a dweud, 'Dyma sut y gallwn eich cefnogi chi hefyd i fod yn llawer mwy gwydn eich hun.' Ac rwyf wedi gweld y gwaith hwn, lle mae cymunedau eu hunain hefyd yn sefydlu eu grwpiau o fforymau gwytnwch cymunedol ar gyfer llifogydd.
3. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi’r gwaith o greu gerddi cymunedol? OQ62510
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the creation of community gardens? OQ62510
Diolch, Julie. We continue to support initiatives across Wales creating or improving green spaces from allotments to urban parks. The Local Places for Nature programme, now funded for a further two years, has created over 1,700 community gardens, such as and including the nature and food growing spaces at the Tongwynlais housing association sites.
Diolch, Julie. Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi mentrau ledled Cymru i greu neu wella mannau gwyrdd o randiroedd i barciau trefol. Mae rhaglen Lleoedd Lleol ar gyfer Natur, sydd bellach wedi’i hariannu am ddwy flynedd arall, wedi creu dros 1,700 o erddi cymunedol, megis, ac yn cynnwys y mannau tyfu bwyd a natur ar safleoedd cymdeithas dai Tongwynlais.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for the response.
I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary would agree with the huge benefits of community gardens, both for biodiversity and for tackling loneliness and for having a well-being space. There are a number of community gardens right across Cardiff North, and the one I've been particularly involved with is the Whitchurch community garden, which is opposite my consistency office. We saw a bit of blank land, really, that had very short cut grass, where children didn't play, and, working with the community, have managed to create the Whitchurch community garden, with a whole variety of plants, herbs, fruits and trees, and kept going by very dedicated volunteers, including one of my members of staff. Now, this year, the community garden is celebrating its tenth birthday. They’re hosting a celebration event on 26 April in the garden and I’m sure the Cabinet Secretary would be very welcome to attend. And would the Cabinet Secretary agree that community gardens offer endless benefits to communities and provide essential outdoor space for people who don’t have gardens, and boost diversity, and that there should be a continuous drive throughout Wales to have more community gardens?
Rwy'n siŵr y byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â manteision enfawr gerddi cymunedol, ar gyfer bioamrywiaeth ac ar gyfer mynd i'r afael ag unigrwydd ac ar gyfer cael gofod llesiant. Mae nifer o erddi cymunedol yng Ngogledd Caerdydd, a’r un y bûm yn ymwneud yn benodol â hi yw gardd gymunedol yr Eglwys Newydd, sydd gyferbyn â fy swyddfa etholaethol. Gwelsom ychydig o dir gwag, a dweud y gwir, gyda glaswellt byr iawn, lle nad oedd plant yn chwarae, a thrwy weithio gyda’r gymuned, fe wnaethom lwyddo i greu gardd gymunedol yr Eglwys Newydd, gydag amrywiaeth eang o blanhigion, perlysiau, ffrwythau a choed, sy'n cael ei chynnal gan wirfoddolwyr ymroddedig iawn, gan gynnwys un aelod o fy staff. Nawr, eleni, mae'r ardd gymunedol yn dathlu ei phen-blwydd yn ddeg oed. Maent yn cynnal digwyddiad dathlu ar 26 Ebrill yn yr ardd ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai croeso mawr yno i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ac a fyddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno bod gerddi cymunedol yn cynnig manteision di-rif i gymunedau ac yn darparu mannau awyr agored hanfodol i bobl nad oes ganddynt erddi, ac yn hybu amrywiaeth, ac y dylid cael ymgyrch barhaus ledled Cymru i gael mwy o erddi cymunedol?
Yes, Julie. Thank you for that question, and I absolutely agree. The potential of these community gardens, particularly for those who do not have access to open spaces themselves in their own back garden, but also to others in bringing people together, is immense, as it is for biodiversity, as it is for growing food—affordable, nutritious, healthy food as well—and that link with growing food as well. But just the benefits of being in the outdoors as well—. And it’s great to see Whitchurch—you’ve got a thriving community garden sector throughout the constituency there—celebrating its tenth anniversary on 26 April. I’m not sure if I can, but I’d love to be there if I can. But, you know, my diary is a bit chock-a-block, but if I can, I will be there, but if not, listen, my best wishes to them all in celebrating their tenth and many, many more years to come. And that’s why, Julie, I’m really pleased as well, this year, that under the Local Places for Nature community packages scheme, we’ve got—crikey, how many—600 projects now across Wales, and this includes wildlife, orchard, food packages, to create green spaces in gardens, working with local communities, driven by local communities, that bottom-up approach there. And 69 of those that have been delivered or are under way are in Cardiff alone. So, congratulations to Whitchurch and all those others, and a special shout-out, Dirprwy Lywydd, if I may abuse the privilege, to Caerau Growers, who have got an open day coming up shortly in their community garden not far from me.
Ie, Julie. Diolch am eich cwestiwn, ac rwy’n cytuno’n llwyr. Mae potensial aruthrol gan y gerddi cymunedol hyn, yn enwedig i’r rheini nad oes ganddynt fynediad i fannau agored eu hunain yn eu gardd gefn eu hunain, ond i eraill hefyd drwy ddod â phobl ynghyd, yn ogystal ag ar gyfer bioamrywiaeth, ar gyfer tyfu bwyd—bwyd fforddiadwy, maethlon, iach hefyd—a’r cysylltiad â thyfu bwyd hefyd. Ond manteision bod yn yr awyr agored—. Ac mae'n wych gweld gardd gymunedol yr Eglwys Newydd—mae gennych sector gerddi cymunedol ffyniannus ledled yr etholaeth yno—yn dathlu ei degfed pen-blwydd ar 26 Ebrill. Nid wyf yn siŵr os gallaf, ond byddwn wrth fy modd yn ymuno os gallaf. Ond wyddoch chi, mae fy nyddiadur braidd yn llawn, ond os gallaf, fe fyddaf yno, ond os na allaf, gwrandewch, pob dymuniad da i bob un ohonynt ar eu degfed pen-blwydd ac am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod. A dyna pam, Julie, fy mod yn falch iawn, eleni, fod gennym—mawredd, faint—600 o brosiectau ledled Cymru bellach o dan gynllun pecynnau cymunedol Lleoedd Lleol ar gyfer Natur, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys bywyd gwyllt, perllannau, pecynnau bwyd, i greu mannau gwyrdd mewn gerddi, gan weithio gyda chymunedau lleol, wedi'u llywio gan gymunedau lleol, y dull o'r gwaelod i fyny. Ac mae 69 o'r rheini sydd wedi'u cyflawni neu sydd ar y gweill yng Nghaerdydd. Felly, llongyfarchiadau i'r Eglwys Newydd a phawb arall, a gair o glod, Ddirprwy Lywydd, os caf fanteisio ar y cyfle, i Caerau Growers, sy'n cynnal diwrnod agored cyn bo hir yn eu gardd gymunedol heb fod ymhell oddi wrthyf.
4. Pa ystyriaeth mae'r Ysgrifenydd Cabinet wedi ei roi i effaith newidiadau Llywodraeth y DU i’r dreth etifeddiaeth amaethyddol ar gynaliadwyedd cymunedau cefn gwlad? OQ62514
4. What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to the impact of UK Government changes to the agricultural inheritance tax on the sustainability of rural communities? OQ62514
Diolch, Siân. Mae’r dreth etifeddiaeth yn dreth a gedwir yn ôl ac a orchwylir gan Lywodraeth y DU. Rwyf wedi pwysleisio wrth Lywodraeth y DU dro ar ôl tro bwysigrwydd ystyried pryderon dilys a pharhaus undebau amaeth Cymru, a hynny mewn modd cydweithredol.
Thanks, Siân. Inheritance tax is a reserved tax, overseen by the UK Government. I have consistently emphasised to the UK Government the importance of thoroughly considering the ongoing valid concerns of the Welsh farming unions in a collaborative way.
Rydyn ni wedi clywed nifer o weithiau yn y Siambr yma am yr effaith niweidiol y gall y newidiadau treth etifeddiaeth gael ar ffermydd teuluoedd a chymunedau gwledig. A thra’n deall mai penderfyniad gan Lywodraeth arall ydy hyn—a dim newid wedi cael ei gyhoeddi heddiw, gyda llaw—onid oes cyfrifoldeb arnoch chi nid yn unig i roi'r dadleuon drosodd, ond i asesu beth fyddai'r effaith ar Gymru—er enghraifft, asesu effaith y newid ar allu Cymru i gynhyrchu bwyd i'r dyfodol a sut mae hynny'n alinio efo Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015; er enghraifft, asesu effaith y newid ar y defnydd o'r iaith Gymraeg a sut mae'r bygythiad i ffermydd teuluol yn alinio efo strategaeth 'Cymraeg 2050'? O asesu a chanfod yr effaith, gallai eich Llywodraeth chi wneud gwell dadl dros yr angen i un ai dileu'r newid neu dros fesurau penodol i liniaru'r effaith.
We've heard a number of times in this Chamber about the damaging impact that changes to inheritance tax could have on family farms and rural communities. And, whilst I understand that this is a decision taken by another Government—and there's been no change announced today, by the way—isn't there a responsibility on you not only to convey the arguments, but also to assess the possible impact on Wales—for example, to assess the impact of the change on the ability of Wales to produce food into the future and how that aligns with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015; for example, to assess the impact of the change on the use of the Welsh language and how the threat to the family farm aligns with the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy? Having assessed and uncovered the impact, your Government could create a better argument over the need to either reverse the change or for taking steps to mitigate its impact.
Diolch am y cwestiwn arall, Siân.
Thank you very much for that supplementary, Siân.
Look, to be clear, we're not planning to undertake an impact assessment, such as the one that they've done in the Northern Ireland assessment, primarily based on farm valuations, because that's what it is, if they can't provide a robust and accurate assessment of the likely impact—it's a farm valuation assessment. Without crucial information on individual farm circumstances, such as the farm ownership structure, the gifting statements, no accurate assessment of actual impact is possible. Now, the assessments based on value alone may provide a rough assessment of the potential maximum—maximum—numbers of farms that could be above the inheritance tax threshold across an entire generation. But without that data on individual farm circumstances, such a figure is probably inaccurate and could be misleading as well, because it's set at the maximum impact of the possible IHT changes. So, those ownership structures, inheritance plans, applicable reliefs that may apply, they all affect the application of APR. Farm values also fluctuate, so it's difficult to estimate how many are valued over IHT thresholds at any given point. So, for this reason, that is why we use the Treasury data as a starting point, as they're based on probate figures. However, let me say quite clearly, and this is the basis of the representations that I've made, the assessments by people such as the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the CAAV, have raised valid concerns that HM Treasury's assessment may be underestimating the impact. Now, these valid concerns, let me be clear, we've made clear, should be fully addressed in a collaborative way with farming unions by the UK Government.
Just to say, the other thing that we can do to make a real difference here in Wales is actually continuing to work as we are with the farming unions and with wider stakeholders to make sure that we have a good footing for the future of farming in Wales through the SFS, and we've sought assurances from the UK Government that any changes will not affect the approach that we're trying to take there of delivering not just the economic value, but the social and cultural value, and the importance of the Welsh language to farming in many, many parts of Wales. So, we'll keep on pushing on those representations, saying it here in the Chamber as well. We want to see meaningful engagement with the analysis, but I come back to that point: the data simply based on farm values alone at any given point in time is likely to be not an accurate estimate, because it's purely based on those; it's not taking into account individual farm circumstances.
Edrychwch, i fod yn glir, nid ydym yn bwriadu cynnal asesiad effaith, fel yr un y maent wedi'i wneud yn asesiad Gogledd Iwerddon, sy'n seiliedig yn bennaf ar brisiadau ffermydd, gan mai dyna ydyw, os na allant ddarparu asesiad cadarn a chywir o'r effaith debygol—asesiad o brisiad ffermydd ydyw. Heb wybodaeth hanfodol am amgylchiadau fferm unigol, megis strwythur perchnogaeth y fferm, y datganiadau rhodd, nid yw'n bosibl gwneud asesiad cywir o'r effaith wirioneddol. Nawr, efallai y bydd yr asesiadau sy'n seiliedig ar werth yn unig yn rhoi asesiad bras o uchafswm—uchafswm—posibl nifer y ffermydd a allai fod uwchlaw trothwy'r dreth etifeddiant ar draws cenhedlaeth gyfan. Ond heb y data hwnnw ar amgylchiadau fferm unigol, mae'n debygol y bydd ffigur o'r fath yn anghywir, a gallai fod yn gamarweiniol hefyd, gan ei fod wedi'i osod ar effaith fwyaf posibl y newidiadau posibl i'r dreth etifeddiant. Felly, mae'r strwythurau perchnogaeth, y cynlluniau etifeddiant, y rhyddhadau a all fod yn berthnasol, oll yn effeithio ar y defnydd o ryddhad eiddo amaethyddol. Mae gwerthoedd ffermydd hefyd yn amrywio, felly mae'n anodd amcangyfrif faint sy'n cael eu prisio dros drothwyon y dreth etifeddiant ar unrhyw adeg benodol. Felly, dyma pam ein bod yn defnyddio data'r Trysorlys fel man cychwyn, gan ei fod yn seiliedig ar ffigurau profiant. Fodd bynnag, gadewch imi ddweud yn gwbl glir, a dyma sail y sylwadau rwyf wedi’u gwneud, fod yr asesiadau gan bobl fel Cymdeithas Ganolog y Priswyr Amaethyddol wedi codi pryderon dilys y gallai asesiad Trysorlys EF fod yn tanamcangyfrif yr effaith. Nawr, gadewch imi ddweud yn glir, ac rydym wedi dweud yn glir, dylai Llywodraeth y DU fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon dilys hyn mewn ffordd gydweithredol gydag undebau'r ffermwyr.
Dylwn ddweud mai'r peth arall y gallwn ei wneud i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol yma yng Nghymru yw parhau i weithio fel y gwnawn gyda'r undebau ffermio a chyda rhanddeiliaid ehangach i sicrhau bod gennym sylfaen dda ar gyfer dyfodol ffermio yng Nghymru drwy'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, ac rydym wedi gofyn am sicrwydd gan Lywodraeth y DU na fydd unrhyw newidiadau yn effeithio ar y dull yr ydym yn ceisio ei fabwysiadu yno o ddarparu nid yn unig y gwerth economaidd, ond y gwerth cymdeithasol a diwylliannol, a phwysigrwydd y Gymraeg i ffermio mewn sawl rhan o Gymru. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i wneud y sylwadau hynny, a'i ddweud yma yn y Siambr hefyd. Rydym am weld ymgysylltu ystyrlon â’r dadansoddiad, ond dof yn ôl at y pwynt hwnnw: mae’n annhebygol y bydd y data sydd wedi’i seilio'n syml ar werthoedd ffermydd yn unig ar unrhyw adeg benodol yn amcangyfrif cywir, gan ei fod yn seiliedig ar y rheini'n unig; nid yw'n ystyried amgylchiadau ffermydd unigol.
The UK Government's inheritance tax changes target our family farms through cuts to the agricultural property relief and business property relief, posing an existential threat to Welsh family farming tradition, and many farming families in my constituency are despondent about these changes, fearing it puts their farms in peril. From April 2026, the average Welsh farm will face a 20 per cent inheritance tax, and it's important to stipulate, Cabinet Secretary, these aren't wealthy tycoons, or moguls even, they are cash-poor farming families, and have been stewards of our land for many generations, and are now forced to sell to survive. The scale is staggering. The National Farmers Union and others warn that 70,000 farms, two thirds of Britain's total, could be affected. This isn't taxation; this is asset stripping. Family farms will be torn from their owners and snapped up by large asset managers like BlackRock, who the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has already started cosying up to. This policy threatens food security, slashes land values—
Mae newidiadau Llywodraeth y DU i'r dreth etifeddiant yn targedu ein ffermydd teuluol drwy doriadau i’r rhyddhad eiddo amaethyddol a rhyddhad eiddo busnes, gan beri bygythiad dirfodol i draddodiad y fferm deuluol yng Nghymru, ac mae llawer o deuluoedd ffermio yn fy etholaeth yn teimlo'n ddiobaith oherwydd y newidiadau hyn, ac yn ofni eu bod yn peryglu eu ffermydd. O fis Ebrill 2026, bydd fferm gyffredin yng Nghymru yn wynebu treth etifeddiant o 20 y cant, ac mae'n bwysig nodi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, nad teicwniaid cyfoethog yw'r bobl hyn, na mogwliaid hyd yn oed, maent yn deuluoedd ffermio sy'n brin o arian parod, ac maent wedi bod yn stiwardio ein tir ers cenedlaethau lawer, ac maent bellach yn cael eu gorfodi i werthu er mwyn goroesi. Mae graddau'r broblem yn syfrdanol. Mae Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr ac eraill yn rhybuddio y gallai 70,000 o ffermydd, dwy ran o dair o holl ffermydd Prydain, gael eu heffeithio. Nid trethu yw hyn; stripio asedau ydyw. Bydd ffermydd teuluol yn cael eu bachu oddi ar eu perchnogion a'u prynu gan reolwyr asedau mawr fel BlackRock, y mae'r Prif Weinidog, Keir Starmer, eisoes wedi dechrau ymwthio i'w coflaid. Mae’r polisi hwn yn bygwth diogeledd bwyd, yn torri gwerthoedd tir—
You need to ask your question now, please.
Mae angen ichi ofyn eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda.
—and hands our heritage to hedge funds and megabanks, with a former Labour adviser even gloating about crushing farms like Thatcher crushed the mines.
—ac yn estyn ein treftadaeth i gronfeydd rhagfantoli a megafanciau, gyda chyn-ymgynghorydd Llafur hyd yn oed yn brolio am ddinistrio ffermydd fel y dinistriodd Thatcher y pyllau glo.
Gareth, you need to ask your question, please.
Gareth, mae angen ichi ofyn eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda.
This is a betrayal of rural Wales. So, can the Cabinet Secretary tell me what the Welsh Government are doing to reassure farmers in north Wales that livelihoods matter, and, more pointedly, can you tell us honestly if Labour is truly on the side of working people, or are they in the pockets of international megabanks who are going to be accruing more and more farms in their property portfolios?
Mae hyn yn bradychu cefn gwlad Cymru. Felly, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddweud wrthyf beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i roi sicrwydd i ffermwyr yn y gogledd fod eu bywoliaeth yn bwysig, ac yn fwy penodol, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym yn onest fod Llafur o ddifrif ar ochr pobl sy'n gweithio, neu a ydynt ym mhocedi megafanciau rhyngwladol sy'n mynd i fod yn casglu mwy a mwy o ffermydd yn eu portffolios eiddo?
Thank you, Gareth. Dirprwy Lywydd, I don't want to repeat the previous exchange and the explanation that I gave to Siân's question leading on this, and I certainly don't want to respond to a political rant. But what I will do is explain what the Welsh Government is actually doing on the ground to support Welsh farmers in the light of these changes. We're actually holding, right across Wales, in light of the IHT changes, through our organisation Farming Connect, a series of workshops. Right across Wales, there have been 10 workshops. They've been very well received, Dirprwy Lywydd. Close to 1,500 farmers have attended not only to understand the implications of the changes, but to talk through things such as succession planning, gifting and so on. So, away from the political rant that you just did, Gareth, we are doing very practical things with the farming community.
The workshops are just the beginning of the support, Dirprwy Lywydd, that we are making available. Farming Connect is providing access on an individual basis to facilitated family succession meetings. I've been in some of these, where they sit down with families. I've talked to farmers, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I know you and I have met with farmers, as well, who've said, 'Well, we've got somebody who's a 70, 80-year-old, who has never got round to it.' Farming Connect can provide that advice, bespoke, person to person, to those farming families, succession reviews to understand tax implications, and subsidised business and legal advice to develop succession plans. We've also, by the way, Gareth, as you know, supported the retention of the basic payment scheme, the BPS budget, at £238 million for 2025—the same level as the last two years. We've made that decision. It didn't happen, by the way, across the border with the Conservative Government; the Conservative Government slashed it. We've kept it to give that certainty, and this was not an easy decision. More than 98 per cent of claimants have now received their full or partial balance of BPS 2024 since the window opened in December. We've now paid out over £232 million. So, Gareth, you asked what are we doing to help farmers navigate through these changes: everything we possibly can. Not only that, we're putting the money in place to support farmers that the previous Conservative Government never did.
Diolch, Gareth. Ddirprwy Lywydd, nid wyf am ailadrodd yr ateb blaenorol a'r esboniad a roddais i gwestiwn Siân ar hyn, ac yn sicr, nid wyf am ymateb i refru gwleidyddol. Ond yr hyn y byddaf yn ei wneud yw egluro beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud mewn gwirionedd ar lawr gwlad i gefnogi ffermwyr Cymru yng ngoleuni’r newidiadau hyn. Yng ngoleuni'r newidiadau i'r dreth etifeddiant, rydym yn cynnal cyfres o weithdai ledled Cymru drwy ein sefydliad Cyswllt Ffermio. Ledled Cymru, mae 10 gweithdy wedi'u cynnal. Maent wedi cael eu croesawu'n fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae bron i 1,500 o ffermwyr wedi mynychu nid yn unig i ddeall goblygiadau’r newidiadau, ond i drafod pethau fel cynllunio ar gyfer olyniaeth, rhoi rhoddion ac ati. Felly, gan anwybyddu eich rhefru gwleidyddol, Gareth, rydym yn gwneud pethau ymarferol iawn gyda'r gymuned ffermio.
Dim ond dechrau'r cymorth a ddarparwn yw'r gweithdai, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae Cyswllt Ffermio yn darparu mynediad unigol at gyfarfodydd wedi’u hwyluso ar gyfer trafod olyniaeth teuluoedd. Rwyf wedi mynychu rhai o'r rhain, lle maent yn eistedd gyda theuluoedd. Rwyf wedi siarad â ffermwyr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a gwn eich bod chi a minnau wedi cyfarfod â ffermwyr, hefyd, sydd wedi dweud, 'Wel, mae gennym rywun 70, 80 oed, nad ydynt wedi llwyddo i wneud hyn.' Gall Cyswllt Ffermio ddarparu’r cyngor wyneb yn wyneb hwnnw wedi’i deilwra i’r teuluoedd ffermio hynny, adolygiadau olyniaeth i ddeall goblygiadau treth, a chyngor busnes a chyfreithiol â chymhorthdal i ddatblygu cynlluniau olyniaeth. Rydym hefyd, gyda llaw, Gareth, fel y gwyddoch, wedi cefnogi cadw cynllun y taliad sylfaenol, cyllideb cynllun y taliad sylfaenol, ar £238 miliwn ar gyfer 2025—yr un lefel â'r ddwy flynedd diwethaf. Rydym wedi gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw. Ni ddigwyddodd hynny, gyda llaw, dros y ffin gyda’r Llywodraeth Geidwadol; fe wnaeth y Llywodraeth Geidwadol ei dorri. Rydym wedi ei chadw ar yr un lefel er mwyn rhoi'r sicrwydd hwnnw, ac nid oedd hwn yn benderfyniad hawdd. Mae mwy na 98 y cant o hawlwyr bellach wedi derbyn eu balans llawn neu rannol o daliad sylfaenol 2024 ers i’r ffenestr agor ym mis Rhagfyr. Rydym bellach wedi talu dros £232 miliwn. Felly, Gareth, fe ofynnoch chi beth rydym yn ei wneud i helpu ffermwyr i lywio drwy'r newidiadau hyn: popeth yn ein gallu. Nid yn unig hynny, rydym yn darparu arian i gefnogi ffermwyr nas darparwyd gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol erioed.
5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella iechyd afonydd yn ne Cymru? OQ62529
5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve river health in south Wales? OQ62529
Diolch, John. The Welsh Government is improving river health in south Wales through an integrated catchment approach, focusing on multisector co-operation. This includes strong engagement with Governments, regulators and many others. We have further announced a £1 million joint research fund with the UK Government to address water quality issues in the river Wye.
Diolch, John. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwella iechyd afonydd yn ne Cymru drwy ddull dalgylch integredig, gan ganolbwyntio ar gydweithredu aml-sector. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ymgysylltu cryf â Llywodraethau, rheoleiddwyr a llawer o rai eraill. Ymhellach, rydym wedi cyhoeddi cronfa ymchwil ar y cyd gwerth £1 filiwn gyda Llywodraeth y DU i fynd i'r afael â materion ansawdd dŵr yn afon Gwy.
Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. Our rivers in south Wales are sadly not in the sort of condition that any of us would like to see. There's a lot of pollution from farming, there's pollution from Welsh Water and others. Thankfully, there's a very strong campaign in terms of the river Usk, Cabinet Secretary, by Angela of the Usk and others, taking forward citizen science to sample the waters of the Usk and show the very high levels of pollution, notwithstanding that, in theory, the river Usk is a beneficiary of very high protection—despite that, we see very high levels of pollution. So, I just wonder, Cabinet Secretary, would you join me in congratulating the Save the River Usk campaign and Angela, who is a wild swimmer, who takes others wild swimming, who takes others wild camping and generally connects people to nature? So, I think she's certainly playing her part; she's a very strong campaigner. Will you meet, perhaps, with the Save the River Usk campaign and Angela by the side of the river Usk and discuss some of their key concerns, including ideas for a water Bill for Wales?
Diolch am hynny, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn anffodus, nid yw ein hafonydd yn ne Cymru yn y math o gyflwr y byddai unrhyw un ohonom yn hoffi ei weld. Mae yna lawer o lygredd o ffermio, mae yna lygredd gan Dŵr Cymru ac eraill. Diolch byth, mae ymgyrch gref iawn ar waith ar gyfer afon Wysg, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gan Angela o Frynbuga ac eraill, sy'n datblygu cynlluniau gwyddoniaeth dinasyddion i samplu dyfroedd afon Wysg a dangos y lefelau uchel iawn o lygredd, er bod afon Wysg, yn ddamcaniaethol, yn elwa ar lefel uchel iawn o warchodaeth—er hynny, rydym yn gweld lefelau uchel iawn o lygredd. Felly,Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i longyfarch ymgyrch Achub Afon Wysg ac Angela, sy'n nofiwr gwyllt, ac sy'n mynd ag eraill i nofio'n wyllt, ac i wersylla'n gwyllt ac yn gyffredinol yn cysylltu pobl â natur? Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n sicr yn chwarae ei rhan; mae hi'n ymgyrchydd cryf iawn. A wnewch chi gyfarfod ag ymgyrch Achub Afon Wysg ac Angela wrth ochr afon Wysg a thrafod rhai o'u pryderon allweddol, gan gynnwys syniadau ar gyfer Bil Dŵr i Gymru?
John, thank you very much for that follow-up. Can I tell you that I congratulate all of those campaigners throughout Wales and elsewhere who are putting the focus on the ecological health of our rivers and also the bathing water quality of our rivers, as well, and the need to do much more? I am really focused on that personally, and have been for many years before I came into Government and continue to be so, as well. I think, over the months ahead, we will see a refreshing and a real focusing of the multifaceted response that we have to this, be it phosphate pollution, be it development controls, be it sewage and water and the antiquated infrastructure that we have, or be it agricultural diffuse or point-source pollution as well. All of these things need to be addressed. Each river is different and we need to work on it.
I'm really pleased to say, by the way, that in terms of the Usk, Welsh Government jointly supports the EU, the former work that we were doing that's still going on under the Four Rivers for LIFE project. It's a £9 million five-year initiative led by Natural Resources Wales and that takes in the Tawe, the Teifi, the Cleddau and the Usk rivers, so that continues. It's 776 km of river that that is focusing on, and since 2022, it has restored about 136 hectares of flood plains, of wetlands and of meadows. But also, we have £16.2 million in capital funding in the budget—and John and other colleagues behind me, thank you for voting for it—to NRW, with support for around 80 water quality improvement projects, including the upper Wye restoration project, which I was at only two weeks ago, up on the upper catchment, looking at what they are doing there to promote biodiversity, to slow down the flows of sediment and denudation of the soil into the rivers below and so on. So, we'll do all of that. Tackling river pollution is a prime priority for this Government and I congratulate Angela of the Usk and all the others for the work they're doing to hold our feet to the fire and saying, 'Get on with it. Do what you're doing and do more as well.'
John, diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn atodol. A gaf i ddweud wrthych fy mod yn llongyfarch yr holl ymgyrchwyr ledled Cymru ac mewn mannau eraill sy'n canolbwyntio ar iechyd ecolegol ein hafonydd a hefyd ar ansawdd dŵr ymdrochi ein hafonydd a'r angen i wneud llawer mwy? Rwy'n canolbwyntio ar hynny yn bersonol, ac wedi bod ers blynyddoedd lawer cyn imi ddod yn rhan o'r Llywodraeth ac rwy'n parhau i wneud. Dros y misoedd i ddod, fe welwn ffocws adfywiol a real ar yr ymateb amlochrog sydd gennym ar hyn, boed yn llygredd ffosffadau, yn rheolaethau datblygu, yn garthffosiaeth a dŵr a'r seilwaith hynafol sydd gennym, neu'n llygredd gwasgaredig amaethyddol neu o darddle penodol. Mae angen mynd i'r afael â'r holl bethau hyn. Mae pob afon yn wahanol ac mae angen inni weithio arno.
Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud, gyda llaw, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r UE ar y cyd mewn perthynas ag afon Wysg, ac mae'r gwaith blaenorol yr oeddem yn ei wneud yn dal i ddigwydd o dan brosiect Pedair Afon LIFE. Mae'n fenter bum mlynedd gwerth £9 miliwn sy'n cael ei harwain gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ac sy'n cynnwys afonydd Tawe, Teifi, Cleddau ac Wysg, felly mae hynny'n parhau. Mae'n canolbwyntio ar 776 km o afonydd, ac ers 2022, mae wedi adfer tua 136 hectar o orlifdiroedd, gwlyptiroedd a dolydd. Ond hefyd, mae gennym £16.2 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf yn y gyllideb—a John a chyd-Aelodau eraill y tu ôl i mi, diolch am bleidleisio drosto—i CNC, gyda chefnogaeth i oddeutu 80 o brosiectau gwella ansawdd dŵr, gan gynnwys prosiect adfer afon Gwy uchaf, yr ymwelais ag ef bythefnos yn ôl, i fyny ar y dalgylch uchaf, i edrych ar yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud yno i hyrwyddo bioamrywiaeth, arafu llif gwaddod a thraul y pridd i'r afonydd islaw ac yn y blaen. Felly, byddwn yn gwneud hynny i gyd. Mae mynd i'r afael â llygredd afonydd yn brif flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon ac rwy'n llongyfarch Angela o Wysg a phawb arall am y gwaith a wnânt yn ein dwyn i gyfrif a dweud, 'Ewch amdani. Gwnewch yr hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud a gwnewch fwy hefyd.'
One thing is for certain, the current approach isn't working, is it, because we heard only this month that the number of river systems in Wales that are failing those phosphate targets has risen from five to seven; that includes, of course, the Teifi in my own constituency. While a multi-agency catchment approach is a step in the right direction, it still, really, doesn't get to grips with the fundamental problem, which is the fact that responsibilities are spread over all of these different silos, whether it's NRW, the Office of Water Services, the water companies themselves or the local authorities.
One of the solutions that is being proposed to that is the idea of creating a single catchment systems operator, bringing all of the regulatory authority together. The originator of the idea, Professor Dieter Helm, also suggests that it would solve river pollution without a need for huge investment, which is, obviously, a very attractive prospect. So, would the Cabinet Secretary ask his officials for some advice to see whether we could build the first pilot of a CSO, building on those catchment demonstrator projects, to see whether this solution can get our rivers to where they need to be?
Un peth sy'n sicr, nid yw'r dull presennol yn gweithio, oherwydd y mis hwn fe glywsom fod nifer y systemau afon yng Nghymru sy'n methu'r targedau ffosffad wedi codi o bump i saith; mae hynny'n cynnwys y Teifi yn fy etholaeth i. Er bod dull dalgylch aml-asiantaeth yn gam i'r cyfeiriad cywir, mae'n dal i fethu mynd i'r afael â'r broblem sylfaenol, sef bod cyfrifoldebau wedi'u gwasgaru dros yr holl seilos gwahanol hyn, boed yn CNC, y Swyddfa Gwasanaethau Dŵr, y cwmnïau dŵr eu hunain neu'r awdurdodau lleol.
Un o'r atebion sy'n cael ei gynnig yw'r syniad o greu un gweithredwr systemau dalgylch, gan ddod â'r holl awdurdod rheoleiddio at ei gilydd. Mae sylfaenydd y syniad, yr Athro Dieter Helm, hefyd yn awgrymu y byddai'n datrys llygredd afonydd heb fod angen buddsoddiad enfawr, sydd, yn amlwg, yn syniad deniadol iawn. Felly, a wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ofyn i'w swyddogion am gyngor i weld a allwn adeiladu'r cynllun peilot cyntaf ar gyfer gweithredwr systemau dalgylch, gan adeiladu ar y prosiectau arddangos dalgylchoedd, i weld a all yr ateb hwn fynd â'n hafonydd i ble mae angen iddynt fod?
Thank you, Adam, for that follow up. Interestingly, a fortnight ago Thursday, I was in Manchester at the call-for-evidence launch by Jon Cunliffe, which we're doing with England and Wales together, jointly, on water regulatory structures. But, interestingly, he said in the launch of that that he's also very interested in whether the governance of our rivers needs to be addressed on a catchment basis. I have to say that we're already starting to do some of this here in Wales. So, for example, in the Taff Ely area, we have what's called an urban water catchment model, bringing together all of the stakeholders and then saying, 'Right, what do all of you need to do in your different ways on this unique urban river catchment to actually lift some of the dire pollution levels within parts of that, including the tributaries?' So, we're already piloting, actually, in different parts of Wales, this approach. The question is: can we go grand? Can we find a model?
Now, I have to say that Jon Cunliffe, in addressing this, said that, first of all, we need to define what that catchment is, because for some of our rivers, the catchment stretches from the Pumlumon mountains all the way down to the Severn estuary; in others, it's much more of a rush to the sea down a narrow—. But, I think there is potential within this, and in some of that sharpening of the focus that I talked about on the outcomes—improving the quality, biodiversity and bathing water of our rivers—I think we need to use and look at all tools in the toolbox, and that may mean looking at whether we should be doing something much sharper, much more focused, on a catchment level. That means, then, working with farmers; landowners; former mine remediation work that's going on in the metal mines of central Wales, in Cwm Ystwyth, where I was recently, and so on; and the lowlands, and everybody; and the anglers' societies and everybody else. We know that this can work, because if you look at places—.
Sorry, Dirprwy Lywydd, just to reflect on the report you were talking about, it wasn't all negative. It showed that, actually, some of the improvements that we've made are making a tangible difference. So, the lower reaches of the Wye are in improvement, and there are other areas, but we've got so much more to do. So, that argues for a bigger catchment approach to this, where, from the top to the bottom, everybody lifts.
Diolch am y cwestiwn atodol, Adam. Yn ddiddorol, bythefnos i ddydd Iau, roeddwn ym Manceinion yn lansiad yr alwad am dystiolaeth gan Jon Cunliffe, yr ydym yn ei wneud rhwng Lloegr a Chymru ar y cyd ar strwythurau rheoleiddio dŵr. Ond yn ddiddorol, dywedodd wrth ei lansio fod ganddo ddiddordeb mawr hefyd mewn gweld a oes angen mynd i'r afael â llywodraethiant ein hafonydd ar sail dalgylch. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud ein bod eisoes yn dechrau gwneud rhywfaint o hyn yma yng Nghymru. Felly, er enghraifft, yn ardal Taf Elái, mae gennym yr hyn a elwir yn fodel dalgylch dŵr trefol, sy'n dod â'r holl randdeiliaid at ei gilydd a dweud, 'Iawn, beth sydd angen i chi i gyd ei wneud yn eich gwahanol ffyrdd ar y dalgylch afon trefol unigryw hwn i godi rhai o'r lefelau llygredd enbyd mewn rhannau ohono, gan gynnwys y llednentydd?' Felly, rydym eisoes yn treialu'r dull hwn mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Y cwestiwn yw: a allwn ni ei ddatblygu ar raddfa fawr? A allwn ni ddod o hyd i fodel?
Nawr, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod Jon Cunliffe, wrth fynd i'r afael â hyn, wedi dweud bod angen inni ddiffinio beth yw'r dalgylch, oherwydd ar gyfer rhai o'n hafonydd, mae'r dalgylch yn ymestyn o fynyddoedd Pumlumon yr holl ffordd i lawr i aber afon Hafren; mewn eraill, mae'n llawer mwy o ruthr i'r môr ar hyd gwely cul—. Ond rwy'n credu bod potensial i hyn, a rhywfaint o'r ffocws y soniais amdano ar y canlyniadau—gwella ansawdd, bioamrywiaeth a dŵr ymdrochi ein hafonydd—rwy'n credu bod angen inni ddefnyddio ac edrych ar yr holl ddulliau sydd ar gael, a gall hynny olygu edrych i weld a ddylem wneud rhywbeth llawer cliriach, gyda llawer mwy o ffocws, ar lefel dalgylch. Mae hynny'n golygu gweithio gyda ffermwyr; tirfeddianwyr; gwaith adfer hen fwyngloddiau sy'n digwydd ym mwyngloddiau metel canolbarth Cymru, yng Nghwm Ystwyth, lle'r oeddwn yn ddiweddar, ac yn y blaen; a'r iseldir, a phawb; a'r cymdeithasau genweirwyr a phawb arall. Gwyddom y gall hyn weithio, oherwydd os edrychwch chi ar leoedd—.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, os caf ystyried yr adroddiad yr oeddech chi'n sôn amdano, nid oedd y cyfan yn negyddol. Dangosodd fod rhai o'r gwelliannau a wnaethom yn gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn. Felly, mae rhannau isaf afon Gwy yn gwella, ac mae yna ardaloedd eraill, ond mae gennym gymaint mwy i'w wneud. Felly, dyna ddadl dros ddefnyddio dull o weithredu ar sail dalgylch mwy o faint, lle mae pawb yn gwella, o'r top i'r gwaelod.
We still have several questions to go, and you've already used up your time, Cabinet Secretary, so please be succinct in your responses.
Mae gennym sawl cwestiwn i fynd, ac rydych chi eisoes wedi defnyddio eich amser, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, felly byddwch yn gryno yn eich atebion.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith Llywodraeth Cymru i wella diogelwch tomenni glo? OQ62522
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government's work to improve coal tip safety? OQ62522
On 20 March, I confirmed that in 2025-26, the Welsh Government is providing £34 million for our public partners to undertake works on 130 coal tips across Wales. Alongside the UK Government’s allocation, this means that over £100 million will have been invested in coal tip safety in this Senedd term.
Ar 20 Mawrth, fe wneuthum gadarnhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2025-26 yn darparu £34 miliwn i'n partneriaid cyhoeddus ymgymryd â gwaith ar 130 o domenni glo ledled Cymru. Ochr yn ochr â dyraniad Llywodraeth y DU, mae hyn yn golygu y bydd dros £100 miliwn wedi'i fuddsoddi ar ddiogelu tomenni glo yn nhymor y Senedd hon.
Diolch am hynny. I welcome the legislation that's coming up, and the extra funding that was announced that week. That is welcome, but I fear it still isn't enough. The coal tips in our valleys—we've discussed this so many times—are constant reminders of how we were exploited. Those of us who grew up with them on the hills have become used to their presence. They've been there so long, waiting for another tragedy to strike. After Aberfan, it's shameful that Westminster decided to leave them looming on the hillsides. What happened at Cwmtillery last winter should have sent shockwaves to Whitehall. But £25 million is all that we have, so far, been promised by Westminster; £25 million, when the bill to clear the tips across the coalfields stands at £600 million. Now, I do, as I said, welcome that extra funding that's been announced by the Welsh Government. I welcome the legislation on coal tip safety. But Westminster should be paying far more, far more quickly to clear these tips. They are already decades too late in doing it. So, could you give an update, please, on how much more you expect the UK Government to pay towards this work, and how quickly, because we cannot afford another near miss, like at Cwmtillery?
Diolch am hynny. Rwy'n croesawu'r ddeddfwriaeth sydd ar y ffordd, a'r cyllid ychwanegol a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos honno. Mae hynny'n cael ei groesawu, ond rwy'n ofni nad yw'n ddigon. Mae'r tomenni glo yn ein cymoedd—rydym wedi trafod hyn gymaint o weithiau—yn ein hatgoffa'n gyson sut y cawsom ein hecsbloetio. Mae'r rhai ohonom sydd wedi tyfu i fyny gyda hwy ar y bryniau wedi dod i arfer â'u presenoldeb. Maent wedi bod yno mor hir, yn aros i drasiedi arall daro. Ar ôl Aberfan, mae'n gywilydd fod San Steffan wedi penderfynu eu gadael ar y bryniau. Dylai'r hyn a ddigwyddodd yng Nghwmtyleri y gaeaf diwethaf fod wedi ysgwyd Whitehall. Ond £25 miliwn yw'r cyfan a addawyd i ni hyd yma gan San Steffan; £25 miliwn, pan fo'r bil ar gyfer clirio'r meysydd glo i gyd yn £600 miliwn. Nawr, rwy'n croesawu'r cyllid ychwanegol a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n croesawu'r ddeddfwriaeth ar ddiogelwch tomenni glo. Ond dylai San Steffan dalu llawer mwy yn llawer cyflymach i glirio'r tomenni hyn. Maent eisoes ddegawdau'n rhy hwyr yn ei wneud. Felly, a allech chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni faint rhagor y disgwyliwch i Lywodraeth y DU dalu tuag at y gwaith hwn, a pha mor gyflym, oherwydd ni allwn fforddio damwain arall fel yr un a fu bron â digwydd yng Nghwmtyleri?
Thank you, Delyth, and for your support of the trajectory that we're on on this. We need to do more and more and more each year. Just to knock one thing on the head, because this is widely said to me: the range of £500 million to £600 million that you've referred to was a provisional estimate based on the limited information available at that time, years ago, following the impact of storm Dennis on Tylorstown. Now, since then, Welsh Government has done a massive amount of work with our public partners to identify, record, map and categorise the disused coal tips, and this has literally been walking those tips and assessing them for the criteria. So, we now know much more accurately, year by year, what we need—not a big ballpark estimate, but year by year what we need. So, we asked, last year, for a £25 million contribution to add to what Welsh Government had been carrying on our own backs with Welsh Government funding. There's a cost-benefit to that, because it had to be from other areas into what we had prioritised. [Interruption.] Yes, indeed.
Diolch, Delyth, ac am eich cefnogaeth i'r trywydd yr ydym yn ei ddilyn ar hyn. Mae angen inni wneud mwy a mwy bob blwyddyn. I egluro un peth, oherwydd dywedir hyn wrthyf yn aml: roedd yr ystod o £500 miliwn i £600 miliwn y cyfeirioch chi ato yn amcangyfrif dros dro yn seiliedig ar y wybodaeth gyfyngedig a oedd ar gael bryd hynny, flynyddoedd yn ôl, yn dilyn effaith storm Dennis ar Tylorstown. Nawr, ers hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud llawer iawn o waith gyda'n partneriaid cyhoeddus i nodi, cofnodi, mapio a chategoreiddio'r tomenni glo segur, ac mae hyn yn llythrennol wedi golygu cerdded ar y tomenni hynny a'u hasesu ar gyfer y meini prawf. Felly, rydym bellach gwybod yn llawer mwy cywir, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, beth sydd ei angen arnom—nid amcangyfrif mawr bras, ond flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn beth sydd ei angen. Felly, fe wnaethom ofyn y llynedd am gyfraniad o £25 miliwn i ychwanegu at yr hyn yr oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ei dalu ein hunain gyda chyllid Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae yna gost a budd i hynny, oherwydd roedd yn rhaid iddo ddod o feysydd eraill yr oeddem wedi'u blaenoriaethu. [Torri ar draws.] Wrth gwrs.
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
I agree entirely.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr.
Sorry.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.
But rest assured that my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language is in discussion with the UK Government, seeing that as that first instalment. The First Minister and I have said repeatedly that we need that continuing partnership, and it needs to ramp up, both our contribution, but also the UK Government contribution.
As we've discussed before, the other aspect is building the capacity. So, as I've said in front of the committee, there is a real—. The limitation isn't funds here; the limitation is building those civil engineers, hydrologists, mine engineers and others who can actually prioritise those top tips, first of all, and then work their way through. This is a five, 10, 15-year programme, but we need to ramp it up as the years go by. The figures, by the way, the finance Secretary has put in the public domain of what we're asking for in the next few years.
Ond gallwch fod yn dawel eich meddwl fod fy nghyd-Aelod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg yn trafod gyda Llywodraeth y DU, gan weld hwnnw fel y rhandaliad cyntaf. Mae'r Prif Weinidog a minnau wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro fod angen y bartneriaeth barhaus honno, ac mae angen i'n cyfraniad ni gynyddu, a chyfraniad Llywodraeth y DU hefyd.
Fel y trafodwyd gennym o'r blaen, yr agwedd arall yw adeiladu'r capasiti. Felly, fel y dywedais gerbron y pwyllgor, mae yna—. Nid arian yw'r cyfyngiad yma; y cyfyngiad yw adeiladu'r peirianwyr sifil, hydrolegwyr, peirianwyr mwyngloddiau ac eraill sy'n gallu blaenoriaethu'r tomenni pwysicaf, yn gyntaf oll, a gweithio eu ffordd drwodd. Mae hon yn rhaglen pump, 10, 15 mlynedd, ond mae angen inni ei hymestyn wrth i'r blynyddoedd fynd heibio. Gyda llaw, mae'r Ysgrifennydd cyllid wedi cyhoeddi'r ffigurau y gofynnwn amdanynt yn y blynyddoedd nesaf.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i’r afael ag achosion o daflu sbwriel yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ62508
7. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to combat incidents of littering in South Wales East? OQ62508
Diolch, Natasha. Through our funding to Keep Wales Tidy, we continue to support local authorities and communities across south-east Wales in tackling litter. This includes creating litter hubs, co-ordinating volunteer activity and conducting prevention trials. We're also tackling the problem at source, with bans on products such as single-use vapes.
Diolch, Natasha. Drwy ein cyllid Cadw Cymru'n Daclus, rydym yn parhau i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol a chymunedau ledled de-ddwyrain Cymru i fynd i'r afael â sbwriel. Mae hyn yn cynnwys creu hybiau sbwriel, cydlynu gweithgareddau gwirfoddolwyr a chynnal treialon atal. Rydym hefyd yn mynd i'r afael â'r broblem yn y ffynhonnell, gyda gwaharddiadau ar gynhyrchion fel fêps untro.
Thank you so much for that answer. Cabinet Secretary, there are some fantastic community groups across Wales made up from dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond in keeping our towns, villages and cities clean. In Newport, we’re fortunate enough to have the amazing Pride in Pill team, who not only embark on litter picks around the city, but do so much great community work. However, Cabinet Secretary, sadly the group’s equipment, worth around £5,000, was recently stolen after their shed lock-up was broken into. The stolen items include litter-picking equipment, wheelbarrows, garden tools, gloves, safety shoes and first-aid kits. These mindless thieves have sadly set the charity back with the amazing work it does in sprucing up our city and eradicating littering. Cabinet Secretary, Pride in Pill is appealing for donations to help get them up and running. I’m doing what I can to support them, but is there anything the Welsh Government can do to support them at this very difficult time? And will you join me in raising awareness of this appeal and encourage people to donate, if they are indeed in a position to do so? Thank you.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae yna grwpiau cymunedol gwych ledled Cymru sy'n cynnwys gwirfoddolwyr ymroddedig sy'n mynd y tu hwnt i'r galw i gadw ein trefi, ein pentrefi a'n dinasoedd yn lân. Yng Nghasnewydd, rydym yn ddigon ffodus i gael y tîm anhygoel Pride in Pill, sydd nid yn unig yn cynnal casgliadau sbwriel o amgylch y ddinas, ond yn gwneud cymaint o waith cymunedol gwych. Fodd bynnag, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn ddiweddar cafodd offer y grŵp, sy'n werth tua £5,000, ei ddwyn ar ôl i rywun dorri i mewn i'w sied. Mae'r eitemau sydd wedi'u dwyn yn cynnwys offer casglu sbwriel, berfâu, offer gardd, menig, esgidiau diogelwch a chitiau cymorth cyntaf. Mae'r lladron difeddwl hyn wedi cyfyngu ar allu elusen sy'n gwneud gwaith anhygoel yn glanhau ein dinas a chael gwared ar sbwriel. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae Pride in Pill yn apelio am roddion i'w helpu i'w cael yn ôl yn weithredol. Rwy'n gwneud yr hyn a allaf i'w cefnogi, ond a oes unrhyw beth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i'w cefnogi ar yr adeg anodd hon? Ac a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r apêl hon ac annog pobl i gyfrannu, os ydynt mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny? Diolch.
Natasha, thank you so much. Do you know, I pay credit to that group for the work they're doing, and also others across your region? The litter picking that's been done recently by the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust, the Gwent Wildlife Trust, partnerships in Caerphilly and so on, and, indeed, much of this is supported by the work of Keep Wales Tidy very often, and the hubs they do and the equipment that they provide across south-east Wales, and the support that Welsh Government gives to Keep Wales Tidy to do that.
It is so disappointing that a daft, stupid, petty incident of theft now has meant that that equipment is not available, and I'm sure Keep Wales Tidy will want to help get that up and running again as soon as possible. But, look, if there is an appeal out there for support, I would echo that. People in Wales are very, very generous, particularly when it's to do with tidying up their own communities. So, let's see if we can get that group back on their feet. And let's also support all those other groups who are out, particularly at this time of year, around their communities, cleaning up their river banks, their local paths, and so on. They do such good work.
Diolch, Natasha. Wyddoch chi, rwy'n canmol y grŵp hwnnw am y gwaith a wnânt, ac eraill ar draws eich rhanbarth? Y casglu sbwriel a wnaed yn ddiweddar gan Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust, Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gwent, partneriaethau yng Nghaerffili ac yn y blaen, ac yn wir, mae llawer o hyn yn cael ei gefnogi gan waith Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus yn aml iawn, a'r hybiau y maent yn eu gwneud a'r offer y maent yn eu darparu ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru, a'r gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus i wneud hynny.
Mae mor siomedig bod lladrad hurt a thwp bellach wedi golygu nad yw'r offer hwnnw ar gael, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus eisiau helpu i'w cael yn weithredol eto cyn gynted â phosibl. Ond edrychwch, os oes apêl am gymorth, rwy'n adleisio hynny. Mae pobl yng Nghymru yn hael iawn, yn enwedig pan fo'n ymwneud â thacluso eu cymunedau eu hunain. Felly, gadewch inni weld a allwn ni gael y grŵp hwnnw yn ôl ar eu traed. A gadewch inni hefyd gefnogi'r holl grwpiau eraill sydd allan, ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn yn enwedig, o amgylch eu cymunedau, yn glanhau eu glannau afonydd, eu llwybrau lleol, ac yn y blaen. Maent yn gwneud gwaith mor dda.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Carolyn Thomas.
And finally, question 8, Carolyn Thomas.
8. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ar drywydd atebion sy'n seiliedig ar natur fel rhan o'i strategaeth llifogydd? OQ62505
8. How is the Welsh Government pursuing nature-based solutions as part of its flood strategy? OQ62505
Diolch, Carolyn. We are implementing nature-based solutions as part of our flood risk management programme. This includes £2 million recently made available to risk management authorities for natural flood management. This will enable collaboration with farmers, landowners and third sector organisations to reduce flood risk and to enhance environmental resilience.
Diolch, Carolyn. Rydym yn gweithredu atebion ar sail natur fel rhan o'n rhaglen rheoli perygl llifogydd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £2 filiwn a ddarparwyd yn ddiweddar i awdurdodau rheoli risg ar gyfer rheoli llifogydd drwy ddulliau naturiol. Bydd hyn yn galluogi cydweithio â ffermwyr, tirfeddianwyr a sefydliadau'r trydydd sector i leihau'r perygl o lifogydd ac i wella gwytnwch amgylcheddol.
Thank you for your response. I recently met with Rewilding Britain, who are putting forward solutions for water capture in our uplands such as creating leaky dams, and also wetland creation. I'm very interested in reintroducing beavers as well as a nature solution. Only a small proportion of money has actually been given towards these nature-based solutions in the UK as a whole and in Wales, compared to other ideas. I was wondering what consideration has been given to working with landowners under riparian law—for example, when ploughing fields, trying to make sure that they're ploughed across rather than down the field, so the water comes down, and just slowing down the flow of rivers and streams upstream as well—as a suggestion going forward. Thank you.
Diolch am eich ateb. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm â Rewilding Britain, sy'n cynnig atebion ar gyfer dal dŵr yn ein hucheldiroedd megis creu argaeau sy'n gollwng dŵr, a hefyd creu gwlyptiroedd. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn ailgyflwyno afancod yn ogystal ag ateb ar sail natur. Dim ond cyfran fach o'r arian sydd wedi'i roi tuag at yr atebion ar sail natur hyn yn y DU gyfan ac yng Nghymru, o'i gymharu â syniadau eraill. Roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed pa ystyriaeth a roddwyd i weithio gyda thirfeddianwyr o dan gyfraith glannau afonydd—er enghraifft, wrth aredig caeau, a cheisio gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cael eu haredig ar draws yn hytrach nag ar hyd y cae, fel bod y dŵr yn dod i lawr, ac arafu llif afonydd a nentydd i fyny'r afon hefyd—fel awgrym ar gyfer y dyfodol. Diolch.
It's a really good suggestion, and key to making the money go further is actually working with landowners. Actually, I mentioned I was in the top of the upper Wye catchment recently, the project up there, and that includes working with landowners to do those projects that are to slow down the water flow and also to retain soil as well—on the soil, not in the rivers, in sediment and muck there. So, it's about reducing run-off, reducing pollution, keeping soil in the land, slowing the flow of overland water, helping with flood mitigation, restoring and reconnecting the floodplains, restoring river corridors, planting buffer zones and working with landowners. That's the key to it. And when landowners see what's going on in the field opposite, they're often the first ones to go, ‘What's going on? Can we be involved?’ So you can make that money go a long way.
But just to say, Dirprwy Lywydd, we have schemes within the national flood management programme at the moment. We have two schemes in the main programme that are finally at the business case stage, in the Gwyrfai and Ogwen catchments. But there are also four schemes in Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Powys. We will, with that £2 million investment—and again, thank you for voting for this in the budget as well—support 23 projects across Wales, and it will reduce flood risk for up to 2,800 properties. It goes a long way.
Mae'n awgrym da iawn, a'r allwedd i wneud i'r arian fynd ymhellach mewn gwirionedd yw gweithio gyda thirfeddianwyr. Soniais fy mod i ar ben dalgylch uchaf afon Gwy yn ddiweddar, y prosiect i fyny yno, ac mae hwnnw'n cynnwys gweithio gyda thirfeddianwyr i wneud y prosiectau sy'n arafu'r llif dŵr a hefyd i gadw pridd—ar y pridd, nid yn yr afonydd, mewn gwaddodion a mwd yno. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â lleihau dŵr ffo, lleihau llygredd, cadw pridd yn y tir, arafu llif dŵr dros y tir, helpu gyda lliniaru llifogydd, adfer ac ailgysylltu'r gorlifdiroedd, adfer coridorau afonydd, plannu lleiniau clustogi a gweithio gyda thirfeddianwyr. Dyna'r allwedd. A phan fydd tirfeddianwyr yn gweld beth sy'n digwydd yn y cae gyferbyn, yn aml, hwy yw'r rhai cyntaf i ofyn, 'Beth sy'n digwydd? A gawn ni fod yn rhan ohono?' Felly gallwch wneud i'r arian fynd yn bell iawn.
Ond Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae gennym gynlluniau o fewn y rhaglen genedlaethol ar gyfer rheoli llifogydd ar hyn o bryd. Mae gennym ddau gynllun yn y brif raglen sydd ar gam achos busnes o'r diwedd, yn nalgylchoedd Gwyrfai ac Ogwen. Ond mae pedwar cynllun yng Nghaerdydd, sir Fynwy a Phowys hefyd. Gyda'r buddsoddiad o £2 filiwn—ac unwaith eto, diolch am bleidleisio dros hyn yn y gyllideb—byddwn yn cefnogi 23 o brosiectau ledled Cymru, a bydd yn lleihau perygl llifogydd i hyd at 2,800 eiddo. Mae'n mynd yn bell iawn.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Eitem 3 yw'r cynnig i atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro er mwyn caniatáu cynnal yr eitem nesaf o fusnes. Galwaf ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Cyflawni i wneud y cynnig—Julie James.
Item 3 is the motion to suspend Standing Orders temporarily in order to allow the next item of business. I call on the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to move the motion—Julie James.
Cynnig NNDM8871 Jane Hutt
Cynnig bod Senedd Cymru, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 33.6 a 33.8:
Yn atal dros dro Reol Sefydlog 12.20(i) a'r rhan honno o Reol Sefydlog 11.16 sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol bod y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad wythnosol o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.11 yn darparu'r amserlen ar gyfer busnes yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yr wythnos ganlynol, er mwyn caniatáu i NNDM8872 gael ei ystyried yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ddydd Mercher 26 Mawrth.
Motion NNDM8871 Jane Hutt
To propose that Senedd Cymru, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:
Suspends Standing Order 12.20(i) and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NNDM8872 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 26 March.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.

I formally move the motion to suspend Standing Orders, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol i atal Rheolau Sefydlog, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Y cynnig yw atal y Rheolau Sefydlog dros dros. 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 Orders temporarily. Do any Members object? No. Therefore, the motion is 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.
Eitem 4 yw'r penderfyniad ariannol o ran y Bil Deddfwriaeth (Gweithdrefn, Cyhoeddi a Diddymiadau) (Cymru). Galwaf ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Cyflawni i wneud y cynnig—Julie James.
Item 4 is the financial resolution in respect of the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill. I call on the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to move the motion—Julie James.
Cynnig NNDM8872 Julie James
Cynnig bod Senedd Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.72, at ddibenion unrhyw ddarpariaethau sy’n deillio o Fil Deddfwriaeth (Gweithdrefn, Cyhoeddi a Diddymiadau) (Cymru), yn cytuno i unrhyw gynnydd mewn gwariant o fath y cyfeirir ato yn Rheol Sefydlog 26.69 sy’n codi o ganlyniad i’r Bil.
Motion NNDM8872 Julie James
To propose that Senedd Cymru, in accordance with Standing Order 26.72, for the purposes of any provisions resulting from the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill, agrees to any increase in expenditure of a kind referred to in Standing Order 26.69 arising in consequence of the Bill.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm very grateful to Members for agreeing that Standing Orders can be suspended to allow this debate to take place. Although a financial resolution debate is a common occurrence on most Bills, the circumstances that have led to today's debate are a little unusual. I'll just take the opportunity to explain why the Government has tabled this motion and what the Senedd is being asked to agree to.
When a Bill is introduced into the Senedd, the Llywydd must decide if a financial resolution is required, and it is usually the case that the Senedd is asked to agree that motion at the end of Stage 1. Due to the technical nature of the Bill, in the case of the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill, the Llywydd determined, in accordance with Standing Orders, that a financial resolution was not required. The general principles of the Bill were agreed by the Senedd on 4 March, and the Bill is now in Stage 2. Amendments to the Bill have been tabled, and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee are due to consider those amendments at their meeting on Monday.
Standing Order 26.72 provides that, where an amendment to a Bill would, if agreed, mean that the Bill would need a financial resolution, no proceedings on the amendment can take place unless the Senedd has agreed a motion for financial resolution. This is the situation that has arisen on the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill. The Llywydd has determined that amendment 34, which has been tabled by Adam Price, may engage Standing Order 26.72. Therefore, without the Government moving this motion today, and the Senedd agreeing to it, proceedings on amendment 34 cannot take place, and Adam would not have the opportunity to make his case for amending the Bill.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I should make very clear, however, that the Government does not support amendment 34. What is proposed is not something that was recommended by the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee at Stage 1, and the financial implications of the proposal would be not inconsiderable. Members will be aware from information made available with this motion that comparable arrangements in Scotland currently cost the Scottish Government around £100,000 annually, and this is a cost that applies in perpetuity, increasing over time. But this is not the forum to rehearse the merits or otherwise of the amendment, nor is the Senedd being asked to agree the amendment to the Bill. Instead, the Senedd is being asked to agree the financial resolution so that amendment 34 may be debated next week by the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in order that a democratic process of amending a Bill can take place.
On that basis, I ask the Senedd to agree the financial resolution today, and that will enable those proceedings on the amendment to take place. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Aelodau am gytuno y gellir atal y Rheolau Sefydlog er mwyn caniatáu i'r ddadl hon gael ei chynnal. Er bod dadl ar benderfyniad ariannol yn ddigwyddiad cyffredin ar y rhan fwyaf o Filiau, mae'r amgylchiadau sydd wedi arwain at y ddadl heddiw ychydig yn anarferol. Rwyf am achub ar y cyfle i egluro pam y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi cyflwyno'r cynnig hwn a beth y gofynnir i'r Senedd gytuno iddo.
Pan fydd Bil yn cael ei gyflwyno i'r Senedd, rhaid i'r Llywydd benderfynu a oes angen penderfyniad ariannol, ac fel arfer gofynnir i'r Senedd gytuno ar y cynnig hwnnw ar ddiwedd Cyfnod 1. Oherwydd natur dechnegol y Bil, yn achos y Bil Deddfwriaeth (Gweithdrefn, Cyhoeddi a Diddymiadau) (Cymru), penderfynodd y Llywydd, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog, nad oedd angen penderfyniad ariannol. Cytunwyd ar egwyddorion cyffredinol y Bil gan y Senedd ar 4 Mawrth, ac mae'r Bil bellach yng Nghyfnod 2. Mae gwelliannau i'r Bil wedi'u cyflwyno, ac mae disgwyl i'r Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad ystyried y gwelliannau hynny yn eu cyfarfod ddydd Llun.
Mae Rheol Sefydlog 26.72 yn darparu, lle byddai gwelliant i Fil, os yw'n cael ei gytuno, yn golygu y byddai angen penderfyniad ariannol ar y Bil, ni all unrhyw drafodion ddigwydd ar y gwelliant oni bai bod y Senedd wedi cytuno ar gynnig am benderfyniad ariannol. Dyma'r sefyllfa sydd wedi codi gyda'r Bil Deddfwriaeth (Gweithdrefn, Cyhoeddi a Diddymiadau) (Cymru). Mae'r Llywydd wedi pennu y gall gwelliant 34, a gyflwynwyd gan Adam Price, gymell Rheol Sefydlog 26.72. Felly, heb i'r Llywodraeth wneud y cynnig hwn heddiw, a bod y Senedd yn cytuno iddo, ni all trafodion ddigwydd ar welliant 34, ac ni fyddai Adam yn cael cyfle i wneud ei achos dros ddiwygio'r Bil.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, dylwn wneud yn glir iawn, fodd bynnag, nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn cefnogi gwelliant 34. Nid yw'r hyn a gynigir yn rhywbeth a argymhellwyd gan y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad yng Nghyfnod 1, ac ni fyddai goblygiadau ariannol y cynnig yn ansylweddol. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol o'r wybodaeth a ddarparwyd gyda'r cynnig fod trefniadau tebyg yn yr Alban ar hyn o bryd yn costio tua £100,000 bob blwyddyn i Lywodraeth yr Alban, ac mae hon yn gost sy'n codi'n barhaol, gan gynyddu dros amser. Ond nid dyma'r fforwm i ailadrodd rhinweddau neu fel arall y gwelliant, ac ni ofynnir i'r Senedd gytuno ar y gwelliant i'r Bil. Yn hytrach, gofynnir i'r Senedd gytuno ar y penderfyniad ariannol fel y gellir trafod gwelliant 34 yr wythnos nesaf gan y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad er mwyn i broses ddemocrataidd o ddiwygio Bil allu digwydd.
Ar y sail honno, gofynnaf i'r Senedd gytuno ar y penderfyniad ariannol heddiw, a bydd hynny'n ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i'r trafodion ar y gwelliant ddigwydd. Diolch.
Dŷn ni ddim yn mynd i gael y drafodaeth nawr ynglŷn â sylwedd y gwelliant, ond dwi jest yn rhoi ar y record fy mod i'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Llywodraeth am hwyluso ein gallu ni i gael y drafodaeth honno yng nghyd-destun trafodion yng Nghyfnod 2 y Bil. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi am hynny. Efallai hefyd—a dŷn ni wedi cael sgwrs ynglŷn â hyn, Gwnsler Cyffredinol—y dylid manteisio ar y cyfle ar ryw bwynt i edrych ar y gweithdrefnau o gwmpas hyn. Byddai atal trafodaeth dim ond oherwydd y rhesymau mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u hesbonio—oherwydd natur technegol y Bil nad oedd yna adroddiad ariannol—dwi ddim yn credu ei fod e'n gwneud synnwyr felly i atal trafodaethau ar welliannau sydd yn dod i'r fei wedyn. Felly, efallai fod modd i'r Pwyllgor Busnes neu—dwi'n edrych arnoch chi, Ddirprwy Lywydd—pwyllgor y seithfed Senedd—dwi'n gwybod bod eich baich chi yn uchel iawn—ond efallai y dylid edrych ar y gweithdrefnau yma ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd.
We're not going to have a debate now about the substance of this amendment, but I just wanted to put on the record that I'm extremely grateful to the Government for facilitating our ability to have that debate in the context of Stage 2 proceedings on the Bill. I'm very grateful to you for that. Perhaps—and we've had a conversation about this, Counsel General—we should take the opportunity at some point to look at the procedures around this. I do think that preventing debate simply for the reasons explained by the Counsel General—because of the technical nature of the Bill that there was no financial report—I don't think it would make sense therefore to prevent discussion on amendments that emerge later. So, perhaps the Business Committee or—and I'm looking to you, Dirprwy Lywydd, here—the seventh Senedd committee—I know that your workload is very great—but perhaps we should look at these procedures for the future.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi'r cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion. 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.
Does dim cwestiynau amserol heddiw.
No topical questions have been accepted today.
Eitem 6 yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Yn gyntaf, Mike Hedges.
Item 6 is the 90-second statements. First we have Mike Hedges.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. March marks Brain Tumour Awareness Month; 28 March marks Wear a Hat Day—I'm glad it's not 28 March—a vital opportunity to highlight the devastating reality that brain tumour remains the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet research into brain tumours continues to be severely underfunded and underprioritised. Like many others, I've seen the devastating effect of brain tumour, which sadly killed my mother in 2003.
Last week, I sponsored Brain Tumour Research in Y Farchnad in the Senedd. They told me clinical trials are often the only hope for many patients and their families, yet in Wales we are falling behind, while for patients who are eager to take part in trials, there is a worrying lack of opportunities outside of Cardiff. The centralisation means that many patients across Wales, particularly in rural and deprived areas, are missing out on potentially life-saving treatments. Wales currently attracts less than half of its fair share of UK-wide clinical trials funding, and the situation has worsened since the pandemic. Awareness of available trials is also low. Too many patients and clinicians remain unaware of existing options, limiting access to pioneering treatment.
To compound the problem, cross-border access issues create unacceptable disparity. Welsh patients may find themselves excluded from trials available to their English counterparts simply because of their postcode. This is a matter of life and death. We must do more to raise awareness, address funding imbalances and ensure equal and fair access to clinical trials for all brain tumour patients across Wales.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mis Mawrth yw Mis Ymwybyddiaeth Tiwmor yr Ymennydd; ar 28 Mawrth mae'n Ddiwrnod Gwisgo Het—rwy'n falch nad yw'n 28 Mawrth—cyfle hollbwysig i dynnu sylw at y realiti dinistriol mai tiwmor yr ymennydd yw'r canser sy'n lladd fwyaf o blant ac oedolion o dan 40 oed o hyd, ac eto mae ymchwil i diwmorau'r ymennydd yn parhau i fod wedi'i thanariannu a'i thanflaenoriaethu'n ddifrifol. Fel llawer o bobl eraill, rwyf wedi gweld effaith ddinistriol tiwmor yr ymennydd, a laddodd fy mam yn 2003.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, noddais ddigwyddiad Ymchwil Tiwmor yr Ymennydd yn y Farchnad yn y Senedd. Dywedwyd wrthyf mai treialon clinigol yn aml yw'r unig obaith i lawer o gleifion a'u teuluoedd, ond yng Nghymru rydym ar ei hôl hi, gyda phrinder cyfleoedd y tu allan i Gaerdydd i gleifion sy'n awyddus i gymryd rhan mewn treialon. Mae'r canoli'n golygu bod llawer o gleifion ledled Cymru, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig a difreintiedig, yn methu cael triniaethau a allai achub bywydau. Ar hyn o bryd mae Cymru'n denu llai na hanner ei chyfran deg o gyllid treialon clinigol ledled y DU, ac mae'r sefyllfa wedi gwaethygu ers y pandemig. Mae ymwybyddiaeth o'r treialon sydd ar gael hefyd yn isel. Mae gormod o gleifion a chlinigwyr yn parhau i fod yn anymwybodol o'r opsiynau presennol, gan gyfyngu ar fynediad at driniaeth arloesol.
I waethygu'r broblem, mae problemau mynediad trawsffiniol yn creu gwahaniaeth annerbyniol. Efallai y bydd cleifion Cymru yn cael eu heithrio o dreialon sydd ar gael i'w cymheiriaid yn Lloegr am ddim rheswm heblaw eu cod post. Mae'n fater bywyd a marwolaeth. Mae'n rhaid inni wneud mwy i godi ymwybyddiaeth, mynd i'r afael ag anghydbwysedd ariannu a sicrhau mynediad cyfartal a theg at dreialon clinigol i bob claf tiwmor yr ymennydd ledled Cymru.
Last friday marked a historic moment for Wales and the world as 1,327 participants set a new Guinness world record for the largest-ever volunteer river clean-up. This extraordinary achievement stretched along the River Taf, spanning from Brecon to Cardiff Bay with eight dedicated clean-up locations. This record-breaking attempt was part of the Taff Tidy campaign, led by Pontypridd-born world champion triathlete Kate Strong and freshwater expert and Cardiff University academic Dr Masud. Their goal was to raise awareness of pollution in Welsh rivers and inspire collective action to restore these vital ecosystems.
The Taff Tidy campaign was created to unite communities cleaning one river and breaking the previous record of only 329 participants, set in India last February. By surpassing this record, Wales demonstrated the incredible potential of collective effort in tackling urgent environmental challenges. The campaign's success was supported by countless volunteers and key organisations, and these groups contributed dozens of volunteers, helping to make a real difference across the multiple clean-up sites.
The Taff Tidy campaign stands as a powerful reminder that every one of us has a role to play in caring for our natural environment. Looking to the future, the campaign is determined to leave a lasting legacy by educating communities about the importance of water security and protection. So, if you missed out on the world record, it's not too late to get involved. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this historic achievement.
Roedd dydd Gwener diwethaf yn foment hanesyddol i Gymru a'r byd wrth i 1,327 o gyfranogwyr sefydlu record byd Guinness newydd ar gyfer y gweithgaredd glanhau afonydd gwirfoddol mwyaf erioed. Roedd y cyflawniad rhyfeddol hwn yn ymestyn ar hyd afon Taf, o Aberhonddu i Fae Caerdydd gydag wyth lleoliad glanhau dynodedig. Roedd yr ymgais yn rhan o ymgyrch Taf Taclus, dan arweiniad Kate Strong, pencampwraig triathlon y byd, a anwyd ym Mhontypridd, a'r arbenigwr dŵr croyw a'r academydd o Brifysgol Caerdydd, Dr Masud. Eu nod oedd codi ymwybyddiaeth o lygredd yn afonydd Cymru ac ysbrydoli gweithredu ar y cyd i adfer yr ecosystemau hanfodol hyn.
Crëwyd ymgyrch Taf Taclus i uno cymunedau sy'n glanhau un afon a thorri'r record flaenorol o ddim ond 329 o gyfranogwyr, a osodwyd yn India fis Chwefror diwethaf. Trwy ragori ar y cyflawniad hwn, dangosodd Cymru botensial anhygoel ymdrech ar y cyd i fynd i'r afael â heriau amgylcheddol brys. Cefnogwyd llwyddiant yr ymgyrch gan wirfoddolwyr di-ri a sefydliadau allweddol, a chyfrannodd y grwpiau hyn ddwsinau o wirfoddolwyr, gan helpu i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol ar draws y safleoedd glanhau lluosog.
Mae ymgyrch Taf Taclus yn atgoffa'n bwerus fod gan bob un ohonom rôl i'w chwarae yn gofalu am ein hamgylchedd naturiol. Wrth edrych i'r dyfodol, mae'r ymgyrch yn benderfynol o adael ei hôl yn barhaol trwy addysgu cymunedau am bwysigrwydd diogeledd a diogelu dŵr. Felly, os na lwyddoch chi i gyfrannu at y record byd, nid yw'n rhy hwyr i gymryd rhan. Llongyfarchiadau i bawb a gyfrannodd at y cyflawniad hanesyddol hwn.
Daeth Joyce Watson i’r Gadair.
Joyce Watson took the Chair.
We move on now to item 7, a debate on a Member's legislative proposal: a Bill on littering and fly-tipping. I call on Mick Antoniw to move the motion.
Symudwn ymlaen nawr at eitem 7, dadl ar gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod: Bil ar daflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon. Galwaf ar Mick Antoniw i wneud y cynnig.
Cynnig NDM8799 Mick Antoniw, Carolyn Thomas, Delyth Jewell
Cefnogwyd gan Lee Waters, Mike Hedges, Rhianon Passmore
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi cynnig ar gyfer Bil ar fynd i'r afael â thaflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon yng Nghymru.
2. Yn nodi mai diben y Bil fyddai:
a) cryfhau a diwygio'r gyfraith ar dipio anghyfreithlon yng Nghymru mewn perthynas â’r canlynol:
i) cosbau ariannol ac anariannol (megis atafaelu trwydded yrru neu gerbyd);
ii) y cap ar hysbysiadau cosb benodedig;
iii) gweithgarwch gorfodi; a
iv) safoni methodolegau cofnodi ac adrodd data awdurdodau lleol.
b) cryfhau a diwygio'r gyfraith ar daflu sbwriel yng Nghymru mewn perthynas â’r canlynol:
i) nodi taflu sbwriel fel ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol;
ii) cosbau ariannol ac anariannol (megis darparu 'cyrsiau ymwybyddiaeth sbwriel' i droseddwyr); a
iii) cyfrifoldebau lleihau sbwriel manwerthwyr a chyflenwyr eraill.
c) cyflwyno prosesau sy'n ei gwneud yn haws i aelwydydd gael gwared ar wastraff.
Motion NDM8799 Mick Antoniw, Carolyn Thomas, Delyth Jewell
Supported by Lee Waters, Mike Hedges, Rhianon Passmore
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on tackling littering and fly-tipping in Wales.
2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:
a) strengthen and reform the law on fly-tipping in Wales in respect of:
i) financial and non-financial penalties (such as driving licence or vehicle confiscation);
ii) the cap on fixed penalty notices;
iii) enforcement activity; and
iv) standardising local authority data capture and reporting methodologies.
b) strengthen and reform the law on littering in Wales in respect of:
i) identifying littering as anti-social behaviour;
ii) financial and non-financial penalties (such as the provision of 'litter awareness courses' for offenders); and
iii) the litter reduction responsibilities of retailers and other suppliers.
c) to introduce processes that make it easier for households to dispose of waste.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr. Last Friday, along with 1,300 other volunteers, I participated in the world record-breaking river clean-up, organised by Kate Strong from Pontypridd. This fantastic community event highlights the strength of feeling on this important issue. Across Wales every week, a dedicated army of 16,000 volunteers, together with a small band of local authority workers, prevents us from drowning in a sea of discarded fast-food packaging, bottles, cans, food containers, cigarette butts and even used nappies. 250 tonnes of this mess is cleared up by volunteers every year.
Littering in Wales is on the rise. In many areas, it is reaching epidemic levels. Earlier this year, Keep Wales Tidy reported a 285 per cent increase in the number of streets heavily affected by litter and refuse. We should be grateful to every one of our volunteers, but the reality is that they are massively outnumbered by those who just don't care. Littering isn't just laziness, it's a lack of respect for other people. It's a disregard for community, and it shows total disdain for the environment, wildlife and for the planet.
Eighty-three per cent of litter is pedestrian dropped or, increasingly, thrown from car windows. Litter not only reduces people's quality of life, it works against collective community pride, and it creates the conditions for other forms of antisocial behaviour, such as fly-tipping, graffiti and vandalism, to proliferate. So, we should all be concerned about littering, and not just in Wales's abundant beauty spots. Wherever people live, work or play, they deserve to do so in an area unblighted by litter and by its big and uglier counterpart, fly-tipping, which is also on the rise in Wales.
In 2023-24, there were more than 42,000 reported fly-tipping incidents in Wales, up 6 per cent from the previous year, and a 20 per cent increase on pre-pandemic levels. The 102 prosecutions that followed amounted to less than 0.25 per cent of incidents. However, a deep-dive into the data reveals that even this tiny number of prosecutions presents a rose-tinted picture. Just two local authorities accounted for 68 per cent of all prosecutions. Twelve local authorities reported no prosecutions at all, and as the number of prosecutions refers to offences not individuals, on average, local authorities prosecuted just four individuals.
Existing legislation allows for vehicle seizure and unlimited fines. The value of fines imposed is not collated centrally, but we know that less than 70 per cent of prosecutions attracted a fine, and the average is just £516. In the local authority where the most prosecutions have taken place, the largest fine imposed was just £2,000. Vehicle confiscation is likely to be an effective deterrent. The number of vehicle seizures is not collated centrally, but it appears that this very rarely happens. This legislative proposal advocates improving, strengthening and making better use of existing law, including seizing vehicles in almost all circumstances and imposing a meaningful penalty at first offence.
Fixed-penalty notices can also be an effective deterrent, and I agree with those local authorities that believe that this cap, which currently stands at £400 for fly-tipping, needs to be reviewed upwards. More pressing, however, is the need for a greater number of fixed-penalty notices to be issued. Last year just 1,086 were issued against fly-tippers—a fall of 8 per cent on the previous year. And that’s an average of around 50 fixed-penalty notices per local authority or just one a week.
Equally, more use needs to be made of fixed-penalty notices to combat littering. In 2022-23 local authorities issued just 533 notices—an average of two per month per local authority. Nine local authorities issued none at all, and perhaps that isn’t surprising when each notice, on average, raised just £57.
As Keep Wales Tidy notes, whilst fixed-penalty notices are popular with residents, they are resource-heavy, and this is an unavoidable fact of life for local authorities, which, understandably, focus limited resources on clearance rather than enforcement. One local authority, for example, reported 400 fly-tipping events every month, and although CCTV footage of many of these offences was available, there was simply insufficient resource to examine the evidence and pursue prosecutions. Nevertheless, clearance still costs local authorities millions of pounds each year.
Diolch yn fawr. Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, gyda 1,300 o wirfoddolwyr eraill, cymerais ran yn yr ymgyrch lanhau afonydd a dorrodd record byd, ac a drefnwyd gan Kate Strong o Bontypridd. Mae'r digwyddiad cymunedol gwych hwn yn tynnu sylw at gryfder y teimlad ynghylch y mater pwysig hwn. Ledled Cymru bob wythnos, mae byddin ymroddedig o 16,000 o wirfoddolwyr, ynghyd â chriw bach o weithwyr awdurdodau lleol, yn ein hatal rhag boddi mewn môr o ddeunydd pacio bwyd brys, poteli, caniau, cynwysyddion bwyd, bonion sigaréts a hyd yn oed cewynnau wedi'u defnyddio. Bob blwyddyn, caiff 250 tunnell o'r llanast hwn ei glirio gan wirfoddolwyr.
Mae taflu sbwriel yng Nghymru ar gynnydd. Mewn llawer o ardaloedd, mae'n cyrraedd lefelau epidemig. Yn gynharach eleni, nododd Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus gynnydd o 285 y cant yn nifer y strydoedd yr effeithir arnynt yn drwm gan sbwriel. Dylem fod yn ddiolchgar i bob un o'n gwirfoddolwyr, ond y gwir amdani yw bod llawer mwy o bobl nad ydynt yn malio. Nid diogi yn unig yw taflu sbwriel, mae'n dangos diffyg parch at bobl eraill. Mae'n diystyru cymunedau, ac mae'n dangos dirmyg llwyr tuag at yr amgylchedd, bywyd gwyllt a'r blaned.
Mae 83 y cant o'r sbwriel yn cael ei daflu gan gerddwyr neu'n gynyddol, yn cael ei daflu o ffenestri ceir. Mae sbwriel nid yn unig yn lleihau ansawdd bywyd pobl, mae'n gweithio yn erbyn balchder cymunedol cyfunol, ac mae'n creu'r amodau i fwy o fathau eraill o ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol, fel tipio anghyfreithlon, graffiti a fandaliaeth, allu digwydd. Felly, dylem i gyd bryderu ynglŷn â thaflu sbwriel, ac nid yn unig ym mannau prydferth niferus Cymru. Ble bynnag y mae pobl yn byw, yn gweithio neu'n chwarae, maent yn haeddu cael gwneud hynny mewn man heb ei ddifetha gan sbwriel a'i gymar mawr a hyllach, tipio anghyfreithlon, sydd hefyd ar gynnydd yng Nghymru.
Yn 2023-24, cofnodwyd dros 42,000 digwyddiad o dipio anghyfreithlon yng Nghymru, cynnydd o 6 y cant o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol, a chynnydd o 20 y cant ar y lefelau cyn y pandemig. Roedd y 102 o erlyniadau a ddilynodd yn llai na 0.25 y cant o nifer y digwyddiadau. Fodd bynnag, mae archwiliad manwl o'r data'n dangos bod hyd yn oed y nifer bach o erlyniadau'n ddarlun llawer gwell na'r realiti. Roedd 68 y cant o'r holl erlyniadau mewn dau awdurdod yn unig. Ni wnaeth deuddeg awdurdod lleol gofnodi unrhyw erlyniadau o gwbl, a chan fod nifer yr erlyniadau'n cyfeirio at droseddau nid at unigolion, ar gyfartaledd, dim ond pedwar unigolyn a gafodd eu herlyn gan awdurdodau lleol.
Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol yn caniatáu atafaelu cerbydau a dirwyon digyfyngiad. Nid yw gwerth y dirwyon a osodir yn cael ei goladu'n ganolog, ond gwyddom fod llai na 70 y cant o'r erlyniadau wedi denu dirwy, a dim ond £516 yw'r cyfartaledd. Yn yr awdurdod lleol lle cafwyd y nifer mwyaf o erlyniadau, dim ond £2,000 oedd y ddirwy fwyaf a osodwyd. Mae atafaelu cerbydau yn debygol o fod yn ataliad effeithiol. Nid yw nifer y cerbydau a atafaelwyd yn cael ei goladu'n ganolog, ond mae'n ymddangos mai anaml iawn y bydd hyn yn digwydd. Mae'r cynnig deddfwriaethol hwn yn hyrwyddo gwella, cryfhau a gwneud gwell defnydd o'r gyfraith bresennol, gan gynnwys atafaelu cerbydau ym mron pob amgylchiad a gosod cosb ystyrlon ar gyfer y drosedd gyntaf.
Gall hysbysiadau cosb benodedig hefyd fod yn ataliad effeithiol, ac rwy'n cytuno â'r awdurdodau lleol sy'n credu bod angen codi'r cap, sy'n £400 ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer tipio anghyfreithlon. Yn fwy pwysig, fodd bynnag, mae angen cyhoeddi mwy o hysbysiadau cosb benodedig. Y llynedd dim ond 1,086 a gyhoeddwyd yn erbyn tipwyr anghyfreithlon—gostyngiad o 8 y cant ers y flwyddyn flaenorol. Ac mae hynny'n gyfartaledd o tua 50 o hysbysiadau cosb benodedig fesul awdurdod lleol neu ddim ond un yr wythnos.
Yn yr un modd, mae angen gwneud mwy o ddefnydd o hysbysiadau cosb benodedig i ymladd taflu sbwriel. Yn 2022-23 dim ond 533 o hysbysiadau a gyhoeddwyd gan awdurdodau lleol—dau y mis ar gyfartaledd fesul awdurdod lleol. Ni wnaeth naw awdurdod lleol gyhoeddi unrhyw hysbysiadau o gwbl, ac efallai nad yw hynny'n syndod gan na chododd yr un hysbysiad fwy na £57 ar gyfartaledd.
Fel y mae Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus yn nodi, er bod hysbysiadau cosb benodedig yn boblogaidd gyda thrigolion, maent yn drwm ar adnoddau, ac mae hon yn ffaith anochel i awdurdodau lleol, sydd, yn ddealladwy, yn cyfeirio adnoddau cyfyngedig tuag at glirio yn hytrach na gorfodi. Roedd un awdurdod lleol, er enghraifft, wedi cofnodi 400 o ddigwyddiadau tipio anghyfreithlon bob mis, ac er bod lluniau teledu cylch cyfyng o lawer o'r troseddau hyn ar gael, nid oedd digon o adnoddau i archwilio'r dystiolaeth a mynd ar drywydd erlyniadau. Serch hynny, mae clirio'n dal i gostio miliynau o bunnoedd i awdurdodau lleol bob blwyddyn.
[Inaudible.]—the amount of money that's spent on collecting litter, hundreds of thousands of pounds, which could be spent on education, on buses, all of these things that really matter to people. Do you think that's a better way of spending our public money?
[Anghlywadwy.]—swm o arian sy'n cael ei wario ar gasglu sbwriel, cannoedd o filoedd o bunnoedd, y gellid ei wario ar addysg, ar fysiau, yr holl bethau hyn sy'n wirioneddol bwysig i bobl. A ydych chi'n credu bod honno’n ffordd well o wario ein harian cyhoeddus?
Yes, it is a resource that should be unnecessary and is wasted. It could be spent on so many better things in making our communities better, more beautiful, more accessible, as well as all these standard services—public services that the local authorities provide.
And whether it’s littering or fly-tipping, prevention is the key and is a far more cost-effective option than increasing enforcement or clearing up the mess. Educational work is incredibly important, but we also need to invest in simple deterrents, such as even just signage to make clear that littering and fly-tipping are offences and that there will be prosecutions.
Despite the fight-back by volunteers and local authorities, they do need more support from Welsh Government. For example, data is not collected in a standardised way, and whilst innovative strategies are being implemented in some areas, there appears to be no process to identify and share best practice. So, Welsh Government could take a lead on these issues, and it should also take control of the £90 million that comes to Wales as part of the extended producer responsibility scheme and use it in a targeted and strategic way.
Llywydd, in Wales it is currently possible to litter with impunity and to see fly-tipping as a low-risk business option, so winning the battle against this anti-social behaviour will require a joined-up, Government-led approach. Our aim must be for it to become culturally unacceptable to drop litter and commercially unaffordable to fly-tip in Wales. To achieve this, enforcement needs to be stepped up. The penalties imposed need to provide a credible deterrent and reflect, not just the cost of clearance, but the detrimental impact felt by the community and the environment. This means educating magistrates on the true extent of the harm done.
We need to be more imaginative in the toolbox of penalties. For example, those who throw rubbish from their vehicles should attend, in my view, a mandatory environmental awareness course, similar to the speed awareness courses, or face penalty points, which could lead to disqualification. Commercial fly-tippers should fear, not just significant fines, but the likely prospect of vehicle confiscation and possibly a ban. Signage needs to be commonplace, educating people about the offences; technology should be widely employed.
Llywydd, I hope this Senedd will be able to engage with the cross-party group on littering, fly-tipping and waste reduction, as we develop proposals to make better use of current legislation and bring forward ideas for the inclusion in party manifestos—across all political parties. This issue has gone under the radar for too long. We ignore it at our peril, and our communities demand that action is taken. I hope that, with this legislative proposal, this will be a step forward now towards legislation that will achieve this objective. Diolch yn fawr.
Ydy, mae’n adnodd a ddylai fod yn ddiangen ac sy'n cael ei wastraffu. Gellid ei wario ar gymaint o bethau gwell i wneud ein cymunedau’n well, yn fwy prydferth, yn fwy hygyrch, yn ogystal â’r holl wasanaethau safonol hyn—gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y mae’r awdurdodau lleol yn eu darparu.
A boed yn daflu sbwriel neu'n dipio anghyfreithlon, atal yw'r allwedd, ac mae'n opsiwn llawer mwy costeffeithiol na chynyddu gorfodaeth neu glirio'r llanast. Mae gwaith addysgol yn hynod o bwysig, ond mae angen inni hefyd fuddsoddi mewn mesurau atal syml, megis arwyddion i’w gwneud yn glir fod taflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon yn droseddau ac y bydd pobl yn cael eu herlyn.
Er gwaethaf yr ymdrech gan wirfoddolwyr ac awdurdodau lleol i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem, mae angen mwy o gymorth arnynt gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Er enghraifft, ni chaiff data ei gasglu mewn ffordd safonol, ac er bod strategaethau arloesol yn cael eu rhoi ar waith mewn rhai mannau, ymddengys nad oes proses i nodi a rhannu arferion gorau. Felly, gallai Llywodraeth Cymru arwain ar y materion hyn, a dylai hefyd gymryd rheolaeth ar y £90 miliwn a ddaw i Gymru yn rhan o’r cynllun cyfrifoldeb estynedig cynhyrchwyr a’i ddefnyddio mewn ffordd strategol sydd wedi'i thargedu.
Lywydd, yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, mae’n bosibl taflu sbwriel heb gosb ac i ystyried tipio anghyfreithlon yn opsiwn busnes risg isel, felly bydd angen dull gweithredu cydgysylltiedig, a arweinir gan y Llywodraeth, i ennill y frwydr yn erbyn yr ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol hwn. Rhaid inni ei gwneud yn nod i ddod yn ddiwylliannol annerbyniol i daflu sbwriel ac yn fasnachol anfforddiadwy i dipio’n anghyfreithlon yng Nghymru. I gyflawni hyn, mae angen cynyddu gorfodaeth. Mae angen i'r cosbau a roddir fod yn arf ataliol credadwy sy'n adlewyrchu, nid yn unig y gost o glirio llanast, ond yr effaith niweidiol a deimlir gan y gymuned a'r amgylchedd. Mae hyn yn golygu addysgu ynadon am wir faint y niwed a wneir.
Mae angen inni fod yn fwy dychmygus gyda'r amrywiaeth o gosbau. Er enghraifft, yn fy marn i, dylai’r rheini sy’n taflu sbwriel o’u cerbydau fynychu cwrs ymwybyddiaeth amgylcheddol gorfodol, yn debyg i’r cyrsiau ymwybyddiaeth cyflymder, neu wynebu pwyntiau cosb, a allai arwain at gael eu gwahardd rhag gyrru. Dylai tipwyr anghyfreithlon masnachol ofni nid yn unig y dirwyon sylweddol, ond y posibilrwydd tebygol y caiff eu cerbydau eu hatafaelu a'u gwahardd o bosibl. Mae angen i arwyddion fod yn gyffredin, gan addysgu pobl am y troseddau; dylid gwneud defnydd eang o dechnoleg.
Lywydd, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Senedd hon yn gallu ymgysylltu â’r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar daflu sbwriel, tipio anghyfreithlon a lleihau gwastraff, wrth inni ddatblygu cynigion i wneud gwell defnydd o’r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol a chyflwyno syniadau i'w cynnwys ym maniffestos y pleidiau—ar draws pob plaid wleidyddol. Mae'r mater hwn wedi mynd o dan y radar yn rhy hir. Gwae i ni ei anwybyddu, ac mae ein cymunedau yn mynnu gweld gweithredu'n digwydd. Gyda’r cynnig deddfwriaethol hwn, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hwn yn gam ymlaen nawr tuag at ddeddfwriaeth a fydd yn cyflawni’r amcan hwn. Diolch yn fawr.
I have also in the past long called for the Welsh Government to form a new approach to deal with the modern menace of fly-tipping and littering across Wales. And thank you, Mick, for really opening that up well. I'd like to endorse the comments: there are so many volunteer groups now who are sick and tired and fed up of just wading through litter—in our streets, in our countryside. I'm going to call out Friends of the West Shore, Friends of Mostyn Street, Llanrwst mayor Councillor Mostyn Jones, and their town council. These little groups get together—. And I have to say, when you see littering around, or fly-tipping, you tend to think, 'Oh, it's young people.' No, it's not. Too often, adults set no example whatsoever, no good example, and are just dumping mattresses, old settees and things. Frankly, it's disgusting and lazy behaviour, particularly when there's often a place where you can go. But I will say, over the years, that has worried me, with local authorities—how they have tried to, with all the financial pressures on them, get money back, by imposing charges on taking in mattresses, taking in settees and all sorts of other household furniture. So, I think there are lessons to be learnt there.
Natural Resources Wales noted, in 2023-24, 42,171 incidents of fly-tipping. That's disgusting. That's a 6 per cent increase from the previous year. This last year, there were more than 25,000 enforcement actions, leading to around 1,000 fines and 102 prosecutions. But when doing the research, very few prosecutions come in from our local authorities. And I get it—they say they haven't got the resources there. It goes back to my big argument with NRW: the polluter should pay. These fees and fines should be coming back to help protect our environment, going forward. In north Wales, Conwy County Borough Council recorded 1,663 incidents of fly-tipping in 2023-24, yet took only 322 enforcement actions. The Isle of Anglesey County Council: 3,918; just nine enforcement actions. And Wrexham County Borough Council had 252 incidents of fly-tipping in 2021-22. That was the lowest in north Wales for that year, but, in 2023-24, this number increased to over 1,055 reported incidents. So, it's getting worse, and I fully support you with this proposal.
Despite the Welsh Government providing local authorities with additional funding, and different schemes to enable them to increase the amount of enforcement, it's not happening. I reiterate the call for the major challenge of littering and fly-tipping to be taken seriously by local authorities and the Welsh Government. Only then can true progress be made. I'm glad to say that the Welsh Government are now working with organisations like Keep Wales Tidy. I have to say, I do beach cleans, and, again, it just sickens me when I see the kind of rubbish that's left on the beach.
Rwyf innau hefyd, yn y gorffennol, wedi galw ers tro ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ffurfio dull newydd o fynd i’r afael â malltod modern tipio anghyfreithlon a thaflu sbwriel ledled Cymru. A diolch, Mick, am agor hynny'n dda. Hoffwn ategu’r sylwadau: mae cymaint o grwpiau gwirfoddol bellach wedi cael llond bol ar gerdded drwy sbwriel—yn ein strydoedd, yng nghefn gwlad. Rwy'n mynd i sôn yn benodol am Gyfeillion Pen Morfa, Cyfeillion Stryd Mostyn, maer Llanrwst, y Cynghorydd Mostyn Jones, a'u cyngor tref. Mae’r grwpiau bach hyn yn dod at ei gilydd—. Ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, pan welwch sbwriel o gwmpas y lle, neu dipio anghyfreithlon, rydych chi'n tueddu i feddwl, 'O, pobl ifanc sy'n gwneud hyn.' Nid yw hynny'n wir. Yn rhy aml, nid yw oedolion yn gosod unrhyw esiampl o gwbl, dim esiampl dda, ac maent yn gwaredu matresi, hen soffas ac ati. A dweud y gwir, mae'n ymddygiad ffiaidd a diog, yn enwedig pan fo rhywle y gallwch fynd yn aml. Ond dros y blynyddoedd, mae wedi fy mhoeni, gydag awdurdodau lleol—sut y maent wedi ceisio, gyda'r holl bwysau ariannol sydd arnynt, adennill arian, drwy godi taliadau am fynd â matresi, mynd â soffas a phob math o ddodrefn arall o'r cartref. Felly, rwy'n credu bod gwersi i’w dysgu yno.
Nododd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru 42,171 o achosion o dipio anghyfreithlon yn 2023-24. Mae hynny'n ffiaidd. Mae'n gynnydd o 6 y cant ers y flwyddyn flaenorol. Y llynedd, cafwyd mwy na 25,000 o gamau gorfodi, gan arwain at oddeutu 1,000 o ddirwyon a 102 o erlyniadau. Ond wrth wneud yr ymchwil, ychydig iawn o erlyniadau a wneir gan ein hawdurdodau lleol. Ac rwy'n deall—maent yn dweud nad oes ganddynt adnoddau. Mae a wnelo â fy nadl fawr gyda CNC: dylai’r llygrwr dalu. Dylai'r ffioedd a'r dirwyon hyn fod yn dod yn ôl i helpu i ddiogelu ein hamgylchedd, wrth symud ymlaen. Yn y gogledd, cofnododd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy 1,663 achos o dipio anghyfreithlon yn 2023-24, ond dim ond 322 o gamau gorfodi a gymerodd. Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn: 3,918; dim ond naw cam gorfodi. A gwelodd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam 252 o achosion o dipio anghyfreithlon yn 2021-22. Dyna oedd yr isaf yn y gogledd ar gyfer y flwyddyn honno, ond yn 2023-24, cynyddodd y nifer hwn i dros 1,055 o achosion wedi'u cofnodi. Felly, mae’n gwaethygu, ac rwy’n llwyr gefnogi eich cynnig.
Er bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cyllid ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol, a chynlluniau gwahanol i’w galluogi i gynyddu gorfodaeth, nid yw’n digwydd. Ailadroddaf yr alwad ar awdurdodau lleol a Llywodraeth Cymru i fod o ddifrif ynglŷn â her fawr taflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon. Dim ond wedyn y gellir gwneud gwir gynnydd. Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru bellach yn gweithio gyda sefydliadau fel Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, rwy'n glanhau traethau, ac unwaith eto, mae'n gas gennyf weld y math o sbwriel sy'n cael ei adael ar y traeth.
Janet, you'll have to wind up now.
Janet, mae'n rhaid ichi ddirwyn i ben.
Yes. I thank Mick, Carolyn and Delyth for bringing this legislative proposal before us today, and I hope that we can continue, cross-party, to work on this issue, going forward. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Iawn. Diolch i Mick, Carolyn a Delyth am ddod â’r cynnig deddfwriaethol hwn ger ein bron heddiw, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn barhau i weithio ar y mater hwn yn drawsbleidiol wrth symud ymlaen. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'd like to thank Mick for tabling today's debate and for his leadership on the cross-party group on littering, fly-tipping and waste reduction.
I detest going for walks in our countryside and coming across litter. I think, if they brought it, why can't they carry it home in their pockets? It's harmful to our natural environment, and it looks awful. I was brought up to take rubbish back home with me, but, now, I go for walks and end up taking other people's rubbish back home. I remember once, a gully emptier told me that a blocked highway drain in a cul-de-sac was blocked by an accumulation of crisp packets where young children used to play. They poked the crisp packets down the drain and blocked it. One of the young people, when they were older—she was seen posting a dog-poo bag down a gully, so she hasn't grown out of the habit.
I think the idea of a litter awareness course is a good one, so that people are aware of the damage that they’re doing. I remember, during the pandemic, lots of litter picker groups were set up, which was fantastic community action taking place, a great social responsibility, and they became the litter police as well. Local authorities are struggling with cuts. They do not have the resources or spare capacity to send litter pickers out into communities and beyond town centres. And household recycling centres in many areas have had to close on certain days as a budget-saving cost, so that’s a big issue.
Local authorities have asked for no more unfunded legislation. And I remember when they employed Kingdom—I don’t know if anybody else remembers them—an outsourced company, and there was an outcry. The challenge back to us as councillors was that they were focusing on the easy targets such as smokers and cigarette butts, and then public opposition meant that they were terminated, so that didn’t work.
However, the cost of clearing and moving fly-tipping on public land is hugely expensive. And if dumped on private land, it’s not the council’s responsibility—I don’t think many people realise that—it’s the private landowner’s responsibility, and sometimes it just gets left. It also takes a lot of work for council enforcement officers to get enough evidence to build a case. It may eventually go to court, but then the fine isn’t enough of a deterrent, so I totally agree with you, Mick, that we need to look at that.
I welcome that the UK Government is building a four-nation approach on producer responsibility, taxing companies on packaging, and hopefully we can see a change there. And deposit-return schemes for on-the-go waste might also help with the solution.
I think when people say we need more bins, I don’t think that is the way forward. It accumulates more rubbish dumped at the side. I think people should just take their rubbish home with them and recycle it. I got some bins removed from lay-bys, where people were just adding more rubbish to them and they were overflowing. And I see what happens in Cardiff, which is horrendous.
The Marine Conservation Society said that 2024 saw a 4 per cent increase in the average amount of litter found on Welsh beaches. And with plastic pollution being such an issue—it’s even in every glass of water—we know what’s happening there, so we need to do something, and I really welcome this coming forward. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Mick am gyflwyno’r ddadl heddiw ac am ei arweinyddiaeth ar y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar daflu sbwriel, tipio anghyfreithlon a lleihau gwastraff.
Mae'n gas gennyf fynd am dro yn ein cefn gwlad a gweld sbwriel. Yn fy marn i, os gallant ddod ag ef, pam na allant fynd ag ef adref yn eu pocedi? Mae'n niweidiol i'n hamgylchedd naturiol, ac mae'n edrych yn ofnadwy. Cefais fy magu i fynd â sbwriel adref gyda mi, ond nawr, rwy'n mynd am dro ac yn mynd â sbwriel pobl eraill yn ôl adref. Rwy’n cofio unwaith, dywedodd gweithiwr gwagio gwlis wrthyf fod draen priffordd mewn ffordd bengaead wedi’i flocio gan gasgliad o becynnau creision lle roedd plant ifanc yn arfer chwarae. Fe wnaethant brocio'r pecynnau creision i lawr y draen a'i flocio. Pan oedd yn hŷn, gwelwyd un o'r bobl ifanc yn rhoi bag o faw ci i lawr gwli, felly nid yw wedi tyfu allan o’r arferiad.
Credaf fod y syniad o gwrs ymwybyddiaeth sbwriel yn un da, fel bod pobl yn ymwybodol o'r niwed y maent yn ei wneud. Rwy’n cofio, yn ystod y pandemig, fod llawer o grwpiau codi sbwriel wedi’u sefydlu, a oedd yn enghraifft wych o weithredu cymunedol, yn enghraifft wych o gyfrifoldeb cymdeithasol, a daethant yn heddlu sbwriel hefyd. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei chael hi'n anodd gyda thoriadau. Nid oes ganddynt adnoddau na chapasiti i anfon codwyr sbwriel allan i gymunedau a thu hwnt i ganol trefi. Ac mae canolfannau ailgylchu gwastraff cartref mewn llawer o ardaloedd wedi gorfod cau ar ddiwrnodau penodol fel cam i arbed arian, felly mae hynny'n broblem fawr.
Mae awdurdodau lleol wedi dweud nad oes arnynt eisiau rhagor o ddeddfwriaeth heb ei hariannu. Ac rwy'n cofio pan oeddent yn cyflogi Kingdom—nid wyf yn gwybod a oes unrhyw un arall yn eu cofio—cwmni allanol ar gontract, a chafwyd ymateb chwyrn. Yr her i ni fel cynghorwyr oedd eu bod yn canolbwyntio ar y targedau hawdd fel ysmygwyr a stympiau sigaréts, ac fe arweiniodd gwrthwynebiad y cyhoedd at ddod â'r contract i ben, felly ni weithiodd hynny.
Fodd bynnag, mae cost clirio a symud deunydd sydd wedi'i dipio'n anghyfreithlon ar dir cyhoeddus yn aruthrol o ddrud. Ac os caiff ei waredu ar dir preifat, nid cyfrifoldeb y cyngor ydyw—ni chredaf fod llawer o bobl yn sylweddoli hynny—cyfrifoldeb y tirfeddiannwr preifat ydyw, ac weithiau mae'n cael ei adael. Mae hefyd yn cymryd llawer o waith i swyddogion gorfodi cynghorau gael digon o dystiolaeth i adeiladu achos. Efallai y bydd yn mynd i’r llys yn y pen draw, ond nid yw’r ddirwy yn ddigon i atal pobl rhag gwneud hyn eto, felly rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi, Mick, fod angen inni edrych ar hynny.
Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth y DU yn adeiladu dull gweithredu pedair gwlad ar gyfrifoldeb cynhyrchwyr, ac yn trethu cwmnïau ar ddeunydd pecynnu, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn weld newid yno. A gallai cynlluniau dychwelyd ernes ar gyfer gwastraff wrth fynd helpu gyda'r ateb hefyd.
Yn fy marn i, pan fydd pobl yn dweud bod angen mwy o finiau arnom, ni chredaf mai dyna'r ffordd ymlaen. Mae mwy o sbwriel yn cronni ac yn cael ei adael ger y bin. Rwy'n credu y dylai pobl fynd â'u sbwriel adref gyda hwy a'i ailgylchu. Llwyddais i gael gwared ar rai biniau o gilfannau, lle roedd pobl yn ychwanegu mwy o sbwriel atynt, ac roeddent yn gorlifo. Ac rwy'n gweld beth sy'n digwydd yng Nghaerdydd, sy'n erchyll.
Soniodd y Gymdeithas Cadwraeth Forol am gynnydd o 4 y cant yn lefel gyfartalog y sbwriel a ganfuwyd ar draethau Cymru yn 2024. A chyda llygredd plastig yn gymaint o broblem—mae ym mhob gwydraid o ddŵr hyd yn oed—rydym yn gwybod beth sy'n digwydd yno, felly mae angen inni wneud rhywbeth, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod hyn wedi'i gyflwyno. Diolch.
Thank you. I call Delyth Jewell.
Diolch. Galwaf ar Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Dwi’n croesawu'r ddadl hon, a diolch i Mick am ei gynnig. Mae e’n fater sy'n difetha ein cymunedau, yn niweidio ein hamgylchedd, ac mae e’n rhoi baich annheg ar awdurdodau lleol ac ar y cyhoedd. Mae'r ystadegau gan Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus yn bryderus tu hwnt, yn enwedig y cynnydd mewn lefelau annerbyniol o daflu sbwriel yn yr ardaloedd yna sydd mwyaf difreintiedig. Nawr, nid mater amgylcheddol yn unig yw hwn, mae e’n fater o gyfiawnder cymdeithasol hefyd.
Tybed pam mae cymaint o bobl yn taflu sbwriel. Mae’n anodd weithiau i ddeall, ond efallai diffyg perchnogaeth maen nhw’n teimlo o’n gwagleoedd cyhoeddus ni, diffyg cysylltiad. Os ydyn ni am drwsio hynny, am gau’r bwlch, rhaid dechrau, ie, gydag addysg well, drwy gysylltu pobl ifanc gyda’u lleoliadau cymunedol nhw, gyda’u cymuned nhw, ond hefyd gyda’r cyrsiau roedd Mick yn sôn amdanyn nhw. Dwi’n meddwl bod hynna yn syniad da.
Nawr, mae'r Bil arfaethedig yn ceisio mynd i'r afael â nifer o fylchau allweddol eraill. Buaswn i’n cefnogi cryfhau cosbau ariannol ac anariannol, ond ni fydd gorfodi yn unig yn datrys y broblem. Fel yr ydym wedi clywed, mae newid ymddygiad yn orfodol. Rhaid cael ymdrech ar y cyd i ddeall pam mae pobl yn defnyddio tipio anghyfreithlon, a pha rwystrau sy'n atal gwaredu gwastraff cyfreithlon.
Mae hygyrchedd yn ffactor arwyddocaol. Pan fydd cynghorau yn gosod cyfyngiadau ar gael gwared ar wastraff, boed hynny trwy gyfyngu ar oriau agor, gofynion trwydded, neu ffioedd uwch, mae'r risg o ddympio anghyfreithlon yn cynyddu. Os ydyn ni o ddifrif ynglŷn â mynd i'r afael â'r mater, mae'n rhaid sicrhau bod gan bobl opsiynau hygyrch, fforddiadwy i gael gwared ar wastraff. Dwi ddim yn ceisio—beth yw'r gair? Dwi’n methu cofio yn Saesneg nag yn Gymraeg nawr. Dwi ddim yn ceisio dweud bod beth maen nhw’n ei wneud yn iawn, ond mae’n rhaid inni geisio deall y meddylfryd o ran gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni’n gallu newid eu hymddygiad nhw.
Mae dull safonol ledled Cymru hefyd yn hanfodol. Nawr, am rhy hir, mae'r ffocws wedi bod ar unigolion, yn hytrach nag ar y diwydiannau a’r manwerthwyr sy’n cynhyrchu gwastraff yn y lle cyntaf. Dylai cynhyrchwyr gael gorchymyn i gymryd mwy o gyfrifoldeb—mae wedi cael ei ddweud yn barod y prynhawn yma—am gylch bywyd cyfan eu cynhyrchion, gan gynnwys gwaredu. Gallai cronfa sbwriel bwrpasol neilltuol ddarparu adnoddau nawr sydd eu hangen ar gyfer gorfodi ac ar gyfer addysg.
Fe wnaf i gau, Cadeirydd, lle roeddwn i'n dechrau, gydag addysg. Mae gwaith Cadwch Gymru’n Daclus mewn ysgolion yn amhrisiadwy. Mae angen ymgorffori hwnna yn y cwricwlwm. Mae’n rhaid i ni newid agweddau, fel rydym ni wedi'i wneud gydag ysmygu hefyd. Ein cymunedau ni fydd y rhai fydd yn dioddef yn y dyfodol os nad ydym ni’n mynd i’r afael â’r broblem yma.
Thank you, Chair. I welcome this debate, and I thank Mick for bringing it forward. This is an issue that wrecks our communities and damages our environment, and places an unfair burden on local authorities and on the public. The statistics from Keep Wales Tidy are extremely worrying, especially the increase in unacceptable levels of littering in our most deprived areas. Now, this is not just an environmental issue, it’s also a social justice issue as well.
I wonder why so many people do litter. It is sometimes difficult to understand, but perhaps they feel a lack of ownership of our public spaces, a lack of connection. If we want to fix that, and close the gap, we must start, yes, with better education, by connecting young people with their community settings, and with their communities, but also with the courses which that Mick mentioned. I think that’s a very good idea.
Now, the proposed Bill seeks to address a number of other key gaps. I would support strengthening financial and non-financial penalties, but enforcement alone will not solve the problem. As we’ve already heard, behavioural change is essential. There must be a joint effort to understand why people engage in fly-tipping and what barriers prevent legal waste disposal.
Accessibility is a significant factor. When councils place restrictions on waste disposal, whether through limited opening hours, permit requirements, or higher fees, the risk of fly-tipping increases. If we’re serious about tackling this issue, we must ensure that people have accessible, affordable options to dispose of their waste. I’m not trying to—what is the word? I can’t remember the word in Welsh or in English. I'm not trying to say that what they’re doing is right, but we have to understand the thinking behind that in terms of ensuring that we can try to change their behaviour.
A standardised approach across Wales is also essential. Now, for too long, the focus has been on individuals rather than the industries and retailers that produce the waste in the first place. Producers should be ordered to take more responsibility—as has already been said this afternoon—for the entire life cycle of their products, including their disposal. A dedicated litter fund that would be ringfenced could provide resources now for enforcement and education.
I will close, Chair, where I started, with education. The work of Keep Wales Tidy in schools is invaluable. That needs to be incorporated into the curriculum. We have to change attitudes, as we did with smoking as well. Our communities will be the ones to suffer in the future if we don’t tackle this problem.
Can I firstly thank Mick Antoniw for bringing forward this legislative proposal and debate today? I think we’re all united in what you’re trying to aim to do, and I think we should all rally behind you on this.
Littering is an absolute blight throughout the entirety of Wales. Quite frankly, it lets us down as a nation. I’ve never understood personally, as we all say in here, why people make the decision to litter, and agree it is certainly antisocial. I think Delyth hit it on the head; people no longer seem to have ownership. They don’t have ownership or responsibility in many swathes of their life. I don’t know what’s gone wrong with society. It never used to be like this. We need to take a hard stance against it, because it’s not acceptable.
One particular area that falls under my shadow portfolio of transport is just the amount of littering on our roads that we see at the moment, especially on our trunk roads. I have three major transport arteries going through my constituency—the A4042, the A40 and A449—and I can tell you now that residents are really frustrated and concerned about littering, all of them. Especially those at where we sit—like in Monmouth, for instance, the A40—at the gateway to Wales. Tourists and residents are faced with this unsightly view of litter alongside our roads when entering the county, and it’s not acceptable.
It's far too easy for motorists just to chuck their waste out of the window when travelling along the country, leaving it for locals like us to pick up, or, in most cases, for it to just sit there rotting on the roadside. So, there is much of this Bill I agree with, and the laws around fly-tipping certainly need to be strengthened, but there needs to be further monitoring in place as well to catch people in the first place. I think there should be more discreet cameras monitoring our laybys and hotspots. Those are so easily resourced now and can be used really effectively.
But also there needs to be facilities for people to dispose of their waste. Mind, that’s no excuse at all. Even if there isn’t a bin there, you can take it home with you. I’m sure the facilities that used to be in laybys along the trunk roads were taken away to encourage people to take things away, but that’s not worked; we’re seeing it pile up and it’s a real mess.
So, we absolutely have to strengthen the law on fly-tipping and introduce other measures to punish those who commit these offences. But I think also local authorities and the likes of the South Wales Trunk Road Agent need additional support perhaps to get on top of this problem, so that we can ensure that we can maintain a clean and tidy presence.
So, I welcome this legislative proposal. We should not continue to tolerate fly-tipping or littering, as we tend to do nowadays. We need to go back to how it used to be and have a firm line on this. So, thank you, Mick.
A gaf i ddiolch yn gyntaf i Mick Antoniw am gyflwyno’r cynnig deddfwriaethol a’r ddadl hon heddiw? Rwy'n credu bod pob un ohonom yn unedig yn yr hyn rydych chi'n anelu at ei wneud, a dylai pob un ohonom eich cefnogi ar hyn.
Mae sbwriel yn falltod llwyr ledled Cymru gyfan. A dweud y gwir, mae'n dwyn gwarth arnom fel cenedl. Nid wyf erioed wedi deall yn bersonol, fel y mae pob un ohonom yn ei ddweud yma, pam fod pobl yn gwneud y penderfyniad i daflu sbwriel, ac rwy'n cytuno ei fod yn sicr yn wrthgymdeithasol. Rwy'n credu bod Delyth wedi taro'r hoelen ar ei phen; ymddengys nad oes gan bobl berchnogaeth bellach. Nid oes ganddynt berchnogaeth na chyfrifoldeb mewn sawl rhan o'u bywydau. Nid wyf yn gwybod beth sydd wedi mynd o'i le gyda chymdeithas. Nid oedd yn arfer bod fel hyn. Mae angen inni fabwysiadu safiad cadarn yn erbyn hyn, gan nad yw’n dderbyniol.
Un maes penodol sy’n rhan o fy mhortffolio trafnidiaeth ar ran yr wrthblaid yw faint o sbwriel a welwn ar ein ffyrdd ar hyn o bryd, yn enwedig ar ein cefnffyrdd. Mae gennyf dair ffordd brifwythiennol fawr yn mynd drwy fy etholaeth—yr A4042, yr A40 a'r A449—a gallaf ddweud wrthych nawr fod trigolion yn rhwystredig iawn ac yn bryderus ynghylch sbwriel, pob un ohonynt. Yn enwedig y rhai lle rydym—fel yn Nhrefynwy, er enghraifft, yr A40—wrth y porth i Gymru. Mae twristiaid a thrigolion yn wynebu'r olygfa hyll o sbwriel ger ein ffyrdd wrth ddod i mewn i'r sir, ac nid yw'n dderbyniol.
Mae'n llawer rhy hawdd i fodurwyr daflu eu gwastraff allan drwy'r ffenest wrth deithio drwy'r wlad, gan ei adael i bobl leol fel ni ei godi, neu yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, gadael iddo orwedd yno'n pydru ar ochr y ffordd. Felly, rwy'n cytuno â llawer o’r Bil hwn, ac yn sicr, mae angen cryfhau’r cyfreithiau sy'n gysylltiedig â thipio anghyfreithlon, ond mae angen trefniadau monitro pellach ar waith hefyd i ddal pobl yn y lle cyntaf. Dylai fod mwy o gamerâu cudd yn monitro ein cilfannau a'n mannau problemus. Maent mor rhad i'w cael bellach a gellir eu defnyddio'n effeithiol iawn.
Ond hefyd, mae angen cyfleusterau i bobl gael gwared ar eu gwastraff. Wedi dweud hynny, nid yw hynny'n esgus o gwbl. Hyd yn oed os nad oes bin yno, gallwch fynd ag ef adref gyda chi. Rwy’n siŵr fod y cyfleusterau a arferai fod mewn cilfannau ar hyd y cefnffyrdd wedi diflannu er mwyn annog pobl i fynd â phethau oddi yno, ond nid yw hynny wedi gweithio; rydym yn ei weld yn pentyrru, ac mae'n llanast go iawn.
Felly, mae'n rhaid inni gryfhau'r gyfraith ar dipio anghyfreithlon a chyflwyno mesurau eraill i gosbi'r rhai sy'n cyflawni'r troseddau hyn. Ond hefyd efallai fod angen cymorth ychwanegol ar awdurdodau lleol a sefydliadau fel Asiant Cefnffyrdd De Cymru i fynd i’r afael â’r broblem hon, fel y gallwn sicrhau y gallwn gynnal presenoldeb glân a thaclus.
Felly, rwy'n croesawu'r cynnig deddfwriaethol hwn. Ni ddylem barhau i oddef tipio anghyfreithlon neu daflu sbwriel, fel y tueddwn i'w wneud y dyddiau hyn. Mae angen inni fynd yn ôl at sut roedd pethau'n arfer bod, a bod yn gadarn ar hyn. Felly, diolch, Mick.
Final speaker, Jenny Rathbone.
Y siaradwr olaf, Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you very much. One of my bêtes noires is the people who tidy their vehicles by emptying the contents of their ashtray on to the ground for somebody else to pick up. It’s extraordinary, really, and, similar to the experience that Peter Fox has, I think one of the most depressing things is when you go to beauty spots for a walk or a cycle and, in the middle of nowhere, you’ll suddenly find these cans and these plastic bottles. We know that the plastic bottles are deeply harmful, getting into the rivers and harming the wildlife. So, it’s just totally depressing. What do people think they’re doing?
But, in the urban environment that I represent, all four of the least prosperous wards in my constituency have to have volunteers to try and keep on top of this, because otherwise it would just become such an appalling place to live, and we have to be incredibly grateful for them. I imagine that Cardiff is amongst the two local authorities that dominate the prosecution league tables. Cardiff Council issued nearly 2,700 enforcement notices and over 300 fixed-penalty notices in 2023-24 to people who failed to present their rubbish correctly. Because we have to somehow get people into the understanding that separating their recycling on the doorstep is mandatory. And the worst thing that happens is when people put food into plastic bags that then get broken up by the seagulls and the foxes, and then it’s food all over the place and the rats are loving it.
I think that the—. I want to understand why there’s no co-ordination of best practice amongst local authorities, because surely there is a role for the WLGA to share best practice, because, clearly, the worst form of littering is fly-tipping, and particularly the cash-in-hand criminals who dump builders’ rubble, house clearances, mattresses, which disfigure the beautiful woods in Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn. So, despite the fact that there are all these volunteers around there, they’re not going to be able to clear those sorts of heavy items, and, unfortunately, it cost the council over £300,000 to clear fly-tipping. And I absolutely support the idea of mandatory environmental awareness training, but I think we also need to see mandatory community payback—being obliged to volunteer to clear the fly-tipping themselves or face a very, very hefty fine. Give them that choice and then they will think twice before doing it.
Diolch. Un o fy nghas bethau yw'r bobl sy'n tacluso eu cerbydau drwy wagio cynnwys eu blwch llwch ar y llawr i rywun arall ei godi. Mae'n rhyfeddol, a dweud y gwir, ac yn debyg i'r profiad y mae Peter Fox yn ei gael, un o'r pethau mwyaf digalon yw pan fyddwch yn mynd i fannau prydferth am dro neu ar y beic, ac yng nghanol unman, fe welwch y caniau a'r poteli plastig hyn. Gwyddom fod y poteli plastig yn niweidiol iawn, a'u bod yn mynd i’r afonydd ac yn niweidio’r bywyd gwyllt. Felly, mae'n gwbl ddigalon. Beth y mae pobl yn meddwl y maent yn ei wneud?
Ond yn yr amgylchedd trefol rwy'n ei gynrychioli, mae'n rhaid i bob un o'r pedair ward leiaf llewyrchus yn fy etholaeth ddibynnu ar wirfoddolwyr i geisio mynd i'r afael â hyn, oherwydd fel arall, byddai'n dod yn lle mor ofnadwy i fyw ynddo, ac mae'n rhaid inni fod yn hynod ddiolchgar iddynt. Rwy'n dychmygu bod Caerdydd ymhlith y ddau awdurdod lleol sydd ar frig y tablau erlyniadau. Cyhoeddodd Cyngor Caerdydd bron i 2,700 o hysbysiadau gorfodi a dros 300 o hysbysiadau cosb benodedig yn 2023-24 i bobl a fethodd waredu eu sbwriel yn y ffordd gywir. Oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni rywsut gael pobl i ddeall bod gwahanu eu hailgylchu ar garreg y drws yn orfodol. A'r peth gwaethaf sy'n digwydd yw pan fydd pobl yn rhoi bwyd mewn bagiau plastig sydd wedyn yn cael eu rhwygo gan wylanod a llwynogod, ac mae bwyd ym mhobman a'r llygod mawr wrth eu boddau.
Rwy'n credu bod y—. Hoffwn ddeall pam nad oes unrhyw gydgysylltu arferion gorau wedi bod ymhlith awdurdodau lleol, oherwydd rhaid bod rôl i CLlLC rannu arferion gorau, oherwydd yn amlwg, y math gwaethaf o daflu sbwriel yw tipio anghyfreithlon, ac yn enwedig y troseddwyr arian mewn llaw sy'n cael gwared ar rwbel adeiladwyr, gwastraff wedi'i glirio o dai, matresi, sy'n anffurfio'r coedwigoedd hardd yn Llanedeyrn a Phentwyn. Felly, er bod yr holl wirfoddolwyr hyn o gwmpas, nid ydynt yn mynd i allu clirio’r mathau hynny o eitemau trwm, ac yn anffodus, fe gostiodd dros £300,000 i’r cyngor glirio gwastraff a gafodd ei dipio'n anghyfreithlon. Ac rwy'n llwyr gefnogi'r syniad o hyfforddiant ymwybyddiaeth amgylcheddol gorfodol, ond credaf fod angen inni weld gorfodaeth i dalu'n ôl i'r gymuned hefyd—ei bod yn ofynnol iddynt wirfoddoli i glirio'r llanast sydd wedi'i dipio'n anghyfreithlon eu hunain neu wynebu dirwy fawr iawn. Rhowch y dewis hwnnw iddynt, a byddant yn meddwl ddwywaith cyn ei wneud.
I call on the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, Huw Irranca-Davies.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. And first of all, can I thank the Members for tabling this proposal—Mick, Carolyn and Delyth—but also those other Members who've taken part—Janet, Peter and Jenny—as well? Let's start from the basis that a clean and safe and accessible to everybody and attractive environment is an essential part of the Wales that we want now and also for future generations. So, I’m therefore very much supportive of the intentions behind this proposed Bill. However, Mick, I would just like to take some time to point out what we’re already doing and what’s already in place—some of the things that you’ve asked for. So, bear with me, just for a moment. And just to agree with the point that you were making, Delyth, this is a social justice issue, because the worst travesties of fly-tipping and littering tend to be impacting on some of the most disadvantaged communities, and we recognise that. So, we need to get on top of this.
But let me turn to some of the examples, at the moment, of what we’re already doing, some of which have been touched upon in this debate. Local authorities, for example, can already confiscate vehicles related to fly-tipping offences, and, indeed, some of them are actually using this already. So, recently—only recently—Neath Port Talbot council’s waste crime team, with the support of South Wales Police, confiscated a vehicle that was used to fly-tip construction waste in Crymlyn Burrows. We need to see more of this, where it can be done. And by the way, congratulations on setting up the new cross-party group focusing on fly-tipping and litter, and waste, I understand, as well. I’m interested in the work that you’re doing there, and I look forward to coming to speak to the group sometime soon. I agree with you that local authorities need to make use of the existing enforcement tools that are available, like Neath Port Talbot have done: adopt a very proactive approach, get on top of this, get in front of the people who are littering and fly-tipping.
Now, resources have been mentioned, and we recognise that enforcement activity can, indeed, as Members have said, be complex and challenging. So, that’s why we do continue to support local authorities. We’ve doubled our funding now to Fly-tipping Action Wales. It’s a programme that’s operated by Natural Resources Wales. But let me tell you what it does in practical terms. It, for example, provides support then for local authorities to access free legal advice, because very often they’re challenged in how do we take this enforcement action. We provide the free legal advice from specialist environmental lawyers. It has also provided dedicated enforcement officer support, so those local authorities who go, ‘How do we do this, how do we get on the front foot?’, we can help them do it.
In north Wales, I can point to numerous positive results. So, for example, several offenders were caught fly-tipping in Eryri national park. One incident involved a significant amount of very dangerous asbestos sheeting, but this led to the offender paying clean-up costs for that as well. On penalties, which have been mentioned by a few, there's already a suite of financial penalties available for environmental offences. So, local authorities can set littering fixed-penalty notices at £150, and, for small-scale fly-tipping, £400. And offenders can be prosecuted in court for more serious offences.
But look, if there is evidence—and maybe the cross-party group will look at this—to suggest that we need to increase these fines, we already have the powers to do so. It doesn't need new legislation; we've got the powers to do it. It will be interesting to see what the CPG, working with the WLGA and police and others, come up with with their thoughts. But let me make it clear: littering and fly-tipping are already criminal offences and there are absolutely no excuses.
Generally, I believe that changing people's views on littering is, though, best achieved through education and awareness raising. Mick mentioned there that we need to get to that point where, culturally, it is simply unacceptable to litter and to fly-tip. In the same way that, as I said this morning at a conference in Sophia Gardens on the leadership that we're showing in terms of recycling, we are now a recycling nation, it is culturally what we do, we now need to be culturally in the space where we do not accept littering and fly-tipping. And in this, I've got to acknowledge that, despite the hard work of local authorities and others on the ground, there are still those who are determined to break the law, and that's why I welcome this debate today and the contributions and the suggestions that are being made.
And just to say, one thing that's been talked about is funding for local authorities. To be absolutely clear, that's why we've been supportive, on a four-nation basis, of developing the extended producer responsibility proposals, because that is direct: the polluter pays, passing the costs upstream of that waste packaging, which will then come to those local authorities. And then the question is should we allow those local authorities to determine what is best for them in their local area, or, as some have suggested today, should we have a drop-down template that I or others say. I think I favour the former, because local input on this, I think, is important as well on it. But EPR is going to help with that. We've also, of course, introduced legislation to tackle littering at source, with bans on several commonly littered plastic products, and, from 1 June, single-use vapes will also be banned in Wales.
I can't respond to every point, but I note that what's been raised here today are things on data collection—and there's an issue on the quality as well as the centralisation of it, just to be clear—litter-awareness courses or, indeed, community payback; issues around affordability of the collection of bulk items; whether more bins are better or worse, or maybe they just need to be in the right places; the role of WLGA in sharing best practice; and many other things that I don't have time to turn to today.
But I just want to turn to some other parts, because I don't believe that enforcement and legislation is the whole picture; it's also to do with what we do with education. So, our continuing support, which many people take for granted now, of the Eco-Schools programme, where children are educated to be more environmentally aware, is key, including the importance of recycling and disposal of waste responsibly. It is interesting—. Oh, I've run out of time already; my apologies. Let me just touch on a couple of others quickly, with your dispensation there.
The funding of Keep Wales Tidy supports the awareness-raising campaigns, direct support to communities wishing to improve their local environment. I and others have been out with the Spring Clean Cymru events last week right across Wales: the Taff Tidy clean-up, which, with support from others, broke the world record for the largest organised litter pick; I was on the banks of the Clywedog in north Wales doing the same, with volunteers from Wrexham.
And the other thing is, as I was at the event this morning, our drive towards a circular economy, that has growing momentum in Wales. It's not just that we're the second best and approaching to be—we want to be—the first best in recycling. That is thanks to the collective efforts of individuals and businesses and local authority partners throughout Wales. What that demonstrates is that it is possible to make transformative change, to make that cultural change, we just need everybody pointing in the same direction; and that includes our DRS scheme—which we've discussed here earlier on in questions—and then working with Fly-tipping Action Wales and Keep Wales Tidy. So, thank you for all the contributions and I look forward to working with Members and with the cross-party group to see what other suggestions may come forward.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Ac yn gyntaf oll, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelodau am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn—Mick, Carolyn a Delyth—ond i'r Aelodau eraill sydd wedi cymryd rhan—Janet, Peter a Jenny—hefyd? Gadewch inni ddechrau o'r sail fod amgylchedd glân a diogel a hygyrch i bawb ac amgylchedd deniadol yn rhan hanfodol o'r Gymru yr ydym ei heisiau nawr ac ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Felly, rwy’n gefnogol iawn felly i’r bwriadau y tu ôl i’r Bil arfaethedig hwn. Fodd bynnag, Mick, hoffwn roi peth amser i nodi'r hyn rydym eisoes yn ei wneud a'r hyn sydd eisoes ar waith—rhai o'r pethau rydych chi wedi gofyn amdanynt. Felly, os caf ofyn ichi fod yn amyneddgar am eiliad. Ac i gytuno â'r pwynt a wnaethoch chi, Delyth, mae hwn yn fater cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, gan fod effeithiau gwaethaf tipio anghyfreithlon a thaflu sbwriel yn tueddu i effeithio ar rai o'r cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig, ac rydym yn cydnabod hynny. Felly, mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â hyn.
Ond gadewch imi droi at rai o'r enghreifftiau, ar hyn o bryd, o'r hyn a wnawn eisoes, y mae rhai ohonynt wedi'u crybwyll yn y ddadl hon. Gall awdurdodau lleol, er enghraifft, atafaelu cerbydau sy’n gysylltiedig â throseddau tipio anghyfreithlon yn barod, ac yn wir, mae rhai ohonynt yn defnyddio hyn eisoes. Felly, yn ddiweddar—dim ond yn ddiweddar—fe wnaeth tîm troseddau gwastraff cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, gyda chefnogaeth Heddlu De Cymru, atafaelu cerbyd a ddefnyddiwyd i dipio gwastraff adeiladu yn anghyfreithlon yn Nhwyni Crymlyn. Mae angen inni weld mwy o hyn, lle gellir ei wneud. A chyda llaw, llongyfarchiadau ar sefydlu’r grŵp trawsbleidiol newydd sy’n canolbwyntio ar dipio anghyfreithlon a sbwriel, a gwastraff, rwy’n deall, hefyd. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb yn y gwaith a wnewch yno, ac edrychaf ymlaen at ddod i siarad â'r grŵp cyn bo hir. Rwy'n cytuno bod angen i awdurdodau lleol ddefnyddio’r dulliau gorfodi presennol sydd ar gael, fel y mae Castell-nedd Port Talbot wedi’i wneud: mabwysiadwch ddull rhagweithiol iawn, ewch i'r afael â hyn, ac achubwch y blaen ar y bobl sy’n taflu sbwriel ac yn tipio'n anghyfreithlon.
Nawr, mae adnoddau wedi’u crybwyll, ac rydym yn cydnabod y gall gweithgarwch gorfodi, yn wir, fel y mae Aelodau wedi’i ddweud, fod yn gymhleth ac yn heriol. Felly, dyna pam ein bod yn parhau i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol. Rydym bellach wedi dyblu ein cyllid i Taclo Tipio Cymru. Rhaglen yw honno sy’n cael ei gweithredu gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Ond gadewch imi ddweud wrthych beth y mae'n ei wneud yn ymarferol. Mae'n rhoi cymorth, er enghraifft, i awdurdodau lleol gael mynediad at gyngor cyfreithiol am ddim, oherwydd yn aml iawn, maent yn wynebu heriau wrth roi'r camau gorfodi hyn ar waith. Rydym yn darparu cyngor cyfreithiol am ddim gan gyfreithwyr amgylcheddol arbenigol. Mae hefyd wedi darparu cymorth swyddog gorfodi penodedig, fel y gallwn gynorthwyo'r awdurdodau lleol sy’n dweud, 'Sut mae gwneud hyn, sut mae achub y blaen ar y troseddwyr?’.
Yn y gogledd, gallaf dynnu sylw at nifer o ganlyniadau cadarnhaol. Felly, er enghraifft, daliwyd sawl troseddwr yn tipio'n anghyfreithlon ym mharc cenedlaethol Eryri. Roedd un digwyddiad yn ymwneud â llawer iawn o baneli asbestos peryglus iawn, ond arweiniodd hyn at y troseddwr yn talu costau glanhau am hynny hefyd. Ar gosbau, a grybwyllwyd gan rai, mae cyfres o gosbau ariannol yn bodoli eisoes ar gyfer troseddau amgylcheddol. Felly, gall awdurdodau lleol osod hysbysiadau cosb benodedig am daflu sbwriel ar £150, ac ar gyfer tipio anghyfreithlon ar raddfa fach, £400. A gall troseddwyr gael eu herlyn yn y llys am droseddau mwy difrifol.
Ond edrychwch, os oes tystiolaeth—ac efallai y gwnaiff y grŵp trawsbleidiol edrych ar hyn—i awgrymu bod angen inni gynyddu’r dirwyon hyn, mae gennym y pwerau i wneud hynny eisoes. Nid oes angen deddfwriaeth newydd; mae gennym y pwerau i'w wneud. Bydd yn ddiddorol gweld beth fydd barn y grŵp trawsbleidiol, gan weithio gyda CLlLC a'r heddlu ac eraill. Ond gadewch imi ddweud yn glir: mae taflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon eisoes yn droseddau, ac nid oes unrhyw esgusodion o gwbl.
Yn gyffredinol, credaf mai’r ffordd orau o newid barn pobl ynglŷn â thaflu sbwriel yw drwy addysg a chodi ymwybyddiaeth. Soniodd Mick fod angen inni gyrraedd y pwynt lle mae taflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon yn annerbyniol yn ddiwylliannol. Yn yr un modd, fel y dywedais y bore yma mewn cynhadledd yng Ngerddi Sophia ar yr arweiniad yr ydym yn ei ddangos gydag ailgylchu, rydym bellach yn genedl ailgylchu, dyna'r hyn a wnawn yn ddiwylliannol, mae angen inni fod mewn man yn ddiwylliannol nawr lle nad ydym yn derbyn taflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon. Ac yn hyn o beth, mae'n rhaid imi gydnabod, er gwaethaf gwaith caled awdurdodau lleol ac eraill ar lawr gwlad, fod rhai pobl yn benderfynol o dorri'r gyfraith o hyd, a dyna pam fy mod yn croesawu'r ddadl hon heddiw a'r cyfraniadau a'r awgrymiadau sy'n cael eu gwneud.
Ac os caf ddweud, un peth y soniwyd amdano yw cyllid ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol. I fod yn gwbl glir, dyna pam ein bod wedi bod yn gefnogol, ar sail y pedair gwlad, i ddatblygu’r cynigion cyfrifoldeb estynedig cynhyrchwyr, gan fod hynny’n uniongyrchol: y llygrwr sy’n talu, gan drosglwyddo costau'r deunydd gwastraff wedyn a fyddai'n dod i'r awdurdodau lleol hynny. Ac yna'r cwestiwn yw a ddylem ganiatáu i'r awdurdodau lleol hynny benderfynu beth sydd orau iddynt yn eu hardal leol, neu fel y mae rhai wedi'i awgrymu heddiw, a ddylem gael templed cwymplen wedi'i phennu gennyf fi neu rywun arall. Rwy'n credu fy mod yn ffafrio’r opsiwn cyntaf, am fod mewnbwn lleol ar hyn yn bwysig hefyd. Ond mae cyfrifoldeb estynedig cynhyrchwyr yn mynd i helpu gyda hynny. Rydym hefyd wedi cyflwyno deddfwriaeth i fynd i'r afael â thaflu sbwriel yn y ffynhonnell, gyda gwaharddiadau ar nifer o gynhyrchion plastig sy'n cael eu taflu'n aml, ac o 1 Mehefin, bydd fêps untro hefyd yn cael eu gwahardd yng Nghymru.
Ni allaf ymateb i bob pwynt, ond nodaf mai’r hyn a godwyd yma heddiw yw pethau ar gasglu data—ac mae problem ynghylch ansawdd yn ogystal â chanoli'r data, i fod yn glir—cyrsiau ymwybyddiaeth o sbwriel, neu'n wir, talu'n ôl i'r gymuned; materion yn ymwneud â fforddiadwyedd casglu eitemau swmpus; a yw mwy o finiau'n well neu'n waeth, neu efallai mai'r cyfan sydd ei angen yw eu bod yn y mannau cywir; rôl CLlLC yn rhannu arferion gorau; a llawer o bethau eraill nad oes gennyf amser i droi atynt heddiw.
Ond hoffwn droi at rai agweddau eraill, gan nad wyf yn credu mai gorfodi a deddfwriaeth yw'r darlun cyfan; mae hefyd yn ymwneud â'r hyn a wnawn gydag addysg. Felly, mae ein cefnogaeth barhaus, y mae llawer o bobl yn ei chymryd yn ganiataol bellach, i raglen Eco-Sgolion, lle caiff plant eu haddysgu i fod yn fwy ymwybodol o'r amgylchedd, yn allweddol, gan gynnwys pwysigrwydd ailgylchu a gwaredu gwastraff yn gyfrifol. Mae'n ddiddorol—. O, mae fy amser ar ben yn barod; ymddiheuriadau. Gadewch imi grybwyll ambell beth arall yn gyflym, gyda'ch caniatâd.
Mae cyllid Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus yn cefnogi'r ymgyrchoedd codi ymwybyddiaeth, cefnogaeth uniongyrchol i gymunedau sy'n dymuno gwella eu hamgylchedd lleol. Fe fûm i ac eraill allan gyda digwyddiadau Gwanwyn Glân Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf ledled Cymru: ymgyrch lanhau Taf Taclus, a dorrodd record y byd, gyda chefnogaeth gan eraill, am y digwyddiad codi sbwriel mwyaf a drefnwyd; roeddwn ar lan afon Clywedog yn y gogledd yn gwneud yr un peth, gyda gwirfoddolwyr o Wrecsam.
A’r peth arall, gan y bûm yn y digwyddiad y bore yma, yw'r ymdrech i greu economi gylchol, sydd â momentwm cynyddol yng Nghymru. Nid yn unig mai ni yw'r ail orau ac rydym yn agosáu at fod—rydym am fod—y gorau o ran ailgylchu. Mae hynny diolch i ymdrechion cyfunol unigolion a busnesau a phartneriaid awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru. Yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei ddangos yw ei bod yn bosibl gwneud newid trawsnewidiol, gwneud newid diwylliannol, y cyfan sydd ei angen arnom yw i bawb bwyntio i'r un cyfeiriad; ac mae hynny'n cynnwys ein cynllun dychwelyd ernes—a drafodwyd gennym yma yn gynharach mewn cwestiynau—ac yna gweithio gyda Taclo Tipio Cymru a Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus. Felly, diolch am eich holl gyfraniadau, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda'r Aelodau a chyda'r grŵp trawsbleidiol i weld pa awgrymiadau eraill a allai ddod gerbron.
I now call on Mick Antoniw to reply to the debate and remind him that he was so enthusiastic in opening, he now only has a minute left to close. [Laughter.]
Galwaf yn awr ar Mick Antoniw i ymateb i’r ddadl a’i atgoffa iddo fod mor frwdfrydig wrth agor, fel mai dim ond munud sydd ganddo i gloi nawr. [Chwerthin.]
I'll be enthusiastically very, very brief.
One of the biggest problems, I think, is that the courts are not using the powers they have consistently or to the full extent they have to actually make enforcement work. And can I thank everyone who has spoken in this? I think we all have pressures from our communities, who are now raising the scale of this particular problem. The strength we have, of course, is that this is something that spans across all political parties. I suspect it's one of those unusual issues where we have 100 per cent cross-party unity that something needs to be done, that there are things we can do within existing legislation, and there are things that we need to do in the future to strengthen, to change, and to boost that legislation because our communities demand it. Diolch yn fawr.
Fe fyddaf yn frwdfrydig ac yn gryno iawn.
Rwy'n credu mai un o’r problemau mwyaf yw nad yw’r llysoedd yn defnyddio’r pwerau sydd ganddynt yn gyson nac i’r graddau llawn i wneud i orfodaeth weithio. Ac a gaf i ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi siarad am hyn? Mae pob un ohonom yn teimlo pwysau o'n cymunedau, sydd bellach yn cwyno am faint y broblem. Y cryfder sydd gennym, wrth gwrs, yw bod hyn yn rhywbeth sy’n berthnasol i bob plaid wleidyddol. Rwy’n tybio ei fod yn un o’r materion anarferol hynny lle mae gennym undod trawsbleidiol 100 y cant fod angen gwneud rhywbeth, fod pethau y gallwn eu gwneud o fewn y ddeddfwriaeth bresennol, a bod pethau y mae angen inni eu gwneud yn y dyfodol i gryfhau, i newid, ac i roi hwb i’r ddeddfwriaeth honno, gan fod ein cymunedau’n mynnu hynny. Diolch yn fawr.
That surprised me. The motion—. No, wait a minute. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Object—did we have an objection? So, if we have an objection, I'll defer voting under this item until voting item.
Cefais fy synnu. Y cynnig—. Na, arhoswch funud. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Gwrthwynebu—a gawsom wrthwynebiad? Felly, os oes gennym wrthwynebiad, fe ohiriaf y pleidleisio o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
So, I'm moving on now to item 8, a debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee report, 'A decade of cuts: Impact of funding reductions for culture and sport'. I call on Delyth Jewell, the Chair of the committee, to open the debate.
Felly, fe symudaf ymlaen nawr at eitem 8, dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, 'Degawd o doriadau: Effaith gostyngiadau cyllid ar ddiwylliant a chwaraeon'. Galwaf ar Delyth Jewell, Cadeirydd y pwyllgor, i agor y ddadl.
Cynnig NDM8865 Delyth Jewell
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol: ‘Degawd o doriadau: Effaith gostyngiadau cyllid ar ddiwylliant a chwaraeon’ a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 9 Ionawr 2025.
Motion NDM8865 Delyth Jewell
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee: ‘A decade of cuts: Impact of funding reductions for culture and sport’ which was laid in the Table Office on 9 January 2025.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Gadeirydd. Mae'n bleser gen i agor y ddadl heddiw ar yr adroddiad pwysig hwn ar ddegawd o doriadau. Hoffwn i ddechrau trwy ddiolch i bawb wnaeth roi tystiolaeth inni fel pwyllgor, i aelodau'r pwyllgor, ac i dîm staff y pwyllgor am eu gwaith. Mae 13 o argymhellion yn ein hadroddiad. Roeddem yn falch bod tri o'r rheini wedi'u derbyn gan y Llywodraeth, ond yn siomedig bod saith wedi'u derbyn mewn egwyddor yn unig, a bod tri wedi'u gwrthod.
Mae'n bryderus, wir, i weld y Llywodraeth fwyfwy ar draws sawl adran wahanol yn defnyddio'r dull hwn o 'dderbyn mewn egwyddor' gydag argymhellion pwyllgorau, ond i esbonio yn y naratif o dan hynny nad ydyn nhw wir yn derbyn yr argymhelliad. Er enghraifft, yma, gwnaethom ni argymell y dylai'r Llywodraeth ddadansoddi'r model mwyaf addas ar gyfer ariannu cwmnïau celfyddydol cenedlaethol, un ai trwy'r cyngor celfyddydau, fel ar hyn o bryd, neu'n uniongyrchol o'r Llywodraeth. Er y gwnaethant dderbyn yr argymhelliad hwn mewn egwyddor, mae'r ateb oddi dan yn ei gwneud yn glir bod y Llywodraeth yn credu y dylai'r cyngor celfyddydau barhau i ddosrannu'r arian ar gyfer cwmnïau. Sut, felly, y gallent ddweud eu bod nhw'n derbyn ein hargymhelliad mewn egwyddor?
Mae enghreifftiau eraill, ac mae'r anghysondeb hwn yn peri pryder. Eto, mae'n digwydd ar draws sawl adran wahanol tu fewn i'r Llywodraeth, rŷn ni wedi gweld. Ond hoffwn i glywed y Gweinidog, efallai, yn ymateb i hynny.
Thank you, Chair. It's a pleasure to open today's debate on this important report on a decade of cuts. I would like to start by thanking everyone who gave evidence to us as a committee, committee members, and the committee's team of staff for their work. There are 13 recommendations in our report. We were pleased that three of those had been accepted by the Government, but were disappointed that seven had only been accepted in principle, and that three had been rejected.
It is concerning, indeed, to see the Government increasingly, over several different departments, adhering to this method of accepting committee recommendations 'in principle', only to explain in the narrative underneath that they don't really accept the recommendation at all. For example, we recommended that the Government should analyse the most suitable model for funding national cultural companies, either through the arts council or directly from the Government. Although they accepted this recommendation in principle, the response below clearly states that the Government believes that the arts council should continue to distribute the money for these companies. How, then, could they say that they accept our recommendation in principle?
There are other examples, and this inconsistency is worrying. Again, it happens across a number of departments across Government, as we have seen. But I would like to hear the Minister responding to that issue.
Daeth Paul Davies i’r Gadair.
Paul Davies took the Chair.
Over the last decade, we've seen prolonged and harsh real-terms cuts to culture and sport. These sectors have been treated as nice to haves. As a result, public funding of culture and sport is lower in Wales per head than most European nations, despite a Wales of vibrant culture being one of the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Senedd research compared public spending on culture and sport with 24 other European countries. The average spend on recreation and sporting services in these countries is £187.74 per person. In Wales, the figure is £59.75 per person, or 32 per cent of the average of these countries, placing Wales third from bottom. The average spend on cultural services in these countries is £215.02 per person. In Wales, on the other hand, the figure is £69.68 per person, placing Wales second from bottom.
As I've said in the foreword to our report, culture and sport are not luxuries reserved for times of plenty. They are vital threads in the fabric of what makes life worth living, but they have been neglected, I'm afraid, by successive Welsh Governments. We therefore recommend in the report that the Welsh Government should increase funding for culture and sport until they are comparable with similar countries. Now, the Welsh Government accepted this recommendation in principle and responded with funding increases in the 2025-26 final budget, and we were gratified and grateful to see these increases.
This uplift, though, cannot undo the long-term damage caused by previous funding cuts. This increase does not restore the critical loss of sector skills and expertise—skills that might never be fully recovered—nor does it resolve the funding gaps that might still arise from the increases in employers' national insurance contributions.
The brutal underfunding of these vital policy areas over time has undermined their proven capabilities to strengthen community cohesion and to improve people's physical and mental well-being. It is cheaper to invest in preventative care than to treat ill health, but there is limited joined-up thinking across Government when it comes to the benefits of culture and sport. A 'preventative' category of spending in future budgets could help recognise and properly fund these sectors' true value. We were therefore disappointed that the Welsh Government rejected our recommendations relating to prevention, especially since implementing these recommendations would not be too onerous, in our opinion.
We are likewise disappointed that the Welsh Government rejected our recommendation that it should proactively remove barriers that make it more difficult for organisations to spend money they are given, especially in these particularly difficult times. Funding recipients want to be treated and funded as trusted partners, in a more reciprocal, collaborative relationship, and they called on the Welsh Government to provide more flexibility as to how it allocates funding. We heard that organisations are sometimes unable to spend additional in-year funding because of restrictions imposed on how it can be spent. The effect of this—. We already know the situation that so many of these organisations find themselves in, so that is a deeply dismaying situation to be continuing.
Now, the effect of public funding cuts on culture and sport bodies has been, of course, exacerbated by the pandemic, by inflation and the increased cost of living. The latest figures show that all forms of cultural attendance are down compared with pre-pandemic levels. Audiences are, of course, feeling the effects of the cost of living.
It is becoming more and more difficult to maintain sport and cultural facilities—that was clear in the evidence—and some have had to close their doors. We have an ageing public leisure and culture stock that requires significant investment and upgrading. The Welsh Government, we believe, needs to work with local authorities to ensure that these important community assets remain available in our communities, are up to standard, and that they meet their communities' needs. The Welsh Government has invested heavily in its twenty-first century schools and education programme, but at present there is limited joined-up thinking about how these new facilities can benefit sports clubs and the wider community.
The lack of investment in facilities and in organisations could lead to a future where our young people are deprived of the chance to explore their talents and to represent Wales on the world stage. There is a real risk that participation in culture and sport could become yet more elitist, and that those people from diverse and lower socioeconomic backgrounds will feel the effect of these cuts the most harshly.
We would like to see organisations responding more strategically to their reduced income by sharing services and pursuing new commercial activities, but that would require better strategic direction from the Government, which has to date not been there. In response to our recommendation to this effect, the Welsh Government said that they are already providing
'a very clear strategic direction to the national culture and sport bodies'.
That did not chime with the message that was given to us by witnesses to our inquiry. Witnesses told us that the sector is currently facing a crisis. As a committee, we're concerned about whether the Welsh Government has always fully appreciated the extent of the pressures the culture and sport sectors are facing.
Again, the increase in spending between the draft and final budgets was very welcome. We are still looking for signals, of course, that this is the first step in treating arts, culture and sport differently by Government, as that vital first step. We are in dire need of a long-term strategy. We welcome this funding, but it cannot be something that is simply short term. For far too long, culture and sport have been treated, as I said earlier, as nice to haves instead of intrinsic to a high quality of life. We need a change in mindset to ensure sustainability and growth in these sectors. Ultimately, they need to thrive and not just survive.
Dros y degawd diwethaf, rydym wedi gweld toriadau hir a llym mewn termau real i ddiwylliant a chwaraeon. Mae'r sectorau hyn wedi cael eu trin fel pethau braf i'w cael. O ganlyniad, mae cyllid cyhoeddus ar gyfer diwylliant a chwaraeon yn is y pen yng Nghymru na'r rhan fwyaf o wledydd Ewrop, er bod Cymru o ddiwylliant bywiog yn un o nodau Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015.
Cymharodd ymchwil y Senedd wariant cyhoeddus ar ddiwylliant a chwaraeon gyda 24 o wledydd Ewropeaidd eraill. Y gwariant cyfartalog ar wasanaethau hamdden a chwaraeon yn y gwledydd hyn yw £187.74 y pen. Yng Nghymru, y ffigur yw £59.75 y pen, neu 32 y cant o gyfartaledd y gwledydd hyn, gan osod Cymru yn drydydd o'r gwaelod. Y gwariant cyfartalog ar wasanaethau diwylliannol yn y gwledydd hyn yw £215.02 y pen. Yng Nghymru, ar y llaw arall, y ffigur yw £69.68 y pen, gan osod Cymru yn ail o'r gwaelod.
Fel y dywedais yn y rhagair i'n hadroddiad, nid moethusrwydd ar gyfer adegau o ddigonedd yn unig yw diwylliant a chwaraeon. Maent yn edafedd hanfodol yng ngwead yr hyn sy'n gwneud bywyd yn werth ei fyw, ond mae arnaf ofn eu bod wedi cael eu hesgeuluso gan Lywodraethau Cymru olynol. Felly, rydym yn argymell yn yr adroddiad y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gynyddu cyllid ar gyfer diwylliant a chwaraeon nes eu bod yn cymharu â gwledydd tebyg. Nawr, derbyniodd Llywodraeth Cymru yr argymhelliad hwn mewn egwyddor ac ymatebodd drwy gynyddu cyllid yng nghyllideb derfynol 2025-26, ac roeddem yn falch o weld y cynnydd.
Ond ni all y cynnydd ddadwneud y niwed hirdymor a achoswyd gan doriadau cyllid blaenorol. Nid yw'r cynnydd yn adfer y golled enfawr o sgiliau ac arbenigedd o'r sector—sgiliau na fydd byth yn cael eu hadfer yn llawn o bosibl—nac yn datrys y bylchau ariannu a allai godi o hyd o'r cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr.
Mae tanariannu creulon y meysydd polisi hanfodol hyn dros amser wedi tanseilio eu gallu profedig i gryfhau cydlyniant cymunedol ac i wella lles corfforol a meddyliol pobl. Mae'n rhatach buddsoddi mewn gofal ataliol na thrin salwch, ond mae meddwl cydgysylltiedig yn brin ar draws y Llywodraeth ynghylch manteision diwylliant a chwaraeon. Gallai categori 'ataliol' o wariant mewn cyllidebau yn y dyfodol helpu i gydnabod ac ariannu'n briodol gwir werth y sectorau hyn. Roeddem yn siomedig felly fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrthod ein hargymhellion yn ymwneud ag atal, yn enwedig gan na fyddai gweithredu'r argymhellion hyn yn rhy anodd, yn ein barn ni.
Rydym hefyd yn siomedig fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrthod ein hargymhelliad y dylai fynd ati'n rhagweithiol i gael gwared ar rwystrau sy'n ei gwneud hi'n anos i sefydliadau wario arian a roddir iddynt, yn enwedig yn yr amseroedd arbennig o anodd hyn. Mae derbynwyr cyllid eisiau cael eu trin a'u hariannu fel partneriaid y gellir ymddiried ynddynt, mewn perthynas fwy cytbwys a chydweithredol, ac fe wnaethant alw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu mwy o hyblygrwydd o ran y modd y mae'n dyrannu cyllid. Clywsom nad yw sefydliadau'n gallu gwario cyllid ychwanegol yn ystod y flwyddyn weithiau oherwydd cyfyngiadau a osodwyd ar sut y gellir ei wario. Effaith hyn—. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod am y sefyllfa y mae cymaint o'r sefydliadau hyn ynddi, felly mae honno'n sefyllfa ddigalon iawn ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Nawr, mae effaith toriadau cyllid cyhoeddus ar gyrff diwylliant a chwaraeon wedi cael ei waethygu gan y pandemig, gan chwyddiant a chan gostau byw cynyddol. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos bod lefel mynychu pob math o ddiwylliant wedi gostwng o'i gymharu â lefelau cyn y pandemig. Mae cynulleidfaoedd, wrth gwrs, yn teimlo effeithiau costau byw.
Mae'n dod yn fwyfwy anodd cynnal cyfleusterau chwaraeon a diwylliant—roedd hynny'n amlwg yn y dystiolaeth—ac mae rhai wedi gorfod cau eu drysau. Mae gennym stoc hamdden a diwylliant cyhoeddus sy'n heneiddio ac sy'n galw am fuddsoddiad ac uwchraddio sylweddol. Credwn fod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod yr asedau cymunedol pwysig hyn yn parhau i fod ar gael yn ein cymunedau, yn cyrraedd y safon, a'u bod yn diwallu anghenion eu cymunedau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi'n helaeth yn ei rhaglen ysgolion ac addysg yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, ond ar hyn o bryd nid oes digon o feddwl cydgysylltiedig ynglŷn â sut y gall y cyfleusterau newydd hyn fod o fudd i glybiau chwaraeon a'r gymuned ehangach.
Gallai'r diffyg buddsoddiad mewn cyfleusterau ac mewn sefydliadau arwain at ddyfodol lle mae ein pobl ifanc yn cael eu hamddifadu o'r cyfle i archwilio eu doniau ac i gynrychioli Cymru ar lwyfan y byd. Mae yna risg wirioneddol y gallai cyfranogi mewn diwylliant a chwaraeon fynd yn fwy elitaidd byth, ac mai pobl o gefndiroedd economaidd-gymdeithasol amrywiol ac is sy'n mynd i deimlo effaith y toriadau hyn yn fwyaf llym.
Hoffem weld sefydliadau'n ymateb yn fwy strategol i'w hincwm llai trwy rannu gwasanaethau a chyflawni gweithgareddau masnachol newydd, ond byddai hynny'n galw am well cyfeiriad strategol gan y Llywodraeth, nad yw wedi bod yno hyd yma. Mewn ymateb i'n hargymhelliad i'r perwyl hwn, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru eu bod eisoes yn darparu
'cyfeiriad strategol clir iawn i'r cyrff diwylliant a chwaraeon cenedlaethol'.
Nid oedd hynny'n cyd-fynd â'r neges a roddwyd i ni gan dystion i'n hymchwiliad. Dywedodd tystion wrthym fod y sector yn wynebu argyfwng ar hyn o bryd. Fel pwyllgor, rydym yn pryderu nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru bob amser wedi llawn ddeall maint y pwysau y mae'r sectorau diwylliant a chwaraeon yn eu hwynebu.
Unwaith eto, roedd y cynnydd mewn gwariant rhwng y gyllideb ddrafft a'r gyllideb derfynol i'w groesawu'n fawr. Rydym yn dal i chwilio am arwydd mai dyma'r cam cyntaf hanfodol tuag at drin y celfyddydau, diwylliant a chwaraeon yn wahanol gan y Llywodraeth. Mae gwir angen strategaeth hirdymor arnom. Rydym yn croesawu'r cyllid hwn, ond ni all fod yn rhywbeth byrdymor yn unig. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, ers llawer gormod o amser, mae diwylliant a chwaraeon wedi cael eu trin fel pethau braf i'w cael yn hytrach na phethau sy'n gynhenid i ansawdd byw da. Mae angen newid meddylfryd i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd a thwf yn y sectorau hyn. Yn y pen draw, mae angen iddynt ffynnu ac nid goroesi'n unig.
Diolch eto i bawb sydd wedi chwarae rhan yn yr adroddiad hwn, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at glywed sylwadau pawb yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma.
May I again thank everyone who has played a part in the production of this report? I look forward to hearing everyone's comments in this afternoon's debate.
It's a pleasure to take part in this debate this afternoon, and it's the first committee debate I've taken part in as culture spokesperson for the Welsh Conservatives, so it's a pleasure to contribute.
Culture, arts and sport are the lifeblood of our nationhood. They forge our identity and ignite our aspirations. They reinforce what it means to be Welsh—anchored in history, yet looking towards our future. They are also the crucible of our nation's talent, nurturing those talents within our next generation.
The report before us, 'A decade of cuts', paints a grim picture. Years of continuous culture and sports funding reductions have fractured the very pillars of our society, leaving them crumbling and overburdened. As Welsh Conservatives, we do not deny the need for investment—far from it. We defend it, provided that it is measured, purposeful and honours those who provide the money—indeed, the taxpayer.
We shouldn't give in to the calls for limitless spending that we hear so often from those on the left, particularly when it comes with no accountability or oversight, as is often the case. The state is no bottomless fruit bowl. We must ensure that every pound spent on the arts, culture and sport sectors is spent wisely. We should recognise that every pound lavished on theatre or a football pitch is a pound wrested from a hospital bed, a classroom or a pensioner's purse. The task is not merely to fund culture and sport; we must, but do so with discernment, ensuring that every penny serves a public good, not a bureaucratic whim or niche concern out of step with the ordinary Welsh person.
As Welsh Conservatives, we demand rigour, efficiency and accountability. We should fund culture and sport, not as a vehicle for the crachach in Pontcanna to write dissertations on bakery items and such, because this is the sort of nonsense being funded by some of the arm's-length bodies currently enjoying taxpayers' money. The funding must be of benefit to the many, those who find joy in a hymn and find community on a rugby pitch. The cultural sector is becoming a sand box for the indulgent, the obscure and, more importantly, the wasteful.
To illustrate my point, we have seen £50,000 frittered on an immersive installation in Cardiff, a labyrinth of lights and noise that bewildered its small number of visitors before its quiet demise, much to the embarrassment of its creators. Another £20,000 evaporated into a consultancy to rebrand a cultural festival that no-one sought to rename. Then there's the £15,000 swallowed by a climate change dance—a prancing oddity that's altered neither the skies nor the spectators' opinions. And, lest we forget, £30,000 was once splashed on a sculpture of recycled tyres in Swansea, lauded as 'bold' by its creators, yet dubbed an eyesore by those condemned to live beside it. This is not culture, this is waste, waste that erodes trust in funding when trust is most fragile.
There are many institutions worthy of more money that aren't getting it. I had the pleasure of visiting National Museum Wales in Cardiff last week, and their passion for preserving and sharing Wales's cultural and scientific heritage was truly inspiring. The museum is a cornerstone of our cultural heritage crying out for funding to make essential repairs. And, of course, National Theatre Wales was also forced to close last year due to Welsh Government funding cuts.
Our culture and sports are imperilled due to cuts, but also due to Welsh Government waste. I see the results of these cuts in my own constituency, in Denbighshire: library times reduced, playing fields auctioned, youth clubs hollowed out. Cuts more broadly to the arts, culture and sport sectors have been devastating. Wales has the second-lowest spending per head on culture out of all the European nations, a figure that should shame us.
So, to conclude, Llywydd dros dro, in the current economic climate, patience is wearing thin amongst the Welsh people, with quangos carelessly wasting their money. I would urge the arts and culture quangos not to bite the hands that feed them, and I would urge the Welsh Government to exercise more oversight regarding how taxpayers' money is spent. These sectors desperately need more money, and the committee's report lays that out in depressing detail. Let's fund the arts that inspire, the sports that bind and the heritage that defines us, but let us reject that waste. The people of Wales deserve no less. Thank you.
Mae'n bleser cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, a dyma'r ddadl bwyllgor gyntaf i mi gymryd rhan ynddi fel llefarydd diwylliant ar ran y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, felly mae'n bleser cyfrannu.
Diwylliant, celfyddydau a chwaraeon yw anadl einioes ein cenedl. Hwy sy'n creu ein hunaniaeth ac yn tanio ein dyheadau. Maent yn atgyfnerthu'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu i fod yn Gymry—wedi'u hangori mewn hanes, ond eto'n edrych tuag at ein dyfodol. Hwy hefyd yw pair doniau ein cenedl, sy'n meithrin y doniau hynny yn ein cenhedlaeth nesaf.
Mae'r adroddiad o'n blaenau, 'Degawd o doriadau', yn paentio darlun diflas iawn. Mae blynyddoedd o ostyngiadau parhaus i gyllid diwylliant a chwaraeon wedi ysigo pileri ein cymdeithas, gan eu gadael yn dadfeilio a than ormod o bwysau. Fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, nid ydym yn gwadu'r angen am fuddsoddiad—ymhell ohoni. Rydym yn ei amddiffyn, ar yr amod ei fod yn gymesur, yn bwrpasol ac yn parchu'r rhai sy'n darparu'r arian—y trethdalwr.
Ni ddylem ildio i'r galwadau am wariant diderfyn a glywn mor aml gan y rhai ar y chwith, yn enwedig pan ddaw heb atebolrwydd na goruchwyliaeth, fel sy'n digwydd yn aml. Nid bowlen ffrwythau ddi-waelod yw'r wladwriaeth. Mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod pob punt a werir ar sectorau'r celfyddydau, diwylliant a chwaraeon yn cael ei gwario'n ddoeth. Dylem gydnabod bod pob punt sy'n cael ei gwario ar theatr neu gae pêl-droed yn bunt wedi'i hamddifadu i wely ysbyty, ystafell ddosbarth neu bwrs pensiynwr. Nid ariannu diwylliant a chwaraeon yn unig yw'r dasg; mae'n rhaid inni wneud hynny, ond ei wneud gyda chrebwyll, gan sicrhau bod pob ceiniog yn gwasanaethu lles cyhoeddus, nid chwiw fiwrocrataidd neu fater niche nad yw'n berthnasol i'r Cymry cyffredin.
Fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, rydym yn mynnu trylwyredd, effeithlonrwydd ac atebolrwydd. Dylem ariannu diwylliant a chwaraeon, nid fel cyfrwng i'r crachach ym Mhontcanna ysgrifennu traethodau ar eitemau pobi ac ati, oherwydd dyma'r math o nonsens sy'n cael ei ariannu gan rai o'r cyrff hyd braich sy'n mwynhau arian trethdalwyr ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n rhaid i'r cyllid fod o fudd i'r lliaws, y rhai sy'n dod o hyd i lawenydd mewn emyn a chymuned ar gae rygbi. Mae'r sector diwylliannol yn dod yn fan chwarae i'r maldodus, y dyrys, ac yn bwysicach fyth, i'r gwastraffus.
I ddangos fy mhwynt, rydym wedi gweld £50,000 yn cael ei wastraffu ar osodwaith amlsynnwyr yng Nghaerdydd, labyrinth o oleuadau a sŵn a ddrysodd ei nifer fach o ymwelwyr cyn iddo drengi'n dawel, er mawr embaras i'w grewyr. Anweddwyd £20,000 arall mewn ymgynghoriaeth i ailfrandio gŵyl ddiwylliannol nad oedd neb yn ceisio ei hailenwi. Wedyn mae'r £15,000 a lyncwyd gan ddawns newid hinsawdd—rhyfeddod pranciog na newidiodd yr awyr na barn y gwylwyr. A rhag inni anghofio, cafodd £30,000 ei daflu unwaith at gerflun o deiars wedi'u hailgylchu yn Abertawe, a gafodd ei ganmol fel 'beiddgar' gan ei grewyr, ond a alwyd yn ddolur llygaid gan y rhai a gondemniwyd i fyw wrth ei ymyl. Nid diwylliant yw hyn ond gwastraff, gwastraff sy'n erydu ymddiriedaeth mewn cyllid pan fo ymddiriedaeth ar ei fwyaf bregus.
Mae yna lawer o sefydliadau sy'n deilwng o fwy o arian nad ydynt yn ei gael. Cefais y pleser o ymweld ag Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru yng Nghaerdydd yr wythnos diwethaf, ac roedd eu hangerdd dros warchod a rhannu treftadaeth ddiwylliannol a gwyddonol Cymru yn wirioneddol ysbrydoledig. Mae'r amgueddfa yn gonglfaen i'n treftadaeth ddiwylliannol sy'n crefu am gyllid i wneud atgyweiriadau hanfodol. Ac wrth gwrs, gorfodwyd National Theatre Wales hefyd i gau y llynedd oherwydd toriadau cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru.
Mae ein diwylliant a'n chwaraeon mewn perygl oherwydd toriadau, ond hefyd oherwydd gwastraff Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n gweld canlyniadau'r toriadau hyn yn fy etholaeth fy hun, yn sir Ddinbych: amseroedd agor llyfrgelloedd yn crebachu, caeau chwarae'n cael eu gwerthu, clybiau ieuenctid wedi'u torri hyd at yr asgwrn. Mae toriadau ehangach i sectorau'r celfyddydau, diwylliant a chwaraeon wedi bod yn ddinistriol. Cymru sy'n gwario leiaf y pen ond un ar ddiwylliant o holl wledydd Ewrop, ffigur a ddylai fod yn destun cywilydd i ni.
Felly, i gloi, Lywydd dros dro, yn yr hinsawdd economaidd bresennol, mae'r amynedd yn brin ymhlith pobl Cymru, gyda chwangos yn gwastraffu eu harian yn ddiofal. Rwy'n annog y cwangos celfyddydau a diwylliant i beidio â brathu'r dwylo sy'n eu bwydo, ac yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i arfer goruchwyliaeth well o'r modd y caiff arian trethdalwyr ei wario. Mae gwir angen mwy o arian ar y sectorau hyn, ac mae adroddiad y pwyllgor yn nodi hynny'n ddiflas o fanwl. Gadewch inni ariannu'r celfyddydau sy'n ysbrydoli, y chwaraeon sy'n clymu a'r dreftadaeth sy'n ein diffinio, ond gadewch inni wrthod y gwastraff. Mae pobl Cymru yn haeddu hynny. Diolch.
Well, I'm glad that the shadow spokesperson from the Conservatives has changed his mind on National Museum Wales after visiting. Only a few weeks ago, you were saying about woke exhibitions there. And hopefully, if you engage more with culture and the organisations that we've been seeing as committee members, perhaps you will change your mind again. Because what's clear here is that culture matters to people in our communities and, evidently, what we've seen through this inquiry is that there hasn't been enough support.
Wel, rwy'n falch fod llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr wedi newid ei feddwl ynglŷn ag Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru ar ôl ymweld. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, roeddech chi'n sôn am arddangosfeydd 'woke' yno. A gobeithio, os gwnewch chi ymgysylltu mwy â diwylliant a'r sefydliadau y buom yn eu gweld fel aelodau o'r pwyllgor, efallai y byddwch chi'n newid eich meddwl eto. Oherwydd yr hyn sy'n amlwg yma yw bod diwylliant yn bwysig i bobl yn ein cymunedau ac yn amlwg, yr hyn a welsom drwy'r ymchwiliad hwn yw nad oes digon o gymorth wedi bod.
Os ydych chi'n edrych ar yr ymchwiliad hwn, mae'r toriadau dros ddegawd a mwy wedi cael effaith sylweddol, a beth rydyn ni wedi ei weld yw bod yna ryddhad gan y sectorau, o ddarllen yr adroddiad hwn, ein bod ni o’r diwedd yn cydnabod difrifoldeb y sefyllfa, oherwydd am flynyddoedd, mae’r sectorau hyn wedi cael eu canmol gan Weinidogion di-ri am eu gwydnwch a’u hymateb i’r heriau a chlywed Gweinidogion a Phrif Weinidogion hefyd yn rhoi’r argraff, yn gam neu’n gymwys, eu bod nhw’n gyfforddus gyda thorri’r meysydd hyn yn wyneb yr heriau ariannol oedd yn wynebu pob portffolio.
Dwi’n cofio arwain dadl ar yr union bwnc hwn flwyddyn yn ôl a chael y Gweinidog ar y pryd yn gweiddi arnaf i, ‘Ond beth am yr NHS?’ heb gydnabod rôl allweddol y celfyddydau a chwaraeon o ran yr agenda ataliol a chadw pobl yn iach gydol oes, gan arbed arian ac adnoddau prin i’n gwasanaeth iechyd. Da, felly, ydy gweld yn ymateb y Llywodraeth i’r adroddiad hwn bod yna, o’r diwedd, gydnabyddiaeth o’r heriau ac effaith y gostyngiadau mewn cyllid, a chytundeb bod angen cymorth ar ddiwylliant a chwaraeon. Felly, wrth gwrs, mae yna eiriau i’w croesawu, ond mae angen hefyd ymrwymiadau cadarn er mwyn dad-wneud y niwed a sicrhau nad yw Cymru yn aros ymhlith y gwledydd Ewropeaidd sy’n gwario lleiaf ar y gwasanaethau hyn.
Wedi’r cyfan, gyda diwylliant a’r celfyddydau mor greiddiol i pwy ydyn ni fel cenedl, mae o’n dorcalonnus ein bod ni wedi cyrraedd sefyllfa o argyfwng lle dyma ydy realiti o ran diwylliant yng Nghymru. Mi wnaf i restru rhai pethau: casgliadau cenedlaethol mewn adeiladau sydd angen buddsoddiad sylweddol os nad ydyn nhw am greu niwed i’r casgliadau cenedlaethol; cannoedd o swyddi wedi eu colli; National Theatre Wales wedi dod i ben, ac unigolyn—Michael Sheen—yn ariannu ein theatr genedlaethol yn y Saesneg; Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru mewn argyfwng; adran iau coleg cerdd a drama Cymru wedi diflannu; y sector cyhoeddi yn crebachu, a gweisg mewn perygl o ddiflannu.
Mi allwn i fynd ymlaen ac ymlaen, ond gobeithio bod pawb ohonom ni, o ddarllen yr adroddiad hwn, yn deall pa mor ddifrifol ydy’r sefyllfa. Ers cyhoeddi’r adroddiad, mae Plaid Cymru wedi cysylltu gyda sefydliadau sydd yn gweithio yn y meysydd hyn a gofyn am eu hymateb nhw i’r adroddiad. Mi hoffwn i rannu gyda chi un o’r ymatebion, sydd yn crynhoi, yn fy marn i, pam bod craffu yn y maes hwn wedi bod mor bwysig, a hefyd sy’n crynhoi pa weithredu sydd ei angen.
If you look at this inquiry, the cuts over a period of a decade have had a significant impact, and what we've seen is that there is relief in these sectors, in reading this report, that finally we do recognise the severity of the situation, because for years, the sectors have been praised by countless Ministers for their resilience and their response to challenges, and I’ve heard Ministers and First Ministers also give the impression, rightly or wrongly, that they are comfortable with cutting these areas in the face of financial challenges facing each portfolio.
I remember leading a debate on this exact subject a year ago and hearing the Minister at the time shout at me, ‘But what about the NHS?’ without acknowledging the key role that the arts and sport play in terms of the preventative agenda and keeping people healthy throughout their lives, saving money and the scarce resources of our health service. It is therefore good to see in the Government’s response to this report that there is at last a recognition of the challenges and impact resulting from reductions in funding and agreement that support is needed for culture and sport. So, of course there are words here to be welcomed, but we also need firm commitments in order to undo the damage and ensure that Wales does not remain among the European nations that spend the least on these services.
After all, with culture and the arts being such a central part of who we are as a nation, it is heartbreaking that we have reached a critical situation where this is the reality in terms of culture in Wales. I’ll list a few things here: national collections in buildings that require significant investment if they’re not to cause damage to those national collections; hundreds of jobs being lost; National Theatre Wales having been closed, and an individual—Michael Sheen—funding our national theatre through the medium of English; the Welsh National Opera in crisis; the junior department of the Welsh college of music and drama having disappeared; the publishing sector shrinking and publishers at risk of disappearing.
I could go on and on, but I hope that we all understand, having read this report, how dire the situation is. Since the report was published, Plaid Cymru has contacted organisations that work in these areas and has asked for their response to the report, and I’d like to share with you one of the responses that summarises, in my opinion, why scrutiny in this area has been so important, and it also summarises what action is needed.
'We felt very much heard and respected but what we now need are targeted interventions that address the core issues. First and foremost, decisions on culture spend have been viewed as political rather than financial decisions, i.e. it is, in my view, a lazy excuse to say there is no money when of course there is money; it is about prioritising where that money goes. The relative smallness of the culture spend makes little to no difference in any of the other big portfolios, but it has a material bearing on the cultural sector. It therefore boils down to values, i.e. do we as a nation value culture, and crucially, do we believe that it is worth investing in it.'
The welcoming of the report was echoed by many others, with Sport Wales stating that the report was well received across the sport sector, and the Welsh Sports Association providing this warning: if Wales wishes to maintain its proud sporting history, continue to compete on the world stage, and inspire and enable our citizens to enjoy healthy and active lives, this long-term downward trend must be reversed. I agree wholeheartedly. What I hope, therefore, to hear from the Minister in his response today is what happens next, and how seriously is the Government taking these findings. We cannot continue to let our culture, the very essence of what makes Cymru Cymru, continue to languish. There needs to be a step change, and I hope to hear that commitment made today to both the Senedd and the sectors so that we reverse the damage already inflicted.
'Roeddem yn teimlo ein bod wedi cael ein clywed a'n parchu'n fawr ond yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom nawr yw ymyriadau wedi'u targedu sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r materion craidd. Yn gyntaf oll, mae penderfyniadau ar wariant diwylliant wedi cael eu hystyried fel penderfyniadau gwleidyddol yn hytrach na rhai ariannol, h.y. yn fy marn i, mae dweud nad oes arian pan fo arian ar gael yn esgus diog; mae'n ymwneud â blaenoriaethu i ble mae'r arian hwnnw'n mynd. Nid yw bychander cymharol y gwariant diwylliant yn gwneud fawr ddim gwahaniaeth, os o gwbl, i unrhyw un o'r portffolios mawr eraill, ond mae'n effeithio'n sylweddol ar y sector diwylliant. Felly, mae'n fater o werthoedd, h.y. a ydym ni fel cenedl yn gweld gwerth diwylliant, ac yn hollbwysig, a ydym yn credu ei bod yn werth buddsoddi ynddo.'
Adleisiwyd y croeso i'r adroddiad gan lawer o rai eraill, gyda Chwaraeon Cymru yn nodi bod yr adroddiad wedi cael derbyniad da ar draws y sector chwaraeon, a Chymdeithas Chwaraeon Cymru yn darparu'r rhybudd hwn: os yw Cymru yn dymuno cynnal ei hanes balch yn y byd chwaraeon, parhau i gystadlu ar lwyfan y byd, ac ysbrydoli a galluogi ein dinasyddion i fwynhau bywydau iach ac egnïol, rhaid gwrthdroi'r duedd hirdymor hon ar i lawr. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Yr hyn rwy'n gobeithio ei glywed felly gan y Gweinidog yn ei ymateb heddiw yw beth sy'n digwydd nesaf, a pha mor ddifrifol yw'r ystyriaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei rhoi i'r canfyddiadau hyn. Ni allwn barhau i adael i'n diwylliant, hanfod yr hyn sy'n gwneud Cymru'n Gymru, barhau i ddiflannu. Mae angen newid sylfaenol, ac rwy'n gobeithio clywed ymrwymiad i'r Senedd a'r sectorau heddiw fel ein bod yn gwrthdroi'r niwed sydd eisoes wedi'i wneud.
I’m delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I thank the committee Chair for the way in which she introduced the committee report and thank the staff of the committee for the work they did on this report. I think it’s a fundamentally important report, because it speaks to not simply elements of the culture sector and policy on culture, but to fundamentals and where culture sits in terms of the priorities afforded to it by Government.
I will say—and I’ll try to be very gentle in saying this—this report deserves better from the Conservative Party. We heard a very lazy speech, a series of clichés, poorly put together and delivered. Had the Member actually read the report, he might have made a different speech, because he didn't actually reference the report in his speech in the way I would have expected and anticipated. One of the fundamental roles here is not simply the holding to account of Government, but also the holding to account of other public bodies and parts of the public sector. It is surprising that any Member would have been here for four years without fully understanding it is his role to hold those people to account. [Interruption.] I will give way, of course.
Rwy'n falch iawn o gael cyfle i gyfrannu at y ddadl hon. Diolch i Gadeirydd y pwyllgor am y ffordd y cyflwynodd adroddiad y pwyllgor a diolch i staff y pwyllgor am y gwaith a wnaethant ar yr adroddiad hwn. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn adroddiad sylfaenol bwysig, oherwydd mae'n siarad nid yn unig am elfennau o'r sector diwylliant a pholisi ar ddiwylliant, ond am hanfodion a lle mae diwylliant yn y blaenoriaethau a roddir iddo gan y Llywodraeth.
Rwyf am ddweud—ac rwyf am geisio bod yn ofalus iawn wrth ddweud hyn—mae'r adroddiad hwn yn haeddu gwell gan y Blaid Geidwadol. Clywsom araith ddiog iawn, cyfres o clichés, wedi'u llunio a'u cyflwyno'n wael. Pe bai'r Aelod wedi darllen yr adroddiad, efallai y byddai wedi gwneud araith wahanol, oherwydd ni chyfeiriodd at yr adroddiad yn ei araith yn y ffordd y byddwn wedi ei disgwyl a'i rhagweld. Un o'r rolau sylfaenol yma yw nid yn unig dwyn y Llywodraeth i gyfrif, ond dwyn y cyrff cyhoeddus eraill i gyfrif hefyd a rhannau o'r sector cyhoeddus. Mae'n syndod fod unrhyw Aelod wedi bod yma am bedair blynedd heb ddeall yn iawn mai ei rôl ef yw dwyn y bobl hynny i gyfrif. [Torri ar draws.] Fe ildiaf, wrth gwrs.
You were probably expecting it. I cross-referenced local authority accountability, for example. I mentioned issues within my own constituency in Denbighshire, which I frequently cross-reference. And there are elements in the report that—. You are right in saying that the public sector generally are accountable for these matters, so I think it's slightly disingenuous in your critiquing of my speech and perhaps slightly uninformed as to the workings behind it, given that, obviously, we are politicians and we do have views on certain matters as politicians in this place.
Roeddech chi siŵr o fod yn ei ddisgwyl. Fe wneuthum groesgyfeirio at atebolrwydd awdurdodau lleol, er enghraifft. Soniais am faterion yn fy etholaeth fy hun yn sir Ddinbych, y byddaf yn aml yn croesgyfeirio atynt. Ac mae elfennau yn yr adroddiad sydd—. Rydych chi'n iawn i ddweud bod y sector cyhoeddus yn gyffredinol yn atebol am y materion hyn, felly rwy'n credu bod eich beirniadaeth o fy araith braidd yn anniffuant ac efallai ychydig yn anwybodus ynghylch y gwaith sy'n sail iddi, o ystyried ein bod, wrth gwrs, yn wleidyddion a bod gennym farn ar rai materion fel gwleidyddion yn y lle hwn.
Clearly, we do, and we all have an equal right to articulate those views, and I'm articulating my view of your speech. Let me say this, Gareth, and I'll be very clear: it is your role to hold those people to account, not simply to come here and say that they should be held to account. You should do your job rather than simply articulate the fact that it should perhaps be done by somebody else. I would expect this understanding from any person here who comes here to speak to the culture brief: that it is not the role of politicians to determine what productions are in theatres or what exhibitions are in museums. We do not live in a totalitarian society, we live in a liberal democracy, and it is fundamental—[Interruption.] I will give way. But it is fundamental to any liberal democracy that politicians neither coerce nor threaten nor attack any institution in that society because of the choices they make. Culture does not belong to any political party or to any Government; it belongs to everybody equally. Your idea of culture may not be my idea of culture, it probably isn't the leader of the Welsh Conservatives' view of culture, but what we do is enable everybody to express themselves freely in an open democracy.
Wrth gwrs hynny, ac mae gennym i gyd hawl gyfartal i fynegi'r safbwyntiau hynny, ac rwy'n mynegi fy marn am eich araith. Gadewch imi ddweud hyn, Gareth, ac fe fyddaf yn glir iawn: eich rôl chi yw dwyn y bobl hynny i gyfrif, nid dim ond dod yma a dweud y dylid eu dwyn i gyfrif. Dylech wneud eich gwaith yn hytrach na dim ond mynegi'r ffaith y dylai gael ei wneud gan rywun arall efallai. Byddwn yn disgwyl y ddealltwriaeth hon gan unrhyw berson yma sy'n dod yma i siarad am y briff diwylliant: nad rôl gwleidyddion yw penderfynu pa gynyrchiadau sydd mewn theatrau neu pa arddangosfeydd sydd mewn amgueddfeydd. Nid ydym yn byw mewn cymdeithas dotalitaraidd, rydym yn byw mewn democratiaeth ryddfrydig, ac mae'n sylfaenol—[Torri ar draws.] Fe wnaf ildio. Ond mae'n sylfaenol i unrhyw ddemocratiaeth ryddfrydig nad yw gwleidyddion yn gorfodi nac yn bygwth nac yn ymosod ar unrhyw sefydliad yn y gymdeithas honno oherwydd y dewisiadau a wnânt. Nid yw diwylliant yn perthyn i unrhyw blaid wleidyddol nac i unrhyw Lywodraeth; mae'n perthyn i bawb yn gyfartal. Efallai nad fy syniad i o ddiwylliant yw eich syniad chi o ddiwylliant, mae'n debyg nad dyna yw syniad arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig o ddiwylliant, ond yr hyn a wnawn yw galluogi pawb i fynegi eu hunain yn rhydd mewn democratiaeth agored.

Thank you for taking the intervention. Freedom of expression and freedom of speech are incredibly important in our society and must be protected at all costs. What we also have a duty to do is to make sure that public money is spent properly and invested in the right areas, and not wasted. What my colleague quite rightly referred to were examples of waste by cultural organisations in Wales that have invested in things that many members of the public find ridiculous. Investing thousands of pounds in decolonising the Welsh cake is an absolutely barmy project to invest taxpayers' money in. Would you not agree with that, Alun? Surely at least you can see that that is an absolute atrocity.
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Mae rhyddid mynegiant a rhyddid i lefaru yn hynod bwysig yn ein cymdeithas ac mae'n rhaid eu gwarchod ar bob cyfrif. Yr hyn y mae gennym ddyletswydd i'w wneud hefyd yw sicrhau bod arian cyhoeddus yn cael ei wario'n briodol ac yn cael ei fuddsoddi yn y mannau cywir, ac nad yw'n cael ei wastraffu. Yr hyn y cyfeiriodd fy nghyd-Aelod ato'n gywir ddigon oedd enghreifftiau o wastraff gan sefydliadau diwylliannol yng Nghymru sydd wedi buddsoddi mewn pethau y mae llawer o aelodau o'r cyhoedd yn eu gweld yn chwerthinllyd. Mae buddsoddi miloedd o bunnoedd i ddad-drefedigaethu pice ar y maen yn brosiect hollol hurt i fuddsoddi arian trethdalwyr ynddo. Oni fyddech chi'n cytuno â hynny, Alun? Oni allwch chi weld bod hynny'n erchyll?
The acting Presiding Officer will remember that I sat on the Public Accounts Committee under the chairing of the now leader of the Welsh Conservatives some years ago. He was a first-class Chair of that committee, and I'd pay tribute to him for the work he did in seeking out waste and holding public servants to account, and I enjoyed serving under his leadership. But there's a difference between holding people to account for the decisions they make and then questioning what is the cultural expression that is allowed as part of our overall cultural life in this country. There is a clear difference there, and he knows that, but I pay tribute to him for trying to save the bacon of his spokesperson.
In terms of where we're going, and I'm testing the acting Chair here, the Government needs to take a different role, because I criticise the opposition, but the Government here needs to take a different role as well. The tone has certainly changed in recent months, but the 'Crisis, what crisis?' approach from Government runs through the whole of the Government's response to the report. I'll speak absolutely clearly to you, Minister: the approach you took at committee wasn't acceptable, and the approach taken in the response from the Government to this report isn't acceptable either.
There needs to be a very clear recognition of the crisis that has been occurring in the culture sector as a consequence of decisions taken by the Welsh Government. It's the easiest thing in the world to blame the Tories—we've all done it, and I've fallen into that trap as well; we've done it on many occasions—but there is an accountability and a responsibility here. It is the Welsh Government that has taken these decisions, it's the Welsh Government that has delivered these cuts to the—
Bydd y Llywydd dros dro yn cofio fy mod wedi eistedd ar y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus o dan gadeiryddiaeth arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig erbyn hyn rai blynyddoedd yn ôl. Roedd yn Gadeirydd gwych ar y pwyllgor hwnnw, ac rwy'n talu teyrnged iddo am y gwaith a wnaeth yn chwilio am wastraff a dwyn gweision cyhoeddus i gyfrif, ac roeddwn i'n mwynhau gwasanaethu o dan ei arweinyddiaeth. Ond mae gwahaniaeth rhwng dwyn pobl i gyfrif am y penderfyniadau a wnânt a chwestiynu beth yw'r mynegiant diwylliannol sy'n cael ei ganiatáu yn rhan o'n bywyd diwylliannol cyffredinol yn y wlad hon. Mae gwahaniaeth amlwg yno, ac mae'n gwybod hynny, ond rwy'n talu teyrnged iddo am geisio achub croen ei lefarydd.
O ran ble rydym ni'n mynd, ac rwy'n profi amynedd y Cadeirydd dros dro yma, mae angen i'r Llywodraeth chwarae rôl wahanol, oherwydd rwy'n beirniadu'r wrthblaid, ond mae angen i'r Llywodraeth yma chwarae rôl wahanol hefyd. Mae'r cywair yn sicr wedi newid yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf, ond mae'r dull 'Argyfwng, pa argyfwng?' gan y Llywodraeth yn rhedeg trwy holl ymateb y Llywodraeth i'r adroddiad. Rwyf am siarad yn hollol glir â chi, Weinidog: nid oedd yr agwedd a fabwysiadwyd gennych yn y pwyllgor yn dderbyniol, ac nid yw'r agwedd a fabwysiadwyd yn yr ymateb gan y Llywodraeth i'r adroddiad hwn yn dderbyniol ychwaith.
Mae angen cydnabyddiaeth glir iawn o'r argyfwng sydd wedi bod yn digwydd yn y sector diwylliant o ganlyniad i benderfyniadau a wnaed gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Y peth hawsaf yn y byd yw beio'r Torïaid—rydym i gyd wedi gwneud hynny, ac rwyf innau wedi syrthio i'r fagl honno hefyd; rydym wedi'i wneud ar sawl achlysur—ond mae yna atebolrwydd a chyfrifoldeb yma. Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi gwneud y penderfyniadau hyn, Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi cyflawni'r toriadau hyn—
The Member must now conclude. I've been very generous.
Rhaid i'r Aelod orffen nawr. Rwyf wedi bod yn hael iawn.
He has been. I've given way to the Conservative Party on these matters before. But I will draw my remarks to a conclusion.
The Welsh Government needs to recognise that culture doesn't happen in a vacuum, and neither does it happen by accident. The committee has visited Ireland, we have the experience of Scotland and England and elsewhere; I look, also, to Iceland, where investment has taken place that has enhanced the life of those countries and those nations and those peoples. And if you want to look at how culture can change wider society, look at Iceland and the impact there on youth policy and on the life chances of young people. In Wales, it will always be the poorest people who lose out the most. For a Labour Government to take decisions that exclude the poorest people, the most vulnerable parts of our society and the poorest communities from joining in the expression of our culture as a nation is a fundamental error of judgment and an error of decision. So, I would like to see the Government withdraw its response to this committee and I would like to see—
Mae wedi bod. Rwyf wedi ildio i'r Blaid Geidwadol ar y materion hyn. Ond fe ddof â fy sylwadau i ben.
Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru gydnabod nad yw diwylliant yn digwydd mewn gwactod, ac nid yw'n digwydd trwy ddamwain. Mae'r pwyllgor wedi ymweld ag Iwerddon, mae gennym brofiad yr Alban a Lloegr a mannau eraill; rwy'n edrych hefyd ar Wlad yr Iâ, lle mae buddsoddiad wedi digwydd sydd wedi gwella bywyd y gwledydd hynny a'r cenhedloedd hynny a'r bobloedd hynny. Ac os ydych chi eisiau edrych ar sut y gall diwylliant newid cymdeithas yn ehangach, edrychwch ar Wlad yr Iâ a'r effaith yno ar bolisi ieuenctid ac ar gyfleoedd bywyd pobl ifanc. Yng Nghymru, y bobl dlotaf bob amser sydd fwyaf ar eu colled. Mae i Lywodraeth Lafur wneud penderfyniadau sy'n eithrio'r bobl dlotaf, y rhannau mwyaf agored i niwed o'n cymdeithas a'r cymunedau tlotaf rhag ymuno yn y mynegiant o'n diwylliant fel cenedl yn gyfeiliornad sylfaenol ac yn benderfyniad anghywir. Felly, hoffwn weld y Llywodraeth yn tynnu ei hymateb i'r pwyllgor hwn yn ôl a hoffwn weld—
The Member must conclude now. I've been extremely generous, so please come to a conclusion.
Rhaid i'r Aelod ddod i ben nawr. Rwyf wedi bod yn hynod o hael, felly gorffennwch os gwelwch yn dda.
I will do so immediately. I'd like to see the Government particularly changing its response to recommendation 4, which goes to the heart of this report. I hope the Welsh Government will not simply take note of this report, but will consider what has been said in this debate and will respond more positively to the report here, because it is more fundamental than simply a report on a theme or a segment of policy; it is about who we are as a country and the Government's response to that. I'm grateful to the acting Presiding Officer.
Fe wnaf hynny ar unwaith. Yn fwyaf arbennig, hoffwn weld y Llywodraeth yn newid ei hymateb i argymhelliad 4, sy'n mynd at galon yr adroddiad hwn. Gobeithio nad nodi'r adroddiad hwn yn unig y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud, ond y bydd yn ystyried yr hyn a ddywedwyd yn y ddadl hon ac yn ymateb yn fwy cadarnhaol i'r adroddiad, oherwydd mae'n fwy sylfaenol na dim ond adroddiad ar thema neu ddarn o bolisi; mae'n ymwneud â phwy ydym ni fel gwlad ac ymateb y Llywodraeth i hynny. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Llywydd dros dro.
I'm very pleased to take part in this debate today, because I do believe that culture and sport are incredibly important to Wales and, indeed, the whole world. Funding in culture and sport goes a very long way and addresses a number of cross-cutting priorities for the Welsh Government. I'd like to concentrate on grass-roots sport and physical activity, because there's such a strong connection there in terms of the preventative health agenda that we really need to move on to if we're not forever going to be firefighting in terms of health and well-being here in Wales.
We have had all those long years of austerity from the UK Tory Government, which has obviously had a real impact in terms of our sport and culture sectors here in Wales. I believe that, now that we've moved on to better times, with a move away from austerity at a UK level and a more generous funding settlement for Wales, it now gives us the opportunity to make some badly needed progress. In amongst that should be funding for grass-roots sport and physical activity.
A little funding there goes an awful long way, because of all the volunteers who I think we're all familiar with right across Wales in our own constituencies—voluntary organisations, the third sector and all those volunteers who make our grass-roots sport work for our communities, whether it's football, gymnastics, dance, rugby or any other sport or physical activity. We're so lucky to have these volunteers, week in, week out, giving up their time and energy to provide those opportunities for our young people and people of all ages.
I wonder whether the Welsh Government could do a little bit more in terms of having a strategy and policies for grass-roots sport here in Wales, knowing the beneficial effect that that would have on our health and well-being as a nation, given all the problems that we face—obesity, for example, and so many others. I wonder whether, perhaps, more funding could be given to our more deprived communities in terms of meeting the fees for coaching courses, which sometimes are prohibitive in terms of supporting community sport, whether it's providing more money for equipment and kit in those deprived areas, which, again, can be prohibitive for families, or whether it's providing more of a framework to link our big players. You know, in Newport, for example, the city council; Newport Live, the leisure trust; Newport Gwent Dragons; Newport County; and on a national level, organisations like Sport Wales and the Welsh Government itself—whether there could be a strategy or policy that aligns all of these around the effort to support our grass-roots sport.
Rwy'n falch iawn o gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon heddiw, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod diwylliant a chwaraeon yn hynod bwysig i Gymru, ac i'r byd i gyd yn wir. Mae cyllid mewn diwylliant a chwaraeon yn mynd yn bell iawn ac yn mynd i'r afael â nifer o flaenoriaethau trawsbynciol i Lywodraeth Cymru. Hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad a gweithgarwch corfforol, oherwydd mae cysylltiad mor gryf yno â'r agenda iechyd ataliol y mae angen inni symud ymlaen ati os ydym yn mynd i wneud yn well nag ymateb i broblemau wrth iddynt godi yn unig gydag iechyd a lles yma yng Nghymru.
Cawsom yr holl flynyddoedd hir o gyni gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU, sy'n amlwg wedi cael effaith wirioneddol ar ein sectorau chwaraeon a diwylliant yma yng Nghymru. Gan ein bod bellach wedi symud ymlaen i adeg well, gyda symud i ffwrdd o gyni ar lefel y DU a setliad cyllido mwy hael i Gymru, mae'n rhoi cyfle inni wneud cynnydd mawr ei angen. Yn rhan o hynny dylai fod cyllid ar gyfer chwaraeon llawr gwlad a gweithgarwch corfforol.
Mae ychydig o gyllid yno'n mynd yn bell iawn, oherwydd yr holl wirfoddolwyr y credaf ein bod i gyd yn gyfarwydd â hwy ledled Cymru yn ein hetholaethau ein hunain—mudiadau gwirfoddol, y trydydd sector a'r holl wirfoddolwyr sy'n gwneud i'n chwaraeon llawr gwlad weithio i'n cymunedau, boed yn bêl-droed, gymnasteg, dawns, rygbi neu unrhyw gamp neu weithgarwch corfforol arall. Rydym mor ffodus i gael y gwirfoddolwyr hyn, wythnos ar ôl wythnos, yn rhoi eu hamser a'u hegni i ddarparu'r cyfleoedd hynny i'n pobl ifanc a phobl o bob oedran.
Tybed a allai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud ychydig mwy o ran cael strategaeth a pholisïau ar gyfer chwaraeon llawr gwlad yma yng Nghymru, gan wybod am yr effaith fuddiol y byddai hynny'n ei chael ar ein hiechyd a'n lles fel cenedl, o ystyried yr holl broblemau a wynebwn—gordewdra, er enghraifft, a chymaint o bethau eraill. Tybed a ellid rhoi mwy o arian i'n cymunedau mwy difreintiedig i dalu'r ffioedd ar gyfer cyrsiau hyfforddi, sydd weithiau'n afresymol i gefnogi chwaraeon cymunedol, boed yn ddarparu mwy o arian ar gyfer offer a chit mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig, sydd, unwaith eto, yn gallu bod yn afresymol i deuluoedd, neu ddarparu mwy o fframwaith i gysylltu ein sefydliadau mawr. Wyddoch chi, yng Nghasnewydd, er enghraifft, cyngor y ddinas; Casnewydd Fyw, yr ymddiriedolaeth hamdden; Dreigiau Casnewydd Gwent; clwb pêl-droed Casnewydd; ac ar lefel genedlaethol, sefydliadau fel Chwaraeon Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun—a allai fod strategaeth neu bolisi sy'n alinio'r rhain oll o gwmpas yr ymdrech i gefnogi ein chwaraeon llawr gwlad.
Will you take an intervention, John?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad, John?
I will, Gareth.
Gwnaf, Gareth.
Thank you very much. Do you also see the value in investment in things like third generation and fourth generation pitches to reduce the barriers to sport access for people specifically with disabilities, so that there are opportunities for them seven days a week, 365 days a year, if you like?
Diolch. A ydych chi hefyd yn gweld y gwerth mewn buddsoddi mewn pethau fel caeau trydedd genhedlaeth a phedwaredd genhedlaeth i leihau'r rhwystrau i fynediad at chwaraeon i bobl ag anableddau yn arbennig, fel bod cyfleoedd iddynt saith diwrnod yr wythnos, 365 diwrnod y flwyddyn, os hoffech?
Yes, absolutely. I think quite a lot of investment has gone into those artificial pitches, but we do need to see more. We're all familiar with games being cancelled when the weather is bad, which is very frustrating for everyone involved. I was really pleased that a local football team in Newport, Glan Llyn Football Club, recently established football sessions for disabled children, which were very popular and very well attended, and they hope to build on that and have a disability football section in their youth teams and play matches against other such teams. There are many good developments, but, you know, they really do need to be supported, and I think there just needs to be more of a system and framework behind it all, with the Welsh Government in the lead at a national level and making sure it's a reality right across Wales.
I organised an Active Newport summit last year, which brought together a lot of the local players in grass-roots sport in Newport, which I think was worth while and successful, and we hope to have a similar event, slightly different, this year. I'm trying to bring grass-roots sport and, indeed, the health sector together locally. I'm encouraged by the fact that the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board later this year will be putting forward its 10-year health plan. One of the recommendations within that is for the Welsh Government to consider, across all its departments, a preventative category of spend in its future budgets to support public health and population health. We really need to see some of that massive health budget across Wales going into preventative spend to a much greater extent, and I think that if a considerable amount of that was channelled into grass-roots sport, it would go a long way towards bringing us forward on that journey to a more preventative approach to health spend, and would also benefit our communities in terms of general quality of life. So, there are things that can be done, and I'd very much like to see the Minister, in his response, addressing some of those issues.
Ydw, yn bendant. Rwy'n credu bod cryn dipyn o fuddsoddiad wedi mynd i'r caeau artiffisial hynny, ond mae angen inni weld mwy. Rydym i gyd yn gyfarwydd â gemau yn cael eu canslo pan fo'r tywydd yn wael, sy'n rhwystredig iawn i bawb. Roeddwn yn falch iawn fod tîm pêl-droed lleol yng Nghasnewydd, Clwb Pêl-droed Glan Llyn, wedi sefydlu sesiynau pêl-droed i blant anabl yn ddiweddar, a oedd yn boblogaidd iawn a nifer yn eu mynychu, ac maent yn gobeithio adeiladu ar hynny a chael adran bêl-droed i rai anabl yn eu timau ieuenctid a chwarae gemau yn erbyn timau eraill o'r fath. Mae yna lawer o ddatblygiadau da, ond mae angen eu cefnogi, ac rwy'n credu bod angen mwy o system a fframwaith y tu ôl i'r cyfan, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru ar y blaen ar lefel genedlaethol ac yn gwneud yn siŵr ei fod yn realiti ledled Cymru.
Trefnais uwchgynhadledd Casnewydd Actif y llynedd, a ddaeth â llawer o'r bobl leol a oedd yn gysylltiedig â chwaraeon llawr gwlad at ei gilydd yng Nghasnewydd, ac roedd yn werth chweil ac yn llwyddiannus, ac rydym yn gobeithio cael digwyddiad arall, ychydig yn wahanol, eleni. Rwy'n ceisio dod â chwaraeon llawr gwlad a'r sector iechyd at ei gilydd yn lleol. Caf fy nghalonogi gan y ffaith y bydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan yn ddiweddarach eleni yn cyflwyno ei gynllun iechyd 10 mlynedd. Un o'r argymhellion o'i fewn yw i Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried categori gwariant ataliol yn ei chyllidebau ar draws ei holl adrannau yn y dyfodol i gefnogi iechyd y cyhoedd ac iechyd y boblogaeth. Mae gwir angen inni weld rhywfaint o'r gyllideb iechyd enfawr honno ledled Cymru yn mynd tuag at wariant ataliol i raddau llawer mwy, ac rwy'n credu, pe bai llawer o hynny'n cael ei sianelu tuag at chwaraeon llawr gwlad, byddai'n mynd â ni'n bell ar y daith at ymagwedd fwy ataliol tuag at wariant iechyd, a byddai hefyd o fudd i'n cymunedau o ran ansawdd bywyd yn gyffredinol. Felly, mae yna bethau y gellir eu gwneud, a hoffwn weld y Gweinidog, yn ei ymateb, yn mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion hynny.
Dwi'n galw nawr ar y Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol, Jack Sargeant.
I now call on the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant.

Diolch yn fawr, acting Presiding Officer. Can I thank particularly the Chair of the committee, Delyth Jewell, for the way in which she led the inquiry, and leads the committee, and opened today's response? I thank all committee members for their work on this important inquiry and those who gave evidence, and I think some are in the gallery this afternoon. I thank all Members who did contribute to the debate. I agree with Alun Davies about the importance of this report, and I assure Members that we do take seriously the role of the committee, the report and the sector itself. I also agree with Alun Davies about his indictment of the Conservative spokesperson's contribution this afternoon. I thought that the majority of contributions, Presiding Officer, were of much value; I'm not sure the same could be said of the Member. I think he misses the point when—
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd dros dro. A gaf i ddiolch yn arbennig i Gadeirydd y pwyllgor, Delyth Jewell, am y ffordd y mae'n arwain y pwyllgor, a'r ffordd yr arweiniodd yr ymchwiliad ac yr agorodd y ddadl heddiw? Diolch i holl aelodau'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith ar yr ymchwiliad pwysig hwn a'r rhai a roddodd dystiolaeth, ac rwy'n credu bod rhai yn yr oriel y prynhawn yma. Diolch i'r holl Aelodau a gyfrannodd at y ddadl. Rwy'n cytuno ag Alun Davies ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd yr adroddiad hwn, ac rwy'n sicrhau'r Aelodau ein bod o ddifrif ynghylch rôl y pwyllgor, yr adroddiad a'r sector ei hun. Rwyf hefyd yn cytuno ag Alun Davies ynglŷn â'i gondemniad o gyfraniad llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr y prynhawn yma. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod y mwyafrif o gyfraniadau, Lywydd, yn werthfawr iawn; nid wyf yn siŵr y gellid dweud yr un peth am yr Aelod. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn methu'r pwynt pan—
Will you take an intervention, Minister?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad, Weinidog?
Sure.
Wrth gwrs.
Thank you. Do you not see the value in the things that the leader of the Welsh Conservatives said in his intervention, in terms of analysing waste, being prudent with public money and spending it wisely on Welsh Government-funded projects? To me, most people in public would see the benefit in that argument, I would strongly imagine.
Diolch. Onid ydych chi'n gweld y gwerth yn y pethau a ddywedodd arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn ei ymyriad ef, am ddadansoddi gwastraff, bod yn ddarbodus gydag arian cyhoeddus a'i wario'n ddoeth ar brosiectau a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru? I mi, rwy'n credu'n gryf y byddai'r rhan fwyaf o'r cyhoedd yn gweld y budd yn y ddadl honno.
I thank Gareth Davies for that. I think it's his third time on his feet this afternoon, plus one from the leader of the Welsh Conservatives. The Member earlier said in his contribution, if I'm right, Chair, that culture is the lifeblood of the nation. He also went on to quote that the Welsh Conservatives do not deny the need for investment. They voted against more money for the arts in the final budget, Chair. And you could forgive the Member, couldn't you, for his contribution, because it's my understanding that, whilst he wasn't a member of the committee while this important work was undertaken, he could have read the report, as Alun Davies reminded him. And whilst the comments and contributions from the Conservatives are only interested in a culture war and not the culture of Welsh heritage, I won't focus on that. I will go on focusing on supporting the sector, and the response to the final budget from the sector shows that they are very appreciative of that response.
As I set out earlier, I've said time and time again, Chair, since taking responsibility for culture and sport, I will always make the case for more support for the sector, every single day. And that's why I'm pleased to secure additional money in the final budget. It was money for the arts, money for sports that opposition parties in this place tried to deny. And it wasn't just the Conservatives, it was Plaid Cymru as well.
Chair, our final budget for next year includes additional £9.6 million revenue funding and additional £18.4 capital funding for arts, culture, the creative industries, heritage and sport in Wales. And this was very much welcomed by the sector, by the Arts Council of Wales themselves, by Sport Wales themselves.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson highlighted the responses from the sector to the report, and I was grateful to her for doing that. I thought the evidence that the committee heard and the responses to the report are important ones. What's also important to recognise is the response of the Welsh Government's support for the sector. I mentioned the arts council and Sport Wales coming out in the final budget supporting positively not only the Welsh Government's stance, but also the Minister's take on these matters, but I'll also point to the creative industries, Presiding Officer. The chief executive officer of Bad Wolf just down the road in Splott, Jane Tranter, quotes: 'Welsh Government's investment in the creative industry is a really strong message that creative industries can be at the heart of employment, at the heart of Wales's growth. Welsh Government putting its money where its mouth is is like green shoots of hope for us all. That is something to be welcomed.'
During the last decade, there has been—it's important to recognise, Presiding Officer—a 274.4 per cent increase in real terms for capital budgets, and this has been welcomed throughout my portfolio. It's this type of investment that will help John Griffiths's constituents in accessing grass-roots sports, and I wish him well in his Active Newport campaign and event later this year. It's that type of investment, Presiding Officer, that will support projects like the redevelopment of Caerphilly castle, the extensive refurbishment of Theatr Clwyd, investing over £20 million in one of Wales's most important cultural institutions, and—[Interruption.] I'll give one more opportunity to the Member.
Diolch i Gareth Davies am hynny. Rwy'n meddwl mai dyma'r trydydd tro iddo godi ar ei draed y prynhawn yma, ynghyd ag un gan arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Dywedodd yr Aelod yn gynharach yn ei gyfraniad, os wyf i'n iawn, Gadeirydd, mai diwylliant yw anadl einioes y genedl. Aeth ymlaen hefyd i ddweud nad yw'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn gwadu'r angen am fuddsoddiad. Fe wnaethant bleidleisio yn erbyn mwy o arian i'r celfyddydau yn y gyllideb derfynol, Gadeirydd. A gallech faddau i'r Aelod, oni allech, am ei gyfraniad, oherwydd fy nealltwriaeth i, er nad oedd yn aelod o'r pwyllgor pan wnaed y gwaith pwysig hwn, gallai fod wedi darllen yr adroddiad, fel y'i hatgoffwyd gan Alun Davies. Ac er mai diddordeb mewn rhyfel diwylliant yn unig a ddengys y sylwadau a'r cyfraniadau gan y Ceidwadwyr ac nid diwylliant y dreftadaeth Gymreig, nid wyf am ganolbwyntio ar hynny. Rwyf am fynd ymlaen i ganolbwyntio ar gefnogi'r sector, ac mae'r ymateb i'r gyllideb derfynol gan y sector yn dangos eu bod yn gwerthfawrogi''r ymateb hwnnw'n fawr.
Fel y nodais yn gynharach, rwyf wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro, Gadeirydd, ers cael cyfrifoldeb dros ddiwylliant a chwaraeon, y byddaf bob amser yn gwneud yr achos dros fwy o gefnogaeth i'r sector, bob dydd. A dyna pam rwy'n falch o sicrhau arian ychwanegol yn y gyllideb derfynol. Roedd yn arian ar gyfer y celfyddydau, arian ar gyfer chwaraeon y ceisiodd y gwrthbleidiau yn y lle hwn ei wadu. Ac nid y Ceidwadwyr yn unig, Plaid Cymru hefyd.
Gadeirydd, mae ein cyllideb derfynol ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf yn cynnwys £9.6 miliwn o gyllid refeniw ychwanegol a £18.4 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol ar gyfer y celfyddydau, diwylliant, y diwydiannau creadigol, treftadaeth a chwaraeon yng Nghymru. Ac roedd hyn yn cael ei groesawu'n fawr gan y sector, gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru eu hunain, gan Chwaraeon Cymru eu hunain.
Tynnodd llefarydd Plaid Cymru sylw at ymatebion y sector i'r adroddiad, ac roeddwn i'n ddiolchgar iddi am wneud hynny. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod y dystiolaeth a glywodd y pwyllgor a'r ymatebion i'r adroddiad yn rhai pwysig. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig ei gydnabod hefyd yw ymateb cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i'r sector. Soniais am gyngor y celfyddydau a Chwaraeon Cymru yn dod allan yn y gyllideb derfynol i gefnogi'n gadarnhaol nid yn unig safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hefyd barn y Gweinidog ar y materion hyn, ond rwyf am dynnu sylw at y diwydiannau creadigol hefyd, Lywydd. Dywedodd prif swyddog gweithredol Bad Wolf draw yn y Sblot, Jane Tranter: 'Mae buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn y diwydiant creadigol yn neges gref iawn y gall diwydiannau creadigol fod yn ganolog i gyflogaeth, yn ganolog i dwf Cymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi ei harian ar ei gair fel egin gwyrdd o obaith i ni i gyd. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth i'w groesawu.'
Yn ystod y degawd diwethaf—mae'n bwysig ei gydnabod, Lywydd—bu cynnydd o 274.4 y cant mewn termau real i gyllidebau cyfalaf, ac mae hyn wedi cael ei groesawu drwy fy mhortffolio. Dyma'r math o fuddsoddiad a fydd yn helpu etholwyr John Griffiths i gael mynediad at chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad, ac rwy'n dymuno'n dda iddo yn ei ymgyrch a'i ddigwyddiad Casnewydd Actif yn ddiweddarach eleni. Dyma'r math o fuddsoddiad a fydd yn cefnogi prosiectau fel ailddatblygu castell Caerffili, adnewyddiad helaeth Theatr Clwyd, gyda buddsoddi dros £20 miliwn yn un o sefydliadau diwylliannol pwysicaf Cymru, a—[Torri ar draws.] Fe roddaf un cyfle arall i'r Aelod.
I do appreciate you giving way. Theatr Clwyd was funded by the UK Government's levelling-up funding last year, prior to the general election. So, are you certain that's a valid remark to make to the Senedd, giving its historical funding not by Welsh Government? It was UK Government funding prior to the last general election.
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich bod chi'n ildio. Ariannwyd Theatr Clwyd gan gyllid ffyniant bro Llywodraeth y DU y llynedd, cyn yr etholiad cyffredinol. Felly, a ydych chi'n siŵr fod hwnnw'n sylw dilys i'w wneud i'r Senedd, o ystyried na ddaeth ei chyllid hanesyddol gan Lywodraeth Cymru? Roedd yn gyllid gan Lywodraeth y DU cyn yr etholiad cyffredinol diwethaf.
The Member points to the last general election. Let me take him back to the Senedd elections in 2021. The fact of the matter is that we both stood on election manifestos in that election, and the Welsh Government manifesto commitment in the 2021 election, which he stood in, was that the Welsh Government committed to supporting over £20 million in capital investment in Theatr Clwyd. I look forward to seeing that investment realised in the future months.
And it's not just that, is it? It was the same manifesto where we committed to supporting the football museum of Wales in Wrexham, establishing a national football museum in a city that has excited the world with its football exploits. Presiding Officer, in 2024-25, it's right, we did have to make the difficult choices to protect vital public services. The autumn statement, Presiding Officer—[Interruption.] I will take it.
Mae'r Aelod yn nodi'r etholiad cyffredinol diwethaf. Gadewch imi fynd ag ef yn ôl i etholiadau'r Senedd yn 2021. Y gwir amdani yw bod y ddau ohonom wedi sefyll ar faniffestos etholiadol yn yr etholiad hwnnw, ac ymrwymiad maniffesto Llywodraeth Cymru yn etholiad 2021, y safodd ynddo, oedd bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i gefnogi dros £20 miliwn o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf yn Theatr Clwyd. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld y buddsoddiad hwnnw'n cael ei wireddu yn y misoedd nesaf.
Ac nid hynny'n unig. Dyma'r un maniffesto lle gwnaethom ymrwymo i gefnogi amgueddfa bêl-droed Cymru yn Wrecsam, a sefydlu amgueddfa bêl-droed genedlaethol mewn dinas sydd wedi cyffroi'r byd gyda'i champau pêl-droed. Lywydd, yn 2024-25, mae'n iawn, roedd yn rhaid inni wneud y dewisiadau anodd i ddiogelu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol. Datganiad yr hydref, Lywydd—[Torri ar draws.] Fe wnaf ei dderbyn.
Obviously we understand the situation at that point in time, but I think our report illustrates that it was a problem long before that, over a decade of cuts. Can I ask specifically, because I haven't heard your response to Alun Davies's point, in terms of your rejection of our No. 4 proposal that talked about the preventative agenda, which was illustrated by John Griffiths—why has that been rejected? Because it says it's streamlined, but evidently that's not the case, and there's so much more we can do. There's an acknowledgement from the Welsh Government themselves in your response that more can be done. So, why reject that? Why reject so many of our recommendations?
Yn amlwg rydym yn deall y sefyllfa ar y pwynt hwnnw, ond rwy'n credu bod ein hadroddiad yn dangos ei bod yn broblem ymhell cyn hynny, dros ddegawd o doriadau. A gaf i ofyn yn benodol, oherwydd nid wyf wedi clywed eich ymateb i bwynt Alun Davies, a'r ffaith eich bod wedi gwrthod ein cynnig Rhif 4 a oedd yn sôn am yr agenda ataliol, a ddangoswyd gan John Griffiths—pam y mae hwnnw wedi'i wrthod? Oherwydd mae'n dweud ei fod wedi symleiddio, ond mae'n amlwg nad yw hynny'n wir, ac mae cymaint mwy y gallwn ei wneud. Mae cydnabyddiaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru eu hunain yn eich ymateb y gellir gwneud mwy. Felly, pam gwrthod hwnnw? Pam gwrthod cymaint o'n hargymhellion?
I thank the Member for that. I think there is an acknowledgement about prevention and the importance. John Griffiths makes an excellent point in the way he describes prevention. It's something we believe in as well. And funding from other portfolios does happen for this very issue, and we will be looking through the Welsh spending review—I see the Cabinet Secretary for finance, who's in the room now—exactly about the longer term ambitions of budgets, and we will keep all of that in mind, including the committee report.
But to go back to my contribution, Presiding Officer, the autumn UK Government settlement provided an opportunity for us to allocate increased funding and demonstrate our commitment to Wales's cultural, sporting and arts sectors. We are therefore pleased with the additional revenue investments into our public bodies to their revenue budget positions in 2024.
But I’m under no illusions, Presiding Officer, about the challenges within the portfolio. The final budget is a significant step forward. It provides a real opportunity to move towards more secure and more sustainable funding. I think the Chair of the committee asked for signals from the Government. Well, the final budget does provide that: a signal of intent from the Welsh Government, a signal of belief from the Welsh Government. And I've said that every single time I've stood up in this place and every single time I've been asked.
Let me just go through what that final budget provides—not just the final budget settlement, but let me go through the significant investments this year. The additional, Presiding Officer. The Member from the Conservative Party enjoyed his visit to the national museum at Cardiff, and I'm grateful he enjoyed his museum visit; I hope he enjoyed the strike exhibition too. We provided, in-year, £3.2 million additional capital funding for repairs to be carried out for both the museum in Cardiff and the National Library of Wales; £500,000 in-year to protect collections in local museums and archives; an additional £5 million revenue funding for cultural bodies and Cadw through the arm’s-length bodies; an additional £1 million in revenue supporting resilience in areas like Blackwood Miners’ Institute, and I was grateful for Rhiannon Passmore's visit a few weeks ago, highlighting the support of Welsh Government.
We are, Presiding Officer, responding to the committee. [Interruption.] There's a conversation between the two of them, but we'll go on, Presiding Officer—
Diolch i'r Aelod am hynny. Rwy'n credu bod cydnabyddiaeth ynglŷn ag atal a'r pwysigrwydd. Mae John Griffiths yn gwneud pwynt ardderchog yn y ffordd y mae'n disgrifio atal. Mae'n rhywbeth rydym ni'n credu ynddo hefyd. Ac mae cyllid o bortffolios eraill yn digwydd ar gyfer hyn, a byddwn yn edrych trwy adolygiad o wariant Cymru—rwy'n gweld Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, sydd yn yr ystafell nawr—i weld yn union am uchelgeisiau mwy hirdymor cyllidebau, a byddwn yn cadw hynny i gyd mewn cof, gan gynnwys adroddiad y pwyllgor.
Ond i fynd yn ôl at fy nghyfraniad, Lywydd, rhoddodd setliad yr hydref y DU gyfle i ni ddyrannu mwy o gyllid a dangos ein hymrwymiad i sectorau diwylliant, chwaraeon a'r celfyddydau yng Nghymru. Rydym yn falch felly o'r buddsoddiadau refeniw ychwanegol i'n cyrff cyhoeddus tuag at eu cyllideb refeniw yn 2024.
Ond nid wyf o dan unrhyw gamargraff, Lywydd, am yr heriau o fewn y portffolio. Mae'r gyllideb derfynol yn gam sylweddol ymlaen. Mae'n rhoi cyfle gwirioneddol i symud tuag at gyllid mwy diogel a mwy cynaliadwy. Rwy'n credu bod Cadeirydd y pwyllgor wedi gofyn am arwyddion gan y Llywodraeth. Wel, mae'r gyllideb derfynol yn darparu hynny: arwydd o fwriad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, arwydd o ffydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Ac rwyf wedi dweud hynny bob tro imi godi yn y lle hwn a phob tro y gofynnwyd i mi.
Gadewch imi fynd drwy'r hyn y mae'r gyllideb derfynol honno yn ei ddarparu—nid yn unig y setliad cyllidebol terfynol, gadewch imi fynd drwy'r buddsoddiadau sylweddol eleni. Yr hyn sy'n ychwanegol, Lywydd. Mwynhaodd yr Aelod o'r Blaid Geidwadol ei ymweliad â'r amgueddfa genedlaethol yng Nghaerdydd, ac rwy'n falch ei fod wedi mwynhau ei ymweliad â'r amgueddfa; gobeithio ei fod wedi mwynhau arddangosfa'r streic hefyd. Fe wnaethom ddarparu, yn ystod y flwyddyn, £3.2 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol ar gyfer atgyweiriadau i'w cyflawni ar yr amgueddfa yng Nghaerdydd a Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru; £500,000 yn ystod y flwyddyn i ddiogelu casgliadau mewn amgueddfeydd ac archifdai lleol; £5 miliwn o gyllid refeniw ychwanegol ar gyfer cyrff diwylliannol a Cadw drwy'r cyrff hyd braich; £1 filiwn ychwanegol o refeniw i gefnogi gwytnwch mewn mannau fel Sefydliad y Glowyr Coed-Duon, ac roeddwn yn ddiolchgar am ymweliad Rhiannon Passmore ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, yn nodi cymorth Llywodraeth Cymru.
Lywydd, rydym yn ymateb i'r pwyllgor. [Torri ar draws.] Mae sgwrs rhwng y ddau ohonynt, ond fe awn yn ein blaenau, Lywydd—
Order. I want to hear the Minister. Minister.
Trefn. Rwyf am glywed y Gweinidog. Weinidog.
I'm grateful for your stewardship, acting Presiding Officer, this afternoon. And we do respond to the committee's report. We consulted on our draft priorities for culture in the summer of 2024. We'll be publishing our final priorities for culture later, in the near future, and they will set out how we will shape our cultural services going forward. They will clearly show how culture can help support and deliver change across society.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich stiwardiaeth y prynhawn yma, Lywydd dros dro. Ac rydym yn ymateb i adroddiad y pwyllgor. Fe wnaethom ymgynghori ar ein blaenoriaethau drafft ar gyfer diwylliant yn haf 2024. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi ein blaenoriaethau terfynol ar gyfer diwylliant yn nes ymlaen, yn y dyfodol agos, a byddant yn nodi sut y byddwn yn siapio ein gwasanaethau diwylliannol yn y dyfodol. Byddant yn dangos yn glir sut y gall diwylliant helpu i gefnogi a chyflawni newid ar draws y gymdeithas.
The Minister must now conclude.
Rhaid i'r Gweinidog ddod i ben nawr.
I will come to my conclusion, Presiding Officer. I think I've had too much fun with your Conservative spokesperson, accepting a number of interventions this afternoon. But as I have said, Presiding Officer, I have always stressed that every single person in Wales, including those from more deprived communities, as has been described this afternoon, should have the right to access, create, participate in and see themselves reflected in the cultural and sporting activity of our nation. Years of austerity damaged our cultural as well as our social fabric, but as we build the foundations of recovery, we must remember the benefits of delivering growth should be done inclusively by ensuring that everyone can have access and benefit from the wonderful cultural and sporting opportunities across Wales. I thank the Presiding Officer. I thank the committee members for their engagement in this and future scrutiny as well.
Fe ddof i ben, Lywydd. Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi cael gormod o hwyl gyda'ch llefarydd Ceidwadol, ac wedi derbyn nifer o ymyriadau y prynhawn yma. Ond fel y dywedais, Lywydd, rwyf bob amser wedi pwysleisio y dylai pob person yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys y rhai o gymunedau mwy difreintiedig, fel y nodwyd y prynhawn yma, gael yr hawl i gael mynediad at weithgarwch diwylliannol a chwaraeon yn ein gwlad, i'w creu, i gymryd rhan ynddynt ac i weld eu hunain yn cael eu hadlewyrchu ynddynt. Mae blynyddoedd o gyni wedi niweidio ein gwead diwylliannol yn ogystal â'n gwead cymdeithasol, ond wrth inni adeiladu sylfeini adferiad, rhaid inni gofio y dylid gwneud manteision cyflawni twf yn gynhwysol drwy sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu cael mynediad ac elwa o'r cyfleoedd diwylliant a chwaraeon gwych ledled Cymru. Diolch i'r Llywydd. Diolch i aelodau'r pwyllgor am eu hymrwymiad yn y gwaith hwn ac am graffu ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd.
Dwi nawr yn galw ar Delyth Jewell i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I now call on Delyth Jewell to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd dros dro. Diolch i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma. Soniodd Gareth am
Thank you, acting Chair, and thank you to everyone who's participated in this afternoon's debate. Gareth mentioned
'anchored in history, yet looking towards our future.'
'angori mewn hanes, ond eto'n edrych tuag at ein dyfodol.'
Ac mae'r celfyddydau, yn arbennig, yn angor. Maen nhw'n ein lleoli ni mewn amser; maen nhw'n talu teyrnged i'n gorffennol ni, ein safleoli ni tuag at y dyfodol. Roedd rhai o'r sylwadau eraill roeddem ni wedi eu clywed efallai ddim yn ymwneud yn arbennig â'r adroddiad. Mae'n siom, mewn ffordd, fod hynny bron wedi bod yn distraction o beth oedd pwrpas ein dadl y prynhawn yma.
And the arts, particularly, are an anchor. They place us in time; they pay tribute to our past, and they position us for the future. Some of the other comments we heard perhaps didn't relate directly to the report. That was slightly disappointing, because that was almost a distraction from the purpose of this afternoon's debate.
But I would, perhaps, posit in response to some of that Raymond Williams's words that culture is ordinary, culture is a kaleidoscope—it's meant to unify, it's not meant to divide; it should be celebrated in all its wonderful, colourful diversity. I think it's something that we should all keep in mind in these debates.
Ond efallai mewn ymateb i beth o hynny y caf gynnig geiriau Raymond Williams fod diwylliant yn gyffredin, mae diwylliant yn galeidosgop—mae i fod i uno, nid yw i fod i rannu; dylid ei ddathlu yn ei holl amrywiaeth wych a lliwgar. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhywbeth y dylem i gyd ei gadw mewn cof yn y dadleuon hyn.
Soniodd Heledd am ymateb rhai yn y sector i'n adroddiad ni, ac, ie, mae yna densiwn yma achos roeddech chi wedi sôn am fel mae cefnogaeth wedi cael ei roi i gymaint o bobl yn y gorffennol sydd wedi dangos gwydnwch yn wyneb cymaint o heriau yn y byd celfyddydau. Mae cymaint o bobl sydd yn gweithio yn y celfyddydau yn gwneud hynny oherwydd eu hangerdd.
Heledd mentioned the response of some in the sector to our report, and, yes, there is a tension here, because you mentioned how support has been provided to so many people in the past that have shown resilience in the face of so many challenges in the arts world. So many people working in the arts do so because of their passion.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
Perhaps the English word 'passion' greater captures the nuance here, because in that word you can see far more the suffering that is intrinsic to the experience of that passion. It should not have to be that way.
Efallai fod y gair Saesneg 'passion' yn cyfleu'r naws yn well yma, oherwydd yn y gair hwnnw gallwch weld y dioddefaint sy'n gynhenid i'r profiad o'r angerdd hwnnw'n llawer gwell. Ni ddylai fod rhaid iddi fod felly.
Gofynnodd Heledd beth fydd yn digwydd nesaf, y cam nesaf. Rydym ni eisiau adeiladu ar beth rydym ni wedi'i weld. Rydym ni'n croesawu hynny, ond dŷn ni eisiau i hwnna fod yn gam cyntaf yn unig, fel dŷn ni wedi'i croesawu. Fel roedd Heledd yn dweud, mae'r celfyddydau yn greiddiol i bwy yr ydym ni fel cenedl ac fel pobl.
Heledd asked what will happen next, what the next steps will be. We want to build on what we've seen. We welcome that, but we need that to be a first step, as we've welcomed it. As Heledd said, the arts are at the heart of who we are as a nation and as a people.
Alun said that this report does not speak so much to specifics as to fundamentals. Yes, it's about the elemental place that culture and sport hold in our psyche. And we heard a powerful apologia for culture from Alun; I enjoyed it very much. Some of the debate, again, has strayed, perhaps, away from the confines of the report. Perhaps it shows again how vitally important culture and sport are, of course, to our work here in the Senedd, how important they are to the Welsh way. We heard clearly from Alun about how the crisis has been seen in these sectors, how that has been made manifest. Culture doesn't happen in a vacuum, Alun said, though, frankly, it can happen amongst vacuum cleaners and tyres. It is to be celebrated in all of its chaotic complexity. It is, again, fundamental.
Now, John focused on grass-roots sport and the preventative agenda, the opportunities for young people, pushing for the Welsh Government to have a more focused strategy, especially for deprived communities. John, that was really welcome. That was the subject of, I think, our committee's first inquiry in this Senedd. It deserves to be always high on the agenda, so I was very grateful. It's always wonderful to hear Members who are not part of a committee responding in these debates, so that really enriched our debate. Thank you so much for that, John.
Dywedodd Alun nad yw'r adroddiad hwn yn ymwneud cymaint â manylion ag y mae â hanfodion. Ydy, mae'n ymwneud â'r lle elfennol sydd gan ddiwylliant a chwaraeon yn ein seice. A chlywsom amddiffyniad pwerus o ddiwylliant gan Alun; fe'i mwynheais yn fawr. Efallai fod rhywfaint o'r ddadl, unwaith eto, wedi crwydro dros ffiniau'r adroddiad. Efallai ei fod yn dangos eto pa mor hanfodol bwysig yw diwylliant a chwaraeon i'n gwaith yma yn y Senedd, pa mor bwysig ydynt i'r ffordd Gymreig. Clywsom yn glir gan Alun sut y mae'r argyfwng wedi'i weld yn y sectorau hyn, sut y mae hynny wedi'i amlygu. Nid yw diwylliant yn digwydd mewn gwactod, meddai Alun, er, yn onest, gall ddigwydd ymhlith sugnwyr llwch a theiars. Mae'n cael ei ddathlu yn ei holl gymhlethdod anhrefnus. Mae, unwaith eto, yn sylfaenol.
Nawr, canolbwyntiodd John ar chwaraeon llawr gwlad a'r agenda ataliol, y cyfleoedd i bobl ifanc, gan wthio ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gael strategaeth ag iddi fwy o ffocws, yn enwedig ar gyfer cymunedau difreintiedig. John, roedd hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr. Dyna oedd pwnc ymchwiliad cyntaf ein pwyllgor yn y Senedd hon. Mae'n haeddu bod yn uchel ar yr agenda bob amser, felly roeddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn. Mae bob amser yn wych clywed Aelodau nad ydynt yn rhan o bwyllgor yn ymateb yn y dadleuon hyn, felly fe wnaeth hynny gyfoethogi ein dadl. Diolch yn fawr am hynny, John.
A diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you to the Minister.
Thank you to the Minister for his response. I do think there's been a general call and an eagerness from Members to see more long-term thinking about how these crises can be overcome. It certainly is gratifying to hear that the Minister has said that you will keep championing the sector, that you will keep pushing for this. As a committee, I know that we will want to see these further steps. You talked about those green shoots and we will certainly want to see how they grow, because they are fantastic examples of what's happening, of what the Government is funding. And we have seen examples of that too in our evidence. They are to be celebrated. They are to be applauded.
I would, perhaps, point back to Alun's words, that it isn't only about specifics but about fundamentals. I hope that, in that regard, the Government will reconsider again its response to our recommendation 4 on preventative spending. I hope very much as well that, when the Minister said that the final budget is indeed a signal of future intent—. Just as a point of comparison that's been drawn to my attention, in a letter from the Scottish Minister to the culture committee in the Scottish Parliament that followed its own draft budget scrutiny, the Minister said:
'The Scottish Government greatly values the culture sector...demonstrated its confidence...by providing a further £34 million in 2025/26 taking the uplifts to date to £50 million a year'.
And they go on to say that there's an intention of reaching £100 million annually by 2028-29. That letter refers to the positive impact that culture has on the economy and on people's health; of course, the same can be very much be said for sport as well.
I hope that the debate that we've had this afternoon, and the response that's been seen in the different sectors to this report, will help to focus minds in the Government now, in future Governments too, about what can be possible. Because there is nothing inevitable about culture and sport being sometimes seen as, and many people have referred to this, either 'nice to have' or 'luxuries', because—. Gareth had, again, talked about how culture and sport anchor us in time. They do. This is a moment in time that we are experiencing, but it does come off the back of a decade, as we've seen, and more, of funding reductions, and they have left these sectors brittle, they've left them under-resourced. And that must be rectified for this moment in time, but also for future generations.
Now, spending per head on these vital areas should become comparable with those of similar nations. The Welsh Government must provide these sectors with strategy, with vision, with direction, as we've said in this report. Otherwise—and this is what I'd like to finish with, Dirprwy Lywydd—there is a serious risk that Wales would be left behind in terms of culture and sporting offerings and achievements. It could endanger aspects of our character as a nation. Culture and sport could become the privilege of the rich and the few. Our young people could be deprived of opportunities to explore their talents, to gain happiness from some of the things that make life worth living.
Our report is intended as a wake-up call to the Welsh Government. This situation cannot continue. We are facing a crisis that has not gone away. Culture and sport are vital. They require, and they deserve, sustained and increased investment and vision.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ymateb. Rwy'n credu bod galwad gyffredinol ac awydd gan yr Aelodau i feddwl yn fwy hirdymor sut y gellir goresgyn yr argyfyngau hyn. Mae'n sicr yn braf clywed bod y Gweinidog wedi dweud y byddwch chi'n parhau i hyrwyddo'r sector, y byddwch chi'n parhau i wthio am hyn. Fel pwyllgor, rwy'n gwybod y byddwn am weld y camau pellach hyn. Fe wnaethoch chi siarad am yr egin gwyrdd a byddwn yn sicr eisiau gweld sut y maent yn tyfu, oherwydd maent yn enghreifftiau gwych o'r hyn sy'n digwydd, o'r hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei ariannu. Ac rydym wedi gweld enghreifftiau o hynny hefyd yn ein tystiolaeth. Maent i'w dathlu. Maent i'w cymeradwyo.
Hoffwn gyfeirio'n ôl at eiriau Alun, ei fod yn ymwneud â'r hanfodol yn ogystal â'r penodol. Rwy'n gobeithio, yn hynny o beth, y bydd y Llywodraeth yn ailystyried ei hymateb i'n hargymhelliad 4 ar wariant ataliol. Rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr hefyd, pan ddywedodd y Gweinidog fod y gyllideb derfynol yn arwydd o fwriad yn y dyfodol—. Un gymhariaeth y tynnwyd fy sylw ati, mewn llythyr gan Weinidog yr Alban at y pwyllgor diwylliant yn Senedd yr Alban a ddilynodd ei chraffu ar ei chyllideb ddrafft ei hun, dywedodd y Gweinidog:
'Mae Llywodraeth yr Alban yn gwerthfawrogi'r sector diwylliant yn fawr...dangosodd ei hyder...drwy ddarparu £34 miliwn arall yn 2025/26 gan godi'r cynnydd hyd yma i £50 miliwn y flwyddyn'.
Ac ânt ymlaen i ddweud bod bwriad i gyrraedd £100 miliwn bob blwyddyn erbyn 2028-29. Mae'r llythyr hwnnw'n cyfeirio at yr effaith gadarnhaol y mae diwylliant yn ei chael ar yr economi ac ar iechyd pobl; wrth gwrs, gellir dweud yr un peth am chwaraeon hefyd.
Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y ddadl a gawsom y prynhawn yma, a'r ymateb a welwyd yn y gwahanol sectorau i'r adroddiad hwn, yn helpu i ganolbwyntio meddyliau yn y Llywodraeth nawr, mewn Llywodraethau yn y dyfodol hefyd, ynglŷn â'r hyn a all fod yn bosibl. Oherwydd nid oes unrhyw beth yn anochel ynglŷn â diwylliant a chwaraeon yn cael eu gweld weithiau, ac mae llawer o bobl wedi cyfeirio at hyn, naill ai fel pethau 'braf i'w cael' neu 'foethusrwydd', oherwydd—. Siaradodd Gareth, unwaith eto, ynglŷn â sut y mae diwylliant a chwaraeon yn ein hangori mewn amser. Maent yn gwneud hynny. Mae hon yn foment mewn amser yr ydym yn ei phrofi, ond fel y gwelsom, fe ddaw ar ôl degawd a mwy o doriadau ariannol, ac maent wedi gadael y sectorau hyn yn fregus, maent wedi eu gadael heb ddigon o adnoddau. Ac mae'n rhaid cywiro hynny ar gyfer y foment hon, ond hefyd ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.
Nawr, dylai gwariant y pen ar y meysydd hanfodol hyn fod yn debyg i rai cenhedloedd tebyg. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ddarparu strategaeth, gweledigaeth, cyfeiriad i'r sectorau hyn, fel rydym wedi'i ddweud yn yr adroddiad. Fel arall—a hoffwn orffen gyda hyn, Ddirprwy Lywydd—mae perygl difrifol y byddai Cymru'n cael ei gadael ar ôl o ran cynigion a chyflawniadau diwylliant a chwaraeon. Gallai beryglu agweddau ar ein cymeriad fel cenedl. Gallai diwylliant a chwaraeon ddod yn fraint i'r cyfoethog a'r ychydig. Gallai ein pobl ifanc gael eu hamddifadu o gyfleoedd i archwilio eu doniau, i gael hapusrwydd o rai o'r pethau sy'n gwneud bywyd yn werth ei fyw.
Bwriad ein hadroddiad yw bod yn alwad ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddihuno. Ni all y sefyllfa hon barhau. Rydym yn wynebu argyfwng nad yw wedi diflannu. Mae diwylliant a chwaraeon yn hanfodol. Maent angen, ac maent yn haeddu, buddsoddiad a gweledigaeth barhaus a chynyddol.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to note the committee's report. 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.
Eitem 9 heddiw yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, llwon neu gadarnhad Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad COVID-19 Cymru. Galwaf ar James Evans i wneud y cynnig.
Item 9 this afternoon is the Welsh Conservatives debate, Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee oaths and affirmations. I call on James Evans to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8864 Paul Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn credu y dylai Rheolau Sefydlog y Senedd roi pŵer yn ôl disgresiwn i Bwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru sy'n ei alluogi i’w gwneud yn ofynnol i dystion dyngu llw neu roi cadarnhad wrth roi tystiolaeth.
Motion NDM8864 Paul Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Believes that the Senedd’s Standing Orders should provide the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee with a discretionary power enabling it to require witnesses to take an oath or make an affirmation when giving evidence.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today we remember those who we have lost. We acknowledge the profound sacrifices made by individuals, families and our front-line services. We recognise the lasting toll, emotional, economic and social, that the pandemic had and took on our communities across Wales.
As Welsh Conservatives, as other parties in this Chamber, we entered into the COVID-19 special purpose committee in good faith, committed to working constructively together, cross-party, to get the answers that bereaved families deserve, and to ensure that that specific Welsh context, which may be overlooked in the UK-wide inquiry, is properly understood and scrutinised to the fullest extent possible. We believe it is only right that the Senedd's Standing Orders be amended to provide the committee with vital discretionary powers: the ability to request that witnesses give evidence under oath or affirmation.
This is not a dramatic proposal nor is it without precedent. The Scottish statutory inquiry already has the power to compel evidence under oath. It is a basic mechanism that helps reinforce the public's trust in the process, and it ensures the seriousness of the testimony, particularly when addressing issues of such weight and consequence, like the ones that the committee is looking at currently. We do understand that some have expressed concerns that allowing the committee to administer oaths may deter some witnesses from coming forward, but I want to be absolutely clear: as far as I'm aware, it was never the committee's intention to apply this power broadly. It was to be used only in relation to public officials, Ministers and ex-Ministers, those in positions of authority whose decisions directly impacted the course of the pandemic here in Wales. As I said, this power was to be discretionary, carefully applied and proportionate. But, without it, we risk undermining the credibility of the committee's findings and the confidence of those people seeking the truth.
It is all the more troubling that, despite Baroness Hallett's own acknowledgement that the UK inquiry cannot give the full attention to the Welsh experience, the Welsh Labour Party here continues to resist equipping our committee with the necessary tools to do the work properly. And many people in here and outside of this Chamber will be asking why. Why deny the committee the tools? What is there to hide? People will be looking at those people making these decisions today and making their judgments on their voting.
There is also a striking inconsistency here, isn't there? Labour MPs in Westminster are advocating for a Hillsborough law, which would enshrine the principles that public officials must tell the truth when giving evidence. Yet, here in Wales, Welsh Labour opposes a far more modest measure. That contradiction raises serious questions about this Government's true commitment to openness and allowing the committee to get the answers that they need and the families across Wales deserve.
We must also remember the warnings raised by the older people's commissioner in May 2020 and the response from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. There were serious concerns about the treatment of older people in care settings. These matters demand a thorough and thoughtful investigation, not one held back by political interference. That's why, today, I make this cast-iron commitment to the families and those who want answers: the Welsh Conservatives will establish a full, judge-led, independent inquiry into Wales's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic if we are lucky enough, by the Welsh public, to form the next Welsh Government. I don't make promises I can't keep, and I give my commitment to the families today that we will implement this inquiry. Only such an inquiry—truly independent, under judicial oversight—can offer the comprehensive scrutiny, transparency and the trust that the people of Wales deserve.
But, in the here and now, I say to all Members across this Chamber that we need to tread very carefully here. We set up committees to scrutinise the work that we do here, and we need to make sure that everybody who looks at these committees has full confidence that the work they do is done properly and openly. And that is why we must give our committees the tools to do it, the tools that are there, under the Government of Wales Act, to allow this to happen. This isn't something new; it's something that's already there.
So, I urge Members across the Chamber today to support this motion, support the amendments to Standing Orders. Let's give the committee the mechanism it needs to serve its purpose—to find truth, to honour those we have lost and to ensure that Wales is better prepared for the future. Because I can assure you that those families and everybody across Wales never want to go back to those dark days ever again. Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Heddiw rydym yn cofio'r rhai rydym wedi'u colli. Rydym yn cydnabod yr aberth dwfn a wnaed gan unigolion, teuluoedd a'n gwasanaethau rheng flaen. Rydym yn cydnabod y baich parhaol, emosiynol, economaidd a chymdeithasol, a roddodd y pandemig ar ein cymunedau ledled Cymru.
Fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, fel pleidiau eraill yn y Siambr hon, fe wnaethom ymuno â phwyllgor diben arbennig COVID-19 mewn ewyllys da, gan ymrwymo i weithio gyda'n gilydd yn adeiladol, yn drawsbleidiol, i gael yr atebion y mae teuluoedd mewn profedigaeth yn eu haeddu, ac i sicrhau bod y cyd-destun Cymreig penodol hwnnw, a allai gael ei anwybyddu yn yr ymchwiliad ledled y DU, yn cael ei ddeall a'i graffu'n briodol i'r graddau llawnaf posibl. Credwn ei bod yn iawn fod Rheolau Sefydlog y Senedd yn cael eu diwygio i roi pwerau yn ôl disgresiwn hanfodol i'r pwyllgor: y gallu i ofyn i dystion roi tystiolaeth dan lw neu gadarnhad.
Nid yw hwn yn gynnig dramatig na digynsail. Mae gan ymchwiliad statudol yr Alban bŵer eisoes i orfodi tystiolaeth dan lw. Mae'n fecanwaith sylfaenol sy'n helpu i atgyfnerthu ymddiriedaeth y cyhoedd yn y broses, ac mae'n sicrhau difrifoldeb y dystiolaeth, yn enwedig wrth fynd i'r afael â materion mor bwysig ag iddynt ganlyniadau mor fawr, fel y rhai y mae'r pwyllgor yn edrych arnynt ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yn deall bod rhai wedi mynegi pryderon y gallai caniatáu i'r pwyllgor weinyddu llwon atal rhai tystion rhag camu ymlaen, ond rwyf am fod yn hollol glir: hyd y gwn i, nid oedd yn fwriad gan y pwyllgor erioed i gymhwyso'r pŵer hwn yn eang. Roedd i'w ddefnyddio mewn perthynas â swyddogion cyhoeddus, Gweinidogion a chyn-Weinidogion yn unig, y rheini mewn swyddi o awdurdod y mae eu penderfyniadau wedi effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar gwrs y pandemig yma yng Nghymru. Fel y dywedais, roedd y pŵer hwn i fod yn ôl disgresiwn, wedi'i gymhwyso'n ofalus ac yn gymesur. Ond hebddo, rydym mewn perygl o danseilio hygrededd canfyddiadau'r pwyllgor a hyder y bobl sy'n chwilio am y gwir.
Er gwaethaf cydnabyddiaeth y Farwnes Hallett ei hun na all ymchwiliad yn y DU roi sylw llawn i brofiad Cymru, mae'n destun mwy o bryder fyth fod Plaid Lafur Cymru yma yn parhau i wrthod arfogi ein pwyllgor â'r offer angenrheidiol i wneud y gwaith yn iawn. A bydd llawer o bobl yma a thu allan i'r Siambr hon yn gofyn pam. Pam gwrthod yr offer i'r pwyllgor? Beth sydd i'w guddio? Bydd pobl yn edrych ar y bobl sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau hyn heddiw ac yn penderfynu sut i bleidleisio.
Mae yna anghysondeb trawiadol yma hefyd, onid oes? Mae ASau Llafur yn San Steffan yn dadlau dros gyfraith Hillsborough, a fyddai'n ymgorffori'r egwyddorion fod rhaid i swyddogion cyhoeddus ddweud y gwir wrth roi tystiolaeth. Eto i gyd, yma yng Nghymru, mae Llafur Cymru yn gwrthwynebu mesur llawer mwy cymedrol. Mae'r gwrthddweud hwnnw'n codi cwestiynau difrifol ynglŷn â gwir ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon i fod yn agored a chaniatáu i'r pwyllgor gael yr atebion sydd eu hangen arnynt ac y mae teuluoedd ledled Cymru yn eu haeddu.
Rhaid inni hefyd gofio'r rhybuddion a godwyd gan y comisiynydd pobl hŷn ym mis Mai 2020 a'r ymateb gan y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol. Roedd pryderon difrifol ynglŷn â thriniaeth pobl hŷn mewn lleoliadau gofal. Mae'r materion hyn yn galw am ymchwiliad trylwyr a meddylgar, nid un sy'n cael ei ddal yn ôl gan ymyrraeth wleidyddol. Dyna pam fy mod i'n gwneud ymrwymiad cadarn heddiw i'r teuluoedd a'r rhai sydd eisiau atebion: bydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn sefydlu ymchwiliad annibynnol llawn, dan arweiniad barnwr i'r modd y cafodd pandemig COVID-19 ei drin yng Nghymru os ydym yn ddigon ffodus i gael cefnogaeth y cyhoedd yng Nghymru i ffurfio Llywodraeth nesaf Cymru. Nid wyf yn gwneud addewidion na allaf eu cadw, ac rwy'n rhoi fy ymrwymiad i'r teuluoedd heddiw y byddwn yn gweithredu'r ymchwiliad hwn. Dim ond ymchwiliad o'r fath—un gwirioneddol annibynnol, o dan oruchwyliaeth farnwrol—sy'n mynd i allu cynnig y craffu cynhwysfawr, y tryloywder a'r ymddiriedaeth y mae pobl Cymru yn ei haeddu.
Ond yma nawr, rwy'n dweud wrth yr holl Aelodau ar draws y Siambr hon fod angen inni droedio'n ofalus iawn yma. Rydym yn sefydlu pwyllgorau i graffu ar y gwaith a wnawn yma, ac mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr fod gan bawb sy'n edrych ar y pwyllgorau hyn hyder llwyr fod y gwaith a wnânt yn cael ei wneud yn briodol ac yn agored. A dyna pam y mae'n rhaid inni roi'r offer i'n pwyllgorau wneud hynny, yr offer sydd yno, o dan Ddeddf Llywodraeth Cymru, i ganiatáu i hyn ddigwydd. Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth newydd; mae'n rhywbeth sydd yno eisoes.
Felly, rwy'n annog Aelodau ar draws y Siambr heddiw i gefnogi'r cynnig hwn, i gefnogi'r gwelliannau i'r Rheolau Sefydlog. Gadewch inni roi'r mecanwaith sydd ei angen ar y pwyllgor i gyflawni ei bwrpas—i ddod o hyd i'r gwirionedd, i anrhydeddu'r rhai a gollwyd ac i sicrhau bod Cymru'n fwy parod ar gyfer y dyfodol. Oherwydd gallaf eich sicrhau nad yw'r teuluoedd hynny na neb yng Nghymru eisiau dychwelyd at y dyddiau tywyll hynny byth eto. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Fe brofodd COVID i fod yn hollt anferthol mewn cymdeithas, onid oedd? A hollt mewn mwy o ffyrdd nag un. Mae gennym ni oes pre-COVID ac oes post-COVID, gyda phobl yn mesur amser digwyddiadau pwysig yn eu bywydau yn ôl y digwyddiad yna. Fe ddangosodd hollt cymdeithasol anferthol hefyd, gyda'r mwyaf o bobl ddifreintiedig yn dioddef canlyniadau llawer iawn gwaeth na'r haenau mwy breintiedig mewn cymdeithas. Roedd hollt amlwg rhwng y cenedlaethau, gyda phlant yn dioddef yn gymdeithasol ac yn ddatblygiadol, a phobl hŷn yn dioddef cyflyrau iechyd corfforol gwaeth.
Yng nghanol hyn i gyd, roedd Llywodraethau a chyrff ar draws y byd yn ymbalfalu am ddatrysiadau mewn sefyllfa amhosib. Dyma argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus cwbl digynsail heb ddim glasbrint er mwyn gwybod sut roedd ymdopi â'r amryfal argyfyngau oedd yn datblygu yn ei sgil. Pa gamau y dylid eu cymryd er mwyn atal pobl rhag dal yr haint? Sut roedd gwarchod y bregus? Pa adnoddau oedd angen eu neilltuo ac ymhle? Pwy oedd â chyfrifoldeb dros gyflawni rhai o'r tasgau roedd angen inni ymgymryd â nhw? A pha systemau newydd oedd angen eu creu er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r gwahanol broblemau oedd yn dod i'r wyneb yn sgil yr haint? A degau o filoedd o gwestiynau a heriau eraill nad oedd wedi cael eu hystyried yn llawn.
Mewn amgylchiadau o'r fath, mae'n annheg—yn wir, mae'n anghywir—dweud bod un penderfyniad ar draul penderfyniad arall yn anghywir neu'n gywir, oherwydd, fel y soniais, roedd y cwbl yn ddigynsail. Roedd yn rhaid gwneud y penderfyniadau gorau ar y pryd gyda'r wybodaeth oedd wrth law a'r cyngor oedd yn dod i'r fei gan bobl oedd efo gwell dealltwriaeth. Felly, nid diben unrhyw ymchwiliad ydy er mwyn ffeindio bai. Diben ymchwiliad ddylai fod er mwyn dysgu'r gwersi er mwyn osgoi camgymeriadau a sicrhau ein bod ni mewn lle gwell wrth baratoi at ddigwyddiadau catastroffig eraill—ac mi fydd yna ddigwyddiad arall, o bosib o fewn ein hoes ni—boed yn amgylcheddol, yn iechyd cyhoeddus neu'n rhai eraill.
Ein dyletswydd foesol ni felly ydy dysgu'r gwersi'r gorau y gallwn ni er mwyn achub bywydau'r cenedlaethau i ddod. Onid dyna, wedi'r cyfan, ydy meddylfryd yr egwyddor sydd y tu ôl i Ddeddf llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol? Os ydyn ni'n derbyn fy hypothesis neu'r thesis yma, yna mae yna ddyletswydd arnom ni fel Senedd i fynd i wraidd y materion yma.
Dydy o ddim yn gyfrinach nad ydw i'n credu mai pwyllgor pwrpas arbennig ydy'r ffordd ymlaen i gyflawni hyn, ac y byddai'n llawer iawn gwell gen i weld ymchwiliad cyhoeddus annibynnol i mewn i COVID-19 yma yng Nghymru. Ond nid dyna lle'r ydyn ni, felly rwyf i a Phlaid Cymru yn barod i chwarae ein rhan yn y pwyllgor yma mewn ewyllys da er mwyn trio adnabod y cwestiynau perthnasol a chanfod yr atebion gorau. Er mwyn gwneud hynny, mae gofyn arnom ni i gasglu tystiolaeth, gan fod yn sicr bod y dystiolaeth yna'n gywir ac yn ffeithiol.
Heb dystiolaeth ffeithiol gywir, yna mae'n amhosib dysgu'r gwersi cywir, ac yn bwysicach fyth, mae peryg dysgu'r gwersi anghywir, gan roi bywydau cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn y fantol. Mae'n rhaid felly cael at y gwir. Dyna pam fy mod i mor gadarn dros fynnu bod tystion yn tyngu llw, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod ni'n cadw at ein cytundeb moesol gyda phobl Cymru ac yn dod at y gwir er mwyn gwarchod lles y rhai a ddaw ar ein hôl ni.
Dwi wedi clywed dadleuon o du y Blaid Lafur yn dweud na ddylid tyngu llw oherwydd bod hynny'n ddigynsail, sydd wrth gwrs yn wir, ond roedd COVID ei hun yn ddigynsail; mae creu pwyllgor diben arbennig yn ddigynsail; mae cael cyd-gadeiryddiaeth ar bwyllgor yn ddigynsail. Hynny ydy, mae popeth am hyn yn ddigynsail, felly dydy'r ffaith nad ydy'r sefydliad cymharol newydd yma heb wneud rhywbeth yn flaenorol ddim yn rheswm dros beidio â'i gwneud rŵan.
Dwi hefyd yn clywed y ddadl fod yna bryder y byddai pobl yn methu fforddio cyngor cyfreithiol, sef pam ein bod ni wedi dod i'r cyfaddawd y soniodd James amdano, y cyfaddawd ar y pwyllgor, gan ddweud na fyddai disgwyl i bobl â phrofiad byw dyngu llw, ond y byddai yna ddisgwyl i bobl oedd yn gwneud penderfyniad i wneud hynny.
Ond, mae yna un workaround hawdd iawn, wrth gwrs, i hyn oll, sef dywedwch y gwir. Peidiwch â chelu dim. Rhyddhewch yr wybodaeth. Os ydy'r pwyllgor yma a'i chanfyddiadau am gael unrhyw hygrededd a chefnogaeth gyhoeddus, yna mae cyfrifoldeb moesol arnom ni i gael at y gwir, yr holl wir, a dim byd ond y gwir.
COVID proved to be a huge fracture in society, didn't it? And a fracture in more ways than one. We have a pre-COVID age and a post-COVID age, with people measuring the timeline of events in their lives according to that pandemic. It exposed a huge social divide, with the most disadvantaged suffering far worse outcomes than the more privileged layers of society. There was a clear divide between the generations, with children suffering socially and developmentally, and older people suffering worse physical health conditions.
In the midst of all of this, Governments and organisations across the world were fumbling for solutions in an impossible situation. This was a completely unprecedented public health crisis and there was no blueprint for how to cope with the various crises that developed as a result. What steps should be taken to prevent people from being infected? How should we protect the vulnerable? What resources were needed and where? Who had responsibility for carrying out some of the tasks that needed to be undertaken? What new systems needed to be created in order to tackle the different problems that were arising as a result of the infection? And tens of thousands of other questions and other challenges that had not been fully considered.
In such circumstances, it is unfair—indeed, it's wrong—to say that one decision made at the expense of another was wrong or right, because, as I mentioned, it was all unprecedented. We had to make the best decision at the time with the information that was at hand, using the advice that was provided by people who had a better understanding. Therefore, the purpose of any inquiry is not to find fault. The purpose of an inquiry should be to learn lessons in order to avoid errors and ensure that we are in a better place when preparing for other catastrophic events—and there will be another incident, possibly within our lifetime—be it environmental, public health or otherwise.
Our moral duty, therefore, is to learn the best lessons that we can in order to save the lives of generations to come. Isn't that, after all, the mindset and principle underpinning the well-being of future generations Act? If we accept this hypothesis or thesis, then it is our duty as a Senedd to get to the bottom of these issues.
It's no secret that I don't believe that a special purpose committee is the best way to achieve this, and that I would have much preferred to have seen a public inquiry into COVID-19 here in Wales. But that's not where we are, so I and Plaid Cymru are ready to play our part in this committee, in good faith, in order to try to identify the relevant questions and find the best solutions. In order to do that, we are required to gather evidence, ensuring that that evidence is accurate and factual.
Without accurate factual evidence, then it is impossible to learn the right lessons, and more importantly, there is a risk of learning the wrong lessons and putting the lives of future generations at risk. We must therefore get to the truth. That is why I am so firm in insisting that witnesses must swear an oath, in order to ensure that we stick to our moral agreement with the people of Wales and find the truth in order to protect the welfare of those who come after us.
I have heard arguments from the Labour Party, stating that oaths should not be sworn because that would be unprecedented, which of course is true, but COVID itself was unprecedented; creating a special purpose committee is unprecedented; having a committee co-chaired is unprecedented. In other words, everything about this is unprecedented, and the fact that this relatively new body has not done something before is no reason not to do it now.
I also hear the argument that there is a concern that people would not be able to afford legal advice, which is why we came to the compromise that James mentioned, the compromise at the committee, saying that people with lived experience would not be expected to swear an oath, but that we would expect people who made decisions to do so.
But there is also one easy workaround for all of this, which is to tell the truth. Don't hide anything. Release all of the information. If this committee and its findings are to have any credibility and public support, then we have a moral responsibility to get to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I was reflecting just before coming in to this debate today that it's actually five years and three days to the date when the Prime Minister announced the first lockdown in the UK as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's five years to the date exactly, at 1 p.m. today, when that lockdown became legally enforceable. So, it's a timely day today to discuss this really important issue.
As colleagues have already mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for Wales, the UK, and for people across the world. We will live with the consequences for decades to come. And particularly I think at the moment of our young people, especially those who dealt with and who are dealing with substantial learning loss and some of the mental health impacts that directly seem to be linked to those lockdowns, with Welsh schoolchildren sadly missing more days of school than in any other part of the United Kingdom. It's part of this context that is important for us as a COVID committee in undertaking our work. I'm a member of the COVID committee here in the Senedd, joining the committee last year, and I take that role—and I know my colleagues on the committee do, as does Mabon ap Gwynfor, who has already spoken—we take that role really seriously, and as part of that role, we need to make sure we have the tools available to us to complete that work in the seriousness that it deserves.
It's sad and disappointing to me that that level of seriousness does not seem to be shared by colleagues on the Labour benches, who initially blocked the much-needed request for the independent COVID inquiry to take place here in the UK and, as has already been outlined, this position around the special purpose committee being set up, and now seemingly—. Well, not just seemingly, they are clearly blocking the request from the members of the committee to compel witnesses coming before it to swear an oath to say that they're telling the truth.
And as Mabon ap Gwynfor pointed out, what is the harm in compelling people to tell the truth? Surely that's the basis of our democracy and the basis of all scrutiny. It's about allowing every stone to be turned over to understand what is laying underneath it, so that people can get to the truth of the matter. And it's clear that Labour politicians, for whatever reason, are stopping the proper work of scrutiny that the people of Wales should expect.
As James Evans pointed out, this wasn't just about an oath swearing for anybody and everybody coming in front of the committee. It was certainly structured around those decision makers, to enable people who wanted to share their lived experience to perhaps not feel some of the pressure and tension that that may cause. It's a fair and reasonable approach to what has been one of the most devastating issues that's faced our nation, certainly through the time of devolution.
Bûm yn myfyrio cyn dod i'r ddadl hon heddiw ar y ffaith ei bod mewn gwirionedd yn bum mlynedd a thri diwrnod ers y dyddiad pan gyhoeddodd Prif Weinidog y DU y cyfyngiadau symud yn y DU o ganlyniad i bandemig COVID-19. Mae'n bum mlynedd union, am 1 p.m. heddiw, ers i'r cyfyngiadau symud hynny ddod yn orfodadwy yn gyfreithiol. Felly, mae’n ddiwrnod amserol heddiw i drafod y mater hynod bwysig hwn.
Fel y mae rhai o fy nghyd-Aelodau wedi'i nodi eisoes, roedd pandemig COVID-19 yn ddinistriol i Gymru, y DU, ac i bobl ledled y byd. Byddwn yn byw gyda'r canlyniadau am ddegawdau i ddod. Ac rwy'n meddwl yn arbennig ar hyn o bryd am ein pobl ifanc, yn enwedig y rheini y bu'n rhaid iddynt ymdopi ac sy’n dal i ymdopi â cholli dysgu sylweddol a rhai o’r effeithiau iechyd meddwl sydd yn ôl pob golwg yn uniongyrchol gysylltiedig â’r cyfyngiadau symud hynny, gyda phlant ysgol yng Nghymru yn colli mwy o ddyddiau ysgol nag mewn unrhyw ran arall o’r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae'n rhan o'r cyd-destun hwn sy'n bwysig i ni fel pwyllgor COVID wrth ymgymryd â'n gwaith. Rwy’n aelod o’r pwyllgor COVID yma yn y Senedd, ar ôl ymuno â’r pwyllgor y llynedd, ac rwyf o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r rôl honno—a gwn fod fy nghyd-Aelodau ar y pwyllgor hefyd, fel Mabon ap Gwynfor, sydd eisoes wedi siarad—rydym o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r rôl honno, ac yn rhan o’r rôl honno, mae angen inni sicrhau bod yr offer ar gael i ni fel y gallwn gwblhau’r gwaith hwnnw gyda'r difrifoldeb y mae’n ei haeddu.
Mae'n drist ac yn siomedig i mi nad yw'n ymddangos bod y lefel honno o ddifrifoldeb yn cael ei rhannu gan gyd-Aelodau ar y meinciau Llafur, a rwystrodd yn wreiddiol y cais mawr ei angen am ymchwiliad COVID annibynnol yma yn y DU, ac fel yr amlinellwyd eisoes, y safbwynt ynghylch sefydlu'r pwyllgor diben arbennig, a nawr, i bob golwg—. Wel, nid i bob golwg yn unig, maent yn amlwg yn rhwystro’r cais gan aelodau’r pwyllgor i orfodi tystion sy’n dod ger ei fron i dyngu llw eu bod yn dweud y gwir.
Ac fel y nododd Mabon ap Gwynfor, beth sydd o'i le ar orfodi pobl i ddweud y gwir? Onid dyna sail ein democratiaeth a sail unrhyw graffu. Mae a wnelo â throi pob carreg i ddeall beth sydd oddi tani, fel y gall pobl gyrraedd y gwir. Ac mae’n amlwg fod gwleidyddion Llafur, am ba bynnag reswm, yn rhwystro'r gwaith craffu priodol y dylai pobl Cymru ei ddisgwyl.
Fel y nododd James Evans, nid mater o sicrhau'n unig fod pawb sy'n dod gerbron y pwyllgor yn tyngu llw oedd hyn. Roedd yn bendant wedi’i strwythuro o amgylch y penderfynwyr hynny, er mwyn galluogi pobl a oedd am rannu eu profiad bywyd i beidio â theimlo peth o’r pwysau a’r tensiwn y gallai hynny ei achosi. Mae'n ymagwedd deg a rhesymol tuag at un o'r materion mwyaf dinistriol sydd wedi wynebu ein cenedl, yn sicr yn ystod cyfnod datganoli.
Would you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Sorry, certainly, Mabon, yes.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, yn sicr, Mabon, gwnaf.
Thanks. You were on the committee. I was on the committee. Do you recall the discussion around that oath? The vote was, if I recall correctly and if you agree with me, four to two, and therefore that was the democratic voice of the committee, and that voice should be respected by the Government.
Diolch. Roeddech chi ar y pwyllgor. Roeddwn i ar y pwyllgor. A ydych chi'n cofio’r drafodaeth ynghylch y llw hwnnw? Roedd y bleidlais, os cofiaf yn gywir ac os ydych chi'n cytuno â mi, yn bedwar i ddau, ac felly dyna oedd llais democrataidd y pwyllgor, a dylai’r llais hwnnw gael ei barchu gan y Llywodraeth.
Yes, you're right, and I'm disappointed that that hasn't been taken into account with this request, that the majority of the committee were in favour of this tool being made available to it, to enable it to carry out the scrutiny that we all—or, well, the majority—agree is required by the committee.
Going back to the context of why this is important, we know that Wales had the highest COVID-19 death rate in the UK, and the families of those who have died or suffered as a result of this—and some of them might be in this Chamber here today, who've had those experiences as well—deserve a full and thorough investigation into the decisions made by the Welsh Government Ministers at the time. The Government here in Wales made separate decisions from what else took place across the United Kingdom, and they were compelled to do that. They were required to make those decisions. They could have been in lockstep with other parts of United Kingdom, but they chose not to be. They chose to do things differently, and that was a choice. But those choices require proper scrutiny, rather than being avoided, which seems is the case at the moment.
And as has already been pointed out, this is not necessarily a new precedent being set. In Scotland, there is a separate inquiry taking place, where summoned witnesses provide evidence on oath, and they are compelled to produce documents that are asked of them as well. So, we're not calling for radical change in this place today. It is simply a measure that will allow us to carry out the task that this Senedd has asked us to carry out. And the nine gaps identified by the committee in the first module of the report are worthy of that further and thorough and full investigation, and an oath and affirmation will allow us to do that properly.
So, just in closing, Deputy Presiding Officer, the motion in front of us today will enable the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee to obtain the power to ask relevant witnesses to take an oath or make an affirmation when giving evidence. It is a request that respects those who lost their lives during COVID-19, respects the families who are battling for this, and Senedd Members should vote in favour here today. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Ie, rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, ac rwy'n siomedig nad yw hynny wedi cael ei ystyried gyda'r cais hwn, fod mwyafrif y pwyllgor o blaid i'r offeryn hwn fod ar gael iddo, i'w alluogi i gynnal y gwaith craffu y mae pob un ohonom—neu, wel, y mwyafrif—yn cytuno bod y pwyllgor ei angen.
I fynd yn ôl at y cyd-destun pam fod hyn yn bwysig, gwyddom fod gan Gymru’r gyfradd marwolaethau COVID-19 uchaf yn y DU, ac mae teuluoedd y rheini sydd wedi marw neu wedi dioddef o ganlyniad i hyn—ac efallai fod rhai ohonynt yn y Siambr heddiw, sydd wedi cael y profiadau hynny hefyd—yn haeddu ymchwiliad llawn a thrylwyr i’r penderfyniadau a wnaed gan Weinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru ar y pryd. Gwnaeth y Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru benderfyniadau ar wahân i'r pethau eraill a ddigwyddodd ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, ac fe’u gorfodwyd i wneud hynny. Roedd yn ofynnol iddynt wneud y penderfyniadau hynny. Gallent fod wedi gwneud yr un fath â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig, ond fe wnaethant ddewis peidio. Fe wnaethant ddewis gwneud pethau’n wahanol, ac roedd hynny’n ddewis. Ond mae angen craffu’n briodol ar y dewisiadau hynny, yn hytrach na bod hynny'n cael ei osgoi, fel sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd yn ôl pob golwg.
Ac fel y nodwyd eisoes, nid yw hwn o reidrwydd yn gynsail newydd sy'n cael ei osod. Yn yr Alban, mae ymchwiliad ar wahân yn cael ei gynnal, lle mae tystion gwysedig yn rhoi tystiolaeth ar lw, a chânt eu gorfodi i gyflwyno dogfennau y gofynnir iddynt eu cyflwyno hefyd. Felly, nid ydym yn galw am newid radical yn y lle hwn heddiw. Mae’n fesur a fydd yn caniatáu inni gyflawni’r dasg y mae’r Senedd hon wedi gofyn i ni ei chyflawni, dyna i gyd. Ac mae’r naw bwlch a nodwyd gan y pwyllgor ym modiwl cyntaf yr adroddiad yn deilwng o’r ymchwiliad pellach a thrylwyr a llawn hwnnw, a bydd llw a chadarnhad yn caniatáu inni wneud hynny’n iawn.
Felly, i gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, bydd y cynnig ger ein bron heddiw yn galluogi Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad COVID-19 Cymru i gael y pŵer i ofyn i dystion perthnasol dyngu llw neu roi cadarnhad wrth roi tystiolaeth. Mae’n gais sy’n parchu’r rhai a gollodd eu bywydau yn ystod COVID-19, yn parchu’r teuluoedd sy’n brwydro dros hyn, a dylai Aelodau’r Senedd bleidleisio o'i blaid yma heddiw. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
May I thank the Conservatives for tabling this important motion? A simple question: how did we get to this point? It's not my question, but that of the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru on X today. And I think that's what we need to reflect on: how did we get to this point? Why are they having to fight for justice? Why does this group have to exist? And they have been fighting; they've been working hard for answers.
And surely that's what's at stake here, and surely we can all see that by blocking this request to take an oath—not everyone, as we've heard—that people think that there's something to hide, that we're trying to block that truth from coming out. Because Mabon ap Gwynfor was completely correct in saying that it's not about pointing fingers, it is about learning lessons. I've always said that I would not have wanted to take all of that responsibility at that time, and think that every decision would have been the correct one. Most people I've spoken to just want to know what were the mistakes and how are we going to rectify that for the future, because it will happen again.
We've been told with climate change as well that that will also impact in terms of pandemics in the future and, unfortunately, it's not a matter of if we will have to deal with a situation, it will be when will that be. And that could be sooner rather than later, unfortunately. So, what I'd want to know is: what is going to be different? How are we going to ensure that every single lesson learned is applied? Because if we don't learn those lessons, where is that textbook going to be that someone can turn to and think, 'This is how I will approach it. How do we update it?' So, I'm extremely frustrated that the way that we're approaching it in Wales actually lets down the very people we're supposed to be representing.
The fact that so much of the committee's time has gone into deciding and determining this, and that we're actually spending precious time debating whether there should be an oath today, rather than moving forward with the work, frustrates me.
A gaf i ddiolch i’r Ceidwadwyr am gyflwyno’r cynnig pwysig hwn? Cwestiwn syml: sut y cyraeddasom y pwynt hwn? Nid fy nghwestiwn i, ond cwestiwn COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru ar X heddiw. A chredaf mai dyna sydd angen inni fyfyrio arno: sut y cyraeddasom y pwynt hwn? Pam eu bod yn gorfod ymladd am gyfiawnder? Pam fod rhaid i'r grŵp hwn fodoli? Ac maent wedi bod yn ymladd; maent wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed am atebion.
Ac yn sicr, dyna sydd yn y fantol yma, ac yn sicr, gall pob un ohonom weld, drwy rwystro'r cais hwn i dyngu llw—nid pawb, fel y clywsom—fod pobl yn credu bod rhywbeth i'w guddio, ein bod yn ceisio rhwystro'r gwirionedd rhag dod allan. Oherwydd roedd Mabon ap Gwynfor yn gwbl gywir pan ddywedodd nad pwyntio bysedd yw hyn, mae a wnelo â dysgu gwersi. Rwyf bob amser wedi dweud na fyddwn wedi bod yn awyddus i gymryd yr holl gyfrifoldeb hwnnw ar y pryd, a chredu bod pob penderfyniad yn gywir. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl y siaradais â hwy am wybod beth oedd y camgymeriadau a sut y gwnawn unioni hynny ar gyfer y dyfodol, gan ei fod yn mynd i ddigwydd eto.
Rydym wedi cael gwybod gyda newid hinsawdd hefyd y bydd hynny'n cael effaith ar glefydau pandemig yn y dyfodol, ac yn anffodus, nid yw'n fater o os bydd yn rhaid inni ymdrin â sefyllfa, ond pryd. A gallai hynny fod yn gynt yn hytrach na'n hwyrach, yn anffodus. Felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn ei wybod yw: beth sy'n mynd i fod yn wahanol? Sut y gwnawn sicrhau bod pob un wers a ddysgwyd yn cael ei rhoi ar waith? Oherwydd os na ddysgwn y gwersi hynny, ble fydd y gwerslyfr hwnnw y gall rhywun droi ato a meddwl, 'Dyma sut y'i gwnaf. Sut rydym yn ei ddiweddaru?' Felly, rwy'n rhwystredig iawn fod y ffordd yr awn ati i wneud hyn yng Nghymru yn gwneud cam â'r union bobl rydym i fod i'w cynrychioli.
Mae’r ffaith bod cymaint o amser y pwyllgor wedi'i dreulio'n penderfynu a phennu hyn, a’n bod mewn gwirionedd yn treulio amser gwerthfawr yn dadlau a ddylid cael llw heddiw, yn hytrach na bwrw ymlaen â’r gwaith, yn peri cryn rwystredigaeth i mi.
Thanks for taking the intervention, Heledd. I wonder if you'd also agree with me, then, that this decision to try to block this by the Labour group also puts the legitimacy of and trust in this institution at risk as well. This is the thing that's had one of the most major impacts here in Wales, and by blocking this, trust in this institution and the work of this institution is put at risk unnecessarily.
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad, Heledd. Tybed a fyddech chi hefyd yn cytuno â mi, felly, fod y penderfyniad hwn gan y grŵp Llafur i geisio rhwystro hyn hefyd yn peryglu dilysrwydd ac ymddiriedaeth yn y sefydliad hwn hefyd. Dyma’r peth sydd wedi cael un o’r effeithiau mwyaf yma yng Nghymru, a thrwy rwystro hyn, mae ymddiriedaeth yn y sefydliad hwn a gwaith y sefydliad hwn yn cael eu peryglu'n ddiangen.
I think there's certainly a risk. That's why I would have supported a Wales-specific COVID inquiry. We've been consistent in terms of that. I fully support what's happening in Scotland, because everyone's experience of COVID was different. Everybody was impacted differently. I heard today—or yesterday, actually—I was speaking to two young people who didn't have exams at the time. They actually quite enjoyed COVID, because they had lots of time outside to play. They have very fond memories of the sunshine that May, when they were home from school. But for others it was completely traumatising and something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. People are still suffering, people are still not able to get over the fact that they were unable to say goodbye to relatives, not able to attend funerals. So, we owe it to them to progress this work. So, I would ask the Welsh Government to please reconsider. We need to be able to move on.
There was also a commitment that, if the UK inquiry did not do the job of a Wales COVID inquiry, the Welsh Government would reconsider. I think we've reached that point. There will be other opportunities to discuss, but for the sake of all of those who are still fighting for justice, they shouldn't have to, we need to do better, and I'm disappointed by the Welsh Government's approach to this.
Rwy'n credu bod risg, yn sicr. Dyna pam y byddwn wedi cefnogi ymchwiliad COVID penodol i Gymru. Rydym wedi bod yn gyson o ran hynny. Rwy’n llwyr gefnogi’r hyn sy’n digwydd yn yr Alban, gan fod profiad pawb o COVID yn wahanol. Cafodd pawb eu heffeithio'n wahanol. Clywais heddiw—neu ddoe, mewn gwirionedd—roeddwn yn siarad â dau unigolyn ifanc na chafodd arholiadau ar y pryd. Fe wnaethant fwynhau COVID, am eu bod wedi cael llawer o amser y tu allan yn chwarae. Mae ganddynt atgofion melys iawn o'r heulwen y mis Mai hwnnw, pan oeddent adref o'r ysgol. Ond i eraill, roedd yn gwbl drawmatig ac yn rhywbeth a fydd yn aros gyda hwy am weddill eu hoes. Mae pobl yn dal i ddioddef, mae pobl yn dal i fethu dod dros y ffaith na fu modd iddynt ffarwelio â pherthnasau, na allent fynychu angladdau. Felly, ein dyletswydd iddynt hwy yw bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwn. Felly, rwy'n gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru ailystyried. Mae angen inni allu symud ymlaen.
Cafwyd ymrwymiad hefyd, pe na bai ymchwiliad y DU yn gwneud gwaith ymchwiliad COVID Cymru, y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ailystyried. Credaf ein bod wedi cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw. Bydd cyfleoedd eraill i drafod, ond er mwyn pob un o’r rhai sy’n dal i ymladd dros gyfiawnder, ni ddylent orfod gwneud hynny, mae angen inni wneud yn well, ac rwy’n siomedig ynghylch ymagwedd Llywodraeth Cymru at hyn.
As a clinician, I never thought that I would tell people to tell me the truth or tell us the truth. It is regrettable that my colleagues and I have had to bring forward this debate today. Who would have thought that we would be fighting to ensure that witnesses gave evidence under oath? But here we are.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government prided itself on doing things differently, stating that their actions were saving Welsh lives, when, instead, analysis of mortality during the pandemic shows that the age-standardised mortality rate of death involving COVID was higher in Wales than in England. COVID-related deaths in Northern Ireland and Scotland were also both notably lower. What did Wales get so wrong? This is why we need a Wales-specific independent, judge-led public inquiry into the Welsh Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Welsh Government blocked that, and here we are, five years and three days on from the pandemic, and they are still trying to hamstring efforts to get to the truth.
The Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee was set up as a sop to the growing clamouring calls for a Wales-wide inquiry. The special purpose committee is like using a sticking plaster to treat a bullet wound, set up to identify the gaps left behind by the COVID inquiry, which took just three weeks to try to distil the years of pre-pandemic planning and examine in detail every decision taken about curbing the outbreaks and saving lives in Wales, something that Baroness Hallett admitted was impossible. So, now, the special purpose committee has to identify the gaps and fill in the blanks, but the Welsh Government have once again tied their hands behind their backs.
I do not envy the task before the Co-chairs; Tom and Joyce are doing admirable work, hamstrung as they are. To make their task easier, to try to instil public confidence in the work of their committee, they simply requested that the committee be able to require witnesses to give evidence under oath. The Government of Wales Act 2006 gave this Senedd the ability to call witnesses to give evidence under oath, a simple request that should have been simply signed off by the Business Committee. But the request was blocked by the Welsh Government’s business manager, so now the public will question the motives behind this move. What does the Welsh Government have to hide? Why don’t they want to give evidence under oath? Surely no Minister or former Minister is planning to lie to the committee, so why not agree to the request?
I urge the Welsh Government to reconsider their stance on this. In the absence of a proper inquiry, let’s at least give the special purpose committee a fighting chance at getting at the truth. Give them the ability to call witnesses under oath. I beg Members to support the families who suffered bereavement and those left with long-term illnesses as a result of COVID-19 by backing our motion and getting us one step closer to learning the truth and lessons from this pandemic. Diolch yn fawr.
Fel clinigydd, ni feddyliais erioed y byddwn yn dweud wrth bobl am ddweud y gwir wrthyf neu ddweud y gwir wrthym. Mae’n drueni fod fy nghyd-Aelodau a minnau wedi gorfod cyflwyno’r ddadl hon heddiw. Pwy fyddai wedi meddwl y byddem yn ymladd i sicrhau bod tystion yn rhoi tystiolaeth dan lw? Ond dyma ni.
Yn ystod pandemig COVID-19, roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymfalchïo mewn gwneud pethau’n wahanol, gan nodi bod eu gweithredoedd yn achub bywydau yng Nghymru, pan fo dadansoddiad o farwolaethau yn ystod y pandemig yn dangos yn hytrach fod y gyfradd farwolaethau o ganlyniad i COVID-19 wedi’i safoni yn ôl oedran yn uwch yng Nghymru nag yn Lloegr. Roedd marwolaethau cysylltiedig â COVID yng Ngogledd Iwerddon a'r Alban hefyd yn sylweddol is. Beth a wnaeth Cymru mor anghywir? Dyma pam fod angen ymchwiliad cyhoeddus annibynnol penodol ar Gymru, dan arweiniad barnwr, i’r modd y cafodd pandemig COVID-19 ei drin gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Ond rhwystrwyd hynny gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a dyma ni, bum mlynedd a thri diwrnod ar ôl dechrau'r pandemig, ac maent yn dal i geisio rhwystro ymdrechion i gyrraedd y gwir.
Cafodd Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad COVID-19 Cymru ei sefydlu er mwyn tawelu’r galwadau cynyddol am ymchwiliad Cymru gyfan. Mae’r pwyllgor diben arbennig fel defnyddio plastr i drin clwyf bwled, gan iddo gael ei sefydlu i nodi’r bylchau yn yr ymchwiliad COVID, a gymerodd dair wythnos yn unig i geisio hidlo blynyddoedd o gynlluniau cyn pandemig ac i archwilio’n fanwl bob penderfyniad a wnaed ynglŷn â chyfyngu ar nifer yr achosion ac achub bywydau yng Nghymru, rhywbeth y cyfaddefodd y Farwnes Hallett ei fod yn amhosibl. Felly, nawr, mae'n rhaid i'r pwyllgor diben arbennig nodi'r bylchau a'u llenwi, ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru unwaith eto wedi clymu eu dwylo y tu ôl i'w cefnau.
Nid wyf yn eiddigeddus o'r dasg sy'n wynebu'r Cyd-gadeiryddion; mae Tom a Joyce yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol, er eu bod wedi'u llyffetheirio. Er mwyn gwneud eu tasg yn haws, er mwyn ceisio ennyn hyder y cyhoedd yng ngwaith eu pwyllgor, fe wnaethant ofyn yn syml iawn i'r pwyllgor allu ei gwneud yn ofynnol i dystion roi tystiolaeth o dan lw. Rhoddodd Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006 y gallu i’r Senedd hon alw ar dystion i roi tystiolaeth o dan lw, cais syml a ddylai fod wedi’i gymeradwyo’n syml gan y Pwyllgor Busnes. Ond cafodd y cais ei rwystro gan reolwr busnes Llywodraeth Cymru, felly nawr, bydd y cyhoedd yn cwestiynu'r cymhellion y tu ôl i'r weithred hon. Beth sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i’w guddio? Pam nad ydynt eisiau rhoi tystiolaeth dan lw? Nid oes unrhyw Weinidog neu gyn-Weinidog yn bwriadu dweud celwydd wrth y pwyllgor, felly pam ddim cytuno i’r cais?
Rwy’n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ailystyried eu safbwynt ar hyn. Yn absenoldeb ymchwiliad priodol, gadewch inni o leiaf roi rhyw fath o gyfle i'r pwyllgor diben arbennig gyrraedd y gwir. Rhowch y gallu iddynt alw tystion dan lw. Rwy'n erfyn ar yr Aelodau i gefnogi’r teuluoedd a ddioddefodd brofedigaethau a’r rhai a gafodd salwch hirdymor o ganlyniad i COVID-19 drwy gefnogi ein cynnig a chymryd cam yn nes at ddysgu’r gwir a’r gwersi o’r pandemig hwn. Diolch yn fawr.
An oath is a promise to a deity, and an affirmation is a pledge on one's personal honour. Both are binding promises to tell the truth when giving evidence. No person, body, Government or party intending to tell the truth should therefore object to taking an oath or making an affirmation when giving evidence to the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee. As the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru stated to me, the Senedd committee is a direct response to the UK inquiry, and its purpose is to identify gaps in the UK inquiry's consideration of Welsh issues. In these circumstances, they said—and given that all evidence at the UK inquiry is on oath—it must follow that, for the committee to be credible and for reasons of parity, the committee should be provided with the discretionary power to require witnesses to give an oath.
As they also stated, the bigger question is why the Welsh Government don't want this. They refused a Welsh inquiry, haven't pushed for more Wales in the UK inquiry, and in fact, benefited from minimal scrutiny. For example, they said, in module 4—vaccines—not one single question was asked by the inquiry to the one Welsh Government witness, despite stacks of disclosure about how the Welsh Government proactively delayed vaccines in care homes by four weeks. With an inquiry committee set fully in the political arena, they said, rather than an independent public inquiry in Wales, the Welsh Government now doesn't want witnesses to give oral evidence under oath. We cannot underestimate the potentially damaging impact of the failure to provide the committee with the power to require witnesses to take an oath or make an affirmation, they said, adding, 'and this matters'.
Regardless of what the Welsh Government believes, the oath issue is the critical tip of the iceberg. When I raised calls by the North Wales Police Federation for policing to be considered for some priority in the COVID-19 vaccination programme with the health Minister four years ago, he dodged this, despite police officers putting their own safety at risk. Thanks to the UK Government at the time's decision to procure vaccines swiftly, Governments across the UK were able to safely ease the most stringent of restrictions. However, the Welsh Government, responsible for the vaccination programme in Wales, only prioritised this after we highlighted that it was running massively behind the rest of the UK on both first and second jabs. Even then, constituents contacted me with comments such as, 'I've received a letter today, and I'll have my second vaccination. I will still be up to four weeks behind my contemporaries in England in particular. I still feel that the Welsh Government is trying to win a first vaccination race, whereas elsewhere in the UK, the idea is to stop the new variant getting hold in the first place.'
Although the UK Government announced an independent public inquiry into its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK in May 2021, and three months later the Scottish First Minister announced the creation of a Scotland-focused investigation into the impact of the Scottish Government's decisions on how the pandemic was handled, the Welsh Government repeatedly denied our requests for an independent public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic in Wales.
The cross-party group on hospices and palliative care, which I chair, conducted an inquiry into experiences of palliative and end-of-life care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We received evidence showing, for example, that healthcare professionals in Wales were more likely to experience medication and staff shortages relative to other areas of the UK. When the UK Government announced that COVID testing would be extended to all care home staff and residents in England, the then First Minister initially said he saw no value in providing tests to everybody in care homes in Wales.
Ahead of the UK COVID-19 inquiry's first module 1 hearing, the COVID inquiry legal team confirmed that the Welsh Government failed to disclose all relevant documents to the inquiry in the first draft of their witness statement and that the inquiry had to go back to the Welsh Government a second time to request full disclosure. These, and countless other examples, reinforce the need for the Welsh Government to show that they are not afraid of accountability to the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee and, therefore, the people of Wales. And if they continue to block the committee's request for a discretionary power to require witnesses to take an oath or make an affirmation, the people will ask, 'Are they afraid, frightened, frit, ofn?'
Mae llw yn addewid i dduw, ac mae cadarnhad yn addewid ar anrhydedd personol unigolyn. Mae'r ddau yn addewidion rhwymol i ddweud y gwir wrth roi tystiolaeth. Ni ddylai unrhyw unigolyn, corff, Llywodraeth na phlaid sy’n bwriadu dweud y gwir, felly, wrthwynebu tyngu llw neu roi cadarnhad wrth roi tystiolaeth i Bwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad COVID-19 Cymru. Fel y dywedodd COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru wrthyf, mae pwyllgor y Senedd yn ymateb uniongyrchol i ymchwiliad y DU, a’i ddiben yw nodi bylchau yn ystyriaeth ymchwiliad y DU o faterion Cymreig. O dan yr amgylchiadau hyn, meddent—ac o ystyried bod yr holl dystiolaeth yn ymchwiliad y DU dan lw—er mwyn i’r pwyllgor fod yn gredadwy ac am resymau'n ymwneud â chydraddoldeb, rhaid ei fod yn dilyn y dylid rhoi pŵer yn ôl disgresiwn i’r pwyllgor ei gwneud yn ofynnol i dystion dyngu llw.
Fel y dywedasant hefyd, y cwestiwn mwy yw pam nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru eisiau hyn. Fe wnaethant wrthod ymchwiliad i Gymru, nid ydynt wedi gwthio am fwy o gynrychiolaeth i Gymru yn ymchwiliad y DU, ac a dweud y gwir, maent wedi elwa o'r craffu lleiaf posibl. Er enghraifft, meddent, ym modiwl 4—brechlynnau—ni ofynnwyd yr un cwestiwn gan yr ymchwiliad i un tyst yn Llywodraeth Cymru, er bod pentyrrau o ddatgeliadau ynghylch sut yr aeth Llywodraeth Cymru ati i ohirio brechlynnau mewn cartrefi gofal am bedair wythnos. Gyda phwyllgor ymchwiliad wedi'i osod yn llawn yn y maes gwleidyddol, meddent, yn hytrach nag ymchwiliad cyhoeddus annibynnol yng Nghymru, nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru am i dystion roi tystiolaeth lafar dan lw. Ni allwn danamcangyfrif effaith niweidiol bosibl y methiant i roi’r pŵer i’r pwyllgor ei gwneud yn ofynnol i dystion dyngu llw neu roi cadarnhad, meddent, gan ychwanegu, 'ac mae hyn yn bwysig’.
Ni waeth beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gredu, crib hollbwysig y rhewfryn yw mater llw. Pan godais alwadau gan Ffederasiwn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru i ystyried rhoi rhywfaint o flaenoriaeth i blismona ar raglen frechu COVID-19 gyda’r Gweinidog iechyd bedair blynedd yn ôl, fe osgôdd wneud hynny, er bod swyddogion heddlu yn mentro eu diogelwch eu hunain. Diolch i benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU ar y pryd i gaffael brechlynnau’n gyflym, llwyddodd Llywodraethau ledled y DU i leddfu’r cyfyngiadau mwyaf llym yn ddiogel. Fodd bynnag, dim ond ar ôl iddi ddod yn amlwg ein bod ar ei hôl hi'n ofnadwy o gymharu â gweddill y DU gyda'r pigiad cyntaf a'r ail bigiad y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, a oedd yn gyfrifol am y rhaglen frechu yng Nghymru, flaenoriaethu hyn. Hyd yn oed wedyn, cysylltodd etholwyr â mi gyda sylwadau megis, 'Rwyf wedi cael llythyr heddiw, a byddaf yn cael fy ail frechiad. Byddaf yn dal i fod hyd at bedair wythnos y tu ôl i fy nghyfoedion yn Lloegr yn enwedig. Rwy'n dal i deimlo bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio ennill y ras am y brechiad cyntaf, ond mewn mannau eraill yn y DU, y syniad yw atal yr amrywiad newydd rhag lledaenu yn y lle cyntaf.'
Er i Lywodraeth y DU gyhoeddi ymchwiliad cyhoeddus annibynnol i’r modd y cafodd pandemig COVID-19 ei drin yn y DU ym mis Mai 2021, ac er i Brif Weinidog yr Alban gyhoeddi dri mis yn ddiweddarach eu bod yn creu ymchwiliad penodol i'r Alban ar effaith penderfyniadau Llywodraeth yr Alban ar sut y cafodd y pandemig ei drin, fe wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru wrthod ein ceisiadau dro ar ôl tro am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus annibynnol i’r modd y cafodd y pandemig ei drin yng Nghymru.
Cynhaliodd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ofal hosbis a gofal lliniarol, yr wyf yn ei gadeirio, ymchwiliad i brofiadau o ofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes yn y gymuned yn ystod pandemig COVID-19. Cawsom dystiolaeth a ddangosai, er enghraifft, fod gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol yng Nghymru yn fwy tebygol o brofi prinder meddyginiaeth a staff o gymharu ag ardaloedd eraill yn y DU. Pan gyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU y byddai profion COVID yn cael eu cynnig i holl staff a phreswylwyr cartrefi gofal yn Lloegr, dywedodd Prif Weinidog Cymru ar y pryd i ddechrau nad oedd yn gweld unrhyw werth mewn darparu profion i bawb mewn cartrefi gofal yng Nghymru.
Cyn gwrandawiad modiwl 1 cyntaf ymchwiliad COVID-19 y DU, cadarnhaodd tîm cyfreithiol yr ymchwiliad COVID-19 fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu datgelu’r holl ddogfennau perthnasol i’r ymchwiliad yn nrafft cyntaf eu datganiad tyst a bod yn rhaid i’r ymchwiliad fynd yn ôl at Lywodraeth Cymru am yr eildro i ofyn am ddatgeliad llawn. Mae’r rhain, ac enghreifftiau di-rif eraill, yn atgyfnerthu’r angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddangos nad oes arnynt ofn atebolrwydd i Bwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad COVID-19 Cymru, ac felly, i bobl Cymru. Ac os byddant yn parhau i rwystro cais y pwyllgor am bŵer yn ôl disgresiwn i'w gwneud yn ofynnol i dystion dyngu llw neu roi cadarnhad, bydd y bobl yn gofyn, 'A oes arnynt ofn?'
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a'r Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. The Welsh Government has shown and continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to the process of inquiry and to learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. We do this while respecting all those who lost a loved one during the pandemic, or have been deeply affected by the events of five years ago. As I start my contribution to this debate, I want to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to everyone who is still grieving the loss of a loved one, a relative or a friend.
When the UK COVID-19 inquiry was set up, the Welsh Government committed to work with it openly and fully, to comply with its request for statements, to disclose evidence, to answer its questions as it examines every aspect of the pandemic and how our state institutions, including the Welsh Government and Welsh public services, prepared and responded. We did this because we believe the UK inquiry is the only way to answer questions about the interconnected nature of the complex response to the pandemic. The inquiry is now hearing evidence in module 5, but has made many requests for the modules that will follow afterwards.
In complying with the UK inquiry, we have disclosed tens of thousands of documents and provided more than 150 witness statements. Welsh Government witnesses, including Ministers, have also provided oral evidence at hearings, including examination of preparedness and decision making during the pandemic.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Llywydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dangos ac yn parhau i ddangos ymrwymiad clir i’r broses ymchwilio ac i ddysgu gwersi o bandemig COVID-19. Rydym yn gwneud hyn gan barchu pawb a gollodd anwyliaid yn ystod y pandemig, neu sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio'n fawr gan y digwyddiadau bum mlynedd yn ôl. Wrth imi ddechrau fy nghyfraniad i’r ddadl hon, hoffwn achub ar y cyfle i gydymdeimlo â phawb sy’n dal i alaru ar ôl colli anwylyd, perthynas neu ffrind.
Pan sefydlwyd ymchwiliad COVID-19 y DU, ymrwymodd Llywodraeth Cymru i weithio gydag ef yn agored ac yn llawn, i gydymffurfio â’i gais am ddatganiadau, i ddatgelu tystiolaeth, i ateb ei gwestiynau wrth iddo archwilio pob agwedd ar y pandemig a sut y gwnaeth ein sefydliadau gwladol, gan gynnwys Llywodraeth Cymru a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru, baratoi ac ymateb. Gwnaethom hyn gan y credwn mai ymchwiliad y DU yw’r unig ffordd i ateb cwestiynau am natur ryng-gysylltiedig yr ymateb cymhleth i’r pandemig. Mae’r ymchwiliad bellach yn clywed tystiolaeth ym modiwl 5, ond mae wedi gwneud llawer o geisiadau ar gyfer y modiwlau i ddilyn.
Wrth gydymffurfio ag ymchwiliad y DU, rydym wedi datgelu degau o filoedd o ddogfennau ac wedi darparu mwy na 150 o ddatganiadau tystion. Mae tystion Llywodraeth Cymru, gan gynnwys Gweinidogion, hefyd wedi darparu tystiolaeth lafar mewn gwrandawiadau, gan gynnwys archwilio parodrwydd a'r penderfyniadau a wnaed yn ystod y pandemig.
I appreciate the fact that you've said that Welsh Government Ministers are participating and the Government is participating in the UK inquiry. That, of course, is under oath and with affirmation. And there's a lot of evidence that's disclosed to that, but we've identified gaps, which is the purpose of the special purpose committee, and those gaps have to be looked at here in Wales. But we need, therefore, the Welsh Government to come forward and provide that evidence also under oath, the same equal level as is happening in the inquiry. Why is that being refused to Wales, but you're doing it with the UK inquiry?
Rwy’n derbyn y ffaith eich bod wedi dweud bod Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd rhan a bod y Llywodraeth yn cymryd rhan yn ymchwiliad y DU. Mae hynny, wrth gwrs, dan lw a chyda chadarnhad. Ac mae llawer o dystiolaeth wedi'i datgelu i'r ymchwiliad hwnnw, ond rydym wedi nodi bylchau, sef pwrpas y pwyllgor diben arbennig, ac mae'n rhaid edrych ar y bylchau hynny yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae arnom angen, felly, i Lywodraeth Cymru ddarparu’r dystiolaeth honno hefyd dan lw, ar yr un lefel ag sy’n digwydd yn yr ymchwiliad. Pam y mae hynny’n cael ei wrthod i Gymru, ond eich bod yn ei wneud gydag ymchwiliad y DU?
We certainly look forward to the debate next week, of course, on the first report of the special purpose committee. It is important also to report to our Members across this Chamber that this week, two Welsh Government officials gave evidence to the inquiry's module 5 about procurement.
Of course, this is, again—and we've reflected on this, haven't we, this afternoon—about our approach to Senedd committees. We do have a similar approach to Senedd committees and the openness and the way in which we give evidence. Welsh Ministers and Welsh Government officials have always sought to co-operate and work with committees in the Senedd and the Assembly before that. It is a real strength of democracy in Wales that there is such open co-operation between the Welsh Government and the Senedd. I think the free and frank exchange of views that's well respected results from such co-operation. There is nothing to indicate that that's about to change.
The motion that the Conservatives have placed before us today is concerning on a number of fronts, and I'll go through those points. There is the matter of timing; the special purpose committee has just this week published its first report—I've referred to that already—which we will debate next week, the first step towards a motion seeking the consent of the wider Senedd to carry out its work. It's therefore unlikely that there's been an assessment of either witnesses or evidence that the committee would not be able to discharge its responsibilities without the introduction of an oath.
The use of such an oath, by virtue of its introduction for this committee alone, highlights an expectation that the committee does not believe that it will receive truthful evidence without it. Given the implications for partners working in public services across Wales, including emergency services and local authorities who could be called to give evidence, the implication is that their evidence would not otherwise be trusted. I think this damages the spirit of partnership in which we work in Wales. Damaging relationships and questioning trust are not the only unintended consequences of such a move.
Rydym yn sicr yn edrych ymlaen at y ddadl yr wythnos nesaf ar adroddiad cyntaf y pwyllgor diben arbennig. Mae’n bwysig hefyd adrodd i’n Haelodau ar draws y Siambr hon fod dau o swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi tystiolaeth yr wythnos hon i fodiwl 5 yr ymchwiliad ar gaffael.
Wrth gwrs, mae hyn, unwaith eto—ac rydym wedi ystyried hyn y prynhawn yma, onid ydym—yn ymwneud â'n hymagwedd at bwyllgorau'r Senedd. Mae gennym ddull tebyg o ymdrin â phwyllgorau’r Senedd a’r natur agored a’r ffordd rydym yn rhoi tystiolaeth. Mae Gweinidogion Cymru a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru bob amser wedi ceisio cydweithredu a gweithio gyda phwyllgorau yn y Senedd a’r Cynulliad cyn hynny. Un o gryfderau gwirioneddol democratiaeth yng Nghymru yw bod gennym gydweithredu mor agored rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a’r Senedd. Credaf fod y drefn uchel ei pharch sydd gennym o drafod safbwyntiau yn rhydd a gonest yn deillio o gydweithredu o'r fath. Nid oes unrhyw beth sy'n nodi bod hynny ar fin newid.
Mae’r cynnig y mae’r Ceidwadwyr wedi’i roi ger ein bron heddiw yn peri pryder mewn sawl ffordd, ac af drwy’r pwyntiau hynny. Mae mater yr amseru; yr wythnos hon, mae'r pwyllgor diben arbennig newydd gyhoeddi ei adroddiad cyntaf—rwyf wedi cyfeirio at hwnnw eisoes—y byddwn yn ei drafod yr wythnos nesaf, y cam cyntaf tuag at gynnig yn gofyn am gydsyniad y Senedd ehangach i gyflawni ei waith. Mae'n annhebygol, felly, fod asesiad wedi'i wneud naill ai o dystion neu dystiolaeth na fyddai'r pwyllgor yn gallu cyflawni ei gyfrifoldebau heb gyflwyno llw.
Mae defnyddio llw o’r fath, yn sgil ei gyflwyno ar gyfer y pwyllgor hwn yn unig, yn amlygu disgwyliad nad yw’r pwyllgor yn credu y bydd yn cael tystiolaeth onest hebddo. O ystyried y goblygiadau i bartneriaid sy’n gweithio yn y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau brys ac awdurdodau lleol y gellid eu galw i roi tystiolaeth, yr ensyniad yw na ellid ymddiried yn eu tystiolaeth fel arall. Credaf fod hyn yn niweidio'r ysbryd o bartneriaeth y gweithiwn ynddo yng Nghymru. Nid niweidio perthnasoedd a chwestiynu ymddiriedaeth yw unig ganlyniadau anfwriadol gweithred o’r fath.
Do you not see the point you just made that not giving the committee the tools it needs to scrutinise Welsh Government Ministers and officials under oath damages the working relationship that the Government has with the wider Senedd? If you say that you're giving evidence under oath to the UK-wide inquiry, what's the difference with this inquiry? What is the difference?
Onid ydych yn gweld y pwynt rydych chi newydd ei wneud, fod peidio â rhoi’r dulliau gweithredu angenrheidiol i’r pwyllgor graffu ar Weinidogion a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru dan lw yn niweidio’r berthynas waith sydd gan y Llywodraeth â’r Senedd ehangach? Os dywedwch eich bod yn rhoi tystiolaeth dan lw i’r ymchwiliad DU gyfan, beth yw’r gwahaniaeth gyda’r ymchwiliad hwn? Beth yw'r gwahaniaeth?
Well, I have to say, Dirprwy Lywydd, that an oath has not been considered necessary by any other committee, and there is no significant change in circumstances to warrant its introduction now. I'll just say again that using a discretionary power to introduce an oath would hinder, we believe, the free flow of information between people giving evidence and the special purpose committee. Those invited may become more reluctant to attend, feel compelled to take legal advice before attending, or—[Interruption.] Can you please listen?
Wel, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, Ddirprwy Lywydd, nad yw unrhyw bwyllgor arall wedi ystyried bod llw yn angenrheidiol, ac nid oes unrhyw newid sylweddol mewn amgylchiadau wedi bod i warantu ei gyflwyno nawr. Fe ddywedaf eto ein bod yn credu y byddai defnyddio pŵer yn ôl disgresiwn i gyflwyno llw yn llesteirio'r llif rhydd o wybodaeth rhwng pobl sy'n rhoi tystiolaeth a'r pwyllgor diben arbennig. Efallai y gallai'r rheini a wahoddir fod yn fwy amharod i fynychu, neu deimlo y dylent gael cyngor cyfreithiol cyn mynychu, neu—[Torri ar draws.] A wnewch chi wrando os gwelwch yn dda?
Cabinet Secretary, I will ask the Members to listen. It is important that the Cabinet Secretary has an opportunity to respond to the debate. All Members have had an opportunity to give their contributions in peace; let's give the same consideration to the Cabinet Secretary.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fe wnaf i ofyn i’r Aelodau wrando. Mae’n bwysig fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cael cyfle i ymateb i’r ddadl. Mae pob Aelod wedi cael cyfle i roi eu cyfraniadau mewn heddwch; gadewch inni roi’r un ystyriaeth i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I will say again that those invited may become more reluctant to attend, feel compelled to take legal advice before attending or, indeed, curtail their answers to facts only. We can't see where the benefits that have been articulated by others today can outweigh the significant risk and impact of this result.
It is important to remember that the special purpose committee is not a judicial inquiry with the independent legal oversight and all that comes with it to ensure fairness and balance to those giving evidence. Furthermore, of course, Standing Order 17.52 already makes provision for committee Chairs to take evidence under oath. This is possible where a witness has been issued with a formal notice requiring them to attend to give evidence, and there is a reason for this. If an oath is taken and broken, there must be consequences. Therefore, the proposal here to require voluntary attendees to give evidence under formal oath or affirmation is clearly unacceptable and inappropriate.
Dirprwy Lywydd, there is already a judge-led inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic that is constituted and resourced to operate in this way, and we must allow that inquiry to continue to do its important work. We will continue to support that inquiry to ensure that we learn the lessons in memory of those who lost their lives during the pandemic, and our thoughts are with the families and friends who continue to mourn their loss. We have a proud history of transparency and openness in this Senedd. We won't be supporting this motion, which we believe would seek to undermine these values. But we do value the work of the special purpose committee, which is a cross-party committee. We thank the members for their important work, and we look forward to the debate next week on their first report. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Llywydd. Dywedaf eto ei bod yn bosibl y gallai'r rheini a wahoddir fod yn fwy amharod i fynychu, neu deimlo y dylent gael cyngor cyfreithiol cyn mynychu, neu'n wir, gallent gadw eu hatebion i ffeithiau'n unig. Ni allwn weld lle gall y manteision a fynegwyd gan eraill heddiw fod yn fwy na risg ac effaith sylweddol y canlyniad hwn.
Mae’n bwysig cofio nad yw’r pwyllgor diben arbennig yn ymchwiliad barnwrol gyda’r trosolwg cyfreithiol annibynnol a’r cyfan a ddaw yn sgil hynny i sicrhau tegwch a chydbwysedd i’r rheini sy’n rhoi tystiolaeth. Yn ogystal â hynny, wrth gwrs, mae Rheol Sefydlog 17.52 eisoes yn gwneud darpariaeth i Gadeiryddion pwyllgorau gymryd tystiolaeth dan lw. Mae hyn yn bosibl pan fydd tyst wedi cael hysbysiad ffurfiol yn gofyn iddynt fynychu i roi tystiolaeth, a bod rheswm dros hyn. Os bydd llw yn cael ei dyngu a'i dorri, mae'n rhaid bod canlyniadau. Felly, mae’r cynnig yma i’w gwneud yn ofynnol i fynychwyr gwirfoddol roi tystiolaeth dan lw ffurfiol neu gadarnhad yn amlwg yn annerbyniol ac yn amhriodol.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae ymchwiliad dan arweiniad barnwr i bandemig COVID-19 sydd wedi'i lunio ac sydd â'r adnoddau i weithredu yn y modd hwn eisoes yn mynd rhagddo, ac mae’n rhaid inni ganiatáu i’r ymchwiliad hwnnw barhau i wneud ei waith pwysig. Byddwn yn parhau i gefnogi’r ymchwiliad hwnnw i sicrhau ein bod yn dysgu’r gwersi er cof am y rheini a gollodd eu bywydau yn ystod y pandemig, ac rydym yn cydymdeimlo â’r teuluoedd a’r ffrindiau sy’n parhau i alaru amdanynt. Mae gennym hanes balch o dryloywder a didwylledd yn y Senedd hon. Ni fyddwn yn cefnogi’r cynnig hwn, a fyddai, yn ein barn ni, yn tanseilio’r gwerthoedd hyn. Ond rydym yn gwerthfawrogi gwaith y pwyllgor diben arbennig, sy'n bwyllgor trawsbleidiol. Rydym yn diolch i’r aelodau am eu gwaith pwysig, ac edrychwn ymlaen at y ddadl yr wythnos nesaf ar eu hadroddiad cyntaf. Diolch yn fawr.
Galwaf ar Tom Giffard i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Tom Giffard to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to start by thanking all Members who have contributed to today's debate. Our role as Senedd Members who do not serve in the Government is one of scrutiny, to hold the Welsh Government to account for the decisions that it makes, to ask how things could have been done better and to get to the bottom of the truth behind the decisions they make and the motivations for them; that is our primary role as legislators. In particular, that should be the role of those of us fortunate enough to have chaired a committee, and I can put my hand on my heart and say that I have tried repeatedly to do that with this COVID-19 special purpose committee.
It is my belief, and that of my party, that the UK COVID inquiry would not investigate the decisions made here in Wales by the Welsh Government, which impacted so many people's lives, and that was proven correct just this week, since the committee has identified nine gaps in the first module alone where we feel that the UK inquiry has not sufficiently done that—gaps that merit further investigation, because the people of Wales deserve answers. Those young people who lost more school days than anywhere else in the UK—they deserve answers. Those businesses that had to shut their doors for the final time because of the differing levels of support—they deserve answers. Those who lost their jobs or struggled financially to make ends meet during the pandemic because we were locked down for longer than elsewhere—they deserve answers. Those living in care homes who saw COVID-positive patients discharged into those settings three weeks after the practice was stopped in England—they deserve actions. And, more than anyone, those who ultimately lost loved ones during the pandemic—they deserve answers.
But, we could see that the Welsh Government was unwilling to launch an independent Wales COVID inquiry to get those answers, so that's why we brought a motion forward to the Senedd that forced the Government to launch this committee to pick up at least some of the slack. I have repeatedly advocated for this committee against those who have said that it shouldn't go ahead altogether. I've told the sceptics, both in the Senedd and outside, that although this committee is not the full-fat independent Wales COVID inquiry my party has campaigned for, that it would get to the bottom of at least some of those answers, particularly when the alternative was no inquiry and no answers at all.
We entered into this committee in good faith, hoping that the Welsh Labour Government would be a good-faith partner, engaging in getting to the bottom of those truths with us. Unfortunately, it has been my repeated experience, having co-chaired this committee for some time now, that the Welsh Government is not a good-faith partner. Almost every suggestion of greater scrutiny of those decisions is met with fierce resistance, either by the Welsh Government or, often, the Labour Members who sit on the committee. COVID bereaved families feared that this committee would become a whitewash of politicians marking their own homework. I initially resisted that suggestion, defending the committee as best I could. I'm afraid I can no longer do that. I do not have the confidence that this committee will be able to get the answers that the families who have lost loved ones deserve. That is why, if this vote is defeated today, I will resign my chairmanship of the committee and the Welsh Conservatives will no longer take any place on it. I will not allow my name and my reputation to be tarnished—[Interruption.]
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl heddiw. Ein rôl ni fel Aelodau o'r Senedd nad ydynt yn gwasanaethu yn y Llywodraeth yw craffu, dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif am y penderfyniadau y mae'n eu gwneud, gofyn sut y gellid gwneud pethau'n well a chanfod y gwirionedd y tu ôl i'r penderfyniadau a wnânt a'r cymhellion drostynt; dyna ein prif rôl fel deddfwyr. Yn fwyaf arbennig, dyna ddylai fod yn rôl i'r rhai ohonom sy'n ddigon ffodus i fod wedi cadeirio pwyllgor, a gallaf roi fy llaw ar fy nghalon a dweud fy mod wedi ceisio gwneud hynny dro ar ôl tro gyda'r pwyllgor diben arbennig COVID-19 hwn.
Fy marn i a fy mhlaid i yw na fyddai ymchwiliad COVID y DU yn ymchwilio i'r penderfyniadau a wnaed yma yng Nghymru gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a effeithiodd ar fywydau cymaint o bobl, a phrofwyd bod hynny'n gywir yr wythnos hon, gan fod y pwyllgor wedi nodi naw bwlch yn y modiwl cyntaf yn unig lle teimlwn nad yw ymchwiliad y DU wedi gwneud hynny'n ddigonol—bylchau sy'n haeddu ymchwiliad pellach, oherwydd mae pobl Cymru yn haeddu atebion. Y bobl ifanc a gollodd fwy o ddyddiau ysgol nag unrhyw le arall yn y DU—maent yn haeddu atebion. Y busnesau y bu'n rhaid iddynt gau eu drysau am y tro olaf oherwydd y lefelau gwahanol o gymorth—maent yn haeddu atebion. Y rhai a gollodd eu swyddi neu a'i cafodd yn anodd yn ariannol i gael dau ben llinyn ynghyd yn ystod y pandemig oherwydd ein bod dan gyfyngiadau symud am gyfnod hirach na mannau eraill—maent yn haeddu atebion. Y rhai a oedd yn byw mewn cartrefi gofal a welodd gleifion COVID positif yn cael eu rhyddhau i'r lleoliadau hynny dair wythnos ar ôl i'r arfer ddod i ben yn Lloegr—maent yn haeddu atebion. Ac yn fwy nag unrhyw un, y rhai a gollodd anwyliaid yn ystod y pandemig—maent yn haeddu atebion.
Ond gallem weld nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn fodlon lansio ymchwiliad annibynnol COVID Cymru i gael yr atebion hynny, felly dyna pam y gwnaethom gyflwyno cynnig i'r Senedd a orfododd y Llywodraeth i lansio'r pwyllgor hwn i ysgwyddo peth o'r baich o leiaf. Rwyf wedi dadlau dro ar ôl tro dros y pwyllgor hwn yn erbyn y rhai sydd wedi dweud na ddylai ddigwydd o gwbl. Dywedais wrth yr amheuwyr, yn y Senedd a'r tu allan, er nad y pwyllgor hwn yw'r ymchwiliad COVID annibynnol llawn yr ymgyrchodd fy mhlaid drosto, y byddai'n mynd i wraidd rhai o'r atebion hynny o leiaf, yn enwedig gan mai'r dewis arall oedd dim ymchwiliad a dim atebion o gwbl.
Fe wnaethom ymuno â'r pwyllgor hwn yn llawn ewyllys da, gan obeithio y byddai Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn bartner llawn ewyllys da, yn cymryd rhan yn y gwaith o fynd i wraidd y gwirioneddau hynny gyda ni. Yn anffodus, fy mhrofiad dro ar ôl tro, ar ôl cyd-gadeirio'r pwyllgor hwn ers peth amser bellach, yw nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn bartner da. Mae bron bob awgrym o fwy o graffu ar y penderfyniadau hynny wedi ennyn gwrthwynebiad ffyrnig, naill ai gan Lywodraeth Cymru neu, yn aml, gan yr Aelodau Llafur sy'n aelodau o'r pwyllgor. Roedd y teuluoedd sydd mewn profedigaeth yn sgil COVID yn ofni y byddai'r pwyllgor hwn yn gyfystyr â gwyngalchu gan wleidyddion sy'n marcio eu gwaith cartref eu hunain. Fe wrthwynebais yr awgrym hwnnw ar y dechrau, gan amddiffyn y pwyllgor cystal ag y gallwn. Rwy'n ofni na allaf wneud hynny mwyach. Nid oes gennyf hyder y bydd y pwyllgor hwn yn gallu cael yr atebion y mae'r teuluoedd sydd wedi colli anwyliaid yn eu haeddu. Dyna pam, os caiff y bleidlais hon ei threchu heddiw, y byddaf yn ymddiswyddo fel cadeirydd o'r pwyllgor ac ni fydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn cymryd lle arno mwyach. Nid wyf am ganiatáu i fy enw a fy enw da gael eu llychwino—[Torri ar draws.]
Members—the same respect should be given to the person closing the debate.
Aelodau—dylid dangos yr un parch at y sawl sy'n cloi'r ddadl.
I will not allow my name and my reputation to be tarnished by the perception that this is a committee more interested in protecting the reputation of the Government than getting to the bottom of the truths behind the decisions it made. I'm unwilling to associate myself with a committee seemingly designed to protect the very people it should be holding to account. Let me be clear, if this vote is defeated today, this committee cannot function, and I will not stand idly by and let it limp along pretending otherwise. We are all sent here not by our parties, but by our constituents to do the job that they elected us to do, to speak truth to power, to advocate for those less fortunate than us, to get the answers that our constituents deserve.
Often in politics, saying the easy thing is not always the politically or personally convenient thing. I personally pushed for oaths to be taken in this committee against backlash from many different corners, because I felt it was the right thing to do, just like I've pushed for greater scrutiny throughout. But without our principles, we have nothing. I'm content that I have repeatedly followed mine, but I say to those Labour Members voting down the motion today, 'Where are yours?'
Nid wyf am ganiatáu i fy enw a fy enw da gael eu llychwino gan y canfyddiad fod hwn yn bwyllgor sydd â mwy o ddiddordeb mewn amddiffyn enw da'r Llywodraeth na mynd i wraidd y gwirioneddau y tu ôl i'r penderfyniadau a wnaeth. Nid wyf yn fodlon cysylltu fy hun â phwyllgor sy'n ymddangos fel pe bai'n amddiffyn yr union bobl y dylai fod yn eu dwyn i gyfrif. Gadewch imi fod yn glir, os caiff y bleidlais hon ei threchu heddiw, ni fydd y pwyllgor yn gallu gweithredu, ac nid wyf am sefyll naill ochr a gadael iddo hercian yn ei flaen gan esgus fel arall. Cawsom ein hethol yma nid gan ein pleidiau, ond gan ein hetholwyr i wneud y gwaith y cawsom ein hethol ganddynt i'w wneud, herio'r rhai sydd mewn grym, dadlau dros rai llai ffodus na ni, a chael y atebion y mae ein hetholwyr yn eu haeddu.
Yn aml mewn gwleidyddiaeth, nid yw dweud y peth hawdd bob amser yn wleidyddol neu'n bersonol gyfleus. Yn bersonol, fe wneuthum wthio dros dyngu llwon yn y pwyllgor hwn yn erbyn adlach o sawl man gwahanol, am fy mod i'n teimlo mai dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud, yn union fel y gwthiais am fwy o graffu yn gyffredinol. Ond heb ein hegwyddorion, nid oes gennym ddim. Rwy'n fodlon fy mod wedi dilyn fy rhai i dro ar ôl tro, ond rwy'n dweud wrth yr Aelodau Llafur sy'n pleidleisio yn erbyn y cynnig heddiw, 'Ble mae eich egwyddorion chi?'
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Felly, gohiriaf y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Yes, 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 proceed directly to voting time.
Mae'r bleidlais gyntaf heddiw ar eitem 7, dadl ar gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod. Galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig yn enw Mick Antoniw. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 33, 13 yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i dderbyn.
The first vote this evening will be on item 7, a debate on a Member’s legislative proposal. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Mick Antoniw. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 33, 13 abstentions, none against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl ar Gynnig Deddfwriaethol gan Aelod—Bil ar daflu sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon: O blaid: 33, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 13
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal—a Bill on littering and fly-tipping: For: 33, Against: 0, Abstain: 13
Motion has been agreed
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar eitem 9, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig yn enw Paul Davies. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 23, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei wrthod.
The next vote is on item 9, the Welsh Conservatives debate. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Paul Davies. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 23, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 9. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—Llwon neu gadarnhad Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru: O blaid: 23, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 9. Welsh Conservatives debate—Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee oaths and affirmations: For: 23, Against: 24, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Daw hynny â'r pleidleisio i ben.
That concludes voting for today.
Yr eitem nesaf yw'r ddadl fer, a galwaf ar Heledd Fychan i siarad.
The next item is the short debate, and I call on Heledd Fychan to speak.
If Members are leaving, please do so quietly, so that contributions can be made. Heledd, they all seem to want to listen to you.
Os oes Aelodau'n gadael, gwnewch hynny'n dawel, fel y gellir gwneud cyfraniadau. Heledd, mae'n ymddangos eu bod i gyd eisiau gwrando arnoch chi.
Great. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today’s short debate is an opportunity to discuss and pay tribute to all the women and girls who are autistic or neurodivergent and live with ADHD, and I am glad to be able to give a minute each of my time to Sioned Williams, Carolyn Thomas, Jenny Rathbone, Hannah Blythyn, Mark Isherwood and Mabon ap Gwynfor. So, I'm hoping you're feeling very generous, Deputy Presiding Officer.
I am grateful to the Women's Institute for inspiring today's debate due to their extremely important campaign, 'Thinking Differently', which seeks to raise awareness of autism and ADHD in women and girls, and to take action to improve the diagnosis process, and, in particular, to Ann Ball from Pontypridd WI, and Maggie Knight from Glam Girls, who both came to meet me and asked me to support the campaign. I'm really pleased that they did and that they're both joining us today in the gallery, along with a number of other members. Welcome to you all and thank you for your campaigning.
Gwych. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae'r ddadl fer heddiw yn gyfle i drafod a thalu teyrnged i'r holl fenywod a merched sy'n awtistig neu'n niwroamrywiol ac sy'n byw gydag ADHD, ac rwy'n falch o allu rhoi munud yr un o fy amser i Sioned Williams, Carolyn Thomas, Jenny Rathbone, Hannah Blythyn, Mark Isherwood a Mabon ap Gwynfor. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio eich bod chi'n teimlo'n hael iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Sefydliad y Merched am ysbrydoli'r ddadl heddiw oherwydd eu hymgyrch hynod bwysig, 'Meddwl yn Wahanol', sy'n ceisio codi ymwybyddiaeth o awtistiaeth ac ADHD ymhlith menywod a merched, a rhoi camau ar waith i wella'r broses ddiagnosis, a diolch yn arbennig i Ann Ball o Sefydliad y Merched Pontypridd, a Maggie Knight o Glam Girls, a ddaeth i fy nghyfarfod a gofyn imi gefnogi'r ymgyrch. Rwy'n falch iawn eu bod wedi gwneud hynny a'u bod ill dwy wedi ymuno â ni heddiw yn yr oriel, ynghyd â nifer o aelodau eraill. Croeso i chi i gyd a diolch am eich ymgyrchu.
Daeth Joyce Watson i’r Gadair.
Joyce Watson took the Chair.
Hoffwn hefyd ddiolch yn arbennig i Eleri Griffiths, sy’n aelod gwerthfawr o fy nhîm, am yr holl waith ymchwil pellach y gwnaeth hi i gefnogi’r ddadl heddiw, ac i bawb a roddodd o’u hamser a rhannu eu storïau a’u profiadau gyda mi a hithau, gan gynnwys cydlynwyr anghenion dysgu ychwanegol mewn ysgolion, pennaeth uned arbenigol ADY a mudiadau gwirfoddol lleol. Fe gawsom hefyd amryw o sgyrsiau gyda merched a menywod niwrowahanol, a thra bod eu profiadau personol yn gwbl unigryw i’w hunain, roedd eu profiadau o’u cyswllt ag asiantaethau cyhoeddus yn debyg iawn i’w gilydd. Fe glywais yr un neges dro ar ôl tro, a dyma grynodeb o’r hyn a rannwyd gyda mi.
O edrych yn benodol ar brofiadau merched a menywod o ran addysg, rydyn ni'n gwybod bod rhyw dair gwaith yn fwy o fechgyn yn derbyn diagnosis na merched, a’u bod yn derbyn eu diagnosis tair blynedd yn gynt, fel arfer. Wel, pam felly?
I'd also like to say a special thank you to Eleri Griffiths, who is a valuable member of my team, for all the additional research that she undertook to support today's debate, and to everyone who gave up their time and shared their stories and experience with us, including additional learning needs co-ordinators in schools, the head of an ALN specialist unit and local volunteer organisations. We also had several conversations with neurodivergent girls and women, and while their personal experiences were unique to themselves, their experiences of engaging with public agencies were very similar to each other. I heard the same message time and again, and the following is a summary of what was shared with me.
Looking specifically at the experiences of girls and women in terms of education, we know that about three times more boys receive a diagnosis than girls, and that they usually receive their diagnosis three years earlier. Well, why is that?
I had a look at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidance on this matter and learned that the recommendation for diagnosis involves the use of a specific diagnostic tool. A layperson's glance at these showed me that some of the core characteristics of autism are communication and social interaction differences, restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests, including sensory differences, deficits in reciprocal social communication and social interaction, symptoms that cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning, and because I'd come across so many amazing women who are autistic or ADHDers who have struggled until late in adulthood to be identified, diagnosed or supported, I wondered why this was. I asked different people to tell me what they think is going on here, and first I heard from ALN co-ordinators in schools in my region, including Ysgol Garth Olwg, Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School, Ysgol Afon Wen and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda. They reported:
'What we see is that girls are really successful at what we call "masking". Girls are very good at working hard to fit in with everyone else and copying their peers so that they seemingly behave the same.'
Another told me:
'Quite often with boys we see their autistic or ADHD characteristics displayed at a younger age. They can be physically more active or fidgety, needing to get up a lot and move around in a classroom; they spend time playing alone, have difficulty focusing and have a shorter attention span to certain types of tasks',
and
'Sometimes with girls, the first signals we have that someone maybe Autistic or an ADHDer is: when they start to refuse to come to school; or they become withdrawn or depressed; or their families contact us telling us they are suffering extreme anxiety. These internal feelings being experienced might be completely invisible to the teachers in the school.'
One ALN co-ordinator went on to share:
'I have had several examples of teachers being informed of a new diagnosis of ADHD or autism for a particular girl and them exclaiming—Gosh I am surprised—I never would have realised they were autistic as they are so "studious", or they are "so quiet" or they are "a chatter box".'
Sadly, the truth is that many girls learn to mask their true inner experiences and thoughts so well that they will burn out with exhaustion rather than communicate their true thoughts and worries. When there is a change in their lives, all the camouflage and masking and coping strategies fall aside and they're thrown into turmoil, and teachers have told me that often something like a family change, a divorce or bereavement or exam pressure, moving house or friendship challenges, can bring about a crisis where a neurodivergent young person can no longer cope, and the consequences can be severe.
A typical age for this to happen is around year 9, when pupils have exams for the first time. Of course, as our diagnostic process and assessments take so long, this delay in identifying autistic and ADHD girls is significant and harmful. An ALN co-ordinator told me that in one area a referral will be made at this point, which requires evidence to be presented by both family and school, and three months later the young person will be notified if they've been accepted onto the waiting list. But the average waiting time in the area is 18 months, which is down from the previous year, but is still 18 months on average. So, if a girl of 14 years of age is going through this process, they will sit their year 9 exams, year 10 exams and possibly even their GCSEs. And we've seen an increase of children with ALN leaving the school system or home schooling—this is also an issue.
So, girls and women involved with two important local charities in Rhondda Cynon Taf, called Behaviour Support Hub and Stiwdio 37, also kindly shared their experiences, and it was an eye-opener to hear some of the stories and to listen to their experiences. It became clear from talking to the staff and the girls and young women that the underdiagnosis of autism and ADHD is not just down to masking and camouflaging behaviours, but, also, the kinds of characteristics we traditionally recognise as autism and ADHD are not really put down in terms of those assessments for women, which is why, perhaps, they're not identified sooner. After all, anxiety about friendships, an obsessional interest in things—make-up or hair styles—being very chatty, being fussy eaters, having sensory dislikes, having a very strong sense of justice, challenging when they disagree, these can be perfectly normal in teenagers. But a skilled and trained educator will know and see that sometimes these can also be indicators for autism and/or ADHD.
The girls and women who have spoken to me and my staff are very clear on one thing—they are not all the same. Many of the women had late diagnosis, some in their late teens, some were diagnosed in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and some were still waiting for a diagnosis. One woman told me how it was only after her children went through the diagnostic process that she realised that she was probably an ADHDer, and pursued a private diagnosis in order to avoid the waiting time. In her mid 40s, having raised children and had a meaningful career, she paid. When asked why and what the benefits were, she said: 'Having a diagnosis meant that for the first time ever, I was able to forgive myself. I hadn’t realised that most people don’t have four different conversations happening at the same time in their head, whilst also having a song on a loop all day. It isn’t because I am lazy or disorganised that I start three different jobs at the same time and not follow steps in sequence to finish them. It’s not because I’m anti-social that I find it hard to meet people at the end of a long day in work. It’s not because I am paranoid that I still worry today that I may have said the wrong thing in a conversation that happened last week. These things are happening because I have ADHD and my brain works in this way. Now, I choose to take medication as it has given me some peace to think for a part of every day'. Another young woman described having ADHD as wearing wet socks all day, but you’re the only one wearing them.
We know that there are so many issues in terms of health as well. We've heard of situations where girls with a diagnosis of autism have been told that they cannot access mental health services through child and adolescent mental health services because they're autistic or ADHD. They're supposed to have different pathways according to what they're told. But surely, that shouldn't be the case.
So, I would like us to focus for the rest of the time I have on the WI's calls.
Cefais gipolwg ar ganllawiau clinigol y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal ar y mater hwn a dysgais fod yr argymhelliad ar gyfer diagnosis yn cynnwys defnyddio offer diagnostig penodol. Dangosodd cipolwg lleygwr ar y rhain i mi mai rhai o nodweddion craidd awtistiaeth yw gwahaniaethau o ran cyfathrebu a rhyngweithio cymdeithasol, ymddygiadau a diddordebau cyfyngedig ac ailadroddus, gan gynnwys gwahaniaethau synhwyraidd, diffygion o ran cyfathrebu a rhyngweithio cymdeithasol cilyddol, symptomau sy'n achosi amhariad clinigol sylweddol mewn meysydd gweithredu cymdeithasol, galwedigaethol neu feysydd gweithredu pwysig eraill, ac oherwydd fy mod i'n dod ar draws cymaint o fenywod anhygoel sy'n awtistig neu ag ADHD sydd wedi brwydro tan yn hwyr yn eu bywydau i gael eu nodi, a chael diagnosis neu gefnogaeth, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed pam. Gofynnais i wahanol bobl ddweud wrthyf beth y credant sy'n digwydd yma, ac yn gyntaf clywais gan gydlynwyr ADY mewn ysgolion yn fy rhanbarth, gan gynnwys Ysgol Garth Olwg, Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Celynnog, Ysgol Afon Wen ac Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda. Dyma oedd ganddynt i'w ddweud:
'Yr hyn a welwn yw bod merched yn llwyddo'n dda i wneud yr hyn a alwn yn "fasgio". Mae merched yn dda iawn am weithio'n galed i ffitio i mewn gyda phawb arall a chopïo eu cyfoedion fel eu bod i'w gweld yn ymddwyn yr un fath.'
Dywedodd un arall wrthyf:
'Yn aml iawn gyda bechgyn fe welwn eu nodweddion awtistig neu ADHD yn cael eu harddangos ar oedran iau. Gallant fod yn fwy egnïol yn gorfforol neu'n aflonydd, ac angen codi'n aml a symud o gwmpas mewn ystafell ddosbarth; maent yn treulio amser yn chwarae ar eu pen eu hunain, yn cael trafferth canolbwyntio ac yn gwneud hynny am gyfnodau byrrach ar gyfer rhai mathau o dasgau',
ac
'Weithiau gyda merched, yr arwyddion cyntaf a gawn y gallai rhywun fod yn awtistig neu ag ADHD yw: pan fyddant yn dechrau gwrthod dod i'r ysgol; neu pan fyddant yn mynd yn fewnblyg neu'n isel eu hysbryd; neu mae eu teuluoedd yn cysylltu â ni i ddweud wrthym eu bod yn dioddef gorbryder eithafol. Gallai'r teimladau mewnol hyn a brofir fod yn gwbl anweledig i'r athrawon yn yr ysgol.'
Aeth un cydlynydd ADY yn eu blaen i rannu:
'Rwyf wedi cael sawl enghraifft o athrawon yn cael gwybod am ddiagnosis newydd o ADHD neu awtistiaeth ar gyfer merch benodol a'u cael yn ebychu—Mawredd, rwy'n synnu—ni fyddwn erioed wedi sylweddoli eu bod yn awtistig gan eu bod mor "weithgar", neu eu bod "mor dawel" neu'n "siaradus iawn".'
Yn anffodus, y gwir amdani yw bod llawer o ferched yn dysgu cuddio eu gwir brofiadau mewnol a'u meddyliau mor dda fel y byddant wedi ymlâdd yn llwyr yn hytrach na chyfathrebu eu gwir feddyliau a'u pryderon. Pan fydd newid yn eu bywydau, mae'r holl guddliw a masgio a strategaethau ymdopi yn chwalu a chânt eu cythryblu, ac mae athrawon wedi dweud wrthyf y gall rhywbeth fel newid teuluol, ysgariad neu brofedigaeth neu bwysau arholiadau, symud tŷ neu heriau cyfeillgarwch, arwain yn aml at argyfwng lle nad yw person ifanc niwroamrywiol yn gallu ymdopi mwyach. a gall y canlyniadau fod yn ddifrifol.
Un oedran arferol i hyn ddigwydd yw tua blwyddyn 9, pan fydd disgyblion yn cael arholiadau am y tro cyntaf. Wrth gwrs, gan fod ein proses ddiagnostig a'n hasesiadau yn cymryd cymaint o amser, mae'r oedi hwn cyn nodi merched awtistig a merched ag ADHD yn sylweddol ac yn niweidiol. Dywedodd cydlynydd ADY wrthyf am un ardal lle bydd atgyfeiriad yn cael ei wneud ar y pwynt hwn, sy'n galw am gyflwyno tystiolaeth gan y teulu a'r ysgol, a thri mis yn ddiweddarach cysylltir â'r unigolyn ifanc i ddweud a ydynt wedi cael eu derbyn ar y rhestr aros. Ond yr amser aros cyfartalog yn yr ardal yw 18 mis, sy'n is na'r flwyddyn flaenorol, ond mae'n dal i fod yn 18 mis ar gyfartaledd. Felly, os yw merch 14 oed yn mynd drwy'r broses hon, byddant yn sefyll eu harholiadau blwyddyn 9, arholiadau blwyddyn 10, ac o bosibl eu TGAU hyd yn oed. Ac rydym wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y plant ag ADY sy'n gadael y system ysgol neu ysgol gartref—mae hyn hefyd yn broblem.
Felly, rhannodd merched a menywod sy'n gysylltiedig â dwy elusen leol bwysig yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, o'r enw Hyb Cymorth Ymddygiad a Stiwdio 37, eu profiadau yn garedig iawn, ac roedd clywed rhai o'r straeon a gwrando ar eu profiadau yn agoriad llygad. Daeth yn amlwg wrth siarad â'r staff a'r merched a'r menywod ifanc nad yw tanddiagnosis o awtistiaeth ac ADHD i'w briodoli'n unig i fasgio ac ymddygiadau cuddliwio, ond hefyd, nad yw'r mathau o nodweddion a gydnabyddir gennym yn draddodiadol fel rhai sy'n perthyn i awtistiaeth ac ADHD yn cael eu nodi yn yr asesiadau ar gyfer menywod, a dyna pam, efallai, na chaiff eu hawtistiaeth neu ADHD ei nodi'n gynt. Wedi'r cyfan, pryder am gyfeillgarwch, diddordeb obsesiynol mewn pethau—colur neu steiliau gwallt—natur siaradus iawn, bwytawyr ffyslyd, anhoffterau synhwyraidd, ymdeimlad cryf iawn o gyfiawnder, herio pan fyddant yn anghytuno, gall y rhain fod yn hollol normal mewn pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau. Ond bydd addysgwr medrus sydd wedi'i hyfforddi yn gwybod ac yn gweld y gall y rhain weithiau fod yn ddangosyddion ar gyfer awtistiaeth a/neu ADHD hefyd.
Mae'r merched a'r menywod sydd wedi siarad â mi a fy staff yn glir iawn ynghylch un peth—nid ydynt i gyd yr un fath. Roedd llawer o'r menywod wedi cael diagnosis hwyr, rhai yn eu harddegau hwyr, rhai yn eu 30au, 40au a 50au, ac roedd rhai yn dal i aros am ddiagnosis. Dywedodd un fenyw wrthyf mai dim ond ar ôl i'w phlant fynd drwy'r broses ddiagnostig y sylweddolodd ei bod hi'n debygol o fod ag ADHD, a chafodd ddiagnosis preifat er mwyn osgoi'r amser aros. Yn ei 40au canol, ar ôl magu plant a chael gyrfa ystyrlon, fe dalodd am hynny. Pan ofynnwyd iddi pam a beth oedd y manteision, dywedodd: 'Roedd cael diagnosis yn golygu fy mod i'n gallu maddau i mi fy hun am y tro cyntaf erioed. Nid oeddwn wedi sylweddoli nad oes gan y rhan fwyaf o bobl bedair sgwrs wahanol yn digwydd ar yr un pryd yn eu pennau, gyda chân ar lŵp drwy'r dydd. Nid oherwydd fy mod i'n ddiog neu'n anhrefnus y byddaf i'n dechrau ar dri gorchwyl gwahanol ar yr un pryd ac yn peidio â dilyn camau yn eu trefn i'w gorffen. Nid oherwydd fy mod i'n wrthgymdeithasol rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cyfarfod â phobl ar ddiwedd diwrnod hir yn y gwaith. Nid oherwydd paranoia y byddaf i'n dal i boeni heddiw y gallwn fod wedi dweud y peth anghywir mewn sgwrs a ddigwyddodd yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae'r pethau hyn yn digwydd oherwydd bod gennyf ADHD a dyma sut y mae fy ymennydd yn gweithio. Nawr, rwy'n dewis cymryd meddyginiaeth gan ei fod wedi rhoi rhywfaint o heddwch imi feddwl am ran o bob dydd'. Disgrifiodd menyw ifanc arall fod bod ag ADHD fel gwisgo sanau gwlyb trwy'r dydd, ond chi yw'r unig un sy'n eu gwisgo.
Fe wyddom fod cymaint o broblemau o ran iechyd hefyd. Rydym wedi clywed am sefyllfaoedd lle mae merched sydd wedi cael diagnosis o awtistiaeth wedi cael gwybod na allant gael mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl trwy wasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed am eu bod yn awtistig neu ag ADHD. Yn ôl yr hyn a ddywedir wrthynt, maent i fod i gael llwybrau gwahanol. Ond yn sicr, ni ddylai hynny fod yn wir.
Felly, hoffwn i ni ganolbwyntio am weddill yr amser sydd gennyf ar alwadau Sefydliad y Merched.
Mae Sefydliad y Merched yn eu hymgyrch wedi nodi rhai galwadau synhwyrol. Maen nhw eisiau sicrhau nad oes anghydbwysedd yn parhau o ran diagnosis a chymorth awtistiaeth ac ADHD rhwng bechgyn a merched, bod angen gwella hyfforddiant i’r holl staff sydd yn ein hysgolion, cynorthwywyr dysgu ac athrawon, ac mae angen gwell systemau i adael i blant a phobl ifanc hunan-adrodd am eu lles eu hunain i ganfod yr achosion lle mae plant yn dioddef yn ddistaw.
Felly, diolch o galon i Sefydliad y Merched am eich ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth, a dwi'n gobeithio yn fawr y gallwn ni glywed gan y Llywodraeth heddiw sut ydych chi am wella pethau i bawb, ond yn benodol o ran merched a menywod, a sut hefyd ydych chi am sicrhau bod yna gefnogaeth ar gael i'r rhai sydd wedi'i methu hyd yma ac sydd ddim yn yr ysgol neu sy'n hŷn. Mae'n rhaid i bethau newid. Mae yna fwy o ymwybyddiaeth ond mae yna lot mawr o waith i'w wneud.
The WI in their campaign have identified some sensible demands. They want to ensure that there is no imbalance in diagnosis and support for ADHD and autism between boys and girls, that training needs to be improved for all the staff in our schools, teaching assistants and teachers, and we need better systems to allow children and young people to self-report on their own well-being to identify cases where children are suffering in silence.
So, thank you to the WI for your campaign and for raising awareness, and I very much hope that we can hear from the Government today how you will improve the situation for all, but specifically in terms of women and girls, and how you will ensure that there is support available to those who have failed to access support to date, or who are not in school or are older. Things have to change. There is greater awareness but there's still a lot of work to be done.
Oh, right—I got carried away listening to you. [Laughter.] I forgot I was in the Chair. Carolyn Thomas.
O, iawn—roeddwn wedi ymgolli yn eich araith. [Chwerthin.] Anghofiais fy mod yn y Gadair. Carolyn Thomas.
Thank you to Heledd for tabling this short debate and for a minute of your time. It was good to meet with members of the Women's Institute earlier today and I welcome this campaign, raising awareness of neurodivergence. Early diagnosis of ADHD and autism is really important for validation, for treatment if necessary, but also for adjustments in the workplace if needed. Women are better at masking symptoms than men and it takes a toll on them as well and can lead to stress. Women with ADHD have more health problems as well than other women. But we must celebrate our differences and look out for each other. It's okay, we don't have to conform to a social model, but we do need to make sure that all women and girls have the opportunity to thrive in their own way, however it might be. Thank you.
Diolch i Heledd am gyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon ac am funud o'ch amser. Roedd yn dda cael cyfarfod ag aelodau o Sefydliad y Merched yn gynharach heddiw ac rwy'n croesawu'r ymgyrch hon, sy'n codi ymwybyddiaeth o niwroamrywiaeth. Mae diagnosis cynnar o ADHD ac awtistiaeth yn bwysig iawn ar gyfer dilysu, ar gyfer triniaeth os oes angen, ond hefyd ar gyfer addasiadau yn y gweithle os oes angen. Mae menywod yn well am guddio symptomau na dynion ac mae'n faich arnynt hefyd a gall arwain at straen. Mae menywod ag ADHD hefyd yn cael mwy o broblemau iechyd na menywod eraill. Ond mae'n rhaid inni ddathlu ein gwahaniaethau a gofalu am ein gilydd. Mae'n iawn, nid oes rhaid inni gydymffurfio â model cymdeithasol, ond mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr fod pob menyw a merch yn cael cyfle i ffynnu yn eu ffordd eu hunain, sut bynnag y bo. Diolch.
I'd like to thank Heledd for bringing this really important debate to the Senedd, but also the WI for highlighting this important issue with their campaign. I think it's so important that long-established groups like the WI, who—you know, they see all of society, don't they? All kinds of women belong to the WI, and they are involved in so many different community groups. They've got a really good sense of what's going on, and so it's great that they use their voice in this way to launch campaigns, to raise awareness on different issues, and it was good to speak with some of them earlier.
I think that this campaign really has its roots in the historic and ongoing inequality that, unfortunately, is, and has been, a feature of women's healthcare. We know about the medical gaslighting, the fobbing off, and, obviously, the lack of gender-sensitive data and research, and, as we've heard from Heledd, how this then particularly can impact women with autism and ADHD. I think we do need a real push on better training for medical professionals. We've been talking about that in terms of things like endometriosis, for example, but also, as you say, for all school staff, and I think also front-facing roles in all public services. Because attitudes and the way women are dealt with are really pertinent in this place, aren't they, as you were illustrating earlier, with some of your examples. People can be dismissed or an attitude can prevail or a stereotype can prevail unfairly on somebody, when, actually, what's going on is their condition, their neurodivergence or their ADHD. So, I think that we have to have better awareness and understanding across the piece, and that's why this campaign is so important.
I'd also like to see—and I was wondering if the Government could be thinking about this, although, obviously, it's not a devolved matter, and think about encouraging workplace training, perhaps through the Trades Union Congress and the toolkits that they provide on many different matters, to make sure that our workplaces can be more inclusive and supportive of women. We talk about the awareness of menopause, don't we? We talk about the awareness of sexual harassment. Well, this is something else that has been, perhaps, down the agenda for women and perhaps needs to be brought more to the fore.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Heledd am ddod â'r ddadl wirioneddol bwysig hon i'r Senedd, ond hefyd i Sefydliad y Merched am dynnu sylw at y mater pwysig hwn gyda'u hymgyrch. Rwy'n credu ei bod mor bwysig fod grwpiau hirsefydledig fel Sefydliad y Merched, sydd—wyddoch chi, maent yn gweld y gymdeithas gyfan, onid ydynt? Mae pob math o fenywod yn perthyn i Sefydliad y Merched, ac maent yn ymwneud â chymaint o wahanol grwpiau cymunedol. Mae ganddynt synnwyr da iawn o'r hyn sy'n digwydd, ac felly mae'n wych eu bod yn defnyddio'u llais yn y modd hwn i lansio ymgyrchoedd, i godi ymwybyddiaeth ar wahanol faterion, ac roedd yn dda siarad â rhai ohonynt yn gynharach.
Rwy'n credu bod gwreiddiau'r ymgyrch hon yn yr anghydraddoldeb hanesyddol a pharhaus sydd, ac sydd wedi bod, yn nodwedd o ofal iechyd menywod. Rydym yn gwybod am y dibwyllo meddygol, y troi ymaith, ac yn amlwg, y diffyg data ac ymchwil sy'n sensitif o ran rhywedd, ac fel y clywsom gan Heledd, y modd y gall hyn effeithio ar fenywod ag awtistiaeth ac ADHD wedyn. Rwy'n credu bod angen gwthio'n wirioneddol am well hyfforddiant i weithwyr proffesiynol meddygol. Fe fuom yn siarad am hynny yng nghyd-destun pethau fel endometriosis, er enghraifft, ond hefyd, fel y dywedwch, ar gyfer holl staff ysgolion, a rolau sy'n ymdrin yn uniongyrchol â'r cyhoedd ym mhob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus. Oherwydd mae agweddau a'r ffordd y caiff menywod eu trin yn berthnasol iawn yn y lle hwn, onid ydynt, fel roeddech chi'n dangos yn gynharach, gyda rhai o'ch enghreifftiau. Gall pobl gael eu diystyru neu gall agwedd neu stereoteip effeithio'n annheg ar rywun, ac mai'r hyn sy'n digwydd mewn gwirionedd yw eu cyflwr, eu niwroamrywiaeth neu eu ADHD. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni gael gwell ymwybyddiaeth a dealltwriaeth, a dyna pam y mae'r ymgyrch hon mor bwysig.
Hefyd hoffwn weld—ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allai'r Llywodraeth feddwl am hyn, er nad yw'n fater datganoledig wrth gwrs, a meddwl am annog hyfforddiant yn y gweithle, efallai trwy Gyngres yr Undebau Llafur a'r pecynnau cymorth y maent yn eu darparu ar lawer o wahanol faterion, i wneud yn siŵr fod ein gweithleoedd yn gallu bod yn fwy cynhwysol a chefnogol i fenywod. Rydym yn siarad am ymwybyddiaeth o'r menopos, onid ydym? Rydym yn siarad am ymwybyddiaeth o aflonyddu rhywiol. Wel, dyma rywbeth arall sydd wedi bod yn isel ar yr agenda i fenywod ac efallai fod angen rhoi lle mwy blaenllaw iddo.
I want to sincerely thank the WI for having written this excellent report, because it explains in plain language what autism and ADHD is and what to do and what not to do. As I have a child in my family that may or may not need the extra support required, I think it'll be really helpful to the rest of her family, and to others, to see whether this is going to be something that she's going to need in the future. Because, at the moment, she's in a nurturing primary school, and we know that it is so much easier to cope in a small primary school. I was very interested to hear that Heledd said these problems are normally identified at year 9, or they come to the fore.
We know that there is gaslighting of women's issues, as Sioned has said, and that gender bias exists through everything we do: when we're assessing girls and women, the research that we do, and the evaluation of the symptoms and the interventions that are needed to support girls and women.
I was particularly struck by the myth busting around poor parenting and the fact that there are environmental factors, such as trauma in early childhood. Because I visited a special school in my constituency recently, where the headteacher said, 'It's extraordinary how big an explosion there is', that they are having to double the size of the school because of the level of demand for children who simply cannot manage in mainstream schools. And the children I met were all in primary school—mainly boys, I have to say. But I do wonder—and I want to pose this question in public—whether this trauma in early childhood they talk about isn't in relation to the increase in the amount of induction of labour, which then leads on to instrumental and caesarean section births, with all the accompanying analgesia that's involved in all of that. We have to understand what are the causes of this and maybe change our practice if we find that that is a link.
Rwyf am ddiolch yn ddiffuant i Sefydliad y Merched am ysgrifennu'r adroddiad ardderchog hwn, oherwydd mae'n esbonio mewn iaith uniongyrchol beth yw awtistiaeth ac ADHD a beth i'w wneud a beth i beidio â'i wneud. Gan fod gennyf blentyn yn fy nheulu a allai, efallai, fod angen y cymorth ychwanegol sydd ei angen, rwy'n credu y bydd yn ddefnyddiol iawn i weddill ei theulu, ac i eraill, weld a fydd hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd ei angen arni yn y dyfodol. Oherwydd, ar hyn o bryd, mae hi mewn ysgol gynradd feithringar, ac rydym yn gwybod ei bod hi'n llawer haws ymdopi mewn ysgol gynradd fach. Roedd yn ddiddorol iawn clywed bod Heledd yn dweud bod y problemau hyn fel arfer yn cael eu nodi, neu'n dod yn fwy amlwg, ym mlwyddyn 9.
Rydym yn gwybod bod yna ddibwyllo'n digwydd gyda materion menywod, fel y dywedodd Sioned, a bod rhagfarn ar sail rhywedd yn bodoli trwy bopeth a wnawn: pan fyddwn yn asesu merched a menywod, yr ymchwil a wnawn, a gwerthuso'r symptomau a'r ymyriadau sydd eu hangen i gefnogi merched a menywod.
Cefais fy nharo'n arbennig gan chwalu'r myth ynghylch rhianta gwael a'r ffaith bod yna ffactorau amgylcheddol, fel trawma yn ystod plentyndod cynnar. Oherwydd ymwelais ag ysgol arbennig yn fy etholaeth yn ddiweddar, lle dywedodd y pennaeth, 'Mae'n anhygoel pa mor fawr yw'r ffrwydrad', eu bod yn gorfod dyblu maint yr ysgol oherwydd lefel y galw ar gyfer plant na allant ymdopi mewn ysgolion prif ffrwd. Ac roedd y plant y cyfarfûm â hwy i gyd yn yr ysgol gynradd—bechgyn yn bennaf, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud. Ond tybed—ac rwyf am ofyn y cwestiwn hwn yn gyhoeddus—onid yw'r trawma yn ystod plentyndod cynnar y siaradant amdano yn gysylltiedig â'r cynnydd yn nifer y genedigaethau a gaiff eu cymell, sydd wedyn yn arwain at enedigaethau gan ddefnyddio offer meddygol a genedigaethau cesaraidd, gyda'r holl analgesia sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny i gyd. Mae'n rhaid inni ddeall beth yw achosion hyn a newid ein harferion efallai, os gwelwn fod cysylltiad.
Hoffwn i ddiolch i Sefydliad y Merched a Heledd am godi'r mater hwn. Dwi'n croesawu'r cyfle i gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon.
I would like to thank the WI and Heledd for raising this issue. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate.
Although, Llywydd dros dro, I wonder if I should start by declaring an interest, as my mum is a very active member of the WI. She's a trustee of the Clwyd-Flint federation and chair of the public affairs. And, as we say in political speak, I'm always on a three-line whip to support the WI. [Laughter.] But, in all seriousness, the 'Thinking Differently' campaign and this short debate today are really important to not just raise awareness, but to ensure that women's voices are heard and their experiences are acted upon—both in terms of shaping policy development, but then how that works in practice in terms of our public health approaches as well.
The point I just want to make this afternoon—or this evening—is that, earlier this year, we very much welcomed the Welsh Government's women's health plan, and so I would be keen to hear how this will be built on so that autistic and ADHD women and girls are neither left out nor left behind and, crucially, that they have a say and a stake in what support and services look like. Diolch.
Er, Lywydd dros dro, tybed a ddylwn i ddechrau trwy ddatgan buddiant, gan fod fy mam yn aelod gweithgar iawn o Sefydliad y Merched. Mae hi'n ymddiriedolwr ffederasiwn Clwyd-Fflint ac yn gadeirydd materion cyhoeddus. Ac fel y dywedwn yn iaith gwleidyddiaeth, rwyf bob amser dan chwip dair llinell i gefnogi Sefydliad y Merched. [Chwerthin.] Ond o ddifrif, mae'r ymgyrch 'Meddwl yn Wahanol' a'r ddadl fer hon heddiw yn bwysig iawn nid yn unig i godi ymwybyddiaeth, ond i sicrhau bod lleisiau menywod yn cael eu clywed a bod gweithredu'n digwydd yn sgil eu profiadau—o ran siapio datblygiad polisi, a sut y mae hynny'n gweithio'n ymarferol gyda'n dulliau iechyd cyhoeddus hefyd.
Y pwynt yr hoffwn ei wneud y prynhawn yma—neu heno—yw ein bod, yn gynharach eleni, wedi croesawu cynllun iechyd menywod Llywodraeth Cymru yn fawr, ac felly rwy'n awyddus i glywed sut yr adeiladir ar hyn fel nad yw menywod a merched awtistig ac sydd ag ADHD yn cael eu hepgor na'u gadael ar ôl ac yn allweddol, fod ganddynt lais a chyfran yn y ffordd y mae cymorth a gwasanaethau'n edrych. Diolch.
Well, as the WI states, for too long, women's and girls' experiences of autism and ADHD have been overlooked and missed. I've only been raising this here for two decades. Their 2024 report, 'Understanding the Experiences of Autistic and ADHD Women', found that 75 per cent felt there is insufficient support available for autistic individuals and their families. Charity KIM Inspire's 2023 'Supporting Neurodivergent Girls and Young Women across North-east Wales' report found that the presentations of autism and ADHD in girls and young women continue to be overlooked by statutory services, that parental blame is frequent, and that this is leading to distress, low self-esteem and self-harming behaviours. Leeds University's school of law research cited that mothers of autistic children are 100 times more likely to be investigated for fabricated or induced illness—that's creating or exaggerating their child's difficulties—by children's services, and that this was at least as prevalent in Wales. And, last week, I was honoured to attend a consultation at St George's House, Windsor Castle, on this crisis. All call for action from decision makers—long overdue.
Wel, fel y dywed Sefydliad y Merched, ers gormod o amser, mae profiadau menywod a merched o awtistiaeth ac ADHD wedi cael eu diystyru a'u methu. Dim ond ers dau ddegawd y bûm yn codi hyn yma. Canfu eu hadroddiad yn 2024, 'Understanding the Experiences of Autistic and ADHD Women', fod 75 y cant yn teimlo nad oes digon o gefnogaeth ar gael i unigolion awtistig a'u teuluoedd. Canfu adroddiad 2023 yr elusen KIM Inspire 'Supporting Neurodivergent Girls and Young Women across North-east Wales' fod awtistiaeth ac ADHD mewn merched a menywod ifanc yn parhau i gael eu diystyru gan wasanaethau statudol, fod beio rhieni'n digwydd yn aml, a bod hyn yn arwain at drallod, lefelau isel o hunan-barch ac ymddygiadau hunan-niweidiol. Nododd ymchwil gan ysgol y gyfraith Prifysgol Leeds fod mamau plant awtistig 100 gwaith yn fwy tebygol o gael eu harchwilio am salwch wedi'i ffugio neu ei achosi gan eraill—creu neu orliwio anawsterau eu plentyn—gan wasanaethau plant, a bod hyn o leiaf yr un mor gyffredin yng Nghymru. A'r wythnos diwethaf, cefais yr anrhydedd o fynychu ymgynghoriad yn St George's House, Castell Windsor, ar yr argyfwng hwn. Mae pawb yn galw am weithredu gan y rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau—mae'n hen bryd.
And the last speaker, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
A'r siaradwr olaf, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Gaf i ddechrau trwy ddiolch i Heledd am gyflwyniad rhagorol, a diolch i'r WI am yr ymgyrch yma? Un o'r gwaith achos cyntaf gwnes i ymgymryd â fe yn y swydd yma oedd mam oedd wedi dod ataf efo merch roedd hi'n sicr oedd efo ADHD, ond roedd y meddyg yn gwrthod ei rhoi hi ar drywydd diagnosis oherwydd bod y meddyg yn ddweud dyw merched ddim yn dioddef ac yn byw efo ADHD neu awtistiaeth. Felly, mae'n amlwg bod y syniadau hen ffasiwn yna'n dal i fodoli.
Cwpl o gwestiynau roeddwn i am eu codi allan o'r hyn. Yn gyntaf i gyd, roedd Heledd yn sôn yn fanna am y rhestrau aros hir ar gyfer merched sydd yn aros i gael diagnosis, ond os ydych chi'n ferch sydd yn siarad Cymraeg—mamiaith Cymraeg—mae'r rhestr aros hyd yn oed yn hirach. Felly, beth ydy'r camau mae'r Llywodraeth am eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â hynny? Ond i'r rhai hynny sydd ar restr aros hir, ac, fel clywsom ni yn y dystiolaeth gan Heledd, mae nifer fawr ohonyn nhw bellach yn gorfod mynd yn breifat am ddiagnosis, ar gost o tua £2,000 neu'n rhagor ar gyfer y diagnosis yna, yna maen nhw'n derbyn diagnosis, maen nhw'n gwybod eu bod nhw'n byw efo ADHD ac yna maen nhw'n methu cael meddyginiaeth ar y NHS; mae hynny'n cael ei wadu iddyn nhw, er ei fod yn amlwg ei fod yna ofyniad iddyn nhw ac y dylen nhw fod yn derbyn meddyginiaeth.
Felly, ydy'r Llywodraeth yma, felly, am helpu'r bobl yna sydd wedi derbyn diagnosis, er yn breifat, ac wedi cael eu gorfodi mynd yn breifat oherwydd y Llywodraeth—ydy'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i'w helpu nhw er mwyn sicrhau eu bod nhw hefyd yn medru cael meddygyniaeth?
Can I start by thanking Heledd for an excellent debate, and thank the WI for this campaign? One of the first pieces of casework I undertook in this role was a mother that had approached me with a daughter that she was sure had ADHD, but the doctor refused to put her on a diagnosis pathway because the doctor said girls don't suffer from ADHD and autism. So, clearly, these old-fashioned ideas still prevail.
I just wanted to ask a few questions arising from this. First of all, Heledd mentioned the long waiting lists for girls who are waiting for diagnosis, but, if you are a Welsh-speaking girl—first-language Welsh-speaking girl—then the waiting list is even longer. So, what steps is the Government going to take to address that issue? But, for those on a long waiting list, and, as we heard in the evidence from Heledd, many of them have to go private for a diagnosis, at a cost of around £2,000 or more for that diagnosis, then they get the diagnosis, they know they are living with ADHD, and then they can't get medicines on the NHS; that is denied to them, although it's clear that they need those drugs.
So, will this Government help those people who have had a diagnosis and have done so privately, and have been forced to go private because of the Government—will the Government help them to ensure that they can get those medicines that they need?
I now call on the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being to reply to the debate—Sarah Murphy.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant i ymateb i'r ddadl—Sarah Murphy.

Thank you very much. Diolch, Heledd Fychan, and all colleagues for speaking in this debate today, and I would also like to begin by thanking the National Federation of Women's Institutes, Wales, for choosing to champion understanding the experiences of autistic and ADHD women through their 'Think Differently' campaign. I really appreciate how your thousands of members are learning and listening to lived experience; you're raising awareness via your survey responses and you're coming up with actions and a really good toolkit so that WI members, and everyone else, honestly, can advocate and stand in solidarity with women to champion inclusivity and empower individuals to embrace their unique identities.
I wish to also thank the WI for inviting me to their online event last week to learn more about its campaign to support women and girls with autism and ADHD as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week. I've always been a huge advocate of listening to those with lived experience, to understand and connect with each other, and I would really like to take another opportunity to thank Councillor Sara Robinson from Cardiff Council, Brogan Evans and Caitlyn Seldon for being incredibly open and candid, and taking the time to speak with us about their experiences. It was inspiring, and I personally learnt so much, and I really appreciated the discussion afterwards about the terms that we use, defining your own identity and setting boundaries.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week awareness is so powerful as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the unique strengths and talents of neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism and ADHD, as we can see from the attendance here today. Your journeys are often marked by challenges, and also by remarkable achievements and contributions to our communities. It is essential that we acknowledge their experience, and work together to create a society that supports and empowers them. The Welsh Government is determined to do all we can to improve the lives of neurodivergent individuals, and, in Wales, we need to ensure the services and support are available, appropriate and tailored to the person. Over the past few years, we have made significant strides in transforming neurodivergent services across Wales. In February 2025, I announced a further £13.7 million to improve neurodivergent services and reduce waiting times for autism and ADHD assessments, and this will extend the work of the national neurodivergence improvement programme until March 2027, building on the £12 million already invested over the past three years. Our goal is to drive down waiting times for children's neurodevelopmental assessments, and to continue the transformation work to create sustainable, integrated services that better serve neurodivergent individuals and their families, providing increased expertise in recognising and responding to women and girls who present with neurodivergent symptoms.
Over the next two years, the neurodivergence improvement programme will implement an extensive training programme across health, social care, education and specialisms to ensure professionals are equipped to support neurodivergent individuals effectively, as mentioned by Sioned Williams. We're also going to review the current autism code of practice, with the aim of broadening its scope to encompass other neurodivergent conditions. We're going to support innovative, needs-led approaches that focus on the strengths and needs of neurodivergent individuals, moving away from that diagnosis-dependent support, establish approved data collection and reporting systems to better understand the needs of neurodivergent communities and to inform our future policy decisions, and then finally, also, to foster stronger collaborative relationships between organisations to create a more cohesive support network for neurodivergent individuals.
Many of our goals, as you can hear, align with the WI findings and requests in your campaign for action, as well as talking to many other stakeholders and those with lived experience.
Diolch. Diolch, Heledd Fychan, a'r holl gyd-Aelodau am siarad yn y ddadl hon heddiw, a hoffwn innau hefyd ddechrau trwy ddiolch i Ffederasiwn Cenedlaethol Sefydliadau'r Merched, Cymru, am ddewis hyrwyddo dealltwriaeth o brofiadau menywod awtistig a menywod ag ADHD drwy eu hymgyrch 'Meddwl yn Wahanol'. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'n fawr y ffordd y mae eich miloedd o aelodau'n dysgu ac yn gwrando ar brofiad bywyd; rydych chi'n codi ymwybyddiaeth drwy ymatebion eich arolwg ac rydych chi'n llunio camau gweithredu a phecyn cymorth da iawn fel y gall aelodau Sefydliad y Merched, a phawb arall, gefnogi a sefyll mewn undod â menywod i hyrwyddo cynhwysiant a grymuso unigolion i gofleidio eu hunaniaeth unigryw.
Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i Sefydliad y Merched am fy ngwahodd i'w digwyddiad ar-lein yr wythnos diwethaf i ddysgu mwy am eu hymgyrch i gefnogi menywod a merched ag awtistiaeth ac ADHD fel rhan o Wythnos Dathlu Niwroamrywiaeth. Rwyf bob amser wedi dadlau'n frwd dros wrando ar y rhai sydd â phrofiad bywyd, i ddeall a chysylltu â'i gilydd, a hoffwn fanteisio ar gyfle arall i ddiolch i'r Cynghorydd Sara Robinson o Gyngor Caerdydd, Brogan Evans a Caitlyn Seldon am fod yn hynod agored a gonest, a rhoi amser i siarad â ni am eu profiadau. Roedd yn ysbrydoledig, ac fe ddysgais gymaint yn bersonol, a chael budd o'r drafodaeth wedyn am y termau a ddefnyddiwn, diffinio eich hunaniaeth eich hun a gosod ffiniau.
Mae ymwybyddiaeth Wythnos Dathlu Niwroamrywiaeth mor bwerus fel cyfle i gydnabod a dathlu cryfderau a doniau unigryw unigolion niwroamrywiol, gan gynnwys y rhai ag awtistiaeth ac ADHD, fel y gwelwn o'r nifer sy'n bresennol yma heddiw. Mae eich teithiau'n aml wedi'u marcio gan heriau, a hefyd gan gyflawniadau a chyfraniadau rhyfeddol i'n cymunedau. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cydnabod eu profiad, ac yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i greu cymdeithas sy'n eu cefnogi a'u grymuso. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn benderfynol o wneud popeth yn ein gallu i wella bywydau unigolion niwroamrywiol, ac yng Nghymru, mae angen inni sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau a'r cymorth ar gael, a'u bod yn briodol ac wedi'u teilwra ar gyfer yr unigolyn. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol ar drawsnewid gwasanaethau niwroamrywiol ledled Cymru. Ym mis Chwefror 2025, cyhoeddais £13.7 miliwn arall i wella gwasanaethau niwroamrywiol a lleihau amseroedd aros ar gyfer asesiadau awtistiaeth ac ADHD, a bydd hyn yn ymestyn gwaith y rhaglen genedlaethol ar gyfer gwella gwasanaethau niwroamrywiaeth tan fis Mawrth 2027, gan adeiladu ar y £12 miliwn sydd eisoes wedi'i fuddsoddi dros y tair blynedd diwethaf. Ein nod yw lleihau amseroedd aros am asesiadau niwroddatblygiadol i blant, a pharhau â'r gwaith trawsnewid i greu gwasanaethau cynaliadwy, integredig sy'n gwasanaethu unigolion niwroamrywiol a'u teuluoedd yn well, gan ddarparu mwy o arbenigedd wrth adnabod ac ymateb i fenywod a merched sydd â symptomau niwroamrywiol.
Dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf, bydd y rhaglen gwella gwasanaethau niwroamrywiaeth yn gweithredu rhaglen hyfforddi helaeth ar draws iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol, addysg ac arbenigeddau i sicrhau bod gweithwyr proffesiynol wedi'u cyfarparu i gefnogi unigolion niwroamrywiol yn effeithiol, fel y soniodd Sioned Williams. Rydym hefyd yn mynd i adolygu'r cod ymarfer cyfredol ar gyfer awtistiaeth, gyda'r nod o ehangu ei gwmpas i gynnwys cyflyrau niwroamrywiol eraill. Rydym yn mynd i gefnogi dulliau arloesol wedi'u harwain gan anghenion, sy'n canolbwyntio ar gryfderau ac anghenion unigolion niwroamrywiol, gan symud i ffwrdd o gefnogaeth sy'n dibynnu ar ddiagnosis, sefydlu systemau casglu ac adrodd data cymeradwy i ddeall anghenion cymunedau niwroamrywiol yn well ac i lywio ein penderfyniadau polisi yn y dyfodol, ac yn olaf, hefyd, meithrin cysylltiadau cydweithredol cryfach rhwng sefydliadau i greu rhwydwaith cymorth mwy cydlynol ar gyfer unigolion niwroamrywiol.
Mae llawer o'n nodau, fel y gallwch glywed, yn cyd-fynd â chanfyddiadau a gofynion Sefydliad y Merched yn eich ymgyrch dros weld gweithredu'n digwydd, a hefyd yn deillio o siarad â llawer o randdeiliaid eraill a'r rheini sydd â phrofiad bywyd.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Of course.
Wrth gwrs.
May I ask specifically on the point in terms of child and adolescent mental health services? We've heard the situation of, perhaps, young women with autism or ADHD who, perhaps, self-harm and aren't given the support via CAMHS for mental health, that they're actually denied some of the support that some of their peers are able to access, and also, as I mentioned, those who are not in education, because education has failed them because they haven't been identified. How do we get to those who have maybe fallen through the cracks who will have lifelong implications if we don't actually provide that support to them as well?
A gaf i ofyn yn benodol ar y pwynt ynglŷn â gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed? Fe glywsom am sefyllfa menywod ifanc ag awtistiaeth neu ADHD sydd, efallai, yn hunan-niweidio ac nad ydynt yn cael cefnogaeth trwy CAMHS ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, eu bod yn cael eu hamddifadu o rywfaint o'r gefnogaeth y mae rhai o'u cyfoedion yn gallu ei chael, a hefyd, fel y soniais, y rheini nad ydynt mewn addysg, oherwydd bod addysg wedi gwneud cam â hwy drwy fethu nodi eu cyflwr. Sut y mae cyrraedd y rhai sydd efallai wedi syrthio drwy'r rhwyd a fydd yn wynebu goblygiadau gydol oes os nad ydym yn darparu'r gefnogaeth honno iddynt hwythau hefyd?
Absolutely. Thank you for raising that. Next week, I will be launching the suicide prevention and self-harm strategy, and, at the end of April, I'll be launching the mental health and well-being strategy. Everything that you've talked about there is very much intertwined. It's, again, because of people with lived experience. So, I was talking to Kirsty Davies-Warner today from Mirus, and she is somebody that was actually misdiagnosed as having a mental health issue, and she was autistic, and that was something that absolutely impacted all of her life, and she speaks very bravely about it now. So, we're learning from those examples and we are truly making a difference. So, I'm also aware that sometimes people get sent to CAMHS, and then you're told, 'No, you need to go back and get your assessment', so we absolutely have to shut that down by bringing the waiting list down for the assessments, but also making sure that, as I've said, we have that collaborative relationship. And there's also some work that we're exploring—myself, with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Minister for social care—around how we collect some data on this as well, so that even children who aren't in education will be able to be identified also. So, we've got some really good things coming on this, and we're absolutely acutely aware of it.
I also wanted to say that, over the course of the last six months, we have taken targeted action to tackle those long waiting times for children's assessments. As you know, our First Minister did a listening exercise over the summer. This came through so loudly. When I came into this post, it was one of the three key priorities that I was given, to get those waiting lists down for the children and young people who have been waiting the longest. And we did allocate that £3 million to health boards across Wales to eliminate the longest waits. While progress has been mixed—I'll be honest—some health boards successfully transformed their assessment pathways and considerably reduced times. In other parts of Wales, there needs to be a redoubling of efforts and to learn from that best practice.
Yn hollol. Diolch am godi hynny. Yr wythnos nesaf, byddaf yn lansio'r strategaeth atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio, a ddiwedd mis Ebrill, byddaf yn lansio'r strategaeth iechyd meddwl a llesiant meddyliol. Mae popeth rydych chi wedi siarad amdano'n cydblethu. Unwaith eto, mae'n digwydd oherwydd pobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd. Felly, roeddwn i'n siarad â Kirsty Davies-Warner heddiw o Mirus, ac mae hi'n rhywun a gafodd gam-ddiagnosis o broblem iechyd meddwl, ac roedd hi'n awtistig, ac roedd hynny'n rhywbeth a effeithiodd ar ei bywyd i gyd, ac mae hi'n siarad yn ddewr iawn am y peth nawr. Felly, rydym yn dysgu o'r enghreifftiau hynny ac rydym yn gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn. Felly, rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd fod pobl weithiau'n cael eu hanfon at CAMHS, a dywedir wrthych, 'Na, mae angen ichi fynd yn ôl a chael eich asesiad', felly mae'n rhaid inni roi diwedd ar hynny drwy ddod â'r rhestr aros i lawr ar gyfer yr asesiadau, ond gan wneud yn siŵr hefyd, fel y dywedais, fod gennym y berthynas gydweithredol honno. Ac rydym yn archwilio gwaith—Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, y Gweinidog gofal cymdeithasol a minnau—ynglŷn â'r modd yr awn ati i gasglu data ar hyn hefyd, fel y bydd modd nodi plant nad ydynt mewn addysg. Felly, mae gennym bethau da iawn yn dod ar hyn, ac rydym yn sicr yn ymwybodol iawn ohono.
Roeddwn eisiau dweud hefyd ein bod wedi cymryd camau wedi'u targedu dros y chwe mis diwethaf i fynd i'r afael â'r amseroedd aros hir ar gyfer asesiadau plant. Fel y gwyddoch, fe wnaeth ein Prif Weinidog ymarfer gwrando dros yr haf. Daeth hyn drwodd mor glir. Pan ddeuthum i'r swydd hon, roedd yn un o'r tair blaenoriaeth allweddol a roddwyd i mi, i gael y rhestrau aros i lawr ar gyfer y plant a'r bobl ifanc sydd wedi bod yn aros hiraf. Ac fe wnaethom ddyrannu £3 miliwn i fyrddau iechyd ledled Cymru i ddileu'r amseroedd aros hiraf. Er mai cymysg fu cynnydd, a bod yn onest, mae rhai byrddau iechyd wedi llwyddo i drawsnewid eu llwybrau asesu a lleihau amseroedd aros yn sylweddol. Mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru, mae angen dyblu ymdrechion a dysgu o'r arferion gorau hynny.
Would you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Absolutely.
Yn sicr.
On the waiting lists, do you think it's right that those being effectively forced into private diagnosis have to pay for their medication?
Ar y rhestrau aros, a ydych chi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n iawn fod y rhai sy'n cael eu gorfodi i bob pwrpas i gael diagnosis yn breifat yn gorfod talu am eu meddyginiaeth?
Yes, I wanted to pick up on that, because you said that they're being forced into that by Welsh Government. What's happened here in the UK and across Europe, as I learned from Councillor Robinson when we went to the WI event last week, is that this is happening everywhere, and, in a way, it's because of the raised awareness. There's just been a huge increase in awareness. And as I've said in previous scrutiny in the Finance Committee, we could be looking at 60,000 people waiting for an assessment unless we do something transformational. So, what we have to do now is that we have to use some of the money, some of the funding, to tackle those longest waiting times. But we also need that transformation work alongside it.
It also comes to the point that you were making about the Welsh language as well. So, of course, it is the duty of the health boards to do that assessment of the needs of the people in their communities, and along with us in the transformation work, the Welsh language is also at the heart of that. So, I feel that, from the Welsh Government, we have truly listened to people. We're absolutely taking it very seriously. This is a very positive debate here today, but this is also a very, very serious issue. I completely understand the impact that this has on people, and, like I said, the journey that you go on, even when you do get that assessment. It's not just about the assessment; it's about the support afterwards. But this is also—and I think this comes through so clearly in the work that the WI has done—all of society as well. We need a huge shift here. I'm very sad to say that I still hear people saying, you know, 'We never had this in my day,' that this is all made up. We are still really, really fighting that assumption that people have, and it's absolutely not the case.
And I did want to say as well, to Sioned and Hannah and all of you today, that this is a gender issue. This is absolutely a gender issue. The assessments that were done in the past were not tailored for girls and women. Like you said, you could mask. I was listening to women who were telling me, 'They tell you, "Can you sit still?" Well, yes, I can sit still; is that really the assessment?' We talked last week about whether people like the term 'ADHD'. They're not fussed on the word 'deficit'. They said, 'I have a "deficit" if I'm not interested in it.' So, it's these kinds of things. And I just feel that, honestly, listening to people and asking them is incredibly powerful. We can see by how many people have stayed today, though, how important this is, but we are still fighting that. So, it's an increased awareness that has driven that need, and we are doing everything we can to address that, right now, so that people don't have to be waiting. I want to be in a world, and I want to be in a Wales, where 99 per cent of people get an assessment when they are a child and a young person. That's where I want us to be with this, to have that support and that whole-school approach as well, and wraparound.
So, just to end, as I know I need to end, I did want to say that, as we move on from Neurodiversity Celebration Week, I reaffirm my commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for autistic and ADHD women and girls. We will continue to work to ensure they receive the support they need to thrive. Together, we can change the narrative and empower neurodivergent girls and women to achieve their full potential. I want to thank, again, the Women's Institute, for their trailblazing work, and to let us all continue to celebrate and champion the diverse minds that make our society richer and stronger. Diolch.
Ie, roeddwn i eisiau codi hynny, oherwydd fe ddywedoch chi eu bod yn cael eu gorfodi i wneud hynny gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yma yn y DU ac ar draws Ewrop, fel y dysgais gan y Cynghorydd Robinson pan aethom i ddigwyddiad Sefydliad y Merched yr wythnos diwethaf, yw bod hyn yn digwydd ym mhobman, ac mewn ffordd, mae'n digwydd oherwydd gwell ymwybyddiaeth. Mae'r ymwybyddiaeth yn llawer iawn gwell. Ac fel y dywedais yn ystod craffu blaenorol yn y Pwyllgor Cyllid, gallem fod yn edrych ar 60,000 o bobl yn aros am asesiad oni bai ein bod yn gwneud rhywbeth trawsnewidiol. Felly, yr hyn sy'n rhaid inni ei wneud nawr yw defnyddio rhywfaint o'r arian, rhywfaint o'r cyllid, i fynd i'r afael â'r amseroedd aros hiraf hynny. Ond mae angen y gwaith trawsnewid ochr yn ochr â hynny hefyd.
Mae hefyd yn ymwneud â'r pwynt yr oeddech chi'n ei wneud am yr iaith Gymraeg. Mae dyletswydd ar y byrddau iechyd i wneud yr asesiad o anghenion y bobl yn eu cymunedau, ac ynghyd â ninnau yn y gwaith trawsnewid, mae'r Gymraeg hefyd yn ganolog i hynny. Felly, rwy'n teimlo bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrando'n iawn ar bobl. Rydym o ddifrif yn ei gylch. Mae hon yn ddadl gadarnhaol iawn yma heddiw, ond mae hwn hefyd yn fater difrifol iawn. Rwy'n deall yn llwyr yr effaith y mae hyn yn ei chael ar bobl, ac fel y dywedais, y daith rydych chi'n mynd arni, hyd yn oed pan fyddwch chi'n cael yr asesiad hwnnw. Mae'n ymwneud â mwy na'r asesiad yn unig; mae'n ymwneud â'r gefnogaeth wedyn. Ond mae hefyd—ac rwy'n credu bod hyn yn dod drwodd mor glir yn y gwaith y mae Sefydliad y Merched wedi'i wneud—yn ymwneud â'r gymdeithas gyfan. Mae angen newid enfawr yma. Mae'n drist iawn fy mod yn dal i glywed pobl yn dweud, 'Nid oedd dim o hyn pan oeddwn i'n iau,' fod hyn i gyd yn ffrwyth dychymyg. Rydym yn dal i frwydro'n galed yn erbyn y rhagdybiaeth sydd gan bobl, ac nid yw'n wir o gwbl.
Ac roeddwn i eisiau dweud hefyd, wrth Sioned a Hannah a phob un ohonoch heddiw, fod hwn yn fater rhywedd. Mae hwn yn bendant yn fater rhywedd. Nid oedd yr asesiadau a wnaed yn y gorffennol wedi'u teilwra ar gyfer merched a menywod. Fel y dywedoch chi, fe allech chi fasgio. Roeddwn i'n gwrando ar fenywod a ddywedodd wrthyf, 'Maent yn dweud wrthych, "A allwch chi eistedd yn llonydd?" Wel, gallaf, fe allaf eistedd yn llonydd; ai dyna'r asesiad mewn gwirionedd?' Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe fuom yn trafod a yw pobl yn hoffi'r term 'ADHD'. Nid ydynt yn or-hoff o'r gair 'diffyg'. 'Os nad oes gennyf ddiddordeb ynddo,' meddent, 'mae gennyf "ddiffyg".' Felly, y mathau hyn o bethau. Ac rwy'n teimlo, yn onest, fod gwrando ar bobl a gofyn iddynt yn hynod bwerus. Gallwn weld yn ôl faint o bobl sydd wedi aros heddiw, fodd bynnag, pa mor bwysig yw hyn, ond rydym yn dal i frwydro yn erbyn hynny. Felly, ymwybyddiaeth gynyddol sydd wedi sbarduno'r angen hwnnw, ac rydym yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i fynd i'r afael â hynny, nawr, fel nad oes rhaid i bobl aros. Rwyf eisiau bod mewn byd, ac rwyf eisiau bod mewn Cymru, lle mae 99 y cant o bobl yn cael asesiad pan fyddant yn blentyn ac yn unigolyn ifanc. Dyna lle rwy'n awyddus i ni fod gyda hyn, i gael y gefnogaeth a'r dull ysgol gyfan hefyd, a gofal cofleidiol.
Felly, i orffen, gan y gwn fod angen imi ddod i ben, roeddwn eisiau dweud, wrth inni symud ymlaen o Wythnos Dathlu Niwroamrywiaeth, fy mod yn ailddatgan fy ymrwymiad i greu cymdeithas fwy cynhwysol a theg ar gyfer menywod a merched awtistig ac sydd ag ADHD. Byddwn yn parhau i weithio i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt i ffynnu. Gyda'n gilydd, gallwn newid y naratif a grymuso merched a menywod niwroamrywiol i gyflawni eu potensial llawn. Hoffwn ddiolch eto i Sefydliad y Merched, am eu gwaith arloesol, ac am adael i bawb ohonom barhau i ddathlu a hyrwyddo'r meddyliau amrywiol sy'n gwneud ein cymdeithas yn gyfoethocach ac yn gryfach. Diolch.
Thank you. That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Diolch. Daw hynny â'r trafodion i ben am heddiw.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:09.
The meeting ended at 18:09.